Original Sin

by Midway, Bridget

  "Rats will eventually adopt homosexual tendencies when confined with other male rats over a period of time. Why should these guys be any different? Just because they're brothers?" He snickered.

  "Point one, Doctor, I'm well aware of the reactions of sexually-functioning beings like rats when in a confined space. But these men aren't rats."

  "You're right. They're mutts we saved from the streets on Earth. They're like prisoners. They're only set free when there's a war to be fought."

  "They're not like prisoners. I give them their space whenever they have requested it."

  He laughed at her statement.

  She continued. "Point two, although these two subjects have grown up together in this test environment, they are not blood brothers."

  She returned her gaze to the duo just as the second man's body convulsed and he shot a stream of milky semen over the first one's arm, hand, and stomach. Again, she let out a long breath, releasing her own pent-up sexual energy. If only it were that easy.

  "Brothers or not, you need to let these guys go and report to their squadron unit. The High Commander is breathing down my neck to know when they'll be ready for combat."

  It was Sonjie's turn to laugh. "She's breathing down your neck? Last I checked you're not associated with this project. You only hear what's going on with it when you listen in on the transmissions I get from her on a weekly basis. I'm the one whose neck is on the line. I'm the one who has to make sure these men—"

  "Cyborgs," he said, cutting her off.

  She ignored him. "—are equipped and ready for combat. They've gone through the tests very well." The word 'tests' reminded her of the one going on now that Zerlandt interrupted. She slammed her hand on the intercom button and said, "Stop the heat test. Give the room about twenty minutes to cool down before you all take the subjects back to the changing room."

  "Yes, Dr. Tuumlar."

  "Subjects. That's not what you call them. Knowing you, Sonjie, you've named these guys just like you did with that first cyborg, E-V-E."

  Sonjie brought her gaze down to her recorder. Keeping her attention away from his prying eyes, she punched in statistical information on each men. She then linked her hand-held device into the main computer to get more data on their bodies' reactions.

  "The only name I've given them is Combat Artillery Invasion Neutralizer."

  "Which one is that one?" he asked.

  "The larger one with dark hair and darker skin. He's the one used in the ground forces. The other I call Aerial Battle Executive Leader. I want to make him the pointman for any air attacks. From what I've seen of both, they're more than ready to assume those roles."

  Knowing Zerlandt would ask why Sonjie kept the men there if they were ready to fight, she cut him off.

  "But I need more time to perfect them both, and there are some other experimentations I would like to do.'

  "Whatever, Sonjie. It's just Earth's dime you're spending each minute those fighting machines aren't out working for us." Zerlandt turned to the door but stopped in the doorway before walking out. A huge grin covered his face as he turned back to her. "C-A-I-N and A-B-E-L. You named them Cain and Abel?"

  Not that the man wasn't smart, however she didn't think he would have figured it out this quickly. "It worked so well with E-V-E that I thought I would keep it up for these men. I like those names better than Cyborg One and Cyborg Two. Most of them are still human. They have a brain, a heart, lungs—"

  "And a burning need to fuck."

  Sonjie blinked at Zerlandt's candor. She would have thought working with the man side-by-side for over five years would have gotten her used to his crude remarks. Didn't help that she'd turned him down repeatedly for dates and other intimate activities first by using the excuse that she and Lars had had a relationship, then telling him that she'd desired no man after Lars' death by the hands of their own creation.

  Both stories weren't exactly true. Although she and Lars had been having sex, they weren't an exclusive couple, especially not on Lars' end. He bedded just about any woman who moved. Then, when he tired of real human women, he created his own sexbots that he openly admitted to having them service him sexually. His overwhelming need for sex from other people and other creations was part of the reason Sonjie ran to Mars for shelter and distance.

  And she hadn't really desired many of the scientists she'd encountered since resuming her work on Mars. Her colleagues were either linked to other women after an Earth commitment ceremony, or they were all like Zerlandt, just looking for a good time at any cost.

  None of that interested her. Sonjie wanted a faithful man, one faithful man who would love her, appreciate her work and her dedication…and an intense orgasm now and then wouldn't be bad either.

