Seventeen
Vengeance had bred with Astrid three times during the rest cycle, his exhilaratingly aggressive warrior female seeking satisfaction between durations of sleep.
Three times hadn’t been sufficient. His gaze tracked her movements as she rushed around their chambers, gathering her weapons. He wanted her again.
“The body covering didn’t stop shit during the mock battle.” She had donned chest and ass coverings, the leather pulling tight across her ass as she paced. “I have to build up my strength so I can wear proper body armor.” She touched the armor on his forearm. “Can I take this?”
He nodded. Everything he had was hers.
She transferred the piece from his forearm to hers. It covered her from the heel of her hand well past her elbow.
“That will hamper your movement.” He warned. She’d find it challenging to bend her arm.
“I can defend myself with my other hand.” His female extracted a dagger from one of her sheaths, spun it in her fingers.
She could defend herself, but he would ensure that wasn’t necessary. He’d also ask some of his warriors to fabricate lighter body armor for his smaller human.
She would want for nothing.
And he had everything he needed. He gazed at her. He had his female, her caring, her insights, her resolve.
She had claimed him as part of her clan. He realized the honor that was. His female would die for her kinfolk.
She would die for him.
As he would die for her. She was a part of him, irreplaceable, cherished, loved.
The viewscreens buzzed, flashing light and dark. He gritted his teeth, yearning for more moments alone with his female. That was not to be. She had been befriended by many on the Homeland. He had his position on the council.
“It is Medic Tifara, Death’s female.” He was a cyborg, didn’t require devices to communicate.
“She’s here to scan me.” Astrid’s smile was sheepish. “That’s no longer necessary, but we’ll tell her that face-to-face.
He authorized the doors to open. The human medic meandered through them, her head bent over her handheld, her lips moving. “I don’t understand why that didn’t work. It works on all viruses. It should—”
Death placed a hand on his female’s shoulder.
She stopped walking and talking. “What?” Her eyes widened as she saw Vengeance. “Oh.” Her gaze shifted to Astrid. “Ohhh…”
His warrior female’s face turned an interesting shade of red. Unlike the rest of her kind, she wasn’t concerned about nudity. She did seem to be concerned about who knew they were breeding.
He logged that logic inconsistency in his databases under information he should know about his female.
“I assume the test is over?” Death’s female didn’t appear happy with that revelation.
“The nanocybotics weren’t fading.” Astrid pointed out a fact the medic should have already known. “There was no need to prolong the experiment.”
“Does this mean you won’t test ways to break your bond?” Medic Tifara frowned. “I’ve been working on several solutions. One of them might work.”
A chill fell on Vengeance. He’d known Power was working on that project. He didn’t realize it was moving forward with his warrior female’s approval.
Had he been that close to losing her?
“My female—” Emotion smothered the rest of his words.
“No.” Her gaze flicked to his face and her eyes widened. “No,” she repeated, rushing to his side. “I never wanted to break my bond with you, Vengeance.” She bracketed his cheeks with her palms, her firm grip on him reinforcing her statement. “If I had wanted to sever our connection, I wouldn’t have needed any help to do that.” She stroked his skin. “I would have simply killed you.”
His anguish receded, his rational thought returning. This was his attack-first-consider-the-consequences-later female. She hadn’t been involved in any secret plot to break their bond. “You can’t kill me. You’re too slow.”
“That’s not why I can’t kill you, cyborg.” She smiled at him, the caring in her eyes repairing the last of his emotional damage. “You know that.”
Death huffed, reminding them they weren’t alone.
“I’m not testing any other ways to break my bond with my mate.” Astrid leveled a hard glance on Medic Tifara. “I told Power that. Then I told you the same thing. Your male witnessed our conversation.”
“I did.” The warrior’s head dipped.
Death was a cyborg and cyborgs couldn’t lie. Vengeance didn’t need that confirmation, however. He trusted his female.
