Hecate paused, “Correct me if I’m wrong, Adam.”
“No. I was happy and I loved each of my ladies. It was a very good time in my life. I remember it fondly.”
“Jealousies?”
“No. We shared. Everything. It was positive all around until one day it wasn’t. Of the four, Beata was the only one with an ego bigger than mine, no exaggeration, and she viscerally hated Kalindra, who came later into my life. No idea why.”
“Speculation?”
“Kalindra and I were close, in love and she would not share. Beata didn’t think I ’belonged’ to Kalindra, and besides the relationship was going nowhere. Could not. Turned out she was correct, but she hardly handled it well. I don’t really care what Kalindra did; she was in charge of business, she ran the business side, and what Beata said and did was cruel.”
“Did she say something about …?”
“Yes. Nasty things. Hurt Kalindra deeply, wounded her. Kalindra fought back, wounding Beata. But she also wounded the other ladies. In her defense, she made sure they had offers to go elsewhere. But the three would not abandon Beata, though she was the cause of their misery. Kalindra was quite thorough in her revenge and snuffed out their rise just as they were beginning to make their mark. It was devasting. Kalindra waited for them to overstep their existing grasp financially, then lowered the boom. But this is ancient history and has to stop. When the ladies get here, I’m going to end this feud.”
“How?”
“Kalindra’s coming too. She doesn’t know about this but she needs to move on too. I know she regrets some of what she did. And the other thing with Kalindra is fixed and we’re no longer together. We need their help and they can give us that help.”
“And managing egos?”
“TBD. We’ll find a way.”
Chapter 48
The jet landed on the portable tarmac on top of the plateau flats, and the two pilots, four women and their three security guards deplaned. Three women were waiting for them next to a small building that looked very much like two elevators, side by side. The pilots and the three guards entered one of the elevators and disappeared below ground.
Eene met the four passengers.
“Our luggage? They aren’t going to help us with it. We have a lot.”
“No worries. We have machines that do all of that. For now, we want to show you something incredible and then take you on a short tour after you settle in your rooms. We have four suites for you, but if you have other arrangements, we can accommodate that too. Your rooms are adjacent to our residence, so you will never be far away from us or our other colleagues. Your security team will be a short distance away. Should you need them, hear anything creepy, just ring them up. They are here for your protection 24/7.”
“I thought you said we were one thousand percent safe here?”
“You are. The only creepy thing might be our principal; he sings but can’t carry a tune. Like Eddie Murphy in that movie. Seems to think he has a voice, but really, he’s delusional.”
“When do we meet this mystery man?”
“Soon. But he wants you to see some things we do here first. Then we won’t need to explain now and try to convince you later.”
It was Eene talking; Noki and Hecate were with her. Hecate was in dense holographic form, so she seemed solid, but wasn’t. They introduced themselves all around and chatted for a few minutes about their flight.
“You see the plane and the tarmac, right?”
“Of course,” they all said.
Eene took her out her tablet and touched the screen, and hundreds of barrels appeared, followed by the disappearance of the plane and most of the tarmac. In its place was the luggage, loaded aboard a small vehicle.
“There! Demo number one. Your luggage will go down one of the elevators while we go down the other. Your suitcases will be separated and placed inside your rooms. Would you like locks on your doors? It’s optional, but if it makes you feel safe, we’ll add them on. It’s all programming, so it won’t take any time.”
The luggage vehicle started moving toward the elevator but the women were frozen in place.
“What did we just see? That was terrifying and amazing all at the same time,” said JoJo. How did you do that?”
“New tech, new energy, new materials and new software. Top secret. Even our techs and scientists and computer types don’t know everything about it. They work on bits and pieces, but never the big picture.”
“Why?”
“Big turnover for a while. Our home is isolated and there’s not a lot of folks here now. For most, this was a paycheck; they never intended to stay, which is fine. You may decide to leave too. And they were not committed to our vision of the future of the Earth, which again, you might not be either. We can’t change people but we can change a lot of the rest. So now we recruit bright young minds that have a social conscience. We ask for a five years commitment, then do our best to make them happy. Hopefully one day, a nice couple will marry and we’ll have kids running around the empty playgrounds. We have a few kids now in the residence.
“Why us again? I’m not clear on that point.”
“To answer your question, our principal knows you, all of you. And, he trusts you.”
“Should we trust him?”
“I think so. He really wants you to love this place like we do and stay. For a while. Then, stay or go. You all have skills he needs and that the young apprentices need to learn. So, you would do, train and manage. For that, which we will explain later when you meet him and our other colleagues, we will pay you a great deal of money.”
Cia asked, “We aren’t making weapons, are we? Nothing toxic or lethal.”
“No, quite the opposite. That’s why he won’t make this tech available yet. Our principal fears the military will take it, then federalize it under the Secret Inventions Act of 1951. The Nobel situation all over again, but worse. This tech can build and destroy. Or at least re-arrange. That’s how we bore through rock. The dust created, together with other elements, makes our raw material. Water and electricity are pulled from the atmosphere and stored. The former King of Nabataea invented those gadgets.”
