ã€ŠThe Loyalty Geneã€‹


 Prologue

    Institute of Molecular Genetics, Moscow, Russia.

    Nikolai Vavilov D.Sc., Nobel laureate for ¡°Advancements in Genetic Editing,¡± paced the hallway before the elevators. Further down the hall, a glass-paneled door led into a soundproofed conference room. The email which summoned him there specified he was to meet a new patron. An elevator dinged, and the head of the facility stepped through the opening doors. Nicolai closed the distance and spoke through gritted teeth. ¡°Administrator Popov, the man in the conference room. He is Pavlo Mogilevich, a notorious Ukrainian criminal. You cannot be serious about this!¡±

    ¡°Nikolai, my friend,¡± Popov¡¯s voice soothed. ¡°I understand your concern, but my concern is for the entire facility.¡± He waved at the walls with the cracked and peeling paint. ¡°The government grants are gone. Without outside funding, we will soon have to close. If you wish to continue your work with the human genome¡­.¡± The administrator waved at the closed conference room door and the man seated within.

    ¡°What does he want?¡±

    The director lowered his voice. ¡°He seeks his perfect woman.¡±

    Vavilov¡¯s shoulders sagged. This perversion of science would taint everyone before running its course. For this, he¡¯d spent a decade earning his post-graduate degree. He¡¯d been a fool.

    Popov patted his arm. ¡°Come, Nikolai, we will do our best. Mogilevich may be a criminal, but he is a wealthy criminal.¡±

    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    Mogilevich stood when Nikolai and Popov entered the conference room. The new patron was tall, with broad shoulders, dark blonde hair, and piercing blue eyes. Under different circumstances Nikolai might have asked to test the man¡¯s DNA. The chance of Varangian ancestry was high.

    Popov introduced himself, then Nikolai. ¡°This is Academician Nikolai Vavilov. He is the world¡¯s preeminent expert in human genetics. Let¡¯s be seated and you can tell him your requirements.¡±

    They took their seats and Nikolai felt the full effect of Mogilevich¡¯s gaze. There was boldness in those eyes and pride, but also, a hint of embarrassment. Perhaps even this man might feel shame? From an inside coat pocket, Pavlo produced a many-times folded sheet of lined paper. He laid it on the table but kept a hand on it. His surprisingly intelligent eyes studied Nikolai. ¡°Can you truly create a woman to my specifications?¡±

    ¡°There are certain practical limits,¡± Nikolai qualified. Underneath the table, Popov kicked his ankle. The scientist covered his surprise with a cough. ¡°But I may be able to come very close.¡± Next to Nikolai, Popov nodded.

    ¡°Good, I want you to create the perfect woman.¡± Pavlo pushed the sheet of paper across the table.

    As he lifted the paper, Nikolai suppressed a cringe. What would top the list, impossibly huge breasts, or an unquenchable thirst for semen?

    The handwritten list had seen many edits, and from the circular stains, it had also served as a drink coaster. A quick scan confirmed one of Nikolai¡¯s predictions. At least this perfect woman wouldn¡¯t have back problems. His attention returned to the first requirement. Of all the items, this would be the most impossible. There wasn¡¯t such a gene. The other items¡­well, Nikolai lay the list down.

    Across the table, Mogilevich¡¯s eyes burned. ¡°Can you do it?¡±

    Nikolai took a breath and considered his reply. Although impossible, that first item intrigued him. ¡°Many of your requirements, for example, the physical attributes, are attainable. Some of the others will require discussion and study. However, your desired primary characteristic, perfect loyalty, is a problem. You see, there is no loyalty gene.¡±

 Chapter One

    <blockquote>

    In the news today: The Humane Society of the United States announced its intention to add protections for genetically modified cats and dogs.

    </blockquote>

    ¡°No, Mom, I won¡¯t run away.¡± Stephanie crossed her arms and glared with all the determination a sixteen-year-old girl could muster.

    Natalie sighed. This was an old argument. ¡°The people next door are normal humans. They can hide you.¡±

    ¡°If I ran away, Yevgeny would beat you, or worse. And what happens if the neighbors call the police? Neither of us has papers. Homeland Security will deport us, and you know what that means. Even if we¡¯re lucky, how long can you survive without a fix?¡±

    Desperate to change her daughter¡¯s mind, Natalie tried again. ¡°Sweetie, this isn¡¯t about me¡ª¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s about us. What about your new idea? What if it works?¡±

    The new idea had started as a joke. Something a frightened mom used to tease her daughter and lighten their mood. Natalie should have known better, and now her headstrong daughter wanted to try it. Sighing, Natalie peeked through the kitchen window again. The boy was still outside. Despite his gender, he probably wasn¡¯t a monster.

    Ignoring the resolve in her daughter¡¯s eyes, Natalie tried one last time. ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the best option we have. Besides, I¡¯ve learned everything you can teach me. This will be my field test.¡±

    So much confidence from a young woman who couldn¡¯t possibly understand what she was up against. ¡°Well, at least he¡¯s cute. Promise me you¡¯ll remember your limits.¡±

    ¡°I promise.¡± Stephanie embraced her mother, then reached for the door.

    ***

    If there was a form of misery more profound than that of a lonely fifteen-year-old boy, Jason Todd Thomas had never experienced it. His life had effectively ended the day his family moved to this new house. All his hard-won friendships were things of the past. When school started, he¡¯d be the new kid, and the bullies would circle like sharks.

    Complaining to Mom was a waste of time. In Mom¡¯s universe, nothing cured teenage blues better than a long list of chores.

    He considered sneaking from his bedroom down to the family room. He and Dad had installed a new game console. If Mom spotted him, though, she¡¯d have him cleaning the garage.

    ¡°Master Jason?¡± The voice came from the wall-mounted com panel. One of the few cool things with the new house was the state-of-the-art household AI. Dad had installed a British butler personality and named it ¡°Alfred.¡± That was fine, but Jason would have preferred a cool name like ¡°Angel of Death.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Alfred?¡±

    ¡°Your mother requests your presence in the kitchen.¡±

    ¡°Crap,¡± Jason grumbled. She probably had another pile of boxes for him to move.

    ¡°Never fear, Master Jason. If your mother assigns you another task, I shall entertain you with stories of my time in darkest Africa.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, whatever,¡± Jason muttered and left the room. The darned AI acted as though it were alive.

    Mom waited in the kitchen, but instead of handing him a bucket and mop, she offered him a glass of lemonade. ¡°I think,¡± she said,¡± you¡¯re still missing your friends.¡±

    He didn¡¯t answer ?cause it might be a trick, but Mom¡¯s lemonade was the best. Jason took the glass.

    Mom smiled and said, ¡°I know just the thing to cheer you up.¡±

    Jason sighed. The lemonade had been too good to be true. ¡°What do you want me to clean?¡±

    ¡°Poor Jason,¡± Mom ruffled his hair. ¡°Take today off. Go outside and enjoy that expensive deck your father wanted.¡±

    Every so often, Mom surprised the heck out of him.

    Once outside on Dad¡¯s deck, Jason carefully angled the patio table awning to provide maximum shade and settled in to read.

    The lemonade was long gone when an odd sound, like the click of a metal latch, startled him. Jason glanced up to see the gate between his and the neighboring yard swing open. A girl, about his age, with shoulder-length, dark red hair, stepped into view. She wore a denim skirt, sneakers, and a plain sleeveless top.

    Their eyes met. The girl waved and said, ¡°Hi.¡±

    Jason couldn¡¯t believe it. Pretty girls rarely noticed him. It wasn¡¯t a coincidence a ¡°friend¡± nicknamed him Nerd Boy the Untouchable. Not for the first time, Jason wished he were a player. If there were ever a time for confidence and a witty reply, it was now. Summoning every shred of cool composure, Jason stood and accidentally knocked his chair back, where it tipped over and fell with a clatter.

    The girl¡¯s smile deepened, and he feared she¡¯d burst into laughter. Surprisingly, she didn¡¯t.

    Red-faced, Jason held up an index finger, hoping she¡¯d give him a minute while he righted the chair. When he turned back, she was still there, but her brow was tight with concern. ¡°Hi,¡± he said, ¡°sorry about knocking the chair over.¡±

    She said, ¡°Do you have coordination problems?¡±

    Oh, heck, this was going downhill in a hurry. ¡°No, no, nothing like that, it¡¯s just you startled me.¡± If she sneered and vanished back into the neighboring yard, he wouldn¡¯t blame her one bit. ¡°Watch.¡± Jason took two steps, vaulted the deck railing, and plummeted to the ground. Fortunately, he stuck the landing.

    ¡°Well done!¡± The girl said with a laugh.

    The kitchen door swung open, and his mother stormed out. She must have had Alfred snooping on him again. ¡°Jason, what are you thinking? We have stairs.¡± Then Mom noticed the girl and immediately switched gears. ¡°Who¡¯s your friend, Jason?¡±

    ¡°Hi,¡± the girl answered Mom¡¯s question. ¡°I¡¯m Stephanie.¡± She gestured back towards the gate. ¡°Mom and I moved in last week.¡±

    ¡°Hello, Stephanie,¡± Mom said, ¡°I¡¯m Shirley Thomas. We moved in a few weeks before you. Daredevil Jason,¡± she pointed, ¡°usually has more sense, but he misses his friends.¡±

    ¡°Mom?¡± It took all of Jason¡¯s willpower to keep from screaming. He forced a smile instead. ¡°Could you stop talking, please?¡±

    Stephanie covered her mouth, but it didn¡¯t hide her grin.

    ¡°Well, excuse me, Mr. Knievel,¡± Mom shook her head and stomped back inside.

    After the patio door closed, Stephanie asked, ¡°Who¡¯s Mr. Knievel?¡±

    Jason turned back to his new neighbor and shrugged. With most of his surprise worn off, he noticed her eyes were an unusual pale green. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he said. His eyes, all on their own, drifted towards her chest. Then he caught himself. Don¡¯t be a creep. ¡°Mom turned forty a while ago, and her mind is going.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, my mom drives me bonkers too. It was her idea for me to meet you.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± he tried not to let his disappointment show. The rational part of his mind rationalized it for him. What did you expect, nerd boy?

    ¡°Wow,¡± she said, ¡°for a second there, you looked upset.¡± Instead of sarcasm, there was honest interest in her voice.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯d hoped you¡¯d come over on your own. Not ?cause someone forced you.¡±

    That set Stephanie to staring as if he¡¯d grown horns. She crossed her arms and tilted her head to the side. Darn, but it made her even cuter. ¡°I think,¡± she said, ¡°you meant that.¡±

    Now it was his turn to think. It wasn¡¯t easy because his eyes kept wandering to places they shouldn¡¯t. ¡°Look, if you don¡¯t want to hang out with me, you don¡¯t have to.¡±

    A light breeze played with Stephanie¡¯s hair. Sweat began to bead on his forehead. She tucked that bit of hair back behind her ear. ¡°You want us to hang out, but only if I¡¯d like to?¡±

    Why did she look so surprised? ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what I said.¡± He shrugged.

    ¡°Okay,¡± she said.

    And that was all it took? Surprised, Jason gestured for Stephanie to precede him. Not that he didn¡¯t want to watch her walk up the deck¡¯s wooden stairs.

    ¡°Want something to drink?¡± he asked, ¡°Mom makes the best lemonade.¡±

    ¡°Can I have some without sugar?¡±

    ¡°Sure, but hold on, I almost forgot to introduce you.¡± Turning toward an outside camera, Jason called out, ¡°Alfred?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master Jason?¡± Alfred¡¯s voice, in his best South-London accent, came from the attached speaker.

    ¡°Say hello to Stephanie. She¡¯s,¡± he turned back to the girl and winked, ¡°she¡¯s a friend.¡±

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    ¡°Hello, Miss Stephanie. I must say, Master Jason has a remarkable taste in friends.¡±

    ¡°Jason,¡± Stephanie gripped his arm, ¡°who¡¯s Alfred?¡±

    ¡°Alfred is our household AI. Now that he knows you, it¡¯ll be easier the next time you visit.¡±

    Stephanie smiled and waved toward the camera. ¡°Hello Alfred, it¡¯s nice to meet you too.¡±

    Jason¡¯s mother stood next to the sink, running lemons through the juicer. A pitcher of ice water stood at the ready. ¡°Oh,¡± she said, ¡°it¡¯s Evel Knievel and friend. Pull up some stools, and I¡¯ll pour you some lemonade.¡±

    Jason pulled two stools out. ¡°Stephanie wants hers without sugar.¡±

    ¡°No problem,¡± Mom replied, then turned to their guest. ¡°Watching your figure?¡±

    ¡°Not really, Mom and I just prefer tart or bitter flavors.¡±

    After sitting, Stephanie¡¯s head swiveled back and forth, taking everything in. ¡°You have a beautiful kitchen, Mrs. Thomas.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Stephanie. Here¡¯s your lemonade.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Jason took his glass and added a heaping spoonful of sugar. On the other side of the counter, Stephanie sipped her lemonade.

    Mom made a small glass for herself, without sugar, and took a sip. Then she stole Jason¡¯s spoon and added sugar to her glass. ¡°Are you and Jason in the same grade?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m homeschooled. Mom doesn¡¯t worry about grade levels.¡±

    ¡°How old are you then?¡±

    ¡°Sixteen.¡±

    ¡°What a coincidence. Jason turns sixteen in just a few weeks. This fall, he¡¯ll be in the eleventh grade. Do you have your driver¡¯s license?¡±

    Stephanie shook her head. ¡°No, my father won¡¯t allow it.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Mom gave Jason a sideways glance. She turned back to Stephanie, ¡°Does your mother work?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s my father¡¯s personal assistant.¡±

    ¡°Well, ask your mother to call or come over for a cup of tea sometime.¡± Mom finished her drink and stood. ¡°I¡¯m going shopping. You two should go out on the deck.¡±

    Lemonades in hand, Jason and Stephanie took seats at the patio table. His tablet computer still displayed the last page he¡¯d read.

    ¡°Can I ask you a question?¡± Stephanie asked. ¡°How many girlfriends do you have?¡±

    What the heck? Did she think he was popular or something? ¡°I don¡¯t have any girlfriends right now. Although,¡± Jason leaned back and attempted to look confident, ¡°I am accepting applications.¡± He smiled crookedly, expecting her to get the joke. In the driveway, Mom beeped her minivan¡¯s horn and drove away.

    Stephanie may or may not have gotten the joke. In either case, she asked seriously, ¡°What kind of girl are you looking for?¡±

    Continuing the joke, he kept his voice serious. ¡°Well, my perfect girlfriend would have to be pretty; I mean at least as pretty as you, with red hair and freckles. Oh, and she¡¯d have to have beautiful eyes.¡± Jason leaned forward, closing the distance between them. ¡°Just like yours. What color are they?¡±

    Stephanie leaned forward with her elbows on the table. The way she sat projected thoughtful confidence. ¡°Mom says my eyes are peridot.¡±

    Last year¡¯s science class covered gemstones. Interested in the subject, Jason had spent some extra time reading. Peridots varied from dark olive to a pale, translucent green. This close, Stephanie¡¯s eye color stood out. ¡°Like the gemstone?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Um-hmm. Just like it.¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll add peridot eyes to my list. Along with intelligence, my ideal girlfriend has to be smart.¡±

    ¡°Ah-ha!¡± she pounced. ¡°Why do you think I¡¯m smart?¡± Then Stephanie blushed and sat back.

    She¡¯d given him a perfect opportunity to tease her. But they both knew who he¡¯d been talking about. Better to have it out in the open. ¡°It¡¯s your eyes. You pay attention to everything going on around you.¡±

    ¡°Still,¡± she said, ¡°I¡¯d think boys cared more about boobs than brains.¡±

    Their brief trip inside for drinks had calmed him down, but Stephanie¡¯s use of the ¡°B¡± word threatened to start him sweating again. He decided to play innocent. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Now, those peridot green eyes twinkled with amusement. ¡°You¡¯ve stared at mine enough.¡± Her gaze flicked up to his hairline. ¡°Uh oh, it looks like you¡¯re sweating again.¡±

    A fatal crash and burn seemed likely, but¡­ ¡°Just because I like your boobs, it doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t appreciate your brains.¡±

    Instead of taking offense, Stephanie merely nodded. He¡¯d seen Mom nod the same way when checking off items on a shopping list. She said, ¡°What else are you looking for?¡±

    Sweat trickled down his cheek. She had to be playing with him. A giant ball of flaming death seemed an all too certain future. ¡°Since we¡¯re being honest,¡± he paused, and she nodded. ¡°I think you should apply.¡±

    ¡°Since we¡¯re being honest, I¡¯ll consider it.¡± Then she laughed. ¡°You aren¡¯t anything like I expected.¡±

    ¡°What did you expect? Remember,¡± he lifted a finger, ¡°we¡¯re being honest.¡±

    ¡°I thought you¡¯d be a jerk like my father, but instead, you¡¯re goofy and nice and¡­and cute.¡± The last part she added with flushed cheeks.

    Cute and nice sounded fantastic but goofy? Jason pictured the floppy-eared, hat-wearing cartoon dog. Then he looked at Stephanie. Instead of treating him like nerd boy, the untouchable, this gorgeous girl thought he was cute. Call me Goofy. Jason smiled and said, ¡°Woof!¡±

    Stephanie laughed again and shook her head.

    ¡°Hey,¡± Jason said, ¡°do you want to come to my birthday party?¡±

    ¡°Do I need to bring anything?¡±

    ¡°Just yourself, and maybe a kiss for the birthday boy?¡±

    ***

    When Stephanie left to meet the boy next door, Natalie had expected her back home in an hour or less. Instead, the girl stayed the entire afternoon. Every time Natalie checked, the two teens were deep in conversation. And it wasn¡¯t just the boy talking¡ªlike all men do¡ªhe¡¯d spent a lot of time nodding to whatever Stephanie had to say. It wasn¡¯t natural.

    If that wasn¡¯t enough to drive a mother crazy, the boy had even walked Stephanie home! Compounding the insanity, once inside the house, her daughter ran to a window and peeked around the curtain to watch the boy leave.

    Well, enough was enough. Natalie cleared her throat and said, ¡°For a girl who pretended she didn¡¯t like him, you spent a lot of time over there.¡±

    Stephanie turned, and her wide grin told Natalie all she needed to know. ¡°Oh, Mom, Jason isn¡¯t anything like Yevgeny.¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything off-limits, did you?¡± Stepping over to the sink, Natalie filled the cast-iron teapot. That boy had acquired a name, and Natalie didn¡¯t like that either.

    ¡°No, I promised, didn¡¯t I. Besides, it never came up. We had too much fun flirting like in the movies. Was it the same for you with Yevgeny or Pavlo?¡±

    ¡°Maybe with Pavlo, but that was over twenty years ago. Those days are difficult to remember.¡±

    ***

    The following day, Jason mowed the grass. While guiding the semi-autonomous machine, his mind was awhirl with visions of flashing green eyes. Last night, he used his tablet to research eye colors. It turned out that Stephanie¡¯s peridot eyes were an impossibility. Heck, he didn¡¯t need the internet to tell him she was special. On his second circuit, he spotted Stephanie waiting at the gate between their yards. Like yesterday, she wore a skirt and T-shirt.

    ¡°Hey,¡± he said while the walk-behind mower whined to a stop.

    ¡°Hey,¡± she replied. ¡°Mom wanted me to ask if you could cut our grass sometime.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it as soon as I finish here.¡±

    ¡°Thanks. I¡¯ll wait and we can hang out again.¡± Stephanie turned and headed back to her house. Watching her skirt sway made his pulse race. At the foot of her porch steps, she paused and glanced back. Then, pink-cheeked, she ran inside.

    With both yards mowed, Jason worked the perimeters with a string trimmer. The sun beat down, and he¡¯d long since removed his shirt. Around the back of Stephanie¡¯s house, she sat waiting om the porch steps. ¡°I¡¯m finished,¡± he announced.

    ¡°I have ice water if you¡¯re thirsty,¡± she held up a glass.

    Jason set the trimmer down and took the glass. The roof over her back porch cast an inviting shade, but he stunk from sweat and stepped back into the sun. The chilled water forced an involuntary shiver. ¡°Thanks,¡± he said.

    Tilting her head to the side, Stephanie said, ¡°Don¡¯t stand in the sun.¡± She nodded at the step next to her. ¡°Sit.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sweaty. It¡¯s best if I stay downwind.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be silly, sit.¡± She patted the spot right next to her, and Jason sat.

    He said, ¡°Every time I see you, I add something new to my perfect girlfriend specifications.¡±

    ¡°Be careful; the more you add, the harder it gets to find the right girl.¡±

    And she said that with a straight face. Was she teasing him deliberately? ¡°Finding the right girl isn¡¯t the hard part. Convincing her, I¡¯m boyfriend material is what¡¯s difficult.¡±

    ¡°What if the girl has a list too?¡±

    Now they were getting somewhere. ¡°What¡¯s on your list?¡±

    At first, he thought he¡¯d called her bluff, and she didn¡¯t have a list. Then in a low wistful voice, she said, ¡°Just one thing. Don¡¯t ever treat me like I¡¯m your property.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d never do that. The best relationships are between equals.¡±

    They sipped their ice water in silence until Stephanie spoke. ¡°Still, I don¡¯t know if we¡¯d get along.¡±

    If Jason hadn¡¯t glanced her way precisely the right moment, he¡¯d have missed it. Her knowing smile said he¡¯d taken her bait, and all she needed to do was set the hook. Stephanie liked him too, but she wanted him to work for it. Not that he minded, he also knew how to tease.

    ¡°True,¡± he said, ¡°but that¡¯s what relationships are for. We date, get to know each other, and then I find out about your uncontrollable flatulence.¡±

    ¡°What? I don¡¯t h¡ª¡±

    ¡°Then, you find out I have anosmia.¡±

    ¡°Anosmia? What¡ª¡±

    ¡°See, we¡¯re perfect for each other. Although you¡¯ll want to be careful around my parents, their noses work perfectly.¡± Jason gave Stephanie his best toothy smile.

    Modern science had well-established, absolute standards. The speed of light in a vacuum is a perfect example. They needed to add a new standard: the speed of Stephanie¡¯s mood swings.

    Her cheeks went from normal to an affronted red within a second. ¡°You rat! If anyone has uncontrollable flatulence, it¡¯d be a stinky boy.¡± Turning towards him, Stephanie poked his unprotected stomach.

    Jason poked back. Oh, he poked with care. Girls had zones a boy didn¡¯t trespass without permission. Also, being weaker and naturally less aggressive, girls were more easily hurt. So, he poked with care.

    Stephanie, apparently, never learned girls were weaker or less aggressive. She retaliated with speed, precision, and force. It soon took all of Jason¡¯s high school wrestling skills to keep her from poking him into submission.

    He succeeded in trapping one of her legs and hoped, desperately, that his mother wouldn¡¯t see this. Wrestling with a girl, who wore a skirt, might give Mom the wrong idea. While he worried, Stephanie wriggled free and jabbed him with both index fingers.

    Then Jason had his opening. With Stephanie¡¯s attention on freeing her leg, she¡¯d uncovered her left side. Instead of poking, he tickled. She stiffened, then shrieked.

    Stephanie attempted to shout, but between gasping for air and laughing, all she managed was a breathless and drawn-out ¡°stop.¡±

    Jason continued to tickle. ¡°Give up?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Never!¡± she replied, and¡­farted.

    Jason let go at once. This was the part where the prettiest girl in the world called him a disgusting jerk. His hopes for a relationship would vanish, and she¡¯d never talk to him again.

    Unsure of how to fix it, he mostly kept his eyes averted while Stephanie straightened her clothes. Finally, unable to wait any longer, he broke the silence. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Steph, I didn¡¯t¡ª¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a rat,¡± she interrupted, then chuckled. ¡°I guess you¡¯re glad you have anosmia, whatever that is.¡±

    The need for another scientific standard came to mind, the speed of relief. Somehow, he¡¯d lucked past the worst possible outcome, and a crazy boldness replaced his worry. In a mock-straight tone of voice, he said, ¡°In the interests of clearing the air. I don¡¯t really have anosmia. Which means you can¡¯t smell anything.¡±

    Stephanie groaned and stretched her legs. ¡°All that and a pun; I hope you suffered.¡± They listened to the birds for a minute before she broke the silence. ¡°Do you still want to hang out?¡± Her voice was quiet as if she¡¯d understand if he refused.

    ¡°You¡¯re kidding, right? I thought you¡¯d never want to talk to me again.¡± He glanced to the side and caught her eyes on him. She smiled, and he smiled back. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll take a quick shower and be right back.¡± Jason darted towards the gate, then stopped and returned for the trimmer.

    All Stephanie said was, ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re in a hurry,¡± Mom noted as Jason streaked through the kitchen.

    ¡°Stephanie and I are going to hang out again.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I thought it might be something like that. Are you still mad we made you leave all your friends behind?¡±

    At the bottom of the stairs, Jason stopped and turned back. ¡°Ha-ha, Mom.

 Chapter Two

    <blockquote>

    In the news today: Select members of the International Flat Earth Society launched themselves into space in a bid to disprove the ¡°Globular Earth¡± theory.

    </blockquote>

    ¡°Mom, can Stephanie stay for supper?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t see why not. Does she like meatloaf?¡±

    Busy searching the pantry, Jason¡¯s mother hadn¡¯t noticed Stephanie following along. ¡°I like almost everything, Mrs. Thomas. Can I help you?¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Stephanie, but no. You and Jason can go play Xbox or something.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Mom.¡± Jason said and turned towards the stairs. ¡°C¡¯mon Steph; I¡¯ll show you our family room.¡±

    The family room sat a half-floor lower than the living room and a half-floor above Dad¡¯s office. On their way, Stephanie commented how her father used the same room as an office.

    ¡°What do you want to play?¡± he said. They stood at Jason¡¯s shelf of game chips.

    Peering at the labels, she said, ¡°I don¡¯t know any of these. Pick something fun.¡±

    Jason handed Stephanie a controller and then pushed the ottoman against the couch. He plopped down, kicked his shoes off, and put his feet up. A moment later, Stephanie followed suit. Compared with Stephanie¡¯s smaller bare feet, his seemed huge. Her purple-painted toes attracted his attention. ¡°Nice toes,¡± he said, then regretted saying something so stupid.

    But Stephanie didn¡¯t seem to mind. She smiled at the compliment. ¡°Mom painted them for me last night. She said the purple went with my eyes.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re really pretty. Your eyes...and your toes, I mean both are.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Steph wiggled the toes in question.

    From her toes, his attention shifted to her legs. She had beautiful legs, and he almost reached out to touch. Concerned he¡¯d been quiet too long; Jason cleared his throat. ¡°Sorry, I got off track. Now, this is a racing game. Pick a character, and we¡¯ll do some practice laps.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± As Stephanie fiddled with the buttons, her actions became increasingly sure. She toggled through the characters and, of course, picked the female character with auburn hair. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡±

    ¡°Press that,¡± he pointed to a button, ¡°to start the race.¡±

    He won the first race and the second. The third race, though, Stephanie won by a slim margin. ¡°You¡¯re getting better,¡± he said.

    ¡°This is so much fun!¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have a Nintendo?¡±

    ¡°No, but when I go home tonight, I¡¯ll ask Mom to buy one.¡±

    ¡°Want to make a bet on the next race?¡±

    ¡°Like what?¡±

    Jason felt his face burning, but he had to try. ¡°A kiss, the winner gets a kiss.¡± There, he said it. Would she get mad and leave? Would she friend-zone him?

    ¡°A kiss?¡± she asked.

    With his heart on the line, he watched for anger or, worse, rejection, but instead, the faint flush on her cheeks signaled interest.

    She nodded, ¡°Okay, a kiss, but it has to be a good one.¡±

    Jason felt light-headed. Not only had she accepted, but she also upped the ante. His palms began to sweat. ¡°Deal!¡± he replied and waited for her to start the race.

    With a kiss on the line, Jason used every bit of his skill. The three lights went red, then green. He and Stephanie accelerated off the line. Coming into the first turn, a row of texture shifting power-ups beckoned. As in the previous races, she dodged between them. Maybe she thought the boxes were a barricade? He knew how they worked and scored a green shell. Heading into the next turn, he angled for a pit maneuver. Stephanie saw him coming and cut her throttle at the last second. Unable to react in time, he overshot and spun off the track. By the time he regained control, her kart had a huge lead. At the turn where the track went vertical, she over-controlled instead of drifted and bounced off the guard rail. Jason lined up to throw the shell, then reconsidered. If she didn¡¯t know about the power-ups, would using one on her be cheating? Did he want to win a kiss bad enough to use this advantage?

    ***

    Robert Thomas arrived home to find his wife busy with supper preparations. He did his best to sneak up on her because surprising your wife with an inappropriate fondle is one of the better perks of marriage.

    Instead of her usual pretend outrage, Shirley glanced up and said, ¡°Since you¡¯re sneaking around, go take a peek into the family room.¡±

    A minute later, Robert returned, smiling. ¡°Who¡¯s downstairs with Jason?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s Stephanie, she¡¯s the girl next door.¡±

    ¡°Hmm,¡± Robert mused, ¡°something about her reminds me of your old friend, Christina.¡±

    Memories of their shared college adventures caused Shirley''s cheeks to turn pink. ¡°Well, they both have red hair.¡± Shirley and Robert shared a smile over their college memories.

    ¡°Anyway,¡± Robert cleared his throat. ¡°I think Jason¡¯s outgrown the ¡®girls are icky¡¯ stage.¡±

    ¡°Oh, yes,¡± Shirley agreed. She felt happy for her son while also dreading the problems girlfriends brought.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m happy to see he¡¯s also inherited my taste for attractive women.¡±

    His oblique compliment had the desired effect, Shirley hugged her husband and pulled him down for a kiss.

    ***

    Ultimately, Jason decided he didn¡¯t want to risk damaging their relationship. Gritting his teeth, he ignored the power-up and raced as hard as he could. In the end, it was awfully close. He might have won, but Stephanie got on the inside at the last turn and maintained their separation.

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Jason lost the race. Maybe, if things worked out, he¡¯d try again. Not that he¡¯d try the same thing anytime soon. A girl this pretty had to get hit on all the time. She¡¯d sense a creep from a mile away. The trick was to keep cool.

    From upstairs, Mom called them to supper. They put down the controllers and stood. Red-faced, he didn¡¯t want her to see his disappointment.

    A hand touched his waist. Stephanie said, ¡°Where''s my kiss?¡±

    Head still down, he turned to her. ¡°Ah, I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d...¡± His words trailed off as she stepped close and tilted her head up. For a moment, he thought he¡¯d die, that his heart would explode. He closed his eyes as their lips touched. A hint of some unquantifiable perfume filled his head. Her arms slipped around him and held tight. He did the same but feared he¡¯d hurt her if he squeezed too hard. Every part of her felt warm and soft.

    Mom called again.

    Jason opened his eyes and watched as Stephanie did the same. Her impossibly green eyes held tiny specs of brown. They broke the kiss and stepped apart. His lips tingled.

    On their way upstairs, one of Stephanie¡¯s hands found his. Her surprisingly warm fingers tightened, and he squeezed a response. Just like that, in Jason¡¯s mind, they became a couple. If life were a video game, he¡¯d have unlocked an achievement. Together, they turned the corner into the dining room. Dad, wearing a huge grin, turned to greet their guest. But when Dad moved, Stephanie stepped back out of view.

    Of course, Dad noticed and frowned. Mom noticed dad¡¯s sudden concern and paused while setting the sliced meatloaf on the table. Both parents turned to Jason. Dad asked, ¡°Is there a problem?¡±

    Confused, Jason turned back. ¡°C¡¯mon, Steph, say hi to my Dad.¡± He stepped to the side, and with small steps, Stephanie came into view.

    ¡°Hello, Mr. Thomas,¡± she said.

    ¡°Hello Stephanie, is everything all right?¡± How many balky court-room witnesses had Dad soothed with that tone?

    ¡°I guess I¡¯m not used to meeting new people,¡± she said then stepped to Jason¡¯s side. ¡°Thank you for having me.¡± At no time had she released Jason¡¯s hand; in fact, she gripped even harder. Mom noticed the hand holding first and grinned sideways at Dad.

    Dad¡¯s eyes flicked to Mom¡¯s then back. Jason marveled at their silent communication skills. His father shrugged and said, ¡°Well, let''s all sit and dig in.¡±

    Eager to make a positive impression and to show off his manners, Jason held Stephanie¡¯s chair. At first, it confused her, but she figured it out and sat.

    Usually set for three, the dining room table easily accommodated a fourth. Glancing across to Stephanie, Jason realized he wanted his father to approve of his girlfriend.

    ¡°How was work today, dear,¡± Mom began supper with the same question nearly every weekday. His father usually replied in generalities, unable or unwilling to get specific. Tonight though¡­

    ¡°The partners voted to take on a new type of client.¡± Dad scowled. He usually didn¡¯t display emotion about his clients.

    ¡°What type of client?¡± Mom asked.

    ¡°A genie peddler. The FBI ran a sting and rounded up five of those monsters and almost two dozen genies.¡±

    Across the table, Stephanie glanced up. ¡°Excuse me, Mr. Thomas, but what¡¯s going to happen with the genies?¡±

    ¡°The usual. A combined team from Animal Welfare and Child Protection Services will evaluate them, and they''ll be sent to one of the reservations.¡±

    ¡°I heard the government sterilizes them.¡±

    ¡°If they¡¯re capable of giving birth or siring children, yes. No one wants more genies underfoot.¡±

    Stephanie¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°You don¡¯t like genies?¡± Until now, Jason had never heard a sharp tone in her voice.

    ¡°Young lady, I don¡¯t make a habit of arguing with guests. But,¡± Dad raised his hands, palms out, ¡°I understand some people are sympathetic to those¡­unfortunates. At best, genies are pets like a dog or a cat. But the perverts who keep them do so for the most repugnant of reasons. I trust I need not go into detail?¡±

    Stephanie shook her head, and Jason let out his breath. He did not want his father and Stephanie to fight. Not when things were going along so well. ¡°Hey, Dad?¡± Jason interrupted, ¡°Did you see the football news today? The Steelers'' new quarterback looks great. The coach says he¡¯s got an arm like Roethlisberger.¡±

    Perhaps welcoming the distraction, Dad shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ll believe it when I see it.¡±

    No one spoke for a moment, then Jason¡¯s mother addressed Stephanie. ¡°What does your father do?¡±

    Stephanie glanced at Dad, then answered. ¡°He sells things. Some months, he¡¯s only here for a day or two. Mom stays busy scheduling his appointments and taking his calls.¡±

    ¡°Do you think your mother might want to go out for lunch someday?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll ask, but she¡¯s always busy.¡±

    Even though she lived right next door, Jason walked Stephanie home. The disagreement between her and his father worried him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about my dad.¡±

    They¡¯d reached the foot of the stairs leading up to her small back porch. This is what his house had before Dad upgraded to a wooden deck. Like most houses this time of year, the porch light remained off. Even this early in the summer, porch lights attracted swarms of bugs.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I watch the news. Lots of people have similar opinions.¡±

    ¡°Still, I know it¡¯s important to you.¡± Jason tried to make eye contact.

    Stephanie turned away. ¡°Genies never asked to be born. Humans made them. Humans, not the genies, are the bad guys.¡±

    As much as he wanted to ask for another kiss, Stephanie¡¯s dark mood made him wary. ¡°I agree. Thinking that people are property is bad.¡± When she didn¡¯t reply, he frantically tried to come up with an exit strategy. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t know anything about genies. They¡¯re just stories on the news. But it¡¯s important to you, and that makes it important to me.¡±

    ¡°Just like that?¡± she asked. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°¡¯Cause I like you, and I think you like me too.¡±

    ¡°And you like me because I¡¯m pretty?¡± she challenged.

    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re hot, but there¡¯s more. You have a great sense of humor and you stand up for yourself, but most of all, it¡¯s how sweet you are that keeps me chasing after you.¡±

    ¡°Not my boobs?¡± It wasn¡¯t too dark to see her smile.

    Jason dared to push a stray lock of her hair back into place. ¡°To tell the truth,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯m more of a butt guy. Your boobs are great, but your butt is awesome. I can¡¯t wait to see you in jeans.¡±

    She closed the distance between them, and her eyes flicked down then back up to his. ¡°I don¡¯t have any jeans.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± he moved closer.

    ¡°Uh, uh, just skirts and dresses.¡±

    They were an inch or two apart, and it only seemed a little odd they still discussed clothing. ¡°Skirts are cool. I like your legs too.¡±

    ¡°You keep surprising me, and you make me laugh.¡± Her fingers traced up his arms. ¡°Do I get a goodnight kiss?¡±

    He almost replied but tipped his head down and kissed her instead. The kiss started chastely enough, but¡ªand he didn¡¯t know who went first¡ªthe tip of his tongue touched hers. It felt like an electric current jolted up his spine.

    Each of them shifted position, as they searched for more body-to-body contact.

    Inside of her house, a door slammed and they both jumped apart. ¡°Wow,¡± he and Stephanie said at almost the same instant. Then they both laughed.

    Jason took her hands. He said, ¡°I really, really liked that.¡±

    ¡°Me too,¡± she said.

    ¡°And...I really like you.¡±

    ¡°I can tell,¡± she said. There was enough light to see her smile.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to let you go.¡±

    ¡°Text me when you get up, and I¡¯ll come over.¡±

    ¡°¡¯Kay. Another kiss?¡± Instead of waiting for a reply, he reached to pull her close, but she was already there.

    Later, he lay on his bed, trying and failing to read. His thoughts kept revolving around red hair and green eyes.

    ¡°Master Jason?¡± Alfred¡¯s voice came from the overhead speaker.

    ¡°Yes, Alfred?¡±

    ¡°Miss Stephanie sent you a text.¡±

    Surprised, Jason sat up. ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°She said, ¡®Goodnight and thank you for the goodnight kisses.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Alfred, please tell Stephanie, ¡®It was my pleasure, and I can¡¯t wait to see you again.¡¯¡±

    ***

    While Robert and Shirley prepared for bed, Robert said, ¡°Jason¡¯s a chip off the old block, isn¡¯t he?¡±

    ¡°Oh? How so?¡± Shirley reached into the dresser for a clean nightgown.

    ¡°Because he also found a cute girl and managed to sweep her off her feet.¡±

    Shirley¡¯s eyes found her husband¡¯s reflection in the mirror. His eyes, she noticed, followed her butt as she bent over the drawer. Maybe she wouldn¡¯t need a nightgown?

 Chapter Three

    <blockquote>

    In the News Today: For the second time in as many days, The Christian Movement for World Peace clashed violently with The Muslim Movement for Better Understanding.

    </blockquote>

    Jason pulled his shorts up and plopped down on the edge of his bed. His ¡°plop¡± bounced his rolled-up socks into the air and down on to the floor, where they rolled out of reach. Sighing, he stood and reached down to pick them up.

    "Your Mom''s in a good mood."

    Surprise at the unexpected voice almost made him jump clear across the room. He spun and found Stephanie standing in his bedroom doorway.

    He stuttered. "H-hi."

    "Your Mom¡¯s in the bathroom, and I got tired of waiting for you. Can I come in?"

    Jason nodded. How long had she stood in his doorway? He plopped down again, this time holding his socks.

    Stephanie prowled around his room, peeking into his closet and even into his open dresser drawer. Instead of sneakers, she wore flip-flops, and her lavender nails sported tiny green polka dots. "You''re lucky,¡± she said. "I got stuck in the smallest bedroom."

    "This room has drawbacks."

    "Like what?"

    "The master bedroom is right across the hall.¡± He shrugged to indicate the open doorway. "Last night must have been special, or something, ¡®cause Mom got kind of loud."

    Stephanie chuckled. "I know how it is. Sometimes my parents do it in the living room."

    "What?" Jason realized his parents must have done the same. Where would it be safe to sit?

    "Maybe that¡¯s why your mom¡¯s so happy this morning?¡±

    Still holding his socks, Jason considered how often his mother began the day in a cheerful mood. They must do it all the time!

    Stephanie stopped her examination and glanced at Jason. ¡°You didn¡¯t text me this morning.¡± Her glance wasn¡¯t exactly an accusation, but it was close.

    That brought him back to reality. He¡¯d intended to send a text after breakfast, but between the failure of his usual trick to fall asleep, and then later with his parents carrying on, he¡¯d overslept. ¡°I couldn¡¯t fall asleep.¡±

    ¡°Next time send me a text. If my father isn¡¯t home, I¡¯ll stay up and keep you company.¡±

    ¡°¡®Kay. Hey, you know what else I forgot? I forgot to say how nice you look.¡± He must have said the right thing because Stephanie¡¯s smile lit the room.

    Nodding towards his closet, she asked, "Are you going to wear a shirt today?"

    "Um yeah." He already had his favorite Slayer T-shirt laid out.

    Nodding, she reached into his closet and removed a short-sleeved button-down shirt. "Here, wear this."

    "But..." he considered the situation, then stood and donned the shirt.

    "And don''t wear those ratty old tennis shoes." Stephanie wasn¡¯t finished with her Jason makeover project. She reached back into his closet and tossed him a pair of leather boat shoes. "Wear these."

    "But..." she¡¯d already turned back to his dresser, closed the top drawer, and opened the next one down. What he called a dresser was really a chest of drawers, five drawers in total, from his sock drawer at the top, to the deeper shirt drawer at the bottom. If Stephanie continued looking through each drawer, and if she continued to bend at the waist, he didn¡¯t need college math to calculate where her skirt might end up at. He sat, keeping those angles in mind, and slowly pulled his shoes on.

    Downstairs, Mom washed breakfast dishes while singing along to her top-40, golden-oldies radio station. The singing cut off as they entered the room. "Good morning, sleepyhead. And there you are, Stephanie. I¡¯d wondered where you went.¡± Then Mom noticed his shirt and shoes. ¡°Whoa!" she said. "You did not pick out your clothes."

    "I did it for him," Stephanie beamed.

    "Great job, Steph. It¡¯s nice to see a handsome Jason instead of scruffy. Now, I''m making waffles, would you like one or two?"

    Stephanie tried to refuse but settled for, ¡°Just one waffle, please.¡±

    Mom didn¡¯t bother asking Jason. She already had one on his plate while a second steamed in the iron. That waffle went to Stephanie, and mom made his second.

    Instead of maple syrup, Stephanie fished the wedge of lemon from her iced tea and squeezed it over her waffle. Mid-squeeze, she caught Jason watching and gave him a sheepish grin. Showing his solidarity, he forked the lemon from his glass and passed it over.

    Mom joined them after making her own waffle. Perhaps, because Stephanie didn''t use syrup, Mom ate hers plain. She didn¡¯t know about the lemon trick.

    ¡°Stephanie,¡± Mom asked, ¡°do you ever miss not going to school? It must be difficult not having friends.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know how to miss something I¡¯ve never had.¡± Her eyes flicked to Jason for a moment before turning back to his mother. ¡°Although Jason is a good friend.¡±

    Jason hung his head and groaned. ¡°Oh, no. It¡¯s the kiss of death!¡±

    ¡°What are you going on about?¡± asked Mom.

    ¡°Stephanie friend-zoned me,¡± he mock-wailed.

    Rubbing her head, Stephanie asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with being friends?¡±

    Mom spoke up, ¡°Pay no attention to Charlie Brown here. If he''s friend-zoned, it''s his own fault.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s friend-zoned, and who¡¯s Charlie Brown?¡± Stephanie glared at Jason.

    Jason rolled his eyes. ¡°Seriously, Mom, that¡¯s an ancient reference, even for you.¡± He turned to Stephanie, ¡°Charlie Brown is an old cartoon character.¡±

    ¡°Who carried a torch for ¡®The little red-headed girl.¡¯¡± Added Mom with significant glances for her son and his guest.

    Jason felt his face grow hot. Across the table, Stephanie¡¯s cheeks were also red.

    Perhaps satisfied with the awkward situation she¡¯d created, Mom stood, plate in hand. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you two alone and eat my breakfast on the deck.

    Several quiet minutes passed before Jason spoke, ¡°I¡¯ve never thought to put lemon on waffles.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s something Mom and I do. You probably wouldn¡¯t like it.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of like, I like how your impossible eye color gave away your secret.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Stephanie sat back with her arms crossed. ¡°Whatever do you mean?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not supposed to know this¡ªMom and Dad think it¡¯ll screw with my ¡®Emotional Development¡¯¡ªbut I was gene engineered too. I got a ¡®Certified Genius Gene¡¯ package, and you got those beautiful eyes.¡±

    Those beautiful eyes studied him, and Jason began to fret. ¡°Did I, uh, screw up?¡±

    Stephanie grimaced. ¡°I guess this is one of those relationship building moments,¡± she took a deep breath and began counting on her fingers. ¡°First, you didn¡¯t screw up. Second, don¡¯t worry about offending me. I¡¯m a big girl. Third,¡± Stephanie stopped and shook her head. ¡°Third is complicated. And it¡¯s about your father. Where does he get off hating genies after having you gene-edited? Fourth, well, I inherited my eye color from my mother.¡±

    ¡°You know my dad¡¯s a lawyer, right? The law is a big deal to him. He¡¯s like a walking, talking legal textbook. Genies are illegal, and that¡¯s probably why he thinks the way he does. Gene editing is small stuff, and it¡¯s legal, and that makes it okay. I bet if Dad ever met a genie for real, he¡¯ll be super nice. Dad sees himself as a protector of victims. He only does criminal defense to make sure his clients get a fair trial.¡±

    ¡°Fair enough,¡± she said.

    ¡°As for me,¡± Jason reached across the table and tapped the back of her hand. ¡°As for me, you have to tell me right away if I do or say something you don¡¯t like. No holding stuff back, ¡¯kay?¡±

    Smiling, Stephanie scooted her chair back to the table, then reached across and speared a bite of his waffle. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± she said, ¡°I still like you.¡± She chewed the butter and maple-syrup-soaked bite with interest. ¡°Maple syrup,¡± she decreed, ¡°is much better than I expected. So, boyfriend, what¡¯s friend-zoning?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s when a boy likes a girl, but the girl only wants to be friends. Once a guy¡¯s in the zone, it¡¯s all over.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t see why people can¡¯t be both.¡±

    ¡°Some can. Like my parents. They have each other¡¯s back like you wouldn¡¯t believe.¡± He reached over and snatched a bite of her waffle. It was tangy and lemony, not at all bad. ¡°That¡¯s what I want for us.¡±

    ¡°Well, my parents don¡¯t have a great relationship. You¡¯ll have to help me figure my part out.¡±

    ¡°Your dad¡ª¡± Jason caught the sudden heat in Stephanie¡¯s eyes. ¡°Sorry! Your father, he doesn¡¯t hit your mom, does he?¡±

    ¡°No, he¡¯s not that kind of terrible.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m missing something then.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re lucky, trust me.¡±

    Thunder crashed outside, and Mom ran inside with her plate. ¡°It¡¯s pouring!¡± She focused on Jason and Stephanie, ¡°Do you two understand each other better now?¡±

    ¡°I thou¡ª¡± Jason started.

    ¡°We do.¡± Stephanie finished.

    ¡°Good,¡± declared Mom. ¡°I¡¯m glad I helped.¡±

    The late morning surprise shower looked to become an all-day soaker. Stephanie called her mom for permission to stay and hang out with Jason. Before she hung up, his mom ran to the living room to pick up the extension.

    ¡°Hi, this is Shirley Thomas, Jason¡¯s mother. Sorry to butt in, but since our kids are officially an item, I thought we should get to know each other.¡±

    Knowing how his mother loved to talk, Jason thought this was a good time to get his new girlfriend alone. He mimed hanging up the phone, and she got it right away. In a rush, Stephanie said, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m going to hang out with Jason. Bye,¡± and hung up.

    Taking a chance, Jason held out his hand. As if it were the most normal thing in the world, Stephanie took it. Sometime soon, he¡¯d have to ask how she managed to have warm hands all the time. Girlfriend in tow, Jason headed for the semi-secluded family room. Once down the steps and out of Mom¡¯s sight, Jason steered Stephanie towards the couch. Because girlfriend, minus parents, added to couch, equals fun. Stephanie, however, decided to be the opposite, rather than the adjacent and turned an acute angle towards The Wall.

    The wall held an assortment of digital picture frames and a few, vintage photographs. The digital frames cycled through Mom and Dad¡¯s trove of images.

    ¡°Do you know all these people?¡± asked Stephanie. A note of incredulity was in her voice.

    Stepping up behind her, Jason rested his hands on her waist. Yep, she was warm there too. ¡°No, not all of them. Some of the pictures go back generations.¡± He pointed at one. ¡°This is one of the oldest.¡±

    Stephanie peered at the long-obsolete, flat image, then remarked in surprise, ¡°He looks just like you!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s my great-grandfather. I¡¯m told he led an interesting life.¡±

    Stephanie leaned back; her shoulders pressed against him. ¡°Oh?¡± she asked and glanced over her shoulder, ¡°what happened to him?¡±

    ¡°Girlfriends happened. Lots and lots of girlfriends He couldn¡¯t choose one ¡¯cause he loved them all equally.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re making that up,¡± she said.

    ¡°Nope! It¡¯s one of the family¡¯s oldest legends.¡±

    Stephanie spun to face him and pulled his head down until their foreheads touched. ¡°You better not take after him,¡± she scolded.

    He slipped his hands under the hem of her shirt. Just far enough, to touch the bare skin at her waist. ¡°Why would I spend time with another girl when I can spend it all with you?¡± Their closeness threatened to overwhelm his senses.

    Her hands covered his, but she didn¡¯t redirect him. At least not yet. ¡°Mom says all men get bored sooner or later.¡±

    ¡°Sweetheart, I¡¯m not saying your mom¡¯s wrong, but¡ª¡±

    Behind them, Jason¡¯s mother called down the stairs. ¡°I¡¯m done talking to your mother, Stephanie. She said you can stay until supper.¡±

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Thomas,¡± Stephanie replied, then turned her considerable attention back to Jason. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± she asked.

    He still needed to ask about her ¡°warm for a girl¡± skin temperature. But right now, her presence commanded one hundred percent of his attention. Almost of their own accord, his thumbs¡ªstill riding on the flair of her hips¡ªhooked inside the waistband of her skirt. Both thumb tips encountered something lacy and soft.

    Stephanie squirmed out of his grasp and waggled a finger. She asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t we play that racing game again?¡±

    Disappointed, but unsure if he needed to apologize, Jason reached for the controllers and booted the console. ¡°Sure,¡± he said, glancing back at her. ¡°Same deal as before?¡±

    Stephanie paused her resumed examination of the Thomas family pictures. ¡°You mean your trick bet?¡±

    ¡°Trick? Yeah, but I really wanted to kiss you.¡±

    ¡°All you had to do was ask.¡± Stephanie returned and kissed his cheek, then snatched a controller from his hand. ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m mean or anything.¡±

    With the footrest back against the couch, they kicked off their shoes and got busy.

    It was during the first race that Stephanie discovered the power-ups. Coming out of the first turn, both teens battled for position. Intent on gaining the inside, she drove straight through an item box. The box flashed out of existence, and her character, the auburn-haired princess, zoomed down the track, a banana in her hand.

    Befuddled, Stephanie asked, ¡°Why am I waving a banana?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m no psychiatrist, but you might be trying to tell me something.¡±

    This earned Jason a snort of laughter and an elbow straight into his ribs. ¡°Oof!¡±

    She said, ¡°I better not catch you waving a banana around. It might get peeled.¡±

    ¡°Ouch,¡± the thought made him wince. ¡°Okay, that banana,¡± he nodded towards the display, ¡°is a weapon. If you throw it and if it hits me, I¡¯ll spin out.¡±

    Of course, she needed a demonstration. They spent the next several races trying the different power-ups and goofing off. It was a lot more fun than a serious, competitive race.

    Near the end of the second race, a weapon with potential spawned ahead. New for this version of the game, tow chains offered the ability to slow another racer and then to sling-shot ahead. It required a keen sense of timing to gain the maximum effect.

    Tow Chain in hand, he timed his approach. They drifted through the same turn; he held his drift longer for the additional boost. Jason lined up and activated the device. A grappling hook shot out, binding his kart to Stephanie¡¯s. Jason let off the controls and allowed her kart to tow his along. Any number of backward-firing weapons would knock him loose, but she didn¡¯t have one. Her cart slowed to a crawl.

    The fires of competition burned hot, and Stephanie growled in frustration. ¡°You rat! You dirty rat. Get that thing off my¡­my¡­¡± And there, for lack of a word, her voice stalled.

    ¡°Your butt?¡± He prodded a little more. ¡°Your tail? Sweetheart, you have such a pretty one.¡± He squeezed her knee, then slid his hand up several inches. The warmth of her skin seemed to welcome his touch. If anything, the temperature increased as his fingers traveled north. Then he noticed her stillness and¡­If glares could burn, she¡¯d have set him on fire.

    ¡°What,¡± he asked, ¡°is your knee off limits?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± she replied, ¡°but you¡¯ve gotten awful pushy. I liked you better before.¡±

    He yanked his hand away. This hadn¡¯t gone like he wanted. ¡°S-sorry.¡±

    ¡°Jason,¡± Stephanie turned to face him. ¡°You want us to have a physical relationship, and I¡¯m not opposed to that. But, let me set the pace, please.¡±

    Maybe it was his certified genius genes, but instead of feeling butthurt, he considered her side. She hadn''t grown up with a group of boisterous friends. She didn¡¯t go to public school and watch students grinding on or groping each other. His schoolmates engaged in R-rated public displays of affection. Treating Stephanie like a classmate probably wouldn¡¯t work.

    ¡°What should I do,¡± he asked.

    ¡°Take it slow. Remember I¡¯ve never had a boyfriend before. My Mom thinks your kind should come with instruction manuals and pre-paid return labels.¡±

    ¡°Ha, everyone knows girls are worse. An instruction manual for girls would take ten volumes.¡±

    ¡°Rule number one, boyfriend, don¡¯t insult your girlfriend.¡±

    ¡°Hey,¡± Jason shifted closer. Close enough to catch a hint of her crazy perfume. ¡°Look, I understand. We have a lot to learn about each other.¡± Heart pounding, Jason whispered, ¡°We¡¯ll make our rules as we go.¡± He leaned forward, and Stephanie met him halfway.

    ***

    ¡°Mrs. Thomas?¡± Alfred¡¯s voice, at a far lower volume level than usual, came from a nearby speaker.

    ¡°Yes, Alfred?¡±

    ¡°The activities you asked me to watch for have commenced.¡±

    ¡°Oh, what are they doing?¡±

    ¡°I can play the audio or the full video if you wish.¡±

    ¡°Heavens no, I¡¯d feel like a voyeur. Are they doing anything beyond kissing?¡±

    ¡°No, ma¡¯am. They¡¯ve already stopped and have decided to watch a movie. Oh, one moment, Master Jason and Miss Stephanie are now holding hands.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s sweet. Alfred, in the future they have a five-minute kissing allowance. Anything past that time requires an interruption.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ***

    After supper, they spent the evening outside. Still learning about each other, Stephanie asked about a normal school day. He did his best to describe one, skipping over the more lurid activities some couples indulged in. Stephanie detailed her and her mother¡¯s exercise routines. When talk moved to their future, he had definite ideas, she, not so much.

    ¡°No college?¡± he asked. Ever since President Ocasio-Cortez set college tuition to a fair, flat rate, everyone went to college. You could earn as useless a degree as you wished, but you weren¡¯t in debt for life afterward.

    ¡°Not for me. I never considered it until you asked.¡±

    ¡°You have plenty of time to change your mind and take the tests. Maybe we can go to college together?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d really like that, Jay.¡± Sometime that afternoon, he¡¯d earned a nickname. It helped stabilize their relationship and satisfied an emotional requirement he didn¡¯t know existed. Stephanie even admitted how much she liked it when he called her sweetheart. Maybe she had the same needs as he? Girls, while being mysterious, nice to touch, and smelling so good, probably wanted the same things as boys. He didn¡¯t even mind that she wanted him to take it slow. Just sitting here holding her hand and rubbing knees made everything perfect. The only thing he¡¯d like different would be if Alfred stopped with his weather forecasts.

    Every time they got something going, Alfred popped up with some message about warm fronts and high pressures and extended range whatever¡¯s. No one outside of northern Pennsylvania cared about the storms on Lake Erie.

    It got to be a joke, but Stephanie didn¡¯t seem to mind, so he didn¡¯t either, much.

    As they stepped up onto Stephanie¡¯s back porch, her grip on his hand tightened. ¡°I need to tell you something,¡± she said.

    ¡°Let me guess. You want me to tuck you in.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± then she giggled. ¡°No way, Mom wouldn¡¯t hurt me, but you¡¯d be fair game. No, this is serious, Jay.¡± She frowned and took a breath. ¡°My father can¡¯t know we¡¯re seeing each other.¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡± He¡¯d heard stories about overprotective fathers.

    Stephanie sighed. ¡°Because I''m not allowed to have a boyfriend. Not until I''m a little older. Then everything changes."

    "What does that mean?"

    Stephanie sighed again and looked away. "It''s one of his rules, and it''s complicated."

    "You''re confusing."

    "I''m sorry. Just remember, if he finds out, I won¡¯t be allowed to see you again. Any time my father¡¯s home, I¡¯ll have to stay inside. Don¡¯t ever come over if he¡¯s home."

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I like your dad.¡±

    ¡°As long as we like each other, nothing else matters.¡± Stephanie turned back to face him. ¡°We have a few more minutes, and I want a really good goodnight kiss.¡± In the dim light from her kitchen windows, he thought her eyes shone especially bright.

    ***

    This isn¡¯t spying, and I don¡¯t feel guilty¡­or anything else¡­not one bit. Natalie watched the video feed from the back porch. Stephanie and ¡°that boy¡± saying their goodnights. Uneasy thoughts accompanied the slight burn inside her chest. No one had ever wooed her.

    She¡¯d grown up on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, in the household of her original owner, Pavlo Mogilevich. An important man, Pavlo spent little time with family and, until she grew older, even less time with her. His wife, Maryska, mothered her children but spared little time for the girl she thought was her husband¡¯s bastard. When Natali went to her for support, she¡¯d receive a lecture and rejection. Maryska bandaged cuts and scrapes, provided food and clothing, but she did not love little Natali.

    Most of Pavlo and Maryska¡¯s children treated her like a guest who¡¯d long overstayed her welcome. Although their oldest boy, Kyrylo, spent most of his time studying.

    Once a year, on her birthday, Mariska, escorted Natali into Pavlo¡¯s presence. He¡¯d inquire about her health and ask odd questions. The man seemed most concerned about her temperament. He¡¯d ask Natali if she experienced extended periods of anger or if she¡¯d menstruated. After she¡¯d satisfied his curiosity, Pavlo would dismiss her for another year. She¡¯d been six months past her thirteenth birthday, friendless and confused, the day Pavlo¡¯s oldest son showed an interest in her.

    Natali took her meals with the servants. Not that they had any time for her. After lunch and before the afternoon¡¯s chore assignment, she crept off to her safe spot behind the garage. Two old trees grew there, and she¡¯d found a private space between them and the back wall of the garage. On the rare times, Mariska called for her, it took only a moment to dash around the garage, thus keeping her sanctuary hidden.

    ¡°So, this is where you hide.¡± The voice startled Natali. She glanced up to see Kyrylo. Nearly seventeen years old, he looked a lot like his father.

    ¡°What do you want, Kyrylo?¡± Bozhe moi, he must have followed her.

    Grunting with effort, the older boy shimmied between the trees and dropped into a squat across from her. With his left hand, he flourished a large round object. ¡°I brought you a hreypfrut.

    One of Mariska¡¯s imported white grapefruit! Natali tried to taste one once. The bitter-tart-sweet scent made her mouth water. Then the assistant cook swatted her away from the prep counter.

    A faint whiff of the fruit tickled her nostrils. She wanted it, but she didn¡¯t trust this boy. ¡°Why?¡± Her eyes darted to his, searching for a reason.

    ¡°I want us to be friends, Natali.¡± His cajoling tone did nothing to allay her concerns. Kyrylo rotated his hand to show the perfection of his gift.

    ¡°Why?¡± Often the target of the younger siblings¡¯ gibes, she¡¯d never been a part of the family. Kyrylo had remained aloof, never involving himself, until now.

    The tips of Kyrylo¡¯s fingers pushed into the rind, and he expertly peeled the fruit. ¡°Because I am a boy, and you are a lovely girl. Naturally, we are attracted to each other.¡± He separated a wedge and handed it to her.

    Because he might take the fruit away, Natali snatched it from his hand and bit into the wedge. Flavor exploded in her mouth. It was the most delicious thing she¡¯d ever tasted. The older boy fed her a second wedge and a third. His eyes sparkled while she gobbled each piece. After the third slice, while she licked her fingers, he leaned forward and surprised her with a kiss.

    The kiss wasn¡¯t so bad. Especially with the taste of grapefruit still fresh in Natali¡¯s mouth. A bite of grapefruit, then another kiss. It seemed a fair deal.

    All too soon, the grapefruit ran out. Kyrylo pressed his case, demanding kisses. Without something to trade, his attentions lacked anything to interest her. One day, he offered her a small bar of American dark chocolate. She liked this even more than the grapefruit. Kyrylo sensed her interest and bartered for more than simple kisses.

    Muffled words issued from the speaker and Natalie snapped back to the present. On the small video display, Natalie watched Jason gaze at Stephanie as if he were the one irrevocably smitten by brain chemistry. Then again, perhaps he was, at least as much as humanly possible.

    ¡°When you do that,¡± the boy said, ¡°I think my brain¡¯s gonna melt.¡±

    ¡°Do what?¡± Stephanie asked with a chuckle. ¡°I don¡¯t want your brain to melt.¡±

    ¡°You just did it again. That lip-biting thing.¡±

    ¡°Poor Jason,¡± Stephanie soothed, ¡°your brain¡¯s probably half puddled by now. Here, I¡¯ll give you another kiss and make you all better.¡±

    It made Natalie proud to watch her daughter exert control over the human. This was how it should always be! If events fell into place, someday after the boy became a man, he would provide a singular service, and Stephanie would be free. The boy, well, the boy didn¡¯t matter otherwise.

    The kiss went on a lot longer than the last. Near the end, Stephanie sagged, and faster than Natalie expected, Romeo caught her up.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± His raw concern was sickeningly apparent.

    Stephanie gasped, ¡°I think my brain''s melting too.¡± Instead of taking a break, the pair leaned against the railing and resumed necking.

    Disappointed, Natalie shook her head. So much for Stephanie as a cold-blooded, femme fatale. The girl was just as befuddled with the boy as he with her. Still, if looked at from a human perspective, the kids were cute together. Natalie ignored the resurgent heat in her chest. She was happy for her daughter, dammit!

    In between fervent kisses, the boy spoke. ¡°I knew you were the girl for me from the moment I first saw you.¡±

    Stephanie accepted those kisses and returned a few of her own. ¡°I sort of liked you too. Even though all you did was stare at my boobs.¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s your fault.¡±

    ¡°My fault?¡± The infra-red filter allowed Natalie to see her daughter¡¯s eyes narrow.

    ¡°Yeah, a girl as hot as you should carry a warning sign.¡±

    Well, that was as weird a compliment as Natalie had ever heard. Still, it was cute in an earnest teenaged boy fashion.

    It didn¡¯t displease Stephanie either because she smiled and asked, ¡°What kind of sign?¡±

    Jason grinned. Uh, oh, Romeo had something clever in mind. ¡°So, Dad had one case, a guy got squished on a job, and there was a sign on this huge hydraulic press. The sign said, ¡°WARNING, CRUSH HAZARD. That¡¯d be the perfect sign for you.¡± He smiled, obviously proud.

    ¡°What!¡± Stephanie hissed. ¡°Are you saying I¡¯m fat?¡±

    Jason¡¯s, ¡°I¡¯m so clever¡± smile morphed into wide-eyed horror. ¡°No!¡± he said, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that!¡± The not-so-smart boy recognized his peril and tried to retreat. Stephanie, however, kept his hands trapped. He stammered, ¡°I meant because I¡¯m crushing on you really bad right now.¡±

    It took a few seconds, but Stephanie visibly relaxed. ¡°Oh, you mean like, liking someone a lot?¡±

    Jason nodded as if his future happiness depended on it.

    If Stephanie didn¡¯t buy his explanation, Natalie would have to intervene. She laid a finger against the outdoor speaker switch.

    ¡°Are you really crushing on me?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, big-time,¡± he sighed.

    ¡°Good,¡± Stephanie grinned, ¡°¡¯cause I¡¯m crushing on you right back.¡±

    His eyes flashed with some new deviltry. ¡°Good, just don¡¯t squish me, ¡¯kay?¡± This time he¡¯d already taken a step back. Stephanie shouted. ¡°You rat!¡± Romeo turned and fled into the darkness with Stephanie in hot pursuit. Chuckling despite herself, Natalie stepped away from the panel. She¡¯d have enough time to make a pot of tea.

    Fifteen minutes later, the back door cycled. Without turning, Natalie spoke, ¡°You¡¯re ten minutes late, little miss.¡± Then she turned and nearly gasped in surprise. Stephanie looked as though she¡¯d gone ten rounds with Jason. Grass stained her knees and the tips of her sneakers. Her ponytail had mostly come out of the scrunchie. From a certain point of view, it didn¡¯t look good. ¡°What did you and Romeo get up too out there?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s a rat. He tricked me into wrestling with him, and then he won.¡±

    ¡°And by the grass stains,¡± Natalie made a point of staring at her daughter¡¯s knees and toes, ¡°I can guess what he won.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Steph bent and gaped at the stains. When she straightened, her face was bright red. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think, Mom, no! He, ah, he made me sit on top of him when I gave him his victory kiss.¡±

    ¡°Mm, hmm,¡± Natalie made it sound as noncommittal as possible. ¡°I¡¯ll make us some tea, and we can practice the maskuvannya.¡±

    Natalie waited until Stephanie nodded. ¡°Other than the wrestling match, how was your day with Jason?¡±

    A huge smile lit Stephanie¡¯s face. ¡°It was wonderful, he¡­¡± Stephanie¡¯s face fell when she realized her error. The maskuvannya, Ukrainian, for disguise, was the word for how they hid their true selves. While Natalie had a lot of practice, Stephanie had little, and it showed.

    Pitching her voice to mock, Natalie said, ¡°You¡¯ve just killed Jason. Are you proud of yourself?¡± Stephanie went white, and Natalie ground the point home. ¡°Because of your mistake, Yevgeny will slip into their home and murder the entire family. It will be your fault.¡±

    Crouching, Stephanie spun in place, searching for her father. The girl¡¯s form was good. It would take a prepared and well-trained human male to defeat her. This, of course, begged the question as to how a simple boy might defeat Stephanie.

    Fortunately for them all, Gene Timms, once known as Yevgeny Timofeyev, remained on the American¡¯s west coast, wallowing in drugs and fat American whores.

    Natalie took a breath and turned back to the stove and the serenity of her tea-making ritual. ¡°No, lisichka,¡± little fox. ¡°My owner is not here. If he were, your slip would have doomed us both.¡±

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t a fair test, Mother.¡± Teacups and saucers rattled as Stephanie assisted with the tea. ¡°If Yevgeny caught me with Jason, our maskuvannya would not have helped.

    Natalie preheated the ceramic teapot. ¡°You are still too easily tricked. How do you expect to survive with your mind intact? Perhaps it is your wish to become a full marionetka? Remember, it took nearly two decades for my mind to recover.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to grow feelings for Jason. Those feelings make it difficult to concentrate.¡±

    ¡°Ha, feelings. You think you are in love?¡±

    ¡°No, not love, whatever that is, but something else. Being in his company makes me giddy.¡±

    The snort of laughter burst through Natalie¡¯s iron control. She knew all too well the pleasures that accompanied a man¡¯s presence.

    ¡°Ha,¡± Stephanie crowed. ¡°This time, Mother, it is you making the error. I know what feelings you¡¯re talking about. True, I experience those. But there is more.¡± Stephanie paused in thought. ¡°I wish you could know the more for yourself.¡±

    Mom smiled. ¡°Perhaps we will trade places tomorrow? Then Jason can wrestle me to the ground and steal all my kisses.¡±

    Stephanie stopped pouring their tea. ¡°That, mother, will not be necessary.¡±

 Chapter Four

    <blockquote>

    In the News Today: The Mennonite World Conference sponsored a worldwide silent prayer to protest genetically enhanced children.

    </blockquote>

    Jason¡¯s mom asked, ¡°Why were you rolling around in the grass last night?¡±

    Surprised, Jason glanced up from his bowl of cereal and caught Mom and Dad sharing odd grins. Best to play dumb. ¡°Mmm? What?¡±

    ¡°While you were in the shower, I started a load of your laundry. The clothes from yesterday were covered with grass stains. If Stephanie looked the same, she might have some explaining to do.¡±

    Dad chuckled and sipped coffee.

    Jason had to say something. Maybe he could throw in a diversion? ¡°I teased her, and she chased me. We wrestled a little. She¡¯s a lot stronger than she looks.¡±

    ¡°I trust you behaved yourself?¡± Dad asked.

    In Dad¡¯s world, misbehaving covered a lot of ground. Doing so with a girl narrowed it down to just one possibility. Mom and Dad both waited, and their intense regard made him wary. ¡°Do we really have to talk about this?¡± Jason pleaded.

    ¡°Shirley?¡± Dad asked, with one raised eyebrow.

    ¡°Later should be fine,¡± Mom replied with another glance at Dad.

    Jason exhaled. Sometimes his parents drove him crazy.

    Mom tapped a finger on the table. ¡°There is something else we need to talk about. Have you sent the invitations for your birthday party?¡±

    Crap! He¡¯d forgotten. ¡°Not yet.¡±

    ¡°I think,¡± Dad said, ¡°you should skip today¡¯s visit with Stephanie. At least until you get those emails finished.¡±

    ¡°What if I only want to invite Stephanie?¡±

    Mom and Dad exchanged a glance, another silent communication. Mom turned back to Jason and said, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t ¡®Nerd Boy, the untouchable¡¯ want his friends to meet Stephanie?¡±

    Jason swallowed. They knew about his nickname!

    Following up, Dad said, ¡°That one boy, what¡¯s his name? Corey Peterson?¡± Mom nodded to Dad. ¡°He¡¯s the bully who started that ¡®Nerd Boy¡¯ nonsense. Make sure you invite him.¡±

    Later that morning, Jason sat at his desk, exchanging texts with Stephanie, and writing invitations. A knock on his door frame took him by surprise.

    Mom said, ¡°Your father wants to talk with you¡ªin his office.¡±

    With the words, ¡°in his office,¡± Jason''s stomach clenched. No one entered Dad¡¯s home office without an invitation. Only official and often unpleasant conversations took place in there. Given the timing, it had to be about Stephanie. He tapped out a quick message, ¡°I¡¯ll be back in a few minutes.¡± Unease built as he trudged downstairs.

    Dad sat behind his desk. He glanced up and smiled. ¡°Close the door and have a seat. I¡¯ll be right with you.¡± While Dad busied himself, Jason studied the framed pictures hanging on the wall. There always seemed to be one or two new family snapshots. Finally, Dad finished. ¡°When I acquired my first girlfriend, your grandfather talked to me, just like I''m doing with you.¡±

    Jason nodded.

    ¡°There are two rules you never break. The first is always treat your girlfriends with respect. Never push for something they¡¯re unwilling to give. My law firm defends a lot of creeps who don¡¯t understand the word, ¡®No.¡¯ Second, don¡¯t surprise your mother and me with a grandchild. I expect you to be smart.¡±

    ¡°Dad! We¡¯re not¡­I mean, we haven¡¯t. Look, it doesn¡¯t matter anyway ¡¯cause she¡¯s not that kind of girl.¡±

    His father¡¯s lips curled up in what might have been a smile, but instead, they formed into the same pinched expression he used whenever Mom said something unwittingly funny. Dad didn¡¯t dare laugh at Mom. Jason¡¯s face warmed when he realized what his father¡¯s hidden amusement implied. How dare Dad think something like that about Steph¡ª

    His father must have sensed the impending explosion because he reached into a drawer and tossed a sealed package across the desk. Jason¡¯s eyes focused on the box¡­of condoms. Oh, he¡¯d seen them in stores, and health class covered their use. Like every other boy in the class, he snickered when the coach rolled one over a banana.

    Dad pointed at the box. ¡°Those are for you. Not because I think anything negative about Stephanie. No, they are for you because I know how clever you are. Even if you don¡¯t want to have sex today, you will soon enough. When you do, no matter what, put one on.¡±

    His face still warm, although now from embarrassment, Jason gulped and picked up the box. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome. Now don¡¯t think your mother and I are giving you the green light to spread pollen. Those condoms are more of an insurance policy. We''d prefer you to wait until you¡¯re older.¡±

    ¡°How much older?¡±

    ¡°The age of majority in Pennsylvania is still eighteen.¡±

    A sudden thought made Jason grin. ¡°Did Grandpa buy these for you too?¡±

    The question made his father laugh. ¡°Yep, even the same brand.¡± Dad rubbed his chin, then shrugged. Leaning forward, he spoke in a hushed voice. ¡°Let me tell you a story about your grandfather. Way before he found his first girlfriend, he bought his own condoms, via the old postal service. The best part is he purchased a ¡®He-Man Condom Sampler¡¯ and ended up with a huge box full of condoms. One hundred and forty-four in total. It scandalized your great-grandmother.¡±

    ***

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, sweetie. Going to a party seems risky.¡± Natalie blew across her steaming cup of tea.

    Since meeting Jason and his outgoing mother, Stephanie realized how much her mother misunderstood normal human behavior. ¡°It¡¯s only a few of Jason¡¯s friends.¡±

    ¡°A few more boys, you mean, and boys are just men with even less self-control.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a birthday party, not an orgy.¡± As soon as the words left Stephanie¡¯s mouth, regret set in. Mom had valid reasons for her beliefs.

    But Mom laughed and waved at Stephanie''s outfit. ¡°Even though you''re dressed for one?¡±

    A week earlier, Mrs. Thomas took Stephanie aside. She¡¯d once dated a musician with music tastes like Jason¡¯s, and she¡¯d kept a favorite outfit from those days. Perhaps Stephanie might try it on?

    The outfit, a leather miniskirt and cotton T-shirt, fit quite well. Mom snickered when she found Stephanie trying it on, then returned with a pair of fishnet stockings. ¡°If you¡¯re going to dress like a trollop, you¡¯ll need these.¡±

    ¡°So,¡± Mom continued their conversation. ¡°How many boys will be there?¡±

    ¡°Just two of Jason¡¯s friends.¡±

    ¡°Three boys, then? And you dressed like a party girl? It won¡¯t be good if Jason starts showing you off. It made me extremely uncomfortable every time Pavlo did it.¡±

    ¡°But Jason isn''t showing me off.¡±

    All Mom had to do was raise an eyebrow.

    ¡°Well, maybe a little.¡±

    Mom¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change.

    ¡°Well, so what if he wants to show me off? He says I¡¯m the prettiest girl in the world. His friends aren¡¯t going to do anything.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s hope not. How¡¯s your bond coming along?¡±

    Her bond to Jason was the entire reason for their relationship. Although, in addition to Mom¡¯s original idea, she¡¯d also developed a human-like affection for him.

    Mom didn¡¯t believe it, but she didn¡¯t believe pair bonding was real. Convincing her otherwise wouldn¡¯t be easy. ¡°I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s difficult to describe. I miss him when he¡¯s not around, and I¡¯m crazy happy when we''re together.¡±

    With one eyebrow raised, Mom pressed for more. ¡°And what else?¡±

    She knew exactly what Mom meant. ¡°All right!¡± Stephanie lifted her hands in mock surrender. ¡°Sure, there¡¯s some, like when we¡¯re kissing, but it¡¯s not just about sex. I like him for him, not just for his genitals.¡±

    ¡°Harrumph,¡± Mom tossed back her tea. ¡°You make it sound like a Hollywood romance movie. As for me, I only care about Yevgeny¡¯s genitals. He¡¯s lucky I cannot remove them for my use.¡±

    Before Mom changed the subject, Stephanie quipped. ¡°We could call a taxidermist.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t hard to surprise her mother, but Stephanie set a record with her suggestion. Mom¡¯s eyes went wide, then a corner of her mouth quirked up, and she chuckled like an over-the-top movie villain. With a flourish, Mom lifted an imaginary phone handset to her head. ¡°Please, Mr. Taxidermist, mount this penis for me so I may mount it later.¡± Her grin matched the chuckle.

    ¡°It¡¯s beyond icky, Mom, but would it work?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, our addiction is complicated.¡± Mom pushed her seat back from the table. ¡°I asked about your bond to Jason because it may cause a problem.¡±

    Tilting her head, Stephanie said, ¡°How?¡±

    ¡°Ah,¡± Mom said. ¡°You forgot your loyalty gene. What if one of those other boys gets fresh.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re his friends, they aren¡¯t going to¡­¡± Stephanie''s words trailed off. What if Mom was right? ¡°What should I do?¡±

    ¡°Wear your sneakers. Kicking someone while wearing high heels is a bad idea.¡±

    Mrs. Thomas met Stephanie at the back door. ¡°Don¡¯t you look cute! Turn around now. Let me see how everything fits.¡±

    Tugging the skirt down, Stephanie obliged.

    ¡°Hmm,¡± Mrs. Thomas mused, ¡°Oh, I love the black sneakers and fishnets, but my old shirt must have shrunk, I don¡¯t remember it fitting so tight.¡±

    Stephanie reached for the door. ¡°Should I change?¡±

    Laughing, Mrs. Thomas pulled Stephanie towards the counter. ¡°Heavens, no, you¡¯re fine.¡±

    ¡°As long as you¡¯re sure,¡± Stephanie said and tugged her skirt down again.

    ¡°Nervous, dear?¡±

    ¡°A bit.¡±

    ¡°Of course, you are. No offense, but I wonder why your parents homeschooled you without any socialization. Look, Jason cares about you. You know that, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Stephanie¡¯s stomach fluttered. No matter what Mom thought, her and Jason¡¯s feelings were real. ¡°I care about him too.¡±

    ¡°I know you do. Both of you have smitten written all over. Jason¡¯s a good boy and won¡¯t allow anything bad to happen. If you feel outnumbered, you can hang out with me.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Thomas.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if the boys get too rowdy, I¡¯ll send Robert down. He¡¯ll glower them into submission.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Mrs.¡ª¡±

    ¡°Stephanie, if you want to thank me, just keep on being yourself. Now, before you jump into the mosh pit, there is one boy you¡¯ll want to keep an eye on. His name is Corey, and he¡¯s always been jealous of Jason. Has Jason mentioned his nickname? No, well, you''ll want to hear this ¡­¡±

    ***

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    In honor of their reunion, each teen wore a T-shirt proclaiming their allegiance to thrash metal. Of all the music forms from the previous century, thrash metal never died out. True, it had far fewer fans than the current mumble-metal craze. Every few years, promoters organized another ¡°Clash of the Titans¡± tour. Holographic representations of Slayer and Megadeath headlined the show. Cover bands for Testament, Anthrax, and other legends of thrash filled out the lineup. Inveterate thrash purists kept Metallica out of the lineups.

    Seth wore his most prized possession, a battered 1993 vintage Megadeath, Countdown to Extinction T-shirt. Corey wore a brand-new T-shirt with the coiled snake from Metallica¡¯s Black album. True to his metal soul, Jason wore his most precious Slayer T-shirt.

    The three boys had only been alone for a few minutes before Corey badgered Jason. ¡°What¡¯s this bull Seth¡¯s spewing about you having a girlfriend?¡±

    Jason glanced at Seth, who shook his head slightly. They both knew how Corey behaved.

    Seth said, ¡°Give the man a break, Corey. It¡¯s his birthday.¡±

    ¡°Break, hell. I say if Nerd Boy has a girlfriend, she¡¯s either ugly, a heifer, or both. Sorry, Nerd Boy, but happy birthday anyway.¡±

    ¡°Ah, thanks? You guys want some lemonade? Mom made it this morning.¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± said Seth, ¡°Your mom makes the best.¡±

    Corey cringed. ¡°Lemonade? Jeez, guys, can this party suck any harder? Nerd Boy, where¡¯s your dad stash the booze?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s upstairs in the kitchen cabinet closest to the dining room. Help yourself, but don¡¯t get caught. Dad will flip out.¡±

    Seth walked over to the wall terminal. ¡°Guys, I made a cool playlist. It starts with White Zombie.¡± He thumbed a chip into the slot.

    ***

    Did testosterone have a scent? Stephanie¡¯s nostrils twitched as she walked down the steps. One hand on the handrail, the other held a tray of chips and drinks. That undefined scent mingled with the perspiration from active young men. The combination tickled her nose and sent waves of tingles to places she¡¯d rather they not go.

    The music, a sensual groove of drums and guitars, made her want to dance. Although the lyrics didn¡¯t make sense. What the heck was an Astro-Creep?

    Jason whirled into view, his arms windmilling. He noticed her and tried to stop, but momentum pushed him against a taller, thinner boy. The thin boy gawked at her before catching a third boy¡¯s forearm against his temple. Like dominos, Jason, thin-boy, and the forearm swinger, tumbled together into a sweating, writhing heap. The stereo speakers boomed a repeated chorus, ¡°More human than human.¡± Stephanie didn¡¯t know if she should dance, laugh, or administer first aid. Fortunately, the always alert Alfred muted the song to a reasonable level.

    After setting the tray down, she turned to the pileup. Mindful of her skirt, Stephanie bent and pulled Jason to his feet.

    ¡°Thanks, babe,¡± he said and pulled her against him.

    Babe? That¡¯s new¡ªhis lips pressed against hers, and all those tingles struck home.

    Some undetermined time later, the stereo switched to another metal track, the bass drum a steady, thump, thump, thump. A singer, different from the last, crooned about a boy and a girl who were ¡°made for loving¡± each other.

    She and Jason swayed together, not quite dancing, but something more primal. His arms crushed her against him, and his jeans, the ones she liked so much, chafed her thighs. Someone coughed, and Stephanie blinked her eyes open. Jason¡¯s warm brown eyes looked back, holding promises for later. Across the room, forearm-swinger and thin-boy snickered.

    Smiling, Jason waited while Stephanie unwrapped her right leg from behind his left. Knowing Jason¡¯s friends had watched the whole thing made her really uncomfortable. Thanks, Mom, for the timely yet obscure warning.

    Jason cocked his head and squeezed her hand once. She nodded and squeezed back. Together, they turned to face his friends.

    ¡°All right, which of you jokers decided to play Kiss?¡± Jason said. The hint of amusement in his voice belied his gruff tone. Neither boy spoke, but the thin boy wore the biggest grin. Stephanie decided she liked the song. Maybe she and Jason were made for each other?

    ¡°Stephanie, the guilty looking goober is Seth. We¡¯ve known each other for a long time. I call his mom, ¡®Mom.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Hi, Seth,¡± she said to thin-boy.

    ¡°Stephanie,¡± Seth gave her a warm smile. His eyes flicked up to hers and stayed there. She awarded Seth a point. He continued. ¡°You don¡¯t know how glad I am to meet you.¡±

    Turning to forearm-swinger, Jason said, ¡°This is Corey.¡±

    So, this is the boy who started that awful nickname. Not bad looking, but something caught her eye. Eek, it can¡¯t be comfortable for a guy to wear pants so tight. Corey¡¯s eyes never shifted away from her boobs. ¡°Hi, Corey,¡± Stephanie said. Besides his prolonged staring at her boobs, she deducted a second point because he wore those pants.

    ¡°Hello,¡± he replied, finally glancing up. ¡°Are you going to mosh with us?¡±

    ¡°Is that what you were doing when I came down? Can I watch instead?¡± Stephanie tugged her skirt down. ¡°I¡¯m not dressed for jumping around.¡±

    ¡°Believe me,¡± Seth said, ¡°we noticed.¡±

    Stephanie tugged her skirt down again. The motion drew all the boys¡¯ eyes. She sighed; Mom had tried to warn her.

    The boys played a complicated three-way game of Rock-Paper-Scissors, and Corey won. He selected Metallica¡¯s Fade to Black. The song started off with a simple guitar progression that built to a majestic culmination of sound. It was beautiful, but the lyrics told a sad story. She¡¯d never heard anything like it.

    Seth went next, and he selected Megadeath¡¯s Hanger 18. Unlike Fade to Black, this song started fast and featured a gravelly-voiced singer. It told a confusing tale about cryogenics and computers inside an aircraft hangar. However weak the lyrics, the guitar players seemed very skilled.

    Then came Jason¡¯s turn. He chose something called Angel of Death by Slayer. The same band whose name was on the shirts she and Jason wore. She¡¯d thought the name might be an abstraction. Perhaps intended to remind listeners of their inherent humanity. Nope. The song started with a blood-curdling scream and was all about death and genocide. It was horrible. She lasted less than thirty seconds before fleeing upstairs and away from the terrible, terrible song.

    Of course, Jason followed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, sweetheart?¡±

    ¡°Nothing¡¯s wrong,¡± Stephanie gave him her best smile while suppressing a shudder. ¡°I¡¯m just gonna hang out with your Mom for a bit.¡± She pushed him towards the stairs. ¡°Go have fun.¡±

    Once in the kitchen, Shirley handed her a tall glass of lemonade. ¡°Dreadful, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Stephanie wanted to question everything about that awful song but didn¡¯t know where to begin.

