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echo-legend-vnandln · 2 years ago

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Echo: At the End

Chapter 3: Noir 2

Rating: T

Notes: N/A

Noir

Having gotten into the swing of things, the world was starting to almost feel normal again. Noir's day-to-day life wasn't much different than he felt it was before he was appointed Major. For the most part he continued his rounds, monitoring the medical needs of developing or new R.O.H.Ms, and the occasional paperwork that came with it. The only difference he felt so far was the inseascent media and governmental inquiries. Luckily, Cyan had seemed to be able to imitate his more generic responses after the first few weeks to see that he unbothered as possible. That left only one disturbance: Zero's unavoidable shadow upon him during every waking hour.

Still, the other seemed to be rather noninvasive in the grand scheme of his day schedule, a spectator that only imposed himself if Noir became too distracted to feed himself or the occasional reflexive catch should he go to stumble. Home life took little adjustment, Zero giving him the privacy in their shared quarters. If it wasn't for the resemblance, his presence might have been a bit more bearable.

For today, Noir had taken to accepting an invitation lunch via Sahara, opting to bring the twins as an apology for his rudeness his first day back. Heading to the top floor of the Summers building, Noir arrived with the trio of R.O.H.M. behind him. He flinched as the harsh sunlight beat down upon him from above, the glass dome acting as a greenhouse to keep Sahara's plants warm even as they started to drift into Aphrodite's long autumn.

Tees reached into the sky while before them flowers and grass stretched out into clean paths, almost looking natural save for a few clear tubes that fed from the level below for introducing Sahara's projects to the environment.

In the center of the dome, Sahara waited at a small fold out table, pouring tea for the five of them from an antique golden set. "Good afternoon boys," she called out, bangles on his wrists chiming as the danced along her skin.

"Good afternoon," the twins called back in high spirits.

Noir and Zero didn't respond beyond a smile from the former as they all found themselves a seat at the table.

"Well, thank you for joining me and being my guinea pigs for today," their hostess sang before taking a seat and sliding them their cups. "Tea from my Wisteria tree and honey from the latest hive I created. For light snacking, finger sandwiches with fresh peanut butter and honey for Noir with standard supplement bars for the boys."

Noir stared at the tea for a moment before stirring the honey within it with a small spoon, giving the cup a melodic tap when he was finished. Gingerly, he brought the cup to his lips then took a light sip, finding it to be as expected, sweet with a bitter aftertaste. "A bit bitter for me, but I don't think anyone could say the honey wasn't fresh from a real honeycomb," the doctor stated before taking another sip.

"Well done," Azul praised.

"Just as if made by the real deal," his twin echoed.

Sahara beamed as she was praised, resting her chin in the palm of her hand as she drifted her gaze to Zero. The R.O.H.M. had taken a drink but seemed to not react. "Well Zero?"

"May I have more honey," he asked, voice lacking the cheerful inflection of a request as he slid the cup back.

"Of course," Sahara answered as she lifted her flute from the pot and began to generously transfer more of the syrup into his cup.

"Your request was rejected again," Noir sighed as he leaned back in his chair. "The naturalists have too much of a hold on Apollo's senate. At this point if you bothered to make an exact clone of a hive they'd still scream and cry about alterations."

"I didn't expect anything less, but I might as well remind them I'm here for when they inevitably ruin their ecosystems clinging to the world of the past," the woman shrugged, unbothered. "Besides, I don't think I'd want my babies to go to that backwards planet," she cooed, holding out her finger for a bee to rest on as it hummed by.

"I can resubmit your proposal after the 90 day period is up," Azul offered.

"Please and thank you," Sahara chimed before turning her attention back to Noir. "What about you? Are you going to crusade for anything like our dear predecessor."

Noir avoided her eye contact as he shifted, eyes watching Zero as he seemed to nurse his tea. "I rather not make waves. They have their ideologies and nothing I do will change that. I rather focus on making everyone's lives better from the start and avoid being any sort of cultural figure. I'm not equipped to... equipped to...Zero?"

All eyes followed Noir's gaze to R.O.H.M. as he quietly ate one of the peanut butter sandwiches. Attempting to answer, he let out a noise then paused before slowly trying to chew down his current bite, getting a bit of a chuckle out of the twins. "Is there something wrong Major," he asked after swallowing.

"You're eating a sandwich."

"That's...correct."

