Janet studied the android for a moment, knowing it watched and probably recorded her back. Finally, she approached it.
“Yes, Mistress Janet?” it asked.
“You.”
“I?” It cocked its head.
She narrowed her eyes.“Who is the Cyborg you work for?”
Bin-one’s facial screen went back to a heart. “I work for Master Zeph, you, and Mistress Lily. I’ve been reprogrammed to take care of and ensure your and Lily’s safety in every way possible. It is my duty and an honor.”
“Are you programmed to lie?”
“Not to you, Mistress.”
She stayed there and scrutinized the android for another minute before sagging and releasing the breath she held.I’m the one going crazy.
She went to the lavatory and splashed water on her face. Her hands shook as the water slipped between her fingers. Pressing her back against the wall, she slid to the floor and wrapped her arms around her legs. Finding her sister, happy, healthy, and exactly how she was back on Kepler only gave her a modicum of relief.
She reached up and turned the water back on as tears filled her eyes.
She’d been talking to Zeph, or had tried talking to him, when everything shifted again. The ominous feeling she kept having to deal with had come back again, putting her in a position she had no idea how to get out of. Every moment Janet spent in his presence muddied her thoughts and now that she had nothing and nowhere to turn to. She couldn’t ignore reality.
Something was wrong with Zeph—wrong with this whole situation. Something beyond him taking her far away from her home. That much she knew for sure.But if I’m going crazy...
If I can just find out what’s wrong...
Janet rubbed at her eyes as her tears slid down her face before wiping her hands on her clothes. A strip of her shirt fell off. She stared at it mutely as it settled on her leg.
The feel of him against her flooded her mind—the way Zeph covered her and pressed his cock hard into her skin, his nails trailing down her back, pulling and shredding her shirt. The weird sense of safety she felt despite the obvious danger.
Janet tugged off her jacket and pulled off her ripped shirt. She clutched the ruined material to her chest. Sucking in her sniffles, she straightened it out in front of her to inspect the tears. She wanted to feel safe again.
Long, thin rips ran the length of the shirt, destroying it. The back had been turned into ribbons. She swallowed and stretched, feeling no pain where his nails had pressed into her. Zeph hadn’t broken through her skin.
No harm, no foul?She chuckled with self-deprecation.
Janet stood slowly and turned to inspect her back in the mirror.Nothing.Not even a red mark.
She reached down and threw the shirt into the receptacle, sourcing out a new one from the box. They didn’t matter—the shirt and Zeph. She couldn’t choose him over Lily even though her confusion ratcheted up by the minute.
I have to get us home.
She scrubbed her face again until it was red and raw, wishing she didn’t have a care in the world, and hating that she did. Anything that stopped her from her vow to protect her family was an obstacle that needed to be defeated.
But what if the obstacle was herself?
A knock sounded on the door. “Mistress Janet? Are you all right?”
Janet turned off the water. “I’m fine.” She brushed the wrinkles out of her new shirt and grabbed her jacket off the ground.
“That is good to hear. The ship is readying to warp. Please come out and sit on the couch.”
She waited until the android had moved away before she exited the lavatory. “If we’re warping, does that mean we won?”
“Yes, Mistress, we won.”
Janet nodded once.
