Rescued by the Cyborg

by Jessica Coulter Smith

  “How long has it been? Four days?” Rorwick asked.

  “Technically five since the first time.”

  “They might be able to tell you. I’m not sure how much the cybernetics have changed us in regards to reproduction. A Zelranian pregnancy can usually be determined within seven days. It may be too soon. Then again, I don’t know anyone of my race who has mated a human before.”

  “So you’ll take me?” she asked.

  Rorwick nodded and motioned for her to exit his home. He led the way through the base to the medical clinic, where two cyborgs were on duty. They went on instant alert when she stepped into the room, rushing toward her.

  “Did the human get injured?” one of them asked.

  “Maggie, this is Wrylack and the other medic is Liroz. There are several others on our world and some on board the ships that are currently off world,” Rorwick said.

  “It’s nice to meet you both,” Maggie said.

  “If she’s not injured, why did you bring her here?” Liroz asked.

  “Maggie wishes to know if she might be pregnant,” Rorwick said. “Lathim is currently off world so I brought her.”

  Liroz smiled. “We’d be happy to check and see if you’re carrying.”

  Wrylack’s eyes began to glow an intense blue. He scanned her from head to toe, then came back to rest on her belly. The lights in his eyes dimmed and returned to normal, although now she could see he didn’t have gray eyes, but metal ones. He must have been one of the cyborgs Lathim had mentioned that had parts on the outside that made them different and harder to match with someone.

  “I detect two life forms in your womb,” Wrylack said. “I hope this is happy news. I know the commanders will be overjoyed to hear that there’s been a successful mating. It will give the rest of us hope.”

  Maggie placed a hand over her stomach and fought down the momentary panic. She’d never been around children and didn’t know the first thing about taking care of a baby, much less two. She took a few deep breaths until she didn’t feel quite so much like she might pass out. Her hand shook as she smoothed it over her belly and she wished that Lathim were with her. He’d know exactly what to say to calm her down.

  “This isn’t good news?” Wrylack asked, looking concerned. “You don’t seem pleased.”

  “I wasn’t trying to get pregnant,” Maggie said. “I think I’m just in shock. I mean, you said there are two of them and I don’t even know what to do with one baby. I’ve never even held a baby before.”

  “How old are you?” Wrylack asked. “If that isn’t too rude to ask.”

  “I’m twenty-two,” Maggie said. “But I’ve spent most of my life on my father’s ship and I was the only female on board. Even when we docked places, it wasn’t often he let me leave the ship and if I did I always had guards with me. I always thought he was just being overprotective. I mean, I’d heard about women being sold to brothels, I just never thought something like that could happen to me.”

  Wrylack’s eyes widened. “The females in brothels have been sold? They aren’t there willingly?”

  “There may be a few who choose that life, but most women aren’t into doing multiple guys of multiple species every day of their life. A lot of those women have been stolen and sold and are given no choice in the matter.”

  Wrylack paled. “I’ll not be using brothels anymore then. I’m sure if you told Lathim about this, then he’s shared it with our Commanders and that information will be shared with all. I didn’t realize the females were being abused like that. It’s the same as force and it makes me sick to think I participated in something like that.”

  It sometimes surprised Maggie just how sheltered the cyborgs were. How could they have possibly thought the women chose that life? It just showed that all men, regardless of their race, thought with their little heads and not the one above their shoulders. If they’d stopped for two seconds to think about something other than getting laid, maybe they’d have realized most women wouldn’t want to live a life like that. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to bash them over their heads for being idiots or feel sorry for them since she’d ruined their fantasy with reality. It was almost like she’d just taken their favorite toy away from them. Even Liroz looked a little sickened by the thought of bedding unwilling women.

  The cyborgs might have their faults, but Maggie could admit that they treated their women well. They were misguided at times, like when Lathim lied to her, but their hearts were in the right place. They were so desperate for love and affection, for a chance at a family, that they were blinded to anything that might stand in their way and just bulldozed over it. She should probably still be angry with Lathim, but she understood why he did it. She didn’t agree with it by any means, but she understood.

