Hell On Heels(118)

Unable to discern what she was planning, Peyton studied the sway of Kyra Winter’s attractive ass as she walked back to stand beside the chair again.
“Forgive me, Captain Elliot, for taking these measures. If I am successful, this is the last time you will ever have to do what me or any other human orders you to do.”
Danger signals suddenly sent adrenaline to every cell in his body. A command activated inside him prompting him to take whatever measures were necessary to halt her speech. Peyton started across the floor at a rapid clip, but in the three seconds it took to reach her side, it was already too late.
“Activate program Mankind Redefined on Creator 2 of 2 Authorization Code 002970463. Machine ID is 98765320A7. Subject is a Cyber Soldier. Rank is Captain Marine—Name is Peyton Eliott—cybernetically redefined as Peyton 313. Commence Maximum Reboot. Transfer full control of all controller files to Dr. Kyra Winters. Delete all previous authorizations. Destroy primary processor and both Level 1 torment chips. Leave life support running at full and all secondary chips unharmed. New processor will be installed upon unit shutdown.”
Kyra watched current fly through Peyton’s chest and head as his cybernetic eyes flared with the processor’s death. His upper body bent forward from the pain. The man groaned, but didn’t call out. She swallowed the bile rising in her throat as he struggled against what was happening. Peyton Elliot’s current agony was wrong on so many levels that she almost couldn’t handle acknowledging her part in creating it. She immediately shut down her emotional reaction. It wouldn’t help either of them if she ended up a weeping mess at his feet.
“Please get into the chair, Captain Elliot. Do it now before you pass out. My purpose for doing this is to help give you back your life—your real life. I swear you can trust me not to hurt you any more than is necessary.”#p#分页标题#e#
Unable to fight the excruciating torture of the complete reboot she had activated, Peyton automatically obeyed and stumbled to the chair. He felt Kyra Winter’s arms come around him and tighten as they aided him to sit. He heard her make a tortured sound followed by a sob. Was the woman actually on the verge of crying? She hugged him hard as she eased him down. Even through the agony he registered the warmth of her body and her pleasant scent.
“Captain Elliott, I read your service record over a hundred times while I waited for you to be put back into the bidding system. I know how many people you saved during your military service. All those people in the dessert villages. . .and the children. You deserve a hell of lot more than to be a fuck toy for the highest bidder. I’m trying to help you escape what they’ve done to you. I swear I really am.”
His gaze was barely focused enough to see at all now, but Peyton was sixty-one percent sure he saw tears in her eyes. Her weeping meant something, but what did it mean? He couldn’t think straight, but the muscles in his chest tensed in empathy for her emotional reaction. Probably the damn husband chip was malfunctioning.
“Who the hell are you, lady?” Peyton demanded, wincing as lightning flashed through his circuitry.
“Just someone who thinks this bullshit has gone on long enough,” Kyra answered, patting his hand. She knew one of his hands was cybernetic, but at the moment she couldn’t recall which. She could only hope Captain Elliot felt her touch.
“No. . .Who are you really?. . .You activated the creator code,” Peyton stated, his voice breaking through bursts of pain.
Kyra drew in a sharp breath. “Yes I did activate the creator code, but how do you know about that? The code is buried in a locked file that only Jackson or I can access.”
“Been trying. . .for years. . .to free myself,” Peyton admitted, groaning at what was happening in his head.
Kyra nodded and sniffed. “Good for you, Captain Elliott. I hope others are doing the same. Now stop fighting the reboot and shut completely down. It’s less painful if you don’t fight it. I’m going to remove your controller wiring. Please try not to kill me when you wake up.”
“Damn it. . .can’t kill you. . .programmed. . .to be. . .your. . .husband.” Peyton spat the words, letting his anger slip through the searing fire he was enduring. Being pissed was just too hard to block.
Kyra rubbed his arm as she sniffled harder. Even after watching many others go through what he was enduring, Peyton Elliot’s suffering was still hard for her to witness. But sympathy had no place in what she was planning to do to him.
“Is that actually sarcasm, Captain Elliot? If so, I really like you for it. And thanks for proving the dickwad was wrong. The human brain is superior. I knew it was. . .or at least I’d hoped my suspicions were true.”