Chapter 28 · Skyline Freefall

"Get out of my pod, Rex!"

Vesper slammed her shoulder into my chest and sent both of us spinning through the wreckage.

The broken transport had lost gravity three seconds ago. Three seconds was long enough for her to draw a shock blade, kick my rifle into the dark, and hook one hand around the emergency pod's hatch.

It was not long enough for me to let go.

"Cute speech," I said, catching the hatch frame with one hand. "You planning to ask nicely next?"

"I'm planning to leave you behind."

"Then stop dragging me with you."

She drove her knee toward my ribs.

I twisted. Her knee clipped my side instead of crushing it, but the impact knocked the air out of me. My fingers slipped from the hatch. Vesper reached for the pod's inner handle.

I caught her wrist.

Her glove was torn across the knuckles. Blood floated from the cut in tiny red beads, each one hanging between us like a warning light. Her eyes locked on mine through the cracked visor of her helmet.

Close. Too close for a blade.