“Three…”
Just a perfect balance of speed, mass, angle, and gravity, with a fraction of a percent margin of error. No big deal.
“Two…”
Puck flashed their spotlight at Jackin.
“One.”
Adequin swept the controls forward, and the ship lurched, banking left just as Jackin’s ship launched to its right.
“Caution: Impact imminent.”
The SGL staggered forward, and their hulls swept within centimeters of each other as their paths came together. The straps of her harness dug painfully into her shoulders.
Jackin’s ship swung to her viewscreen’s far right as the two ships turned to face the same direction. It stayed in sight for a few microseconds, then fell off the edge of the screen. Adequin’s neck muscles tensed, and her head snapped back against the headrest as their momentum surged.
“—fuck—shit—” Puck bleated out a string of expletives, but she couldn’t spare a look to check on him.
She’d gotten a little closer than she’d intended …
The computer beeped another dark warning. “Caution: Velocity increase approaching dangerous levels. Please decrease rate of acceleration.”
“What’s our position?” Her voice wavered in her chest as the ship shook.
“We’re—right on—it,” Puck managed through clenched teeth.
The rate of vibration increased, and Adequin’s jaw ached as her teeth threatened to be shaken free from her skull. “Tell—me—escape—velocity.”
“Coming—up,” Puck warned. Moments later, he called out, “Now!”
She wrenched the controls and the ship banked left, careening away in a subtle, but definite arc. She spared a look to the right of the screen, and relief washed over her—the SGL still dragged alongside them.
“Comms,” she said.
“Up!” Puck called.
“Jackin, you keep those engines floored inward. Twenty degrees, then we’ll arc out. You got it?”
A static-filled, incomprehensible response came back. “—what—bloody—fuck—doing?”
The computer spoke up again. “Velocity stabilizing.”
The vibrations slowed and fell away, and the flashing red emergency lights ceased.
Puck let out a wavering breath. “We’re clear.”
Adequin released her sweaty hands from the control sticks, her fingers stiff from the fierce grip.
Puck passed the comms menu back to her, and she pressed the link. “Jack, you read me?”
Only garbled static came in reply.
“Jack. You guys okay?”
More static, then a sharp click. “All right, all right,” Jackin’s voice spluttered through. “We get it. You’re the better pilot.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Adequin took a few long, steady breaths. She wiped her sweaty hands on the front of her jacket, then unhooked her harness.
Puck let out a resounding sigh. “And that’s why I punched you in the face.”
Adequin turned a fierce glare onto him.
His demeanor sagged. “… sir.”
She slid to the edge of her chair and swept open a menu to check their speed.
“We’re good, sir,” Puck assured. “We’re outrunning it for now. But it’s picking up speed. We’ll need a long-term solution…”