This wasn't their home.
It wasn't hers, nor was it his.
This was a medical bay on a base in the middle of a moon.
"Get it together, Eleanor," she told herself. "Doesn't matter that you would marry him..."
She stopped.
She would, too. That was what was interesting about it. She would marry him. Her people needed something beautiful and optimistic after all the war.
They needed this. They needed peace.
Might be a good sign of peace--to marry in a formal Terran ceremony--a Rhimodian.
She could see herself making that sacrifice. Though honestly, was it a sacrifice?
If the groom was Jedriek, of course not.
She brushed off the thoughts. They were silly and childish. She was a grown woman who had to get through this situation before she did anything else. Fantasizing about the future with Jedriek was a silly waste of time.
"Besides, I am a princess. I cannot possibly consider being bound to a Rhimodian soldier!" she said, just as the door's seal popped open.
She turned, blade in her hand, and ready to defend herself as best she could.
Jedriek.
Beat up, but he was there.
And he stared at her, a strange expression on his otherwise strong face.
Was he upset?
She took a step toward him to say something.
"Eleanor!" cried out Veta.
The woman pushed past Jedriek and ran to her. "You're fine."
Eleanor nodded. She'd never been so happy to see her bodyguard in her life. Hell, she'd never been so excited to see anyone in her life. Tears welled up in her eyes. A part of her didn't actually think she'd see anyone again.
Still lingering in the doorway were Jedriek and another cyborg.
"I'm fine," Eleanor said. "Thanks to Jedriek. And you're okay?"
"I am. Wrathin," she gestured over her shoulder. "Has been helping me find the others. Freya is back on Sol-3, and Bianca is back on the ship. We have to get her back to Sol-3." She released the hug, and her posture shifted to business.
"Why? What's wrong with Bianca?"
"When we crashed here, she fell."
"You crashed?" Eleanor gasped. "Is she okay? Will she be all right?"
Veta nodded. "She will be. She's injured, though, and we need to get her more medical treatment."
"You don't have a ship?" Jedriek asked the other cyborg, Wrathin.
"There are shuttles here, aren't there?" Wrathin said.
