Page 30 of Raw & Vulnerable
"Some rescue, Nova," I muttered to myself. "You've really outdone yourself this time."
As if in response to my self-deprecation, a new alarm suddenly blared to life. Red warning lights flashed across the control panel. Through the viewport, I saw a massive black hole forming directly in my path - a swirling vortex of cosmic energies that would tear the pod apart in seconds.
"No, no, no!" I frantically jabbed at the controls, trying to alter my course. But it was no use. I drifted inexorably towards the blackness.
I closed my eyes, bracing for the end. "I'm sorry, Zharrox," I whispered. "I tried."
The pod shuddered violently, metal screaming in protest. Any second now, I expected to feel the cold embrace of deep space as the hull gave way.
Instead, I felt... warmth?
My eyes snapped open in confusion. The viewport was filled with a soft, golden light. The alarms had fallen silent, and the violent shaking had ceased. We were... stable?
Before I could process what was happening, a familiar voice crackled over the pod's communication system:
"Nova? Nova, can you hear me?"
My heart leapt into my throat. "Zharrox?" I gasped, scarcely daring to believe it.
"Thank the cosmic winds," Zharrox's voice was thick with relief. "We've got you, Nova. You're safe now."
Tears sprang to my eyes as I realized what had happened. The Stryker must have found me just in time, using a tractor beam to pluck my pod from the jaws of destruction.
"How... how did you find me?" I managed to choke out.
There was a pause, and when Zharrox spoke again, I could hear the smile in his voice. "Let's just say we had some unexpected help. But that's a story for later. Right now, we need to get you aboard and out of this blasted nebula."
I felt a gentle tug as the Stryker began reeling in my pod. Through the viewport, I caught glimpses of the familiar hull of the ship I'd come to think of as home. It looked battered and scared, evidence of the difficult journey through the nebula, but it was the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen.
As the pod was drawn into the Stryker's docking bay, I allowed myself to relax for the first time in what felt like an eternity. I was safe. I was...home.
The moment the pod's hatch hissed open, I was enveloped in a tangle of tentacles. Zharrox pulled me close, his ridges flashinga kaleidoscope of colors I'd never seen before - relief, joy, and something deeper that made my heart race.
"My little zixxit," he murmured, his normally steady voice thick with emotion. "I thought I'd lost you."
I buried my face in his chest, breathing in his familiar scent. "Never," I whispered fiercely. "You found me, just like I knew you would."
For a long moment, we simply held each other, savoring the reality of our reunion. Then Zharrox pulled back slightly, his dark eyes searching my face with concern.
"Are you alright? Did they hurt you?"
I shook my head, managing a weak smile. "I'm okay. Just... tired. And really, really glad to see you."
Zharrox opened his mouth to respond, but was cut off by a gruff voice from behind him.
"Alright, alright, break it up, you two. Some of us would like to see the lady too, you know."
I peered around Zharrox to see a familiar face - Captain Manny Rodriguez, looking somewhat worse for wear but grinning from ear to ear.
"Manny?" I gaped in surprise. "Are you okay? Shouldn't you be in the med bay?"
The human captain raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm fine. I wasn't going to let Tentacles here be the only one to make sure you were okay. We've been through hell and back trying to find you, doctor."
My hand shot to my mouth to cover the bark of laughter that escaped.Tentacles? He'd given Zharrox a nickname?
As if on cue, the rest of the Stryker's crew appeared - Grixxa and Lyra, wore expressions of relief and joy. Even Jorixx didn't look like he wanted to space me. I felt overwhelmed by the outpouring of concern and affection from this motley group of aliens I'd come to think of as family.
"I... I don't know what to say," I stammered, feeling fresh tears well up. "Thank you. All of you."