Page 24 of Trusting Warik (Hissa Warrior #9)

Chapter 24

Warik

I hate this feeling , Shift complained as seven Hissa maneuvered her “brain” onto a specially made hover cart. They had to go slow because any sudden movement could damage Shift. Warik was forced to keep a hold of Nisha, or she might’ve gotten in the warriors’ way as they figured out the best way to handle Shift’s physical self.

Because the place was originally owned by Nisha’s mother, Nisha built Shift’s brain in the basement and kept expanding it over the years. Nisha never thought she’d move so she hadn’t cared that Shift wouldn’t fit through any of the doors or hallways.

Faced with the challenge of getting Shift out of the building, the Hissa had been quick to turn to demolition. One team was in the basement getting Shift onto the hover cart while another was widening doorways and removing an entire wall.

Not that the Hissa helping them knew what Shift was. Nisha and Warik told them it was one of Nisha’s specialty inventions that she couldn’t leave behind. Not a single male grumbled. Nisha was revered among the Hissa for bringing them the Decanting technology everyone thought was lost.

“What does it feel like?” Nisha asked.

Floating? Hanging? Shift said, her voice full of anxiety. I don’t know how to describe it because I’m not used to physical experiences. It must be horrible to be flesh and feel this type of thing all the time! The sensation of moving is excruciating!

Nisha could hear the growing fear in Shift’s tone. “Do you want them to stop? We could leave your brain here and keep using the relays.”

I don’t want to be left behind, Shift said. Besides, I hate the delay.

Warik looked down at Nisha. “Delay?”

“It’s only milliseconds,” Nisha explained. “But Shift is sensitive to any slowing down of her response.”

Milliseconds to you, millennium to me! Shift announced dramatically. She’d be enjoying trying out a new personality lately that tended toward drama and teenage-esque angst. Nisha explained Shift would change her voice, pronouns, and other things as she tried on different types of personalities. Warik found this version of Shift entertaining.

“We can’t all be as special as you,” Nisha responded with a little laugh.

“Warik is special!” someone said. “In need of special help!”

Warik and Nisha turned to find Toric standing there holding several bags.

“Special enough to earn Nisha’s love and trust,” Warik answered, putting an arm around his mate’s shoulders. When Nisha displayed mating marks after he returned, there’d been a lot of questions. That’s when he’d found out she hadn’t bothered telling anyone she was Decanted.

Some Hissa must’ve known. Nisha had shown them the technique that didn’t require implants. It made sense to most that if her mother pioneered the method, of course Nisha wouldn’t be born with a Decanting scar. Other Hissa probably did the math and realized Nisha’s mother had been too old to give birth to her. What truly shocked Warik was that those males never said anything. It was probably so they didn’t have to compete for Nisha’s attention, but the joke was on them because Nisha isolated herself from everyone but the children and Malk.

“Hi Toric, how did the wall removal go?” she asked, looking past him with curiosity.

“All done,” Toric said. “We’ll be able to get your mystery box out through the back.”

Shift snickered, then assumed a deep male voice. Behold the power of the Mystery Box! All hail the Mystery Box!

Warik chuckled at Shift while Nisha ignored the AI. “What about getting her—uh, the box to the port?”

Toric didn’t seem to notice Nisha’s slip of the tongue. Even if he had, Warik was sure he wouldn’t think anything of it. When you worked with tech long enough, it was common to give it a name and personality even if it wasn’t an AI.

“We’ve got the large ground hauler ready,” Toric assured her. “It will take a while because we’ll have to go around the city center, but the trip to the port should be smooth. We have it all mapped out.”

“And I’m traveling with you guys and the box, right?” Nisha asked. Toric nodded and Nisha sagged a little against him.

That’s better!

At Shift’s words, Warik looked over to see the box had been successfully loaded onto the hover cart and the men were now strapping it down. The box would stay secured to the cart until they settled Shift into her new home on Hissa.

The last report he’d received was that the new house he’d asked for was halfway finished. It would be all done by the time they got back and would include a large work space in the back for Shift and Nisha’s personal projects.

“We’re really glad you decided to stay,” Toric commented. “Even if you did pick Warik.”

Warik chuckled at Toric’s words, making the male look uncomfortable. That was happening a lot. Warik wasn’t the emotional black hole he used to be and apparently everyone found it disconcerting.

“I’m going to go check the ramp we built,” Toric said and hurried away.

“They’re glad I decided to stay now that they all know I’m Decanted,” Nisha muttered.

“No, they’re glad you decided to stay, full stop,” Warik argued. “When I asked the building authorities if I could have a domicile three times larger than normal for the two of us, they didn’t even ask me why. They agreed and started building before we even left Hissa to get Shift.”

“Really?” Nisha asked.

“How can you be surprised?” Warik asked, turning her so they were facing each other. “You’re brilliant, kind, and dedicated. Who wouldn’t want you to be part of their community?”

Nisha’s eyes turned glassy. “It’s really nice to be wanted.”

What’s going on! Akkk, I’m floating away! Nisha, Warik, help!”

