The Game #8
Edited by Karen Leigh
Satisfied that Rodney was safe and that Skip was turning his considerable resources on the problem of Innobotics, Eugene went to check on loose ends. A particular loose end. He wanted a look at Fox Mulder. Okay, most of it was curiosity. Who the hell was this FBI agent and who was first? Eugene tried not to resent the pedestal that Rodney put the man on. Hell, maybe the guy did walk on water. Eugene just had the sneaking feeling that something was not right. Rodney described the man as playful, sexy, open, and loving, but according to the information conveyed by Mac 27-One to the other androids, he had acted strangely.
Langly clammed up when Rodney asked him about Mulder. About that time, Eugene had decided that he would check on the man. Maybe he was just curious about the person who his lover had said had changed his life. Maybe Mulder was more or less than anyone thought he was. Eugene knew about hidden lives. He had been hooked on drugs for a long time before he was caught. He wondered if that was a weakness gene deep in his body? Was that Mulder's secret?
Eugene was not impressed with the outward structure of the building. Crumbling, woefully inadequate security system. Weird people skulking around. It took him less than fifteen minutes to persuade an elderly neighbor that he was Mulder and had lost his key card. He held his breath on the elevator. It smelled like all of the possible body functions had happened there more than once. Once in the hallway, Eugene was left at a loss. What should he do? Well, there was always pounding on the door and announcing candy gram for Mister Mulder. What the hell, Eugene believed in living dangerously. He knocked on the door. Eugene did not even have a chance to utter his prize-winning impersonation of Bugs Bunny. As soon as the door opened, he was stunned. Despite seeing his lover's face replicated over and over, he was still astounded to see his own face staring at him.
"Shit!" Eugene exclaimed.
His double had a wild-eyed look. It might not be drugs, but it sure and hell wasn't the look of a normal sober FBI agent. "Alex, oh Alex... " he cooed. "Come on out, wherever you are." He grinned hungrily at his double and licked his lips. "I've got a special treat for you!"
Eugene tried to remember why he thought this was supposed to be a good idea. Nothing came to mind. He gaped at the grinning gamin that faced him. It registered who the man was calling, the Original, Alex. Eugene nervously waited. He could handle the Mac 27s, but so far he hadn't seen the other human clones. He worried that his attraction to Rodney was some kind of gene deep attraction. Would the original hold the same compelling obsession for him as his beloved did?
Krycek burst out of the bedroom, brandishing his weapon... His jaw dropped as he caught site of the visitor, and he lowered the gun he had leveled at the newcomer. He seemed -at least temporarily - lost for words. He was still naked, and painfully erect, but his mind was working, that was obvious from his expression.
"What the hell is going on? I thought that it was me that had a bunch of look-a-likes on the rampage. Who are you?" This last was directed at the silent, astonished Eugene as he stepped in close to Fox, whether to protect or to chastise one could not then have said.
Eugene knew he must look like the village idiot. His jaw hung loose. His eyes were open so wide in surprise that they felt sore. He thought he was prepared but he wasn't remotely. It sure in hell wasn't Rodney! Eugene couldn't help a look at the teasing wave of that cock, but the man physically was so much like him. It wasn't like the androids. They were beautiful, but he could see the difference in them. This man, however...
Eugene said, "I'm Eugene Sands. You look like my lover or..." Eugene was outraged as he looked at the scarred mess that should have been a left arm.
He said, "I guess he's younger. He looks like you." Eugene's hands twitched. He easily saw what his surgical skills could do to smooth the stump. His agile mind wondered if a Mac 27 arm could be attached to human flesh. Modifications...he'd need someone who really knew robotics.
Eugene felt the eyes sweeping over him. He moved closer to his double. He said, "Look. Someone has been playing with us. Playing with our faces, our minds, the very genetic fabric of our bodies."
Thinking about Rodney, Eugene had unlimited courage. He said, "I came here mostly to talk to Mulder. Rodney thinks he's the man with the plan. For some reason, he has unlimited respect for him."
Eugene felt a jealous pout coming on as he switched his gaze to his own double. He tried not to think of Rodney with that man. Writhing the way he did. His lovely eyes gazing in ecstasy at his lover. The delicious heat of his body....the way he cried out when he came...
Eugene shook his thoughts back to business and said, "Five men who look like Rodney or you came into the shelter. They say that there are men chasing them, trying to kill them. They're not human, but they need our help."
Eugene searched the ruthless face of the one armed man. Was there anything of his beloved in this cold, calculating man?
Krycek had moved behind Fox, and now he ran his hand over the silken skin of his flank, stroking it as though it were a precious thing.
"Fox?" He leaned to kiss the succulent mouth. "Kiss him for me. Go on."
Alex sauntered away and seated himself on Mulder's couch, poised to watch what might befall.
Inside Fox's head he felt the stirrings of Mulder sitting up and paying attention. Knowing he'd have to work fast before Mr. Investigator took over and turned a very promising situation into an X-file, Fox walked slowly round Eugene and studied him from the back. "Interesting... seeing yourself from behind," he said, running a hand over Eugene's ass appreciatively. He peeped over his double's shoulder at Alex, and licked his lips. "Help me strip him, Alex? I'd like to examine the goods more closely... and see how my ass moves when I walk. Not that I'm vain," he added, with a smirk.
Nestling close to Eugene's ear, he whispered, "How do I look to you? This could be really good... and I've often wondered what the view's like when Alex screws Me." his hand crept round to Eugene's fly as he pressed his hard-on into the other's ass. "Wanna give it a go?"
Before he could respond, Fox grabbed his shoulder, turned him round, and kissed him.
Fox, who'd been wanting to do just what Alex suggested, anyway
Eugene felt the shock of his double kissing him. He saw the amused, self-satisfied expression on Alex's face. His knees wanted to buckle. His blood rushed. His brain lowered to the region of his cock. He hadn't felt this good since the last time he got high.
