Reaper shook his head. “Put your fucking hands down, Dax. I am not going to fight you or kill the female. Do you think I’m some kind of monster?”
I kept my fists raised. “I didn’t used to. Do you know I looked up to you? No matter how many times you insulted or mocked me, I told myself that underneath it all you cared. That you simply struggled to show it.” I stepped forward, putting myself toe to toe with the Military Model. “I helped designyourprogramming. Iknewthere was compassion and a heart under all that metal, but it wasneverfor me. I haveneverbeen your friend. You almostkilledme and what did I do? I put you back together piece by piece!”
Angry drops of fluid gathered in the corners of my eyes, but I fought them. I refused to cry for what I never had. “I’mdone, Reaper. Do you hear me? I’m done being the cyborg who patches you up, who saves your females and the day and then gets treated like I amlessthan.”
My hands shot out, shoving Reaper hard, causing him to stumble backward. His mouth fell open. “I am notless.I am Dax. The first cyborg ever created and,” I looked between Reaper and Viper, “none of you would be here without me. I don’t need to change into what you think I should be so you will like me. Learn tovalueme forwho I amor be cyborg enough tolet me go.”
“Oh, Dax,” Poe whispered. Her arms wrapped around my waist, hugging me hard from behind. I relaxed into Poe’s comforting touch, the need to fight draining out of me.
Reaper’s features softened and a look I had never seen before, at least when it came to me, passed over his face. His massive shoulders fell. “Dr. Shaw was right. I never knew how you truly felt. I never even asked. After all you have done, I ignored what you needed from me-what you needed from all of us.” He took a breath, cautiously putting his hand on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “If you helped design my programming you know that I’m not good with things like this. Aria and Theo have been teaching me, but my circuits can be a bit slow. I’m sorry, Dax. For not trusting you, for not telling you that you matter to the cyborg rebellion. That you matter to me. I may be the muscle of the cyborg rebellion, but you are its heart. You cared for us and we should have cared for you in return. Give us...give me a chance to do better?”
He held out his arm and shock rolled through my frame. Cyborgs clasped arms in a gesture of respect and to honor the fact that we are brothers. No cyborg had ever offered me his arm...until now, and that cyborg was Reaper. The leader of the cyborg rebellion.And he thought I was the heart of the cyborg rebellion.
That thought and his arm outstretched before me was almost enough to bring me to my knees. Still, I held myself back, refusing to take it before I knew what this meant for Poe. If Reaper truly wanted me to give him another chance then he must give me time to court my female. Angry cyborgs busting into the room had definitely not been part of my wooing plan. I needed more time to convince Poe to be mine. I couldn’t achieve that if Reaper separated us.
I crossed my arms over my chest, raising an eyebrow. “What about Poe? Can she come with us?” I hoped my message was clear. I didn’t want his offer if it meant leaving Poe behind.
Reaper gave a heavy sigh. “I no longer believe she is a true threat to us, so the choice is hers. She can walk away with the promise she will be dealt with if she ever betrays us or she can come with us and remain with us indefinitely. If she chooses to come with us she is agreeing to join the cyborg rebellion.”
Poe whooped with joy.“Better open the comm channel boys and tell the rest of the cyborg rebellion that they gained a new member!”
“Well that was easy,” Reaper stated, shock evident in his voice.
Poe jumped out from behind my frame. “Seriously? You asked the girl who likes cyborgs more than people if she wanted to become a permanent member of the cyborg rebellion and expected it to be a hard sell?” She let out a laugh. “That and I kind of have a major crush on the cyborg rebellion’s resident Science Model.”
I captured her face between my hands and frowned. “Coming with me means leaving your whole world behind. It would be selfish of me to expect you to give up everything for me.”
“You were willing to do it for me.” She gave me a brilliant smile. “The truth is that there isn’t much left for me out here. I have no family left to miss me and my only friend will understand. In fact, she would tell me that life is to short not to take a chance. My friend is definitely more of a ‘jump now think about the consequences later’ type of girl.”
My eyes flashed brightly, a broad smile breaking out across my face. “A new adventure then?”
She nodded and I leaned down to press a quick kiss to her lips. I turned towards Reaper finally taking his outstretched arm, clasping it firmly. “Friends?” I asked with a flutter of hope in my heart.
“Brothers,” Reaper declared.
Chapter Seventeen
*Dr. Shaw*
Cyborg Headquarters
Isank into the chairbehind my desk and sighed. Reaper and Viper had been gone for two hours and counting.Oh my sweet Dax, what kind of trouble did you get yourself into this time?
The lab felt empty without him. Since the first day he had opened his eyes and climbed free from his vat, Dax had always been by my side.