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Also, hella unique because he’d never encountered any like hers before in all his time on Earth or Pegasi.

For a moment, he pondered about her progeny and genetics, resisting the temptation to access his neural node to look into it.

Just as earlier today, she turned away from him.

This time, irritation licked his spine, even as desire snaked through him.

His focus snapped back when Solano chuckled and tipped his tumbler toward Ki’Remi, having grasped where the Sableman’s attention focused.

‘Something caught your eye, Sable?’

The Rider took a measured sip of his rum, letting the burn settle before setting the vessel down with a quiet clink.

‘Who is that?’ he asked, keeping his tone casual, detached.

Solano followed Ki’Remi’s line of sight.

‘Oh, that’s Issa Elaris.’ He leaned in to whisper conspiratorially. ‘She’s sofokkinhot, I’d rock her world if she ever let me.’

The Sableman sucked his teeth. ‘I’ll ignore your last comment, Solano because you’ve been a respected colleague. Also, I know her name, but who is she? Her role, man.’

Solano smirked, unapologetic about his fawning. ‘One of our best general surgeons.’

Ki’Remi’s brows rose, but he kept his expression calm. ‘I’m Head of Surgery,’ he rasped, swirling the rum in his glass. ‘Why haven’t I met her before? Granted, I am new to the ship and unfamiliar with all the staff.’

Solano shrugged, taking another sip of his drink. ‘She was on assignment working at a pro-bono clinic on Ilyria XIV. She came in on a transport this morning, I believe.’

‘I see,’ the Rider rasped, but it didn’t explain everything else about her. ‘Tell me about her, professionally, seeing I’m her boss now.’

Solano’s lips quirked, his gaze glinting with amusement. ‘She’s a free-wheeler. A radical. One who believes in cutting-edge methods.’

Ki’Remi’s jaw ticked. ‘You’re saying she cuts corners.’

Solano exhaled a short laugh, shaking his head. ‘Nada. She refines them. Never seen anyone work a scalpel with such precision apart from you. However, she can at times buck the trend with her ideas.’

That made Ki’Remi’s brow furrow. ‘Techniques we approve of?’

‘Not always,’ came the drawled response. ‘She gets shit done, Commander, and sometimes on a floating hospital ship of mercy with a ton of emergencies and relief missions, tis what needs to happen.’

Ki’Remi bristled. ‘Fokknada. Without approval, that’s breaking the rules and bypassing safeguards.’

Solano just shrugged. ‘Maybe. But tell me, Sable, do you follow every rule to the letter?’

Ki’Remi didn’t reply.

Because, for one, at his core, he was a rebel, hell,a Rider. The essence of how they survived, heck, how they continued to kick ass on Eden II and Pegasi, was by defying the status quo and resisting corruption and evil.

Also, because Issa Elaris was on the move.

His eyes tracked her as she approached the lounge’s exit.

Her sway was poised, intentional, and self-possessed, her curves and fine thighs rolling like she was on cloud nine, her smirk like she was selling a kick-ass starter kit.

He growled under his breath as he noted that all of the men in the bar were likewise staring, some not hiding their slobbering as she sailed past.

She swiveled just before disappearing through the doorway, eyes slicing to his.

Their gazes locked, and a wry half-smile tugged at her lips this time.