His eyes narrowed consideringly. “Correct.”
“Damn straight. I wasn’t born yesterday.” She took a deep breath. “Are you ever going to tell me your name?”
“Coal.”
It surprised her. “Really?”
He frowned. “What is wrong with my name?”
“I just expected something more…I don’t know…cyborgish.”
“On Earth I was created to work in the mines of the moon and because of my dark eyes the humans called me Coal. It stuck.”
“I see.” She had to admit that his eyes were nearly black and she could see why they’d tagged him with the name. “It’s nice to meet you, Coal.”
“I don’t feel the same.”
“Being here beats being on that freighter.”
“No one has abused me on your shuttle.”
“And no one will.” She stood. “Are you ready to tell me what you will eat? I’m sure you’ve got to be hungry.”
“What are my options?”
She hesitated. “Do you eat sandwiches?” She ticked off her food supplies and then left him there go prepare lunch.
She wished she could set him free and trust him but she couldn’t take that risk. He was a cyborg, something she knew little about, and had no idea of if they held any kind of honor system. If cyborgs had learned from Earth Government then, he definitely couldn’t be trusted. As she got two trays ready, she decided to ask Arm if they had any chains onboard that were strong enough to hold Coal without fear of him breaking them. He’d be able to move around, stretch, and walk about if they had them.
Fray met her in the corridor on her way back to the cargo area. “I am on my way to pilot for my shift.”
She smiled. “Are you fully recharged?”
“Yes, Jill. I am refreshed.”
“Great. Remember to run long-distance scans. I’m still worried about that freighter coming after us.”
“It would be illogical.”
She sighed, not wanting to explain it again after the tough time she’d had with Roid. “Just run the scans. It’s an order.”
“Of course.”
She continued on to the cargo hold, mentally preparing for spending time with Coal. He wasn’t what she had expected. She thought he might be similar to her androids but he seemed more human than not with his distrust and questions. She had to admit to enjoying her conversation with him, a nice change from her daily routine. Having someone to talk to again who wasn’t programmed for responses made her feel as though he were genuinely interested. The doors automatically slid open when she approached.
Coal’s dark gaze fixed on her the second she entered. “Lunch is here.”
“I want free.”
“I know you do.” She walked closer to him and placed both trays on a table Roid had set up next to the freight table Coal lay on. “We’ve gone over this. I wish I could trust you but I can’t take that risk. At worst, you could be lying and kill me. I’ve gone through a lot over the past year to survive. Before you know it, you’ll be able to contact your friends while I’m safely flying away from Hixton Station.”
He stared at her with those intensely dark eyes and his full lips curved downward. “I won’t hurt you. I do have honor and I give you my word.”
“I want to believe you,” she stated honestly. “Trust me. It would be great if I could release you.” Her gaze fixed on Arm, taking in his damaged face. He’d shut down again, his eyelids closed to hide his eye sensors. “As a cyborg, I bet you’re great with electronics.” She returned her attention to Coal.
He paused. “If I were fully functional I could have taken control of your androids.”
Fear surged through her. “What do you mean?”
He turned his head, twisting it. She saw two scars on the back of his head near the base of his skull. He looked at her again. “Cyborgs usually have implants. Mine were damaged by the females of my species after I repeatedly escaped them. Otherwise I could remotely hack into your androids programming. As for their physical damage I am well versed in adapting to technology.” He paused. “I could repair your androids if you free me.”
Longing had her feeling tempted but she shook her head. “As much as I really want that, I just can’t trust you. There’s too much at stake. Can’t you just be happy that I stole you from that freighter and from those awful men who abused you? Is it really too much for me to ask you to stop demanding I release you before we reach the station? I really will set you free. This isn’t a trap. I have to use logic a lot with my guys so here goes. You’re tied down, you can’t break free, and I have no reason to lie to you. If I planned on selling you, I’d just tell you that upfront. You couldn’t do a thing about it but the real truth is that I’m going to let you go.”
They watched each other, both of them frowning. Coal finally inhaled deeply. “I’m willing to trust you on that.”
“Great. I’ll feed you first and then I’ll eat.” Her gaze flashed over his chest. “I won’t spill anything on you.” I hope, she thought, not wanting to have to give him another spray down. She gripped his tray and approached him. “Open up.”
He ate the soup without trying to bite her or struggle. She fed him bread next and finally the protein shake, which he drank through a straw. When he stated that he’d had enough, she sat on a stool and ate, trying to ignore the silent cyborg who watched her. It felt strange to have someone evaluating her every move but she figured that’s exactly what he did. She finished her meal and then gave him her attention again.
“I was thinking about seeing if we could chain you so you have more movement. If we attempt it would you promise to allow it without putting up a fight? It’s in your best interest if you agree. I’m sure you’d like to get off that table.”
He hesitated. “You’re asking me to go against my instincts. At the first opportunity I wish to attempt escape.”
He was being honest and she had to admire him for that, even if it wasn’t what she wanted to hear. “That’s exactly what I’m asking you to do. I really want you to be more comfortable. It bothers me thinking that you―”
“Incoming traffic,” Fray’s voice stated over the speakers in the room. “It’s a large class-C freighter and they are coming fast.”
