Alien Romance: Fall for a Cyborg (Sci-Fi Futuristic Alien Abduction Fantasy Space Warrior Romance) (Science Fiction Mystery Paranormal Urban Short Stories) (94 page)

I then made some tea and went out onto my porch with the pot and a few snacks. I did my best thinking there. Looking out on my lawn and the barn always reminded me I had made it and that I was able to get things done. My parents had never been big cheerleaders for my success. They just wanted to marry me off and I am sure I was a great disappointment. I could be sure because they had told me so. I realized therein lie my current problem.

The Tulian had been trying to return to see his parents safe. They had sent him a picture with a proclamation of their love on it and either of those would not have happened in my family. I had always wanted a loving relationship with my mom and dad, but had never had one. They pretended with weekly messages and questions, none of which had ever contained the words
love you
. I sighed, ate a bun and sipped my tea. It was a Candlee tea that had a slight minty taste which I found soothing.

“So your compassion for his parental relations pushed you into helping an apparent fugitive. Nice one Amanda,” I told myself. For me, actually hearing my thoughts out loud helped me to process.

I sipped some more tea and then heard the whine of a shuttle again. I immediately tensed up and had to take a few deep breaths to calm myself.
I am not harboring a Tulian. You cannot know I am harboring a Tulian.
I kept those words to myself and got up, walking down the steps to my front lawn.
Just act normal Amanda, it will be no problem
. I looked myself over vainly.

I was wearing a white, step-in top with sleeves to the elbow, and red cotton pants to the knees. The pants were loose, the top was not. My hair was still glistening from my shower and I figured I looked like what I was: a woman who had just finished a hard day’s work. The shuttle door opened and Lieutenant Korgie strode down the little ramp.

“Hello Miss Starling. I hope all is well,” he began politely.

“It is Lieutenant. I just finished work and am relaxing. Can I offer you some tea?” As soon as the words left my mouth I thought,
Really Amanda, tea!
He hesitated but nodded.

“Maybe a quick one.”

I escorted him to the porch then stepped inside and got him a cup. I poured it and he took it and sipped.

“That is good, thank you. Now, have you seen anything suspicious in the last few days? Anything to the west in particular? I am just doing a follow-up. Things are getting dicey.” I nodded understanding and sipped my tea, pretending thoughtfulness.

“Hm, no nothing. I was out that way today. Not far, but I had to check a sprinkler. I have been trying to stay close to home with everything going on. My people have kept their eye out too, nothing yet.”

He nodded. “That is good. The fewer people are harmed by this, the better. Truth be told, the only thing we found out west was a meteorite, a big one, so that is probably what you saw the other evening. We have had reports of fleeing Tulians resisting arrest though. I am glad you have remained clear. We started rounding them up today.”

I nodded with sympathy.

“Yes I know, that must be a difficult task,” I said. He raised his eyebrow.

“When did you hear about it?” Strange question I thought.

“This afternoon. One of my people was listening to the local band and told me in the field.”

He smiled slightly and nodded. Appearing to relax a little.

“Good,” he said. “It seems word leaked ahead of time, so many got away. It is a shame, but some people do not look out for their own best interests.”

I nodded, trying to be diplomatic. “Yes, that seems to be a major theme running through civilization. It is a pity,” I said.

He agreed. Then he shifted gears.

“So Miss Starling, how familiar are you with your neighbors to the north? The brother and sister who run the farm and bakery?” I raised an eyebrow, wondering why they were on this guy's scanner.

“Bella and Bobby? We do business together. Their bakery uses my bees’ honey for their pastries and other of their wares. Nice people. They are a little like me in that they are pretty focused on their business. Not much into politics, just trying to get by, you know.”

He smiled and nodded.

“Ok thanks, Miss Starling. How are you set here? The situation is probably going to get worse before it gets better.”

I nodded in understanding.

“My security is ramped up and the house is locked up,” I said. “I am going to stay off the roads for this evening and hunker in.”

He thought that was a good idea and wished me a pleasant night. I watched them leave and go down the road towards Bella's place. I went back to the house. I carried my vid-communicator and a beer out to the porch, munched on snacks and sipped my beer. I knew what was coming. Thirty minutes later my communicator buzzed. I pushed my hair back and smiling answered Bella's call.

“Hello Bell, what is up?” I asked innocently. She narrowed her eyes.

“Did you send Korgie here, Amanda?”

“Hell no, I did not bring you up at all. He did, he asked what I knew about you. I lied and told him only good things.” She broke into a grin.

“I know sweetheart, he came across like he was just checking security. Bobby did not like him. You know he doesn't like anyone asking questions about our business. What do you think about this Tulian business? Weird huh?”

She did not know the half of it and I was not going to tell her. I still did not know what I was doing. It was nice to see and talk to her, though. Bella is a great friend and she always helped me think clearer whether she knew it or not.

“Yeah it's weird,” I said. “I never thought Tulians were the violent sort, but I guess you never know.”

“I know right? I heard they are rounding up Tulians all over Candlee. Korgie said a bunch of them got away. One report I heard was that half of the Tulians in Landing, Jordan, Brushen, and Contella disappeared before the security forces came to scoop them up. I have not seen any, though. Have you?”

I managed to come across as honest in my answer. “Nope, nothing here. I was out in the field today and it was just another day. Then again, it is a big world.”

She sighed and nodded.

“Ain't that the truth,” she said. “It is worrying me. It could get ugly and I really do not like violence. It scares me, Amanda, and I wish these things were not happening now. We finally got our homestead going wonderfully and I know you are the same. Life is going good, I just wish...” She stopped and shrugged.

“I know sister, me too,” I said. “I only hope this gets settled soon and we go back to not worrying about anything bigger than if you short the honey in the next batch of buns.”

