Galactic Cyborg Heat Series Book Bundle 5-8, page 4
part #5 of Galactic Cyborg Heat Series
“Yes.”
“This way.”
The Cyborg turned in the opposite direction and Kate followed on behind. She took in the ship around her. It was clearly a pleasure cruiser. People moving from place to place or just taking a trip. It was expensively laid out. She could appreciate how much that all cost. Her own ship had been a pretty penny.
She looked at the Cyborg moving ahead of her keeping her within eyesight. It was hard not to smile at that. She knew he’d never let her out of his eyesight. He wasn’t much of a talker and that was fine with her. She hated that ass licking chit chat, that meant nothing. As she followed, she realised she’d not once wondered if she was safe or if he had ulterior motives. It just never crossed her mind. She knew she was safe with him. That he would fight off anything that came after her. And he didn’t do subterfuge. He seemed incapable of it, thought Kate.
Blaz turned the corner towards his ship and sent out over his neuro net, what food and drink he wanted one of his men to retrieve for him from the café. He wanted to make sure Kate was fed. It was almost primal within him. His need to make sure she had all she wanted. He moved to the locking mechanism and turned back towards Kate. He needed her to understand that his men were on board and not to fear them.
“My men are on board. They have jobs to do. They will not interfere with us.” He waited for her to acknowledge him.
He then turned back and engaged the lock. The entry slid open. He walked through and waited on the other side. Kate hesitated then walked in behind him and looked around.
For a moment he watched her take it all in. “This an Omega?” she asked with some surprise. She had recognised the layout and design, Blaz realised.
“Yes, I believe that is what it was called. The Bridge is this way.” He started moving ahead of her pointing out service areas. He entered the lift system and she didn’t hesitate to get in with him. “Bridge.” He called out for her benefit
“Affirmative.” Came the vocal response and the lift moved.
Kate frowned, Cyborgs didn’t need to vocalise instructions or orders. “You can use your neuro net to do that.” She told him.
Blaz nodded. “I can, but then you wouldn’t hear it and right now, I think you need to.”
Kate realised he was making changes for her benefit. She didn’t know to be thankful or be annoyed. She didn’t want people making changes for her. The lift stopped, and the doors opened again. Kate was surprised to see how spacious the Bridge was. It was a good size space. Could seat 8 crew easily. The viewing screen was impressive. It was an expensive model. Didn’t come cheap. She knew. The rail guns alone, she could only dream of.
Blaz pointed out the operating systems in each section and explained their role. By Kate’s nods he guessed she understood what he was telling her. She’d been a Captain after all, so some of this would have at least been familiar to her. He’d worried that in asking her, it would have brought up memories she’d rather not access, but he’d monitored her emotions on the way here and she’d appeared stable. Interested even. He gave him some hope they were making progress.
He sat at a console and let her wander the room, answering her questions when they came. They were intelligent and intuitive. He couldn’t stop the sense of pride he felt in his female. It was the first private moment for both of them, broken by the news over his neuro net, of the arrival of the food he’d ordered.
“Lunch. This way please.” He told her getting up, he indicated the way and was relieved to find she’d followed him asking more of her questions on the functioning of the ship, as they went. He led the way to their nourishment area. It was two decks down.
Clear the nourishment area I have a female with me. He sent out over his net. He didn’t need a response to know that his request had been actioned.
Kate saw the door way open ahead and hesitated. She wasn’t afraid, she told herself and realised she genuinely wasn’t. It was just the thought of a room full of Cyborgs. They were all so dam big! She was curious if anything, it just wouldn’t take much to break her. She looked at Blaz. He’d stopped when she’d hesitated.
“You are safe here.” Blaz told her simply.
She took a step forward and he continued into the room. Kate stopped at the doorway and looked in. It was empty. That was a big surprise for a ship of this size. The smell of fresh cooked food tickled her nose and her stomach betrayed her rumbling loudly. She unconsciously rubbed at it and slowly walked in, checking for anything that put her in danger.
Blaz had heard her stomach react to the smell of food. He was glad he’d had it delivered. As he unpacked the food he couldn’t miss how Kate was skimming the room and taking everything in. He continued to unpack and placed the same food in front of both of them.
“They are both the same, which to do want?” He asked her without looking up. He didn’t want to scare her off, just as she was beginning to relax in his company. She came over and sat in front of one. He moved to the other, sat and started to eat.
Kate looked at the male in front of her eating his food. Blaz. She’d have thought he would eat fast and messy but actually he was careful and slow. “You moved the men out of here didn’t you?” She asked him. He looked up at her and have her a sharp nod.
Kate sighed and nodded back. He looked back at his food and seemed to concentrate on it. It did look dam good, thought Kate. She unwrapped the sandwich and couldn’t help but smile at the chicken, lettuce, tomato and mayo. The bread smelled heavenly. It all looked real. No syn food at all.
Picking it up she took a bite, flavours bursting across her mouth. She chewed slowly and eventually swallowed. She grabbed her water and washed it down. It was amazing. “Is this real?” She asked looking at it before taking another bite.
“Yes. No syn food.”
