Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2001 13:41:00 EDT
From: AmateurishWriter@aol.com
Subject: M.A.R.C. Ch. 17

M.A.R.C.

Warning: The following story is a work of fiction.  It is a fantasy.  It
never happened, except in the author's imagination.  This story may contain
sex between teenage boys, a man and a teenage boy or multiple male teens.
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.  If this kind of story turns you off, delete this file and
find something else.  If you're looking for a story that has someone having
sex in every other sentence, this one is not it.

The author retains the copyright for this story.  Placing this story on a
commercial web site or in print without the authors permission is a
violation of that copyright.

Disclaimer: M.A.R.C. is in no way related to a certain movie character or
characters of a similar age and construction and/or recently released
sci-fi movie.  Any and all similarities are purely coincidental.

Comments to AmateurishWriter@aol.com, pro and con and of a constructive
nature, will be gratefully received and acknowledged, if possible.  Flamers
will be ignored.

               * * * * * * Dear Readers * * * * * *

The horrible terrorist attack of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, on the
citizens of America and the world, has put a damper on things to say the
least.  I like to believe that I am a positive person but I'm afraid that
the world hasn't seen the worst of this yet.

I'm not at all sure that posting now is appropriate.  However, I am also of
the opinion that trite old sayings such as; 'the show must go on' and
'press on regardless' have poignant meaning.  Personally, I need a
distraction, even small, from this past week's horrible events.  Some way
to distance myself from them for a time.  Therefore, I am trying to
continue writing and I am posting chapter seventeen of M.A.R.C.

If your feelings run strongly either way, feel free to express them.  After
all, freedom of expression, so long as it does no harm, is part of what
it's all about.


Near the end of Chapter Sixteen:

After thanking Pete, we gathered up my clubs and then Marc's new used clubs
and headed for the car.  As we drove home Marc continued to bubble with
enthusiasm from his first lesson.  On the other hand, I could feel the
positive feelings literally draining out of me as we got closer to the
house.  I knew that shortly I would have to tell Marc just who he was and
that the revelation might just tear his world and mine, apart.


Chapter Seventeen - Uncle John, you're scaring me

The automatic garage door came down behind us as I turned off the motor and
slumped in my seat with a sigh.

Marc looked over at me with concern in his eyes.  "Are you okay Uncle
John?"

I smiled back at him.  "Yeah, it's just been a long day."

We took our clubs out of the car and I put mine away.  "You can put those
over here Marc."  I offered.

He lugged his bag around the car and put it next to mine.  Then he pulled
out a fairway metal.  "Would it be okay if I tried a few swings out in the
yard?"  He still looked excited from his very successful lesson.

I was pleased to see him still so enthusiastic.  "Sure sweetie.  I have a
phone call to make and will be a few minutes.  Then we can have supper.
I'll call you when it's ready."

"Cool."  I watched as he bounced through the kitchen, out to and across the
deck and onto the lawn.

The call I had to make was to Eddie.  I had to let him know that I was
going to talk with Marc in a few minutes.  I climbed the stairs slowly and
dropped onto the window seat with another sigh.  A sigh of resignation.

As I looked out I could see Marc taking very slow and careful practice
swings.  His form was excellent and it was a joy to watch his strong young
body move through each swing.  Then Ralph Marsh walked into the yard.  I
guess he saw Marc swinging his club and came over to take a look.  Marc let
him take the club and try a swing.  He nodded his approval and handed it
back.  They exchanged a few words and then Ralph patted Marc on the
shoulder and strolled back into his yard with a wave.  Neither had a clue
that Marc wasn't what he seemed.

The phone weighted a ton and my fingers trembled as I pressed the buttons.
Eddie picked up on the second ring.  "Hi Eddie, it's me."  I sighed.

"Hi John."  Eddie answered.  "I can tell by your voice that it's time."

It was good to hear Eddie's reassuring voice at the other end of the line.
It was a man's voice but I could hear the voice of the young boy, that I'd
loved, in it as well.  I could also hear his frightened voice from that day
that I'd said good-bye all those years before.  He was just as scared as I
was and just like when he was that little kid, he wouldn't show it openly
knowing it would make things harder for me.  We loved each other than and
we do now.  Just differently.

"Everything will be fine."  He continued.  "I believe in you and have faith
in both of the M.A.R.C. modes."

"Thanks my friend.  Marc's had such a good day."  I paused to wipe a tear
from the corner of my eye.  "It breaks my heart to think how frightened
he'll be.  I haven't felt this bad since way back when I was driving away
from your ... your ... uh, ugh."  A deep sob escaped me.

"John, I know you did what you had to do back then, what you thought was
best."  Eddie soothed me.  "I loved you then and I love you now.  Just be
there for him and I'm confident that everything will be fine."

"Yes, I'll be sure he knows I'm here for him."  I regained some composure.
"I'll call again in the morning."

"Good.  Okay, the latest programing has just been sent.  You're a good man
and a good father John."  He gently put the receiver in its cradle and the
connection was broken.

I looked out the window and Marc was running towards the house.

