Chapter 8
Nothing More Than a Cyborg
Idip a cloth intoa bowl of water and squeeze, letting the cool liquid drip between my fingers to plop into the bowl. “Red,” I whisper as I wipe her brow, “can you hear me?”
Her eyelashes flutter, then slowly lift, revealing those sparkling green irises usually full of fire and sass. Right now, confusion clouds her vision. “J-Jareth?” She lifts a hand to my cheek. “What happened...” Her mouth tightens and she shakes her head. “Oh, I remember.” A delicate shiver runs through her fingertips pressing against my face. “You’re okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I slip a palm to the back of her head, gently lift, and hold a cup to her lips. “Here. Drink this.”
“What is it?” She wrinkles her nose. “Smells like cow shit.”
I laugh with relief.If she’s giving me attitude thirty seconds after waking, she’s going to be okay.
“It’s herbal tea sprinkled with a few special Baltin spices from my stash.”
“Ugh,” she says, pushing the cup away. “I amnotdrinking that.”
“It has vitamins and minerals that are good for the baby.” I push it back to her mouth.
She huffs, gives me a glare, then downs it in two gulps. “That’s absolutely disgusting.”
“I know.” Using a thumb, I wipe her bottom lip. “How do you feel?”
“Like someone cut me.” She jerks all the way to a sitting position and cradles her stomach. “The baby—he’s okay, right?”
“As far as I can tell. His bots are still denying me access and occasionally blocking yours, but on the last check, I found no damage or anomalies in your body.”
She lifts her shirt, then traces a finger over the area where Silarrian’s blade sliced. Only a thin pink line shows in place of the wound. The nanobots worked quickly sealing up the cut, and within another hour or two, there won’t even be a scar.
“Thank God.” A tear trickles down her cheek. “When you sent me the message about possible scavengers, I went out to make sure you were okay. I saw them unleash some sort of purple energy and you went down. I knew it must’ve been enemy Baltins because they didn’t look like Henokans.”
I stroke her cheek and wipe away the tear. “I’m angry you put yourself and the baby in harm’s way.” Flattening my lips, I give her a scowl.
She rubs her stomach and inhales deeply. “I know. It was stupid, but I’m not helpless, Jareth.”
I place my hand over hers, our palms over the child nestled safely inside.
“Well, as furious as I am, I can’t deny you saved us.” I caress the skin of her jawline. Admitting this truth rips me up inside.
Will she lose faith in my abilities, see me in a different light now after watching me captured, bound...kneeling? About to plead like a pathetic and broken man?
She experienced Baltin steel cutting her flesh because I couldn’t rescue her. I can’t shake the ineptness gnawing in my gut.
“Granny Eva gave me a communicator right after you died.” Her hand cradles mine as I cup her cheek, bringing me out of my dark thoughts. “In case I needed supplies or help.” She closes her eyes briefly, then meets my stare. “I completely forgot about it until today.”
I take a deep breath, then decide to plow ahead, dreading what I’m about to say. Not for the actual idea I’m about to suggest, but because I know how Tilly feels about my people.
“After Granny sent those carriers and ship to rescue us, she said we should think about coming to Mars.”
Blood suffuses Tilly’s cheeks, and her mouth tightens. “I’m not setting foot on any Baltin ship ever again, Jareth. No way, not after—”
“Hear me out.” I lower my hand to trace the rim of the empty plastic cup. “What if something goes wrong with the pregnancy? What if someone else finds us and learns who I am?” A fine coat of dust sticks to the dish’s base. “Besides, do you really want to raise a family in a dirty cave?”
Before the baby, I’d loved this cave, the natural feel, the cool air, the solitude of being in nature. But now? It’s not good enough for my wife and child—a queen and prince.
“I want to be whereveryouare, and this is the place that makes you happiest. So yeah, Idowant to live in this dirty cave.” She moves her face into my vision, blocking my view of the cup. “We have everything we need. Fresh water, food from the garden, shelter—”
“But no medical care for you or the baby, no protection from scavengers or enemies, no—”
