EvO (Darverius, House of DaR #16)

Chapter 5

Chapter Five

EVO

I’ve been on dozens of spacewalks, but the moment I clear the porthole I can tell this one is going to be different. Engaging the magnet bottoms of my boots to the haul. I have to force each step forward, the weightlessness I normally feel isn’t here. Thankfully , the pod only lies a few steps away. The Maintenance bot has pulled all the outer debris away from the pod, so that I can access it easier. As I lean over it, looking for the correct lever. I stop in my tracks as I get my first view of the female I am so determined to save.

Her pale face has me leaning in closer. She lies there peacefully, as her darkened wet hair flows all around her unique features. The screen is scratched up, so I can’t see her clearly, but her beauty still shines through. I’ve never felt such a pull towards another.

I must have stopped breathing because an alert in my helmet shocks me. “ Frack .” Shaking my head, I know I don’t have time to get distracted. My translator takes a moment to read the writing on the levers. “ Destroyer , I am confirming the left lever is correct?”

“ Affirmative , once the lever is pulled, and the cover freed, you need to instantly apply the freezing agent.”

Pulling on the lever, I hear a hiss, but nothing happens. The lights on the pod start flashing red and I grab the lever, pulling on it with all my strength only to have it break off in my hand. My entire body is thrown backward and if I had not had my magnetic boots on, I would have been slung out into space, lost with no way for the Destroyer to retrieve me.

The female’s body starts to move inside the pod, jerking and spasming uncontrollably. I don’t even think about the consequences. I grab the other lever, knowing this may be the end for both of us as the fluid is going to not only drain from her, but it also covers me. A Maintenance bot appears at the end of the pod just as the inner tube starts to open. All I can think of is the consequences if I don’t apply the freezing agent while she still has the fluid around her to protect her fragile frame. So , the instant it cracks and I see the fluid start to solidify into streams as the odd gravity of the Nebula pulls at it. I hit the spray on the container.

Her body, including part of the tube, is instantly frozen. LeX’s words of the danger the spray is to my suit echo through my thoughts as I release my magnet boots from the pod, grabbing onto an outer piece of its frame so that the spray will not freeze me in place as well. Once the agent stops spraying, I reactivate my boots and grab hold of the inner chamber. Pulling with everything I have, trying to break her free from the tube, but the main wrap didn’t fully open, and she is stuck halfway inside. A timer appears on the inside of my screen and I know this is a warning especially when an odd smell starts to infiltrate my suit.

Between the Maintenance bot and myself, we are able to free her from the tube, but I had not contemplated her having any weight in this form as normally everything is weightless in space. Another bot appears with a strap and I hook it around the female, trying not to get distracted when I notice the colors of the frozen agent are quickly changing, as they are reacting to the gasses surrounding us.

Tugging her solid form along, my suit starts to fail and I am suddenly having a hard time breathing. We are only feet away from the doorway to the medical bay when all the alerts on my suit start going off and I feel the extreme cold of space seeping through to my legs. The Maintenance bots release the pod right after lining her up with the doorway as they can’t come in such a small area. Pushing with all my strength, my legs buckle beneath me just as we clear the opening.

Hearing the door close, I can hear LeX in the background, trying to talk to me. When I try to take a deep breath, I find that my chest feels like it’s constricted. Fumbling , I finally manage to get one glove off, as I yank on the clasps holding my helmet on. Spots form in front of my eyes, and just when I think my lungs are going to burst. I am only moments from passing out over the lack of air in this suit. My fingers finally find the clasp and with a great hiss, the seal opens on my helmet. Slinging it off, I lean down, taking huge gasps of air. Once my head clears, I look up, noticing that the fluid is melting all around the female. Her tiny fingers and toes were exposed to the elements in this room.

“ Someone tell me she is going to be alright.”

A bright light outside flashes and, when I glance over, I can see the Mechanical bots welding the door shut. The room has suddenly become busy with the multiple arms emerging from the ceiling as a mist is being sprayed all over her. The floor suddenly floods with the mass of fluid that had been encasing her small form. A hoverboard slides under her, lifting her up off the floor as machines emerge from the walls, sucking all the fluids and excess gasses from the room. I am so wrapped up in watching her that I don’t notice the medical arms trying to take my suit off until a pull on my legs has me screaming out in pain.

