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Finn scooped his arms under Luca’s knees and shoulders. He boosted up to standing in one power lift, taking Luca’s dead weight across his chest.

“Okay buddy. I got you.” He dipped, throwing Luca over his shoulder, jolting him once, twice to get into position.

Luca hung limp as a rag doll. Far from perfect, but it would fucking do.

“Med bay. Now .” The imperative in Remy’s synthesized voice was powerful.

“I hear you Remy. Moving.”

Liev followed with Rose.

Not daring to look backward, Finn took off, Luca’s heavy weight threatening to knock him off balance with every stride.

“Fuck me, Luca.” A wheezing grunt burst from him. “That’s the last time you have bacon for breakfast, buddy. It’s low calorie yoghurts all the way now.” His boots were loud on the metal floor. Too loud? Did nanobots have teeny tiny ears?

His skin pinched at the mere thought .

Keep moving. Just keep moving.

He followed the curve of the primary corridor. Relief flooded his system when the red cross of the med bay came into view, the door open, waiting.

“Duke!” Finn powered through the doorway and crossed to the nearest bed. Luca’s dark clothes contrasted with the brilliant white sheets when he laid him down. Finn’s stomach clenched—Luca’s skin was tinged dusky blue, his mouth slack, eyelids closed. Don’t you dare do this to me, Luca.

Duke hurried over, pulling on sterile gloves. “What the hell’s going on? All the electrics went haywire?—”

“The nanobots. They were…” Finn wiped his mouth, searching for calm. He should have been with Rose. This should have been him, not Luca.

“The nanobots breached his system,” Rose finished.

“They’re inside him?” Duke’s gaze pinned on Rose.

“They’re out now.” Her voice was strained. “But they may have caused microscopic damage. His neural and tissue systems need a detailed scan.”

Duke checked his vitals, pressing small adhesive sensors along Luca’s skin at key biofeedback points. “What about us?” His thick eyebrows knitted as he glanced between Rose and Finn. “Are we at risk?”

“The bio-hybrid entities have been temporarily neutralized by the power surge.” Remy’s voice was calm. “This affords us a window of safety. You are not in immediate danger.”

“Oxygen. Now.” Duke jerked his head toward the mask connected to tanks beside the bed.

Finn grabbed it, securing the mask over Luca’s nose and mouth with trembling fingers. Luca’s skin was cold, too cold beneath his touch. “Stay with us, Luca. You’ve got lots more pissing off to do. ”

“I have Brent Luca online now,” Remy’s modulated tones reported. “Hemorrhagic injuries sustained. Commencing treatment.” Twin probes rose from the side of the bed and sank into the skin on each side of Luca’s throat. His body seized tight, then went slack.

Duke unrolled a silver emergency blanket, draping it over his friend. Rose adjusted the space blanket under Luca’s chin ensuring he was fully covered. The tenderness of the gesture made something thick lodge in the back of Finn’s throat.

Remy’s voice was smooth as it filled the room. “Brent Luca is stabilizing.”

Finn squeezed Luca’s lax hand. “Remy’s gonna look after you now, while the rest of us are going to lock these bastards down for good.”

“That’s the best thing I’ve heard all day.” Rose’s eyes held a fierce determination.

“You have any ideas?” Liev’s hands hung loose, close to the weapons holstered at his hip.

She nodded. “I do.”