Seeking Vector (Cyborg Sizzle Book 10)

by Cynthia Sax

  She wasn’t a warrior, wasn’t experienced in missions or taking action. But gathering information was something she could do and she did it well.

  “It has already made a difference, female.” Vector carried her into the fully repaired Freedom.

  That was his home, was now hers. Their home would always be shared with others, but having lived on battle stations and ships for over twelve solar cycles, Kasia was accustomed to that. She would find any other type of home too quiet, too lonely.

  “The enemy ship was designed for minimal staffing.” She flipped through the classified communications. “Commander Alakai is a paranoid bastard. He doesn’t even trust the males who have been reporting to him. Only two of his officers were designated to accompany him if he needed to escape.”

  “He won’t escape us.” Vector’s words were edged with grim satisfaction.

  Truth grunted softly in agreement as he closed the door behind them.

  All the cyborgs yearned to inflict pain on the Humanoid Alliance elite, seeking vengeance for past injustices against their brethren.

  Kasia didn’t attempt to dissuade them. The commanders on the Vault were the worst of the worst, the males responsible for horrific, heartless acts, too warped by that escalating carnage to redeem. They had to die or they would merely rebuild their forces and continue those atrocities.

  “Keep the transmission line you share with me open.” Kasia told Vector as he walked with her to the bridge. “I’ll continue to communicate anything I uncover after you relocate to the holding chamber.”

  As a precaution, all the cyborgs would leave the bridge once they neared lifeform-scanning range. They each wore a modified handheld clipped to their body armor.

  The devices should block the scanners, make them undetectable. Kasia had tested them herself. But if something went wrong, a storage chamber filled with cyborgs on a warship might be explained as an oversight. They were weapons. Commander Smith could have forgotten he had them.

  He wouldn’t forget about the cyborgs if they were stored on the bridge. The Humanoid Alliance wouldn’t accept that explanation, would perceive the warriors’ presence as an act of war and fire on their warship.

  Taking that risk was unnecessary. Vector didn’t need to be on the bridge to navigate the Freedom. Her skilled cyborg had modified a control panel in the holding chamber for that task.

  “The transmission line I share with you is always open.” Vector plunked her down on the captain’s chair. “It has been open since the first planet rotation you communicated with me.”

  Chuckles and Truth claimed their seats. Her uptight captain stood beside her.

  She liked having him close to him, dreaded that he would have to leave her.

  “I’ll be communicating with you.” Constantly. Kasia looked around them. The main viewscreen before them displayed the opening docking bay doors. According to the systems, the space around the battle station was clear.

  “The Freedom’s doors are closed. The docking bay doors are open. Truth, perform a systems check.” Vector placed his palms on the control panel embedded in the console before them and the ship’s engines rumbled to life.

  “All systems are functional, Captain.” Truth’s expression was now deadly serious.

  Because this was a deadly serious mission. They could all perish during it. Vector, the male she cared for, the male she loved, could die.

  Kasia frantically searched for any information that might tip the balance in their favor, that might ensure they survived the encounter with the Humanoid Alliance. She couldn’t lose her warrior, not now, not ever.

  “Scanning for lifeforms.” Vector always performed that task himself and she knew why. He feared a repetition of the tragedy on Furud One. “One human detected.”

  “That’s me, standing in for Commander Smith.” She jauntily saluted Vector. “The lifeform blocking is working, Captain.”

  Vector pressed his lips into a thin white line, communicating his displeasure with her flippant response, his lack of humor increasing Kasia’s anxiety.

  Missions were intense.

  Her cyborg maneuvered their ship out of the docking bay. The transition was smooth, appeared effortless. Kasia, after her disastrous attempt at stealing the vessel, knew the task was much more difficult than he made it look.

  They entered open space. Stars sparkled on a background of black. It was beautiful, calming, a stretch of peace before the battle began.

  Kasia reached over and placed one of her hands on top of Vector’s, grateful to be sharing the moment with him.

