"Because I just thought of a good place to hide it. They'd have to tear the ship apart to find it, if they even hear the signal!"
"Attention! Attention! This is Coxine—" The pirate's voice bawled over the audioceiver again. "You are under my guns. Stand by to receive a boarding party. If you make any attempt to escape, you will be blasted!"
Tom grabbed the microphone to the audioceiver and replied, "Orders understood, but you'll have to wait until we can build up air pressure in the air lock."
"Very well," said Coxine. "We'll give you fifteen minutes."
Tom thought desperately. "You'll have to wait at least a half hour. We broke a valve and have to replace it!"
Coxine's voice became suspicious. "Hey, what're you trying to pull?"
"Honest, Mister Coxine," whined Tom, "we're not doing anything."
"Fifteen minutes," roared Coxine, "or I blast a hole in your ship!"
"Yes, sir!" answered Tom, fully aware that the pirate captain would carry out his threat.
Dropping the audioceiver microphone, the young cadet hurried to the power deck, where Astro waited impatiently.