  "Learn to let go, Sonjie. Your heart is going to kill you." Zerlandt pointed to the duo behind the mirror. "That's work. Don't name them. Don't befriend them. Don't trust them. Just wind them up and let them go like the machines that they are."

  When he stepped out of the door to leave he ran into the woman Sonjie had been thinking about for a long time.

  "E-V-E!" Sonjie said.

  Dr. Zerlandt said, "Speak of the devil and she arrives."

  Chapter Two

  "Dr. Zerlandt," E-V-E began. "You're still working here?"

  "And your internal battery hasn't worn down yet like your deceased father-in-law?" he shot back at her. "Urlean was always surprised at your longevity."

  "Guess my speed and precise shooting abilities escaped his notice, too."

  Sonjie had to cover her mouth and snicker. She'd heard that E-V-E, once Sonjie remotely restored her systems when Lars had shut her down, had shot the man in three places: the middle of his head, his heart, and his crotch. Hearing about the last shot still tickled her to this day.

  Lars deserved that, and then some, for allowing his little head to make life decisions for him. If Dr. Zerlandt wasn't careful, E-V-E might do some damage to him, too. Sonjie could only hope.

  With a smile, E-V-E extended her hand to Zerlandt. Sonjie watched the exchange. It didn't take her long to see that E-V-E crushed his hand in hers when she shook it. Zerlandt winced and jerked out of her grip.

  As he shook his hand out to get some blood flowing into his digits, he turned to Sonjie. "Looks like you could have used more time training this one."

  "No, I think she's doing just fine." Sonjie beamed at the woman she now thought of as her friend.

  As soon as her colleague walked out of her observation room, Sonjie embraced her. Though she showed her strength with Zerlandt, E-V-E reserved her power when hugging her creator.

  The welcoming hug comforted Sonjie so much so that the knot building in her stomach that came from thinking about C-A-I-N and A-B-E-L disappeared. And she didn't know if it was the medication or seeing E-V-E, but Sonjie's headache also vanished.

  "How have you been?" Sonjie asked.

  "Very well." E-V-E grinned from ear to ear.

  Her smooth, porcelain-like skin still defied Sonjie's logic. In a world full of mutts, as Dr. Zerlandt had called them, everyone had a touch of natural dark pigmentation to their skin coloring. Even Sonjie's pale skin wasn't as light as E-V-E's.

  "You look great for having just delivered a baby a year ago, E-V-E." Sonjie took her hand and brought her to a sofa.

  "If you talk to Adam, he would say that I was back on my feet and fighting Cerillions as soon as Luke was born. But it was really more like a couple of weeks. A captain can't be away from her command for very long." She held Sonjie's hand as she spoke. "And Dr. Tuumlar, you can call me Eve. I don't think of myself as that unemotional robot from a few years ago."

  Sonjie nodded. "Okay, only if you call me Sonjie. We're friends, right?"

  Eve smiled. "Right." She glanced into the room where C-A-I-N and A-B-E-L were. "Are they—" she turned to Sonjie "—like me?"

  Sonjie nodded.

  "Why have I never seen them before when I was being trained?"

  "Dr. Urlean had
them here on Mars training them and operating on them right after we sent you to the Federation Army on Earth. I found out about them a short time afterward when I discovered his other army of cyborg women he wanted to use as sex toys."

  "The man was a god among gods, wasn't he?" her friend said sarcastically.

  Sonjie couldn't help but laugh. "He thought he was."

  Eve returned her attention to the men, who were now being escorted from the room. "So are they ready?"

  "Close. There have been so many advancements since your day that I'm finding each day there's another gift I'm discovering in them. C-A-I-N has incredible strength. And A-B-E-L has the speed of a zip-jet. Both are highly intelligent, a little more street-smart and savvier than you, but then again we got you when you were a baby. They were kids running the streets when they were rescued."

  Eve snickered. "You named them Cain and Abel? Feeling religious, good doctor?"

  She patted Eve's hand. "Feeling hopeful. Cerillions aren’t the only army that's attacked the Earth. There are at least two more opposing federations as equally as large as the Cerillions and just as lethal."