Noir stared for a moment while Sahara sat up and reached across the table to pour Zero more tea, bangles loudly colliding into one one another. "Oh. Are you going to finally get to know your new friend," she teased, tossing Noir a wink.

"It is unusual especially for a...," the doctor started.

"A," Sahara repeated quizzically.

Everyone looked to Noir as he felt silent. For the first time, he realized he knew nothing about Zero's creation. While it had been mostly intentional, he hadn't thought of the more fascinating aspect of his existence, the technological potential. Dr. Summers could have assigned him someone practical and standard, but instead it was this man, in his image. A final puzzle.

The blonde sat up, calming down. "What is your classification and specs?"

Zero stared for a moment then stood up. "I am designated,Lieutenant Zero, classification Logos Realistic Operational Human Model, or l.R.O.H.M. I am considered a 0 Series model, as I am a custom designed and implemented by Major Richard Summers for the personal protection, welfare, and assistance of Dr. H. Noir, now acting head of Sunwear Inc. and promoted to the rank of Major of the interplanetary government in succession of my father. All other specifications and modifications are classified as are my direct reports."

"That's enough. I get it," Noir sighed, resting his cheek on his fist.

Zero took his seat then resumed to struggle eating his peanut butter sandwich, leaving Sahara to change the subject back to her project.

++++

Lunch came and went, allowing Dr. Noir to return to his duties, finally getting to work directly with some of his patients. As the day wound down his last patient entered, a young woman with a dark ponytail, dressed in a deep maroon blazor with matching slacks.

"Good Afternoon Dr. Noir," she greeted before taking a seat on the medical bed.

"Good Afternoon Crimson," the doctor greeted in turn.

"It's just Cris now, please. I'm finding that I'm not particularly fond of the color red...in name or style. Luckily this almost purple falls within uniform."

"Oh? I'll have that updated. It seems you're adjusting to the conversion well then. And you're far from the first to take issue with the uniform. Any other changes to note," the doctor asked, updating her form.

Cris crossed her legs and tilted her head. "Not particularly, other than my appetite increasing."

"That's a normal symptom, especially as you develop a more refined sense of taste. If you feel like you're gaining weight that you don't want, there are impulse control classes you can enroll into."

"I'll keep that in mind if it ends up becoming a problem. So far it's just nice not to eat those bland nutrient bars and be able to drink wine," the R.O.H.M. laughed.

"That's fair. And nothing else comes to mind," he asked to be sure, moving to her side and lifting her hair before scanning her barcode with his tablet.

"Not that hasn't already been explained to me as normal. Speaking of which, who's that yummy soldier standing outside."

Noir glanced through her vitals as they populated the screen, focusing in on her limbic and nervous systems. "He's mine."

"Oh? Really? Lucky you!"

The doctor looked up then away, feeling his ears heat up. "As in my soldier. I mean body guard. They felt it appropriate given how Major Summers lost his life."

"I see... I suppose that makes sense. I'm sorry."

Not answering, Noir went about searching through her system to make sure everything was firing correctly for her before pulling up some random pictures on his tablet, having her sort them into likes and dislikes to gauge relative appropriate behaviors and biases. The woman scoring within an acceptable margin, the doctor went over her vitals and sighed.

"I think you're almost processing everything under neurotypical parameters. Soon you'll be officially designated a p.R.O.H.M. Have you given any thought about what you'd like to do for retirement," Noir asked while taking a seat. "Not that you're unable to continue working as apart of Sunwear Inc of course."

Cris thought for a moment then smiled. "Honestly, I think I'd enjoy working on Hermes at a small shop. I think I enjoyed my work here as a receptionist, but it's rather overwhelming and so impersonal. As I'm learning more about who I am, I think I want to do something where I can interact on a more intimate level with other people rather than behind a phone."

Noir looked on then leaned back. "That sounds lovely. Dr. Groves has a sister that runs a boutique on Hermes. I'll have her ask if she has something available or knows anyone that can fit you in when the time comes."

"Really? Thank you!"

Noir nodded as the woman lifted herself off the examination table and brushed at the creases in her clothes. "That's all?"

"Yes, I'll send you an email with more information and a date for your official retirement once I clear you with the registration bureau."

