Page 30 of Alien's Love Child

"Jesse, the Port Authority is knocking. And they have backup. A lot of it."

The sound of gunfire from inside the warehouse snaps me back to reality. I press my PerComm closer to my mouth. "Stall them, Rena. Cover story twenty-three."

"The maintenance crew one? Jesse, there's at least six Port Authority ships out there."

"Perfect. More people to convince we're just a bunch of broke repair techs on vacation." My fingers tap against the wet wall. "Remember, we've never heard of any scientist. Par's already wiping Xander's quarters?"

"Started the second you called. Taluk's helping."

A bitter laugh escapes my throat. "Good. Make sure they see his clumsy act. Nothing sells 'harmless' like a Vakutan tripping over his own feet."

"And what about the hidden files?"

"Dump them into a secured drive and bury it in the cargo hold. Behind the spare converter should work." The rain plasters my hair to my face. "If they ask why we're planetside?—"

"Yeah, yeah. Needed to stretch our legs after that long haul. Already retrieving the fake chart history. Got it." She pauses. "But Jesse, what about?—"

"Tell them I'm at the market getting supplies. Also I simply can't get enough of antique shopping." Another burst of gunfire makes me flinch. "And Rena? You've never seen a Kaleidian on this ship."

"What about the logs?"

"Wipe them. All of them. I don't care if you have to fry half our systems to do it." My free hand clenches into a fist. "Make us boring. Make us forgettable."

"On it, Cap." The sound of boots on metal comes through the comm. "They're boarding now."

"Show time. Don't forget to complain about the pay."

"Please. I was born ready to whine about money." The PerComm goes silent.

The bell chimes as I burst into Madame Liu's antique shop, my boots squeaking against the polished floor. The old woman looks up from her sweeping, her wrinkled face creasing with concern.

"Back so soon, dear?" I can hear the fear in her voice, and she peeks around me to see if I'm being followed.

"I need—" My lungs burn. "Something. Anything. Like we talked about earlier?"

Her dark eyes narrow, taking in my rain-soaked clothes and wild expression. Without a word, she disappears behind a curtain of wooden beads.

"Please hurry," I whisper, bouncing on my toes. My PerComm vibrates – another message from Rena. I ignore it.

Madame Liu emerges with a small cloth doll, its stitched smile slightly crooked. "This one speaks to you, I think. Very old Earth design. Handmade."

"Perfect." I fumble with my credit chip. "How much?"

She presses the doll into my hands. "For my favorite customer? Consider it a gift."

"I can't?—"

"Take it." Her fingers close around mine. "And whatever trouble you're in, child? Be careful."

I stuff the doll into my jacket pocket and sprint three blocks to the market district. The vegetable stalls blur past until I spot one with a bored-looking vendor.

"Give me whatever's in season," I say, slapping my credit chip on the counter. "Enough for a crew of five."

The vendor raises an eyebrow ridge. "That's... quite vague."

"Surprise me. Just make it look like I've been shopping all morning."

He loads a bag with purple tubers, something leafy and green, and what might be carrots if carrots were blue. I grab it and turn to leave.

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