Programmed To Protect (The Tau Cetus Chronicles)

by Jenna Ives

  There was no way they’d get out of this alive.

  Carron had been watching the action unfold with a rising sense of astonishment. It was incredible that Wyatt had discovered the secret off switch to his robots, and inconceivable that he’d actually been able to deactivate four of them.

  Even now, two human men against one indestructible robot were odds highly in Carron’s favor, but with Theus’ life in the balance, Carron wasn’t taking any chances. This day had not gone according to his carefully crafted plan. Veraine. He needed his programmer. Carron took a step to the right, but at his first movement, Ginger’s arms wrapped around his waist, holding him firmly in place.

  He frowned. “What are you doing, Ginger?”

  “I’m containing you, Mr. Carron.”

  “Containing me? Let me go!”

  “No.”

  “I order you to let me go.”

  “No.”

  “I am your creator! I demand that you let me go.”

  “No.”

  Struggle as he might, Carron couldn’t break free of her unyielding robotic hold. He threw a desperate glance at his programmer. “Titus!” he shouted, pointing with his chin toward the dais. “Destroy that robot. Theus must die!”

  From his vantage point in the end seat of the front row of chairs, Titus Veraine had been assessing and reassessing the fight as it went along. He was just as surprised as Carron must have been that Wyatt and his men had discovered the robots’ off switch, but Veraine was a practical man. He’d carefully positioned himself for just this scenario: to be on the winning side, no matter which way this fight went.

  But, fucking hell, he hadn’t expected that he, Titus Veraine, would have the power to determine the winning side.

  Did he want it to be Anson Carron? If Titus destroyed the robot, killing Theus and Wyatt along with it, Titus would always be the number two man under Anson Carron’s rule. On the other hand, if Titus didn’t destroy the robot and Theus somehow survived this, Titus would be in a position to usurp Carron and become Theus’ most powerful weapons provider, because Titus would make sure the premier knew Titus had spared his life.

  Which outcome did he prefer? A sure number two with limited power, or a potential number one with more power than he’d ever hoped to achieve?

  His hand hovered over the computer key.

  Wyatt felt his left wrist snap. He shouted in pain, even though he tried to grit his teeth against it. “Ginger!” he yelled, wanting her to know that her name would be the last word on his lips, her face his last thought. As the robot used its superhuman strength to force both Wyatt and Theus inexorably to their knees, Wyatt felt his vision swim and darken. His life was nearly over, but he was glad he’d given it in Tau Cetus’ service.

  There was a howl from the direction where Anson Carron was standing, which Wyatt’s fading hearing interpreted as a victory whoop.

  Bastard. At least Wyatt would die knowing Carron would get his due when the surviving four Council members joined forces to defeat him.

  The robot soldier still grasped Wyatt and Theus’ hands above their heads, and now it forced them unnaturally backwards, threatening to pop Wyatt’s arms right out of their sockets. The excruciating pain made time slow to a crawl.

  And then time stopped. Or, rather, the robot soldier stopped. Wyatt struggled to breathe, to remain conscious, as he looked up from his contorted position toward the robot’s face. The soldier had frozen in place, its death grip still unyielding, but no longer actively crushing him and Theus.

  Wyatt’s disbelieving gaze slid down the robot’s body to where a single finger was pressed against its left side. Wyatt blinked the sweat from his eyes as he followed that finger down to a hand, then down an arm, until Ginger’s face came into view.

  It took a moment for his brain to understand what he was seeing.

  She was standing a foot below the dais, reaching up to the robot soldier’s off switch. She’d deactivated it.

  Wyatt’s head skewed back toward Anson Carron. Carron was on his hands and knees, still howling softly, but now Wyatt recognized the sound as one of pain, not victory. Had Ginger kneed him in the balls? Wyatt had asked her to contain Carron; was this the way she’d done it in order to have the chance to help him and Theus?

  Wyatt wanted to laugh hysterically. He was going to live after all. And then his head jerked around to check on Theus. Wyatt blinked at the look on the premier’s face.

  Theus was rigid. But it wasn’t with pain or fear, it was with fury.

