Her Cyborg Awakes (Diaspora Worlds) (2 page)

Plus Sabralia new how vulnerable she was from
loneliness. What if she developed stronger feelings for her servant, only to
have him replaced by another? Often the servants were evaluated and moved to
military installations to perform more complex tasks. Someday they would take
Qy, and she didn’t need to add to her grief.

Qy gently disrobed her and helped her into the
steaming pool, scented with sweet Bellflowers from her homeworld. He slid in
beside her and they sank into the warm water. She sat between his open legs.
His large hands slid gently up her arms and she shivered with anticipation.
This morning she would…indulge. She didn’t, not very often, because her
emotions for Qy seemed overwhelming then, and he was only a cyborg. He could
never be a true lover. His brain no longer functioned like a human’s; he had no
personality or thoughts. As a contract wife in the harem, one that didn’t hold
Emperor Sirn’s affections, she was not popular, nor was she ever called to the
Emperor’s bed. The women of the harem…few could be trusted. So many curried
favor and attention, hoping their name would get back to the Emperor, or even
to Alfyt, the harem Master. She couldn’t trust them, so Sabralia kept to
herself, her only constant companion Qy. But she knew it would be wrong and
emotionally dangerous to let her emotions grow for a cyborg.

With his hands massaging her shoulders she could
pretend he was more than a cyborg, for a short while, and forget about the
upcoming feast. Who knew what would happen at the feast. Rape. She shivered
despite the hot water.

“I would like a full massage this morning.”

“Wonderful. I love to touch you everywhere.” He
replied with the phrase she taught him. His hands soon left her shoulders and
rubbed down to her lower back, pressing and circling with strong fingers. His
touch seemed to go deep inside her body, almost removing the unpleasant
tightness within her.

He cleaned her breasts with slick fragrant
cleanser. She had never taught him to play with her nipples, but his massaging
touch brushed them constantly, sending tingles of pleasure through her body.
She felt the deep tension melt way.

“It is time for you to lean on the side,
Sabralia.” She kneeled, resting her head on her arms on the side of the pool.
Qy’s hand slid to her buttocks, squeezing and stroking in a deep massage, and
she melted in bliss. Heat flooded through her and she could feel herself get
wet. His hands slid down her legs, massaging her thighs, her calves. He spent
much time on her feet, rubbing each toe in a circular motion. Then he turned
her around and massaged up the front of her legs.

“The nozzle now? Or kissing?” His voice was low,
seductive, like she had taught him.

“Kissing.”

Qy was not the best of kissers, not as she
remembered kissing boys in her youth. His movements were mechanical, and she
found she enjoyed the kissing more if she was already aroused. Knowing that
kissing her did not give him pleasure or arousal took much of the pleasure away
for her.

They kissed for short while, then she murmured,
“The nozzle.”

“Yes.” He slid a water nozzle between her legs.
She wrapped her arms about his neck and they kissed, while he applied the
stream of water to her clit. She came with a shudder, and then buried her face
in his neck, crying for things she couldn’t have, for the life she was trapped
in.

“I will wash your hair now, Mistress.” Qy
proceeded to cleanse and rinse her with clear water, while she let tears stream
down her face. She never felt lonelier than after she came in the arms of her
cyborg. He wasn’t really there with her, had no ability for emotional
communion…her life was empty, unless she pretended.

But the tension was gone, for a moment. Did she
really dare to hide on the beach?

She ate a small breakfast, but didn’t feel like
doing anything. Qy sat with her on the divan on the balcony overlooking the
sea, and they watched the waves. She closed her eyes after a while, though
sleeping was no real solution.

 
Chapter Two

Sabralia dressed carefully in her new gown. The
colors made her skin look whiter and her eyes a mysterious dark blue. Qy did
her hair in an elaborate upsweep, but showed her several simple but elegant
styles she could do herself if her hair got mussed while he was busy.

Bile rolled up her throat at the thought of
activities that would muss her hair.

