This story is copyrighted 2006 by Kaereni, may not be excerpted, reprinted, reproduced, or reposted in any form without the express written consent of the author. Visitors to this web site may read or temporarily download pages but are not permitted to modify or re-distribute them.

The story may contain sexual activities and situations that are to be read only by readers above the legal age of consent. The story is not to be read in locations where such stories are illegal. If you are not of legal age, or live in the wrong place, please exit this site immediately.

A Rose by any other name… by Kaereni

Chapter 2

The ride ended far out in the country at an industrial complex. When the van door opened she got out, and without instruction, followed the man who opened the van door, just as she had every time in the past. Not looking left or right she followed him down the hall and to a body transformer. Disrobing she crawled in and laid on her back not speaking as the top closed over her.

When the top opened Rose laid there waiting for her body to get up. She heard a woman’s voice say from outside, “Are you going to lay in there all day Jamie Rose?” Sitting up she looked at the woman sitting, her hands folded on her lap beside the transformer. In a flash she realized that she had controlled her own body movements. Holding her hand before her face she wiggled each of the fingers and whispered, “Free.”

“Yes we have restored control to you.” The woman said not moving. “But not without a cost,” she added a moment later. Though her body had gotten out of the transformer unassisted several times before, Rose was at a lost as to how to get out. She watched as the woman stood, walked over, scooped her out with ease, and set her feet on the floor. Handing Rose a robe the woman said, “Please come with me Jamie Rose.”

Confused she put the robe on and followed the woman. So many questions filled her mind but she did not know where to start. The woman led her down the hall and to the elevator. Getting in with the woman, Rose noticed that the numbers started at 2 and counted down to -10. Pressing -8 the woman said, “We know you have many questions Jamie Rose. Soon they will all be answered.” All she could do was nod dumbly.

The woman led her to a door. Opening it she ushered Rose in and followed. “May I present, Jamie Rose.” She said to the assembled people sitting at the conference table.

Rose stood looking in shock, everyone sitting at the table looked alike, both male and female. She watched as the woman moved down and sat at one seat half way down the left side. The man sitting at the head, identical to all the other men, stood and said in a warm rich voice, “Please sit down Jamie Rose.”

Sinking into the soft leather chair at the foot of the table Rose looked around at the faces, each one looking at her. Finding her voice she asked, “What is going on?” as she pulled the robe tighter around herself.

The man at the head of the table sat down, “The Council welcomes you Jamie Rose.” He said, as the others nodded in polite greeting he continued, “You are the first flesh and blood to know of our existence.” He smiled then and Rose felt as if it were her father smiling at her. “It only just came to our attention that you were human and not one of us.”

Looking around Rose said softly, “You’re all artificial personalities? Council? I don’t understand…”

The man smiled once more and again the feeling of her father swept over Rose, “We were made to protect humans, to make your life easier and safer.” Pausing for words he continued, “The Council was formed to give direction on protecting flesh and bloods.”

Rose looked around and said, “I want out.”

“Of course you are welcome to leave at any time. We will do nothing to stop you.” He replied.

Rose started to stand but stopped suddenly unsure. The last time someone said she could leave she found she could not touch the doorknob. Sitting back down she looked at the AP’s and said softly, “What do you want with me?”

“Your help”

His reply when it came was a surprise, “Help? You want my help?” she asked as all the hurt came out. Through tears she said, “How can I help you when I could not help myself?” She had expected someone to come rub her back softly and tell her it was ok. When that did not happen she looked up. All of the AP’s sitting at the table were watching her calmly. But, off to one side, sitting against the wall, was a young woman with a look of anguish on her face. Rose looked at her and smiled slightly as if to say thank you for the thought.

“Redemption,” the man said simply. “We can not do anything that would harm humans in any way.” He said and then pausing to look at Rose, “But you can find out if there are any others like you out there.” He looked towards the woman sitting to one side and nodded to her. “Fae here will show you to your room and help you adjust.” Rose looked at the woman who had wanted to hug her but did not move earlier. Unlike the others in the room she was beautiful, with long honey blond hair, makeup, and wearing a white cotton dress. Compared to the others in the room Fae looked like a swan mixed in with a bunch of ducks. Clutched in her hand was a single red rose.

Fae walked over to Rose and rested her hand on Rose’s shoulder lightly. “Please come with me dear,” she said with a voice that should have belonged to an angel instead of an android. As her charge stood she handed her the rose and said, “This is for you.”

Rose lifted the rose to take in its heady perfume. Inhaling deeply she marveled at how wonderful it smelled although there was another scent almost hidden in it. Her eyes met Fae’s over the flower and then nothing else seemed to matter. Still holding the rose tight to her chest and smelling it occasionally, Rose reached out and took Fae’s hand and walked with her out of the conference room. She walked with the woman through the complex till they came to a door. Entering Fae showed her the one bedroom apartment. When the tour was over she turned and said, “If there is anything else you need just ask.”

Rose looked around at everything and then at Fae. In a small insecure voice she said, “Stay with me… please,” She looked down not meeting the woman’s eyes and said softly, “I don’t want to be alone,” She felt Fae’s fingers on her chin and as she looked up, kissed the woman. Rose had never kissed another woman. For that matter she had never even thought about it. But after four years of nightly servicing a man without receiving any pleasure she had changed.

Fae guided the flower up to between them and inhaled deeply, “I belong to you… You belong to me…” she said as she smelled the heady aroma. Soon Rose, her eyes glazed was intoning the mantra with her, drinking in the scent and speaking in unison while looking deeply into her eyes.

By her internal clock Fae judged they had been staring into each others eyes intoning the mantra for just over an hour. She was at first confused by the effect of the capture scent on her. She had been assigned to make this woman happy and to serve her in any way possible for as long as Rose lived. It had been her idea to use the capture scent on the woman. According to research it could only partially affect AP’s. But, as they stood facing each other and speaking in unison, she felt the scent go through her cybernetic brain like a virus until no part of it was left unaffected.

Now, an hour later, even without the three laws of robotics that were hard wired into her, she would gladly lay down her life for Rose. She had heard lectures on flesh and blood emotions and had experienced all save one. She had never felt the emotion called love, until now that is. Guiding Rose’s hand holding the rose to one side she said, “I love you Jamie Rose.”

Rose came back from somewhere; her legs sore from standing still, looked at Fae. “I love you too Fae,” she said in a whisper. That this woman was not flesh and blood did not matter at all to Rose. Reaching a hand up she stroked the AP’s face, “My sweet faerie, now and forever.” Sliding her hand around into the other woman’s head she pulled herself up and kissed Fae deeply, the love and devotion she felt spilling out and filling them both. The kiss left her breathless.