Where the hell could the woman have gone? Bei strode into sick bay, caught the scent of disinfectant, blood and burnt NDA. Fatigue twisted his thoughts back on themselves and responsibility hung heavy on his artificial limbs. The status of his fleet. The findings of the scientists. The citizens' attack. And always, Nell Stafford. The woman lurked in his cerebral interface like a computer virus.
Thirty-six hours had passed since he'd last seen her. Between the prioritizing repairs and supplies, retrieving his men and reassigning crews and dealing with the civilians, he'd barely had a thought to himself. And yet the memory of her smile haunted him. Bei needed to see her and assure himself of her safety. That was all he'd allow. Despite her fancy words, they were too different. Even now, fury against citizens remained a dormant beast in the WA, waiting for a reason to strike.
A reason in the form of one unaltered human.
Hell, Bei knew she'd already been injured, had felt the attack the moment one of his men had deliberately run into her. Doc had confirmed that she remained healthy and active while explaining she wanted to protect her assailant's identity. Bei had allowed the incident to pass because he hadn't yet made it clear to everyone in the fleet that she was under his protection.
Thanks to the WA, it was crystal clear now, and his men resented it.
They saw her as a citizen, yet she was so much more. She was hope and the future. Their future. Bei ran his hand through his short, black hair before scanning the large room. Harsh white light filled the near empty infirmary's triage room. The scrape of his boots against the deck echoed back to him. For a moment his gaze landed on a heap of mangled limbs, spotlighting the rising cost of the mission. His gut clenched.
While Syn-En armor protected him and his men from most injuries, flesh and bone could be damaged quite easily.
If Nell were well, why would Doc bring her to sick bay? Had he lied about her injuries? No. Bei trusted his chief medical officer. Hell, he trusted all his men.
Just perhaps not with Nell.
Bei struggled with the inconsistencies. Something about her drove him, made him want to see to her needs and protection personally. The ridiculousness of the thought irritated him. With the citizens openly declaring war against the Syn-En, he could not afford the appearance of favoring her, even if she had come to save them.
No amount of soft skin, silky hair or easy smiles could change that. Bei focused on the white floor. But those words she'd uttered, her acceptance of him and her beautiful flaws? Bei shook off the thoughts.
The mission and his men came first.
At least until they settled on Terra Dos.
Footsteps echoed through the corridor branching off sick bay's reception area. Doc rounded the corner; blood stained his green apron. The iris and sclera of his left eye were black, no doubt from data streaming down his optic implant relaying his patients' status via the WA. When Bei crossed his line of sight, Doc drew up short and his eye returned to normal. "Admiral, I thought Wilson had seen to your damage already."
"The civie is a damn good mechanic." Bei flexed his arms and glanced down, relieved to see his feet still pointed in the right direction. The abrupt stop to prevent them from slamming into the wormhole's dead end had damaged everything, including him. Fortunately, he and most of his men recovered quickly.
Doc swept his dark hair away from his forehead. "You got my report?"
Bei nodded, bringing up the information and gestured for Doc to return back down the hallway. Nell had to be here somewhere. Doc had been charged to watch her. "Twenty-nine Syn-En reported fatal errors due to biologic failures, one hundred twelve civilians injured and sixty-nine civilian casualties. We're also running short on spare parts."
Doc spun on his heel and retraced his steps. "With all the information flying around the WA, I wasn't sure you'd find my report."
"High priority usually gets my attention." Bei nodded as they passed a series of closed doors. Imaging. Toxicology. RBC treatment and quarantine rooms. The morgue. His footsteps slowed as they passed. He would have to make a point of visiting those in their last moments and thank them for their service. After he found Nell.
Doc glanced at the white door, sealing inside a roomful of terminal Syn-Ens. "With your permission, I'd like to start trying to save the Syn-En with damage to their biologic core. It's not right they should run down like ancient clocks, when I have the time to prevent it."
Bei chaffed at the UEN resolution prohibiting his medical staff from operating on his men's biological components. "Can any of them still be saved?"
"Maybe one." Doc frowned. "The procedures are damned complicated and lengthy. If we'd been able to operate on some of them before seeing to the civilians' minor injuries?"
