Sunday Snippet: My Best Friend Is a Cyborg

Man. What acrazy-busy week. Our weather is still being contrary. Warm and spring-like acouple of days followed by another blast of winter. My sinuses are notthrilled.

I didn't get througha full round of television this week. I had way too many irons in the fire andneeded to focus. My brain doesn't want to cooperate at all. Thankfully, I havethree current projects, which lets me bounce around when I can't concentrate onone specific thing.

I did get a holidayepisode of My Life Is Murder watched and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's interestingto see how the southern hemisphere celebrates the holiday in the middle oftheir summer.

I tried to watch thebehind-the-scenes Agatha Raisin, but it wouldn't play. That's twoseasons now that I can't access the specials. I'm kind of bummed about that.

I started the newseason of Midsomer Murders and loved the episode. I'm excited to diveback into this series. It's fun to see an older Betty.

Silent Witness continues to be very intriguing. I reallywant to know who's behind the curtain pulling the strings.

Caught another Deathin Paradise and remembered some of this one. Mainly the beginning and theend. Not sure what happened to the middle part and why I missed it the firsttime around but it's nice to finally see the whole episode.

Enjoyed an episodeof Elementary. I like the slow progression of trust being built withSherlock and Watson. I have a sneaking suspicion that Sherlock now knows Joanisn't being paid by his father anymore. I'll be interested to see how thatplays out.

That's as far as Imade it for viewing this week and that's it for the life update. Tonight's postis from My Best Friend Is a Cyborg, a novella that explores what happensto a couple when life throws them a curve.

Here's theminiblurb:

Ibby Stoke finds out her best friend is a dreaded andreviled cyborg, and it sends her into a tailspin, making her wonder if the manshe loves is a mecha-human. Phil McNulty is everything she's ever wanted, butif he's not all man, Ibby isn't sure she can deal with the reality.

And a sneaky peek…

The pilot briefing room acted as arefuge even if safe havens might never exist again.

Ibby's throat swelled with unshedtears. "What the hell is going on?" She paced back and forth, tryingto wrap her head around the last hour of her life.

"Did I really try to choke outmy best friend?"

Okay, former best friend. She couldn'tcount Art as a best anything now. No way.

Big droplets leaked from her eyes. Memorieswhizzed through her brain. Art picking her up after a particularly brutalargument over who got the next ride on the tilting rockawhirl … which Ibbylost. Art stepping in when her date for the formal dance bailed at the lastminute. Going through basic training then flight school together…

Ibby swiped at her cheeks. "Iwill not cry for mecha-human cyborg." The betrayal cut deep.

How could he keep his status asecret from her? How could he let them alter him?

She paused and slammed her fistinto her palm. "How could he lie to me?" That wound would stay rawand open for a long time.

Phil strolled into the briefingroom. "He technically didn't. He had orders not to say anything." Hesnarled the words out.

Ibby whipped around. "Are youfucking kidding me? All mechs have to register. Who the hell ordered him tonot—" She broke off and shook her head. "No. No way. Are you tellingme the council ordered him to say nothing and didn't make him update his status?"

Phil snorted. "Oh, it's worsethan that, Ibbs." He leaned in and lowered his voice. "Art didn'thave a choice. The council didn't give him one. They made the call beforeArt even regained consciousness…" His voice trailed off and his headjerked back and forth.

A cold chill slithered down Ibby'sspine. "He didn't consent? Then that means…" She couldn't speak the rest.That means anyone could be a cyborg.

Phil grunted. "Yeah. Exactly."He lifted his chin. "From what Art told me. He's not the first anddefinitely not the last. This is the first stage of a new standard operatingprocedure." His lips twisted in a grimace.

Ibby sank down onto one of thecushioned seats. "Fuck. The hits just keep on landing, don't they?"Her shoulders slumped. "How? How can they think this is a good idea?"Stupid question … it didn't matter if the concept sucked when could keep bootson the ground and butts in the cockpit.

Not when they needed soldiers towin a damned war.

Phil settled beside her. "Oh,it's a terrible decision. And it's going to bite the convening authority on theass. But they're banking on having enough of their enhanced soldiers in the mixbefore having to go public." He paused a moment then added his conjecture."My guess is they're starting small. Something Art said is pinging in mybrain. They didn't replace his brain. He's still got his memories, feelings andall that." He huffed out a breath.

Ibby shook her head. "Not surethat helps. Any way you look at it, the idea sucks." Her heart hurt,thinking about what the council had done to her friend. "I mean, look atme. Art's been in my life for over a decade. But I can't forget what I knownow. How can that not change the dynamic between us?" And how could she befeeling so much pain for he'd gone through?

Phil kept his gaze straight ahead."Honestly, it does change everything. Of course, it does. Yet … how we letthis revelation play out is up to us. Mech aside, do we trust Art? If hismemories and feelings haven't been altered? Do we raise a big ruckus? Make itclear to the convening authority we won't accept this bullshit?" Hefinally turned to meet her gaze. "If we do that, what does it do to the peoplethat didn't have a choice? Do we have a right to blow up their lives when theydidn't consent to the enhancements?" He sighed. "I'm pissed offbecause the council trashed any kind of good option by starting this programunder a veil of secrecy." His eyes flashed with anger.

Ibby blinked, the rapid-firecommentary swirling in her mind. "Damn. You're right. They basically tookany form of choice of acceptance out of our hands, but they also put soldierslike Art in an impossible situation." She got up and paced back and forth."Shit. I can't deal with this right now. I just can't." Her heartrate spiked, and she itched to punch something.

Phil reached out and caught herhand, tugging onto his lap. "Then don't. Focus on something else." Hecaught her face in his hands.

Yeah, she could do with adistraction. Phil had a knack for giving her exactly what she needed. Andright, she needed him.

She leaned forward and meshed herlips with his.

This story took aturn I didn't expect and that always excites me. Looking forward to finishingthis up and launching it!

 

That's it for thisweek. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye