On a Cyborg Planet

by Anna Hackett

  He set her back on the bench, his hands tearing at the robe until he pulled it open. “Need to be inside you.” He gripped her bottom and yanked her to the very edge of the bench. A second later, he plunged to the hilt inside of her.

  ***

  Xenia cried out, her head dropping back. He filled her up, stretching her to a point of painful pleasure.

  “Do you know how beautiful you look? Spread out, just for me.”

  He growled the words and she opened her eyes. His face was covered in a light sheen of perspiration. His big body moved in and out of hers, his muscles straining.

  “Look, Xenia. See where we’re joined together.”

  She looked down, saw the thick length of him parting her folds, sliding into her. Her breath caught, her entire body thrumming with the need to come.

  “You’re so tight. But you fit me perfectly. My perfect fit.” He started thrusting into her and his eyes never left hers.

  Her heart clenched. This was supposed to be sex and pleasure. Nothing else. So why did she feel like this connection was deeper, stronger? She felt it all the way to her bones.

  “I’m going to come.” His fingers dug into her skin. Then one of his hands dropped between them.

  She felt him stroke where his cock stretched her, then he found her clit. He flicked it and everything inside her clenched hard.

  “Go over, baby. Just let go.”

  She had no choice. His steady thrusts, the pressure of his fingers, it was too much. Her release hit her like a supernova and she screamed his name.

  Seconds later, he drove into her and held himself there as his back bowed. He shot his release into her, groaning her name.

  Wrecked. Xenia wasn’t sure she could hold her head up.

  But then Axton was pulling her into his arms. They didn’t go far. He collapsed onto the kitchen floor and tugged her close to his side. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

  She floated, enjoying the languorous sensations in her body. It was so good to just be herself, to not block the emotions.

  Then a message appeared in the overlay in her right eye. Xander wanted to initiate contact.

  She sat up fast and scrambled to tug the robe around herself. “Xander’s calling.” She touched her implant. “Xander?”

  “Good morning, Xenia. I wanted to check in on the retrieval of the Codex.”

  Axton moved, curling around her to press a kiss to her lower back. Damn the man and his clever lips. “Actually, I’m at Ax…Prime Saros’s residence now to examine the map we discovered on the Rahl Sync.”

  “Good. The team finished searching the warehouse you and Axton set alight,” Xander said.

  Axton’s sinful lips were traveling upward along her spine. She shivered and tried hard to keep her focus on the conversation. “Technically it was the—” Axton’s mouth moved to the side, finding the underside of her breast “—Rahl.” The last word came out as a squeak.

  “Xenia? Are you okay?” Xander asked.

  I’m not cool and emotionless. I slept with your brother, the planet’s leader. Well, actually we didn’t sleep. We had wild, wicked sex all night long. “Fine.”

  “The team recovered some artifacts from private collections but there was no sign of the Codex. Keep searching and keep me informed.”

  Axton was nipping at her shoulder now. She tried to push him away but he wasn’t budging. “Yes, sir.” Her voice was breathy now.

  “Are you sure you didn’t sustain any damage yesterday?”

  “I’m fine. I’ve never been better.”

  There was silence for a moment. “Okay, keep me informed and Xenia?”

  Axton lifted his head, giving her a roguish smile. He was so incredibly attractive.

  Xander. She was talking with Xander. “Yes, Xander?”

  “Try not to lead the Prime astray.”

  She choked. “Sir?”

  “Into anymore booby traps or explosions.”

  She relaxed. “Yes. Of course.”

  Xander ended the transmission.

  She shoved her hands against Axton’s chest, pushing him onto his back. She leaned over him. “That was very bad behavior.”

  He smiled. “I know.”

  She shook her head. “We need to take a look at that Sync.”

  He gave a gusty sigh. “Back to business, huh?”

  She leaned down and nipped his lip. “For now.” But Xenia knew she had to have him again. It could only end in heartbreak for her…but he was in her blood now and she needed more.

  Chapter Seven

  Axton decided he could get used to working in his office with Xenia beside him.

  She’d used his goods printer and was wearing a simple outfit of black cargo trousers and an olive-green tank that showed off her toned arms. He amused himself by wondering where she’d stashed that wicked scorch blade of hers.

  He was sitting in his chair while she perched on the corner of his desk. She cradled the Sync in her hands.

  “It’s fully charged.” She turned it on and flicked at the screen. “I’ve sent a copy of the map to your computer.”

  He touched the screen on his desk and the map appeared.

  “I’m running translations now.” Her eyes glowed neon green.

  “This is the location we need to find.” Axton touched the glowing red cross marked on the map. He frowned at the three Rahl words inscribed below it.

  “The words translate to ‘trash’, ‘spare’ and ‘metal’.” A slight line appeared on her forehead. “Gibberish.”

  “We’ll crack it.” He smiled at her. “This really is like a treasure hunt. Not quite Xander’s adventure across the galaxy in search of a rogue planet, or the adventures I hear Malin’s cousins go on. But still, it’s exciting.”

  She made a harrumph sound. “I don’t think anyone has adventures quite like the infamous Phoenix brothers. I’m not sure I’d want to.”

  He flicked a finger at her nose. “Hey, where’s your sense of adventure?”

  “I’ve never had one.”

  “I don’t know, you seemed to have one last night.” He watched color fill her cheeks.

  Suddenly the Sync screen flashed, then flickered.

  “No! Something’s damaged.” She touched the screen. “We could lose the data. I’ll interface with it.” She pressed her palm directly to the screen.

  He knew she had implants under the skin of her hand that allowed her to uplink directly to machines and computers. “Can you fix it?”

  “I’m looking for the problem now.” The neon green completely took over the blue of her eyes.

  She stiffened.

  “Xenia?”

  Then her entire body jerked like she’d been electrocuted. The green in her eyes flared as bright as a supernova, then died away.

  Axton leaped to his feet. She was staring straight ahead. Her eyes were blue again but blank. Devoid of everything.

  He ripped the Sync from her hands and tossed it on his desk. He cupped face. “Xenia!”

  Nothing.

  His heart hammering a rapid beat in his chest, he shook her shoulders. “Xenia.”

  She blinked, then her rigid body relaxed.

  He caught her before she slid to the floor. He set her down in his chair. “What happened?”

  “I’m…not sure.” She shook her head, like she needed to clear it. “I’m fine now.”

  “It looked like you got some sort of shock.”

  She eyed the Sync. “I don’t remember, I was looking for the problem and then…nothing.”

  “Run an internal scan.”

  “There’s nothing wrong—”

  He gripped her upper arms, knew his fingers were digging into her skin. But damn it, she’d scared him. “Run it.”

  “Axton—”

  “Please.”

  She huffed out a breath. “Okay, okay.” She went quiet for a second, her eyes flickering. “Everything is functioning within normal ranges.” She cocked her head. “Happy?”

&
nbsp; He was still concerned and wondered if he should pester her into seeing his doctor. He snatched up the Sync off his desk. “This damn thing is only good for scrap.”

  Xenia stilled. “Scrap. Wait. Wait!” She reached out and touched Axton’s computer screen. “That Rahl word for trash can also mean scrap.” The map reappeared on the screen. She tapped in some commands and mumbled under her breath.

  “What are you thinking?” He enjoyed that sharp, focused look she got on her face.

  “Hang on, I need to pick up some high-res images from the Security databases.” She swiped the screen, tapped again and the screen filled with detailed satellite images of Haxx.

  “Xenia, clue me in here.”

  “I was right.” She pointed at the screen where she’d overlaid the Rahl map with a portion of a Haxx map. “Scrap, metal, spare. Spare parts. They were referencing the Haxx Salvage Yard.”

  Sweet Creator. He saw it now, the way the lines and boxes on the map lined up with the starship and transport wrecks in the salvage yard, and the pathways winding amongst the junk.

  Excitement licked at him. They could get the Codex back.

  He kissed Xenia hard, leaving them both breathless. “You are brilliant.”