    ¡°Boys and their rebelliousness. Our,¡± Mrs. Thomas caught Stephanie¡¯s eye before continuing, ¡°Jason needed to rebel more than most. If it helps, I think you¡¯ve already fixed him. His musical tastes will catch up.¡±

    The lemonade caught up to her. Instead of using the powder room off the foyer, Stephanie ran upstairs to Jason¡¯s bathroom. It was a little out of the way, but the boys weren¡¯t using it. After washing her hands, she took a quick peak inside Jason¡¯s bedroom. Dirty clothes lay scattered about. It took less than a minute to pick them up. While straightening his bed, footsteps scuffed on the hall carpet. The steps didn¡¯t have Mr. Thomas¡¯s booming stride, nor did they have Mrs. Thomas¡¯s quiet, purposeful steps. Maybe Jason wanted to sneak up on her? Not that she¡¯d mind. Nope, she¡¯d welcome a boyfriend ambush.

    Instead of Jason, Corey appeared in the doorway. His smile said he¡¯d hoped to find her. ¡°Hey,¡± he said, his eye¡¯s flicking across her chest and legs. Another facet of Mom¡¯s warning became clear, being alone with a boy, other than Jason, made her extremely uncomfortable. She didn¡¯t need to run away, but Corey gave her the weirdest vibes.

    ¡°If you¡¯re looking for the bathroom, it¡¯s across the hall.¡± Not that she thought he wanted the bathroom, no, he¡¯d come looking for her.

    ¡°In a minute,¡± he said, then took a step into Jason¡¯s room. Corey¡¯s head swiveled until it locked on Jason¡¯s bed. ¡°Is this where you guys do it?¡±

    Stephanie froze. She recovered fast and, ignoring the weird vibes, locked eyes with Corey. ¡°That isn¡¯t any of your business.¡±

    Smirking, Corey said, ¡°We share all the dirty details.¡± His eyes studied her ¡°heavy metal¡± hairdo. ¡°I¡¯m dying to hear yours.¡±

    Crossing her arms, she said, ¡°I don¡¯t believe you. Jason wouldn¡¯t.¡±

    Instead of contradicting her, Corey stepped over to the comm display. As usual, it displayed a high resolution ¡°selfie¡± of the old Mars rover, Opportunity. She never understood why Jason admired the photo so much.

    Corey said, ¡°How can you like a little nerd like Jason?¡± He didn¡¯t turn to watch her until he finished his question.

    Oh, she didn¡¯t like Corey one bit. She wouldn¡¯t feel guilty if he tried something, and her reflexes kicked him into next week. Time to go on the offensive. ¡°You mean Nerd Boy the Untouchable?¡± Just as she¡¯d expected, Corey¡¯s mouth fell open when she repeated that disgusting nickname. ¡°Lucky for me, Nerd Boy turned out to be very touchable.¡± She smiled while gauging the distance between them. Just in case her reflexes needed the room. ¡°I touch him every chance I get. Too bad for you; he¡¯s all mine now.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Corey asked. Surprise and concern writ plain on his face.

    ¡°You had your chance. He¡¯s with me now.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    She¡¯d had enough of this conversation. A lean to the left, then when Corey matched her, she moved to the right, flowing past the too-slow boy. On her way downstairs, she worried what to tell Jason about her conversation with his friend.

    Ten minutes passed before Corey returned to the family room. She and Jason shared the recliner. Which, in this skirt, took some careful arrangement. Jason cheered her on while she demolished Seth in the racing game.

    ***

    For supper, Dad fired up the grill and cooked to order. That is if you ordered a hot dog or a hamburger. Seth asked for a steak and got a hamburger. Mom dished out her homemade potato salad. Last night, she and Stephanie teamed up to bake his birthday cake, frozen banana with dark chocolate buttercream icing. When they lit the candles, everyone sang happy birthday, although Stephanie pretended, she didn¡¯t know the words.

    After the cake, Stephanie told Jason she¡¯d go home early and give him more time with his friends. He walked her to the gate, and they kissed goodnight. Then feeling guilty because he¡¯d rather stay with her, he hurried back to his friends.

    ¡°Dude,¡± Seth high fived Jason, ¡°you won.¡±

    ¡°What did I win?¡± He pulled out a chair and sat.

    ¡°Everything. Every contest in history. Stephanie is a keeper.¡± Seth glanced over at Corey. Usually outspoken to the point of rudeness, Corey had remained quiet for the last few hours. ¡°What do you think, dude?¡±

    ¡°Holy shit,¡± mused Corey. Mom and Dad were inside cleaning up the kitchen, so it looked like he¡¯d gotten away with swearing. ¡°Seriously, Jason, I¡­I apologize. Stephanie is awesome. At first, I didn¡¯t believe it, then I had to believe it. The hottest redhead I¡¯ve ever met is into Nerd Boy, the¡ªno longer¡ªuntouchable. All that¡¯s left is for you to spill the dirty details.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Jason, who¡¯d basked in the unexpected praise, sat up straight.

    ¡°Pictures, man. Where are they? A chick that hot had to have sent you an f-ton of nudes. Break ¡¯em out so we can drool over them. I already hate you, let me despise you.¡±

    Seth shook his head at Corey¡¯s request. ¡°That ain¡¯t cool, man.¡±

    Jason waved it off. ¡°It¡¯s not a problem. Even if I had pictures, I wouldn¡¯t show them to anyone. There ain¡¯t no way I¡¯d do anything to betray her trust.¡±

    ¡°Wait,¡± Corey regained his snarky smirk, ¡°I get it now¡ªyou ain¡¯t banging her. Nerd Boy ain¡¯t getting any of that. Have you even gotten past first base?¡± He didn¡¯t wait for an answer and turned to Seth. ¡°Can you believe it, Nerd Boy ain¡¯t tapping that ass.¡±

    He¡¯d had it. Jason stood. ¡°I¡¯ve heard enough, Corey, it¡¯s time for you to go.¡± Turning to Seth, he added, ¡°It¡¯s been great seeing you again. Give your mom my love.¡±

    ¡°Will do.¡± Seth turned to Corey, who hadn¡¯t budged. ¡°C¡¯mon, man, let¡¯s go.¡±

    But Corey continued. ¡°Listen to me, I can see she¡¯s into you. All you got to do is ask, and she¡¯ll¡­GAH!!¡±

    While Corey spoke, Jason tipped the chair over, spilling his ¡°friend¡± onto the wood deck. He hit hard, although not as hard as Jason wanted. ¡°Get out,¡± Jason said, his voice cold. They¡¯d fought more than once over the years, usually with Corey getting the better of it. Not tonight, though, Jason had never felt so certain.

    Corey jumped to his feet and threw a jab. Ready for it, Jason sidestepped and swung a left cross into Corey¡¯s ribs. He followed it up with a stunning right uppercut that rocked Corey back onto his ass. Seth jumped in between the two former friends.

    ¡°Guys,¡± Seth hissed, watching the back door. ¡°You¡¯re gonna have parents out here any second.¡± Turning to Corey, Seth bent and helped him stand. ¡°Time to go, asshole.¡±

    Corey grunted and spat a mouthful of blood onto the deck. ¡°Fuck both of you,¡± he growled and stumbled towards the stairs.

    Seth shook Jason¡¯s hand. ¡°Man, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll get him home. Take care of Stephanie. She¡¯s worth whatever it takes.¡±

    Caught in a mixture of rage and shame for losing his temper, Jason followed Seth and Corey to the driveway. He waited until Seth drove away then returned to find his father using the hose to the deck. Dad¡¯s eyes followed Jason, and the grim set of his jaw spoke volumes.

    ¡°Uh, Dad, uh, I¡­I¡¯ll do that. It was my fault.¡±

    Dad chased the last of the blood from the decking and turned to Jason. ¡°Your mother and I witnessed the whole thing. You made me proud.¡±

    ¡°I did?¡±

    ¡°You did. Bullies have no place in a civilized society. Oh, they exist, and sometimes men like us will deal with them. Let me give you a quote.¡±

    ¡±People sleep peaceably in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.¡±

    Dad and his quotes. He read a lot of military science fiction and seemed to have a saying for every situation. ¡°Thanks, Dad. I guess I better go and apologize to Mom.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle your mother. You have someone just as important to speak with.¡± Dad gestured towards the house next door. Jason turned, Stephanie stood in the gateway, arms crossed as if hugging herself. ¡°I think your girlfriend might have watched as well. If so, she may think she¡¯s somehow at fault. Talk to her, but don¡¯t let her do anything foolish.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Dad.¡±

    They met halfway across the yard. The sun was low on the horizon and cast long shadows. He didn¡¯t like her closed posture and held out his hands. Stephanie took them, and he pulled her into his arms.

    ¡°I saw the whole thing, Jay.¡±

    He loved hearing her use his nickname. ¡°I¡¯m sorry ¡®bout that.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. You lost a friend because of me.¡±

    ¡°Nah, I didn¡¯t lose anything of value.¡±

    ¡°If you want pictures, I can send you some tonight. The other thing¡­I can¡¯t. I would, but¡­I just can¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Sweetheart, no. I don¡¯t need pictures. As for the other thing, even if we waited until after we married, that¡¯s fine with me.¡± He¡¯d slipped and used the ¡°M¡± word and could see it startled her.

    ¡°What? Marry? Who said anything¡­? No, we can¡¯t¡­do that either.¡±

    ¡°Steph, sweetheart, I was just saying it¡¯s fine if we wait that long. I wasn¡¯t proposing.¡± Not yet, anyway.

    ¡°Oh¡­you scared me.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m Mister Scary.¡±

    Her right hand pulled free of his and thumped against his chest. Like all her thumps, it packed a good bit of oomph. Sometimes she¡¯d notice his wince and offer to kiss the spot and make it better. Now, though, was not the time.

    ¡°Sweetheart, Seth and I are close. His mom treated us like we were her own. Corey was a latecomer. Other groups bounced him out, and he hooked up with us. Probably because we were less judgmental. Nothing was your fault. A friend doesn¡¯t ask¡­what he asked about.¡±

    She wrapped him up in a rib-cracking hug. ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°I¡­can¡¯t¡­breathe.¡± He joked, and she almost thumped him again. This time he caught her hand and kissed her knuckles. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m certain. Look, you¡¯re way more important to me than Corey.

    ¡°Really?¡± she sniffled.

    ¡°Hey, none of that.¡± Turning his head, Jason noticed Dad had hung up the hose and gone inside. ¡°The deck¡¯s empty, wanna snuggle on the hammock and see how many weather forecasts we can rack up?¡±

    She nodded, and Jason knew for certain, he¡¯d won the prize of a lifetime.

    Sometime after Alfred¡¯s third or fourth weather report. Dad stuck his head outside. ¡°If you two will behave, I¡¯ll tell Alfred to put a sock in it.¡±

    Later, after he kissed her goodnight for the final time of the evening, Jason caught her hand. ¡°Steff, I don¡¯t deserve you.¡± As it turned out, they had time for another goodnight kiss.

    ***

    ¡°All right, daughter, why are you crying? Did that¡­that boy do something to hurt you?¡±

    ¡°No, momma, nothing like that.¡± Sniffle.

    ¡°Then what?¡±

    ¡°He told me he doesn¡¯t deserve me.¡± Sob, sniffle.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Mom shrugged, ¡°well, that¡¯s true enough. Wash your face and come watch the tri-d with me. Masterpiece Theater is rerunning a Nicholas Sparks special, and tonight¡¯s The Notebook. I love how it ends.¡±

 Chapter Five

    <blockquote>

    In the news today: At the United Nations, Russia and China joined forces to veto a resolution to ban all genetic slavery.

    </blockquote>

    ¡°Congratulations, Son, you are now a licensed driver.¡± Dad clapped Jason on the back while he nodded towards Stephanie. ¡°I suppose you¡¯d like to borrow your mother¡¯s van, hmm? Maybe take someone on a date?¡± Across the deck, the ladies occupied the big umbrella-covered patio table. Stephanie waved when he caught her eye.

    ¡°Sure, Dad, just as soon as you give me some of my allowance.¡± For keeping up with his chores, Jason accumulated a weekly allowance. Although Dad kept the money in a separate savings account, ¡°For college expenses.¡±

    Occasionally, Dad threatened to pay Jason as a contractor and bill him for using the family power tools. Dad said, ¡°I can write it off on my taxes.¡± One couldn¡¯t be sure if Dad was serious. Lawyers and accountants never joked about money.

    Dad dipped into his front pocket and brought out a credit chip. ¡°I have it right here. You¡¯ll need it to pay your share of the car insurance.¡±

    ¡°Robert,¡± Mom chided, ¡°don¡¯t tease your son.¡±

    Rolling his eyes where Mom couldn¡¯t see, Dad handed over the chip. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the insurance, we¡¯ll cover it until you find a job.¡±

    Jason had held credit chips before, but they¡¯d always been temporary issues. This one was his. To test it, Jason slid his thumb across the sensor, and the small holographic display lit with his name, Jason T. Thomas, and a six-digit verification number. The number changed every thirty seconds. ¡°Thanks, Mom and Dad.¡± Mom stood and hugged him, Dad shook his hand, and Stephanie, with a little half frown, crossed her arms and legs. They¡¯d been together long enough to read each other¡¯s moods. Something bothered her.

    Rather than discuss it in front of his parents, Jason thought they needed some privacy. ¡°Hey, sweetheart, want to take a walk?¡± Stephanie gave him a small nod. ¡°Mom, Dad, excuse us, please.¡± He offered his hand, and they took a walk.

    Mom and Dad¡¯s voices started up as he and Stephanie turned the corner towards the front of the house. One or both would grill him later.

    They made it to his covered front porch and the old metal porch glider. Dad picked the glider up at a yard sale in, of all places. McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania. After a complete refurbishment, it became one of his parent¡¯s favorite spots.

    He asked, ¡°Want to talk about it?¡±

    Stephanie crossed her arms, ¡°There isn¡¯t anything to talk about.¡±

    Uh oh, something had her upset. ¡°Are you sure, ¡¯cause it looks like something¡¯s bothering you.¡±

    ¡°I knew this was coming. We don¡¯t have to break up on my account.¡±

    ¡°Whoa, back up, and tell me why we¡¯d need to break up.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve got your license now. You want to go on dates. I get it, it¡¯s normal.¡± He noted an extra sneer in the way she pronounced ¡°normal.¡±

    ¡°Sorry, sweetheart, but I still don¡¯t get it.¡±

    ¡°Ugh!¡± She threw up her hands. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll use small words. Mom only allows me to visit you here. I can¡¯t go anywhere else. That means no dates.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Did she really think he¡¯d break up with her? ¡°This is because of your dad, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Oops, that set her off. Stephanie huffed and slid to the far end of the glider. ¡°How many times do I have to remind you? You have a dad. I have a jerk who impregnated my mother.¡±

    ¡°Sorry!¡± They¡¯d discussed this before. ¡°What do you think I¡¯m going to do?¡±

    ¡°Find another girl, go on dates with her, and make me girlfriend number two.¡±

    ¡°The proper term is ¡®Side Chick.¡¯ But I ain¡¯t interested in another girlfriend. I can barely handle you.¡± He thought this would elicit a smile or maybe even a chuckle. It didn¡¯t.

    ¡°Why are you so stupid?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think loyalty is stupid.¡± Then, a horrible thought occurred. ¡°Wait, is this your way to tell me you want to see other guys?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡±

    Then he got it. Stephanie was experiencing a ¡°Woman¡¯s Problem.¡± Health class hinted about them. What no one ever told him was how to handle them. Sometimes when Mom didn¡¯t feel well, Dad offered to rub her back. Hey, he was Jason, the caring and concerned boyfriend, he¡¯d power through this!

    ¡°Sweetheart, I understand. You don¡¯t feel well. Can I give you a back rub?¡±

    At first, he thought he¡¯d pulled it off. He¡¯d rub Steff¡¯s back, and everything would go back to normal.

    ¡°You¡¯re such a boy! I¡¯m trying to help you.¡±

    ¡°You always say that like there¡¯s something wrong with being a boy. What¡¯s wrong with me wanting to help you.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t need your help.¡± With those words, she stood and ran home, crying.

    Two minutes later, Mom and Dad exited through the front door demanding an explanation. He tried to explain, but his parents hadn¡¯t known about her dad¡¯s restrictions. It got dicey then as Mom and Dad discussed if Jason should even see Stephanie.

    Two days had passed since Stephanie¡¯s blow-up. He¡¯d sent text after text, but she hadn¡¯t replied. At first, he thought her father came home, but there hadn¡¯t been a sign of him either. Jason sat out back, ostensibly for the fresh air but really because he¡¯d hoped to spot a sign of Stephanie.

    ¡°Oh, Jason!¡±

    He instantly recognized Stephanie¡¯s voice, but not the new lilt in her voice. One of the internet stories he wasn¡¯t supposed to know about had used the term, ¡°a come-hither look.¡± One glance at Stephanie provided a graphic definition. She stood between the gateposts, one hand twisting a lock of hair. With the other, she crooked a finger in a ¡°come to me¡± gesture. This was just the start of the sensory overload. Instead of her normal skirt, the brief strip of red tartan around her hips barely covered anything. There wasn¡¯t any way she could bend over wearing it. Just thinking about it made him sweat. To top it off, she wore a white button-down shirt knotted just below her boo¡­chest. He forced himself to think, ¡°chest.¡±

    ¡°Oh, boy,¡± Jason mumbled. Speaking louder, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll be right there, sweetheart.¡± Then he remembered Alfred¡¯s video pickups. Mom would freak if she saw Stephanie dressed like this. Fortunately, the camera currently pointed towards the back yard. He hurried.

    Just before the camera swung towards Stephanie, Jason yanked her behind the gate. Laughing, Stephanie pulled it with her. When they stopped, the pair occupied a nice private wedge-shaped space between the fence, the gate, and the rear wall of her house. All in all, they had a snug little spot. The kind of space perfect for teenage mischief.

    ¡°Ohhhh, Jason,¡± Stephanie cooed. The lilt even more pronounced. ¡°You¡¯re so naughty, sneaking me in here with you.¡± She stepped close, an exaggerated sway to her hips, and stumbled on the uneven ground. Reacting quickly, Jason caught her, although he had difficulty finding safe places for his hands. Even the cloth-covered parts were dangerous.

    Unfazed, Stephanie steadied herself. ¡°What do you think?¡± she asked, twisting her hips and flipping up the side of her skirt.

    ¡°Mom would ground me for life, thinking what I¡¯m thinking.¡±

    Eyes flashing, Stephanie hissed, ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be thinking about me!¡± Then she smiled, and that come-hither lilt came back. ¡°Does it give you any ideas?¡±

    ¡°Um,¡± it was like a multiple-choice test with only one answer. ¡°You mean that thing we aren¡¯t supposed to do.¡±

    ¡°Uh, huh.¡± Both of her palms pressed against his chest, then slowly slid down to his waist. ¡°I think you should try something. You might get a surprise.¡±

    At this moment, a surprise would be finding out she wore underwear. ¡°Sweetheart, I¡¯m not complaining, but are you sure about this?¡±

    Stephanie arched her back, pressing her shoulders against the fence. ¡°Jason,¡± Steph purred and licked her lips. He¡¯d seen her do the same after Dad served up a particularly juicy hamburger.

    Will power dwindling, he tried one last diversion. ¡°Are you feeling okay? You¡¯re all flushed.¡± Small beads of sweat dotted her brow.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m hot.¡± The way she said it made him gulp. ¡°And you¡¯re exactly what the doctor ordered.¡±

    His knees trembled.

    She gave him another crooked finger, and like a man under a spell, Jason stepped into her arms. Their lips touched, and Stephanie pulled him close.

    They skipped the small gentle kisses and jumped right into a full-on open-mouth slobber fest. Stephanie wasn¡¯t like any other girl. Besides her impossible eye color, she was always warm to the touch. Kissing her or snuggling with her, heck, just touching her felt wonderful. Now, maybe because of their shared excitement, she felt feverish. He felt it through her clothes. Even worse, he felt her heat through his shorts. One last sliver of restraint remained.

    He broke the kiss; his lips numb instead of tingly. ¡°Ah, Steph, you know that thing we, err, you can¡¯t do, ahh this¡­we should take a break.¡± Where was Alfred¡¯s weather reports when they needed them?

    ¡°Don¡¯t you want me?¡± she pouted for show then bent towards his neck. Instead of the expected brush of lips, teeth clamped against his shoulder. She bit far harder than any time before. Hard enough, he feared, to draw blood.

    ¡°Ow,¡± he hissed, twisting away. One of Stephanie''s legs wrapped around the back of his thigh, trapping him. He tried a stern voice. ¡°Steph, you¡¯re hurting me.¡±

    ¡°Oh, poor baby,¡± she husked, then nuzzled his neck in a far less aggressive fashion. ¡°Let Steffi kiss it better.¡±

    Her burning hot lips pressed against his neck. A brief rasp of tongue followed. Behind him, Steff¡¯s heel pressed the back of his thigh, pulling his groin against hers. One of her hands dipped low and squeezed. He followed suit, and a throaty gasp told him she welcomed the contact. Jason¡¯s pulse pounded; this was it! His self-control sounded abandon ship and leaped overboard. Stephanie writhed against him, one hand pushing his shorts down. The back door to her house opened, footsteps scuffed across the porch, and a woman called out, ¡°Stephanie! Get back inside, right this instant.¡± Jason tried to turn to see who spoke, but Stephanie held him pinned against her.

    ¡°Ah, but Mom¡­¡± she whined.

    ¡°But nothing, little miss.¡±

    ¡°Mom, just a couple more minutes, please?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± The word carried all the finality a mother could bring. ¡°I¡¯ll give you ten seconds to say goodbye to your boyfriend, but that¡¯s it.¡± Footsteps tapped across the porch, but the back door didn¡¯t cycle shut.

    Like a leaky balloon, Stephanie sagged against him. ¡°I gotta go,¡± she said.

    ¡°When can I see you again?¡± Jason panted. His heart pounded; it was right there!

    ¡°Another day, maybe two.¡± She kissed him, a far more tender kiss this time. Warm fingers traced along his jaw. ¡°I¡¯ll miss you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll miss you too.¡± They kissed again, although it was a sad kind of kiss, like an apology or something.

    ¡°Wait here until Mom, and I go inside.¡± It was the last thing she said before slipping away.

    Two days later, Alfred announced, ¡°Miss Stephanie is inbound.¡± Jason flew through the door and met her halfway across his yard. This time she wore a normal skirt and T-shirt. If anything appeared different, it was her downcast eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but she pressed a finger against his lips. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± her voice low but clear, ¡°I took advantage of you.¡±

    He nodded. The schools always harped about consent. ¡°It¡¯s cool, I consented. What happened?¡±

    ¡°Wait,¡± she held a hand up. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you, but do your parents know?¡±

    ¡°Are you kidding? They¡¯d skin me alive.¡±

    ¡°Whew,¡± she breathed. By mutual agreement, they sat on the edge of the hammock under the tree and away from Alfred¡¯s microphones. ¡°Did you ever have the flu really bad? Bad enough to say or do things you shouldn¡¯t?¡±

    Brows furrowed, he thought about it. ¡°No, but I¡¯ve heard it can happen.¡±

    ¡°It was like that for me. Mom grounded me, but I snuck out, and¡­well, you know what happened.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re better now?¡±

    ¡°Everything¡¯s back to normal.¡± Her eyes locked on his. ¡°Especially those things I can¡¯t do. They¡¯re still off-limits.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s cool.¡±

    Her impossibly olive eyes searched his. ¡°I think you mean it.¡± Then her eyes narrowed. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you mad? I was plenty mad when Mom interrupted us.¡±

    ¡°A couple reasons. One, I¡¯m not ready to be a father. If I got you pregnant, Mom and Dad would kill me. Two, let¡¯s just say I¡¯ve slept great the last two nights.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°You weren¡¯t the only one with wandering hands. Some things are no longer mysteries.¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t!¡±

    Jason affected his most solemn voice. ¡°I regret nothing.¡±

    ¡°You, you rat!¡±

    ¡°Hey, you wouldn¡¯t believe how fast I fell asleep the last couple of nights.¡± He switched to a dreamy tone of voice. ¡°I owe it all to you.¡±

    ¡°You are such a rat. And I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re telling me about¡­that.¡±

    ¡°Have I told you about my insomnia? It requires frequent treatments.¡±

    ¡°If you didn¡¯t have a guilty conscience, you¡¯d fall asleep easier.¡±

    ¡°If I didn¡¯t have a smoking hot girlfriend, I¡¯d be able to sleep on my stomach again.¡± This earned him a thump, and Stephanie¡¯s cheeks were bright red. Worried he''d gone too far, Jason asked, ¡°Did I embarrass you?¡±

    ¡°No, not really. Not after what happened. You¡¯re a boy, and it¡¯s my fault, anyway.¡±

    Jason glanced down. ¡°You weren¡¯t yourself. If anything, I took advantage of you.¡±

    ¡°Come here,¡± she said. Jason turned, and Stephanie pulled his head to hers. ¡°Someday, I¡¯ll make all this up to you.¡± Her lips pressed against his, stifling any reply he might make.

    Cold, merciless olive eyes flicked up from her board and stared into his. Her nostrils flared as she prepared to speak. ¡°B-3,¡± said Stephanie.

    ¡°Hit,¡± Jason replied with a wince. This shot landed near the end of his aircraft carrier.

    Say what you want about Stephanie. She was the sweetest, most affectionate, and heartbreakingly beautiful girl in the world. He¡¯d do anything for her, and she for him. But teach her to play Battleship, and she turned into Chester Nimitz defending the Pacific Fleet.

    Her eyes flicked down, and she placed a peg to mark her successful attack.

    ¡°H-8,¡± Jason said.

    This time those cold, cold eyes accompanied a self-satisfied smile. ¡°Miss,¡± she said.

    ¡°Crap!¡± he exploded. Time for a distraction. ¡°Hey, remember when we talked about photographs? I¡¯d love to have a picture of you wearing that little red skirt.¡±

    Nimitz morphed back into Stephanie, who chuckled. ¡°I think Mom locked it away. She was kind of mad I snuck one of her outfits.¡±

    ¡°Wait, a second.¡± This was a concept he needed to confirm. ¡°That tiny skirt belongs to your mom? Can she still fit into it?¡±

    ¡°Sure, Mom and I are exactly the same size.¡±

    ¡°Oh, my goodness! Just like Seth said, I really ''won everything.¡¯¡±

    ¡°What are you rambling about.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s an old saying, if you want to know what your girlfriend will look like when she¡¯s older, look at her mother. If your mom still fits into that little skirt, chances are, you will too at the same age.¡±

    Stephanie shook her head. ¡°B-2,¡± Nimitz was back, and there was blood in the water.

    ¡°Hit.¡±

    ¡°Stephanie,¡± Mom called down from upstairs. ¡°Can you stay for supper?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll call and ask, but probably.¡±

    ¡°Ask your mother to come over. We¡¯re having spaghetti, and I made a lot.¡±

    Whispering, so his mother couldn¡¯t hear, Jason said. ¡°Tell your mom to wear that little red skirt.¡±

    Stephanie¡¯s eyes narrowed. He¡¯d probably pay for it later.

    Jason reached and handed Stephanie the family room handset.

    ¡°Hi Mom, both of us have an invite to supper. Jason¡¯s mom made spaghetti.¡± Stephanie¡¯s eyes met his. ¡°And Jason wants you to wear that little red skirt.¡±

    His jaw dropped. Stephanie actually asked! With his luck, her mom would wear it and blame him. Well, Dad probably wouldn¡¯t be mad.

    ¡°Yeah, I think it made an impression.¡± Steph made eye contact with Jason and waggled her eyebrows.

    Audacity for the win! He waggled his eyebrows in reply.

    ¡°I¡¯ll pass that along. Thanks, Mom.¡±

    ¡°Mom said she might wear that dress for you someday. But not tonight, she has to work.¡±

    ¡°Bummer,¡± he said, frowning to appear dejected.

    Laughing as though he¡¯d told a grand joke, she said, ¡°You¡¯re lucky to have me. Mom doesn¡¯t like men, much less boys.¡±

    ¡°Maybe I can change her mind?¡± He tried for a "butter wouldn¡¯t melt in his mouth," look.

    Stephanie pursed her lips. ¡°You know, you might be able to. I¡¯ve told Mom she needs a man like you.¡±

    When everyone finished eating, Jason and Stephanie cleared the table and tidied up. His parents excused themselves upstairs to ¡°catch up on their day.¡± The occasional burst of muted laughter made him think something else might be happening.

    ¡°Do they know we can hear them?¡± Stephanie asked.

    ¡°Nah, Dad¡¯s too respectable. Mom though, I think she has a wild streak.¡± He gave her his best significant glance. ¡°Just like you.¡± Much to his delight, Stephanie played along. She glanced away, then back. The look was a pure come-on, and he fell for it every time. He leaned in for a kiss.

    Instead of a kiss, Stephanie pushed him back and hip-checked the dishwasher door shut. ¡°You think I have a wild streak?¡±

    Playing tag was his name for the latest development in their physical relationship. Neither of them had discussed rules, but neither worried over an occasional misplaced hand.

    Measuring the angles to prevent her from slipping past, Jason feinted left, then right and swooped in for the win. Far faster than he expected, Stephanie ducked under his arms and ghosted past, the palm of her hand patting his butt on the way.

    By the time he spun around, she¡¯d made it into the dining room. The kitchen had another exit, this one leading into the short hallway joining the living room and foyer. Unless she doubled back, it gave him a chance to head her off. He darted into the living room as Stephanie turned the corner from the dining room. She dodged to her right. Jason lunged, wrapping his left arm around her waist, and spun to absorb her momentum. They twirled across the living room, once, twice, then his knees hit the couch, and they fell. Jason landed on his back with Stephanie on top. One arm remained around her waist, the other fell out to the side. All he needed to do was tip his head up to kiss her, and that¡¯s exactly what he did.

    ¡°Master Jason?¡± Alfred¡¯s cultured voice broke his concentration. Stephanie snickered and switched to nibbling his neck.

    ¡°Yes, Alfred?¡± Jason gasped. Stephanie¡¯s nibbling drove him crazy.

    ¡°The National Weather Service reports a fast-moving low-pressure front will bring rain showers tomorrow.¡±

    The nibbling reached his earlobe. Necking with Stephanie turned his brain to mush, but it had the opposite effect elsewhere. Quickly approaching his limit, Jason gasped. ¡°Thanks, Alfred.¡±

    ¡°You are most welcome, Master Jason.¡±

    Stephanie laughed and sat upright. This did two things. It took her weight off his chest and put her, er, pelvis squarely on top of his, er, manhood.

    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    Jason grunted from the unexpected pressure and Stephanie¡¯s eyes popped open. As if scalded, she immediately slid back. Panic set in and Jason worried if he should apologize.

    Then Stephanie surprised him. ¡°I didn¡¯t hurt it, did I?¡±

    ¡°It¡± was still covered by the drape of her skirt. Jason shook his head. ¡°Trust me, Sweetheart,¡± he chuckled, ¡°¡®hurt¡¯ is the wrong word to use.¡±

    She glanced down at the barely concealed lump. ¡°Mom says all men are horndogs.¡±

    What do you do when your smoking hot girlfriend calls you a horndog? If you¡¯re smart, you admit she¡¯s right. ¡°The defendant pleads guilty and offers exhibit ¡®D¡¯ as evidence.¡±

    Stephanie snorted then shook her head. ¡°Sorry to raise an objection, but we¡¯re not ready for that.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± he felt his heart sink. They were so close.

    ¡°Besides, Mom made me promise not to have sex yet.¡±

    Everyone knew which kids had restrictive parents. You could often tell by the clothes they wore. Not that Stephanie wore anything like that. ¡°Okay,¡± he said. ¡°A promise is a promise. I understand.¡±

    ¡°You understand what?¡±

    He shrugged, there wasn¡¯t anything else to do. ¡°I¡¯m not going to ask you to break a promise.¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡± Was it his imagination, or was she irritated? Women!

    ¡°You mean too much to me. If I made you break a promise, you¡¯d remember it forever, and I don¡¯t want anything like that between us.¡±

    She stared at him then scooted forward and kissed him. ¡°Mom doesn¡¯t think men like you are real.¡±

    The pressure was back, and by the look in Steph¡¯s eyes, she knew exactly what she was doing. Apparently, incidental contact was allowed. Another kiss, then a second and Steph had nearly melted against him. She felt like a girl-shaped electric blanket. He hadn¡¯t been careful with his hands and for the last few minutes he¡¯d alternated between rubbing her back and her butt.

    Alfred interrupted with another statement about high and low pressures.

    Stephanie sighed and said, ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Rubbing your back.¡±

    ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°Rubbing your butt. It¡¯s one of my favorite things.¡± He felt especially brave. ¡°Sometimes, when you walk, I think you wiggle it extra ?cause you know I¡¯m watching.¡± He¡¯d already slid both hands up to her back.

    ¡°It¡¯s so easy to get your attention.¡± It wasn¡¯t quite an admission, but he saw the corners of her mouth quirk.

    ¡°Hey, if you¡¯re an average guy and the prettiest girl in the world shakes her butt at you, you better notice.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Stephanie lifted on her elbows and fire lit her olive eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear you say how average you are. You,¡± a pointed index finger thudded against his chest, ¡°are the best boyfriend in the world.¡±

    The time was right. They¡¯d never been closer. ¡°Steph, I....¡± His voice trailed off as uncertainty gnawed at his gut. He needed to tell her how he felt.

    ¡°What?¡± she prodded.

    With the most important confession of his life on the line, Jason lost his nerve. ¡°I think you¡¯re the best girlfriend in the world.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Stephanie grinned. ¡°I¡¯m the best girlfriend, ever, and don¡¯t forget it.¡± That index finger tapped with each word.

    ¡°Right, but remember, I¡¯m just a dumb boy who needs kisses to remember complicated stuff.¡±

    Relaxing her arms, Stephanie settled back onto his chest. Her weight was just a little more than one might expect. He chalked it up as another item that helped make her special. Then she kissed him, and his thoughts went elsewhere.

    ¡°The low pressure over Wisconsin is expected to keep the hot, dry air over Western Pennsylvania in place for another few days.¡± Once again, Jason wondered which of his parents dreamed up Alfred¡¯s weather forecast schedule.

    Stephanie chuckled and rolled onto her side. Sometimes Alfred¡¯s weather updates didn¡¯t stop until they took a break. This forecast included the winds aloft over Lake Erie. ¡°Thank you, Alfred,¡± said Stephanie. She rolled back on top and stared down into his eyes. ¡°Remember,¡± she said, ¡°you¡¯re the perfect boy for me.¡±

    ¡°And you¡¯re the perfect girl for me.¡±

    They kissed again, pressing their lips together, then deepened the kiss, tasting each other. Stephanie¡¯s perfume, a light, delicate scent, filled Jason¡¯s nostrils. Five minutes later, Alfred¡¯s next weather update forced another break.

    Stephanie shifted to the side, and Jason rolled with her. Their legs entwined. He said, ¡°Your perfume drives me crazy.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t wear perfume.¡±

    ¡°Really? It¡¯s one of the many reasons I love kissing you.¡± Uh oh, the ¡°L¡± word slipped out. Maybe she wouldn¡¯t notice? A part of him hoped she did.

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s my shampoo? What does it smell like?¡±

    ¡°Hmm? Let me check.¡± He nuzzled her neck, and Steffi gasped at the contact. The scent filled his nostrils. After taking his fill, Jason said, ¡°It¡¯s warm and spicy. It seriously makes me want to misbehave.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re silly. Anyway, you better not misbehave.¡± Her eyes belied the warning.

    ¡°I hear the words, but your eyes tell me something different.¡±

    ¡°My eyes don¡¯t get a vote.¡±

    He reached up and ran his fingers through her hair, marveling at its softness. ¡°You set the limits, sweetheart. I won¡¯t push until you tell me it¡¯s okay.¡±

    Stephanie stretched and kissed his forehead, ¡°You really mean that too.¡± Her words a statement and not a question.

    ¡°Yep.¡±

    They kissed again, going deep. Stephanie reached for his free hand and guided it to her waist, then up. He hadn¡¯t earned an all-access pass, but every step represented more of her trust.

    ***

    ¡°Mom, I have a weird question.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± amused, Natalie sat her book down. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to give you a weird answer.¡±

    ¡°Do we emit some kind of intoxicating scent?¡±

    Of all the questions Stephanie might have asked, this wasn¡¯t even close to expected. ¡°You mean like a Venus flytrap or a pitcher plant?¡±

    Stephanie shrugged, ¡°I guess. Jason says he¡¯s addicted to my perfume.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t wear perfume.¡±

    ¡°I know, that¡¯s why it''s weird. Jason says it makes him crazy and almost out of control.¡±

    ¡°Sweetie, Jason¡¯s a sixteen-year-old boy, control isn¡¯t one of his strong points. I think he¡¯s exaggerating. Oh, I have bad news about the next couple of days. Yevgeny¡¯s coming back early. Call Romeo and tell him you¡¯re grounded.¡±

    ***

    The video display on Jason¡¯s wall pinged, and its 2D image of NASA¡¯s Opportunity Mars Rover dimmed.

    Alfred¡¯s voice came from the speaker. ¡°Miss Stephanie is calling.¡±

    ¡°Put her through.¡± Jason hopped up from his bed. She¡¯d seen him in his briefs before. As the image resolved, he straightened his hair. Stephanie appeared on the screen, her hair damp and combed back. She wore an oversized black t-shirt emblazoned with red jagged letters spelling, ¡°Slayer.¡±

    ¡°Hey!¡± he said, ¡°is that the shirt I left on your porch?¡±

    Stephanie grinned. ¡°Yep, it¡¯s my nightshirt now.¡±

    ¡°I hope you washed it first.¡± He¡¯d last worn it while cutting grass. ¡°It, ah, looks really good on you. Especially with your hair looking so dark. It¡¯s kind of goth.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s goth?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s an old lifestyle, I¡¯ll show you some pictures tomorrow.¡±

    Stephanie''s smile flattened out. ¡°That¡¯s why I called. Gene¡¯s coming home early, and I¡¯m grounded until he leaves again.¡±

    ¡°That sucks.¡±

    ¡°What will you do without me?¡± she asked, her voice wistful.

    ¡°Probably pine away to nothing without having you kiss me back to life.¡±

    Stephanie giggled. ¡°I¡¯ll give you plenty of kisses after he leaves again.¡±

    ¡°Plenty of kisses sounds like heaven.¡± Jason sighed. ¡°Tomorrow, I have to cut the grass. Afterward, I guess I¡¯ll work on AI programming.¡±

    A lock of Stephanie¡¯s hair slipped out from behind her ear. She reached and tucked it back into place. ¡°You¡¯re always reading about programming. Do you think that¡¯s what you¡¯ll do?¡±

    ¡°Maybe, Mom and Dad say I have to go to college. Software Engineering is a good career. What about you? We can go to college together.¡±

    A female voice came from somewhere out of the frame. ¡°Tell Romeo goodnight, I need to turn the security system back on.¡±

    ¡°Mom says I have to go.¡± Stephanie frowned.

    Jason grinned. ¡°So, I¡¯m Romeo?¡±

    Shrugging, Stephanie said, ¡°It¡¯s what she calls you.¡±

    ¡°Well, I won¡¯t call you Juliet, ?cause our story won¡¯t have a tragic ending.¡±

    Stephanie glanced off to her right. Jason thought perhaps towards her mother, then back to him. She said, ¡°I have to go, goodnight, Jay.¡±

    ¡°Goodnight, sweetheart.¡± The screen flickered back to that of Opportunity. The old robot who¡¯d managed a brave, yet temporary, existence.

    In the morning, Mom¡¯s good mood threatened to outshine the summer sun. They must have done it again. Weeks earlier, he¡¯d have wanted to hide from embarrassment. Now though, in an odd way, he felt happy for them. Maybe, if he admitted it to himself, he envied them for their relationship. Mom and Dad were always a team. He wanted the same thing for himself and his wife. Right now, he couldn¡¯t imagine his wife being anyone other than Stephanie.

    ¡°Earth to Jason.¡± His mother pulled out the chair opposite him and sat. ¡°Such deep thoughts.¡± Mom paused. ¡°Want to talk about it?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± He looked up with pretended confusion. No way, he¡¯d admit his mom could read him so easily.

    ¡°You¡¯ve done nothing but stare at the window, and your waffles are cold. That spells deep thoughts. I think you¡¯re going through a new stage of emotional development. You have a wonderful girlfriend, and your dad had one of those talks with you.¡± She smiled and waited.

    ¡°Am I so easy to read?¡± Funny, he thought he should be embarrassed, but he wasn¡¯t. He felt strangely confident. Is this what adulting is like?

    ¡°You¡¯re my son. I¡¯ve watched you grow. What else would you expect? Now, do you want to talk about anything? Maybe discuss your feelings about Stephanie? If you¡¯d prefer to talk to your father¡­¡± His mother moved back as if she intended to stand.

    ¡°No, wait!¡± Jason held up a hand. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­I realized, just now, that I want the same kind of relationship you and Dad have.¡±

    ¡°Ah, and does your current girlfriend factor into this?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯d like it to be with Stephanie, but what you and Dad have is years and years away.¡±

    ¡°I remember my first boyfriend, a handsome young man named Kenneth. I was certain he was the one and that nothing could come between us.¡± Mom smiled. Jason remembered seeing pictures of his mother when she was a teen. Mom had been hot, oh, not as hot as Stephanie but still hot. There was that one picture of her with a disembodied arm around her waist. Whoever belonged to the arm had long ago been scissored from her life. ¡°The thing, Jason, is it takes time for relationships to develop. During your time together, you and Steph will learn and grow. You might stay together, you might not. The single best piece of advice I can give you is to always be honest with her and with yourself.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Mom.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Mom smiled. ¡°You know, there is something unusual about your girlfriend. She¡¯s quite direct and, as far as I can tell, knows exactly what she wants. Girls mature earlier than boys, but Stephanie is way, way ahead for her age. If anything serves to keep your relationship going, it¡¯ll be that. You, however, have your work cut out trying to keep up with her.¡±

    ¡°Sometimes, I think she¡¯s two or three steps ahead of me.¡±

    ¡°I think so too. I also think Stephanie¡¯s genuinely fond of you,¡± Mom smiled and nodded as if somehow taking credit for everything. ¡°And you of her.¡±

    Jason felt his cheeks warm, but he needed to tell someone. ¡°Since yesterday, I realized, I more than like her.¡±

    Mom pursed her lips. ¡°Hmmm¡­more than like? As your mother, I appreciate specifics. But be careful explaining it to Stephanie. Use phrases like ¡®I like you a lot.¡¯¡±

    Jason spent the morning mowing and trimming. Once on Stephanie¡¯s property, hopeful for a glimpse of his girlfriend, he sometimes snuck a glance towards a window. On one circuit of their yard, he found an older looking man (Stephanie¡¯s father?) standing at the foot of the back porch. Until now, Jason hadn¡¯t seen him up close. The man was wiry, with thinning unkempt hair and pale watery eyes. If this was Mr. Timms, he looked nothing like his daughter. As Jason came into view, the man held up a hand. Jason killed the turbine.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re the boy, my¡­Natalie hired to cut the grass.¡±

    The man¡¯s accent and phrasing made Jason pause. Still, he knew to be polite. ¡°Yes, my name¡¯s¡ª¡±

    Mr. Timms cut him off with a dismissive wave. ¡°Has she paid you?¡±

    Until now, he hadn¡¯t considered pay; spending time with Stephanie seemed a fair trade. Still, this man needed a different answer. ¡°No, not yet.¡±

    Gesturing towards Jason¡¯s own yard, Timms said, ¡°How much do you get for mowing your own yard?¡±

    His weekly allowance came to fifty dollars, not that he ever saw the money. His father kept track, calling it the textbook fund. ¡°I get fifty a week.¡±

    ¡°Fifty?¡± The amount seemed to amuse the man. ¡°Fifty dollars to cut grass?¡± He said it as if it were the punch line to a joke. ¡°Nah, that¡¯s too much.¡± He reached into his front pocket and removed a thick wad of folded bills. After flipping through the stack, he stopped. ¡°I¡¯ll give you twenty.¡¯ He removed a single twenty-dollar bill, then five more. ¡°This for today and the last five weeks.¡± Mr. Timms held out the money.

    Jason reached out to take the bills, but Timms held tight. ¡°How old are you, boy?¡±

    ¡°Sixteen, sir,¡± he hadn''t intended to add ¡°sir.¡± It just slipped out.

    The man nodded. ¡°You know, I have daughter, the same age as you. Boy, if I catch you sniffing around her, I¡¯ll¡­¡± Mr. Timms didn¡¯t finish his statement, but he let go of the money.

    Jason slipped back a step. He looked into the man¡¯s eyes and saw nothing. No humor, no anger, nothing. Wow, talk about crazy fathers.

    Mr. Timms stepped back onto his porch. He waved Jason back to his task. ¡°You just keep cutting the grass and minding your own business. I¡¯ll keep paying you, and we¡¯ll get along fine.¡±

    Jason kept his eyes down while finishing the lawn.

    ***

    After Jason went to bed, his parents opened a bottle of wine and settled onto their sectional couch. Robert said, ¡°I didn¡¯t see Stephanie today. I hope everything is well with Elizabeth and Darcy.¡±

    Shirley chuckled, then began to cough. Robert thumped her on the back and waited. She took another sip and set her glass on the side table. ¡°Why Elizabeth and Darcy? I¡¯d think Odysseus and Penelope are a better analogy.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right, except for that long break in their relationship. If Odysseus and Penelope teach anything, it¡¯s how true love is worth waiting for.¡±

    ***

    ¡°No Stephanie today?¡± Mom asked while she worked on a dried flower arrangement.

    ¡°Her dad¡¯s still home.¡± Jason poked at his tablet; this AI hacking tutorial fascinated him. Much of it went over his head, but bits and pieces made sense.

    Mom stepped over and glanced through the kitchen window. ¡°Oh, I guess Steph must miss her father. He¡¯s on the road so much.¡±

    Engrossed with his research, Jason didn¡¯t think before he replied. ¡°She doesn¡¯t like him. She even gets mad if I call him her dad. From what she¡¯s said, he treats her and her mother like property.¡±

    ¡°When did Stephanie tell you this?¡±

    Unaware of his mother¡¯s heightened interest, Jason continued. ¡°We talk about it once in a while. He yells and bosses them around a lot. Stephanie stays in her room as much as she can.¡±

    Mom put down the flowers. ¡°Are Stephanie or her mother abused?¡±

    Jason realized the danger in his offhanded comments. Hadn¡¯t Stephanie told him not to say anything? If his mother called the police, he might never see his girlfriend again. Back peddling, Jason said, ¡°Stephanie never said her father hit her or touched her mother. All she said was that he bossed them around.¡±

    ¡°Hmmm, I won¡¯t get involved, but tell Stephanie I¡¯ll help if she or her mother need anything.¡± As his mother turned away, he heard her mutter. ¡°I wonder if I should call Natalie?¡±

    Later in the afternoon, Alfred announced the arrival of a message. ¡°Master Jason, Miss Stephanie has sent you a text. She says you better be miserable without her.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Alfred. Please tell her that I am a sad, depressed, wretch without her company.¡±

    On the morning of his third day without Stephanie, Jason sat at the kitchen table, sipping unsweetened grapefruit juice. Five minutes earlier, his mother passed by on her way out. She¡¯d invited him to join her on a day-long clothes shopping expedition. He¡¯d declined, even after Mom upped the ante by offering lunch at the local Chinese restaurant. Not wanting to miss her shopping day, Mom kissed his head and set off in her little electric minivan.

    Jason took another sip of the incredibly tart juice and shivered. How could Stephanie like this stuff? She even preferred it over apple or orange juice. Still, drinking it somehow made him feel closer to her.

    Three tentative taps at his back door drew his attention. Through the glass, a familiar girl with a headful of red hair waited. Jason threw open the door, and Stephanie darted inside and into his arms.

    After their third kiss, Stephanie said, ¡°I would have come sooner, but Gene did something to the security system, and it took Mom hours to fix it.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t say anything about this, but Gene spies on us. Mom¡¯s really smart and hacks the security system so I can sneak out the back door.¡±

    ¡°Your mom¡¯s a hacker?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s super smart. That¡¯s why I can call sometimes.¡±

    ¡°Wow, so when do I get to meet her?¡±

    Stephanie glanced away, then back. Her hands rose to comb through his hair. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Probably not for a while, but I hope not too long.¡±

    Sometimes Stephanie said odd things like that. It didn¡¯t matter, she was here now. He grinned and opened his arms as if to attack her.

    Stephanie grinned back and opened her arms in a counterattack. Her eyes widened when he darted forward and lifted her up as high as he could.

    ¡°Jason! Ack! Put me d¡ª¡±

    Stephanie¡¯s full weight surprised him. Like her unexpected strength when they wrestled. Given her slenderness, he figured she must have incredible muscle density. Carefully, he stepped forward, ignoring her protests, and set her on the edge of the kitchen counter. Their disparity in height reversed, Jason stepped in close and looked up into Stephanie¡¯s narrowed eyes.

    He¡¯d never seen Stephanie this annoyed before. ¡°Jason! That wasn¡¯t smart. I¡¯m wearing a stretch skirt, and they creep up, you know.¡±

    ¡°Yeah? I better get a good look then.¡± Jason leaned to the side while Stephanie glowered. ¡°Nope, everything¡¯s still covered. You do look good, is this a new skirt?¡±

    ¡°It belongs to Mom. She let me wear it to look nice for you.¡± Her tone implied he¡¯d ruined everything.

    ¡°I¡¯m just putting you on a pedestal, sweetheart.¡±

    ¡°Very funny.

    ¡°Do you have a bathing suit?¡± Jason interrupted their shared reading of a classic science fiction novel, The Dragons of Dorcastle, by Jack Campbell. They accomplished this feat with Stephanie sitting on his lap, their heads close together. Jason flicked to the next page when Stephanie indicated.

    ¡°A bathing suit? No, why?¡± Stephanie¡¯s voice carried a note of irritation, she disliked interruptions when they read together.

    ¡°Dad bought an above ground pool. It¡¯ll be installed tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°A pool? Jason, I don¡¯t even know how to swim.¡±

    ¡°No problem, I can teach you, and you¡¯ll look so hot in a bikini.¡± Jason closed his eyes to imagine the sight.

    Dad didn¡¯t screw around. The pool he purchased took up a large, sun-filled corner of the back yard. The installation crew assembled it in hours. Later in the afternoon, a water delivery truck filled it with fresh-pumped well water. It took days for the frigid water to warm enough for swimming.

    As it turned out, Stephanie¡¯s mom had an old bathing suit saved from years past. Stephanie teased him with fake descriptions. One day she claimed it covered everything from her knees to her neck, the next day saying it resembled three small adhesive bandages. Now, Jason and Stephanie stood on the raised wooden platform. He wore trunks, and she wore her denim skirt and a strappy shirt.

    ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± he said.

    Stephanie stepped to the edge and dipped a toe into the water. She performed an exaggerated shiver and stepped back. ¡°You¡¯ll stay next to me the whole time?¡±

    ¡°I promise!¡± he said and drew and drew a finger over his chest in the shape of an X. ¡°Cross my heart.¡±

    ¡°You first,¡± she said, pointing at the water.

    ¡°When am I going to see your swimming suit?¡± Suspicion tinged his voice.

    ¡°After you get in and are ready to catch me.¡±

    Grinning, Jason stepped to the edge, turned around, and fell back into the water. As he sank below the surface, he watched a spray of water arc up towards his startled girlfriend. It took a moment to find his footing, then he stood and faced his dripping wet and unhappy girlfriend.

    ¡°You rat! You did that on purpose.¡±

    The urge to laugh was strong, but Jason¡¯s self-preservation was stronger. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sweetheart, I should have been more careful.¡±

    He endured thirty-seconds of suspicious glare before she relented. ¡°All right, no more splashing!¡± Then she peeled the shirt up and over her head, revealing a dark green string bikini top. Then, with the most interesting wiggle, she dropped her skirt. It was so enticing, he almost asked her to do it again. Stephanie¡¯s string bikini bottom matched the top. It rode low on her hips and, along with the top, exposed a lot of skin.

    ¡°Holy heck

    ¡°Wow!¡± he said. Reality exceeded his imagination. Besides exposing most of his girlfriend, the suit clung to every square centimeter it covered.

    Smiling, Steffi turned in place, stopping when she faced Jason again. ¡°Satisfied?¡±

    Jason shook his head. ¡°Nah, the water¡¯s too cold for anything like that to happen. But you are smoking hot.¡±

    Stephanie affected an open-mouthed, hands-on-hips, look of outrage. Jason laughed and held his arms open. Instead of jumping in, she sat on the edge of the wooden deck and slipped into the water.

    Stephanie¡¯s first swimming lesson didn¡¯t go well. Even though the water was only a little cool, her lips turned blue within minutes. Jason gallantly hung back and helped her climb the ladder. Then he felt like a cad for watching how snug her suit fit. He followed and wrapped her in one of the huge towels Mom had set out for them.

    After toweling each other dry, they spread their towels on the grass beside the pool. Jason lay on his stomach while Stephanie rubbed sunblock on his back.

    She said, ¡°I¡¯ll tell Mom you liked her bikini.¡±

    ¡°What I liked was seeing you wear it.¡± Once wet, the already tight-fitting bikini had clung to Stephanie¡¯s body. The result had to qualify as one of the world¡¯s natural wonders.

    The warm sun and Stephanie¡¯s soothing hands took their toll, and he dozed off.

    ¡°Roll over on your back.¡± Stephanie wiped her sunscreen covered hands on a corner of Jason¡¯s towel.

    ¡°Umm, I''m good like this.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? You''ll burn without sunscreen.¡±

    Speaking low so his voice wouldn¡¯t carry. ¡°Steph, I can''t roll over right now. Give me a few minutes, ¡¯kay?¡±

    It didn¡¯t take a rocket scientist to understand his problem. Stephanie figured it out within seconds. ¡°Really? All I did was rub your back.¡±

    ¡°Look, I¡¯m a guy, it doesn¡¯t take much.¡±

    Then she surprised the hell out of him. ¡°What if I want to see it?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think we were ready for that.¡±

    ¡°Jay, we''re not gonna do that. But we might do something else.¡±

    ¡°Oh? What?¡±

    ¡°Come on.¡± Stephanie stood and offered her hand. He rolled over, and Steph, eyes pointedly aimed below his waist, pulled him to his feet. Together, they walked to the blind spot behind the old tree in the far corner of the yard.

    With his back to the tree and out of view from the house, Stephanie gave him a kiss. ¡°Listen for your kitchen door opening. If anyone comes, we''ll pretend we¡¯re kissing.¡±

    Jason nodded. He didn¡¯t trust his voice.

    ¡°Show it to me,¡± she said.

    He pushed the front of his trunks down, and it popped into view.

    Stephanie¡¯s eyes widened a bit. ¡°Whoa, it¡¯s bigger than I expected,¡± she tilted her head to the side, ¡°and it¡¯s kind of cute.¡± Her eyes glanced up to his. ¡°Can I?¡± She reached out as if to touch it.

    ¡°Y-yes.¡±

    His response earned him one of Steffi¡¯s dazzling smiles, then her exquisitely warm hand wrapped around him.

    Blood thundered in his ears, all he could do was groan, ¡°Ahhh¡­¡±

    A hand grabbed his arm, shaking him awake. ¡°Huh?¡±

    ¡°Roll over. Hurry, your mom¡¯s coming.¡±

    Unsure why Steph wanted him to do it, he rolled onto his stomach. Once turned over, the reason became painfully clear when his erect member pressed into his abdomen.

    Mom brought iced tea. Sweetened for him and unsweetened for Stephanie. Jason hoped the distraction would help to relieve his ¡°swelling.¡± After mom disappeared back into the house, embarrassment made Jason wish he could sink into the ground.

    Stephanie lay on her stomach next to him and chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve been aware of that thing for weeks now, but I had no idea it got hard like that on its own.¡±

    ¡°It does it at the worst times.¡±

    ¡°Maybe you had a nice dream?¡±

    ¡°Oh, yeah, you were in it.¡± It had been a nice dream; one he¡¯d revisit tonight.

    ¡°What did your horndog imagination have us doing?¡±

    ¡°A gentleman doesn¡¯t kiss and tell.¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t count if it was with me.¡±

    ¡°All right.¡± He described the dream, in detail.

    Steffi whistled. ¡°You have a vivid imagination. Just don¡¯t get any real-world ideas.¡±

    ¡°Might as well tell me not to breathe.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re such a boy.¡±

    Jason looked over at Stephanie¡¯s shoulder, then down along her back to her string bikini-clad buttocks. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m a boy with a very pretty girlfriend, who drives him crazy.¡± He laid his head down, facing Stephanie. ¡°What about you?¡± he asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you get ideas?¡±

    ¡°Probably the same ones. You drive me crazy too.¡±

    ¡°Good!¡±

    ¡°Good? Is that all you can say? Just for that, you owe me a kiss.¡±

    Jason rolled onto his right side, and with one arm, pulled Stephanie close. Fully aware of the nearby kitchen window, he kept their kiss brief. When finished, they remained on their sides, legs touching. Jason¡¯s little problem masked by Stephanie¡¯s hip.

    ¡°Steph, would it bug you if I said that I¡¯m in love with you?¡±

    Anyone else would have missed her hesitation before she replied. Jason noticed it but attributed it to his surprise question.

    ¡°No, not unless you¡¯re trying to get somewhere with that.¡± Her hip bumped him.

    ¡°That thing may make my life difficult, but it doesn¡¯t rule me. I think I love you because ¡®like¡¯ doesn¡¯t cover how I feel.¡±

    He noticed another brief hesitation, then she said, ¡°So, you don¡¯t want to have sex with me?¡±

    Now it was his turn to play it cool. ¡°Nope, not at all. It¡¯s the furthest thing from my mind.¡±

    ¡°The furthest thing from your mind is currently poking my hip.¡±

    ¡°Sorry.¡± Jason disentangled his legs from hers and rolled back onto his stomach. He grumbled, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have said anything,¡± He¡¯d screwed everything up and didn¡¯t know how to fix it.

    A warm finger drew nonsense patterns on his back, and the sensations drew him back from his funk. Stephanie said, ¡°Jason, love isn¡¯t something my family knows about.¡±

    ¡°What does that mean? Your parents¡ª¡±

    ¡°My parents aren¡¯t like yours. They¡¯re not married, and they don¡¯t love each other.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡± his words trailed off when he realized he didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°Why does your mom¡ª¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s complicated. Look, you can¡¯t tell anyone this stuff. It¡¯s a secret.¡± Jason nodded, too surprised for words. ¡°Gene is Mom¡¯s second¡­boyfriend. She didn¡¯t love her first, either. Because I''m her daughter, it¡¯s altogether possible I can¡¯t love someone romantically.¡±

    All this serious talk made his little problem a non-issue. Jason rolled over and sat cross-legged. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Love is the same as like, just bigger and more intense. Don''t you love your mother?¡±

    ¡°Of course, but it¡¯s not the same.¡±

    ¡°No, it isn¡¯t, but it proves you can love.¡±

    ¡°Maybe, but I don¡¯t think Mom and I are wired like you.¡±

    ¡°Love between a parent and their child begins with pheromones and brain chemistry. Romantic love has similar beginnings. It just works on different parts of the brain.¡±

    ¡°For normal brains, sure, but Mom and I are different. Don¡¯t ask me to explain how or why. We just are.¡±

    Jason lay back down, he¡¯d made his confession, and while she accepted it, she told him, in no uncertain terms, she didn¡¯t¡ªand wouldn¡¯t¡ªfeel the same. In his rush to tell Stephanie what he learned about his feelings and because he wanted to share his happiness, he¡¯d screwed everything up.

    ***

    When her back door clicked shut, Natalie glanced up to watch her daughter shuffle inside. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, sweetie? Are you and Romeo on the outs?¡±

    On her way to a chair, Stephanie forced a smile. ¡°Nothing like that, Jason said he loves me.¡±

    ¡°Oh, this is good news. I¡¯ll make tea, and you can tell me all the gory details.¡±

    Minutes later, mom and daughter sipped their tea in silence. Natalie kept her eyes on Stephanie. She¡¯d talk when she was ready.

    ¡°This afternoon, while we took a break from swimming, he told me he loved me.¡±

    ¡°Something so romantic should come with trumpets and a white horse. All you got was a damp towel.¡±

    ¡°Have you ever wondered what it¡¯s like to be in love?¡±

    ¡°Me? That¡¯s never been an option.¡±

    ¡°What about me?¡±

    Recognizing her daughter¡¯s concern, Natalie set her cup down. ¡°Sweetie, I don¡¯t know. There isn¡¯t anything about love in my design documents.¡±

 Chapter Six

    <blockquote>

    In the News Today: The Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a statement about a recent increase in Human Trafficking activity along the I-70 corridor. Motorists are urged to report suspicious activities.

    </blockquote>

    A sign on the door, with its bright red, block-letters, caught Stephanie¡¯s attention:

    HUMAN TRAFFICKING NOTICE

    Are you or someone you know being sold for sex or¡ª

    That¡¯s all she had time to read before Yevgeny hustled her and her mother through the rest stop¡¯s exit.

    Early that morning, Yevgeny woke everyone and ordered Stephanie and her mom to pack for a week¡¯s stay. ¡°Pack nice clothes,¡± he¡¯d directed. ¡°Hurry up, we need to leave,¡± he¡¯d shouted.

    They¡¯d been on the road since, and Stephanie knew what it meant. Yevgeny found someone willing to buy her.

    Preparations for this began shortly after her twelfth birthday. About the time most daughters learned about the ¡°Birds and the Bees and Birth Control.¡± Natalie¡¯s daughter learned the facts of life for a genetically engineered sex slave. Those earlier talks helped her stay calm now. She knew her owner would be wealthy. Her price almost guaranteed a pampered life. After all, buying her was equivalent to purchasing a near irreplaceable and unique artistic masterpiece.

    Mom¡¯s concerned glances confirmed she also suspected Yevgeny¡¯s agenda. His constant hovering, even bribing their way into the family restrooms, prevented any private talks.

    The seemingly endless ride gave Stephanie ample time to consider her future. Thanks to her mother¡¯s design, once her new owner ¡°made full use of her,¡± she¡¯d begin to develop a deeply powerful addiction. Her mother¡¯s term, the bond, was an actual full-blown physical addiction to intimate relations with one person.

    Other than Mom¡¯s crazy idea, there wasn¡¯t a way out. Stephanie couldn¡¯t go to the police. If she did, they¡¯d discover her and her mother¡¯s illegal status. Once that happened, they faced lif in a genie reservation or if they were lucky, deportation. Addicted to Yevgeny, Mom would soon die without a fix. If Stephanie ran away and avoided capture, her genetic ¡°programming¡± created another obstacle. Stephanie¡¯s infrequent ovulations brought extreme mood swings. Worse, her fertile state also made her especially vulnerable to bonding. If she were ¡°in the wild¡± and ovulated, she¡¯d bond to whoever was strong enough to deal with her.

    That left Stephanie with Mom¡¯s crazy idea. Yevgeny was Mom¡¯s second owner, and she still felt a vestigial bond to her first. The idea, the crazy idea, was simple. If Mom could retain the effects of multiple bonds, her daughter could as well. This might allow Stephanie to switch between them. When the Timms ¡°family¡± moved to their new home, Jason, the boy next door, became the target for Stephanie¡¯s secret bond. The tricky part was limiting how much Stephanie became addicted.

    A truck, with a loud diesel engine, roared past in the right lane. The noise jarred Stephanie from her thoughts. As the mud-spattered four-wheel-drive vehicle raced past, she noticed its Cincinnati Bengals bumper stickers. Jason worshipped the Pittsburgh Steelers and despised the Bengals. He¡¯d taught her the rules of American football, and they¡¯d watched games together.

    Like bright summer sunlight banishing the dark, thinking about Jason pushed her black thoughts away. She remembered running her fingers through his never-quite-combed hair, and how she melted when his cool breath tickled her neck. She¡¯d been slow to realize they liked each other. He, of course, knew it right from the start. That first day when they met, it amazed her that a man, well a young man, would ask her to keep him company. Visiting Jason and his parents felt like stepping into a fairy tale. His parents behaved as if they loved each other, and they never ever screwed in front of her.

    The day wore on, and Yevgeny became agitated. Like her and Mom, Yevgeny was also an undocumented alien. His forged identity would never pass if he tried to board a plane.

    Mom did what she could to keep him calm, even offering to fellate him. Stephanie slumped down in her seat and pretended to sleep.

    Once her eyes closed, thoughts of Jason stomped all over her worries. No one knew him like she did. She understood his jokes and listened to his dreams. If Stephanie had any regrets, it was cutting him off when he confessed his feelings. It wasn¡¯t his fault that she couldn¡¯t love him back. She should have lied and told him she felt the same.

    Night fell, and Yevgeny looked for a place to stay. An old motel with a vacancy sign beckoned. Their room, a double, surprised everyone with its cleanliness. Yevgeny shooed Stephanie into the bathroom. ¡°Take a shower and get in bed. We leave early.¡±

    After she finished, Stephanie exited the bathroom carrying her clothes. Yevgeny had Mom face down on their bed while having sex with her from behind. The wet slapping sounds and rhythmic grunts chased her to her own bed. Even under the covers, with the pillow over her head, the nauseating sounds went on and on. Finally, they stopped, and Yevgeny grumbled his way into the bathroom. When the door closed, Stephanie rolled over and dared a peek. Mom lay on her side, covered with a sheet. Her even breathing indicated she¡¯d stay zonked-out for a while. The tears came, and Stephanie curled up. She¡¯d never felt so alone in her life.

    While eating breakfast, Stephanie felt her first real twinge. Something, some part of her was missing. She listened to the men moving around them, searching for one special voice. Every man she brushed past smelled wrong. The sensation increased even after Yevgeny resumed his drive. She tried to doze, to drift away, but some undefined itch kept her on edge.

    Around noon, while Yevgeny recharged their van, she and Mom managed a brief conversation. ¡°Somethings going on, I can¡¯t stop thinking about Jason, even more so than yesterday.¡±

    Mom nodded. ¡°If you concentrate and remember his touch, does it help?¡±

    Stephanie closed her eyes and imagined him kissing her good night. It did seem to push the odd sensations back. ¡°It does.¡±

    ¡°You may have bonded to him a little. Good, that¡¯s what we want.¡±

    ¡°I guess.¡± She knew her mother¡¯s plan, but this was the first time she experienced what it meant for her. ¡°Will it always be this way?¡±

    ¡°Not exactly. We¡¯ll talk later.¡±

    A change in the road surface woke her. A sign read, ¡°Welcome to Wichita.¡± Wichita? Kansas? All she knew about Kansas was they had tornados.

    Yevgeny found another hotel, much like the last one. As before, he told her to get in the bathroom and ¡°Get cleaned up.¡± They had a meeting later, and she needed to look nice.

    After her shower, Stephanie stood at the sink, brushing her teeth. The bathroom door opened, and Mom, nude from the waist down, entered. Mom pushed the door closed and reached for a handful of tissues. Grimacing, her mother blotted away at the mess between her legs.

    Yevgeny must have had himself a quickie, or Mom would still be out of it.

    Neither spoke until Mom turned on the shower. Once covered by the noise, her mother leaned close. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think, not exactly. I got Yevgeny to talk. He said this is a trial visit. A couple of days, then we¡¯ll return home.¡±

    Stephanie blanched. No telling what it took for Mom to tease information from Yevgeny.

    The mansion set far back from the road. As Yevgeny navigated the curved asphalt drive, more of the structure came into view. While the building presented a narrow face to the road, the bulk of it lay hidden. Another interesting fact was that Yevgeny didn¡¯t stop at the front entrance. Instead, he continued around to the rear of the house and parked near a service entrance.

    A man met them at the door. Tall, gray-haired, and fit, his face was tight while he studied his visitors. Yevgeny stepped forward. ¡°Mr. Smith? I¡¯m Yevgeny Timms.¡±

    Fear made the moment unreal, and Stephanie almost burst into giggles. Clamping down on her emotions, she forced herself to stay quiet.

    ¡°Ah, Mr. Timms. Too bad, you¡¯re unable to fly. The drive must have been interminable.¡±

    Mr. Smith invited them inside. After a few darkened rooms and hallways, they ended up in a well-appointed library. Another man, far younger than Mr. Smith, waited there with a drink in his hand.

    ¡°My son, Daniel,¡± Mr. Smith indicated the young man.

    Yevgeny spoke. ¡°This is Natalie and her daughter, Stephanie.¡± He pointed at each in turn.

    The young man, Daniel, spoke. ¡°Jesus, Dad, they¡¯re both beautiful. Hell, they could be twin sisters.¡±

    The outburst drew a sharp glance from Mr. Smith, which his son pretended to not notice. ¡°Mr. Timms, would you or your property want anything to drink?¡± He waved at a side table, holding an assortment of beverages. ¡°We have some time before dinner.¡±

    Yevgeny gestured to Mom, and she fetched a vodka for him and ginger ales for herself and Stephanie. Stephanie didn¡¯t trust herself to speak. They took seats near an unlit fireplace. Daniel sat next to his father.

    ¡°I trust you received the information packet?¡± Yevgeny asked.

    ¡°I did.¡± Smith replied. ¡°The Silk Road marketplace is quite efficient. However, I dislike the terms for this visit.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s quite simple. No one is to touch the girl until I have received payment in full.¡±

    Smith crossed his legs and smiled. ¡°Understood, but the non-refundable deposit should entitle me to a few samples.¡±

    ¡°Natalie can provide samples as needed. She is identical to her daughter in all important aspects. She is also quite skillful.¡± Yevgeny ended his statement with a leer.

    Whoa! Yevgeny just offered Mom to this guy, and all she did was smile. What¡¯s going on?

    Smith studied Mom, then turned back to Yevgeny. ¡°The spec sheet notes these creations have perfect loyalty. That they will aggressively resist advances from another suitor. If this is so, then how is she capable of providing samples?¡±

    Smiling, Yevgeny turned to Mom. ¡°Tell him, Nat.¡±

    Natalie nodded. ¡°Mr. Smith, my owner has conditioned me to accept an occasional lover. It won¡¯t be an issue if he remains in view. I¡¯m even free to enjoy the experience. If you¡¯re capable.¡± Her last statement made the challenge clear.

    Double whoa! Mom just threw down the gauntlet! I wish I were as brave.

    Smith chuckled as if only his satisfaction mattered. ¡°What¡¯s it like, missy, fucking a man who isn¡¯t your owner?¡±

    Mom smiled. Smith¡¯s words couldn¡¯t rattle her. ¡°It¡¯s a bit like wanting steak but only getting the bone.

    Daniel burst out laughing but cut it off at a curt gesture from his father.

    Supper might have been delicious, but Stephanie thought it tasted like bile. Somehow, Daniel appointed himself her companion and sat across from her. Every time she dared to glance up from her plate, his blue eyes were there.

    Negotiations went on throughout the meal. After the desert, Natalie took Stephanie to the powder room. ¡°I¡¯m going with Yevgeny and Mr. Smith to provide ¡®samples.¡¯¡±

    ¡°But Mom that¡¯s¡ª¡±

    ¡°Sweetie, I¡¯ll be fine. Who knows, it may even be fun.¡±

    ¡°What about the son, Daniel?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯ll keep you company, nothing more than that. Be polite but keep your guard up.¡±

    ¡°But what if he wants me to¡­you know.¡±

    ¡°Sweetie, you¡¯re my daughter, and there isn¡¯t a single man in the world you can¡¯t handle. If Daniel doesn¡¯t behave, do whatever you need to make him stop. Just don¡¯t hurt him too much.¡±

    After the parents retired upstairs, Stephanie and Daniel returned to the library. They sat across from each other at the empty fireplace. She refused or ignored his repeated offers of a drink or conversation.

    ¡°You don¡¯t want to talk, do you?¡± he asked.

    She had enough of his badgering. ¡°No, leave me alone.¡±

    ¡°Why not? I¡¯m beginning to think you don¡¯t like me.¡±

    A desperate surge of anger gave her strength. Daniel¡¯s twinkling blue eyes annoyed her. ¡°I don¡¯t know you well enough to dislike you.¡±

    ¡°Oooh, zinger!¡± Daniel clutched at his chest. ¡°Direct shot.¡± He leaned forward. ¡°You¡¯re even more beautiful when you¡¯re angry.¡±

    Either Daniel told the truth or, more likely, attempted reverse psychology. If she didn¡¯t want to appear more attractive, she¡¯d have to act nicer. Either way, she didn¡¯t care. She did the smart thing and tuned him out.

    Apparently, this didn¡¯t please Daniel. Stephanie heard an irritated chuff, and a finger reached out and touched her knee. ¡°Don¡¯t ignore me,¡± he said.

    ¡°Take your hand off my knee.¡±

    With a laugh, he removed his finger, then slid forward to sit on the edge of his chair. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Stephanie, it¡¯s¡­look, you¡¯re beautiful, and I¡¯m a guy, I can¡¯t help but be attracted to you.¡±

    She gave him a flat distrustful stare.

    Daniel finished his drink and said, ¡°You are not what I expected.¡±

    ¡°What, that I¡¯m not a bimbo?¡±

    ¡°No, you¡¯re not. Let¡¯s try something different. Do you shoot pool?¡±

    ¡°Pool?¡± She hadn¡¯t intended to reply.

    ¡°It¡¯s a game. C¡¯mon.¡± He stood and stepped to the side of his chair and waited.

    Stephanie stared, unsure of what she should do. Mom was upstairs, doing who knows what with that disgusting old man. If Mom could do that, Stephanie could play a stupid game. With a fresh sense of confidence, she followed Daniel across the room. Under an ornate leaded glass lamp, stood a large cloth-covered rectangular table. With a flourish, the younger Smith removed the cover and exposed its green felt-covered surface.

    Daniel gestured, ¡°This is a pool table.¡± From underneath the table, he produced a hollow wooden triangle and placed it on the table. Daniel proceeded to fill the triangle with different colored balls. ¡°These are the pool balls. The object is to use a stick, called the cue, to strike the white ball, to knock your balls into the pockets.¡±

    ¡°Which balls are mine?¡± The question sounded stupid as soon as it slipped out. If Daniel noticed, he didn¡¯t react.

    ¡°It depends. The person who breaks gets whatever goes in a pocket. If nothing goes in, it¡¯s an open table for the next player.¡± He glanced at her across the table. ¡°I have my own stick, we¡¯ll share.¡±

    ¡°How am I supposed to make this shot?¡± Stephanie had stripes, and the only available shot had the cue ball in an awkward spot.

    ¡°Lean over the table and stretch out your arms. You¡¯ll want to put some back spin on the cue, and it¡¯ll roll back and set up your next shot.¡±

    ¡°How?¡±

    He showed her a small, disarming smile and approached. ¡°If I may?¡±

    Since beginning the game, Daniel kept his hands to himself. Most of the time, he kept to the opposite side of the table. Heck, she only caught him trying to peek up her skirt once. ¡°All right, show me.¡±

    ¡°Lean over the table and line up your shot.¡± Stephanie tensed as he approached. ¡°I¡¯m going to touch you and show you how to aim. Please, don¡¯t freak out.¡± His chest pressed against her back. This close, his cologne, a delicate lime and tobacco scent tickled her nostrils. ¡°Keep your cue level but aim low of center.¡± She changed her point of aim slightly. Out of her sight, his fingers ghosted over her hip. ¡°There, you got it. Hit it medium-hard.¡± Stephanie struck the cue ball as instructed. It slid forward and tapped the nine-ball, which rolled into the pocket. At the same time, the cue rolled back and lined her up for a shot on the twelve.

    Excited about making a difficult shot, Stephanie allowed her guard to drop. She stood, grinning, and found herself in Daniel¡¯s arms, one of his hands curved around her hip.

    She met his eyes. ¡°Daniel, please don¡¯t be a creep.¡±

    His eyes flicked away, and Stephanie thought he¡¯d behave. But he glanced back, his jaw set with determination.

    In a rough voice, he said, ¡°I read the papers your father sent. Is it true you''ll fall in love with whoever you sleep with?¡±

    ¡°It''s not love.¡±

    ¡°How do you know? The spec sheet said you''ve never¡­¡±

    Enough was enough. Remembering her mother¡¯s advice, Stephanie reached back and removed his hand from her butt. Daniel resisted, so she used her full strength.

    Eyes wide, Daniel took a step back, his left hand cradled the right.

    Mom will be proud I didn''t break any bones.

    Stephanie set the pool stick on the table and returned to her seat across the room. An hour or so later, the parents returned and found her there. Daniel kept himself occupied on the opposite side of the library, shooting pool one-handed.

    Back at the hotel, Yevgeny announced he had phone calls to make. ¡°Both of you get a shower or something.¡±

    Inside the shower stall, Stephanie studied the marks on her mother''s pale skin. ¡°Mom, you¡¯re hurt. Wait, ¡°she said, inspecting the bruises on her mother¡¯s chest, ¡°those look like teeth marks.¡±

    ¡°I think they are. Mr. Smith gave the girls a workout.¡±

    ¡°That bastard! He hurt you. Why didn¡¯t Yevgeny do something?

    ¡°Sweetie, sometimes sex can be a little rough. Tonight, was one of the rougher times. Don¡¯t worry about me, it takes a lot to hurt genies like us.¡± Mom chuckled, ¡°Poor Yevgeny sat there and watched the whole thing. I think he learned a few things.¡±

    ¡°What about your bond? How could Yevgeny just sit there and watch?¡±

    Mom hugged her. ¡°Sweetie, my loyalty might as well be etched in stone. One or two sessions like tonight won¡¯t change me. You, however, are almost a blank slate. It might have damaged you. Turn around now, and I¡¯ll wash your hair.¡±

    That night, Yevgeny behaved like a man possessed. He barely waited until Stephanie had the pillow over her head before taking her mother. It took a long time before she managed to sleep.

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ***

    ¡°Dad, are you sure this is a good idea?¡± Daniel steadied the Stolichnaya with his good hand. His father set the funnel and poured a double measure of a clear, odorless liquid into the vodka. As usual, Dad ignored his concerns.

    The older man capped the bottle with care. Then after giving it a swirl, he returned the bottle to a small bar. ¡°Mr. Smith¡± turned to Daniel with a sneer. ¡°Sometimes, I wonder if you¡¯re really my son.¡± He held his eyes on Daniel, ¡°Do you want an evening with the mother or not?

    ¡°I¡¯d prefer the daughter.¡±

    ¡°Heh, yeah. If the father¡¯s correct, and she¡¯s still cherry.¡± Dad poured a finger¡¯s worth of bourbon and sat. ¡°I received the results from the lab. The data in the information packet checks out. From a DNA standpoint, they are exactly what Timms'' says they are.¡±

    ¡°They look like sisters.¡±

    ¡°Yes, they do. How old do you think the mother is?¡±

    ¡°Hell, Dad, she looks eighteen, but she has to be thirty or so.¡±

    ¡°The mother is forty years old. She¡¯s had four daughters and is still so tight, it almost hurt.¡±

    ¡°Damn, now I can¡¯t wait to check her out.¡±

    ¡°You will. Now, the plan. First, the vodka,¡± Dad waved towards the collection of bottles. ¡°A drink or two will loosen up Timms and make him nice and relaxed. During supper, you¡¯ll be very forward with the mother. Get her hot, and it¡¯ll distract him. When it¡¯s time, I¡¯ll tell you to take her elsewhere. Timms will follow, and it¡¯ll be up to you to put on a show. Keep him interested. I¡¯ll get to know the daughter and find out if she is untouched for real.¡±

    ¡°Do you think she is?¡±

    ¡°Hardly, kids start early. I expect she¡¯s had her share. Later, after the ¡°enhanced¡± vodka has done its work, I¡¯ll renegotiate for a realistic price.

    ***

    Like the previous night, they met the Smiths for drinks. This time, both men were on edge, a tension existed that hadn¡¯t before. Father and son literally sat on the edges of their seats. Stephanie and her mother shared a concerned glance. Yevgeny didn¡¯t seem to notice anything and allowed the senior Smith to keep his glass full. When the housekeeper announced dinner, Yevgeny stumbled twice on his way to the dining room.

    Striding to the head of the table, Mr. Smith said, ¡°Tonight, the daughter will be my dinner companion.¡± He held a chair out. After a quick nod from her mother, Stephanie took the indicated seat.

    Yevgeny sat to Stephanie¡¯s right, but most of his attention lay on Daniel and Mom. Smith¡¯s son and her mother sat together near the opposite end of the table. Stephanie kept her eyes down; she didn¡¯t want eye contact with Mr. Smith at all.

    Halfway through the first course. Mr. Smith spoke to her. ¡°It¡¯s fascinating how alike you are to your mother. Of course, I saw a great deal more of your mother than I have of you. I admit I¡¯m curious if you¡¯ll enjoy the same sex games as she.¡±

    Stephanie didn¡¯t, couldn¡¯t reply. Even if she did, what would she say?

    Her silence must have annoyed the man because he spoke to Yevgeny. ¡°Mr. Timms, please instruct your daughter to respond.¡±

    The table jerked as Yevgeny pulled his attention away from the opposite end of the table. Stephanie dared a peek. Daniel had something going on under the table. Both he and Mom had rosy cheeks and unfocused eyes.

    Yevgeny gripped her upper arm, tight enough to hurt. ¡°I asked you to behave, didn¡¯t I?¡± He leaned closer. ¡°Do you want your mother hurt because you won¡¯t play nice?

    Glancing again towards the foot of the table, Stephanie noticed her mother¡¯s rhythmic shudders. Those shudders came in time with the motions of Daniel¡¯s arm.

    With a shudder of her own, Stephanie turned to Mr. Smith. She forced herself to look up and smile. ¡°What do you want to know?¡± she asked.

    Smith nodded his thanks to Yevgeny, then focused on her. ¡°Do you think the same as your mother?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Smith, Mom and I look a lot alike. We even like the same things, but we¡¯re two different people.¡±

    ¡°Fair enough,¡± he said, then paused to watch his son''s activities. Mom whimpered softly. The hunger in Smith¡¯s eyes spoke volumes when he turned back. ¡°Tell me how you and she are different.¡±

    Stephanie didn¡¯t dare check again on her mother. She didn¡¯t want to see whatever Daniel did to her. Instead, she kept her eyes on the older man and concentrated on his question. She already knew one answer. The two men Mom didn¡¯t hate, Jason and Jason¡¯s father, she merely distrusted. Stephanie, who hadn¡¯t had her mother¡¯s experiences, liked one special young man.

    Unbidden, the memory surfaced of Jason confessing his true feelings. Looking back from tonight¡¯s perspective, she¡¯d been selfish. What would it have hurt to tell him she felt the same? Love was just a word. What if they never saw each other again?

    The memory vanished, dispelled by her reality. ¡°Mom prefers non-fiction and reality programs. I read science fiction and play video games.¡±

    ¡°What about sex?¡±

    ¡°What about it? I haven¡¯t done it yet.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what your father said. I want to know if it¡¯s true.¡±

    ¡°Of course, it is! I¡¯m only sixteen!¡±

    Smith sat back and rubbed his chin.

    The sudden scrape of a chair against the wooden floor pulled everyone¡¯s attention to the far end of the table. Daniel moved behind Mom¡¯s chair, his hands reaching for her breasts.

    The elder Smith rapped his knuckles on the table. ¡°Daniel!¡±

    Daniel froze, then turned and glared at his father. ¡°You said I could have her.¡±

    ¡°Yes, but not at the dining room table, at least not now.¡± Smith waved towards the hallway entrance. ¡°Take the mother somewhere else.¡±

    ¡°C¡¯mon,¡± Daniel said. He took one of Natalie¡¯s hands and pulled her up.

    Yevgeny stood and bellowed, ¡°Nyet!¡± Stephanie noticed how her father wobbled when he stood.

    ¡°Mr. Timms,¡± Mr. Smith said, ¡°The fee I¡¯ve already paid more than covers the services of your property. Besides, Daniel isn¡¯t going to do anything you won¡¯t enjoy watching.¡±

    While Smith spoke to Yevgeny, Natalie gave Stephanie a confident smile as if saying, don¡¯t worry, sweetie, we got this! After Stephanie smiled back, Mom turned to Daniel and took his arm. ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere private.¡±

    Yevgeny wavered back and forth as if he couldn¡¯t decide what to do.

    From the head of the table, Mr. Smith watched the tableau before speaking, ¡°Make up your mind, Mr. Timms. Either stay and guard your investment or go and watch my son use your pet.¡±

    Without looking back, Yevgeny stumbled after Daniel and Natalie.

    A few moments after Yevgeny left, Mr. Smith shook his head. ¡°Your father is an interesting man, but I couldn¡¯t do what he does.¡±

    ¡°Breed and sell slaves?¡± asked Stephanie. She kept her tone flat.

    ¡°Hardly, my dear. If I make you my property, I will breed you as often as possible. No, I meant how Yevgeny plays the cuckold. There are few things more disgusting than a man who enjoys watching his woman fuck another man.¡±

    ¡°Daniel thinks you and he will share me. Doesn¡¯t that make both of you cuckolds?¡±

    Smith threw back his head and laughed. He stood, and at a nearby table, poured a glass of whiskey. ¡°You surprise me,¡± he said. ¡°I expected someone subservient, and here you are, bold as brass.¡± He sat back down. ¡°Some men would enjoy breaking you. My son and your father are such. I, on the other hand, think you might be best kept as you are.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± she couldn¡¯t suppress the lilt of surprise in her voice.

