Protected by the HERO (26 page)

"Thank God," he said, and breathed a sigh of relief as he and Micah sat down at the back of the van. It was only the rear door that could be opened. The back seats were lying flat on the floor of the vehicle, providing enough room for the two of them to sleep.

Micah gave him a weak smile. "We can do this," she said with confidence.

"It's funny, you know…" he started, gazing into her eyes as they sat across from each other. "I'm the one who's supposed to be braver, stronger, and faster. Yet here you are assuring me that everything will be okay. I'm the one who's trained to never feel fear, even in these situations. But when it's family that's involved, it can be unnerving. It's more difficult to control emotions."

"I understand," Micah said. "People think I’m so unfeeling. I myself used to believe that I could no longer feel fear, misery, and all those things. But it's not true. I'm still human. You are too."

"She's my only family left," Drake said. "I can't lose her."

"You won't," Micah promised. "We won't let it happen." She reached out to place a hand on his shoulder.

He smiled and put a hand on top of her hand. Then before she knew it, they were in each other's arms again, kissing, devouring each other’s mouths hungrily. He lifted her shirt up as their lips and tongues swirled and consumed one another. She raised her arms and they broke apart so he could take off her shirt. Her heaving breasts were awaiting him, eager to be set free. He quickly pulled off her sports bra and threw it aside before leaning forward to kiss her breasts, and flicking his tongue playfully across her flesh.

She moaned deeply, digging her fingers into his scalp and gripping his brown locks. She leaned down and grazed her warm, wet tongue softly and slowly against the inside of his ear as he stroked and sucked her nipples. It drove him crazy. He moaned against her skin and sucked harder. Her already taut and aroused body tightened at his moans. Within seconds, they stripped each other of their clothing. The pieces lay scattered around them as they touched each other.

He was sitting with his legs stretched out in front of him when he lifted her to straddle his body. She willingly spread her legs and positioned herself on top of him. Her breasts were still in his mouth and the tip of his erection rubbed the outer lips of her wetness. She slid seductively against him. His cock was hard and long, and she felt it throb and pulse against her… eager to get inside. She wanted him, inside her, now. She moaned and rubbed against him harder. Drake took his time and she let him control the pace.

He squeezed his fingers into her hips and slowly pushed Micah down onto him, as he lifted his hips and she felt him penetrating her in a deliciously erotic pace. She groaned with pleasure as she felt him stretching her He was watching his body enter her body and lifted his gaze to stare deeply into her eyes as he fully entered her. Drake moaned her name breathlessly, “Micah.”  He slid his hands to her bottom, squeezed and pulled her against him tighter. Micah moved herself up and down Drake, getting enfolded in amazing carnal gratification.

Intense heat enveloped their bodies as their mating deepened and consumed them, taking them higher and higher into intense pleasure. He was kissing her everywhere, thrusting into her body deeper and harder. Micah met him thrust for thrust. They were enraptured with one another and frantically moving their hips. “Don’t stop Drake. Don’t stop.” Micah moaned and Drake gasped. “Say my name again Micah.” She squeezed her thighs around Drake as he said her name and she moaned back. “Drake, Drake, Drake.” He thrust into her body deep, dug his fingers into her hips hard and she felt him pulsing inside her. She leaned in and kissed him frantically as her body responded to his pleasure and she shuddered through her orgasm with Drake.

They squeezed their arms around each other. Their heavy, deep breathing slowing down. Sweat dripped off their skin. Drake kissed her softly against her hair. For a few minutes, neither said anything. Then to Micah's astonishment, Drake slid his hand against the back of her neck and pushed her head gently against his shoulder. Micah snuggled in Drake’s arms. She knew then that it was more than just sex for both of them. The act somehow meant much more than physical attraction.

"What do you really dream of, Micah Morgan?" he whispered in the dark.

She was surprised, but she closed her eyes and imagined the vision that she'd always dreamed of. She pictured a world of caring yet real human beings. It wasn't perfect, but at least it was genuine. She pictured herself not having to always run, but instead living a peaceful and happy life with a family of her own. She pictured simple get-togethers with friends who were true to her and to themselves. And in her mind, the government served the people and did not use or hurt them. "I don't want a perfect world, Drake," she answered. "I just want a real world we can live in… a world of true humans with true feelings."

He nodded, seeming to understand what she was saying.

"What about you?" she asked.

"When I was young, I used to dream of becoming the best policeman there ever was, of making a mark in this world and protecting as many people as I could." He replied, his eyes taking on a faraway look. "But now, it all seems out of reach. Everything's messed up."

"You can still achieve all of those things," Micah said pensively. "When the evil leaders of the government are finally replaced, we can all start over."

"Many people don't want to start over," he replied.

"That's because they don't realize what's happening," she said. "We need to snap them back to reality. We need to put a stop to their intake of those drugs."

As the night extended, they discussed more and came up with alternative plans on how they could get into the headquarters and rescue Shelley. That was the top priority. But every time they thought of a plan, they always came up with potential setbacks that could be too dangerous for them and bound to fail.

"You need to turn me in," Micah said, without warning.

Drake's face showed his disagreement, but Micah was quick to insist and prove her point. "It's the best option. Trade me with her so we can at least assure her safety. I can fight better than Shelley. Besides, I have no family to worry about me even if I get killed in the process. Nobody will care. You can just continue the mission by yourself, Drake. I trust you."

"Don't talk that way," he said immediately, his expression a cross between anger and fear.

She met his intense gaze, and for the first time in a very long period, she actually felt that someone cared for her again. He squeezed her hands and embraced her then. There were no words and yet the gesture gave her the message he wished to convey.

