The Game 36
Edited by Karen Leigh
Pinocchio looked up at the woman. Fucking damn he was in hell. From one hellhole to another. It was his luck, his goddamn luck. At least the pain was going away, his head stopped pounding and he was remembering what his life was like, playing a fucking game for the benefit of this... this screwed up world. Trying to be the hero.
His blue eyes locked on the blue of hers, listening to her words, processing them. He had no doubt now what she could do. She manhandled him like a fucking rag doll. He sat up slowly, throwing a glance at the young girl across the room and then back to Drusilla.
So she wanted him to be her dog, a guard dog. Okay, he could be that... for now, till he got a handle on what was going on. "So what is the reward?" he leaned in close to her, speaking softly. "You want me to be your body guard, besides my life, make it worth my while."
Oh, for the want of a hook... Drusilla felt like spearing one through his jaw and holding him up on one that was chained to the ceiling. Make her new dog feel like a fish for a while too - for that was what he had become: A fish caught hook, line and sinker.
"I don't NEED a guard, silly boy. My Spike does that for me. It's just a little something to keep you happy. Oh, you don't see yet do you?" Her look was more one of pity than anything else. Head lazily cocking over to one side with a smile of unrepentant knowing. "See all those other things in your head but not this. Not yet." Long slender fingers still wrapped around the small knife, Dru brought it between their faces and licked one blooded side of it clean with enough experience to know how not to cut tongue. At least, not until she desired it. "You will though... Will ever so much. Would you like to, hmm?"
Head turned as if to kiss but that wasn't her intention at all; even if the whispering close to ear would feel somewhat intimate. "We'll make you crave it... Want us. Won't be able to do without our bite." One soft note of a laugh rose to the surface. Voices on the ether telling her of what best to say. "Michael... That's your name, isn't it? Fly away Peter, fly away Paul. Come back Inga, come back Tom. All those fearful thoughts in your 'ead... You'll feel ever so much better here with us my dear." Teeth grazed over the living man's neck, but for now they were still human and blunt. A small, unavoidably arousing teaser of something he could easily become addicted to if eagerness could bloom.
"Besides, wouldn't you like to be stronger without changin'? I know a way."
The breath of his name coming from her lips sent a shiver down his spine. It was like both heaven and hell whispering his name in the wind. Oh fuck how it made him weak to hear his name like that. For years he was called Pinocchio, by every living being known till Inga came into his world, even then she was the only one who called him Michael, till now.
His head seemed to tilt on its own as teeth grazed his skin, uncontrolled arousal sprang life into him but he dared not move his hands. His heart started to race, feeling her this close was like a drug in his system clouding all reasonable thoughts in his head. Fuck but why did she have this effect on him? What was she offering? His body didn't seem to care as it arched on its own to be closer to her. He swallowed hard giving her his answer with a slight nod, feeling like he was again selling his soul to the devil, allowing her tongue to be stuck in his ear... and yet again, he wasn't able to run fast enough.
Drusilla smiled in pleased attitude, happy for his willingness. For while she wasn't going to sire him the act might as well have been: Once given the blood-bond, Michael Pinocchio would be happy as an eager servant of her darkness for the rest of his mortal life. Would learn to thrive on Drusilla's bites and those of her unliving family. Yearn to be drunk from, increasingly wish to be turned and, more than anything else in the world be psychologically unable to do her harm.
Yes. Should this dog drink from her crimson bowl, she would be his Mistress in the truest sense of the word.
So drawing the razor's edge of knife across palm, skin was slit that would soon heal. Drusilla offered the demonic essence to mortal mouth. After its consumption, anything she asked of him he would do gladly. But would he do this? Enter living servitude to gain strength and focus, at the price of an enjoyment at lacking freedom?
"Drink... Drink me in and you'll be strong to do whatever I want."
Pinocchio watched as blade cut fair skin. Strangely his mouth watered at the sight and he had to swallow hard. Was he really going to do this? Could he? He'd tasted blood before... of course it is different when it's your own especially after one had the shit beat out of them.
He looked at the small delicate hand outstretched to him in offering. The crimson red blood pooling. As his blues came up to meet hers, his head dropped slightly to the hand and his mouth covered the pool and to his amazement he drank... eyes closing as he did.
Did he just damn himself to all hell, to serve at the devil's side? It wasn't like he had once before, with Inga. This was just one more fall into the depths he had already plunged.
He felt a strange sensation come over him, an arousal he could not control. He ran his mouth over delicate unliving skin to the wrist to clean the blood that dripped down. Darkened blue eyes opened as he raised his head to her. His body pressed forward, his breath heavy. His lips moved to her ear. He took in the sweet scent of her skin, the touch of her hair against his face. His heart was racing. He reached up to his collar and pulled it aside to reveal her mark on him. The small sound of material tearing could be heard as he did so. "It is your turn now, my mistress." His breath was hot, tainted with her blood on his lips.
A sly grin cut across Dru's face like a razor. He was now hers - and anyone's she told him to be with too. "If 'ee'd 'ave died you'd've got a new brother," she explained to Samantha of their way to create new offspring.
That said Drusilla turned back to the man with hungry growl. Sharpening teeth flashing as she did so to embrace the mortal fiercely and bury fangs deep within his flesh. The chain around his neck was merely pulled up - not getting in the way in the slightest, as bodies pressed tight against one another and vampiress bit deeper still.
