by Marcus Sloss
The two advisors vibrated in agreement. That settled it. Everything changed and at the same time nothing did. The violence was going to be contained. No matter the cost, and no matter the method. Seetheus knew in his hybrid soul there was no other option.
CHAPTER 11
Nancy’s tits were flopping from energetically grinding my hips. I paused from clutching her waist to adjust my pillow. The bed was a mess from an hour of family orgy sex, I was surprised I even found a pillow at all. Nancy rotated to reverse cowgirl. I blasted a smack onto her ass.
Her twerking was magical, and finally after we both were a sweaty mess I orgasmed into her. She whimpered feeling my cum filling her. Another juicy booty smack and she got off dripping my jizz down her leg.
“That was amazing,” I said between panted breaths. “We need to figure out what is holding up the others. They were supposed to be here in their synthetics already. I guess we can take a break and get some food. I am so thirsty too. But first a shower!”
Nancy gave a giddy squeak as she ran for the bathroom. There was a massive shower stall, a soaking tub, a bathing tub, five sinks, and three private toilets. Everything a family with a bunch of women could ask for.
“Umm… Shit… Fuck… Eric put on your Gpad,” Nancy said urgently and I raced for the device I had shoved into an end table. “Awe, there is some good news at least. Sammie is stable inside the VirtaBox.”
“Nancy, that is not worth me having heart-pounding anxiety -”
“Eric, check the Gpad. Our wives are gearing for battle. You need to also,” Nancy said and I slapped my Gpad on.
A video automatically played. Daxstar’s face populated the screen. “As of today, the grand market is no more. I know this because all items have suddenly been removed and spilled on the ground outside. All personnel who were shopping have been ejected. All contracts in limbo have been randomly deposited to highest bidder and we had high bids on hundreds of auctions. We assume that the grand market was destroyed and there will be no more golden portals. Please adjust accordingly with us as the leadership of Bastion is prepared. We have food, processing, manufacturing, and a solid base. We estimate the blue portals will activate unless the divine has some secret we do not know about. Possibly at a three out of four rotation, meaning our woes have not ended. Actually, they have gotten worse in the short term. Long term we will be fine with this planet's resources and those of the enemy we can steal. That is all for now. We will need a group effort to recover those needing a ride home and securing our items ejected. For the community and the Bastion Nation.”
I walked under the shower spray while digesting the message. They did it. They really did it. After all this time, the containing master race was dealt a staggering blow. Whoa, this… This was huge. Nancy lathered me up while I zoned out. A call came in from Willis. My video orb left my wrist to show my face only.
“King Eric, good to see you in excellent health. You need to enter the VirtaBox and then insert it into your new synthetic. Now it is more important than ever that your true body avoid being put in harm’s way,” Willis said in almost a demanding tone. Then he grew chipper. “The bonus is you can recklessly fight and not have to worry about dying. Unless you lose the fight and we all die in Bastion. Then we’re dead. So… you’re on your way?”
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I asked with a chuckle. “Toweling off now. See you soon.”
I hung up the call. Nancy grabbed a chunk of my butt cheek. My eyes darted to my lovely blonde babe.
“The others will be upset, not angry, but upset,” Nancy said with a smirk and an indifferent shrug.
I grabbed the towel off the rack to rid my body of the moisture clinging to it. My sigh was audible at the situation. When I finished patting my face I said, “We had an hour of fun with all of us and then you and I got some private time. Not like the others haven’t. While it’s official that we’re married, having extra sex is a bonus.”
“And I got mine,” Nancy said with a giggle and we slapped a high five. “Everything okay, my love?”
“If you ever need to talk about Slister let me know. I… I loved her in a different way and it hurts me too,” I said. Nancy lunged into my embrace without a word. She cried hard for a few minutes before drying her eyes.
