Symbiota Sapiens - 17. Chapter 17

Chapter 17

The apartment wasn't half-bad for the quick job it was. The furnishings company had been
eager to assist the young businessman from the west coast on his impulsive relocation.

It was a decent two-bedroom, only two blocks from an intersecting station for two different
lines on the underground, with another intersecting station within walking distance. Before
we even bothered picking out furniture, we'd developed and practiced a multitude of escape
routes and rendezvous plans.

And now came some preventative measures. Security hardware. Predictably, it involved some
discomfort on my part.

::Okay, I've assembled the first set of "bugs", they're ready for placement.::

:Great. And what, I get to just vomit them up?:

The AI had ingeniously built a small pouch adjoining my stomach for the construction of
new devices from the modular electronic building-blocks he and Julian had designed.

::Well, yes. It doesn't have to be as violent as you're used to though. I'll control the
muscle spasms and I've already isolated the acid content in your stomach so it doesn't
burn your esophagus.::

:Kind of you.:

I grimaced. I had been aware of the assembly both through the Esseren (and the AI's
constant reports) as well as from the increasing feeling of odd fullness in my belly
as the completed devices were ejected from their assembly chamber and left to float in
my stomach.

"Uh, guys, the bugs are finished." I said.

Julian looked up from his laptop. He was busy designing additional things to build with
the modular pieces he'd invented. Rom and I had been following his progress through the
links our implants provided. He was really good at it. Which was wonderful. In a
disturbingly productive way - considering how they get made. Great. Just what I need, a
kid genius using my stomach as his personal factory.

"Cool! I'll go get a bowl."

Julian jumped up and ran into the kitchen, returning with a clear glass bowl which he
placed on the coffee table with a flourish.

"Here ya go bro."

So helpful, so polite. I gave him a death glare. He grinned back at me.

I ignored him in favor of leaning carefully over the bowl.

:Okay. Make it quick and painless.:

::Will do.::

And then I was puking my guts out, as my brother and Rom watched, fascinated.

Oddly, it wasn't so bad. That doesn't mean it was pleasant. But having an AI keeping
it from tasting nasty or the stomach heaves from becoming too much does make it less
horrible.

And then I was finished, staring at the remnants of the evening meal and a multitude of
gel-like capsules varying from bb-sized to cherry-sized. Glistening with moisture.

"I think I'm going to be sick again." I groaned.

"Hey, calm down bro." Julian but a hand on my shoulder, climbed behind me on the couch and
started kneading my neck as Rom took the bowl to the sink and started to rinse the capsules
in a strainer. Picking out the bits that had once been food. I tried to ignore that and
concentrated on relaxing under Julian's expert hands.

"Thanks, bro. That helps a lot."

"Hey, I know I get carried away by enthusiasm. I mean, I'm getting to design things that shouldnt
even be possible to build! But...shit, I'm sorry you gotta go through that to make them. I guess
I didn't think how gross it might be for you, bro."

"I'll be okay. I guess this is one of those things I'll have to get used to."

"Along with being a super-stud and having god-like powers?" Julian joked.

"Yeah. I guess. At least I really don't have to drink blood." I smiled back, remembering both
our original worries.

"True. Speaking of a drink, maybe you'd like something to wash the taste out?"

"Yeah."

Julian's fingers disappeared for a moment as he dashed into the kitchen with Rom. He came back
and handed me a glass of orange juice.

"Just the thing for you."

I drank it gratefully, then Rom was back in the dining room with the bowl full of much cleaner-
looking globules. I looked at them queasily. They still looked disturbingly organic.

"Okay, these things are in containment capsules to prevent contamination from dust or anything.
This shit is built very small-scale guys, you'd need a really good microscope to actually study
the circuitry. So they're really sensitive, got me?" Julian explained.

"Yeah." I got up the nerve to reach out and pick out a pea-sized capsule out of the pile. Not
quite as soft as they looked. Not quite solid, though. My enhanced vision saw through the opaque
surface - inside was a very complicated piece of circuitry on a tiny scale.

