He bared his teeth. “That’s not fair. Almost everyone I’ve ever known has betrayed me. With you being an aristocrat and with who your father is I can’t help the doubt. I’m a spy and a terrorist according to your government. I’m in the business of betrayal.”
She lost her ability to breathe from the pain in her heart. He would never have trusted her, even if they hadn’t found a tracker on her. He’d all but admitted it. He couldn’t handle who her father was. “I really don’t have time to debate this with you.”
He tried to prop himself up on his elbows but collapsed back in the pod with a long blink. “Don’t you dare launch this fucking space coffin! There’s another very good reason for me to go with you that I haven’t mentioned.”
She smiled wistfully. “And here I was hoping your last words to me would be a declaration of love. Guess I’m the silly, foolish child everyone thinks I am. Computer, launch pod one toward the last known location of the cyborg ship.”
His shout was cut off with a whoosh as the door slammed shut. She walked to the pilot’s seat and dropped into it. She would never see him again. It was just as well. No human could be relied on in his world. She’d never be happy with everyone around her despising her, especially when the man she loved had no faith in her. She’d watched the same thing play out with her parents and it had ended in her mother’s suicide.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she rested her head on the control panel and waited to reach her destination.
Chapter Thirteen
His own people were firing on him. Galen barely managed to avoid the next volley as they tried to take out his engines.
“Galen, turn that fucking ship around. You have to come back. They’ll kill you long before you can get to her.”
“Sorry, Torin. No can do. I have a plan.”
Jamila had been arrested before she even set foot off the transport. Since they’d lost the refugees from Haven, they’d decided they needed to prosecute someone. They planned to execute everyone involved in supplying the residents with anything. Until they’d discovered what the cyborg doctors had done to heal her. Now their spy said the government had other plans for her.
Damn that woman. He should have told her everything. He’d planned to take the fall for any charge they threw at her. But he wasn’t sure how she’d react. If she wouldn’t let him, she would be in danger, and they’d be right back where they started. But his worst fear was that she wouldn’t care that he gave his life for her and she might laugh while he did it. That knowledge would have destroyed him.
How could one man be so fucking stupid? She was being tortured and probably believed no one in the universe cared enough to rescue her. That was his fault. He should have been clear about his feelings.
Torin’s long steady stream of cursing went on for a full thirty seconds before he took a deep breath. “You always have a plan, dammit. But whatever you’re thinking, it won’t work. The government has her.”
“And what will they do to her if I don’t save her?”
Silence met that question. Everyone knew what they would do. There were two options. Execute her, as the government loved to do, or turn her into one of their operatives. It would be perfect. She’d been inside a cyborg ship. Knew how it operated to an extent. Had made friends with some of the cyborgs. Loved one. It would be easy to put her back in place at a different base if they could find one. But he didn’t give a damn about that. There would be a lot of torture before they turned her in to that perfect little spy and killer.
Who knew if his people could deprogram her — if they ever even found her? It didn’t always work. Even if they managed, she would never be the same again. She’d be ruined. Broken. Like him. He couldn’t take that chance.
“You’ll have to blow me out of the fucking sky to stop me, Torin.”
“Galen, what if you’re captured? I didn’t support your plan of giving yourself up in the first place. Think, man. You know classified shit, bad things that could ensure that they find us all. It was close enough when you took her back. She saved you for a reason. She didn’t want our people to die. She thought your life was worth hers. You’re squandering her gift if you go there and get yourself captured.”
Rage tore through his gut. He wasn’t worth the sacrifice. He still couldn’t understand what she’d been thinking. “She’s worth it to me.”
Torin’s long suffering sigh came over the com. “You could at least take backup. Take five minutes and get the Council’s backing.”
“They’ll never agree. Your list of rational reasons to turn my ass around is a good one. Unfortunately for you, I’m not a rational man right now. The Council can maintain their objectivity in this. I can’t and I won’t.”
“Fine, but you could have at least asked for my help. I like Jamila too, Galen. I think she might be worth it. Stop firing at me, and let me follow you. You’ll need help.”
Galen hesitated. It could be a trick. Torin could wait for him to land, knock him out, and drag him back off the planet. But … “I thought you were never going back to a core planet? That they’d have to drag you back? That you’d never take a mission on one?”
“You’re my friend. I’ll do this for you. Whether you want me to or not. If you turn me down I’ll follow you out of the range of your weapons.”
Galen glared at the com system. “Okay. But don’t you dare think of knocking me out and taking me home. I’ll murder you when I wake up, and I’m not being the least bit funny.”
“You’re never funny. You lack a sense of humor. I don’t know what Jamila sees in you. Old turd. Let me disable my wing brothers, and we’ll keep going together.”
He nodded. Right. There were still other fighters on his ass. “Need any help?”
“Nope, they’ll never see this one coming. And … done. Let’s get the fuck out of here. They’re efficient. They’ll have their engines fixed real damned fast if they’re able. Punch it. I’m behind you.”
