Page 13 of Star Defenders (My Alien Mates 2)

"Yes." Danec checked his own watch. "We'll have to run. Literally." His eyes were wide with worry.

Slek grabbed his bag and swung it onto his shoulder.

"Come on then, less talking, more running."

I bolted out ahead of him and started down the corridor at a trot.

"How long do we have?" Slek asked.

"Ten minutes," Danec replied.

"Shit." I skidded to a stop outside the room I shared with Brinley. The pilot was waiting outside with my bag and a frantic expression on her face.

"Eight minutes," Danec said.

We dashed to his room, where he grabbed his own bag in about thirty seconds.

"Five minutes," Slek said.

I shook my head. I was already puffing, but I gave up trotting and headed to theHalcyon'sdock at a dead run. My bag hit me painfully with every step.

I faltered and started to slow. By now, I could barely catch my breath.

Danec grabbed my hand and silently encouraged me to keep going.

"I can carry you if you need me to," Slek said. How was he not out of breath?

"I’m not arriving slung over your shoulder," I wheezed.

Slek chuckled.

We were forced to stop at the door to the docks and wait while Danec pressed his palm against the palm pad beside it.

The palm pad beeped and flashed red. The door remained closed.

"What the—" Danec frowned.

"Here let me," Slek said. When Danec stepped aside, he pressed his palm against the pad. It flashed green and the door slid open.

"See, nothing to it."

"I don't understand," Danec said.

Neither did I. All of our palm prints were on file, as was that of everyone else with legitimate business on the station.

"Worry about it later," Brinley said. "They're boarding everyone."

She was right. A handful of people with bags stood in line at the door. The rest must be on theHalcyonalready. Beside the door, Zarex and J'avet stood, watching closely.

"Come on," Brinley said.

Resuming our running pace, we bolted to the door as the last of our fellow passengers stepped over the threshold.

"Cutting it close," Zarex remarked.

"Another minute and you would be too late," J'avet said darkly.

"Looks like we got lucky," Slek said easily.

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