Not long after noon, he announced that the atmospheric readings showed that the conditions were safe enough for travel and went to inspect the rover. She and Roland accompanied him and she started loading the rover as Roland went to join Phantom.
“We should be able to make it back to Border Town before nightfall,” he said, running diagnostics on the rover’s systems.
She carefully packed the samples of the unusual lichen they’d collected, then held up one of the containment field generators they’d used to trap the creature.
“What about these?”
“Bring them. I’m not convinced we’ll ever encounter another one of those creatures, but I want to be prepared.”
As they worked, she found herself stealing glances at him, memorizing the way he moved, the focused expression on his face. She’d grown so accustomed to his presence, to working alongside him and falling asleep in his arms. The thought of returning to her small quarters in the research complex, alone, made her chest tighten.
“Zach?” Her voice came out smaller than she intended.
He looked up from where he was checking Phantom’s systems. “What is it?”
“What happens when we get back?” She forced herself to meet his eyes. “With us, I mean.”
His hands stilled. For a moment, he looked almost vulnerable, the confident cyborg ranger replaced by a man facing an uncertain future.
“What do you want to happen?” he asked quietly.
“I want—” She hesitated, then decided honesty was the only option. “I want to be with you. But I know your territory covers hundreds of kilometers, and I’m stationed at BorderTown, and there are probably regulations about cyborg-human relationships that I don’t even know about?—”
“Cass.” He crossed over to her in three long strides, taking her hands in his. “I can request a reassignment. Reduce my patrol territory to focus on the areas around Border Town.”
She blinked up at him. “You’d do that?”
“I’m not leaving you,” he said firmly.
“But your duties?—”
“Can be adjusted.” He shrugged. “And if they’re not willing to readjust them, I’ll resign.”
Relief flooded through her, followed quickly by a warm, expanding feeling in her chest. “So we’re really going to be together?”
“As long as that’s what you want.” The vulnerable look returned, but that silver gaze didn’t falter. “I love you, Cass. I want to make a life with you. I know it might be too soon for?—”
“I love you too,” she interrupted, a tear sliding down her cheek.
“You do?” He released her hands, and gently wiped the tear away.
“Yes. I just didn’t think—I never expected?—”
“Neither did I,” he said, and then he kissed her.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him as if he were the only real thing in a universe spinning out of control. When the kiss finally ended, they stayed together, his forehead pressed against hers.
Roland chirped from across the room, interrupting their moment with what sounded suspiciously like disapproval.
“I think we’re being judged,” she whispered against his lips.
“He’s just jealous.” He kissed her once more before stepping back. “We should finish packing. Even without the storm, I want to be back in Border Town before dark.
The rest of their preparations went quickly and efficiently, despite the happiness bubbling up inside her. Every time they looked at each other or their hands touched, she found herself eagerly anticipating their future together.
While he went to secure the station for their departure, she made one final sweep of the main room, ensuring they hadn’t missed anything crucial. At the console, she hesitated for a moment then created a secure, encrypted file with all their data and hid it behind layers of code where only she could access it again. No one who came to the station after them would be able to find it.
When she joined Zach in the hangar, he was standing next to a clearly impatient Phantom. Roland scurried over to her and she lifted him onto her shoulder, his familiar weight comforting.
