Enhanced: Brides of the Kindred 12 (The Brides of the Kindred) (15 page)

“Why do you need to see signs of emotion
if you don’t have any yourself?”

“Emotion is not permitted on Z4,” he said
gravely. “Before I rose higher in the Collective, I was tasked with seeking it
out. Those who commit Feel-crime must be found and dealt with appropriately.”

“Feel-crime?”
Mei-Li looked at him disbelievingly. “You’re serious? You
were actually on some kind of squad that hunted down people who dared to have
emotions?”

Six shrugged. “It was necessary. Now, of course,
we have many more sniffers to do the job.”

“Sniffers?”

“A special class of mechanoid able to
identify emotion—they can scent the pheromones associated with Feel-crime
through their olfactory vents.”

“That sounds awful. Like something out of
1984
or something. ‘Big Brother is watching you.’ Or smelling you, I guess.”

He frowned. “I’m sorry, what? I don’t
understand.”

“Never mind.” A new thought occurred to
her. “If you treat people who are having emotions as criminals, how am
I
going to survive down there?”

“You will be given a special dispensation
that will last the duration of our Claiming Period.”

Mei-Li frowned. “So I’m allowed to have
feelings, which is against the law, but I can’t go without an enhancement? I
really
have to get some part of me permanently altered in order to visit your planet?”

“It is the ruling of the Collective,” Six
said. “I am sorry—I wish it was not. But if you refuse to follow it, you will
void our Claiming Period contract.”

Mei-Li put a hand on her hip. “I want to
see this contract you keep talking about. I don’t see how I can legally be
compelled to get a part of my body chopped off and replaced just so we can
spend the month together at your place.”

“I have a copy on the shuttle, printed out
in your language for your perusal,” Six said. “And I assure you it is—what is
the English idiom? Oh yes, air tight. But the enhancement doesn’t have to be
large or traumatic. You
can
have something added without taking anything
away. There is one enhancement in particular that would serve you well.”

Reflexively, Mei-Li looked down at her
chest. She was still wearing the torn and dirty blouse, jacket and skirt combo
but at least her shirt wasn’t gaping open to show her bra.

“Not there,” Six said, as if reading her
thoughts. “Your eyes.”

“My eyes?” Mei-Li put a hand to her
glasses protectively. “Look, no offense but I’m betting your surgeons don’t see
many humans here and eyes are
really
delicate. I was told by a very
reputable doctor on Earth that I wasn’t a candidate for LASIK.”

“Just let Yipper speak to you about it,”
Six said. “I am certain he could offer you something small and noninvasive that
would free you of the need to wear your oculars and also meet the requirements
of the Collective.”

“I don’t know…” Mei-Li said slowly. “I’ll have
to think about it but it
does
sound better than having an arm or leg cut
off and replaced.” She frowned at him fiercely. “If you knew there was an
easier way to go, why did you push me last night? I thought my only option was
amputation—that’s why I freaked out.”

Six bowed his head. “As to that, I am
truly sorry for the distress I caused you. I never meant to imply that complete
extremity replacement was the only enhancement you could have. I was simply
thinking of your safety—I wanted you to have a way to defend yourself once I
take you back…back to Earth.” He looked away as he said it and Mei-Li found
herself unexpectedly touched.

“So you wanted me to get a robot arm so I
could punch guys like Dungston in the face if they bothered me?”

Six nodded earnestly. “Exactly.”

“God…” She sighed. “Okay, I forgive you I
guess. For
that
, anyway.” She still wasn’t happy about finding out she
was just an assignment for him from his boss. And yet, the gentle way he had
carried her and comforted her after she had her meltdown, not to mention the
tender way he held her against him all night long made her wonder if maybe he
did care…at least a little.

Don’t be stupid,
she told herself sternly.
He
doesn’t
care—not
about anyone. He has no emotions, remember?
She had to stop interpreting
his sporadic gentleness as caring—it was only going to confuse her.

Speaking of confusion, she was confused as
to what came next. Did she have to go back and get an enhancement right away?
Her stomach clenched in a knot at the thought.

“Are you well?” Six was watching her
intently. “Your heart rate suddenly increased. Is something distressing you?”

“No, nothing,” Mei-Li said quickly. Then,
seeing the skeptical look on his face she went on, “Nothing but the state I’m
in, anyway. I mean look at me…” She gestured down at herself. “I’m filthy and
my clothes are a mess. I don’t even want to
know
what my hair looks
like.”

“It’s lovely,” Six said unexpectedly. “It
reminds me of a
flurta’s
wing.”

