"Absidy!" Ellison shouted.
"No!" Mase's cry ended when he threw himself against the door again and again. "Captain, open the entryway door right now!"
I wanted to call out to them, but I couldn't breathe let alone move. The Saelis's green-rimmed eyes locked onto mine. It heaved a low guttural growl that blew putrid breath into my face. It reared back with two of its arms, and I rolled out from underneath it before it plunged them into my skull.
The ship's engines wound down but not fast enough. Mase punctuated his calls for the captain to hurry with his fists on the door. Ellison simply wailed the word please over and over.
Doctor Daryl rounded to the wall behind me. Tap. Tap.
I backed into the first entryway door, away from the advancing Saelis, and hoped the world didn't fade t
