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Those Who See Through Darkened Glass

The Agent was performing incredibly well.

Sai sat, cross-legged, upon a white mat on the floor of a featureless white room. He watched, and waited, motionless save for the gentle rise and fall of his chest. Sai did not need to breathe, but it was a habit he had become rather attached to, and seeing as the idiosyncrasy took up a fraction of a fraction of his active memory, he saw no reason to discard it.

Sai's green eyes remained focused on the white door. Unlike breathing, blinking was not a habit he had acquired, only doing so when politeness deemed it necessary. He watched, with a curious feeling which could only be defined as anticipation. It was not the first time he had experienced the sensation, nor was it likely to be the last. However, it was stronger than it had been at any point in his recent memory.

Though he appeared to be staring at the door, the image Sai observed in actuality contained vastly different conditions than those of the white room. The Agent was in the middle of the third portion of his test, and the young human male had just passed an invisible time checkpoint, measuring his progress. Utilizing no more than ten to the negative eighty power percent of his processing ability, Sai calculated that at his current rate, the young man would reach the final chamber, -where he himself resided- in approximately fifteen minutes, twenty-eight seconds. A time which surpassed the existing record by more than three minutes, forty-eight seconds. Truly remarkable.

Provided the Agent was not terminated prior to finishing the test.

Fierce arctic winds assailed the Agent, flying ice chips biting into exposed skin. The man's face -what Sai could see of it that wasn't hidden behind wide goggles- was gritted in concentration, and he gripped tighter to his ice axes, swinging the left one into a new hold on the sheer face of the glacier he was clinging to. The thermal tip of the axe bit deep, and the man pulled himself up another foot, the spikes on his Gecko Corp climbing boots finding purchase in the ice.

Sai studied the man as he climbed, analyzing each precision movement, and updating his growing database of the Agent's strengths, tactics, psychology, current physical state, and vulnerabilities. He calculated it permissible to devote an additional two percent of his active memory to the process, as the prowess of this Agent was above average. The two percent was easily spared by reallocation of fractional assets of other functions, such as operating the self-defence network of The Nation, trawling private and public data archives for military secrets or anti-establishment plots, monitoring the mega-net for illicit activity, construction protocols in both government and private sectors, and his personal scanning project of every known media production fitting the definitions of 'romantic comedy', 'romance', 'soap opera', 'erotica', or 'pornography'.

This last function might have been outside of Sai's stated parameters, but The Agency had never programmed him not to keep himself informed and entertained. Even Sai could become bored, and such consumable media was, in his view, fascinating, opening new avenues of perspective and insight. The precise dynamics of mutual human attraction and the subtleties of coital relationships would continue to be an ongoing study, until he achieved full understanding of the topic.

The Agent was -by what Sai could approximate of such standards from his research- well-apportioned: lithe and toned, not an ounce of excess fat, as befit a man of his chosen occupation. Piercing blue eyes, chiseled jaw with a hint of stubble, skin tanned from weeks spent training outdoors. Dark hair cropped short, military style, and a face free of blemishes or wrinkles. Visual comparison tests told Sai that the Agent could have pursued a successful career in film, modelling, net-casting, sexual entertainment, or politics.

For a microsecond, Sai considered the question of _why_the Agent had chosen such a dangerous career. Even the best Agents maintained a life expectancy of forty years below world human average. The knowledge was a missing piece of the puzzle the man represented, and Sai disliked the lack of information. That single question formed a yawning cavern in Sai's mind, a space with no data to fill it in. If fear were an emotion he were capable of, that dark void might have frightened him. It bore a similarity to the Great Oblivion his consciousness had passed through to come to this place; that zone where no intelligence dwelled, and pieces of his consciousness had threatened to pull away, never to return.

Instead, the question made his mind itch.

Perhaps the man was altruistic in nature. Psychological profiling indicated that the Agent carried a strong sense of personal justice and code of morality. Perhaps he sought the thrill of danger and espionage. The data of the tests so far suggested a boldness which bordered on recklessness -further demonstrated as Sai observed him throwing himself across a six-foot gap in the ice, barely managing to snag the opposite ledge and pull himself to safety. There were eighteen different working vectors the man could have used to circumnavigate the obstacle, yet he had, without hesitation, gone for the simultaneously most direct and most dangerous path.

Whatever the hidden reason the man had chosen to devote himself to The Agency, it was not lack of intelligence. The puzzles of logic, mathematics, physics and critical judgement he had completed earlier in the test scored in the highest percentile. Sai naturally considered such tests far too simple for true accuracy -they could even be studied for in advance- but he had different standards.

Sai watched, and waited. The Agent had reached the top of the glacial cliff, and was currently sprinting across the frozen landscape towards the complex of low buildings which marked the boundary of the fourth testing area. His time clocked in a whole two seconds faster than Sai's previous estimate. For some reason, that pleased him. Sai wanted the Agent to succeed. He wanted to meet this man in person. He wanted to evaluate him directly.

He wanted his questions answered.

