Page 47 of Solar Bound
"Absolutely!" Gary called cheerfully from the pilot's seat. "That's just the atmospheric transfer protocols adjusting to your planet's unusual density."
"He's lying," Solar said. "Nothing is supposed to make that noise."
They were in outer space.
Outer fucking space.
Nausea churned in her stomach, and she pressed her hand to her mouth as if the symbolic gesture could keep her from throwing up.
The pod's interior was barely larger than a truck bed, packed with mismatched equipment covered in blinking lights. What she found most concerning was the steady increase in red lights replacing green ones. Sure, she couldn't prove that red meant bad on an alien ship, but it didn't feel like a good thing.
Another violent shudder ran through the ship. Dani's stomach lurched as the artificial gravity flickered, momentarily lifting her a few inches before slamming her back down. Pain shot through her injured ankle and ribs.
Solar's arm tightened protectively around her.
"Your technology is inadequate," he stated, glaring at the back of Gary's oversized head. "This vessel's integrity is compromised in seventeen different places."
"Eighteen now," Bob corrected as a panel above them detached completely, exposing a tangle of wires that sparked ominously. "But who's counting?"
Dani closed her eyes, trying to control her lurching stomach. This was not how she wanted to die. The ship pitched again, sending her shoulder crashing into a protruding console. She bit back a cry of pain. Tears rolled down her face, and she tried to draw her legs to her chest. Solar kept hold of her the best he could.
"She requires medical attention," Solar insisted, his golden light intensifying with concern. "You claimed your vessel had treatment capabilities."
"It does! It does!" Gary spun his chair around, apparently unconcerned that no one was piloting the ship. "We’ll take her to the medical bay just as soon as I find where we docked our ship. At least we know it’s cloaking works, right?”
“Your controls are smoking,” Solar stated.
"Not to worry." Gary slapped his hand on the metal console. "We have a quaternary system."
"We do?" Bob asked, genuinely surprised.
"Well, we will once you install it," Gary replied cheerfully.
Bob nodded as if that was helpful information.
The ship began to spin in fast circles, and the viewing screen made her dizzy. Gary panicked and turned back around to fly. Dani leaned her head against Solar's shoulder.
“Slow it down,” Bob ordered.
They lurched as if someone slammed on the brakes, jerking violently. Dani gripped Solar tighter. It became hard to breathe, and she felt as if she might pass out. A loud thunk sounded, jarring the pod. The hull vibrated as a grotesque scraping noise scratched along the metal exterior.
“There it is,” Gary exclaimed. “Right where we left it. And you were worried we wouldn't find it.”
The ship walls groaned, and Dani saw a hatch opening to let them off.
“All right, good friends, let’s move along,” Bob said. The air hissed violently and blue light streamed into their darker pod. “Quickly. Quickly. Plenty of oxygen on the mothership.”
Solar swept her up into his arms, and she held on tight as he walked her through the hatch onto a much larger vessel.
“The medical bay is right through that door." Gary pointed to a narrow door halfway down a corridor.
"Don’t be scared," Bob explained, as if that clarified anything. "Completely safe for most humanoids. Very exclusive technology. Very rarely any probing."
Bob made a strange wheezing noise, and she wasn’t sure if he lacked air or was laughing.
Solar set Dani on her feet, supporting most of her weight as she hobbled toward the supposed medical bay. Her entire body ached from the motorcycle crash, the cave adventure, and now their violent ascent into space. She didn't have high hopes for whatever passed as Galaxy Brides' first aid.
The door slid open, revealing a space that was much larger than the pod they had just left. Equipment that appeared to be salvaged from half a dozen different alien technologies lined the walls. A soft blue light illuminated a central examination table.
