Jorah's Revenge: Altorian Cyborg, #2

By J. Thompson

 

He craves Revenge 

Broken and on the verge of death, it takes all the strength Jorah possess to fight against the darkness. Not the cyborg he was before he struggles with the overwhelming need for vengeance against those that betrayed his race and his loyalty to his team. Through the pain and nightmares, there is one shining light.

 

She wants freedom

All of her existence 3V4 has craved to be free, dreamt about it. When her master is killed giving her the chance to escape she takes it, even when the cyborg makes her feel things she knows nothing about. Even when his very touch awakens feelings and wants she had unknowingly craved. 

 

When her masters want her back can Jorah put aside his revenge and protect the woman that is more than what she seems and the key to filling his empty soul.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: J Thompson
• Release date: Feb 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201855864

J. Thompson

J. Thompson is a USA Today Bestselling Author of Paranormal and Sci-Fi romance and a major fan of procrastination. Jenn has always loved history, so using her wild imagination and tying in her love of history and fantasy, she began a new adventure into the world of words. Weaving romance into old worlds and giving life to her mythical inspired novels is what Jenn does best, and she has a lot more planned in the future, including some hard assed demons. When she isn't bent over her laptop with the crazy writer eyes, you will find Jenn making jewellery, cross stitching and it doing paper crafts. Jenn is also an avid lover old skool skills like archery and sword fighting. Maybe a touch nuts Jenn is an author who believes wholeheartedly that people are good and that everyone deserves romance - even Hades. Keep up to date by checking out https://jthompsonauthor.com/

Book preview

1

Jorah felt each slice of the blade as the doctor slashed it across his chest; felt his blood streaming down his torso as his torturer then slowly peeled his skin back. Intense pain flooded his system, overwhelming the nanites as they fought to heal him.

Jorah knew he would die, but he wasn't afraid of death; never had been. He would make sure it was an honourable death, though, by not revealing anything about his brethren. He would take that knowledge to the grave. 

I will enjoy breaking you, the psychopath gloated.

Jorah ground his teeth against the fresh wave of agony that rippled through him when his bicep muscle was slowly stripped from his arm. More blood flowed, covering the floor, the contrast of red against white so morbidly distinct. 

Yet Jorah didn’t make a sound. 

Go on—roar out your pain, the cruel man sneered as he held the large piece of muscle in his hand. He sniffed it, and then grinned. No? Don’t worry; she will take your place and give me the screams I desire. 

Jorah’s eyes followed the doctor’s gaze, and he couldn’t stop the growl that left his lips. It wasn’t his commander he was looking at.

The small, delicate female was hanging from the ceiling. Blood ran steadily down the length of her naked form from where her wrists were rubbed raw within their shackles. Her body was black and blue with numerous bruises, and her head hung limply to the side. Her eyes, wide and vacant, were proof that she was dying. 

---

As the doctor slowly approached her, he revealed a long, serrated blade.

Jorah fought so hard to escape his restraints that his own skin tore, and his bones cracked. The need to protect this female overrode everything within him, yet he was powerless as the madman’s blade sank into the female's chest.

She screamed her pain, and Jorah roared his own right along with her; for being denied the chance to save the female, to protect her from being tortured. 

Jorah. The deep voice penetrated his mind; cut through the fog of anger and rage. Jorah! again, the voice called, and finally, as if pulled by a thread, he was dragged from the pain and dark, into the light. Roaring once more, Jorah sat upright, his arms flailing against his bonds. Only, there were none. 

His chest heaved as he took in the concerned look on his fellow unit member’s face. Sax, Chief Medical Officer, watched him; waited for him to get his bearings, for the remnants of the nightmare to dissipate. 

Just a nightmare, Jorah. Breathe deep, my friend. Sax's deep voice remained neutral as he breathed with him, helping calm his heartrate. 

Female, Jorah croaked out, his voice hoarse as his throat protested its use. Where's the female? Sagging back onto the bed, Jorah tried to forget his nightmare; to push from his mind the sight of the female dying while he was incapacitated. 

She's with Bethany, Sax answered, as Jorah moved back in the bed. Picking up a data tablet, he started to go over the information coming from the wires hooked up to Jorah. You need to sit back and rest. Your body needs time to heal, Sax admonished, yet his eyes never strayed from the tablet. 

Yes, Mother, Jorah couldn't help but quip back. Is she alright? Jorah asked, needing to know she was okay. Visions of her hanging there just wouldn't leave his head, as if they were taunting him. 

Yes, although she was very reluctant to leave your side, Sax admitted as he looked at the readings on his computer pad. Jorah couldn't help but feel rather pleased that she had wanted to stay with him. He didn’t realise he was smiling until he felt Sax’s gaze on him. 

What? he snapped when the male’s lips stretched wide, unnerving him slightly. 