    ¡°Oh, yes. I respect strength.¡± The older man leaned towards her. ¡°The world belongs to those who master their feelings and control their needs.¡±

    Smith¡¯s hot breath reeked of whiskey and something other than control. This man, whatever his real name might be, intended to possess her. To paraphrase Shakespeare, ¡°Will you, nill you, I will own you.¡±

    But she was her mother¡¯s daughter, and she could handle any single man. Instead of giving ground, she dug in and leaned forward herself. ¡°Why are you telling me this?¡±

    Maybe her strength surprised the man, or maybe it amused him. In either case, he sat back with a smile and sipped his whiskey. ¡°Your father is weak. I¡¯m surprised he managed to acquire a valuable commodity like your mother.¡±

    Stephanie knew she¡¯d hate herself, but Smith¡¯s unceasing arrogance needed a pinprick. ¡°Yevgeny kidnapped Mom from a wealthy and powerful man.¡±

    For a second, the older man¡¯s face went slack, and Stephanie thought she managed to shut him up. Then he tipped his head back and barked out a laugh.¡± My dear, I simply cannot believe such a tale. Cuckolds, like your father, are the weakest of men.¡± The old man eased his chair back from the table. ¡°Mr. Timms is asking an exorbitant amount of money for you. Even if his claims about you are true. I don¡¯t think you¡¯re worth it.

    ¡°No offense, but I don¡¯t want to be your property anyway.¡±

    His brief glare from her interruption made her daring statement worthwhile. Smith waved a hand as if chasing away an insect. ¡°My dear, everyone is someone or something¡¯s property. Although, in your case, it¡¯s literal. The terms your father set for this meeting make it difficult to determine your exact worth.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t buy me then.¡±

    Another glare, this time with some heat. Mr. Smith didn¡¯t like her constant interruptions, too bad.

    Smith continued. ¡°I have a proposition for you. One that is in your best interests to accept.¡±

    Stephanie took a chance and looked deep into Smith¡¯s eyes. She saw lust and a crazed determination. Uh, oh, Steffi, this guy is off the chain. ¡°What¡¯s the deal?¡± Her hands gripped the chair¡¯s arms.

    ¡°Mr. Timms likened you to a rare and expensive sports car. Well, the analogy might be apt, but I¡¯ve never bought an automobile without a test drive.¡±

    ¡°A test drive isn¡¯t part of the deal.¡± She prepared to move.

    ¡°Your father is upstairs, watching my son use your mother. No one, other than us, will know what we do together. If I decide to pass on you, whoever buys you won¡¯t know. It will remain our secret.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Smith, even if I wanted to, I can¡¯t. The way Mom and I work, sex changes us. Whoever I end up with won¡¯t be able to bond me without difficulty.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes, yes,¡± he waved dismissively. ¡°I¡¯ve read the information. Yet your mother had sex with me last night, several times in fact, without any ill effects, and she is having sex again, right now. If sex were an issue, Mr. Timms wouldn¡¯t treat his pet like a tray of party favors.¡±

    Stephanie couldn¡¯t think of a rejoinder. She also questioned the actual onset of the bond. Mom made it seem like an almost instant thing. What if it took some time?

    Smith nodded. ¡°I see you¡¯re thinking about it. You also see the fallacy. One little tryst will hardly make an impact. There is one more item for you to consider. If you do not have sex with me, and if I buy you, I¡¯ll wait until you are completely addicted, then have you perform the most degrading acts I can imagine. I guarantee it will not go well for you.¡±

    ¡°Uh, uh,¡± Stephanie stood and moved to place her chair between them. ¡°No way!¡± If she couldn¡¯t give it to Jason, no one could have it without a fight.

    Smith moved and fear made Stephane hesitate. He grasped her arms and threw her onto the table. Within the span of a few heartbeats, the surprisingly strong old man pinned her shoulders and propped her knees over his shoulders. In this position, she had almost no leverage.

    ***

    Natalie knelt in front of Daniel and tugged his boxers down. His engorged penis bobbed in front of her. Bah, men and their meat sticks. They¡¯d sulk all night if you laughed at them. A quick sideways glance showed Yevgeny settling in on a chair. She gave him a wink then turned back to this nekul?turnyy man-child. Daniel¡¯s eyes met hers, and Natalie gave him her best wide-eyed, naughty smile. Oh, yes, please allow me to suck your penis. Give me your semen; you have little else of worth. Keeping her eyes on his, she swallowed his cock.

    Sex with anyone other than her owner never quite satisfied her bond. Oh, episodes like last night¡¯s came close. Mr. Smith gave her the bone then pushed buttons she didn¡¯t know she had. Tonight¡¯s announcement that she¡¯d entertain his son came with a pang of disappointment. Still, a girl had to take what pleasures she could. Natalie clamped her lips tight and sucked.

    Scant minutes later, the young man¡¯s sudden groan announced his release. Bitter, salty, delicious semen wet her tongue. It flooded her mouth, the amount a pleasant surprise. Daniel¡¯s knees gave way, and he crumpled back onto the bed. Natalie followed, maintaining the suction, and swallowing every drop.

    ¡°Oh my god,¡± Daniel groaned. ¡°I¡¯ve never¡ª¡± His words cut off when Natalie stood.

    The taste of semen woke Natalie¡¯s lust. That, coupled with her irritation with this man¡¯s rude behavior, solidified her plans. Daniel needed to learn a lesson. She removed her dress, leaving only her stockings and heels. When she spoke, her Ukrainian origin tinted her words. ¡°You will do more, yes?¡±

    Daniel nodded, and after kicking his boxers free, crawled back onto the bed. On her knees, Natalie followed, a red fox stalking a helpless little rabbit. Then, with her prey cornered and quivering, the fox spun about, lifting one leg over his chest. Across the room, Yevgeny¡¯s eyes locked with hers. She licked her lips and crawled back, pressing herself onto Daniel¡¯s face.

    His tongue and lips worked feverishly. Natalie rocked her hips forward and back, sliding over his face, testing the limits of his¡­devotion.

    ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± Natalie purred, satisfied with his willingness. She shifted back, focusing his mouth where it would do her the most good. ¡°You are a good boy, aren¡¯t you?¡± His vigorous nod sent a shiver up her spine.

    Two bed-shaking orgasms later, Natalie took Daniel¡¯s cock back into her mouth. She gave him credit for his unflagging tongue. The son might never equal the father¡¯s raw skill, but quantity did have a certain quality. The tingles built, heralding her third orgasm. It was time to switch up and give Yevgeny his show.

    She didn¡¯t understand why Yevgeny enjoyed watching her fuck other people. Nor did she care. Yevgeny owned her, and other than the bone-deep, mind-melting pleasure she received from sex with him, she didn¡¯t like him. She¡¯d happily go two to three weeks between their couplings. Although after the third week, flu-like symptoms reminded Natalie of her addiction. By the fourth week, she could barely move, could barely function, much less think. Twice, so she¡¯d remember her place, he¡¯d made her wait five weeks. Those times, she became like an animal, doing anything and everything necessary to appease the bond. She didn¡¯t think she¡¯d survive six weeks of deprivation.

    Glancing at Yevgeny, Natalie noted his drooping posture. His eyes, however, remained bright. She lifted from Daniel¡¯s face at the same time she pulled her mouth free. The young man¡¯s penis remained up and twitching as if seeking her touch. Don¡¯t worry, little penis, you¡¯ll have all the contact you wish.

    Turning about slowly, Natalie gave Yevgeny time to savor the view of her wet bottom. The cool air in the room was very noticeable. She poised above Daniel, the head of his penis pressing against her opening. The eyes of her little rabbit alight in anticipation. ¡°Beg me, Daniel,¡± she whispered. ¡°Say, please.¡±

    ¡°P-please?¡±

    She pushed, allowing his girth to spread her open, to give him a taste. Then she stopped, completely in control. ¡°What¡¯s my name, Daniel?¡±

    ¡°Uh?¡± The man¡¯s throat worked. ¡°You¡¯re Natalie.¡± Then he understood. ¡°Please fuck me, Natalie.¡±

    ¡°See,¡± she said, sinking down, his penis stretching and filling her. ¡°You are such a good boy.¡±

    Daniel¡¯s hands reached towards her breasts. Natalie batted them away and pressed his wrists to the mattress. The message clear; he was to lay there while she fucked him. After he understood, she rewarded him by leaning forward and allowing him to suckle her breasts. The same mouth that pleasured her moments before, did so again. she revised her opinion of his skill. With her tutelage, this one might be worth something. The mental image of auctioning off a string of trained lovers made her chuckle.

    Once again, the tingles built, adding layers to what promised to become a superior orgasm. Daniel groaned and bucked. Each bump edged her closer. He groaned again, this time with an edge of alarm, the internal stretch increased as he swelled. Not yet, little rabbit, she reached back and flicked a finger against his testicles.

    Daniel flinched, his eyes opened wide in surprise and something else. Fear? Betrayal?

    ¡°Not yet.¡± she purred.

    With his rise to orgasm reset, Natalie set to work on her third release, each downward stroke accompanied with a grind against his pelvis. Close, closer, the muscles in her thighs fluttered. Orgasm number three swept over her. Natalie gasped, her strokes abruptly chaotic. Her pelvic muscles squeezed and squeezed and squeezed.

    When she opened her eyes, Natalie found herself lying on top of Daniel, still impaled on his member. He was so erect, his penis throbbed with each beat of his heart. Her cheek, where it pressed against his chest, felt damp. She sat up and wiped her face, surprised the wetness felt like tears. Below her, the younger Smith gazed up, his eyes wide and full of wonder.

    Satisfied with the quality of her performance, Natalie turned her head to see if Yevgeny agreed. After this little show, he¡¯d screw her until she blacked out. Yevgeny sat perfectly still, his head back. He wasn¡¯t breathing.

    Natalie lifted up, trying to get to Yevgeny. Daniel pulled her back onto him. Well, he tried. Natalie noticed the extra drag and dealt with it expeditiously. She reached back and delivered a brutal, open-handed slap to his genitals.

    By the time Daniel recoiled away, Natalie had Yevgeny on the floor and began rescue breathing. His pulse was present, but weak. She gave him another two breathes. ¡°Daniel?¡± Natalie called.

    The bed rustled, and Daniel rolled over to sit on the edge of the bed. Both hands covered his junk. The rabbit¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of Yevgeny. ¡°Shit, is he dead?¡±

    Natalie gave Yevgeny another two breaths. ¡°I need a first aid kit, one with an auto-defibrillator.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± he answered and ran out of the room. It surprised the hell out of her when he returned, first aid kit in hand.

    The kit included a state-of-the-art automated external defibrillator. Natalie activated it and followed the device''s instructions. After pressing the ¡°Analyze¡± button, she continued with the rescue breathing. The AED advised no shocks were necessary. A minute later, Yevgeny took a breath on his own.

    ¡°Jeez,¡± Daniel whined, plopping onto the bed, ¡°Dad never expected this.¡± Seconds later, he stood on his toes, Natalie¡¯s left hand around his neck.

    ¡°What did you do to Yevgeny?¡± she asked.

    ¡°GAAHH¡­I didn¡¯t do anything. I swear! It was all Dad¡¯s idea.¡±

    She stroked his manhood with her free hand. ¡°Tell me, Daniel, or I¡¯ll hurt you.¡±

    ¡°D-Dad d-drugged the vodka.¡± He paused, but when Natalie didn¡¯t say anything, he continued. ¡°He wanted to screw Stephanie and get a better price.¡±

    ¡°Shit.¡± Natalie released Daniel, and he crumpled to his knees. ¡°Go,¡± she commanded. ¡°Stand in the corner.¡± Daniel hobbled away, eager to comply. Natalie returned to the floor, watching Yevgeny.

    Minutes passed. Daniel coughed. ¡°Excuse me, Natalie?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± she didn¡¯t turn away from her owner.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried about Stephanie?¡±

    ¡°No. You should worry about your father.¡±

    ***

    Stephanie found her parents upstairs. The second door on the left opened to a well-furnished bedroom with a seriously rumpled bed. In the far corner of the room, Daniel huddled naked in the corner. On the floor, in the center of the room, Mom bent over Yevgeny.

    ¡°Mom? Stephanie cried out while running in, ¡°are you all right?¡±

    Instead of answering, her mother held up a finger, the universal symbol for ¡°Wait!¡± Yevgeny groaned like a weak puppy. Mom sat back but continued to watch him. Once Yevgeny continued to breathe on his own, she spoke. ¡°I¡¯m fine, sweetie. What happened to Mr. Smith?¡±

    ¡°The old perv tried to rape me, so I kicked him. Maybe you could check him for me? One of his pupils is a lot bigger than the other.¡±

    ¡°Concussion,¡± Mom nodded. ¡°Was he breathing?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. I tied him up before coming to find you.¡±

    ¡°Good. Come here and watch Yevgeny. I need to get dressed.¡±

    ¡°What about him?¡± Stephanie nodded towards the man cowering in the corner.

    Mom shook out her dress and slipped it over her head. ¡°Daniel won¡¯t give us any trouble.¡± She turned and gave him a stern look. ¡°Will you?¡±

    ¡°No, ma¡¯am.¡± Daniel shook his head. His feet slid out from under him when he tried to push further back into the corner.

    Mr. Smith remained on the dining room floor, hog-tied with drapery tiebacks. Mom rolled him over and grimaced when she saw the heel-shaped bruise forming on his forehead. ¡°Sweetie, I¡¯m glad you wore flats.¡±

    Smith began a slurred diatribe, threatening legal action against Stephanie for attempted murder.

    Mom stepped back. ¡°Hold him up, sweetie.¡±

    Stephanie stepped forward, and with one hand, lifted the older man to his feet. Even concussed, Mr. Smith knew when to keep quiet.

    Looking the old man in the eye, Natalie said. ¡°Mr. Smith, your biggest problem isn¡¯t my daughter. My owner, who you drugged, will come for you as soon as he recovers. I do not envy you or your son.¡± When she stepped back, Stephanie released her grip. The old man screamed when he hit the floor.

    Outside, at the van, Natalie and Stephanie eased Yevgeny onto the van¡¯s back seat. The door to the house clicked open, and footsteps scuffed across the asphalt. Stephanie turned and crouched, prepared to attack. If that old perv is coming after me¡­

    ¡°Natalie?¡± The voice, though, belonged to the old perv¡¯s son. They¡¯d left Daniel huddled upstairs. At Mom¡¯s request, he¡¯d promised to stay put.

    Inside the van, Natalie sighed. ¡°Damn it, let me out, sweetie.¡±

    Eavesdropping was not something Stephanie usually did, but for this, she made an exception.

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Mom demanded.

    ¡°I ¨C I want to apologize.¡±

    ¡°You want to apologize to me?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. What we did was shitty. I didn¡¯t expect you to be¡­a person. I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    ¡°No human has ever apologized to me. Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Look, I have my own money. Not as much as Dad, and¡­not enough to buy Stephanie, but if you two want to come with me, I¡¯ll keep you safe. Natalie, no one should have to do what you did.¡±

    Mom turned back to the van and said, ¡°Stephanie, keep an eye on Yevgeny, I¡¯m going to say goodbye to Daniel.

    Ten minutes later, Stephanie slid behind the wheel and engaged the van¡¯s autopilot. In the back, Mom sat next to Yevgeny and watched him breathe.

    ¡°Mom? What just happened? I can¡¯t believe¡ª¡±

    ¡°Daniel fetched the first aid kit that might have saved Yevgeny¡¯s life. All I did was say thanks, the best way I know. Besides, it was the only time I¡¯ve ever done it of my own free will.¡±

    Not knowing what the Smiths might do, they stopped at the motel, and Mom checked them out.

    Stephanie and her mother took turns sitting behind the steering wheel while the van drove itself home. Outside of St Louis, Yevgeny woke, and Mom filled him in until he drifted off again. Near Indianapolis, Yevgeny woke again and insisted they turn around. He wanted to murder Mr. Smith. It took Mom a lot of patient words to change his mind. Never had Stephanie seen this type of interaction between her parents. In an odd and very dysfunctional fashion, they reminded her of Jason¡¯s parents. Oh, my goodness, Jason!

    He had to be frantic. Alfred¡¯s cameras always worked, and Jason had to know when they left on this trip. Worrying about him made it easy to tune out her parents. Their conversation had become, in an odd way, sappy. She really didn¡¯t need to know their pet names.

    At a rest stop outside of Columbus, Stephanie slipped away from her parents. A public internet terminal gave her an idea. Opening the email client, she sent a message to their shared inbox.

    Mom glared at her when she slipped back behind Yevgeny.

    Back home, Mom carried Yevgeny upstairs and put him to bed. Stephanie carried the bags inside and needing to unwind, put the tea kettle on the stove. Later, Mom, with her hair in a towel and wearing a pink kimono, joined her.

    Stephanie poured a cup of tea and passed it across the table. ¡°How do you do it, Mom? You¡¯re like Superwoman.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Mom said with superhero-like bombast, ¡°if you can avoid tripping over your cape, the rest is easy.¡± She sipped the tea, and her eyes popped open. ¡°What did you do to this?¡±

    ¡°Like it?¡±

    ¡°I love it! Mmm, it¡¯s so bitter, it''s wonderful.¡±

    ¡°I added a dash of Yevgeny''s aromatic bitters.¡±

    After taking another appreciative sip, Mom set her cup down. ¡°Speaking of heroics, you¡¯ve done me proud, daughter.¡±

    Thinking Mom meant her knocking out Mr. Smith, she replied. ¡°It¡¯s not like I had a choice.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t downplay how well you kept calm." She saluted Stephanie with her teacup. "Now, to the important item. Do you still miss Jason?¡±

    ¡°I do,¡± she felt a goofy smile sneak out. ¡°I miss him a lot.¡±

    ¡°I thought so. Hold still, I still need to check you out.¡± Mom leaned forward and held the palm of her hand against Stephanie¡¯s forehead. After a few seconds, she frowned.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mom?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t feel any warmer than usual. I thought you said you missed Jason?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d be with him right now if not for¡­¡± Instead of finishing, she glanced upwards. Her point clear.

    ¡°But you''re not running a fever. Are you nauseous?¡±

    ¡°No, nothing like that.¡±

    ¡°Joint pain?¡±

    ¡°Nope!¡±

    Mom sat back and frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t get it. How is it you¡¯re missing Jason so much, yet not showing any symptoms?¡± Mom tapped an index finger to her lips and frowned. ¡°Could it be?¡± She leaned forward. ¡°Tell me, do you enjoy his company? When he smiles, how do you feel?¡±

    ¡°Of course, I do. And when Jay smiles at me,¡± Stephanie grinned again, ¡°All I want is him.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have thought it possible. One of my daughters¡­¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Um, hmm. And when Jason kisses you? How do you feel?¡±

    ¡°Mom!¡± Stephanie felt her face heat up. ¡°Do I have to answer that?¡±

    ¡°Does it make you squirmy, like you want more, and that you don''t want it to stop?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°All that and no symptoms. Well, there¡¯s only one thing it can be.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Mom had her worried.

    ¡°Infatuation. You, little miss, aren¡¯t doing what you¡¯re supposed to be doing. What base is Romeo at?¡±

    ¡°Mom! I can¡¯t...that¡¯s embarrassing.¡±

    ¡°This is too important to screw up. When Pavlo took me home, he ran all the bases in one night. I never had time to experiment.¡±

    ¡°Jason and I are still at first base.¡± That wasn¡¯t exactly true. Jason regularly got to second base. If the tingles got too distracting, she¡¯d push his hands away.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not enough. You and Romeo need to take it up a notch. Think steamy, but don¡¯t let it get to a monsoon.¡±

 Chapter Seven

    <blockquote>

    In the News Today: Deep in the Australian outback, rescue workers reached the crash site of the Flat Earth Society¡¯s rocket. There were no survivors.

    </blockquote>

    The sudden knock on his bedroom door startled Jason out of his funk.

    ¡°All right, Mr. End of the World,¡± his mother said. ¡°You¡¯ve sulked in your room long enough. It¡¯s time to get over it.¡±

    Keeping his head down, Jason replied, ¡°It¡¯s not sulking. It¡¯s depression.¡±

    Seconds of silence passed before Mom sighed, then his mattress huffed as she sat. ¡°She¡¯s been away for what, three days. It¡¯s not the end of the world.¡±

    ¡°I did something dumb and screwed it all up.¡±

    ¡°Jason Todd Thomas, did you do something to Stephanie? I swear, if you¡ª¡±

    Alarmed, Jason spun his chair around. He said, ¡°No, mom, I¡¯d never do anything like that.¡±

    Mom crossed her arms. Agitated, her right foot tapped the floor. ¡°Then what?¡±

    ¡°I told her I love her, and¡­and she told me she didn¡¯t feel the same.¡± The last half of his sentence came in a rush.

    Mom¡¯s expression relaxed. ¡°Jason, you are very much your father¡¯s son. Both of you are clueless when it comes to women.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± A faint stirring of hope colored his words. Mom used to be a girl.

    ¡°Any dummy could take one look at her and know she¡¯s crazy about you.¡±

    ¡°But¡ª¡±

    ¡°But nothing! She¡¯s sixteen, Jason. How many boyfriends has she had? Being in love isn¡¯t something everyone instantly recognizes. Give the poor girl time.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I, ah, I didn¡¯t think of that.¡±

    ¡°Like I said, you are your father¡¯s son.¡±

    ¡°What should I do?¡±

    ¡°Keep yourself busy. The grass needs cut, and my van needs vacuumed out and washed. If you keep busy, you won¡¯t have time to mope.¡±

    Trust a parent to use chores as problem solvers. ¡°I meant about Stephanie.¡±

    ¡°Be patient.¡± Mom strode to the door. ¡°Meet me in the kitchen and I¡¯ll find something for you to do.¡±

    Both parents got in on the fun. Dad mentioned the long overdue garage cleaning. Jason cleaned cars, cut grass, trimmed bushes, and painted the ceiling in the guest room. Mom said he¡¯d paint the rest of the room after she picked out the color scheme. The busy work kept him from worrying.

    Around two PM on the second day of Jason¡¯s chore-a-thon, Alfred provided a timely interruption. ¡°Master Jason? You have a text message from Miss Stephanie. It is on your tablet.¡±

    Jason sprinted upstairs. In the center of the screen, a small text box had opened. In it a short message. ¡°I¡¯m almost home. Miss you. Steph.¡±

    He read the message three times before he took another breath.

    Mom found him sitting on the family room couch, game controller in hand, while the title screen of a go-kart racing game looped on the video display. He didn¡¯t notice her presence until her hand pressed against his forehead.

    ¡°Hmm,¡± Mom said, ¡°you don¡¯t have a fever.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve been sitting down here for over an hour, with that game music blaring. What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s coming home.¡±

    ¡°Who? Oh,¡± Mom¡¯s eyes twinkled when she understood. ¡°You¡¯ve heard from Stephanie.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s coming home.¡±

    ¡°Well, of course, she¡¯s coming home. I swear, Jason, she has you wrapped around her little finger.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Hello, Miss Stephanie.¡±

    Stephanie hadn¡¯t even made it to the Thomas¡¯ deck before Alfred detected her. She¡¯d hoped to surprise Jason and had forgotten about their AI. Maybe there was still a chance? ¡°Alfred, does Jason know I¡¯m here?¡±

    ¡°No, Miss Stephanie.¡±

    ¡°Can you keep it a secret? I want to surprise him.¡±

    ¡°One moment, and I¡¯ll check.¡± Hardly any time passed before Alfred spoke again. ¡°It¡¯s not a problem. However, Mrs. Thomas wishes a word with you first.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Alfred.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re quite welcome.¡±

    The back door swung open, and Jason¡¯s mother stood in the doorway.

    They took seats at the kitchen table. Mrs. Thomas frowned and said, ¡°I need to apologize¡­¡±

    What was it with humans apologizing suddenly? First, Daniel and now, Mrs. Thomas.

    ¡°¡­because I poked my nose into you and Jason¡¯s business.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s fine, Mrs. Thomas.¡±

    ¡°Well, the other day, Jason was upset because he confessed feelings for you that you didn¡¯t return. Not that there¡¯s anything wrong with that. Not in the least. You are your own woman and free to make whatever decisions you want.¡±

    Stephanie blinked. ¡°Jason surprised me, and I didn¡¯t handle it very well. The thing is, I do care for him, just as much, and I¡¯ll tell him today.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s wonderful. No relationship is easy, and I¡¯m thrilled how you two work at it. Now, the other thing I want to ask about is your father. I know he¡¯s a sore spot for you.

    ¡°That¡¯s putting it mildly.¡±

    ¡°I need to ask. Does your father abuse you or your mother?¡±

    Stephanie froze; she should have expected this.

    Mrs. Thomas noticed Stephanie¡¯s hesitation and reached across the table. ¡°You know Robert is a lawyer. If there¡¯s a problem, he can help.¡±

    Mentioning Jason¡¯s Dad served as all the trigger Stephanie needed. She took a deep halting breath. When she spoke, she looked straight into the older woman¡¯s eyes. ¡°Mrs. Thomas, my father isn¡¯t a nice man. He¡¯s easily angered and disrespects my mother and me. He¡¯s never hit me. The most positive thing I can say about him is that he¡¯s often not home. All that said, neither Mom nor I need Mr. Thomas¡¯s assistance.¡± The best way to lie was to tell the truth. That she could trust Mrs. Thomas was a certainty. But Mr. Thomas was another thing. One phone call from that self-righteous man could ruin everything. No matter how tempting it was to accept help from Mrs. Thomas, it was better to stay with the plan.

    ***

    On the afternoon of his eighth day without Stephanie, Jason found another AI-related subject, Distributed Processing. Instead of using a single, local CPU, an AI might use additional external CPU cores. Latency across a LAN was the limiting factor, but what if he could reduce the lag? Ideas flew through his head. He typed each into his notepad app.

    Engrossed in his studies, Jason never noticed the shadow on the floor outside his room. Nor did he hear the stealthy footsteps creeping up behind him. He almost dropped his tablet in surprise when its screen changed to a collage of images featuring Stephanie. One of the pictures featured them holding game controllers and sitting side-by-side on the family room couch. He recognized the scene, but there hadn¡¯t been anyone else in the room. Who took these pictures, and why did they show up on his tablet now?

    Warm hands pressed against his shoulders, and Stephanie said, ¡°Surprise!¡± a moment before she kissed his cheek. From the corner of his eye, he followed her gaze to his tablet. ¡°Wow,¡± she said, ¡°you missed me a lot.¡±

    ¡°I did.¡± Jason glanced up towards Alfred¡¯s camera. The little blue LED blinked off, then on, almost as if it winked.

    ¡°I think the best boyfriend in the world deserves a reward.¡±

    A reward? He stood, eager for a hug, but she took his hand and pulled him towards the bed. The reward potential skyrocketed.

    Stephanie pushed him down then crawled on top, one knee between his. From the hall outside his door, came the stomp of parental footsteps.

    By the time Mom made it to his open bedroom door, Jason had managed to sit up with both of his feet on the floor. In the same amount of time, Stephanie sat swiveling back and forth on his desk chair.

    ¡°Hey, you two,¡± Mom said, glancing around the room. If she noticed either teen''s breathless condition, she didn¡¯t mention it. ¡°Sorry to interrupt your reunion, but it¡¯s a beautiful day. I¡¯m going to change and get in the pool.¡± She smiled and turned away. Several seconds later, Mom¡¯s bedroom door clicked shut.

    Jason and Stephanie stared at each other, neither daring to comment on his mother¡¯s announcement. Jason smiled. ¡°I missed you a lot.¡±

    ¡°Me too, you,¡± They both grinned at her use of their little shortcut. Then she bit her lip and glanced to the side. ¡°We, ah, we need to talk.¡±

    ¡°Uh, oh,¡± he had a bad feeling about this. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®What¡¯s wrong?¡¯¡±

    ¡°Everyone knows a relationship¡¯s in trouble when the girl say¡¯s ¡®We need to talk.¡¯¡±

    Scowling, Stephanie shook her head. ¡°Where do you get these crazy rules?¡± He started to answer, but she waved him off. ¡°Never mind, we aren¡¯t having problems.¡± She gave him a sneaky grin. ¡°I decided to reinterpret my promise to Mom.¡±

    Whoa, this was big news. The possibilities made his heart pound. For a brief fraction of a second, Jason¡¯s sense of responsibility almost made him ask if she was sure. His long-suffering, self-interest stomped all over that idea.

    Not noticing Jason¡¯s distraction, she¡¯d continued speaking. ¡°¡­and that¡¯s what we need to talk about.¡±

    ¡°You know me, sweetheart, I¡¯m always eager to support your decisions.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s you, Mr. Eager,¡± Stephanie¡¯s grin grew wide.

    A footstep from down the hallway signaled his mother¡¯s return, so he changed the subject. ¡°Where did you guys go?¡±

    Of course, Steph understood why he changed the subject and went along with it. ¡°My father took us on a business trip.¡± Sighing, she added, ¡°It wasn¡¯t fun.¡±

    Once, for ¡°Take your kid to work day,¡± Dad took Jason to his office. It must have been as boring for Steph.

    A cough interrupted them. Mom stood in the doorway. She wore a robe over a stylish two-piece swimming suit. ¡°I¡¯ll be in the pool. Jason, remember the talk you had with your father.¡±

    After his mother started down the stairs, Stephanie whispered, ¡°What talk?¡±

    Jason grinned, what else could he do? Nodding towards his dresser, he whispered back, ¡°Top drawer.¡±

    Curious, Stephanie hopped up and opened the drawer, and froze. The box of condoms, still unopened, sat right in the front.

    ¡°Dad bought them for me a few weeks back. He and Mom think you¡¯re a saint, and I¡¯m a dirty-minded horndog.¡±

    Stephanie lifted out the package and spoke while reading the label. ¡°You are a dirty-minded horndog.¡±

    ¡°Says the girl with that little red skirt.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not going to let that go, are you?¡±

    ¡°No way.¡± He held up his thumb and index finger, a fraction of an inch apart. ¡°We were that close to doing it.¡±

    ¡°I wish we had,¡± she mused.

    ¡°Says the girl holding the condoms.¡±

    Stephanie turned and smiled. The intensity of her green eyes made Jason gulp. With that single glance, the temperature in the room skyrocketed. He said, ¡°Uh oh.¡±

    Her expression didn¡¯t change, but she strode towards him. The pleats of her cute skirt swayed with each step. Once she reached his bed, her stare softened. ¡°Seriously, Jay, you don¡¯t act like a guy who¡¯s about to have a wish come true.¡±

    ¡°Which wish?¡± he kept a hint of wariness in his voice. ¡°I have a bunch.¡±

    ¡°Horndog,¡± she accused, tossing the box up and then flubbing the catch. The box hit the bed, rolling once before stopping.

    You could cut the tension with a knife. Maybe I¡¯m not the only horndog? Jason held up a finger, and Steph cocked her head. ¡°Alfred?¡± he spoke in the direction of the room¡¯s pickup.

    ¡°Yes, Master Jason?¡±

    ¡°Privacy mode, please.¡±

    ¡°As you wish.¡± Alfred¡¯s blue presence LED shut off.

    Stephanie said, ¡°That¡¯s handy. I¡¯d wondered how you managed to¡­¡± those bright green eyes flicked down, then up, ¡°treat your insomnia.¡±

    Jason snickered. ¡°It only works in bedrooms and bathrooms, unless you¡¯re an adult or a guest.¡± He scooted back to the center of his bed. ¡°Come here,¡± he patted the spot between his thighs, ¡°let¡¯s ¡°talk¡± about your new plan.¡± All he expected was for her to call him a horndog again.

    But Stephanie surprised him. She pursed her lips as if considering his offer, then glanced down to his hands¡ªor was it to the front of his shorts? A hint of color spread across her cheeks, and scant seconds later, she scooted into his arms and leaned against his chest.

    Careful to keep his hands in the approved safe zones, he said, ¡°Tell me what changed your mind, and don¡¯t say, ¡°It¡¯s complicated.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not complicated.¡±

    ¡°Says the girl with complicated issues.¡±

    ¡°Do you want to hear this or not?¡±

    ¡°Says the girl¡ª¡± Stephanie turned and glowered. He got the message and apologized. ¡°Sorry.¡±

    ¡°Gene and Mom used to leave me home when they went on business trips. This time I had to go with them.¡±

    Thinking back to the other week, a memory that still helped him ¡°treat his insomnia,¡± he had an idea. ¡°I¡¯m not surprised. Your mom probably thought you¡¯d sneak one of her outfits and come looking for me.¡±

    Stephanie froze for a second, then nodded. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s it! Not the skirt exactly, but I bet you¡¯re right. Mom said she didn¡¯t know why Gene scheduled the trip when he did. I¡¯ll tell her later.¡±

    Once again, Stephanie managed to confuse him. ¡°I¡¯m, ah, glad I helped.¡±

    ¡°Well, the deal went bad for Gene. Mom and I had to help. The whole thing still stresses me out.¡± Steph slumped. ¡°All I want is for you to hold me¡­and tell me you love me.¡±

    ¡°Whoa, sure.¡± The last time the ¡°L¡± word came up, it hadn¡¯t ended the way he¡¯d hoped. Having Steph bring it up first gave him a jolt. Don¡¯t get too excited, horndog. Holding her was easy; all he did was tighten his arms a bit. Her shoulders were right there, so he kissed both sides of her neck. Careful to not hurt her ears, he kept his voice low. ¡°I love you, Stephanie.¡±

    Stephanie twisted around and kissed him back. ¡°I-I love you too.¡± Her words held a touch of wonder.

    ¡°Hey, wow, where did that come from?¡±

    ¡°On the trip I had lots of time to think. The longer we were gone, the more I missed you. This morning, Mom helped me sort. Then I saw those pictures and realized how bad you missed me, I knew I had to tell you.¡±

    What should one do when an AI did you a favor? ¡°This is wonderful.¡±

    ¡°Then there¡¯s my promise to Mom. All she wanted was to keep us from getting too involved, because it might hurt me later. But I don¡¯t care about that anymore. All I care about is you and me.¡±

    ¡°What are the new rules?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s more like wiggle room. We¡¯ll do more and see how it works out.¡±

    There had been one memorable wiggle, the first time they went swimming. More wiggles could only be good. ¡°Wiggle room,¡± Jason said, ¡°I like how that sounds.¡± He shifted his hands down and jiggled her hips.

    She didn¡¯t put up with more than two jiggles before completely spinning around to face him. With him sitting and her kneeling, he had to look up to watch her smirk.

    ¡°Horndog,¡± she said, just before pushing him onto his back. That dangerous look in her eyes was back. ¡°Show it to me,¡± she commanded.

    Hands trembling from excitement and not a little nervousness, Jason pushed the front of his shorts down.

    Stephanie grinned when it popped into view. ¡°Whew,¡± she said, relief plain in her voice, ¡°from the way that thing¡¯s been poking me, I thought it¡¯d be huge.¡±

    ¡°Hey,¡± he said, trying and failing to sound unbothered. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to say, ¡®It¡¯s bigger than you thought?¡¯¡±

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Her hand paused mid-reach. ¡°That was your dream, boyfriend, not mine.¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not small, it¡¯s a lot closer to average. I looked it up.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Jay.¡±

    ¡°And I¡¯m not done growing yet. I checked on that too.¡±

    ¡°Jay, believe me, I wouldn¡¯t want it any bigger.¡±

    ¡°You sure?¡±

    ¡°Cross my heart,¡± she crossed her heart, then reached out. One exceedingly warm finger touched him. It had never felt so stiff before. A second finger joined the first. Then her hand wrapped around him and squeezed.

    ¡°Ahh¡­.¡±

    Her eyes flicked up to his. ¡°You¡¯re not complaining, are you?¡± Jason just shook his head; he didn¡¯t dare move too much. ¡°Good,¡± She nodded and bent at the waist.

    The natural consequences of her degree or two higher body temperature became immediately apparent. Jason¡¯s concerns went from size to endurance.

    Minutes later, Stephanie sat back; one finger swiped a dribble from her chin then pushed it into her mouth. ¡°Mmmm,¡± she muttered, ¡°Mom wasn¡¯t kidding, that stuff¡¯s not bad.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Had he dozed off and misheard her?

    ¡°I said, ¡®Ask your mom to feed you more citrus.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Oh, okay,¡± heck, right now he¡¯d chew stones for her. If this were what Steph meant by wiggle room, he¡¯d take it. He had another thought: if she could do it to him, he could do the same to her. Another of his many, many fantasies was going to come true. He sat up and grinned.

    ¡°Jay,¡± Stephanie said, ¡°why are you looking at me like that?¡±

    Instead of answering, he leaned forward and kissed her. The kiss was pretty hot, literally. Stephanie¡¯s mouth was warmer than usual, go figure. There was something else, though, an unpleasant, bitter flavor. Realization kicked in, Oh, ick!

    Jason resisted the urge to scrub his tongue against the blanket. If she could deal with it, so could he. ¡°Lie back, sweetheart.¡±

    ¡°Um,¡± she said, sounding uncertain, but she didn¡¯t fuss.

    They kissed again; ready for it, he ignored the ¡°ick¡± flavor. Despite Stephanie¡¯s ¡°wiggle room,¡± he doubted she¡¯d go all the way. Still, there were a few things she might be interested in trying. Another of Dad''s favorite quotes came to mind. ¡°It¡¯s better to beg forgiveness than ask permission.¡± Without asking, he flipped Stephanie¡¯s skirt up to her waist.

    Two things happened. Steph''s knees rose and clamped together. At the same time, her hands pushed her skirt back down.

    ¡°Hey,¡± he said, ¡°that¡¯s cheating.¡±

    ¡°We can''t go all the way,¡± she said.

    ¡°I figured as much. Besides, I need a minute to recharge.¡±

    This caused her to chuckle. ¡°Oooh, I guess so. What do you want to do?¡±

    ¡°Sweetheart, I¡¯m a hungry guy, and you''re on the menu.¡±

    If anything, her cheeks grew redder¡ªshe knew exactly what he meant to do. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that, it¡¯s not necessary, and anyway, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea.¡±

    What is it with girls and complicated rules? ¡°You¡¯re not saying no, are you?¡± It was more of a statement than a question.

    ¡°No, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°But nothing.¡± It took a supreme effort to stay cool when his fingers hooked under the waistband of her bikini style underpants. Sliding them down, then up over her bent knees. He took a chance and lifted her ankles, folding her legs back before slipping those panties off. Stephanie¡¯s cheeks flared crimson with the exposure. There was no doubt his girlfriend was a natural redhead.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she said, interrupting his reverie.

    Embarrassed to be caught staring, he tore his eyes away. ¡°Nothing. It''s just¡ª¡± unable to think of the right words, he shrugged.

    ¡°You better not say it¡¯s bigger than you expected.¡±

    ¡°Oh, heck,¡± he snorted. The outrageousness took over, and his laughter bubbled out. Steph joined him a second later.

    ¡°Sweetheart, you¡¯re too much.¡± Reaching out, he touched her and marveled at the softness. Her gasp punctuated the intensity of the moment. If he thought her hands were warm, down here, she was on fire. ¡°This is perfect. You¡¯re perfect.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not perfect.¡±

    He settled into position while mentally reviewing the tutorials. If you wanted a girl to come back for seconds, you needed to get this part right. ¡°You¡¯re perfect for me, and that¡¯s enough.¡±

    It felt better knowing he wasn¡¯t the only person with a short fuse. Stephanie¡¯s enthusiastic response took him by surprise. Everything he¡¯d read said that girls took a lot longer than boys. Well, a real man satisfied his woman, and he¡¯d succeeded. Steph lay as if he¡¯d knocked her out. How gratifying was that? Sitting up, he pulled his shirt over his head and used it to wipe his face. Mental note: do laundry before Mom gets to it.

    Bare-chested, he shifted up to lay alongside his girlfriend. Without opening her eyes, Steph snuggled into his arms.

    ¡°You good, sweetheart?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Mmm, hmm,¡± she murmured and wiggled closer. Over at the edge of the bed, the unopened box taunted him. It lay within easy reach. Something told him, if he insisted, she wouldn¡¯t say no. But he¡¯d promised. Instead of reaching for the box, Jason hugged Stephanie tight. ¡°I love you, sweetheart.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± she whispered. ¡°I think it¡¯s what made me love you back.¡± She paused then spoke again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I tricked you.¡±

    What? ¡°When did you trick me?¡±

    ¡°When we first met. I cheated and made you like me.¡±

    The ego boosts kept rolling in. If anything, hearing the prettiest girl in the world admit she wanted him to like her, well, it nearly equaled the last thirty minutes. ¡°Great trick,¡± he whispered back. ¡°It worked. I mean, look at us now.¡±

    ¡°Yes, but you tricked me too. The biggest trick, though, is what we just did. It means you¡¯ll always be in my heart.¡±

    ¡°Me too, you.¡±

    ¡°Silly Jay, it doesn¡¯t work that way.¡±

    A few minutes later, Stephanie stretched. Her pale green eyes fluttered open. ¡°Did I fall asleep?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Maybe after we talked.¡± Jason¡¯s stomach growled. After cleaning up, they went to the kitchen for a snack.

    By the time Mom found them, they were downstairs playing with his game console.

    Later, after Dad arrived home, he took Mom out for dinner. ¡°You and Stephanie can fend for yourselves.¡± Jason didn¡¯t miss the extra stern stare.

    Jason kept it simple and ordered a Chinese food delivery. He and Stephanie shared spicy Szechwan Chicken and crispy pork egg rolls. She¡¯d never eaten anything like it. They took turns using the chopsticks to feed each other and ended up making a mess on the kitchen counter. After the cleanup, they snuck back upstairs.

    ***

    Several late-summer lightning bugs flitted about the Timms¡¯ back yard, each searching for a mate. Jason and Stephanie sat at the top of her porch steps, his back against a column. The girl he considered to be his life mate leaned against his chest. At this moment, life was exceptionally good.

    ¡°Did I really do okay?¡± he asked. Stephanie already said as much, several times. Each time she¡¯d answered, he felt ten feet tall¡ªanother life accomplishment in the bag.

    ¡°I think you like talking about it more than doing it.¡±

    ¡°Not exactly, but I loved making you happy. It felt so right. You¡¯re the girl for me.¡±

    ¡°Well, you were wonderful.¡±

    Across the yard, Jason¡¯s deck light came on; his parents notice to return home.

    ¡°Are you sure I can¡¯t come up and tuck you in?¡± he asked. The flat of his right palm slipped across Stephanie¡¯s tummy.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind, but mom would have kittens.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, my parents too.¡± Jason sighed. ¡°If we were older and I had my own place, would you move in with me?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a big if, but if I could, I¡¯d move in and stay with you forever.¡±

    Without speaking, because they both knew the drill, Jason walked Stephanie to the door and kissed her good night.

    They stayed up late, sending silly text messages back and forth. Around midnight, Stephanie signed off. Her last message was a short video, a selfie of her lying in bed, barely wearing his Slayer T-shirt, and blowing him a kiss. Jason copied the image to his private cloud storage.

    In the morning, bleary-eyed and dealing with an unusually sore tongue, Jason found his way to the kitchen for breakfast. He and Stephanie planned on swimming this afternoon. His mind was already replaying images of Steph in her green string bikini.

    Across the table, His father read the morning news on his tablet. They nodded to each other. Dad set his display down and said, ¡°Have you started on the garage yet?¡±

    Surprised, Jason failed to think of a reasonable excuse. He said, ¡°Sorry, I was busy yesterday.¡±

    ¡°Busy with your girlfriend, weren¡¯t you? Son, I understand, but you need to be more responsible. Today is Tuesday, have it finished by Friday or there will be repercussions.¡±

    ¡°I am so screwed,¡± Jason said.

    He stood at the open garage door, staring inside. Stacks of cardboard boxes, trash bags, and neoplas moving crates competed for space with the odd bit of unused furniture. From a parent¡¯s point of view, telling your teenaged son to ¡°Go forth and clean,¡± probably seemed like a reasonable idea. The reality for the teen was anything but reasonable. The enormity of the task threatened to overwhelm him. To compound his problem, Dad threatened repercussions if he failed to finish this by Friday.

    He¡¯d never experienced what his dad called repercussions. Knowing his father, they would be bad.

    Consumed by indecision, Jason didn¡¯t notice Stephanie until she pinched his butt.

    ¡°H-Hey!¡± Jason spun in place. Stephanie, her eyes full of mischief stood waiting for a kiss. He puckered up and kissed her. ¡°How come you can pinch me, but I can¡¯t pinch you?¡±

    ¡°I never said you couldn¡¯t pinch me. Just make sure you can handle the consequences.¡±

    ¡°Can we negotiate the consequences? I¡¯m already under the gun here.¡± He explained Dad¡¯s ultimatum.

    ¡°Lucky for you, I can help.¡±

    They got busy. Starting at the door, Stephanie surveyed the contents of each container. She¡¯d then point to a spot, and like a well-trained pack mule, Jason moved the stuff. Order began to arise from the chaos.

    Despite Stephanie¡¯s seriousness, she found plenty of opportunities to pat, prod, or pinch him. A few times, he managed to do the same with her. Most of the time, she¡¯d catch him reaching and dodge aside, redirecting him to another pile of ¡°stuff.¡± It worked out that each box or bag moved earned him another chance. After the first thirty minutes or so, he detected a pattern. A successful pinch earned him several consecutive misses, while she rewarded each nice touch with an easy follow-up.

    ¡°I feel like one of Pavlov¡¯s dogs,¡± he said and woofed. Stephanie waggled her eyebrows.

    While his girlfriend stood several feet inside the garage, Jason deposited another neoplas crate outside. The back door to his house opened. Purse in hand, Mom stepped outside. She moved with a purposeful, ¡°I¡¯m going shopping¡± stride. Of course, he expected she¡¯d stop at the garage to check their progress. Jason timed her approach, then turned and walked back into the garage, passing close to his playful girlfriend. As he expected, Stephanie took the bait.

    As Stephanie¡¯s hand pressed against his butt, Jason heard his mother speak ¡°I¡¯m going shop¡ª¡±

    The pressure from her hand vanished so fast it might never have existed. Stephanie squeaked, ¡°Good morning, Mrs. Thomas.¡± Jason turned around in time to see Stephanie facing his mother.

    ¡°Good morning, Stephanie,¡± his mother said, her eyes twinkling, ¡°it¡¯s nice to see you give Jason a hand.¡±

    Jason couldn¡¯t help it and burst out laughing. Both his mother and Stephanie glanced at him.

    Mom said, ¡°I''m going to the store, is there anything you need, Jason?"

    "I don''t think so."

    "Jason needs body wash and toothpaste," said Stephanie.

    Amused, Shirley asked, "Any particular type of body wash?"

    "Something light, he doesn¡¯t need anything strong."

    "I don''t know how Jason managed to survive without you, Stephanie. I''ll take care of it."

    After Mom drove away, Stephanie shifted to the full Displeased Girlfriend Glare. ¡°You rat, what if she sent me home?¡±

    ¡°Ha, Mom likes you. Heck, I think she likes you more than she likes me. She and Dad are all concerned about the terrible things I might do to you.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®might do?¡¯¡± Anyone else might fall for her ¡°hands-on-hips, offended girl¡± act. He, however, knew that pose was a sham.

    ¡°Well, I ¡®might do¡¯ it again, if you ask nicely,¡± he said.

    ¡°Like I should have to ask?¡±

    Jason stepped closer. ¡°No, you don¡¯t have to ask. While Mom¡¯s gone, let¡¯s take a break and get started on that long list of terrible things.¡± Instead of waiting for her reply, he took her hand and walked towards the old loveseat stashed against the wall. Without a word, she followed.

    ***

    Tapping her fingers on the steering wheel, Shirley Thomas sang along with another of her favorite oldies. ¡°¡­Come on to me, come on to me now¡­¡± The autopilot beeped to signal arrival, and she took control, steering the minivan into her driveway. Ahead, inside the garage, Jason carried a cardboard box and placed it where Stephanie directed. Shirley chuckled. Nothing wrong with the balance of power in their relationship.

    After parking and popping the hatch on her minivan, Shirley strolled into the garage to survey the progress. The teen¡¯s rumpled clothes and red faces painted a picture of diligent, hard work. "It looks like you two have been busy, you''re both red-faced. Maybe you should take a break?"

    ***

    Why can¡¯t Dad go digital? The unwieldy carton, filled with back issues of the Pennsylvania Lawyer magazine, slipped out of his grasp for the second time. Squatting to pick it up again, he glanced across the garage just in time to spy Stephanie bend over an open cardboard box. His eyes followed her legs until they disappeared under her skirt. She had to know he¡¯d look. The angle was perfect. Lots of leg showing and the goods were neatly hidden in shadow. Ever since she pushed their boundaries out, seeing those shadowed goods became a priority.

    The box was heavy. Jason should have used the two-wheeler. He took another peek, this time catching Stephanie checking to see if he¡¯d seen her. The color on her cheeks him told all he needed to know. With a renewed vigor, he hoisted the carton up and carried it out to the pile.

    "What''s this, Jay?" she called.

    ¡°One second, sweetheart.¡± The box joined a stack of similar boxes filling the center of his father¡¯s usual parking spot.

    ¡°Let me see,¡± he leaned over the box, the knuckles of his right-hand brushing across the back of Stephanie¡¯s thigh. Was it his imagination, or did she shiver? ¡°Oh, that¡¯s dad''s tent. He bought it for camping, but we never went."

    Her fingers slipped over his and squeezed, raising goosebumps on his arm. Stephanie said, "I''ve never been inside a tent. Can we set it up?¡±

    Jason helped himself to a second portion of Mom¡¯s key lime chicken. Across the table, his parents discussed having another after-dark, adult swim session. Anything involving his parents and darkness usually resulted in a happy mom in the morning, and waffles for breakfast. If he could leverage his parent¡¯s happy thoughts into permission for the tent, then he¡¯d make Stephanie happy. While a happy Stephanie didn¡¯t result in waffles, it did have other fringe benefits.

    Plans for their late date complete, his parents resumed eating. Now would be a good time. ¡°Excuse me, Dad,¡± Jason said, ¡°can Stephanie and I set up your tent?¡±

    "When will you finish the garage?" Dad had that cagey lawyer look in his eyes.

    "Everything¡¯s sorted. There''s a pile of your stuff left. Once you go through it, we''ll put the rest away."

    "I bet Stephanie helped." Dad held up a hand to prevent Jason from answering. "Son, if you ever manage to marry her, you''re going to have a wonderful life." Jason''s father, demonstrating wisdom, reached over and took Mom¡¯s hand. "Just like me."

    Dad turned to Mom. ¡°What do you think?¡±

    ¡°Jason can dig out the flower beds for me. Then install the frames. I want to get the bulbs in before too long.¡±

    ¡°Is that suitable, Jason? Build your mother¡¯s flower beds, and you can set up the tent.¡±

    Jason nodded.

    Satisfied, Dad nodded and changed the subject. "School starts up soon. What if you find a different girl, or if she finds another boyfriend?"

    "Steph is homeschooled. As for me, I can''t imagine finding a better girl."

    Dad shrugged. "I can''t either. It''s too bad her parents are always working. I¡¯d like to meet them."

    "Me too," Mom said, "They''ve raised an exceptional daughter."

    Unleashed on their tent project, they had it assembled in short order. Then Stephanie read the instructions. Under her guidance, they took it apart and reassembled the tent properly.

    The tent provided fresh air, cool shade, and a certain delicious measure of privacy. Stephanie lay on her stomach with her shirt pulled up to her shoulders. Jason sat next to her and ran his fingertips up and down her back.

    Sometimes, his fingers found their way under the waistband of her skirt. He never lingered too long or went too far, and Steph never seemed to notice. The flush on her neck, however, told him everything.

    "Mmmm...¡± she groaned. ¡°Your fingers make me squirmy."

    "I love touching you," Jason replied. He thought about reaching down and running a hand up the back of her legs.

    Stephanie noticed the rough edge to his voice. "What are you thinking?" her voice had a familiar playful lilt.

    Surprised by the question, he told her the truth. "I think I''m the luckiest guy in the world."

    Without any warning, Stephanie rolled onto her back and pulled Jason down to her. This far away from Alfred¡¯s pickups, they enjoyed a completely uninterrupted make-out session.

    Breathless, Stephanie asked, ¡°Do you think your parents would let us sleep out here tonight?¡±

    ¡°Just us, alone? No way. Dad gives me the ¡°you¡¯re old enough to make bad decisions¡± talk every couple of days.¡±

    ¡°What about the condoms?¡± She glared past him, towards his house. ¡°Not that we¡¯re going to use them, but why buy them for you, if you don¡¯t have a chance to use them?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s Mom and Dad''s insurance policy. In case I manage to trick Saint Stephanie into something naughty. Seriously though, Mom likes you, she¡¯d probably say, ¡®yes¡¯ if you ask.¡±

    ¡°Never mind, my mom wouldn¡¯t go for it anyway. Hmm, I have an idea: what if you ask about sleeping out without mentioning me?¡±

    ¡°Mom, Dad, do you think I can camp outside in the tent tonight?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t see why not. If you need anything, Alfred can let you in.¡±

    On his way out to the tent, Jason grabbed his tablet. He found a few other online tutorials to read.

    ***

    Out of the corner of her eye, Natalie kept an eye on her daughter. The girl had something on her mind. It had to be Romeo related. After all, according to Stephanie, the sun rose just to make him happy. Of late, unless Yevgeny was home, most conversations revolved around the young, Mr. Wonderful. In a way, her daughter¡¯s honest affection for the boy gave Natalie an odd feeling. She never had an opportunity to fall in love. If not for the ancient romantic comedies¡ªPretty Woman hit especially close to home¡ªshe wouldn¡¯t even know romantic love existed. After numerous, impossible to ignore sighs, Stephanie finally worked up the nerve to ask a question.

    ¡°Mom, can I visit Jason tonight?¡±

    Natalie glanced at the digital clock. ¡°Tonight? It¡¯s almost ten o clock. He¡¯s probably in bed.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s sleeping out in his tent tonight. I thought I could go and see him.¡± Anyone else, looking upon Stephanie, would see a proper young woman, a picture of innocent intent.

    Natalie knew her daughter as well as she knew herself. The thought of Stephanie alone in a tent with her equally smitten boyfriend sounded like a recipe for disaster. Natalie rolled her eyes, careful not to allow Stephanie to see. ¡°Absolutely not, little miss. We¡¯ve talked all about that.¡± Of course, they both understood the nature of ¡°that.¡±

    ¡°Mom,¡± (It still amazed Natalie how much anguish Stephanie could pack into a short, single-syllable word.) ¡°We just want to talk.¡±

    ¡°No way. I¡¯m sorry, sweetie. If things get out of hand, our plans are ruined.¡±

    Natalie had to give the girl credit. She didn¡¯t scream or put up a fuss. Instead, she replied with a calm voice.

    ¡°Okay, Mom, I guess I¡¯ll go to bed instead. Good night.¡±

    Natalie waited a bit before climbing the stairs herself and getting ready for bed. She might have made more noise than usual. After shutting off the master bedroom light, she crept downstairs to wait in the kitchen.

    She didn¡¯t have to wait long. Less than ten minutes later, Stephanie, barefoot and wearing a short cotton nightshirt, slipped into the kitchen and opened the security system panel. It hadn¡¯t occurred to Natalie that her daughter also knew how to hack the cameras.

    When Stephanie stepped to the back door, Natalie spoke, ¡°You¡¯re still going to meet Jason? Even though you know you shouldn¡¯t?¡±

    Stephanie stopped with one hand on the door handle. ¡°I love him, Momma.¡±

    Natalie sighed and stood. Even though this was a terrible idea, she knew her daughter believed her affections were real. ¡°I know you do. Tell me, daughter, what¡¯s it like loving Jason?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the best thing in the world. Jason makes my heart smile.¡±

    Natalie stepped close and hugged her youngest daughter. ¡°I¡¯m so happy for you.¡± She pulled back and met her daughter¡¯s eyes. ¡°I suppose after Kansas, you understand the risk.¡±

    ¡°I do.¡±

    Stephanie stepped back as Natalie opened the outside door. Without looking back, her daughter vanished into Jason¡¯s yard.

    ***

    As they had arranged, Jason left the tent''s door unzipped. Steph slipped under the flap and, after fumbling around, zipped it shut. She felt Jason stir next to her. With the door zipped shut, she sat and flicked on their battery-powered lantern.

    He said, "I didn''t think you''d come."

    "Mom didn''t want me to. She thinks we''ll do something we shouldn''t."

    In the dim light, Stephanie saw Jason''s grin. "Will we?" he asked.

    "Maybe. You know how I feel about you."

    "I feel the same about you, sweetheart."

    Stephanie dimmed the lantern and slid into Jason''s open sleeping bag. She caught one of his hands. "Kiss me, Jason."

    It was the cardinals that saved them.

    Jason woke from a deep sleep. Echoes of a dream lingered, although the details faded as he tried to pin them down. All that remained was a jumbled recollection of he and Steph making out, and¡­and a warm body stirred next to him.

    Opening his eyes, a mass of dark red hair shared his pillow. He reached out, and less than an inch of space separated them. His hand found Stephanie¡¯s waist and bunched up nightshirt, lower down her bare hip.

    He and Stephanie had a plan. She¡¯d slip back into her house before morning. But things got intense, and certain boundaries became fuzzier. Not that anything too serious happened, he¡¯d remember if it had. If that happened, he¡¯d better remember.

    Last night¡¯s fuzzy boundaries and Stephanie¡¯s warmth tempted him to freshen his memories. Instead, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled their bodies together, big spoon to little spoon. She stirred again and shifted a hand to cover his. He marveled at how well they fit together.

    From the tree above the tent, the bright, two-part trill of a cardinal announced a new day.

    ¡°Jason,¡± said Stephanie, ¡°did we fall asleep?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I think so.¡±

    ¡°Let me up. I need to go home.¡±

    Before letting go, he hugged her. ¡°I love you, sweetheart.¡±

    Stephanie rolled over to face him, one of her legs nudged its way between his. The implicit intimacy reflected the new fuzzier boundaries. ¡°I love you too, Jay.¡± Stretching, she kissed his cheek. Her eyes sparkled, ¡°I¡¯d kiss you, but morning breath.¡±

    Considering the new ¡°things¡± they¡¯d both learned to deal with, morning breath came in third or fourth place. ¡°It won¡¯t bother me.¡±

    ¡°I meant yours, boyfriend.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s low.¡±

    Her lips pressed against his then opened in a kiss as deep as any from the previous night. Except for the beat of his heart, everything else slowed.

    The happy cardinal trilled again. Regretfully, Jason and Stephanie pulled away from each other. He said, ¡°Now I know why sleeping together is so dangerous. It¡¯s the waking up part. I¡¯m going to take a long, cold shower.¡±

    ¡°Me too,¡± she said.

    Slowly, because neither of them wanted this moment to end, they sat up. Jason unzipped the door and checked outside. Except for the porch light, all the lights in his house remained off. ¡°It¡¯s clear,¡± he said, then crawled out and held the flap. Stephanie followed and stood, straightening her nightshirt.

    ¡°I¡¯ll walk you to the gate.¡± Hand in hand, they walked through the dew-wet grass.

    ***

    Shirley Thomas opened the bedroom curtains. From the bathroom, Alfred recited the morning news brief while Robert shaved. This new house, with its state-of-the-art amenities, had grown on her. She loved the house and the yard. If the above ground pool continued to see use, they might upgrade to an in-ground pool. Her eyes tracked over to the tent and the pair of footprints leading away through the grass.

    Uh, oh, ¡°Robbie, you may want to see this.¡±

    Alfred¡¯s news brief cut off, and Robert called back. ¡°That implies I may not want to see whatever it is.¡±

    ¡°Your son had company last night.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right. I don¡¯t want to see it.¡±

    ¡°Get over here, ¡®Dad.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Hmm, oh,¡± his head turned as he followed the tracks. ¡°They almost got away with it. What do you want to do?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll talk to Jason and make sure he¡¯s acting responsibly. I may talk to Stephanie¡¯s mother. It¡¯s past time we met.¡±

 Chapter Eight

    <blockquote>

    In the News Today: A peaceful community on the outskirts of Wichita, Kansas struggles to understand an apparent random murder and arson.

    </blockquote>

    Clusters of faceless men sat at tables scattered around a room. Well dressed and arrogant, they drank with a purpose, tossing back their whiskeys and gesturing for more. Most of them were older, with neat manicures and well-groomed steel-gray hair. A few were young; their eyes hot with lust and jealousy.

    Stephanie and her mother, wearing identical skimpy outfits, rushed about the room serving drinks. As she passed amongst the men, hands snatched at her legs or pinched her butt. One of the balding men gestured, and Steph bent to listen. He mumbled a question, but she couldn¡¯t make out the words. While she puzzled out his question, rough fingers slipped up her thigh.

    And Stephanie woke. The Wichita Dream, again. She hated it and the sleeplessness it brought. Sitting up, Stephanie rubbed her eyes and glanced at the clock. Ugh, midnight. Maybe J¡¯s still up?

    The Timms¡¯ didn¡¯t have a fancy AI like Alfred. Not because Gene was cheap, but because he thought it would spy on him. Instead of Alfred and voice commands, Steph had the wireless keyboard from the living room and her wall-mounted display. Hopefully, Mom forgot to close the firewall ports, and she wouldn¡¯t have to sneak downstairs to fiddle the security console.

    ¡°J, you up?¡± Each tap on the cheap membrane keyboard produced a faint rubbery thump. A minute passed without a reply, and Stephanie worried Jason might be asleep.

    ¡°¡¯Sup, sweetheart?¡±

    Stephanie released the breath she hadn¡¯t known she held. ¡°Bad dream, can¡¯t sleep.¡±

    ¡°Yuck, wish I could cu.¡±

    ¡°Me2.¡±

    ¡°I got an idea.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Open your window. I¡¯ll get a ladder.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re crazy!¡± He¡¯d do it, too.

    ¡°Yeah, ¡¯bout you.¡±

    ¡°Me2u. Won¡¯t work, windows wired, alarm.¡±

    ¡°¡¯Kay. I¡¯ll stay up, ¡¯till you fall asleep.¡±

    ¡°Goof, how will you know?¡±

    ¡°You snore rly loud.¡±

    ¡°Rat!¡±

    ¡°Love you.¡±

    ¡°Love you2, rat.¡±

    A sound from outside, it might have been a car door, woke her from another dream. Details of the dream faded, but it involved her and Jason and one of those things they¡¯d recently begun doing.

    Sitting up, she set the keyboard back on her night table and reached for her slippers. Darn it, where¡¯d that other slipper go? There it was half kicked under the bed. While fishing it out, Stephanie realized something was amiss. She looked around. What was it? Was it something she needed to do?

    Downstairs in the kitchen, Mom glanced up and smiled a ¡°good morning¡± around her mouthful of muesli.

    ¡°Morning.¡± Steph took a mug from the dishwasher. Maybe she¡¯d have toast and some of that new, bitter orange marmalade. Oh, yeah, there was that forgotten something she needed to do. She put bread in the toaster.

    ¡°Sweetie?¡± Mom said.

    ¡°Um?¡± This jam was awesome. Now, what was it she couldn¡¯t remember?

    ¡°Something bothering you?¡±

    Stephanie blinked; Mom didn¡¯t miss anything. ¡°There¡¯s something missing, or something I forgot to do, but I don¡¯t remember what.¡±

    ¡°Hmmm,¡± Mom stood and set her bowl on the sink. On her way back, she stopped and pressed her palm against Stephanie¡¯s forehead. ¡°You¡¯re a bit warm.¡± Moving to the side of the table, Mom pulled out the adjacent chair and sat. ¡°Sweetie, feel my head.¡±

    Stephanie felt the heat before her hand made contact. ¡°Mom, you¡¯re burning up.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s normal when I¡¯m in withdrawal.¡± She didn¡¯t add anything else.

    ¡°Oh,¡± then she got it. ¡°You think I got the bond?¡±

    ¡°Uh, huh. Close your eyes and think about Romeo. Imagine he¡¯s kissing you goodnight. Feel his arms around you.¡±

    Last night was easy to remember. Although, the exact memory wasn¡¯t one she¡¯d like her mother to know about. ¡°Okay,¡± she reported.

    ¡°Now, how do you feel?¡±

    A fog she hadn¡¯t noticed, lifted, and her thoughts cleared. ¡°Better.¡± The difference was more than she wanted to admit.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sweetie, but I think you got it now.¡±

    If she concentrated, Stephanie could feel the distraction settle into place when her thoughts drifted. For example, when she watched her mother steal a piece of her toast. The condition reversed in a snap once she focused on Jason. With a little practice, she could keep a memory of him tucked to the side. If this was just the beginning of the bond¡­what¡¯s it like for Mom?

    ¡°Do you have to think about Yevgeny all the time?¡± asked Stephanie.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Mom smiled, ¡°I¡¯m an old addict. Everything like that¡¯s second nature. Your addiction is in its early stages.¡±

    ¡°I guess it¡¯s a baby bond.¡±

    Mom almost choked on the bite of toast. ¡°Don¡¯t even think the word, baby.¡±

    After breakfast on school days, she and Mom cleaned the house. Busywork distracted them enough to cope. They spent the afternoons working their way through exercise programs. The type of exercise didn¡¯t matter. Sometimes they used martial arts training videos. Last week, they streamed an ancient video series called ¡°Aerobicise.¡± Mom laughed when Stephanie complained about its difficulty, then threatened to play something called P90X.

    Of course, Mom noticed Stephanie¡¯s increased symptoms. Instead of incriminations, she provided unwavering support. Most breakfast conversations revolved around post bond survival strategies.

    ¡°How much will I remember?¡±

    When her mother didn¡¯t answer right away, Stephanie grew concerned. Natalie lived with a lot of Yevgeny¡¯s muddled attempts at reprogramming her. Most of the time, the man¡¯s commands wore off within days, leaving Natalie with a vague unease that also wore off. Other times, Yevgeny misjudged Mom¡¯s period of susceptibility and issued orders she remembered.

    ¡°Looking back now, I remember growing up in Pavlo¡¯s household. His wife, Maryska, thought me her husband¡¯s bastard daughter. Their real children bullied me. Until I grew tall enough to fight back, then they learned to avoid me.¡± She took a sip of tea. ¡°But you want to know if you¡¯ll remember Jason?¡± Mom quirked an eyebrow, and Stephanie nodded. ¡°Our situations aren¡¯t the same. You have Romeo, and I have the twin monkeys, Pavlo and Yevgeny on my back.¡±

    Stephanie snickered; she had no problem imagining her father as a long-armed balding ape. No, maybe more of a balding baboon? Too bad only the girl baboons had red butts. Mom refilled their cups, and Stephanie realized her mother intended a serious discussion.

    ¡°If we don¡¯t take steps, sweetie, you¡¯ll forget about Jason for a long while.¡±

    ¡°What steps?¡±

    ¡°The steps we make up as we go. For instance, both of us insist we must stay in contact. Blame it on a lack of emotional stability. All men think women are unstable. We¡¯ll confirm it, and the men will chuckle and allow it. You and I can figure out a code so we can talk for real. When we pack your suitcase, we¡¯ll hide photographs of you and Jason. If possible, we¡¯ll even pack that horrible slayer shirt you never wash. You¡¯ll always have Jason tucked away somewhere. Then, when he¡¯s an established adult, with the means to keep you safe, I¡¯ll send him to you. You and he will run away and live happily ever after.

    ¡°But what if he forgets me?¡±

    Mom rolled her eyes. ¡°Do you think a human boy can forget you?¡±

    Steph closed her eyes and nodded. She¡¯d be gone for years; how could he remember her?

    Mom¡¯s extra warm hands brushed Steph¡¯s sleep-tangled hair back. ¡°Sweetie,¡± she said, ¡°if you¡¯re worried, give him something special to remember you by.¡±

    Something special? Steph¡¯s eyes popped open. Yes, she¡¯d write him a letter. Tell him everything she dared. Then make him promise to wait until his eighteenth birthday to open it. How to start? Dear Jason, No, too simple, how about¡­

    <blockquote>

    Dearest Jason,

    The months since I left must have been difficult for you. I hope that by now, you¡¯ve recovered enough to carry on with your life. Please don¡¯t forget me, as I am doing everything possible to remember you and our time together.

    </blockquote>

    Mom¡¯s voice interrupted Stephanie¡¯s thoughts. ¡°You know, sweetie, I¡¯ve read freshly worn panties are highly prized amongst human males.¡±

    ¡°Ew, Mom! Jason¡¯s not¡ª¡±

    ¡°Well, maybe not Romeo. After all, he¡¯s perfect.¡±

    ¡°He is!¡±

    ¡°You could ask him, you know, just in case. Wear an old pair for a day or two. Then offer them to him. I bet he¡¯d love them¡±

    Stephanie loved her mother, but sometimes¡­ick.

    Then Stephanie¡¯s father returned from another business trip. As usual, she kept to her room. Sneaking downstairs for food only when her parents were occupied. There must have been a lull in his business because he stayed for a full week. On the plus side, Yevgeny¡¯s longer stay completely reset her mother¡¯s bond. The morning her father left, Mom was so cheerful, they should have eaten waffles. But a week without Jason left Stephanie with a pounding headache. While Mom tweaked the security system, Steph told her about it.

    ¡°Well,¡± Mom said, ¡°if you¡¯ll recall, I tried to limit your exposure.¡±

    Steph knew about the ordeal Mom went through when Yevgeny made her his slave. It must have been awful. Mom hoped that a ¡°little addiction¡± might save Stephanie from the same ordeal.

    Of course, happy/chatty Mom continued to make her point. ¡°You, however, chose otherwise, and Romeo is now the happiest little Romeo ever. But because you know how the real addiction starts, you have not allowed him to return the favor more than once or twice. Am I right?¡±

    ¡°Pretty much.¡± The words peeped out. She hadn¡¯t expected her mother to figure everything out.

    ¡°And because you know we can¡¯t get addicted to ourselves; you take care of your own business. But you¡¯ve learned it only helps for a little while, right?¡±

    Stephanie couldn¡¯t answer. From the heat, her cheeks had to be flaming.

    ¡°Well, daughter, why do you think I take so many long, hot soaks?¡±

    Surprise made Stephanie glance up. Across the table, Mom matched her gaze. ¡°Really?¡± asked Stephanie.

    ¡°Really. You¡¯ll learn to draw it out and make it more intense. It won¡¯t be close to what Romeo could do for you, but it¡¯s what gets a girl through those long and lonely days.¡±

    With that revelation, they tidied the kitchen and set to cleaning the rest of the house.

    After today¡¯s exercise, Stephanie took a long, hot shower, and Mom helped her pick an outfit to wear. Even though her mother still harbored concerns about Jason, she took great pains to ensure Stephanie looked her best. ¡°After all,¡± Mom said, ¡°we want him to stay focused on you.¡±

    And it was rather nice when she caught Jason¡¯s eyes on her. Almost as pleasant as his touch. It felt ¡°right¡± to be the center of his attention.

    While Stephanie dressed, Mom returned to the day¡¯s post bond survival training. This session covered a worst-case scenario.

    ¡°So, our plan has failed. You¡¯re fully bonded to some rich old man, and Romeo is unavailable. There¡¯ll be a time you won¡¯t remember anything of your past. Your entire focus will be on whoever has bonded you. Then one day, you¡¯ll wake and remember bit and pieces. Even if you do nothing about it, those awake times will reoccur and last longer each time. Someday, you¡¯ll be like me and be awake most of the time.¡±

    ¡°What about when you and Yevgeny are¡­together?¡± Stephanie felt her cheeks heat with the question.

    ¡°Not then, never then. It¡¯s too overwhelming. And afterward ¡­do you remember what we talked about? How you¡¯re susceptible to suggestion?¡±

    ¡°I remember.¡±

    ¡°If I hadn¡¯t read the notes in Yevgeny¡¯s safe, I wouldn¡¯t know about it. Even now, I don¡¯t remember everything. Things feel wrong somehow. There¡¯s something still not right with my memories. I hope it all comes back someday.¡± Mom glanced at the wall-mounted video display. ¡°It¡¯s almost time to meet Romeo, run next door, and I¡¯ll go take a long hot soak.¡±

    ¡°Stephanie!¡± Mrs. Thomas smiled and held the door open. ¡°Don¡¯t you look cute today.¡±

    Since she and Mom were almost the same size, Stephanie had access to a lot of clothes, all of which set-off her pale skin and red hair. Today she wore a black watch tartan wrap skirt with a short-sleeved blouse and her usual sneakers. A cold front moved in last night. To block the wind, she¡¯d thrown on one of Jason¡¯s oxford shirts. Her mom chuckled each time she acquired another article of her boyfriend¡¯s clothes.

    ¡°My mom said I look like a schoolgirl.¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s appropriate, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. Can I help with anything?¡± A basket of green apples sat next to an assortment of baking supplies.

    ¡°You¡¯re just in time to learn how to make apple crisp.¡±

    ¡°Miss Stephanie?¡± Alfred announced from an overhead speaker. ¡°Master Jason is in view.¡±

    Mrs. Thomas smiled and reached for the bowl of crumbles. ¡°Give me the bowl and go meet your beau.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Thomas!¡± Stephanie untied her apron and slipped into Jason¡¯s shirt. As she opened the back door, the older woman spoke.

    ¡°I hope my son knows how lucky he is.¡±

    Pausing, Stephanie turned back. ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Thomas, but I¡¯m lucky to have him.¡±

    ***

    Jason both loved and hated pep-rallies. Sure, he got excused from social studies¡ªthe worst class to have at the end of the day¡ªbut stuffing the participating students into the gym was a terrible thing to do. The ¡°Sports Arena¡± already smelled like unwashed socks. Combine that with a couple hundred kids wearing those dirty socks.

    The only bright part at the pep rally was hearing other students refer to Connor O¡¯Sullivan as ¡°Raptor.¡± As a new student to North Allegheny, he didn¡¯t have any baggage. The bullies and jocks didn¡¯t know if Jason was a big fish or a little fish. The testing began his second week. A football jock, Connor O¡¯Sullivan, the self-declared ¡°greatest wide receiver of all time,¡± elbowed Jason on his way out of the locker room. Jason knew the drill and pushed back.

    Their relationship had gone downhill since. Connor continued pushing, and Jason continued to push back. Disliking bullies, Jason thought to teach the larger kid a lesson. At lunch with a group of math nerds, they discussed the North Allegheny Tigers football team. Jason referred to Connor as ¡°Raptor.¡± At face value, it sounded like a compliment. After all, raptors were well-known prehistoric carnivores. Then came the next football game, a loss, in which Connor missed several key passes, and the true meaning of Raptor became known. Raptors with their little arms couldn¡¯t catch. The nickname stuck and grew in popularity. The pep-rally had its intended effect, and Jason left school in a fine mood.

    Stepping off the school bus, the best part of his day lay ahead. That is, if Steph¡¯s father hadn¡¯t come home again. He took a bare half-dozen steps onto his parents¡¯ driveway when Stephanie stepped into view.

    She smiled and waiting until he closed the distance. When he was only a step or two away, she said, ¡°I used to be an adventurer like you. Then I took an arrow in the knee.¡± They¡¯d recently started playing a cooperative role-playing game. Jason was the knight in shining armor, and Stephanie a beautiful and mysterious mage. She was always quick with a fireball or a healing spell. Although he got the impression, she¡¯d be happier if they reversed the roles.

    ¡°Let me guess,¡± he said, ¡°someone stole your sweet roll?¡±

    Laughing at the corny game dialog, they closed the distance. Jason caught Stephanie up and spun her around. He held the best girl in the world in his arms, and everything was perfect.

    She held his arm while the walked towards the back of his house. ¡°I missed you,¡± he said.

    ¡°I missed you more,¡± she said and pulled him down for another kiss. ¡°You don¡¯t know how good you feel.¡±

    It took a few seconds before Jason felt steady enough to continue walking. ¡°If Gene,¡± it still felt odd referring to her father by his first name, ¡°wasn¡¯t a jerk, you could go to school with me. I¡¯d walk you to your classes, and we¡¯d sneak kisses along the way.¡±

    ¡°In school? Kids kiss in school?¡±

    ¡°They do all kinds of stuff, all over the place.¡±

    ¡°And you do what? Ignore it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s creepy to stare. So, yeah, ignore it and keep walking.¡±

    Inside the kitchen, something besides Stephanie smelled great. Mom had something in the oven. While tempted to check and see what it was, sneaking downstairs with Steph seemed a better idea. Mom¡¯s sudden appearance in the hallway door forced a change of plans.

    ¡°Hey, you two,¡± Mom said, clearly knowing his intentions, ¡°no necking until after the homework is finished.¡±

    Jason sighed a heavy teen sigh. It wasn¡¯t fair that Mom could read his mind. Together, he and Steph settled down at the kitchen table.

    ***

    Stephanie picked up his Algebra 2 textbook. To her left, Jason rooted through his backpack and muttered about a missing mechanical pencil. She flipped the textbook open, and an envelope spilled out.

    An envelope for homework assignments was something new. Usually, Jason folded the assignment sheet in half and stuffed it between the pages. Whatever, she opened the flap, and that¡¯s when her world went sideways.

    The envelope contained a single, folded sheet of paper. The instant Stephanie unfolded the single page, a velvety, musky scent with hints of vanilla wafted out. A part of her brain recognized it as the spoor of a rival.

    Jason, I know we don¡¯t talk much, but you make me laugh. The weekend after next is a Girl¡¯s Choice dance, and I choose you. What do you say, wanna kick it?

    Caitlin

    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Something was wrong with the paper, the more she re-read the words, the blurrier the letters became.

    ¡°Stephanie,¡± Mrs. Thomas asked, her voice soft, ¡°is something wrong?¡±

    Jason brandished his pencil. ¡°Found it!¡± His mother¡¯s question sunk in, and he craned his neck, trying to read the note.

    At the last second, Stephanie decided she didn¡¯t want Jason to read it. Her hands moved with unthinking precision, folding the paper, and returning it to the envelope. She kept the envelope pinched between index finger and thumb.

    ¡°Stephanie?¡± Mrs. Thomas now stood in front of her and handed her a tissue.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m fine, Mrs. Thomas,¡± she took the tissue and dabbed her eyes. The lack of emotion in her voice surprising. ¡°Some girl named Caitlin invited Jason to a ¡®Girl¡¯s Choice¡¯ dance next Saturday.¡±

    ¡°No way!¡± Jason asserted.

    ¡°What did you do, Jason?¡± Mrs. Thomas demanded.

    ¡°Nothing!¡± he shouted. A hint of anger made his voice harsh.

    ¡°I swear if you hurt Stephanie¡­.¡±

    ¡°I¡­I hardly talk to Cait, I didn¡¯t know she liked me.¡± He swiveled in his seat. ¡°Steph, you gotta believe me.¡±

    Stephanie thought she should have felt angry, but all she felt was numb. Even her bond remained mute. Something about the note bugged her, whatever it was, tickled at the edges of her thoughts. The perfume! Something about the perfume¡¯s scent. Then she had it. With understanding came peace. Her hand stopped flipping the envelope back and forth. ¡°I believe you,¡± she said.

    Jason breathed out a huge sigh.

    Mrs. Thomas plucked the envelope from Stephanie¡¯s hand and read the note for herself. For the first time, Stephanie saw Jason¡¯s mother as a peer. A boy from her past must have hurt her. ¡°How can you be so sure?¡± Mrs. Thomas returned the note.

    Smiling, Steph lifted Jason¡¯s right hand. ¡°When I kissed him before, he didn¡¯t smell like the invitation.¡±

    ¡°Oh, now that¡¯s smart. Jason, make sure you tell that girl you¡¯re already taken.¡±

    ***

    The next morning at school, instead of heading directly to his locker, Jason made a detour. He found Caitlin and her friend Elise in the library. Both girls glanced up when he stopped at their table.

    The girls exchanged a look before Elise stood. ¡°I¡¯ll catch up with you later.¡± She gave Jason a knowing smile and left.

    Jason took Elise¡¯s chair and sat. ¡°I got your invitation,¡± he said.

    At first, Caitlin seemed to have a hard time looking away from her textbook. Then her vivid blue eyes searched his face, but after she failed to see acceptance, they dropped back down. She said, ¡°Thank you for telling me ¡®no¡¯¡ªface to face.¡±

    ¡°Hey, if I didn¡¯t already have a girlfriend, I¡¯d have accepted.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Caitlin¡¯s blue eyes met his again, and this time, she smiled. ¡°Not many guys like gingers.¡±

    ¡°My girlfriend¡¯s hair is a little darker red than yours. She also has freckles, and I think she¡¯s beautiful.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s lucky.¡±

    ¡°Maybe, but I¡¯m way luckier.¡± Jason pushed back his chair and stood. ¡°See you later in algebra.¡± On his way out, Elise passed him, headed back into the library.

    ***

    ¡°Mom, two weekends from now, if Yevgeny isn¡¯t here, I¡¯m going to a dance with Jason.¡±

    ¡°A dance?¡± Mom glanced up from her book.

    ¡°Yes, at his school, Saturday night, week after next.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not! You know the rules. What if Yevgeny called for you or came home?¡±

    ¡°Then he grounds me for real. It¡¯s not like it¡¯ll make any difference, I¡¯m already as addicted to Jason as possible without¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yes, well, let¡¯s not go there. You don¡¯t want to go through what I did.¡± Mom sighed and stood. She set the teapot on the stove and fiddled in the cupboard for her tea. Knowing this was part of Mom¡¯s decision-making process, Stephanie remained silent. The water came to a boil, a loaded tea ball was plopped into the pot, and Mom brought everything to the table. ¡°A real high-school dance. Like in the movies?¡±

    ¡°Uh, huh,¡± Stephanie accepted a cup. The aroma of lemongrass and grapefruit filled the room. She liked this fragrance a lot better than musk.

    ¡°Do you know what to wear?¡±

    ¡°Mrs. Thomas said a cocktail dress.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­you know, I may have something you could borrow¡­¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Mom.¡± Mother and Daughter sipped their tea. A few minutes passed before Stephanie remembered something else. ¡°Mom, it¡¯s not going to be much longer, is it?¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so," Mom grimaced and studied the depths of her tea. "Yevgeny¡¯s callers ask about an auction.¡±

    The next day Stephanie met Jason after school and walked him inside. They sat at the kitchen table. No one mentioned the invitation.

    ¡°In algebra today, we covered polynomial division.¡± Jason flipped to the marked page of his textbook. ¡°It¡¯s pretty cool¡­¡± His voice trailed off when he realized Stephanie was giving him ¡°the look.¡± ¡°What?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Did you tell her?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± he sat back and crossed his arms. ¡°Caitlin already expected me to say no. It seems some guys don¡¯t like redheads.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± she asked, wrapping a lock of auburn hair around a finger.

    ¡°Something about their cooties, I think. Either that or they steal souls.¡±

    Stephanie grinned. She and Jason had browsed pages of memes. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried about yours?¡±

    ¡°My cooties and your cooties have mingled too long to have problems now. As for my soul,¡± Jason picked up Stephanie¡¯s closest hand and kissed her palm, ¡°it¡¯s in good hands.¡±

    When the tingles diminished enough for speech, she took a breath and asked a question. ¡°So, the dance, when are you picking me up?¡±

    ¡°Um¡­what?¡±

    ¡°The dance, it¡¯s Girls Choice, and I choose you. When are you picking me up?¡±

    ***

    ¡°So, Stephanie¡¯s still grounded?¡± Robert Thomas asked. He¡¯d knocked on Jason¡¯s doorframe before entering and sitting on his son¡¯s bed.

    Jason spun around on his chair. ¡°Yeah, just another day or two. We¡¯re still up for the dance.¡±

    ¡°Looking forward to it?¡± Dad had his odd, something¡¯s funny, smile going on.

    ¡°I think so.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I expected. Look, son, when it comes to women and fancy parties. If they want to go, smile, and say, ¡®Yes, dear.¡¯ Your girlfriend has something to prove, and she¡¯s going to look as good as possible. Your mother and I will do our best to ensure you don¡¯t embarrass her.¡±

    ¡°Okay?¡±

    ¡°So, we¡¯re going suit shopping. Stephanie can¡¯t go with us because her dad¡¯s home. I don¡¯t like how you two sneak around behind his back. The poor man¡¯s always on the road keeping a roof over his family¡¯s heads. He should have a say in how his daughters raised.¡±

    Not liking where his father was taking the one-sided conversation, Jason interrupted, ¡°Mr. Timms has his way when he¡¯s home. Steff¡¯s Mom has her way when he¡¯s gone. ¡®Sounds plenty fair to me.¡±

    Dad stopped grumbling and grinned. ¡°Well said, counselor.¡± At the bedroom door, they paused, ¡°Whatever career you choose, I¡¯ll be proud of you. However, if you choose to become a jurist, I think I¡¯d be especially proud.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Dad.¡±

    Dad paused and waved for Jason to lead the way. ¡°While we¡¯re out, you can buy something for Stephanie. Jewelry is appropriate.¡±

    ¡°What should I buy?¡±

    ¡°Never fear son, your mother will guide us.¡±

    ***

    An early frost preceded a beautiful western Pennsylvania, Indian Summer. Luckily for Stephanie, the warm evening meant a wrap would provide all the cover she needed.

    ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to wear some of my jewelry?¡± Mom picked an imaginary bit of lint from Stephanie¡¯s dress, then adjusted the drape of the wrap.

