by Piper Stone
I hadn’t slept since the perilous dreams, my head now pounding. Portions of my muscles were weaker than they should be. A distinct chill remained, running all throughout my body to the point that the tips of my fingers were white. I curled and flexed them, trying to gather any concept of warmth. While the building was damp, infused with the kind of cold that might never be abated, I knew my condition had nothing do to with the environment.
My body was failing, human tissue rejecting the synthetic host.
I’d come to terms with the simple fact. The scientists had failed.
My life would cease to exist within days.
“This location is away from the city and I’m certain not on anyone’s radar,” Noire said after a brief hesitation.
I tipped my head in her direction. She seemed so serene after the time we’d spent together, no longer terrified of what I might do to her. What I could detect was a growing sadness, as if she already understood my condition. I’d held her close both nights though the pain had increased steadily. I knew by now she’d been reported missing by her partner. Certainly, various CRON officers had been dispatched, combing the city as well as the surrounding area. Heat generators would be used at some point, easily cutting through the old timber frame, pinpointing a human body. I calculated two more days at best before we were detected. I couldn’t take that chance, and I’d made a radical decision.
At least this morning, the ache had subsided somewhat. “That is part of it. Yes.” There was no real understanding of love within a cyborg. While every emotion that was certainly a portion of my human brain was intact, increasing in magnitude every day, whatever had occurred to this particular human donor had stripped him or her from the ability to love. The brain would be the last to go, allowing me to succumb to the paranoia and debilitating fury.
She inched closer, leaning against the window. “What else?”
Exhaling, I thought about how I would never forget the very first book I’d been allowed to read. “Dr. Wells isn’t the monster you think he is. He seemed to care for me. I was like his child prodigy, one of the first highly functioning cyborgs after the required changes. He delighted in watching me learn. I was given a book regarding this area. It seemed to be one of his favorites, but he had several. There is no way he could pinpoint this location. This used to be a working farm and winery almost two decades ago. I knew of course that the war had likely stripped away everything, but this was the only place that seemed feasible.”
“You felt safe here.”
“Yes. I realize now there is no such thing as safe, certainly not while there is another war being planned.”
She walked closer, touching my arm. “That’s what you have on them. You know the scientists are working with Congress to create another war.” Hissing, she shook her head. “Oh, my God. You were created to become an assassin. Those bastards. I knew it. Dr. Wells is a lying sack of shit.”
“I was never given any direct orders or a full understanding of what I was supposed to do, only bits and pieces.”
“Not by Dr. Wells?” she asked, her face pensive. “Petrov. Right?”
“His orders, yes. He was the reason for the experiments. Quite frankly, I suspect that you and your partner interrupted the last day of experimentation. I don’t believe they were going to give me orders.”
“That would make sense given the way Wells acted after your escape. Then how do you know another war is imminent?” Noire seemed to be studying me intently.
“I am very good at being observant and listening. Dr. Alex Petrov is no friend of the Americas.”
“What do you mean?”
I snickered, thinking about the various lies I’d caught him in. “All you need to do is check his background. There were some issues with his work several years ago. From what I understand, he was ousted from the project. Dr. Wells saved him.”
“Interesting.”
“What is it?” I noticed the anger furrowing on her face.
“My partner found out confidentially that certain cyborgs are being tested for assassinations and I’ll venture a guess that the targets are certain government leaders of other countries. A perfect cover. A security cyborg programmed to kill at the right moment.”
“Which could be one reason I was given inoculations for certain diseases.” I laughed out loud, clenching my fist. There was no adequate way to abate the increasing anger.
“Inoculations? What a minute. When did you get this?”
“Minutes before you brought in the reprobate.” I gazed into her eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“Minutes before you connected with me.”
I thought about what she was saying. “You were never intended to become my obsession.”
“That’s what I’m thinking. I don’t know. Maybe the inoculation had nothing to do with diseases, which would mean you were much more than just an experiment.”
“Or I was nothing more. The final piece. See how I reacted after the serum was injected.”
Noire hissed under her breath, her eyes darting back and forth as she placed her hand on my head. “Fuck. You’re warm. What the fuck did they do to you? Are you feeling all right?”
“I’m fine. We will need to leave here later today.”
“Hold on, Rogue. And go where? There is no place to run to. You know without a doubt they will find us eventually, unless what I heard is true and you deactivated your locator unit.” Noire looked me directly in the eyes. “But if you did that, you would have been forced to cut it out.”
Her level of trust wasn’t one hundred percent. How could it be? I was only a machine. A wave of pain rushed into the front of my head. “If they installed a locater unit, I wasn’t told. I had no time to remove anything before I left and in truth, I wouldn’t risk it. Far too dangerous.”
“That’s exactly what I thought. The good Dr. Wells was right. You’re far too important to their organization. However, I don’t understand why he wanted my partner and me to kill you, especially since whoever you were going to guard was very important on their kill list. Something doesn’t add up.”
