She gets even more beautiful every time I look at her.A selfish part of me is immensely proud she chose to love me. And I can still make her smile, even if I failed miserably at keeping her safe.
I release her and shrug off my backpack, placing it on the metal floor and digging inside. “I packed us a picnic. Bet you’ve never eaten under the ocean.”
She giggles. “Can’t say that I have.”
I spread out a thin, silver blanket, then reach up to take her hands, pulling her to sit on the cloth. “Well, my queen,” I say as I stretch out my legs, looping KJ’s leash around my foot so he doesn’t try to wander off. “We shall feast while we stare at this underground aquatic miracle.”
As I lift covered items of food from the bag and place them on the blanket, Tilly’s gaze follows me.
When she catches me staring, a soft grin curves her lips. “This is amazing. Did you take all of this from Earth?”
“No, carriers collected DNA samples during our...uh, occupation. We grew the animals and plant life on the ship for research purposes.” I lay out finger sandwiches and a thermos of coffee.
“Exactly how big is this tank?” She lifts a square sandwich and gives it a sniff, wrinkling her nose.
I bite back a laugh. “Well, in Imperial measurements, it’s about the size of three football fields. When it’s finished and merged into the old seabed, it’ll be about half the size of Texas.” With a mental command to her bracelet, I pull up “Starlight” by STARSET. The song fills the long chamber, reverberating softly in the shadowy space where it’s just KJ and the woman who loves me despite my past questionable actions.
What did I do to deserve a love like hers?
“Holy shit.” Her smooth voice breaks my concentration. “Terraforming sounds like a lot of work.”
Nodding, I pop a sandwich into my mouth and unseal a bowl of food for KJ.
With a high bark, he rams his muzzle into the wet food, his tail wagging so fast it throws his hind legs off balance.
Tilly chews a few times, then swallows with a grimace. “These taste weird. I’ve never eaten sandwiches with cucumbers stuffed inside.”
“They’re healthy and—”
The pitter-patter of shoes slapping the floor reverberates from farther down the hall.
I jerk upright and scan the area. I’d let my guard down to be fully in the moment with Tilly. Why?
Because Grandma had this entire zone shut down for the next three hours. How did someone get past?
My scan confirms a child within the vicinity. Careening around the corner, the kid looks about eight or nine with short black hair. He runs straight at us as if being chased.
Inwardly, I groan. All I need is for him to see me and tell his parents.
I motion for Tilly to stay seated. “I’ll take care of this. He probably snuck away from classes.” Though I don’t understand how. All Baltin children are guarded closely with assigned carriers because they’re our future. Without them, our race will perish. We have too few children as it is.
As he barrels toward us, I hold out a hand. “Stay right there.”
He skitters to a stop, leaving a meter of space between us.
“Where are your parents?”
“Working, like they’re supposed to, dummy.” He points at my face and squints. “You look like the dead king.”
I grind my teeth. I’m not especially good with kids. They make me nervous for some reason, always have.
“Hi,” Tilly says with a little wave as she leans to the side to stare at him. “What’s your name?”
The kid laughs. “She talks funny. How come she doesn’t know how to speak Baltin? Is she a dummy, too?” He pulls out a data pad and types onto its surface.
I squat to bring my face closer to his height, hoping I don’t seem too intimidating, but needing to get his attention. “Go back to class before you get in trouble. You aren’t supposed to be in here.”
He smirks, then sticks out his tongue. “Make me.”
