“W-what?” She stopped her rapid exit and jammed her hands into the pocket of the drawstring pants.
“You’ve had your hands on my body more in the last weeks than any female in the last year. I think you can call me Bane.”
He thought he sensed her falter. Dharma always seemed so composed. One response, one sign. It was all he needed to know if he was alone in this torture.
“Good day,” she repeated and left.
Bane cursed and threw the water container against the wall where it shattered. Jaron’s friend Hunter better be able to deliver. He couldn’t take much more of this.
Chapter 5
Dharma avoided Bane over the next two days out of self perseveration. She’d come so close to stroking his cock, wanting to test its hardness during their last rehab session. That wasn’t acceptable nor appropriate.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t avoid him any longer. Today she was on scheduled to attend to him and Tao wanted a new panel of test run. The medic was far superior to any Dharma had ever met. His commitment to helping Bane went above and beyond his fellow co-workers.
As an authority on cybernetic enhancements and one of the leading experts on the obsolete procedure, he took pride in his work and she knew this was genuinely frustrating him to no end.
Dharma left the cafeteria, tossing her half-eaten lunch in the recycling receptacle. Soon, the center would close Bane’s case and considered him one of those rare patients they couldn’t help.
She entered the stairway from the lower level without her usual care. When the door slammed shut behind her, she jumped, then shook her head ruefully. Her thoughts were too distracted with Bane.
Admonishments rolled through her mind one after the other as she trekked toward the sixth floor for the weekly meeting with all the staff. There would be boring recaps as always.
Nearing the third level, she stiffened as her hair stood on end. Rapid steps raced up the stairs behind her. Someone was in a hurry. Dharma turned, catching sight of a dark-clad figure running toward her.
“What the—”
Their bodies crashed together. Arms banded about Dharma’s waist as the figure slammed her to the floor. She cried out on impact. Her gaze flashed up, catching the menacing attacker lunging toward her. Dharma kicked back and swung her arm up in defense to block the coming blow.
Forearms banged together. Pain shot through Dharma’s arm. Ignoring the hit, she followed up with a downward slash of her hand, reverting to the basic training measures she’d learned.
Her assailant hadn’t expected her fast response. Dharma’s nails caught on the mask covering the face hovering above her. Thick fingers locked around Dharma’s arms and pounded her upper back on the floor over and over again.
Dharma jerked and twisted as they rolled toward the edge of the stairs. She gained her feet through sheer luck. The figure pushed off the floor and launched forward, ramming her into the wall of the landing. She grunted as her tender back took the brunt.
Pain ricochet through her entire body. Spots appeared before her gaze, her head wobbling on her neck as she fought to remain upright.
Her attacker gripped her neck and tightened their fingers deeper inter her flesh. Heavy breathing brushed the side of her face. “The Jutak warrior’s condition. Tell me what you know.”
Dharma broke free of the chokehold but her attacker’s thick thighs and hips pinned her to the wall. They grabbed hold of her arms and shook her violently.
“The Jutak! Tell me.”
Bane?
“I-I don’t know what you mean,” Dharma mumbled in disorientation. Someone was interested in Bane’s condition?
A Marenian blade was pressed to her throat, jagged side up against her skin. A delicate snort before the voice whispered, “Lies will end this quicker, but I’m alright with that. Especially if you believe the Jutak is worth it.”
Female. Her assailant was a female. Now that she focused, Dharma sensed a set of breasts pressed against her own. Still, she stalled. “I-I don’t know what you want me to tell you.”
“Is he walking?”
“No.” Dharma wasn’t revealing any secret by telling the truth.
A giddy chuckle, just this side of manic. “How close is he to figuring it out?”
Dharma wasn’t sure what she was supposed to say to that. Her heart pounded in her chest. Fear surged through her limbs. The need to fight or flee waged a war inside of her.
“How long before the Jutak gives up and his team arrives to take him home?” the attacker demanded.
Dharma hadn’t spent any time thinking about Bane leaving though it was evident he soon would since he couldn’t walk. With complete honesty, she answered, “I have no idea.”
Although hadn’t Bane mentioned contacting a friend for help with the biotronics? Could someone help when everyone here, including top medical professionals, hadn’t been able to?
“Maybe we can speed up the arrival of their presence,” the female said as she rubbed her covered face against Dharma’s arched neck.
Another prick of the knife caused her to wince. Would she be murdered in this stairway, surrounded just out of reach by dozens of military personnel? A laugh threatened to bubble up her throat.
The knife eased away and Dharma breathed a sigh of relief only to have her face smashed into the wall from a fist. Something cracked. Agony exploded in her cheek. The bitter tang of blood filled her mouth.
Rage roared to the surface. On a growl, Dharma jerked her knee up. The female choked on a gasp and stumbled back from the contact. The distance gave Dharma enough room to follow through with an elbow to the masked face.
Something crunched and gave. Her attacker screamed. Satisfaction coursed through Dharma’s veins as she spun around with a well-practiced kick. Her heel landed on her target’s chest and the female screeched as her arms whirled to catch her balance. Before she could follow through, the attacker charged Dharma, swinging with the blade.
Two slashes ripped the upper sleeve of her shirt. Dharma’s arm burned. She glanced down to see the material gaping from elbow to wrist. A trickle of blood leaked from the thin slice. She ignored the pain and shoved back against the female’s forearm thrust under her neck as they stumbled about the landing, feet skidding on the surface.
Another slash of the knife, much deeper, cut across her mid-section. This time Dharma flinched from the pain and folded. Her knees hit the ground with a hard thud.
“You won’t ruin my task, Dharma Volgi. The Jutaks will pay,” the female yelled. Then she took off running down the stairs.
Blood splattered the stairway around Dharma. The temptation to give chase filled her but her aching and throbbing body refused.
Focused on every sound and creak, Dharma slowly made her way up the stairs. Despite the confusion about the attack, she had one goal.
Bane. Someone wanted information about Bane’s case. What if they’d decided to go after him directly?
Once she reached the eighth floor, she braced her right shoulder on the wall and fought back fatigue. She had to help Bane. Protect him just in case.
Instead of seeking a medic assistant, Dharma bypassed the comm station and made her way down the hall.
Why did it matter? It shouldn’t but Dharma meticulously made her way to Bane’s room as the hall whirled and tilted around her.