Chapter 10
The Starbreaker's sick bay mirrored the storage bay where I'd treated patients earlier—only smaller, more intimate.
And this time, I was the one lying in bed, being tended to.
After we returned from the station, Lyrin had asked me to come for the scan.
I'd wanted to back out—my stomach had twisted at the door to sick bay—but I couldn't. Not after they told me their truth.
Not after how they'd made me feel. I held tight to those feelings, not wanting them to slip away.
"Almost finished." Lyrin's voice remained steady, soothing. "You're doing great, Kira."
A machine beeped. A light flashed green. Then silence.
"Okay, that's it. You can sit up now," Lyrin said.
I sat up, swung my legs off the table, and crossed to him in three strides.
"So, what does it say? Am I a suitable match?"
He smiled. "That's not how this works. The scan only shows if a physiological bond is forming between you and us."
"That doesn't sound very romantic."
"It isn't. It's biological." He gestured at the screen. "Every Zorathi cell carries a synergen—think of it like a musical composition. Each of us has a distinct harmonic, but with only four harmonies, the chord remains incomplete. We need a fifth to turn our sound into music."
"So it's like we are competing on Galactic Idol, except I'm the lead singer and we can't win without me?"
Lyrin blinked. "I suppose that analogy works."
"Am I compatible?" I asked.
Lyrin leaned closer to the screen. His fingers danced across the keyboard.
"There is a bond, but it is just beginning to form. It is unstable, but appears to be growing stronger."
"What does that mean?" I asked.
"It means the bond could be complete sooner than we anticipated—days instead of weeks.
But many variables must be taken into consideration.
Primarily, your feelings and emotions, our reactions, outside influences, and anything else we haven't considered.
Distance can affect newly forming bonds unpredictably. "
"But there is a bond?" I asked.
"A weak bond, yes. It requires stabilization."
"How do we do that?" I asked, part of me hoping it meant more group hugs.
Lyrin glanced at me, then a sheepish grin covered his face.
"For starters, conversations like this. I am beginning to feel your emotions and to address your.
.. thoughts... It does not require physical contact, sex, or any similar types of rituals.
" He paused. "I'm sorry that is disappointing to you, but what you need to understand is that stabilization simply requires acceptance.
A conscious choice, or series of choices, that signals to all of us that we are coming into balance. "
"I'm not sure how to feel about you being able to read my mind."
He shook his head. "I can't read your mind.
I can feel your emotions, faintly. Think of it like standing in the shallow part of an ocean.
You can feel the water swirl, push, and pull, but you can't feel the full force of the current.
It's like your emotions are lapping at the edge of my consciousness. "
"Why can't I feel your emotions?"
"Because this is new for you. Remember, the four of us have been doing this our entire adult lives. You will be able to do it soon, as the bond grows stronger."
I looked at my hands, unsure of how to feel. Lyrin stood and walked to me.
"Come here, my sweet Doctor," he said, offering me a safe harbor.
I melted into him. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me against his chest until I couldn't tell where I ended and he began.
The steady thrum of his heart beat against the side of my head, and my own pulse slowed, synchronized.
I breathed deep. Cedar flooded my senses.
A warmth bloomed in my chest, then higher, a tickle of happiness and belonging brushing the edge of my mind.
"Are you feeling happy right now?" I asked.
"Very happy," he murmured.
"I think I feel it," I said.
Then I felt something else—something hard pressed against my hip. He pulled away sharply, clearing his throat.
"We should go to the bridge and share the news with the Captain and the others."
"Do we have to?" I purred, closing the distance he'd created.
He retreated another step, his cheeks flushing dark purple. "Kira, please." His voice roughened. "I can feel what you want. Gods, I feel it. But I cannot. This has nothing to do with desire—I must respect our culture and heritage. I'm asking you to do the same."
My eyes narrowed. "Vaelix said the same thing to me right after I arrived. I thought he wasn't interested. Are you telling me that you can't have—"
"No! We cannot. At least not until the bond is complete and the Tether is in place. It is forbidden," he said, his chest heaving. "The best thing we can do right now is go to the bridge and share this news."
