The countdown to Strike Zone’s release day continues! I’m sharing scenes from the first chapter as we wait for its release on February 27th.
You can read the first scene of the first chapter here:
https://tasteofcyn.com/?p=11560
This week I’m sharing the third scene.
***
The image of Requisite, the captain of the Nimble, appeared on the main viewscreen. “We’ve detected a pulsating sound. Have you detected it also?”
“We’ve detected it.” Intrepid shared that information with the male. “It’s originating from the border. The closest match in the databases is a world-ender.”
Requisite’s lips flattened. “That’s…not optimal.” A world-ender or equivalent weapon was a threat to everyone inside their sector. Not optimal was an understatement. “The Cyborg Council has to be informed.”
“A plan of action should accompany that communication.” The Dauntless’s captain gazed at the male. “What do you propose?”
“We both process you already have a plan of action, Intrepid.” Requisite rolled his eyes.
“The Dauntless is secondary patrol.” It irked Strike’s pride that their captain had to say that.
“The Nimble’s directive is to deal with any issues along the border.” The other captain pushed back. “This situation, whatever it is, isn’t presently situated along that border.” He paused. “Allow us to focus on our directive, and take the lead on this, my friend. We’ll back you on any decisions you make, and we’ll be here to lend support.”
“We’ll keep you informed.” Their captain’s shoulders lowered slightly. “Ending communications.”
The image on the main viewscreen reverted to the openness of space. The pulsing didn’t stop.
Finally, we have a task to complete, Grid said that over the officer-transmission line.
We have the shield testing. Choice was refreshingly enthusiastic about that assignment.
That’s a safe manufactured task. Safe never appealed to Grid. This involves real danger.
That danger could lead to death. And Strike, as the Dauntless’s second-in-command, shouldn’t cheer for anything leading to a possible loss of lifespan.
But he secretly rejoiced in having a sense of purpose also.
“Open a communication line with Power.” Captain’s voice was scrubbed of all emotion.
Strike processed him well enough to project one of those emotions was distaste. Their leader and Power weren’t often in accord.
“Opening a communication line with Power, Captain.” Argot repeated that command.
An image of Power’s countenance was displayed on the main viewscreen.
“I contact you. You don’t contact me.” The male was an arrogant ass, and he didn’t try to hide it.
Strike’s lips flattened. His loyalty was given to Captain and to his fellow cyborgs, not to the Cyborg Council and its leader.
“A sound has been detected.” Captain played the audio. “It originates outside the cyborg sector. Requesting authorization to send a team to investigate it.”
“If it originates outside the sector, it isn’t our responsibility.” Power dismissed the threat.
“There’re no matches to it in our databases.” Captain wasn’t deterred. “But it does have a 97.8742 percent similarity to the sound a world-ender emits.” He shared that audio clip. “If it’s a new type of weapon and it’s situated this close to our borders…”
The implication was clear. They were all in danger.
Power pursed his lips.
Silence stretched.
“You’ll send one warrior. One.” Power stressed that number. “To investigate the sound.”
Captain opened his mouth.
“This will be a covert operation.” Power added parameters to the mission. “The warrior is not to attract attention. He’s to uncover as much as he can about the weapon and the beings operating it and then give me a full report. He is not to interact directly with those beings or give them any indication we’re aware of the weapon’s existence. Do you process?”
“I process.” Captain nodded.
Strike processed the reason for those orders also. The enemy would falsely project their secret weapon hadn’t been detected, and that would make it easier to destroy it and them.
Intel was often the difference between winning and losing in war.
“Ending communications.” Power tapped his fingers against the screen.
His countenance disappeared from view.
“I volunteer to investigate the sound, Captain.” Grid’s eyes glowed with excitement.
“You’re testing our shields.” Captain reminded him of that earlier commitment. “That’s too important a task to delegate to another warrior.”
Fraggin’ hole. Their navigator cursed through the officer-transmission lines. I didn’t project there’d be a more exciting assignment available this soon.
You’ve been trapped by your own chaos. Drift laughed.
“This mission will be led by our second-in-command.” Captain granted Strike that honor.
“Thank you, Captain.” Exhilaration rushed through Strike’s circuits. He would be gathering intel that could protect every being in the cyborg sector.
This is the kind of high-profile assignment that results in a second-in-command receiving his own ship. Captain relayed that aside through a private transmission line.
I won’t let you down, Captain. Strike had 0.0000 doubt around that. He had never failed to complete an assignment.
I process you won’t. Captain’s tone held as much certainty. “You require a vessel.” He looked at his female. “A warship would be too noticeable.”
“Warships are created for war.” The Valkyrie agreed with him. “As are your kind. Beings will assume your second-in-command is there for a battle.”
***
Read the next scene (available February 19th) here:
https://tasteofcyn.com/?p=11566
***
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Strike Zone
A cyborg devoted to duty…and to her.
***
While attending a party, Kesser, the daughter of her planet’s leader, witnesses the abduction of her best friend and her best friend’s mate.
She’s determined to rescue them. Preferably without fracturing the fragile peace agreement her mom has crafted with the abductors’ planet.
The only issue is…she has never participated in a retrieval mission.
Searching for assistance, she approaches the mate’s guard. The male, with his big broad shoulders and deep growly voice, affects her like no other being ever has.
Kesser wants him. She trusts him. And she requires his stealth combat skills.
Desperately.
Strike is no guard. The D Model cyborg has been sent to the sector to discreetly investigate a potential planet-destroying situation.
When a curvy human female with big brown eyes requests his help with a rescue, he doesn’t hesitate to say yes. She’s his genetic match, the one being he was manufactured to protect.
She’s also traveling to the next planet he has to search. He plans to claim his female while he fulfills his responsibilities to his kind.
Neither Strike nor Kesser realizes the dangers facing them are far greater than they imagine. Their enemies are converging, and one failed mission could doom the entire universe.
***
Strike Zone is a standalone, mistaken-identity, Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
It features a cyborg warrior with a finely honed sense of honor, a human support being taking on her first dangerous mission, and an evil that threatens everyone in existence.
Pre-order Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/Strike-Zone-Romance-Dauntless-Cyborgs-ebook/dp/B0CL5QZBQ8/
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Strike-Zone-Romance-Dauntless-Cyborgs-ebook/dp/B0CL5QZBQ8/
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Strike-Zone-Romance-Dauntless-Cyborgs-ebook/dp/B0CL5QZBQ8/
Amazon Canada:
https://www.amazon.ca/Strike-Zone-Romance-Dauntless-Cyborgs-ebook/dp/B0CL5QZBQ8/
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/strike-zone/id6469583228
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/strike-zone-cynthia-sax/1144231998
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/strike-zone-13
Smashwords:
