Page 45 of My Alien Jewel
“Good. Now, the system that safely depressurizes the airlock is down. You’ll have to manually open the outer door, then hold on to something while the air drains out.”
“Great!” she fake-chirps. “Don’t get sucked into space. Got it.”
“You won’t. Just make sure your magnetic boots are activated and you’ll be fine.”
We both watch as she pulls the lever by the outer door and the air current escaping through the gap in the door jerks her back and forth. She keeps a firm hold on the railing, though, and her magnetic boots keep her secured to the floor.
“Alright,” she says a few seconds later. “I think I’m good. I’ll open the door now.”
I’m strung tight with anxiety, vibrating with the desperate need to jump into that airlock and drag her out of there. She shouldn’t be going outside. She should be in here, with me.
Z’Ree grunts as she moves the heavy door but manages to open it just enough to slide through. “I’m ready. Can you tell me which way to go?”
To my surprise, D’Aakh presses his datapad into my hands. “Nikolai will guide you to the circuit hatch. Once you’re there, I’ll tell you what to rewire. You good with that?” he asks me.
Oh great, so Z’Ree’s life is now in my hands? I don’t know how to navigate! I always used my phone’s GPS! Fuck this. I take in a deep, slow breath to quell my spiraling anxiety and nod. “Sure.”
“Great. I’ll be back.” With that, he runs off to god knows where, leaving me alone by the airlock door.
I clear my throat, giving myself a moment to collect any stray thoughts. Time to focus. “Okay, Z’Ree. I’ve got you.” Somehow, I manage to sound confident. “Once you exit the airlock, you’ll head toward the bottom of the ship. It should be straight ahead of you.”
“It is. On my way.”
My heart stutters as I watch her step out of the ship and disappear into the darkness. My headache comes barreling back as soon as she’s out of my sight but that’s the least of our worries. “Just be quick. This part is the most dangerous. Once you pass the third maneuvering thruster, you’ll be shielded from the worst of the radiation, but right now, you’re very exposed.”
“I know. I’m hurrying, but the stupid boots don’t make it easy,” she huffs. “I’m by hatch 18-B. How far?”
I scroll the schematic to the side a little. “Still too far. You need to move faster, my jewel.”
“Oh fuck you,” she grumbles breathlessly. “I haven’t exercised in years andsomeonekept me awake all night.”
“Really? Someone?” I tease. “Because I distinctly remembersomeonetouching my cock while I slept and putting it into their pussy. I wonder who that was?”
She grunts. “Oh, shut up. I think…oh geodes, this suit isn’t made for running. I think I’m there. Thruster…wait, let me see the marking…L-804. Is that the right one?”
“Yes, that’s the right one. You shouldn’t see the neutron star anymore.”
“Mmm. There’s not really much to see, anyway. Just a patch of black nothing. Which way now?”
Chapter 24
Z’Ree
I huff and puffas I rush across the ship’s hull, my magnetic boots clicking and clacking. Were the circumstances different, I’d stop and admire the view, but all I can think about now are the invisible streams of radiation surrounding me.
It’s like Zarkan said. Silithrae might be more resistant to radiation than other life forms but we’re not immune to it. I can still get sick. I can still die. I really don’t want to die. So, I trudge on, even though my lungs are screaming that they want out of my body and my damned heart is leading the cavalry by pounding relentlessly against my ribcage in hopes of smashingits way out of my chest, thus creating an escape route for the both of them.
“I’m…I’m here,” I announce between gasps of air. “I think. Now, where’s the stupid hatch?”
“It should be … left of the …sor array,” Nikolai says.
“To the left of the sensor array?” Fucking great, now the radio is malfunctioning. Dread pools in my stomach. How will I know what to do if the radio stops working? I don’t remember the schematic drawing that D’Aakh showed me. I can’t screw this up!
“Yes, that’s correct. You’re breaking up a little but … be fine. D’Aakh is …ing back.”
I take a few steps to the left of the sensor array I was unwittingly leaning against and now, my target is right in front of me. An inconspicuous hatch, similar to dozens of others I passed by on the way here. Except this one is apparently special. Geodes, I hope D’Aakh is right about this.
I kneel by the hatch and open it. All I see are identical gray wires. Fuck me. I want to smack my face but my glove clangs against my helmet. Right, I’m wearing a suit. Because I’m in space. It’s still difficult to believe. I’ve always wanted to try this out, but I imagined it being under better circumstances.