"Are you done with that one? Over." Shadepelt's voice was impatient, portraying the she-cat's exact thoughts. What's taking him so long?

They'd decided to set up the solar panels on the left wing first. It hadn't taken her long to set a solar panel in place; she was counting on Greenface to finish setting up his one on the far side, as they're bound to the ship with the same rope. She couldn't get a fox-length near him without pulling him further from the panel he was meant to be done with moons ago.

Irritation flashes in her amber eyes, and she tilts her head to the side—it's just barely possible in the space the helmet provides her—and waits for the tom's response. A heartbeat later, a voice comes through the communication device. But it isn't one she expects to hear.

"You two need to get back to the ship this instant. Over."

The dire tone Lionshine's voice adopted made Shadepelt flinch. What's happened? Was there a problem in the ship that the engineers had to fix? Whatever it was, she needed to make sure it isn't the dinner call or something like that.

"Roger. I just need to—"

"I said get back in the ship! Right now!"

That certainly caused the black-furred she-cat to freeze. She began to yell into the speaker.

"What are you talking about?! What do we need—"

A sinister beep floods through her ears. She stares in dismay at Greenface in front of her, who also seemed to have heard the message. His face is turning steadily green by the heartbeat.

"Can you hear me? It cut me off!" Shadepelt didn't wait for Greenface and commenced the slow process of making her way to the entrance. Relief washed over her as her fellow engineer caught up to her and gave a response: "Y-yes. Let's go."

A shaky reply, but a reply nonetheless.

Three fox-lengths to go now. Two and a half. Greenface's tail found hers for encouragement. One now—

An 'ommphhh!' streamed out of the audio receiver and into Shadepelt's unsuspecting ears. She turned her head to see Greenface launch away—and yowled as she too is whisked backwards by an unknown force. A glance later revealed that it was the tom's jetpack, which has left a smoky trail behind them. Shadepelt's eyes found Greenface's, and she widened her own.

She'd never seen fear present itself so bleakly on anyone's face.

Written by Saph! 🍩✨