XXII.
"She's going to be okay, Scott." Cora begins, glancing over her shoulder to check that he is still following her up the stairs and towards the tram; Alec had summoned them to the bridge and that was where they were heading. "They know what they are doing." She adds and spots him nod and that he lowers his eyes to his feet, she knew of all the things he'd been worried about, Sara still being stuck in her pod had not been high on his list.
"I know." She hears Scott's reply from behind her as they reach the tram stop and she calls it to them. "It's just hard knowing she's in there and missing this." Scott adds and she feels his eyes on her but she quickly turns away, unable to even look him in the eye and being knowing what she has done to betray him.
Cora hears their transport arrive, and steps inside when the doors open, moving to the back so that Scott can approach the controls and select for them to be taken to the bridge. Cora turns and leans against the wall of the tram, glancing at him and wondering if he could tell how she was feeling and hoping he couldn't.
"If you mean missing this.." Cora begins motioning around them. "Sudden loss of gravity, overloading of equipment resulting in near death." She adds with a small smile and she sees him return it. "I'd say she's better staying asleep for a while longer." She whispers making him smile again.
"Your right." Scott smiles and she watches him move away from the controls and stands in front of her. "Although isn't this the adventure we signed up for?" He whispers and she feels how close he is now, and that he is watching her closely.
"Scott we are on duty," Cora whispers when she feels him lift his hand and rest it against her cheek, making her finally look into his eyes when she feels his thumb stroke her skin. "No kissing on duty, remember?" Cora adds and she sees a smile tug at his mouth.
"We said no getting naked on duty." Scott chuckles quietly. "We agreed to no kissing in meetings, and this isn't a meeting." He adds making her sigh and lower her eyes from him when he brings his mouth close to hers, his lips so close she can almost feel how soft they are.
"You're being pedantic." Cora laughs and lifts her hand to place her finger over his lips, knowing how much he wants to kiss her and how much she wants to let him. "Alec will be waiting for us." Cora sighs and she sees him nod lightly.
"Alec, Alec, Alec.." Scott huffs quietly making her sigh. "Have I done something wrong?" Scott begins and she feels his eyes searching her face for answers. "You'd tell me if I have, right?" He asks and she notices that he lowers his hand from her face.
"Of course you haven't." Cora laughs lightly and leans forward to kiss his cheek, trying to reassure him. "Trust me, you'd be the first to know." Cora adds and sees that her answer has satisfied him, but suddenly wishes she hadn't used the word trust when she knew he couldn't and shouldn't trust her.
Cora gives him the best smile she can when she feels him draw her into a tight hug, holding her gently in his arms for a moment, trying to stop her brain from screaming at her that she was a cheat and shouldn't be letting him touch her as Alec had done and she needs to tell him the truth. She hears him making a happy sigh when she squeezes him tighter.
"I'm so glad I have you to share this with." Scott begins and she feels him loosen his hold and that he dips his head to kiss her, catching her off guard. Cora sighs when his mouth makes her forget for a few seconds that she'd been kissing and being fucked by Alec not that long ago and just enjoy his lips on hers. Cora wraps her arms around his neck when he draws her closer.
"Careful." Cora giggles when the tram moves and almost unsteadies them so she holds onto Scott tighter, feeling him back her up completely trapping her between his body and the wall of the tram. She feels him continue to kiss her and that he starts moving his hands to her hips. "We need to stop before we end up on the floor." Cora whispers, knowing how close she is to stripping him of his clothes and making them both very late to the bridge. Maybe Alec was right; maybe this was just a physical thing with Scott because she did crave him.
Cora feels Scott smile and remove his mouth from hers; she can see he was thinking the same as she was. She feels the tram slow, knowing it would be as good a reason as any for them to get moving and to remember what they were supposed to be doing.
"We'll save that for later." Scott whispers and she feels him press a soft kiss against the top of her head and unwrap his arms from around her, she watches him turn away from her and make the few short steps to the door. "Come on." Scott adds and she sees him smile and motion for her to follow him.
"I'm coming." Cora smiles, moving to join him and feeling him reach for her hand until she suddenly feels the floor beneath her feet lurch and shake. "What was that?" Cora asks, noticing that Scott has felt it too and is looking around them.
"Harper, Ryder. Bridge. Now." Cora hears Alec's voice over the comms.
