Page 106 of Alien Prince

“Emily!” Kael’s voice cuts through the din, sharp with worry.

I look up to see him fighting his way toward me, his smoking weapon gleaming as it catches the pale light.

“What are you doing?” he demands, dropping into a crouch beside me.

“Leveling the playing field,” I say.

His eyes flick to the device in my hands, his brow furrowing. “That’s—”

“A signal disruptor,” I interrupt. “Earth tech may not be as advanced as yours, but it’s adaptable, and I’ve been trying to figure out how to marry our technology for some time now. If I can sync this to their frequency, I can short-circuit their systems long enough for your forces to strike during the confusion and end this.”

Kael’s expression shifts, a mix of surprise and admiration flashing across his face. “You’re certain?”

“Not completely,” I admit, “but it’s the best chance we’ve got.”

He tilts his head to the side, considering this. Then he nods, his jaw tightening. “Do it.”

With Kael covering me, I position the disruptor on a jagged piece of stone, angling it toward the rebels’ makeshift base. My hands tremble as I make the final adjustments.

“Almost there,” I mutter, connecting the last wire.

Kael shifts beside me, his blaster raised as another wave of rebels surges forward. He shoots and fights with a ferocity that astounds me.

But there’s no time to admire him.

I flip the switch on the disruptor, holding my breath as the device hums to life. A high-pitched whine fills the air, followed by a series of sharp, crackling bursts.

For a moment, nothing happens.

Then, like a domino effect, the rebels’ weapons begin to fail. Energy shields flicker and die, and their scavenged artillery sputters uselessly. Confusion spreads through their ranks as their technological advantage crumbles before their eyes.

“It’s working!” I shout, relief flooding my chest.

Kael glances back at me, a rare smile breaking through his fierce focus. “You did it.”

His forces surge forward, pressing the advantage as the rebels falter. I grab my blaster and hurry to join them.

The battle shifts in an instant, the chaos turning to order as Kael’s soldiers reclaim the upper hand.

In no time at all, the battlefield is silent.

I bend over, trying to catch my breath. The disruptor lies dormant beside me, its job done.

Kael approaches, his armor streaked with soot and blood but his gaze steady. He kneels beside me, his hand brushing against mine.

“You saved us,” he says quietly, his voice filled with a reverence that makes my heart ache.

“I just… used what I know,” I reply, my voice barely above a whisper.

“What you know,” he says, his tone firm, “is what turned the tide. My people will remember this, Emily. They’ll remember you.”

I slowly smile, and I feel lighter than ever. I feel like I’ve truly earned my place here—not just by Kael’s side but among his people.

As the guards and soldiers around us begin to cheer, their victory ringing out across the battlefield, Kael pulls me into his arms. Hopefully, this war will be over soon.

I truly believe we can win this war.

Together.

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