Page 29 of Alien’s Love Child

CHAPTER 29

DAVIN

T he hum of the ship's engines shifts pitch, signaling our approach to the station. I stretch, careful not to disturb Jesse who's still fast asleep beside me. Her red hair fans across the pillow, a few strands catching on her lips with each soft breath.

The sheet slides down as I sit up, exposing the bandage on my chest. The wound throbs, but it's healing well enough. A small price to pay for our freedom.

Through the viewport, stars streak past in brilliant lines of light. We're almost home. Almost back to Leo. My chest tightens at the thought of my son - our son. Three years of memories I'll never get back, but we have time now. Time to make new ones.

Jesse mumbles something in her sleep, her hand reaching out to where I was lying. I brush my fingers across her freckled shoulder, tracing constellations I've memorized over the past few months. She settles, a small smile tugging at her lips.

The nav computer beeps, showing our estimated arrival time: forty-three minutes. Just enough time to let her rest a bit longer. She deserves it after everything - after keeping Leo safe all those years, after helping me remember who I really am.

I lean back against the headboard, watching the rise and fall of her chest. The sheet barely covers her curves, and my mind drifts to last night's activities. A pleasant ache settles in my muscles, reminding me that some things are worth the pain.

The ship's autopilot can handle the approach. For now, I'm content to stay here, guarding Jesse's sleep, counting down the minutes until I can hold our son again. Until we can truly start our life together, free from the shadows of our past.

Jesse's eyes flutter open, and she stretches like a cat beside me. Her hand finds mine under the sheets. "How much longer?"

"About forty minutes."

"Forty min-" She bolts upright, the sheet falling away. "Why didn't you wake me? I look like-" She runs her fingers through her tangled red hair, grimacing at what she finds there.

"You look beautiful." I catch her wrist as she tries to scramble out of bed. "And there's no rush. Leo's with friends, remember?"

"But-"

"He's fine." I pull her back down beside me, and she lands with a soft oof against my chest. The impact makes my wound twinge, but I don't let it show.

"Besides," I trail my fingers down her bare arm, "when was the last time we had a quiet morning?"

"This morning wasn't exactly quiet." Her green eyes sparkle with mischief as she props herself up on an elbow.

"True." I lean in to kiss her, but she dodges away.

"Nope. Not with this morning breath. And I really do need to shower." She slides out of bed, gathering her scattered clothes. "But you're right. There's no rush."

I watch her pad toward the bathroom, admiring the view. "Want company?"

"Didn't you just say there's no rush?"

"Exactly. We have time."

The landing pad hisses as we touch down, hydraulics releasing pressure in a cloud of steam. Jesse's already packed our few belongings into a single bag - old habits die hard. We make our way through the station's winding corridors to the public transport hub, my hand resting on the small of her back.

The transport car we board is nearly empty, just an elderly couple in the front and a teenager absorbed in their holoscreen. The windows stretch from floor to ceiling, offering a panoramic view of the mountainside as we climb higher into the foothills.

Jesse settles into the seat beside me, her warmth pressing against my side. The transport jolts slightly as it navigates a curve, and she shifts closer, resting her head on my shoulder. Her hair tickles my neck, carrying the faint scent of the ship's generic shampoo.

"Do you think we'll actually get to live peacefully now?" Her voice is soft, meant only for me. "No more running, no more looking over our shoulders?"

I watch the landscape scroll past, taking in the snow-capped peaks and the dense forest below. The morning sun catches on the crystalline formations dotting the mountainside, sending rainbow refractions dancing across the transport's interior.

"I hope so." My fingers find hers, intertwining. "We've earned it, don't you think?"

"Mmm." She squeezes my hand. "It's just... I've never really done 'peaceful' before. What if I'm terrible at it?"

"You managed just fine these past few years."

"That wasn't peaceful. That was hiding."

"Well," I press a kiss to the top of her head, "we'll figure it out together."

The transport stops not far from our little place by the mountains. We thank the driver, grab our luggage, and continue the final trek to our home.

To our son.

The lock clicks open under my touch, and something immediately feels off. The air's too still, carrying a metallic tang that sets my teeth on edge. Jesse steps in behind me, her boots silent on the floor.

"Leo?" Her voice wavers. No answer.

The living room light flickers through the doorway, casting uneven shadows. Wrong..

"Stay behind me," I whisper, drawing my sidearm. Jesse's breath catches, but she nods, pulling her own weapon.

We clear the entryway, moving in sync like we've done this a thousand times. The kitchen doorway gapes dark and empty on our right. Living room ahead.

"Oh, no." Jesse's fingers dig into my arm as we round the corner.

Rena's slumped on our couch, zip ties binding her wrists and ankles. A dark bruise spreads across her cheekbone, and blood trickles from her split lip. Her eyes are closed, but her chest rises and falls steadily.