  “The machines must be destroyed,” he rasped, looking directly at Ginger. “They’re too dangerous. They must be destroyed. All of them.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Two hours. It had been two hours since the melee in the Council chambers had ended.

  Carron and Veraine had been hauled off to a security chamber to await Theus’ justice, the bodies of Theus’ dead men had been carefully removed, and the medics who’d responded to the massacre had applied a makeshift splint to Wyatt’s left wrist.

  Wyatt could barely move his arms after Carron’s robot soldier had nearly wrenched them from their sockets. They ached like hell, but he had refused to let the medics take him away for more thorough treatment. He couldn’t risk leaving Theus’ side.

  The machines must be destroyed.

  Theus had been looking directly at Ginger when he’d issued that chilling indictment, but Wyatt would not let the premier harm his Beautiful Doll.

  She was so much more than just a machine.

  Wyatt glanced around. He, Theus and Ginger were the only ones remaining in the hollow hall of death that the High Council chambers had become. That is, if you didn’t count Carron’s five robot soldiers, all silenced in various stages of attack. Theus’ men had not yet removed them.

  “Fourteen dead.” Theus was seated in his chair on the dais. In fact, Theus had retreated to that chair just as soon as Ginger had managed to extricate Wyatt and then the premier from the death grip of Carron’s robot soldier. Miraculously, Theus had not been injured, and he’d refused all medical attention as well, declining to move from his chair. Wyatt could well imagine that the familiar cathedra represented safety for Theus. Hell, by the sound of his voice, the premier was in shock.

  “Fourteen dead. So easily. And so senselessly.”

  “I know, sir.” Wyatt came to stand in front of the dais, looking up at the premier. Ginger stood maybe three or four feet away from him, but Wyatt waved a hand, signaling her to keep that distance. He didn’t want to draw Theus’ attention to her, considering his current frame of mind regarding the robots. “What are your plans for Carron and Veraine?”

  Theus’ black eyes turned to stone. “Anson Carron is a traitor and will be executed as such. Just as soon as I get some information I need from him.”

  “Information?”

  “About a certain diamond.”

  Ah. Wyatt recalled that Theus had said Carron had stolen a ten carat jewel from Theus, but why it was so important to the premier, Wyatt had no idea. “And his programmer, Titus Veraine?”

  “I haven’t made a decision about him yet.”

  Wyatt saw that as his opportunity. “Sir, the robots are dangerous, I agree. But they can be controlled. They can still be a powerful asset for the High Council. You just need someone in charge of them you can trust.”

  “And you think Veraine is that person?”

  Wyatt hesitated, then looked at his feet. “In all honesty, no. He was willing to betray Carron for a chance to replace him as your weapons provider. We could never put complete faith in him.”

  Even now, Wyatt distinctly remembered how Veraine had pleaded with him a few minutes ago as he’d been dragged away by Theus’ security. He’d claimed he’d helped Theus, saved his life by disobeying Carron’s order to activate the self-destruct sequence in the robot that held Theus and Wyatt captive.

  Wyatt grimaced. Titus Veraine was a mercenary. He would serve whichever side served him best. He was not to be tru
sted.

  “Maybe we can find someone else.” Wyatt’s brain conjured up the image of that fop, Loris Rhean. Surely he wouldn’t have delusions of grandeur, as Carron and Veraine did. “I still think the robots are a valuable resource.”

  Theus’ head came up, and his gaze settled on Ginger before shifting back to Wyatt. He arched one eyebrow. “You claim yours is sentient. So then how would we possibly control her? No. It’s too dangerous. They must be destroyed.”

  Wyatt set his jaw. “Sir, it’s true that Ginger is sentient. But look at what that self-awareness led her to: loyalty to you. She’s more than proven it. The High Council would not have survived this assassination attempt if it hadn’t been for her. Your men would not have learned how to shut down two of those robot assassins without Ginger allowing them to practice on her. You and I would not be alive right now if Ginger hadn’t neutralized the robot that held us. She saved your life.”

  “I understand your arguments, agent Wyatt. Intellectually, I do. But as you can imagine, I’m more than a little disturbed by what happened here today.”

