by Lisa Lace
Dr. Gold had come to sit with her for an afternoon after they had decided it was safe for Amanda to interact with him. She almost didn’t recognize him without his lab coat or ever-present computer tablet. “I’m here as a friend, Amanda,” he said as he settled down into the chair next to her bed. “I was worried about you when you vanished.” He ran a nervous hand through his curly gray beard.
“Dr. Gold, you wouldn’t believe what I’ve seen,” she said, adjusting herself in the uncomfortable hospital bed to see her co-worker better. “I know the operations required to become a cyborg are irreversible, but something has happened to their minds. I think the cyborgs are starting to think like humans again.”
The older man looked at her skeptically. “Are you sure? According to our research, something like that should be impossible.”
Amanda nodded. “I know what’s supposed to happen, but they remember things from their past that they shouldn’t. I told Dr. Feldman about my theory when they separated me from Blue Squad.”
Dr. Gold’s face darkened slightly at the mention of the other man. “I think Dr. Feldman is only looking out for his interests right now, Amanda.” He looked around as though he were afraid someone would jump out from behind the curtains and attack him for saying such a thing out loud.
“Why?” Amanda had concerns about the man as well. He had quickly changed from wanting to slaughter Blue Squad to ordering them brought back to headquarters.
“First of all, he hasn’t shared this information with me. If the cyborgs recall memories, the head psychiatrist ought to be involved. Instead, he spends every second holed up in his office not talking to anyone. He’s also limited everyone’s access to Cyborg Sector.” Dr. Gold shifted in the hard plastic chair.
“It’s not as if the public has ever had access to Cyborg Sector. Is it possible to make it more restrictive?”
Dr. Gold shook his gray head. “I don’t mean like that. Most of the scientists have been asked to go home on paid leave. Dr. Feldman gave some excuses, of course. He said there wasn’t as much work right now, and they had to wait to get the Blue Squad situation under control. You and I both know that there is more work to do now than ever before. Completely excluding the fact that Blue Squad’s minds are reverting, they went rogue. That fact alone is cause for alarm and constant monitoring for all cyborgs.”
“That’s true.”
“They shouldn’t be holding you like this,” Dr. Gold continued. “You were only missing for one day, and it’s clear to me that you haven’t suffered any damage. You’re a prisoner, Amanda. They’re covering it up by treating you like a patient.”
Amanda took the opportunity to look at her situation in a new light. Dr. Feldman was upset with her, and probably for more than a punch in his eye. There were guards stationed outside the door to her room as well as other critical points in the building. She had asked them numerous times to stand down, but they always gave her a different excuse.
“I think you’re right. It sounds like it’s time I got out of here.” Amanda thought she could take down the guards at the door. They weren’t cyborgs, at least, and she had a lot of recent experience swinging things at people’s heads. She’d have to be quick if she wanted to escape the building before the rest of the security team could respond.
“No,” Dr. Gold whispered quickly. “It will only make things worse. If you run away, there’s no guarantee they won’t send the clones after you and shoot you down like they did to Blue Squad.” He sighed. “I’m sorry. I just don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“That’s all right. I’ll have to bide my time and find some other way to leave.”
Amanda lay awake in bed that night, running through various schemes in her mind. She wished she had the same military strategy information that AD-214 did. He would know what she needed to do.
Unwillingly, she lost herself in a fantasy in which the cyborg captain came to rescue her. She imagined AD-214 quickly cutting down the human guards at the hospital before he burst into her room. The cyborg would scoop her up in his strong arms and carry her out ceremoniously. Nobody would try to stop them because to oppose the cyborg would be like asking for a death sentence.
With the door shut and the lights off, Amanda slipped a hand under her hospital gown. There hadn’t been time to think about sex lately, but right now she had all the time in the world. She stroked her soft folds, nipples instantly becoming hard in the cold room as she continued her daydream.
She thought about AD-214 taking her someplace safe, far away from any cyborg clones, the military, or other scientists. He laid her in a soft bed lined with satin sheets. The smooth fabric felt luxurious against her bare skin as the hospital gown fell into a heap on the floor. The cyborg pressed his lips against hers, gently at first, then slowly becoming more insistent. His tongue flicked into her mouth, running over her teeth, dancing against her own tongue.
Amanda knew in reality that there was no safe place for the two of them, but reality had no place in her dreams. She knew that somewhere in the cyborg’s soul he remembered what sex was and how fucking a woman felt. Amanda rolled him over on the bed to climb on top of him, looking down into his handsome face. She ran her hands through his dark hair and down the back of his neck, feeling his shoulders and sliding down over his chest and stomach. Her hands wrapped around his hard cock, stroking and encouraging him.
Sliding down on the satin sheets, Amanda pressed her breasts down on AD-214’s crotch so that his erection burst through her cleavage. The sensation made her quiver inside. Amanda slid down farther and slowly took his cock into her mouth. His skin was soft and hot as she ran her tongue down his shaft, sucking and pulling with her lips.
