Page 23 of My Alien Sunshine

Nala’s hands are shaking violently, so I pry the stunner from her grip and use it on Pakri. Before his body even hits the floor, I’m already scooping Nala up again and rushing around the corner to where several hovercrafts are parked.

One of the hovercrafts activates as I approach them and I place Nala in the back.

“Destination?” a mechanical voice asks.

Another AI. Great. “Central dock, berth 18-B,” I say, hoping it’s smart enough to understand me.

“Route plotted. Engage emergency protocol systems?”

“Yes!” I shout, my frustration boiling over as I reach for the hovercraft controls. It’s an older model, one I’m familiar with. Well, minus the blinking lights and the blaring sirens that start up as soon as we take off. They work, though. People leap out of our way and other vehicles and drones wait until we pass to continue their journey.

“Hurry, please,” Nala urges me from the back seat, clinging to the railing as I take a sharp turn.

“Don’t worry, my perfection,” I soothe. “We’ll get there in time. Will you tell me what exactly we are after? Is this just about getting revenge on Drayth? I’m in if that’s the case. I just want to know if there’s more to it.”

Nala is quiet. I know even without looking she’s gnawing on that lip of hers. Is this a human thing? “I shot you,” she repeats in disbelief.

“You can shoot me again once we’re out of danger, but please, talk to me.”

“I don’t get you. I really don’t. Are you crazy or a figment of my imagination? No real person would act like this.”

I huff out a laugh, yanking on the steering rod to avoid a bunch of drunken Karetelans. “If I hated everyone who shot me, I’d have no friends. It was just a stunner. Don’t worry about it, Nala.”

“Don’t worry about it. Huh.” There’s a hint of hysteria in her voice as she laughs. “Right. I stole from you, lied to you, and I shot you. But you still storm in to rescue me. You’re definitely not real. How do you not hate me?”

“I could never hate you, my perfection,” I tell her earnestly. “Now, will you stop stalling and tell me why you’re desperately trying to catch up to Drayth before he leaves? Does he have a hostage? Is it your lover?” Right before she shot me, she said I wasn’t the most important person in her life. “Is it one of Drayth’s people? You can tell me. I’ll still help you.” It’ll break my heart, but I will still do my best to make her happy.

Another long silence. Just when I think she won’t answer, she whispers a quiet word. “Ellen.”

It’s not a word I’m familiar with, but assume it’s a name. So she does have a lover. That’s what Drayth used to keep her in check. “Alright,” I rasp, my throat suddenly dry. “Is he a human too? Don’t worry, we’ll save him. I promise.”

“Him?” She sounds surprised. “No, Faelin. Ellen is not my lover. She’s…she’s my daughter.”

“Your daughter?” I stiffen, nearly running into a large cargo container as it rolls out of a side alley. “You have a child?”

“Yes. I’m sorry to disappoint you but I’m not the sexy single chick you were hoping for. I’m a mom. I have a daughter. She’s all I have in this life and now Drayth has her and he’s going to sell her to a pedophile and I can’t…I just can’t, Faelin. I’m sorry, I couldn’t trust you. I knew you liked me, but I knew you wouldn’t like me with a daughter and—”

I slam the brakes on the hovercraft just as another cargo container rolls past. Turning to Nala, I silence her blathering with a kiss. “You thought I wouldn’t like you if I knew you had a daughter? Nala, my perfection, don’t be ridiculous. I can’t wait to meet her.”

“Y-you…you…can’t?” She stares back at me with her beautiful eyes bulging, then she switches back to panic mode. “Keep moving! If Drayth leaves, we—”

“We’re here,” I announce, jumping out of the hovercraft. “If we park any closer, we’ll alert them to our presence. Listen, Nala.” I take a deep breath, knowing she won’t like what I’m going to say. “Take this hovercraft to the shipyards. The Supernova is docked in berth 3. If I don’t make it off Drayth’s ship before it leaves, tell my crew to follow us. Is that clear?”

Seeing Nala is about to protest, I plant a kiss on her lips. “No, Nala. You can’t come with me. This is what I do. Literally. I’ve spent years training to handle situations exactly like this one. Trust me, please.” Before she can protest, I address the hovercraft’s AI. “Computer? New directions. Shipyard, berth 3.”

The route on the vehicle’s display changes. “Route calculated,” the AI announces.

Nala shakes her head frantically. “I-I can’t just let you go in there alone. Ellen is my daughter. I need to save her!”

“You will.” I take her tiny stunner and a bag with standard UGC equipment stored in the trunk of the hovercraft. “Look, the ship is about to take off.” In fact, I can see the mechanics have finished refueling. They’re about to release the docking clamps. Once that happens, I’ll lose my only way onto the ship. “I will find your daughter, but once I do, we’ll need a way off the ship. I need you to tell my crew what’s going on. Please, trust me,” I repeat, desperate. If she doesn’t trust me now, the opportunity to rescue her daughter will slip through our fingers.

“I…I do. I’ve never trusted anyone before, but I think I trust you. Please save her. Please. I’ll do anything. I’ll stay with you forever and grant your wildest wishes. Just please, save my daughter.”

I kiss Nala ferociously, moved by her admission. “I’m honored by your trust, my perfection. Tell me about your daughter. How old is she? Her name is Ellen, right?” I’m not sure how many children Drayth has on board and although I’ll do my best to save them all, I have to focus on Nala’s child.

“She-she’s four,” Nala stammers, wiping her tears away. “Almost four. Half Syndoran. She was wearing a pink dress and had a new doll with her. A gift from some asshole who was planning to buy her. Oh, please, Faelin. Please. You have to save her.”

“I will. I promise, Nala.” With those words, I steal one last kiss and rush toward Drayth’s vessel.

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