CHAPTER 7: Blueberry Promises

Steam wafted off the hot fish, its mild aroma scenting the air. Their mingled hands radiated the warmth her mechanical body produced. Sensors registered a slight tightening during the blessing in her grip. Adam patiently waiting for her to finish.

"... In Jesus's name… Amen."

Was that it? He waited for a moment longer when Lilia didn't move or continue speaking. Her green-hazel eyes had a hint of solemnness to them before she blinked the emotion away, she smiled softly at him and removed her hands. The calming sensation of heat from her hands lingered along with something else he couldn't place.

"And that's it! Now we can eat Adam."

He observed her use of a palm-sized sheet of metal in her hand to cut a portion of the steaming fish. Then raised it along with a morsel of fish to her lips, blew on the steaming flesh, and carefully took a bite. A satisfied look of relief touched her melancholic eyes. Adam mimicked her movements using his fingers to take a portion for himself. The radiating heat from the white flesh of the fish triggered his sensors.

"Careful, it's hot." She said gently.

He agreed mentally that it was hot, but not enough to hurt him. Still, he mimicked the action of blowing on the flesh to cool it slightly before placing the morsel in his mouth. The tender flesh flaked within his mouth as his tongue pulled the segment apart. The meat had the taste of the fresh water it lived in along with hints of smoke from the wood fire. His network sensors picking apart the minerals and fatty acids contained in the tender meat.

Umm… this is tasty. He concluded. I will admit it is much better than when it is raw.

"Good, huh?" She had a knowing smile on her face and he couldn't help but smile as well.

"Yes, it's… tasty." He admitted.

A teasing glint in her eye as she jested at him at his expense. "I imagine better than the raw piece you ate earlier. Why don't you help me eat this? I'd be a shame to waste it."

Red eyes rolled at the tease but agreed with eating the rest of the fish. The same eyes noticed she ate at a marginally faster pace than he but declined comment. After they consumed a portion of the fish, she slowed her eating.

I will have to try to 'grill' myself sometime. I'm sure she will allow me if I ask of her.

They settled into a companionable silence with only the sound of the crackling, dying fire and the ambient sounds of the woods.

His thoughts roamed about continuing the activities. His ambition demanded to go further in his quest, but also reminded him of obligations toward his brother. He needed to make amends- somehow. Adam knew it wasn't uncommon for siblings to fight, but with his brother? Eve was all he had. He was there when he was… born in a sense. Unsure if they were one before they became two, or if one was made before the other? Doesn't matter anymore does it?

Adam felt the tinges of anger across the network that sourced from his sibling. The hurt and cursing the most prominent.

Not wanting Lilia to get caught in his brother's ire, Adam wanted peace—or a truce—between them. But he couldn't stop meditating on the next time he would meet with Lilia. The silver-haired machine learned something new every day. While with his brother…

"That's a pretty serious expression Adam. You all right?" Her brows frowning in concern.

Her voice pulling him out of his thoughts, "It's fine Lilia. I was just thinking."

She shifted uncomfortably, little twitches of her hands and legs. Hazel-green eyes becoming distant. "It… hasn't got anythin' to do with Eve is it?"

How did she?

She continued after a silent moment from him. "Your brother is OK ain't he? I mean, you left pretty quick the other day…" Her voice trailed off.

He sighed in contemplation. He didn't want to speak ill of his brother to her, no matter how much he irked him. "I… may have upset him." Upset is an insufficient word to describe what happened yesterday, Adam thought.

"Oh. I'm sure you didn't intend to."

"No, I made a promise to him and I… didn't keep it. And now he's…" His voice fading over the sensitive connection he had to Eve. The residual resentfulness echoing across the network.

"What did you promise him?" She shook her head. "Sorry, I don't mean to be nosy."

"It's fine Lilia." Trying to reassure her she had a valid reason to be concerned. "I promised to spend the day with him, but I… forgot. We… haven't been seeing each other much the last few months." The admittance was hard for him to say, of his partial fault in his brother's irrationality.

Lilia didn't meet his eyes. "Because you've been here with me… I'd prolly upset me too. He's prolly used to bein' with you all the time, bein' his twin and all."

"Yes, you could say that. I haven't been the best brother to him lately."

She reached out to him to hold his hands. Her warm, delicate hands and soft, hazel-green eyes were sincere and kind. Their depths held him at attention, causing a fluttering sensation to stir within his chest.

"I think… you two need to forgive each other. If you need to spend more time with him, go ahead. Maybe we can meet every other day? We've been seenin' each other a lot."

