The Cyber Chronicles IV - Cyborg (10 page)

The hacker
shook his head. “No, I don’t like it either. We don’t know what
he’ll be able to do once you give him access. He could disable
Sabre for all we know.”

“
I can’t, I swear,” Previd said, “but I can’t update his
software without his serial number.”

Kole held out
his hand to Tassin. “Give me one of Sabre’s lasers.”

She drew one
and gave it to him, and he stepped closer to press it to the side
of Previd’s head. “Okay, let’s get something straight; if you don’t
do what we want, or try to do anything to the cyber other than what
we told you, your brains end up all over my nice clean bulkhead,
which I’d hate to happen, so no funny business, got it?”

The technician
raised his hands. “Okay. I’m not going to take on a cyber, am
I?”

“
Maybe you think you can mess with him, but I’m a programmer so
I’ll know if you try anything, and then I blow you away. Do as
you’re told, and we’ll let you go afterwards.”

“
I’ll only do what you want, I swear. I don’t have a death
wish.”

“
Good.” Kole nodded at Tassin. “All right. Go
ahead.”

“
Where did you put that code sheet?” she asked.

“
In the drawer in my cabin.”

“
Just ask the cyber,” Previd said. “He’ll only tell his owner
or someone with command privilege.”

“
Right.” She turned to Sabre. “What’s your serial
number?”

"This unit's
serial number is XCA-6352-JY9019."

Previd winced
as Kole jammed the laser harder against the side of his head.
“Cyber XCA-6352-JY9019, initiate software update, authorisation
code Myon Two ZZ416.”

“
Code accepted. Authorisation for Senior Control Unit
Technician and Department Head Previd Malatar. Access granted,”
Sabre intoned.

“
Enquiry: name of update patch installed three years
ago.”

“
Core update patch file name: MC201.”

Previd
hesitated, frowning. Evidently something about what Sabre had said
bothered him. “Erase core update file: MC201, control alpha
priority one.”

“
Erasure forbidden.”

"Override
code, Myon Two, ZZ416. Erase, erase, erase," Previd said.

“
Input security access code XZ384.”

“
Code XZ384 security access PM499. Erase, erase,
erase.”

"File
erased."

Previd glanced
up at Kole. “There, it’s done.”

The hacker
frowned at Sabre, who stared into space.

“
That’s it?” Tassin asked.

The tech
nodded. “Yes.”

She studied
Sabre. “How do we know you did the right thing?”

“
Sounded right,” Kole said.

“
I removed the patch,” Previd glanced up at Kole again. “So you
don’t need to hold a laser to my head anymore.”

Kole lowered
the weapon and looked at Tassin. “It doesn’t seem to have made a
difference.”

“
He has to free himself.” She turned to the cyber. “Sabre, you
can free yourself now. Please try. The patch that prevented you is
gone.”

Previd snorted
and chuckled. “Free himself from the control unit? Are you from
La-la-land? A cyber host can’t free himself.”

Tassin eyed
the man. He looked smug, as if he had won the round, and she
wondered why. Then again, perhaps it was just because he did not
believe Sabre could free himself, in which case he was in for a
nasty shock. She wished Sabre would try to get free, but he did not
seem to have heard her. “I guess you weren’t around when Sabre was
taken back to Myon Two three years ago, then.”

“
I was at Cybercorp three years ago, and I’d remember something
like that. One came in with a damaged control circuit, but there’s
never been a cyber who got free.”

Tassin glanced
at Sabre. “Maybe he didn’t reveal his ability.”

Kole nodded.
“That would have been wise.”

“
You two are complete morons,” Previd said. “Cyber, disable and
disarm the male individual.”

Sabre strode
towards Kole, whose eyes widened. He backed away, raising his
hands. “Shit! Tassin, do something!”

As she opened
her mouth, Sabre gripped Kole’s throat and his hands tightened. The
hacker’s eyes rolled up, and the cyber took the laser from his lax
hand as he folded over and went down. Tassin stared at him,
stunned. Sabre returned the weapon to its holster, and she shook
her head in horrified disbelief.

