The Virgin’s Cyborg by Candice Gilmer

13

Navigating the desert and rocky landscape of Sol-2 challenged many. Jedriek crossed it quickly--he'd been stationed on Sol-2 several times to work in the mines. He reached the nearest landing zone, where there might be some ships left. Sure enough, there were a few--not Rhimodian, though.

Terran vessels.

Securing one was simple enough. After a few fights, he'd taken a military-grade Terran transport.

It didn’t take him long to find the others. Not far from the pad, he spotted them. Some Terran fighters had cued him to their location.

The opposition attacked Eleanor, Wrathin, and the others.

Jedriek growled as he dropped the vessel down as close as he could to give them cover and block the attack long enough for them to board.

And fire a few weapons--while the transports had some, being a military-grade, they did not have a massive amount of weaponry options. All, however, would blow a hole in anyone if they targeted a humanoid.

If any of them hurt Eleanor...

He got the ship down between the attack coming from the north and where they had taken up post. He dropped the back ramp so they could board. Cameras showed everyone entering the ship. Wrathin practically hurled her aboard. For a second, he felt the urge to run back there and punch his friend, but Eleanor shook off the jostling just as the lady with Harbin arrived.

She was well.

That was all that mattered.

Jedriek fired more defensive shots toward the attackers. When he saw that Veta started closing the ramp, he took off.

Eleanor ran to the cockpit.

Wrapped her tiny arms around him.

Nothing felt quite as good as the feel of her touching him. Knowing she was there, he thought that everything would be fine. They would figure out all the details.

Whatever they were.

And he certainly had some questions.

For now, she was safe.

That was the important thing.

He needed to get Bianca to Sol-3 to be checked over and possibly treated. They still believed she had some injuries that the nanites were not healing fast enough. Because Eleanor was concerned, he found himself equally concerned about getting her friend to safety.

Eleanor went back to the central portion of the transport, where the other injured ambassador was, and Wrathin took the open copilot chair.

"Let us move," Wrathin said.

"Back home," Jedriek answered.

The transport arched hard for the sky, even as the enemies on the ground fired at the ship. Jedriek fired back what he could. Wrathin helped him fly, joining him in the cockpit as soon as the vessel began to move.

It was enough to keep them back.

Jedriek glanced back and could see Eleanor leaning over the older female, helping her be more comfortable.

"What is that relationship?" he wondered--though he must have been around too many humanoids, for he didn't intend to speak it out loud.

"She's basically her mother. Or has been, for the last twelve years," the other female, Veta, said. She stood behind Wrathin, who had taken the copilot seat.

"Is she an empress too?" Jedriek asked.

Veta shook her head. "She was the Lady in Waiting for the Empress until she died. Then, Bianca became a governess for the girls to help raise them." Veta glanced back at Bianca. "Story goes, she felt guilt over not being with the Empress when she died, so she took care of the girls out of guilt."

Jedriek nodded. "Obligation can create guilt."

"Yep," Veta said and headed back to check on the others, leaving Jedriek alone with Wrathin. Wrathin followed her with his eyes. Jedriek could tell the Craving drove him hard for the warrior woman.

Good.

Good for him to find someone who pleased him.

Jedriek stared at Eleanor.

He'd heard her speaking in the chamber before about how she could not be with him.

And it made a sad hole in his heart. Something deep and powerful, and, well, he wasn't sure what it was.

It was most unpleasant.

Complex emotions, that much he knew. The kind that created complications in his programming. Being a younger version of the Rhimodian cyborgs, difficult emotions should have been able to work with better. He should be able to better adapt to new situations that the cyborgs came across.

Yet, these feelings were different.

More than compassion for fellow humanoids--like he had when it came to the boy on Disguised Serenity. This was more intense, what he felt for Eleanor. The Craving was powerful, but it was broader than that. The Craving was a primal need. This was more encompassing than just mating desires.

Primal mating desires could be squelched with any female. This was something that only seemed to be fulfilled with Eleanor.

Yet, she felt it was not possible to be with him.

Had he failed her in some way?

Hurt her?

"I don't understand," he whispered.

Wrathin looked at him. "What is wrong? Is the ship working?" He started hitting the controls on his side, but all the panels were reading nominal.

Jedriek scanned space around them as they moved. The other Terran ships were ignoring them still, which was what they needed. They had to get back and land safely.

He shook his head. "Females make no sense."

Wrathin grinned. "They do not. I do not understand half the things that Veta has told me about her life and the society."

"Such as?"

"There's Terrans who seek out women to hurt them. They wear special armor that protects them from being attacked by a male who wants to force his Craving on them."

Jedriek growled. "Those men should be reprogrammed."

"She said they don't do that. Not exactly. It was strange. It made me very angry."

Jedriek nodded. "I would be angry too. It makes me more determined to protect her."

"Eleanor?"

Jedriek nodded.

"Has she experienced your Craving?"

Jedriek nodded. "She is most beautiful in those moments."

Wrathin smiled. "I think many humanoid females are in those moments."

"What other humanoid females are beautiful," Veta asked as she came back.

"You are the most beautiful, so it matters not," Wrathin said.

She raised her eyebrow. "Good answer." She stepped around and took a seat on his lap. "So, what are you boys up here gossiping about?"

"Jedriek craves Eleanor."

"Oh," Veta said. "Well, she craves you too."

Jedriek smiled. "I hope so."

"You two will be cute together," Veta said.

"We won't be," Jedriek replied.

"Why not?"

"Because she does not think that we could be. Beyond this time."

"How do you know that?" Veta asked.

"The words came from her lips."

Veta snorted. "Eleanor worries. You two can figure something out, I'm sure."

"You sound confident of the future," Jedriek said.

"If we all get through this, then I'm pretty sure any rules will be thrown out, and everything will start over. Then you two can figure out what you want to do."

"If she wants--"

Jedriek would have said more, but a panel lit up.

Communication came through to the ship.

He glanced at Wrathin, and Wrathin nodded.

"Transport. Transport. You're off your projected battle route."

Jedriek shut off the answer.

"I got this," Veta said.

She cleared her throat and opened the channel. "Yes. Um, hostiles. Everyone's hurt or dead. There were so many of them! They were, uh--" Her voice was different, almost child-like when she answered.

"Who is this? What's your call sign?"

"Ensign Leese,"

"Where's you're commanding officer, Leese?"

"There was an attack on the surface. I'm just. We're trying to get away."

"Roger. Head to these coordinates, and we'll determine what air support you need."

"Thank you!" she said and flipped off the switch.

Jedriek raised his eyebrow.

Wrathin glanced at the listing. "You got their battle hub."

Veta smiled. "And we know where to return fire."

"Impressive."

She shrugged. "It's what I do. Now, avoid those coordinates, and let's get back to Freya and Kian."

Jedriek adjusted the course and moved toward their destination.

They were getting much closer to the Rhimodian landing zone, and he wondered if there were any Terrans on Sol-3. It seemed they were on every other world, from what Wrathin had mentioned. They must be here as well.

At least, now they had a position for them to focus their attack.

He had to admit, Veta was very good at what she did.