Page 80 of Alien's Love Child

I watch the landscape scroll past, taking in the snow-capped peaks and the dense forest below. The morning sun catches on the crystalline formations dotting the mountainside, sending rainbow refractions dancing across the transport's interior.

"I hope so." My fingers find hers, intertwining. "We've earned it, don't you think?"

"Mmm." She squeezes my hand. "It's just... I've never really done 'peaceful' before. What if I'm terrible at it?"

"You managed just fine these past few years."

"That wasn't peaceful. That was hiding."

"Well," I press a kiss to the top of her head, "we'll figure it out together."

The transport stops not far from our little place by the mountains. We thank the driver, grab our luggage, and continue the final trek to our home.

To our son.

The lock clicks open under my touch, and something immediately feels off. The air's too still, carrying a metallic tang that sets my teeth on edge. Jesse steps in behind me, her boots silent on the floor.

"Leo?" Her voice wavers. No answer.

The living room light flickers through the doorway, casting uneven shadows. Wrong..

"Stay behind me," I whisper, drawing my sidearm. Jesse's breath catches, but she nods, pulling her own weapon.

We clear the entryway, moving in sync like we've done this a thousand times. The kitchen doorway gapes dark and empty on our right. Living room ahead.

"Oh, no." Jesse's fingers dig into my arm as we round the corner.

Rena's slumped on our couch, zip ties binding her wrists and ankles. A dark bruise spreads across her cheekbone, and blood trickles from her split lip. Her eyes are closed, but her chest rises and falls steadily.

"Rena!" Jesse rushes past me before I can stop her, holstering her weapon to check her friend's pulse.

Movement catches my eye - a flash of fur through the kitchen doorway. I pivot, weapon raised, and my heart sinks. Paraxan lies sprawled across our kitchen floor, his usually pristine fur matted with blood. His chest barely moves.

"Jesse," I call out, keeping my voice low and steady. "Where's Leo?"

The question hangs in the air like a blade.

"He's right here." Taluk's voice cuts through the kitchen doorway, sharp and unfamiliar without its usual fumbling uncertainty.

My blood freezes. Leo dangles from Taluk's left arm, tears streaking his chubby cheeks. His bright hair is matted to hisforehead, and his tiny fingers grip Taluk's sleeve. The gun in Taluk's right hand looks massive against Leo's small frame.

"Daddy," Leo whimpers, reaching toward me.

"It's okay, buddy." I keep my voice steady, even as rage burns through my veins. "Everything's going to be fine."

"Weapons down." Taluk jerks his chin toward the floor. "Now."

Jesse's breath catches beside me. Her hand trembles as she slowly lowers her gun.

"You too, Davin." Taluk's scales gleam dully in the kitchen light. "Unless you want to see how fast I can pull this trigger."

The military training screams at me to take the shot - I'm faster, better trained. But Leo's so close to the barrel, and Taluk's finger's already white-knuckled on the trigger. One wrong move...

My weapon clatters to the floor. Jesse kicks both guns away, her hands raised.

"All this time." Her voice shakes. "You were just waiting for your chance?"

"Not the whole time." Taluk adjusts his grip on Leo, who squirms and starts crying harder. "I followed you at first for a reason. Then I kept watching you make stupid mistake after stupid mistake. If you'd listened to me in the first place, we never would've gotten wrapped up in some genocidal freak's doomsday device. That's all on you, Captain."

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