Dealers' Choice - Susan Hayes Page 0,38
Cyborgs. Future designs. Xori swallowed hard to push a hard lump of fear back down her throat. “You’re with the Gray Men, then?”
Vivian nodded. “I am. But, given my appearance, I would have thought that would be obvious.”
She tried a partial lie. Testing to see how much this female knew. “Your – I mean Ariel’s – affiliation with that group was assumed, but never confirmed, at least, not to me. But then again, I’m not authorized for those sorts of briefings. I’m just a therapist.”
“Please do not lie to me. It’s pointless. As to what you are, Dr. Virness, you much more than a simple therapist. You have worked with some of my side’s most spectacular failures, and from what I have learned, you are quite good at putting them back together again.”
“They’re not failures.”
“That is a matter of perspective. From our point of view, the Reaper and the Fury Projects failed to live up to expectations.”
“And you want my assistance to make sure that these flaws you described are removed, so that future investments pay off better?” Her voice quavered slightly despite her best efforts. She’d spent months trying to undo harm done by this greed-driven, evil group, repairing wounded minds and souls. Now, they wanted her to work for them? The idea was repulsive.
“I do. But before you say anything more, I think you should understand how things are. You have a single, binary choice to make. Agree to do the work I want you to do, or die.”
Xori glanced over at the man beside her. He hadn’t moved, but the weapon in his hands seemed bigger now, and even more dangerous.
“How long do I have to decide?”
“You have until I finish speaking.” Vivian stated, then went silent, her gaze cool and disinterested, as if there wasn’t a life hanging in the balance.
She nodded, hating herself for even pretending to make this choice. She wouldn’t help them, but maybe she could buy herself a little time. Give her males a chance to find her. Her males. She really like the way those words sounded. They offered her a tiny source of comfort in this terrible moment.
“Was that a yes? I’ll need verbal confirmation of the contract, Dr. Virness. I wouldn’t want there to be any misunderstandings.”
“I accept your job offer.”
Vivian nodded once, a sharp staccato motion. “I am pleased to hear it. The shuttle you are currently aboard will transport you to another ship in a matter of hours. Until you arrive, I suggest you continue to be compliant and obedient. Five has developed an unexpected fondness for escorting difficult passengers to the airlock and spacing them. It is one of the conditioning flaws I am hoping you can help us correct.”
“I will do as you say.” She didn’t dare look over at Five again. If he was conditioned, then he wasn’t merely an employee. He was something far more dangerous – a tool of the Gray Men, one that would kill her without hesitation.
“I am glad to hear that. I look forward to meeting you.” Vivian’s tone changed to one of command. “Five. You may release our guest from her restraints. She is to be treated as an employee, not a prisoner. Do you understand?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. I will see you soon, Dr. Virness. Welcome to the winning team.”
The monitor went black, but Xori didn’t move. She had the uncomfortable feeling that the other female was still watching. It was probably paranoia, but she wasn’t going to ignore her instincts again. She’d made that mistake too many times already.
Five stood and secured his weapon in a thigh holster and turned to her. He tapped a device on his wrist, and the magnetic cuffs deactivated with a low click. She held out her hands so he could remove them, gasping in discomfort as muscles and tendons screamed in renewed protest as her blood flow returned.
The pain gave her something to focus on, at least. When it faded, she’d be left with nothing to think about but how much trouble she was in. She wasn’t sure what Vivian knew about her abilities, or if she’d been taken purely because of her work with the cyborgs on Astek station. If it was the latter, that was bad, but if they’d figured out that she was one of the m’bara, that was far, far worse. She closed her eyes and uttered a silent prayer to whatever forces might be listening. Please, let them find me before I have to make a choice