“Atlas? Are you alright?” Zero had crept up in front of him, dressed in his mesh shirt and carrying a line of rope over his shoulder. “We got the consensus’s orders. My brothers will be there tomorrow, with muscle. We’ve already started loading.”
“Wait, you started?”
“Yes, follow me?”
Atlas followed Zero around the corner of the facility. There, a trailer had already been loaded. All of Zero’s brothers were there, with some strapping bed frames in with mattresses on top. His sensors warmed. This was pure manual labor on behalf of the humans. On behalf of Anna. “Thank you.”
“No worries.” Thirteen knocked on the trailer. “Tomorrow we’ll bring more tools and get to work.”
Atlas scanned the trailer contents. Mattresses and bed frames. Pillows. All bought through Anna’s sacrifice. All negotiated using her body. “Are you doing this because of the deal or because you want to help them?”
The five of them laughed in unison, their slicked-back hair catching the facility’s floodlights as one.
Infinity came over and pushed on Atlas’s shoulder. “Both.”
“Well, thank you regardless.”
“Sure. We’ll get a little more.”
Atlas watched them walk off before he turned his attention toward tightening the straps on the trailer. He then went inside the facility and brought out several ration bars and water, placing them into the trailer next to the three fold-out mattresses that were stuffed in, along with lights and an AC unit. Atlas looked over all of it with a critical eye. It would have to do for tonight.
As he finished, Zero returned a moment later. He watched Atlas taking inventory, his blond hair gelled to keep from falling in his eyes. In his hand was a donut that he was slowly picking apart. “Well. This is an adventure.”
“Right.”
“A compromise really is the best thing.”
“No it isn’t.” Atlas resumed checking the trailer. “Why do we even need that? They are not prisoners, like I keep reminding Stella.”
“. . . Yeah, well. At least everyone can stop debating for a few minutes.” Finished with the donut, Zero slapped the hover’s side. It was packed. He looked over the trailer, and then at the list he had written, placing it on top. “Besides, this is the most entertainment I’ve had in years.”
“Entertainment?” Red crossed over Atlas’s sensors. “Please don’t tell me you’re watching them the way the others do, just to be amused.”
“No, I’m not.” Zero waved his hand. “But being entertaining is a side benefit. Simon is there to help you unload, right?”
“. . .Yeah.”
There was a beat of silence, then Zero looked at Atlas. “Everything okay?”
“No. Not really.” Atlas looked at the little box that was sitting on the passenger seat. Anger simmered. It was the last thing that he had fetched from the facility, from Sterling’s waiting hand. The neurochip patch sat within.
“Hey.” Zero’s brows knitted together. “Anna agreed. This seems like the perfect compromise, actually. Both of us trying together. Android and Human?”
Atlas shrugged, his entire body on edge. “The only thing I’m happy about this is that they’ll have a bed to sleep on tonight instead of the floor.” He roughly tightened down the rest of thestraps, then pressed his forehead against the folded mattresses. “They’re stubborn too. Anna was prepared to sleep on the floor.”
“These humans.” Zero let out a booming laugh. “It’s like when they did those camping trips. Okay, get back to them. I’ll be there in the morning to fix everything up.”
Atlas stiffened, thinking of Zero visiting. He pictured Anna standing next to him.But what claim do I have to her?His jaw clenched. None. He had none. And once he delivered these items, he probably shouldn’t stay with her tonight either.Unless she wants me to?
But still . . .He frowned, tightening the straps. “Keep an eye on Stella and the others for me, will you?”
“Where will you be?”
Atlas glanced at the neurochip on the seat. That small patch would change everything. “I have to go back. I have to . . .” His hands tightened on the trailer. “I have to put this on her, then watch her. Closely.”
Chapter twenty-nine
Anna