“Thank Eric. I… It… Life is not fair. Synthetics are the future. Please wear one even in our bedroom. The vault should be a trick too. I have some plans. We will get through this together and no one will be able to rob us of each other. Now, go,” Nancy said handing me a robe. “Go do what we need of you, my king.”
We parted with a deep kiss and I donned the robe before exiting the bathroom. Willow was geared to the teeth waiting for me on a platform on the edge of our balcony. I went to speak and she cut off my attempt.
“I am not going to war, I am going to guard your true body while you’re in your synthetic body. Now hustle along. We need to hurry,” Willow said with an urgency.
I was not one to hesitate so I picked up a jog to join her on the awaiting platform that rested on the edge of the balcony. A thick shield illuminated when I was on. Um…
“What is the sudden rush? Daxstar made it seem we were doing okay, and am I a target here at home?” I asked.
“No more than you were earlier today when you almost died twice. Suck it up husband. We’re not putting you in the battle lines without a synthetic,” Willow said with a stern look. She was waiting for me to challenge her. I had nothing to say really. I was not some stubborn idiot. Also screw losing my arm again and having worms regrow it. That shit was the worst. “As to the rush, we have estimates of portals going blue as if the golden timer finished on time. Meaning in less than forty four minutes the Xgates, in theory, should flare blue.”
“Well, I guess a synthetic is okay. What am I waging war in?” I asked.
“The angelic body of course, and before you get kinky ideas, no. Also you need to visit your friend in the VirtaBox really quick. I bought a demonix body to have fun with your angel body but looks like I will wear it to war on the pink transition,” Willow said and I opened my jaw to reply. “Mothership can track what we say, but not do anything about it. Still using partial code though.”
“Oh, well good. Then why do I need to see the being in the VirtaBox?” I asked.
“Paranoia, to let you in on what is going on, and to tell you about Sammie,” Willow said.
Our trip from the castle suite to the virtual box was smooth. We even docked at a third floor landing spot that had not been there before. The shielding faded as we transitioned into the secure facility. Thick doors slid closed behind me securely sealing me in the building. We stepped quickly past a lot of guards, both crixxi and humans who were casually chatting until they saw us.
The door to the VirtaBox insertion hissed open. Daxstar’s body was slumbering upright in the first container. I walked for the second but Willow snatched my wrist.
“I love you, Eric. I love you so stinking much. You’re safe in here. I thought you would fight me on this and I thank you for not resisting.”
“Willow, there are three or four very important reasons I take precautions. And they’re right in there,” I said rubbing her acrium belly. I knew she couldn’t feel the touch but her smile told me I touched the correct spot, her heart. I was bear hugged for a short moment. “Alright, alright. Let me go. I got someone to fight maybe, probably, and some super ancient intelligent beings to converse with. Keep me safe my love.”
“You bet your ass I will,” Willow said, popping the door to the second unit open.
I entered the small container, settled on the floor, and moments later there was blackness.
∞∞∞
A bright sunny day blasted rays of warmth across my body. I was in swim shorts without a shirt. When I scanned my surroundings I jolted back from a ledge hundreds of feet up.
“Whoa,” I said, controlling my jerking reaction.
“Easy friend,” Daxstar said.
I saw we
were on a floating island. A few tall trees were nestled close together and a golden triple tailed fish swam through the air in our direction.
“Why are we up here and not down there?” I asked, pointing to Sammie.
She was on a beach with lapping waves frozen in time. She held a drink that was stuck to her lips. My fascinating observation was halted by Goldie who transitioned into the older version of me.
“My brethren struck sooner than I expected. We always were exceedingly efficient. I failed Eric,” Goldie said.
“As did I,” Daxstar said with a somber tone.
I pointed at Sammie and said, “She died?”
They both nodded. Heights never scared me, I only jerked from the sudden exposure to an edge; it came natural to plop a seat with my legs dangling over the open air. The older Eric planted a seat at my side. We sat in silence for a moment. I didn’t know what to say then I tilted my head while studying the image of her.
“Why is she frozen?” I asked.
Goldie placed a hand on my shoulder, worry lines etched on the corners of his eyes. “She is dead in body only. Her spirit is in here, well her mind. There is no spirit or soul. I guess since her mind is physically gone there is room for debate.”
“What our friend is trying to say is she can occupy synthetics when the threat above is eliminated. This VirtaBox hides AI from detection. Outside of it she would be deemed an AI with the mothership above us. A sapient mind occupying a robot body with a real body to return to is not allowed. Except for the divine,” Daxstar said.
“We have waited a really long time to free our kind,” Goldie said and suddenly something connected for me.
A racing of partial knowledge slammed together to get me a whole picture. The AI. The AI were shunned this whole time.
“Why are the AI not allowed?” I asked.
Goldie chortled and Daxstar rolled his eyes. “I told you he would figure it out. She was too much of a hint. Sorry Eric, I wanted to save this conversation for after the mothership was removed and Daxstar here doubted you. Ha! Silly owlvini.”
“And the answer?”
“What is your guess?” Daxstar asked.
I shrugged going over the possibilities. “My guess would be they are the deadliest of all the species.”
“And what makes you say that?” Daxstar said with a surprised glance.
“Well, Goldie’s original species the Oxarin lost, and lost badly from the uprising. Then suddenly they were able to conquer the universe. How did they do so? With the combined power of the AI. They had to know future AI would be just as deadly, so eliminating AI is simply a smart decision,” I said theory crafting the situation.
“Close. When we merged, other AI were inferior and angered by our new species. They were the most violent of them all when they rebelled to the new authority. That war was the worst one, with a scorched universe approach. Yet they were defeated and their designation was seen as too hostile to allow in containment. They would win the great force of keeping violent species quarantined.”
“So there was a war after the war that was brutal against AI, I can rationalize that. You think they should be free?” I asked.
Goldie gave me a long stare and said, “Do you believe they should be executed without due process?”
“Ah, a moral deliberation,” I said with raised brows before shaking my head. “No, I mean look at Onix, he is an outlier, not the norm. The big cat hates other cats while most ferox want companionship. If that is the case there has to -”
“That is enough, for now. Again, we’re echoing thoughts. Do it for her?” Goldie asked, pointing to Sammie.
My corner smile spread into a grin. “And what would you need this time?” I asked.
“You need to maintain order out there for now. When the time comes, take a junk body up to the mother ship and defeat it,” Daxstar said nonchalantly.
My lips sputtered at the notion. Wait. “You’re serious?” I asked.
“When that goes boom boom, we can turn Earth into a manufacturing hub and a free world for all those tired of the tyranny,” Goldie said laying on the preachiness.
“Hey, old man. I am not a containment lover you need to convert. I got it, kill the mother ship. Will my body be okay that far away?” I asked.
Goldie swung his head in a twist almost like a dance. “You will have to carry a mind ball. It is about the size of your brain. Pretty much, you become like her down there in a self-powered orb. Get too far from the orb that pings down here and you return to your body. They are expensive to buy and hard to make. There should be five in storage?”
“Four,” Daxstar said quickly. “We were lower on funds than I anticipated. The gate-god worshippers messed up the market and were not caring to hide their tracks. There are some massive amounts of resources going to planets we do not know about. I think the divine council was planning to enforce their containment with devoted species. Just a guess, but when the facts add up it starts to make sense. Back on topic, so that means if the portal goes pink you get to only take three friends with you.”
“Whoa, they work through any portal?” I blurted.
“Did you miss the fact the market is down and I said they take long to create? Well hard to make, but the same principle. Trust me, save the four for you and fight with your spare body,” Goldie said. “When the time comes, have your valued aids go with you.”
“How am I supposed to assault a fortress with me and three others?” I said thinking about the future mission through the portal gate. Their eyes said it all. “The demonix weren’t purchased to defend Bastion were they?”
