Isis marveled at the spectacle around her. Her panoramic view appeared majestic from the observation deck at the apex of the spaceship, Asgard. Stars and entire galaxies modeled for her as the ship swooshed through space at unfamothable speeds. “Doesn't it just take your breath away, Odin?”

Odin starred only the rabbit. “Actually, I got bored of the view a few million cycles back.”

Giving him only a glance over her shoulder, she chided, “Being jaded is a choice, Odin. I chose to retain my wonder.”

“It's not that easy for me, Isis.” Odin cracked his neck in an attempt to not appear to be staring at her.

“Of course it is easy. You did choose this course after all. Instead of flying us through the usual route to the tournament grounds at Polaris, you plotted this course, you old romantic swine. Just look around us at the gentle glow of space – at the way those triple comets spiral their tails around each other – at the bright crackle of the electrical storm in the nebula we are entering. Doesn't it have any effect on you?”

It did have an effect. Odin shouted, “Bridge, come in!”

A voice through the ship answered, “Lord Odin?”

“Muginn, where are we?”

“Space-time coordinates 42420.500740.urd, my lord.”

“I specifically entered those coordinates in the navigational charts as somewhere to never go. Who authorized this route?”

Muginn answered in a voice which barely betrayed the slightest hint of concern, “According to ship logs, you did, Lord Odin.” For Muginn, that slight hint was as close to blind panic as he had ever experienced.

Isis asked, “What's got your tail in a twist, Greenie-Sweetie? You're always telling me about how the Asgard is safest place universe. You said it again right before you invited me to ride with you to the tournament grounds.”

Odin said, “Yeah, I said that. Right now though, the safest place in the universe is inside one of the most dangerous places in the universe. Space is glowing because this entire parsec is weak-walled. Light leaks through from other universes into this one. It reaks havoc on the ship's power systems including its shields. This nebula doubles down on our vulnerability. The storm is jamming my psychic perception with static. I can barely touch the minds of my drones on the far side of the ship, and I feel the interference getting worse.”

Isis observed, “That still isn't a reason to panic. We are being escorted by your best ships in your fleet, and my own ship with its escorts is following closely behind. No natural phenomena in this region poses a significant threat by itself. A manufactured threat like an ambush would require – oh, a collection of military firepower almost beyond comprehension.”

Odin shouted, “Muginn! Full reverse now! Take us out of this nebula!” This ship responded with swoosh almost deafening.

Isis followed the lead of her friend. “Asgard, take us to the bridge, and channel as much energy into the tactical shields as possible.”

The ship did not answer with words. The floor did drop down, carrying the two passengers into a lower deck at the saucer's core. The last image they saw of the outside world was an incredible display of lightning which erupted all around them.

As the platform settled into the bridge, Odin called out, “Muginn, have you corrected the course?”

The drone answered, “Yes lord, but we are nowhere near the same velocity yet as when we entered.”

Isis asked, “Where are my ships?”

The drone Huginn answered, “I don't know, Lady Isis. We lost sight of them in the storm. They haven't answered our hails either.”

Odin said, “They were following us, so we should pass them on our reversed course.”

Isis said, “I don't think so, Odie. My ships follow with a one percent course deviation to avoid collisions in the event of sudden stops. If they lost visual connection to us before we reversed course, we could have already passed them. They wouldn't know we aren't continuing on the original course. Can you reach the minds of my champions with your noggin-speak?”

“Umm no, I can't.”

Huginn said, “The tactical shields are losing coherency. They will completely crumble within micro-cycles.”

Isis suggested, “You could draw energy from my personal shuttle for the tactical shields. The extra power should bolster those shields and delay the crumbling.”

Huginn responded to the suggestion as if it were a command, “Yes, Lady Isis.”

Muginn said, “Lord and Lady, I am detecting multiple approaching vessels on intercept courses. Distribution suggests they are not the lady's ships, but they are in our way.”

Odin asked, “Which direction, Muginn?”

“Every direction, my lord. They have us surrounded.”

Candide stumbled out of his cabin, half awake but still more alive than a hundred other men. Muscular arms pulled his firefighter jacket over soft pajamas. His deep and striking eyes took in the scene. “Is that a storm in space through the porthole?”

Aegelief found the youth and answered, “Candide, that is not exactly a porthole, but the answer is yes. This screen is monitoring the situation outside of the Asgard. You would be safest inside your cabin. It has seatbelts.”

Candide turned towards the drone with grace and seriousness. He placed on a broad hand on the drone's narrow shoulder like a mother-bird's wing over a fragile egg. With supreme earnestness, he asked, “Aegelief, give it to me straight. Are we in danger?”

Aegelief gave it as straight as a laser beam in a vacuum. “Candide, do you see those objects approaching through the storm? Those are spaceships, Candide. Those are pirate ships in space. The degree is unknown, but the danger is real.”

Candide drew in a deep breath of precious air, suddenly understanding its preciousness. He spoke with a determination of a pulp hero, saying, “What can I do to help?”

“Nothing, Candide.”

The voice of Odin suddenly echoed through the ship. “Candide, report to the bridge immediately. I need you. Bring Aegelief with you.”

Aegelief apologized with all the recalcitrance he could muster. “It appears I was mistaken.”