Page 26

Chapter Seventeen

Aboard the Aroagni.

D rafe leaned over the holograph, tracing the pods’ paths to the origin.

The Aroagni circled Jupiter shrouded, not wanting other research or cargo vessels to spot them.

The planet was truly a ball of gas. Nothing hovered close to its center or survived the gasses, and even though Ivoy planned to mine it, Drafe was nowhere closer to finding the source of the pods.

“Focus on the moons.” Aehort paused beside him. “A few are inhabited by humans. One of them might have more than meets the eye.”

“Like a secret base?” Drafe tapped the console and ordered a deeper scan of each moon as they traveled past it.

He settled his gaze on the closest warrior.

Awayar aac Caah Taed knew only of water and ice, his white hair and eyes blaring his origins.

“Listen for communications not on the expected frequencies and crafts landing where they shouldn’t.

Send a shuttle to capture a pod. Do not open it. ”

“Acknowledged, Drafe Arrak.”

Drafe straightened and rested his hip against the table. Something felt odd, the whispers of his symbiotes were quieter than usual.

“What bothers you, Drafe?” Aehort studied him. Though, what went on in his brilliant mind was far beyond Drafe’s understanding.

“I cannot say.” He closed his eyes and imagined himself on Qaldreth, the sunlight on his face and the hardpacked salt plains beneath his feet. On his hip hung the familiar weight of his water pouch, and in his hand was his father’s sword.

“ Gevatia , is this a cucooya?”

He lowered his gaze in his vision and smiled at Vic leaning against the tree. With suitable reverence, she cupped a blossom. She wore Qaldreth breeches and a tunic, and on her side was a water pouch marked with his symbol. More than this, she called him ‘beloved.’

An electric charge shot up his arm, whipping him out of the vision. He blinked at his smart band. Bringing his wrist to his lips, he answered, “Meorri aac Drafe Arrak.”

“Drafe?”

His breath froze in his lungs, and he grinned, too pleased to speak. Aehort nudged him out of his daze. “Yes, Vic.”

“I…I was going to ask you something, but I can’t put it into the right words.” She paused. “It’s good to hear your voice.”

“You are well?” Foq, she better be, or else he would hunt her down and save her. Human medicine had to be primitive, although, the work done on her mechanical limbs was almost on par with Ivoyan technology.

“I’m fine. Enjoying my job, and the food’s amazing.” The joy traveling with her voice saturated his heart. “How is your…task going?”

“Frustrating, but I am determined to finish this.” Then find you . He didn’t say the words but hoped she heard them anyway.

“I can’t wait.”

Foq, this was worse. He ached to hold her, to bury his nose in her sun-drenched hair and kiss her soft lips.

“I’m sending you my medical results. I hope it helps with your decision. Implants can be good and bad and can carry organisms if not properly handled.”

He frowned at his smart band. Organisms? What decision? “I look forward to reading it.” Why is she speaking in riddles? Is someone eavesdropping? He cupped the band and faced Aehort. “Can we secure this connection?”

“Not at the moment.” Aehort touched the console and tapped the buttons. “The weakness is on her side.”

Foq . Drafe released his breath on a whoosh. “When and where will you be docking, Vic? I could meet you there.”

“You can?” She laughed. “I don’t know. Probably not for a long time. After all, I saw you days ago. Farg, it feels so distant.” That last bit she whispered. “Did you get my file?”

He glanced at his smart band at the document flashing. “Yes. Thank you for sending it.”

Then before she disconnected, she said, “I wish I was with you.”

He wasn’t sure he heard right but chose to believe he had. Before he could respond, she ended the call. He gritted his teeth, not liking how she’d left him with all these questions.

“She is not safe.” Aehort gestured to the smart band. “Share the file.”

Drafe did so while battling the urge to command the Aroagni to chart a course to her ship.

“Mm,” Aehort hummed while he scanned her medical results. “I see.”

Drafe narrowed on the document hovering in the middle of the galaxy model.

It held jargon he couldn’t understand. Facing Aehort, he waited, folding his arms across his chest to better control his barbaric impulses.

His armor shimmered on and off, revealing his agitation.

His woman wasn’t safe, and that didn’t sit well with him.

“She has your symbiotes.”

“What?” Drafe slumped, splayed his hands on the table, and peered at the document. “How the foq did that happen?”

“You have to ask?” Aehort cackled as he pressed the call button. “Send a maed to the command center.”

Drafe frowned. “What are you planning, Aehort?”

“If she has your symbiotes, then you have hers.”

Drafe gasped and held his hand in front of him, twisting it to study it from all angles. “She has symbiotes?”

“The humans call them nanites, meant only to heal for a time. They have built-in self-destruct mechanisms that prevent them from overwhelming the body. Except hers aren’t dying and have fused with your symbiotes.”

“Healing?” Drafe withdrew his dagger from his belt, unsummoned his armor, and sliced his palm.

The pain was negligible. Before his blood could breach the gap, his skin knitted together with an odd prickling sensation.

Foq . He ran the dagger across his forearm, and again he healed without spilling a drop.

Nenn rushed in and waited.

Aehort nodded at him. “Take a sample of Drafe Arrak’s blood. Test it extensively.”

“Yes, Vizen Aehort Uz.”

Sighing, Drafe held still while Nenn pressed a gun to his neck. It pinched for a moment. Nenn studied the clear blood in the capsule, then rushed out.

Drafe couldn’t see the point. “This will only confirm it, Aehort.”

“Yes, but perhaps we can neutralize her nanites in you, but your symbiotes cannot be extracted from her. As I said, Drafe, she is yours.”

Drafe hid how his mind reeled. What flooded him with warmth was that she had called him and sought his guidance.

She had no idea what this meant to him, that she had lowered her pride, her self-reliance, and asked for his help.

Without hesitation, he would offer his aid.

For she had a part of him in her and, he hoped, left a piece of her in him.