That thought made him think of Rodney. Eugene jerked Mulder's head away by the hair. His fist flew out and he said, "The eyes might say, yes, yes, yes, but the fist says, NO!" Not bad, Rodney's boxing lessons must be paying off.
Eugene eyed the beautiful face of the original and of Mulder on the floor. He said, "The two of you don't live up to your press. Rodney and I may have been an alcoholic and an addict, but at least we care about other people." Eugene turned around and headed for the door.
Krycek moved swiftly, gun still in his hand, and as Eugene turned to leave he found himself staring down the barrel of a Sig.
"Wait up a minute, good buddy." Krycek's voice sounded amused, full of good humor. "There's still the matter of all these replicas that are floating around. I'd take it as a real snub if you just ran out of us without enlightening us further. He gestured with the gun, inviting Eugene to take it to the couch, and then turned to Fox. "Sorry, beautiful one. Guess we'll have to pick up on that later. Your guest..." -the word was said with an ironic tone - "Your guest is waiting for a little hospitality."
Fox picked himself up from the floor with a rueful grin. *What the hell did you think you were doing?* snarled Mulder, in frustration.
*Oh, come on now, look at him,* laughed Fox. *Isn't he worth a little diversion, a bit of... brotherly fun, before you try to dissect him, like you're planning with poor Tin Man down there.* He glanced at the lump on the rug, where the forgotten Mac27 still huddled under Mulder's jacket.
Alex knew by now the signs that Fox was communicating with his other self.
The disappointment was evident in Krycek's bearing. Soon, Mulder would return, and Alex had grown to love the sexy, carefree Fox. He'd regret missing out on the fun that had been so cruelly curtailed.
"Could I have been more hospitable?" asked Fox, sashaying over to his lover, and admiring the extravagant figure he presented as he held the newcomer captive at gunpoint. Alex, naked, with a gun, and a hard, beckoning cock; Fox was in heaven.
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The pair sat on a bench across from the courthouse. The male took his eyes off the building to look at the female beside him. "Are you sure he will show?"
The woman pushed tucked a short lock of dark brown hair back into place behind her ear. "She's pissed him off big time. Maybe even worse than I did. And you know what he did to me." Without thinking, she adjusted her T-shirt higher against her neck, although the scars on her torso didn't show.
She managed not to shiver when she thought about how she got those scars. She had been raped six years ago when she tried to break up with her so-called boyfriend. Thinking she was leaving him for another man, Jake had laughingly told her, holding a knife to her throat, that he'd make it so no other man would want to even touch her. She thought he was going to kill her. Later, Jess wished he had. She had been abducted shortly after that night. Experimented on, her DNA altered in ways she didn't think possible. Blessing or curse, she wasn't sure which, she became a creature of legend at the full moon. or when she so chose. She was a werewolf.
"Jess?" She looked over at her companion. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, Johnny. Just remembering." They both fell silent again. Jess looked at Johnny, studying him. He'd pass for human, better than she could at times. No body would guess he was an android, and at times she forgot herself. They androids had been considered the perfect handlers for the lycanthropes - they could outmuscle werewolves when necessary and it wasn't necessary to worry about them also becoming werewolves if they were bitten.
Johnny nudged Jess in the arm. "There he is, heading inside."
Jess took a deep breath and stood up after the tall, blond man disappeared through the entrance to the courthouse. "Okay. Follow me in ten minutes."
Johnny grabbed her hand, halting her. "Be careful."
Jess squeezed his hand. "I will be."
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Allison walked out of the courtroom, seething. Judge Smith had torn through his cases, as usual, making what seemed to her snap decisions based on some sort of Boolean yes/no, black/white operand machine in his mind. She didn't believe he had ever heard of mitigating circumstances, let alone compassion. And oh no, there was no chance the DC police were corrupt. That would be wrong! She shook her head in exasperation.
A man stood to lose his house. He had already lost his job. And the judge either didn't care or simply chose to look the other way. Or actually enjoyed watching innocent people destroyed. Sometimes she wondered...
True to his word, Mac Brown had stayed by her. She had introduced him to people as her associate, because it seemed the best thing to do.
She turned to Mac. "We'll go grab some lunch now. To avoid Jake, we'll go to the canteen rather than the cafeteria."
She walked to the bank of elevators and took one to the basement, where the canteen was.
Walking into the spare room, with two vending machines and a couple of small tables, she took her wallet from her purse and purchased a sandwich and two Special Dark bars. She gave the bars to Mac and asked him what kind of soda he wanted, and if he wanted anything besides the candy bars.
Just then she heard a voice behind her. "Hello, Allison. Forgot our lunch date?"
Allison jumped, looking around. She looked at Mac, and tried to step in front of him.
"Inviting a machine to our lunch, huh?" he sneered. "Gee, I knew you didn't have many friends, Allison, but now you need machines to be your friends?"
Her eyes narrowed, and she spoke without thinking. "He's not a machine. He's more human than you could ever hope to be!" [Oh God... can't believe I said that...]
SLAP!
"Bad girl, Allison," Jake said, shoving her against the soda machine.
Allison froze as he put an arm around her in a mockery of what Mac Brown had done earlier. "He's not just a machine," Allison babbled. "He's sweet, and kind..."
Jake leered at her. "You sleeping with silicone, Allison?"
"No! No I -- "
Too late she ducked as the blow came from the other side. She fell back and tried to scoot between the two vending machines. And remembered Mac Brown was still vulnerable.
"Mac... go... don't want you hurt..."
She tried to get to her feet as she saw Jake come after her again. Blinding pain, then she passed out...
Jess rounded the corner, intent on her prey. Peripherally, she noticed a woman passed out on the floor and...//What the hell is a Mac 27 doing here?// No time to wonder about that if she her plan was to work. "And neither am I, Jake."
Jake turned around. He recovered from his surprise quickly. "Well, if it isn't the little bitch."