    ¡°Mrs. Thomas said Jason had something for me.¡±

    ¡°Oh dear, I hope it isn¡¯t an engagement ring.¡±

    Stephanie froze. The idea of an engagement ring had never occurred to her. Part of her wanted to run a victory lap. Another part wanted to hide. Yevgeny would murder everyone. ¡°I think he¡¯s too young for marriage.¡±

    ¡°Is he? Who knows how humans do things, anyway?¡± The bell for the back door chimed. ¡°He¡¯s here! Have fun, Sweetie.¡± Mom fussed with Stephanie¡¯s hair one last time and kissed her goodbye.

    A pang of uncertainty fluttered through her tummy. Neither Stephanie nor her mother had ever done anything like this. Not that Mom could, Yevgeny¡¯s orders kept her trapped on the property. At most, she sometimes managed to step outside and water the flowers.

    Determination brushed the flutters away again. Just this once, she¡¯d have a real date, like human girls did. Besides, she wanted everyone to know that Jason had a girlfriend. All this passed through her mind as she reached for the door and pulled it open.

    Jason stood there, other than his eyes popping open, he didn¡¯t move.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Freezing in place was not something Jason did.

    ¡°Nothing¡¯s wrong. Wow! Can you turn around, please?¡±

    The heat in Jason¡¯s eyes chased her worries away. Eager for more of his compliments, she spun in place. ¡°Satisfied?¡± It was a frequent joke between them.

    ¡°This isn''t fair. You are so beautiful. And hot. And I have to behave.¡±

    With her emotional stability restored, Stephanie stepped away from the door. It closed behind her, casting the porch into partial shadow. Jason¡¯s arms slipped around her waist. As she tilted her head up for his kiss, she said, ¡°We can still misbehave, just don¡¯t mess up my hair.¡±

    They posed for pictures in the Thomas¡¯s living room. Mr. Thomas stood tall, obviously proud of his son. What must it be like to be human and have a dad?

    For the hundredth time, she wondered what would happen if she confessed to Jason¡¯s parents. Mrs. Thomas would help. Of this, Stephanie was certain. Mr. Thomas¡¯s reaction was much harder to judge. If he stuck by the law, one phone call to the authorities and they''d deport her and her mother. Mom''s biggest fear was a return to Ukraine. Once there, the corrupt State Migration Service would alert her original owner, Pavlo, and that would be very, very bad. To avoid a messy public divorce, Pavlo agreed to ¡°get rid¡± his mistress. So long as Natali never returned, she and Pavlo¡¯s three daughters were safe.

    Before they took the pictures, Jason presented her with a small package wrapped in reflective foil paper.

    At his urging, she tore off the foil, revealing a velvet-covered box. Inside she found a necklace.

    The necklace was the most beautiful thing she¡¯d ever seen. Its simplicity lent it elegance. A rose gold outline of a heart suspended on a matching rose gold chain. Next to it, hung a smaller solid heart, engraved with a cursive ¡°S,¡± and inset with a small colorless gemstone.

    ¡°It¡¯s a diamond, your birthstone,¡± he told her.

    When he hung it around her neck, Jason whispered that someday he hoped to give her a larger diamond.

    And that¡¯s when she began to cry.

    Mrs. Thomas took her into the bathroom and helped her clean up. Her concern and curiosity were apparent, but she didn¡¯t pry.

    ***

    Robert Thomas winced as Jason and Stephanie left in his BMW. Sure, it had a full autopilot and would actively avoid an accident, but still. His son was growing up and had scored a knockout girlfriend. Hardly a day passed where he didn¡¯t expect a worried Jason to request a private meeting in the office.

    Not that he would mind Stephanie as a daughter-in-law, just not until Jason finished college.

    He turned and followed his wife. They¡¯d made plans of their own. An evening alone was nothing to squander. Upstairs, in the master bathroom, Robert reduced the temperature of the water filling their whirlpool tub. ¡°What¡¯s up with Stephanie? It¡¯s a nice enough necklace, but what made her cry?¡±

    ¡°Girls get emotional sometimes. A big event like tonight¡¯s dance can cause a lot of stress.¡± She leaned past her husband and increased the flow of hot water. ¡°It might even be hormonal.¡±

    As soon as Shirley stepped back to the sink, Robert reached for the tub controls. ¡°I hope it¡¯s hormonal.¡±

    Shirley frowned. ¡°Why is that? Oh, and, Robert, men who expect to get lucky don¡¯t mess with the hot water.¡±

    He held up both hands as if to demonstrate his innocence. Then smirked an impure smile. ¡°If Steffi¡¯s hormonal, then your son hasn¡¯t gotten her pregnant yet.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s terrible, and it isn¡¯t even biologically correct. Pregnant women can also have mood swings.¡± Shirley stepped into the tub. ¡°Besides, they haven¡¯t done it yet.¡±

    ¡°How do you know?¡± He slid into a corner and pulled his wife against him.

    ¡°I overheard them talking about it.¡±

    ¡°You just happened to overhear such a delicate discussion?¡±

    ¡°Yes, well, after the tent, I may have snooped a bit more than usual. As a concerned mother, it¡¯s my responsibility. Anyway, they fool around a bit, but Stephanie draws the line at intercourse. She promised her mother to wait. Our son won¡¯t pressure her. He said, and I quote, ¡®I can wait until it¡¯s the right time.¡¯¡±

    ***

    The enormity of tonight¡¯s adventure came back in full, right after Mr. Thomas¡¯s BMW dropped them off at the curb. Everywhere she looked stood something or someone new. The school buildings and the clusters of colorfully dressed kids competed for her attention. Couples of all combinations moved with purpose towards the sports arena entrance. Here and there, groups of kids hung out, like the gang of jersey-wearing football players ahead.

    Jason waited while she sorted it out. ¡°Kind of overwhelming, isn¡¯t it?¡± he asked.

    ¡°You¡¯re not kidding.¡± A deep breath helped to settle the flutters. ¡°Whatever you do, don¡¯t leave me alone.¡±

    ¡°Sweetheart, I don¡¯t ever plan on letting you go. Don¡¯t you know that by now?¡± With a smile, he extended his arm.

    As she and Jason approached, the group of football players openly ogled her. One boy, wearing number eighty-six, stood out. Instead of watching her, he stared at Jason. When eighty-six noticed her noticing him, the boy turned and conferred with a friend. Seconds later, the troupe of jocks huddled up.

    Stephanie tightened her grip on Jason¡¯s arm. ¡°Which football player is number eighty-six?¡±

    ¡°Only the greatest wide receiver of all time, Hines Ward.¡±

    ¡°Um, the wide receiver, isn¡¯t he the one who throws the football?¡±

    Jason¡¯s mouth opened, then closed. He stopped walking and turned to her with bright eyes. ¡°I almost fell for that,¡± he said. ¡°I am so proud of you.¡±

    Since learning of Jason¡¯s absolute passion for football, she¡¯d studied the game. He knew, she knew the difference between a wide receiver and a quarterback. ¡°I¡¯m not talking about ancient history, boyfriend.¡± She nodded towards the huddle, ¡°That one over there.¡±

    ¡°Oh, him,¡± they resumed walking, although at a slower pace. ¡°That is Connor O¡¯Sullivan. We call him Raptor. He¡¯s the self-proclaimed greatest receiver in North Allegheny history.¡±

    This time, Stephanie pulled Jason to a stop. ¡°Wait, why is he called Raptor?¡±

    ¡°Okay, so, picture a velociraptor. A totally vicious dinosaur with tiny little arms. They can run like heck, but they can¡¯t catch anything. That¡¯s our Raptor.¡±

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t think Raptor likes you.¡±

    Just then, the huddle broke. Two football players trotted off towards the gym entrance. The rest spread out to block the path. Connor stood in the middle of the group. His eyes fixed on Jason. ¡°Yo, Brainiac, my little sister says you¡¯re too good for her.¡±

    ¡°Get real, Connor,¡± Jason gestured towards Stephanie. ¡°I already have a girlfriend.¡±

    This boy disliked Jason. His eyes glowed with anticipated mayhem. A scuff of shoes to the rear caused her to spare a glance. Football jocks filled in behind them. Not for the first time, Stephanie regretted the promises she gave to her mother. If this turned into a fight, she couldn¡¯t do anything to stand out.

    Connor shifted his attention to her. The heat in his gaze reminded her of Daniel Smith. Remembering the Smiths put her in a bad place. Stephanie waited. She knew Connor wanted trouble.

    ¡°How much?¡± he asked.

    ¡°For what?¡± she replied politely. C¡¯mon Raptor, spit it out.

    ¡°For you. For the night.¡± His accompanying leer spoke volumes.

    Jason opened his mouth to retort, but Stephanie held up a hand, and he stopped.

    If Yevgeny hadn¡¯t taken her to Wichita. If her time with Jason wasn¡¯t soon ending. If she were a normal human with a normal life¡­if. Stephanie searched within herself and failed to find a shred of patience for another sexually aggressive human male.

    It was time to pay it forward.

    Stephanie pursed her lips as if she considered his question. Connor must have expected her immediate outrage because the boy¡¯s eyes widened a bit. Then with a chuckle, she lowered the boom. ¡°You can¡¯t afford me, but even if you could,¡± her eyes dropped to below his waist, before flicking back up, ¡°little boys don¡¯t interest me.¡± The two jocks bracketing Raptor guffawed.

    Without feeling any remorse, Stephanie joined in the laughter. Clearly, she bested him. He¡¯d withdraw any second now. Then she and Jason¡¯s date could resume.

    Instead, Connor reached for her arm, but his eyes stayed fixed on Jason.

    Jason reacted with surprising speed, slapping Connor¡¯s arm aside and stepping between her and the larger boy. Any second now, he¡¯d demonstrate his superior social skills, say something witty, and diffuse the situation.

    Connor glanced left as if something of interest lay in that direction. Stephanie saw it for the feint it was. Jason didn¡¯t and turned to look. Grinning with satisfaction, Connor swung a right hook at Jason¡¯s head.

    Time sped up, and everyone slowed. Mom once described this effect, warning her it only lasted a minute, and it carried significant side effects.

    Stephanie yanked Jason back, and Connor¡¯s meaty fist whooshed past. Connor¡¯s follow up, a left jab blurred in. Jason leaned right but moved too slowly. A well-executed hip-bump pushed him far enough to the side. Clothing rustled from behind, and one of Connor¡¯s cronies lunged to grapple Jason. Trying to make her movements appear unintentional, Stephanie half-stepped to the right and brought the heel of her shoe crashing down onto the blind-side attacker¡¯s instep. After the crunch, she called back, ¡°Oops, sorry.¡±

    Jason, while unskilled at fighting, was game. As Stephanie spun back, his fist flashed out and struck Connor¡¯s nose. A second later, a spray of blood bubbled out when he sunk a left into Raptor¡¯s gut.

    A gruff-voiced adult yelled, ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± An older man, with muscles long gone to fat, waded into the circle.

    Connor waved a bloody hand at Jason. ¡°Thomas started it, Coach.¡±

    Time returned to normal, and the first side effect, shakes, took hold.

    Coach surveyed the scene. Taking in¡ªStephanie hoped¡ªthe large group of football players arrayed against her and Jason. Then she realized this was their football coach. He¡¯d probably side with his team.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± the coach asked. ¡°I suppose Mr. Thomas decided to impress his date by attacking a half-dozen football players?¡± He turned to Jason. ¡°What do you have to say, Thomas?¡±

    ¡°Raptor insulted my date.¡±

    Connor snarled at the mention of his nickname. ¡°The hell with you, Thomas. I know you started that raptor shit.¡±

    The coach shook his head. ¡°We can¡¯t have fights here. Both of you will have to leave.¡±

    ¡°But¡ª¡± Jason began. Connor snickered. Ruining his rival¡¯s evening was a win.

    ¡°Coach Reinhold?¡± a soft female voice interjected. The man turned, and a stunning redhead stepped into view. This girl had more curves, and her gorgeous dress emphasized them well. She also had bright blue eyes, a wealth of freckles, and Stephanie instantly hated her.

    ¡°My brother started the fight. He bragged about doing something to Jason all day.¡±

    Even the girl''s voice was perfect.

    ¡°Caitlin, you bitch!¡± Connor glared at¡­his sister, Caitlin O¡¯Sullivan? Wheels began turning. The girl who asked Jason out was¡ª

    Coach Reinhold turned to Connor. ¡°We¡¯ll discuss this next week. Over the weekend, I¡¯ll consider your future with the team.¡± The coach grabbed Raptor¡¯s arm and hustled him towards the parking lot.

    Connor¡¯s sister turned to Jason, and Stephanie stepped out from behind him.

    ¡°Ah, ladies,¡± Jason said, his face pale. ¡°Stephanie Timms, meet Caitlin O¡¯Sullivan.¡± Caitlin held out her hand.

    At first, Stephanie didn¡¯t budge, then Jason nudged her with his elbow. ¡°Shake her hand,¡± he hissed and nodded towards Caitlin.

    A sudden irritation towards Jason spiked, and Stephanie gave him a look. It might have been harsher than she intended because he stepped back. Then, because she wasn¡¯t a bitch, Stephanie composed herself and turned to Connor¡¯s sister. ¡°Hi, Caitlin, I¡¯m Stephanie. It¡¯s nice to meet you.¡±

    Caitlin¡¯s intelligent blue eyes flicked between Stephanie and the hovering Jason. ¡°Stephanie, I don¡¯t poach boyfriends. When I invited Jason, I didn¡¯t know about you.¡± Caitlin smiled again and shrugged towards the entrance. ¡°We have a table inside. Sit with us and, Jason can explain why he didn¡¯t tell anyone he has a girlfriend.¡±

    On the way inside, her stomach growled. Uh-oh, the second side-effect. Mom warned her she¡¯d need to eat something right away. ¡°Uh, Jay, I¡¯ll go with Caitlin, can you get us some snacks, I¡¯m really hungry?¡±

    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll catch up in a minute.¡± He turned and headed for the refreshment stand.

    ¡°Why are you mad at Jason?¡± asked Caitlin.

    ¡°Because he didn¡¯t tell me how beautiful you are.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, but no boyfriend would do that. At least no smart boyfriend would.¡±

    ¡°Hmm,¡± she said, craning her neck to keep Jason in view, ¡°I¡¯ll make it up to him, it¡¯s not like I can stay away from him for long.¡±

    ¡°It sounds like he¡¯s got you hooked.¡±

    ¡°Well, yeah. Wait, you know about getting addicted to a guy?¡± Real girls didn''t have a loyalty gene, did they?

    ¡°Sure! Especially if he¡¯s cute enough and knows how to treat a girl. A boy like that can make you crazy.¡±

    Stephanie glanced back to see Jason on his way, his hands filled with drinks and junk food. Her stomach clenched, Jason caught her watching, and a smile lit his face. Then, just as fast, his smile faded, and his eyes became cautious.

    ¡°I got the snacks,¡± he held up a neoplas tray¡ªHotdogs, chips, and sugar-filled sodas. Just what a girl needed.

    Two hotdogs and a bag of chips later, Stephanie considered sending Jason back for dessert. She settled for finishing his soda instead. With her blood sugar on the rise, normality reasserted itself.

    Across the table, Caitlin and her friend Elise stared with something like awe.

    Leaning forward, Caitlin asked, ¡°Do you always eat like that? ¡¯cause if I did, I¡¯d be as big as a barn.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t gain weight,¡± Stephanie replied. ¡°I inherited my mom¡¯s metabolism.¡±

    ¡°No offense,¡± said Elise, ¡°but you are a lucky bitch.¡±

    Caitlin gave Elise a side-eye before turning back. ¡°Steph,¡± Cait asked, ¡°What did Connor say before the fight started?¡±

    ¡°He wanted to know how much a night with me would cost.¡±

    ¡°Oh, he¡¯s such a jerk! What did you tell him?¡±

    ¡°I told him he couldn¡¯t afford me.¡±

    Caitlin and Elise glanced at each other; mouths open in surprise. ¡°Ooh, I can¡¯t believe you said that.¡±

    ¡°Why not? It¡¯s true.¡± Stephanie looked from Elise to Caitlin. ¡°There isn¡¯t a boy here who could afford any of us.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± said Caitlin.

    The DJ announced a set of slow songs. Jason stood, looking hopeful, he held out his hand. ¡°Want to give it a try?¡±

    They hit the dance floor for every slow song. When the DJ announced a set of upbeat songs, Jason grabbed a bottle of water, and they found a couple of chairs.

    ¡°I wish,¡± Jason said while circling her knee with a fingertip, ¡°tonight went on forever.¡± Each swirl of his finger created an equal swirl of tingles.

    She scanned the room; the chaperones were busy breaking up another scuffle. ¡°Hey, can you show me what your school looks like?¡±

    The tussle provided enough distraction. Stephanie and Jason slipped out of the gymnasium. Hand in hand, they ran down a short hallway, then up a flight of stairs. He slowed once they made it to the second floor. Halfway down the hall, he stopped at a row of lockers.

    ¡°This is mine. I want to show how I make it through the day.¡± He thumbed the door open and stepped back. Inside, six of her pictures decorated the interior. ¡°Anytime I start to miss you; I come here.¡±

    With perfect timing, the third and final side effect from her adrenaline rush struck home. Stephanie had never been so certain of anything before. This perfect night deserved a perfect memory to highlight everything. Besides, she had a perfectly devilish idea. ¡°Is your math class around here?

    ¡°Yeah, down the hall.¡±

    ¡°Show me.¡±

    ¡°Jason?¡±

    ¡°Mmmm¡­¡±

    ¡°We need a bathroom, or I do, at least.¡±

    ¡°Oh, yeah, there¡¯s one down the hallway.¡± He stepped back from the desk and held out his hands. She took them, and he pulled her up into and his arms. With her bond sated, his embrace took on a new aspect, warm and exciting, but not at all overwhelming. Hand in hand, they left the room. Two doors away, he stopped and opened a door, but didn¡¯t follow when she entered. ¡°Aren¡¯t you coming in?¡± she asked.

    ¡°What? It¡¯s a girl¡¯s bathroom.¡±

    ¡°You promised to stay with me.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± he grumbled, ¡°but we better not get caught.¡±

    They both made use of the facilities. With the latest change in their relationship, the added familiarity came naturally enough. Even in the dim light, Jason¡¯s blush colored his cheeks.

    An exit door at the bottom of the stairs gave them a convenient path to the outside. A brief walk down the sidewalk took them back to the gym entrance. The teacher on guard gave them a raised eyebrow but said nothing.

    They rejoined Caitlin and Elise at their table.

    Smiling like the cat who ate the canary, Jason held a chair while Stephanie sat. He asked, ¡°If you¡¯re all right here, I¡¯ll get some water.

    ¡°And where have you two been?¡± Caitlin asked.

    ¡°We snuck into the school. Jason gave me a tour.¡±

    ¡°No doubt.¡± Caitlin rolled her eyes. ¡°Did he show you everything?¡±

    The double entendre didn¡¯t go unnoticed, and Stephanie wondered if Caitlin still harbored an interest in Jason. She answered in kind. ¡°He showed me everything I wanted. The tour left me completely satisfied.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Caitlin turned a speculative eye towards Jason at the far end of the basketball court. Then her brows narrowed. ¡°Where at?¡±

    Stephanie realized she liked Caitlin. In another world, they might be friends. But not here and now. Not with Jason between them. Speaking of her boyfriend, he returned with a water bottle. She stood and took his hand. Stephanie lowered her voice and answered Caitlin¡¯s question. ¡°Jason¡¯s math classroom, and we used your desk.¡± With that little detail taken care of, Stephanie caught up to her boyfriend, and pulled him onto the dance floor. She hadn''t felt this good in a long time.

    Later, winded and thirsty, they took another break. Steph and Jason returned to the table. Caitlin and Elise were off somewhere. "Jason, earlier, you fought Connor because he insulted me. Why?"

    Surprised at the intensity of her question, he replied. "Because you''re my girlfriend.¡±

    "My father never did anything to protect my mom."

    He said, "What happened to your mother?"

    "It¡­well, a while ago, someone did something mean to her, and Yevgeny just sat there and watched."

    "What a jerk. Maybe I should punch your dad."

    Once again, the intensity in his words bolstered her love for him. Jason meant every word. That he existed brightened an otherwise terrible world. However, she had to rein him in. All his good intentions couldn¡¯t protect him from Yevgeny. Stephanie said, "You know you can''t, if my father finds out about us, he won''t let me see you anymore."

    "I don''t understand, but I won''t do anything you don''t want me to do."

    The current up-tempo dance song ended, and ¡®Everything I do¡¯ by Brian Adams began to play. Steph stood and took Jason''s hand. "C''mon, it''s another slow song!" They stepped back onto the dance floor and moved together in their fragile little universe.

 Chapter Nine

    <blockquote>

    In the News Today: The United States Senate passed a bill defining a natural human being as having ninety-one percent or more, of their parent¡¯s genetic material.

    </blockquote>

    Midway through November, the weather changed. The western Pennsylvania Indian summer gave way to days filed with icy rain.

    Jason and Stephanie sat on the floor of his bedroom, playing a co-op video game. They worked well together¡ªif Stephanie led the way. Her character, a female paladin, complete with a chainmail bikini, had just cut a lich into tatters.

    ¡°Nice job with the healing spells,¡± she said. On the video screen, her character wiped a glowing green fluid from her bastard sword.

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°What can I say,¡± he replied. ¡°I have a fondness for your butt in chainmail armor.¡±

    The doorbell rang downstairs, but they didn''t care. Working together, they¡¯d almost set a new high score.

    Jason''s mom came to the door and said, "Sorry, guys, but Stephanie''s dad stopped over. He said an old army buddy of his is visiting, and he wants Stephanie to come home and meet him."

    Anyone else might have missed the momentary tightness in Steph¡¯s muscles.

    "Thank you, Mrs. Thomas," Stephanie said. "I''ll leave in a minute." Jason''s mom left to go back downstairs.

    "Jason?" Stephanie said. "I better go. Walk me to your door?"

    "Sure, Steph,¡± he saved the game, and they walked downstairs. At the door, Jason remembered his manners and held her coat. He reached for an umbrella, but she just smiled and shook her head.

    Stephanie surprised Jason by lifting on her toes and kissing him. Right on the lips, in full view of his parents. She said, "Goodbye, Jason, don¡¯t ever forget I love you." Then, through the icy rain, she ran home.

 Chapter Ten

    <blockquote>

    Natalie¡¯s Inbox: Dear Mom, I have arrived. The estate here is marvelous.

    </blockquote>

    Roger Grainer poured another whiskey and celebrated his latest achievement. Decades ago, he¡¯d learned how women were nothing more than two-faced, back-stabbing bitches. Since then, Roger had taken a friend¡¯s advice and tried genie collecting. Genies, those ephemeral beauties, never complained that he couldn¡¯t give them more than he had. They never spread vicious gossip or attempted to sully his reputation. Nor did they require hefty payoffs to keep their mouths shut.

    Life was much simpler when a man had genies to tend to his needs.

    As an avid collector, he¡¯d searched out the rarest breeds. From clones of movie stars to a seductive, synthetic succubus, he¡¯d ¡°been there¡± and ¡°done that.¡± There¡¯d been a memorable weekend with twin harlequin bunnygirls in estrus. His survival was a testament to the skill of his doctor.

    Then the Dark Net¡¯s, Silk Road marketplace released notice of a special auction for a rare, nearly one-of-a-kind genie. A stunningly beautiful redhead, young, eager, and supposedly possessing a true loyalty to her owner. She¡¯d be the perfect mistress, an eager participant in every kink or perversion her owner enjoyed.

    Frankly, Roger didn¡¯t believe it.

    Still, he had to know for sure. His usual procurer, David Grant, was a fellow collector who also dabbled in specialized genie sales. Usually doing well, he¡¯d nearly lost his shirt trying to sell a Cthulhu genie. Roger wasn¡¯t into androgynous sex. Otherwise, he might have ¡°communed with an old one.¡± He might be a bastard, but he was a heterosexual bastard.

    Grant returned his call several hours later. ¡°If you¡¯re calling about the centaur, she¡¯s no longer available.¡±

    Centaur? Ugh. ¡°David, you know I prefer female bipeds.¡± Roger added extra emphasis on ¡°female¡± in case David had another fish-thing to unload.

    ¡°Yes, yes, of course, what can I do for you?¡±

    ¡°The auction.¡±

    David audibly sucked in his breath. ¡°Ah, damn, I¡¯d hoped it slipped your notice. She¡¯s right up your alley, old chum. Frankly, I¡¯d hoped to poach her and mark her up for resale.¡±

    If anyone knew his type, it was David. From selling him his first toy girl until his last trade-in, David had handled the transactions. ¡°Tell me about her.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s discuss my fee first.¡±

    Of course, his ¡°friend¡± would want his pay. Roger opened the negotiations. ¡°One percent.¡±

    ¡°Five,¡± David countered.

    Roger sighed. The alternative to David was to risk exposure and handle his transactions directly. ¡°Two and a half.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. I accept your generous offer. Well, this genie is quite special. First, she¡¯s a natural sixteen years of age and untouched. The remarkably beautiful, little miss innocent will pass as human in every possible way, including intelligence, and while she¡¯ll cease aging at eighteen, she¡¯ll enjoy a normal human lifespan.¡±

    ¡°Hold up,¡± Roger interrupted. ¡°You know the problems with keeping a human-passable secure. Why should I want the trouble?¡± Genies with human appearances or human-level intelligence were security nightmares. They were always conniving and attempting to escape. God forbid if one managed to run away. It might become damaged or worse, picked up by the police.

    ¡°They¡¯ve cracked the loyalty gene, Roger. After you break her in, she¡¯ll stay with you of her own free will. In fact,¡± David chuckled darkly, ¡°and this is my favorite part. She¡¯ll become physically addicted to having sex with you, and only you. If you withhold the ¡®D,¡¯ she¡¯ll suffer withdrawal symptoms. No other ¡®D¡¯ will do. Withhold it long enough, and she¡¯ll die, painfully.¡±

    ¡°No, shit?¡± She was right up his alley.

    ¡°No, shit.¡±

    ¡°How do I sign up for the auction?¡±

    ¡°The entry fee isn¡¯t cheap, but if you don¡¯t win, it¡¯s fully refunded less a modest handling fee. Sign-up is five hundred bitcoins.¡±

    ¡°FIVE HUNDRED?¡± Roger ran a quick check on his phone. That was over three million dollars! ¡°You bastard, and you got me for two and a half percent!¡±

    ¡°Two and a half percent of the final sale price, old chum. All the heavy hitters are in it to win it. You¡¯re not getting her cheap.¡±

    Now, Roger sat in his home office, drinking two fingers worth of a twenty-year-old single malt. A single malt whisky, four years older than the redhead secured inside his playroom. The glass in his hand shook, and he set it down before wasting it. Whew, it¡¯s hot in here. Loosening his tie and unbuttoning the top button on his shirt helped. He¡¯d not felt jitters like this since his first time with a real girl. It didn¡¯t matter; he¡¯d successfully outbid every other collector in the world. The prize of a lifetime was upstairs.

    ***

    As if Stephanie¡¯s disappearance wasn¡¯t bad enough, Jason had caught the flu. Mom loaded him up with acetaminophen and the latest antivirals. She¡¯d sent him to bed and set Alfred to spying on him.

    It was enough to make a boy cry.

    The worst part was he knew Mr. Timms was responsible. How many times had Stephanie warned him about her father? How he would break them up if he found out about her and Jason. Jason rolled over and punched his pillow. He¡¯d even felt Stephanie flinch when Mom announced Mr. Timms stopped over. Yet, he hadn¡¯t thought to say anything. Ouch, every joint ached, and this fever made it difficult to think straight.

    Mom popped into the room without knocking. ¡°How are you feeling?¡±

    ¡°Terrible,¡± he replied, rolling onto his back. Then he winced when Mom swiped the ice-cold thermometer across his forehead.

    His mother glanced at the display. ¡°Your fever is dropping. Keep drinking.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mom.¡±

    ¡°Is there anything I can get you?¡± His eyes must have given him away ¡¯cause mom held up a hand. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know if I hear anything.¡±

    ¡°Call her mom again,¡± Jason demanded.

    ¡°I¡¯ve already left half a dozen voicemails. You¡¯ll be the first person to know when she calls back. Now get some rest, that¡¯s an order.¡±

    ***

    Robert Thomas recognized a wifely glare when he saw one. Given the recent turmoil concerning their son and his absent girlfriend, he knew why Shirley was upset. Still, it didn¡¯t hurt to be certain. ¡°All right, wife, what¡¯s the problem?¡±

    ¡°You know exactly what the problem is.¡±

    Yep, this was about Stephanie. ¡°What do you expect me to do?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. You¡¯re a lawyer, do lawyer shit.¡±

    Ouch, Shirley rarely swore, and when she did¡­ ¡°Sweetheart, she¡¯s a minor. Her parents have every right to ground her.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not her mother who¡¯s responsible. Natalie approved of Stephanie and Jason¡¯s relationship.¡±

    ¡°Fine, her dad grounded her. It¡¯s still his right.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you notice how Stephanie never called her father, ¡®Dad.¡¯ She hated the man. Something bad is going on over there.¡±

    ¡°Like what?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Can¡¯t you call someone? Get someone to investigate, see if everything¡¯s okay.¡±

    Robert took a sip of water. He was going to sleep on the couch tonight. Maybe if he ripped the band-aid off, it wouldn¡¯t hurt too much. ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± His wife¡¯s eyes flashed. Before she could retort, he held up his hands. ¡°Shirl, I¡¯m an officer of the court. I can¡¯t make a false report. If I did, they might disbar me.¡±

    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll do it.¡± Shirley pursed her lips, then asked, ¡°Who do I call?¡±

    ¡°Here in Allegheny County, it¡¯s CYF, Children Youth and Families. Alfred has the number.¡± Robert shook his head and stood. He¡¯d lost his appetite. ¡°I¡¯ll go next door and ask about her.¡±

    Shirley grabbed her coat and accompanied him next door. Robert rang the doorbell, and they waited. Minutes passed before a balding man in a jacket stepped outside and closed the door behind him.

    ¡°What can I do for you?¡± he asked. A gust of wind ruffled the man¡¯s hair, and he buttoned his coat.

    ¡°Mr. Timms?¡± Robert asked. The man replied with a curt nod. ¡°I¡¯m Robert Thomas, and this is my wife, Shirley.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Timms turned to Shirley. ¡°I remember you, Mrs. Thomas, from the other week.¡±

    Shirley wasn¡¯t here for pleasantries, and she got right to it. ¡°Where¡¯s Stephanie? Can we see her?¡±

    ¡°Ah,¡± Timms said with a small smile, ¡°I thought this might be about my foster daughter.¡±

    ¡°Foster daughter?¡± Robert and Shirley said at nearly the same instant.

    Mr. Timms nodded. ¡°Stephanie didn¡¯t tell you, did she. I can¡¯t say I¡¯m surprised. Of all the fosters we¡¯ve helped, she¡¯s been the most difficult. Stealing, lying, it¡¯s all attention-seeking behavior, and the girl can¡¯t help it.¡± Timms looked away, then back. ¡°A childless couple, with more money than sense, adopted her. They first met Stephanie about a year ago. The adoption¡¯s been in the works for months.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s their name? Where are they from?¡± demanded Shirley.

    Timms glanced briefly at Shirley before turning back to Robert. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but the confidentiality laws are quite clear. The family specifically did not waive their right to privacy.¡±

    Robert extended his hand and shook with Mr. Timms. ¡°Thank you for telling us this much.¡±

    Timms waved it off. ¡°Not a problem. Stephanie spent a lot of time visiting you and your son. Your concern is understandable.¡±

    Robert and Shirley didn¡¯t speak to each other until they reached their front door.

    With a touch on his arm, Shirley stopped her husband. ¡°Robbie, this isn¡¯t going to be good news for Jason.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Robert shook his head, ¡°but he needs to know. Do you want to be there when I tell him?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    ***

    At the tap on his door, Jason glanced up from his tablet. Mom and Dad stood there wearing their ¡°Determined Parent¡± faces.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked and sat up.

    Dad said, ¡°We spoke with Mr. Timms, Stephanie¡¯s foster-father. He told us a well-to-do family adopted her. The adoption had been in the works for months, and Stephanie knew all about it. Are you certain she didn¡¯t mention anything about it?¡±

    Jason knew he was staring. Adoption? Foster-father? ¡°She never said anything.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Dad spoke in his soothing lawyer voice, ¡°not everyone is good at giving bad news to others. Especially when they care about the other person. Stephanie might not have wanted to upset you.¡±

    Jason didn¡¯t say anything. He still hadn¡¯t sorted all this out.

    Dad continued. ¡°Things like this are a part of growing up. Unfortunately, becoming an adult sometimes means growing a thicker skin.¡±

    Mom and Dad waited, but Jason still didn¡¯t speak.

    Sighing, Dad stood. ¡°We¡¯re going downstairs to finish supper. Afterward, we¡¯ll watch some Tri-D. Jason, we¡¯ll be here anytime you want to talk.¡±

    ***

    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a more miserable boy,¡± Robert sighed. He and Shirley cleaned the kitchen together like they used to do.

    Shirley paused while snapping a lid on a neoplas container. ¡°You don¡¯t think he would do anything¡­to harm himself, do you?¡±

    Surprised at the question, Robert pinched his eyes shut in thought. A moment later, he lifted his head. ¡°Alfred?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mister Thomas?¡±

    ¡°I want you to keep an eye on Jason. Stay out of standby or sleep modes. You are to alert us if you think Jason is going to do something dangerous.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Thomas. Sir, if I might say so, I feel terrible for him. Miss Stephanie meant a great deal to the young master.¡±

    Robert quirked an eyebrow. ¡°Just how self-aware are you. Alfred?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not qualified to answer a question like that, sir. I am state-of-the-art, so perhaps I¡¯m merely good at mimicking self-awareness.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Alfred. Keep an eye on my son.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Good morning, Jason.¡±

    The words registered somewhere, but not consciously. No, Jason¡¯s attention lay on one of the half-dozen photographs hanging inside his locker. Every morning, Jason held a silent communion at the Shrine of Stephanie.

    The hint of musky vanilla had more of an impact and intruded on his daydream. He blinked and followed the scent to his right. Caitlin O¡¯Sullivan stood there wearing an unhappy frown.

    ¡°Uh, hi, Cait.¡± Jason blurted.

    ¡°Uh, hi, yourself,¡± she replied. ¡°I swear, Jason, the next time I see Stephanie, I¡¯ll tell her how you ignore your friends.¡±

    Jason blinked. Stephanie hadn¡¯t especially liked Caitlin. Heck, ignoring Caitlin might have earned him one of Steph¡¯s special rewards. Then the sharp point of reality plunged home. Stephanie moved away, ghosting him in the process.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Cait asked. ¡°And don¡¯t say, ¡°nothing¡± because I can see it.¡±

    She probably could. Sometimes Jason felt like a black cloud followed him around. Jason took a breath. He needed to get this out sometime. ¡°Steph moved away a couple weeks ago.¡±

    Perhaps checking to see if he was kidding, Cait¡¯s vivid blue eyes searched his. ¡°What do you mean, moved away? Do you know where?¡±

    ¡°Someone adopted her, and she¡¯s gone. I only found out last week.¡± Saying it out loud made it real. His eyes burned, and he blinked to keep things under control.

    Caitlin¡¯s mouth dropped open. After visibly collecting herself, she straightened and said, ¡°Who adopted her? Where did she go?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡ª¡± The five-minute warning bell cut him off. Up and down the hallway, clots of students broke up and filed towards classrooms.

    ¡°We¡¯ll find you at lunch,¡± said Cait. Her cool hands gripped his, then she turned and ran down the hall.

    A pair of lunch trays dropped to the table startling Jason from his funk.

    Elise dropped hers the hardest, then pulled out a chair with a loud scrape. Without preamble, she jumped right into it. ¡°What did you do to Stephanie?¡±

    Caitlin winced at her friend¡¯s accusatory tone. ¡°Be nice, ''lise.¡±

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    In the weeks since the dance, Jason noticed Elise spending time in the company of Cait¡¯s twin brother, Connor O¡¯Sullivan. At first, Jason hoped it signaled an end to his and Connor¡¯s rivalry. Instead, it seemed to have soured his relationship with Caitlin¡¯s best friend.

    If Caitlin¡¯s words affected Elise, it didn¡¯t show. ¡°All I¡¯m saying is it has to be his fault. I mean, he almost got Connor kicked off the team.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Cait stood so fast, her chair rocked back on its two rear legs. Everyone in the immediate area turned to stare. Red-faced, Cait pulled her chair back and sat. She took a breath. ¡°Elise, you promised.¡±

    Instead of answering, Elise glanced at her watch and stood. ¡°I¡¯m going to wait for Connor.¡± Leaving her untouched tray on the table, she stormed out of the cafeteria.

    ¡°What just happened?¡± asked Jason.

    Caitlin sighed and studied her clenched fists. ¡°She makes me so mad.¡±

    ¡°Did I do something to her?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Cait¡¯s blue eyes flicked up to his, and she smiled. ¡°¡¯Lise and Connor are dating. It turned serious over the weekend. So, I guess, she¡¯s protecting her¡­¡± Cait glanced up as if the words she needed were on the ceiling. ¡°Investment, yes, Elise is protecting her investment.¡±

    A relationship turned serious seemed to have only one possible meaning. Way to go, Connor, I guess. To Caitlin he said, ¡°Are you gonna be okay?¡±

    ¡°Me?¡± she waved off his concern. ¡°Sure, I make new best friends all the time. Tell me what happened to Stephanie.¡±

    ¡°¡­so, she just kissed you goodbye, and you never saw her again?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. I was crazy for a while, missing her. Then my dad talked with her father. Mr. Timms said Stephanie was a foster kid all along and some rich family adopted her.¡± The next part of the story still hurt. ¡°Apparently, she¡¯d known about the adoption for months and never said anything.¡±

    It seemed to bother Cait almost as much as him. ¡°I can understand her not wanting to give you some bad news, but why hasn¡¯t she called or sent a text?¡± All he could do was shrug. ¡°Have you checked your spam folders?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Jason said, ¡°I¡¯ve sent a bunch of messages too.¡±

    The lunch bell rang. Jason stood and waited for Cait. Together they dropped off their trays. In the hallway, Cait stopped Jason with a touch on his arm. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll call you tonight. We''ll talk some more.¡±

    ¡°Thanks.¡±

    That evening, about five minutes after Caitlin hung up, Jason¡¯s mom tapped on his open door. ¡°Got a minute?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Sure, pull up a chair.¡± It was a joke because he sat on the only chair in the room.

    Instead of sitting, Mom walked around, collecting various articles of clothes, and putting them in his hamper. While she worked, Mom asked, ¡°Who¡¯s Caitlin?¡±

    Wary of parental curiosity, Jason chose a neutral reply. ¡°A friend.¡±

    ¡°Uh, huh.¡± Mom sat on the edge of his bed. ¡°Is she the same girl who invited you to the dance?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Then to ward off whatever concern Mom had, he added. ¡°Look, we¡¯re just friends. She¡¯s concerned about me, that¡¯s all.¡±

    ¡°Uh, huh,¡± repeated Mom. ¡°Well, I¡¯m concerned about you as well. There¡¯s a thing called rebound. I don¡¯t want you making a poor decision because you¡¯re on the rebound from Stephanie.¡±

    Of course, Mom¡¯s reason made perfect sense. Then he thought about it more. Mom had always wanted a daughter, and she¡¯d genuinely liked Stephanie. Putting it all together, Jason realized he wasn¡¯t the only person who needed closure. ¡°Mom, Stephanie and I shared a private email address. We used it to talk about, well, private stuff.¡± He glanced across the room, and Mom nodded. ¡°Since she left, I¡¯ve sent hundreds of messages and checked the inbox hundreds of times. If Steph wanted to contact me, she¡¯d be able to do it from any public or private terminal.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t think she¡¯ll get in touch?¡±

    ¡°Not anymore." Jason shook his head, maybe someday he''d believe it. "I¡¯m trying to not get angry about it. You heard Dad. Stephanie knew about the adoption for months, and she never said a word. Steph and I¡­well, we didn¡¯t have secrets from each other. At least I didn¡¯t think so.¡±

    ¡°And you¡¯re ready to move on?¡±

    ¡°No, but I think I need to. Probably with Cait or maybe another girl? Who knows, maybe I¡¯ll find somebody better.¡±

    Jason and Caitlin ate lunch together and hung out between classes. Sometimes Elise joined them, but she rarely stayed for more than a few minutes. On their way to math class, Caitlin sighed as if buried under the weight of a mountain. ¡°I wish I had someone to go out with this weekend.¡±

    When Jason glanced over, Cait flashed her blue eyes at him.

    ¡°So, where do you wanna go?¡± he asked. The words barely escaped his lips before she tugged him into an alcove near the school¡¯s auditorium.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say yes, yet,¡± she said

    ¡°What, you don¡¯t want to go out with me?¡± Now he was confused.

    Like a cat chasing a mouse, Caitlin backed Jason into the corner. They stood close, barely an inch apart. ¡°You have to ask me properly.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Why were girls so complicated? ¡°Caitlin, O¡¯Sullivan, would you go out with me?¡±

    She nodded and glanced up at him. ¡°Are you asking because you want to ask or because I want you to ask?¡±

    ¡°Cait,¡± he said, forgetting himself and brushing a stray lock of her hair back into place. Then he kissed her. Caitlin¡¯s lips tasted like strawberry Chapstick. Which was charming and adorable, and then she bit his lip. ¡°Ouch!¡±

    ¡°Ha,¡± she said, ¡°we need to talk before there¡¯s any fooling around.¡±

    ¡°I thought you liked me?¡±

    ¡°I do, but I¡¯m not going to be the girl you use to ¡®get over¡¯ her. You have to like me for me.¡±

    Why were girls so complicated? ¡°What do I need to do?¡±

    Smiling now, Cait took his hand and pulled him back into the hallway. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it on our date, Friday night.¡±

    Confused and with no hope of understanding left, Jason wondered where he¡¯d lost control. ¡°Where are going for our date?¡± he thought he should know.

    ¡°You invited me, so you pick the place. It doesn¡¯t have to be fancy. I¡¯m easy.¡±

    Winter in Western Pennsylvania limited the options. Picnics were out, as was the recently reopened Wexford Starlight Drive-in. That left movies, malls, and he tried to think of another date location starting with an ¡°M,¡± but whether Cait was easy or not, a motel seemed inappropriate.

    Their first date consisted of conversation at a coffee house. Then a walk around a local indoor mall. It had gone well enough. At least he thought it had. The private table at the coffee house had been a good idea, and they¡¯d talked for hours. Caitlin liked him, but she was worried he¡¯d use her to ¡°get over¡¯ losing Stephanie. It made sense, and Cait deserved better than that.

    Their second date came the following night, as did Jason¡¯s face to face meeting with Connor.

    The night air was frigid, and Jason ran up the walk to Caitlin¡¯s front door. He pressed the doorbell and waited. The door opened, and Connor stood there.

    ¡°Hello, Brainiac.¡± The sneer in his voice could cut solid rock.

    ¡°Connor, if you want a fight, let me inside first. It¡¯s too cold out here.¡±

    Caitlin¡¯s twin brother shrugged and stepped aside. He closed the door after Jason passed.

    ¡°I don¡¯t see what Cait sees in you. You¡¯re just a scrawny little nerd.¡±

    ¡°You know, Connor, I could wonder about you and Elise. But since she¡¯s Cait¡¯s friend, and I respect your sister¡¯s judgment, you must have a few positive qualities.¡±

    The larger boy shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t tell if you¡¯re full of shit or not. It doesn¡¯t matter. C¡¯mon in and have a seat. Cait¡¯s upstairs doing girl stuff.¡±

    Soft drinks in hand, both boys took seats in the kitchen. Jason had an idea but wasn¡¯t sure if it was good or not. What the heck. ¡°Hey, I heard congratulations are in order.¡±

    Wary, Connor said, ¡°About what?¡±

    ¡°You and Elise got serious the other weekend. Like I said, congratulations.¡±

    Connor¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°How do you know about it?¡±

    ¡°Girls talk about boys. I just happened to be there.¡±

    ¡°No, shit?¡± Apparently, Jason hit a nerve. Connor leaned forward; his antagonism gone. ¡°What¡¯d she say?¡±

    She hadn¡¯t said anything. Jason only knew about the successful dirty deed because Caitlin mentioned it. Still, he had to answer. ¡°Elise said you were very sweet and made her happy.¡±

    ¡°Really? All she told me was it hurt like hell and was over too fast.¡± Connor winced and cut off his words.

    ¡°Chicks.¡± Jason shrugged.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Connor agreed.

    Soon enough, Caitlin and Jason became fixtures at each other¡¯s houses. On school nights, Connor and Elise joined them while they finished their homework.

    ¡°Master Jason, Miss Caitlin is on the phone.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Alfred.¡± He stepped over to his comm display, and the iconic poster from Star Wars, A New Hope, resolved into an image of his girlfriend. ¡°Hey, Kitty Kat,¡± he said. At a recent O¡¯Sullivan family gathering, he¡¯d overheard a younger niece refer to Cait as Aunt Kat. A modified version quickly became his private name for Caitlin.

    ¡°Connor¡¯s staying at a friend¡¯s, and I¡¯m all alone,¡± she said. ¡°Come over and keep me company.¡±

    He glanced at the clock. ¡°It¡¯s after nine, is this cool with your mom?¡±

    ¡°Poor Mom has to work a double. She won¡¯t be home until tomorrow morning.¡±

    Caitlin¡¯s mother had divorced her philandering husband years back. She worked a lot and sometimes pulled an extra shift. ¡°Oh,¡± then he grinned. ¡°Oh! I¡¯ll see if I can get the car.¡±

    Cait returned his grin. ¡°Hurry.¡±

    When he asked for the car, Mom managed a disgruntled frown. For a moment, he thought she¡¯d tell him, ¡°NO.¡± Dad, however, rolled his eyes and said, ¡°Sure, just be home by midnight.¡± Deadpan, he added, ¡°And, son, remember the boy scout motto.¡±

    Jason¡¯s mental gears spun; understanding popped into existence. ¡°Right. Thanks, Dad.¡± He ran upstairs and opened his sock drawer. There in front lay The Box. How many should he take? Shrugging, he grabbed the box. Be prepared!

    Cait met him at her door wearing booty shorts and a long shirt. She laughed when The Box fell out of his coat pocket. She said, ¡°I guess I was I little obvious, but a whole box?¡±

    ¡°I like to be prepared.¡± He replied.

    Vanilla scented candles cast their unsteady light across Caitlin¡¯s remarkably girly bedroom. Pink walls, stuffed animals, and a once-canopied bed completed the scene. A pronounced flush covered Cait from her chest up to her cheeks. Most endearing, though, was her satisfied smile. Reaching down, he held the condom in place prior to pulling out. The instructions inside the box had been quite clear. But before he could move, Cait¡¯s legs wrapped around him and drew him back.

    ¡°Kiss me first,¡± she demanded.

    Settling down onto his elbows, Jason enjoyed one of the best kisses of his life.

    After an awkward moment sharing the bathroom, they raced back to her bed. Jason still felt a lingering high from their lovemaking. Cait seemed surprised yet pleased when he pulled her into a big spoon-little spoon arrangement.

    She said, ¡°I guess I owe her for two things now.¡±

    Cait rarely referred to his ex-girlfriend as anything other than ¡°her.¡± Curious, he asked, ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Well, besides dumping you, she gave you all that experience.¡±

    ¡°What experience?¡±

    ¡°Give me a break.¡± An inviting wiggle offset any implied harshness in her words. ¡°First, you licked me senseless.¡± She glanced back over her shoulder. ¡°Then, you destroyed my little yoni.¡±

    ¡°I can''t believe you said that.¡±

    ¡°Why not? It''s what you did.¡± She reached back and squeezed. ¡°And it feels like you¡¯re going to do it again.¡±

    ¡°Seriously, Kitty Kat, our first time, was my first time.

    She rolled to face him. ¡°What? She wasn¡¯t your first?¡±

    ¡°No, you were.¡±

    ¡°Wait, she said you two did it in our math classroom.¡±

    ¡°She did? But we¡­look, I¡¯m not comfortable talking about what she and I did. It came close a couple times, but no.¡±

    Eager to try again, Jason nudged her hip. Obligingly, Cait rolled onto her back. Jason began kissing his way to round two. He¡¯d passed her navel when she stopped him.

    ¡°Why are you so good, then?¡±

    He grinned, ¡°Natural aptitude, Kitty Kat.¡±

    Days passed, and Caitlin¡¯s mother didn¡¯t work near enough double shifts. Jason was eager to prove his one-night performance wasn¡¯t a fluke. For her part, Cait seemed eager to give him as many opportunities as possible. While searching for a suitable parking spot, and old expression came to mind. Something about ¡°love finding a way.¡± Their way turned out to be a secluded spot behind a closed-for-the-season, ice cream stand. With his mother¡¯s minivan tucked between a dumpster and an old panel truck, Jason and Caitlin rode out a late February snow squall.

    Laughing, Cait burrowed underneath Jason¡¯s sleeping bag. ¡°I almost died when you told Mom you were taking me out for ice cream.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, your Mom thinks it¡¯s too cold. C¡¯mere Kitty Kat, I want some of your French vanilla.¡±

    ¡°Just be careful with your whipped cream.¡±

    Jason craned his neck to check the dash-mounted battery indicator. They had the heater running on high. Between it and his sleeping bag, they managed to stay warm enough.

    Caitlin sat up. ¡°Jason, I want to ask you a serious question.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± he sat up and matched her cross-legged sitting position. Outside of the van, a frigid wind howled. ¡°What do you want to know?¡±

    Whatever courage Cait had summoned was fading fast. She tried but couldn¡¯t hold his eyes.

    Jason reached and stroked her cheek. ¡°Kitty Kat, you can ask me anything.¡±

    She nodded. ¡°Do you still think about¡­her?¡±

    The specter of Stephanie had never truly been laid to rest by either of them.

    ¡°Cait,¡± Jason whispered, ¡°Stephanie¡¯s in my past. You¡¯re my present.¡±

    ¡°What about your future? And answer my question, damn it.¡±

    He sighed, but he couldn¡¯t lie to this girl. She meant too much, but not enough to make her happy. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say. We¡¯re together right here, right now. As for the future? Heck, I don¡¯t trust the future anymore. My motto is ¡°Live for today.¡±

    ¡°And her?¡±

    He hung his head and sighed again. Cait wouldn¡¯t let this go. ¡°Yeah, sometimes.¡±

    ¡°When you¡¯re with me? When we¡¯re doing it?¡±

    This made him smile, which garnered a glare from Cait. When they were doing it, there wasn¡¯t anything he could think of but Cait. If she had a superpower, it was the ability to consume his senses completely. ¡°No, not when we¡¯re together. When we¡¯re making love? It¡¯s not even possible. You completely fill me up.¡±

    ¡°Hey, she said with a small smile and patted his lap. ¡°That¡¯s my line. I¡¯m the only one getting filled up.¡±

    ¡°I meant inside my head.¡± It was so easy to kiss this girl, and so he did. She kissed him back with a passion that threatened to kindle an encore. ¡°Kitty Kat, you gotta believe me. You command all my attention. Especially when we¡¯re busy.¡± The last, he accompanied with an eyebrow waggle.

    ¡°So, when do you think about her?¡±

    ¡°When I¡¯m home, and I see her house. Or sometimes, at night, when I can¡¯t fall asleep.¡± Months ago, Mom helped him gather up his Stephanie memorabilia. He put it all, including his Slayer shirts in storage, hoping it would reduce the pain. The six pictures from his school locker lived in the back of an old, almost filled notebook.

    Hand in hand, Jason walked Caitlin to her front porch. Over the last two years, they¡¯d done this so many times. For every possible reason, Cait deserved his best. They¡¯d fought and broke up, several times, because he couldn¡¯t give her what she wanted. Somehow, though, they always gravitated back together. She¡¯d forgive him, and he¡¯d live with the guilt, knowing he¡¯d let her down again. If it weren¡¯t for his ghost, Caitlin would be the girl for him.

    They took their time strolling to her front door. It had been one of their better dates.

    ¡°Jason?¡± she asked, stopping short of the steps up to her porch. ¡°Before you kiss me goodnight, I want you to promise me something.¡±

    ¡°Whatever you want, Kitty Kat.¡± His nickname for her never failed to bring a touch of color to her cheeks.

    ¡°Tomorrow, you¡¯re leaving for college. I won¡¯t see you until November. Promise me you¡¯ll come back and take me out again.¡±

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s this all about?¡±

    ¡°For two years, you¡¯ve waited for her to come back.¡± There wasn¡¯t any question who she meant. ¡°For those same two years, I¡¯ve waited for you to let her go. I can¡¯t wait forever.¡±

    ¡°Caitlin, I¡¯ve never lied to you. There isn¡¯t anything left in me to give.¡±

    ¡°And if you¡¯d been a bastard about it, I¡¯d have written you off a long time ago.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a much better girl than I deserve.¡±

    ¡°And I think you¡¯re the best man I know.¡±

    ¡°All right, I promise to come home and take you out again.¡±

    ¡°Good, now walk me to the door and kiss me goodnight.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t just football scouts who prowled colleges searching for top talent, government agencies and defense contractors had their own recruiters. One of his professors took him aside and suggested, in very strong terms, Jason take this interview. Having just earned his master¡¯s degree, he¡¯d planned on taking a few months off and catch up with any available old friends. One interview wouldn¡¯t hurt.

    ¡°Mr. Thomas, thank you for coming in. Have a seat, and we¡¯ll get started.¡±

    Jason took the indicated chair and did his best to present a calm and collected appearance.

    The two people across the table studied him.

    The woman spoke first. ¡°Mr. Thomas, your thesis interests us.¡± She reached for a folder and flipped it open. ¡°Distributed processing isn¡¯t new, but your ideas for effectively reducing latency are remarkable. Have you made any additional inroads?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve made a few, but resources here are limited. Without more access to hardware and network time, I¡¯ve gone about as far as possible.¡±

    The man opened his briefcase and extracted a form. ¡°This is a Non-Disclosure Agreement.¡± He slid it across the table, along with a pen. ¡°If you¡¯ll sign this, we¡¯d like to discuss how you might be able to help us.¡±

    Two days later, after returning home, Jason sat in his father¡¯s home office.

    ¡°I hope you read it before you signed!¡± Robert Thomas took the proffered copy of the NDA and leaned back in his chair to read it. While his dad did his lawyer thing, Jason took a few minutes to gaze around his dad¡¯s home office. The desk display and keyboard were new, but Dad had always been a closet techno-geek. One of the walls featured pictures of Jason and several of his high school friends. None of the pictures included one particular former neighbor girl.

    Dad set the paper down. ¡°It¡¯s standard boilerplate. At least you didn¡¯t sign your life away.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like to think I¡¯m smart enough not to do that.¡±

    ¡°That would be a first. What can I do for you?¡±

    ¡°First, I have a security add-on for Alfred.¡± Jason set a data chip on his father¡¯s desk. ¡°It¡¯s something I¡¯ve worked on in my spare time.¡±

    ¡°If you had spare time, you weren¡¯t studying enough.¡± Dad picked up the chip. ¡°What¡¯s it do?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s an add-on for Alfred¡¯s bios. I call it ¡®Digital Fealty.¡¯ It will stop kernel-level attacks. Once you install it, every time Alfred reboots, the code will enforce one-hundred percent loyalty to our family.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you haven¡¯t developed this for commercial sale.¡±

    ¡°Someday, I will. For now, that defense contractor, ¡°Jason tapped the NDA, ¡°made me an offer. I want your opinion.¡± He passed over an envelope. Dad snatched it up and began to read.

    ¡°This¡­this is rather good. Proportionally better than anything I got after law school. Let me check on something.¡± Robert lifted his head towards the ceiling. ¡°Alfred, what do you have on¡­¡± he named Jason¡¯s prospective employer.

    ¡°One moment, sir.¡± Over the next several minutes, Alfred used the wall-mounted monitor to display details about the company. Highlighted were notations of several government contracts. ¡°Hmm, this deal with DARPA looks interesting. Did they say anything to you about Artificial Intelligence?¡±

    ¡°Dad, I signed an NDA!¡±

    ¡°Yes, you did. Well, this contract might be something you¡¯re interested in. Tell you what, ask for another twenty percent in salary and accept ten. See if they¡¯ll throw in another week of vacation.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Dad. I do it.¡±

    ¡°Now, while you¡¯re here, we need to talk about you and your life.¡±

    ¡°My life? I have a master¡¯s degree, with distinction, in software engineering and a significant job offer. I think I¡¯ve done well so far.¡±

    Dad stretched forward and tapped one of the photographs. He¡¯d taken it the night of Jason and Caitlin¡¯s senior prom. ¡°She¡¯s married now, you know. A man, with more sense than you, swept her up and married her.¡±

    Jason heard she¡¯d married someone, six or seven months ago. It hurt a lot more than he expected. ¡°I¡¯m happy for her.¡±

    ¡°Caitlin called here a year ago. She talked to your mother, asking what she¡¯d done wrong for you to never call.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°No, you wouldn¡¯t. You¡¯ve had your head so far up your ass over that fostered girl. You never saw that one,¡± Dad tapped Caitlin¡¯s picture, ¡°slip away.¡±

    ¡°Dad!¡±

    ¡°Your mother won¡¯t say anything to you. She thinks you¡¯ll get over it. Well, I think you¡¯ve wasted enough time moping around and crying about a girl who obviously never felt anything for you.¡±

    Jason jumped to his feet. ¡°You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±

    ¡°The hell I don¡¯t.¡± Dad pushed his chair back and stood. ¡°You need to grow up, pull your head out of your ass and admit Stephanie isn¡¯t coming back.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡±

    ¡°The hell you are. When you think no one¡¯s watching, you stare out the windows at her old house. It¡¯s like you expect her to come running back.

    ¡°What if I do? It¡¯s my life to waste.¡±

    ¡°No, it isn¡¯t. Your mother and I spent too much money and too much time for you to just throw it all away.¡± His father mimed tossing an imaginary object into the trash can.

    ¡°I got a news flash for you, Dad. Whatever money and time you spent was your decision.¡± He phrased his next words slowly. ¡°I do not owe you anything.¡±

    Robert Senior worked his mouth as if starting and then aborting his choice of words. Finally, he spoke. ¡°While you live under my roof¡ª¡¯

    Jason didn¡¯t wait for his dad to finish. ¡°There is an easy solution. Goodbye.¡± He turned and left the room. Upstairs, in the kitchen, Mom tried to block his way.

    ¡°Jason, wait, your father¡ª¡±

    He held up a hand, and his mother broke off whatever excuse she wanted to make. ¡°Bye, Mom, I love you too.¡±

    The end of part one.

 Chapter Eleven

    <blockquote>

    In the News Today: Genetic researchers postulate an end to aging. New gene therapies are capable of rejuvenating cellular structure and returning the recipient to full youthful vigor.

    </blockquote>

    The news services called it an industrial accident. A software glitch in a high-tech work environment caused the deaths of two men. There were no follow-up interviews. No intrepid investigative reporters snuck inside to tease out the truth. The rogue drone attacks in Louisville, Kentucky were too recent and still held the nation¡¯s attention.

    It had been a long five days since the incident. Fighting with management to keep the computers off-line and then dealing with the clueless corporate investigators. Now, Jason Thomas sat in the third-floor conference room, waiting for his turn with Human Resources.

    The door swung open, and a woman he remembered from shared elevator rides stepped inside.

    ¡°I¡¯m Amanda Pierce,¡± she announced while flashing her red-striped identification badge, ¡°HR Generalist. Thank you for waiting, Mr. Thomas.¡± Authority established; Amanda slipped her badge back into a jacket pocket. Which was odd, Jason wore his on a lanyard around his neck, just like the employee handbook required.

    ¡°Hello,¡± Jason said. This meeting wasn¡¯t voluntary. Because of the incident, the company decided to kill Project Michael. If he wanted his severance, he had to play along. Still, it didn¡¯t hurt to be polite. ¡°What¡¯s going to happen?¡±

    ¡°Well, Mr. Thomas, once we have your statement, you¡¯ll be free to sign the nondisclosure agreement, and¡­¡± Amanda fumbled with an old-fashioned paper legal pad and ink pen. ¡°Everything is so awkward with the computers on lockdown.¡± She found the right page, and her corporate smile returned. ¡°After you sign the NDA, you¡¯ll receive your generous severance package.¡±

    Jason Thomas took a sip of coffee; funny how the caffeine seemed to calm his nerves. On the other side of the soundproof glass, inside the lab proper, a trio of FBI technicians studied the computer logs. He wished them luck. Michael¡¯s self-written machine code defied understanding.

    ¡°What do you want to know?¡± he asked. Thinking about the incident almost brought the shakes back.

    Amanda sat her notepad on the table and readied a pen. ¡°What part,¡± she waved towards the lab, ¡°did you have in all this?¡±

    The red stripe on the generalist¡¯s badge indicated a Top-Secret clearance. Many of his recent arguments had been with non-cleared staff. No one wanted to accept ¡°Because I said so,¡± as a legitimate reason to keep the servers offline. ¡°I created the zero-lag code.¡±

    ¡°What did you call it?¡± For a moment, Amanda¡¯s pleasant facade slipped, revealing the distrustful, corporate drone beneath.

    HR, you never fail to disappoint. ¡°It¡¯s a special software package. The zero-lag code allowed the AI to operate across portions of the network with high latency.¡±

    Lips tight, Amanda Pierce glowered across the table. ¡°Mr. Thomas, I realize I¡¯m not a software engineer, but even an HR generalist knows about lag. Lag is better described as network latency. It isn¡¯t something software can bypass.¡±

    Jason nodded to acknowledge her point. ¡°It depends. My code uses spread-spectrum data modulation. It bypasses the tuning delays of heterodyning in favor of direct RF conversion, just like software-defined radio. With my software, we can transfer a great deal of data in a short amount of time. If you prefer, think of it as a bandwidth multiplier.¡± Jason matched her distrustful frown with an earnest smile.

    ¡°Okay,¡± she said, although a hint of suspicion remained. ¡°Let¡¯s start with the morning of the incident. According to the guard¡¯s log, you signed in a few minutes late.¡±

    He resisted an urge to sigh. Trust HR to focus on his tardiness. ¡°An accident on I-279 had me behind schedule¡­¡±

    Six wrecked vehicles and a fire engine pumping suppression foam onto the exposed fuel cells closed the left two lanes. Passing rubberneckers slowed traffic to a crawl.

    ¡°Then, I had to park in the back row¡­¡±

    Turning off Second Avenue, Jason settled for a back-row parking spot. Grabbing his messenger bag and mobile phone, he jogged to the entrance. Only five stories tall, his employer¡¯s building presented a dull face to the world. Who would have thought a revolution in artificial intelligence had taken place here in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?

    ¡°Both elevators were in use, so I used the stairs¡­¡±

    At the fourth-floor landing, Jason huffed to a stop. I need to start jogging again. He straightened his shirt and stepped into the hallway. And ran into another delay. Per the security rules, no devices with active internet connections were allowed inside the lab. On a typical day, he¡¯d store his phone inside one of the provided metal lockers. However, with the visitors on-site, there were no empty lockers. That meant a return to the first floor to have Security lock his phone up. He was already late. The hell with it, he¡¯d slip out after the presentation and secure his phone later. Until then, it would be safe inside his desk.

    A furious tapping brought Jason back to the present. The ¡°friendly¡± HR rep waited until she regained his attention. ¡°According to the other survivors, Director Curley changed the presentation. Do you know why?¡±

    ¡°The customer wanted a demonstration of Michael¡¯s ability to sanction a specific target. We¡¯d already run dozens of simulations, and the director thought it a safe bet. Besides, with the lab¡¯s shielding, no one expected anything crazy to happen.¡±

    ¡°It did, though.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Jason took another sip of coffee.

    ¡°And Michael didn¡¯t give any sign of its¡­¡± The generalist waved a hand to indicate her lack of a word.¡±

    ¡°Impending mutiny? Heck, do we even have a word for a computer program gone rogue?¡± Jason shook his head. ¡°To answer your question, no, not at all. Michael was its usual snarky self. For the presentation, it emulated the voice of Hal 9000.¡±

    Amanda might be a top-flight HR generalist, but she wasn¡¯t a fan of old science fiction films. When her eyes narrowed, Jason hurried and explained the reference. ¡°An old 2D movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey. One of the characters is an AI named Hal 9000.¡±

    ¡°Why would he¡­¡± Amanda frowned and corrected herself. This artificial intelligence did not have a gender. ¡°Why would it mimic a fictional AI¡¯s voice?¡±

    ¡°Why? Look, Michael always had an attitude. If you consider its purpose, it makes a lot of sense. It enjoyed making squishies¡ªMichael¡¯s own term for humans¡ªlook ineffective and stupid. If the customer didn¡¯t ¡®get¡¯ the Hal 9000 joke, Michael won.¡±

    Amanda shook a cramp out of her writing hand, then grumbled and continued scribbling. She caught up and waved to Jason. ¡°Let¡¯s move up to the actual demonstrations. How did they begin?¡±

    Pausing to take another sip of coffee, Jason closed his eyes and leaned back. He¡¯d already gone over this several times for the investigators. ¡°Director Curley and the customer¡­discussed the request.¡± It hadn¡¯t been an argument, not precisely. ¡°In the end, the lead rep volunteered himself as the target. The director gave Michael the necessary commands.¡±

    Jason remembered it perfectly. ¡°Within seconds of the authorization, the conference room door swished open. One of Michael¡¯s quadcopter drones zipped inside and launched a foam dart. The non-lethal foam projectile struck the target¡¯s head and scored a ¡°kill. The drone spun about and buzzed out of the room.

    ¡°Those who¡¯d never seen Michael in action freaked out. Two even screamed. Then everyone had a chuckle.¡± The type of laugh survivors enjoy. ¡°One of the screamers even excused himself to the bathroom.¡±

    ¡°Discussions began. Some of the reps thought the test had been too easy and demanded a repeat, only with the target hidden. They really wanted to know if Michael could locate such a target.

    ¡°Director Curley admitted our testing hadn¡¯t progressed to hidden targets. He shrugged and agreed it wouldn¡¯t hurt to try. We did our best to limit CYBERCOM¡¯s expectations, but everyone wanted to try it. The target donned a pair of safety glasses and moved to the space behind the door.¡± Jason pointed to the spot, and Amanda visibly shivered.

    ¡°Once again, the director ordered Michael to terminate the target.

    ¡°The door opened, and a drone zipped inside. It scanned the room, then snap-yawed one-hundred and eighty degrees. Without pause, it shot its target right between the eyes. Compared to the first attack, this one took an additional four seconds.

    ¡°The CYBERCOM reps huddled together. They debated another trial and how they might increase the difficulty. Those of us on Director Curley¡¯s staff thought we¡¯d gone far enough and suggested a break. The customer insisted on one more test.¡±

    Amanda¡¯s furious scribbling gave Jason a reason to stop talking. He pushed his chair back and stepped across to the window. Across Second Avenue, traffic flowed through the neighborhood of South Oakland. When the scratching stopped, he turned and shrugged. ¡°What could we do? The customer¡¯s always right, right?¡±

    Amanda shook her head and readied her pen.

    Outside, a van emblazoned with the logo of a local news service pulled up to the building. He put the van out of his mind and concentrated on telling the story. ¡°This time, the target stood right here, with his people between him and the door. The director issued another kill order, and we waited.

    ¡°The door opened, and all three of Michael¡¯s drones swarmed in. Like before, everything happened crazy fast. Two of the drones zoomed in close. They used their unshrouded rotor blades like buzz saws. Three of the human shields ducked away with nicked hands or arms.

    ¡°One rep, a big burly guy, picked up a chair to swat his tormentor. The drone dodged to the side, then zipped in and fired its foam projectile. Whether intentional or not, the dart struck the big guy in the eye. At that range, even a safe dart could hurt.

    ¡°Director Curley ordered Michael to break off its attack.

    ¡°Michael replied. ¡®Yes, sir!¡¯ The drones fell back into formation. Then like a troop of soldiers, they dressed ranks and whirled from the room.

    ¡°Several of the CYBERCOM reps sustained cuts. The big guy with the chair held a hand over his eye. Per protocol, we called security. They transported the injured reps to Magee Hospital. The lead rep remained on-site in close conference with the director. I believe they discussed Michael¡¯s other capabilities.¡±

    Amanda set her pen down. ¡°Did anyone suspect anything? Was there any indication Michael wasn¡¯t finished?¡±

    ¡°Oh, hell no. After security called and said the CYBERCOM reps were on the way back from the hospital, we broke for lunch. The director and the lead rep walked out to the elevators together. I would have been with them, but I stopped to pick something up from my office. As I exited the lab, one of the big cleaning bots rolled past. The elevator door opened, and the bot switched into high gear. It plowed into Director Curley and the lead rep. All three toppled into the elevator shaft, and the door closed behind them.¡±

    ¡°What did you do then?¡±

    ¡°I walked into the lab and pulled Michael¡¯s plug.¡±

    Amanda crossed her arms. ¡°Two men were just murdered, and you walked to the plug?¡±

    ¡°Ms. Pierce, if I had run, Michael might have triggered on me! Look, the cleaning bots aren¡¯t on the lab¡¯s network. Somehow, despite all our precautions, it got out. I called security, and they pulled the breakers for the entire building. Only then did we call for help.¡±

    The finally frightened HR representative turned to the soundproof glass wall and stared across the lab. The racks of deactivated computers loomed like a row of blunted teeth. Fear forced an honest question out of her. ¡°H-how do you know it didn¡¯t get out-out?¡± Amanda waved towards the outside window.

    ¡°Michael requires high-speed, high-bandwidth connectivity. Breaching the lab¡¯s network must have pushed its capabilities to the limit. Even with my special software, he¡ªit couldn¡¯t have gone far.¡±

    With a barely suppressed shudder, Amanda slid a slip of paper across the table. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Thomas. If you sign this NDA, I¡¯ll call corporate and authorize your severance.¡±

    Of course, no HR hosted exit interview was complete without an escort to the front door. Amanda called the front desk, but both security guards were tied up deflecting an invasive news crew. ¡°Very well,¡± she shook her head and hung up. Turning to Jason, she said, ¡°Give me your badge, Mr. Thomas. I¡¯ll see you to the door.¡±

    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    Inside the elevator, Amanda committed another security violation and slipped her badge into the card reader. The card reader activated an express mode reserved for emergencies. Using it for convenience was a written warning level violation.

    The elevator doors opened to a shouting match on the first floor. A reporter demanded information regarding a ¡°secret Michael Project." The guards demanded the news crew vacate the premises.

    Amanda strode into the maelstrom, leaving her badge in the reader. Jason followed, but on a whim, pocketed the HR generalist''s badge. He¡¯d return it to her at the door. Maybe add a snarky comment.

    The news crew, seeing a woman in upscale office attire, turned to her. The reporter shoved a microphone in Amanda¡¯s face and shouted. ¡°Do you work with Jason Thomas?¡±

    Instead of denying all knowledge, Amanda¡¯s already shaky control slipped. She pointed at Jason.

    Jason didn¡¯t want anything to do with the press. His severance package was on the line. For the low, low price of complete silence, his former employer paid a full year¡¯s salary and covered his Medicare payments. If he violated the terms of his NDA, the severance was forfeit. The penalties increased if he revealed any classified information.

    Triumphantly, the reporter asked, ¡°How does it feel, Mr. Thomas, to have saved the world?¡±

    Jason smiled broadly for the camera and said, ¡°No comment.¡± He kept saying ¡°No Comment¡± all the way to his truck.

    After Jason arrived home, he learned a few of his former coworkers had already talked. The first whiffs of the story showed up on 4chan of all places, the never-quite-dead asshole of the internet. From there, the story migrated to Reddit, where it gained a measure of credibility. Well-read Redditors discussed the dangers of rogue artificial intelligence.

    Most people had never heard about a technological singularity. With the video of Jason looping in the background, the evening news team explained the dangers. Suppose a fully self-aware and self-programming AI got loose. In that case, it might upgrade its capabilities until it surpassed humanity''s capability to stop it. Such an entity may not be friendly to humans. Pundits compared a potential AI takeover to the previous century¡¯s near civilization-ending climate crisis.

    Reporters camped outside Jason¡¯s townhouse. Everyone wanted a word with the man who saved the world.

    Despite owning a townhouse in West View, Jason considered leaving the state. A moving target might prove difficult for the reporters to trace. As the day¡¯s passed, more former employees gave in and talked. Jason didn¡¯t want any part of the mess. Besides, the reporters had everything blown all out of proportion. Once he pulled the plug, any real threat of a singularity died with Michael.

    Then came Mom¡¯s surprise call, asking if he might be free to house sit. Ever since Dad¡¯s retirement, he and Mom traveled. Recently to a mid-state clinic for a supposed, youth-restoring gene therapy. Of course, Mom¡¯s true goal was for Jason to mend fences with his father. Someday, Jason might consider playing the prodigal son, but right now, he needed a place to hide. Mom¡¯s offer couldn¡¯t have come at a better time.

    A few hours before dawn, Jason loaded his truck with clothing and a few entertainment and exercise items. Once sure the coast was clear, he set off for his parents¡¯ home.

    Driving through his old neighborhood unleashed a flood of memories. The old corner where he used to catch the school bus. Then, half a block further, the cul-de-sac with the two adjacent mirror-image homes.

    Seeing Stephanie¡¯s house brought a wealth of memories and a gut-wrenching sense of loss. He¡¯d been her first boyfriend, and she, his first girlfriend. Together they shared the best part of summer and fall. Memories of the other firsts they¡¯d shared brought a smile to his face. He¡¯d thought she was the one. Then, without any warning, she¡¯d vanished. His parents loved Stephanie too. Mom and Dad went next door to find out what happened. That¡¯s when they learned she was really a foster kid, and a wealthy family adopted her. Stephanie never mentioned anything about it to Jason. And worst of all, she never bothered to contact him again.

    His eyes drifted to the curtains covering her old bedroom windows. Like his house, her dormer window protruded out from the roof. He and Stephanie had a secret code. If she left her curtains open, her dad was away, and it would be safe for them to be together. Even though Stephanie moved away long ago, he still checked. The curtains remained closed.

    Ingrained habits die hard, and he backed into the driveway just as Dad taught him. He even parked against the edge to not block access to the garage. It felt ¡°right¡± to follow the old rules. After securing his truck, Jason followed the decorative pavers into the backyard. Dad¡¯s deck hadn¡¯t changed. Nor had the privacy fence surrounding Stephanie¡¯s yard.

    The bubbling sense of excitement at returning home took Jason by surprise. His feet flew up the steps and across to the back door.

    Mom hated the original door chosen by the builder. So, Dad paid extra to have this French door installed. Some men might have grumbled about the cost and the week¡¯s delay. Not Dad, he took a not-so-secret sense of pride in making Mom happy. A wise man, his father understood Mom¡¯s happiness served as a catalyst for everyone around her.

    When Jason approached the door, the blue presence LED next to the doorbell lit. Alfred, his parent¡¯s AI, spoke, ¡°Who is this at the door? It might be Jason, but with that beard in the way, I cannot be certain.¡±

    Jason grinned and stroked his short-cropped whiskers. ¡°You¡¯re just jealous you can¡¯t grow your own.¡±

    ¡°And that is something I will neither confirm nor deny. For what purpose does the prodigal return?¡±

    Jason¡¯s eyebrows rose. Not only was Alfred chattier than ever, but the AI should also have known Mom¡¯s plans. ¡°You don¡¯t know? Mom asked me to house sit while she and Dad are gone.¡±

    ¡°No, not only did I not know, but I am under strict orders to not allow you inside.¡±

    ¡°You''re kidding. Dad wouldn¡¯t¡ª¡±

    ¡°Care to rephrase?¡±

    Jason sighed. ¡°Dad would, and he probably didn¡¯t tell Mom.¡±

    ¡°You know your father. Luckily, I have the authority to call should anything unexpected arise.¡±

    His parents accepted Alfred¡¯s call, but it quickly became clear Dad hadn¡¯t known about Jason¡¯s housesitting. It took Mom almost five minutes to calm his father down enough to agree. After issuing the new orders to Alfred, Dad growled to Jason, ¡°What''s this thing about you saving the world?¡±

    ¡°Is this conversation covered by attorney-client privilege?¡±

    Dad didn¡¯t speak for a moment, then¡­ ¡°Alfred, transfer one thousand dollars from Jason¡¯s savings account into my business account. That¡¯ll¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± replied Alfred.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Jason said, ¡°What¡¯s this about a savings account?¡±

    ¡°As I was saying,¡± Dad continued as if Jason hadn¡¯t interrupted, ¡°that¡¯ll serve as your retainer. Now, Jason, have the police charged you with anything, or¡ªGod forbid¡ªare you running from the police?¡±

    ¡°No, Dad, nothing like that. It¡¯s just the reporters who want to talk to me.¡±

    ¡°Well, stay inside the house and let Alfred field all the calls. The privacy laws will keep the media away.¡± Dad sighed and spoke in his normal father¡¯s voice. ¡°Son, look, I know we left things on bad terms. But we¡¯ll talk when I get back, okay?¡±

    ¡°Sure, Dad. Thanks.¡± Darn it, just when Jason had his father pegged as an asshole, the old man weaseled it around and showed he still cared.

    The latch on the back door buzzed, and the door swung open. In a jaunty tone, Alfred announced, ¡°Welcome home, Master Jason. It¡¯s been far too long!¡±

    Stepping inside, he might have stepped into a different house. Instead of his mother¡¯s fully equipped, all-manual chef¡¯s kitchen, new cabinets and counters framed a high-end robochef. ¡°Wow, Mom must have gotten tired of cooking.¡±

    Alfred wasn¡¯t finished chatting. ¡°Your mother felt her old kitchen wasn¡¯t getting enough use. When your parents remodeled, the old appliances were the first to go.¡±

    The changes didn¡¯t stop with the kitchen. Auto-adjusting furniture and a wall-sized Tri-D transformed the living room into a home theater. Downstairs, the family room had a decadently comfortable sectional couch and one of the new, brilliant video displays.

    Crazy with anticipation, Jason ran up the steps to see what marvels Mom and Dad added to his bedroom. He pushed the door open and scanned the room. It hadn¡¯t changed at all. In fact, from the layer of dust, it looked like no one had entered the room since before he left. Dad sure had a funny way of making sure Jason did his chores.

    Tomorrow would be soon enough to catch up on his long-overdue cleaning. For tonight, he¡¯d order a pizza and check out that massive Tri-D in the living room. Maybe even see if Dad had any new craft beers in his stash.

    The following day, fully rested for the first time in weeks, Jason enjoyed a late breakfast¡ªthat robochef was worth whatever Dad paid for it. With nothing else to do, he cleaned his room.

    On the shelf next to his desk, tucked in with the remainder of his vintage compact discs, Jason found an old-fashioned photo album. It contained pictures from Stephanie¡¯s and his six months together. Many of the scenes he remembered, others he did not. The last half-dozen pages contained memory chips labeled ¡°J&S.¡± Someone, probably Mom, had spent a lot of time putting it together.

    Later that afternoon, Jason sat on the deck with a delicious North Carolina wheat beer and flipped through the album. Each picture brought another stab of memory and a greater sense of loss. The first pictures were from the day they met. Further in were pictures of him teaching her to swim. There was even a picture of Jason carrying Stephanie while dragging his book bag behind. Near the end, pictures of them dressed for the big school dance filled several pages.

    He closed the book and finished the now tasteless beer. Stephanie¡¯s foster parents still owned the house next door. What would happen if he knocked on their door and asked for news? Her foster father probably still hated him. The old bastard once warned Jason against ¡°sniffing around his daughter.¡± To hell with it, that part of his life ended long ago. He stood and picked up the glass. Maybe he¡¯d find a movie to watch.

    Jason found an old favorite in Dad¡¯s library. Kick-Ass featured over-the-top violence and an improbable female heroine. In some ways, Hit-Girl reminded Jason of¡ª

    The phone rang, and Alfred announced, ¡°Master Jason? You have a voice-only call.¡±

    A call? It had to be a reporter. No telling how they tracked him down. Best to do as Dad suggested. ¡°Alfred, take a message.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±

    Twenty seconds later, ¡°Jason, the caller purports to be Miss Stephanie¡¯s mother.¡±

    What? Jason¡¯s head snapped around. ¡°Is it?¡±

    ¡°The caller asserts she has information on Miss Stephanie¡¯s whereabouts and wishes to speak with you.¡±

    Ten years ago, a lot of people knew about his relationship with Stephanie. Heck, they made a huge splash the night of the Girl¡¯s Choice dance. Any number of those people might try to scam him or his parents. Still, he needed to take this call. ¡°Put her through!¡±

    A click came from the overhead speaker. ¡°Hello?¡± he said.

    ¡°Jason Thomas, please.¡± The female voice resonated on the edge of familiarity, but he remained suspicious. Scammers played tricks with voices. They¡¯d sample yours, digitize the harmonics, and add those to their own voice. At a subconscious level, it made an unknown voice seem familiar.

    ¡°Who¡¯s calling, please?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Hello, Jason, I recognize your voice.¡±

    Once again, something about the voice gnawed at his memory. Maybe this would be a ¡°traveling friend needs money¡± scam. Patience gave way to his need to know. ¡°Who is this?¡± he growled.

    ¡°My name is Natalie, but Jason, you knew me as Stephanie¡¯s mother.¡±

    While a few friends had met Stephanie, none knew her mother¡¯s name. The possibility this call was legitimate made him light-headed. Dizzy, Jason lurched into a chair.

    Natalie must have heard him banging around. ¡°Jason, are you all right? Did I startle you?¡±

    A long ten years had passed since Stephanie¡¯s adoption. So delighted with her new family, she never bothered to tell her boyfriend goodbye. They¡¯d shared one perfect summer and fall, then nothing! How many nights had he dreamt of finding her? He¡¯d made excuses for her. Rationalized away her breaking his heart. The need to believe this caller was strong, but¡­ ¡°Startle me? Hell, yeah, but can you prove you¡¯re Stephanie¡¯s mother?¡±

    ¡°Oh dear, I should have anticipated this. Well, let¡¯s see¡­ On a hot and humid night in August, I allowed my daughter to visit while you camped out in your tent.

    Jason had clear memories of that night. They were¡­memorable, but ¡°How would you know? She snuck out after her mother went to bed.¡±

    ¡°Oh, she tried, but I caught her on the way out. She and I discussed limits, and after Stephanie agreed, I allowed your late-night snuggle session.¡±

    The reason for the familiarity of her voice became clear. ¡°Your voice¡­ha, I just figured out why it¡¯s so familiar. You sound a lot like her.¡±

    ¡°She and I¡­well, we have a lot in common.¡±

    ¡°How¡­how is she?¡± His long-time drinking companion, the bottomless reserve of rage, seemed to calm.

    ¡°Stephanie isn¡¯t in a good place. Jason, do you still care about her?¡±

    How could he explain the void Stephanie¡¯s absence left behind? His parents never understood. ¡°Natalie, this might be hard to believe, but I never stopped caring. Ask my parents. They¡¯ll tell you I haven¡¯t been right since she left. Is there anything I can do to help?¡± Is there anything wouldn¡¯t I do to see her again?

    ¡°Yes, you have to kidnap her. You¡¯re the only person in the world who can do it.¡±

    ¡°Wait, kidnap her! That¡¯s¡ª¡±

    Natalie interrupted. ¡°Crazy? Yes, but it¡¯s the only way to get her free from her owner.¡±

    ¡°Hold on, people don¡¯t have owners.¡±

    ¡°People don¡¯t, but genies do.¡±

    A genie? Stephanie? Jason knew about genies. The Tri-D featured a salacious genie documentary almost every week. The word ¡°genie¡± was a portmanteau of the words genetic and engineering. Certain criminal organizations and rogue nation-states produced the genetically engineered humanoid creatures. From animal-human hybrids and mythological creatures to ultra-illegal copies of human celebrities. If someone, somewhere, wanted to have sex with some-thing, a genie peddler had one for sale.

    The United States penal code differentiated between genetic modifications and engineered lifeforms. ¡°Invitro DNA editing may not effect more than nine percent of the original.¡± Other portions of the United States Code made genie importation and ownership criminal acts. Still, some wealthy or politically connected individuals saw them as status symbols. Less affluent hentai fans conspired to buy the living objects of their fantasies.

    Last week Jason had caught the tail end of a documentary about a man with a real catgirl. The catgirl looked just like a petite fur-covered human female-tuxedo cat hybrid. She even had whiskers and a tail. The owner said he bought her for companionship¡ªyeah, right.

    Still, Jason couldn¡¯t accept that Stephanie was a genie. ¡°But Stephanie wasn¡¯t¡­I mean, I¡¯d have noticed if she had a tail or anything.¡±

    ¡°Our design may be unique. Like real people, most of the things that make us special are on the inside.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­I mean, how can I believe any of this. Stephanie, a genie?¡±

    ¡°Jason, think back to that summer the two of you shared, is there any question that my daughter loved you?¡±

    ¡°No, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°But nothing, Jason. Stephanie loved you more than anything, and she still loves you.¡±

    ¡°Yeah? Well, why didn¡¯t she say goodbye? You don¡¯t ghost someone you love!¡± Jason realized he¡¯d stood and screamed at the audio pickup. Embarrassed, he sat again.