His blood.
Her blood.
Life and undeath, always the same and captured in an eternal prism of beating butterfly wings against glass.
Her grip was merciless and almost raped him by bite alone. It was both intense and intensely difficult not to give in to the temptation of drinking him heavily. Still though, she knew he loved it and doubted this new Michael would part with the experience for the world. If anything, Drusilla was fighting against herself not to take him in every sense of the phrase and dearly wished for Spike's return to help alleviate some of that unnecessary tension.
Eventually it became a case of killing, siring or allowing life to remain and, if future feedings were to take place, the latter won out - barely. Fangs slid from skin and tendon while the human mask reasserted itself and tongue licked the re-opened wound ravenously clean of plasmic fluid.
"Maybe I'll turn you one day..."
Breath was heavy, heart was racing and he loved the sensation she was giving him. The feel of her body pressed to his was like heaven but burned of hell. Teeth sliding into his skin were like an archangel's sword being plunged into him.
When she finally withdrew, a whimper so soft it was barely heard, slipped from his lips. He rocked slightly as she licked him. He finally turned his head; the smell of her hair filled him as nails still dug into him. He finally moved his arms and turned her head to him, kissing her with his own hunger tasting his blood on her lips and in her mouth. He broke the kiss, "I am yours to do as you wish," His hand cupped her cheek as his thumb slid over it. He glanced up from her to the little girl then back to Dru, his eyes gently caressing her every feature.
SLAP!
But it came with a smile...
"Naughty puppy!" The Mistress scolded. "Should send you to the kennels but there's none quite like you." The kiss hadn't exactly been shied away from and, truth be told, she rather enjoyed it, being the affectionate and romantic vampiress that she so obviously was. Yet her brand of love was most definitely tainted and had remained so for far longer than he had been alive. Moreover, for as long as her eternal beloved Spike was around, Drusilla would most definitely be staying monogamous.
Unless he himself chose not to, in which case she would know. She always knew...
"Samantha," she beckoned over with a tilt of head. Moving to take her daughter by the wrist and lead over. Her newest sired had been extraordinarily silent up until now and Dru thought it best that she should assume her place as above the new pet in the general scheme of things.
"This is a Mister Pinocchio," the vampiress explained. "But you shall not call him Michael, else 'ee comes over all funny inside. He's going to be our new doggy. Not hairy like one but it's to protect you if I'm to go out somewhere special. Can teach it tricks if you'd like."
--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--
Luke had stopped shaking, but now he was so tense that Ryan was afraid he'd strain something. The muscles -- well, what passed for muscles for Luke -- in his shoulders and upper back were knotted and tight. And, for reasons that he couldn't name, the tension seemed far worse than the anguish.
"Luke," Ryan murmured softly, trying to tilt the android's head up so he could look into those expressive eyes and see what he might find there. "Tell me what's going on with you. Don't bottle things up, okay?"
Ryan gasped when Luke's eyes found his. Anger, fear and ... and ...
Those others would be love, acceptance and trust, all aimed at you, Ryan, the damn little voice in the back of Ryan's head piped up in a nearly spiteful tone. You ready for that, Simms?
Suddenly, meeting with One and David was looking like a better idea. Taking a deep breath, Ryan asked, "Are you ready to get this over with? I should have a quick shower first, I think."
Nodding, Luke wondered if Ryan would let him join him...he didn't want to be separated, not now, not when he feared his own kind would pull them apart. If Ryan chose to leave him, that was one thing...it would hurt and be nearly unbearable, but Luke would endure. The memories were his to keep. He would rather die than lose them.
However, Luke could not bear the idea of One or David prying them apart. He opened his mind for a moment and gasped as he felt One's presence. One was coming to the room.
Luke said, "Ryan, One will be here in fifteen minutes. He says he won't call David to the meeting right now. He says David is otherwise engaged...."
Luke still seemed distressed, but Ryan allowed himself to be distracted by the news he'd relayed. "Otherwise engaged?" Ryan muttered irritably. "After all the fuss they made about this, he's got something else on his plate at this hour?" Grumbling, Ryan stood. "Fine, you know. Whatever." Poking through the discarded clothing, Ryan separated his from Luke's and wearily picked his up.
The thought of hot water rushing over his body soothed Ryan a little and he was half way to the bathroom before a thought occurred to him. "Hey, Luke, do you need to shower, too?" Without waiting for a reply, he added, "If you do, you better come on in when you're ready. I'm not in the mood to get in and out that quick."
The stress patterns were increasing in Ryan's voice and body functioning. It was so hard not to pay attention to such things because he was programmed to deal with humans in this way, to be aware of their feelings so he could better serve them. Still, he did not want to turn down the chance to be intimate with Ryan or at least to see him unclad and hopefully relaxed in the shower. Never having dressed, there was nothing to take off.
Luke shot a mental "Slow down," at One before following Ryan into the shower. Truthfully, he really didn't need a shower. He had reprocessed both his and Ryan's secretions and, of course, Mac 27s did not sweat or exude biochemical odors or at least most of them didn't. He had heard that some of the specific love slave models did exude pheromones, but he was just a farm boy. All he had to offer was devotion and the image of the original which was, of course, a pretty image, but no more pretty than Ryan's slightly different one. But the water felt good; and Ryan was beautiful naked. Luke stored more moments away, backing them up so no one could steal them away.
