Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55375 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55375 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Many mistake the new K-Unit Cyborg for the Dark Kindred—which are a branch of the Kindred family tree which have sworn to forego emotions and augment themselves with mechanical “enhancements,” one section read. And though we did work with the same Tolleg surgeons who help to grow and build the Dark Kindred, the K-Units are altogether different.
K-Units are built from Kindred soldiers who were wounded in battle too badly to live without intervention. They still have emotions, even though their memories have—from necessity—been wiped, the manual went on. They have very specific mental, emotional, and physical needs which can only be met by the right Handler. It is recommended that the Handler be an unmarried and unattached female as the K-Unit Cyborg can become extremely possessive and protective of his Handler and will feel extreme jealousy if she is in a romantic relationship with another male.
Corinne frowned. Huh—well, it was a good thing she was single, she supposed. She hadn’t had a romantic relationship in the past three years. Not since her ex, Artie, had moved from the station and taken a post on Iepetus. He’d wanted her to come along, but that would have meant a demotion and Corrine had refused to follow him. Why should his career be more important than hers?
She had never regretted the decision, though she had spent some lonely nights, wishing she had someone to warm her bed. Artie hadn’t been the best lover, but at least he’d been a warm body and that was worth a lot in the chilly station. The Company didn’t like to pay to heat it to a comfortable temperature and it got even colder at night.
Corinne cast another sidelong glance at K-lx and found, to her surprise and unease, that the big K-Unit was studying her. When she met his eyes, he held her gaze as if to say, What?
Well, at least he wasn’t probing at their Link, she thought uneasily.
“Just give me another minute or two and I’ll be with you,” she said aloud, though she had never felt the need to explain herself to a Cyborg before. Mostly they just stood or sat like a living piece of meat until you activated them. She’d never had one stare at her and study her like K-lx was.
“I will wait until you are ready to interact,” he rumbled.
“All right. Er…why are you staring at me?” Corinne asked him.
He shrugged, his broad, bare shoulders rolling with the motion.
“I like looking at you, Mistress. You are beautiful—an Elite.”
It was the second time he’d called her beautiful and ‘an Elite’ whatever that meant. Again, she was disconcerted by how different he was from other Units she’d worked with.
“Thank you, K-lx, but you don’t have to say that,” she said, thinking maybe he had a flattery protocol somewhere in his programming.
He shrugged again.
“I speak only the truth.”
“Okay, well…” Corinne wasn’t sure what to say to that. With a last look at him, she turned back to the manual. It was too long for her to read it all through right now, but she tried to at least skim the intro and the “Getting to Know Your New Cyborg” section.
The first thing you must do when you Link with your new Cyborg is to get him used to your dominance by handling his body, the manual advised. He needs to feel your hands on him everywhere—this will help to meet his extensive physical, sexual and emotional needs. Also, the more you handle him, the closer he will grow to you and the more willing he will be to follow commands.
Corinne frowned. What? Was K-lx really that different from a modern Cyborg? The Units she had worked with in the past hadn’t required much physical handling at all. In fact, a Handler getting too physical with his or her Cyborg was frowned upon and could be sanctioned if anything sexual was suspected. But apparently, it was different with the old K-Units.
The next paragraph she read seemed to emphasize that point.
The best way to get your Cyborg used to you is by bathing him nightly, the manual advised. Take him into the shower unit with you and scrub him thoroughly, handling every part of his body to show him your ownership of him.
During this time, a sexual release will generally be in order—if the male parts are engorged, be sure to ease his tension. Most Units are sexually intact and will welcome your touch. Do NOT neglect this step—giving a sexual release is a VERY important part of establishing your dominance. Nightly bathing time together will help deepen your link with your new Cyborg. He will come to crave your touch, which will make him much more compliant.
There was more, but Corinne needed time to digest what she’d already read. A sexual release? Really? Was she supposed to jerk the big K-Unit off in the shower? But that was against the Handler code of conduct in every way! Sexual interaction with a Cybernetic Unit was grounds for dismissal—it was considered dangerous and unethical in the extreme.