by Kory Shen
Alan turned his head lazily, still lying on half of the broken bed. "The Strip is big enough. I could stay in this part of the city and hide. Live my own life. Just not like this."
"We can change the project scope. It'll be you and me. The two of us."
"The fucking project scope?" Alan sat up on the bed. "I'm not a fucking project scope. I'm a person. Do you get that?"
"That's…that's not what I meant. I'd be your first beta. We'd be like…a couple." Violet looked away and blushed.
So she was human after all. Alan stood and approached Violet. He placed his hands on her shoulders and drew her close. "So we're a couple. Like this?"
They kissed. Their mouths opened, and their tongues danced. Alan broke the kiss first. "Is that what you want?" he asked.
"Yes," Violet whispered.
"Well, I don't fucking believe you," Alan shot back. "It's the power talking. The addiction. Not you."
"How do I convince you? That I…want you and not only the alphavirus."
Not only? Alan wanted to roll his eyes. At least she was being honest.
"That's easy. Help me leave," Alan said.
"I can't. You've met Godmother," Violet said. "She, she…" Violet stopped as if in thought. "No, please, just not that. That's beyond me. Is there anything I can do?"
There was one other thing that he still wanted from Violet. It still chafed how she had turned him down for her own toy. Was it petty of him? Maybe. But it wasn't a terrible request.
"Fine. I have one request that's all about you."
"What is it?"
"The next time we fuck, you'll let yourself enjoy it."
Violet's mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. Alan tried not to smile. That's right, sugar.
"Okay. I can do that." Violet nodded mechanically. "So you're going to sleep with me?" she asked with a hopeful air.
This girl. "Yes." Alan stripped. "Let's do it."
Violet hurried to get naked herself and take her usual position on the bed. The angle was awkward with the broken furniture, but they made it work.
Violet moaned enthusiastically as she rammed her rear into Alan with extra gusto.
Alan slowed down. "Oh god. Don't. Please don't fake it. You're not a very good actress, either. Just saying."
"Sorry."
Alan couldn't see her face, but she had to be cringing. Served her right. "Come on. Do you enjoy this at all?"
After a moment of hesitation, Violet replied. "I need a toy. I need more pressure."
"Fuck. Not that again."
"No, you stay inside." Violet reached backward with her right hand. In the hand was a purple object. A purple plug.
Alan stopped her. "I like where this is going, but allow me."
A red harness wrapped itself around Alan's like magic underwear, leaving an opening in front. A second thinner red shaft grew out of the harness right above the real one.
Violet's eyes widened as she caught sight of Alan's creation. "Why didn't I think of that?"
Alan grinned. "Are you sure you don't need any lube?" He spit on the smaller red creation and spread the saliva along its length with his hand.
"Focus on making the surface smooth. The coefficient of friction of the projected surface should be low enough so that you don't need additional lubrication."
Alan scratched his head. Did she have to talk like that even during sex? "You're saying it will be smooth enough without lube?"
"Yes, if you create it like that in your mind," Violet said. "It's the perfect material."
"You seem to have a lot of experience with this."
Violet didn't respond to that but wiggled her hips at him. "I'm waiting."
Alan slid into both of Violet's openings at the same time. Violet gasped and pulled away at first, then pushed backwards, forcing himself deeper inside her.
Their rhythm sped up little by little once Alan was sure everything was working properly. Violet reached between her legs with one hand and fingered herself.
"Yes, yes," Violet moaned.
This time, Violet's upper body and face took on a bright pink flush.
"Oh god," Violet cried as their movements became faster and faster.
She tightened in pleasure, the muscle of her inner walls massaging him. They were both close.
"Don't stop," Violet panted.
He had no intention of stopping. This is why he loved sex. Fuck, this was hot.
Their duet of panting breaths and desperate cries reached a crescendo, culminating in rhythmic contractions that neither could control. They slowed and stopped. The red harness vanished, making Violet gasp in surprise at its sudden disappearance.
