He reached the cluster of metal. The escape pod must be somewhat buoyant, for it had not sunk and seemed to be what was holding the metal pieces afloat.
Shoving the debris away, Kian found the escape pod bubbling over with water.
He ripped the main hatch off. Inside, in the water, was red. Red everywhere.
It took him a moment to assess.
Because it wasn’t blood.
It was the clothing, floating around like dark blood in the blue-shaded water. He pulled on the fabric, hoping the Ambassador was inside it somewhere.
Wadding up the material, he tugged it toward him.
It felt like the fabric went on forever.
Why did Terrans do this?
Why wear all the layers? They simply got in the way and were not efficient.
He pulled and tugged, the soggy wet clothing heavy in his hands until he found the Ambassador—a female—and yanked her out of the water, her head above so she could breathe.
“Scan,” he said, pushing the floating door out of the way.
She bucked and coughed. Kian held her afloat.
Scanning.
Internal injuries list manifest.
Treatment: Nanite injection, 10%.
His nanites, robotic cells that filtered through his body to maintain working order of both cybernetic and humanoid parts, healed his wounds and maintained his physical health. Also, they could be adapted to mend other humanoid species as needed.
Kian had never given any of his nanites to anyone. He’d never had a need. However, he would not argue with Master System. If a donation of 10% of nanites would heal the Terran Ambassador, then it was what he would do.
The war with the Terrans had to reach a resolution.
He held out his arm, his gauntlet on his forearm shining as the threads emerged and latched onto the girl’s neck, where her primary arteries were. In a moment, the nanites flooded her system and went to work.
The threads pulled back just as she swung her arms and gasped for air.
The escape pod door floated nearby again.
Kian grabbed it with his other arm and held it steady. “Here. Up here.” He shoved her up onto the floating door.
It was not the best floating device, but it got her out of the water.
She shivered and coughed more.
Kian oriented himself and located the shore of ST-17.
He got a good grip on the door and began swimming, pushing her toward shore.
8
Freya coughed and spit.
Winced from the brightness.