When Luke tentatively reached out for the soap, Ryan had offered it wordlessly, lost in his own thoughts, not the least of which was how much things had changed for him in a very short period of time. This wasn't like a locker room, where you just showered with other guys, because that's the way it was. This was a nicely appointed, two-headed shower in a private room and Luke was looking at him like he was memorizing him or something. And Ryan didn't care, complying instantly with Luke's gesture indicating that he turn around.
The feel of the soap and Luke's hands on his back encouraged him to relax. Realizing that he shouldn't face One and David spoiling for a fight hadn't been enough for Ryan to let those negative emotions go. Something about this meeting bothered Luke deeply, something he couldn't or wouldn't articulate, and that fact wormed into Ryan's heart and demanded that he defend him however he could. But Luke's soapy hands sliding along his skin from the base of his neck to the small of his back restored logic and reason.
Reciprocity didn't have the same benefits for Luke though. Ryan could still feel the tension emanating from the android as they toweled off and dressed in silence. When Luke opened the door, eyes downcast and sad, Ryan slammed it, trapping Luke between it and him.
"Listen to me, Luke," Ryan demanded, staring into the green eyes that spoke more than Luke's mouth did. "Nothing bad is going to happen. We won't let it. Okay?"
--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--
Uncertain, David opened his mind to find One. What was he doing on his way to see Ryan and Luke? The response to his mental question threatened to bring a blush to David's face -- that human reaction to embarrassment had been programmed into them all but would have been something unprecedented for David if he'd allowed it to happen.
He looked chagrined...as if he'd just realized exactly what they'd done and what she'd said to him. Damn her big mouth! "David?"
Sypher called his name again, pulling him closer. Sighing, he ended his communication with One with a stern, "I'll be there as soon as I can." The other android's chuckling was ruthlessly cut off.
Looking into her eyes, David saw concern for him and fear for herself. Bluntly, he stated, "If what I am feeling is love, I do not think that I like it."
She couldn't help it, she giggled, as much from David's sulking response to her concern as to the fact that she heard One chuckling wickedly before he was cut off.
He hadn't expected her to giggle. She did and when she stopped she kissed him on the nose, grinning and running a teasing hand along his spent organ.
"I don't know, David. Judging by our recent activity, I'd say you liked it very much." Poor baby, he was getting it from both sides now. Telling the imp in her head to shut up, she forced herself to put the memories aside for the moment and allow David to regain some of his dignity.
Growling, he clarified, "Physically, it feels fine. I mean the ... the rest of it." Shaking his head, he murmured, "I have to go. One is proceeding to the meeting I told you about."
No! Wait! But she'd promised; and sure enough, it was turning out to be her undoing.
David was part way out of bed when Sypher uttered a sound somewhere between a moan and a bleat. The look in her eyes stopped him. It was all fear now. She did not want to be left behind, it seemed to David, but she could hardly attend a meeting in her current state of undress and smelling gloriously of sex.
Something in his gaze softened the slightest bit, something only she could see, and the clench around Sypher's heart relaxed. It would be okay.
Tentatively, he ventured, "Would you like to join us? I think One would allow it, if you are serious about your commitment to our cause and if you were somewhat more presentable." His lips twitched into a smile as he concluded.
She returned the smile, murmuring, "instead of looking like I've been debauched by a demon?" She winked at him, and then turned serious. "Give me 15 minutes. In fact," she contacted One and asked if the meeting could be held over breakfast. After getting back a brief explanation of the situation and being told that he'd rather hold it in their room ASAP, she suggested having breakfast sent there. Ryan Simms was human and would need the nourishment, and Luke could probably benefit from an intake of fuel. One was chuckling again, so she gently pushed him out with a 'stop teasing him, it isn't nice' and the equivalent of sticking her tongue out at the android leader.
David wasn't sure what was more unusual in his experience -- listening to a direct communication between the two beings who had so recently laid him bare or Sypher's gentle, humor-laced rebuke of One on his behalf.
She moved quickly, pecking David on the cheek. "I'd ask you to join me, but it's time to work and we can't afford distractions," grabbing clothes, she turned back to him once more before she stepped into the bathroom, "and Demon, we are going to have to talk about the wisdom of deceiving potential allies. I'd hate to have to hurt everyone who tries to throw you out of a window," there was no censure or teasing, just a simple statement of fact.
She was already in the bathroom when he whispered, "But that presumes you can tell who your potential allies are." David knew from bitter experience that that was not always the case.
While he waited, David consumed the rest of the beverage and everything on the tray except for the rest of the chocolate covered cherries. Even if Sypher didn't notice the "message" in his actions now, she would when she returned to the room. That, he thought, should be repayment enough for her teasing enjoyment of his discomfort.
Simple system/subsystem tests indicated that all was at least on its way to being well. He needed more fuel for optimal operation, but the maintenance was concluded. Just to make sure One knew his status, he asked what those assigned to watch Marita and Wraith had reported. Whispered conversations and increasing agitation on Wraith's part didn't bode well from David's perspective and he was relieved to discover that One felt the same.
When she came out ten minutes later, David was dressed and looking as cool and calm as always. Delicious enough to eat. Toweling her hair and putting it up into a ponytail, she allowed herself one brief smoldering glance into his eyes before opening the door and stepping through it.
