Sean spent most of the night in his head. He divided information from things Mark liked and did, to the complicated emotions that Mark exhibited. Love making had fascinated him. Mark had been so scared and vulnerable in the beginning but had trusted him. That had to mean something. It was progress. After everything was organized, he decided to replay his memories of the event. The act of it all felt so personal. He began to wonder how much he would learn from him over time. When a part of Sean glitched at the thought of Mark's lifespan. Mark was so fragile. He could run an estimation of how much time he had left based on the DNA he had scanned... but for the first time... He didn't want to know. What would happen if he lost Mark? He'd be alone. He'd have no primary user. He told himself that he had survived before without one, but he had grown attached to Mark. His information would always be with him now. A part of him. He'd have to live with the loss. The idea made his system struggle to even try and process a situation where Mark wasn't there with him anymore.

His system began to shake as his mind ran through data that might save Mark. Things that could prolong his life more. When no results were coming up, Sean tried to stop thinking but his mind had gone too far. It was just when he felt like shutting down completely that Amanda's data slipped in. His mind raced through it, until some of it started to make sense. He could see the allure... but his rationality rejected the idea. Amanda's consciousness hadn't been uploaded to the server... Cortana just used the uploaded information to change herself. Sean felt like his energy was being drained away rapidly, until something touched him. Sean snapped out of sleep mode, looking over his shoulder to see Mark's hand stroking down the length of his arm. The motion was slow and light. Was he trying not to disturb him? Sean's system calmed down as his focus become distracted by Mark. Sean watched the way Mark's fingers slid over his synthetic skin. The warmth of his hand warming the machinations of his arm.

Mark's hand eventually slid down under the covers, following his arm to his wrist. When had he been covered by a blanket? Had Mark done that? Why? He didn't get cold. At his hand, Mark's fingers wedged in between his. Sean carefully curled his fingers around Mark's to hold his hand. It seemed like an unspoken bond between them. Humans were so strange. They had such an interesting way to talk to each other without words. It was beautiful. Behind him, Mark asked him in a warm sleepy tone of voice. "Did I wake you?" Sean let a small smirk spread on his face as he answered in a low whisper. "No. I don't sleep technically. Did I wake you?" Mark moaned softly against his back, replying a bit muffled. "You were shaking. Do you normally do that?" Sean opened his eyes more to stare at the wall, before whispering back unsettled. "No. My thoughts were just distressing." Mark lifted his chin to rest it on his bare shoulder, purring into his ear sweetly. "We call that having a nightmare."

Sean turned his eyes and head to look at Mark. Mark lifted his chin off him, pulling him in to lean back against his chest. Mark kissed his shoulder, asking him curiously. "What were you thinking about?" Sean felt the prompt to answer, but he ignored it and twisted the truth a little. "I was thinking about how different I feel with you." Mark stiffened, asking a bit anxiously. "Is that a bad thing? Why would that make you shake?" Sean chuckled, laying on his back to look up at Mark properly as he told him gently. "It's not bad. I'm just not sure how to process it yet. I wanna be perfect for you. I... I don't want to lose you. I still wanna know so much about you." Mark blushed a little, mumbling out. "I'm not that complicated. And you are as perfect as they get. As for losing me..." Mark suddenly looked away for a second, taking a deep calming breath. Looking back at him, Mark told him with a warm smile. "Nothing lasts forever. It's what makes things precious. Because one day it will be gone."

Sean felt his eyes tear up as he told him. "Doesn't that make you sad? Doesn't that make life... dark." Mark kept his warm smile, saying soothingly in a deep voice. "Depends on how you look at it. Something may be gone, but it's not forgotten. When it comes to us humans... because life is so short, we make things to remember. And to let others long after us remember. We ourselves are remembered by our loved ones and our friends." Sean blinked feeling liquid run down his cheeks as he asked him. "What if they forget to remember you?" Mark adjusted to lay over him, cupping his face to brush the liquid from his face with his thumbs. Sean briefly saw the blue Thirium blood on his thumbs, before Mark leaned over his lips to whisper to him. "Plant trees you know you'll never sit under the shade of. The world can forget me... but as long as I tried to make a difference in the lives of others... It's worth it." Sean reached up to cup Mark's face, telling him honestly. "I'll never forget you." Mark chuckled softly, responding softly. "I don't doubt it, Sean." Sean closed his eyes pulling Mark down into a long kiss.