I've seen that look before, Sax admitted, making Jorah raise a brow. Then he changed the subject. What look? 

Sax’s voice became background noise when Jorah finally realised that he was seeing out of both eyes, though the right one was now directly linked to his core processor, bringing up data before he even knew he wanted it. Looking down, he took in the bandaged areas, feeling the difference in his body. His heart-rate sped up. 

Settle, my friend. Just some basic remodelling. You had extensive damage, and we had to make do with what we had available. Your nanites failed to stop the bleeding, were almost non-responsive, which is why you weren’t healing, Sax explained.

Jorah nodded, his memory flaring as he remembered being injected with something. He opened his mouth to mention it, but Sax hadn’t finished.

As we are now ‘homeless’, no thanks to the Terrans, Sax growled out, we don't have the same tech we had access to before. So, we’re winging it, hence the alternative upgraded gear.

Placing the data pad on the table next to his bed, Sax reached for a syringe, making Jorah stiffen. He had never been a fan of injections—always hated having his medical—but now his fear had multiplied. He could see the data readings in his new eye: elevated heartrate, adrenaline spike, oxygen levels dropping. 

Shh, Jorah, it's okay. I need to give you another nanite infusion. Whatever they did, they practically killed off the ones you had, and any that remain are useless. Sax moved slowly, and Jorah was grateful, though he couldn't help but hiss when he felt the needle pierce his skin and the coolness of the liquid as it entered his bloodstream. Immediately, a sense of calm flowed through him, making Jorah frown. Nanites didn't do that.

Sax, he murmured, seeming to lack the strength to talk. His eyes started to close.

I'm sorry, bud, but you need to rest, Sax answered, though he sounded miles away. 

Arsehole, Jorah mumbled, the darkness closing in. 

Yeah, yeah, tell me something I don't know. Sax’s voice echoed as Jorah finally gave in and fell into an exhausted slumber. 

2

3V4 held her hand out and watched, mesmerised, as the hot water hit it, the slight sting surprising her. She had never seen a shower before; only ever heard them mentioned. That was, until the female Bethany had shown her. She had taken her hand and led her into the cleansing room, where she turned the water on.

Heat and steam filled the room, yet 3V4 hadn’t moved from her spot next to the open door of the cleansing unit. She was still dressed in the smock she had always worn, the rips and bloodstains clear and stark against the pale blue material. Her body wasn’t in much better condition. She desperately needed to wash. Yet as she looked at the water, watching it hit the bottom of the stall, she realised she didn’t know what to do. 

She still felt traumatised by everything that had happened. After witnessing the blue-eyed cyborg kill her master, she had not wanted to leave his side. Even when Bethany barged into the room, fiercely holding a weapon, and freed the other male.

What truly surprised her was the loyalty the two male warriors so obviously shared. In her limited experience, males did not help each other. If one showed any weakness, he was destroyed. So, when the larger male had approached the one near her, she feared he would finish what her master had started. Instead, he helped him. Even more surprising was when the injured male insisted that she stay with him, and the others complied. They were even kind to her. 

Kindness was not something she was used to, unlike most people. In the past, if anyone had been kind to her, it meant they expected something in return. Or they just took what they wanted. The red-eyed ones liked to do that. They also enjoyed inflicting pain. 3V4 couldn't stop the shudder that swept through her at the thought of those powerful, abusive, evil males.

Eva, Bethany called out. You okay in there? 

Eva was the name Bethany had started to call her, instead of her code, and 3V4 found she liked it. Loved it, in fact. 

Yes, she called out in answer, still watching the waterfall. She only turned when Bethany’s head appeared around the doorway. A frown creased her face; a face Eva thought was so beautiful, even with the scar that marred her skin. 

You haven’t showered yet? Bethany asked, but it was a simple enquiry; no anger, which she was expecting. 

Oh, I, err, Eva started to say, but she was too nervous to admit she didn't know what to do. She didn't want the other female to know she was defunct and lacking; didn’t want to reveal that although the spray of water had a pleasant sound, she didn't trust it. She was afraid of that much water. Before she could think of something to say, Bethany walked into the room and smiled at her. 

Okay, let's try something else. 

Passing by her, Bethany quickly turned off the cascade of water, and she found she missed the sound. The female then walked toward a basin—something Eva was familiar with—and started to fill it, before grabbing items from the storage unit and placing them on the shelf. 

Eva grinned when she realised what Bethany was doing. She had been given a bowl of water now and then—a treat her masters had been reluctant to provide her with. A simple bowl and cloth were things she knew well.

Humming a tune, Bethany left the room again, before she quickly returned with clothes in her arms. 

Right, get yourself clean and then pop these on. Leave that smock on the floor and we can burn it later if you want. Bethany then smiled and