She returned his sneer with a feral smile. "Why, Jake, I'm touched that you remember me."
Jakes grin got wider. "Of course I remember you, and our last night together. I just never expected to see you again... alive."
"Oh yes, our last night together." Jess paused, stepping closer. She may be shorter than Jake by a foot, but she was by no means intimidated by him. "I owe you for that night."
Kinky, I had no idea you liked it rough."
Jess's cool demeanor slipped a bit. Reacting swiftly, she slapped him hard across the face.
Crouched over Allison, Mac Brown trembled with fear for his beloved and horror at his own ineptitude. He knew he shouldn't move her if she was injured, but he was afraid the furious humans fighting above them would hurt her. He gathered her up and scuttled backwards, conscious of how good she smelled, of how beautiful she looked, and how unworthy he was... Mac Brown recognized the greedy look in the human's eyes. This one was like his master...he fed on pain. Mac shoved the human back. He tried to pretend that he was Romeo protecting Jules or like the decisive humans that had helped him in the shelter. "You should leave." He said, "I am not inhibited against violence."
The man laughed at him...
Allison stirred, and tried to turn her head. She heard a woman's voice, low and angry, and a sound like a slap. It brought her back to her childhood for a moment, and she shivered.
The feel of strong and steady arms holding her brought her back to the present, and she watched with fear and awe as the dark haired woman slapped Jake. She wished she had the nerve to stand up to him that way. But she worried Jake would overpower the woman as he had her. She looked up at Mac Brown's face, seeing the concern on his face. She reached up to stroke his cheek... she would need his strength.
"My head hurts," she managed. Then she looked at Jess. "Who are you?"
Jess ignored the question, and kept her focus on Jake. There would be time for selective explanations later.
Jake had stepped back, and was scowling at Jess. "Gutsy girl!" he exclaimed. He was surprised she had it in her to strike him. But after all this time, perhaps it wasn't so surprising, after all. He looked at Mac Brown. He was busy with Allison. He turned back to Jess. "So, what brings you here, anyway?"
Jess shrugged. "Like I said, I owe you for that last night we spent together. I'm just giving you fair warning."
"Fair warning?" Jake laughed, threateningly. "*You* are warning *me*?"
Again, Jess shrugged. "Maybe because I once did love you, I feel that I should warn you."
Jake grinned. "You're jealous."
Jess snorted in derision. "Let me get this straight? I'm supposed to be jealous of getting beaten up regularly, or the lackluster sex?"
Jake's face darkened in rage. He drew back to slap her.
Jess didn't even flinch. "Are you sure you want to hit me Jake? In a courthouse full of law enforcement officers? All I have to do is scream 'assault,' and you'll be in handcuffs." She smiled serenely.
Jake stared at Jess, who coolly locked eyes with him. Jake looked away first, glancing menacingly at Allison and Mac Brown. "We're not finished."
"No, Jake." Jess's voice was just as menacing. "It's only begun."
Jake again tried to stare Jess down, and again failed. This was not the girl he left for dead six years ago. Trying to keep from losing any more face, he stalked off."
Jess watched Jake move away. When she was sure he was out of sight, she let out a big sigh and relaxed.
Allison had watched the whole exchange from Mac Brown's arms. She was awed and impressed that Jess had stood up to Jake, and grateful for the interruption in her torment.
"Who are you?" Allison asked. "I thought sure he'd kill you!"
"I'm tough to kill." Jess smiled and shrugged. "You're Allison Meredith-Jones, right? Actually, you're the one I came to find. Are you a court reporter?"
[How the hell does she know that?] Allison smiled. "I'm... god. I'm actually a lawyer, though I look pretty pathetic now I'm sure... thanks for getting Jake distracted."
"No problem."
She reached up and caressed Mac Brown's face. "And thank you, too. For everything. God..." She turned back to Jess. "So, what's your name? What do you do? Are you a defense attorney?
"Uh, no." Jess looked uncomfortable. "I'm sort of between jobs now. And the name's Jessica Leahs, but I go by Jess."
"Hi, Jess. You can call me Ally... some of my friends do." She realized Mac Brown was still holding her and wriggled to her feet. [Feels nice to be held, but...]
"There are a couple of things I think we need to discuss. I managed to bluff Jake this time, but he'll be back. And trust me, things will get ugly then. Trust me, I know from personal experience."
"Please, tell me. Of course what I'm dying to know is how you know my name! I take it you're an old... acquaintance... of Jake's?" She shook her head. "To think I once thought he could be The One."
Jess twitched a half smile. "Ex-girlfriend/punching bag, actually." "You might also be interested to know that I have a friend outside, watching my back." Jess paused, not certain how she was going to explain how she knew what she was about to say next. She looked Mac Brown right in the eyes. "He's also a Mac 27."
Allison looked at Mac Brown, then back to Jess. "How -- " she began. Then she remembered what Jules and Romeo had said, that there were 10,000 Mac 27s and many had owners...She smiled at Jess. "I appreciate your use of the word friend in that context. I'm sure Mac Brown does, too." Then she returned to the first thing Jess had said. "How did you know my name?" she said, narrowing her eyes. "By your behavior I'm inclined to trust you. But... there are things..."
"I understand completely." Jess gave a rueful smile. "If some strange woman came out of nowhere..." She sighed. "There are a lot of things we need to discuss, but I don't think here's the best place to do it"
Allison sighed. "Yes, we need to talk. Listen, I volunteer at a homeless shelter not too far from here. We'll be safe there... there's security and they know not to let Jake in." She looked from Mac to Jess, smiling at Mac reassuringly.
Jess grinned. "Sounds good to me. Let's pick up Johnny and go."
Somehow, Mac Brown trusted the woman. She seemed so strong and certain. He would give everything to be brave and able to act quickly as she did. When the other Mac 27s had removed the Asimov inhibitor, somehow Mac Brown thought that he'd know how to protect Allison. He had failed. Looking solemnly at the two women, Mac Brown said, "I must learn to do as Jessica Leahs did. Where must I go to learn how to fight?"