  “Absolutely, sir. But also consider this… Ginger is sentient only because of an experimental program Veraine ran on her. If we destroy all non-essential programs at Carron’s factory that don’t deal directly with the machines’ creation and maintenance, there should be no chance of another robot gaining sentience.”

  “Should be no chance? Or will be no chance?”

  Wyatt glanced at Ginger. “I don’t know what the future holds, sir. But I do know that since Anson Carron converted all the Beautiful Dolls into robot soldiers, Ginger is the last of her kind. She’s sentient. Alive. That makes her as unique an individual as any citizen of Tau Cetus. You wouldn’t condemn one of them to death, especially not after they’d saved your life.”

  Theus stared at him with his sharp black gaze, and Wyatt struggled to maintain eye contact. He’d just questioned the premier’s morals. Maybe not the smartest thing to do after Ginger’s fellow robots had nearly killed Theus, but Wyatt was determined to use all his powers of persuasion to save his love.

  Theus’ face was a granite mask, and Wyatt was reminded again of the chess master Theus was, coldly thinking, strategizing, running scenarios in his head. Wyatt knew all that, but he was hoping that the man underneath the mastermind would win out.

  The longer the silence stretched, however, the more Wyatt could feel sweat pool under his armpits. Theus could be capricious. There was no predicting his decision.

  After an endless minute, Theus finally made a small sound, which Wyatt hoped was a sign of concession.

  “You should have been a law agent and not a police agent,” Theus declared tightly. “Your logic is very persuasive.” He paused, then blew out a breath. “All right. I agree. I will let Ginger live.”

  Wyatt blinked in relief. He felt like the weight of the world had just been lifted from his shoulders. Hell, considering what had happened in this room a few hours ago, it had. Literally. He gave Theus a grateful grin. “That’s good, sir, because I love her.”

  Theus didn’t seem to have registered Wyatt’s stunning admission because the premier’s expression didn’t change at all. “I have one condition, though.”

  Wyatt’s grin faltered. “Condition? What condition?”

  “I’m a bit of a negotiator myself, agent Wyatt. I will let Ginger live if you agree to take Anson Carron’s place. If we’re going to keep that robot army, I need a man in charge whom I can trust implicitly. And right now, I trust no man more than you.”

  Wyatt felt his heart fall to his stomach. What Theus was suggesting was a huge responsibility. He swallowed hard. “I’m a simple police agent, sir. My job is to keep the peace.”

  The premier actually smiled, and folded his hands in front of him on the High Council’s desk. “Exactly. I heard what you said, agent Wyatt. If you love this machine, what better place for you than overseeing her fellows, insuring the continued peace on Tau Cetus?”

  Wyatt knew he’d been cleverly trapped. But it was a future he wanted, after all. One with Ginger.

  He glanced at her perfect face, and nodded.

  “All right, sir. I accept.”

  #

  Wyatt decided that being in bed with Ginger was his favorite place in the whole world.

  They lay together in Wyatt’s apartment, naked, with Wyatt still marveling over the events of the day.

  “You saved my life, Ginger. And that of the premier. Do you realize you are personally responsible for preserving our way of life on Tau Cetus? Hell, you’re a hero.”

  “I know, Leith.”

  Wyatt laughed. Ginger had no idea how egotistical that simply speaking the truth could make a person sound. He’d have to give her a human lesson on humility. Or, at least, tactfulness.

  “But Leith, what you said about me proving my loyalty to Theus by allowing his men to practice on me, and by shutting down Mr. Carron’s robot before he terminated Theus was not exactly true.”

  Wyatt pulled back to look into her beautiful green starburst eyes. “It wasn’t?”

  “No. As much as I understand that Theus is a good man, you were the reason I did what I did. I was not about to let anyone or anything harm you. It was mere coincidence that I was able to save the premier as well.”

  Wyatt’s laugh returned, deeper this time. “Don’t let Theus hear that.”

  “All right, Leith,” she agreed. “I won’t.”

  The laughter settled deep in his chest. “I love you, Ginger.”

  “I love you, too, Leith.”

