Page 37 of CHOICE Lover
“They’re alien romances,” Res6 grumbles. Granted, it’s not like he hasn’t opened the audio files, hovering his thumb over the play button in a moment of insistent curiosity. “I think that will only reinforce her idea that I’m unsuccessfully trying to date her.”
Lextr crosses his arms resolutely. “If you will recall, I recommended decommissioning her.”
Tommy huffs, shaking his head disapprovingly. “But you agreed to keep her for the scans.”
“Which have not happened yet,” Lextr reminds him.
“They will, and she will be useful when we successfully activate Jerme.” They both raise their brows. “She’s a perfect companion for him. The exact thing he needs to . . .” Well, this he didn’t plan on sharing. “. . . keep himself busy.”
Lextr clears his throat. “I’ve reviewed the data from this morning’s scan. It doesn’t look promising. We should consider moving forward with an organic sample.”
Res6’s stomach sinks. “If we burn through the organic samples now, we eliminate the only guaranteed anchors to original NAM fidelity. We just need to optimize the sequencing pattern.”
Lextr frowns, breezing past his weak argument. “Pull up the scan and I’ll show you.”
He thought the scan looked fine, so he opens it as requested. Lextr taps the particle pane. “See this overreplication signature?”
He squints, studying the nucleotide sequence. “I see what you’re saying, but I’m not sure it’s significant. Perhaps we should continue the activation just in case.”
Lextr sighs, as if he’s overcome with pity or exasperation. “If you insist.”
Res6 shuts his eyes, inhaling. When he opens them, he rescans the replicated codon section, noting several loops. Lextr’s right—it’s enough of a mutation tied to cortical patterning and NAM retention that the unit might not even wake up. His hopefulness caused him to overlook it. “You’re right. It’s disappointing, but expected.”Stay positive, Res6. There’s already a fourth trial ready to go.No reason to tap into the organic stores yet. He plasters on a fake smile. “I’ll consider what conditions need to be exhausted prior to moving to the organic samples.”
He’ll need to come up with some valid conditions or Lextr will think he’s being emotional, which of course he is. He has a small, finite number of chances to get his brother back. They could burn through them in a matter of weeks, then he’ll be back where he started, alone. Well, there’s Lextr and Tommy, if they even count, and now Electra, who thinks he’s an inept pervert. His stomach swirls, though he’s not sure if it’s fear or anticipation at the thought of seeing her in a few short hours.
“So, you’re not going to attempt to activate the failed unit?” Lextr prods.
He clears his throat. “No, I’m not. I’m set to take Electra to the theater tonight. After that, we have a holographic tour of the Empire State Building, so my unit will be vacant for several hours.”
Understanding, Tommy says, “I’ll arrange for the specimen to be collected and decommissioned.”
“Excellent,” he says. “I’ll take a new activation pad and start the fourth trial when I get back to my unit. Unfortunately, that extendsmy Electra problem another week.” He gestures to the screen and her damning words. “Any suggestions?”
“I’m truly flabbergasted.” Tommy tugs at the tips of his spiked hair. “You’ve never had an issue charming the manupartners or the public. What’s different with her?
He’s right. Part of the reason CHOICElover became as successful as it did stems from the ease with which he partook in social activities with a manupartner on his arm. It was excellent advertising. “I don’t know.”
“It’s because she’s from the past and not supposed to be here,” Lextr says, crossing his arms.
Ignoring Lextr, Tommy grins encouragingly. “What techniques do you use when you do publicity, sir?”
Res6 presses his lips together in a tight frown as they await his answer. Finally, he offers, “I pretend whoever I’m talking to is a manupartner.”
Tommy jumps, clapping his hands together. “There’s your solution. Just pretend she isn’t real. As far as you’re concerned, she’s a manupartner. And when you guys bring Jerme back—don’t take this as my approval—you can pass your responsibility off to him! Then we can stop having these little Electra problem-solving sessions.”
Res6 stares dazed at his screen. “Pretend like she’s a manupartner. Easy enough.” That, however, doesn’t explain the sudden lump in his throat.
10 – Play Time
Electra
The lip gloss, the final touch to her look, smells like lavender and tastes like purple—a flavor not quite grape and a little blueberry. Res6 comes into the room, taking his position at the foot of the bed, something he’s been doing since they started going on these “outings.” It’s like he’s inexplicably drawn into the sphere of her presence, which only reinforces her belief about humanity’s need for connection.
Once again, he’s watching her through the open bathroom door from his perch on her bed as she finishes getting ready. Is this what it would be like to have a boyfriend? Especially since this seems to be the time little conversations blossom.
She glances over her shoulder. Her motion catches his eye, and he lifts his attention. Was he just staring at her ass? Considering his many awkward comments, he finds her attractive. Plus, it’s possible he’s trying to date her, which isn’t horrible.
The corners of his eyes crease. His grin makes the butterflies in her stomach flutter wildly. She really should have dated more in the past. Her inexperience is clearly the reason for whatever is going on with her and her hormones.
