Aneka Jansen 6: The Lowest Depths of Shame
shredded the outside targets and then unloaded the last few rounds from both weapons into the friendly. Flashing indicators in her combat displays told her the magazines were empty. Nodding, she turned and walked toward the exit.
    ‘You shot a friendly,’ Ella said, frowning at her as she walked into the observation room.
    ‘A lot,’ Aneka agreed.
    ‘But…’
    ‘But… This is going to sound like I don’t trust Winter, but it almost didn’t feel like it was me pulling the triggers out there. I was moving, acquiring targets, and firing like I was a combat robot. Like the software was doing the thinking for me. I wanted to know I could fuck up.’
    ‘So you did it on purpose?’
    ‘Oh yes. Now I know I can I don’t need to worry about being in control.’
    ‘And a worrying turn of events becomes a positive indication of Aneka’s continued normality,’ Cassandra said.
    Ella smiled. ‘Uh-huh. Tomorrow we’ll start the full cognitive analysis and all that stuff, but I think the transfer worked perfectly.’
    Aneka put her new pistols down on one of the consoles and nodded. ‘Yeah, but you won’t be laughing when I murder all you meatbags in your sleep tonight.’
    Ella gave her her harshest frown, which was not all that harsh, and poked her in the arm with a finger. ‘Don’t even joke about that.’
    ‘Hey, you’re the one threatening me with “cognitive analysis tests.” I hate exams.’
    ~~~
    Cassandra paused in the doorway of the apartment as Aneka and Ella walked in. Her brow wrinkled, and then she said, ‘I should leave you now. You’ll want this evening to…’
    ‘Nuh-huh,’ Ella stated, turning to direct a firm shake of the head at the android. ‘You’re staying for several, very good reasons.’
    ‘But…’
    ‘You wanted me here when Al got back,’ Ella went on, ‘and I’m not going to kick you out now. That would be mean, and I am not mean.’
    ‘No, you’re…’
    ‘We both want to find out what Aneka’s new body can do, outside of a firing range, and the two of us will be better able to test its limits.’
    ‘I suppose…’
    Aneka had already sat down on one of the couches to pull off her boots. ‘And I want the both of you watching me as much as possible. I don’t need to sleep now, and neither do you. After Ella flakes out you’ll be watching to make sure I don’t do anything odd. And besides, it’d be nice to have someone to talk to. I mean, Al will be there, but the three of us will be more fun, especially on my first night.’
    Cassandra nodded and stepped through the door, letting it close behind her. ‘You both make compelling arguments, and I don’t actually want to leave.’
    ‘Good,’ Aneka said. ‘Now get your dress off before I start to think you didn’t miss me.’
    Cassandra stepped forward, reaching for the hem of her short dress. ‘I am getting what I believe you refer to as a feeling of déjà vu.’
    ‘Strange that,’ Ella replied, smiling.
    ~~~
    Aneka lay on her side, propped up on an elbow, watching as Cassandra employed her tongue on Ella. It was, essentially, a short, prehensile limb which she was very skilled in the use of, and Ella was squirming on the end of it, back arched, face contorted in pleasure.
    ‘Now, that would have been a neat feature for Winter to add,’ Aneka commented silently.
    ‘She did enhance the musculature around your vaginal analogue,’ Al replied. ‘You’re a match for the Jenlay women now. Drake may be in for a surprise next time.’
    ‘Yeah, but that doesn’t help with Ella.’
    ‘She does not seem displeased with your new flexibility and, forgive the psychoanalysis, I think that she would see that as a step too far. She knows what you are, but your form is essentially that of a normal being of her species. If your tongue was a tentacle she might find it disquieting.’
    ‘She seems fine with Cassandra.’
    ‘Cassandra is not Human. This is a given going in. It is normal for her to have the… features

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