Kim didn’t like the idea of cutting open the guys brain. That was just wrong. “You need a doctor.”
Torc shook his head. “They won’t work on us.” Kim looked up sharply at him.
“What?”
“Cyborgs.” He told her like that answered everything. Kim stood shocked.
“They can’t all be arseholes?” She asked. They stood there. Like they didn’t have an answer for her. Maybe in their world they did. How had this nightmare been allowed? So fucking wrong.
Dam it. She shouted in her mind. There was no way she was going to allow this guy to be tortured so he could function. “Do you have any medical tools?” Torc nodded.
“Get them. Sterilise them.”
“Cyborgs. We don’t get human diseases.” Kim put her hand up.
“Stop with the Cyborg shit. Don’t care, do it.” She came back to look at C in the eyes. They were crystal clear and gray. Quite beautiful.
“Hay.” He looked up at her. Clearly his earing worked.
“I’m Kim. I’m an engineer by trade. A lot of it cutting edge. I’m no doctor but if you’re willing, I can try and fix what is causing you to malfunction. I need your permission.” She told him.
C looked at her and gave her a nod. She hoped to god that was his permission and not some tic. Torc came back with a box. He placed it on the table next to C. Kim pulled up what she wanted on her data pad and showed it to C. “Can you lock down pain receptors in this area.” It was the worst damaged area. She’d need to clear that first before tackling anything else. C gave a shake of his head. That was a no then.
Kim took a deep breath. “We’ll have to knock him out.” She told Brak and Torc. They looked uncomfortable.
“Cant.” Brak told her.
“What?”
“We would have to shut him down to do that.” What the hell. She stared at the both.
“How do we do that and what would that mean?” Kim was beginning to think that this kid, well not a kid, was going to have to stay awake while she cut into his brain. That was …… sick.
“We would have to stop his heart. And try and re-start it after. We just did that in the cargo bay. Twice in one day? Not good odds.” He told her plainly.
“Ok, we do it tomorrow then.” They shook their heads at her.
“Damage is being corrupted while his awake. Leaving it longer, he may not be salvageable.” Salvageable? Shit. Kim suddenly didn’t want to be there any longer.
She mulled over their options looking for something, anything that would fix this. Fuck it. Kim looked at the scans. C had a plate over the damaged area. She guessed that’s where his skull had been damaged. It looked like it had been removed and the plate put in. The work looked rushed, sloppy. If it had been on her engine she would have fired someone and then kicked their ass. Kim couldn’t believe she was considering removing the plate. Doing the work and putting it back, while the guy was awake. She shuddered.
“What about a local? We could do that right?” She looked to Brak, then Torc.
“That should work.” Torc told her. Kim blew out a breath.
Ok then. “Can he turn off any pain receptors?” Torc nodded.
“Some, he turned them on for us.” Ok. Kim looked at C. He was looking expectantly at her. Her gut turned over. She patted his arm.
“We are going to try this ok C.”
“Turn what pain receptors you can off. Torc, local all around this area.” She showed him her data pad then went over to the medical tools. There was a laser cutter. A spreader, some pin’s and screwdrivers. A pair of pinchers, some clips and other materials Kim didn’t want to know about. She held in a shudder. “Take that lot and put them through sterilisation, then bring them back.” Torc picked them up and moved off.
“How come you guys don’t have regen med beds on board? And where the hell is your medic?” She turned back to Brak.
“Cybernetics don’t work well with the beds. They are not programmed to work on Cyborgs.” Jesus. It was the dark ages. Thought Kim. She’d fix that before she left.
“And the medic?”
“Didn’t make it.” He told her. “Ready.” He looked up at her. Kim swallowed, her mouth suddenly very dry. Torc came back with the tools.
“Right.” She told herself as much as them. She grabbed the gloves and slipped them on. Covered them with sterilised wash and picked up the laser scalpel. “Bring those over please.”
