Testing Truth (Cyborg Space Exploration #6) - Cynthia Sax Page 0,1
be no training offspring to fight while they’re being manufactured.”
North’s offspring continued his efforts to free himself. The frustration on the little cyborg’s face mirrored the irritation on his father’s countenance.
Truth shouldn’t find that amusing.
Yet he did.
Perhaps his brethren were correct. Perhaps he was malfunctioning.
He shrugged. That didn’t concern him. Much.
“The next planet we’re exploring is Nereid Negative One.” Captain relayed a fact Truth already processed. “Truth, optimize our route.”
“Optimizing our route to Nereid Negative One, Captain.” He acknowledged the order.
It wasn’t a challenging task to complete. The planet was small, was the size of a moon the Humanoid Alliance had assigned him and his D Model brethren to defend 3.2798 human lifespans ago, but its orbit around its distant sun was constant and surprisingly well tracked.
He located Nereid Negative One’s current coordinates easily and crafted the fastest and safest path to that point. “We’ll arrive at our destination in two planet rotations and 1.3659 shifts.”
The manufacturing of the offspring should alleviate his boredom until then.
Especially if North, that offspring’s father, wanted to release some of his frustrations in the fighting chambers. Truth grinned.
“Should the Reckless arrive at Nereid Negative One?” Captain’s female surprised everyone present with that seemingly random question.
It distracted Truth from North’s shouted threats and the offspring’s battle cries. He studied Captain’s female. The human had uncovered a detail they hadn’t yet processed. He was 89.2563 certain of that.
Captain must have reached the same conclusion. He frowned at his female. “We’ll send a shuttle craft to the surface.”
That was the standard operating procedure they’d utilized for the previous exploration missions. A small team was sent to the planet they were tasked by Power and the cyborg council to explore and document. The Reckless with its remaining crew stayed in open space, out of danger.
“That shuttle craft once belonged to the Humanoid Alliance.” Captain’s female lifted her eyebrows. “I’ve been monitoring a channel originating from Nereid Negative One and—”
“Why are we monitoring a channel originating from Nereid Negative One?” Captain issued a query he should already process the results for.
Captain’s female was a skilled hacker. She monitored all channels.
“The channel broadcasts to beings who don’t follow rules, to those who fight larger entities.” Captain’s female didn’t acknowledge his response. “They claim Nereid Negative One is a haven for outlaws and rebels.” She glanced at her warrior. “Those are their words. One of their often-cited actions is shooting down a Humanoid Alliance Freighter.”
“I love this planet already.” Truth would soon have the adventure he constantly sought.
Captain cast him a hard glance. “Dissent, relay all the information we have on Nereid Negative One.”
“The planet is named Nereid Negative One because the first being who stepped upon its surface claimed zero was too generous a designation for it.” Dissent’s flat tone was belied by the gleam in his eye. Truth’s friend enjoyed relaying that detail. “It hosts one small settlement that serves as a supply and repair stop for passing ships. Nourishment, beverage, and parts are delivered from off-planet. One traveler called Nereid Negative One the place dreams go to die.”
Truth laughed through the transmission lines. He added that colorful phrase to his databases, would utilize it in the future.
Captain’s lips twitched. “We’ll send a two-warrior exploration team to Nereid Negative One.”
He looked around the bridge.
There weren’t many warriors to choose from. Truth bounced in his chair.
North wouldn’t be assigned to the team. Captain wouldn’t part him from his female and soon-to-be manufactured offspring. Doc had to tend to his patients. Chuckles was actively avoiding Captain’s gaze, had no interest in leaving the ship.
That left Dissent and himself.
“Dissent and Truth will catalog the planet.” Captain announced that foregone conclusion.
“Yes.” Truth pumped the air with his fists. “We’ll increase our kill rates.”
“There will be no killing…unless those beings attempt to kill you.” Captain endeavored to steal his joy.
That wasn’t possible. “They will attempt to kill us.” His grin widened. “They’ll see our shuttle craft, assume we continue to fight for the Humanoid Alliance, and seek to end our lifespans.”
Better warriors than the beings on Nereid Negative One had tried to do that. And he remained alive. Truth flexed his biceps, eager for the chaos of battle.
“You’ll take a fighter ship, not a shuttle craft.” Captain deviated from their previous plans. “And you’ll modify it, removing all indications it was a Humanoid Alliance vessel.”
“Yes.” The mission got better and better. A fighter ship would fly faster than a shuttle craft and was equipped with a superior weapons system. Both appealed to Truth.
“If the