Page 20 of Chosen By the Alien King
Time to put into place some anti-hacking measures for myself and all other Faid, and then do some hacking of my own to find out WHY.
Seconds later, I had my encrypted answer.
* * * * Email loading * * * *
*Decryption started*
* * * * Failed * * * *
*Decryption started*
* * * * Failed * * * *
*Decryption started*
(((((((((((hurt)))))))))) ///Error/// But (((((((((((hurt)))))))))) I (((((((((((hurt)))))))))) love (((((((((((hurt)))))))))) her.
Memory 03050708071 Code: 010507 \ * * * * * * * * System flux: 8 sksk sldk.
Memory terminated.***
Chapter eleven
Nera
Hourslateraftermywedding, Pete went into Earth Space Fleet’s bunker to plant the bugged Xenoxx scale and insert the decrypter into one of their computers.
He wasn’t back yet.He was fifteen minutes late.
And I was not okay.
I paced around the bungalow where we’d set up camp for the night while gnawing off my fingernails.Maxx towered by the door, his thick arms crossed.We’d both changed out of our wedding attire and into our usual garb for the show—pants and no shirt for him and a fancy dress for me.
Miekil sat on the bed, drumming his hands and feet in a nervous rhythm while Mosely and Darc sat on the floor and stared at their holographic computers.
The air was thick with tension, my senses heightened by the soft hum of tech and the roaring static coming from Pete’s mic.
About fourteen and a half minutes ago, his last words over his mic were, “If life gives you lemons, make sure they’re hand grenades.”
After that, nothing.I wasn’t even certain who he’d been talking to, if anyone.
I glanced over at Maxx again while I twirled my gorgeous wedding ring around my finger.We should’ve been continuing our wedding-day celebration.Instead, we were both wound up like corkscrews.Every second we left Pete alone in that bunker cemented the very air in my lungs.
We should’ve never, ever let him go in there alone.We knew how dangerous Earth Space Fleet was.We fucking knew it, and we’d sent him in there anyway.
Maxx caught me staring, and the worry lines fanning around his eyes softened infinitesimally.
“Right.We’re going after him.”My voice snapped through the entire room louder than I intended, making Darc jump a little.
“Not you, Nera,” Maxx said gently.
“Yes,me, Maxx.Who else will?Not Mosely and Darc.They’re just as much enemies as me since they took my side.Not you since you don’t blend in, and—“
“Not me,” Miekil growled and stomped his green foot against the floor so hard that the bungalow trembled.
“And not you either,” I agreed with a heavy sigh.“I’m sorry, Miekil, but—“
“But no.”Maxx crossed toward me and touched my belly gently.“I helped make this baby inside of you, so like it not, my opinion matters about where its mother does and does not go.”
