WIP Wednesday - Made To Order

 

 By any other name, a cyborg acts just as friendly.

“We should give you a name.”

He stood before the window, his head rotating from side to side, taking in the depthless black beyond. “I am TWM-two-two-one-two-one. The designation serves as my name. I am also known as the Wall.”

“As were hundreds of thousands more cyborgs. The Wall sounds so impersonal.”

“I am not a person. I am a cyborg unit.”

“And a barrel of laughs.”

“I am not a barrel. I am not laughs.”

“Damn straight. We’ll have to fix that. For now, I want you to have a name.”

He turned and regarded her with that intent stare. “You are my owner. I shall take the name you give me.”

She was pleased he’d agreed. Okay, so he’d had no choice. As he’d said, she was his owner. Still, the illusion of his willingness made her feel better. “Any ideas? What would you prefer to be called?”

“I have no opinion. I shall take the name you give me.”

Tosha sighed. She wondered if she could program him with enthusiasm. “You’re no Bob. Or a John. Nothing so mundane. Fancy wouldn’t suit you either. Hmm.”

Apparently surmising she had little need for further input, the Wall resumed his threat analysis.

“Something super masculine. I knew a bodybuilder named Boris. Tough name. Still, it doesn’t really fit, does it? You don’t look like a Boris.”

“Your tone suggests the question is rhetorical. Shall I answer?”

“No, it was rhetorical. Maybe something that reflects the term ‘wall.’ Can you come up with an alternate?”

“Synonyms for wall include partition, barrier, divider, fence, barricade, fortification—”

“None of those work.”

“—dam, enclosure, fence—”

“Never mind.”

“There are also words outside the common speech that indicate ‘wall.’ They are—”

“I said never mind.”

“I wish to comply with your needs. It’s what I’m programmed to do.”

“I need you to comply with my never mind, okay?” She grumbled in an undertone. “Typical man, thick as a brick.”

A sun flare went off in her head.

“That’s it. I’ll call you Brick.”

He paused. Gazed at her. For a moment, she thought he might smile with approval.

“You have named this unit Brick. I shall answer to that designation.” As emotionless as ever, he continued his nonstop inspection.

Tosha’s instant of delight fizzled. She sat back in her chair and scowled. He took no notice. Or if he did, he didn’t care.

“Do you have a program that helps you interact in a more human fashion?”

“I have one hundred levels of social programming. I am at Basic Level One now.”

“Yeah? Load the next level and let’s see if I like you better.”

Scheduled to release in April.

She’s marked for death. He’s her only hope. But can a de-commissioned cyborg once programmed to kill humans be trusted with her life…or her heart?

They called him the Wall, part of a cyborg army that terrorized humans during a long war waged by those intent on wielding power. When Tosha Cameron, owner of a multi-billion corporation, first sees the deactivated cyborg, he’s a tattered remnant of a horrific past.

Most would prefer to see cyborgs destroyed, but those with vision see a valuable resource. When Tosha’s business rivals target her for assassination, the Wall—whom she renames Brick—is her best bet for protection.

Reprogrammed, Brick proves he’s more than a mere machine. Programmed to guard Tosha, he can supply her every need. He soon develops beyond his learning matrix and software, becoming capable of humanity…and more.

Dark secrets from a bloody past are waiting deep in his circuitry, however; secrets that could kill the woman he loves and has sworn to protect.