Mei-Li was thrown by the sudden
compliment. “A what?”

“A
flurta.
It’s a small flying
creature that lives in the dense forests of Gillex, our nearest moon. Its wings
have long, silky black fringes that swirl around it when it flies.” He
shrugged. “I suppose it’s foolish of me to think—”

“No, it’s nice.” Mei-Li put a hand on his
knee and he looked down at it, as if wondering why she was touching him.
Feeling awkward, she drew it back. “Um, anyway as I was saying, is there
someplace I could get a shower and a change before we do anything else? Oh, and
maybe some breakfast? I’m
really
hungry.” It had been a long time since
her French fry and milkshake lunch and she hadn’t really gotten to eat more
than a few bites of that.

Six nodded. “Certainly. The fresher is in
the corner.” He nodded at a small door in the corner of the room. “And I will
synthesize you some more clothing as well as something nourishing to eat while
you refresh yourself.”

“Thank you,” Mei-Li said gratefully,
really meaning it. She started to get up but it was hard to get out of the vast
beanbag bed they were sitting on. Then, as though reading her intentions, the
pink bed gave her a nudge and she found herself standing beside it. “Whoa—did
the bed just move on its own?” She looked down at it uncertainly.

“It’s not really a bed—it’s a
sousa,”
Six
explained. “A creature which has been bred to serve as a rest and relaxation
area.”

“What? I’ve been laying on an
animal
?
I thought it was just some kind of weird bean bag chair thing!”

“I do not know what a bean bag chair is
but be calm—the
sousa
will not hurt you. It derives nourishment from
supporting you.”

“Nourishment? It’s not going to try to eat
me, is it?” Mei-Li edged away from the bed.

Six shook his head. “Not in the way you
mean. It ingests dead skin cells which slough off in the normal course of slumber.
That’s all.”

“I still don’t like the idea of sleeping
on a live animal.” Mei-Li shook her head. “I’m really glad I didn’t know that
last night. I was already freaked out enough and—” Suddenly there was a low
gurgling sound and she clutched her midsection. “Sorry! My stomach—I haven’t
eaten in hours—”

He frowned. “Clearly. I will synthesize
you double portions.”

“Thanks,” she said and fled to the
fresher, which she really hoped was Kindred talk for the bathroom. Not only did
she want a shower, she also had to pee
really
badly.

Chapter
Thirteen

It was, indeed, a bathroom although the
facilities were a little strange. They were much larger than she was used to
for one thing—clearly built for Kindred sized people. Also, she looked for the
shower controls for a good five minutes before realizing the flow of water was
motion activated. She found out purely by accident, waving her hand under the
nozzle in frustration, and was surprised by the sudden gush of hot water.

The nozzle hung straight down from the
ceiling with nothing around it which meant the water should have gone
everywhere. Somehow it didn’t though. Looking closely, Mei-Li saw a shimmering,
iridescent bubble surrounding the nozzle and the floor around it for a two foot
radius on all sides. She didn’t get wet until she stepped past the shining,
almost invisible barrier, to get into the flow of water.

There didn’t seem to be any shampoo or
conditioner but the first gush of water seemed to have soap mixed in with it—it
lathered in her hair nicely. When she had her hair and body scrubbed, the water
changed again to a clear flow which washed the foam away. Mei-Li wondered if
the shower was reading her needs somehow or if it was simply preset to do a
wash and rinse. Either way it was nice to feel squeaky clean again.

The water turned off automatically as she
stepped past the shower’s nearly invisible bubble barrier and she wrapped
herself in an oversized white towel she found hanging on the hook outside the
shower barrier. It dried her immediately, wicking the moisture away from her
skin so completely it was as though she had never been wet. It didn’t work
quite so well on her hair which was still a little damp but Mei-Li didn’t mind.
She felt thoroughly refreshed and she simply finger combed her long, black hair
straight back to get it out of her way.

She was about to get dressed in her own
clothes again but a look at the dirty, crumpled dove gray suit and white silk
blouse changed her mind. She didn’t even want to put her bra and panties back
on, though she supposed she would have to eventually. But she couldn’t go out
in just a towel, could she?

A knock on the fresher door interrupted
her deliberations.

“I synthesized a garment for you,” said
Six’s deep voice.

“You did?” Mei-Li opened the door a crack
and peeked out. Six was standing there holding a small, neatly folded bundle in
one hand.

“I am still working on finding everyday
wear that you can use on Z4,” he said, handing it to her. “But I synthesized
this from the memory of the dreams we shared. Hopefully it will fit you until
the other garments are ready.”

