The third transition was a bone shaker, though not so bad that Kaira was worried for the integrity of the Glimmer. But as soon as they were back into normal space she saw Tarkus tense.
“s**t!” he said. “There’s six ships out there. Not that close, but they know we’re here.”
“Pirates?”
“I don’t see who else it could be. Anyone other than pirates wouldn’t be hanging around. The odds of us running into six ships that are in the middle of charging their jump engines are ridiculously low, and they certainly won’t be working for any government out here.”
“Can we get to jump space before they reach us?”
“I don’t think so. There won’t be too much in it but they’ll be on us before… wait a second. What the hell?”
“What is it?”
“I don’t think the six ships are together. One looks like
