He flashed me a kind smile. “Just someone who cares and who now has the ability to help right the wrong that was committed over thirty years ago.” He clapped his hands, turning to the officers. “I think it’s time to remove these two,” he pointed at Roman and the other man, “and begin the process that leads to them having to paying for their crimes.”
Roman fought as the officers got him free from the chair and placed in him cuffs. “This isn’t over! No court in their right mind will ever convict me! Cyborgs don’t have rights. It is within my right to do whatever I want to do with my property!”
Franklin’s face changed in an instant. He had spoken kindly to the Service Model, never appearing to be anything more than a sweet old grandfather type. Glaring at Roman, he allowed the disgust for the man to show. “That might be so, but laws are being written as we speak to declare that cyborgs are people and not property. Once they pass, and I do believe they will, I think you find that the world won’t being willing to let you go unpunished. And last time I checked, kidnapping humans and holding them captive was already against the law. So, we have more than enough to keep you in a cell where you belong.”
Cuffs were slapped on the other man, and he mumbled something about it being all Roman’s idea as they tugged him out the door.
Pretty sure they would have no trouble turning him against Roman Rothchild, and who knew how many skeletons that monster had in his closet.
I eyed Roman Rothchild’s messed-up suit and the technolock cuffs wrapped around his wrists and grinned. As they pulled him toward the door, I shouted, “Wait!” The officers holding him stopped. I walked over to him and my lips curled into a smirk. There was something I needed to say before they took him away. “Just in case I don’t ever get the chance to tell you this, that thing you call an office is a crime against nature. No one should use that much black.”
Franklin tossed his head back and laughed. “You, my dear, are a delight.” He offered me his arm. “You said something about more cyborgs?”
Roman cursed as the officers dragged him out the door.
I took Franklin’s offered arm. “I did.” I looked at the Service Model. “Can you help us free them?”
Fluid filled his eyes as he nodded.
I held out my hand. “Let’s go tell them they are going home.”
Brone
“How long?” I barked the same question I had just asked five minutes ago. I couldn’t help it. Nara was on her way back to me. My heart sped up to bang against my metal ribs as my respiratory systems worked to stay functioning.
Once we had revealed ourselves, things had started to snowball. Much to Reaper’s, and those that had voted against it, surprise, the humans had come out across the world to support us. We watched as they gathered in the thousands, holding signs and yelling, demanding we be given the same rights.
Of course, there were humans who came out against us. That shouted we were abominations against God and that we were nothing but machines meant to serve the humans.
Those groups, though, were nothing compared to the ones that had offered to stand beside us. And my message to Nara? It was everywhere. A simple plea to get the female I loved back had turned into a rallying cry. They wanted nothing more than to see us reunited.
So here I sat in a transport, my systems close to overloading as I waited for her return. Lennox and Reaper, plus the human officials, agreed that it would be better if the world didn’t know our location quite yet.
For now, cyborgs were under protection. The humans would need to pass laws to guarantee our right to be recognized as people and not machines, but things like that took time. It would be another fight, but one I knew I could fight if I had Nara by my side.
“She’s here!” Core shouted excitedly, pointing out the window. I flung open the door, jumping out, circuits pounding as a large black transport came into view. Behind me, the Luxury Models hopped out, excitement making their frames tremble.
“She’s really coming home to us,” Caliber whispered, grabbing for my hand and giving it a squeeze.
I watched the transport get ever closer. “She is,” I rasped, my throat tight. I had spent every second worried I had made the wrong choice. That instead of trusting in the humans, I should have rushed in, guns blazing to rescue my female. Even if I had died, it would have been worth it if I had been able to free my Nara.
The Luxury Models had been my voice of reason. They had practically moved into my quarters, reminding me that Nara would never want to be without me. That sometimes the best thing to do is not do what my core programming demanded of me. Some battles aren’t won with plasma riffles and bullets. Some need to be won by putting yourself out there and trusting the universe to listen.
Chaos grinned. “The four of us will be a real family.”
I smiled at the bronze cyborg. “We already are. We just needed a little help from the universe to bring us back together.”
My breath froze in my lungs as the transport came to a stop. The doors opened and my manufactured heart stopped beating.
Nara took off in a run, leaping into my arms. She buried her head into my neck, hot tears spilling onto my skin. “I thought…I didn’t know if I’d ever…”
Every tear felt like a brand, my heart starting back up only to stutter inside my chest. “Hush, beautiful. You’re safe now.”
She pulled back, cupping my jaw, her fingers shaking. “So are you.” Her mouth fused to mine, kissing me as if she thought she might never get the chance again. “They tried to kill you.” The words were whispered against my lips.
“A bullet to the processors would never be enough to keep me from you.” I took her lips in another fierce kiss. “And Dax.”
“And Dax.” She let out a wobbly laugh. “Remind me to thank him for making sure the cyborg I love more with every breath survived long enough for me to give him my forever.” She gripped my chin, her eyes locked on mine. “Bond with me, Brone.”