My Tank Class’s face broke out in the biggest grin. “I like that one best.”
“Glad you’re all happy because I have something to tell you.” Walking over to the black transport, I knocked on the back double doors. “It’s all good. You can come out now.”
The doors opened slowly, revealing a blue face. “Are you sure? Maybe we should wait.”
“I think they would like to meet you.”
The Service Model hesitated. “Would you…could you maybe…” He held out his hand.
I took it, offering him a reassuring smile as he slowly stepped out. He blinked in the bright sunlight, taking in the trees and warm breeze. We were a few miles away from Lennox’s compound, but far enough within the forest that I felt it was safe.
With Franklin and the Service Model’s help, we had freed 5 more cyborgs from the bowels of the Global Allegiance. I thought I had seen some of the worst of what Roman could do when I had first seen the Service Model, but nothing had prepared for me for I had found when I unlocked the door.
Five cyborgs sat huddled together in a small room. One Medical Model, a female service model, two Military Models, and one more that had stopped me dead in my tracks.
Roman Rothchild had not been lying. Hidden in that room was another Tank Class. His massive frame was hunched in a corner, his arms wrapped around his legs, his head on his knees. The moment his blue eyes had locked with mine, my heart almost stopped.
There, peering back at me, was Brone but not. His frame was the same, but where my Tank Class was bright and full of life, this one was broken, his spark nearly extinguished. A jagged scar wrapped around his throat, and when I moved closer, he hung his head, hiding it from view.
The others in the room had fared no better. Each of their frames were covered in scars, plasma burns, and other marks I couldn’t identify.
For a moment, I had worried I wasn’t the right person to save them. They needed Reaper or Dax or anyone who understood some of the horror they had been through. But I had been the one who was chosen. The person that could get them home and back to those who would help them heal. Both inside and out.
So I sat down, fitting myself into the small space, introduced myself, and told them I was taking them home. I talked until I was hoarse, telling them about Brone, about the Luxury Models, about everything and anything. I hadn’t been sure they believed me. Not one of them made a sound.
But they had followed me out of that room.
And I was so close to keeping my promise. A few more miles and they would be home. But for now, I had to break the news that I might have adopted a few more cyborgs. Whoops.
Brone tilted his head, his blue eyes flashing. “Is that…?”
I squeezed the Service Model’s hand. “This is new my friend. I told him we wouldn’t mind adding a new cyborg to the family.”Or six.I knew once they felt comfortable, they would find their place with the rebellion, but for now, I felt a bit like a mother hen, fussing over her chicks.
Brone stepped closer and I willed him to understand. He was the only cyborg who had my heart, but for the moment, the Service Model was scared and unsure.
Brone’s eyes moved over the way the Service Model gripped my hand and his eyes softened. “Any friend of my female’s is a friend of mine.”
I love you,I mouthed. He had understood perfectly. So had Core, Caliber, and Chaos. They moved in tandem, walking straight toward the Service Model and adding him to their trio without hesitation. “Miss Nara kept us safe, too. We would love to be your friend,” Core said for the group.
“Can we ride with you?” Chaos asked.
The Service Model looked at me and then nodded. “I would like that. But I must tell you that there are a few-”
Chaos had already stuck his head in the transport. “There are five more cyborgs in here!”
Core and Caliber rushed to push their way in to see.
Core gasped. “One is a Tank Class.”
I looked at Brone and watched his mouth drop open. “So, I might have brought more than one.”
Brone swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing as a drop of fluid trekked down his cheek. “There really is another Tank Class?”
I nodded. “Yes. And he is going to need you. They all are. They are going to need all of us.”
A gray blur came at me, catching me around the waist to lift me into his arms. “Then let’s get them home.”
Brone