Hell On Heels(113)

“Yes. We are all aware. Fortunately, there are other cyber scientists willing to lend their talents to that specific project. If Norton has nothing that interests you at the moment, perhaps a paid consultancy would suit you more than a permanent position. I’m sure the personal loss of not one, but two costly Cyber Husbands over the last seven years, has been traumatic for you. And we are all aware that Jackson left you no choice but to deal with his own death recently. What I’m trying to say is that we understand this may be a time in your life where it’s natural you would be doing a lot of. . .self-reflection.”
Kyra watched Chancellor Owens shrug his shoulders after his speech and look away. She had no logical reason to dislike him other than he always gave her the creeps. And she doubted he ever reflected on anything outside of his bank account for long.
“The consideration of the UCN council for my personal losses is greatly appreciated, but I assure you that I am doing just fine. My relationship to Jackson was over long before his death occurred and brought me back into the picture temporarily. And as my reports on their deaths indicated, both my Cyber Husbands came to me with undiagnosed mental health problems. Their losses merely taught me to be a smarter consumer about spending my money.”
When Chancellor Owens glared at her explanation, Kyra had to fight off the urge to sigh. She was getting really tired of defending her right to do what she wanted for a living.
“That’s good to hear. Still—I don’t think it’s wise of you to make any sort of final decision about refusing so much potential income,” he suggested.
Kyra nodded reluctantly. Chancellor Owens had a rational point and she had no way to defend her own logic. All she could do was hope the UCN left her alone long enough to finish her task.
“I concede your suggestion to delay my final choice is wise, but for now I remain resolved in my quest to find a happier life in more suitable work. Receiving Jackson’s surprising inheritance has allowed me to purchase a third Cyber Husband. In fact, he’s being delivered in a few hours. I’ve planned a short honeymoon for us next week, so it is doubtful I will look for work until after our return.”
Kyra swallowed past the knot of tension in her throat. She want to say “not only no, but hell no” to going back to Norton, but she was too afraid of the UCN’s power to deny their request so flatly. “Perhaps from time to time I could return to Norton to work on special projects. I will give that idea some additional thought once I’ve settled down to marital life again.”
“Yes, please do that, Dr. Winters. And congratulations on your new purchase. You have the UCN’s best wishes for the relationship to be both pleasing and successful this time,” Chancellor Owens declared.
Kyra nodded once, hoping the man was finally winding down. “Thank you, Chancellor Owens.”
“Have a blessed day, Dr. Winters.”
“May the same fate be yours, Chancellor.”
Kyra laughed and shook her head after she had disconnected. The amount of money the UCN had been willing to pay her to return to Norton was unnaturally obscene. If she was worth twenty million a year to them to stay, would the UCN really let her go work for anyone else for less money? Probably not. But what could they do to stop her?
Or maybe the right question was, what would they do to stop her?
Thinking of the conference call and her own trepidation made her suddenly regret all the things she had put off doing up to now. Kyra had to wipe the sweat from her palms before the remote for the com would work. When she was sure the com viewer was shut down completely, she rose and headed for her lab.
***
Kyra sighed with genuine regret as she attached the most recent photo she could find to the file she was creating. She stared for a while at the handsome solider, then cleared her throat as her finger hesitated over the record symbol. Making a holographic message to document her work had been put off for too long already.
She had one more chance—one more cyborg—and he was due to be delivered in just a few hours. If restoration didn’t work this time, her video confession might be the only record of all the secrets she had kept for the last seven years. There was no money left for another attempt which meant there was also no time left for being afraid.
“Record full body visuals as well as speech. Visual is to be permanently attached to the final output. Destroy any file copy on attempt at separation of visual, or any attempt to edit content at all. Set password code for running the file as. . .”
Kyra hesitated over the password. To open the message, she had intended to use the cyborg ID of her first successful restoration because the man himself would become the living dissertation proving her work. Since she hadn’t been successful yet, she could only have faith that her third and final attempt would net that result.