[Note: This is a romance story with some erotic scenes. It is
not
a story with erotic scenes in every chapter. Some chapters have incredible sex scenes, but many others have none.]
Chapter 16: The Robot Makers
"Hello, Harry," said Claire.
"Goldie! You're going to want to see this!" said Harry.
"What is it?" said Goldie, coming out of the shower. Her hair looked beautiful, even when wet.
"Your sister, Claire," said Harry, as he calmly stared at the holoimage of Claire.
"Claire!" Goldie came at a run, thumping in bare feet. "Claire, is that you? How did you find us?"
"Hello, little sister. It took a little digging to get Harry's comm number," said Claire. "But I think you know I have a bit of smarts."
"Yes, Claire, you do," said Goldie. "Where are you?"
"Chapel Hill, North Carolina," said Claire. "I'm sending you my address." Her holoimage seemed to press a button.
"What's the weather like there, Claire?" said Goldie, eyeing her sister calmly.
"Cold. And you? Where are you, actually?"
Harry gave her a warning look.
"Georgia," said Goldie, smiling. "Atlanta."
"What are you doing there?"
"Looking for you."
"I'm not in Georgia," said Claire.
"Well, now, we've narrowed it down some."
"Goldie, I need to see you. Will you meet me here?"
"Sure, Claire," said Goldie. "Why don't we meet in front of the main library at UNC?"
"You don't want to meet at my apartment?"
"I love libraries," said Goldie.
Claire appeared to consider. "All right, Goldie. Will you be bringing Harry?"
Harry shook his head.
"No, Harry's going to sit this one out. I'll see you tomorrow, say... at 2 o'clock?"
"Two then. I look forward to seeing you, little sister."
"You too, big sister."
The connection faded.
Harry looked at Goldie. "Well?"
"This is the first time in my life she's called me little sister. That looks like Claire and sounds like Claire, but... that's not Claire," said Goldie.
********
"She could be a clone," said Harry. "A clone without the memories of the real Claire."
"Why use a clone when they have the real thing?"
"Maybe the real Claire escaped."
"Then why wouldn't the real Claire have contacted us?"
"Or she could be dead," said Harry.
"I know. That was the first thing I thought of," said Goldie.
"Well, if it's a trap, you shouldn't go."
"It's a trap all right, but it's also our only lead to The Foundation," said Goldie. "So I'm going."
"Then I'm going too."
Goldie grinned and let her arms play over his shoulders. "Why Harry, is that a bit of a protective side I'm seeing in you? You know, I didn't really like you at all when I first met you, programming aside, but as I spend more and more time with you, I'm starting to find one or two things to like." She moved her face close to his.
"Only one or two?" said Harry. He looked at her bright red, plush lips. He couldn't resist. He took her.
Goldie was so happy. She had him well trained. She could get a kiss whenever she wanted to. And the other thing, whenever she wanted that too. The dam in their relationship had been thoroughly broken.
********
"Goldie!"
Goldie gave her sister a warm hug. The sun was shining, and it was in the 50's, in late February outside the Main Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
"I've been looking for you for so long," said Goldie. She looked at Claire carefully. She looked just like she remembered. Bright blonde hair, round face, blue eyes... a perfect clone of her sister. If that's what she was.
"Where have you been all this time?" said Goldie.
"I've been hiding out, with friends."
"Friends?"
"People who think like we do," said Claire.
"I'm sorry, how do we think?" Goldie asked.
Claire said, "I'm sorry, Goldie, I've spent so much time around Fourthers that that's how I talk now. Let me be clearer. I've found a group of Fourthers who are fighting The Foundation."
"Really? How fortunate!"
"Yes, and I'd love to take you to them. Would you like to meet them?"
"Definitely," said Goldie.
"My air car is this way," said Claire.
********
Claire drove, but Goldie talked. "Mom misses you terribly. So does Dad."
"I know, I miss them too."
"Dad is semi-retired. He's fixing up the house in Scranton."
"Scranton?" Claire frowned.
"I mean Dayton," said Goldie. "He still sees patients, though. A lot of people with eye problems."
"Why would people with eye problems see Dad? He's a cardiologist," said Claire.
"I don't know," said Goldie. "Dad says there's some kind of connection, some kind of eye problems are connected to heart troubles."
"Well, that's interesting," said Claire.
"Have you heard from Ben?"
"Ben?"
"Ben, your boyfriend?"
"Ben, my boyfriend. No, no word about Ben," said Claire.
"That must make you very sad."
Claire turned to Goldie. "Very sad indeed."
"You carry your burden well," said Goldie.
They drove the rest of the way in silence.
********
Claire drove to a factory, on the edge of town. It was humming with activity.
"A factory, Claire?"
"Yep," said Claire.