Read Online The Cyber Chronicles VII - Sabre by T C Southwell - Free Book Online
Authors: T C Southwell
Ads: Link
smiled
at Fairen, then glanced at her. "I heard you call, and the
paralysing agent wore off just a minute ago." He turned back to
Fairen. "I'm in your debt, My Lord."
Fairen's smile
widened. "I think perhaps we're even now."
Sabre
considered. "No, I'm definitely in your debt."
“ If you insist on arguing about it, I shall have to demand a
trial by combat between us to decide the issue.”
The cyber’s
smile widened. “We may just have to do that, then.”
"I look
forward to it."
Tassin studied
Sabre, concerned. "Fairen says you're wounded."
"It's nothing
serious." He glanced down at his new standard issue combat
clothes.
"What did they
do to you?"
"Why don't I
tell you about it aboard Fairen's ship, hmmm? I’d really like to
get out of here. This place gives me the creeps."
Fairen
gestured to his troops, who parted to let them through. Sabre
spotted Tarl in the background and detoured towards him. The
technician smiled, looking a little nervous. His eyes flicked up to
the brow band before meeting Sabre's gaze.
"Good to see
you're okay, bud."
"Tarl, old
bud, nice of you to come to my rescue."
Sabre gave him
a thump on the back that sent him staggering into the wall, and
Tarl cursed, rubbing his smarting spine. He glared at Sabre as the
cyber followed Fairen, and Tassin grinned at him.
"The joys of
being a cyber's friend, hey Tarl?"
"He does it
just to piss me off."
"Of course he
does. It's his idea of revenge."
"For
what?"
She shrugged.
"For being a cyber technician, I suspect."
Tarl groaned,
and she trotted to catch up with Sabre, slipping her hand into
his.
Chapter Five
Tarl was
waiting for Sabre when he emerged from the shower with a towel
draped around his neck and another wrapped around his hips. The
suite Fairen had assigned to him was sumptuous, comprising a
massive lounge, bedroom and bathroom that would have put a
planetary palace to shame. Deep crimson carpet cushioned his feet,
and the bathroom fixtures were gold, as was the frame of the
crystal-topped coffee table in the lounge. Recessed lighting cast a
warm pink glow on pale rose walls and white leather sofas.
Cloth-of-gold curtains framed the oval screens, which gave a view
of deep space. Tassin was housed in the adjoining suite, and had
gone there when he had told her he was going to have a shower. The
technician looked determined.
Sabre eyed
him. "What do you want?"
"To see your
injuries."
Sabre went
over to the velvet-covered four-poster bed, where his clothes were
laid out. "I suppose you also want my bio-status and a systems
check?"
"No, just to
check your injuries."
"There's
nothing you can do. They're just burns."
"Then they
need ointment, but first I need to see how bad they are." He
approached the cyber, who kept his back turned and picked up his
vest. Tarl added, "Hey, I'm only trying to help, okay? Fairen did
his bit and Tassin did hers. This is what I do."
Sabre looked
down at the vest. "So you consider yourself part of the support
team, huh? In the field of technical expertise, I suppose?"
"No, I'm your
friend."
Sabre dropped
the vest and raised his head, staring at the far wall. "Why do you
think I need to be constantly reminded of that? Do you think I'm so
stupid I've forgotten your claim of friendship?"
"It's not a
claim, it's a fact, and I only remind you of it when you spout that
bitter crap."
Sabre turned
to face him. "Bitter? Is that what I am?"
"Amongst other
things. I understand, but it's about time you got over it. I've
proven time and time again that I want to help, and what I once was
has nothing to do with what I am now."
"No, you're
still a cyber tech. You always will be. But hey, you're my bud, and
I shouldn't compare you to the sadistic bastard who did this to me
on the enforcer ship, should I?"
Tarl shook his
head, looking wary. "No, you shouldn't. What did he do?"
Sabre pulled
the towel off his neck, revealing the red marks on his chest.
