Torc, page 2
part #17 of Galactic Cyborg Heat Series
She’d been told that all the ships command staff and security were Cyborgs. They were all the same. Ok maybe different hair colour, eyes and slight variations on build but they only came in big. But the basics were all the same. They came from the same place. Did they all speak like that? No…. that couldn’t be right. The Cyborg that had seen her in at the dock didn’t speak with an accent. Not one she’d noticed anyway and the several others, with the ‘this way’ speech hadn’t sounded like him either. So how could he sound different? She didn’t know the answer, but it was curious. Kate checked the time on the vid screen. Shit she was running late. There was no time to think on it. She was due for the reception drinks in 40 minutes and no idea how long it would take to get there. “Computer, how long will it take for me to get to the dinner reception for this birth from here?”
“At a standard human pace, you will need 16 minutes.” Shit, she had half an hour to get ready. Kate started stripping walking into the shower. There was no way she wanted to be late on her first day.
***
And she made it by the skin of her teeth. The line still out the door. Just. Kate jogged to the end of the line and tagged on the end and took several deep breaths trying to calm her breathing. The two in front of her moved forward. Kate bent and took several breaths. Then straightened. She was sweating, having shimmied her way in her heels and dress along the corridors and fanned her face with both hands pulling in more air. The last thing she needed was to be pouring when she met the Captain. It wouldn’t make a good first impression.
The line moved forward, and she was in the doorway. Kate looked around the room seeing if she recognised anyone from boarding the ship. It was a big room. Tables made up with place settings. She was on 14. The line moved forward as she checked to see if she could see her table. Too many people in the way prevented much of a view at all. Giving up she noticed a couple appeared to be arguing about something at table number 4, others were greeting people, saying hello but she couldn’t see her table.
Torc wanted this over with. He had more pressing things he could be doing. Not that this line up was stopping him. His Cyborg ability allowed him to run ships diagnostics across his optic while he shook hands and smiled. He’d agreed to do the ‘meet and greet’ with the business people coming to the Station as part of his role as Captain of his own ship but it still irritated him. The emotion flagging in his systems. The Admiral had been clear that on these trips it was a requirement and humans expected it. That it made for better relations. Torc had agreed to do it but that was it. He was not a ‘meet and greet’ person. None of them were.
He like many of his brothers, he had difficulty when it came to touching humans. Too many years having to endure unwanted attention did that to you. A shake of the hand, although something small, was still something he struggled with.
Well known as a human custom, Cyborgs had started to do it to make them feel more comfortable in their presence, but it came with its own problems. Cyborgs didn’t naturally want the attention. So there he was. Appeasing his Admiral, his Head of State, holding his hand out with a ‘welcome to the Empire’ and quickly looking for the next hand to get through it. And held back the grimace that threatened every time someone took it.
The line now gone. His optical data told him there was one missing. Female. Age and colouring. Weight and height. A glance to the doorway told him she was hovering inside, alone her attention to the room and not him. Not so eager to meet the Cyborg? His automatic scan of her systems told him she was hot, tired and sweating. Her heart beat was fast, but slowing. She showed signs of exertion. She’d been running. Probably late. Sweet scent notes that were all her, filtered into his system. It was…… pleasant…. More than that….
Suddenly she realised the line was gone and he was looking at her. She moved quickly over. A flush to her neck and cheeks that told him she was a little embarrassed at being caught out. Torc held out his hand, his systems telling him he didn’t mind this one. Eager even to touch her. The female looked at his outstretched hand, then up at his face. She was very small. His assessment of her played out over his optic. Compared to him, she was fragile. Breakable. Would be damaged easily. Too easily.
She surprised him with waving his hand down and smiling. “That’s ok. I know you don’t like to touch humans. Nice to meet you Captain. Katherine Conner.” She gave him a nod. Her smile was genuine. His data told him he liked her smile and that she’d done her research. Not just expected him to act human. Most humans expected Cyborgs to simulate. He wasn’t one of them.
Torc stared at her. She was right. They didn’t like to touch humans without a need or provocation. The years of being manhandled had been enough. He glazed over ordering chilled water for her. “Captain Torc. Welcome to the Empire.” One of his men passed him the water. He held it out to her. “You’ve been running, and you need hydrating.”
The female blinked and smiled up at him, taking the water and sipping it. He would normally be looking to leave now but he suddenly wasn’t in such a rush. “Thank you,” she told him. “I was running a bit late and rushing.” His data supplied who she was and why she was here. Business enterprise. She was opening a shop on the Space Station. A designer. Torc chilled for a milisecond. It was a reminder she was not the Designers of his creation or time. He watched her look around a little at the room. “Wow. This is a large group of people. I wasn’t expecting so many to be in business with the Empire. That’s good though right? Diversity, competition and all that.” She turned back to him clearly expecting a reply. Several responses filtered into his optic.
“It is good. For the people who live and work with the Empire. I’m told choice and commerce are a good thing. I hope you enjoy your stay with us.”
The female smiled again. His senses picking up a little uncertainty. “I hope so.”
