“Then we at least need to track it. Figure out if there are more.”
The thought sent an unfamiliar chill through his systems. More creatures. A colony, perhaps. The possibility horrified him.
“The most logical course of action would be to find it and eliminate it,” he stated, falling back on his military programming. “It’s a clear threat to the colonists.”
“We don’t know that.” Her expression hardened. “No one else has been harmed so far?—”
“That we know about.”
“—and we’re talking about the first complex life form discovered on Mars. Possibly the most important scientific find in human history. We’re not killing it.”
“Even if it tries to kill us again?”
“Self-defense is one thing. Hunting it down is another.”
He knew she was right about the creature’s scientific significance. And if he were honest with himself, his desire to eliminate the threat was partly driven by an irrational need to protect her—a need that went a long way past his duties to the colonists.
“All right,” he conceded. “I’ll agree that we should set up monitoring equipment to track movement. They can warn us if it comes back.”Or if there were others.
She gave him a relieved smile. “I’ve got geophones in my pack—portable seismic monitors. And Roland can help map the tunnel system. Based on what I saw from my earlier readings, the tunnel branches off in several places.”
At the mention of his name, the cybernetic armadillo perked up, his golden eyes glowing brighter, but Zach found himselfhesitating. Roland’s sensors were sophisticated, and his size made him ideal for reconnaissance. But the creature had nearly overpowered a combat-grade cyborg. What chance would the little armadillo have?
“Isn’t it too dangerous for him?” he asked, and she shook her head.
“Roland’s sensors will alert him to any movement, and he can duck into the smaller spaces where that thing can’t fit. If he does encounter it, you saw how it flinched away from his claws.”
The armadillo chirped in what sounded suspiciously like agreement.
“I don’t like it. But you’re right—we need the data.” He knelt to address Roland directly. “Stay in the narrow passages. If you detect anything larger than yourself, retreat immediately.”
Roland squeaked cheerfully.
“I’ll deploy the geophones while he maps,” he continued, turning back to Cass. “We’ll need at least six to triangulate movement effectively.”
“I’ve got eight in my pack.” She handed him the equipment, their fingers brushing. The contact sent another unexpected surge of arousal through his system, despite the situation.
“You’ll stay here,” he said, not a question but a statement. “Up on the ledge with my weapon in your hand.”
To his surprise, she bit her lip but didn’t argue.
“I’ll monitor the data feeds from Roland and set up the analysis algorithms.” She hesitated. “But be careful. That creature was fast.”
“I’m faster,” he said truthfully, although his combat with the beast had been closer than he cared to admit. Even with his enhanced strength and reflexes, the creature had nearly overwhelmed him. But without the need to protect Cass, he would be free to use all of his abilities against it.
He checked his backup weapons and the geophone equipment. Each device needed to be placed strategically to create an effective monitoring grid. He’d need to venture at least a hundred meters in multiple directions.
Roland nudged his foot, eager to begin his mission. He picked up the small armadillo, looking into his glowing eyes.
“No unnecessary risks,” he instructed. “Your primary function is mapping, not engagement. At the first sign of the creature, you retreat. Understood?”
Roland chirped affirmatively, his armor plates shifting with anticipation. He placed the little armadillo back on the tunnel floor, watching as he activated his scanning system. A faint blue light emanated from beneath his plating as he began moving towards one of the smaller side tunnels.
He turned back to lift Cass up on the ledge and found her watching him, her expression a complex mixture of emotions.
“About what happened earlier…” she began.
The kiss. His unexpected reaction. The overwhelming surge of feeling that had broken through years of emotional suppression.
