In the Arms of an Android

by Tracy Lauren

  Renzo lets out a loud sigh and kicks his boot-clad feet up onto the conference table. “I thought they’d never leave.”

  The debriefing took hours and still, the conversation went unfinished. But one thing is certain—tomorrow we have the day to recover. After that, we go in search of the pods.

  “What’s all this going to mean for Valens?” I ask. “It seemed like a lot of people wanted to tie him to the actions of the others.”

  “Not everyone will like me, Andrea—I am okay with that.”

  “Yeah, well I just don’t want anyone trying to shut you down or put you in an internment camp or something.”

  Valens scoffs. “They’d have to catch me first.”

  “And they’d have to go through us,” the Captain puts in.

  “Hear, hear,” Renzo agrees.

  “Your concerns are valid, Andrea, that’s why Valens needs to be the one to head this rescue effort. He’s got to prove to the rest of the ATR that androids are capable of more than what the ones from Origin did yesterday. And it’s also why we need to talk about all the androids camped out in our shuttle bay,” the Captain points out, always thinking in terms of strategy.

  “What are they doing here?” Vesi asks.

  “The same thing those from Origin were doing. They are curious about Andrea and Valens.”

  “What the hell? Are they going to try and take me?” I shudder at the thought.

  “No, not these ones. In many ways these androids are more like Valens. They have all been living away from Origin for years, developing their emotional range and sense of humanity. And they aren’t curious because they want to study you, they are curious because they want what you have.”

  “Our baby?” I gasp.

  “No.” The Captain shakes her head. “They’ve been asking about love.”

  “What? I don’t understand.”

  “From what I gather, when the ones from Origin hacked into Valens’s consciousness, they didn’t do such an eloquent job. A surge went out, sending information to all of the androids spread throughout the galaxy.”

  “Then they all came here?” I ask.

  “They want to help find the pods.”

  “Well hell, that’s a whole different can of worms. I don’t want androids stealing any of the women from the pods—not for lab experiments and not with the expectation of getting girlfriends from the 21st century.”

  “No. I don’t want that either. But I do want the opinion of androids to be favorable and if these guys are willing to help, it could change the zeitgeist.”

  “What are you saying, Captain?” Renzo asks, looking worried. “This mission isn’t going to be exclusively android, is it? Because I’ll be damned if I get assigned microbial life and Valens and his girl get to go on an adventure throughout the galaxy, rescuing pretty Earth girls.”

  Captain Nilsson’s grin is undeniable, but her tone is as direct as always. “Valens and Andrea will be in charge of choosing their bridge team. But I plan to lobby for secondary science and security accompaniments—comprised exclusively of androids.”

  I look at Valens. He’s nothing like the androids from Origin and for all I know, all the guys hanging out in the shuttle bay are more like him than their robot-like counterparts. “As long as we know we can trust them, I’m okay with that.”

  “Well then I suggest you get some rest. In 36 hours your mission begins.”

  Chapter 41

  Valens

  I allow the others to clear out of the room, before turning my gaze to Andrea. This is our first chance to be alone in days. I still feel like so much has been left unsaid and I find myself wondering if she really understands the depth of my love for her and all the hopes I have for our future together.

  “We never talked about starting a family,” I begin.

  “I suppose I hadn’t had the chance for it to cross my mind.”

  “Do you want to be a mother?”

  Andrea’s gaze goes out the window as she considers my question. “I’ve always wanted to be a mother. But the timing scares me. Who knows how long it will take to find all the other pods, or how dangerous the journey will be?”

  “Vesi will be with us and I have studied labor and delivery for humans as well.”

  Andrea smiles. “Oh really, when did you do that?”

  “Just now.”

  “Ah, well then I can put my concerns to rest.” She scoffs and looks down at the ground, toeing the carpet.

  “When you say timing, is our mission the only thing that concerns you? Or is it our timing as well?”

  “This is still new, Valens,” she admits.

  “It is,” I agree.

  “The circumstances that brought us together were extraordinary.”

  “To say the least.”

  “There was something you said though…back when you rescued me on the android ship. It tipped the scales. It changed things for me.”

  “What was it?” I ask.

  “You told me you loved me.”

  I lean in, cupping Andrea’s face. “I had hoped you’d known long before I ever said it, because though it took me a while to recognize the emotion, I have always loved you.”

  Andrea nods slowly in agreement, looking deep in thought. “I feel the same way. And while the timing scares me and the newness scares me, I know that everything is going to be okay. Maybe I wasn’t ready to be a mom last week, but in nine months? As long as I have you by my side, I can be ready for anything.”

  A weight lifts from deep in my chest and I lean in, pressing my lips to Andrea’s. But the kiss touches me so intensely I’m overwhelmed with emotion and I have to pull away, needing to speak. “I will never let anyone hurt you. The androids from Origin, I’d kill them all before I let them take you from me.”

  “The feeling’s mutual.”

  Andrea

  Back in our room Valens leads me to the bed, laying me down with care and tenderness. Something that was strictly a machine would never be capable of such a thing. And the kiss that follows is so passionate that I’m soon panting and clinging to his neck.

