Page 4 of Alien’s Love Child

CHAPTER 4

DAVIN

T he recycled air of the ship tickles my nose as I wake. Across the cramped cabin, Paraxan's massive form hunches over a maintenance panel, his fur catching the small light from above.

"Morning," I say, swinging my legs off the bunk. "Early riser?"

A grunt is my only answer. The Odex's claws click against metal as he works. He's huge, as most Odex are. Eight feet tall and easily three hundred pounds. The fact that he's on board makes it pretty obvious why Rena needs to make such careful weight calculations.

"You know, been meaning to ask. Why'd Jesse need to hire muscle with someone like you aboard? You could snap a person in half without breaking a sweat."

Paraxan's shoulders stiffen. "Too old for fighting. Past my prime."

"Really? Because from where I'm sitting?—"

"Past. My. Prime." His claws scrape against the panel with more force than necessary.

I lean back against the wall. "Right. My mistake."

The maintenance shaft door sticks as Paraxan tries to close it. Without seeming to exert any effort, he yanks it shut with a single pull, the metal groaning in protest.

"Heading to the kitchen now. Making breakfast." He lumbers to his feet, ducking to avoid hitting his head on the low ceiling.

My stomach turns as I notice the amount of fur floating in his wake. "You cook often?"

"When crew lets me. Good at it."

"I'm sure you are." I watch more fur drift down, imagining it coating whatever he's about to prepare. "Very... thorough."

He pauses at the door. "Coming?"

"I'll... catch up. Need to get dressed first."

Another grunt, and he's gone. I eye the fur coating my blanket and wonder if the ship stocks antihistamines.

I step into the corridor just as Rena rounds the corner, her face scrunching up in a violent sneeze. " Achoo! Oh man, he's cooking again, isn't he?"

"If by 'he' you mean our resident furball, then yes." I brush some stray Odex fur off my sleeve. "Does the air filtration system ever catch up?"

" Achoo! Considering he's the one who maintains it? Never." She wipes her nose with the back of her hand. "I see you've had the pleasure of meeting Paraxan. Don't let the strong-silent routine fool you – he's been watching over Jesse since she was knee-high."

"Family friend?"

"More like inherited crew. He served with Jesse's parents back when they were running their own operations. When she struck out solo, he tagged along." Rena leans against the wall, sniffling. "Though these days he mostly stays aboard, tinkering with the engines or shedding in the kitchen."

"Retired?"

"Not officially. But you've seen how Odex are about admitting when they're past their prime. I think that's why he switched crews – Jesse's parents were probably pushing him to hang up his tools."

My mind drifts to the way he'd effortlessly yanked that maintenance panel shut. The strength still evident in those massive arms. Pride keeps the old warrior going, refusing to be put out to pasture. There's something admirable in that – the determination to remain useful, to protect what matters, even as time marches on.

"Speaking of the kitchen..." Rena's nose twitches. "Want to grab breakfast in the mess? Fair warning – his cooking's amazing, but you might want to check for stray hairs."

"Sure, I could eat." I follow Rena down the narrow corridor to the mess hall, ducking under a low-hanging pipe.

Taluk sits at the small table, his red scales catching the overhead light. His eyes narrow as I enter. "Great. The new guy."

"Play nice," Rena says, sliding onto the bench.

"Why should I? We were doing fine without him." Taluk stabs at his food. "What, I'm not good enough muscle anymore?"

I settle across from him, keeping my movements slow and deliberate. "You know, when I first joined the military, there was this veteran sergeant. Thought I was trying to replace him. Turned out we each had different strengths."

"This isn't the military."

"No, but the principle's the same. I'm not here to step on anyone's toes. Just looking to contribute where I can."

Taluk's jaw works as he considers this. "Yeah? And what exactly can you contribute that I don't already handle?"

"Experience, maybe. Different perspective. But I'm not trying to take your place – seems to me you've carved out your own niche here."

His scales shift color slightly – a sign of lessening hostility. "Well... just don't get in my way."

Paraxan approaches with two steaming bowls, setting them before Rena and me. The aroma hits my nose – some kind of stew, rich with spices I can't identify.

"This is incredible," I say after the first spoonful, carefully avoiding mentioning the fur floating on top.

"Told you." Rena picks out a particularly long strand of fur. "Paraxan's got magic in the kitchen, once you master the art of selective blindness."

Paraxan's chest puffs with pride. "Old family recipe. Passed down generations."

"Along with the fur?" Taluk mutters, but there's a hint of affection in his voice.

The mess hall door slides open with a hiss, and a lanky human stumbles in, his blonde hair disheveled. My target. The bounty I've been hunting. Right here, walking into breakfast like it's just another morning.