Torc was curious. “You are not sure?”
She shook her head, then took a few more sips of the water and gave a waning smile. “This is good, thank you I did need it and this, seemed like a good idea at the time.”
Torc had the unnatural fear that she wanted to leave. He wasn’t sure where it came from. His emotions were limited. “It is too late to leave now female.”
She took a breath and nodded. “I know. Its just a bit scary.”
Torc’s emotional settings told him he didn’t like that she was scared. He moved towards her. Almost reaching out to touch her and stopped. “We will protect you,” he told her.
He was crowding her a little, but she didn’t mind that. His voice was ….. almost hypnotic, she was struggling to concentrate on the conversation and not get lost in the sound. The reassurance he offered felt good. “I’m sure you will,” she told him honestly. She believed it. “It’s just nerves, the unknown, you know. Your voice, if you don’t mind me asking, it sounds of Old Earth, the old continent. Did you live there?”
“I was sent there for many years to infiltrate and supress the Alhambra up-rising. Having the ability to absorbed local dialects was an advantage. I choose to keep it.”
“It’s nice, I like it.”
Torc’s systems sparked to life. He was trying hard not to breath the female in. “Why are you on your own?” he asked her.
That was a damn good question, thought Kate. Years of disappointment. One man after another letting her down had done that. Finally, she’d given up and done her own thing. She shrugged. “Just how things turned out. Anyway, thank you for meeting me.” She looked around and dinner was being served. Pointing to it she turned back. “It was nice to meet you. I’d better go, I need to find my table and meet the people I’m going to be eating with for the next two months.”
He gave her a slow nod. “Indeed.”
She lifted the cup. “Thanks for the water.”
The female turned and started to walk away. He should have left, their engagement over, but he waited to see where she would go. Half way across the room, she half turned back and waved at him. Torc had the impulse to wave back. It wasn’t a Cyborg reaction, so he tapped it down. He thought she looked disappointed as she turned back but he could have been wrong. He hadn’t prompted the impulse.
Torc watched as she moved around tables looking for her own. He could have told her exactly where she’d be sitting and who with, but he hadn’t. Torc frowned. His data told him he should have. He had higher priorities than standing there but he remained. His own diagnostic registered the unusual emotion of wanting to take her to her seat. Suddenly she sat where she should be, saying hello to the people around her and then glanced his way and waved again, indicating her chair and a thumbs up.
Torc had the impulse to go to her. Stand behind her while she had her meal and chatted with the other humans. An impulse to protect her. To guard. He gave her a nod. It wasn’t logical. He ignored the impulse and engaged his neuro net. On my way back.
***
The meal had been exactly what she’d expected. People talking business, networking, looking to make connections. She didn’t mind it but if she were honest, most of it bored her. There was only so much business planning and rubbing shoulders she could take. She’d noticed the minute the Captain had left. The two guards remained, she guessed to make sure no one got out of line. Kate wondered how many Cyborgs were actually on the ship. They’d been half a dozen that she’d seen since joining it. That probably wasn’t all of them she reasoned. They’d be manning the Bridge of the ship and providing security. Human staff did the service on the ship she knew that, but the Captain had made a point of telling her she was safe, so that indicated he was confident they could handle anything that came their way.
The other people at her table had been particularly interested in her conversation with him. Aparently he’d no lingered with them. Saying he’d talked far longer with her than anyone else. Kate hadn’t thought much on it at the time. She hadn’t been there long enough to notice those before her. It felt like a natural conversation, nothing forced between them. She’d been a bit curious, it seemed to her that the Captain had too. Offering her the water had been kind and most welcome. But for others, he’d told them all the same thing and moved on quickly, until her. She put it down to not taking his hand and offering conversation instead.
As she said it several others remembered Cyborgs didn’t like to touch others and shook their heads saying they’d wished they’d remembered that too. It was a natural mistake thought Kate and nodded, it was difficult to ignore an out stretched hand. It was an invitation few refused. She was sure it was only that she’d had the info on Cyborgs playing while dressing, that it had stayed with her. They’d wanted to know what he’d talked about. Kate had a moment of thinking it private then brushed it aside. It hadn’t been. There was nothing private in the conversation at all and although, it still seemed weird to repeat it, she did.
She told them simply that he’d wanted to reassure her as she was afraid and told her she was protected on the ship. In a strange way, that seemed to reassure those with her too. Kate noted several relieved faces around the table, and she was suddenly glad she’d shared. She wasn’t the only one with worries and doubts.
The dinner done, the tables started to break up as people moved on to other meetings and network groups or just to the bar. None of which appealed to her. Politely declining several invites, Kate found herself wandering around the ship.
Finding an information vid screen she looked for something to do. Most people were in the bars, but she didn’t fancy that. She wanted to chill. The library came up but didn’t fancy having to think that hard. Then she spotted the visual vid rooms on offer. Pulling up the info, they showed a continual stream of old Earth movies. Kate blinked in surprise and checked the time, she had just enough time to get a drink and make it to the next showing on the floor above. Making a bee line for the nearest bar, she ordered a soda and walked to the lifts. Getting in and pressing for one floor above. She made her exit and checked her bearings, locating the room.
