Lion

by Jessie Rose Case

  “I won.” She told him smugly.

  His hands itched to move. “You used the element of surprise and strength well. But had I been a real adversary, I’d be coming straight back at you the moment I’d recovered. I could flip you easily and you’d be pinned. You need to keep moving. Get as much distance as you can.”

  Pilar settled in and leaned down on him just to annoy him. She wasn’t running any longer. Her eyes locked on his. The sensation of being spread across his body electric. The heat from his body penetrating her own in all the right places.

  “Don’t Cyborgs ever give up?” she whispered. His eyes seemed to fire orange. Golden hews lit up deep within them. His grip on her thighs tightened, as his thumbs ran cycles on her flesh.

  “Never. We pursue, dominate and possess.” The scent of her so strong. It seemed to smother him. He had a desperate need to breath it in and savour the taste of her. His optic flashed red. His emotions were bleeding into his logic. He checked his diagnostic and found his emotional chip still turned off. This, whatever it was, was causing seepage. It was a problem. Emotion and logic were often at odds. The female surrounded him was making it worse. It didn’t seem logical either. She was far smaller than he was but, in that moment, he could have sworn she was the larger of the two. Her warmth spread across his body as her face laid down on his chest. Unable to resist, he wrapped his arms around her and held her to him. He surrendered.

  Minutes ticked by with neither one speaking. The contact was enough. Lion didn’t want to let her go. He could read the signs. It didn’t matter what else was going on. He was bonded to this female….

  She wasn’t getting up. Ever. He made her feel too good. The minute he wrapped his arms around her she was done. She didn’t want to be anywhere else. This was right. Where she needed to be. Her mind told her it was the man not the place and she couldn’t argue with that. Was it the novelty? naturally crossed her mind. Always looking for the why. She didn’t think so. There seemed more at play here. What that meant when they left the ship and went down to her world, she didn’t know.

  She was a different person down there. Had to be. More ruthless. She couldn’t afford to be ……. Vulnerable. They’d take advantage of it and her. It’s why she’d not got involved seriously with anyone once she knew how the game was played. They could be a weakness. Used against her. But Lion’s not human, crossed her mind. No, he wasn’t. Was that the attraction? That he could hold his own? Could face anything? Then why hadn’t one of her own Cyborgs attracted her? She sighed. So many questions….

  As she relished being in his embrace, she realised it was more than all of that. The others hadn’t attracted her because they weren’t him. She wanted his company. Had wanted to seek it out. Keep the contact between them alive. There was something special about this one. Something unexpected. She didn’t have to be on her guard all the time. Didn’t have to worry about his motives or what his agenda was. He was transparent. Open. Was she ready for that? She didn’t know.

  Lion acknowledge the ping over his neuro net and opened to the message while holding the woman who meant everything to him. Our message to this world for permission to land was accepted. We have two ships interceding us, requesting we stand by and be boarded for inspection.

  “Pilar, does your world have inspections for ships coming to it?”

  Pilar lifted up and looked at him. “No. There are no restrictions, if you want to try your luck you can.”

  “Then things appear to have changed in the time you have been away. We have two ships on intercept requesting that we standby and be boarded for inspection.”

  Pilar laughed. “Seriously? Don’t you think I’d have mentioned that?”

  He didn’t look like he was joking. “Yes. That’s why I’m asking.”

  Pilar sobered and sat up. “For real?” He gave her a nod. Pilar chilled. Something was seriously wrong. “Who’s ships?”

  Lion connected with his neuro net. Ships designation?

  Barn Burner and Maggie May

  Acknowledged.

  Lion looked at Pilar as his eyes cleared. “Ships are called Barn Burner and Maggie May.” She stared at him for a moment, then got up and started pacing. He could taste the change in her scent. Anger.

  “Paul and Xian. So, they’ve made their move while my back was turned. Cowards.”

  Lion rose to his feet and crouched watching her. Eventually she turned to face him. “Looks like they didn’t waste much time. Can you get me my office. I need to speak with someone.”

  Lion glazed over making the connection with his bridge requesting the link and moved to the communications wall and connected to it. He was acutely aware of every move she made. Pilar followed him and stood next to the vid screen. Then pulled her arm back to strike the wall panel with her fist. Lion got there first and stopped the impact. Shielding her hand from injury. “There will be time for that.”

  She gave him a reluctant nod. He rubbed at her knuckles then she pulled her hand from his. “We don’t want them to know about you yet. Can you mimic my ships signal?”

  “Already done.”

  “Good. They will regret fucking with me.”

  The vid screen came online, and Lion moved out the way of the viewer. Pilar gave him a nod. There was no point in tipping their hand just yet. Ben, one of her office staff came online. The picture was shaky. He was using a datapad and moving fast.

  She didn’t waste any time. “What the fuck is going on?”

  He was whispering, telling her to be quiet. “Sushhh. Hi Pilar,” he smiled shakily too. Now she knew something was wrong. Ben had never been quiet in his life. “I saw your vid ping and isolated it. I’m on the move to somewhere less busy,” he whispered.

  “And why is that exactly?” she whispered back.