"Whatever it is, it can't be good." Scott mumbles and she watches him begin jogging up the steps, so she does the same, trying to get to the bridge as quickly as they can and find out what has happened.
As they step through the doors to the bridge, Cora notices that the bridge hands that had previously been so calm and collected, are now rushing around and look like they are trying to get the ship back under control. She glances around and spots Alec, stood with Captain Dunn and they appear to be giving orders through their comms channels and both of them have their eyes fixed on the expanse of the window at the front of the bridge. She watches how tall Alec stands when he is commanding, and in charge. Much more confident than when he sometimes was behind closed doors.
"Holy shit." Cora hears Scott mumble beside her as she notices he lifts his eyes to the large window in front of them, too. Cora follows the direction of his eyes, letting them settle on the angry electrical storm that has surrounded them and then to Habitat 7.
"What's happened?" Cora mumbles, suddenly finding it difficult to speak when she watches their new homeworld come into view completely, and she sees the destruction clearly.
"That doesn't look like the brochure," Scott whispers and she feels him close beside her, his shoulder touching hers. "This is bad, Cora." Scott adds and she feels his eyes on her, and his fingertips finding the palm of her hand. Cora slides her fingers through his, trying to offer them both some silent support.
"It sounds like they are arguing." Cora nods her head towards them and she sees Scott nod in agreement. "Captain Dunn should know better and know he won't back down." She whispers and hears Scott snort lightly.
Cora feels Scott take a step closer to Alec and Nozomi, so she does the same. Cora notices, as they now get closer, that indeed The Pathfinder and Captain Dunn appear to be in a deep discussion and they don't look like they are agreeing with each other.
"Alec, you may be Pathfinder but this is my ship." Cora hears Captain Dunn huff and her eyes are on Alec. Cora notices that he glances over his shoulder when he realises that they've arrived, feeling his eyes on her briefly and then back to Nozomi.
"Captain, the protocols are clear; in the absence of communication with the Nexus or the other arks, we proceed to our appointed homeworld. Solid ground." Alec continues, his voice firm and commanding and she watches him cross his arms over his chest.
"If it's even out there. Nobody said anything about running into an energy cloud." Captain Dunn replies and Cora watches them both waiting for the other to fold.
"I think Alec is right," Cora whispers, feeling Scott's attention turn to her. "We came here for Habitat 7, and we need to know if it's worth trying to salvage that mission." Cora nods and she hears Scott sigh. "You don't agree?" She asks and sees him shake his head.
"It looks pretty bad to me." Scott begins and she watches him look up and out of the window again. "Maybe it would be better to reach the Nexus, then think it out again." Scott mumbles making her laugh quietly.
"Coward," Cora whispers and she hears his scoff. "What happened to this is the adventure we signed up for?" Cora adds and she feels Alec's eyes on her again, making her cheeks redden when she knows he is watching her but then he looks away.
"No, you're right." Scott nods. "As much as I don't like him, Alec knows what he's doing." Scott adds making Cora sigh quietly knowing Scott's temporary allegiance to his father will be short-lived, even more so when she knows she is going to have to tell him the truth and if she didn't Alec would.
Cora notices that Alec's attention turns back to Captain Dunn, but that when it looks like he has made a decision, he begins walking away from her and toward her and Scott. Cora can hear the sound of his boots as he steps with positive and confident steps.
"We're heading down there." Alec begins making her nod as if he'd let it be any other way. Cora waits for him to look her in the eye, but notices now that he is stood with Scott as well he looks as guilty as she feels and doesn't look at her. "Harper, the rest of the team should be awake by now. Have them ready two shuttles. Planetside in thirty. Suit up." He adds and she feels him walk away, and back towards Captain Dunn.
"Yes, sir." Cora nods, glancing at Scott. "You heard the man, go suit up." She smiles and hears Scott chuckle. "Pathfinder Team, this is Cora. Proceed to the Weapon Array and prepare for departure in thirty." Cora announces over her comms to the rest of the team.
"On my way, Cora." Cora hears Liam's voice over the channel. "Yes, let's do this." She hears Kirkland's voice, which makes her smile. "On route." Greer chimes in.
