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My nostrils flared, detecting the scent of overheated metal and burning ozone.
“We can’t keep this up, Thillak!” I shouted over the roar of the engines.
My tongue felt like sandpaper against the roof of my mouth.
His face was taut with determination, sweat beads glistening on his brow. “Hang on,” he grunted, his voice straining against the increasing pull.
My senses were overwhelmed; the rough texture of the safety strap against my palm, the sounds of the dueling engines, the sights of the two ships locked in a cosmic tug-of-war.
Just when it felt like the force might rip our shuttle apart, Thillak made a snap decision. “Isla, brace yourself. I’m dumping a fuel cell!”
“What?!”
My eyes went wide.
That was a risky move.
The explosive potential of a fuel cell was enormous, but the alternative, being captured by the Balance, was far worse.
“Trust me,” he said, and with a determined expression, he initiated the release.
The cell detached, and for a second, everything seemed to slow down.
I felt weightless, my heartbeat the only sound in my ears.
Then, with a blinding flash and an ear-shattering boom, the fuel cell detonated.
The force of the explosion rocked our shuttle, but it also broke the hold of the tractor beam.
A hot gust of air filled the cabin, carrying with it the sharp, tangy scent of burnt fuel.
The sensation was a heady mix of adrenaline and relief, my skin tingling from the aftershocks.
As the blinding light faded, I looked outside.
The Balance’s ship was momentarily disoriented, tendrils of smoke spiraling from its damaged sections.
We had a clear opening.
With skillful maneuvering, Thillak steered our shuttle away, pushing the engines to propel us further and faster.
Thillak fiddled with the navigational controls, planning our route, while I took a moment to revel in the spectacular panorama developing outside the window.
The vast tapestry of stars, with its myriad hues of white, blue, and red, was mesmerizing.
Leaning back into my seat, I let out a sigh of relief, relishing the gentle texture of the cushion against my skin.
But it was but a fleeting moment of relief as I felt a shiver run down my spine.
The serenity of our surroundings was shattered by a blaring alarm, its sharp sound cutting through the hum of the engines.
The cockpit’s control panel lit up with warning lights, and my heart raced.
“They’re back,” Thillak said grimly, his fingers flying over the controls.
Before I could even react, a loud boom echoed through the shuttle, followed by violent shaking.
“Missiles!” Thillak yelled, pushing the throttle to the max.