  "Adam and I are more than willing to help you in any way we can. Adam supports the use of cyborgs in the Federation Army."

  "I'm sure he does." After offering Eve something to eat or drink, both requests she turned down, Sonjie asked, "So what's my friend doing here on Mars today? As you said, you can't be away from your Army for very long."

  The smile drifted off of Eve's face. "I wish I could say it was all for pleasure. You know I think the world of you, Doctor, uh, Sonjie."

  She patted Eve's leg over her black pants. "Of course I do."

  "You've saved my life twice. First from the streets when I was born into a poor family that had nothing. Then when Dr. Urlean overrode my systems when he was going to kill me and Adam almost two years ago. I don't know where I would be without you. I love you."

  Sonjie put her hand to the side of Eve's face. She nearly gasped at the warmth of Eve's flesh considering its cold appearance. "I love you, too. But why do I have a feeling you're about to say something I'm not going to like?"

  "The High Commander sent me here."

  Hearing that, Sonjie bolted from the couch. "Not you, too."

  "She figured since you and I have a close relationship that maybe you would share with me the progress of C-A-I-N and A-B-E-L. So when do you think they'll be ready?"

  Keeping her back to Eve to shield her disappointed expression, Sonjie straightened out testing equipment on her desk. "It's not like I flip a switch and they're ready to go. You know that."

  "Yes, I do. So when do you think they'll be ready?"

  "I mean, I have to not only make sure they're physically ready but mentally ready. There are a lot of tests involved in doing that."

  "I understand," Eve said, her voice still in that quiet, soothing tone that had an edge to it. "So when do you think—"

  "I just can't send them out there to—"

  This time Eve cut her off. "Dr. Tuumlar."

  Sonjie turned around from the sound of Eve's forceful tone.

  "This is the last time I'll ask you," Eve began and stood. Her fitted camouflage jacket moved with her body as she approached Sonjie. "When are C-A-I-N and A-B-E-L reporting to me once they're released? Tell me now and please don't make me ask again. When will they be ready to join the Army?"

  Sonjie took in a deep breath. On the ragged exhale she replied, "Give me a week."

  Eve smiled. "Good answer. We just got news that another larger wave of attacks from the Cerillion is headed our way. Our sources estimate they should hit Earth again in two weeks, maybe less."

  Sonjie gasped.

  "Don't worry. We'll be ready. Until then, Adam and I are making love like crazy."

  "Trying for a second child?" Sonjie asked.

  Eve shook her head. "Seeing if my satisfaction will still take down the Cerillions like before. At least that's what I tell Adam." She winked.

  The reassuring smile Eve flashed still didn't calm Sonjie's pounding heart.

  "I have to go." Eve enveloped Sonjie in her arms.

  Sonjie didn't want to let the woman go. The ammonia scent from Earth lingered on Eve's clothing and made Sonjie remember the times back in the lab with Lars. She trembled.

  Sonjie's best memories were of her alone times with Eve when they would talk about anything and everything. Back then, Eve was like a child, asking questions about things as basic as why Sonjie cried whenever Lars wasn't around, to complex questions like why were there armies wanting to fight the people on Earth. Sonjie found both questions difficult to answer then and now.

  "Remember if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask," Eve said when she pulled back from her.

  "And you know if you need me you can always reach me." Sonjie smiled at the subtle reference to Eve's internal alarm that Sonjie updated.

  "Thank the gods. If you hadn't added that feature, I don't know what would have happened to me." Eve kissed Sonjie on her cheek then headed to the door, stopping briefly in the doorway. Turning back to Sonjie she asked, "Are you sure the remote for me is gone? I can't be overridden again?"

  Sonjie smiled. "I'm positive. Your new chip I implanted doesn't even have the feature. You could go on forever if you wanted."

  Eve shook her head. "Not without Adam. If he becomes sick or when he dies, I'll turn off my self-preservation enhancement and live like a mortal until I die. I couldn't go on without him."

