She sighed. "Hmm, how to explain. In my world, computers get updates all the time--program adjustments. Sometimes it installs new software or replaces old software with something new. Often, though, it is stuff that works below the surface, in the background. Do your updates work that way or do you always know when you get one?"
"I always know." He looked her over again. "You are very curious."
"You're my first alien, and at home, I'm a scientist, so I'm always asking questions."
"You may ask me anything you like," he said. He would much rather her ask him questions than what he was used to when it came to gaining information. Before, they would beat and torture things out of him to access his protocols.
"What does that feel like, updating your systems?"
"An epiphany."
She blinked.
"Is that the wrong word? I thought that meant to suddenly have a solution come to you about a scenario."
"It does. I just didn't think you meant it that way."
"What else would I mean?"
She shrugged. "That's the problem. I don't know. I cannot be sure what you mean. How do I know these translator chips are even working, right? You could be saying 'cow' but really mean 'broccoli,' and I have no way of knowing because I have no point of reference."
She ran her hand through her hair.
"You seem angry," he said.
"I am stressed. It has been a rough day."
"Me too."
"Tell me about yours," she said.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want to think about mine."
Where did he begin? Truly? Start with today, and tell her what happened, or start at the beginning. Or the war. Or the battle that changed everything for him and his unit?
There were options.
"I was on my way home, finally, after five years, and an explosion crippled my transport. When I came to, I found myself a part of the Intergalactic Dating Agency, and that I had a mate who was on her way."
"So, you didn't really sign up for this, either?"
"It seems we both are in the same position of not expecting this."
"Well, we have that in common, at least." She smiled at him, and the expression touched him deeply. He would have called it a part of the Craving, but it wasn't that. It was something else.
Deeper than that.
He appreciated it. It seemed to be emotional, but not the fiery feelings he would feel when he was captive. The ones it seemed like Solkan ran with all the time. Solkan was different, being an -An variant of Rhimodian cyborg. Those types did not operate the same way with the same logic as cyborgs like Kolvin
Kolvin's cybernetics were more linear in methodology and logic.
Usually, anyway.
"Know that I would be open to mating with you," Kolvin said. "You are a most appealing humanoid."
She shook her head. "I am assuming that was a compliment."
