She didn’t look happy, there appeared to be some unspoken communication going on. They looked…. chastised thought Pain. What the fuck was going on? Then she turned back to face Rage and walked over to him.
“Admiral Rage,” Morgan waved at the big guy, “Sergeant E984, code name Ted. He commanded the Cyborgs,” And then Morgan shouted in the Cyborgs direction, “and can’t keep his big ass out of trouble for five fucking minutes.” The big guy saluted, all grins as medical got to him. Morgan rolled her eyes then refocused on Rage.
“Why aren’t they self-healing?” He asked angrily. Morgan frowned.
“Some had damage, nano’s not replaced. Or over worked and stopped working altogether.” She told him honestly.
“We’re not a threat to you Admiral. But my men would like access to the Station for R and R. No weapons obviously. We have plenty of credits and might even have something to trade. If you have blood nano’s we’ll buy all you got, my boys deserve the best. A rolling shore leave 20 at a time, with a week’s accommodations would be good?”
Rage gave a nod. “One condition, there are no men or women for sale here. There is no sex trade and I’d like to talk to your men. And meet with you tomorrow to discuss this situation further.”
Morgan shrugged. “That’s fine. If the men want to, that’s up to them. Now if you would excuse me I need to check on Ted and the others.” She moved off with her three protectors and approached Ted who grabbed her at the waist and pulled her into him. Morgan appeared to sigh and put her elbow over his shoulder as if resolved to the situation. Pain was ……… rattled. He could hear her telling him he needed to be more careful. What did this woman have over them?
Fuck. There’s a story there. Pain told Dark and Rage
Yeah and I intend to find out what. Rage told him Dark security on that ramp, no weapons, and all levels. Dismiss the rest but let’s keep a higher profile. No more surprises.
***
Morgan spent the night with her team going over the last contract they’d pulled and what when wrong. They’d been too eager and relied on Cyborg abilities too much. No nano’s meant less ability. They didn’t seem to get that or just chose to ignore it. They’d walked into a trap. Hadn’t seen the second ship coming but still took the day. At a price. Morgan had sighed and reminded them they weren’t invulnerable. Then she’d dated them on her findings at the Station. They would be taking prisoners, to be escorted back to Earth Corp and if the Station legally belonged to Earth Corp, they might need a quick exit.
Next day as requested, Morgan waited with her team in what was designated the theatre. It was clearly the largest enclosed space on the Station and made for entertainment. Morgan wondered what they’d put on. It was off the Gallerea and showed no sign of the raid. They’d brought all of the men as requested leaving only a skeleton crew on the ship. It had been locked down. Morgan didn’t expect this to be a trap, but it was better to be prepared for anything. The doors opened and Rage walked in with Dark and Pain.
They walked to the front then turned towards them.
“I am unsure if any or all of you have the use of your neuro net so I will speak aloud. I hope this is passed on to those that could not be here.” Rage told them. “We are the Cyborg Empire. We have declared ourselves, taken this sector of the Universe and this Space Station. We have 172 ships and over 10,000 strong. Most of our ships are out there searching for others like us, like you.
They also work in securing trade routes, taking contracts, buying and selling goods and providing protection. Those found to be using Cyborgs are dealt with. We offer freedom and choice, to our kind. A home if they want it. Business if they want it. Trade if they want it. But most of all, we offer them and you, family and a future.
“You can have more than an extended life. You can have a future and a mate. If you are lucky enough to find one. If you wish to join us, we welcome you. If you wish to go on your way, we understand the choice you have made. We would only ask that you look out for more of us and send them our way. We have a Cyborg Council and laws to which we abide. While with us, we expect you to abide by them too. Punishment will be swift and deadly if you do not. Ultimately, we offer protection to the humans. To those left to survive and die, as we were. I do not know your commitment to the Commander but, you are free to live as you wish and free to take it.”
Pain watched Morgan closely. She made no sign of being annoyed by Rages words. She clearly had some control over these Cyborgs, so either she knew Rages comments were ineffective, or she had something else over them knowing they wouldn’t be taking it. Morgan leaned back in one of the seats. She seemed completely unaffected. Arms folded across her chest. Ted the big guy leaned forward. “You want us to fight for you.” He told Rage.
Rage shook his head, “no, I want you to be free.”
Ted laughed, varying degrees of laughter and smiles surrounded him from his men. Morgan didn’t show any emotion. “We have been free for several years now. We do what we want and it pays very well.” He chuckled.
“Are you not under the command of the Commander here?” Rage asked. Ted nodded. “We are Admiral, by choice not demand.”
Rage stepped forward. “How is that possible?”
“You question the Commanders honour? It’s possible because it was earnt.” Ted told him rising in his seat along with most of his men.
“Ted.” Morgan spoke quietly but their hearing was extremely good. Ted turned to look at her, she gave the slightest of head movements. Pain watched Ted back down.