Galen hit full burn and was plastered against his chair. Even his superior strength didn’t keep the force of full burn from squeezing the air from his lungs. The pressure eased as the speed leveled out. He should sleep, but he couldn’t bring himself to. Instead, he stood and stretched his legs before beginning to pace in his tiny space. He needed to keep thinking about things. The facility she’d been taken to. The plan. Yeah, the plan wasn’t a good one. Torin was right. There was no good way to do this. But he had to try. If he died then so be it.
• • •
When he stepped off the shuttle he immediately pulled his stun gun. He trusted Torin, and loved him like an annoying little brother, but in this he couldn’t be sure of him. Torin would try to protect him and their people at all costs, even if he went against Galen’s orders to do it. It was a matter of personal loyalty and Torin’s own calculations of the risks. If one or both were lacking, Torin could easily betray him and not bat an eye. He would see it as doing what he thought was best to save Galen’s life or their people.
There was a hiss as the ship’s ramp broke open and lowered into the grass of the senator’s fancy ass lawn. They’d set down at the far reaches of his estate. It was a big risk to even land here, but the senator was part of the plan. They didn’t even know where Jamila was being held. They needed him, and if his security from last time was any indication it would be a joke to get to him. Even if he’d beefed it up, it was still a bunch of humans, content in the knowledge that their guns would do their jobs for them. He snorted. Guns were great, but you still had to know what the fuck you were doing with your tactics. Since he and Torin were stealthy, they wouldn’t even be spotted until it was too late. The humans could probably locate their ships and sound the alarm quickly, but finding them? Not as easy.
Torin stepped onto the plank and Galen leveled the stunner on him. He quickly held up his hands to show he was unarmed. Galen wasn�
�t fooled. Torin’s hands themselves were weapons. He rivaled Galen in hand to hand combat. And his own guns, stunners, and blades were in their holsters around his hips. But he was making an effort to reassure Galen that he wasn’t trying to take him home.
“I told you man. I want to help. She doesn’t deserve to be left wherever they’re keeping her. You’re right. They’ll torture her. We both know what that’s like.”
Torin especially. He was still suffering from what they’d done to him. He’d been a child when they’d taken him. Not even having a life, and then suddenly being deprogrammed and finding out they’d murdered your parents, stolen your childhood, and made you a killing machine had made him unstable for a long time after he’d come around. He was the youngest taken that Galen knew of. At least Galen had known what it was like to have a life. But it was another reason why he was worried about Torin’s actions now. He could be unpredictable. He didn’t think like the rest of them.
Galen reluctantly holstered his stun gun and Torin lowered his palms slowly.
“There you go. See, I haven’t attempted to knock you over the head yet. Satisfied?”
“We’ll see.”
Torin rolled his eyes. “Good God. You are the most paranoid man I’ve ever met. I’m your friend and you don’t trust me.”
“I can barely bring myself to trust anyone. It’s an unfortunate cyborg trait.”
He snorted. “True enough. Now let’s get a fucking move on before someone discovers us here.”
The crept through the grounds silently. No one sounded the alarm, even when they entered the house. There were no guards waiting for them. Nothing. It was too quiet. What was going on?
“Galen, this is giving me the creeps. Where are the guards? Where are the servants? Where are the houseguests? Do you think he’s taken the household somewhere else?”
Galen groaned. He hadn’t thought of that. With his daughter not in residence, he might have closed the SkyTemple. There was no reason to keep it running if no one lived here.
“The senate will meet again soon. He might have left early for that.”
Torin cursed. “What now?”
He shrugged. “Let’s keep searching the place. We haven’t combed over the entire house.”
They gave up sneaking around and walked the rest of the house openly. They reached the breakfast nook where Jamila had bought him and he hesitated at the door. Was he ever going to see her again? His doubt gnawed at his gut. Once the government had someone, they chose when to let them go. But he would die trying to find her. He’d have to send Torin packing so the man wouldn’t die with him. Damn Torin and his loyalty. He was going to let Galen lead him right into death. He sighed and opened the door.
The senator stood on the balcony with his back to them. “Took you long enough, Galen.”
He charged toward the man. Torin shouted his name but that didn’t slow him down. He just saw red. He shoved Cyrus against the guardrail hard enough to knock the breath out of him. He lifted him and flung him over the side, grabbing his ankle to keep him from falling to his death.
“Where is she? I won’t hesitate to kill you if they’ve hurt her. Tell me where!”
“Pull me back up.” Panic laced the man’s voice and Galen smirked.
Torin grabbed his arm. “Are you crazy? If you drop him we’ll never find her.”
“Believe me, I won’t drop him. If he falls it will be because I decided to let go. He’s going to talk.”
“Pull me up. Please!”
Torin gripped his other flailing leg and tugged. Galen growled at him and Torin shoved him with his other hand. Galen released Cyrus’s ankle and Cyrus screamed as he swung from side to side.
