The Discovery (The Nexus Series Book 4) by Shane Shepherd

Author:Shane Shepherd [Shepherd, Shane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-12-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Kevin

Alaska

Mary, the kids, and I are all gathered together in front of the wood stove in the rustic cottage we had broken into hours before. With her targeting optic and the thermal scope on her rifle, Private Kells keeps watch at the front window. The alien pulse weapon is leaning on the wall next to her. The scanner is sitting on a couch, turned off to conserve power, but I know that touching it would turn it on.

“About six hours have gone by,” I say as I glance at the private. “I think you should relax a little.”

Kells glances aside, picks up the alien scanner, and inspects the resulting holographic map. I see five yellow blips inside the cabin, one for each of us, but there are no green alien blips. That chart is so accurate, even at night, that it practically makes the landscape around you look like a picture.

After a long sigh, Private Kells sits down on the floor with her back to the window and the main door. She balances the alien scanner in her lap, using it to keep watch.

“What do we do now?” Mary asks.

I see my son and daughter looking to me for guidance rather than the soldier. With a soft smile on my face, I hug Femy.

“We should spend the night here,” I say. “Get some rest and continue tomorrow.”

“If they come while we’re asleep, then what?” Mary retorts. “At the Air Force base, they were obviously going after you.”

“Really?” My mind considers the possibility.

“We’re waiting for more instructions,” Kells says. “For the time being, we will hold steady.”

“So, there are no orders yet?” Mary asks. “Why don’t you call back and double-check? “

Kells shakes her head. “We just wait.”

Embers fly everywhere when the wood in the stove cracks. The rafters shake as the wind howled outside.

“Mommy,” Rory mumbles.

“Yes, honey?”

“What exactly are aliens?”

Mary stays silent for a while. “They’re really just humans from another planet.”

“Like Mars?”

“Yes, but Mars doesn’t have aliens.”

“Why do you think that?” Rory says, insistent. “What if they went into hiding?”

“Stupid,” Femy mumbles. “They have nowhere to go. Mars doesn’t even have trees.”

“They could hide underground,” Rory counters

Femy scowls. “Stupid.”

“You are the stupid one!” Rory hisses.

“Keep quiet!” Mary snaps, and Femy mumbles something. “I’m talking to both of you. Nobody is stupid.”

“They’re not from Mars,” I say softly. “And I’ve gone to Mars. I’ve never seen anything that wasn’t originally from Earth call that place home. On the other hand, we certainly would have spotted their spaceship loitering nearby. Besides, we found them in cryo hibernation. If they were travelling such a short distance, there wouldn’t be a need for it.”

“What is cryo?” Rory inquires.

I smile and do my best to explain the technology to her. It takes some time to get through all of the kid’s questions. Femy goes to sit in the armchair near the entrance so he can put his feet up on the ottoman, and Rory climbs up onto my lap. In little to no time, both kids are sound asleep, and Mary’s eyelids begin to droop.

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