Page 35 of Galactic Sentinels: Vol 2
I find one—its limp body in my hands. Its neck broken. A bitter lump rises in my throat and I nearly vomit up my meager breakfast.
“Explain. Now.” I yell over my shoulder.
“Oh, come on, it’s just a rodent. There’s tons more.”
“Dad!”
“What was I supposed to do? I can’t get near the big ones anymore—they attack on sight. Thought I’d try something else. Look at the fur—purple, right? Rare color. Might be worth something. Or maybe dried Gouzil blood? An anti-aging serum! ‘Albert’s Elixir of Youth’—got a nice ring to it!”
I lose it.
No warning—I throw up.
He’s already mutilating Nalgous, and now he wants to butcher these adorable creatures too?
Gently, I place the Gouzil at the edge of the burrow.
Just as I turn to leave, something compels me to reach into the hole. I feel soft fur—tiny, trembling. A baby.
I pull it out, hold it close.
He’s orphaned. He’s mine now.
I look back—my father is gone.
I glance around, confused.
Then I hear the hum of my aeropod taking off. He stole it. He left me here.
What the hell was my mom thinking, having two kids with this man?
I cradle the baby Gouzil—Gooz—and start walking.
***
I'm on the path to Gekkar Creek, my adorable Gooz curled up in my lap.
My tiny, furry companion has quickly adjusted to my way of life among the Gekkaris—even to our short visits to the colony.
I’ve decided to let my father face the consequences of his own mess. He’s in it up to his neck—he can deal with it himself.
Buddy the Fierce’s deadline is coming up in just a few days. Hopefully, I’ll be far away by the time he shows up to collect.
Is it cruel of me to leave my father to face that on his own? Maybe.
But Mom explained to me a long time ago why she chose not to live under his roof anymore.
“Toxic people rarely change, and they poison everyone around them. For our own good, we’re staying away from that man, who values his vices more than his own family!” she told me.
She’s gone now, but her words still echo in my heart.
“My sweet Samantha, you shine! You radiate kindness and compassion. Never let anyone snuff out that light inside you. Sure, you’ll go through dark times, you’ll doubt yourself—but your inner light is strong enough to overcome all the darkness in the Universe!” she’d often say.
So I’ve left behind the pain of losing her and instead hold on to our moments together—her smile, her wise advice, her love. And if that means leaving my father behind to face the monsters he’s provoked, so be it. I won’t let him drag me down with him into the shadows he’s chosen.
I land my aeropod at the entrance of the village and walk up the main street toward the shop.
Rebecca gives me a big smile the moment she sees me.