“Oh, thank you.” Mei-Li smiled at him
gratefully. “That was so thoughtful of you.”

He shrugged his broad shoulders. “No,
merely practical. I did not wish you to catch a chill and I thought you might
prefer some clothing that looks like it came from your home world.”

“That’s still thoughtful,” Mei-Li told him
gently. “I’ll put it on right now—just give me a minute.” She shut the door and
shimmied out of the towel before unfolding the clothing he’d given her.

To her amazement and discomfort it was her
white lace nightgown.
Well, what did you expect?
whispered a little
voice in her head.
That is what you were wearing last time you were dream
sharing. That’s what he remembers you in so that’s what he made.

Only the nightgown didn’t look
exactly
like
the one she had at home. When Mei-Li put it on, it seemed to fit tighter to her
body, clinging to her small breasts and the slight curves of her hips. And was
it her imagination or was the lace over her breasts a lot thinner and more
see-through than her original gown? When she looked down, she could practically
see her nipples right through it which was embarrassing because they were much
darker than the rest of her pale skin and puffy which made them poke out
obscenely through the front panel of lace.

“Oh my God, should I
wear
this?”
she muttered to herself. But Six
had
gone to the trouble of making it
just for her—it would be rude not to.

Look, it’s not like
he whipped out a sewing machine and handmade it just for you,
whispered the skeptical little voice.
He said he
synthesized it. They probably have some kind of machine that just makes
whatever you want. And what he wanted to make was
this
. So what does
that say about what’s on his mind?

But that was silly. If Six had been a
normal guy back on Earth, Mei-Li would have mentally accused him of trying to
get her into the flimsiest thing possible on purpose. But he had no emotions—he
probably wouldn’t care if she walked around completely naked. Not that she
would
,
but still…

“Mei-Li?” came his deep voice from the
other side of the door again, making her jump. “Are you well? Does the garment
not please you?”

“It’s, um…fine,” she answered as brightly
as she could. “I was just…tidying up in here a little.” Deciding that she would
just have to wear the white lace nightgown, she hung up the towel and came out.

Six was standing there and the moment she
came out, his gaze roved over her. He nodded as if in approval.

“It fits you very well.”

“It’s certainly very, um, tight.” Mei-Li
tugged at the gown, trying to make a little room. She felt nervous all over
again as she considered that she wasn’t wearing panties under the thin white
slip.

“Clothing
should
be tight. It keeps
an enemy from getting a hold on you in battle,” Six said. “Come and sit on the
sousa
with me.” He motioned at the bed-thing which had a bowl of steaming
blue-gray mush and a clear, thin sheet of plastic in the center of its pink
surface. “You can eat your firstmeal and peruse the contract at the same time.”

“Oh, well…” Mei-Li was still a little wary
of the bed now that she knew it
wasn’t
really a bed but instead a living
organism that snacked on dead skin cells. She watched uncertainly as the big
Kindred settled himself on one side of it and nodded at her.

“If you are worried you might spill your
garn,
don’t be,” he said, misinterpreting her reluctance. He patted the pink bed
as though it was an animal and said, “flat, raised surface.” Immediately the
middle of the pink bean-bag bed raised up to become a kind of little table. Six
placed the bowl of blue gray mush on it and gestured for her again. “Come.”

“All right…” Mei-Li climbed gingerly back
onto the bed and settled down with her legs crossed modestly to one side. She
was feeling self-conscious again about wearing nothing but the thin white lace
gown which clung too tightly to her body but she told herself she was being
silly.
He only made it tight because that’s the way they wear their clothes
here,
she told herself.
And it doesn’t matter what I wear because it
doesn’t affect him at all.
Six probably wouldn’t care even if she was
completely naked. Lust was an emotion and he
had
no emotions so it
didn’t matter what she wore. Still, she made sure the edge of her gown was
covering her knees and kept her legs carefully together.

“If you’d like to start consuming your
garn,
I’ll find the part of the contract you may wish to peruse,” Six said,
nodding at the bowl of mush which had a long handled utensil sticking out of
it. “I am still not as versatile with written English as I am with spoken so it
may take me a few moments. My apologies for the delay.” He picked up the thin
piece of plastic which was about the length of an old-fashioned legal pad and began
scanning it.

“Take your time,” Mei-Li murmured, picking
the utensil out of the mush and examining it. It had a bowl like a spoon and a
long hollow shaft like a straw. “Um, am I supposed to eat this or drink it?”
she asked, motioning to the mush. “And what exactly is it, anyway?”

Six looked up from the piece of
legal-sized plastic he was perusing.

