Dirk didn't waste a second more at the motel. He knew that if Tym had found him, it wouldn't be long before others did the same. With only the essentials in hand, he bolted towards his ship, initiating the tracking system and transmitting the clearance code to the Tolvan 1 authorities for a smooth take-off.
As his cruiser shot through the planet's atmosphere, Dirk resolved to uncover the truth behind Tym's death, which he suspected was linked to his latest assignment - Tyrant Joe. For that, he had to capture the killer alive. A dead culprit wouldn't divulge the secrets Dirk sought.
Within minutes, Dirk found himself trailing the spacecraft he'd been tracking through an uncommon meteor shower - the second one he'd encountered in his career. It was a dangerous affair, maneuvering through space laden with meteorites, a risk second only to tangling with pirates. Dirk expertly navigated his ship, dodging a barrage of celestial rocks.
He issued a command to his computer, Steeler, to take control and minimize damage while activating all weapon systems. As Steeler's newly extended joystick came to life, Dirk gripped it firmly, directing the cruiser to tail the assailant's ship. His intention was to stun the enemy craft, disabling its controls as they emerged from the meteor shower.
Just as he gave the command, his ship shuddered and alarms blared. They had sustained heavy damage from the other ship. According to Steeler, their chances of survival had plummeted to a scant 1.4%. Ignoring the odds, Dirk retaliated, his fourth shot successfully hitting the enemy's ship as they exited the meteor shower.
As the damaged spacecraft drifted to a halt, Dirk commanded Steeler to pull alongside it. He armed himself with a blaster rifle and a recharge unit before leaving his ship, instructing Steeler to prevent anyone else from boarding. Once inside the enemy ship, he activated his communication device, asking Steeler for the ship's schematics.
Guided by Steeler's voice and his glasses displaying a three-dimensional blueprint of the ship, Dirk cautiously advanced. When Steeler detected a heat signature in the engine room, Dirk was led straight there. The room was blisteringly hot, causing Dirk to wipe the sweat off his brow.
A quick scan of the room left Dirk puzzled. "Steeler, there's no one here," he reported, but before he could ponder the error, the room's door slammed shut, sealing him inside. The sound of his own blaster rifle firing at the door was followed by the sting of a laser bolt ricocheting off and singeing his clothes.
Panicking, Dirk tried to contact Steeler for an escape route, but there was no response. Instead, a chilling voice crackled through his communication device, declaring that his computer was compromised. It was the voice of his adversary, savoring the upcoming demise of Dirk Steele.