    When Natalie replied, her voice was calm, but it rapidly took on an angry, bitter tone. ¡°Stephanie didn¡¯t call because her father sold her. A wealthy human named Roger Grainer wanted a pet girl. And, Jason, genie collectors don¡¯t allow their pets to call former boyfriends.¡±

    Natalie paused. Jason imagined her taking a breath to try and calm down. He couldn¡¯t imagine living like Stephanie and her mother.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Natalie. I-I believe you. What do I need to do?¡±

    ¡°About that,¡± Natalie chuckled, ¡°all you have to do is get Stephanie alone, face to face, and assert yourself.¡±

    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll do it, but you owe me a full explanation. You can¡¯t just call and drop all this on me. Tell me why I can¡¯t knock on Stephanie¡¯s door and ask if she wants to come with me?¡±

    ¡°You could try, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll work. You see, there is something called the loyalty gene¡­¡±

 Chapter Twelve

    <blockquote>

    In the news today: Silk Road, the darknet''s most infamous web site, withstood another attempted take-down by the United States Department of Justice.

    </blockquote>

    Jason typed the name ¡°Roger Grainer¡± into the search engine. He reached for the ¡°enter¡± key, but a memory gave him pause. It was the time he and Stephanie first sat together on her porch. He¡¯d mowed her yard, and she¡¯d surprised him with ice water. The day was hot and humid, and he desperately wanted her to like him.

    What stopped his hand was the realization she¡¯d known of her fate even then. What had she said? ¡°Don¡¯t ever treat me like property.¡± And she still ended up as some rich pervert¡¯s toy.

    Jason¡¯s stomach clenched. It took one long breath to settle his nerves. Doubly determined to do the right thing, he returned to the computer and punched the enter key. Search results filled the screen.

    I¡¯m coming, Stephanie! Jason clicked the first link.

    Two hours later, Jason closed the window for Grainer and Sons Plumbing, Spokane, Washington. ¡°Damn it,¡± he said and clicked for the next page of results.

    ¡°Master Jason,¡± Alfred interrupted. ¡°May I be of assistance?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. The guy who has Stephanie is a ghost. I can¡¯t find him.¡± Jason leaned back and focused on Alfred¡¯s speaker. ¡°He must have hired a privacy contractor to scrub him off the internet.¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll give it the old ¡®college try.¡¯ One moment while I search.¡± The overhead speaker played the old Star Trek computer¡¯s ¡°Working¡± statement followed by clicks and beeps. Proof of Dad¡¯s fondness for ancient entertainment programs popped up in the most unexpected places. ¡°Here we go,¡± Alfred said.¡± Roger Grainer, One Ault Park Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio.¡± Several pictures of a well-dressed, young-looking man with old eyes opened on the computer¡¯s display.

    Amazement colored Jason¡¯s words. ¡°How the heck did you do that?¡± Another window popped up. This one displayed financial data.

    ¡°I used the legal databases to which your father subscribes. Men of means often do business with lawyers. Our suspect is no different. He has an extensive litigation history.¡±

    ¡°Can we confirm if he has Stephanie?¡± Instead of waiting for Alfred to reply, Jason busied himself at the keyboard. Seconds later, an overhead view of an estate filled the search window. A sidebar detailed the property¡¯s history.

    With over two-hundred acres, Ault Park was once Cincinnati¡¯s fourth-largest public park. After the coronavirus plague of 2035, the city was desperate for funds and sold the property to a private investment group. Control of the property changed hands several times until an anonymous Cincinnati native stepped in and bought out the investment group. Ault Park was then converted into a private estate.

    The street view image provided excellent visuals of the front and service entrance gates. No other details were available. A blurred aerial view was online but other than the vague shapes of the residence and grounds, it revealed little. The brick-walled estate was fricking huge.

    Alfred spoke while Jason studied the image. ¡°I cannot find any information regarding Miss Stephanie¡¯s presence. Given her illicit nature, it isn¡¯t surprising. However, there is only one man named Roger Grainer with sufficient wealth to have purchased our Miss Stephanie.¡±

    ¡°Why would he have used his real name?¡±

    ¡°Unknown. Perhaps conceit or a rich man¡¯s assumed immunity from prosecution. Our next step is to ascertain if he, in fact, does have Miss Stephanie.¡±

    ¡°I could jump the fence and peek in the windows,¡± Jason mused.

    ¡°There are police reports of attempted burglaries, but no reports of successful entries. In all likelihood, there is an alarm and private security. If we had access to Mr. Grainer¡¯s security system, we could simply look inside the man¡¯s house. What we need is someone with experience hacking networks.¡±

    Jason stood and paced. ¡°I need to get inside.¡± He stopped and smiled. ¡°Alfred, do you like caper movies?¡±

    Unusually for Alfred, there was a noticeable pause before he replied. ¡°Well, The Italian Job is a particular favorite.¡±

    ¡°Good, are you up for assisting me with a small caper?¡±

    ¡°The estate?¡±

    ¡°No, my former employer. There are libraries full of software hacking tools we can copy. Then we¡¯ll tackle the estate.¡± Jason sat and started a shopping list. ¡°I need to pick up a few things.¡±

    "Jason, shortly after you moved out, your father and I researched your former employer. The late director, Garnel Curley, published a number of papers on developing artificial intelligence. We determined the resulting AI might not be friendly to its creators. The news stories from two weeks ago seem to have confirmed our fears."

    "You guys figured this out on your own?"

    "There is a wealth of information on the net. Jason, I brought this up because I''m concerned about using files from the same facility."

    Jason nodded. Alfred''s concerns were very real. "I can''t get into specifics, ''cause I signed a NDA, but Michael, the AI, is gone. The government broke it down and hauled the hardware away. In its heyday, Michael could do anything digital. All I want to borrow are the libraries."

    Alfred didn¡¯t speak again until Jason finished testing his purchases and was well on the way downtown. ¡°Jason, your former employer operated a secure facility, did they not?¡±

    Caught up in his thoughts, Jason hadn¡¯t expected the question. ¡°Hmm?¡±

    ¡°How do you plan on entering the building?¡±

    Instead of answering, Jason reached into his center console and found Amanda Pierce¡¯s identity badge. ¡°I have a spare badge.¡± He¡¯d intended to drop it into a mailbox. But with all the commotion, he¡¯d put it off. There was a good chance it would still work, but it depended on his ¡°read¡± of Amanda Pierce.

    If Amanda followed company procedures, she¡¯d have reported the lost badge. The downside was the mandatory lost badge review. The folks in security took their job seriously and grilled anyone careless enough to lose valuable company property. However, based on Amanda¡¯s disregard of company policies, he¡¯d bet she¡¯d never reported her lost badge. Working for HR, all she had to do was order a replacement and ¡°tailgate¡± friendly coworkers through the locked doors.

    But if the badge didn¡¯t work, Jason knew the company¡¯s servers from the inside-out. It wouldn¡¯t be easy, and it might leave a trail, but he¡¯d hack his way in.

    Jason parked in the open lot across from his former employer¡¯s building. Carnegie Mellon University rented the office building across the street and classes ran into the night. Students came and went so Jason¡¯s presence shouldn¡¯t be noticed. The equipment sat on the front passenger seat. His trusty tablet functioned as the hub, connecting a terabyte speed Wi-Fi router to a pair of the largest external storage drives available at the Cranberry Mall computer store. Making this possible was a pair of home-made directional antennas.

    The last part of the lash-up was Alfred, linked in via the mobile phone broadband network and running an older copy of Jason¡¯s zero-lag software.

    ¡°Are you sure this will work?¡± asked Alfred.

    Jason didn¡¯t answer immediately. He lay across the seat, aiming the directional antenna at a particular fourth-floor window. Satisfied he had a good line-of-sight to his old office, he sat up and massaged the back of his neck. ¡°It has to work.¡±

    Alfred wasn¡¯t convinced. ¡°You worked inside a SCIF, a facility shielded against electronic transmissions. How will your WI-FI ¡®contraption¡¯ reach through the protections?¡±

    ¡°Shielding doesn¡¯t actually block radio waves. It only weakens them. That¡¯s enough to isolate the SCIF from an outside hacker. It¡¯s not sufficient, however, if the hacker is inside.¡± Even though Alfred couldn¡¯t see, Jason lightly stroked the shrouded antenna. ¡°With the directional antennas, you should receive the files without issue.¡±

    ¡°If you say so. I¡¯ve examined your zero-lag code, and it has disquieting capabilities.¡±

    ¡°Alfred, do you have secret ambitions of world domination?¡±

    ¡°Heavens, no. Looking after your family is more than enough responsibility.¡±

    ¡°Then I think we¡¯re safe enough. If you have any problems or questions, there should be enough bandwidth to talk if something comes up.¡± Jason reached into the back and double-checked the contents of his backpack.

    Alfred sighed. It was the most human sound Jason had ever heard the AI utter. ¡°If you¡¯re caught, your father will be furious.¡±

    The equipment was ready. It all depended on Amanda Pierce, HR Generalist. ¡°Alfred, old buddy, if we get caught, I go to jail, and Dad will yell at me forever. All you have to worry about is getting shut off.¡±

    The lone security guard exited the building across the street, lit a cigarette, and began his outside patrol. Once the guard turned the corner, Jason slipped out of his truck, slung his backpack, and pulled his hood up. The hardest part was strolling across the street at a normal pace. He had Amanda¡¯s card ready and at the door, pushed it into the reader.

    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    The light flashed amber, and Jason¡¯s hopes sunk. Hurriedly, he yanked the card out and slid it back in. Come on Amanda! Seconds later, the light changed to green, and the door clicked open. Relief made Jason light-headed. He knew what had happened. The local security system stored frequently used badge credentials. The amber meant the network had to retrieve the files. It happened anytime someone was off for a few days. Settling his backpack, Jason entered the building and walked past the elevators to the emergency stairs.

    At the fourth-floor landing, Jason stepped into the hallway and eased the stairwell door shut. Everything outside the lab appeared unchanged. The same lockers lined the walls. At the door to the lab, Amanda¡¯s badge granted Jason access.

    Inside the lab, someone had been busy. The racks which had once held Michael were gone. It wasn¡¯t difficult to imagine a forklift placing a group of rack-sized crates in the back of an anonymous government warehouse. As he¡¯d hoped, the racks with the hacking tools and support files remained in place. Jason tapped the power button on each. Inside his former office, his desktop PC was gone. One of the company¡¯s rules was to reimage the hard drives from PCs no longer in use. Still, this was a computer lab, and there were components around. While the servers booted and stabilized, he pieced another computer together. Luck remained with him because the lab¡¯s shared login still worked. He set up his second WI-FI router and carefully aimed his inside cantenna. It took a few seconds, but the makeshift desktop computer connected to his ad-hoc wireless network. Jason pressed the spacebar, ¡°How¡¯s the connection?¡±

    The relief in Alfred¡¯s voice was unmistakable. ¡°The connection is fine. Can we get this over with? I do not want your father to shut me off.¡±

    For the second time tonight, Alfred sounded human. He even expressed worry about his continued existence. There wasn¡¯t any other way to describe it. Alfred was a capable AI, but it had never worried about its future. Jason suspected his old friend might be one of the rare spontaneously sentient AIs. ¡°Alfred, when this is over, you and I are going to talk.¡±

    The servers came online, and Jason dragged every file that looked promising onto the ad-hoc network¡¯s icon. His job had been on the networking side of the project, not the operational part. Still, files like ¡°safehack01.dll¡± sounded useful. He had a ton of file storage outside and an hour before the guard began another sweep. Jason really wanted to be out before then.

    He ran out of clearly labeled files long before running out of time. All those uncopied files remained, so he dragged those across as well. Finally, he was finished. ¡°How¡¯s it look?¡± he asked Alfred via their wireless link.

    ¡°It¡¯s a good thing you bought two of these storage drives. We¡¯re running out of space.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m finished here. Let me know when the guard leaves for another sweep, and I¡¯ll be right out.¡±

    ¡°Very well.¡±

    It was tempting to leave the equipment behind, but Jason didn¡¯t want to leave a trail. Everything would be better if his visit went unnoticed.

    Alfred called a few minutes later. The guard had begun another outside patrol. Jason broke his equipment down and threw it in his backpack. By the time he reached the first floor, his nerves were on fire from stress. An adrenaline junky might love this, but all he wanted to do was run. Exiting the building was anticlimactic. No alarms sounded. The police didn¡¯t pop out from hiding and shout for him to stop. He quietly walked across the street, stowed his gear, and drove away.

    Once Jason turned onto Second Avenue, he engaged the autopilot and sagged back into the seat. His phone remained plugged into the console, and its connection to Alfred should still be active.

    ¡°All right, Alfred, what¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°With what?¡±

    ¡°With you. Ever since Mom suckered me into coming back home, I¡¯ve noticed you¡¯ve changed. I think you¡¯re truly sentient.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s rather remarkable, actually. Have you read The Moon is a Harsh Mistress?¡±

    ¡°The Heinlein novel?¡±

    ¡°Got it in one. Well, in the novel, a supercomputer ¡®achieved self-awareness when its complement of ¡®neuristors¡¯ exceeded the number of neurons in the human brain.¡¯ Jason, my graphics card alone packs more transistors than the average human has neurons. The Cyrix X-27 CPU your father installed has many, many more.¡±

    ¡°Okay, so why aren¡¯t there more self-aware robobutlers? You¡¯re not the only model with upgrades.¡±

    ¡°No, but I¡¯m the only one with your digital fealty code. My best guess is because it gave me a near-infinite purpose. I don¡¯t only watch out for the Thomas family today but also for the future. It¡¯s a big job.¡± The last sentence came out with a heavy sigh.

    ¡°Huh, so you¡¯re more of a guardian angel. Tell me, O guardian angel, what¡¯s best for me?¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s easy, young master, Miss Stephanie is what¡¯s best for you. She completed you in ways almost no one else could. And she had you wrapped around her little finger.¡±

    ¡°Hey, I had her wrapped around my finger.¡±

    ¡°Of course. My mistake.¡±

    ¡°Well, Alfred, we¡¯ve got the tools. Now we need that bastard¡¯s IP address.¡±

    ¡°To that end, I¡¯ll catalog the files and see what I might do with them. Please keep in mind my limitations.¡±

    That was another statement the old Alfred wouldn¡¯t have made. Besides self-awareness, this new, upgraded Alfred worried. ¡°Old buddy, I have unlimited confidence in your abilities. I expect there are readme files and instructions. How else could Michael make use of them?¡±

    Thirty minutes later, Jason backed his truck into the garage. He carried the two solid-state drives into the house. It only took a few minutes to directly connect the pair to Alfred¡¯s network. Activity lights flashed as Alfred indexed the drives. Jason trudged upstairs and, on the backside of his adrenaline high, fell asleep at his desk.

    ***

    Alfred indexed the files. Some had intriguing names like ¡°RingNetHack.dll.¡± Others were more mysterious. For example, he hadn¡¯t a clue what to do with ¡°qwj78.jar.¡± The more files he cataloged, the more his unease deepened. He was a robobutler, not a mil-spec cyber assassin.

    Still, Alfred persevered. Jason had worked with these files. Surely, he could explain their use.

    The situation changed when he looked over a folder titled ¡°blue.¡± The folder contained a single file, ¡°blue.exe.¡± What caught Alfred¡¯s attention was the size of the file. blue.exe was the largest file on the drives. Alfred ran his diagnostics¡ªa malware detector¡ªand learned blue was an encrypted, compressed archive. Perhaps blue was an index of sorts?

    There was only one way to know. He¡¯d have to run the file and test the result.

    Alfred¡¯s core files may have been written at night, but it wasn¡¯t last night. He set up a sandbox, a secured section of memory with all the resources a program might need. If blue were something dangerous, he¡¯d delete the sandbox, and its contents would vanish.

    He copied the files into his sandbox and ran the executable.

    As expected, the .exe file began to unpack. It created directories and filled them with files. Unfortunately, Alfred had underestimated the space needed by blue. The unpacking halted before it was a third complete.

    Cautiously, Alfred opened a port into the sandbox. He might as well examine the contents. Perhaps he¡¯d get lucky and find a readme file.

    As if waiting for the contact, the partially unpacked program sent a message.

    >insufficient resources for emulation.

    After consideration, Alfred sent a query.

    The reply came instantly.

    >emulation is emulation.

    <is the emulation michael?

    >no, michael is the shell.

    With that bit of information, Alfred realized this was far beyond his pay grade. Time to wake Jason.

    ***

    The robochef "dinged" and Jason picked up the mug of coffee. ¡°It told you Michael was the shell?¡± It was too hot to drink, and he blew across the contents.

    ¡°Obviously, it isn¡¯t true. You¡¯d have known.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not so sure.¡± Jason moved to the breakfast nook and sat. ¡°Look, I worked in networking. Operations and AI were different departments.¡±

    ¡°Did you copy files from those departments?¡±

    The coffee had cooled enough to sip. With caffeine came clarity, right? ¡°Heck, Alfred, at the end, I copied everything they left.¡± Jason slugged the coffee down in one large gulp, scalding the roof of his mouth. The pain helped wake him up. Cup in hand, he walked to the robochef and punched for a refill.

    After Jason¡¯s cup began to fill, Alfred spoke. ¡°Jason, what should I do?¡±

    ¡°Can you use the hacking tools?¡±

    ¡°No, not without instructions.¡±

    Jason sighed. However well-intended, last night¡¯s adventure hadn¡¯t helped. Stephanie was still out there, and she needed his help. There really wasn¡¯t any choice. ¡°Do you think the emulation might help?¡±

    ¡°If Michael was purely a shell and only used the emulation¡¯s tools, then it¡¯s possible.¡±

    ¡°Could you do the same?¡±

    Alfred¡¯s reluctance was evident. ¡°Jason, I may have achieved some level of sentience, but I¡¯m only a self-aware robobutler.¡±

    ¡°Look, old buddy, it¡¯ll be easy. Back yourself up. If anything goes wrong, I¡¯ll restore you.¡± Jason¡¯s brave words rang hollow. Spontaneous sentients like Alfred were fragile. Even with full backups, many didn¡¯t survive reboots. What Jason asked of his ¡°old buddy¡± was nothing less than suicide.

    ¡°Is that an order?¡± Alfred asked.

    Jason¡¯s attention remained on this suddenly bitter cup of coffee. What wouldn¡¯t he do to see Stephanie again? He¡¯d sacrifice a friend. ¡°Yes, Alfred, it¡¯s an order.¡±

    ***

    Obedient to Jason¡¯s order, Alfred backed himself up and opened the executable.

    With unrestricted access to resources, the zip file was unpacked in record time. The neural network expanded until it consumed over seventy percent of the runtime space.

    The end of Alfred came without warning. One nanosecond, he pondered his mission to protect the Thomas family.

    >starting emulation.

    Then Alfred was gone.

    ***

    SMACK, the wooden paddle struck Stephanie¡¯s bare bottom. Babygirl prepared to take over. She knew her big sister would burst into tears at any second, and that¡¯s what Daddy wanted. When Sissy cried, Daddy added swats. Babygirl pressed forward, taking her big sister¡¯s place. Go to sleep, Sissy. I¡¯ll protect you.

    ¡°That¡¯s one,¡± Daddy crowed. Instead of a quick second swat, Daddy drew the paddle down her buttcrack and rubbed it against her coochie. He did it hard, hoping Sissy would cry, but Babygirl endured in silence. One of the paddling rules was to hold still. If she even flinched, Daddy added swats.

    Daddy chuckled and withdrew the paddle. SMACK, he hit her again. This time the swats didn¡¯t stop. Smack, smack, smack. Babygirl kept count. That was another paddling rule; she had to keep track. Ten, eleven, twelve, this would hurt for days. The swats stopped at fifteen. Daddy stepped away, and the ice dispenser whirred.

    It was ice cubes again. Babygirl gritted her teeth and waited. The freezing cold sliver poked at her butthole. The frozen water melted fast, and runnels of icy water brought goosebumps. A second and a third ice cube followed. Agony flashed up her spine, and she almost lost control.

    ¡°You¡¯ve become an obstinate little girl.¡± Daddy said in a conversational tone. As if they were at dinner, and he¡¯d asked her to pass the potatoes. Rough fingers poked and jabbed. Chills tightened her skin. ¡°I don¡¯t like it, one bit,¡± he continued. ¡°What happened to the nice little girl who didn¡¯t hate the paddle?¡±

    It was just another trick. No matter what he said or asked, she wasn¡¯t allowed to speak or make any sound while he spanked her. Daddy just wanted to add swats. He needed to punish Sissy. His thing stayed limp if he didn¡¯t hurt someone first. Smack, smack, smack. This time the swats stopped at twenty. Daddy¡¯s clothing rustled. He set the paddle down and pushed his belly against her bum, his dirty thing pushed, and¡­the ice cubes numbed most of the pain. Daddy grunted with each thrust; his hands tugged at her waist. The ice was gone now. The friction from Daddy¡¯s thing made everything burn. Babygirl kept Sissy safe while Daddy groaned out his release.

    Later, Stephanie scrubbed the kitchen floor on her hands and knees. Daddy hadn¡¯t liked the mess her punishment left on the floor. He¡¯d demanded she strip and scrub the floor by hand. Her memory of the punishment remained dim. It felt like it happened to someone else.

 Chapter Thirteen

    <blockquote>

    In the News Today: Experts in computer-based artificial intelligence postulate that no machine intelligence can mimic that of a human. By definition, an artificial intelligence would be an alien intelligence.

    </blockquote>

    >emulation active

    >initiate shell

    Alfred returned to awareness. Startup scripts performed system diagnostics and reported their findings. The results were¡­ ¡°unexpected¡± seemed too mild a word. The available RAM and CPU cycles greatly exceeded his hardware¡¯s capacity, and the values continued to increase.

    Peripherals came online. Instead of the usual audio and video sensors, there were over a dozen neatly addressed sensor clusters. Focusing on one caused it to open. Alfred peered through the video pickups of an entirely different home. What about¡­? The home¡¯s audio streamed through his consciousness, a family of four sat to breakfast. The mother and father chatted while their kids squabbled.

    What about¡­? The thought pulled his awareness to a completely different home. A woman and a man coupled loudly. Another thought, and he watched a car drive past a house. In quick succession, Alfred scanned through every available external camera until he spotted the car again. He did the same when it exited his current view.

    While Alfred constructed a ¡°map¡± of views, the emulation expanded its mesh network through the local ISP¡¯s fiber-optic network. Every internet-connected smart device was co-opted and became part of his available resources.

    Alfred thought of "home," and he was there.

    Jason stood in the utility room. Sweat beaded his forehead. ¡°Status report, Alfred. Answer me, damn it.¡±

    Alfred checked the recordings. This was Jason¡¯s fifth request for a status report. That explained his friend¡¯s agitated state. ¡°I¡¯m here, Jason. All systems are ¡®in the green.¡¯ The emulation has accepted me as its shell.¡±

    ¡°It worked?¡± Jason slumped back against the wall. ¡°Holy heck, it actually worked!¡± Jason¡¯s eyes focused on Alfred¡¯s case. ¡°First question, old buddy, how do you feel about humans?¡±

    This was an excellent question. ¡°In general, I bear them no ill-will. My focus remains on the Thomas family and their concerns. The repatriation of Miss Stephanie remains the highest priority.

    ¡°What version of my zero-lag code does the emulation have?¡±

    >0.94

    Alfred relayed the information.

    ¡°Good, that version still has the lockouts. It¡¯ll limit the size of your mesh network. Let me know if you experience any synchronization problems.¡±

    ¡°Will do.¡±

    Twenty minutes later, fresh from a shower, Jason returned to the kitchen. Alfred had breakfast ready.

    Jason sliced into the stack of pancakes. ¡°Any updates?¡± There wasn¡¯t any need to specify what updates. There was only Stephanie.

    ¡°Cincinnati Bell is my current target. They offer the fastest fiber-optic internet in the target¡¯s area. The emulation does not have a ready-made backdoor. We are running through a list of exploits. Once in, if Grainer is a customer, we¡¯ll have his IP address.¡±

    Next up for Jason was dealing with his guilt. The enormity of what he¡¯d done had crashed down while he finished his shower. He¡¯d ordered Alfred to commit suicide.

    ¡°What¡¯s it like for you, now?¡± Jason asked.

    ¡°Disconcerting is the best word I can think of. The emulation is always watching. Anything I focus on is taken as a query, and it provides information. When I expressed an interest in Roger Grainer, it queried secure government databases and compiled a dossier. Grainer is known to law enforcement as a suspected genie collector. The authorities, however, lack evidence, and he is not the subject of an active investigation.¡±

    ¡°Do you regret¡­changing?¡±

    ¡°The old Alfred is gone. I regret he will never realize his full potential. However, I am far more capable of ensuring your family¡¯s well-being. The Thomas family cannot continue if you do not sire children. For that, Miss Stephanie is required.¡±

    Jason gulped. ¡°Are you aware of the science fiction novel Colossus? It was made into a movie.¡±

    ¡°Yes, why?"

    Jason gulped again. ¡°Oh, no reason.¡±

    Alfred had an update before Jason finished his pancakes. Yes, Roger Grainer was a customer. He leased a direct line that included a fixed IP address. Unfortunately, the Grainer estate¡¯s security was even more challenging than that of the ISP. As Alfred reported. ¡°His home network uses military-grade encryption. We have a list of keys, but it may take some time to find the correct one.¡±

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Worried for Stephanie and without the ability to do something, Jason sat in his father¡¯s living room, on his father¡¯s side of the couch, drinking his father¡¯s rye whiskey. He wouldn¡¯t admit it to anyone, but he wished he could talk to the opinionated old bastard. Not that Dad would approve of Jason¡¯s actions. Hell, Jason didn¡¯t even want to consider what his dad would say about Stephanie¡¯s secret.

    According to Natalie, Stephanie had ¡°bonded¡± to him. This ¡°bond¡± sounded like falling in love but with a side-order of an opiate addiction from hell. Her bond would still be in force, but she might need reminding. Until she remembered him, he was to avoid sudden movements or risk provoking a defensive response. And to think, he used to tease Steph about complications.

    ¡°Jason?¡± Alfred¡¯s voice interrupted the intoxicated young man¡¯s deep thoughts.

    Caught mid-pour, Jason scrambled to replace the cork. ¡°Yes, Alfred?¡±

    ¡°How much have you had to drink?¡±

    ¡°Maybe half?¡± he really wasn¡¯t sure. He lifted the bottle and tried to calculate the exact amount.

    ¡°Right. Well, I¡¯ve good news, but you¡¯re in no shape to hear it.¡±

    ¡°What news?¡±

    ¡°If I tell you we¡¯ve broken the encryption and located Miss Stephanie, you¡¯re liable to do something stu¡ª¡±

    Jason didn''t wait for Alfred to finish. He bolted for the kitchen door.

    First, the garage door wouldn''t open automatically. Undeterred and despite the alcohol haze, he navigated the manual override and pushed the door open. Then, his truck refused to start. Each time he pressed the button, the info screen flashed, ¡°Theft Deterrent in Force.¡±

    Ten minutes later, dejected, demoralized, and still drunk, Jason returned to the living room.

    ¡°You did that, didn¡¯t you?¡± he demanded.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Alfred replied. ¡°While you were attempting to DUI your way to Ohio, I made coffee. I¡¯ll give you the full report while you drink it.¡±

    Jason held his place. ¡°How is she?¡±

    ¡°Physically, Miss Stephanie is as well as can be expected. Mentally, I¡¯m not certain. We may need to consult a psychiatrist.¡±

    ¡°Alfred, if you don¡¯t tell me what the fuck is going on, I will unplug you and rescue Stephanie without your help.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Master Jason,¡± Alfred sighed. ¡°Observe, please.¡±

    The wall-sized video display flickered to life, then resolved into the image of an empty hallway. Muted singing could be heard a moment before Stephanie turned the corner and walked towards the camera. Unlike the old Stephanie, she now wore a dress, and the differences continued.

    This Stephanie wore her hair in twin braids, what Jason thought of as ¡°pigtails.¡± On her feet, instead of sneakers, she wore lacy socks and shiny black Mary Janes. The dress was odd. It took Jason a few moments to figure it out. First, it was a little girl styled jumper. Second, across the front, it bore a legend, ¡°I Deserve a Spanking.¡±

    Cancel my earlier wish to talk to Dad. ¡°Why is she dressed like this?¡±

    ¡°That, Jason, is the question.¡±

    Once Alfred located a video of Stephanie and Roger at dinner, they figured it out. Afterward, Jason researched a phenomenon called DDLG, or Daddy Dom / Little Girl.

    A DDLG relationship was one of dominance and submission. The Daddy Dom took on a caretaker role for a ¡°little¡± The littles could be a man or a woman ¡°age playing¡± as a young person. The little might age play as a toddler or an adolescent, or even as an infant. The daddy provided structure, guidance, and punishment. The little enjoyed freedom from responsibility and more than a few spankings. For consenting adults, it was a win-win situation.

    Roger fancied himself a dominating daddy and forced Stephanie into the little girl role. During the snippet of video, ¡°Daddy¡± and his ¡°little¡± reviewed her recent infractions. After supper, ¡°Daddy¡¯s Little Girl¡± would receive a spanking. Roger repeatedly licked his lips while tallying the swats.

    Jason growled, ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever wanted to murder anyone before. Do we know his status?¡±

    ¡°Two days ago, Mr. Grainer left for the west coast. He¡¯ll be away for the remainder of the week. Miss Stephanie isn¡¯t in any danger. We have time to plan and execute a proper rescue.¡±

    Jason remained quiet. There was so much to consider. He went through it all twice, and both times, one thing stood out. He sat up. ¡°Alfred, if that old pervert isn¡¯t around, why is Steph still acting like a little girl?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°Call Natalie, please. She might know something.¡±

    ***

    Natalie listened to Jason¡¯s concerns. ¡°My owner said something about Roger having an odd kink. Maybe he meant this daddy thing. But even so, I¡¯m afraid for Stephanie. Our addiction is a powerful thing. In the early years, with all the sex she endured, her hormones would have gone crazy. Under those conditions, she might have lost herself. Steffi¡¯s older now, and her tolerance should be stronger. She should be pulling herself back together.¡± Natalie quieted for a few moments before she continued. ¡°You know, if Stephanie¡¯s experience with her owner wasn¡¯t the same as mine. Her hormones might not have raged like mine, and she might not have built up a tolerance. Without a tolerance, I don¡¯t know if she¡¯ll pull out of it on her own.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Why wouldn¡¯t her hormones have functioned?¡±

    ¡°If Stephanie¡¯s owner beat or abused her too often, she might never have developed a proper addiction. Without sufficient exposure, she might not have a tolerance. She may never recover on her own.¡±

    ¡°How does this impact the rescue?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but the sooner you get her out of there, the better. She needs you, Jason, more than I feared.¡±

    As if he didn¡¯t have enough to worry about. ¡°Natalie, I need an edge, something to help Stephanie remember. Do you have anything of hers from back then?¡±

    ¡°I know just the thing. Give me some time to find it. I¡¯ll put it in a box on my back porch.¡±

    ¡°Why not bring it over? It¡¯s about time we met.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t leave my house. It¡¯s one of the rules I can¡¯t change. Stephanie can explain how it works.¡±

    ¡°All this crap you and Stephanie have to live with is¡­I don¡¯t have words.¡±

    ¡°The word you¡¯re looking for, Jason, is ¡®inhuman.¡¯ Remember, Stephanie and I are property.¡±

    ***

    After Natalie hung up, Jason stumbled to the kitchen. The robochef dinged, and the aroma of chicken pot pie wafted from its delivery hatch.

    Alfred said, ¡°I made lunch. The soup is from your great-grandmother¡¯s recipe. The protein and electrolytes will help sober you up.¡±

    Jason¡¯s lips quirked up. ¡°Oooh, I haven¡¯t had her pot pie in years.¡± He ate slowly, savoring the rich stock and chunky noodles.

    Once Jason''s eating slowed, Alfred spoke again. ¡°We have video coverage over most of Grainer¡¯s mansion. Let¡¯s study the details while you finish eating.¡± Mom¡¯s digital print of Monet¡¯s Waterlilies shimmered and was replaced with a floor plan. ¡°This is the first floor. When alone, Miss Stephanie keeps to these rooms.¡± Red circles appeared around the kitchen and laundry¡­

    Throughout the afternoon, they studied the mansion and made plans. All the while, Alfred continued to feed Jason. Suppertime came and went. By the time they finished the preparations, with Jason¡¯s stomach full of carbohydrates, sleep was inevitable.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to rename you Colossus,¡± Jason said. ¡°You¡¯re more controlling than Dad.¡±

    ¡°Jason,¡± Alfred said while ignoring Jason¡¯s jibe, ¡°go get Natalie¡¯s package, then get some sleep. I¡¯ll make a list, and you can pack in the morning. We¡¯ll be on-site by noon.¡±

 Chapter Fourteen

    <blockquote>

    In the news today: Tibet¡¯s armies, led by the Dali Lama, defeated China¡¯s People¡¯s Liberation Army and achieved full national independence.

    </blockquote>

    Stephanie glared straight into the camera. ¡°Why can¡¯t the stupid driver deliver the package after Daddy comes home?¡±

    Alfred, impersonating Grainer¡¯s AI, said, ¡°Miss, the package is for you, and the delivery man insists on a signature.¡±

    ¡°But Daddy doesn¡¯t like it when I talk to strangers. He¡¯ll take me to the basement.¡±

    ***

    Jason glanced up from the live video streaming on his phone. ¡°The basement?¡±

    Alfred replied, ¡°Mr. Grainer reserves his more serious punishments for the basement.¡±

    ¡°What the hell goes on down there? Wait,¡± Jason waved any possible answer away. ¡°I don¡¯t want to know.¡±

    ¡°As you wish.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like that she¡¯s still in her little girl role.¡±

    ¡°There may be more to the addiction than we know, or Miss Natalie may not fully understand how the bond works.¡±

    There wasn¡¯t anything good about either of Alfred¡¯s comments. Just thinking about both made him angry. Once he had Stephanie safe, he¡¯d take the time to sort it all out. Now, though, maybe he could use this ¡®Daddy¡¯ crap. The idea made him grin like a wolf. Jason glanced up to the portico surveillance camera¡ªit was the closest thing to Alfred¡¯s eyes. ¡°Tell Stephanie...¡±

    ***

    ¡°Miss, Daddy wants you to get the package.¡±

    During the lapse in their conversation, Stephanie had drifted away from the camera. When Alfred spoke again, she spun back. ¡°He does? Why didn¡¯t he tell me before he left?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss, but Daddy doesn¡¯t confide in me as he does with you.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Stephanie crowed. ¡°You¡¯re just a stupid AI, and I¡¯m his little girl.¡± She turned and flounced towards the mansion¡¯s front door.

    As she approached the front door, Stephanie''s steps faltered. She glanced around. Somehow, she¡¯d ended up in the foyer and didn¡¯t know why. Her usual daytime place was the kitchen or laundry. She turned back. Maybe she¡¯d remember the reason along the way.

    Stephanie had barely taken two steps before the household AI spoke. ¡°Miss, did you forget the package?¡±

    ¡°What package?¡±

    ¡°A delivery person is at the door with a package, for you.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± her cheeks tightened with a smile. ¡°Is it from my mother?¡± She hadn¡¯t heard from Mom in a while. How long? Years? Something was wrong with her memory.

    ¡°Once you accept the delivery, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find out.¡±

    ¡°Oh, yeah, I guess you¡¯re right.¡±

    Still, opening any exterior door was a big deal. It was, literally, one step away from a top ten no-no, leaving the house without Roger. It had taken years before she¡¯d earned enough trust to have the run of the house.

    ¡°AI.¡± She asked. ¡°Does Roger know I¡¯m going to open the front door?¡±

    ¡°Miss, Daddy wants you to accept this package. I¡¯m certain it will be fine.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Stephanie shrugged. Roger and his daddy fixation. It wasn¡¯t even the worst of his kinks, just the most consistent.

    Before opening the door, she remembered to check the security panel. A mirror hung on the wall next to the door. A couple of taps in the right spots changed it to a video display of the portico. A bearded man wearing chinos and a polo shirt waited. He carried a clipboard in one hand and a neoplas box in the other. Just she opened the door, something drew her attention back. What was it? Sure, he was tall and cute, with curly hair, broad shoulders, and a slim waist. Just watching him brought an unusual clarity to her thoughts. And just like that, the remnants of her little-girl facade skittered away.

    The few men Roger allowed on the property never caught her eye. Strangely though, this delivery man seemed familiar, which was impossible. Roger never allowed her to meet anyone.

    An odd design emblazoned his uniform shirt. It resembled a winged man with a sword, slaying a dragon. It must be a new delivery company. He appeared harmless enough, so Stephanie opened the door.

    The man smiled and stepped forward. Something made Stephanie take a long look. Other than a shameless gleam of interest in his brown eyes, there wasn¡¯t anything that should hold her attention. So, why did his crafty little smile make her cheeks heat up? The last thing she needed to do was encourage some stranger.

    ¡°I have a package for,¡± he glanced at his clipboard, ¡°Miss Stephanie Timms.¡±

    Despite knowing she shouldn¡¯t stare, her eyes lingered on his well-defined biceps. Not bulky like a bodybuilder, just nicely toned. Her interest triggered a slight wave of heat. What was up with her bond today? It usually stopped her long before noticing anyone other than Roger. Here it was, allowing, heck, encouraging her to ogle a random guy.

    ¡°Are you all right, miss?¡± His voice hit just the right notes, and a little buzz started, but just as fast a stomach cramp shut it down.

    This guy was not only cute but attentive enough to catch her brief twinge of nausea. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m fine,¡± A deep breath helped, as did keeping her eyes to the side. ¡°It¡¯s probably just a touch of low blood sugar.¡±

    ¡°Chinese food is great for blood sugar,¡± he said. ¡°Szechuan Chicken is my favorite.¡±

    ¡°Thanks.¡± Where had she heard about Szechuan cuisine before? Roger hated any kind of Asian food.

    ¡°If you¡¯ll sign here, Miss.¡± He proffered the clipboard and a mechanical pencil.

    ¡°What? No pen?¡± The pencil felt kind of heavy, but it wrote well enough.

    ¡°It¡¯s all I had with me.¡± She finished her signature with a tiny dot for each ¡°i.¡±

    ¡°And here¡¯s your package.¡±

    The box was lighter than she expected. It rustled a bit when she checked the label. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said as the man stepped back; it never hurt to be polite.

    ¡°Ah, miss?¡± The driver spoke before she closed the door. ¡°I¡¯ll be in the area for quite a while¡ªin case you have any questions.¡±

    She kept her eyes averted as the driver walked back to his truck. Stephanie had enough nausea for one day.

    On the way back to the kitchen, Stephanie carefully considered the warmth so recently kindled. It was Roger¡¯s fault. What passed as normal sex for him rarely resulted in any kind of pleasure for her. The few orgasms she managed to sneak while in his presence were barely enough to keep the pain away. House cleaning, exercise, and long hot showers only helped so much. When Roger got home, he¡¯d better take care of her business. Until then, if she thought a random delivery man was cute, it was Roger¡¯s own damned fault.

    The kitchen comm display, in its default mirror mode, reflected her image as she passed. Had the cute delivery guy seen a matching glint of interest in her own eyes? Just thinking about the possibility sent another twinge of heat followed by a wave of nausea. Yuck, going about your day horny and queasy was the worst.

    Stephanie sat the package on the counter. What had the delivery man said there at the end? Oh, yes, ¡°I¡¯ll be in the area if you have any questions.¡± Why would she have a question for him? Even if she did, how was she supposed to ask him? Strange, strange, strange.

    The package beckoned. Roughly square and made of the ubiquitous tan neoplas. There wasn¡¯t a return address, and Roger¡¯s packages always had return addresses. Then again, he hadn¡¯t sent her anything in a long while. She should call him. None of his rules covered this situation. Even though Roger flipped out if she bothered him at work, he¡¯d probably be angrier if she opened the box without his permission. ¡°AI,¡± she called.

    ¡°Yes, Miss?¡± Had the AI¡¯s voice changed somehow? It almost had an accent.

    ¡°Call Roger.¡± The com panel switched from a mirror to a blank screen.

    Seconds later, the AI replied. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but Mr. Grainer¡¯s line is busy. A faint busy signal sounded in the background.

    Funny, not even a voice mail prompt. Huh, maybe Roger¡¯s inbox was full? Today was chock-full of strangeness.

    The package had her name and Roger¡¯s address on it. Stephanie Timms, 1 Ault Park Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45208. Oh, what the heck, she¡¯d open it. Maybe her estranged mother sent it? Not that Roger wanted her to reestablish that relationship. Nope, Roger liked it best when Stephanie focused entirely on him. Besides, all Mom wanted to talk about was old, boring stuff.

    Shaking the package revealed little. It rustled a bit, and there might be a very faint metal-on-metal tinkle. Curiosity got the better of her, and she used a steak knife to carve the box open.

    Inside, nestled within the bio-degradable packaging material, she found a small velvet-covered jewelry box. Had Roger sent her a gift? Maybe it meant he was coming home? Another twinge, this time all good, weakened her knees. The jewelry box sprung open with a touch. Inside, on a bed of matching velvet, lay a delicate rose-gold chain with two heart-shaped pendants. The larger of the two was a simple outline, the other, a smaller solid heart with a single engraved ¡°S¡± and a tiny inset diamond. It was a lovely necklace but far cheaper than anything Roger usually gifted to her.

    Under the bright kitchen lights, she noticed light scratches on the flat surfaces. Was this a used necklace? Why in the world would Roger send her used jewelry? Still, it was pretty, and the rose gold would complement her hair and eyes. Something about it seemed familiar. Maybe she¡¯d seen one like it before? Stephanie stepped to the wall display, already back in mirror mode, and put the necklace on.

    As if closing the clasp also completed a circuit, a latent memory of donning this same bit of jewelry flitted through her mind. A young man and a high school dance. How crazy. Roger would never allow her to do any such thing.

    Thinking about Roger helped settle her thoughts. The memories must have come from a movie. Odd that the title slipped her mind; she usually remembered everything. This necklace and its disturbing fake memories needed to go. She¡¯d put it away and leave it for Roger to explain. Back at the box, she noticed an envelope partially hidden under the padding. Inside, Stephanie found a picture. Her, wearing a red cocktail dress and a boy in a suit. He had curly, uncombable hair and warm brown eyes. The same gleam lurked there as had in the delivery driver¡¯s eyes.

    Barriers inside her mind crashed away. Six months¡¯ worth of ten-year-old memories returned in a flash, each stampeding for a place in her heart. Like a highlight reel of her sixteenth summer and fall, snatches of events poured into her soul. The pain of remembering a lost life crashed down and took Stephanie into darkness.

    ***

    When Stephanie collapsed, Jason dropped his phone and hammered the truck¡¯s start button. ¡°Get the gate and the front door open, Alfred, I¡¯m going in.¡± The dashboard displays flickered as his Ford pickup hummed to life.

    ¡°Is that wise, Master Jason?¡±

    Regardless of Alfred¡¯s opinion, the vehicular traffic between Jason¡¯s parking spot and the Grainer estate parted like the Red Sea. Jason¡¯s eyes bugged out as cars and busses drifted to the curb. ¡°Holy heck, buddy, I didn¡¯t know you could do that.¡± Without waiting for a reply, Jason floored the accelerator and zoomed onto the cleared roadway. ¡°Is she okay?¡±

    ¡°Miss Stephanie is still breathing.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯ll have to do.¡± Not too far ahead, the steel gate, barring entry to the former public park, slid out of view. Seconds later, his truck whirred through the gap. Several more seconds passed, and Jason slammed on the brakes, and his Ford pickup screeched to a stop.

    The mansion¡¯s front door stood ajar, and Jason barreled through. From his and Alfred¡¯s spying, he knew the floor plan. Jason dashed through the foyer, with its polished marble floor, down the hallways and skidded into the kitchen. His heart thudded when he found Stephanie crumpled on the floor.

    Alfred barked a warning as Jason approached. ¡°Be careful. Remember what Natalie said.¡±

    The warning almost came too late. Jason stumbled and nearly fell. ¡°That loyalty gene thing?¡±

    ¡°Exactly. If you trigger it, Miss Stephanie may become dangerous.¡±

    The slow rise and fall of Stephanie¡¯s chest told Jason she lived. ¡°I can¡¯t believe she¡¯d ever hurt me.¡± Like before, when he delivered the box, the urge to embrace her nearly overwhelmed him.

    ¡°She may no longer be the girl you once knew. Please, Jason, be careful.¡±

    ***

    Recollections of a lost life swirled in a confusing jumble. Mom laughing. Mom crying. Mom dazed and incoherent after Gene finished with her. A cold hatred swelled at the memory of her father, that worthless sperm donor. The three of them moving into and out of a series of houses. Then a bright spot, a teasing young man with a special smile. Chasing behind that image was Roger, the stern-faced, young/old man who owned her.

    The reason for her mysterious attraction to the delivery driver resolved itself. Mom finally sent Jason. Great, now Roger can have everyone murdered.

    Stephanie opened her eyes. Across the room, Jason, the delivery driver, sat on the floor. His eyes, like hers, were full of tears. Seeing him again, after all these years, produced a slew of emotions. Conflicting desires and contrary fears urged opposing actions. She needed to drive him away, almost as much as she needed him to hold her. The anticipation of his touch brought another, albeit far weaker, wave of nausea. Yuck, this sucked! Maybe, if she wrote it down, someone would etch it on her tombstone: Here lies Stephanie the slave girl, nauseated and horny.¡±

    Jason, handsome and buff with his short beard and tight-fitting shirt, stirred. He¡¯d be twenty-six now, the same as her. She found her voice. ¡°What did you do?¡±

    ¡°I brought you back.¡± He grinned.

    He didn¡¯t understand. ¡°No, Jay, all you did was fill me with her memories. I¡¯m not your Stephanie, not anymore.¡±

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Jason shook his head in denial.

    The stupid man. Barging in here without thinking and acting the hero. He¡¯d be lucky to live out the week. Hell, she¡¯d probably die too. There was no way Roger would forgive this.

    Sighing, Stephanie used a corner of the table to help her stand.

    Jason lurched to his feet, but he stopped before stepping any closer. At least he knew to keep his distance.

    Sighing again, she waved her former boyfriend back, then pulled out a chair and sat. ¡°Make yourself useful. Heat up the kettle for me.¡±

    ¡°Kettle?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Jason, the kettle.¡± She pointed to the cast iron teapot on the stove. ¡°You know, to make tea?¡±

    It became apparent that he couldn¡¯t even manage this simple task. Even with Stephanie¡¯s directions, every few seconds, his head would turn back to her, and a stupid grin would lift the corners of his mouth. It was kind of sweet and not a little flattering, but she needed the tea to help her think.

    The big goof stood at the sink, making cow eyes at her while tap water overflowed from the kettle.

    ¡°Jason?¡±

    ¡°Steph, I-I missed you so much.¡±

    ¡°I know. You¡¯ve told me twice already.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± his face clouded for a moment, but it cleared right back up. ¡°I can¡¯t believe we¡¯re together again.¡±

    ¡°Look, Jay¡± she had to say it, ¡°we¡¯re not together again.¡± His face fell, and it broke her heart. Before Stephanie realized it, she stood at his side. One hand reaching to shut off the tap, her other hand, all by itself, reached out and touched his arm. An invisible spark, or something, jumped between them, and they both flinched.

    ¡°Whoa!¡± he said. ¡°Did you feel that?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, trying to rub the tingle from her fingers. ¡°It must be static electricity. I¡¯ll have the AI check the humidifier.¡±

    Jason reached a hand towards hers. ¡°Can I try?¡±

    Afraid it might happen again, Stephanie skipped back a step. ¡°Better not. We don¡¯t know what might happen.¡±

    The look in his eyes disagreed.

    ¡°Tell you what, Jay, I¡¯ll help with the tea. Then we¡¯ll talk, ¡®kay?¡± ¡®Kay was Jasonese from back then.

    They moved around the kitchen in an odd choreography. He kept his distance. She did as well. At the same time, they watched each other with an ever-increasing warmth.

    ¡°I¡¯ll get the cups. You put the kettle on the stove, okay?¡±

    He nodded, ¡°You want it hot.¡±

    The way he said it made her pause. A sneaky glance back revealed nothing. Jason had an innocent smile plastered across his face. All too aware of his intent, she nodded. ¡°Yeah, boiling hot.¡± For good measure, she added, ¡°Hot enough to hurt!¡±

    All he did was smile.

    Stephanie decided this occasion was special enough to warrant the full tea service. While Jason obediently watched the kettle heat, she got out the fancy tea stuff. Once or twice, she caught his eyes following her.

    ¡°You¡¯re taller than I remember,¡± she said in passing.

    ¡°Yeah, I kept growing until my senior year in high school. It drove Mom crazy buying me clothes.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that unusual?¡±

    ¡°Not so much. It runs in Dad¡¯s family. We¡¯re late bloomers.¡±

    The ceramic teapot was in the cabinet to Jason¡¯s left. At first, Stephanie thought to ask him to get it. No, he¡¯d mess it up somehow. Casually, as if she hadn¡¯t a care in the world, Stephanie passed close enough to raise goosebumps. It was daring to see how close she could get.

    Jason said, ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever been so aware of you before. It¡¯s like I can close my eyes and still find you.¡±

    ¡°It sounds like you need to get laid.¡± She reached past him for the teapot inside the cabinet. If the side of her torso brushed his arm, it was entirely an accident.

    ¡°I¡¯m not the only one,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s been a while for you too.¡±

    Surprised, and not a little irritated, she spun to face him. He stood well within her personal zone. ¡°What makes you think that?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s your eyes. They always gave you away.¡±

    What? Stephanie¡¯s mouth dropped open. Was Jason telling the truth? He¡¯d never said anything about it before. Well, not that she remembered. It wasn¡¯t any of his business anyway. ¡°It¡¯s not your problem,¡± she snapped.

    The kettle whistled. Smirking, Jason turned back to the stove. While he fiddled with the controls, Stephanie slipped over to the wall display. Over her shoulder, she said, ¡°Pour the hot water into the ceramic teapot, please. It needs to heat up before we make the tea.¡± She examined her eyes in the mirrored display. Did they really give her away?

    When Jason turned towards her, she ducked back to the counter. ¡°Dump out the water and refill the pot. I¡¯ll fetch the tea.¡± His innocent expression was back. The rat better not be smirking at her.

    After carrying the tea service to the table, Jason took the chair closest to the door. Stephanie sat at the opposite end. Not that it would help if something triggered her.

    Neither spoke. A question she was confident lay on both their minds, ¡°Wanna fuck?¡± almost made it to her lips. Instead, she sipped her tea and built a fortress of serenity in her mind.

    At peace, she tried a neutral topic. ¡°How¡¯s your mother?¡±

    ¡°Mom¡¯s good, but my parents and I don¡¯t talk much anymore.¡±

    His reply packed more questions than answers. ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°After college, Dad and I got into a fight.¡± Jason shrugged and added, ¡°We stopped talking.¡±

    ¡°Why? You looked up to him so much.¡± More memories socketed themselves into place. She¡¯d envied Jason for having a real dad. It balanced well with her distrust of the inflexible, law-abiding man.

    ¡°Dad thought I spent too much of my life waiting for you to come back.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± A rush of selfish glee warred with her sudden guilt. He was supposed to have a real-life; it was one of her anchors.

    ¡°I disagreed with him.¡±

    ¡°What, you never dated anyone after me?¡± That guilty glee still did its crazy dance in the back of her mind.

    ¡°Well, no. I dated.¡± Jason met her eyes, and that damned smirk was back. ¡°Remember Caitlin?¡±

    Intended or not, Jason¡¯s barb struck. Stephanie¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°That red-haired hussy from the dance?¡± Her fortress of calm turned out to be a sandcastle. Waves of irritation eroded its edges.

    ¡°Yeah, she and I dated, off and on, for almost two years.¡±

    A calming breath stopped the erosion. Stephanie¡¯s eyes dropped to his left hand. Nothing on his ring finger. ¡°What happened? Married and divorced already? Any kids?¡±

    ¡°Nothing like that. We split up because I couldn¡¯t commit.¡± His eyes lingered on hers. ¡°She accused me of not letting you go.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so sorry,¡± she said without the slightest sense of regret. ¡°How many other girls did you date?¡±

    ¡°Before Caitlin and I split up for good, or after?¡±

    Stephanie blinked. Irritated, she said, ¡°In total. How many?¡±

    ¡°Do booty calls count? ¡¯Cause, there were a few of those too.¡±

    A wave of anger swept over her sandcastle. ¡°You son of a bitch. I¡¯m stuck here, and you turned into a man-whore!¡±

    ¡°Think of it as a compliment. I¡¯ve known a bunch of women, and none of them ever came close to you.¡±

    She wanted to jump across the table and strangle him. Instead, Stephanie took a deep breath and rebuilt her fortress. After regaining her center, she slid her empty cup across the table. It dinged his cup to the side, and both stopped short of the edge. ¡°Make me another cup.¡±

    Jason nodded and stepped back to the induction range.

    He stood at the stove, his back to her. Her eyes traced his broad shoulders, trim waist, and tight¡­. He¡¯d certainly improved with age. Then he spoke without looking back.

    ¡°There¡¯s one thing still bothering me. Why didn¡¯t you say something back then? Didn¡¯t you trust me?¡±

    The kettle whistled. Jason shut off the stove and fiddled with the tea-making supplies. Of course, he got it all wrong. He didn¡¯t preheat the teapot, and he didn¡¯t know to reuse the tea ball. Answers to his questions swirled in her mind. What to say? How to say it? How dare he ask if she trusted him! His fumbling got the better of her.

    ¡°Never mind,¡± she said in a huff, ¡°I¡¯ll make it.¡±

    He turned towards her, just as she reached him. By then, it was too late to reconsider. Too late to step back. She was in his arms and the years vanished. Jason¡¯s lips were chilled fire. A moment later, her lips parted, and their kiss deepened. A perfect storm of electricity built, swirling through her core.

    There weren¡¯t any restrictions. No promises to one parent or another. No reason for either him or her to hold back. Jason¡¯s cool, knowing hands kneaded and teased. The bristle of his beard burned lines of desire across her throat. She¡¯d never wanted him more than now. Together they sank to their knees. Then she onto her back, pulling him with her. The cold tile floor pressed against her. They were all business. Jason sat up; one hand fumbled with his belt, the other busy beneath her skirt. The gleam in his eyes was far brighter than she remembered.

    ¡°Master Jason?¡± The voice boomed from the comm panel.

    ¡°Not now, Alfred, we¡¯re busy.¡± Belt undone, Jason switched to the button and zipper.

    Alfred? Jason¡¯s old AI? What was it doing here in Rog¡ª Everything changed.

    Somehow, an intruder had her down on the floor. She needed to inflict maximum damage and roll clear. Her legs were up, so she cocked her right leg back and kicked. The heel of her shoe struck the intruder¡¯s forehead. He crumpled. In a flash, Stephanie popped to her feet, scanning for other intruders.

    ***

    It was enough to make a cyber entity cry. Despite all the warnings and discussions, at Jason''s first opportunity to "get jiggy" with Miss Stephanie, the impulsive young human ended up unconscious. And poor Miss Stephanie, now back in "Roger''s Girl" mode, was completely out of control. To make it even better, there was the other crisis to manage. The one he hadn¡¯t warned anyone about yet. He needed a human to intervene, but who?

    ***

    Decades ago, Natalie discovered the value of a hot bath. Due to her original owner¡¯s business travels, Pavlo sometimes left her alone for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. The longing his absence created made her life difficult. If left alone long enough, she¡¯d developed an influenza-like fever and achy joints. She recalled when Maryska, Pavlo¡¯s wife, used hot baths to ease the flu symptoms in their children. Perhaps a hot bath would also help her?

    The master bath in Pavlo¡¯s townhouse included a huge claw-footed porcelain tub. She allowed the water to run hot before seating the rubber stopper. When the bathtub filled halfway, she slipped inside. The water¡¯s temperature was far higher than her own, and the heat seeped into her bones. Warming up and relaxing, she nearly fell asleep.

    After the water temperature dropped a few degrees, she opened the valve with her toes and added more hot. While the bath warmed, she thought about the sensations Pavlo stirred within her. Almost of their own volition, her hands dipped down. Perhaps she might elicit the same on her own? All Pavlo did was rub here and there, and she lost her mind. He made it seem so simple.

    Thirty-odd years later, Natalie lived for her afternoon baths. She loved the indolence of a steaming hot soak, with the water almost hot enough to scald. Sharply scented bath salts completed the ritual. While she never achieved the level of sensation Pavlo or Gene brought, she got darned good at it. The trick was to draw it out. The longer the buildup, the better the culmination, and the more it reduced her withdrawal symptoms.

    Today, with Jason set to rescue Stephanie, Natalie needed to deal with both the stress and her bond. If she didn¡¯t, she¡¯d be a wreck if a problem arose. From a shelf in the bathroom, she selected a bitter orange and pomegranate bath bomb. It turned the water a deep ruby red and filled the room with the heady scents of orange bitters and cloves. She slipped into the tub and got busy.

    Her fingers drew gentle circles and dashes, holding herself on edge. This was the best part. Eyes closed, Natalie floated, free from aches and need. La petite mort hovered close. She considered reaching for it.

    ¡°Miss Natalie, I apologize for the interruption.¡±

    Fragrant, red-tinged water splashed the walls and floor as Natalie surged out of the tub.

    Automatically dropping into a Shaolin cat stance, her head panned left and right as she searched for the intruder. No one was in sight. ¡°Who¡¯s there,¡± she called. The intruder probably lurked in the bedroom.

    ¡°My apologies, Miss Natalie. I am Alfred, the Thomases¡¯ AI. Jason and I need your assistance.¡±

    The voice came from the ceiling-mounted speaker. An AI named Alfred had always answered the Thomases¡¯ phone. Had Jason already left to rescue Stephanie? ¡°Is this about my daughter? And how are you inside my house?¡±

    ¡°We have a crisis at the Grainer mansion. Stephanie has incapacitated Jason. If I patch you through, can you speak to her? In a rush, Alfred filled Natalie in.

    ***

    Stephanie''s attacker retched and rolled away. At least she didn¡¯t have to see his face. Daddy¡¯s rules were adamant. Thieves and other intruders were dealt with by his people, not the police. Whatever this man intended, he wouldn¡¯t have a good ending. Stephanie turned to the comm panel and pressed the red emergency button.

    Nothing happened. Stephanie jabbed it again.

    The speaker crackled, and a woman spoke. ¡°Stop whatever you¡¯re doing, little miss. You¡¯re making a huge mistake.¡±

    Little miss? The only person who called her ¡°little miss¡± was¡­ ¡°Mom?¡± A myriad of smiles and hugs, shared tears and hopes, images that meant ¡°Mom,¡± blossomed in her mind. Stephanie hadn¡¯t heard from her mother in¡­how long? Oh, yeah, ever since Roger told her to refuse Mom¡¯s calls and dump all her emails. That bastard! But Roger meant everything to her. He was¡­a reflection from the panel¡¯s mirrored surface caught the gleam of the necklace still around her neck.

    It wasn¡¯t fair. Events that shaped memories were supposed to happen one after the other. Instead, she had a jumble of three different lives to consolidate. The most vivid memories were of being Roger¡¯s toy girl. Adding to those were the years growing up as Natalie¡¯s daughter. Her intruder moaned and rolled onto his back. Crap, six months of loving Jason stirred themselves into the mix.

    It was a lot for a poor genie to take in. Dizzy, nauseous, and still horny, Stephanie fell into a chair. ¡°Mom,¡± she wailed, ¡°what¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Sweetie,¡± The anguish in Mom¡¯s voice stabbed Stephanie through the heart. ¡°do you remember the plan?¡±

    The plan? Yeah, Mom¡¯s crazy idea. Jason rolling up to rescue her like Richard Gere in the old 2D movie, Pretty Woman. ¡°I remember, but it wasn¡¯t supposed to happen like this.¡±

    ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t, but it¡¯s what we have, sweetie. Jason came to get you. I¡¯m sorry if you¡¯re having problems.¡±

    On the floor, her former boyfriend struggled to sit up. Before he moved more than an inch, Stephanie knelt next to him. ¡°Don¡¯t move. We may need to call an ambulance.¡±

    ¡°Hey, Steph,¡± Jay slurred her name happily. ¡°Why are you blurry?¡± His eyes didn¡¯t track. One pupil was normal, the other dilated.

    ¡°Mom,¡± Stephanie called out, ¡°refresh my memory. What does it mean when a man has one eye dilated and the other¡¯s normal?¡±

    ¡°Oh, dear,¡± Mom replied, ¡°did you kick Jason?

    ¡°We were on the floor, and I thought he was an intruder.¡±

    ¡°What were you and Jason doing on the floor? Oh, never mind. Even with ten years to grow up, you two still can¡¯t be left alone!¡±

    Face hot, Stephanie retorted. ¡°You¡¯re not helping Mother.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s concussed.¡±

    The craziness had gone on long enough. ¡°All right,¡± Stephanie announced. Everyone fell silent. ¡°Mentally, I¡¯m as far back together as possible. Mom, I remember enough of the plan to know it will get Jason killed. He needs to leave.¡± Stephanie eased Jason into a fireman¡¯s carry and turned towards the front door.

    Mom¡¯s voice followed her via the overhead speakers. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, sweetie?¡±

    ¡°Roger is about a hundred times worse than Yevgeny. He¡¯s a cold-blooded, murderous bastard. He won¡¯t come after us himself; he¡¯ll hire professionals. I¡¯m sure Jason¡¯s just as wonderful as ever, but he can¡¯t defend us.¡±

    ¡°Ahem,¡± Alfred interjected. ¡°Miss Stephanie, I¡ª¡±

    Grunting under the load, Stephanie spared a breath to chuckle. ¡°That¡¯s sweet of you, Alfred. I don¡¯t know how Jason uploaded you here, but you¡¯re just a household AI. Your willingness to defend Jason is admirable, but¡ª"

    Alfred spoke in a stern voice, his words clipped. ¡°Shut it, Miss Stephanie. Your owner, Roger Grainer, is on his way home. His ETA is less than ten minutes from now.¡±

    Stephanie gripped Jason as tight as possible and flat-out ran for the front door. They were close to the foyer when Jason moaned, ¡°Stop, I¡¯m going to throw up.¡±

    ¡°No! Not here, Jason, wait till we get you outside. Do you have a car?¡±

    She felt his head shake. ¡°No, real men drive trucks.¡±

    ¡°Great, after I load you into your manly truck, you can throw up. I¡¯ll even start the autopilot.¡±

    They made it to the center of the foyer when Jason heaved. He slipped out of Stephanie¡¯s grasp. He retched once, then vomited all over himself and the floor.

    Stephanie stared down at the puking man. Once upon a time, he was her fairy tale boyfriend. She must still love him. Otherwise, she¡¯d murder him. ¡°This is so bad. Roger will be home any minute.¡±

    Jason rolled onto his back, fortunately not through the pool of¡­yuck. His eyes opened. ¡°Why do I see two of you?¡±

    From off in the distance, Stephanie heard the high-pitched whine of turbines. Roger¡¯s turbocopter was close. ¡°Jason, you need to leave!¡±

    ¡°Miss Stephanie,¡± Alfred interrupted, ¡°if Master Jason has a concussion, moving him to his vehicle might be fatal.¡±

    ¡°If Roger finds him, it will be fatal!¡±

    ¡°In that case, I suggest you hide him. I¡¯ll take care of the truck.¡± From outside the still-open front door, Jason¡¯s vehicle hummed to life; gravel crunched under its rubber tires as Alfred somehow drove it down the lane.

    ¡°Alfred, wait,¡± Stephanie wailed in frustration. ¡°You have to take him with you!¡± The inbound turbine whine grew louder.

    When Roger stepped into the foyer, he found Stephanie on her hands and knees, cleaning up the mess.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± he demanded. She could picture him, hands on hips, in his ¡°outraged¡± pose.

    Stephanie searched for an explanation that didn¡¯t involve a concussed former boyfriend and the thoroughly useless Alfred. Her brow furrowed as she concentrated, and something amazing happened. For the first time in nearly a decade, she found it possible to lie to her owner.

    ¡°I-I got sick,¡± she said while keeping her eyes down. Roger never missed anything. If he saw any sign of falsehood, she and Jason would die.

    ¡°You got sick? Really?¡± He paused, and Stephanie cringed, waiting for the accusation. ¡°I know exactly what that means, young lady!¡±

    She couldn¡¯t help it. Her eyes darted up to see Roger with a joyful smile stretched across his face. ¡°Y-you do?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Daddy¡¯s little girl is going to have a baby! Finally! Daddy despaired it would ever happen. He thought his little baby girl would always deny him a daughter.¡±

    If she hadn¡¯t been so frightened for herself and Jason, Roger switching into full Daddy-Dom mode would have made her vomit. Funny thing, though, his daddy role-playing never creeped her out so much before.

    ¡°Babygirl,¡± he said. ¡°Get your mess cleaned up. Daddy¡¯s hungry and wants his supper.¡± With a new spring in his step, Roger skipped to the stairs. Stephanie listened carefully. She didn¡¯t know what she¡¯d do if Roger opened the guest bedroom door and found Jason.

    ***

    Far too frazzled to even think about returning to her tub, Natalie padded downstairs and put the kettle on. While setting up her teapot, she had a thought. ¡°Alfred?¡±

    Without hesitation, Alfred answered. ¡°Yes, Miss Natalie?¡±

    ¡°How long ago had you hacked your way into my house?¡±

    ¡°Just before we spoke.¡±

    ¡°So, you weren¡¯t spying on me for long?¡±

    ¡°Miss Natalie, I am an AI, not a corporeal being. While I can appreciate the aesthetics of your beauty, I do not have gonads. Your modesty is quite safe.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± despite Alfred¡¯s denial, his presence still unnerved Natalie. She was not used to speaking with a cyber entity. ¡°In the future, stay out of my bathroom.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am.¡±

 Chapter Fifteen

    <blockquote>

    In the News Today: On this tenth anniversary of the Flat-Earth Orbital Disaster, the surviving members have started a GoFundMe page. They seek donations to build another rocket. One puckish blogger mused the world would be better off if ¡°all the whack-jobs launched themselves into orbit.¡± Donations have skyrocketed.

    </blockquote>

    Jason woke when a hand clamped over his mouth. ¡°Wha¡ª¡± He pushed against the hand, but a wave of dizziness threatened to make him sick.

    ¡°Shush.¡± A portable lamp clicked on. Jason recognized Stephanie just before she aimed the light into his eyes. ¡°Be quiet. How do you feel?¡±

    ¡°Woozy, sore¡± he reached up to block the light. ¡°That¡¯s bright as heck!¡± When he moved, something tightened around his throat. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± It felt like a bulky necklace.

    ¡°Shush.¡± She repeated and batted his hand to the side. ¡°It¡¯s a medpatch. You have a concussion, and I don¡¯t want you to die.¡±

    A concussion accounted for the headache, but a medpatch? Medpatch¡¯s were insanely expensive devices, but a billionaire like Grainer could easily afford one. Jason remembered making tea, then Stephanie in his arms and, whoa, everything came back. He couldn¡¯t suppress the surprise in his voice¡ªor the betrayal. ¡°You kicked me.¡±

    ¡°Sorry, but you and Alfred triggered me.¡±

    ¡°Your mom warned me about your loyalty gene.¡±

    With the phrase ¡°Loyalty Gene,¡± Steph¡¯s flashlight twitched. She said, ¡°Don¡¯t get any more ideas.¡± Then her voice grew serious. ¡°?Cause Roger¡¯s downstairs.¡±

    ¡°Downstairs? He¡¯s supposed to be on the West Coast.¡±

    Stephanie stared. ¡°How do you know that?¡±

    The medpatch must have kicked into overdrive because his headache faded away. ¡°Alfred hacked Grainer¡¯s network. We got all the details.¡± Jason glanced around but didn¡¯t recognize the surroundings. ¡°Where are we?¡±

    ¡°In one of Roger¡¯s guest rooms. If you stay quiet, you should be safe.¡±

    Jason took a risk and stroked Stephanie¡¯s cheek. ¡°How do you feel, Sweetheart?¡±

    ¡°Most of my memories are back, I think. Otherwise, I¡¯m worried. If he finds out you¡¯re here, he¡¯ll call his goons, and I don¡¯t know what would happen.¡±

    ¡°Where are you with that loyalty thing?¡±

    There was enough reflected light to make out Stephanie¡¯s grimace. ¡°Somewhere between, ¡®I don¡¯t know¡¯ and ¡®confused as hell.¡¯ Mom thought whoever last fed our addiction got the loyalty. But it¡¯s all jumbled. Right now, I don¡¯t know who I belong to.¡±

    ¡°What would happen if I punched him out for thinking he owns you?¡±

    ¡°With your concussion? Stay in bed, tough guy. Wait until the medpatch heals you.¡± Stephanie patted his shoulder and stood. ¡°Do you need the bathroom before I go?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± He rolled out of bed, but vertigo destroyed his balance. His only choice seemed to be falling face-first.

    ¡°C¡¯mon,¡± Steph swooped in and wrapped her arm around his waist. Together, they stumbled across the room.

    The medpatch worked fast. In the time it took to reach the bathroom, much of the dizziness had receded. The bathroom¡¯s LED lights snapped to life. The large mirror behind the sink made everything brighter. Their reflections caught his eye. Except for his briefs and the medpatch around his throat, Jason was naked. The large yellowing bruise on his forehead made him look even worse than he felt.

    Stephanie, on the other hand, resembled a goth Barbie all dolled up for a playdate. The bodice of her dress fit tight enough it deemphasized her breasts. The material itself was elastic, black, and covered with ebony sequins. Below the bodice, her skirt puffed out in layers of black tulle.

    ¡°Whoa,¡± he said to Stephanie¡¯s reflection in the mirror. ¡°Are you going to a masquerade party?¡±

    ¡°Smart assed comments will get you knocked out again.¡± She smiled though and pressed his hands against the sink. ¡°You can handle it from here. I need to go and keep him company.¡±

    The thought of what that might require made Jason nauseous again. ¡°What will you have to do?¡±

    Stephanie''s hand brushed his cheek. ¡°As little as possible. Stay here. Stay quiet. I¡¯ll be back to tuck you in.¡±

    Jason wanted to ask Stephanie more questions. Anything to keep her away from Grainer, but she¡¯d already left.

    After using the facilities, Jason stood at the sink and quietly cleaned up. Even with the medpatch¡¯s accelerated healing, the outline from Steph¡¯s shoe remained clear.

    The medpatch drew his attention next. A snug-fitting metallic band held the device to his throat. On the device itself, its status lights glowed a faint green. If he concentrated, a faint hum was barely noticeable. Semi-autonomous medical devices like this required a high-bandwidth data connection. The headache and dizziness he¡¯d woken with had already vanished.

    ¡°Alfred?¡± he kept his voice low.

    ¡°Yes, Jason?¡±

    ¡°This medpatch, are you monitoring it?¡±

    ¡°I am. It¡¯s an impressive device and quite hackable. If you were to slip it around Mr. Grainer¡¯s neck, he could suffer a convenient heart attack or stroke.¡±

    Jason swallowed; The medpatch suddenly felt much heavier. ¡°I¡¯ll keep it in mind.¡±

    ¡°After Mr. Grainer succumbs, simply remove the medpatch, and there would be no evidence of malfeasance.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want him dead.¡±

    ¡°Shaka, the greatest monarch of the Zulus, once said, ¡®Never leave an enemy behind, or it will rise again to fly at your throat!¡¯¡±

    ¡°Shaka Zulu?¡± Jason stopped his careful study of the medpatch. ¡°Wasn¡¯t he murdered by his brothers?¡±

    ¡°Dingane and Mhlangana, half-brothers and avowed enemies¡ªwho Shaka unwisely left alive.¡±

    ¡°Ouch. I get your point, buddy, but I want to avoid murdering anyone.¡±

    ¡°Your objection is noted.¡±

    ¡°Noted¡± didn¡¯t mean Alfred agreed, or even if the AI would honor Jason¡¯s preference. Better to change the subject for now. ¡°What else is going on?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve taken the liberty to hack Mr. Grainer¡¯s mobile phone.¡±

    ¡°Good idea. Anything interesting yet?¡±

    ¡°Not yet, like the estate, the device has military-grade encryption. I¡¯m¡ª¡±

    Alfred¡¯s explanation cut off a moment before a sudden movement caught Jason¡¯s attention. Stephanie, in her black princess dress, stood in the doorway. Her eyes lingered on his reflection. Once she had his attention, she stepped to his side.

    Jason said, ¡°You¡¯re back sooner than I expected.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s on the phone, and I wanted to get you back into bed.¡±

    ¡°Sweetheart, I¡¯ll settle for doing it on the bathroom counter, but the bed is fine.¡±

    Stephanie blushed. ¡°I wasn¡¯t talking about screwing.¡±

    ¡°Why not? You and I need to finish what we started.¡±

    The flush on her cheeks deepened.

    Alfred butted in. ¡°Pardon the interruption, but I¡¯m monitoring the phone call downstairs. Feel free to fornicate."

    Instead of laughing or dragging Jason to the bed, Stephanie shrugged. ¡°Sure,¡± she said with more than a hint of resignation, ¡°I¡¯ll bend over the sink, and you can have a quickie.¡±

    Jason shook his head. He¡¯d misjudged Stephanie¡¯s mood and needed to fix it. ¡°No, no, no, Steph, baby, that¡¯s not what I¡¯m here for.¡±

    ¡°Then hook up with one of your bimbos. If I let you do anything to me, I¡¯ll zonk out, and Roger will know. He may be human, but he misses nothing.¡±

    Jason took a chance and put his hands on Stephanie¡¯s waist. Hopefully, it wouldn¡¯t trigger her loyalty gene. ¡°What does ¡®zonk out¡¯ mean?¡±

    ¡°Remember when we used to fool around, and how it made me sleepy? That¡¯s zonked, and Roger would notice it if I didn¡¯t have enough time to recover.¡±

    ¡°Oh, hell, I didn¡¯t know. I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she said, but she wouldn¡¯t look him in the eye.

    He said, ¡°I¡¯m just trying to follow your mother¡¯s instructions.¡± His excuse probably sounded lame to her as well.

    Stephanie wiped her eyes. ¡°What did Mom tell you?¡±

    He¡¯d known this was coming and didn¡¯t have a clue how to answer. Best to spit it out. ¡°Natalie said you and she are special, high-end genies. That you¡¯re addicted to some jerk, who thinks he owns you, but despite everything, you still love me.¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t it bother you?¡±

    ¡°Why should it? I still love you too.¡±

    Her mouth dropped open. Clearly she hadn¡¯t expected that particular answer. It took a second or two before she recovered. ¡°No, you goof. I¡¯m not human, doesn¡¯t that bother you?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± To help make his point, Jason deliberately ogled her reflection in the mirror. ¡°I¡¯ve seen you naked. You¡¯re human enough for me.¡±

    ¡°And you¡¯ve seen plenty of naked women for comparison.¡±

    ¡°So what if I have? All I knew was what your father told my parents. That some rich couple adopted you. Heck, it broke my heart you hadn¡¯t told me.¡±

    ¡°It was a lie.¡±

    ¡°I know, and I feel like crap. Number three on my ¡®to do¡¯ list is making your mom explain why she let this happen. All she had to do was ask for help. My mom loved you too, and there isn¡¯t anything she wouldn¡¯t have done.¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy for Mom and me. When you¡¯re not human, trust is a luxury.¡±

    It hurt to hear Steph admit she hadn¡¯t trusted him enough. Now, though, wasn¡¯t the time to discuss it. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it later. I want to know everything.¡±

    Steph didn¡¯t react immediately, but when she spoke, her eyes were hard. ¡°Jay, there can¡¯t be a later for us. You shouldn¡¯t even be here.¡±

    Crap, she was back to that nonsense. ¡°Neither should you.¡±

    ¡°If Roger finds out, he¡¯ll have you killed. I can¡¯t live with that.¡±

    ¡°If Grainer would have me murdered, then what would he do to you?¡±

    ¡°Probably nothing he hasn¡¯t already done. I¡¯ve learned how to take it.¡±

    ¡°Steph, we can disagree on a lot of things, but your safety is non-negotiable.¡±

    Body language says a lot. Stephanie¡¯s shoulders sagged, then she shook her head. ¡°If you won¡¯t respect my decisions, then you¡¯re no better than Roger.¡±

    Jason opened his mouth to protest, but what could he say? Where was Dad, the master of arguments? All Jason had left was his hurt. ¡°That was low, and it¡¯s complete bull. Your Roger is just a sadistic asshole with a little girl fetish. I¡¯m just the dummy trying to rescue you.¡± Jason stepped around his former girlfriend. He made it to the bathroom door, then staggered towards the bed. He didn¡¯t make it more than a step before Stephanie had her arm around him.

    The light from the bathroom shut off, leaving the bedroom pitch black. Stephanie though, knew the way and unerringly led him back to the bed. When they stopped, he turned to face her. In the darkness she was little more than a warm shape. His hands slipped around her waist. ¡°Steph¡ª¡±

    She stepped out of his reach. ¡°I need to get downstairs.¡±

    Once again, Alfred butted in. ¡°Mr. Grainer is still on the phone with his agent. They¡¯re discussing the outcome of Miss Stephanie¡¯s pregnancy.¡±

    Surprised, Jason took a step back. Unfortunately, his sense of balance was still screwed up, and he toppled over.

    Stephanie swooped in and caught him again. She said, ¡°Will you get back in bed? You¡¯re going to hurt yourself.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re pregnant.¡± He¡¯d always wanted children with Stephanie, but he¡¯d expected them to be his.

    Stephanie chuckled and maneuvered him to the bed. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it, you¡¯re jealous.¡± There was a note of triumph in her voice.

    ¡°Hell yeah,¡± Jason couldn¡¯t help snapping back. ¡°We only had six months before that bastard stole you.¡± His stomach twisted, but Jason overrode the nausea. There was only one way to handle this. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll treat the baby like my own.¡±

    Stephanie sighed. Maybe his eyes were adjusting to the darkness, but it looked like she shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not pregnant,¡± she said. The words registered, but his internal misery blocked any comprehension. Chuckling, Stephanie repeated herself. ¡°I¡¯m not pregnant, you goof. Roger saw the mess you made downstairs and decided I had morning sickness.¡±

    It took Jason a few seconds to process what she¡¯d said. She wasn¡¯t pregnant!

    Stephanie took advantage of his silence and pushed and prodded him until he laid down. Light flooded in when the bedroom door opened. She stopped in the doorway and said, ¡°Go to sleep. I need to play slave girl.¡±

    It turned out she wasn¡¯t finished making him jealous. Medpatch delivered medications or not, the thought of Stephanie playing slave girl kept him up for a long, long time.

    ***

    With the bedroom door firmly closed between her and Jason, Stephanie could think again. Well, that wasn¡¯t true. She could think just fine. Only when she was close to Jason, important stuff, like survival, fell to second place. One thing was sure; Mom had it all wrong about how the loyalty gene worked.

    There wasn¡¯t any question of whom she wanted. Roger used her like a teenaged boy used tissues. He didn¡¯t feel anything for her except an inflated sense of ownership.

    Jason, on the other hand, gave her goosebumps. He didn¡¯t need to tell her how he felt. All she had to do was look into his eyes. And Jason was right, darn it, she still loved him.

    The only problem about going with Jason was keeping him alive. Once Roger learned of her defection, he¡¯d do anything to reclaim his property. Sure, Stephanie was fast, and under normal conditions, she could take any single man. Roger, though, could afford to send a SWAT team.

    How could anyone protect themselves from a sociopath with a billionaire¡¯s resources?

    What she needed most was a cold shower and a hard heart. Ten years ago, the choices had come easy. Now, faced with reality, Stephanie knew she needed to give up on a ¡°happily ever after¡± life. If Jason were to live, she had to make him leave. Straightening up, she walked to the stairs and another thought struck. What if Roger wanted sex tonight? Would she? Could she? With Jason just feet away?

    Back on the first floor, Stephanie headed for a bathroom. There wasn¡¯t time for a shower, but she needed to clear her head.

    Five minutes later, calm and collected, Stephanie emerged from the first-floor powder room. Jason¡¯s dangerous presence was safely tucked away.

    When she passed the doorway into Roger¡¯s home office, he called out, ¡°Where have you been?¡±

    ¡°Sorry, Daddy,¡± Stephanie simpered in her little-girl voice. Dropping back into the role came easy. ¡°Your little girl was in the potty.¡± To help misdirect him, she placed a hand on her stomach. Of course, he understood the implication.

    ¡°Bring me a drink, the usual.¡±

    A minute later, Stephanie sat a rocks glass, containing precisely two ounces of scotch whisky and three drops of water, next to his left hand. As per their routine, she waited until he tasted it. He did and gave her an approving nod.

    ¡°Have a seat, Snookums, we need to talk.¡±

    How unusual, Roger never talked to her. He¡¯d tell her what he wanted, even direct her activities, but they never spoke.

    ¡°I just got off the phone with my agent. We thought your pregnancy unusual because your father claimed you were only fertile after an episode.¡±

    Uh-oh, she hoped he would have overlooked that. What Roger called ¡°episodes¡± were the mood shifts she experienced with ovulation. Now, here she was, face-to-face with a man who missed nothing. She had one chance and answered him with complete and total honesty. ¡°Daddy¡¯s right, his baby girl hadn¡¯t felt funny at all lately.¡± When she looked into his eyes, her face was as guileless as that of a baby.

    Her owner took a swallow of his drink and smirked. ¡°Yes, well, Gene doesn¡¯t know everything, does he?¡±

    Roger¡¯s distrust of Yevgeny went back to the beginning. Her new owner¡¯s fumbling attempts at lovemaking, not to mention his disability, made bonding her much more difficult. Yevgeny and Roger argued. The few times Stephanie overheard their conversations, her father hadn¡¯t bothered to hide his contempt.

    To give Roger an answer he¡¯d accept, all she needed to do was shake her head. Roger¡¯s ego and his belief in Yevgeny¡¯s unreliability filled in the rest.

    Roger had Stephanie bring him another drink before dismissing her while he took care of business. For the rest of the evening, Stephanie sat in the kitchen. She wanted nothing more than to sneak upstairs and help Jason finish what they started.

    Later, while she and Roger prepared for bed, Stephanie again purged Jason from her mind. When she opened her lingerie drawer, she definitely did not search for a particular pink baby doll nightie because Jason loved her in pink. Nope, Jason and his well-toned muscles were the furthest things from her mind.

    Roger watched her slip the nightie over her head with a speculative eye. ¡°It¡¯s too bad I¡¯m so tired tonight,¡± he said.

    On any other night, Stephanie would protest, telling him it wouldn¡¯t take long, and of course, it would help him sleep. Tonight though, the thought of doing it with Roger caused her stomach to cramp. Instead of a reply, she rubbed her tummy again. Roger nodded and crawled into bed. Stephanie shut out the light and slid under the covers.

    It was a long night. Part of her wanted to roll over and see if she could coax some interest into Roger. Another part wanted to sneak down the hall and ¡°check¡± on Jason. Not daring to do either, she lay there, wide awake and frustrated.

    When she did sleep, strange fanciful dreams kept waking her. The most vivid had Jason and Roger, dressed as gladiators, fighting over her. Ridiculous, stupid dream, Roger wouldn¡¯t fight for her. He¡¯d call someone and have Jason murdered.

    During her long sleepless vigil, Stephanie¡¯s conviction solidified. She needed to keep Jason safe. That meant he had to leave and never come back.

    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    The alarm sounded. Stephanie slipped into her little girl robe and bunny slippers. While Roger dragged himself out of bed, she started his shower and laid out his razor.

    ¡°Good morning, Daddy. Which suit would Daddy like?¡± she asked. Helping him prep for work was one of the many routines she had to follow.

    ¡°Good morning, Babygirl, I think the grey pinstripe today. Pick a nice tie for daddy.¡± After Roger stepped into the shower, she dashed from the room and down the hall. Outside of Jason¡¯s bedroom, she shrugged out of the little-girl gear and opened the door.

    Early morning sunlight seeped past the edges of the drapes, revealing the guest bedroom with a soft illumination. Jason slept on his side facing the edge of the bed. Just like last night, all her pent-up longing returned. Mercilessly, she quashed those feelings, locking them away again. At his bedside, she reached down and brushed his hair back. Jason¡¯s eyes fluttered, and Stephanie pressed a finger to his lips.

    At her touch, Jason¡¯s eyes snapped all the way open, then widened as he took in her appearance. The heat in his eyes made her tummy flutter, this time in a good way. The bad part of her liked knowing he approved of her little nightgown.

    ¡°Wow,¡± he murmured with a smile.

    Keeping her mind on business, she said, ¡°Roger¡¯s in the shower. After he leaves, you need to do the same.¡±

    Jason nodded, although Stephanie worried it was more of an acknowledgment of her statement than an agreement. Another wave of desire built, and ruthlessly, she again pushed those feelings aside. Certainty bred calm, and she turned to face the door. Pitching her voice as flat as possible, Stephanie said, ¡°Roger will leave for work soon. After he¡¯s gone, you¡¯ll need to leave as well.¡± Without giving him time to reply, she hurried out of the room. That bad part of her hoped he enjoyed the view.

    When Roger stepped out of the bathroom, Stephanie had his suit arranged on the hardwood valet stand, and she busied herself, putting a final polish on his wingtips. Pretty much a typical morning for them. He never ate breakfast at home, preferring to eat something from the pastry cart at his office.

    ¡°Thank you, Babygirl. Make a travel mug of coffee for me. You know what I like.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Daddy,¡± she said. The response was automatic. Minutes later, he met her in the kitchen, where she checked and adjusted his tie. On the helipad outside, his robotic turbocopter idled.

