The alien Commander didn't hesitate, he simply barged Cress out of the way almost knocking her to the cold floor and slammed his long fingered, almost luminous blue hand down on the key she'd indicated.
However, the shields didn't activate, instead the main gun roared to life and fired directly at the Nakai's main ship. With their shields down to allow smaller crafts out the orange-yellow beam tore through the dark metal like a hot knife through butter. Half a second later there was a gargantuan explosion as their engines blew ripping new holes in the hull and venting half the ship into space. With one push of a button the blue aliens had killed half their own soldiers and destroyed their ship. Thanks to the vacuum of space the explosions made no sound but everyone could imagine, at first it was sharp sparks of fire that shot from the Nakai ship but soon after a rich fireball erupted almost engulfing the enemy ship completely before the vast emptiness of space ended it. Shards of metal, some thick others thin, flew off in every direction, quite a few of them were instantly caught in the sun's gravitational pull and headed straight for it but others – rather large pieces – hurtled straight for Destiny and just before her legs failed her Cress dove for the terminal and engaged the shields. The sun posed no threat to Destiny now, they were safe from one painful method of death leaving only the remaining blue aliens as the other.
Her last act had been to save them, Cressida's pretence failed her and so did her body, she collapsed to the floor with a thud and slipped into unconsciousness.
"Now!"
Screamed Young as he burst and TJ into the room – they'd been laying in wait – Rush and Varro pulled two G36Ks from their hiding place under the control chair, with the aliens being momentarily distracted they took the opportunity to end them. Small bursts of gunfire sounded, just a handful and the Nakai Commander and his soldiers dropped down dead. As Varro kicked the blue alien Commander to make sure he was indeed dead Young grabbed his radio and raised it to his mouth.
"Scott, Greer, Cressida has destroyed their ship. Time to take the gloves off, get these blue bastards of my ship!"
They'd been hiding and retreating, making it easier for the Nakai to believe they were winning, but there ship was gone now and the Destiny crew would take back theirs.
"Yes Sir" Lieutenant Scott's response came quickly and seconds later gunfire erupted around the ship pushing the aliens back.
Rush and Chloe never heard Young's order or Scott's response because they'd already darted across the room to Cressida, her body was coated in a cold sweat and her eyes were closed.
"TJ!" Screamed Chloe.
The blonde was there in seconds, taking Cressida's pulse and pulling her eyelids open to see if they dilated.
"She's alive but... she hasn't got long."
Chloe plunged into tears once more.
XXXX
A few hours past and Destiny had plunged into the sun recharging the ship and restoring power; wireing was still a little off causing flickers now and a agin but they could live with that for a while. Scott and Greer had managed to lead their few soldiers and a group of civilians in ending the few remaining blue aliens on board. The Nakai on smaller fighter ships couldn't break through Destiny's restored shields, though they continued to try; James and Corporal Barnes had happily firing their weapons system putting an end to those as well.
In the infirmary Cressida remained unconscious and the jaundice of her skin had worsened making her look as though she'd had a mishap with spray tan, it would have been funny had the circumstances been different. Young's heart went out to Rush and Chloe as they all stood by Cressida's bedside, he could practically hear their hearts breaking and his own ached knowing there was nothing he could do. No one should have to watch their child die. The only thing he could think of to make her death meaningful was that without her they'd have never survived the Nakai attack, she'd saved them; it was little consolation though.
Suddenly Lieutenant Scott burst into the room – Rush would have snarled at him if he'd had the energy – Young turned to face him.
"Sir, we have confirmed death of all Nakai on board and Lieutenant James says that the fighters are all destroyed as well. It's obvious their main fleet was to follow but now Destiny has refuelled we'll be long gone." He paused as he glanced to Chloe, eyes full of concern. "Volker and Brody want to take the shuttle to the Nakai vessel, they think it would be beneficial to see if there's anything worth scavenging."
"Yes, fine. Put a team together."
Rush didn't even blink, normally he'd have jumped at the opportunity but in that moment he couldn't have cared less, he just wanted his daughter. Scott nodded and went off to do as ordered.
XXXX
A few days went by as the scientists repaired the ship and explored the one owned by the Nakai, Cressida had only gotten worse, her breathing was laboured, body coated in thick cold sweat and still she refused to wake. Chloe and Rush hadn't eaten or slept, hardly said a word, they'd even lost the energy to cry leaving Tamara to grow increasingly worried about the pair. Varro and TJ remained close by too, all TJ could do now was keep the girl comfortable. Brody had tried to ask Rush for help a few times with the Nakai ship but the elder man hadn't responded and Brody had just been silently dismissed.
The science team had harvested metals, spare parts and just about everything they could get their tiny hands on in the days that had gone by, some bits were easily identified and put to use while others continued to be a mystery and without Rush's aid they'd probably remain that way for some time.
Suddenly Young came charging into the infirmary on the third day - how Cress had managed to cling on for so long was beyond the blonde medic - Varro and TJ looked up sensing he had something important to say while Rush and Chloe only cast him a minor glance.
"Rush, Chloe, you have to hear this!" Young brought the radio he held up to his lips. "Mister Brody, say that again, nice and clear." Then he held it out so the whole room could hear, there was a crackle as the radio sparked to life.
"Em, okay. I think we found where Cress was – I don't know – born? Created? We're in a large room at the back of their ship and it's got a large tube just like she described in the centre of it-" Volker cut him off.
"Yeah, the main display screen has an image of her and there's some kind of vitals reading from the last time she was in here."
Was there a chance? Was there hope? If there was Rush would jump at it and cling on for dear life just like his eight year old was doing with her life. Suddenly the Chief Scientist filled with energy, like he'd been given a new battery.
"If that's the chamber they grew her in then-" Chloe cut him off and finished for him.
"Then we might be able to save her."
Young brought the radio back up to his lips and started barking orders.
"Lieutenant Scott get the shuttle back over here now." The radio crackled with a quick yes sir before looking back to the suddenly alert Scottish man. "Rush, when Cress destroyed their ship she vented a lot of it to space, we only have three suits."
The scientist nodded in understanding.
"I need Scott's, Chloe will need Volker's and we'll need Brody's help." Probably the first time he'd ever said that.
"And Cress?" Asked TJ from Varro's side. "She makes four... and she's too small for a suit."
There was a pause as Rush thought, he'd not used his brain in the last few days and he found it actually hurt for a moment; likely his brain punishing him for having been ignored.
"Varro?" The blonde man stepped forwards looking eager to help his young friend. "Do you think you can spot weld the pod we found her in? Make it hold long enough to get her over there? It's still full of that ooze so she'll have oxygen and protected from the vacuum."
"For that little girl I can do anything. I'll get started." With that the blonde charged from the room in search of the welding equipment the Lucian Alliance had brought on board.
"When he's done I'll put her into the pod, I assume she'll need to breath that goo in again?" Asked Tamara, her expression somewhere between worried and overjoyed, Rush just nodded. "You two go get the suits from the others."
They had a chance to save Cressida, a small shred of hope that both parents clung to. There was a saying back on Earth, you can't change fate, but they hadn't been on Earth for a long time and the Destiny crew did the impossible on a daily basis.