The Global Allegiance had swept the whole thing under the rug, paying those in power to stay quiet. They began to develop shiny new tech that distracted the world from what had happened. Time had done the rest. The world moved on, and the Global Allegiance rose from the dead to become the worldwide corporation that existed today.
And Roman Rothchild? He had retreated from public view and into the shadows, no longer the face of the Global Allegiance. But there he stood in a suit I was sure cost more than the monthly salary I had earned when I worked for them.
He put his palm to the glass, a cruel smile forming on his lips as the circuits underneath his hand began to glow. I watched in horror as the Service Model next to me doubled over, his fingers digging into the sides of his skull. A look of pure agony spilled across his face as his lips twisted into a silent scream.
“Stop!” I went to grab the Service Model but Roman tsked, “I wouldn’t if I were you. The current running through it right now would be far too much for a human.”
My hands froze, hovering over the Service Model’s blue arm, a part of me thinking about grabbing him anyway. There might be a chance I would survive it due to my upgrade. My hands began todrop of their own accord.
“Don’t,” the Service Model whispered through gritted teeth, his frame jerking backward like a puppet on a string.
I met Roman’s eyes. “Stop, or I’ll see what happens.” Keeping my eyes locked on the monster in front of me, I lowered my hands another quarter of an inch. The tingle of electricity danced across my skin, making the hair on my arms stand up. I narrowed my eyes, zeroing in on Roman, flexing my fingertips. “Pretty sure this will fry my brain since I am only human, but let’s test the theory, shall we?” I went to lower my hands the last inch and braced myself for the pain.
“Fine!” The current cut off right as my hands wrapped around the Service Model’s arm. I met his blue eyes and gave his arm a squeeze before helping to steady his frame. Once he was up right, his body no longer doubled over in pain, I grabbed for his hand, holding it tight. Straightening my spine, I looked back at Roman.
He tugged on the cuff of his suit jacket. “This little stunt has wasted enough of my time. If you want to play with it, I won’t stop you. Just know that with one flick of my wrist, I can destroy it.” He sharpened his gaze. “I can destroy everything and everyone you love, Miss Jones. I would advise you not to fuck with me.” Twisting on his heel, he threw open a large set of doors. “Come. We have things to discuss.” He looked at me over his shoulder, his mouth tipping up in a vicious smirk. “Some ground rules for your stay here.”
Brone
Lennox’s Compound
Dax wrung his hands. “Poe, I love you, but I don’t think that is a good idea.”
Viper shook his head. “Oz, that is suicide. The human world will never accept us.”
“I refuse to put my daughter and my female at risk because the two of you have clearly gone fucking insane!” Acer began to pace.
Reaper crossed his arms over his chest and gave both his best ‘don’t make me get my battle axe’ glare. “That idea puts everything and everyone I love at risk. Not to mention we are guests here. Outing cyborgs to the world will put a target on Lennox and her people’s backs, too.” His eyes narrowed. “No. There has to be another way.”
Oz closed her eyes and muttered, “I fucking like Reaper. Do not hack his processors, Oz, and make him do themacarena.”Her eyes shot open and she advanced on Reaper, jabbing a finger into his chest. “Look, we get it. This idea is crazy. Nuts. Bonkers. But I have been monitoring the Global Allegiance’s communications, and they took Nara to their main headquarters. Tell me, Reaper, do you really think you can just waltz in, ask politely, and they will hand her over and say sorry for the inconvenience?”
Poe moved to stand next to Oz, crossing her arms as she narrowed her eyes at Reaper. “Theywantedus to know. It’s a fudg-no, this calls for the big guns-it’s afuckingtrap!”
Oz looked at her best friend and grinned. “I’m so proud of you. My little girl is all grown up!”
Poe smacked her arm. “Stay on track, Oz! This is serious.”
Dax went to Poe and pulled her into his arms. “It is always serious when Poe swears. I think we should hear them out.”
Poe’s face softened as she looked at the Science Model. “Love you.”
Viper dropped a kiss on the top of Oz’s head. “Maybe we should, boss.”
“Not you, too!” Reaper spun around and pointed to Acer. “I suppose you’re next!”
Acer shook his head. “Nope. I still think they are fucking insane.”
Reaper tossed up his hands. “Thank god one of my cyborgs is on my side.” He looked to me. “I swear, Brone, we will save your female. There has to be a way that doesn’t put everything we have fought for in jeopardy.”
Until now, I had stayed silent. My only thought had been to find a way to get my female back as quickly as possible. The idea that she could be being hurt at the hands of the people who made up my nightmares made my processors see red. I wanted to rage. To storm the gates and kill everyone who thought they could take my female away from me.
I looked around at all their faces. These were my closest friends-my family. If Poe and Oz were correct, I would be asking them to march into hell and not come back out. All of them woulddie.
I wanted Nara safe and in my arms more than my next manufactured breath.
But I couldn’t ask them to do this.
Hopping off the exam table, I pushed past the wave of dizziness that assaulted my frame and ignored Dax’s yell to get back up on the table where I belonged. I didn’t trust the human world. I didn’t know if telling the world about us would do anything but bring more destruction and pain.