She pulled her hands off herself and sank against the wall, feeling helpless, and once again, alone.
The dark pulled out her most wicked desires.
Elodie clenched her muscles.
Closed her eyes.
And wished he was still next to her.
He makes me feel safe. And that safety is lulling me into a dangerous position.Gunner also made her feel like a woman—made her feel feminine—and feeling that safety and acceptance was like a drug.
Elodie rubbed her face hard enough until it burned.
The lights flickered on overhead and she stiffened, her eyes lifting, catching quick glances of the brig. It went dark again shortly after, but not before the androids stationed throughout began to make their circuits. The sounds of their clicking metal and forced out air filled her ears that she didn’t notice when the brig door opened, the sounds muffled.
Only the shock of a distant scream and three shots going off had her upright in fear. The door closed. The sounds blocked out.
Gunner...
The lights flickered again and the other prisoners were poised, wide-eyed, watching, and waiting.
The silhouette of a man made its way toward her.
***
GUNNER DUCKED THROUGHthe hallway and into the first side room he found, taking off his boots and setting them aside. He was on the move toward his target a moment later, recalibrating his systems to project nothing but silence, as though he were nothing but air.
He dashed through the halls like a wraith, one that couldn’t be picked up by any of the five senses. His body was nothing more than a static blip throughout the many security feeds he passed under.
There was only one man stationed nearby and Gunner swept past him without notice. He eyed the man’s back, sensing something about him but moved on when he realized the empty bottle dangling from his hand had knocked him out.
The androids that were littered throughout the level, guns cocked, were distant brethren. A simple connection, a brief code, and they allowed him passage without objection.
He pressed his back into the wall when the elevators opened and a trio of pirates came out. Their bodies reeked of stale tobacco and alcohol.
“Fucking waste of time,” one of them slurred. “It’s not like the prisoners are causing the chaos... Fucking waste of all our time checking on them.”
“Don’t be so sure about that,” another responded. “None of this shit went down until they were brought on board.”
“There’s no fucking way they can get out of their cells, let alone make it through the ship unseen.”
“That new guy with the tattoos is a twat with murder in his eyes. He gives me the creeps.”
Gunner smirked.How cute. They’re complimenting me.
“So what? Still can’t get out. If anything it’s one of the new recruits making his move. And if he creeps you out, I heard he’s pretty friendly with his cell mate. We can have some fun tonight.”
Gunner stiffened, his hands dropping from the wall to clench into fists at his side.Elodie. He was going to make his way to Ballsy sight unseen but now...his codes scattered. He felt his territory being threatened.
The men drew closer, each heavy booted step snapping a little bit more of his control. The jackal screeched and howled at the thought of these men getting any closer to Elodie.
They know we’re close.
He hadn’t hidden it—hadn’t cared enough over the days they huddled together and talked. Suddenly, the idea of anyone—anything—with eyes on them, even if it was the ship’s AI made, him furious. Others would’ve caught on. Kallan came to mind. His moments with Elodie were his and his alone. He needed to make sure they stayed that way.
Gunner jerked and twitched, his control commands dying in his head, his mission wavering as the stench of the men thickened.
“Which is why we’re being forced to check on them,” one of the men said.