"Please tell me there's caffeine somewhere on this rust bucket," he mumbles, adjusting his glasses.

Rena's spoon clatters against her bowl. "Oh! Davin, this is…uh…Xevran, our ship's doctor."

Taluk's scales flush a deeper red. "Yeah, doc's been with us for... a while now."

I take another spoonful of stew, keeping my expression neutral. "Ship's doctor? Must run into some interesting situations to need one on staff."

"I work for food," Xander says quickly, his fingers drumming against his thigh. "Small ships can't usually afford medical care. I fill a need."

Paraxan slides a bowl across the table. Xander's nose wrinkles as he picks out a clump of fur.

"That's... generous of you," I say, watching him prod at his breakfast. "Most doctors I've met prefer actual cash."

"Well, I'm not most doctors." He snatches up a spoon, his knuckles white around the handle.

"Clearly." I lean back, cataloging every nervous tic, every darting glance. "What's your specialty?"

Rena jumps in before he can answer. "General practice. Jack of all trades, you know how it is on small ships."

"Right." I smile, showing teeth. "Always good to have someone who can handle... anything that comes up."

Xander's spoon scrapes against the bowl as he stands. "I should get back to my... patients."

"We have patients?" Taluk asks, earning an elbow from Rena.

"The inventory," Xander corrects, already backing toward the door. "Medical inventory. Very important. Excuse me."

The door whooshes shut behind him, leaving an awkward silence in his wake.

"Interesting doctor you've got there," I say, finishing my stew.

Rena clears her throat. "So anyway, about that maintenance schedule?—"

The door slides open with a soft hiss. Jesse stumbles in, her red hair a wild nest around her face. She yawns, stretching her arms above her head.

Military instinct takes over. I snap to attention, my spine straightening as I rise from my seat. "Captain."

Laughter erupts around the table. Taluk nearly chokes on his stew, and even Paraxan's shoulders shake with silent mirth.

"At ease, soldier." Jesse's eyes dance with amusement. "This isn't the Sirius Syndicate. We're a bit more... relaxed here."

"Sorry, force of habit." Heat creeps up my neck, turning my blue skin a shade darker as I take my seat again.

"Getting crowded in here." Jesse surveys the mess hall, her gaze lingering on the empty space beside me. "Mind if I join you?"

Before I can answer, she slides onto the bench, her bare arm brushing against mine. The contact sends electricity racing through my body, every nerve ending suddenly alive and singing. My breath catches in my throat.

The scent of her hits me next – a mixture of engine grease and something uniquely human, uniquely her. Something clicks into place deep inside my chest, like a key turning in a lock I didn't know existed. The universe shifts, realigns, and suddenly everything makes perfect sense.

Jalshagar. The word echoes in my mind, ancient and undeniable. My hands tremble as I lower them to my lap, hoping no one notices.

"Pass the salt?" Jesse asks, completely oblivious to how she's just turned my world upside down.

I reach for the shaker, my fingers brushing hers as I hand it over. Another jolt of electricity. Another piece of my soul sliding into place.

"Thanks." She seasons her stew, picking out a stray Odex hair. "So what'd I miss?"

"Excuse me."

I stumble out of the mess hall without another word, my heart hammering against my ribs. The engine room beckons – quiet, isolated, perfect for gathering my scattered thoughts. The thrum of machinery drowns out everything except the chaos in my head.

"This isn't happening." My words echo off the metal walls. "Not now. Not with her."

Jalshagar. The word burns in my mind like a brand. Every Kaleidian child grows up hearing stories about it – the instant recognition of your perfect match, your other half. But it's rare. So rare that most consider it a myth.

The cool metal of the bulkhead presses against my back as I slide down to sit on the floor. My hands shake as I run them through my silver hair.

"Focus." I press my palms against my eyes until spots dance in the darkness. "The job. Remember the job."

But Jesse's face floats in my mind – those green eyes, the scatter of freckles across her nose, the way her presence lit up every nerve ending in my body. The thought of betraying her makes my stomach turn.

"The bounty's worth so much more." My voice sounds hollow even to my own ears. "Just grab Xander, drop him off, collect the money. Simple."

Except nothing's simple anymore. Not with this bond thrumming between us like a live wire. Even now, I can sense her presence above deck, a constant pull in my chest.

"Could tell her the truth." The words taste like ash. "About Xander. About everything."

But I already know how that would end. She's a smuggler, he's her cargo. She'd never understand, never forgive the deception. And the bond would turn toxic, poisoned by betrayal.

"There has to be another way." I bang my head back against the wall, welcoming the sharp pain. "Some way to complete the job without her finding out."

But if there is a way, I'm finding it hard to figure it out.