Book excerpt: I almost ripped my ears off. And yet, part of me wanted to listen to him. It’s like a horrible car crash. You try to look away, but you just can’t. No question James had a raw deal. Not only did he teleport to another universe, but he also had to live in a secure military complex named Valardir for protection. The only bright spot is that Rose Ricdeau, his winged benefactor, shares his living quarters. Her friendship makes his stay there tolerable. Just as James finds a sense of normalcy in his new existence, he receives a phone call from the mysterious cyborg the Nirnivians call Doctor Death. Without delay, the Doctor warns him not to trust Rose. James, however, refuses to listen and hangs up, quite certain that if his hosts discovered he talked to their enemy they’d be less than pleased. Deep down, James wonders if there’s truth to Doctor Death’s words. Should Rose not be the friend she appears to be, what did that imply for him? Still, he can’t risk antagonizing his only lifeline, so he reveals the cyborg’s call to Valardir’s authorities. Immediately, panic ensues. That the Doctor contacted James implies he breached Valardir’s security. This scenario spells doom and so a rush occurs to find out what happened. This puts more pressure on the already overworked technical staff, who considers rebellion. Did the cyborg breach Valardir security? If so, what does it mean for James’ and Rose’s safety? If not, how did he contact James? Either way, why did the president of another country bother calling an insignificant human from a different world? Perhaps more crucial for James, is Rose the benevolent figure she pretends to be? And what if she’s not? Book 2 of the Cyborg’s Crusade series.