Chapter 5

Natalia looked at Ellen as they drove smoothly through the traffic not really knowing how she wanted to address the situation.

“You’re silent today,” Ellen remarked softly as they stood still at a traffic light.

“I am, aren’t I?” Natalia conceded, biting her lip nervously.

Ellen chuckled softly as she accelerated the car after the light had changed to green.

Somehow Ellen was always the woman who Natalia could relate with, especially after her parents had decided to immigrate to Europe. Realizing she needed more time than it would take them to get to their destination, she tentatively asked Ellen, “Do you have time to have a cup of tea at my home?”

“I love to Natalia!” Ellen responded cheerily but then her voice calmed down considerably as she continued, “I think you need to get what is bothering you off your chest.”

Shocked how perceptive Ellen was she didn’t really know how to respond. She really liked Ellen as reliable friend who never had judged her: and though she knew that Ellen was much older, she never saw her that way. It probably was because Ellen had never taken a maternal role in their relationship: Natalia always felt that they were equal where age didn’t matter.

“We’re here,” Ellen said as she patted Natalia’s knee, “You’re alright?”

Natalia smiled nervously as she responded, “Yes, I’m fine, just been thinking about stuff.”

Ellen looked at the nervous woman and said, “I’ve logged off Uber, so I’m all yours. Let’s have that cup of tea and show me what you’ve bought.”

Natalia had to laugh and said, “I just bought...”

“Uh uh!” Ellen interrupted the redhead, “No spoilers! Anything you wear will look amazing.”

Ellen gracefully got out of the car and had already gathered the shopping bags before Natalia had managed to climb out of the sport car’s low seat.

As they walked up the stairs Ellen confessed, “You know, it’s the first time I have ever had tea with someone I solely know from Uber.”

Natalia chuckled as she opened her front door and said, “I’m honored to be the first.”

Ellen’s laugh echoed in the hall and as soon as the door clicked shut she replied seriously, “and you probably will be the last.”

“How so?”

She shivered and said as she was taking off her leather gloves, “None of my Uber clients are as nice as you are Natalia.”

They stood in the small corridor looking at each other.

Natalia walked into the living room as she broke the silence saying, “Make yourself at home Ellen. What kind of tea do you want? Black or green tea?”

While unzipping her black leather jacket, Ellen answered, “Any green tea would be lovely.”

Natalia walked back into the living room and found Ellen looking at the few books on the bookshelf. Something struck her as she was looking at the bare arms and shoulders of Ellen; her skin was flawless, there wasn’t a single wrinkle or a dark spot.

“Erm,” Natalia said a little confused, “I’ve put the kettle on, it will take a few minutes.”

“Great!” said Ellen as she turned around to face Natalia, “You have some interesting titles on your shelf.”

Natalia was shocked to see how Ellen’s face didn’t match the youthful skin now visible after the woman had taken off her jacket. Without realizing, she had crossed her living room and found herself studying Ellen’s face.

Ellen was smiling and with a cunning twinkle in her eyes she asked, “What do you see, Natalia?”

Natalia slowly moved her hand towards Ellen’s face and stopped just an inch from touching.

“Go ahead,” Ellen said softly, “I won’t bite.”

Natalia softly stroke the soft skin and as she had expected it was as smooth as silk.

She gasped, “Wow, this is amazing. It’s nearly an art form. It must take you hours to get this done.”

“You can’t really elevate aging to an art.”

“Show me your hands Ellen,” Natalia’s softly spoken voice almost commanded. Ellen chuckled as she lifted her hand close to Natalia’s face.

Natalia had seen enough already and as she had placed a kiss on the immaculately manicured fingers she asked with a small voice, “How long did you know?”

“Since I had detected the nanites in your body,” Ellen responded calmly, “and that was at the moment we hugged this afternoon.”

Natalia stared at the woman, who had blatantly exposed herself and it was hard to fathom that the lovely Ellen was a member of GIS as well. But the most shocking part which blew her mind was Ellen had faked her age. The only reason Natalia could come up with was that Ellen’s body did not age.

There was a loud click sounding from the kitchenette and Natalia murmured, “I’m going to make the tea.”

But before she had moved a muscle, Ellen gently grabbed her hands and she softly said, “Natalia, I knew you wanted to say that we wouldn’t see each other anymore because you are a member of the GIS.”

She chuckled softly as she looked down and continued, “Maybe I should’ve done it differently, but I thought you deserved the truth straight away. I’m truly sorry if I have offended you.”

“Oh Ellen,” Natalia said softly, “You didn’t, but I didn’t expect you to be a GIS member as well. It’s so unreal, I mean look at you! It must be hell to walk around completely covered in leather.”

“Actually, I like it,” confessed Ellen meekly.

Natalia burst out in giggles as she looked at the woman and stopped abruptly as she realized the implications of her blunt admission.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, “it has been a hell of a day. I still have to get used to it all.”

Ellen hugged Natalia as she said, “Don’t worry Natalia; I’m glad we can sort this out now. It would have been a lot harder if we would have met at the meeting tonight.”

Natalia slowly pulled away as she realized what Ellen just had said.

“You’re right,” Natalia agreed, “but there is one thing I want to clear up now.”

“Get it of your chest sweetheart,” said Ellen encouragingly.

“I would like to see you without the crafty makeup.”

“You don’t know what you’re asking, do you?” Ellen remarked dryly.

Natalia huffed, “I bet your nanites can do it in a flick of a second.”

“That’s not what I meant. Nobody has seen me without the aging for 30 years. In fact, nobody has seen me undressed like this for more than 50 years.”

Natalia’s mouth fell open, realizing how much Ellen did trust her. But that was not the only thing which passed through her mind.

“Oh my God, Ellen,” Natalia exclaimed, “50 years! Are you telling me that nobody, you know...”

Ellen laughed and raised her eyebrows as she said, “This is not the only leather suit I have Natalia. There are plenty of men and women who like women completely covered in soft and flexible leather.”

Natalia’s face flushed warm, realizing the hidden implications of Ellen’s little sentence: but there still was this huge elephant in the room which was about to rummage through this new, delicate relationship.

“Ellen,” Natalia started, still a little unsure what to say, “I have met Jeanette.”

“She is a sweet woman,” Ellen responded a little defensively.

“I know,” Natalia said sweetly, “We had an interesting chat and she told me her physique was different than mine.”

As she looked into the woman’s eyes who she knew for more than 2 years she stammered, “I, I was wondering if you were like her.”

Ellen sat down on the sofa, hugging herself as she asked with a small voice, “Will it bother you if I am like her?”

Natalia knew their relationship had changed but not only because of the knowledge that Ellen was an android but also the fact Ellen had exposed herself as soon as she knew that Natalia had become a member of the GIS as well.

Their relationship gradually had changed in the 2 years they had known each other and it was only in the last few months when they became much closer friends.

“No,” Natalia answered slowly, “Actually I don’t care because I think that you’re no different than any other human.” She sat down next to Ellen and snuggled close to the woman as she continued, “I mean, I’m really fond of you and the only thing which makes me a little sad is that you can’t be really yourself in the outer world.”

“You get used to it,” Ellen responded dryly.

“I thought you liked it?”

Ellen chuckled, “I love the smell and look of leather.”

“Hmm,” Natalia replied with a lilting tone, “I think you like it a little more than that.”

Ellen sighed and conceded by only saying, “Yes I do.”

“Now that’s out of the way,” Natalia said softly, “how about us?”

“Want to share your story how you got your nanites?” Ellen asked without blinking an eye.

Natalia gasped and stood as she said, “Let me make some tea and I’ll tell you exactly what happened to me this weekend.”

Natalia sat opposite Ellen as she looked at the woman who was still a little shocked about what had happened to Natalia.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were ill?” Asked Ellen as she moved her legs to her chest and hooked her arms over them.

Natalia looked down at the empty tea cup she was holding and took a deep breath before she said, “I’ve been working my but off to get everything the way I wanted and the apartment was the last part to complete my dream. Only a week after I finally had managed to finish my apartment, I heard I was terminally ill. I decided to ignore it and to enjoy life as much as possible.”

“Hoping it would go away,” interrupted Ellen.

“No not really,” answered Natalia calmly, “I knew I could enjoy life for at least four more weeks before the first nasty signs would make my life a lot more difficult.”

“And then the Enzuins decided you were a promising candidate,” commented Ellen dryly.

“Yeah,” agreed the redhead, “I don’t have a clue why they chose me but hey, I’m not complaining.”

“I have never understood their reasoning, to be honest,” Ellen sighed, “The last 80 years it has been ad hoc decisions piling up on each other which didn’t make sense at all.”