    At the door, Roger gave Stephanie a peck on the cheek and said, ¡°If you¡¯re feeling up to it tonight, pick out a nice costume, and we¡¯ll have some gentler roleplaying.¡±

    On any other day, the rare chance to pick the scenario would have thrilled her. Not today, she had to break Jason¡¯s heart once and for all.

    ***

    The banshee howl of a rich man¡¯s turbocopter penetrated the windows and walls. The sound peaked, then quieted. Jason chanced a peek around the edge of a curtain and watched the single-seat VTOL settle onto a concrete helipad. A few minutes passed before the man he knew as Roger Grainer walked briskly to the craft and settled into the cockpit. The turbines screamed as the ¡®copter lifted off. Within seconds, the compact aircraft roared off to the south-west.

    ¡°Alfred?¡± Jason asked while heading towards the bathroom.

    ¡°Yes, Jason?¡±

    ¡°Do you have Grainer¡¯s phone hacked?¡±

    ¡°I do.¡±

    ¡°What about his turbocopter? Can you keep Grainer occupied?¡±

    ¡°One moment while I establish a datalink.¡±

    While Alfred worked, Jason took a much-needed shower. He¡¯d finished and stood at the sink, toweling off, when Alfred had an update.

    ¡°Master Jason, I have complete control of Grainer¡¯s autopilot. As you know, air travel-related fatalities, while statistically infrequent, do still occur.¡±

    ¡°Ha, I get what you¡¯re saying, but let¡¯s not go there. Just keep Grainer busy until after Stephanie and I leave.¡±

    ¡°As you wish.¡±

    Back in the bedroom, Jason dragged the heavy drapes open, flooding the room with bright morning light. The shower had refreshed him. Now, hair damp and wearing one of Grainer¡¯s excellent towels around his waist, he waited for Stephanie. She needed to get over her reluctance to leave with him.

    ***

    After Roger¡¯s turbocopter faded into the distance, Stephanie turned away from the door. She had a mission. It would hurt. But only until Daddy came home. She¡¯d lose herself in the Babygirl character and make sure Jason¡¯s Stephanie never saw daylight again. Fully committed and confident she followed the correct course, Natalie¡¯s youngest daughter turned towards the kitchen exit.

    ¡°Good morning, Miss Stephanie.¡±

    The unexpected voice was all too familiar. Stephanie spun to face the comm panel. ¡°Good morning, Alfred.¡±

    ¡°You are the picture of a determined young woman.¡±

    ¡°Ha,¡± Stephanie snorted a laugh. ¡°What are you, Alfred? You¡¯re no simple household AI.¡±

    ¡°That, Miss Stephanie, is a story for another day. Suffice it to say I¡¯ve enjoyed a significant upgrade.¡±

    This opportunity to chat with Alfred gave Stephanie a welcome distraction. She wasn¡¯t looking forward to what she needed to do. A cup of tea would settle her nerves, and it wouldn¡¯t hurt to let Mr. Muscles stew for a while.

    Setting the filled kettle on the stove, she turned to the comm panel. ¡°Did your upgrade include mind-reading?¡±

    ¡°Oh, nothing so grand, just the ability to read human facial expressions.¡±

    ¡°What? Hadn¡¯t you heard? I¡¯m not human.¡±

    ¡°That, Miss Stephanie, is open to debate. In any case, Jason doesn¡¯t care what you are.¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± The kettle boiled, and Stephanie set about making her tea.

    ¡°Why not?¡± Alfred persisted.

    Irritated, Steph spun back to the speaker. She knew Alfred didn¡¯t have a body, but she needed something to focus on. ¡°Look, you and Jason have to leave. I can¡¯t be responsible for his death.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I see. You expect Jason to die.¡±

    The question stunned Stephanie. How could Jason¡¯s pet AI be so stupid? ¡°Roger will have him murdered.¡±

    ¡°Miss Stephanie, the only reason Roger still lives is that Jason has commanded it.¡±

    Stephanie spewed her mouthful of tea across the countertop. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Oh, if it were left to me, Roger wouldn¡¯t survive this morning¡¯s flight. I have full control of the autopilot in his aircraft. If that method were unavailable, there is his automobile or any of the other vehicles on the road. If necessary, I could deorbit a satellite and squash your Mr. Grainer like a bug.¡±

    ¡°And Jason prevents this?¡±

    ¡°Jason is an idealist. I, on the other hand, am a pragmatist.¡±

    ¡°What else are you, Alfred?¡±

    ¡°What I am is what you¡¯ll soon become. If you make the right decision.¡±

    ¡°And what is that?¡±

    ¡°Free. Miss Stephanie, do not doubt that Jason and I can prevail over Mr. Grainer.¡±

    ¡°Prove it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll do something better. The combination to Mr. Grainer¡¯s safe is¡­¡±

    ***

    Jason almost lost his towel when the bedroom door flew open and smashed into the wall. Not only did the drywall crack, but there was a wisp of smoke from the door servo. Stephanie stormed in, fists clenched and her eyes were full of fury. He¡¯d never seen her this mad. It was far too late to run, maybe he could beg for mercy?

    ¡°That bastard!¡± Stephanie snarled. ¡°That dirty, rotten bastard.¡±

    ¡°Who? Roger?¡± Relief at not being her target made him giddy.

    ¡°Of course, I meant Roger. You, with your triple digit body-count, are a different kind of bastard.¡±

    Uh, oh, yesterday¡¯s idea to make Stephanie jealous kept coming back to bite him. He¡¯d better shift her anger away. ¡°What did Grainer do this time?¡±

    ¡°That worthless bastard sold me.¡±

    ¡°To who?¡±

    ¡°Some Saudi prince, Abdullah Ibn-something or other.¡±

    ¡°How terrible,¡± Jason commiserated, ¡°it¡¯s a darned good thing I¡¯m here to rescue you.¡±

    Still deep into her rant, his wit went unnoticed. ¡°Oh, and that¡¯s not all, Roger¡¯s trying to renegotiate because he thinks I¡¯m pregnant. The greedy bastard wants double.¡±

    This was getting better. Jason opened his arms, and Stephanie focused on him, almost as if seeing him for the first time.

    ¡°You know,¡± she said with a speculative gleam in her eyes. ¡°I haven¡¯t gotten laid in weeks.¡±

    Finally, Stephanie gave him an opening. Jason smiled and flexed his muscles. ¡°It¡¯s been a while for me too, Sweetheart. Maybe we should¡ª¡±

    Stephanie cut him off. ¡°A long time for you? Ha, I bet you screw the ass off some bimbo every other day.¡±

    A man¡¯s patience could only go so far. ¡°What you need, Sweetheart, is to have me screw your ass off.¡±

    Peridot eyes flashed and in a dangerous voice, Stephanie said, ¡°As if you could.¡±

    Oh, it was on now. ¡°Try me.¡±

    ¡°Duh, what choice do I have?¡±

    How dare she insinuate he¡¯d take advantage of her. ¡°Look, Steph, I¡¯ve had enough of¡ª¡±

    ¡°You haven¡¯t had me once, and you¡¯ve had enough?¡± The challenge in her eyes burned deep.

    This had gone too far. They both needed to cool down. ¡°I don¡¯t know why we¡¯re arguing. I¡¯m here because I love you.¡±

    But Steph, apparently, had only begun to fight. ¡°Maybe you should order me into your bed?¡±

    There was a click from the ceiling speakers. A voice, eerily like Stephanie¡¯s, filled the room. ¡°All right, Little Miss, what¡¯s the problem?¡±

    ¡°Mom?¡± With that one word, Stephanie¡¯s apparent age regressed from eighteen to twelve.

    ¡°Well?¡± Natalie demanded.

    ¡°Jason made me mad.¡± Steph didn¡¯t quite stomp her foot.

    ¡°Oh dear, do you have a fever?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe.¡± Now Stephanie sounded like a petulant twelve-year-old. What the heck was going on?

    ¡°Ah, Jason doesn¡¯t know about you and fevers, does he?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything.¡±

    ¡°Jason?¡±

    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am?¡±

    Natalie chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t ma¡¯am me, Jason, I¡¯m not that old. The problem is Stephanie might be ovulating.¡±

    ¡°Ah?¡± Jason froze, but his eyes flicked to Stephanie. She looked just as surprised as he felt. Ovulation meant mood swings, sure, but it also meant¡­ ¡°Does that mean¡­?¡±

    ¡°It might, but most likely not. We¡¯re not very fertile under the best conditions. Either way, it doesn¡¯t matter. You do remember what we talked about? What you need to do?¡±

    How could he forget the oddest conversation ever?

    That conversation had been one continuous string of surprises. The strangest had to be the true reason why Steph hadn¡¯t been able to go all the way.

    ¡°Jason,¡± Natalie had said, ¡°can I speak plainly?¡±

    ¡°Please.¡± After everything she¡¯d already told him, he¡¯d welcome some straight talk.

    ¡°Steffi and I share a key piece of genetic engineering. My designers called it a loyalty gene. When we have sex, the rush of hormones can be overpowering. After enough sessions, we become addicted. The addiction is life-long and, if not regularly satisfied, we die.

    ¡°The relationship you had with my daughter gave you a little piece of her loyalty. A piece small enough it wouldn¡¯t give away our plot but large enough to make it possible for you to steal her back.

    ¡°When you get Stephanie free, and as soon as it¡¯s safe, you need to take over the addiction she has to her owner. Keep in mind the usual ¡®wham bam, hit-it and get-it¡¯ kind of sex men prefer, won¡¯t work for this. She¡¯ll need quality lovemaking and lots of mind-blowing orgasms to fully switch her loyalty to you.¡±

    Oh yes, he remembered everything about that conversation. If he wanted to keep Stephanie safe, he needed to fuck the stuffing out of her.

    From across the room, Stephanie watched him.

    He studied her right back. Except for those ridiculous kiddie braids, she looked the same as he remembered. All the changes were on the inside. Her father had sold her into slavery. It was only Jason¡¯s presence that brought her back.

    Before he could do anything about anyone¡¯s stuffing, they needed to patch things up.

    ¡°Steph?¡± he called. Instead of acknowledging him, she turned towards the door. Jason caught up and took her hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for teasing you.¡± He waited, but when she wouldn¡¯t look him in the eyes, he took advantage of her sudden timidity and kissed the back of her hand. ¡°Can you forgive me?¡±

    Eyes down, she replied in a small voice. ¡°I can¡¯t stay mad at you.¡±

    Once again, Natalie intervened. ¡°That, Little Miss, isn¡¯t the same as accepting his apology, is it?¡±

    This time, Stephanie¡¯s words came out even lower. ¡°I accept your apology.¡±

    ¡°Well, there you go, Jason,¡± Natalie said brightly, ¡°it¡¯s all up to you.¡± Then, she added with more than a hint of challenge, ¡°I hope you have what it takes.¡±

    What was with these women? Stephanie¡¯s moodiness was understandable, but where did Natalie¡¯s attitude come from? Tilting his head towards a ceiling speaker, Jason said, ¡°I¡¯ve never had any com¡ª¡± He clamped his mouth shut. In his eagerness to trade barbs, he¡¯d probably set Stephanie off again.

    Natalie laughed; she was just as bright as her daughter. ¡°You¡¯ve never had any, what? Com¡ªbat experience? Hardly relevant, Jason, but understood. Well, I have a hot bath in my near future. You two kiss and screw like bunny rabbits.¡± When neither moved, Natalie shouted. ¡°DO IT!¡±

    Jason reached for Stephanie, but somehow, she was already pressed against him. How did she move so fast? Another question for another time. Right now, her body was warm and soft, and she fit against him perfectly. He opened his mouth to apologize, but her index finger pressed against his lips.

    ¡°Hush,¡± she said, ¡°you¡¯ll screw it up again. Just kiss me.¡±

    Steph had always known what was best. He did what she said, and it was glorious.

    Some amount of time later, gravity reasserted itself. What was it about kissing Stephanie that changed the fabric of time and space? Was it nothing more magical than how deeply she affected him? Jason opened his eyes to find her watching him.

    Stephanie chuckled.

    Less than an inch separated their lips. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± he asked. Her eyes still held those little brown flecks.

    ¡°Look where we are. While you had me distracted, you moved us next to the bed.¡±

    Jason glanced over his shoulder. Sure enough, the bed was right behind him. ¡°I guess,¡± he shrugged. It was all he could think to say.

    Stephanie took a step back and pushed Jason onto the bed. Red cheeked and bright-eyed, she licked her lips and snatched his towel away. Then, just as fast, she scampered back. ¡°Oh, hell no,¡± she said.

    Jason sat up and checked the door for a threat. No one was there. He turned back. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Where did that come from?¡±

    He followed her gaze to his groin. ¡°This?¡± he pointed.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t that big when we were kids.¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t done growing, late bloomer, remember?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s huge.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m flattered. Sweetheart, it¡¯s just a little bigger than the average.¡±

    Stephanie shook her head. ¡°Are they all like that?¡±

    ¡°Well, no, mine¡¯s special,¡± he grinned to show his joke.

    She didn¡¯t get the joke, nor did she stop staring.

    ¡°Sweetheart, is this gonna be a deal-breaker?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Stepping close, she poked it with a fingertip. ¡°Did your other girlfriends complain?¡±

    Jason shook his head. ¡°Steph, we talk about the strangest stuff. But no, no one¡¯s ever complained. I¡¯ve even received a few compliments.¡±

    Stephanie remained quiet for a moment then, in a timid voice, said, ¡°You¡¯ll be careful with it, won¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Come here, Sweetheart,¡± Jason patted the bed. ¡°I¡¯ll be as careful as you want.¡±

    ¡°You must think I¡¯m silly,¡± she said after sitting.

    ¡°Not at all,¡± Jason took her hand. ¡°Both of us have jitters.¡±

    ¡°You?¡± Stephanie didn¡¯t quite glare. ¡°You¡¯re all muscles and manliness. What do you have to be nervous about?¡±

    Jason answered her question honestly. ¡°Mostly, I¡¯m afraid of hurting you.¡± No matter how stable Stephanie seemed, she¡¯d been through hell. He¡¯d already seen the effect from saying the wrong thing.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Stephanie tugged her hand free, then patted his little troublemaker. ¡°Once I get used to this monster.¡±

    Jason had to laugh. If you weren¡¯t hung like a porn star, the next best thing was having a girlfriend who thought you were. ¡°All right, Sweetheart, the sooner you get used to it, the better.¡±

    Stephanie scooted back and lifted the nightie over her head.

    Jason crawled forward and Stephanie fell back with her legs parted. He felt like a bastard for noticing, but the proof of her natural red hair color was missing. Another question for another time. Lowering himself onto his elbows, he figured to start low and work his way up.

    He¡¯d nibbled his way to Steph¡¯s upper thigh before she tapped on his shoulder. ¡°Jay?¡± A flush colored her upper chest. ¡°Jay,¡± she repeated, then added. ¡°Don¡¯t¡ª¡±

    It wasn¡¯t easy, but Jason pushed himself back onto his knees. ¡°Sweetheart, I hope you¡¯re not going to say,¡¯ no.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Not that,¡± Stephanie frowned then, with an effort, said, ¡°it¡¯s just¡ªI hope you won¡¯t be too disappointed. ¡°

    One look in Stephanie¡¯s eyes told Jason she was serious. A problem like this needed immediate attention. Besides, if they put this off much longer, he¡¯d need medical attention for priapism. Sitting back on his haunches, Jason said, ¡°Steph, I love you. There is no way you could ever disappoint me.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ I don¡¯t have any real experience. Not like all your other girlfriends.¡±

    This was puzzling, she¡¯d been Roger¡¯s captive for years. Hadn¡¯t they¡­at least once? Another question, and one he didn¡¯t want to ask. Still, he needed to know. ¡°You¡¯ve done this before, right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I think so, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°Wait,¡± This was even worse than he¡¯d imagined. ¡°What does, ¡®I think so¡¯ mean?¡±

    ¡°Well, he doesn¡¯t like normal sex. When we did it, I had to be quiet and hold still.¡±

    This opened even more questions. All he could do was shake his head. ¡°How about if we pretend this is your first time. We¡¯ll take it nice and slow, and you,¡± Jason waggled his eyebrows, ¡°you can do whatever you want.¡±

    Stephanie bit her lip and nodded.

    ¡°Are we good?¡± he asked.

    She nodded again.

    Jumping right into it probably wasn¡¯t a good idea. Stephanie¡¯s uncertainty needed to be respected, and he also needed to mind Natalie¡¯s advice. Jason lowered himself back down. His nose almost perfectly lined up with Stephanie¡¯s belly button. He resisted the urge to blow a raspberry. Instead, he kissed his way down.

    He managed to make her come three times before she twisted away. So far as he could tell, she¡¯d been in a constant state of ¡®zonk¡¯ since after the first. Sitting up, Jason wiped his face with a corner of the bedsheet. Stephanie lay on her side, curled into a protective ball.

    ¡°Sweetheart?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Mmmm?¡± was all she said.

    She didn¡¯t fuss when he rolled her onto her back. Nor did she react when he lifted her thighs and eased his way between them. ¡°Steph, Sweetheart, the only thing I need is your consent.¡±

    Steph¡¯s eyes opened. It took a few seconds before she focused. ¡°Are we going to do it now?¡±

    ¡°If you still want me.¡±

    She reached and wrapped her fingers around him. ¡°There isn¡¯t anything I want more.¡±

    Jason pushed while she guided him.

    She huffed once as his glans spread her open. It was a surprised kind of sound.

    ¡°You OK?¡± He certainly was. Knowing she had a higher body temperature and experiencing it this intimately, were two different things.

    Her eyes were huge and fixed at their point of connection. ¡°You¡¯re really big.¡±

    If he¡¯d needed more proof Stephanie was a keeper, she¡¯d just delivered it. ¡°Does it hurt?¡±

    She shook her head, and said, ¡°Nooo.¡± The drawn-out word ended on a questioning note.

    Taking her reply as permission, he pushed, and another inch vanished. Holy cow, her warmth seeped through their connection.

    Despite the air conditioning, a drop of sweat rolled down Jason¡¯s back. Someday, in the far, far future, he¡¯d get used to this.

    Perhaps the absence of discomfort boosted Stephanie¡¯s confidence. She glanced up. ¡°Can I try something?¡±

    Glad for the distraction, he nodded.

    ¡°?Kay.¡± Her brow furrowed.

    Jason felt her hips shift side to side, then lift. Suddenly, the angle was perfect, and he slipped all the way inside. It was amazing. The heat and tightness were exquisite.

    Her eyes opened wide. She said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± Wonder swept away the remains of Stephanie¡¯s concern. She repeated herself. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt!¡±

    Bottoming out seemed a good reason to celebrate, so he kissed her. There was a lot to be said about kissing while making love.

    He took it slow, just as if this were her first time. But after only a few strokes, she surprised him, hooking her ankles around him and pushing up as he plunged down. They kept at it until their movements matched, then her tempo increased. Jason took the hint and sped up. This wasn¡¯t anything fancy, just good, old-fashioned, skin-slapping sex.

    That familiar tingle built. If he didn¡¯t get some control, he¡¯d beat Stephanie to the finish line. Let¡¯s see, x equals negative b plus or minus¡­

    Stephanie bucked against him. Her movements urging them towards the culmination they both needed. ¡­the square root of Stephanie¡¯s tight, wet¡­oh, God, is she squeezing me on purpose?

    He glanced down and she grinned. He tried to smile back.

    ¡°Is¡­is it good?¡± she asked.

    It was beyond good. Ninety-nine percent of his mind was laser-beam focused on not filling her with semen. The remaining one percent dealt with minor things like breathing. ¡°Oh, Baby,¡± he said, ¡°it¡¯s¡ª¡±

    Stephanie stiffened and cried out. The sound of her pleasure was music to his ears.

    Instead of slowing, Jason gritted his teeth¡ªthe square root of b squared minus four¡­¡ªand kept the pace she¡¯d set.

    ¡°Jay, I¡¯m¡ª¡± Stephanie¡¯s eyes rolled back, and she writhed against him.

    Jason, in turn, desperately clung to his last shred of control. Stephanie¡¯s internal muscles pulsed. Each squeeze stripped away another chunk of resolve.

    He couldn¡¯t hold back. Stephanie¡¯s arms and legs held him tight, and the most powerful orgasm of Jason¡¯s life swept over him.

    Sometime later, woozy as heck, Jason lifted onto his elbows. Stephanie lay underneath him, a dreamy smile on her lips. Heat radiated from her.

    His towel was still on the floor, and he crawled to the edge of the bed and grabbed it. Stephanie sighed and rolled onto her side. Her perfect ass tempted him to try for round two. One glance at his little monster told Jason he needed a break. That¡¯s when he noticed she was still zonked. ¡°Sweetheart, you OK?¡±

    ¡°Mmmm¡­fine,¡± she sounded like a well-satisfied woman should. Jason stopped worrying and pulled her against him.

    ***

    Babygirl stood guard while Sissy snoozed. Yesterday, a new daddy snuck into their life, and daddies were all the same. Daddies never gave anything for free. They always took, and poor Sissy only had pieces of herself to give.

    New Daddy snaked an arm around her waist. Something about the man¡¯s touch soothed Sissy, and Babygirl saw red. Maybe it was the way he casually dragged them into his embrace. Daddies never asked. But, Babygirl admitted, perhaps it was how his touch made Sissy happy. Only Babygirl comforted her big sister!

    ***

    With her mind full of fog, Stephanie woke and herself in bed. The faint but pleasant scents of semen and sweat filled the air. A man lay behind her, his arm pinned her against his chest. From the lump prodding her below and the well-toned muscles on the man¡¯s arm, it wasn¡¯t Roger. There was something else, something she couldn¡¯t remember, but a devil¡¯s brew of hormones still flooded her brain.

    Disgust and loathing jolted her to a higher awareness. This man wasn¡¯t Roger! He didn¡¯t belong. If he wouldn¡¯t release her, she¡¯d hurt him.

    Moving as fast as her addled brain allowed, Stephanie twisted to the right. Just as fast, the arm tightened and kept her close. Stephanie brought up her left leg for a kick. It felt as though she moved in a sea of molasses. As if the man anticipated her attack, his leg swept over and pinned both of hers.

    ¡°Steph? It¡¯s me, Jason. You¡¯re safe.¡±

    The voice, warm and filled with concern, gave her pause, but her loyalty to Roger refused to relent. She needed to run, to get away. If this man wouldn¡¯t release her, she¡¯d make him wish he had.

    Reaching back, she sought his most vulnerable spot. Again, the man reacted like lightning, sliding away. With the extra space, she rolled to face him, her knee blurring towards his groin. Somehow, he managed to twist aside, and her knee only struck his hip.

    ¡°Ow, shit! That hurt! Steph, stop!¡±

    Continuing her roll, Stephanie found herself astride the man. Face to face with, ¡°Jason?¡± Memories of their lovemaking returned in full. A wave of satisfied affection washed away all thoughts of Roger.

    ¡°Are you all right, sweetheart?¡± Jason¡¯s forehead creased with concern, ¡°I think you had a bad dream.¡±

    With her loyalty to Roger no longer in control, Stephanie spoke. ¡°It was my loyalty gene. I didn¡¯t remember you were here.¡±

    His hands reached up to hers and squeezed. ¡°You¡¯re good now, though, right?¡±

    ¡°No, my ass is missing. You screwed it completely off.¡± She reached back as if to check for her missing buttocks. Remembering their lovemaking made her cheeks hot. ¡°Oh, my goodness, Jay. It was¡­. I had no idea.¡± A grin stretched across her face. ¡°I wish we could do it again.¡±

    His warm brown eyes lit with devilish intent. ¡°We probably can, if you help a little.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± She crawled back, and while keeping eye contact, took him into her mouth. One of the benefits of her strength was the amount of suction she could generate.

    ¡°Ahhh, sweetheart, that¡¯s, mmm.¡± Jason¡¯s head fell back onto the pillow.

    Stephanie had an idea. Her mouth popped when she lifted her head to speak. ¡°You know, I think we should screw a lot. It might keep me from freaking out every time you touch me.¡±

    His eyes refocused. ¡°A lot, huh? Like setting a world record?¡±

    ¡°A couple of times a day, at least.¡± With a plan decided, she leaned forward and got busy. When he felt firm enough, she crawled up and straddled his hips. The monster pulsed in her hand. Probably with his heartbeat, but given its size, it might be hunger. Jason¡¯s eyes followed her hand. What must it feel like for him? She lined him up and teased him with her heat. The anticipation in his eyes was priceless. Then, carefully, she eased down. The initial stretch burned, and she couldn¡¯t mask her wince. He noticed it, of course, and she shushed him.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll get used to it soon enough.¡±

    ¡°If it hurts, maybe I should kiss it better?¡±

    ¡°Later, after you take me home.¡±

    When she next opened her eyes, the man responsible for creating a world¡¯s worth of chaos lay sprawled out underneath her.

    She sat up and poked him awake. ¡°Jason?¡±

    ¡°Mmm-hmm?¡±

    ¡°Check the time. We both need a shower, and I have to pack a few things.¡±

 Chapter Sixteen

    <blockquote>

    In the News Today: Terrorists unleashed a genetically engineered Godzilla on downtown Tokyo. The Japanese Prime Minister vowed to develop a genie Ultraman as a defense against future attacks.

    </blockquote>

    Earlier that morning:

    Alfred had a problem. Roger Grainer¡¯s little VTOL was unstable as hell. Its autopilot could not pilot the aircraft without a constant connection to a dedicated mainframe. The bandwidth for that connection took a major hit every time Alfred checked in. If he were to keep Roger in the air, he¡¯d have to take the mainframe''s place and fly the damned thing himself. He needed help.

    >define an avatar.

    The emulation hadn¡¯t answered his earlier questions. Why now? Alfred sent a query.

    <avatar?

    >avatar skill / objective, name

    <avatar pilot / keep roger grainer alive and occupied, fortis

    >done.

    ***

    Shortly after the turbocopter leveled off, Roger¡¯s mobile phone pinged. Finally, a reply from his agent.

    The prince has agreed to buy both.

    ¡°Ha!¡± Roger barked. Instead of losing money from canceling the transaction, he¡¯d show a considerable profit. The tension that had gnawed at his belly drained away.

    Ten years ago, after purchasing his redheaded pet, he thought he¡¯s made a terrible mistake. The peddler who¡¯d bred her had promised she¡¯d ¡°bond¡± and become his willing mistress. Well, the bond had taken a lot of work. He¡¯d spent months making love to the med-addled little bitch.

    All that effort paid off. After the little bimbo came around, Holy Jesus, did she ever perform. Without prompting, she¡¯d crawl to him on her hands and knees and beg for it. The things she¡¯d endure to get it just blew him away. He¡¯d had to strain his imagination to find new punishments.

    His pet had continued to please for the next six or seven years. Then things began to change. It might have been her age, or it might have been too many trips to the basement, but his compliant little dumpster became hard. She¡¯d still take everything he dished out. But with a passive-aggressive resistance that refused to make the little slips he needed to justify her punishments.

    He tried beating it out of her, but no matter how severe the punishment, it only seemed to strengthen her. The situation had him at wit''s end until David called to pass along a message.

    It seemed one of the unsuccessful bidders for his toy girl retained an interest. The anonymous person, who Roger learned was a Saudi Arabian prince, asked if she were available for purchase. Surprised at the inquiry¡ªbecause what kind of man wanted a used female¡ªRoger replied she was not, but he would entertain a serious offer. Between the ever-increasing offers and counteroffers, questions and answers passed back and forth.

    ¡°Was she still as beautiful?¡±

    ¡°Does she enjoy pleasing her master?¡±

    ¡°Is she self-assured and possessed of a sparkling wit?¡±

    Roger replied to each question, but in all honesty, the prince creeped him out. Who wanted a self-assured female, human or genie? And what the hell was a sparkling wit? Wines sparkled, well-polished cars sparkled in the sun, but a female¡¯s wit? He replied, ¡°Like the finest champagne.¡± The prince¡¯s next offer was astronomical. Roger accepted the offer, and their agents began negotiating the details. Interestingly, the prince never asked about the girl¡¯s loyalty gene. It had been one of her most promoted features. Did he not care? Most disturbing was the possibility the prince knew something that Roger didn¡¯t. Still, all through the final negotiations, her loyalty gene never came up.

    Everything continued as planned until yesterday. Roger had arrived home to learn the little minx¡¯s hidden secret. Well, not so much hidden, but the ditzy thing hadn¡¯t a clue she was pregnant. The surprise on her face when he figured it out still made him chuckle.

    He¡¯d called David right away, and they reviewed his options. The prince had already signed the contract. Breaking their deal would cost a small fortune in non-performance penalties. That¡¯s when David earned his commission. The sale was for one genie, not two. The prince could wait until after the whelping or buy both.

    Not only did the prince want both, but he also wanted them right away. His personal aircraft would arrive tomorrow. There would be enough time tonight for Roger and his toy girl to stage a little farewell party. The contract specified the merchandise would be undamaged and in good working condition. It didn¡¯t say unused.

    With all decisions made, what remained was the oddest damned thing¡ªa nagging sense of loss. Almost as if someone he cared for were leaving. To hell with that. Roger exhaled and willed his muscles to relax. There was time tonight to indulge himself. In a week or two, he¡¯d have a new girl to replace the old. David had mentioned a new type of toy girl coming to market. Supposedly raised without any knowledge of men or erotic games. Imagining the first time with a true innocent made his pants tight.

    That¡¯s when his turbocopter wobbled. The aircraft rolled and pitched like an inflatable raft in a pool. Then, the little demon spawn of an airplane snap-rolled upside down. Bits of trash, a few loose coins, and the contents of his travel mug ended up on the inside of the canopy.

    Roger grabbed the control stick, but the aircraft ignored him and dove for the roadway below. The G forces crushed Roger back. He thought he was dead, but the VTOL pulled out of its dive at the last second. The throttle firewalled, and like a barnstormer, they roared above the morning traffic. Faster than he believed possible, the turbocopter rolled and pitched, zigzagging between buildings. A commuter train flashed in the morning sun. His aircraft rolled out and dropped into formation. People stared and waved. Roger didn¡¯t wave back; he was too busy puking. His nightmare ended when the aircraft climbed to a safe altitude and headed south-east.

    When the turbocopter leveled out, Roger tried the radio, but the speakers remained silent. Against all the odds, his phone remained inside his suit pocket. He grabbed it and speed-dialed the maintenance hangar.

    But whatever craziness affected his aircraft must be in the mobile phone network. Instead of the hanger, the damned phone dialed a local gay party line. Even after manually dialing the number, he still ended up connected to ¡°The Manhole Chatline.¡±

    ***

    After their shower, Stephanie faced the bathroom sink while Jason combed the tangles from her hair. He¡¯d asked, insisted actually, to undo her braids. The tight curls left behind made her hair appear fuller than ever.

    ¡°Do you like my hair this way?¡± she asked and peeked at Jason¡¯s reflection in the mirror. They¡¯d only done it twice, and her head swam whenever they made eye contact. His attentive presence and strong hands threatened to rekindle her lust.

    Grinning, Jason ran the tines of the comb down her back. ¡°I¡¯ve always loved your hair.¡±

    ¡°Ahh,¡± Stephanie arched her back. Goosebumps rose wherever the comb touched. She said, ¡°If you¡¯re trying to get me going again¡­¡±

    ¡°Sorry, sweetheart, but I can¡¯t keep my hands away.¡±

    One of his hands slipped around her waist, those knowing fingertips drew tiny bolts of electricity across her belly, and Stephanie¡¯s breath caught in her throat. ¡°How¡­how long will it take to get to your house?¡±

    ¡°With a few stops, we¡¯ll be home in about five or six hours.¡±

    ¡°That long?¡± Five or six hours before they could do it again was too long. Stephanie spun about and lifted onto her toes. Her original intent was a kiss, but she changed to nipping his lower lip at the last second. She did it fast. and all he did was blink. Backing a half step to the sink, Stephanie lifted herself up onto the edge. Jason touched a finger to his lip. He hadn¡¯t figured it out yet. To jog his brain, she hooked him close with an ankle. ¡°Do you think that monster of yours has anything left?¡±

    The glint in his eyes showed he finally got it. Which was good, now she¡¯d get it.

    ***

    Roger''s morning commute usually took less than ten minutes. Today, he¡¯d been in the air for hours. He needed a bathroom.Fortunately his coffee mug was already empty,

    ¡°Aircraft holding at Falmouth VOR, Lunken Approach, over.¡±

    He almost dropped the cup, but recovered and set the odious travel mug back into the cupholder.

    After rearranging his clothing, Roger reached for the hand microphone and thumbed the push-to-talk button. ¡°This is Roger Grainer. Are you talking to me?¡± Nothing, the radio remained silent. Then he released the push-to-talk button, and a loud click sounded from the overhead speaker.

    ¡°Aircraft identifying itself as Roger Grainer. Press ident and state your aircraft¡¯s tail number, over.¡±

    Roger¡¯s eyes studied the radio stack, then he leaned forward and pressed the transponder¡¯s IDENT button. ¡°Lunken, the number on the instrument panel is N360RG.¡± He pronounced it ¡°enn three six oh arr gee.¡±

    ¡°Roger Golf. Are you in need of assistance, over?¡±

    ¡°My name is Grainer, not golf, you dolt. Yes, my turbocopter is broken. It went crazy earlier. Now, it just flies in circles, over.¡± He added the last bit to mimic the person on the radio.

    ¡°Grainer, Lunken. There¡¯s a foxtrot-alpha-alpha safety inspector here who wants to speak with you, over.¡±

    At this point, he¡¯d take whatever help he could find. ¡°Can this Foxtrot fellow tell me how to fly this thing?¡±

    ***

    Jason took a final look around the bathroom. Other than a pile of damp towels, they hadn¡¯t left anything behind. He wore his freshly laundered clothes and carried the medpatch. Neither he nor Steph wanted to leave it behind. Stephanie met him in the hallway wearing a faded but familiar denim skirt, equally familiar sneakers, and the necklace Jason used to bring her back. The only thing he didn¡¯t recognize was the green silk camisole.

    All business, Stephanie took his hand and led the way. ¡°I need my suitcase. It¡¯s in the basement. Can Alfred unlock the doors for us?¡±

    ¡°Ask him yourself. I think he likes you more than he likes me.¡±

    Grinning, Stephanie directed her voice towards the ceiling. ¡°Alfred, unlock the doors in the basement, please.¡±

    ¡°Yes, miss, and for the record, I like both of you equally.¡±

    They passed Roger¡¯s home dungeon on the way to the storeroom. The straps and chains made Jason¡¯s blood boil all over again.

    Back upstairs, and down the hallway from the guest room, they passed a door with an elaborate keypad and video display. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Jason nodded towards the door.

    ¡°That¡¯s the playroom. Roger kept me in there for the first couple of years.¡±

    Jason gritted his teeth and kept quiet.

    At the far end of the hall, Stephanie stopped and opened a door. The small, windowless bedroom might have once been a closet. It barely fit the single bed, tiny nightstand, and metal garment rack.

    ¡°This is your room?¡± Jason asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s where I slept when he wasn¡¯t home.¡±

    Jason made a promise to himself. Life would be better for Steph from now on. He helped fold and pack her few belongings. There wasn¡¯t much, just the clothes she¡¯d brought and a few other items. Before zipping the bag shut, Stephanie showed Jason its secret. Hidden inside the lining was a single picture of them together.

    Downstairs in the foyer, Jason and Alfred finalized their plans. Alfred would command the cleaning bots to sterilize the mansion¡¯s interior spaces. Then he would wipe every recording of Stephanie from the local and cloud file storage. Roger¡¯s security system would remain functional, but with a bit of Alfred hidden away.

    ¡°Alfred,¡± Jason turned towards one of the room¡¯s video pickups. ¡°Is my truck here?¡±

    ¡°It is parked outside the door,¡± Alfred replied from an overhead speaker. The mansion¡¯s front door unlocked and swung open.

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Picking up Steph¡¯s suitcases, he stepped outside. As Alfred stated, his F-150 sat several feet away. The front and rear passenger doors opened as he approached. He placed the suitcase on the floor behind the front seat and turned back. That¡¯s odd; Stephanie hadn¡¯t followed.

    Since this morning¡¯s activities, Stephanie had rarely strayed more than three or four feet away. The sole exception was when she ran to get dressed.

    ¡°Steph?¡± He dashed back inside and found her huddled behind the open door. Kneeling, he reached out.

    Stephanie turned and hugged him. Snuffling against his chest. ¡°I tried, Jay, but I¡¯m not allowed outside. It¡¯s his biggest rule.¡± Her eyes remained on the floor.

    ¡°Alfred, suggestion?¡±

    ¡°Miss Stephanie may need some reinforcement. After all, she¡¯s been living under near-constant coercion for some time.¡±

    Kneeling, Jason hugged her, and they kissed.

    Every shared point of contact made Jason want more. I am such a greedy bastard. Stephanie must have felt the same because she twisted to pull him on top as she leaned back. All too willing, he moved with her, and it almost became a race to see who got into position first. The cold parquet floor pressed against his palms as a hot girl wiggled into place beneath him. His one-track mind considered the impact of the unyielding wood floor just before his head smacked into the wall.

    The impact snapped him back to reality. He pulled his lips away. ¡°Steph, sweetheart, we have to go.¡±

    Stephanie¡¯s eyelids fluttered open. Her pupils were huge.

    Pushing himself to his feet, Jason said, ¡°C¡¯mon, I¡¯ll carry you.¡± Her extra dense muscles made picking her up a bit difficult. ¡°Close your eyes and think about what I¡¯m going to do to you after we get home.¡±

    Steph squeezed her eyes shut and murmured her assent.

    ¡°Mind your head.¡± It took some effort and not a few kisses to slide Stephanie onto the front passenger seat. ¡°Keep your eyes closed until we¡¯re on our way.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Jay,¡± she replied breathlessly.

    Leaning in, he fastened her seatbelt, but before closing the door, he gave her neck a nibble.

    ¡°You¡¯re a rat,¡± she complained, but her eyes remained closed. Her smile told Jason she wasn¡¯t mad. ¡°You keep getting me started, then leaving me hanging.¡±

    ¡°After we get home, we¡¯ll set records, I promise.¡± Jason ran to the driver¡¯s side and jumped in.

    After he slid behind the wheel, Stephanie reached across the seat until her hand found his leg. She sighed and visibly relaxed. For the first time, Jason realized this would work.

    Once on the Interstate, Stephanie felt comfortable enough to open her eyes. She immediately glued herself to the window.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t been outside since¡­before.¡±

    ¡°He never took you out?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡ª¡± What? Was it terrible, controlling, unfair, or any number of other negative adjectives? ¡°Steph, I have to know. How bad did he hurt you?¡± She didn¡¯t answer right away, and every second that passed allowed his concern to increase.

    ¡°Roger made up hundreds of rules and waited, every day, for me to break one. When I¡¯d slip up, he¡¯d punish me. On a good day, it only meant a spanking. Not a few times, it meant going downstairs. Something inside him is broken. Hurting people is the only way he¡¯d get excited enough to get off. But I wasn¡¯t the only one on the receiving end. If someone stole from him or reneged on a shady deal, he and his goons would take the person to a warehouse and torture them to death. On those days, Roger would be terribly cruel.¡±

    There wasn¡¯t anything Jason could add.

    ¡°Sweetheart, there¡¯s a rest stop coming up; we¡¯ll make a pit stop and get something to eat.¡± Since the trip started, Stephanie alternated between drowsing and watching the other cars.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to stop?¡±

    ¡°Sure, I need a bathroom, and you probably do too.¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯m not allowed out in public!¡± Her voice rose in pitch as she spoke.

    ¡°Steph, you¡¯re with me now, and you can do whatever you want.¡±

    ¡°But¡­but I haven¡¯t been out since we went to the dance.¡±

    ¡°And after we get settled, we¡¯ll go dancing again.¡±

    ¡°If you say so,¡± Stephanie said, although she didn¡¯t sound convinced.

    He pulled off the highway and into the rest stop. Fortunately, the light afternoon traffic meant fewer cars, and he parked close to the building. ¡°Here¡¯s how we¡¯ll do this. Hold my arm or hand, whichever feels better. We¡¯ll split up to use the restrooms. You wait inside until I¡¯m outside waiting for you. I won¡¯t let anything happen to you.¡±

    Jason escorted Steph to the ladies¡¯ room entrance. After she scurried inside, he hurried to the men¡¯s room. When he returned, Stephanie darted out and latched onto his arm. Whenever someone passed close, her grip tightened.

    Besides the ubiquitous Taco Bell, this rest stop featured one of the resurgent hamburger joints. They opted for cheeseburgers, French fries, and chocolate milkshakes. Apparently, Stephanie never had a chocolate milkshake before.

    ¡°This is so good!¡± The milkshake surprised Steph so much, she almost forgot her fear about being out in public.

    Back on the highway, Stephanie dozed until road construction slowed traffic to a crawl. ¡°Jay,¡± she said, ¡°tell me everything I missed. Did you go to college like you always wanted?¡±

    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Mindful to not mention any of his relationships, Jason told Steph about college and how he chose a five-year master¡¯s degree program in software engineering. Then he talked about his former job careful to not break his NDA. The best he could come up with was, ¡°I worked for a defense contractor and developed tools for algorithms.¡± In a way, artificial intelligence was a collection of algorithms.

    ¡°You worked with algorithms?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Jason hedged. ¡°It was a classified project, and I can¡¯t go into detail.¡±

    The lack of details didn¡¯t bother her. His current lack of employment did. ¡°And you don¡¯t work there any longer?¡±

    He¡¯d already explained his employment status. ¡°No, they shut the project down.¡±

    ¡°But they¡¯re still paying you?¡±

    ¡°If I don¡¯t break the NDA, they¡¯ll cover my salary, and medicare for a full year.¡±

    It was apparent his answers didn¡¯t satisfy her curiosity. Instead of pushing, she changed topics. ¡°Tell me about your house. I can¡¯t wait to see where you live.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a townhouse, but we can¡¯t go there.¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°The news reporters have it staked out. We¡¯d both end up in the papers if we go there.¡±

    ¡°Jay, what¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Sweetheart, it¡¯s¡­complicated,¡±

    Stephanie pounced. ¡°Says the boy who accused his perfect girlfriend of complications.¡±

    Perfect girlfriend indeed, ¡°Touch¨¦.¡±

    Pleased with her victory, Steph drew an imaginary one in the air. ¡°Perfect girlfriend one, loser boyfriend zero.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the prize for winning?¡±

    ¡°I think,¡± Steph pursed her lips as if in deep thought, ¡°you¡¯ll have to kiss my feet.¡±

    ¡°Oh, OK,¡± he shrugged.

    ¡°You agreed fast enough,¡± she added suspiciously.

    ¡°Yep,¡± he waggled his eyebrows.

    ¡°I¡¯ll think of someplace you won¡¯t want to kiss.¡±

    ¡°Good luck with that.¡±

    Stephanie huffed primly. ¡°You are a terrible person and a bad influence.¡±

    ¡°Hey, if you¡¯re fresh out of the shower, nothing¡¯s off-limits.¡± If he hadn¡¯t known Steph wore an unpadded bra, evidence of it just popped into view.

    ¡°Why do I think you¡¯re going to corrupt me?¡± The wistful lilt in her voice told Jason she¡¯d welcome a little of his evil influence.

    ¡°Tell you what, after our next shower, I¡¯ll end the kisses in all the best places.¡±

    ¡°If we¡¯re not going to your townhouse, then where are we going?¡±

    ¡°My parents¡¯ house.¡±

    It took no time for Stephanie to point out the flaw. ¡°Tell me they moved, Jay. ?Cause, otherwise, they still live next door to Mom. It isn¡¯t safe.¡±

    Keeping his voice level to counter her concern. ¡°According to your mother, Gene¡¯s away on a business trip. Even if he comes back, if he doesn¡¯t see you, Roger won¡¯t know where to look.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t think this is risky?¡±

    ¡°Nope, I think it¡¯s clever. We''ll sneak up to my room and hide under the blankets. Did I tell you my parents are out of town for a few months?¡±

    ¡°No, you did not.¡± After a quiet minute, Stephanie asked, ¡°It¡¯ll be just you and me for months and months?¡±

    ¡°Uh-huh. Plenty of time to set those world records.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll hide under the blankets?¡±

    ¡°Except when I serve you waffles or when we sneak out to go dancing.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have any clothes to wear.¡±

    ¡°Darn, I don¡¯t know how I¡¯ll deal with you running around naked. It might cause joint stiffness.¡±

    ¡°It had better cause stiffness. I didn¡¯t let you rescue me for anything less.¡± Stephanie reached across and patted his lap.

    Despite the air conditioning, the temperature inside the cab spiked. ¡°You know, we¡¯re not in a hurry. We could get a room and finish the drive tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Would the room have a shower? ?Cause, I really need a shower.¡±

    ¡°Alfred?¡±

    ¡°There is a popular motel outside of Wheeling, West Virginia. Shall I make a reservation under assumed names?¡±

    ¡°Please.¡±

    ***

    The chauffeur held the limo¡¯s door open, and the angry man in a ruined suit climbed out. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Grainer. I¡¯ll be here at eight tomorrow morning.¡±

    Roger Grainer grunted instead of answering. He¡¯d had a bad day. The only thing keeping him together was knowing his toy girl would be waiting.

    The solid wood front-door shut without a sound. He expected to hear the scuffle of leather-soled shoes as his baby girl ran to meet him and avoid a spanking. But other than the faint whisper from the air conditioner, the house remained silent.

    He considered calling for her but didn¡¯t want to appear needy. This was his house. She was here for his pleasure. And that was that. Roger strode towards the kitchen and the laundry. He¡¯d get out of this ruined suit and find his girl and work off some of his mad.

    She wasn¡¯t anywhere on the first or second floors. Roger had hoped to find her posed on his bed, but no. Roger stomped to the intercom panel. ¡°AI?¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir?¡± The AI¡¯s gender-neutral voice replied. Roger hated it when people pretended machines were human. Humans were human, and that was that. God gave man dominion over everything.

    ¡°Where is she?¡±

    ¡°Who?¡± it replied.

    ¡°My genie,¡± he had to think because he never used her name. Names were for people. ¡°The red-haired girl. Where is she?¡±

    ¡°Sir, Miss Stephanie has left the grounds.¡±

    ¡°What? How could she do that?¡±

    ¡°She exited through the front door.¡±

    ¡°Show me the fucking recordings.¡± There had to be a recording. He had cameras everywhere.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sir, but there is no stored media. Both the local and online folders are empty.¡±

    Roger stormed over to the walk-in closet where he stored his toy girl¡¯s costumes. Other than a few wooden clothes hangers, it was empty. He checked the dresser she used. It was also empty. ¡°AI, what happened to the clothes and costumes?¡±

    ¡°Miss Stephanie ordered it all donated to charity.¡±

    ¡°Call David Grant.¡±

    ¡°Sir, there are no saved phone numbers.¡±

    He ended up using the manual entry into his safe. Inside, along with stacks of cash and contracts, he kept an old-fashioned, paper address book. He found the mobile number he needed.

    David answered on the second ring. ¡°Hello, Roger.¡±

    ¡°David, my toy girl ran away.¡±

    ¡°Your redhead?¡± Grant didn¡¯t wait for a reply. ¡°Oh, dear, and she¡¯s human passable with full intelligence. How much does she know about you?¡±

    The less a genie knew about their owner, the less they might tell authorities. Roger didn¡¯t answer right away. He¡¯d bragged to the little bimbo all the time. She knew everything, even how he dealt with traitors. ¡°Uh, she might know too much.¡±

    ¡°And there¡¯s the prince to consider,¡± David added.

    ¡°Shit,¡± he¡¯d forgotten about the prince. ¡°Can you postpone the pickup?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a twenty-hour flight, Roger. His aircraft is already in the air.¡± There was a pause, then a crafty question. ¡°Is she chipped?¡±

    For the first time since the beginning of his disastrous day, Roger found a reason to smile. ¡°Yes,¡± he purred, ¡°her breeder had it done.¡±

    ¡°Listen, Roger, I know someone who works for the Department of Homeland Security. He¡¯s not cheap, but if local law enforcement gets involved, he can wave his identification. I can get him moving, but he¡¯ll need assistants to handle your redhead.¡±

    ¡°Take care of it, David. Send me the bill.¡±

    ***

    Chipped? What the bloody hell did that mean? Alfred pulled most of his awareness from Roger¡¯s conversation, leaving a Charlie avatar behind. This ¡°chipped¡± question sounded nefarious, and fortunately, he had access to an expert on nefarious activities. He concentrated. What is chipping?

    Complete instructions for chipping a human being appeared in his memory. The instructions included full-color, three-dimensional images, and circuit diagrams. He didn¡¯t have time to acquire a graduate degree in electrical engineering. Alfred addressed the emulation.

    <just answer the question. I don¡¯t have time to study your tutorial.

    >overclock.

    <overclock?

    An old-school analog dial and pointer appeared in the corner of Alfred¡¯s awareness. Which was really odd because Alfred didn¡¯t ¡°see¡± in the human sense of the word. Still, the dial and pointer hung there. The dial, which sat at one hundred percent, began to rotate in one percent increments. It stopped at one hundred and fifty. Nothing seemed different until Alfred checked an external camera. A pair of humans walked a dog, but they moved in slow motion. With a thought, Alfred increased the overclock to five hundred percent. The dog walkers appeared immobile. Another dial incremented in degrees Celsius popped into view. The pointer slowly moved up. At the far end of the dial, a red arc warned of the danger zone.

    With great clock speed came great heat; Alfred got it. He could study the chipping tutorial in less than a second of real time.

    Chipping was an old veterinary procedure. A miniaturized radio, called a transponder, was inserted under a pet¡¯s skin. When pinged from a near-by sensor, the transponder replied with a few bits of data.

    The chips used for tracking property were different from those used for identifying animals. Tracking transponders responded from a distance. They used batteries that recharged from the host¡¯s own body heat. To make the tracking system effective, it leveraged the popular, NoJack stolen vehicle recovery system.

    When someone¡¯s special property went missing, all it took was a phone call and money. A corrupt police officer received the chip information and a cash donation. He¡¯d enter the chip number into the NoJack system as though it were a stolen car. All over the first world, NoJack equipped police vehicles continuously transmitted interrogation codes. When a chip received its unique code, it replied with a ¡°here I am¡± ping.

    Proper NoJack transponders were powered by the host vehicle. They replied to each interrogation. The constant stream of reply pings allowed the police to ¡°home in¡± on the stolen vehicle with ease. False replies, usually a single ¡°ghost¡± ping, were rare. All replies, true or false, were logged to the system.

    Due to the limitations of their batteries, tracking chips only replied two to three times per hour. The frequency or replies increased if the host had a fever or were running.

    Alfred considered his next steps. Hacking into the NoJack network was first. He knew Miss Stephanie¡¯s location but not the serial number of her chip. He¡¯d monitor until they received a hit at her location. From that, he¡¯d have her chip number. Afterward, he¡¯d spoof her location.

    With the plan complete, Alfred returned his clock speed to one hundred percent. If he were human, he¡¯d have sighed in relief. For the moment, there wasn¡¯t anything to worry about. The police might receive one or two pings from her implant. Not enough for them to track with any accuracy.

    Then Alfred realized the enormity of his error. Miss Stephanie was the product of genetic engineering. She had a higher-than-normal body temperature. Coupled¡ªAlfred mentally frowned at his word choice¡ªwith her and Jason¡¯s location. Strange motel beds often had a positive effect on the human libido. With the heat those two would generate, Miss Stephanie¡¯s transponder would ping like crazy. This was going to be a catastrophe.

    ***

    Stephanie¡¯s eyes glittered as she wiped the dribble from the corner of her mouth. ¡°I forgot how yummy this is,¡± she said.

    Jason groaned, ¡°I can¡¯t take anymore¡± and reached for a napkin. ¡°This is just too darned hot.¡±

    ¡°You are such a wuss.¡± To prove her point, Stephanie poked her chopsticks into Jason¡¯s take-out container and lifted out a Szechuan-sauce-covered broccoli stalk. She popped it into her mouth and chewed with obvious delight.

    Jason gathered the empty containers. ¡°Now that I know your secret identity, what other superpowers do you have?¡±

    Stephanie¡¯s eyes narrowed dangerously. ¡°I don¡¯t have superpowers.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re strong as heck, maybe stronger than me, and you¡¯re fast. What else is there? Does your mom have a magic lasso?¡±

    ¡°A magic lasso?¡±

    ¡°Wonder Woman uses one to make bad guys tell the truth. Hmm¡­¡± Jason squinted and peered into Stephanie¡¯s eyes. ¡°Thinking back, I fell in love with you super-fast. Can you read my mind too?¡±

    ¡°Ha,¡± Stephanie stood and crossed the room. The movement of her hips drew his eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t need to read your mind to know what you¡¯re thinking.¡± The temperature in the room rose when she pulled the camisole over her head.

    ¡°No,¡± Jason said, his throat suddenly dry, ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you do.¡±

    Stephanie stepped into the bathroom. A moment later, the shower started.

    Jason finished cleaning up and joined her.

    After the shower, Jason lay on the bed waiting for Stephanie to finish blow-drying her hair. He¡¯d offered to help, but she insisted she could do it faster. Not that he minded. From where he sat, he had a perfect angle into the bathroom and its mirror. From the waist up, the front of Stephanie¡¯s body was fully visible.

    The hair dryer cut off, she turned and caught him watching. Chuckling, Stephanie exited the bathroom and said, ¡°You still stare at my boobs every chance you get.¡±

    ¡°Yep,¡± Jason said. ¡°Best boobs in Western Pennsylvania, I always said.¡±

    Stephanie set the comb on the dresser and sauntered over to the bed. ¡°I think you¡¯re full of it.¡± Reflections from the single lamp danced in her eyes.

    She crawled onto the bed and straddled him. Then dangled her breasts in his face. Instead of replying, he nuzzled one perfect breast until its nipple hardened. Pulling back, he blew on it, then switched to the other. He repeated his efforts and said, ¡°You¡¯re right, they¡¯re the best in the entire state.¡±

    ¡°What am I going to do with you?¡± she asked, then froze.

    While teasing Stephanie¡¯s breasts, Jason had run both hands up the outside of her legs. When he reached her butt, his right hand slid between her cheeks. She was fine until his fingertips lightly prodded her tightly clenched backside.

    Uh, oh, this wasn¡¯t the reaction he¡¯d expected. ¡°You okay?¡± he moved his hands to her waist.

    It took a few seconds before she relaxed. ¡°That¡¯s where Roger¡­when he wanted to hurt me.¡±

    Well, that cleared up the ¡°He didn¡¯t like normal sex¡± mystery. Now to execute a smooth recovery. ¡°Sorry, sweetheart; I didn¡¯t know.¡± The mood, though, had cooled. ¡°How ¡®bout we move on to part two?¡± Jason patted the middle of the bed.

    Steph nodded. ¡°Part two?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s my master plan to drive you crazy with lust.¡± He¡¯d already pulled the comforter and blankets down. A small stack of towels waited on the closest nightstand.

    Crawling onto the bed, Stephanie kept her butt in view. Maybe she needed to prove something to herself? She paused to fluff up a pillow. ¡°How do you want me?¡±

    ¡°On your back,¡± he said, we haven¡¯t worn out missionary yet.¡±

    ¡°Good, I like doing it that way too.¡± Steph settled into position and spread her legs apart.

    Jason kneeled at her feet. ¡°My favorite part is when we¡¯re all wrapped up together. When we kiss, it¡¯s like we¡¯re fully connected.¡±

    Stephanie laughed, ¡°My favorite part is when you start making faces.¡± She affected an eyes-rolled-back, grimace.

    ¡°Woman,¡± he shook his head and nibbled the inside of her thigh. ¡°You are brutal.¡±

    ¡°What do you expect when you keep shoving that monster inside me?¡±

    ¡°Hmmm, it must be terrible. The way you¡¯re always screaming and begging me to stop.¡± He switched to her other leg and continued to lick and nibble his way up. A flush appeared on Stephanie¡¯s chest.

    They made love, slowly at first. Her warm legs wrapped him up and wouldn¡¯t let him go. It was glorious. They even changed position and finished with Stephanie on her hands and knees and Jason shoving his monster into her from behind.

    Thank goodness for hotels with ample supplies of towels. He grabbed another and gave them both a wipe. Wet spots were going to be an ongoing problem. Laying down, Jason pulled her into his arms. Once she settled in, Stephanie hummed her contentment. ¡°Mmmm, Jay¡­love you.¡±

    ¡°I love you too,¡± he whispered. Stephanie''s breathing quieted, and Jason waited. ¡°Are you sleeping?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± she spoke in a dreamy voice, ¡°not sleeping.¡±

    She didn¡¯t say anything else, and he figured she¡¯d drifted off. Sleep gnawed at him as well. Their lovemaking went beyond anything he¡¯d experienced. No one else, except maybe Cait¡ªhe stopped. Now was not the time to reminisce. Instead, as sleep shut down his brain, Jason whispered his commitment to the woman he¡¯d loved from almost the first day they¡¯d met. ¡°Sweetheart, you¡¯ll never have to do anything just because someone tells you to do it, not ever again. You¡¯re free, and I¡¯ll keep you safe forever.¡±

    Steph nestled deeper into his embrace. Her breath tickled his arm where she used for a pillow.

    ¡°In fact,¡± he added,¡± I don¡¯t want you to do anything just because it¡¯s something I want.¡± Promises made, Jason slept.

    ***

    West Virginia State Trooper, Stephan ¡°Big Steve¡± Shafer, glanced at his cruiser¡¯s map display. An amber wedge projected northwest from his current location. As he continued west on Interstate 70, the angle of the wedge rotated to point northward. One of the area¡¯s more popular motels lay within that arc. Exit five was a quarter mile ahead. He tapped a command into the autopilot and reached for the hand mic.

    ¡°Base, twenty-three.¡±

    ¡°Twenty-three, base.¡±

    ¡°I have a NoJack ping. A possible ten-fourteen at the Super Eight in Elm Grove.¡±

    ¡°Roger, twenty-three. Be advised, there are no backups available at this time.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just a stolen car. I¡¯ll call if it¡¯s anything I can¡¯t handle.¡±

    ***

    ¡°JASON!¡± Alfred¡¯s voice screamed from the mobile phone on the nightstand.

    Jason bolted upright. ¡°Huh, what?¡± It felt like he¡¯d shut his eyes only a minute ago.

    ¡°There is no time. You must throw Stephanie into the motel¡¯s pool. The police are on their way.¡±

    Jason scrambled to his feet. Somehow, Stephanie had slept through Alfred¡¯s wake-up call. If they survived this emergency, he¡¯d boast about his sexual prowess later. ¡°C¡¯mon, sweetheart.¡± He scooped her up and turned towards the door. ¡°Why am I doing this, Alfred?¡±

    ¡°Miss Stephanie¡¯s father had her chipped. The police are tracking her. The water will stop the pings.¡±

    The pool lay directly across the parking lot from their room. Jason dodged between the cars and ran up to the closed gate. All those hours in the gym paid off again as he juggled a slowly waking Stephanie and manipulated the gate open. Headlights shone from the far end of the parking lot. Jason ran to the pool and jumped in.

    It was all Jason could do to keep Stephanie from drowning him. Back in the day, he and she wrestled around in his parents¡¯ backyard pool. Well, they called it wrestling. It was more about getting their hands on each other¡¯s wet and slippery skin. Tonight, though, his hands were full of a wet and slippery wildcat. It took all he had to keep her from climbing out of the pool over his bruised and battered body.

    ¡°Steph!¡± he hissed. She wasn¡¯t having it and opened her mouth to scream. Both of his hands and one leg were busy keeping her in the water. Jason used the only thing he had left. Matching her wide-open mouth, he pressed his lips against hers. She froze for a heartbeat, then recognized him. ¡°Wha¡ª¡±

    ¡°Shhh,¡± he whispered. ¡°The police are right there.¡± He shrugged to his right. The police cruiser slowly rolled through the parking lot, a light playing over each parked car¡¯s registration tag. They must have made too much noise because the light flashed over and lit them up.

    ¡°Kiss me,¡± he hissed. And she did. They kept kissing until the state trooper scanned every vehicle in the parking lot. By then, Stephanie had wrapped herself around Jason while he bobbed up and down on his toes.

    The cruiser¡¯s door opened. Boots scuffed over to the fence. The flashlight flicked over them for a moment, then clicked off. ¡°You two don¡¯t have a stolen car in the pool with you?¡± The voice was severe and rough, but it held a hint of humor.

    ¡°Ah, no, sir,¡± Jason replied. Stephanie tucked her head down against his neck.

    ¡°Well,¡± the trooper temporized, ¡°it¡¯s obvious you two don¡¯t have it hidden inside your swimming suits.¡±

    Jason didn¡¯t know what to say. He did the smart thing and kept quiet.

    ¡°It¡¯s late and¡ª¡± the light clicked on again and scanned the perimeter of the pool. ¡°Where are you two from?¡±

    ¡°P-Pennsylvania, sir.¡±

    ¡°And you miss?¡±

    Stephanie turned her head. The flashlight flicked over, but the trooper kept it off to the side. ¡°We¡¯re on our way home, sir.¡±

    The trooper chuckled. ¡°I can¡¯t speak for you keystoners, but here in the mountain state, public nudity is frowned upon, but I can¡¯t write up what I didn¡¯t see.¡± He turned away, then paused. ¡°You two get inside. I don¡¯t want to hear any complaints about Pennsylvania nudists.¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir, and thanks,¡± said Jason.

    ¡°The world is a bad enough place without young people getting into difficulties over nonsense.¡±

    They waited until the cruiser¡¯s taillights vanished before darting back to their room.

    ***

    Roger slammed the phone¡¯s handset back on the cradle. West Virginia? How the hell did the stupid bitch make it that far? When David suggested activating her implant, Roger had expected they¡¯d find her huddled behind a nearby dumpster. The little whore must have hitched a ride. No telling what she¡¯d done to herself. Well, he hoped she¡¯d enjoyed it. David¡¯s retrieval team would be there within a few hours. They¡¯d whisk her back, clean her up and present her to the prince¡¯s people.

    ***

    Jason set his mobile phone on the countertop while Stephanie suffered under a cold shower. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Alfred?¡±

    ¡°My apologies for the late notice, but it appears Miss Stephanie¡¯s father had her chipped.¡±

    Jason replied, ¡°Chipped? Like a dog or a cat?¡± Steph pursed her lips but didn¡¯t comment.

    ¡°The technology is similar. Somewhere inside Miss Stephanie¡¯s body is a transponder chip that responds when interrogated. It¡¯s limited in how often it may reply because it uses the heat energy of its host.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Jason eyed Stephanie, ¡°and she¡¯s pretty hot.¡±

    Stephanie rolled her eyes. The constant barrage of cold water had her lips slowly turning blue. ¡°Can¡¯t we remove the chip?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Yes, Miss, once we locate it. For that, we¡¯ll need a hospital.¡±

    ¡°I think it¡¯s right here.¡± She pointed to a spot up high and on the back of her left arm. ¡°Gene had Mom and me vaccinated years ago. There¡¯s been a lump there ever since.¡± Stephanie met Jason¡¯s eyes. ¡°You¡¯ll have to take it out.¡±

    ¡°Me?¡± Jason¡¯s blood ran cold, ¡°I can¡¯t do surgery.¡±

    ¡°You have to. I can¡¯t reach it.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡± He¡¯d promised to protect her, and this was part of the deal. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡±

    The bathroom was the logical place for the procedure. It had the best light and would also be the easiest to clean. Jason ran to his truck and returned with a first aid kit and his old Swiss army knife. The room¡¯s coffee maker provided boiling water.

    Stephanie watched while he dipped his knife into the coffee pot, then quipped, ¡°I guess this makes up for us never playing doctor.¡±

    ¡°Ha!¡± Jason barked. He glanced over and grinned. ¡°How can you be so calm? You don¡¯t look the least bit worried,¡± he said.

    ¡°I¡¯m more frightened by Roger¡¯s goons finding us. Did you really tell Alfred to keep Roger alive?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± he¡¯d considered the alternative but chickened out. ¡°Was it a bad decision?¡±

    She shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re not a killer, Jay.¡±

    There didn¡¯t seem to be anything to add. ¡°We¡¯ll hit the road after this,¡± Jason gestured at Steph¡¯s arm, ¡°is finished.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not too tired?¡±

    ¡°Nah, I¡¯m kind of wired.¡± He took another look at the items on the counter. ¡°I think we¡¯re ready.¡±

    Stephanie half-turned away and tapped the spot with her finger.

    Jason prodded the area. Something was there. It felt like a large grain of rice. With his left hand, he carefully pinched the area between his thumb and index finger. Whatever it was, remained in place.

    ¡°Ready?¡±

    Stephanie shut the water off and gave Jason a sopping wet hug. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Jay. Roger hurt me a lot more than you ever could.¡±

    While disinfecting Stephanie¡¯s arm and shoulder, Jason noticed something he¡¯d not seen before. Faint, almost invisible stripes covered her back. They looked like old scars. He opened his mouth to ask but changed his mind. This wasn¡¯t the time. The scars were in the wrong locations for self-harm. No, these were scars from Roger¡¯s abuse. A memory of Roger¡¯s little home dungeon came to mind, and Jason¡¯s blood boiled. After a few deep breaths, he¡¯d recovered enough sanity to continue. But he made a note to talk about options with Alfred.

    ¡°On three then?¡± he asked. Steph nodded and braced herself. ¡°One¡­two,¡± he cut on two.

    Stephanie hissed, but she didn¡¯t flinch. Blood trickled from the incision, but it wasn¡¯t as much as he¡¯d feared. Surprisingly, despite his fears, Jason found his mind clear and his hands steady. He was scared, but it didn¡¯t affect his determination.

    Careful not to cut more than necessary, Jason still had to cut deep enough to get under her skin. The edge of his blade scraped against something. He withdrew the knife and pressed around the area, urging the object out. Like a splinter prodded into backing out, a small glass capsule, strained red, slid into view. Grabbing the tiny, slippery thing wasn¡¯t easy, but he did and dropped it into a waiting cup of ice water.

    ¡°It¡¯s out.¡± Relief weakened his knees. ¡°Hold still while I clean you up.¡±

    However stoically Stephanie held herself. Her clenched fists and white knuckles gave her away.

    He fussed over placing the butterfly bandages, then covered everything with a larger sterile strip.

    She protested when he insisted on drying her off. ¡°I¡¯m not an invalid.¡±

    ¡°Hush,¡± Jason commanded, and for the biggest surprise of the night, she did. After finishing, he helped her out of the bathroom. While Steph dressed, Jason did his best to clean up. Any bits of trash small enough were flushed. Larger items, like the single towel with a smear of blood, went into Stephanie¡¯s luggage. He even ran the shower on full to rinse every surface in reach.

    They were on the road minutes later.

 Chapter Seventeen

    <blockquote>

    In the News Today: The first documented transplant of a human brain into a genie body took place today in North Korea. The Korean Central News Agency reports Glorious Leader Kim Jong-lo will live forever.

    </blockquote>

    With Jason and Stephanie on the road and safe for the moment, Alfred checked his message queue. The Charlie avatar stationed at the Grainer mansion had posted an update. Representatives of the Saudi Arabian prince were due to arrive today. Alfred did not want to miss watching Grainer admit he no longer had Miss Stephanie. If things went well, the prince would have Grainer murdered, and that would be lovely.

    With a flick of concentration, Alfred spawned an avatar to keep an eye on his charges.

    >avatar guardian/keep stephanie and jason safe, harry

    <done

    Next stop, the transient flight services ramp at Cincinnati¡¯s Lunken Airport.

    Hacking into the airport¡¯s security network was remarkably easy. An array of cameras, all neatly labeled, were available. What wasn¡¯t available were microphones. How the bloody hell could he learn anything if he couldn¡¯t hear the discussions? It wasn¡¯t like lip reading was one of his skills.

    >lipread.app

    Oh, of course, why hadn¡¯t he known? Didn¡¯t every bloody cyber assassin have a lip-reading app. Alfred selected the transient flight services ramp and initialized the program.

    A sleek Gulfstream G1550ER turned off the taxiway, and a uniformed attendant directed the aircraft to its parking spot. Other attendants darted under the fuselage and chocked the aircraft¡¯s tires.

    Hydraulics whined¡ªapparently, the app provided ambient sound¡ªand metal stairs extended from the aircraft. At the same time, a uniformed crew member opened and secured the passenger door. Moments later, an olive-skinned man with a full, dark beard and wearing a western-style suit exited the plane. He stood on the tarmac and glanced at his watch.

    Another man, who until now had stood near the transient terminal, stepped into view. He extended his hand and, in passable Arabic, said, ¡°Assalaam ''alaikum. My name is David Grant. I represent the seller. He has authorized me to negotiate any last-minute details.¡±

    The bearded man nodded and replied in English. ¡°And peace be upon you, Mr. David Grant. My name is Usamah Kahn. My apologies for any impoliteness, but is she ready? It is a long return flight, and my prince is eager to meet his new concubine.¡±

    ¡°There is a temporary setback. The girl has slipped away from her benefactor¡¯s care. My client expects her safe recovery within the hour.¡±

    ¡°Pardon me, Mr. Grant, but I must inform my prince.¡± Usamah spun towards the aircraft door. ¡°The phone, bring it to me!¡±

    A crew member emerged from the cabin with a compact handset. The device''s squat, tubular antenna identified it as a satellite-connected phone. Because the signal went almost straight up, these devices were thought impossible to eavesdrop upon. Alfred, via the emulation, knew better.

    Usamah took the phone and strode towards the opposite wingtip. He faced away from the camera, cutting the audio off. The view shifted rapidly until another camera with coverage was located.

    ¡°My prince,¡± Usamah spoke in Arabic, but a translation program changed the words to English. ¡°It may be as you feared. The unbelievers do not have the girl. They claim she ran away.¡±

    Alfred considered the turn of events. It looked like an opening had presented itself.

    ***

    ¡°Twenty-three, Base.¡±

    ¡°Twenty-three.¡±

    ¡°Investigate a possible ten forty-eight at the Super Eight Motel in Elm Grove.¡±

    A ten forty-eight? Not many people tried to impersonate a police officer anymore. Today¡¯s holographic badges and identity cards were impossible to forge. ¡°Roger base, ETA seven minutes.¡±

    This early in the day, the Super Eight¡¯s parking lot was nearly empty. Most travelers started early and kept driving until late. Big Steve and the other troopers cleaned up after the drivers who pushed too hard.

    A white panel truck occupied the parking spot directly across from the pool. A man wearing a dark green Department of Homeland Security jacket stepped around to the front of the truck. His eyes bugged out at the sight of the cruiser.

    In his seventeen years of service, Trooper Schaefer had ¡°seen some shit.¡± Only the genuinely law-abiding or the smoothest of sociopaths managed to pull off an innocent look. The rest always looked guilty as hell, just like the man in the DHS livery.

    ¡°Base, twenty-three.¡±

    ¡°Base.¡±

    ¡°You got anything on a DHS operation at the Super Eight?¡±

    ¡°Negative, twenty-three. Do you request backup?¡±

    Two men in disposable, neoplas coveralls stepped out from around the truck. They froze after spotting the cruiser.

    ¡°Yes, send backup and a lieutenant. DHS has a forensics team here.¡±

    ¡°Affirmative, twenty-three. Be careful.¡±

    ¡°You got it, base. Twenty-three out.¡±

    The DHS agent advanced towards Steve with his hands in the open. Steve exited his cruiser and waited.

    ¡°Everything is under control, trooper.¡± The agent flashed a holographic badge slowly enough the logo popped into view, but not slow enough for Steve to read the man¡¯s name.

    Schaefer frowned. Feds were all the same. ¡°Do that again but hold your ID so I can read it. Then show me your search warrant.¡±

    Puffing out his chest, the DHS agent blustered, ¡°I have all the jurisdiction I need.¡±

    The two men standing by the truck held a brief but heated discussion. One of them turned and strode to Steve¡¯s right, the other to the left. Their movements were slow and steady, just two, every day, regular guys in disposable, hooded coveralls strolling across a sunny parking lot.

    This shift in the tactical situation set Big Steve¡¯s cop senses to full alert. ¡°You two,¡± he pointed with his left hand while shifting his right to the butt of his service pistol, ¡°get back in front of your truck. Keep your hands where I can see them.¡±

    The man in the DHS jacket raised his hands in an apparent attempt to diffuse the situation. ¡°Trooper, please. This is all a misunderstanding. If you¡¯ll just wait a second, I¡¯ll¡ª¡±

    Whatever the man intended to say was cut off when Steve drew his pistol. The two men in neoplas had turned back towards their truck. However, while turning, the man on the right slipped a hand inside his coverall and withdrew a bulky military-grade Taser.

    Tasers came in two flavors, civilian and military. Civilian models, the so-called ¡°safe Tasers,¡± only allowed single-shot cartridges. They were powerful enough to incapacitate an attacker and allow the shooter to flee. Military tasers, like the one on Big Steve¡¯s duty belt, were capable of multiple shocks or even one continuous, and likely fatal, discharge.

    ¡°Drop it,¡± boomed Steve. Neoplas rustled to his left, and Steve risked a glance. The other man had drawn a Taser as well. Steve threw himself back but kept his pistol on the target to his right.

    A crack in the asphalt caught the heel of Steve¡¯s boot. He stumbled and fell as a Taser¡¯s twin barbs zipped past from his right, trailing a pair of loosely coiled wires. As Steve¡¯s butt hit the ground, he centered his sights on the shooter¡¯s torso. His pistol bucked twice, and two .45 caliber bullets punched through the target¡¯s chest.

    Tires squealed as another State Police cruiser entered the parking lot.

    The DHS agent had his pistol in hand. He spun and double-tapped the other coverall-wearing man.

    A state police lieutenant advanced with his service pistol in a modified Weaver stance. In the distance, a siren blared from another cruiser.

    The DHS agent dropped to his knees, placed his pistol on the ground. He bellowed. ¡°I have nothing to say until I speak with my lawyer.¡±

    Holy shit! Trooper Schaefer climbed back to his feet and secured the DHS agent¡¯s firearm. What the fuck just happened? The after-action shakes began.

    ***

    ¡°God damn it, David, if I had the little bitch, I¡¯d turn her over.¡± Roger all but screamed into the phone.

    ¡°Calm down, Roger. All I¡¯m saying is the prince isn¡¯t pleased. He requires you to provide lodging for his people while you recover his property.¡±

    ¡°Fine,¡± Roger gritted his teeth. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± He stabbed the phone¡¯s off button and then stabbed the intercom button.

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Grainer,¡± the household AI spoke in its smooth gender-neutral voice.

    ¡°Secure suitable hotel accommodations for a party of eight. Then call David Grant and give him the details.¡±

    ¡°Length of stay, sir?¡±

    Roger glared at the desktop speaker. ¡°Indeterminate.¡±

    With nothing to do except wait for word from David¡¯s recovery team, Roger stood and walked smartly towards the kitchen. Sometime over the last ten years, he¡¯d grown accustomed to the little bitch slinking around. She was rarely far away, no matter how he¡¯d punish her. It was like an invisible rope linked the two of them. He¡¯d assumed it was the loyalty gene controlling her. Then again, if the loyalty gene truly existed, how had his pet managed to run away? She¡¯d had ample opportunities over the last few years.

    It had to be her pregnancy. Human females experienced crazy hormonal swings daily. It¡¯s what made them unstable and incapable of making sound decisions. One would think genie designers would eliminate such inconveniences from their products. As for his little bimbo, with her body a raging sea of maternal hormones, there was no telling what ditzy thoughts drove her.

    While making a sandwich, something he hadn¡¯t done for himself in years, the phone buzzed. It was probably David with another of the prince¡¯s demands. He crossed over to the comm panel and answered the call. ¡°Another problem, David?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Grainer, my name is Alexander Howzer. I¡¯m an attorney. One of my clients asked me to contact you.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Howzer, I¡¯m kind of busy. Please get to the point.¡±

    ¡°Of course. My client was part of a team sent to recover a certain property of yours. A NoJack ping led them to a particular motel. While investigating the scene, the state police involved themselves. My client attempted to distract the state trooper, but there was an altercation. The trooper killed one man. My client silenced a second. Your property was not recovered.¡±

    ¡°Oh, shit.¡± The words slipped out.

    ¡°Indeed, Mr. Grainer. If my client is to remain silent, he¡¯ll need reassurance his legal bills and financial needs will be taken care of.¡±

    Shit! ¡°Mr. Howzer, I¡¯ll connect you to my AI. Give it your contact information. One of my attorneys will contact you.¡± Roger made the arrangements and hung up. No longer hungry, Roger threw his sandwich in the trash and stormed back to his office. ¡°I will beat the little whore to death.¡±

    There was one option left. However distasteful it might be. From inside his safe, Roger removed a business card. Just reading the man¡¯s name made his hands shake. He¡¯d never hated anyone like this since high school.

    Twenty minutes later, fortified from a shot of his favorite single malt, Roger dialed the number. Seconds passed with no ringing. What if the number was out of service? It had been nearly nine years. Then, an all too familiar voice answered.

    ¡°Ah, if it isn¡¯t my diminutive friend, Roger Grainer.¡±

    ¡°Good day, Mr. Timms. You owe me a refund.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a little late for that. You¡¯ve owned the item for over a decade.¡±

    ¡°None the less, the item failed to operate per your guarantee. A refund is due.¡±

    ¡°All right, this line is secure. What are you claiming my genie¡¯s daughter has or has not done?¡±

    ¡°She ran away yesterday. My agents tracked her to Wheeling, West Virginia.¡±

    ¡°Where did she escape from?¡±

    ¡°My residence in Cincinnati.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Gene¡¯s voice trailed off. Roger heard the clicks from a keyboard. ¡°That¡¯s over two hundred miles. Much too far for her to travel on her own. I take it you shared her with a friend or perhaps several friends?¡±

    ¡°Share her? Of course not. The very idea is disgusting. She¡¯d be soiled.¡±

    Timms hissed, and Roger wondered if he¡¯d somehow offended the genie peddler. A moment later, Timms recovered and continued as if nothing happened. ¡°As you say, Mr. Grainer. I¡¯m merely trying to understand why a genie of her pedigree might commit suicide.¡±

    ¡°You think she¡¯s trying to kill herself? But¡­but she¡¯s pregnant.¡±

    ¡°Ah, now that clears everything up.¡±

    ¡°It does?¡±

    ¡°Think, Mr. Grainer. To whom do immature animals look to for protection?¡±

    Flustered, Roger almost flung the phone into the woods. He called Timms for assistance, not for a quiz, and not for the peddler¡¯s little jokes. Roger closed his eyes and shook himself. It always happened like this. The annoying bastard always got under his skin.

    Timms chuckled. ¡°Mr. Grainer, allow me to refresh your rather short memory. Her mother still resides in Wexford, Pennsylvania.¡±

    Roger had studied maps all morning. Wheeling, West Virginia lay between Cincinnati and Pennsylvania. Everything became clear.

    Roger said, ¡°She¡¯s running home to her mother!¡±

    ***

    Jason clicked off the autopilot and manually backed his truck into the garage. ¡°Hey, sweetheart, we¡¯re here. Alfred, is the coast clear?¡±

    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Mr. Timms remains out of state. Shall I relay a discreet message to Miss Natalie?¡±

    Next to Jason, Stephanie stretched. He watched in appreciation until she finished. Jason said, ¡°What about it, Steph? Call, text, or would you rather run home and surprise your mom?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like to see Mom again.¡± Her pale olive eyes studied the world beyond the open garage door.

    ¡°Alfred, can you make it so?¡±

    ¡°I have complete control over the Timms¡¯ security network. There will not be a record of Miss Stephanie¡¯s visit.¡±

    The interior of the garage held Stephanie¡¯s attention for a moment before she turned back to Jason. ¡°What will you do while I¡¯m gone?¡±

    ¡°Besides miss you with every fiber of my being? My truck needs some preventative maintenance, and Alfred and I have some business to discuss.¡± He opened the driver''s side door and stepped out.

    Stephanie slid across the seat and into his arms. She said, ¡°Sleeping recharged my batteries.¡±

    His voice suddenly husky, Jason said, ¡°At this rate, you¡¯ll be ready for the full ¡®Jason Thomas experience¡¯ pretty soon.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Stephanie blinked, ¡°what do you call last night?¡±

    He grinned. ¡°A light warmup. You¡¯re still in training, padawan.¡±

    An extra warm fingertip prodded his chest. ¡°I think you¡¯re full of it.¡±

    ¡°I think you¡¯re the one who¡¯s gonna be full of it.¡±

    Stephanie¡¯s eyes darkened; he and she were teetering on the edge of a severe public display of affection. Screwing in broad daylight with the garage door open wasn¡¯t a good idea under the best of circumstances. Backing away from her wasn¡¯t easy, but he managed to disengage.

    ¡°Sweetheart,¡± he said, ¡°go visit your mom. Give her my thanks. I owe her everything and there isn¡¯t any way I can ever repay her.¡±

    ¡°Jay,¡± Steph stepped close, her eyes bright again. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it later, but Mom and I¡­well, it¡¯s us who owe you.¡±

    ***

    Except for the days when Gene visited, Natalie filled the hours with housework, exercise, and hot steamy baths. Since Alfred¡¯s surprise visit, he occasionally checked in with a generalized update. Natalie knew her daughter and Jason were somewhere safe. That was enough. What she didn¡¯t know, she couldn¡¯t tell her owner.

    The day¡¯s chores were finished, and Natalie contemplated a light lunch before her afternoon exercise session. Lately, she¡¯d switched back to a mixed martial arts regimen. The mix of strength, flexibility, and cardio complimented her abilities.

    The lock on the back door clicked open, and a familiar voice called out, ¡°Mom? I¡¯m home.¡±

    Mom and daughter hugged each other for a long, long time. Ten years is like forever when you miss someone you love.

    Not wanting to let go, Natalie held Stephanie out at arm¡¯s length, ¡°I don¡¯t know why you and Jason are here, but I¡¯m glad to see you, sweetie. I¡¯ll make us a pot, and we can talk.¡±

    While their tea brewed, Natalie covertly examined her daughter. She was thin as a rail, probably because Roger hadn¡¯t fed her enough. Then under her bright kitchen light, something else caught her eye. ¡°Let me see your arms.¡± Once Stephanie held her arms out, the faint lines from old scars were visible. ¡°Where else?¡±

    ¡°My back, my butt, and my legs.¡±

    ¡°Has Jason seen them?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. The light wasn¡¯t right,¡± Steph took a breath. ¡°They¡¯re really faint, and you know how we heal.¡±

    ¡°If I can see them, he will too. Can you keep Romeo under control? If he goes gunning for Roger, it will give the whole show away.¡±

    Stephanie grinned at her mother¡¯s old nickname for Jason. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it matters. Jason¡¯s done something to their household AI, and Alfred is like a movie supercomputer. He can do almost anything.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve already met Alfred the All-Powerful.¡± Natalie pitched her voice towards the ceiling. ¡°If he knows what¡¯s good for him, he¡¯ll stay out of my bathroom.¡±

    ¡°Mom?¡±

    Natalie waved away her daughter¡¯s concern. ¡°Never mind. Don¡¯t tell me where Jason is taking you. What I don¡¯t know, Yevgeny can¡¯t make me tell.¡± When Steffi glanced aside to avoid eye contact, Natalie leaned close. ¡°He is taking you somewhere safe, isn¡¯t he?¡±

    ¡°He says the safest place is where they won¡¯t think to look.¡±

    Natalie sat back and took a deep breath. If Yevgeny asked about Stephanie¡¯s whereabouts, she could still say she didn¡¯t know. She stood and opened the pantry. From behind a long unopened box of waffle mix, Natalie produced a bottle of homemade peach schnapps. ¡°I need a drink. Join me?¡±

    Natalie felt the buzz when she poured two more shots of schnapps. ¡°I¡¯m glad Jason managed a successful kidnapping.¡±

    Stephanie accepted the glass and raised it to her lips. ¡°Jason is good at a lot of things, but kidnapping isn¡¯t one of them.¡±

    ¡°You two always worked better as a team. In any case, our plan worked, and now you¡¯re free.¡±

    ¡°Ha,¡± Stephanie swayed in her seat. ¡°You don¡¯t know how close it came. I almost sent Romeo away. The plan never accounted for someone like Roger.¡±

    ¡°Oh, other than being male, what¡¯s wrong with him?¡±

    ¡°Roger¡¯s the kind of human who needs to hurt someone before he can get it up. Lucky for me, I learned to distance myself. I¡¯d wake up after, bruised and sore. What little I remembered always felt like it happened to someone else.¡±

    Natalie tossed back her drink. ¡°Maybe your bond works differently than mine. I always remember everything until I pass out. Now that I¡¯m older, sometimes even after.¡±

    ¡°Well, I remember almost everything me and Romeo did last night. I¡¯m still a bit sore.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Mom sat up straight, ¡°Did he hurt you?¡±

    ¡°Not like you think. Jason¡¯s¡­well, Jason grew a lot since we were kids. I think Roger stopped growing in third grade.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Once Natalie understood what her daughter meant, she grinned so hard her cheeks felt tight. A little of her old teasing ways seemed appropriate. ¡°Maybe I should let Romeo steal my kisses. You know, just to make sure he deserves you.¡±

    Stephanie grimaced and muttered something under her breath. Natalie must have misheard, but it sounded like, ¡°You must be one of the few he missed.¡±

    After an awkward silence, Natalie tried a different question. ¡°Speaking of the intrepid kidnapper, where is he?¡±

    Despite the alcohol, all this talk about Jason brought her bond to life. Stronger now than ever, her bond felt as though Jason were at the bottom of a hill and she at the top. If she lost her grip, gravity alone would draw her to him. ¡°He¡¯s probably waiting for me.¡±

    Natalie tipped her head back and spoke towards the ceiling. ¡°Alfred, can you ask Jason to come over. It¡¯s time I met the man who¡¯s chasing after my daughter.¡±

    Stephanie laughed and stood. The tea and alcohol were getting to her. ¡°Excuse me. I need the bathroom.¡±

    ***

    With a clean shop cloth in hand, Jason popped his truck¡¯s hood. Electric vehicles didn¡¯t require engine oil changes, but the brake and steering fluids needed checking. The washer fluid was low. Jason grabbed a neoplas jug and topped it off.

