Page 9 of Legacy for the Alien Warrior

Footsteps moved around the space above them as she wrapped her arms around Rory. He remained surprisingly still, his breathing even. She counted the seconds, waiting for the telltale sounds of discovery—the hidden panel being detected, the compartment exposed.

Instead, after what felt like hours but was probably only minutes, the footsteps retreated and the voices faded as they moved towards the front of the ship. She exhaled slowly, allowing herself a moment of relief. They hadn’t been found—yet.

Time stretched in the blue-lit darkness. Rory eventually settled against her side, tracing the pattern of bolts on the wall.. The compartment remained comfortable—neither too hot nor too cold, the air fresh despite their enclosure.

Finally, footsteps approached again—a single set this time—and the panel slid open to reveal Thraxar. A huge sigh of relief escaped her before she could prevent it.

“They have gone. Your presence remained undetected.”

He reached down and offered Rory his hand and to her surprise, her son took it, letting Thraxar pull him free. He reached for her next, and an odd spark of awareness shivered through her body as his huge warm hand closed around hers. He lifted her effortlessly, as if she weighed nothing, and settled her onto the deck, his tail curving around her waist to steady her.

“Thank you,” she muttered, suddenly embarrassed by the feeling of warmth that had washed over her when he touched her. It was the first time anyone other than Rory had touched her in months and her body had reacted instinctively. That was all.

He stared down at her for a moment, then turned to the nearest crate, replacing the lid the guards must have opened earlier. She caught a glimpse of neatly packaged medical supplies—ones she recognized from her time in the medical unit.

“You trade in medical supplies?”

“Occasionally. I carry whatever is in demand.”

“I’m guessing there was no demand here,” she said bitterly, and he nodded.

“Liquor is more desirable.” He hesitated. “We should leave before they decide to make a second search.”

She shivered. “Yes, please.”

Rory tugged on her shirt and gave her a pleading look as he pointed upwards.

“He would like to see the ship take off?” Thraxar asked, surprising her. Once again he seemed to understand her son in a way that most people didn’t.

“Yes,”

“Then come.”

They followed him to the front of the ship. The bridge was surprisingly small, with only a single chair positioned at the control panel. Thraxar turned the chair in their direction. Rory immediately climbed up on it, and she reluctantly joined him, perching nervously on the edge. As he moved to the controls, his tail curled lightly around her waist again, and she felt that same tingle of awareness.

“You are safe,” he murmured, his eyes on the panel.

He fired the engines and they roared to life, the vibration running through the ship. She was tempted to cover Rory’s ears, but he looked completely entranced, leaning forward to watch the lights on the panel as the ship rose smoothly into the air. Through the viewscreen in front of them, she watched the ground fall away until they were soaring over the settlement and out across the barren rocky landscape.

As they reached the edge of the asteroid’s thin atmosphere and the vast expanse of space opened up in front of them, a sense of wonder and excitement filled her. The ship accelerated and Jellix V disappeared from view.

CHAPTER FOUR

Thraxar monitored the ship’s systems as they cleared the mining settlement’s orbit. The vessel hummed with familiar vibrations beneath his feet—a reassuring sensation after the unexpected chaos of the past hour. He had not planned on acquiring passengers today, yet here he was, harboring fugitives.

His fingers moved deftly across the control panel, setting their course for the nearest Patrol station before engaging the autopilot. The thought of leaving them there bothered him more than he cared to admit. The nagging voice of caution in his mind—the one that had kept him alive and alone for years—questioned his impulsive decision to help the female and her offspring. Getting involved was dangerous. Attachment was worse. Taking them to the Patrol station was for the best.

“Do you think we’re safe now?” Kara asked.

“They have no way to follow us. I did not detect any tracking devices implanted in either of you.”

Her eyes widened. “Did you really think that was a possibility?”

“Who knows how far some people will go? But such devices are expensive and Grentz?—”

“Doesn’t like spending his credits. For once I’m grateful he’s so cheap.”

Rory climbed down from the other chair, then moved to the control panel, carefully studying the display, before going to the viewport, his small hands pressing against the transparent material.

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