Page 2 of A Mate For Matrix (Cyborg Protection Unit #1)
“I’m sure you’re getting an idea of how hard it is to kill these creatures.
The Triterians are not part of the council, but this is a threat to us all, and the Confederation council has requested the help of the Zion military.
The Cyborg Protection Unit will assist because these things have programming similar to your cyborg partners.
From what Brim told us, the six Crawlers on board the freighter were mature females, ready to reproduce.
” Sennara drew in a deep breath before she continued.
“It could mean the deaths of millions if you don’t eliminate them before that happens.
There’s a very good possibility that many of you may not survive the encounter.
I’ve had my team working on some new equipment which, hopefully, will give you a slight advantage. ”
Matrix listened carefully as the CSO, his mother, and his father concluded the briefing. There were very few questions; the briefing had been clear and concise.
“Matrix.”
He turned, hearing his mother’s soft voice as she broke away from the group. She quickly caught up with him. His father was talking with the CSO.
“Yes,” he responded, softening his tone when he saw the fear in her eyes.
“Please, be careful,” she whispered. “I wish….”
Matrix lifted his hand and brushed back a stray strand of hair from her cheek. His thumb caressed the faint wrinkles next to her eye. She leaned her face against his palm.
“I know what to do,” he promised. “Besides, I have a Despairing Wolfhound as my partner. Nothing gets by him.”
“No, not a thing,” K-Nine agreed.
“I know,” Sennara replied, clearing her throat and stepping back. “But, as your mother, I ask that you be careful and return.”
“I will,” Matrix promised, locking eyes with his mother, then glancing over his mother’s head to nod at his father who had noticed Sennara’s distress.
“I’ll even find him a life mate and bring her back,” K-Nine promised. “And a pack for me,” he added.
Matrix scowled when he heard his mother’s chuckle. “I already told you to forget it! I don’t need a life mate,” he growled. “And where would we put a pack for you? We barely have enough room for the two of us on the transport!”
“I’ll find myself a small one,” K-Nine retorted. “The starship is larger than the transport. They can always sleep in either ship when we’re not on a mission.”
Sennara watched as her only child walked away. She didn’t hide the grin curving her lips. Elaine Brim had done many horrific things, but the Cyborg program had not been one of them.
The Cyborg program did bring about the friendship between Matrix and the unusual Despairing Wolfhound, but it was the program’s state-of-the-art technology that Sennara was thankful for.
It had saved Matrix’s life after he was severely wounded during a mission.
Elaine Brim might be a criminal, but Sennara owed the woman a debt that only a parent could understand.
“How are you doing?” Terrex asked, coming to a stop beside her.
Sennara glanced up and smiled. “Better,” she promised with a sigh. “K-Nine said he is going to find Matrix a life mate.”
“Have you been sending K-Nine images of eligible females again?” Terrex asked.
Sennara turned, wishing she could lean into her life mate for strength when a wave of weakness washed through her. She drew in a deep breath and forced her failing body to remain strong. Releasing the breath, she smiled up at her mate.
“Maybe just a few. I would love to see my grandchild before…” she whispered, her voice fading when Terrex gently laid his fingers against her lips.
“You will,” he vowed. “You will.”
“This is CPU-07051, requesting permission for departure,” Matrix stated into the mic.
“CPU-07051, clearance is granted,” the voice from the large warship replied.
Matrix eased their assigned starship out of the massive Zion warship. K-Nine was linked to the warship’s computer system. His dark gray eyes glowed as he collected and processed the information.
“I’ve located a particle signature from the pod we’re tracking,” K-Nine said.
“Lock onto coordinates,” Matrix ordered, reaching forward and setting the computer guidance system.
“It leads to an abandoned jump gate,” K-Nine responded, tilting his head.
“I guess we’ll see where it goes,” Matrix replied grimly. “I’m diverting energy to the front shields. Prepare for the jump.”
This gate was abandoned after proving unreliable.
New technology and more advanced jump gates were now being used.
On their return trip, they would need to lock on to these coordinates as they went through if they ever hoped to return to their own star system. It was a risk, but it was the only way.
Beyond the viewport, the abandoned jump gate loomed, a fractured halo of scorched metal suspended in the void. Its surface shimmered with residual static, a ghost of the energy that once tore space open. Although abandoned, it still hummed.
Everything appeared to slow down around them as they entered the jump gate. Suddenly they were being propelled forward. Matrix’s teeth clenched as the starship shuddered. This was going to be one mission he wasn’t ever likely to forget.