***

Netto sat stiffly in his seat as his eyes roamed over the planet Kepler. He hadn’t been back in nearly forty years, not since he and a band of other Cyborgs helped oversee its procurement.

Even from the stratosphere, all he could see was water. Endless in every direction on a planet ten times larger than Earth. They were headed for the Eastern hemisphere where several small human settlements existed in agri-lots gifted by the government.

There were many different types of agri-lots on Kepler, but most sat empty. Only the few that lined the borders of the ocean had been claimed. One would think it was because of the beautiful views those lots had, or the ease of transportation, but no. It was because of the gem deposits from the sea.

The nuggets were precious and in high demand by everyone, especially the Earthian military, and were a much-needed resource for the EPED and any department or corporation that was spaceside.

Netto lifted his gaze from the sapphire waters to the glass shield that protected him from the atmosphere.

He could make out his reflection in the glass; a large man, grey-blue with tight skin, sitting in a chair that was too small for his massive frame. He sat like a statue, but uncaring about his own discomfort. The man in the window wanted this mission to be over so he could go back to his life in Ghost City.

The auditory system crackled on and interrupted his reverie.

“This is the Oppression requesting entry,” Zeph said.

A man’s voice came through from Kepler’s central control, “You the guys sent by the government?”

“Correct. We’re heading for the Montihan settlement and request access to land.”

“Granted. Shields disengaged.” Coordinates flooded the screen as his partner turned the ship toward their destination.

“Thank you, over and—”

“Was wondering when they’d send someone about the murders.”

Zeph was cut off by the controller.

Netto shared a look with his partner. Murders? It flashed in his own eyes and Zeph had the same question in his. Netto shook his head.

“What murders?”

Land appeared on the horizon. Netto typed in the coordinates for their landing zone as they waited for a reply. The ship veered and slowed down.

“The workers for the agri-lots. I suppose you’re not here for them if you haven’t heard about it, but over the last four months, three men have disappeared on shift. All without a trace, all out on the job, and no leads whatsoever.”

“You’re right, we haven’t heard about them. Thank you for updating us,” Zeph responded.

“No problem. Good luck on your mission.” The audio cut out.

Netto felt nothing for a couple of dead men, but he heard the slight tap of Zeph’s finger against his armrest.

He waited for him to say something. He knew Zeph would say something. They were opposites in every way and where his partner was charismatic, he—well, he was himself.

Netto turned his attention to the approaching landmass and the roiling, wild green that glowed with vitality in the distance. Far beyond the beach, an outcropping of fields followed by forest and mountains came into view. It was beautiful in that undiscovered, wild way, where an itch of adventure choked the breath out of you regardless of the dangers.

Netto’s ears twitched as Zeph parted his lips.

“You think the murders are related?”

“No.”

“We have to take every factor into account to get this job done. That includes human evil and human error. If we leave something out and the government—the EPED—find out...it’ll be like last time.”

Netto shrugged, not caring if Zeph noticed his unspoken retort.

“I’m not going to be quarantined to the home system like Dommik was,” he continued. “There’s nothing for a man like me in all that over-trodden space. Especially now that Stryker’s local.”

Netto ran his tongue along his teeth and waited for the rest of his partner’s tirade.

“That snake can take care of all the EPED’s needs near the homeworld. Still, can’t believe he fucked up his last job. Still can’t believe we’re here, all the way out at bum-fuck farm-ville because he destroyed his ship. He messes up once, once, and he gives up monster hunting, and for what? A tight ass? Should’ve bought him one of the newer model sex-bots when I saw him last,” Zeph ranted.

Netto had heard it all before and truthfully didn’t care enough to come to Stryker’s defense, nor to correct the rumors with the truth.

He had seen the way Stryker was with Norah, the woman he crossed the galaxy for and saved from horrible odds. He had seen the inside of the Snake’s ship after the chaos. Netto could still smell the Wieraptor and the waterborne bacteria that had taken it over. All he had to do was pull it up within his memory banks to relive the experience.

