I heated up two breakfast pouches and ate them in quick bites.Reconstituted powdered eggs weren’t my favorite, but they were high protein and filling.Lacy wasn’t wrong about the need for supplies.I’d initially only stocked enough food for one and had planned to pick some up on Elegium Station.We’d definitely need to purchase more food at the cargo stop, since we were adding two more people
I was recycling the meal pouches when Lacy appeared in the doorway.“All set?”I asked.
She lifted her tool bag.“Lead the way.”
When we reached the cargo hold, Lacy asked, “So what exactly is the problem?”
“The internal door.It’s stuck a couple feet from the ground.I can’t get it to go up and I can’t get it to go down all the way.”I gestured for Lacy to go first into the hold.
“Do you mean the one that separates the space into two distinct spaces?”The lights flickered on automatically when she crossed the threshold.She clambered down the steps into the hold with sure, easy steps.
“That’s the one.”I followed her into the cargo bay.
It was a big space, obviously not as big as the hold of a troop transport ship, but big enough for what we wanted to do.Maybe even space for a shuttle.Was that even a thing for cargo ships?
Currently empty, the regularly spaced beams on the floor, ceiling, and sides to lash cargo to were visible and our voices echoed in the space.
She stopped in front of the rolling door and placed her tool bag on the decking.When she reached for the hanging switch that controlled the door, I growled.“Tried that.It didn’t work.”Seriously, I wasn’t that dumb.
Her lips curved just barely, like she was holding back a smile.“I believe you,” she said.“I still need to test it for myself.Go do something else and let me work.”She made shooing motions.
I crossed my arms and leaned against the railing.“Nope.I want to make sure you take care of my ship.”
Her smile faded.“I promise, I’m not going to harm her.I told you I would fix the door and that’s what I’m going to do.”
“You’re the one who said I needed to knowFortunain and out.So I want to see what you’re doing.”
“Fine, if you want to play voyeur, knock yourself out.”
With a huff, she turned away and hit the button to raise the door.Something above us made a grinding sound, but nothing happened.
“Okay, so that doesn’t work,” she muttered to herself.
I was so restrained, I didn’t even say I told you so.But it was a hard-fought battle.
Next she crouched and grasped the edges of the door.Pretty sure this wasn’t going to work, but I took a second to enjoy the view, then focused on her form, to make sure she didn’t hurt herself.
She pulled up.The door didn’t budge.
“I tried that, too.”I couldn’t help it.
She tossed a glare over her shoulder.“Hit the button, would you?”
“Should we trade places?”I asked as I grabbed the controller.“Me lift and you press the button?”
She rolled her eyes.
Okay, then.
“On three,” I said.“One.Two.Three.”I hit the button.
The sound of gears grinding against each other filled the space, but nothing happened.
Lacy released the door and stood, arching to stretch her back.“It’s jammed.Pretty sure I can fix it, but I’m going to have to cut the power to the cargo hold while I do it.”
“Won’t cutting the power kill the gravity?”
She raised a brow.“No.The cargo hold power is completely separate from the gravity controls.And life support.And the pressurization.”
