Page 6 of The Cyborg Way
She grabbed the hand he had on his holster as she tried to step in front of him. “Don’t hurt him!”
“Him?”
An immediate and unexpected flare of jealousy raced through his body before he realized that there couldn’t possibly be another male in the small space. Easily keeping her behind him, he frowned at the kitchen area for another moment before he finally realized what he had seen—a small, lizard-like creature perched on the counter, regarding him steadily through bright, dark eyes.
“You have a pet?”
No, of course not.There was no such thing on Mars. The only living beings transported to Mars were humans. Even the chickens and goats available for the settlers to purchase were transported in an embryonic state.
“Kind of,” she said nervously, her hand clinging to his arm again. “It’s complicated.”
“Explain,” he ordered, still keeping a wary eye on the creature.
It looked harmless enough, especially given its small size, but just because something was small didn’t mean it couldn’t be deadly.
“I wish I could.” Her fingers kneaded his arm in an unexpectedly provocative gesture as she spoke. “He… he just showed up three days ago.”
“Showed up?”
“Yes, outside in the lichen.”
“He can function without additional oxygen? Does he have nanites as well?”
“I don’t know. I suppose he might, if he belongs to GenCon.”
Her voice tightened on the last words, and he finally looked away from the creature long enough to frown down at her.
“You think he’s a GenCon experiment?”
“I don’t know,” she repeated. “I can’t imagine why they would have created him, but I can’t think of another explanation. Unless…”
“Unless?”
“What if he’s actually native to Mars? I know it sounds impossible,” she rushed on, “but maybe Henry and his species simply aren’t detectable to our technology.”
“Our technology is certainly capable of picking up movement, as well as body heat.”
He wasn’t familiar with all of the advanced scientific apparatus that had been used to survey Mars, but even the military had basic detection equipment.
“He’s not very big, and I think his temperature reflects his surroundings. Maybe he normally lives amongst the rocks, or even underground.”
He was shaking his head before she finished speaking.
“I don’t think that’s possible. There would be nothing for him to have lived on before the lichen. I know we haven’t found any traces of organic matter.”
She sighed. “I suppose you’re right. He must be a GenCon experiment.”
“I’m sure I am, but I will make inquiries to verify.”
“No, don’t,” she said immediately. “Even if they did create him, he’s not just some experiment. He doesn’t deserve to be locked up in a lab. And if they didn’t create him, what if they want to examine him… or dissect him? You can’t let anybody know he’s here.”
Her fingers tightened on his arm as she spoke, just as they had tightened on his shoulders during their kiss, and his heart suddenly sank. No wonder she’d kissed him. How could he have been foolish enough to think it was because she desired him? She was only trying to divert his attention from the strange little creature.
“I see,” he said stiffly, taking a step back and forcing her to release his arm. “I appreciate your concerns, but I will not let you distract me from my duty.”
“Distract you? What are you talking about?” Her small brows drew together in an all too appealing frown.
“The kiss,” he said, even more stiffly.
