“I can smell him.”
She frowned. “And you can feel my hand. Doesn’t make it real. He’s only code backed up by game AI.”
Lotrin looked at them curiously, and though she was unnerved by all the weapons pointed at her and the alien’s strange expressions, she kept her cool.
Slowly, Cypher eased, and Vee moved next to him.
“Commander Lotrin,” she began, keeping her voice level, “we don’t believe we are trespassing. This planet is not under either human or Trentian jurisdiction. And if it were, it could arguably be under human law.”
“Is that so?” Lotrin said. “I never understood how a people could claim an entire galaxy. It matters not. We have arrived to settle.”
Vee’s face scrunched. “Under space law—”
“Created by your kind. Not mine.”
“Thatyourdiplomats and ours have created together after the war, these worlds between our galaxies are open to all if they are not under either government’s domain. We are not trespassing. Please lower your weapons. We can work together.”
Lotrin scowled, and the heat of his hatred singed her soul. Her stomach sank.
This is a game. This isn’t real.
Why does it feel real?
Vee’s heart raced as she waited for the Trentian’s next move—with their creepy, almost ghostly presence—knowing they could kill her at any moment. If that happened…
Minutes ago, she was nervous about going in front of a crowd. That all seemed like dust in her mind when compared to Lotrin and his men.
This isn’t Terraform Zero.Not once, ever, had she started colonizing a world with the threat of death. The game wasn’t about that. Vee slid her hand back into Cypher’s.
Is this a set-up?Derek’s words came back to her—sponsors, money, entertainment—even the political climate and Cypher being a player. She frowned.
Lotrin’s men lowered their weapons. She sighed with relief.
Maybe I’m overreacting...
“Tell me why you’re here,” Commander Lotrin spat. “Or I will arrest you and you can await trial back on Xanteaus Trent.”
Vee licked her lips and released Cypher’s hand. He hadn’t said a word since she’d moved forward, but she knew he was on the brink of lashing out. “We’re here for the same reason you are, to see if Laprencia is a world that can sustain human life—”
Lotrin’s pale eyes flared. Both men tensed.
Vee added, “We’re not here to fight or to stop your efforts. Our people live and work together on many planets now. The first generation of half-breed children are adults now, and they need a home. Why not work together?”
Commander Lotrin’s eyes moved back to her. “Do you think I would trust you so easily? When you have someone likehimstanding next to you?”
Vee stiffened. “You know what he is?”
“Cyborg,” the commander sneered.
“Alien scum,” Cypher threatened back.
“How is that possible?” she asked.The game shouldn’t have biocode on any player…
“Possible? Any Knight of Xanteaus would be able to tell a Cyborg from a human with a glance,” Commander Lotrin said. “They are the scourge of the universe, nothing more than a manmade blight, a cheat of Xanteaus’ life’s organics. Every Cyborg should be eradicated and split asunder.” He took a step forward.
“You dare threaten me, ghost?” Cypher growled, his body expanding.
Several of the alien guards raised their weapons again.