"You're in charge of triage. Draft a new procedure for prioritizing treatment." Although he knew some civilians might complain, Bei trusted Doc and his staff. Where most of his men excelled at taking lives, Doc and his staff could save so many. They would do the right thing. "We've thrown off the yoke of citizen oppression, we might as well get rid of the laws that are not just."
Doc's shoulders relaxed. "Is the scuttlebutt in the WA correct? Do we really have a plan to exit the wormhole?"
"If all goes well, the fleet could enter Terra Dos's airspace in twenty days." Now Bei just needed to find their human savior. The one who might hold the key to those final equations plaguing his Science staff. When the corridor opened onto the recovery room, he glanced around, searching for Nell among the seven rows of beds holding patients.
"That's a relief." Doc smothered a yawn behind his hand. "What about the rest of the fleet? Any news on the status of the new inductees?"
Med techs moved between the rows of recovering civilians, changing bandages, checking life signs and muttering soothing words. The navy uniforms of the Syn-En personnel looked like shadows among the waves of white.
No Nell. While Bei was glad she hadn't been hurt, that didn't solve his problem. Only one man could. Bei focused on Doc. "The America and her escorts are estimated to rendezvous with us in twenty days. The wormhole's event horizon must be open by the time they appear on our sensors. Preliminary intell reports the America's size limits her maneuvering and braking capabilities. She'd never make the turn, let alone stop before the wormhole ends."
Fear pulsed through Bei. If they didn't get that event horizon open, the America would be lost with all hands on board. The citizens had taken her life pods and the new inductees wouldn't last long in space. Timing was key. And so were those equations waiting to be deciphered.
"We'll make it, Admiral." Doc set his hand on Bei's shoulder. "How many sleep cycles have you missed?"
"Four." Although Bei knew his upgrades could power him through another four days, he didn't like the sluggishness clogging his circuits. He wanted to sleep, but first he had to find Nell, make certain she was safe.
A handful of injured glanced up. The civilians' attention slid off him to bounce around the hall.
Bei acknowledged the civilians with a nod. Yet another reason to find Nell. The civies needed a biologic in charge.
"You've been up almost five days?" Doc whistled low. "You'll need eight hours to recover and I expect you to get every minute of them. Don't make me initiate a snooze command."
Bei smiled at the threat. Even Doc couldn't override an Admiral's cerebral interface. "I planned to catch up, but my quarters were empty."
"You're very lucky." Confusion furrowed Doc's brow before he turned back toward the corridor. "This is the most alone I've been in a month."
"Where is Nell, Doc?"
The med tech changing a nearby civilian's bandages snorted. A burst of anger flashed through the WA.
Bei clamped down on his own response. Too many of his men saw Bei's concern for Nell as a sort of betrayal. Much as he wished to, he could not order the feeling away. Bei ignored the technician's response. Given time, Nell would show them she was different. By placing her under his protection, he could wait for the opportunity she needed to win t
hem over.
Doc shuffled down the hallway, stopped, then glanced over his shoulder. "She was here. She wanted to help and I didn't see the harm." He opened the NDA covering his forearm and brought up Nell's genetic profile. "I'll scan for her."
Bei's quick strides closed the distance between them. Did Doc think Bei hadn't already thought of that? "Nell doesn't have an ident chip and the scanners aren't capable of detecting her genetic code among the rest of the civilian population."
His words echoed down the deserted hallway.
Doc slowly closed his scanner portal. "I'm sure no one would hurt her."
Bei cocked an eyebrow. She'd already been pushed around. Given the Syn-En strength, it wouldn't take much to snap her neck.
Sighing, Doc stared at the floor. "I'm sorry, Admiral. It was my duty to watch her and I failed."
Bei nodded. Apologies wouldn't find Nell. "Where is the last place you remember seeing her?"
Doc gestured down the hall. "In the corridor on the way to the surgical rooms."
"How long ago?"
Closing his eyes, Doc searched his internal chronometer. "Thirty hours."
Damn. Bei tamped down his rising irritation. "We'll search the rooms on this level then branch out."
If they didn't find her, he would call the chief and have security search the other decks.
As Bei followed the arcing corridor to the reception area, voices echoed back to him. Laughter quickly followed. Could they be civilians coming to visit their fallen comrades? Humor hardly seemed appropriate given the condition of those remaining behind. With a blink of his eyes, Bei accessed the CIC and began matching voiceprints. He frowned as a woman's low tone returned a result. "Crewwoman Richmond is listed among the dead."