Shift’s screeching made both of them startle and turn to face Shift. The hoover cart was slowly, but steadily, lifting up.

“You’re fine,” Nisha assured the AI.

“We’re here,” Warik said. “We won’t let anything happen to you.”

Don’t leave me! Shift begged.

“Never,” Warik promised.

***

Nisha

Nisha tugged at the soft shirt she was wearing. It was in the Hissa style so the neckline was low enough to show off the mating marks on her neck and a little bit of her shoulders. She wasn’t the biggest fan of the clothing, but it made Warik happy so she’d decided to see if she could get used to it.

“How are you feeling?” Nisha asked. After they’d gotten Shift loaded onto the transport shuttle, they’d decided against unloading her from the craft. It made sense, the less they moved her, the safer she would be and when they got home she’d be in the transport and ready to go. Still, Nisha was having a hard time leaving her sister on the shuttle in a cold, dark bay.

I don’t like being cut off from the shop, Shift admitted. After they’d sold the shop, Shift had removed herself from the shop’s systems. She could still see out of Nisha’s eyes, but nothing else. Nisha didn’t even have any of her droids for Shift to command. They were all packed away in sealed boxes.

“I’ll find a scutter for you,” Nisha promised.

“You can look through my eyes,” Warik offered. Because Nisha wanted to stay with Shift, Warik didn’t leave the transport either. When he’d said he wouldn’t be in a different room than her, he hadn’t been kidding.

“You’d have to have special implants,” Nisha warned him.

“I don’t care,” Warik said with an easy smile. “I want Shift to have more access. She’s your sister so that makes her my sister too.”

Aww, thanks Warik! I accept, Shift said, sounding relieved.

“The menders on the ship should be able to install the upgraded implants,” Warik said. “But I’ll have to go to the med bay.”

Then let's leave it for a little while, Shift said. I don’t want to be alone right now. I feel vulnerable. I don’t like this feeling.

“Hello in there?” a cheerful voice called out before Nisha could say she’d stay as long as Shift needed her to.

“Come on in, Gilor,” Warik shouted back.

“Gilor?” Nisha asked. “What’s he doing here?”

“You promised I could get tatted after we retrieved Shift,” Warik explained, pointing to Shift’s box. “We have Shift so now I want my tats.”

Before Nisha could respond, Gilor stepped in, a battered black box in his hand and a smile on his face.

“Greetings Nisha,” he said with a little bow to her. “Normally, I wouldn’t let a mate be present while I tatted, but Warik tells me he can’t bear to put walls between the two of you.”

Nisha took hold of Warik’s hand. “You don’t have to do this. I know you love me, and you're devoted. I don’t doubt you at all.”

Gilor cleared his throat. “Are you trying to hurt Warik’s feelings, Nisha?”

She frowned at the tatter. “I’m trying to keep him from being hurt. You guys don’t use any kind of numbing agents or analgesics when you tat.”

“That’s the whole point, darling,” Gilor said with a gentle smile. Reaching up, he rubbed a hand across his unmarked throat. “The pain is a small way to show you how much we love you. Most Hissa will never have the privilege of experiencing this pain, would you really deny Warik that honor?”

Put like that, Nisha couldn’t say no. “I guess not. Can I hold his hand during the process?”

Gilor pulled a small, retractable table out of the wall and set his case on it. “If you like,” he agreed and flipped it open to reveal several items Nisha had never seen before. “You can’t speak to him, though. He must be silent and stoic during the process.”

I don’t like this either, Shift said. I spend way too much time trying to keep you guys safe only to have you voluntarily hurt yourself?

“Hush,” Warik murmured, and Nisha could tell he was talking to both her and Shift. “This is an important pain. Let me endure this with honor.”

“Take off your shirt and lay on the floor, Warik,” Gilor ordered, all his earlier cheerfulness gone, replaced by a serious, solemn warrior.

Warik stood up and pulled off his shirt. Nisha rushed to grab a blanket and lay it on the floor. Gilor didn’t say anything, but she could tell he didn’t like it. Too damn bad, she was doing it anyway.

Once Warik was stretched out on the blanket, Gilor knelt next to his shoulder. “Do you agree to carry the marks of your mate?”

“With all my soul,” Warik agreed. “I want all the world to know who I belong to each time they see me.”

“May the moon light our path and guide my hand,” Gilor murmured. He looked up at her and pointed to a spot on the floor next to Warik’s hip. She settled there and picked up one of his hands in both of hers.

Once she’d done that, Gilor brought the device down against Warik’s neck and drew a line. It had to hurt, but Warik didn’t even flinch.

Nisha watched as Gilor made an exact copy of her mating marks on Warik’s neck and shoulders. He was almost done with the front when he added something that wasn’t on her neck right below Warik's right ear. It was a schematic shorthand Nisha used to denote Shift’s name.

He’d included Shift in the tattoo. Nisha blinked hard to keep back her tears.

He really loves us , Shift whispered in her ear in a tone that told her the AI was only talking to her.

He truly does, Nisha thought. And we get to spend the rest of our lives loving him back.