Dovis Read online

  “Do what you can.”

  He ran out of engineering, grabbed one of the emergency comm wrist straps, and messaged Cathian. “I’m suiting up to search our outer hull for a tracking device. And maybe the device that caused the damage. Mari is working on getting our engines back online.”

  “I’ve just reached the bridge,” his friend responded. “She’s right. We have company coming. Two shuttles just showed up on long-distance radar. I’ve got York manning weapons and Marrow is sending a message to our allies that we need help. Raff is guarding the main docking door in case they try to attach and breach if we can’t keep them back. Nara is heading to help Mari. Pods, scan minds and tell us if anyone is coming at us cloaked from our scans.”

  Dovis tried to calm his rage. “Mari believes she can get our engines running, but not for long. See who can meet us fastest and head towards them once she gets us back online. I’ll kill the tracker if I find it to prevent them from following.”

  Chapter Four

  Mari wiped the sweat from her forehead, glad that she’d at least tied her hair back. Nara had been nice enough to bring her a wrist comm unit to make communicating with the rest of the crew easier as she worked.

  The crawl space was tight, hot, and airless. Cleaning out the shattered pieces of the U coupling had been difficult but was now completed. She inserted the one she’d fashioned from inferior metal and asked Nara to bring her the thickest protection gloves she could find. They were huge on her hands…she just hoped they’d be enough to keep her from dying.

  The sound of blasts had started minutes before. The Vorge was firing at the two approaching Raxis shuttles, attempting to keep them at a distance. No help was in range enough to come to their defense right away. They were on their own for a while.

  So far, the Raxis hadn’t returned fire. They wouldn’t want to damage the ambassador-class ship. That would negate the entire reason for inventing the little machine that took out U couplings. Most ships needed that part, and they were all made from Pelsis metal. The Raxis probably kept a box of spares on their shuttles to make the repair, giving them a completely undamaged stolen vessel to sell.

  She reached up, wiping her brow again with the sleeve of her shirt, and carefully coated the pieces of metal that linked the two brackets she’d used to form a new U coupling. It wasn’t pretty but it should work. The comms kept her updated on what was happening.

  “They’re dodging my fire but they aren’t getting any closer,” York stated.

  “Watch power levels,” Cathian warned. “Those bastards might be trying to wear down the batteries of our weapons and then come at us. Life signs say there are over twenty of those pricks between both shuttles. We’d be outnumbered if they breach us. Report, Pods. Anyone trying to sneak up on us with shielding suits on?”

  “No,” One stated. “We’re only picking up the crew.” He paused for seconds, then, “Mari, it’s too dangerous. You should have told our captain that you could possibly die getting the engines back online and giving us a chance to flee this battle.”

  Crap. She bit her lip, wrapping padding around the now coated metal. We’re all going to die if we don’t get out of here. What’s one life compared to the entire crew?

  “Your life is as valuable as ours,” One replied. “Captain, she’s at risk of being electrocuted, even while wearing gloves to hold the parts together when we restart the engines.”

  “What’s he talking about, Mari?” The captain’s tone made her flinch.

  She kept working. “It should be fine.”

  “She’s lying,” one of the Pods stated. “She is thinking she will probably die. The U coupling she has created will hold together once the power is flowing thru it, but it must be held in place at first, until a solid connection is made. The gloves won’t fully protect her from being electrocuted.”

  A snarl sounded over the comms. She wasn’t sure if it was the captain or Dovis. He’d been silent since locating two devices near the engines on the outer hull, and removing them. It was possible he was still making his way back inside The Vorge or was removing his spacesuit.

  “It doesn’t matter if I survive or not. We need to get the engines back online to recharge weapon batteries that have almost been depleted. It should give the crew a chance to lose those pirates, but very worst case, you’ll be able to fight them off longer until help arrives. Raxis pirates don’t take hostages or prisoners. They kill crews.” Mari finished the wrap and sprayed sealer over the temporary U coupling. “The important thing is, if the part works, you can max out on speed but keep it steady, whatever you do. Any powering back might pop the coupling connection loose and the engines will go back down. Understand?”

  There was silence over the comms.

  The captain finally spoke, his voice grave. “Thank you, Mari. Is there anything we can bring you that would help alleviate the risk?”

  “No. The gloves are the only thing small enough to wear and still allow me to fit my hands inside the hole where the coupling goes, and I have to physically push it down when you restart the engines to hold it in place for a few seconds.”

  “What about using a tool?”

  She glanced at the toolbox a few feet from her, knowing the contents. “Any other metals might fry the cables on either end if it creates a feedback shock, and nothing else could withstand the electric current that’s going to be thrown off whatever touches the coupling. It’s best if I physically hold it in place.”

  “You’re saying you’re going to be holding on to a live wire?” That was Nara, and she sounded shocked.

  Mari debated her words carefully. “Pushing against it to hold it in place is more accurate. The coupling I created isn’t a perfect match, which means it could pop out of place when the engines start. Someone has to hold it there until the electric current is flowing.” Mari paused. “Just in case I can’t tell you later, thank you for hiring me. Freedom was wonderful. There’s no family to notify if I don’t make it.”

  Another snarl sounded over the comms, this one louder, almost vicious, but otherwise, no one said a word.

  The captain finally came back on. “How long until it’s ready, Mari?”

  She swallowed hard and put on the gloves, picked up the coupling, and leaned into the open panel. “I’m installing the coupling now. Give me a few seconds and then be ready to start the engines on my go. I’ll tell you.”

  She used her knee to push one of her tools out of the way to keep all metal from touching her except what was in her gloved hands. She’s already removed everything from her pockets. The flooring and access panel were now coated as well, to ground them.

  A low grunt came from her left but she ignored it. She released one side of the coupling and grabbed the metal comm unit on her opposite wrist, placing it away from her.

  Then she placed both hands over the coupling again and pushed down as hard as she could.

  “Restart!” she yelled.

  She closed her eyes, knowing it would hurt. Her body tensed. There was a hum…

  And then pain raced up both arms and beyond as power surged through the U coupling and into her body. She would have screamed but she couldn’t.

  The unit powered on and the engines engaged. She was aware of that as she fought to breathe but failed. Too much energy pulsed through her body. Agony had her seeing spots before she blacked out.

  Dovis watched helplessly as Mari collapsed inside the panel.

  He hadn’t made it to her in time.

  He dove for her lower body to break her connection to the coupling. Electricity shot up his arm when he touched her. He clenched his teeth, ignoring the pain. The momentum of his dive tore her free and they landed in a heap outside the panel.

  The worst pain faded in seconds, leaving the arm hooked around her hips throbbing. Mari was curled in front of him on her side.

  He had to use his other hand to roll her to her back in the cramped space. He managed to back up, dragging her body past the open access panel and do