Page 24 of The Stolen Tribute
I looked down at Jaxir through the grimy helmet. “Now what?” I shouted although I was certain he couldn’t hear me.
Jaxir nudged me aside gently and pulled on the hatch. It didn’t budge.
There was a circular handle that sort of reminded me of what a submarine would have. Not that I knew anything about those, but based on what I’d seen in movies, it seemed like the closest Earthly equivalent.
Jaxir twisted the handle again, and it moved. Barely.
The green lights began to flash.
What now? I thought, peering through the blowing debris as Jaxir continued to fight with the hatch.
The colossal bay door in the front of the ship was closing. Maybe the container was full? Or the ship was moving on? I wasn’t sure. But the pressure began to lessen as the doors were cranked shut by whatever controlled them.
That ease in pressure was just enough for Jaxir to get a better grip on the handle and push the hatch open.
Without warning, Jaxir grabbed me by the hips and thrust me up through the hatch. He came up behind me and slammed the tiny hole shut.
I was sweating now. I wanted to take this disgusting suit off and get some fresh air. Everything was hot and smelled like my own terror induced sweat.
Jaxir didn’t stop. He grabbed my hand and pulled me forward.
We were in some sort of hidden corridor. It was filthy and looked like it hadn’t been touched by any living being in years.
“There’s no oxygen here,” Jaxir shouted through his suit.
His voice was muffled, but I got the message. There would be no stopping yet. Not until we found breathable air.
I followed him, panting and whimpering to myself as my exhausted body continued despite its cries to stop.
Jaxir stopped at another door, this one looking much more modern and clean. He motioned for me to stop while he fiddled with the handle.
Sweat dripped down my back and made me cringe. I wanted to be out of this suit more than anything.
The door opened to an airlock.
I could have cried with joy.
Jaxir ushered me into the tiny space, locked the door behind us, and the tiny space began to pressurize.
We were in a space not much bigger than my closet back home. There were hooks on the walls with what seemed to be maintenance gear. The wordsSERVICE EXIT B-34were stamped above the door in English and other alien languages.
The muffled voice of a computer announced when the oxygen levels were safe enough.You may now remove your PPE. Thank you.
I scrambled with the zipper and ripped the helmet from my head, gulping down the cold, recycled air. It was stale like the inside of a plane, but I didn’t care. Anything was better than breathing in my own sweat.
I choked out a sob. “Oh my god,” I cried.
Jaxir pulled his helmet off, his scaly purple skin was glistening. He was breathing hard, too. Despite being some rogue starfighter pilot, he looked almost as terrified as me.
I collapsed as the suit crumpled down to the floor. I stayed down on my knees, taking in breath after breath until my heart rate began to slow.
“You alright?” Jaxir asked.
I looked up at him, nodding dumbly. “I thought we were going to die.”
“Die? No way, we weren’t even close to dying,” Jaxir said with a smirk. He shrugged off the heavy space suit and stepped out of it.
I was almost certain that I might die at least once that entire time. My hands were still shaking, and the adrenaline was rushing through my body.
