His eyes automatically wandered over to the steep drop down to the bay, and he reflexively touched the scar on his left arm. He shuddered. The first time he ever got stitches was because he was an idiot and thought it’d be fun to roll down that cliff. Mom had had to stitch him up herself without anesthesia. He still had nightmares about that pain every once in a while. He wasn’t afraid of heights before he pulled that stunt, but he was a little now. That’s what he got for trying to show off to his parents.
I told you that was a bad idea.
“Remind me to always listen to you when I act dumb.”
You should listen to me all the time then.
“Pfft. Whatever.”
Cameron looked away from the cliff and searched for the trailer. He had come here with Roen on resupply runs often, so he knew exactly where the trailer was parked. In fact, if he looked closely, he could see someone sitting on top of the silver bullet-shaped housing at the far back. Could that be Mom? It was getting dark, so he couldn’t quite make out the figures. Half of the sun was already submerged below the western edge of the ocean. He figured they might have about fifteen minutes before night fell.
“Come on,” he said, picking up the pace. “We’re almost there.”
“Wait,” Alex said, pulling back. “Enjoy the last few moments we have together.”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Once we’re back with our parents, it won’t be just us anymore. Maybe never again. After all, you’re staying here, and I’m leaving for South America.”
Those words cut through Cameron’s heart like a dagger. He held her hand and slowed his pace to a crawl as they walked the final couple of hundred meters to the trailer. He didn’t know how, but somehow, she had turned this moment of joy into a death walk.
Cameron, Alex will be under the protection of the Prophus. You will see her again. Sooner than you think.
“I can always visit,” he said.
She moved in close and wrapped an arm around his waist. Not sure what he was supposed to do next, Cameron hesitantly put his arm around her shoulder. Alex squeezed herself closer. They reached the end of the bridge and turned right into the lot, walking even slower. Every step toward his mother and Vladimir was one closer to them being torn apart. For a split second, he entertained the idea of running off.
Do not be stupid. No, too late. You are being stupid. Cut it out.
Alex stepped in front of him, forcing him to stop. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him on the mouth. At first, Cameron had no idea what to do. He froze as she moved herself close to him, her lips locked onto his in quiet, nervous desperation. He put his hands on her waist and squeezed. This was his first real kiss, and as far as he cared, the only thing in the world right now that mattered.
Be careful, Cameron. You are setting yourself up for a bad Greek tragedy.
The two of them seemed to have become one for what felt like an eternity. There he was, a hundred meters from reuniting with his family, and all he wanted to do was stay standing here for the rest of his life. For the rest of their lives. Now that he thought about it, he didn’t know if he could live without her. Panic set in.
Good grief. I do not suppose you would listen to any advice right now?
“Shut up and leave me alone, Tao.”
I kind of figured.
By the time they broke their embrace, the sun had fully set, and their lips were chapped. The only reason they even broke it at all was because a grimy, fuzz-ridden old man in suspenders was leaning against a trailer leering at them.
“Come on, we should go,” Cameron said reluctantly, moving toward the trailer again.
“There’s a way we can be together,” she said, planting her feet. “If I go with my father and you stay here, we might never see each other again, or it could be years before we’re together. Let’s go to the loyalty haven instead. We can be together right away. I can talk to them. We can work things out. Stay apart from this stupid war between the Holy Ones and the Prophus.”
Wait a minute. This sounds dangerous. I think we need to have a talk right now and reconsider a few things, Cameron.
“Can we talk about this later, Tao?”
The girl just told you to defect to the Genjix. Besides the fact that it is completely out of the question because they will kill you to get to me before you step foot into their base, do you think this is someone you really want to be with?
“Yes. Well. No. Well, I don’t know. I think she’s just confused. I know I sure the hell am. Oh forget it, let’s just go find Mom.”
That is another thing. I am no longer sure taking her to the safe house is a good idea. Maybe we should lead her to a safe hiding spot first. Something is really wrong here.
“Stop right there.” It was too late. The teens froze in place as two armed figures appeared out of the darkness. Cameron pulled Alex behind him.
“Let me see your hands,” the other figure said. Reluctantly, Cameron put his hands up as several lights from all around shone directly upon them.
“The Patels aren’t happy with the accommodations. What a surprise. I don’t care if he needs to turn sideways to enter his quarters. It’s a research vessel, not a cruise ship. You tell that pampered son of a bitch that if he isn’t happy with his quarters, he can jump off the ship.” Jill clicked over to the next channel. “Sorry about that. It’s my favorite hotel guests. Look, it’s all gone bad. Suspend transactions with all supply lines…”
The door to the trailer swung open, and Freeni popped her head in. “Perimeter breach. Two figures.”
Find Rin and make sure she is safe.
“I’ll have to get back to you, Hite.” She tore the comm piece off her ear and drew her pistol. She jumped out of silver bullet and, crouching, trailed after Freeni.
A second later, she heard Ohr shout out “stop right there” and saw the light he was shining at the clearing on the other side of the field. She huddled against the wall of the trailer and squinted at the two figures further up the gravel road. Her hopes flared when she saw them from afar, though she kept her excitement in check. Ever since the Keeper had told her that her son was alive and on his way, she had seen him everywhere she looked.
He is the right height for Cameron. The smaller figure matches Alexandra Mengsk.
They were the right size and didn’t look armored, but so did those other kids who were cutting across the grounds heading to the beach the other day, and that couple who wanted privacy the night before. Every time it hadn’t been Cameron, it had eaten Jill up a little more. It was all she could do to not head north looking for him.
This time, though, after Ohr shone the light and she saw Cameron’s face, a huge weight lifted off her. She took off running toward him, the flashlight in her hand dancing all over as she pumped her arms. Her patience had paid off. There was her boy, alive, standing right there. Hell, he looked better than they did. Thank God for Roen spending all those hours training him. Thank God for Tao guiding him. Thank God!
She barreled into him and wrapped her arms around her son. She cried from the sheer pain of her happiness. God, she could barely see right now. All her fears and anxieties washed away. The past few days had been tense. Tao had called in, and then nothing. Hite had reported the farmhouse was no longer there. Roen was alive and up against the IXTF. The Keeper had ordered a massive attack on a Genjix. The local news had a blurb about an assault at Cameron’s high school. All these grim things were happening all around her. She had despaired. However, her son was now here, and she had faith that everything was going to be all right.