"Uncle John?  Uncle John?  Where are you?"  Marc yelled as he came in off
the deck.  "I need to talk with you.  Uncle John?!"

I called to him, "Up here Marc."

Just as I put the phone back on the table Marc came in and saw the tears in
my eyes.  He came over and put his hand on my shoulder and I gathered him
into my arms and held on to him for dear life savoring the feel of his warm
young body.  "Marc, I love you so much."  I breathed in deeply, bathing in
the tangy aroma of an active adolescent boy.

"Uncle John?" He spoke so softly, almost a whisper.  "What's wrong?"

I needed time to settle myself so I said, "I'm okay.  It can wait.  You
sounded like you had something important on your mind so you go ahead."

"Well ... okay," he hesitantly started, "there was more that I should have
told you last night but I needed to think about it.  You know, to fit
pieces together like a jigsaw puzzle?"  He took a deep breath.  "Well, just
now, ah ... it all just seemed to come flooding back into my mind."  He was
clearly unsure of the meaning his thoughts.  "Somehow ... I mean, I need to
... um, I think I need your help."

I looked at him for a minute as I wiped my eyes again.  He waited patiently
for me to respond.  "Marc, I think I can provide some pieces, perhaps all
but the last one or two.  Those you will have to find for yourself."

"Huh?"  He looked unsettled.  "Do you know something?  Please tell me?"  He
was beginning to look a little frightened.

I ruffled his hair and squeezed his shoulder in an effort to calm him.
"Come on son.  Let's go down and sit on the deck for supper.  You can tell
me what you have been thinking about and I'll give you what pieces I can."

"But ..." He was impatient and I couldn't blame him.

I tried to gently put him off.  "I know that you're concerned Marc.  I made
a light supper for us this afternoon.  All we have to do is take it out of
the fridge.  Let's do that and then we can talk about it."

He reluctantly went along.

Once we were comfortably seated on the deck with tuna salad plates and iced
tea, Marc began talking and sounding very serious and mature; "Uncle John,
there is something different about me."

"How do you mean sweetie?"  I tried to sound calm.  Inside my stomach
churned and twisted into a knot.

Well first, I only have a few memories of my parents.  Second, I feel funny
because I'm not sadder.  I mean, it's been too easy to forget that they
died.  Third, in these dreams it's not me ... well, it is but it's not the
me I know or you love.  I know you are talking with me but it's not me.
Four, I sometimes ... when I'm alone and just thinking, I feel like ... I
don't know ... well, like I'm really someone else or maybe I have multiple
personalities."

For the first time since he started talking he began to lose it.  His voice
trembled.  "I'm afraid you're going to tell me I'm crazy or something."

I decided to be reassuring at first.  I had no idea for sure how he, my
Marc, would react and handle whatever changes were going to take place.
But, I wanted my Marc to know how I felt before I told him the truth.
"Marc, I want you to know that, no matter what happens, I care very much
about you.  Your happiness is more important to me than anything.  I love
you completely and unconditionally.  And I will support whatever you decide
to do no matter how much it might hurt me for you to do it."

His eyes went wide and he spoke in a very soft and tiny trembling voice.
"Uncle John, you're ... you're scaring me."

"Oh God.  I'm messing this up.  Marc, I don't mean to scare you.  I am
trying to reassure you that, well, that I'll always be here for you anytime
you need me."

"I know that.  Would you please tell me what's wrong with me?!"  His voice
was stronger now because he was getting more than just a little agitated as
well as frightened.

"Nothing's wrong with you sweetie."

"Well."  He was plainly irritated now and demanded.  "What's going on with
me then?"

"Okay, ah, well I haven't been honest with you about something very
important."

"Huh?  What ... what are you talking about?"

"You ... ah, you aren't who you think you are ... or ... ah, ah ... Oh God
... what you, ah ... you aren't what you think you are."

"I knew it.  Who am I? ... wait, you said what.  What ... what am I? ... Oh
shit!"  His voice grew to a shout.  "WILL YOU FUCKING JUST TELL ME?  GOD
DAMN IT!"

His shouting startled me into clarity and it all came spilling out.  "Marc,
they thought it was better this way.  But, you proved it wasn't.  We should
have been honest from the start.  You've proved that you are strong enough
emotionally, built and programed well enough.  I'm so sorry Marc.  I was
wrong to go along with them but it seemed so logical at the time.  I mean
... Oh God forgive me."  I pleaded.  "Oh Marc, can YOU forgive me?"

"What?  Who are THEY?  Forgive you for what?"  The poor boy looked totally
confused and terrified.  Just what I had hoped to avoid.

"Oh shit."  I paused and took a deep breath.  Then I just blurted it out.
"Marc, you make Data look like R2D2."

"R2D2?  Data?  Data, as in Star Trek?"  Disbelief, then shock and finally
denial crossed that sweet face.  "Oh Puhleeesse!"

I looked him straight in the eye and tried to fill my voice with all my
love for him.  "Listen to that inner voice Marc.  I know you have been
hearing it.  So listen.  Now.  And please believe me.  No matter what, I do
love you ..."  I added those special words that Eddie and I shared so often
with so much emotion so many years before.  "... with all my heart."

