Chapter Two
Another week. More personal contact from Commander Kito she ignored. Her mind trying to understand it.
She worked on. Midweek. Not that it mattered to her. Every day was work. Eventually her day done, sitting back cranking her neck. Suddenly feeling the need to touch base with Elon. The need for connection weighing on her. She pulled up his data link and started to write.
Hey Papa. A bit early for the monthly update but felt the need to write.
No particular reason, just been doing a lot of remembering lately.
Not sure why. What a month. Work is busy.
Have a problem on world right now. Our trading routes appear to be compromised but we’re on it, Zee is leading with his team and we have a special unit arrived from the Empire. I’m sure you already know that.
A Commander Kito is leading. Met him. I agreed for contact, didn’t expect him to turn up in person.
Anyway, you know I don’t like the politics.
Frost is asking me to join him more and more.
He’s not getting it or doesn’t want to, who knows, and I know Robbins told him.
And I’m not going to ask. Frost doesn’t need any encouragement.
Kinda miss Robbins and I’m shocked I’m saying that. Says a lot right?
So life goes on here. A few more training days under my belt. Keeping up the personal training. But generally life is quiet. How I like it. Still love the job but it has its elements that are a pain. Frost being one of them.
I’m good though. Happy. My days are full.
Birthday coming up next month. Can you believe I’ll be 39?
39! Likely half my life gone. If the work doesn’t get me first. Where do the years go?
I’ve no idea. No plans as usual. Keeping it on the quiet.
Not interested in a night out or staff doing something.
It’s always embarrassing and besides, who celebrates 39?
NO ONE. Can you imagine the candles on the cake? Burn the house down! Lol.
Talking of, the new house is coming on, still have a few projects to do but I’m not there much as you know and it’s close to completion.
I still love it, but I’m thinking more and more that it’s going to be a sell-on again.
Can’t seem to settle. Guess I can’t seem to find one I really love.
I still miss our old house in the CC. I met up with Maggie last week for lunch.
She is getting older but still fighting it.
Reminiscing being our housekeeper, helping me for all those years. Good woman.
Guess I’ll keep looking for what sings to me.
Be nice not to have to compromise. Or make massive changes or live in a building site but that’s where the credits are.
And you know me, that security blanket still riding me.
Needing it to be thicker. And yes, I know I don’t need more.
But I don’t think that’s ever going to change.
I’m always going to be looking for that security.
That safety. You know it took me years to stop hoarding food. The waste bin in me.
And no, I do not need a handout. I do have more than enough.
Anyhoo. It’s late here and I’m still at my desk. By choice. But time for food and bed. Another day tomorrow. So going to make a move.
Miss you as always. Any plans to swing by? Be nice to see you. It’s been a while. Hope you are safe and well. Looking after yourself. I love you Dad. Your Jane. xx
Smiling, her throat tight she sent it. He hadn’t been back for 16 years. She got why. Knew that 16 years meant nothing to Cyborgs, the equivalent of seconds in time to them. But even so, it didn’t make it any easier.
She did miss him. Always had. And tried not to pressure him into a visit. Tried not to let her need affect him. But sometimes, she’d admit, needed her Papa. She was exhausted today. Not sure why. Drained in some way.
Turning everything off, she stood stretching her back. “You work too hard.” And stopped. Looking over at the voice. Commander Kito stood in her doorway. She shut her emotions down. “Just now. You were happy then sad why?”
She blanked that. Should have demanded how long he’d been there watching her but what would be the point? “It’s late Commander, what do you need?”
“Dinner, thought we could talk.”
“Unless it’s life-threatening, it will have to wait and I don’t do dinner.”
“With anyone or just Cyborgs?”
He’d just insulted her. And narrowed her eyes at him. “That was insulting, deliberate and unfair, you don’t know me.”
He shrugged. “Just want to know.” She knew Cyborgs didn’t lie.
“Nothing to do with being Cyborg. Happy?”
“No. But will be.”
“Good for you. Now if you’d excuse me, I’m going home.”
“I will escort you.”
Laughing she walked by him. “Not in this lifetime. Goodnight.”
“You are not curious?”
“You still here?” she asked, heading to the lift.
He chuckled. “I am.”
Getting there pressing for it. Both waiting in silence. It was made for 8 but with him stepping in with her, it felt tiny. “This going to take your weight?” She asked knowing he weighed the equivalent of half a small vehicle. The metal in his skeleton plus his body mass which was significant.
