Page 81 of The Alien's Private Redemption

"It is not time yet, little one. Relax and have no fear. Nothing in here can hurt you."

Angela didn't nod, she couldn't, but she knew Uncle Saul could feel her desire to behave. He smiled and leaned forward to kiss her forehead.

His eyes shifted back before he turned to talk to the nurses, but Angela caught a glimpse of scales along his neck, shimmering like dewdrops before smoothing back to skin. She'd learned long ago not to mention the things she saw when Uncle Saul changed - it was their secret, like the way he could speak in her mind when she was scared.

Uncle Saul was there, his hand cool against her forehead, his shadow stretching protectively over her like wings.

Everything was going to be alright.

Chapter 16

Zoric was stunned by what he saw in Angela's mind, his scales rippling with shock and disbelief. The memory had been crystal clear - not just images and sounds, but emotions and sensations that couldn't have been fabricated. When he looked up at Ae-cha, he could see the excitement warring with fear in the way her own scales shifted patterns. She had recognized it too - the impossible truth hidden in a child's memories.

Through their Bond, he could feel Angela's exhaustion and confusion, but also a deep sense of safety associated with the memory. She had no idea what Uncle Saul truly was, or what his presence in her life meant. The implications made Zoric's heart race - he'd heard stories, whispered legends, but had never believed them.

"It's not possible," he told Ae-cha, his voice rough with suppressed emotion. His claws flexed against his legs, leaving tiny scratches along his scales.

"But it could be," she responded, her scales flickering with patterns he hadn't seen since their shared history lessons. The Elite and The Remnant had very different perspectives on their shared history but they'd discovered some things in common when they'd been forced to the bargaining table.

"It's not. They don'tdothat. And certainly not with humans. What that memory is implying is centuries-"

Colonel Schuh burst through the door, the sharp crack of it hitting the wall making them all jump. Angela collapsed fully into Zoric's arms, the shared memory having drained what little energy she had left. The moment was broken, but the questions it raised would haunt him.

"Our next ride will be here in twenty. Get on your feet and out so we can give these soldiers back what little space they had," the Colonel ordered. He looked over at Angela and his brow wrinkled. "Is she asleep?"

"No, sir," Angela said quietly.

You need rest,Zoric sent her.I can feel how exhausted you are.

I can keep going for a while longer,she sent back.

"On your feet, Marine," Colonel Schuh barked and Angela struggled to follow his orders. The surprise and pleasure that shot through her at the order translated across their Bond, as did her frustration at not being able to force her body to follow it.

Zoric stood, Angela in his arms. "We'll move faster if I carry her, sir. She's injured."

The Colonel studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "Let's move."

He led the way out of the room and into the hall. Zoric was right behind him, Angela's determination to be the Marine,Colonel Schuh had called her, pushing at him. The others fell in line behind him, with the guards bringing up the rear.

The transition from the stuffy quarters to the sudden heat and whipping wind outside the door was staggering and Zoric didn't know how the Colonel managed it without breaking stride. As it was, he had to use his tail for balance to keep from being pushed around as he walked.

They loaded into two vehicles waiting outside, the new car smell mixed oddly with the sharp scent of gun oil from the guards' weapons. One of the guards held the door for Zoric to climb in without shifting his hold on Angela, and the Colonel got in the other side. Through their Bond, Zoric could feel Angela cataloging every detail - the leather seats still hot from sitting in the sun, the steady vibration of the engine through the floorboards, the crunch of tires on gravel as they pulled away.

"Where are we going?" Angela asked. Zoric could feel her pushing herself to speak normally despite her exhaustion, her voice barely carrying over the hum of the air conditioning that was fighting a losing battle against the desert heat.

"An airfield to catch a ride out of the area entirely," the Colonel answered, his voice clipped. "Now that we know what to look for, the Orvax are tracking an unknown signal. It's not moving in a direct line but it's followed us out this direction."

"Did it attack the other base?" Her concern that innocents might have been hurt because of her, that her fellow warriors might have suffered, flooded their Bond and Zoric tightened his arms around her.

"No," he answered, and she relaxed slightly. "And we think putting an ocean or two between you and whatever is hunting you is a good idea."

"Have your orders changed, Colonel?" Zoric asked.

The Colonel took so long to answer that Zoric thought he might not answer at all. Finally, he shook his head. "Theyhave evolved. The original orders still stand but there seems to be something deeper going on. Something way beyond my paygrade. Keeping Private McBride safe and alive has become the priority."

A chill ran down Zoric's spine with the explanation. His mind returned to Angela's memory of Uncle Saul.

"The Orvax are helping?" he asked.

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