“I thought you might change your mind about the tests.” Medic Tifara waved her free hand. “In the interest of research, of course. The nanocybotics operate like a virus. It should be possible to formulate a cure for them. But I need test subjects.” She looked at her male.
“No.” Death crossed his arms. “You’re not utilizing us as test subjects. Concentrate on another project, my female. No one wants a cure for the bond between warriors and their females.”
“Your male is correct.” Vengeance backed up the warrior. “No one wants a cure.” He clasped his warrior female’s hand, linking their fingers. “We tested the strength of the bond. It holds. That’s sufficient research.”
“There’s no such thing as sufficient research,” the medic mumbled. “We can never know too much.”
“You requested your freedom.” Vengeance addressed Death, abruptly changing the topic. He didn’t want to hear more chatter about breaking bonds. It was…distressing. “I will speak with the council and ensure you’re granted it.”
It was a small reward for their priceless assistance. He squeezed Astrid’s hand.
“We can leave the planet, visit the offspring of bonded couples.” Medic Tifara became animated. “I can verify the readings from other medics, examine how the virus—”
“Our nanocybotics.” Death’s tone was dry.
“Change from generation to generation.” Her gaze became unfocussed. “Will they be genetically compatible with other beings also? Is the virus—”
“Our nanocybotics,” the medic’s warrior corrected yet again.
“As strong in the second generation as it is in the first? How does it change from generation to generation? Are…”
The female asked question after question, not pausing for a reply. Death gazed at the little medic with a fondness Vengeance felt for his own warrior female. The male would do anything for his human.
Including bargain for their freedom.
The request for their liberation hadn’t been made to benefit Death. It had been made to benefit Death’s female, to allow her to visit the offspring, further her study of their nanocybotics, keep future generations of cyborgs damage-free.
Vengeance met Astrid’s gaze. They might manufacture some members of that future generation. The knowledge Medic Tifara gathered could be utilized to safeguard their offspring.
He had been hindering those efforts.
The paired warriors were protective of their females, of their offspring. They avoided the Homeland because they didn’t feel safe there.
Because he, and some of his followers, had blocked decisions that would have shielded the bonded humans and humanoids. He had been vocal about his plans to expel non-cyborgs, had ensured they wouldn’t feel welcome on the planet.
More than his relationship with his female had been damaged by his unrelenting stance.
“I will be sharing information in a meeting chamber at the beginning of the second shift, Medic Tifara, Death’s Female.” He announced, breaking into her endless stream of words. “You and your male should attend that briefing.”
The medic gazed up at him, her expression dazed. “You called me by my name.”
“Warriors call you Death’s Female out of respect to him.” Vengeance’s voice was gruff. “I call you Medic Tifara out of respect to you.”
The medic would always hold his esteem and warrant his protection. She had located his warrior female for him, giving him happiness, hope, love.
“Now I see why Astrid didn’t want to break your bond.” Medic Tifara clasped Death’s hand. “Convince Power you don’t need our input on decisions, that you can represent the warriors and their females, leaving my male and me free to further our research, and you’ll become my favorite council member.”
“Consider that done.” Vengeance nodded. He would strive to fulfill two of those roles—representing the C Models and representing the paired warriors. Astrid could represent the females.
He wrapped his arm around her waist. She was his kinfolk, part of their clan of two. They would enter every battle together.
***
Word of his impending announcement quickly spread. By the beginning of the second shift, the meeting chamber had filled with beings.
The council members, as well as Death and Death’s female, sat in the first row. Warriors were positioned behind them. Vengeance’s words would be broadcast to cyborgs everywhere.
He stood stiffly at the front of the chamber, his hand in Astrid’s. Words were not his preferred weapon. He would wield them this planet rotation to repair some of the damage he’d caused, to ensure all bonded females felt welcome on the Homeland.
The council members had been given a brief overview of what he would communicate. The males didn’t all agree with his stance, but they wouldn’t be surprised by it. They deserved to be shown that respect.
