Page 34 of The Stolen Tribute
“I’ll take you word for it,” I said with a wink.
What was he doing to me? I never flirted like this before. If I continued to spend time with Jaxir, he was going to turn me into a sex addict. Not that I was complaining about that, as long as he continued to indulge me.
Jaxir grabbed his laser blaster. “Alright, let’s meet them halfway,” He said.
I knew there were still Mujugs out there waiting for us. “Are you sure?” I asked, my grip tightening on my own gun.
“We should just be able to walk by without the AI commanding them,” Jaxir said. “They’re idiots.”
Jaxir went to the main door and pushed against it. It didn’t budge. Next, he tried fiddling with the keypad, which sparked and sputtered. He shot a laser at it, and the keypad fizzed.
I stifled a laugh. “I guess we need to find another way out?”
The alien sighed. “Ventilation hatch it is,” He said, looking up.
There was a large grill above us, leading to the air vents. Cold recycled air was coming out at a steady pressure. Based on the width, we’ve both have no problems getting through.
Jaxir took aim at the screws holding the grill in and shot his laser gun at them. The metal went black and began to flake away. With one swift tug, he was able to pull the metal away from the rest of the vent.
“After you, miss,” He said, gesturing to the vent.
The control bridge ceilings were low, meant for a shorter race than the Zexians, but I still needed a boost to get up. Jaxir picked me up by my waist, and I felt my breath catch just for a moment.
Not now, girl, I need to focus!I said to myself.
I pulled myself up and shimmied through the vent. I had to go forward until I saw another grill that would get us into one of the main corridors. I hit a dead-end, with vents going to either side.
“What now?” I called out.
The metal clanged as Jaxir crawled behind me. The vents were a much tighter fit for him. “Follow the air,” He said.
The cold air was being pushed from the left. I turned that way, only having to go a few more feet before I found another grill. I looked down through the metal. “I think this will work,” I said.
The grill was riveted in tight, and despite how hard I pushed, it wouldn’t budge.
“I’m going to have to use the blaster,” I said. I pulled the gun from my belt and eased back to keep as much distance from it as I could. I took aim carefully and shut my eyes as I pulled the trigger.
The hot laser melted the rivets enough for me to push the grill down and to the side. It clanged against the chrome floor as it fell.
My black suit was full of dust from inside the vent, but besides that, I was unscathed. I dropped from the vent, stumbling a little as I landed in the middle of the corridor. Thankfully, it was empty, but the smell of the Mujugs still lingered in the air.
Jaxir dropped down behind me, brushing dust from his black clothes. “Nice one, Earthling,” He said.
I turned, smirking at him. “Earthling?”
“Joking,” He said. “Well, sort of.”
I laughed and then gagged on the stench of the Mujugs. “We should get out of here before those smelly creatures come looking for us.”
“I’m more concerned with the AI getting back online. It’s been hours; someone should have noticed by now.”
“Who?” I asked.
“Whoever designed the AI for this trawler probably owns a fleet of them. I doubt we’ll have much more time. Someone is bound to notice soon,” Jaxir said. “Come on, let’s get to the airlock.”
I followed him through the narrow corridor and up a tiny spiral staircase.
Sounds of people talking could be heard up ahead.
