Affirmative.
They all moved at the same time. The fighting aggressive and desperate by the pirates. The blockade didn’t last long. They moved quickly towards the Bridge. Craz, what are we facing?
There are approximately 200 men between you and the Bridge. They are digging in.
Dark acknowledge Burn as he approached the crossroads of corridors. He nodded message received. How many access points?
Two. Directional information being sent to Burn for the second access point. Yours is ahead. Both have surprises waiting for you.
Dark grinned at Burn. “Take half the men. See you on the Bridge.”
***
Mac had spent the morning working with several of the more damaged females. They no longer needed to be in the hospital and had decided to take up residence together on a lower floor in an empty dwelling. They had made it their own. It has caused some up roar with their males. Many didn’t understand their need to be away from their husbands, partners and lovers. Mac had spent time with each of the males explaining.
She had been shocked by some of their reactions. Several males had got up and told her they would not be having the women back. Other’s demanded their return regardless of what had happened to them. Mac got the impression that for some it was more to do with work than relationships. She’d put her foot down and been supported by the Council and Rage.
She was finishing up her notes as Kim came in. “Any news?” She asked the minute she saw her.
“Yeah, they found two pirate ships and interceded. One is trying to board the cruiser and Cyborgs are waiting for them. Darks ship took on the main pirate vessel. The last message said they had breached the ship, boarded it and were engaged and heading to the Bridge.”
Mac blew out a breath. Her chest ached. “Was he ok?” Kim nodded.
***
It had taken longer than he’d wanted, the pirates were well armed and surprisingly well trained. Seemed they’d learnt a trick or two since they’d lost the Station. Burn was approaching the second exit for the Bridge. A barrier had been erected in front of the Bridge entry. As if that would hold them back? It seemed more of a delaying tactic than anything. It was a good ploy but Dark’s years of war fare told him more was going on. Craz, check all systems make sure we do not have a destruct count down, take that down if they do.
This is not my first rodeo Captain, there was its been deactivated.
Then something else is going on. This barrier is more than just to guard the Bridge. What is the status of the other ship?
Still engaged at the cruiser, it’s not going anywhere are men are beating them back
Long range scanners?
Nothing showing.
Then there’s something on this ship. Check heat signatures again.
Dark waited, Craz came back in seconds. Large force around 80 men coming in your direction from below port side.
Burn circle round and come up behind them. We’ll hold here until your arrival.
Affirmative.
Dark scattered his forces relaying the information for those that could not use their net. Cruz ensure those Bridge doors remain closed. No unexpected guests.
Affirmative.
They were going to get hit in an ambush and were to hold. Dark grinned. It was just like old times.
Dark moved back through his men, he stopped and gave eye contact and placed a hand on the shoulder of each one before moving on to face the oncoming enemy. Fire from behind them started. Please tell me we have are ass covered back there? Dark sent out to his men as he carried on forward.
Laughter came back at him as the laser gun fire increased. They are giving me indigestion, bugs that need squashing. They are good but not honourable or good enough. Blaz told him. Two grenades went off and more firing picked up behind him.
Dark knew Blaz, his point man would have this. Good hunting my friend.
Dark focused on what was coming. Smoke and stun grenades thrown into the corridor announced their arrival. Grenades. He called out over his neuro net. Men hankered down and those that could, closed out their audio to limit the damage done by the stun grenades. Several Cyborgs that had no net, were pulled down by their brothers. Dark had grabbed two. Fuckers
Dark snarled and stood to face his enemy. Let them fear him. As the smoke cleared, men charged in and down the corridor towards him. Dark roared and his men followed him. He charged, lined up his first target as did his men around him. He gave a grudging nod. They were brave but stupid. This kind of weaponry would not stop a Cyborg. “Fire at will.”
Burn status? The fighting was intense. There were plenty of causalities for the pirates. They’d re-thought and dug in.
Coming at you in 5. See the tail end now. Engaging. Dark smiled. Play time was over.
Weapons fire from behind the on coming Pirates told Dark, Burn and his men had arrived. “You are surrounded. Surrender or die.” Dark called out.
He’d give them one chance. There were several more shots before he heard Burns voice, “no way-out boys and no one’s coming to help.”
The silence after an engagement always seemed wrong to Dark. Such an anti-climax. “Throw your guns out and stand hands up.” A clatter of guns followed and men started to rise. Burns men moved in quickly and checked men for weapons and secured them. Dark stood and indicated that his men should help. Burn came towards him.
“You still breathing old man?” He asked.
Dark quirked his lips. “This was meant to stop us? It’s insulting.” He told him.
“Guess we should have a chat with the head honcho then boss.” Burn told him checking his weapon and nodding towards the Bridge.
Dark slapped him on the back. “Just what I was thinking. Give the order remove those men and secure them, then we get on that Bridge.”
Craz get those doors open or we blast them. Blaz we clear at the Bridge doors?
Clear.
Blaz and his men moved towards Dark and Burn’s team. They’d cleared a path. Dead lined the walls. They stood several metres from the Bridge doorway. Cruz can you override those doors?
Yes. Be ready. There are 23 life signs on the Bridge.