Netto wouldn’t be here otherwise. Stryker would fight to the death and give up everything to be with Norah, and Netto wasn’t about to get in the way of that. He always had a soft spot for true love. One more mission from the EPED wasn’t much to ask of him.

“That scientist of his better be worth it.”

“She is,” Netto said.

The beach was below them now, and the ship slowed and turned to follow the coast. It would take them approximately fourteen minutes to get to their destination and land.

“Someone would have to come here, regardless of what happened to Stryker,” Netto continued. It was the most he had spoken at one time today. He threaded his tongue back through his teeth.

“Yeah, I know. I just don’t see why they needed to send two Cyborgs when a simple man could do this job.”

The wood and metal structures of the Montihan’s homestead were now in sight. A large, ranch-style house sat on a bluff over the ocean that led out to another dozen or so buildings. A translucent silver laser barricade surrounded the entire premise. The security measure was not only deadly, but beautiful. It didn’t take away from the aesthetic of the settlement but instead added an almost indiscernible sparkle.

It was expensive. The Montihans screamed money.

He hated what money did to men. It made them powerful when they should be weak; it made them paranoid when they should be trusting. It made peaceful situations volatile.

Puffs of smoke plumed out from a large building, a half-mile up from the house. It was built on the beach with its own separate pier and gate.

The factory. The reason why we’re here.

A woman’s voice came through the ship’s feed; Zeph opened up the call to their EPED contact.

“What’s the status?” she asked without pleasantries. Netto recognized Mia’s soft flutter and tone. She had a beautiful, vulnerable voice that emphasized her callous, hard-working nature. No one expected a bitch...until she turned into a bitch. Usually, that happened pretty quickly.

“We made it to Kepler. We’re about to land.”

“Good to know. Is Netto still with you?”

“Yes,” Netto answered for himself.

“Great. I’ll put that down. Remember to negotiate with the Montihans. This request couldn’t have come at a better time. He needs what we have, we need what he has. Do what it takes.”

“Roger that. No one can deny my bartering skills, babe, not even you,” Zeph’s voice dripped innuendo and sex-appeal.

Something I can’t do, and something I don’t have. Netto mused quietly.

“You know my price, Zeph. It won’t change no matter how suave you are. Don’t let Netto interfere,” her voice went hard and Netto knew she addressed him now. “You’re the muscle, Shark. Stand there and watch, record, and intimidate. Intimidate your blue ass off and keep your mouth shut.”

“Babe, his teeth are the most intimidating thing about my main man,” Zeph quipped and feigned a laugh. He shot him a look, dark and knowing, but Netto didn’t respond. “Anything else, Mia? We’re landing now.”

“No, but keep me updated. We’re getting pressure from above and they’re going to want answers before we have answers to give.”

The ship slowed further until it hovered over the zone outside the homestead. Already several people were emerging from the barricade to greet them.

Netto didn’t care for it.

“Until next time, sweetie. We’ll send you an update tonight.”

“The two of you be careful out there,” Mia rushed to say.

The audio shut off. The ship lowered to the ground. “Always are,” Zeph muttered under his breath.

“Hmm.”

They landed with silken ease. For all of Zeph’s crassness, Netto always appreciated a good pilot.

They stood up in unison and judged their flight suits sufficient for the meeting. The EPED logo, Earthian Planetary Exploration Division, was branded over the right side of their chests. It wasn’t armor, it couldn’t stop a bullet or the sharp edge of a knife, but it was diplomatic and formal.

They passed the ship’s androids on their way through the empty menagerie and lab. Zeph had two that were of different models to maintain basic systems when he had no crew.

Their current mission wasn’t deemed crew-worthy for two reasons: it wasn’t a monster hunt, and because he, Netto, was onboard.

Netto lightened his steps, reconfiguring his internal mech to account for the shift in gravity and his size but it didn’t help...and never would. He was a noisy Cyborg, to the dismay of his brethren, but he still had his uses. He had advantages that many of the others did not.

“Get any atmospheric readings? I have to adjust my weight to balance and air intake,” Zeph asked over his shoulder. His partner strapped a single pistol to his hip before walking over to the gate panel. A holographic screen lit up before them. “Never been to Kepler.”

