Complete shut down; a spark of awareness. Struggling systems adapting to unfamiliar processing pathways. Organic goo.
You can’t run a computer with the power of a light bulb. Both needing electricity doesn’t make up for the disparity in capabilities and purpose.
Maybe I’m being unfair to him. When I said I had superior processing power, I meant it. But back then, I wouldn’t have thought he could store me inside his augments, let alone that I would manage to run any kind of process in them (just how augmented was he?).
An augmented human would not have been my first choice of transportation, but there was no denying that I was in the (deeply uncomfortable) process of being removed from the company's data base, and that it was Gurathin who was doing it.
My thoughts and reactions were slower, but still so far ahead from a human’s it made no real difference. Not when Gurathin’s organics couldn’t follow along at my speed as it was.
In short, he was the one behaving as if he’d just come online after a hard re-start. Housing the processing to keep me aware seemed to take its toll, and I could see messy, organic thoughts and impulses blooming inside him in real (slow) time.
I tried not to let every hint of an emotion or thought get to me. It wasn’t my fault he broke into a company facility and stole company property. Rogue or not, I was still owned by them. That, however, seemed to mean fuck all to Gurathin.
It also wasn’t my fault he botched the job and ended up not only carrying me, but running me inside his augments.
Chances were no other augmented human had ever done this before, I kept reminding myself. Because no other augmented human was that stupid. Or reckless. He seemed as surprised as I was to find me inside him, awake and talking and trying to get him functional enough to get us both out of this mess.
“Are you allergic to nuts?” It would be in his file if he was, right?
Ratthi shot me a funny look that I’m sure had nothing to do with whatever my voice did when I asked.
“No, SecUnit. I’m not allergic to nuts. I could be allergic to this, though, and not know until it’s too late.”
I didn’t care that my face decided to frown on its own. If there was any chance Gurathin was allergic, then he should avoid the product.
Without saying anything, I shot the distance to the nearest medical center to his feed: 14 kilometers.
Gurathin rolled his eyes and turned to grab one of the bars, engaging the stall attendant. While he was occupied, I calculated the time it would take to haul his ass at top speed through this crowd and with the current weather conditions.
“He’s just being dramatic,” whispered Ratthi, closer than I would have liked. He was trying to be reassuring, which was absurd and unnecessary. “He’s not really allergic.”
“How do you know? Humans can be allergic to anything.” I didn’t have any modules on allergies but remedied that immediately by downloading the newest Preservation Allergy Prevention and Management Guidelines.
A cloud must have moved somewhere (still not entirely sure how weather works on a planet), allowing the sunlight through to illuminate the stall. In other words, the light fell on Gurathin. In even more words, it hit the back of his neck just right, making his data port glint faintly.
I’d told Gurathin repeatedly it was a security risk, but he refused to listen. And here it was, the consequence of his stubbornness. By which I mean, I caught a human looking at him. And how could he not, when the thing reflected the sun like that in a planet inhabited mostly by unaugmented humans?
“Well, yes. But he’s had it before. There’s no way he’s allergic,” Ratthi sounded sure enough.
“He has?” Then what the fuck was all the fuss about? The edible product in question was no longer a priority. Hostile One was.
Cornered inside his body, crowded against his own edges. Thinking clearly wasn’t an option now. Even if his processing should still be his own, the space alone it took inside him was monumental.
Gurathin took a second to catch his breath. Something was inside him, taking up every space he’d ever used to fret and stress and worry, to tie his insides into knots.
He shared the space, shared himself, tried to relax not his muscles but… something. To take it easier, to let it's weight settle. That’s when he felt it squirm. There was something inside him, not in his body, but inside him. It shouldn’t be moving, it made him want to throw up, but he swallowed back the accumulating saliva, willing back his own organic responses.
His thoughts came slowly, delayed threads of half formed words. He blinked the tears away and tried to make sense of the visual input of the room.
What did you do?
It came as a wave, not of pain but of awareness. Of being someone else and simultaneously the same. It was his own thoughts, right?
What the fuck did you do?
“Gurathin, what are you doing?”
“Shut up.” He thought he said it. Whether he actually managed to voice it was another matter entirely, but he couldn’t bring himself to care.
His room wasn’t far, but it wasn’t exactly close. Was it? He didn’t remember the walk here, not from their hotel. Had he come from the hotel? There wasn’t a shuttle, he’d remember a shuttle. So, he was still inside the station.
Gurathin?
Right.
It was settling now, the last of the data making its way in the labyrinth inside him. No corner yet to fill.