To her surprise she found it decked out like an Old Earth ‘cinema’. They were long gone but she’d seen pictures of them and it was empty. The room lit. Seats all facing the large wall vid screen up front. Credits of the last movie were rolling across the screen. Kath grinned she’d made it in time, taking a seat at the back nearest to her and settled in. It didn’t really matter what the movie was, she just liked the distraction. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d done this. Taken some time out to chill and let something roll over her. Kate grinned wider. This was great, she thought as she sipped her soda and waited.
***
The programme running in the back of his mind flowed with info on the functionality of the ship. It also told him where everyone was on board the ship. If he wanted to pull the information forward. Everyone’s bio signature was registered with the main frame. No one came to work for the Empire any more without registering their DNA. It was a requirement. A simple test as part of the medical. The information was added to the Cyborg database and gave them information on humans and possible ties to their history. It didn’t hurt the humans when taken, a simple cell swipe did it all but to the Cyborgs, it gave another chance of finding a connection to the human race. It was where they’d started.
At any time, if he wanted, he could pull up anyone’s ID. It allowed the Empire to make sure people remained healthy and to know where they were at all times on board their ships and located in the Empire. It might seem like overkill to some humans but to the Empire, knowledge was important. They kept it private and only accessed the information when needed with the human’s permission.
That was vital when it came to protecting the ship in a battle or from humans own stupidity. In his long life, he’d found that many of the humans did things that were not logical. Often putting themselves in danger. His thoughts went to the female Katherine Conner. She’d done her homework where Cyborgs were concerned, or some at least. That hadn’t stopped her feeling uncertain being on board his ship. That was… unsettling. Her whereabouts came to him instantly. She was in one of the vid rooms. A movie was playing. The information on the vid room came up. She was alone. He didn’t like that. Too many variables.
Torc connected via the ships systems to the room and images from those cameras came up. He could see her clearly in the back row near the doors. She was drinking something and watching the movie. Torc’s attention was pulled away by a fault showing on a diagnostic. Narrowing in on the problem, he could see the ships systems had already picked it up and had sent a team to investigate. Torc’s mind circled back to the female. It was an illogical response. He registered it and focused his attention on the myriad of data flowing over his optic. The images of the female alone in the room playing in the back ground.
***
Kate stirred frowning as she realised she’d fallen asleep. For a moment she wasn’t sure where she was. Prying her eyes open she focused on the screen in front of her and remembered. A different movie seemed to be playing. The chairs were far too comfortable and for a moment she was tempted to go back to sleep. Grasping her drink, she took a heathy sip and sat up. It was flat and warm. Kate grimaced. It didn’t taste as good warm. Kate swallowed and took in the movie playing. She didn’t recognise it and stemmed back a yawn. Stretching she casually looked around and found that she seemed to still be on her own.
“Falling asleep in an open area with no security is not wise female.”
Or maybe not….. Kate turned and found the Captain standing behind her in the doorway. Was he guarding it?
“Err … Hi … again. Sorry, I hope I’ve not disturbed anyone. I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I guess I was more tired than I thought.”
He looked from her to the movie. “I know this movie. In its day, it was classed as a remake of a classic. Not to good reviews. The critics didn’t like it much. It is classed as an action film. Humans thought it was fun.” He looked from the screen to her.
Kate didn’t know the movie, so she didn’t have an opinion to offer. It looked like it was just starting. “Do you want to watch it with me?” slipped passed her lips before she thought about it. He hesitated. “Sorry I’m sure you are far too busy for that.”
The female was …… interesting. She’d asked him to join her. He wasn’t sure why. His systems told him he wanted to accept. Torc moved from the doorway he’d been protecting for the past 1 . 4 hours. Since the ships systems had told him she’d fallen asleep and been vulnerable. He slowly walked towards her taking a seat one away. He could still protect her from there. “Thank you for the invitation. Do you wish another drink?”
Kate smiled suddenly wide awake. “Yes. That would be great. Thank you.” He gave her a nod and looked at the movie. Kate guessed he was using that neuro thing to communicate they needed drinks. She thought that a great advantage if you had it.
A few minutes in and a Cyborg entered with two drinks. Torc passed hers to her as she swopped it for the warm one with a thank you and her face lit up. His systems registered an unexpected warmth. He ran a diagnostic. Knowing her preferences from his data on her previous order, had made it easy to use his neuro net to communicate their needs. His officer left without saying anything and they were once again alone.
Kate took a sip. It was exactly what she’d ordered before. “This is perfect thank you.” He gave her a nod and sipped his own looking up at the movie. Kate had wondered when reading the info on Cyborgs, if they ate and drank like humans. She guessed that answered that question. Concentrating on the film she wondered what she’d missed. Leaning over it felt natural to ask him. “Sorry what’s going on exactly?” He told her. Kate still wasn’t sure it made a lot of sense but sat back and watched the movie play out.
