“The male?” She asked.
“A mate to the female.” Lea turned shocked.
“In her condition she is not going to want a male.” She told him plainly.
Ares stared after them. “He knows that and accepts it as his fate.” Lea frowned and stared after them for a moment longer, then turned towards her house and carried on walking. That wasn’t her experience.
“He accepts she my never want him, even with over four hundred other females around him? Why would he choose a damaged female when so many are available?” She asked, it made no sense to her. Ares reached out and touched her arm. Lea stopped and turned to him.
“Because the choice was made for him. His DNA tells him who his mate is. It is not a conscious choice he makes, it’s what he accepts, without question.” He looked back at the med bed and the Cyborg entering the medical facility with it. “He is honoured to have the chance. It will be her or no one.”
Lea understood Cyborgs didn’t lie. That he was telling her the truth. It mirrored what he’d just told her people. But she was worried for her cousin, she’d been though the unimaginable and survived. There was a possibility that she may never want a male. Both lives would be affected by what had happened. It saddened her. Her cousin deserved a life after what she’d been through. They all did. She looked up at the beautiful male beside her. Her mind conflicted. Her heart racing. She needed some space. Some time to think.
“If you do not mind, I would like to think on the information you have given us. Perhaps, you could meet me tomorrow around mid-day and we can discuss this further.” She was suddenly very exhausted and needed to speak with Jamia’s husband in person before her day was done.
Ares bowed. He could sense her conflict, her sadness, her devotion to her people. “As you wish.” He told her, then headed back to his ship through the village and out the gates. As his foot touched the ramp he looked back. A ping on his neuro net informed him someone wanted to speak with him. Ares opened the link.
Are we leaving? His second Jedd asked.
No. She will be a target for the one singled out. I sensed unease at the revelations. We stay close. I want the village kept under surveillance.
Affirmative.
***
Lea wasn’t sure what had disturbed her sleep. She’d been up late. After talking and finding new accommodation for Jamia’s husband, she’d contemplated how their lives would change with the Cyborg base, and the coming and going of so many men. Some of which would be human. It was everything they had hoped for. And with the option of leaving their space, it meant better trade routes, better nutrition. Some, she understood, would want to leave and try their luck on other worlds. She couldn’t blame them. Their home could grow, as her great, great, grandfather had hoped it would. Such changes would also come with risks. To open themselves up so much, could make them vulnerable. She had gone to bed with exciting idea’s and concerns, equally filling her mind. She’d slept fitfully, trying to ignore Ares’ whispered words to her and the feel of him under her skin. But they had still invaded her sleep.
A scrap sounded down the hall. Lea kept her body still while reaching under her pillow for her weapon. She kept her eyes on the direction the sound came from. A sudden pressure on her hand stopped her. Shit, she was too late. Screamed through her mind. She gripped the handle of her blade and looked up into the darkness. She could see a male’s hand on top of the pillow and part of his arm. Whispered words reached her. “Do not move beautiful, we have you covered. Three entered your home, your security is down.” Ares. She realised.
Lea’s emotions burnt hot. Her people were hurt because of her. She would not lay there and have others defend her. “They’re mine.” She told him quietly, throwing back the cover and grabbing her weapons. She moved silently to the foot of her bed facing the door. His intake of breath a reminder that she was semi naked, her hair down.
“Female put some clothes on before I cover you with my body.” He hissed from behind her. She stood there in her short night gown, her hair flowing down her back. She looked fragile, young. Vulnerable. His protective instincts flew to the surface. She was his to protect, his mind told him. Another scrap sounded beyond the door.
Lea flung the blade covers from her short swords with a flick of her wrists. “Focus. Tell your men to stay back. I will stand or fall.” She whispered to him with every ounce of determination she had. The door kicked in and Lea recovered quickly as two females rushed her. Lea kicked at the first sending her off balance flying across the room, slashed with her blade at the other and hit them full in the face with her pummel, she staggered back, turning quickly, she faced off with the first assailant, batting her blade arm out the way she struck with her own cutting deep. She fell back and the second came at her again. Lea cut and slashed powering forward, her opponent getting in a lucky nic, Lea parried, kicked out at her knee, sending her off balance and thrust piercing her heart. This was an assassination attempt, she held nothing back. Both were now down but not dead. Lea spun as the third came to the door. Crouching low she circled the door as the last one came into the room. Ares and his men made their presence known moving further into the light. Jamia’s sister glanced at them quickly then back to Lea.
“Asking males to help you Lea?” She sneered.
Lea laughed. “Had I let them deal with this, you’d already be dead. Now, you will die by my hand as it should be.”
Lea knew the female wouldn’t charge her. She was well trained and better than that. As she came further into the room and they circled each other. “Those two aren’t going to help you.” Lea told her giving a nod at her downed compatriots. A sly smile crept across her opponent’s face. She flicked her left-hand drawing Lea’s attention and from her right a blade came racing towards her. Lea saw it a split second after it was released, diving in the opposite direction and threw one of her own swords back towards her. Lea was pissed. She was better than that. She’d allowed herself to be distracted. It was a rookie move.
