The depot appeared to be deserted as well, and he began a rapid search for suitable equipment. Serena kept close to his side but once again she allowed him to take the lead. Fortunately, everything was neatly labeled and he found the row of travel supplies easily enough. He had just pulled down a small portable habitat when he heard the unmistakable sound of a gun being cocked.
“You just put that back where you found it and keep your hands in the air. Step away from him, missy. I’m not going to let him hurt you.”
J-100 whirled in the direction of the voice, placing himself between Serena and the weapon. A weapon held by a withered old man with a heavily bruised face but one who held the gun with utter certainty.
“This might not kill you, but it will sure as hell slow you down. You let her go now.”
Before he could stop her, Serena peeked her head around his arm. “It’s all right, Cyrus. I’m here of my own free will.”
“Ms. Serena? Well, I’ll be damned.” The old man’s eyes traveled over Serena’s coveralls as she tried to step forward. J-100 immediately tugged her back against his side, and those sharp old eyes hardened. “I said let her go.”
“Really, it’s all right.” Serena patted his hand. “I know neither one of you is going to hurt me so stop acting like two old roosters.”
He glared at the older man, but he couldn’t deny that he only seemed interested in Serena’s wellbeing. With a grunt, he released her arm. Cyrus was not as quick to lower his weapon but when J-100 started to tense again, the older man sighed and finally let the gun drop.
“What are the two of you doing here?”
“You know the hybrids tried to take over the city?” she asked.
Cyrus nodded and briefly rubbed his bruised jaw. “Yeah. But I thought the Judge and that boy were gonna take care of it.”
“You helped them? Thank you,” she said sincerely with a soft smile at Cyrus. J-100 bit back his instinctive protest at her softness towards another man. “Fortunately, John had already arrived to save the day.”
“Reckon so.”
“Other cyborgs have come to help out as well and the city is now safe, but I have something I need to take care of and John has agreed to be my bodyguard.”
Cyrus snorted. “I’ll bet he has.”
She ignored the comment. “We’re not traveling by rover so I—we—need some camping supplies.”
Those sharp eyes fastened on J-100, and he was quite sure that the old man knew he was a cyborg, but Cyrus didn’t comment. He only shook his head and looked at the habitat J-100 had chosen.
“That’ll do. But you need a few more things. Follow me and I’ll get you fixed up.”
A short time later, they were preparing to leave the supply depot, equipped with a lot more than J-100 would have thought to gather. He found himself unexpectedly grateful that the older man had appeared—he had gotten too used to living like a cyborg and had forgotten some human necessities. If Cyrus had harbored any doubts about J-100 being a cyborg, the weight of the equipment he was now carrying would undoubtedly have eliminated them. But even though Serena had offered to help, he wasn’t about to let her carry any of it.
“There’s one more thing,” he said slowly. “One of the rangers was ambushed by a hybrid. I wasn’t in time to prevent him from killing the rangers, but I avenged him. I brought the ranger back to the city but he’s still outside. Could you… take care of him?”
“Those bastards,” Cyrus spat. “Of course I will. Where is he?”
“There’s a back entrance—”
“The one the government created?” His surprise must have been obvious because the old man cackled. “I know everything that goes on in New Arcadia, boy. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he’s brought home.”
“Thank you.”
“And Cyrus, if anyone should come looking for us—” Serena began.
“Never seen you,” he said immediately. “No one else’s business.”
“Thank you.” Before he could stop her, she leaned over and planted a kiss on Cyrus’s weathered cheek. The old man immediately turned bright red, hastily clearing his throat before scowling at J-100.
“You take care of her, here?”
“With my life,” he vowed.
Cyrus’s scowl eased as he gave an abrupt nod. “Good.”
The old man disappeared back amongst the stacks of supplies before he could respond. He turned to Serena. “Are you ready?”
“Yes. Although I assure you I’m quite capable of carrying some of the supplies.”
“But then I wouldn’t be able to impress you with my strength.”
She shook her head, but she was smiling and didn’t make any additional protests.
The trip back to the concealed tunnel proved easier than he had expected. There was an increasing amount of activity in the streets, but it seemed to be focused around the hybrids and the cyborg rangers who had come to the rescue of the town. No one paid any attention to them as they slipped along the canyon wall.
Serena gave an audible gasp behind her breathing mask when they merged into the shelter of the rocks and found Winston waiting for them.
“Oh, he’s beautiful. I always wanted to ride—” she stopped abruptly.
“Why didn’t you?”
“The horses were designed for the rangers. I’m not sure that he will even accept me.”
He briefly wondered the same thing. Winston was still standing at the opposite end of the small canyon gap, eyeing them both.
“I’m sure it will be fine,” he said, reassuring himself as much as he was reassuring her. “Let me remove the body.”
Approaching Winston, he spoke quietly. “Thank you for carrying him back. We need to leave him here, but I promise someone is coming for him.”
Once again, those big eyes seemed to study him before Winston lowered