"Fine. Take me to the bridge," I pouted.
"Thank you. One more request..."
"What?"
"Can you please think of anything else right now? Prime numbers? Research papers?" A muscle ticked in his jaw. "I'm afraid that if your emotions stay at these levels, they'll have an unexpected impact on the other Knights."
"We wouldn't want that, would we?" I teased.
He locked eyes with me. "No, we wouldn't."
I sighed. "Fine. Today, class, we are going to talk about xenomorphology and its impact on the pre-diaspora generations in the Sirius Prime galaxy..."
I droned on about the most boring topics I could think of during our entire walk to the bridge—paradigm shifts, demographic models, statistical variance in Sirius Prime atmospheric readings.
"...and if we examine the morphological drift patterns in pre-diaspora Sirius populations, we see a statistically significant correlation between—are you still listening? "
"Unfortunately, yes," Lyrin muttered.
"Good. Now, where was I? Ah yes, the phi coefficient variance in subgroup metallicity ratios..."
By the time we arrived, I'd nearly bored myself into a coma. The last thing I wanted was anyone touching me.
The other Knights had already assembled on the bridge, just as Lyrin promised. Torvyn was in his captain's chair, Kaedren was at the security station, and Vaelix was monitoring the ship’s systems.
"I sense good news." Torvyn shot me a sly smile.
"A bond has been detected," Lyrin said.
All three snapped their heads toward me. The concern crashed over me like a wave—warm, overwhelming, suffocating.
"How are you feeling?" Torvyn asked.
"Do you need anything?" Vaelix added.
"Can I take you back to your quarters for rest?" Kaedren offered.
I closed my eyes and rubbed the bridge of my nose. "I was doing fine until this," I said, motioning at the three of them with both hands. "There is a bond, and yes, I am starting to feel things that all of you are feeling, but do you remember our conversation over lunch?"
All four of them nodded their heads.
"Good. Remember how I said I was really bad at this?"
They nodded again.
"Great. You listen and remember. You are already light-years ahead of every potential suitor I've ever had."
Their smiles grew larger.
I held up a finger. "But if you smother me with affection right now, I will snap this bond in half myself. Are we clear?" I pushed the warning through whatever connection we shared, willing them to feel it.
All four men flinched, then mumbled agreements.
"Okay, so what's next?" I asked.
Torvyn glanced at Vaelix. "Have we received any distress calls?"
"No, Captain. Nothing in the last few days."
"Well, Kira, it looks like we have some free time. Is there anywhere you would like to go? Maybe a planet full of alien ruins?" Torvyn said.
Excitement coursed through me. I could do research again—not research somebody else wanted me to do, but research I cared about. I took a deep breath. This was a little overwhelming. There were so many planets on my bucket list; where to start?
"Captain, we are receiving a priority transmission," Vaelix said.
"On screen."
A familiar face flickered to life on the viewscreen. Ice crystallized in my gut.
"Doctor Vale, it is so good to see you again."
I glared at the screen—at that perfectly combed hair, those gleaming veneers.
"What do you want, Voss?" I asked.
He shook his head and tsked at me. "Now, now, is that any way to address your director?"
"Considering I don't work for you anymore, I don't really care what you think about how I address you. Maybe I can call you by your company nickname? Would you like that, Director Hover?"
"Director Hover?" Voss asked, eyes blank.
"That's right. Because all you do is hover over everyone until they are so uncomfortable they want to quit—you walking, talking HR violation!" I said, my fists balled and chest heaving.
"You ungrateful pile of—"
"Watch your tongue, human." Torvyn's voice could have cut steel. "You do not address emissaries of the Zorathi Reach with that tone."
Voss looked at the Captain, then laughed. "First, Doctor Vale still works for me. You really should read her contract. Hold on, I will send it to you. Second, I will speak to you however I please. Have you checked your sensors yet, Zorathi scum? You are outmanned, outgunned, and out of time."
Torvyn signaled for the transmission to be muted, then looked at Vaelix.
"Five corporate frigates have decloaked, Captain. We are indeed surrounded."
