Immediately, the star field streaked passed them at a phenomenal speed. The whine of the ship's engines grew silent as it traveled at terminal velocity. The violent shaking of the ship increased.
"We've been EMPed!” The Electromagnetic Pulse knocked out all their systems. Eriq tried the manual engine start, flipping it several times with no response. The vibrations were getting worse.
"Are they still following us?” Eriq's voice quivered with the vibrations of the ship. Nah'Dara could not tell. Her vision was so distorted by all the shaking that she could not see at all.
"I don't know. They probably think we're going to explode and held back.” Nah'Dara mentally laughed.
Not only did this only basket of bolt have sluggish tactical, the damned thing would not start at all. However, against her better judgment, Nah'Dara unhooked herself from the seat. This was only going to get worse. She had to do something about the vibrations before it tore the ship apart.
"What do you think you're doing?” His voice betrayed the obvious shock.
"I'm going to try to get this ship started. They need to be recalibrated.” On shaky legs, she made her way to the portal as it slid away. The vibrations were becoming unbearable. Using the bulkhead, she steadied herself heading for the engineering bay. It was not far from the command center. She found it with ease. Stumbling through the door, Nah'Dara located the dampener's console.
"This ship can't take much more.” She did not think her stomach could either. She needed more time. This ship was different from the Naesan and the Arcotus, what she was used to on Habias.
"Hold on. I almost got it.” Opening the console, Nah'Dara pulled out several of the glowing blue chips changing their sequential order. She had it, corrected it. Some of the systems started to slowly come to life with a protesting groan. Nevertheless, the engines were still offline. She braced herself as best as she could before pulling the last blue chip. That only made things worse.
"Hyper-drive Engines and Inertial Dampeners offline,” the computer sounded in a cold, malfunctioning, synthesized female voice.
Oh, Hell!
The ship was pitted into a violent spin, sending Nah'Dara across the engineering bay. The sudden howl of the engines deafened her screams. She landed on the nearby bulkhead knocking the wind out of her. Though it was difficult, she climbed back to the console, chip still in hand.
"Attempting to compensate.” The computer sounded again. Nah'Dara worked overtime trying to get the dampeners online. If she did not they would slam right into the hyper field wall. After several tries, slipping the chip in and out again, then resorting to beating the damned console, the dampeners and engines came to life. The whine of the engine increased against the strain. She could not tell if Eriq was working to pull the ship out of its spin.
Using the bulkhead again, she made her way back to the command center.
"Try the impulse engines in reverse,” she said as she strained to get back into her seat and strap herself in.
"I know how to pilot a ship!” he fired back against strained teeth.
"Well you're doing a poor job at it!” She tapped on the navigational console. It was off line.
"We have no navigation! We are flying blind!"
"I know this, Nah'Dara!” Slowly the ship stopped spinning. But they still had a lot of velocity.
To her horror, a lush and green planet came into shocking view. The ship was descending into the planet's gravitational pull.
"Oh, spirit...” They were going down. And fast. The whine of the engines loudly rang in her ears as Eriq tried to pull up. The computer's loud klaxons sounded, telling them what they already knew.
"We're going down. Brace for impact.” Already strapped in her safety belts, Nah'Dara braced the console in front of her with both hands. Tensing as she could feel the ship dive through white clouds. She looked to Eriq not knowing what to do. He did not look back, but she could feel him in her mind. Telling her to remain calm, feeling him try to remain calm himself.
Chapter 12
Zyper Tykib headed to the main control center to get an update on the sensors. He really did not care for this position. It was mainly part of a cover for the Altarians. He had been born to an Altarian mother, with his father being a Cylian raider. He used his darker skin to his advantage to become spy for the Altarians.
It was not a big mission at the time. Go into the ranks, gaining intelligence, and get out. The mission quickly turned from seven months to two years with him moving higher in the ranks.
The door slid away as he walked inside. The area was lit with view screens all displaying different parts of the sensor grid above the planet. Through the light's soft glow, he could see the guard supposedly monitoring the sensors.
He looked to the screen. All of the screens had nothing great to display on them, space dust, a couple of rouge meteors that were too small to worry about, but one screen caught has attention. Above the planet on the north eastern side, was a small blemish heading straight for them.
On another screen, he checked the reading again. Before the blue swirling panel of information was a persistent red blimp that edged closer to the planet.
He looked down at the guard that was monitoring the sensors. The slob was fast asleep at his post with his feet propped on the console. Scowling, he slapped his feet off the console.
"Wake up, you lazy slob.” The guard startled and nearly fell from the chair.
"My apologies, sir.” The guard rubbed his eyes looking at the screen.
"See something in particular?” The guard looked closer to the screen, as his eyes widened with shock as he saw the red dot.
"We-we-we,” he stuttered.
"Move out of the way.” Zyper pushed the man out of the chair leaving him to stand beside him. Pressing a couple of a series of controls on the console, he brought up the in-range visual on the viewer.
The ship was hurtling towards them faster than the sensors were able to pick up. The ships identifiers sent the sensors into a loud screech. It was an Altarian transport. Not just any Altarian transport but the one owned by the Great Prince himself. How could they have missed this? Zyper then looked to the guard. He startled at the look of malice running his hair through his course braids.
