Kaitlyn reached for her shirt and spread it over her chest. "You don't want to have s.e.x with me?"

"Not like this." He rubbed his hands across his face. "It's not fair to you. That's not what I brought you here for."

"It's not?"

"No, I just wanted to spend time with you."

"Oh." Kaitlyn tried to process that thought, and her processor began to argue the point. "They always have s.e.x in the movies. When I saw the blanketa"

"I care more about you than a roll in the hay."

Kaitlyn looked around. "Hay? I see nothing but gra.s.s."

"That's what I mean, Kate. Things are still confusing to you. Come sit by me."

Kate scooted over and Lucas put his arm around her, then pulled it away. "Please put your shirt back on. This is hard enough as it is."

Kaitlyn tugged her shirt back over her head. "Better?"

Lucas didn't reply. Instead, he laid on his back and motioned for her to curl against him. When they were settled, he pointed up at the stars. "Can you pick out Orion?"

Kaitlyn concentrated on the stars and pointed off to the left. "It's right there. It looks like an hourgla.s.s. Did you know that in the middle-east, Orion is known as Al-Jabbar, *the giant'?"

Lucas shook his head. "I only know it as The Hunter, from Greek mythology."

They were silent for a long moment, snuggled against each other on the blanket. Kaitlyn stared up at the vast expanse of star-dotted sky above them, acutely aware of his presence beside her.

He spoke up, his arm squeezing her shoulders. "I love sitting under the stars. It seems to put everything else in perspective. We're just a tiny blip in the universe."

"I can see why you like it here," Kaitlyn said softly and laid her head against his shoulder. "Thank you for showing me where you come to think. Do you ever think about me here?"

Lucas nodded, a movement she could feel above her own head. "All the time. I've wrestled with my feelings about you for a long time."

Over an hour pa.s.sed of them sitting in peaceful silence. Once in a while, Lucas would point out another constellation, and Kate would report random facts that coincided with that particular grouping of stars. They would laugh at her seemingly endless well of knowledge.

"We should probably head back. The guards have changed shifts. I should be able to get you back without any trouble."

"I wish I could stay here forever," Kaitlyn said wistfully.

"We'll see what happens tomorrow. Hopefully, you won't have to leave right away. I think I've finally convinced Harrington to make a condition of the sale that I'm able to watch over you."

"Really?" Kaitlyn bit her bottom lip. If she could still see Lucas, she could handle anything.

"Really. I know it's hard for you to believe, but he really doesn't want to give you up. He's very invested in this project. Now let's get you back before we get Quess in trouble."

Chapter Eighteen.

Kaitlyn sat in the empty, sterile room for two hours, thirteen minutes, and six seconds before she heard familiar footsteps echoing off the tiles down the hall. Usually, the sound caused her heart rate to increase, but today it filled her with dread.

Shoulders slumped, Lucas stepped into the lab. His face looked strained. His hair was disheveled like he just rolled out of bed. "Kaitlyn. It's time."

"I don't want to go," she whispered. "Can't I stay here?"

"I'm sorry, Kate." His eyes were full of regret. "It's way past that point. I will do everything I can to make sure I can stay a part of the program. That's the best we have right now."

She wanted to argue; to start listing tactical alternatives to their situation. Instead, her voice hardened. "Let's get this over with."

"Kate, you have to believe me. I really wish things could be different." He held open the door for her, and she brushed past him. Even now, his touch sent an electrical charge down her spine. It's not fair, Kaitlyn thought, surprised at how much emotion welled up inside of her.

In the hallway outside, Harrington stood as rigid as a board waiting for them. Kaitlyn had never before seen him so tense. She wondered if he overheard their conversation, but that was impossible, he was too far away. Humans' hearing wasn't that effective.

"Just be yourself, Kaitlyn, and everything will go fine," he said soothingly like he was talking to a child.

Be myself? She wanted to laugh. She didn't even know what that meant thanks to him. She had no idea who or what she was other than what he had made her.

Despite a desire to punch him, she nodded like the obedient robot she was. She glanced at the doorway and debated making a run for it. She could probably evade the guards since she knew all of their locations, but the fact was that with a click of a few computer keys they could shut her down. Her life was not in her control. The thought angered her, but her feet moved forward even though she wanted to stay rooted to the ground or bolt in the other direction.

The walk down the long corridor felt like she was walking to her demise. Every step forward made her want to turn and run as fast as she could, to get as far away as she could. They left the building and crossed the campus. The sun was shining, the smell of fresh cut gra.s.s filled the air and a blue jay chirped as staff members went about their business. Life as usual, she thought bitterly. Meanwhile, her life was about to be uprooted once again.

All Kaitlyn could think about was that she may have been walking away from the IFICS lab for the last time. The thought filled her with an unbearable sadness. Even though the compound was sterile and cold, it had become her home. And the outside, whatever was out there, was scary and unknown. She glanced over at Lucas and her throat tightened.

