Torc, page 4
part #17 of Galactic Cyborg Heat Series
Kate looked at the screen while the movie started and nibbled her lip. Maybe someone in maintenance on the ship could help her?
***
She was in the vid room again. His systems kept pulling data on her forward from the thousands of pieces of information that continually flowed over his optic. Being plugged into the ship gave him access to everything. Every minute detail if he wanted to see it. It was one of thousands of movements being made throughout the ship that passed over his sensors. Human, Cyborg and machine. He was notified of all of them. Torc pulled up the run of movies that were currently playing. A trilogy. He wondered if she liked that kind of thing. His data supplied no answer. He didn’t have enough information to make an assessment. Torc didn’t like that. He was Cyborg. They were made to have sufficient data on which to make decisions.
***
Kate was pleasantly surprised. The movie had been good. It had engaged her from the beginning. It wasn’t hard getting caught up in the story of sorrow and hardship, dictatorship and a structured society based on what they could provide those in power. It had pulled her in from the beginning. She’d identified with the heroine and willed her on. Before she knew it, the first film had ended along with her drink. The credits rolled and the couple got up, calling good night to her as they walked by. Kate wondered if they’d seen the next two. It seemed nuts to her to leave now. Thoughts of her shop crept in and she felt guilty not resolving her issues, until the next one started. Then the movie took her over once more and she hoped the lead male wasn’t that badly hurt after all….
***
She was watching the second movie. He had no notification that she’d left and the second had been playing for some time. It was nearing four hours since she’d entered the room. Humans didn’t go that long without some form of hydration. Torc registered the time frame. His emotional sensors told him he was acting irrationally. The female didn’t require his assistance and yet, there he was wanting to so go her aid. Torc was unsure how to deal with that. It wasn’t his job to interfere with the humans. So why now?
Passing control of the Bridge to Iced, Torc found himself walking towards the vid room. He stopped at the refreshment area and picked up two more drinks. He didn’t need it himself, but the female liked it and that was all that seemed to matter.
Pushing through the doors into the vid room, he found it empty. Searching his data banks, he found the notification that she’d left 3.2 minutes ago. His emotions flared. He knew the reaction. Disappointment. He’d wanted to see her there, wanted to spend more time in her company. Torc frowned. He’d not triggered the response. Uncertainty flared in his sensors. He moved to go back the way he’d come as something knocked into him. His Cyborg responses hadn’t even triggered. He was faulty…
“Shit sorry Torc, I didn’t see you standing there. I was worried I’d miss the start but had to pee.” The female Katherine stood unsure beside him.
Torc’s emotions sparked to life as he steadied her with one hand. The double cups in the other. Her face flamed red, her body language uncertain. He realised she was embarrassed. “You probably didn’t need that last bit of information,” she mumbled looking away. Torc suppressed a smile reading the emotions across her face as she stepped back. He felt the loss of touching her. And didn’t understand why. Running a diagnostic of his systems told him nothing.
“I was bringing you a drink. You have been here for over four hours. It is a long time without being hydrated. The movies are good?”
Kate had moved away from the Captain. She hadn’t expected to find him in the vid room when she’d run back thinking she was about to miss the start. Bumping into him was embarrassing. Clumsy. Then he’d showed her that he’d brought her a drink like the night before. Kate thought that was thoughtful. Kind. She hadn’t expected that. Could Cyborgs be emotional? Be kind?
Taking the drink, she thanked him. “Thank you. Yes the movie series is very good.” The third movie started. She pointed at it. “Its about to start, do you want to see it?” He gave her a slow nod. Kate smiled. He was quiet company, but she liked that. She didn’t like chatty men, they drove her crazy. Waving her hand at him she beckoned him to join her as she walked back to her seat. “It’s starting, you’ve missed the first two, but I can quickly catch you up,” she told him pointing to the seat next to her as she sat down. Katherine smiled back at him as he moved to take the seat she’d indicated. Then looked back up at the screen and got lost in the story once more as it started.
She fascinated him. Torc moved slowly towards the female and took the seat she’d pointed to. Next to her. He considered leaving more space like the night before. He wasn’t small and it might crowd her but didn’t want to offend her. More importantly, he wanted that seat next to her. He was grateful that were at least made with Cyborgs in mind. Large armchairs that gave some space between them. He watched the female take a sip of the drink he’d provided. Warmth spread throughout his body. He’d provided the most basic of things, nourishment. That meant something to him. The female leant towards him, her scent flooded his senses as he breathed it in. His mouth watering at the honey on his tongue. “Do you need me to catch you up on the story line?” she whispered while continuing to look at the screen.
Torc glanced instinctively at the screen then back at her, he knew the movies. “No. I’m good.” She smiled and nodded moving back into her seat and giving the screen her full attention once more. Her face fully engaged with the movie. Torc watched the intensity of her gaze and the emotions flying across it. He doubted she even took in what was going on around her anymore, so involved in the movie all other concerns had probably slipped away. Humans did that. He knew that kind of focus could be dangerous. It wasn’t the Cyborg way. No matter what you were doing, you couldn’t afford not assess everything that was going on around you. Situations changed in a blink of an eye. He knew. He’d lived with that for decades. A simple loss of concentration could get you killed and often did.