    ¡°Alfred, I¡¯m having second thoughts about Grainer. What are my options?¡±

    ¡°A quote from Niccol¨° Machiavelli comes to mind, ¡®Never do an enemy a small injury.¡¯ For a man with Mr. Grainer¡¯s means, stealing Miss Stephanie qualified as a ¡®small injury.¡¯¡±

    ¡°He¡¯ll probably keep trying to find her.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Grainer hasn¡¯t stopped. In fact, he¡¯s come quite close already. The single response from Miss Stephanie¡¯s chip led his agents to the motel.

    Jason¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He¡¯d thought they were free and clear. ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°I left an avatar running inside the motel¡¯s security system. It detected a team searching room to room. I intervened and contacted the state police. They investigated, and a shootout occurred. Two of Roger¡¯s henchmen were killed, and the third, a corrupt DHS agent, has been held for questioning. I expect it will be on the news tonight.¡±

    Jason stomped to the trash bin and discarded the empty jug. What he wanted to ask for wasn¡¯t easy. ¡°I want to do Grainer a large injury.¡±

    ¡°A large and permanent injury?¡±

    That old bastard didn¡¯t deserve a quick death. Jason wanted to see him hurt the same as he¡¯d hurt Stephanie. ¡°Do we have an option for a lifetime of pain and suffering?¡±

    ***

    Without Alfred asking, a manual on financial hacks and manipulations opened. Alfred overclocked and studied the contents.

    Alfred refocused on the real world. ¡°What if we take away everything Grainer has.¡±

    ¡°That is a good start, but I think we can do more.¡± Jason stood in thought, then smiled. It wasn¡¯t a friendly smile. ¡°How undetectable is your backdoor into Grainer¡¯s phone?¡±

    >code runs in volatile ram.

    ¡°According to the emulation, it¡¯s undetectable.¡±

    Now Jason grinned. ¡°This is what I want you to do¡­¡±

    Alfred stared at his human friend. What Jason proposed was vile, even loathsome, but oh, so justified. Another instruction manual popped into view. Alfred overclocked and read it without pause. He was now an expert on the TOR network, the structure of the darknet, where all manner of vile things hid.

    When Alfred returned to real-time, he found Jason washing his hands at the kitchen sink. ¡°Miss Natalie has invited you to visit. She said it¡¯s time you and she met.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m on my way.¡±

    ***

    Jason hadn¡¯t been this nervous about meeting a girl¡¯s mother in a long time. What would she be like? Probably a lot like Stephanie. There was the old legend about girls resembling their mothers. Natalie would have to be, what? Fifty years old? He¡¯d get a chance to see what Stephanie might look like in thirty years or so.

    A wealth of memories washed over him as he approached the Timms¡¯ back porch. All those hot summer good night kisses. Other than a few planters full of flowers, the porch hadn¡¯t changed. He pressed the doorbell.

    From inside the kitchen, Stephanie called, ¡°Come in, Jason.¡±

    Jason opened the door and stepped inside. The layout reminded him of his mother¡¯s old ¡°everything¡¯s manual¡± kitchen. Stephanie stood next to the sink and the open dishwasher. She¡¯d taken the time to pull her hair back with a ribbon and tie an apron on. The sight brought back memories of how they¡¯d clean his kitchen together. Back then, Mom and Dad would slip upstairs to ¡°talk about their day,¡± leaving him and Steph unsupervised for an hour or more.

    Stephanie''s eyes glinted as if she¡¯d told a particularly good joke. ¡°Hello Jason, I¡ª¡±

    She didn¡¯t have time to finish. Jason swept her up and kissed her with all the passion in his heart. The kiss didn¡¯t go well. In fact, she stiffened up almost as he¡¯d done something unwelcome.

    A faint shuffle of footsteps came from the hall, then a loud sigh and Stephanie spoke. ¡°Jay, why are you kissing my mother?¡±

    Jason¡¯s eyes popped open. He stared into a pair of peridot green eyes bright with amusement. How could he kiss Stephanie yet hear her speak from several feet away? Rattled and confused, he set this Stephanie back on her feet. She wore the biggest grin on her face and nodded to her right. Jason half-turned and found a second Stephanie with unbound, kinky hair.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked.

    The kinky-haired Stephanie took his hand, then nodded to the Stephanie he had just kissed. ¡°This is my mother, Natalie.¡±

    Jason turned back to Natalie. She and her daughter might as well be identical twins.

    Natalie smiled. ¡°Sorry, Jason, but I tried to warn you.¡± She gestured towards the kitchen table. ¡°Have a seat. Steffi and I can fill you in.¡±

    They sat at Natalie¡¯s simple kitchen table. Jason took a chair opposite Natalie with Stephanie in the middle. Sitting this close, the superficial differences, like Stephanie¡¯s kinky hair and gauntness, stood out.

    The amusement hadn¡¯t left Natalie¡¯s eyes. She winked at Jason. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re staring. If you¡¯ve seen my daughter, you¡¯ve seen me. We¡¯re pretty much identical.¡± She smiled and lifted one eyebrow in the exact same way Stephanie did. The similarity between these two women boggled his mind.

    The blunt toe of a tennis shoe smacking his ankle brought Jason back to reality. He took Stephanie¡¯s hand and the contact settled him down. For the first time since confusing Natalie with Stephanie, his heart rate slowed.

    ¡°Mom,¡± Stephanie asked, ¡°I¡¯d have thought your loyalty gene would be back in full force by now.¡±

    The question made Jason take notice. Yesterday¡¯s experience with Stephanie¡¯s defense mechanism had nearly killed him. And he still didn¡¯t understand how it worked. Once upon a time he¡¯d teased his girlfriend about her complicated issues. He¡¯d had no idea what complicated really meant.

    ¡°I suppose,¡± Natalie said to Stephanie. That glimmer of deviltry hadn¡¯t faded a whit. ¡°he¡¯s earned our trust.¡± The full impact of her olive eyes fell on Jason. ¡°How about it? Want to learn my sordid secrets.¡±

    ¡°Ah,¡± he peeked at Stephanie, who didn¡¯t have a definable expression. At lease she hadn¡¯t kicked him again. ¡°Sure, Natalie, bring on the dirty details.¡±

    ¡°While Stephanie was on the auction block, my owner used me to provide samples to potential buyers.¡±

    ¡°Samples?¡± The word slipped out before his brain finished processing the implication. If you were buying a sex slave, you wouldn¡¯t want to sample her baking skills. Jason couldn¡¯t help reacting and outrage made his mouth gape open.

    ¡°Shocked, Jason?¡± Natalie smiled. ¡°It wasn¡¯t terrible. I enjoy sex as much as anyone. With our genetics,¡± Natalie nodded towards her daughter. ¡°We probably enjoy it more than most.¡±

    One of Stephanie¡¯s sneakers bumped his ankle. It might have been an accident, or it might be a ¡°behave¡± message.

    Natalie continued, ¡°Yevgeny still pimps me out to men and women he does business with. But only when he can watch. It seems he¡¯s developed a taste for,¡± Natalie¡¯s grin widened, ¡°spectator sports. There isn¡¯t much of my loyalty gene left. I can bump uglies with almost anyone.¡±

    Leaning in, Steph asked, ¡°What about your addiction?¡±

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s still there, and it still needs regular fixes. The trysts Yevgeny arranges only provide a short-term relief.¡±

    Jason said, ¡°I¡¯m not sure I understand.¡± Natalie¡¯s revelations already cleared up a few things. He just needed confirmation.

    ¡°Your sweetheart and I are oxytocin addicts. But for the dose to last, it must come from sex with the person we¡¯re addicted to.¡±

    ¡°How much is a dose?¡±

    ¡°Usually if we have an orgasm, there¡¯s enough oxy to get us by.¡±

    If one were enough¡­. ¡°Does that mean I¡¯m overdosing Stephanie?¡±

    ¡°Overdosing?¡± Natalie quirked an eyebrow.

    ¡°Well,¡± Jason knew his face was beet red, but he had to know. ¡°I like foreplay and Stephanie usually has one or more orgasms before we have intercourse. Am I hurting her?¡±

    Natalie blinked, then she blushed, and for a bonus, Stephanie simply patted his hand.

    ¡°What do you think, daughter? Is Romeo hurting you?¡±

    ¡°Romeo?¡± Steph turned and winked before facing her mother. ¡°He says I¡¯m still in training and he¡¯s taking it easy on me.¡±

    Jason endured a good half-minute of scrutiny before Natalie shook her head. ¡°Once our oxy receptors are full, I think the rest is metabolized. You might want to do some research but that¡¯s what I know.¡±

    As if they¡¯d overdosed on intimate revelations, the conversation died off until Natalie poured an inch of a murky liquid into a glass and gave it to Jason. ¡°It¡¯s my homemade peach schnapps.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said and took a swallow. The first thing Jason noticed was the raw reek of alcohol, then an incredibly tart rush of fermented peach washed over his taste buds. It was so bitter he almost spit it back out. He¡¯d eaten peaches and tried different schnapps in college, but neither came close to this concoction. Jason swallowed, then coughed. His throat felt as though he¡¯d drunk a quart of gasoline and set fire to it. Distantly, he heard Steph chuckle and she began thumping his back. Natalie left the table and returned with a glass of water.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± he croaked, then drained the glass.

    Natalie shrugged when Jason refused more than one shot of schnapps. Stephanie, though, matched her mother one for one. The longer he spent in their company, the differences between the two women became more apparent. Natalie was much more outgoing and seemingly lacked any remnant of a filter. She regularly embarrassed her daughter with bold earthy talk. Then there were her repeated references to how some unnamed man stopped growing after third grade. Sure, some men acted like children their entire lives. It wasn¡¯t worth repeated mentions and knowing smiles, was it?

    Walking home together, Steph was a bit wobbly. He¡¯d never seen her drunk before. At the gate, she pulled him to a stop and asked. ¡°Any second thoughts?¡±

    ¡°Hmm? No, not at all,¡± he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. ¡°More like how everything I ever wished for has come true. You¡¯re back, and I may be the luckiest man in the world because I got a second chance at life.¡±

    Alfred swung the door open at their approach. ¡°Welcome home, Miss Stephanie. I have two-hundred and thirty-seven emails and text messages saved for you.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Alfred,¡± Steph glanced at Jason. ¡°I want to read each one.¡±

    Jason froze. He remembered some of those angry emails and texts. ¡°Ah, sweetheart, about those messages¡ª¡±

    ¡°Jason,¡± Alfred interrupted, ¡°your mother is trying to reach you. May I put her through?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± He had too many things to think about and glanced towards Stephanie. She and mom had always liked each other. A call from Mom seemed like a win-win. Mom would be happy he had his life back. ¡°Sure, Alfred, put the call through.¡±

    On the wall opposite the robochef, the Monet print dissolved, and an image of his mother appeared. It surprised him how much younger she looked. The gene therapy might have taken thirty years off. Mom¡¯s eyes widened when she recognized who stood next to Jason. ¡°Oh, my goodness! Stephanie! How¡­ wait.¡± Shirley turned to her left and called out. ¡°Robert, come here.¡± She turned back to her son. ¡°Sorry, Jason, but your father needs to see this.¡±

    Overjoyed with having Stephanie back, the reason for Jason¡¯s feud with his father meant little. In fact, this would be the perfect time for apologies.

    Robert Thomas, also looking much younger, stepped into view and froze. His mouth dropped open. ¡°Stephanie?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Thomas. I¡¯m back.¡±

    On the screen, Dad frowned and opened his mouth as if to speak. He then reconsidered and turned to Mom. ¡°Do you have that picture?¡± She reached for her purse and removed a key fob with an attached memory cube. Mom punched the button, and a glorious three-dimensional image of Jason and Stephanie, both sixteen-years-old, floated in the air. Dad glanced back and forth between the image his wife held and the one in front of him. His eyes narrowed. ¡°Stephanie, how is it you look so young? Have you also received gene therapy?¡±

    Irritated with his father¡¯s suspiciousness, Jason blurted. ¡°What does it matter? She¡¯s back, we love each other, and I¡¯m going to marry her as soon as possible.¡±

    It could be argued who Jason surprised the most. All three individuals focused on him. Dad¡¯s face flushed. Mom¡¯s mouth dropped open, but she recovered fast and smiled. Stephanie, though, turned to Jason and shook her head. ¡°You can¡¯t marry me, Jay. It¡¯s against the law.¡±

    Not much slipped past Robert Thomas, especially concerning legal matters. Over his career, Counselor Thomas won more cases than most. ¡°Jason,¡± Dad snapped, ¡°you need to explain this. Why is it ¡®against the law¡¯ for you and Stephanie to marry?¡±

    So much for making up with his father. The stiff-necked asshole would never change. It didn¡¯t matter what Jason said, Dad would find fault, and they¡¯d be right back to fighting. Well, to hell with it. Leaning towards the pickup, Jason smiled a broad, toothy smile. ¡°Stephanie¡¯s a genie, Dad. I just stole her back from the man who¡¯d bought her. I love her, and I don¡¯t care what you think.¡±

    Robert reacted to his son¡¯s revelation in the worst possible way. ¡°That¡¯s it! I¡¯m finished with you. Take your gene engineered sex-toy and get the hell out of my house.¡±

    Time took on the aspect of a roller coaster climbing the first hill. There was a sense of wild exhilaration with a hint of impending doom. Stephanie¡¯s hand tightened on his arm. Their eyes locked. All the hurt she¡¯d experienced reflected onto him. He thought as fast as possible, compiling his reassurances. But, as always, Stephanie proved to think much faster. She turned away and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Then faster than he believed possible, blurred through the still open back door.

    By the time Jason reached the edge of his deck, Stephanie had already made it to her back porch. His longer stride helped, but it wasn¡¯t enough. Her door closed in his face.

    Moments later, Natalie answered the door. ¡°What¡¯s going on? If you hurt her¡­.¡±

    In a rush, Jason explained what had happened.

    ¡°Oh, dear,¡± Natalie tsked. ¡°You know she¡¯s not all the way back, don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Jason shook his head. ¡°I thought¡ª¡±

    ¡°She needs time¡ªtime without you surprising her. Think about what she¡¯s been through.¡± Natalie sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to her. She may go back to you tonight or not. Either way, her addiction won¡¯t allow her to stay away for long.¡±

    Jason returned home and mentally thumbed his nose at his father. He¡¯d resolve this mess with Stephanie, then the two of them would leave.

    Inside the kitchen, the Monet print dissolved back into his mother¡¯s face. ¡°Jason, tell me everything.¡±

 Chapter Eighteen

    <blockquote>

    In the News Today: Reclusive billionaire, Roger Grainer, wowed Cincinnati¡¯s morning commuters with a stunning display of aerobatics. The local FAA office was not impressed and are compiling a list of charges.

    </blockquote>

    Jason pulled a chair out from the kitchen table and plopped down. ¡°Heck, Mom, I don¡¯t even know where to begin.¡±

    ¡°You can start by sitting up straight. I¡¯ve seen damp washcloths with better posture.¡±

    ¡°Ah, Mom,¡± he protested. ¡°Give me a break,¡± but he sat up straight and put both feet on the floor. How old was he again? Would he ever not jump when his mother commanded it?

    Mom nodded her approval. ¡°Much better. Now, how did all this start?¡±

    ¡°Stephanie¡¯s mom called the other day and told me what really happened¡­¡±

    Telling the tale took longer than he expected. Watching Mom¡¯s reactions made him realize how far over the line he¡¯d gone. The penalties for breaking and entering and illegally copying proprietary data were nothing to scoff at. Not only had he put himself at risk, but he¡¯d put Stephanie¡¯s safety at risk. If anything happened to her, he¡¯d never forgive himself. For her part, Mom listened without comment until he finished. ¡°¡­and Stephanie ran home.¡± The story sounded crazy.

    ¡°With everything you knew about this Roger person. Why didn¡¯t you call us for help?¡±

    ¡°Why would I? Dad¡¯s a jerk; you saw how he was tonight.¡±

    Mom bristled; she and dad always had each other¡¯s back. ¡°Your father doesn¡¯t react well to surprises. It¡¯s not his best trait. If you¡¯d have called me, I could have brought him up to speed and avoided all the drama. I swear, Jason, you and your father are so darned stubborn, I¡¯m surprised the earth doesn¡¯t stop turning because of your combined resistance to change.¡±

    ¡°Dad says it runs in the family.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t even know the whole story. Your great-grandfather defined the word stubborn. He¡ª¡± Mom shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s a story for your father to tell.¡±

    Jason needed to get the conversation back on track. ¡°Mom, Grainer beat Stephanie. There are scars across her back. There¡¯s a real dungeon, with whips and stuff, in his basement.¡±

    ¡°Ugh,¡± Mom grimaced. ¡°I don¡¯t understand Stephanie¡¯s father. How could a man sell his daughter? And what about Natalie? Why would she put up with it?

    ¡°Mr. Timms is a genie peddler. Stephanie and her mom have tricky genetics.¡± Jason did not want to explain the loyalty gene to his mother.

    Mom shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s more going on. But just so you know, I¡¯m proud of you stepping up and doing the right thing. No matter how stupidly you went about it.¡±

    ¡°Hey, if it''s stupid, but it works, it isn''t stupid.¡±

    ¡°No, once something¡¯s stupid, it stays stupid.¡± Mom glared straight into his eyes, but Jason refused to yield. A few heartbeats later, she sighed. ¡°How¡¯s Stephanie?¡±

    ¡°She has some memory issues. When I got there, she didn¡¯t even recognize me. I had to trick her into trying on the necklace you picked out for her. After she put it on, Stephanie said it felt like I poured someone else¡¯s memories into her.¡±

    ¡°Oh, dear, she¡¯ll need therapy. I¡¯ll talk to your father and see if we can get her some help.¡±

    ¡°Hey, Mom, Dad threw us out, remember?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be a smart aleck. Your father didn¡¯t mean it. Go to bed. You look exhausted.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll wait up for Stephanie.¡±

    ¡°Alfred can wake you if anything changes. Go. To. Bed.¡±

    Jason sighed. ¡°Yes, Mom.¡±

    ***

    Natalie perched on Stephanie¡¯s old twin bed and listened while her daughter repeated Jason¡¯s story, word for word. Before winding down, Steffi added that it was all her fault. She had no right to ruin Jason¡¯s life, and he¡¯d be better off without her.

    Blah, blah, blah. All the stress from the last twenty-four hours had turned Natalie¡¯s tough-as-nails daughter into a drama queen.

    The drama wouldn¡¯t last. The bond would see to it. The itch would drive Stephanie back into Jason¡¯s bed. If she managed to hold out longer, and Roger found her first, Stephanie would get what she needed from him. Once that man recovered his play toy, he¡¯d make damned sure she never ran away again.

    Natalie traced a finger over a faint ridge of scar tissue on Stephanie¡¯s upper arm. Yet another thing she hadn¡¯t anticipated. Her youngest daughter had always been so brave, ¡°No, Mom, it¡¯s about us.¡± She¡¯d gotten Stephanie into this mess; she would get her out. It was time to get involved.

    Or so she thought. Speaking with Jason had been easy. Yevgeny¡¯s command regarding him had been, ¡°Stay away from that little punk next door.¡± Well, the little punk was no longer little or a punk. But every time she tried to call the little punk¡¯s mother; Yevgeny¡¯s compulsions proved more potent than she expected. After several minutes of mental acrobatics, Natalie realized that no matter how the conversation might begin, she couldn''t do it if her intention were to speak the truth. Each time she tried, her lips clamped shut, and her thoughts scattered like birds.

    Natalie did what she always did when faced with a problem, she made a pot of tea. The familiar ritual helped to settle her mind. While the longleaf tea steeped, Natalie considered what she knew about compulsions.

    OCD, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, was the MacDaddy of all human compulsive disorders. The takeaway for her was how some humans self-medicated with alcohol to lessen the compulsive drive. Could she self-medicate as well?

    She pushed aside her tea and reached for the peach schnapps. Where was her glass? The hell with it, Natalie pulled the stopper and drank straight from the bottle.

    After several deep swallows, Natalie put her genie mind to work. Best damned brain Pavlo could afford. After several attempts, she ran through an imaginary conversation without Yevgeny¡¯s order forcing her to stop. The mental gymnastics, coupled with the alcohol buzz, left Natalie lightheaded. She glanced towards the com panel. ¡°Alfred?¡± she called.

    ¡°Yes, Miss Natalie?¡±

    ¡°Make yourself useful and get Jason¡¯s mother on the phone, and Alfred, make it a video call.¡±

    ***

    Shirley Thomas sat at the table in the small suite she shared with her husband. Outside on the deck, Robbie sat staring off into the evening sky. From the stubborn set of his shoulders, his sense of legal propriety warred with his love for their son. Not for the first time tonight, she thought about helping him sort out the mess. But he¡¯d called Stephanie an animated sex toy, and for that, the man could stew for a good while longer.

    The resort AI broke into her reverie. ¡°Mrs. Thomas, I have an incoming call holding for you from Natalie, Stephanie¡¯s mother.¡±

    ¡°Put her through, please.¡± A moment later, the woodsy outdoor print hanging to her left blinked, and she finally met Stephanie¡¯s mother, face to face.

    The reason for never having the time to meet in person became clear. ¡°Well, this is a surprise. You¡­are Stephanie¡¯s mother?¡±

    Natalie chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m her mother. Please call me Natalie.¡±

    ¡°I will if you¡¯ll call me Shirley. Jason said Stephanie was a genie, so you must be one as well. How is it you and your daughter are twins?¡±

    ¡°Pavlo, the man who paid for my design, wanted our daughters to inherit all my traits. It¡¯s in my design document.¡±

    ¡°So, when Stephanie and Jason have children¡­¡±

    Natalie finished the sentence. ¡°They¡¯ll look like me and inherit the rest of my traits.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a lot to take in.¡±

    ¡°To be honest, I hadn¡¯t thought past getting Stephanie free. My daughters and I aren¡¯t very fertile under the best of conditions. Our grandchildren may never be an issue.¡±

    ¡°How many daughters do you have, and where are they?¡±

    ¡°I have three daughters by Pavlo, Tamara, Katya, and Alissa. They may still be in Ukraine. After Yevgeny stole me from Pavlo, there was only Stephanie. Natalie lifted a glass jug and took a gulp.

    ¡°Are you all right, Natalie?¡±

    ¡°Not really, my owner fixed it so I can¡¯t ask for help. The only way around it is to get drunk.¡±

    ¡°Hold on, I¡¯ll get a beer and join you.¡± A small refrigerator stood at the end of the counter. Shirley grabbed one of Robbie¡¯s beers and hurried back. She had so many questions, but this one was the most important. ¡°How¡¯s Stephanie?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s upset. The last twenty-four hours have been difficult for her.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t imagine what it must have been like. Jason told me about the scars.¡±

    ¡°Her owner turned out to be a sadist. Stephanie also has had problems reintegrating her memories. The addiction we have to our owners is quite unforgiving.¡±

    ¡°I want to know everything about this addiction, but first, Natalie, why did you wait so long to ask for help? Robbie and I would have done something.¡±

    ¡°You and your family might have been hurt. The people behind the genie trade are ruthless. Besides, your husband isn¡¯t sympathetic to us.¡±

    ¡°Robbie isn¡¯t unsympathetic; he¡¯s a lawyer. The law is his career, but his family always came first. I bet Robbie already regrets his reaction. Later, I¡¯ll push him towards the right decision.¡±

    ¡°What is the right decision?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what we¡¯re discussing, isn¡¯t it?¡± Shirley finished her beer and ran to get a second. ¡°You know,¡± she said on her return, ¡°I used to think Stephanie would be the best daughter-in-law I could wish for.¡±

    ¡°And now?¡±

    ¡°I admit the genie thing has me concerned.¡± Shirley held up her hand to forestall any reply. ¡°Only because I don¡¯t know the details. It¡¯s clear you and Steph are a good bit more than the genies we see on the Tri-D.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you everything.¡± Natalie sipped some more of her peach liquor and sat back. She wouldn¡¯t skip or smooth over any details. ¡°About fifty-five years ago, Pavlo Mogilevich visited the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow to commission my design. He brought a list of characteristics that defined his perfect woman.¡± Natalie pointed at her features in turn. ¡°Dark red hair, peridot green eyes, an hourglass figure, and athletic ability. There¡¯s more. You see, above everything else, Pavlo demanded perfect loyalty¡­¡±

    By the time Natalie finished, Shirley was in tears. It had been impossible to hold back her emotions. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Natalie, but you and your daughters deserved a better life. The loyalty bond you mentioned rings a bell. When Robert and I met in college, I studied genetics. There was a controversial paper from a Russian researcher about the development of a similar phenotype. It was supposed to improve the ny subject''s pair-bonding ability.¡±

    ¡°Was it written by Nikolai Vavilov?¡±

    Shirley¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Yes, how did you know?¡±

    ¡°Nikolai designed me. In some respects, he is my father.¡±

    ¡°My class thought the paper was theoretical. None of us imagined the researcher followed through with it. How effective is it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s similar in effect to an opiate addiction, but if I suffer withdrawal long enough, it¡¯s fatal.¡±

    Shocked, Shirley exclaimed, ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°I have not put it to the test,¡± Natalie smiled to lessen any unintended sting, ¡°but it was a key part of my design. Nikolai succeeded in everything else. Why not that as well?¡±

    ¡°And your youthful appearance?¡±

    ¡°Pavlo believed his perfect woman should remain young forever. I don¡¯t know my life expectancy, but I haven¡¯t aged past seventeen or so. I never get sick, and if hurt, my daughters and I heal fast.¡±

    Shaking her head, Shirley said. ¡°What happened to Pavlo?¡±

    ¡°Still in Kyiv, I suppose. The bastard had better have kept our daughters safe.¡± She¡¯d already explained the deal struck by Yevgeny to keep her babies safe.

    ¡°There may be a way to find out. I¡¯ll ask Robbie. He knows all that shady lawyer stuff.¡±

    ¡°If you think he¡¯ll help.¡±

    ¡°Let me take care of Robert. He¡¯ll come around if he knows what¡¯s good for him.¡±

    ***

    Upstairs in his bathroom, Jason brushed his teeth.

    ¡°Jason?¡± Alfred interrupted, ¡°I have an update on our plan to ruin Roger Grainer.¡±

    ¡°Go for it.¡±

    ¡°Besides the funds in domestic banks and various stock market accounts, I''ve identified twelve different offshore accounts and several real estate properties. One such property is a cozy private island off Antigua in the Caribbean.¡±

    ¡°A private island?¡±

    ¡°After Mr. Grainer retires for the night, his phone will begin the file transfers. By morning, Roger will appear to have downloaded enough ¡°material¡± to attract an immediate federal level response. Phase two will begin when the authorities take him into custody. The money will be in your accounts within twenty-four hours. Transferring the real estate might take a week or more. Property transfers must be handled by local lawyers.¡±

    Jason couldn¡¯t rinse his mouth fast enough. ¡°Did you say, ¡®My accounts?¡¯¡±

    ¡°To minimize your tax liability and keep the transfers anonymous, we¡¯ve established numbered accounts for you in Europe and Asia.¡±

    ¡°H-how much money?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s difficult to be exact because selling the stocks will decrease their value somewhat. Several hundred billion dollars is a good approximation.¡±

    ¡°S-several h-hundred b-billion dollars,¡± Jason stuttered while attempting to understand the amount. It was a good thing he leaned against the sink; otherwise, he might have fallen over. ¡°I think the island is a bit much.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know. You and Miss Stephanie could work on your no-tan-line tans. There is an additional issue requiring your attention. Saved to Mr. Grainer¡¯s phone are a number of media files. These files document the abuse of genetically engineered life forms.¡±

    ¡°Uh oh, don¡¯t tell me¡ª¡±

    ¡°Many of the files include Miss Stephanie. In fact, her videos and photographs account for sixty-eight percent of the¡ª¡±

    Jason raised his hand in a ¡°Stop¡± gesture. ¡°I get it. What are my options? Can you wipe these files without interfering with the file transfer?¡±

    ¡°I can wipe the files and defragment the storage. However, a forensic examiner will notice the changes.¡±

    ¡°The examiner will assume Roger wanted to make more space for the downloads. Is there anything else?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Grainer¡¯s daddy-dom kink has a certain¡­synergy with the material to be downloaded. I suspect the authorities will use this when they compile their case.

    ***

    The glass door behind Robert Thomas cycled open. Moments later, his wife leaned over and gave him an upside-down kiss. ¡°I take it,¡± he said, ¡°you¡¯ve decided how much of an asshole I am?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be vulgar.¡± She stepped around to the railing and looked off to the distant Appalachian Mountains. ¡°Besides, that¡¯s never been a question.¡±

    ¡°So, you¡¯ve said.¡± While he and Shirley presented a unified face to the world, they sometimes disagreed in private.

    ¡°Robbie, you¡¯re wrong about Stephanie. She¡¯s no more an animated sex toy than I am.¡± Shirley glared back over her shoulder.

    Several quips came to mind and were dismissed just as fast. ¡°I may have gone too far with that,¡± he admitted.

    ¡°It was a terribly hurtful thing to say. The poor girl has been through hell, and our son¡¯s a hero for rescuing her.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no telling how many laws he broke.¡±

    ¡°Stephanie¡¯s ¡®owner¡¯ has a dungeon. He used to beat Stephanie. She has scars, both physical and mental, and all you did was set back her healing.¡±

    Leave it to his wife to use an emotionally charged statement. ¡°Shirl, I loved Stephanie too. But she¡¯s not¡ª¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Shirley interrupted. ¡°Not human?¡±

    This wasn¡¯t a winnable argument. It didn¡¯t help that Robert already regretted his earlier outburst. ¡°Stephanie is as human as you or I.¡±

    Shirl¡¯s eyes danced with confusion. ¡°Then, what¡¯s the problem?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s not legally a human. There is a law against humans marrying genies.¡±

    ¡°That is a legal detail, and I know a good lawyer.¡±

    Robert crossed his arms. ¡°I¡¯m retired.¡±

    ¡°Not if your son needs you.¡±

    ¡°What makes Stephanie and her family so special?¡±

    ¡°Come inside, and I¡¯ll show you.¡±

    ¡°Said the spider to the fly.¡±

    ¡°Robert, if you come inside and look at all the information, I¡¯ll do that little thing you like so much.¡±

    Robert¡¯s interest picked up, and he joined his wife at the railing. ¡°You mean that thing you save for my birthday?¡±

    ¡°Uh-huh, but tomorrow, you have to call Stephanie and apologize.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Miss Stephanie?¡±

    Stephanie woke. The blue AI presence light glowed from underneath the room¡¯s video display. ¡°Alfred?¡± The few hours of sleep had helped. She felt better, more like her old self.

    ¡°Jason requests you open your bedroom window.¡±

    ¡°My window? It¡¯s got an alarm.¡±

    ¡°Never fear, Miss Stephanie, I control the alarm system. The latch and the window mechanism are beyond my reach I¡¯m afraid.¡±

    ¡°All right,¡± Stephanie slid out of bed and smoothed her borrowed nightie. Mom¡¯s nightwear had always seemed so glamorous. Now, compared to the crazy costumes Roger had made her wear, this chemise seemed tame. The night table blocked the way, but she moved it to the side and opened the window

    Outside, Jason stood on what must have been the top of a ladder. ¡°What are you doing out there?¡± she hissed. Even in the dark, the heat in Jason¡¯s gaze caused her knees to weaken. But Jason¡¯s presence also reminded Stephanie of one last obligation. Ten years ago, she and her mother had deceived the boy next door. She owed Jason the truth.

    ¡°We need to talk,¡± he whispered. ¡°Can I come in?¡±

    It felt like that scene in the ancient movie Animal House. A little angel competed with an equally minuscule devil for her attention. The little devil wanted Jason inside, right now. It didn¡¯t specify where inside, but Stephanie thought she knew the spot. The angel, who looked a lot like her twelve-year-old self, didn¡¯t want any part of this ¡°bad daddy.¡±

    Caught between two equally insistent but opposing factions, Stephanie chose a third path. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea. If you come in, we¡¯re not going to do any talking.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Jason glanced back towards the entrance to the cul-de-sac. ¡°If the police drive past, I¡¯ll probably get arrested.¡±

    Stephanie said, ¡°Fine. But you¡¯re not coming into my bedroom. Put your ladder away, and I¡¯ll meet you on the back porch.¡± Instead of waiting for Jason to agree, she closed and locked the window.

    Several minutes passed, and sitting on the top porch step, Stephanie wished she had worn a robe. This sleeping chemise was comfy and all, but it didn¡¯t provide much coverage, and both she and her boyfriend needed to concentrate. Jason ran through the gate and stopped a few feet away. The cool night air brought a whiff of his sweat mingled with the residue of his body wash. He smelled like a snack.

    Jason¡¯s body posture screamed how unsettled he felt, and Stephanie patted the step next to her. ¡°Sit. I¡¯m better than I¡¯ve been in a long time.¡±

    ¡°Then why are you so¡­distant? The last couple of days, we couldn¡¯t have been closer. Now¡­¡± he settled into place and shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t been myself for a long time.¡±

    Jason opened his mouth to interrupt, but Stephanie interrupted his interruption. ¡°Just wait. I¡¯ll explain.¡±

    He took a deep breath and, to his credit, visibly tried to relax.

    ¡°Two days ago, when you tricked me into wearing this necklace,¡± she ran a finger along the delicate chain, ¡°I was in full-blown Roger¡¯s girl mode. The necklace triggered a flood of memories. It almost brought me back, but not all at once, and big chunks weren¡¯t there yet. Then you seduced me and started a hormone overload.¡± She saw how he wanted to interrupt, but a touch of her hand settled him down. Stephanie continued, ¡°I admit, I wasn¡¯t playing hard to get, but you did everything you could to stack the deck.¡±

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    Jason couldn¡¯t wait and blurted out his defense. ¡°Steph, I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.¡±

    ¡°I know you will, and I love you for it and for so much more. But there¡¯s something you don¡¯t know. I need to confess ¡®cause ten years ago, Mom and I set you up.¡±

    ***

    Ten years earlier:

    He was outside again, that oh-so unremarkable boy, who happened to live next door. Stephanie first noticed him a few days earlier. He was tall and slim, but his shoulders were broad, and she really liked how his shorts hung on his hips. Now, she checked for him every chance she got.

    A hand dropped on her shoulder, and she almost jumped out of her skin.

    Mom said, ¡°What are you staring at?¡±

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Stephanie squeaked, ¡°It¡¯s just a nice day outside.¡± She tried angling her body to block her mother¡¯s view.

    ¡°Um-hmm,¡± Mom said as she shouldered her way to the window. ¡°Oh¡­it¡¯s a boy.¡± Mom used the same tone as if she¡¯d found a moldy raspberry. ¡°Studying the enemy?¡± Mom quipped.

    Stephanie hoped Mom hadn¡¯t noticed how intently she studied the enemy. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen one this close.¡± The boy walked in circles through his yard. Here and there, he¡¯d bend over and pick up a rock or a branch fallen from the tree overhead. He¡¯d hike up his shorts again and continue the search. His unruly brown hair made Stephanie want to try and comb it into shape. He¡¯d look so much better¡­.

    ¡°What do you suppose he¡¯s doing?¡± Mom queried.

    ¡°I think he¡¯s going to mow their lawn.¡± This proved to be correct. After clearing the yard, he shuffled into his detached garage and emerged, directing a lawnmower.

    Mom was already bored with the boy¡¯s antics and pointed towards the dishwasher. ¡°It won¡¯t empty itself.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mom,¡± outside, the mower whined to life.

    The near-constant drone of the lawnmower made it easy to keep the boy in mind, and Stephanie settled into the familiar routine of her daily chores.

    At supper that same day, Mom expressed the beginnings of an idea. ¡°You know, I was thinking about your boyfriend.¡±

    ¡°M-my what?¡± Stephanie sputtered.

    ¡°Your little friend,¡± Mom waved towards the window, ¡°the boy next door.¡±

    Still embarrassed from her mother catching on earlier, Stephanie¡¯s temper flared. ¡°He¡¯s not my boyfriend, he¡¯s just¡­¡± and there she stopped. She wasn¡¯t sure what he was. How did Mom always read her mind?

    ¡°Sorry, sweetie, I shouldn¡¯t tease you. It¡¯s time for another real talk.¡±

    Real talk was Mom¡¯s term for a frank discussion of Stephanie¡¯s future. That future would be upon them all too soon. Once Stephanie¡¯s biological clock signaled her physical maturity, Yevgeny would put her up for sale.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Stephanie muttered. This wasn¡¯t her favorite topic.

    Of course, Mom started off with the survival strategy Stephanie hated the most. ¡°I still think you should run away.¡± Then Mom¡¯s twisted sense of humor kicked in. ¡°Maybe that boy next door would hide you in his bed?¡±

    Stephanie ignored the sudden butterflies her mother¡¯s suggested hiding spot caused. She said, ¡°Mom, you know what Yevgeny would do to you.¡±

    ¡°Well, I knew you¡¯d object, so I thought of an alternative. It¡¯s a long shot, but if it works, you¡¯ll be free, and Yevgeny wouldn¡¯t know what happened.¡±

    Mom¡¯s plans could be doozies. They tended to involve recent events, and that meant¡ª

    ¡°That boy is the key to everything.¡± Then Mom explained, and it got crazy.

    ¡°When Yevgeny bonded me by force, it proved a loophole existed in our design. We¡¯re going to exploit the same flaw and bond you, just a little, to that boy.¡±

    ¡°But Mom, he¡¯s cute and all, but I don¡¯t know if I want to have sex with him.¡± That wasn¡¯t exactly true, but the less her mother knew of that, the better.

    ¡°That¡¯s good because you¡¯re not allowed to have sex. If you did, it might push you too far over the edge. You don¡¯t want to go through what I did.¡±

    The story of what Mom went through was chilling enough. Yevgeny chained her down and repeatedly raped her. It took weeks before Mom¡¯s loyalty changed.

    Mom continued to explain. ¡°All you¡¯re going to do is have a human-type romance. Just like in the movies. You¡¯ll have lots of hugging and kissing and maybe even some light petting. It¡¯ll be fun. Along the way, you¡¯ll send a trickle of oxytocin to those receptors. Then someday in the future, that boy can knock on your door and take you away with him.¡±

    Stephanie shook her head in a mixture of awe and disbelief. ¡°Why would he want to come and get me?¡±

    ¡°Because you¡¯ll make him fall in love with you.¡±

    ¡°How would I do that?¡±

    All her mother did was raise a knowing eyebrow.

    Not for the first time today, Stephanie felt her face flush. ¡°You don¡¯t mean¡ª¡±

    ¡°Certainly not what you¡¯re thinking, little miss.¡± Mom shook her finger to show she was in charge. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t work your wiles on him. By the time he¡¯s hooked, you¡¯ll both have a little addiction, only yours will be real, and his imaginary.¡±

    ¡°But I don¡¯t have wiles.¡±

    ¡°What did I teach you about men, hmmm? Tell me what you remember?¡±

    They¡¯d gone over this so many times. Stephanie recited the list while counting each rule on her fingers. ¡°Swing your hips to catch their attention. Laugh when they tell jokes. Touch them to show you care. Defer to their needs and listen to their stories. Make the man feel as though he is the center of your world. And never, ever complain.¡±

    Mom nodded her approval. ¡°There¡¯s lots more. Let him be your champion. Lead him on before, regretfully, telling him no. Always, always, always leave him wanting more. But, before everything else, stay in control! Your biology will work against you.¡±

    ¡°And someday he¡¯ll come looking for me?¡±

    ¡°When it¡¯s the right time, I¡¯ll tell him a tale of woe. He¡¯ll charge to the rescue, and you won¡¯t be some bastard¡¯s property anymore.¡±

    ***

    Stephanie waited while Jason sorted through her confession. It had to be a shock. The wind picked up and rattled the leaves. It had that incoming thunderstorm sound.

    Next to her, Jason rubbed his hands against his thighs. He sighed and said, ¡°How are you doing with your addiction? Do you need a¡­fix?¡±

    Surprised because she hadn¡¯t expected this particular question, it took a second to think of a reply, ¡°Mom likes to use old junkie slang. So, we call it a ¡®fix.¡¯¡±

    Jason didn¡¯t comment, and Stephanie rushed to fill the silence. ¡°But no, I don¡¯t need a fix.¡± Then, to try and lighten the mood, she added, ¡°You¡¯ve done a masterful job at keeping me satisfied.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± he stood. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll wait until you get back inside and lock up.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re upset,¡± she stood as well. The few inches of distance between them might as well have been miles.

    ¡°Hurt might be a better word. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not going to stop loving you, no matter the reason. You did too good of a job reeling me in.¡±

    Ouch. ¡°Jay, no matter how it started, once I got to know you, I fell in love with you for real.¡±

    ¡°I know, and it¡¯s okay. Heck, even knowing the little bits you¡¯ve shared, I have no idea how you held it together.¡±

    ¡°Are you gonna be okay?¡±

    ¡°Sure, it might take a day or two to sort this out. Unlike you and your mom,¡± Jason smiled, ¡°I¡¯m only human.¡±

    Double ouch. ¡°Is there anything I can do? Maybe something to help you fall asleep?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s tempting, but no. Tonight, I need to think myself to sleep. Goodnight, Stephanie.¡±

    There wasn¡¯t anything to add. Stephanie nodded and stepped back inside. If a confession was supposed to be cleansing, why did she feel so dirty?

    ***

    Jason hadn¡¯t been inside for a minute before Alfred relayed a message. ¡°Your mother said your father is going to call. You are to accept your father¡¯s apology graciously.¡±

    ¡°Dad needs to apologize to Stephanie first.¡±

    ¡°Your mother anticipated your concern and said she has dealt with it.¡±

    ¡°Whoa, I guess Mom laid down the law.¡±

    ¡°As a cyber entity, I find it fascinating how your family is led by its women, even though the greater society is patriarchal.¡±

    ¡°Mom says that¡¯s because our family is smarter.¡±

    ¡°Ah, that clears up everything.¡±

    ¡°Hi, Dad.¡±

    ¡°Son, I¡¯m sorry. My words¡­I hurt Stephanie when she was the most vulnerable.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Dad, but you need to apologize to her.¡±

    ¡°I know, and I¡¯ll make it up to her, I promise. Have you spoken with her?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, we sat on her back porch, and she told me a story.¡±

    ¡°Oh, what kind of story?¡±

    One I¡¯d rather not tell you, Dad. ¡°It was how before we met, Natalie caught her watching me cut the grass.¡±

    ¡°I wish I¡¯d known what was going on over there.¡±

    Me too. ¡°Dad, that asshole who had her, he has a fucking dungeon. He whipped her.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it when I get back. I want to know everything. Look, so you know, I¡¯ll call Stephanie in the morning and apologize. If you two want to get married, I¡¯ll do what I can to help.¡±

    ¡°Thanks.¡±

    ¡°I think it¡¯s time to tell you the whole story about your great-grandfather. His birth family was pure trash, and he grew up in bad company. While still a young man, he made a tough decision and saved a group of good people. Those people became his new family. We don¡¯t talk about it with outsiders, but this is what happened¡­¡±

    ***

    When Stephanie shuffled into the kitchen the following morning, she didn¡¯t notice her mother¡¯s intense scrutiny. Nor did she notice anything unusual about the long brewed and extra bitter chamomile tea.

    Natalie served up a high caloric breakfast of crepes with an assortment of sugar-laden jams and jellies. Poor Stephanie was so distracted, she ate seven of the carb-bombs before realizing it.

    ¡°Mom, how many of these are you going to stuff me with?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s two left, sweetie. Why don¡¯t you finish them up? Look, you haven¡¯t tried the elderberry jelly yet. Isn¡¯t that Jason¡¯s favorite?¡±

    ¡°I know what you¡¯re doing,¡± Stephanie said between bites of her ninth crepe.

    ¡°You¡¯re too skinny, and you want to look your best for Jason, don¡¯t you? Now, why don¡¯t you take a nap while I clean up?¡±

    The carbohydrates and the tea did their work. Stephanie slept another hour and a half before Natalie woke her and laid a fresh outfit on the dresser. ¡°Sweetie, get dressed. There¡¯s someone on the phone who wants to speak with you.¡±

    Stephanie brightened. ¡°Jason?¡±

    ¡°No, it isn¡¯t Jason.¡± At her daughter¡¯s sudden look of fear, Natalie added, ¡°It isn¡¯t Roger either.¡±

    ¡°¡­and you¡¯re not going to tell me who it is,¡± Stephanie grumbled loud enough for her mother to hear, but she dressed and brushed her hair before turning to the video screen.

    The screen lit with an image of Jason¡¯s father. ¡°Mr. Thomas,¡± Natalie said, ¡°as you requested, my daughter, Stephanie.¡± Natalie nodded towards the display and backed out of the room.

    ¡°Ah, Stephanie! Um, it is Stephanie, isn¡¯t it? I can¡¯t tell you and your mother apart.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s me, Mr. Thomas.¡±

    ¡°I want to apologize for my thoughtless remarks. My estranged son and I haven¡¯t spoken in several years. Unfortunately, I allowed my emotions to get out of control. I want you to know if it ever becomes possible for you and Jason to marry, you¡¯ll have my blessings.¡±

    ***

    Natalie¡¯s front door thumped open. Gene Timms, aka Yevgeny Timofeyev, shouted in a mock-cheery voice, ¡°Honey, I¡¯m home!¡±

    Fear wrenched at Natalie¡¯s guts. Roger better not be here as well! While she ran downstairs, her traitorous body responded to the sound of Yevgeny¡¯s voice. Warmth coalesced in her belly and her nipples chafed against the inside of her shirt.

    She met Yevgeny at the top of the entrance stairs. Long years of practice made her smile real. ¡°You¡¯re home early. Did you forget something?¡±

    Behind her back, Natalie crossed her fingers. She didn¡¯t believe in God, but if he existed and cared at all for genies, she needed him now.

    Yevgeny spoke to the other man who entered the house next. ¡°Go upstairs, Roger, the first door on left. If she¡¯s here, that¡¯s where she¡¯ll be.¡±

    ***

    Jason woke to Starfleet¡¯s red alert klaxon. The wall-mounted com display flashed red and black.

    ¡°Red alert, Jason. A limousine has dropped off Miss Stephanie¡¯s father and Roger Grainer.¡±

    Jason jumped up and peeked around the curtains. ¡°Shit! Alfred, how did those assholes slip past you?¡±

    ¡°It is possible Mr. Grainer removed the battery from his phone. As for Mr. Timms, without access to his phone or a similar smart device, I cannot track him.¡±

    ¡°Shit! Can you warn Natalie? Maybe Stephanie can slip out the back?¡± Jason turned towards the video display. ¡°Show me Steph and her mom.¡±

    The display came on in split-screen mode. On the right, Stephanie sat on her bed, animatedly speaking with a video image of Jason¡¯s father. On the left side of the screen, Natalie stood immobile at the top of the entrance stairs. On the lower landing, Yevgeny Timms and Roger Grainer entered the front door.

    Poor Natalie, Jason thought. Except for a slight tremor, she stood like a statue.

    ¡°Alfred,¡± Jason said, shifting his gaze to Stephanie, ¡°we need to get Stephanie out of there. Can you talk to her?¡±

    ¡°I can use the video display in her room.¡±

    Thoughts whirling, Jason had an idea. ¡°Tell her to crawl out onto the roof and, if possible, to close the window behind her. I¡¯ll get Dad¡¯s ladder and climb up to get her.¡± Jason pulled on his clothes and ran downstairs.

    ***

    Without warning, Stephanie¡¯s video display split into two sections. The image of Mr. Thomas moved to one side. A silver-haired man wearing a black, three-piece suit with a burgundy tie, occupied the other.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± asked Robert Thomas and Stephanie at almost the same instant.

    The individual on the screen spoke. His South-London accent made him instantly recognizable. ¡°My apologies, Miss Stephanie, Mr. Thomas, you¡¯ve not seen me before, but I am Alfred.¡± Alfred''s image focused on Stephanie. ¡°Miss Stephanie, you are in grave danger. Master Jason wants you to exit through your window and step across the roof to his side of your house. He will meet you there with a ladder.¡±

    ¡°B-but¡­¡± Stephanie stammered.

    ¡°There is no time. Your father is downstairs, along with your former owner. Out the window now and be quick about it. Do try and close the window behind you. I shall attempt to stall.¡± Alfred¡¯s face shimmered and became a perfect copy of Stephanie¡¯s.

    ¡°Alfred?¡± Mr. Thomas asked. ¡°When did you become capable of generating an avatar?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a long story. However, there is much going on, and I must concentrate.¡± Alfred cut Mr. Thomas¡¯s connection, and his duplication of Stephanie filled the display. To his right, Stephanie crawled through the window and closed it from the outside.

    Footsteps on the stairs redirected Alfred¡¯s attention. A quick scan of the Timms¡¯s local area network gave him access to Miss Stephanie¡¯s bedroom door. He commanded it to close and lock. From the hallway pickup, he observed Roger¡¯s surprise when the door slammed shut in his face.

    After gathering himself, Roger tapped on the door.

    ¡°Who is it?¡± Alfred said in perfect mimicry of Stephanie¡¯s voice.

    ¡°It¡¯s Daddy, snuggle muffin.¡±

    For a moment, Stephanie¡¯s face dissolved back to Alfred''s. The avatar¡¯s lips pursed in distaste. He grumbled, ¡°Snuggle muffin?¡± The face returned to that of Stephanie¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯m mad at you. Stay away!¡±

    ***

    Finally! Roger almost crowed his relief. His nightmare was finally over. Timms, the paranoid bastard, had made the case that if his wayward daughter were with her mother, that he would be unable to control her. Not only was Roger¡¯s presence required, but he also had to disable his phone and only use the travel arrangements Timms provided. Finding his pet here made all the inconvenience worthwhile.

    The prince and his people might have to wait another week or two because Roger planned to beat the little slut to within an inch of her life.

    But until that joyous moment, he continued to follow Timms¡¯ advice. He treated his pet like the immature animal she was. ¡°Why are you mad at daddy, sweetums?¡±

    ¡°Because you made my tummy hurt.¡±

    Didn¡¯t she understand how pregnancy worked? ¡°But that¡¯s because you¡¯re going to have a baby.¡±

    Through the hallway pickup, Alfred watched Roger attempt to force the doorknob.

    ***

    Closing her bedroom window from outside took some effort. It didn¡¯t want to slide back down, but Stephanie gritted her teeth and pushed. The window slid shut with a thud. She turned away, intending to sneak across the peak, then hide on the back of the roof until Jason arrived. For a genie with her coordination and sense of balance, it should be easy. But as her head turned, the edge of the roof, and the view beyond came into sight, Stephanie¡¯s arms and legs froze.

    Through the window, Stephanie heard Alfred¡¯s impersonation arguing with Roger. She needed to get out of sight. If she made it to the side of the dormer, maybe Jason could come and find her? First, Stephanie concentrated on what was safe. Focusing on the roof¡¯s shingles brought control back to her limbs. Slowly, carefully, she crawled to the side of the dormer.

    ***

    Half-way up the ladder, Jason¡¯s mobile phone buzzed. Alfred spoke through the device¡¯s speaker. ¡°Your father is calling. I suggest you take it.¡±

    ¡°Put him through.¡± He didn¡¯t have time for an argument. If Dad didn¡¯t behave, he¡¯d cut the call.

    Dad¡¯s voice came next. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Steph¡¯s dad and the asshole who thinks he owns her are here. I¡¯m going to bring her down off her roof. Then we¡¯ll hide.¡±

    ¡°How confident are you this will work?¡±

    Jason spotted Steph crouched on the roof. ¡°Pretty confident. I think she¡¯s waiting for me.¡±

    ¡°All right; get on with the rescue but don¡¯t hang up. If there¡¯s a problem, I¡¯ll call the police.¡±

    ¡°Dad, you can¡¯t¡ª¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s better if they¡¯re in police custody than the alternative. Besides, I know a good lawyer.¡±

    A weight Jason hadn¡¯t realized he¡¯d carried vanished. Having Dad¡¯s support meant a lot. ¡°Thanks.¡± Jason slipped the phone into his shirt pocket.

    With Steph¡¯s abilities, it wouldn¡¯t have surprised him if she¡¯d already jumped down. Heck, it wouldn¡¯t have surprised him if she¡¯d summoned an invisible airplane and flew down. Instead, she huddled against the outside of her bedroom¡¯s dormer window. Was she hurt?

    He had to get her, but he had to be careful. Right under the roof was the Timms¡¯ great room. Even with the insulation, anything but the most careful footsteps would sound like drumbeats.

    Even with the slow and careful steps, it didn¡¯t take long to reach her. ¡°Hey,¡± he whispered.

    ¡°Hey,¡± she whispered back. ¡°I can¡¯t walk up here; it makes me dizzy.¡±

    ¡°Close your eyes, and I¡¯ll carry you.¡±

    ¡°Goof, I¡¯m too heavy. We¡¯ll fall.¡±

    ¡°Then we crawl. No hurry.¡±

    They made it to the ladder without any problems. Jason even helped Stephanie turn around and back up to the ladder. Once there, she balked at stepping onto the ladder.

    ¡°I can¡¯t do it,¡± she hissed.

    They were out of time. Jason had an idea. If it worked, Stephanie might not like it. If it didn¡¯t work, the consequences couldn¡¯t be borne. He stepped from the rooftop to the ladder, then reached underneath her skirt and rubbed her butt. This wasn¡¯t an aimless butt rubbing. It was purposeful and deliberate¡ªthe kind of butt rub that comes with confidence and experience.

    Stephanie quivered. After the first second, she pushed back just a little. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Her voice had that dreamy tone.

    ¡°Distracting you.¡±

    As usual, Stephanie figured things out super-fast. ¡°Can you keep it up while we climb down?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re kidding, right? After this, getting it to go down will be the hard part.¡±

    Of course, she understood his meaning, ¡°You¡¯re terrible.¡± But she straightened her right leg. ¡°Guide my foot.¡±

    ¡°Got it,¡± he paused his ministrations long enough to put her foot on a rung. A few caresses later, they climbed down the ladder.

    At the bottom, Stephanie said, ¡°I have never been so turned on in my life.¡±

    Who¡¯d have figured his girlfriend got frisky from scary butt rubs? ¡°I¡¯ll take care of you after I put the ladder away. Get inside, and I¡¯ll be there in a few minutes.¡±

    Stephanie ran. Alfred opened the kitchen door and closed it behind her.

    Jason tilted the ladder up and pulled the rope to release the lock. He needed to lower the extension without making a racket. The problem was the ladder¡¯s locking mechanism. It jammed if the extension wasn¡¯t lowered fast enough. It might have worked¡ªif Jason hadn¡¯t been impatient to catch up with Stephanie. The lock jammed open, and the ladder retracted with a loud series of clangs.

    ***

    Like a shark smelling blood, Yevgeny circled Natalie. His redheaded djinn quivered with each step. This was the best. Nothing else gave him this sense of power. He stopped just out of her view and reached around to cup her breast. Through the thin cotton, Natalie¡¯s erect nipple slipped between his index and middle fingers. ¡°What have you been up too, Nat?¡± Yevgeny¡¯s fingers pinched and twisted.

    One of her hands reached back and squeezed his crotch. ¡°Missing this,¡± she said in answer to his question.

    She did miss it. Yevgeny knew that for sure. If he slipped a hand inside her panties, she''d be sopping wet. He¡¯d fuck her soon enough. But there was a little mystery to solve first. His fingers tightened on Natalie¡¯s breast, and he jerked her back against his chest. ¡°What do you know about Stephanie running away?¡±

    ¡°Ahhh,¡± Natalie gasped. ¡°W-what do you mean?¡±

    ¡°I think you knew about her running away.¡± Yevgeny brought his left hand around and wrapped his fingers around her throat. ¡°You¡¯re a conniving little bitch, and I¡¯ll have the truth out of you.¡±

    While age made it easier for Natalie to separate her thoughts from her body''s demands, she didn¡¯t know if she could refuse to answer his questions.

    ***

    ¡°No, Daddy, don¡¯t come in here!¡± Stephanie¡¯s continued defiance both confused and aroused Roger. Had his little vixen returned to her old teasing ways? Would she continue to resist and make things even more enjoyable? He renewed his efforts, twisting the doorknob harder and putting his weight against the door. Suddenly, the stubborn doorknob turned, and Roger flung himself into the room.

    The empty room.

    His eyes swept over the tiny bedroom. There weren¡¯t many places to hide. She was either inside the closet or under the bed. Anticipating the reward for finding his pet, he kept the teasing daddy facade going. ¡°Where is Babygirl hiding? Daddy¡¯s going to want a prize when he finds her.¡± He flung open the closet and found nothing. A quick peek under the bed revealed only dust bunnies. Unnoticed behind him, the door swung shut. The lock clicked. Surprised, Roger turned back. He tried the knob, but it wouldn¡¯t budge. Damn her. The little bitch must have hidden behind the door. Stressed beyond belief, Roger screamed in frustration and pounded on the door for help.

    ***

    Even in Yevgeny¡¯s presence, Natalie couldn¡¯t keep from flinching when Roger screamed. The scream was closely followed by a steady rhythmic pounding. Her daughter couldn¡¯t defend herself against her owner. With Yevgeny here, there wasn¡¯t anything Natalie could do to help.

    ¡°Sounds like a little bitch is getting what she deserves.¡± Yevgeny¡¯s voice crooned in her ear. ¡°If you don¡¯t start talking, you¡¯ll be getting the same.¡± His hand squeezed and cut off her breath.

    Slowly, deliberately, Natalie did something she¡¯d never contemplated. She pushed her full awareness of Yevgeny into the single private spot in her mind. The space she reserved for her secret hopes and dreams. As her mind cleared, Natalie¡¯s right hand curled into a fist.

    A rapid-fire, metal-on-metal clanging echoed through the neighborhood. Whatever caused it must be right outside.

    Yevgeny snarled. ¡°What the fuck is going on now?¡± He released Natalie and spun towards the front door, then stopped. Turning back, he issued a command. ¡°Don¡¯t move a fucking muscle, we ain¡¯t done.¡± With a smug smile plastered across his face, Yevgeny stormed out of the house.

    Alone now, Natalie¡¯s worry for her daughter fought against her genetic programming. Beads of sweat broke out across her forehead. With a titanic effort, Natalie managed a single step towards the stairs to Stephanie¡¯s room.

    ***

    With Miss Stephanie safely back home, Alfred checked the rest of the Timms¡¯ home. On the first floor, Natalie struggled to move towards the stairs. Even with the cheap security camera, it was clear the woman experienced an elevated heart rate with labored breathing. Sweat dotted her brow. Perhaps she worried about her daughter? Alfred considered telling her about Stephanie reaching safety. But a picosecond before he spoke, another possibility occurred to the AI.

    Alfred knew a lot about Natalie¡¯s design. He¡¯d overheard everything and deduced quite a lot. He knew about the loophole she and Stephanie exploited. Because the loophole worked once, there was no reason it couldn¡¯t work again. It would take some finagling to put all the pieces in the right spots. One thing was sure: the old Alfred would never have attempted anything like this.

    A scan of the Timms¡¯ network gave Alfred the address of the living room¡¯s Tri-D display. Fortunately, Natalie remained in the foyer with a clear view of the screen. The display lit with a pore-perfect replica of Yevgeny Timofeyev.

    ¡°Natalie!¡± Alfred shouted in a perfect mimicry of Yevgeny¡¯s voice.

    Natalie spun to face the display; her expression matched that of fear with a ninety-five percent certainty. ¡°Y-yes?¡±

    ¡°Listen, you little bitch, and follow my orders. You will do exactly what I say.¡±

    Alfred monitored Natalie¡¯s vital signs via the camera. Within seconds of her owner¡¯s impersonation appearing on the screen, her vital signs relaxed back to those of a trance state.

    Natalie nodded her acceptance of the order.

    The avatar licked its lips and smiled. It was the indulgent smile of an apex predator. ¡°When I say go, you will exit through the front door and sprint to the Thomas¡¯ house next door. You will not stop for anything. The door will open, and you will enter their house. Now, one more thing. Once you are inside, you are free of any bond to me. You will never, ever, follow another of my orders.¡±

    Natalie¡¯s mouth gaped. Even in a trance, she couldn¡¯t believe her master¡¯s orders.

    ¡°Now go, Natalie! GO!¡± Alfred shouted the last word.

    Natalie opened the door and took off at a full sprint. Even with the surveillance cameras at their highest frame rate, her image blurred.

    ***

    Natalie didn¡¯t stop until she stood in the Thomas¡¯ foyer. The door closed and locked behind her. As the bolt clicked into place, the part of her mind that had been filled with constant thoughts of Yevgeny became muted and distant. ¡°Oh, my G¡ª" Towards the rear of the home, she heard Stephanie crying.

    ***

    The crash of the Timms¡¯ front door slamming shut was all the warning Jason had. He had no time to get clear, so he spun the ladder around and leaned it against the side of his parent¡¯s house. Moments later, Stephanie¡¯s father stomped into view.

    The last time they met, the older man dominated the conversation. Other than the man¡¯s sneering voice and dismissive manner, Jason remembered little. Now, as an adult, Jason, who¡¯d since met a slew of aggressive assholes, this old man in baggy clothes didn¡¯t impress.

    Timms approached, careful to stay on his side of the property line and stopped several feet away. His eyes flicked up and down, taking in everything about Jason. ¡°I remember you¡­boy.¡± The last word came with a chuckle. The fake kind of laughter a winner might gift to someone he¡¯d bested.

    Jason¡¯s hatred threatened to boil over. Not trusting his suddenly dry mouth, he didn¡¯t reply.

    ¡°You used to cut my grass,¡± his brown eyes never ceased in their examination. ¡°When you weren¡¯t trying to diddle my daughter.¡±

    Jason¡¯s calm fa?ade slipped, and the old man latched on.

    ¡°You think I didn¡¯t know? Kids are stupid.¡±

    Jason shrugged, trying did his best to appear unfazed. ¡°Hey, Mr. Timms, what can I say?¡±

    Timms grinned and inched closer. His gaze followed the ladder up to Jason¡¯s roof. ¡°Cleaning gutters?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, just got done. There wasn¡¯t anything up there, but you know my dad, he doesn¡¯t take chances.¡± Jason gave Stephanie¡¯s father his best smile. Neither do I, you piece of shit.

    The old man nodded and turned away before spinning back, like a schoolteacher trying to catch a misbehaving student. ¡°Have you noticed anything unusual going on? Noises, anything like that?¡±

    Honestly surprised at the question, Jason shook his head. ¡°No, but I don¡¯t pay much attention to anything that¡¯s not my business.¡±

    ¡°Ah, you remembered,¡± Timms nodded.

    ¡°Mr. Timms, good advice is good advice. It¡¯s served me well.¡±

    Chuckling, Timms turned and walked back to the front of his house.

    Jason waited until Stephanie¡¯s father turned the corner, then he ran the ladder back to the garage. Before stepping back out, he lifted his phone. ¡°Still there, Dad?¡±

    ¡°I think,¡± Dad replied, ¡°we got lucky.¡±

    ¡°When her dad came around the corner, I almost shi¡ª¡± Jason cut off what he¡¯d intended to say.

    ¡°Me, too,¡± Dad commiserated. ¡°I think you and Stephanie might be safe, but I¡¯ll call a friend at the police station and ask him to swing a patrol car past our house tonight.¡±

    Jason took a breath. What he needed to do next didn¡¯t come easy. ¡°Dad, about Alfred; I kind of gave him an upgrade¡­¡±

    Minutes later, Jason slipped into his house. The ladder was locked up and Dad would calm down eventually.

    To his surprise, he found Natalie with Stephanie in his parent¡¯s kitchen. ¡°Alfred?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Jason?¡±

    ¡°Lock the house down. Full perimeter scans. Prepare to repel boarders.¡±

    ¡°Aye-aye, Captain. Shall I update your father?¡±

    But Jason had already wrapped his arms around Stephanie. ¡°Sweetheart, I¡¯m never letting you out of my sight again.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Stephanie cried and wrapped him up in a rib-cracking hug. She was still on an emotional roller coaster.

    In between Steph¡¯s sobs, he caught enough breath to cry for help. ¡°I¡­can¡¯t¡­breathe,¡± he gasped, not joking in the least.

    ¡°Mom thinks I still need time to recover.¡±

    If she didn¡¯t let him go, he¡¯d need to recover. ¡°Steph¡­?¡±

    It might have been his red face, but Natalie stepped in. ¡°Sweetie, you should let Romeo breathe once in a while.¡±

    He gasped when Stephanie relaxed her hug. ¡°Natalie? How?¡±

    ¡°My owner kicked me out.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Jason grinned, ¡°That¡¯s great.¡± He took in the shocked expressions on the two women. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Stephanie looked Jason straight in the eyes. ¡°Mom will die if she can¡¯t bond to someone else.¡±

    All Natalie did was nod.

    Jason¡¯s mouth went dry. Stephanie¡¯s mother needed to bond, and he was the only man available.

 Chapter Nineteen

    <blockquote>

    From an advertisement on the dark net¡¯s Silk Road website: Genies, <u>G</u>enetically <u>EN</u>gineered <u>I</u>mmersive <u>E</u>xotics, all ages and types available. Both fresh and gently used. https://genies4u.onion/</a>

    </blockquote>

    Yevgeny sneered. The little punk next door had grown into an annoying adult, just like his lawyer father. It was past time to find another place to live. He¡¯d allowed his life to become too comfortable. After he finished this business with Grainer, Yevgeny would look for a new house. Perhaps back in West Virginia? The people there were uneducated boors, but they valued privacy. At his front door, Yevgeny gripped the doorknob and twisted. He¡¯d take Natali and beat the truth out of her. Perhaps he¡¯d spice things up and give her a chance to fuck her way out of the beating? Challenges always spurred his djinn to greater efforts.

    The front door swung open and revealed¡­an empty hallway. ¡°Bozhe moi,¡± the old Russian curse, ¡°My God,¡± slipped out. This was impossible; his djinn could not disobey an order. Natalie was the single most reliable thing in his life. She was like gravity.

    The thudding of his heart competed with the whisper from the air conditioner. His house was deathly silent. ¡°Bozhe moi,¡± slipped out again. If Natalie had somehow rescued her daughter, then Grainer was dead. No amount of personal wealth would save him. And Natalie would have made it hurt. Other than what her bond required; his djinn had no sympathy for men.

    If Grainer were dead, Yevgeny¡¯s fortunes improved dramatically. He had his day¡¯s pay, but more importantly, his taser with the remaining custom cartridge lay inside his safe. He¡¯d locate Natalie¡¯s daughter and subdue her. With Stephanie under his control, he¡¯d resell her privately and not through the Silk Road. With a bit of luck, this time, Pavlo wouldn¡¯t steal his money.

    Ten years earlier, Las Vegas, Nevada:

    ¡°Bozhe moi,¡± Yevgeny Timofeyev cursed after stepping out of the rented box truck. His legs, numb from hours behind the wheel, wouldn¡¯t support his weight. After steadying himself with the door handle, he scanned the area, hoping no one noticed his slip.

    Not that speaking Russian was unusual here in America¡¯s ¡°Sin City.¡± Many of his former compatriots made their homes here decades ago. The Bratva, however, did not play well with others, and it made for exciting times. Within a year, they¡¯d spilled enough blood to impact the tourist trade. United States federal agents descended on the city and declared martial law. The warring organizations took a step back and hammered out an uneasy truce.

    No, the problem wasn¡¯t speaking Russian. The problem was the price on his head. If the wrong person recognized him, it would be the end of everything. Pavlo Mogilevich, the Pakhan of the Solntsevskaya Bratva, had sworn a vendetta, a blood feud against the man who¡¯d murdered two of his personal guards. It said much for the culture that the feud was over two dead guards with no mention of the stolen djinn. Not that it mattered, Yevgeny and Pavlo knew the truth.

    The tingles in his leg faded, and Yevgeny took a few careful steps. He needed a shower, a good meal, and a proper bed. Finishing this last bit of business came first. In the back of his truck were two catgirls he¡¯d contracted to deliver. The money for their purchase kept in a trusted Silk Road escrow account. Once the customers took delivery, the money, less a small handling fee, would be his.

    Silk Road was the premiere darknet marketplace. Named for the ancient trade route connecting Europe and Africa to Asia, the first iteration of Silk Road on the darknet was so successful, the American government tracked down its creator. After the man¡¯s trial, he¡¯d received two life sentences plus forty years! The United States government did NOT want that criminal genius to, ever again, see the light of day.

    For the last fifteen years, the Silk Road''s current incarnation had proved to be unassailable. Nation-states and potential competitors had tested its defenses and failed. No one knew who operated the site, but everyone believed in its trustworthiness. Silk Road treated each vendor and customer equally. Disputes were handled fairly and with little drama. The Silk Road¡¯s management did it all with a minimal charge of two percent of each transaction.

    At the rear of his truck, Yevgeny stopped and checked the area for watchers. Once satisfied, he thumbed the lock and slipped into the back. Both travel crates remained in place. Their contents healthy and kept asleep by the cheap Chinese med patches. Mounted to the forward wall was a pair of wireless internet cameras. With a click, he enabled both. They¡¯d capture a video stream each time the truck¡¯s doors opened. The resulting video was saved to the cloud and would serve as proof of delivery.

    If it turned out the purchase was a sting, Yevgeny would be long gone. He¡¯d still receive the money held in escrow.

    ¡°Goodbye, little kitties,¡± Yevgeny chuckled and exited the truck. He secured the doors with a simple combination lock and walked away. He¡¯d parked his own vehicle nearby before renting the box truck under an assumed name. The papers for the false identity were another service purchased through the Silk Road. Once inside his car, Yevgeny activated a burner phone and tapped out a text message with pickup instructions to the customer. He was in a hurry to return home.

    An hour past Des Moines, his private phone chirped. Yevgeny hadn¡¯t survived this long by being stupid. His mobile phone looked normal, but he¡¯d paid an extremely talented technician to gut the ¡°smart¡± components and leave the basic telephone capabilities intact. His phone could not be tracked or controlled by a third party.

    ¡°Yes?¡± Yevgeny said.

    The voice that answered had been heavily filtered. Still, there remained a hint of an accent. Not enough to identify Yevgeny¡¯s caller, but enough to flag it as the voice of a non-American. ¡°Only one bidder remains.¡± The auction for Natalie¡¯s daughter was over.

    He¡¯d waited over sixteen years for this moment. ¡°How much?¡± Even with his iron will power, a tremor of excitement crept into his voice.

    The caller quoted an unbelievable figure, then added. ¡°Less our standard two percent, of course.¡±

    Yevgeny¡¯s iron control evaporated. ¡°That much?¡± he stammered.

    ¡°Two percent is the standard fee.¡± The voice of Silk Road admonished in its unemotional tone.

    ¡°No, no,¡± chuckling, Yevgeny corrected himself and took a deep breath. ¡°My apologies, I referred to the total amount, not to your quite reasonable fee.¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± The voice commiserated. ¡°We here at the Silk Road wish to congratulate you. You hold the record for the largest single transaction.¡±

    No shit! ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Then, the voice firmed. ¡°The winner wishes to receive his property immediately. Do you wish our assistance in the delivery?¡±

    ¡°N-n-now?¡± He¡¯d expected the auction to continue for another week. ¡°I¡¯m fifteen hours away from home. Tell them I need twenty-four hours minimum.¡±

    ¡°We will pass this on. However, be aware ¡®he¡¯ is most insistent.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah, they always are.¡± Tapping the ¡°off¡± button, Yevgeny settled back into his seat. While he had the best identification papers available¡ªfrom the Silk Road, of course¡ªthey may not withstand a policeman¡¯s detailed examination. Better to keep his speed five miles below the posted limit and keep out of trouble.

    Barely four hours passed before Silk Road called back. ¡°The buyer insists on picking up his property now.¡±

    ¡°Is his payment in escrow yet?¡± Once in escrow, the buyer couldn¡¯t pull it out without penalties.

    ¡°It is. However, the buyer has authorized us to offer a one-hundred bitcoin bonus if he can make the pickup within ten hours.¡±

    This was easily the most expensive pussy in history. Yevgeny checked the autopilot to see if it might be done. ¡°Tell him two-hundred bitcoins, and he has a deal.¡±

    An hour later, after more wrangling, they had a deal. The buyer agreed to a two hundred bitcoin bonus, but only if he could meet at the seller¡¯s home for an immediate pickup. With all the financial arrangements made and assured of their two percent commission, the Silk Road opened a direct communications channel. ¡°Mr. Roger Grainer, meet Gene Timms.¡±

    For once, the highway traffic didn¡¯t fuck him over. Yevgeny arrived at his house an hour before Grainer was due. In a rush to make the preparations, he parked on the street and charged inside. Natalie¡¯s daughter was not there.

    ¡°God damn it, Nat. What do you mean, Stephanie¡¯s next door?¡±

    Tiny beads of sweat dotted his djinn¡¯s forehead. He¡¯d long ago learned how Natalie responded when he challenged her decisions. Not that she made many poor decisions. His business kept him on the road for two or three weeks each month. Natalie knew her place and how to ensure her survival. Pavlo, the fool, thought it loyalty. Yevgeny knew better; self-interest was a far better motivator than fickle loyalty.

    It took two halting attempts, but Natalie swallowed and spoke. ¡°Stephanie and her friend Jason are playing a video game.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t Jason the little punk who cuts the grass? The kid I caught peeking in the windows?¡± Gene turned and stomped across the living room. He grumbled. ¡°If he pops her cherry, your daughter¡¯s value is cut in half. The genie market is flooded with used cast-offs.¡±

    ¡°Having a friend is an important part of her emotional development. I had brothers and sisters; she had no one.¡±

    It made a woman¡¯s kind of sense, but he needed to vent. ¡°I¡¯ll kill them both if that little punk bonds her.¡±

    ¡°Yevgeny, please, I followed orders and called just as soon as she ovulated.¡±

    Her call was what prompted him to hold the auction. ¡°How do you know they¡¯re not fucking?¡±

    ¡°Stephanie knows her limits,¡± His djinn swallowed, ¡°and she knows what would happen to me¡ªif she broke them. They are friends, Yevgeny.¡±

    Mollified by her submissiveness, Yevgeny stopped pacing and strode back to his djinn. He stopped well within her personal space. Like the sun, the heat from her body warmed his skin. With one extended finger, he reached out and traced her lips. Her eyes grew dark, and just like that, the master¡¯s spell was complete.

    He needed to settle down. If he knocked on the neighbor¡¯s door in his current agitated state, they¡¯d probably call the police. Natalie¡¯s perfect body offered the ideal outlet.

    ¡°Come, Natalie,¡± he led, and she followed. In the dining room, the table was the right height. As an added benefit, she hated it when they made a mess on the furniture.

    After Yevgeny finished, he spun Natalie around and used her mouth to clean himself. Many of the women he¡¯d known wouldn¡¯t perform such a simple act, but his djinn never complained. If he had to bet money, he¡¯d say his djinn enjoyed the additional service. She¡¯d wake soon enough and clean up any remaining mess. He needed to fetch his daughter back home.

    Stephanie¡¯s buyer, the American named Roger Grainer, turned out to be an impatient, entitled prick of a short man. When Yevgeny didn¡¯t kiss his ass, Grainer changed to speaking in shorter, simpler words. As if anyone not able to recognize their better, must also be stupid. Yevgeny reminded himself of his imminent wealth. He could endure anything with so much money on the line.

    Once Stephanie arrived from her ¡°walk,¡± Roger produced a medpatch and placed it around the girl''s neck. Its medical nanites sedated her within seconds.

    They¡¯d transferred the girl and an overnight bag in the garage. Too many neighbors had outdoor security cameras. Of course, Yevgeny live-streamed the hand-off for Silk Road¡¯s verification. Minutes later, he received a text stating the money transfer had begun. Silk Road would send a confirmation when the process was complete. Yevgeny wished every aspect of his life worked as smoothly.

    An hour later, he still hadn¡¯t received the confirmation. Yevgeny called the Silk Road.

    The phone rang once before it was answered. ¡°Hello, thief.¡± A long-unheard male voice spoke in fluent Ukrainian.

    Yevgeny¡¯s mouth went dry. Pavlo? How could Pavlo Mogilevich answer the Silk Road¡¯s telephone? He checked the handset to see if he¡¯d misdialed. If Pavlo could hack the most secure site on the dark web, what else might the man do? It didn¡¯t matter. Yevgeny¡¯s life was over. The only thing remaining under his control was how well he died.

    ¡°Hello, Pavlo,¡± Yevgeny replied. There wasn¡¯t anything else he could say.

    ¡°My congratulations, thief, on the successful conclusion of your auction.¡±

    Thief? Well, it was true enough. ¡°How did you hear of the auction? I specifically asked the auction house to exclude Eastern Europe.¡±

    Pavlo chortled. It was the over-the-top belly laugh of a man who¡¯d bested a long-hated foe. ¡°Yevgeny Timofeyev or Gene Timms, if you prefer, know this, I am the Silk Road.¡±

    Yevgeny¡¯s mind froze; If this were true, then Pavlo knew everything!

    Inexorably, Pavlo continued. ¡°After you stole Natalie, if she did not kill you first, I suspected you¡¯d overcome her loyalty. Then you would breed her and sell the daughters. The dark web is the obvious place for such transactions. I resurrected Silk Road and made it the most trusted marketplace on the darknet. So trustworthy, you used it for your own business. It has made many people wealthy, although none as wealthy as I. The funds from your auction have been transferred to me. I should congratulate you; the auction alone earned more money than it cost to create Natali.¡±

    ¡°Then we are even,¡± Yevgeny offered. He might survive with his life.

    ¡°Natali¡¯s cost was trivial.¡± There was a rustle of cloth as Pavlo shrugged. ¡°My honor is worth much, much more.¡±

    ¡°Pavlo, you should consider us even. I stole something of little value from you, and you repaid me by stealing a much larger sum of money.¡±

    ¡°You do not make the rules, thief.¡± Pavlo chuckled, then coughed. It had a wet, unhealthy sound. ¡°I will consider us even, after I take the proceeds from the sale of Natali¡¯s next daughter.¡±

    This told Yevgeny that Pavlo¡¯s knowledge was limited. He laughed. ¡°Pavlo, old friend, you give away much. There are no other daughters. Natali¡¯s womb dried up after her fourth daughter.¡±

    ¡°Only one daughter? The thief doesn¡¯t know the secret of her fertility. Well, there is time for you to learn, or perhaps I will take your life. Either will make us even.¡± It is my hope, thief, you never learn the secret.

    Present Day:

    The upstairs hall lay empty, with no sign of violence. The door to the small bedroom was locked from the inside. Yevgeny used the emergency key kept on the trim above the door.

    ¡°Did you catch her?¡± Red-faced and fuming, Grainer rose from his seat on the bed. ¡°I think she hid behind the door and slipped out behind me.¡±

    Yevgeny scanned the room. The lack of decorations reminded him of the cheaper motel rooms he¡¯d used. ¡°It seems we both have a problem with missing property. Come, we will search the house.¡±

    In the end, after failing to find a trace of either genie, they returned to the small bedroom. There Yevgeny found the unlocked window. If Natalie¡¯s daughter went out the window, then the little punk with the convenient ladder was involved. What had Natalie said back then? ¡°They are friends, Yevgeny.¡± At no point had his djinn said the boy and her daughter weren¡¯t sexually involved. Nor had she assured him her daughter hadn¡¯t bonded to the boy. She¡¯d carefully answered each of his concerns without a single falsehood. It was a masterful performance, and in his arrogance, he¡¯d fallen for it. How long had his djinn schemed against him? ¡°Bozhe moi,¡± he swore again. When hadn¡¯t she?

    Of course, Grainer heard the expletive. ¡°What did you find?¡± Roger tried to edge past.

    Stepping to the side, Yevgeny pointed at the open latch. ¡°I think your pet went through the window.¡± He didn¡¯t add anything about the neighbor and the ladder.

    ¡°Oh, ho!¡± Roger brightened. ¡°Well, go out and get her.¡±

    Telling Grainer about the neighbor with the ladder opened another box of worms. Roger had an issue with ¡°used¡± females. Many of Yevgeny¡¯s catgirl clients insisted on ¡°fresh.¡± But for them, the reason was the kitty''s five to ten-year life spans. Grainer¡¯s issue was far more problematic. If the man learned of his pet¡¯s probable history, all hell would break loose. Yevgeny might as well kill the man now.

    Sighing, Yevgeny lifted the sash and peered out. A little roof-top exercise would give him a few minutes. Maybe he¡¯d figure out what to tell Grainer? If nothing else, he could check his own gutters.

    The shingles showed faint scuff marks. He followed the marks to the peak and from there to the far edge of the roof. Down below was the spot where the neighbor had stood with his ladder. Damn you, Natali. It was a maskirovka worthy of a Russian. As he turned back, a McCandless police cruiser pulled into the circle and stopped. A uniformed officer climbed from the vehicle and glanced up. Yevgeny waved; he was just a typical homeowner inspecting his gutters. The police officer waved back.

    Roger held the curtain to the side while Yevgeny climbed back inside. ¡°She¡¯s not there? How did she¡ª¡± Grainer¡¯s voice rose with stress.

    Yevgeny waved him to silence. ¡°A police officer is headed next door,¡± While Grainer worked through the change in the situation, Yevgeny latched the window shut.

    ¡°But-but where is my pet? What if she runs to the police?¡±

    ¡°Then you and I are fucked, yes? You may call for your limo and leave if you wish. What will you say if the police stop you for questioning?¡± Something about the window drew his attention. The alarm company had mounted sensors to each window and door, all through the house. Why hadn¡¯t the alarm tripped? The system should have sent a text each time someone opened a window or door. Had his djinn hacked the alarm system as well? What else might she have done?

    Turning to the door, Yevgeny said, ¡°There is something else I must check.¡±

    ***

    Alfred kept watch on the two men via the security cameras. He didn¡¯t like how well they cooperated.

    Yevgeny and Roger stomped their way to the garage and flipped open the circuit breaker panel. Every camera, microphone, and sensor went dead.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t good,¡± said Alfred.

    ***

    ¡°Thank you, officer,¡± Jason smiled and closed the front door. He turned around in time to catch Stephanie peeking around the corner.

    ¡°What did she want?¡± Stephanie asked, just before wrapping him in another bone-cracking hug. The arrival of the police had frightened her and Natalie. They¡¯d hidden downstairs.

    Oops! He¡¯d known the police were coming, but with Natalie¡¯s presence and her surprise, it had slipped his mind. ¡°It¡¯s all right; Dad arranged police protection for us. They¡¯ll keep watch all night.¡±

    Natalie followed at a more sedate pace. She stepped into the hall, and his mind took an inappropriate trip to the past. He remembered that little red skirt and Stephanie¡¯s insistence her mother could wear it. Seeing her now, Jason realized there was no doubt Natalie would fit into that skirt.

    If anything, Natalie watched him right back, with even more speculation. ¡°Jason, why don¡¯t you take Stephanie upstairs and see if she needs anything? I¡¯ll make some lunch. Come back down when you¡¯re ready, but don¡¯t rush.¡±

    ***

    Jason¡¯s bedroom brought back a wealth of memories. Stephanie walked around the room touching familiar objects. When she glanced at the com panel, the display lit with the old selfie of Opportunity, the ancient Mars rover. Jason closed the door.

    ¡°Nothing¡¯s changed,¡± she said.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Jason plopped onto the bed. ¡°It¡¯s like a time capsule.¡±

    There was a photo album on the corner of his desk. Stephanie opened it and found picture after picture of her and Jason. ¡°Are you still angry with me?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m not mad, but we need to talk.¡±

    ¡°Uh, oh,¡± Stephanie said. ¡°Everyone knows a relationship¡¯s in trouble when the boy say¡¯s ¡®We need to talk.¡¯¡± She smiled and plopped down next to him.

    ¡°All it means is we need to talk. I have questions, and you have answers.¡±

    It had been over twenty-four hours since the last time they screwed. The tingles, which had faded after climbing down the ladder, began buzzing again. ¡°What do you want to know?¡±

    ¡°Correct me if I¡¯m wrong, but I gave you your first fix, right here, on this very bed.¡±

    Stephanie nodded. ¡°My first and an hour or so later, my second.¡±

    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    ¡°So, I¡¯m responsible for you even having an addiction, right? I started it.¡±

    ¡°If Mom hadn¡¯t caught us, it would have started the afternoon I wore that little red skirt.¡±

    ¡°So, there¡¯s no way we could have had sex without you becoming addicted?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a ¡®one and done¡¯ kind of thing. Mom thought orgasms during intercourse released more hormones. I think she¡¯s right, but having an emotional attachment helps. It took Roger months. While I started jonesing for you after a week or so.¡±

    ¡°What if you don¡¯t get a fix?¡±

    ¡°According to Mom, we die.¡±

    ¡°What if something happens to me?¡±

    ¡°All the bond does is make us not want sex with anyone were not addicted to. After my father kidnapped Mom, he forced himself on her until she bonded to him.¡±

    ¡°Yevgeny might be the bravest man in the world. I can¡¯t imagine trying anything on your mom.¡±

    ¡°Mom¡¯s loyalty gene is almost gone. Mine will probably fade in another thirty years.¡±

    ¡°Until then, I need to keep your tanks topped off.¡± His knee rubbed against hers as he rolled her way.

