0103

by Jessie Rose Case

  “Affirmative.”

  Chapter Six

  The screen went dark. He’d been standing right there as real as life. Her hands shook as she blinked. Sord came around her to stand with her. She guessed it was Brok that had put his hand on her shoulder as he walked around the other side. Shit. That had been harder than she thought.

  “You did well. Kept calm. Told him what he needed to hear.”

  Donna breathed and nodded distractedly. “Did you see the state of that Bridge? He’s being attacked. It looked like it was a mess.”

  “He’s a Cyborg,” Sord told her.

  Donna frowned. “I bloody know that….” She told him, her irritation getting the better of her. “Sorry…. I’m …. On edge.”

  “Off-worlders have already launched for the surface. We are to engage that ship now. Retake your seat. If give you the order to evacuate, Brok and my men will get you to the off-worlder.”

  Donna touched Broks hand and nodded at him, then retook her seat as they moved back to their positions on the Bridge. “What off-worlder?”

  “The one that has been prepared for survival on the surface should it be needed. We have no idea if more pirates’ ships are on their way. If this ship fails, we will be joining that Cyborg on the ground until the Empire gets here in force. I have already relayed detailed information on this world to the Admiral. Either way, the Empire will be coming.”

  She was reassured hearing it. Brok was suddenly by her side. He made no sound. None of them did. It was a weird thing, but she’d got used to it. She recalled some of the ‘wives’ asking their husbands to put ‘bells on’ so they could hear them coming. She agreed, it was a little unnerving.

  “You told him to ‘hold until relieved’…. Why?”

  Donna shook her head. “I don’t know. It seemed important to say it.”

  “It was.” Donna looked up at him. “It means to act and fight beyond what would be considered possible, until we get there. No matter the cost. He accepted it and now cannot fail in that order.”

  “What?” she squeaked. “I cannot give him an order and not one like that.”

  “You did and he accepted it. He will fight to the death to honour it.”

  Donna shook her head. “I’m not his …… officer…… he doesn’t take orders from me.”

  Brok gave her a knowing smile. “You’re his possible mate and you told him to stay alive for you. Somewhere in his DNA he recognises it. He, like all Cyborgs who find their mates, bow to their wishes and needs first. You need him alive. So he’ll do everything he can to make that happen.”

  “Brok, I’m not his mate. Stop saying that.” He moved away and she guessed retook his own seat. She didn’t want to be anyone’s mate. She’d been looking for a challenge, something different. Not to be tied to anyone.

  Grasping her seat she concentrated on the vid screen in front of her. The battle starting in earnest. She was prepared for this possibility. They’d been rigorous training. Guns, weapons and self-defence. Space was unknown, and battles were likely. There were many enemies in the universe and not everyone was peaceful. And she knew this enemy well. What they’d done to the Space Station before the Cyborgs had arrived to save them, was legend.

  The other ship opened fire. Energy weapons. Banned in most civilised places. Not only did they damage indiscriminately, they gave off radiation. The people on that ship were likely slowly dying from it. Stupid and deadly. Their ship returned fire and met them force for force. She saw the launched off-worlders come into view and fly through the barrage towards the other ship. How brave they had to be to do that….. The pirates launched their own ships in response, nose to nose they twisted and turned battling it out.

  Commands and information flew around the room. “Infiltrate that ship. I want us in.” Sord shouted. A blast rocked the ship. Direct hit. “Isolate the damage.”

  “Ships systems are well protected. Trying another route.” Comms told them.

  “Off-worlders preparing to breach.”

  “Pirate’s launch crafts?” Sord asked.

  “Damaged. Dead in the water.” Donna blew out a breath.

  “Ours?”

  “Functioning.”

  “Hold until we have control of all computer systems.” Sord told them. They waited, it seemed like an eternity but probably only minutes she guessed.

  “I’m in. Linking to onboard computer.”

  “Breach now.” Sord roared.

  Camera’s came on line and filled the vid screen across the Bridge. Each Cyborg had his own camera attached to his suit. Donna could see the Cyborgs cutting through the hull.

  “Force field will hold once we are through.” Ops informed. The off-worlders had the ability to lock down against another ship creating a seal that allowed you to cut through without vacuum to space. Protecting everyone from both vessels, until you left it or put another seal around it.

  “We’re in.” The Comms officer didn’t need to say the words she could see it. They were met with force. The pirates had been ready for them. Cyborgs had blown the new doorways into the ship and followed it up with kinetic rounds. They dispersed and erupted both noise and firepower. Then smoke grenades went in after them. The pirates fought back and sent in their own grenades. Only the use of movable blast shields in the new doorways had held them from entering their own craft, sending them back into their own men. It was bloody and frightening.

  The battle raged on furiously. Cyborgs fought their way towards engineering and the Bridge. No quarter given.

  “Off-worlders have landed on the surface. Engaging the Pirate landing crafts. Troops on their way to support main structure.” The computer told them. For a few moments she’d forgotten about those going to the planet. She found their cameras and watched.

  “What about the predators?” she asked.

  “They know.” Brok answered.