And the first time was the last time you let your concentration slip. Not knowing if you were coming back was a tough lesson to learn. The punishment by the Designers had been equally harsh. They didn’t suffer stupidity or appreciate the chance of losing a billion credits. Their reaction was predictable. Re-booting you, then putting you though a defibrillator event while awake. You only wanted to do that once. It not only shocked the heart, it also sent pain through every receptor and wire throughout your body. Like being hit by lightening without the frying part. But you did fry, and no one should be awake to take a heart shock. That would stop a human heart cold.
The Designers didn’t give a shit about that kind of thing as long as the product, them, were still working and capable of doing their jobs and getting back to it as soon as possible. Decades of secret experimentation on humans had soon shown results. Not always what they wanted but they were persistent. What they didn’t want or expect was terminated but undeterred they kept going. Nothing seemed to faze them. As the decades passed, they got better at making them. But these weren’t the caring sharing type. No one asked permission. No one asked them anything, unless it was to do with soldiering or being better at what they did. Then they asked the questions, probed, prodded, took samples, blood, semen, bone marrow, whatever they wanted. They were things, commodities, owned.
It was no wonder Cyborgs didn’t have human social graces. They’d never been shown any. Unless it was in the training of seduction. How to manipulate a female into getting what they wanted. And by the results and demand, they were good at that.
His thoughts turned to the female he was watching. She was far more interesting than the movie. Reading every response, as she watched the film so closely. Had he been ordered to seduce her while still captive, he would have. His own want or need wouldn’t have mattered. It would have been an order, one he couldn’t have denied or refused. He merely had to turn on his sexual responses, it didn’t require a sexual connection, an order had nothing to do with emotion or feeling. Those, were controlled.
But in this case, his systems told him he would have enjoyed this one. Her body was full, curvy. She was very responsive to simuli. He could bring her to orgasm in minutes. Be naked and fucking her in seconds. Images of his cock powering into her flooded his mind.
Not that her appearance mattered. She was tiny compared to him. All females were but this female was soft and warm with it. Cyborgs were so much bigger than the human males. Harder. Colder. Few humans warmed to them, unless mated. Even those human males who cared for bodybuilding and health didn’t come close. Cyborgs were created to be bigger, stronger, faster, to see and hear further, to move silently, to out run them and fight harder, better and beyond human endurance. Simply put, humans didn’t stand a chance against them. That’s what made them so valuable. In the corporation wars, the colony wars. They were supreme and gave their owners Earth Corp the edge. Until the world realised what was going on and they could no longer be kept a secret. Then they’d had the chance to be free.
Her scent spiked. He recognised the scent only too well. Fear. He looked at the screen. The female on screen was injured, it looked bad, but he knew she would act as if it was superficial in a moment and carry on. That was improbable make-believe unless you were Cyborg. Then that kind of life-threatening injury on a human would be superficial to a Cyborg and cause them little hindrance in getting the objective done. Her scent changed. Relief. He looked back at her. He knew the female on screen would be getting up and moving on.
The light from the projection placed her in silhouette next to him. She was what the humans called petite. She was too fragile. Easily broken. His chest tightened. His data told him his own emotions had heightened, confusing him. They were so easily killed. He’d seen and done his share. Tantalising notes of excitement radiated from her filling his nose. The female on screen was winning. Tor smiled as his own body stirred. He shut down his emotions recognising he was drawn to the female too much already.
He didn’t need any more, it would put him on dangerous ground. But he needed to know. Deliberately drawing in her scent, he searched for any male notes and didn’t find any. He sensors told him he was relieved. Why did he do that? Do something that would tell him if she was already with a male….
He already had access to her information in the system. He knew she was not married or registered as in a partnership. It was a requirement on the application that all relationships were disclosed. Married, in a partnership or not, it didn’t matter to the Empire in general. It was for clarity purposes only if applying to work or live in the Empire. But it did to a Cyborg, if you were looking for ……… a mate.
Torc sat back in his chair. The logical trail of conversation surprised him. He suddenly found he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Was she a possible mate? Unable to stop himself, he drew her scent into him. Rolled the essence that was uniquely her through his body, allowing his nano’s to do their job. Warmth spread throughout his systems again. His cock sprang to life and hardened to the point of pain. With his emotions turned off none of that should have been possible. Unless….. he was faced with a possible mate that could override his own will….
Torc limited his breathing and waited out he rest of the movie. Each moment a struggle to hold back his own riding emotions. None of which was logical. The movie came to its predictable ending as he knew it would. The male and female ending up together. Katherine stirred next to him, drinking the last of her soda and stretching. “That was really good,” she told him turning towards it. “I never used to get much time to relax and these old movies are great. I’ve not seen so many of them. What did you think?” she asked eagerly.