"Cora to the shuttle bay." Cora begins, hearing the line connect and knows they can hear her. "We need two shuttles ready immediately, we'll be heading out in 30 minutes. Pathfinder's orders." She adds and then disconnects, turning her attention to Scott when she notices he is waiting for her and hasn't gone to get changed without her. "What are you still doing standing there?" Cora smiles and she sees him grin at her words.
"Cora," Scott whispers and she feels him lean closer to her, quickly glancing around so make sure no one can hear him but her. "Do you know how sexy it is when you're giving out orders?" He adds and she sees his flirtatious smile.
"Oh that's a thing is it?" Cora giggles quietly, quickly lifting her hand so that she can press her thumb against his bottom lip. "You like the idea of me telling you what to do, do you?" Cora whispers and she sees him nod.
"I might like that idea." Scott grins.
"Noted, and saved for later." Cora adds and watches his tongue trace the place her thumb has been. "Now, go suit up." She whispers and sees him nod and move past her.
Cora sighs quietly as she watches Scott walk away, noticing that he glances over his shoulder to give her a last smile before he heads through the door to go and get changed. She lowers her eyes when she can no longer see him, the knowledge that she has so willingly betrayed Scott churning uneasily inside her. She feels Alec at her shoulder before she sees him but then notices he just heads towards the door and doesn't wait for her.
"Alec!" Cora calls after him, forgetting all protocol as she quickly moves to catch up with him. "Can I talk to you?" She whispers as she comes level with him and feels his eyes on her.
"I'm busy." Alec begins and she watches him huff. "Can't it wait?" He adds and she notices him glancing around them and then back to her.
"Of course." Cora whispers and nods, knowing she can't keep the hurt from her voice or her face. "It doesn't matter." She adds and nods again, stepping past him to carry on walking.
"Cora, wait." Alec begins and she feels his hand catch hold of hers. "I didn't mean that." He whispers and she feels his eyes on her again. "I'm not too busy for you." He gives her a small smile but she notices he lets go of her hand when people walk past them. "Do you want to walk and talk?" He asks and she nods lightly, that was probably the only way she was going to get enough time with him.
"Alec.." Cora sighs as she falls into step at his side, lowering her voice so the whole of the ship doesn't overhear their conversation.
"Cora.." Alec smiles making her glance at him and she can feel the familiar look in his grey eyes on her.
"I need you to tell me what you want." Cora begins and she sees Alec setting his eyes ahead of him and nodding before his eyes are on her again. "What is this between us?" She sighs and hears him sucking his teeth. "If what happened meant nothing to you.." She continues, struggling to put into words what she wants to say to him.
"Are you worried I'll tell Scott?" Alec begins and she feels his eyes searching her face so she shakes her head. "Then why are you upset?" He whispers as they continue to walk together towards the armoury and she feels them begin down one of the corridors.
"Because I have either made a huge mistake that will cost me, Scott.." Cora sighs. "Or this will cost me any kind of future with you." She whispers and sees Alec shake his head lightly.
"Why does it have to be a mistake?" He asks and she sees him smile lightly and glance around them again. "I want us to be together," Alec adds and she feels his eyes settle on her again. "But, I think we should talk about this properly after the mission." He sighs.
"Of course." Cora nods too and smiles when Alec leans towards her, lifting his hand to the back of her neck and drawing her into a kiss. "What was that for?" She sighs when she watches Alec checking the hallway again.
"For luck." He smiles at her.
"I thought you touched your rock for luck." Cora whispers and notices he smiles and nods his head. "I didn't realise there was an alternative." She smiles and glances around them again.
"I prefer this," Alec whispers and she feels his mouth on hers again. "Come suit up with me, Harper." Alec smiles again and she watches him continue down the corridor to get changed.
—/—
Cora feels the floor of the shuttle vibrate beneath her feet and lurch slightly as she notices that David Fisher has to alter the height of their flight path to avoid a large tendril of an electrical storm that threatens to hit them. She glances out of the window, her eyes fixed on the hazardous weather around them as they fly through the clouds and head for the landing zone on Habitat 7.
"Sorry folks." Fisher's voice comes over the comms in her helmet, making her smile lightly when she hears it. "It's a little bit choppy out here." He adds and she feels the shuttle pitch again.
"I think I'm going to throw up." Cora hears Doctor Carlyle in her ear, hearing the rest of the team in the shuttle laughing from inside their suits but trying to be subtle about it.
