Page 4 of The Cyborg Way
She held out her hand, watching in delight as his wings extended from the slits along his sides, shimmering translucent membranes that were designed more for gliding than flying. She’d been shocked the first time she realized that was what the orange streaks concealed, but they only made her more convinced that he was not from Earth at all.
He landed on her palm and tilted his head inquisitively.
“Yes, it’s time to go to work, but I think you’d better stay inside today. I don’t want L-485 to see you and start asking questions.” She placed him gently back on the bed, but he hopped down and followed her to the airlock, chirping as she pulled on her thermal coat and small facemask. “Not today, Henry. Or at least not until after he visits me. You can come out with me this afternoon.”
She shut the inner door to the airlock behind her, ignoring what sounded like a mournful chirp from inside as she waited for the outer door to open. As she gathered up her supplies, the fact that her surroundings seemed unusually quiet and empty only confirmed her decision. She already missed Henry’s presence, but she would rather miss him for a few hours today than take the chance of losing him. Sighing, she mixed up a supply of the nutrient and spore combination that was the basis for establishing the lichen and set to work.
Less than an hour later she heard the sound of hoofbeats, and despite her nerves she looked up and smiled as L-485 came riding out of the rocks towards her.
“Good morning,” she called as he came to a halt next to her and swung down, muscles rippling beneath his usual faded black shirt.
Her heart skipped a beat as she looked up at him. Dark hair cut military short and turning grey at the temples, a rugged face too weathered to be called handsome, and a big, powerful body. He was a long way from the slender vid stars of her adolescent dreams, but her body responded to his presence with unmistakable arousal.
“Good morning,” he responded in that deep voice that always sent a shiver down her spine. “How are you?”
“Fine. Just fine. I mean, everything is going really well and the lichen crop is thriving and…” She stopped abruptly, aware that she was babbling nervously.
He studied her face, his grey gaze unusually penetrating, and she found herself blushing guiltily.
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
“No, no, not at all.”
She couldn’t quite resist a quick look towards her habitat, but did her best to hide it by moving to the horse’s head and running her hand down the metallic nose. The small white scar on the otherwise sleek skin had been the inspiration for his name and she gave it an affectionate pat.
“Good morning to you too, Blaze.”
L-485 sighed.
“You did not have to give him a name.”
“Of course I did. Everyone deserves a name.” Flustered by the fact that he was still studying her face, she blurted out, “What’s your name?”
His face turned even harder.
“You know what it is. I am L-485.”
“You weren’t born with that name.” She had always wanted to ask him, but never quite had the courage before. “What was your original name?”
For a moment, she thought he wasn’t going to answer her, but he finally shrugged.
“I was born Levi. But that was the name of the man I was. I am no longer a man.”
“Of course you are.”
“I am no more a man than my horse is a living animal.”
She stopped petting Blaze long enough to frown at him, and the horse immediately nudged her hand. She laughed and resumed her strokes.
“I don’t think Blaze agrees with you. And neither do I, Levi.”
There was that look again, that brief flare of hunger as she said his name. Her body instinctively responded, but her conscience nagged at her and she ducked her head, looking away.
“Is something wrong? You seem… different this morning.”
“No, no. Everything is fine.”
Dammit, she didn’t even sound convincing to herself and she gave the dome another guilty look. He followed her gaze, frowning at her habitat.