"But I—"

"I know you like havin' our talks." She said interrupting him gently. "I do to. But, Eve is your family. I'm not gonna be upset if you spend more time with him." She shook her head and her tone taking on a slight teasing note. "And I'm not goin' anywhere anytime soon."

He closed his solemn, reddish eyes and holding her hands marginally tighter. "All right. I'll see what I can do."

Lilia gave him a knowing smile before letting his hands go. His own lingering in the heat and softness of her skin.

Always warm and soft.

"By the way Adam… what are we goin' to do with your… um, other body?"

—xxx—

After Adam had finished his session with Lilia, he then teleported to his and Eve's own meeting place. The long, dark oak table sat on its vigil on top of a multistory building that overlooked the ruined human city. Two solemn, simply made, oak chairs are placed at both ends, one was neatly tucked in and the other was crooked by five degrees. Lastly, two bronze tri-candle holders which were heavily aged with stains of dull green-blue verdigris, and taper candles placed precisely into the holders.

Adam opened the network to summon his brother. His ire had died some once he heard his call, and he came quickly. His teleportation energy forming his body a few feet from him.

"Hm, so thankful you found time to see me, brother." Eve's voice was laced with resentment. "And what a show for you to break yourself for that android." His reddish eyes scrutinized his actions.

Mentally brushing off his brother's irrationality and anger he said, "Enough Eve. I've come to make peace with you and compromise."

His silver brows raised and crossed his arms, "What sort of 'compromise'?"

"That I do what you want every other day. I know I have been… neglectful of you." The admission was hard, but he said it.

The jealous twin sneered, "I'd be better if you didn't see that android."

Negatively shaking his head at the mere suggestion, "No, Eve. I'm doing it this way."

"Tch, fine." His twin waved a hand at the tension. "At least you came to your senses."

"It was at Lilia's suggestion I do so." Adam admitted.

Eve's face darkened with a deep frown. Adam observed the tension in his body, but said nothing, allowing Eve to continue. "Oh, so that android is giving you permission to see your brother? I should be thankful then, huh?" Resentment oozed from his words.

Sighing with exasperation, "It's not like that."

"How is it then?"

"She sympathized with your feelings and suggested to meet every other day." Adam responded.

"I don't need that android's sympathy." The bitter twin cursed the existence of that word just to spite her.

Adam crossed his arms and looking down in annoyance while shifting his feet, "Look… you don't have to like her, I'm… not asking you to do that. I'm asking to try it out for a while. There is only one me and one you."

Eve's eyes scanned away from his brother. "The humans. Always the humans with you." It was more toward himself than Adam, but he returned his gaze back, "Tch, fine. Well go along this way—for now."

It was enough to smooth away the tension between them. Adam sighed with relief, "Good. Well, what do you want to do? We have all day tomorrow."

Eve took on a more gleeful tone after that, wanting to play games with him. He quickly agreed with him, not wanting to upset his brother again. The tension between them soon went to his copied city which still lay in ruins from their spat yesterday. Within the space, he materialized a lock box out of the silicon and carbon blocks. He opened it and placed his little treasure inside. Feeling solemn at seeing its destroyed state. Quietly locking the plain box. Adam found a spare set of his cloths and put them on.

While looking at the state of his copied city, he wanted to get started on rebuilding it. Firstly, he piled on the disfigured, mangled bodies of the androids he collected. He would transport them later and find new ones. As he connected to the silicon and carbon blocks, he grew more frustrated at his scattering thoughts. The buildings would come out crooked, or windows too small, or would plainly not be what he conjured up. Perhaps he should try something different? Another type of human architecture? But what?

Always feeling a sense of spirituality within his efforts to mimic their places. A place of worship? Yes, that may do.

He formed the image within his mind, the blocks haphazardly scattered around him. Frantically building up from the tiled floor, to the compound pier that formed a pointed arch, up still to the triforium, to the clerestory windows that would have allowed light in, all the way up to the crossing ribs that formed the ceiling. Each pier had a statue of what was called an "angel" or a "apostle". Behind the compound piers were the many stained-glass windows—if they had color. The rose window and entranceway formed behind him that would have given a brilliance of light and shadow. Rose of pews sprung from the tiles that would have seated hundreds of worshipers. Two-thirds up sat the formation of the auxiliary altars on the left and right. Straight ahead was the chancel that would have held the choir, the main nave and altar, and apse.

Adam inspected the details working his way from the entrance way upward toward the altar. Endlessly scrutinizing the details. Working from his studies of such buildings dubbed "cathedrals". Though it lacked the color, the architecture was correct. Even though it was on a shorter scale than he knew of such things, having to work within the confines of the room itself.

