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Telamchus Rhade cried out as he came inside the beautiful, auburn-haired female. When he was spent, he looked down at her, then leaned down and kissed her passionately.
"There," she said with a smile. "What was that about not getting aroused by an android?"
Rhade pulled out of her and settled back on the wide bed. "Perhaps I was mistaken," he said, regarding his lover in the room's soft red light.
"Practically all Nietzscheans say that the first time."
"You have other Nietzschean clients?"
"Of course. They come to cyberbrothels like me for sex with no pressure, or didn't it occur to you that constant worry over bloodlines, lineages, and proving superiority was a source of stress?"
"I hadn't considered it."
"And although I used this human avatar as your introduction to my services, I have several Nietzschean models, with accurate behavioral profiles. Something to bear in mind if you come here again."
"Hmmmm .... " Rhade looked up at the ceiling. "Is Harper done yet?"
"I can't divulge what I'm doing with my other clients, Telamchus. Are you in a hurry to leave?"
"No, just asking."
"I will tell Harper that he should stop by here when he's ready to leave. You're welcome to stay and rest for as long as you want. Or we can talk."
"Actually, I'm in the mood for a game of Go .... "
****
"Well?" Harper said, grinning from ear to ear, as he and Rhade sauntered through the cyberborthel's lobby. "Was I right?"
"Yes," Rhade admitted, "it was pleasurable."
"See? Trust in the Harper. The Harper is good."
"Has the Harper figured out how to explain our absence to Dylan and Beka?"
"What's to explain? We'll back at the *Maru* before--"
They stepped out the front door and onto the rainy street, and ran smack dab into Dylan and Beka, neither of whom looked very amused.
".... they know it," Harper finished sheepishly.
"You two," Beka said. "Ship. Now."
Harper and Rhade exchanged glances and, shoulders slumped, headed down the street.
"Sheesh," Dylan growled. "Who could believe Harper would be such a bad influence?"
"Oh?" Beka said. "And where did you get that one about the Persied, the Umbrite, and the one-legged Vedran?"
Dylan rolled his eyes. "I mean, on Nietzscheans. Ok, on Rhade. You get the idea!"
"Rrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiight," Beka said with a grin.
THE END