The Cyber Chronicles - Book I: Queen of Arlin

by T C Southwell

Sabre found a rock and sat in the gloom, contemplating this fresh development. So, the cyber could still inflict pain, even when it was not trying to take over. It remained active, and had reacted to her words. Just as it had warned him of the flawed rock, now it warned him not to disobey. This time, her words had only triggered a minor bout, but what would happen in a serious situation? Did this mean he was tied to this irritating girl? What would the cyber do if he tried to leave her? He touched the band of crystal on his forehead. If only there was a way to get the damn thing off.

  The crack weakened its structure, but a fall of hundreds of metres had caused that, so there was no way he could break it completely. This selfish girl had the power to hurt him, perhaps even to force him to obey her, and he resented that he was still not entirely free.

  What he had was close to freedom, closer than any cyber host had come to before, but it was not complete. She could trigger a determined takeover attempt on the part of the cyber, one he might not be able to overcome. The thought chilled him, and his dread of the sucking darkness made him cautious, but angry and bitter at the same time.

  Worried Tassin might be frightened, alone in the dark, he made his way back to the campsite. She had lighted the fire, and huddled close to it. When she looked up, her bearing was a little ashamed, but also proud.

  “I lighted the fire.”

  Sabre glared at her. “Don’t ever order me to do anything again, got it? Never.”

  She nodded. “All right.”