Towards Safety

Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say. It was a truth that Blaze came to understand quickly. Even if it didn't mean literally screaming. There was no way that anyone back on their home planet, Tharsunder, would be able to hear them. As the crew that had boarded their ship had cut their communication link. Something that wouldn't be noticed until it was far too late to do anything about. They were only meant to take supplies to their new ally planet, Efferia, and stay to assist them. Mostly to help fix houses and other things that were destroyed thanks to a rather terrible sand storm on said planet. Stuff that Blaze had done with his fellow crewmates a few years back on different planets.

It was standard routine at this point.

What changed their routine was a distress call from another ship. One that looked to be severly damaged to the point that the crew would be dead if they didn't help. Of course, his Captain insisted that they save these folks. It was something that himself and his crewmembers were perfectly fine with. Right until the leader of these bastards blew the Captain's clean head off. Then everyone scattered to get away from these guys. His four other crewmembers stuck together as they ran to get to an escape pod. While he ran without thinking towards a vent and hurried into it. Quickly crawling through the thing as he was the only member small enough to fit. A thing that he highly regretted the instant that he found a spot to stop. Curling in on himself, he mumbled,"This can't be happening, this can't be happening...how could I be so stupid?"

"I should've followed the guys to the escape shuttle.",he snapped at himself. Upset that this was the decision that he had made. But, now wasn't the time to linger on it. Now, was the time to try and find a way to get to the other escape pod. One that he knew how to easily pilot himself. Sure, it would be a little difficult by himself. He'd deal with it if he wanted to live. Looking around, he spotted other rooms through the slots in the vent covers. Recognizing just where in the ship vents that he was. Right above the former Captain's room. It was a few minutes crawl away from said escape pods that he could go to. A tiny smile came to his face while starting to crawl up the vent. Right until he heard a soft sound from under him. It was meowing. The former Captain's cat was still trapped in his bedroom.

Looking back down, he spotted the tuxedo cat nervously pacing the room. Obviously, waiting for the Captain to come back and feed her. Part of himself was pissed that he almost forgot about Ripley. She was the ship's unofficial mascot for crying out loud! There was absolutely no way that he was going to leave her in this Hell hole. Those monsters would probably throw her out the airlock if they felt like it!

Without a second thought, he opened up the vent and called to the cat. Whispering her name loud enough for the tuxedo cat to hear him. At first, she was staring at him with her big yellow eyes. As if uncertain as to why a human was in the vent. Then, she did what he hoped that she would. She quickly climbed up the bookcase that was near the vent. Climbing into the vent with him as she stared at him. Not meowing as she joined him in the vent. Soon as the cover was back in place, one of the men had come into the Captain's room. Almost as if he were looking for the source of the soft meowing had come from. Not, that he could blame the bastard. But, he ignored the monster as he tried to quietly urge Ripley to move forward. While they did, he barely glanced to the side of them. The man in the room wasn't able to see them or even glanced in their direction. An action that Blaze was eternally grateful for as he quickly scooted with the cat. Trying to keep as calm as Ripley sort of resisted his efforts at first. Then, seemingly understood what the man was trying to do. And quietly started walking towards the direction that they desperately needed to crawl towards.

While they crawled, he listened to the men under them searching. Probably not for him or the cat but, the fact they were looking worried him. If they looked up at him, Blaze and Ripley would be dead. An action that he wanted to avoid at all costs. Not because he cared about his own life. But mostly because he didn't want Ripley to be harmed.

Doing his best to not think of the terrifying idea, he found them near the escape pod. Looking down through the vent to check if they found it. When he and Ripley were sure that no one was around, they dropped down. Carefully putting the vent cover back up, Blaze mumbled,"It's gonna be okay, Ripley."

"We'll get away from this ship and they won't hurt us.",he added. Mostly to comfort himself as he quietly got everything put together. Slipping the tuxedo cat into the carrier that housed her when they used it. At first, she resisted and nearly started meowing at him. Giving soft little growls before she allowed him to set her inside. Giving him a dirty look as he finished launch procedures as silently as he could. In a matter of seconds, they were ready to launch. All Blaze had to do was press a button. It nearly calmed him down. Right until he spotted one of the men seeing him and he froze. The man shouted something that the former crewmember of the ship couldn't understand. Nor, would he even begin to want to. Instead, the scared man pressed the launch button as hard as he could. Jolting a little as the shuttle violently shot itself away from the main ship. Causing the man to fall flat on his back as he stared at the window. Not seeing the man's face or anyone that had followed after him. All there was, was the vastness of space. Barely able to see the ship he had been in for the past thirty weeks. One the man had nearly considered home for that time. While he sat there, he heard Ripley giving little mewls of fright and discomfort. It sort of helped Blaze out of his daze as he scooted over to her carrier. Quietly, Blaze assured,"Don't worry, Rip. We're gonna be fine."

"We just gotta get away from the ship and then I can let you out.",he promised. Giving the cat little chin rubs as he waited for the shuttle to get away. Knowing that it would stop after around twenty minutes. Which would get them safely near Efferia's atmosphere and he could explain to whatever authorities they had there what had just happened. Maybe even contact his crewmates to see where they were. Ripley had calmed down after he rubbed her adorable chin. So, he stopped as he tried to calm himself down. When his pulse was down at a normal level, he noticed the telescreen nearby was flashing red. Carefully, the man got up off the floor and headed towards it. Pressing the little powerbutton to accept the call. Soon the screen was filled with the image of the second in command, Arran. The older man looked worried as he asked,"Blaze, just where in the universe are you?"

"You're not on the Sisyphus are you?",Arran questioned. Shaking his head, Blaze explained that he escaped to one of the other escape pods. And that he had taken Ripley with him. Holding up her carrier, Blaze stated,"I think we're gonna be near Efferia in around thirteen minutes."

"Good, good...do the best that you can with that escape pod.",Arran commanded. Not, that he really needed to do so. Though, Blaze said nothing about it. Instead, he merely nodded his head in agreement then ended the call. Sitting down on the floor with Ripley and her carrier. Quietly talking to her to assure her that they were going to be fine. That everything was going to be safe. Feeling a little better as the shuttle continued on it's programmed route. A faint smile on his face as he laid down on the metal floor.