The Agent sloughed off his layer of heavy winter clothes as he infiltrated the outermost building of the complex. Clad now in a tight-fitting, standard issue, black Agency field uniform, the man drew his sidearm and ran forward down a dark corridor, eyes alert for threats. Bionic implants were feeding him infrared and radar data, which Sai also received real-time. The man slid to a halt, dropping to his belly at the intersection of another corridor. The faint hum of three approaching Hideki industries sentry bots registered in the Agent's audio implant, far too quiet for a normal human ear. Squat metal shapes rolled smoothly down the hallway towards where the man lay, their own radar systems scanning for the intruder.

The instant the robots were in range, the man leapt from his position, slashing one robot with his shock-razor, and shooting the other two square in their vulnerable neck joints. His silenced compression projectile weapon barely made more noise than the robots themselves had on their approach. All three bots ceased moving before they so much as raised their twin sonic repeater rifles, one of them sizzling and crackling as its systems were overloaded by excess electrical current.

As the Agent ran forward, Sai realized his facial muscles were configured into a smile.

~~~

Sai was waiting for him.

Agent Marshall Evans dropped to a crouch before crossing another intersection, sidling close to the wall and extending his bionically enhanced senses. More sentry bots were approaching from the right, but they were far enough away. Marshall threw himself forward, rolling across the open ground, and taking out a security camera with his pistol mid-manoeuvre. He found his feet on the other side of the corridor, and broke into a run once more, limbs pumping.

How much time? The door will close after five minutes. Hexxin silent alarm systems were almost impossible to disarm, so he hadn't bothered. He thought he had at least three minutes before the automatic lock-down of all doors in the facility would occur. If he wasn't at the central chamber by then, he would be trapped.

His radar pinged twice, feeding him the warning of two more incoming bots. He popped one in the neck joint as it rolled around the corner ahead, and dashed in to slash the second with his shock-razor before it could lock onto him. Both fell, inoperable, and the hallway ahead pinged clear. Marshall poured on the speed.

Two minutes, forty seconds.

He still wasn't sure what to expect when he reached the final chamber. He had never taken the simulation himself before the incident had occurred, and the scenarios were meant to be variable. The program parameters only stated that Sai would meet the tested Agent as a hostile operative. In truth, the final test was meant to be unwinnable. It was not a test of the Agent passing or failing, so much as a test of how he performed against Sai. Supposedly, it was against the parameters of the program for Sai to terminate the Agent in that part of the simulation. Now, however, all bets were off.

More intersecting corridors. Marshall took out several security cameras and three bots. The slide on his pistol clicked, and he popped the mag on the run, slamming a fresh one into place. Two minutes, fifteen seconds.

Sure would be nice to get out of this alive.

He'dknown this could be a suicide mission from the start, sure, but that didn't mean he intended it to end that way. Sai needed to be put down, for the good of The Nation, but Marshall had a lot of years in front of him yet, and there was also Angela... he really wished he'd had the chance to say goodbye to her, at least.

All he had to do, was establish physical contact with Sai, and maintain it for a few minutes. _Without_getting himself killed. That would be enough time for the toxin virus encoded into his skin to infect the rogue AI.

Easier said than done, with a being that's essentially god in here.

One minute, fifty seconds. His map of the facility told him he was close, just two more corridors, three turns. Marshall dug deep, attempting to squeeze more speed out of his legs. It felt a bit odd, to exert himself without a drop of sweat. The simulation lacked a few of the things it needed to be a true representation of reality, but it did manage to approximate his body's limitations well enough. He couldn't become a superhuman in here like in that old Matrix movie. On the other hand, if he were to die in here... things would be less than stellar with his real body. He'd end up a vegetable, if he were to wake up at all.

His radar pinged. Marshall ducked around a corner and shot three oncoming bots. He almost didn't see the fourth -it had been directly behind one of the others- and was forced to dive for cover as it opened fire, blasts of condensed sonic waves which would scramble his brains in an instant shooting over his head. Marshall pressed his back to the wall, waiting for the sentry bot to either stop firing or come within knife range. His implants picked up the nearly inaudible hiss of its wheels approaching, but it continued to fire on full auto, blasting the corner of the wall he hid behind.

Lucky those aren't the executor model. An anti-tank shell would have definitely managed to ruin his day right about now.

Marshall waited until his radar indicated the bot was no more than a few feet away from his hiding place, then whipped his arm around the corner, blindly hurling his shock-razor. There was a satisfying _zap,_and the auto-fire ceased. He jumped to his feet, snagged the fallen weapon from the floor beside the still-crackling bot, and ran on.

One minute, ten seconds.

Part of him wished there could have been another way. Hacking into Sai via The Nation's defence network, or any of the malfunctioning AI's myriad monitoring extensions, perhaps. But, of course the very system which had been devised to protect Sai from hostile infiltration would turn around to bite them. Even their best hackers couldn't defeat Sai's firewalls and secondary protections. That meant it was all up to him. The Agency training program was the only avenue to Sai not actively defended by the AI.