“Abdul? Abdul Al-fizi?”
“That’s him.”
“Heard he was dead.”
“Nope. He was rescued with his wife and children and some of his people. They live here now. Eclectic bunch, about equal male to female, and sexual preference diversity just in case there is a need to scratch an itch.”
Everyone laughed.
“Do we wear nametags – female, bisexual, horny?”
“If you want. We’re pretty informal here except about coming and going with tech or research. That’s a no-no. But like I said, if you hate it here, we won’t keep you. In fact, we would want you to leave. We want smart converts to our work. Life here can be challenging but the work is top notch and important. Let’s take a tour of the City, let you rest, then go meet the boss. He’s anxious to see you again.”
The ladies still had no idea who the mystery man was, but Beata had narrowed her list to a few suspects. Adam, however, was not one of them.
***
The four took the tour, saw the Labs and then settled into their rooms. They were amazed by the complexity, yet simplicity of it all. Efficient, non-polluting and little to no waste. Water was clean and tasty; every appliance they needed was there. When their phones rang to ask if they were ready to go, all were excited.
Eene appeared at their front doors, one at a time and guided them to the residence. Noki and Hecate were already there, seated in the Study.
“This is where we work if we’re not in the labs at the Tech Center. You can work here too if you wish. Our computers and technology are all connected everywhere, so if there is ever an problem, help is never far away.”
“Any accidents so far?”
“None. Maybe Noki’s cooking but none of us do much of that. No need.”
“Robots?”
“No. A chef
. And housecleaner. Does laundry and dishes. Windows too if we needed it, but we don’t.”
“Staff sounds great.”
“Actually, staff of one. And here he is with our other colleague.”
In stepped Adam and Misti
“Oh shit!”
“Oh shit, shit, shit.”
The first to speak was Beata. The second to speak was JoJo, but for very different reasons. Cia and Cori ran to them immediately; there were kisses and hugs all around.
“We thought we lost you. Lost you forever.”
“Never,” said Adam. “Just misplaced me, that’s all.”
“Correct,” said Misti. “I’ve missed you lasses. And you too JoJo. Can I get a hug and a big wet kiss?”
“Only if you promise to get naked with me later. Otherwise I’ll hold out for at least another … thirty seconds.”
The two women embraced. Neither thought that JoJo’s invite was idle chit chat. Cia and Cori were already looking over Adam, planning to get him naked later.
Adam looked at Beata. “I’m glad you all came. Sorry about the ruse; I thought if you knew it was me, you wouldn’t come.”
Beata said, “You’re right. And we won’t be staying.”
“Speak for yourself, Beata,” said JoJo. “I’m staying.”
“Me too,” said Cia.
“Ditto that,” said Cori. “We practically have him all to ourselves and Misti is here too. It’s wonderful.”
Cori smiled and said, “The correct answer to whatever it is you are going to ask is ‘yes’, unless the correct answer is ‘no’. I’m in. Can we please have sex now. You’re not married yet, are you? We can still get nasty like in the old days?”
“Nope not traditional married. Kalindra has gone her own way. I’m in a sharing relationship with Misti, Noki, Eene and Hecate, just like us in the old days. Plus, one more lady who is gone and we hope will return. A few more bodies but the rules are the same.”
Cori said, “I still remember. We can fuck each other as much as we want, but outsiders only if we all agree. And no hookups.”
“Yup.”
“I’m staying for the sex; the work is free.”
“Then come sit down and let’s talk. Clear the air and then talk about why I need all of you. Especially you, Beata. Please. If you don’t want to stay, you can leave in the morning. But I’d like to get the band back together and you know how important you are to everything we did in the past. Now it’s just more complex; more focused. We need you. I need you. At least talk, then decide.”
Beata didn’t look happy. She kept eyeing Misti. “Then keep her away from me. If she takes one step toward me, I’m gone. The others can do as they please.”
“And you keep the money,” said Adam. “You’re all square. The leases, the banks, everyone.”
“Thank you for that. It was sweet. We were in need.”
“I know. I’d have stepped in eventually, but I was hoping we could reconcile first. And I wasn’t sure you wanted me around anymore. I’ve missed you all.”
Cia asked, “Why would you think that? We thought you were pissed off at us.”
Adam looked at Beata.
Beata said, “I might have mentioned to Adam that he was persona non grata. That he shouldn’t ever try to reconnect. Maybe something like that.”
“Fuck,” said Cori. “And all this time I blamed Adam. Why would you do such a thing, Beata? And not tell us? You said we’d always tell the truth and tell everything no matter how hard or embarrassing. Like the time JoJo took off with Adam for the weekend and said she was visiting family. That wasn’t even a good lie. She was humming all the next week.”
“Didn’t want any repercussions,” said Beata.
“We all went away with Adam at one time or another. It wasn’t just you.”
“Really? Well that was a long time ago, then Misti dropped in and that was that. I thought it best if we all moved on.”
