So, this is how I die.

My panic disappears as I realize what I must do. Sara's brow furrows, her eyes pleading, beads of sweat running down her face, glistening. Through the comm channel, I could her choke, her throat tightening with each attempt to draw breath, a soft hiss of oxygen escaping through her smashed faceplate, damage too extensive for a quick omnigel fix. She reaches a hand out to me, and that is all I need.

So, to have come this far, to seek a new beginning for myself after all I've been through, I'm giving my life to save another, even if she is a complete stranger to me. I suppose I should feel fear, but I have left it behind on Akuze. What I'm feeling is, oddly enough...

Peace.

I murmur, "Hang on, Sara."

I reach up with both hands, fingers on the decoupling buttons on either side of my helmet. Initiative hardsuits and helmets are custom-tailored to the individual, but for safety reasons atmospheric seals for both hardsuit and helmet are universal. In a few minutes it will be me choking for air, but it's a fair trade.

After all, I am the spare. The expendable one.

I apply pressure to the buttons. Sara's eyes widen as she realizes what I am about to do.

Then a black gauntlet strikes my hand away from my helmet.