Morgan sighed and stood. “Admiral. Each and every man here choses to be here. To be with us on that ship, doing what we do. They were each given a choice. And over time, we secured enough ships for those that wanted to do something else, to go do it. We see them in our travels and keep in contact. However, few left us, and those ships we captured, made a tidy income in which we all, have an equal share. This is business. If I’m around we decide what work to take, if I’m not, Ted does with his boys. No one and I mean no one, is being made to do this work. They are free to leave any time they wish.”
Rage didn’t look convinced. “And what’s their tie to you Commander? Why are they even with a human who commanded Cyborgs into battle and led them to die? We know they kept Cyborg teams beyond the war and used them in black ops. You Commander were black ops, to which, you will have to answer for your actions.”
So thought Morgan, they’d done their homework. All her men were on their feet now. The atmosphere taking a nose dive. She needed to stop this and fast. As she went to step out Ted blocked her and so did her security and spoke to Rage. “With all due respect, we do not know you. We are not handing one of our team over to you. We will go to war if that is what is required, but you should know, these men are alive because of the sacrifices made ……..” It was easy to see the anger that rolled off him.
“Ted.” Morgan shouted. He stopped talking.
“Admiral, I will supply you with my records. If you have problems with me after that, I’m happy to talk.” She told Rage pushing through her security.
Pain looked at Rage. You will get nothing more here my friend. You may need to speak with the Sergeant alone. If nothing else, these are free Cyborgs.
“Good enough.” Rage told them. “Dismissed.” He walked from the room. Dark followed. Pain held back.
Ted was leaning down to Morgan. “Girly, why do you continue to allow this? It is not right.”
Pain watched the emotions across Morgan’s face. “Because they’re right, no matter the outcome, I led.”
Ted shook his head. “Alone you refused and killed that animal when you realised what he was doing and his people nearly tore you apart for it.”
“I will never be sorry about that. He needed putting down.” Morgan seemed to lose some of her bluster. “Let’s go, I need some air.”
Pain wanted to reach out and comfort Morgan. He wasn’t sure where that came from, but he did. He watched as Morgan’s men closed ranks around her and
escorted her out. Whatever happened during that last campaign, had changed the dynamics of that team. He wanted to know what. What had she done alone?
***
CHAPTER THREE
Rage sat with a data pad in front of him in his office. He didn’t need it. They all knew that. The Sergeant sat having arrived on time, at his request. Pain watched from the side lines. This was Rage’s show.
“How do you prefer to be addressed?” Rage asked.
“Ted is my chosen name.” Rage nodded his attention still on the data he was flicking back and forth. Finally, he looked up.
“This,” Rage indicated the data, “tells me a lot of what went on in your last official mission.” Ted gave no reaction. Rage leaned forward. “What it doesn’t say is what really happened. Now, I could ask for a neuro net link up and we could take the information but,” Rage widened his hands and arms, “we don’t do that kind of thing to our friends.”
Ted didn’t look impressed. “Admiral I should be clear. Your ………. invitation to join you while my Commander is running her defence class, would indicate that you did not want a confrontation with her. It did not go unnoticed and I gave her the information.”
Rage gave nothing away. But stared at the Cyborg. “How is she still the Commander?”
Ted gave a very human shrug. “She will always be our Commander.”
Pain thought this was going nowhere. Rage changed tack. “Your last official mission. It was unusual. You were ordered in to subdue a riot. To attack a base of operations, clear and hold it, take out any opposition. Correct?”
Ted gave a nod. “That was the official order. Yes.”
“But that’s not what was going on?”
“No.” Pain waited as did Rage. Ted seemed to make his mind up and then started talking. “From all the information, audio and video logs, this is what I know. We were a strong Cyborg unit. One of the best. The war was over. We were waiting for our discharge and nothing happened. We heard others had been cut free but nothing came to us. We started logging into systems to find out what was going on. Looking for ways out. They found out and cut our connections to the mainframe. Moved us a few times and settled us on a rock. We were sent on several missions and I made some enquiries as to why we were still being used and held back. We’d also done some jobs that I was not happy with. We were being used to subdue citizens. Our own people. Orders to make kills, that seemed to have more to do with politics and power than defending Earth Corp.” Ted seemed to gaze off.
“We were black ops in the war so off the books. Our team had the usual command structure. Above me humans ranked to Captain. Over seen by a Major. The officers to Captain had been with us some years, we were on friendly terms. We’d saved each other’s lives more than once and bonded. Once I’d asked why we were still in the field, and confirmed we hadn’t signed on for anything else, the officers took up the call. They wanted to know that too. It hadn’t struck them as an issue, until I pointed out that we should have been de-commissioned at the end of the war and contracted back in, if we wanted.” Ted got uncomfortable. Pain could see it.
“When we were sent into action next, several of our officers got killed. We were told it was friendly fire. They tried to blame us at first, but we were good at what we do and all evidence cleared us. Several of my men were also killed. When I checked their vids, it was clear, they had tried to defend the humans but were over run.
