AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“… and then I find you far from camp, cozied up with a half-naked cyborg! Do I have to remind you how dangerous those things are? Especially to a woman on her own? The corporations messed with their hormones to make them even more aggressive. You were taking more than your life into your hands just being close to it.”
Douglas hadn’t stopped ranting since they’d left the meadow. Rin had tuned him out for the most part, but his latest accusation couldn’t be left uncontested.
“Lieutenant Douglas, you know full well I was checking on Axe’s injured shoulder. You, of all people, should be aware that the psy-hawks can do significant damage with their talons.” He’d been attacked by the subjects several times since he’d joined the project. He’d finally learned not to poke and prod at them like they were objects instead of living creatures.
“Cyborgs heal at an accelerated rate. He didn’t need your assistance. If I hadn’t arrived when I did…” He trailed off, his implications clear. He wanted her to thank him for saving her from some dire fate he’d dreamed up. The man’s ego was out of control.
“I don’t believe I was in any danger. If he’d been a threat, Amun would not have bonded with him. As for today’s events, I’ve already given you an explanation for everything that occurred. Be assured I will submit an update once I’m back at camp. I’m certain the higher ups will be pleased to hear that the project is progressing.”
“I wouldn’t call today’s outcome progress. You gave away one of the rarest animals in the galaxy to a cybernetic psychopath. You do realize that once our time here is over, you’ll likely never be allowed to return?” Douglas shot her a look of pure vitriol laced with exasperation. “This has to be what the local leadership hoped for when they agreed to let us come here. You’ve played right into their plans.”
Douglas was throwing blame around in hopes it stuck to someone else, which was ridiculous.
“I don’t understand your point. There was always a risk that some, or even all, of the subjects might bond and stay on the planet. That’s why a male and female psy-hawk were left in the IAF’s care,” she pointed out gently.
He knew that already. Hell, he’d been the one to tell her about the last-minute change in plans. She assumed she wasn’t told until after they’d left orbit because the brass knew she’d be angry and wanted to avoid a confrontation. It worked, too. There was no point in arguing once they were in transit. She’d let the matter go because any kind of protest was pointless and would only irritate the ones paying her salary.
“Right. Of course.” He waved away her point like it was an annoying bug. “But still, every one of the subjects is a valuable asset.”
Rin arranged her features into the calmest expression she could manage before replying. Once the lieutenant was agitated, it was pointless to try and argue or protest, so she simply moved on to her next point.
“I’m sure the local leadership wouldn’t refuse my request to return at some future point, especially if it benefited Axe and Amun. But even if I’m not allowed back, it wouldn’t impact you in any way. This mission is only set to last another two weeks, Lieutenant. After that, I won’t be your responsibility anymore.”
“That’s the point, Dr. Rey. Until then, you and these subjects are my responsibility. What happened today cannot happen again. Do you understand?”
She gave a brief nod, despite the fact she didn’t see the point he was trying to make. Still, if she appeared agreeable, maybe he’d end this conversation and let her get back to work.
No such luck.
He fixed her with a stern gaze. “I need you to confirm that you understand my directives and will obey them for the safety of you and the project.”
“I understand that you are responsible for the safety of everyone involved in this project, Lieutenant Douglas.” She nearly added that it wasn’t her intention to put herself or the subjects in danger, but it would only ramp up his anger again. Plus, it wasn’t entirely true. She had snuck out of camp without her escort. The thing was, Douglas refused to see that the hawks were all the protection she needed.
“Which is why I am monitoring your location.” His expression turned dark and predatory for a brief but disturbing moment. “Or did you think we found you so quickly out of pure luck?”
The son of a bitch was tracking her. She managed to rein in her anger but not her expression, which was all he needed to know he’d scored a direct hit. “You can’t do that. It’s a violation of my rights.”
“I can do that. Didn’t you read the mission briefing?” He threw her earlier words back at her. “For the duration of this project, your personal rights are secondary to the goals of the mission. That includes the safety of you and the subjects.”
And since he was in charge of security, he could, and obviously would, use that clause to control her. His interpretation was twisted to suit his needs, of course. But he was the highest-ranking officer on the planet. Hell, he was the only officer in the whole damned system. Fraxx.
She allowed her shoulders to slump in apparent defeat and bowed her head. “I see.”
Douglas wasn’t done gloating. “I don’t care if you see it,” he hissed at her. “I want to know if you understand what I said and what it means.”
She kept her head down because she wasn’t confident she could hide her anger if she looked at him right now. “I understand perfectly, Lieutenant Douglas.”
“Good. Now, I need you to understand one more thing, Dr. Rey. You will never release all the subjects from their cages at once again without my permission.”
“Understood.” This time, she kept her head down to hide her smile. Douglas still didn’t realize that the birds were intelligent enough to free each other. So long as one of them was out of their cage, all of them could be released.
Next, she would teach them how to open the cages from the inside. Douglas might have control of her for now… but she’d never let him have full control over the animals in her care.
6
Axe shadowed the soldiers escorting Rin until they left his property. Amun assisted him by flying overhead and feeding him images of the group as they moved through the trees. Nothing either he or Amun saw impressed him. The soldiers looked like they were on a nature hike instead of a military excursion. Their formation was sloppy and their attitude one of distracted boredom.
Douglas either didn’t notice or didn’t care what his men did. His attention was focused on Rin, and from what Axe heard and saw, the arrogant ass was ranting and blaming Rin for everything. He was the fraxxing officer in charge. If a civilian scientist could slip out of camp unseen with a half-dozen birds in tow, the problem wasn’t Rin.
