Moving further into the facility, they released their people and sent them back up top, to their waiting brothers, as soon as they’d found them. They had a full medical team on standby on Darks ship. His mate, the Space Stations medical Director, was there waiting on them.
Vict and his men, found their people in various conditions. Some had limbs removed. Other’s were grafted with materials that were not Cyborg. Some were unresponsive. Mina had been right about what was going on. As he moved down the corridor, he scented Mina. He came across a male who’s nano’s he recognised in a cell.
“You know me?” Vict asked. The male nodded. “Where’s the cell release?”
The male moved his chin towards the door. “Outside.” Vict walked out and realised that there were a number of similar buttons visible outside the doors. He hit the button and heard the cell door open back in the room. He walked back in, a couple of his men with him.
“We have medical ready. Move to the lifts our people are here.”
The Cyborg moved to the doorway. “My men?”
“We have them. We’re taking this world.” Vict told him. He gave a nod.
“The female?” The Cyborg asked. “I scented her here earlier. She will be in danger.”
Vict nodded. “She’s in here. I’m going for her now.” Vict watched the male make his way towards the lifts with his men, then glazed over.
I have men in cells here. Need assistance.
Vict heard the ‘affirmative’ as he moved down the corridor, pressing the opening mechanisms on each of the doors. His people would be here to help them, he followed Mina’s scent. It led to another doorway, he pushed it open and walked in. A server room. Vict strode around the stacks and saw the male out cold on the floor. Mina. Vict smiled, then walked back the way he’d come.
He picked up her scent again, heading further in. He sensed several of his men join him. One in here injured. Treat as hostile. He told them, then followed her scent trail again.
***
Mina stood at the back with most of the staff around her, on the floor, on chairs, all looking scared and worried. None of these were innocent people. They all knew what they were doing and that they were working on sentient beings. Experimenting on them. Now, they were worried for themselves. Not once had anyone mentioned saving their subjects or going to care for them. The fighting had got loud for a short time, then it had gone very quiet. They could hear the odd voice. The odd shot. Now it was eerily silent. And that seemed worse somehow.
Shadows converged on the closed refreshment area doors. Several people moved back towards the wall.
“This facility has been taken by the Cyborg Empire. If you wish to live and have weapons, now would be the time to throw them down.” Vict voice called out. Mina looked at the group around her. There were a couple of security, she guessed they’d have weapons. They made no move to drop any weapons.
“You trying to get everyone killed?” She called out to them. “You heard him, drop your weapons.” People moved away from the two security guys.
“If we come through this door and weapons are facing us, we will shoot to kill.” Vict called out again. Several people became agitated around the security. Some telling them to not be stupid. Others, demanding they put down their weapons. It was beginning to have a mob feel about it. One of the tech men, grabbed a weapon from one of the security and pulled it free, throwing it on the floor. The other one, seeing he was now alone, followed suit and threw his down too. Mina watched all the action letting them get on with it.
The doors pushed open and Mina watched wide eyed as several Cyborgs walked through. She recognised some of them with Vict. They looked huge and deadly. Seeing them here, a reminder, of just how different the subjects had been. These were not subdued men. They were fierce and loyal. Deadly. There were several screams on seeing them and a lot of moving back in a hurry. Mina watched the Cyborgs swept the room, take in the security men and several Cyborgs broke off to take them and their weapons out the room. The rest fanned out facing the scientists. Not one of them moved. It was intimidating. Impressive, thought Mina. No one was going to fuck with them.
“Baby, you’d better let me see you or I’m gonna start killing people.” Vict called out. Mina suppressed a smile as squeaks and intakes of breath went on around her as the people stiffened. Mina pushed off the wall and walked around the group in front of her. People who gave her a strange looks and stares until she was out of the mix and walking towards Vict.
She couldn’t help the grin on her face. Or try to stop him grabbing her and kissing her hard. She pulled back and looked up at him touching his face. “Your so bad ass.” She told him. The look he gave her smouldered.
“We found a male on the floor in the server room.” He asked pointedly. She nodded pissed.
“He’s the leader of these sick asses. Said he could,” she used air quotes, “fry you all. So I hit him. Hard.”
Vict kissed her again, then pulled back to look at her. “A worthy female.” He told her, then pulled her to one side and looked around the room. He could read the varying degree of emotions on their faces.
“You are all charged with the unlawful detaining of members of the Cyborg Empire. Those that are found to have done more, will face the appropriate judgement.” He gave them a deadly smile. “Like for like people. Secure them for transport.” Vict escorted Mina out the room, as other Cyborgs poured in to take the humans into custody.
“You are well?” He asked her walking back towards the lifts.
“I’m fine. There were no issues. Did you free the Cyborgs here?” She asked needing to know they were ok now.
“Free and heading for treatment.” Mina blew out a breath.
