Page 48 of Alien's Eternal Mate

“Yes?”

“I’m here to see the Chief Engineer.”

“Speaking.”

I stopped in my tracks.

“You are a woman.”

“Am I?”

She looked at her hands, then opened her shirt and looked inside.

“It looks like you’re right. Imagine that. I never realized.”

If I hadn’t felt the urgent need to rescue my lifemate, I might have found her sarcasm amusing.

“How did you get to hold this position?” Lo asked.

“The Engineers pick their own leadership. The other Engineers know I’m the most qualified.”

“Then you must be the most talented of your number,” I said.

“Not really. I just leave the other Engineers alone and let them do pretty much whatever they want, so of course they put me in charge.”

I didn’t like the sound of that. If the Engineers had no centralized command structure, it would be much larger to convince them to join our efforts to rescue the villagers.

“So you are not in charge here?”

“I didn’t say that. Of course I’m in charge. I’m the Chief Engineer, after all.”

I wiped a hand down my face and sighed.

“I have little time to play word games. I need the Engineers to help me rescue those taken by Jank.”

The woman shook her head.

“You’re mad. There is no rescuing them. Better you mourn them for dead, because you’ll never see them again.”

Lo took a step forward, his eyes narrowed to dangerous slits.

“How dare you say that! You sealed yourselves up in your vault and hid while the rest of us fought for our lives. You owe the village at least the use of your skills.”

I started to admonish Lo, but then I realized he had summed things up with great eloquence. I turned my gaze on the Chief Engineer instead. She threw her hands up in the air and issued a frustrated groan.

“Oh, by the Precursors…fine. We will help you. How can the Engineers help?”

I explained my plan to her. Her expressions revealed a cascade of ever changing feelings on the subject. At first, the Engineer was incredulous. Then, excited and eager. Then, very, very afraid. And finally, reluctantly optimistic.

“I do think that your plan will work, but your artifact will be reduced to an oversized fishing weight. Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Yes. It’s the only way I can see that we stand a chance against Jank’s forces.”

She rubbed her chin, tail twitching back and forth with eagerness.

“I’m excited to get started on this. It’s been a long time since the Engineers worked with the Sages.”

“And whose fault is that?” I snapped. “The Engineers act aloof, as if they are not part of Starlost village. We would welcome the chance to work with you, and not just the Sages. All of the castes would gladly collaborate with you. But then, you’d have to share some of your knowledge.”

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