Page 1 of Loved By the Alien King
Chapter one
Rain
Accessingmemory042681Code:010184 \ * * * * * * * * System flux: 8 sksk sldk
Memory accessed:
While I stared in disbelief at the email I just hacked, Nera’s voice, right after a fight with her husband, echoed through my artificial synapses from years ago:
Can you imagine if I ever took his last name? Nera Early? That expectation is too great, especially for me, who’s never met a clock I liked.Soglad that name-change custom finally went away.
Then she’d muttered something about the damn patriarchy as she’d stormed out of the room while inexplicably waving a pair of Lucy’s socks.
I sat in front of the holographic screen, and the cursor blinked next to Captain Mike Early’s name.
I never really liked him. He seemed coldly indifferent, even to his wife and child, and acted as though he’d rather be literally anywhere else than home with them.
I was programmed to help, to offer tender, loving care to people of all ages and their homes, so this feeling of dislike was new but powerful.
Now, that feeling swarmed my android senses.
I better meet with youwas all his reply said to a highly encrypted, highly classified email.
Email date: 10/21/2637
From: [email protected]
Subject: Problem
Will she be one if she finds out?
Nera. The email was about Nera becoming a problem if she ever found out.
Despite Mike’s cold indifference, he knew she would be, and had stated so in his reply.
I better meet with you.
My artificial heart pulsed with tension. Nera, who’d become the closest thing to a best friend an android could have and who would loathe me for an eternity after what I’d done, was in trouble.
Memory 042681 Code: 010184\ * * * * * * * * System flux: 8 sksk sldk.
Memory terminated. ***
Chapter two
Maxx
Acold,visceralshudderslithered down my scaled shoulders and coiled my feeling of dread tighter. I was trapped, sandwiched on the beach house’s narrow staircase between two armed Earth Space Fleet officers.
I expected this to happen at some point. All of us here on Klio-3—me, the Faid-finding weapon, and Earth Space Fleet—had to result in this exact moment eventually.
Still, I wouldn’t admit defeat so easily.
“I’m Maxx, king of the Xenoxx warriors,” I announced with untamed ferocity. “Put down your weapons.”
The red-haired officer at the bottom of the stairs in front of me scoffed. “Whatever, freak.”
