C791 (Cyborgs: More Than Machines) (17 page)

He crouched at her side, trying to swallow his rage when she flinched at his touch.

“What do you remember?” he asked softly, pulling her into his arms. She went stiffly at first then melted, flinging her arms around his neck to sob softly.

“He did something to make me remember. And now I can’t forget all the horrible things. They used me, Joe, just like he said. Passed me around like some sexbot with no feelings.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“I know that, but do you know what’s worse?” she sobbed against his chest. “They ordered me to like it. Made me beg for more when they hurt me. Made me cry out in pleasure even as I wanted to sob.”

An icy rage filled his veins while vengeance boiled beneath his skin. “When we get to our home world, I will have Einstein find a way to download your memories to me, and I will hunt each and every one of those men down and kill them.”

She stilled in his arms and peered at him with tear-stained cheeks. “Why?”

He shouted his words, overcome with anger. “What do you mean why? They hurt you. So now they must die!”

“You would go back to earth and risk capture just to give me vengeance?” She pulled back from him and stared at him, her eyes moist pools of pain. “Are you insane? I’m not worth your life.”

“To me you are. I would do anything for you. Anything to take away your pain,” he whispered, reaching out to stroke his thumb over her cheek. “I would kill them all. Every single last one. I would make them scream in agony a thousand times for each time they hurt you. Tell me you want them destroyed and I will build the largest bomb the universe has known and send all humans into oblivion. I would take all your pain if I could, little one, take it that you do not suffer.”

“You don’t know what you’re saying.”

He grabbed her hand and placed it over his heart. “Since my rebirth as a cyborg, I don’t feel much, not even pain. But knowing what was done to you, it tears at me. It hurts, Chloe. It hurts so much.”

*

Chloe could only raise her hand and touch in wonderment at the tears that wet his lashes. “You’re crying for me?”

He caught her hand and kissed the palm. “I love you, little one. I might not understand how to romance you, or convince you of this truth, but I feel it. It is the most uncomfortable sensation and, at the same time, the most glorious.”

“Even knowing I’m far from pure?”

“We’ve both had things done to our body. Seen our lives stolen from us. But we’ve broken free from the slavery the humans would have imposed. Fought back to regain our freedom. Do not let the past drag you down. Do not let them win.”

“But what about my programming? Solus was right, you know. I am a walking time bomb. Just because I managed to snap out of it and kill the general doesn’t mean I won’t betray you again.”

“Then I shall watch you, we all will for the rest of this voyage until we reach home. We have people who can fix what is wrong with you, Chloe. Make it so that you never have to fear someone imposing their will on your own. Will you trust me on this?”

How could she not when every word he spoke resounded with sincerity? When the look in his eyes said he would do anything for her? When the love in his hug and his tone surrounded her and made her feel safe, like she mattered?

She leaned forward and kissed him, a soft thank you that tasted of salty tears. “You don’t have to kill anyone one for me,” she murmured.

“But I don’t mind. It would be my pleasure.”

A watery chuckle escaped her. “I’m sure it would. There is only one thing I truly need though to feel better.”

“Tell what it is and I will give it to you.”

“Love me, Joe. Love me and promise to never let me go.”

“Too easy. I already vowed that.”

She gave him a tremulous smile. “In that case then, perhaps you should show me. I think I need some convincing.” And a part of her did, some reassurance that what she’d learned hadn’t changed how he felt about her. She needed the warmth of his touch to prove to herself what they did hadn’t irreparably damaged her. She needed to feel
alive
. And loved.

As if understanding all the things going through her mind, Joe gave her what she craved. He made love to her. His hands roamed her body, stripping her of her sodden clothing, branding her skin as his own with his electric touch. He overwrote the ugly memories with beautiful ones, claiming her skin as his, reminded her that a man’s touch could be beautiful.

His eyes regarded her with a smoky reverence that caught her gaze and stole her breath. He leaned in to kiss her, a tender embrace that made her eyes tear up. But she’d had enough of crying. She wanted passion. She flung her arms around his neck and held him close, letting her tongue plunder his mouth with a violent eroticism that soon had them both panting.