He stood grabbing the man by one shoulder forcing him down into the chair. The poor excuse for an officer did not even have any battle marking down his arm. “Sit here and monitor the ship. Notify me of any changes."
"But shouldn't we notify Lord Narl?” How dare the poor excuse for a guard question him? Zyper towered over him staring down his nose.
"I don't think that it would be in your best interest to notify His Greatness of how irresponsibly you monitored the sensors. The ship is either going to crash or burn up in the atmosphere. Notify me if something changes from that."
"Yes, sir."
He turned to leave. He should keep a better eye on the ship, but there was no telling how many Altarians were coming to attack. Mentally, he readied himself. If the time to attack was now, then his cover was blown.
Chapter 13
Eriq managed to pull the nose of the ship up by a fraction, before they hit the ground. Instinct took over Nah'Dara. She clamped her eyes shut, not wanting to see her end.
Upon impact, she heard a sickening crash of metal hitting the earth. The groan of the ship's outer hull surrounded her in a loud whine. The ship skidded across the lush green terrain, leaving toppled trees and flattened bushes in its wake. The ship skidded forever, coming to a stop seconds before sliding into a ravine. Slowly, she opened her eyes. Her chest hurt, her arms sore from bracing herself, there was loud ringing in her ears, but other than that, she was fine. She spied the damage.
Every console on the bridge was out save one. It flickered and dimmed spitting out electrical sparks. Wires hung from a ripped bulkhead. A dense white smoke filled the command center. A small fire broke out at the back of the command center.
Nah'Dara turned her head to see Eriq. Every moveme
nt caused greater pain. He was unconscious. A large gaping wound seeped blood from the top of his head onto the flight suit. Fear constricted her chest. She had to help him.
Sluggishly, she unbuckled the safety belt, pulling herself from the seat. Every muscle in her body screamed at her to stop. The pain was almost too much to bear, but as always she pushed it back to tackle the task at hand.
Nah'Dara reached Eriq, gently shaking him. Her mind raced as she placed her hand on either side of his face.
What if he had a bad concussion and wouldn't wake? What if he had internal bleeding that I could not stop? What if he died?
As much as he had tormented her over the past three days, she did not want to see him dead.
"Eriq? Open your eyes.” He moaned as his glazed eyes slowly opened meeting hers from under dark lashes. A surge of relief rushed through her.
"Did we land?” he slurred. She nodded, too shook up to speak. He lurched forward in an attempt to get out of the chair. Nah'Dara placed her hand across his chest to gently push him back down.
"Hold it. Don't move. You have a pretty nasty head injury. You might have a concussion.” His eyes were clearing. That was a good sign.
"I have to see about the ship."
"Uh-uh. That can wait. You need to be still, so I can treat your wound.” Eriq wanted to protest, but she placed a hand on his broad chest easing him back daring him to move with her steal of her glare. Eriq reluctantly relaxed against the seat.
Nah'Dara smiled slightly, not wanting to show how truly scared she was. Pushing more stray thoughts aside, she rose to tend to the fires.
A bulkhead covered the hand extinguisher that was once hanging on the wall near the command chairs. It took a little strength, but she managed to pull the bulkhead to the side enough to grab the extinguisher.
Pulling the pin, she aimed it at the first fire pushing the button.
Nothing happened. She shook it, threatened to bang it on the deck. Nothing. It was probably busted during that crash. She sat it down on the deck moving back to Eriq. His eyes were closed. He could not be sleeping now. He should not be sleeping. Against her better judgment, she cupped his face in her hands smoothing the stray strands of he midnight hair away from his face. Slowly, he opened her eyes. They were still clouded.
"We have to get you out of here. Can you stand?” He nodded. Unhooking his safety belts, she gently guided him to standing. She braced herself under him, his larger form leaning on hers.
They walked down the corridor to the cargo bay. She had him lean on a nearby bulkhead. Nah'Dara tried her luck with the emergency exit door.
If my luck was anything like what I had with the extinguisher, we're screwed.
She removed damaged bulkhead sitting it to the side clearing the door. Putting all of her weight into the lever, she gritted her teeth pulling it towards her. It gave, but slowly. Every muscle in her body screamed. With a couple more turns, she had the door open. She pulled it inward, breaking the airlock seal and slide it to her left. Humid fresh air filled the cargo bay.
Nah'Dara eyed Eriq as he sat on the floor with his back resting on a bulkhead. His head drooped down, eyes closed. She stalked to him.
"Eriq LoMoq. You must stay awake.” He opened one eye marginally then closed them. She was not strong enough to carry him by herself. He was a very large man.
She resorted to begging. “Eriq, please. I need you to get up."
She shook him gently. He moaned but that was all. She could leave him there while she secured a safe spot to camp. She looked at the condition of the cargo bay. Busted bulkheads were everywhere. Empty canisters were knocked over in different parts of the bay. A small fire had ignited in the corner of the bay. This was not a safe place for him. She would just have to risk moving him to get to a safer spot.
Framing his face with her hands as she did before, she lifted his head to hers.