  His hands never leave my body—not the one still covered in synthesized flesh and not the one that is metal and robotic. They trace lines up my legs and down my arms. It’s as if he needs to prove to himself that I’m here and whole.

  “Are you sure this doesn’t hurt you?” I ask, motioning toward his skeletal arm.

  He shakes his head. “Does it make you uncomfortable?”

  My brow creases. “I worry about you, but…” I run my own fingers over the metal. “I find it kind of amazing.”

  Valens looks into my eyes with intensity, before closing the gap. “I need you, Andrea,” he moans against my lips.

  “I need you too.” And with that I hear a shredding. Valens uses his strong, android hands to rip the front of my shirt open, tearing it all the way down to the hem. I gasp in surprise.

  “I will buy you more,” he assures, going after my leggings. As if I would argue with his urgency—because I’m feeling just as desperate. Moments later his clothes join mine in a heap on the floor and the purple head of his cock is pressed against my core. I wrap my legs around his middle, urging him on, pulling him as close to me as two people can get.

  Epilogue

  Andrea

  “We are nearing the signal, Captain,” Renzo announces.

  “Take us within tractor range,” Valens orders.

  “Aye, aye.”

  One of the androids on navigation brings us in close.

  “Locking on. This looks promising!” Renzo calls over his shoulder.

  We can see the pod now on the view screen. Valens leans forward in his Captain’s seat. I, on the other hand, can’t bear to sit any longer. I jump out of my seat and move close to the screen, desperate for a better look. It’s been three months of tracking. Three months of locating possible signals, only to discover derelict satellites and space junk. But it seems we have finally found a real pod. Now, the only quest
ion that remains—is the girl inside still alive?

  The pod moves closer to our ship, pulled in by the invisible force of the tractor. “Let’s assemble the team in the cargo hold,” Valens says, his eyes locked on me the whole time. I nod in agreement.

  He takes my hand and Renzo follows us. Along the way, Vesi and Kayla emerge from the medbay. We take the elevator down to the cargo hold and when the door opens, Odo is there waiting for us. An android opens the gates and we all stare out into the void.

  “I see it!” Kayla declares. Then, I see it too. A small speck, looking like nothing more than an asteroid floating lifelessly through space. It gets closer and closer until it breaches the air containment field, which shimmers like water as the pod passes through it.

  It’s been a long time since I’ve been this scared and I unconsciously place my hand over my baby bump. Valens is quick to notice and he puts a comforting hand on top of mine. His skin, synthetic as it may be, feels warm and comforting.

  “We can get through anything together,” he tells me in a low voice.

  I tremble as the pod is grabbed by big, mechanical arms, which gently bring it to the shuttle bay floor. Metal clanks against metal and when I look around the room, I see all eyes are on me.

  “I guess we should open it, huh?”

  Vesi steps forward to stand at my side. If this girl is alive, she’s going to need immediate medical attention. I nod to Valens and he finds the latches—the same ones that he must have opened when he first found me.

  There’s a hissing sounds as Valens jerks the lid free. A cool mist clouds the interior, flowing over the sides of the pod as it clears. Renzo and Odo help pull the lid away and everyone leans in. For a moment I almost expect to see the skeletal remains of some poor girl, but a face slowly takes shape. She’s so still though, I worry she might be dead, preserved by the vacuum of space.

  Slowly, however, she begins to blink. The woman’s brow draws down in confusion as she tries to focus on the room around her and a trembling laugh escapes my lips as a deep sense of relief washes over me.

  I drop to my knees and clutch the side of the pod.

  “Everything is going to be okay. We’re here to help,” I start.

  But the woman’s face grimaces. “Look out,” she warns. “I think I’m going to barf.”

  And with that she leans over the edge of the pod, choking and gagging. My eyes shoot from Valens to Vesi.

  “Don’t worry,” Valens tells me. “This is normal.”

  Normal as it can get for rescuing a 2,000-year-old girl in space, I suppose. Gently, I pat her back. “There, there,” I say, pulling her long hair out of the way.

  I sigh anxiously. Happy as I am that we found her alive and well, I’m not exactly looking forward to giving her the speech I prepared. It starts like this:

  “Welcome to the 39th century…”

  Author’s Note

  Special thanks to Aquila Editing, cover artist Maria Spada, and to all my wonderful friends in the sci-fi community. And thank you for giving this book a chance! Please take a minute to leave an unbiased review.

  I’ve been working on a little something over the summer (the busy summer that I thought was going to be so relaxed and I’d get so much done, but then the exact opposite came to be… but I digress). Anyway, I was itching to get some stories out and this one just came flowing like a river. So I hope you enjoyed it! Arms of an Android was my little snack between books, hopefully it’s been the same for you.

  I just finished my secret project last night and now the editing begins (imagine me sobbing). As necessary as it is, editing has got to be my least favorite part of the process. There are so many other fun things I’d rather be doing, like writing new stories, working on cover art, setting up my next audio project… SPEAKING OF WHICH!

