As I warned, sorry to end on such a downer. Then again, IRL I am ill again and don’t feel like a happy ending at all.

Sometimes we write the stories we’re told to. I’ll try for something lighter, next time.

Hearing the deep rumble of a large truck from the dirt road in front of her relative’s house, she realized she must have drifted off a bit.  Watch now charged, just after noon, she went to the window facing the main home.  “Did Doe arrange for a truck to take us?  Heck, I was able to get Paethos’ bulk on my little four-wheeler…”

Now she heard men shouting at one another, like orders.  From the screen door on the back, she heard, “Where is she?  The little girl!”  Oh, no.  These men were not from Doe.

Taking several slow steps back, she waved for her friend to come over.  “I know you don’t understand, but I think we need to get out of – ” 

Her aunt screamed, and there was a pop, like a firework on National Day.  More men were trotting around the sides of the house.  If we can run to the four-wheeler, there are plenty of rills and caves…she began to turn just as her door was kicked open.

A huge man in fatigues and a mask over his face pointed his rifle less than a meter from her head.

“Where is it!  Where’s the damn…!  There!  Martinez and Stein, in here now!  Hearn, get the box ready!” he shouted.

“Grrk?”

“No!” Aleja cried, stepping in front of Paethos, spreading her arms out.  “He’s just a kid!  I can help – ”

There was a huge sound, like lightning.  What just kicked me across the room?  She looked down at the bloody hole in her chest as Paethos began a high-pitched scream as the three men, joined by two more, pinned his mouth, claws, and legs, dragging him out.

“Pae…?”  Her voice was a gurgle.

With a last heave of effort, he tore his head loose and spat a marble at her.  The men and alien were out the door.

She couldn’t hear anymore, but felt the rumble as the truck left.  With him.  Wait.  Him.  Her vision was just a narrow, black tunnel; she moved her left hand just a fraction.  The marble.  Like him, she made one final effort to get her hand to her mouth.  So tired…

“You are my best friend.  Thank you.  Goodbye.”

Who said that…?

***

At a tiny park just fifty meters from the house, Doe sat on a bench under a tree.  On her way back, she first heard and then saw the truck.  Sitting, she lowered her head as much as possible to look like a local taking a nap.  There were no markings on the military truck.  When it stopped in front of Alejandra’s relatives’ house, she knew she had lost the race.

Most of them went around the house, two in, the driver, and two more stayed with the truck.  Just close enough, Doe could see the only marking on their clothes was a patch on their right shoulder.  A red H in a black triangle, point down.

Human Supremacists.  Separatists.  Who want all Machines, Demis, and my race killed.  I don’t think a space alien is going to last too long with them.  And, looking at the large box, there he goes.  A captive.

Eyes down and head lower as the truck turned about and went north, she was very still for five minutes.  After, she stood and walked quickly.  The front door was still open, and Aleja’s dead aunt just inside.  Not knowing who else might be about, she walked, not ran, to the outbuilding.  To see her young charge in a pool of her own blood.

I should stay and try to explain this to her uncle, she thought, walking to the stables.  She hooked a lead to Salvador’s rope harness and led the little llama out, making soothing noises as she did.

Once I’m back to my ship, where all of us were supposed to be by sixteen-hundred, I’ll talk to my families.  With permission, I will tell Aleja’s father about this.

I failed.  What a mess.  If they kill Paethos, this could wreck worlds.

“Come along, Salvy, there’s a good boy.”