Page 79 of Alien's Eternal Mate

The tube drew us downward, and the rooftop nightscape gave way to a warm and inviting penthouse suite. Green, white, and beige decor lent a vibrant and natural feel to the otherwise spartan surroundings. Arael had never been much of one for clutter. She preferred temporary art to static forms.

“Did you remember to pick up new lithium packs, beloved?”

Arael strode out of the bedroom, tying the belt of her silk robe. Her face had a few more lines every year, and yet she was still the most impossibly beautiful woman I had ever seen.

“Oh, Ajax. I didn’t know you were coming into town. Where’s your lifemate?”

“She’s still on Old Starlost, but she’ll be here at the end of the week. I guess you could say I’m the advance guard…

I watched, my heart warm and full, as my eldest child told my lifemate she was going to be a grandmother.

About retiring, I had not a single regret. None.

TWENTY-ONE

CARTER

Tiny fingers struggled to press the frets on the Photonic flute. I waited, patient, knowing that if I intervened too early it would be worse than not doing anything at all.

The girl sighed and looked up at me with tears welling in the corners of her lavender eyes.

“I can’t do it, grandpa.”

I gestured at the flute with a gnarled hand.

“Yes, you can. It just takes practice.”

She blew air out of her lips, making her bangs dance.

“I’ve been practicing. I’m not getting any better.”

“You are getting better. A few days ago, you couldn’t even make a spark. Now you can make four colors, that’s incredible, Rolli.”

She gave me a look that suggested she’d never heard anything so stupid in all of her eight years of life.

“Gramma Arael says you were playing whole epics the first time you picked up a flute.”

I tilted my head back and laughed.

“Your gramma doesn’t always remember things right. I had a hell of a time learning to play the Photonic flute. When I first tried to make your grandmother’s face, she looked like a razormaw slug.”

She laughed, almost falling off her stool. I checked the time, and realized it was time to get my youngest grandchild ready to go home.

“All right, Rolli, Put your flute away, and don’t forget to wash your mouthpiece. Your mother will be here any moment.”

I went to the window and scanned the horizon. An azure blue sky stretched out over a gently rolling green sea. I struggled to remember when we’d moved to the beachside house. Back before the founding of Moon Base One, for certain.

The Traditionalists hadn’t wanted us to build a base on the moon, out of fear of angering the gods. Of course, there just had to be an earthquake the week after the ground breaking on the lunar surface, and the Traditionalists took this as proof they were right.

Rolli finished putting her flute away and raced back into the living room. She reached up and held her arms out. I knew it would hurt, but I bent low and scooped her up into my arms anyway.

“Is Mommy here, yet?”

“Not yet. But soon.”

The comm unit on the living room table flashed. I carried my granddaughter into the den and struggled to push the button and receive the call.

“Yes?” I said when the green light came on at last. “Is that you, Daki? I told you not to head down the coast from Starlost, the tradewinds are murder…”

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