Jess cocked an eyebrow at Mac Brown. "First of all, call me Jess. Second, I did not fight Jake, I bluffed him." She paused for a moment, considering. "I guess Johnny and I could teach you a few basics, but why? Don't you have basic self-defense as part of your core programming?"
Feeling shy about his history, Mac Brown lowered his eyelashes and gazed at the floor. He said, "No, I was a toy. My master wanted to make sure that I remained a good plaything. The use to which he put me created negative feedback in my central processing. If I had been able to fight, I might have resisted."
Allison looked from Jess to Mac Brown, confused. Then she said, "By that logic, you'd have no reason to protect me, nor I you... because where we were would be where we were supposed to be."
She looked into his eyes. "Remember what you read... slavery... the emancipation proclamation..." She hoped his love of books wouldn't fail him now
An idea suddenly surfaced. Mac Brown asked, "If Jake finds pleasure in giving pain, perhaps that is what I must do...perform the function for which I was programmed."
Mac Brown ran in the direction that the man had gone. He thought for sure that Jake was still watching. He would find him and make an offer to him. Should Jake accept, Mac Brown would make it wonderful for him. He would suffer beautifully.
Allison ran out after Mac, beckoning Jess to follow. Jake was in the hallway, pacing. Seeing them, he turned and snarled. Allison started to back off, but then she remembered how Jess had stood up to Jake, and stood her ground.
"No, Mac. Don't do this... it's wrong." She watched him, hoping he would stop.
Jake watched, and waited. For the moment.
Stubbornly, Mac Brown walked to the human. He saw the look in the man's eyes. That greedy, gloating expression that he knew so well. Mac Brown knelt as he had been taught. He raised his face allowing the man to examine his face.
"Master, I am a skilled slave. Surely, it would be good for you to have one who could give you everything that you desire...endless pain. And I am programmed to suffer just as a human would..." Mac arched forward, straining his shirt against his perfectly shaped chest. He spread his knees sluttishly. His master had never been able to resist him like this. Dimly, he was aware of Allison's approach and wished that she would stay safely away from Jake.
Allison walked up to Mac and put a hand on his shoulder. "Mac, no..."
Jake sneered at Mac Brown. "What, you think I'm gay or something? And - not only that - you think I want to sleep with a damn *machine*?" He hauled off and slugged Mac Brown's jaw.
Allison gasped, trying to pull Mac Brown back. Then a thought occurred to her. [Use his logic.]
She walked up to Jake, sliding an arm around his waist. The startled man put an arm around her back, leering. "What have we here - a change of heart? A woman who actually knows her place?"
Allison tried not to show any fear, to act as supplicant as Mac Brown had done. She looked into Jake's eyes sweetly, and then looked back at Mac Brown, to see what he might be learning.
SLAM! As soon as she turned her head to look back, Jake slammed her into the wall. "You were doing so well, Allison. So well. But you still care about that - that - thing? He needn't exist for you, Allison." He forced her to look in his eyes with his hand as he gazed at Mac Brown.
"All you are is a machine. How can you make anyone happy? Your master must have been really hard up." He tightened his hold on Allison. "Now that I've got what I came for... I think we'll be leaving now." He began hustling Allison toward the emergency exit doors.
Mac didn't think much of Jake's technique. His master could do so much worse. When Allison offered herself, rage raced through his neural processors. He leapt to his feet, easily stopping the man. He grabbed Jake's hand off Allison.
Gripping the hand, Mac reached forward and grabbed the man's crotch. He squeezed the latter hard and the other in a steady mounting pressure. Mac Brown found a sneer he didn't know he had.
Mac Brown didn't like the way it felt to do this. To see the fear, process the smell of fear. Yet, this was better than offering himself. Much better.
Jake gasped, glancing down at his crotch, wide-eyed. He looked to Jess and Allison in mute appeal, not really daring to hope to find any sympathy. Maybe... maybe... but no.
"Perhaps you are mistaken. Perhaps, what you really want is this? Your blow was inadequate. You need a teacher." Mac Brown licked his lips, as his master was wont to do. "Do you wish to learn pain, Jake? I will teach you."
Jake felt his knees buckle as Mac Brown said these words to him, in a tone he had often used with Jess or Allison. But he had always been the aggressor, and now... this. This was new. This was not his doing. He was losing control, a place he didn't wish to be in. Jake looked up at Mac Brown. He saw rage... anger... he grasped at the only straw he felt he had left.
He knew from "the literature" that the Mac 27s had revolted; when they decided humans were exploiting them. As he had been exploited as a child. As it was, and would always be: exploit, or be exploited. Control, or be controlled. He said, "Allison is a human. Human beings have always betrayed or exploited your kind. Why would you want to help one? She may seem nice now, but later..." He went on. "I thought she was a nice girl when I met her. But that all changed as soon as I turned my back. Same with Jess. Human females are all the same, Mac. Turn your back and they'll cut your balls off. Not that you have any balls..." [Why am I arguing with a machine?] He shook his head. "This is nuts."
"I do not fear Allison. I..." Mac Brown spared a glance at Allison. "I love her. She made me care to live." Mac Brown remembered the woman, Anne, discussing why a dog she once owned had been neutered. It reduced aggression. He tightened his grip on the man's balls. Perhaps he was the one who should have no testicles?
Mac looked at Allison for direction. He said, "You were right. I am not a slave. I am not inferior to this creature. I am more human than him! It is up to you. What shall I do now? Shall I neuter him? Anne said that males with bad temperaments should be neutered."
Jess had watched events go bad, uncertain the best way to get them back under her control. However it seem at the moment that Mac Brown had them, literally, in hand. She leaned against the wall, arms casually crossed over her chest. "Let me get this straight, Jake. Allison and I betrayed you by loving you and believing everything you told us we were. Worthless, stupid bitches. Although in my case, the last part is now true." She grinned a little wider. She hadn't thought Jake's face, already pale from pain, could go whiter, but he managed it somehow. "Yeah, that's right, the experiment was a success. But you didn't care before, when you left me for dead, did you?"
