Baring Grudge, the third standalone story in the Rebel Cyborgs series, is releasing next week! Woot!
Today, I’m sharing the fourth and final scene from the very first chapter.
You can read the first scene here:
***
“I will remain on the space station.” His word was his bond.
After his arm and leg had been blown off and he was retrieved by the scrappers, he had been sold as a hunk of junk for a handful of credits. He had been at the mercy of those human and humanoid buyers and assigned the most menial processor-numbing of tasks.
Humiliated and tortured and cut off from his brethren, honor had been the only thing he had left.
He wouldn’t discard it now. “The role of guarding the structure is mine.”
Cadet’s forehead furrowed with thought lines. She gazed at him for three, four, five heartbeats.
“You do require extended access to the systems, to the structure, to devise the best demolition strategy.” She pursed her lips. “And there is a possibility the Humanoid Alliance has detected our commandeering of their plaything. They could attempt to destroy it remotely. You have the skills to stop that.”
Grudge’s head dipped. He could complete that task.
“If you can’t stop the remote detonation, if the Humanoid Alliance sends ships here to reclaim the space station, you are to immediately abandon your post.” Cadet’s tone was stern. “You are to take a warship and fly far from these coordinates. Once you’re certain they haven’t followed you, you are to return to Mercury Minor.”
He could defend the space station. Grudge scowled at her. Even a permanently damaged warrior such as himself could do that.
The structure had an advanced weapons system. Guns had been installed on its exterior. No ships would land in its docking bay without his authorization.
“Vow to me you’ll do that, warrior.” Cadet barked that command at him.
She processed that once he gave her his word, he’d never break it.
He ground his teeth in frustration. His leader would force him to retreat, would give him no choice but to take that dishonorable action.
“I vow I’ll do that.” Each word grated at him.
Cadet’s stance eased. “Retreat is often necessary to win wars.” She must have heard the resentment in his voice. “And I will not lose another warrior to the Humanoid Alliance.” Her gaze slipped from his. “I’ve lost too many of our brethren already.”
Some of the transmissions requesting help, their brethren pleading for rescues, had stopped. They all processed what that meant—those warriors had perished. They hadn’t been retrieved in time.
Cadet took those losses to heart. It fueled her anger at Power. The E Model refused to send retrieval teams, refused to authorize other warriors to rescue the cyborgs left behind.
She wouldn’t desire another loss.
It irked Grudge, however, that she assumed she’d lose him.
But his leader had no rational reason to project he would survive such a confrontation. His head bowed slightly, shame weighing on him. He had been damaged in battle, hadn’t been able to free himself from mortifying servitude, had to beg her and others for help.
That was the past. He pushed those misgivings to the back of his processors.
The future would be different. He had an opportunity to change his leader’s view of him. His simulated spine straightened once more. He would demonstrate he was the equal of any other warrior.
“I’ll safeguard the space station.” His vow only required he leave his post if he was certain he couldn’t stop a remote detonation or if multiple ships belonging to the Humanoid Alliance arrived to reclaim the space station.
If any other situation arose, he could stay and fight. He would master the space station’s defenses, would jettison robots to use for target practice.
He would create his own excitement. A smile lifted his lips.
The planet rotations of solitude would be anything but boring.
He would prove his worth…to Cadet, to the rest of the team, to himself.
***
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Baring Grudge
No one in the universe is more determined than a cyborg warrior tracking his female.
***
Grudge, a C Model cyborg, has been assigned a mission – safeguard a Humanoid Alliance space station for his kind. Honor was once all he had, and he is determined to fulfill his duty.
That resolve is tested when a tiny human female enters the space station and sets the prettiest little explosives the warrior has ever seen. She is Grudge’s genetic match, the one being manufactured for him. He wants to touch her, kiss her, claim her in all ways, but first he has to stop her from blasting him into the next galaxy.
Taelyn has a self-appointed mission—to destroy every battle robot the Humanoid Alliance has ever manufactured. A huge gray-skinned, blue-eyed cyborg warrior with mismatched arms won’t prevent her from achieving her goal. She’ll escape him, leaving destruction in her wake.
Before she departs, she’ll experience one toe-curling moment of hatred-edged passion with her handsome foe. She’ll show him how skilled with detonations she truly is. He will have his universe rocked.
Then she’ll disappear.
Her cyborg, however, has no intention of ever letting her go.
***
Baring Grudge is a STANDALONE Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
It features a determined, damaged warrior, an equally resolute human female, and an explosive game of predator and prey played across galaxies.
Baring Grudge is the third of five core stories in the Rebel Cyborgs Series.
Book 1: Containing Malice
Book 2: Under Strain
Book 3: Baring Grudge
Book 4: B Free
Book 5: Seizing Power
Pre-order Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08ZL2D986
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08ZL2D986
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B08ZL2D986
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/baring-grudge/id1559566673
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/baring-grudge-cynthia-sax/1139086727