“Trouble was, when I checked those vids, it looked more like an ambush. I took my findings to the Captain. He agreed. He was a good man. Honest. Loyal. He’d taken the loss of the men hard. He was angry. Determined to get answers and he made several calls while I was in the room. It wasn’t well received. Several new officers arrived after that. Commander Evans was one of them.” Ted smiled.
“Some of those men, bated her and gave her shit, she kicked them in the balls and told them if they tried it again, they’d lose um.” He seemed to focus. “We all worked together, trained together for around 3 months, then was sent on deployment. Some of the new officers, were aggressive towards us. It was clear they didn’t like Cyborgs. It made no sense to have them lead us. The routine of things changed. The Captain gave his orders and the new officers under him, did what they wanted, apart from Morgan. She saw what was happening and challenged the new officers. They made threats to keep her mouth shut.”
Ted smiled and shook his head. “It was the wrong thing to do. Morgan didn’t take that well. We lost several Cyborgs during that time. Sent into situations unprepared, because they weren’t doing the missions as instructed. Morgan went to the Captain and told him. Shortly after that the Captain was killed. Morgan took it bad. What was left of our old command structure also got killed, so called accidents or classified as putting themselves in danger. A new Captain was brought in. He was ruthless, deadly and things turned bad.
“He used us as cannon fodder. Was reckless. Some men started getting singled out and abused. Seemed the Captain had a thing for rape and males. Morgan hated it, ran interference and put herself in dangerous situations to deflect things away from us. She covered for us and me, more than once, saving our asses. But she’d asked too many questions and challenged too much, about what the officers were doing, too many times. They also knew she’d gone to the old Captain.”
Ted smiled. “She told us to abandon our post and leave as quickly as possible. It was then that I told her that we couldn’t leave. Our neuro net was compromised with the code to obey orders, until the lead officer dismissed us. As you know, we also couldn’t kill them and walk. Safe guards.”
“She didn’t know that?” Pain asked. Ted turned towards him. “No. She thought we stayed out of misplaced loyalty.”
Rage indicated he should carry on. “She’d heard some chatter. They thought I’d become a liability and the team would run better without me. By now, Morgan and I worked well together, she was convinced they meant to take me out. She watched and waited. Barely slept. She didn’t know it, but we took turns in guarding her sleeping area. They’d been a lot of chat between the officers on working her over. Then we were sent on another mission.
“I was ordered to lead a raid into some ruins. Didn’t make any sense. Morgan left her post and circled round. She found two officers waiting for me. They were in sniper positions and it was clear what the were there for. She shot them, then circled back to her group. I came back, to the Captains surprise and told him the insurgents were gone but two officers were down.”
“After that things got bad. In between training, he had his officers fighting Cyborgs. Who couldn’t fight back. Then there were the tests. Tests of strength, pain, rejuvenation. The odd Cyborg didn’t come back. Morgan argued against it and got shit for her trouble. Threats. Morgan started carrying her weapon and several knives even off duty. Then one of her men went missing, she went looking for him. Found him being tortured. When she’d demanded an explanation they laughed at her, told her they could do what the hell they wanted and there was nothing she could do about it.”
Ted shook his head again. “They saw her as weak. That was a mistake. Morgan pulled her gun and killed them both. Patched up the Cyborg and told him to go straight to me. Once she realised how far things had gone, she accessed all communications between the officers, recorded it and made an official complaint with all her evidence to Earth Corp and several dignitaries. They’d be no hiding it this time.
“When the Captain found out, he dragged her in. Told her she was dead and with her, her complaint, that they would rape and enjoy her until they broke her. He came at her and Morgan shot him. Just as his officers came into the office laughing about how they were going to enjoy raping and killing her. She threw a grenade at them. She nearly killed herself doing it.
At the sound of the grenade going off, we headed to the offices. Found the others dead or close to it and Morgan sitting up against the wall behind the desk. She had thrown herself behind it.” Ted shook his head. “The first thing she said on seeing me, E984 as th
e commanding officer, I free you and your team of all further obligation to Earth Corp. I …. give you …..in lieu of payment the ship Deliver. Leave …….. as soon as possible. Computer acknowledge discharge order.”
Pain couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Morgan had done what the Cyborgs couldn’t. She’d protected and freed them.
“Morgan was in a bad way. The human healers at the post weren’t sure if they could save her. They did their best. We’d already taken over the ship by the time the healers had finished. I was concerned how far this new ideology had gone and if Morgan’s life would now be at risk. We got her out with all her belongings and the data storage node. She was dying. The only chance she had was advanced healing. We gave her Cyborg nanites. It was the only way to save her and every Cyborg was willing to donate. It worked. When she came around, she was different. I told her what we’d done. She knew the risk we’d taken with her life and she thanked us. Then insisted we take her back to Earth Corp. She was going to bring down all those responsible and resign. She did, then told them, we were for hire, if the price and work was right.”
Pain stepped forward. “Why does she and you call yourself Ted?” Ted laughed. “When Morgan first came around she was still woozy. She called me her big beautiful teddy bear and that I would be Ted from now on. It stuck.”
Galactic Cyborg Heat Series Book Bundle 1-4 Page 31