Page 59 of Hope Forged
“Well, Illan has made it Durn for us.”
“My thanks,” Mudya said. “The Maloidians spoke their language, and yet, Brac understood them. How’s that possible?”
“With an O.D.I.”
“Then we must get one, too,” she said.
Ziamee’s breath caught at her mother’s eagerness to embrace technology. “You don’t find them intrusive?”
“Not at all.” Mudya offered a soft smile. “We’ve been so disconnected, even from each other, that this will breach the gap.”
“Well, after Coll has healed you, then yes, we can ask him to implant the device.” Ziamee smothered a shudder.
She shouldn’t be averse to it, not with how far advanced the Etterian’s medical technology was. And if it meant she could speak a language without having to master it, then yes. Besides, she’d promised Illan she would. So endure she must.
“Ready,” Mudya said, striding toward the door.
Ziamee darted around her to open it, then ushered her to medical. “Coll, how do we get an O.D.I.?”
He smiled. “You ask for it.” He guided Mudya to the bed. “Please forgive me touching you.” With his hands at her waist, he hoisted her onto the bed.
“We’d both like one, Coll, please,” Mudya said, wiggling to find a comfortable spot.
“Consider it done,” he said.
Mudya fell asleep, peace in her expression. She floated inside the bubble, her hair spilling around her as if she was underwater.
“While the med-E.D. assesses and heals her, please, let me insert an O.D.I.” Coll patted a flip-down bed. “What is your handedness?”
She waved her right hand. He caught her left wrist and lowered it onto the bed with the gentlest of touches. With meticulous care, as expected of a male in his profession, he sprayed her skin with something cool, then sliced a slit she didn’t feel. With a flick of his deft fingers, he inserted a tiny square.
After he ran the med-gun over her, he wiped away the last droplet of blood. Two taps, and letters lit up. When he brushed his wrist over hers, she giggled as a tingle shot up her arm.
“Now you can contact me if you need me, milady.”
“Thank you, Coll. And how do I get languages?”
“Which one do you want?”
“Mm, Etterian, Maloidian?” She watched, unblinking, as he flicked through her menu and ordered the protocols.
“Ensa,” he said.
Its meaning popped into her head. “Heart?”
He grinned. “Katac?”
“A staff?” She arched a brow when examples of the weapon flooded her mind.
“Correct. What about sogair?”
She gasped, images flashing along with information about a six-legged creature with crimson fur. It so resembled Seba, except it seemed more lethal with those razor-sharp teeth, not like her lovable friend.
“With the six feet, you’d think it was somehow a descendant of Seba,” she mused.
“Perhaps. We have all the data on such creatures if you are interested.”
Her head whipped up at that reminder. “I’m curious, Coll. Has Brac documented Seba?”
