Chapter Three #2
She smiled at seeing it, brushing a tear.
He never forgot her birthday. The day he’d found her.
Shortly after finding her and she’d settled in he’d asked her what her birthday was.
She didn’t know. And he’d simply said pick one.
That it was a human custom she should follow.
Like Easter, Christmas, Ramadan, New Years Day, Presidents Day, Passover, Diwali, Hanukkah to name but a few.
He’d given her an extensive list of old Earth human holidays, with explanations from all religious and human settings and told her to pick 6 that spoke to her of her special human days too.
When she was undecided, they negotiated.
She picked her 6. And that was the basis of her chosen life.
And the rules she lived by. Guiding her charities in the same way Elon had guided her. Pick who you want to be if you didn’t know. Be free to choose. No one to be ‘shown’ how they should live, supportive yes, but nothing taken for granted or expected.
As a child, it gave her enormous freedom.
Not held down by any conviction.
It allowed her to grow and find herself. No assumptions. No expectations. Just the ability to make informed decisions. He’d taught her well. Do the work. Find the understanding. The data. Have all the options before making a decision. Be informed. Understand and not make a decision until you did.
Negotiate if you had to.
And learn what it meant to be Cyborg. Understand them.
Lessons well learned.
She did.
Kito was right, she did know them. Know them well. She’d spent over 10 years in the CC. The Cyborg Compound. Living with them. Seeing them. And doing what Elon told her she needed to to understand. Understand them. Know them. Live as one of them.
More lessons well learned.
Learning to bridge both worlds.
And then the flowers started in earnest.
And that was a problem.
Every 3 days a new bunch. By the third week, she was getting pissed and messaged the on-world Commander again. Unsolicited contact. It stopped. And she breathed.
Holding firm. Despite her mind reminding her of his kindness. His attention. His warmth. Cooking for her, making her lunch. Protecting her from Frost.
Not allowing herself to be swayed.
Week 3 and the arrests started to happen. She had confirmed notification that the Empire were identifying those involved in the shortages and they were being removed. That was good. It meant that things were coming to a head.
He’d be gone soon.
And then what?.... Her mind asked. More of her life drifting by?....
That made her sit up and listen.
Why was she doubting her life?.... Her belief in knowing everything before making a choice started to kick in. She started to evaluate everything. And that was even more confusing.
End of that week and it was driving her a little crazy.
Hitting a bar on a Friday night, she went looking for some action. Something to put her life back in order. It was busy. Rocking it. Going to the bar, she took a stool and ordered. People watching. Knocking back the booze. Seeing people hook up, she smiled.
Recognising more than one face.
It was a bar she knew well one that wasn’t near her work or home for a reason. People didn’t know who she was or what she did here and that was important. Anonymity. It was a warm blanket. And a good couple of hours in realised that she’d not been approached at all.
Seats either side of her remained empty although the bar was packed.
She sniffed herself. An automatic response to the realisation. She was good. She’d showered and changed before going there. Calling the barman over. “Is there a problem with these seats?” she asked narrowing her eyes at him.
He looked around a little. That was weird. “All good. Drink?” Giving a nod he moved off. Then her training kicked in and she saw it. Cyborgs. At a discreet distance in the shadows of the room. Watching in the reflective mirror, she saw more than one man diverted from approaching her.
Creating a cordon around her.
Shit…. She clenched her jaw. That, pissed her off. They were guarding her. Keeping others away from her. She turned at that. Seeing one glance at her, she gave a head lift and with two fingers beckoned him over. Watching him approach. He bowed a little. “Lady.”
“Not a Lady. What are you doing here and why are you deterring my company?”
“We have our orders Lady.”
“Not, a Lady! Who?” He remained silent. Typical reaction when a Cyborg couldn’t lie and wouldn’t give away information. Her anger spiked. Kito. “Where is he?”
“Working Lady.”
She gritted her teeth. She was not a Lady of the Empire. She was not Mated. Not a biological child of a Cyborg. Knowing he wasn’t going to shift his stance on it. “Right.” And downed her drink paid, walking out, calling a ride going home.
He’d ruined her night.
She didn’t need his protection.
Kicking her boots off. She crashed. Her alarm going off she was up and in the shower, out again dressing and heading down ready to start her day.
Finding Kito leaning back on her counter, coffee in hand nodding next to him.
Another mug sitting there. She wanted to tell him to fuck off but, you know, coffee.
Walking to him taking it stepping back.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Making coffee.”
She sipped narrowing her eyes at him. “We both know that is not what I’m talking about.”
“You asked to see me, here I am.”
He was deflecting. She knew it. He knew she knew it. “What’s with the protection detail?”
“Frost is still out there.”
“I can handle Frost.” She bit off.
“Can you? If drunk?”
She drank deep. “On my worst day, one hand tied behind my back and I was not drunk. I am never that drunk.”
“Why were you in the bar Jane?” he asked quietly. He knew why. Just wanted to hear her say it. She drank. Finishing the coffee. And headed to the door. “You need cock female? You ask me.” He told her quietly.
Her hand on her door, she stopped.
He was offering intimacy…. That was not Cyborg…. And turned to look at him. “No. Pull your men off or I’ll arrest them for harassment. I will also be making a report of B&E to the on-world Commander.”
Walking through. Feeling unsettled. Her hands were shaking. This was new to her. Not sure what to do about it. Getting in her vehicle, she went to work.