Page 16 of On a Rogue Planet
“Everybody get back,” Dathan warned, shoving Lala back and gripping Eos’s arm. “He’s dangerous.”
“What the hell is a CenSec doing on your ship, Mal?” Nik said.
“It’s a long story.” She knelt beside Xander, worried that he hadn’t yet regained consciousness. She touched the side of his neck, felt his erratic pulse.
“Mal—”
“It’s okay, Dath. He won’t hurt anyone.”
Eos leaned closer, studying Xander like she did her ancient artifacts. “His left arm looks mechanical.”
There was a long tear in his uniform sleeve and beneath, his left arm was silver-gray.
Dathan made an unhappy sound. “Mal, I think you should get back?—”
“He’s injured.” She speared her cousin with a look. “He helped me escape Centax and survive an attack on my ship. Without him, I’d be dead.” With an unsteady hand, she pushed back Xander’s dark hair. “He was shot with some sort of energy weapon and then interfaced with my ship. He nearly killedhimself to keep us flying.” She bit her lip. “He’s been out a really long time.” Too long.
“I’ll get the medscope.” Nik took off at a steady jog.
“You never know what a cyborg can do, Mal.” Dathan’s frown was in his voice.
Without warning, Xander’s eyes snapped open.
Those unique, concentric bands of green and gold stared up at Mal, slightly unfocused.
But then his gaze sharpened, the green in his eyes changing to a bright, neon glow as he stared at her.
“Malin,” he rasped.
She grabbed his hand. “You’re okay, Xander. We made it.”
His fingers flexed on hers, then he slumped back into unconsciousness. Suddenly his back arched and his body started shuddering.
“What’s happening?” Mal gripped his shoulders.
“Some sort of seizure.” Eos knelt beside her.
Mal had to use all her strength to keep him down. With a curse, Dathan helped her.
“We need to get him to the medbay.” A trickle of blood came from his ear and Mal’s heart kicked her ribs. Stars, what was wrong with him?
“Hang on.” Nik was back with the medscope. He flicked on the slim device, blue light shining out of it. He waved it over Xander’s face. “Shit. It’s not working. No response.”
Normally, the medscope could deal with small and medium wounds, but anything worse needed more powerful medical equipment. Mal’s stomach did a slow tumble. He’d be okay. He had to be.
“Try again.” She shot Nik a frantic nod. “Anything?”
“Nothing’s registering. It’s like something’s jamming it.”
Realization hit. “His enhancements.” Mal shifted. “We have to get him to the medbay.”
Dathan gripped Xander under his arms and Nik grabbed his feet. Dathan grunted. “Heavy bastard.”
Together, they made their way inside.
“Lala, back to your room,” Dathan said.
“Dath—”
