T’arq smiled sadly as he heard Krystal hum a jerky tune through the comm.
Quickly donning his own backpack, he hooked up the oxygen tank to the helmet and put it on, securing it. He thumbed his comm and held out his elbow. “Shall we?”
“Sure, why not?” Krystal replied with a nervous laugh.
He smiled in what he hoped was a reassuring way. “Disengaging the artificial gravity and opening the hatch. Ready?” When Krystal nodded, he grabbed her around the waist and hooked his arm through one of the tie-down loops used to secure cargo. “Computer, disengage artificial gravity.”
“Disengaging artificial gravity.”
With a silent prayer that the strap would hold, T’arq kicked the hatch lever open. A rush of air whipped past them as the ship de-pressurized. T’arq grunted as Krystal jerked in his arms, his shoulder complaining as he took the force. Their feet left the floor, pulled closer to the hatch. Thankfully, the ship being small meant it was only a few seconds before it was over.
“Would they have seen?” Krystal asked in a hushed voice.
“Probably, but we’ll have to risk it.”
“What about my data?” Krystal turned and pulled herself into the cockpit.
T’arq followed to see her retrieve her tablet from where it was floating above her seat, miraculously unbroken.
“Weren’t there something like ten of those ships before?” Krystal said, leaning over the seat to look at the tablet that was still showing a scan of the exterior of the ship. It must run on backup power.
T’arq held out his hand and Krystal passed him the tablet. He flicked through the screens to check the exterior, smiling in triumph as he realized the rest of the Xakul had left it to the one ship to bring them in.
One ship he could deal with.
“Change of plans.”
* * *
T’arq held the charge in one hand, his laser pistol in the other. It wasn’t the best thought-out plan, but he didn’t have time to come up with anything else. So it would just have to do. The most important thing was getting Krystal to safety and that he could manage.
“So, let’s go over the plan again,” he said, turning to face her and taking her shoulders in his hands so she wouldn’t spin away. He hooked one foot under his pilot’s seat and the other was braced against the floor, keeping them still. For once, Krystal’s head was at the same level as his, her feet floating above the floor.
“We will be tethered so we don’t lose each other,” Krystal said, her voice sounding like it was coming from a long distance away because of static from the speakers in his helmet.
“You will go first, aiming for the nearest asteroid that looks large enough to hide us.” He nodded in the direction of the Xakul ship. “I will get the plasma cannon, and fire it at the Xakul.”
Krystal nodded. “And use the force of the blast to propel yourself away from here and clear of the blast.” Krystal’s brows furrowed. “That seems a little…”
“Stupid? Probably.” He rubbed her shoulders, even though he knew she would probably not feel it through the fabric. “I don’t have a better idea.” He shrugged. “That’s why you have to be well clear when I fire the cannon. If we’re too close...” He shook his head.
Krystal jerked under his hands. “Oh! I have an idea.” She twisted from his grip and pulled herself about the cabin. T’arq watched as she ripped open anything she could get her hands on, pulling electronic parts out of the ship until, a short while later, she held a small collection in her hands. “I think I might have the answer,” she said, excitement making her words quick as she focused. T’arq smiled when she turned to him and held a device the size of her palm out for his inspection. “Tah-dah!” She cried triumphantly, an excited smile splitting her face.
“What is it?” he asked, taking it from her to turn over in his hand.
“A timer.”
They shared a grin. Perfect.
Or perfectly stupid. This was probably the stupidest idea he had ever had, but it was this or deal with the Xakul and once they got the ship to their base, there was no knowing what they would do to them. Nobody came back from being captured by the Xakul.
No. This was the only option. They would set a charge on a timer and both escape together. That would be the safest option.
T’arq steadied himself to jump out of the open hatch and glanced at Krystal. “Ready?”
She nodded. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Do you have the tablet with your data?”
