Free BioCybe by Imogene Nix Page A

corner. Of
course their demands were totally unnecessary, but she either adhered to them or
missed out on another meal. She’d already done that once since she’d been there.
    Complying was an indignity, but she slid her hands onto the
ceramic surface, shuddering as the chill invaded her bones. The clatter of the
dish on the metal table had her raising her head away from the surface of the
walls.
    “Stand down, Cybe!” The words, bellowed so close to her ears,
left her flinching and her muscles tightened in the classic fight-or-flight
reaction.
    A shove, hard between the shoulder blades, mashed her nose
to the wall and she moved instinctively away from the threat. Being compliant
wasn’t part of her nature anymore and her fists balled.
    “Bloody Cybe! Want a piece of me?”
    Her gaze settled on the angry man, and she snarled. “You
couldn’t beat me even if I were in a mobility chair, you slimy bastard.”
    He backhanded her and she grinned.
    “Is that the best you’ve got?”
    He roared and she lifted her hands, ready to work some of
her current frustrations out on the man in front of her. Before either of them
could do more, three or four others crowded into the tiny cell, tugging them
apart.
    The man shouted obscenities as he was dragged out, then she
was brutally pushed against the wall. “Stay there, Cybe, otherwise we’ll have
to subdue you.”
    The mass of people retreated and the force field rose again.
“Maybe you better control your people better then. I was doing nothing wrong!”
    Her words came too late as they disappeared from view.
Kicking the wall did nothing more than break a couple of the tiles, and she
muttered angrily about bloody Dendarans and their grudges .
    The rumble of her stomach reminded her that the reason this
had all arisen was the mealtime. Looking in the direction of the tiny metal
table, she noted the contents of the plate. Lying on the floor was the mush
they’d served up.
    “Frickin’ fantastic.”
    She curled her lip and went back to the bed, lowering herself
to it. Since there wasn’t anything to eat, she might as well sleep. She dragged
the thin and scratchy sheet over her body and closed her eyes.
    * * * *
    Three days had passed, and finally they would be returning
to the Golden Echo today. Sandon had his misgivings about the situation
with Levia. His mind played over the comments and insinuations he’d heard about
Cybes, and each time his sense of disquiet had risen. He jammed his hands into
his pockets as he waited in the antechamber for her to be escorted in. They’d
assured him she’d been adequately housed and cared for, but he was forbidden
access to the detention center where she was being held.
    The creak of an opening door had him turning. The sight
before him stunned and horrified him. Levia entered the room, her hair a bird’s
nest and her clothes stained with the bronzed sheen of dried blood. On her face
bloomed a large bruise, and her wrists were manacled.
    “ What the fuck have you done? ” His bellow had those
dragging her into the room shrinking back. Each step he took toward her was
angry, heavy with suppressed violence, and he eyed her guards as rage boiled. Sandon
lifted a shaking hand to her face, but she pulled away, her eyes shining pools
of misery. “Get these off her now!”
    One of the men hurried to comply. As soon as the restraints
were removed, her lips twisted into a pained smile. “How soon can we get out of
here?” Her words were almost silent, and the large lump of fury that lodged in
his chest got bigger.
    “As soon as we get to the shuttle. Just hang in there.” He
hated that she looked as if she’d been beaten. The physical evidence was
compelling, but he wondered what damage they’d done emotionally as well. He
gripped her hand, and after a second of hesitation, she accepted his support.
    “Captain, before you leave…” The general entered the room
then stopped dead, his gaze firmly fixed on Levia’s face. “Oh...”