Dark walked towards the Bridge. “We have 23 pirates on that Bridge ladies. Craz give us lights out. They will come at us head on. Burn, move back to your secondary breaching position. We move in in 10.” The men around him nodded and started moving.
Dark took up his position and waited. His neuro net counted down. At 8.47 Blaz clicked in. In position secondary doors.
Weapons check. He didn’t need to tell his men it was instinctive of years of combat.
Lights out in 5,4,3,2,1. The lights went out. The next second the Bridge doors opened and Dark charged. His men followed him in.
The secondary bridge doors opened at the same time and Blaz rushed in with his men. The fire fight was quick and deadly. “Its over.” Dark called out. Several men dropped weapons and lifted their arms. Others carried injuries, some would die soon. The Captain slowly rose from his seat facing Dark.
“This is an act of war.” The Captain told him.
Dark laughed. “War?” He questioned. “We are the Cyborg Empire and war was declared some time ago when your kind hit the Space Station in our sector of Space.” Dark got serious. “You will be judged for your crimes. Your logs will tell us everything, as will your audio and vid feeds. There will be nothing we do not know about your crimes and your men will willingly tell us everything. Secure him with the others. The ship is ours.”
Craz status on the cruiser?
Our men held off the boarding party. Causalities to the human security. They fought bravely. We have four injured Cyborgs. Nothing serious.
Secure this ship. Inform Captain Direau we are victorious and will be joining them soon. Follow us in.
Affirmative.
A rattle of chains brought Darks focus back to the Bridge. He frowned. The Captain had kept a pet? Barbaric. Several Cyborgs stood around the noise. Blaz raised his wea
pon and struck the pirate Captain across the face and sent him sprawling. “That’s my property.” He called out as several Cyborgs dragged him away. Blaz growled and looked to Dark.
Dark moved around the consuls as the Captain was being dragged out. Protesting his rights. The chains moved again. Step back. He told his men. All but Blaz moved. He stood to one side. Dark approached and looked down. A female was chained to the consul by her wrists and around her neck. It was clear she’d been beaten and worse. Her clothes were torn. Her face bruised. There was blood around the collar at her neck and wrists.
“He won’t hurt you again. Your safe now. We do not make prisoners of women.” The woman looked between him and Blaz. Then she moved. Faster than Dark would have thought possible in her condition. Before he registered the weapon she’d fired and shot the Captain dead.
“Now I’m safe. That fucker won’t hurt anyone again.” She dropped the gun and slumped over the consul.
The woman seemed to realise what she’d done and moved slowly into a chair. “Get those chains off.” Dark barked. “Who are you and what are you doing here?”
The female seemed dazed. “I ……. was Captain of the Scorpan. We were tasked with finding the pirates by Earth Corp and mapping their routes for a mission to take them out.” She gave a sad shudder. “Didn’t go as planned. I tracked them for months. We were at a Port refuelling when they attacked it. We fought and lost. Our ship was not a combat vessel and our crew not large. Any tactical advantage we had in space was lost in the docks. They took my crew prisoner or killed them. Kept me when they realised I’d been able to track them. Used me to do the same.” She lifted her arms as a warrior came forward to remove her chains. “I’d like to leave now.”
“Get her over to the cruiser. Secure accommodations and full medical check.” Blaz moved forward. She’s a possible mate.
She has been through much. That might not be possible. Dark warned him.
I’d like to go with her.
Agreed.
The chains came off. “Captain?” Dark turned towards her. “My crew. Some might be still alive in the cells on this ship.” She looked close to breaking. “I’d like to know.” Dark nodded. Such courage. He turned to his crew member. “Find out.”
“What we find you will know.” Dark indicated with his chin towards Blaz. The female followed his gaze.
“This is Blaz. You are not a prisoner. He will be your personal security from this point forward. Get her food and water and anything else she needs then transfer to the cruiser ASAP.”
Dark watched through the view screen as they approached the cruiser. The damage was obvious. Gun fire all over it. The breach the pirates had made was under repair. Two ships stood off to one side. One theirs, one the second pirate ship. They docked and Dark headed to the docking area.
Several of his men waited with him. The doors opened and Captain Direau stood with his men. Dark walked forward and clasped arms with the Captain. “Job well done Captain.” Dark told him.
Direau nodded sadly. “Yes, at a cost. I’m getting to old for this shit.” Dark looked at his men. “You all fought well. Be proud. You saved a lot of lives this day. I will be speaking with the Admiral about providing security for these runs.” He then turned to his men. All had neuro net. No left overs? That’s just greedy. Well done boys. They grinned back at him. Dark looked at each in turn. And then at the command leader. Report.
Several causalities sir. All receiving treatment. Ship secure. We have some prisoners.
Liaise with Craz and Burn.
Sir. The whole conversation taking milli seconds over their neuro nets.
“Captain we have a female that was held prisoner by the pirates, she needs accommodation and treatment.”
The Captain looked shocked. “Straight away.” He turned to his man. “Set it up and forward the information to our Doctor.”
“Excellent. Now I’d like a tour of the damage and fighting areas then we are going to talk to our prisoners.” Dark followed his lead.
