Her breath hitched. His female was as affected by the casual touching “Thank you.”
She dressed the doll, added the tiny boots he’d already crafted.
“The shuttle craft is landing.” He was tracking its approach.
“Stars.” His female glanced at the viewscreen and carefully added the eyes.
“Whatcha doing, Ho?” Mins asked her favorite question.
“I’m watching the female I love complete the fabrication of Weilai’s doll.” He allowed all his caring to show.
“You love me?” His female’s hands trembled.
“I love you.” He nodded.
And she loved him. She had said the words to him. That moment was saved to both his organic memory and his databases. He’d already replayed it one thousand, seven hundred and fifty-three times.
“Yuck.” Mins made a gagging noise.
His female laughed. “Some planet rotation in the future, you won’t think love is yucky, Mins.” She completed the fabrication of the doll’s eyes. “What do you think?” She showed the plaything to Hoarse.
The doll closely resembled the offspring. “Weilai will feel loved.”
“She will feel loved…as I do.” His female’s eyes glowed. “We make a good team, you and I.” She smiled at him.
He blinked, dazed by his little fabricator’s beauty, stunned she was his.
“Me.” Mins held up her doll.
“Ho. Ho. Ho.” The little boy hopped by again.
“Ho.” Mins crawled onto his lap. “Me.” She smacked his body armor clad chest. “Me.”
“And you.” He smiled at the child. She had the determination of a cyborg.
“Mins, what did we say about hitting beings?” Mins’ father frowned, not-as-appreciative of his offspring’s resolve.
“No.” Mins stuck out her bottom lip.
“That’s right.” The Ungarian male scooped her into his arms. “No hitting.”
Hoarse projected that wasn’t the message the little girl was relaying.
The father’s gaze met his. “Sorry about that.”
“There was no damage.” He dipped his head.
“Nooo…” Mins wiggled, reaching for Hoarse, as she was carried away.
He wanted to hold the girl, repair her emotional damage. But that wasn’t his role.
Yet.
He shifted his gaze to his female. There was a possibility he’d bear the title of father in the future.
Joy warmed him to his frame.
He stood. “My brethren, his female, and their offspring will soon enter the chamber, my female.” He held out his hand to her.
His female rose to her booted feet, slid her palm into his. The doll was clasped in her other hand. “We should greet them. It can be scary to enter a chamber and not immediately see anyone you know.”
Hoarse noted her words, processed she was referring to more than the arrival of Surge, Surge’s female, and Weilai. When his female entered the battle station, she wouldn’t know many beings on board.
“You will always know me.” He matched his stride to hers. “I will remain by your side. Forever.”
He would never allow her to be emotionally damaged, not if he could prevent it.
His female squeezed his fingers. “With you by my side, warrior, I can handle anything.”
Hoarse projected he couldn’t experience more happiness.
Moments later, as he watched his female dance around in a circle with Relay’s female, Surge’s female, Weilai, and seventeen bouncing children, he processed he was wrong.
Dolls were seated in the center of the ring. The playthings were the beings of honor, were the focus of the celebration, the laughter and the singing.
Some of those dolls had been fabricated by him. One of them, Weilai’s, had been crafted by him and his female. Together.
Joy bombarded him, softened by love and pride. Hoarse made no effort to defend himself from that sensory assault. He merely braced his big booted feet and absorbed the elation.
“I’m staying on Pollux Pequeno with my female.” Relay appeared as dazed with his good fortune. “With my female. I say those words, but I can’t process them. I have a female.”
Hoarse nodded. He experienced the same awe, the same wonder.
His female glanced over her shoulder at him. Their gazes met. The smile on her face reached her unusual eyes, lighting her entire face, making her glow.
She was the most beautiful creature in the universe, and she had deemed him worthy.
He was a fortunate warrior.
“Captain has contacted the Cyborg Council.” Surge’s gaze followed his own female and their offspring. “He is requesting permission to decrease the monitoring range of the battle station. That will shorten the number of planet rotations required to patrol the space.”
“The battle station will pass Pollux Pequeno more often.” Relay’s dark eyes gleamed. “You can visit us with a greater frequency.”
Surge’s head dipped. “Weilai will like that.”
“I will like that also.” Hoarse would miss his friend. “And I project my female will like it.”
“There is a 100.0000 percent probability my female will like the increased visiting frequency.” Surge’s gaze didn’t move from his family. “She has been lonely for female companionship. Only she, and now Hoarse’s female, reside within the battle station…thus far.”
“Thus far.” Hoarse and Relay said that in unison.
More of their brethren would find their females, have offspring. Hoarse’s gaze flicked to his female’s waist. He envisioned it rounded with offspring manufacturing, and his chest warmed.
Most of his lifespan had consisted of pain, torture, oppression, killing, grief, and sorrow. He had lost many brethren, had experienced extreme agony.
That had all led him to this, to Arlicia, to a present filled with companionship, love, understanding, to a future containing the prospect of offspring, the fabrication of dolls, the creation of more caring.
“This is the beginning, warriors, not the ending.” Surge lifted his chin. “I will soon have plenty of offspring to study.”
“And I will have plenty of offspring to fabricate ulus for.” Hoarse’s lips curled upward.
“And I will have plenty of offspring to convey rhythmic words to.” Relay looked as pleased as Hoarse felt.
“Da.” Weilai hollered at Surge.
“Da. Da.” The other children chanted as they jumped around in the circle.
“I’m being called.” Surge’s tone was more pleased than apologetic as he sprinted forward.
The warrior moved at cyborg speed, reaching the dancers in a mere heartbeat. He captured one of his offspring’s waving hands in his large palm and joined the merriment. His countenance reflected a jubilation Hoarse shared.
Arlicia broke free of the ring of beings. She laughed as she slipped away from them.
“I will assist my female.” Relay grasped the opportunity to take her place in the joyous circle.
“I don’t know how Zella does it.” Hoarse’s female staggered slightly, feigning damage. “They’ve worn me out.” She allowed herself to fall forward dramatically.