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Ranvir tipped his head back toward the ceiling with a groan. How could he forget how soft-hearted Taly was? The Madae had already proven to be an asset. He had a cool head and could handle himself. Something he couldn’t say when it came to the family. Still, they had come to their aid. His gut warned this wasn’t a good idea. Being on this ship was dangerous.
“I can pilot any ship, am skilled with a blaster, and an expert in hand-to-hand combat.” Ree listed off his assets.
Understanding what Ree was doing, Oved began pleading their case “We won’t be a burden. My Sato is an amazing cook, and I know my way around machines.”
He suddenly realized how that must have sounded at the hard looks he received in return, including from his wife. “No! I’m not talking about you. I don’t consider you machines. I meant the engines! Or anything else mechanical. I can fix anything.”
“He really can.” Sato earnestly supported her husband. “He’s a genius. It’s why we were going to Gamma-2. They need mechanics.”
“I know you didn’t mean it that way, Oved. And I’m sure everyone else does, too. Right guys?” Taly gave each cyborg a pointed look. “Right?”
“Right,” three of them agreed.
“Ganesha?” she asked the only cyborg who didn’t respond.
“Sure,” he finally said before swinging back around to face forward.
Taly would have liked a better response from them but didn’t want to push it. “Great. Sato, why don’t you guys go down to the lower level? You can pick what quarters you want and get something to eat if you’re hungry while I take Ranvir to medical.”
Her gaze shot back to Ranvir. He’d opened his mouth to argue but snapped it shut at her glare.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Ranvir lay on the med bed, letting it scan him to ease Taly’s mind. “The readout says your leg is nearly healed, but your nanobot levels need replenishing.”
“Wait!”
He was too late. A pressure syringe was lowered to his neck and injected him with lifesaving little machines. Kirs’ scientists were always making what they considered ‘advancements’ in the nanobots, unconcerned with how they might interact with what was currently in a cyborg’s system, which was why new infusions were only done in extreme circumstances.
Taly hadn’t given him a chance to warn her. Gritting his teeth in dread, he waited for the sting as the two different nanobots fought for dominance. When several moments passed, and nothing happened, he tipped his head back to see Taly still at the control panel.
“Why doesn’t it hurt?” he asked.
She frowned. “Hurt? It shouldn’t. This bed identifies your specific nanobots and programs the new ones to be compatible.”
He’d never heard of such a thing. “That’s possible?”
“It is now.”
Ranvir shook his head in disbelief and relaxed. His processors confirmed Taly’s statement. With the influx of more nanobots, his injury finished repairing in record time.
Once the bed shut down, he sat up and swung his legs over the edge. “Thank you, Taly. That really helped.”
She smirked. “Even though you didn’t want or think it was necessary?”
“That’s true. I didn’t know this was possible. Cyborgs have been severely damaged when too many of their original nanobots remain when infused with new ones. They sometimes see the original nanobots as a parasite to be eradicated.”
Her mouth dropped. “You thought I would inject you without knowing that?”
He ran his hand roughly down his face.
“Do you really think I would take that chance without knowing it was perfectly safe for you?” Taly continued.
Hurt at his lack of faith in her, she headed for the door. Tears blurred her vision, and she ran into an immovable object. Blinking, she glanced up at the hard chest in front of her.
“I’m sorry,” Ranvir murmured, wrapping his arms around. She remained still in his embrace. “I know you would never intentionally harm me. There is a lot of information about cyborgs that isn’t common knowledge, not even among cyborgs. I reacted instinctively.”
She softened and leaned into his weight. “I should have explained first and given you a choice instead of injecting you without permission.”
He ran his hands up her back and down again, soothing the tense line of her spine. “It seems we’re both used to doing instead of asking. We’ll each have to work on that.”
She nodded and rested her head against his chest. “I guess we will. So is your leg feeling better?”
She let out a little shriek when he swung her up into his arms.
“I’ll prove it to you.”
