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Ranvir stood by silently and watched Taly work. With an ease of experience, she made Pike’s, Tane’s, and then Ganesha’s brands disappear before wordlessly turning to him. Stepping forward, he took the seat Ganesha vacated, keeping his gaze locked with hers.
He was a cyborg.
That meant he was supposed to be cool, calm, and logical.
He couldn’t be with Taly.
“I’m sorry.” He didn’t try to keep the conversation private. It wouldn’t do any good, not with three other cyborgs on the bridge, and Vujcec deserved to hear this. They were his pod now. Whether they decided to create a closed link or not, he would treat them that way. “I should never have spoken to you like that. It was wrong. The only defense I have is that I love you and the thought of you at risk makes me act irrationally.”
Taly said nothing for a moment. Her cold stare was brutal, and he barely managed to remain still and hold her gaze.
“Do you think I’m not scared, too?” she finally whispered. “That I don’t know it could have been you, any of you caught by Shui and executed?” Her gaze rested for a moment on the other males in the room. “It could have been me. But the only way evil triumphs is when good people do nothing. There are a lot of good people in this universe, Ranvir. We just need to gather them together and fight back.”
“You think it’s going to be that easy?” Ganesha demanded.
“No.” She met Ganesha’s gaze straight on. “It’s going to be hard. It’s going to take time. Lives are going to be lost. Maybe a lot of lives. Shui’s insane. He’s not going to simply give up. He’s going to throw everything he has at us.”
Turning, she looked to Pike and Tane. “I know I’m not a cyborg. Or a communications specialist who fought against Shui’s evil.” She gave Vujcec a small smile. “But I do have access to resources this rebellion will need. Then there’s the other important thing I have.”
“And what’s that?” Ranvir asked.
Turning back to face Ranvir, she gave him a brilliant smile. “My reputation. I’m Talyani. Which, according to Ganesha, makes me Kirs’ greatest treasure with supporters that rival Shui’s. When I come out on the rebels’ side, and we reveal all the atrocities he’s committed, we’ll have all the supporters we’ll need.”
“That’s not a bad plan,” Tane murmured.
“And just so we’re clear. I love you too, Ranvir. With all my heart and soul.”