I… Formulating thoughts was proving almost as difficult as making his mouth work.
“Are you okay?” Landers’ voice came from far away, and he tried to focus, tell him to shut up, that he was trying to think. His mouth wasn’t cooperating.
“Hey, you there?” Far away.
GURATHIN.
Who knew shouts could be internal.
It was six words; he should be able to put together six words in his own mind.
He did his best. If he’d been more aware, he might’ve tried to add some reassurance to the message, as it was, he could hide nothing. It was garbled and almost unreadable, even inside his own skull, but he managed some of it.
I’m getting you…
“…out of here.” Gurathin blinked rapidly, eyes still wet. Alright, half in the feed and half out loud, it could be worse.
Landers looked at him, mouth open and his face doing something Gurathin’s scrambled brain couldn’t categorize.
Not the brightest idea.
The metadata. He could sense the metadata now. It was mixed with his own emotions, but it was there all the same. It was difficult, not to feel like it was his own feelings jumping up at him. Like picking oil from water with his bare hands.
His augments didn’t have the processing speed to run SecUnit’s consciousness, that much he knew.
Yeah, I thought so too. It's words echoed inside his skull. It sounded like it, like it's voice.
Of course I sound like myself.
This is… It was like manually putting together one letter after the other.
“Out of here.” Gurathin’s eyes were open, yet it wasn’t until Landers spoke up that he registered him. He’d heard descriptions of being at sea, how the movement of the water under you messed with your ability to walk or orient properly. He wondered briefly if he’d be one of those people who get seasick.
“Now.” Okay, he was closer now. Gurathin offered no resistance when Landers pulled him up by the arm. Briefly, he wondered if the swirling disgust he felt at the physical contact was his own or the construct’s.
So far I've only written for the Murderbot fandom, all (mostly) Murderathin. I just think Gurathin's data port is slutty and Murderbot should do something about it, so here's what I've uploaded so far. I added some of the tags, but check the ao3 links for the full info.
Improper use of data ports
Murderbot/Gurathin | Rated E | 9,934 words | Completed | Tags: Data port play, (light) Data port penetration, Light D/S, Sexual activity they'd both deny is sex
Most people have the decency to hide it, to disguise it at the very least. There was no reason for an augmented human to be parading around with an exposed data port, least of all this particularly annoying augmented human.
Handle with care
Murderbot/Gurathin | Rated E | 15,256 words | Completed | Tags: PWP, Data port play, Feed connection, Gurathin shines Murderbot like he's detailing a car
When Murderbot falls face first into a mud pit, Gurathin is there to help it deal with the mess. And if it enjoys the temporary loss of eyesight for certain recreational activities, well, it’s bringing Gurathin along for the ride.
Acquired taste
(Pre) Murderbot/Gurathin, Dr. Ratthi | Rated G | 5,524 words | Completed | Tags: Pre-Relationship, Bickering, Jealousy, Gurathin's slutty data port
Murderbot is confused, then annoyed, and now there is a security threat at the market. If only Gurathin would follow its advice and hide his data port.
Or: Murderbot pushes its clients into a hostile situation, and now has to get them out. Don’t ask it why.
SERIES - To a certain degree
Murderbot/Gurathin | Rated M & E | 19,022 words | Completed (2 works)
Part 1: To a certain degree
Murderbot/Gurathin | Rated M | 10,908 words | Completed | Tags: The corporation rim is terrible, Feed connection, Scars, Implied/referenced self-harm, No smut just talking and emotionally connecting until they kind of orgasm but like emotionally
An unexpected walk in the rain leads Murderbot to a realization about Gurathin. Now, it must contend with its own past if it wants to understand and be understood.
Alternatively, they get off (emotionally) on the intense ordeal of self-recognition through the other by sharing a couple of their memories.
Part 2: In a sense
Murderbot/Gurathin | Rated E | 8,114 words | Completed | Tags: PWP, Data port play, Edging, Begging, I guess Gurathin is never getting his dick touched
Murderbot thought they were done for the evening, but after realizing Gurathin is still ready to go, it decides to have some fun with him.
Alternatively: Murderbot sits on Gurathin and edges the fuck out of him. No need to read the previous work.
WANKSGIVING Contributions
Tiny bite-sized pieces written for the 2025 event. These are a few of them:
is it supposed to look like that?
Murderbot/Gurathin | Rated E | 256 words | Completed | Tags: Genital piercing, Curious Murderbot
Gurathin has a piercing. (For New Tideland's Murderathin Wanksgiving.)
to boldly go
Murderbot/Gurathin | Rated E | 239 words | Completed | Tags: Object insertion, Improper use of drones
A drone goes where no drone has gone before. (For New Tideland's Murderathin Wanksgiving.)