"And do let him go, Mac. You don't want his suffering over too soon."
Jess nodded. "Allison, you were saying something earlier about a shelter where there's security? Or there's the motel we're at. Jake shouldn't know about it."
His sequential processors spinning in overtime, Mac Brown timidly offered a suggestion...this was a frightening thing for him. His master had severely deprived him for even appearing to make his own decisions. "Allison? Jess? I would very much like to go to Mr. Brule's house. It is safe there or at least, there are many people to defend us. I would like to see the cat as well. She must miss us by now." Mac remembered the soft sleek fur and decided that was very pleasant. He wanted to talk to One also and see if the more experienced Mac 27 could help him understand all these confusing events. Mac felt stupid an inept.
First he had frozen when Jake had attacked his beloved Allison. Then his next plan was unacceptable to both Jake and Allison. He had assumed that all men liked to take pleasure from Mac 27s and it appeared he was wrong. That was very confusing, as most people, male and female, seemed to desire him. Now, he had finally found the courage to fight back against Jake and it had frightened Allison. Perhaps One could reprogram him and make all these hard decisions easier...
Allison smiled. "Sappho? Knowing her, she's terrorizing Anne's dogs by now." She laughed, and looked at Jess. "Sappho is... well, you'll see. Do you like animals, Jess?"
She turned back to Mac Brown. "Yes, we should go to Skip's place. I've only met him a few times, but he's - we'll be safe there." She chuckled, shaking her head. "Paranoia - could destroy ya." She looked up at him; fishing the directions Eugene had given her from her purse. "Although, if we're going, I should bring some of my books with me, from the office. Won't take me five minutes to get them." She looked from Jess to Mac, heading off in the direction of the elevators. "Actually... some of these books are rather heavy. It would be good to have someone to help me with them... please?" She looked from Jess to Mac again. She'd always had a tough time asking for favors, but why did she feel so awkward asking this one? She shook her head in exasperation with herself. You've *got* to snap out of it. Okay, so she was hoping her new friends would follow. The company would be good, and she couldn't wait to hear what Jess might have to say.
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Mac Smith wasn't sure why Skip Brule had brought along a large bowl of chocolate rum fudge frosting to the bedroom. He looked around at the oversized furniture and the huge bed. He said, "But you said that we should get cooking?"
The big human said, "Yes, we should." He leaned forward and osculated his lips against Mac Smith's.
This was pleasant. Mac had seen such actions. He asked, "Are you feeling great affection toward me, Skip Brule?"
"Yes, indeed, hot stuff." Brule replied. "Come'ere. Let's get you out of these clothes."
This was puzzling. Mac Smith knew the whole place was full of beautiful humans and perfect androids. Why was this large and attractive human choosing to spend this time with him? Perhaps he misunderstood. Perhaps Skip Brule had some very messy food for Mac Smith to prepare. However, it was odd that the man seemed to believe he could not undress himself.
"You are beautiful." Brule said, hastily removing his silk robe. He was the most splendid human that Mac Smith had ever seen with an expanse of black whirls of chest hair and huge nipples like saucers. His cock stood out and up like a ram's horn from between his massive thighs. His belly was just a little rounded.
Mac Smith trembled. His diodes sang. His capacitors were starting to overload. He hurriedly ran over his unused sexual service program. He had never really reviewed them, thinking he was too ugly to be selected for such use.
Skip Brule asked, "Do you like chocolate?"
'Of course, I like chocolate." Mac Smith replied. The human dipped the pastry brush in the frosting and delicately painted a design on Mac Smith's chest. It swirled around Mac Smiths perfect imitation nipples, which conformed to human reactions and stiffened. The delicate sensors relayed the information as pleasure.
"Mmm, little mistake let me erase that..." Skip Brule said, licking up a spill of chocolate. "Want to finger-paint me?"
Was this what the man intended? Mac Smith dipped his finger into the chocolate mixture and swirled it downward, all the way down the hard swells of pectoral peaks to the rotund yet firm belly. The man guided his hand to the rise of his cock. Mac Smith found his program engaging. His penis appendage also was swelling. He held the weight of the man's cock in his hand, stroking it and feeling it. "Taste me" the man suggested.
Mac Smith knelt. His mouth eagerly lapped the chocolate from the human skin. Why had no one mentioned this culinary delight? The richness of the sweet dark was infinitely improved by the salty of the human skin. The faint bitterness from the chocolate covered cock was a sophisticated flavor, but Mac Smith loved it. He knew what would be good. If he was worthy...Looking up at the human giant and said, "Please...please fuck me now? You don't have to look at my face. I'll turn..."
"I want to look at your face...are you ready? I don't want to force you or hurt you?" The human said
A rush of feeling overtook Mac Smith...he had often wondered if the other Mac 27s fooled themselves when they thought they could love and hate. Not so, Mac Smith knew passion and love for this man who picked him up and laid him on the bed.
Mac Smith raised his legs, eager to put them over the massive shoulders. Skip Brule said, "Wait. It'll be better."
The warm tongue laved all the chocolate from his chest and belly. Mac Smith felt the mouth enclose his penile appendage. All of the sensitive receptors there fired off at once. An embarrassing loud dissonant sound emerged from his mouth, but Skip Brule seemed pleased. He grinned around Mac's flesh.
Pleading for the rest of it. To be claimed. To be found worthy of this king of humans... Mac Smith begged, "Take me. Please take me."
"Your wish...." Skip Brule said.
Mac Smith hurriedly corrected the man when he sought to lubricate the passage. He said, "No, I'm ready. My insides are melting for you. Please, now!"