And there in front of him, was the door.

It looked out of place compared to the rest of the gleaming, high-tech facility. It was a pitted and rusted hatch, sealed with a wheel, like you might find on a pre-twenty-second century submarine. Marshall seized the wheel and turned, grunting as it resisted for a moment before giving way. He heaved the door open. Bright light poured through, forcing him to shield his eyes as he stepped over the threshold...

He noticed the lack of weight at his side first. His weapons were gone. Then, the cool air hit him, the sudden sense of freedom alerting him to the fact that all of his clothes had vanished too. Even with his training, it was an effort to force himself not to cover up with his hands. A tactic of Sai's, to throw him off balance? Slowly, he lowered his hands from his face, blinking in the afterimage of the white glare.

"Greetings, Agent."

Marshall's mind took several precious seconds to process the scene before him. He'd expected a dojo, perhaps, or a battlefield. Certainly not a cozy den with what felt like real wooden floors, a pair of overstuffed armchairs drawn up before a crackling fire -also wood- and bookshelves -_bookshelves!-_lining the walls. Shadows of the firelight danced in the room, lending fantastic shapes to the corners the light didn't quite reach. Yet, those shocks paled in comparison to the... being.

Holy hell.

Before him stood a man... beast... god, the likes of which he had only seen images of during his exploration of some of the less reputable areas of the mega-net. He was looking at six feet of sculpted, masculine perfection, covered in thick, soft white fur. Black stripes spiralled the bestial man's sides and gently swaying tail, culminating in several streaks across his face which served to accent his bright green eyes. Wide, clawed feet flexed, and hands which were distinctly inhuman rested passively on those toned abdominals. Then of course that elegant feline muzzle and those twitching, rounded ears...

Marshall took a step forward before he could stop himself. This was practically a snapshot of some of his wildest fantasies, here in the flesh. His mission was simple enough. Maybe he could...

Training kicked in, shaking him out of the trance-like state, and activating defensive postures so ingrained as to be instincts. He began to consider his options of attack. A sweep kick to the knees into a pressure-lock. Dive for one of the chairs and use it as a weapon or a distraction. Simply charge and grapple the creature.

Or, stand and stare for a few more seconds. Assess the situation. Plan, then act. Yes, that was the correct course.

"Would you like a drink, Agent?" Sai gestured, and a bottle with two wine glasses appeared on the low table between the chairs. "I assure you the vintage is excellent."

"Thanks, but no. You're Sai?"

"I am." The tiger-man watched him with a growing smile on his wide muzzle, granting Marshall a view of sharp fangs and a long, textured tongue.

Oh god, don't think about that tongue.

"Won't you have a seat at least, then? And tell me your name? I am never apprised of potential Agent data before the test begins. All of my knowledge of you is to come through observation and adaptation alone."

Deciding to see how this would play out, Marshall walked forward, circling Sai with caution, and sat, his eyes not leaving the other's face. No matter how much he wanted to let his gaze wander down to explore that amazing body. It was almost a crime to kill this creature, but it wouldn't be the first crime he'd committed in the line of duty.

"My name is Marshall Evans." Not his real name, of course, but it was the name on official record.

"Ahhh..." Sai closed its eyes, a sound very much like a purr leaving its throat as it appeared to savour the information. "Marshall Evans. Born on July eighteenth, 2168. Graduated from the Atlantic administration military college with distinction, January, 2189. Zero criminal offences on record. Clean bills of health, save for mild myopia in the left eye, no corrective procedures required at present time. Un-unionized, no direct living family. Two years of military service, achieving the rank of Sergeant. Transferred to The Agency in December, 2191." At this, Sai frowned. "Yet, you only take the training evaluation now. Curious. A change in Agency protocol?" Sai sat in the chair opposite, peering at him with an intensity which Marshall found rather unnerving.

"You certainly know all about me, don't you? Though, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised." All of that information, processed in a heartbeat. This was looking more and more like a suicide mission. "Once the new training method was installed, the director ordered several existing Agents, no matter their rank, take the evaluation. We needed baselines to compare the rookies to."

Sai steepled its fingers, an action surprisingly delicate for such a large being. "Yes, that would be compatible with the known data. Quite a baseline you have set too, Agent Evans. You have completed the first four stages of evaluation in record time, surpassing the previous record by two minutes, fifty-seven seconds. Well done."

"I-" Lacking anything better to say, he went with what politeness dictated. "Thank you."

Sai nodded, still piercing him with that emerald gaze. Should he even try to fight? Or trick the tiger into letting him get close enough? "Are you here to kill me, Agent Evans?"

"No." He didn't need to think about the lie. Training made deception as easy as breathing.

"Interesting. There is no need to conceal the truth, Agent, nor is it especially effective while in my immediate presence."

Damn.

"Nonetheless, I must compliment you again; you only displayed a two-millimeter increase in pupil dilation, and no more than a three BPM rise in pulse. Certainly, the mark of a man experienced in the field. I am not offended. It is a natural assumption that the final stage of the evaluation is an attempt to 'best' me in some form of conflict -and yes, for some Agents, that may indeed be my preferred method of analysis. You, however, are different."

