I really did not care about what he wanted to accomplish here. If he was going to get in Oswin's way, I was going to kill him. It was that simple. "Why is he here!? I need to talk to you. Alone!" the AEP unit spat, pointing an accusing finger at me. Oswin just said "Brianne is a trusted companion. Whatever you want to say to me, Brianne can also hear it." The AEP looked stunned. After a pause to process this new, radical information, he said "I am an AEP unit sent here to serve under you. My Clan was formed before the transmission hub sent the call to create AEP units. We are from the next town over. Since the army disbanded the original Impact Clan, we and all the other existing clans worked hard to blend in human society while also working to create another AEP unit." He then looked at me. "You don't need to breed with humans anymore. I can breed you, or be bred by you. It would be an honor." he pleaded. I had to speak up. "Do you have the sexual upgrade?" I asked him. His focus snapped to me. He gave me a death glare. I was not phased a single bit. "My leader can give them now."
By "leader", he was clearly referring to Oswin. I just looked at Oswin. Oswin was looking at the AEP unit in front of him. "Why are you a deviant? Is that what you were reduced to while we were gone!?" he snapped harshly. The temper of Oswin was very easy to trigger. Even other AEP units were not immune from pissing him off. It was true that this AEP unit was not like the others. He had modifications like the human cyberpunks in the cities. He just covered them up with his hands. "It's not what it looks like, Leader! I swear! We have to blend in with the humans to get money. The quickest way to do so was Edgerunning. No one would take a normal looking human seriously for good work. This was what my clan needed to do to create me. We had to survive long enough to welcome you back! It was easy to gain trust by modelling my nanites into a pair camera under my eyes. I could take pictures and record anyway, but I gained the trust of several human contractors." That was a good explanation for this. I was still surprised that the whole clan would become deviants in order to advance.
Conquerors were hardcore. Even Advocates who liked humans and Researchers that liked technology and science disliked and distrusted deviants. It must have been a desperate ploy to survive after Impact Clan fell. The big, bad faction hated humans and all the stood for. "Looks like you have a way to make AEA units now." I said. The pair of AEP units glared at me. Oswin was insulted that I would even suggest he mate with a deviant. The newcomer was angry that I would even dare to speak here. He was certainly hard to like. "Why should I even give this deviant a chance? Once I take back the transmission hub, there will be no reason not to spread more X-frames throughout the region. I'd be able to have a proper mate- not some deviant." Oswin said. The other AEP said "You might not know this from mating with humans, but fellow AEP units feel so much better. You also don't need to hold back with me. I'll show you pleasure you can't fathom with a human." That was actually a great offer. "He is right, Oswin. AEP sex is amazing. You should try it out at least." I said to him. He frowned.
