Page 20 of Her Alien Cyborgs
The interior walls were painted a warm yellow that softened the light and made the space feel warmer. Instead of metal grates, the floor was covered with a thin but nice-looking carpet. The bed was designed to extend out from one wall and took up most of the available space. That explained Hezza’s earlier request to arrange the cabins to accommodate a Torski-sized passenger. This bed could handle a being that big. He eyed it carefully for several seconds. It could also fit two cyborgs and a certain human female if needed.
A quick examination determined that one wall was covered by retractable panels. Inside the space were shelves and cubbies for personal items. Not that he had any of those. A small doorway led to a sanitation room, complete with its own shower.
“Have you tried the bed? It’s so comfortable I might sleep for days,”Fyr’enth said through their link.
“Not yet. I’m checking out the shower. How hot do you think the water gets?”
“Ask the ship.”
“Right.”Having access to an AI was yet another thing they’d have to get used to.
“Ship, what’s the temperature limit on the shower? And how much water am I allowed to use?”
The answer came back immediately. “You may use any temperature you wish, so long as it will not cause physicaldamage. As per standing orders, there are currently no limits on the amount of potable water available for use. At current staffing levels, this ship can recycle water faster than the inhabitants can use it.”
He clapped his hands together in celebration. Unlimited hot water and a comfortable bed. Things were looking up.
He wanted to take a long, exceedingly hot shower, but he needed to address one thing first.
“Hey, ship? How do I arrange for new clothing? I never want to wear the stuff I’m currently wearing again.”
“If you would stand in the middle of the room with your feet apart and arms out at your sides, I will scan you. Once I have your measurements, I can produce new garments.”
He did as the machine instructed. Nothing happened, but the AI eventually spoke again. “Scan complete. Anomaly noted in the dorsal area that will cause challenges should you require clothing for your upper torso.”
“Those aren’t anomalies. They’re my wings.”
The AI made a series of soft clicks as if processing that information. “Information added to your file. I have no clothing patterns saved that can accommodate this feature. Would you like me to attempt to create one?”
He waved a hand in dismissal. “Not right now. I’m used to going shirtless.”
The only time he’d worn anything on his upper body was when they were in EVA suits, and those had been specially made with extra space in the back to allow room for their wings. True Vardarians had wings made of membrane that folded tightly against their backs. From what Kalan understood, the first cyborg attempts had used the standard wing design, but because of the cyborgs’ larger, heavier frames, flight was impossible.
One of the techs had taken pleasure in telling him in graphic detail about the terrible damage those first test subjects hadendured as they attempted to modify their wing structure. Stress fractures, dislocations, and tears in the membrane had been common.
Eventually, their creators had abandoned genetics and created the cybernetic version he and Fyr’enth had.
He moved around the room as he considered clothing options. After never wearing anything but nondescript gray, he wanted something different. In the end, he gave the AI a list of items, including several that weren’t clothing-related.
What he wore wasn’t the only thing that needed to change.
As satisfying as it would be to set his former clothes on fire and toss the ashes out an airlock, Kalan settled for tossing them into a corner for the bots to take to recycling.
It took him a few seconds to figure out how the shower worked. The one he was used to had two settings: on and off. This one had temperature control, water pressure adjustments, and even different settings on the shower head. By the time he had it set to his liking, steam filled the smaller room. The moment he stepped under the cascade of water, he discovered what bliss felt like.
Hot water sluiced over his head and shoulders as he opened his wings and let it flow down his spine.
Several wall-mounted dispensers sat above the taps. Two were cleansers, each with a different scent. He tried the one labeled as lavender, took one sniff, and immediately rinsed off his hand. He may not have known exactly what lavender was, but he didn’t want to smell like it.
The other cleanser claimed to smell like a sea breeze. Since he’d never been to a planet, he had no idea if that was true, but the scent was appealing enough.
He lathered up and scrubbed away every trace of his time as a prisoner. The hot water soothed him, relaxing muscles he hadn’t known were tight.
He worked down his body, relishing every moment of this new luxury. When his fingers brushed his cock, it hardened instantly. Thesharhal’seffect might be lessened now he was away from Hezza, but it was still present.
Now seemed like a good time to take the edge off.
He fisted his cock in one hand, the slickness of the suds enhancing the sensation. He conjured up memories of kissing Hezza. The sweet heat of her mouth. The way her soft body had molded itself to his. Her breathy moans had been like music to his ears.