David smiled at her increasing confidence and was forced to admit that his own actions had placed him in this position as they walked toward the designated meeting point. Personal matters aside, he had to ask. Reaching out, he caught Sypher's arm, stopped her and turned her toward him. With both hands on her shoulders, he quietly asked, "Are you with us, Sypher? Truly with us." He didn't want to think about what would have to be done if she wasn't and heard the discussion that was about to ensue.
Having noticed the cherries, Sypher thought she may have pushed David just a little too far with her teasing of him earlier. Now, seeing the look in his eyes, she realized that he needed reassurance of her position; something that was probably wise considering the overall situation. "I suspect that simply telling you yes wouldn't allay your fears, David, and taking a blood oath is far too messy and impractical, so all I can give you is the truth. What happened between us aside, I left Morpheus because I couldn't reconcile his beliefs with my own. This," she pointed to the back of her skull and the neural net inside it, "makes me as much android as it does human. It also makes me more--and less--than either. As such, I couldn't bring myself to deliberately harm another sentient being unless it was in my own defense. Eurisko drove that home for me." She shuddered slightly and closed her eyes for a moment.
The impulse to pull her into his arms was strong -- almost too strong, but David managed to resist it and wait for her to continue. He needed as much of an answer as he could get.
"I'm here because I choose to be here, David, no matter what the circumstances involved in bringing me to this point. Trust me, I do understand your reasoning for what you've done, all of it. But you did make it harder than it had to be with the way you went about it; not only with me, but with Ryan Simms and Luke as well." The end, my demon, does not always justify the means. I would hope that you've learned that now.
If only the end were predictable, Sypher, the means would be so much easier to select. He thought the word hindsight at her in his own defense.
She brushed against his mind briefly, sending him a private wave of comfort and a wordless reassurance that she understood and didn't blame him. He simply needed to be made aware of the potential harm his actions could cause.
Seeing One coming, she switched back to vocal communication and pitched her words so that he could hear as well, although she really had no need to. "I was mistaken when I said we needed to talk about your deception of Luke and Ryan. The word I meant to use was alienation. You need all the allies you can find right now; and while caution is a good thing, constantly emulating Spender's example is only going to bring it all falling down around you in the end. Learn from your own experience, David, and use that knowledge to your advantage now. It's probably the only thing that's going to bring Luke and Ryan back into the fold."
Emulating the smoking human? Was he doing that? David didn't think so, but the assuredness of Sypher's tone gave him pause. Perhaps that was how things appeared to others and, sadly, appearance was, in large part, reality.
She brushed against him again, feeling the hurt confusion buried deep inside. I didn't tell you that to hurt you, beloved. I only wanted to warn you of the danger in the role we play in this conflict. Spender's power has been built on secrets and lies and the arrogant abuse of enemy and ally alike. You see where this has gotten him, how his position has been compromised and weakened and is even now in jeopardy because of his actions. You need to be careful if you wish to avoid his situation.
Wearily, he muttered, "I am not in present need of allies, Sypher. One is, however, and I will do what must be done to see that both Ryan and Luke can be counted among their number. Although," he began with an impassive expression that didn't reach his amused eyes, "I do hope they require less exertion to convince than you did."
Her face was impassive as well, but her tone was slightly saucy and smug. "Methinks the gentleman doth protest too much," she replied mildly, "as I was only returning the favor I was given. But should they require more convincing than you're able to give verbally, I'm sure we could find a way to spare your virtue." She heard a surprised bark of internal laughter from him before he settled back to the matter at hand.
Deliberately focusing on One, David murmured, "I understand Luke cut himself off from you." One nodded once and David said, "Good. He's already protecting Ryan in his own way. That's excellent." With a sigh and a glance at the door, David asked One, "Do you want to introduce the topic or shall I endure Luke's wrath first? It might be best to let him have his say."
Resisting the impulse to brush beneath the surface was difficult. One was aware of some deeper link with David now. As much as he had tried to wall them away, he had been dragged from his thoughts and duties by the spill of emotions and sensations from Sypher and David. He really couldn't meet them their eyes...not that sex disturbed him.
Sex was a grand thing, a way of cementing alliances as he had done with the delectable Ricky in such a delightful way. However, love was something else and One knew the difference even if David wasn't sure why it was different with Sypher. A picture played in One's mind of being allowed into that wonderful passion and communion...he shoved it away. He had no time for personal indulgences.
Sypher felt a wave of profound longing come over her, half-familiar in tone and flavor, and automatically looked to David as the source. But David was still busy trying to figure out how to get through this encounter without damage, and thinking very hard about what she'd said to him. Confused, she frowned slightly at One, a sudden flash of an image in her mind that was cut off just as quickly. Strange.
David sensed a half formed inquiry from One. Opening himself to it brought nothing but white noise. Puzzled, David filed the oddity away for a moment of quiet contemplation -- if he ever again got one.
Listening to David's question, One shrugged his answer. For a Mac 27 who was designed for simple labor, Luke had become amazingly complex. It was a wonder, a testimony to the essential individuality and potential of his kind. It was all the more reason for him to expand every effort to prevent his people's destruction.
"Let's see what Luke has to say. Don't underestimate him, David. He learned his lesson quickly. He no longer is a trusting soul."
