Just figure out the parts of the engine array that were damaged, compensate, and get the ship the hell out of this orbiting junkyard before. The pilot-assist apparatus was out, but he never used it anyway. He took a deep breath, pulled up the backup controls from the side of the harness, and tried to get control over the ship. An instant later, the field clicked into place with a faint ruby shimmer, and a hiss of gas restored the proper atmospheric pressure. With a desperate grab, he managed to snag a silver case and pull it back to his chest. As he waited, listening to the voice make its customary warnings about keeping his hands and arms within the confines of the field, something managed to force its way from the back of his mind, through the assorted panic and confusion, and right to the front. Lex cinched the straps of the mask tight and waited for the field to snap into place. Mechanical arms emerged from around the control chair, glowing field emitters releasing their electronic whine as they began to charge up. He scrambled to pull the oxygen mask into place, his ears already popping. Affix supplemental oxygen supply and stand by for emergency field deployment. Ship atmospheric containment compromised.

A pleasant, calm female voice filled the cockpit. The rest of the eloquent thought was cut short as a chunk of floating metal passed through the antenna array. If you think anyone can save you now, you have got your head so-o-o-o far up your ass. Alter course or become a part of it, a voice squawked over the com system.įor God’s sake, I am in distress! Out of control! Request immediate assistance! Lex screamed.Ī cloud of fist-sized debris splashed against the belly of the ship, the sound like a shotgun blast hitting a tin shack. I repeat, you are entering my debris field, idiot. Lex pulled madly at the controls and hammered at the computer’s interface. There was a pop and the whole ship lurched downward. Bolts of energy slapped into the engine bank, sizzling against the hull and causing the instruments to scream angry messages.

Bypass Gemini by Joseph R. Lallo