***
Pilar looked at the welcome committee waiting for her at the Cyborg ship. It hadn’t been that hard to find. Black sleek. Bigger than anything else at the waystation. A troop carrier. Lion stood at the front with what seemed like an honour guard. Six of his men behind him. Pilar stood with Four and Five and stopped in front of him. “I’m not sure if this is a welcome committee or an arrest,” she told him.
“If we were arresting you, I’d have my gun out.”
Pilar couldn’t help but look south. Her mouth went dry. It looked like his ‘gun’ was practically out to her…. A nudge from Four brought her back to sanity. She’d been caught checking him out. She looked from Four to Lion. To her annoyance, he looked amused. Damn it. Pilar shrugged. She was only human and might as well own it.
“Ok my apologises, that was rude. Thank you for the lift home.”
His system showed red across the board. The female liked what she saw. It was equally clear his system wasn’t sure how to deal with it. Emotions he didn’t want were getting in his way. It wasn’t logical. He didn’t understand it. His biometrics were off the charts. Her scent reached his nose. He tried hard not to breath her in, he had a feeling it would be the beginning of the end.
Lion sent cooling to all his sensors. Pulling back hard on some of them. His need to breath her in continued to rock him. Lion pulled it back further, limiting his abilities. He couldn’t afford to breath her in, he’d be lost.
“This way,” he indicated the ramp and walked to it knowing the female was following him with her security. “When you are settled, we would like to talk to our brethren.”
Reaching the end of the corridor he pressed for the lift. “That is up to them.” She told him as the lift doors opened and they all stepped inside.
“Yes it is,” he told her. Always the challenge. “Let’s say it’s a condition of the ride home.”
The lift doors opened on a new level. As they made their way forward, Lion indicated the gym and the refectory as they passed them. Cyborgs were milling around in both. Then came to the sleeping quarters. There looked to be about a dozen on this floor. Lion stopped at one and pressed the door panel.
“Place your hand here and it will register your print and give access to you only unless its an emergency and then me too. Everyone else is on request.” She placed her hand on the panel. “New resident registered. Name?”
“Pilar Sanchez.”
“Welcome Ms Sanchez. Your accommodation is ready.” The doors opened to a well apportioned space. Pilar walked in and Four and Five dropped her kit and checked the rooms. They both came back and gave her a nod. A large sitting room with a small kitchen off it led to a couple of other doors. Bedrooms she guessed. It was more luxurious than her ship.
“This is more than I need.” She told Lion.
“Our guest accommodation is made for this purpose.”
Pilar nodded. “Thank you.”
“Your men are down the corridor.” Lion heard the message that the ship was unlocking from the waystation over his neuro net. He sent the order that all ship wide communications and anything that included their guests, should now be over the address system. “We are leaving the waystation. I’d like that conversation with your men now.”
Pilar didn’t miss how important this seemed to him. “They are free to choose.”
He looked at Four and Five. “Your rooms are this way.” They left her and the door closed. Pilar felt on edge. Since seeing Lion, this trip seemed to take on a whole new direction. One that was more than defending her home world and her father’s business.
She wasn’t stupid. That Cyborg was interested in her. Her body heated at the thought. Her clit pulsed. She’d never heard of that before. Cyborgs interested in women? In fact, a conversation she’d had with Four and Five years ago had kinda put that to bed. They didn’t like being touched because of the abuse they’d been through themselves. Cyborgs kept themselves to themselves. They didn’t pursue women. Had no direct interest in them either.
Until now. Lions reaction to her had been…… different. He was definitely interested and so was she. Was that good or bad? she wondered looking around. Not that she hadn’t gone there before years ago. But that had all been once sided. Hers. Like she’d said, she was human and surrounded by all that male goodness and it had made her ask the question when that first puberty interest hit. She’d been elated as a love sick pup, thought it would be an exciting new experience. All that delicious muscle and strength. They had to have a lot to offer a girl right?
Then she realised that her Cyborgs didn’t see her like that and why. That was it for her. They were squarely in the ‘friend’ category from then on.
She didn’t think Lion would be entering that category at all. There was something very primal about him that called to her. She was guessing that his animal DNA was his name. Lion. She didn’t know much about the Old Earth animal only a vid image amongst many as a child. They’d been extinct in the wilds of Old Earth for generations. You could only see them in private hands in her grandparent’s day. But she knew of them. She’d seen pictures on her datapad. It would also explain the eye colour and the hair. Lions had a mane. His hair certainly looked like one.
She was acting like a love-struck naive youth again! Pilar couldn’t help but smile. It had been a long time since she’d been that. Heat infused her body and her breasts became swollen; her nipples hard. Begging to be touched. He was driving her a little crazy!
Picking up her belongings, she walked towards what she thought was a bedroom. She was right. A very large bed and furniture filled out the room. Pilar stared at it. It was big enough for 4! Who needed that much space in bed? An image of Lion with her spread eagle, sparked to life in her brain. She could imagine it being rough and hard. Pilar pulled her legs together. Her clit was hammering. O yeah, that would be really good…. Fire filled her belly. O my god, so not funny….
