Chapter Six

She woke alone. Furi gone. Her body feeling it in all the right places.

Part of her would swear he was still in her.

It was delicious and made her realise that it might be the last time he was with her. Tears hit her eyes. She would miss this, miss him.

How was that possible so quickly?

She didn't know. And it worried her. She'd spent the night craving him, demanding more and more, constantly on a high, she didn't want it to stop. But this wasn't real. He was not her husband; she was not his wife, and the world was closing in on both of them.

She wasn't sure what his declaration was going to do. Or if it would work but if it kept her safe and on this world she'd try it. In the dark hours, she'd thought that maybe she'd got it all wrong. Her parents wouldn't want her unhappy. Maybe she could leave, make a life elsewhere. But he didn't want a mate. He'd told her so.

She'd lose him anyway. Not that she really had him.

Like he said, he was no hero but he was trying to save her.

Part of her unsure what to think of that.

Their time together had been more than she thought possible between a man and a woman. Whether his story worked or not she had no choice but to go with it. But she couldn't be so close to him again. So intimate. It was rocking her, shaking her resolve and she couldn't allow that.

Showering this time she wasn't so keen to be rid of his scent. But doing it anyway. Dressing and going down. 16 holding Emily and feeding her she went to him and kissed her. Grabbing a coda and taking a seat. If they were leaving they needed to make plans. A plate of food was given to her by 48. Thanking him she tucked in. Noticing the Cyborgs around her breathing in. They were scenting her.

They'd scent Furi on her. Did she care? Not at all. They'd been telling her for long enough to find a man. Well one kinda found her.

Taking Emily from 48 she nursed her. The table full of her boys. 4 coming in and taking a seat.

"Furi's declaration has gone out. Your marriage recorded as now under the Empire. Protected by the Empire."

"Lets hope it works. I need to put a notice out for help. I want you in the background to give me the heads up on if they are genuine." 4 gave a nod. "When are you all leaving?"

"The upload worked. Systems are back online. We're doing pre-flight checks now. Maybe 3 days."

Trying to hide her despair she gave a nod. "I need to get on those staff then and start packing up Emily's things."

"I'll do the notice now via your PID anyone particular?" She told him who she thought might be good. "I'll get it out, interviews tomorrow. You're going to need about 12 men and slow up production."

"I know. It's fine. We'll do what we can."

"We're putting in a security field. It will have a number of exits but the main one for visitors will be at the main entrance. No one gets in without your security code placed on your PID."

She nodded. She'd have liked to say she wouldn't need it but she knew this world. And her place in it. It was likely to come to a fight. Whatever this security field was she was going to need it.

The day playing out around Emily feeds and packing her things. She felt sick and couldn't face food herself. Dinner coming and going, she wouldn't let the others take her. Their time short she needed to be with her as much as possible.

She couldn't help feeling that she was letting Emily down somehow.

4 coming up and bringing her a plate. Emily asleep in her arms. She rocked her unable to let her go. "You need to let her go some time."

She nodded. "I know just not yet." With a squeeze, he left her. He'd be able to sense her emotions and how upset she was at the prospect of them all leaving. Words were not needed.

And woke to Emily being taken from her and handed to 4. Furi picking her up and taking her to bed. Stripping her, se found comfort in his body surrounding her, her leg lifted over his, moving under her his cock slowly entered her on her sigh.

It was perfect. She slept.

Woken the next morning by 4 coming into her room telling her she had interviewers at the gate. Furi gone. With a nod, he left her feeding Emily. Up and showered she was dressed and downstairs grabbing coda and a pastry to go. "Who's listening in on the interviews?" Stuffing her face with pastry that was so good. She plated 4 more.

"58." 4 told her eyeing that plate.

He stood having finished his food. "What?" She asked 4. "I'm hungry." Then turned to 58 with a nod. "Good. Have them come up one at a time, you lot make yourselves invisible." The place moved. Cyborgs going about their business.

Going into what had once been her fathers office, still was mainly, she took his seat and tucked into another pastry. It was strange just how good they pasted. Washing it down with coda, she called out for more. The mug coming in just before the first person arrived. With a nod the Cyborg was gone and the front door buzzed. Connecting to it, she saw her first interview and buzzed him in.

