Seth: Futuristic Spy Romance (Cyborgs: More Than Machines) by Eve Langlais

avoid things with bad odors. Which left the yellow door.”
    “Or the vent,” prompted the man with the clipboard.
    “Yeah, the vent.” Seth shook his head. “No, that wasn’t an option. While my partner was bravely sacrificing herself by checking out the room first, I ran a little test. I sent a button I pulled loose rolling along the vent floor. Not hard, just enough to see what might lie ahead. Except it didn’t come to a stop, but kept on rolling, and then pinging as if it bounced down a steep slope. Seeing as how I didn’t know what was at the bottom, it seemed healthier to take my chances with some doors, especially once recruit Kettle ascertained the room was free of hostiles.”
    Anastasia could only gape at Seth as he calmly listed his reasoning, none of which would have occurred to her. She also couldn’t believe how he’d made it seem as though she’d sacrificed herself on purpose.
    “Excellent deductions.” The crazy man scribbled happily away , and Seth tossed her a grin. In a murmur for her ears alone, he said “And I always did love yellow.”
    T o think she owed the events that came next to the fact he liked the color of sunshine.

Chapter Seven
    Deep in space, still arguing …
     
    “We need to go back or, at the very least, send Joe and the others a message,” Seth demanded as he paced the slim confines of the cockpit.
    “No can do,” his wife blandly replied. “Or did you want to ruin my groundwork and put a target on your homeworld?”
    He froze and spun to pin her with a glare, which she ignored as she studied her console. “Of course I don’t want to draw attention to them. But the fact the company has cyborgs in their possession and is torturing them is information they should have.”
    “And, if they’re quick about acting, they’ll discover it at those coordinates I gave them.”
    “Were you always this stubborn and frustrating?” he growled.
    “Yes. It’s one of my more endearing traits.”
    Funny how when she threw his own favorite lines back at him they weren’t as entertaining. He clenched his fists lest he punch something. For a moment, he could almost sympathize with Aramus. The ornery cyborg constantly lamented how Seth drove him nuts. I finally understand how he feels. He didn’t enjoy it one bit, but he strove to not let it show.
    “What is this super secret plan of yours that requires my help?”
    “It’s not super secret, just complicated.”
    “So lay it out for me.”
    “I can’t. Not entirely.”
    Seth rolled his eyes. “Whatever. Just tell me what I’m supposed to do then.”
    “I think I found a guy who knows the location of the company head and source for cyborgs.”
    “You found both? Are you fucking kidding me?”
    “You should know I don’t joke.”
    “There was a time you did.”
    “Things have changed.”
    “So you keep telling me. Tell me about the guy. Who is he , and where do we find him?”
    “He’s a scientist, and he’s on board the ship we’re rendezvousing with.”
    “ So what’s the problem? If he’s on board, then you obviously can get close to him. Hack his computer files and find out where it is. You have the skills. You don’t need me for that.”
    “Just one problem. The location isn’t recorded anywhere. Trust me, I’ve looked and looked deep. If this guy is aware of the location, then he didn’t save it anywhere anybody could find it. My best hypothesis is that it’s in his head.”
    “ I get it now. You want me to torture him to get the info? Why not do it yourself? Or have you gotten squeamish again? I thought our missions cured you of that.”
    “ If you’re implying I’ve grown soft, then I would be more than happy to prove you wrong. In very painful detail.”
    “Ohh, gorgeous, tease me why don’ t you.”
    The dirty look she shot him just made him laugh. “Pervert.” It was muttered under her breath, but he caught it anyway. His smile widened. “If I thought I could pry it out of him, I