Chapter Nine
Ranvir didn’t want to leave Taly’s side. After the med bed finished, she insisted on returning to the concert hall to guide the colonists to the dining hall.
Now she leaned forward, instructing them on how to use the replicators. The position drew her pants taut against her bottom. His gaze dropped accordingly, and his lust stirred. He hadn’t had to deal with those sensations since his cyborg conversion.
Her brows creased in concentration as a woman pointed to an item, and Taly answered. Her lips curved in response to another comment, and her smile tugged at Ranvir’s heart.
“Major, you’re needed on the bridge,” came over Ranvir’s earbud.
Ganesha’s reminder made him realize he’d never allowed the others to recharge. Their energy levels had to be running critically low, yet they’d said nothing. Walking over to Taly, he gently pulled her to the side.
“I’m needed on the bridge. Where are the closest power grips to that area?”
Taly’s eyes widened, and he could tell she’d just realized the same thing he had. “There’s a set right next to the weapons console. Just push on the panel as I did here.”
Nodding, he reached up to lightly caress the cheek where the bruise had been. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Take your time.” She leaned into his touch. “After everyone’s done eating, I will get them settled in their rooms.”
“Rooms?” he asked.
“Yes, there are twenty on this deck for the crew and five suites on the main deck plus the captain’s quarters. Once I’m done here, I’ll come up and show you. I know cyborgs can last for a long time, but even recharged, you need to sleep.”
“We’re capable of going several days without it,” he told her, his voice deepening, “but yes, eventually, we need it.”
“I thought so.”
“Taly?”
Taly looked down at little Sasha, who pulled on her sleeve.
“What is it, Sasha?”
“Is there creamed milk? Momma says it’s rude to ask for more than we’ve already gotten, but you said to ask if we needed anything, so….”
He watched Taly smile down at the precocious little girl. Her color had improved since her treatment, as had her breathing.
“And you need creamed milk?”
Her dark curls bounced as she vigorously nodded her head. “I do. I really do.”
“Well, then we’d better get you some.” Taly looked back to Ranvir. “I’ll see you later.”
“You will,” he told her.
She moved to help Sasha but felt his gaze on her long after.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Ranvir entered the bridge to find Ganesha, Tane, and Pike exactly where they’d been hours ago. Fatigue added a slight droop to their shoulders, and their complexions were waning. A clear sign their energy levels were dropping dangerously low.
“I owe the three of you the greatest of apologies.” Three heads turned toward him. “With everything that’s happened and how fast it occurred, I never considered your conditions.”
“You’re questioning our capabilities?!” Pike’s eyes narrowed from where he sat in front of the communications console.
“No,” Ranvir immediately denied, “you all performed more than admirably, but we aren’t familiar with one another because we are from different pods. Because of that, I don’t know your energy consumption rate, which is unforgivable.”
He moved to the panel Taly had mentioned beside the weapons console and opened it. Inside, exactly as she stated, was the power grip.