Surrender to the Cyborgs(37)

“That doesn’t look like it faded, Doctor,” Ryston added.

“He’s the first human to be infected. Their immune system and physiology is different.” The doctor looked into the captain’s eyes, checked his pulse, looked at his little wand thing again as I held Captain Brooks head in my lap. Brooks was still breathing, barely, and I didn’t want him to feel like he was alone, just in case. I ran my hand through his hair, over and over, just holding him, soothing him as much as I could.

“He’s got trace amounts of Quell in his system.” The doctor’s words made Ryston stiffen beside me and I ran my fingers along the captain’s brow, hoping he could feel my touch even as I wondered what the hell was going on. Was some kind of infection spreading through him?

“Quell? Are you sure?” Maxim asked.

“Yes.” The doctor answered without looking up.

What was Quell? Why was Maxim’s rage so strong that my throat tightened and I had to fight not to vomit lasagna all over the floor? And was it true, Captain Brooks was the first human affected? Did they not understand human physiology? Didn’t Earth give the Coalition doctors data on human physiology before we sent our soldiers, and our brides, out into space?

Three stuttering breaths and the captain went into convulsions.

Ryston yanked me back, out of the way, as four huge warriors came to hold Brooks down. It seemed to go on forever and I held onto Ryston for dear life. Maxim joined us, placing his body between me and the sight of the captain shuddering and shaking on the floor.

When it was finally over, the doctor shook his head.

“He’s dead.”





Chapter Ten

Maxim



A warrior had just died before us all. During the celebration meal with the Prime in attendance. It didn’t bode well for the Colony, and especially Base 3. But that was all secondary to my mate. I worried for her most of all. Had she seen someone die before? Everyone in the room, aside from Lady Jessica, had fought the Hive, been captured and tortured. They knew what it was like to endure, to face death and choose. Cling to life, fight and claw back from the brink, or turn away and allow death to take you. From my own personal hell at the hands of the Hive, I had often wondered if I’d made the right choice. Before Rachel, I sometimes imagined death to be a better choice than survival.

For up until a few days ago when I was matched to Rachel, that was all I’d been doing. Surviving.

Just as Prime Nial had said before all fucking hell broke loose, it was time to live.

But now, fuck. Now our mate had witnessed the cruel death of one of her own. She was in my arms, stiff and unyielding. She wouldn’t give over to my embrace, to the protective shield of my arms. My body couldn’t shelter nor soothe her. She didn’t allow me to comfort her, or shelter her from what happened. No, she fought to be released, to return to Captain Brooks’ side.

My mate was a warrior in her own way. Perhaps she did not carry a weapon, but her mind was sharp as a blade, and I could feel her emotions clearly through the collar. She was not afraid. She was angry. Determined. Stubborn. And so damn beautiful, her fierce resolve only made me want her more.

“It was Quell. Without doubt. Clearly, he was weak,” Doctor Surnen’s voice was filled with disgust and Rachel stiffened at his tone. Her contempt for the doctor blasted me through the collar like poison in my mind. Obviously, the doctor had not made a good first impression. And my mate had neither forgiven nor forgotten their first encounter.

Rachel pushed out of my hold and spun on her heel, her dress swirling around her. “I have no idea what the hell this Quell is, but he wasn’t weak. He was a SEAL, Doctor. Have some respect.” Her words were clipped and full of disdain.

I didn’t like Doctor Surnen, never had, but he knew what he was doing. He was brilliant, and had saved more than one warrior’s life since I’d known him. Many citizens of the Colony arrived immediately after their rescue from Hive captivity, broken and barely recognizable. The doctor always managed to bring them back. Always. He saved what no one else thought could be saved. For that, if nothing else, he’d earned my respect.

“My lady.” Doctor Surnen lifted his head to look at my mate. “I meant no offense to you. Quell is a chemical substance well known on the Colony. It alters the chemicals in the brain to make a user feel happy, to soften the agony of their new life. The Hive Integration Units adapt the biosynthetics of our systems to manufacture and release trace amounts. When we are cut off from the Hive frequencies, those command functions are lost and the cyborg cells stop manufacturing the drug. Many can’t adapt. They become dependent.”