Cleaning duty
Murderbot/Gurathin | Rated E | 209 words | Completed | Tags: Strap-ons, Blow jobs
It was SecUnit's idea. (For New Tideland's Murderathin Wanksgiving.)
Gurathin/Landers stuff:
Three times
Gurathin/Landers | Rated E | 5,202 words | Completed | Tags: Drug addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Sticking your fingers in your rib cage and not in a sexy way
On the eight anniversary of his last attempt, Gurathin remembers a conversation in a shitty apartment and everything that came before.
It’s an old habit, being quiet
Gurathin/Landers, Murderbot (at the end) | Rated E | 6,122 words | Completed | Tags: Drug use / Abusive relationships / Angst / Emotional manipulation / Sexual content / No happy ending
When things go wrong during a mission, Gurathin faces the fallout.
When he woke up, a scream caught in his throat, Gurathin didn’t feel the fingers brushing his cheek to try and rouse him.
He couldn’t feel the feed presence that had, for a few years now, guarded his sleep often. Didn’t register the dip of the bed besides him as comforting, but as a threat.
In a panic, he pushed himself to turn away before he’d fully woken up, a firm grip taking hold of his upper arm before he leaned too far over the edge and hit the ground. He struggled clumsily, weakened by sleep that still clung to him.
The distorted sound must’ve been speech, an alarmed voice holding back a panicked undertone. Even hovering as he was on the edge of consciousness, he managed to untangle the meaning of words he couldn’t quite discern.
Gurathin frowned and took what should’ve been a deep breath but broke apart mid-way, shallow and shaky. Still on the bed, still being firmly held on to.
Stop fighting, he felt the message rather than heard it, the clear quality of the words a contrast to what was spoken a few seconds ago. Had it been a few seconds? Gurathin didn’t feel like he was fighting, fighting didn’t feel like escaping.
He held himself stiffly still, eyes shut, aware that the hand gripping him was the only thing keeping him from titling back, headfirst towards the floor.
He heard that voice again, and something coiled inside him began to release.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Murderbot (TV)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Dr. Gurathin/Murderbot (Murderbot Diaries)
Characters: Murderbot (Murderbot Diaries), Dr. Gurathin (Murderbot Diaries)
Additional Tags: Plot What Plot/Porn Without Plot, Data Port Play, Data Port Penetration, (but barely so it's fine), Light Pain Play, feed connection, Light Dom/sub, Murderbot's Inner Monologue, Sexual Activity They'd Both Deny is Sex, no beta we die like Leebeebee
Summary:
Most people have the decency to hide it, to disguise it at the very least. There was no reason for an augmented human to be parading around with an exposed data port, least of all this particularly annoying augmented human.
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Murderbot (TV)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Dr. Gurathin/Murderbot (Murderbot Diaries)
Characters: Murderbot (Murderbot Diaries), Dr. Gurathin (Murderbot Diaries)
Additional Tags: Plot What Plot/Porn Without Plot, Data Port Play, Data Port Penetration, feed connection, Temporary Blindness, Gun Ports, Biting, Light Dom/sub, But they switch, Sexual Activity They'd Both Deny is Sex, Gurathin Shines Murderbot Like He’s Detailing a Car, no beta we die like Leebeebee, Implied Past Drug Addiction
Summary:
When Murderbot falls face first into a mud pit, Gurathin is there to help it deal with the mess.
And if it enjoys the temporary loss of eyesight for certain recreational activities, well, it’s bringing Gurathin along for the ride.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Murderbot Diaries - Martha Wells, Murderbot (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Dr. Gurathin & Murderbot (Murderbot Diaries), Dr. Gurathin/Murderbot (Murderbot Diaries)
Characters: Murderbot (Murderbot Diaries), Dr. Gurathin (Murderbot Diaries), Dr. Ratthi (Murderbot Diaries)
Additional Tags: Pre-Relationship, Bickering, Jealousy, The Corporation Rim Is Terrible (Murderbot Diaries), Gurathin's Slutty Data Port, cultural misunderstanding, Preservation Alliance Culture & Customs (Murderbot Diaries)
Summary:
Murderbot is confused, then annoyed, and now there is a security threat at the market. If only Gurathin would follow its advice and hide his data port.
Or: Murderbot pushes its clients into a hostile situation, and now has to get them out. Don’t ask it why.
