Chapter 2: Stranded
[Warning! Warning: Thrusters overheating!]
[Warning! Warning: Energy low!]
[Warning! Warning: Thrusters are stuck!]
A bombardment of images flashed on Astra’s screen, each one more chaotic than the last. Her eyes darted between them, heart pounding as the issues multiplied. Yu floated beside her in the cockpit, its soft beeps and boops the only sound in the eerie silence of space.
"At this rate, they’ll catch up with us any day now—" Astra muttered, her hands reaching to claw at her hair. The stillness of space was suffocating, not even a whisper of wind could reach her.
"Wait..." She muttered, an idea striking her.
"Hey! How much energy does the mech have!?" She demanded, hope flickering in her voice despite the panic gnawing at her.
[NOTICE!]
[The flight from Planet X-0 to here, with thrusters using 100% energy disruption, leaves us with 15%!]
Astra’s heart sank as she leaned back in her chair, furrowing her brows. She tapped anxiously at an empty spot on the control deck.
"And how far can that take us? Where are we even?" she asked quietly, frustration mixing with exhaustion.