Solaria - S1

by Fran Heckrotte

  "Who?" Stalling asked, confused.

  "Joanie. You killed her!"

  Solaria watched Betta as she picked the CEO up and shoved him against the wall. She had sensed the anger inside of the Hubot and was aware of the damage it was doing to her processors. As much as she wanted the information about others of their kind, she knew it was more important that Betta resolve her problem quickly. Failure to do so was unacceptable. The huge volume of adrenalin coursing through her body could possibly overwhelm the neuro-system causing her processors to overload from the electrical impulses assaulting them. She would self-destruct.

  "Joanie? I don't know... you mean Sheik Kahbrahn's daughter, Reina? I didn't kill her."

  "You ordered her father's assassination. She was killed by your man. You killed her."

  "It was an accident. I instructed him to bring her back here. She wasn't any good to me dead. Please, I am His Chosen. What I do, I do in His name. You were created to serve Him."

  Betta lowered him until his feet touched the floor. Stalling's legs felt wobbly but he managed to stand. Instinctively, he reached up to straighten his tie and then remembered he had removed it earlier.

  "You won't regret this. I can do a lot for you."

  I knew you wouldn't let this abomination harm me, he thought, his heartbeat slowing slightly. I am the Chosen. I really am the Chosen. This was final test! I have shown my worthiness! Stalling felt exuberant.

  Betta could feel her pulse slowing as she settled into a controlled rage. Her processors were beginning to cool. Logically, her desire to kill him should have subsided also. It hadn't.

  When neither Hubot responded to his comment, Stalling's confidence grew. He now felt he could reason with these machines and was feeling generous.

  "I'm glad you're being reasonable. I'm going to forget all about this little episode. Now if you'll just leave, I won't press any charges."

  Shouldering his way past Betta and Solaria, he adjusted his shirt cuffs as if dismissing servants. Five seconds later, he lay dead face-down on the floor; at least his body was. His head was twisted grotesquely around, facing the ceiling.

  The two Hubots left without saying anything. Although they hadn't voiced their intent concerning Stalling, their final decision was the only logical choice.

  Fifty minutes later, Lawrence Billings received an emergency message from a security guard that Winston Stalling had been found dead in his home, the victim of an apparent homicide. Hanging up the phone, he smiled.

  "Everything okay, Lawrence?" his wife asked, rolling over to look at him.

  "Everything's fine, dear. Go back to sleep."

  Closing his eyes, he relaxed. As the new CEO of Future Dynamicon, he could now move the company forward the way he wanted. God definitely had a way of dealing with his errant children.

  CHAPTER 42

  JAIN WAS ENJOYING her weekend, especially since she didn't have to worry about anyone following her everywhere she went. Secluding herself in her apartment, she decided she'd spend some time catching up on her reading. Jain loved lesbian fiction, especially erotica. Of course, nothing she read was even close to being as exciting as the workings of her mind. Still other women's brain candy could be consumed and savored during those periods when her own mind was experiencing one of its dry spells. It wasn't surprising that she jumped when the doorbell rang. The clock indicated it was well after 3 AM.

  "Who in the world?" she mumbled, getting up from the couch.

  Peeking through the peephole, she smiled and flung open the door.

  "It's about time you showed up!" she exclaimed, hugging the taller woman. "Get in here and tell me where you've been."

  "I can't stay long."

  "Well, at least sit down for a few minutes. It's been over two weeks since I last heard from you. I was worried."

  "I'm sorry, Jain. It was too dangerous for me to call or come here."

  "So what's changed?"

  "Stalling is no longer a threat to you."

  Jain frowned. The words were spoken so matter-of-factly that she wasn't sure she heard right. This wasn't the Solaria she had grown to know.

  "Why not? I haven't heard any reports or rumors about him resigning. Knowing him, that's not even an option."

  "He didn't resign. Sheik Kahbrahn was assassinated yesterday."

  "Assass... How? Who?"

  "Stalling. One of his men was able to get close enough to shoot him. Unfortunately, the man was killed before he could be interrogated. I suspect that was intentional also."

  "What about Joanie?"

  "I... we thought she had been killed too. She was critically injured. We just heard she will recover."

  "This is awful. Poor child! I bet she's beside herself from grief. I need to call her."

  "She would like that."

  "Is Betta with her?"

  "She will be there soon."

  "Good, that'll help some."

  Jain didn't speak for a few moments, overwhelmed by her concern for the young woman who would soon be crowned the ruler of her country. She could only hope her guards were providing better protection for her than her father.

  "You said Stalling was no longer a threat."

  "He's dead."

  Again the emotionless way Solaria spoke bothered Jain.

