Jeanne jumped into the control seat, and started un-docking the Shipstern Bluff.

The station lurched again.

"Hurry up, Jeanne!" Weyland said. He was sitting on the Sofa, a bandage pressed up to his damaged shoulder.

"I am!" Jeanne shouted back.

Suddenly, the station did a jump and then, unexpectedly, lurched backwards. Jeanne was knocked from her seat, flying across the room, and hitting the wall at a bad angle. Paul heard her arm crack, and she howled in pain.

"NO!" Weyland shouted.

Paul jumped over to her, lifting her up onto the sofa. "Jeanne!"

Tear of pain streaked her face, as she held her arm. The bone of the upper arm had broken, Paul could see that through the shirt. "No…" Weyland said.

"What do we do?" Paul exclaimed, as the station lurched again.

I can fly the ship. Akkan said quietly.

Paul looked over to him unbelievingly. You said you've never flown before.

Yes, but I watched Jeanne, I think I know how to.

Whatever you do, do it now.

Weyland held onto Jeanne's hand with his good arm. "It'll be all right" Paul said "Akkan will fly us out of here".

Jeanne looked up "But… he doesn't know how."

Paul gritted his teeth "He's a fast learner. Hold on!"

Getting up from the sofa where the two were lying, he got into the co-pilot's seat. Akkan had already set himself down in the pilot's seat, wrapping his tail around its base to steady him.

He was working the controls, peering at a few readouts

I'm not sure what this says…

Paul looked over, and started hitting buttons for the undocking sequence. It isn't working.

Ask Jeanne. Akkan said, his voice unnaturally calm.

"Jeanne, why isn't this undocking? I can't get the docking clamps to de-energize!"

"There's… a manual override switch. Under the panel to your left, red handle. Pull it!"

Paul dived under the panel, checking a few switches, and finding the large red handle quickly. He tugged it hard, and with a loud clang, the docking clamps came undone. He moved back into his seat, looking out of the window. The huge gas planet was obscuring the view, as the Shipstern Bluff slowly floated away from the Odessa.

Akkan, you need to start the engines

How do I do that?

I don't know, which button? This one? Paul pressed one of the larger buttons he had seen Jeanne work before. The engines emitted a hiss, and then fizzled out again.

That was not the right one.

Yeah, fuel pressure has dropped to both engines.

Akkan scouted the control panel. This might be the primer pump!

How do you know that?

It looks pretty worn, if it is necessary for each start up, it should be the pump.

Paul depressed it, and with a whirring, fuel pressure rose. He slammed the large red button, and the engines awoke with a roar.

A proximity alarm started to blare, and one of the spires of the Odessa loomed into view. The station was spiralling out of control.

HOLD ON! Akkan slammed the controls into the forward mode, and the Shipstern Bluff moved towards the spire with a jump. Wrestling with the controls, Akkan brought the ship into a wide arc, narrowly missing the spire.

But they weren't out of yet. The spire was pulling a large trail of debris.

The Odessa was breaking up.

The station is falling from orbit!

Akkan nodded grimly. We need to get out of its path! I'll try this!

He angled the ship downwards and powered towards the planet. The huge, blue expanse filled the entire cockpit windows, and the ship started vibrating slightly.

Do you know what you are doing?

I think I do.

Weyland was looking at Jeanne. She was in pain, he could see it. They were taking a steep dive towards the planet, a Xenomorph at the helm who had never ever flown a ship before. Paul didn't seem much of a help as well.

Jeanne's arm didn't look too well, never mind about his shoulder. He was used to worse, and besides, he was good at healing such wounds.

Gripping her good hand, he looked her in the eyes.

"Are we going to die, Fred?" She asked, fearfully.

Weyland steeled his voice. "I don't know. I know that Akkan is doing his best, but I'm not sure of what a good flier he is."

Jeanne sighed and closed her eyes.

"If we are going to die on this blasted ship, Jeanne, I want to ask you a question." Weyland coughed, clearing his voice.

"Yes, Fred? Anything…"

Weyland coughed again. "Jeanne D'arc, I love you."

She giggled "I know that, Fred. Even though I don't get to see you too often these days. But that isn't a question."

"I know. Jeanne, will you marry me?"

She looked at him, with big, round eyes. "I can't…" she breathed

Weyland's face fell, and she quickly added: "I'm a fugitive, remember."

"I can make that go away." he quickly said.

"Would you do that for me?"

"Yes."

"Then, I will marry you, Frederic Bishop Weyland."

Reaching for his good hand with hers, they moved together, quickly kissing.

Akkan, the hull temperature is increasing, we're starting the re-entry into the atmosphere!

I know! Akkan slowly pulled up, in a long arc, putting the Shipstern Bluff parallel to the planet's atmosphere.

Paul looked up through the large windows of the cockpit, up at the stars.

Above them, illuminated by the sunlight, the Odessa was spinning downwards, towards the planet. Akkan accelerated a bit, and they moved out of the path of the station, slowly falling to its doom.

As they watched, one of the spires broke off, leaving a trail of debris.

It's over, isn't it? Akkan breathed

It is. Paul said.

They died for us.

They did.

Akkan hissed, a low noise, more like a tyre deflating. We will remember them.

Paul supressed a sob. We will.

Akkan pulled the Shipstern Bluff upwards again, and angled it towards the stars. Beside them, the Odessa fell to its doom, slowly disintegrating in the atmosphere.

"Well done, Akkan" Weyland said from the sofa.

Proudly, the Xeno grinned, drooling on the controls again.

"We should hail my ship now."

Sergeant Smyth had exhibited a degree of flying that impressed even Jeanne, as he had docked the Weyland-Yutani Vessel against the much smaller Shipstern Bluff. Akkan was told not to move the controls.

The airlock opened, and Smyth and Rawlins boarded the Shipstern Bluff.

Slowly, they helped Jeanne into the med bay, but Weyland shook off the help. He stayed in the Shipstern Bluff until everyone else had left, and he was alone with Paul and Akkan.

"You're not coming." He remarked, matter-of-factly.

Paul shook his head. "This is where our ways part."

"Jeanne will go with me to earth, and you will take the Shipstern Bluff."

Paul nodded "I doubt she would mind."

"She doesn't. She said you'd be the perfect successor. She's too old for smuggling, or so she says."

"Thank you, Fred, for asking her."

"It is all right."

"I wish the two of you best of luck for your marriage." Paul said sincerely.

"I wish the two of you the best of luck for your lives as well. Be careful." Weyland turned, his blood-stained coat flapping behind him, his hand pressed on the bandage over his shoulder, and left through the airlock.

Before he closed it, he turned around, and looked at them. "In case you are wondering how this ship works. There's a manual inside the toolbox."

Paul wanted to say something, but Weyland raised his hand in a gesture of farewell. "You will manager. Goodbye, Paul and Akkan."

"Goodbye Fred."

Akkan waved soundlessly, and the Airlock slid shut behind Weyland.