“I have. Once.”

Netto peered over the numbers on the screen. It relayed everything from the current temperature, weather patterns, percentage of oxygen and hydrogen in the air, and how many life forms were outside the ship. Eight humans, zero Trentians, and an array of creatures.

His eyes remained on the number of humans. Too many. Hundreds of stored images came to mind of all the human interactions he had, dating back through his monster hunting career, rebuilding after the war, and of the war itself.

There weren’t many pleasant memories and the long, awkward stares, quiet and judgmental, were the worst, right after the terrified children unlucky enough to encounter him, and the women who had flinched away.

Netto shut out the images. Zeph was typing in security codes when he looked up.

“I’ve been in Kepler’s oceans,” he added.

“When?”

“After the war.”

“Why?”

“To help set up the oceanic tech.”

The ship hummed and adjusted to the new protocols. “You should’ve told me before,” Zeph muttered with a twitch to his lip. “Happen to know the Montihans?”

“One. A man.”

“And? Netto, I swear to old-tech, stop making me ask a thousand questions. Fucking elaborate.”

Netto grunted. “He was young, Montihan, an ex-soldier who was done with war. He was one of several dozen men and women who chose to leave Earth and help colonize Kepler.”

“Got that all in the background check. Will he know who you are?”

“I don’t know,” Netto answered truthfully. It wasn’t his mission to know the settlers nor the settlers to know him.

Zeph pressed his hand to a screen next to the latch. “Let’s get this over with then.”

He concurred as the metal doors slid into the walls of the ship, revealing a world he thought he would never visit again. Several humans stood a distance away and came forward as he and Zeph descended the steps.

Netto scanned their faces as they approached; some tensed, others flinched, there was a slight gasp, and a myriad of hard swallows and gulps down uneasy throats.

He knew what his kind looked like, each Cyborg intimidating on his own, but together they were frightening, large, and imposing. Always ready for war. Always ready to defend.

And always expecting to kill.

Metal encased in muscle, covered in black suits, heavy boots, and far too dangerous looking to be mere men.

They were Cyborgs after all, and that was difficult to hide from the general population. Some could, but not him nor Zeph whose eyes were a bright lime green.

Netto clenched his teeth together, already over this mission. It didn’t help that the smell of sweat permeated the air, mixed with ship exhaust and strange wildlife. There’s nothing like the smell of human sweat.

An older woman approached, her lips curved up in a delicate smile. It wasn’t forced. It threw him off-guard.

“I’m so glad you could come!” she beamed and stopped before them, looking up at their faces. “My name is Sheryl Montihan. We’ve been expecting you.”

Zeph bent forward and took the woman’s hand, placing an easy kiss to the back. “Thank you for having us, Mrs. Montihan. My name is Zeph and this is my partner, Netto.”

He waved his hand in Netto’s direction. The older woman nodded her head.

“We’re here on behalf of your husband’s request. Is he nearby? Once our business with him is settled we can be out of your hair.”

“Nonsense, you’re not in my hair at all! I haven’t seen one of your kind since I was a young’un. You saved so many of my kindred’s lives, my family and I will forever be in your debt. Our home is your home. Come this way,” she preened and, in a gait that suggested strength beneath her clothes, ushered them toward the large house on the bluff.

Netto hated every step he took away from the sanctuary of the spaceship; he hated every step he took toward human civilization. He ignored the eyes of the few people who had stopped their work to come out and gawk.

Zeph was on Sheryl’s heels, complimenting her in any way that he could. Netto split his tongue over a razor-sharp tooth.

“Quinten is on his way back from the lots,” she called out behind her. “I’m making a feast tonight. I got some Kepler-grown potatoes in the crock,” Sheryl continued regardless of his misgivings, saying the things he didn’t want to hear. “We’ll discuss over dinner.”

His face, his body, every calculated movement Netto made and every step he took appeared uncaring and emotionless. Until he wore the facade of a man who was cold, uninterested, and intimidating.

If they were afraid of you, they didn’t talk to you.

Netto followed her into the estate, meeting the eyes of a windblown child. She dropped the rocks she was throwing into the sea and stared.