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The halls of the Perseus Prime pulsed with controlled energy. They were lined with titanium-alloy bulkheads and holo-displays that shared data across multiple decks.

An army of autobot and cleaning drones meant sterile air, synthetic oxygen, and antiseptic clung to the surfaces.

She moved beside Ki’Remi.

He prowled rather than walked, and her legs churned faster, trying to match his precise, power-driven strides.

For a man his size, he stalked fast, in silence.

Like an uncaged predator.

She forced herself to match his pace and keep her chin high, even as every cell in her body tensed, knowing he was not done with her.

She caught glances from the passing med officers, nurses, and cybernetic specialists, staring at him with adoration and reverence.

He acknowledged them with short nods and growled greetings.

To her amazement, he called them all by name.

In return, the staff adored him despite his brooding intensity.

He was the rockstar of this ship, the lead surgeon with a massive reputation for saving more lives than anyone else onboard in the six months since joining the crew.

Yet he had no patience for distraction, small talk, or her wild card approach.

He had no idea that she had no choice.

She shuddered to think what he would do, how he’d react if he found out.

Would he kick her out of his team?

It was the last thing she desired.

For her, the Perseus Prime was more than a medical ship.

It was a sanctuary, an ultimate hope for the forgotten, the war-ravaged, and the sick who had nowhere to turn. A haven for her, too.

Issa was proud to be here despite her past, her sins, and the shadow that followed her wherever she went.

The problem was that Ki’Remi was studying her too closely.

Somehow, and she suspected his meta capabilities, he’d caught herSsignakhtelemental healing.

No one else had ever witnessed and recollected the pulse; all they did was guess a procedure, to which she added a misremembering nudge.

She groaned that he was the first to have observed and recalled it.

This meant he was smart enough to figure her out and uncover her secrets.

Fokk.

She swallowed hard as they reached the Admiral’s ready room.

Ki’Remi paused, palming the control panel, the doors sliding open with a hiss of pressurized air.

The Rider gave her a curt nod, and she stepped in before him.

Coming to face to face with the man rounding a large working desk.