09: Intimate Negotiations

“I’m not persuaded by this ship theory,” Delilah said as they entered their room in a Motel 6. Not certain how long they’d be traveling, they decided to watch their spending. “It’s more logical that a decommissioned officer was involved—or more likely a judge—than we’re somehow supposed to be a ship’s crew. I can understand Eli’s fascination. He’s a big history geek, so the idea of imaginary voyages appeals to him, but it’s not terribly practical.”

“I agree,” Gary agreed. “While it makes sense some Navy vet was involved establishing the appropriate ranks and structures, it doesn’t follow there’s an actual ship. If they need a crew, they can get personnel a lot cheaper and faster than by modifying our DNA and waiting decades to see whether it worked. However, no one suggested that there even was an actual ship. They merely pointed out that it makes sense to consider us a team, as our new skills seem to be somewhat related. They augment each other, but are relatively useless separately.”

“Still, the fact we have our ranks permanently tattooed on our flesh is more than a little circumstantial,” Betty pointed out. “However, I doubt any individual could pull off something this significant. Even an organization as massive as the Army or CIA couldn’t pull off this many miraculous abilities. I’m guessing we’re talking something ... less human and more ... otherworldly.”

“Otherworldly, as in ‘sent by God’, or otherworldly as in, some visiting alien overlords conducting experiments on us with an anal probe while we slept?” Al asked, teasing her for her choice of language.

“Well, since our abilities break virtually every rule of science we currently understand, I doubt anyone would just suddenly figure out how to trigger such widely disparate skills. It may not have been visiting aliens, but it’s definitely not of this world. Even so, I’m not convinced there’s any difference in our genes,” Betty said. “There doesn’t seem to be any genetic similarity between any of us, so I’m guessing that someone manipulated our genomes after the fact. And they’d have to understand more than any living scientist to even guess which genes to modify to trigger the desired effects.”

“Well, however they achieved it,” Delilah said, “I don’t think it’s worth checking. There’s too much risk someone might discover our abilities if we submitted to a DNA analysis. I’m guessing the last thing we’d want is for someone to steal the secret to these abilities.”

“Frankly, I’m more concerned with someone learning we even have something unusual about us,” Gary said, “as it would focus an unhealthy interest on us. We’re better off remaining under the radar. Way under the radar!”

“Still, Be is right,” Delilah said. “If someone had access to such knowledge and technology, they’d either market it—earning billions—or use it to gain tremendous power. They wouldn’t tweak our genes like this and then just abandon us.”

“Still, it’s not like either angels or aliens would experiment on innocent, unresisting orphans,” Al offered. “However ‘otherworldly’ our abilities might be, there’s a very human influence behind it. We’ll never know how they arrived at that knowledge until we discover who was responsible. Someone visited a number of different orphanages, selecting infants for experimentation, which means they had to have significant sway over the organizations involved for no one to question them.”

“Still, that doesn’t address their motive,” Gary argued. “We need to figure out what they hoped we’d achieve. As far as we know, no one is monitoring us. If someone was experimenting, it’s pointless if they can’t track their results.”

“Given the things we’re able to do, it’s possible we’re sending them the information,” Betty said. “They may not need to monitor us directly.”

Al shook his head. “I don’t buy that. Even if they’re recording our vitals and locations, that won’t tell them whether we’re compliant. They’d need to keep tabs on us to understand whether we’ll utilize the talents or not. So far, we’ve seen no indication anyone cares how we use these skills. The fact our abilities matured within a couple days speaks volumes about the planning and skill involved.”

Gary stepped away from the common area so they wouldn’t be as easily overheard. “Okay, assuming this was some grand government experiment, but all the experimenters died, where does that leave us? We still don’t grasp what they hoped we’d achieve. Each of these abilities are too specialized and too dependent on everyone else’s, for them to have been stabbing in the dark. It screams of an end goal. There’s got to be a bigger mission.”

“The only thing which springs to mind is the old movie canard,” Delilah suggested, “producing super soldiers.”