  “Truth, set our course.” His voice was gruff.

  “Our course is set, Captain.”

  Vector, being the cautious male he was, verified the programming. He used only one hand, the hand she wasn’t holding. More systems checks were performed. “Activate the projection.”

  “Activating the projection, Captain.” Chuckles obeyed that order.

  An image of the dead commander was projected over Kasia’s body, the older human male sitting where she was, in the captain’s chair.

  She gazed at his hands, his arms. They appeared real, as though they originated from her form.

  It made her uneasy. She detested the male, didn’t want any part of him touching her, even if that was an illusion.

  “Vector.” She shifted in her seat. “Captain.”

  Vector glanced at her. Their gazes met. Whatever he saw in her eyes caused the hard set of his jaw to soften. “Warriors, prepare for battle.”

  “Yes, Captain.” The cyborgs left their posts. The doors closed.

  She was alone with her male. Except for the projection of the commander. She looked down at the arms and her top lip curled.

  “Concentrate on me, not him.” Vector scooped her out of the chair, lifting Kasia high against his chest. “I want all of your attention.” His touch eased her distress. His strength took her breath away.

  “We’re supposed to be focusing on the mission.” She raised her chin, gazing at him, only him.

  “You are my mission.” He captured her lips, the force of the kiss pushing her head back. She opened to him, eager for his taste, for the slide of his tongue along hers.

  Her cyborg didn’t disappoint her, ravishing her mouth with fierce strokes. His nanocybotics bubbled and fizzed. One of his hands cupped the back of her head, holding her to him, as though he feared she would escape him.

  Kasia was done running and had no intention of retreating from her male’s embrace. She pushed back, pressing her flesh against his, her curves flattening against his unrelenting muscles. His warmth engulfed her. Her feet twitched as they dangled in the air.

  She wrapped her legs around his waist, securing herself to him. He was an immovable force in a turbulent universe. She tugged on his body armor.

  “Not here.” Vector pulled back from her, catching both of her wrists in one of his big palms. “And not now.”

  “It could be here and now.” Kasia wiggled, rubbing her flight suit-covered mons over the ridge in his garment. “We have enough time before the mission for a good, hard fuck.”

  He gazed at her, his eyes bright with tempestuous strikes of energy.

  Was he thinking about taking her? Because she certainly was thinking about being taken. Her pussy dripped with wanting.

  “We don’t have the time now, female, to enjoy all the sensual, stimulating things I want to do to you.” Vector lowered her slowly, gliding her form over his, allowing her to feel the rigidity of his cock, that evidence of his desire drying her mouth. “That need you’re feeling?” He cupped her mons and she moaned. “Once this mission has been completed, I’ll satisfy it and more.”

  Stars. Kasia stared at him. She desired him.

  “I plan to devote planet rotations to showing you.” His voice deepened. “Everything.” He dipped his head and closed lip-covered teeth around one of her earlobes, the tinge of pain thrilling her. “I will dedicate an eternity to breeding with you, to caring for you,
to ensuring you never want for anything again.”

  “I need you now.” She couldn’t wait.

  “I need you also.” Vector set her down, resting her booted feet on his leather-covered toes. “But we have forever and the mission can’t be delayed.”

  Her stomach twisted. “We’ll soon be within range of the Humanoid Alliance scanners.” Kasia didn’t have to look at the viewscreen to determine that. She saw the approaching danger in his eyes. “You have to leave and I have to hide.”

  “You’ll hide first. Then I’ll leave.” Vector opened a compartment in the console. The small space had been cleared of objects and could fit her. Barely. They’d tested it.

  “I’ve been in tinier spots.” Kasia said that for both of them.

  It wasn’t a lie. When she voyaged to the battle station, she’d stowed upon a shuttle, folding her long, lean body into a container that was supposed to carry nourishment bars.

  Vector helped her into the compartment. Her knees pressed against her chest. Her feet tilted toes upward. Her head bowed. Truth had drilled holes in the exterior, improving the airflow.

