Joan patted Rage’s chest. He grunted, didn’t put her down, striding through the hallways, and she was glad. She hadn’t yet fully recovered from her wounds and felt lightheaded. Watching her cyborg punish the male responsible for her pain had been a surreal experience, one she hadn’t fully absorbed. She’d been alone since she was eleven solar cycles. Could it be true that she now had a being protecting her, seeking justice on her behalf? She stroked the scar on his chin, his gray skin not even damp from his exertion. He was a finely honed weapon and he had killed for her this planet rotation. She wiggled in his arms, aroused by that thought. “Control yourself, female.” His voice deepened. “The explosives have been set and other humans might have been notified. This isn’t the time for breeding.” They also weren’t alone. Cyborgs watched them as they passed. She distracted herself by studying the warriors. The experts at the Academy led her to believe the beings within the same model run would be identical.
