Beginnings Have An End
Chapter Seven: Choose A Side
I mean it, review, don't be stupid, and if you ever ever lie to me ...... well never mind. Review.
Looking back on it, Six realized that 29's death may have been the cause of all that followed. The unruliness, the disobedience, and the accident which - well, never mind that yet.
She'd refused to be called Six. Woe betide anyone who dare call her that pet name. Woe betide anyone who tried to talk her into forgiving her mother. And heaven forbid you should mention her father. If you had to talk to her, you called her Cybersix once, to get her attention, and you didn't waste time with pleasantries. Get to the point or shut up.
Cyber 10 was the only sibling who could hold her attention for very long, and he also suffered the most bloody noses, due to a slip of the tongue. However, deep inside, Cybersix did know that he cared about her, and felt bad about 29. Besides, reasoned her twelve-year-old mind, I owe him for sharing his sustenance with me.
Furiously, Cybersix kicked a pop can into the bushes. She hadn't trusted her mother again, not since the day she'd been punished for her brother's death. And Von Reichter...she purposely let her training slide. Whatever he was doing, she didn't want to be a part of it. He might have created her, but he wasn't her father. He just COULDN'T be. And she wouldn't let him.
All Cybers report to the medical lab, all Cybers report to the medical lab.
She sniffed condescendingly and threw a rock at the speaker. Bite me, she said, and took her time getting to the clean, white room.
Inside, her siblings avoided her eyes, and the aids in the lab gave her cold looks. She stuck out her tongue at them and stepped into her place in line.
Eva sighed and opened her mouth to speak.
What is it this time, is Daddy still angry at us?
Eva gave Cybersix a confused look.
I bet he is. He's always comparing us to charts of Cybers we've never heard of. From France, and Russia, and Germany-oh yes, the PRECIOUS Cybers in Germany.
Don't call me that. Cybersix glared at her mother.
Please, love, if you understood, you wouldn't-
I bet I would. Look, she said, turning to her brothers and sisters, all this time we've been pushing ourselves to be better than the rest. I bet more than half of you fainted. We thought we'd been doing good, right? Well, LOOK! Cybersix angrily snatched several papers from a table and threw them at the Cybers. THESE are what we've been compared to! Cyber 1000 ran faster than Ten or me! Cyber 2384 swam faster than Twenty Nine ever did! Cybersix swallowed the lump in her throat. We're not SPECIAL, she declared, We're just being USED.
Nice speech, snapped one of the aides, grabbing her arms. Come on, get out of here.
Cybersix responded by elbowing the woman in the gut, breaking free, and pushing her to the floor. We're supposed to be Daddy's favorites? Look how they've treated us.
The aides were now swarming around her, preventing her from getting further. The Cybers were quietly talking amongst themselves, most of them nodding.
She's right! yelled Ten. And we KNOW she's right.
Cyber 45, for the first time in his life, spoke his mind. But Mama...we can't forget Mama...She loves us. Don't you?
Eva spread her hands, glancing pleadingly at Cybersix, who responded with a sharp glare.
Cyber Four shook her head. This is ridiculous. We all love Mama. But she hurt Cybersix. She didn't stand up to Father. We can't listen to Father anymore. He certainly doesn't love us.
And SHE'S just following orders! shouted one of the younger Cybers, pointing at Eva.
Cybersix sighed, tired from her outburst. I think we have to choose a side.
Eva moaned softly. Get them out of here, she said through her hands. Get them out of here, let them talk. They deserve it.
Cybersix jerked herself away from the aides and backed into the protection of her siblings, who finally accepted her completely. The 50 Cybers of South America shot apologetic and nervous looks at Eva, but all filed out of the room. They knew Cybersix was right. Something had to be done, a side had to be chosen... or else their Father...
He doesn't love you, you know, Cybersix blurted out, looking at her mother, tears running down her face. She was the last in the room. And he doesn't love us either. Does he?
She turned and ran from the medical lab.