Chapter 15
Escape from the Ether
Mia and Marcus commandeer a small escape pod, leaving the unraveling space station and a trussed-up Zorp behind. The journey back to Earth is filled with the quiet hum of the pod and the satisfying weight of the recovered Cosmic Chronometer, a testament to their unlikely success.
The escape pod, a sleek, egg-shaped vessel that smelled faintly of recycled air and existential dread, was a welcome sight. It was tucked away in a less-trafficked corner of Zorp’s sprawling, gaudy space station, a testament to Marcus’s uncanny ability to find the most overlooked details in the most chaotic situations. Mia, her usually neat bun slightly askew and a smudge of grease on her cheek, gave Marcus a look that was a complex blend of exasperation and grudging admiration.
“You’re sure this thing is… seaworthy?” Mia asked, her voice tight as she eyed the pod’s surprisingly simple control panel. It looked less like advanced alien technology and more like a souped-up scooter dashboard.
Marcus, ever the optimist, beamed. “Seaworthy? Mia, this beauty is practically a cosmic cruiser! Zorp probably uses it for quick runs to the nebula-noodle bar. Plus, I gave it a little… percussive maintenance.” He tapped a large, red button with a flourish. A low hum emanated from the pod, and a tiny green light blinked to life.
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