The Syn-En Solution by Linda Andrews Read Free Book Online Page A

escape. That didn’t make him superior. Nor did she believe the Syn-Ens had special means to communicate with each other. Of course, there was the WA, but that was only for emergency and for the year she’d been one of the ungodly few, it had never been activated. No doubt because the WA’s use was illegal and the Syn-En were fanatical in their adherence to the laws. Still, the Civies’ paranoia about such mythical Syn-En power helped her control them. She might even let on that Bei knew their names, in case any of them considered backing out. Add in her four decades as a citizen, and she was destined to lead this little coup.
    Citizens commanded; Civilians and Syn-Ens obeyed.
    The Admiral needed to be reminded of his proper place. All men did.
    From the corner of her right eye, Burkina watched Tim scuttle deeper into the metal slush. She barely contained the urge to grab him by the throat and smash his face into the camera over the com panel. The Syn-En should see their faces, know who they served. “I now control the communications and tactical stations.”
    “Did you manually cut into the cables or merely take advantage of the damage?” A pulsing blue light illuminated the Admiral’s neck and his fiber optic cables wiggled like worms from the interfaces at the base of his skull.
    Burkina shivered at the reminder of the cranium implants. At least, the doctors hadn’t rewired her brain, turning her into a monster. “I took advantage of your call to abandon ship to do a little remodeling.”
    She smiled. Although his face didn’t reflect it, the knowledge that his own order allowed her to seize control of his prized ship must eat at him. She ducked as a flat chunk of floating metal skimmed her short black hair.
    “Damn.” Swearing softly, Tim thumped the electronic status pad in his hands and crept forward. The low gravity muffled his footfalls. His elbow knocked another hunk of twisted debris in her direction.
    She shoved the torso-sized piece into his gut.
    Tim’s breath left his body in a vapor cloud. Rubbing his paunch, he slunk further into the cargo bay.
    “Any more remodeling plans?” The Admiral’s eyes locked with hers.
    Burkina snorted. Did he really think she was stupid enough to tell him? He was about to find out what citizens were capable of. Crossing her arms, she savored her revenge. “Since I am the only Citizen of rank on board, I hereby relieve you of command. All personnel will report to me and follow my orders.”
    Before her eyes, the scrapes on the Admiral’s face disappeared.
    His self-repairing armor even soaked up the spilled blood, no doubt sending the cells to be recycled. Proof of his inhumanity. “UN Resolution 2012R1221 Indentured Servitude For Repayment of Debts revoked your citizen status and all rights entitled —”
    “I don’t need a citizen history lesson from you, Syn-En.” Their unnatural healing abilities also made the Syn-Ens undefeated in all their civilian-cyborg engagements. Burkina clasped her hands behind her back to still their trembling. She could heal like that, too, and she was smart. She’d win this skirmish. “Now as to my first order…”
    “Are you and your thirteen followers aware of the punishment for mutiny, Ensign?”
    The gasps around her overshadowed the hiss of leaking gas and the zap and crackle of the containment field. The stench of their fear lodged in her lungs. Didn’t they hear him or had their cowardice made them deaf? She and her followers had company in the cargo bay. Turning away from the camera, Burkina focused on a bald man blinking at her through the clammy fog. While his name eluded her, she knew from his time in her bed that he liked being ordered about and was obsessed with going home. She turned on her charm, flashing him an inviting smile, a duplicate of the one that had gained his attention five months ago.
    “Find the extra Civie,” she mouthed to Baldy.
    He touched his forehead with two fingers in a mock salute then