Jamia’s sister moved too slowly, she hadn’t expected Lea to throw the sword, it cut deeply across her side. Lea rolled forward with the momentum and stood facing off with her. Only one sword now. She moved in towards her. Fainted and struck. Moved and struck again. The pace of the attack, fast and heavy. Lea started to gain ground. Her opponent making defensive moves weakening under the onslaught. Her position weakening.
Several punches and kicks accompanied the defensive attack. Lea gave her credit for targeting Lea’s injuries, breaking them open and causing more damage. Lea struck out with her elbow catching her in the throat, spun and slashed across her chest. A whimper cried out as her opponent staggered back holding her chest. Lea stood facing her. “Your done. Enough. You have honoured your family. She isn’t worth your life.” She told her.
Her opponent’s eyes flared. “Never.” From behind her a gun appeared in her hand, she raised it to fire. Lea dived again and several shots rang out in the room. Lea rolled over and saw Ares and his men with their guns out, Jamia’s sister falling to the floor, dead.
Lea let go of her sword and stood. She walked forward to Jamia’s sister and touched her back. “She wasn’t worthy of your sacrifice.” She told her sadly. The noise of people entering her home reached her. Lea stood and moved over to the chair where her robe lay. She slipped it over her arms, wincing at it pulled on damaged muscle and skin, then wrapped it around herself, sitting in the chair. Security and several Councilwomen came rushing in. They took in the room and Ares and his men.
“An honour challenge.” She told them. Several people nodded seeing who it was. Sarafina, Josey and Carolin pushed through to the front. Carolin came rushing over as Sarafina and Josey secured the other two still on the floor. They knew better than to ask if Ares and his men had helped her.
“Your injured.” Lea nodded
“Nothing major. Mother can fit it.” Growling sounded around her.
“Med bed will deal with it better and quicker.” Ares told her. Le
a rolled her eyes. Carolin appeared to suppress a smile. She patted her hand.
Josey moved forward. “What happened?” Lea told her.
“Take those two for questioning.” Josey called out to their people. “Jamia’s second have anything to do with this?” She asked. Lea shrugged.
“I don’t know but I don’t think so.” Sarafina looked at the Cyborgs. “You good here?” She asked her. Lea nodded.
“The Cyborgs were here before I heard the first movement in the house. Luckily, they weren’t as quiet as they should have been. They engaged at the end when she produced a gun.” Josey looked shocked. Several people looked up and stared at each other.
“She drew a gun in a challenge match?” Carolin asked, Lea nodded.
“She came in the night with help. I guess we shouldn’t be so surprised.” Sarafina told them. Josey went to check the body for the weapon. Shaking her head pulling it free. Medic’s arrived, wrapping up the body and taking it out.
“We should go.” Ares told her coming forward.
“Go?” She questioned. Lea was confused. She couldn’t leave now, she’d just been in a challenge for her life.
“Yes, you need treatment. Our med beds offer the best.” Callister came forward.
“You should go child.” Lea frowned. It seemed like running away somehow. Reluctantly she nodded and stood.
“I need to dress.” She told the room. Ares’ grabbed the cover off the bed.
“No time.” He told her wrapping her in it and picked her up, striding from the room.
“I can walk dam it. I’m not that injured. Don’t let our people worry.” Lea cried out as he practically ran through her house.
***
“Not now.” He told her walking off quickly, his men behind him. His heart had been in his mouth several times through that battle. It had taken everything in him to respect her wishes and not intervene. When she’d been hurt, his possessiveness had reared its ugly head and demanded vengeance. He’d held it back. Just. Now, he needed to feel her alive in his arms and she needed the med bed. There’d be no more discussion on what the future may or may not hold. He needed her whole, fixed and in no pain. That, was all that mattered.
Josey and Sarafina stuck with her like glue. She’d been marched onto the ship and straight to medical. Ares’ man had opened the med bed and he’d placed her in it. Lea looked around the strange contraption. She’d never seen one this close before. They had records from before about them, but it had been years since she’d read any of them and her recollection was very rudimentary compared to this. She’d hardly glanced at the one Faithney had been in. Running what he called ‘a system check’ Ares’ pressed a number of small square plates on the side of the machine. He told her it would assess her damage and would then run a programme to fix her. Ares helped her to remove her cover, then pulled the bed lid down over her. Lea suddenly found it difficult to keep her eyes open and fell into a deep sleep.
Hours later, Ares stayed by her med bed. He couldn’t leave her. He’d explained to her people what the med bed had found. He’d shown them the readout from the diagnostic it had run of her injuries. Then tried to explain how it would fix her. But, it was clear they didn’t understand it and he didn’t know how else to explain it, so he didn’t try. This tech was alien to them. All he could do was state the facts and let his medic do his job.
They’d refused to leave, even after he’d told them it would be days before she woke up. At an impasse, he found himself sharing medical with the females. He used the time to his advantage. He wanted to know all about her. What her life had been like. What her favourite things were. “She is my mate,” he told them. They both looked up at him. “I will protect her with my life and those of my men.”