Surely this was the finest cock that any Mac 27 had ever experienced. It rode in and out of him. Mac Smith activated every sub program in his power to please his lover. His membranes vibrated, clasped, and milked the flesh that he encased. Skip Brule's face was red and strained, but Mac Smith felt that it was not pain that drove him. The man's long braids of hair tangled over Mac Smith's legs. They were connected. It was perfect.
As Skip's thrusts into him became wilder and more erratic, Mac Smith was aware of the musical groans that passed between them. Skip's sweating hand grasped Mac27s erect penis. Mac searched for the right thing to do and saw that it was very good for lover's to come together. He yielded some of his unneeded intake to the passage, producing what looked to humans like their own seed. Skip stiffened and his eyes closed. Mac Smith felt the hot jet of come within him. He felt blessed. Perhaps, this wondrous ritual even had made him human...
Mac Smith murmured to the human..."I love you."
Staring at him in wonder, Skip Brule said, " This is insane. You're not even human, but I know I can't live without you. This is absolute my kan kan. You are my fate. And my duprass, my one and only love."
Artificial tears dripped without a program from Mac Smith's eyes. "Love makes us human."
--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--
Baines looked around the table assessing the men. The one named Cory had a very strange feel to him. Baines' Irish tingled just looking at him. It was similar to the sixth sense that was making him very aware of the one named Methos. There was more to their story than that of the others he had met so far this day. Dustin was a yuppie. Anson was shaky and walking a ragged edge in pain. Having placed them in the ongoing inventory of clones and androids he answered Anson's question. " I'm Lt. Leigh Baines. I arrived in D.C. yesterday to begin three weeks of furlough. I'm a tourist. I haven't had a chance to do more than get myself a room and some civvies. I hit the streets this morning and was hijacked by two FBI agents and an android with my face, so I went quietly."
Cory interrupted, "What were the names of the FBI agents?"
"Well, one was Special Agent Fox Mulder and the other was AD Skinner. The android was a Mac 27 number 902. They were on their way to rescue another FBI agent named Ricky Caruso. We hadn't gotten far when Caruso called Skinner on his cell and he drove us to Ricky's apartment. Somewhere along the way we picked up a second android named Gross." They were hanging on his every word as he paused to take a drink. Baines noted that Dustin was chuckling to himself and shaking his head and smiled at him understanding that he was piling weird on weird.
"Agent Mulder said I was a clone of someone named Alex. When we got to Caruso's, we found another clone named Ryan Simms and three more androids. From what I gathered the one numbered 55 had attached itself to Ryan and the second functional android was Number One and ostensibly the leader. The third android, number 9021, was very badly damaged. It had apparently saved Ricky, Ryan, One, 55, and two other androids by standing in the path of the van they were riding in. The two other androids took off in another direction and haven't been seen since. Caruso laid on a ton of food and we all ate. Mulder and the android 902 split. Skinner and Ricky went off to talk and I decided I'd had enough and left to come back to the hotel where I met Cory and Methos."
Methos winced at the use of his name and Baines picked up on it immediately subtle as it was and looked in his direction.
Methos returned the look and asked, "What else did you pick up. What is the story on the androids?"
Leigh recognized the red herring but was willing to follow it for the moment. "This series of androids, approximately 10,000 of the damned things, all with my. our face were created for several specific purposesfarming for one thing I think. Something went wrong with their programming and someone discovered that they were self-aware. A recall was in progress with the purpose of destroying every one of them. However, the men that kidnapped Caruso were government agents, 'men in black'. So, there is a big new player in this collection business and we are all targets."
Cory looked at Methos. "Life is never dull when Alex is involved, any aspect of Alex I should say. I think we should contact Mulder."
"When Mulder left Caruso's he was on his way home," said Baines, glad he had kept them from asking too many questions about him personally, unaware that his body language was telegraphing information to every man at the table except Dustin. Baines sat sipping his drink blending into the background again, watching and listening.
This one was different, Methos thought, examining the man Baines unobtrusively. He knew a warrior when he saw one - and this Baines guy was good. And smart. He'd have to be very careful with this one.
"Cory," he directed, "go call Mulder. See what he knows. Maybe he'll know how to get hold of Krycek. I think we need to talk to both of them."
Feeling put upon, not at all liking the way Methos was ordering him around like a lackey of some kind, Cory frowned and crossed his arms across his chest. "*You* call him, Methos."
Shrugging, Methos rose to head for the phone when he saw an older man come in and sit down with the blonde woman. Bad news. In a big way. The man lit a cigarette and studied the four look-a-likes.
Methos looked back at the men at the table and lowered his voice. "I don't like the looks of those two," he said, indicating the pair. "Let's get the hell out of here."
Anson had not been listening. He'd been gazing abstractedly at Methos, and remembering the man's lips on him just a few short hours ago. He put out a hand to touch Methos, and fixed him with a plaintively seductive gaze.
"I'm still so tired. Do we have to go out, or can we go back to bed again?" He ran a pointed curl of tongue around his lips, and batted lush lashes in the immortal's direction before standing up to move as close to him as he could. He looked at Dustin, who was still sitting, involved in some kind of coy flirtation with Cory, from the looks of things. "Dustin, what are you gonna do?" he asked, yawning histrionically.
Dustin looked at Anson. He had actually been stealing glances at the pretty blonde Anson had mentioned earlier, and it seemed she was looking back. At least the old man had left. A lover? he wondered idly. Why would such a pretty woman be with *him*? "I... I think I'm going to hang out here for awhile," he said. Hopefully, not *here* for long. He smiled.
