We're in Space ... So What?

Chapter 11: I Got the Girl, But Now I'm In ... Jail?!

With adrenaline surging through him, Jamie finally closed the distance to Angelia. Just as she turned to glance back, he lunged forward, putting all his weight behind the move. He tackled her to the ground, pinning her beneath him.

"Got you!" he shouted, breathing heavily, feeling a rush of triumph. But the victory was short-lived.

Before he could get a word out, he heard the sound of footsteps and turned to see a group of police officers approaching, their guns drawn. "Release her now!" one of them barked.

"What? No! She—" Jamie started, but the officers were having none of it. The weight of their authority pressed down on him like a ton of bricks. Reluctantly, he released Angelia, who took the opportunity to scramble to her feet and smirk at him.

"Thanks for the catch!" she called mockingly as she darted away, disappearing into the throng of market-goers.

"Wait! No!" Jamie protested, but it was too late. The officers closed in, surrounding him.

"Hands where we can see them!" another officer shouted as they handcuffed him. Jamie felt a wave of defeat wash over him as they led him away, the laughter of the crowd echoing in his ears.

Jamie spent the next 48 hours in a cramped, dimly lit cell. The uncomfortable metal bench offered little comfort, and the surrounding cells were filled with a motley crew of characters—some were grumbling, while others were loudly protesting their innocence.

"Hey, what are you in for?" a scruffy man with a beard asked him one evening, his voice echoing off the cold walls.

"Just trying to catch a thief," Jamie replied, feeling his spirits sink further. "Turns out, I'm the one who got caught."

Laughter erupted from another cell. "Welcome to the club, pal. At least you weren't dumb enough to tackle a bounty hunter in broad daylight!"

Jamie sighed, leaning back against the wall. "Yeah, well, live and learn."

Over the next couple of days, he endured the discomfort of the cells and the occasional unwelcome attention from other inmates. It was frustrating and humiliating, and by the time he was finally released, he felt utterly defeated.

Emerging into the light of the shipyard, Jamie squinted against the brightness. He spotted Judah waiting by their newly acquired ship, looking triumphant and flush with cash after a successful gladiator match.

"Judah!" Jamie called out, walking toward him slowly.

Judah turned, a grin spreading across his face. "Jamie! You look like you've seen better days."

"I just spent the last two days in a cell because I tried to catch Angelia," Jamie admitted, the weight of his defeat crashing down on him. "I feel like an idiot."

Judah's expression shifted from amusement to concern. "Did you at least learn something?"

"Only that I'm terrible at chasing down thieves," Jamie replied, shaking his head. "I didn't even get to keep the bounty we were going for."

Judah clapped a hand on Jamie's shoulder. "Don't sweat it. I raised a good amount of money in the arena. We can regroup and come up with a new plan. We'll figure this out together."

"Yeah, but I really wanted to get back at her," Jamie said, frustration lacing his voice. "Now she's probably laughing with our credits."

Judah looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well, what if we use the money I earned to lure her out? We can put up a bigger bounty, maybe even let her know we're still looking for her."

Jamie's interest piqued. "You think it'll work?"

"I know it will," Judah said, his confidence infectious. "We just need to think strategically. If she's as cocky as you say, she might not be able to resist a challenge."

With a renewed sense of purpose, Jamie nodded. "Okay. Let's do it." Together, they set to work on their plan, ready to reclaim what was theirs and take back control of their lives.