"Jeeze o'freaking Pete" Seamus Harper exclaimed." Captain Hunt had buzzed him for the fourth time in fifteen minutes. He was so close to being done, but now, with these constant interruptions, it didn't look like he was ever going to finish. "Can you check on this?" "Will you look up?" "Have you seen?" It would have been different if Captain Ryan was not coming by this evening.

"Can you come to my quarters, Mr. Harper? There seems to be something wrong with my shower."

"So stink." He muttered to himself. Ordinarily Harper would jump at a chance go to the captain's quarters, especially chancing the fact that he was in the shower, and thus probably naked. Naked Dylan had been one of his prime fantasies for quite some time. Except. . .

He glanced at the worktable and the naked Dylan that was lying there -- muscular, naked Dylan with long hair and unfortunately right now, no skin on his penis. If he had gone with his first instinct in constructing the AI and made the penis the size he had always thought Dylan's would be, there wouldn't have been a problem; but he had trusted Trance. As if . . . she would know! She told him that the length of the organ he had designed would not correlate with the Captain's body type and to make it approximately an inch and a half shorter. Captain Ryan was not happy with the results and demanded it be redone.

He should have taken the time to explained to Trance that this wasn't really Dylan, that this was Captain Ryan's idealized Dylan and that if the AI wanted a longer penis, he damn well had a right to have it. But no-o-o-o he tried to be a better engineer and look where it got him.

"Mr. Harper, I'm standing here needing a shower after my workout and I have no hot water. I need you to come and check on this or I am going to have to meet with the newest member of the High Guard's service, commander of the largest ship in the universe, smelling like a pair of socks that have set in a locker for a month."

Again Harper wondered, what made him think that Captain Ryan would not like that smell? From what he had sensed, Captain Ryan would be more than happy to help him freshen up -- with his tongue. He felt himself getting hard just thinking about them. "Sorry buddy, hopefully this won't take very long. Hate to leave you like this." He said to "naked Dylan" and smiled. He had had to remove the chip that activated the AI so that he could make the anatomical adjustment, until it was put back he was talking to a pile of plastics, circuits, chips and motherboards; but Harper still treated him with the respect he deserved.

* * * * *

Harper was moving so fast to the captain's quarters that he almost missed Rommie, clad only in a towel, standing in the corridor.

"Stop!" The AI had her famous scowl on her face.

"I know, I know, no hot water. Captain Hunt called me first. You smell fine to me Rom-doll, but if you want to stay like that until I get to your room, I'll be working double-time for Dylan." He glanced down at her nipples hard from the cold water that had splashed on them. That was one area where nipples had it all over penises. "Sorry, babe, rank has its privilege."

Until he had met up with Rommie, Harper had hoped that the problem was something localized that he could fix quickly. The fact that outage had affected quarters on two different decks led him to believe that it was probably system-wide and might take longer to fix than he had anticipated. This was not going to make Captain Ryan very happy. He hurried down to Dylan's quarters on the off-chance that two similar problems had occurred independently in separate locations.

Dylan was pacing back and forth with a towel wrapped around his waist. It was good to see that he removed his turtleneck sometimes. As far as Harper was concerned, hot and sweaty was a state that suited Dylan; but duty called him to drop to his knees to check the connections to the shower. What he suspected was the case, there was no sign of any irregularities in the end delivery system, which meant he had to start at the heating source back near the reactor core and work out to find the problem. While he did his inspection, he noticed that Dylan had re-dressed into his turtleneck and gym shorts. The naked Dylan fantasy would have to wait for another day.

* * * * * *

"I've located the problem and it is major." Andromeda's holograph confronted the engineer on his way back to the workshop. "Several sections of feed pipe in various parts of the ship have sprung pin-hole leaks. My guess was they were originally all part of the same factory lot and they were installed in different sectors. Won't be difficult to exchange them out for new pipes, but it will be time consuming. My guess is about seven hours, if you start immediately."

"But, Captain Hunt."

"He will cope without a shower, or I will inform him that Tyr's shower seems to be working fine. He can freshen up for his meeting with Captain Ryan and maybe even borrow some of Tyr's cologne." She smiled. Harper now had to deal with the image of a naked Dylan in Tyr's shower. It was more than he could take. Any more visions and he wouldn't be able to crawl through the access pipes.

"What about the project I was working on for Captain Ryan?"

"What project is that, Harper?"

"You know, his own personal AI, like Dylan's Anna."

The holograph gave a short snort. The boys were just so obsessed with their toys.

"What do you have to finish on that?"

"Just got to get the flesh back on his . . . you know. . . his penis, and reactivate it. If I had time I would test it too, but. . ."

"Bet you would Harper, bet you would. I'll get Trance to help."

"Trance. She's the reason I have to re-do the damn thing in the first place. Don't let her near him. God knows how she will fuck up this time."

"I assure you, Trance could sew your penis on of it fell off. Which sometimes I wonder why it doesn't all those. . . . oh never mind. . .she is perfectly capable to putting the skin-coat on an AI. Don't worry, Harper. Just get my hot water system up and running."

* * * *

Captain Ryan paced the visitor's deck. He was completely surprised that Captain Hunt was not there to welcome him on board his ship. Tyr and Beka had been polite enough, but he really wondered where his friend the Captain was. Strangely enough, a request for Mr. Harper had also resulted in an answer of unavailability. He wondered if the two were together. . . and shook his head at the image that conjured.

He was content to entertain Beka with stories from has casino days. He enjoyed looking at the Maru Captain's body and the emotions she generated. That woman could fly him any time she wanted. Tyr wasn't bad either. Ha! Captain Hunt sure had one attractive crew.

"I have to express my apologies, Captain Ryan. A mechanical problem on the ship has made it impossible for me to meet with you at this time. Can we reschedule for another day, tomorrow perhaps? I am so very sorry." Ryan watched the image of the captain on the video screen. Dylan looked fine to him.

"That would be fine, however, I came primarily to pick something up from Mr. Harper. I was told that he is unavailable, too. Could you check and see if my "package" is ready?"

"Shall do that, he is out in the ship making repairs to the water delivery system, but Trance Gemini our medical assistant has been in his workroom. I'll check with her."

The screen went black. A few minutes later Dylan's face lit it up again. "Trance wants you to come down to the workroom. If you don't know the way, perhaps Beka can assist you."

"I know the way. Harper and I have spent quite a bit of time there during my re-tooling. I think of it as a second home . . . almost." The AI smiled, even though he knew Dylan couldn't see him.

* * * *

"Well, here he his Captain Ryan." Trance indicated the AI sitting at the end of the work table with a sweeping arm gesture. "He's very impressive. Does he have a name?"

"Hercules. His name is Hercules."

"Nice name, keeps with the mythological spirit of your ship."

"He's ready to go then?"

She nodded her head. "I finished him off myself."

"Do you mind if I undress him and take a look? I had a problem with the as-built specifications."

"Yes, I know. And no, feel free to take his clothes out and give him a try. I'll step outside if you want some privacy."

Ryan felt a little stupid about this. Never in his wildest dreams had he ever expected to be a High Guard captain. Ideas like having his own sexual AI had never crossed his mind, and the divine knew that all sorts of odd things had crossed his slightly-demented-if-artificially-produced mind. Like, for instance, the name and design for this AI. It had just appeared to him. Sure he admired Captain Hunt, but why out of all the life-forms he could have chosen to have duplicated did he pick the Dylan-on-steroids image? He just knew it made him feel hot and bothered and ready to go.

He slowly removed the clothing, noting the softness of the chamois and the toughness of the leather. He ran his hand along the fine hair of the chest and slowly unbuckled the belt. Wow, it was almost as if he were undressing . . . he tugged the legs of the pants down below his hips.

"Trance." He yelled. "Where is Harper?"

