Adam 483: Man or Machine? (10 page)

“I don’t appreciate the strong-arm treatment, Lieutenant.” She glanced toward the docking bay panel to make certain all pods were present and accounted for, but she was too far away to see the readings.

“I do apologize. However, all Cyborgs must be destroyed, as you know, for everyone’s protection.”

The door to the lift swooshed open and Hanson stepped out.

Tyree still didn’t know for sure whether she could trust the Corporal or not, even though he’d been on several missions with her and had always done his job well. Trust was hard for her to come by these days. Like he’d said though, she didn’t have a lot of options.

“Hanson, do you know where Ridgeway is?” She hoped he had some sort of plan and was truly loyal to her, otherwise, this was the end of the line.

“He’s up on the docking bay. I found him trying to plant an explosive device on the space patrol’s pod. Here it is. Deactivated.” He handed a tiny, metal panel to the team leader. “He must have fabricated the story about a Cyborg to get you aboard.”

Stanton suspiciously examined the device handed to him. “We
have
had several boarding team pods blow up upon reentry to our main vessels, as I’m sure you’ve heard.”

“Yes, space chatter travels fast,” Hanson confirmed.

Tyree was aware of the chatter, too. Some unknown organization was systematically trying to destroy Space Command, starting with all teams currently on patrol in this sector. Already, more than fifty officers had suffered injury or death due to bomb plants. The device Hanson handed Stanton was a standard explosive panel used to blast through titanium plates and other alloy-based materials. They carried a supply on the ship. His story held merit and might buy them some time.

“Has Ridgeway served you long, Captain?” Stanton asked.

“No. This is only his second mission with me.”

“I see. We’ll take him back with us for questioning. I’m sorry for any inconvenience or delays we’ve caused.” He turned to Hanson. “He’s secured?”

“I turned him over to your men. He’s denying everything of course. But I have him on disk.”

Tyree shifted nervously. Disk? That wasn’t possible. Hanson’s story was certainly a lie.

He took a silver disk from his pocket and handed it over. “The picture is grainy, but still visible enough to tell what’s going on.”

“Thank you for your assistance. We’ll get to the bottom of this. Captain.”

She nodded and watched the team leader leave the deck. She noticed Hanson’s nervous twitching out of the corner of her eye, but she didn’t move until the patrol pod redocked on the other vessel, and the ship disappeared from view. “Maintain our position for now. I’ll plot new coordinates and feed them into the computer from my quarters,” she ordered.

Hanson whispered in her ear. “We need to go to medical.”

She didn’t question or even acknowledge his words, only turned and followed in silence. Her mind raced, unsure of what to believe at this point. She kept her hand near her knife, just in case. She needed answers. Fast.

* * * * *

When Tyree and Hanson entered the medical unit, she was fuming. Hanson had refused to answer any of her questions in the lift, insisting she wait until they arrived at medical. Sheera greeted them.

“Tyree. John.”

“Where is he?” Tyree asked, dispensing with pleasantries. Her heart was pounding against her ribs and she felt ready to jump out of her skin.

“Here.”

At the sound of Adam’s voice, she spun around. Instant relief flowed through her. He was okay! And still on board, like she’d thought. The urge to run and throw her arms around him almost overwhelmed her. But she resisted in front of the other two crew members. “Someone better tell me what’s going on.”

Adam stepped forward hesitantly, as if still not sure of his position with her. “Sheera is an old friend. She, unfortunately or fortunately, depending on your point of view, spilled the beans to Hanson about me. He came to your quarters and got me after the patrol boarded. Sheera hid me in the medical supply cold storage unit. It’s impenetrable to instrument scans when locked up.”

She stared into Adam’s eyes, seeing a variety of emotions in those dark orbs. He was uncertain and wary. He didn’t think she’d planned to turn him in, she hoped. She nodded almost imperceptibly. He picked up on the movement, for his body visibly relaxed. A grin tugged at his lips. She smiled slightly in return, then looked over at Hanson. “Why would you help him?”

