Page 37 of In a Dangerous Orbit
ON A CYBORG PLANET
CHAPTER ONE
“We need to get the Codex Da Vinci back.Now.”
“I know, Axton. We’re working on it.”
Axton Saros stood at the huge windows in his office, high atop his planet’s Capitol Building, his hands in the pockets of his suit pants. He didn’t need his enhanced cyborg senses to hear the frustration in his brother’s voice.
It was strange enough to actuallyhearemotion in Xander’s voice. Until a few months ago, Xander Saros—the deadliest cyborg in Centax Security—had never shown any emotion and hardly felt at all.
Axton studied his brother’s reflection in the polished synth-glass. There was no mistaking the fact they were brothers. Xander might have been a few inches taller with a heavily-muscled body thanks to his intensive CenSec training, but they both had dark hair and the same green-gold eyes. Xander was more heavily enhanced than Axton, though. The circular silver implant at his brother’s temple might be the only one visible, but there were many, many more.
“You have an entire security team of efficient, intelligent CenSecs,” Axton said. “How come they haven’t discovered what happened to the Codex yet?”
The corners of Xander’s lips tipped upward for a brief second. “Because they’re better at killing things than being treasure hunters. Myself excluded, of course.”
By the creator, seeing Xander almost-smile was still a shock. And just yesterday, Axton had heard him laugh. Amazing to believe that one tiny woman had brought about so much change.
Axton turned. “Xander, did you just make a joke?”
“Of course not.” Xander’s voice was deadpan. “We do have a lead on the Codex.”
Straight to the point. Xander wouldn’t know polite chitchat if it zapped him and beat him over his enhanced head. “Go on.”
“We’ve confirmed the Rahl took it when they raided the Centax Museum. We now know they never got it off-planet.”
The Rahl. Axton’s hands clenched. The beast-like mercenaries who’d helped lead the coup on Centax. Dark memories rose, but he ruthlessly shoved them away. “The Centax Museum’s grand reopening is in one week.One week. I need the Codex Da Vinci back in its display by then.” It was vital to helping the planet recover and find stability again.
“Won’t everyone’s focus be on the Antikythera?” Xander asked.
“Yes. And the new, improved vault to keep it in.” The ancient Terran artifact was revered by all Centaxians. Part of the universe’s first computer, found rusted under a Terran sea, it had been ancient when Earth was still a thriving planet undestroyed by war. Now, the Antikythera was priceless.
It was also a symbol of the leader of Centax. Without it, Axton and the ruling council lost their right to rule. Which was why the Rahl had whisked it away. Xander had gone on a wild adventure, ending on a rogue planet, in order to get it back.
Xander’s eyes glowed a faint neon green, a sign he was accessing his cyborg systems. “I was informed that the ruling council had also updated the laws around the Antikythera.”
“Yes, thank the Creator.” Axton gripped the back of his desk chair. “Now it’s simply an artifact to be admired, not something that can be used against us.” He shook his head, his shoulders sagging a little. “I should have changed that outdated law years ago.”
“Not your fault. The ruling council never thought of it either.”
Yes, but he was the Prime. If someone was to blame, it was him. “The focus will be on the Antikythera, but the empty case beside it is still a blow.” He threw his arms wide. “I need the Codex found.”
Moving his arms so quickly made pain flare through his shoulder and he wasn’t fast enough to hide his wince. Xander’s gaze narrowed. Of course, it was too much to ask that his brother would miss it.
During the coup, Axton had been captured and tortured, and while the Centaxian doctors had healed all his other wounds, having his shoulder dislocated over and over again had left him with permanent damage. Regen therapy was helping, but they wanted him to consider replacing it with a mechanical one.
“How’s your shoulder?” Xander asked.
“Fine,” Axton bit out. He didn’t have the time for surgery and recuperation right now. Not with a planet to rebuild. “So, we know the Codex is still on Centax.” That was good. “Any ideas on its exact location?”
There was a movement near the doorway and the second CenSec who entered the room answered in a cool, composed voice. “No. But interrogation of the Rahl prisoners has confirmed that it’s stashed here in Haxx, and that the mercenary leader, Cran, showed a special interest in it.”
Axton felt that usual one-two punch to his gut. Something about Commander Xenia Alexander—Xander’s second-in-command and the second most deadly CenSec on the planet—set Axton’s blood humming.
She was hard to miss. Tall, toned, athletic, with a fall of vibrant red hair she always kept pulled back in a tight ponytail. The severe hairstyle accented a face that was more interesting than beautiful.
She was all spit and polish in her black CenSec uniform, only broken by a small silver insignia in the shape of a mechanical cog on her shoulder. Her deep blue eyes regarded him with cool reserve. A silver metallic implant arched over her left eye.