“Even more reason to take a hand in raising us,” Al argued, “to ensure we’re all-American and enthusiastic about fighting. It also doesn’t explain the pair-bonding. Why would they want us teamed up if we’re expensive cannon fodder? The fact none of us are related implies there’s no genetic link between us, so we didn’t inherit these abilities. It appears we were randomly selected and left to figure this out on our own. That’s the only reason the skills would all trigger at the same time, to bring us together.”

“It’s not just Be,” Delilah argued. “She’s the one to locate us, but someone planned this out. You’re the commander who ensures we all join. We’re security, so the two of you don’t get yourselves killed, and then there’s Zita, who ties us together telepathically. The entire team falls apart if any one of us gets hit by a bus!”

Al rubbed his chin, staring into space. “You’re right. The chances of failure are astronomical. If this was an experiment, we’d have been raised in a lab rather than being left on our own. There’s no guaranteeing we’d even be in the same region after this many years.”

“Instead of standing here in the lobby, how about we table the discussion until we get to our rooms?” Betty marched off, trusting the others to follow. No one said another word until they entered the elevator.

“With two rooms, what are the arrangements?” Betty asked. “Boy’s and girl’s rooms?”

“The hell with that,” Delilah said, giggling. “In case you didn’t notice, the one thing we’re sure of is that we’re all pair bonded for life. I’m not about to separate from Gary unless there’s absolutely no alternative. You may not be comfortable spending the night with your brother, but it’s clear that was someone’s intent. Your ending up as siblings was a complete accident. You can capitalize on it or not, but you know you’re never going to turn your back on him.”

Gary waved his arms, indicating the two of them. “I hate piling on, but she’s got a point. I don’t think any of us would bother dating anyone else. If you continue to abstain, you can kiss any future romances goodbye.”

“That doesn’t mean we can’t spend the evening together,” Betty argued, pouting.

“Weren’t you paying attention?” Delilah asked. “All day, everyone was constantly touching each other. None of us could get two feet apart for long. After watching Eli and Zita, Gary and I are heading for our room and cuddling for the rest of the night. The two of you can stay up watching late-night movies, but I’m going to enjoy my boyfriend. I’m thankful that, in these uncertain times, I can rely on him.”

The elevator chimed when it reached their floor. As the doors opened, Del and Gary waved goodbye and walked to their room arm-in-arm, leaving the siblings together to figure out their future on their own.

“Come on,” Al said, walking forward. “I won’t attack you. You’re safe for the night.”

“I wasn’t casting aspersions, I’m just not comfortable with this situation yet.”

“Yeah, I got that. You’ve made it painfully obvious,” he sighed, unlocking the door and holding it open for her.

“Do you think this is an issue?” Betty dropped her bag on the bed closest to the window. “I mean, if we don’t get together, will we ever find other partners?”

“Be, there are billions of people wandering this Earth. You’ll meet someone. It’s only a matter of time.”

“But if this is biological, it won’t be the same. The divorce rate is fifty percent, but I have yet to see any of us argue.”

“Please, we’ve known Del and Gary for two days, and we just met Zita and Eli. Give them time. Everyone annoys each other sooner or later.”

She glanced at him a moment before responding. “Not us. Even when we disagree, we’ve never raised our voices. It’s almost like we’re the same person, split in two. Not only don’t we fight, we think alike in most circumstances. I’ve never met siblings who don’t argue, nor any other couple. I’ve been searching for someone like you, but no one comes close. It’s not just their personality. I feel ... secure with you. I realize that whatever happens, you’ll always care for me. You’ll be there for me, no matter what else you’re doing. Where else am I going to find that?”

“You’ll always have that, regardless of what you do. I’m not about to run off, and even if I meet someone, I’ll be there for you. You’re my sister, what else would I do?”

“That’s the point. You wouldn’t do the same for Mom or Dad, Aunt Janis or Cousin Fred. What we share isn’t just familial, it’s deeper, more fundamental. I’m not sure we can achieve the same intensity with anyone else.”

