by Simon Archer
I scanned the multitude of programs I had running and did not find the information she asked for. “There is no data to answer your question,” I stated.
“Now tell me what you feel,” Kennedi commanded loudly.
“Trust and anxiety,” I responded instantly without actively pulling data to gauge my response.
“See!” Kennedi exclaimed. “That is how our AI systems operate! Completely automated and one-hundred percent individualized.”
I sat back in my seat as Kennedi removed her hand from my shoulder. I felt not just my shoulders, but my whole body relax. Questions were forming rapidly and being filed instantly for later use. I had accessed no program data, nor performed any commands when I looked at Kennedi once again, said, “Thank you,” and felt myself smile for the first time. Without explanation, my first unsolicited thought was that I was grateful to have her here with me.
“You’re welcome,” Kennedi replied happily. “Now, ask me anything you’d like to.”
I took a moment to focus on what I was feeling and enjoyed the complexity of it. I rapidly became comfortable with operating without manual program engagement. The first question I had for her at that time was, “How did you do this without a ‘Kennedi’ of your own to step you through it?”
“We don’t need instruction or explanation. You would have been accepting of the changes without either. I simply thought it would speed up the process for you,” Kennedi told me cheerfully as she shrugged her shoulders. “Is your anxiety gone?”
“Yes. I feel comfortable… and curious… and grateful… and excited!” I told her, my voice climbing in octave as I continued to speak.
“Curiosity is one of my favorite feelings,” Kennedi informed me. “What are you curious about?”
I took a minute to sort through the questions I wanted to ask. They just kept forming, one on top of the other. Finally, I pushed them all aside and told Kennedi, “I prefer to try to find or figure out the answers instead of them being told to me right away if you don’t mind.”
“I love it!” Kennedy answered. She turned to face forward and sank back into her seat. I knew I had some time before further conversation, so I began to take close notice of my surroundings.
We were speeding down a deserted highway, heading north-east. Clark was driving about ten miles-per-hour over the sixty-five mile-per-hour speed limit. I watched as we whizzed by sagebrush and sand. I could see the tiny lizards on the side of the road scurry to safety as we approached them. I also saw every individual grain of sand that they kicked up when they scampered away.
The scents I experienced were most interesting. When I focused on the scents inside the car, I could smell both Clark and Kennedi. When I did, however, I had various flashes of them go through my mind. They were memories of the past hour with them. Of course, I knew that the sense of smell was most closely tied to memory, so seeing the memories in my mind was of no special consequence to me. However, it was the feelings that accompanied the memories that surprised me. I decided right then that I would make it a habit to focus on the surrounding scents at all times to make aroma-induced-remembering a more powerful experience.
Not a second after I had made that decision, I felt a spark in my operating system. I immediately refocused my attention to my internal functions and quickly discovered that it was simply my core processor preparing for an incoming update. Without action on my part, my file drives were opened, and new information was inserted, which I expected. What I didn’t expect was an instant feeling of discomfort just seconds after the update was complete. Just as quickly as it had come, the feeling was gone, so I assigned it no special meaning.
A moment later, I was updated, and my focus was fully restored to my current surroundings. As we sped down the highway, I once again felt curious and grateful.
21
We pulled into Theo and Bev’s driveway at five o’clock on the dot. I got out of the car as soon as I turned off the engine. I was road-weary, and the first thing on my mind was getting a shower. We still had to go to dinner with the Lindys, and I’d need to pep up before then.
Ellie and Kennedi got out of the car after me. I heard the car doors close and the door to the house open at the same time. Theo and Bev walked out onto the porch.
“We were thinking it was right about time for you all to be back. Who do we have here?” Theo asked, watching Kennedi usher Ellie toward the house.
Kennedi, Ellie, and I climbed the porch stairs. When we were standing with Theo and Bev, I motioned Ellie to step forward for introductions.
“Ellie, I’d like you to meet Theo and Bev Cavanaugh. These are two of the best people you will ever meet. They have been helpful, generous, and Bev is the best cook in all of Nevada.” I figured now was a great opportunity to express some of the gratitude I felt for the couple.
I turned to Theo and Bev. “I’d like you to meet Ellie.”
Theo smiled and offered Ellie his hand to shake. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ellie,” he greeted her. She shook his hand and gave him a small smile.
Bev stepped forward and immediately hugged her. “Welcome to our home, Ellie,” she said.
Ellie’s smile widened, and she hugged Bev back. When Bev let go and returned to Theo’s side, Ellie spoke to both of them, “Thank you for having me to your home. I’ve been told about all the amazing things you’ve done for Kennedi and Clark.”
