Burning Up Flint

"So far they haven't killed us and they usually do. They usually take people for spare parts."

Frowning, Mira looked at the pilot. "Spare parts? I don't understand."

The other pilot flashed Mira a frightened look. "They cut us up and use our skin and internal organs to make more of them."

Her gaze shot to the tall cyborg standing next to her. Flint was frowning at the pilot.

"You know," he said slowly, "I know a downed model about your size who needs repairs."

Horror hit Mira as she yanked her hand out of the cyborg's hold. She turned, inching away from him, to put herself in front of the pilot. "You can't really mean that. He's a living person."

The tall cyborg looked at Mira. "So are we. We breathe. It never stopped humans from trying to kill every one of us to benefit themselves."

She swallowed. "We didn't do that to your kind. I wasn't even born when those idiots made that law to have your kind destroyed and he's not much older than I am."

"You're right." The cyborg nodded, his attention turned to the general. "You are old enough to have been a part of it. You're a military man. Perhaps I should take you for spare parts."

Mira glanced at the general. She bit her lip before moving out of the way. She saw Flint shoot her a surprised look, his eyebrow arching again.

"Aren't you going to put yourself between us to save him?"

"He tried to kill me and I'm not willing to die for a man who wanted to slice me up with his blazer. I think he's a little old to be useful but I don't know anything about what you need or could use."

The cyborg shocked Mira and the three bound men by throwing his head back and laughing. She turned to see the other three cyborgs smiling, all obviously amused. Ice moved closer, stopping feet short of her to give her a once-over before turning his attention to Flint.

"Just when we think that humanity is at a complete loss. She is cute."

Flint nodded at Mira. "She is unique. We don't really use humans for spare parts. We take DNA samples because our gene pool is limited and they come in handy to our scientists when they need fresh ones to work with. We do not kill indiscriminately."

Relief hit Mira as she smiled, believing him.

He watched her carefully, his gaze studying her expression very closely, then sighed. He turned to one of the other cyborgs. "Have you salvaged everything we can use?"

"Yes, Flint. We left it so they could make it back to Earth safely. Their excess fuel has been removed." The cyborg turned to the pilot and said, "Use a short burst. The trip will take longer but you will get there. We monitored for leaks and cracks from our boarding and the integrity of your shuttle is sound. We did no damage that will cause your vessel to fail."

The other cyborg nodded. "One short burst. You could have an issue with it if you full burn. Do you understand? It could cause the tank to ignite."

The pilot nodded. "I got it."

"What does that mean?" It was the general.

The second pilot cleared his throat. "It means we're going to have to just give ourselves a little jerk to coast home. Instead of it taking a few days we're facing a good week of travel unless someone comes to refuel us when we get closer to Earth."

"But you took our supplies," the general sputtered. "You might as well kill us."

Flint shook his head. "We didn't take it all so ration what you have left. It won't be a pleasant trip but you'll survive."

The two dark-haired cyborgs lifted the crates they had filled from the shuttle. Mira saw all their travel bags wedged in with the food supplies they were taking but she didn't say a word, thinking everything she owned could be replaced. They had also removed some of the entertainment equipment. That just left Flint and Ice in the shuttle. Mira watched them then her eyes locked with Flint's. He gazed back at her and extended his hand to her as if he wanted to shake hands.

She only hesitated a second before putting her palm against his. "Thank you for not hurting anyone."

He gripped her smaller hand. "We're not killers unless we're left with no other options."

"Should I untie the men or let her do it when we're gone?" Ice waited by the door that docked their ship to the shuttle.

The large hand gripping Mira's didn't let go. Flint actually rubbed his thumb over her skin lightly, caressing her, tilting his head to stare deeply into her eyes. "I am wondering something. Will you satisfy my curiosity?"

She couldn't look away from his beautiful eyes. "Sure. What do you want to know?"

He released her hand and pulled off his glove then offered his bare hand. Mira took it, surprised at how warm his skin was. His palm was slightly roughened with calluses. She thought it was odd that he wanted to shake her hand flesh to flesh but she was more than happy to oblige. His fingers squeezed her hand. A gasp tore from her lips as he jerked her forward, right into his muscular body.

Mira stared up at the foot taller cyborg who still gripped her hand. Her free hand had ended up against the hard-shelled chest plate of his black uniform. Her body was flush against his since he'd pulled her there. His arm wrapped around her waist, locking her against him as he stared down at her.

Flint just held her like that for long seconds, watching her. She wondered what he was doing, if maybe he wanted her closer to detect if she was lying or not. She'd read once that cyborgs were good at tracking a human's heart rate by touch. Was he holding her so tightly so he could evaluate her honesty? It was her best guess.

"Um...what do you want to know?" She was proud that her voice didn't shake in fear. Cyborgs were super strong. He could hurt her easily if he wanted to with that massively built body.

He lowered his head so he could gaze into her eyes. He had mesmerizing blue eyes that she couldn't look away from. Cyborgs looked completely human except for their skin tone. He was a damn good-looking man. His hot breath fanned across her face. He smelled of some kind of sweet fruit.

"Flint?"

Flint didn't even glance at the other cyborg when he spoke to him, instead keeping his eyes locked with Mira's.

"What?"

"What are you doing?" Ice sounded amused.

Flint ignored the question to rub Mira's hand again. "Do you have any children?"

She'd never expected that question in a million years. She shook her head. "No."

He took a deep breath. "Good. Then you will forgive me in time."

She frowned. "Forgive you for what?"

He took a step back and then another as he completely released her. "I do not care if you have a man in your life or if you have family you will miss. The one thing I could not take you from would be a child. That would be deplorable. You do not have any, therefore what I do is forgivable."

Mira's mind tried to make sense of his words. She gasped as he grabbed her arm above the elbow in a viselike grip. His gaze tore from hers to the other cyborg.

"Free the pilot so he can release the other two men when we are away. Let's go, Ice. I have the only thing I want from the shuttle. I have her."