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“Is that what I think it is?” Tane asked, turning his chair around for a better look.
“If you think it’s a power grip, then yes. Talyani informed me several stations are spread across the ship, including two in the dining hall, which I used. You need to recharge, and then we’ll plan our next steps.”
Tane was the first to use the grip. Rising from the navigator’s chair, he cautiously approached, but his need to refuel overrode his concern. He wrapped one hand firmly around the grip. As soon as it powered up, Tane jerked but didn’t let go. A visible shiver rolled over his body. Less than a minute later, he released the grip looking at them in stunned amazement.
“That was amazing,” he murmured, retaking his seat. “I’d recharge daily if I could use one of those.”
“You should recharge no matter what source is available,” Pike told him, stepping forward to take his place.
Ranvir noted it took Pike longer to reenergize, which meant his levels were lower than Tane’s, or he had larger reserve capabilities and was storing for later.
Every cyborg who survived the transformation acquired a wide range of skills beyond those that came with being a cyborg. For some, it was size, others exceptional strength. A few could directly interface with computers. Ranvir had met others with those skills but never one with increased reserves.
Stepping back, Pike looked at Ranvir. “That felt amazing.”
Putting the ship on autopilot, Ganesha crossed the bridge and grabbed the grip for his turn.
Ranvir couldn’t get a read on the biggest cyborg among them.
Tane was obviously the youngest and most inexperienced of them. He probably hadn’t been a cyborg for more than a year.
Pike was the hothead of the group. At least as much of a hothead as a cyborg could be, their cybernetics dampening their emotions.
Ganesha was the large silent type who seemed to observe and absorb everything around him. Ranvir could see him in a stealth pod, one that was inserted to gather the intelligence the rest of the pods in the Cyborg Elite Military Force needed. If it were true, it would make him a tremendous asset, but it could also make him a liability.
Before Shui’s sham of a trial, there’d been rumors that the emperor had inserted cyborgs still loyal to him among them in the hopes of discovering more rebels.
Ranvir’s cybernetic brain said that wasn’t logical since Shui had decided to blow up their ships. His organic one said it was definitely something Shui would do. Shui would have sacrificed every cyborg to ensure no one survived to tell of his treachery.
Doubting another cyborg wasn’t something Ranvir was used to doing, but he’d seen the cyborgs who stood beside Shui during the trial with his own enhanced eyes. Now was not the time to indiscriminately trust, especially with Taly on board. Her safety had somehow become his priority.
He waited for a reaction when Ganesha released the power grip and stepped back. The male stared at him for a moment, his gaze assessing. Finally, he said, “It will do.”
“It’ll do?” Tane looked at him in disbelief. “Are your nanobots defective?”
Ganesha spun around and took a threatening step toward the young navigator, causing him to lean back in his chair before Ganesha pulled himself up. “They are not,” he said, returning to the pilot’s seat but leaving the ship on autopilot.
Ranvir filed Ganesha’s reaction away. There was something there, but he’d delve into it later. Right now, they needed to plan their next move. Walking to the captain’s chair, he sat.
“Have you detected any ships?” He looked to Tane.
“No,” Tane told him. “The only thing on the screen is the convoy, and they’re moving away from us.”
Good news.
“No one responded to the Celerity’s distress call?” Ranvir’s gaze went to Pike, sitting in Wells’ spot, but Ganesha answered.
“No, and none of the convoy ships have broadcast that they lost a ship.” At Ranvir’s questioning look, Ganesha continued. “I’ve been monitoring the comms ever since we left Tyurma. I wasn’t going to trust a non-cyborg. We all know Shui inserted spies among the prisoners. I wanted to make sure Wells wasn’t giving away our location.”
“And was he?” Ranvir asked.
Ganesha’s expression darkened. “No, but I would have killed him if he had.”
“That wouldn’t have been your decision,” Pike told him.
“Anyone that threatens a cyborg deserves to die,” Ganesha spun in his chair to face the other cyborg.
“So you’re judge, jury, and executioner now?” Pike challenged the larger cyborg. “Like Shui?”