A long day had passed by the end of all 20 interviews. 58 conferring with her after each one. Crossing off those that didn't sound right to him, lies in the air. She followed up each good one with a message to the last two bosses.

Most workers were agreed before midnight and confirmations sent off. They started in two days. 4 going over the schedules and work parties for the next month and the rotation needed for the seasons with her retainers.

A whole year planned out, they had a clear action plan she could work with.

He'd thought of everything. Sitting back in her chair holding Emily, 4 had always been her rock.

Who would be her rock now?

The wake-up call she feared most came the next morning. Furi hadn't visited her the night before. It was almost as if their time was officially up. 4 and his men along with Emily were leaving that night. They were all working towards making that happen. She was down early wanting every minute she could with her people when the front gate buzzed. Lifting her PID she saw who was there and looked to 4. "The tracker." 4 glazed over. Obviously talking to his men. "And not alone."

Throwing back her coda, she finished off her eggs cleaned up, leaning over and kissing Emily. 4 eyes clearing. "He doesn't come in."

She gave a nod. "No he doesn't."

Knowing she'd have to do it alone, unable to expose anyone else she took a solar bike and made her way to the main gate. Driving up slowly she stayed on the bike and addressed him. "Tracker? Lost?"

"Not lost. Confused. Where is your husband?"

"Where he always is, working."

"Word is, you're recruiting a lot of people."

"I am. We over-cropped and stocked last year, our retainers are getting older and with both my parents gone, I now need to make it work."

"How'd you manage this year?"

"By not sleeping much. Why are you here it's not your location?"

"There are some discrepancies with your marriage. Officially you have no protector. The council are debating if an Empire marriage counts."

"They can debate all they like. It counts."

"I'd like to come in and talk about it."

"Nope. You keep turning up mob handed tracker. I don't like that."

"You won't like the council marrying you off and taking this land."

"They try either and they'll be a fight."

The tracker looked at the security field. "New security?" She didn't say anything, what was there to say? It was. And felt heat at her back the trackers eyes now looking above her. "Your husband in the daylight doesn't look from here."

Furi moved in closer brushing her hand over her shoulder, his face in her neck, his hand snaking around her body and slipping between the layers of her shirt he cupped and caressed her breast, his eyes never leaving the tracker. "I'm not. Empire remember."

"You said you were from the Darkside."

"I am in a way. Had to land somewhere."

"And her father's inquiries?"

"Real. It suited my needs."

Tracker now looking at her. "You can't hide in there forever Betty. You have deliveries, stock to move. When you do, if the council are unhappy and don't accept the Empire, you're going to be fair game."

Furi snarled covering her up stepping away from her. "Try and take what's mine and I'll kill you. She is a female of the Empire, protected by the Empire. An attack on her is an attack on us. This world will not want a war it cannot win."

The tracker shrugged. "I guess we'll see." He turned and rode away with his men. Furi standing with her.

"He's going to be trouble." Furi told her.

Giving a nod she turned the solar bike back on. She had too much to worry about already. They were leaving later today. Her throat in her mouth she couldn't speak. Holding back her tears. She left him going back to the house.

Trying not to cry through the packing 4 came to her when it was time. Holding Emily she couldn't hold those tears back any longer and let them flow. Each of her boys coming in and thanking her some taking the bags that were left. Going down the stairs the house it was strangely empty, walking out to the truck and got in. 4 driving them through the yard and orchards to the panted fields and on to the cave area. Arriving way too quickly. Furi's ship there too, 4 explained he was going to tow their ship from the canyon ready for take-off.

Holding Emily tightly to her, she rocked her while she slept watching 4's ship come slowly out of cover. Part of her wanting to scream at them not to leave her but that wouldn't be fair. They'd waited decades in the hope of finding an answer to the ships problems. They'd helped her family without asking for anything all those years.

She had no right to hold them back now they could leave.

Men started loading. 4 coming to her. She nodded it was time. Tears slipped free of her eyes as she kissed Emily. "I don't need to say take care of her I know you will." She held her to her breathing her in. "You'll send me weekly updates right?"

"You know we will."

She nodded and swallowed. "Okay. This is the right thing to do. The tracker already made a move. I can't have her here if it all kicks off, I need her safe." She passed a sleeping Emily to him. "You all be safe. If it doesn't work out, come back."

"I've been over all the information. Spoken with the Admiral. The Empire are what they say they are and will keep her safe."

"Thank you. Go now before I break down."

4 moved towards the ship. Taking her precious cargo with him. Moving back to the truck she got in and closed the door in an effort not to go screaming after him and begging him to stay and bring Emily back. But she couldn't do that. And watched as he walked up the ramp and it started to close behind him. Her heart pounding the ship's systems came online and the engines started.

She'd wondered how they were going to hide that and then the lights and sound cut and it took off rising majestically into the night sky. She sat there in awe watching it. It hovered, shot into the sky and was gone.

Her tears flowing she couldn't bring herself to move or get under control. Her determination setting in. Eventually wiping her tears and taking several breaths.

They were gone.

And she had to deal with that.

The days that followed were full of new staff and finding a way to get 4's schedule in place. She rose early and went to bed late exhausted. All the Cyborgs gone, she wandered around the house often sitting in Emily's room and using the rocking chair. Falling asleep in it and taking herself off to bed in the middle of the night only to get up a couple of hours later and do it all over again.

Over the next few weeks, routines settled down.

She put people in place that had experience of farming leading the others, doing what she'd always done, overseeing working the office, planning, making sure they had enough of everything to move through the month. Others taking on the cooking now with a kitchen set up in the barn along with a relaxation area and sleeping quarters. The bathrooms had been put in when the Cyborgs arrived. Some updating done by 4 and his men and they were able to house every staff member. Those going home that wanted to.

And she was on her own.

Not wanting to think about it, she worked herself each day to the point of being numb. And then she woke in the middle of the night and needed to throw up. It set the pattern for the next 4 weeks. Unable to keep much down, she kept her hydration up but food she hardly touched and still she would be throwing up. Her food remaining dry and plain, none of it cooked goods, the smell of food cooking only made it worse. She stayed away from the barn boiling all water and chilling it down to drink. One minute feeling sick, the next starving.

And as quickly as it came, she woke up one day feeling great. And starving loading up a plate of food and devouring the lot.

Her body turning things around and on a mission to eat.

A month in and her clothes were getting tight.

Struggling to wear anything. Her boobs were bigger and more tender. Her butt on an expansion plan she had no control over. Her waist spreading and growing. Her body tired day by day.

It crossed her mind that she might be pregnant but then she knew Cyborgs were sterile. It made no sense. But no matter what, she didn't miss her weekly session with 4 and Emily.

Sitting at her desk, drinking her coda she waited for the connection.

The screen came alive and she sat forward. Eager to see Emily and 4. Only a strange women sat there. She looked like a medic. Fear struck her. "What happened? Is Emily okay?"

"Emily is fine. There are no concerns here. 4 and his men are all well."

"Thank God. I was really scared for a minute."

"I'm Dr Mackensie. I'm a Mate to the Empire and run the medical and research center on the Space Station, the Empire headquarters."

"Nice to meet you. Betty Porter."

"Hi Betty. I hear you've not been well. Sickness. Some swelling? When was the last time you had your period?"

She froze. "Period?" She'd not had one last month.

"Your cycle when did you last have it?"

"I missed last month but I was sick. Due any time now."

"I hear you were with Furi? Spent time together intimately. He gave you his blood and cum?" She gave a wary nod. "Did he tell you you were a potential mate?" Holding her breath she gave another nod. "And he still covered you? Had sex with you? Hard, long and vigorous?"

"Well this isn't embarrassing."

"It's life. Cyborg sex is demanding and unforgiving. Their need rides them. The fact that they never had anything of their own in captivity drives them on to find the one human female that matches their DNA, one that they can bond to and have a legacy."

"Legacy? As in a child?"

The doc gave a nod. "Furi has registered a marriage to you with the Empire."

"He did that to help me here."

"Did he tell you it was dangerous to bond with a female and then leave her?"

She frowned. She couldn't remember. "In all honestly, I don't remember it."

"I'd like to do a blood test. Do you have a wand?" She nodded. "Can you do it now while I'm here and send me the results." Blinking she reached out to the medical drawer and pulled out the medical wand. Holding it against her skin it took a sample lifting it from the skin cells without marking her skin at all. Loading the results to her PID she sent it to the link the doc was using to vid conference. "I've got it. A moment please."

Her brow sweating, she wiped it. The wait unbearable. If she was pregnant she wasn't sure what she was going to do.

Was that even possible?

"Can Cyborgs have children? 4 told me they were all sterile."

"They are able to be fertile. Their bodies evolved over time looking for something to believe in for their long years. Your Cyborgs wouldn't have known that. Furi does he's lived in this world."

Something blinked on the docs end. She held her breath. The doc looked up. "You're pregnant. I need to see you to do a scan. Cyborg hybrids arrive in about 6 and a half months."

"I can't be. I can't leave. This place needs me. It's why I had to let Emily go."

"I understand your concerns and the demands on you but for the sake of your child, I need to see you."

Tears hit her eyes. "I have no way to get there."

"Furi is still there, he can bring you."

Shocked she stared at her. "He's still here? He never left?"

"No. He refuses to leave you. He says you're in danger."

Shaking her head she didn't understand it. She'd not seen him since 4's ship left. "I've not seen him."

"He's seen you. Been keeping tabs on you quietly, discretely."

"He's good at it. I haven't seen him once." She bit off now getting pissed. She was pregnant by him and he was missing. Watching her from afar. That was all wrong.

"He didn't think you'd want to see him, but it was his report and 4's that had me taking the vid call."

"He knows?"

"He guessed."

"And didn't come near me to tell me?! The doc stared at her. "Okay I'd have got angry and maybe threw a few punches." She sighed. "I can't leave."

"You need to Betty. Cyborg hybrids are prized. Special. We can't have humans taking our children."

Her breath caught. "They'd take my child?" She whispered. Her fears hitting her.

"No they won't." Furi's voice now in the room.

She rounded on him. "You bastard! You got me pregnant and didn't tell me! I thought I was really sick last month; it was hell."

"I told you I was no hero."

"Asshole!"

"Get her here ASAP Furi. Betty, 4 will vid call tomorrow night same time. You two talk. Resolve this. I don't want to see either of you ill." The screen shut off.

Shit….

"You've been here all the time and I thought I was all alone."

"I came to you in the night every night. Looked after you, made sure you were safe. Put cold cloths on your brow when you were sick, gave you blood and made you drink."

"I didn't dream that?"

"No. I was really here. Docs right, we need to leave. The community hub is debating the Empire. It's going to be a no. You'll be declared unprotected and offered up."

Her hands went to her stomach. "I'm pregnant they can't do that."

"You know they can." He told her gently. He was right she did.

Pressing her PID she called in several of her people to her office including her retainers. They all lived in so it didn't take long for them to get there. Furi providing coda and pastries standing at her back. Staring at him she chinned to the side door. "No more leaving my wife and child."

"You don't deserve that."

"I know but I'm still not leaving."

By the time she was through the pastries and coda her team had arrived. She waved them in. "Come in. Take a seat." Their eyes going to Furi. She knew how he looked to them. "This is Furi, my husband and the father of my child." There were several gasps and surprised faces in the room. "You're all my team leaders with groups under you. I'm going to have to leave for a while, not sure how long. I have to see a doctor. So you are all in charge of your areas. Alice?" She looked at the oldest woman sitting there. She was beyond childbearing and had no restrictions on her any longer. "Move into the house, take the second room, do the stocks, ordering, you've been running things with me when I was sick so I know you can do it and I'll be overseeing what you send me." She looked at her retainers. "I'm sorry, I have to leave this all in your hands." They gave her a nod. Knowing they wouldn't let her down. She looked to everyone. "Any questions?"

No one asked anything.

"Good. There will be bonuses and stores for all the extra work." Smiles went around the room this time. "Anyone comes looking, no one knows anything, you do not have permission to let anyone on my property no matter what they tell you they cannot come in lawfully and the security field remains in place. Only I can take it down and I'm not going to. If access is needed, it needs to be arranged in advanced with me. Got it?"

They all nodded. "Good, we start tomorrow. Thank you. Good night."

