Strike Zone, the first core story in the Dauntless Cyborgs series, releases next week! Woot!
Today, I’m sharing the fourth and final scene from the very first chapter.
You can read the first scene here:
https://tasteofcyn.com/?p=11560
***
“Utilize one of the modified freighters.” Captain chose the vessel Strike projected he’d select.
Freighters were common transport ships. Weapons had been added to the cyborg-piloted freighters. That firepower was hidden on the vessels’ frames. Other modifications included increases in top speeds and an expansion of their monitoring ranges.
“Stock it with any weapons and other supplies you require.” There was no need for Captain to state specifics. It wasn’t Strike’s first mission. “Leave as soon as you’re able.”
Strike stood. “I’ll depart within the shift, Captain.”
“If you were going into battle, I’d tell you to fight hard, warrior.” The Valkyrie smiled at him.
“Fight only when necessary.” Captain cautioned him.
That was unnecessary information. He had heard Power’s instructions. “I’ll be covert.”
You’re a lucky bag of bolts. Grid’s transmission was edged with envy.
I could die. Strike was aware of the risks. If he was discovered by an enemy, his lifespan could end.
Assuming he didn’t defeat that foe.
He was a skilled fighter, both on the ground and in the sky. The probability of losing a skirmish was low.
But it wasn’t zero.
We’re aware of your good fortune, warrior. Their navigator sighed. The risk of dying was an attractant for most cyborgs, not a deterrent.
You deserve that good fortune. Argot defended him. Communicate with us when you’re able.
I’ll do that. Strike stalked off the bridge.
He passed brethren as he navigated through the hallways.
If anyone can uncover the source of the sound, it’s our second-in-command.
Leave some enemies for us.
Return in one piece, warrior. The males stationed off the bridge were as confident in his abilities as his fellow officers were.
Strike would strive to be worthy of that support. His shoulders squared.
He entered the docking bay.
There was a flurry of activity around one of the modified freighters.
“Captain said you’d be arriving.” Repercussion bumped against him. The male was stationed in loading. “You should take this with you, Second.” He handed Strike a missile launcher. “It’s a duplicate of Captain’s female’s weapon. I modified it myself. It took me fifteen planet rotations to do that properly.”
The Valkyrie was noted for having exceptional weapons. Strike juggled the missile launcher from his right hand to his left hand and back again. It had some heft to it. “I can’t take it, warrior. It’s yours.”
“I’ll modify another one.” Repercussion shrugged. “When you use it on the enemy, process that you’re not alone. Your brethren are with you.”
Cyborgs, especially D models like Strike, weren’t manufactured to operate on their own.
It was a struggle to suck back his emotions. “I’ll process that.” Strike’s voice was gruff. “Protect the Dauntless and Captain while I’m gone, warrior.”
“No damage will come to him.” Repercussion stated that with the solemness of a vow.
“I stocked you with nourishment bars, Second.” Yum slid a container into the cargo hold of the modified freighter. He was in charge of nourishment procurement. “Pirx berry-flavored, your favorite.”
“That’s appreciated.” Strike looked into the storage space.
“Beverage was also loaded.” The male waved one of his hands at those supplies.
Cyborgs didn’t require their liquids to be replenished. The beverage would only be required if he encountered a fully organic being.
That was unlikely. But… “It’s logical to be prepared for any situation.”
“That’s what I projected.” Yum’s head bobbed. “You can’t process what you’ll be facing out there. We hear rumors about this stretch of the border.”
Strike had heard the stories also.
There were tales of large creatures flying through space, of ships that disappeared with no explanation—never to be seen again, of debris fields that resembled asteroid belts, and other unusual activity.
He had to be prepared for anything.
“Homeland sent us some life-form-scan-blocking cloaks.” Those cloaks would be dangerous to don in the air. A freighter with no life-forms on it had a high probability of being shot out of space. But the garments might be beneficial once he landed on a planet’s surface.
“Two cloaks have been placed in the pack with the flight suits.” Repercussion transmitted a list of the items stored in the cargo hold to Strike.
“There’re excessive flight suits.” Strike didn’t require garments in every available size.
“It’s logical to be prepared for any situation.” Repercussion repeated what Strike had told Yum. “Warriors find genetic matches on missions.” His eyes twinkled with humor.
Yum and the other warriors situated around them nodded.
The probability he’d locate his genetic match on his current mission was 3.4588 percent. He would be focused on gathering intel about the potential threat to their kind.
But saying that would accomplish nothing except damage the males’ emotional systems. They hoped to, some planet rotation, locate their genetic matches while on missions also.
Strike chose not to address the comment. “I require five more handhelds.” He’d modify them to better track the pulsing sound.
A warrior rushed to retrieve the devices.
While those were loaded, Strike planned his mission in his processors. His assignment could be key to his kind’s survival.
Nothing could be left to variability.
***
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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:
