I stumbled to the entrance port, dragging a blaster with me. "Where are you?" I projected. I couldn't see her, but I could sense her presence.
"Here, Eu. Just below you. Help me. I can't make it any farther!"
Somehow I managed it. I don't know from where the strength came, but I was on the ground lifting her, pushing her onto the flat surface of the airlock—clambering up—dragging her in and closing the lock behind us. I looked down at her with pride. Who would have thought that I, a male, could lift a mature female into a ship's airlock even against normal gravity? I chuckled shakily. Strange things happen to a body when its owner is stressed and its suprarenals are stimulated.
She looked up at me. "Thank you," she said simply. But there was more behind the words than the bare bones of customary gratitude.
I helped her into the refresher and as she restored her tired body I pelted her with numerous questions.
"Did you succeed?" I asked.
"Better than I expected."
"Did you find a native?"
"Two of them." The cubicle glowed a pale green as her strength came back.