“No! No... I was just admiring this hot bod you've been hiding.”
He laughs, groaning as a shudder ripples through his body. “Funny hurts,” he grunts.
It wasn’t a complete lie, I muse as I apply pressure around the wound. My hands press against his abdomen. His brows pull down into a deep frown, reminding me of how he’s usually a scrooge about just about everything.
“Everyone, sound off,”Clayton calls out, his voice tinny over the comms.
“Anderson. Aiko’s in command central with me.”
“Nespoli. Yuri and I are with Hadfield and Pesquet in Harmony.”
“Matherson here.”
“Reiter, Müllers here too. In Leonardo.”
There’s static over the comms.Peake? Chelenko?”Clayton’s voice rumbles.“Check-in.”
“Peake here.”It cuts out, and I give it a little percussive engineering as I whack it before trying again. “Peake here. Chelenko needs medical attention in Columbus.” The comms link sounds gravelly, cutting in and out. I don’t know how much they heard, but at least they know I’m alive.
“Alex? Where are you? Anyone with her?”Müller's panicked voice cuts in.
“I’ll check on her, she was in the lab with Chelenko last I saw,”Luca calls out.
A muffled banging sounds. I release the straps holding me, and peer out from our little impromptu burrow to check where it's coming from.
My face drops as I spot the now-sealed shut hatch. Müller’s wide eyes and panicked face peers through the small glass panel, his cheeks ruddy and hair mussed as if he flew here.
“Peake? We are dead yet?”
“Still breathing.” I pat his arm lightly, and he grunts in reply. “Hold on, Chelenko, I’ll be right back.”
Unfolding myself from beneath the counter, I push off the metal surface, rushing to the door and banging my hand on the glass.
“I’m here. My comms are playing up.”
"Gott sei Dank.” Müller places his hand against mine, our palms separated by a few inches of glass.
He speaks into his comms. “Got them. Peake and Chelenko in Columbus. They’re trapped.”
“Chelenko needs a medic,” I glance back at Chelenko under the counter, before I hush my voice, leaning closer to the glass separating us, as if that will help shield Chelenko from the reality of my words.
I open my hand, releasing the red beads into the air. At his frown, I crush one, smearing the blood across my palm.
“It’s…bad.” I mouth, shaking my head.
My throat constricts, threatening to release a sob, so I take a deep breath.
“Are you hurt?” He slides over to the computer console beside the hatch, tapping away.
“I’ll live. The door?” I try to keep the sobbing at bay with quick replies.
Now is not the time for a breakdown.
The static interrupting my comms as I speak is not really conducive to a calming environment.
He blanches. Returning his gaze to mine as he presses his hand against the glass once more.
He hits his comms. “Müller here. Chelenko needs a medic.”
