MACHINE

Epilogue- Betrayed With a Kiss

Ezra and Jed ran out of the laboratory as quickly as their feet could carry them. Rada was waiting in a getaway car just beyond the edge of the trees. They ran and jumped into the open van door, then slid it shut. Rada slammed her foot on the gas, swerving amongst grass and hills as the thick-wheeled car drove smoothly over rough terrain. They drove silently for some moments, until Ezra scrambled into the front seat.

Her face was a mask of solemn contentment as she spoke. "Where's Jeremy?"

Ezra shook his head slowly. "We left him behind, by his request. He wouldn't have made it anyway, though. Jed told me he was so shredded up his systems would've powered down by the time we dragged him out to the car."

"Hm." Said Rada. They drove beside the ocean, where the sun was starting to rise over the water.

Ezra sighed and sunk into his seat. "I'm just glad we're all alive."

Rada turned her face around and looked deep into Ezra's eyes. She looked determined, angry, and a little sad. She leaned forward and kissed Ezra on the cheek.

"What was that for?" Ezra said, smiling.

Instead of replying, Rada detached her right leg prosthetic, revealing a small stump underneath. It was heavy enough, resting on the gas pedal to keep the car driving. Rada popped open the car door on her side, swerved the car violently to the left (towards a sheer cliff drop that went towards the ocean, sharp rocks, and certain death).

She jumped out at the last minute, landing on her left metal leg. It was not enough to support her entire weight, so she stumbled, and nearly rolled off the cliff had she not caught herself at the last minute. She sat now with her leg dangling over the cliff, and looked over to see the car she had been driving moments ago dashed among the rocks. After a couple seconds the engine exploded in a fiery blast of red and yellow.

She had done everything just as her superiors had asked her to. She had ratted out on the others earlier than necessary, purposely. She knew it was unlikely that she would be suspected, but after planting that document in Eden's bag she was completely absolved of suspicion. Kane's reaction helped her cause even further, especially when she made it seem like he had attacked her when the others were gone, when in fact it was quite the opposite. It worked quite well to her advantage that the others saw her as helpless.

Rada now knew everything there was to know about the other rebel groups, she knew enough to snuff them out completely. After discovering that, she had to destroy them. She wasn't able to stop them before they destroyed the lab. She had given the lab a warning but it hadn't seemed to help.

She did everything right, and she was sure to be rewarded by the other Deathmongers. Maybe even promoted to a Shadow, or even higher. Still, she felt a small shred of disappointment. She had rather liked Ezra.