Rendezvous at the Spaceport (Public Post) (Patreon)

"Finally!" Eric blows out his breath - not realizing that he had been holding it. Dmitri's signal is clear and he is headed towards the spaceport. Eric maneuvers the Kuroi Akuma Maru in one more wide arc over the central city, carefully timing his arrival above the spaceport. He slows and the begins to lower the craft into the large circular landing area of the spaceport itself. The radio crackles as Spaceport Control warns that the Akuma Maru is not cleared for landing. Eric smiles and says aloud without transmitting, "Don't worry, I have no intention of landing." Eric watches the blip on his screen that represents Dmitri's position and then lowers the cargo ramp as he brings the ship down to match the height of the skycar and hovercycle deck on the level above the main landing/parking level at the base of the spaceport.

Dmitri emerges from the maze of corridors, shops, business and residential sections in the mega-building that includes the spaceport and out onto the landing. He smiles as he sees the Akuma waiting directly in front of him with the cargo ramp just a foot from the edge of the platform. He steps lightly onto the ramp and Eric's voice comes over the cargo bay's loudspeaker. "All aboard, Dmitri?"

"Yah, I made it!" Dmitri responds.

The ship begins to rise into the air and pull away from the platform as Dmitri walks up the ramp into the cargo hold - but another figure has appeared on the landing behind him. Running out of another doorway is the Wolf Guard that Dmitri knocked out and whose uniform he now wears, "Wait! Take me with you!" the Guard cries.

Dmitri turns in surprise as the Akuma Maru continues to pull away from the platform and slowly rises up and out of the spaceport. "Don't leave me behind!" the young Canid yells and waves at Dmitri, "Please!" Reaching the edge of the platform the alien leaps high into the air towards the retreating spacecraft, trying to jump across the impossible five meter gap that now separates the Akuma Maru from the platform ledge, twenty meters above the ground far below.

Dmitri quickly steps back to the edge of the cargo ramp, which has begun to slowly rise back into it's closed position. He drops the laser carbine that he took from the young Wolf Guard and it tumbles towards the ground below them. Dmitri yells, "Here!" and holds out his hand to catch the other's outstretched arm mid-leap.

The Canid's fingers desperately brush the palm of Dmitri's hand and while Dmitri tries to get a firm hold, it's not enough...

But the Wolf Guard's claws reflexively dig into Dmitri's palm and without hesitation, ignoring the searing pain in his left hand where claws have penetrated his flesh, Dmitri jerks his arm with all his might. There is an awful moment when it seems that they are over-balanced and almost tumble off of the rising cargo ramp, but the Wolf Guard's momentum, the rising ramp, and Dmitri's strength are enough together and the pair tumble fully onto the ramp as it finally closes and latches shut - sending them skidding down the inside surface to land in a heap on the floor of the cargo bay.

To be continued..