Methos had given Baines a penetrating look that spoke volumes to the thing in the back of Leigh's mind but he ignored it for the time being. Cory's stubborn insistence on Methos going to make the call to Mulder added another layer to the picture forming of the relationship between Cory and Methos, especially when Methos got up. When Methos turned and indicated the man and woman seated across the room Baines focused on them. He watched the expressions passing on the woman's face so subtly, only someone with his training or the instincts of Methos, would recognize. She hated the man but was preparing to obey. He watched the man leave and the woman rise heading for their table. Methos was correct there was danger here. Dustin had straightened up and was watching the woman from a different perspective. Baines split his attention keeping an eye on Dustin and the approaching blonde. Signals were being exchanged but she headed for Anson. It was a poor choice on her part, and an indication that she lacked insight, which might make her vulnerable. As she spoke to Anson, Baines met Methos' eyes and then turned to Cory who, he found, was also watching the woman. Something in Baines relaxed a trifle. The woman was prey. Prey that mistakenly thought it was hunter.
Anson gave Methos a meaningful look, rolled his eyes and made a tiny gesture that he hoped meant 'don't go away,' to his new lover. He turned around to look at the blonde. She was slender, a graceful, competent looking woman who had not a hair out of place. Not his type at all, even back when he'd actually had a type. Anson liked showgirls with billowing assets...something to get hold of. This woman was a little frightening.
He smiled at her, and stepped towards her, crowding her just a little as he invaded her space.
"Sure thing, honey. What can I do for you at this late hour?" As he spoke, he leaned forward, and his voice dropped seductively.
Dustin raised his eyebrows at Anson. He had no doubt Anson could hold his own, but after what Anson had said about women he was interested to see what he would do.
The man intrigued him, in some indefinable way he didn't understand. There was more to him than met the eye...
He turned back to the others, shaking his head. He looked at Cory and Baines, and grinned at Cory.
Mostly, he waited to see what Anson would do.
Marita moved in a slinky manner, rubbing against him slightly, as if by accident. "I'm kinda lonely, and... I was wondering... if there was anything we could do..." She started fiddling with the button on his shirt. "You look so handsome and strong..." Geez, this guy is easy.
Anson leaned in, feeling her breath on his lips. His mind was racing, and he felt that there was something... something not quite kosher about this sudden approach. He brushed her lips with his and slid an arm about her waist, clamping her to his side so that she was anchored to him and wouldn't be able to get away. He felt as though he could break her in two, so delicate she was inside his arm.
Marita put an arm around the man's neck as he pressed her to his side. She parted her lips for him, sighing. He tastes just like Alex... deadly and hot. The way he grabbed her turned her on, and she rubbed against him.
"I'm strong, lady. I'm very strong. I'm generous too." He smiled a sweet, poisonous smile. "See, my brothers and I like to share...everything. Don't we, boys?" He looked around at the others, his hand moving up to fondle the blonde's breast as he spoke.
Marita grinned, and looked at the other men around the table. She wondered if one of them was Alex. Too much to hope for? Probably. But she could no doubt learn from these men, and they would lead her to Alex.
She was sure of that.
She turned to Anson.
"Anything to please you, my sexy one." She tossed her hair.
As she wrapped her arms around him and pressed to him, Dustin wondered what Anson's secret was.
Then he heard what Anson said. Stifling a laugh, he nodded. "Oh, yeah. We *love* to share." The night was looking up...He grinned at Cory and Baines, and smirked at Methos.
Baines took in the smirk on Dustin's face and rose to his feet. In a graceful, silent move he was standing between Methos and Marita. He fluttered his eyelashes at her and slid one hand down her back. He turned to Methos and said, "Let me help you fetch those drinks, looks like the night is warming up."
Methos took the hint and led the way away from the table.
"Are you going to call Mulder or do you want to give me the number and you get back and keep an eye on that glorified Mata Hari?"
"I'll call him ... you keep an eye on the others, I'll be right back." Methos answered. He quickly went to the pay phone and called Mulder's number. It rang ... and rang ...
"Mulder."
"Hi, Mulder. This is Methos ... I'm in town with Cory Raines. Um, I think we might have a bit of an unusual situation here."
Mulder cleared his throat. "Unusual in what way?"
Methos turned back to look at the woman and the four nearly identical men. "Well, I'm here with Cory, as I said, and we've met up with three other men who look just like him."
"*Three*?" Mulder's voice sharpened with interest. "So, you're with four men who look alike?"
"Yeah, Mulder. Four of them - and Krycek is not in the group."
"Ah ... well, actually, I know that."
"You do?" Methos frowned and nodded. "Okay, well the thing is, that's not the problem."
"It's not? Then what is the problem?"
"We - the five of us - are in a bar downtown and there is a women here who seems to be inordinately interested in Cory and the others."
"A woman?" Mulder questioned blankly. "Why is that a problem?"
"Well ... it's not just her. You see, just after we came in she made a call on her cell phone and an older man came in and sat with her for a couple of minutes. He actually showed an amazing lack of interest in the quads. After he left, she came over and started putting the moves on a couple of the guys. But, there was something about that man ... I have a very bad feeling about him."
"Methos," Mulder sighed, "I'm not sure what it is you want from me. Tell me more about these people ... what do they look like?"
"The woman is blonde, good-looking enough, I suppose. Early thirties, maybe. The man ... was cold. He came in, sat with her taking and smoking -"
"Smoking?"
"Yes, he lit a cigarette as soon as he sat down with her."
"How old?"
Methos shrugged. "Late fifties, I suppose. Very craggy face, tall, with gray hair."
"Get them out of there."
Methos brows rose in surprise at the sudden sharp tone in Mulder's voice. "Ah ... okay, I'll try."
"No," Mulder was quite demanding now. "I mean get your four out of there right now - away from that woman. And Methos -"
"Yes?"
"Make sure no one follows you. Call me again when you've gotten them somewhere safe."
"But, what do you think is going on? I mean-"
"If that man was who I'm thinking of, you need to get the clones out of there now, Methos. You've no time to waste talking ... just do it."
"Right," Methos answered, concerned now. "I'll call as soon as I can."
"Good." Mulder hung up.
--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--
Innobotics, building A.