  The hurt and disappointment Sonjie felt must have shown on her face or in the way she cut her gaze down to the floor.

  "And one day you will find your Adam," Eve concluded.

  After bringing her attention back up to her friend, Sonjie grinned in response. "Until then I have my work, right?"

  "And great friends who will always protect you."

  With a wave, Sonjie saw her creation, her friend, leave. Heavy-hearted, she gathered her recorder and lab coat, slipping it on before exiting her observation room. Her hands shook as she reached for the doorknob to close the door behind her.

  She should have told Eve the truth about C-A-I-N and A-B-E-L. Eve, above anyone else, would have understood the possible glitch that existed in both of them.

  Sonjie's mind tripped over the possibilities of what Lars could have done to the men before Eve killed him. Would C-A-I-N and A-B-E-L turn on the troops in the middle of battle?

  Praying that she was just being paranoid, Sonjie hoped Lars hadn't altered the men's computer programming as she'd done to E-V-E to protect her and the planet.

  Standing in the lab, Sonjie scanned the darkened room. Lars had worked in this room at one time when he helped construct C-A-I-N and A-B-E-L. She knew his penchant for keeping a log of everything he did, and that included his sexual conquests.

  Many times after Sonjie had stopped their relationship and left him did she trip over volumes and volumes of his disgusting video entries of him having sex with his sexbots. Each one she came across, she erased.

  This time, though, she needed his record on these men. She knew Lars. He always wanted the last word.

  "Cyborg," she called into the air.

  Nothing. If Lars had a journal entry with that title, the screen would populate with that record.

  "Cerillion rebellion." Sonjie strolled around the room. "Mars. Earth. Federation." She was thinking too logical about this.

  Knowing Lars, he would be crude and not so scientific.

  After taking a deep breath, Sonjie said, "Fuck." She winced and waited.

  Still nothing. The room remained silent.

  "Pussy. Cock. Anal Sex. Blow job." She shook her head. "This is ridiculous."

  Sonjie collected her recorder. She was a better scientist than Lars. She could figure out if the cyborgs had been altered on her own without Lars’s journal entry.

  If Lars had tampered with their circuitry, Sonjie hoped she could decipher what the possible abnormalities were before releasing them to work alongsid
e with human soldiers.

  * * * *

  Cain peeked through the square window into the bright, white interview room. From where he stood, he saw the doctor's coal-black hair that reminded him of the color of deep space.

  He thought about how good it would feel to run his hand through her shiny hair.

  That ponytail did nothing to add to her sex appeal. Probably did it on purpose. She should have it down and draped over his naked body, using it to feather over his raging, hard cock. Damn, the things he wanted to do to her.

  "You know the rules, Nute," one of the guards said.

  Cain sneered at the nickname the guard had chosen to call him. Nute, short for Neutralizer. Not fucking imaginative like the name the doctor had given him, but Cain didn't want to spend any more time in The Hole by head-butting this jerk and sending him to the infirmary.

  "Stay seated," the guard continued. "Answer all the doctor's questions like a good boy."

  "And if I do, will you blow me?" Cain fluttered his eyelashes for affect.

  Not pleased with his flippant response, the guard pushed against Cain's chest. "That reminds me. Time for your nicey-nicey medicine."

  "Oh great. More drugs to make the evil man good," Cain said as he rolled his eyes.

  Jabbing Cain in the stomach with his baton, Cain barely flinched at the hit. Cotton yanked down the side of Cain's collar and pulled out what was supposed to be an inoculation gun. As soon as Cain saw the barrel of it and its handle, he knew Cotton had grabbed the wrong thing.

  Calmly he said, "Are you going to make me calm by shooting my head off? I'm sure the High Commander would love that."

  Cotton looked at the weapon in his hand and without apology, holstered the gun. "My mistake. Good thing you were paying attention."

  "Yeah, good thing."

  This time the guard retrieved the right gun and placed it on the side of Cain's neck. "Say ouch."

  He shot, sending what felt like a million pin pricks into Cain's skin. Cain gritted his teeth but refused, as always, to let Cotton or any of the other guards see him wince or buckle in pain.