Forget the youth, her thoughts were X rated. She was one hot bunny. What was wrong with her? Anyone would think she was in heat! Pilar swallowed and focused on the room. There were two doors off it. Dropping her kit, she checked out both doors. One a large walk-in wardrobe the other a good-sized bathroom. Both, made for Cyborgs.
Was that real water? She turned the facet on, and water rushed out. Images of Lion in the shower filtered across her mind. She could imagine all that taunt muscle working the soap and water. She nearly came right there. Pilar put a hand on the wall to brace her. It would fit him with room to spare. Room for her….? Pilar moaned and shook her head. Her mind was in the gutter. It made sense that everything on this ship was Cyborg size. They travelled the universe so would need good accommodations.
Although, a working ship didn’t need this level of luxury. It was …. Unusual. Twelve rooms. He’d called them guests’ rooms. She couldn’t argue the style. It was exactly what she’d hoped to bring to her own travel ships. That touch of luxury. Pilar stripped. She needed that cold shower pronto. And then a large drink. Stepping in she got the feeling she was about to have the best time of her life.
***
Four and Five had followed his instructions and come to the meeting room at the agreed time. He’d been there a while catching up on what the group had been doing on the waystation. They’d left a trail so not much to hide. Bought a number of goods that were taken to their ship. Met with several contacts and paid for a permanent berth at the station. The electronic trail wasn’t hard to find.
They both took the seats he indicated and was quick to get down to business. He looked from one to the other. Then used his neuro net. They both had access.
You are free Cyborgs?
We are. Four answered. He appeared to be the leader of the two.
How were you freed?
The female and her father. He freed us from Earth Corp and once her father had passed on, she freed us from our contracts with her company. Tried to before but her father wouldn’t hear of it. He worried for her safety.
&nbs
p; Owned?
Started as that, no other way to do it with Earth Corp. Her father got us away from a kill order on the condition of buying us as protection for the Post. Should have remained like that, but we were contracted by him and like any other security, paid.
And you chose to stay?
We did. The pay was good, and the female is family.
Lion was glad to hear it. They’d not been abused in this relationship and cared for. How many of you?
177. Most at the mines. Doing security. Us with Pilar at all times, 4 at the offices, 4 at the house.
How real is the treat?
Very real. The female would be dead now without us. This next group she is trying to close out, will get nasty. They don’t like being told no. Others have ended up dead and the word is, they take what they want and enslave others.
But they’ve not tried so hard before?
As detailed. Up to recently it’s been the odd skirmish. Testing forces. Pressing for more. What you’d expect. From our interrogations, it is clear they have an agenda now, they’re organised, cannot be trusted. They want that world as a base. Something has pushed them further into our territory, they never wanted to be land based before this. Something’s changed.
You have names, where we can find them?
We call them the Scourge. A name her father made up. They give false names and are constantly on the move.
When do you expect them next?
If they keep to their word, in approximately eight weeks.
On your old ship you’d barely have made it back in time.
The female knows that. We’d not expected them for another six months, then they brought it forward just before we left. Like I said, somethings changed.
Do you know of the Cyborg Empire?
We do. A trader came to our world and was over heard talking about it. I secured your information from his ship to make contact.
Your idea or the females?
I found the contact and made the suggestion.
But it was her decision? Four gave a nod. The female makes decisions for you?
If its in the interests of all of us. Yes.
Lion could see that the Cyborgs with the female were connected to her. Much like he was connected to Morgan. He didn’t like it. His systems could tell him that if he looked, but he would respect it.
I have been asked to bring you up to date on the Empire. Are you willing to hear me?
They both nodded. We have been pursued by Earth Corp and many things have changed since they set us free. And we all know, they didn’t free all of us. My troop had been placed in black ops, there was no freeing us. We knew too much, were too valuable. It took the conviction of a female human to free us at great risk to herself. We formed our own alliance and worked freelance for anyone who could pay for us or not, depending on the work. Eventually it brought us to the Empire. They’d taken a Station that had been under siege by pirates. Killed most of the humans and were stripping it. We were sent in to find out if it was lawful salvage or not. Earth Corp wanted it back. They didn’t get it. It was lawful. The Empire offered us a home and we took it. Now we work for them when needed. We have choice, freedom and we’d paid well.
We have doctors who specialise in Cyborg, they are not Designers. They help us to understand our creation and who we are as well as fix what we cannot fix. We also have medbeds that are now configured for Cyborgs not just humans and we have other humans working on projects for us and with us, to find our brothers throughout the universe and find our beginnings. Who our ancestors are. Information on our DNA material was found, along with how it was obtained and used to create us. We have family out there and there are those that want to know us. Other humans work on new programming to prevent Earth Corp taking us over ever again.