Her staff leaving. "You need to pack. We leave in a couple of hours."

"What's the rush?"

"I told you our marriage is about to be annulled. Men will be coming. I don't want you and my child in danger."

"Okay. But I'm not agreeing to Mate you. What you did here was shitty. I'm not forgetting that."

"Fine. Get packing or I'll do it for you."

Getting up, she went upstairs to pee and back. Back down again with several bags he took from her, instructions left for Alice and they were out to the truck that was standing there waiting. The buzz of the gate showing on her PID. "Ignore it. You know who it is." She did and got in.

"They're here already?"

Getting in he started the truck. "Yes. Not waiting for the official outcome." Moving in the dark away from the house the truck picked up speed. Bouncing her around she held on.

"They're not coming in."

"You don't know that, and I want to be gone."

The truck got faster. The night pitch black she couldn't see a thing. Then lights showed up ahead. "Those yours?"

"No the tracker."

She frowned. "Is that inside my boundary line?"

"Told you they're not waiting."

"Okay put your foot down. Lets go."

It became a race across the fields to get to his ship undetected. Furi didn't stop, he rode the truck right into the ship glazing over lifting the ramp seconds after getting in, telling her to leave the bags and follow him to the Bridge. Walking through the ship he was already in his seat starting up the engine as she joined him. "Buckle up." She did. The moment she was the ship took off. On the twist and turn she saw the tracker and his men. Their torches lighting the area. Furi moving the ship away, it wasn't long before they were far behind them.

"They didn't get in the barrier but that was close."

Furi growled. "No one takes my female and child."

"You're taking a lot for granted."

"Need me to remind you of us?"

"No."

He smirked. "That's only going to hold you for so long. Once we're on my ship, you're mine."

"We'll see about that. This is temporary. I need to see the doc that's it."

"I seeded you you're mine!" He bit off.

Suddenly seeing his ship looming above the atmosphere she held her tongue. It was nothing like 4's. She'd been on that many times over the years, going with him as a child wanting to see it and later going for the company, but this, this was something else. It looked mean. Deadly. All glossy black it was hard to make it out even with the darkness of space around it. And it was huge.

"Welcome to the Battle Cruiser Warrior."

"It's huge. Bigger than 4's."

"Many generations newer. Faster. Better engines. Better defences."

Looking up as they flew past it she was in awe. "How many on board?"

"4's held a troop, could hold two. This carries a legion. Made to fight."

Breathing out slowly she watched as he maneuverer the ship into the parking area. Setting it down, she saw a group of Cyborgs coming towards them. They all looked much like Furi, maybe not so deadly.

His ship docking, he helped her out of her seat belt and walked to the ramp that was lowering. Following in his footsteps. As it hit the ground Furi walked down it.

"Attention! Commander on board!" The whole space including those waiting on him stood straight. She knew this from 4. A superior officer was boarding. Looking around she couldn't see anyone else and looked back to Furi who was now acknowledging the men. Then stood back and looked at her coming down.

"Lady Betty Furi of the Empire!" He roared out. "And my child to be born!" The whole space bowing then straightening.

What the hell?

She gripped her teeth hard glaring at him. His face cold. Reaching the bottom of the ramp she'd had enough. "Enough of the theatrics, where's my room?"

"Not theatrics, protocol on joining any ship."

"Right so you didn't just inform the whole ship that I'm spoken for and pregnant?"

"We're possessive Betty get used to it." She glared at him. Several of the men around them glazing over. Furi smirked.

"What?"

"They want to know how I seeded you when you do not like me."

She huffed. Knowing their need for data. "That's easy. I thought I was dreaming, then it turned out to be real at which point there was no saying no."

A Cyborg stepped forward and bowed. "I am Crsh. The Commanders First. He is known for the size of his cock and his prowess at fucking. He was much in demand in our slavery days."

Her mouth dropped open, and she frowned. Seriously?

Then looked at Furi whose expression was blank.

And back to Crsh. "That is not polite conversation. How many exactly?" she couldn't help but ask.

"Thousands."

"He fucked thousands?" she whispered. 4 had never spoken of it like this.

"Men and women or they fucked him if bought and paid for. It was the life we had."

