”“Get down,” Kayla screamed even as she hit the ground with her rifle already sweeping the area where she had seen the shimmers. Her pulses, bar...ly seen at first, were quickly visible as the powerful energy smashed into the dirt and rock walls creating clouds of dust and debris. The blue beams of the enemy’s hand weapons stood out and made target identification much easier. In addition to the sound of Kayla’s pulse rifle firing, was the reports of the First Officer’s sidearm adding to the den.. “You must be Hilli, Truna, Galh,” I began. “I’m Kiria. My Dad is a friend of your Mum. This is Torun,” I added, pointing at her.“Hi,” Torun said brightly, each of us being careful as we didn’t know if the kids knew yet of the fate of their parents.“Are you Ground Force?” Hilli asked.“Yes. The aliens are gone and we’re sorting out the mess they left.”“Mum, Dad?” he asked, tears falling as I realised, he knew.“I’m afraid they fell, but took out the alien pursuing you,” I explained as the two. I dare to look up into your face, swallowing a sob, as I wriggle to make the skirt drop to my feet. You are smiling warmly at me as you say, “And the shirt Kathy.” It’s almost a blur from there to finding myself kneeling on the floor beside your seat wearing only my underwear. But I am fully conscious of you holding my chin gently with your finger and thumb and asking me to agree that it is much nicer now that I am in my place. That we know where we are. That, now, we can relax and chat. After. ‘You’re not a whore, you’re a slut.’ ‘You think I’m a slut?’ she asked with feigned indignation. He looked in the mirror, saw her grinning. ‘You’re my hot, sexy, slut,’ he told her, ‘and I am your lucky husband.’ He felt her hand touch his head, playing in his hair, and he smiled. Nothing could ruin his mood, he thought. Liz flashed another few cars as they passed, until Tom noticed an eighteen-wheeler approaching from the distance. ‘Hey, Liz,’ he called to her as she blew a kiss to an older.