Don't Poke the Luna (Xena and Ryder)

The Lna 312

Xena's POV

"I have a gift for you," Ryder said, his voice warm with affection. "It's in the car. Want to come with me to get it?

I looked at him suspiciously, my instincts telling me this wasn't just any ordinary gift. Ama was grinning too, which only deepened my curiosity. "Is this what you went out to get last night?" I asked.

Ryder nodded, that mysterious smile never leaving his face. "Come on."

I followed him to the parking lot, and I watched as Ryder moved to the back seat

of his car with purpose. He retrieved an elegant white box.

“Here, he said, placing the box carefully on the hood of his car. “Open it."

My hands trembled slightly as I approached the box. Something about the weight of the moment, the careful way Ryder was watching me, told me this was significant. I lifted the lid slowly, and my breath caught in my throat.

Inside, nestled in soft foam padding, was a prosthetic hand. But this wasn't just any prosthetic-it was sleek, sophisticated, clearly cutting-edge technology. The neural-controlled prosthetics that Ama had mentioned. My eyes filled with tears. "Ryder," I whispered, my voice breaking with emotion. I looked up at him, and the love in his eyes was overwhelming. "You got it. You actually got it."

"It's what you deserve," he said simply, stepping closer. "It's what I should have done from the beginning."

I threw my good arm around him, pulling him into a fierce embrace. "I love you," I said against his chest.

"Let me help you put it on," he said softly, his hands gentle as he began to position the prosthetic.

Ryder's fingers worked with practiced precision, securing the neural interfaces to my residual limb. He adjusted straps and calibrated connections. When he finished, I stared down at my new left hand. The fingers responded to my thoughts, flexing and moving with fluid grace. The sensation was extraordinary- not quite the same as my original hand, but something new and powerful. I could feel pressure, texture, even temperature through the advanced sensors. My throat tightened with overwhelming gratitude as I realized I was whole again, different but complete.

asked suddenly, looking up at Ryder with

Ryder's eyebrows shot/up. "You mean on the

flexed my new fingers, marveling at the responsiveness. "I want to see

1/3

Chapter 312

I could see the internal battle playing out in his expression. Finally, he sighed. "Alright. Though I don't love the idea of you taking risks so soon. But I need to check on the convention center anyway-make sure the contractors

reached out through the mind link to Ama. "Do we have time for a

covered here. Just be back at your shop by 5:45. The

was worried about losing Penelope

in a few

owe you

want our kids to be

on it," I replied, grinning

change my clothes first," I

Just sit on your skirt. You'll be fine." Ryder pulled me toward him and kissed me. "I love you," he whispered

too," I replied without

to prepare the bikes because they were already ready and waiting for us. Ryder handed me my helmet and gloves, then put on his own. Seeing that he was ready, I put on my helmet first as usual, then my right glove, and finally my left glove. The prosthetic was more responsive than I had imagined,

me.

again was amazing. It was like I had lost a part of myself and finally found it again. True excitement filled my heart as we burst out of the driveway and onto the open road. Ryder was right in front of me, but he kept watching me through his rearview mirror. Just like

fly up, which brought back that butterfly feeling. The tension in Ryder's body was dissipating, being replaced by something... primal. I knew

in front of the conference center, I was surprised. It looked amazing. The parking lot was beautiful, planted with shade trees. The building was circular with a

well," Ryder

2/3