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

“Shit,” Faolan bit out. “That base is massive. Travis could be anywhere.”


“If he’s still there.” Reuben turned to his partner as she collapsed the image. “Can we access any of the cameras out there?”


Lilith frowned, silent for too long. “No.” She fluttered a helpless hand in the air. “The electronics have been fried since the beginning of the War. Davis-Monthan was one of the first bases destroyed.”


“Even if any of them survived, the desert has since turned them to lumps of metal and plastic.” The captain growled in frustration that Virgil completely agreed with. “We’re going to have to search.”


Reuben nodded and turned to Lilith. “Call in everyone that is not on an active scene. We need the bodies for that large of a search.” Both of them turned to Faolan for confirmation of Reuben’s order, and Virgil breathed a quiet sigh of relief when it came in the form of a short nod. They turned to start their part, and Faolan gave Virgil a seeking glance.


Chapter 33