Tarl stepped
closer, frowning. "Laser burns.
at Fairen, then glanced at her. "I heard you call, and the
paralysing agent wore off just a minute ago." He turned back to
Fairen. "I'm in your debt, My Lord."
Fairen's smile
widened. "I think perhaps we're even now."
Sabre
considered. "No, I'm definitely in your debt."
“ If you insist on arguing about it, I shall have to demand a
trial by combat between us to decide the issue.”
The cyber’s
smile widened. “We may just have to do that, then.”
"I look
forward to it."
Tassin studied
Sabre, concerned. "Fairen says you're wounded."
"It's nothing
serious." He glanced down at his new standard issue combat
clothes.
"What did they
do to you?"
"Why don't I
tell you about it aboard Fairen's ship, hmmm? I’d really like to
get out of here. This place gives me the creeps."
Fairen
gestured to his troops, who parted to let them through. Sabre
spotted Tarl in the background and detoured towards him. The
technician smiled, looking a little nervous. His eyes flicked up to
the brow band before meeting Sabre's gaze.
"Good to see
you're okay, bud."
"Tarl, old
bud, nice of you to come to my rescue."
Sabre gave him
a thump on the back that sent him staggering into the wall, and
Tarl cursed, rubbing his smarting spine. He glared at Sabre as the
cyber followed Fairen, and Tassin grinned at him.
"The joys of
being a cyber's friend, hey Tarl?"
"He does it
just to piss me off."
"Of course he
does. It's his idea of revenge."
"For
what?"
She shrugged.
"For being a cyber technician, I suspect."
Tarl groaned,
and she trotted to catch up with Sabre, slipping her hand into
his.
Chapter Five
Tarl was
waiting for Sabre when he emerged from the shower with a towel
draped around his neck and another wrapped around his hips. The
suite Fairen had assigned to him was sumptuous, comprising a
massive lounge, bedroom and bathroom that would have put a
planetary palace to shame. Deep crimson carpet cushioned his feet,
and the bathroom fixtures were gold, as was the frame of the
crystal-topped coffee table in the lounge. Recessed lighting cast a
warm pink glow on pale rose walls and white leather sofas.
Cloth-of-gold curtains framed the oval screens, which gave a view
of deep space. Tassin was housed in the adjoining suite, and had
gone there when he had told her he was going to have a shower. The
technician looked determined.
Sabre eyed
him. "What do you want?"
"To see your
injuries."
Sabre went
over to the velvet-covered four-poster bed, where his clothes were
laid out. "I suppose you also want my bio-status and a systems
check?"
"No, just to
check your injuries."
"There's
nothing you can do. They're just burns."
"Then they
need ointment, but first I need to see how bad they are." He
approached the cyber, who kept his back turned and picked up his
vest. Tarl added, "Hey, I'm only trying to help, okay? Fairen did
his bit and Tassin did hers. This is what I do."
Sabre looked
down at the vest. "So you consider yourself part of the support
team, huh? In the field of technical expertise, I suppose?"
"No, I'm your
friend."
Sabre dropped
the vest and raised his head, staring at the far wall. "Why do you
think I need to be constantly reminded of that? Do you think I'm so
stupid I've forgotten your claim of friendship?"
"It's not a
claim, it's a fact, and I only remind you of it when you spout that
bitter crap."
Sabre turned
to face him. "Bitter? Is that what I am?"
"Amongst other
things. I understand, but it's about time you got over it. I've
proven time and time again that I want to help, and what I once was
has nothing to do with what I am now."
"No, you're
still a cyber tech. You always will be. But hey, you're my bud, and
I shouldn't compare you to the sadistic bastard who did this to me
on the enforcer ship, should I?"
Tarl shook his
head, looking wary. "No, you shouldn't. What did he do?"
Sabre pulled
the towel off his neck, revealing the red marks on his chest.
Tarl stepped
closer, frowning. "Laser burns.
Similar Books
