The other cyborgs had been worried about letting the pirates on board and were hanging back near the lift per Doug’s instructions. He’d forbidden them to bring weapons today, but he wouldn’t put it past Rust to have a pulse pistol or two stashed on his person just in case. Best to make introductions quickly so nothing went sideways.
He called, “Welcome on board the Icarus, Captain Qaiyaan.”
Four Denaidans descended the ramp, copper skin reflecting the harsh lighting. Doug recognized the captain only from the many video feeds he’d hacked, but he knew Noatak in person from a brief encounter right here on the Icarus. Despite his better judgment, Doug had allowed this man’s devotion to Attie’s sister sway him and helped them both escape the ship, which had set in motion everything that had brought him to this moment.
He never would’ve guessed that one minor act of empathy would begin his own journey toward happiness.
Lisa released him with a little shove and looked up, her slate-gray eyes sparkling. “I can’t believe you took over a Syndicorp flagship! It’s the only thing people are talking about in cartel space.”
“It wasn’t all me,” he said, glancing toward his crew. Attie was a few feet behind him, hugging her sister. Tears glistened on her cheeks as the two of them rocked back and forth. “I want you to meet Attie and my crew.”
Noatak stepped forward, eyes boring into Doug. “You’re the cyborg who freed me.” Without waiting for confirmation, he reached out and pulled Doug into a spine-cracking hug. “I owe you everything, iluq.” He was as tall as Doug, and even without cybernetics, seemed to be just as strong. “Absolutely everything.”
“Enough Noatak,” Qaiyaan said. He gave Doug a sardonic smile. “My first mate isn’t usually so demonstrative. But he’s right, we are grateful for everything you’ve done.”
“To be fair, I didn’t do it for you.” Doug looked at Lisa.
She smiled back as she slid an arm around Qaiyaan’s waist. “Be nice, Doug. You two are brothers now.”
Doug blinked, realizing just how true her words were. First, Doug became part of a cyborg brotherhood, then took a lover and befriended a sentient AI. Now he had a new sister and not one, but two brothers—Qaiyaan and Noatak. His family seemed to get bigger every time he turned around.
Attie linked her arm thought Doug’s and leaned her cheek against his shoulder. “Marlis, this is Doug. Which one of these is yours?”
“My memory’s still shit, but I’m pretty sure it’s this one.” Marlis hitched a thumb toward Noatak. “Noatak, this is my sister, Attie.”
Noatak rolled his eyes and put one arm around Marlis’s shoulders to jerk her close. “She’s trouble, but she’s all mine.”
A rumbling sound made everyone turn as Twerp came off the lift, her treaded wheels loud against the decking. The boxy, meter-tall sweeper bot was the best the cyborgs had been able to manage for her, but Twerp was delighted to finally move around on her own. “Greetings!” Twerp’s camera swiveled upward toward Marlis. “My facial recognition program is not yet complete, but I believe you must be Marlis. It is interesting to finally see you in person.”
“Oh my God. It can’t be—” Marlis’s eyes went wide. “Twerp?”
Twerp’s repurposed dust bin slid forward, revealing a tray with several glasses of pink liquid. “I have brought refreshments.”
Attie let go of Doug’s arm and picked up a glass. “I forgot to tell you, Marlis. Twerp survived.”
Marlis blinked. “In a sweeper bot?”
“It is a long story,” said Twerp, rolling forward a few inches and raising her dustbin of sloshing glasses. “I believe it is a human custom to regale each other with historical experiences over drinks. Emilryde assures me this is the same beverage served in the finest establishments on Enays. Please, try some.”
Marlis shook her head and took a glass. “That’s Twerp, all right. Never gets right to the point.”
“Ellam Cua, Twerp!” A red-headed Denaidan with bare feet pushed forward, bending to look straight into the AI’s camera. “You got your eyes!”
“Indeed I did.” Twerp shuttered and opened her lens as if fluttering her lids. “I believe I recognize your voice from when you assisted me during Marlis’s assimilation to the nanites. Are you Tovik?”
Tovik grinned and nodded. “Yep. Good to see you again, Twerp.”
“I am most gratified to see you, as well. Would you care for a drink?”
“That’d be great.” He picked up a glass and took a sip while he crouched down to examine Twerp’s chassis. “Let me look at you. I’ve never seen a Syndicorp bot up close before.”
“Twerp has the right idea.” Attie pulled her sister toward several cargo containers the cyborgs had set up as tables laden with platters of food. “We put together a feast to celebrate. Come on.”
Lisa grinned at Doug, then grabbed Qaiyaan’s arm to drag him along. “I like her already.”
It felt so good to be near Lisa again, and exponentially good that she and Attie were getting along. He hung back, watching everyone take seats and chat as if they’d known each other all along.
Rust took a seat next to Marlis, removing a pulse pistol from his boot and offering it to her, butt-first. Damn that cyborg. But Marlis pulled a pistol from her belt and offered it in return, obviously delighted to be talking guns.
Noatak leaned toward Doug. “Now we’ve lost her. Marlis’ll talk guns all night. Any chance there’s a bottle of Kantarellian rum over there?”
Doug was surprised to realize he was grinning like an idiot. “I believe we can rustle up a bottle or two.”
Attie called out, “Doug, you coming?”
He settled to the seat next to her, everyone eating and chatting as if they’d known each other forever. Attie touched the back of his hair with loving fingers, and when he looked at her, the love in her eyes made his cybernetic heart skip a beat. This woman had brought him everything he never thought he deserved. Everything he’d craved but been afraid to admit he wanted. She’d