Previd rose to
his feet, his expression triumphant. “You didn’t really think you
could get away with this, did you?” He smirked. “I’ve never heard
of such an idiotic plan. Of course, you weren’t to know that as
soon as you gave me his serial number, you granted me full access.
I’m a Myon Two technician. He obeys me now. Meddling with a cyber
is illegal, you know. I need your cohort to fly the ship, since
it’s an AI, but I don’t need you. Of course, I could order the
cyber to hack it, but that’s Kole Arvan, isn’t it?”

She nodded,
her mouth dry.

“
I thought so. Several major corporations have bounties on his
head, but they want him alive. So this little venture of yours will
even make me a nice profit. Cyber, kill her.”

“
No!” Her blood chilled as Sabre drew a laser and aimed it at
her forehead. She stepped back, shaking her head. “Sabre… no…
please.”

Previd
scowled. “Kill her!”

The cyber’s
finger tightened on the trigger, and his hand trembled. She gulped,
glancing at the brow band. Several lights had turned red, including
the seventh control light, which flashed.

“
Sabre… please! Help me!”

Previd said,
“I’ll have to do it myself then.” He reached for the laser in
Sabre’s holster, but the cyber’s hand clamped over it, preventing
him from drawing it. The sixth control light flashed and turned
red. Sabre stood like a statue, and Previd’s scowl deepened. He
yanked the big knife from the cyber’s webbing and turned to Tassin,
who fled. He pursued her towards the bridge, but there was nowhere
to run or hide. She turned to face him, and he grinned, feinting at
her with the knife. She raised her hands and backed away.

“
Sabre!”

The cyber
lowered his arm and turned his head towards her, the brow band
ablaze with red lights.

Tassin tripped
and fell backwards with a grunt, banging her head on the floor.
Stars danced in her eyes.

Previd
giggled. “Actually, this is more fun.”

The technician
straddled her and bent to slash at her face. Tassin shrieked and
threw up her hands. The weapon sliced into her palm, making her
snatch her hand away with a yelp of pain. Previd sniggered and
tried again, but she imposed her hands, glanced around for a weapon
and cursed the fact that she did not carry a laser. Then again,
Previd would have just ordered the cyber to disarm her. Now that
the technician had control of Sabre, her fate was sealed unless he
could get free in time.

“
Sabre!” she shouted. “Help me!”

“
He won’t help you, stupid girl!” Previd sneered. “I’m a Myon
Two department head. No cyber will harm me. Did you really think
this would work?”

A thud came
from beyond Previd, and she raised her head to glance past him.
Sabre writhed on the floor, gripping the brow band.

“
Sabre!” she yelled again.

Previd grinned
and feinted with the knife, obviously enjoying her fear and pain.
She yelped, trying to fend him off and keep her hands out of harm’s
way at the same time. He glanced around, but Sabre still lay on the
floor, his back arched in a convulsion. Previd turned back to her
and lowered himself to his knees, pinned her legs and loomed over
her. She flailed at him, sprinkling him with drops of blood, but he
caught her right wrist and forced it to the floor. He stabbed at
her throat, and she grabbed the blade, which grated on bone as she
twisted it away. He growled, yanked it free and lunged, the razor
edge barely missing her throat when she flung up her arm to deflect
the blow. A red haze clouded her vision as panic squeezed her heart
and terror clogged her throat. Blood ran down her arms and her
strength dwindled. The pain made her gasp and whimper, her eyes
locked with single-minded intensity on the weapon that menaced her,
her heart racing with panic. She shrieked as Previd stabbed at her
face.

A strong arm
snaked around Previd’s throat and lifted him off her. Sabre placed
his other hand on the side of the Previd’s head and twisted. The
technician’s neck broke with a dull pop, and the cyber dropped the
corpse, staggered back and fell to his knees, gripping the brow
band again. Tassin raised her head to stare at him in amazement,
concern and relief, her breath coming in harsh gasps. The control
unit sparkled with waves of flashing red lights, and thin trickles
of blood ran down his brow from the battle he had just won. He
keeled over backwards, his spine arched in a powerful spasm that
raised his entire torso off the floor, his teeth bared in a snarl
of agony.

