Page 14 of Furi

She rolled her eyes knowing he wasn’t going to let it go. “I don’t know. I wasn’t exactly taking notice. It was a dream. Could mean anything. Just that I need to find a man like you keep saying.”

“You meet lots of men Betty. Have over the years. No one heating you like this one has.”

“Okay! I’m needy. I get it. I’ll look to fix that itch.”

“No. You will not pick a random male, not now. We will see if he has been affected too. This is new for us Betty. It might explain my connection to Emily.”

Frowning she wasn’t happy to hear that. Not happy about either option if truth be told. But she got that he would need the data. “I’m not promising anything.”

4 smirked. “So, no demanding he service you then?”

“Eww. That’s disgusting and so not happening.”

Shuddering she put her foot down. Ignoring him. Taking the breakfast sandwich he offered her eating in silence. Trying desperately to not recall those dreams.

They were far too tempting. Far too erotic.

Driving in silence, they made good time. Getting to town around lunch Emily stirred, taking the bottle from the bag 4 fed her. Parking up as she finished, 4 went through the routine of burping her. His affection for her sister naturally on show. A blind man could see the attraction.

Not sexual, not now anyway.

He was caring and gentle like he already loved her. Not that he could say so. He’d often told her as a child, that he’d no experience of love. Didn’t know what it was or what it meant. He and his men had only ever experienced training, war, fighting, killing, and being bought and sold like a commodity. Punishing trials, experiments by the ‘Designers’, orders given by their human overseers. The programming everything. Taking their will.

Unable to say no to anything, they did what they were programmed to do. Some of those orders having far reaching effects to the Cyborg's mind. In the end, to stop them crashing under the weight of the memories, they cut off their emotions and pain receptors. Making them more automaton. Less human.

It worked. But the outcome for all of them even hundreds of years later was clear to see. They were still affected and trying to fight it even now. The programming breaking down over the years. 4 told her logic suggested it started to degrade the moment Earth Corp didn’t hold up their objective. Their core coding. Survival at all costs the primary directive.

It wasn’t logical to throw them away in faulty ships if the primary order was in effect.

Clearly, logically it wasn’t.

She held in her sigh as 4 kissed the top of Emily’s head. There was nothing gentle in their history and yet, here he was. Gentleness itself.

“Right, you stay here I’ll go in and see Rogjur. Your half hidden so we should be good. I’ll open the truck bed.” 4 gave a nod and she got out. Parked side on she gave a quick look around making sure they weren’t drawing any attention. Then made her way through the back door calling out for Rogjur. A joval man, he came out wiping his hands on his apron.

“Betty. Good to see you girl. Sorry to hear about your father and mother. They were good people.”

She shook his hand. “They were, it's not been easy. I’ve brought the order, if a couple of your men could unload it for me.”

“Of course.” He called two of his boys.

“The truck bed is open.”

With a nod they walked passed her. “How are you doing? Out there alone.”

“I’m not alone, I have the retainers, my baby sister is with me and dad made sure we had help when he knew mom was expecting. He’d wanted to spend some quality time with her and the baby. It was fortuitous. He didn’t know it of course but it has saved me.”

The sacks coming passed them. Rogjur counting them off as she knew he would. The price already set. Some small talk later, her asking after his own family and the sacks were all in.

“Several more than expected. We appreciate the extra Betty. I’d take as much as you can give us you know that. It’s better quality than most around here.”

“Thank you but I’m not sure I can give you much more.”

He handed her the credits. “No matter, I’ll always take as much as you can give me. Same time in six months?”

She nodded. “I hope so.” Shaking hands, she left going back to the truck. There were a couple of young women standing next to the passenger door looking in. They weren’t looking at Emily. Sighing, she knew it was going to be a confrontation. Walking up they noticed her standing back a little. “Can I help you?”

“Your man here is a fine specimen. He’s reluctant to talk. That’s a fine baby. They both yours?”

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