Vengeance stepped forward. His warrior female moved with him, standing straight and proud by his side.
The chamber grew quiet. Gazes fixed on him.
“I have been vocal about my views regarding the bonding of human and humanoid females with our warriors.” He scanned the faces before him. “I believed a warrior could resist his attraction and refuse to breed with his genetically compatible female. That would prevent the formation of any lasting connection. Once the pair had bred, I believed their connection could be broken. I viewed the female’s lack of a permanent link to us, to one of our brethren, as a risk to all of us. It jeopardized our planet, our freedom, our lifespans. I have campaigned for the expulsion of all human and humanoid females from the Homeland.”
Some of his supporters nodded. They expected him to maintain that stance.
He couldn’t do that. His previous beliefs hadn’t reflected reality. Acting upon them would damage his brethren, his female, their future, not better it.
He met Power’s gaze. “I was wrong. My views were wrong.”
A buzz flowed through the chamber. Power’s eyes gleamed. The E Model would use this moment against him. Vengeance was certain about that.
His warrior female bumped against his side. He braced himself for more damage. She valued strength and he had made many mistakes.
He looked at her and his processors spun.
Instead of seeing disapproval, rejection, or contempt in her brown eyes, he viewed admiration. She was proud of his admission. Professing to being wrong hadn’t decreased her respect for him, as he’d feared. It had increased it.
He stood straighter, the weight on his shoulders vanishing. His female supported his decision. He could endure everyone else’s judgment.
The chamber quieted and he continued. “When I found the human female genetically compatible with me, I was determined to prove my position. I hated all humans. Refusing to breed with one of their kind should have been a simple mission.”
He paused. Warriors stared at him.
“I failed in that mission.”
Eyes widened. The Humanoid Alliance, their cruel manufacturers, had punished failure with decommissioning, the most painful of deaths. Warriors never admitted to making mistakes.
“I then tried to break the connection.” He put one of his arms around his female, drawing her closer to him, needing her strength, her support. “I failed in that mission also. My nanocybotics didn’t fade. Being apart from my female, unable to touch her, damaged me and it damaged her.”
He would always regret causing her that pain.
“The connection between a warrior and the female he’s genetically compatible with is permanent and irresistible. I was a fool to question it.”
A wave of chatter swept the chamber once more.
His role on the council could be revoked. He had accepted that possible fate when he’d decided upon this briefing. His warriors might not want a fool to represent them.
If that happened, he had his female, and he had his integrity. That would be enough for him.
“You are many things, but you’re no fool, my male.” Astrid surprised him by stating, her voice loud and clear. “You were right to test the connection between us.”
The gaze of every warrior, including himself, shifted to her beautiful face.
“When I met you, I hated all cyborgs.” She relayed their history. “I had killed your kind, had chosen that as my private mission. Although I felt the connection between us, I tried to kill you too.”
“That’s true.” He held up his damaged finger.
Warriors laughed. They loved her take-no-captives attitude. As he did.
“I foolishly and violently resisted our link.” She placed one of her hands on the handle of her holstered gun, a reminder to everyone in the chamber that she was skilled with weapons. “If you had transported me here, to the Homeland, immediately, I would have tried to blow up structures and end some of our brethren’s lifespans.”
Our brethren. She had claimed the warriors as hers. He squeezed her hip. “I would have stopped you.”
“You wouldn’t have brought me to the Homeland.” She returned her gaze to the crowd. “Your females could be just as passionate, just as fierce as I am. They could have reasons to hate cyborgs as you have reasons to hate humans. Don’t underestimate them, or you might find yourself stunned.” She looked at one of the C Models he had assigned to escort her. “Mock dead.” She gazed at a warrior she had defeated during the mock battle. “Or worse.”
The warriors nudged each other, smiles on their faces. The prospect of being paired with fierce, warrior females didn’t daunt them. They wanted that challenge.
