"Good." Neville adjusted Grayson’s weight again, his shoulders burning from the strain. "Now get yourself to a pod. I’ll handle the CEO and Secretary Stewart."

"Secretary Stewart? The one who came with you earlier?" Chief Luna paused mid-motion. "He’s in the medical wing."

"Got it," Neville was already moving toward the door. "Thank you."

The medical wing was three decks down, accessible via the emergency lifts. Neville wedged himself and Grayson into the cramped space. He punched the destination with his elbow since both hands were occupied keeping the unconscious man upright.

[Host, incoming message from Julius!] Shelly’s voice cut through his thoughts. [He says the military escort is already fighting against the star pirates. He’s requesting a status update on the evacuation progress.]

"Tell him evacuation is underway. Life pods are launching. I’m en route to medical bay to retrieve Secretary Stewart, and then we’re getting off this deathtrap."

[Message relayed! (｀・ω・´)ゞ]

The lift doors opened onto the medical deck, which was less chaotic than the upper levels. Most of the injured had already been evacuated, leaving behind rows of empty beds and abandoned equipment. The medical pod chamber sat at the far end of the corridor, its soft blue glow visible through the reinforced glass doors.

Bryan was inside the primary pod, his face peaceful in induced sleep. According to the readout, he was stable but couldn’t be moved.

Neville stared at the pod with its blinking vital signs. "Ugh."

[Host, there’s a life pod bay on this deck,] Shelly offered helpfully. [The medical pod can be transferred to a life pod if you’re gentle. The systems are compatible!]

Hope flickered in his chest. "Show me."

The life pod bay was adjacent to medical—a design choice that suddenly made a lot more sense—emergency evacuations for medical patients. Maxwell Corporation’s attention to detail was saving lives even now.

Neville set Grayson on one of the waiting benches, propping him against the wall. Then he sprinted back to Bryan’s pod.

The transfer was delicate work. The medical pod hovered on anti-grav cushions, responsive to the slightest touch.

Neville guided it centimeter by centimeter through the corridor, sweat dripping into his eyes, muscles screaming, until finally, finally, he reached the life pod bay.

The bay was almost empty.

Neville saw only vacant docking clamps and the faint heat signatures of recently departed engines. A single life pod remained,

Neville uttered in disbelief. "Where did they all go?"

[The evacuation announcement caused a stampede,] Shelly reported. [Passengers and crew took every available pod. This deck’s bay was... popular. Close to medical bay, close to crew quarters. People panicked, and they took what they could and ran.]

Neville loaded Bryan’s medical pod into the life pod first, securing the clamps with shaking hands. Then he half-carried, half-dragged Grayson across the bay.

A commotion near the entrance made him freeze.

"Move aside! I’m taking this pod!"

Neville turned to see a familiar figure shoving through the doors; it was Hendricks. His uniform was disheveled, his face flushed with terror poorly disguised as righteous anger.

"Mr. Hendricks." Neville’s voice came out flat. "This pod is occupied."

"The hell it is." Hendricks walked closer, his eyes darting between the life pod and the mecha dock behind Neville. "There’s a mecha over there. You can get off this ship with that. This pod is mine."

"But—"

"Never mind!" Hendricks was already moving, his longer legs eating up the distance between them. His hand shot out, grabbing for the mecha access card clipped to Neville’s belt. "Give me that."

Neville twisted away, but Hendricks was faster, fueled by desperation that made him even more brutal. The card was ripped from its clip before Neville could react, the sharp edge slicing a shallow cut across his hip.

"Thanks for this, Mr. Inspector." Hendricks was already running toward the mecha bay, triumph in every line of his cowardly body. "Good luck with the life pod. Hope you three fit!"

The mecha’s engines roared to life and flew away.

[That absolute—! (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻] Shelly was outraged.

"Let’s not dwell on that," Neville said, watching the mecha disappear into the void.

He turned back to the life pod.

The pod was designed for two passengers in standard configuration. With the medical pod taking up emergency cargo space, there was technically room for one more person.

Just one.

Neville made his decision. He loaded Grayson into the remaining seat, strapping him in. The safety harness clicked into place, securing Grayson’s broad shoulders against the crash padding.

"I know that you will be absolutely uncomfortable when you wake up. Just scold me after we survive this, okay?"

Then he climbed in himself.

It was incredibly cramped, but he managed to slide himself inside. He ended up half-crouched, half-wedged against Grayson’s side, one leg bent.

But he fit. Barely.

"Shelly, send final coordinates to Julius. Tell him we’re launching now and to intercept at maximum speed. Life support is..." He checked the readout. "Sufficient for approximately forty-five minutes at current occupancy."

[Forty-five minutes? (゚д゚)] Shelly’s voice rose an octave. [Julius’s ETA is fifty minutes even at maximum burn! Host, that’s—]

"I know." Neville’s finger hovered over the launch button. "Remind him to tell Grayson that I expect a raise for this and extra vacation days."

[Message relayed. I host that guard would find you immediately. (｡•́︿•̀｡)]

"I hope so too," Neville smiled and pressed the button.

The life pod ejected from the Aurelius with enough force to slam Neville sideways into Grayson’s shoulder. His back also hit the wall of the life pod, making him slightly cry in pain.

The life pod finally stabilized and floated aimlessly into the vast space. The reinforced glass was filled with stars. He saw the shrinking silhouette of the Aurelius, then the distant flashes of the ongoing space battle.

Somewhere behind them, explosions blossomed across the Aurelius’s hull—the star pirates’ bombs were finally detonating.

Neville watched until he couldn’t anymore.

Then he closed his eyes.

As the life support functioned in the life pod, it also sent a sleeping gas that would make anyone inside fall asleep until rescue came.