“Death whispers, life screams.I am so done hauling this around.”She wrapped her knuckles against her leg.“My kryptonite...Terran metal.They built it this way on purpose.I am going to need a ton of physio if this ever comes off.”
She laughed and changed another filter.“There we go, girly.Breathing easier?”
“Yes, Captain.We have a solution for your brace, but you need to get to the nekko vines and sparin flowers.”
Skylar saw the dawning hope in Chloe’s eyes.“When it comes off, I will chuck it out, and we can take off.”
Chloe said, “Have you gotten the water delivery?”
“Yes, Captain.”
She smiled.“How long to drop and run?”
“We are in electromagnetic clamps, so if you are willing to assist with power, we can blow out half the station and go when you are ready.”
Chloe looked at Skylar.“Do you mind a stowaway?”
“No, ma’am.Just tell me what I need to do.”
“There are cables underneath the control console.Gertrude will extend them to you, and you need to get them to me as close as you can.We are also going to put a separate seat out for her so you are shielded.Put any tech you want to keep on it.”
Gertrude said, “Cage is ready.Please insert any tablets you wish to keep.”
The wire-wrapped cage descended from the ceiling, and Skylar nodded and moved around.A pad on insulation rose from the floor.That was Skylar’s safe spot.
Chloe wiggled into position near the vines and flowers.“So, what is going to happen is the vines are going to pull and ease the joints apart, and the flowers will slide in between.When the vines release, the flowers will explode under pressure.The cage will fall away, and the vines will pull it.When you dump the cage and call out, we will blow the connections to the station with a pulse.At that point, the ship will be running off my power until we can fully boot up again.The plants help with that.We should be on our way out of the system in ten minutes.”
Skylar nodded.“Grab the cage and dump it.Got it.”
Chloe smiled.“Yup.I will be bleeding a lot, but ignore that.The plants will take care of me.”She pointed to the brace.“These bolts are going to shoot hard right when it is loosened, and I am going to scream.If they don’t come out, can you use one of those claws and pop the bolt loose.It has to come out through my leg.”
Skylar paused and walked over, looking at the unit.“I can just cut this loose now, and we can pull the bolts after the mechanism is out.Would that work?”
Gertrude said, “Yes, pilot.It would work.You need to work fast, though.The unit will begin to fire off distress calls.”
Skylar looked at Chloe.“I am willing if you are.”
Flowers bloomed next to Chloe’s face, and she turned her head and munched them.“Pain killer and muscle relaxant.”
She nodded and gripped a vine.“Ready when you are, Skylar.”
Skylar flicked out her deadly claws and slid them on either side of the thigh bolt, working through it evenly.Then the bolt above the knee, below the knee, and finally the top of the foot.
Chloe swallowed and said, “Ready to break it?”
Skylar snapped the top and then the bottom link and eased it away from Chloe, going to the hatch and dumping it on the walkway.Plants were pushing the bolts out of Chloe’s leg.Chloe spoke.“Main control, this is shuttleFreedom Break, permission to leave?Staff member is outside of the vessel, and the account for repair has been paid.”
There was a pause, and someone said in common, “Shuttle, release is authorized, please consider us for your repair needs.”
Gertrude got them moving and then pushed them away from the station.“Two vessels following, Captain.”
“Engage drive and head for...”She looked at Skylar.
Skylar grinned.“Sanctuary Base.”
“Sanctuary Base.Setting course.Skylar, hold on.”
Vines descended from the ceiling, and the ship darted forward with a light hum.
