In a future where the United States is slowly rebuilding itself, Omega Travis Danten is a big city cop sent to a seemingly desolate city on the edge of the Waste. This desert is full of undesirables, and it’s only a matter of time before they wreak havoc. But, Omegas are always assigned Alphas, and his new partner’s job is to protect him.<br><br>But SdAI Alpha Virgil is not at all amused with the partner who chose him. Travis is willful and naive to the dangers a homicide detective faces here, and it makes Virgil’s job that much harder. And Travis, of course, is human and develops feelings, feelings that go beyond the rules about Omega/Alpha partnerships.<br><br>Travis and Virgil have to find common ground, find a killer, and find space for each other in their own hearts, even if one is artificial.

Artificial Heart

“I hope you’re washing your hands after touching that.”


Virgil stood and deliberately ignored the quip as Travis approached. “What did she tell you?”


“The usual story.” Travis scowled. “She loves him, found out he was sleeping with someone else. Gave him a bad batch of whatever thatis. When he didn’t drop fast enough, she split his skull open with a rock.”


That was not the story she recounted for emergency dispatch. Impressive. “She gave him Scarlett. Too pure a dose.”


“That’s a hard way to go,” Travis said.


“Yes, however, based on the size and placement of the head wound, he was dead before the drug could kill him.” The dead man was lucky. Scarlett, when given at the concentration he took, was enough to liquefy the intestines and have the user vomiting them up like a volcano under pressure. Nasty way to go.


“So, murder after all, either way.” Travis waved their patrol officer over. “Secure the scene and we’ll place a call for a team. Wait for them.”


Chapter 11