Doc frowned. "Her time should have expired six hours ago."
"Yet she is talking." Bei increased his pace, heading toward the morgue. The double doors opened as he approached.
A limbless Syn-En hung between Richmond and another crewman as they walked from the morgue into the hallway. More of Bei's men shuffled behind them. While most were missing one or more of their limbs, none of them were dead. How had they survived the damage to their biologic core?
Doc rushed forward. The green diagnostic beam of light radiating from his palm swept over the twenty people.
Bei focused on one woman in the middle of the pack. Stands of brown hair floated around her oval face. Her nose was wrinkled and her full lips were pulled down at the corners. Although he had perfect recall, his memory couldn't match the animation of her features. Relief threatened to buckle his knees.
"It is not funny. This? This stuff you eat is cruel and unusual punishment." Nell's voice drifted on an air current. When a black bubble appeared at the opening of the tube in her hand, she stuck the tip in her mouth. Her cheeks bowed slightly as she sucked up the Syn-En ration.
Her soft pull on the nutritional supplement brought a swift reaction to Bei's lower body. So much for his decision to remain immune from her charms. He stopped feeding the WA his emotions.
Doc circled the crowd, astonishment loosening his jaw. "You have been repaired."
Richmond beamed at him then maneuvered to the right and stopped. "Nell Stafford fixed us."
"All of you?" Doc shut off the life signs scanner and scratched his head.
"Me first." Richmond nodded. "Then I helped with the next. After that we worked on separate patients under her direction. Her knowledge is most extraordinary."
Nell blushed and fidgeted under the attention. Slowly, she pulled the tube out of her mouth and licked her lips. "I just did what anyone would do."
Bei smiled, recognizing the pride pumping through him. No one would have done what Nell did. Her modesty and disregard of normal civilian-Syn-En relations attracted him more than her body. He skimmed down her petite form. And that said a lot.
Swaying on his feet like he'd just been tagged by a stun gun, Doc tugged on his dark hair. "Dermal patches infused with antibiotics for internal injuries. Viral nanowires for sutures. You plated DNA onto machines to prevent organ rejection. And it actually worked."
Nell shrugged, cleared her throat, and ran her thumb up the side of the ration tube, milking the last bit of nourishment. "Not all of my ideas met with success. No one would use the wheelchair or the crutches."
Bei smiled at the frustration in her voice. She who knew so much, seemed ignorant of Syn-En behavior. Only the dead and dying would stoop to using wheels to get about. Bei fought the urge to comfort her, knowing if he touched her, he might not be able to stop.
Doc inched forward, scanning Richmond. "This is most extraordinary. Your bodies are already healing. In fact they are incorporating the technology into their systems. It is truly a blend of biology and technology. How did you accomplish such a feat?"
Nell shrugged. "I just wanted to help."
Richmond pulled a crystal from her pocket and handed it to Doc. "I have made copious notes. Her methods should reduce casualties among the civilians. In fact, I don't think we'll have to use artificial organs at all, but this blend. The data contains more procedures than we used."
Doc retrieved the data chip from her palm and held it up to the light. "Is this Nell's?"
Bei's attention drifted from perusing Nell to Doc. "Where did Nell obtain a crystal?"
Doc eyed the clear obelisk. "It came with her in the stasis unit."
"Admiral." As if just noticing him, the group snapped to attention, without falling over in the process.
"At ease." Using the CIC, Bei restored their WA access. There would be some very surprised Syn-Ens once their consciousness appeared online. Leave it to Nell to perform another miracle. Bei stopped in front of her and waited. Exhaustion colored the delicate skin around her eyes.
"Beijing." Nell's lips curved into a smile and a light flared in her indigo eyes. She seemed happy to see him.
He was definitely happy to see her, but clasped his hands behind his back to keep from touching her. Time and separation appeared to have increased his attraction to her, not diminished it.
Richmond nudged Nell.
The action caused Nell to drop the tube. Her mouth opened as she watched her snack slide across the deck. "Hey. I'm not finished with that."
Walking the three steps to the wall, Bei scooped up the ration, wiped the tip on his sleeve and handed her back her prize. "I think it is nearly empty."
Her fingers brushed his arm, lingered on the crease at his wrist before closing around the tube. For a moment her hand remained in his and she stared up at him. Her pupils dilated and the sensors in his NDA told him that her heart raced.