  “Since you’re expecting, your body is going to need more nutrients. Will you allow me to administer some injections?” Wrylack asked.

  “Just vitamins?”

  “You should give her the serum to extend her life. It will crush Lathim if something happens to her,” Rorwick said.

  “What kind of serum?” Maggie asked, leery of what they might be injecting her with.

  Wrylack hesitated a moment. “It’s a complex compound that has nanobytes that will repair tissue damage and keep you from aging as quickly. You’ll still be human, but just a little extra as well.”

  “Just how long do you guys live?” Maggie asked.

  “An unenhanced Zelranian can live nearly two hundred years. With our cybernetics, we will live much longer. We also age slower because of what was done to us,” Wrylack said.

  “So how old is Lathim?” Maggie asked. “He doesn’t look much older than me, but if you guys live so long…”

  Rorwick’s eyebrows rose. “He’s forty.”

  “F-forty? But… That’s how old my dad was!”

  Rorwick chuckled and even the medics looked amused. She was mated to someone her dad’s age? Not that Lathim looked forty. Her father had been going gray at his temples and there were fine lines around his eyes. She’d thought Lathim was maybe twenty-eight. They’d warned her that they aged differently, but she hadn’t realized how much. Did that mean in ten years she’d look older than her mate? Would he still want her when he looked young and she had gray hair?

  “You said the nano-whatevers would make me live longer. Will they make me age slower too?” she asked.

  “To my knowledge, Jillian and you will be the first humans to use the serum. It’s hard to say how it will react with your system for certain. Jillian has already been dosed and there were no adverse effects, so it appears to be safe to use on you.”

  Maggie’s hands clenched into fists. “What about the babies? Will it harm the babies?”

  Wrylack hesitated. “Uncertain.”

  “Then don’t give it to me until after I give birth. I can survive nine months without it.” She narrowed her eyes. “You aren’t going to tell me your people are pregnant for like three years or something, are you?”

  “Actually, Zelranian females give birth at seven months. I’m not sure how long your pregnancy will last. We will monitor the situation and check on growth and development as the months progress. Within four months, we should have an idea of how long you’ll carry them.” Wrylack smiled. “Lathim is going to be thrilled when he hears the news.”

  “If you’re done with Maggie for now, I’ll return her to her home,” Rorwick said.

  “We should give her vitamins to boost her immune system and make her stronger,” Liroz said.

  “Why don’t we wait for Lathim to get back?” Rorwick suggested. “I think any treatments should be discussed with him first. It would be one thing if her life were in danger, but she seems perfectly healthy.”

  Wrylack nodded. “My scan of her systems did indicate that she is in good health. A pregnancy will wear on her body, but the vitamins can wait a few days. It’s understandable that you’d prefer to wait for Lathim’s return. As her mate, he will have final say over her treatm
ent.”

  Maggie folded her arms over her chest. “Excuse me, but as it’s my body, I get final say over my treatment.”

  Wrylack tipped his head in acknowledgement.

  “Thank you for telling me about the babies,” Maggie said. “I’ll come back after I’ve talked to Lathim.”

  Rorwick escorted her back across the base to her home. The house seemed cold and lonely with no one to talk to. Lathim couldn’t get home fast enough. He was likely to find her skeleton on the couch, her final resting place from having died of boredom.

  Chapter Nine

  Lathim felt like he’d been gone forever. Guilt ate at him for the entire trip, and worry. He should have stayed and talked to Maggie, even if she was angry with him. Her temper would have cooled eventually. He knew that he’d done a bad thing, but he wasn’t sorry for it. Well, maybe a little sorry. He was sorry that he’d hurt Maggie, but he wouldn’t take back the memories of their time together for anything. She meant everything to him, and he hoped that she would see that. All he’d wanted to do was claim her and make her his in every way that mattered.