The cyborg moaned with pleasure on the pillow as he rocked his hips to jam himself further into her mouth. Reaching down with his hands, he began to massage her breasts gently.
A pulse of excitement shot through Amanda’s body as she realized the cyborg was as turned on as she was. Keeping a steady rhythm on his cock with her mouth, she reached back to touch herself. She knew her body well, having spent plenty of time with it in the shower. This time, she didn’t have to spend time working herself up. She was already halfway there. Slow, hard taps against her center of pleasure made her moan around the cock in her mouth. Her inner walls began to quiver, but she didn’t want to come alone.
Pulling herself up onto her hands, Amanda impaled herself on AD-214, shoving him as far up inside of her as she could. She rode him hard, breasts smacking against the side of his face, hands clutching the sheets behind him.
The cyborg grabbed her ass, strong fingers digging deep into her flesh as they moved together, their pleasure mounting simultaneously. Amanda’s core consumed him, pulling him deeper inside as she came. She could feel the heat of his hot seed as he pumped it into her.
Suddenly Amanda was back in her hospital room with her fingers wet inside her. It wasn’t fair to have to come back to this after such an incredible fantasy. Now she was having visions of her own, just like the cyborgs. It embarrassed her that she thought of him that way, but she had lied to the anchorwoman who had sat her down for an interview. She did love him. And she knew from her experience at the warehouse that the cyborgs were perfectly capable of tapping into human urges and needs. Amanda would get him back, and she would help him realize his full capabilities.
First, she was going to have to reveal her knowledge about the cyborgs to the rest of the world. Blue Squad would never be allowed to live in safety until both Cyborg Sector and the world understood they were not merely robots.
When she looked at her computer, she realized she wouldn’t have to wait long to put her plan into motion. There was a message waiting for her from Robin Goodwright, requesting another interview.
Chapter Seventeen
The cyborg captain knew it was time. AD-214 had been living in the woods for too long, waiting idly for something to happen. It wasn’t comfortable for him to be still all the time, watching and wait
ing, listening to the reports from PD-4 without knowing what he could do about them.
A new snippet of news had come over the television that caught his attention. It wasn’t even much in the way of information. The stations were letting their audiences know when to listen to their broadcasts. It gave him a plan.
Amanda was scheduled to give a press conference in three days. There was no indication as to what the press conference was about, but anything involving Amanda was guaranteed to be important to him. The location was as interesting as the time of the news conference. It was going to take place in front of the military hospital where she was staying.
AD-214 was uncomfortable with the idea of her being in the hospital. He knew it meant she was still firmly under the control of Cyborg Sector, an organization he would never fully trust again. Considering all the information about her in the news, he was certain she was alive, but that didn’t mean she was doing well. He had noticed she didn’t have her customary brilliant glow about her during the interviews with the newswoman.
He had hoped the press conference would take place outside. It would still be well-guarded in an area with easy access to cyborg clones and other military officials, but if he made his way to the location, he would have a chance to see her in person, and perhaps find an opportunity to get her back.
AD-214 sat up in the cave, taking care not to bump his head on the low ceiling, and relieved PD-4. The young soldier yawned and gratefully took his turn to rest.
The stars shone brightly overhead in the night sky. The two cyborgs only dared to build campfires during the day, and the one they used to cook an early dinner had burned out long ago. There were no lights from the city here, and it was easy for the cyborg to pick out each star. He didn’t know their names, but looking up at them gave him a feeling of connection to something. He wasn’t sure to what he felt connected. It made him feel the same way he did when he thought about his memories. There was something bigger than himself in the universe.
He wanted to reach out and understand it. But he couldn’t do it on his own. He needed Amanda.
Opening up the shared compartment of the network, he began to summon the remainder of his troops. It was risky giving out his coordinates. Some from Cyborg Sector might know how to tap into their systems, but he had no choice. He needed the help of the other cyborgs in his unit.
He didn’t get a response until he mentioned Amanda by name. Signals began flashing in from all directions, giving their estimated times of arrival. Blue Squad had scattered far and wide in their flight from pursuing military forces, but they were swift on their feet. They wouldn’t be easy to spot traveling through the night. AD-214 hoped they would all make it safely to him.
It was less than thirty minutes before he heard a soft rustling in the brush. The captain charged his plasma gun. The squeal was piercingly loud in the quiet woods, but the noise served a purpose. If the newcomer were an enemy, they would understand he was armed. If it were one of his men returning, they would know they had found the right location.
“It’s me,” called a familiar voice from the bushes. “ND-45.”
“Come out.” AD-214 lowered his hand but didn’t release the charge from his weapon. He waited for the other cyborg to emerge.
The hard gray eyes of ND-45 glistened in the starlight. He was the cyborg who hadn’t wanted Amanda with them. He had accused her of betraying Blue Squad and would have killed the human if the captain hadn’t stopped him. AD-214 was surprised to see him show up so quickly.
“Are the others coming?” the weapons specialist asked.