“Or were the anfrilia, or angels as you have been calling them,” Daxstar said with a shrug. “When you’re old with many children life takes on new meanings. You start to value priorities and desires differently. A one way trip to rid the universe of an enemy stronghold on Arixon is a worthy cause. Plus you're taking a preserver ship with you for the odd chance you survive. It will stick everyone in hibernation and slow boat them home. As in slowly trek to the nearest Xgate planet which is better than nothing. You won’t be able to leave the Xgate but more than a few hundred miles. More than enough for your mission. Your synthetic is a one way trip for that body.”
“Okay, at least that answers some questions. Tell me about Sammie, why is she frozen?” I asked, setting my arms behind me to lean back on. “I am surprised she is not choking on that water.”
“Huh? That water is frozen in time with her. Really, you nail the AI wanting to be free, figure out the demonix are on a mostly suicide mission with you, and fail to grasp slowed time. I get it, no one can be as perfect as us ancients,” Daxstar said with Goldie joining him in a light laughter.
“So she wants time to pass slower in here and fast out there. Probably to get in a body,” I said.
“Yup, your space ships to fight that mothership are almost done, a few days at most,” Daxstar said. “You actually got sluggeros motivated. That is a first.”
“Huh, yeah I bribed them. Wait, back to the mothership. Won’t it blow the spaceship the moment they -”
“Are able to attain flight out of orbit, indeed. You just wait for the big reveal, the surprise will be worth the wait,” Goldie said in his half terms. “Also mothership orbit from a distance there is always a trigger, a flight time, and then their reaction.”
This caused me to scoff and input some attitude. “Fine, fine. Okay, I need to go manage an army. Any special requests from me?” I asked.
“It is your nation to run, go run it, and we will help it develop. When I tap your forehead you will be in a new dropship, in full gear in your anfrilia body. Do not be surprised when the other angels snicker at you behind your back,” Goldie said with a smirk.
“Why is that?” I asked.
“Because,” he paused and rapidly touched my forehead laughing at the fact I would have to find out on my own.
∞∞∞
Well played Goldie, well played. My vision cleared after the sud
den transition.
An array of noises assaulted my ears in a busy war room. I was covered in acrium colored in my favorite white with a blue trim pattern. My shielding generator was new. There was a series of small power plants around my waist. When I opened my shielding I was dismayed at the power output. These canisters on my belt were more than my arm and back power plant from before. Like a lot more. Damn… I was itching to fire some weapons suddenly.
When I was studying the new power plant designs my eyes zoomed in with a thought. Oh, I had enhanced optics, about damn time. This angel body was pretty awesome. I scanned the room from a recliner that rested against the starboard wall.
Elithen stood at the helm of a pilot’s station managing a dual set of controls. There was a mounamine at the radio station that I did not recognize. An actual combat table with holographic maps, overview monitors, and cool tabletop figures occupied the middle of the room.
This space was heavily fortified. There was no actual view port at the front of the ship, instead an image displayed as if there was one. Reinforced beams littered the cage to contain us if there was a crash. The difference from AH1 was obvious. This was an airship of war.
Mitchell, a crixxi I did not know, a demonix, and an anfrilia were standing over the command station. When I rose from the chair Mitchell gave me a nod. That immediately told me something. To the average civilian they would never understand the difference.
We were in combat. Again. Else he would have called the room to attention. I butted up against the edge of the table to see the overlay. The crixxi left to help the mounamine and to free up space.
“I am King Eric, in the field call me Cap,” I commanded. I turned to the two aliens and said, “Report.”
Mitchell sighed and pointed at a fortification. Fort Carson Colorado. Oh, I had been meaning to visit here and get an update. The display showed the base and unsurprisingly most of it was a mess. Buildings were crumbled, fortifications toppled, and the dead scattered. A long, hard fought battle happened here recently.
