Alpha Centauri

Eighteen - Nizami

 I hold on tight to the ladder and Julian as we slowly make our ascent. I can tell Jaden is rolling her eyes above us. It's almost comforting to have Julian here. And I hate it. I don't care that I'm on a new planet. I was trained to be fearless.

Jaden reaches the top and urges us to hurry up. I scale the ladder and duck behind the brick wall around the edge of the roof between the twins. Jaden motions for us to stay low while she peeks over the edge. I see her grin and motion for Julian and me to look as well.

Three cops are standing below the ladder, panting from the chase. Two German Shepherds accompany them, sniffing every inch of the alley.

"I just don't understand," one of them says, scratching the back of his balding head. "It's like they don't have a scent. There's absolutely nothing."

"C'mon," another says. "We'll report it and put up fliers. They can't have just disappeared."

The police empty the alley, the dogs at their heels.

"Bastards," Jaden laughs.

"Now we're on the grid," Julian sighs.

"So, what exactly happened with Nathan's mom?" Jaden asks.

Julian doesn't meet her eyes. "I was in the kitchen of the restaurant, and I had one of the aliens cornered. I heard someone behind me, so I threw them against the wall, thinking it was another alien. But... it was Nathan's mom."

"Did you..." Jaden doesn't need to finish the question, because they all know how it's going to end.

"I... I don't know. I... I didn't realize she wasn't an attacker."

I listen to the breeze sweeping through the tops of each building. No one speaks. I wipe off the ladder rust that has rubbed off on my hands.

Julian speaks again. "Nathan's mom said she heard her alien employee speaking with one of the customers, who was also an alien."

"Well, dammit, Julian, don't leave us in suspense!" Jaden exclaims.

Julian tells Jaden and me about his conversation with Nathan's foster mother.

"Well, that just made my day," Jaden mutters.

"You two do realize that now we're being hunted by aliens and the law enforcement," I say impatiently.

"Dude, you're not making this any better," Jaden complains.

"I was not trying to," I retort.

"So, what do we do now?" Julian wonders.

"I'm contacting Nathan," I say.

I tune in with Nathan.

But I hear only silence on the other end.