Kingston 691: Book Two of Cyborgs: Mankind Redefined by Donna McDonald Page A
Authors: Donna McDonald
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and lifted her own glass from it. “Is anything I’m saying making any sense, or are my ramblings just confusing you more?”
King looked for an appropriate answer to Annalise’s comments within his saved file data for her, but didn’t find one fitting this circumstance. Fearing he was taking too long to respond, he finally just shared his thoughts. “I regret causing you distress. It was not part of my intentions in coming here.”
Annalise nodded and sipped. It was hard to get it to go down a suddenly tight throat.
“Sometimes talking to you is like talking to a stranger, but then I see the real you peeking through, like just now when you apologized. Those moments give me hope, even though I tell myself hope is not a good thing to be feeling when I can tell you just want to run away from us. I think I’m having a harder time accepting this new reality of you than my daughter is. Seetha is letting go of her memories. I have to honor her decision so I can help her succeed.”
“Letting go of what memories?” King asked.
“Memories of you, King. Memories of the two of you. Seetha began dating this week. I thought it was still a little too soon after her work camp ordeal, but she insisted she needed to start moving on immediately. She’s out now having coffee with John Doe 1 or 2. I’m in denial so I forgot what she said specifically about the guy she was meeting today.”
King thought of the recorded conversations he’d been reviewing, of Seetha telling him how amazing he was as a man, as she cataloged the efficiency of each body part she was praising. He didn’t remember what had prompted her effusive adoration when the information was saved, but after hearing it in recording after recording, he could instantly recall how excited she sounded. Apparently his human mind considered her breathy tone and husky praise to be permanent memory worthy. He was sure it would always be in the one or two percent Nero had mentioned.
Before going after Seetha, he’d been too busy at the restaurant to date. He hadn’t dated anyone since her rescue because he was sure he wouldn’t have enjoyed it. He’d only be disappointed when the woman he was with didn’t sound like Seetha. It was a dilemma he had not figured out how best to solve.
King sipped his iced tea as he recalled her breathy laughter and praise again. Pulling away, he stared at his glass. Something was wrong. The drink had no taste. He sipped once more, making himself focus on the flavor. Maybe his tongue was malfunctioning. He would ask Nero to run some checks.
“John Doe 1. So Seetha’s dating another cyborg. That’s interesting. Is he restored? Has she looked up his records to see what kind of soldier he was?”
Annalise choked on her iced tea as she laughed. She rudely coughed and pounded her chest with a fisted hand trying to recover.
“Oh my lord, that’s hysterical. I see you’re still literal. I just called her date John Doe because I don’t know the man’s name. They’re all going to be John Doe Nothing-To-Me until my daughter thinks one is worthy. If her dating life goes anything like it did before she bought you, hell might freeze over before we get that far. Seetha never had much luck being happy with men before she bought…” She paused and stared before finishing. “No. Forget what I said. Never mind about what Seetha is doing now or about the past. I’m just going to shut up and finish my drink.”
King breathed slowly. He felt irritation growing. But what was the cause? He set down the glass of tea before he crushed it in his tense fingers. He scanned his mind—no logical deductions were available about his stressful reaction. He scanned his feelings verifying he was indeed angry, but why was he so pissed?
“So…you’re saying Seetha’s coffee date is a one hundred percent human male?”
Annalise snorted again as she shrugged. “I can only assume it. After her experience with you, I can’t see my daughter ever
King looked for an appropriate answer to Annalise’s comments within his saved file data for her, but didn’t find one fitting this circumstance. Fearing he was taking too long to respond, he finally just shared his thoughts. “I regret causing you distress. It was not part of my intentions in coming here.”
Annalise nodded and sipped. It was hard to get it to go down a suddenly tight throat.
“Sometimes talking to you is like talking to a stranger, but then I see the real you peeking through, like just now when you apologized. Those moments give me hope, even though I tell myself hope is not a good thing to be feeling when I can tell you just want to run away from us. I think I’m having a harder time accepting this new reality of you than my daughter is. Seetha is letting go of her memories. I have to honor her decision so I can help her succeed.”
“Letting go of what memories?” King asked.
“Memories of you, King. Memories of the two of you. Seetha began dating this week. I thought it was still a little too soon after her work camp ordeal, but she insisted she needed to start moving on immediately. She’s out now having coffee with John Doe 1 or 2. I’m in denial so I forgot what she said specifically about the guy she was meeting today.”
King thought of the recorded conversations he’d been reviewing, of Seetha telling him how amazing he was as a man, as she cataloged the efficiency of each body part she was praising. He didn’t remember what had prompted her effusive adoration when the information was saved, but after hearing it in recording after recording, he could instantly recall how excited she sounded. Apparently his human mind considered her breathy tone and husky praise to be permanent memory worthy. He was sure it would always be in the one or two percent Nero had mentioned.
Before going after Seetha, he’d been too busy at the restaurant to date. He hadn’t dated anyone since her rescue because he was sure he wouldn’t have enjoyed it. He’d only be disappointed when the woman he was with didn’t sound like Seetha. It was a dilemma he had not figured out how best to solve.
King sipped his iced tea as he recalled her breathy laughter and praise again. Pulling away, he stared at his glass. Something was wrong. The drink had no taste. He sipped once more, making himself focus on the flavor. Maybe his tongue was malfunctioning. He would ask Nero to run some checks.
“John Doe 1. So Seetha’s dating another cyborg. That’s interesting. Is he restored? Has she looked up his records to see what kind of soldier he was?”
Annalise choked on her iced tea as she laughed. She rudely coughed and pounded her chest with a fisted hand trying to recover.
“Oh my lord, that’s hysterical. I see you’re still literal. I just called her date John Doe because I don’t know the man’s name. They’re all going to be John Doe Nothing-To-Me until my daughter thinks one is worthy. If her dating life goes anything like it did before she bought you, hell might freeze over before we get that far. Seetha never had much luck being happy with men before she bought…” She paused and stared before finishing. “No. Forget what I said. Never mind about what Seetha is doing now or about the past. I’m just going to shut up and finish my drink.”
King breathed slowly. He felt irritation growing. But what was the cause? He set down the glass of tea before he crushed it in his tense fingers. He scanned his mind—no logical deductions were available about his stressful reaction. He scanned his feelings verifying he was indeed angry, but why was he so pissed?
“So…you’re saying Seetha’s coffee date is a one hundred percent human male?”
Annalise snorted again as she shrugged. “I can only assume it. After her experience with you, I can’t see my daughter ever
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