“I’m right, Noire. I was simply a final experiment. I believe you were dragged into the middle by accident.”
“Nothing is ever by accident, Rogue. There must be a reason. Listen to me. You’re very good at processing. Help me with this. What time did you leave the facility on the night you escaped?”
I thought about her question. “I know that it was after three.”
“That’s what I thought. Sara was right. Someone else was watching me.” She seemed giddy in her response.
“Sara?” The name meant something.
“She called me on the night you... On the night you brought me here. She mentioned that I was being watched. Now, what about on that night in particular. I swear you were running away from my building. That’s when I got my car and...” Snapping her head in my direction, she laughed bitterly. “That same person must have known that you were there.”
“Did you see them?”
She shook her head. “The silhouette was of a man.”
“Dr. Petrov.”
“Tell me more about what you know about Petrov. I recognize the name, but from where?”
I tried to recall what I’d learned, the majority of information from brief conversations with Dr. Wells. “He was an early pioneer in working with cybernetics, but he was disgraced by a scientist early on. I don’t know the reason why.”
Noire’s lower lip quivered. “My father. That’s why I remember the name. This can’t be a coincidence. My father banned him from the program because of the unscrupulous work he was doing. I remember my dad railing on about him, how uncaring he was. God, I should have looked in my father’s files when I had the chance. Why did Wells let him back in?”
“I don’t know.”
“You must remember something. Whoever was watching my apartment is behind all of this. If I can just get back, I know my partner and I can figure it out. We will protect you.”
“That can’t... happen.” The ache was pointed, voices talking in my mind. No, I couldn’t do what was asked. I refused to.
“Yes, Rogue. You have to trust me. You’re breaking down and there’s little time. I feel it in my gut. I swear on my father’s grave that I won’t allow anything to happen to you. Try to listen to me. I know my vehicle is around here. You brought me here in my vehicle. Please. Let me take you to safety before they find us.”
I gazed into her luminescent eyes, seeing such pained emotion. “I love you, Noire, but I don’t think I can protect you. Leave. Your vehicle is behind the building in a small enclosure.” I backed away, trying to process.
Process.
Think...
Who is Sara? What is...
Kill her...
The direct order could not be denied.
“Then you and I are going together. I will not leave you alone. Do you hear me?” She took a step in my direction.
I threw out my hand. “You must. I will... I will kill you.”
She shook her head several times. “No, you won’t. I know you, Rogue. You aren’t a killer. That’s why your brain has been fighting, because you don’t want to hurt anyone. Come on. Help me. Please, Rogue. Please!”
Her words seemed to echo as vibrations pulsed in my head, the agony becoming unbearable. I took two steps away, almost falling to the ground.
“Rogue. Shit!” Rushing forward, she wrapped her arms around my waist. “Come on. You need to rest.”
“No!” I pushed away from her, almost violent anger creating a series of images, flashes of light that I didn’t understand. Laughter. Blood. Bodies. What the hell...
“Listen to me, Rogue. Something is happening to you. I think your programming is breaking down. You need to lie the fuck down and let me figure out how I can try to help you.”
Her voice was insistent, ringing in my ears. The horrible visions continued, images so violent and enraged that I was unable to think clearly. I backed away from her, finally falling to the ground. No!
“Rogue.” Noire fell by my side, cradling my head in her arms. She placed her hand on my heart. “Your heartbeat is erratic and you’re burning up with a fever.”
There was another rumbling sound, noises I was unable to discern. Then I knew. Heli-planes. The bastards had found us. “You need to... get... out.” The words were difficult to say. My head was spinning, the agony blinding.
Kill her...
“I’m not leaving you.”
“Run. Run, my sweet Noire. Please.” When she pressed her hand against my cheek, I took several deep breaths. I could see the face, so full of rage, but the words were clear.
Kill her...
Noire hissed, scrambling to her feet and trying desperately to drag me away. “We can do this. Where did you put my weapon?”
“No. Don’t.”
“Where did you put my fucking weapon?” she insisted, groaning as she struggled to move me.
I managed to point, no longer able to focus.
“Stay right here. I’m coming back.”
“Noire!” I reached for her, only to crumple over from the anguish. Panting, I managed to turn over, sliding over the hard concrete.
Boom!
The explosion rocked the entire space, bolting jolts of noise into my eardrums. Every sound became shards of glass driving further into my brain. “Noire!”
I tried to decipher the thunderous sounds as I willed my body to react, moving to a crawling position. Voices. I could tell there were dozens of voices.
“There he is!” The booming male voice filtered through the space, echoing and driving the pinpoints even deeper into my brain.
“Get away from him.” Noire’s voice was close but I could no longer see her, my vision fading.
“Officer Noire Richardson, you’re under arrest for harboring a fugitive.”
Noire laughed. “That’s not going to happen. I know what you did to this man and I’m going to expose you, all of you.”
