It was still hours before dawn when Vyken left Danya still sleeping in his bed. He dressed quickly and went to address the newbies as he had before. He was interested to see the females. He hadn’t seen any female cyborgs in a couple decades. Vyken hoped there would be enough genetic diversity for them to be mated with at least some of the males on his crew. He was also just curious to see them as it had been so long.
The thirty newly awakened cyborgs were assembled in the gym on Starfire, standing in neat rows for inspection. They were all dressed in the standard issue khaki green cargo pants, black t-shirts, and boots, standing at ease. Vyken walked down every row looking them all over while his brothers were at the front of the room watching.
As would be expected, the females were not as large as the males. Most were of Amazonian size, six feet tall with subtly defined musculature and well-proportioned figures without overly large breasts to get in the way but enough to be attractive. From their appearance, the group seemed to be from assorted genetic lines.
I wish to mate with FRH-0281. Kydel informed him over their private channel that only the five of them could access.I recognize her as my genetic complement appropriated for breeding. She is also one of my Medic trainees.
Is it her wish as well?
She has agreed to a trial bonding. Kydel said.
All cyborgs are now free to mate who they wish by mutual consent. None of us will ever be forced to breed against our wills again. Vyken asserted. Anyone else?
CRN-154 but she is not activated yet. Matix replied.
It appears that the scientists that developed the cyborgs here rotated genetics with the other facilities to produce the females that would be appropriate to breed with our lines. Kydel added.Jolt and Brekar were both disappointed that there were no females in the group on level four that they wish to bond with.
By all means, activate CRN-154 for Matix. We have all spent many years without female companionship. Vyken told them.That should make Jacob Black happy. He has hinted his disapproval with my mating with Danya because she is anaturaland I am not. Jolt and Brekar may be destined to find mates among the naturals. Too bad if Jacob Black approves or not.
Kydel, what have you determined about the liquid nitrogen vault of the embryos? Can we safely move it to the ship and power it?
Can and will.
Have you briefed them on their first duties?Vyken asked.
Only my Medic candidates. I asked for volunteers to get the ones most interested because they will likely perform the best.
I will make my introduction and brief them then. Moving the stasis chambers and embryo vault and cleaning level three is scut work but most of the naturals we brought back aren’t in condition for heavy work yet. It should only take them a day then we can evaluate them for law enforcement and rebuilding.
As before, Vyken introduced himself to the newly activated cyborgs as if they were new recruits. In a sense, they were newborns with a complete basic education ready to receive further training by download from Star, the ship’s AI.
Vyken made his introduction as commander of Earth cyborg forces and told them their duties and that they should each pick out their own names as they were individuals even though they had been conceived in a laboratory. Then he went to each one and spoke to them individually. He knew what it was like to be treated like a machine without human thoughts and emotions.
He was conceived and activated in the second decade after the war with the Mesaarkans began when his kind was still designated as machines. But someone leaked it to the public that cyborgs were conceived in the lab from human embryos then enhanced with cybernetics while in the nurturing tanks. Included in their cybernetics were failsafe control mechanisms that rendered the enhanced humans into slaves.
The public outcry was so intense and violent at times the world government was forced to remove the failsafe mechanisms and give them all the rights and freedoms of the naturals. The only condition was that they had to serve the military until the war was over as they had been bred to do.
Now that the war was over, they were governed by Cyborg High Council or Cyborg Command. With the population of the Earth Prime decimated by the war, there were not many naturals left in authority to object to the transition of power. They had determined that the cyborgs should ultimately settle their own planet---Phantom.
When they had completed their work at the enclaves, Vyken originally planned to take Danya there to settle and make a family. But he was beginning to see there was so much more to do than he thought before he arrived. It would take much more than two years to do it right.
