Page 36 of Her Cyborg Commander
“I know. But it’s a start. Now we need to figure out what to tell her. Starting with where we’re headed.”
“Where do you think we should go?”
He expected her to suggest Vardarian space or maybe another isolated planet. Instead, River shot him a mischievous smile.
“I think we need to talk to the one person who might be able to see a way for us to get out of this mess.”
He tried to figure out who she meant but drew a total blank. “Who?”
“I’ll give you a hint. She’s the only other cyborg to ever leave Haven.”
Fraxx. Why didn’t he think of that? “Chance!”
“Exactly. Which means we need to get to The Drift. Eddi, can you chart a course that will get us to Defiance Station? You can make the jump as soon as we’re on board. Oh, and send an encrypted message to our friends back on Haven to let them know our destination. But only if you’re sure these assholes can’t intercept it.”
“Of course, Pilot River. I will begin immediately.”
Edge broke in as another idea took root. “Don’t take us directly there, Eddi. Plot a roundabout route that lets us drop out of jump space several times. It will take longer, but it will keep the assholes on our tail from working out where we’re going quickly. The more time we keep them guessing, the less time they’ll have to send someone to intercept us.”
River nodded. “Good plan. Eddi, can you map a route that also takes us close to a couple of repeater stations? That way we can check for messages and send some of our own.
It wasn’t the best plan he’d ever come up with, but it would have to be good enough.
Edge looked at River and grinned to himself. It was going to be another long trip to get to their destination, but this time, he had a long list of ways he intended to pass the time.
All of them involved River, nudity, and orgasms.
19
River leftthe shuttle with reluctance. Not because she wanted to stay and get caught but because it meant the end of her first solo flight. Once they were aboard the scout ship, Eddi would handle the flying. She’d planned to spend some time in the cockpit, though, learning anything Eddi wanted to teach her about the ins and outs of piloting.
The AI activated the jump-drive within seconds of their arrival. It jettisoned the tunnel they used to cross over the moment the airlock door sealed.
“We are underway. The other ship has changed its transponder and is now appearing as an unnamed Viper class vessel registered to El-Corp, which appears to be a holding company.”
“Three guesses who the real owner is,” Edge said. He was already busy taking off his body armor and dumping it in a pile in an open corner.
“My gut says it’s Torex,” River said. She was ready to ditch her armor as well and happily shed the protective but restricting gear.
“That would be my first guess, too, but it could belong to anyone affiliated with the Shadows.”
They looked at each other, both dusty, sweaty, and stained with blood.
“Please tell me this sweet little ship has a shower?” she asked.
“It does.” Edge reached out a hand. “Come with me, minx.”
She took his hand and let him lead her through the confines of the ship. It wasn’t large, but the design was well thought-out with a balance of practicality and comfort. The sanitation cubby was no exception. After so long living and sleeping in her cramped shelter, the ship felt almost palatial by comparison.
There was even a separate shower stall, and Eddi confirmed it could recycle the water fast enough to allow them unlimited use.
Edge stopped her just inside the door. “Strip off and give me all your clothes. I’ll put everything in the recycler and have Eddi use it to make you something new.”
His offer surprised her, but she wasn’t going to argue. She never wanted to see any piece of her current outfit again.
He took her things and disappeared, which gave her time to use the facilities and rinse the dust out of her mouth. When he returned, he was as naked as she was, his cock rising from between his legs and a gleam in his eyes that told her she wouldn’t be showering alone.
“Eddi, engage privacy mode,” he instructed.