"That wasn't bad," Alan said.
Violet rolled over. "Shouldn't it be your turn now?"
"My turn?"
A purple harness and shaft, similar to the one he had worn, appeared on Violet.
Alan stared. "Fuck, no. Fucking hell, absolutely not. I will never give you my alphavirus ever again."
Alan's concern grew into horror as the purple shaft extended itself into a longer and longer flexible tube. A tentacle. Shit, this girl was messed up!
Alan jumped away as the tentacle snaked its way toward his groin.
"Fuck no!" he screamed as he swatted the tentacle away.
It came back. Then, a second tentacle appeared out of Violet's harness. A third, a fourth.
There were too many. A pair of red hands floated in the air next to Alan. One hand grabbed an incoming tentacle. The tentacle vanished, replaced by another free tentacle. A second red hand slapped the other tentacle away. Two more red hands appeared, each seizing another tentacle.
"Shit, that's enough. Jesus Christ!" Alan screamed.
The tentacles vanished. Violet was rolling on the bed in laughter, wiping tears from her eyes.
Alan stared, began shaking his head, then broke out into laughter.
"That was bad. Really bad," Alan chuckled. "I didn't know you had it in you."
Violet calmed herself and took a deep breath. "You told me to enjoy myself." She wiped another tear from her eye. "I think I finally did. For the first time that I can remember."
Alan shook his head again. She was a crazy bitch, but maybe she wasn't so bad after all. Aside from the terror of being ass-fucked, he had to admit this was the type of thing he would laugh about later. He couldn't be mad at her either without being a hypocrite, considering what he had done to her right before.
"If it wasn't all of this, Godmother, alphas trying to kill me," Alan began, "I wouldn't mind, you know, hanging out together."
Violet smiled. "I feel the same way."
"I can't take all of this, though. I need to be my own man. I need to figure things out on my own terms, even if it risks my life." Alan took a deep breath. He had decided already. "I need to leave here, and I'm going to do it one way or the other."
"I'll help you."
Alan looked sharply at Violet. She was still sitting on his broken bed without any clothes.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I'll get you out of here. You can hide in The Strip like you said."
For a second, Alan was speechless. He hadn't expected this at all. "But what about you? I'll be gone. Your powers, too."
"It's not right to force you to do anything." Violet swallowed, as if the words wouldn't come out. "It was educational being an alpha," she said softly, "but I can live without it."
Alan hugged Violet, his bare chest against her breasts. "Thank you, thank you." He let go and stepped back. "But what about Godmother?"
"Godmother?" Violet sighed. "How did she know?" she muttered.
"What?"
"Don't worry. I'll take care of it."
* * *
It didn't take much effort for Violet to forge a security pass for Alan. He would need it to leave the isolation wing. Beyond that, Alan had assured her that he could find his way to the surface if she gave him a map of the underground complex.
She had the secu
rity pass and a folded map tucked into the waistband of her panties as she approached Alan's cell. She felt like a child playing at cloak and daggers. It was silly, but she grinned. She would miss Alan. Somehow, he had gotten her to relax, even if only for a day.
Violet arrived at Alan's cell and nodded at Scottie. Did he live outside Alan's cell? She had never seen him leave his side.
"I'm here to see Alan," Violet said.
"Right away, Dr. Brady," Scottie said. He turned the large wheel that controlled the locking mechanism. The door swung outwards, and Scottie stepped inside. "Star? Mr. Star? Dr. Brady's here to see you."
"He's gone!" Scottie came out of the room. "Wait here," he said to Violet. He unhooked a small radio at his belt and barked instructions.
Violet wasn't sure what was happening. Alan hadn't told her his entire plan. He still didn't trust her completely.
Violet stepped to the side of the open door and waited as Alan had instructed her. A gentle breeze grazed her ear. It was someone's breath. She felt the heat from a body standing right next to her. There was a whisper.
"Don't move. It's me."
Violet flicked her eyes one way and then the other. She didn't see anyone.