  “Well, since you gave permission for a couple of Jorge’s men to work in the office and take over, things have been a bit different. I didn’t like it to be honest. Didn’t feel right but they had all the right codes. Then I caught some changes in our systems that you wouldn’t have approved.” He looked intensely at the screen. “Reversed some decisions you’d made. Made some contracts that were more your fathers’ line of work, if you know what I mean, and I knew it then for sure and waited for you to make contact. They’re monitoring all outgoing communications so I couldn’t do anything.” He looked around anxiously. “I think it’s a fucking take over Pilar. You need to get your ass back here pronto.”

  “Working on it. Where are my Cyborgs?”

  “They were given orders to down tools and wait further instructions from you. None came. They’re at the mine.”

  “All of them?” He nodded. “Just Jorge in on this?”

  Ben shook his head. “Doubt it. Too many have ‘stopped by wayyy to happy’.

  Pilar nodded. “Right. Get to the mine. Tell my Cyborgs to get ready. If they’re not online get them back online ASAP. I want to speak with Seven.”

  He nodded. “Ok, I’m on it but I won’t be able to go back to that office Pilar.”

  “Stay at the mine until further notice. If they come looking, stay out of the way and tell the Cyborgs no stay put and protect our interests and not let on we’ve talked.”

  “Ok got it. How long you going to be?”

  “Difficult to say. I’ll keep you posted. We’ll send you coded contact info.”

  He gave a nod and the screen went blank.

  “You know this Jorge?” Lion asked her as she looked at the blank screen.

  “Yes, I cut his contracts. He wasn’t happy. Doesn’t like me much. Thinks I’m taking his livelihood away.”

  “Are you?”

  Pilar turned towards him. “My father made a lot of questionable contracts. Including trading in people if it served his purpose. Jorge is one of many that worked those contracts and I closed them out when they were up for renewal. They can’t trade with my companies without my permission, but they can go elsewhere. I offered them something more lucrative in its place. All ab
ove board. All legal. He wasn’t so keen.”

  “So this is who you knew would come after you?”

  “Not in particular. But I’m guessing we’ve at least 4 Captains involved. I was thinking more of the Scourge. My next round of contract cuts I spoke about. It’s the group that we have delivered provisions for. Those 50 ships or more. I expected something like this from them on a bigger scale. Jorge and the boys are probably trying their luck. More of a ….. opportunity taker.”

  “So you being gone, gave them the opportunity to make things how they want it. What would happen when you got back?”

  Pilar laughed. “O I don’t expect he was going to let that happen.”

  Lion grasped her around the neck and pulled her to him. His lips brushed hers lightly. “He will not get away with this.”

  The intensity of his belief in that statement coursed through her. Pilar believed him. “No, he won’t. We need a new plan and we need to avoid those ships.”

  Lion ran his cheek across hers. It felt like velvet. The scent of him so alive. “We’ll move back out of orbit. Give me the location of the mines. We’ll land in a dead area near there and avoid any contact until we can assess what’s been going on.”

  “Sounds perfect,” she told him relishing his touch. He let her go, surprising them both with a brutal kiss then stepping back. Pilar nearly grabbed him for more.

  “We need to be ready,” he told her. “I need the co-ordinates and we need to update Four and Five.” She knew he was right. They had plenty of time later for what came next. “They can communicate over their neuro net with the other Cyborgs?”

  She nodded. “When in range to most of them.”

  “Good. I’ll ask them to join us in the conference room.”

  The day became a round of preparations.

  She knew Cyborgs were built for this but seeing it first-hand had been an experience. They were methodical and logical to a fault. Four and Five joined them and the plan went into overdrive. Both had referred to her until she’d told them Lion was leading on this. She’d showed them the vid from Ben. Then updated them on the new ‘standby to be boarded’ message. They all knew what it meant. She was no longer running things down there.

  She was angry with herself. The thought that she should never have left, kept going over and over in her mind. “It would have happened if you’d been there.” Five told her. They both be able to sense how she’d be feeling. They’d talked about it. “And you might not have survived the take over.”

  Lion growled. She reached out and grasped his arm. “He’s right. But they don’t know I’m here or that we have a surprise for them.”

  Lion gave her a nod, then looked at Four and Five. “Any idea how they got Pilar’s security codes for communication and orders?”

  “Bought or threatened someone,” Four told him.

  Lion looked at her. “That happen a lot?”

  She gave him a resigned expression. “This is outlaw country, what do you think?”

  “I think you need Cyborgs in your office.” He told her bitingly. “One’s that cannot be told to go elsewhere by anyone other than you.”

  Pilar frowned. Had she been lax? She didn’t think so. But she couldn’t argue with facts. “Fair point, I’ll take it under advisement.” He didn’t need to lecture her. She was pissed off enough already.

  He growled. It didn’t sound friendly, sexy or fun. He sounded pissed. Four went to take a step as if to protect her. “You interfere between my mate and me and I’ll tear you apart.” Lion told them. His eyes hadn’t left her face while he’d said it. There was no mistake he meant it.