“Well, you thought wrong. And you lied. None of our shitstorm was necessary, especially blaming Adam.”
Adam looked serious. “First, Beata, I did not come after your business. That was Kalindra, who I have asked to come here and explain herself. It had and has nothing to do with me but you and Kalindra should try to make up.”
“I guess I was out of line with her. I’ll apologize.”
“She’s healed now and we broke up. Time for her to explore on her own. She won’t be joining us here.”
Cia, Cori and JoJo once again were staring at Beata. “You said …”
“I know what I said. I thought it was true at the time but later I realized it wasn’t Adam. Had to be Kalindra. No offense, Adam, but you have a pea brain when it comes to business skullduggery. Kalindra is way smarter and way craftier than you.”
“No offense taken. And Misti will drop the attitude and vendetta; we leave all bad subjects and bruised egos in the past. I don’t support what you did when Misti and I asked for your help, but you weren’t wrong either. You were correct about potential consequences and had every right to decline. But, FYI, the woman we were protecting was murdered. You could have prevented that.”
Adam paused.
“Misti is not the same like in the old days. She doesn’t have the aggression to go out and kick someone’s ass just for fun. A total freak in bed, still the same old pervert we knew and loved; she hasn’t gone soft. But, she’s calm and has mellowed.”
Cori said, “And you Mister?”
“I can still do you all in one night and more than once.”
Cia said, “I don’t believe you. I think it’s BS.”
“Yeah,” said JoJo. “I think we need proof positive not a bunch of BS male bravado.”
“Really? You believe everything else but not this?”
“Proof. Solid, scientific method proof. P-R-O-O-F.”
Eene said, “If you’re going to make bold statements, mister, you gotta back it up. The rest of us will assist between rounds and be the rules judge. Two orgasms, and two rounds each. Girls may do each other separately.”
“I can’t believe you turned on me, just like that!”
“So? We have work to do; don’t be such a lay about!”
***
The ladies talked and agreed they would all stay and probably for a good long while. The only change was they wanted to live in the residence with everyone else. Adam and the crew were fine with that, though Beata was less sure. She said she might stay in her apartment alone for a while.
Beata left to go to her apartment. When she left, Adam asked what that was all about.
“She loved you. She never got over you leaving. Or getting filthy rich. She missed you and ‘us’. It was never the same after you left; things went kinda haywire. I think the love morphed into something negative; she was hopeless for a while. Why don’t you go talk to her? Cheer her up. I know she wants you to make up and tell her you love her again. All’s forgiven. New life ahead.”
“Of course. I never knew.”
“We know. You’re a genius, just not with women or much else other than software.”
Misti, Eene, Hecate and Noki all laughed. “You do know him too, don’t you?”
“When we didn’t love him, we wanted to thrash him. But mostly love. He’s an addiction; Beata, an acquired taste. She has trouble expressing her emotions and he doesn’t understand them. They’re made for each other ‘projects’.”
Eene said, “Go. Get going. If you’re not back in three hours we’ll come and rescue you. We need our turns too, you know.”
Chapter 49
Adam walked up to the apartment a hundred yards away from his front door. He wasn’t sure whether to knock or turn around and go back to his residence. He was nervous about seeing Beata again and his nerve did not steady with each step he took toward her front door. It was awkward; he felt bad about how Beata felt when he left and understood that he might have handled that, and a million other things in his life, better. Adam had always previously been somewhat o
blivious about the feelings of others; he spent a long time feeling sorry for himself and that seemed to crowd out empathy for others. He had changed; he had learned from his women to be aware of others.
He had learned to be more aware over the years, but especially since his one-year hiatus in Tibet. That had gone well in terms of his growth and understanding of the world, but empathy and caring was not a strong point among Immortals either. It’s not that Immortals didn’t care, they just didn’t even take into consideration any beings other than other Immortals. It was like a human having genuine affection for an ant. It hardly even seemed possible.
But his life with Kalindra, and now with Misti, Noki, Eene and Hecate, was slowly but surely grinding the hard, sharp edges off his otherwise somewhat callous disregard for the pain of others. He was far from normal, average or anywhere near the median. He loved the ones he loved; he loved mankind and humanity. It was the other individuals and strangers he struggled with.
And, he struggled with Beata, knowing he had a part in her misery. He knew that all the women, but especially Beata, were more than just friends and occasional lovers; they were like family. They used to do everything together, explored the world and themselves together; he often went to visit their families rather than his own, and in the end, he just left. Then gone for another year without a goodbye, reading all kinds of society nonsense about being spotted cavorting around the world. He was actually in a cave, learning secrets he would never reveal and having amazing sex with Immortal women who wanted to “try the mortal”.
Two stood out because they did not care what the other Immortals thought. But more than one Immortal woman wanted an experience; none, however, wanted to be seen with him or associated with a lower life form. He wondered, toward the end of his stay, how often he had done the exact same thing. It was a realization, a lesson he would rather not have learned.
Crissy Chance Page 36