They still sat on the bathroom floor, not that she cared. He held her cradled on his lap, his throbbing cock rubbing against her backside. She didn’t want to take the time to move. Didn’t want to break the spell. Needed him now.

She lifted her bottom until she could feel the tip of his erection probing at her pussy lips. His hands spanned her waist, aiding her in holding her position, and a good thing too because he’d caught one of her nipples in his mouth. He sucked at it and bit at the nub, sending a jolt of pleasure through her.

Her hands threaded themselves in his hair and held him tight to her as she moaned in response to his caresses. Then she keened loudly as she lowered herself on his thickness, stretching around him and taking him fully into her sex, where he belonged.

She bent her head so that their foreheads touched and their breath mingled. She was content not to move for the moment, just savoring the pulsating feel of him inside her, sensing the pounding of his pulse. Alive, that’s what those things meant to her, alive and in love and wanted.

“I love you,” she whispered.

“As I love you, little one. I will be at your side for eternity, loving you and doing my best to make you happy.”

She knew he would. And she would do the same in return, starting now. She rotated her hips, driving him deeper, shuddering at the low rumble that went through him. Again, she shifted, gasping when he dug his fingers into her fleshy cheeks and arched his own pelvis to grind himself against her, probing at her g-spot.

Again and again, slowly, with languorous tenderness, they moved in rhythm, each stroke, each breath, each convulsive tightening bringing them closer and closer to the edge. With an exhalation of his name, she shattered in his arms, squeezing his rigid cock until she felt an answering molten spurt inside her as he found his own pleasure.

Even when the shaking subsided, they didn’t move apart, meshed together as one in an embrace she wished could last for a lifetime, but of course didn’t.

“Hey, Joe, you’re not answering our wireless messages and…Oh, hello there, Chloe. Nice ass.” Seth whistled at the end of his compliment.

Cheeks flaming, she buried her face in Joe’s shoulder then bit back a laugh as he cursed the cyborg out for not knocking. Then threatened to remove his eyes for looking upon her. Then…

As the threats grew in size and ridiculousness, she smiled. The pain in her psyche wasn’t completely healed. The things she’d suffered at the hands of the human military, while surreal as if they’d happened to someone else, would haunt her for a long while, perhaps always. However, with Joe’s love and support, she would make it. She would move past all her previous life’s human baggage, embrace her cyborg heritage and emerge stronger and happier than before.

And most of all, I’ll love. Even better, I’ll be loved in return…forever.

Epilogue

Joe paced the waiting area, annoyed that Einstein kicked him out of the operating chamber when Chloe needed him most. Actually, when he needed her most. It killed him to know she underwent delicate surgery and reprogramming without him by her side.

From the moment they landed and she beheld the lush beauty of the planet, she’d been possessed of a single unchangeable mind — to have the human programming that made her a puppet removed. He tried to assure her she didn’t need it, that he would take care of her, but she insisted. Her exact words had been, “I don’t ever want those bastards to mess with my mind or actions again.”

When he railed about the danger, she seduced him until he would have given her anything she wanted. In the end, he agreed because one of the very laws he drafted said cyborgs owned the right to make their own decisions, unless they were defective. If thought incapable, then someone qualified could make important decisions for them. Solus, that traitor, wouldn’t help him in this matter, declaring Chloe mentally fit.

So a date was set for her programming. However, because she lacked a wireless transmitter, accessing her BCI for modification required an actual operation where part of her skull was removed. As if that weren’t nerve wracking enough for a previously fearless cyborg, fragile brain tissue needed delicate navigation to allow them access to her neural implant. Due to her still mostly human nature, the odds of a mishap occurring were unreasonably high.

What if something happened? What if Einstein’s knife and soldering iron slipped at a crucial moment and caused irreparable damage? What if she died? What if…

The dread saw him wearing a groove in the floor as fear and nervousness kept him company. But at least, he didn’t pace alone. Solus and Seth kept him company, the former wearing an appropriate glower, while the latter forewent his usual jovial gibberish. A shame because Joe would have liked a reason to hit something.

