“My thanks.”Cylo gripped Fyca’s shoulder, fatigue sending a ripple of weakness through him.
“I will let you know should we pass an asteroid.”
At Fyca’s offer, Cylo bowed his head in thanks and left.
“See to your female,” Koddo said when Cylo entered the common.
He should have reported to Malo, but that could wait.Instead, he glanced at the rainbow-haired female a little obscured by the opaque dome.
“The females are asking for her…Wren.”Durok squeezed Cylo’s upper arm.
“Wren,” Cylo said, rolling her name over his tongue.He crossed to her.The bruises were almost gone, but the purple tinge to her skin remained.“Findings?”he asked Qaff.
“It is difficult to summarize.”Qaff stayed silent for a few moments.“The chemicals they gave her are attempting to change her genetic code.The other females were not administered the same chemicals.Hers are more potent.Perhaps she was given more than one dose?”Qaff stared at her, his brow furrowed.
Cylo splayed his fingers across the dome when her limbs twitched.“Will she live?”
“Yes.”Qaff was swift in his response.“But as what, I cannot say.I have shared the data with the medical council and all medic lima kuu.”
Cylo grunted, having all this confirmed.“How long will she sleep?”He stroked the dome as if he could tuck a floating turquoise curl behind her ear.She seemed so small—nothing like the fierce creature who’d used his greatsword, stabbed a Yithian in the eye, and challenged him post-explosion.
Qaff shrugged.“The sedatives must be modulated constantly to ensure she remains unconscious for the med-E.D.to complete its analysis.”
“So not the normal doses required for humans?”Cylo smothered a wince when she jerked again, the movement rippling through her vibrant hair.He turned away.“Durok, fetch the females.Perhaps their voices will be calming.”
“As commanded.”Durok hesitated, meeting Cylo’s gaze with ice-blue eyes.
Cylo froze.“Durok?”He caught the male by his shoulders to stare into his changed irises.
“It is true.”The male beamed.
Joy exploded through Cylo like a sunburst, snatching his breath.“This…is wonderful.”
“I must warn you.A fem…womanis a mother and is calling for her damu, claiming they are all alone.”Durok dipped his head in sadness.“The women are asking for our aid.”
Cylo jerked back.‘Woman’ instead of ‘female?’What Durok said registered next.
Anger was swift to dampen his happiness.“The xemi took a mother?”He clenched his jaw as violent fury burned through his veins.“Supreme Commander Jokta is sending scimitars to guard the kuta transferring the…women to thePhoenix.One of them can be diverted to Earth.Comm Adviser Kanzo.A battleship orbiting Earth must send a few warriors to protect or retrieve her damu.”
Durok smiled.“I will do so.”
“Good,” Cylo said.
Under the circumstances, that was all they could do from so far away.Exhaustion weighed every limb as if he carried slabs of Fuyra rock.He struggled to remain upright.The med-gun had done its job but hadn’t revived his energy levels, and as Fyca had noted, the scent of his blood still lingered.
He glanced over his shoulder at the eighth woman.
Determination curled his fingers into fists.Since she was unexpected, she was a gift he had to treasure.He headed to his quarters in the barracks.There, he stripped and stepped into the cleanser, moaning when the hot water drenched him.He caught the tail of his braid and removed the Maloidian metal clip.Tossing it aside, he raised his face to the spray while his hair unraveled itself.
His mind replayed every second since he’d met…Wren.She’d shown remarkable strength after what she must have endured.And she’d been commanding.Without her suggestion, they might not have escaped the explosions in time.He smiled while spinning for the blast of air from the dryer.
“Malia pa,” he said and waited as his hair braided itself.
He caught the tail and snapped the clip in place.Taking long strides, he crossed to the small replicator and ordered fresh armor.He dressed, with the final task the latching of the magnetic straps on his boots.A row of daggers sat on the table, tempting him to slot them into their loops along his belt.He hesitated.Being that armed on board was illogical, but the compulsion to do so was strong.
The memory of Wren touching Hiossu’s forearm had Cylo sliding a hunting knife into his boot sheath.Its heaviness offered some comfort and calmed his anxiety.Hiossu escaping his quarters was slim, and even if he managed it, overpowering the operatives on board wasn’t conceivable.
Cylo chose a meal then sat at the table with the lump of gold at its center, his virak of poisons, and an array of daggers to the side.Re-ordering the tools to make a knife in the time it took to reach Issneen was a foolish waste of resources.Besides, with how unwell Wren had been, he doubted he’d have a free moment.
