I let the instinct guide me. Something told me pleasing Shay was my only way to freedom. I had to let her get comfortable - let her think I was on her side.

  And before she could plunge the knife into my back, I had to do it to her.

  I shuddered. Was this the way the old me thought about the people closest to me?

  “I want to join you,” I growled, putting all the command into it I could. “You’re a monster, Shay - and so am I.”

  “Oh, Noah,” Shay purred, stroking my hair. “You mean that, Daddy?”

  There were tears in her eyes - yet that nagging bit of insight told me she didn’t fully believe me. As much as I hated it, I was already starting to rely on it.

  “I can...I can never go back to them,” I grunted, holding her tight. “How could I ever look the rest of the crew in the eyes again? Knowing what I am? Meiko...she’d never accept me, Shay. Never.”

  That Shay seemed to accept. I watched the suspicion in her eyes fade, the giddy glee that filled her.

  “I completely agree,” Shay said solemnly. “And don’t worry - your secret’s safe with me. Ruby will never find out the truth.

  Ruby. There was something about Ruby, something the voice in the back of my head was trying to tell me. What was it? I had to figure it out, but I didn’t want to let that...that thing speak inside of my skull again. I hated it.

  While I was pondering, Shay came to a decision. “Come with me,” she said, taking my hand. “There’s one thing we’ve got to do.”

  I let myself be led to the exit. “What?”

  She nibbled her lip, looking nervous. Why? “There’s one thing you need to do for me,” she purred, completely forgetting her promise to give me all the time and space I needed a few seconds ago. “Trust me, right now all I want to do is pull you into my dungeon and let you whip my ass for weeks on end-”

  “So let’s do it,” I said, grinning. “No better way to work these feelings out, right?”

  She grinned. “I’m looking forward to that,” she purred, “but you have to complete one little test, Noah. I’m sorry, but...I have to know. I have to be sure you’re mine, and not just getting ready to break my heart again.”

  “Okay,” I said, preparing myself to lie. “What do I have to do?”

  “I’ll show you in a minute,” she said, nodding at the stairs. “We have to go visit the prisoners.”

  The prisoners. Suddenly I had a very clear idea of what Shay might want me to do to prove I was cut off from my old life.

  She was going to make me do what I’d fought for so long to keep her from doing to the crew.

  Kill one of them.

  Chapter Fourteen: Truth & Consequences

  “I have to hand it to you,” I said, staring openly as Shay led me down the hall. “I really like what you’ve done with the place.”

  There was no denying it - the influx of energy from the solar sail had allowed Shay to turn the Oubliette into a modern prison. The dirty, dingy Beta Loop I’d traversed on my way to find Meiko had been replaced by a clean, well-lit thoroughfare - with guard robots and lasers stationed every so often. Shay had clearly been anything but stingy with her money when it came to security. While I’d been befriending the convicts who came into Gamma, she’d been making sure no one had the slightest hope of escape.

  In a strange twist of fate, she’d stashed Bathory and Nova in the same room on the blueprints that I used as my private quarters over on Gamma. Only this was definitely not set up for people to relax or crash in. Nova was tied up against the far wall, a collar around her shapely neck, while Bathory was strapped down in the center of the room with what looked like dozens of thick, vibrating chains. A half-dozen guns in the wall were all pointed at the Xenian Queen. Despite all the security, she looked as if she was inches away from breaking out and wreaking havoc on the whole station.

  “My King,” the succubus growled as I entered the room. “Loosen these chains, quickly! We must flee from here…”

  Her words died on her lips as Shay stepped into the room behind me. She fixed one prisoner then the other with an acid smile, the zipper of her shipsuit tugged down so low that her cleavage was fully on display.

  “Hello, girls,” Shay said, giggling with barely repressed glee. “As you can see, I’ve brought your Warden.”

  Nova growled like a tigress, straining at her bonds. “I dunno what she’s done to you,” the catgirl hissed, “but help me get out of this and I’ll claw her eyes out!”

  “Now, now,” Shay whispered, reaching for an alcove in the wall. “Manners!”

  I stared down at Bathory. Whatever the chains were doing to her was ripping up her chitinous hive, tearing it off her body as soon as she formed it. After a few seconds she gave up, allowing herself to be fully nude in front of me.

  “My King,” the Xenian Queen whispered. She sounded more helpless than I’d ever heard her. “What is going on?”

  “That’s what I’d like to know,” I growled, turning to Shay. “Why am I here?”

  “To help me deal with a security problem,” Shay said smoothly, reaching into the wall. “This is a vibroblade. I believe you’ve handled one before?”

  I had - when Ruby, Meiko and I had tried to cut a path to the Gamma Reactor. It would cut through just about anything; it had sliced its way through Bathory’s waist-deep chitin like a hot knife through butter. One slice would kill just about anyone in the room.

  I took it, my hand shaking a little.

  “I want you to use this,” Shay said, her gaze slowly traveling to Bathory. “On her.”

  “My king!” Bathory cried out, struggling hard against the lashes binding her in place. “Free me! Free me now!”