Cora glances up from her place at the window to where Harry is sat on firmly in one of the seats, looking very uncomfortable and his body swaying as the shuttle does. She nods her head to Lola who is mirroring her position but on the opposite side, seeing her helmet dip in response. Cora returns her eyes to the window, noticing that the storm is getting worse but that she can still see Scott's shuttle flying alongside them.
"I thought Doctor's were supposed to have strong stomachs." Cora hears Lola's voice which results in more laughing from David in the cockpit.
"Quiet." Alec's voice suddenly comes over their comms and she can feel the hairs on the back of her neck stand up when she hears it. It was gruff, commanding, and serious to show he means it. "Focus." He adds and Cora notices that everyone now goes quiet, not wanting to anger the Pathfinder. She knew the chatter and laughter was their attempt at making them all feel less nervous about the storm raging outside.
"Shuttle 2 to Pathfinder." Cora hears Kirkland's clear voice reach them from the shuttle beside them, drawing Cora's eyes to where she knows they were previously.
Cora frowns slightly when she doesn't immediately see them, but then she notices that they've had to fly lower to avoid more of the electrical storm. Cora can't help but wonder what Scott is making of all of this, feeling a little disappointed that Alec had decided to split them up and have her with him instead of Scott. As much as Alec had her doubting everything and so confused she felt her head was spinning, she would have liked to have been with him. Cora lifts her arm and places her hand around the bar above her, feeling the shuttle start to shake and move more violently.
"Pathfinder receiving." Alec begins.
"The storm is getting worse." Kirkland begins and Cora hears the sound of their shuttle rattling as much as theirs over the comms. "I'm not sure we'll make it to the LZ." He adds and Cora can feel the silence, thick and hushed as everyone waits for Alec to respond.
"Continue as instructed, Shuttle 2." Alec begins and she can tell he is trying to keep his voice steady. "The LZ isn't far now. Proceed with caution." He adds and she is sure she feels his eyes on her.
Cora glances from her view out of the window and over her shoulder to where Alec stands at the back of the shuttle. She notices that his dark N7 armour makes him almost disappear in the low light, and other than the lights on his chest she can hardly see him. Cora grips tighter onto the bar when the shuttle pitches, almost toppling her over and off of her feet but she manages to brace and keep steady.
"Hold on everyone." Cora hears Alec's quiet voice in her ear and knows he's watching her even though she can't see his eyes through his helmet, and that he's mainly talking to her.
"Is everyone else seeing the floating rocks?" Cora hears Lola suddenly loud over the comms as she runs across the middle of the shuttle, wanting to get a better look out of Cora's window. "What is making them do that?" She asks and Cora feels Alec approach her and knows he is behind her.
"Shuttle 1, we are getting a huge spike in readings here." Cora hears Kirkland's voice loud on the comms, sounding panicked as they all continue to hear the sound of Shuttle 2 groaning as they are battered by the storm.
"Shuttle 2. Prepare for defensive manoeuvres." Cora hears Fisher respond and can't help but gasp when the shuttle lurches again and swoops forcefully.
Cora looks out of the window again, trying to keep her eyes on Scott's shuttle and wanting so much to speak to him and for him to know she was thinking about him. Cora feels the shuttle drop heavily making the magnetic field on her boots engage and keep her grounded and notices that everyone is struggling to stay upright. She notices that Alec is now the other side of the shuttle and sure he is trying to see their landing zone.
"Pathfinder." Cora hears Scott's voice and it makes her smile, relieved that she's heard him and that he's all right, well as all right as they could be. "Can you see this from your shuttle? It looks like some sort of alien settlement?"
"You're right." Alec begins. "Hyperion, this is Alec Ryder. We have encountered signs of alien activity on Habitat 7 and are currently taking damage from the electrical storm." Cora hears his voice and glances over at him, wondering why he was so concerned about checking in and wondering if there was a worried man beneath the helmet.
Cora watches the shuttle beside them change direction quickly, rolling to avoid another dense bolt of electricity and she sees that the storm clouds are now full of flashes of lightning that are drawn to their shuttles.
"Alec, it's turning to lightning." Cora begins, trying to get his attention as quickly as she can over the comms channel. She watches him look over his shoulder and rush to her window, his helmet tilting as he looks at the angry clouds around them.
