Page 62 of Elanie & the Empath
“More than a task and its completion,” she whispered.
Gol’s chin tuck was solemn, and I scooted close enough to Elanie that our hips touched.
“But now that you’re here, young one, you will find something you’ve never had before: the secret to self-actualization, to true, authentic,optimalfunctioning.”
“Which is?” Elanie’s eyes were wide, unblinking.
Gol leaned forward, and Elanie and I leaned in as well. When we were all close enough to share the same breath, Gol’s dark eyes slid from Elanie’s to mine and back again, then he said one simple word: “Downtime.”
Elanie and I stared at each other, baffled.
“That’s the secret to bionic enlightenment?” she asked with the first smile I’d seen on her face all night. “Vacation?”
Unbothered by her dismissive tone, Gol asked, “When is the last time you took one?”
“Not until I landed here. I don’t qualify for my first day off for another two decades. Probably even longer after this stunt.”
“Stunt.” Gol scoffed while Arlin chuckled. “Hear me, Elanie. You are more than your work. You are more than service. You are more than you could ever dare to dream. But don’t take my word for it. You will see.” Raising his chalice, he tilted it toward her. “You will see.”
In time, the weight of our conversation lifted, and Elanie and I gorged ourselves on trestal legs and roasted vegetables while Gol and Arlin told us stories about Thura. They detailed their less than stellar success at terraforming the planet and their plans to expand the terradome as more bionics arrived, answering the call, seeking personal freedom. They introduced us to the Thurans who passed by our table, bionics from Tranquis, Ulaperia, and across the wormhole from Mars and New Earth. Older generations, newer models. The first bionics who, according to Gol, would not be recycled, who would not have their consciousnesses wiped and their nanotech repurposed so they could continue to live under the oppressive thumb of industry or be ground to dust in the gears of war.
While I tried to process everything we’d learned, Mal arrived to clear our plates and Arlin brushed her fingertips over Elanie’s arm.
“You are very beautiful,” she said. “Very soft.”
I slid my hand along the small of Elanie’s back, not sure how she felt about being touched that way by a relative stranger.
When she said, “thank you,” I moved my hand to her hip, pulling, needing her closer.
Arlin leaned to the side, her pale purple eyes not once leaving Elanie’s as she whispered something into Gol’s ear. When his lips curled into an indolent and possessive grin, something like jealousy bubbled hotly inside me. But he gave one small shake of his big head, then turned to me and said, “It is time that we leave you.”
Good, I thought. Or tried to think when Gol stood from the table and sucked every molecule of air from my lungs like an industrial strength vacuum.
He was naked, completely. And if I had to guess, at least semi-erect. I tried not to look, but it was everywhere all at once, following my eyes, leaving me nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Elanie was a monolith beside me, stiff and motionless and blatantly staring.
“Sounds good,” I managed tightly. “Have a nice evening.”
Gol’s chin dipped, his hand wrapping around Arlin’s waist, sliding lower as he said, “We certainly will.”
As soon as they were out of earshot, Elanie’s head whipped around. “Stars above,Sem. Did you see him? Did you seeit?”
“I didn’t really have a choice,” I muttered.
“Yours didn’t look like that.”
I gave a sharp laugh. “Of course it didn’t. It would be like a third leg.”
“No, not the size.” She glanced around, making sure she wasn’t being overheard. Then she whispered, “theveins.”
I pressed my lips together, fighting a grin.
“What?” Her expression fell, shoulders sinking. “You’re laughing at me. Why does everyone always laugh at me?”
“I’m sorry.” I schooled my features. “You’re right. Mine didn’t look like that when you saw it. But it happens sometimes,” I tried to explain. “The veins.”
“First a slimy sea creature between my legs, and nowthis?” She bit her cheek, staring into the middle distance, obviously distraught. Then her eyes snapped to mine again. “You said it happens sometimes. Does it happen to yours? Does your penis get veiny too?”
It was a moment I would relive for years. Decades. Until the day old age claimed me. Her eyes glowing in the torchlight, her flushed cheeks, the fullness of her lips. The way I slipped my hand behind her neck, tilted those full lips to mine, and kissed her.