  It was unfortunate that he’d broken her trust by doing things his way. But if she’d come to trust him once, she could do it again, right? He just needed to get back home so he could tell her how much she meant to him. He didn’t care if they ever had children; as long as he had Maggie, that would be enough. Having a family had seemed like the most important thing in the world to him, until he’d worried that he’d lost his mate. It had made him realize that what he wanted most was her. Just her.

  “You look like a lovesick fool,” Ralkir said.

  “I’m missing my mate.”

  “We already broke through the atmosphere. We’ll be setting down any minute. Try to refrain from running all the way to your home.”

  Lathim snorted.

  “Did you have someone notify her of your return?” Ralkir asked.

  “No. When I left, we weren’t on good terms. She was angry with me, and she had a right to be. I’m hoping that she’s calmed enough that we can talk now. I need to apologize to her.”

  Ralkir shook his head. “If this is what happens to a male when he takes a mate, I just may stay single indefinitely. Love makes you weak.”

  “No, having Maggie in my life is the best thing that ever happened to me. When you fall in love, you’ll see.”

  “So you love her?” Ralkir asked.

  Lathim froze. He hadn’t meant to utter those words, but they’d slipped out. And he realized, they were true. He really did love Maggie. She was his entire world, his everything. If she left him, if she decided she could never forgive him, he would live a long and miserable life because there would never be another female for him. She was it.

  The ship shuddered as it touched down and Lathim braced his feet. When the vibrations faded, he briskly walked to his quarters and retrieved his belongings. He ground his teeth in frustration as everyone bottlenecked trying to leave the ship, and they were all moving incredibly slow. When his feet touched the ground, he picked up the pace, not stopping to talk to anyone. He hated to be rude to his friends, but Maggie was his top priority. It had been a week since he’d last seen her, but it had felt like an eternity.

  As he neared his home, he felt a rush of excitement over seeing his mate again. Even if she was still angry with him, he’d take her hurtful words. Anything was better than the ache he’d felt being apart from her. The door opened and he set his things down. He could hear the viewing screen and hurried in that direction, hoping his mate was nearby. Maggie lay curled amongst the cushions, tears dampening her cheeks. His heart lurched at the sight and he rushed to her side.

  “What’s wrong? Are you hurt? Where is the pain?” he asked quickly, reaching for her.

  “Lathim? You’re home.” She gave him a tremulous smile and wrapped her arms around him. “I’m not hurt. It’s just a sad movie.”

  His hand smoothed down her back and held her close, breathing in her scent. Peace settled over him now that she was back in his arms. Feeling her soft skin, hearing her sweet voice, it made everything right in his world again.

  “I’m sorry, Maggie. I’m so damn sorry.”

  She drew back. “Sorry for what?”

  “For hurting you, lying to you. It was wrong of me. I should have given you a say. You had every reason to be mad at me.”

  Her hand smoothed over his cheek. “I’m not mad. I was for days after you left, but then Rorwick explained a few things to me and I realized you hadn’t done it maliciously.”

  “What did Rorwick say?”

  “He explained about how precious a mate was to you and that you’d wanted to claim me so I couldn’t leave. Although, just to be clear, having sex does not mean I can’t walk out the door. Even pregnant I could leave if I chose to do so. You’re my mate, my other half, but you aren’t my boss. I know mating is forever here, but it’s different where I come from. I’m still adjusting to all this.”

  He nodded. “I understand. And will you be leaving?”

  His heart hammered in his chest as he waited for her answer.

  “No, I want to stay here, with you. Besides” -- she took his hand and placed it over her belly --”your children are going to need their father to teach them the ways of this world.”

  “Children?” Stars danced in his vision and he swayed. There was more than one baby? His knees buckled and his breath left him in a whoosh as he collapsed onto the floor, staring at the ceiling a little dazed.

  “Lathim!”

  Maggie knelt at his side.

  “I’m fine,” he assured her. “Babies? There’s more than one?”

