Testing Truth (Cyborg Space Exploration #6) - Cynthia Sax Page 0,67

most sophisticated imaging system I’ve ever encountered on a vessel.”

The disconnect made his processors spin.

“Valentin doesn’t insert lifeform scanner results into his recordings.” His princess grinned at him.

Truth laughed, his good humor returning. The priorities of her entourage were damaged, but it created vast entertainment for him.

And it would now give him the visual proof he needed of the Rebels’ activities.

“I’m slowing the ship.” He adjusted their speed. “We’ll capture as much of the surface as we can.” It would be almost as revealing as walking the terrain.

“We’ll gather all the data your Captain might need to form his decision.” His female zoomed in on a different section of the image.

Truth rested his chin on her right shoulder.

They analyzed the footage as it was recorded, pointing out unusual structures and numerous flat surfaces that appeared to be landing sites. Beings were too small to be detected, but the number of domiciles supported the lifeform count.

While they worked, Truth mouthed over his female’s skin, stroked her bared arms, caressed her fabric-covered chest with his fingertips. She wore one of her flowing gowns. Her slippered feet dangled above the floor. Her upswept hair was soft, devoid of pigment. A tiara was perched on the top of her head. She was beautiful and yielding and his.

The ship passed Mercury Minor and he increased its speed, running the engines at their full capacity. “The goal is to reach the Reckless before the beings on the planet leave.” He paused. “Captain might choose to confront them. If he does—”

“If he does, that will be his choice and we’ll support him, participating in that confrontation.” His female covered his hands with hers. “We won’t deprive ourselves of that adventure.”

We won’t deprive ourselves. His princess had wanted to land on Mercury Minor also.

Truth’s grin widened. She had made the decision to forgo that based on her belief it was the right decision, not because she didn’t want to investigate the situation.

“I love you, my princess.” He kissed her nape, honored she belonged to him.

They arrived at the Reckless less than two planet rotations later, setting the ship down in the docking bay. It would be their home for the duration of the quarantine.

Marthe, Valentin, and Claude joined him and his female on the bridge. They had been debriefed regarding the situation on Mercury Minor, were prepared to confront the Rebel cyborgs also.

If Captain chose that resolution.

Truth opened communications with him. “Is this line secure?”

The view changed. “It’s secure, you chaos-causing bag of bolts.” Chuckles, Reckless’ communications officer and one of the grumpiest cyborgs in the universe, glared at him. “It can’t be accessed from outside the Reckless.”

Truth grinned at him. “I missed you.”

“Ugh.” Chuckles shook his head.

The view reverted to Captain’s face. “This is being broadcast to the bridge.”

The image expanded to include all the beings in the space. Captain, North, Doc, Dissent, Chuckles, and their females were present. North’s female held Victorious, their tiny offspring. Future, the ship’s sole fully mature offspring, sat beside Captain’s female. His chin was lifted, his expression proud.

As it should be. He was being included in an important and highly confidential discussion, one that might change their fate…forever.

Truth wrapped his arms around his princess.

“What is urgent about this communication?” Captain’s tone was curt. “Why couldn’t it wait until you were out of quarantine?”

Frag. Who overtightened his mechanics? “We passed Mercury Minor en route to the Reckless.”

“Mercury Minor is not to be explored.” Captain’s eyes blazed. “And Ghost is not to be communicated with.”

Truth squeezed his female. She had given him the right advice—telling him not to land there. Captain would have jettisoned both of them into open space…or threatened to do that.

“We didn’t explore Mercury Minor.” He employed a snooty tone Valentin would approve of him utilizing. “And we didn’t communicate with Ghost. We performed a lifeform scan.” He sent the results of all three scans.

There was silence for one, two, three heartbeats. That was telling.

He had succeeded in shocking Captain and their brethren.

And he hadn’t yet revealed the bright-pink chest and ass coverings Marthe had fabricated for him.

Satisfaction bloomed in Truth.

“The lifeform scanner must be malfunctioning.” Captain, predictably, dismissed the readings. “Only three beings reside on Mercury Minor.”

“There have been nine hundred and five structures fabricated…that we detected.” Truth shared those images also. “Why would three beings require that many structures?”

“Fraggin’ hole.” Dissent’s curse earned him a sharp look from Captain. “Is the Rebels’ base situated on Mercury Minor?”

“That speculation doesn’t leave this bridge.” Captain relayed information they already processed.