Metal Deep 2: Something Beautiful Read Free Page A

snapped back.
     
    “Get dressed up in that armor of yours, and go do your thing.”
     
    “First of all, we’re in a public place. Second, it’s the middle of the day. There are rules and laws about that kind of stunt.”
     
    “So?” I didn’t really care about rules. I cared about not being Street Viper experiment fodder. “This is the middle of nowhere Hicksville. People see UFO’s all the time, and when they report something, it’s just assumed they’re crazy.”
     
    “That’s just part of the conspiracy,” She hissed, “Most of the time those people really did see something, and most of the time the offender who was dumb enough to show himself or his tech was severely punished by a collective of powers-that-be.”
     
    “Who are?” I asked, concerning those powers.
     
    “Now is not the time for a social studies lesson.” She turned to pace the back length of the building. “Besides, there are other factors at play. You just don’t understand yet. Magic is not going to be of help to us right now.”
     
    Well that sucked. Then I thought about my own performance that night. I was strong. I had the ability to punch through what Maeve had described as a protection charm Cade used to keep himself safe. I was fast; I was strong. I could handle those few guys.
     
    I balled up my fists, “Then wait here.”
     
    Maeve stepped in front of me to block my way, “Not a chance.”
     
    The sound of motorcycles roared and echoed across the street. It would not take long before the bikers would circle the gas station and find us. There was so little to check in that town. (And I use the word “town” generously.) “We don’t have a choice.” I insisted. I had an idea about what I could do physically, but I needed a test. I found a baseball bat sized steel pipe on the ground, and with a miniscule amount of pressure, I bent it into a curl. “I don’t know how I can do this, but I can. I’m going to get us out of here.” I really should have taken some time to appreciate how cool that was.
     
    “You need more than brawn,” She said, “If you go out there, they will take you, and I can’t let them do that.”
     
    I huffed with a bit of my infamous overemotional disgust. “Yeah, I’d hate for you to miss your precious payday. You’re nothing but some bounty hunter, and all I am to you is the next check in the bank.” I sneered with a little more bite in my voice than I meant to have. I guess I wished she felt about me the way I was feeling about her, but I knew it was just a pipedream. I was just another job to her.
     
    She looked down at the ground. Just like with Dad, I had done it again. “It’s not like that.” She promised with a hint of sadness. She lifted her eyes to meet my accusing gaze. The ache of her stare made her seem desperate for me to believe her. I wanted to, but I couldn’t afford the trust.
     
    “I’m going.” I said, “And if you can’t armor up, then you can’t stop me.”
     
    A wicked grin curled the corner of her pink lips, “You think I’m a one trick unicorn?” She whipped out a device from her back pocket. The thing opened up like a four legged spider and pinned me to the wall. Each leg dug into the brick, and the oval body that connected to the legs unfolded like paper into a long flat piece that crushed me almost to the point of being breathless. I couldn’t move, and all my strength was nothing compared to the power of her device. “You’re not as strong as you think you are.” She pointed up to the sky, “At least not yet.” She patted me on the face. “I’ll tell you more about it later.”
     
    There was no breaking the spider-bot’s hold on me. The harder I struggled the tighter it got. I felt helpless when Maeve left to confront the Street Viper gang who surrounded our car. I felt like I had something valuable to contribute to our liberation efforts, and I should be out there with her. It should have been my choice. I was not going to