I’m sharing scenes from the first chapter of Intrepid Encounter as we wait for its release on November 21st.
You can read the first scene of the first chapter here:
https://tasteofcyn.com/?p=11291
This week I’m sharing the second scene.
***
“Why is Choice focusing on the ventilation system?” Intrepid paused. “Relay your best projection. And supply all the details behind it.”
He would uncover the truth eventually.
Grid’s grin wavered for a heartbeat.
The male was responsible for Choice’s misadventures. Intrepid processed that.
His navigator had a sense of mischief that bordered on malfunction.
And he lacked stealth. Intrepid read the guilt all over his countenance.
But Grid was also protective of his fellow crew members. He wouldn’t intentionally place the less-experienced male in peril. The current situation was a diversion for him.
The male didn’t process they were facing an unidentified danger.
Intrepid tracked Choice’s activities in the ventilation shaft. The kid had extracted a handheld from a holster on his body armor and was looking at its tiny screen. He remained in full functionality.
Seeking an explanation, Intrepid redirected his focus to Grin.
His navigator swallowed. Hard. He must have sensed he was in trouble. “Choice was boasting about how he ensured all the systems on the Dauntless were operating at maximum efficiency, Captain.”
Intrepid recognized the kid was trying to prove his worth to the rest of the crew. But that comment irked him as much as it must have irked Grid.
The Dauntless’s systems always ran at maximum efficiency.
“And?” He lifted one of his eyebrows.
“And I asked him how he processed that with 100.0000 percent certainty.” Grid turned his palms upward. “The readings for the ventilation system could be incorrect.” He shrugged. “The ventilation system was given merely as an example.”
Choice was new to the crew. Intrepid’s lips twisted. There was a low probability the newbie processed it was an example.
And there was only an 0.0235 probability the ventilation system had been a random choice. Grid had wanted to prompt the very large C Model to enter the very narrow shafts.
“I told him if he hadn’t verified the readings were correct, he couldn’t determine the ventilation system was operating at maximum efficiency with 100.0000 percent certainty.” Grid’s argument was logical. “I project he’s undertaking that verification.”
That response was logical also. And the entire interaction could inadvertently assist Intrepid with identifying the nature of the danger they might be facing. Not that either officer processed that.
“The readings could be incorrect.” He nodded.
Grid’s eyes widened. The male hadn’t projected that response.
“All our key readings, including navigation, will be verified.” Intrepid issued that command.
The officers on the bridge groaned.
It would be a huge undertaking. But they were cyborgs. Their kind didn’t require sleep.
And the process might save their lifespans. They might uncover the threat.
“Grid, you’ll lead the efforts.” That was both a reprimand and a reward. The male would gain experience at commanding beings, but he wouldn’t find the role enjoyable. “I expect progress reports every planet rotation. The first one will occur by the end of the next shift.” Intrepid inclined his head toward the footage on the main viewscreen. “Choice will have completed his verification of the ventilation-system readings by that time.”
The kid was backing out of the ventilation shaft. There was a high probability he had already completed the verification.
The Dauntless’s newest engineer was eager to prove himself. His mom, Joan, also a skilled engineer, would be proud of him.
As Intrepid was.
He looked back at Grid. “I expect the reports to be thorough.” Indication of the threat might be revealed in those details.
“Yes, Captain.” The navigator’s shoulders slumped.
The other beings on the bridge appeared as unhappy with the additional tasks.
There was a high probability they were grumbling about the orders through the crew-only transmission lines.
But Intrepid said nothing more. Their safety was a higher priority for him than being liked.
And confiding in them now would accomplish nothing except alarm his crew. That had a high probability of making a bad situation worse.
He kept his feelings to himself as a good captain should. And he focused on locating the source of the danger.
“Has there been any activity at the border?” He’d been monitoring the space, but others might have noticed something he’d missed.
“Nine pieces of debris have crossed the border over the past shift.” Strike, his second-in-command, displayed images of the wreckage beside the footage of the now-vacant ventilation shaft. All the pieces were smaller than a missile launcher. “A ship also appeared briefly at the edge of our monitoring range. It altered course and didn’t enter our visuals. Other than that, it has been quiet.”
Intrepid replaced the images on the main viewscreen with footage from the battle station’s forward recording devices. There was no movement amongst the stars.
His feelings of foreboding didn’t lessen.
Something was terribly wrong. He would uncover what that was.
***
Read the next scene (available November 13th) here:
https://tasteofcyn.com/?p=11295
***
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Intrepid Encounter
Cyborg vs. Valkyrie
Blood will be spilled and hearts will be captured.
Intrepid and his crew on the Dauntless guard the border to the cyborg sector. The D Model cyborg captain has dedicated his lifespan to protecting their homeland. He’ll do anything to secure the space and keep his brethren safe.
That includes confronting a Valkyrie intent on vengeance.
The female warrior is beautiful, brave, strong…and Intrepid’s genetic match. She’s the one being he is fated to claim. Her voice causes his circuits to hum. Her touch produces a passion he struggles to control.
But if he has to stop her…permanently…to protect his kind, he will make that sacrifice.
Olrun has been tracking the whereabouts of a one-of-a-kind object. The stolen item is critical to the safety of her Valkyrie sisters, and she’ll do anything to retrieve it.
That includes waging war on a tall, broad-shouldered cyborg warrior sporting brilliant-blue eyes and grimly set lips.
The male might…just might…have battle skills matching her own. And that excites the immortal fighter. She craves his rough handling, his punishing embrace, his stern words.
But Olrun’s desire for the cyborg won’t distract her from achieving her goal. She will shield her fellow Valkyries from danger, even if that means ending Intrepid’s lifespan in the process.
Intrepid Encounter is an enemies-to-lovers Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
It features a protective cyborg, a vengeful Valkyrie, and a destiny neither of them can predict.
Pre-order Today:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/Intrepid-Encounter-SciFi-Cyborg-Romance-ebook/dp/B0C8BN96D1
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Intrepid-Encounter-SciFi-Cyborg-Romance-ebook/dp/B0C8BN96D1
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Intrepid-Encounter-SciFi-Cyborg-Romance-ebook/dp/B0C8BN96D1
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/intrepid-encounter/id6450374920
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/intrepid-encounter-cynthia-sax/1143664740
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/intrepid-encounter
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/1409350