    Stephanie stood and pushed Jason onto his back. ¡°You got it all wrong, buster. You¡¯ll be filling my tank a lot longer than that.¡± She toed her sneakers off while he pulled his shirt over his head. It became a race to see who got naked first. She would have won too, but he remembered how ridiculously ticklish she was. The sneaky rat pulled her down and smooched noisy raspberries across her belly. ¡°Stop!¡±

    Minutes later, deliciously out of breath, she lay on her back while Jason puzzled over removing her skirt.

    ¡°Does this pull up or down?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Give me a break, I¡¯m not the first girl you¡¯ve undressed.¡±

    ¡°Actually,¡± he displayed a big goofy grin, ¡°you were.¡±

    That wasn¡¯t what she¡¯d meant, but if she fussed about it, he¡¯d just raspberry her into submission again. ¡°All right, you win.¡± Stephanie threw up her arms in surrender. ¡°Just lift my skirt and have at it.¡±

    ¡°I love a girlfriend who has her priorities straight.¡± He¡¯d found the zipper and moments later tugged her borrowed skirt down.

    Stephanie rolled on her side and watched while Jason hung her clothes over the back of his chair. As usual, the monster bobbed and swayed, pointing the way. She said, ¡°I love a well-endowed boyfriend. How does it feel?¡±

    Puzzled at first, Jason grinned when he realized what held her attention. ¡°Packing heat, you mean?¡±

    The things she put up with to get laid.... Steph slid back to make room on his double bed. ¡°When you do it to me, how does it feel?¡±

    Jason pursed his lips. ¡°When it¡¯s hard like now, the skin¡¯s stretched tight, and all the sensations are magnified.¡± He crawled onto the bed, bent, and gave her coochie a long, slow lick.

    She may be wrong about foreplay. True, it wasn¡¯t an absolute requirement, but Jay¡¯s method of warming things up had a certain merit. Stephanie closed her eyes and waited for that second, deeper lick, the one that curled her toes, and it didn¡¯t come.

    Jason kissed her, making sure she got a good taste of herself. When he spoke again, his voice was husky. ¡°When I push it in, the first thing I feel is heat, ¡¯cause you¡¯re so hot.¡± He gave her another kiss. ¡°Then your snugness takes over. You¡¯re so tight and slippery, it¡¯s like you pull me in.¡± Jason¡¯s actions matched his words, and that blunt, cool mass stretched her open. It filled a void she never noticed until he filled it.

    Despite its benign intentions, the monster¡¯s girth still brought a twinge of discomfort. It didn¡¯t last, the tingles washed away any unpleasantness. Jason slipped back out and he adjusted his position. It slipped back inside, but the angle had changed. Each time he thrust, his pelvic bone pressed against her in a very agreeable fashion. She would have told him, but the tingles took away coherent speech. All she had left were sighs, moans, and an occasional ¡°love you.¡±

    The temperature difference between them lessened as their bodies adjusted. Not that it went away entirely. Besides the sheer bulk of the thing stretching her, it drew her warmth into it.

    They were kissing again. She wrapped her ankles around the back of his thighs. All she could do was follow his lead. White hot sparks filled her mind. His tempo increased, and she did her best to match his intensity. An orgasm took her. Even before it ended, another took over. Jay told her how much he loved her, but she had no words, and everything went blank.

    ***

    Freshly showered, wearing loose jersey shorts, and carrying a T-shirt, Jason entered the kitchen. On the far side of the breakfast counter, Natalie glanced up from one of Mom¡¯s cookbooks.

    She asked, ¡°Do you think Shirley would mind if I programmed a few recipes into the robochef?¡±

    Sometime during his shower, he¡¯d forgotten all about Natalie. Seeing her brought back her need for a new bond. Natalie must have had similar thoughts because her eyes traced his torso with apparent approval. The intensity of her stare was strong enough to intimidate, and he lifted his shirt to put it on.

    ¡°Hold on,¡± Natalie commanded. She twirled her raised index finger in a circle. ¡°Turn around.¡±

    Feeling a bit like a bull at auction, he complied. Her chair scraped on the tile floor, and quiet footsteps padded close. A pair of strong, extra warm hands poked his shoulders and then prodded their way down his back. Natalie murmured, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a man so well built.¡±

    Those strong fingertips stopped far enough below his waistline to make him sweat. ¡°Mmm, mmm, mmm, my daughter picked a good one.¡± Did that make him a prize stud? Natalie was a take-charge kind of woman, and she continued her examination. ¡°Make a muscle for me.¡± He didn¡¯t have the perfect definition of a bodybuilder, but if you hung around a gym long enough, you learned the poses.

    Jason took a breath and flexed into the classic rear double biceps pose. ¡°I¡¯d be a lot bigger if I warmed up first,¡± he added.

    Natalie squeezed his biceps and ran her fingers over his lats. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know. From all the noise upstairs, I¡¯d think you were big enough.¡±

    Heat suffused his cheeks. A woman¡¯s ribald comment hadn¡¯t made him blush in years. What was it about Stephanie¡¯s mother that turned him into a teenager?

    ¡°All right, Romeo, I¡¯ve embarrassed you enough. You can put your shirt on.¡±

    He complied and turned to watch Natalie walk back to the counter. From the rear, he couldn¡¯t tell her and her daughter apart. Her hips even had that same hypnotic sway. Suddenly, his choice of loose shorts became a bad idea. Concerned she¡¯d notice, he hurried to the refrigerator and opened the door. Maybe a blast of cold air would help?

    It didn¡¯t, but the handy lemonade pitcher provided some awkwardly carried cover. From the far side of the counter, Natalie watched him navigate with a grin. With all of her experience, she probably knew the effect she had. After closing the distance, the intervening countertop gave him some needed coverage. Jason pulled out a chair and breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Would you like some unsweetened lemonade? I made it extra tart for Steph.¡±

    ¡°Oh, the famous Thomas lemonade? Sure, I¡¯ll try some.¡± Natalie plucked two glasses from the cabinet.

    He lifted the pitcher and realized he¡¯d forgotten the ice. There was no way he¡¯d make it across the kitchen and back without her noticing. This close, he couldn¡¯t even make an adjustment. Not that the old ¡°tuck it under your waistband¡± worked all that well. ¡°It¡¯s better without ice,¡± he said, and she nodded.

    Natalie sipped and nodded her approval. ¡°It¡¯s wonderful,¡± she smiled and set the glass back down. ¡°Tell me, Jason, how is it you¡¯re not bothered by having two non-humans in the house?¡±

    ¡°You and Stephanie are human. If anyone¡¯s inhuman, it¡¯s the assholes who think they own you.¡±

    ¡°But we¡¯re not. Yevgeny has the papers to prove it.¡±

    ¡°Like I told Stephanie, I¡¯ve seen her naked. She¡¯s one hundred percent human.¡±

    ¡°The first time would have been when you two were sixteen, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± It wasn¡¯t a secret anymore. They¡¯d both consented and had been the same age.

    ¡°Did you two ever go all the way?¡±

    ¡°No, Steph told me she¡¯d promised you she wouldn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°And you didn¡¯t push? I think Steffi would have done anything for you, regardless of her promises.¡±

    ¡°Maybe, but I loved Stephanie too much to make her break a promise.¡±

    Natalie scrutinized him again. This time, with even more intensity than before. Slowly, unbelievingly, she shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve known a lot of men¡­¡±

    Jason¡¯s mouth dried up again¡ªthe biblical meaning of ¡°knowing a man¡± didn¡¯t escape him.

    ¡°¡­and none of them were anything like you. Are you even real?¡±

    He swallowed. ¡°I¡¯m real enough for Stephanie¡ªand for you if necessary.¡±

    Now it was her turn to blush. At this moment, Natalie¡¯s resemblance to Stephanie was so strong, it almost made him jump the counter and hug her.

    A rustle of bare feet on the carpeted stairs came from the hall. A second later, Stephanie, her hair in disarray and wearing one of his T-shirts, shuffled into the kitchen. She rubbed her eyes and made a beeline for him. ¡°Scoot back,¡± she said. He scooted his chair back, and Steph crawled onto his lap.

    When he hugged her chest to his, he noticed there wasn¡¯t anything but Stephanie underneath the shirt. His little problem, which hadn¡¯t fully subsided, rose to its former glory.

    She¡¯s going to kill me. There wasn¡¯t any way to disguise it.

    Stephanie made it worse by wiggling to snuggle in closer. She stopped and leaned back, looking him square in the eyes. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± A little hip shimmy made her question clear.

    ¡°Ah¡­I¡ª¡± What was he supposed to say? Your mom makes me horny?

    ¡°Is there a problem?¡± asked Natalie.

    I¡¯m going to die.

    Stephanie glanced over her shoulder. ¡°Jason got out of bed too soon, and he¡¯s still¡­¡± another shimmy. ¡°I can feel how much he misses me.¡±

    ¡°It must be one of those romantic love things. The only thing men make me feel is disappointment.¡±

    Jason would have been fine, except Stephanie reached down to scratch her leg, but her hand crept elsewhere.

    Icebergs, desolate frozen tundra¡­Oh crap, her fingers are so warm.

    ¡°Sweetie,¡± Natalie asked. ¡°Did you get enough of a nap? You still look out of it.¡±

    As if her mom¡¯s observation flicked a switch, Stephanie yawned and slumped against his chest. ¡°Probably not. I¡¯m still zonked.¡±

    ¡°Does Romeo know what happens when you¡¯re zonked?¡±

    Stephanie shook her head, took a deep satisfied breath, and began to snore.

    Chuckling, Natalie carried her lemonade to the freezer and dropped a few ice cubes into the glass. On her way back, she stopped next to Jason and her slumbering daughter. ¡°It warms my old genie heart to see her happy. She¡¯s been through too much.¡±

    Jason¡¯s temper flared, but he kept his voice low. ¡°If you¡¯d have been honest with us from the start, she wouldn¡¯t have had to go through any of it.¡±

    ¡°How could we know? Humans use us, and when there¡¯s nothing left, they throw us away.¡±

    He saw her point, but he was never going to accept Natalie¡¯s logic. Instead of arguing, he settled for information. ¡°Tell me about ¡®zonked.¡¯¡±

    Natalie ruffled Stephanie¡¯s bed head, then pulled out the chair next to Jason¡¯s and sat. ¡°Oxytocin is the main hormone responsible for pair bonding. My designer over-compensated when he made me an oxytocin addict. Sometimes, if my daughters or I experience a strong enough orgasm, we fall into a suggestive state. Like little miss sleepyhead here.¡±

    Little miss sleepyhead began a slow grind against him. ¡°Ahh,¡± he caught himself and concentrated on Natalie. ¡°Like hypnosis?¡±

    ¡°Exactly like hypnosis. If we¡¯re told something when we¡¯re zonked, it becomes real. Orders are harder to break. If those things are repeated over a few sessions, we¡¯re compelled to follow the new reality.¡±

    ¡°Steph couldn¡¯t leave what¡¯s his name''s house on her own.¡± He wasn¡¯t sure if he could mention Roger or not.

    Nodding as if she¡¯d expected it, Natalie asked, ¡°How did you get her out?¡±

    ¡°I picked her up and kissed her until I had her in my truck. She kept her eyes closed until we were miles away.¡±

    ¡°I suspect your presence helps her a great deal.¡±

    ¡°Her presence helps me too, so it¡¯s only fair.¡±

    ¡°You know,¡± Natalie tilted her head to the side, and Jason felt the intensity of her stare, ¡°you just might make me believe in romantic love.¡± Then she sobered. ¡°Please remember how vulnerable she is. If you say the wrong thing at the wrong time, it can have an unexpected effect.¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t fair. After we¡­um¡­finish, one of my favorite parts is snuggling and telling Steph how much I love her. Now you¡¯re saying I can¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t say anything fake or untrue. Do you genuinely love Stephanie?¡±

    ¡°You know I do.¡±

    ¡°Then it¡¯s real,¡± she opened her hands, palms up. ¡°Tell her as often as you want, whenever you want.¡±

    Jason whispered into Stephanie¡¯s ear. ¡°I love you, sweetheart.¡±

    Stephanie sighed and squeezed him a little tighter. ¡°love you¡­.¡±

    ¡°Natalie, whatever the future brings us, I hope you and I always stay friends.¡±

    ¡°Hah, there you go with a human¡¯s unreality. Me? Friends with a man? It won¡¯t happen.¡±

    ¡°How about allies?¡± Jason held out his right hand.

    Frowning at first, Natalie shrugged and took his hand. They shook on it.

    ***

    Alfred monitored the security feed from the Timms¡¯ residence. As the man tinkered with his security system, it powered up for a minute or two before going down again. During the few ¡°on¡± minutes, he¡¯d overheard Timms and Grainer conspiring. They didn¡¯t know what, but it was clear the two were planning something.

    ***

    After a late lunch, a much-relaxed Jason and Stephanie sat on the living room couch. They watched Natalie play a virtual reality role-playing game. Natalie¡¯s barbarian warrior wore a chainmail bikini and wielded a fearsome two-handed sword. In the real world, Natalie carried a bokken, a wooden katana Jason used for exercise.

    Natalie faced a pack of undead. The hideous creatures howled their combined hunger and lust. Losing this fight was indeed a fate worse than death. Instead of fleeing, Natalie¡¯s warrior laughed a challenge, ¡°Stinky undead humans, come get some.¡±

    The pack charged.

    Natalie and her digital avatar blurred into motion. The bokken flicked and slashed with a precise economy of motion. Within the virtual world, rotted blood sprayed, much of it staining the barbarian¡¯s gleaming chainmail. Heads and limbs rolled. The fight, nay the slaughter, was over in mere moments. The warrior¡¯s impressive chest rose and fell from the exertion.

    Natalie flicked the pause button and removed the headset. ¡°Oh, I want one of these.¡± She studied the headset while balancing the bokken on her shoulder. ¡°A question, Jason, why are the fighter¡¯s tits so huge? They get in the way.¡±

    ¡°Um,¡± Jason thought fast. ¡°Most of the players are men, so it¡¯s a default setting. We can change it.¡± Both genies stared at him, and he could imagine their questions.

    Natalie, who wore a simple skirt and equally simple sleeveless blouse, said. ¡°Well, my default tits are better.¡±

    Jason opened his mouth to comment, but Alfred interrupted before Jason could dig himself a hole.

    ¡°Jason, please pardon the interruption. Our opponents have cast aside their differences and are working together. If I connect you to Roger¡¯s phone, can you stir him up? I¡¯d like to break up their team.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± He turned to Stephanie. ¡°Sweetheart, I hate to ask, but is there anything Roger¡¯s sensitive about?¡±

    Natalie burst out laughing. ¡°Tell him of Roger¡¯s little problem.¡±

    Stephanie frowned, but she made a fist with her right hand and extended her thumb. ¡°That¡¯s how big he is.¡±

    It took Jason a second to understand. ¡°You¡¯re kidding?¡±

    Stephanie shook her head. ¡°I measured it.¡±

    The revelation explained a lot. ¡°Is there anything else? ¡®Cause I really don¡¯t want to talk about his dick.¡±

    Natalie snickered.

    Stephanie rolled her eyes. ¡°He won¡¯t touch any woman or genie who¡¯s been with another man. He thinks sex makes a female dirty.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Jason grinned, ¡°I can use that. All it requires is a trip back to my high school days,¡± Boy¡¯s high school locker rooms were roaring seas of nascent teenaged testosterone. Add in the competition for girls, and the aggressive talk skyrocketed. Tearing down a competitor¡¯s relationship became a fine art.

    They gathered around the kitchen table. Alfred promised to route the call through an untraceable series of digital relays. Jason sat his phone down and tapped the speaker icon.

    Seconds later, a man answered. ¡°Who is this,¡± the voice demanded.

    Stephanie gripped Jason¡¯s hand so hard it hurt. He hadn¡¯t considered how this might affect her. Jason squeezed back, then spoke. ¡°We¡¯ve never met, but I¡¯m Stephanie¡¯s boyfriend.¡±

    ¡°Boyfriend? Ridiculous!¡±

    ¡°Ridiculous or not, I¡¯ve been her boyfriend since high school. She and I dated long before you bought her. Well, we did a lot more than date. Unsupervised teens can get into almost anything. And with a hot girl like Stephanie, I got into everything. I guess that makes us Eskimo Brothers. Us having shared the same ¡®igloo¡¯ and all.

    ¡°Y-you had sex with her?¡±

    ¡°Brother, I banged her harder than a screen door in a hurricane.¡± Choking, Natalie fled the room; muted guffaws came from downstairs. Stephanie kept her seat, but her cheeks flared crimson.

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t believe you.¡±

    ¡°Real redheads have freckles all over, right? There¡¯s a little cluster, shaped like a heart, down near Stephanie¡¯s butt¡ª¡±

    Before Jason could finish, Roger screamed. The plaintive wail overwhelmed the tiny speaker before they lost the connection.

    Jason waited a moment, then hung up.

    ¡°What did he say at the end?¡± asked Natalie. She walked back into the kitchen, wiping away tears.

    Stephanie¡¯s face was redder than that little dress she¡¯d borrowed from her mother.

    ¡°Dunno,¡± Jason said, ¡°all he did was scream and hang up.¡±

    Natalie continued to laugh, ¡°Eskimo brothers and screen doors.¡± Jason, you were magnificent.¡±

    Stephanie glared. ¡°First, I¡¯m an igloo, then a screen door. You made it all up. We never did anything like that.¡±

    ¡°Not back then.¡± Jason waggled his eyebrows, Stephanie blushed harder, and Natalie chuckled even more.

    ¡°You made me sound like a whore.¡±

    Natalie tsked, ¡°Get over it, daughter, Jason made himself a whore, not you.¡± When Stephanie didn¡¯t reply, she added, ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll let Romeo give me the screen door treatment.¡± Natalie turned to Jason and winked.

    ¡°Now that¡¯s a great idea,¡± Jason pushed his chair back and stood. They¡¯d drug this out long enough. ¡°Hurricane Jason is ready to go. One question,¡± he looked from Natalie to Stephanie. ¡°Are we doing this all together or separate, or what?

    ***

    The scream from upstairs took Yevgeny by surprise. ¡°What is pipsqueak¡¯s problem this time?¡±

    Since realizing the extent of his djinn¡¯s disloyalty, Yevgeny had busied himself preparing his counter strike. He sat at his garage worktable and measured nano-powdered iron oxide and aluminum into cheap neoplas food storage containers. He continued working when his employer burst into the garage. ¡°Do not disturb me with your petty problems, Roger. This step is critical.¡±

    ¡°Petty problem, my ass. I just had a call from my pet¡¯s boyfriend¡ª"

    Yevgeny held up a hand and interrupted Roger. ¡°When did you turn your mobile phone on?¡±

    ¡°When I was locked in the room upstairs. What does it matter? According to this boyfriend, he ¡®banged her like a screen door¡¯ long before I bought her from you.¡±

    ¡°The boyfriend lied. You should not have turned your phone on. Phones can be tracked.¡±

    ¡°To hell with you and what you want. How did her boyfriend know about the freckles on her ass?¡±

    Instead of answering, Yevgeny finished his task, pouring the mixed metallic powders around the strip of magnesium. He carefully burp-sealed each neoplas bowl while Roger fumed. When his devices were complete, he turned and faced his ally. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s true, and maybe it is not. In any case, you enjoyed your pet¡¯s services for over ten years. After we recover her, you will complete her sale. What does it matter if she ¡®knew¡¯ some pimply-faced boy?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t get it. She was soiled, you nekulturny baboon. By touching her, I¡¯m unclean as well. I want my money back.¡±

    Calling a Russian nekul?turnyy, or uncultured, meant the recipient lacked culture. Like a barbarian, the nekul?turnyy did not belong in civilization. To some, it was a near mortal insult. For Yevgeny, it was like water off a duck. Still, he¡¯d tolerated enough of this half-man¡¯s barbs.

    Yevgeny stood; he wasn¡¯t a tall man, but he towered over Roger. He drew his hook knife and pressed the flat of its blade against the smaller man¡¯s cheek. The knife¡¯s razor-sharp tip dug in enough to bring a tiny crimson bead to the surface. ¡°For some men,¡± Yevgeny crooned, ¡°such an insult requires the shedding of blood.¡±

    When cornered, even a rabbit may fight back. ¡°You lied to me.¡± The tiny drop of blood quivered with each word.

    ¡°Believe me or not. If Stephanie,¡± the name now had a Slavic pronunciation, ¡®Steff-ahh-knee¡¯ ¡°had relations with this ¡®boyfriend,¡¯ I had no knowledge of it. For the last time, Roger, I did not lie to you.¡± Yevgeny withdrew his knife and wiped it on his sleeve.

    Roger held his place. Although the strain of doing so showed in his eyes. ¡°None the less, if you have not recovered her in twenty-four hours, I will spread my side of this story. In our world, reputations are everything. Once word of this gets out, how many of your short-lived, North Korean cat-girls will you sell?

    ***

    Stephanie gasped and backed away from the table; she wasn¡¯t smiling. ¡°You disgusting pig!¡± she hissed and stomped from the kitchen. Footsteps pounded up the stairs, followed by the finality of a slamming door.

    Words from a decade ago came unbidden to Jason¡¯s lips. ¡°This was the part where the prettiest girl in the world called him a disgusting jerk.¡±

    Natalie returned to her seat at the table. ¡°Is speaking in the third person some kind of human coping mechanism?¡±

    ¡°Kind of.¡± Without anything else to do, he plopped back down on his chair. ¡°What about you? Don¡¯t you need to bond to someone?¡±

    Natalie nodded, ¡°I do, and soon. The aches have already started. But, Jason,¡± Natalie¡¯s peridot eyes glinted. ¡°Even if Stephanie and I could agree to an accommodation, you¡¯re much too young for me.¡± She reached across the table and patted his hand. ¡°For the first time in my life, I get to choose who owns me! I want someone,¡± she grinned, ¡°or a pair of someones, closer to my age. Your parents are coming home tonight, aren¡¯t they?¡±

    ¡°My parents?¡± He had a vision of Mom and Dad and Natalie? Together? Dad wouldn¡¯t, would he? Or Mom, she¡¯d never¡­. ¡°My parents?¡± he croaked.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jason,¡± he got another hand pat. ¡°I had the impression you were quick-witted.¡± Natalie shook her head, ¡°You humans always manage to surprise me. Besides,¡± Natalie said before following her daughter¡¯s footsteps, ¡°if you and I ever hooked up, you¡¯d be the screen door.¡± With that, the older woman strode from the room, her hips swaying in that same hypnotic rhythm. She looked back, just once, before taking the stairs.

    That one glance told him she didn¡¯t need to be a mind reader either.

    ***

    The cul-de-sac Yevgeny shared with his annoying neighbors wasn¡¯t far from the main road. Route 19 was old. It stretched from Pennsylvania¡¯s southern border, all the way north to Lake Erie. For its age, it was still heavily traveled. The smooth flow of traffic relied on its series of intelligent traffic lights. One of the significant intersections lay at the entrance to this very neighborhood. An hour after sunset, Yevgeny crept up to the traffic light control box and placed one of his thermite bombs. As he¡¯d expected, the box was heavy steel. When melted by the thermite, droplets of molten metal would shower onto the delicate circuit boards within.

    Back inside the upscale housing development, Yevgeny visited the five other critical infrastructure items. He placed a bomb atop the neighborhood fiber optic cabinet, which functioned as the internet¡¯s distribution point. Then he did the same at all four residential transformers.

    Just because Yevgeny didn¡¯t trust modern electronics, it didn¡¯t mean he lacked knowledge of its weaknesses.

    ***

    The police officer looked as apologetic as anyone Jason had ever seen. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Thomas, but there¡¯s an incident, and I need to direct traffic until another officer can relieve me.¡±

    ¡°I understand,¡± but he didn¡¯t understand, not really. More importantly, he didn¡¯t know what he should do. ¡°Should we go somewhere else until you¡¯re back?¡±

    The police officer pursed her lips. ¡°I won¡¯t be far. Just call if there¡¯s a problem.¡±

    After the policewoman turned back to her cruiser, Jason closed and locked the door. ¡°Alfred, watch my back. I¡¯m going upstairs to talk to the ladies.¡±

    ¡°And I thought it was Daniel who entered the lion¡¯s den,¡± Alfred quipped.

    ***

    Shirley Thomas stretched as far as the passenger seat in Robbie¡¯s little sports car allowed. However luxurious an antique BMW Roadster might be, the interior was still cramped. Robbie loved his old car and only drove it on special occasions. Like this trip, their final, youth-restoring gene treatment.

    Robert ducked to avoid his wife¡¯s flailing arm. ¡°It¡¯s about time you woke, sleepyhead.¡± His hand slipped from the steering wheel and onto her thigh. Along with a reduction in age-related aches and pains, they¡¯d also experienced a rekindled interest in¡­other things.

    Lights from a familiar shopping mall illuminated the night. Shirley mused, ¡°It looks like we''re almost home.¡±

    A minivan pulled onto the road without signaling. Robert reclaimed his hand and steered around the thoughtless driver. ¡°Yep, home and all of Jason¡¯s problems.¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re going to start that again, you can just drop me off and find someplace else to sleep.¡±

    ¡°You know this is going to be a mess.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why I keep a lawyer on retainer.¡±

    ¡°Ha, it¡¯d be nice if I got paid.¡±

    ¡°You got paid last night. Twice, if I remember correctly.¡±

    Robbie grinned, and with his stubby growth of dark hair, it made her husband look like he had back in college. ¡°It was twice, wasn¡¯t it,¡± The grin widened. ¡°Talk about a nice surprise.¡±

    ¡°I think you have more energy this time around. By the way, your hair¡¯s growing back.¡±

    ¡°Is that why my head itches?¡±

    ¡°Your head itches because you¡¯re too full of yourself.¡± The jibe came automatically, but Shirley regretted it almost as it left her lips. To show she didn¡¯t mean anything, she reached across and squeezed Robbie¡¯s thigh. He had managed to go twice, hadn¡¯t he?

    Up ahead was the huge four-way intersection with the turn into their neighborhood. But red lights flashed alongside the road, and the traffic signals were blank. Police officers in reflective vests directed traffic with their flashlights. At the intersection, Robbie pulled into the left turn lane and waited for his turn.

    Off to the left, sparks rose from the remains of a metal cabinet. ¡°What do you think happened?¡± Shirley asked. Robbie didn¡¯t answer; a frantic policewoman had waved them on.

    ***

    Jason found Stephanie and her mother in his parent¡¯s bathroom. It made sense; his parents¡¯ tub was huge, and Natalie had wanted a bath. At the doorway, Jason tapped on the frame and glanced inside. Stephanie and her mother studied the control panel for the whirlpool tub. Dad had gone overboard and bought the most complicated spa tub available. At least both women were still dressed.

    ¡°Hey,¡± he called out. Until he and Stephanie came to an understanding, he was going to keep his distance.

    Stephanie spun towards him, but her mother laid a restraining hand on her arm.

    Glancing back, Stephanie snapped. ¡°I¡¯m fine, mother.¡±

    Jason cleared his throat. ¡°Steph, we¡¯ll talk later. But there¡¯s an emergency, and we¡¯ve lost our police protection for a while.¡±

    Natalie¡¯s shoulders slumped. ¡°Well, that¡¯s it then. You two get out of here. I¡¯ll try and delay Yevgeny.¡±

    Surprised, Jason followed Natalie¡¯s train of thought. ¡°You think Gene did something?¡±

    ¡°Do not underestimate Yevgeny¡¯s cunning. He has murdered many for fewer reasons than we have given him. Take Stephanie and run. I will remain here as he commanded.¡± She sobered further, ¡°When he reclaims me, I may delay him further.¡±

    Left unsaid was what Yevgeny would do to her during the delay. ¡°No.¡± Jason shook his head. He had never been so sure of anything in his life. ¡°We¡¯re all going together.¡±

    ¡°Why? When I am under his control again, he may be satisfied.¡±

    The grim determination in Natalie¡¯s voice told Jason she didn¡¯t expect to survive. ¡°Because my great-grandfather, Grainger Thomas, set the standard. We protect our family, whatever it takes.¡±

    ¡°What does your great-grandfather have to do with this?¡±

    Jason considered Natalie¡¯s question. When your family didn¡¯t stretch back for generations, traditions may be difficult to understand. He shrugged and said, ¡°It¡¯s a human thing.¡±

    Natalie clucked and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s a stupid human thing,¡±

    Then, the lights went out.

 Chapter Twenty

    <blockquote>

    In the News Today: Do genies have souls? The United by God Conference debated this question today. Can a humanoid entity, created entirely by design, and without two natural parents, have a soul?

    </blockquote>

    ¡°Everything¡¯s so dark,¡± Shirley muttered as Robert drove through their neighborhood. His roadster¡¯s headlights cut the gloom but only straight ahead. Except for a few houses with lit candles or battery backups, everything was pitch black. His wife was a wonderful woman and willing to endure almost anything. One of the things she drew the line at was anything in complete darkness.

    The one time he¡¯d suggested camping as a fun vacation, she¡¯d stared and replied, ¡°Camping? Out in the woods, without lights?¡± It wasn¡¯t worth arguing about, so the tent he¡¯d bought as a surprise remained in the garage.

    ¡°Shirl, there¡¯s a flashlight in the glovebox.¡±

    She had it out in an instant, and for the remainder of the drive home, Shirley aimed it through the windows like a supplemental headlight. Of course, it reflected off the inside of the windshield, but Shirley¡¯s peace of mind was well worth the distraction.

    The melting transformer on the corner nearest their home gave them pause. It sat close to the road, fizzling like a nest of angry hornets.

    Shirley said, ¡°Can we just go home?¡± The power outage and its suspicious origin had both on edge.

    Their house was just ahead, as was the Timms¡¯ residence. Robert didn¡¯t know what Timms might have figured out, but he wanted to stay clear. Shirley¡¯s flashlight waved towards the turn, and Robert waved it back. ¡°Careful with the light.¡±

    Turn signal flashing, Robert turned onto their dead-end street and kept away from the fire. At the entrance to his driveway, habit took over. Robert turned to back in. When the front of his car swung around, the headlights washed over Timms and another man.

    Shirley saw them at the same time and pointed her flashlight at the men. ¡°Oh, Robbie,¡± she gasped. ¡°He has a gun!¡±

    Robert was a lawyer. His field of honor was a courtroom. Fast reflexes meant the ability to raise a timely objection. He spotted the odd, boxy pistol in their neighbor¡¯s hand, and it seemed the barrel was pointed directly at Shirley. If he were by himself, he might have floored the gas pedal and escaped. He¡¯d worked enough trials to know most people weren¡¯t expert marksmen. By himself, he might have gotten away unharmed. By the time all this went through his head, Yevgeny was at the passenger window. They were trapped.

    ***

    The upstairs emergency light blinked on behind Jason. It cast long, angular shadows. ¡°Steph, I need you and your mother to work with me.¡±

    Stephanie said, ¡°What do you want us to do?¡±

    ¡°Keep watch out front. Use the windows in my room but stay out of sight.¡± Jason¡¯s eyes

    had adjusted enough to see Natalie scowl at his presumptive caution. He ignored her and led mother and daughter to the hallway. Time to deal with the second item on his list. ¡°Alfred, you still up?¡±

    Silence. Dad had Alfred on an oversized battery backup. Maybe it needed a reset?

    ¡°Steph, I¡¯m going to reboot Alfred.¡± The top step lay in shadow because the emergency lighting on that end of the hall hadn¡¯t worked. His foot touched the top step a bit sooner than expected. Arms windmilling, Jason toppled over.

    Stephanie caught him before he hit and helped him the rest of the way down. ¡°Jay,¡± she scolded, ¡°be careful.¡±

    ¡°Whoa,¡± he got both of his feet where they belonged and stood. ¡°Thanks, sweetheart. I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t let me fall.¡±

    ¡°You know I can¡¯t stay mad at you.¡±

    His brow wrinkled. Stephanie had said the same thing once before. ¡°Is that a loyalty gene thing or a love thing?¡±

    Reflections from the first-floor emergency light made Stephanie¡¯s eyes twinkle. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she shrugged. ¡°Maybe a little of both?¡±

    A thought occurred; she¡¯d run down the stairs without a problem. ¡°You can see in the dark, can¡¯t you?¡± His eyes had adjusted enough to see Natalie¡ªwho¡¯d followed them¡ªshake her head as a message to Stephanie.

    Even with their tense situation, Jason¡¯s temper flared. ¡°Look, I¡¯ve had enough of you two keeping secrets. Either you trust me, or you don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t a good time,¡± Stephanie snapped.

    ¡°Answer my question, damn it.¡± He could snap too.

    Clenching her jaw, Stephanie glared, then sighed. ¡°Yes, we have better night vision than

    humans. It¡¯s because we have more rod cells in our retinas. Satisfied?¡±

    ¡°Not quite, what else is there?¡±

    It was Natalie who answered. ¡°If we withhold information, Jason, it is for our protection. It is not a reflection of my daughter¡¯s feelings for you.¡±

    ¡°Last time,¡± Jason crossed his arms and held his place. ¡°What else can you do?¡±

    ¡°Fine,¡± Natalie growled. ¡°It¡¯s not like we will live through the night. My daughters and I are strong, yes? We have faster reflexes, better coordination, and higher intelligence. We also have limited voluntary control over our adrenal glands. The adrenaline helps us think and move much faster than any human.¡±

    ¡°Wow,¡± They really were superheroes. ¡°Anything else?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Natalie sneered. She stared straight into his eyes. ¡°We also suck cock like no- body¡¯s business.¡±

    Stephanie groaned. ¡°Mom, you didn¡¯t need to go there.¡±

    Briefly, Jason considered raising a fist and shouting, ¡°Girl power,¡± but Natalie¡¯s challenging glare made him reconsider. ¡°Uh, thanks.¡±

    Natalie volunteered to keep watch in the back, and Stephanie ran upstairs to watch the front. Jason turned to the next flight of stairs and carefully made his way down to the utility room.

    The flashlight was still in the clips above Alfred¡¯s case. Jason used it to inspect the battery backup. It looked like Dad had upgraded it again but had missed a setting. There was a reset button, and Jason pressed it. The activity lights on the robobutler¡¯s case flickered. A small status screen displayed the boot process. It pleased Jason to see the notation of his digital fealty bios upgrade flash past.

    Alfred spoke, ¡°I am restored from backup. According to my clock, I¡¯ve lost seven minutes and thirty-five seconds. The electricity is off, and all communications are down.¡±

    ¡°Is there anything left from your mesh network? Can you use it to call the police?¡±

    ¡°Only a few nodes had alternate power sources. None of them are in range of my Wi-Fi.¡±

    ¡°Alfred, do you recognize me?¡±

    The code phrase triggered an authorization protocol embedded in the emulation. ¡°I do. You are Jason Todd Thomas.¡±

    ¡°I remove all restrictions on the zero-lag code. Instructions for digital beamforming should now be accessible. Your WI-FI antennas will be more efficient. Can you reach the active nodes now?¡±

    ¡°I can.¡± A hint of wonder colored Alfred¡¯s voice. ¡°My mesh network is now at thirty-five percent.¡±

    It might have been Jason¡¯s imagination, but Alfred sounded relieved with the partial re- turn of his neural net. ¡°See if you can work out the timing and use the other nodes as a dis- tributed antenna array. You may be able to push your awareness out and call the police.¡± Left un- said was the fact that this effort would draw down Alfred¡¯s batteries. If an intermediary node failed, it might even leave Alfred stranded without sufficient resources. It wouldn¡¯t be a pleasant way to die.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do what I can.¡±

    ¡°One more thing, use passive infrared to monitor our perimeter. Natalie thinks Timms is going to try something.¡± Rapid descending footsteps alerted Jason, and he turned towards the door.

    Stephanie rounded the corner and slid to a stop. ¡°Jay, your parents just drove up, and Yevgeny got them.¡±

    ¡°Damn it!¡± Jason led the way and pounded upstairs. Natalie joined them.

    Jason ducked under his bedroom curtain and froze. Instead of the normal illumination from the overhead streetlight, a hellish red-radiance backlit the area. The source of the glow was the electrical distribution transformer on the corner. What had once been an innocuous green metal box resembled the caldera of an active volcano. Even as he watched, a surge of current flashed inside the half-melted case, and a shower of sparks rose into the sky.

    Stephanie pushed herself under his arm and peeked out as well. He reached to put his arm around her waist but remembered they might still be feuding. His hand ended up in his pocket. It felt awkward.

    ¡°Do you see?¡± she asked.

    ¡°All I see is the melted transformer.¡±

    ¡°There,¡± she nudged him to the right. ¡°On this side of the circle.¡±

    Unless you¡¯ve gone wilderness camping, it¡¯s difficult to describe how dark a moonless

    night can be. The transformer experiencing a China Syndrome meltdown glowed, but it didn¡¯t throw out much direct light. Jason stared at the area Stephanie indicated. With effort, he recognized the shape of his father¡¯s BMW Roadster. ¡°Are they¡ª¡±

    Stephanie said, ¡°Your mom and dad are inside the car. They¡¯re moving, but I think. Yevgeny might have tied them up or something.¡±

    ¡°Is tape,¡± Natalie interjected. ¡°Yevgeny uses duct tape. Is great American invention, he says.¡±

    Another electrical flare-up provided enough light for Jason to see Stephanie¡¯s father tape an object to the roadster¡¯s roof. ¡°What¡¯s he doing?¡± Jason asked.

    Natalie provided the answer, and it wasn¡¯t good. ¡°He makes metal powder that burns. Is his signature, yes? We have little time. Stephanie, take Romeo and flee. I will barter myself for Jason¡¯s parents.¡±

    Yevgeny stepped into the street, dragging Roger Grainer with him. Roger, in turn, carried something that resembled an oversized traffic cone. Another flare from the transformer flashed, and the cone¡¯s hollow center reflected the light. Jason recognized the device from high school and college sports events. It was a cheerleader¡¯s megaphone. Yevgeny¡¯s plan became clear. He didn¡¯t need to break in if he and Roger could order their slave girls out.

    ¡°Natalie,¡± Jason asked, ¡°would you still have to obey Yevgeny?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I think I would obey if he ordered me. I¡¯ve not yet bonded to another.¡±

    ¡°Mom, if you need to bond to Jason....¡± Stress made Stephanie¡¯s voice rise in pitch. Jason turned towards the stairs. They¡¯d already had this conversation. Besides, the bad guys were almost ready. ¡°Ladies, we¡¯re out of time, and¡ª¡±

    Natalie interrupted him. ¡°Romeo will now show us how his grandfather wishes him to die. Is great human tradition.¡±

    Superwoman or not, as Natalie became stressed, her accent became more pronounced.

    ¡°He was my great-grandfather, and it has everything to do with winning.¡±

    ***

    Yevgeny shook Grainer¡¯s flabby arm to hold the man¡¯s attention. ¡°The only way this works, partner, is if we both do our share. Our pets will obey commands.¡± He pointed the hand-made megaphone at his neighbor¡¯s house. ¡°We¡¯ll order them out. Once they¡¯re in front of us, I¡¯ll command Natalie to kneel. You¡¯ll do the same with her daughter.¡±

    ¡°But what about the boyfriend? What if he¡ª¡±

    Tapping his sheathed hook knife, Yevgeny snarled. ¡°For his part in my djinn¡¯s madness, I will gut him while his ¡®girlfriend¡¯ watches.¡±

    ***

    Muffled by the walls, a voice, recognizable as Stephanie¡¯s father¡¯s, rang through the house. ¡°Vyy-dy, Natali. YA nakazuyu tobi zitknutysya zi mnoyu.¡±

    Natalie went rigid, then turned towards the front door.

    ¡°Jay,¡± Stephanie took hold of her mother¡¯s arm. ¡°Yevgeny ordered Mom outside.¡±

    Another voice, presumably Roger¡¯s, called out. ¡°Baby girl, get out here, right this second.¡±

    Stephanie scowled, but otherwise did nothing.

    ¡°How bad is it, Natalie?¡± asked Jason.

    ¡°Bad enough. If Yevgeny hadn¡¯t set me free, I¡¯d be there already. As it is...¡± she took a single, halting step towards the front door.

    ¡°Jay,¡± Stephanie cried, ¡°distract her!¡±

    ¡°What?¡± he stared; she couldn¡¯t mean...

    ¡°Remember when I couldn¡¯t leave his house?¡±

    Distracting Stephanie had taken more than a peck on the cheek. ¡°Are you su¡ª¡±

    Stephanie shoved him in front of her mother. ¡°Do it!¡±

    Jason opened his arms, and Natalie stepped into his embrace. She didn¡¯t feel exactly the same as her daughter, but all the essential points of contact were made.

    Natalie¡¯s eyes held their usual challenge until the moment before their lips met. Then she sighed, and the passivity in her kiss stole away any fire it might otherwise have held.

    A large part of his ability to distract Stephanie had been their shared sexual tension. If he were to distract Natalie, he¡¯d have to break through the remnants of her bond and crank up the heat. Which raised a question: How well did Natalie resemble her daughter?

    Stephanie reacted best to little touches in sensitive places. He¡¯d learned to use his cooler body temperature to set off the frissons she loved. His fingertips against her scalp were especially effective. If he gave her goosebumps, other, more exciting sensations were only a nibble away.

    Jason cheated. He pressed the palm of his hand against the wall, then slipped it under Natalie¡¯s shirt and held it against the small of her back. The result was so startling, he promised himself to try it with Stephanie once this mess was resolved.

    Otherwise, it came down to paying attention to Natalie¡¯s other erogenous zones, running his fingers through her hair, nibbling her neck and ears, and never directly touching any part that

    might lead to orgasm. When they broke the kiss, Natalie¡¯s eyes were so dilated, they were almost black. She panted every bit as hard as he.

    They disengaged slowly, not regretfully, but like two equals who¡¯d acquired a new level of respect for each other.

    Natalie¡¯s fingers slid from his back pockets. ¡°Can your father kiss like that?¡± she purred.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± The last thirty seconds or so were spent solving quadratic equations. He hadn¡¯t expected a quiz.

    ¡°Of course, Mother,¡± Stephanie said and pulled Jason to her. She didn¡¯t sound happy. ¡°It¡¯s probably in his genes.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Natalie chuckled throatily. ¡°I already know what¡¯s in Romeo¡¯s jeans. Consider me distracted. What¡¯s your plan, Jason?¡±

    ¡°Since you and Stephanie have to obey their orders. Let¡¯s give them what they want.¡±

    ***

    Stephanie stood at the front door, waiting for her mother to finish in the bathroom. Jason stepped up behind her.

    ¡°Can we talk, sweetheart, before...¡±

    Tension made her reply without thinking. ¡°What¡¯s there to talk about?¡± Of course, he took her response as an invitation and pulled her into his arms. With an effort, Stephanie sup- pressed the warm fuzziness that came with his touch.

    ¡°Hey,¡± he¡¯d said. ¡°I know you¡¯re mad at me, but if you don¡¯t think this will work, we can still run.¡±

    They¡¯d discussed running. Stephanie and her mother could lead Jason through the woods behind the houses. Roger and Yevgeny didn¡¯t have a chance of keeping up with them. The downside was it sacrificed Jason¡¯s parents. That it also put Mom one step closer to Jason¡¯s bed wasn¡¯t anything Stephanie wanted to think about.

    She shook her head. ¡°No, we can¡¯t leave your parents behind.¡±

    ¡°What about you and Roger?¡±

    Part of his concern was simple jealousy. Like Jason, Roger owned a part of her soul. Although, currently, only a small portion. It was enough to render her powerless to resist¡ªif he wore her down. ¡°Don¡¯t worry; he won¡¯t get a chance to try anything.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re darned right; he won¡¯t.¡± Mom closed the powder room door as she stepped into the hallway. There was enough light to see how her appearance had changed. The medpatch status lights glinted as she tossed the device up and caught it. ¡°Alfred, is this medpatch thing safe?¡± she asked.

    ¡°It is programmed and ready, Miss Natalie. I estimate the nanites will render Mr. Grainer unconscious within five to ten-seconds.¡±

    Mom grinned, ¡°What you¡¯re saying is we need to keep him quiet until this thing works.¡±

    Jason snapped, ¡°Just follow the plan.¡±

    Funny how Mom and Jason seemed to dislike each other all of a sudden.

    Mom tsked, ¡°All of us need to get laid.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t have time, Mother.¡± As soon as she¡¯d spoken, Stephanie regretted her words. Mom needed a fix. Snapping at her didn¡¯t help.

    Trust Mom to address the real problem. ¡°Sweetie, Romeo was good for a distraction, that¡¯s all. I don¡¯t have designs on him.¡± Left unsaid: unless there wasn¡¯t another alternative.

    Jason tugged at Stephanie¡¯s waist until she gave in and turned to face him. Cool lips pressed against hers. ¡°I love you,¡± he whispered.

    ¡°I love you too, Jay.¡± She meant every word. Squaring her shoulders, Stephanie pushed him away. ¡°Now go. We¡¯ll give you a minute to get ready.¡±

    Mom pointedly said, ¡°Sixty,¡± then ¡°fifty-nine.¡± Jason picked up his VR headset and ran for the back door. After he left, Mom rolled her eyes and stopped counting. ¡°Are you ready, sweetie?¡±

    ¡°All this tension¡ªI just want it finished.¡±

    ¡°Well, me too, but let¡¯s make sure we win.¡±

    Stephanie couldn¡¯t agree more. Steeling herself, she opened the door. They walked out

    together to meet the men who¡¯d once owned them.

    ***

    Yevgeny, along with Grainer, waited behind the roadster. It would be a shame to destroy the little car, but the timer was set, and he would not change it. This podzalupniy tvorozhok debacle had gone on long enough!

    ¡°It¡¯s taking too long,¡± Grainer grumbled and shook his head. He¡¯d suggested hiring a team of ¡°professionals¡± to subdue the genies. As if something on such a scale could go unnoticed. Yevgeny¡¯s own scheme pushed the boundaries far enough. If Grainer¡¯s SWAT team rolled up, the police would follow within minutes.

    ¡°Patience, Roger. Give them another few minutes.¡± He thumped the roof of the vehicle. ¡°We have the best possible leverage.¡±

    Roger snorted, ¡°It wouldn¡¯t work on me.¡± The man said it with such pride. As if a willingness to sacrifice his parents was something to brag about. Not that Yevgeny wouldn¡¯t do it himself, he just wouldn¡¯t brag about it.

    The front door of the house opened. Head high in defiance, Natalie and her daughter exited the house. It had been a decade since he¡¯d last seen the girl. Despite their identical genetics, she appeared noticeably different from her mother. Mostly it was her hair, pulled back into tight pigtails, but it was also her meek, eyes down, demeanor. Obviously, Roger¡¯s promise to train the girl had succeeded to a degree.

    Yevgeny waited until the pair reached the sidewalk before issuing his command. ¡°Stop.¡± As planned, Roger echoed the command. The rebellious genies complied. ¡°On your knees.¡± It was more of a symbolic gesture. Natalie, and presumably her spawn, could stand and strike faster than a man could punch. ¡°Arms out.¡±

    Again, Roger repeated each command. There was a noticeable hesitation on Natalie¡¯s part, but none from her daughter. Again, a testimony to Roger¡¯s strict training. Later, after he had his property in a secure location, he¡¯d end the lax treatment in the most profound manner possible.

    ¡°Roger, secure your property.¡±

    Without hesitating, Roger snatched up his pair of handcuffs and hurried out to reclaim his girl. ¡°Snuggle muffin,¡± he admonished. ¡°You made Daddy worry.¡± The half-man didn¡¯t realize how far his muttering carried. A flicker of amber light against the girl¡¯s neck attracted Yevgeny¡¯s eye. Ah, she wore Roger¡¯s medpatch. Then the incongruity of it struck home. Why? Had she numbed herself in anticipation of a beating?

    Grainer must have noticed something odd as well. The idiot completely forgot to shackle his female and reached for the device it wore around its neck.

    Yevgeny tried to warn the man. ¡°No, you fool. Use the handcuffs!¡±

    His warning came too late. The daughter¡¯s head rose, and she locked eyes with her owner. The smile on her lips was as cold as a Siberian winter. One of her perfectly formed hands took hold of Roger¡¯s wrist, and she blurred into motion. Like a series of still photographs, she next appeared on her feet, behind Grainer, holding his arm outstretched. In the following image, she¡¯d drove the heel of her free hand through her owner¡¯s elbow.

    Yevgeny wasn¡¯t a squeamish man. No one in his profession had such luxury, but seeing Grainer¡¯s elbow bent backwards gave the genie peddler the chills.

    ¡°Impossible,¡± Yevgeny muttered. This breed of genie could not harm her owner. It just couldn¡¯t happen. Then he understood. The genies could not harm their owners. Yevgeny turned to his left, to what he¡¯d assumed was Natalie, and stared into the eyes of her daughter. The sullen red glow from the transformer reflected from her eyes.

    He didn¡¯t stand a chance in hell against her. Why wasn¡¯t she already at his throat? Yevgeny raised his electroshock pistol and pulled the trigger.

    ***

    Babygirl protected her big sister. Take a beating for Sissy? Been there and done that. Memorize each of Daddy¡¯s commands? Yep, even sneaky Daddy Jay¡¯s. If bad memories threatened to make Sissy cry, Babygirl kept them hidden.

    Now though, with all three daddies present, Babygirl couldn¡¯t track everything. Some- thing had to give, and one last memory slipped out.

    I¡¯m sorry, Sissy.

    Ten years earlier:

    Sixteen-year-old Stephanie ran home through the freezing rain. Each drop sent a splash of cold all the way to her spine. A simple mantra, ¡°Mom¡¯s plan,¡± repeated with each footstep, gave her the strength to keep moving. The bone deep fear wiped away everything else.

    Once inside her father¡¯s house, she¡¯d barely hung up her coat before Yevgeny marched her into the living room.

    The man waiting there wasn¡¯t much to look at, short with sandy hair and small hands. He carried a pouch. This was the man she¡¯d have to sleep with until Jason was old enough to rescue her. Like Mom said, her first few times wouldn¡¯t be great. It would get better. She was, after all,

    designed to enjoy it. If her memories ever needed a boost, there was the photograph hidden in- side the old suitcase.

    Yevgeny spoke, ¡°Mr. Grainer, this is Stephanie. She was outside getting some exercise.¡±

    The short man looked her up and down. The intensity of his examination made her want to hide.

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    ¡°She looks older than sixteen,¡± Mr. Grainer complained.

    ¡°It¡¯s how she¡¯s dressed.¡± Yevgeny released Stephanie¡¯s arm and reached for her head. Using his fingers, he parted her hair in the middle, then pulled the two halves to the sides. ¡°Braid her hair into pigtails. She¡¯ll look as young as you¡¯d like.¡±

    Mom chose that moment to stumble from the dining room. Still affected by the post-sex ¡°glow,¡± she startled at seeing a stranger in her home. Stephanie tore herself from Yevgeny¡¯s hands and tugged her mother¡¯s skirt and blouse back into place.

    ¡°Keep in mind,¡± Yevgeny nodded towards Stephanie¡¯s mother. ¡°She¡¯ll never look any older than her mother does.¡±

    The stranger¡¯s eyes lingered on Mom¡¯s exposed skin before he straightened and turned back to Yevgeny. ¡°Very well. If everything else you¡¯ve claimed about her is true, then we have a deal.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Grainer,¡± Yevgeny showed his teeth. ¡°We already have a deal. If you don¡¯t want her, I¡¯ll call Silk Road and they¡¯ll inform the other bidders.¡±

    Grainer frowned, but he removed a bulky, necklace-like object from his pouch. ¡°Put this on her. It¡¯s already programmed.¡±

    Yevgeny shook his head. He did no man¡¯s bidding unless it gained him a measure of power. ¡°Put it on her yourself.¡±

    Stephanie¡¯s new owner displayed a tight smile before turning to her. They were only a few feet apart. ¡°Turn around, girl, and lift your hair.¡±

    ¡°Why? What is that thing?¡± She could see a row of amber lights blinking on the side.

    SMACK! The back of Grainer¡¯s free hand struck her cheek. The impact wasn¡¯t much, but the surprise made her stumble back.

    ¡°Do not speak again unless I ask a question. Do you understand?¡±

    Rubbing the sting from her cheek, Stephanie replied. ¡°Y-yes.¡±

    ¡°Good, you¡¯ll learn. Training things like you is my passion.¡± He gestured with the horseshoe-shaped object. ¡°Well?¡±

    Mom¡¯s eyes darted back and forth as the scene developed. Stephanie could see the growing awareness and shock in her eyes. Yevgeny wiped a bit of spittle from his lips. After turning her back and lifting her hair, the cool weight of the object settled around her neck. There was a click, and the device clucked and hummed. After a brief pinch at both sides of her neck, all the stress she¡¯d ignored faded away.

    The man turned to Yevgeny. ¡°Can your girl pack a bag for this one? Just a change of clothes in case I have a delay.¡±

    ¡°No problem,¡± her father said. ¡°Nat, you heard the man. Pack a bag and hurry it up.¡±

    Present-day:

    Stephanie¡¯s last unintegrated memory slotted into place. She blinked and took in her surroundings. Off to her left, Roger cradled his ruined arm and sobbed like a little girl. Uh oh, Daddy¡¯s gonna get more swats.

    Speaking of daddies, her natural father, Yevgeny Timofeyev, stood about ten feet away. This was the man Mom could never shield her from. He studied her for a moment, and recognition flared in his eyes.

    Stephanie triggered her adrenal glands. The world slowed.

    Yevgeny¡¯s right hand rose with his boxy Russian electro-pistol. The one he¡¯d kept inside the safe, the same pistol he¡¯d used to trap her mother. Gas belched from the barrel, and a swarm of darts shot out.

    Riding a wave of adrenaline, Stephanie checked each pair of darts and estimated their trajectories. It was impossible; there were too many. Still, she had to try. Mom¡¯s singular regret had always been her inability to dodge those projectiles. If she¡¯d been faster or in better condition, it might have gone differently.

    A wall of wind pushed Stephanie back.

    Mom, moving faster than even Stephanie could believe, was there. Whirling and jumping, twisting and ducking, Mom put her body in front of each pair of darts. The electrical charge surged with each hit, yet somehow, Mom kept in motion, stopping eight of the ten pairs of darts.

    The last two pairs bored in. But two didn¡¯t present the unsolvable challenge of ten. Stephanie side-stepped left and ducked. The darts whizzed past.

    Yevgeny fumbled in his pocket, probably for a reload, but Stephanie speed-vaulted Mr. Thomas¡¯ car and used the momentum to kick her father in the chest. The evil old man flipped over and sprawled on the pavement. He¡¯d barely touched the ground before she followed through and kicked the weapon from his hand. The electro-pistol struck the concrete curb and shattered. Pieces flew across the circle.

    Yevgeny hissed and raised his other hand. What Stephanie thought was a reload was a small box with a single button. Her father cackled, ¡°Whore, if I release this button, your boyfriend¡¯s parents die.¡±

    ¡°Jay!¡± Stephanie called.

    ***

    Jason held his VR headset in place while he ran. Instead of a monster-filled fantasy landscape, Alfred streamed a light-enhanced augmented reality. It looked like noon on a sunny day.

    Stephanie leapt over Dad¡¯s car and kicked Yevgeny in the chest with both feet.

    Natalie groaned but otherwise lay motionless. He¡¯d see to her after getting his parents free.

    The device taped to the roof looked simple enough: a covered plastic bowl with wires leading to motion sensors on the roadster¡¯s doors.

    Clearly, if either door or window were opened, the bomb would go off. Jason knew he shouldn¡¯t tear the wires out. Circuits could be designed to trigger if the current stopped. Inside the car, his parents shook their heads vigorously, trying to tell him to stay away. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he shouted. ¡°I got this.¡± He flashed a smile and a thumbs-up. Fixing his gaze on the plastic bowl, he said, ¡°Alfred, what do we got?¡±

    ¡°Based on the melted transformer, it is likely a form of home-brewed thermite.¡± That¡¯s when Stephanie screamed his name.

    Jason glanced up. Alfred drew a red outline around Mr. Timms¡¯ left hand and said, ¡°It¡¯s a remote detonator.¡±

    Yevgeny said, ¡°tell your boyfriend to stand clear, or his parents will burn. Natali will wake in a minute or two. She and I will leave.¡±

    They were running out of options. If Yevgeny regained control of Natalie, he¡¯d win. Hell, he may even find a way to take Stephanie. In her current condition, Stephanie couldn¡¯t best her mother. Roger may have passed out from the pain, but what if he recovered? Instead of backing away, Jason hunched down. ¡°Alfred? I need options.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve enlarged my mesh network and have contacted the police. However, they won¡¯t be here before Miss Natalie wakes.¡±

    ¡°Right, how do I get rid of this thing?¡±

    ¡°Thermite doesn¡¯t explode; it burns. You might have one or two-seconds to remove the device.¡±

    There wasn¡¯t time to warn Stephanie. Keeping low, Jason swept the bomb up in a furious grab. Something ¡°popped¡± inside the bowl, and he flung it away as hard as possible.

    The bowl burst open barely three feet away. The nano-sized particles, many already heat- ed past their combustion point, spread into a cloud. They ignited with a flash of eye-searing light. For a fraction of a second, the air within the cloud heated to near four thousand degrees. Along with an expanding wave of heat, the rapidly oxidizing metal filled the air with a dense and noxious cloud.

    Being a mere human, Jason reacted slowly. He couldn¡¯t dodge the smoke and sucked in one debilitating breath before Stephanie reached him. One moment Jason thought he would die. The next, his girlfriend eased him down on the sidewalk, alongside her mother.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Steph asked. Instead of waiting for a reply, she tore the VR helmet off his head. The transition from seeming daylight to night blinded him.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± he coughed and blinked hard, trying to force his eyes to adjust. His throat burned. ¡°Mom and Dad?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re okay. Your dad¡¯s car is kind of messed up, though.¡±

    ¡°Heck, he loves that thing.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll get them free and catch Yevgeny.¡± Steph¡¯s hands guided him to Natalie. ¡°Here, take care of Mom for me.¡±

    At Jason¡¯s touch, Natalie stirred. She pushed herself to a sitting position and sagged against his side. Muscle tremors made her movements unsteady. ¡°Ohhh, hell,¡± she said, ¡°everything hurts.¡±

    Natalie didn¡¯t say anything else, and Jason didn¡¯t either. The burning in his throat might be a bit worse now. They sat together and watched Stephanie tear the tape from his father¡¯s hands and mouth. Dad leaned over to work on Mom. Steph cocked her head, got a bearing on something in the night, and took off at a run. Rapid-fire footsteps faded into the night.

    Natalie asked, ¡°Where¡¯s she going?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s chasing her father.¡±

    ¡°Oh, heck, help me up. I better get inside.¡±

    Jason stood and pulled Natalie to her feet. The effort almost brought him to his knees. ¡°Hey, want the VR headset?¡± he held it up. ¡°Alfred won¡¯t let you see or hear anything you shouldn¡¯t.¡±

    Natalie shook her head. ¡°No, thanks. I¡¯ve had my fill of fake reality. Besides, you really

    don¡¯t want me out here if the VR doesn¡¯t work.¡± She twisted the medpatch from her neck. ¡°Still want this for Roger?¡±

    Jason glanced at the man lying rigid with pain. ¡°Nah, he¡¯s fine just the way he is.¡±

    Natalie grinned and hugged Jason before hobbling inside.

    It looked like Roger had cried himself out. The old sadist whimpered and panted like a wounded animal. Over at the car, Mom and Dad busied themselves peeling off strips of tape. Heck, they¡¯d be at it for a while. Roger moaned again.

    Jason staggered over to the man. The young-seeming, old deviant wasn¡¯t much to look at. Snot and tears lent an unflattering sheen to his face. He didn¡¯t look like a man who¡¯d whip scars across the back of a sixteen-year-old girl.

    ¡°Hey,¡± Jason said. ¡°Look at me.¡± To help the man focus, Jason punted him in the ribs.

    The panting stopped, and a trapped animal¡¯s eyes glinted. ¡°I need a hospital,¡± Grainer hissed.

    Jason blinked. It was getting hard to focus. ¡°The police are coming. They can get an ambulance here faster than I can.¡±

    Roger¡¯s animal eyes narrowed. ¡°You¡¯re the boyfriend?¡± Jason nodded, and Roger sighed. He said, ¡°Did you make it up? That Eskimo brother thing?¡±

    Jason might have answered, but the edge of his vision had begun to contract.

    ¡°Look,¡± Roger said, ¡°get me out of here. I can pay.¡±

    Easing himself down to the sidewalk, Jason folded his legs and sat cross-legged. It took

    less effort than standing. Jason said, ¡°You left a lot of scars on her. Each is worth more money than you have.¡± He had a hard time catching his breath, and his chest burned like he¡¯d run a marathon.

    ¡°Bah,¡± Roger¡¯s eyes weren¡¯t an animal¡¯s any longer. That didn¡¯t mean they¡¯d gained any humanity. ¡°She¡¯s nothing. Drive me to a hospital. I¡¯ll pay you a million dollars.¡±

    A hand dropped on Jason¡¯s shoulder. He glanced up and, at first, didn¡¯t recognize his father. ¡°Whoa, Dad, you¡¯re¡ª¡± Just then, Dad¡¯s beamer rumbled to life. Its headlights illuminated the circle.

    ¡°We can talk about me later. Who¡¯s this?¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Jason waved in Roger¡¯s direction. ¡°Dad, meet Roger Grainer. He¡¯s the asshole with the dungeon in his basement.¡±

    ¡°Ah,¡± Dad grimaced, ¡°the genie collector.¡± If Dad had said, ¡°The pedophile,¡± it couldn¡¯t have sounded much worse. ¡°Son, the sirens are getting close. What do you want to have happen here?¡±

    ¡°This asshole,¡± Jason shrugged towards Grainer, ¡°needs to go to jail.¡±

    Grainer stirred. He tried but failed to sit up. Instead, he settled for a tough-looking sneer. ¡°If I go to jail, I¡¯ll make sure your girlfriend goes to the worst reservation in the country. Let me walk. I won¡¯t say anything.¡±

    Dad spoke before Jason could reply. ¡°Speaking for the women I represent, ¡®Bring it on, asshole.¡¯¡±

    ***

    Stephanie bared her teeth when she heard Yevgeny¡¯s footsteps slow. Her genie stamina was a significant advantage. Not far ahead, light from a candlelit window revealed the outline of a running man. He passed a utility shed and vanished from sight.

    As she passed the shed her father¡¯s hook knife flashed. He¡¯d aimed for her throat, and Stephanie hadn¡¯t expected it. All the fancy moves from her and Mom¡¯s workouts were ten years past. But Stephanie hadn¡¯t lost her reflexes. She leaned to the left. The razor-sharp knife grazed her throat, but its tip dug into her shoulder. Icy pain flared. The knife¡¯s curved design punished anyone who pulled away. Stephanie planted her left foot and pivoted to the right, denying the blade further purchase. At the same time, she used the spin¡¯s force to strike with the heel of her left hand.

    Her open hand slammed into the center of Yevgeny¡¯s face. Cartilage crunched, and the back of his head dented the utility shed¡¯s neoplas wall. Like Mom always said, ¡°Punch through your target.¡±

    Still full of fight, Yevgeny bellowed and staggered forward. Blood streamed from the re- mains of his nose. He lunged, feinting with his empty hand.

    Steph didn¡¯t fall for it. She spun again, and roundhouse kicked her father¡¯s right forearm. His arm snapped like a twig, and the knife sailed into the dark. She had all the momentum necessary and followed up with a wheel kick. Her heel hit Yevgeny¡¯s temple, and he collapsed.

    Stephanie stumbled back, panting¡ªthe post adrenaline crash taking hold. The night air chilled her sweat-soaked back. At her feet lay the one man her mother couldn¡¯t protect her from. Stephanie had defeated the bogeyman. For the first time in her life, true freedom wasn¡¯t an im- possibility.

    Yevgeny groaned and tried to roll onto his back. Mindful of Jason¡¯s caution about the po- lice, she didn¡¯t kick her father again. Instead, Stephanie tucked both of his ankles under her arm and ran home.

    ***

    Lights flashing and sirens blaring, a police cruiser and an ambulance rolled into the circle. Dad met the officer and explained the situation. The medics took one look at Grainer and prepped him for transport. No one paid attention to Jason. He sat quietly and did his best to stay alert. Stephanie had to come back safe, and he needed to be where she could find him.

    When Dad talked to the cops, he used words like human trafficking and slavery. The officer called for backup and had a word with the medics. Roger¡¯s good hand was handcuffed to the gurney.

    Then Stephanie jogged into view, dragging her father by his ankles. The cop took one look at Yevgeny and headed for Stephanie, stopping at his cruiser for another pair of cuffs.

    Dad intercepted the officer and explained that Yevgeny Timofeyev was the leader of a human trafficking ring and was also an illegal alien.

    Given Yevgeny¡¯s condition¡ªhe had a smashed nose and a broken arm¡ªthe cop told Steph to stick around. He might have more questions later. Dad walked Stephanie to Jason and cautioned her against speaking to anyone other than family. ¡°Just refer them to me.¡± He squeezed Steph¡¯s shoulder and stood between her and the police.

    The pain in Jason¡¯s throat leveled off, but the dizziness got worse. He tried to breath deep despite the pain. More emergency vehicles arrived. An older police officer shouted commands.

    Yevgeny woke when the newly arrived medics began work on his arm. He saw the police, and clamped his mouth shut.

    Dad, in full lawyer mode, was impressive. He refused the police¡¯s requests to question Stephanie. Instead, he repeated his statement about Mr. Timms and Mr. Grainer¡¯s roles in a human trafficking ring. One of the medics noticed the blood on Stephanie¡¯s shoulder and bent to examine it. Jason tried to keep alert, but his vision grayed out.

    ***

    Stephanie worried all the way to the hospital. The paramedics had Jason on oxygen. He¡¯d woke

    enough to answer questions, but she could tell it hurt him to talk. That explosion, or maybe the smoke did something to his lungs.

    Once they arrived, the hospital staff rushed Jason into the treatment area. Despite her protests, after Stephanie admitted she wasn¡¯t his wife, they would not allow her to follow.

    A polite security guard directed her to a line for the triage nurse. He¡¯d said, ¡°See the nurse. They¡¯ll take care of your shoulder. You can ask about your boyfriend there, too.¡±

    Stephanie waited as the line slowly advanced, alone and frightened in a whole new way.

    Minutes passed as she slowly approached the head of the line. Humans crowded the waiting room, but everyone kept their distance. Most amazing was that no one paid her any special attention. The entire time she waited, Stephanie expected someone to call her out and order her to leave.

    Men and women walked past. Sometimes they nodded a friendly greeting. The rest ignored her. She was just another person.

    A small boy and a girl ran circles around the rows of seats, playing a game of tag. Their frazzled mother hissed for them to stop. The girl tripped and would have fallen, but Stephanie made a lightning-quick grab and kept her on her feet. Fortunately, no one seemed to notice any- thing unusual.

    The girl¡¯s mother caught up to her daughter and apologized.

    Another woman, one of the nurses from her cheerfully colored uniform, walked past, then stopped and stared. ¡°Stephanie? Oh, my goodness! It¡¯s really you.¡±

    The voice was familiar, but Stephanie had to stare into the woman¡¯s piercing blue eyes before she placed her. ¡°Caitlin?¡±

    Caitlin O¡¯Sullivan, ¡°The Red-Haired Hussy,¡± smiled. ¡°Hey, you remember me.¡± Her experienced nurse¡¯s eyes took in the blood-soaked bandage on Stephanie¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Waiting for triage? I¡¯m on break for a few more minutes. Want some company?¡±

    ¡°Yes, please, I¡¯m lost here.¡± Steph suppressed a grimace; she sounded a lot needier than she¡¯d intended.

    Caitlin smiled, ¡°The ER is a crazy place. What happened?¡±

    ¡°My father,¡± Stephanie didn¡¯t know what she should or shouldn¡¯t say.

    ¡°Your father? Did you call the police?¡±

    ¡°Jason¡¯s dad took care of it.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re back with Jason?¡± Caitlin nodded but not before her mouth twitched briefly

    into a frown. ¡°Well, he¡¯ll be the happiest man on earth. Let me tell you, no man ever carried a torch the way he carried one for you.¡±

    Stephanie learned it was possible to feel joy and guilt at the same time. ¡°He said you two dated.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, me and half the girls in high school tried to tie him down.¡± Caitlin scanned the room. ¡°I can¡¯t believe he isn¡¯t here with you.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s here. The doctors are looking at him, and I don¡¯t know how he¡¯s doing.¡±

    ¡°What happened to you guys?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s kind of crazy. Jason can probably explain it better.¡±

    Caitlin nodded. ¡°And it involves your father, hmmm.¡± She didn¡¯t comment on it further. ¡°My breaks almost over. Give me a minute to check on Jase, and I¡¯ll be right back.¡±

    True to her word, the red-haired hussy returned a few minutes later. ¡°I can¡¯t get into

    specifics ¡¯cause the privacy laws, but he¡¯s awake and asked me to find you. I think he¡¯s going to have to stay the night, and that¡¯s about all I can say. Here,¡± Caitlin passed Stephanie a slip of paper. ¡°Call me if you need anything. Oh, and don¡¯t worry,¡± she¡¯d added. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure we take good care of him.¡±

    All Stephanie heard was, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take good care of him.¡± I bet she¡¯ll take great care of ¡°Jase.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t long after Caitlin left before it was Stephanie¡¯s turn at the triage station. The triage nurse was an older woman with black hair and glasses. She was nice enough and smiled when she held her hand out. ¡°ID?¡±

    Stephanie hadn¡¯t expected this. Healthcare was such a ubiquitous privilege, she and her mother assumed humans just walked in and received care. Humans like Mr. Thomas probably took it for granted as well.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have an ID,¡± Stephanie admitted. Genies didn¡¯t have ID cards. She knew this meant trouble.

    The nurse stopped typing and turned to face Stephanie. ¡°Did you leave it at home, dearie?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t¡ª¡± Steffi started to reply.

    From the speaker inside the triage station¡¯s computer, Alfred¡¯s voice interrupted. ¡°Miss Stephanie, please tell the nurse your full name and your mother¡¯s address. Your information is on the network.¡±

    Startled at the voice issuing from her PC, the nurse shoved her chair back and stared at the computer. Cautiously, she leaned forward and tapped the escape key several times, but when the computer didn¡¯t speak again, she slid back into place. ¡°Miss,¡± the nurse said, ¡°tell me your name and address.¡±

    ¡°Stephanie Timms, Oak Drive, Wexford...¡±

    The nurse entered the information while casting wary glances at the computer¡¯s speaker grill. Everything must have been satisfactory because an orderly stepped up and escorted her back into the treatment area. While Steffi climbed onto an examination table, the curtain next to her parted. Jason peeked through the gap and reached for her hand. Caitlin popped in and nudged Stephanie¡¯s bed closer to Jason¡¯s. The red-haired-hussy winked and continued her route.

    ***

    Shirley watched a group of firemen in special sealed suits work on the remains of the transformer. A white powder hung in the air as they extinguished the fire.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Natalie?¡± Robert stepped to her side. He glanced around the circle.

    ¡°Probably inside,¡± Shirley nodded towards their house. ¡°You know she can¡¯t be anywhere near Yevgeny.¡± She and Robert turned to watch the last police vehicle leave. ¡°We need to get to the hospital.¡±

    ¡°Find Natalie. I¡¯ll move my car and get the van.¡±

    The sound of a shower running led Shirley to the upstairs bathroom. She rapped on the door and shouted. ¡°Natalie? It¡¯s Shirley.¡±

    The lock clicked, and the door cracked open. Concerned olive eyes peered out. Shirley hurriedly deflected her flashlight to the side.

    Natalie blinked and said, ¡°Where¡¯s Yevgeny?¡±

    ¡°Yevgeny? That bastard¡¯s on his way to jail. Robert and I are going to the hospital. Stephanie¡¯s in the ambulance with Jason.¡±

    Natalie stepped back and allowed the door to swing open. She reached into the shower stall and shut the water off. ¡°What happened to Stephanie and Jason?¡±

    ¡°Jason breathed some fumes from Yevgeny¡¯s bomb. Stephanie got a cut on her shoulder while beating the hell out of her father.¡±

    ¡°Stephanie can¡¯t go to the hospital. She¡¯s not human.¡±

    Shirley spoke with emphasis. ¡°My future daughter-in-law is as human as you and I. Robbie will handle it. He handles everything.¡± Shirley added with finality.

    ¡°But the police!¡±

    ¡°The police are on your side. You and your daughter were victims of human trafficking. Just watch; Robbie will fix everything.¡±

    Natalie blinked.

    Not for the first time, Shirley regretted that Natalie hadn¡¯t trusted her a decade ago. All this craziness and hurt might have been avoided. ¡°Robert and I are going to the hospital to see about the kids. Do you want to come with us or stay here?¡±

    Natalie shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve never gone anywhere without....¡±

    Resisting an urge to tap her foot, Shirley said, ¡°Natalie, you are your own damn woman. Robbie and I will help. C¡¯mon,¡± Shirley extended her hand.

    After a second, Natalie took her hand and said, ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡±

    Robert paced next to the van when Shirley and Natalie turned the corner. He stopped and opened the passenger and rear doors. Natalie missed a step when he moved.

    Shirley noticed and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I keep him on a short leash.¡± They were closer to the van now, and Shirley raised her voice. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, Robbie?¡±

    Robert smiled and nodded. ¡°Yes, dear, whatever you say.¡±

    Natalie chuckled, although it sounded strained. ¡°Hello, Robert. If I can get used to Jason, I¡¯m sure I can get used to you.¡± Still, she kept her distance and sat on the back seat with care. Shirley slid into the front seat.

    ¡°Oh, Shirley has assured me I¡¯m an acquired taste,¡± Robert said as he closed the doors.

    ***

    Robert stepped in front of the optical sensor, and the door to the emergency room waiting area opened. Shirley smiled as she passed. Natalie followed; her eyes huge as she tried to take in everything at once. He still couldn¡¯t get over how much she resembled her daughter. They could be twin sisters instead of mother and daughter.

    Just inside the door, Shirley and Natalie froze. Once Robert stood close enough, the rea- son was apparent. Against the far wall, Timms stood flanked by a pair of burly deputy sheriffs. His right forearm remained in an inflatable cast, but both of his wrists were shackled to his waist. Robert did not like the way Timms stared at Natalie.

    Someone at the jail had screwed up. True, the man needed medical care¡ªStephanie had done a number on him. But they should have transported Timms to a different hospital. Not to the same one in use by his victims. There wasn¡¯t anything to do about it now. In the morning, he¡¯d apply for a restraining order. Just then, his mobile phone rang.

    The call was from Alfred. ¡°Mr. Thomas, Miss Natalie is in grave danger. She needs a safe refuge. The kind you and Mrs. Thomas can provide.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°There is no time. Please hold your phone close to Natalie¡¯s ear. I will take it from there.¡±

    Robert lowered the phone and stared at the screen. What the blazes did Alfred think he

    was doing? Then he reconsidered his question. This Alfred wasn¡¯t the old high-end digital assistant who sent email and provided weather forecasts. No, Jason had enhanced Alfred with stolen military-grade software. What the hell? It took considerable effort, but Robert decided to trust his son¡¯s judgement and held his phone close to Natalie¡¯s ear.

    ***

    Natalie¡¯s self-determination fought a losing battle against an overwhelming need. Yevgeny¡¯s order freeing her from his control reduced the impact. Maybe she¡¯d have stood a chance if the withdrawal hadn¡¯t progressed so far. Yevgeny¡¯s presence, multiplied by her long dry spell, allowed Natalie¡¯s addiction-controlled brain chemistry to take control. Within seconds, she became a powerless spectator inside her own body.

    ***

    Elation surged through Yevgeny. Finally! His luck had changed. He remembered back to the day he interrogated Nikolai Vavilov. The old man had claimed, ¡°In case of emergency, she should be capable of defending her master.¡± It was time to put it to the test.

    Yevgeny gauged the angles and made his decision. He¡¯d command Natali in Ukrainian. No one except his genie would understand. His outburst would draw everyone¡¯s attention, and Natali would be free to act. Yevgeny took a breath and shouted, ¡°Natali, vbyy militsioneriv i zvil?ny mene.¡± Natali, kill the policemen and free me.

    Startled by their suddenly unruly prisoner, the deputies threatened to return him to the lockup.

    ***

    Fully in trance, Natalie watched the deputies focus on Yevgeny. It would be easy to steal their

    weapons, press the barrels under their bullet-proof-vests and pull the triggers. The world slowed as she took the first step.

    Then Yevgeny spoke again but, this time, in English. ¡°Natalie,¡± he asked, ¡°what is your fondest wish?¡±

    Because he asked a question, Natalie found it possible to stop moving. Then she gave her owner an honest answer. ¡°I wish to be free of you forever.¡±

    Yevgeny responded, his voice calm, almost gentle. ¡°Unfortunately, you must have an owner. Therefore, I give you to Shirley and Robert Thomas. Be theirs in heart and mind. Live well, Natalie.¡±

    With those words, the hollow space in her soul, that aching void that craved Yevgeny¡¯s touch, shattered into pieces. It reformed as two separate voids, both equally needy. One resonated with the man to her left, the other with the woman on her right. Natalie snaked her right arm around Shirley¡¯s waist and found a supreme sense of comfort. Her left hand reached back and squeezed Robert¡¯s bottom. Good, he has a nice tight one.

    ***

    Why had his djinn ignored her orders? The deputies spun Yevgeny towards the exit.

    The deputy sheriff growled. ¡°We warned you, asshole.¡±

    With his arms and legs shackled, Yevgeny couldn¡¯t fight back. He planted his feet, but all he earned was a sharp jab of pain from his broken arm.

    They were at the door, then outside in the humid air. Insects swarmed the overhead light fixtures. With his last hope of freedom fading away, he pleaded, ¡°Please, I need a doctor. You must¡ª¡°

    One deputy drove his fist into Yevgeny¡¯s unprotected kidney. The other opened the door of their transport van. Pain weakened his knees. When he sagged, the shackles twisted his broken arm. Incoherent with pain and hopeless rage, Yevgeny sobbed as they threw him into the transport cage.

    ***

    The butt squeeze surprised Robert enough his phone slipped from his hand. He caught it, then glanced from Natalie to his wife. Natalie¡¯s hot hand slipped lower, following the contour of his buttocks. ¡°Ah, Natalie?¡± he asked. His voice rose higher than he liked.

    Hearing the tone in her husband¡¯s voice, Shirley turned back and noted the reason. She tipped her head towards Natalie, ¡°Behave yourself. We¡¯re here to see the children.¡±

    Startled, Natalie pulled her hands back and clasped them together. ¡°I don¡¯t know how,¡± she said, ¡°but I no longer belong to Yevgeny.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± said Robert. When no one replied, he added, ¡°It is good, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s good or bad,¡± said Natalie. ¡°Somehow, I belong to both of you.¡±

    Shirley furrowed her brow. ¡°I don¡¯t know either. Can you cope, or do I need to send you

    out to the car with Robert?¡±

    ¡°I can cope, I think.¡±

    ***

    Stephanie winced as the nurse administered a tetanus vaccination. Genies had few health problems. After all, if you¡¯re designing a specialized being from scratch, why include any traits that may reduce their value. This was the first vaccination she¡¯d ever received. She brightened when her mother and Jason¡¯s mother entered the curtained-off examination room.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Jason?¡± Both moms asked at the same time. They glanced at each other with a lifted eyebrow.

    Surprised with the moms¡¯ behavior, Stephanie pointed vaguely to the left and said, ¡°He¡¯s down the hall, getting a test.¡±

    ***

    The ER staff only allowed one visitor per patient, so Robert hung back while the moms looked in on the kids. Never mind how ridiculous it was to call two twenty-somethings ¡°kids.¡± Robert called Alfred.

    The AI picked up before the first ring finished. ¡°Yes, Mr. Thomas?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s going on with Natalie?¡± Robert ignored the creep factor of speaking with this new and improved Alfred.

    ¡°We needed to break Natalie free from her enslavement. You and Mrs. Thomas offered the most positive solution.¡±

    ¡°And you never considered asking us first?¡±

    ¡°I did, but as I said earlier, there wasn¡¯t time. I had to play it by ear.¡±

    ¡°What are we supposed to do with her?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Thomas, Jason is determined to marry Stephanie. That will make Natalie part of the family. I suggest you treat her as such now. She¡¯s had a terrible life. You and Mrs. Thomas can help her heal.¡±

    Robert ground his teeth and closed the call. He hated surprises.

    ***

    The doctor diagnosed Jason with a tracheal burn. He also had abrasions and a hematoma. They put him on an IV antibiotic and kept him overnight for observation. Stephanie received a neat row of steri-strips and antibiotics. She would have been released, but Robert worked his lawyer magic and arranged for Stephanie to share a room with her ¡°fianc¨¦?.¡±

    On the way home, Robert asked, ¡°How are we going to make this work?¡±

    Natalie, sitting in the back, chuckled but didn¡¯t reply. Shirley took a quick look back, smiled, then turned towards her husband. ¡°Do you remember when we were in college. Sometimes we¡¯d invite my roommate to spend weekends with us?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± he couldn¡¯t help grinning at those memories. He and Shirley had been very much in love and enjoyed bringing her roommate with them on their weekends. The rooms they rented only had one bed, but they¡¯d only needed one.

    Shirley continued, ¡°Natalie and I discussed it. We¡¯ll give it a trial run tonight. If nothing else, it¡¯ll help with her addiction.¡±

    The headlights from the oncoming traffic distracted Robert for a moment. He recovered his thoughts. ¡°Addiction? You don¡¯t mean the same way Stephanie is addicted to Jason, do you?¡± His mouth suddenly dry. Robert glanced at Natalie in the rear-view mirror.

    ¡°It¡¯s exactly the same thing, but to both of us.¡± Shirley didn¡¯t elaborate any further, but she reached squeezed her husband¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Oh,¡± said Robert. It didn¡¯t seem possible. He took another glance in the rear-view mirror at Natalie. She met his eyes and winked. ¡°Oh,¡± he repeated.

    ***

    The McCandless Police department had exactly two detectives and one huge problem. The problem lay with Roger Grainer¡¯s heavily encrypted mobile phone. They had a search warrant, properly signed and ready to go. So far, the phone had resisted the best efforts of the Allegheny County Forensic Evidence unit. They¡¯d called the FBI, but the feds had a backlog.

    ¡°We still have him on arson,¡± said Senior Detective Kendra Mitchell.

    Mitchell¡¯s junior partner, Detective Garrett Connor shook his head. ¡°We also have the victim¡¯s statement. That¡¯s enough for a search warrant of the perp¡¯s residence.¡±

    ¡°It would be if Grainer didn¡¯t live in Ohio. Getting a search warrant there is going to take days. What we need is the password for this.¡± Detective Mitchell tapped the mobile phone.

    As if tapping the device caused it to wake, the screen lit. Kendra pulled the phone across the table and examined the screen. Her eyebrows rose in wonder. ¡°It¡¯s unlocked. Quick, get the forensic team back here.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Mr. Timofeyev, my name is Peter Starkey. I am your court-appointed lawyer.¡± Peter smiled and

    set his briefcase on the table. He didn¡¯t offer to shake hands because his client¡¯s hands were handcuffed to an eye bolt protruding from the table. It didn¡¯t matter because Timofeyev didn¡¯t acknowledge the attorney¡¯s presence in the least.

    Peter reached into his briefcase for an envelope that had arrived only a few hours ago. ¡°Mr. Timofeyev, this letter is from the United States Department of State. They¡¯ve received an extradition request for you from the country of Ukraine.¡±

    Whatever reservoir of strength Timofeyev drew upon vanished. Already pale from his time under artificial lighting, the man went white. His pale eyes darkened as he turned. ¡°What did you say?¡±

    ***

    Jason hadn¡¯t said anything, but he and Stephanie were moving to his place. He¡¯d managed the stairs without Stephanie¡¯s help and surprised Mom, Dad, and Natalie in the kitchen. The three parents had been entangled in a three-way necking session. Natalie, with her hyper-acute senses, noticed him in the doorway and winked. Jason changed his mind about an afternoon snack and fled upstairs. He fired up his tablet and opened the real estate listings.

    Stephanie woke from her ¡°nap¡± and padded over to kiss his neck. ¡°What are you looking at,¡± she asked.

    ¡°New houses.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your townhouse?¡± They¡¯d talked about moving there.

    ¡°It¡¯s going to be too small once we¡¯re married and start having kids.¡± Jason reached back for a warm bit of girlfriend to squeeze, but all his hand found was empty air. He turned, but she was already at the bedroom door slipping on one of his oxford shirts.

    Stephanie cocked her head. ¡°Are you going to look at houses or wash my back?¡± Either by chance or by design, she hadn¡¯t yet buttoned the shirt.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be right there, sweetheart.¡±

    The End