26. Unlikely Compatriots
26
Unlikely Compatriots
A strange feeling seized the hearts in my chest as I saw the Crimson Claw slowly turn away from us. Getting ready to take Nova, my mate, away from me.
"Grixxa, you have the bridge. I'm going after her."
"What? Zharrox, no!" Grixxa protested but I ignored her. I raced through the corridors of my ship, following the trail of destruction left by the retreating pirates. My wounds screamed in protest, but I ignored them. Nothing mattered except getting Nova back.
I reached the airlock just in time to see a pirate shuttle detaching from my ship, no doubt headed back to the Crimson Claw. Shocked, my mind quickly shuffled through possibilities. There was not time to get into my own pod. to follow. Without hesitation, I jumped into my environment suit hanging in front of me and launched myself into space.
The void between ships was a gauntlet of debris and weapons fire. Turning on my blasters, I propelled myself forward, dodging energy blasts and twisted metal. My focus narrowed to a single point - the shuttle carrying Nova away from me. It must have been damaged as well as it was moving at less than half the speed I knew the vehicle could go. That was the only way I was able to gain on it in just my suit.
I had almost caught up to the struggling black shuttle, when alarms blared in my ears and the calm, disembodied voice of our ship AI came into my helmet. "Loss of seal in Area Two. Emergency return to ship activated."
"No! Abort emergency return!" I yelled while typing frantically trying to override the emergency systems, but it was no use. There was no way to cancel an emergency call by the ship itself. I wanted to slam my fists into something in frustration, but there was infuriatingly nothing but space around me.
I could only stare at the other ship get smaller and smaller as I was ingloriously pulled back toward the Stryker in defeat.