Page 42 of Alien's Eternal Mate

“Then I guess we have to lug this thing back out?”

I chuckled.

“No, it can remain where it is for now.”

“Thank the Architects.”

We began the trek back to the maintenance shaft. My mind swam with possibilities as to how we could open the door. Who knew what lay beyond?

Perhaps my path home is right beyond that metal pane.

I slowed my pace, feeling my belly drop down to my feet. What if I did find the way home beyond the door? Then I could return to my own body at last.

I realized with a shock that it had been well over a year that I’d been living among the Masari. Wss my body even still alive? I was going completely on assumptions that the device switched minds and bodies around. For all I knew, Gro had effectively died when I entered his body.

Or perhaps Gro had done something stupid and gotten my body killed? There would have to be intensive study, and testing, before I could even consider using the device. Assuming I could even find one.

Why do I feel utter, dreadful panic at the mere thought of going back to my own body? Isn’t this what I have worked for?

We neared the shaft. A sound akin to thunder rumbled down to us from the skies above.

“A storm?”

I squinted up the shaft, seeing a clear patch of azure sky above. Thunder seemed unlikely. The sound came again, and I turned to Lo. The young lad’s face had fallen into an expression of utter terror.

“What’s that sound, Lo?”

“The retort of a hand-cannon. The village is under attack.”

“What?”

I went to haul myself up the ladder, but Lo grabbed my shoulder.

“Are you insane? Neither of us are warriors. Well, you used to be, but I never was.”

“If the village is under attack, does it matter if we are warriors or not?”

“The raiders will not attack the Shunned camp. Should I die to protect those who won’t even speak to me?”

He had a point.

“Stay here, then. I must go.”

Arael’s safety was my only thought as I raced up the ladder. When I thrust my body fully into the afternoon sun, a shadow passed overhead. I looked up to see the winged shape of a Masari wearing a flight harness.

He held a tube in his hands, which abruptly emitted a short blast of red energy. I’d seen such weapons before, but never had I seen them fired.

Thick smoke curled from the village as I raced up the slope. A glut of Raiders darkened the sky above, flying in formation as a smaller group of defending warriors tried to fend them off.

The raiders flew in as a team, covering each other’s flanks and operating as a unit. By contrast, the defending warriors attacked individually, making themselves excellent targets. One by one they fell.

I need to help, but how?

I rushed up toward the town square, and came upon a half dozen raiders ushering a group of frightened women and children into a hover sled with a cage fastened atop of it.

I had no weapon. I launched myself at the nearest one, reasoning they would not risk using their ranged weapons in the middle of a melee, lest they hit each other.

Gro’s body was indeed unique among his people. Though I faced hardened warriors, I had two hundred pounds on the largest, easily. I grabbed the Masari, one hand on his chin, the other on the back of his head. I gave a violent twist, grunting with exertion. A grotesque snap echoed through the air as the raider went limp in my arms.

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