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council member. Ice turned his head the other way. His gaze locked with Megan s.
 Go, Megan. When you re safe I ll release him so he can use the last one.
Shock burned through her.  You re going to stay behind?
 He s a council member. I may dislike him but I won t kill him.
 I m not leaving you. Hot tears filled her eyes and she had to blink them back.
 Those Markus Models will kill you or return you to Earth. Either way you ll die. No.
 Fine. Both of you stay. Release me. Those things are coming. I just heard the lift
doors. Zorus struggled but couldn t break free of Ice s hold on him.
Ice spun, keeping one hand on Zorus and his other hand lifted, his weapon pointing
toward the bend of the hallway. In seconds a large shape rounded the corner and
Megan gasped. It wasn t a Markus Model or the other cyborg guard, Mellno. It was the
bald cyborg. The one Ice had asked to get her bots. He was out of breath, had cuts on
both arms, and a torn shirt.
Ice lowered his weapon.  Coal? What are you doing on board? You should be on
the Star. 
 With my damaged implants I couldn t connect to the shuttle computer. He
touched his head.  I couldn t bypass the doors that locked me inside a storage room
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when I entered it in search of the remaining bots. It seems some doors you may enter
but need a code to exit. What is going on?
 No time to explain.
Ice turned and his gaze locked with Megan s. She could see fear in his blue gaze.
His voice rang with desperation when he spoke.  I love you, Megan. Get in the damn
life capsule for me.
 No. She refused to leave him.  We ll fight them. We ll 
A loud boom reverberated through the ship. The gravity stabilizers wavered so all
four of them lost their balance and slowly lifted from the floor. The lights flickered and
the gravity restored, slamming them to the deck.
 The shuttle is unstable, Zorus yelled.  Release me. I m a council member. I m
giving you a direct order. He tried to shove Ice again.
Ice punched Zorus in the face, hard. The cyborg grunted and then went limp but Ice
grabbed him with both hands, holding him up. He turned and stared at Coal.
 There are only two pods left and they only hold one person each.
Coal closed his eyes for a few seconds and then opened them. He lifted out his
arms.  Give him to me. You both need to escape now. I ll stay behind.
Ice didn t move.  Coal, you and Megan are taking the life capsules. I m staying
behind with Zorus.
Coal shook his head.  You have a woman. I have no one, Ice. He hesitated, lifted
his hand, and touched the back of his head.  I am damaged. I am no longer useful
without active implants. You heard our doctors. The scar tissue is too severe to replace
them. I couldn t even get myself out of a simple locked door without tearing through a
wall with my body strength. Save your own life and be happy with your female.
 Please come with me, Megan begged.  Ice? I love you.
He turned his head, his beautiful silvery-blue gaze holding her captive with a sad
look.  I have strong issues with tight spaces, Megan. I can t get into one of those
capsules even if I were willing to allow Coal to take my place by staying behind. I
would do almost anything for you but I just can t put myself into that thing without
losing control. I would damage the interior of the capsule when I struggled to get out of
it, reasonable or not, and it would be a waste of two lives when one could be saved.
Megan blinked.  You re claustrophobic? Seriously? Is that what you re telling me?
 Yes.
 But you re a big, strong cyborg. She knew her mouth was agape in astonishment.
 Just shut off your emotion, do that thing you do and activate those chips you told me
about. I know you said you like to feel everything but you can feel after we re safely
away from this damn place.
 I was tortured, Ice admitted.  I know the fear is illogical but I m unable to shut it
down even when I ve attempted it. It s too deeply instilled.
 But you 
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Touching Ice
 I m sorry, Ice said, cutting her off.  Coal, promise me you will protect her from
the council. Don t allow them to harm Megan.
 I swear, Coal agreed.  Ice? Look at me.
Ice turned to face Coal and Megan watched in utter shock as the bald cyborg threw
a powerful punch that landed directly on Ice s chin, sending the man she loved into an
unmoving heap on the floor with the already unconscious Zorus. She was so surprised
she couldn t even move for seconds. Her gaze lifted and Coal sighed, staring back at
her. He shrugged.
 He can t be fearful if he s not conscious to experience emotion. He bent and
grabbed Ice under his arms.  Open a pod. I ll place him inside it and you take the
remaining one. When he wakes, tell him to live a happy life for me, and that will make
us even. I kept my promise. I protected your life since you won t be in any danger with
a live male in your family unit.
She numbly moved and activated a pod. The smell of acid smoke teased her nose
and she sniffed. Coal frowned and inhaled. He looked grim as their gazes met.
 The fire has spread inside the walls, into the electrical conduits is my best
estimation. It s just a matter of time before the damage is so severe that no life will be
sustainable. We don t have much time. Open it.
The pod had slid out fully from the wall and she touched the top, activating the lid
to open up. Coal adjusted his hold on Ice s large body, cradling him in his massive arms
enough to lift him over the edge and settle his body down. Megan only hesitated for a
second before she climbed in after him. A hand grabbed her arm, stopping her. Her
head jerked up.
 What are you doing? These are designed for one individual.
 If he wakes before we re picked up, he s going to freak out and may get himself
killed. If I m on top of him I can keep him calm and still. She paused.  And I d rather
risk both of our lives than just leave you behind to die.
Coal released her.  You re brave. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]