"Fisher, Kirkland." Alec begins, his voice loud so that everyone can hear him over the noise. "Take us down." He adds raising his voice and she watches him trying to spot the other shuttle too. "Find somewhere safe and get us down." She hears as he cuts off the channel.
"We've been hit!" Cora hears Kirkland's shout from the other shuttle. "Losing control of the shuttle." Kirkland adds and she can hear him huffing and trying to keep the shuttle steady, as another large lightning bolt hits them.
"No!" Cora shouts, pressing her helmet against the window and trying to find Scott's shuttle. "Scott!" Cora shouts banging her hands against her window when she watches the lightning hit directly in the centre of the shuttle, ripping it in two. "Alec, do something!" Cora shouts, hearing her voice in her head because of the helmet.
Cora feels Alec move to her side, them both watching Scott's shuttle break apart and Cora begins banging again on the window when she sees Scott and Liam hanging out of the door as their shuttle begins plummeting to the ground. Cora is sure that she sees Liam and Scott escape the shuttle and begin free falling towards the ground of their golden world, praying that it is their jets she's seen light up the sky and not more lightning.
"Shuttle 2, come in." Alec begins over the comms and she can hear he is struggling to speak. "Shuttle 2, can you hear me?" Alec adds and she turns to look at him. "Scott, are you receiving me?" The Pathfinder sighs and Cora can tell he is suddenly sounding worried about his son.
"Oh my god." Lola begins and Cora watches her grip on tighter to the rail, suddenly looking scared that the same thing will happen to them.
"Fisher, take us down." Alec begins loud and clear over the comms. "We'll find somewhere safe to land and find them." Alec continues and Cora watches him lower his helmet-covered head for a moment. "He'll be fine." Alec nods and she watches him take a moment to glance around as they all stand in silence, holding on as the shuttle continues to lunge and lurch beneath their feet.
"Buckle up, kids." Fisher's voice instructs them and she can hear how hard he is having to work to keep them as steady as they can and to keep them from being hit. "We are going to be arriving surface side rather quickly." He whispers and then goes quiet.
Cora watches as Dr Harry settles further back into his seat, pulling the over shoulder restraints down as well as his lap belt as quickly as he can, his face still noticeably pale. She sees Hayes do the same, pulling the bar down and over her head. Cora notices that Alec doesn't sit, but instead is stood behind his pilot Fisher watching the planet rush past them out of the front window of the shuttle. Cora huffs to herself and approaches Alec, forcefully banging her hand against his shoulder so he can feel it through his armour.
"Sit down, Harper." Alec begins loud in her ear and everyone else's when she watches him look over his shoulder and see it's her. "I won't ask you again." She hears his voice demanding but knows he's trying to protect her.
"You need to sit down and strap in too." Cora huffs, ignoring for a moment that the rest of the team can hear their conversation but knowing if anything happens to Alec, all of this would have been for nothing. "Alec, please." She whispers.
Cora sees him nod his head lightly before he turns and quickly sits down into one of the spare seats. She watches him lift his hands to pull the safety bar down until it locks in place, and then reach for his lap belt. When she is satisfied he is buckled in, she lowers herself into the seat beside him and does the same. Cora notices that he stares straight ahead of him and knows he's probably angry with her for speaking out of turn, again.
"I'm not ready for you to die in a shuttle crash." Cora begins, speaking quietly into her channel that she sends to Alec. She knows the others wouldn't be able to hear over the noise of the storm, but she still lowers her voice to make sure. "I'm not ready to be without you." Cora adds and she hears the quiet beep and knows he's able to speak now.
"I have no intention of dying." Cora hears finally his quiet reply and she is sure she hears his sigh over the channel. Cora watches as he lowers his head as if he is trying to see her through his visor. "I'll never be ready to be without you." Alec continues and she watches him turn his attention to the other members and feels his armour covered knee knock against hers.
Cora grips her hands against the armrests as the shuttle continues to rock and shudder, squeezing them beneath her palms to try and make her feel more secure.
"Why am I always with you when we face possible death?" Cora huffs and she hears his laugh in her ear. "The number of times I've almost died for you, Alec Ryder," Cora whispers.