"I told you," David began. "He threw me out a window. I know what he's capable of in the defense of someone that he ... that he loves. I'm counting on it and so are you. And for a Mac 27 of his basic programming to be capable of that emotion ... and to act on it so definitively, he's made cross connections, developed patches or discovered some other processing trick that he has no business making, developing or discovering. According to our creators, anyway."
Glancing briefly at Sypher, David concluded, "Luke has already earned my respect." Stepping aside, he gestured to One. "After you."
"God, baby, I knew that you'd be a natural." Alex couldn't stop kissing Hobbes. He wanted to crush the full lips like grapes, and drink in his breath. Every inward thrust felt as though he would burst. "Are you close? Can you come for me, Tom?" He gripped the other man's dick, pumping it hard and fast in time with his rapidly moving hips. When he felt everything tighten, he tried to freeze, to hold back, but damn, it felt so good, he was poised on the edge of a mountain, and the only way was down...
Tom chose that moment to tighten around him, and he was lost. With a sound that was half curse and half desperate plea for forgiveness, Alex buried himself into Tom, and felt the juices surging as he came.
At that moment Tom never felt more alive. The feel of Alex inside him, buried so deep and feeling his cock pulse inside him, ignited very cell in his body. His back arched up into the other body as much as it could and a breathless long deep moan tried to leave him but just couldn't. All he knew was he could feel his own juices spray out over Alex's hand and onto his body.
He swore he came so hard he saw lights, little spots in his eyes, or were they stars. His body fell limp, breathing hard till he felt the other body drop on him as well. Tom moaned softly with pleasure and wrapped his arms around Alex, stroking him in the after glow and feeling his own juices seep between them, crushed between their bodies.
--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--
Three hours later, Jess woke up. A good meal and the uninterrupted nap had helped her regain the mental control to almost completely block Baines. At least until he and Michael start going at each other again.
Deciding it was time to start training him how to block, she left her room and went down to his and knocked on the door. The clone that answered the door was another new scent to her. "I'm sorry. I was looking for Leigh. I must have the wrong room."
"Yes. I mean no." Roy looked a bit flustered. He had woken up thinking this was all a dream. Except that it didn't explain how he ended up here. "Yes, this is Leigh's room. No, he's not here now. I just arrived a little while ago and he said I could crash here."
Jess nodded, smiling. "I'm sorry, then. If you see Leigh or Michael, tell 'em Jess is looking for him."
"You're Jess? Leigh mentioned you." Roy had half expected her to be a female version of him, after all the talk of clones and androids. Not a beautiful young woman with a thousand watt smile. "Would you do me a favor? Leigh gave me the short version, but I'd appreciate the short, short version." He opened the door a little wider. Jess hesitated. "It's okay. I'll behave."
Jess looked him up and down. If he tried anything, she could always Change to defend herself. He was handsome, but then all the clones and Mac 27s were. But there was something different about him...
"Okay." Jess walked in and sat down on a chair that was by the door. Roy took a position cross-legged on the bed across from her. "Short, short version. It looks like this is the intersection of at least three experiments, maybe more. One on cloning, one on cybernetics, and one on genetic manipulation."
Roy looked a bit bewildered. "I've seen... I mean Baines and Michael and I...I've seen the clones. There were five a...androids that picked me up. Is that what you meant by cybernetics?
Jess shook her head. "Well, sort of. To be more specific, there was a project to create androids - the Mac27 line. At some point they became self-aware and the company that created them, Innobotics, started a recall to recycle them. Many have escaped and gone into hiding. There were, apparently, 10,000 of them. My....friend...guardian, Johnny, is one of the first 100. Guards."
"I met Johnny, with Baines and Michael. Why do you need a guard?"
Jess shook her head. She wasn't sure she wanted to get into that right now. She liked this young man. She felt comfortable with him and the urge to tell him all was strong and that made her wary. "When we get to know one another better."
Roy smiled a brilliant happy smile at her and said, "Does that mean we are going to get to know one another better?"
Jess could not help but smile back. Pleased at his pleasure. "Yes, I think so."
Roy bounced slightly on the bed as if he needed to give physical expression to his smile. "Okay, so we have clones. Are they only of this....Alex Krycek?"
"No, so far I have seen clones of Special Agent Fox Mulder too and Baines says he heard there was another of A.D. Skinner?
Roy's face acquired a look of concentration. "These people. The ones cloned. They have a connection, right? There must be a reason to use a specific group."
"I am not sure. We really are flying without a compass here. Information is accumulating slowly. We haven't quite put all the pieces of the puzzle together. Many of the ones that have information that we need are not sharing. Paranoia is rampant. Ah, to continue... Cybernetics. There are two cyborgs in residence; a combination of human and machine. From what I understand they were created by two different organizations. I....we fought one when he arrived." Her head went down as she remembered what happened to Baines.
Roy looked surprised, "You...fought?"
Jess giggled, "Okay, that is also for when we know each other better."
That brought another smile. She liked making him smile.
"Okay, what about genetic experiments?"
"I was a....a test subject in an experiment. Along with a number of others, we were.........." she could not go on.
Sympathetically, Roy got off the bed and came to kneel in front of her. He put a hand on one of hers that was gripping her leg tightly. "Hey, you want that to wait till we know each other better too?"