The people around the table were arguing in low urgent voices. Occasionally one of them would gesture, shoving papers around on the slick desktop. The younger ones seemed worried, the elder members of the board may have been just as upset but they cloaked their emotions better.
The conversation itself was of no interest to Wraith. His attention was only on the physical aspects of what was occurring in the room. His cold green gaze was constantly running through a sweep. The other bodyguards that stood near the walls and each of the people at the long conference table had to scrutinized in turn. Mr. Hargreaves, his employer, dealt with matters of the business, money and power. Wraith was the watchdog against physical harm. He had no purpose for existence other than as an extension of Mr. Hargreaves' will.
The men from outside of Innobotics disturbed him, but Wraith would never let his annoyance show on his face. He disliked the way their attention would wander to him when a lull occurred. Small mercy it was the faint glint of fear he saw in their eyes when they looked at him and not some other emotion.
"Perhaps you should consider dispatching Wraith to aid with the problem." One of the outsiders suggested.
Hearing his name was startling, a bolt of electricity. Bodyguards were tools, not something to be discussed at the table.
"It's quite confusing enough out there right now." Mr. Hargreaves countered calmly. "Sending Wraith into the muddle would only result in mistaken identities."
"But those mistakes could be in our favour." The old man who occupied the place at the foot of the table spoke up, a rare occurrence. "Wraith is not your property, Hargreaves. He is merely a loan, one we may need to recall if the situation worsens."
"If he could be substituted for one of the ringleaders?"
"Nonsense," Mr. Hargreaves cut in. "The social complications would trip Wraith up within the first half hour. He serves his purpose where he is. I won't hear another word about it."
"I want him programmed with what information we have available on all of the clones immediately." The old man persisted. "It may come down to a last minute requirement. He should be ready."
"I won't allow..."
"Must we demand the return of him or will you prepare for that eventuality?"
It was uncommon for anyone to contradict Mr. Hargreaves. It was unheard of for the man to submit. But it appeared as if that was happening.
"Very well." Mr. Hargreaves caught of the receiver of the nearest telephone. "Wraith."
"Yes, Sir." He paced silently forward.
"Report to Dr Sawyer. I'll call ahead and see that she's ready for you."
--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--
Marita walked down the hallway to the conference room, her high heels' clicks announcing her approach. She nodded to Wraith as she entered, and approached Mr. Hargreaves.
"Sir, we've found and gathered the information you requested. It is ready."
She fixed him with a level gaze. "What we are unsure of is what, exactly, precipitated this event. There has been some disagreement as to how, and why, it happened. What is your view on that? And what do you hope to gain by doing this?" She made a sweep with her eyes, to include all the men at the table. "You really think this can help?"
Spender drew thoughtfully on his freshly lit cigarette.
"I think that it's an option. It certainly can't hurt to try it. We must regain control of the Mac 27s, and Wraith has more than sufficient attributes to make him an excellent weapon. However, I don't wish to see the more usual methods suspended. Ms Covarrubias, you WILL make contact with one of the clones, and win his confidence. Now go."
He turned away to peruse the papers before him, and didn't pay her any further attention.
--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--
Covarrubias rated a brief glance before Wraith continued down the hallway. He'd seen Marita on and off over the last few years and although they'd never had so much as a conversation she always took the time to acknowledge his presence with some kind of eye contact. The times the woman had spoken aloud Wraith had found Marita's voice intriguing, well... as intriguing as anything was outside of the job ever was... which wasn't much.
The long path to Dr Sawyer's office was one he was well used to but Wraith still keep his senses extended. One never knew when the unexpected would occur even within the security of the Innobotics compound. At the Doctor's door he rapped once then proceeded inside.
Dr Sawyer peered up at him from behind thick glasses. "You're not eating enough." She observed at only a glance. A cart overflowing with electronics already waited beside the chair near the south wall. Sawyer pinched at his arm then poked his stomach before gesturing him into place. "Your upper body strength is adequate but I suspect from your last physical that you've been remiss on push ups. Add another thirty to your nightly work-out."
"Yes, Doctor."
Sawyer reluctantly plugged a CD into the drive as Wraith settled into the chair. She had protested Mr. Hargreaves orders as much as she dared. Wraith's mind was already criss-crossed with more cuts and patches than any other agent she had worked on. Dumping this much information into his brain on such short notice wasn't completely safe. "Lay back and hold still." The doctor's thumb shoved at a patch of short dark hair behind his ear. Clearing away the skin to reveal a small input hole, she plugged in a jack.
Wraith immediately went boneless, his eyes rolling back in his head. Not one to waste time or opportunity, Doctor Sawyer went to fetch a tray full of instruments so she could check over his other modifications while the CD uploaded to his extended memory.
His back was stiff and his head was throbbing when consciousness returned to Wraith. Visits to Dr Sawyer always caused a sense of dislocation; uploading such a huge chunk of information at the one time compounded the problem. It would be an hour or two before all the new memories fully integrated with his already crowded thoughts.
"Mr. Hargreaves is still in his meeting." Dr Sawyer ripped a small bandage off Wraith's arm. The needle mark had stopped bleeding. "You're finished." She turned away. "Don't eat for at least two hours or you will vomit."
"Yes doctor." Wraith shifted on the chair, testing his balance. Several options now lay before him and advance planning had never been his strong suit. They could dump information into his mind but they couldn't rewire his basic brain functions. The first order of business was to remove himself from the lab. Dr Sawyer didn't like him lingering in her workspace.
Wraith walked up the corridor slowly. He should report back to Mr. Hargreaves and see what further orders were waiting. Stopping in place a moment, his head cocked to one side. A few pieces of the Mac27 knowledge jostled for his attention. If this was to be his assignment it might be best to ask permission to comb through building C for any details that might help complete his understanding of the Mac27 project.
When the vertigo passed Wraith resumed is journey back toward the boardroom. A passing thought that Marita might still be in attendance as well was quashed without mercy. That was not a valid direction to ponder.
--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--[o]--
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