LeX’s voice suddenly surrounds me, coming out of the speakers in the room as he controls the Med bots safely from his office. “ EvO , don’t move. I have instructed the Medical Bots to get that suit off you as quickly as possible. Some of the seams on your lower extremities failed, and this put your skin in direct contact with the poisonous gasses outside. Any movement could cause you excessive harm, so try to stay as still as possible until I can see the damage.”

“ What about the female?”

“ She is still in critical condition. I have not been able to restimulate her heart, but I am doing all I can. Not personally being in there is hindering some of the things I need to do, but the machines are quickly recalibrating to her individual needs. She has some minor damage from exposure, but that’s the least of my concerns right now.”

“ I don’t need medical; send everything you have to her.”

“ Only so many hands can work on her at once, EvO , and the Destroyer has the top-of-the-line Med bots. We simply must give them time to do their thing. There is no reason for you to suffer unnecessarily. You gave us quite the scare out there. I will say there were a few times I had to hold ViN back. He got so hot at one point I was afraid he was going to melt right through the viewer. You lasted out in that harsh environment substantially longer than we estimated, brother.”

“ It was an experience I hope to never have to repeat. Everything about the Nebula felt wrong, it was as if it’s designed to devour whatever enters willingly. Like a plant, so beautiful you have to reach out and touch it, only to find yourself poisoned and then consumed by the very beauty you were drawn to.”

My eyes never leave the equipment working on the female, especially when she is lowered into the mineral waters. Screens suddenly appear all around the room, showing her different vitals. I swear my own heart hits my chest when I see her heart is beating once again. Tears form in my eyes and I take a deep breath as my emotions are suddenly all over the place. Especially when what just happened hits me fully. I’ve always delt well in times of chaos, so I am shocked at how my body is responding to all of this.

“ She’ll make it, EvO , her body is strong, the mineral waters will help accelerate her healing. You should be proud, you did it, brother. You went against all odds and saved her. Now that she is stabilized let’s get a look at those legs of yours. I am going to have the Medical Bots administer a numbing mist as they start loosening your suit, since it and the compression suit are now fused with your skin. I won’t be able to see the extent of the damage until that’s all removed.”

“ Do your thing brother, a few scars are well obtained for her life.”

The cool mist surrounding my legs feels wonderful and I don’t even feel the Med bots pulling and snipping at my calves. However , when I almost fall over twice from a particularly hard tug, a small stool is placed under me so they can cut my boots off.

“ Frack , I liked those boots too.”

“ I already have the Destroyer recreating you another pair as I knew you would say that.” A small screen zooms in and out around my legs. When I start to look down, I am tilted back suddenly.

“ EvO , sit still, I need to apply this cream before we can stop spraying the numbing agent.” Somehow , I find myself stark naked just a few moments later. Pieces of my atmospheric suit lay all around me. Closing my eyes, I lean back and let the Med bot scan me from head to toe.

“ Good news your legs will heal, one does seem slightly worse than the other. You have a minor burn on the back of your right arm, but those are the only ones found externally. Once you rest, your natural healing abilities should kick in and you will feel better within a few risings. Due to the fact that any movement will be excruciating, I am going to inject a small pain reliever.

“ I don’t need it; I don’t want anything messing with my head, in case of an emergency. Is this room still sealed successfully from the rest of the ship?”

“ It is. ViN is at the helm right now, as is Rafe . And you have handled the last emergency, requiring your attention for the next few risings already. You have others in place who can and will maintain this ship while you’re gone. You need to trust them to do their jobs. Now , once I have the bandages in place, you will be free to move around the room. However , I would prefer you do so sparingly.”

“ How long will we be trapped in here?”

“ I would think a few risings at the minimum. Get comfy brother, rest. Something you rarely allow yourself to do. While you were out saving the female, I had some of your personal effects brought in to make you more comfortable.”

“ Can you move this weird chair so I can see her better?”

The chair expands, and I find myself lying on my side suddenly. My legs are held apart slightly on a cushioned surface. Everything seems to fade away as I lay here watching as the machines clean and work on her. Feeling a slight pinch on my hip, my eyes start to get heavy. Blinking a few times, I reluctantly close them, welcoming the healing sleep I now realize LeX forced upon me.