“Oh shit,” Jill gasped, standing so fast she suffered a dizzy spell for a second and she stumbled. Her gaze locked with Coal’s. “It’s got to be the freighter I stole you from. I worried they might not let you go easily.”
“Orders?” Fray’s voice sounded calm.
Jill was anything but. “Burn fuel and make a run for it.” She spun toward the door. “I’m on my way.”
“Affirmative.” Fray spoke before the speaker clicked off.
“Jill?” Coal growled.
At the door she turned, staring at him with fear. “What?”
“Freighters travel faster than these older-model shuttles.”
As if he needs to state the obvious, she thought grimly. “I know. I hoped they wouldn’t be able to track us and that they’d been damaged enough that we’d be farther away by the time they made repairs.”
“What will happen if they reach us?”
“There will be hell to pay. They’ll probably kill me or sell me into a whorehouse if I mange to survive what they do to me first and you’ll be on your way to that death match they have planned for you.”
He tensed and his arms pulled on the chains that restrained him. “I’m a good pilot. Release me. It’s in both our interests if we work together.”
She hesitated. “Fray is an excellent pilot. If anyone can fly us away from them, he can.” She fled the room and ignored Coal when he called out to her again.
She ran toward the pilot station, certain Fray had followed her orders when the engines struggled to full power and the deck vibrated under her feet. The droid turned his head when she entered the room. He gave her a cold smile or what passed as one.
“I have scanned and there is nowhere to hide. We have the advantage with t
he smaller ship if we were closer to a planet but we are not. We could have landed on one to wait them out as they are too large to maneuver safely through a planet’s atmosphere.”
Her gaze lifted to the screens, reading no nearby planets. “Are there any asteroid clusters? They’d never follow us into a stream of them.”
“Negative.”
Fear notched higher inside her. “Do you have any programming that would help us come up with a solution?”
“Negative. I have run all possible scenarios. It is only a matter of time before they overtake us if we continue to run but our engines are stressed. The probability of explosion increases as they start to overheat.” He glanced at something on the control pad. “We are reaching dangerous heat levels already.”
She became desperate. “Are there any other ships in range?” She realized asking for help would probably be useless but she had no other ideas.
“Negative.”
“Damn,” she muttered, sitting down hard in a chair.
Despair filled her. She’d known that stealing the cyborg could cost her very life but she’d hoped they’d gotten away clean. Obviously not. She had no idea how the freight carrier had tracked them but they had.
“They are closing fast. Orders?” Fray turned again in his seat to stare at her.
Jill knew it was just a matter of time and probably not much of it before they’d be fired on, the shuttle disabled, and then the freighter would force dock with the Jenny. That outraged captain and his crew would come aboard the shuttle.
Jill stood on shaky legs and stepped closer to Fray. “Open communications.”
He did and Jill hesitated. “This is the captain of the Jenny. I demand you back off immediately.”
“You bitch,” a familiar voice yelled. “Who the hell do you think you are to steal my property?”
She fought to remember his name. “I’m under orders from Big Jim, Captain Raul. He ordered me to take the cyborg. I apologize for the rudeness but to be blunt, if I don’t do what I’m ordered then I’m dead. If you don’t cease your pursuit my boss is going to be very angry.”
Jill could only pray the captain had more fear of her father’s reputation than greed or a sense of getting revenge.
“I don’t give a shit. You’re dead anyway when I get my hands on you…right after we enjoy having a flesh-and-blood woman.”
The threat came across crystal clear. He’d rape her and pass her off to his crew. She shivered and cut communications, silencing the man who had started to rant and insult her. She glanced at Fray, sadness filling her. She hoped the crew didn’t flat-out destroy her androids. She hesitated and then clicked on the shuttle’s intercom system.
“Arm, release our man. Unchain him.” She paused. “Coal, we’re about to be boarded. We can’t outrun them and there’s nowhere to go. Arm will show you the weapons locker. I’m really sorry I didn’t get you to Hixton. I sincerely intended to set you free there. Unfortunately I can’t even blow the Jenny and use the explosion to cover us jettisoning away since I don’t have a life pod aboard. All I can give you is a fighting chance of not letting them take you alive. Arm, load him up with weapons and take out as many of the men who come aboard as possible.” Tears blinded her and emotion choked her voice. “It’s been an honor, Arm. Thank you for being my friend.” She turned off the microphone and looked at Fray.
The android stared at her as she watched him. Her hand cupped his shoulder. “Thank you for being my friend too, Fray. Can you signal Roid to come to the pilot station? I want both of you here where you’ll be safest. They won’t blow up this room in a fight since they’ll want to raid the captain’s safe in the floor under your chair.”
“Will you be with us?”
She paused. “No. I’m going to my room. Alert me when they board and then after they reach the living quarters, if you’re able, seal it down. I want them trapped in that area. I’m going to fight and take out as many as I can. The hallways are the narrowest there and it will force them to come at me two at a time instead of being able to surround me.”
