Page 27 of True As Steel

“I made sure the people of Satos were aware you two were here and under my protection,” Haelin intervened. “I assure you that the word has already spread far and wide.”

“Didn’t that put a target on our backs?” I asked, as confused today as I’d been yesterday when she’d exposed Jarog for the whole world to see.

“No, I’ve made you safer,” Haelin said. “They know how well-defended this city is. Anyone who tries to fuck with me will pay dearly. However generous the bounty on your respective heads, they would lose far more than they would stand to gain. Although everyone knows Grellik has the other pod that survived the journey, they do not know that it contains a Cyborg.”

“But he hasn’t made it public knowledge, like you did,” Jarog stated. “I can only surmise that it means the Cyborg is indeed damaged.”

“That makes sense,” I said pensively. “Knowing that you ‘have’ a healthy one, he wouldn’t want to brag about having his own in case Doc Timmons is unable to repair him.”

“That is also my guess,” Haelin replied. “And I would like to make sure he never gets to make that announcement.”

“You want to prevent the Ferein from mending the Cyborg?” Jarog asked, his voice hardening ever so slightly.

Haelin smirked, not fooled in the least. “Relax, Cyborg. I wish no ill to your kin,” she said in a taunting voice. “If he can’t be repaired, then this all becomes a non-issue. But if he can be, I want him either freed so that he can go rejoin whatever pod brothers he still has or preferably start working for my team instead. Either way, it benefits me.”

The look she gave Jarog made it clear that included him as well. Jarog merely nodded, not giving away his thoughts. Right now, I’d give anything to be part of his closed neural network to be able to communicate with him and ask him how he felt about the whole situation.

“However, we can discuss things more in depth after Claudia has finished with you guys,” Haelin said. “Meet me in the room next door when you’re done. Claudia will show you.”

We nodded and watched the Narengi leader walk out.

For the next hour or so, Claudia proceeded to create and apply the prosthetics for both Jarog and me, all the while answering any question we had. To my relief, she wasn’t kidding when she said it would be seamless. If I didn’t know it was there, even I would doubt there was something patched on my face. The best part was that it could maintain its perfect appearance regardless of everyday interactions our skin might encounter, from touch, to heat, and cold. A slap or punch also wouldn’t mess with it, but severe punishment would damage it the same way it would our skin, except in this instance, it would tear it off… at least partially.

To my shock, Jarog hesitated about getting the prosthetic. To him, it was a statement that he was a proud Cyborg, and that Shui had fucked with the wrong man. However, and to my great relief, he decided that until we had our situation better under control, being cautious felt like the wiser course of action.

Once done, Claudia made us practice how to remove and reapply the prosthetics on our own and how to care for and maintain it. The products needed for it would be placed in our room. She then escorted us to the neighboring door, in the second boardroom. This one looked exactly like I remembered with a giant conference table eating up most of the space. A giant screen filled the back wall. I wondered if the ornate panels covering the left wall still hid the most insane weapons’ cache I’d ever laid eyes on.

Haelin was already inside, having a discussion with the Narengi female assassin she called Yelena earlier and one of the Narengi guards from last night whom she had called Lanish. Claudia smiled in goodbye as she watched Jarog and me enter the room, then closed the door behind us.

“Come in, come in!” Haelin exclaimed, waving us forward. “Yelena, Lanish, and I were discussing ways of recovering that precious cargo.”

She quickly proceeded to the formal introductions. As Jarog had accurately guessed, Yelena was an elite operative and Haelin’s head of security. Lanish was her right hand and just as lethal a warrior.

“Now, as you can guess, you are here because I would like your assistance in retrieving that Cyborg,” Haelin said, her face taking on a serious expression. “However, before we dive into any of this, I want to make it clear you are under no obligation to do so. If you do not wish to take part, you can walk out of this room, no hard feelings. And it willnotaffect the protection I have given you.”

“No strings?” Jarog asked, his tone slightly dubious.

“Tamryn is extended family,” Haelin said. “She is literally my guest for however long she desires. You, on the other end, are a refugee to whom I have granted asylum, but I do not run a charity. Should you decide to stay, you will need to earn your keep.”

I slightly frowned upon hearing those words.

“Ahh, there it is…” Jarog said mockingly.

Haelin snorted. “It is not what you think,” she replied. “There are many ways you can contribute, and it doesn’t have to be by performing missions on our behalf. The computer in your head allows you to process data and information better and more sensibly than our most advanced artificial intelligence. You could help with such administrative tasks. You are also a seasoned warrior. You could provide training to our militia. Your enhanced eyes and hearing make you an excellent candidate as a bouncer for the club or pit boss for the casino… to name a few. So, if you do not wish to be an operative, there are plenty of options for you, which we can discuss later.”

“I am pleased to hear it,” Jarog said.

“You would make a fine secretary,” I said mockingly, unable to resist. “You have the perfect level of stoicism for a desk job, and it’s so much more relaxing than getting shot by bad guys and constantly fighting for your life.”

“When you put it that way, it does sound quite enjoyable,” Jarog deadpanned. “I might just go for it.”

Watching the faces of the three Narengi fall in shock made me burst out laughing. It took them a moment to realize Jarog had made a joke. He was so damn stoic, you couldn’t tell whether he was serious, despite their sixth sense about people.

“On a more serious note, I am naturally interested in freeing that Cyborg,” Jarog said. “However, I would like to get a better understanding of your situation with the Ferein. Your rival sent an assassin here to kill you.”

“I was quite eager to find out more about that, too,” I added.

“Fair question,” Haelin said. “As you probably know, Grellik covets my Dalirium business. But he can’t do it without taking over my city. Satos is built over Xyva’s only extinct volcano. Over the decades—if not centuries—the primitive, slug-like creatures that lived on the periphery of that volcano have moved in. The unique environment has not only caused some mutations in the aspians, but the slimy secretions they produce to move about has also become a literal haven for bacterial colonies that dwell below. This unique combination of events and circumstances has given rise to the growth of aspian sponges.”

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