Page 4 of Chosen By the Alien King
“It’s me.I’m the one with a plan.”Her grin never faltering, she fished out something from her black Space Fleet uniform pocket and held it out to me.
I blinked down at her palm, not quite sure if what I was seeing was real or not.“Larxxa’s scale?”
“If by that, you mean Roxxanne’s great aunt’s scale, then yes.You can tell just by looking at it?”
“Yes, they’re akin to human fingerprints, each one different from the other, but… Roxxanne gave you this?”
Nera nodded.“She said not to tell you, but you and I agreed no more secrets.When it comes to her other secrets, though, my lips are sealed.”
“I…see…” What kind of secrets would my own daughter be keeping from me?Hopefully not any as big as the one I was keeping from her, that her dad was a Faid clone.
Chuckling softly, Miekil reached out and traced the intricate patterns etched onto the scale’s surface.“This is news to you that teenagers have secrets?”
“I suppose so,” I sighed.
“Maxx,” Nera said, her voice soft yet urgent, “we can use this scale to lure Earth Space Fleet into a trap they won’t be able to resist.And when they come for us, we’ll show the world what they truly are and what they’ve done to the both of us.”
Miekil winged up an eyebrow.“On live TV, I’m guessing.”
“You guessed right,” Nera said.“Now, the part I haven’t worked out yet is how a tiny scale will bring about their downfall.Because when I said I had a plan, I didn’t say it was a good, well thought-out one.”
“It’s against universal law to sell Xenoxx scales for profit,” I said, “since we’re on the critically endangered species list.”
Miekil shifted uncomfortably in his seat, something he often did when I brought up the topic of our near extinction.“We already know that Earth Space Fleet doesn’t give two shits about laws though.”
Nera whistled.“Okay, wow.That means Roxxanne knew exactly what she was doing when she gave me this scale.She might be even smarter than her dad.”
“Oh, there’s no question about that.”I chuckled, my hearts near overflowing with love and pride for my daughter.“We could plant the scale where they kept me prisoner.They won’t be able to tell it’s not from me, assuming they find it and try to sell it, which is assuming a lot.But if they do find out we planted it…it will paint an even bigger target on us, Nera.”
She grinned, her dark eyes sparkling.“Unless we can bring them down before they get out their little paintbrushes to do their target painting.”
I could hear the determination in her voice, but also the trepidation.This was a dangerous plan, one that would put both our lives at risk.But with each passing day, it became more evident that we had no choice.Earth Space Fleet’s corruption was spreading like an infection, devouring everything in its path.
And taking lives with it.
We couldn’t let that continue.For us.For Roxxanne.For the entire Xenoxx planet.Soon, before we lost, or nearly lost, anyone else we cared deeply for because of Earth Space Fleet.
I could see it in her eyes—that same fire that burned within me.We were bound together by our shared loss, and we would fight together.For justice, for retribution, and for us.
“Then we’ll use the scale to expose them,” I agreed.“We’ll set a trap.”
As one, we looked to Miekil, who shrugged.
“What else am I going to do on a reality TV love show?”he asked, sounding so bitter that Nera winced.“Who’s going to do the scale planting and the luring though?Not either of you, obviously.”
“Someone willing to put themselves in harm’s way,” Nera said.“Someone who understands the risks but is willing to take them for the greater good.”
“Who do you have in mind?”I asked, knowing she already had her answer.
Nera bit her lip.“Pete?”
Miekil groaned and rubbed his forehead, even though we all knew he loved Pete in a brotherly sort of way.
I nodded.“He’s already shown his willingness to help us.He’s proven himself resourceful and trustworthy, and he knows how to handle attention—both wanted and unwanted.”
Nera squeezed my hand.“We give him some sort of disguise and an Earth Space Fleet uniform and—“
“We’ll never hear the end of it?”Miekil sighed and shook his head.“The guy already walks through life thinking he’s starring in an action movieallthe time.”
