A steadythud-thud-thudshelled their ship’s exterior, and Gweneth realized the truth.No need to spell it out.They’d die if one of the bigger chunks hit them in a vulnerable spot.Not even breathable suits would save them in the middle of this storm.
Ellard tried the engines, and once again, they spluttered.
Gweneth turned to the communication equipment.Her fingers raced over the keys.Nothing.No signal.It could be the interference from the storm.She’d learned a lot from Nanu, enough to help and maybe fix the problem.She unfastened her harness and slipped from her seat.
“What are you doing?”Ellard snapped without taking his gaze off the viewport.
“I’m going to try to work out what is wrong with the communication system.It’s something more than our position.There should be some static and there isn’t.Not a peep.”
“Stay in your seat.”
“Why?If a big enough piece hits us, we’ll be history.Either way, I’ll be dead.”And she wouldn’t go down without a fight.Ry and Camryn had taught her that.But first… She scooted closer to Ellard and kissed him dead on the lips.“In case we perish.I’d hate to die without having a kiss.Bad feline.”She patted him on the cheek.“You could have kissed me back.”While he gaped, she slid beneath a panel and peered into the dark innards.
“Phrull it.Get back in your seat,” Ellard barked.
The ship shuddered.Gweneth waited until the jolts ceased and prized her fingers free of the handy handholds.In the dim light, she studied the wires and followed the mass to the terminals.Several appeared loose, which seemed weird, and a couple of others weren’t attached anywhere.She popped back out from under the panel.A quick glance outside the viewport showed luck had turned their way, and they weren’t in danger of hitting anything in the next few mins.
“You didn’t kiss me back.”With her heart thudding, she turned to him and planted her hands on her hips.“You owe me a kiss.”
“More important things to do.”
“Where is the toolbox?I think I can fix the navigation system.Maybe the communication too.”
“You?”
Gweneth sniffed.“I’m not just a pretty face.”
She’d kissed him.She’d kissed him and demanded more.He backed away a fraction and focused.“No more kissing talk.See that big chunk over there.”He gestured out the viewpoint window.“It’s heading our way.”He hauled out a toolbox.“Show me the loose wires.”
“Ellard, I know how to do this.Nanu taught me.I’ve learned lots of stuff because theIndycrew take the time to educate me.I’m not one of your helpless upper-class shifters.”
Ellard ignored her affronted tone and slid beneath the main control panel.
“Pompous oaf,” she muttered.
A flash of amusement, unexpected, shot through him until he checked the wiring.Phrull it, she was right.Someone had tweaked the wiring, loosening some and tugging at others.
“Hand me the tease tool.”
The correct tool—one for teasing delicate wires into place—landed in his hand secs later.She possessed knowledge of tools.
“Ellard,” she said, an urgent note in her voice.“Please hurry.”
Her tone told him she wasn’t mucking around.“Why?”
“Big bit.Big, big piece coming our way.”
The engine was most important.Even half-power might help them get farther out of the field.He followed the wires and reached with his artificial hand to set them back in the correct terminal, ready to tease them back in to place.The ship juddered, rocking and shaking, buffeted by the material in the debris field.He flexed his shiny fingers and cursed under his breath.
“Ellard, are you almost done?Can I try the engine yet?”
“Just a sec.”He flexed his fingers and tried to insert a wire in the correct place.At the last moment, his fingers refused to work in the correct manner.He swore, stretched his fingers, and tried again.Phrull.The surgeon had told him to have patience.
“Ellard?”
Gweneth sounded panicky, and that decided him.
He swung out and led with honesty.“My hand isn’t up to the job.You’ll have to do it.”