::This is one of the medium range sensors. It combines the features of some of the better mortal
designs with the increased wavelength visual monitoring your implants give you, along with the
new equipment for detecting autonoids.::

:Holy shit, that's a lot for such a small package.:

::If we had used the standard sizes for electronics used commercially by most mortals, it would
have to be about as big as a car.::

:Most mortals?:

::Well, some military and intelligence agencies have learned to work in microscale to some extent.
If your US government built this, assuming they knew how to duplicate all the circuitry, it would
be...perhaps a foot and a half, two foot in radius.::

I could hear a sneer in the AI's tone, somehow.

"Hey Julian, what if someone finds these? I mean, they're a lot more advanced than anything any
mortals can build." I asked.

"I know. Whoever found it would definitely be able to learn a lot from it. And they'd also be
a bit scared, wondering who has managed to build in such a micro-scale. That's assuming they
realize what it is."

"Isn't that a problem, though?"

"I don't think so." Rom answered. "We have no problem helping the mortals along with their
technological development now and then. As long as it isn't too extreme. If we don't show our
hand it shouldn't be an issue."

"If you say so." I continued looking at the sensor.

"Okay, we should have one hundred fifty extra-small sensors, eighty smalls, forty mediums, twelve
large and five extra-larges." Julian read from his notes.

"That's what we've got." Rom confirmed.

"Okay. The extra-larges have a passive range of a thousand feet and an active range of about a
mile. One goes here, of course. One at the Park Street T-station. Another at the government
center. And another at downtown crossing. One at the airport terminal. Then a large at both
regular rail stations, the bus station, and two each for highways 90, 93, and 95. Then a medium
at each of the strategic T stations we chose. Smalls at the important highway exits and road
intersections. Half the extra-smalls get strategic placement on the map, the other half are going
to be wandering sensors - you'll need to plant them on vehicles, people, and animals." The AI
lectured us through the laptop speakers.

"This is only going to be the first stage of the sensor net we're building. Really just for basic
security so we can have advance warning if there's shifts in the movements or concentration of
autonoids. The second layer will be much more thorough. Julian, you're going to have to stay
indoors until we have enough information to keep you from being recognized by one of those things
at random." Rom said.

"I know. I still say I could disguise myself."

"Not effectively enough. These autonoids have a communications device that links them to their
controller and possibly to each other. The same sort of equipment is in stalled construction
inside you - they might discover it and wonder what's interfering and we can't have that." Rom
told him.

"Yeah I guess." Julian grumbled. His hand scratched absently at the base of his neck, where the
construction was going on. I caught his wrist and pulled it away from himself, smiling at him
as I held his forearm in a semblance of comfort.

"Okay, let's get on with this, then. Julian, you get to set up the first one since you miss out
on the others." I invited.

"Yeah." Julian reached out and plucked a cherry-sized globule from the bowl. He rolled it in his
fingers a moment, studying it. He shrugged and walked to the large television set and opened a
panel in the side. Placed the little ball inside where it adhered to the inside surface of the
televisions shell. He replaced the panel and walked back to us.

"Turn it on?"

"Passive only." The AI informed us.

Rom and I both jerked as the upload reached our implants.

"So?" Julian looked between us anxiously.

"Nothing new. These bugs aren't actually as sensitive as our implants are, anyways. And we're
in the same room with it." Rom told him.

Julian looked disappointed.

"On the other hand, we'll still be able to detect anything that goes on in this apartment even
when we're not here. So...better behave, brat." I smirked at him.

Julian stuck out his tongue at me.

"So...shall we get on with it, then?" Rom asked.

"Let's."

We started near the house, with the smaller sensors. With Julian alone in the house we wanted to
build the sensor net outward from the house to maximize his safety before venturing farther away.

After five solid hours, working separately to spread as many sensors as possible, we returned
to the apartment around midnight.