Tassin’s heart
ached with horror and anguish as Sabre rolled onto his side, the
muscles on his arms and chest bulging as he hauled on the brow
band. He breathed in shuddering gasps, his eyes rolled back to
expose the whites. She levered herself to her feet, cradling her
hands against her chest. Blood oozed from her lacerated palms and
trickled down her arms to drip off her elbows. She stepped over
Previd’s corpse on shaking legs, jumping back as Sabre thrashed,
his boot barely missing her leg.

Reaching
Kole’s huddled form, she nudged him with her toe. “Kole!” Her voice
emerged as a croak.

After two more
nudges, the hacker groaned and opened his eyes to frown up at her.
“What the hell happened?”

“
Sabre knocked you out somehow.”

Kole sat up
and glanced around, rubbing his throat. “Shit! What happened?”

“
Previd tried to kill me. Sabre got free to save me, but now
the cyber’s… trying to kill him, I think.”

The hacker
stared at Sabre for a moment, then shook his head. “I’m pretty sure
it can’t do that.” He turned to her, and his eyes widened. “What
happened to your hands?”

“
Previd got hold of Sabre’s knife.”

“
Bloody hell. You need a hospital. We have to stop the
bleeding, or you’ll be in trouble just now.”

“
I’m okay.” She clenched her hands and gritted her teeth,
watching Sabre.

Kole followed
her gaze. “The unit can’t keep that up for too long. It’s obviously
trying to shock him into submission, but soon it’s going to run out
of power.”

She pressed
her burning fists to her chest. “He must be in agony.”

“
I’d say that’s going to give him a bit of a headache,
yup.”

Veins stood
out on Sabre’s neck and brow, and waves of red lights ran through
the brow band’s black crystals. Fresh blood seeped from around the
two outer struts. Tassin swallowed bile, sickened by the sight of
his suffering, hardly able to bear it.

“
Come on, Sabre,” she urged.

Kole stood up
and patted her back. Sabre groaned, writhing.

Tassin stepped
closer. “Come on, Sabre, fight!”

The cyber
twisted, gasping harshly through gritted teeth, and blood ran down
his forehead to drip onto the carpet. He convulsed, his head
cracking against the floor. His back arched again, and then he
relaxed, his eyes closing. She thought he had passed out, but he
only lay still for a few moments, then he released the brow band,
his hands falling to his sides. The seven diagonal control lights
were a steady red. His frown eased and he opened his eyes to stare
at the ceiling. She went over and knelt beside him, her throat
tight.

“
Sabre?”

He turned his
head towards her, and a shaft of pure joy pierced her heart when
his eyes focussed on her. He licked his lips, looking dazed.
“Tassin?”

She smiled,
her breath catching in a sob. “Yes.”

Sabre sat up
and clutched his head with a groan, then glanced at Kole.

The hacker
recoiled, muttering, “Bloody hell.”

Sabre turned
to her again. “I’m free,” he said, as if he could not believe it.
“I’m really free. I…” His eyes flicked to her hands. “You’re
hurt.”

She looked
down at them, swallowing a lump. “I’m okay.”

“
Let me see.” He took hold of one of her fists and opened it,
drawing in a quick breath at the sight of the deep cuts. “These
need immediate treatment.”

His hands
trembled, and his touch made her stomach quiver, even though it was
entirely impersonal. He shot Kole a wary glance when the hacker
approached.

The cyber
rose, staggering a little, and went into the galley, opened a
locker in the bulkhead above the auto-chef and pulled down a
sizeable white box. He brought it over to Tassin, knelt beside her
again and opened the emergency medical kit. Tassin wondered how he
had known where it was. Kole sat on the sofa nearby, watching him
with blatant fascination. Sabre’s hands shook as he took out a
small spray bottle.

“
Open your hands,” he instructed.

Tassin did so,
gritting her teeth, and he sprayed her palms, making them sting
with renewed fury and bleed afresh. She whimpered, and Sabre picked
up a sterile swap in a sealed packet, tore it open and dried her
palms, which the spray had numbed, to her relief. Then he took
another bottle out of the kit and sprayed her palms again. This
time the spray dried to a thin skin, and he repeated the procedure
several times, thickening the layer of transparent substance until
it formed a flexible protective skin. She watched him with growing
disquiet, and he shot her occasional shy glances, clearly ill at
ease with her scrutiny.