Avion (Cyborgs: More Than Machines, #7) by Eve Langlais Page B

My mentor doesn’t know the whole story. These people do not work for the D’zpi .”
    “Yet they bear their slave technology. Our scanners detected the presence of their distinctive hardware embedded in the central cortex of the biological hosts.”
    “But they didn’t have it placed there willingly. The cyborgs mean us no harm. They just want help and answers. They are not slaves to the D’zpi , or anyone else. They are free thinking, like me.”
    “Not entirely.”
    The Zvali’dus commander had a point. The cyborgs would never be completely untainted so long as the computer chip remained in their brain. Yet, removing it would probably kill them unless they could find nanobots willing to choose them.
    “You can’t sell them at auction. You know what type of beings will purchase them.” Those who would hold the cyborg lives in small esteem. Expendable workers for dangerous mines, fodder for violent wars, playthings for perverse bordellos. “You’d be giving them unjust punishment for a crime they didn’t commit.”
    “I am not interested in excuses for their existence, nor are we going to counter current standing orders. The abominations are not allowed near the source world.” Even the Zvali’dus couldn’t name it. “Their banishment is part of the T’xa charter we signed, and we are not about to compromise our agreement with them.”
    “I will not allow you to do this. I demand—”
    She caught only a hiss of passing air before the tiny missile hit her.
    Used to being invincible, Lilith was quite perturbed to find herself, for the second time that day, waking on a cot, but this time, in less desirable quarters.
    They put me in a prison cell! One made for people like her. Forget traditional bars or holes in the ground. The more advanced species knew how to trap nanotech hosts. Pure power, disruptive and fatal to bots and flesh alike.
    “Well, if it’s isn’t freaky girl. How nice of you to join us. Because it’s so much nicer when I can ream an idiot out in person,” Aramus grumbled, drawing her attention. “We can trust them, she says. They won’t harm us.” He squeaked the accusation in a high-pitched voice. “This is why I prefer to blow things up. At least then I get pretty lights and big explosions.”
    Despite the complaint, Lilith found herself glad to hear Aramus’ voice. She’d, in a roundabout way, discovered her companions and no longer found herself alone. It meant it wasn’t yet too late to save them. “I never said anything about trust. Never trust a slaver.” Only the highest price brought their loyalty. “You should look on the positive side of our situation. They haven’t harmed us. As far as I can see, your tongue is still functioning, and your cognitive ability to find fault with the situation is thriving.”
    Laughter, from more than one cyborg. “She’s got your number, Aramus,” Seth quipped.
    “Fine. Laugh. That doesn’t get us out of these cages. Got a bright idea for that, freaky girl?”
    A valid question, but not the most pressing one for her. “Did everyone make it alive? Where is Avion?”
    Anastasia pointed. “Down on the end. He’s breathing, according to Seth, but he hasn’t woken up yet.”
    “Are we all accounted for?”
    “We are now that you’ve arrived, plus a few extra. You’ve never met them but say hello to the crew of the other explorer vessel in the cyborg fleet. Aphelion.” A male a cell over waved. “Deidre, MJ, and Xylo.” Faces that she matched to files she’d downloaded from the SSBiteMe . All cyborg and on a mission of exploration. A failed one obviously.
    To better assess the situation, she required more information. “More cyborg prisoners? How did the Zvali’dus capture them?”
    “Same way they got the SSBiteMe . They said halt or we’ll shoot. Common sense made the decision easy.”
    “Lilith, have they said what they plan to do with us?” Anastasia asked from the energy-lined room beside her.
    A telling frown