Page 39 of Alien's Love Child

"It has to be now." I nod toward Leo, who's now having an animated conversation with his toy ship. "I can't risk it. Not with him."

Rena's shoulders slump, but she doesn't push. She knows better. Instead, she launches into a story about their latest close call with customs, and I let myself get lost in tales of the life I left behind.

The sun cycle dims, signaling evening on the station. Leo's crashed on the floor, surrounded by toy ships and spare parts he's collected from who knows where. My son, already showing signs of being a proper spacer.

Rena checks her PerComm and stretches. "Should head back. Ship won't captain itself."

"You could stay the night. Leo would love having breakfast with his favorite aunt."

"Can't. Got that run tomorrow." She hesitates, glancing at Leo. Her fingers tap against her thigh – a tell she's had since I've known her. Something's up.

"Hey kid," I say. "Why don't you go watch that new holo-vid about the space whales? The one Auntie Rena brought?"

Leo's head snaps up. "The glowy ones?"

"Yeah, those." I ruffle his silver hair. "Go on. Grown-up talk time."

He scrambles to his feet, gathering his favorite ship. "Can I have snacks?"

"One packet." I watch him dash off, his footsteps echoing down the hall.

"You know he's going to take two," Rena says with a smirk.

"That's why I said just one."

The door to his room slides shut with a soft hiss. Rena's still doing that nervous tapping thing.

"Okay, spill it." I lean forward. "What's got you wound tighter than a faulty grav generator?"

She won't meet my eyes. That's new – Rena always faces things head-on. My stomach churns.

"What's the big deal, Rena?"

Rena picks at an invisible thread on her sleeve. "Might be nothing, but I ran into Jovan on Novaria."

"How's our favorite information broker? Still charging credits just to say hello?"

"Actually bought me a drink this time." She shifts on the couch. "Had some decent leads. Cargo runs, mostly legal-adjacent stuff."

"But?"

"Someone's been asking about you. A merc."

The air leaves my lungs. I force myself to breathe normally. "What kind of questions?"

"The usual. Where you might be, your usual haunts. Jovan didn't get much else – not even a species description." She touches my arm. "Like I said, could be nothing. Old business catching up, maybe someone from the Xander mess."

My hands curl into fists. "Did Jovan say when?"

"Started about a week ago. Jesse..." She pauses, choosing her words carefully. "You've got backup if you need it. We could move you somewhere else, set up new idents-"

"I'm fine." The words come out sharper than intended. "Really. Probably just someone following old leads. It happens."

"You sure? Because I can-"

"It's fine." I stand, plastering on a smile. "You should get going if you want to make that run tomorrow."

Rena's expression says she's not buying it, but she knows me well enough not to push. She pulls on her boots, pausing at the door.

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