  “Could you pass me my handheld?” She wiggled her fingers, unable to reach for it.

  Vector placed the device in her palms, drifting his fingers over hers as though he needed, as she did, one more caress before their mission. “If you’re in any peril, experience any damage, contact me. Immediately.”

  “I will. I can do this, warrior.” Kasia summoned a smile, striving to reassure him. “I’ve done it in the past. I won’t jeopardize the mission.”

  “Frag the mission.” He crouched beside her. “You’re my priority, not eliminating the Humanoid Alliance officers, not justice for my brethren. You. I will turn this ship around—”

  “Don’t turn the ship around.” She stopped him. “We need to do this. For our future and the future of our offspring. We need to be free of our enemies.”

  “Our offspring.” His gaze lowered.

  “The offspring we will eventually have, solar cycles from now.” She wasn’t carrying his child, as far as she knew, and she wouldn’t give her cautious warrior another reason to end the mission. “I’ll transmit with you constantly. You’ll know my every thought.”

  “That’s a scary proposition.” Vector’s lips twitched as he straightened. “Don’t exit the compartment until I give you the order.”

  “Yes, Captain.” She mimicked his males. “But don’t dawdle when giving that order.” Kasia grinned at her big C Model as he shut the door, casting her into darkness. “I love you, warrior.”

  Shit. She jerked, banging her head on the top of the compartment. Pain shot over her skull yet she barely noticed it.

  She had told Vector she loved him.

  Kasia was tempted to send him a transmission, tell him it was a joke. But that would be a lie. She did love him.

  Look before you leap. Her momma had always told her that. Think before you act. That was her warrior’s refrain.

  When would she learn those lessons?

  Maybe he hadn’t heard her. Maybe his enhanced hearing had somehow failed. Maybe he had sped across the bridge, moving at cyborg speed, and had been out of range.

  Female. That single word transmission told her that none of those maybes were reality. He’d heard her blurted words.

  Focus on the mission. She frantically transmitted back. We’ll talk about this later.

  Much, much later.

  Chapter Fifteen

  She loved him.

  His rash, reckless female loved him.

  Vector continued to clasp that revelation to his big cyborg heart moments later, as they received the hail from the Humanoid Alliance vessel. He never would have processed three words could make him so happy. But they did.

  She loved him.

  The Humanoid Alliance ship, the Vault, requests hailing frequencies be opened, Captain, Chuckles relayed. The warrior stood beside him, his palms on the holding chamber’s control panel.

  The image of Commander Smith was displayed in one corner of the makeshift viewscreen. The enemy was merely a projection but it irked Vector that it sat in his chair. That was his position, a position he’d honorably earned.

  It’s time. Vector warned everyone on board the Freedom, including his female. Open hailing frequencies.

  No image appeared on the screen. “This is the Vault.” The voice broadcast through the warship was simulated. “Identify yourself and state your purpose.”

  “This is Commander Smith.” The projection’s lips moved in perfect synchronicity with the simulated voice. Vector, with his enhanced visual and auditory systems, couldn’t distinguish it from a real human. He was impressed. His female had skills. “Authorization code.” The seventy-two digit code was recited.

  “Authorization code verified, Commander Smith.” The robotic voice responded.

  A lifeform scan is being completed, Captain, Chuckles transmitted.

  Vector tensed, his fingers a breath away from the control panel. If the Humanoid Alliance raised their shields or showed any other signs of suspicion, he would abandon their mission and order a retreat.

  “One human was detected on board your ship, Commander Smith.” The voice informed him and Vector relaxed, lowering his hands. The blocking worked. “That allotment has been authorized. Submit fingerprint scan.”

  The projection placed its palms on the embedded control panel. Chuckles sent the already inputted fingerprints to the Humanoid Alliance.

  “Fingerprints verified.” The voice continued the process. “Submit iris scan.”

  The projection leaned forward, gazing into the embedded control panel. Chuckles sent the iris scans they’d inputted to the Humanoid Alliance.