And we have found we can all have a future. The Admiral of the Empire found his mate. His wife. Kim. It triggered a change in the Empire. A ripple effect along his shared neuro net that seems to have woken a part of us we didn’t know we had. His shared emotions to his brothers set alight a new dawn for all of us. It was possible to be more than fighting machines. More than taking orders. We could have a family. A female of our own. Children. It is believed that our own evolution as a species had reached the point of jumping the evolutionary divide. That we have become open to the thought of embracing more life. That our nano’s saw the prospect of a female as something to live for. Combined with our genetic material and database, it is also thought that we have embedded knowledge of where compatible mates might be found.
We are still working on much of that and more.
The Space Station flourishes as our base in the universe. We have new humans who join us all the time. The Empire is expanding. New business’s set up, new trade routes, new planets that are contracted to the Empire, all of which makes the Empire what it is and gives those that want it, a better life and the opportunity of being productive within it. There are credits to be made, if that’s what you want.
We have Cyborgs stationed on all the Empires contracted worlds and transport lanes. We run security, set up homes, rotate between places. We send out trading missions and search for our lost brothers. But what a Cyborg chooses to do is up to him. Stay put or not. With us or not. We train, fight when needed and above all keep the peace. It’s a good life. No brother is turned away. My job here was to find you as much as helping the female if we can.
The Empire would welcome us? Five asked.
It would.
They were quiet for a moment. If you help our world, will you stay? Four asked him.
The female is a possible mate to me. If she accepts me, I’ll be staying wherever she is. If the Empire joins them, we’ll likely have a base on world and be running security with your team.
Both Cyborgs stood. It is much to think on. We may need more information.
What ever you need. The brother outside will escort you back to your rooms. They gave him a nod and left.
Lion wasn’t convinced they understood everything he’d told them. It was a lot of change to deal with. He knew sometimes that happened. Too long in the darkness. They would need facts to go on. Not just his word. They knew he didn’t lie but they would want the data. He connected his neuro net once more to communications.
Send data upload to both our new Cyborg brothers and the Admirals welcome message. Then my report to the Admiral and Commander Morgan.
Affirmative.
Now it was up to them.
***
The knock at the door hadn’t been expected. She’d enjoyed the hot steamy water and taken care of her own needs, twice. Then soaked herself chilly in the shower to slow the heat coursing through her veins. She couldn’t seem to shift it. Pruning she’d dragged herself shivering from the water and wrapped herself up. Eventually replacing the towel with her PJs.
Pilar rolled her eye’s, the brandy was hitting the spot. She was just starting to relax. Was she to get no peace? Couldn’t a gal just be? She’d been enjoying the feel of a very soft chair and on her third large sin brandy. How the replicator knew how to reproduce it from nutrients she didn’t know or care. It tasted really good and that’s all that mattered.
On her world, you had to buy in anything that wasn’t sin. They lived on replicators and a few local produce. Not a lot. She’d been luckier than most. Her father could get almost anything at the trading post. He’d been cleaver, gathering seeds and planting them when he’d arrived. Some survived, some didn’t. Or rather he had people who did the planting and the hard work. As a result, she’d had real coffee all her life. He’d been clever. Knew what made people tick. Had a knack for it. He’d foreseen that people would want what they wanted and brought out coffee and chocolate beans with him.
Chocolate, now there was something special….. It raised a big price in the universe. Scarce. It was highly prized, and she coveted her poly tunnels like an overprotective mother. What female didn’t like chocolate? Most definitely not her! The milk substitute had been a
little more difficult, but they made it work. Being Spanish, her father knew the value of cultivation. His ancestors had been farmers and had lived off the land for generations and well, people needed to eat and knew what they liked.
It had been a calculated risk. He’d not known how good or bad the soil was. If it could even sustain life but he’d come prepared for that too. Bringing cloches and poly tunnels, nutrient high soil products, watering systems, the lot.
The door buzzed again. Pilar groaned. The last thing she needed was someone spoiling her buzz. She reluctantly removed her feet from the table and put her drink down going to the door. Pressing the communication. “Yes.”
“I would like to speak with you if you are free to do so.” Lion. All her senses woke up. Pilar smiled. So formal. Like all Cyborgs. They rarely appeared relaxed. What was it about this one? None of the others had ever interested her…
She pressed the security pad. It registered her hand print and the door opened. Lion stood there. Looking way too good.
“Come to check up on me?” she asked cheekily leaning towards him with a grin.
“No female. I would like to talk.”
Pilar looked at all that delicious man meat and waved him in. “You’d better come in then.” Walking back to her chair, she picked up her glass once more and took a healthy swallow, looking at him over the rim. God he was good enough to eat and boy was she hungry…
“You are drinking alcohol.”
Stating the obvious. Pilar nodded and smiled. “Yep.”
“Is that wise?”
Pilar blinked and looked up at him. “Been doing it a very long time Cyborg.”
Lion Page 5