"He's inside the ship, fixing the pipes. Why, is there a problem?"

"Well, yes. There is a problem." Ryan could not take his eyes off the AI's penis.

"What is it? I can fix it probably. Unless of course, it requires deactivating the main chip. I can put it in, but haven't learned how to take it out."

"And if you don't deactivate it. . . "

"Well, he has pretty strong sensors. If I had to cut anything, it would be painful; he would feel it."

"Well, we'd better wait for Harper."

* * * *

For the first time since his re-tooling Ryan had a good idea what it felt like to be human. He had always expected the feelings that he could now identify as high anxiety to come to him in the heat of battle. Yet he had so far maintained his poise in those situations. He had remained cold and collected like a true High Guard captain. It was only now, involved with something less dangerous but much more personal, that he began to experience the emotions that humans regularly feel.

He looked over at the AI and was torn between anger and laughter. She couldn’t have realized what she had done. What was with this golden babe anyway? He wondered if her species was different? If she ever looked when she was having sex? If she had ever had sex? Perhaps he should just tell her and let her fix it. But then it would cause him pain. He didn't want Hercules to associate sex with pain. What was he doing, caring about? Wait a minute, he would expect humans to care about his feelings and not put him in pain. He continued to pace.

* * * *

Dylan paced in his room. He knew that Captain Ryan was still on the ship, that he hadn't picked up his package, whatever it was Harper was making him, and left like he had planned. He felt bad that he didn't meet with the new captain. He should have used Tyr's shower. He just felt strange sharing something so intimate with a member of his crew. He really liked Ryan. Strange thing to say about an AI but he felt like he had known him for a long time. Trusted him. Hell, he even got hot thinking about him. He tried to remember the policy about consensual sex between similarly ranking High Guard officers and found himself grabbing his cock.

He thought about Ryan's mouth on his penis. What techniques had the High Guard designers given their AI's in the last days of the commonwealth? What foreign ideas had Ryan observed during those years as a pleasure ship? What additions had Seamus Harper added in the refitting? What would Captain Ryan think if he knew he was thinking about him. . . that way?

* * * *
 

"Please tell me, what is wrong." Trance implored. "I know something is wrong, and I know I can fix it, if you just tell me."

"I'm sorry, Trance. I'll just have to wait for Mr. Harper."

"It is taking him a lot longer than we expected. I'll check with Rommie and see if she can update me on the expected time for him to finish the project. You may just have to come back."

Ryan continued to pace. He made a note to assure that no member of his crew ever kept a outsider waiting this long, especially without offering food, drink or a comfortable place to sit. Maybe Trance wasn't offering because he was an AI, and you just didn't have to be polite. . .no she probably didn't even think about that. She probably was just upset because she had made a mistake. A mistake that he was too embarrassed to reveal to her.

"Rommie says it will be at least another three hours. The problem is very complicated. It involves some valves which were put on the wrong way; and rather than just doing it again, Harper is correcting it along the way, he figures that since he is inside the system anyway. . . "

'Well', Ryan thought, 'At least I know that it wasn't Harper that made the mistake on poor Hercules.' He had been right about the final connection being made by this freaky golden-babe.

"This means you probably are either going to have to return to your ship, or find a place to sleep here for the night."

Ryan knew where he wanted to sleep -- or at least spend the night.

"I'll check with Captain Hunt, if you want to stay over."

"No, Trance. I can check with Captain Hunt. Why don't you see if you can help Harper? Maybe you two can get the plumbing fixed more quickly working together."

"Ok, Captain Ryan, sorry about your doll. I'll get Harper to fix whatever is wrong with it, as soon as he is done. He will know what is wrong?"

"Yes, Trance, he'll know."

* * * *

Ryan walked down the hall with trepidation. He might have the shortest career as a High Guard captain in history. What was worse is that he might forever block the way for other AI's to serve as captains. Total and complete inability to control one's sexual urges. Maybe that was why those High Guard people issued those sexual dolls. Maybe all captains had that problem. Maybe Dylan would understand.

