BANN Explosive! Read online

  “I am your liaison.” He handed her a data pad. “Your accommodations are listed on here as well as the directions to find them on the Station. Your position as our Security Office Manager requires that you meet with the Admiral at 08:00 tomorrow to finalise your employment on the Station. Do not be late. Any questions?”

  Kate stilled. She knew that fizz in the back of her neck. She’d felt it plenty of times in the past. She had a hell of a lot of questions. Like where’s your bunk for starters!... Her mind screamed. She liked everything about him and took a slow long look. Her mouth dry she swallowed for some moisture. “What…. exactly do you liaise?”

  He gave a small shrug. Kate thought it cute. Very human of him. “Whatever you need.”

  Kate gave a large predatory smile. “Oooo…..I think I’m going to… Need … a lot.”

  Bann frowned. There was something in this conversation he was not getting. He’d walked through the docking level to the cruiser he’d been told to meet. The moment the lift opened he could scent the female halfway across the room and he wasn’t the only Cyborg who could. He’d heard several comments over his neuro net from his connected brothers on the draw to the female. It was unusual for multiple Cyborgs to be interested in the same scent. It registered on his optic. His system automatically doing a chemical analysis for anything unnatural.

  She’d been where he’d been told to meet her and been given her ID in his orders. The Stations computer located her based on her DNA imprint and provided the information across his neuro net. Finding her hadn’t been hard. Far too easy in fact. His mind worked that theory as her scent now lingered with desire. Bann, clamped down on his sensors. Those were complications he did not need that crossed his optic on his own reactions to her. That was unusual as well. He’d not willingly been attracted to a female for a very long time. Images of times when he had filtered across his optic. Bann shut them down and buried them. He had no time or the inclination to go down memory lane. That led to pain he could no longer feel.

  His system told him the female was challenging him. An impossible situation but none the less, it registered that she had. Her small stature increasing his own protective instincts. The female had no self-preservation?

  They were drawing curious looks from his brothers on the landing bay. The female’s scent was strong, intoxicating. Bann’s mouth watered, his systems strained. A strong need to control the female hit him. The others appeared to sense it too. Bann went on high alert. Forgetting the protocol of introducing himself in the human way. “You must go to medical immediately.”

  He linked to the medical centre over his neuro net and asked for this new female to be checked out immediately. She was scenting other males and that was not logical. A ping on his net told him his request had been received. “This way please.” He indicated the way she should go.

  “What?” Kate wasn’t sure what was going on. One minute she was drooling and making up her own version of getting it on when this Cyborg did that thing with his eyes like he was communicating, then focused back on her with the medical crap. “I’m not ill and I need my bags.”

  Bann couldn’t stop staring at the female. It was intense and hot. He worked his mouth without thinking. “Your bags will be taken to your accommodations. The medical is a requirement of your employment.” That was true but not always so urgently done. Cyborgs didn’t lie but could use information to their advantage when needed.

  Kate was sure she was being manipulated but knew Cyborgs didn’t lie. “Fine. After you.” If nothing else, she could gaze on that fine ass…

  He walked to the lifts with the female in his vision following him. She was naturally curious of her surroundings but unafraid. That was good. What wasn’t was the number of Cyborgs turning in their direction.

  He knew that to humans there were many strange and new things on this Space Station. The fact that it was run by Cyborgs was one of them. He called for the lift over his net and it arrived as they reached the doorway and the lift doors opened. Bann stepped in followed by female. He gave the order for it to go to the Gallerea and the doors closed.

  His sensors were flashing red across the board. Emotion…. He shouldn’t have any. The confined space wasn’t helping. Her scent so strong it had a strangle hold on him.

  “Please turn down your emotions and feelings. I can scent them though your skin and it is saturating the air making it difficult for me to breath.”

  The fizz was getting stronger. Every little bit of pleasure and excitement she was channelling just got sucked out the lift. She turned to the Cyborg who’d been making her all tingly. “I can’t turn down my emotions I’m human. You telling me I smell?”

  “You are human, you all have a unique scent but you are particularly strong.”

  WTF!.... That wrangled. “I showered this morning bud, used the deo pads, my clothes are clean, I’m bloody clean so what’s up your ass?”

  Bann’s control snapped at yet another challenge. In the blink of an eye, he was across the lift holding her up and looking at her at eye level. He growled and went in for the neck.

  “You are crawling up my ass female and if it doesn’t stop, I’ll be in yours. Now cut the emotion and turn it off.” He slowly put her down just before the lift doors opened onto the Gallerea where medical was situated. He stepped out and took the first real breath since he’d met her.

  Holy shit had that just happened?..... Kate clasped her hands together to stop them from shaking. She gained her legs and cautiously walked to the lift doors and looked out. He was standing some distance away, then indicated a direction and she could see the medical building across the way next to security. She gave a nod and stepped out taking in the wonder of the place turning around to look up. The view from space hadn’t done it justice. How that glass ceiling stayed in place was a miracle as far as she could see. A masterpiece of engineering at its very least. Seeing it for real had nothing on the brochure. And the lights searching out into the stars, catching the ships coming and going. Simply spectacular. It was beautiful. Was that a sun?..... She craned her neck for a better view. Rotating on the inside of the ceiling structure was a large bright sun moving east to west. Going on its location she’d say it was after mid-day. She checked the time on her data paid. 12:13pm universal time. She was right. Looking to east once more on its trajectory she saw the moon and star waiting to rise. That would be night then. Kate smiled.