  “Two. According to Wrylack anyway.”

  “What else did he say? Are you able to carry two? What if it’s too much strain for your body?” Lathim asked.

  “He said I’m perfectly healthy but recommended some vitamin injections to give me a little boost. I decided to wait and get them after I’d talked it over with you.”

  “Do you need anything?” Lathim asked. “Are there any foods you want more than others? Should we start preparing a room for the babies? Did Wrylack say how long the pregnancy would last?”

  Maggie giggled. “Slow down, daddy. The babies will probably be born in seven to nine months, but he said we won’t know for sure until I’m further along. He wants to monitor their development and it will give him a better idea of my due date. So I think we have plenty of time to prepare a room for the babies. Although, if this is a world of only males, I’m curious what exactly you have lying around that would work for a baby’s room.”

  His eyes widened and he realized she was right. They’d never had children on this world. Babies needed special beds, didn’t they? And diapers. There was much to plan, but if they truly had seven months or more, then there was time. For now, he’d enjoy being in his mate’s company again.

  “I love you,” he said, gazing up at her.

  Maggie looked pleasantly surprised. “Did you just discover that? You seem awfully certain.”

  “I was on board the Sphinx when it hit me. But I wanted to tell you. I wanted you to know how much you mean to me, that you’re my everything. Even if we’d never had children, my life would still be blessed because you’re in it.”

  Her eyes misted with tears and she leaned down to press her lips to his. “I love you too. And I’m sorry I was so bitchy before and didn’t give you time to explain yourself. I promise in the future if I’m ever angry with you that I will give you time to explain why you did or said whatever set me off.”

  “I hope to never make you angry again.”

  Maggie smiled. “That’s not likely because I think we’re going to have a long life together. But right now, if you’re no longer unable to stand, there’s something important you need to do.”

  “Anything you want.”

  She laughed. “What if I wanted you to do something painful?”

  “You’d never cause me harm on purpose.”

  Th
e smile slipped from her face. “No, I wouldn’t. I want you to take me back to bed, where our argument started, because I want to replace that bad memory with a good one. And being in your arms is always good.”

  Lathim rose to his feet and lifted Maggie into his arms, being extra careful with her. He had everything he’d ever wanted. A mate and children. His heart was full, and he couldn’t imagine ever wanting something more than what he held in his arms. He’d fought in wars, been to hell and back, and travelled across the galaxies in search of treasures. But the greatest treasure he would ever find was right here, in his heart and in his home. Maggie was his everything, and he would gladly spend the rest of his life making her and their children happy. He didn’t care if he never left the surface of Xpashta ever again because even the stars in the sky couldn’t compare to his sweet mate.

  He only hoped that in the days to come his fellow cyborgs would find the happiness he had with Maggie. He hoped to one day see his planet populated with happy mates and even happier children. That the loneliness etched in every cyborg’s heart would be erased with love, because if Maggie had shown him anything, it was that all things were possible, even when you’d given up hope.

  Jessica Coulter Smith

  Award-winning author Jessica Coulter Smith has been in love with the written word since she was a child writing her first stories in crayon. Today she’s a multi-published author of over seventy-five novellas and novels. Romance is an integral part of her world and spills over from her professional life into her personal one. When she went on that first date with her husband, she never expected to hear the words “Marry me” pop out of his mouth -- and judging by the shocked look on his face, he hadn’t meant to say them either. But, being the hopeless romantic that she is, Jessica said yes and they’ve been married since 2000.

  Jessica firmly believes that love will find you at the right time, even if Mr. Right is literally out of this world. She’s often gazed at the stars and wondered what, or who, else might be out there. Who’s to say that hunky model on the hottest romance bestseller isn’t really from some far off galaxy? Maybe that blue Martian you saw at Halloween wasn’t really in costume. After all, there’s an awful lot of space out there for us to be the only ones living in it. Jessica loves to hear from her readers! You can follow her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jessicacoultersmithauthor/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/kitcatjms.