  “Why her?” I asked, although I already knew the justifications Shay would use. Instead, I was still thinking about me, Ruby and Meiko tearing through Gamma. What had changed in Ruby since then?

  Shay snorted, like it was obvious. “Seriously? Look at how much energy we’re burning just to keep her in check. She’s come within a hair of escaping three times now - I’ve had to activate escape protocols to stop her.”

  “I was trying to reach you,” Bathory said imploringly. “Free me!”

  “She’s too dangerous to keep here,” Shay whispered, the devil on my shoulder. “And really, a Xenian Queen makes a terrible pet, Noah. I know you’ve kept her subdued so far, but even I wouldn’t be able to protect you if she slipped her leash.” Her hand gripped my wrist. “Kill her. Prove to me that I’m the most important thing to you, Daddy. Cut her head off and I will give you everything you’ve ever wanted.”

  “No!” Nova’s legs kicked helplessly against the wall, inches above the ground. “Don’t do it, Warden! She’s evil!”

  I hefted the blade. “She is,” I grunted, staring down at Bathory sadly. “And so am I.”

  “That’s right,” Shay purred, her voice filled with arousal. “You’re my monster, Daddy. I want you to tie me up and do all those nasty things you’ve been dreaming of doing to me. We’ll go as soon as you finish the succubus off. Please, Daddy, I need it!”

  Something clicked in my head as I watched the Xenian Queen. A sob broke from Bathory, as completely impossible as it was visceral. Her stone-cold facade was cracking as she watched me lift the blade, her eyes the size of saucers. Her jet-black lips trembled with fear - probably the first real fear she’d ever felt.

  I liked that sensation. I liked the power - I liked the control. And as I took hold of it, preparing my strike, I opened the door and let that gruff, sinister voice back into my head.

  It did the mental equivalent of looking around the room and blanched. Are you doing what I think you’re about to do?

  “I am,” I growled.

  Shit, you really are me. Good luck.

  “Bathory,” I said, holding the blade with both hands. “I’m going to hurt you. I’m sorry, but I have to. It’s the only way I can be free.”

  “Please,” she sobbed, writhing helplessly. “Please…”

  “I am truly, truly sorry for what I’m about to do to you. I hope one day you’ll be able to forgive me.”

  I glanced over at Shay. She was still working through the implication of the last thing I said. If she’d be able to forgive me one day, didn’t that mean I wasn’t going to kill her?

  I smirked. “Fairy dust.”

  Shay’s eyebrows shot to her forehead. “Pardon?”

  “Ruby didn’t shower me in fairy dust,” I said firmly, twisting the blade to a new angle. “When I kissed her, I should have gotten some of it in my mouth. It ought to have made me high as hell, but I was too high off your stupid chair to notice.” Despite the danger, despite everything, I grinned from ear-to-ear. Fuck, I really did like this, didn’t I? “I didn’t fuck Ruby. I fucked you in a Ruby costume.”

  Before Shay could say a word, I turned back to Bathory and made my choice.

  “I can’t give you heirs,” I said, making my words as clear and forceful as possible. “I’m not a man, Bathory - I’m an android, like Shay. I can’t get you pregnant - in fact, nobody on this station can give you the baby you want so badly. I’m sorry.”

  Shock filled Bathory’s features - and a heartbeat later, the intelligence faded from her face.

  The drive to mate always takes precedence, I remembered, Meiko’s words ringing in my ears. But if she finds out she’s been tricked, her old drives kick back in. The ones that make her fill half the prison with black shit and tear the face off anyone who tries to stop her.

  Bathory, I’m sorry.

  But Bathory was already gone. There was only the Xenian Queen - a creature of pure shadow. Her eyes filled with primal, vicious anger, her claws extending. The bonds holding her to the floor snapped like twigs as she roared, rising from the floor.

  If it hadn’t been so goddamn terrifying, it would’ve been beautiful.

  I swang the sword - to the side, cutting cleanly through the chain connected to Nova’s collar. She dropped to the floor, landing on all fours.

  “Run!” I screamed. “She’s gonna tear the station apart!”

  Shay had just enough time to scream before Bathory was on her, ripping and tearing. One body down, I thought. God only knows how many to go…

  I hoped it hurt, at least. And from the screams that followed me down the hallway as I ran, it definitely did.

  Chapter Fifteen: Enemy Territory

  “Chirrup,” I whispered, my back pressing against the cell door as hard as I could. “Whisper if you can hear me. But only if you can do it in a way Shay won’t hear.”

  For a long moment, there was silence. Then a speaker nearly at floor level in the cell crackled to life, bringing with it a crisp British accent. “Warden? Is that you?”

  I let out a long sigh of relief. Thank God. It was still possible to make the rest of my plan work alone, but without Chirrup, things would have been so much harder. “Hey, babe. It’s me. How’s it going?”

  “Badly,” Chirrup said. “Shay has instituted a spire-wide lockdown. All combat drones on the station are at high alert, and she’s locked down all the escape pods. Warden...I’m afraid there’s no way for you to return to us.”