I found Julian asleep in the middle of our new bed, curled around a pillow. I took a good look.
His breathing was light and pleasant, his face totally relaxed except when he frowned in his
sleep, adjusting his arms around the pillow he was cuddling. The covers came up to his armpits
and his shoulders looked fetchingly round and powerful contrasted to the vulnerability in his
relaxed features.

Beautiful. There's no denying it. Julian is beautiful. Especially in his sleep.

I pulled off my shirt and shrugged out of my jeans, sat on the bed just watching him breathe.
The way his eyelashes swept down towards his cheeks. The soft pink lips quivering as he reacted
to some dream. Peaceful expression on his face.

I leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on those lips, getting a soft hum of contentment out of
him. I couldn't help but smile at that sound, but carefully climbed under the covers, extracting
the pillow from his embrace so I could get closer to him.

Just now I couldn't help myself. I wanted to be close to him. Hold him while he dreams. Listen
to him breathe. What was that feeling? Yeah. Everything's right in the world because he's content
and happy. There's that weird twisting in my gut again.

I slide an arm around his waist and brush my lips over his cheek. He nuzzles into me, his arms
automatically enclosing me as they had the pillow. A stab of warmth in my stomach and I have
to kiss him again. Just a little one. I press my lips to his, close my eyes. I can feel his
breath on my face. I give him a soft kiss and he makes that soft cooing noise again.

"G'nite bro." I whisper into his lips.

"Heeeey," He mumbles back at me. His hands pull my body into his heat. I relax and move closer,
enjoying the feeling of skin on skin.

"Shhh, don't wake up..." I soothe him, rub his arm absently.

"Was waiting for you Jer'my," He sighs, returning the caress on my back.

"It's okay, I'm here now. Get some sleep." I told him.

"Mmm, I'm glad I get to sleep with you." Julian said, holding me closer. He was nuzzling his
cheek on mine, eyes still closed as he tried to maximize the closeness.

"Hmm, it's nice." I agreed, dropping a little kiss on his cheekbone.

"Did you kiss me?" He asked, sounding like a little child.

"I did."

"No, not that. While I was asleep?"

"Yeah."

"Could you do it while I'm awake now?"

"Okay." I leaned in and kissed his soft mouth.

He sighed.

"I don't ever want this to go away."

"Shh. It's not going to. I'm not letting go, remember?"

"Yeah." He sounded doubtful.

"But?"

"But...I meant...this. Being with you. Touching you. Having you kiss me while I'm asleep. And
then when I wake up. What if it doesn't last?"

He sounded so afraid. Lonely. With all my heart I wanted to comfort him. But...I couldn't promise
him something I wasn't even sure of myself, could I?

"I don't know, Julian."

I knew that wasn't what he wanted to hear. He was silent, only breathing softly on my face.

"I...you're very...special to me. And I love you. And...I like this too. I don't know if it's
just a...a...thing or something though. I never thought...a guy...my brother, even. It's so hard
to separate how I feel about you as my brother and how I feel about you as...as...in my bed."

"I know." Julian snuffled. Was he crying? I ran a palm over his cheek. No tears. Okay, not quite
crying. Just sad.

I kissed his mouth again. So soft, welcoming. Sweet. Intoxicating, somehow. Could I ever get tired
of kissing Julian's mouth? Someday, stop wanting to? I didn't used to want to. Somehow, I want to
do it now when I never would have considered it before. If I changed once, what if it happened
again, the other way? Would I stop wanting this?

I kissed him again. Lips trembling, but eagerly responding. Strong, wanting lips. Opening,
inviting me to taste more than just the lips. Begging me to. I ended the kiss without taking
things farther. I drew my thumb across his lips, cradling his face with my palm. How strange.
Just lips. I never thought of them as anything special before. But now they draw me like a moth
to flame.

I kissed him again. He whimpered as I drew away the third time. I sighed.

"I just don't know Julian. We're already so close. You're so important to me. You...I'd do anything
for you. Anything. Not because we happen to be brothers but...I love you. You. But...this other
thing. I'm just not sure about it. It's so new. And...it was never there before. What if it didn't
work, in the long run? We could lose what we already have. I could lose...you, the way we are
now. How we've always been."

