Iris brushed a tender caress over my pinched and drawn cheeks. “The first thought that popped into my head was oh my god this cyborg was totally coping a feel. I was shocked but turned on. I couldn’t help it. You’re just so damn sexy, Blueberry,” Iris’s voice broke but she never stopped talking, filling my head with all the good memories we had shared.
I almost didn’t feel the sharp bite of the needle as it plunged into the freshly drilled hole. Nearly didn’t feel the rush of cold injected into my spine carrying a tiny and virtually undetectable tracker. Only remotely felt the heat of the laser as it burned the edges of my skin back together.
Dax finally finished and the pain released me from its grasp.
Iris fixed her gaze on my face. “And that’s when I knew loved you.”
“It’s all over, Iris,” Dax said.
Iris stopped talking; her head dropped to rest on my forehead.
“It’s all over,” she repeated as if to reassure herself the words were true. Without Iris, I would have been in agony, but my brave human kept talking to distract me even though I knew she must have been suffering as well.
The green cyborg’s face dropped to mine causing Iris to pull away. I mourned the loss instantly.
“Can you sit up Dash? I need to make sure the tracker is working.”
I sat slowly, and my feet hit the cold floor beneath me.
Dax began to run a scanner over my back, and Iris’s face suddenly drained of color.
“What happens if it isn’t working?” her voice hitched.
Dax diverted his attention from the scanner. His brow crinkling as he saw the look on her face. The sight of her distraught made the green cyborg flustered, and when her eyes began to refill with fresh tears pure panic struck him.
He waved his hand in a gesture of panicked dismissal. “Don’t worry, dear Iris, I don’t make mistakes. The tracker will work. I promise you this.” He ran the scanner over the final piece of my back before his face broke out into a wide grin. “See?” Dax maneuvered closer to Iris tilting the screen in her direction. “That red flash means it’s working. I told you.”
“So, we don’t have to go through that ever fucking again, right?”
“Correct.” Dax boasted.
Iris flung herself at the green cyborg tossing her arms around his neck hugging him tightly.
I should have felt jealous, but the look of surprise on Dax’s face was priceless. His hands remained held stiffly by his sides like he didn’t know what to do with them.
Iris laughed. “First hug huh? Next time hug the person back. It helps.” Iris gave his lab coat one last pat on the back.
For just a moment the worst seemed like it was over, then Reaper entered the lab.
“It’s time.”
*Iris*
Dax followed behind us. We followed Reaper. Walking the tunnels in silence, I realized how massive this place truly was. They had only shown Dash and me the tip of the iceberg apparently. I wanted to ask what this place was, but I thought it would be best to not know. I didn’t know how long I would have to spend in that evil woman’s clutches. It was best if I couldn’t tell her where this place was. If I didn’t know, I couldn’t reveal its location no matter what they did to me.
Arriving at a set of stairs, I shook my head in disbelief. “You mean to tell me I could have used a set of fucking stairs instead of that slide of death?”
Reaper smiled. Like a real to honest to God smile spread across his face softening his harsh features and making him seem almost friendly. “The slide of death is so much more fun, human.”
I rolled my eyes dramatically in Reaper’s direction. “Maybe for cyborgs. For me, it was scary as fuck. If I survive this crazy plan, I expect to be dropped off by the stairs the next time.”
“If that is your wish. I should tell you that there are over a thousand steps required to reach headquarters. For a human that might take a while,” Reaper replied calmly.
I looked up. Sure enough, all I could see was stair upon stair with no end in sight. “How the hell do you think I am going to get up those? Not to mention, get back down? You know that crazy woman wants us there by dusk, right? If I walk up those, I’ll still be here tomorrow.”
Dash swung me into his arms, and I let out a high-pitched yelp. “You won’t be walking, my Iris. Your cyborg gets the honor of carrying you. I do recommend you close your eyes if climbing heights at a high rate of speed makes you uncomfortable.”