  Cleaver and cool. She saw him move from the corner of her eye and turned towards him. He indicated the way again. Kate glanced up once more and blew out a breath, then nodded and walked in the direction he’d indicated once more.

  The female was inquisitive….. His systems told him he liked that about her. He couldn’t feel the emotion, but his sensors still registered it. As with everything his diagnostic picked up, it showed across his optic in the front of his mind’s eye. He could ignore it or push it to one side if he chose to or leave it running in the back. Forever present, his sensors never turned off even in sleep.

  His emotions hadn’t been on for a very long time. It had been a long time since he’d felt them. His data gave him the exact time frame. So long…. Not since the early days of his birthing and training. He preferred it that way, he told himself unnecessarily. Automatically, images and memories flowed over his optic. The time with his emotions turned on. A time of confusion for a Cyborg. Clear data was what worked for them. Emotions got in the way of that and like many of his brothers, he’d struggled dealing with them.

  His time in training flowed easily over his optic. The mistakes he’d made. Believing what was not true. Not understanding the concept of lies. Images of the humans that had betrayed him flashed up. Bann closed down the link.

  It had been the Designers answer. Cut them off. So they had and for once, he’d been grateful they’d done something to him. The last memories of that time surfaced. The conflict of war and emotion. Betrayal. Humans couldn’t be trusted. He’d learnt that the hard way.

  And in the
end, the Designers hadn’t done it to help him but to save their investment. To ensure their very expensive commodity survived. They were all just commodities to Earth Corp. To the humans. It was why he chose to set himself apart and do his job.

  He followed the female at a discrete distance. Not in her wake, the air too heady for him to take but slightly ahead of her. Being down wind wasn’t an option. Her scent would linger and whirl in the air and he’d be walking right in it. He’s system already telling him that wasn’t smart and providing the route of least exposure. Nodding to the two Cyborg guards he pushed through the medical doors and entered the reception. Human nurses and doctors ran the medical centre along with Cyborg medics. “Kate Hudson, has an appointment,” he told the receptionist. The female nodded and checked the records.

  “Take a seat.”

  He saw that the female did and stood to one side.

  Kate didn’t like hospitals. They gave her an itch, unnerving her. Bad things happened in hospitals. She knew. Her nerves started to get the better of her. She could feel her heart rate increasing, her breathing becoming laboured, sweat breaking out across her body. Then a hand closed on her shoulder.

  “Breath, deep and slow, focus on my voice. You are safe here. There is nothing to harm you.” She nodded, taking slow deep breaths and focused as he’d told her.

  He’d felt the need to touch her, calm her. Her flight response had kicked in. Something bothered her about being in a medical environment. He should have checked that out before insisting on her coming in here now…. He’d harmed her with his lack of knowledge about her. That wasn’t acceptable and unexpected, Cyborgs were always prepared. Had he let his judgement be compromised by her scent?... He couldn’t deny it was possible. Mac came in through the doors.

  He removed his hand but not before Mac saw it. Damn. He was breaking his own rules and those of Cyborgs…

  “Bann, you requested an appointment.”

  He gave a sharp nod. “The female,” and indicated her with a slight movement of his head.

  The Doc came towards her. Kate was grateful to the Cyborg. To Bann? Was that his name?.... She was feeling better. That moment of panic was never nice. She acknowledged the kindness Bann had shown her by touching her shoulder. A hand showed under her bent face. Kate sat up feeling a bit of an idiot.

  “I’m Mac, I run this place. Seems we have an appointment.”

  The doctor looked young, confident and clearly in charge. Kate took the hand and shook. “Kate Hudson, yeah it does.” She moved to stand. The soon it was over the sooner she could move on.

  “This way.” The doc looked up at Bann, “you coming?”

  “Wasn’t intending to. Female privacy.” He told her.

  The Doc looked at him long and hard. Bann felt uncomfortable, it showed on his optic. “You asked for this meeting so to start with, your coming in and we’re having,” she pointed her forefinger at him. “That’, discussion.”

  Shit…… This was not what he wanted at all but knew better than to upset the Doc. Her mate Dark would be all over his ass. He gave a sharp nod and moved towards them.

  “He’s not coming in while I have a medical!” Kate told Mac.

  Mac laughed ushering her in through the doors. “No not for the medical just for the show and tell part.”

  Kate was suddenly confused as she was ushered along. “Wasn’t aware show and tell was part of a medical procedure.”

  Bann clenched his fists. This was not going to plan….. Mac laughed again. “Welcome to the Empire.” And showed her the way.

