by Lisa Lace
Dr. Feldman didn’t seem affected by the blow, but he dropped Amanda and turned to the cyborg. Gasping desperately for breath, Amanda crawled to the far side of the room, putting as much distance between herself and the two fighting men as possible. Her vision slowly returned, but she didn’t have the strength to get up and move. She knew now that her efforts in the lab had been enough to get the transmission to the other cyborgs and revive the captain. She had reset his circuits, making him reboot, and injected his body with adrenaline.
The doctor was not intimidated to fight a cyborg. He put up his fists and began returning punches. AD-214 had an advantage as far as height and weight, but Dr. Feldman had insanity on his side. He kicked and punched as though he thought himself invincible, landing punches on the cyborg’s stomach, face, and neck.
AD-214 absorbed the attack and returned it twofold. He fought his way closer to the man until he grabbed hold of his shoulders. He picked up the doctor and slammed him into the glass window. The cyborg pulled back to give enough space to hit him again. Blood smeared across the glass. Dr. Feldman’s eyes rolled back in his head, but AD-214 kept on going.
Amanda wanted to order her soldier to stop and say the doctor had had enough. But she knew Dr. Feldman would never rest until every member of Blue Squad was dead. AD-214 was doing what was necessary for survival.
A crack formed in the glass where Dr. Feldman’s limp body was being thrown into it. The crack widened as AD-214 continued his pounding, until the acrylic burst in the middle. Dr. Feldman went straight through it, the hard plastic tearing at his body as he fell. His flesh ripped away. Amanda covered her eyes with her hands and curled into a ball on the floor of the observation room.
A heavy fist landed gently on her shoulder. “Amanda, you need to look at this.”
“I don’t want to,” she begged. Her voice sounded strangled and garbled, affected by Dr. Feldman’s hands around her throat and her wailing. “Don’t make me see it.”
“You have to,” AD-214 said soothingly. “Trust me.”
Allowing the cyborg to assist her, Amanda turned around until she could see through the glass. Blue Squad members had swarmed into the room, fighting off the remainder of the cyborg clones that tried to stop them. Dr. Feldman lay on a lab table below, motionless. His skin had been pulled apart from the fall through the window. Underneath his skin, Amanda could see the glint of metal.
“No,” she whispered. “That can’t be.”
“The evidence is right before your eyes.” Without bothering to ask if she could walk on her own, AD-214 scooped her up into his bulky arms. He went back through the ruined doorway and descended the steps leading to the lab. It was the only way out of the observation room, and there was still more to see.
When they reached the concrete floor of the lab, AD-214 gently set Amanda on her feet, keeping a steady hand around her waist. The rest of Blue Squad paused to watch. The clones were held at bay for the moment.
Amanda slowly shuffled to the exam table where Dr. Feldman had landed. She jumped and skittered, terrified that he would reanimate and attempt to kill her again. She took a deep breath. Blue Squad was with her. She wasn’t in any danger.
The soldiers held their breath as she slowly approached the body on the table. He had long tears in his skin that slowly dripped blood onto the concrete floor. Skirting around the puddles and making sure not to get any of the red ooze on her, Amanda moved toward his head. She had already seen cybernetic organs next to his human ones, but there was something else she had to investigate.
Dr. Feldman’s face lay slack against the table, his head rolled to the side. She gently lifted a lock of blonde hair over his left ear with a trembling hand. At first, she was relieved to find nothing but human flesh over his ear. But just before she let the hair fall back into place, she noticed that something was unnatural. The skin was a different color here, and rougher than the rest.
Cringing, she used her other hand to poke at the area, peeling up an inhuman flap of skin with her fingernail. It was the same artificial flesh Cyborg Sector used to make the mechanical parts of their soldiers look natural. Otherwise, their exposed metal parts would immediately reveal they were not human. The faux flesh also covered AD-214’s right hand and part of his left leg. Amanda had carefully sculpted it to fit onto his metal understructure.
Flicking the piece of fake skin aside, she saw exactly what she was afraid of. Dr. Feldman had a cyborg biochip implanted on the top his ear. He was not human. He had fooled everyone in the scientific and military community for years.
“It’s time to go,” PD-4 said, breaking the tense silence in the room. “The van is ready to meet us at our rendezvous point.”
Without another word, Blue Squad and Amanda quickly left Cyborg Sector and headed back into the woods.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The vehicle bobbed and swayed through the city streets as it worked its way toward the interstate. AD-214 and the other members of Blue Squad were crushed together on the open floor of the cargo van, staying away from any windows.
PD-4 had led them on a quick trek back through the woods to a small farm where the white van waited for them behind a barn. "Geoff’s Painting" was plastered across the side in large letters, and Geoff himself patiently waited for them. He was perched in the loft of the barn wearing white coveralls and a painter’s cap, using a pair of binoculars to watch the woods for his cargo.
“Are you sure you want to drive us?” AD-214 had asked as the human descended from the barn. “It’s going to be dangerous, and we don’t want to risk innocent lives.”
The painter was wiry thin, with a bushy black beard that still had bits of paint stuck in it from a previous job. “Hell, yeah!” he exclaimed, startling a nearby horse. “I get to be part of history if I’m the driver for Blue Squad. Besides, if someone sees you behind the wheel they’ll call the police in an instant. No offense, but you’re all pretty recognizable now.”
Without any further discussion, the cyborgs and Amanda piled inside. Geoff had removed most of his painting supplies from the van, leaving only a tarp so the cyborgs could cover themselves at a traffic stop. AD-214 made sure he had a spot next to Amanda, though none of the other soldiers would have fought him for it.
“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 Twenty-Eight
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 his 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 can still 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 wa
sn’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 call 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.”