Kim spent the next couple of hours being as gentle as she could. She started by cutting and peeling the hair and scalp, back from the injured area. She felt sick and held it back. C didn’t move at all. She could do this for him. Immediately, it was obvious where the damage had occurred. It was still a mess. Whoever did this didn’t care how it went down. Much of the skin was trying to repaire itself and the hair re-growing. The plate was screwed in and covered in tissue. It was badly mixed up in skin and hair inside his skull. It was sickening that they had done this.
It was worse than she’d thought. Someone should be shot for this. Kim looked at it and couldn’t think and froze. Then she remembered she was working on an engine and it needed her. She took a deep breath, pushed everything else to one side and got to work.
She wasn’t sure how long she’d worked. Kim leaned back exhausted.
“Ok that’s it.” She told them pulling out the last piece of shrapnel and skull that had imbedded itself between tissue, severing connective wiring. It should have been removed when the injury occurred.
“I don’t know who did this crap work but I’d like to meet him and say hi with Mr Sparky. Plate please.” Kim sterilised the area and put the newly sterilised plate back. Then released the skin. Cut away the newly repaired skin and hair that wasn’t needed and gently, stabled it all back in place.
“Depending on how quickly you guys heal, those can come out when the skin nits. Keep him medicated and pain receptors off till tomorrow, then give it a go.”
She slumped into a nearby chair and pulled her gloves off. “He should lay down and rest. Not on that injury.” She watched Brak and Torc help C to lay down. Kim felt mentally drained. Dragging herself up, she walked over to the wash area and cleaned up. Without looking back she headed to the kitchen, not sure she had the will or energy to eat anymore.
***
Rage had come in search of Kim. He’d sent lunch to her but she wasn’t there. When he’d asked his men to find her, Torc had filled him in shortly after she’d arrived in the room. The cameras on the ship had shown him and his men what she’d done for the C model. They had heard her anger at their treatment. Rage had smiled at her threats to the designers and doctors. There were appreciative voices from his men in his head over his neuro net.
Ships systems told him she was now sleeping in the food area. He didn’t want to disturb her but knew, she’d be pissed with herself to have dosed off on board his ship. He left the Bridge in search of her. He knew the foods she liked, because he’d stalked her when he couldn’t do anything else. He’d looked into her life. Found what she liked and didn’t like. Who she met with and who she was friends with. There were very few of either. And he had accessed her charges. He knew it was an invasion of her privacy but he couldn’t help himself. He needed to know things about her and she had ignored him. Rage put the plates on the table with two coffees. Then tapped the table, giving the impression he’d just arrived.
Kim came aware she wasn’t alone, something had nudged her and she smelled food. She sat up gingerly her neck ached. She must have slept at an odd angle. She looked over to the plate, confused about where she was.
“Eat.” Kim looked up. Rage was sitting opposite her already eating. Now she remembered.
“Did I fall asleep?” She asked annoyed. He shrugged and kept eating. Kim picked up her knife and fork, her stomach rumbling. She was starving and it looked good.
Kim eventually turned around looking for a clock. She’d finished her meal and drank several cups of coffee.
“What’s the time?�
� She asked him. Rage sat opposite her drinking his own coffee. He didn’t feel the need to talk and fill the space. Neither had Kim. She wasn’t like other females he’d met. They felt the need to prim and talk about shit. He liked that about her too. He leaned forward, taking in that unique scent of hers.
“I wanted to thank you for the work you did on the C model. Not many would have done that.” He told her sadly, rolling the coffee around in his mug. Kim didn’t like seeing her big Cyborg upset. Hers? She wasn’t sure where that had come from. She frowned.
“You need medical on this ship. Get a med bed, I can programme it to work on Cyborgs.” She told him with some bite and held up her hand. “Yes, your Cyborgs but your people too and organic’s and tec, need medics. I was lucky with C, that might not always be the case.” Kim noticed his eyes get hot.
“You care.” He told her sounding confused. Kim got uncomfortable.