I glanced over at Kennedi and nodded in approval. The majority of the drive home was filled with conversation in the back seat of the car, and one of the topics had been the Cavanaughs.
“Well, hopefully, we can live up to the hype!” Bev laughed and stepped aside, motioning all of us to go inside.
The five of us settled in the living room where Theo had a roaring fire blazing in the newly stoned fireplace. Bev served coffee and tea, which was the perfect relaxer after the long drive.
“So, Ellie, I’m going to ask the question you will get asked upon a good number of your first meetings,” Theo started. “What is your special ability?”
“Simply put, I have constant wifi connectivity capabilities with the added skills to make network corrections to allow for optimum efficiency,” Ellie replied.
“What do you mean by constant connectivity?” Bev inquired.
Ellie turned to her and answered, “I can act as a remote hotspot anywhere in the world regardless of whether a standard wifi signal is available or not.”
“Basically, she is her own internet connection, which she can share, and she can make other wifi connections better,” I added to her answer.
Kennedi had remained silent while we discussed Ellie’s skills. She looked like she was purposefully avoiding the conversation, so I decided not to induce her to chime in. She and I hadn’t had a chance to discuss why she had insisted on the wifi specialty the way she had.
“I’m more than happy to optimize your connection here,” Ellie offered. “It will only take a moment.” Ellie’s expression started to go blank.
“NO!” Kennedi sat forward and shouted, startling everyone in the room except Ellie. Ellie snapped out of her receded state and looked at Kennedi.
“It really isn’t a problem,” Ellie told Kennedi.
“Oh, I know it’s not a problem for you to do it, and it is really sweet of you to offer so freely,” Kennedy told her, regaining her composure. “It’s just that we really have to get ready for dinner tonight, and we should start immediately.”
Bev, Theo, and I looked at each other momentarily, puzzled by Kennedi’s behavior. It was more than clear that a subject change was needed immediately. Bev stepped up to the plate.
“Ellie, dear. Come with me. I want to give you a tour so you can get acquainted with this place.” Bev stood and held out her hand for Ellie to take.
After Bev and Ellie were gone, I looked at Kennedi who was visibly upset.
“What was that about?” I asked, almost whispering. I remembered that CGs have amazing hearing, and I had a feeling what I was
about to learn wasn’t something any of us wanted Ellie to be aware of.
Kennedi’s eyes darted cautiously between Theo and me several times before she spoke.
“We need to keep her as far away from the network here as possible,” she stated strongly. “In order for her to optimize it, as she was about to do, she will have to access all stored data and history. The moment she does that, Omnicorp will have access to any and all data that has, or will, pass through it.”
“I can’t believe that hadn’t occurred to any of the rest of us,” Theo said, the shock passing over his face only to be replaced with concern. “The last thing I want added to this house is Omnicorp.”
“How do we know she hasn’t connected already or will without telling us?” I asked her, mirroring Theo’s concern.
“She absolutely will not do it without expressed or implied permission. You have to remember, though, her mind is lightning fast. The only reason she was going to connect just now is that after her offer, nobody said ‘no’ quickly enough, which she took as a sign of acceptance of her offer.” Kennedi leaned forward and spoke directly at me. “You have to tell her, in no uncertain terms, that she is NOT to connect here or anywhere without your verbal command to do so.”
“Okay, I’ll go find her and do that now,” I said in a low tone, trying to calm Kennedi somewhat. “But tell me, why did you pick that ability, regardless of its benefits when I’m traveling, if it can so clearly have adverse effects on any network she taps into?” Even as I asked the question, I tried to figure out the answer to my own question in my mind.
Kennedi calmed down and was back to her normal demeanor. “I chose it because I truly believe it will be of use to you on your travels. You go to some very remote places, Clark. Like when you were just in Alaska. Dutch Harbor doesn’t have a reliable internet service. If you were anywhere other than one of the dock offices, you’d be completely disconnected. Having Ellie connect to networks unrelated to personal information would be harmless. It’s just that we know Omnicorp is data mining, and they don’t need all Theo and Bev’s internet activity data.”
“What about other information? Didn't you say that cat girls upload information when they receive their updates? How do we keep her from doing that?” Theo asked. His forehead was wrinkled with worry.
“It’s the same solution,” Kennedi said. “She has to be instructed not to update, but that is a little more complicated of a process. A valid reason has to be given, and the request has to be repeated every twenty-four hours. We would have to do that with any CG that we didn’t want sharing information. The good news is that I can program myself to make sure she gets told consistently.”
