Apex

Chapter 5

•Zoryne•

My head pounded from its impact with the stairs. My mind was foggy, but I could hear someone weeping. Perhaps there was someone else here with me, someone who could tell me what was going on.

My body ached and I know I must have gained a few bruises from my fall. My head injury stung, but hopefully it wouldn't require much first aid.

This self-assessment came to a halt when I noticed a distinct weight upon my cheek. It was warm and soft.

And it was moving.

The sound of crying grew louder in my ears as my senses continued to return to me. I pried my eyes open and looked down.

There on my face was the R3 I'd grabbed from the lab. She was sweaty and dark curly hair covered her small head as she lay across my cheek, shoulders shaking from the aftershocks of her cries. I lifted my head ever so slightly.

She ceased all sounds, even stopped breathing. Her head lifted to meet my stare. Her mouth hung open in shock. Her lips trembled, but she remained silent. I moved my gaze to the ceiling. The stairwell seemed to be holding nicely, but there was no way to know what lay just beyond the door.

I reached towards my face. The R3 yelped as I covered her body with my hand, keeping her pressed against my cheek. Grunting, I used my free arm to push myself up, wincing when my head wound met the cold air, and maneuvered my body down the few steps to the ground floor.

I sighed as I leaned against the wall directly in front of the closed door. I stretched my legs out in front of me. Finally, I pulled my hand from my face, taking the female with it.

She lay in my palm, chest rising and falling at an alarming rate. Her eyes wide, staying fixed on my face. I felt a twinge of annoyance.

"Do you think I will disappear if you stare at me hard enough, R3?" I snapped at her. She flinched, but showed no sign of understanding.

Right. She's only fluent in "English".

"Is there something you hope to gain from your staring?" I tried again. And again, she flinched. But she also blinked at me, so I suppose that was some sort of progress.

"What happened?" the R3 said in that soft voice of hers. I adjusted myself, flexing my back muscles.

"There was a series of explosions, too strategic to be an accident. I believe this building was attacked." I voiced to the creature, more so for the sake of gathering my thoughts than to actually converse with her.

"Who would have enough explosives to even attempt to take down a building like this?" She said, seeming to speak to herself as well.

"Your kind is quite obsessed with destruction. Tell me, R3, is it an honor to die with as much blood on your hands as possible?" After an initial look of shock, her body tensed.

"You think humans have enough fire power to take down one of your buildings?"

"I think you're all stubborn enough to waste energy trying to kill those who are saving your world, R3." I watched her fear turn into anger. She had the audacity to scowl at me while she was literally wrapped around my finger. I took in her ragged appearance. Blood ran down her arm and stained the bandages around her body. When my attention drifted lower, paused.

Reaching into my coat, I pulled out her old scrubs. She stiffened when when my hand approached her with the clothes pinched between my fingers. I dropped them in my palm, next to her.

The female looked down at herself, eyes widening. Immediately, she released me and reached for her clothes. Her movements were stiff as she put them on as quickly as possible.