He knocked on the door. He swore he recognized the noise on the other side. Rhythmic pounding, deep breathing. . .

"Captain Hunt, it's me, Captain Ryan." A pause. Foodsteps, clothing being put on.

"I'm sorry, Captain Ryan, I smell like . . . .

He smelled like man who had spent the day in the hot sun, been in a fight or two, cooked a rabbit over an open fire and had settled in for the night of fucking. Where in the hell were those notions coming from? Ryan threw his arms around the captain and buried his face in his chest, as if he needed that essence of scent the way humans needed oxygen . . . for his very existence. He was surprised when the large man in turn encircled him with his arms, cupping his hands under his butt and lifting slightly pulling their clothed groins together. The captain was only wearing boxerbriefs -- and he was hard. He lifted his head slightly, and found the captains mouth seeking his, covering it with a deep kiss.

He moved his head back slightly, as much out of shock as anything, and then fearing that Dylan would misinterpret his confusion as rejection, kissed his lips with a small peck. It was like it was a secret code, everything was fine. More than fine actually. Proceed with . . .just proceed.

* * * *

At one time Ryan had feared that his body was fragile, but since the retooling he felt the strength that was the Wrath of Achilles surging in his circuits. He felt more than alive. He thought he felt . . . no there was no way he would ever have thought what he was feeling right now . . . Captain Dylan Hunt's mouth on his penis.

There was a time before he was put on display on the casino floor that Ryan had been forced to work in the brothel portion of the ship. He had to inspect sex parts of visitors for lesions, distribute condoms, and clean up after dirty sex. It was the lowest of all jobs. He knew that most humans would turn to AI's for sex only if nothing else was available or if they wanted to perform acts so disgusting that. . . So why would Captain Hunt consider having sex with him when he had the likes of Tyr and Harper on his ship? Chain of command maybe? Was it because Dylan considered him an equal? If Captain Hunt had wanted a man, Harper could make him his own . . . It was too late, he was actually cuming in the Captain's mouth. A function that, up until that very minute, he didn't know he had. He lay on the captain's bed with an unknowing look in his face.

"I'm sorry, Ryan." Dylan said.

"Sorry?"

"I smell like a stable. I pounce on your bones. And now all I want to do is kiss you again." He ran a finger along Ryan's lips, as if trying to coax a smile.

"What's keeping you?" Ryan was more than happy to oblige.

"My breath tastes like cum. You deserve better."

"I know I do, but I've tasted worse." The kiss was long and deep. If Ryan didn't know any better he would think Dylan actually felt. . . but he knew better. . .maybe not.

* * * *

"Holy freaking Toledo." Seamus Harper exclaimed. He had noticed the door was open and had come in to tell Captain Hunt that the hot water was again functioning. He had been totally unprepared to see the two naked men kissing on the bed.

'He's fortunate he got here when he did,' Dylan thought to himself, 'or he would have walked in on two men fucking.' "Yes, Mr. Harper. It's what it looks like. I suggest you put your tongue back into your mouth, and . . ."

There were no words, in any of the various languages of the universe Dylan Hunt had studied that could explain to Harper what had just happened with Captain Ryan. One thing he was certain was that Ryan understood completely and that by morning the functioning hot water would be a double or triple blessing.

Dylan looked again at the puzzled engineer and added, "Have you told Rommie that the water is back on. Perhaps she can help you with your . . . problem."

Harper's face lit up. Maybe she could.

"And Harper," Ryan leaned up from the bed and quietly spoke to the engineer. "Sometime before I leave tomorrow, could you take a look at Hercules. It seems that whoever put his penis back on after the . . . adjustment. . . seemed to put it on rotated a quarter turn to the left."

Harper seemed to understand. Dylan, however, didn't. He had lots of questions. Who is Hercules? Penis? Quarter turn? Left? Do you want me to be on top, or do you?

JJ

May 2002
 

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