Chewing it struck her that all the food she’d been eating had tasted really good. Had it all been real food? She looked up at her Cyborg. Hers? Kate took a shocked swallow. “Has all my food been real?” She took another bite relishing the flavours.
“Yes.”
Kate frowned. That wasn’t normal, not even on a Cruiser. They couldn’t hold enough fresh grown food. She put her sandwich down and wiped her hands. “How’s that possible?”
Blaz recognised the tone in her voice. Something was wrong. He gazed at her grabbing his own napkin and wiping his mouth. “My ships are running relays to the Space Station, doing security escort. They are faster than this Cruiser and are bringing all my provisions. I have one of the cooks prepare our food.”
Kate just stared at him. He’d said that like it was nothing. From running her own ship, she knew it wasn’t. The cost alone would be more than she earnt in a year. She picked up her sandwich and continued eating, finishing it all and faster than she thought possible. He then gave her a bowl of fresh fruit.
Kate shook her head as she took it from him. “Your men must be really happy with you. This food is amazing.”
Blaz finished off his meal and started to clean up. “This food is for you not them. They have their own supplies.”
Kate was now confused. They had their own supplies? “Don’t they eat this food?”
“No. When it was clear the Cruiser could not provide the quality of food you required, I had the food brought here. There is more than we or my men need, so we give the rest to the Cruiser. They are happy to pay for the fresh provisions. It might become a regular arrangement. The passengers and crew benefit.”
“But why?” Financially unless they had a contract it made no sense. This had to be costing the Cyborg Empire one hell of a lot of money.
He picked up her rubbish and deposited it in the recycle then turned back to her. “It’s what you needed.”
***
It’s what you needed, he’d told her. She had no answer for that. It wasn’t logical and yet, her mind told her he wasn’t lying. He’d returned her to her room after lunch and told her he had work to see to. He’d be back at dinner time. Kate didn’t know what to make of it. Who did that? She was nothing to him. Why would he do that? She hadn’t been able to answer him when he’d left. She was too confused and needed some space, some peace, to think.
Kate was suddenly very tired. She’d showered and changed and realised she’d done more in one day than she’d done in months. She drank her water. Blaz had insisted she finish it all. It annoyed her as much as everything else he did. Had he really put his ships on food runs because she needed the right nutrition? More importantly, what was it going to cost her?
***
Blaz finished punching out his frustrations on the combat bot. He ended up here every night. Going over everything he could do. Kate had shut down on him, when he’d told her about the food. His confusion rattled him. He didn’t understand what upset her. He’d done right by her hadn’t he? They said she needed good nutrition for a full recovery. That her body, was shutting down along with her brain and both, needed time and stimulation.
Hadn’t he done that? Attended her room four times a day. Fed her, checked on what she needed. His body was crying out for her and yet, he’d shut down his bodies responses so as not to scare her.
For two weeks they had moved around each other. Blaz continued to try, Kate continued to try to ignore him. She ran every day and he joined her taking her on a small walk thereafter to see something. It was his way of engaging with her, they both knew it and each new experience had been something to do. Kate had gone with it and as the days marched on. He’d noticed she needed the sedatives less and less and seemed stronger. Her muscle tone was better, so was her appetite. He knew she had her goals and poured her emotions into getting stronger, fitter and getting back on her ships Bridge. It was all that seemed to matter to her and he struggled with that.
He’d continued to move slowly and carefully around her. Hid his aggression, gave her time to get used to him. Would it always be like this? Living half a life? He slammed his fist into the bot one last time, breaking skin, again. He ignored it. His body could fix itself, his nano’s would deal with it. Unlike Kate’s. Blaz bent forward, the thought sending acute pain into his chest. What if he couldn’t fix her?
***
Kate packed the few belongings she had. It wasn’t much. A spare set of clothing, some toiletries, a brush and looked around the room that had been home to her for a month. Those last 16 days had passed quickly. She’d kept up her routine. Getting up before the alarm, exercising. Having her meals. Being polite to Blaz but keeping it minimal. She still didn’t get it or understand why he bothered so much. He’d never acted on the words he’d spoken when he’d first seen her and she was grateful for that. She’d moved her run to 10pm and gradually increased her distance and pace. Still nowhere near where she was once, but she was getting there and Blaz, had shadowed her every move.
Part of her didn’t want to leave. The unknown that had once excited her and led her to her role as a merchant ships Captain, now, if she were being honest with herself, scared the hell out of her. This had been safe. She wasn’t ready for more change. She argued with herself. The door pinged, and Kate ignored it. She wasn’t ready.
Blaz stood the other side of her door. She’d shut him down again when he’d brought her dinner last night and after he’d brought her back from her run. He’d waited on her at the run track and joined her and although she didn’t seem to mind his company, she’d refused to engage with him.
She’d taken the trays from his hands, thanked him and closed the door. He’d had to send her a message arranging the disembarkation time for them. Told her he’d be here now. He pinged the door again. Nothing happened. He couldn’t pick up on her emotions.
Computer open door to this compartment.
