Viper
Oz had crawled into bed as soon as we made it to our quarters. I climbed in after her, cradling her to my frame as I prayed to something I don’t fully believe in that we would be granted some type of miracle. I would give up my indefinite lifespan if it allowed my female more time.
I had told Oz I was strong enough, but I worried that had been a lie. A world without Oz was one my processors couldn’t accept. The sound of someone knocking on the door had her tossing and turning in my arms. I placed a kiss to the top of her head. “Go back to sleep.” She relaxed as I unwrapped my frame from hers , slipped out of bed, and made my way to the living room. Anger stirred in my circuits. I wanted to get back into bed with Oz. The time spent with my female had never been more precious. Any outside distraction robbed me of moments I could spend with her.
Opening the door, I found Reaper standing there, his bright blue eyes blazing. “They are relaunching the cyborg program!” He snarled, his hands curling into fists.
Shock rolled through me. The Global Allegiance was manufacturing new cyborgs? How? Dr. Shaw had taken her research with her when she had been forced to flee. Without it, she had promised they wouldn’t be able to create more.
“Suit up, Viper. We are going to war.”
For a second, I almost raced to follow his order, but then I remembered Oz. I couldn’t leave her to go fight. The Global Allegiance had stolen years from me, tortured and used me.
The thought of more brothers and sisters being trapped in that hell made me sick. But who knows how long this fight would last? We had never taken the Global Allegiance head on.
We worked in the dark, finding, and freeing cyborgs that had been kept hidden and had survived the termination. We didn’t fuck with their profit margin, and they had no use for what they deemed defective, outdated tech.
That had kept us safe. It had allowed us to stay under the radar. This would be a full-on assault. There was no telling what we would be facing or what the repercussions would be. How could I fight when my female’s days were numbered?
“I’m sorry, Reaper, but I can’t. Oz needs me. I am sorry but my answer is no.”
His face twisted into a mask of fury. “You can’t? You are going to condemn those new cyborgs to their fate simply because you found a female? Don’t worry. I plan to win and when we do, you can return home a hero. Oz isn’t going anywhere. She’ll be here after we win.”
My eyes flashed. “She’s dying!” I roared. Pulling back my fist, I slammed it into the wall, wishing it had been Reaper’s face. He got to spend forever with Aria. She would be here to come back to.
What would I come back to? Dax apologizing that Oz was gone? Poe’s gut-wrenching sobs as she mourned her best friend? An empty a set of quarters where I would exist without a heart because Oz would take it with her when she took her final breath?
No. My days seeking revenge were over. There were plenty of cyborgs here that would be happy to fight. Ones that I had freed. Ones that I had rescued. I had put my life on the line time and time again to free my brothers and sisters. Now I needed them to do the same. To fight so I could spend my female’s last days beside her, cherishing every moment we got to spend together.
I pounded my chest. “I’ve given everything to the rebellion. I’ve worked for years rescuing my fellow cyborgs. I hacked the systems that allowed us to break free. Now I am asking you to do this without me. My whole world is asleep in the next room. And I’ll have to say goodbye to her. Watch her fade away and there is nothing I can do to stop it! No one can. So, give this to me Reaper. I have never asked for anything in the years I have known you. I am asking now.” I would beg if I had to. Nothing was more important than Oz.
My knees grew weak, my frame trembling as I stared at Reaper, pleading with him to understand.
His face softened, the creases on his forehead smoothing out as his frown faded. “Fuck, Viper.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry. What about Dax?”
“He can’t fix it. The repair he made is failing. She has a month, maybe two.” My voice broke. Standing there in front of one of my dearest friends, I crumbled, Reaper catching me before I hit the floor.
Strong grey arms wrapped around me, his strength holding me steady. The part of me that hated to be touched now desperately needed the comfort of my leader and best friend.
I needed him to hold me together. Just for a moment.
Reaper had never been a hugger, but he pulled me to his frame. If he was surprised I wasn’t pushing him away he didn’t say anything. When he pulled back, his eyes were suspiciously wet. He gripped my shoulders. “You have been by my side since day one. Without you, I would have never been able to free us. You have fought with me, taken my shit, and I couldn’t have done any of this without you. Stay with your female. She needs you more than us right now.” He clasped my forearm and I returned it, clasping his. This was the first time in all the years we had known each other that we had done it. It was how two cyborgs showed they cared. I had never been able to allow it before. Now I relished the touch.
“I’ll miss fighting with you by my side, brother. But don’t worry about us. You only need to worry about you and your female.” He walked out, and relief flooded my circuits.
I leaned against the doorframe and watched him as he retreated down the hall, his ever-gleaming battle ax strapped to his back.
“Thank you, my friend,” I whispered.
“You could have gone with him,” Oz’s voice said from behind me. I spun around, my pulse racing. How long had she been there? How much had she heard?
“You should be in bed. You need to rest.” My tone softened as I wrapped my arms around her waist, fitting her to my frame.
She buried her face against my chest. “He needs you, V. So do those cyborgs. I don’t want to be the reason you don’t go.” She tipped her chin back, pinning me with her gaze. “You have been Reaper’s second from the moment you were freed. He trusts you, relies on you. He needs you with him on this. I know that you understand how risky this is. The Global Allegiance won’t be happy with the rebellion taking what they believe belongs to them.”
My hand slid down to grip the nape of her neck. Soft pink strands tickled the back of my hand, the warmth of her skin soaking into my palm. “You need me more, Oz. What kind of male would I be if I left you to face this alone? You told me that if I stayed, then Istayed.I am staying here with you, Oz. It’s where I belong.” I captured her lips, fusing my mouth to hers, kissing her until we both were breathless. I hated leaving my friend to fight alone, but I would hate myself more if I left my female.
I would give her everything. Cherish her, love her, and make her last days the best days of her life. We both had experienced so much pain. Time for us to have pleasure and joy, even if it was only for a short time.
“I want to get messy,” I rasped against her lips. I wanted to forget the tick of the clock, counting down to something we couldn’t stop. And I longed to make something I could remember. To create memories I could burn so deep into my processors they would never be rewritten.
She cocked her head to the side. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying? Cause if you want to have your wicked way with me, I’m all in.”
“Only if you feel up to it and feel like you are ready. I-”
She slapped her hand over my mouth. “I’m ready. Make me yours, V.”