Maybe human feelings weren't all they were cracked up to be. She almost wished there was a *turn off emotions' switch.

Harrington led them to a building ten minutes' walk from the laba"yet another section of the ma.s.sive compound Kaitlyn had never stepped foot in. They had kept her so isolated during her time at the facility. Now it was too late; she would never have the chance to explore the whole compound.

She briefly wondered if she would have more or less freedom once she was sold. Probably less.

When they entered the unfamiliar building, Kaitlyn glanced around, taking in the new surroundings. Unlike the stark, sterile lab, there wasn't a white wall to be seen. Lots of browns, greens, and maroon. Abstract paintings hung strategically on the walls, and a large, fanciful vase of wildflowers sat on the reception table in front of the main doors. As they approached, a curvy blonde woman rose from behind the reception desk and smiled. "Good morning. They are waiting inside."

"Thanks, Gracie."

Harrington led the way and continued through a set of ma.s.sive wooden double doors and into a large conference room. There were several men and women sitting behind a long table, backs straight and all eyes solely on Kaitlyn as she entered. Many were dressed in military uniforms. Kaitlyn's computer scanned each for identification: High-ranking officials from three different branches. Army, Navy and Air Force. *Caution' flashed on her internal screen. Thanks computers, she thought, slightly annoyed. I'm well aware the situation is problematic.

She felt oddly detached from herself. She had to accept her new fate. Whatever was in store for her, she could handle. She would handle. After all, she had been programmed and prepared extensively for this day. Her eyes strayed to Lucas and she knew she was only trying to fool herself. She really didn't want to leave. His eyes met hers and her heart sank.

Harrington approached the head of the table and Kaitlyn stood off to the side with Lucas to the left of her. She felt calmer by his presence. She was surprised to see that Professor Adams was not in the room.

Mr. Harrington took to the podium. "Ladies and Gentlemen, it is with great pride that I would like to introduce to you, Kaitlyn. The first true cyborg of our time. Her skills surpa.s.s even the most seasoned solider, and with more training, she will only get better. Human nature and technology have collided, and as you can see, the outcome is spectacular. Where others have failed, we have surpa.s.sed even our own highest expectations."

A murmur of approval went around the table.

"Kaitlyn, come up here."

Kaitlyn moved without thinking and made her way to Harrington's side. Everyone was staring at her, looking her up and down from head to toe. Even though she was used to being on display, for some reason the people that were looking at her now made her skin crawl.

An old man with four stars on his collar, and a scowl on his face spoke from the middle of the table. He had an arrow head patch on his right sleeve, which her scan identified as JSOC. She guessed a former Delta Force commander. "Forgive me for not taking your word, Harrington. Are we going to see her in action?"

"Of course. We've put together a short film for you."

With the click of a b.u.t.ton on the podium, the lights dimmed and a screen scrolled down on the right wall. Curious, Kaitlyn turned to watch along with her prospective owners.

The film started out in the combat room. Kaitlyn easily flipped Jeff over her shoulder, slamming him to the ground. At six-foot-two, he had been six inches taller than her and outweighed her by almost one-hundred pounds. The man struggled to get back to his feet, and with one swift kick, Kaitlyn swiped his knee cap, bringing him to his knees. The man howled in pain and swung blindly, but Kaitlyn easily blocked the blow. Like an animal, Kaitlyn circled her prey. In the blink of an eye, her arms were wrapped around his neck, and he went slack. Unconscious.

Live Fire flashed across the screen, and then there was Kaitlyn, sprinting through the woods, weaponless. Suddenly, she dropped flat to the ground as a bullet whizzed past. She crawled into the brush. Within seconds, she located the target, waited until they were on top of her, sprung to her feet, and engaged. In the blink of an eye she had the shooter's gun in her own hands and pressed against his temple before he knew what happened. The man smirked and raised his hands. Kaitlyn lowered the gun.

It cut to Kaitlyn at the shooting range. Fifty-five meters flashed across the screen. Kaitlyn held a pistol and fired off shots, first using only her right hand, and then the left. The target came forward and showed a small, tight circle on the forehead of the silhouette.

Someone muttered, "Impossible." Several heads turned her way. She was surprised to feel a flush of pleasure from their awe.

There were a few more brief scenes showcasing her skills, and then the room went dark briefly before the lights flashed back on.

Everyone stared at Kaitlyn with renewed interest. Even the stoic older gentleman in the middle sat up in his seat and seemed impressed.

"How do we know this is not doctored?" a stern-faced brunette woman asked. Her hair was pulled up so tightly in a bun her eyes were slanted back. Kaitlyn wondered if it gave her a headache. She wasn't in uniform so Kaitlyn had no idea who she was representing.

"You're welcome to watch her in the field. I just wanted to give you a quick glimpse into her potential. Ladies and gentlemen, what we have seen here only scratches the surface. She can sense targets before they even become a threat. Her body temperature controls itself in any environment. The list goes on and on. I don't want to give away all her secrets until we know for sure there is interest."