"Thank you," she said sincerely. "But I believe it's still the best way to go about it."

"We'll think of something," he said quickly. "Let's talk in the morning."

*****

She pressed herself against the cold, hard steel wall and held her breath as she heard footsteps coming. They were getting nearer and nearer. But she was prepared to fight, no matter what it took. She waited for them to round the corner, her grip on her gun tightening as she anticipated the enemies.

But they didn't come. The sound of the footsteps faded away. They seemed to have turned to another hallway than the one where she was.

Drake was probably looking for her by now or wondering where she had suddenly gone. The two of them had broken into the cyborg police headquarters, dressed in uniform and disguised as part of the team. They had stolen actual IDs of two cyborgs in order to gain access to different areas of the building.

Somewhere in the main lobby, the hidden explosives were ticking away, scheduled to blow up in a couple minutes, to cause a distraction. This way, they would have time and less opponents to face so they could rescue Shelley and possibly look for evidence in the General's office.

Micah was supposed to stick with Drake so they could protect each other. But she had veered away from the plan. She'd managed to slip away from Drake so she could carry out her secret scheme.

Soon she found what she was looking for- the cell where Shelley was being held. It was on one of the top floors; a special cell that was separate from the other chambers for prisoners. She walked up to the two cyborg guards dressed in the same uniform she was wearing.

"Hey, who are you?" one of the cyborgs asked in a puzzled voice. "You're not supposed to be in here. Only the two of us are assigned here."

Micah took off her cap, revealing her blonde hair and recognizable face. "Hi," she greeted them without any trepidation. "My name's Micah Morgan. I believe the entire force has been looking all over the city for me."

The two cyborgs exchanged a confounded look. Then one of them stared at her and she saw the recognition in his eyes. "It's really her." He hissed to his partner.

"I've come to turn myself in," Micah told them calmly. "In exchange for Shelley's freedom, of course. Call the General and tell him of my offer."

One of the cyborgs suddenly lunged at her, but she was quick to evade his advances. She threw off his punch, sidestepped him, and was able to give him a good kick to the shin and then his stomach. He doubled over but did not seem to be in much pain. He was fast to recover, and the other cyborg stopped him before he could attack her again. "Let's call the General," he said.

Micah smiled at both of them, crossed her arms, and waited patiently. The cyborg whom she'd kicked was red in the face and seemed absolutely furious and humiliated. But he could not do anything for the time being.

"He's coming," the other cyborg said, after using his hi-tech radio to contact their superior. "He wants to personally put you in jail."

"I hope he kills you right away." The angry one sneered.

Micah gave a small laugh and simply ignored him. After just a minute, she found herself being looked over by a muscular gray-haired man who looked regal, yet cruel. He had a scowl on his face, which quickly transformed into a leer when he saw her. "Why, hello, Miss Morgan," he drawled on, with feigned friendliness. "I am deeply honored by your presence. I heard of your offer, which certainly made my day."

Micah met his gaze. She didn't back down even when he stepped forward in an intimidating fashion. He stared at her in silence for a few seconds, before finally motioning for the two cyborg guards to release Shelley.

"Micah!" Shelley screamed in relief, when she was taken out of the enclosed cell. But she was still restrained by handcuffs and held tight by the guards.

"Escort her outside," the General commanded them. He flicked open a device in his hand, which showed a screen with the camera footage of the exit area. "I keep my word, Morgan. Watch."

"Where's my brother?" Shelley asked, as she was led down the hall toward the elevators.

Micah did not give a response. She noticed about five cyborgs positioning around her.
Ten, nine, eight…
she counted in her mind.

Somebody pulled her hands forcefully behind her back and placed handcuffs on them. She did not protest even though she had not seen Shelley yet on the video.

"Don't worry," the General assured her, holding up his modern gadget.

After a few more seconds, Micah saw Shelley being forced out of the building through the exit, while she kept on asking where her brother was. The doors were secured when she was finally out.

Five, four, three…
Micah continued to count silently.

At this time, the General had turned toward her with a wide smile. "I'm still wondering whether to keep you alive for a few more days so I could watch you suffer and wither," he said in a vicious tone.

One,
she finished counting.

At that instant, there was a deafening explosion from below them, causing the building to shake and throwing them all off balance. But Micah knew what was about to happen, so she had the upper hand over all of them. She reacted instantly and quickly lifted her leg and kicked the General in the upper thigh and rammed her elbow in his face, hard. She moved away swiftly and efficiently avoided the nearest cyborg who tried to pounce on her.

She ran as fast as she could, her hands bound at her back. She sprinted and then rolled on the floor as bullets and laser beams zoomed past her. She got up at once and aimed for the door to the General's office. She banged hard on the hard door and dropped to the ground. As she was rolling over and pushing herself up again, she saw Drake coming toward her, shooting at the cyborgs who were after her.

When he'd killed them all, he turned to her with ferocity. "What were you thinking?" he shouted angrily.

"Undo my handcuffs," Micah demanded. He quickly melted the metal with a special weapon he was carrying in his jacket.

Micah didn't even wait for him to speak again. She didn't even have time to thank him. As soon as her hands were free, she grabbed the spare laser gun hanging on his belt and pointed it at the door. She was able to drill a hole and reach in to unlock it. They both burst inside and started rummaging through the office.

"I'll guard the door," Drake muttered after a while.

"The General will not come without backup," Micah said.

"I know, but he's probably coming now with some," Drake said. "Even if we were able to distract them temporarily, cyborgs move very fast."