The festivities began with a meal, followed by a
series of performances, some from the Harem, and others from professional
troupes and musicians hired for the occasion. Emperor Sirn sat in a shielded
box overlooking the stage. Sabralia sat near the side aisle, where she could
slip away, next to several older women, contract wives like herself. Only they
had children by Sirn, and so they would retire to their quarters after the
meal, safe from the officers. Other harem women were giggling and whispering,
already flirting with the officers, who were dressed alike in their white and
orange formal uniforms. The officers looked hard, like men who got what they
wanted, no matter what. Sabralia shivered and tried to avoid any eye contact
with them. Lucky for her, many of the harem women were working hard to be
visible and noticed by the men. Sabralia slid down in her seat and watched the
extravagant program.

She slipped out to the retiring room before the
program was over and used her com to call for Qy to come check her hair.  While
she waited for him she pulled on a section of her gown and caused a small tear.
Now she had an excuse to go up to her rooms.

Qy came to inspect her hair and makeup, which was
fine. It was now or never. She took a steadying breath. “Qy, please take our
beach equipment to the small cove at the beach I enjoy so much. I have met a
gentleman who would enjoy an outdoor evening of relaxation. Provide all manner
of refreshments and a comfortable pallet with blankets.”

“Yes, Mistress.” Qy left to do his business.

Heart in her throat, she slipped up a side stair
to her rooms. She thought about changing out of her gown but had no way to
explain the change if she was caught, so she just switched her shoes for beach
sandals and slipped down the stairs from her balcony to the sand.

The beach was unfamiliar in the dark, and she was
jumpy, afraid she would run into someone. A man with a hard face and harsh,
painful hands. But she found the cove without incident and sat on the still
warm sand to wait for Qy.

“Mistress, I am here.” Qy announced his presence.
He pulled a small float with a large basket filled with wine, fruit drinks, and
an array of delicate food stuffs in a cooler. He set up a large soft pallet
with silken pillows near a small brazier, which danced with a flame. It was a
lovely romantic setting, one she could imagine lovers sharing, which made her
feel immeasurably sad.

“Wonderful. My gentleman is coming along in a
short while. He wished to be near the sea, in fresh air. Keep our location a
secret, also. We wish to have our privacy. You may return after your nightly
maintenance.” She helped herself to a fruit drink, then wrapped herself in a
blanket and rested on the cushioned pallet.

“Yes, Mistress.” Qy left, taking the cart with
him, and she knew he would obey her words. And if she needed him she could
summon him via her com. There was nothing to do except stay alert in case
someone came down the beach. Sabralia turned down the brazier flame until it
was as small as a candle. It was dark, and the only sounds were night birds and
the sound of the sea. She helped herself to the food and drink, and even
emptied a bottle of wine into the sea after pouring it into two glasses, which
she also poured out. It would look like her companion had come, had food and drink,
if Qy was questioned. Eventually she leaned back against the cushions and
dozed. She awoke when Qy returned.

“I will be sleeping here tonight, Qy. My gentleman
spoke of returning here at a later time.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

She insisted he get under the covers with her. She
didn’t think cyborgs felt cold, but she felt safer with him beside her. “Wake
me if anyone comes, please.”

It was a long night, but quiet. No revelers came
down the beach.

Qy was with her when she woke in the morning. She
lied, in case the cyborgs were reporting their ladies’ activities. “While you
were at maintenance, my gentleman visited me. He was quite pleased with our
comfortable situation, and would like me to remain here, awaiting his visits.
Can you bring more refreshments and drinks?”

Qy questioned nothing, and did her bidding. That
afternoon, Sabralia paddled for a short time in the sea, then dressed in one of
the other sheer gowns designed for the festivities. Qy did not join her in the
water. His appliances and muscular physique made him sink like a stone, and he
did need oxygen for his flesh parts. She wished she had different clothing, but
if she were to be caught, at least her gown fit with her outdoor lover story.
Qy fixed her hair, but after he left she put the jewels away in an embroidered
pocket that held her cosmetics, and did her hair into a simple braid. She would
have to account for the jewelry later.

“What is happening in the palace, Qy?” she asked
later.

