"Space Outlaws"
Jayce's Root was responding to Audric's presence, giving the Lightning League their first lead in weeks. At his instruction, the Pride neared Taber's Belt in Sector A-1-J.
Taber's Belt was a "Forbidden Zone," the home base of the Pirates' Guild. The Pirates' Guild was an all-female group that raided ships and scrapped them for parts. There was only one thing Herc was interested in from Taber's Belt -- Morgana, the Pirate Queen and an old friend of his. The scanners showed no signs of life nearby, so the League journeyed into the Belt to see why the Root was reacting.
Suddenly, hundreds of circular jammers shot out from the nearby asteroids, freezing all electrical workings on the Pride. The ship was soon captured by the pirates and boarded. Herc and Oon confronted them, but wound up captured in a power net. Gillian projected an invisibility bubble over the rest of the Lightning League, enabling them to move about undetected. The ship was towed back to the pirates' asteroid, where it was looted and stripped.
Herc was locked up with the other prisoners. Oon was magnetized and thrown into a treasure room, where some gold coins and jewelry stuck to him, creating a walking treasure chest. The pirates later presented him as tribute to Saw Boss, who recognized the Eternal Squire and demanded that the barge and its contents be given to him. Morgana protested, saying that was not their agreement. She agreed to personally supervise the search for the League, but only if Saw Boss canceled all future payments of tribute. He agreed to these terms. Meanwhile, the uncaptured League members sneaked out in a large box taken from the Pride. They discovered that their vehicles have been dismantled for spare parts. Gillian began reassembling them while Jayce disguised himself in a hooded robe to search for Audric, Herc, and Oon.
Herc was brought before Morgana, who recognized the smuggler and promptly freed him. She hugged him energetically, saying that she missed him, and then inquired about the League and the Root medallion. Herc claimed that he dropped them on Altair IV long ago, taking Oon as payment. Morgana insisted that Herc join the Pirates' Guild over his loud protests. She allowed him to see Oon, but the visit was interrupted by a Saw Trooper. Saw Boss spoke through the trooper, ordering the pirates to arrest Herc. Morgana announced that Herc is no longer part of League, but Saw Boss didn't buy it. He ordered her to get the truth, and quickly, or else the Pirate's Asteroid would be besieged by the Monster Minds. She apologized to Herc, explaining that she had "people to protect," and had him taken away for interrogation.
Jayce discovered what was going on and retrieved Armed Force. Gillian warned him that it was not ready yet, but Jayce took it anyway, knowing that Herc needed help ASAP. Herc was strapped beneath a memory probe, which projected a field of pulsing, pink electrical energy over him. He suffered great pain, but refused to talk. Jayce burst in with Armed Force and rescued Oon, but then the vehicle falls apart! Jayce told Herc that they would be back for him, then turned to escape. In a sudden shift of loyalty, Morgana threw her light-dagger to Jayce so that he would have a weapon. He grabbed it and ran off with Oon. Saw Boss teleported his headquarters onto the asteroid, planning to use Herc as bait to lure Jayce into the open.
Herc was forced to walk the plank over an active power core, seething with red molten energy. Morgana said she wished there was another way. Herc quietly declared that, like Morgana, he also had people to protect. Saw Boss forced Morgana to get on the plank as well, and issued an ultimatum to Jayce -- show up, or his friends would be destroyed. Jayce and Oon returned to the vehicles, finding that Gillian had repaired them all. Morgana started to feel faint from the intense heat. Herc told her to hang on to him, promising that "Jayce will come through."
Jayce confronted Saw Boss, swinging down from a high perch to take out the pirates' robots while the League vehicles fought the Monster Mind troopers. Flora and Gillian dumped fire extinguisher foam into the energy core, cooling it off instantly. Oon saved Herc and Morgana from the plank by retracting it back to safety. Jayce then gave Morgana her light-dagger back. She declared that the Pirate's Guild now stood against the Monster Minds, and started leading her women towards them. Saw Boss retreated and teleported his headquarters away.
Morgana gave Jayce his father's compass, which the pirates took from him years ago, and returned Oon's magic lance. She then told Jayce to name his reward for saving the pirates' lives. He asked that they quit robbing innocent people. She agreed to lead the pirates against the Monster Minds instead. The Pride was soon repaired and Morgana saw the League off. She pulled Herc aside to talk privately with him, promising to always be there for him just as he will always be there for Jayce.
Herc: "You said Sector A-1-J, right? Listen, that's Taber's Belt -- ships go in, don't come out! I should know, I used to work there."
Flora: "Did you mine asteriods, Herc?"
Herc: "Well, uh, you see, I ah..."
