Both Ranvir’s brows shot up. “You want us to attack the Nissa and the Prefect?!”
“Not to destroy them because obviously we can’t, but we can distract them. It’ll give those in the pods time to get away.”
“To where?” Ranvir couldn’t believe they were even discussing this.
“I don’t know.” Her hands waved expressively. “But I know we have to give them a chance.” Seeing only blank expressions on their faces, she pressed her hands together and pleaded. “Look, there are cyborgs in those escape pods and shuttles. They have to know they can alter their course like you did. They just need the chance. We can give it to them.”
“She’s right.” Pike said, causing all eyes to turn toward him. “We know our cyborg brethren are attempting to reroute their pods, but that won’t matter if they’re destroyed first.”
His gaze turned to Talyani. “Thanks to Mamsell Zulfiqar, we can assist them, which is what we all swore to do when we put on this uniform.” He gestured to what the four of them were wearing. “To protect our people from any force that would destroy them. We started the rebellion in the first place to protect our people from Shui’s unquenchable thirst for power. If we abandon them now, we’re no better than him.”
Ranvir didn’t like what Pike was saying, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t right. Moving to stand behind the captain’s chair, he began issuing orders. “Ganesha, let’s see how fast this ship really is.”
“Yes, sir.” A slight smile on his face as he turned back to his console.
“Pike, get on the weapons console. Tane, keep me informed if more military ships arrive.” Ranvir looked back to Wells. “You said you were a communications specialist?”
Wells stiffened in his seat. “Y…yes.”
“Then get on the communications console,” he ordered. “I want to know what’s going on out there.”
Wells slowly removed his harness, rose from his seat, and went to the one at the communications console.
“What about me?” Talyani asked, pulling Ranvir’s gaze back toward her.
He pointed to the chair she’d sat in earlier, his expression forbidding. “Get your ass back in that chair and strap in. I can’t be worried about you while we’re making combat maneuvers.”
Talyani’s eyes widened, but she did what he said.
Ranvir couldn’t believe he’d said that. Nas was the cyborg she’d come to save.
Nas was the one she’d risked her life for.
Not him.
He needed to remember that.
She wasn’t his to worry about.