“The kitchen is very busy supplying food and
drink. Medical has also been busy since so many have used too many intoxicants.
Some of the harem and a few of the officers had minor injuries in fights.”

“Are my rooms all right?” The distasteful thought
of strange couples using her rooms for dalliance suddenly occurred to her.

“Yes, Mistress. I locked your rooms.”

“Good. But it does sound like the officers are
having a fine time.”

“Yes, Mistress, a fine time,” Qy echoed.

Qy rested with her on the blankets that night
until it was time for his maintenance. Sabralia figured she would again tell
him the soldier visited her while he was gone, since a cyborg would not be
suspicious, but Qy came back not long after leaving.

“Qy, why aren’t you at maintenance?” Had Alfyt
sent him for her? Her heart leaped to an uncomfortable speed.

“The doors were locked, Mistress. I could not get
into the maintenance room. I went into the main hallway, to take a different
door, but there was much confusion.”

“What do you mean?”

“Would you like to hear the recording?”

“Yes.”

Qy pressed his leg implant. Weapon blasts,
shouting, and screaming filled the night. The sounds of violence. Dread
clutched at her gut and suddenly the balmy breeze felt cold.

“It did not look safe, Mistress.”

“Yes… I’m sure you are right.” Her heart pounded so
hard she felt dizzy.

There is some type of ambush in the palace!

“I think we should move our bedding deeper into
the woods, in case the unrest comes closer,” she said. She wanted to hide, to
be safe.

“Yes, Mistress.”

They moved up the steep hillside into the woods,
where the canopy of the trees blocked the light of the stars, and found a small
clearing. It was frightening in the dark. Qy brought the brazier and the food
and drink basket after leaving her briefly. She dozed fitfully in his arms, too
scared of soldiers to turn on the brazier.

In the morning, Qy returned to the palace.
Sabralia waited nervously from a spot in the trees where she could watch the
beach. He returned some time later with food stuffs.

“Have things calmed down there?” she asked.

“They are not running on schedule,” he replied.
“The kitchen was empty, and none of the cyborgs were cooking. I gathered
breakfast and luncheon for you, Mistress. I did not go into the main rooms,
just like you instructed. The maintenance room was still locked.”

She did not know what to think. “Very good, Qy.”

Sabralia spent a nervous day in the woods, not
daring to go down to the beach for a swim. Qy sat on a small rise some distance
away, watching the beach and distant palace. A few ships blasted into orbit
from the spaceport on the far side of the forest, the roar filling the woods
and making her heart thunder. What is happening?

Towards evening they saw smoke rising, either on
the far side of the palace or one of the outbuildings just beyond.

“Should I investigate?” Qy asked. “Alfyt has not
summoned me for duty all day.”

“No, Qy, it looks like more unrest. Alfyt must
have other duties in an emergency. I think you should remain with me. Perhaps
my soldier will come and tell us what is happening.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

The sun went down. The smell of smoke was stronger
for awhile, until the cool evening breeze from the sea pushed the smoke farther
away. Sabralia wondered what was happening to the women—were they safe? Were
they dead? None had come along the beach. Exhausted, she finally slept, wrapped
in the blankets and her cyborg’s arms.

***

Kaistril dreamed. A woman was in his arms…his
Mistress Sabralia, with her dark hair, dark blue eyes, and white soft skin. His
cock roared into hardness. He tightened his arms around the woman, pulling her
closer…she was so sweet, smelling of flowers, her soft bottom cradled his
straining member…

Something is wrong. His eyes snapped open in a
starless night and he sat up so fast he swayed, dizzy. They were on a cushioned
pallet in thick woods. A body was pressed tight against him and he knew it was
his Mistress Sabralia. They were hiding from…unrest.

Something is wrong.

My name is Kaistril.

No! I am Qy, in service to my mistress.

He couldn’t remember…but Kaistril seemed right.

He shook his head to try and clear his confusion.
The air reeked of smoke. The fire, soldiers, danger, weapons… His head ached,
as did his stomach. He was thirsty. He reached into Sabralia’s food basket and
got a fruit drink, which helped a little, but his mind was still clouded.