  Pilar looked on curiously. She was his mate…. He’d not said it before officially. Was this the possessive thing he talked about? Lion hissed like he was trying for control. “You won’t take it under advisement female. You will do it. No more risks to your life. Do you understand?”

  Pilar blinked. He was ordering her around, telling her what she could and couldn’t do. It should have pissed her off more but…. It was…. sweet. He was worried about her. Pilar moved towards him and he stilled waiting on her response. He expected a fight... She moved in closer and wrapped her arms around him. “I’m not going to die Lion,” she whispered. He huffed and wrapped his arms around her.

  “You’d better not. I won’t take it well. They’ll be lots of blood and limbs everywhere.”

  Pilar grinned. Was he trying to be funny? She didn’t think so, it was probably true. She would rather not die either. She pulled back and patted his chest. “We good?”

  He bent and kissed her lightly. She didn’t stop surprising him…. The last thing he’d expected was her to move in on him like that. No one came near him when he was that close to losing it.

  His optics gave stats on what could have happened next as an automatic response to his outrage. It was a Cyborg coping mechanism. So he could prepare for what was coming but his, was not on the list. She’d done the unexpected. It warmed him. She’d listened.

  “We’re good. Stay close to us. If not me, then our men.”

  Pilar raised an eyebrow. “Our men?”

  This time Lion smiled. “There can only be one group Pilar. Taking the same orders.”

  Pilar wasn’t sure she liked the sound of that. Was he pushing her aside? Seemed like Lion was taking over. She couldn’t live with that. “Yours?” she asked tentatively frowning.

  “No. Ours.”

  That sounded better. “Ok then. Let’s go kill some assholes.”

  ***

  Somehow they’d avoided the two ships in space that were now suddenly doing security checks on all vessels. She guessed it had something to do with Cyborg skills. They could avoid just about anything if they wanted.

  Ship inspections was crazy talk…. People came to her world because it was kinda lawless. No rules as such. Trade, sell, make money and don’t fuck with anyone else. If you did, you were held accountable by the Traders Association. A kinda jury. Some you win, some you lose. A deadly game of chance. She wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. But some, tried their luck anyway. Simply the lay of the land.

  They’d also avoided landing near the mines like she’d suggested. Lion told her it was too easy to predict if they weren’t completely stupid. They had the advantage of being early but, if they were cautious, they’d already have scouts out just in case.

  She couldn’t argue with the logic. He was the military guy. And right now, she could see he was right. He’d gone with the advanced party to scout. What he’d brought back was what she’d feared. Her Trading Post was taken over. Her home under guard and observers were watching the Cyborgs at the mines. They’d removed her the only way they could, in her absence. It grated, but also told her they couldn’t do it with her present. That meant they were scared of her. They should be…

  Pissed throughout that 24hrs, she’d trained and planned. Four and Five with her. They’d got the brunt of her anger pulling her through. Once Lion was back and the amount of the takeover evident. Her anger was at boiling point.

  The communiqué from Ben came shortly after with Seven able to talk to her. The vid came online. Ben stood there. He’d taken a beating. Pilar took a step nearer the screen. “What the fuck happened to you?”

  “Got caught trying to get into the mining area. Wasn’t expecting Benito’s boys to be there. I drove right up. They blocked me about half a mile out and gave me a beating.” He looked at Seven. “I’m lucky your boys don’t take orders so well from anyone but you. Pulled me out and brought me to the mine.”

  “Benito’s men?” she asked. He nodded. “I’m gonna fucking kill him.” She turned to Seven. “Having a nice time?” she asked drily.

  “No. What are your orders?”

  “Well clearly it’s going to be ‘kill the fuckers’ but right now, I’d ask how this happened but I’m beginning to get a full picture. That talk can wait.” He gave a sharp nod. “Anyone hurt in the take over?”

  “Some of your humans were hurt bad. They
’re in medical.”

  Pilar bit back the need to strangle Benito. “And you guys?”

  “Scrapes and bruises. Didn’t like the new orders but humans were getting hurt.”

  She nodded. “Understood. It was the right thing to do. Until we know what we’re up against, keep it quiet, he could have eyes on you. Business as usual. No one gets back to Benito that somethings up. They have to check in, so we made sure they do. Then, we’ll kill them all. I’m coming. With friends. Touchdown in…” She turned to Lion whose eyes were fixed on her.

  “3.7hours.”

  She looked back at the screen. “Be safe.” The vid screen shut off.

  Pilar turned back to Lion waiting for his response. That was who she was. Who she had to be to survive on this world. Her father’s daughter. He’d either like it or not. There was nothing she could do about that.

  “Kill them all?”

  Disappointment hit her. Was he judging her? It pained her to see him standing there. Those words on his lips. Pilar reached down for every ounce of resolve she had and walked away with Four and Five with her.

  “Fucking A. They messed with the wrong chick. Payback’s gonna be a bitch.”

  Chapter Six

  They’d landed in the dead zone at night. It was silent and quiet. Six off-worlders filled with Cyborgs. Landing bay door opened, and they disembarked. Pilar noticed that no one but her, seemed to make a sound. She tried hard to limit any noise she made but it was impossible to be as good as they were.