Page 42 of Alien's Love Child

"What do I win?"

"Extra dessert at our first stop."

His eyes light up. "Deal!"

Leo zooms around the apartment, gathering his treasures while I slip essential documents into hidden compartments inour bags. He chatters about each item – his favorite shirt because it has rockets, the data pad with his games, the blanket from Aunt Rena.

"That's five!" He bounces on his toes. "I win!"

"You sure did, spacer." I ruffle his hair. "Want to help me pick my five things?"

"The blue sweater," he says immediately. "It's soft for hugging."

My chest tightens. Even on the run, he's thinking about hugs. "Blue sweater it is."

We work together, his small hands helping fold clothes and sort supplies. He doesn't question why I'm packing more than just five things, or why I keep checking the door.

"Are we going with Auntie Rena?" he asks while putting on his backpack.

I bite my lip. While that might have been the easy way, anyone who's gathering intel on me will certainly be checking on my old crew too. Better not to bring the danger to everyone I love.

"Afraid not, honey. Auntie Rena has a lot of work to do right now. But we'll see her and the others again soon."

I put on my own backpack and sigh turning off the lights and saying a temporary goodbye to my home of three years. The most stationary place I've ever lived in.

"Ready for our adventure?" I squeeze Leo's small hand as we step into the corridor.

"Wait!" He tugs me back. "Look at that, Mama!"

A maintenance bot scuttles across the ceiling, its spindly legs clicking against the metal. Any other day, I'd let him watch it work – he loves anything mechanical – but right now every second feels like a countdown.

"We can watch the bots another time, honey. Come on."

Three steps later: "Mama, the stars are different!"

He points at the massive viewport spanning the station's curve. The eternal dance of stars and ships glitters against the black, and yes, the configuration has shifted since yesterday. My pulse quickens. We need to move.

"That's because the station rotates, remember? Like your star projector." I gentle him forward. "Let's play a game. Who can walk the quietest?"

"Me!" He tip-toes exaggeratedly, making more noise than his normal walk.

A shadow moves at the end of the corridor. My grip on Leo's hand tightens.

"Ooh, a butterfly!" He stops dead, watching an escaped pet flit past.

"Leo, please." The words come out sharper than intended. I soften my voice. "We don't want to miss our ride."

"But it's pretty. Can we catch it?"

"Not today, spacer." I scoop him up, settling him on my hip despite his protests. "Remember what explorers do when they're on a mission?"

He wraps his arms around my neck. "Stay focused!"

"That's right. And what's our mission?"

"To have the best adventure ever!"

My throat constricts. If only he knew we're running from something far scarier than his imaginary space monsters. I press a kiss to his temple and quicken my pace, praying we make it to the docking bay before whoever's hunting us catches up.

---