“So we’ll get matching apartments or I’ll build a house with an attached gate house. It won’t make any difference if we’re involved romantically or not.”

Betty prepared her things, not saying anything else. She changed into pajamas in the bathroom while Al threw on a clean pair of jockey shorts and a t-shirt. When she returned, she still didn’t seem satisfied. Approaching her brother, she bit her lip, leaned in and kissed him.

He didn’t resist, but as soon as she broke the kiss, he backed off. “I thought you didn’t want anything to do with me?”

“I never said that.”

“You described being with me as ‘yucky’.”

She sighed, standing again. “Call this an experiment in our combined abilities. I’m ... intrigued what being with someone similar to me is like. I’ve seen enough movies and talked to enough girlfriends to know what being in love is like. I’m curious what our friends are enjoying. There seems to be some more primordial attraction between us than there is in any other group.”

“So making out with your brother doesn’t bug you anymore?”

Betty held her hands up, looking at him beseechingly. “I don’t know. Yes, it still bothers me, but I’m ... curious. What’s more, I’m eager to see what fooling around with you is like. You’ve always been there for me, so if anyone deserves this, you do.”

“A simple, ‘Yes, sexy,’ would have done,” he answered, leaning back.

She cocked her head, considering him. “So you don’t have any issues with it, or like most men, are you only thinking with your dick?”

He tilted his head back, closing his eyes before opening them and addressing her again. “No, it disturbs me, just not as much as it does you. We aren’t biologically related, despite living as brother and sister. While I’m not comfortable with the idea of the two of us, I’m not sure I trust anyone else to treat you the way you deserve.”

She climbed on the bed, curling up beside him. “See, that’s the way to encourage a woman into your bed. You don’t argue logic and caution, you say something sweet.”

“Remember, you can call this off anytime you get uncomfortable.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” she said, kissing him again. Closing their eyes, they allowed the kiss to progress, each finding their way. They continued for some time. He held her hip. His hand kept shifting. He’d almost grasp her ass, thigh or breast, but every time he’d pause, his hand hovering in place. Then he’d pull back, grasping her side again. After a long time, they broke apart and stared in each other’s eyes.

“So was it what you expected?”

“I don’t know,” she giggled, “we’ve just started, but it’s nicer than I imagined. I feel comfortable with you and the emotions bubbling up when we kiss are intoxicating. It’s like we could kiss for weeks without tiring. It fills me with a sense of purpose and nervous energy.”

“You may not be far off. I doubt this pair-bonding thing is genetic. Instead, there must be something triggering a release of hormones. It’s probably something in our brains, releasing a flood of dopamine.”

She kissed him again. “Please, shut up and be romantic. While what you say makes sense, it’s not what I need. I want to lose myself in the moment.”

They kept making out, rolling across the bed. He caressed her hair, resting his hand on her back, pulling her towards him, but didn’t venture further. He reached out, pausing with his hand over her thigh before caressing her leg. She sighed, which eased his nervousness a bit. His hands became more adventurous, roaming across her hip, over her buns, along her side. He shifted, grasping a breast, and her breath almost halted, the sensations were so intense. As his thumb caressed her nipple, she pressed her chest against his hands, seeking his touch. This felt so right, so perfect.

Tiring slightly, Betty rolled over, pulling Al over her. He alternated between her breasts. He shifted his hand, moving it lower. Her breath caught in anticipation, but it hesitated again over her upper thigh. He’d inch nearer, only to pause and retreat, edging forward again in a nervous ballet of uncertainty. Finally, he abandoned his indecision, running his hand along her crotch, grazing her groin with the back of his hand. Still kissing, her eyes rolled into the back of her head as she moaned her approval. He grew more insistent, but as her breath quickened, panting with excitement, she stiffened. He ignored it, but as he slipped his hand into her pajama bottoms, she reached out, grabbing his wrist and holding his hand steady.