  She smiled back. “Let’s get to the salvage yard.”

  ***

  “You really think the Codex Da Vinci is here? In the salvage yard?” Malin Phoenix asked.

  “Yes. The Rahl left a map.” Xenia held up the Sync as they walked through the main gate of the yard where Malin was now Assistant Superintendent.

  “Unbelievable.” The salvage mechanic shook her head.

  Malin always made Xenia feel like a giant. She was tiny, with short, black hair cut choppily around her pretty face and large, purple-colored eyes. Her coveralls dwarfed her frame, a tool belt with a dizzying array of tools was hitched around her waist. She had a streak of black grease across one cheek and she smelled of coconuts and starship fuel.

  Hard to believe she was also the woman who’d helped the galaxy’s deadliest, most emotionless CenSec recover the Antikythera…and made him feel.

  “You saw the Rahl here, right?” Axton asked. “During the coup.”

  Malin screwed up her nose. “Yep. I was here looking at scrap when the explosions started.” Her eyes darkened. “I was hightailing back to my ship when Xander grabbed me…”

  “Kidnapped you.” Axton smiled at her.

  Her smile was wide. “That might be a bit harsh. He saved me from a Rahl.” This time she shivered. “Then he kidnapped me and commandeered my ship. There were Rahl all over the salvage yard.” Her voice lowered. “And they imprisoned Trax.”

  Xenia was aware the Centaxian in charge of the yard had been taken by the Rahl and tortured. They’d blamed him for Xander’s escape.

  Axton pressed a hand to Malin’s shoulder. “He’s fine now. Without your help, we might all still be locked up and suffering.”

  And some were still suffering, Xenia thought, watching Axton. If he didn’t find a way to let his guilt go, it would eat him up.

  Malin drew herself up. “If the Rahl hid the Codex here, it isn’t going to be easy to find. It’s a big place.” She waved her hand at the rusted hulks of half-stripped starships nearby.

  “We’re going to follow the map,” Axton said.

  “Phoenix!” A deep, masculine voice. “What the hell is going on?”

  “Trax, Axton and Xenia need to search the yard.”

  Traxan was a big man, with dark hair and skin the color of deep space. A shiny silver implant was visible on his neck. His eyes widened. “Prime Saros. It’s an honor to have you here.”

  “The honor is mine, Superintendent Deveaux. I heard all about the help you gave Malin and Xander during the attack. Without your help, Centax would still be under the rule of a dictator.”

  Traxan looked both pleased and embarrassed by the praise. “Thank you.”

  Xenia cleared her throat. “Superintendent, I’m Commander Xenia Alexander with—”

  “CenSec.” Traxan sniffed. “Even without a uniform, you have the look. Straight bearing and that sense that you’re ready to explode into action.”

  She saw Axton’s hiding a smile. “We believe the Rahl hid an artifact here. We need to find it.”

  “Yard’s all yours. And any help you need.”

  Soon, Xenia was holding the Sync out in front of her, striding between the huge wrecks of starships, transports and other bits of twisted metal she couldn’t identify.

  Axton followed right behind her. “I can’t believe the damn Codex was here the entire time.”

  “We haven’t found it yet.”

  “I want it back, Xenia. I need it back in the museum.”

  “Whether it’s here or not, we’ll keep looking until we find it.” She pointed. “Down that way.”

  They were in a far corner of the yard now. It was quieter here, the wrecks more rusted and stripped away to almost nothing.

  She bent over the Sync. “We’re getting close. Just around this last junker—”

  “Watch out.” Axton’s hard voice had her head snapping up.

  Just in time to see a laser net rushing at them.

  Not again. Axton dived, tackling her to the ground.

  The net, its laser ropes glowing bright green, whizzed over the top of them.

  It landed against a wreck, sizzling where it burned against the metal.

  Xenia released a breath. “Good reflexes. For a politician.”

  Axton gave her a quick kiss then nipped her bottom lip. “You’ll pay for that gibe. Later.”

  “Later.” She slid out from under him and cautiously headed to where the net had come from.

