“What will I do while you’re gone?” she asked. “Is there some way I could help on Xpashta?”
“None of the females have a job. Shaylee is the closest, I suppose. She asked to create small gardens, and she’s rather good at it. Maybe you could help her, if you like working with plants.”
Suki nodded. “I don’t really have any skills that would do much good here. Not unless you plan to open a brothel on your world.”
He tightened his arm around her, then loosened his grip so he wouldn’t harm her. “You will never do that again. You’re free, Suki. It’s why I wanted you to wait until we arrived before you chose your mate. You could have had anyone here, and now you’re stuck with me, the least desirable cyborg on our world.”
She leaned up and peered down at him. “I think you’re sexy, and I like how big you are. Being with you makes me feel safe because I know that no one would ever get past you to hurt me ever again.”
“Any who dared to try would die a slow and painful death,” he vowed.
Tark narrowed his eyes, feeling another cyborg trying to communicate. He allowed the transmission to come through, surprised it was Querrill.
TheMystic7is landing soon. We need you and your new mate to come on board.
Tark tried to contain his snort. Not likely. He wasn’t about to put Suki in danger.
Why do you need my mate? And how did you even know I have one?
Querrill responded immediately.Everyone knows. The Commanders notified everyone, including where and how you found her. There are others, Tark, other females suffering and in need of rescuing. We need your mate to convince them we mean no harm, and to come to Xpashta with us.
Tark didn’t like the idea of other females suffering as his Suki had, but he also didn’t want to endanger his mate. He’d only just found her. What if something went horribly wrong on the mission? What if a slaver snatched her and he couldn’t find her again? What if someone offered her a way back to Earth and she decided to take it, changing her mind about living with a beast such as him?
“What’s wrong?” Suki asked.
“It’s the medic on another ship, theMystic7. They’ve found other females in a situation like yours. They want the both of us to board the ship and go with him in an effort to rescue the females and bring them here,” Tark said.
“When do we leave?” she asked.
“We aren’t. I’m not putting your life in jeopardy, Suki. That kind of mission is far too dangerous for you.”
“Tark, please don’t ask me to sit here where it’s safe while other women are hurting and being used. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I could have helped put a stop to it. They’ll be scared, thinking your people are just as evil as the other aliens they’ve met. Please. Let me help,” she begged.
He closed his eyes and tried to come up with reasons she should remain home. When his gaze locked with hers, he knew that he couldn’t deny her request. If she wanted to help the other females, then he would let her, but he would remain by her side the entire time. No one would hurt his Suki, not ever again.
“Very well. I’ll let Querrill know that we’ll board theMystic7when it arrives on Xpashta. You’ll need to pack some clothes, and we should probably select some garments for any females we rescue. Since you all come in different shapes and sizes, stretchy things that would fit anyone would be best.”
She nodded.
My mate has agreed to help. We’ll be ready when theMystic7arrives. We’re bringing clothing for any females you take on board.
He received a confirmation and landing time from Querrill, then rose from the bed to begin preparing. He and Suki rinsed off in the cleansing unit and dressed before gathering the items they needed for the trip. Querrill hadn’t stated where they were going, and Tark could only hope it wasn’t one of the more lawless outposts.
Suki added four of her outfits to what Tark had set aside. While he shoved everything into his bag, she braided her hair and tied it off with a leather strip. He remembered Lathim buying pretty hair things for his mate and wished he had something nice like that to give Suki. He’d have to look for more shiny things to gift her while they were at a trading post. Once he’d finished packing, they grabbed an empty bag and went back to the storage area, selecting half a dozen things for any women they might be able to rescue.
TheMystic7landed on schedule and Tark led Suki up the ramp, pausing in the cargo area when he saw eight bunks set up and only a small handful of crates. Normally, the vessel’s cargo hold would be full to bursting with items for their world. It seemed they’d abandoned their mission at some point and begun searching for females, not that he couldn’t understand. Finding females was crucial to their people.
Querrill met them in the corridor just outside the cargo area. He smiled when he saw Suki, but kept his distance.
“Welcome aboard theMystic7,” Querrill said.
“Suki, this is Querrill. He’s the medic onboard,” Tark said.
Suki gave the cyborg a bashful smile and a little wave.
“I have quarters set up for you,” Querrill said. “Lathim has opted to stay home with his mate for the past few missions, so Milore is the captain for this trip.”
“Who else is on board?” Tark asked.