From what he learned, the altar was the most important detail of these religious places, being the focus of the parishioners. It was a large statue of the woman called "Mary" holding the body of the "Christ". He had seen many pictures of this from another statue that was carved thousands of years before humans made their escape to the moon. The name of the original sculpture has been lost in the remaining records, but the statue was called "Pieta". Whatever word that means. Perhaps even the statue still exists?

He rather liked the pictures of the statue of these two. To him it showed the grotesqueness of mankind's cruelty from the tortured body of Christ, but the gentleness and compassion shown in the face of his mother, Mary. The dichotomy the human species exhibited always enraptured Adam with their natural behaviors and subsequent art and culture.

On closer inspection, he noticed something odd about the statue. For minutes he poured over it. The body proportions were right, as were the folds and wrinkles in Mary's clothing, even the wounds on the Christ. It wasn't until he saw their faces he realized what was wrong.

They both had Lilia's face on them.

He didn't know what it meant, but it frightened him.

—xxx—

"Are you ready brother?" Eve asked him, pulling Adam out of his reverie. What day was it? Has he been standing here for all that time? Adam shook his head, he turned to face his eager twin.

"Yes, sorry I… was distracted. You said you wanted to play hide and seek. Where to?"

Eve furrowed his brows slightly, his eyes scanning the interior that was once the copied city, and the statue his twin was so engrossed in staring at.

He didn't fail to notice the faces of the statue had was familiar to him.

"The desert and abandoned buildings." He said, quickly wanting to leave.

Adam nodded, "Good choice brother. Let's go."

In a flash of golden light, they were at the destination.

The dry, acrid air was the first thing to register along with the blistering heat from the sun. They stood on top of the jagged, rocky ridge between the main desert and decrepit human habitation called an apartment complex. The sand and landscape giving off hues of yellows, oranges and browns in contrast to the clear blue sky that had no clouds. His filters working to shift out the dust in the air.

"I'll hide Adam. You come find me."

"To one thousand, yes?"

"Yeah, and no peeking!" He smiled and disappeared in search of a hiding spot.

As custom of the game, he closed his eyes and set his internal timer to one thousand while he went into sleep mode.

At two-hundred thirty-six, his mind wandered as he patiently waited for the timer to go off.

Pump lips taking a piece of whitish flesh into her mouth. Steam still wafting from the meat. A sly peek of her pinkish tongue that glistened. An urge bubbled within his chest.

At five hundred sixty-two, she was holding his hands. Never forgetting the warmth and softness. He could sense his body leaning as he saw her peaceful expression as she said the blessing. She resembled one of those statues of a martyr in prayer. She didn't move as his forehead touched hears which caused her to stop saying the prayer, and she smiled.

Something stirred within his chest.

Would she let him?

His timer binged as he was rudely roused from his sleep mode. Mentally shaking his thoughts away, he focused on finding his brother. The day ticked by as they continued to play the game. His thoughts becoming more distracted as the hours went by.

Eve said nothing even though Adam suspected he knew the cause of his distractions. Perhaps he was just glad to spend time with him for the day. As it turned to night, he called an end to the game. Much to Eve's dismay they only got started. Gently reminding him of the compromise. He sneered slightly but accepted it.

After a week of implementing the compromise, he stopped worrying about his brother's emotional stabilizers. Though he still had longing when he was with him, he tried to keep it to a minimum, which was enough for Eve. He could still feel the tinges of resentment and jealously in his brother's network despite his increase in time with him. Perhaps that part may never go away. No, that's not true, he knew what would make it go away, but he refused to do so. Eve was just going to accept it one day.

Lilia on the other hand was fine with his decreased time with her. She said it gave her more opportunities to do things at the village to give her a free day away instead of the few hours they would have that morning. She even replaced her stained pants with a new pair, a gift from the other two androids. However, during the increased time he noticed… odd quirks about her.

Several times during the day she would leave and go into the woods. He was curious to what she was doing, but she told him it would be a brief but private matter. Not wanting to upset her too, he did as was asked and stayed put at the river bank. He also noticed water collecting around her forehead and neck. She told him it was the moisture in the air and it would sometimes stick to her skin, which wasn't uncommon during the humid, summer months with all the moisture in the air and condensation from their cooling systems. He also swore that her bronze skin was darkening. Why would it do that?

She taught him about human eating and drinking habits. As much as she was able considering that during the afternoon with the summer weather patterns, small rain storms would clip through the area.