  ***

  He’d been in Mac’s office five times since they’d taken the Space Station. Not once for himself. He stood in the back of the room allowing the women to take their seats. He would have liked to tell Mac this wasn’t unnecessary, but his sensors told him something else entirely, so he kept quiet.

  Mac seemed to sense that and the moment she sat down and Kate was seated she looked up at him.

  “So…… what made you make the appointment?” He should have known she’d poke and prod. It was her way to find out everything.

  He could see the body language in the female Kate. She wasn’t happy, when she turned in her seat to look at him, it showed just how much on her face. He was in trouble….

  Bann ignored his sensors getting straight to the point. “The female’s scent is strong. Different from other females.” He sensed Kate stiffen and hesitated. “It attracted other males. Other Cyborgs. That is unusual and drawing attention.”

  Mac looked more pointedly at him now. He’d sparked her interest. He wasn’t sure that was a good thing. Not that she would ever intentionally harm him or any other Cyborg. She wasn’t a Designer, just a damn good Doctor tenacious in her work. “Other Cyborgs?” She queried her eyes wide in surprise. He nodded. “Mated ones?”

  He shook his head. He knew what a minefield that would be if it were true. He checked the data with the Stations rotation. “None were mated on the landing bay rotation, but I have no data to say that is not possible.”

  Now she looked curious and pressed her communicator. “This is Mac, who is on management duty in security?” She gave a nod. “Send him in to see me please.”

  The Doc looked back at him. “How strong is it now?” she asked.

  He wasn’t sure he wanted to answer that. “I’ve turned off my sensors.” He admitted

  “Turn them back on, I need to know how strong.”

  Bann frowned. “I am unsure that is wise.”

  “Are you in control Cyborg?” Mac demanded.

  His sensors told him he was but that was with his sensors off. “I am now.”

  “Turn them on.”

  The fizz was making her neck ache. Kate watched the bi-play and wondered….What the hell is going on…

  Bann closed his eyes and brought his sensors online and immediately the scent of the female reached him. Shit…. So strong, so …… He cranked his neck and tried not to breath in too deeply. It was so strong….. Enticing, pulling on him…. He could almost feel it running through is system, triggering his own responses.

  “How is it?” Mac’s words infiltrated the effect the female was having on him and what he knew to be pleasure riding his body.

  “Strong, enticing. Reaching for me.” He opened his eyes and looked at the female, then Mac as he held back his baser instincts. “Hunger.”

  Mac gave him a nod. “Turn them off and go outside for a moment to clear your head.” Bann moved quickly, he didn’t need telling twice. He passed Pain going towards Mac. The pressure ping in his mind over his neuro net told him Pain was asking for a connection. He opened it.

  Everything ok? Pain asked as he walked by.

  The female with Mac has a uniquely strong scent. It is attracting Cyborgs. She wants to test it on you.

  I’m mated. Pain stated the obvious.

  Yeah she knows but you have the ability to filter out scents better than most.

  Kate was beginning to think the fizz had something to do with Bann. She turned back to the Doc as he left the room. “I’m sorry what’s going on?”

  Mac smiled. “You appear to have a very strong female pheromone. It’s affecting some of the unmated Cyborgs, I want to see if it affects the mated ones too.”

  Kate stopped breathing. “I’m sorry, what?” Kate squeaked.

  “We all have a natural scent. Each of us humans are unique. The Cyborgs up to this point have recognised their mate’s, their compatible other halves if you like, by their scent. Something in their DNA triggers it along with the nano’s that keep them healthy. You read it in the manual?” Kate nodded. “One in a million chance. Its rare enough but it seems that you, were attracting the attention of several unmated Cyborgs. That’s not normally possible and most unusual.”

  Kate tried not to grimaced. Shit ….. maybe not so unusual…

  A large male came in the room and stood near Mac. “Mac.”

  “Hay Pain, sorry to bother you but do you feel the pull to this fe
male?”

  He looked at her curiously. “I’m mated.”

  Mac waved her hand at him. “Yeah I know, humour me.”

  Kate watched warily as the male seemed to steady himself and waited.

  His eyes flashed. “Umm. It registers.” And he looked at Kate. “It is not strong, but I can scent it.”

  “That’s a first.” Mac told the room. “Anything else?”

  “Her scent is unusual. Different to other humans. Something….. more. Animal. She’s carrying heat.”

  “Heat?” Mac asked.

  He gave her a sharp nod. “In heat.”

  Shit….. Kate felt the need to get out quickly. How the hell was she in heat like an animal?..... She was human. Normal. Nothing to see here! No one had scented anything different about her in all those years, until now. She’d had her growing pains on world but put that down to all that energy she needed to burn. What the hell was going on?.... A chill blew through her. She’d never really addressed what had been done to her as a child. It had been way out there according to her grandmother and she’d never wanted to. Hospital, hadn’t been a nice place during those times and had given her a healthy aversion. Had that treatment changed her in some way? Was that what the Cyborgs were smelling?.... She couldn’t think of anything else. She’d been healthy as an ox after that once she’d recovered. It was no surprise they could scent their mates, but she’d not considered they could do that to everyone.