Cris smiled once more and gave a little curtsy before exiting the room, leaving Noir to enjoy a moment of brief solitude before reluctantly standing to leave. Exiting, he turned, expecting to find Zero patiently waiting and instead found a dark haired man in a suit pinching at his guard's cheek and laughing.

"Excuse me. Could you please stop that," the doctor ordered.

Freezing up, the man let go then turned, hands in the air. The doctor took a step back as a pair of haunting green eyes gazed at him. "Ah. Sorry. I was just seeing if he really wouldn't react," the man apologized before sticking out a hand. "I'm Senator Casamus Summers...and by the looks of it you have no idea who I am."

Noir shook the open palm nervously before stepping towards Zero, noting a family set of emerald eyes and his guard's jawline, "Are you..."

"The eldest disappointment, yes," he laughed before pocketing his hand and leaning on the wall.

"I came to check how things were going for you and to see this guy," the senator chuckled before punching Zero in the shoulder playfully.

The R.O.H.M. tensed, but his face didn't break. Noir put himself between them, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, but I don't really know you, and I don't think it's appropriate for a senator just to show up in my building unannounced."

"Ah. Well, like I said I'm the eldest son, some would say the heir of my father's estate but clearly not in full. I have vested interest in how things are being handled, as I have my own shares, but I can already tell it's in good hands."

The doctor watched the other's face to gauge his sincerity, heavily distrusting politicians as a default, but ultimately was unable to read him.

"Just that you put yourself between me and him," Casamus explained, "That's how the old man died in the end. Putting himself before his creations."

"People," Noir corrected.

"You see. You even speak like him," the senator chuckled, "Don't worry. I talk like a jerk but I'm on your side, maybe even a bit more extreme. I'm on the full rights at creation side of the aisle. Utility should be a choice for any cognitive being, even if they are born with a chip in their noggin to do extraordinary things."

Noir watched the man carefully before relaxing enough to move from shielding Zero' "Well, you've seen me and judged me. Was there anything else" he asked.

"Dinner?"

"Excuse me?"

Casamus grinned wide once more, eyes moving from Noir to Zero. "I'd like to take you to dinner and talk more. You probably spent far more time with my old man than I ever did. Unless your gaurd here has an issue?"

Noir swallowed then looked back to Zero, the R.O.H.M. just staring back at Casamus. A part of him wished he had called the other a security threat but the man stoically looked on. "I...I suppose I should accept then," the blonde relented.

"Swell. How does tomorrow night sound," he asked, maintaining his Cheshire smile.

"That's fine. I'll have my assistant coordinate with yours. I'll ask you though to not return to this level uninvited in future. This floor is just for the R.O.H.M.s and the doctors seeing them that day. Any other floor is fine, but this is ultimately their space," Noir requested firmly.

"That's fair. I guess I'll see you tomorrow then," the Senator answered, unphased by the light scolding before heading off to the elevator, helping himself to the private one.

With a wave, he stepped inside and let the door close, "Take care. You too, Zero."

Exhaling, Noir went to the window then leaned on it, crossing his arms as he looked outside, "Are you okay?"

Zero turned then gave a nod. "Yes."

Noir went quite once more, eyes careful to watch the plaza below to ensure that the senator had left the building. Having another thought, he pressed his palm against the glass, “If he should bother you in a manner you feel is inappropriate towards you, you have full permission to slug him.”

"Understood."

#echo project #echo #original story #original work #male x male #scifi #yaoi

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echo-legend-vnandln · 2 years ago

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Echo: At the End

Chapter 2: Carter 1 Rating: M Notes: CW: Self-Gratification "Fuck…," Lt. Carter grunted as he stepped out onto the balcony outside his room.

He rolled his shoulders as he felt the cool Aphrodite air slide across his bare chest, happy Aphrodite's humid summer was starting to wane into its fall. Quietly, he pulled out his lighter and a well hidden cigarette from his pocket then stuck the latter between his lips. As he cupped his hand over his face and started to strike his lips faltered, losing the stick from his mouth and sending it tumbling down the side of the building. "Fuck!"

"No smoking in the building sir," a honeyed voice sang out to him.

"I'm not in the building," he shot back. Rubbing his face, he whipped his head back, glowering at Sahara as she leaned against the railing of her own balcony as she rolled a small glass of whiskey in her hand.

"Filthy habit from the old man anyway," the man huffed, before reaching over to steal the glass.