I heard the sound, the single click as a weapon was readied for fire.
Taking several deep breaths, I stumbled to my feet and in the next few seconds, I pummeled my body forward. I could see the officer in my limited vision and there was no way to stop what was about to occur.
The officer raised his gun, pointing it at my beloved and there was no choice but to save her.
Boom!
“No!” Noire screamed, her cry bloodcurdling.
The blast hit me, the charge immediately electrifying every circuit. I managed to twist my head, anger roaring through me as I realized she’d been hit. I had to get to her. Nothing would stop me. “Noire...”
“No! Dear God, please. No!” Wailing, she tried to crawl toward me as the officers swarmed. She held her arm across her chest, her breath ragged.
“Stop him now!” a male voice barked.
“No. No!” Crawling my hand forward, I was able to touch her and the look in her eyes was one I’d never forget.
Love.
“I. Love. You...”
“Hold on, Rogue. Please, hold on.”
Blip!
Chapter Thirteen
Noire
“Jesus effing Christ. They sure as shit did a number on your apartment,” Chris said as he blew out a long breath.
I glanced around at what was left of my things, anger filling my throat with bile. Pictures had been smashed, drawers ripped out and tossed. All my beautiful crystal was in pieces, crushed as if by the weight of a boot. The bastards had destroyed everything I cared about.
Everything.
Including Rogue.
I shivered and folded my arms, glaring at the mess. There would be no tears, only rage. I would hunt the fuckers down who did this. “You don’t have to stay with me, Chris. I’m a big girl.”
“If you think for a second that I’m going to leave you here alone, you’re nuts, partner. Besides, I brought libations.” Grinning, he pulled a bottle of whiskey out of a bag.
“I doubt I have any unbroken glasses.”
“Bastards. Why don’t I take a look? Wait right here.”
I nodded, shivering to my bones. The past week had been horrific. There was a full-blown investigation brewing, but I knew better than to think anything would come of it. When Chris walked into the kitchen, I moved toward the bedroom, stopping in the hallway to stare at the wall. A wave of intense emotions washed over me, and I touched the surface, fingering the area as I remembered the first time Rogue had taken me. Everything seemed like a dream. Tears slipped past my lashes and I rubbed them away forcefully, angry with myself for bothering to break down.
My emotions and desires weren’t going to change what had happened. The slight ache in my shoulder was a reminder of what had occurred in that abandoned building. I would never forget Rogue’s agonizing scream as he jumped in front of me, taking the stream of fire, his body falling against mine. The shattering of his muscles and tissue had left me numb. The ray had pierced his hull, moving into my arm. At least I would recover eventually, but not in spirit or in heart. The cyborg had died trying to protect me.
Just as he’d promised to do.
Shuddering, I willed myself to walk into the bedroom. The same disarray greeted me, the entire room tossed by the careless asshole government official who’d determined that I was to blame for Rogue’s escape. I touched the remnants of the bed, my fingers dancing over the sheet as I remembered all the passion as well as the heated discipline. I would never be able to explain how I’d gotten so close to him. Quite frankly, my near addiction to him just wasn’t something humans would ever understand.
They were only machines after all.
Walking toward the window, I leaned my head against the glass. Nothing made sense any longer, not the way he’d been treated or the answers I’d received. Even the captain was on my side, trying fervently to exonerate me completely from the myriad accusations. I didn’t give a shit. I was never going back to CRON. Never.
�
�I managed to find two unbroken glasses. Go figure.”
I was able to see Chris’ reflection in the glass. He stopped just inside the doorway, his expression full of anger.
“That’s something anyway.”
He advanced, although taking slow and cautious steps. After he flanked my side and handed me a glass, he frowned. “I know it’s going to take some time to get over this, but at least the authorities are looking into Dr. Wells and Dr. Petrov. I’ve heard both are going to be terminated from the project.”
“That doesn’t make any of this right. I think it’s all about Petrov, but I bet I’ll never be able to prove it, the fucker.” The glass felt so heavy in my hand. I brought the rim to my lips, taking a gulp. The burn was just what I needed, a reminder that I was human.
“Whoa. Who said anything about you proving guilt? You can’t. You heard the captain. You’re lucky you’re still involved with CRON.”
“As if I give a fuck,” I snapped, shaking my head as soon as I did. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to take this out on you.”
“I get it,” he said, staring into his drink. “I’m just worried about you. At least you know you’re a free woman.”
Free. I couldn’t help but remember what Rogue had said about free. No human would ever be, not in the system that existed today. “Whatever.”
A tension remained between us.
“I heard Wells is cooperating with the various federal agencies. There could be implications and even arrests regarding several Congress members. That should make you happy.”
“I’m glad about that, but it doesn’t change everything that happened. They didn’t have to kill Rogue.”
“You really cared for him,” he said quietly.
I nodded, trying to keep from crying.
“I’m sorry, partner. The Federal officers were under orders.”