The Evil That Came

Part 13: Sentinels

I can't believe I fucked a human. Well, I guess humans aren't so bad, or maybe it's this human that's not so bad?

Viktor stared at the ceiling, the warmth of Emily's body a fading memory against his cool skin. Disbelief coiled in his gut. Shame battled with a surprising flicker of pleasure. Humans were supposed to be inferior and ignorant, yet there had been a connection, a spark between them. 

He glanced at Emily, who rolled over on her side of the bed. Her closed eyes and restful face juxtaposed Viktor's internal turmoil. Viktor barely knew her, not in the way he knew Lea. She was beautiful, sure, but did she even suspect the war that was raging inside him? Did she feel the same way?

A pang of guilt twisted his insides. <One thing's universal is females and their feelings.> He scoffed at his naivete. He knew better. He could already see the hope blooming in her eyes, a hope he couldn't fulfill. His mind drifted to Lea, his R.O.B.O. girlfriend. Did she sense his betrayal? Was she doing the same thing in someone else's arms? 

Emily stirred, her eyes fluttering open. Emily looked at Viktor admirably but saw he was miles away. "What are you thinking about?" she whispered, her voice husky with sleep.

Viktor wrestled with the truth. "Something I shouldn't have done," he finally admitted. "Something I want to repeat." His voice tense. 

Emily's hopeful smile faltered. "I know, Viktor," she said softly, her voice barely a whisper. "But we can't."

Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken emotions and the weight of the taboo.

"Maybe we should get separate rooms?" Viktor finally broke the silence, his voice a low murmur.

"Yes, I think that's a good idea," Emily replied, a hint of disappointment in her voice.

Viktor quickly put on his clothes, looked at the light pad, and noticed his holo camera was on. He promptly turned it off and ordered another room on his lightpad. "I'll text you in a little while to see if you're up to going out," he said.

Emily forced a smile. "Okay," she said, her voice quiet.

Viktor leaned down and gave her a brief kiss on the forehead. The touch sent a jolt through him, a potent reminder of their forbidden connection. He walked out the door, leaving Emily alone in the white silence of their shared quarters.

Viktor trudged back from another robotic vendor; his face contorted in disgust. He tossed a crumpled moon-fry wrapper into a designated bin, the artificial wind whipping it away instantly.

"Seriously, Viktor?" Emily chuckled, her amusement tinged with a hint of annoyance. "Is there anything they don't have moon-flavored here?"

Viktor scowled. "Apparently not. These are worse than the cinnamon protein bars back at Prime Base."

"Maybe we should have skipped the tourist traps," Emily suggested with a playful glint. There has to be a more authentic Thea experience somewhere." They were still obvious tourists, so the A.I. Robots peddled and meddled with Viktor and Emily.  

Viktor incessantly swatted away the robots. "They are worse than flies."

Emily chuckled, " They bother you so much." 

Viktor stared at one of the robots with a scowl. "Very much so." 

Viktor hesitated. Straying from the designated tourist areas wasn't exactly encouraged. "You heard the Tour Guide robot thing, so we shouldn't stray from the designated--," he said.

 Emily interrupted, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "We're on vacation, remember? A little exploration wouldn't hurt, would it?"

Viktor opened his mouth to protest, then stopped. He had to admit, the tourist experience was starting to bore him, too.