Chapter 34 #2
“That would definitely be easier,” Sway added.
“But there are only certain places that will make the equipment we’d need for either.
Biological and cybernetic components aren’t usually mixed together.
At least, not when they’re both prosthetic.
But I’m familiar with both from the Master I used to serve.
It’s not impossible at all, and if chosen correctly, would be easy to piece together. ”
Grace smiled. “I bet I can find some jobs that would help. If we can get an in with a medical supply company, it would be easier. We would need to lower our fee, since it’s not a dangerous job, but forging relationships often paves paths for jobs like that”
Alred looked surprised again, his head glitching and darting between all of them as they spoke in turn. Like he couldn’t believe how quickly and easily the others had fallen in line with his plan and immediately offered up suggestions.
Haven chuckled and called to him in French, “Did you expect anything less?”
He gave her a sad smile back. “I didn’t expect anything. I never do.”
Haven gestured at Goldie. “You’re doing the impossible for those you care about. Don’t be surprised when we want to do the same for you.”
Alred glanced back up at Goldie. She was still standing there, clutching the edge of the railing. Staring down at him with something impossible to read on her face.
Part hope, part despair, part confusion, part heartbreak. A combination of emotions that looked painful and unconquerable.
Poor girl. It looked like she was just considering, for the first time, a possibility that she had never dared to imagine.
She suddenly wanted something she’d never wanted before because she’d never allowed herself to yearn for it because it couldn’t be done.
It was the sudden, aching need for an option you didn’t imagine but now couldn’t believe you’d never thought of before.
And it was hitting her with all the force of the black itself, freezing her body and stealing the breath from her lungs.
Haven couldn’t help but smother a laugh as she continued digging through the top layer of the crate. There was a lot of good stuff in here. A lot of old and broken stuff. But her mind was going wild with the possibilities of what she could do with this.
And now that she was starting to get the reading imprints from Goldie, she’d be able to start reading schematics and designs. She’d be able to learn their math and technical skills beyond simply what she figured out and built for herself.
She wasn’t super proficient in reading Standard yet.
Goldie was giving her the language imprint in stages, like she was a youngling getting their reading lessons, because it was easier on her mind and she’d be more likely to retain the information.
If Haven didn’t already speak Standard, she’d be able to get the spoken and written language in one big dump, but since she already spoke Standard, they had to be more careful.
Trying to imprint knowledge she already had could very well make her lose both and she’d have to start all over again.
So, teaching her reading was a slow, deliberate process.
But she was excited. Because learning to read meant she could expand her knowledge exponentially.
It meant she could do more for Alred. Like the others, discussing and planning how they’d build him a body and what parts should be cybernetic and what parts should be biological.
If he wanted a physical body, he could build one.
Cybernetics could do that easily. But he’d still just be a technological being inside a robotic body.
That’s not what he wanted. He wanted the squishy, biological parts.
He wanted to be like them once again. But from a logical standpoint, saving money and energy and resources by using partially robotic parts just made sense.
Haven was surprised she hadn’t thought of it before.
She shared a look with Vytln. Proud and pleased of his idea. He looked back at her, his gaze burning. Approval and desire making her shiver in delight.
She smiled back at him. Happy to help. Happy to make these plans with Alred. She was a member of the crew now, after all.
Oh.
The realization hit her hard.
She was part of this crew now. She had a place she belonged and people she belonged with.
Ones that didn’t get angry at her for breaking things down.
Instead, they gave her what she needed so she could break down things safely.
They accepted her. They liked her. And just how they were now focusing on Alred’s goal, debating how they could make it easier for him, they would do the same for her.
It was the first time in her life that Haven really understood the bonds of family. She loved her parents, of course, and she appreciated them for raising and caring for her. But they wouldn’t be able to do this for her. Give her this feeling of belonging.
Haven belonged. And it was better than she could have imagined.