The halfling stepped back, and Giga approached Riff next. The android stared at him hesitantly; she seemed unsure of herself, awkward, embarrassed. Riff remembered their kiss, remembered holding her close as fire burned around them.
He pulled her close again, embracing the android. He whispered into her ear, "I'm back, Giga."
She held him tightly, and he felt her android tears on his shoulder. "Welcome back, sir. I waited for you." She sniffed and gave him a salute. "I'm yours, my captain. Always."
Riff stepped deeper into the main deck and came to stand before his brother.
Steel Starfire, the noble knight, stared back at him, tall and strong and proud as always. The knight stroked his drooping mustache, his pride and joy.
"Welcome back, brother," Steel said, chin raised. "You performed admirably. You—"
"Oh shut it, you big tinman." He pulled Steel into his arms and squeezed him.
Steel stiffened for a moment, then relaxed and hugged Riff back. "Welcome back, brother," the knight said again, and this time his voice was soft and warm.
Finally Riff turned toward the last member of his crew. To Nova.
"You look awful," the ashai said.
He looked at her. As always, she wore her golden gladiator suit, the material as strong as any armor. Her whip hung at her side, coiled up. Her pointed ears thrust out from her mane of blond hair, and her green eyes stared at him with humor, mockery, and love.
He pulled her into his arms and he kissed her. He kissed her like he'd never kissed her before, not caring that the others saw. He never wanted to let her go.
"I love you, Nova," he whispered. "I love you and I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the man that I was." He touched her cheek. "Do you forgive me?"
She sighed, rolled her eyes, then grinned and pinched his cheek. "You did well today, Riff. Consider yourself redeemed." She raised her fist. "For now! Don't you screw up again, or I'm going to bash you more than an army of skelkrins and cyborgs."
Romy hopped up toward them, grabbed Riff's arm, and tugged. "Riffff . . . come on and play with me! I have the counter-squares pieces all set up. The poodle's right in the middle. Come on!"
He sighed but let the demon tug him over. She wagged her tail and made a move on the board. Her poodle captured his dragon and she squealed with joy.
* * * * *
Steel stood in the Dragon's crew quarters between the bunk beds. He stared out the porthole at the mechanics floating around the ship, welding and patching and painting.
The other Alien Hunters were on the main deck, laughing and hooting around a rousing game of counter-squares. But Steel had never cared much for games, for social gatherings, for noise or laughter or fun. He stared down at the planet below, thinking of the planet he had left behind—of Earth, of the home he had vowed to defend. And he wondered if he even still had a home there.
I saved the world, he thought. I slew Skrum, the warlord who would have destroyed Earth like he destroyed Midnight's home. Yet when I return to Earth, what awaits me there?
His throat tightened. The Knights of Sol had banished him. The Cosmians had destroyed his castle. His mother was dead, his father missing. He had no wife, no children, no friends but for his horse and sword. He would return to Earth, its savior . . . only for nobody to know, nobody to care, nobody to believe him. He would be like he had been, a relic, an outcast.
He lowered his head.
A voice rose behind him.
"Howdy, partner."
He spun around. He saw Nova standing in the doorway, smiling softly.
"Hello," he said.
She stepped into the chamber and stood with him between the bunks. She looked through the porthole down at Planet Cirona.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Nova said.
Steel nodded. "A pristine world. A world like Earth was thousands of years ago. Perhaps . . . perhaps a world more suited for a rusty old relic like me."
She turned back toward him. "You're not a relic. I'm sorry, Steel. I'm sorry I always called you that."
He took her hand in his. She was a proud warrior, a great gladiator, a slayer of many enemies, yet her hand felt so soft, so small in his.
"And I'm sorry too." He bowed his head. "I always scorned you. Belittled you. I am ashamed."
Nova bit her lip, then squeezed his hand and grinned. "We sure killed a lot of skelkrins together, didn't we?"
A smile tingled below his mustache. "I believe we're more or less even."
"Even?" She gasped and playfully slapped his chest. "I killed way more!"
"We killed them together." Now his smile widened. It was a real smile, a good smile. And he felt young. "We make a good pair of warriors."
She nodded. "We do, Steel." Her voice softened. "We do. Stay with us here. Stay with me. I need another warrior on this ship. I need another friend."
They stood together, staring out the window at the green world below.
CHAPTER THIRTY:
THE TRAVELER
The mechanics' shuttle was heading back to the planet, their work completed, when Riff saw a new vessel approach.
He still stood in the main deck, gazing out the window. Romy was passed out on the couch, snoring. Piston and Twig had returned to the engine room, where they were performing last repairs and calibrations of their own. Giga and Nova were both on the bridge. Only Steel and Midnight stood here with Riff when he saw the flying saucer outside.
"Look!" He pointed.
Steel and Midnight came to stand at his side. They gazed out with wide eyes.
The vessel was unlike any Riff had ever seen. It was deep blue, limned with light, spinning toward them. A dome rose upon its crest like a cockpit, glowing golden.