"But we've had one hell of a ride together, Harper." Alec mumbles and she watches him fidget beneath the restraint pressed against his chest. "If these are to be my last few moments of life. I wish I could spend them kissing you." Alec whispers and she sighs. "Don't worry, we'll find Scott. He's a resilient kid." Alec adds and she hears him sigh.
"He's got you as a dad, of course, he is." Cora nods and she feels him move his knee against hers again as if he wants to be touching her, she leans her head back into her chair. "Kissing you would be a pretty good right now." She adds and hears him chuckle beside her.
"I can think of lots of things I'd rather we were doing right now." Alec laughs and she watches him lean his head back too, lifting his hand to his brace.
"What like us having sex and then you leaving me?" Cora whispers and she hears him sigh. "That hurt, Alec." Cora adds and she feels him lower his gloved hand onto hers.
"I didn't want to leave, Cora." Alec sighs and she feels him squeeze her hand again. "All I want is for us to be together again." He adds. "Don't act like it's me keeping us from each other." He whispers.
"You broke up with me, remember?" Cora sighs and glances at him again and notices he shakes his head.
"I should never have done that," Alec whispers and she feels his eyes meet hers through their helmets and her heart ache when she sees his expression, maybe life would have been very different if they'd still been together now.
"Okay, we're down in 5.. 4.. 3.. 2.." Cora hears David's voice counting down and that the shuttle begins to lurch heavily, her insides feeling like they've been left behind when it suddenly drops again.
Cora glances at Alec when she feels his hand on hers on the armrest, feeling him wrap his hand around hers the best he can as the shuttle drops again and suddenly she feels the impact as it hits the ground, her whole body being shaken as it lifts into the air again, and hard back onto the planet's surface. Cora screws her face up, wanting to block her ears when the deafening sound of metal scraping against the rock as the shuttle continues to slide. Just as quickly as they've landed, the shuttle stops with a small lurch forward. Cora feels him patting her hand gently and then remove it when he realises the others are looking at them.
"Thank you for flying Andromeda Airlines." David's voice comes over the comms, making her breath a sigh of relief when she realises they have landed. "Please remember to tip your pilot," Fisher adds and she hears him panting and light laughter from the others.
"Is everyone okay?" Cora hears Alec's voice.
"All okay here." Hayes announces and Cora watches her lift her hand and shows thumbs-up sign before starting to lift the bar restraint off of her. Cora glances at Alec and nods her head, showing him she is okay.
"Yes, Alec." Harry huffs and Cora notices he is unbuckling himself. "Nothing broken." He adds and she sees him climb to his feet, and begin shaking himself off and making sure his helmet is attached properly.
"Helmet check." Alec begins and she watches as the rest of the team all begin checking that their seals are still intact. "Readings show that this planet does not have breathable air." He adds making her lift her hand and triple check. "Everyone's vitals look fine." He mumbles and she watches him flicking through on his Omni.
"Can you see Scott's?" Cora asks and she watches his head turn towards her and that he shakes it. "They must be out of range.." Cora whispers to herself more than him.
"Fisher, start running a damage report on the shuttle." Alec continues as she feels him stand from his seat beside her, stepping towards the shuttle door and making it open and lift above his head. "We need to know how we are getting back to the Hyperion." He adds and Cora watches David nod and climb out of his seat.
"Do we have any long-range communications at all?" Cora asks and she glances towards Lola who is busy on her Omni. "The storm must be causing an issue." Cora adds as the rest of the team begin following Alec out of the shuttle, and step onto Habitat 7.
Cora pauses for a moment on the edge of the shuttle, glancing around her at the golden world that she had worked so hard with Alec to find and want to make their home. She notices the angry storm in the sky, the strange light, the unfamiliar flora and fauna around them. This planet felt strange, alien, not like home at all. She lifts her boot, slowly lowering it onto the ground.
Maybe she'd been fifth to step here, maybe sixth if Scott had made it down safely which she knew he was capable of doing with his jump jets and training. She just had to hope and not panic, please let him be okay. Cora feels the solid ground beneath her feet, and it doesn't make her as happy as she thought it was going to.
"Only short range." Lola begins and she notices that everyone lowers their heads and she hears some sighs. That wasn't great news for reaching Scott and Liam, and especially not for contacting the Hyperion for help.
