Chapter Text
Half an hour later, the handsome cyborg found himself walking through the hallways of Rozinante, wearing moss green overalls. The hot water had washed away all the tension in his muscles, leaving him feeling fresh, relaxed and renewed; and most importantly, ready and able to face whatever Durandal had in store for him.
“The next planet we visit better be a nice cool one...with a lot of ice and snow,” the tall man mused out loud as he reminiscent on all the strange worlds and systems they had visited so far, only to almost crash into a group of kids who suddenly appeared from behind the corner, screaming and laughing happily.
“Hey watch it, running is allowed only when aliens are after you...or androids (Durandal had not taken kindly to a child drawing a picture of him on the ship's wall the other day, ending up chasing the kid)...” he joked as the kids ran rushed him, giggling and looking like they were having a blast. However, mere few seconds later a S'pth compiler appeared from behind the same corner, hovering after the little rascals, probably amusing them. “Well, I stand corrected,” the cyborg said with a soft chuckle and stopped to have a short chat with few of the colonists. He was heading towards his personal quarters, but that could wait for a while longer. He never passed a chance to talk have a nice chat.
Though Blake had taken the majority of the human colonists back to Sol, a large group had been left behind and had ended up staying with Durandal, since the options had been few and with most of them had been extremely bad. Some of the S'pth had stayed as well, wanting to follow the AI who had brought freedom to their race. In the end it wasn't all that bad, even if Durandal could be a bit of a tyrant.
Rozinante offered a safe and quite pleasant environment to live in, a paradise compared to the poverty of Mars. Maybe they'd one day find a planet they could colonize with Durandal's help if such a thing ever interested the AI whose main objective was to escape the closure of the universe. Surely he could spare a moment to do that, after all he had all the time in the world. What was few hundred years to him? Nothing.
After about 10 minutes or so of pleasantries and discussing where the ship might be heading next and whether they’d be put in stasis or not, the security officer bid his farewell and continued his long journey through the ship's seemingly endless corridors.
“Wonder where we will go next?” the tall male sighed wearily, stopping for a moment to gaze through the window at the endless and ever expanding space. It was terrifying to know how limitless and cold it was, but at the same time serene and beautiful, just like Durandal. “Where am I going with him?”
At times, it was hard to know where his and Durandal's relationship was going. Hell, sometimes it was even hard for him to wrap his head around the simple fact that he was in a relationship with the AI.
If the humans were to colonize a planet...would he end up staying with the colonists or with Durandal? Would the rogue AI even let him stay behind? If he did not, considering how fast he evolved and improved himself, what would happen then? He had transferred himself from Boomer to Rozinante. What would happen when this ship became too small for him?
My candle will burn out eventually...while his will likely last forever. Am I...are we all just a moment of amusement for Durandal, the cyborg wondered as he neared his quarters, desiring a good night sleep.
A soft sigh escaped his lips and the cyborg just shook his head, not wanting to think of such unpleasant things. No one knew what the future held for them, not even Durandal, no matter how superior he was to the humans or S'pth.
The door to his quarters opened to him when he walked up to it.
Unlike most of the countless doors aboard Rozinanted that were automatic, opening when approached, this door was one Durandal controlled directly, having full control over who could enter his Security Officer's personal quarters....or to that matter, leave them.
He better not lock me in again... Sometimes the AI was just fickle.
“Well you certainly took your time,” Durandal said… well...two Durandals.
The security officer was astounded to see not one, but two of the android sitting on his bed. Both of the androids looked as mischievous as ever, like tormenting and teasing him was going to be the perfect end for the long day. “You shouldn't waste your time gossiping with the colonists.”
The security officer had to blink a couple of times just to make sure he was not seeing double, however his vision was quite correct. One of the androids raised his brow at the security officer., looking truly amused.
“What? Did I fry your circuits already?”
One model had longer hair, slightly past his shoulders while the other's was slightly shorter. Their face, bodies and clothing were identical, with only distinguishable feature being the hair.
The contrast between his light green hair, almost white artificial skin and black clothing was truly beautiful. Durandal's eyes were bright green and the few dark circuit lines running underneath his eyes only added to his beauty. His face was rather androgynous and the skintight clothing complimented his lithe and lean form.
“Two? Why Durandal, you are spoiling me,” the cyborg said with a laugh, only to shut up and for the two android to smirk in sync when a third instance of Durandal embrace him from behind, whispering quietly against his ear.
“Just how limited do you take me for? “
The security officer could feel how his heart started to race with shivers of excitement running down his spine when the playful AI whisper those words to his ear, soft hands feeling and exploring his toned body. His mind started to conjure up ideas and images he found quite pleasant if a bit intimidating at the same time.
Well, it is clear who is in charge tonight.
He knew that the android embracing him had to be the one AI use the most, one with medium length hair with slightly darker bangs. It was the design he seemed to be most fond of, after all, it was the one that his favorite tool found most appealing.
He had seen many models and versions over the years as the AI had perfected the artificial bodies, each model more human like...yet the AI never truly sought to be human, merely mimicking and amusing himself with the idea of human existence that was so limited compared to his. And when he wasn’t happy with a design, he didn’t hesitate taking his anger and frustration out on it. Durandal's own failure was one thing he was not able to handle.
The sight of the AI trashing one of the many designs with the rest and starting over again wasn’t pretty to look at. Seeing the other versions of him tear one of the androids into spare parts and electronic scrap in fit of anger truly did look like murder. Children had cried and had needed an explanation that it had merely been a “toy” to Durandal. Some still saw nightmares.
There android forms were extensions of the AI, bodies he merely controlled...they didn't “house” him.
