Page 7 of Alien’s Love Child

CHAPTER 7

JESSE

T he metal grating clanks under my boots as I make my way to Xander's quarters. His door slides open before I can knock, revealing his tall frame hunched over a PerComm. The sterile scent of antiseptic wafts from his room, making my nose wrinkle.

"We're about a day's cycle out from Glimner." I lean against the doorframe, keeping my distance. Something about him sets my teeth on edge. "Just wanted to keep you updated."

"Which landing pad?" He pushes his glasses up his nose, not bothering to look at me.

"The one your contact specified."

"You're certain?" Now he does look up, his gaze sharp behind those lenses. "Glimner has seventeen registered landing pads and twenty-three unregistered ones."

"Listen." I straighten up, squaring my shoulders. "I've been doing this since I could walk. Don't question my professionalism. Your job is making sure your contact shows up with the agreed-upon payment."

"They will have sufficient funds." His lips curl into what might be a smile, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "I assure you."

"Good."

I turn away, relieved to put distance between us. The sooner we dump this cargo, the better. Something about the way he watches everyone, like we're specimens in his personal zoo, makes my skin crawl.

The ship's intercom crackles. "Jesse?" Rena's voice carries an edge I don't like. "Need you in the cockpit. Now."

My stomach drops. Rena doesn't do urgent unless it's serious. I pick up my pace, jogging toward the bridge.

The metal frame shudders around me as I reach the cockpit doorway. My shoulder slams against the frame as the ship lurches sideways, artificial gravity struggling to compensate. The bitter taste of adrenaline floods my mouth.

"What the hell?" I stumble into the cockpit, gripping the back of Rena's chair.

"Unidentified vessel." Rena's fingers dance across the controls, her jaw tight. "They're forcing a dock. Look at this monster."

The viewscreen shows a ship triple our size, its dark hull reflecting the starlight as it maneuvers alongside us. The docking mechanism extends like a metal serpent.

"Alliance?" My heart pounds against my ribs.

"No call signs, no warnings. Not how they operate." Rena smacks the console as red warning lights flash across the dashboard. "Shit. They're in our systems."

Numbers scroll across the screen, our security protocols failing one by one. The dashboard goes dark, then reboots with an unfamiliar interface.

"Override it!" I drop into the co-pilot seat, typing commands that disappear as fast as I enter them.

"They've locked us out completely." Rena's voice stays steady, but her knuckles whiten on the controls. "Airlock's opening. We've got maybe two minutes before they're through."

The metallic groan of the airlock echoes through the ship. I slam my palm against the intercom.

"All hands, we have unauthorized boarders. This is not a drill. I repeat, unauthorized boarding in progress. Arm up and prepare for hostiles."

"Who the hell are these people?" Rena pulls up the external cameras, showing dark-suited figures assembling in the airlock before even the cameras begin to blip out.

"Don't know." I check my sidearm, the familiar weight offering little comfort. "But they're about to find out why you don't mess with my ship."

I reach for the door controls when it whooshes open. Taluk barrels through, his scales flushed dark red as he shoves me backward. The door seals behind him with a pneumatic hiss.

"What are you doing?" My shoulder hits the navigation console.

"Keeping you safe." Taluk plants himself in front of the door, arms crossed. "Both of you."

"Like hell." I straighten up, squaring off with him. "My ship, my responsibility."

"Davin's handling it." His face twitches with forced authority. "He knows what he's doing."

"Since when do you make command decisions on my ship?"

"Since—"

A scream echoes through the corridor, followed by the distinct sound of weapon fire.

"Captain!" Xander's voice carries through the metal walls. "They're here for me! Help!"

I lunge for the door, but Taluk catches me around the waist, his claws digging into my jacket.

"Let go!" I twist in his grip. "That's our cargo out there!"

"My job is to keep the crew safe." His breath comes out in sharp bursts. "That's what I'm doing."

"Your job is to follow my orders." I slam my elbow back, but he doesn't budge.

"Jesse." Rena's voice cuts through the chaos. "Something's not right here."

More shouts filter through the walls, followed by the thundering of boots on metal grating. Taluk's grip tightens, and for the first time, I notice his hands aren't shaking.

"Hell of a time for you to become a man," I say, finally wrenching free and fleeing from the room.

I sprint down the corridor, heart pounding against my chest. A thunderous crash echoes from around the corner, followed by Davin's distinctive grunt. I round the bend to find him shoulder-deep in the maintenance room door, his blue skin glistening with sweat.

"Someone pushed me in here." He yanks his shoulder back, metal groaning. "Locked the damn door."

