Domik
The shuttle shook for what felt like the thousandth time since Domik had climbed up into the upper level. It had felt wrong leaving CJ down there, but he knew she would be safe. Zac wouldn’t leave until he knew she was safely in an escape pod.
Domik shut the hatch to the lower level, blocking off the smoke that was rapidly billowing in. The fumes made his eyes water and his throat felt raw from coughing. He blinked rapidly and scanned the escape pods.
He wasn’t able to stand upright in this space. In fact, he couldn’t stand at all. It was more a crawl space, designed for accessing some exterior electrics and weaponry. It was because of the plasma guns mounted on the top of the vessel that Domik was very familiar with this part of the shuttle.
He slid forward on his hands and knees toward the escape pods. The floor was made of panels of lightweight metal that clicked together for easy access if one needed to be pulled up. The walls were of the same material, a dull matte gray color that most Taurean military vessels were. Each of the escape pods was barely large enough to fit a Taurean of Domik’s size. He’d been in one before. All warriors were required to train in their use, and it had been a tight fit for most, but especially for Domik, who was larger than the average Taurean man. It certainly was not a comfortable trip that he would be taking.
But it will save your life. Such as it is.
He grunted at the thought. His life was a series of days filled with superficial interactions, or it had been. Shaking his head to clear the thoughts of the blond medic, Domik slid closer to the nearest escape pod.
A blinking red light lit the panel. Domik’s lips pressed together in a grim line as he looked through the small window. The pod had taken the brunt of a Xakul blast that had ripped a large hole in its side. It was a miracle that the shuttle itself hadn’t been damaged.
The second pod was in the same state, damaged from what looked to Domik like some kind of plasma spray.
One more to go.
His heart thumped rapidly in his chest as he approached the final pod. If this one was damaged too… well, he didn’t want to think about that.
A green light lit up the display.
Domik released a long, shaky breath, eyes closed in relief.
He hit the button on the door to open the pod.
Nothing happened.
Fuck.
That wasn’t unexpected, considering how much damage the ship had taken. He looked through the window and into the pod. It didn’t look like there was any visible damage. The pod looked… like an escape pod.
With such a genius intellect, is it any surprise you are single?
Domik sighed. There was nothing for it but to get out the tools.
There wasn’t enough room to turn around in the small space, so he had to roll onto his back and fiddle with the pocket on his combat pants where he had kept a multi-tool. The thing had been useful on more than one occasion, and he hoped today would be no exception.
Wriggling back into place, he prized open the access panel next to the pod door, pulling out a mess of singed cables, damaged beyond repair.
With a sigh, he dropped the mess and dragged a hand over his head, smoothing the stray strands that had escaped the braids that held the dark mass back during battle.
He closed his eyes and lay still for a second, running through his options.
A faint noise made his ears prick up, barely audible over the creaking of the ship’s hull and the klaxons that were still wailing away in the background.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
There it was again. A consistent banging that had to be coming from someone. Domik checked his comm. Enough time had passed that everyone should have left on the escape pods. There should be nobody left.
Unless there was a problem with the pods.
Domik wriggled across the floor to the hatch, levering it open with some difficulty. A wave of heat and smoke greeted him, and he threw an arm up to shield his face, holding his breath against the rush of acrid air.
A small hand reached up and grasped his own where it was curled around the edge of the hatch.
“Domik?” CJ’s voice was weak. “I thought I was alone. I thought everyone had gone.”