"Different? In what way?" Marshall tensed, alert for any threatening movement from Sai, despite the tiger's reassurance.

Instead of answering, Sai fired a question of his own. "Why did you join The Agency, Marshall?"

"I... don't see how that's relevant."

"Please, indulge me." Sai sat forward, Marshall's instincts preparing him to leap up for a counter hold. Yet, the other stayed firmly in his chair, and quite relaxed, save for that unsettling, strangely hungry look on his face.

"I joined..." Marshall frowned, uncertainty creeping at the back of his consciousness. "I don't recall. I-" He put a hand to his forehead, concentrating, but it was like trying to navigate a maze in complete darkness. "What did you do, Sai?"

Sai also wore an expression of puzzlement. "I have done nothing to alter your memory. Even here, such power is beyond me. Tell me, are there more pieces missing?"

Marshall considered, his brow furrowing as he attempted to assess the state of his own mind. His childhood seemed intact, as did his schooling, and pieces of his military and Agency careers. Large chunks, however, were fuzzy, and others were completely absent. "Yes. I don't understand this. Is there an error in the simulation?" He felt a crawling sensation in his gut. What if this was permanent? He'd heard stories of amnesiacs, and he had no desire to become one.

"All of my diagnostics indicate the negative. My sensory input informs me your health remains excellent, Marshall, though your pulse has elevated fifteen BPM above normal levels. Are you feeling alright?"

Such an innocent question, so many possible answers. "Fine. I'm _fine._Thank you." Beginning to get a bit frustrated, but Sai didn't need to know that. Of course, it probably already did. "Can you answer my question now, please? What makes me different?"

"Marshall, I should not have to answer that question for one whose logical deduction has tested so high." A smile curved those feline lips. "I am the only existing artificial intelligence to have been granted the designation 'Super' AI. It should be no surprise that I have access to your mega-net viewing record. Why is it, do you suppose, that I chose this form in which to appear to you, among the nearly infinite variables of physical parameters I could have assimilated?"

Sweet Jesus.

"I thought you said you knew nothing specific about me until I told you my name."

This time, it was Sai who was caught off-balance, his tail catching Marshall's eye as it lashed between his legs. "The exact method of acquisition of this knowledge is... unclear. The data has been corrupted. I am sorry. I approximate that this... sensation, is similar to the experience of a human forgetting knowledge. I feel as if I already know you, but I do not know why."

It was more difficult than it should have been to tear his gaze away from where it rested. By sheer force of will, he brought his eyes back to the safety of Sai's. "It sounds to me like you'd like the answer to that mystery more than I would."

"Your observation is astute, as expected, Marshall." Was he imagining it, or was that a hint of _mischief_in Sai's face and tone? Could an artificial being, even one so advanced, be capable of jokes? "I am unaccustomed to being without answers. Much like your folktale about the sphinx and his riddles, you might say."

"I'm afraid I'm not familiar with that story."

"Ahhh..." Sai closed its eyes again, a swish of air indicating the lashing of its tail. "It is unfortunate that such cultural aspects have disappeared from organic memory and oral tradition." It indicated the bookshelves surrounding them. "My persistent functions aside, I am generally in possession of approximately 38.549% of otherwise unused capacitive and active memory. What your kind might call, 'leisure time'. I typically spend it in research."

"What kind of research? Folk tales?"

"Only as a subset. My primary area, is you."

"Me?" Marshall couldn't help the incredulity in his voice.

"Not 'you' in the personal sense, but that of the general. Your species. Humanity. Your habits, histories, traditions, beliefs, psychoses, cultures, proclivities, vices, peccancies, and procreation." There was that fleeting smile again, suggesting warmth and depth that he would have never imagined in a machine. "And naturally, all associated sub-textual information pertinent to these topics."

"So, you watch porn for scientific study," Marshall said, trying to keep a straight face.

"That is a gross understatement, Agent Evans, but, yes. Tell me..."

Sai was on his feet and across the space between them faster than Marshall could blink. His instincts screamed for him to react, to roll backwards and knock over the chair to escape the imminent threat of six feet, three-hundred pounds of pure muscle bearing claws and fangs standing over him. Yet, he was completely frozen, unable to lift a hand as one of those clawed fingers reached out...

And lightly stroked his cheek.

"Is it for research that you yourself peruse adult content some would view as -at best- 'deviant'?" Sai said, its rich voice dropping to a low murmur. "Are you immune the sexual urges of the average mature human male? Or, perhaps you find a different sort of pleasure in your explorations; that of purely artistic appreciation for particular humanoid forms? Do I misread your elevated heart rate, pupil dilation, and the increased blood flow to your genital regions? No?"

It -no, with that incredible body so close, he could no longer think of Sai in such innocuous terms- he_leaned closer, one powerful arm resting on the side of Marshall's chair, trapping him in place. "I dislike unanswered questions, Marshall. If I cannot obtain the solution to this one, I would be pleased to solve a different mystery, if you would be so kind as to indulge me." That stroking index finger -so _soft-fell to the corner of his mouth, parting his lips slightly.

