Space Pirates!

"Hey, come look at this," Rafil exclaimed. Marone turned, still disappointed about receiving orders to tend the king on his stag hunt. Rafil was looking at her, his arm and hand outstreched.
"What is five minus four?" he asked.
Marone was confused. She had joined the King's army for adventure, and was ready to sacrifice her life in this pursuit. She didn't want to answer math questions. She hated math, thinking there were just two many numbers.
"Duuuuh" was all she could get out of her mouth before Rafil closed every finger save the middle, and exclaimed "1" while giving her the bird.
Everyone in the room burst out laughing, including Commander Tomlin. Marone had been completely unbearable to be around during the long months of training, and it was jibes like this that kept her in her place.
The laughing was cut short however, when an explosion rocked the room. Marone's embarrassment turned to shock as she watched Commander Tomlin's body explode in an amorphous mass.
"Who's laughing now?", she thought, as she ducked for cover.
Ironically, Rafil's hand was severed from his arm and lay on the ground, finger still extended, as she jumped for cover.
The latest attack of the space pirates was underway.