Smirking, he held it up to his lips, eyes on his neighbor's displeased face as she reached out. He hesitated as the cool glass hit his lips, letting her reclaim her drink and retreat back from him. "Nice try."

The man watched as she found a spot among the menagerie of plants growing throughout her balcony to set her drink down on.

"How are you feeling? Project Aurora taking a toll yet," Sahara asked as she started to tend to her flowers.

"Aside from a killer headache? Not particularly, but there's not been much to it all. Not that I particularly care to actually do anything strenuous. A life of leisure and all it costs me is what amounts to a day time nap," he yawned before giving a stretch.

"Is it though? I would be lying if I said I wasn't curious to what it's like," the woman asked, looking up to her neighbor.

The man rubbed the back of his head then thought for a moment. "Well, yeah. When it starts I feel like I'm drifting off to sleep. I guess for the duration I'm technically awake but everything feels dream-like for the most part."

"And when you wake up?"

"I want a cigarette and my head hurts. Then it's like there's a second voice in my head whispering numbers to me ," he huffed.

"Interesting. You know, if there is something wrong, you can always let me know. If you won't let me look you over I can always ask Dr. Noir," Sahara teased, giving him a wink.

Lt. Carter pushed off the railing and looked away as he felt his ears heat up with embarrassment. "Fuck that. You can keep your hands and eyes to yourself."

"Can't blame a girl for trying, though I wouldn't stand in Noir's way if you actually got up the courage to introduce yourself properly."

"I think he's got his hands full with Zero as it is. Meeting me will just cause more damage."

He looked on as Sahara frowned then recoiled into her robe. "Honestly, you're all exhausting. Why do men have to internalize everything?"

"Who fuckin' knows," the soldier brushed off with a shrug of his shoulders, content to let it die, or at least until it got the better of him.

Plopping back in an iron chair, he rested his hands together on his abs while looking down at his black socks, zoning out until throwing his head back with a sigh. "Speaking of Zero...how is that going?"

Terracotta clinked about from the other balcony in the wake of the question. After some light cursing and shuffling Sahara answered, " As good as expected."

"Seriously?"

"What do you want me to say? He's incredibly uncomfortable with the ghost of your father hovering over his shoulder all day. He's terrible at hiding it, though a part of him recognizes that what he's saying probably hurts. He practically begged me not to leave him alone," the woman exasperatedly tossed back. "Did you think it'd be love at first sight? It's super fucked up and creepy and if Major Summers didn't beg me to ensure the happiness of his son I would have already exposed this desperate scheme."

Absorbing her words, the lieutenant sat up then looked across to the woman as she held herself. "You loved the old man didn't you? A lot."

Sahara bit her lip then tossed a glance to the man. "I did. So did Noir, though probably not in the same way. I don't know many that met him and were left uncharmed...Did you know he paid all of my tuition for grad school after hearing my first project proposal? He wanted me a part of this team so he made sure to steamroll anything that would get in my way. And not just me, most of the people in R&D too."

"I get it. I get it. He was a great man with a big heart. I'm sick of hearing it," he grunted, "Glad he could play daddy to you and all his other 'children'. Give me a break. You know his priorities were fucked and all this last minute shit to try to make up for it wasn't enough for years of neglect for his true family.”

He received a frustrated gasp in response followed by the woman swinging her arm. The lieutenant barely had time to react as a plant, soil and all was chucked at him.

"You're an ass," the woman chirped before disappearing into her apartment, pausing slightly at her door, "He did, get it wrong with you boys. He knew that."

Sahara looked back, though the lieutenant couldn't make out what she intended with her stare. Having said her peace, she disappeared into her apartment. Standing, the man brushed off what he could, cursing as it muddied down his body. Turning to go inside, he took off his socks, not daring to track mud onto the new carpet. Heading into the bathroom, he finished stripping then tossed his clothes into a pile before sliding into the shower to wash up.

He cranked up the heat as high as it could go, not flinching even as the water streamed off him. Participating in Project Aurora had come to dull his nerve endings, a substantial loss to someone who already enjoyed scalding showers. Even showering felt difficult, unable to fully feel his loufa scratch away at his tanned skin.

The man sighed as he ran his hands down his abs, ensuring the dirt washed away. Brushing his palm down further, he raked gently over himself then let out a soft moan.

