Prohibit by Viola Grace Page A

strange prickle coming in through the tubes, so she worked faster. She punched at the interior of the tube, and she watched the fluid rush out as the substance shattered.
    Air rushed into her lungs, and she ejected the breathing fluid. The sedative hit her, and she laughed with triumph while she flopped around like a trout.
    Helbri lifted her up, and he was exceedingly careful with her. It was sweet for the ten seconds she was awake.
     
    She dozed and remembered someone prying her eyes open, a bright flash and then nothing until she woke up in a bed, with proper sheets, and a tray covered with what looked like a series of guns on it.
    Helbri was standing next to her, at the foot of her bed.
    Cleo jerked. “Have you been watching me?”
    Her voice sounded a little hoarse, but it was the words that rang oddly. If she didn’t know any better, she would say that she was speaking another language.
    “You have been sedated for four days. Fortunately, your transformation is nearly complete.”
    “I don’t feel different.” She patted her waist. “I do feel flatter. What happened there?”
    “The Lrrko genetics create changes in your physiology that needed a bit of material. As you broke your tank—for which the med staff are examining all the images and recordings—they were unable to add the fuel that the change needs via the intravenous connections.”
    “So, the change started to repurpose my own tissue.” She grimaced.
    “Yes. Why did you break out of the tank?”
    “Because I don’t like confinement.”
    “How did you break out?”
    “The egg principle. The curve is designed to be tough from the outside, but the chick has to get out somehow. They can push with their heads and legs and pop the egg open.”
    The silver head nodded slowly.
    Cleo stared at him and took in his extremely fitted clothing. It seemed weird that they would dress a robot in tight clothing, not to mention give him the musculature of a UFC fighter.
    She flipped the blanket off and was about to get out of bed when she saw that she wasn’t wearing anything, and then, she hauled the fabric over her again.
    “Is there anywhere I could get some clothing?”
    “There is, as soon as the physicians give you the all clear. You have one additional round of injections.”
    She scowled at Helbri. “Can you get them?”
    He cocked his head. “I have sent for them. You were just removed from your support systems an hour ago. I have been waiting for you to wake.”
    The use of the term waiting set her on alert. A robot wouldn’t have waited, would it?
    A person in a uniform that was similar to those used on Earth entered the room with what passed for a smile. Cleo couldn’t really tell.
    “Well, your Familiar tells us you are up, and I am just going to administer your last shots, and he can take you off to the Lrrko home world.”
    “Wait. Can I call my parents?”
    The medic cocked its head. “I do not suppose that it will be a problem.”
    It seemed that Helbri was going to put up a comment, but he settled back into an alert but casual position.
    Cleo sat straight as she got a series of injections in various parts of her body.
    “We did your departure scan while you were out. You are within Lrrko specifications and the last one of your kind on this base. You can leave whenever your Familiar decides to fly you out of here.”
    Cleo nodded and looked warily at Helbri. “When can I have clothing?”
    He left the room and came back with folded fabric in his silver hand. The bright pattern made her smile.
    “Are you afraid of losing me?”
    He shook his head slowly. “If you run, I will find you.”
    She raised her brows at that. “That is vaguely threatening.”
    He put the fabric in her lap. “It is my duty to maintain your health and well-being wherever you are. To do my duty, I need to know where you are.”
    She looked from the clothing to him. The medic left the room, and Cleo was alone with him. “So, are you going to leave me alone