Date: Sat, 22 Jun 2019 15:29:54 +0000 (UTC) From: John Subject: M.A.R.C. Ch. 26 M.A.R.C. Warning: The following story is a work of fiction. It never happened, except in the author's imagination. This story contains graphic sex between a teenage boy and an adult man. However, the author does not encourage or condone sex between adults and little children. If you are underage, or this is illegal where you are, you already know what you're supposed to do. Delete this file and find something else to wank off to. If this kind of story turns you off, delete this file and find something else to read. Copyright AmateurishWriter 2019 - The author retains the copyright for this story. Reproducing and/or placing this story on a commercial web site or in print without the authors permission is a violation of that copyright. The use of any character in this story, or any facsimile thereof, is strictly forbidden and a violation of the copyright. Comments to AmateurishWriter@yahoo.com, pro and con and of a constructive nature, will be gratefully received and acknowledged, if possible. Flamers will be ignored. *********************** Please consider helping Nifty with a secure contribution. The Nifty Archive Alliance has been determined to be a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. All contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by lay - no tangible goods or services are received in exchange for your donation. *********************** ****************** Dear Readers ****************** As I said just before chapter 25, once again I have been preoccupied and the years have flown by. My apologies to old faithful fans and, hopefully, new readers as well. A lot of water has gone under the bridge and this old body is making it known that it's wearing out and time is limited. However, I'm planning on another couple decades and here's my usual promise; more stories, and not just about John and Marc. Now, let's see if I can keep that promise. ************************************************** Near the end of Chapter Twenty-five: After supper Marc suggested an evening of snuggling on the couch while watching TV. I was delighted. Marc found the channel showing reruns of old TV shows. We watched "All in the Family," then "MASH," followed by one of the older and better classic westerns, "Gunsmoke," which was followed by another "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode which was one of my favorites. Along about 10 o'clock we were both yawning and, turning off the TV before the next show started, we headed up to bed. Once we were snuggled up in my bed, as usual, I sighed, "Busy day, huh sweetie?" "Yeah," Marc sighed back. "I'm looking forward to just sailing lessons, golf lessons, seeing my new friends. Nothing more serious like conferences. After all, I'm supposed to be just a kid. I laughed. "But still a unique and special kid, my special kid." Kissing him on the forehead, I watched as he yawned again and let his eyes droop and then close. Within moments his breathing slowed and he was peacefully sound asleep. I lay there watching my sweet android boy sleep. What a marvel he was. Not just technologically but in a very human sort of way. Part Two - Life goes on Chapter Twenty-six - The Measure of a M.A.R.C. "John ... wake-up John ... John, are you okay?" It was a voice I faintly recognized, speaking with a clearly concerned tone. With an effort I opened my eyes and tried to look towards the voice. Everything was a blur. I realized that I was sitting, leaning on a table with my head cradled on my folded arms. I tried slowly to sit up. My head swam. "Whoa." I groaned. "What? Who?" "I think you passed out from the tension," the voice continued. I pawed at my eyes and cleared them enough to see ... "What? How'd you get here?" I was very surprised to see my old dear friend Eddie leaning over and looking at me. He had an expression of deep concern and strain on his face. "Take a minute John." Eddie suggested. "You look a little pale and seem a bit shaky." I raised one of my hands and could see that it was shaking a little. My insides certainly were shaking and I still felt a little lightheaded. Just then a woman came in. I recognized her. It was Sharon who cared for Marc at the Consortium. "How are you feeling?" She asked me as she felt my forehead for a sign of fever. "Ah, okay I think. Well, a little better anyhow." I replied. "He's getting his color back." Eddie added. "Well, drink some water. Here," Sharon said as she picked up the pitcher from a tray in the middle of the table and poured me a glass. I took a few swallows and that helped. After a minute or two she said, "Well, you seem to be somewhat better so I'll go back then. But call me, Ed, if he has trouble again." She offered as she headed for the door. I sat up straighter and looked around. I realized that we weren't in my home but in the conference room at the Consortium. Startled, I asked, "How'd I get here?" I was very confused and getting a bit upset again. "You don't remember John?" Eddie asked with more concern. "Wait," I rubbed my eyes again. "I think the last thing I remember was four guys, who said that they were some sort of agents of the government. They were forcing Marc and I out of the house and putting us into separate big black SUV's." I quickly swung my head around looking for Marc. "Marc! Eddie, where's Marc?" I tried to get up but he put his hand on my shoulder. "He's okay John. You don't remember anything? Nothing more?" He asked. "No ... NO! What's going on? How'd I get here? Why can't