  Tamed by the Troll’s audio is in the review process and should be out any minute (August 2019). I had the pleasure of working with Nick Cracknell this time around and I have to tell you, that boy nailed it. His interpretations of the characters were straight up enthralling. Ohhhh and his voice… his stupid, sexy voice…. You guys are going to love it. Promise.

  I should have my edits done in the next week or so and then I plan to knock out another Perished Woods and two more in the Alien series (spoiler alert: Da’vi and Allison are all queued up). The remainder of the year is going to be exciting, friends, it truly is.

  So until next time, here’s a snippet from ALIEN BOND…

  Excerpt from ALIEN BOND

  Mire

  My boots stick in the thick mud as I trudge through weather-ravaged fields. Nearby Tennir and the human female named Clark argue about how to best maintain the community’s crops. One pushes for something called a “French drain” and the other wants to preserve the natural ecosystem. I do not care what choice they make as long as it helps ensure a plentiful crop for the community.

  I pull another branch from the mud and toss it into our cart. This is the third one Gile and I have filled this morning. The fields here in Beacon are vast and there are not many males to help complete such a massive task.

  “We should invite the humans to join us,” Gile says thoughtfully. Working beside me, my brother haphazardly tosses a large frond in the direction of our cart. He misses and it lands with a splat in the wet soil, sending a spray of mud across my legs.

  “They should not have to do such intensive labor. That is why we are still here,” I remind him with a frown.

  “We are here to be members of this community, brother. To build our own lives,” he says proudly. “In a thousand years, no other Sovolians have been given such a gift.” Gile marvels at the thought…and I grunt in response. He ignores me though and opts instead to continue talking. Such is his way.

  “Besides, the humans are heartier than one might think,” he adds. “They could easily help. Plus, they’d make much better company than you.”

  I bite back a chuckle. So he does notice my sour mood. I’d argue with him, just for the sake of arguing, but I know what he says to be true. Having our lives in upheaval has set me on edge—more so than normal. For a long time Gile and I had a comfortable arrangement, but ever since our path led us here, things have been in constant flux.

  We came to Elysia to aid our boss, Gorrard. Gorrard, who has been the impetus for change more than once in our lives. Years ago he won us from our last master in a game of tilt. But he had no interest in keeping slaves. Instead, he offered us our freedom and a job to go along with it—a paying one. It was unheard of. Sovolians like Gile and me, we’re bred to be bodyguards, assassins, militants. More specifically, we’re bred to be slaves. And yet we found ourselves, the first Sovolians in hundreds of years, free men.

  I was doubtful at first, but soon came to realize the change was not so drastic. We still had a leader, someone who could set the parameters of our missions. And the missions were good ones. We were no longer forced to carry out the ill deeds of evil masters. Instead, we protected people, we kept peace, and we helped search for Gorrard’s people. It was a good life. Then finally, Gorrard found what he was looking for. Or they found him. The remaining Vendari were located and it brought us here to Elysia. And even that was good at first.

  Since we’ve been here, we continue to protect those in need, we utilize our strength to build up this new world, we hunt to feed the women, and go on regular supply runs for the village. Our services are required. But our leader, Gorrard…he Awakened to his mate and ever since it has felt like Gile and I are flying with no pilot on the bridge.

  My brother and I are alone now. I am not used to having so much freedom. And while I do not miss being a slave, I miss the leader we had in Gorrard. Without him I feel we are lost.

  Gile is right about this place though. We are needed here. And until the rest of the Grey King’s people are found, they could use our protection—especially with all the women that keep turning up. Human females are coveted slaves and it is not in me to allow them to be preyed upon.

/>   Sovolians are a fiercely loyal race, made even more so by our people’s history. When we are bound to a master, we protect them with our lives. And while we have no master here, we have something else…something more akin to family. This place is ours to protect. And even though I am wary to interact with the others in the village, being a part of this world gives me some semblance of purpose. I think it is the same for Gile. Though, I know he wishes to socialize with the others more. He has even been pressing for us to move into the village. The thought makes me anxious however.

  “You are getting mud everywhere,” I complain.

  He snorts at me. “I did not cause endless weeks of rain. There might be mud everywhere, but I assure you, brother, I had nothing to do with it.” He waves another frond emphatically at me as he speaks and mud splatters across my face. I’m wiping away the mess when Holly calls out to us.

  “Hey! Looks like you boys are having fun,” she says as she approaches.

  “Even more now that you are here, little sister,” Gile tells her.

  I grunt again and continue working on the field, knowing that Gile will talk Holly’s ear off for as long as she will let him. At least one of us should be making progress on our weathered crops.

  “Where is your mate today?” Gile asks her cheerfully. I like Holly well enough. More than most of the humans, I suppose. Though to be fair, she is the only one I have ever spoken to and that is likely due to the fact that she is so very persistent.

  “He had some things to check on, but he’ll be catching up soon,” she says, motioning to Gorrard in the distance.

  “How are you feeling?” I ask. Holly recently shared with us that she is with child and she smiles at the reminder. I know I try to keep most people at a distance, but already when I think of the baby, I imagine a niece or nephew in them—someone I can eventually take shooting or teach space flight to.