Limbo (The Last Humans Book 2) by Anna Zaires, Dima Zales Page B
Authors: Anna Zaires, Dima Zales
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Adult section.” Phoe points in the direction of the pine forest. “Though my door-jamming trick worked, we don’t know how much time we have. If the Envoy is somehow keeping an eye on the Prison—”
“Didn’t you say I have to be the last person to take the Elderly Test? Isn’t that the only way to make sure no one notices its absence for a year?” I ask as I walk toward the forest. “It’s not evening yet.”
“This is why we’re taking our time getting there.” Phoe walks next to me with a cheerful spring in her step. “I was thinking we could wait in the forest by the Barrier on the Adult side of Oasis until sunset.”
“Isn’t that dangerous?” I glance at her. “Even in this disguise, if we come across another Guard, they might ask me something, and I’d be screwed.”
“True,” Phoe says. “Which is why we should do our best not to run into any Guards. Fortunately, your nifty new suit has all sorts of sensors that can help us.” She makes a gesture, and I suddenly see the world in blue and red colors.
“That’s heat vision,” Phoe explains and returns my vision to normal. “In that mode, you can see people behind trees, long before they get the chance to see you.”
“Cool,” I think. “That should help.”
“Yep, it should, and there’s another thing I want to do,” Phoe says. “Something that will allow me to keep you safe, but I’m afraid you won’t like it.”
“My list of dislikes is growing, that’s for sure. What is it this time? I know you’ll tell me anyway. You just want me to want you to tell me.”
“Just keep an open mind, please,” she says with a slight pout.
“Fine, I will. Come out with it already.”
“Okay.” Phoe stops and looks at me. “I want to ride your body.”
12
M y cheeks and the tips of my ears get uncomfortably warm. I’ve seen enough ancient movies to understand that expression. Riding someone means—
“Great, now that your hormones are normalizing, you’re turning into a horndog.” Phoe puts her hands on her hips. “Whether I want intimacy has nothing to do with what I’m talking about. You’re thinking of the innuendo, but I’m speaking more literally. I want to ride your body the way I rode Jeremiah the other day, when I had him untie you.”
“You mean when he was moving like a puppet?” I subvocalize. My blush disappears as blood leaves my face. Instinctively, I increase my pace, as if trying to run away from Phoe.
“Perhaps that wasn’t the best reminder,” she says, hurrying to catch up with me. “Jeremiah was moving erratically because I hadn’t mastered the interface between the nanos and the neurons in the motor cortex, which made that episode a little unnerving. I have since been looking into perfecting that interface, as well as involving more brain regions, such as the cerebellum, parts of the frontal lobe, and the basal ganglia. I believe I can take over walking and running for you, and do it so smoothly it will be indistinguishable from your own behavior.”
I stop walking and consider this. Somehow the idea that I wouldn’t be moving in jerky motions makes me feel a bit better about this proposition.
“But why?” I think to myself and to Phoe. “Why do you want to controlmy body like that?”
“When we get to the Testing facility, once you initiate the Test like every other VR session, your consciousness will not be present in your body. Given the tight security and the Envoy situation, I don’t want you standing there like a statue.”
“Hmm,” I think and resume walking. “I haven’t thought that far ahead. When you put it like that, it sounds like a good idea.”
“Yeah, and I promise it won’t feel unpleasant, if that’s what you’re worried about,” she says and also starts walking.
“If my mind is busy with VR, I won’t feel anything anyway,” I think.
“True, but I want to test it out while you’re present in your mind. You see, this isn’t just for VR. There are
“Didn’t you say I have to be the last person to take the Elderly Test? Isn’t that the only way to make sure no one notices its absence for a year?” I ask as I walk toward the forest. “It’s not evening yet.”
“This is why we’re taking our time getting there.” Phoe walks next to me with a cheerful spring in her step. “I was thinking we could wait in the forest by the Barrier on the Adult side of Oasis until sunset.”
“Isn’t that dangerous?” I glance at her. “Even in this disguise, if we come across another Guard, they might ask me something, and I’d be screwed.”
“True,” Phoe says. “Which is why we should do our best not to run into any Guards. Fortunately, your nifty new suit has all sorts of sensors that can help us.” She makes a gesture, and I suddenly see the world in blue and red colors.
“That’s heat vision,” Phoe explains and returns my vision to normal. “In that mode, you can see people behind trees, long before they get the chance to see you.”
“Cool,” I think. “That should help.”
“Yep, it should, and there’s another thing I want to do,” Phoe says. “Something that will allow me to keep you safe, but I’m afraid you won’t like it.”
“My list of dislikes is growing, that’s for sure. What is it this time? I know you’ll tell me anyway. You just want me to want you to tell me.”
“Just keep an open mind, please,” she says with a slight pout.
“Fine, I will. Come out with it already.”
“Okay.” Phoe stops and looks at me. “I want to ride your body.”
12
M y cheeks and the tips of my ears get uncomfortably warm. I’ve seen enough ancient movies to understand that expression. Riding someone means—
“Great, now that your hormones are normalizing, you’re turning into a horndog.” Phoe puts her hands on her hips. “Whether I want intimacy has nothing to do with what I’m talking about. You’re thinking of the innuendo, but I’m speaking more literally. I want to ride your body the way I rode Jeremiah the other day, when I had him untie you.”
“You mean when he was moving like a puppet?” I subvocalize. My blush disappears as blood leaves my face. Instinctively, I increase my pace, as if trying to run away from Phoe.
“Perhaps that wasn’t the best reminder,” she says, hurrying to catch up with me. “Jeremiah was moving erratically because I hadn’t mastered the interface between the nanos and the neurons in the motor cortex, which made that episode a little unnerving. I have since been looking into perfecting that interface, as well as involving more brain regions, such as the cerebellum, parts of the frontal lobe, and the basal ganglia. I believe I can take over walking and running for you, and do it so smoothly it will be indistinguishable from your own behavior.”
I stop walking and consider this. Somehow the idea that I wouldn’t be moving in jerky motions makes me feel a bit better about this proposition.
“But why?” I think to myself and to Phoe. “Why do you want to controlmy body like that?”
“When we get to the Testing facility, once you initiate the Test like every other VR session, your consciousness will not be present in your body. Given the tight security and the Envoy situation, I don’t want you standing there like a statue.”
“Hmm,” I think and resume walking. “I haven’t thought that far ahead. When you put it like that, it sounds like a good idea.”
“Yeah, and I promise it won’t feel unpleasant, if that’s what you’re worried about,” she says and also starts walking.
“If my mind is busy with VR, I won’t feel anything anyway,” I think.
“True, but I want to test it out while you’re present in your mind. You see, this isn’t just for VR. There are
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