by Lisa Lace
“How did you arrange this?” Amanda whispered. “And how do we know we can trust this guy?” She jerked her thumb over her shoulder at the driver.
The captain smiled at her. A single eyebrow danced high up on her forehead, showing she was critical of the situation. He liked that she didn’t accept things as they were. Curiosity was one of her most attractive qualities. “PD-4 has had plenty of time to watch the news and observe other transmissions. It gives him a pretty good idea of what’s going on in the world. It turns out that Canada officially opened its borders to cyborg refugees, offering a safe haven. They were already considering it and your press conference gave them the final push. There are sympathizers in America as well, willing to do whatever they can to help us. Geoff is one of them.”
Amanda turned back to study the driver, who seemed excited and nervous as he navigated the roads. “As long as you’re sure.”
“We can easily kill him if he betrays us,” AD-214 replied. He laughed as Geoff sat up straighter in his seat.
“Canada opened up its borders for the ten members of Blue Squad?” Amanda asked. “That’s not a lot of refugees.”
“Eleven, including you,” ND-45 said from his position at the back of the van. He stretched up to peek out a small window.
Turning to Amanda with a grin, he said, “There are more free cyborgs now than just Blue Squad.”
“There are?” Amanda asked a bewildered look on her beautiful face.
ND-45 took the opportunity to brag. “We converted some of the clones while we were breaking into the hospital. A few of us uploaded the system upgrade to the soldiers who were still at Cyborg Sector. With any luck, they’ll continue to spread enlightenment until every cyborg in existence is free. Canada’s borders will be flooded. You’re welcome.” He puffed out his chest.
“It was all ND-45’s idea,” AD-214 explained. “When he saw I was able to share the software among soldiers in our unit, he thought it would be a good idea to use the shock and try to overwhelm the clones. It’s nice to think we might have helped some of the others remember who they were.”
The blonde scientist looked up at him, questions dancing in her dark eyes. “You don’t mind remembering your past? I’ve been haunted about what I did to you. I had no idea that the software would have such a dramatic effect on your personality.”
AD-214 laid a hand on her cheek. A tingling sensation shot up his arm whenever he touched her skin. She seemed to be begging for his forgiveness, but it wasn’t needed. A cyborg was content with his duties and his missions because he didn’t know any other way of life. But AD-214 knew what life was now. He only had a small taste of it, but it was enough for him to know that he wanted more, and did not need to hold grudges. “No,” he said, “I don’t mind at all.”
The girl started at his gesture, then leaned into his hand. “All I want is for you to be happy.”
A wisp of hair fell across her face, and the cyborg captain used his other hand to brush it back behind Amanda’s ear. He couldn’t remember ever seeing anything as beautiful as Amanda before. It had been a long time since he had been able to appreciate beauty. It wasn’t something he could describe or share through the network with other cyborgs. Amanda’s beauty was for him alone. It was wonderful.
“Happy?” he replied with a smile. “Yes, I think I’m learning to be.”
After many hours of driving, most of them spent in silence and with the warmth of Amanda sleeping against his chest, AD-214 straightened in his seat. Geoff announced they were approaching the Canadian border.
“I don’t think I’ll be going with you,” the painter explained. “I have to do some work with my business. If the news reports and the talking in our organization is correct, the Canadian government will provide you with transport to a safe house.”
The patrol guards at the border seemed startled by the large men that poured out of the back of the van, but they quickly arranged the next leg of their journey for the cyborgs. Blue Squad rode in comfort this time. They were given an oversized bus filled with food and bottled water to travel in instead of a cramped van. In two more hours, they arrived at the safe house.
“The place is all yours,” the driver explained as he pulled into a circular driveway in front of the large home. “The refugee committee rented it out for you specifically. There will be guards around the perimeter of the grounds in case someone decides it’s their duty to eliminate cyborgs from existence, but between you and me, nobody up here has been too upset about cyborgs. You’ll have to worry about sightseers more than enemies.” He peeked at the driveway behind the bus, where a silver sedan was pulling up. “Here’s your house manager, Mr. Forby, right now. He’s in charge of getting you all the food, clothing, and other items you might need.”
