Star Crossed Lovers

Tucker opened up the sliding door to his room, and sure enough, Lien was waiting for him.

The crystal cooler on the floor.

The flash drive in one hand.

The gun in the other.

“It’s time to stop this, Lien,” Tucker said. “It’s over.”

“Of course it is, my love,” she said in a sweet tone. “I’ve gotten rid of the last person in our way.”

“I never thought you were capable of killing two people. They were our friends!”

“But babe, we killed Emma together. I saw that Jack wasn’t moving either.” She stood up and hugged him. “I know it’s a lot, but you’ll feel better when we land in China.”

Tucker pulled her off of him.

“I’m not going back to China with you,” he said firmly.

Lien was frozen in shock. “What?” she said softly.

“I mean…” Tucker swallowed hard, forcing his words out. He looked away. “I can’t stay with you in China.”

“What? Oh my love, this is not the time for jokes.”

“I’m not joking!... I-I don’t love you… not anymore.”

Lien’s eyes grew wide. They started to tear up. “What the hell are you talking about?” she said in a trembling voice. “You… I… our love is what keeps us together!”

“No… I loved you. The fake you. The one who could never hurt a fly.”

“When you hid the fact you were a bandit from me, I didn’t change the way I felt about you! But when it comes to me, it’s different? Is that it?” said Lien as tears fell from her face.

“I’m not talking about our past! I’m talking about what happened today! I did what I had to. You took the opportunity. We are not the same.”

Lien started to cry uncontrollably. She put her hand on her stomach. “But… we’re a family.”

Tucker’s heart leapt into his throat. He did his best to swallow his feelings. “No… we’re just star-crossed lovers… when we land, wherever we go… I will be there for you. But not as your husband. I can’t be with someone who loves killing. Who wants to keep killing? I can’t live with someone like that.”

Lien cried into her hands, almost dropping the gun. Tears started to flow from Tucker’s face. For a moment, it was nothing but silence and their tears.

Then Lien began to chuckle. It started slow, and then it got louder and louder and louder. The way she did before. It grew more manic by the second.

Tucker sighed. “Lien… who are you?”

Lien drew the gun on him. Tucker instantly put up his hands.

“What the hell are you doing?” asked Tucker. “Was there any part of you that was real?”

“That doesn’t matter!” she said manically. “I did what I had to! For my country! For you! For us! For me… and I will get my happy ending… I earned it!”

“So now what?”

“When we land, I’ll have them lock you up so you can never leave. You will never leave me! Once I bring them this crystal, I’ll get anything I want. Including you.”

“That’s insane! You can’t just-”

“-Yes I can! Yes… I… can! I can do what I want. And right now, I want you.”

“Me?”

Lien moved toward him with her gun still drawn. Tucker backed up until his back was against the wall. She walked up to him and touched his pants.

“Hey!” yelled Tucker. “Stop!”

Lien pressed the gun to his temple and cocked it. “Shut up!” she said. “You love me! You do! You… you just forgot! I’ll make you remember!” She reached into his pants and grabbed him. “And we’re not leaving for Earth until you do.”

SHINK! The door slid open and startled both of them.

Standing in the doorway was Victor. One hand behind his back and the other leaning on the doorway. He was breathing hard. His wound closed up through a burn scar.

Lien let go of Tucker and pointed her gun at him.

“What the hell?!” she said, the gun trembling in her hand. “I-I killed you!”

“This is what you two were up to… how fun,” said Victor. “And you were worried about me, Tuck. Just as a tip: you should probably make sure someone is dead first.”

“What are you going to do about it?” asked Lien. “I’m in control here!”

“You know what’s interesting? You can cauterize with a battery and some cables. And when you add the crystal,” he revealed a small battery from the lab behind his back, “it makes a great bomb.”

“You don’t have the crystal,” said Tucker. “She does.”

“Oh, I don’t need the whole thing.” He pulled a small shard crystal from his pocket and added it. The whole thing started to glow. “I just needed a small piece.”

Victor tossed it at them and then ran for cover.

Tucker instinctively dove for Lien.

The whole thing exploded, and her room was filled with the power of the sun.

***

Tucker woke up under rubble. He coughed hard and pushed off the burnt mattress from him.

His eyes scanned the room. Everything was in ruin. The crystal, the notes, and the gun were all gone.

And then—

His breath caught in his throat.

Lien was slumped against the wall.

Bleeding. A shard of metal sticking her to the wall. Her hands clutched her abdomen.

Blood trickled from her mouth. Her eyes flickered weakly. Tucker rushed to her side.

“Lien? Lien!” His voice cracked. “Speak to me!”

She tried, but choked.

Too much blood. She coughed. Spat red. Tucker’s hands pressed against her stomach.

She winced, trembling.

Tears welled in her eyes. Tucker’s vision blurred. He pulled her close. Held her tight.

She mumbled something soft. Something he couldn’t make out.

Tucker shook his head.

“No. No, everything’s gonna be fine. We’re gonna get you patched up!” he said.

He pulled out the shard from her body and her blood started to pour. He scooped her up and she groaned weakly.

Blood dripped onto his suit.

Then she went limp.

Tucker’s heart lurched.

He ran out the room.

Tucker took the steps two at a time up to the next floor where the med bay was. His breath ragged.

“Don’t worry, I got you!”

Lien’s head lolled against his chest.

Then at the top of the stairs Tucker froze.

Victor was waiting. Gun raised. Pointed right at him.

In his other hand—

The container with the crystal inside.

Victor grinned.

“Hey there, ‘partner.’” Victor said.

Tucker’s grip tightened around Lien.

His voice was low. Dangerous.

“Victor… you need to move. I don’t have time for—”

Victor tilted his head. “I thought we were in this together.” His tone was light, almost amused. “But obviously, I wasn’t the only alliance you had.”

Tucker’s jaw clenched. “Victor. Don’t do this. We had a deal.”

Victor’s smile curled. “Had.”

Tucker’s breath hitched.

His eyes flicked to Lien’s pale face.

“Please! She’s pregnant! I still might be able to save it! To do something!” begged Tucker.

Victor’s expression didn’t change. “I see…” said Victor. “That’s too bad. No one wants to lose a child… That’s why I can’t make any mistakes. I have two kids who are waiting for their brother to come back and save them.”

BANG! The gun roared.

Tucker felt a hammer blow through him. He and Lien toppled backward—

Tumbling down the stairs. His body slammed into the metal steps, hard. Everything spun.

He hit the ground with a sickening thud. Pain exploded through his ribs.

A moment of nothingness.

Then Tucker felt a slow spreading warmth come around his back. Something wet pooling beneath him. His vision blurred. He tried to move.

But his limbs wouldn’t listen.

Victor stood at the top of the stairs looking down at them.

A smirk grew on his face as he studied the blood pooling around them.

Then he turned and walked away.