Page 16 of Protector

Wonderful.

It takes everything I have to force the next question out. “And at work? Dr. Green?”

“Of course not.” He hesitates for a moment, then says, “Nevertheless, it would be best if you took some leave, Addie.”

I blink. “What?”

“Bluntly, sweetheart, I don’t want you near AX2 or the rest of his class before you’ve gotten a better handle on yourself. Regardless of any… personal issues between you two, he is an extremely valuable asset, and I can’t allow any risk to his current training. Social reprogramming is a delicate process, and the kind of punishment you indulged in could ruin our chances for a positive outcome.”

“Are you serious? This is my project! You wouldn’t have any of these soldiers without me ‘indulging’ in punishment as part of their training. You can’t make me take leave because you disagree with my methods!”

“I can,” he says, and there is more of the general than my loving father in his voice this time. “And I am. Don’t force me to go through official channels to do so.”

I stare at him, mouth open in shock. He wouldn’t. If it became public knowledge that I… thatmy bodyreacted like it did, I’d never be able to face any of my colleagues again.

The steely look in my father’s eyes tells me that yes, he would.

“Leave.”

He dips his head in a nod and steps out of my apartment, brushing his hand over my shoulder as he passes.

I go to close the door, but before I can, he turns on my doorstep and looks back at me. “He rejected a woman.”

“What?” I hiss, fighting the urge to slam the door on his foot.

“We offered them whores. AX2 didn’t indulge. He’s the only one. Perhaps something to ponder, seeing how determined you are that he’s just a machine. Or a dumb animal.” He gives me a small tilt of his lips before he moves off my doorstep and down the stairs.

He’s out on the street before my hands stop shaking long enough that I manage to close my door.

Two days later,while I’m curled up on my sofa watching late-night TV with a pint of pity ice cream, a masked man breaks into my apartment.

SEVEN

AX2

It’s ten days before he sees the other AX models again.

Dr. Green isn’t forthcoming with feedback from the session with the prostitutes, but the lack of punishment lets him assume they are not displeased by his refusal to participate. The beta doesn’t mentionherabsence, either, his sole focus on pricking needles into AX2’s skin and reading test results on the computer.

But on the tenth morning, when Dr. Green enters the lab, he waves two fingers on the hand clutching his usual cup of coffee at AX2. “No need to strip down—we’re skipping the tests today. You’re scheduled for brunch with the others.”

“Brunch?”The concept seems so alien it takes him a moment to connect the word.

“Don’t tell me you have an aversion to scrambled eggs and bacon, as well as willing girls climbing all over you.” The beta rolls his eyes and turns back to the door. “We’re moving on to the next step of your training. After today’s brunch, we will be transferring you into a shared dorm with the other AX soldiers.”

His heart gives an odd lurch. “Permanently?”

“So long as things continue to go smoothly, yes. Come on.” He walks out the door, leaving AX2 to follow.

An unfamiliar lightness spreads through AX2’s chest as the beta’s words sink through the humming in his ears. The others… He will belivingwith them? He won’t be alone in this lab day after day after day if things go smoothly—and by all the stars in the sky, he will ensure they do—if it means he gets to be with his kin.

He only hesitates for a second, letting his eyes move over the familiar room one last time before he follows Dr. Green.

The mess hallis in another part of the compound he’s never seen before. There are several tables and benches set up in the room, and a buffet along the eastern wall. It’s unmanned, but the scents of food hit his nostrils the moment he enters.

There are only four occupants—the other AX soldiers. They all look up when he and Dr. Green enter.

“Oi, would you look at that!” Simon grins, a piece of bacon halfway to his mouth. “Glad you could finally make it, buddy.”

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