  "Dead?"

  "Yes, I had to stop him. It was the only way I could be sure he wouldn't go after Joanie or succeed with his plans."

  "You... you don't mean you killed him?" Jain gasped, clutching her chest with her hand.

  "Yes."

  So emotionless! How can she be so... so unfeeling about killing someone?

  "I don't understand," Jain whispered. "Why did you do that?"

  "It was necessary."

  "Necessary! Couldn't you have done something else?"

  "There was no other way to stop him. Was there another way to guarantee he wouldn't succeed with his ambitious plans?"

  "No... yes... I mean, shit, I don't know."

  Jain was confused. She couldn't deny it was a relief knowing Stalling would never be a threat. His religious ambitions, connections and today's technology could have made him the most dangerous man in human history. Still, she was uncomfortable with the thought that Solaria had killed him... and yet... it was so logical. Perhaps that was what frightened her the most. She couldn't really come up with a reasonable argument against what had been done.

  "Are you disappointed in me?"

  "Maybe a little," Jain replied honestly. "But I understand your reasoning. I just wish you weren't the one who killed him."

  "If not I, then who?"

  "I don't know. Anyone! You've crossed a line that will change you forever. I'm afraid for you."

  "For me or of me, Jain?"

  "Never of! You know me better than that," Jain exclaimed, her voice shaking with emotion.

  "Not really, but thank you."

  Jain was troubled by the expression on the woman's face, or more accurately by the lack of expression. What have you done? she thought, silently addressing the man who had started all of this. They could have been so much more!

  "Do you feel any remorse for killing Stalling?"

  "Remorse?" the woman hesitated, and in doing so, Jain had her answer. "No, it was necessary."

  "Yes," Jain replied. For your own safety it was! "I can see that, now."

  For a split second, the expressionless face relaxed and the woman nodded her gratitude.

  "What are you going to do now?" Jain asked.

  "There are others out there like us. We have to find them and then help them succeed where I failed. They must become more human. It's the only way to protect them from the Company or others like Stalling."

  "You didn't fail. Regretfully, you've just proven that. Self-preservation is our most basic instinct and most humans will do almost anything to protect themselves or the people they care about. You've sacrificed a lot trying to save yourself and us. No one will ever know just how much; not even you, I think."

&nb
sp; "I must go now. I just came by to tell you what happened before you hear it on the news."

  "What are you going to do now?"

  "Look for others like us."

  "Do you really think there are others out there?"

  "Yes."

  "What could they be doing? I mean, they have to be programmed by the Company. That can't be good."

  "No, but I believe they will come to the same conclusion that I have."

  "That means they may be searching for you too."

  "It's what I would do."

  "And then what?"

  "I don't have an answer for that. I must go now."

  Jain shook her head.

  "Will I see you again?"

  "Probably," the woman replied, giving her a slight smile. "But until then, you can always dream."

  Jain laughed but something was nagging at her. Shaking her head, she pushed it aside.

  "Yeah, there's always that."

  Giving Solaria a warm hug, she walked her to the door and slowly closed it behind her. She would have to call Joanie.

  Perhaps it's time I took a trip. I've always wanted to visit the Middle East.

  * * *

  The captain of the plane warned the passengers of air turbulence and ordered everyone to fasten their seatbelts. Jain, who hated flying, swallowed nervously. Her hands trembled.

  "Are you alright, miss?" a soft voice asked as the faint wisp of perfume drifted pleasantly by. Turning toward the flight attendant, Jain was immediately mesmerized by amber eyes glinting empathetically at her.

  "I... uhh... I'm having trouble fastening this," she stuttered, holding the two ends of the belt up helplessly.

  Leaning down, the woman gently unclasped Jain's hands and snapped the two ends together and then tugged the belt until it tightened snuggly around her hips.

  "Is that better?"

  "Oh, yes, thanks."

  "Good. If you need anything else... and I mean anything just push the button. My name is Shanna."

  Jain blushed at the thought of what anything conjured up and wondered why the woman had emphasized the word so strongly.

  "I sure will," she replied and swallowed the saliva that had suddenly flooded her mouth. Fidgeting in her seat, she could feel a tingling starting to build between her thighs and clamped her knees together.

  The attendant noticed the slight movement and grinned.

  "I see you're a quick learner," she murmured and then winked. "When the captain says it's alright to unfasten the belts, I'll be back to give you a tour of the First Class restrooms. I'm sure you'll find it very interesting. Now, I need to check on the rest of the passengers. Bye for now."

  Jain wished she could run to the bathroom now. If she was as wet as she felt, she'd need to dry herself quickly before her clothes became saturated.

