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  She sighed and her stomach flipped nervously for the first time since she had agreed to do this. “I suppose not.”

  “Then, eat your breakfast, we will see your physician, do some light physio and you will be fitted for your compression suit.”

  “Are you sure that I should be doing all that after I eat?”

  He chuckled. “Your physician has given authorization for you to begin eating solids.”

  “I don’t even know what this is.” She prodded at the severely reduced pile of fruit and vegetables.

  “Lrrko food. We thought it best for you to get used to what your body requires.”

  “Why not Terran food?”

  “Your physiology has been altered. This is what your genetics were designed to digest; this is what you shall eat.” The absolute dictate was stated in a flat tone.

  Ty scowled. “Well, I am done.”

  He looked at the plate, looked at her and appeared to be considering something. Finally, he nodded. “Well, in that case, get up and come with me.”

  She frowned and stood, swaying slightly. When he tried to catch her, she smacked at the metal of his chest. “Let me do it.”

  He had carried her into the dining area, but she walked out of it, her bare feet slow but steady on the metal floors.

  She was still only wearing her medical gown, but it didn’t matter. Brex had already seen her naked, and he didn’t care. Hell, half the population of the base had probably been past her tank at one time or another in the last few weeks.

  Dr. Grimwell’s gills flared open and closed as he ran the scans. He was either pleased or agitated. Ty hadn’t been able to figure his reactions out.

  “You are doing well. You can resume a normal activity schedule but stay away from heavy protein for a few days. It isn’t because of your time in the tank but because of your two years unable to eat for yourself.”

  The hint that he was giving her was that she would be uncomfortable when her colon had to go to work. It wasn’t subtle, but it wasn’t the worst medical warning she had gotten in the past few years.

  “I will make sure that she is attended at all times.”

  Ty scowled at him. “Not in the lav you won’t. There are some things a lady has to do for herself.”

  He shifted back as if uncomfortable. “I am here for your safety and recovery.”

  She poked him in the centre of the formed musculature of his chest. “Unless I call for help repeatedly, never disturb me in the lav.”

  He nodded. “Understood.”

  Dr. Grimwell looked between them. “Well, I am done here. You will need a check when you arrive at Lrrko, but for now, you are on the road to full recovery.”

  Brex seemed pleased with the prognosis. “Thank you, doctor.”

  She smiled. “Yes, thank you, doctor.”

  She hopped to the floor and poked Brex again. “What is next?”

  He looked at where her finger was prodding the metal. “This was not in your file.”

  She shrugged. “I haven’t been able to feel anything for two years. It has made me a little more eager for physical feedback.”

  “Ah. I should have anticipated that.”

  She wrapped her arms around her body and looked up at him. “Can we do clothing first? I think a compression suit might give me the hug that I am craving.”

  He paused, and for a moment, she thought he had blown a circuit. She had no idea what he was made of, but he seemed stunned.

  “Um, Brex, clothing?”

  “Of course. Tyanni. Come with me.”

  He put his metal hand at her back, and she felt the distinct prickle of reaction to the touch. A cascade of warmth ran up her spine and nestled in her brain. He was so careful with her. It was sweet.

  She let him usher her down the hall, past the dining area and into an area with small shops. He looked around, found what his sensors were seeking and walked her toward a shop with compression suits. The proprietor had four arms and an eye for colour. It was one big eye, right in the middle of his forehead.

  “Before you go and try those suits on, come here.” Brex murmured it quietly.

  She turned to him and took the metal fingers with her own. He pulled her against him and slowly enfolded her in a hug. Ty sighed. The only thing that would have made it better was a heartbeat, but the huge, caring arms around her made it pretty close to perfect.

  When she relaxed and wrapped her arms around him, he made a peculiar sound and released her. “The proprietor is waiting.”

  As Ty looked over, the man grinned and crossed his arms. “Don’t rush on my account.”

  She sighed and released Brex. Her arms hadn’t been able to get all the way around the barrel of his chest anyway.

  “Fine, let’s get this over with.”

  Half an hour later, she was wearing a fitted suit that covered her new skin. While it covered more, she felt more naked than she had in the med gown.

  In the shop, she tried on boots until she found two pairs that matched everything she had selected or that had been selected for her.

  She added a pack of brushes and hair combs to the pile. Her new locks were definitely going to require attention.

  “I will have this sent to your quarters, Miss.” The proprietor smiled and inclined his head.

  Brex put his hand on her back. “We are now going to engage in a little physiotherapy and begin your training to be a woman of the Lrrko.”

  “If there are no women, how do you know what training I will need?” She felt very clever for coming up with that.

  “We have records, and we know what our kinsmen are capable of. The brotherhood of the Lrrko is stable; you are a new variable. Their reaction is unknown, so you will be prepared.”

  She slowed down, and he matched her decrease in forward speed. “Am I going to be in danger?”

  “No!” His word was intense. “No one will harm you. We were just not expecting to find any of your kind.”

  “My kind?”

