"No, you don't.I do not want your servitude."
"I must be forgiven and prove myself.I am Tarnished, it is the best thing I can offer to repair--"
"I don't care if you're Tarnished, or if you're the Shiniest damn Rhimodian ever.I will not have you living in servitude of me to repay a debt."
"I don't know how to fix this," he said.
"This is one time you don't have to," Caoimhe said.
"How can I prove to you that I can be trusted?My actions hurt you, maybe even permanently injured you."
"We all have scars."She held out her arm."Inject me with the nanites."
"But I--"
"Hey, Tarnished," Kian said.
"What?This is important.Why do you have to--"
"Shut up and give her the nanites.She doesn't want a slave, she wants a partner."
He blinked.
Turned back to Caoimhe.
"He's right," She said."Now quit worrying and give me the nanites."She shifted and he saw pain shoot through her expression, her lips pressed tightly together and she hissed.
He held out his arm, and a tether connected them."As much as you need, I will always give."
She leaned into him."I give you my heart."
"I accept."
He leaned down to her, stroked her head, and puckered up to kiss her.
The ship shook with blaster fire.
"Yeah, yeah, you had your moment.Now get up here and help me," Kian said.
He touched Caoimhe's head."I'll be back."
He darted to the front and pulled up the weapons.
"We have enemies coming in 2-7-0-mark-0, and 3-0-0-mark-4-5," Kian called out.
Bahran started punching at the numbers and turning on the weapons.
Or he would have.
The control panel lit up red.
"Did you check the weapons?"Bahran asked.
"Why?"
"Empty," he said.
"Check the backups."