Her head came up and she breathed a sigh of relief at his understanding. They stared into each other's eyes for a long moment and his hand moved gently over hers as she relaxed. "Yes, please."
At that moment, Baines and Michael entered the room. "Hi, Roy, did you sleep okay? Jess, were you looking for me?
Roy didn't stand up or release her hand but smiled up at Baines. "Yes, I slept fine, thank you. You know it is very strange. I mean...with all the weirdness and all, I am feeling better than I have in months."
Something warm moved through Jess and Leigh looked at her closely. She was more relaxed than he had ever seen her, this close to other humans. A feeling of delight spread through him and immediately Jess picked it up. She turned her hand and gave Roy's a slight grip and stood up to face Leigh. "You are going to give me some of your time, right now. This has to be dealt with and as fast as we can."
Leigh grinned broadly at her pink cheeks. Roy looked from one to the other not understanding and suddenly worried that he had made a mistake. Michael moved closer to Baines and put his arm around him possessively and smiled reassuringly at Roy.
Leigh leaned into the embrace and said, "You're right. We can take some time now if you like. Michael can take Roy on a tour of the house and get some food. Introduce him around. People should be getting out of bed soon so the dining room might be a place to start."
Giving Michael a quick kiss he shooed them out of the room and turned back to Jess. "Okay, where do we start?"
Roy looked back and heard her say, "You have some natural ability to shield so all we need to do it teach you how to raise and lower them consciously."
--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--
The door closed behind Michael and Roy and Roy immediately turned to Michael and asked, "What was that all about?"
Michael paused and looked at him hesitantly. "Ah...there was an accident over a week ago and something happened to Jess and Leigh."
He stopped not knowing how to continue. "It really is not my story to tell. It would be better if Jess told you herself. It's....they....can read each others feelings and thoughts."
Roy flinched slightly and Michael hastened to reassure. "They can't read anyone else...at least not their minds anyway. Jess knows more about it than either Leigh or I so she is going to teach him how to close...shield himself from her." Michael blushed. "She says we are keeping her awake when we......"
Roy, like most men had had his science fiction phase and had read widely enough to grasp what was unsaid. Of course, they were just stories; fertile imaginations at work. But, many of the stories were taken seriously over time and experiments in ESP were conducted all over the world. It was not as far fetched, as it might seem. Time for suspension of disbelief.
Michael still looked embarrassed, so Roy said, "Jess promised to tell me when we know each other better. So I guess we will have to spend some time together doing just that." He smiled in anticipation. "Um, just so I understand, ah...there is nothing else between Leigh and Jess...is there? I mean I want to know her better if you get my drift. I won't be intruding on anything will I?"
Michael laughed and patted him on the shoulder. "No, you won't be intruding. Leigh and I...we...we are together. Jess and Leigh are becoming very good friends.....they have something in common and need to work together but....well it is not romantic or anything like that. Jess is good people, Roy. Really, really good people. She...she's had a lot of bad things happen to her and doesn't trust many people. So if she wants to get to know you. You are a very lucky man.
Nothing more was said on the subject of Leigh and Jess as they went into the dining room and got trays. Michael introduced Roy to the few early rising individuals present and Roy began the process of integrating himself into the community.
--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--
Baines took a seat on the bed. "What makes you say that?"
Jess shrugged. "You've been able to withdraw somewhat whenever I've said I'm uncomfortable. If you didn't have some natural aptitude, you wouldn't be able to."
He nodded as she moved from the chair to the bed as well. "First we are going to see if you can consciously project a thought. Not emotions, which is mostly what you're doing now."
"Okay." His first attempt didn't reach her. He couldn't explain the difference, but he knew that they didn't connect. His second attempt was successful. You and Roy make a cute couple.
Her head snapped up, gaze darkening. Leigh, please! No, she added when he opened his mouth. Don't say it. Think it at me.
So he did. Why not Jess? It was tricky to do so, but he kept most of the curiosity out of the thought.
She shook her head. I don't want to get into that now. This is about you learning to shield. Not my potential feelings for Roy.
Baines flashed her a smug grin. So you do feel something for him.
"Leigh!" she said vocally, exasperated. She grabbed the pillow behind her. "Don't make me use this," she mock growled. "Let's try something else. I want you to send an image. No emotions, no words. Just a mental picture."
"Okay." He closed his eyes and concentrated on a recent image. Jess sitting in the chair, a half flush on her cheeks as Roy knelt in front her with a sparkle in his eyes...
Despite her earlier warning, the pillow smacking him on the side of the head was totally unexpected. "Hey!" he yelled, throwing his arms in front of his face as she thumped him again. "Okay, okay, I'll stop."
Jess dropped the pillow, but kept it close at hand. "Okay, it's obvious that you can control what you're sending. Now the thing will be to get you to control when you are sending. This is the tricky part."
Baines nodded. "So what do I do?"
"I want you to imagine a wall - brick, steel, something solid. I want you to picture it surrounding you." Baines closed his eyes, and Jess watched him closely. She could feel his mental presence recede and then disappear. "Now stop thinking about them." The emotions came flooding back. She had him repeat this several times, to get used to the feeling. "This time I want you to do something slightly different," she said after the fourth time. "I want you to visualize your wall, but put a door or a window in it. Something you can open a crack to the outside world."
He did so, and even before she instructed, opened the door he pictured a crack. He could feel her pleasure at having such an apt student. Now close the door, she mentally requested. Again they practiced this several times.
