Chapter 2 #2
“Good. I’m going to upload the ship’s multi-floor layout and mark the route you’ll need to take.
I would have contacted you sooner, but your communicator is nearly dead, and I needed their ship to be closer to the habitable planets in this sector near the Void.
It does us no good to get you out of your jail if you don’t survive the escape.
I’m not going to give you false promises or guarantees, Dawn. What you’re about to do is far more dangerous than I have time to explain. But before I send you the route, you need to understand something: you might actually be safer in this cell than you will be out here.
I don’t know how they’ll react. I don’t know what they’ll do to you if you’re caught. And I can’t promise I’ll be able to get you out a second time.”
“They’re not going to catch me, but if you can’t come get me, at least tell me where I am risking my life to get to.”
“There are escape pods near the loading dock. Two of them still have enough charge to get you out, but barely. Look for the small green light above the entrance; that’s how you’ll know which ones are operational.
And listen carefully … those pods were built for Korgons. They’re much larger than you are. Strap yourself in before you hit the eject button. If you don’t…” He pauses. “You’re going to be thrown around inside that thing.”
“Back up a second. Let’s just say I make it there, crawl inside, and get strapped in … then what?”
“There is a huge, flat raised disk on the console that should be right next to the seat. You will need to push it all the way down, and it may take all your weight to engage it.”
“How do I do that if I am strapped in?”
“You are really going to have to get creative. Once I see the pod launch, I’m going to start covering your escape with cover fire while Jade, my mate, locks onto you with the tractor beam.
If something happens and we lose you, the pod will go to the closest habitable planet.
We will be there as fast as possible to retrieve you. Just stay with the pod if you can.”
“So let me get this straight … You want me to walk through this ship where these four-armed, bad-smelling monsters can possibly find me at any moment? Then, I locate a working escape pod, tie myself to a chair and use all my weight to get it to launch, after which you may or may not catch me before I crash into an unknown planet? Then, I’m supposed to sit around and wait for someone to save me once again? ”
“Pretty much.”
“Awesome plan … can’t wait to experience it! When do we start?”
“You’ll be on your own once I open the cell door, Dawn, so make sure you’re ready when I give the signal.
I wish there was another way to do this.
However, if you don’t get off this ship and the Korgons realize someone is tracking them, they will fold space, and I may never locate you again.
We know who bought you, and even though I’d love to have the proof that he accepted you, I am not willing to put your life at risk to achieve that. ”
“Okay, I’m ready, but I swear if I die, I am going to haunt somebody.”
“Well, I’ve had enough of that in my lifetime, so let’s get you out of there in one piece. Right now, all the corridors are clear as most of the Korgons are asleep, but there is still a guard on each deck. They have exceptional hearing, so you are going to have to be very quiet.”
Suddenly, he’s gone, and in his place is a screen with clearly marked lines. His voice almost makes me jump.
“Dawn, here is the route. The screen will update as you move through the ship and will also notify you if you take a wrong turn. However, you may need to cover it with your hand as the light might give your location away in the dark. I won’t be able to talk to you after you leave your cell as we need to conserve the remaining power in your communicator. Are you ready?”
“Not really, but let’s do this.”
A green light flashes on the bars in front of me, and seconds later, I hear a click.
Carefully, I push them open, then take a second to look around to see if anyone has noticed or is going to rush in to stop me.
When nothing but the same silence surrounds me, I step out onto the rough floor.
Glancing down at the small hologram, I turn to my left, starting the path that will either free me or …
well, I am not going to think of the other alternative.
Pushing the handkerchief against my face, I wipe my eyes as I try to keep my breathing steady so that I don’t trigger a coughing fit in the middle of this badly planned escape. At least after all these years of being afflicted by allergies, I’ve figured out what makes them worse.
Reaching the first set of steps, my bare feet make little to no sound as I hurry down one set, then another, until I find myself in front of another door.
I almost panic when I push against it, and a red light comes on.
I’m about to turn back to see if I can find a way around when I hear a click, and the light turns green.