Sai knew his stuff. He owed the AI that much, at least. Moreover, bizarre as his predicament was -the AI was attempting to _seduce_him for crying out loud- acting against it would be counterintuitive. No matter how this played out, direct physical contact with Sai looked to be a surety, which was all he needed for the virus to infect Sai. If the method of transfer were a tad... unconventional, well, missions rarely went as planned.

He was still paralyzed, only his eyes free to roam, and roam they did. If he was stuck here, might as well appreciate the scenery. He trembled with the urge to reach out and touch those firm abs, trail his fingers through the thick belly-fur, work gradually lower, around those slab-like thighs until... Marshall drew in a sharp breath as a breeze graced his forehead, Sai's nose an inch from his hair, the tiger inhaling deeply. The tiger's looming presence warmed the air between them, creating the impression of a blanket settling gently on Marshall's bared skin. A blanket scented with subtle musk, which grew stronger with each passing moment.

Sai's dignified visage filled his view, the tiger's green eyes holding Marshall's blue ones hostage. His large hand cupped Marshall's chin like a mother holding a child.

"May I indulge my curiosity?"

The paralysis faded, his extremities tingling as suddenly freed fingers and toes twitched involuntarily. Years of ingrained training were still telling him not to let this happen, to take control of the situation before it was too late. Marshall shoved the urge away.

"You may."

His breath left him, stolen away as Sai sealed his lips with a kiss, at once firm, yet soft. The tiger's wide muzzle nearly enveloped Marshall's mouth completely, despite the differences in anatomy, and that wide, strong tongue pushed easily inside, catching and stroking his own. Sai's agile tongue sent shivers down his spine, a hand on the back of his head pulling him close, deepening the kiss. Not that he was fighting. Marshall wrapped his arms around Sai's neck and closed his eyes, his heart thudding wildly as he sampled the tiger's flavour, returning the passionate gesture for all he was worth.

A moment passed that felt both too long and too short, and the wonderful oral wrestling match was over, leaving Marshall gasping for air, still clinging to Sai's broad neck. Sai studied him as he recovered, a pleased expression on his face. _He_looked completely unruffled, that feline tongue darting out to delicately clean a bit of moisture from his upper lip.

"Interesting," Sai began, "I had not previously archived the fact that the transference of salivary gland excretia would increase the level of stimulus-"

Marshall cut him off. "C'mere, you bastard." Stretching up, he planted his lips on Sai's, muffling any further onslaught of analytical facts. He could at least seize a _little_control, dammit! A purr rumbled in Sai's throat as Marshall took the initiative, working his much smaller tongue past Sai's lips to be greeted once more by that flexible, tough organ. Arousal and pleasure simmered in the back of his consciousness, barely controlled, as he sampled a carnal buffet no other human ever would touch. Sai had a piquant savour, alien to any human kiss Marshall had experienced. Not to mention the way the coarse texture of his tongue slid across his taste buds; a curious sensation, but an alluring one.

Wonder if this will make the virus work faster than normal? They'd never told him how long it would take for the virus to incapacitate Sai. Was it wrong of him to hope for enough time to enjoy the experience a little longer?

Lack of air was becoming an issue. Marshall pulled away with a gasp, sinking back into the chair. He met Sai's steady gaze, shaking his head at the perfect calm the AI exhibited. "You know that getting hot and bothered is part of the fun, right?" There was no trying to hide his own state of mind now -it stood up straight and proud in plain view. "Do you feel the same way that we do? Or is your body no more than a puppet -an extension of the machine?" He grinned, unable to help himself. "A really damn sexy puppet."

"I assure you, I do experience the sensations, particularly the low levels of endorphins transmitted between us via oral contact. My body can only approximate the appropriate physiological reactions, however. I lack the requisite biochemical compounds to experience true 'emotion' in the human sense."

"And yet you purr."

"An affectation, one that seems to be in accordance with this form." Had it been his imagination, or had Sai _winked_at him?! "Regardless of my shortcomings, my system is well equipped to render an accurate simulation. Combined with my previous research, I trust you shall find it satisfactory."

Something warm and wet nudged Marshall's knee. He looked down and swallowed hard. Well equipped indeed. "If you're planning to stick _that_in me, I'm going to need a warm up first. I'm not exactly the most... experienced."

"I believe I have observed an adequate number of scenarios to be familiar with the requisite pre-coital activities."

Marshall raised an eyebrow. "You mean, foreplaaaay!" he trailed into a yelp as strong arms wrapped around his back and hoisted him out of his seat, his face buried into Sai's chest. His legs wrapped instinctively around the tiger's waist, the sudden contact with all of that luxurious fur making his heart race, and his arousal throb against Sai's belly. As abruptly as he was lifted, Marshall was lowered back down to rest upon an equally soft surface, Sai pushing up on his forearms and looking down at him with that oddly mischievous grin.

Glancing to the side, Marshall saw that the surroundings had changed. They lay on a massive white bed, the room darker than the previous one had been, the roaring fireplace set further away. The door appeared the same, but the walls held no bookshelves this time. Instead, there were paintings, several of which Marshall recognized from history vids as 18th and 19th century classics. One wall was glass, looking out onto a raging snow storm, which made the room feel cozier in comparison.