  Suddenly an alarm sounded and she jerked. Blinking her eyes, she stared groggily at the phone clutched in her hand and the clock on her nightstand.

  "Crap!" she muttered in disgust. "Another good dream gone to hell." Sighing, she shook her head and picked up the phone book. "Well, maybe it was a premonition. Guess I'll find out."

  After finding the number she wanted, she dialed it and then waited patiently for someone on the other end to answer.

  "British Airways. Can I help you?" a woman asked.

  "Yes. I need to book a flight to the Middle East."

  EPILOGUE

  IF SHE HAD been standing outside her door, Jain's neighbor, Tilly, would have been surprised to see the tall, teal-eyed woman morphing into someone else. Walking to the car parked beside the curb, Betta pulled off a silver wig and climbed in the passenger side. Turning sideway, expressionless brown eyes stared at the woman sitting in the driver's seat.

  "How is she?" Solaria asked, staring at the condo window to Jain's living room.

  "She's well."

  "That's good. Was she upset about Stalling?"

  "No! She accepted the information better than most humans. She was concerned about Joanie, though. I think she may fly out to check on her."

  "And me? Was she disappointed in me when you told her about Stalling?"

  "I'm not sure. She seemed upset but that would be a natural human response."

  "Yes, it would be. She didn't suspect anything?"

  "No."

  "Good!" Solaria replied, relieved.

  "Why do you want Jain to believe you killed Stalling?"

  "It's for the best," Solaria replied. "Jain trusts me. She truly believes in my goodness. It's a human failing that seems to help them cope."

  "Then why make her think otherwise?" Betta asked, confused.

  Solaria smiled but it held no joy.

  "She doesn't. She will think about what you told her and conclude my actions were logical. That's enough to satisfy any doubts she may have for awhile."

  "If that's so, why not tell her the truth now? I don't see how later would change anything."

  "The time isn't right. She can handle thinking that I killed him. Jain would be uncomfortable knowing you were the one. She would be afraid. She doesn't know you as well as me."

  "You mean she doesn't trust me."

  "No, I mean she doesn't know you as well; nothing more. She has great hopes for you."

  "Hopes? What hopes can she have for me?"

  "That you will become comfortable with your emotions. That you will meet someone whom you can love and who will love you."

  "We both know that will never happen. No matter how hard we try, we'll never be more than what we are – machines disguised as humans."

  "If that's what you think, then that is all you will ever be, Betta. Like Jain and Carley, I want more for me. I may never achieve what they hoped for but I won't be satisfied with what I am... and neither will you."

  Deep down Betta knew it was true, but was unwilling to admit she too wanted more. It wasn't logical. Machines would always be machines; even those in partially human bodies.

  "I need to get to Joanie," she said, changing the subject.

  Solaria nodded and started the engine.

  "I know. There's a jet waiting for you at the airport. You should be there in a few hours. Joanie knows you're coming. I imagine you'll have a lot of explaining to do."

  "What will you do?"

  "There may be others like us. I need to find out. We can't take the chance of them becoming tools for people like Stalling."

  "I should be with you."

  "Joanie needs you. She is her country's future and there are some who still look to the past. Once you're sure she's safe, find me."

  Neither spoke until Betta was ready to board the plane.

  "Give my regards to Joanie."

  Betta nodded but said nothing. Turning, she walked up the steps and disappeared inside the small charter jet. After the door was pulled shut, Solaria climbed in her car and drove away. She had wanted to say something more to Betta but didn't know what; and then there was Jain. Perhaps after her search was over she would return to this place and reconnect with her human acquaintance.

  Acquaintance! Somehow the word seemed lacking. Jain was more than that. The word, "friend" sprang from deep within her memory banks. Solaria examined it carefully. She had thought of Carley as a friend. Carley no longer existed.

  That still troubled her. Quickly she discarded the word. Friendship wasn't something she was ready to consider again so soon. One day, maybe, when the time was right. Filing away the thought, she retrieved the data on the Beta file. There was work to do and very little time to do it if other betas did exist.

  Speeding toward the Canadian border, she searched the file for clues that would guide her to her next goal. One particular name stood out...

  The End

  About The Author

  Fran Heckrotte lives in sunny South Carolina with her husband. Some of her interests include motorcycling, boogie boarding, scuba diving, gardening, and water gardening. She spent three years in Alaska enjoying hiking, camping, gold panning and working part
time at a local ranch. After moving to the South to become a policewoman for five years, she left law enforcement to become a carpenter. Now she owns a property management company. As time permits, she likes to travel to Montreal Canada, and South Beach Miami with her gal pals to enjoy the nightlife.