Artificial Mates - Chapter 78

The doctor stood on the deck his arms behind his back next to three other people dressed in yellow. They only noticed us when we were almost at their level. Demos was ahead with his both his and mine bag on each shoulder. Grant stood by my side holding my hand and Olga closed the procession with a stern face. I don’t think I saw her even smile once.

“Grant!” he lifted his head towards us then turned to me. “Miss Kerry, I’m happy you were able to make it safely,” he nodded his rusty colored hair swaying around his face. He came to join us leaving his friends behind. He marched straight to Olga and patted her shoulder with a slight smile, almost timid. Her eyes brightened up and she nodded back. I wasn’t sure she smiled, maybe the dying light left by the sun as it sunk behind the horizon played tricked on my vision. Olga was a stunning beauty, the cold type. Although he wore camo pants and high heel boots along with a tight black top she was still killing it. The doctor gave a quick glance at the end of the deck where the people in yellow stood, then turned back to us.

“It’s time, we’ll leave in 5 minutes. Let’s get on board,” he guided us to the small vessel bobbing on the now dark waves. The three people in yellow were a woman in her 40’s with short sandy blond hair who nodded at us, a large man with a well-kept beard about the same age as the woman, and a young man. At first, I thought they were a family. We took place in the embarkation. As Demos stepped on board, the boat shook dangerously. An expression of concern crossed the faces of our three strangers.

“I’ll sit in the back,” announced Demos and we had to squeeze on the other side. He waited for the doctor’s signal to switch on the motor. The boat roared to life and jumped making me reached for the edge so that I don’t fall headfirst. Grant gave me a little smile, he sat next to the young man next to Demos while I was next to Dr. Churchhill. I wasn’t thrilled with our sitting arrangement. Frankly, I was scared. I’ve never been to the big ocean, let alone got on a boat. The way it heaved up and down as we broke across the waved made me sick. Grant mentioned that our trip will last at least one day. I had a sudden urge to cover my face and roll in a ball. I definitely don’t like this boat thing.

“It’s the one on the left,” pointed Olga at the slick-looking vessel with dotted lights along its side. I twisted around to watch the shiny black yatch came into view. We slowed our pace as we approached, this close it was imposing. Two cyborgs in stripes shirt and black pants helped secure our little embarkation. They held the side steady and reached a hand to assist the woman to cross. Dr. Chuchhill followed her then the large man. The young man stepped aside when it was his turn.

“You go first, Miss,” I caught his eyes in the twinkling lights dancing on the black waves. They were an unusual green color, he must be younger than me, eighteen or something. I instantly shook my head. I was holding the side of the boat as it rolled. Grant got up and smiled at the man.

“Don’t worry, go first. It’s her first time on a boat,” said Grant and the man nodded once then gave me a quick glance before making his way to the large vessel. Grant held out a hand for me.

“You can let go of now, I’ll help you, ok” I slowly reached with shaky hands. He pulled me up in rapid movement making me squeal. Demos chuckled behind me.

-Scared?

I flashed him a dark look then leaned against Grant when the boat swayed from a sudden wave. We got on with much difficulty. My legs tremble when my eyes fell on the dark water between the tiny boat and the landing where the two cyborgs stood. The one on the left had a black shiny faceplate with a straight vertical light running across it. The other man had a dark gray mat surface with three tiny dots. I called them Line and Dots. Line caught me when my legs went out under me.

“Easy, Miss,” he said in a deep emotionless voice. I quickly let go when Grant joined me. They both turned to Grant at the same time. He smiled at them and patted their shoulders.

“We are sorry, we don’t run on the same program. It’s impossible to acknowledge new commands,” said Dots. “Yet, we will be happy to serve,” he added. The lights on his face blinked as he spoke. I gave Grant an inquiring look, which he dismissed with a smile.

“Let’s give some room to Demos,” he pulled me the stairs where the other members had disappeared. I heard a loud thump and saw Demos smiling at me on the landing. Did he just jump from the boat to the edge? I had to squeeze my way to the upper part of the yacht.

“What happened to Nicolai?” I asked when I reached the head of the stairs. Grant looked up in surprise. He then lowered his gaze. The question has been killing all along the way.

“I’ve convinced him to meet Alter on the docks when he is done with his paperwork,” he paused in the middle of the stairs.

“And you believe him?” I frowned. His eyes met mine, dark and stormy.

“I do,” his undying trust toward his kind pissed me off. I sprung around and join the other members of our little group. There stood other people surely the crew.

“Welcome on board,” said a jolly man in white. “I’m your Captain. Call me Thomson, cause that’s my name,” he laughed at his own joke. He was tan, the kind you get from spending too much time in the sun. This white jacket and white cap stood against the color of his skin. Beside him stood a cook, also in white with a white apron. It had stain on in one edge. “This is Donald, he is damn good, you’ll love it so much here you won’t be able to leave,” Thomson gave out a throaty laugh that the whole audience happily joined.

“Well, people, the trip will take some 24 hours if you have a smooth sail. Maybe more if the sea goddess gets a little bitchy. Let’s hope you she in a good mood tonight. Say goodbye to Port Farfaron, we are now leaving civilization behind,” with that he marched to the c.o.c.kpit and close the door behind him.

Grant pulled me to the deck, the view was stunning. All the lights from the city we saw previous appeared to float on the black waves. Grant wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me closer.

“It’s beautiful,” I whispered. He kissed my hair and I let out a sigh. How I wish this was a romantic trip to some deserted island.

“It can still be a romantic trip to a deserted island,” murmured Grant in my ear. It sent shivers down my spine. Footsteps behind us made me jump away from Grant breaking our intimacy. When I face the intruder, my face dropped. Demos had a strange expression on his face.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Check the new channel,” he simply added.