"Eriq I need you awake. Wake up!” she ordered rather than talk to him. He snapped his eyes open. They were glazed over. Fear coursed through her. She felt him enter her mind. Letting her guards down, she let him in.
That hurts, he groaned into her mind moving her hands away.
"I'm sorry. I'm trying to get you help, but you have to cooperate with me and move your butt, now.” She could hear him chuckle in her mind.
"I'll try.” She helped him to stand taking her position under his arm.
Nah'Dara led him outside. The wind started hitting her face with the cool yet humid breeze of the jungle. They were in the cover of the jungle. Tall green trees covered them barely letting the red-golden sun shine through. She could hear the ravine from where they stood. Not so much as a ravine as a trickling river of clear water. A good sign.
Nah'Dara guided Eriq to a nearby tree lowering him down. She placed the katana that was strapped to his side in his lap along with the phaser.
"You should be alright now. I'm going back in for some supplies.” He nodded.
Nah'Dara walked back inside the ship. She swung her hair out of her way wrapping it in a tight ball at the back of her head. She had to have the worst luck in deed. Not only was she stuck on a ship with the man that she was supposed to marry. Now they happened to have crashed on an unknown planet. The ship was in bad shape and in addition to that, her betrothed had a concussion. Yep, she had the best luck in the universe.
Stepping over fallen bulkhead, she managed to get to his quarters. The door was slightly ajar. Using her fingers and what little strength that she had left, she pushed the door open.
It was like the rest of the ship with major fractures lining the hull. The bed covers were crumbled in the corner near the fallen high back chair. The nightstand was toppled over. The mattress blocked her way in. It was relatively light, so using her foot she pushed it out the way.
She had to find that black box with the medical supplies, so she could fix Eriq's head. He was no good to her being a vegetable.
I heard that. His voice booming through her mind startled her so much her heart threatened to beat out of her chest.
Don't do that! I can push you out you know. After taking a couple of breaths to calm her already raveled nerves, she continued looking for the medical kit.
But you won't. It's the only way that I can communicate with you until you get back. How is the ship?
He was impossible. Of all the things to be worried about, he is worried about a bloody ship! No, ‘are you injured', ‘are you hurting?’ Nothing. He would make the perfect mate.
I'm worried about you, but I see that you are walking around just fine. So the next thing to ask is about my ship.
Well it was always a piece of junk...
Be serious, Nah'Dara. What shape are we in?
What do you think? We just crash-landed on a deserted planet. We are in bad shape. I don't think I could even do the diagnostics on this ship manually. Nevertheless, right now, if you do not stop bothering me I will not be able to get to the pack and fix your head, okay? Or do you want to do it?
Silence. That was not a good sign.
Eriq! You had better answer me. Now isn't the time to be sleeping on the job! Nothing, like he was not there. She hurried to find the medical kit among the debris. She hurried to the lavatory looked under the cabinet, throwing all the contents inside wildly until she saw the medical kit. Grabbing it up into her arms, she hurried through the ship to get outside.
Eriq was no longer in the spot where she had left him. Fear caged her heart. Where could he have gone with a head injury?
"Eriq!” She practically yelled it. There was no answer save her echo, it was eerily silent. No chirping of the forest creatures, not even the soft breeze of the wind. Something was not right. She called his name again but still nothing.
Her breath was coming in pants now, not from the exertion of the run but from the fear that was creeping its way up her spine. She shook violently thinking something grabbed his unconscious carcass away for dinner.
She tightened the medical kit to her chest and
stepped from the ship. Tentatively, she walked to the spot where she left him.
"Eriq, come on now. This isn't funny. Come out now.” No answer. Her instinct was telling her to run, but she ignored it. She needed to find Eriq. Whether or not she liked him, he was hurt and that is what mattered.
A slight ruffling in a nearby bush gained her attention. Nah'Dara took a cautionary step back, not knowing what to expect. She heard the large footfalls as something was coming towards her. The bush shook violently, and then all of sudden stopped. She was in full retreat now. Her feet aimed in the other direction, but for some odd reason her head would not turn.
Two small dark eyes looked back at her. A life form of some kind. Instinct was telling her that she should run, but her feet were planted firmly on the ground. Their gazes held as the large head of an animal, that she had never seen before in her life emerged from the bushes. Its snout was covered in silver scales. Each one of the scales taking the light of the sun, reflecting it back like the shine of a silver piece of jewelry. Its two small dark beady eyes joined two more at the top of a pointed head. Its sleek and very large body slowly came into a terrifying view. Four long legs gripped the ground with black sharp talons grinding the dirt with each step. Nah'Dara envisioned herself being torn apart by each and every one of those sharp talons. It closed in, pealing back a scale-incased snout to reveal a wide brim of blood-tinted sharp and pointed fangs. Each one of those fangs looked longer than her arm alone.
A low growl rumbled from its throat as its head descended to her level only inches from her. Its growl echoed off each and every tree making it seem like there was hundreds just waiting to devour her. Its saliva soaked the ground as it dripped from its mouth making its intent clear.
Sweet Spirit, save me.
She stilled. She could run. She would, but that thing looked like she was the evening meal, which left her petrified with fear.
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