«Serena!» he almost let himself punch the lid, but froze, when he heard someone aiming a gun at his back.
«Step away from her, you metal freak!» Lindon’s voice sounded.
Hunter slowly raised his hands and cautiously turned to his friend.
«Lindon… what the…» the man looked at the barrel, aiming at him. «Put that down… What happened to Serena?»
«You happened.» Lindon grimaced, hatred written all over his face. «You almost killed her.»
Hunter fell silent, shocked to hear these words, but then looked at Serena and tried hard to remember what exactly happened when he last saw her.
«I don’t…» the man shook his head. «What?»
«Oh, so you don’t remember? First you almost killed her in the fight club, then you almost killed her two days ago.» Lindon’s gun flinched to the side. «Step aside.»
«Lindon…»
«Don’t!» the Veluthian bared his teeth. «Just get away from her!»
Hunter saw Wolfin stepping up from behind Lindon:
«Wolfin…»
The Veluthian passed Lindon, holding a blade, and lowered his stance, obviously getting ready for a fight.
«Guys…» Hunter didn’t know what to do, seeing his friends being so hostile towards him.
«Shut up!» Lindon growled. «Step aside. Get on your knees, hands behind your head.»
Hunter understood that whatever he says – they will not listen. He slowly took a step to the side, kneeled and clasped his hands behind his head, feeling desperate and confused.
«If I may…» Lyssa’s voice sounded. «His control chip has been deactivated and removed. If my calculations are correct, he is back to his usual self.»
«What did I do?» Hunter raised his eyes to Serena.
«You have attacked Serena and caused her extreme injuries that were almost fatal. Though you did that under the influence of the controlling chip, I am afraid Wolfin and Lindon have decided you do not deserve their trust at the moment. I am sorry.» the AI replied.
Wolfin and Lindon saw Hunter’s eyes filling with tears.
«I didn’t… I didn’t mean to…» he exhaled shakily, understanding the dire situation. «I’m so sorry…»
«Sorry isn’t going to cut it, Hunter.» Wolfin gritted his teeth and glanced at Lindon. «I told you we should have locked him up.»
«Lock me up, if you think it’s necessary.» Hunter met Wolfin’s gaze. «I will not fight it. I just… just tell me she’s going to be alright.»
«Captain Serena is suspended until her wounds heal.» Lyssa reported. «Estimated time for full recovery is seven days.»
«Lyssa, provide us with cuffs strong enough to keep him from attacking.» Lindon ordered.
«Cuffs are unnecessary, as he is no longer under someone else’s control.»
«Cuffs! NOW!»
«Of course.»
A moment passed and one of the helper bots arrived with cuffs similar to those used on Serena back at Velutha, when she was taken into custody. Wolfin grabbed them and his blade waved to the side.
«Turn around. And don’t flinch, or I’ll cut your shiny metal arms off.» the Veluthian said.
Hunter slouched, slowly turning his back to Wolfin. He didn’t want to fight the men who loved Serena just as much as he did. He knew why they were so untrusting of him.
As soon as the cuffs clasped his wrists behind his back, Wolfin placed the blade at his throat.
«Up. Very slowly.» he ordered.
Hunter complied, feeling guilty for doing something so vile that his own friends turned from him. He couldn’t even fathom what Serena might say when she wakes up.
Before he was escorted out, he glanced at Serena’s body once again, feeling his heart aching.
Chapter 9. Scrap Metal
Serena awoke with a sharp inhale that made her arch her back from a phantom pain of her previous wound. She panicked, scrambling off the medical pod and falling to the floor, trying to catch her breath, while ascertaining where she was and was she even safe at all.
Her memory kicked in, showing her the emotionless face of someone she loved, watching her as his blade pierced her chest, aiming at her heart. A pained, desperate wail flew out of her throat, and she curled up on the floor, shedding tears in a realisation that Hunter was lost to her forever.
She didn’t hear someone running up to her. She didn’t feel the warm embrace that the man gifted her, trying to comfort her. All she could feel and realise was the immense pain and the desperation that buried her under the heavy sense of emptiness.
Serena didn’t feel the shot that she was administered, but, at least, it helped her begin to swim out of the chaos of emotions that reigned over, until her tears run dry, and she felt the numbness slowly returning to her.
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