I remember?" I was shaking again and very confused. Eddie sat down in the chair next to me and rubbed my shoulder like he used to do all those years before. "Try to calm down John and I'll tell you what's going on. Maybe that will stir your memory." I took a few deep breaths and tried to relax. "The short of it is, the government has found out about Marc being an android and tried to take possession of him." "Tried?" I was shocked with the feelings of both anger and fear returning. "Yes," Eddie explained. "But Marc was able to make an emergency uplink to us here." Now I was even more confused. "But how did I end up here?" "One of our lawyers was fortunately in our offices and, without all the complicated details, he was able to convince the agents into diverting their flight here to give us an explanation." I again anxiously looked around for Marc. "I don't see him. Is he here? Is he alright?" "Yes John, he's here and he's okay but they have an agent watching him. When you seemed to pass out we cleared the room." "Cleared the room?" I asked. "What was going on?" "Well, they, the agents, called it a courtesy hearing. Marc is with a couple of our lawyers." "Lawyers? More than one?" "Yes, our whole legal team came while you were flying in. As crazy as it sounds, we are trying to prevent the government from taking Marc. They, the agents, seem to think that he's a national asset or something?" "Never!" I almost shouted and tried to stand. My legs were too wobbly and I sat back down again. "Damn it!" "Try to take it easy John. I think we've hit on a tactic that they can't fight." "What do you mean?" I tried not to sound as upset as I felt. "They are claiming that he's just a machine and a national asset, property of the United States government." Eddie was shaking his head at the absurdity of that. "They claim he's vital to national security or something." "Just a machine?" I exclaimed, now I was really outraged. "He's no more just a machine than we are. He may be made of different materials but he's still a living being." Eddie smiled. "That's exactly what we have been explaining to them. He's a life form and entitled to his rights." "Yes, and he's no more property than human children are property," I added emphatically. At that point one of the lawyers came back into the conference room to let us know that Marc was okay and that, as I appeared to have recovered sufficiently, the agents were insisting that the hearing resume. A few moments later the agent in charge came back into the conference room and took the chair at the head of the table. The other lawyers returned and the rest of the agents followed. They were escorting Marc and took him to the chairs in the back of the room. The agent in charge looked over at me and said, condescendingly, "Now that this man has regained control of himself, we will wrap up this courtesy hearing and depart, taking the android with us." "Now just a minute here," I declared. "You can't just take a child away from his home. It's tantamount to kidnapping." The agent glared at me. "First off sir, it is not a child, it is a machine. Furthermore, as was stated, at the beginning of these proceedings, the government has determined that the android and its technology must be, for national security reasons, taken into the control of the government." Eddie looked at me and put a hand on my shoulder to calm me. I looked at him, nodded and quietly said. "I'm okay Eddie." Then I stood and addressed the agent, "You can not take a living sentient child, that has committed no crime, away simply because he has more mechanical parts than any human has ever had." "Sir, clearly it is a machine ..." "Stop calling him `it,'" I angrily stated, pointing at Marc. "He is a living sentient boy, a child with feelings, just like anyone else." The agent glared back at me. "If he, as you insist on calling it, is sentient, prove it. I laughed, "How do you propose that I do that? How do I prove that I, or you for that matter, are sentient? Look at the boy. You've talked with him. He's intelligent, he has likes and dislikes, he has emotions, he is good at some things and not so much at others. Hell, he eats, sleeps and he even urinates and defecates, just like we do. He has hopes and dreams, just like we do. If you deny him food, water or air he will die, just like we would." The agent stood. "Gentlemen, it appears that we are not getting anywhere here so we're done. This courtesy hearing is concluded and we will be taking the android and leaving." "No! No," I shouted. At that point Marc bolted towards me, before the agents could stop him, and ran into my arms. "John! Uncle John!" He cried out desperately, tears streaming down his face. *************************** Writer's Note: I had the inspiration for this chapter of "M.A.R.C." over 18 years ago. I could never decide how to do it until just a couple weeks ago. I've had scraps of paper and post-it notes, with my hand written thoughts and ideas, all over the place. Finally I can shred them all. As for the final product, I'm both disappointed and satisfied. I'm sure I could have done better but just had to get it done. I suspect that it's been a roadblock in the progression of the story so, finally, maybe I can, as the writer, move on ... and so can Marc. At least I hope so. Inspirational credit: The TV series; "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Season 2 Episode 9, air date: February 13, 1989. Title: "The Measure of a Man." *************************** Next: Chapter Twenty-seven - Life goes on? ... well, sort of.