"Scott, can you hear me?" Cora begins, willing her message to reach as far as it can across the planet and to wherever he is. "Scott, can you hear my voice?" Cora adds and glances up to see Alec is watching her, but can't hear what she is doing. "Scott Ryder, please respond." She mumbles. "Scott, if you can hear me please follow this nav point." She whispers, feeling the lump in her throat when the thought crosses her mind that she might never see him again. Alec wouldn't appreciate her spending too much time dwelling on that, though and she knew if anyone would make it back to them it would be Scott.
"I can repair the shuttle." Fisher begins and Cora raises her eyes to look at him, he nods confidently and it does make her feel a little better. "It's going to take some time, but I can do it." He adds and she notices that Alec also looks physically less tense.
"Hayes, I want you to work on our communication links. Do what you can to boost the signal, and see if you can reach the Hyperion." Alec says and Cora notices that everyone is still watching him. "Cora will keep trying Scott and Liam, we'll keep pinging them the location of this shuttle." Alec nods, Cora smiling to herself when she knows she did put her faith in the right man and he wouldn't let anything happen to them.
"What would you have me do, Pathfinder?" Dr Carlyle begins and Cora giggles quietly to herself when she watches Alec turn his attention to him, lifting his hands to his hips.
"Er.." Alec begins. "Just make yourself useful. Help Cora." He adds making her huff to herself when she hears it and she is sure she sees Harry shaking his head, why did she have to babysit the Doctor that didn't like her?
"Why don't you see if you can get some flares?" Cora sighs, if he was going to be helping her, he might as well be making this area as visible as possible to Scott and Liam.
"I'm going to scout ahead." Alec begins and she notices that the whole team is watching him again. "See if I can get to higher ground." He nods and Cora watches him step towards the weapon loadout and pick up his rifle. "Remember the protocol for any initial contact with aliens. Do not shoot unless they shoot first, understand?" Alec adds and Cora watches everyone nod lightly, deciding that they were looking nervous now Alec was going lone Pathfinder.
Cora watches as Alec places the rifle on his back, dragging a trunk of ammo onto the grass beside the shuttle. She sees him nod to the others to get their weapons and ammo, making sure that they are prepared just in case. Cora hoped whatever the alien life was that they'd seen, they were friendly and happy to have them here. She'd heard enough horror stories of the first contact war from Alec to make her wary of any first contact with unknown species.
"Alec.." Cora begins, grabbing hold of Alec's arm as he walks past her with another trunk of supplies from the shuttle. She hears him connect so that they can communicate in private. "I want to come with you." She adds and sees him shake his head before she even has a chance to tell him why.
"I need you to stay here." Alec puffs as he lifts the box higher on his chest and then drops it to the ground. "I'm serious, Harp." He adds as he stops what he is doing and faces her. "We don't know what's out there." He sighs making her roll her eyes.
"Even more reason to take me with you." She huffs and hears his quiet laugh. "Alec, please. I'm your second." Cora continues but knows that it won't work and he just shakes his head again. "I can handle anything you can." She adds and knows part of him is saying no because he's trying to protect her.
"That's why I need you here, Cora." Alec begins and she knows he is trying to look at her through his visor. "You need to keep trying to reach Scott and Liam." He adds with a nod. "Protect the shuttle, it's our only way out of here." He sighs again and she nods lightly, still not happy about it.
"Fine," Cora whispers and she is sure she can see him smile. "But keep your line open, and if you need me for anything at all.." Cora continues and she sees him nod. "Anything." She adds, pressing the subject so he knows he doesn't have to face anything without her.
"I always need you," Alec whispers making her sigh and watches him move out of the way when the others are moving the medical supplies past them. "Cora, just in case you were worried about Scott finding out about us." He adds. "He won't hear it from me." He huffs making her sigh and nod slightly, knowing she was going to have to tell him once they were back together and she couldn't lie to him. "Just stay safe, okay?" He nods and she does too.
"Stay alert, team." Cora hears Alec talking to them all before he leaves them, heading towards where he thinks he'll be able to get higher and get a better look at the planet they were currently stuck on.
"You heard him, let's get to it." Cora begins, noticing that the rest of the team are watching her and have seen her exchange with Alec. "We need to get this shuttle ready to fly." She adds and sees them all nod and get to work.