Page 2 of Legacy for the Alien Warrior

Instead she guided Rory to their usual corner, as far from the others as possible. He’d found something on the ground—another small piece of metal, possibly from a broken machine, and turned it over and over in his fingers. He hoarded his finds like a magpie, constantly arranging and rearranging them.

“Eat first, then play.” She pushed the bowl closer.

He set the metal piece down reluctantly and took an obedient bite. One bite, two, and then he pushed the bowl away. Damn. Even back on Earth there had been a very limited range of things he would eat, and here the things he found acceptable were even fewer.

She tried once again to get him to eat, but he started tapping a rhythmic pattern on the table, his shoulders tensing, and she gave up. Perhaps she could barter for some of the biscuits he would eat…

While she ran through the small list of items that she could trade for food, she wolfed down the rest of the rations, eyes constantly scanning for threats. Six months in this place had taught her vigilance.

Most of miners were decent enough, as trapped and worn down as she felt. They came from a variety of species, but they had all been lured to the job with the promise of a lucrative paycheck, only to find that between the amount the company charged them for food and lodging and the exorbitant prices at the stores, bars, and brothels, it would take years to be able to pay off the amount they’d paid for their passage. Some of them were so far in debt they’d never be able to free themselves from the company’s clutches.

The guards were another matter. Although Grentz would dock their wages if they hurt her, many of them were inclined to act first and worry about the consequences later.

After emptying the bowl, she hurried Rory back towards the medical unit but as they turned down the last alley, their luck ran out. Drask strode around the corner, his heavy boots announcing his presence before his hulking form appeared. A former mercenary with a reputation for cruelty, he’d been hired by Grentz to keep the miners in line. He enjoyed his work too much.

She tensed, angling her body between Rory and the guard’s line of sight. But Drask had already spotted them and changed course, heading straight for them. Not tall but wide, he bore a vague resemblance to a gorilla with long arms and dark fur jutting out from a stained uniform.

“Nurse.” His voice grated like metal on stone. “Boss said to tell you a new section is opening up this week.”

A new section meant a higher than normal risk of injury. She bit back a groan and nodded, but before she could hurry past him, his eyes drifted to Rory, who was focusing on the metal piece he’d found, running it through his fingers over and over.

Something predatory flickered in Drask’s expression. “What’s the freak got there?”

She glared at him. “My son is not a freak. And it’s nothing—just a piece of junk.”

Drask leaned closer, the stench of his unwashed body making her stomach turn. “Doesn’t look like junk to me. Looks like contraband.”

“It’s a scrap of metal. Worthless.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

He reached for it, but Rory clutched the metal piece to his chest, rocking slightly.

“Hand it over, boy.” The guard’s voice hardened, and she quickly stepped before them.

“Leave him alone. It’s literally a piece of garbage.”

“I don’t like your tone, nurse.” Drask’s hand moved to the shock baton at his belt. “Maybe your brat needs to learn some manners.”

Rory began to flap the fingers on his free hand rapidly, a sure sign of distress. The movement caught the guard’s attention, his lips curling in disgust.

“What’s wrong with him? Looks like he’s broken.” Drask laughed, an ugly sound.

“He’s fine. We’re leaving now.”

She reached for Rory’s hand and tried to hurry past the guard, but he blocked their path.

“Not until I see what he’s hiding.”

“It’s nothing!”

“Then tell your defective kid to hand it over.”

Rory continued rocking, fingers flapping faster. The metal piece remained clutched against his chest.

“He doesn’t understand. Just let us go.”

She tried to move past him again and he shoved her back, hard enough that she stumbled.

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