B Clones (Clones #1) - Laurann Dohner Page 0,31
conversation once while a guest was complaining to a superior about the lack of sex options available to him. The staff member said it made clones mentally unstable over time to be subjected to that line of work. We do have feelings and emotions, despite what birthed beings believe. I image those clones either suffered great depression or snapped by attacking a customer.”
“I hope they attacked. I would if some bastard tried to bed me by force. I’d kill someone.”
Big nodded. “Some clones interact with each other and experiment with sex. We’re not lacking in urges. But we also have aversions to being touched by those we aren’t attracted to. On CW, Clones are secured in their dorms when not on duty but a few have been assaulted by guests. Most of those clones were put down after the attacks. They couldn’t recover from the emotional trauma or were too physically damaged to be allowed to return to their duties.” His voice deepened with rage. “The higher-ups didn’t want the guests to see disfigured clones.”
That horrified her. “Clone World killed them?”
“Yes. We heal from a lot…but not everything. The company billed those guests for damages. That was their only punishment.” Pain glinted in his eyes. “Two male guests once got ahold of a clone maid in their private cottage…and murdered her. I was the one called to the scene of the crime when the next maid on duty found her body. I had nightmares for months of what she must have endured at their hands. They’d not only sexually assaulted her, but cut her up to find out if she had the same internal organs as a human. They weren’t even kicked off the planet. They were just charged for a replacement clone and billed for the cost of any damages to the cottage. Human security took over and ordered us to leave. They knew we wanted to kill both men for what they’d done to our female.”
“I don’t like where you used to work.”
“I didn’t either. It’s why we escaped.”
She rested her cheek against his chest, holding him. “I feel bad for all the clones now. They’re our people, I suppose.” It had been difficult coming to terms with that. It still was. She still struggled with her new reality, but the denial stage had mostly passed. “Can’t anything be done?”
“No. Clone World is the biggest buyer of clones. To shut it down would mean the termination of over eight hundred clones. It would also cut off our supply to plasma. We’d die without it. JDJ Cryo Corp only sells plasma to clients they’ve sold clones to. We thought about opening an account to buy directly from them to avoid drawing attention from space authorities, but were blocked from doing so because we’d have to purchase clones. They’d quickly realize we’re ordering more plasma than what’s required for the units sold, and it would become a problem.
“There are a lot of rich people who don’t live on Earth, who buy clones to staff their homes. Some resorts on colony worlds order us as well, to entertain their guests and do manual labor, but not enough to transport regular shipments of plasma. It would be difficult to learn their transport schedules.”
“You already know how Clone World works, though. When they get shipments and such. That’s why you go after their shuttles. Got it.”
“They adjusted the times after we escaped but we know the routes and the shuttles to target. Rico Florigo also owns his own transport service. That means he can save money on shipping costs and order illegal clones without fear of the cargo being inspected.”
“It just makes me sad to think of all those people forced into slavery. Let’s call it what it is.”
He kissed the top of her head. “Agreed. If it helps, there are some clones that exist without harm and seem happy to live the lives they were given. Some enjoy it quite a bit. They have adoring fans who travel to see them sing and dance onstage. I once had to deliver gifts to a male entertainer on his source material’s birthday. He’d also fallen in love with one of his backup singers, and they lived together.”
“Was the backup singer a clone?”
He nodded. “Some of the entertainer clones are given exemptions from the rules because of their popularity with the guests. Special private quarters are provided for them, so they don’t have to live in the dorms. They’re allowed to have relations with other