“You would take her from our world?” One of them asked, ready for a fight. Ares shook his head.
“No. She will make her own choices and I will follow.” He looked over at the med bed. “If she allows me to.”
“And if she doesn’t?” The same one asked. Ares remembered her being called Josey.
“I will do my best to honour that and protect her and her people.” To voice it only confirmed what he knew already. No matter what decision this female made, he’d be there for her in some capacity if she would allow it, if not, then from afar.
***
Lea woke slowly, lazily. She’d never felt so good. She was used to waking with a level of pain in her body, it was second nature. But not a single twinge or pain spiked her awareness. To have no pain didn’t seem real. It felt amazing but strange. Her eye lids felt heavy, grainy, like she’d slept a long time. Lea stretched open her eyes breathing deeply. A familiar woodsy metallic smell tickled her nose. Ares. She thought stretching her neck both sides and suppressing a yawn. She felt ……… peaceful and realised just how much stress she’d been under in recent weeks. The contrast was striking.
She turned and looked around the room and found Ares was sitting in a chair across the room. He had that glazed expression and was so still she wondered if he was breathing. He blinked and his eyes cleared. She gave him a slight smile.
“How long was I out?” She asked. He did that staring thing at her.
“You were in the med bed for eight days.” Lea frowned. Eight days? She hadn’t been that injured. Something had to have gone wrong. She looked around for her people, there was no way they would have left her for eight days.
“Where’s my people?” She asked fearing the answer.
“They were here for several days. I had to keep reminding them that you would not wake, until the bed was finished fixing what was wrong. They eventually accepted it. I expect they will be along very shortly.” He told her. Lea still didn’t understand why it had taken eight days.
“How come a few injuries took so long?” She demanded. He stared at her again. She couldn’t tell what was going on and got prissy. “Stop with the glaring. What the hell was wrong?” She could feel the atmosphere hitch up a notch. She threw off the cover and slid to the edge of the bed.
“You had many injuries.” He told her. She reached out for her robe. “Some of them severe from childhood. Some, hardly mended at all, the fix just as bad as the original injury. Barely any medicine at all. My medic was not happy. And, then there was also the problem of your compromised DNA.” Lea shook her head.
“What are you talking about?” She asked confused. “What happened to my DNA?”
Ares stood and walked over to the bed, unable to stay any longer from her side. He could sense how confused she was and he had a need to sooth her. Offer comfort. He held his hand out for the robe and she gave it to him. He helped her put it on. Then she turned back to him. “We also checked Josey, your sister and Sarafina. You all carry the same DNA damage. Had it just been you and your sister, it could have been a genetic thing. But it’s not, you are not related to Josey or Sarafina. I have asked for your mother to come.” Lea frowned.
“I don’t understand.” She told him sitting back on the bed. A rustling at the door announced her mother’s arrival. She walked in and came straight for her.
“Your awake. What happened? I was escorted here.” Her mother looked her over. “Your stitches and cuts are …… gone?” her mother turned to look at Ares. “Your med bed can do that?” He gave her a nod. “That is fantastic news. All those injuries that could be healed better. Scars removed.” She turned her hands over. “It truly is a wonder.”
“It can but that is not why I have summoned you.” Her mother looked at her, then back at Ares. “You have been the victims of a biological attack.” He told them. “It has affected your people’s DNA. It is generations old and has been passed down. I do not know how it was introduced to your systems, but it is present. It suppresses the male gene and would explain why your women are not having male children. The med bed identified the problem and eliminated it. Emmilea, Josey, Carolin and Sarafina are now clear of it. They were less damaged than Emmilea. I asked them not to discuss it until Emmilea woke
and I could explain things.”
Lea watched her mother take a seat. “I don’t understand.” She told them. “Are you saying this was done deliberately?” Ares gave her a nod.
“It is unlikely to have been a bi-product of something else. It carries Earth Corp tags.” Lea watched her mother go pale.
“They engineered that this would happen? And left us to defend ourselves?” The shock in her voice a clear indicator this was news to her.
Ares’ shook a shoulder. “We do not know. Access to your records could help us find the answers but in any event, the virus had to have been created by Earth Corp to carry an Earth Corp tag in its chemistry, it still shows up in the breakdown analysis. It might be that only Earth Corp knows why it did the things it did.”
Lea couldn’t believe it. “Those people, need to answer for their crimes.” She mumbled. “They sent our families out here to build this up and die. It’s a miracle we’re still here at all.” Ares could hear every word clearly.
“It is likely only your determination to survive and your ability to adapt has saved you. For now, we would like to access your records and install any computer updates that might be possible. Those in your community who wish to, can have access to the med beds. They cannot fix age damage, but almost anything else.” He told them.
“Granted. For both.” Lea told him. An intense need for justice consumed her. Why would Earth Corp do this to a colony they were setting up? It made no sense. Why spend that kind of money, when you knew, the colony would die out. There would be no longevity to it. Five or six generations and it would be gone. And then she realised, they’d never intended for them to survive. They had other plans for this world. “We never had a chance to make a community here, did we?” She asked him. Ares’ slowly shook his head.
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