There was smoke. Lots of it. She could smell it before she even reached the engine. She peered over the side of the airship just to see the engine pod covered in flames. Was she too late? But no, through the burning inferno and haze of smoke, she could just barely make out a figure backing up against the far side of the pod. Alek… He was trapped. The fire was blocking his escape. He looked up and met her eyes. Suddenly the smoke seemed to clear and she could see that resigned look in his eyes. He had accepted his fate.
"Alek! Don't you dare jump, you hear me? Don't you dare!" She was scrambling over the side of the airship, her heavy duty service boots finding purchase in even the smallest of crevices. Maybe, just maybe, if she made it to the pod in time… Her boots crashed to the metal surface and a loud clang resonated. But it was a mere whisper compared to the thump of her beating heart.
The boy looked up and stare at her in horror. "Dylan…" he mouthed, almost in shock. What, had the daft Clanker not expected her to risk her knickers for him? Well I guess he doesn't know me as well as he thinks. She almost laughed at the thought. He didn't know her at all. "Dylan, no! Get back!" Alek shrieked.
"Not without you!"
"Go! I'll be fine!"
"No you won't, you bumrag! I'm coming over!"
"Noo! Dylan please no. Please," The resigned look in his eyes had turned to one of pure terror. "Please." Before she could move a muscle, he was gone. She leapt forward only to realize she had her arms gripped by two of the Leviathan's crew.
"Sharp! Restrain yourself!"
"Alek! No Alek! I have to catch him, don't you see? I have to save him! Alek!" Later, after she woke up, they told her that she had screamed all the way to the sick bay, up until one of the men had enough sense to conk her on the head with the butt of his air pistol.