  “A Lrrko female. You are the closest thing to a female of the Lrrko that has been seen in hundreds of years. It is my job to protect you.”

  He nodded his head as he finished his statement as if driving it home. He had a lot of body language for a robot, but she supposed that he would have to be as close to living as possible.

  “Come on. Let’s start your training. We will continue it on the ship.”

  She followed him to the gym that seemed to consist of nothing but thick mats. Ty had a feeling that she was going to be seeing a lot of that floor pattern.

  “Face me and let’s begin.”

  She squared off against seven feet of metal and sighed. I am so going to get my new ass handed to me.

  Chapter Three

  “I am programmed for physical therapy. Just relax while I work on those muscles.” Brex’s voice was amused.

  Ty was naked and face down in her bed. She turned her head to one side. “Fine. But no laughing at me.”

  “I would not dream of it.” Brex’s hands stroked her back, and he began at her butt, working his way up her body.

  She groaned but remained still. Three days in space on their way to Lrrko and she had active therapy every damned day.

  To say that the Lrrko were physically active was a bit of an understatement. From what Brex had told her about the mysterious race, they were bred to be assassins, could walk through walls and spent time on their world in sport combat. When you had a bunch of bored guys together, combat was bound to ensue.

  She asked for a file or something on the Lrrko, but there were none. The files had been destroyed when the Lrrko were working for a species named the Vorwings. The shame of their actions had led to them purging their history.

  The Bride ship had survived in myth and legend, but the Vorwings had destroyed the colony they came from when their supply of assassins ran out.

  The Lrrko on their hidden home world were the last.

&nbs
p; As Brex worked out a knot in her shoulder, she asked, “How did the Alliance get a hold of you? How did they notify you that there were candidates like me out there?”

  “We have a relay station in a nearby system. We filter anything that mentions Lrrko by name. They called us and we answered.”

  His huge metal hands made quick work of her tight muscles and soothed the butt bruises that had been inflicted. She landed bottom first, a lot.

  “So, you listen in and finally heard something you were interested in?”

  “Definitely. There. All better. The bruises will fade by morning.”

  He patted her butt and pulled her sheet up and over her. With a few moves, he arranged her so that she had her head on a pillow. When she was cozy, he stroked her hair and headed back to the cockpit.

  “One more rest and we are at Lrrko. Enjoy your sleep.”

  She settled in the bunk with a grunt. Like she was going to get any sleep after that.

  Ty brushed her hair and put it up in combs. Brex had deemed the blood-red body suit she was wearing, suitable.

  Nine codes had been used to get them past check-in stations, and now, they were settled on Lrrko.

  “A crowd is gathering. Stay close to me. I will get you to the elder council safely.”

  His words sent a trill of fear through her.

  “You are mentioning safety again.”

  “I know. It is important. The others will be coming after, but you are the first, and folks will be curious.”

  What was left unsaid was that some curiosity would turn to aggression.

  Ty hitched up her bag of clothing with the spare pair of boots over one shoulder, and she pressed herself against Brex. “Ready when you are.”

  He opened the outer hatch, and the air of Lrrko rushed in. The smell of a gathering of men was unmistakable. She could hear them before she stepped out with Brex and saw her new home.

  The buildings were short, no more than three stories. She concentrated on the sky filled with four moons and two suns with an asteroid belt in the background. It was preferable to the silent crowd that was staring at her.

  She saw that the skin of the Lrrko tended to be matte. Dark shades were the norm, but a few were as pale as she was. Brex walked with her at a controlled pace toward a vehicle that was parked at the edge of the landing area.

  A guard on the vehicle stood upright as they passed and that small gesture caused a rippled effect in the crowd.

  A hand reached toward Ty’s cheek, and she flinched back. Brex snapped into motion, breaking the man’s hand. The crowd surged, and Brex grabbed her, holding her against his chest while fighting off the crowd with his free hand.

  Ty simply held on and kept her eyes shut. The snapping and wet sounds were more than she wanted to have live images of.

  Brex settled on the vehicle with her, and he took off. “There, that wasn’t so bad.”

  She opened her eyes and saw that he was spattered with blood. “No. Not too bad at all.”

  Ty felt some of the spray on her cheek, but she kept herself curled against him. It was a technique she had perfected at the hospital. Close her eyes and find a fixed point of comfort. When she had been in the hospital, it had been her even breathing and the sensations she could feel under the skin of two fingers. Now, it was the warmth of the metal pressed against her cheek.

  “We will meet with the medics for a brief scan, and then, I will bring you to the elders. It should be a short meeting, and I will do most of the talking.”

  “Why?”

  “Because they will be aggressive with you, and that is not something you need to deal with on your first day on Lrrko. They are going to try to scare you, intimidate you. Remember, you have a right to your place on this world. I am here to make sure that you claim it.”

  She finally asked the question in her head. “Why would they assign you to me and then not want you to help me?”

  “I was not assigned by the elders. I was assigned by the guild.”

  She didn’t have a chance to ask what he was referring to. They slowed, and he brought them down for a landing. He carried her toward a cluster of men who were built along the same lines as the others in the crowd at the landing area.

