I took another sip of water, then wrapped my fingers around the glass, holding onto it like it was a lifeline. Something to focus on instead of what I was about to admit out loud.
“A Tank Class named Trig.” There. It was out. I gripped the glass tighter, waiting for Ion to laugh, or let out a scoff of disbelief. To comm Reaper and tell him his prisoner had lost her mind.
But there was nothing. Lifting my eyes off the glass, I risked a glance at Ion. His face was a mask of unidentifiable emotion.
Dragging my feet off of the bed, I hopped down. I needed a shower. My body felt sluggish, every part of me hurting as if I’d fought a battle in my sleep.
It wasn’t your battle,a tiny voice chimed inside my head.
Shut up. None of that was real.I was a scientist. There was no way I had been in Brone’s memory. The pressure of everything had finally caught up to me. My mind was fabricating unbelievable things simply because I was stressed and running on little to no sleep.
Add in a healthy dose of isolation, loneliness, and the fear that an evil government corporation has a bounty on your head, and anyone would start conjuring up crazy stuff in their dreams.
Ion cocked his head, his blue eyes flashing. “Trig was deemed not worthy of repair and was salvaged for parts after falling in battle.”
The sound of glass shattering met Ion’s words, the water cup slipping from my hands as I froze. “That’s…he...,” I spun back around, one of my heels catching on a piece of glass, the sharp sting no match for the pain that engulfed my body. “They took him apart?” my voice wavered. The sight of his frame carelessly ripped open so they could take what they deemed valuable flashed inside my head.
“I think I am going to be sick.” I covered my mouth, dashing towards the bathroom, ignoring Ion’s panicked shout.
I made it just in time to expel every drop of water I had consumed, along with remnants of last night’s dinner. I clung to the toilet bowl, my eyes catching on red smears dotting the tile.
Suddenly Ion was there, lifting my foot to inspect it. “The cuts don’t appear to be deep. Still, we should clean and bandage them to prevent infection.”
Cuts? What cuts?Oh. In my haste to make it to the bathroom, I had run right through the broken bits of glass on the floor. I hadn’t even felt it. I began to shake, and I clutched at Ion’s arm, my fingers digging into his frame, words tumbling free.
“I saw him. I saw Brone, too. He wanted them to fix Trig. They refused. They didn’t know I was there. It felt so real. I watched them drag Brone away. I couldn’t leave him to die alone…I couldn’t, Ion!” I drew in a sharp breath. “None of this is possible.” I shook my head, the sour taste of bile on my tongue, digging my fingers deeper into Ion’s arm.
There was only one cyborg who could help me. The one cyborg I had turned my back on. The one I had hurt maybe beyond repair.
Brone.I needed Brone. But I had no clue if he would come. Or if they would let him.
I met Ion’s worried blue eyes. “I must know for sure, Ion. I need to speak with Brone. He’s the only one who can hopefully help me understand what is going on.”
Ion nodded. “First let me take care of your foot and then I will comm Lennox. I would not get your hopes up, Nara. You are not their favorite person. But maybe Brone will be more favorable in wanting to communicate with you about this situation. I will admit, my processors tell me none of this seems plausible. Yet given your emotional reaction, I do not believe you are being untruthful about this. I will make sure Lennox knows this.”
I loosened my hold. At least I had one cyborg willing to talk to me. “Thanks, Ion.”
Ion patted my leg. “I will also admit that I never thought babysitting one human female would be this much work.” He stood up, offering me his hand and pulling me to my feet. My legs shook, the foul taste of vomitburning in the back of my throat.
Since Ion ended up on guard duty, he’s had to deal with my nightmares, tears, and now vomit. No wonder he thinks humans are a lot of work. Ion’s gaze remained on me as I made my way over to the sink and rinsed out my mouth. With a few swishes, the awful taste was gone but unease churned in my gut. I desperately wanted a hug, but Ion had done enough for today. That and it wasn’t his arms I wanted wrapped around me.Like Brone would want to hug you after what you did,my mind taunted.
Maybe. Maybe not. But it didn’t matter. He was the only one who could help me, and even if there was no hug or smile waiting for me, my heart still picked up speed at the thought of seeing him again.
A hand landed on my shoulder.“Will you be okay if I step out to make the call?”
“Yes.” Ion exited the bathroom and I was left alone. Gripping the edge of the sink, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. “No matter what happens, you’ll be okay.”
The words sounded as hollow as I felt.
Brone
Lennox’s Headquarters
Reaper crossed his arms over his chest. “No.”
Dr. Shaw’s eyes narrowed. “But, Reaper, they might have started the bonding process, you really can’t-“
“I can, and I will.” Reaper’s eyes flashed. “That female is a traitor. If it’s true, then I am sure you can figure out a way to reverse the process, Dr. Shaw. I refuse to allow Brone to be tied to that female.”