Wiped

His testicles quivered shyly between his legs, behind his massive trunk. The outline of his manhood stood sharply against the thin fabric of his pantaloons. I realized he had a face, but his enormous pectoralis muscles called my gaze away from his eyes. The words spoken clung to the air, but I almost never listened to what the men had to say. They were beautiful, there was no need to be clever too. I turned to the Handler. - Just for my sheer curiosity, what is your plan with him? - I asked her. - I mean, sure, he looks good, but does not strike me as a fast shooter. More like a slow rise. If any. I glanced at him again. Words formed on his glistening lips, but without meaning they fell away to nothing. - Seriously, dude is fighting the Halo already – I continued in vain. - Let him go. You'll be better off, trust me. She looked at me with an odd smile. The elites never liked us, the techs. - Can you do it? - she asked. - Do I look like I s**t in water? Of course I can. It's my tech, but I'm telling you right now he is more trouble than he is worth. Look at him. He's got potential, I give you that, but he is feral. Men from the Rurals need taming, not Instant Erections. - Cryo, just... - the Handler started, but I lost my patience. The Halo gave me an electronic tingle in my left ear, and my circuits started buzzing with the interference. - I've told you already! But let me paint a more vivid picture for you. What happens – I gestured vaguely towards the man -, if I make him, and the flip switches, on it's own, creating a chain reaction. He is not tame, the system is not designed to accomodate his kind, and we end up in the middle of a riot with men running around with throbbing rage boners? What then? Who's gonna be at fault? - What about Jonah? - her voice was calm, almost cold. - What about him? - He's in process as we speak. There was no good way to end this. That i***t always wound up in some muck, and I had to get him out. - What did he do? - Suspected in a fraud, maybe murder. Little guy went big now. - s**t! - Yeah. So... - she gestured at the man strapped to the Halo's floater. - This is going to end in a disaster. - Oh you techs are so doom and gloom all the time – she smiled at me, and as her rigid, fighting posture changed, her retractable breasts peeked out. With one glimpse I recognised Cuss-Bert's work. - I expect him delivered to G City, so I can present him at the festival. - Great! - I growled. - Your brother should be very greatful I imagine. - Yeah, yeah. You should get a top-up. Your left breast is sagging. Asshole – I only muttered the last word to myself, as she turned to leave.                                                                                    *    For some reason a memory surfaced in my mind. I was walking amongst the trees, green leaves grew around me shining in unnumerable hues. The air was balsamic, warm, yet a little hint of water signalled the coming of the rain. There I was, looking at this beauty, the tall trees as they circled around a small clearing with beams of light peeking though the vegetation. A weird thought came to my head. So naive, so unlikely. The Rurals had this effect, it was well known. This was the main reason why the city dwellers never ventured deep. But I stood there and thought – clearly, without a doubt – that this is the exact spot I want to get married. In the spring, or maybe in the summer. The Halo started to beep, and the sudden heat jolted me upright. He was fighting. Screaming and trashing around to get rid of the cables attached, Jack managed to pull some sensors off. I jumped forward to stop the machine, and when the electric buzzing subsided I looked at the man. Why did I call him Jack? Was he introduced to me? - What is your name? - I asked him. - Or better yet, who are you? His eyes narrowed. The lines on his face grew deeper contorting his features, replacing his radiant beauty with wrinkles. - Who am I? - he panted. - Did you get your circuits fried, cyborg? We looked at each other for a moment, and then I turned away. The Halo shut down in self protection, and there was no reason to start it all up again. No matter how hard or how many times I tried, without taming him, I couldn't get through. And I needed to talk to Cuss-Bert anyway. Identification was necessary, and the guard-breasts jingled as they notified the master of the house of my arrival. Cuss-Bert never failed to amuse me with these, but spending more than an hour in the shop always ended with some weird request. I tried to brace myself in anticipation, but it was all in vain. The apparition that came through to greet me had no resemblance of the flamboyant character I got used to during our friendship. Cuss-Bert was wearing trousers, and a lovely flowery blouse - they looked almost quaint under the silvery sheen of the scafander jacket. On high heels I assumed, that I was looking at a woman. Even the breasts were there. - Cryo, my darling, you look awful! - the high pitch echoed in my ears. - Thanks – I replied. - So what are you today? - Uh, I am trying out the prostetics you gave me. I'm loving it. - So...you are... - I'm a man today, my love – he chirped. - Okay, great – I sighed, relieved. It was always better to ask. - Cuss-Bert I need your help. He looked at me for a long moment, as if searching for something, and then a smile poured over his face. It was amazing, as if the sun came out from the clouds. - Did someone break your heart? - No. What? Why would.. what? No – he caught me completely off guard. - No, the Handlers caught a wild one in the Rurals, and he needs taming. I thought that you might want to help me. Seeing that you enjoy your gift so much. - And the Halo doesn't help? - The Halo is for the locals. Most men come willingly, the system is designed that way. I need some implant in him, so that he won't reject me when I go in again to adjust the controls. - Did you try it raw? - his eyes started to glisten with excitement. - No – I hesitated. - All right, fine, yes. He won't let me in. Keeps throwing my memories back at me. - I didn't know you had those still. I thought you had them all removed, when you had your memory wiped. - Maybe the program is not equipped to handle connection with the untamed. I never had one before. - Could be. Hm - he lead me to the back office. - How much time we got? - Well, the coronation is in less than two weeks. The Handlers want to present him at the festival in G City. - And I suppose there is a logical explanation why you agreed to this – but he knew the answer already. There was a hint of grief and compassion in his eyes. - Can you help me? - I asked to coax him back to our original topic. - Time is running out. For a brief moment he gazed at me. His features turned sharp, almost changing his face. There was a look on him that reminded me of a hunting dog catching a scent. - What implant did you have in mind? The problem was obvious. For an implant to work time was essential. The host had to agree to the process, not to mention the healing. And the man, I decided to call him Jack Slowrise for now, was not really willing. He fought against the Halo, he fought against me. There was a very good chance that an implant would end up thrown across the room if I was to present the idea to him. I looked at Cuss-Bert. When it came to installing the adjustments, he was a real artist. I came up with the prostetics, but it was him that convinced the concerned to have it. - Maybe you should talk to him – I wondered slowly. He yawned in response. - Yes, but first we need to figure out what implant it should be. Don't you ever get bored of this? Go home Cryo, or better yet, let's go and party. There's a lovely new place nearby. It's called the Black Iris. Isn't that mysteriously naughty? I chuckled. He tried to get me to his parties all the time. I always promised but I never went. There was something, stuff never failed to come up. - We are on the clock, darling, no time to waste. - Jonah must be one hell of a brother if you try to save him still after all that crap he pulled last year. - I know, I should let him enjoy the consequences of his actions, but he's family. The only one that's left. - I know. This is why I'm not saying anything. - You don't have to. It is written on your beautiful face. Like giant neon signs. Anyway I'll tell him, this was the last time when I see him. - Sure. He stood up, and grabbed the dangly bits between his legs. - I suppose this Slowrise guy has a set of these, so they are off the table – he joked. - Yeah, and an original one none the less. I checked. - Anyway, tonight I take my babies for a spin. Wanna join? - Cuss-Bert I... He wouldn't let me finish. - Yeah I know, you have to go home and stare at the wall while you recharge. - I need to figure this out. We need to figure this out. - I have faith in you. - Don't! - Tomorrow at noon. I expect an idea, a good one.