As Vengeance did. Every planet rotation of his lifespan.
But the males weren’t reckless. Her warnings would be heeded. The warriors wouldn’t rush their females’ assimilations. They would ensure the danger to others was minimalized.
Delays in returning to the Homeland would be viewed as testaments to their females’ savagery.
Vengeance gazed at Astrid with open admiration.
With a mere speech, she had increased security on the planet and positioned him as being a prudent leader, rather than a foolish male. His female had preserved his role on the council.
She’d done that because she cared for him.
“I love you, my warrior female.” The words shot out of his mouth, projectiles of truth he couldn’t suppress. Everyone was listening to them, but that didn’t stop him. He had to tell her how he felt now, not waiting one more moment.
She blinked those long lashes of hers, her mouth dropping open. “What did you say?”
“Humans have inferior auditory systems.” He pulled on one of her braids, feeling self-conscious about his declaration.
She scowled. “Cyborgs will have daggers in their stomachs if they don’t repeat themselves.”
He grinned. She was so fraggin’ fierce.
“I love you, my warrior female.” He met her gaze. “I love your strength, your sense of honor, your caring. There’s no one I’d rather have guarding my back during battle, sitting at my right hand during council meetings, lying beside me on our sleeping support. My heart, my soul, my sword is yours.”
“Stop talking, you brute.” She threw herself at him, her arms flaying. “Damn it.” She punched his body armor-clad stomach with her small fists. “You don’t wait”—she pounded him—“until we’re in public”—she drove her right fist into his abs—“to tell me you love me.”
The scent of her blood tickled his nose. “What have you done?” He caught her wrists and examined her fists. Her knuckles were cracked. “You’ve damaged yourself.”
“I’m going to damage you.” She struggled, fighting, thrashing like a wild creature.
He licked her knuckles, the metallic taste of her blood coating his tongue. “You’re attempting to damage me because I feel the human love emotion for you?” He struggled to follow her logic.
“No.” She kicked him in the shins. He felt nothing. That part of him was protected with body armor also. “I’m upset because you told me you loved me when everyone was watching us.” A tear dripped down her scarred cheek.
Alarm surged through him. “I’ve emotionally damaged you.” He lifted her into his arms and gazed around frantically, not knowing how to stop the dreaded tears.
“It’s good damage.” She pressed her face against his chest. “I don’t want anyone other than you to see me like this. Get me out of here.”
Power, Death’s female, others had gathered around them, waiting to speak with them. Ignoring their protests, both spoken and transmitted, Vengeance pushed through the crowd with his female.
She wanted to leave. He would do anything to stem her emotional damage, the sound of her sniffles, the sight of wetness on her cheeks ripping his heart out of his chest.
Once freed of the crowd, he ran at cyborg speed, carrying his female to their chambers. He blasted through the doors with her and skidded to a halt, leaving black boot marks on the floor tiles.
“We’re no longer in public,” he assured her, having satisfied that requirement. “There’s no need for emotional damage.” The tears could stop now.
She burrowed deeper into him. “I like this type of emotional damage.”
He didn’t like it. At all.
“I love you so much, Vengeance.” Her voice was muffled. “So very, very much.”
That was the source of her emotional damage. He nodded, now understanding her response. “The human love emotion is powerful.”
His warrior female was more passionate than other beings. She would feel the love more.
For him.
Overcome with wonder, he sat on the end of the sleeping support, Astrid cradled in his arms. She felt it for him.
He stroked her braids, her hair delectably soft. Her shoulders trembled.
He was the only being she allowed to see her like this, emotionally open to attack, vulnerable. She trusted him to defend her, to keep her exposed heart safe.
His love for her swelled in his chest, fed by her faith in him. Before traveling to Second Buoir, he had hated all humans. Now, the human in his arms was the most precious being in the universe to him.
He kissed the top of her head. “I love you, my warrior female.”