“Fuck, I'm really didn't think about giving that up,” he dejectedly thought, balling his fist and slamming it against the wall before he could give into his base urge. Feeling something tickle his foot, he looked to where he'd punched, finding the tile crumbling off the wall

"Fuck, fuck, fuck," he growled, grabbing the neck of the shower head to spray down the floor, ceramic crumbs going into the drain before turning off the water.

The soldier quickly made fast work of cleaning up the rest of his mess before checking his hand and the bottom of his foot. “Not a single puncture.”

He flexed his hand for a moment before looking up into the steamed mirror, unable to make out his features. With precious little time left before he'd have to return to work, he opted to skip shaving for another day, thinking he might try out a chin strap if he was allowed to get it that far.

Towel aloft on his waist, he moved through the darkness and into the kitchen and began his hunt. “C'mon old man. A sweet tooth was all we really had in common,” he thought palming around the bottom of all the cabinets until feeling a button. After giving it a quick press, he opened the cabinet door then watched as a compartment slid open in the back, revealing a lit up compartment in the back with some assorted packaged snacks.

“Come on smokes, show me smokes,” he wished, sifting through the packaging. Feeling something sharp, he snatched at it then pulled out what had pricked him. He raised a brow, seeing 'son' scrawled across a thick envelope.

“Oh sure, now you want to talk,” he grumbled before chuckling the letter into the back carelessly. He took a chocolate cream filled cake then closed up the hiding place before ripping the package open with his teeth. Cautiously, he took a bite, savoring the taste until interrupted by a knock at the door.

"God damnit," he grunted, stuffing his face before hurrying to the door in a flash. Swinging it open, he quickly shot his hand down to grab the wrist of whoever had decided to interrupt his night before they could hit the bell.

Startled, the two twins from his office looked up to him, seeming to be sharing a set of navy blue pajamas between them, one wearing the top and matching boxer briefs and socks while the other the bad the bottoms and the same socks. "Seriously? What the fuck do you two Blues want?"

The two looked to one another then stepped back, the grasped one struggling to free himself from the soldier's firm grasp. "Sorry Lieutenant, we heard a beat on our wall and..."

"And you didn't fucking think I could take care of it? Do you two really belong on this floor? If there was a problem I would have sounded the alarm, and even then the last people I'd ask for would be the walking furniture catalog and his day planner," he huffed, glowering between the two.

“Seriously? Not even gonna flinch at that,” he growled in his head as he received blank stares in return. He gave back the wrist as he blocked the doorway, one hand reaching down to keep his towel on his hips.

"We're sorry sir. Given the recent events we thought it'd be best to check in. Ah, in case you forgot, I am Azul and this is my brother Cyan."

"I don't care."

"Understood. Good night sir, enjoy your rest," Azul answered quickly, bowing before going to return to his room with his brother.

"Send someone that can fix some tile in the morning," he ordered to their backs.

Glowering, the soldier shut the door and rested his back against it. “Pathetic. So much for free will.”

After taking a moment, he strode back to the kitchen, the lieutenant ensured his cabinet was set back correctly then headed into the living room. Whipping the towel from around his waist, he tossed it around his neck and held the ends before settling onto the couch. "Screen on, volume silent," he ordered briskly, looking over his shoulder at the moment towards his bedroom before giving the screen his attention, reading through the lips of the people on screen.

“R.O.M.Hs in professional sports? Should it be allowed or should they have their own divisions? Do their classes matter? More on this-”

"Next."

“Memorial to honor Rich-”

"Next."

“Interplanetary Government on edge as pressure from Apollo and Hermes' fringe groups grow. R.O-"

"Next."

The screen soon settled on a cartoon of anthropomorphic animals trying to cause harm to one another. Giving up on anything else being on this late, he settled in, tugging at the towel to put light pressure on the back of his neck. After a moment he closed his eyes, the show pulling up a memory. His three brothers had been taking up a couch eating breakfast while watching cartoons while his dad was in the lab coat he used as a robe and boxers, getting scolded in the background for letting them make a mess of cereal and milk in the living room by the nanny, trying in vain to convince her he contributed to it all himself. He allowed himself a chuckle at the distant memory before opening his eyes to stare at the ceiling, Project Aurora Initiating flashed across his vision in violet letters. As he drifted off, a final thought crossed his mind. “Guess you found another way to make our messes yours.”

#original story #echo project #echo #original work #at the end #yaoi #scifi #cw self pleasure