13
"Icannot believe you wrecked your transport," Bahran said as they gathered up what could be salvaged from the ship that Kian and the Terran female, Freya, had arrived in.
Kian had landed hard, a bit of a distance from the bunker that Bahran had taken Caoimhe to.The vessel had been damaged, not just from the rough landing but from enemy fire.However, it had some components one of the older ships inside the bunker would need to get them back across the moon to their capital.
Bahran had wanted to bring the females with them to make sure they were safe, but Kian felt they'd be safer underground.On their way to the ship, Bahran saw where Kian had to clear the path to get to him and Caoimhe.There were troops on the ground, but the Terrans had yet to collect their dead.
Which meant they would be coming very soon.
"Terran fighters are quite determined," he said."They didn't want to let just fly around the world like we wanted."
Bahran grimaced.It seemed like this war would never end.From what Kian had reported back, their own military was wounded since they had no way to communicate between units until after the eclipse was finished.
The Terran Military was taking full advantage of that.
"Have they locked down the capital?"
"Not yet."He pulled out another fuel cartridge and tossed it on the cart."I cannot believe you didn't go straight to the capital with her.You know who she is, right?The main ambassador."He adjusted the fuel pack and pulled another one."You should have taken her there right away."
Bahran nodded."I know exactly who she is."
"So why didn't you go to the capital?"
"I was instructed to keep her hidden and safe.That she was too important to allow the incoming enemies to harm.Master System had been very specific."
Kian nodded."I understand Master System."
"Do you?"
He rolled his eyes."You know what I mean.All of the ambassadors are very important," Kian said.
He nodded because they were.These females were trying to bring an end to the war.
The emotions Caoimhe raised in him were merely a secondary piece.One he did not know what to do with or if he was alone in those feelings.Was it because they were protecting them?Or was it something else?
It felt bigger than just the protection.
But maybe that was him, alone.
Bahran glanced at him."Are you feeling things for the female?"
Kian nodded."I do not understand it, but yes.I feel things for her.Strong things that I have not once known."
"It is bigger than The Craving," Bahran said.
And what he felt--and that was what it was, feelings, not sensations, not experiences, this was more than that.It was what he was made to do, to feel things more than previous versions of cyborgs.He found himself on a precipice he had not wanted to be on ever again.Once before, he had trusted his feelings above everything else, and his unit died--at least, he assumed they had died.Now, however, he couldn't be sure.
How many of them had lived through whatever torture they had endured?
Caoimhe had not told him about any numbers, so he wasn't sure how many had survived.
But feelings led him there.
What would his feelings lead him to now?
He glanced at Kian, who was the same as him, an -An.
How was he dealing with this strange new sensation that his people didn't know?There was not much in the records about growing and feeling things.Their primitive records were lost when they left their original homeworld of Orlicia.
