wanting to return to his bed and Venice. His father wouldn’t disturb them when he dropped off the food he picked up.

He’d made it only halfway across the room when the com beeped. He spun, walked to it, and activated the screen.

Maze stared back at him. “I am sorry to disturb you.”

“What do you want?”

“I wished to discuss Venice with you.”

“What about her?”

“I’d like to do those scans on her limbs and take a skin sample.”

“Not today. She’s exhausted.”

“Stag has ordered me back to duty tomorrow at noon. The Varnish is leaving the surface again.”

“Let me know when you return. We’ll set up a time.”

“It’s not necessary that I personally run the advanced scans. Will you take her to our medical facility soon? I shared what I had with our scientists and they are eager to reproduce the technology.”

“I’ll contact them tomorrow, after I talk to Venice to make certain she doesn’t wish for more time.”

“Thank you.”

“Good luck on your mission.”

Maze grimly nodded. “It may be my last. The Markus Models have been sighted. We have to get close enough to deploy the trackers in hopes of attaching to their shuttles. But they could attack us if we get too close.”

“Why not send the Bridden? It has the ability to shield.”

“They are on another mission and too far out to be of use. We are going to visit a station in their projected path and set out the trackers, in hopes they will attach to their hulls. We should be out of range before they arrive.”

It was a dangerous mission’ one Deviant normally would have volunteered for. It was paramount that they found a way to monitor the Markus Models’ movements and figure out an effective place to strike, removing the threat forever.

“Be careful.”

“Always.” Maze ended the com.

Deviant turned but another message came in. He faced the coms and read the text. He’d been formally ordered before the council first thing in the morning.

It wasn’t a surprise since they’d already agreed to a meeting. But the tone of it, the fact that they’d changed the hour to an earlier one, and the demand that he not bring Venice with him implied trouble.

“Damn.”

He responded, agreeing to the new time and terms. He reentered the bedroom and watched Venice sleep. He hadn’t planned to take her out anywhere today but things had changed. He climbed on the bed, lay on his side, and faced her.

“Venice?”

She opened her eyes and glanced down his body. “You have on pants. Why?”

“The council might be upset after all.”

“Are you in trouble?”

“It’s uncertain. Stag may have had words with them.” He brushed her hair off her face. “I would like your help.”

“Anything. Just name it.”

“We need to visit our medical facility.”

All traces of sleep vanished from her alert gaze and she surprised him by smiling. “Those scans of my prosthetics are worth a lot, aren’t they?”

His Venice was intelligent. It was one of the things he admired about her and found endearing. “Not in monetary value, but the medical knowledge you could provide might make your staying here be seen as a necessary risk. I broke the rules by smuggling you onboard Stag’s shuttle, but you could help our people. I’m hoping it will offset any anger they may feel toward my actions.”

She sat up and scooted down the bed. “Let’s go.”

He smiled. His Venice was amazing.

Chapter Ten

Venice liked the two cyborgs who had taken charge of her once they’d entered a building a few down from where Deviant lived. She’d been intimidated by the large table they had her lay flat on, especially when another section of flat screen lowered from the ceiling, hovering just inches over her. They’d promised her it wouldn’t hurt, nor take long. They’d seemed happy to see her and voiced their gratitude that she’d agreed to come.

A hand stroked her hair and she turned her head, finding Deviant crouched down next to her. “I’m right here. Are you feeling claustrophobic?”

“I’m okay.”

Frax bent down, too, peering at her from next to Deviant. “We’re about to begin the scans. You’ll hear a faint hum. I apologize that smaller scanners won’t give us as much detailed information. This might take five or six minutes in total to map all three of your limbs.”

“I understand.”

“We’ll be able to copy your prosthetics to exact specifications. Please let us know by saying my name if you become uncomfortable. We can take a break if you need to sit up.” Frax lifted out of her view and moved