I’m sharing scenes from the first chapter of Grin And Bare Him as we wait for its release on November 22nd.
You can read the first scene from the first chapter of Grin And Bare Him here:
http://tasteofcyn.com/?p=10131
This week I’m sharing the second scene of that first chapter.
***
“We’ll determine whose projectile placement is better while we test your panels.” Strive’s eyes glittered. “What are the parameters?”
“We’ll test three panels each.” Grin selected the most viable candidates. “Fifty projectiles in each sheet. Random formation. No repeats. From a distance of four strides away.”
“Even a human could hit a panel from four strides away.” His friend moved that distance from a panel. “Increase the difficulty level, cyborg. Delete that random formation spec and insert a—” He tilted his head. “—floral-formation requirement in its stead.”
“You’ll win that challenge.” Grin hadn’t Strive’s artistry with projectile placements. “But I’ll win also. The panels will be tested.”
“And they’ll be beautiful.” His friend’s head dipped. “Let’s do this.”
Grin searched his processors for an image of a flower that would fill the entire space and test every part of the panel. He then shot in rapid succession, outlining the petals, stem, and leaves.
The projectiles pierced the metal.
Fraggin’ hole. His lips flattened. That material wasn’t usable.
He moved to the next panel, utilized the same image. The projectiles pinged off the surface of the sheet.
That panel would progress to the second stage of testing.
The third sheet, decorated with the identical floral design, also passed the projectile test.
Strive continued to shoot.
Grin inspected the two panels remaining under consideration. The projectiles had dented one of them deeper than the other.
He waited for his friend to complete his testing.
And waited. And waited.
The shooting didn’t stop.
Grin walked to Strive’s side and looked at his target.
The K Model remained on the first panel.
Strive had utilized hundreds of projectiles. Each one had punctured the metal.
The material wasn’t usable, but the result was a work of art. The flowers, leaves, and stems swirled in an elaborate design.
“You won the challenge.” Grin’s design was crude in comparison.
“I discarded the parameters of the test.” Strive’s tone was edged with guilt.
“Maintaining the parameters of the test wouldn’t have changed its results.” Grin shrugged. “I won’t be utilizing that metal on the exterior of a structure.”
He moved to Strive’s second panel, unloaded fifty projectiles into it, shifted to the final panel, did the same.
One of the panels passed the durability test.
“Three materials have made it to the next round of evaluation.” Grin was satisfied with that number.
“Are we blowing the panels up now?” Strive tilted his head and gazed at his design for a heartbeat. He then pressed one of his triggers again.
“Testing them against space debris would be more effective.” Grin grasped one of the winning panels, held it upward, at eye level. “We could attach them to a ship, fly that vessel between the Homeland and one of the unoccupied planets in the sector, evaluate the panels’ conditions when we land.”
“And if they fail that test?” Strive lifted his panel also. Light shone through the puncture marks. “The ship would implode and everyone on board will die.”
“That’s unlikely to happen.” Grin frowned. “There’s a mere 5.1236 percent probability of catastrophic failure.”
“That’s not zero.” His friend’s eyes sparkled. “Only a reckless warrior would volunteer to pilot that ship.”
A being appeared on their internal monitoring systems.
They exchanged a humor-laden glance.
That reckless warrior had presented himself.
“I projected you’d be here.” Raw swaggered into view. “The cyborg council has granted the three of us authorization to trek to Mercury Minor.”
“You’re claiming your female.” Grin was happy for the male.
Raw was one of the thousands of cyborgs who’d been matched with beings rescued by the Rebel faction. Their friend had heard a female’s voice and had processed she was designed for him.
The K model was worthy of that honor. He was a skilled warrior and a good being.
“I’m claiming my female.” Raw’s chin lifted.
Grin swallowed his envy. “You’re a lucky bag of bolts, my friend.” He slapped the male’s right arm.
“You deserve happiness.” Strive punched Raw’s left shoulder. “Frag. We all do.”
His gaze met Grin’s.
They both processed they were unlikely to have genetic matches.
“There are different types of happiness.” Grin summoned a smile. “I’m happy to have an opportunity to further test the panels.”
***
Read the next scene (available November 7th) here:
http://tasteofcyn.com/?p=10135
***
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Grin And Bare Him
This cyborg will be the warrior his female requires.
Cyborgs are designed to fight. That is their primary purpose and 98.2356 percent of the manufactured warriors enjoy battle. Tremendously.
Grin, a K model, is one of the rare exceptions. When he escaped his cruel creators, he set down his sword and allocated his processors to less violent pursuits. He projects he’s left his war-waging planet rotations behind him forever.
Then he meets his beautiful, beguiling female, the one being he’s destined to protect, to claim, to love for all eternity, and his plans for peace are completely decimated.
Mohini needs a ship.
She has a dangerous mission to complete and the first step in that assignment is arranging transport to an enemy-controlled planet. The vessel she has set her sights on is guarded by the sexiest cyborg she’s ever seen.
To gain access to his ship, Mohini is prepared to kiss, caress, seduce the muscular male. The mission is her focus. The pleasure she experiences will merely be a bonus.
A female has to do what a female has to do to save the universe.
Grin And Bare Him is a Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
It features a humanoid female undertaking a dangerous mission, a cyborg intent on keeping her alive, and an enemy with enough firepower to blow up an entire sector.
Pre-order Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09ZCWMSDV
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09ZCWMSDV
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B09ZCWMSDV
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/grin-and-bare-him/id1622100495
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/grin-and-bare-him-cynthia-sax/1141413965
