You’re an Earther, and I know better than to trust you.”
She fisted her hand and put it on her lap. “I don’t know what someone else did to you, but I’m not them. You understand that, don’t you?”
“It’s in your nature to be treacherous.”
“You’ve treated me badly since we met, and yet I’m still willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. The only reason you saved me was because you were angry. Am I wrong?”
He just stared at her.
“I’m grateful to be alive. I’m going to focus on that.” She stood. “Come on, meet me halfway. We’re stuck together for a while. We can at least try to be pleasant to each other until you let me go, when you can.”
“You’re never going to be let go. Once we leave the dead zone, I’ll hand you over to other cyborgs. They’ll find you a place in our society and make certain you can’t ever contact other Earthers to share the information you’ve acquired about us.”
She regretted getting up, wishing she were still sitting. “What are you talking about?”
“You heard me. Don’t be obtuse. You were saved by cyborgs, and now you’ll live in our society. The life you knew is gone forever. That’s the price of living. Now, prepare to have your wrists tied so I don’t have to worry about you attempting to harm me while I sleep.”
Nala wanted to deck him. She spun away before he could see the rage he caused. He’d not only just dashed any hope of being set free, but they were right back to square one.
If he wanted a fight, he would get one. She’d make him want to drop her off at the first space station they passed.
Chapter Five
Stag felt better after a solid six hours of sleep. He’d released Nala before he’d left his quarters. She hadn’t said a word and avoided eye contact. That was fine with him. Their conversation had unsettled him. He’d almost forgotten what she was and where she came from.
Yammer stretched his arms upward and yawned. “This is tedious.”
“Would you prefer we were under attack?”
The male turned, lowering his arms, and gave Stag an odd look. “You’re in a sour mood. I had hoped having a female in your bed would help with your disposition.”
“I’m not having intercourse with that Earther.”
“A shame,” Maze stated from his seat. “She’s attractive. A little on the short side, and compact, but I would be pleased to share quarters with her.”
“So would I,” Yammer agreed. “I think she’s the perfect size. She doesn’t take up much room. Our bunks are small for two to share.”
That was a problem, Stag concluded. None of his crew members were joined into a family unit, and they didn’t have access on a regular basis to a female. It seemed anyone would do. They were even willing to overlook their past experiences with Earthers if it meant having a warm body under them.
“Perhaps we can keep one of the bots onboard.”
Yammer almost fell out of his seat as he twisted around again, staring at Stag with a glint in his eye. “For us to use?”
“Your lack of physical stimulation is affecting your judgment. A bot won’t slit your throat or betray us. An Earther would.”
Yammer frowned. “You’ve got the female in lockdown inside your room, no access to coms, and I’m certain you’ve safeguarded against her getting her hands on anything that can be used as a weapon. She’s not a threat.”
“She would be if you became lax enough to trust her. She’d plot a way to cause harm. That’s what they do. How could you forget that?”
Yammer faced forward. “True.”
Maze shook his head. “I disagree.”
“You’re a medic. You’re prone to dealing with the weak and injured, not security threats and how to manage them.”
“How do you manage the Earther?”
Stag considered his answer to Maze carefully before speaking. “I saved her life. I’m responsible for her well-being until we return to Garden. I’ll keep watch over her, feed her, and make certain she stays
She fisted her hand and put it on her lap. “I don’t know what someone else did to you, but I’m not them. You understand that, don’t you?”
“It’s in your nature to be treacherous.”
“You’ve treated me badly since we met, and yet I’m still willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. The only reason you saved me was because you were angry. Am I wrong?”
He just stared at her.
“I’m grateful to be alive. I’m going to focus on that.” She stood. “Come on, meet me halfway. We’re stuck together for a while. We can at least try to be pleasant to each other until you let me go, when you can.”
“You’re never going to be let go. Once we leave the dead zone, I’ll hand you over to other cyborgs. They’ll find you a place in our society and make certain you can’t ever contact other Earthers to share the information you’ve acquired about us.”
She regretted getting up, wishing she were still sitting. “What are you talking about?”
“You heard me. Don’t be obtuse. You were saved by cyborgs, and now you’ll live in our society. The life you knew is gone forever. That’s the price of living. Now, prepare to have your wrists tied so I don’t have to worry about you attempting to harm me while I sleep.”
Nala wanted to deck him. She spun away before he could see the rage he caused. He’d not only just dashed any hope of being set free, but they were right back to square one.
If he wanted a fight, he would get one. She’d make him want to drop her off at the first space station they passed.
Chapter Five
Stag felt better after a solid six hours of sleep. He’d released Nala before he’d left his quarters. She hadn’t said a word and avoided eye contact. That was fine with him. Their conversation had unsettled him. He’d almost forgotten what she was and where she came from.
Yammer stretched his arms upward and yawned. “This is tedious.”
“Would you prefer we were under attack?”
The male turned, lowering his arms, and gave Stag an odd look. “You’re in a sour mood. I had hoped having a female in your bed would help with your disposition.”
“I’m not having intercourse with that Earther.”
“A shame,” Maze stated from his seat. “She’s attractive. A little on the short side, and compact, but I would be pleased to share quarters with her.”
“So would I,” Yammer agreed. “I think she’s the perfect size. She doesn’t take up much room. Our bunks are small for two to share.”
That was a problem, Stag concluded. None of his crew members were joined into a family unit, and they didn’t have access on a regular basis to a female. It seemed anyone would do. They were even willing to overlook their past experiences with Earthers if it meant having a warm body under them.
“Perhaps we can keep one of the bots onboard.”
Yammer almost fell out of his seat as he twisted around again, staring at Stag with a glint in his eye. “For us to use?”
“Your lack of physical stimulation is affecting your judgment. A bot won’t slit your throat or betray us. An Earther would.”
Yammer frowned. “You’ve got the female in lockdown inside your room, no access to coms, and I’m certain you’ve safeguarded against her getting her hands on anything that can be used as a weapon. She’s not a threat.”
“She would be if you became lax enough to trust her. She’d plot a way to cause harm. That’s what they do. How could you forget that?”
Yammer faced forward. “True.”
Maze shook his head. “I disagree.”
“You’re a medic. You’re prone to dealing with the weak and injured, not security threats and how to manage them.”
“How do you manage the Earther?”
Stag considered his answer to Maze carefully before speaking. “I saved her life. I’m responsible for her well-being until we return to Garden. I’ll keep watch over her, feed her, and make certain she stays
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