“That’s a given.” Well, derr! She thought.
Rage took in the triggers her body was sending out. “It’s nearly 4pm universal.”
Dam it. She’d lost nearly 4 hours of work time. “I need to get back to that engine.”
“You did enough today I’ll take you home.” He told her putting down his mug.
“What?”
“You’re tired get some rest. Start again tomorrow.” He told her plainly.
Hell no. “I’m on a job here Rage. I’m done, when I say so.” Kim got up and he grabbed her arm and pulled her onto his lap. “Hay. Stop handling the goods.” Rage smirked.
“I haven’t touched the goods. Yet.” Kim felt the heat flood her nether regions. No. No. No. Rage leaned into her. Kim put her hands on his chest and pushed back. He was like rock. He put his arm around her and pulled her in. Kim held her breath.
“Breath baby.” He whispered.
She felt his nose run down the side of her neck and his words on her ear. Parts of her body clenched. This was not good. Not good at all. Thought Kim.
“I need to get back to work.” She mumbled, becoming very aware of the male hardness under her ass. Rage kept nuzzling her neck.
“You smell delicious Kim. Perfect. Do you know how badly I want a taste?” He rubbed his lips along her neck. “Bad, real bad. I want to strip you bare, lick every inch of you and lap at your juices. I want my cock so deep in you, you won’t ever forget me.” He told her.
Kim couldn’t hide her arousal. It was so primal. She could hear his need for her. How could she not. She swallowed. It would be so easy to give in and say yes. Her body wanted it. She was starting to cave. And loose every bit of professional credibility she had. Reality came crashing back. Kim pushed harder and he released her. “I don’t fuck my jobs Rage.” She jumped up.
He watched her walk out. Rage smiled. She’d wanted him. He’d smelled her desire. He could work with that.
***
Kim stretched her back. She’d got it all stripped down. Tomorrow would be the start of the re-fit. She downed tools and cleaned up. Turning she realised another Cyborg was standing in the doorway. She wondered how long he’d been there. She recognised him from the shop and her ship. He’d come with Rage. Dark.
“I’m to escort you back if you’re done.” He told her. Kim nodded. She didn’t want to acknowledge it, but she was disappointed it wasn’t Rage. It was probably for the best. She had little control around that male.
“Let’s go.” She told him.
Kim woke at 5.30am expecting Rage to be there at 6, same as yesterday. She didn’t want to be caught napping and wanted to be prepared this time. He’d caught her off guard several times yesterday. She wasn’t letting him get the better of her any more. She’d made her mind up last night. She wanted this job done and be out of here tonight. If he wasn’t here by 6, she would be going on her own. She’d showered and changed and headed to their kitchen. She’d sent Mack an update last night to expect a quick exit today after she’d finished.
She was drinking their version of coffee when she heard footsteps. Kim smiled. It wasn’t Mack.
“Good morning Kim. How about a good morning kiss?” Rage asked her walking in. He didn’t seem surprised to find her ready and waiting.
She couldn’t believe the guys cheek. She looked over to the male standing with his arms crossed his chest, leaning against the door.
“How about a good morning slap instead?” She offered. Rage looked as if he was considering it. Kim couldn’t help but smile. He was incorrigible.
Rage leaned forward towards her. “As long as you sooth it with your tongue after I’m good to go.”
He had craved seeing her all-night long. He’d worked to distract himself from arriving too early. From boarding her ship and watching over her as she slept. From waking her with his cock buried in her. His need to scent her, crawling through his body. Had been pure hell. So close.
Kim shook her head, putting her mug down. She wondered if that worked for all the ladies. Then she glanced up at him again and figured it probably did.
“Let’s go annoying, I have work to do.” She told him suddenly pissed and walking out. They headed out to the cargo ramp, Rage following behind her. “I’m guessing that as you’re a Cyborg, something you might have mentioned yesterday, I might add, you accessed our ship to get access. That’s sneaky and illegal.” She told him.
