The Six-Gun Solution (TimeWars 12)
“Oh, God,” she said, her voice barely audible. “How can you say that?”
“Because it’s true, I love you.”
She pulled away from him. “Scott… there are things about me… things you don’t know. And if you knew, you’d hate me.”
“I could never hate you, Jenny. I know what kind of life you’ve led. It makes no difference to me.”
“I wasn’t talking about that,” she said, not looking at him.”There are things, she bit her lower lip. “Oh. Scott, if you really knew the truth about me, you’d want to kill me.”
He stared at her, astonished. “How can you say that? That’s crazy! What could you possibly have done-”
“It isn’t anything I’ve done,” she said. “Well, yes, it is, but it’s also what I am. If you knew…” She got down on her knees before him and took his hands, holding them tightly. looking up at him with fear and confusion. “If I tell you the truth, I know I’ll lose you. You’ll hate me and you’ll want to kill me. but even if you do. I don’t care anymore. I just don’t want anything to happen to you. You have to leave. Scott. You have to leave Tombstone as quickly as you can and go back where you came from, before it’s too late!”
“Jenny, what are you talking about?”
“Scott… before I tell you… kiss me. Please, kiss me one last time.”
“Jenny…
“Just do it. Scott. Please.”
He kissed her. She clung to him with desperation and he could taste the saltiness of her tears.
“Oh, God, I love you, Scott,” she said. “I don’t care if it’s not possible. I know I love you. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.”
“I love you too, Jen,” he replied, bewildered
She shook her head and placed her forefinger up against his lips. “Maybe you think you do.” she said. “But you can’t You mustn’t.”
“Why?”
She stared at him with fear in her eyes. “Because…” she swallowed hard and took a deep breath. “Because I’m not human. Scott.”
“What?”
I’m not a real woman. I only look like one. And. God help me, somehow I feel like one, too, but I’m not a human being. I wasn’t born. I was created. The Master made me in a laboratory.”
Scott simply stared at her, speechless with astonishment.
“I know he’s your enemy, she continued, “I know who you really are. I know you’re from the future. I know why you’re here. And no matter what you do to me. you will go back. Please, you must go back before it’s too late!”
Suddenly, comprehension dawned. “My God.” said Scott. He felt as if he’d been punched in the stomach. “You’re one of Drakov’s hominoids.”
She nodded, staring at him, her face streaked with tears, her eyes wide with fear.
“He said love is only for humans,” she whispered, “and that what I feel toward you isn’t really love, and that you couldn’t possible love me if you knew what I really was. An imitation of a human being. He said you’d kill me, but I don’t care! I don’t want to live like this! It hurts! It hurts too much. If I can’t be human, then I just don’t want to be!”
“Jesus Christ.” said Scott. He reached out for her and she cringed. “That bastard. That lousy bastard. What’s he done to you?”
He put his arms around her and she became very still, as if afraid to move, afraid to breathe.
“You poor girl.” he said, stroking her long blonde hair. His own eyes were misty. “Jesus, it must have been awful for you.”
“I… I don’t understand…” she said in a small frightened voice.
Scott held her away from him, so he could look into her eyes. “He had you believing you weren’t human?”
She stared at him with incomprehension.