No.
Kira preferred to focus on the things she could control in the moment.Like creating a bright enough flare that it knocked out whatever targeting system the sniper was using.
Bez’s sigh held a resigned irritation.“Fine—what’s the plan?”
Kira belly crawled deeper into the ship, trying not to mind the rocks and sticks poking into her abs and thighs.“I’m still working on that.”
“You mean to tell me we just risked life and limb and you have no real plan?”
Now, he was getting it.
Kira scanned the contents of the engine compartment, finding a bladder and hose not far away.She picked them up and eyed the stabilizer.If she could find a way to vacuum seal them to the injector, she might be able to drain the fuel with the manual function.
Occasionally, ship mechanics had to do maintenance on an engine while in transit.Leaving the fuel inside was too dangerous during that process.
Normally, the mechanic would have also emptied the compartment of atmosphere as an additional safety measure, since one worn gasket or seal anywhere in the system would result in a catastrophic failure, but Kira didn’t have that luxury.She just had to hope the enclave kept their ships in pristine condition.
Bez watched Kira attach the hose and bladder to the bottom of the stabilizer.“This is an incredibly stupid plan.”
“You’d be amazed how often I hear that.”
There.Done.
Kira opened the bottom valve, holding her breath as the sludge in the engine drained into her bladder.
Several seconds went by before she relaxed.
“Looks like we might get to live another day,” she said, shutting off the valve when she judged the bladder full enough.
They didn’t need a lot to create the distraction she intended.Less than eight ounces.
Kira double checked that the engine valve was fully closed before nodding at Bez.“Let’s go.”
With another muttered remark about the sanity of her ancestors, Bez crawled back out of the ship, Kira following.
They moved as far away from the ship as they dared without leaving the protection of its shadow.
It wasn’t as far as Kira would have preferred.Definitely not the recommended safe distance for a stunt like this.
“Ready?”she asked.
Bez’s face didn’t hold much confidence as he stared down at the bladder.“Just do it.”
Kira punctured the bladder and then threw it as far as she could.It sailed in a wide arc, hitting the ground midway between them and Pye.
There was a brief pause and then a loud hiss.
“Let’s move,” Kira ordered as sparks started to shoot out of the bladder.
She hobbled forward as fast as her injured thigh would allow.
Bez swept her up into a fireman’s hold before she made it more than a few steps.“Pye, Az, move your asses!Retreat!”
He broke into a sprint, jostling her.
“What are you doing?Put me down!”Kira gritted her teeth against the pain that lanced the wounds at the back of her shoulder and the outside of her thigh.
“Settle down—Roake’s heir isn’t dying on my watch,” Bez growled.
