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dead bodies disappeared. The panels slid shut, and the bay plunged into silence, like nothing had happened. The holographic tubes projecting the shield around Kelly beeped, clicked, and closed before returning to their previous positions high above them.
    Mars ran over to Kelly, and Kelly retreated on instinct until his back hit the wall. The hurt and confusion in Mars’s expression squeezed at Kelly’s heart. If Kelly didn’t know Jordan had spent years with Mars, he would have bolted from the place and never looked back. His brain yelled at him to get the hell out of there, but his heart held him in place. How could someone with such warmth in his eyes cause so much destruction?
    “You’re afraid… of me?”
    Kelly swallowed hard but remained where he stood as Mars slowly drew closer. He lifted a hand toward Kelly, then seemed to think better of it.
    “Why?”
    “Why?” Kelly shook his head in disbelief. “You… you killed them all without so much as a second thought.”
    “It’s an analysis to gauge my physical capabilities under combative situations. My directive is to eliminate all threats. Self-preservation against those wishing to harm me.”
    “They were civilians. That last wave of people weren’t soldiers. They were innocent people.”
    Mars frowned. “Innocent people don’t attack. They were threats.”
    “And you’re telling me there was no other way? That you , with all your capabilities and skill, couldn’t find another way to neutralize them without ending their lives?”
    Mars cocked his head to one side. “I had not considered this. My directive is to eliminate threats, not subdue them.” He studied Kelly. “This… upsets you?”
    “Yes, yes it upsets me very much.” Kelly was having trouble getting his pulse to steady. His heart was racing.
    “Your hands are shaking,” Mars said quietly. “I don’t understand. It was only a simulation. They weren’t real people.”
    Kelly let out a slow breath. “If I attacked you, would you kill me?”
    Mars opened his mouth to reply, then closed it.
    “If you were told to kill me, would you? If it was your directive?”
    Mars took a step closer, and Kelly braced himself. Had he pushed too far? He should have never agreed to this. Is this what Lucius feared? Was Kelly’s life in danger by simply being in the same room as Mars?
    “No.”
    Kelly looked up at Mars, surprised by the conviction with which he’d spoken, by the unmistakable determination in his gaze.
    “I would never hurt you.”
    “How do you know?” Kelly asked. “How do you know they wouldn’t ask you to and you’d snap my neck like you did with them?” Kelly thrust a hand out to where Mars had stood moments ago.
    “I’m not a heartless machine.”
    “Then don’t act like one,” Kelly snapped, startling Mars.
    Mars reeled back as if Kelly had struck him. He swallowed hard, his brows drawn together in confusion, and then Kelly saw the blood.
    “Shit. You’re bleeding.” Kelly removed his T-shirt, wadded it up, and held it to Mars’s side. He’d been so wrapped up in what was going on he’d forgotten Mars had been injured.
    “You care,” Mars stated, as if surprised by Kelly’s actions.
    “Of course I care, you idiot. You’re fucking bleeding.” Kelly let out a frustrated huff. “Open the doors. We need to get you to the medical room.”
    Mars nodded, and the doors to the bay slid open.
    “Hold this to your side.”
    Mars did as told and followed Kelly out of the bay and through the apartment to the medical room. There Mars sat in the padded white chair, and Kelly grumbled incoherently to himself as he initiated a recovery sequence. At least the advances in medicine were something to be proud of. Nowadays injuries were quicker to heal, thanks to nanotechnology. As soon as he entered all the information on Mars’s injury and linked Mars’s medical profile, a small panel opened in the wall, and a tiny Medibot zipped out. It hovered over Mars’s injury,