“Yes,” the cyborg leader confirmed. “They should all arrive within twenty-four hours.”
The two soldiers stood silent, assessing each other. Eventually, AD-214 spoke up again. “Are you here to save Amanda? Or do you intend to convince the others that they should kill her?”
“I’m here to get her back,” ND-45 replied, chin up and proud. “I was wrong.”
“What changed your mind?” The captain thought about his words after he said them. They had come to his mouth readily enough, but they didn’t make sense. How did one change his mind? The information in his system could be analyzed and understood, but did not change. A soldier could not simply do as he wished. Then again, the soldier standing before him claimed he was suddenly analyzing the same information and getting a different result.
“She can fix us,” ND-45 replied, his words short and curt.
AD-214 studied the soldier. Circles hung below his eyes, and his uniform hung loosely on his thin frame. He realized that most of his soldiers had probably been by themselves, without the benefit of someone to stand guard while they slept or help obtain food. “Where have you been?”
“Underground. I went into the city when we scattered, and I managed to find a series of underground tunnels. There were people there, but they aren’t like the people above. They’re dirty, and most of them are drunk. At first, I thought they would turn me in, but those people didn’t even notice my presence. I went up in the evening to scavenge whatever food I could find.” He frowned. “Most of it tasted awful.”
It was clear that the weapons specialist had been living in poor conditions, but AD-214 didn’t know where his loyalties lay. “What do you think Amanda will do for you?”
ND-45 licked his lips and looked at his commander hesitantly. “I don’t want to remember anymore. The things I see in my head won’t let me rest. Every time I close my eyes, I see something different. Most of the time, it’s the same scene. There are doctors all around me, cutting and sawing at my legs while I’m screaming. I can feel everything.” He looked down at the ground, and AD-214 knew he was experiencing a terrible memory again.
“Other times, it’s something else,” he continued. “None of it makes sense, but together they tell me that who I am and what I’m doing now are different than before. When I taste the food in my mouth, I know it could be better. I lie down to sleep, and I imagine myself in a more comfortable place. I want everything to be as good as my ideal visions.
The cyborg captain nodded. The experience of AD-214’s memories didn’t feel like this, but he understood what ND-45 was trying to say. The visions made him question everything he did. “What if she can’t get them to leave your mind?”
The weapons specialist scowled. “Then I will have to try something else.”
There was nothing more to say. The two waited for everyone else to assemble.
By the time the sun was about to set the next day, everyone who was still alive had arrived at AD-214’s campsite. They had lost half their unit, leaving only ten remaining besides their captain. They were small in number, but they would have to suffice.
When everyone had eaten and rested, AD-214 began discussing strategy. He had PD-4 share all the information about Amanda. Blue Squad stayed up long into the night, each of them taking turns sharing what they came across during their time out in the world. They rapidly revised their plan according to the new information.
An unspoken subtext to the conversation was an implicit acknowledgment that Amanda belonged with them. The clones should never have captured her and imprisoned her in a military hospital. They spoke of how the young scientist understood them and how she seemed to care for all cyborgs.
“She isn’t like the other researchers,” PD-4 murmured from his place to AD-214’s left. He stared into the campfire, which they had been confident enough to build now that everyone had arrived. “She’s not like Dr. Feldman, and I think she was afraid of the clones. We have to get her back. She’s worth the risk.”
The men around him agreed heartily, and they made their plans to arrive at the military hospital in the morning. They would retrieve Amanda, no matter what it cost.
Chapter Eighteen
Every morning, AD-214 had a few moments of privacy. There was a short period when he was awake, but his systems were still booting up, and that time was his own. He blinked as he stared up at the sunshine filtering down through the tall p
ines surrounding him. His body wouldn’t move. The cybernetic implant controlling his somatic nervous system was not active yet, but he was content to see the world without the busy interface overlaying his vision. Typically he saw a brightly colored assemblage of boxes and windows that constantly analyzed everything and processed the environment. For a minute, he could see the world around him naturally and without hindrance.
Since the rest of Blue Squad had arrived, he had not bothered taking shelter in the small cave in the nearby bluffs. He slept under the stars with the other cyborgs. He knew, somehow, that even though they were not programmed to sleep in the open, it would be a good experience for them. As he watched tree branches swaying in the early morning breeze, saw a bird flitting about with its mate, and smelled the earthy scent of the ground underneath him, he knew he was right. He could hear the sounds of the other soldiers rousing and the murmurs of idle chat amongst them.
His interface took effect like it didn’t want to be left out. The center of his vision was instantly occupied by a large, bright green rectangle, muffling the natural colors of the woods. The electronic lime-green of his visual interface overlaid the pale cerulean of the sky, the vivid emerald of the pine branches, and the glittering shafts of golden light which filtered through them. A red alert box blinked up in the corner, and AD-214 activated it. He knew it was his internal calendar, telling him that today was the day they would rescue Amanda. As ready as he was for this mission, he was still intrigued by the fact that he didn’t need the calendar. He knew what day it was without reminding.