  “That’s fine,” I said, grinning. “I’m not coming back.”

  I didn’t think Chirrup could work shock into her maniacally chipper voice, but she did it. “Warden!?”

  “I’m not leaving this side of the prison,” I said, feeling more sure of myself with every word. “I’ve got a plan.”

  “A plan? Oh, that’s wonderful, Warden!” Chirrup sounded almost comically relieved. “What is the plan?”

  “I just unleashed Bathory,” I explained, gesturing back over my shoulder in the general direction of the bowels of the ship. “Shay has a major problem on her hands thanks to that. From what you all have told me, a Xenian Queen could tear the station apart - and this one’s very, very angry.” I felt bad relaying the next part, but it had to be done. “Chirrup - I told Bathory the truth. She knows I’m a robot and can’t get her pregnant.”

  “Oh. Oh my. That’s...that’s very bad, Warden!”

  “Yeah, tell me about it.” I snickered, remembering the succubus snapping her bonds like toothpicks and tearing Shay’s body apart. “She’s pissed, Chirrup. Which is good for us, because Shay’s going to be distracted.”

  “With all due respect, Warden,” Chirrup said, sounding as upset as I’ve ever heard her, “I don’t think you realize how bad a situation you’ve put the Oubliette in.”

  “I know,” I said, a pit of anxiety settling in my stomach. Chirrup had to be exaggerating, right? “Look, I’ll deal with it later. Bathory will keep Shay’s security forces occupied, but she’s still going to be searching for me. So I need you to be my eyes and ears - let me know when patrols are coming, give me a heads up before I’m in trouble. Not to mention some directions, because I’m still not 100% on how to get around this part of the prison…”

  “Very well,” Chirrup said, doing the digital equivalent of clearing her throat. “If I’m not taking you to the escape pods, Warden, then where are you going?”

  I let out a laugh. “I need you to guide me to wherever Shay keeps the Cores. The place where they’re hooked into the Alpha Spire’s energy matrix.”

  “Warden? What are you planning?”

  “Shay let me in on a little secret,” I said, cocking my head out into the hallway to check for guards. “When she was trying to corrupt me, she let slip that she’s got enough energy to disengage my Core from the station. She offered it to me as long as I joined her. Disconnect me from the SATR, put me in a permanent body. Conquer the galaxy together. That kind of thing.”

  “I...see.” Chirrup sounded concerned. “Warden, uploading your Core to a permanent body will not allow you to access the escape pods. You will still be unable to escape Shay’s clutches!”

  I shook my head. How did Chirrup not see? “I’m not my Core in a permanent body,” I said with a snicker. “I’m going to do it to Shay.”

  There was a high-pitched sound from the speaker, one I could only detect at the very edge of my hearing. It almost sounded like a shriek.

  “Warden!”

  “As good as it felt to watch Bathory make Shay pay for what she’s doing,” I said, “it wasn’t satisfying. Because Shay’s right - in a very real sense, she is this prison. As long as her AI remains hooked to the Alpha reactor, she can just keep building bodies and uploading herself into them. We can kill her over and over again, but she’ll always win in the end. But if we shove her in one body, sever her connection to the station, and kill that…”

  “Shay would be gone,” Chirrup said. “The station would be left without an AI, Warden.”

  “I can think of one,” I said, staring straight at the speaker. “One who’s pretty much doing the job already, in fact.”

  “Oh, Warden!” If Chirrup could have blushed, she would. “You can’t possibly mean me…”

  “I do,” I said, meaning it. “You were my first friend on this station, Chirrup. I’d be honored to run this prison alongside you. And, if you were the prison’s AI, you’d have access to all the things Shay does. Meaning bodies. You want a body, Chirrup? You want to meet me, shake my hand?”

  There was a long, long pause. “I want to do much more than that, Warden,” she finally said, her tone heated.

  I let out a laugh. “Me too,” I said, trying and failing to picture it. What kind of body would Chirrup pick for herself, anyway? “Will you help me?”

  This time there was no hesitation. “I’m yours, Warden! Let’s end Shay’s tyranny and take this prison back together!”

  That was so easy, a little voice in the back of my head whispered. Looks like you’ve got another girl who’s crazy over you, Noah. One who’ll do whatever you command…

  I shook my head to clear it. There was no time to be thinking this way.

  “Alright,” I said, leaning back into the hallway. It stretched into the distance on either end, curving along with the gravity of the station. “Where am I going, Chirrup? And what’s standing in my way?”

  She thought for a moment. “In order to reach Core Storage, you’ll have to travel to the very bottom of Alpha Spire,” Chirrup said. “You’re currently near the top of Beta. Which means your first objective is to cross the Tether back into Alpha.”

  I swallowed hard. “The Tether’s still there, right? Shay didn’t shut it down the way she did with the one into Gamma?”

  “No - she hasn’t had time.” There was a gentle humming sound as Chirrup did something behind the scenes. “And now she won’t be able to. I took direct control of it and scrambled the undocking code. Even if Shay notices, it’ll take her the better part of an hour to fix it without my help. Programming has never been one of her strong suits.”

 

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