Page 4 of Kiss of Steel

“The sanctuary planet?” Terraformed by a wealthy Ardranian philanthropist, Refuge offered asylum to political dissidents, persons in witness protection, and people being persecuted or hunted. “They don’t accept cyborgs. Everyone is aware of the Chicago massacre.” Refuge sheltered persons whose lives were in danger. They did not welcome assassins whoputpeople’s lives in danger.

“They do if you lie and say you’re human.”

Steel had no qualms about lying to get the job done. Sidle up to a guy at a bar, chat him up, convince him you’re a harmless drunk then follow him into a deserted corridor, snap his neck, and vanish.

“I’ve already applied and been accepted,” Fury said. “I created a new identity and a fictitious set of circumstances about why I needed sanctuary.”

“When did you have time to do that?”

“I’d been planning to desert for a while but failed to execute fast enough, and then the shit hit the fan with the Chicago incident. As soon as the case went to trial, I knew Solutions would stage a public show of reparation—so I went AWOL, but Refuge hadn’t approved my application yet, and I couldn’t get off the planet. Bad timing. Solutions was hypervigilant; they caught me.”

The Chicago incident had shocked the world. An assassin had been dispatched to take out the city’s corrupt mayor who’d escaped prosecution more times than a cat had lives. However, the cyborg had gone on a killing spree, executing the mayor, her security detail, her deputy, her aides, and a visiting state representative. Twenty-five people in all. Two secretaries had managed to escape. Solutions immediately terminated the cyborg, but the massacre was too big and too public to cover up. Solutions executives were charged, tried, fined massively, and ordered to destroy the entire platoon.

Instead, the company merely deactivated them. He had no proof, but he was certain Chicago hadn’t been the result of a rogue gone postal, but that the assassin had done what he’d been ordered to do, except screwed up by letting witnesses escape.

“What about you?” Fury asked. “What got you in trouble?”

“About the same. I decided to gain control of my own life.”

“What are you going to do now?”

“I don’t have any plans,” he admitted.

“Come with me to Refuge.”

“I can’t do that. I can’t just show up. You have to apply for sanctuary. Even if they accepted me, my application couldn’t be processed so fast.” He had no idea where he’d go, but he’d worry about that after he got off the ship. He would have to figure something out quick because Solutions wouldn’t rest until they had every single cyborg accounted for.

“It could be if it’s expedited. They fast-track applications if you have a wife or a family. I finally figured that out. If I’d known that sooner, I would have gotten off Earth before they caught me.”

“You’re married?” He’d never heard of a cyborg having a wife. If Solutions had wanted them to have a spouse, they would have been issued one. Cyborgs didn’t have relationships. Hell, they didn’t have personal lives.

“Engaged. I’ll meet my bride on Refuge!” He beamed like he was happy about it.

“How the hell did you get a bride?”

“Through the Cosmic Mates matchmaking service.”

“The Caradonian program?” He’d heard how Caradonia’s female population had been decimated by a nano-virus, so its governor-general had begun bringing in women from other planets.

“It originated there, but it became so successful, it’s been franchised. Anyone can request a mate through the program now. We can use the tech-tab to sign you up. If you’re not picky, you can get a wife pretty fast. In fact, there is a small category of women seeking to move to Refuge. That’s how I got mine. Even a pending Cosmic Mates application will enhance your chances of getting in at Refuge. And I’ll write you a recommendation.”

“What would I do with a wife?” He understood marriage in theory, but he couldn’t envision how it played out in practice. Humans coupled up. A cyborg had no need or desire for a partner.

“What does anybody do with a wife?” Fury shrugged. “I’ll figure it out after I’m married. If we’re trying to pass for human, we have to act the part.” He paused. “A wife is a means to an end. She’ll help you get into Refuge—unless you’ve got a better idea. Got someplace else to go?”

No, he didn’t. But a woman? He desired a wife as much as he wanted a two-headed armadillo. But if she got him into Refuge, like Fury said, he could figure out what to do with her later.

Chapter Three

Chicago, USA, Planet Earth

The bailiff passed the tablet to the judge. His face showed no emotion as he silently read it and then handed it back to the bailiff who carried the device to the jury foreman.

Honoria gripped the edge of her hard wooden seat.Please. Please.Her life hinged on the verdict. She’d heard it said that if a jury voted to convict, the members avoided eye contact with the defendant, but if they were going to acquit, they would look at him or her. Some stared at their feet, others at the judge, everywhere but at the defense table. All signs pointed to a guilty verdict.

Her ears buzzed, and black spots swam in front of her eyes.She felt like she was going to pass out.

“Will the defendant please rise?” the judge said.

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