He’s wrong. All sentinels are trouble.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I examine the alphas inside the bar. Most are the same destitute aliens I remember seeing decades ago. But there’s one alien that catches my eye.
A lonely sentinel in a booth. He turns his head, but we quickly turn the corner and enter into a backroom of the bar.
Akron bolts the inside, sweat beating down his neck.
“What’s the matter, Akron? Not happy to see us?” I ask, sarcastically.
He groans. “Don’t give me that shit, Lök. Whenever I see your face, trouble seems to follow. Whatever it is you want, make it quick.”
“Good. Now that we can talk freely, we might as well put it all on the table,” I sneer.
Vraik nudges Emma forward, stopping her near Akron’s reach.
“Who is he?” he asks, lips quivering.
“See for yourself.”
Akron slowly reaches out, nostrils flaring. He first removes her hood. Entranced, he takes her cloak and slides it down to her shoulders, revealing her porcelain skin.
Her beauty, the splendor of a thousand suns shines before my very eyes.
She stands in front of him, the first female he has seen in decades.
With her near, we are in heaven.
Eight
Emma
I am in an absolute nightmare.
This world, their world, is full of disgusting creatures. Monsters of all sizes. Unimaginable danger.
I try to back away from them, but the aliens keep me front and center.
The behemoth touches my cheeks with his monstrous fingers. Closing my eyes, I hold my breath and endure this test. I asked to come to this planet, but I had no idea this is what it would be like.
I don’t know what I expected. Flying cars? A giant web that connected the world together? Peace and fucking harmony?
No, I’m not in Chicago anymore.
Trembling, the alien steps back and panics. With his back against the door, he rolls his fists closed and flexes, veins popping against his neck.
“What have you done?” he hisses. “A female? Are you out of your mind?”
Rekker grabs his forearm, thumb pressed firmly against the pressure point in his wrist. That’s when I notice Rekker’s other hand.
He places the barrel of his pistol against Akron’s stomach. “Keep your voice down, I warn you.”
“You see?” he cries. “Every time I see your faces, trouble follows.”
Vraik comes to his right side. “We fought together, remember? You owe me one.”
Akron clears his throat, composing himself. “You don’t understand. The laws are worse now. Every establishment is bugged. If their security teams scan this data and see any irregularities, they will take me away. I’ll have to work in a rogue mine like you fools.”
“Is that so bad?” Lök asks, grinding his teeth.