“You will not win this battle.”
His cold logic actually soothed her. “Yes, I am aware. I can take some of them out though, before they kill or capture me.”
Fray’s mouth curved into another cold smile. “We can fight as well.”
“You aren’t programmed for that.”
“I will attempt it.”
It touched her that he’d even come up with that solution. “Thanks but no. Just fly to keep them off us for as long as you can.”
The doors opened and Jill turned to say goodbye to Roid but instead she gasped as the cyborg stormed into the room. She had known Coal would be intimidating when free and standing. The sight of nearly six and a half feet of muscular male in just a pair of baggy shorts, muscles rippling and guns strapped around his hips in a weapons belt had her upgrading her opinion to terrifying.
Coal’s gaze pinned her where she stood and then he jerked his attention to the pilot’s seat. “Move, android,” he growled. “I’m not going to allow anyone to board us.”
Fray turned his head to peer at Jill. “Orders?”
She couldn’t look away from Coal. He shot her a dark glare. “Tell him to move before I toss him out of that seat.”
“Let him have the helm, Fray,” she whispered.
Coal lunged forward to drop into the vacant seat the instant Fray moved. “Strap in.”
She dropped into the nearest chair and reached for a belt. “You heard him, Fray. Hang on.” She hesitated. “The gravity stabilizers are old so if you―” She gasped in surprise, her words lost when Coal suddenly turned the shuttle violently.
“They are bad,” he grumbled when the ship tilted dangerously, shaking violently.
“Yes. They can’t adjust to sudden movements as you just realized.”
Her attention landed on the screens and she realized he flew directly at the freighter instead of away from it. Her mouth opened but no sound came out. Shock and fear held her totally immobile while she silently watched the huge ship growing even larger.
“Impact warning,” Fray calmly stated.
“We’re not hitting it…but close. They can fly faster but we can maneuver better.” Coal’s deep voice sounded unnaturally calm under the dire circumstances.
“What are you doing?” Jill found the ability to speak over her terror.
“They can’t pursue us if they are damaged.” His hands flew across the controls and the sounds of the Jenny’s weapons firing drowned out anything else he might have said.
He flew right under the belly of the freighter, tearing open holes as explosions filled the screen with bright flashes of destruction. Jill’s fear turned to pure astonishment. She’d never thought to attack the much larger ship, especially with her older shuttle, not believing she could do that much damage. Coal proved her wrong as he steered them up the back of the freighter and took more shots, blowing up their thrusters.
The large freighter’s engines died when the lights of their thrusters cut out. Jill watched as it shuddered in space, the lights flickering on the entire ship, and then Coal flew the Jenny away, putting distance between the two ships. Jill said nothing but her thoughts were jumbled. Coal had saved them.
He finally turned his seat to face her, full lips curving into a grim frown. “Hand over control of your droids or I’ll harm them. I’d hate to do it, considering I am aware they have deep value to you. I want full control of them and for them to ignore your requests to them. Do it.”
She gaped at him.
“Now, Jill. I want absolute control of them or I will take them out.” His hand lowered to one of the weapons strapped to his hips.
Dread balled inside her. Not only did the cyborg have his freedom now but he wanted to command not only her ship but her friends. “Fray?” She paused, blinking back tears. “This is Coal. He owns you now. You are to follow all of his orders from this moment forward and none of mine. Verify order.”
>
Fray hesitated. “Order confirmed.” He turned his head to glance at Coal. “Orders, Coal?”
“The rest of them as well, Jill.” Coal’s fingers tightened on the weapon.
She fought the urge to order Arm to come to her rescue but she had a feeling that Coal could fight. She didn’t want him to destroy her androids. She slowly reached for the ship intercom system and turned it on shipwide.
“This is Jill. Arm and Roid, your new owner is the man down. You are to follow all of his orders from now on and none of mine. His name is Coal. Verify order.” She turned off the com but knew they had heard her. She stared silently at the cyborg in charge of everything she cared about. “Are you going to kill me now?”
His frown deepened. “No. Stand up.” He rose to his feet, facing her, and released his weapon.
She hesitated.
“Now.”
Her hands shook when she unfastened her belt and rose on trembling legs. He closed the distance between them. Jill had to tilt her chin up to focus on his grim features. He stood over a foot taller than she did.
He stopped in front of her. “I won’t harm you. You saved my life and I know that.”
Jill gasped when he suddenly crouched, two large hands shot out to grip her waist, and he jerked her body forward. Her hip hit a broad shoulder and then the world turned upside down. A dizzy spell gripped her when he quickly straightened to his full height.
He spun around with Jill dangling over his shoulder. One hand gripped the small of her back to keep her bent in place while his other arm locked behind her thighs. Coal paused by the door.
“Fray, I have set a course. Follow it and alert me if any ships come within range. You have the helm.”
“Yes, Coal,” Fray stated calmly before reclaiming the pilot seat.
Jill stared at the deck, some feet below her. The cyborg walked quickly out of the room. He seemed to know how to go directly to the crew quarters. He confirmed that when he spoke as they reached it.
“Which is yours?”
She paused.