"Go ahead... run. You'll only prove them right."
Hiro slowly glanced back at Julian. He didn't want to fight any more... but by the look of things, neither did Julian.
"Yeah... they look down on you as much as they do on me. The Feds, the changed, the internet changed, everyone. I'm the only one that actually gave you any respect. You're my crew... my pack... I saved you from them when they would have turned you into scrap metal!"
Hiro stared at the teenage wolf.
"Now I see though. They were right. You're too much of a machine to have any imagination. Otherwise you would be looking to make the best of a lousy situation. You could use whatever gifts you have to gain something... instead you're just a coward. You hide away ashamed..."
The wolf boy winced at his injured arm. Hiro just looked in silence.
"Don't you see? You're nothing to them. You're nothing on the internet, and you're nothing to people here. You think any of them will help you? Take a good look at the fucking mirror!"
Hiro gritted his teeth, his eyes were already watering. Everything Julian was saying... felt true. Exaggerated maybe... but the ring of truth was there.
"The AI's look down on you... those digital ghosts both despise you and look down on you when they don't even have a body! The other changed fear you! You have any idea what normal humans think when they see you? Robocop you're not dude. You're a freak! Don't you see? You played right into them... just where they want you. In the dump. She exerted her dominance and power all over you with just one threat..."
Hiro glanced up slightly at that.
"I hoped it would be us calling the shots... one day. Not people like her. But yeah... consider our debt done. So go on... abandon the pack. Get lost. Unlike you, I'm going to make something of myself... you can still do the world a favour and find your off switch. I regret saving your ass."
Julian took his leave, leaving the stunned cyborg to himself.
Hiro turned away, slowly. What way was home again? He couldn't remember... he was getting lost. Too much water in his eyes. Oh... maybe it was left. That felt a little familiar. It was... too hard to think. Maybe... maybe he could turn his emotions off for a little while? Would that really be so bad?
No... he... he couldn't really remember right now how to do that. He was feeling a mess. Just carry on. It wasn't forced labour... why did he have to allow the FBI to pin him with that? Why did digital fairies hate him? He was different...
...forget about it.
