The Chase
Grayson spotted a tongued groove in the floor. He dove, reaching for it. His fingers were nearly on it when the bay doors opened and sucked him out.
The world spun around him. He reached out, not knowing where he was. Will passed him, screaming.
And then Grayson twirled out into space, the Galactic Cutter above, then below.
He tumbled, and the passenger ship was in front of him.
He reached out his hand again…
He caught the lip of the bay door. He pulled with all his might as the vacuum sucked his legs. He yelled as his fingers burned.
Another tongued groove.
Just ahead.
He heard Will screaming again.
His friend was floating in space, far away, flipping and twirling through the darkness.
“Will!” Grayson cried.
“Grayson, Will, what’s going on?” He heard Beauregard’s voice in his helmet.
“Turns out they’re smugglers,” Grayson said. “There’s at least a dozen people in there!”
“Jesus,” Beauregard said.
Grayson inched forward and dug his fingers into one of the grooves.
“Let go,” Beauregard said. “I’m calling the fleet. They’ll give chase.”
Grayson grimaced. “Like hell I’m letting go!”
“Stand down,” Beauregard said. “It’s too dangerous, Gray—”
Grayson pulled himself forward, groaning.
“Stand down,” Beauregard said. “Stand down! They’re activating the ship’s engines!”
A mechanical rumble shook the bay door and it began to lift upward.
Grayson looked up and cursed. He was on a collision course with the roof of the ship. The doors would squash him if he didn’t climb inside or let go.
“Let go, man!” Will cried through his helmet, still in range.
Grayson saw him floating in space.
“Those SOBs aren’t worth it,” Will said.
Grayson scowled. He didn’t respond. Instead, he clawed his way further up the door.
“Grayson, you’re freaking crazy!” Will said.
The ship rumbled again.
The engines were starting.
Still, he moved forward. He found another groove.
“You’re going to rupture your suit!” Will screamed. “Dude, let go!”
Grayson dragged himself further.
The bay door inched closer and closer to the ceiling.
Closer…
Closer…
He roared as he threw his weight forward…
***
