2313-31

2313
Chapter 31
Rated "R" of US readers. (We're sorry Jimmyholics, we tried our best ;)

Jimmy watched Amanda over dinner, her demeanor was pensive and distraught, like she was miles away. The rest of the team was in an exuberant mood, the clouds had lifted. Ike and Buck were teasing Lou every chance they got since Kid was still sleeping upstairs. Jimmy had to smile every once and again at their apparently innocent implications that had Lou glaring at them.

They were all there in a sense, even though Kid, Noah and Rachel weren't physically present at the table, they were in their celebration. They were more present that Amanda was. She sat there and barely ate, Jimmy noticed. The plate was almost untouched when he was already halfway through his meal. He tried to catch her eyes and ask her if something was wrong. But she never looked at him, not once.

"Should we try and wake 'em up," Sam asked and motioned to the stairs leading up to the second store. "I'd hate for them to miss this exquisite meal." A glance over at Emma, a soft smile.

"Over my dead body," Emma declared, "if they wake up before tomorrow I'll knock them out myself, I'm not in the mood to handle delirious men right now. But I'm make them a nice breakfast tomorrow, promise. But anyone noticing them with a cafs or anything like it has my permission to take straordinary measures."

An uncomfortable silence formed around the table. This was something they wished to forget right now, it didn't belong in the festive mood.

Amanda let her glance wander around the table, seeing the denial on the faces. "They gotta know folks."

"Not yet Amanda, let them get some rest before the next shock." Teaspoon mused, trying to get them back into the leisurely mood from before.

"And are we absolutely sure it's not a hoax anyway?" Ike said, still not entirely convinced. Buck threw her a glance, in tune with his companion.

"You fools," Amanda groaned, "I've dug further, it's no hoax and I even know how it's financed."

"How what is financed," Jimmy asked, "I thought HuRec financed all this? It has to be an official operation, and maybe we just are getting a little bit paranoid?"

"Not with the interventions in the individuals lifes it ain't," Amanda smirked."That's all together a different agenda, that is part of a criminal conspiracy. And they sell clones to finance it, beautiful ain't it?"

"I don't know yet but I know it can't be done from here, I gotta get closer to the roots."

"Well Spooney, I was never here to set roots anyhow, I was here to see to it the town got rebuilt and them damned convicts got back to where they belonged. And that didn't happen now did it?" Amanda spoke bitterly.

"I know that!" Amanda threw him a glare, "but I also know that ever since I started digging into files someone has been watching me. Don't forget that the disease was meant for me, it came delivered in a package with my name on it. I ain't sitting here waiting for something to happen again. I have to find out who's behind this."

Jimmy looked at his plate, he had forgotten all about the parcel that had ended up almost taking Rachel's life. It had been intended for Amanda! He felt a cold chill down his spine, she was right, she was in danger. Maybe more so than anyone else.

"Isn't it better you stay here so we can keep an eye on you?" Teaspoon pointed out.

"I can stay here till I rot and I still won't get any closer to the truth Spooney. That ain't gonna happen, there are things to be done, secrets to reveal."

Teaspoon sighed and leaned over to place a hand on his niece's. "Take Jimmy with you, I'd feel so much better if there was someone looking out for you."

Amanda laughed and freed her hand from under Teaspoon's, tapping it affectionately. "I work best on my own, you know that, hate distractions!"

Jimmy was left staring, so now he was a distraction? And a dispensable one at that?

Her old bones were reminding her about to try and take it slower as she made the curve into her office. She grunted irritably, she would give a lot to have twenty or so years, surgically removed. Specially on days like these, days with an overcast , a promise of heavy rain. Making her way to the overfilled desk she snatched the memoslots in the incoming box while she passed, another stack to add to the already overfilled work desk. Two weeks away from the Strategic Unit and this was the result. Not to mention all the data she had to log from her Zone 52 trip too.

"Is it only me working here or what?" she muttered, the ache and the bad mood combining into aggression, a much more manageable emotion. A more productive emotion. She had to chuckle at herself and the old habits she persisted in displaying, the gruff old woman. Half of her personnel was scared stiff when they saw her coming, she knew that full well. What they didn't know was she was a bloody softy, too soft for this work.

Then she realized she had forgotten to get some cafs. "Now I'm losing my mind too," she groaned, "just damned beautiful!"

She stopped pensively for a while, pondering on if to call for Evelyn and ask her to bring her a cup or not. It was her right, but she used it very seldom, it had always bothered her that secretaries had such foolish obligations as to bring mindless people the cafs they had forgotten. It was downright degrading. But she felt old today so she flicked the EA into thought mode and called for Evelyn..

She stared with reprimand at the door to the secretary's office, the girl had watched her come in and never said a word. Evelyn knew her all too well. She held no respect whatsoever. Evelyn had long ago pinned her for the softy she was. And she used that knowledge mercilessly. She searched for appropriate words to retaliate.

"Don't worry boss," the woman chirped, "I have it covered, I'm just getting it."

The voice waved back and forth as a description of Evelyn's moves in the adjoining room. Her EA was on the desk as usual, the woman said it ruined her looks and refused to wear it behind her ear. She walked to the dispenser, her voice far away, then back to the desk with the EA, giggling teasingly before she shut it off. The sound made it seem like she was floating around in there. It was a long time since I had the ability to move around that fast, the thought brought her more bitterness.

Evelyn didn't bother to knock but stepped right in, smiling at her and wrinkling her nose at the sight of the disorganized desk. She came right over and looked at the mess, sighing softly, while she handed her boss the hot cup.

Evelyn was the textbook example of a compulsive-obsessive cleaner. Her whole demeanor bore the evidence. Evelyn was able to fall down an elevator shaft without one hair in her perfectly trimmed coiffure daring to shift. Her clothes were always impeccable, her nails brilliantly red, or green or blue. According to the dress she wore. All that made her perfect, so perfect it was damned depressing.

"Well, miss Patrice Lowell," Evelyn spoke with disdain, "didn't find the comb this morning did we?"

She hated when Evelyn called her that, pointing out her unmarried status, a husband was first on the list for Evelyn and she considered her boss a scrumpy old maid, no hopes whatsoever. But the fact was, she was far from perfect and it was too late to work on it now.

Then Evelyn broke out in a huge smile, "I missed you so much! This place is such a drag when you're not here to stir the waters."

She couldn't help but smile back, forgiving her all her perfection and the snide remarks. Truth be told, she often missed Evelyn, just because she was so different. It was comforting in a way to have her around, nothing would get out of order as long as Evelyn held her watching eyes on the endeavor. But she couldn't let her know that now, could she?

Evelyn reached into her pocket and fished two memoslots up, laying them on the desk in front of her. "Before you do anything, check this out. This all happened while you were out. And something is wrong, so very wrong. You'll see what I mean."

Without further explanations she swirled around and walked away, leaving a lingering cloud of the expensive perfume she was wearing. Patrice Lowell was once again left speechless. With a sign she took a sip of her cafs and coupled the first memoslot into her EA.

The impact of the first recorded conversation had her forget all about her cafs. Aloysious Hunter was calling from Sweetwater, asking for help. The response he got from the Strategic Task Group stunned her. Refusal to aid in a situation like this? Who the hell had given the order? Protocols of meetings flashed on the noppo and she stared disbelievingly at them, what the hell was this? The more she read the angrier she got, they kept just inside the law, each and every decision the HuRec had made were in fact 'legal. But they were far from human, they had chosen to interpret the legislation and the protocols to save themselves and let Team 41 handle it all by themselves. She had to count to a hundred to calm herself and not stumble out and ask for explanations of her teammates. The anger turned into a deep guilt at the end of her count, how had she let this happen? What had they all gone through out there, all by themselves. Deserted. She had to make some kind of amends, anything. Her eyes flew to the assignment she knew was coming up, she'd offer them that. At least something. Anything to start paying for the debt. Or to calm my conscience, she thought bitterly.

She got hold of him immediately, and she felt relieved that he seemed calm and confident. When the man told her the woman had survived she let air out in a contended sigh. Mr. Hunter's tale was short and to the point. Guarded was the word that came to her mind when she listened to his voice. Maybe even suspicious. Well, he wasn't the only one, her suspicions had started to grow a long time ago, but she had done nothing about them. And there was nothing she could do right now, except inform him that their quarantine was lifted immediately and offering him the assignment, if they were interested? The man told her he would ask. She politely asked if they needed something? The man courteously told her 'no', but she could sense the distance and mistrust. She felt she had let them all down when she finished the brief colloquium.

She looked out the window for a while, wondering what was really going on? Then she called for an urgent meeting.

He watched her saunter over the yard, the night was cool and fresh, a promise of rain in the air. Amanda lingered in the coolness outside. He waited impatiently, it was late. Everyone was asleep, but he wouldn't find peace tonight. Her dismissal of him kept him up, waiting to hear the sound of her footsteps vanish into the spare room she had occupied for weeks. Until he couldn't take the passive waiting any longer but walked out. Remaining in the darkness by the door he waited for her.

"Jimmy? What are you doing up?" Her eye twinkling in the dark, her voice full of mischief and a badly masked overt implication.

Lips he wanted to kiss hard, lips he wanted to make remember him and never dismiss him again. She ignited him with her callousness and independence. Her playful frankness. She was like Lou in many ways. So different in others. Why he suddenly compared the two - he had no idea. The realization made him wrinkle his brow in confusion.

She walked right up to him, extending her hands to run them down his chest, bringing him back to her, with every sense. A grunt escaped him.

"Need somebody to sing you a lullaby?" She whispered in his ear, the stream of air causing him to frame her face and feel her in his hands. A barely audible chuckle escaping her. Her face turning slightly upwards, eyes wistful. The sensation made him search for her lips and kiss her. She responded in earnest, just as hungry as he. Or maybe even hungrier? Only her reasons were probably different. Or were they? He couldn't think any longer, her heady kiss melting away his thoughts completely, all he did now was react to her touch. She demanded a lot and he gave was she asked for, just as she did when he made his demands.

His hands followed her curves, the kiss deepening, her breast in his hand, the nipple hard and eager, longing for his touch. Straining against the cotton as he flicked his thumb over it. Her hand on him, stroking him, making his spine tingle. "Amanda," he grunted when she buried her teeth in his neck, "we should talk."

"Talking is so overrated," she panted and freed herself, "I know better ways." Grabbing his hand she dragged him through the door, up the stairs and into her room. His anticipation grew with every step. But he truly intended to find out her plans. If she'd let him.

Closing the door behind them she was in his arms again, her hands now under his shirt, her lips tracing his neck. He was speechless, as always when Amanda made this kind of assault on him. All he could do was respond, his hands wandering on her, stroking and teasing. He had always wanted her and always would. She was like a breath of fresh air, always new and exhilarating. Keeping him on his toes, making him wonder. Her body in his arms was hot and inviting, it canceled all his previous plans. He removed the blouse and fell to his knees before her. Her hands latched onto his hair as he framed her slim hips with his hands and kissed the flat of her stomach. His tongue rolled around her bellybutton hungrily.

"Oh God, Jimmy!" Her voice was a hoarse whisper, a call for him to make it happen fast. She never was much for foreplay. But Jimmy didn't always oblige, sometimes he wanted to have his way. Amanda peeled off her clothes and started on his, she was in a hurry. Her eyes gleaming in the soft light. She was playing him, urgently rushing him into the act. Hungry fingers exploring him, arousing him further. Obediently he let her undress him and watch him with admiring eyes, her gaze as inviting as the hand on his member. She stroke him fast and hard, to the point so to say. Her gaze avoided his and he wondered what she was trying to hide. Walking her backwards to the bed he held her at an arms length, stopping her stroking motion momentarily. Amanda wasn't pleased. The edge of the bed stopped her and she sank down to it, reaching for him. He fell to his knees before her and spread her legs. She wouldn't forget him so easily, he'd see to that. He's see to it he was more than a dispensable distraction.

