He inhales deeply and looks back at Kelta, then up at me. "I can never have the one thing I want because I am like you, too dangerous for a female to touch."
Then he charges down a tunnel, spools up with a grinding whir, and bores away from us.
Redline is beside me in a flash. “He’s still upset, isn’t he?”
“Can’t say I blame him.” But he’s reminded me that even if I want Kelta, it isn’t safe for her to be with me.
Redline rests a warm hand on my shoulder. “You just need to cool yourself before touching others. That means waiting. Trust me, I have experience with Aniah. Fury has really had to work on it with Keanna. I just learned what speed is safe for Aniah. You will learn which engines to turn off.”
“I don’t think there’s a safe speed for Drillbit.”
Redline tilts his head, then nods. "I suppose you're right."
He picks Kelta up. “Come. You need a charge, and she needs Rebel’s help.”
“I should continue the patrol,” I say. “Where is the next access?”
“Commander wants your report first. He wants to know where this female is from.”
This female…I don’t like the way it sounds. “She’s m—”
I think twice as Redline looks over at me.
I haven’t claimed her. She hasn’t chosen me. She’s not yet what I want her to be.
“She’s what?” he asks.
“Maladapted to terran environments. Lived in space.”
Redline’s eyes fill with worry. “Then her heart isn’t used to gravity.”
He picks up his pace. “Contacting Rebel now.”
I run after him, but it takes igniting some engines on my back and my calves to keep up. “What does that mean?”
“That her heart won’t be able to pump hard enough against gravity to keep her alive. I’m surprised she survived as long as she did.”
“She could walk fine. I didn’t even consider it,” I admit, sudden fear snaking cold shivers through me. “Can Rebel even fix that?”
Redline is a blur as we run. He’s fast. I hope he’s fast enough. “If she has a chance, it’s with him.”
