I clenched my jaw as I rushed back to the bay door. I was only a few feet from the elevator, but each step sent a wave of pain up my legs.

I was used to more pain than most Earthers. Nanos were a no-no for Aunare, so growing up I’d had to make do with some archaic medical treatments. Pain had been something that I learned to deal with through breathing and visualization techniques. That was why I picked up so easily on the Aunare breathing technique that Declan had taught me. I usually was able to picture the pain flowing away from any place that felt sore, and with every breath I’d release the pain out of my body. But not today. The pain was stealing my breath, and I couldn’t focus enough to visualize on anything but getting out of the heat and finally taking off this suit.

Inside. I needed to be inside. Now.

The blast coolant hit me as I entered the cooldown chamber of the bay doors, and the suit’s temperature started dropping instantly, but it was going to take more than that to get my internal temperature down. The small doors opened into the cargo bay, and I hobbled through them as best I could.

“How’re you holding up?” Tyler said as soon as the door shut.

I opened my helmet. The cooler air inside the bay felt like a balm against my skin, but it wasn’t enough to ease the burning heat on the bottom of my feet. “I—” I fell over with a scream, unable to hold it in anymore.

“Holy hell. What the fuck happened to your suit? I didn’t hear any alerts. Did you turn them off? Did you ignore them?!”

“No. I didn’t get any alerts.” A tear rolled down my cheek. I must’ve looked as bad as I felt. “My feet. When I was maybe thirty seconds from hitting the elevator, something happened. My temp went up and—” My voice cracked. I’d been gritting it out to get inside, but now that I was here, I couldn’t hold it together. “Burned. I’m burning!”

“Oh shit. Oh shit.”

He rushed toward me, picking me up, and little starbursts appeared in my vision.

“Don’t worry. I’m not gettin’ any ideas,” Tyler said as he darted around the stacks with me in his arms.

I laughed, but tears were rolling down my face. It felt like blisters were coating the bottoms of my feet, and as much as I wanted the stupid suit off, I was scared to take off the boots, let alone my shoes.

“Where are we going?”

“Med Unit. Faster for me to carry you than wait for an assessment in the bay and have them haul you there. It’s close. Hang on.”