“I’m loyal to you, Captain. Like I said. Besides, Sheera convinced me that Adam wasn’t dangerous, due to his advanced design, and he was worth saving.” When his gaze drifted to the other woman, his eyes softened.

Ah. More than likely he was in love with her, and that’s why he’d done it. Men often did things they wouldn’t normally consider for the love of a special woman. Tyree looked at Sheera. “You lied to me about Adam. And I asked you straight-out.”

“Sorry, Tyree. Your attitude at the time would have been dangerous to his safety.”

“How did Ridgeway find out about Adam?”

“I wondered about that, too.” Hanson held up a small device. “And this is the culprit. After you went back up to the command deck, I found this hidden camera in your bath. I figured a video plant was the only way he could have known, so I did a sweep. Nothing was in your main quarters, but this small cam was embedded in the ceiling close to your shower.”

Mortification filled Tyree. The things Ridgeway must have seen!

“I’ve destroyed the drive inside, so no record exists of anything. I didn’t watch it.”

Tyree nodded, breathing a sigh of relief. Sheera and John really were true friends to her and Adam. “How did you get a disk of Ridgeway sabotaging the patrol pod? He didn’t really do that, did he?”

“No. I programmed the images onto the disk.” He smiled, revealing a rarely seen dimple in his left cheek. “If they try, they can discover it’s a fake. But I think they’ll be more interested in locking up someone for the recent bombings, just to satisfy their own command, if nothing else.”

Tyree wasn’t so certain of that.

“Even if another incident occurs, we should be okay, since the space chatter is that a network of people planted the devices.”

“And when the device you gave them doesn’t match the others?”

He shrugged. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and different devices were used. I don’t know the details on that. The Lieutenant didn’t flinch when I handed him the explosive panel, so let’s not borrow trouble.”

“I suppose.” She stared at Adam, her tense muscles finally relaxing. She slowly regained her composure and thoughts. They needed a plan. “What am I supposed to do with you now?”

A smile crossed his face. “Well…”

“I’m serious. You can’t continue to fool the rest of the crew. They’re probably already suspicious, especially with the patrol team coming aboard.”

“I fooled a lot of people for a long time on Jenway Station. I’ll keep a low profile.”

“It’s too dangerous.” There had to be a way to keep him safe—and keep him close. “How about we tell people you’re really human, and we only pretended you were a robot to make you more intimidating?”

“Won’t work. Any sensor or monitor within a hundred meters will pick up my electrical circuitry. I can pass as robotic easier.”

“Monitors would also pick up your human organs.”

“True, but how often do you scan for human tissue when surrounded by humans, unless you’re a medic? Even patrols only monitor for dual existence when following up on a specific tip. They don’t generally scan for the heck of it. Full scans take too long, and filtering out one hundred percent human profiles uses up too many portable energy packs.”

“Good point.”

“If you’re thinking of sending me away, or hiding me out somewhere, forget it. I’m not running and leaving you vulnerable.”

Tyree’s heart softened. “I don’t want you to go. But I want you safe.”

“I have a suggestion,” John offered.

“What?” Tyree asked, willing to listen to any ideas right now.

“We set down on Wetran. Stay there. The four of us.” His gaze drifted to Sheera, who actually blushed in return.

Hanson’s suggestion surprised Tyree. “Just disappear?”

“Why not?”

“Wetran is a deserted planet. The climate is too volatile for normal colonization.”

“Which makes it perfect.”

Her thoughts raced, mulling over the possibility. “Why the four of us? Why give up your careers for us?” Her gaze switched from John to Sheera and back again. She could tell the two were in lust, but leaving their assignments seemed a drastic move.

“I could use a change.” Hanson raked his fingers through his mop of brown hair. “Besides, I’m an explorer at heart. I’d love to discover that planet’s hidden secrets.”

“It’s a green planet, Tyree,” Sheera added. “Water, dense foliage, as well as open land. Everything you’ve ever wanted. And it’s perfect for my research on natural healing.”