Slowly he started kissing her, never heeding her protests that told him to hurry up. Soon her protests ebbed out and turned into low groans. Then her body tensed under his and she was quiet, only her shallow, uneven breath told him about her enjoyment. She moved under his tongue, her hands latching onto the opposite edge of the bed, her hips rising rhythmically, but not a sound was heard. He had always wondered about that, the silence of Amanda while making love. It made him want to make her scream her passion out loud, he wanted to be able to make her lose all the control and voice her joy. The palms of his hands rubbed her breasts hard, like he knew she wanted him to. Her legs came up around his shoulders, squeezing him while her back curved. Easing himself up above her he took one swollen nipple into his mouth, laving and suckling, his arousal hurting against the hard frame of the bed. Amanda's moves enticed him further, her hands gripping the bed frame hard, her hips gyrating. When he took the nipple between his teeth and pulled at it she finally groaned out loud.

The sound of her pleasure blinded him, he gave her second breast the same treatment and was rewarded with a throaty moan. He sank back between her thighs and kissed her until she writhed on the bed, her silence shattered as she shivered under his hands, soft sounds escaping her as he devoured her hungrily. She whined his name and moaned uncontrollably in her passion, sweat forming a thin sheen on her forehead. The long dark hair now glued to her front. Her eyes half closed, all her attention turned to his caresses and the increasing tension in her body. She was absolutely beautiful. And he couldn't wait any longer, the sight mixed with her sounds had him enter her forcefully, filling her up in one smooth stroke. Her ankles clutching him and her nails digging into his back she stifled a wail of pleasure. She moved her hips urgently, enticing him to speed up.

He bowed over her, never losing his rhythm and pushed deep inside of her while taking the nipple into his mouth, pulling at it before he took it and suckled it hard. His mind going into shambles as he felt the release build up rapidly. She was supple and wet, she was swallowing him with lush hotness, taking his mind away. To finally have her verbalize her lust drove him close to the peak. All that was left was a need to release inside her, let all the frustration and anger turn into a hot flood.

Her nails dug into his scalp and her back arched, her body tense and moving erratically under him. A curse escaping her as she let go. Her legs trembling around him as he trust deep and hard into her. He came with a low growl, emptying himself into her. His hands on her hips, pulling her towards him, keeping her close to sense her contractions and answer them with his own. The release so powerful his breath momentarily stopped. His vision disappeared with his strength and he slumped over her.

His mind slowly returned to the sound of raspy inhales. They were still sprawled over the bed, sated and sweaty. But Jimmy felt an ache deep inside. He lifted his head to look at her. She was beautiful in the aftermath, strands of hair glued to her face and neck. Her breath fast and content, her eyes closed and a satisfied smile on her lips. She had gotten her way. But he hadn't.

"Hmmmh," she responded and moved slightly. Jimmy took it as a cue to get off her. On shaky legs he rose and repositioned her to lay straight in bed, leaving room for him too. She muttered something and cuddled into the bed, like the bed was her lover and not him. He cautiously pulled the sheet from under her and covered her before easing himself to her side. Leaning in over her he whispered her name close to her ear. She just rolled to him and buried her face in the crook of his neck. He slid one arm under her and held her close, knowing there would be no talking this night. Trying to match his breath to hers he closed his eyes. The ache wouldn't leave him alone. But his mind grew dim and his consciousness shifted into sleep.

It was barely down when she heard steps in the hallway, she tried to determine whose they were and what anybody would be doing up at this ungodly hour? The steps disappeared downstairs and she remain still in her bed, too tired to move a muscle. Then she felt a movement in the bed. She didn't move as Kid tried to crawl unnoticed over her. "Hey you!" she gripped his T-shirt hard when he was positioned straight above her. "Where are you off to? No cafs! You heard what Emma said!"

Kid chuckled; "Didn't mean to wake you sweetie, thought I'd tidy myself up some first. Is that okay with you boss?"

"Please," he whispered to her, his lips brushing hers. She threw her arms around him and hugged him close, it had been so long since last. It seemed like forever. But he smelled of sterilizing liquids and medicines and she wrinkled her nose. Kid laughed softly at her grimace.

"Actually Kid," she started and untangled herself from the sheet to get up. "We need to talk."