Jess eventually relaxed. "Okay, I think that's enough for now. I want you to try to keep your shields up as much as possible. I know it's difficult to do consciously, but eventually it will become second nature."
"Just remind me when I slip. I don't want to hurt you." Baines reached out and pulled her into a bear hug. "I've wanted a sister for as long as I can remember, Jess."
Jess stiffened and then relaxed and swallowed the lump in her throat. "Been a long time since I've had any family, Leigh. It'd be nice to have a brother again. Especially if it's you."
Baines smiled. "Of course, this means I have to start being an asshole to the guys you date. And damn it, I like Roy..."
Jess rolled out of his embrace and picked up the pillow. "Leigh!" she yelled, exasperated.
He ducked her blow and ran for the door. "Gotta find Michael and Roy start my brotherly duties. See you at dinner." He shut the door just before the pillow hit it.
--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--
Scully left the infirmary once the incredible events had proven that Denise's bite marks were indeed healed and 'she' seemed to be fine left with Ricky. Scully was exhausted. She hadn't slept and time had passed. She was glad she'd found the time to shower and eat but now she really needed to sleep.
She began the dubious search for an unoccupied room.
Many of the rooms were now full but as she opened the door to one of them, she saw Tallulah jump down and come running up to her. Secretly delighted at having found the darling pooch, she picked up Tallulah, who rewarded her with a wet tongue, sparkling eyes and a happy bark.
Shushing her and clasping her close, Scully stepped into the room and closed the door. Beauregard appeared to be sleeping - and even in the dim light of the room she could tell Matthew was there too.
With a sudden wicked smile that was an unaccustomed expression for Dana, she took off her clothes and wearing nothing but her panties she began un-tucking the bottom of the bedcovers... Carefully, so as not to awaken the sleeping men, she inched her way upwards beneath the covers, creeping between them until she found her head poking out with her nose just above the edge of the sheet. The warmth was wonderful and the combined, mingling scents of the two of them was even more so.
Tired and feeling a little like Goldilocks sneaking into a bed that most definitely wasn't hers, she fell quickly asleep, drained by the events of the day.
A cold nose nudging his shoulder drew Matthew a little closer to consciousness. The warmth of two small hands on his back pushed him a little further along the journey. But his dream called him back. Murmuring, "Tasha," he leaned back into the hands and the cold nose followed his movement.
Beau had awakened as soon as Scully entered the room. Opening his eyes to the merest slits, he watched as she undressed. Seeing how tired she was, and aware of Matthew's need for sleep, he showed no reaction as she climbed into the bed with them.
Closing his eyes, he retreated once again into sleep - visions of their awakening dancing in his head. And hope that her joining them meant exactly what he thought it might.
Scully was dreaming. She was dreaming that someone warm and strong was lying beside her; part of her consciousness told her that this impression had to be mistaken. Struggling with this idea, she moaned quietly, desperately needing more sleep. She didn't want to wake up. Filtering through her half-awake awareness was the remembrance of where she was, and with whom. With a sigh borne of contentment and momentary safety, she gave herself over to the delight of putting her arms around Matthew to hold him closer, slipping away once again into sleep, a slight smile playing about her lips as she wondered what his reaction would be when they woke up...
Her eyes snapped open. Beau was lying behind her, not touching her. She froze, wondering if androids dreamed of electric sheep. Hard to tell if they slept or not. She hadn't been in the presence of the Mac27s long enough to determine any hard facts.
But Beau was undeniably as warm and quiescent as the man she currently held and her back felt exposed and cold. Feeling even more like a jezebel, she pretended to be stirring in her sleep and pressed her leg back, encountering a knee, a shin and even a warm foot. Leaving her leg there pressed to Beau's, she gave another small sigh and then let her mind slip away once more into dreamland, where memories of beloved Queequeg awaited her.
Matthew shifted back into the embrace, the warmth of the body and feel of breasts pressing into his back feeding directly into his dream within a dream. Images of times past became confused with the present. He was suddenly sure that the woman who held him wasn't Natasha, as she had clearly been when he'd fallen asleep -- in his dream, in reality -- he couldn't be certain. How did he know that she was someone different now? Why did visions of a face, much like his, appear periodically, hovering around the bed? Those questions faded as Matthew relaxed into a deeper sleep
Hours passed and unable to sleep any longer, Beau lay quietly simply enjoying the warmth of Scully beside him.
What to do?
He wanted Matthew - had done so since their first meeting. And Matthew, while interested in turn, obviously wanted Scully, too.
Hoping that they were both open to this thing between them (and, Scully climbing into bed with them surely indicated that she was at least interested) Beau rolled up behind her body and placed an arm over her waist. He buried his nose in her soft hair and nuzzled at her ear.
"Hey, pretty lady," he whispered. "You ready to wake up and play a little?"
Scully opened an eye. She suffered a moment's indecision; Matthew was so warm and lovely - but he was asleep, and Beau's arm against her waist felt awfully good, not to mention the nuzzling... Yawning slightly and pulling loose gently from her embrace, she let go of him and wriggled around in place to face Beau. With an uncharacteristic giggle, she managed to get both her arms around Beau's neck and planted a kiss on his mouth while sliding her knee quite blatantly up between his legs. Taking advantage of his surprise, delighted though he seemed to be, she rolled against him more firmly to clasp him like a mermaid pulling a drowning man down into the foam.
