They stepped into the next room on the tour. “Ooh.” Simone smiled. “You don’t have to tell me what this is for.”
A training room the size of a school gymnasium spread out before her. Boasting high ceilings and a cushioned floor, it offered a variety of weight equipment that looked similar enough to Earth’s for her to identify. A running track circled the perimeter. And one wall displayed multiple weapons with blades that looked dull enough to prevent one from slicing flesh from a partner while sparring.
“If there are only six of you,” she wondered aloud, “why do you need so much room?” The Kandovar‘s training room had been about the size of a football field, but that was because so many soldiers trained there.
“We train with T, too.”
She looked at him in surprise. “You do?”
He nodded. “Though our security protocols make it unlikely, if an enemy force should ever board our ship, twelve androids trained in combat would enable us to defeat them.”
“I assume he’s stronger than a mortal?”
“Much stronger. Faster, too.”
Stronger and faster than an Immortal Guardian?
Discovering the answer to that question might be fun.
Oh, who was she kidding? It would be awesome! She’d be the first Immortal Guardian to pit her skills against those of an advanced freaking android!
Until then…
She crossed to the wall of weapons. Most were blades and staffs. Janwar and his crew probably practiced the firearms in simulation rooms like the soldiers on the Kandovar did.
Her gaze wandered across daggers, short swords, long swords similar to her precious katanas, wooden staffs, metal staffs, staffs with blades on both ends, staffs that ended in rounded balls she suspected would bear spikes in actual battle. It was an intriguing array.
Like most of her immortal brethren, Simone held a deep appreciation for finely crafted weaponry. Reaching up, she plucked a plain staff off its brace. And this was finely crafted. It felt like wood but must be from a tree she’d never seen before. Almost white, it bore dark stripes like a zebra.
Balancing it in her hands, she gave it a few experimental twirls, then turned to Janwar. “Care to spar with me, handsome?”
His burnt sienna eyes lit with interest. “Are you sure it isn’t too soon?”
“I’m sure. I am one hundred percent healed. And after two months of being cooped up in that escape pod, I could use the exercise.”
He hesitated only a moment, then smiled. “Okay. Do you want to change first?”
She glanced down at her soldier’s garb. “All I have are more outfits like this.”
“T,” Janwar called.
“Yes?”
“You have Simone’s physical specs. Do you think you could print her some exercise clothing?”
“Of course. Printing clothing now.”
She blinked. “Really? You can print clothing?”
“Yes. Though some worlds like Lasara ban clothing fabricators on their planets to increase employment opportunities for their citizenry, they frequently use them on warships to avoid taking up storage space for uniforms that may not be needed. Have you never used one before?”
She shook her head. “On the Kandovar, we wore whatever we brought from home. And 3-D printing is still in its infancy on Earth. Most of our garments are sewn by people.”
“Printing complete,” T announced. “I will deliver your new garments momentarily, Simone.”
“Thank you.”
Janwar started backing toward a door on one side of the room. “The changing room, lav, and sanishowers are through here. Do you mind if I change my clothing while we wait?”
“Not at all.”
Grinning, he disappeared into what she guessed was the Tangata‘s version of a gym locker room.
Her spirits lightened. She really liked his smile. Every once in a while, it would light up his eyes and face in a way that let her glimpse what he must have looked like as a boy, back when all was right with the world, and he still had two loving parents.
Happy. A little mischievous. And today?
That smile was far too appealing, filling her belly with butterflies.
Footsteps alerted her to T’s imminent arrival. For a heavy, metallic being, he had surprisingly light footsteps.
T entered the gym, carrying a small bundle of clothing. “Greetings, Simone.”
“Hi, T.”
“I have prepared your garments for you.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that.” Joining him near the entrance, she plucked the clothing from his hands and held them up. They consisted of a white, sleeveless muscle shirt and loose black pants. Both were as soft as silk. “Ooh. These are nice.”
T’s red eyes brightened. “I chose the fabric myself.”
She didn’t notice until then that a pair of something that resembled running shoes rested in his hands. “There are shoes, too?”
“Yes. Since the medical scans included the exact measurements of your feet, I opted to fashion you a pair of shoes that would benefit you more than your boots while training.”
“Wow. Thank you.” She measured one against the sole of her boot. “They look like they’ll fit me perfectly.”
“I am pleased you like them.”
“I more than like them. I love them. You’re a genius, T.”
“Oh my.” The android stood a little taller. “Thank you for noticing.”
She laughed. Soft footsteps sounded behind her, alerting her to Janwar’s return.
“Did you bring her everything she needs?”
“Yes,” T responded. “And she is very pleased.”
Grinning, Simone turned to show him… and promptly lost her train of thought.
Janwar approached with the long, smooth strides of a tiger. The loose shirt was gone, replaced by a tight white muscle shirt aptly named because it clung to every one of his mouth-watering muscles and left his big biceps bare. The white fabric hugged a trim waist and rippling abs. Loose black pants hung low on his hips but clung to his powerful thighs when he moved.
Simone wasn’t sure what he wore on his feet. She couldn’t seem to drag her gaze away from the rest of him. Janwar was freaking hot!
“Do you like it?” he asked with a smile that brought butterflies back to her stomach in droves.
His body? Hell yes! “What?” she asked faintly.
“The clothing.” He nodded toward the garments and shoes she held. “Do you like it?”
“Oh.” She blinked and hoped fervently he wouldn’t notice the flush that rose in her cheeks. “Yes. It’s perfect.”
“Simone said I’m a genius,” T blurted.
She grinned. “I did. And you are.” Grabbing the other shoe from T, she headed for the locker room. “I’ll just go change.”
Janwar watched Simone hurry to the changing room.
Had it been his imagination, or had he seen a glint of interest in her eyes—along with a faint amber glow—as she studied his form?
“I like her,” T declared again.
He laughed. “That’s because she said you’re a genius.”
“I admit that pleased me immensely. You and the others rarely acknowledge my genius.”