“Good. There are a number of files on the server here that you should get someone to look at. Thousands of files on everything. I downloaded it all. In case it got fried.” She watched him glaze over.
“Pain will deal with it. It’s his speciality.”
Mina walked into the reception area by the lift. It was full of Cyborgs. Some in better condition than others. One she recognised came towards her. He held out his hand, Mina gave him hers. He glazed over, then focused and looked at Vict.
“You take mates? Have families?” The C model asked with such reverence. Vict gave him a nod.
“You put your her in harm’s way for us?” There was anger in his voice. Nearly all the Cyborgs in the area turned towards them. The atmosphere got heavy.
“He didn’t put me in danger. I told him I’m doing it.” She clarified. There was no way Vict was getting blamed for her actions. A large group of the Cyborgs headed in her direction. By their condition, they were the ones kept here. She took a step back and found herself engulfed in Vict’s arms. They all came towards her. Some looked at her strangely, overs glazed over for a second.
“Why would you do that?” The lead guy asked her, C942?
“Because I stand with my man and this is wrong.” She told him honestly.
“Your man?” He sounded and looked confused at her then Vict.
“You own him?” Mina’s mouth dropped open. Seriously had he said that? Mina got annoyed and pulled free of Victs arms, taking a step forward.
All her insecurities came to the fore. “Listen buddy, I might not look good to you but that is disgusting and rude. We don’t own people. Believe it or not, he chose me. Me. And I am dam lucky he did.” Chuckling behind her drew her attention. She looked back at Vict, he was grinning. “And what are you grinning at?” She demanded.
“My beautiful mate telling the Empire how lucky she is to have me.” Mina frowned.
“I didn’t tell the Empire.” She bristled.
Vict tapped his head. “Cybernetics remember, shared neuro net.” Mina rolled her eyes. Bloody hell. Vict grabbed her and kissed her head.
“There is much we have missed.” The C model told them. “You will share this with us?” Mina felt Vict nod. The C model looked at her. “You protected us. We are Cyborg. We w
ill not forget.” He turned back to his men and they all moved back towards the lifts.
Mina watched them go. “Will they be ok?” She asked worried. She felt his lips on her forehead. “They will be.” He whispered.
***
Mina couldn’t believe her eyes. She’d stepped off the ship that had carried them away from the warehouse, onto an even bigger one. A huge ship. The size of a football pitch. She was standing in a massive hanger of some kind. There were similar ships to the one she’d arrived on coming and going. Cyborgs getting on and off. Vict grabbed her hand. “Is this your ship?” She asked incredibly.
He gave her a nod. “This way. We can see what is going on with the other missions.”
Mina jogged along side him. “Don’t you know?” She knew how linked they all were.
“I’ve the updates but it’s good to see the footage too.” Ok, she thought that made sense.
She found herself moving through the ship, taking in a whistle stop tour as Vict narrated what was where. Mina didn’t expect to remember any of it. The lift system suddenly opened out onto large area, with a huge vid screen playing events. Vict indicated a chair and Mina took it. “Report, audio only.”
Mina guessed that was for her benefit. A running report told her what had been happening. She was shocked to hear that they had moved on several buildings including Corporate HQ. Security HQ was now in Cyborg hands. As was the research buildings. Mina watched as they played out the infiltration of each building. Listed casualties which Mina was glad to see were minimal. And the information they’d found, started to flow.
The underground had been right, thought Mina. The rest of her people needed to know the truth. “It needs posting in viral.” She whispered. “They all need to know this.”
Vict turned towards her. “You sure? It will change everything.” She nodded. “Send it.” He told his people.
***
For days, the electronic world was flooded with Corporate information that they lied to the people, supported by the evidence. The people going missing, the murders, the Corporate dealings with the Cyborgs, the manipulations of the public, what the agenda had been, it was all now public knowledge. It was interspliced with the interrogations that had been recorded. The media that had been in the Corporation’s control, was now run by the underground. Kanane was in his element.
Their world had been rocked. Kanane was leading on keeping the public updated. Cyborgs were on the streets keeping the peace. People had genuine voices, most of them shocked at what they were hearing. Some in disbelief. The media news building, had been taken over by people from the underground. They worked with people who passed the interview, Cyborgs could tell when people lied, only those that were clean and believed in the truth, still worked there.
Mina had watched the information clip of a ship landing and several figures stepping off. Justice had arrived to their world in the form of a Protectorate and an Intergalactic Judge. Both were female and mated to a Cyborg Councilman and came with their own forces to keep the peace. As they took over, Mina knew the Cyborgs would withdraw. This was no quick fix. It would take time. Possibly generations to recover.
The Protectorate moved to the microphone and cameras. “Good afternoon. Let me reassure you all. There will be no changes to everyday life for most of you. I have been nominated the Protectorate for this world. I also have with me, the Intergalactic Judge for this sector of space. We are here to investigate crimes on this world. We come with the full authority of Earth Corp and the Intergalactic Court on human rights. There is evidence that those in charge here, have pursued criminal activity for their own gain.