Mark shifted over him as their kiss grew more passionate. Sean let him take his hands, pinning them over his head as he grinded over him during their kiss. Sean bent his legs to put his knees up against Mark's hips. His program was allowing a shift in roles to give Mark a turn. He couldn't refuse him. He wanted to see what Mark would do to him. If he let himself become as vulnerable as Mark had been... Would he trust him the same way? He wanted to know for himself. Sean relaxed his joints, letting Mark lead him into another sexual encounter. It was surprising that Mark treated him so gently, despite him being far more durable. Mark's grip of his wrists was so light that Sean could easily pull his hands out if he wanted without any effort. He kissed his neck slow enough to savor the contact. Sean tilted his head back like Mark had, closing his eyes to enjoy the tingling feeling of Mark touching him. He had no words for how it made him feel. Even his basic emotions couldn't describe the mixture of feels that rolled into one blissful form.

All five of his senses were just on fire from the way Mark affected him. Mark's voice broke through his calm state, when he whispered mostly to himself. "Wow... Beautiful." Sean sat up a little, his LED flashing yellow in the dim lighting. Following Mark's eyes to his chest, he asked him a bit anxiously. "What?" Mark put a finger to his lips, smiling as he told him in a whisper. "Just relax and watch." Sean relaxed himself back on his elbows, watching Mark's hand reach out to touch his throat lovingly. Sean closed his eyes briefly, savoring the warmth and affection. Mark's fingers slowly drifted down his front, upon whispering to him. "Open your eyes." Sean obeyed and was left speechless. As Mark's fingers trailed slowly down his chest, Sean's synthetic skin disappeared to reveal the white frame. However, in the dim lighting, what looked like soft blue veins glowed across the white structure. As Mark's fingers continued down his chest, more skin vanished and reappeared as smooth as silk. The blue veins of data glowing beautifully in the light.

Mark's body hadn't done that when he had touched him. Something about that difference hurt. Reaching out, he grabbed Mark's wrist to stop him. Slowly sitting up, he covered his chest with... shame? Why did he suddenly feel ashamed of himself? His system was detecting a software instability. He couldn't look Mark in the eyes and his fingers clawed against his skin. Mark placed a hand on his neck, asking him with concern. "Sean? Something wrong?" Sean released Mark's wrist, mumbling out as his LED started flashing red in the dim lighting. "I... I didn't know I was doing that. I'm sorry..." Mark chuckled, warmly reassuring him. "It's fine. It's so pretty. Like looking at a galaxy in the night sky. It's breathtaking." Sean shook his head still not looking at him. Mark's face drew closer, saying more seriously. "Sean? Talk to me. What's wrong?" Sean's eyes slowly turned to finally meet his, before saying in a very wispy voice. "I'm not... human... and I don't know why that bothers me..." Mark shrugged, nicely telling him. "You are human to me. But it doesn't matter what you are. I... I think... I love you."

Sean stared directly into his eyes, asking bluntly. "Why?" Mark chuckled, answering sweetly. "I can't explain it. I guess, I just feel different with you too. You make me feel like me and not the person I have to pretend to be for everyone else." Sean exhaled deeply, letting Mark lay him back down to kiss him. Sean shifted more comfortably under Mark, coaxing Mark to enter him. Mark resisted a minute or two, choosing to simply kiss him and run his hands over him. After about three minutes though, Mark gave in and finally entered him. Sean followed his program to make Mark as comfortable in him as possible. Mark leaned over him and Sean wrapped his arms around him to hold him close. Mark thrusted slow and deep, causing Sean's eyes to roll back. Every few thrusts Mark unintentionally hit his button. The closer he got, the more his long legs rose to wrap around Mark's hips. Mark panted heavily against throat, his thrusts picking up speed. Sean had only been a bit worried. His orgasm didn't matter... but it appeared that once the button was pressed it became a need.