Blue Squad piled off the bus to meet the short, fat man who greeted them each with a smile and hearty handshake. “I’m happy to help you folks,” he said eagerly. “And the beautiful Ms. Conrad, of course. It’s an honor to have you here. I’ll show you around, and then I’d like to discuss your needs with each of you. Several donation sites have popped up around the country, so we should be able to accommodate you.”
The safe house was large, with enough private rooms for everyone. As the chaos in the foyer slowly died down, AD-214 pulled Amanda aside.
“My men have told me that they want to give me the master bedroom. There’s more than enough room there for me. Would you like to share it?”
CHAPTER 28
Amanda’s blood pulsed heavily through her veins, making her dizzy. “Of course I will.”
AD-214 gently took her small hand in his one and led her up the stairs. If the other cyborgs noticed what was happening, they gave no indication.
The hallway on the second floor of the house had doors on either side that led to separate bedrooms. AD-214 breezed past them, heading for the door at the end of the hallway. He pushed it open and gestured for Amanda to go in first.
It wasn’t extravagant, but it seemed like a luxury hotel after her stay at the hospital. The king-sized bed was vast, covered in plush blankets and pillows. A private bathroom with a garden tub and large mirrors stood off to the right, and a seating area with two chairs near a pair of French doors took up the left side of the room.
“It’s wonderful,” Amanda breathed. She wanted to rip off her shoes and wiggle her toes in the luxurious rug that took up most of the floor space.
“I don’t know how long we’ll be staying here,” AD-214 said as he closed the door behind them, “but I think this will serve for the moment.”
Amanda turned and looked up at the cyborg. She had come to know his face over several years while she worked at Cyborg Sector. It had always looked hard and distant until Amanda uploaded the fateful software. Now she had seen him smile, frown, and twist in anger. Amanda knew how he worked internally, how his biochip affected his body and vice versa. Now she wanted more.
“I have to ask you something,” she said tentatively. “Do you know who you used to be? Before you were at Cyborg Sector?”
The soft look that was on his face since they had reached Canada hardened again. He strode over to the French doors and started outside, not facing her as he replied. “Not really. There are only pieces, like a puzzle that won’t ever be complete.”
Amanda followed him to the sitting area and sank into a chair, worn out from their travels. “Can you tell me about your memories?” she asked.
“I already did,” he replied curtly.
She didn’t let herself feel offended by his tone. She was probing into sensitive material. “Not all of them.”
His jaw tensed for a moment. “How do you know?”
“I don’t know for sure,” she replied. “It’s just something in my gut. You shared your story about being injured, but you had a distant look in your eyes during other times. I always thought there was more to it.”
AD-214 let silence descend between them, and Amanda was afraid he would change his mind about sharing hi
s room with her. But he heaved a sigh and spoke again. “There is more. You’re right. But in the beginning, I understood it even less than the other visions. I had a lot of time to think while I was out in the woods.”
He paused, and Amanda gave him time to collect his thoughts. “I see a woman.” AD-214’s voice sounded distant as he stared into the distance. “Sometimes she is making love to me. I think she might have been my wife.”
A streak of jealousy burned its way through Amanda, but she said nothing. If he decided that he wanted to try and find her, it should be his idea.
“There are other times, though.” AD-214’s voice lowered to a whisper. “I see her angry, throwing things at me. Making love to someone else. I don’t remember the details. I don’t know if we were married or what happened between us, but it didn’t end well.”
“I’m sorry,” Amanda whispered. She trembled at the thought of such heartbreak. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s not your fault, and you didn’t do anything. The last thing I want is for you to feel sorry for me. It’s good to tell someone about who I used to be.” His voice was rough with anguish.