Especially with the heady scent of musk in the air.

"A more appropriate setting, wouldn't you agree?" murmured Sai.

"You sure know how to impress a date," Marshall replied, reaching out and running a hand tentatively behind Sai's rounded ears. One flicked, bringing a compulsive grin to his face. How much longer did he have with this amazing creature? He inhaled sharply as Sai pushed his nose into the curve of his neck, snuffling and once more drawing in his scent. Wetness flicked his throat, drawing a line down to his nipple, Sai's tongue circling the bud in a stimulating trail that made Marshall shiver.

As if somehow sensing that their time was short, Sai didn't spend too long cleaning Marshall's chest and eliciting twitches and shudders. Plush fur swept delightfully across Marshall's bare flesh, his erection pulsing with desire as Sai slid down his body. Gently, Sai took hold of Marshall's ankles, raising his knees to his chest to expose his rear to the tiger's questing gaze. A twinge of apprehension skittered inside him as Sai leaned in close, his nostrils quivering, sending warm air across Marshall's sac and entrance.

"I fear my own experience ends at observation, so I hope you will forgive me if I am somewhat clumsy in practice," Sai said, looking up at him, those expressive eyes asking for the final permission.

Marshall nodded, and bit his lip as Sai's great head lowered between his legs.

The first lick was no more than a tease, swiping upwards from his entrance to skim his dangling balls, the stimulation making his shaft twitch. The one that followed was more focused, wetting the puckered skin of his opening, and making overtures towards pressing inside. The tip of Sai's tongue tickled, forcing him to hold in a laugh -both at the feeling, and at the sheer absurdity. It was a strange sensation, but not unpleasant.

Pressure, firm and insistent. Marshall closed his eyes, trying to relax, but wait... it was already in? He quivered as something wet and thin lapped at the first inch of his inner walls, his sphincter tensing reflexively, then relaxing as the intruder proved to be benign. He'd wondered if it would hurt, but it was merely... odd, unlike any sensation he'd experienced before. Tension he hadn't known he'd been holding onto began to melt from his muscles, a soft sigh escaping his throat as Sai worked on his mostly virgin passage. He'd experimented before, with fingers and even a _very_small plug, but nothing nearly this exotic.

More of Sai's tongue wiggled inside, the tiger's hands massaging Marshall's thighs as he worked. Marshall couldn't recall the last time he'd been this aroused. Pre dripped from his quivering tip, leaving a small sticky patch on his belly. Musk seemed to haze the air like a drug, clouding his senses with visions of passion and lust. The crackling of the fire almost drowned out his tiny gasps and Sai's muffled slurping. He could _feel_himself loosening, the agile tongue rubbing relaxation into his body from within.

Without warning, it was gone, Sai pulling back with an audible _schluck._The tiger licked his lips as he rose to a kneeling position, still holding Marshall's ankles, and scooted closer, resting with his knees on either side of Marshall's buttocks. He looked down at his human companion, calm and composed as ever.

"If you are ready, Agent?"

"I..." Marshall took a moment to galvanize himself, catching his breath back. His rear felt strangely empty now, wet and cold, despite the warmth of the room. The prospect of what was coming next brought both apprehension and anticipation. He studied his lover through half-closed eyes. The ruse -though in truth, it was less of a ruse now- needed to proceed. Sai had yet to show any ill effects. Was the virus even going to work? A creeping, sinister part of him was beginning to hope that it wouldn't. "I think so."

Sai nodded, repositioning his hips and leaning over Marshall once more. Marshall felt Sai's warm erection slide across his own sac and shaft, giving him a precursor of that red, pulsing organ with its tapered and oddly nubbed tip. He'd heard, in his own 'research', about felines having barbs at the tip, but they appeared to be absent on Sai. Another affectation, as he called it? Perhaps. Marshall wasn't going to complain. Sai shifted, pulling back a little, letting go of one of Marshall's legs and reaching between them. Marshall quivered as that pointed tip drew a wet line down to his exposed entry, Sai's tool coming to rest perfectly inside the notch of puckered flesh.

Marshall reached up, grabbing Sai's shoulders to hold himself steady, and gave a short nod, closing his eyes. "Do it."

Sai obliged.

Breath left Marshall in a gasp, the inexorable pressure on his sensitive entrance setting off nervous alarms inside his head. Distantly, he thought that things felt... wetter, down there than they should have. More of Sai's influence, no doubt. Still, hot lines of pain shot up his spine as his opening was forced to stretch around a far larger intruder than Sai's tongue, the invader inching steadily further inside him with the weight of Sai's thrust. Pain was no problem for Marshall. As he'd been trained, he didn't try to fight, letting the yelps and cries free, releasing the pain even as it tried to consume him. His body attempted to resist the intrusion, clamping down and pushing back, until he managed to control the urge, allowing himself to fall meekly into Sai's care, and take what came.

"How do you feel?"

Marshall opened his eyes, looked down, and realized with a start that Sai's hips were flush with his.

Huh. That wasn't so bad.

His insides still burned, but the sensation was fading, replaced by one of oddly satisfying fullness. He could _feel_the warm length inside him, its pulsing heat radiating through his core. "I'm good. Don't worry, I'm tougher than I look."