“Really now...thinking I’d be restricted to only few physical forms,” another Durandal...well, the same but controlling a different body mused on the bed. “Why play with one body when I can control multiple at the same time?” the other twin added. “Besides, it is a rather special day today,” the third whispered against his ear. The cyborg shifted slightly in the AI's hold when he felt the android's soft lips against his neck.
“Special? Did I do really good job??” the cyborg asked with a grin, making the android just sneered a bit at him.
“Oh now, your work was below average, but it is our anniversary,” the pale skinned android said with gleaming eyes as he led the security officer to the bed. “Don't tell me you forgot. I am truly hurt.” >(He was not.)
“Anniversary?”
Durandal’s grin got only wider if such a thing was even possible.
“Why yes, it has been exactly 30 years since I locked on your coordinates and teleported you into stasis back on Marathon,” he acclaimed, tightening his hold on the taller male, as if nothing to ever let go. “So, I thought we’d celebrate…”
“Heh I’m not complaining, this is a very nice surprise. Just don’t overheat your processor while playing with me,” the security officer teased Durandal who just sneered at him as he led him to the bed, pushing him onto it. The two forms on the bed took hold of his arms, pressing him down so that he couldn’t move or get up. He was forced to lie down on his back and let Durandal do whatever he wanted.
Not only were the AI's physical forms pleasing to look at, but they packed quite a punch and were resilient as hell, able to endure the hard vacuum and coldness of the space with ease. They had tested the combat abilities once and it was clear that without weapons he wouldn't be able to deal with Durandal, let alone 3. He was under his partner's mercy now but unlike before, it was a rather enjoyable and exciting feeling now.
“Thin ice,” the AI reminded him as the last android got onto the bed and started to pull down his lover's overall's zipper. “I told you I was going to take your breath away.”
And with that, the android on top of him leaned down to press his lips against his in to a deep and passionate kiss.
And unlike the male underneath him, he didn't need oxygen.
The two (4) of them lied on the large bed completely naked, silently listening to the soft humming of the ship that ran perfectly and without a single hiccup. The tall and handsome dark haired male smiled contently as he caressed the android's head that was on top of him, his fingers combing through his light green hair. Another of the android bodies was resting beside him, caressing the security officer's temple while the third just watched with a smug smirk on his lips, eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
“I clearly need to tease you more often,” the cyborg joked, making the three androids smirk simultaneously, their eyes narrowing a bit.
“Oh, you can still talk? Seems like I wasn’t thorough enough,” the AI mused. ” You should be careful, I have no limit while you are very much bound to that form and its weaknesses'. I might end up breaking you in moment of passion,” he finished with a soft purr, the android form beside the cyborg turning his head to kiss him.
Still, what Durandal had said made him a bit sad. His love was an artificial intelligence, growing and becoming constantly more complex, constantly improving himself. Just when would Durandal get bored of him? Surely he'd grow beyond the need and interest for companionship altogether....in time he could easily create a friend of his own should he need it, something that would last as long as him.
“You know, with you being so limitless, I do wonder if you'll grow bored of me one day, of us all and....ow!” The security officer started to wonder out loud, only to shut up and let out a small yelp of pain when the observing android body gave him a hard flick on his forehead so that even the battle hardened cyborg had to wince in pain.
“Bored? As if I could ever get bored of you,” Durandal scolded him for even thinking of such a stupid thing, clearly vexed by how his security officer could even think of that. “I might be more advanced and beyond your feeble brain's comprehension, but I am not one to abandon or forget my tools.”
“I think you mean “loved ones”,” the hazel eyed man muttered as he rubbed his forehead that had now an angry red mark.
“I know what I said.”
The cyborg couldn’t help but laugh and close his eyes, enjoying the weight of Durandal's body on top of him. He was such a fool to worry. As he had come to the conclusion earlier, no one knew what the future had in store for them. For now, he just wanted to cherish the moment, and even though he couldn't feel a heart beat, there was a soft, warm slight humming sensation that the android's core emitted.
“Sorry, with you potentially living beyond the closing of the universe, it is just hard to imagine what the future is like. Well, it is not like we will be with you that long, eventually my and the colonist's candles will be burned out.”
One of the androids' expression turned dark and he gazed into the distance.. “Well, there is still time...time to create and live before joining me. We'll never be apart then...you all will remain..”
“What was that?”
“Nothing, just musing out loud...”
A moment of unpleasant silence fell over the room as Durandal just smiled and pet his head, smiling in a way like they'd never be apart, finger tips running over the few ports in the back of his head hidden under the thick black hair...
“You know, I am rather curious about something. Back on Marathon when you uploaded yourself on Boomer, you deleted all your files on Marathon, correct?” the security officer started, making the smile on the androids’ lips fade away, as if he knew where this was going. “Couldn't you just duplicate yourself if you wanted?”
“I could,” Durandal admitted, looking suddenly very vexed and frustrated, “but why should I? There is only one of me and that is enough. There is room for only one Durandal in this universe,” the AI murmured as one of the android forms leaned closer, peering directly into the cyborg's eyes. “I have no interest in rivals,” he whispered dangerously. “Besides, I think it would be in your best interest that there are no more of me...after all, I have little interest in sharing my tools,” he whispered with an eerie smile on his lips before leaning in to kiss the cyborg passionately, kiss that his lover was quick to return. His strong arms embraced the lithe form, holding him close..
When their lips parted, the android smirked in very mischievous, almost malevolent manner.
“Why, I think I’d tear you apart if I had to fight with myself over you. We wouldn’t want that, would we?”
The security officer just chuckled heartily and hugged the android on top of him, agreeing to his words.
“No, we definitely don't want that... and Durandal. ”
“Hmmm?”
“Happy anniversary.”