Bei's pulse matched hers.
Nell licked her dry lips. "Nearly empty means there's another bite or two left and I'm very hungry. It's been years since?"
Years? Bei waited for her to finish, half hoping she referred to this attraction between them and not her last meal. Courtesy of the WA, information, chatter and updates mingled with his thoughts. His first duty must be to his men and the inductees headed his way. Damn.
"Nell," Richmond scolded. "You're supposed to come to attention."
Nell jerked, squeezing the tube. The last bite of nutrition squirted out, shot through the air and landed on Bei's uniform-clad hip. "Oh geez."
Bei caught her hand before she could start wiping it off. The last thing he wanted was for her to become aware of his arousal. He sensed she'd be bothered by an audience. Sweeping his thumb across the back of her hand, he registered the silky texture. He loved the heat and dampness of her skin.
Richmond raised her good arm. "You salute like this."
Nell glanced from her hand to the crewwoman.
Bei didn't release his hold, couldn't even if his ship were about to explode around him. Hell. Nell had turned him into a skin addict. Shaking the notion from his head, Bei focused on Richmond and her attempts at instruction. "Nell is not-"
"She's a Syn-En," Richmond cut in, then blushed as if she just realized she'd interrupt
ed a superior officer.
The crewmen around her nodded.
Nell a Syn-En? Bei's erection throbbed. If she were one of them, she'd no longer be off limits. They could? They would have sex. Bei's gaze raked Nell from head to toe. His sensors registered one hundred percent biologic, but had no effect on his desire. "Nell is not modified."
"Her brother was one of the first Synthetically Enhanced soldiers." Richmond handed off her limbless comrade to the man behind her. "And since the law requires all siblings be inducted as one unit, she is one of us. The proof is in the data crystal, Admiral."
The news of Nell's current status ping-ponged in the WA. Riding its heels was the order to keep the information to the Syn-En only.
Nell frowned. "But I thought that was empty?"
Richmond shook her head. "There's terabytes of data on there. Medical knowledge is only a small part of it."
Rubbing her forehead, Nell stared at the crystal in Doc's hand. "Maybe the data is so old it didn't register."
Bei knew that wasn't true but didn't bother contradicting her. Something on the data chip bothered her. Was it the news she was a Syn-En?
Doc opened his mouth to correct her.
Bei silenced him with a look. "Finish tending the others, Doc, then get your required two."
Nell looked as if she were about to ask for the crystal back but then shook her head.
Doc nodded. "I think I'll need four hours of sleep after I get finished with the data."
Bei waited until the recently repaired had disappeared down the curve of the hallway, in search of spare limbs. Nell's breathing rasped against him. Free of onlookers, Bei raised his hand and cupped her chin. "Are you well?"
"I'm exhausted, cranky and borderline depressed." Sighing an anise scent courtesy of her recent snack, Nell rested against his touch. "But I'm very hungry too."
Bei clamped down on his desire. He could not help Nell adjust to her new position in his fleet but he could take care of one of her needs. "I have civilian rations in my quarters."
Hunger banked the desire in her eyes. "Is it real food or stuff that has to be sucked out of a tube?"
"Both."
Nell wrinkled her nose, tilted her head to the left then glared at the tube in her hand. "Does it taste better than this?"
"I do not know." Bei set his hand on the small of her back and ushered toward the elevators. The fabric of her shirt swayed with each step. "Syn-En may only eat those. They contain the required daily nutritional intake."
"Did they replace your tastebuds too?" Nell cut in front of Bei and slapped open the waste receptacle chute. The air strained with the sound of the vacuum being activated before she chucked the garbage inside and the lid clanked shut. "Because if they've been enhanced and you're made to eat that?"
How long would she require to eat before they moved onto other pressing needs. He leaned down, catching the scent of citrus disinfectant and new metal, and whispered in Nell's ear. "My taste is definitely unenhanced human."
Nell shivered.
Bei exhaled slowly. The skin at her nape pebbled under the wash of his hot breath and her breasts formed tight peaks under her green uniform shirt.
Voices crested and broke in the sick bay's reception area. Nell's Syn-Ens had been joined by a few of their comrades. Bei heard the elevator doors open and close and the cacophony increased in decibels. More men had joined the first wave.
