Page 15 of Her Alien Matchmaker
As Kastor swiveled toward Jet, a pulse of energy blasted outward from Jetarin’s direction.
That’s one of the offensive blasts the weapons research team has been researching with the neural implants.Volderens, as far as I knew, shouldn’t be able to use it, unless Jet had managed to steal the research.
The pulse knocked the three regular soldiers off their feet and onto their backs, but Kastor merely grunted as he stumbled, still standing.
Jet charged ahead with a yell, ramming his head into the larger man’s chest and wrapping his arms around Kastor’s chest.
The super soldier mirrored Jet’s movement, each warrior locked into an embrace of death.
With a knee, Jet rammed it into the other man’s crotch.
Kastor let out a low groan and pulled his face back, then lunged it toward Jet’s forehead, one of the genetically created horns catching Jet’s temple and ripping the skin with a cascade of blue Volderen blood pouring down his face and onto his shoulder.
“No,” I whispered, knowing if Jet lost, we wouldalllose.I wanted to jump in and help, yet I couldn’t leave Aaron unprotected.Besides, I didn’t know the first thing about hand-to-hand combat.
Why doesn’t Kastor shoot him?He had a gun holstered.All he’d have to do would be to pull it out and shoot.Because this guy wants to gloat, to prove he’s better than Volderen, and the slower the kill, the more time to savor his victory.
The other soldiers, still on their backs, twitched and rolled like dazed birds after hitting a window.
Jet lunged toward Kastor again, this time ducking at the last minute, missing a gigantic ham-fisted swing, then sending a sharp kidney shot to Kastor.
The Major sucked in a breath but didn’t stop moving.Instead, he smoothly twisted around and slammed a fist to the back of Jet’s head, the force driving the alien into the rock wall only a few paces from where Aaron and I stood.
“No,” I cried out, seeing more blood pour from his head, this time from the back of his scalp as he crumpled in a heap.It’s a scalp wound, which is why there’s so much blood.Just a few stitches, and he’ll—
A force slammed against my shoulder, knocking me to my stomach, my head hitting Jet’s shoulder.
“Please don’t hurt my mom.”The sound of Aaron’s voice, small and defiant, forced me to push myself onto my hands and knees even though the world spun.“She’s a doctor and helps save people.”
Kastor laughed, pulling out his weapon and pointing it toward Jetarin, who lay unmoving.“Little boy.Your mother is one of the reasons I exist.Iguessyou could say she helps people, but she doesn’t give that help without hurting and killing a lot of others.”
I sat, unable to stand because the world became a carousel going two hundred miles per hour.I closed my eyes for a moment, willing my brain and ears to reach an equilibrium.
Something small and warm pressed against me, and Aaron’s scent—the smell of books and the mango shampoo he used every night—washed over me like a calming balm.“Manganese 25,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.“Iron 26, Cobalt 27—”
“I love you.”I gripped him tightly, opening my eyes to stare into his own dark brown irises, the slight stir of air cooling the tears on my cheeks.
His red-rimmed eyes met mine, and he nodded, continuing to list each element as he clung to Crockett with a one-handed death grip.
Kastor yelled something to the men on the ground, who’d started to stir, but I didn’t care.This is it.I’m going to die here, and so is my son.I’ve done everything I can to protect him, and it hasn’t been enough.Even worse?My actions are the very thing putting him in danger.
“Mommy,” he said, holding a small fist against his cheek.“That man’s evil.”
“Yes.Very.”I pulled his head against my chest, using my body as a shield while watching the super soldier relay something into his earpiece.
“Then he lied about you hurting people?”
I’d thought my heart couldn’t hold any more pain, but his question proved me wrong.I’ll tell him the truth.At least I can die with a clean conscience.I tilted his head to look up at me.“He didn’t lie.Part of my job is…was…to find the good parts of guys like Jet and use them to make better humans.Sometimes it meant pain…and sometimes it meant an experiment went wrong and someone died.”
His eyes searched mine.“But doctors are supposed tohealsick people and save their lives.”His words held accusation.
“They are, and I lost my way.Jet helped me find it again.I’m sorry I let you down, I’m sorry I hurt people, but I’m especially sorry you’re here having to see this.”My voice cracked.“I love you so much, Aaron.”He hugged me tightly, and I returned it with a desperate embrace of my own.“I tried to be a good mother, but instead I’ve put you in terrible danger because I blindly wanted the best for you despite the cost to others.”
One soldier finally wobbled his way onto his feet.
“Keep watch on the doctor and her boy.If she tries to escape, shoot him in the head.”Kastor bent toward Jet and grabbed the back of his neck.“I’ll take care of this piece of trash.”
Jet’s index finger twitched, the only clue to let me know he still breathed.
