Page 54 of Alien Engineer's Mate

The prisoner's gaze dropped to V'ash's honor-beads, then back to that predator's smile. He must have seen his own death in V’ash’s eyes because he retreated step by step to the farthest corner, as though unwilling to turn his back on such focused menace.

A boot scraped metal behind Maax. Another prisoner had risen, measuring Aaran with clear calculation. Where V'ash loomed like a mountain, Aaran was compact, the smallest of Maax's honor guard. Someone who didn’t know him might think him an easier target than the massive forms of the others.

The prisoner took one step forward. Mistake.

Aaran's response came with brutal efficiency. One moment he was in position, the next his boot swept the prisoner's legs out from under him while his elbow drove up into his throat and jaw. Bone met bone with a sharp crack that echoed off cell walls. The prisoner crumpled without sound, blood streaming from his nose. He crawled back to his place, eyes fixed on the floor.

Not one word was spoken. And not one warrior broke protocol. The message rang clear in the absolute stillness. Size meant nothing to warriors of their caliber. The remaining prisoners pressed against the walls, suddenly fascinated by their own boots. Their predatory anticipation evaporated like atmosphere in hard vacuum.

Maax's heart clenched. Protocol forbade any communication with prisoners accused of his crimes. But they didn't need words. Every warrior who'd trained with him, fought beside him, now stood ready to guard his back one final time.

Even knowing the cost to themselves, the way they’d be viewed for aiding a warrior accused of purism, they'd come.

The night stretched endlessly. None of his brothers moved from their posts as hours crept past. They stood a silent vigil while he hung in his chains, their presence a shield against the death that had seemed so certain.

Dawn cycle approached, bringing the shift change that would force them to leave. V'ash shifted closer as the others prepared to depart, voice barely a whisper.

"Eira's mounted an appeal. We won't let you fall, brother."

The words kindled a spark in Maax's chest. These warriors had his back while Eira fought for him beyond these walls. Perhaps the gods hadn't finished with him yet. His chains might hold him, but his heart remained free to hope.

The corridorsof Devan Station stretched ahead like a gauntlet, each step taking Eira closer to a day that could shatter everything. Emily's hand was clammy in hers, the little girl's fingers clutching so tightly they'd gone white at the knuckles.Red Dragon dangled from her other hand, his ribbon askew from being squeezed all morning.

"I still want to go with you," Emily whispered, her voice hoarse from crying through breakfast. "Please? I'll be good. I promise."

Eira's throat was thick with tears, but she couldn't break. Not now. Not when Emily needed her to be strong. "I know you want to help, sweetheart, but the appeal isn't a place for children. You'll be bored there. It’s better here with Grace and Kyle."

Leo walked a few steps ahead, his lanky frame tense with worry. He'd barely spoken all morning, but his quiet presence steadied her. He was so much like his father sometimes—the way he carried others' burdens without complaint, how he noticed everything but said little—that it was like James was still with them.

"But what if Papa doesn't come back?" Emily's bottom lip trembled as she looked up, seeking reassurance. "I want my Papa."

The question made Eira's heart ache again. She hadn't slept more than minutes at a time all night, her mind spinning with the same fear that filled Emily. Every time she'd closed her eyes, she'd seen Maax's face as security dragged him away.

"Don't cry." Grace squeezed closer to Emily's side. "Mommy's gonna fix it. She always fixes everything."

Kyle hugged his datapad to his chest as he walked behind them. "Having more people help makes things better," he said, his voice small but certain. "Like when we fix the recyclers. More people means it works faster." He chewed his lip. "I just wish I knew exactly how much better."

Emily sniffled. "Papa likes fixing things too."

"Yeah." Kyle managed a small smile. "He said he'd show me how the big engines work soon."

Eira's heart squeezed at the exchange, and her stomach churned with a mix of exhaustion and terror. The appeal would start in less than an hour. Tisshel had messaged updates throughout the night. She and Sheena had witness statements gathered, precedents researched, and defensive strategies planned. But would it be enough? From what they'd said, what Kirr had said, the empire took purist accusations seriously.

If the court ruled against Maax...

A burst of laughter cut through her spiraling thoughts. The sound carried from the nursery entrance ahead, sharp and theatrical. Emily's fingers tightened painfully on hers as a familiar voice rose above the general murmur of conversation.

"Oh, I always knew something wasn't quite right about him." Aisha held court among a cluster of women near the nursery door. "The way he was... just so intense. Like, borderline unstable, really. And that poor little girl... taking her in like that, when he clearly had no idea how to be a proper father. I tried to warn people, but no one would listen."

Rage burst through Eira. The fucking balls of the woman to stand there spreading poison after, by all accounts, she'd thrown herself at Maax for weeks... After she'd tried everything she could to break Maax and Eira apart. A red haze built up on her vision as she marched down the corridor, catching several of the nursery staff exchange looks. The nursery manager, Mrs. Harrison's lips pressed into a thin line as she ushered a group of children inside, getting them quickly away from Aisha's performance.

"And really," Aisha carried on, really warming to her theme now, "what does it say about the matching program if they didn't catch Maax? A purist, right here on the station! He could have hurt someone. Could have corrupted who knows how many vulnerable women with his toxic ideology."

Emily stopped dead in her tracks, Red Dragon slipping from her grip to the floor.

"No! My Papa's not bad! He's not!" Her whole body shook as tears spilled down her cheeks. "He reads me stories and fixes my hair and, and... and he makes the monsters go away!"

The circle of women around Aisha turned, gasping as they noticed Emily for the first time. Mrs. Harrison moved faster than Eira would have thought possible for someone her age, crossing the space between them in quick strides.

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