Riff frowned and spoke into his communicator. "Giga, can you hail the incoming vessel?"
Her voice rose through the speaker. "Captain? The mechanic vessel is leaving, not incoming."
"The saucer," Riff said. "The blue one."
"Cannot compute, Captain. No other vessel is in range."
Riff rubbed his eyes and stared outside again. He could definitely see the flying saucer there. When he turned toward Steel and Midnight, he knew they saw it too; they were gaping as if disbelieving.
A few meters away from the Dragon Huntress, the saucer halted its flight. A covered walkway stretched out from it, connecting with the Dragon.
The airlock on the main deck began to open.
Riff hissed and drew his gun. "We're being boarded."
Steel frowned and drew his sword. Midnight let qi gather in her palms.
The airlock door swung open.
"Hello, hello!" rose a voice. "Oh, nice place you've got here. A couch! I love couches. Counter-squares! Love that game." Light flowed around the figure, revealing only a silhouette. "What are you doing with your weapons drawn? Is that any way to welcome a guest?"
Riff knew that voice. He lowered his gun, barely able to breathe. Steel gasped and lowered his sword.
The figure closed the hatch, sealing the light outside.
Riff gasped.
It was him.
"Dad!" he shouted.
"Father!" Steel cried.
Midnight covered her mouth, eyes wide.
The old man nodded and stepped deeper into the main deck, holding a wooden walking staff. The magician wore his long white robes, and his white beard was just as long and flowing. A pointed hat rested on his head. He looked around, nodding. "Just needs a good vacuuming. Too bad there's no motor in that vacuum cleaner over there."
Riff raced forward and embraced the old man. "Dad! What are you doing here?"
Steel joined them, seeming unable to speak, too overcome for words.
Old Aminor looked at them and laughed. "I've come to visit my boys! So shocked that your old man should stop by?" He snorted. "You two never learned any hospitality. Now shove aside! Move!"
The magician elbowed his way between them, approached Midnight, and turned solemn. The old man took her lavender hand and lowered his he
ad.
"Forgive me, Midnight," he said softly. "I should never have left you. I know how much you suffered, my child." His eyes brightened. "But I see you found my sons after all."
She hugged him, and tears flowed from her eyes. "Dear Traveler. Thank you."
"Dad!" Riff said. "What . . . what is this 'Traveler' talk? Where have you been all this time?"
Aminor squared his shoulders and rapped Riff with his staff. "I was off on an adventure! Not that it's any of your business. I was seeking a new home for our lovely lady here." He turned back toward Midnight, and once more his voice softened. "It lies very near, yet very far. Only a few kilometers away, yet many dimensions away. A new world, Midnight. A world where others of your kind have sought shelter. A world where the skelkrins can never reach you." He reached out his hand. "If you take my hand, child, I will take you there."
She trembled, crying softly. "There are . . . other pirilians? Others who survived?"
Aminor nodded. "A few, child. I managed to save a few. They wait for you now. Wait for you beyond the stars, beyond the dimensions, a place where no enemy can reach you. Will you come with me now?" Suddenly the old man's eyes gleamed with his own tears. "I'm sorry, Midnight, that I could not save your world. The pain of that tragedy will forever fill me. But if you will travel with me, I will take you to a new world. A new beginning."
She sniffed and nodded, unable to speak. She took his hand. They walked together toward the airlock.
"Wait!" Steel said. The knight's voice was hoarse. "Midnight! Wait."
He stepped toward her and knelt.
Midnight gently released Aminor's hand and turned toward the knight.
"My sweet knight," she whispered. "My savior. My hero."
Tears flowed down Steel's gaunt cheeks and into his mustache. He took her hand in his and kissed it. "My lady."
She kissed Steel's forehead, smiled warmly, and needed to say no more.
"Goodbye, Riff," she whispered, turning to look at him.
Riff stared, not sure what to say, what to do, how to feel. He stepped toward her, and he too kissed her hand. "Goodbye, Midnight. Will we ever see you again?"
She turned to look at Aminor, her eyes questioning, then back at Riff. She nodded. "I'm sure of it." She kissed his cheek. "Until we meet again."
Aminor smiled, wiped his eyes, and escorted Midnight to the doorway. She stepped into the light, heading toward the flying saucer, vanishing in its glow.
"Dad, wait!" Riff said. "Don't . . . don't go. Not yet." His voice caught in his throat. "There's so much I don't understand."
Aminor stood at the doorway between the two vessels, between space and light. The old man looked around the deck, looked at his sons, and nodded.
"I'm proud of you, my sons. Last time I saw you, you were both languishing away. You were both lost. I've seen you grow. I've seen you become heroes." He winked. "Keep being heroes, my sons. This is where you belong. I will always be proud of you. I will always love you."
The old man tipped his hat.
With that, Aminor turned and left the Dragon Huntress, closing the door behind him.
