Oz
Isat next to Viper, my hand in his as Reaper stood at the front of the room, his blue eyes flashing.
A meeting had been called to discuss the rescue of the new cyborgs and the common room was filled, grim expressions on all the model’s different colored faces.
None of them were happy to learn that the Global Allegiance had relaunched the cyborg program-this time with what they were calling luxury models.
There had been quite a bit of yelling and shouting before Reaper had gotten everyone under control.
Watching him wrangle a room full of angry cyborgs had made me realize why he had been chosen as their leader. A healthy dose of respect had welled up for the Military Model.
Reaper and I had not started out on the best terms. Now? Well, let’s just say he doesn’t want to kill me on sight anymore, so that’s progress.
Excitement grew in my chest as I listened to him give out our marching orders.
“After the sun goes down tomorrow, Brone and I will lead two different strike teams in a mission to rescue the newly manufactured cyborgs. Good news is that they are being held in a secure, private lab, and not within The Global Allegiance headquarters itself. Bad news is that they have updated their security protocols since we have been free. They have brand new tech. A whole new set of codes and programming that, if given time, we could counter, but we don’t have it.” He dragged a hand across his face as he let out a breath, then looked directly at me. “What they hadn’t planned on was for a pink haired female with black-market tech in her head that has been outfitted with the newest programming.” He smiled at me and said, “Stand up, Oz.”
Gasps and a few growls sounded as I rose from my seat, heart pounding inside my chest. I gave a little half wave, shifting on my feet. Ever have like a hundred cyborgs fix their visual systems on you? Most with unhappy expressions on their faces? No? I wouldn’t recommend it.
I stood there on display, their watchful eyes judging me, and I knew without a doubt they all had heard how I had gotten here. I had been correct. Storming the rebellion had not made me any friends. Dax and Axios were exceptions, and Viper?
He was a god damn miracle. His hand slipped into mine, giving it a squeeze, and I felt myself relax. “By the looks on your faces I can tell you’ve already heard about me, and it wasn’t all that good. No matter. Love me or hate me, I still plan to help out the rebellion and save some cyborgs.”
I reached up with my free hand and tapped the back of my skull. “The shit lodged in my head will get us past the new security. Trust me, I could have given a Technology Model a run for their money without the implant.”
I grinned. “With it? I’m practically unstoppable. The bastards from the Global Allegiance won’t know what hit them.”
I put my hands on my hips as I met the eyes of every cyborg that watched me. “And in case you heard the rumor it will kill me when I activate this shit in my head, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that isn’t going to happen. The best Technology Model in existence fixed it. Not only that, but we are now bonded, so sorry cyborg rebellion, I’m not going anywhere.”
Viper shot from his seat and grabbed me around the waist, dipping me and planting a hard kiss on my lips. There were more gasps before a round of cheers broke out.
I pulled back to see those I already called friends on their feet along with many more cyborgs I hadn’t met yet. Color rose on my cheeks, and I fought the urge to duck my head into Viper’s chest.
I slung an arm around Viper’s waist, holding him close. I looked to Reaper and was pleasantly surprised that he had a smile on his face. See? Progress. I winked. “Let’s go fuck up the Global Allegiance.”
Another round of cheers erupted, and I couldn’t wipe the stupid grin off my face. These were my people. My tribe.
And instead of hurting the rebellion with the implant in my head, I would now use it to keep them all safe.
Viper
Moving my frame, I snuggled closer to my female, the bond a constant whisper in the back of my mind.
Oz rolled over, a smile teasing the corners of her mouth as she opened her eyes.
I put a kiss to her forehead. “Good morning, my Oz.”
“It’s always a good morning when I wake up next to you.” She rubbed her eyes, brushing away the final remnants of sleep. “Today is the day.”
“It is.” I tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “In fact, based on my internal clock, sundown is fast approaching.” I don’t feel ready. I hate that Oz has to come with me into battle.
It doesn’t matter that Reaper had ordered her to remain in the transport. That had not gone over well. For a moment, I worried she might yank Reaper’s battle axe from his back and start swinging.
Reaper, being a Military Model, had thought her fury was hilarious. He had simply laughed as she shouted obscenities at him. When she had run out of steam, Reaper had explained that she was too important to the mission and if she got distracted, it could be devastating to the cyborgs who were fighting.
That had effectivity ended the argument since my female would not do anything that could put the strike teams in danger.
The rebellion doesn’t know the champion they have in Oz. I do. That is why, while she had slept, I had run scenario after scenario through my processors, making sure I was prepared for whatever The Global Allegiance threw at us.