her eyes with a handkerchief.
Valentin pressed his lips together.
Claude looked upward at the ceiling.
Nancy leaned backward, folding her body into her cyborg’s. “You have the same choice, Truth.” It would be challenging to rescue her brother without her warrior’s assistance, but she would do that to keep him safe.
“My choice was made the moment I saw you, beautiful.” Truth laughed, hugged her tight to his vibrating chest. “I’m not missing this fun.”
Only her adventurous male would view a dangerous mission as fun.
“Prison Ship X58963-5 requests hailing frequencies be opened, Captain.” The ship’s system relayed that news in its flat robotic voice.
Truth lifted his right index finger. Silence fell on the bridge. He placed his hands on the controls.
A three-dimensional representation of a human male filled the captain’s seat. “Open hailing frequencies.” Its lips moved, synced with the words.
The countenance, form, and voice belonged to a freighter captain whose vessel and being went missing on a delivery to the prison ship. Truth’s brethren had recovered footage of the human male from a variety of databases. His Captain’s female, a skilled hacker, had used that information to craft the replacement simulation.
Nancy hadn’t thought that was possible, yet her cyborg’s friends had accomplished that task within planet rotations.
The image of a young human male appeared on the main viewscreen. “This is Prison Ship X58963-5.” The male narrowed his eyes. “Identify yourself and state your purpose.”
“This is Captain Exner with a delivery of nourishment bars.” The simulated male smiled. He looked shockingly real. “I’m a bit delayed, had some engine trouble on the way. Hope that didn’t inconvenience you much.”
“Supplies are low, Captain.” The relief in the prison ship male’s eyes made Nancy wiggle with guilt. “My lifeform scans relay you have three additional humans and—” He frowned. “—one cyborg on board. Cyborgs aren’t authorized for entry.”
That response wasn’t a surprise. Truth and his brethren had rebelled. The Humanoid Alliance now considered them to be the enemy.
“The cyborg is an older D Model.” The simulated male shrugged. “I utilize it to help pilot my ship. It can’t leave the bridge even if it wanted to.”
“See that it doesn’t leave the freighter, Captain.” The prison ship male didn’t appear concerned. “Submit your fingerprint scan.”
The simulated male placed its palms on the embedded control panel. Truth tapped on his screen. Fingerprints for the freighter captain had been retrieved from a database also.
The prison ship male nodded. “You’re authorized to dock, Captain.” His lips lifted in a hint of a smile. “We look forward to eating those nourishment bars.”
“I look forward to finally delivering them.” The simulated male dipped his head also.
The transmission ended.
Nancy released the breath she was holding. The first obstacle had been overcome.
“You heard the male, Marthe.” Truth winked at Nancy’s mother. “We’re authorized to dock. It is time for that fun.”
“Oh my.” Marthe didn’t sound as excited as Nancy’s cyborg was about that prospect.
Her trepidation, thankfully, wasn’t warranted. They guided their ship into the docking bay, landed it with no issues.
Claude and Valentin stood. Their expressions were grim, determined.
Marthe remained in her seat. She would stay in the vessel, guarding it, ensuring they could leave as soon as they returned to it.
Nancy slid off Truth’s lap. “Stay safe, Marthe.” She worried for the female. “I love you.” She didn’t want to regret not saying that another time…should something happen to either of them.
“I love you too, Princess.” Marthe touched her necklace. “I’ll be here, waiting for you to return.” Her gaze drifted to Valentin, then to Claude.
The three of them would want to say their goodbyes in private.
“Truth and I will be positioned by the doors.” Nancy took her cyborg’s hand and pulled him out of the bridge, leaving Marthe alone with Valentin and Claude.
Her cyborg picked up his pack as they passed it, slung it over one of his shoulders. “Are you leading this mission, Princess?” He murmured that question into her right ear, his voice lilting with mirth.
“They need some time alone.” She reached the doors and turned to face him. “And I need to do this.” She lifted onto the toes of her boots, grasped Truth’s nape and tugged. He obligingly lowered his head. She covered his laughing lips with hers.
They might die this planet rotation. This could be the last time she kissed him, touched him. Nancy poured all her emotions, her passion, her caring, her love into the embrace.
Because she did love him.
Their relationship might be doomed. She was expected to align with a ruler of a planet.