There was a lot he could tell her as he wrestled with his own emotions, pouring cold water on his erection. How impractical the story line was... The staging, the language but he didn’t want to offend her. It wasn’t logic she was looking for. “Information on this trilogy was that it was well received by the public in its day.”
She nodded. “But what did you think?”
Torc tried to be kind. “The injuries were not logical for a human to be able to carry on. The firepower not enough to cause that kind of damage. The ability of the female was exaggerated and beyond her physical abilities. It lacked realism and was complete fantasy.”
Kate stared at him amused and wide eyed. She’d thought it was good, really good. But realised what he’d told her was probably the truth and the film was fantasy. She smiled knowingly at him. He was being brutally honest. She liked that. Cyborgs were honest in everything they did. Lying wasn’t logical to them, so they didn’t. Lying was considered a waste of time and resources. “Yep, I know but did you like it?”
“It wasn’t truthful and give a false impression of what the female could realistically achieve. That is dangerous to believe.”
Kate grinned at him. He couldn’t answer her. “You’re not answering the question.” She nodded getting up. “I expect that’s all true, but I liked it anyway.” Torc rose from his seat and escorted her out. Kate walked to the bathrooms and went in. It was late again. She checked the vid screen, it was after 4am. Doing her business and washing up she stifled a yawn, shaking it off expecting to find the corridor empty as she walked back into it but found Torc waiting on her. “You didn’t have to wait. I can find my way back now.”
Torc tried not to shuffle his feet. It was very un-Cyborg like. He wasn’t sure how to broach the subject of Cyborgs with the female. “I would like a moment of your time, now or later.”
Kate wasn’t sure what that meant. Had she done something wrong? “Have I done something wrong?”
He shook his head. That was a no then. “I have something I wish to talk about nothing more.”
Kate smiled. So did she! It was the perfect opportunity. “That would be great, I’ve something I’d like to discuss too. We could get a coffee now if you like. I’m not tired.” He gave her a nod and indicated to walk back along the corridor. She knew there to be a drinks bar at the end.
As they approached, the doors looked to be closed. “I think it’s shut,” she told him disappointed.
Torc opened the doors using his neuro net requesting access with his authorisation code. The doors pinged and opened. He opened them wide to allow her in. He saw the female look around and register it held no one in it. She turned towards him. “You opened this for us?” he gave her a nod. “Why?” Torc moved towards the bar area and started up the real coffee machine. “Is that….. real coffee?” she asked her voice pleased and eager.
“It is and because I can. You wanted it and I could provide it.”
Torc smiled as the female eagerly took a seat but looked a little worried. Human females seemed to love ‘coffee’. “I’d love some of that but I’m on a budget.” She told him reinforcing his thoughts.
“My treat female. You do not have it back home?” Torc had never been more shocked. Cyborgs didn’t ask random questions or partake of ‘chit chat’ but it had slipped out anyway. He registered he was curious about the female and wanted to know as much about her as possible.
Katherine shook her head at him while he set the machine to work. “God no. Way too expensive. I had to sacrifice so many things to make this possible. It was more important to have enough money pulled together to open my own shop and luxuries like real coffee had to go. Not that I’m complaining. It got me here so I’m good with it.” She smiled up at him. Torc registered he liked the look.
Kate couldn’t believe her luck. Free real coffee. It fleetingly crossed her mind what price he would demand for it, and she pushed it away. Cyborgs didn’t act inappropriately with females. Period. He passed her the cup. Kate took it and closed her eyes as she brought it to her nose, breathing it in deeply. Hot and darkly refreshing. She sighed and moaned at the wonderful aroma. She’d missed it. Wow so good…. “Good?” he asked.
Kate opened her eyes smiling and nodded. “Really good thanks.” She took a sip and sighed in pleasure.
Torc gripped onto the work top when she’d moaned in pleasure. The sound resonated within him. His cock pulsed and became unbearably hard once more. Needing a moment, he finished off making his own coffee and wiped the machine down. Rinsing out the cloth he put it back and turned the machine off. Taking a seat at the side of the bar to hide his erection, not too near her but enough to hide it from her.
Kate sipped her coffee. It was delicious. She noticed him quietly clean up and sit at the side of the bar. He moved so quietly that until that moment it hadn’t registered with her. “You make no noise when you move.” She told him curiously.
She watched the Captain take a slug of his coffee. “We don’t,” he told her looking at it. “The Designers made sure we had every advantage. Sound gives you away. Gets you killed.”
Holy cow, thought Kate. She decided Designers, whoever they were, were assholes and he probably didn’t need the reminder. “So,” she told him smiling, hoping to distract him from all that. “I’m glad to have this moment with you. I don’t want to presume, or impose or anything, but I’ve a problem with the design of the shop I’ve secured on the Space Station. I’ve got the schematics, but I can’t fit everything in. I’ve looked at the storage options and they don’t work for me. I need to see it to create it. It’s how I work. I’ve an idea of revolving storage displays along the sides and back of the shop, so they become art in their own right and show off what I have to offer but I’m not sure how to implement them,” Kate frowned, “or create them actually and was hoping someone could take my idea and run with it?”