When Einstein finally emerged, Joe couldn’t stop himself from grabbing the other cyborg and slamming him up against the wall.

“How is she? If you killed her, I’ll—”

“Relax. The female is fine. We managed to reconnect the neural pathways the military snipped when they messed with her mind. They did some strange things in there that don’t make any sense, but I didn’t figure you’d want me messing any more than I had to, so I left it alone and took pictures instead. I did however implant and connect a wireless transmitter that we can use in the future in case she requires upgrading or diagnostics. It is functional, as I used it to download the new software that wiped all existing codes from her processor, leaving her one hundred percent in charge of her own mind.”

“Thank you,” Joe whispered, dropping his friend and brushing his lapels.

“I wish I could have done more. I can’t quite give her the same upgrades we have, but I did manage to correct her programming to the extent that her nanos will increase in number and perform at a higher level than they do currently.”

“As long as she’s okay, that is the only thing of import.”

“Your female is fine and already awake. She is asking to see you. Although why she would choose to remain with an illogical, and an admittedly unintelligent, specimen as yourself is still a mystery.”

“It’s my charm,” Joe riposted as he pushed past his friend to go into the room.

Propped up on pillows, looking tired but alert, Chloe threw him a wan smile. “Joe.” She held out her arms, and he hurried to her side, carefully scooping her against him, mindful that the incision in her scalp still required time to heal.

“Oh Joe,” she whispered, her voice tight with emotion. “It’s horrible.”

“What is, little one? Are you in pain? Do you want me to kill Einstein? I can if you want,” he offered, not entirely joking.

“No, this has nothing to do with me. I’m fine actually.”

“Then why do you cry if not from discomfort?”

“I can handle the pain. Einstein gave me some medication to control it. But, my pain pales in comparison to this.”

What could be worse than her discomfort? “Tell me what ails you and I will destroy it,” he promised.

“There’s nothing to kill.” She leaned back and clutched at his hands, her eyes gazing at him with a frantic light that frightened him. “Joe, he lied.”

“Who lied?”

“The general. He lied, Joe. I’m not the only one.”

Joe digested her startling claim as a gasp came from the doorway. Solus entered, followed by Einstein and Seth. “What are you saying?” his friend asked while Joe stroked the back of her hand with his thumb.

“I’m not the only female cyborg out there. I don’t know what Einstein did, but I remember things from my testing days, memories I didn’t even know were missing. There were thirteen of us in total in the program. Thirteen cyborg women. One died during testing, but eleven women survived with no idea of who they are. Suffering the same abuses I did. We have to help them.”

“Then free them I shall,” Joe promised, anything to wipe the tears he hated to see.

“I’ll come with you.”

Before Joe could tell her in no uncertain terms she wouldn’t, Solus stepped forward. “No, you need to stay here with Joe where it’s safe.”

“Besides, this is a job for single cyborgs,” Seth interjected. A grin burst free. “Time to let another male have a chance at saving a cyborg damsel in distress. Don’t you worry your pretty little shaved head, we’ll get your sisters back, Chloe. Every single one. And we won’t stop searching until they’re all safe.” Seth finished his claim with a serious mien, an expression not often seen on his roguish face.

“We’ll find them,” Solus added, his face and tone equally sober. “And bring them home.”

The End (of this story)

Author Biography

So you want to know a little about me? Well, I'm in my later thirties, married eleven years to a wonderful, supportive man—yes, he's a hunk—who gave me three beautiful, noisy children aged ten, seven, and five. I work as a webmistress and customer service rep from home, and in my spare time—of which there is tragically too little—I write, read, or Wii.

I was born in British Columbia, but being a military brat lived a little bit everywhere—Quebec, New Brunswick, Labrador, Virginia (USA), and finally Ontario. My family and I recently relocated to the Ottawa area to be closer to family and now that we’re here, I’m sure they’ll be putting the ‘For Sale’ sign up on their lawns soon lol.