“And there’s no military presence in that sector either,” Adam tossed in. “It’s an interesting idea.”

“But unrealistic. I can’t just disappear. My brother would send his men to find me, and he’s not one to give up.”

“So, tell him,” Adam said. “He’s not going to turn us in. We have the last salvage. Let’s head directly back to Jenway as if nothing’s wrong, dock, tell the Ambassador what’s going on, pick up some supplies, and then head back out.”

After some thought, Tyree nodded. And finally she smiled as hope filled her. This could actually work. She hadn’t felt excited about her future in a long time. Now, finally, the freedom she craved was within reach. All she had to do was take the chance.

“Okay, let’s do it. Hanson, go to the command deck, tell the others I’ve decided we’re returning to Jenway, then head us home. Adam and I will prepare the salvage for transfer and do the reports, so nothing looks suspicious. Sheera, put together whatever we have on board here that we’ll need, anything that would look too suspicious to resupply. I don’t want our departure to look like we’re not coming back. We’ll move to a smaller, more manageable ship when we dock. I have my own personal ship at the station. After we leave, we’ll send a false distress signal, then cut communications. Everyone but my brother will think we exploded, or drifted into the Corian asteroid field or something else equally deadly. We’ll be declared dead and the case will be closed. This might really work.”

Sheera emitted an excited squeal.

Adam and John did some sort of male, hand slapping ritual. “Yeah!” they said simultaneously.

“We welcome your help and company,” Adam told the man. “Thanks for what you did for me and Tyree.”

“I did what I thought was right.”

Tyree smiled at Sheera. “Well, I see we’re all in agreement. I owe you my thanks, Sheera. You’re a good friend.”

The woman glanced briefly toward John, her green eyes sparkling. “I’m looking forward to the adventure.”

“Okay, then. Let’s move it.”

Epilogue

Tyree lay atop her bed, snuggled into Adam’s arms. “Everything is ready and in place. Do you think that fake evidence on Ridgeway will really fool the Space Patrol?”

“No, not for long. They’ll come back looking for us once they figure out we lied. But, with the Ambassador’s help, I think your plan will work.”

“I’m sorry tonight didn’t turn out as we arranged.” She rubbed his bare chest, tugging lightly at the hair there and pressed her breasts against him. Her nipples immediately hardened, and she sighed at the incredible feeling. “I was looking forward to those kinky toys.”

“Ah.” Adam chuckled. “Well, me, too.” He kissed her lips tenderly. “But I don’t think tonight’s the time for that. I do still want to make love to you, Tyree. Soft and slow. I want you close to me, in my arms, warm and safe, all night.”

“I’d like that, Adam. Um…” Confessions weren’t normally her style but she felt safe with Adam, physically and emotionally. She wanted to let him into her thoughts. “I was so scared when the patrol stopped us. I figured for sure you’d be—”

“Shh… Don’t. It’s over.”

She nodded, her emotions still raw. “You thought I was going to betray you, turn you over to them. Didn’t you?”

“Honestly, I wasn’t sure. I’m sorry I doubted you.”

“You never have to doubt me.” She chewed at her bottom lip. Time for another big step in her life. After a hesitant moment, she spoke again. “Adam?”

At her uncertain tone, a frown crossed his face. He caressed the back of her head. “What is it, sweetheart?”

Her heart pounded. She’d never said to a man the words she needed to say to him, here and now. “I’m… I’m falling in love with you.”

His eyes widened, then they gradually darkened with compassion and desire. He pulled her tighter against his body. One hand tangled in her hair and he kissed her gently, brushing his lips along hers. “Show me,” he whispered.

She smiled and leaned down to kiss and lap at his neck. She actually felt a tremor rack his body when her tongue touched his skin.

He didn’t say how he felt about her. But he must care, otherwise, he’d have taken off after the patrol left, to ensure his safety. He could disappear a lot more effectively without her, than with her.