"Rena!" Jesse rushes past me before I can stop her, holstering her weapon to check her friend's pulse.

Movement catches my eye - a flash of fur through the kitchen doorway. I pivot, weapon raised, and my heart sinks. Paraxan lies sprawled across our kitchen floor, his usually pristine fur matted with blood. His chest barely moves.

"Jesse," I call out, keeping my voice low and steady. "Where's Leo?"

The question hangs in the air like a blade.

"He's right here." Taluk's voice cuts through the kitchen doorway, sharp and unfamiliar without its usual fumbling uncertainty.

My blood freezes. Leo dangles from Taluk's left arm, tears streaking his chubby cheeks. His bright hair is matted to his forehead, and his tiny fingers grip Taluk's sleeve. The gun in Taluk's right hand looks massive against Leo's small frame.

"Daddy," Leo whimpers, reaching toward me.

"It's okay, buddy." I keep my voice steady, even as rage burns through my veins. "Everything's going to be fine."

"Weapons down." Taluk jerks his chin toward the floor. "Now."

Jesse's breath catches beside me. Her hand trembles as she slowly lowers her gun.

"You too, Davin." Taluk's scales gleam dully in the kitchen light. "Unless you want to see how fast I can pull this trigger."

The military training screams at me to take the shot - I'm faster, better trained. But Leo's so close to the barrel, and Taluk's finger's already white-knuckled on the trigger. One wrong move...

My weapon clatters to the floor. Jesse kicks both guns away, her hands raised.

"All this time." Her voice shakes. "You were just waiting for your chance?"

"Not the whole time." Taluk adjusts his grip on Leo, who squirms and starts crying harder. "I followed you at first for a reason. Then I kept watching you make stupid mistake after stupid mistake. If you'd listened to me in the first place, we never would've gotten wrapped up in some genocidal freak's doomsday device. That's all on you, Captain."

A groan from behind catches my attention - Rena stirring on the couch. But Taluk's eyes never leave us, and his aim doesn't waver.

"Shh, Leo." Jesse's voice cracks. "Baby, look at Mommy. It's going to be okay."

"Smart woman." Taluk's scales ripple with something like satisfaction. "Keep telling him that. Makes this easier for everyone."

"What do you want, Taluk?"

"Don't play dumb." He shifts Leo higher on his hip, making my son whimper. "The data. I know Jesse has a backup somewhere. She's too careful not to."

Jesse tenses beside me. "I destroyed it all-"

"Save it." Taluk's scales ripple with irritation. "I've watched you work for years. You always keep insurance. Always have an exit strategy." His eyes narrow. "Where is it?"

The pieces click together in my mind. "You tipped off the Lightyear gang." The words taste bitter on my tongue. "About Xander. About the ship."

"Someone had to profit from that mess." His mouth twists into something between a smirk and a snarl. "You were all so focused on doing the job right, you couldn't see how easily he was going to fleece us. Mett his so called wealthy contact and slip away. He was worth more in their hands."

"Please," Jesse whispers, "he's just a baby. Let him go and we can-"

"The data." Taluk's finger tightens on the trigger. "Now."

Leo hiccups between sobs, reaching for Jesse. "Mama..."

My chest constricts at the fear in my son's voice. Three years of missed moments, and now this. The military trained me for hostage situations, but nothing prepared me for watching my own child at gunpoint.

"Time's running out." Taluk's scales darken with impatience. "Where's the backup, Jesse?"

Jesse's shoulders slump. "Okay."

My jaw clenches as she walks to the hallway closet. This can't be happening. There's no way she kept a secret copy from me. She reaches up to the top shelf, stretching onto her tiptoes to slide aside an old storage container.

"Jesse-" I start, but she shoots me a look that stops me cold. There's something in her eyes I can't quite read.

She returns with a small data stick, rolling it between her fingers. "It's encrypted, but anyone worth their salt should be able to crack it."

Taluk's scales ripple with satisfaction. "Slide it across the floor."

The data stick skitters across the hardwood, stopping at Taluk's feet. He scoops it up without taking his eyes - or his weapon - off us.

"Smart choice." He nudges Leo forward. "Go to Mommy, kid."

Leo stumbles toward us, his little legs shaking. Jesse drops to her knees, scooping him up and pressing him close to her chest. I wrap my arms around them both, my heart thundering against my ribs.

"Don't follow me," Taluk warns, backing toward the door. "Don't call the authorities. Don't try anything stupid." His scales darken. "You know what I'm capable of now."

The door clicks shut behind him. Through the window, I catch a glimpse of his shadow disappearing down the street.

Leo hiccups against Jesse's shoulder, his tiny fingers tangled in her hair. "Mama..."

"Shh, baby." She rocks him gently. "You're safe now. You're safe."