The hatch exploded open. Manuk kept her head pressed against her knees as she sailed out of the cruiser, fifty-five meters above sea level. She tumbled through the air, the cruiser’s engines whining away from her as it veered across the sky. Automatically recalculating her descent, she twisted at the waist before she straightened and extended her legs skyward. Her fists braced before her, she knifed into the water.
The water was cold. Holding her breath. Manuk made sure the survival pack was still secure against her back, then began swimming to shore, staying below the water’s surface. she suspected the droid pilot would tell someone about her leap from the cruiser, but that did not concern her. Her test required that she survive for a month. The briefing did not mention she had to remain on the cruiser until it landed.
When Manuk neared the shore, she broke the surface with her mouth and nose but kept her body underwater. she reached out with her senses. She could not detect any movement on the rocky beach, but she knew it was only a matter of time before the assassin droids found her.
And they most certainly found her.
The water was cold. Holding her breath. Manuk made sure the survival pack was still secure against her back, then began swimming to shore, staying below the water’s surface. she suspected the droid pilot would tell someone about her leap from the cruiser, but that did not concern her. Her test required that she survive for a month. The briefing did not mention she had to remain on the cruiser until it landed.
When Manuk neared the shore, she broke the surface with her mouth and nose but kept her body underwater. she reached out with her senses. She could not detect any movement on the rocky beach, but she knew it was only a matter of time before the assassin droids found her.
And they most certainly found her.