Page 20 of Klaz
“Come on, you piece of junk,” I muttered through gritted teeth.
The ground rushed up to meet us. At the last second, Klaz managed to level us out. We skimmed over a vast ice field before slamming into a snow bank. The impact threw me forward. My head cracked against the console, and everything went black.
I came to slowly, disoriented. My ears rang, and a dull ache throbbed behind my eyes. Blinking away the fog, I found myself sprawled across Klaz’s lap. He cradled my head gently.
“Cinta? Can you hear me?”
I groaned, struggling to focus. “Did we crash or did I drink too much Xarian brandy again?”
Klaz’s lips twitched. “We crashed. How do you feel?”
“Like I went ten rounds with a Mondian prizefighter.” I tried to sit up, wincing.
“Easy,” Klaz murmured. “You hit your head pretty hard.”
I touched my forehead gingerly, feeling a lump forming. “What about you? Are you hurt?”
Klaz shrugged, his expression nonchalant. “It’s nothing to worry about.”
I narrowed my eyes, studying him more closely. The gashes and bruises from our fight with the pirates had faded to barely visible marks. My fingers ghosted over his arm where I distinctly remembered a burn. Now, only a faint red line remained.
“Handy,” I said, glancing at the frost-covered viewport. “Because I have a feeling we’re not in the most hospitable place.”
Klaz nodded, his demeanor shifting back to the stoic warrior. “We need to assess the damage and our supplies. Can you stand?”
I gingerly pushed myself up, ignoring the throbbing in my head.
A wave of nausea washed over me, and I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to vomit. The pod seemed to tilt and spin, and I closed my eyes, waiting for the vertigo to pass. When I opened them again, Klaz was watching me with concern etched on his face.
“I’m fine,” I said, though the words came out slurred. “Just a little dizzy.”
Klaz frowned. “You might have a concussion. I’ll keep an eye on that.”
The pod’s interior spun for a moment before steadying. “I’ll manage. Let’s see what we’re working with.”
The temperature was dropping rapidly as the pod’s systems failed.
I rummaged through the storage compartment, my heart sinking. “Two emergency ration packs. That’s it.” I held up the small, vacuum-sealed packages. “Barely enough for a day, maybe two if we stretch it.”
Klaz grunted in acknowledgment, busy examining the pod’s communications array. “I don’t even know if this is still in working order. We might be able to boost the emergency beacon, but...”
“But that would alert friend and foe alike,” I finished, understanding his hesitation. “Looks like we’re on our own for now.”
A bitter wind howled outside, rattling the pod’s damaged hull. I rubbed my arms. “Please tell me there are some thermal blankets in this rustbucket.”
Klaz produced two silvery packets from another compartment. “These should help, but we can’t stay here long. The pod’s structural integrity is compromised. We need to find better shelter before nightfall.”
I nodded, accepting the blanket he offered. As I wrapped it around my shoulders, my eyes were drawn to the viewport. The swirling snow had cleared momentarily, revealing a desolate landscape of ice and jagged rock formations.
No. We needed more if we had any hope of surviving here. In another compartment, my fingers brushed against something synthetic. Pulling it out, I found two protective suits.
“Jackpot,” I said, holding them up. “These should help with the cold.”
Klaz took one, examining it closely. “They’re not in great condition, but they’ll do.”
I shook out mine, then paused. The suit wouldn’t fit over my gown - I’d have to strip down to put it on. My heart raced as I glanced at Klaz.
“Um, could you...?” I gestured for him to turn around.