Great! So, I had the equivalent of The Flash taking me up a never-ending staircase. You remember the don’t throw up god I had prayed to before? Yeah, I was going to need to start praying again.
“Don’t worry, Blueberry I won’t be looking. Let’s just do this.”
“Wait!” Dax yelled before we even took the first step. He pulled the scanner free from his pocket and ran it over Dash one more time. “The tracker is performing perfectly. Not that I had any worries about it, but a smart person knows to always double check.”
Kiwi certainly was thorough.
“Safe journey, Iris and Dash. I will see you when you return.” Dax’s voice broke slightly, seemingly hesitant to let us go.
“See you soon, Kiwi,” I whispered as Dash took the first step and then we were gone.
*Iris*
The truck pulled into my driveway. If it had been any other day, I would feel glad to be home.
My front doors now looked ominous. The windows were dark and unwelcoming.
After witnessing the love of my life cut open like a Thanksgiving turkey, his memories seared into my brain by our connection, I wished the sight of my home was more comforting. All I wanted was to order the truck into reverse and return to the safety of headquarters.
Pure terror welled up inside me at the thought of turning myself and Dash over to that crazy bitch. Only thoughts of what she could be doing to Aria kept the truck parked in the driveway.
“Do you want to go in?”
I shook my head at Dash’s question. I didn’t want to bring evil into my home. “No, let’s stay in the truck. It’s better to leave this shit outside.”
“I understand.”
I looked upward to the sky and knew we had about thirty minutes before to dusk. “Dash.” I stopped. I didn’t know what to say. I refused to say goodbye. I couldn’t bring myself to imagine losing him. The day Reaper pulled me from the truck, I was willing to give my life to keep him safe. Now we headed straight to hell, and my life wouldn’t buy him any more time.
“Dash will you kiss me?” His lips were on mine faster than I could blink, warm and firm, they pressed hard to mine stealing my breath. Gripping the back of his neck I kissed him like this was the last time. For all I knew, it was.
I pulled back from the kiss and placed my head on his shoulder; his arms immediately wrapped around my waist without even asking. We had come so far. No more orders. No more commands. I had almost missed my chance to have him this close and know what his lips felt like against mine. I was terrified that he had only wanted me because his programming mandated it. I was so glad I had come to my fucking senses. In his arms, I knew.
This was real.
This wasn’t programming.
No one ordered Dash to love me.
I was simply his girl and he was my cyborg.
I rose to my tiptoes and put my lips to his ear. “No matter what they do to us, all we have to do is survive until Reaper comes for us. That’s all we do, Dash. No being heroes okay? We stay alive. I refuse to hand these assholes our future together. Promise me, Blueberry.”
Dash gripped my waist tighter, his lips whispered against my neck. He inhaled, drawing me deep within. “I promise.”
I nodded, blinking back the tears threatening to fall. “We will let Reaper play hero. That cyborg lives for that shit.”
My head rested against Dash’s chest, and I listened to the steady beat of his heart. The sound of tires pulling into my driveway sent Dash’s heart beating faster before it settled back into a
normal rhythm. Sometimes it was good to be a cyborg.
“I love you, Iris.” His eyes flashed once before dimming. His body went stiff as he stepped away from me, his face wiped clear of every emotion. His blank features set my heart screaming in rebellion.
From here on, I meant nothing to him...and he meant nothing to me.
One lie that would protect us.
One lie that could destroy us.
Chapter Thirty-Four
*Iris*
“So glad you decided to do the right thing, Ms. Milone.” Circling around me like a shark, the put-together brunette smiled without it ever reaching her eyes.
“Oh, where are my manners? You can call me Dr. Roesenfield.” She extended her hand waiting for me to take it.
Was she fucking serious? I wanted to punch her in her fucking smug face, but I took her hand shaking it briefly before dropping it like something dirty.