  He didn’t think he’d ever get tired of hearing those words come out of her full, kissable, unpredictable lips. Even now, the three tiny words set off a warm tingling in his heart. With a contented sigh, Wyatt let his right hand skim along the length of her graceful, swan-like neck, down her chest, to gently cup one perfect breast.

  He rubbed his thumb back and forth across her always-erect nipple, her full flesh spilling over the confines of his fingers. “I’m such a lucky man.”

  “I’m glad I please you, Leith.”

  “You do, Ginger. Physically and intellectually both.” His hand skimmed down her side to settle on her waist. “I’m going to make love to you, now.”

  “I’m getting used to that, Leith.”

  Her reaction gave him pause. “What? Am I boring you already? After only two weeks of sex?”

  Her expression never changed. “No, Leith. I meant that I’m getting used to you referring to sex as ‘making love.’ In fact, I think I’m starting to prefer it.”

  Wyatt let out a breath. “Oh. Well, good. That’s good. Because I think of sex as much more than just a physical act with you, Ginger. It’s an expression of my love.”

  “Then let’s have love, Leith.”

  “Make love, Ginger. We make love.”

  “Why do we have sex but make love? I don’t understand the distinction. Can you— ”

  Wyatt groaned. “Hold that thought, Ginger.” He moved on top of her.

  “Very well, Leith.”

  He spread her legs and gently entered her. Damn, how was it that he constantly forgot how wet and ready she always was for him? Sinking into her willing body felt like coming home. He pushed himself in to the hilt.

  His moan of satisfaction shifted into a groan of need as he started to move inside her. He shifted his hips to start an age-old rhythm, and Ginger’s mechanical insides narrowed familiarly to hold him tight, to grip him snugly, to drive him wild with the erotic sensations that only she seemed to impart along the entire length of his cock.

  The pleasure made him move faster. Harder. Ginger arched beneath him, taking him deeper, making little mewling noises herself. As Wyatt’s groans intensified, so did Ginger’s gasps and whimpers. Christ, he was close!

  Ginger’s hands grasped Wyatt at his waist, and she flipped them both over, bringing herself on top of him. Wyatt paused, momentarily thrown off his rhythm, the beginnings of his climax fading, but Ginger took the
opportunity to sit up, keeping Wyatt’s cock deeply inside her body as she began to rock.

  Fuck. She was riding him like a horse.

  She rolled her hips, gripping his cock in her glove of a body, stroking his shaft seemingly everywhere. When Wyatt gasped at the concentrated pleasure, she took his hands and guided them to her breasts. As he kneaded her lush flesh beneath his eager palms, she threw her head back to moan loudly, and to slip a hand down behind his tight balls.

  Dear God. Wyatt felt her clever fingers applying pressure to that secret spot at the base of his shaft a moment before his world exploded. His cock shot his pleasure deep into her body, his fingers sank into the abundant flesh of her breasts, and his ears registered Ginger’s shout of delight before she went completely still above him.

  Wyatt struggled to catch his breath after that amazing climax, but Ginger didn’t move. At all. Not by an inch. It was if she’d suddenly gone into hibernation mode. She was still as a statue on top of him.

  Had she malfunctioned? As soon as his pulse slowed and his heart settled, Wyatt worriedly reached for her hand.

  “Ginger?”

  She blinked, and looked down at him. “I’m sorry, Leith.”

  Wyatt frowned in confusion. “Why are you sorry? That was fucking incredible.”

  “But… you wanted to make love the other way. With you on top. You’ve said that’s

  your favorite position. I… I don’t know what happened. It just felt right for me to turn us over. It felt… good… for me.”

  Now it was Wyatt’s turn to blink in surprise. “Ginger. If it felt good for you to be on top, that’s fine with me. I only want sex to be pleasurable for us both.”

  Ginger’s mouth fell open a little. “It was, Leith. That’s it! It was pleasurable for me. But I’m programmed to please, not programmed to receive pleasure. This has never happened to me before.”

  Wyatt’s eyebrows reached his hairline. Holy shit. She was saying she’d just been sexually satisfied. Was this another step in her journey of sentience?

  A huge grin split his face. “Well then, I’d say you’re one step beyond ‘almost-human’ to ‘very nearly human.’ Congratulations, Ginger.”