"Here." I wedge myself next to him, our bodies pressed together in the narrow space. "On three."

His silver hair brushes my cheek as he nods. "One."

"Two." The door creaks under our combined weight.

"Three!"

We slam forward. The door gives way with a shriek of torn metal, sending us stumbling into the cramped maintenance room.

"Didn't catch the guy who got the drop on me." Davin steadies me with a hand on my waist. "Had to be someone big though."

"Less analyzing, more hunting." I check my weapon. "Xander's in trouble."

A roar shakes the corridor, followed by the distinctive thud of a body hitting metal. We sprint toward the sound, rounding another corner just as a black-suited figure sails through the air.

"Down!" Davin tackles me sideways.

The body crashes into the wall where we'd been standing. Paraxan emerges from the cross-corridor, his fur bristling with rage. Another intruder charges him from behind.

"Par, six o'clock!" I shout.

Paraxan spins, catching the second attacker mid-lunge. His claws rake across their suit as he hurls them into their companion. Both crumple to the deck in a tangle of limbs.

"Thanks for the warning." Paraxan's whiskers twitch.

"Too old, huh?" Davin asks with a hint of mirth.

The intercom crackles. "They're disengaging," Rena's voice cuts through the chaos. "Ship's pulling away."

"What?" My stomach drops. "Already?"

"Clean extraction." Paraxan's whiskers twitch as he sniffs the air. "Professional work."

I sprint toward Xander's quarters, my boots clanging against the metal grating. The door hangs open, room pristine except for an overturned chair. His PerComm lies abandoned on the desk, still displaying whatever he'd been working on.

"Rena, get a trace on that ship." I slam my palm against the doorframe. "Now!"

"Working on—" A violent shudder rocks the ship. "Shit."

"What now?"

"They left us a present." Her voice tightens. "External sensors showing explosive devices attached to our hull. Multiple points."

Davin appears at my shoulder. "How many?"

"Six that I can see. They're rigged to detonate on impact."

"One piece of space debris and..." My throat constricts.

"And we're vapor." Rena's fingers click rapidly across controls. "I'm taking us down. First habitable planet I can find."

"How long?" I ask.

"Twenty minutes, maybe less. Depends how much garbage is between us and atmo."

The ship lurches again as Rena changes course. I grab the doorframe to stay upright, Davin's hand steadying my elbow.

"Par." I turn to the Odex. "Engine room. Make sure nothing blows before we land."

He nods once and disappears down the corridor, fur bristling.

"What do you need from me?" Davin asks, his blue skin almost pale in the harsh corridor lighting.

"Find Taluk. I want everyone accounted for when we touch down."

Another shudder rocks the ship. The lights flicker, casting shadows across Davin's face. He nods and walks away with something strange in his gaze.

The landing jars my teeth as Rena sets us down on a barren moon. Red dust swirls outside the viewports, coating everything in a rusty haze. Paraxan's already outside, his massive frame silhouetted against the light as he works on the explosives.

Inside the cargo hold, Davin has our surviving attacker zip-tied to a support beam. Blood trickles from the man's split lip, staining his black tactical gear.

"Talk." Davin's fist connects with the man's jaw. "Who sent you?"

"Let me," Taluk growls, but I grab him by the arm.

"You've played enough hero for today," I say, still pissed at his earlier interference. Taluk narrows his eyes at me, but backs down.

The man's laughter echoes through the hold, high and unhinged. "You really think I'd tell you anything?"

"Worth a shot." Davin draws back for another punch, but the man's head suddenly snaps back, body convulsing.

"No!" I rush forward, but it's too late. White foam bubbles from his lips, his eyes rolling back.

"Poison capsule." Davin checks the man's pulse. "Hidden in his teeth probably. Again: professional job. Whoever did this isn't screwing around."

I kneel beside the body, patting down his pockets. A pistol, brass knuckles, some old papers with crude love notes scribbled on them. Then, my fingers brush something in his breast pocket – a deck of cards. The worn cardboard feels slick against my skin as I pull them out.

"Hey." Rena leans over my shoulder. "Those are from The Lucky Hand on Glimner. High-end place, invitation only."

"Mafia territory." Davin stands, wiping blood from his knuckles. "Makes sense. Whatever Xander's involved in, it's got their attention."

The cards slip from my fingers, scattering across the floor like fallen leaves. My heart pounds against my ribs as his words sink in.

"What did you just say?"

"The mafia?—"

"No." I turn to face him, my hand inching toward my holster. "You called him Xander. We never told you his name."