Date: June 4, 2440 Time: 9:00 AM CST
“I did not expect to have my breakfast made by a High Lord of the V’ren,” L’tani said as Matt climbed into his seat. Even at 9:00 a.m., the black leather under her thighs was uncomfortably warm. This vehicle, she knew, was not made for farm work. She wasn’t sure what “Carrera” meant, but the lines suggested it was synonymous with fast.
“Stop. We’re alone. I need normal,” Matt said, shifting his newest toy into gear. He rolled onto the blacktop and told the AI to find him a long, empty stretch of road as he wound the speedometer south toward the lake.
Three and a half minutes and 10.6 miles later, at a dead intersection at Lamine Crossing, Matt stopped the car.
“Hang on!” he grinned, throwing it into a donut. He didn’t care about the tires—he was richer than God. When the car slid back into alignment, he eased off the brake, hands ready to correct, then floored it again.
He let the AI take over as he shifted the transmission into auto-mode. For a second, he thought about sliding his hand from her knee to her thigh—but shoved the thought aside. Not now.
He glanced at the green woman beside him. No signs of motion sickness—just delight. She laughed behind a wall of AC/DC, looking alive in the rush. He smiled. He wondered if he should do it again.
“All right, Matthew,” she said, turning down the music as the wind noise dropped. “Where are we going?”
“We’re picking up a present for K’rem. And visiting my lake house.”
“How many houses do you have?”
“You mean privately, or through the trust? Standalone homes or any property I could sleep in?”
“Do you even know?” she asked. She wasn’t keeping score—she didn’t care if he had five houses or fifty. What mattered was how he made her feel—like gravity had shifted.
“Of course I do. I’m a logistics magnate. I have four in my name—two houses, two condos—plus a primitive cabin in Colorado. Six more buildable spots. Twenty-four others I could live in across the globe.”
“We?”
“You didn’t think I’d leave you behind, did you? You can stay in Missouri if you like. But I want you with me. Your genetics work is excellent.”
L’tani flushed at the compliment. Professionally, it meant everything. Personally, it wasn’t the line she wanted. But she nodded.
They drove in silence for a bit—until an abrupt “ID, please” at a checkpoint jarred them back.
Matt whispered into his watch.
“Purpose in Versailles?”
“Picking up a truck. Visiting my cousin. Stopping for lunch.”
“You own a lake house?”
Matt gestured at the car. “I’m driving a brand-new Porsche with a hot-as-fuck alien girl riding shotgun. You think I don’t own a lake house? You want to explain to Dale Evans why I’m not tipping at Bee’s Knees?”
“Okay, okay,” the guard said, backing off. “Enjoy your lunch.”
“They didn’t seem impressed,” L’tani noted.
“The feeling’s mutual,” Matt muttered. “I should’ve bought this town years ago.”
“What if they’d said no?”
“I’d have gone around. Or shot someone. Depending.”
She blinked.
“Don’t worry. I’d rather not. But I own every freight and import channel they use. If Evans plays games, I’ll teach them a lesson—without violence if possible.”
“You knew the guard was new?”
“His accent. From Denver. That means he came up through Memphis. Most of those people come through my freight lanes. I sent his picture to the network.”
“I’ve heard bad things about Memphis.”
“I agree. But I can’t hit them with V’ren. That’ll make me the villain. I’ll find humans to help. It’s the same war that killed my sister.”
They crested a ridge. Matt pointed out strange creatures grazing below.
“Wallabies,” he said. “Like the zebras and roos, they’re a nuisance now. Exotics gone wild. We’ll have to start culling again if I push farms further south.”
“Do they taste good?”
“Oh, I love you,” he laughed, slipping his arm over her shoulder.
“Play me music,” she grinned. He tapped something onto the screen, handed her the visual. She picked “Uptown Funk.” He didn’t object.
They arrived at a modest house. Matt hugged a petite woman and spun her around.
“This is L’tani,” he said. “My cousin, Kelly. Don’t worry—you don’t need to swing her.”
“I’m the disreputable cousin,” Kelly said, “got pregnant at thirteen, let the girl go blind—according to family gossip.”
“I’m the alien sister everyone thinks is seducing him,” L’tani offered.
“So which is it?” Kelly grinned.
“This is why I give concerts, not press conferences,” Matt sighed.
“She’s inside,” Kelly said. “Trying to learn Into the Mystic.”
Matt grew serious. “We really did come for the truck—but also for Anna. The V’ren have techniques—ocular regeneration. L’tani’s a genetic doctor.”
“No false hope?” Kelly asked, scanning L’tani.
“I need to examine her. But I believe so. My mother thinks we can help.”
“Why didn’t you bring her mother?” Kelly asked.
“I was going to ask him the same,” L’tani said.
Matt shrugged. “Her mom wouldn’t have enjoyed donuts and AC/DC.”
“Oh, we’re gonna be friends,” Kelly said, hugging L’tani. “Let’s go meet my daughter.”
Inside, a girl sat quietly with a guitar.
“I heard you,” she said. “You stomp when you’re nervous.”
“Guilty,” Matt replied.
“There’s someone with you.”
Kelly stepped forward. “Anna, this is L’tani. She’s a V’ren. And a doctor.”
“Alien doctor,” Anna said slowly. “Is she here to poke me?”
“Only if you ask nicely,” L’tani said gently. “But I’m more of a cheek-swab girl.”
Anna smirked. “Well, that’s comforting.”
Matt stepped forward. “She might be able to help you see again. No promises. Just options.”
Anna tilted her head. “Can I touch her?”
L’tani knelt. “Of course. May I?”
Anna’s fingers skimmed her cheekbones, jaw, and ears. “You’re not human.”
“No. But close.”
“You’re taller than Matt.”
“Don’t tell him. He’s sensitive.”
Anna laughed. “I like you.”
“I like you too.”
“She can stay,” Anna said to her mom.
“Just like that?”
“She didn’t flinch.”
“I’m not afraid of you,” L’tani said. “But I am curious. Will you let me examine you? Later?”
“Yeah. No white coats.”
“How about leather jackets and guitar strings?” Matt asked.
Anna grinned. “Now we’re talking.”
“You can stay on the ship,” Matt added. “No one will bother you.”
“Can I stay with Lola?”
“Probably not. Kinsey Hart’s parents had an accident—she’s helping.”
“Can I talk to her?”
“Absolutely.”
“What’s the catch?”
“If we start now, it’s a 7–10 day stay. I won’t always be around. But L’tani and Angelina will.”
“So your girlfriends.”
“Angelina’s not my girlfriend,” Matt said.
“So we don’t have to do it today?”
“Nope. I just wanted you to meet L’tani. And I brought strings.”
“You know I have Prime, right?”
“Yeah, I pay for it, but—who ordered the case of vibrators? My accountants need to know which ledger to put that into.”
“Damn you,” Anna laughed as her E string broke.
Matt placed two packs into her shirt pocket. “Love you. These have extra E strings.”
“Quit trying to feel my tits,” she muttered.
“I hear handcuffs work on him,” she told L’tani.
“I think he might like that.”
“Probably does. I hear he’s dating two sisters. I look forward to really seeing you someday.”
L’tani glanced at Kelly. “I look forward to it too.”