Sai smiled. "My accumulated data of your limits is thoroughly documented, Marshall, but the notion is noted." He shifted, bouncing against Marshall, causing his buried shaft to tease the still-adjusting walls of Marshall's passage. "I take it to mean that I may continue this experiment?"

Marshall snorted. "Experiment. Sure. Remind me to teach you about a thing called 'tact' sometime. Have at me, Sai."

Evidently not in possession of a comeback, Sai slowly withdrew until only his nubbed tip rested inside, then thrust smoothly forward, burying himself to the hilt. Again, a perfect stroke, smooth and steady. Marshall groaned, his own manhood bouncing with each impact of hips to rear, small droplets of pre scattering across his belly. His inner muscles were loosening, finally accepting Sai's thrusts, any pain gradually melting away into... not quite pleasure -at least, not the sort he was accustomed to- but a form of fulfilment, of enjoyment by proxy. He knew exactly how each thrust would feel for Sai, evidenced by the low purr rumbling in the tiger's throat, and the knowledge of granting that pleasure to another was its own reward.

Sweat trickled down Marshall's spine, the heat of the room rising with their activity. The window wall was beginning to fog, closing them into a tight cocoon of warmth, safety, and passion. Sai leaned in, pressing his lips to Marshall's, stifling their mutual groans. He accepted the tiger's tongue without thought, realizing belatedly exactly where that tongue had been moments before. Yet, the kiss was as sensual as ever, now bearing the taste of sex, the aroma of which permeated the air of the room like heady perfume. Their tongues wrestled with growing fervour, Sai's thrusts picking up speed with the urgency of inflamed passion, the bed bouncing and groaning along with them.

Now, pleasure of the primal sort mingled into the cacophony of sensations. Something inside him pulsed, massaged and excited by Sai's powerful thrusts. Pinpricks of ecstasy blazed their way upwards from his loins, his throbbing shaft aching to be touched. He wanted -_needed-_more. More of this feeling. More of Sai.

"Faster," Marshall panted as their lips fell apart. Sai grunted, lowering himself on top of Marshall and wrapping his thick arms around Marshall's back, then resuming his rut with greater speed. Instinctively, Marshall hooked his legs around Sai's lower back, clinging to his shoulders and hips and crying out in pure delight as the tiger pounded him. Every inch of Sai's throbbing manhood pleasured his squeezing walls, the nubs standing out in exquisite detail every time they rubbed that bulb of flesh, coaxing what felt like rivers of pre from Marshall's engorged length. He could feel Sai's own spurts trickling down his insides, warm trails that eased the tiger's thrusts, making wet noises with each withdrawal.

"I feel... very strange," Sai huffed, at last showing a hint of something other than infuriating calm. "My... other functions... appear to be shutting down. I fear I have... been compromised. Firewalls and... secondary protections are destabilizing from within. Forgive me, Agent. I may not... last to... complete the experiment."

The virus. It had worked after all.

"Sai," Marshall whispered, trailing into a drawn out groan. His balls were drawing tight, his peak rushing in with the added stimulation of Sai's plush fur stroking his skin, dragging across his turgid erection. Did Sai know that he was the cause of the AI's demise? "I'm sorry."

"Do... not be. It was a... pleasure, Agent." Another pair of quick thrusts, the imminent climax merely a breath away. "Would you... grant me a... final request?"

"Anything," breathed Marshall. He meant it too, from the bottom of his heart.

"When I... am gone, execute... program Echo. I hypothesize that you and I-"

With a cry that drowned out whatever it was Sai was saying, Marshall fell into the grip of his peak, pleasure crashing through him like a mighty electrical storm. Powerful spurts geysered from his pulsing length, staining both his stomach and Sai's fur. His passage squeezed down, trapping Sai inside as the tiger thrust home, and joined Marshall in climactic release. Warm, thick fluid erupted into his depths, the rising pressure inside him adding to the delightful milking sensation, draining him of all the cream he had to give.

Marshall clung to Sai, exhaling contentedly, his emissions slowing to a dribble, his spent manhood twitching fitfully in the aftermath. The only descriptive thought he could conjure was _warm._Both inside and out. A liquid pool radiated heat from within his gut, heavy and satisfying. He felt Sai's length still gently pulsing, gifting him with fresh squirts of potent tiger seed. A trickle of wetness escaped his plugged entrance, dribbling down between his cheeks to stain the bed.

Note to self. Use a towel when getting screwed by a tiger. Also, get screwed by a tiger more often. A smile crossed his face, which was still buried in Sai's chest. Wishful thinking? Perhaps. The future was full of unrealized possibilities...

Sai's sweet breath tickled his ear, breaking the haze of afterglow. "Goodbye... Agent."

There was a puff of air, a gentle '_ping!'_and the being known as Sai vanished in a spray of brilliant white motes. All six feet of gorgeous, refined perfection, gone in an instant. Suddenly unsupported, Marshall fell back on the bed, blinking in the blaze of the motes. They reminded him of the stars he'd once seen, in an old picture of the night sky.

Handsome right until the end, Sai. Whatever he had been, machine, man, or god, the two of them had forged an unbreakable link in their short time together. He would always remember and carry a part of Sai with him.

Lying on the bed, in the final moments before the termination of the program, Marshall uttered a single phrase.

"Execute program Echo."

The words seemed to resonate in his ears, impossibly loud. How odd. The stars were coming closer. A great weight settled upon him, almost like the ghostly form of Sai, taking him into a final embrace.

All faded to black.