  ***

  The fighting had increased. Between the predators and those arriving on the new landing craft wading into the fray, it had all gone to shit quickly. 0103 Continued to monitor the action. Several splinter groups had taken off in his direction again. Had they not learnt from the last lot that tried that? His optic showed him the vulnerable points in the perimeter shield. It didn’t look good. The last energy weapon gave out at last, but it had done its damage. The ship was barely functioning. “Computer reinforce the shield perimeter.”

  “Unable to fully comply. Not enough repair bots available. Gaps in sectors 1 – 3 will remain faulty.”

  “Are the security guns still operational?”

  “Only in sector 2.”

  “Bring rail guns in sectors 1 and 3 to cover the gap.”

  “Only one rail gun available in those sectors.”

  0103 Felt the strong urge to hit something. Very little now worked on his ship. “Cover sector 3. I will cover 1.”

  “Affirmative.”

  0103 Grabbed his weapons and checked they were fully charged and still working. Filling his pockets with grenades, he picked up another two rifles along with his favourite close up weapons of choice. Titanium steel combat knives. Checking everything before heading to the security fence and sector 1.

  He moved quickly through the corridors, jumping debris and avoiding live wires and sparks. If the humans had been testing his perimeter, they’d know that section was vulnerable. The rail guns continued to go off overhead. They were still working at least. Even at Cyborg speed, it was likely they’d be there first and inside the perimeter. It was open ground between the ship and the fence. No place to hide. If they were there, he’d see them.

  Going straight to the ramp, he engaged the lock and the ramp started to fall. Over his optics he checked the cameras. No one directly outside but he had a blind spot to the east of his position. That camera was out. Re-positioning himself he stood ready as the ramp cleared his head and took a firing position. The chaos of men and beasts were evident in the distance. A shot just missing him to his left told him he had guests. Followin
g the line of fire, he took aim and waited. He’d not seen the human move or re-position himself. Sloppy. As the head popped up again, he fired. One down.

  The others barely noticed they were a man down and charged forward. He counted 19. Moving outside of the ramp he locked the ship down. 0103 Took aim and fired.

  ***

  “We have control of the ship,” rang out. “The Bridge is ours.” A roar went up and Donna released her grip on her chair slumping back in her chair. She hadn’t realised just how much she’d been holding on. Stretching her fingers, she shook out her hands. Damn that hurt.

  “Status on the surface off-worlders?” Sord called out.

  “Engaging the enemy and securing the perimeter fence.”

  “The predators?”

  “Being pushed back.”

  “The original?”

  “Holding a gap in the perimeter fencing. Fighting hand to hand.”

  Donna looked up at the screen. He was where doing what?

  “Give me visual.” Sord asked almost like he’d heard her.

  “Affirmative.” The vid screen showed different images. It zoomed in on one in particular. She recognised the large male in the centre of all the action. He was ….. Stunningly magnificent. Fighting with knives, shooting, jumping, rounding on the enemy, cutting down the unexpected, using the enemy as his guard, dropping them and moving on to his next target…… Was that a hog chewing on someone?

  Without realising it she stood and moved nearer. “Wow….. “ He appeared to be heavily trained in marshal arts. He’s reflexes were….. nothing short of amazing. He pulled off leaping and firing taking out two opponents before hitting the ground rolling and heading off at a run, firing and taking down another one.

  She pointed at the screen. “That’s….. unusual right?” She’d not seen anything like it with her Cyborgs.

  She sensed Brok move up next to her. “He has old school Ninja training. We don’t have that. It was taken off the programming a long time before we came along.”

  That didn’t make any sense to her. It was very effective. “Why did they do that, he’s magnificent?”

  “Agreed. It requires individuality, assessment, decision making and judgement to decide what cause of action is best to take. You have to be able to make your own decisions on the fly and back then, Cyborgs weren’t so controllable. They didn’t want to give any more freedom to them, so this training was cut.” She watched him study the images as she had. “Clearly that was a mistake. His skills are superb.” He told her.

  She couldn’t argue with that. He was superb. They continued to watch as their own Cyborgs moved in and supported him. What was left soon stood down and was rounded up. Donna walked back to her seat. Thank the gods. It was over.

  The security field was gradually increased four times what is had been before and their off-worlders were brought inside it. She watched as the Cyborg kept his own company while they worked around him. It seemed only when he was satisfied, did he make a move to speak with anyone. They handed him a datapad.

  “Communication request from the original.”

  “On screen.”

  The Cyborg came up on the Bridges vid screen. Donna was glad to see that apart from a few cuts and bruises he looked well. “Captain?” he asked. Sord stood. “0103 Cyborg Colonisation Unit requesting permission to be relieved.”

  He locked eyes with her. Donna smiled. She was glad to see him alive and well. “You are relieved 0103. Well done soldier.” He briefly looked at Sord then back at her.

  “You’re unharmed?” he asked. She nodded. “My men need help. Like you helped me. They’re in stasis, can you fix them?”

  Donna looked over to Sord. “Med beds?”

  “Eight.”

  “Rotation Eight up at a time?”

  “Agreed.”

