BioCybe by Imogene Nix Page B

tanks. It was impossible to know exactly how
much water had been added as the fuel replenishment had taken place during her
time in the lockup.
    “Sandon? Our fuel lines have been contaminated with water.”
She dragged on the glove, knowing that time was running short. Once the oxygen
in the hold was exhausted, there was the chance that the hold could
depressurise. “We need to shut down the propulsion system until the Golden
Echo gets here. You know how to do that, don’t you?”
    “Uh, yeah. But what about you?”
    “If I can get back to you before that happens, then I will.
If not, I have a good chance of surviving it.” She injected a bit of mirth into
her voice, but knew he was probably frowning right now.
    “How much chance?”
    “My computations say around ninety-seven percent, but with
my suit on that rises to around ninety-eight point five percent.”
    “Damn it.”
    “I’ve survived worse. Seriously, just get your cold weather
gear on and hang on, okay?” Her concern was for Sandon. He had none of the
enhancements she did, and that left him vulnerable.
    She worked quickly, locating an extra secura-net and
erecting it around the door of the hatch, just in case there was an explosive
decompression, though she doubted that would happen. After everything she’d
been through, she refused to lose the cargo. Then, with nothing more to do, she
webbed herself against a rib of the ship and settled in to wait for the Golden
Echo to secure them.

Chapter 5
     
    Once more safely aboard the Golden Echo , Sandon prowled
the halls. Levia had argued that she really didn’t need to see the medic, but
while he understood she didn’t want anyone else to know, his mind had screamed
she needed care. So he’d hustled her to the sick bay and extracted a promise
from his paramedic officer, Gisma.
    The surprise on Gisma’s face nearly coaxed a smile free, but
when he’d started the consultation, Levia hissed, and Sandon had roared at the
medic.
    “I can’t work if you’re in here. Besides, Levia’s already
asked you to leave.”
    So he’d retreated, pacing to and fro in front of the door.
When it opened and Gisma indicated that he could enter, his footsteps were
quick. “Well?”
    The technician stopped him just outside the consultation
room with an extended arm. “She’s taken a nasty beating or three. A couple of
cracked ribs, lots of bruising. Some malnourishment. Nothing that can’t be
dealt with by some rest and food. But, Sandon... I mean, she’s a Cybe. Why
didn’t you alert us? We all deserved to have been told. You kept it—”
    “He didn’t know.” Levia rounded the corner, stopping just in
front of them.
    The green cybernetic implants shone through the paint on one
side of her face. The other side carried a bruise the size of a melon, right on
her jaw. She was once more encased in her customary suit, though it was still
stained. He wondered if the green bio-cybernetic tracery followed the outline
of her body.
    An ache, hard and urgent, throbbed through him as his gaze
followed the lines outlined beneath the ballistic material. Realizing what he
was doing, he glanced back up and caught the glitter in her eye and the harsh
line of her mouth. Oh yes, she’s seen me.
    “If my being a Cybe affects the running of the Golden
Echo , I’ll be happy to terminate my agreement with Sandon. After all, that
was what we agreed to, right? I just need to find you a replacement pilot.” She
spoke carefully and a jolt hit him in the chest, stealing his breath and
ability to reason.
    Levia leave? “No. Levia, you don’t have to go.” Damn it,
that was the last thing he wanted. Couldn’t she see? But he knew, with all the
demons that she struggled to hide from him, she would place him and his needs
as well as those of the crew before her own.
    Gisma pinned him with a harsh look. “If you asked the crew—”
    “They don’t need to know.” He lashed out, only stilling when
Levia laid her hand on his