A woman from the end of the table spoke up. "Oh, there's interest all right. What's the downside?" Kaitlyn blinked at the questions and waited for his reaction. She had never thought of the downsides herself. Surely, there must be some.

Harrington paced before them for a moment. "Really, the only downside is perception. Society is not ready for something of this magnitude. She would have to be kept top secret."

"Well, that's easy enough," the woman replied. "Who would want to risk such a gold mine in the public eye anyway? We would keep her locked away until needed."

Kaitlyn tensed up. So she had her answer: yet again she would be locked away. Only this time, there would be no Lucas or Quess.

"So." Harrington clapped his hands together, rubbing them. "Where should we start the bidding?"

"Not so fast." Said the surly man in the middle of the table. Kaitlyn's scan calculated him to be the most dangerous of the crew despite his age. A person doesn't get to his level with out being a threat. "A video might be good enough to catch our attention, but we need to see her in a real environment before we talk money."

"Very well. You can use my compound to set up any scenarios you wish. I a.s.sure you that she will pa.s.s with flying colors."

A tall, slim man in his mid-forties stood up. He was wearing an Air Force uniform, and the name on his tag said Fenderson. "I would like to speak to the subject."

Harrington nodded to Kaitlyn, and she stepped forward.

The man directed his question to her. "What can you tell us about yourself?"

"My name is Kaitlyn. I am programmed to be efficient and deadly. I follow orders without hesitation." She stood with her hands to her sides, motionless, and spoke in a monotone voice.

Nods of approval went around the room. Like Harrington they also wanted a mindless robot. The thought caused her to clench her hands into fist.

Another woman, with short grey hair, spoke. "I think she would have a hard time blending in. She sounds like a robot. With her looks she will draw a lot of attention. Some missions might require she interact in public, even if on a limited basis."

"We've been working on that. We have installed a slang chip and facial recognition program so she can mimic emotions when needed. Which brings up another issue. If you are interested, we would like our main programmer to stay involved." He nodded towards Lucas.

"He's not much more than a boy. We have our own people," one of the men said curtly.

The old man nodded. "I'm afraid the only way we could agree to this project is if we have complete control. Once she left this compound, everything would be in the black. Top secret, even to you. If you and your team were involved there would be an increased risk."

"Not acceptable," Harrington said firmly. "My team is to remain with Kaitlyn or there will be no negotiations."

"Do you really want to be the ones to take responsibility if something went wrong?" another man asked. "If the subject is handed over to the government, you will not be responsible for any of the backlash. What you've done in creating your cyborg is illegal. By handing her over to us, you would be free and clear of any legal recriminations were knowledge of her existence to hit the media."

"I don't give a s.h.i.t about backlash," Harrington said. "She was my vision. And pardon me for not quite taking your word. The government has been known to throw people under the bus when it suits their needs."

"Then you would be seeking another buyer." The older man in the middle folded his hands calmly in front of him on the table. Outwardly he appeared calm, but his heart rate had increased substantially. Kaitlyn knew he was bluffing. But he seemed to be in charge of the show. Everyone else remained quiet.

The usually calm Harrington's jaw was clenched, and a flush rose to his face. "Fine. I believe this meeting has reached its end. When you are ready to be sensible, you know how to reach me. I don't think I have to remind you there are other potential buyers. Out of loyalty to my country I gave you first chance." He turned on his heel and strode from the room. Kaitlyn and Lucas followed close behind.

Harrington slammed the door open with a thud.

"Those arrogant jacka.s.ses. She is mine! They cannot expect me to hand over something I have put my heart and soul into and just walk away."

"I thought you expected this." Lucas raised an eyebrow.

"I know, but when we are so close to handing her over, I can't do it. I need time to think. Make sure those fools make it off the compound."

For the first time, hope rose in Kaitlyn's chest. Maybe Harrington would find a way to keep control. Which meant she could keep Lucas.

"Why didn't the others bid?" Kaitlyn asked confused.

"It wasn't a bidding war. All the branches work together for SOCOM, so it would have been a joint project. Harrington never planned on giving anyone a chance at you. He just wanted them to offer the maximum amount of money. Harrington is a lot of things, but he's not a traitor to his country."

Kaitlyn let the info sink in. If the government officials didn't change their minds, what would become of her?

Chapter Nineteen.

Kaitlyn sat on her bed with her arms wrapped around her legs, lost in thought. She'd been in the same position for over an houra"since she returned from the meetinga"but had barely noticed the pa.s.sage of time.

Back and forth emotions pulled her in different directions. Could Harrington convince the buyer to allow Lucas to be a part of the package? If not, she'd be starting a new life all over again. Her sensors picked up on Lucas down the hall, moving quickly in her direction, but she was too worried to care. Soon, she could be gone. He was probably coming to take her away now.

Lucas rushed into her room without bothering to knock. "We have to get you out of here, now."