Testing Truth (Cyborg Space Exploration #6) - Cynthia Sax Page 0,39
device he was holding into the box affixed to the ceiling, pushed a button, dropped to the floor.
The red beams vanished. He’d deactivated that automated weapons system. But at a price. Blood streamed down his right arm, dripped off his fingertips.
“Truth.” She dashed toward him.
“I love this mission.” He grinned at her.
She didn’t love this mission. “You’re hurt.”
“I’ll repair.” Her cyborg shrugged. “I’ve experienced worse damage.” He caught her, held her to his large form for a moment.
She pressed her face against his body armor-clad chest and said nothing, unable to put her concerns into words, not wanting to hear about his worse damage.
“Timing is critical.” He released her. “We have to keep moving.” Her cyborg crouched, took bots out of his pack.
“Let me do that.” She kneeled on the floor, helped him activate the little mechanisms.
They beeped and rolled away, would distract guards and cause chaos in other parts of the prison ship—drawing attention away from the rescue party.
“Can you continue?” Her voice was gruff with concern.
“Look at me, Princess.” Truth cupped her chin, forcing her gaze to meet his. His eyes were reassuringly bright, infused with energy. “Trust me. I’m fine.” His grin widened. “I once lost one of my arms and continued fighting.”
“You survived that.” And she did trust him.
“I’ll survive this.” He straightened, drew his guns once more.
She stood, did the same, looked behind her. Claude and Valentin were ready also. “Let’s go.”
Truth grinned. “Let’s go.”
They ran along the long, white hallway. Truth led them. Nancy followed. Her lungs burned and her limbs ached as she tried to keep pace.
She was acutely aware of the monitoring devices attached to the top of the walls.
As her cyborg had implied, it was a race against time. The longer they stayed in the ship, the higher the probability someone would spot them and sound an alarm.
They had to rescue her brother and leave before that happened.
Truth paused at an intersection, held up one of his guns. She hid in an alcove. Valentin and Claude did the same.
Her cyborg pressed against the wall. His wound had partially sealed. His bleeding had, thankfully, stopped. He was no longer in danger from that injury.
They faced other perils.
Four armed guards marched past them. The schedule for the patrols was set. Her cyborg had shaken his head when he relayed that to her, calling that sloppy.
Nancy had exchanged glances with Valentin and Claude. The schedule for Royaume patrols were set also. It left them open to attack.
The sound of the guards’ heels striking the tile floor faded. Truth sprinted to the left. They trailed him. The hallway was lined with doors. Each one sported a small porthole.
She caught glimpses of beings. Their faces were gaunt. Their forms were thin. They gazed as though they didn’t see anything.
Had the guards stretched their dwindling supply of nourishment bars by not feeding the prisoners? Her brother had been alive, according the databases Truth had accessed. But, if he was in a similar state to the others, he was barely existing, would be unable to walk.
Her cyborg was familiar with the Humanoid Alliance, with their treacherous ways. He must have suspected her brother would be unwell.
That would explain why he hadn’t fought the addition of Valentin and Claude to their team. The three of them were human, were slower, less quiet.
Based on skill alone, Truth could complete the mission more effectively without assistance.
Her presence was needed to reassure her brother he was being freed, to convince him to come with them. He would…should recognize her.
Valentin and Claude were human, Royaume. If her brother needed to be carried, he wouldn’t…shouldn’t resist their assistance.
He would fight Truth’s involvement. When her brother was traded, cyborgs had been enslaved by the Humanoid Alliance. He would view her male as the enemy, battle him, scream.
Stars. Her brother could be the being to sound the alarm. He could prevent his own rescue, could cause them all to be killed.
She couldn’t think of that possibility now. It was too late to change their fates. She focused on the broad shoulders of her cyborg, on matching his fast pace.
A small panel at the base of a wall opened. Truth froze in place.
Nancy, Valentin, and Claude stopped moving also.
Bots rolled out of the narrow space. They beeped and chirped, polishing the floor, sweeping dust only they could see.
They must not be a threat. Truth navigated around the cleaning bots, increasing his speed with each stride. Nancy pushed away her weariness and shadowed him.