His head tilted. “I checked, did the math before I used it. Checked it was recently maintained and in good order. You will be fine and if it fails, I’ll protect your body from damage.”
Rolling her eyes. “Gee thanks.”
“You are welcome.” He breathed in and held it.
“Please do not do that. I do not give permission to be scented.”
“Your scent is intoxicating.”
She snorted. “Need a stronger deodorant.”
“No female. You do not.” He gave it a beat. She watched the display going down. “Do you want to know why I volunteered for this mission?”
“No. None of my business.” The door pinging open, feeling relieved she held it in stepping out taking a breath of her own needing it, walking through the lobby, to the car park, getting to her vehicle.
“I’ve scented you before.”
“You were in my office so ….”
“No. Before that.” She turned now at her car looking at him. “Cyborg Councilman and Commander Elon, he wears a scarf you gave him when you were a child. It carries your scent.”
Blinking, not sure what he was trying to tell her. Seeing him now. Hundreds of years old standing there looking so vital. Worry now hitting her. For once, she didn’t hide it. Maybe it was the memories, then doing the message, she was rawer than usual. “Is he ok?”
Kito studied her. Seeing her emotion. “You favour him. He is well female.” Relieved.
She gave a nod. “You care for him.” Kito told her.
A statement, a fact he’d derived from her body language and face.
She just stared at him. She’d given enough away.
“He is how you know us.” Again more logic, she narrowed her eyes at him. Waiting. “He agreed I should come.”
She frowned. “And why would he do that exactly?”
“You are a potential Mate.”
She snorted opening her truck door, getting in. She wasn’t on any Mate database. “Good one. Not registered and half the universe are potential Mates.”
Pulling the door to close again but he stopped her. “Not to me.”
He had better not mean….
“Let go of my door.” She bit off.
“We need to talk.”
“No. Not interested. I reject any Mate bond you consider relevant.”
“Talking will help with that.”
“No. It won’t. You’re not hearing me. Let go of my door or I shoot you. How’s that?” She eyed him letting him see she meant it. She wasn’t being pushed.
He laughed. It was a really nice laugh. “Think you’re fast enough?”
He was playing and that was unnerving. “Yes. Let me remind you of Cyborg 101. If the female declines an invitation, and remains firm on her decision, the Cyborg in question, you, will abide by her wishes.” She quoted the law.
“You are bonded to Councilman Elon.”
“Yes.” She was just not how he thought.
“He doesn’t accept you as a Mate.”
“No.” There was no point lying.
He gave a nod. “The law states. Once the female is in full knowledge of what that means.”
She clenched her jaw. “Fuck sake. I know what it means.”
“Not to me.”
She blew out a breath. “I don’t need or what to know what it means to you! I know. Cyborgs crave legacy. Crave finding a Mate. I’m not it. Let it go Kito. I’m tired and want to go home. I need to eat, shower and go to bed and be back at my desk early tomorrow. Enough ok. I don’t need this.”
“Move over, I’ll drive.”
She glared at him. He didn’t budge. And she knew that he wouldn’t.
“Is your audio defective!” He stood there waiting but she’d seen the flash of recognition when she’d called his hearing ‘audio’.
It was a Cyborg term. His curiosity needing data.
Fuck. She’d just given him more. ”Fine, but his means nothing to me and I will be talking to Elon.
” She blew out slipping over the seat, Kito getting in.
Starting the truck up. He drove out the carpark slowly. “See now, compromising. It is a start.” He told her.
“You keep telling yourself that.” She murmured staring out her side window.
“I do not understand why you are so averse to Cyborgs if you are bonded to Councillor Elon. It is not logical.”
“I’m not. And you mean besides the obvious and just demonstrated need for control, possessiveness, the dominance, the I know best, taking charge, not listening. Boy, that list goes on.” She smirked.
He chuckled. “Cyborg.”
“Yep. Every day of the week.”
“Would you like to know how I know Councilman Elon?”
“No.”
“You are the most difficult female and for one that is in security, where knowledge is important, you do not wish it. That’s curious.”
“That’s, none of your business. And my private life, so no.”
“Private life. With Commander Elon. I see. I met him on a mission. He is a good Commander and leader.”
“You don’t see and I know that.”
“You do not fear him?”
“No. Never.”
“Again, that is curious. That is good. You do not need to fear me either.”
“I don’t fear anyone.” She had a headache coming on. And rubbed her temple.
“You need to work less, sleep more, eat better.”
“Yes Dad, I’ll get right on that.”