“I have never shorted...oh you! Thanks Amanda, I am glad I called, you cheered me up. Are you keeping safe?”

I nodded. “Yep, in fact I am staying home this weekend to stay safe. I have a feeling the cities are where fugitives are going to hide. Too out in the open here in the sticks. By the beginning of next week I bet most of this will be taken care of. I hope anyway.”

She agreed and after saying a good night we signed off. I leaned back and sighed. Now if I could just figure out what I was actually going to do, I thought. I finished my beer and went back to check on the fugitive in my guestroom.

*****

I couldn't sleep so I set myself up in the front room with a broadwave communicator to listen to what was going on. I sipped tea in low light and looked out my window. I would occasionally go back and check on the Tulian. He was healing up fine. I had no idea what I was going to do when he woke up. Listening to the broadwave was making me more nervous about how extreme the Federation response was getting. They were showing up everywhere and just bulldogging through establishments and homes on searches. Property damages were becoming common as well as arrests for non co-operation.

Just as a paranoid precaution I packed a bag in case it got really bad. Among the things I packed were my deed and full ownership papers of my homestead. It was my biggest accomplishment and I wanted proof it was mine, if I had to leave. Then I changed into more functional work clothes in case I did have to leave in a hurry. So I was wearing two tank tops, the white under top higher cut at the neckline than the red outer one, which I wore for style purposes. I do try to look good, and red and white suited me. Then tough work pants with many pockets, and work boots.

My vid communicator beeped, but I decided most people would expect me to be asleep so I let it go and just watched the message as it was left. It was Frederick on audio only.

“Hey Boss lady, we are going on a trip for a while. Word has it they are going through everyone’s homes, searching for Tulian fugitives. We also heard it does not matter if there are any Tulian there or not, bad things are happening. Stay safe. You may want to disappear for a while, too. Landowners in particular are being harassed. The big rumor is that Candlcorp is supplementing the Federation troops. It doesn't make sense, but that is what we hear. I am sorry for bugging out on you, but I have to place my family first. Good luck!” He signed off as I was going to the window and peeked out.

I could see no light reflecting behind the barn where Frederick and his family lived. I guessed he had already left and called from somewhere else. I felt a knot in my stomach and began to be afraid. The world was going to hell and I did not know why. My vid beeped again and I frowned, moving to where I could see it. It went to message and I saw my mother’s face looking prim and proper as usual.

“Amanda, when you get this you must not be afraid. This is for the better of all of us. We have given Candlcorp permission to co-op your land for the use of the Federation in the war. Just think honey, you get to come home to a civilized planet! You have proven yourself and no longer have to live on such a backwater place.” What! I thought. She doesn't have the authority to hand over anything. This is
my
land! My mother went on: “They are paying us handsomely and we decided you can share some of it when you come home.”

“Shit!” I growled, moving towards the vid controls. A hand on my arm stopped me. I turned and the Tulian was standing there looking at me. Shaking his head. He had dressed himself in the clothes from his pack.

“They are listening,” he said. He wasn't looking dangerous. He had a kind, sympathetic look on his face, as my mother’s message continued.

“Anyway darling they should be there soon to inform you. We can't wait to get you home and the neighbors will see you are not just some colonist and we can all put that embarrassment behind us.”

I was still looking at the alien and he winced at my mother’s words and I blushed, embarrassed. I looked over to the vid. My mother was looking off screen.

“Is that what you wanted me to—” My mother’s voice cut off and the vid image stopped.

“Now you have a taste of why we invaded Parson,” the alien told me.

I was about to protest when the vid beeped again.

“Don't answer my friend, my sister!” It was Bella's voice, no image, and she was scared. “We don't know if they are listening to the regular band or not, but you have to get out. They are treating everyone as enemy collaborators. They just cluster-mined our place, so we cannot leave until troops get here. I think Bobby is going to try anyway! Run Amanda, run before they get to you! Hurry, hurry...” There was a pause then, “Bobby no!” The signal was shut down. I found myself trembling in fear.

“You need to go, Amanda,” the alien told me. “I will stay and create a diversion since I owe you for saving me. I will also be arrested and be able to find my parents, they will have been taken by now.” Something about his gesture knocked the fear loose from my mind. I shook my head and moved over to my pack sweeping it up and heading back to the room he had been in.

“That won't work for you, Tulian,” I told him over my shoulder. I stuffed his things back in his bag and turned. He was standing in the doorway frowning. He had followed me.

“What do you mean?” he asked. I tossed him his possessions.

“Firstly, as of this evening over half of the Tulian population in Landing, Jordan, Brushen, and Contella got away. They were warned ahead of time. You parents very well may be free.” I walked past him as I said those words, into the kitchen, where I picked up a few more things I might need, we might need. At this point, I was untrusting of both the Federation and my parents, but not the Tulian. So he had to come with me.

“Okay, and the second reason? I still owe you,” he said. I shook my head.

“No you don't. What you owe me is to stay as safe as you can. Staying here will get you shot. It was strongly implied that we ought to shoot to kill any Tulians if given the chance, when they told us all legal restrictions on murdering Tulians had been removed. That was their mistake, I am beginning to think. Most of the homesteaders would have stayed out of the Federation’s way, but we don't take kindly to being invited to kill people.”

He looked shocked and followed me out of the kitchen and back into the front room. I looked out the window and everything seemed quiet so far. From what Bella had said, it sounded like I would be attacked soon. I was trying to think of a safe place to go, but I knew we were running out of time. I couldn't stop thinking of my mother and well as Bell's shout full of fear to her brother. Gods only knew what he had been doing. As usual in times of stress I just wanted to go find a place to be alone and... I began smiling slightly at the thought.