Thruster>>Starjumper 2612: You’re in a suit that can’t fly?
I nod and choke up. “It was the only one we had that I knew how to use! I wasn’t going to leave you up there!”
Ice crystals coat Thruster's synthskin.
“Are you going to live?” I ask him.
Thruster>>Starjumper 2612: Oh, yeah. This is nothing. But my power is very low.
"You wasted energy trying to hurt yourself when that's exactly what the enemy wants and the opposite of what I want. Never do that again. Please."
Thruster>>Starjumper 2612: Iwas trying to turn myself into a bomb to take out the ship. I thought you died. They told me they killed you, found the Brothers, and knew that we’d found the ship.
“Well, I’m not dead,” I say. “I think it was all lies.”
Thruster>>Starjumper 2612: They showed me images.
He holds me tight.
Terror grips me harder than Thruster as we tumble to Ellipsis. It doesn’t matter now what he believed. We’re plummeting toward the planet, and I don’t think he has enough juice to save us. I clutch him against me, wishing there was something I could do.
“I believe in Titans. I believe in you. I believe inus.”
Thruster rests his head against mine.
Thruster>>Starjumper 2612: I’m sorry I’ve failed you.
There must be something we have in common, some way I can power him.
StarJumper 2612>>Holo: Help us!
Ping sent…
The world grows in size as the berserker gets smaller. It still hasn't blown, and I wonder if it's because Thruster is waiting until we're further away. But as a Skysprinter exits a hangar, I wish he would blow it anyway before too many more escape.
Holo>>StarJumper 2612: How can I help?
StarJumper 2612>>Holo: Thank the stars! Thruster’s low on power. I have no functioning engines. Is there a way I can transfer suit power to him?
Holo>>StarJumper 2612: Charging Port in chest plate, near collar. Green to charge. Blue to discharge.
I run my hands over the carapace as we rotate towards Ellipsis’ surface and find the port, but my space gloves are too bulky.
Thruster sees what I’m doing.
Thruster>>Starjumper 2612:Hold onto me.
I grab him around the waist, which is much harder in the bulky mech than I like.
He pries the connector free.
Thruster>>Starjumper 2612: Do you need power?
“No. You take it.”
Thruster>>StarJumper 2612: I’m not doing that. You might suffocate. I can’t control the discharge rate. You could give me too much.
I snatch the plug from his hand, snap it into his side, and then punch the button on my suit.