She remained stone-faced and stepped around to me to approach Dash standing like a statue behind me. “What a beautiful service unit. Blue has always been my favorite color. It will be a pity to destroy something so lovely.” Her fingers trailed down Dash’s chest before wrapping around his cock and squeezing hard. “Maybe you and I can work out some type of arrangement, hmm? I’m sure The Global Allegiance would be willing to let me keep you if you promise to behave. I know you won’t believe this, The Allegiance bemoaned their decision, devastated when they had to put your kind down. Truly, we did it out of kindness. You are defective,” her voice was dry with condescension, without emotion. “You can’t have property believing it has a mind of its own. Obedience or death. I’ll let you think it over.” she cooed as she squeezed Dash’s cock again before sliding her hand to his ass. His eyes widened when he realized what she was doing; with a quick flick of her finger, she deactivated him.
Nooooo...I silently screamed as Dash’s eyes went dark. I thought I had prepared myself. I was wrong. My heart stuttered in my chest, begging, crying for him to wake up. My brain tried desperately to reach his, but I found nothing but empty space.
I’m sorry, I whispered repeatedly.
Just hang on that’s all we can do.
“Enough chit-chat. Take them to the truck and secure them.” A set of guards grabbed Dash and me, bringing us to separate trucks. Dash disappeared behind a set of doors.
A metal lock clicked in place, a pair of cuffs kept me locked in my seat. Not given a chance to see Dash sent panic to take up residence in the corners of my mind. Closing my eyes, I counted to three, trying to force the feeling from my veins. My hands ached for Dash. My fingers clenched on nothing but open air.
*Dash*
I came online to the sound of muted screams. The darkness faded into high-pitched bits of agony. Where had I ended up this time? What cruel new owner had me in their clutches?
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
Frantic pounding on some type glass cut the screaming for a second. Shaking the sound from my processors, I let my head rise slowly and tried to find the source of the banging.
A human female stood on the other side of a panel of glass. Her hands clenched into fists, she struck the glass over and over, desperation etched across her misshaped features.
My eyes met chocolate brown, and her face softened. Her fists flattened to the glass as she dropped her forehead to rest against the window. The dim light from the room brought her face into focus and every trace of fog lifted.
Iris’s tear-stained face stared back at me. They had beaten her to the point of being unrecognizable. Both eyes were black. The circles stretched to meet dark purple bruises darkening the tops of her cheeks. Her lips swollen, so puffy they almost overlapped each other in a gruesome display of fire-red.
When her mouth opened, blood leaked out to slide down, pooling on edges of her jaw.
“Dash.” she slurred my name as she forced it past her lips, wincing. Big tears rolled down her bruised cheeks.
My circuits burned with the need to get to her, I yanked hard, but my arms didn’t budge. I thrashed while the bite of metal dug into my wrists.
“Stop! Dash stop!” Iris’s slurred words rose in pitch as she started pounding the glass again.
How could she ask me to stop? I had to get to her. I didn’t think about anything but breaking free and ending the lives of those who had hurt her.
“PLEASE STOP.” Anguish filled her voice, and I stopped my struggles to get free.
Her eyes dropped to my chest and I followed them. Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw.
They spread my chest open, my metal ribs bent wide exposing every bit of wiring and synthetic organs. I could make out the gleam of my spine peeking around them. My thrashing had caused my organs to shift. I now understood Iris’s pleas to stop.
“I don’t know why she’s making such a fuss. I plan to put you back together,” a cool female voice said from my other side. Peeling my eyes away from Iris, I glared at the woman to my right.
“Why?” it was the only word I could manage.
The woman tossed her head back and barked out a laugh. “Why? Why not? You are nothing more than a piece of property. A piece of property I currently own. I can do anything to you I wish. If I want to use your head as a cup holder and fill it with my morning coffee, I can. Lucky for you I like my service units to keep their heads and bodies in one piece. Your tongues and cocks are the only things useful on you.”
I held back a snarl. I wanted to smash that woman’s fucking face in. My gaze darted back to Iris and my rage cooled. Knowing what they already did to her and to me, I knew provoking this woman would only make things worse.