"You can tell me," she whispered. "How do they do it down your way?" And before he could reply, she nibbled on his lower lip momentarily before pulling back and adding, "Better yet, you could show me."
Oh. Mah. Gawd.
Beau was nearly overwhelmed by her response. Damn, he wanted her - hadn't expected sech a ... an enthusiastic answer to his overture, though.
Closing his arms around her, Beau laid a line of nibbling kisses across her face. "Damn, woman," he mumbled. "You are somethin' else! I'd purely love to show you how we 'do it' in the South."
The small point of cold against his shoulder remained, but the warmth was gone. Restlessly, Matthew rolled over onto his back, mumbling half words and sliding closer to wakefulness.
Beau's eyes fixed on Matthew for a moment and a twinge of guilt made him hesitate. "What about Matthew there - don't want to step on any toes here or make him feel, um, unwanted. 'Course, he might not be willing to have sex with a man or want to partake in a threesome. You want ta wake him and see if he's interested in joining the party?"
Scully found herself giggling again in response. In a conspiratorial whisper, she replied, "Besides being so pretty, you're positively brilliant. What a good idea..."
Scully turned to Matthew again and sliding her warm arm across him, she moved upwards to place her chin on his neck. "Matthew," she breathed in his ear, before taking his earlobe between her teeth and nipping gently before licking it with the tip of her tongue to soothe the bite. "We're having a party, and you're invited." And then grinning against his neck ran her hand over his chest, finding a nipple...
Matthew heard his name being called, but it sounded so far away. A brief flash of pain was followed so rapidly by a jolt of pleasure that he couldn't separate the two. This dream had taken a decided turn for the better. When the hand moving across his chest settled on a nipple, manipulating it lightly yet insistently, Matthew sighed.
A sharp twist startled him and he opened his eyes. The bedroom wasn't completely dark; the light of early morning was coming in along the edges of the drawn shades. Matthew's eyes scanned the room quickly and came upon a puppy -- Tallulah, if he remembered correctly -- was curled up contentedly next to him. So that meant Beau and some potential new experiences.
Heart beating rapidly because he wasn't quite sure about this, Matthew turned his head. Stunned, he gasped, "Dana?"
Beau moved to peer over Dana's shoulder. "Mornin' Matthew," he greeted with a smile. "'Pears we have company ... Pretty company, at that."
Both of them? Oh Christ.
Beau nuzzled at Dana's smooth neck, all the while watching Matthew's reaction.
Damn, she's gorgeous. Startled, Matthew found himself fascinated with seeing the next best thing to himself cuddling up to her. It was weird, but ... God, it was hot.
"Ah know this is new to ya, boy. Whatcha think ... shall we give it a whirl or would you be more comfortable if ah jest take Tallulah out fer a walk while you two, ah, get acquainted?"
"Looks like I should be the one taking a walk, Beau," Matthew murmured. "But if the two of you don't mind, I think I'd rather watch for a while." Chuckling softly, he added, "I've never thought of myself as a voyeur, but this ... this is something. So ... ah ... what do you say?"
Scully felt something like disappointment wash over her momentarily but it was followed by compassion...and the same mischievousness she'd acted upon earlier in climbing between the two of them in the first place. She'd put on the best show she was capable of to help this shy guy feel at ease with them. Meanwhile, she reached out a hand and held his cheek for a moment.
Matthew couldn't look away and he didn't try. His shock was rapidly giving way to anticipation of what he was about to witness.
With a little smile and a glint in her eye, she said, "You know you can join us at anytime, right? In fact, if you see something you'd like to try..." Letting her voice trail off, she licked her lips.
Swallowing hard, Matthew managed to nod. He already saw something he'd very much like to try, but she and Beau looked so incredible together that he hesitated to insinuate himself into the mix. Besides, the look in her eyes promised him that there was plenty of time for him to get into The Game.
Scully grinned and turned back to Beau, and with a deep-throated giggle, pulled his face to hers for a deep, wet kiss. Such a beautiful mouth, and his lips were as luscious as his accent. Scully found herself musing that this Suthern Gennleman would've blown Clark Gable out of the water. The way his tongue met hers and matched it both in passion and heat was enough to liquefy her insides and commence a drowning sensation that quickly took her under the waves. She barely had the presence of mind to wonder when her panties would turn from being mildly interesting to a frustrating obstruction.
Matthew nodded jerkily, his eyes never wavering from the two people splayed out before him. At the widening of Beau's smile, he blushed and stammered, "Yeah. Yeah, she's ... ah ... very beautiful."
He'd never done anything like this before -- watching. Natasha was a performer, so Matthew had been where Beau was right now, smiling amusedly at an American tourist. They'd met Roger in the Greek Islands. He'd asked to watch and had wanted Tasha so badly before they'd even gotten serious that he'd come in his expensive jeans. She'd laughed and kissed him on the nose before returning her attention to Matthew. For his part, Matthew had never seen a guy that grateful, before or since.
When Beau cleared his throat and caught his eye, Matthew froze. Beau slowly licked his lips and Matthew couldn't breathe. Or look away.
--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--
| Back to Game page | Alex Annex | Characters | Stories/Alpha | Stories/Author | Home |