"Ya know Adam, it might be annoyin' when those small storms come, but they always leave the area lookin' fresh. Like… I dunno, like the earth took a bath or somethin'."

The rain that came didn't last long, about four minutes tops and wasn't heavy either. Just enough to get the ground damp and wet their heads and shoulders. The plants and foliage took on a glossy sheen and the earth became more pungent. It was as if the residual smells were washed away leaving behind the original scent of earth and moisture.

He couldn't deny it was pleasing.

"The rain is necessary for the flora and fauna, so I don't share your conclusion of rain being 'annoying'."

She laughed and snorted, "I was describin' it as 'annoyin'' when it came to its timin' not its use silly." Then she muttered to herself, "Need to bring a tarp or somethin' when it does rain."

"A tarp?"

"Um? Oh, yeah. To make like a tent to keep the rain off." She explained. "Anyway, before the rain came, I was thinkin' about goin' to a blueberry patch not far from here. Have you tried blueberries before Adam?"

He shook his head, "No. What are they?"

"They are a fruit that humans eat. C'mon, I'll show you." She said as she walked into the woods.

The crunching of her boots on the floor and the thunk of her pole contacting the dead leaves and grass captured Adam's attention as she strolled through the woodlands. He took a place walking beside her. Even though it was slow, he enjoyed the company. Patches of delicate yellow, white, and blue flowers perfumed and embedded their scent on her. About twenty-five minutes later, she stopped at a semi-clearing that had several giant bushes that must have reached twenty feet tall and covered a large expanse of the woods. The distinct smell of fruit was pungent along with some that was fermenting. Birds, squirrels, and the buzzing of bees busily went about eating and collect from the bushes.

"Those are blueberry bushes." She explained. "I'm not sure if they were this big when humans were around. But there's plenty here."

Adam detected a slight tremor in her frame and minute shaking of her head. Like she was trying to get something off of her and the grip she had on her staff tightened.

"Are you all right?"

She blinked at him with a look of confusion on his face, "Huh?"

"You're trembling."

He saw her swallow something in her throat, but she smiled nervously. "It's just me. I don't… like the smell of rottin' fruit is all. I'll be OK. C'mon I'll show you the berries." She continued to give him a nervous smile while motioning him toward the bushes.

He cautiously followed her to one of the large bushes. His mind pondered why rotting fruit would cause her to tremble like it did. They stopped at one of overgrown bushes and he saw her pick one berry to show him.

"This is a blueberry. Here try it." She said as she offered the berry to him.

As the namesake, it was indeed blue and a berry. Probably no bigger than thirteen millimeters across. Adam used his right hand to take the delicate fruit between his dragon-claw fingers. The blue a contrast to the bright red of the claw tip. Then, placed the fruit in his mouth and used his tongue to pop the berry's juices. The inside was soft and tangy with a small seed in the middle. His sensors indicating that it was high in ascorbic acid, phylloquinone, manganese and water.

Ah, it has necessary nutrition for humans. Excellent choice.

"Good, huh?"

He returned a small smile to her. "Yes."

"Thought you'd like it." Lilia then went through her purse and had grabbed a clear plastic container out. She opened the clear, red lid and tossed out the contents- older blueberries she'd gathered.

"What's that?" His brows frowned at the strange container.

"This? It's a container the human's made. I… found it. It comes in handy when you need to store something inside."

"Is it called 'Glad'?" He asked while pointing to the words on the clear, red lid.

"Huh? Oh, I don't think so. Humans would sometimes put the name of the people who would make these things on them. I don't they'd call a container a 'Glad'."

He shrugged his shoulders and gave a quirk of his lips. "With how strange humans were, it wouldn't surprise me."

Lilia smiled and laughed at that, "Can't fault you for that!" Shaking her head but still smiling. "Anyway, help me collect some."

Nodding and consenting to the task. They ignored the buzzing of the insects and bees while he picked the delicate fruit. And maybe indulging in their tangy taste on a berry… or two. Besides, he wasn't the only one dining on the little blue morsels. Once his hands were full, he went to Lilia and deposited his picked berries into her container. Satisfied with how many were picked, she popped the clear, red lid back on top and put it safely within her purse.

He then noticed that the juices from the berries reddened her lips. The fluttering tightness in his chest returned, and he wondered.

"Lilia…" His voice soft and unsure.

"Hum? What is it?"

Suddenly he found great difficulty in his words to do what he wanted, to see if she'd let him. Instead he took his right hand, and gently trailed the gloved knuckles down the side of her face, his thumb resting right below her stained lips. A gasp fell from her plump lips and he detected a raise in the heat her body produced.