"I'm going to take the goodies now."
She held her breath as a hand slipped under her dress and pulled her underwear's waistband down. Someone took the items she had hidden there. The warm hand lingered between her buttocks, diving further down and around, a finger curling upward. Violet gasped.
Scottie looked over from his radio conversation. Violet shook her head. He turned away.
Violet's mind swarmed with possibilities. Oh, the games they could play, the pleasures to explore on top of all the research she could do. How could she give all of this up? But she had made up her mind. The hand removed itself and neatened her panties.
"Thank you, Violet," the voice whispered into her ears. Then, the heat of the close body was gone.
"I'm heading back to my laboratory," Violet said to Scottie.
"Wait." The muscular man put a hand over his radio. "You don't know anything about this, do you? Godmother's going to kill me." There was genuine fear in his eyes.
"It'll be okay, Scottie. Trust me." Violet patted the man on his arm then left.
Back at the laboratory, Violet sat down in front of her computer. She stared at the screen, unable to decide what to do next. Was there any point in continuing now that Alan had left? She would wrap up the characterization of Alan's viral sequences and then go back to her old projects. There were other things to learn.
Violet opened Alan's most recent test results. The test was a basic reactivity diagnostic to establish alpha compatibility. It was a routine test that should have given a positive signal against a standard panel of reagents.
Had the testing failed? All the results were negative.
"Damn." Violet rarely swore. Now that Alan was gone, she didn't have access to fresh samples. She still had frozen stocks of blood, but the alphavirus was notoriously unstable and wouldn't survive the thawing process.
"Is there a problem?"
Violet jumped in her seat. It was Godmother. This was a new habit, her sneaking up on Violet these days. Was she watching Violet extra closely? Violet could guess why. She was an alpha.
Violet composed her face before turning to address Godmother. She smiled. "Just some unusual results. I think the alpha reactivity assay failed, but I'm not sure. This is the second time the test failed."
Godmother nodded as if she understood. She probably did. Violet forgot sometimes that Godmother had been a biotech engineer in her own right before developing The Strip.
"Too bad there aren't any more fresh samples, right?" Godmother asked.
Violet froze. Lying to Godmother was worse than admitting a mistake. She had seen the consequences firsthand.
"I'm sorry," Violet said softly. "I couldn't leave him like that. I couldn't."
"I know. What about you? Can you sustain your own beta circle?"
Violet shook her head. "I tested the levels. I'm equivalent to an alpha two. I can't stay an alpha without a prime."
"That must be difficult. I'm impressed with your decision." Godmother took hold of Violet's left hand. Neither of them had the soft skin of a sheltered woman.
How much did Godmother know? "It doesn't matter," Violet said, pulling her hand back. "What bothers me more is the failed reactivity test. My instincts tell me I should follow up."
Violet trusted her instincts. It was what set apart the good from the great researchers, and she knew that something was lurking here, waiting to be discovered. Something big. She just couldn't tell what it was without further tests.
"It's a shame we can't continue," Violet said. "The project's over without the subject."
Godmother laughed, then gave her a patient look, the same that she always did. Violet stared at her in confusion.
"What is it?" Violet finally asked in annoyance.
"Violet, my dear child. The project isn't over. We're proceeding to the next stage. Field studies."
CHAPTER 15
Cover Girl shivered as the group of Maiden and her beta circle rode up the elevator. The inside air was hot and stuffy, but it was their destination, not their journey, that put Cover Girl on edge. Maiden could likely have brought them all to the top floor in an instant, but it was best to conserve powers when meeting him. Sire. Who knew what he would do this time?
Cover Girl had accompanied Maiden and the others to see Sire five times before. The last time, a year ago, Sire had incinerated Hotshot and her beta circle, leaving an opening for the arrival of a new alpha one, HumiliT. Cover Girl pulsed invisible for a moment while she glanced at the others.
Maiden was her usual stony self, her red hair flaming like a spirit of vengeance. Which was exactly what she wanted.