Julian lay quiet, breathing for a moment. Then he answered.

"Jer. How we've always been...I don't want to lose that with you either. Never. But...what if
there could be more? I know I can give you more. And...maybe you want to give me more too? Or
are at least thinking about it?"

"Yeah, I...it seems like there could be more. But that scares me. What if it only seems that way
but it's just a temporary feeling? What if we take that additional step and then it ruins what
we do have? What if it's all wrong?"

"I wont let it be wrong." Julian whispered fiercely. "Nothing will be ruined because we wont let it
be. I wont let it be!"

"Julian - this sex thing. I'm afraid I'm just confused. What if I'm just horny and you're here?
Or what if I'm going through a phase or something? If we...if things happened and then one of us
didn't feel the same way...or regretted it...I don't want to hurt you Julian. That's the most
horrible thought in my mind, now. I don't want you getting hurt. Especially by me."

"Then don't hurt me." Julian whispered quietly, and his lips were seeking mine again. "Please,
don't hurt me Jeremey. I love you."

Then he found his target and he was kissing me this time. A gentle, needy kiss. His lips opened
and his tongue darted out to taste between my lips. With a groan I let him in, knowing this had
to be a mistake.

And with that permission his slippery tongue slid into my mouth, flexing wetly until it found my
own tongue and, with one caress I was responding enthusiastically, following him as he retreated
into his own mouth, surging after him and tickling the roof of his mouth before his tongue found
me in there and we were tangling together in a slick, pulsating knot.

With a groan Julian rolled me onto my back and the battle was back into my mouth as he kissed
me hard, demandingly, his teeth gnawing angrily into my lips as he pinned my hands above my head
and ground his boxer-clad erection into mine.

I shuddered and bucked up against him and suddenly he had jumped backwards off me, his hands
holding my lower body up in the air by my waist, and with an vicious swipe of one hand, yanked
my underwear down and off my feet. My manhood sprang up and slapped my abdomen and with a sexy
growl Julian attacked my groin with his teeth, licking, kissing, nipping the insides of my thighs
and lapping hungrily at my balls as he continued to hold my hips suspended in midair.

"Julian! Awggpmpph! Please!" I begged incoherently at his teasing, and suddenly Julian's face
reappeared over me, where I was arched backwards, my head just touching the bed while he kept
my waist held firmly up in the air.

Julian glared down at me for a moment, animalistic lust in his eyes. I goggled up at him, I had
never seen my little brother like this.

"Julian? Are you okay?" I asked, uncertainly.

His thumbs caressed my hipbones as he stared down at me for a moment, then seemed to catch his
breath for a moment.

"I've wanted you for so long. Wanted...this." He looked down at my cock for a moment, and my
enhanced eyes caught the blush rising in his cheeks for just a moment before he suddenly lunged
forward and sunk sharp teeth into my chest. FUCK! I swallowed what would have been a very
embarrassing scream and the sharp pain of the teeth - I just knew he'd broken skin - settled to
a mild burn that I soon forgot as his next move enveloped my cock in wet heat when he swallowed
it whole!

It was over in seconds. Somehow the shock of that one vicious bite combined with that of the
sudden intense oral stimulation caused me to lose control without warning or buildup, and all
I could do was whimper in confusion as my balls emptied their contents into his waiting throat
and waves of pleasure crashed down on me, mixing oddly with the burning from the small holes
he'd made in the skin of my chest and leaving me in a dazed euphoria.

"Julian..." I croaked helplessly.

He didn't respond, only laying a soft, suckling kiss on my softening penis as he slowly lowered
my hips to the bed.

"Julian?" I asked again, clearing my throat.

He hummed with contentment and slid himself next to me, throwing a thigh over one of my legs, and
reaching over my chest to tuck a hand under my armpit in what had become his preferred cuddling
position.

"G'nite Jer'my." He mumbled into my neck, snuggling into me as he quickly fell into sleep.