Marcus 582: Book Three of Cyborgs: Mankind Redefined by Donna McDonald Read Free Book Online Page A

now.”
     
    Rachel looked at where her hand had slid down to and laughed as she pulled it away. “Sorry. Did not mean…to grope you.”
     
    “I figured you were just showing gratitude like my other patients do, but unfortunately, I’m not in the mood for any girl-on-girl action this morning. Well actually I’ll never be ready for it. They don’t make women any straighter than me.”
     
    Rachel snorted and grinned. “I’m straight too.”
     
    Seetha grinned back. “Well, I’ll believe that when I hear a man tell me. I’m going to be thinking about your grope for the rest of the day and worrying about what it means. I may even have to call King for some emergency hetero nookie. Come to think of it, I think I need some right now.”
     
    Rachel laughed and rubbed a hand over her face. “I am never…going to be…normal again…am I?”
     
    Seetha snorted, but she also looked away. That question was one that definitely would not be served by too much honesty in such a sensitive moment. “I’ll give you my best advice, baby girl. Define normal by your own standards. My definition has changed radically in the last couple of years.”
     
    Rachel crossed her arms. “What will happen…if I do not…upgrade?”
     
    Seetha busied herself with putting away tools so she could have a few moments to think of how to sugarcoat the explanation so Rachel wouldn’t freak on her again.
     
    “Seetha…I need…to hear…the truth.”
     
    Their gazes met and locked.
     
    Seetha sighed, giving in. “Okay. I’ll tell you what will happen. Your voice will keep getting worse, but other things might start to fail as well. Anything your processor controls is at risk for failure. Being out of sync for a cyborg is like…”
     
    “…having a human mental disorder,” Rachel finished.
     
    Seetha nodded. “Yes. I think that’s a fair analogy. Since you’re a unique creation, none of this is for certain. But given what I’ve seen in the ones we work on here…”
     
    “…you are ninety-nine…percent there…in your…thinking,” Rachel finished, having heard Seetha dramatically express the sentiment many times.
     
    Seetha confirmed the statement with a silent head nod, sympathetic when Rachel sighed and touched her throat. At least the girl was temporarily adjusted. If she chose, Rachel could remain in denial for a little longer. But when that time ended, her assistant was going to have to let Kyra Winters finish evil Brad’s work of turning her into a cyborg. There really was no other choice.
     
    “I hate this for you as much as you hate it for yourself. But Kyra is right about the solution. You’d be a new woman afterward.”
     
    “No…I cannot…until there is…no other choice.”
     
    Seetha nodded and watched Rachel fold into herself as she readied the lab for the next broken cyborg who crossed their threshold. Knowing how little choice Rachel had about getting a new processor, Seetha suddenly had a keen appreciation for Kyra’s hard-ass determination to individually fix each and every one with whatever they needed.
     
    It had never occurred to her when she started this job that part of it would be to help fix people she worked with day-to-day. Seeing Rachel’s struggles, she was now exceedingly grateful that all King had lost in his final restoration was access to some memories.
     
    ***
     
    Marcus stood over Eric’s shoulder and pointed. “There. That’s him. His name is Nathan. I never got his last name. He never stated it.”
     
    Eric snickered. “And we’re researching this geeky kid because…?”
     
    “Since when do you need a reason to check someone out for me?” Marcus frowned when Eric laughed at his complaint.
     
    “Unbelievable. You’re lying to yourself…and nearly lying to me,” Eric said sharply, grinning at the glare he got for his words.
     
    “No, I’m not. I never lie,” Marcus said stiffly.
     
    Eric shrugged. “Denial. Lying. Both prompt a person to seek a