James sighed and floated by his tucker bed. He looked out his porthole to see and endless stretch of yam-shaped rocks of various sizes all around them. It was almost like being lost in a sea of bubbles. Usually, if they hadn’t been stranded in the middle of the Asteroid Belt, he would be able to see behind the planets and moons all the stars that surround the relatively small galaxy he existed in. It was his idea to pool together and buy the aircraft they floated in, and his idea to go exploring. Alan and Sinbad just came along for the ride, Alan to gain experience in a starship before he applied to join the navy, and Sinbad because…well, because he’s Sinbad. Sinbad was always up for something different.

In the midst of James’ quiet thoughts, a glint of silver twinkled just past his line of vision. It couldn’t be a star, there were too many asteroids to see past to the stars beyond. He plastered his face to the porthole only to see the glint disappear behind the bulk of the ship. Quickly he pushed off of the wall and into the bridge of the ship where he could see better.

“Hey, where’s he goin’?” asked Sinbad. Alan shrugged. “Well, whatever it is, it’s gotta be good, because James never moves that fast without a reason.” Alan nodded and they both followed behind James.

“Look there!” James pointed. Beyond his finger was the shiny glint of another ship. Sinbad whooped and Alan clapped James on the shoulder.

“Try to contact them,” said Alan. James grabbed the mini microphone from its casing in the console.

“Ahoy there! This is the good ship AJS looking for some help. We’ve practically run out of fuel and we need a tow to the nearest naval base. We can pay you for your time. Please, can you hear me?” James clutched the mic in frantic anticipation. Alan and Sinbad froze in their places, barely breathing. They listened for three minutes…nothing. Sinbad started fidgeting.

“Do you think they heard us?” Alan shushed him. “What? They’re not talking.”

“Be quiet, they could start at any minute.” Alan waved at him to quiet down.

“Maybe their communicator is broken? Oh! I bet they’re stranded here just like us.” Alan shushed him again. “Think about it, what else would they be doing out here in the middle of nowhere?” James and Alan paused in their anxious listening. Alan sat back.

“Sinbad is right. What are they doing out here?” James put the mic down.

“Maybe they’re at a mine?” Alan shook his head.

“A mine in the middle of the Asteroid Belt? Wherever there’s a mine, there’s a steady stream of freighters moving ore in and out. Besides, what element could be found over there that isn’t found in the asteroids closer to where the naval bases already are?”

“Maybe they’re a naval scout ship, looking for resources!” James said. Sinbad nodded furiously.

“That can’t be right either. It doesn’t look like a scout ship.” Sinbad furrowed his brow.

“How can you tell? That ship is still pretty far away.” James squinted. “I can’t even see any markings on it.”

“It’s easy. Naval ships are classified by color. That ship isn’t gray, it’s silver.”

“Well, what navy ship is silver?”

“War frigates and the naval bases themselves.”

“Well that’s definitely too small to be a war frigate,” said Sinbad. “Even I know that.”

“We all know that,” said Alan. Uneasiness grew in the three men as they all came to realize what the mystery ship might actually be. Sinbad cleared his throat.

“Hey guys?” Alan shushed him again. “What was that for?”

“We’re all thinking the same thing,” said James, “ If you don’t say it out loud, maybe it won’t be true.”

“What kind of logic is that?” Alan looked at James incredulously. “It doesn’t matter what we say out loud, it won’t change the fact that that ship is probably a…” James shook his hands.

“Shhh! Don’t say it! Maybe they haven‘t seen us and we can quietly drift away.” Sinbad nodded.

“Yeah, I agree with James. Right now we need all the help we can get, and maybe superstition will be on our side.”

“Superstition isn’t an entity, Sinbad! It’s not going to help us whether we state our suspicions or not! Besides, if we can see them, they can see us!”

“Still. Don’t say it.” James glanced from Sinbad to Alan.

“I’m saying it. I think it’s a pir…” The radio crackled.

“Ahoy there, good ship AJS.”

Word count: 841
Total word count: 3536

Notes: Good job today, at least you wrote something. Try to think of a better name for the ship. Also, decide whether the mystery ship is a pirate ship or not.