“Cyborgs never forget. And neither will I.” I pressed my knees down a bit harder, relishing the small groan of pain that slipped out from Roman’s lips. I had never thought of myself as a violent person, someone who would enjoy the sight of someone else’s suffering, but I couldn’t spare any guilt for the man whose many crimes included putting a bullet in the processors of the cyborg I loved.
“It’s okay now,” I yelled out to the Service Model.
“Nara, are you-” The Service Model rushed in, his words cutting off when he saw me pinning his former master to the ground. “How?”
I shrugged. “Would you believe all it took was a panic induced kick to the balls?”And the fact that I know an awesome Science Model who had given me a kick ass upgrade.I kept that part to myself, knowing that while the world might be ready to welcome cyborgs, they weren’t ready for what Dax had created.
The Service Model’s eyes narrowed but didn’t question me further.
“I need you find something to bind him with.”
The Service Model grinned. “With pleasure.”
Working together with a lot of death threats shouted our way, the Service Model and I got Roman into a chair, tying him to it tight. We looped the makeshift rope around his chest, wrapping it around the highbacked chair and adding more rope to secure his hands and feet.
The Service Model wore a grin the entire time.
I sank down to the floor, admiring our handiwork and letting out the breath I was sure I had been holding since the asshole had barged in.
A loud bang sounded and I jumped. “This is the law division of the sixth district. Miss Jones, are you in there?”
“Yes!” Relief swept through me, the last bit of tension draining away.
One of the sweetest sounds I had ever heard was the sound of the lock as it disengaged, the door swinging wide to reveal a hall full of officers and a few men dressed in suits.
“Miss Jones, are you okay?” the officer closest to me asked and I nodded, my shoulders sagging.
“I am.” I rubbed my fingers over my neck, wincing at the tenderness. I looked to the man tied to the chair. “He did this. He kidnapped me, held me prisoner, then tried to kill me. I fought him off.”
One of the officers locked onto the Service Model. “Sir, a cyborg. There is a real live cyborg.”
“I can see it,” the first officer snapped. “Shit. Him. I’m sorry, cyborg, sir. Please forgive me for referring to you by that term.” His eyes swept over the Service Model’s frame and he cleared his throat. “You are defiantly a he.”
“And he helped me secure Mr. Rothchild so that he could no longer hurt me. Roman Rothchild has kept this Service Model as a prisoner for years. He tormented him. And there could be more.”
A man wearing a suit breezed in past the officers. “Roman, is that true? Have you been keeping cyborgs here? What the hell were you thinking?”
Roman struggled in his bindings. “Don’t act like you didn’t know! You knew what I was planning. You wanted me to do it! You wanted the former glory of the cyborg program reinstated. You told me that I could do whatever I wanted to achieve our goals.”
The man snapped his mouth shut.
An older gentleman in a suit stepped in the room and eyed Roman and the now silent man. “It’s over. The investors have pulled out. The stocks have hit rock bottom. The Global Allegiance isruined.” He shook his head, disgust for Roman and the other man painted clearly on his face. He walked over to the Service Model, causing the Service Model to take a step back.
“I won’t hurt you.” The man’s eyes softened. “I am sorry for how this one,” he waved a hand at Roman, “has treated you.” Turning, he pointed at the silent man, “and if this one knew about it and didn’t do anything to help you, I am sorry for that as well. If you need anything, anything at all, please don’t hesitate to ask. My name is Franklin Haitfield.”
The Service Model looked at me. “I would like to be free.” He turned to look at the man who had offered to help. “Can you do that?”
“Well, son. I don’t think you need me for that. I always believed the cyborgs should have the right to decide for themselves. In fact, I was on the council back before the termination, working to give you what you should have been given rightfully back then. But unfortunately, the Global Allegiance had many fooled.” He shot an icy glare at Roman. “Now the world is demanding we do the right thing and I agree. So, you see, young Service Model, you already are. You don’t need to ask me oranyoneelse for permission.”
The Service Model shocked me when he grabbed the older man to give him a hug.
“There you go.” Franklin patted his back gently before pulling back. “Now, how about we get you some clothes? Us humans get a bit funny around nudity.”
The cheeks on the Service Model darkened. “I think I would like that.”
A rustling sounded and a pair of clothes appeared and were placed in Franklin’s waiting hands. He passed them into the Service Model’s hands who then smiled the whole time as he pulled the clothes on.
I narrowed my eyes at Franklin. “Who are you?”