Needle and Thread

The (Bonus Chapter)

Man, how long have we gone without a bonus chapter? Well, I say "No more!" I giveth you dat story.

I cannot believe I just said that. Ah, well.

The question is, what should it be about? I've already done character profiles, fun facts, Halloween specials... I know! AU! Let's do an AU.

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[import universe UB; execute(time:03seconds)]

"Everybody! Grab on to your life supports! We're going down--"

Roxi looked around frantically at the numberless buttons and blinking red lights that covered the control panel in despair. She threw one last dirty look at the navigator, who was irritatingly calm in all this.

"What?" He asked. "Wasn't my fau- woah!" He fell over as the shiny tiled floor bucked underneath their feet. "We've got to get to the escape pods. "

They both looked at the captain, who was staring straight ahead sadly. "You go on ahead," he said at last, looking at the healmet that held a one-hour air supply clenched between his hands. "I'll stay here."

"But, Captain," Roxi replied automatically. "You're a human."

"Your circuits will freeze or burn if this ship goes to pieces, Roxi triple-A. Help the pasengers. I... this ship was my whole life, you know?"

"No, sir," Roxi replied. "But I shall do as you say."

"Me too?" The navigator asked.

"Yes," The captain said, sighing. "You know, I never had any kids. Wife, either. I suppose that's a good thing, now."

"Why?"

'Because then, I might sacrifice Roxi for me. Winter, do me a favor?"

"Yeah?"

"Protect her."

Winter looked after the retreating android and said, "With all due respect, sir, I think it may be the other way around."

The captain just smiled. "Go," He said, with a sad sort of smile on his face. "She's not jerking around, which means soon she'll start sliding into the gravitatonal pull of some planet." True to his word, the floor of the ship started to tilt downward. Winter practically slid out of the control room after Roxi, grabbing the door frame to slow himself down. The android, of course, was still standing straight up, probably glued to the floor by magnets in the soles of her feet. She saw him coming, grabbed his hand, and swung him into the two-seater escape pod.

The door shut automatically behind them. Roxi was already flipping the switch to disconnect them from the ship. Winter braced himself as the pod rocketed away fom the sinking ship, towards the unknown planet.

There were no windows in the escape pod-- no way to see what kind of environment awaited them. Winter hoped and prayed that it would not be one without oxygen.

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Lyra muttered, "Ow," and peeled her body from the far side of the escape pod. "You'd think that they'd teach you about that in that hostess class," she said aloud to the perfectly calm pasenger in the opposite seat.

"It's physics," the passenger opposite her said. "You'd have to be an idiot not to think that would happen."

"Well, I'm an idiot, then," Lyra retorted. "At least I sort of know what planet we're near."

"Oh?"

"Yeah," she replied. "Planet four dash... something. Dangit, I almost had it!"

"How did you even get a job here?" He asked. "It's planet Alpha Four dash Three Nine Nine. We're pretty lucky. It's got oxygen. We do have hope of being rescued."