***
Mac looked up as her door burst open and Kim came running into her office. “Just heard, they took out both ships, a few causalities but Dark is fine. They’re going to secure everything and then be on their way back. Our other ship just left, it’s about a week out, pulled an all nighter, putting in my latest engine upgrade in before it went. Should knock a few days of the original deadline. I don’t expect they will be back here for some time yet but they’re good.” She fell into a chair.
Mac had never felt so relieved. She hadn’t realised how much she was holding in until her chest suddenly felt free. She suddenly breathed easier. Leaning back in her chair and took a deep breath. “Thank god.” She felt like this was her fault somehow. Word had got out about the pirate raid on the Cruiser and the atmosphere on the Station was taught. Reason would tell her otherwise but she’d sent Dark away and guilt hit her.
Her face must have shown it. “If Dark and his team had not been there, it might have been a very different outcome for those people. Cyborgs are not invincible, those based on the Cruiser would have been well out numbered without Dark and his ship. Rage is having to re-think our strategy on transportation.” Kim told her angerly. “But they are as near as you can get.”
Mac grimaced. “I know, I can’t help it. I didn’t want this to happen and now I feel an idiot. Rage should put out a notice informing of the raid and it success, no civilian casualties it will help people here.”
“I told him the same. You shouldn’t feel guilty. Dark saved lots of lives. He’s a warrior. It’s what they do and if you’re going to be with him you need to realise that he will be going off and doing that a lot.” Mac wasn’t sure how she felt about that but she’d long ago accepted it was who he was.
“I know that too.” She told her friend sadly. Was nothing simple?
***
Dark sat in his room on board his ship, having spent most of the day giving orders and clearing out those that had no right to still be breathing. Several had protested their innocence. Logs on their ships told a different story. No one was blameless. The Brigg was full, they’d be making a trip back to the Intergalactic Halls of Justice for sentencing. They were dead men walking. Dark felt the pull of a sleep cycle. He was pissed he had to wait for the relief ship to arrive from the Space Station before continuing on. If it took the same time as his craft, it added weeks to their trip. Computer messages.
You have one new message. Doctor Navarelli. Dark sat up suddenly alert. She’d made a reply? Hope and excitement filtered across his brain.
Dark leaned forward. “Play audio with vid.”
Mac came on screen. She looked so dam good, like an untrained school boy his emotions went straight to his cock. His concern for her going into over drive. Why was she contacting him? She hadn’t before. What had happened? His emotions flared and he gripped his fists. The vid played.
Dark sat stunned. A smile slowly crept across his face. He’d done right. Her ass was his. He linked with the computer. How long for the relief ship to arrive?
Approx 5 days. It has a new engine design that is out doing its predecessor three to one. Kim had come through for him. Dark knew he had to speak with the Admiral.
Record audio message for Admiral Rage.
Ready.
Rage, I’m asking permission to change ships. The relief ship is faster and I expect you know that. I need to get back. Allow me this. End message and send.
Affirmative.
***
“Look I’m telling you, I have to get to that Space Station. I’ve got my papers and this delay is not helping those people. If there’s a faster way I want on.” Dark looked at the human male. He’d been determined. Dark would give him that.
“There are no luxuries on that craft. It’s a war vessel. Some of the Cyborgs have problems with human’s, it’s why they chose to remain in space.”
The human didn’t look deterred or looked much like a Doctor. He was nodding his head. “Yes,
yes I understand. No problem.”
Dark reasoned the Station needed Doctors as soon as possible and this one was clearly fed up of the luxury cruiser. Dark could sympathise. Dark stared at him. “You don’t look much like the Doctor’s I know.”
“Why, cos I use a gym and like to keep in shape? We’re not all the same.” Dark wasn’t convinced.
“What’s the real reason it’s so important to get there a week earlier?” Dark asked. The male looked pissed.
“I got a message from an old friend who asked me to come, that my services were very much needed. What they told me, made me think this was a good move. So I upped sticks, changed my life and here I am. I’m sick of this vessel ok. Most of these people are on a pleasure cruise. I’m not. This is transportation and nothing more. I need to get there. I’m bored, fed up of the women and need to work.”
Dark turned to Craz. “Log him on and make the transfer. Who asked you to get to the Station?”
The human jumped up and clapped, then patted him on the shoulder, grinning ear to ear. “Thanks man I owe you. Mac, Dr Navarelli do you know her?”
The human looked a little crazy right then. Dark gave a nod and wondered if he’d done the right thing. Ensure this human is tracked at all times. He told Craz.
Affirmative.
As he watched the human leave, Dark wondered just how much the male knew Mac.
CHAPTER FIVE
Mac sat and waited. Most of her sessions involved a lot of quiet and waiting. Giving the person in therapy time to reflect before talking. She was nearing the end of her session with Terise. Terise was thinking. It took her a while to process what they agreed to talk about today and every statement she made, made her question herself. Mac gave her the time to run it through. “That wouldn’t have made any difference, would it?” She eventually asked Mac.
Galactic Cyborg Heat Series Book Bundle 1-4 Page 23