  She turned back to the Cyborg. “We will bring up your men eight at a time. The most urgent first. We have special medical beds that can fix and repair Cyborg damage. They can do most things, including rebuild limbs and in most cases, we have the technology to fix what the nano’s can’t. If the med bed cannot do it all, they will fix what they can, and we can return them to stasis to the Space Station. Mac our Cyborg Doctor will have choices available to her we do not have here. Indicate those to our men.”

  He gave her a nod, then turned to Sord. “Once my men are secure. Permission to board Captain.”

  “Approved. Welcome home Cyborg.” His emotions were strained. Tears sprung to his eyes. Against the odds, they’d made it.

  ***

  She’d thought that since they’d finally arrived the dreams would stop. How wrong she’d been. They now held a far more intense predatory feel and had not abated at all. Night after night, she would dream of him. It was all so much stronger than before. She thought that was possibly due to the proximity of them both within the aura of the planet. But she wasn’t sure.

  The dreams would start in what she considered her meadow then change. She wasn’t sure who was leading the dreams any longer. It didn’t feel like her, but it was unknown territory and her gift was going crazy with all the new input.

  That first night after their arrival and battle, had been a surprise to find herself once more in a dream with him. She’d thought for a moment not expecting it, that she’d awoken somehow and not realised. That somehow she’d made it down onto the plant. It didn’t make sense, but she was there and so was he right with her. Telling her he’d promised to stay alive and had kept his promise. It seemed a significant moment and she wasn’t sure why. She’d been confused her emotions high.

  It all seemed too overwhelming as he’d come towards her. Tears had sprung to her eyes and he’d moved in to hold her tightly to him, whispering how long he’d waited to find her. That she was everything to him now. And as he’d touched her, her own body had responded. His heat penetrating her clothing, there was no mistaking his response to her. Donna had woken shaken from the experience. It had been so real…..

  Unable to go back to sleep she’d gone for an early run. The thought that the male considered her everything to him, weighed heavily on her.

  She had no idea what she wanted and during that day, he’d passed on several requests to see her. Had he had the same dream too? That was a little scary. He’d also laid out his terms. Being clear she was not to come to the surface. Like he made that decision! It was too dangerous for her! She knew the predators still roamed but that didn’t give him the right to make decisions for her. He was trying to take charge already….

  Donna bristled at the thought. She knew that was Cyborg second nature. There was no way she was letting that happen. No, he wanted to see her on the ship. Wanted to get to know her. Wanted to spend time in her company! It was all too much too soon. Confused by what was going on and determined to keep it professional, she’d ignored him sending messages through the computer system rather than directly to the datapad he’d been given. The more he sent, the more she ignored. His tone becoming more and more frustrated.

  It was all going way too fast for her liking and no one had asked her what she thought of it all and that pissed her off. No. She wasn’t going down that road.

  It just seemed …… irresponsible. Although…. she had to accept that she liked the comfort of being in his arms. Of being so protected. He was kind and gentle, caring of her. Wanted to know all there was to know about her. Was persistent in his pursuit of her. Asked for her opinion and deferred to it. And the sex in those dreams….. None of it made sense to her. She wasn’t going to take a leap of faith on some heated dreams.

  Instead, she’d gone about her work. Seeing the Cyborgs to the med beds and ensuring she assessed their wellbeing. The condition of the first six had been shocking. A few were barely more than parts. She found it hard to control her emotions. She’d struggled not to cry at seeing so much damage. The ships medics made quick work of moving them from stasis beds to the med beds, giving the beds their instructions they got to work. They looked so fragile and th
at was the most shocking of all. Cyborgs weren’t vulnerable or fragile. The reality was a wakeup call to her. It was all too easy to see them as infallible. They weren’t.

  The diagnostics of their injuries were difficult reading. What these men had endured…… Undaunted the med beds got to work. She couldn’t do much for them yet. These had had their systems completely shut off. Effectively dead but she knew better. Dead for a Cyborg didn’t mean dead forever. With luck, they could be revived.

  And the dreams had kept coming night after night. She’d even tried being evasive in them, but it hadn’t worked. Each more intense than the one before. It had become awkward and embarrassing. As she’d tried to evade contact with him the dreams had changed. There was no causal meeting in the meadow any longer. They’d moved on to other ground. She was good at evading him in the beginning and he’d not liked it. So he’d changed tactics. It became a battle of wills.

  She’d be pulled in at the point where they’d both be naked, sweat soaked like they’d been a marathon sex session, him all around her. He’d be stroking her fire back to life her core on fire for more. He’d ask way she was avoiding him. Ask after his men as she’d struggled to focus with little to tell him. Then he’d ask why she wasn’t answering his requests as he played with her. Sucking on her breasts, her clit, teasing her mouth with his cock. And at those moments she couldn’t think of one reason why she wasn’t answering him. He move over her body pulling her legs apart, his cock large and hard in his hand asking her if she wanted it again, his hair cascading around his shoulders. Her mouth dry, he’d tease her entrance with its tip. God how she wanted it. Seeing her acceptance, he slammed home yanking her legs towards him. So damn deep she’d cried out as he rocked inside her. It was more than any sex imaginable.