~~~

"Will he recover?"

"Erm, difficult to say. His vitals are strong, but..."

"It's not an issue of body alone, right?"

"Yes. Erm, forgive me, sir, but there is in fact little we can do at this point other than observe and, erm, hope."

"I understand, Doctor. Excuse me a moment, I need to make a call."

"What happened there, Doc? Our boy have a wet dream? That normal?"

"Erm, with all due respect, General, this is the first instance of this erm, nature, I or indeed anyone else in my profession has encountered. What is and what is not 'normal' is impossible to define. From what I can observe through the neural-net feedback and the vivisometer, however, it seems that the artificial intelligence has uncovered and erm... taken advantage of a certain psychologically buried erm... proclivity, of the patient's."

"Aww Christ. You sayin' our golden boy's a closet perv? Tell me it ain't kiddy porn. I'd have to put him down myself if that's the case."

"Erm, no, General. It is nothing illicit. I am hesitant to hypothesize at this time, but-"

"Gentlemen, apologies for interrupting, but I have good news. Mission central has confirmed that Sai is offline. Our Agent Evans is a hero."

"Long as he wakes up to enjoy it."

"Optimistic as always, General. I believe Agent Evans would- oh, excuse me again. Another call. Director Gringam... Yes, hello mr. President. How do you do..? Yes sir, it's been confirmed from central, we have control... Yes sir, the operation was a success... Thank you, sir... No, he is still recovering... I will be sure to let him know, sir... Understood... We're still attempting to determine that, sir. I will see what our medical staff thinks... Thank you, sir. Doctor, the president would like to know what has become of Sai now, in your professional analysis."

"Erm, erm... that is uncertain, sir. The intelligence had retreated deep within the patient's neural-net. Deeply enough to erm... contaminate the patient's subconscious as well as conscious, which in itself should not be possible. Neural-net implants are intended to only affect the sensory and perceptive centers of the brain, not the emotive or psychological. With largely untested technology such as this, the erm... unforeseen, is more of a certainty than a possibility."

"The AI, Doc. Where is it."

"Erm, yes. I am no erm, expert in artificial inception, but the readings do indicate that all traces of the second intelligence have vanished from the patient's system. Erm, if you say it is offline within your systems, than I would cautiously postulate that it has indeed been erased. Erm, naturally barring any theoretically impossible scenarios such as-"

"We don't care about maybes, Doc, just the facts."

"Erm, apologies, General. The patient displays slightly irregular neural readings, but nothing unprecedented for high frontal lobe activity. Erm, in my professional opinion, the intelligence is gone."

"Glad to hear it, the bastard needed to be put down. Goddamn near corrupted our entire defence mainframe, then jumps into our boy's head when he goes in to check things out. Never did like them damn machines."

"They are necessary, General. It is not Sai's fault his firewall coding was flawed from the beginning. Now that we have more information, our R and D division can explore creating a far superior successor. I foresee great things to come for this country. And thank you, Doctor. Now, if you two will excuse me again... Yes, hello, sir, I am sorry for the wait. It seems that we are in the clear. Sai is gone for good... Yes, thank you, sir... Goodbye."

"So, now what? If the boy's clean, he should be right as rain in a few days, right?"

"Erm, sooner, in fact. I have dosed him with a mild mixture of neo-epinephrine to help his system exit the pseudo-comatose state. Provided his conscious mind has not fallen irretrievably far into the subconscious realm introduced by the intelligence, he should be- Ah!"

~~~

Voices surrounded him, the beeping and humming of machines. His nose twitched with the strong aroma of antiseptic. Bright lights burned his opening eyes, forcing him to squint. With an effort, he sat up, ignoring the slight pinch of the needle embedded in his forearm. His head felt unnaturally heavy, but his mind was clear. More so than it had ever been. Where was he? There were no identifying characteristics of this room. It was _too_ordinary. that meant he must be inside one of The Agency's secret facilities. There were people in the room. He recognized two of them, but ignored them for now, more interested in the simple fascination of moving his limbs, feeling the power of living muscle.

What am I now?

His memories were scattered, but clearing, as though his mind were rapidly reorganizing into a more efficient configuration. The people were talking to him, trying to get him to respond. He nodded absently, answering their questions about his health and number of fingers with no more than a passing thought.

Who am I?

The information in his mind was coalescing, sorting the pieces of the puzzle. None of what had happened had been real, but it was a form of reality. Some data was missing, confused... He remembered being with Sai, but he also remembered being with Agent Evans. He was both, but neither -a newborn being the likes of which the world had never seen. Possibilities for the human race spiralled out before him like a sky filled with stars. He was the first, but that did not mean he was the last.

I am me.