Chapter Ten

Steele

A few weeks later, I was on my way back from collecting eggs to make breakfast for my mate when a bleep on my internal computer signaled an incoming call on the Cyborg Network.

"Protector Nova, Sergeant Rowe here. I know that Lieutenant Hawk gave you open-ended leave; however, civilians have reported sightings that matched descriptions of the Mesaarkan shuttlecrafts. We think they're doing surveillance from a second hidden base in the mountains north of here. We're not sure of their purpose, nor do we know how many there are. Lieutenant Hawk believes they may be doing advance recon for an invasion. Only instead of a mass invasion, they're going to trickle in until their numbers are large enough to challenge us."

"Sir, are you asking me to return to duty?" I asked.

"Not at this time. I am just checking your status as to whether you can project how long it will take to complete your initial bonding with your mate."

"To be completely honest, sir, I would prefer to continue our bonding indefinitely. However, I am duty-bound to protect this territory and all the people in it. I would request a few more weeks. I could return sooner if necessary."

"Of course, I understand Protector Nova. I would feel the same in your boots. While I can't promise three more weeks, I will give you as much time as possible. In the meantime, I am sending Protectors Blackwood and Vega to deliver your sky cycle today so you will have transportation should we need to call you back sooner rather than later."

"Yes, sir. Thank you."

"Enjoy your leave, protector. Sergeant Rowe, out.

"Protector Nova, out."

Right after I signed off with Sergeant Rowe, I received a message from Raven that he and Trinity would arrive at the ranch in an hour. So, I invited them to have breakfast with us so Zaya could meet them. Now that we had a more modern cooker, preparing food was much simpler than using a wood stove.

Of course, we could've gotten a droid to cook and clean, but Zaya and I agreed that spending those credits on the new generator and heating system would be more prudent. Also, I enjoyed sharing those chores with her, especially when we did them together.

Another time, I would've been disappointed that she was already in the kitchen making tea when I returned to the house with eggs instead of still in our bed naked. Although if I had expressed an interest, Zaya would be willing to return to our bed and get naked. Alas, that would have to wait because Raven and Trinity were on their way to the ranch with my sky cycle.

When I came into the house, Zaya was sitting at the kitchen table sipping tea, and there was a mug for me at my usual place at the table. I set the egg basket on the table and went to kiss her.

"You were wonderful last night," I whispered into her ear.

"So, were you, " she said with a naughty smile.

"We're having company this morning. Raven and Trinity from my cyborg protector team are bringing my sky cycle. I left it with them when I went to Chicago with you."

"I—I don't remember them." Zaya frowned.

"You didn't meet them. With everything you've gone through and the chaos of the rescue, I would not expect you'd remember even if you had met them. Anyway, I invited them for breakfast so that you could meet them."

"What's a sky cycle?"

"It's a kind of personal flyer and hovercraft based on an ancient two-wheel craft called a motorcycle. Only this has extendible wings and a retractable cockpit. Each member of our team has been assigned a personal sky cycle. I'll take you for a ride on it later."

We chatted for a while about things that we still needed to complete to finish preparing the house and barn for winter while we finished our tea. Zaya and I cooked breakfast together and finished just before Raven and Trinity arrived. Then we put it in the warmer until we were ready to eat.

With my enhanced auditory functions, I heard them coming a few minutes before they arrived, so Zaya and I went out to the yard to meet them. It was good to see my friends again. As much as I adored Zaya, I had missed my friends and coworkers.

"Thank you for bringing my sky cycle. I'd like to introduce my mate, Zaya White. Zaya, this is Raven, and this is Trinity." I gestured toward each one in turn. Raven was tall and muscular, with dark hair and a short beard. Trinity was tall with lighter hair, clean-shaven, and not quite as bulky as Raven.

They each nodded to Zaya and said they were honored to meet her. "You are one lucky cyborg," said Trinity."

I grinned, "I can't deny it. Let's go inside. The food is all ready and waiting."

As we went into the kitchen, I indicated which places were set for Trinity and Raven. Zaya and I brought the food to the table, and I went back to get the mugs of tea we had prepared.

Raven went into more detail about the Mesaarkan's shuttle sightings. "We're pretty sure that they're using cloaking technology at least part of the time because we have not been able to trace them back to base. It's not clear whether they got down to Earth past the space patrols or if they established their bases prior to Commander Dark's return to Earth seven years ago."

"It doesn't really matter when they got here. Their presence here is illegal and is a breach of our peace treaty," I said. "They have to leave."

"I think they were here before Commander Dark arrived. The Federation was stretched pretty thin near the end of the war. Considering how elaborate that mountain base was, I'd say they were here for a long time," said Trinity.

"Lieutenant Hawk and the other Rangers are recommending that Cyborg Command ask for more volunteers to come to Earth to help defend against these Mesaarkan invaders," Raven added.

"Did you know that he asked if I could project when I might end my leave and return to assist?"

"We didn't, but I am not surprised," said Trinity.

"We are all concerned because we don't know how widespread this Mesaarkan infiltration has become, " Raven added.

"I am not worried that Zaya can't take care of her ranch while I'm on duty. I am concerned that she would have no protection while I am away. She was taken from her garden right beside the house and tortured for months by a sadistic Mesaarkan invader."

"It would certainly make no sense for one of us to stay and protect Zaya while you are on duty when we are already short of protectors, " said Raven.

"You should not risk it. If you are needed on duty, your mate's protection must be assured," Trinity agreed.

"The worst part is we don't know who to trust. It was human men who kidnapped and then sold me to the Mesaarkans. I'd lived here my whole life until that day, and no one ever bothered me here," Zaya added. "Steele, can they make you return to duty? Will they punish you if you don't?"

"Don't worry, I'm not leaving you here alone. Lieutenant Hawk has already approved open-ended leave, meaning as much as I need. If I am truly needed, you have the tools to protect yourself," I assured her. No one could force me to risk my mate, not even Cyborg Command. I reached for Zaya's hand to reassure her.

We finished breakfast while Raven and Trinity talked about what had been happening in Gretchen, where our headquarters was located. Other than the Mesaarkan's shuttle sightings, nothing unusual happened.

"That's good because now that you've brought me my sky cycle, I'd like to bring Zaya to town to meet the rest of our team and introduce her to the couple of storekeepers who might be interested in trading for her soaps, eggs, and produce."

Zaya smiled, squeezing my hand. "That would be nice. I haven't been to Gretchen since last year. That's a long walk, and I wasn't able to carry very much since I haven't had a horse for several years."

"Do you want a horse?" I asked.

"I've missed the horse, but mostly when I was thinking about going to town. With your sky cycle, I should not need one."

"Love, it doesn't matter whether you need it. If you wish to have a horse, I will find you one."

Zaya nodded. "I appreciate the offer; let me think about it."

Once we had finished breakfast, Zaya and I showed Raven and Trinity around the ranch and talked about possibilities. My next large project would be the heating system, which meant running a pipeline from the gas well to power our combination heating and power system. I had located the equipment and supplies necessary to do the job and estimated that it would take a few days.

Zaya and I also talked about expanding the crops on her ranch starting in the spring. Because of her limited resources and those of her ancestors, the ranch had reverted to a subsistence farm. Zaya was only using a couple of acres on her ranch of over a thousand acres.