Torvyn's anger didn't just radiate—it crashed into me like a tsunami, dragging me under. For a moment, I couldn't separate his rage from mine, couldn't remember why I hated Voss or if I'd always wanted to tear him apart. The bond amplified everything, turned emotion into wildfire.
Then, beneath the fury: Lyrin's cold calculation. Vaelix's rapid tactical analysis. Kaedren's barely leashed violence.
They weren't just angry. They were dangerous.
Torvyn unmuted the transmission. "What do you want, Voss? We have injured and wounded on board. If you attack us, you will kill hundreds of innocents."
Voss waved that away. "Nobody cares about them except you. I want something else—something special." His gaze oozed over me like oil. "I want her. Back where she belongs."
"I don't belong to you," I spat.
"Your contract says otherwise, Doctor. And unlike these aliens, I know exactly how to handle you."
"You will never have her," Kaedren thundered, all four fists clenched.
"Try to take her." Lyrin's voice went cold, clinical—the warrior beneath the healer. "See what happens."
Vaelix's hands flew across his console. "Captain, all five frigates have activated their weapon systems."
"Then let them fire." Torvyn's words carried absolute certainty. "We've faced worse odds."
“Do I have a say in this?” I asked.
Torvyn swiped the transmission away, and the screen went black.
"Kira, you are free to do whatever you wish. You know this. But I implore you not to make any rash decisions. You are vitally important to this ship, this crew—to us. We need you."
My hands trembled. Four pairs of eyes watched me—four men who'd fought for me, sheltered me, made me feel seen for the first time in years. And I was about to walk away from all of it.
But what choice did I have? Let them die defending someone they barely knew?
My throat tightened. Tears burned behind my eyes. "I need you too. But I also need you safe, and right now, I'm endangering everyone here."
"We are strong. We can destroy five corporate frigates with ease," Kaedren said, smashing all four of his fists onto the banister in front of his station.
"Is that true, Torvyn? It was a corporate frigate that dropped me off on the planet you found me on. I toured that ship and know its weaponry. I know how strong its shields are. Be honest with me. Can you really defeat all of them and survive?"
Torvyn held my gaze for one heartbeat, then two. Then he looked away.
Shit.
We both knew Voss had outflanked them, and there was only one way to save everyone.
"Open the transmission, please, Vaelix," I said.
He stood stone-still, then looked at Torvyn. The captain nodded, just barely. Voss reappeared on screen. He opened his mouth to speak.
"Shut up and listen," I said. "If I willingly give myself up, will you let the Starbreaker go?"
Voss flashed me a toothy grin. "Of course, Doctor Vale. They will be free to go as soon as you are on board my ship."
"No harm will come to them?" I asked.
"I will not harm them," Voss said.
I nodded. "Okay. I will be there soon."
"You have an hour. If I don't see a shuttle on its way, I will destroy your filthy little ship and your disgusting little friends."
Torvyn cut the transmission and turned to face me. "You know he is lying, right?"
"I know, but this is the only way to save the ship and everyone on it. I have to sacrifice what I want—for now. When my contract is over, you'll find me. That will work, right?"
"Maybe. The bond will either grow stronger with time and connection, or it will snap. We do not know," Lyrin said.
"What happens if it snaps?" I asked.
"The Tether will react as if you have rejected it. You will never see or hear from us again," Torvyn said.
Vaelix cleared his throat. "Captain, Kira, I think I have an idea that will defeat the frigates, save the ship, and strengthen the bond."
"Let's hear it," Torvyn said.
Vaelix laid out his plan. It was bold, it was dangerous, and it just might work.
"Are we in agreement?" I asked.
The crew nodded.
"Then let's do this." I met each of their eyes in turn. "But if this goes sideways, if Voss doesn't keep his word—"
"He won't," Torvyn said quietly.
"I know." I straightened my shoulders. "So let's make sure he doesn't get the chance."
Kaedren moved first, gesturing toward the corridor. "The shuttle bay is this way, Doctor Vale."
I followed each step, feeling as if I were walking toward the edge of a cliff. Behind me, through the bond, I felt them: steady, certain, ready.
Voss had no idea what was coming.