“Garn
is a complete food—perfectly nutritionally balanced. You
will receive all the fats, carbohydrates and proteins you need for the first
part of your day,” he said. “It also has shifting molecular motility.”

“Meaning what, exactly?” Mei-Li asked.
Whatever it was, it didn’t sound very appetizing.

“Meaning it will shift in texture to meet
your needs. If you wish to chew it, you can scoop some into your mouth. If you
are thirsty, simply suck it through the
garn
tube and drink it instead.”
He nodded at the spoon-straw in her hand. “
Garn
satisfies hunger and
quenches thirst equally well.”

“Oh, uh…okay.” Experimentally, Mei-Li dug the
bowl of the spoon-straw into the mush and lifted it to her face. She sniffed it
but there wasn’t much to smell. Experimentally, she took a bite.
Well, there
isn’t much to taste either.
It was true—
garn
was pretty much the
blandest thing she’d ever eaten. In texture it reminded her a little bit of
Cream of Wheat hot cereal but without the faint nutty sweetness. Actually, what
it tasted like was a bowl of white paper that someone had stewed into mush and
served lukewarm.

It wasn’t very good but Mei-Li was
really
hungry. Also she didn’t want to be rude. She ate another bite and then
decided to try drinking it as Six had said. Sticking the spoon-straw deeper
into the mush, she sucked experimentally on the end.

Immediately a gush of bland, gritty liquid
filled her mouth. Mei-Li tried to swallow it and choked. Six looked up from the
piece of plastic he was holding as she coughed into her hand, a small frown on
his face.

“Do you find it to your liking?”

“Um…” Again she didn’t want to be rude but
it was hard to think of something nice to say. “It’s not too spicy,” she
offered at last.

“Of course not. Excessive spices in
comestibles may trigger emotions. That is why
garn
is the preferred
nutritional ration on Z4.”

Mei-Li nearly choked again. “So you
manufacture it to be bland on purpose?”

He shrugged. “Naturally—though it is
synthesized, not manufactured. Of course, there are a few supplements that can
be added but the areas they are to be found in are…”

“Are what?”

Six shook his head. “They are on Z4. It isn’t
important.”

“But this…this
garn—
this is
all
you eat?”

Six nodded. “Is that a problem?”

“Uh, no. I guess not.” Mei-Li looked down
at her bowl of mush glumly. Was this really what she had to look forward to
morning, noon, and night for an entire month? What a depressing prospect!
Garn
was a far cry from hot French fries and a creamy chocolate shake which was what
she felt she deserved after everything she’d been through in the last
twenty-four hours.

Well, I guess it’s
better than nothing.
Sighing, she dug her
spoon-straw in again and took another gooey, bland bite. Ugh.

The one good thing about
garn
appeared to be that it filled you up quickly. The bowl was still much more than
half full when Mei-Li decided she’d had enough. She put down the spoon-straw
and pushed it away with a sigh which made Six look up again.

“I believe I have found the part in the
Claiming Contract which you may wish to read.” He frowned at the still
mostly-full bowl. “Are you finished?”

“Yup, I’m full.
Really
full.”
Mei-Li patted her tummy meaningfully. “Thanks for breakfast.”

“It does not seem as though you have eaten
enough to keep yourself healthy, though.” He nodded at the unfinished
garn.
“I
do not want you to become malnourished. Maybe you should eat a bit more.”

“I’ll be fine,” Mei-Li assured him.
“Really, I couldn’t eat another bite.” Not if she didn’t want to gag on the
blandness.

He shrugged, his broad shoulders rolling
under the thin black shirt he wore.

“Very well.” He tapped the small pink
table that had been formed by the
sousa
and said, “Dispose.” The table
folded up, engulfing the bowl and spoon-straw and making them disappear
immediately.

To Mei-Li, it looked like a hungry mouth
had just eaten everything in one bite.

“Crap!” She jumped back off the bed,
watching it warily.

“What is the matter?” Six asked. “Are you
concerned that I fed the rest of your firstmeal to the
sousa?
Had you
decided you wanted more after all?
”

“No,
I didn’t want any more. What I’m concerned about is that
it can swallow a whole bowl of mush just like
that
.” Mei-Li snapped her
fingers. “What’s to stop it from swallowing me while I’m sitting on it?” She
had a vivid mental image of her bare legs sticking out of the bed, kicking
uselessly while it digested her top half.

“The
sousa
does not eat living
creatures,” Six said. “Do you not have sleeping platforms on your planet?”

“None that move on their own and eat table
scraps,” Mei-Li muttered. “It’s like some kind of huge, freakish pet you sleep
on.”