hurt you or take you away from me, Venice. Can you trust me?”

She still appeared terrified but she nodded. “Yes.”

“Come,” he tugged on her, backing up.

She lifted her chin and followed. He admired her courage. She showed quite a lot as he pulled her closer, watching her face when she saw the other males. Her mouth pressed into a tense line and she grabbed at him, but that was the only way she responded. He took her hand, holding it firmly with his own.

“Where do you want her, Maze?”

The medic bent, placed his case down, and removed a scanner. “She’s fine there, Deviant.” The male straightened, turning on his device, and then spoke directly to Venice. “My name is Maze. I’m going to scan you.”

“Okay.”

Venice held still as Maze began at her head, lowered the scanner over her face, throat, chest, and continued all the way down to her feet. The medic crouched on one knee, scowled, then ran the scanner over her again from her shoulders to her feet.

His mouth parted, his gaze lifting to Deviant’s.

Deviant knew what the medic would say so he stated it first. He trusted Venice. “She has three artificial limbs, correct?”

Maze nodded. “Yes. There’s more.”

“The left shoulder blade, part of my rib cage, and I have some replacement organs,” Venice volunteered. “I was in an accident on Earth. Do you want a list of all the work done on me?”

“I can see it.” Maze stood, running the scanner over her face. “The fractured skull you suffered has completely healed but there is some deep scarring on one side of your face. It’s not visible to the naked eye. Skin grafts?”

Venice nodded. “From burns.”

Maze lowered his scanner and held Stag’s gaze. “This female has suffered extensive damage.”

“Any trackers embedded?”

Maze shook his head. “No.” He looked back at Venice. “What happened to you?”

“I was in a road vehicle accident on Earth.”

“Amazing. I’ve never seen work like that before. I request to take more extensive scans of your prosthetics.”

Deviant shifted his body, pulling Venice behind him a little. “Not if it will cause her any pain.”

“My job is to heal, not cause harm. The scans would be painless. The medical advancements are fascinating.”

“So she could have a tracker in one of her limbs you can’t detect?” Stag pushed away from the wall.

“No.” Maze turned to face the commander. “There are no transmitters inside her.”

“Are you certain?” Stag seemed determined to view Venice as a threat.

“I am certain. The female isn’t a cyborg but she’s still been modified by technology with her three limbs. They are harmless prosthetics. The design and function of them is more advanced than what we have. It would be beneficial if I could copy and reproduce them for our people.”

That news caused Deviant to relax. “She could help our race. Is that what you’re saying, Maze?”

The medic glanced back at him and gave a sharp nod. “Yes. I’d love to examine her at length and ask her questions.”

“No tracking devise? No transmitter? You’re one hundred percent certain?” Stag’s voice lowered, his anger still present.

“One hundred percent,” Maze swore.

“Hacking capability?” Stag wasn’t about to discount her as a threat easily.

“The only tech inside her head is a small device that conducts signals to her artificial limbs. I’m familiar with the unit. That hasn’t been upgraded from the tech we have. She wouldn’t be able to remote hack our systems, even by touch. Her synthetic hand is amazing but not designed for that function.” Maze turned and stared down at Venice. “It doesn’t quite read as human-cloned skin. The organic components are unique. What is it?”

“I’m not sure.” Venice leaned against Deviant, pressing tight to his side. “It feels real.”

“Amazing. If I took a small clip of skin, would it scar or heal over?”

“It would heal.”

“Would you allow me to take a sample?”

“You’re not taking her skin.” Deviant had had enough. “Back off, Maze.”

The medic did as asked and returned his scanner to his case. “A tiny clipping is all I’d require. It could help our children born with skin defects.” Maze rose up, gripping his equipment. “It might even help with your defect, once I figure out how to replicate what they grafted her with, Deviant.”

“There’s nothing wrong with Deviant.” Venice pressed against him tighter. “I won’t agree to help you if you so much as think about messing with any part of his body! That’s the deal if you want samples of my skin.”

Deviant couldn’t help but smile. Venice was defending him, her