“I’ll put on a spacesuit and float around until someone picks me up.”
The thought made Domik’s stomach churn. “No. You’d be ripped apart. I won’t allow it.”
CJ’s eyebrows shot up so fast they almost disappeared into her hair. “You won’t allow it?”
Danger. Danger.
And it wasn’t from the shuttle that was about to explode all around them. Domik rubbed his temples. He never used his sheer size against a woman, but he had no choice. He turned and pressed the button on the exterior of the pod itself, holding his breath in anticipation as the lights flicked green and the doors opened.
He closed his eyes, sighing in relief before grabbing CJ bodily by the arms and, as gently as he could, lifting her into the escape pod. She, predictably, kicked and flailed her arms and legs, grabbing the edge of the door as he pushed her inside.
He was just about to press the button to shut the door to the pod itself when she grabbed his arms and half pulled herself out of the pod. As much as he could tell from under the filth coating her face, the blood had run from her face and she was panting, eyes glazed.
“It’s going to be all right. Just get in the pod, Clodagh.”
His use of her full name had her eyes snapping to his, her hands tightening where they gripped his arms. “What did you call me?”
And this time, his lips tilted just a little. “Your name.” He knew that would get her. He’d only found out by accident, but in his own mind that’s what he called her. It suited her, and he liked the way her name felt on his tongue.
“You’re the only one who calls me that, you know.” She tilted her head to one side, as if trying to understand some complex mathematical problem.
Another blast shook the shuttle, and she gasped, the moment broken. The blasts were coming more frequently now. They had minutes, if they were lucky, but probably more like seconds, until the ship was torn completely apart.
“Go.” His tone was urgent. He had to get her off this shuttle.
“No. Not without you.” The stiff way she held herself, telling him she would not give in.
Stubborn woman.
He was big enough that he could overpower her, but the thought was abhorrent. “Listen. We both won’t fit. And there’s not enough oxygen for two. Get in or we’ll both die!” Domik felt an unaccustomed anxiety flood him at the thought of her not making it to safety.
“If we pull something out, I bet we could both fit in here.” She gestured behind her with one hand toward the miniscule pod.
He looked past her shoulder, assessing the space.
Why didn’t I think of that?
He was not a small Taurean, and although she was slim, she was tall. At least for a human. When they stood, she reached the middle of his chest, so in the pod… well, she would have to sit on his lap.
The thought had him shifting uncomfortably.
Not the time and definitely not the place.
But he knew what these pods were like. There was no room to move when he got in there himself. It would be very uncomfortable. But it might just work.
Domik jerked his head, gesturing for her to climb back out. CJ quickly clambered from the pod. An ominous creaking noise sounded from above their heads, both of them freezing to stare at the ceiling.
If they were going to do this, they needed to do it fast. And they would need supplies. “Go through the hatches and see what you can find that can be used as padding.” Domik pointed toward a row of locker style hatches opposite the pods.
CJ nodded and began opening and closing doors as she pulled all manner of things out, throwing things into a pile and clutching others to her chest. Domik turned to the pod and, with a sigh, yanked the seat free from its bolts, pulling it into the shuttle. Without the seat, it really looked like a metal can, like he’d seen in some of the Earth movies he had watched. Ones that he’d overheard CJ talking about.
What did the humans say, something about small fish crammed in a can?
“Will a couple of blankets do?” CJ asked, holding out a simple Taurean military issue blanket. It was thin, but it would be better than nothing.
“Yes. Let’s go.” Domik lay the blanket down in the pod where the seat had been, and climbed in. He shifted around, trying to make as much space for CJ as possible.
“Ready?” she asked, biting her lip as she watched him.
