Warriors' Providence (Cadi Warriors Book 2)(86)

"Get out of there before you choke to death." Madhava bellowed.

Providence backed up. There was no way she could fix this without some tools and a mask.

When she emerged, Madhava looked beside himself. Clearly her men didn't do well with her being in danger.

"I need something to melt that coolant, tighten or seal the connection, mask and gloves." Providence said to Tytus as she patted Madhava's back. "Don't worry. I used to help my dad around the house. This looks like a simple plumbing repair."

"What is going on?" Dagaa said through the comm.

Providence snatched the communicator from Madhava before he ratted her out. There was really no alternative here. No need to freak both of them out.

"Working on it." Providence reported back.

Madhava shook his head at her.

"Well you know he'd just worry." Providence replied.

"Here." Tytus handed her a tool and a mask. "This will heat up and seal the breach."

"Ah, so it's a welding torch." Providence considered the wand-like tool.

"Just press this and follow the joint. Try to get the back side of the tube, but don't touch the walls, we don't have gloves small enough for you."

Madhava fitted the mask over her head.

"It's too damn big." He snarled.

"Just crank up the flow and I'll be fine. I'll get in and out." Providence said as she took the straps and tied them in a knot behind her head since they were too long to hook tight.

Providence stuck up her thumb and headed back to the hole in the floor before Madhava could object.

She quickly crawled back to the problem unencumbered by the communicator this go round. The air was colder and a bit thicker, but the mask helped. Thankfully she wore the jumpsuit the guys hated. It kept her knees from completely freezing to the floor. Her hands however were quickly getting frigid. Providence sat down if front of the breach and warmed her palms under her armpits for a moment before grabbing the welding wand from her pocket.

Providence gripped the tool and lined it up with the joint on the pipe as she pressed the switch. The coolant melted and suddenly there was a spray of icy fluid. Providence ducked back avoiding the spurt that could've gotten her face, but some got on her hands instantly burning the back of her palms. Providence dropped the tool.

"Fucking hell!" Providence cursed as she watched the coolant freeze on her skin and the seam of the pipe again.

She flicked the ice crystals off her hand and retrieved the tool with her numb fingers. At least the biting liquid hadn't gotten into her eyes. She'd have to start over, but this time she knew what to expect. Providence shifted to the side and held up the tool. It was difficult to hold steady as she started to shiver. This time she was out of the way when the frozen liquid melted and the leaky joint spurt. The welding tool sealed the worst spot, and she worked along the seam till she reached the back side. The angle was difficult at best. Providence had to brace herself against the icy cold wall and floor as she worked.

"Finally!" Providence sighed as she finished.

Her back was pins and needles and she'd lost a lot of feeling particularly in the hand she'd used to prop herself up with. Providence grimaced as she peeled her hand away from the floor. Her hands were taking a beating lately.

"Madhava and Dagaa are going to be pissed." Providence thought as she started crawling back down the tunnel.

By the time she reached the entrance again Providence wished her hands were still numb. The one stung so bad she nearly had to repress the tears in her eyes each time she placed it on the metal floor to move forward. She took to crawling on her forearms the last several feet, but took relief that hopefully this had worked.



Dagaa

"She's doing WHAT?" Dagaa yelled into the communicator.

Dagaa was up and out of his seat, headed for engineering in an instant.

"The coolant breach is bad. If we don't fix it, we're likely to lose the ship. Our bonded is the only one small enough to fit in the tunnel. I don't like it any more than you do." Madhava snarled back obviously torn.

Dagaa disconnected and called Ashtoret. He didn't care if he awoke the male considering these dire circumstances.

Dagaa was beside himself as he entered engineering and stomped down the hall.

"Shouldn't she be back by now?" Madhava demanded.

His friend was practically snarling in Tytus' face.

"It shouldn't take much longer." Tytus replied nervously.

"We've got coolant pressure!" The technician said excitedly from the control panel at the head of engineering. "She did it!"

Dagaa, Madhava and Tytus stared at the hole in the floor anxiously waiting for Providence to emerge. Dagaa couldn't believe Madhava let her do this, and yet what choice did they have? Besides Providence, as tiny as she was, would've torn Madhava a new one if he tried to stop her. They'd already learned that lesson with their fearless little mate.