  “Mistress, please lie on the scanning bed,” one of the physicians spoke with a low tone. His expression was soft, and there was kindness in his eyes. His tone reminded her of Brex.

  Brex explained. “You are too small for our standing scanners.”

  He set her on her feet, and she walked to the scanner, boosting herself up and lying in the correct position at the doctor’s direction.

  “Medic Alveck is one of our best.” Brex chuckled.

  Alveck grinned. “One of, right.”

  The other medics receded to the doorway as the scanner ran over her from top to bottom, with special attention to her hips.

  When the display started to show images, Ty wasn’t sure what she was looking at. The medics got excited and Alveck asked Brex, “You are taking her to the elders?”

  “I am.”

  “Bring her back here immediately. We want to draw the first samples before she ovulates.”

  Ty sat up. “What now?”

  Alveck grinned and pointed to the monitor. “This is your pelvis and here are the nodes of your ovaries.”

  “Why are there four? I don’t have four.” She frowned.

  Brex took her hand. “It was one of the alterations that was made to your physiology. Since you were being rebuilt, it wasn’t noticeable for you. It was just one small change of many.”

  She stared at the monitor. “And I thought my PMS before the accident was bad. I am going to be out for blood.”

  Brex chuckled. “That is what the physio is for. Now that you are physically stable, we will begin on combat.”

  Alveck chuckled. “What will the elders say to that?”

  Ty swung her legs over the edge of the scanning bed, and she stood up. “They aren’t going to have a say in what I do to my body. They have a claim on my genes and that is all.”

  Alveck grinned. “I thought you were the passive sister.”

  She snorted. “I was the wounded one. There is a difference.”

  “Poor Brex.” Alveck chuckled.

  Brex shook his head and put his hand on Ty’s back. He ushered her out. “I am delighted to be her Familiar, and if I keep saying it long enough, I will come to believe it.”

  The wry tone in his voice made her laugh.

  They walked back to the roof and got back on the thing that looked like a beefed-up flying motorcycle.

  “What is this thing called?”

  She settled in front of him, and he wrapped around her, a wall of metal between her and the world.

  “This is usually known as a riot runner. They are a common conveyance for up to three people if you are cozy. They can also be keyed to certain persons.”

  She looked out through the heavy windscreen and saw Lrrko with interested eyes. The buildings were short, the city was large and the fields immediately beyond were neatly arranged. The large arena in the centre of the city was both ominous and looked well kept. Whatever happened there, it got a lot of use.

  “This is the tower for the elders. It has been joined with the decanting centre.”

  The tower was five stories and heavily guarded. Brex angled their arrival between four of the guards and landed the vehicle neatly on the rooftop.

  Ty knew then that she wanted to learn how to fly.

  Staring was one of the things that Brex had warned her against, so she glanced at the guards on the roof as they were escorted to the door. The features were similar. They were lovely. There was no other word for it; they were elegant and savage with high cheekbones and piercing eyes. Their hair had the same range as the human spectrum with a bit more dark purple thrown in. The deep burgundy tunics with dark-gold piping marked them as some kind of military.

  She would ask Brex what
kind of guard they were later.

  “We are meeting with the Lrrko elders. Remember not to get too offended. I am here to intercede for you.”

  “Keep my mouth shut when possible. Difficult, but I will try.”

  Brex chuckled. “I doubt it, but nice attitude.”

  She smirked and kept pace with him as they passed guarded door after guarded door. When they were deep in the centre of the building, they entered something that resembled a courtroom. Seven men were sitting in raised boxes. They were scarred, their eyes were hard and they were wearing matte-grey uniform tops with black trim.

  Brex stood behind her, and he announced, “Elders, I bring before you Tyanni Nikkelson of Terra. Descendant from our lost Bride ship.”

  Ty looked at the men as they all leaned forward. She shifted her weight onto both heels and met them glare for glare.

  The man in the centre leaned back. “She doesn’t look like the images of old. She is smaller.”

  Brex explained, “The Terrans were much smaller when the ship crashed. She is actually quite tall for one of her people.”

  The third man on the left cocked his head. “I suppose that height could be adjusted at the genetic level.”

  Ty felt simmering irritation glow in her.

  “Have her turn around.” One of the men rotated his finger in the air.

  Brex paused. “Why?”

  “My females have always had curves; I wish to see if she carries that characteristic.”

  Ty snapped. “Listen, you messed-up perv, I don’t care if my ass appeals to you. It appeals to me, and I am the one who has to wear it.”

  She took a threatening step forward, but Brex put his hand on her shoulder.

  The room erupted in laughter. The central figure grinned. “Ah, that is what we were looking for. Genes are one thing, but fire is what we hoped to see.”

  Ty raised her eyebrows. “How insulting were you willing to get?”

  He shrugged. “Rhexis was willing to mock your breasts, and Leekaron had your complexion and hair on his list. After that, we would degenerate until you fought back or cried.”