Tom Savage (Star Farmer Book 1) by Jaxon Reed

Author:Jaxon Reed [Reed, Jaxon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

23

Gwen woke up to the sound of pounding hoofbeats. She stuck her head out the entrance of the capsule as Timmy raced in leading Lucas. Then she noticed Tom strapped down over the saddle.

Then she saw the blood.

“Omigosh! Tom!”

She ran out, but before she could reach him Timmy unstrapped Tom and carried him into the capsule. The bot laid him down on the bed, then located a crate nearby with a large red cross on the lid.

Gwen rushed back to the door. She saw Tom breathing. Timmy moved about the narrow space, crowding the area, so she decided not to enter.

The battle bot returned to the bed with a handful of fast patches and a pneumatic syringe. Timmy ripped open the packages and placed dressings on all the wounds. Then he injected Tom with nanobots.

“What happened?”

The bot ignored her. She was not in Timmy’s programmed area of concern, nor would she be unless she attacked Tom or he told the bot to take orders from her. Since neither of those things had occurred, Timmy simply stepped around her and went to find Lucas to remove the saddle.

The horse bolted as he approached, but in a burst of speed the bot zipped ahead and grabbed the reins, pulling Lucas to a reluctant halt. Then Timmy removed the tack, quickly and efficiently.

Lucas snorted and wandered off while Timmy brought the saddle and other items back into camp.

Gwen ducked back inside the capsule. She stared down at Tom, concern in her eyes. Gently, she wiped off a fleck of blood from his face.

His eyes fluttered open.

“Hey.”

“Tom! What happened out there? Your robot won’t tell me anything.”

“Big Ugly and three of his friends found me.”

“Who? What?”

“Big Ugly, that sand dragon that attacked us. It came out there with three others. It was waiting for me, I think. Ambush . . . its friends are dead, but Big Ugly’s still out there.”

Gwen grimaced.

She said, “They’re like that. I mean, we don’t know a whole lot about them, but they show signs of higher intelligence than typical wildlife. They’re not sentient, but they’re like very smart dogs or something.”

“Sons of bitches.”

Tom laughed, then coughed in pain.

“Take it easy. The nanobots need time to work.”

“These are . . . these are high quality. Military grade. Should work . . . faster . . .”

He slipped back into sleep.

Gwen straightened, and decided to leave him be. She walked out of the capsule.

“HALT!”

She hurried toward the river. Timmy held his heavy rifle up, pointing it at Haley. The ranger held her hands up, frowning at the robot.

“No! Stop, Timmy. Haley is a friend.”

But the bot kept his gun on the red-haired woman.

“He’s not programmed to accept my commands, Haley. Come on, let’s get out of the campsite. Walk with me back to the river.”

The two turned and walked off. Timmy kept aiming his rifle at Haley as she risked a glance backward.

“Thanks for saving me from the tin man. How did that house get there? Did I miss it in the dark? I’m pretty sure it wasn’t there last night.

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