Page 6 of The Lone Cyborg
No matter how many times the drill broke down, no matter how many challenges Mars threw her way, she refused to be defeated. She was a survivor, and she would keep surviving, one broken drill at a time.
The sound of hoofbeats drew her attention away from the stubborn drill. She looked up, squinting against the harsh Martian sunlight, as a familiar figure rode towards her. J-418 was back. Her immediate feeling of relief annoyed her, and she frowned as he dismounted and strode towards her. She didn’t need his help, and she certainly didn’t want to rely on anyone else. She had learned long ago that the only person she could truly count on was herself.
“Looks like you’re having some trouble there,” he said as he nodded towards the malfunctioning drill. “Would you like me to take a look?”
Yes.Despite her first reaction she shook her head, her grip tightening on the drill as she glared at him.
“I can handle it. It’s not the first time I’ve had to repair the damn thing. I know what I’m doing.”
He raised his hands in a placating gesture, a hint of amusement playing across his hard features.
“I don’t doubt that for a second, Miss Carson. But even the most skilled mechanic could use a second pair of hands now and then.”
She hesitated, torn between her stubborn pride and the reluctant acknowledgment that he had a point. She’d been struggling with the drill for hours, and the sun was already beginning its descent towards the horizon. If she didn’t get it fixed soon, she would lose even more valuable drilling time.
But letting him help would mean admitting weakness.Admitting that I can’t do everything on my own.The thought left a bitter taste in her mouth, but in the end, practicality won out over pride.
“Fine,” she snapped. “But don’t think this means I owe you anything. I’m not some damsel in distress who needs saving.”
His lips quirked into a smile, the expression transforming his rugged face and catching her by surprise. Had she ever seen him smile before?
“I wouldn’t dream of it, Miss Carson. I know better than to underestimate you.”
As he moved closer, reaching for the drill with his cybernetic hand, she felt a flicker of something she couldn’t quite name. Gratitude, perhaps, for his faith in her ability to survive on her own. But as his fingers brushed hers, something deeper,hungrier, stirred to life, sending a surge of heat through her veins.
She swallowed hard, trying to ignore the rush of sensation. It had been too long since she’d been touched, since she’d allowed herself to feel anything other than loneliness and grief. She stepped back, putting some distance between them as she fought to regain control of her rebellious body.
He bent to examine the drill, his expression turning serious as he took in the mess of wires and gears.
“What seems to be the problem?”
She forced herself to focus on the task at hand, banishing thoughts of anything beyond the frustratingly recalcitrant machine.
“The motor kept overheating,” she explained. “I tried replacing the cooling system, but it didn’t make any difference. Now it won’t start at all. I think there might be a problem with the power supply, but I can’t seem to isolate it.”
He nodded, probing at the wires.
“It could be the filters. The dust gets into everything out here and if the filters are blocked…”
“Dammit. I should have thought of that,” she admitted, the words tasting like ash in her mouth. “I was so convinced it was a major problem that I didn’t even consider the basics.”
He shook his head, a corner of his mouth lifting again.
“It’s easy to overlook the small things, but they’re the ones that’ll get you in the end.”
She nodded, a rueful smile tugging at her own lips.
“You’re right,” she said. “I really should have known better.”
As he set to work on the drill, his hands moving with a surety that spoke of long practice, she took the opportunity to study him. In spite of his frequent visits, she knew very little about him. Yet there was something about him that drew her in—something that made her want to trust him, despite her better judgment.
Trust is a luxury, she reminded herself.One I can’t afford.
“It’s not just the filters,” he said finally. “There’s a blockage in the motor, probably caused by a buildup of dust. If I clean it out and realign the gears, it should be good as new.”
She leaned in closer, watching as his big hands deftly navigated the intricate machinery, and couldn’t help but be impressed by his skill. Would he touch her as skillfully, she wondered, her mind wandering to places it shouldn’t. What would his hands feel like on her skin—the warm human hand and the cool metal one?
She shook her head, trying to banish the errant thoughts. This was no time for distractions or foolish fantasies. She had work to do, a claim to protect, and she couldn’t afford to let her guard down, not even for a moment. But he was helping her…
