Krystal lined herself up with the asteroid and, locating the oxygen vent on the backpack, released a quick burst, barely even a second. She moved closer to the asteroid, but achingly slowly. She harrumphed.
“Once more and we’ll get to you, you big bastard,” she spoke as if the asteroid was listening to her.
She released another burst of oxygen, this time enough that she could grasp the edge of the rocky surface and hold on.
“Oof!” The air rushed out of her lungs at the impact as her body swung and hit the rock. “Ouch.” Her knee ached where she had struck it, but the suit seemed to be no worse for wear. Thankfully.
She had landed near a small depression in the rock, big enough to shield her, but only barely. It would have to do.
Krystal tucked herself into the small space, bracing her back against one side and her feet against the other. The asteroid had a little gravity, but not so much that she wouldn’t drift away if she wasn’t careful. It made no difference, she knew, but being next to the bulk of the large rock reassured her a little.
From where she sat, she could see the Xakul ship and the wreckage of the stealth ship. Her breath hitched.
Don’t think about him. Plenty of time for that later. Hopefully.
She checked her oxygen levels. There were a little over eight hours before things became dire. Krystal fumbled at her wrist for the comm, cycling through the screens until she reached the emergency beacon. She hit the button for the emergency locator, her breath releasing with a rush of relief. Now to just sit and wait. And hope.
Eight hours to think.
Wrapping her arms around her legs, she rested her head on her knees and stared at the wreckage of the ship. It felt like her heart had torn into as many pieces as the ship. She buried her head into her arms and sobbed.
* * *
Abuzzing noise woke her from a doze. Frantically, she checked the time. Only an hour had passed. Her eyes were sore, her lashes clumped together. Had it only been that morning that she had been arguing with T’arq? And now he was dead. Her eyes filled with tears again.
The buzzing noise came again, Krystal dragged her tablet out of the side pocket of her backpack. Something was broadcasting on the frequency that the Taurean military used. Was someone nearby?
She blinked rapidly to clear her vision and looked up at where the Xakul ship had been, alarmed to see that it was now much closer than it had been before.
Why hadn’t they left?
Krystal belatedly recalled the magnification function in the tablet and, pointing it at the Xakul ship, enlarged the view.
Something dull and silver was attached to the exterior of the Xakul ship. She enlarged the view again; the image becoming grainy and difficult to focus.
It wasn’t a thing; it was a person. It didn’t matter what the chances were, she had to get to him.
Had he survived?
Before she knew what she was doing, she had stashed her tablet and pulled the backpack on. She couldn’t live with herself if there was even a slight chance he was alive, and she didn’t do everything she could to help him.
She braced her feet against the rock and with all the force she could muster, flung herself off the asteroid and toward the Xakul ship.
Not fast enough!
She swore, fumbling with her oxygen tank to release the precious gas to propel herself closer. Her heart raced as she approached.
Please, please let it be him.
A gasp escaped her as she drew closer, the seconds seeming to crawl as she closed the distance.
“T’arq!”
There was no reply. His helmet might be damaged, or he might be unconscious. She felt a renewed purpose. She had to get to him.
She flew at the ship. Shit. She was going too fast. She had to slow down. Krystal fumbled with the oxygen, aiming the hose toward the Xakul ship, but it barely slowed her speed.
If she hit the ship, it would be like hitting concrete, and if she missed… well, she would just continue on. The chances of her being picked up were slim to none, if that happened. She had so little oxygen left that she might as well just give up now if she missed.