Kid was rummaging around in the drawer for some clean clothes and stopped at her words. "'Bout what?"

He turned back to the drawer and looked down into it, his hand around it squeezing it hard. "What?" His voice was guarded and tense.

For a moment Lou pondered on his strange behavior but then she let it go. The man was probably still full of caffeine. "We're clones."

"We're replicas of people living back in the nineteenth century Kid, all of us are. We're not really us if you get what I mean. I mean we're us all right but we've lived before."

"Are you all right Lou?" He walked over to the bed, seating himself at her side, his head tilted to watch her.

"What'ya mean am I all right, didn't you hear me Kid? We're part of some strange ..whatever it is it just isn't normal!" She wheezed at him. "Has nothing to do with mental health!"

He still looked at her like she had lost her mind. But she didn't care about his worried look, she just continued. Telling him everything, all the gruesome facts and the suspicions. Intently watching his face she told him all she knew. He looked like he didn't believe her.

She was nearly out of breath by her long and rushed tale at the end. He remain silent at the edge of the bed, looking to the floor, like sorting out the facts in his head. She could almost see the facts being sorted out and weighed in his head. Seemed like denial was winning.

"They keep manipulating us Kid, that parcel to Amanda was sent for a reason, don't you see? She had been in those files and they knew."

"But why Lou? Why all this orchestration of events, you know what effort lies behind it all? And why us? Why not somebody else?"

"It started from us Kid, that damned picture that got in the hand of somebody at HuRec."

"I just can't believe it, it's too big somehow. How were they able to keep it a secret?"

He silently took her hand and squeezed it; "so you're saying they've killed our parents and our loved ones for a reason?"

He finally lifted his gaze from the floor and looked at her. He looked at her like he wanted to remember every feature of her face, like it was new to him. His hand clasping hers, like he needed something to hold on to, something to keep him sane. There was a rush of emotions inside him, she could tell that by watching him, disbelief and sorrow, anger and pain, all evident in his eyes. And she knew exactly what he went through, she had gone though it herself not so long ago. Those feelings had cleared and left an angry bitterness inside her, a bitterness that had been confirmed by her mother's words. She had gone through special care at a clinic before conceiving Lou. But obviously she still thought Lou was her real daughter and she hadn't found the force to tell her mother she wasn't. Mary Elisabeth Boggs-McCloud had gone through enough in this life to face that brutal truth served on an EA a late night in August. Eventually she might find out, but not until everything was certain. Kid didn't even have anyone to ask.

In the midst of all her thoughts and reminiscing, Kid's voice broke through. "We were married?"

He had a curious smile on his lips while he watched her. Something like the cat that got the mouse. She rolled her eyes at him in response. Sometimes the man was extraordinarily single-minded.

The moment he woke he knew she was gone. Not only from the bed but from Sweetwater. He just knew it. He lay there for a while, trying to gather his thoughts. He had made a big mistake last night, he had been trapped by her once again. And she had taken what she wanted and left him. He wanted to scream. It was the story of his life, if he didn't get them killed they left him. Everybody. He fought the coldness spreading in his chest and tried to deny the sense of abandonment.

Rising to check if her clothes were still hanging in the cabinet he wasn't surprised that it was empty. Last night he thought he had seen a packed valise on the desk. But he hadn't asked. He had been too occupied to ask. Amanda had seen to that, she didn't want him, she just wanted to use him. Use him and then toss him when she was done. And she had done just that. Then she had left.

He rested his forehead on the cabinet door and closed his eyes. He would always be on the losing end.

|Prologue||Chapter 1||Chapter 2||Chapter 3||Chapter 4||Chapter 5||Chapter 6||Chapter 7||Chapter 8||Chapter 9||Chapter 10|
|Chapter11||Chapter 12||Chapter 13||Chapter 14*||Chapter 15||Chapter 16||Chapter 17||Chapter 18||Chapter 19||Chapter 20*|
|Chapter 21||Chapter 22||Chapter 23||Chapter 24||Chapter 25||Chapter 26||Chapter 27||Chapter 28||Chapter 29||Chapter 30|
|Chapter 31*||Chapter 32|