"Your punishment begins when we capture him," Maiden had said when Cover Girl first returned.
The fact that Maiden had done nothing to punish her yet for her disobedience made the future threat even more terrifying.
Escort was tapping her foot nervously, while Pearl and Idol stood in the corner with linked arms, a yin yang pair of dark and pale complexions.
Cover Girl released her invisibility.
"I hate it when you do that," Escort said.
"What?" Cover Girl said.
"You're checking us out," Escort said. "I know that's what you're doing. That or making faces."
Pearl giggled.
"She's afraid," Idol said. "We all are."
"Quiet," Maiden snapped. "No one's to speak in the presence of Sire without my permission. And you." Maiden glared at Cover Girl. "We will cut off the arm to save the body if that's what's required."
The others stared at Cover Girl. Everyone knew that the meeting with Sire was likely because of her, or rather Alan. It was her fault. The memory of Hotshot's demise burned in all of their minds.
The bell rang to signal their arrival at the top floor. Maiden exited first, and her beta circle followed.
The others were already there. Electrophile, the tall, loud blonde with a surfer's looks but none of the carefree charm. He scowled at Cover Girl. So did his beta circle, a trio of bronze amazon beauties. Streaker, Shocker, Stalker. Everyone knew what she had done, then. She wanted to disappear, but she had no choice. She joined Maiden on one side of the room.
HumiliT, the newest alpha one, was a petite girl with dirty blonde hair in a pixie cut. Her beta circle of men towered around her, nearly hiding her short frame, but Cover Girl had seen HumiliT in action. She was the strongest one in the room. Her four betas, Nail, Flex, Pain, and Whip, watched Cover Girl with even expressions. HumiliT didn't glower at her like Electrophile, but she wasn't smiling, either.
The alphas turned as one as the far wall disintegrated. In its place, a sheet of blue energy crackled, forming a deadly barrier. Beyond the energy barrier was another large room with a single figure in the middle. His figure's outlines were distorted and diff
icult to make out with the bright shimmering light in front, but everyone knew who it was.
"Come to me. Bring your betas," a deep voice commanded. It was loud and clear, even through the energy barrier.
Maiden was the first to act.
"Hold me," Maiden said.
The other girls had done this before. They held onto her arms. All five of them vanished and reappeared on the other side of the barrier.
Cover Girl stared at Sire. Like last time, a partial veil of invisibility hid his face. The dull blue glow of defensive projections coated his body.
A furious crackling sound erupted. She turned her attention back to the energy barrier.
Electrophile stood within the energy barrier, his hands and legs spread wide in the center of an empty hole. Electrical arcs roiled at the edge of the hole as the energy barrier fought to collapse. His three betas rushed through the opening. Then, Electrophile stepped through to join Maiden.
Only HumiliT was left. She approached the energy barrier and studied it.
Could she do it? Although no one said anything, Cover Girl's question must have been on everyone else's minds. She'd be able to cross, but could she bring her beta circle as Sire had commanded?
HumiliT gestured to one of the men. That would be Pain, the invulnerable one. Cover Girl cringed. She understood what HumiliT planned.
HumiliT stepped into the energy barrier. Blue light washed over her, and smoke hissed from her dark gold uniform. She didn't make a sound. The large bald man, Pain, stepped into the barrier, facing HumiliT. He stood over a foot taller than her. Pain grunted once as the energy attacked him. Then he leaned over HumiliT, joining arms with her to form an archway through the energy barrier.
The opening wasn't perfect. Crackles of energy still flashed across the makeshift gateway.
A dark streak zipped through the opening, appearing on the other side. It was the speedster, Whip.
The next one, Flex, was a wiry but muscled Asian acrobat. He gauged the opening for a moment, then leapt through the opening in a tight corkscrew. He landed on the other side unharmed.
That left the final member, Nail. The tanned strongman hesitated. Cover Girl wasn't sure he could get through unharmed. It looked like he had the same thoughts.
