Free City Of Tears by Cyndi Friberg Page B

Uncertainty bombarded her. She wasn’t sure she trusted Lyrik, much less his unusual friend.
    “When’s the last time you spoke with Krysta?”
    Dro Tar wiggled back in her chair, which was shaped to look like a giant hand, and crossed her legs in front of her. “Last week, I think. Is that important?”
    “This is all so damn complicated. If the miners actually sent the message, Father shouldn’t be looking for us yet. As soon as he realizes we’re onto him —”
    “The shit hits the fan?”
    He grimaced. “I have no idea what that means, but the mental image is disgusting.”
    “Don’t let him know.” Dro Tar shrugged. “March her back into the detention center and insist on overseeing her retraining yourself.”
    “I’m scheduled to ship out at the end of the week.” He shook his head. “As soon as we set foot on the Day Moon, I’m no longer in control. It’s too risky.”
    “Then take her with you on the Tempest .”
    Saebin listened to the conversation, growing more annoyed with each exchange. They were devising and discarding possibilities with no input from her. “I’m in control of my implants now. Do I get a say in any of this?”
    “We don’t have many options,” Lyrik said. “What did you have in mind?”
    “Their determination to learn how my armor works is our only advantage. My suit doesn’t function without me, and I will not allow it to control me again.”
    “You aren’t strong enough to risk going back into that thing.” Lyrik faced her, his expression adamant. “You were just barely in control before. You teleported without knowing why. You —”
    “Can’t her implants be removed?” Dro Tar asked.
    Lyrik looked at Dro Tar before he replied. “I was told she wouldn’t survive their removal, but I don’t know what to believe anymore.”
    “The implants replaced portions of my brain. I would not be fully functional without them.” Damaged, broken, altered, she would never be the trusting person who had walked into ward D filled with excitement and anticipation. She let anger roll through her, accepting the cold, cutting wave. Hydran had changed the nature of her existence, and she would snuff out that existence before she allowed anyone to control her again. “I’m not convinced I can remain separated from my armor indefinitely. The overloads alone can kill me. I don’t honestly know what other malfunctions might occur.”
    Warm and caressing, Lyrik’s gaze returned to her face. “I suspect we can find creative ways to deal with your overloads, so let’s concentrate on strengthening your control.”
    Heat suffused her face, and sensual echoes teased her memory. He’d spread beneath her, hot, hard, male as she rubbed against him. What would it be like to straddle his big body while they were both awake and naked? She shivered, her nipples poking against her uniform top. Her anger ebbed, leaving determination and desire.
    “All right, you two. Rein in the hormones. If removing the implants isn’t an option, how does she strengthen her control?”
    “I know nothing about Mystic abilities.” Lyrik shifted on the sofa, obviously uncomfortable with the admission. “All I know for certain is we’re not going to figure this out in a day or two.”
    “She needs to escape,” Dro Tar said cheerfully.
    “And go where?”
    She laughed. “Right here. I’ll smack you with something to make it look like you put up a fight, and then you can fly the shuttle back to the COT. Oh, wait this is even better. She forced you to fly her here and then gave you the slip. They’ll have all of Frontine to search, and the security vids at the shuttle lot will back up your story.”
    “There’s no way she could force me to endanger the general population, and Father —”
    “Shutting people off isn’t my only trick.” Saebin waited until he looked at her to go on. “I can compel people into action. We were in the corridor when I blasted your hand. Your father knows