That’s what makes us different.
“You’re not real. None of this is real,” I say, chuckling to myself.
Before I can catch my breath, a voice resounds near my shoulder. “That all depends on your definition of real, Ms. Lancaster.”
I turn to see my cousin. He’s dressed in a black suit, tie to match the subtle purple stitching.
“Elon…”
Excited, he bites his lower lip and balances on his heels. “Extraordinary, isn’t it?” he asks. “I could get you a model, if you’d like. Think of it as a gift for signing onto the team.”
A model? No thanks. I’ve got enough on my mind.
“What is this job, exactly?” I ask. “Some kind of government defense contract or something?”
He chuckles and comes to my side. “If only.”
I pause to look around once more. It’s difficult to take it all in.
“Elon, this is big. What is really going on here?” I ask.
I’ve never dealt with something of this magnitude. Never mind the fact that I haven’t seen my cousin in over five years. I don’t even know what to say.
I’m definitely not working here, right?
Elon takes a deep breath, eyes focused on the immobile alien. He claps his hands twice, and the alien drifts back to the center of the chamber. He sits down and ignores us, fingers picking at the floor.
When he freezes like that, does he hurt? Is he still able to feel pain? Can he hear us speak?
“Our planet has been saved. We put an end to the nightmare world of yesterday. The droughts, the catastrophic floods, and world hunger – all things of the past. It is marvelous what we have achieved, but the algorithms we designed here make the technology of the last century look like child’s play,” he says.
He snaps his fingers, and the alien stands and charges at the glass. This time, when he swings, he hits the barrier, shattering it into millions of insignificant pieces. He pounces, baring his teeth like a killer ape.
Elon laughs like an impressed adolescent. “Limit your alpha receptors,” he tells the cyborg.
I place three fingers against my neck and check my pulse with disbelief. “I hope you didn’t bring me here to give me a heart attack.”
Elon nods toward the alien. “Go on. Don’t be frightened. He won’t hurt you,” he says.
“You sure about that?” I ask.
Without flinching, he smacks the creature in the face. The alien continues to breathe without acknowledging the blow. “I am its creator, but this isn’t Shelley’s Frankenstein. It may feel real, but trust me, I am in control,” he says.
Control…
I take an inch closer. The being analyzes me, nostrils widening as I imagine it perceives my scent, as most alpha aliens are inclined to do.
The alien growls once more, but his eyes turn blue. Is he pleased? No, just docile. Obedient to Elon’s commands.
“He likes you,” he says.
Relief sweeps through my heart, and I start to laugh once the anxiety lifts. I can’t help but notice his impeccable muscles, the perfect symmetry of this beast’s body. Even his cock has been constructed with great precision and care.
I’d say it’s disturbing if it isn’t a little sexy...
I’ve spent most of my adult life in the company of strangers. This one is by far the strangest.
“This is my greatest masterpiece,” Elon says. “One I’ve chosen only you to explore.”