Chapter Four:
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Kat couldn’t disassemble the metal furniture in the room, not without tools, and try as she might, she could not pull the stool away from the desk. It was anchored to the floor.
She huffed and crossed her arms over her torso as she eyed her room for the hundredth time. Her stomach growled from hunger. She knew her limitations and with her limited resources–a bag filled with only personal effects–she had no real chance to get out.
Not even to use the lavatory.
A noise sounded outside her door, distant but getting closer.The android? Footsteps. Heavy footsteps...the Cyborg.
Kat stiffened and faced the inevitable.
The door slipped open without a sound, and for a moment, she resented it with every fiber of her being.
The Cyborg stood on the other side, quick-fire rage crossed his features. Kat took a step back.
He dominated the doorway, and was big enough to be the door itself. Her pulse quickened as her eyes left his face and trailed down to his half-naked body. Dark pants hugged him but that was it. Even his feet were bare.
A sliver of fear coursed through her as he took a heavy step into her room. It was much too small for the both of them. He stared her down with dark eyes that had a gleam of evil in them.
Kat finally looked at him for what he was, a hunter, a malformation, a predator. Before he was just a mysterious and intriguing entity, now he was a man that looked like he wanted to strangle her.
Kat swallowed. “You opened the door.” He continued to stare at her, the muscles of his arms twitching as if he was trying to restrain himself. She continued, “I need network allowance.”
Her face twisted.I should’ve asked for his name.
Please don’t kill me.
His hand reached out and closed around her throat. Tight, menacing, but gentle. And big. She knew he could crush her but hoped that he wouldn’t.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he growled.
“I’m your new assistant, Katalina. Kat for short,” she blustered. The body heat radiating off his chest enveloped her.
“Did you think it was smart? Lying your way into my ship and past my androids? One that is often filled with beasts and dangerous pathogens? There’s a reason I work alone. I could kill you, I could do anything to you, and there is no one who could save you.”
His hand gradually loosened and fell back, his fist clenched at his side. Kat took a deep breath.
“I needed the job,” she said slowly. “I heard what you do–”
“Hunt,” he interrupted. “Stalk. Sometimes kill.”
“You help colonization efforts and you help find cures.”
The rage on the man’s face lifted just enough to show a twinge of curiosity in his eyes. She crossed her arms over her chest again, feeling like she needed armor against his gaze.
“Pretty words for what I actually do, what I like to do.”
“You still do it, though. I want to help…” Her eyes kept drifting down his body to take in his sculpted chest. Kat wanted to look lower, take the entire Cyborg in, but she didn’t.
“You’re an idiot. There’s no way you can help.” He turned to leave.
“I’m a nurse. Wait! I’ve been around death my whole life. I help people die. I’ve helped so many people die. I want to be around life for awhile, and I want to help people live now. Please.” She grabbed his arm. A charge of static electricity zapped her hand. Kat jumped back as the shock coursed through her. She looked at her palm, expecting to see a burn, a blister, or pink skin, but there was nothing.
The Cyborg shuddered as if he was shaking the feel of her off of him. The muscles on his arms flexed, her eyes were drawn to them, her stinging palm forgotten.
“You shouldn’t touch me.”
