Chapter 3
Fell from the Stars
“I’m going to lick everysquare inch of your body,” I breathe in her ear as I slide a hand into her pants. “And then—”
A warning screams in my head. The constant sensor sweeps around the camp relay information at lightning speed.
Intruders detected 900 meters north-northwest.
Three males, one female.
Weapon status: undetermined.
I freeze and devote most of my processing power inward, stretching out as far as my internal sensors will allow, flying through the organic composition of trees and scrub until I reach the edge of the road the people travel. It’s too far away to track body heat, so I’ll need to teleport closer to determine if the scavengers are a true threat to our camp, to Tilly, to my son.
“Jareth, what is it?”
Placing a kiss to her forehead, I grab her hand and pull her through the tunnels. “There’s a group of people nearby.”
“What? Really?” Excitement colors her tone. “Maybe they need help.”
“Maybe.”But I doubt it.Tilly tends to look for the good in people even when there isn’t any, but I know better. “I’m going to grab some clothes. You stay inside with KJ. Donotleave the cave.”
“But I want to come with you. I’m not defenseless, you know. Rhys and Fredarich trained me in multiple types of combat. Plus, I have achangranand a pulse rifle.”
Using my multi-spectrum vision, I expertly lead us through the dark tunnels until we arrive at the back room sitting behind the antechamber. A bit of firelight from the front provides murky illumination through the narrow opening.
Has that group seen the smoke from our fire?A renewed sense of urgency beats in time to the multiple alarms and information dumps pouring into my databanks.
“I know you can take care of yourself, but you’re pregnant.” I give her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “What if there’s a fight and someone hits you in the stomach?” I let her go to locate a pair of folded jeans inside a box. After shimmying into the pants, I shove my feet into a spare pair of hiking boots and meet Tilly’s gaze. “You have to protect our son, and sometimes that means lettingmeprotectyou. Okay?”
She scowls. “Sounds like some kind of chauvinistic shit talk.”
“I promise I’m not trying to be an arrogant alpha. I’m just trying to think of the baby, too.” Smoothing the hair from her forehead, I tilt her face up to mine. “If something happened to either one of you...”
Unable to finish the sentence, I bend over and lace my boots. I had barely survived losing my first wife and child, and that was only because the weapon I’d tried to shoot myself with had malfunctioned.
I’m stronger than I used to be.At least that’s what I’d like to believe.
Yet, if something happened to Tilly and my child, that old darkness would bloom to life, and I’d raze the entire galaxy in retribution.
Focus on the present before it becomes a problem.I shake my head, clearing my mind, running through the sensor data.
“But Jareth.” Tilly’s face falls. “I don’t want to be separated again. What if something happens to you?”
I can’t help but chuckle. “Are you kidding? I fell from the stars. You little humans can’t hurt me.” Her worry over my safety warms my heart.
“Please be careful.”
“I’m indestructible to any kind of weapons your people have. Hurting me would be like slapping a rock. Plus, I have my personal electronic shield and plenty of cyborg tricks.” I hate reminding her of what I am, that I’m not fully flesh and blood and mostdefinitelynot human, but I can see it’s the only thing that might ease her mind. “I’ll port to where they are and stay in stealth mode. They’ll never see nor hear me, and it’ll give me time to determine their motives.”
Targets 850 meters distant, shifting direction to the West. Pace has increased by 25%.
“Red.” I place my hands on her slender shoulders and stare into her eyes. “I got you. Trust me.”
Sighing, she nods and caresses her stomach. “Come back, okay?”
“Always. I’ll return before you know it because we’re going to finish that naughty game you started.” I give her a wink.