  She found the launching device set up on the side of an old starfreighter. “Triggered by a motion sensor. We’re getting closer.”

  They kept going. More cautiously this time. Xenia scanned ahead to detect any signs of more booby traps. But the wrecks were the perfect hiding places. Covered in bits of metal and old rusted devices, it was hard to tell what was a trap and what was supposed to be there.

  They stepped into a junction between the wrecks. Three other pathways led off in different directions.

  “We need to go straight ahead.” She pointed, all the while studying the surroundings.

  Axton took one step away from her and a faint clicking sound filled the air.

  They both froze.

  “You see anything?” he asked.

  “No—” Then she sensed movement.

  Xenia’s tactical overlay flared to life, highlighting the incoming projectiles. She exploded into action. Four long, metal projectiles were flying through the air, headed straight at Axton.

  She leaped and knocked the first projectile from the air. Spinning, she grabbed the next one in one hand and the third in her other hand.

  The fourth hit her in the stomach.

  She fell to the dirt, panting from the pain.

  “Xenia. Fuck.” Axton gripped the projectile stuck in her stomach and yanked it out. He pushed his hands over the wound. “Can you stem the bleeding?”

  “Already doing it.” She slowed down the blood flow to that area and stimulated her body to heal. She also fired up her pain filters. “I’ll be okay. It didn’t hit anything vital.”

  He released a breath and pressed his forehead to hers. “Maybe we should call in a team, have them clear the area.”

  “We’re only a few meters away from the location, Axton. What happened to that sense of adventure?”

  “It died when I saw you bleeding.”

  She patted his cheek. “CenSec, remember? Come on, Prime Saros. Let’s get that Codex back.”

  He helped her up and they continued the last few steps.

  “This is it.” Xenia lowered the Sync. “X marks the spot.”

  She stood in the small clearing between several wrecks.

  There was nothing but dirt under their feet.

  “There’s nothing here,” he said in a careful tone.<
br />
  “It’s here. Somewhere.” She eyed the wrecks before staring at the ground. She ran scans. “There’s metal here.”

  “Xenia, we’re surrounded by the stuff.”

  “No, beneath us.”

  “What?” Axton kicked at the dirt.

  And uncovered metal.

  “There’s something under here!” He starting scraping the sandy dirt off with his shoe. Xenia joined in.

  After several minutes, they’d uncovered a large metal plate. It was divided into a three by three pattern of squares. Each was engraved with a Rahl symbol.

  “I’ve seen this,” she muttered, staring at the marked squares. “I saw this on the Sync.” She lifted the device. “There’s a correct sequence. Press the squares in the right order and it opens the vault beneath.” She pressed her palm to the Sync, scrolling through the data stored on it.

  A wave of dizziness washed over her. She blinked. She must have lost more blood than she’d thought. She blocked the sensation and focused on the data. She needed the sequence.

  Her head cleared and she found what she was looking for.

  “Step with me on the exact square I stand on. I don’t want to see what other booby traps the Rahl have devised if we get the sequence wrong.”

  Axton nodded. She stepped on the first square and he stepped on it beside her. There was a groan of metal and the square sank an inch.

  Xenia stepped on the second square. Funny, she’d always liked working alone, but Axton’s big, warm presence beside her was…nice.

  They followed the sequence outlined on the Sync. With every step, she held her breath, expecting more nets or projectiles or something worse.

  Finally they stepped on the final square. Axton grabbed her hand and squeezed. She squeezed back.

  The square dropped. And kept dropping.

  He leaped off and pulled her up with him. As they watched, the square continued descending, then it rose back up again.

  And resting in the center of it was a protective plas box.

  Inside it was a leather-bound cover filled with yellow sheets of paper.

  “The Codex Da Vinci,” Axton breathed. “You did!”

  “We did it.”

  He undid the lid on the box and lifted up the Codex. Gently, reverently, he opened the cover. Each one of the pages inside was protected by a thin plas-coating. Vitruvian man. Da Vinci’s design for a humanoid robot. Incredibly detailed anatomy drawings. “It looks like it’s all here.”