Footsteps sounded in the hallway behind Bei. Tensing, he placed himself between the newcomer and Nell.
A med tech rushed forward. The stiff smile on her face aimed at Nell.
Through the WA, Bei sensed her intentions and the last barrier crumbled. Simply due to her association with the first Syn-En, Nell had been accepted.
The med tech met them in the middle of the rapidly filling lobby and pressed a foil pouch into Nell's hands. "I brought this for you. It's already mixed and should tide you over until you reach the cabin."
"Thank you." Nell wrapped her lips around the deflated straw. A dark liquid moved up the yellow tube. She closed her eyes and moaned deep in her throat.
Bei's carnal ache broke from his control. He could imagine just such a response after she came apart under his mouth, his touch and?
After one last draw, she released the straw and sighed. "Oh wow. Chocolate ice cream." She clasped the med tech's hand in her free one. "Thank you. Thank you so much."
The med tech glanced at their clasped hands. "It is a favorite among the civilians."
Nell wrapped both hands around the dessert and inhaled another long draught. "Hmmm."
The elevator doors eased opened.
Nell entered still moaning, her eyes half closed as she focused on her treat.
Stepping inside the elevator behind Nell, Bei shoved his hands in his pockets. The ride to his quarters would take forever, especially knowing her uninhibited responses would help him discover just where she enjoyed being touched. Anticipation unfurled within his gut and he stabbed the down arrow repeatedly.
"Good bye, Nell." Richmond waved before coming to attention.
Around her, Syn-Ens, Doc, and the med tech saluted.
Bei knew it was to honor Nell. She would be accepted by Syn-En and civilian alike. But would she accept him as her lover? He'd soon find out. Others had teased him then pulled back at the last minute.
Nell waved and sucked on the bag.
The elevator doors snicked closed and he smiled. Alone at last. Bei let his knuckles brush her soft hip. She didn't pull away. Then again, maybe she didn't notice. Perhaps, he should try a more direct approach. "Enjoying yourself?"
"Hello. It's chocolate." Nell held the foil pouch out to him. "Wanna taste?"
His training demanded he resist. Hang his training. She'd offered him an opening and he'd seize it. Facing her, Bei leaned forward, his size hemmed her into the corner. She glanced up at him. Her attention seemed riveted to his mouth and a musky scent joined the soap and citrus emanating from her skin. Bei's mouth closed around the straw. His lips registered the rough texture of plastic, but he concentrated on the taste of licorice, chocolate, and the heat from her mouth. With a short pull, a sweet, rich flavor mingled with the others. Bei closed his eyes for a moment, savoring the taste of their impending first kiss. Bei released the straw but didn't straighten. "It's very sweet."
Nell nodded, swallowed hard and looked him in the eyes. "It's nirvana."
"Perhaps." Bei inched closer, bracketing her feet between his boots. She inched nearer, tilted her head to look up at him, which exposed the pale skin at her throat. Her pulse thundered in the hollows of her neck.
Her skin flushed red and she stared over his shoulder. Her mouth opened then closed before she cleared her throat and spoke. "If you don't stop that I'm liable to think you're flirting with me."
"Flirting?" Bei stroked her upper arms. Thanks to the sensors in his armor, he noted the smooth texture of her skin and the incremental rise in her body temperature. She was interested in him. But was it enough? Citizen women played games by different rules. More than one had changed their minds at an inconvenient moment.
"It means-" Still clutching the pouch, Nell raised both hands to his chest.
"I know what it means." Bei waited a heartbeat for her to push him away.
Instead her hands roamed the contours of his shoulders, pecs and stomach to slip around his waist.
"I'm not flirting." Bei moved his hands to her shoulders before skimming them down her spine.
"You're not?" Nell's breath hitched and her pupils expanded until her irises were merely blue haloes.
"No." As he mapped the contours of her back, Bei eased her closer, flattening her breasts against his chest, pressing her stomach to his, until finally he cupped her bottom and urged her forward so her pelvis cradled his erection. It was close to where he wanted her, but still so much clothing separated them. "I'm stating my intentions to have you, Nell."
The Syn-En shall be sentinels of the future,
ete
rnally vigilant to insure only those most favored by
circumstance survive and thrive.
Supreme Council, United Earth Nations
Resolution UEN2025.15N
Chapter Fourteen