“You still can be that person,” Amanda said, shifting uncomfortably in her chair. It was hard to sit still when there were so many emotions swirling around the room. “I know we did a lot to you in Cyborg Sector. You’ve got a cybernetic hand with a plasma gun and a biochip in your head. We programmed who you were, overriding your personality. I believe you are still human inside. You can still be an individual.”
“No.” AD-214 shook his head. His dark hair that had been kept closely cropped during his time at Cyborg Sector had grown longer in the last weeks. His bangs fell forward as he looked down at the floor. It wasn’t long enough to conceal the chip over his ear. The device was dull from his time outside and battered around the edges from fighting other cyborgs. “I don’t want to be that person anymore. I don’t want only to be a cyborg. I want to be someone different. A person who can be with you.”
Amanda blinked tears out of her eyes, grateful to hear that he felt the same way about her. It was both a relief and sad at the same time. “Nothing’s stopping you.”
He reached for her hand but didn’t look at her.
There was one more question Amanda had to ask. It had burned inside her ever since she found out AD-214 was self-aware.
“Do you remember your name?” Her question hung in the air once she had voiced it.
He shook his head, running his hands through his hair in frustration.
“I ask because I can’t call you AD-214 anymore. That’s a name Cyborg Sector gave you. It’s more of a number to identify you in the computer system. You’re more than a number.”
For the first time since they had started this discussion, the cyborg looked her in the eye. “I’m glad you think so. But I don’t have a name.”
“Can I give you one?” Her heart pushed its way up into her throat. Was it too bold to ask such a thing?
The big man nodded. “What would you name me?”
“Adam,” she said, the name rolling off her tongue without thought. “It starts with the same two letters. Plus, you were my first cyborg. The first man I created.”
A small smile crept its way across his lips. “I like it.”
“I have something else to ask of you.”
“Anything, Amanda. I would give you anything.”
She stood and moved close to him, looking straight up into his face. “Take me to bed, Adam.”
CHAPTER 29
AD-214, now known as Adam, wrapped his arms around Amanda. He had been in this position before, but he had always been trying to rescue her. Now he had the luxury of holding her for pleasure. He knew from the gentle look in her eyes that she wanted him to envelop her.
He had seen what she and Dr. Feldman had been doing on the observation deck while he recovered in the lab. The large glass wall let him peer in easily as he lay helplessly on the exam table. Even in his weakened state, Adam understood what she was doing. He knew she was keeping the doctor occupied; she had whispered as much into his ear once she finished sending the transmission to the other members of Blue Squad.
Still, it was infuriating. Adam had been fighting to get back to her since Dr. Feldman stole her at the warehouse. Though Adam had never claimed the young scientist as his, he knew Dr. Feldman had no right to her. It was horrible to watch without being able to move. The doctor did things to Amanda that the soldier had longed to do himself. Fortunately, his men showed up just in time to distract Dr. Feldman, which had been the same time Adam finally came back to life.
Now it was his turn with Amanda.
He wanted to pick her up and throw her on the bed while ripping off her clothing and everything he had fantasized about. But this was what he had craved, and he had to make it last. He cupped her face in his hand. Gently at first, he used his tongue to pry open her lips and explore every surface. Her tongue reached out to dance with his, intertwining, licking, inviting. Amanda stood on her tiptoes to touch him, leaning her curves against his muscles, reaching her arms around his neck to pull him closer. She sunk her teeth gently into his bottom lip, letting him know how much she wanted him.
The bulge between Adam’s legs responded, pulsing with desire. He picked Amanda up, one firm buttock in each hand and tongue still in her mouth as he carried her to the bed. He finally had to break their kiss as he tossed her down. She leaned back against the mattress on her elbows, smiling up at him with the tip of her tongue against her front teeth.