"Dad!" Riff cried. "Wait!"
Yet before he could open the door again, Riff heard the saucer detach. He turned toward the porthole to see the strange, glowing vessel fly farther away, spin, and vanish with a gleam of light.
Steel came to stand beside him. He inhaled deeply. "He's off to another dimension, I suppose."
Riff nodded. "Off on another adventure we'll probably never hear anything about."
"And Midnight goes with him." Steel lowered his head. "I will miss her."
Riff stretched and yawned. "I miss sleeping. And eating. And taking long showers. Did Piston fix the shower yet?" He sighed. "I suppose our own adventure is over, brother. For now. We saved Cirona. We saved Midnight. We probably saved Earth and the rest of the cosmos."
Yet even as he spoke those words, a chill filled him. He remembered Emperor Lore's hologram emerging from Grotter's corpse, remembered the skelkrin threatening to attack again. There was still evil out there. There were still aliens who wanted to hunt him.
There was still work to do.
He patted Steel's shoulder. "Come on, brother. Let's go look for something to eat."
* * * * *
With a belly full of Cironan fruit and bread, Riff left the kitchen and stepped back onto the bridge. Steel came with him, clad as always in his armor, his sword at his side.
"Konnichiwa!" Giga greeted Riff with a salute. "Welcome back to your bridge, Captain."
Nova was already in her seat, facing the repaired windshield—or, as Giga would no doubt call it, the front fused silica viewport pane. The bobbleheads were now bolted onto the dashboard, ready to withstand any bump on the road. Riff sank into his captain's seat, and Steel sat at his right-hand side. Planet Cirona rotated slowly below.
"Well," Riff said. "I suppose we . . . have lives to get back to." He looked at Steel. "A castle to rebuild." He glanced at Nova. "The Alien Arena to compete in. The Blue Strings to play in."
Yet his words tasted stale in his mouth. The others stared at him, silent, saying nothing. Steel bowed his head.
Somehow, after everything they had lived through, Earth itself seemed a little stale.
"Captain!" Twig's voice rose from behind, and she raced onto the bridge, holding a sheaf of papers. "Captain, a whole slew of work orders just came in! Turns out worlds for light-years around heard about how we saved Cirona. They want to hire us, Captain!" Twig's eyes shone. "What do we do? Where do we go next?"
She paused, panting. Her trusted wrench hung from her tool belt again.
Riff glanced at Steel, then at Nova. "Or . . ." he said, ". . . we can take one more job. Or two. Just to make enough money so I can buy my guitar back. And maybe then a little more."
Steel nodded. "We are, after all, the Alien Hunters."
Riff took a deep breath and rose to his feet. He walked toward the windshield. "Twig, what's the nearest star that needs us?"
The halfling shuffled through the papers. "That would be . . . Alpha Draconis, sir. In the Draco constellation. Says here they're having a devil of a time with a . . . oh stars. Not a snot-monster!"
Riff smiled thinly and turned toward Giga. "Giga, chart a course to Alpha Draconis please. Hyperdrive engines should be back up and running. And . . . don't fly us there too fast. I think we all need some time to relax on the way."
The android smiled and raised her chin. "Happy to comply, Captain. Nice and easy pace."
The engines revved up, purring like comfortable cats.
With a blast of light, the HMS Dragon Huntress shot into deep space, heading toward the stars.
The story continues in . . .
ALIEN SKY
Alien Hunters, Book Two
Grab it here!
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AFTERWORD
Thank you for reading Alien Hunters. I hope you enjoyed this book.
The sequel is titled Alien Sky. Click here to grab your copy or search your favorite ebook store for "Alien Sky."
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Thank you again, dear reader, and I hope we meet again between the pages of another book.
Daniel
NOVELS BY DANIEL ARENSON
ALIEN HUNTERS
Alien Hunters
Alien Sky
Alien Shadows
THE MOTH SAGA
Moth
Empires of Moth
Secrets of Moth
Daughter of Moth
Shadows of Moth
Legacy of Moth
REQUIEM
Dawn
of Dragons Requiem's Song
Requiem's Hope
Requiem's Prayer
The Complete Trilogy
Song of Dragons Blood of Requiem
Tears of Requiem
Light of Requiem
The Complete Trilogy
Dragonlore A Dawn of Dragonfire
A Day of Dragon Blood
A Night of Dragon Wings
The Complete Trilogy
The Dragon War A Legacy of Light
A Birthright of Blood
A Memory of Fire
The Complete Trilogy
Requiem for Dragons Dragons Lost
Dragons Reborn
Dragons Rising
The Complete Trilogy
OTHER WORLDS
Eye of the Wizard
Wand of the Witch
Firefly Island
The Gods of Dream
Flaming Dove
KEEP IN TOUCH
www.DanielArenson.com
[email protected]
Facebook.com/DanielArenson
Twitter.com/DanielArenson
Alien Hunters_Discover Sci-Fi Special Edition Page 21