Rage chuckled behind her. “Only if you get caught.”
He headed off as if going to the breakfast spot. Kim called over to him.
“Don’t have time for breakfast today stud, time sensitive work, got to get it done. I’ll eat at my post today.” He stopped and turned back to her all intense muscle.
“You need to eat.” He told her. Kim shrugged.
“I will, make sure you send it to me.” She turned and headed in the direction of his ship. She needed to get this done.
Rage followed her. She was running, he didn’t like it but he’d let her. For a while. Then she was his.
Breakfast and lunch had been and gone and they had fed her with gallons of good coffee. Kim sat hunched over the two neg grav drives. They were a beautiful piece of engineering. If she connected them to the main engines as she’d designed, it would give them the extra boost they needed. They would compensate for its heavy ass. She put the last connection in place. Job done.
“Mam.” Kim turned to see who had called her. The C model was standing in the door way.
Kim sat back and smiled at him. He looked so well. It was amazing how quickly they mend.
“Hay your up. How do you feel?” She asked him wiping her hands off. The C model came further in.
“I am functioning better since your intervention. My functionality is not 100% but, I hope it will be soon. Things,” he tapped his head, “are gradually coming on line.”
Kim grinned at him. “That’s great C. Can I take a look?” She asked, she was curious to see the differences. C gave her a nod. Kim picked up her data pad and realised she couldn’t reach his head. “Can you kneel down, your all so dam tall.” She told him jokingly.
C knelt before her. Kim held her pad and engaged the programme walking around him. She climbed over his legs when she had to, to complete the scan. When she’d done a complete sweep she stood back and waited for it to upload the graphics. Then it compared it, to the one from the day before. Kim stared in wonder. Wow. There were clear differences and improvements. She looked up at C.
“You should take a look.” She told him eagerly. Walking forward she showed him the schematics and differences.
“This area here is all improved.” Kim pointed out the areas. C asked a couple of questions and she answered, completely engrossed in what had taken place. An animalistic growl sounded around the room. Kim looked up.
“Why is my C model on his knees before you Kim?” Kim frowned as the C model, who suddenly scrambled to his feet fast and jostled her in the process. His hand shot out to steady her. She was about to thank him when Rage exploded.
“Take your hand off my woman.” O no. He did n
ot just say that. Kim turned slowly towards him.
Her angry showed itself. “What the hell is wrong with you? We were having a conversation about his injuries and you,” she pointed at him and narrowed her eyes, “caused him to jump and knock into me. That, was your fault not his.”
“Out.” Rage barked. Too right out, she thought and started to follow C who had wasted no time in leaving.
“Not you, him.” Rage closed the doors behind C. Kim didn’t like the look of that at all.
“You don’t tell me what I can and can’t do Rage. I’m doing you a favour here.” He advanced on her. She badly wanted to take a step back but wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. She held her ground.
“You’re not doing us a favour, I’ve employed you to do a job.”
Kim started to nod. “Yeah and I’m doing it.” She had to lean back to keep looking up at him. “Back off.”
“Why does my closeness bother you?” He came nearer, closer.
“No, your BO does.” She pouted and took an aggressive stance. She knew she was being childish but she couldn’t stop.
Rage did something, neither one of them would have thought possible a moment before. He burst out laughing. He didn’t have BO. Cyborgs didn’t get it their med bots saw it as a fault and fixed it at source. But it was a good come back. This woman warmed him.
He grabbed her on a gasp, planted his lips on hers and slipped passed her lips with his tongue and crushed them with his own. He tried to be gentle but his body was having none of it. And Kim gave as good as she got. She wasn’t gentle either. She was demanding. He knew she would be. She challenged him even with a kiss. Running her tongue along his and sucking it in. He stifled a moan. Then her tongue swiped across his lips and he licked her back.
Galactic Cyborg Heat Series Book Bundle 1-4 Page 4