Jayce: "Taber's Belt is a Forbidden Zone controlled by the Pirate's Guild. Only merenaries selling illegal goods operate there!"
Flora: "Pirates?! Herc, were you...?"
Herc: "Well, I had to make... deliveries!"
Oon: "Space Outlaws -- whooah!"
Flora: "It sounds exciting!"
Herc: "If your idea of excitement is being boarded and ransacked, heh, you'll love the Forbidden Zone!"
Herc: "There's only one thing in Taber's Belt to recommend it... Morgana."
Jayce: "Who's Morgana?"
Herc: "The Pirate Queen... and a long, distant voice from my past, kid."
Gillian: "Ahhh, too late, they're here! Only one thing left: an invisibility spell would seem appropriate..."
Pirate Redhead: "I claim this ship and all aboard her in the name of our leader, Morgana!"
Gillian: "We're outnumbered, Jayce!"
Jayce: "That's never been a problem before."
Herc: "MY SHIP! You won't get away with this!"
Jayce: "We can hide in this spare cable crate. Good thing Herc never throws anything away!"
Pirate Redhead: "So, you must be the ex-Captain of the Pride of the Skies II. It was a nice ship!"
Herc: "Listen, you're making a big mistake! Now, don't you think we can discuss this problem in a, ah... more comfortable atmosphere?"
Pirate Redhead: "Why, of course, Captain. GUARDS! He's asked for the special treatment! See that his request is granted in Dungeon A!"
Herc: "HEY! Wait a minute! Let's talk!"
Jayce: "Gillian, it looks like all the pirates are women here. Hiding's going to be a real problem."
Gillian: "Huh... a wizard and a little girl and a flying fish will be conspicuous no matter what we wear!"
(After being dropped into a treasure room)
Oon: "Hmmm! They obviously knew my true value!"
(After being dumped into the dungeon sans shirt)
Herc: "And they call themselves ladies!"
Saw Boss: "Where that suit of armor is, the boy is also. Soon, the Root will be mine!"
Guard: "YOU. Your presence is demanded!"
Herc: "Oh, that's just wonderful! Am I checking out?"
Morgana: "Herc? Herc! You're the Captain of that old hunk of junk we dragged in here?!"
Herc: "It wasn't junk until you stripped it."
Morgana: "I've missed you, you old space rat!"
Morgana: "I'll explain everything. For now, let's get you properly outfitted as a member of the Pirate's Guild."
Herc: "Pirate's Guild? ME?! But-But..."
Morgana: "Hah! You don't even own the shirt on your back, Herc; it belongs to me! But, I'm willing to bargain if you'll work -- on my team for a change. And I'm not taking 'no' for an answer!"
Herc: "But, wait! Ah, let me think about this..."
Saw Boss: "...If you don't want your world beseiged by Monster Minds, then you'll find out where this wretch is hiding the Lightning League! Get me the truth!"
Morgana: "I'm sorry, Herc. I have no choice. Take him to the Mind-Probe for questioning..."
Morgana: "I'm sorry, Herc. I have my people to protect. There's nothing I can do."
Morgana: "Honey! I wish it was anyone but you up there."
Herc: "Yeah. Like you said, you've got people to protect. Unfortunately, so do I."
Saw Boss: "...Get on the plank! Perhaps a woman in danger will bring the foolish boy!"
Morgana: "What?!"
Saw Boss: "You'll all do exactly as I say! Or your Queen Morgana is going to take a long fall -- into the Power Core!"
Morgana: "Don't listen to him! Don't worry about me!"
Morgana: "I don't know how much longer I can hold out, Herc! I'm about to fall."
Herc: "Just hang on to me, doll. Keep your chin up! Jayce'll come through."
Jayce: "Sorry to keep you waiting, Herc!"
Herc: "Not bad, kid. But you sure took your time!"
Morgana: "The deal's off, Saw Boss! The Pirate's Guild stands against you!"
Morgana: "HERC! Aw, Herc. I'm going to lose you again, aren't I?"
Herc: "I'm very proud of you -- what you've just done. But... well, I've got too much money invested in this kid! I've gotta stick with him, and collect when the time comes."
Morgana: "You don't fool me a bit, Herc. You're not after that boy's money. You care."
Herc: "Well, I'm..."
Morgana: "Someplace in that stone heart of yours is a soft spot. I have one too, only it's for you. And I'll always be here for you. Just like you'll be there for him."
Herc: "Morgana!"
Morgana: "But I'll keep your secret if you'll keep mine! Pirate's Honor."
Herc: "I promise."
(They seal it with a kiss as the League watches)