  “Irises verified.”

  “Commander Smith.” The image of a gray-haired, wrinkled human male appeared on their makeshift viewscreen. The older officer’s uniform was weighted down with metals.

  Vector transmitted the footage to his female.

  There was a slight delay, that could be explained by a systems issue, and the projection responded. “Commander Alakai. I should have known you’d survive. Tau Ceti was a triumph.”

  “Others didn’t think so.” Commander Alakai smirked, his pride in blowing up the planet and killing millions of beings angering Vector. His friend Gap and Nymphia, that warrior’s female had also died on Tau Ceti. “Weak-willed females.”

  The male must not have met beings like Kasia if he believed females lacked strength. She wasn’t weak in any way.

  “Those pussies must have shit themselves.” The projection laughed, his bushy eyebrows quivering.

  Can I kill this male? Vector’s female asked over the transmission lines.

  No. Someone else would be given the honor of avenging his friend. Vector’s focus was his female. But we can watch him die.

  Commander Alakai’s torture and death would be transmitted to all cyborgs throughout the universe. Rage, Crash, their females, and other warriors would want to witness it also.

  All of them had grieved the ending of Gap’s and his female’s lifespans. The young cyborg had met and lost his female in mere moments. It had been tragic, moving.

  Terrifying.

  Tension stretched across Vector’s shoulders. He wouldn’t lose Kasia. She would remain on the warship, where she was safe.

  “I have stories to tell, Smith.” Judging by Commander Alakai’s expression, those stories involved tormenting and killing innocent beings. “Come on board and I’ll relay them. You’re authorized to land.”

  The human’s image disappeared and the Vault’s docking bay doors opened, light spilling into the darkness. Vector resisted the urge to go to his female, to return to the bridge. The Humanoid Alliance might be monitoring the interior, watching the projection of Commander Smith, looking for suspicious activity.

  I’ve been perusing the acceptance forms for parts and materials used during the manufacturing of the Vault. Kasia transmitted. There are too many doors received and
not enough control panels.

  That could be a problem. His team needed control panels to access the Vault’s systems. Could there be missing or duplicated acceptance forms?

  The other record keeping is meticulous. His female expressed her doubts.

  We could be walking into a trap, Vector transmitted to the entire team. Be careful.

  His female had uncovered things about him and his brethren they hadn’t known. She’d stayed alive alone on ships filled with her enemies. Only a fool would dismiss her misgivings.

  They had to move forward, however. It was safer than retreating. Their warship was close to the Humanoid Alliance vessel, too close to evade missiles, and the enemy was, no doubt, observing them, seeking any reason to blast them out of space.

  Vector jutted his jaw and guided the warship into the brightly lit, immaculately clean docking bay. No one shot at them. No alarms sounded.

  The space was empty. There were no beings, no machinery, no ships. That made Vector uneasy but the barrenness could be explained. There were alternate docking bays. The other commanders and their senior officers could have parked their ships in those spaces.

  And Kasia had said Commander Alakai was a paranoid bastard, limiting the officers eligible for berth in his new vessel. Vector’s brethren would have killed some of those males during their rebellion. There might not be many humans on the Vault for the cyborgs to pursue.

  Killing Commander Alakai was reason enough to commandeer the vessel. The warriors would seek justice for Gap, for Gap’s female, and stop the human from terrorizing others.

  Kasia had shared the commander’s history with Vector. Tau Ceti hadn’t been the first planet the male had invaded. Commander Alakai had specialized in suppressing local populations, had built his career around brutally, violently conquering worlds for the Humanoid Alliance.

  Vector’s lips flattened. The cyborgs would end that horrific career, kill the commander, avenge the lifespans he’d ruined.

  Vector set the Freedom down in the middle of the space, closest to the interior doors. That would shorten the distance the cyborgs needed to cover, speed the takeover of the Humanoid Alliance ship.

  We don’t have visuals on any control panels, Captain, Truth informed him.