“What are you saying? That I made it up?”
“Not necessarily. I think the experiences you had undergone during your childhood traumatized you, and when you saw another loved one succumb to illness, it opened up those wounds. You may have projected on your grandmother and saw similarities in her symptoms,” Cagley explained.
Kat wrapped her arms around herself. “So you’re saying I’m crazy?”Am I crazy?It scared her. She was suddenly ecstatic she hadn’t eaten anything yet today.
“You’re not crazy, Katalina, you just need to let yourself heal.” The doctor handed over her folded clothes. “Go get dressed and we’ll continue.”
She took them warily. “So there was nothing? My grandmother had blisters like my parents…”
Cagley smiled at her in that way a mother smiles at onlookers when her child is throwing a tantrum. “There was nothing and the blisters could have been caused by an allergic reaction.” The doctor folded her hands. “You mentioned your grandmother had a garden? It could be from numerous outside sources.”
Kat frowned and looked at her limp clothes. “What if I show symptoms of the parasite? And I’m not making all of this up?”
“If you got the vaccine, it won’t happen–”
“My grandmother got the vaccine…”
“You’re fine Kat.” Cagley got up and wrapped her in a warm hug. Kat stood up stiffly in her embrace. “You need to grieve. Let it leave you,” she whispered. Tears started to form in her eyes. Cagley smiled and added, “And Cyborgs can’t get sick.”
She gripped her clothes and pulled away. “Thank you,” she murmured and headed into the attached bathroom. Memories flooded her as she tried to analyze everything that her grandmother had gone through, every occurrence and precaution they took. The way her voice grew guttural with saliva at the end, her wrinkled skin splotched in some areas while other areas were sunken and cold, and the faded look on her face.
Those last days had been filled with grief and every conversation had the urgency of being their last. Maybe she did need to move on.
Cyborgs can’t get sick.
How can I move on when I’m only here because of her?
Kat looked around the bathroom, reaching behind and untying her gown, letting it fall, only to kick it away and dress. She tabbed on the sink and washed the stress off her face. A thunderous racket of a door slamming open and a familiar voice sounded outside in the medlab. Quickly followed by a high-pitched giggle and Bin-Three’s monotonous voice.
“Where is she!?”
Kat dried her face and reached for the handle. It whipped open, just missing her, to a very upset, very tense Cyborg.
They stared at each other, his eyes narrowed toward her startled wide ones.
“Hi?”
“How may I be of service, Master?” Bin-Three chirped up.
Dommik dropped his arms. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” she smiled and threw her arms around him. “There you are.” Burrowing her face into his hard chest, hot and stiff; her fingers threaded through his long hair. He remained tense in her arms but she didn’t care. She only cared that he finally showed up and that he found her, cementing her back into reality, and forcing her to confront another issue. She wanted him. She wanted the Cyborg with the long blue-black hair and ebony eyes.
His hands cupped her shoulders and just as she settled in for comfort, he pushed her away. Kat retrieved her arms and looked up at him.
She expected fury, compassion, something to show on his face, she would have settled for confusion to match her own but his face was blank and his body was stiff and even the heat of his hands dimmed.
“You should stay on Ghost.” His fingers peeled off her.
“What? Why?”
“Because I don’t want you on my ship.” He turned to leave and strode to the crushed open door.
Kat was taken aback.Was it because I touched him? Am I that horrible to be around?Bile crawled up her throat, burning with acidic shock.
Cagley took her hand and smiled. “You should stay with me, Kat. My daughter will love spending time with another human.”
She glanced at the pretty doctor as Dommik rounded the corner. Leaving a very upset Netto and an unresponsive Bin-Three behind. “Thank you for everything, Cagley. I can’t stay with you.”The tea stand.