Torin grunted, but easily kept a hold of him. He yanked him up and all but threw him onto the floor.
Cyrus scrambled to the pillars of the guardrail and clutched one. “Damned cyborgs. You’re all crazy.”
Galen flung his arms wide and smiled. “We are what you made us, old man.”
Torin gaped at him. “Wow, you’ve lost it over this chick, haven’t you?”
“Shut the fuck up.”
He reached for the senator again but Torin knocked his hand away. “I understand your fury, but this isn’t the time. My God. Things have taken a turn for the worst when I’m the sane person.” He turned on the senator and crouched next to him. “You’re going to tell us where she is.”
“Of course I am. I want my baby back. She means everything to me. And I can’t get her out without you damned people.”
It was then Galen realized Cyrus Clearborne’s eyes were red and swollen from crying. Good. He deserved pain. If it hadn’t been at Jamila’s expense, he would have left the old boy to it.
“So you need our help?”
“Yes, dammit. She’ll be too weak to move. She might even fight us if we try to take her. I don’t know exactly what’s been done to her, but I have an idea.”
Galen growled at him. “Of course you do. They’re using your methods.”
“And I can use them to fix her.”
Galen couldn’t control his temper and moved to hit him. Torin seized his fist before it made contact. “You’ll kill him.”
“You can’t fix her. You’ll never be able to fix her. You put a tracking device in her, and look what’s happened.”
Cyrus pushed himself to his feet. “This happened because of your lack of medical facilities. I want her back anyway.”
“You don’t get her back. She’s mine! You can’t keep her safe anymore.”
Their voices rose at the same time.
“She’s my daughter.”
“You have no right to her anymore.”
“Shut up!” Torin shouted above the din of their voices. “We have to figure out how to get her out. We can debate who gets her later, because believe it or not, the woman has a mind of her own and the choice is really hers. Sad, when I respect her more than her father and the man who loves her.”
Their glares would have killed a weaker man.
“We need a plan, not a shouting match.”
Galen raked a hand through his hair. “A plan.”
Cyrus leaned against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest. “Getting in will be the easy part. I have access. But if we’re seen carrying her, they’ll sound the alarm and we won’t make it to the surface.”
“Why do you still have access? Still experimenting on people, Doc?”
He stiffened. “I am consulted from time to time on problem cases.”
“People that won’t automatically bend to the government’s will?”
“Yes. Do you want to continue talking about this or do you want to get out of here? It will take us several hours to reach the location where they’re holding her.”
• • •
The ride to facility was tense, filled with bouts of silence and others of ferocious arguing to the point that Galen worried he would kill the senator. He took another deep breath, and continued counting to ten. He was actually at five hundred forty-seven. So much for that coping technique.
They needed Cyrus. They couldn’t get in without him. There were several access points on the way down that needed his key card, security code, and retinal scan. He’d even said something about a DNA check. But if they played the obedient cyborg bodyguards, they wouldn’t need to be tested. They would be admitted without being searched for anything but weapons. They’d be permitted one stunner and a knife, for the purposes of defending the senator.
Had they already turned Jamila against them? Would she ever be the same?
The senator cleared his throat. “Don’t look so concerned, Galen. I can fix whatever they’ve done to her. They might use my techniques but they don’t know everything I do. Nor do they know Jamila. I’d be very surprised if they’d
made any headway in the mere two days she’s been there. And as I said, I can fix it.”
“You don’t get it. You can’t fix it. You ruined us. Took our lives away.”
“It’s not the same. When Jamila comes out of this she will still have her family, unlike most of the subjects in the past.”
“Yes, because you started killing our families not long after my generation. It makes me grateful mine left me.”
The man leaned forward. “You know your daughter is still alive, don’t you? She’s in her early twenties now. However, your wife is dead.”
A sense of dread filled his gut. “How do you know that?”
“The families that weren’t killed were kept track of. I’ve met the girl. She’s remarkable.”
His fist clenched. “Why the fuck have you met my kid?”
He shrugged. “The government had an interest in her. Like I said, she’s a remarkable woman. Which I suppose isn’t surprising, with you as her father. You were chosen for your ability to do math, your problem solving skills, and your strength, along with many other factors.”
“So why wasn’t she turned into one of us?”
“Believe it or not, the government has stopped manufacturing your kind. You’re too dangerous, and too many of you have turned traitor for it to be a good financial decision to continue with you. They’re trying to bury cyborgs and genetic engineering for good. Why did you think the Haven district was blown up? It’s happening everywhere. And they’re killing off cyborgs they don’t need. They want to erase you. Like a bad moment in history.”
“Oh God,” Torin whispered.
“They’ll be coming for you next. They think they’ve sterilized you, but if they’ve learned anything, it’s that life finds a way, especially if it has access to some incredible medical technology. They believe that someday your people might be a threat to humanity.”
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