Damn…

Suddenly feeling sick she sat down on the ramp trying to breathe through it. Furi bent down next to her still taller than her. "Betty?" he asked gently. More gently than anything he'd ever said before. Tears hit her eyes and she held them back.

"Need a minute. Could I have some cold water?"

There was movement and she closed her eyes. Then felt a cold hand on her forehead and the back of her neck. By the scent it was Furi. Taking a staggering breath, opening her eyes he was staring at her, she gave a nod as someone else passed her the water. "Thank you." She downed it. Feeling better.

"You did not know that about us?" Again he asked gently.

She shook her head. "No. 4 never went into it."

"It was a long time ago and on being free I chose a name that reflected my anger of how we were used."

She gave a sad nod. "I understand. I'd like to go lay down now." Furi picked her up with ease, the men around them dispersing he strode from the huge space into a corridor that led to another and another, and then a lift, going up to the top. Stepping out, he carried her to the end and the door opened.

One large living space greeted her, two other doors off it. Taking her to one, he placed her on the bed, taking her shoes and jacket and she rolled into it. Sighing at the first touch of the pillow.

She didn't hear him leave; she was already asleep.

Waking her that first night he fed her, made her shower and change for bed demanding she take his blood and get back in it. Him joining her. His body nestled next to hers. It seemed her sleepless nights were over. Her stomach settling, she slept deeply. Only this time when she woke next, Furi was still there.

"Good morning." She stirred and stretched feeling better than she had in days. "How do you feel?"

"Better my stomach has settled."

"That would be the blood. I need to ask you for something. Two somethings." She gave a nod. "I'm bonded to you. Being around you these months has helped to keep me stable but I'm losing that battle a little every day. What we shared is not enough. As a mate I need your blood or cum or both, I'm compromised by the distance we've been in. I need more, something substantial."

"You mean sex?"

"We are mates whether you accept it or not. We have legacy something I never thought I would have. Do you know how special that is to us? Something we created of our own so we get to live on. Be more human." She gave a nod. 4 and the others had been affected by their inability to procreate. Or so they thought. "Sex between us is good, better than good. We both crave it, need it. It is a natural part of being with a mate and the best option. I can feed your body and our child with their need of me, and in turn you will feed me."

"And the second?"

"I do not need to see my optic to know I wish to hold my child and talk with it while it grows within its mother."

"For how long do you need to do both things?"

Furi hesitated and for a moment he looked unsure. It was a strange thing to see in a Cyborg face. They were always so sure. But he wasn't so sure of her. And that rocked her a little. He was tempering his emotions for her. Not sure how she'd react. "For the rest of my life."

Her eyes wide, she'd not considered this. "You're bonded?"

"Bonded and imprinted. I'm craving your scent and cream. The need to fill you is overwhelming. I'm barely holding back from taking it."

"That's why you overreacted on my world seeing the Tracker and his men."

"Maybe but the risk to you both was too high to ignore." Moving over her he nestled between her legs. His hardness rubbed at her curls. "Need to fuck you Mate." His deep pools penetrated her eyes. "If you are still not disgusted by my history."

"I wasn't disgusted by your history. The thought of anyone being in that position made me feel sick. But for you, it seemed so shocking and a reality check on how your lives were in captivity."

"It was wrong, and they paid for it." Furi nuzzled her neck. "Strip for your male, he wants to gaze on your beauty and his child."

"I'm not agreeing to being a Mate."

He bit her neck and sucked on it. Her moan escaped her lips as he pulled back. "I am Furi. Commander of the Battle Cruiser Warrior. Unbeaten in combat. I would tear through worlds to protect my female and legacy. I will be exactly what you need me to be. Wherever you need me to be. I am no hero, I'm a battle-hardened Cyborg who has been tamed by a prickly female I cannot be without."

She grinned. "Wow that was a lot of words." None of them were chatty but Furi, he hardly talked at all. That was quite an admission for him.

He smirked. "Do I get to fuck you now it has been too long?"

She caressed his face and he kissed her palm. His eyes full of her. "You sure you want this?"

"I'd give my life for a moment more." She knew they did not lie."

"Well in that case…" He devoured her before her words were finished. Taking what he most wanted in this world.

Her.

The End……