“Sadly, there are many others, that have been happy to support that action or carry it out. I can assure you, we will find the culprits and they will answer for their crimes. However, this is your world, not ours. It is clear that the Corporations have a lot to answer for and in due time, we will be coming to the people for your thoughts on how this world should move forward without them. The Corporations will be ended. They are rotten with greed and injustices. But from the ashes, you will create your own governance, make your own choices and we will be here to support you. Work with us, help us to hold those responsible accountable, and this will be over quickly, and your world can move on.” She nodded to the side and was walked away.
Both women stood tall amongst the Cyborgs and humans protecting them. They oozed confidence. Mina envied them. She felt lost. What was she to do in this new world? Her place of work shut down. Everyone being questioned to find out how much they knew. Luckily, it looked like all the actual information stopped at her boss’s level. Those below him, just did as they were told. They didn’t have knowledge of any illegal stuff. It was a different situation with the security forces. They all seemed to know. That had saddened her, but not surprised her. They were everywhere and into everything. Their files alone had given them a lot of information on who had done what. The information sickened her.
Mina turned off the vid screen. Everything was full of doom and gloom. There had been rumours of people taking their own lives, thinking their world was coming to an end. It wasn’t healthy to keep pushing the negative at people. Picking up her data pad and comm’d Kanane. It took seconds for him to answer.
“Mina, you ok?” She nodded.
“I’m fine. Look, I’ve been going over all the latest stuff on the vid feeds and its all negative. I’m hearing rumours of people giving up hope, taking their lives.” He nodded back at her.
“We are too.” Mina leaned forward.
“Keeping the facts live is important I get that, but can’t we start getting back to what’s normal for us over the vid feeds. Educational promotions, life stories and keep the investigation in a regular short feed, updated four or five times a day. There’s a lot of information that frankly, the people don’t need to know. They need the facts, not the details. It’s doing more harm than good.”
He nodded at her. “I can see that, but we need to keep it real, there’s been too much kept from the people.”
Mina nodded. “Yeah, yeah but now, we’re in danger of going too far the other way. There needs to be a balance. Also, Vict told me that being part of the Cyborg Empire, if we go that way, will open up a lot of horizons for us. Trade, commerce, travel to other worlds, food stock not from hydroponics, grown food, meat and cereals and the option of sharing information and technology with other worlds. It gives us a lot of options Kanane, a lot to consider about our future. The people need to see that, have some hope for change and a better future.”
He nodded back at her. “I’ll put a team on it. Can you get me the feed on these new worlds and what’s on offer?”
“I don’t see why not. Vict offered.”
“Good, I’m going to nominate you as our Cyborg Ambassador.”
Mina sat shocked. “I don’t know anything about being an ‘Ambassador’.
“Yes you do,” he told her. “You have the people as your focus, that’s everything you need and an open mind. It’s a position we are going to need. Let me know when you have the feed.” The screen when blank. Mina sat back on her chair in the rooms she shared with Vict. Had she just got a job?
***
Vict worked with the other Councilmen and Cyborgs to get through the amount of interrogations and forwarded the information to the Protectorate. Both her and the female Judge, came to the more important ones. They had all the evidence from the information gained, from their own systems that proved their guilt. Cross referenced to the warehouse and security, it gave them everything they needed to convict them. The Corporations board was the hardest nut to crack.
They all sat around the Board room. Clearly entrenched in their positions of power believing themselves to be above any law. Both female law enforcers were present.
“We do not recognise your right to interfere in our world and consider this an act of war.” The head of the table told them. Mr CEO.
Vict glanced at both women, they were not cowed by hi
s approach. The Protectorate stepped forward.
“Let me tell you what was an act of War. Unlawfully detaining Cyborgs and experimenting on them. We are not here to listen to your bullshit. You each know what you’ve done. We, know what you’ve each done. We also know what each of your predecessors have done. I can assure you, there is nothing that you have ordered or sanctioned, that we do not know about. This world was created with the resources of Earth Corp. Each of your ancestors, held a position of power within the Corporations of Old Earth and agreed, to abide by the contract set out by Earth Corp on the seeding of this world.
For that agreement, they invested themselves, their families and their technology. Under the terms of that contract, that still exists, your conduct makes your positions here null and void. You are stripped of your rank, this Board is disbanded, your accounts are ceased, and you are to be removed and taken back to Intergalactic Courts of Justice for sentencing. If you wish to make a plea then, you can. Your families may go with you or remain. If they choose to remain, they will never, hold a position of power on this world. Remove them.”
A cyborg pulled each man up out of their chair and dragged them out of the office. There were plenty of arguments and shouting, blame flowed. Vict wondered why humans acted in this way. It wasn’t logical.
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