Crash-landing the craft on one of the terraces was too risky. It might work, but it also might explode on impact, killing them and innocent bystanders. Their best bet was to jump.
She looked around, noticing they’d drifted away from the terraces. Far below several platforms stretched, linked to the terraces above by a series of walkways.
They were remnants of the station’s past, some of the few that hadn’t been deconstructed when the war ended. Fleet ships might have once landed on those same platforms for repair or to offload supplies before taking off through the retractable dome above.
She exhaled heavily. One of them would have to work.
"What about the platform below us at three o'clock?" she asked.
"That jump is nearly fifty yards and at least a twenty-meter drop," he argued.
"You got a better idea?"
A small growl filled her ear. That was a no.
"Give me time to get on the outside. I may be able to nudge this thing's death spiral, so it takes you directly over it," Jin said. "You won't have much time. Drop one of the kids onto it first; otherwise, you'll never make it."
Kira grinned.
"So much for going unnoticed," he muttered as he maneuvered into position.
Kira ignored the comment, knowing he didn't really mean it. Neither one of them were the type to regret saving a pair of children.
She crouched and looked the boy in the eye. "Can you understand me?"
He seemed hesitant, his nod slow, the suspicion in his gaze slightly dimmed.
Kira felt a sense of relief at the fact he could speak her language. Explaining what she needed of him and the girl would have been much more difficult otherwise.
"I have to throw one of you off," she told him.
He started shaking his head before she finished. She set the girl down and kneeled in front of him, making sure he could see her eyes. She needed him to trust her.
"I can’t make this jump holding both of you. One of us needs to go first. I'll drop one onto the platform and then jump with the other one."
Timing was crucial. The platform was a good size but it wasn’t huge. The sailboat was drifting faster than she’d like while attempting this maneuver. If she missed her window during the second jump, she and the other child would fall to their deaths as the ship opened the distance between it and safety.
He glanced at the platform, his solemn frown out of place in a face so young.
"She goes first." His accent made his words almost lyrical.
Kira hesitated. She'd planned to drop the boy first, then jump with the girl. He was heavier, and his size might slow her.
His stubborn expression told her he wasn't budging on this point. They'd lose valuable time if she continued to press.
She nodded, feeling resigned. In his place, she'd probably do the same.
"Alright, we're moving into position now, Jin," Kira said out loud, holding the boy's gaze as she did so.
Brief curiosity filled his face, but he remained quiet, watching as she took the girl and moved to the edge.
"Commencing maneuver. Brace for impact."
Kira gestured for the boy to take a knee, doing the same and huddling around the girl.
The craft jolted. For a long scary second, Kira wasn't sure Jin's tactic had worked, then they began a slow glide toward the platform.
Adrenaline coursed through Kira. She took the girl's hands and dangled her over the side, watching carefully for her moment. Timing was everything.
