Page 27 of Ancient Rising

Chapter Six

Harwin stretched andsaw the blinking light hidden in a gemstone in the wall.She showered and then let the bots dress her.She was used to the pounds of gold that Ra put on her.It didn’t feel as heavy as it had been.

She walked down to where the team was still working to catalogue the artifacts Ra had given them for their collection.Ra was next to the professor, and he smiled.“Looking lovely, my queen.”

“Thank you, Overlord Ra.”She inclined her head, and he walked over to crown her as he did every day.

“We are expecting guests, but raiders are chasing them, so I will have to leave you alone for a time.”

“I can come with you.”

“No.You will remain on the ground with the team.”

“Yes, Overlord.I will not allow any unauthorized vessels into the area.”

He sighed.“Stay here and be safe.”

“No, but I will stand outside and defend my home.I know the configuration of the raider ships, so I won’t take others down.”

“Good.It is the experiments arriving today.They will stay here until the city completes its supply protocols.”

“Right.When are the others arriving?”

“They are entering the atmosphere.”

Harwin sighed and grabbed a human ration bar from the supply bins that the team had.They didn’t sit great in her stomach anymore, but it was better than nothing.

He tutted.“You can stay inside and be safe.”

“Nope.I am watching them come.They are mine, and I invited them here.I will not be the kind of person who cowers inside.”She mumbled it around the ration bar.A bot brought her water.

Ra bent to kiss her and then nodded.“Fine.You cannot leave the entry walkway.”

“Yes, Overlord.”

He chuckled and offered his hand.They walked out into the sun together where he kissed her and then stepped back and launched skyward.

She watched the golden gleam of him, only slightly trying to look up his wrap as he gained altitude.The sparkle of the incoming shuttle made her smile, and he shot right past it.So, that was not the target.The gleam of five other vessels came toward the shuttle, and a sudden explosion struck, and there were four.

The debris rained on the sand.