Free The Syn-En Solution by Linda Andrews

direction as theirs.
    Her stomach bucked at the twirling motion and she tasted bile.
    Fingers glided down her arm to wrap around her wrist. Gently but firmly, the two unfolded her arms.
    As if her brain finally figured out how to control her limbs again, her legs straightened. She cringed as she felt the strangers’ eyes wash over her nudity. Look on the bright side, at least now they’d see she had no place to hide a bomb. They’d see a heck of a lot more than that. Gravity saved its kindness for small breasted women.
    “Where is your chip?” The admiral grasped her right arm, turning it gently forward and back.
    The gesture was nonthreatening, but her skin prickled with awareness. She didn’t like it and only part of it came from being restrained, at his mercy. “Probably with the pretzels and crackers.”
    The grip on her wrists tightened. “I detect no residual of one nor evidence of removal.”
    Nell turned at the sound of the feminine voice. Despite the dimness, she noticed the bun coiled tightly at the base of the woman’s skull and the high, full breasts under her thick breastplate. Nell glanced to her right. Another man. At least, the admiral had one female restrain her. It was more than the nutjob had done. Hope punched through her layers of cynicism. “Look, I’m not the enemy here.”
    The admiral stepped closer until her toes skimmed the slick material of his boots. “You have stowed away on my ship and are rigged to explode.”
    “I’m not a stowaway. I— What do you mean rigged to explode?” Nell straightened, tugging at her captors’ grip. They didn’t release her, but neither did they clamp down. Taking a calming breath of metallic tasting air, Nell focused on the admiral. “How? In case it escaped your attention, I’m butt ass naked here.”
    “It has not escaped my attention.” The admiral’s head nodded slightly as if his gaze skimmed her from head to toe.
    For a moment, Nell swore she saw the admiral’s lips twitch. The moment passed and doubts crept in. Maybe he didn’t have a mouth. Maybe he and his men were mutants from some ecological disaster. The Discovery Channel hadn’t covered a single one that could melt people’s features.
    The admiral tilted his head to the left.
    The mechanical jerk reminded her of ASIMO or a cyborg from a bad sci-fi movie. This time, she knew it wasn’t a draft that sent the chill down her exposed backside. What the heck was going on here? “Since we both agree—”
    “Your lack of clothing will not deter me from my course of action. Neutralize her.”
    “What?” Nell’s heart battered against her ribs. She knew what neutralize meant. They were going to kill her. Toes skimming the frigid floor, she tried to find leverage to jerk free. Dammit, why couldn’t she touch the floor like them? “No! Wait!”
    A man to the admiral’s left glided forward. His face glowed a strange green. He raised his hands. His fingers seemed to bend backwards at the tips before he latched onto both her breasts. “Hold still.”
    Nell arched her back, trying to break free. His grip tightened, nails biting into her bruised skin. Tears pricked her eyes. Legs flailing, she kicked him in the shin. Her toes popped. Good Lord, a concrete wall had more give. What kind of armor did they wear? “I’ve had enough of people playing with my boobs today.”
    “I am attempting to neutralize the explosives.” Although the man kept his voice neutral, he spoke through clenched teeth.
    “Is that what you call it?” Nell planted two feet on his knees and shoved away from him. His hold on her breasts remained strong and her action tore at her chest. Pain overloaded her nervous system and static crackled inside her head. The only way she could escape would be if she gave herself a rather excruciating mastectomy. Panting through the sensation, Nell stopped struggling and hung limply between her captors. “Cause from where I stand, you’re copping a feel.”
    Ignoring her