Chained To The Cyborg: Cyborg Protectors, #5

By Alyse Anders

To keep her safe, he must bring her to the most dangerous place on the planet – prison.

As warden of The Prison, Zee ensures everything runs smoothly. But when he's informed that he has a mate from halfway across the galaxy, his carefully controlled world gets turned upside down. To make matters worse, the man who betrayed him also has a mate who will stop at nothing to see him.

As a paramedic, Mags is used to jumping into danger to do what's necessary to save others. When she realizes that Tara's mate is a murderer, she makes it her mission to help keep her safe, while coming to terms with her intense relationship with Zee.

Now charged with keeping both women safe, Zee must fight against his blind lust for Mags to keep them safe in the most perilous place on Grus Prime.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alyse Anders
• Release date: May 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781777038236

Book preview

Chapter One

Zee stood in the small room he used to communicate with Grus Prime and stared at the communication screen. As prison warden, he was responsible for providing the station updates on the state of their supplies, reports of any illness or injuries of any of the prisoners, while in return learning of anything relevant that might impact the prison itself. Not that the high council cared what happened on Zarlan itself, let alone the souls locked beneath its surface.

But this time something was different.

Normally, Zee was the one to initiate the communications – albeit a regularly scheduled one – and rarely did the communication last longer than a few minutes. He was supposed to be informing the high council, but often it was a low-level bureaucrat who would take his report and offer nothing in return. He was surprised when this time instead of an underling who he’d never hear from again, Commander Aidric’s face appeared on the screen.

It took his cybernetic matrix effort to keep any hint of emotion from Zee’s face. The last thing he wanted was for the man who’d been responsible for the creation of the cybernetic matrix and hailed as the savior of the Grus, to think he held any emotional power over him.

Even if he did.

Zee. Aidric nodded. It has been too long since we’ve spoken.

Five years, eight months and forty-seven days. Has it? Zee cocked an eyebrow. I assume there’s a problem if you’re reaching out to me directly.

There is. Aidric hesitated, his gaze slipping over to look at the cybernetic implant that comprised a section of Zee’s skull. Have you had any issues with your matrix?

An odd question. Despite Aidric’s hand in the creation of the cyborgs, since the war he rarely was involved with any of them. He lived high up on the space station, hidden away from the men and women who he’d brought back from the dead. In the early days, Zee had wondered if Aidric ever had regrets about what he’d done to those who’d fought and died. He’d even asked Rykal – the leader of the Fallen – what he thought.

My brother sees himself as a fraking savior.

Zee never doubted the validity of the statement.

My cybernetics are functioning as they should.

Aidric’s lips twitched into a frown; a movement so small Zee was certain he hadn’t even been aware it had happened. And your matrix?

Also functioning. A light itching sensation had begun earlier that day, but it had receded in the proceeding hours. Is there a problem I need to be aware of? A malfunction?

Aidric leaned back in his chair, his gaze locking on to Zee. We need to meet.

This time, Zee was unable to hide his surprise. I believe we’re meeting now.

No, this needs to be in person.

Perhaps the idea of there being a problem with the cyborg programming or something that has to do with his matrix wasn’t as farfetched as he would have liked. When?

My shuttle is prepping now. He sat up straighter and for the first time since their conversation had begun, Zee noticed how tired Aidric appeared. I believe you’ve received a report from Hallam recently. Can I assume you haven’t acted on that information?

Interesting.

Hallam was the head of medical for the cyborgs on Zarlan, residing in the main facility they used as a hospital. Cyborgs never got sick, but occasional accidents did require attention if their cybernetics were damaged. Hallam was also responsible for the health and wellbeing of the prisoners. Several days ago, a Grus technician had been assigned to the prison as part of a standard training schedule. The Grus would come for one month, learn the systems, get the certification on their record and never set foot here again.

This Grus hadn’t wanted the assignment and made his displeasure known to all. The fool somehow smuggled in stim – a blue powder that acted as a powerful hallucinogen. In small does, stim eased the mind of the user and removed anxieties. For frequent users, it became a powerful addiction and altered their minds. The technician attacked one of the cyborg guards, who’d had no choice but to use force to stop him. The Grus’s injuries led to his death. And as a result, the cyborg who’d hurt him was now to be decommissioned.

That Aidric, a man who was known for following the rules was actively inquiring about the life of a cyborg, was strange.

Zee cocked his head to the side. I have not.

I would appreciate you waiting. Aidric nodded slowly. As a favor to me.

Zee cared not about Aidric owing him anything. No, he would do this in the hopes of righting an injustice against a Fallen who’d been forced into this situation. As you wish.

The communication with Aidric was ended, leaving Zee with nothing but time until the commander arrived. He moved to the computer terminal that took up much of the space in the small room and connected his cybernetic matrix to the system. In a nanosecond, his mind was freed and able to move throughout the prison’s systems. Unlike on Grus Prime, there was no AI here to slow him down or prevent him from touching any corner of the mainframe that he wanted. Through the sensors that monitored more than a thousand prisoners and staff who lived and worked here, Zee was able to ensure everything went as it should.

It was surprisingly lonely, having the ability to watch others and see their interactions, but not be a part of them. Zee found it necessary to keep himself removed from others, his position as warden requiring him to make decisions about the lives of those under him. He controlled the lives of everyone here, a responsibility he took seriously.

Something so very different from his life before the war.

Zee was aware of Aidric’s shuttle approaching the prison before they signaled their arrival. He kept engaged with the computer, opening doors for the commander as he entered the transportation tube that lead down to the main sector of the prison. He waited until Aidric was outside the office door before disengaging his matrix and turning to face the man who’d once implanted cybernetics into his body.

Commander. Zee straightened to his full height and locked his gaze on Aidric. I must admit I was surprised in your interest in the fate of my guard.

Aidric was an imposing man. He was shorter than Zee and his body wasn’t as muscular as many of the Fallen, but he was fit for a Grus. No, it was an aura of intelligence and control that emanated from him in waves that put most people – including cyborgs – in their place.

Normally.

It was easier to see the tiny cracks in the protective mask Aidric wore around others. While Zee thought he’d looked tired earlier, now that they were face-to-face, he could tell there was something bothering the man. It was a look Zee saw on countless prisoners within the walls of this prison.

I did not want to make my request over the communication system for fear it would be intercepted. I’m granting you permission to commute the guard’s decommissioning. He may return to work and his record will be cleared. I will instruct Hallam to note that the Grus technician’s cause of death was complications due to stim addiction.

Zee stared at Aidric for several long moments, surprised at his disregard for the rules he normally held so dear. After a moment, he reached over to the terminal and sent the command. He’ll return to duties tomorrow.

Excellent. Aidric sat down in the chair pushed off to the side of the room. It was rarely used as cyborgs didn’t need rest, prisoners weren’t allowed into this section of the prison, and Grus personnel rarely visited. I have a question for you. An important one that I need you to consider seriously before you respond.

Warning bells sounded off in his head. He didn’t know why or how, but Zee knew what was about to transpire would change the course of his life. Go on.

Aidric braced his hands against the tops of his thighs. Have you felt an itching in the back of your brain?

As amazed as Zee had been when Aidric had announced his impending visit, it didn’t compare to what he felt at being asked about something he’d barely acknowledged and had already dismissed. I did briefly. It no longer appears to be an issue. It was still there, a tickle more than an itch, but so minor he didn’t feel the need to mention it to the commander.

Aidric nodded, his gaze falling to the floor, but didn’t appear to be any less concerned. "Let’s hope it stays that way. For a while