I don't know if he heard me, I could only pray that he did.  After a moment
he silently got up and walked very slowly down by the sea wall and stood
there like he did on the first day.  His hands in his pockets and his
nearly white hair blowing softly in the evening breeze.  I focused on
watching his hair and my mind wandered as one's sometimes does in times of
stress.  I wondered if he'd need haircuts.

I sat and waited.  He sat down on the wall with his legs dangling over the
edge.  He didn't move for at least half an hour.  The tuna salad crusted
over on the dishes and the ice melted in our drinks.

As I watched Marc, I saw Ralph walk down out of his yard and say something
to the boy.  Marc shook his head in response and Ralph started up the lawn
toward me.

"Shit!"  I groaned to myself.  "Just what I need right now.  A well
intentioned but nonetheless nosy neighbor."

He waved as he got closer.  "Evening John."  He greeted me and asked.
"Something eating the boy?"

I groped for an explanation.  "Oh ... ah, something we were talking about
over supper got him thinking about his parents."  It was just a small lie.
"He's just a little down right now and wanted to be by himself for a while.
I've got my eye on him."

"Oh, poor fella'."  Ralph sympathized.  "It musta been hard for him.  If
there's anything that I can do John, just ask."

"Thanks Ralph, that's very kind of you.  Marc and I just need some time
alone."  I tried to be polite and appreciative but hoped he'd get the hint
and leave.  "I think he's a little embarrassed about crying."

"I suppose."  He didn't get the hint.  "I see you've got him trying golf."

Marc got up and stood there looking up at Ralph and I.  "I'm sorry Ralph."
I interrupted him as politely as I could.  "I don't think he'll come back
up with you here."

"Huh?"  Ralph really was a good friend but he could be a little dense
sometimes.  He looked down the lawn at Marc standing there.  "Oh.  Well,
er, I think I hear Ginny calling.  I'll let you two be then."

"Thanks Ralph."  I called after him as he walked back over to his yard.

Finally, Marc came back up to the deck.  He stopped across the table from
me as I looked up at him expectantly.  With no emotion, he made a simple
request.  "Pick a color; sun yellow or powder blue."

I felt totally confused and continued to look up at him helplessly.  "Ah,
Powder blue.  I suppose."

"Thank you."  He spoke in a quiet voice as he turned away.  "I'm going to
my room."

I watched as he walked into the house and felt like I weighed a thousand
pounds.  I went down to the sea wall and stood looking out at the water
like he did.  I sat down and sobbed heavily.  After a while, I got up and
went back to the deck and gathered up the dishes.  Inside, I threw out the
spoiled food, washed and dried them and put them away.  The evening lasted
for years, no, for centuries.  Twice I went upstairs to look in on Marc but
he just lay on his bed looking at the ceiling.  I went down to read and
couldn't.  I tried the TV but it was no use.  Finally, about 11:00pm, I got
up and went to bed.  Sleep was long in coming but I finally slipped away
into the welcome darkness.

"John?"  I was dreaming that I could hear a very faint whisper coming from
far far away.

"John?"  There it was again but closer.

I felt the bed move and a soft warm hand rest gently on my arm.  I opened
one eye.

"Hi."

I cleared my throat, unsure about what to say. "Hi.  Are ... are you all
right?"

"Yes John, I am fine.  I will tell you all about it in the morning but
first I need your help."

He stood up as I opened my other eye, "help?  Help with what?"

"These, he said as he suggestively snapped the elastic waist band of a very
sexy pair of powder blue silky bikini briefs.  He smiled down at me
suggestively.

I smiled back up at him and said, "I have to pee first."  He giggled and
then, hesitantly, I did too.

I swung my legs off the bed and sat up.  Marc didn't let me stand but moved
in between my knees and smiled down at me.

He said, "I want to make love to you."

Forgetting my need to go to the bathroom, I brought my hands up to his hips
and took the waist band of his incredibly sexy briefs in my fingers.  They
trembled as I was suddenly very aroused.  All the past evening's anxieties
slipped away as I couldn't wait to feel his beautiful hard boyhood slide
into me and his hot love juices shooting inside.  The briefs slid down
quickly to reveal ...

I whispered in disbelief; "Oh God!  No!  Oh shit no!"  He had no penis or
testicles, only smooth hairless skin!

As I looked up at him in terror, he smiled sweetly down at me again and
said.  "Well, what did you expect?  After all, I am JUST an android."

I clenched my eyes closed and screamed.  Actually, I didn't scream.  I
couldn't scream.  Oh, I tried like hell but it was like I was paralyzed.  I
couldn't move.  I wanted to get up and run but most of all I wanted so
desperately to scream.  I tried and tried and all I heard was a weak high
pitched keening kind of sound.  Finally, after what seemed like a
superhuman effort I was able to squeeze out a long low sobbing moan,
"Mmmmaaaarrc!"

Next: Chapter Eighteen - Something in the darkness frightened me