The door slid open as Blaz moved to the threshold. He could smell her and followed his nose. Kate sat on the bed on the other side of the room. She looked ill. Blaz moved slowly into the room and crouched down in front of her.
“I can’t go.” She whispered.
“Then we will stay here until you can.” Kate looked up at him. Seriously, he would do that for her?
“It might be weeks?” She told him shrugging trying to take some of the pain out of it, going for a bit of humour.
“I’d better order in then.” He told her. Kate shook her head, this male surprised her time and time again. He was gentle and kind to her. She wasn’t sure she deserved it or why he continued to try. Tears threatened to spill. She held them back. Not again.
“We can’t stay here, can we?” She asked him resigned. Blaz shook his head at her. Kate took a couple of deep breaths. “Ok, we should go then.” Her jaw set in determination.
Such courage, thought Blaz.
“We are taking the medical exit, no one else will be using it at this time. Just you, me and a couple of my men.” Kate got up. Blaz took her bag. “This way.”
Kate followed blindly behind Blaz. At the end of her corridor they stopped. Blaz introduced his two men and they fell in behind them. She was surrounded by a wall of Cyborgs. Anyone in their way, gave them a wide birth. She knew only too well, how intimidating they looked. Only she didn’t feel threatened at all. She felt ……. Protected. Her fears from earlier ….. gone. She looked up at Blaz, walking slightly ahead of her. He never stopped scanning the area looking out for threats. As he strode out she realised he could cover two of her with ease and at that moment she had no doubt, he was one of the deadliest beings on the ship.
Blaz exited the ship and spotted Mac waiting on him in the docking area. Dark was with her. He’d expected that. They were after all, mated. A female human doctor who ran their medical centre. He walked over and nodded to Mac and held out his arm for Dark to clasp.
“Could you be any slower?” Dark grumbled. Blaz grinned.
“Still grumpy I see. Nothing to kill lately?” Blaz asked. Dark gave him a brooding look while Mac patted Dark’s chest.
“Don’t upset the big boy Blaz, he’s not had his Wheaties yet.” Blaz rose both eyes.
“Wheaties?”
“Don’t ask.” Dark answered then gave a salacious look at his mate.
Mac moved around them to Kate. “Kate right? I’m Mac. I’m the Station Medical Director and mated to Dark here. He’s all bark and no bite.” Mac waved in the Cyborgs direction. Kate wasn’t sure that was right. He looked like he could bite all right.
Blaz started laughing. Kate looked at him surprised. She’d never heard or seen him laugh before, it made him look ……. young, care free, beautiful. She liked it on him.
“No bite? That’s too good man.” Blaz told Dark slapping him on the shoulder.
Mac appeared to ignore them. “So Kate, Station protocol, I need to check you out and there will be a short stay in medical. We have a process here and it’s a requirement. Nothing to worry about. It’s a quiet space. A chance to get your head together. Are you good to go?”
Kate looked over at Blaz. He’d been her companion and protector for weeks. Now it was time to say goodbye. Did she want to do that? For all his annoyance, he’d been her one constant in all her turmoil and pain.
“Blaz?” She asked.
He’s name on her lips cut through every other function his body was running. He’d stopped dead the conversation with Dark and turned to her, kneeling down to be eye level. She’d called to him. He wasn’t even sure if she’d remembered hearing his name, the one and only time Dark had used it. It had to bring up memories, he knew that, and never once had he pushed it on her. He gazed at her. His female. So beautiful and strong.
“Thank you.” She told him. “I’m not sure I’d have made it those first few weeks. I owe you for the food and medicine too. I intend to re-pay it. Let me know what it cost. I’m gonna go with Mac now for a while. Your jobs done.”
She turned away from him. Blaz wanted desperately to grab her and hold her to him, tell her that she would always be with him, ask her to let him love her but he held back. She wasn’t ready for that. She might never be ready, he reminded himself. So he stood up and watched her walk away from him with Mac and several of their Cyborg guards. It tore at him. He’d thought her being in isolation on the ship was tough, he now knew, this was worse. It felt final. Like she’d rejected him somehow. He should be with her, his emotions drove through his mind, protecting what was his. Only now, he couldn’t even do that for her.
He watched until he could no longer see her or scent her. He didn’t care that others around them were staring. None of that mattered. Only she mattered, and he couldn’t have her.
“She will be well cared for.” Dark told him eventually, Blaz knew that. It wasn’t logical for him to be concerned but he was. He feared for her. He turned to Dark. He realised he couldn’t stay on the Station and be so near her.
“My men are ready to go back to work.” He told him.
“Good we have some pirate scum to take care of.” Blaz followed Dark with his men to see the Admiral. He still had a job to do.
***
Kate couldn’t remember when she’d last seen a medical facility so well stocked or manned. The last time she’d been on this Station …. She cut that off. This was a different Station now, she reminded herself. It was impressive, thought Kate. Mac had introduced her to a few of the staff and she’d been taken to a room for an assessment. They’d been kind and gentle, asked her some questions, took some samples and blood work, did a couple of scans. Talked to her about the last month and the read out from the original med bed on the cruiser. Kate had answered all their questions honestly. There was no point in doing anything else.
