“Initiate code seven four three.” The moment the code passed my lips, Reaper crumbled to the ground like a sack of potatoes, the heavy Military Model’s frame landing with a hard thud.
“Oh my god! What did you do?” Stepping around me, she stared at Reaper’s still frame. She took a step in his direction, as if she wanted to check on and make sure he was okay.
My hand shot out, catching her arm. “I bought us time. Now please tell me you have some type of vehicle close by. Reaper will only be down for twenty minutes. After that his system will reboot and I can guarantee he will come for us.”
“I do.” She pointed to the woods behind us. “It’s that way.”
Quickly I scooped Poe off her feet, tossing her over my shoulder causing her to let out a gasp. “We will travel faster this way. Hold on.” It’s the only warning I gave her before I started to run, leaping over logs and branches at cyborg speed.
Her small hands clung to the back of my lab coat. “Too fast.” She panted.
“Sorry.” I couldn’t slow down. My internal clock had begun a count down the second I issued the shut down code. We had less than ten minutes remaining. I rounded a corner and there, hidden in the brush, was a small vehicle. Her attempt to hide it was laughable. There was no way to disguise something that bright of a pink in the middle of the woods. Even without my enhanced sight, it still would have been easily visible to anyone who happened by it. Another confirmation to my processors that she wasn’t a spy.
Who would drive something like that to spy on someone? My feet skidded to a halt, gripping the passenger door handle I yanked it open. I lowered her to the ground and pointed at the seat. “Get in.”
She drew in a few deep breaths swaying a little on her feet. I went to steady her but she slapped my hand away. “I’m fine! The ride you gave me through the woods was a little rough.”
Five minutes,my processors chimed.
“We are running out of time. I need you to get in the car.” I shuffled on my feet nervously as worry swam through my circuits.
She pushed against my arm but it felt like nothing more than an annoying swat against my frame. “You get in Science Model. This is my car. I plan on driving it.”
“I am a cyborg,” I huffed. “My skills are unprecedented. Iwilldrive.”
“Don’t think so buddy.” She raced around the vehicle tossing herself into the driver seat. “Are you going to get in or do you want to hang around for the pissed Military Model to find you?” With a press of a button, the engine roared to life and I had no choice but to slide into the passenger seat.
Immediately she slammed on the gas, the car flying in reverse. She pointed the vehicle away from the forest and sped away, a cloud of dust swirling up from the tires. My hands shot, bracing myself on the smooth panel in front of me. “Too fast.”
“Now you know how it feels.” She gave me a quick wink before her eyes focused straight ahead, maneuvering the vehicle out of the woods and onto the road.
The vehicle continued at an excessive rate of speed for a few miles before it slowed and I breathed a sigh of relief.
A pale, small hand reached over patting my arm. “Better?
Not by much, my circuits chimed. Now that the vehicle had slowed to an appropriate speed I realized her vehicle was much too small to accommodate my larger frame. When running for your life, you aren’t concerned with the logistics of your escape. As I hugged my knees to my chest, I came to terms with the extent of my folly. “I feel like a sardine stuffed into a tin can at the moment.” My frame was bent over itself, my legs tucked tight against my chest. The width of my shoulders collided with one of hers and the window no matter how small I attempted to make myself.
She noticed my plight. “Sorry. My vehicle is designed for humans not cyborgs. Don’t worry the cabin I rented isn’t far from here. It will be a short trip, I promise.” She gave me a apologetic smile. “Auto driver on. Destination home.” The vehicle took over and she reached under my seat to move it back as far as it would go, giving me a few more inches of space. Scooting her body as close to the drivers door as she could, she tried to create some more extra space for my frame. “It’s not much, but I hope it helps.”
I gave her a smile. “It does. Thank you.”
The ride slipped into silence. My deactivation of Reaper was like a weight settling inside my chest. With that action, I had betrayed the cyborg rebellion and I was now on the run with a female I had only just met in the woods. Up until now my whole life had been spent at the side of Dr. Shaw. She had created me first. From the moment my processors had engaged, I knew I belonged with the woman I called mother. Now, with every mile, I traveled further away from her. Away from everything and everyone I had ever known and loved.
The knowledge cause my chest to tighten and I clawed at it. Processing my emotions had never been easy for me. Emotions were messy and complicated. Experiencing emotions for the female in the woods were what landed me here. My breathing grew rapid and I could no longer control the speed of my manufactured heart.
Oh god. What had I done? I can never go home. What if Poe abandons me? Discards me like used trash? I can not survive out here all alone. I don’t know the first thing about being on my own.My breathing and heartbeat accelerated even further.
“Hey Dax, are you okay?” A warm hand landed on my shoulder.
“I don’t know. I can’t catch my breath.” The words came out with a wheeze. “My heart has sped up. I can’t control my systems,” I choked out, desperation hammering inside my processors.
“Pull over and disengage the engine.” Poe commanded. The vehicle moved to the side of the road, the engine ceasing.
“Look at me,” she ordered. I turned my head, meeting her eyes. Leaning in closer she captured my face with her warm hands. She tilted her head, her eyebrows drawing together. “I think you are having a panic attack.”
“Cyborgs don’t panic.” My head shook no wildly.
She gave my cheek a reassuring pat. “Okay big guy, but even so, I need you to focus on me.”