C26 Escaping

Sean bent down to release Yang Chuxia's jammed safety buckle.

Yang Chuxia was so tense that her mind went blank. Held by Sean on one side and Edi on the other, they escorted her toward the ship's door.

After about half a minute, the door gradually opened, and a powerful gust of wind swept in from outside. Yang Chuxia was nearly lifted off her feet.

Clad in their Mechas, Edi and Sean gripped her firmly with one hand while anchoring themselves to the sides of the door with the other, waiting for the Life Saving Ship to descend to a safe altitude.

As they neared Niya, about a thousand meters up, the enemy's warship began firing. Edi and Sean leaped into the fray. The door behind them shut automatically, and the ship continued on its preset course.

Yang Chuxia's heart and breath seemed to stop! When she regained her composure, she saw spinning propellers emerge from behind Edi and Sean's Mechas, and thrusters appeared beneath their feet, much to her relief.

Upon touching down, Edi and Sean didn't pause for a second. They grabbed Yang Chuxia and dashed forward. The pull on her arms was excruciating, and she couldn't help but whimper. Edi noticed and said to Sean, "I'll carry her. You let go."

Sean quickly released his grip and asked Yang Chuxia, "Does it hurt a lot?"

Before Yang Chuxia could respond, Edi had already stooped in front of her. Sean assisted her onto Edi's back, and they surged ahead.

Despite being encased in a spacesuit, Yang Chuxia could still hear the whooshing of the wind and instinctively clung to Edi's neck.

They ran for what seemed like miles until Sean announced, "The Mecha Soldiers are on our tail."

Edi grunted in acknowledgment and said, "We need to find a hiding spot for Dr. Yang! Then we can confront them."

At this point, Yang Chuxia had no illusions of luck. She thought to herself, "I've gotten General Edi into this mess, all because he insisted I join him at that cursed anniversary celebration."

Sean swiftly located a cave. It wasn't large, but it was deep.

Edi set Yang Chuxia down and guided her inside. He placed his hands on her shoulders and apologized, "I'm sorry! I've dragged you into this. Stay here and no matter what happens, do not come out!

"If Sean and I are still alive, we'll come to find you. If we don't show up, keep hiding. Don't leave this spot; the rescue team will be here soon to save you."

Shivering, Yang Chuxia inquired, "Is there any air here?" She had noticed that the planet was barren, just rocks without water, which explained the lack of vegetation.

Edi paused before responding gently, "There's none. But don't be scared. I know you're brave. Throughout this ordeal, you've managed not to scream in fear." He then gave her shoulder a reassuring pat.

Edi and Sean blocked the cave entrance with large stones, plunging the interior into darkness. Their voices faded into the distance.

Yang Chuxia slumped against the cave wall, feeling hopeless. Without oxygen or water, if Sean and Edi didn't survive, she might not be discovered by the enemy, but she could still very likely die here.

Tears streamed down her face silently. She longed to tell Edi, "I'm not brave. I didn't scream simply because I was too terrified to make a sound."

After several minutes of sorrow and despair, Yang Chuxia strained her ears, hoping to catch the sounds of battle, but all she could hear was the wind.

Numbness can lead to exhaustion, and in her fatigue, Yang Chuxia drifted off to sleep. It was a good thing that 29th-century space suits were so advanced, providing seventy-two hours of oxygen, or she might never have woken up.

Time passed before Sean's voice roused Yang Chuxia. He was splattered with blood, and the stones sealing the cave had been removed.

Blearily opening her eyes, Yang Chuxia was quickly pulled to her feet by an anxious Sean, who urged, "Hurry, we must go now. General Edi is gravely wounded."

Instantly alert, Yang Chuxia was hoisted onto Sean's back as he sprinted away without pause.

Yang Chuxia inquired, "Which enemies are we talking about? Is it safe to leave General Edi out there alone?"

Sean responded, "We've taken out all the enemies. There's no immediate threat of more arriving. The general is in one of the small battleships they deployed."

Relieved to learn there were small battleships nearby, Yang Chuxia breathed easier.

Approaching the battleground, they found six bodies clad in Mecha suits on the ground, with three small battleships stationed in the distance.

A sense of dread washed over Yang Chuxia. She realized that eight small battleships had been in pursuit, but now only three remained. It was highly probable that the enemy would soon be on their trail.

Sean, carrying Yang Chuxia, dashed toward the central battleship, opened it, and ushered her inside.

The small battleships, typically deployed for combat by a Mothership, were designed for short flights. Inside, Edi lay motionless in his Mecha, blood steadily oozing from his chest.

Sean removed Edi's Mecha, revealing the suit beneath soaked in blood, with Edi unconscious.

With Sean's assistance, Yang Chuxia shed her space suit; it was impossible to assess Edi's wounds while wearing it.

Lacking a Medical Cabin, the small battleship was equipped with a modest medical supply room. Yang Chuxia had Sean lay Edi on the room's small bed and asked, "Could the enemy be on their way? Should we depart immediately?"

Sean gave a wry smile. "The fuel in all three battleships is nearly depleted. We've come too far to escape now, and there isn't enough fuel to sustain flight. How is General Edi?"

Yang Chuxia was examining Edi, without any instruments, relying solely on manual inspection. She cut open his upper garments with scissors from the medical room, revealing a gruesome wound on his chest. She frowned and glanced at Sean.

In a hoarse voice, Sean explained, "He took two punches from the enemy Mecha Soldiers."

Since his Mecha hadn't been removed, Yang Chuxia couldn't see his expression, but his voice betrayed his distress. She pressed on various spots on Edi's chest and felt his pulse. Her heart heavy, she spoke softly, "His injuries are critical. He has broken ribs—feels like at least two—and it seems the broken bones have punctured his lungs."

Sean clenched his fists tightly and asked with a grave tone, "Is it serious?"

Dr. Yang responded, "If we don't perform surgery immediately, he's going to die."

Sean's legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, his voice shaking as he asked, "What do we do now? Can we wait for the rescue team to arrive?"

Dr. Yang looked up at him and replied calmly, "Wait for how long? At most, half an hour." While speaking, she pulled a small box from her pocket, retrieved a bottle of disinfectant, and opened the box to reveal an assortment of silver needles.