Adam took his time undoing each tiny red button on her shirt, rejoicing to see her body slowly emerge. He studied the way her large breasts pressed against the last button, eager to burst their way out of the fabric for him to see. The round, fleshy globes were everything Adam had imagined. Now he could finally put his hands on them. He ran his palms up the sides of her trim waistline, across the flat plane of her stomach, and up to indulge in the mounds she gladly revealed to him. They were firm and round, each one more than he could hold in the grip of one of his large hands. Adam pulled one nipple into his mouth, gently sucking as he flicked his tongue. Her tiny bud reacted quickly, rising to a hard nub inside his lips.
Amanda was enjoying their time together too. She smiled at the cyborg as she tugged at his clothing, pulling at the buttons on his fatigues. “You can’t be the one having all the fun.” She managed to undo his fly and impatiently tugged to get access to his lower half.
The soldier accommodated her, pulling away his pants and shirt quickly. He paused as he realized that he had bared herself before her, including the parts of him that were not human. She claimed she wanted him, but did she want a robot? Would she reject him when she remembered he was technically a cyborg, even if his mind didn’t think like one?
Amanda sat back and gazed at his naked body with appreciation, reaching out to run her hands over every plane of his muscled body. “I’ve seen you many times,” she whispered. “I know what you look like. This time is different. You’re real, and you’re mine.” She touched his chest, sculpting his pectorals with her fingers. Her hands glided down his smooth back, gracefully swept around his butt, then came forward to wrap around his cock.
Only a couple of strokes in, she looked up at him mischievously. “Lie down. You should relax while I take care of you.”
He immediately obeyed, and Amanda began again. Adam’s cock responded to her massage as she ran her hands up and down his shaft. His dick grew as hard as a rock in her grip, a drop of clear liquid gathering at its tip in his anticipation. The soldier had wanted her for a long time, but he had never imagined it would feel this good. Her fingers were firm and knowledgeable as they worked on him, teasing him, promising more to come.
The warmth of her mouth as it descended on his cock felt like heaven. Amanda took in his length, keeping the fingers of her left hand circled tightly around the base of his dick. Her right hand massaged his balls, cradling and exploring them, not allowing them to be left
out. She was involved in her work, her forehead creasing as she concentrated, working hard to bring him pleasure. It made Adam feel like a king.
Adam moaned, and the sound encouraged Amanda. She kissed him as she consumed his entire cock, feeling the tip butt against the back of her throat. It was hot and soft as he pushed into her. Still deep throating him, she flicked out her tongue and ran it around the base of his shaft, opening her throat even further. Amanda sucked hard as she pulled back up, then dove back down to continue her work.
“You better be careful with what you’re doing,” he warned huskily. “I can’t promise I’ll be nice if you torture me like that.”
Amanda let go of his dick with a pop of her lips. Her mouth glistened with saliva as she grinned. “I don’t want you to be nice.”
He took her at her word. As she opened her mouth again, Adam buried his hands in her hair and forced Amanda down onto his cock. He pumped his hips, glorifying in the slick feeling as he fucked her sweet mouth. He could feel every surface on the thin skin of his cock. Her teeth, her tongue, the inside of her cheek. Amanda didn’t protest, push back, or thrash in pain. She opened her throat and took in every inch he slammed into her, keeping up with his rhythm.
When he thought he might shoot his wad into the back of her throat, Amanda jerked her head back. “Not so fast, big boy. You’ve got to do some of the work, too.” She licked her lips and leaned forward to cradle his package between her breasts. They were cool and soft against his warmth. He continued to rock his hips, sliding himself between her gorgeous round tits, smearing her spit on them and making them glisten.
Adam grinned. “I do?” The soldier was more than happy to return the favor. He sat up and pulled at the waistband of her jeans until they fell to the floor in a heap. Next, he grabbed her around the waist, bringing her with him as he lay back down and positioned her pussy on top of his face. Her sex was completely waxed, a bare luscious mound with a slit down the middle that would tempt any man lucky enough to see it.