others out there like me who are not built like me, Alexa—neoborgs, cybots, and mechas. Who knows what kind of technology the Trentians are developing? Preparation is key.”
She stared at the gun, at the power such a small thing held, and clenched her hand to stop herself from reaching for it through the glass. “Right,” she whispered. This was it. This was what she needed to finish the job.
This, and Hysterian facing away from her so she could get a clear shot to the back of his head.
The glass dimmed and the weapons vanished. Hysterian motioned to the other gun she still held.
“That won’t hurt me, or others like me, but it will startle me for a moment—perhaps a moment is all you’ll need—and allow you to get away. It will stop a human or alien in its tracks, as long as you’re a good shot. Are you?”
“I trained.”
“Good. Keep it with you on Libra.”
Alexa glanced at her new weapon once more and made sure the safety was on before sliding it into the lip of her pants. This wasn’t a gift she wasn’t going to take from him.
If the captain of the ship you’re working on gives you a gun, you keep it. She licked her lips.
Hysterian’s gaze dropped to her mouth before quickly leaving her. He moved to another case, pulling a weapon from it and sliding it into his own pants. And for a sliver of a second, she glimpsed something underneath his uniform. He wore another mesh covering she’d never seen the likes of. One of the suits needed for the scanners maybe?
Her eyes trailed back to that particular case.
It occurred to her that they were alone as she stared at it, and he was between her and the exit again.
Her heart thundered. He turned and looked at her, heated yet cold, and wrong in every single way.
Will he trap me to the wall? Her toes curled. Will he…
He turned and went to the door.
Her brow furrowed. The blush on her cheeks drained. Hysterian stopped and waited for her, standing at the open panel, as cool and unavailable as ever. She approached and slid past him, out of the armory. The door shut and locked behind her.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better,” he said.
“Thank you.”
His hand came up, and she flinched. He cupped her cheek anyway. It was gentle, almost affectionate. Her heart stuttered. It was nothing like any of the other times he touched her. She wanted to move away, but didn’t.
“If you ignore an order again, you’ll spend the rest of your time here in the brig.” Fury filled his eyes.
She jerked back, and his hand fell. He walked away, leaving her in the passageway alone.
Alexa collected herself before making her way back to her station. Just as she sat, Raul popped out of their quarters.
“Your stuff is gone,” he announced with a broken yawn.
“What?”
“In the room, everything is gone. Did you clean up while I was sleeping? You going somewhere?”
Alexa shot to her feet and rushed into the room. Inside, it was the same, Raul’s mess was everywhere, and her bunk—she shot open the privacy screen—was completely devoid of everything. She rushed to the bathroom to find all her toiletries gone as well.
“I didn’t…”
He took it.
“You’re not leaving us, are you?” Raul asked.
She shook her head.
Hysterian had taken everything she owned, and she knew exactly where he’d put it all.
Alexa stormed out of the room and ran to the second floor, Raul calling out behind her. At the end of the hall, she saw one of the ship’s androids enter the captain’s quarters. The bridge’s doors were closed.
“Morning, Dear,” Pigeon greeted as she rushed past him.
She pushed past the android as she entered the room.
And there her stuff was, upon the bed. Two other androids were taking her extra clothes and placing them neatly in a dresser. Another carried her toiletries into the attached bathroom.
“How dare he,” she hissed, going to the bed and snatching her razor up. The android she’d pushed past took it from her hand and headed for the bathroom. Her lips parted.
“What the hell?” She rarely cursed. She grabbed the remaining stuff on the bed and made her way toward the exit. One of the androids stopped her. “Let me leave,” she demanded.
“We are ordered to move your belongings into this room, Ms. Dear,” it responded dryly, mechanically. “We must follow orders.” It reached for her.
She held her items to her chest but the android pulled them from her grip.