To attempt to return some sense of normalcy into the madness, Anon decided to introduce himself. He could only manage a short "I am Anon", trying to sound calming and soft, before he felt that he had to give her air again. When he pulled back, she merely stared at him in disbelief without expressing a word. After a few moments of silence, he knew that she needed air again and hesitated before connecting their lips once more; this time, her mouth opened slightly in acceptance. Even though there was still fear in her eyes.

He blew two more times into her and still there was no communication between them. But then, in between those breaths, Nova finally said her name in a voice so small he almost didn't hear it.

It was barely audible but enough for him to understand. After another breath into her lungs, he said “nice to meet you Nova”. Then pressing his lips on hers again. While he was doing so he could hear Nova cough, and then giggle.

He now realised the full absurdity of the situation and he couldn't help but let out a chuckle. However, that laughter was quickly cut short, as Nova needed her intake of air. This time she was the one who leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. Anon was again aware of her soft lips and, this time, also her beautiful scent; an intoxicating aroma that captivated him. His heart started beating faster to keep up with his newfound excitement.

Their bodies pressed tightly together, so tightly that she must have felt the wild beating of his heart.

After their laughter had subsided, both of them slowly began to engage in conversation which was continually interrupted by him having to blow into her mouth in order to keep her alive. Nova thanked Anon for saving her life. Anon told Nova about how the escape pod had been thrown around and had caused her to pass out.

Even though Anon's and his companion's situation was stable for the present moment, he knew thay they couldn’t go on like this for long. They had no clue as to how long exactly their imprisonment would last, and even if it were only a few hours, that would still feel like an eternity. In the worst case scenario it could be years before they were able to see fresh air and land again.

Anon carefully weighed his options, wanting to be as prepared as possible for any circumstance. He didn't want Nova to be aware of his worries, so he kept them to himself and worked hard in secret. His mind raced with the details of the escape pod, trying every angle and possibility that could provide a more secure oxygen supply for her. He wasn't sure if it would even be possible, but he had to try anything at this point.

It could very well have been the immense strain of the past few hours that had made his brain feel like mush. He had been mulling over every possible way to hack into the pod's systems in order to get air to Nova, coming up empty with each idea, when he suddenly remembered that all escape pods came equipped with a backup air supply. This realization made him see things in a new light; if he could just figure out how to gain access it would be their ticket out of this jam.

The backup air system was typically set to engage automatically, when the sensors picked up a malfunction in the primary system. However, it had not been designed to accommodate two passengers so he had to intervene and switch it on manually.

In between breaths, he told Nova his plan. Her face brightened with understanding. He had to move her head to give him access to the escape pod's computer system. After a few clicks, he landed on the custom command interface of the computer where he proceeded to carefully input the commands needed. His concentration always interrupted by him blowing air into Nova’s mouth. But before long, he had worked out a way to engage the air backup system that would keep her safe.

Nova braced herself as the tubes were quickly and painlessly attached to her, just as it happened to him earlier. At last, she was able to take in oxygen without having him blow into her. He was filled with relief and joy that she could now breathe more easily, but he couldn't help but also feel a bit of regret. He knew that he would not be able feel those amazing soft lips of hers again. It was a bittersweet experience for him.