Page 43 of Alien's Love Child

My heart slams against my ribs as a massive figure steps out from behind a support column, blocking our path to the docking bay. The black coat he wears sweeps the floor, and for a moment the corridor spins, my vision blurring at the edges.

"Hi!" Leo waves from my arms. "I like your coat. It's swooshy!"

The overhead lights catch silver hair, blue skin.

No.

It can't be.

Three years of thinking he died in that explosion, of raising our son alone, and now-

"What's your name?" Leo asks, squirming in my grip.

Those familiar eyes meet mine for just a fraction of a second before sliding to Leo. "I'm Tyren." His voice is exactly as I remember it, that deep rumble that used to make my stomach flip.

But something's wrong. Who the hell is Tyren? Why doe she look exactly like Davin, save a couple new scars?

My fingers dig into Leo's sides, probably too tight, but I can't seem to loosen my grip. The man I mourned stands before me, alive and well, using a false name with his own son.

Leo tilts his head. "That's a funny name. Are you blue everywhere? I am!"

"Leo," I manage to croak out, but my throat feels like it's closing up.

"Most Kaleidians are," Not-Tyren says, his lips quirking in that half-smile I used to dream about. "It's nice to meet you, Leo."

The way he says our son's name – my knees nearly buckle. Does he know? Has he been watching us? The questions swirl like a sandstorm in my mind, but all I can do is stand here, frozen, while my three-year-old chats with the ghost of his father.

"You need to come with me." His hand shifts, drawing back his coat to reveal the glint of a weapon at his hip. "Both of you."

My arms tighten around Leo. "Why?"

"Everything will become clear very soon." His voice carries that same commanding tone I remember from our missions together. But it's wrong somehow. "Let's not make this difficult."

"Are you taking us on our adventure?" Leo bounces in my arms, oblivious to the tension crackling between us. "Mama said we're going on a special trip!"

"Something like that." Not-Tyren's eyes never leave mine. "We have transport waiting."

A maintenance bot whirs past overhead, its clicking legs drawing Leo's attention. "Look, another one! This one's bigger!"

The split second Not-Tyren glances up is all I need. I spin on my heel and bolt down the service corridor, Leo's startled yelp echoing off the metal walls.

"Hold tight, baby." I duck through a narrow gap between pipes, hearing heavy footsteps behind us.

"But the nice blue man-"

"Not nice." The words come out between pants as I navigate the maze of maintenance tunnels. "Very not nice."

A shout rings out behind us: "You think you can run from me?"

I slam my palm against an access panel, and a blast door hisses shut between us. Through the small window, I catch one last glimpse of his face – those eyes I used to trust now dark with something I can't read.

"Mama?" Leo's voice trembles. "I'm scared."

"Don't be scared, spacer." I kiss his forehead, already moving again. "Remember what explorers do when they meet something scary?"

"Run away really fast?"

Despite everything, a laugh bubbles up. "That's right. And nobody runs faster than us."

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