"Adam…" she whispered softly.

"May I?"

He could see her hazel-green eyes becoming uncertain and her front teeth bite her lower lip. There was a split second of sadness before it flipped and her eyes became warm again and she smiled softly. Their eyes locked, and she nodded.

Now I… I will know…

A thrumming tension formed beneath her skin that hummed with the knot constricting within his chest. So close he could see the golden flecks within her eyes. Which closed as he drew nearer. So close he smelled the tinge of blueberries on her lips and that he could just taste. All around was quiet that not even the bees and cicadas buzzed. A faint wind shivered through the trees. And a rumble vibrated in their being.

Less than a sliver from their lips touching, a thundering boom crackled and popped the air.

The abruptness caused Lilia to jump and back away from him.

The two were so engrossed in each other they failed to notice it had turned dark and a large thunderstorm headed their way. The wind picking up dramatically. Another booming crack from the lightning struck along with the heavy smell of rain.

"Oh god! I… I have to be gettin' back Adam! I don't—"

Detecting fear from her he offered, "I'll take you."

"It's—it's all right, I can—"

Another thunder crack and blinding light caused her to tense up and whimper.

Her visible fear caused a wrenching sensation within his abdominals.

"Please, I can take you. I'll teleport you to the village." He tried to explain.

Saying nothing further, he wrapped his arms around her tense frame. With another boom of lightning she clutched her arms around him like a lifeline. Her left hand that wasn't holding her staff, balled his shirt into a fist, her whole body pressed against him. His body absorbed that wonderful warmth she emitted. Adam mentally pushed that thought away as he concentrated on an area just outside the village. He felt the established connection being made, the yellow tendrils wrapping around them in their light, the calm, and a hard yank to the other end a millisecond later.

Lilia pushed away from him, nearly doubling over and both hands on her staff. She made gurgling noises and painful moans. Her legs trembled like it was difficult for her to stand.

"Lilia!" he exclaimed. "Lilia are you all right?"

Her whole face was red, moisture came out of the corner of her tightly closed eyes, and her lips down turned in a painful snarl.

After a few minutes she breathed, "We… are NOT… doin'… that… again…!"

It didn't cross his mind that the teleportation technology was probably not as compatible with the older androids or if it was at all. Reprimanding himself that in his haste to get her to safety, he had caused suffering to her. It's possible he irreparably harmed her internal mechanisms.

A twisting, gnawing impression twisted his upper abdominals. "I'm so sorry! I—I didn't know! Do you need repair?"

Hoarsely breathing out a "No."

After a few more agonizing minutes, she had calmed, opening her eyes. The normal white had turned a pinkish color.

"Your eyes!"

"It's all right!" She quickly stated. "It'll go back to normal after a while. Jus… Just let me find my legs."

He didn't know what she meant by that but stayed with her until she shakily took a step. She used her staff to balance her. Adam wrapped an arm around her to help.

"I can—!" Her face turning in defiance to him.

"No, please Lilia."

After a second, she nodded, accepting his help. They walked together those few meters until the whirs and buzzing of the machines were heard just before the forest cleared. Her steps becoming less unsteady. In the distance, the rumbling of the thunderstorm was on its way toward the village. The trees swaying with the increase in the wind.

He couldn't go any further with her.

"Adam?"

"I'm sorry, I'm… not welcome here."

You mean that the older machines will know you are one of them? That she'll know you've lied to her. That you are attracted to an android.

He couldn't.

"But… Pascal…" He sensed the growing questions that stacked within her wires.

"Please, don't ask. The storm is coming, you need to get going." Right on cue, a rumble, deeper than before, sounded. Feeling it through the earth itself.

She cringed at the noise. "Yeah. Despite the roller coaster of a ride… thank you. And I…" That reddish color returned to her cheeks, though not as intense as before. She grinned and a softness to her eyes as she looked at him.

As well as she could, she reached up to him and gave a kiss to his left cheek. The residual stickiness from her eating blueberries earlier were still on her lips. He tensed up at the unexpectedness of her action, but it pleased him.

"Next time." She said as she retreated. Her shaky legs carrying her the rest of the way to the village.

Lilia left Adam in pleased silence. His mind replayed that moment. He smiled happily and couldn't help but agree.

The rain came down, washing bits of his code away with their clear, cool touches. The taste of blueberries lingering on his lips.

*Note: The type of blueberry bushes they picked from exists, they are called Rabbiteye blueberries. And yes, out in the wild they get massively big since they aren't hedged every few years like cultivators have to do.

And this is one of my favorite chapters besides 12 and the last one.