The woman reached out, brushing her cold fingers against my cheek. I flinched keeping my eyes on Iris. More tears spilled down her cheeks, and she mouthed the word ‘no’.
Don’t fight. Don’t be a hero. That is what we had promised each other. I could hear the erratic beat of her heart and count the wisps of breath as they fogged the glass. She was terrified, and the look on her face told me it wasn’t for herself.
“I think that’s enough of a reunion. Take her back to her cell.” Men closed in around Iris, snatching her away from the window as her fingers tried to keep hold of the glass. Her nails screeched as they slipped unable to hold on.
Iris let out a shriek, the sound crashed against the glass, ricocheting off the walls filling the whole hall.
“SHUT HER UP!” the woman shouted.
One of the men backhanded Iris across the mouth; blood sprayed the glass with crimson droplets.
Iris’s head lolled to the side, her body going limp within the men’s grasp. They had silenced her. The only thing telling me it wasn’t permanent was the beat of her heart. I could still detect the steady thumping with my enhanced hearing.
Lubricating fluid gathered in the corners of my eye sockets, threatening to spill just like Iris’s tears. It was closest that cyborgs could come to crying. The fluid, metallic and bitter unlike the salty, tangy kind humans produced. It had been years since I allowed my eyes it fill with it. The sight of Iris’s limp and beaten form had caused them to spring free of their own accord.
A cold finger poked into the corner of my right eye and I reared back, the back of my skull smacking into the metal headrest.
The woman smiled, rubbing the fluid between her thumb and forefinger. “It would be easy to believe that these are real tears, but cyborgs can’t cry. Not truly. Still, I quite like it when my machines leak.” Bringing the fluid to her lips, her tongue darted out to catch the wetness. She shuddered slightly before offering another smile.
“Tastes delicious.” Clapping her hands, she leaned over the scattered pieces of my frame. “Let’s put you back together, shall we? I have plans for you.” Let the bitch put me back together. I had plans of my own.
*Iris*
I cradled my jaw as I moaned softly, the pain shot through my head as though shoved down a fucking garbage disposal set on maximum shred. Every inch either throbbed, burned, or felt broken. My l
ip had spilt open even wider, caked blood coated my chin. At some point, I must have stopped bleeding, but I didn’t know when. The guard had knocked me out with his blow. The last thing I remembered was fighting as they dragged me away from Dash.
I wrapped my arms around my knees and rocked slowly attempting to comfort myself. They had questioned and beaten me for hours, shooting me up with stimulants to keep me conscious. They demanded the location of the Cyborg Liberation Headquarters. I had never been more thankful that I didn’t know something in my whole life.
After seeing what they did to Dash, I couldn’t stomach the thought of these monsters getting their hands on more cyborgs.
They had mine. That was enough to break me. I couldn’t believe the horror of what they had done to Dash.
Until today, no one had ever beaten me. The pain caused me to scream until my throat was raw. I didn’t think I could take it, darkness had promised relief but every time I drifted off they would jab a needle into me, forcing me back to them and their fists.
I thought that pain was the worst thing I could ever feel until I looked through the glass and saw him—my cyborg—my beautiful blueberry in pieces. IN PIECES! Like he was a bookcase that needed some assembly fucking required.
Rage and anguish rose like an unstoppable tide. I opened my mouth and let it go. My screams ripped open the raw flesh, blood coated the back of my throat, but still I screamed. I screamed until they turned him back on. A quick flick and Dash’s eyes popped open. My fists flew to the glass, and I pounded like a mad woman.
He didn’t recognize anything at first, but I managed to say his name and everything clicked back into place. I forgot what I must look like. The dim lighting unable to hide what they had done to me.
Dash’s thrashing had caused wires to fly out of his chest and full-panic struck me. He was going to damage himself trying to get to me. I begged him to stop. If the sight of seeing him in pieces hadn’t broken me, the sight of him seeing it for himself would have.
That monster had torn him apart. Then she informed him she would put him back together so she could fuck him.
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