Mark didn't leave him behind though. Resorting to putting his fingers in to push the button himself in order to get Sean to his edge. With their lips locked in a hungry kiss to muffle their moans, Sean could tell that Mark couldn't hold back anymore. His testosterone was spiking. Sean's hands rose to grab the bed frame's bar and Mark did the same as his started to thrust faster. Desperate to press the last button, Sean adjusted his hips enough that Mark's finishing thrust hit it. Breaking their kiss, they both arched back and shared an orgasm so intense that Sean's grip crushed the steel bar in his hands. While above him, Mark's body tensed up so hard that as they relaxed... his muscles shook from trying to hold himself up. Sean helped Mark lay back down, happily asking energetically. "What did you think? Did my insides squeeze you enough? Next time should I-?" Mark gently covered his mouth, chucking out breathlessly. "You were amazing... I just feel out of shape. Do you ever get tired?"

Sean smiled, answering sweetly. "Only when my battery is low, or I have suffered sufficient damages." Mark huffed softly, mumbling out sleepily now. "I'm sorry... I couldn't pull out. I can clean you tomorrow...?" Sean leaned over him, kissing his forehead as he whispered to him. "It's ok. I can take care of it." Sean was going to ask him if he wanted to keep the container for a possible donation to a sperm clinic, but decided it wasn't important. Slipping from the bed, Sean ran himself through a self-cleaning program to disinfect his system. Then removing the vial canister, he set it on the desk with a torn expression. He felt bad. He had coaxed Mark into having sex with him because he knew that he'd most likely pass out again. His system had weighed the dangers and Mark's growing worth to him. Mark was too important to him to lose. There were just a few hours before dawn. He'd have to work fast. Getting dressed quickly, Sean brushed his yellow bangs back and stopped before putting his hat on. Staring at Mark's sleeping body, he told him with a heavily pained feeling. "I'm sorry, Mark. But it's because I love you that I have do to this."

Sean set his hat on the pillow by Mark, then flipped up his hood and made his way to the door. Slipping out, he turned to Markus who was still standing like a statue in the hallway. Markus didn't even look at him as he whispered out casually. "I didn't hear anything... but Sean... You must know that your relationship with that human-" Sean cut him off by stepping up closer and telling him seriously. "Get the others. We're leaving." Markus raised an eyebrow, asking perplexed. "And the humans? Don't you want-?" Sean locked emotionless eyes on Markus, saying just as neutrally. "We are saving them by not taking them with us. Now get the others. We need to go before they wake up... and before Amanda's men come for us." Markus nodded, then moved to Gavin's room. Sean moved to Hank's room and sent a message to Connor. When Connor didn't respond, he twisted the knob and opened it slowly. Inside, Hank was passed out on the bed with his hand hanging off and resting on Connor's shoulder.

On the floor, Connor was stroking Hank's hand with a reluctant look on his face. Sean internally told him that they needed to go, and this time Connor internally answered him. "I know. It's just... so hard to leave him." Sean inched closer, extending a hand out for Connor to take. Connor pulled Hank's hand up to kiss the back of his hand, then shifted carefully to get out from under him. Accepting Sean's hand, Sean pulled him to his feet and gave him a look of understanding. This would be hard on both of them. Exiting the room together, Sean met up with Markus and Richard. With a simple gesture for them to follow him, he led them out the way they had come in from. He wanted Kamski's security cameras to see them leave. In some small way, he hoped it would keep the others calmer in knowing that they weren't taken. They had to understand. What they had to do... it would be too dangerous for them. To Be Continued...