Closing my eyes, I take a second to gather my courage before pushing it open, only to pull it back the second I see movement in the hall on the other side.
Pressing myself against the wall, my hand instantly covers the map that has led me this far.
Then I slide back into a dark corner, hoping it will give me some kind of cover and wait, knowing anytime now I’m going to hear footsteps heading my way.
Just as I think I might get lucky, the door opens and I have to put my other hand over my mouth and nose as I fight a sudden sneeze the second the smell hits me.
Thankfully, the moment it opens, a buzzer goes off down the hall, and it doesn’t even look inside; it simply shuts it back and turns away.
Tucking my head into my inner elbow, I allow myself a second to sneeze quietly before approaching the entrance once again.
I’ve just taken a step forward when the light on the door turns green again.
Sliding it open, I send a silent thanks to whoever this SiN is.
I’m grateful that he’s tracking my every move.
Now that the coast is clear, I’m out of the stairwell and heading down the long passageway, my bare feet screaming out in pain as I make my way across the rough grating on the floor.
Glancing down at the holographic map, I realize the worst is yet to come as I’ll need to cross a large opening between me and the hallway that leads directly to the pods.
Twice, I hear sounds coming my way, and I’m able to duck into a doorway or behind a crate before they see me.
But each time they pass within arm’s length, I must fight the panic that tries to consume my mind.
I start talking to myself, ‘You can do this … you are strong and capable … Don’t lock up now, this will be something you’re gonna laugh about later on in life.
Just keep moving. You are smarter than anything that smells this bad. ’
I wait until the silence settles around me once again before reaching up and tying the handkerchief over my face, freeing my hands.
Keeping close to the wall, I slide along it, trying to make myself as small and inconspicuous as possible.
There is nowhere to hide in this long corridor, leaving me painfully exposed.
Before long, I reach the opening to the large area I have been dreading. To my surprise, I discover that it appears to be some kind of dock. Thankfully, crates and towering pieces of machinery line the space, providing plenty of cover and making my passage far easier than I had anticipated.
According to this map, the escape pods are down a long hallway I can see only a few feet away.
I’m about to step out from behind a pillar when I hear a group of them approaching from where I’ve just been.
Standing perfectly still, I watch them out of the corner of my eye.
Thankfully, because they are so loud, they can’t hear my heart beating out of my chest like I can.
One of them stops … lifts its head into the air sniffing, and my body tenses up even further as my mind tries to figure out what to do if they spot me.
My prayers must have been heard because it turns away when one of the others yells, and I swear it takes everything I have not to melt into a puddle of goo as my adrenaline and nerves skyrocket.
The moment I see them all walking behind one of the large vehicles sitting inside, I sprint toward the hall. I think I’ve made it unseen—until I hear a rumbling grunt, followed by the pounding of large feet racing after me.
I pull up my wrist to make sure I’m going the right way. A bright star flashes across the screen, showing me the pods are just around the corner. Gathering the last of my strength, I run as fast as my legs and shredded feet will carry me. Just as I round the bend, I see the openings.
Portholes line the bright hall, each one leading toward the outside of the ship. My eyes dart to the lights above them. The first two on the right are red, but the third blinks green.
That’s my destination.
Gripping the wall, I launch myself into the short tube attached to the pod’s entrance, my breath coming in sharp, ragged gasps. Relief hits me the instant I see the pod’s main circular door standing open.
I’m almost there.
I throw myself inside, seize the long handle, and wrench it toward me. The door begins to close.
Then I see it.
A massive blue hand thrusts through the narrowing gap, fingers clawing desperately for purchase.
“Oh, hell no!”
I plant both feet against the wall, wrap both hands around the bar, and haul back with every ounce of strength I have. The creature snarls from the other side, its fingers scraping against the metal as it fights to force the door open.
My muscles scream. The gap shrinks. Closer and closer.
The blue hand slips.
I pull harder, gritting my teeth as the door finally slams shut with a heavy CLANG.
A second later, the locks engage. CLICK!
Silence.