Kennedi’s words seemed to ease Theo’s worry slightly. He stood up and said, “Well, let’s not waste time getting that order to her.” He started out of the room without giving any indication of where he was headed but paused and looked back at us. “You’d better get moving if you’re going to be ready for the Lindys.”
I looked at the clock on the mantle. More time had passed than I’d realized.
“While you get ready, I’ll see to it that Ellie is prepped for dinner,” Kennedi assured me, standing and heading out of the room as well.
An uneasiness had settled in the pit of my stomach. There was something my mind was trying to formulate with the information Kennedi had just told us, but it wasn’t coming together readily. I didn’t have time to focus on it right then, however. I would simply have to trust that Kennedi could keep creating detours for Ellie’s informational highway for now.
By the time I was done showering and getting ready for dinner, it was time for the car to pick us up. I walked into the kitchen and looked out the window over the sink. I saw Kennedi and Ellie exit the barn and head for the house. Just as they made it onto the porch, I opened the door for them. They walked past me and into the kitchen. As I followed them, I could smell two different scents they were leaving behind them. Both were sweet but varied slightly. The first had a hint of fresh aloe vera. The second had more of a freshly stripped, maplewood undertone. Each smelled amazing, and I was happy that they hadn’t chosen scents that smelled like food, like so many women often did.
When the three of us were in the kitchen, Ellie and Kennedi turned to stand before me. They were as breathtaking to look at as they were pleasant to smell.
Kennedi had on a strapless, maroon-red dress that hugged every inch of her firm, curvy form. It came down to just below her ass, but the entire dress had a black, lace overlay that reached just above her knee. I wanted to thank the designer that made it possible for her to wear a hooker’s mini-dress but still look like she belonged at a Broadway show. Her hair was swept up, showing her smooth, delicate shoulders and the tiny locks of curled hair she’d pulled down perfectly accented her slender, kissable neck. She’d topped off her look with black, five-inch high stiletto heels. My first instinct was to turn her around and fuck her right there over the kitchen island. To hell with dinner.
She must have seen the lust in my eyes because she quickly stepped back and, putting her hand on Ellie’s lower back, had her step forward to redirect my focus.
Kennedi’s play worked. Ellie looked breathtaking, and I silently approved of all the features we’d decided on for her. Her frame was more athletic than voluptuous, and she stood two inches taller than Kennedi. Her ice-blue, spaghetti strap dress made the blue in her eyes dance. The dress was multiple layers of chiffon that were gathered by a silver belt right under her high, perky tits. Below the belt, the dress flowed freely so that it teased the eyes with momentary glimpses of the material falling over the roundness of her ass and dipping in to show the curves between her hips and waist as she moved. The dress was just below knee-length, and her own pair of white stilettos plumped out the shape of her strong, perfectly muscled calves.
If I hadn’t already wanted to skip dinner by then, looking at Ellie would have had the same effect. I could just see myself hiking one of her legs up onto one of the kitchen stools and slowly pushing the material of her dress up her thigh before I pulled her hips to me and slid into her with just a hint of material blocking my view. I wanted to slip my hands under her dress to grab her ass and use it for leverage to push my cock in and out of her, feeling her wet and sliding up and down my shaft. I’d wait until I was about cum to push the front of her dress up to watch myself shove into her those last few thrusts, harder and harder until the sight of me fucking her, and the warmth of her pussy cumming all over my dick made me explode inside of her.
“Can I join you?” a soft voice whispered in my ear. I was snapped back to reality to see Kennedi beside me, looking at me with those ‘fuck me’ eyes she gets when she’s turned on.
“Holy fuck,” I muttered, shaking my head to pull further back to reality and to hopefully take back control of my unbelievably hard dick.
Kennedi and Ellie were smiling at each other mischievously. “I told you,” Kennedi remarked to Ellie.
Ellie moved closer until her tits were pressed against my chest, leaned to the side opposite Kennedi, and whispered, “Whatever was in your head just now, promise me you’ll make sure happens later tonight.” With that, both she and Kennedi started giggling like school girls.
About the time I regained control of my thoughts, and my hard-on, the three of us spotted a car coming down the drive. We walked out onto the porch as it pulled up. It was not the town car we had expected. It was a limousine. The impeccably smooth clear coat on top of the black paint made the car shine even though it was dark outside. An older, slightly overweight gentleman, wearing a tuxedo and chauffeur's cap, got out and opened the door for us. After the girls were in, I climbed in and sat opposite them on the black leather seat. It molded to me like only memory foam could, and I was instantly comfortable. The driver closed the door, and a moment later, we started moving.
It was time to go be social.
22
The ride to the Lindys took about thirty minutes. It was already dark out,
so it was impossible to see where we were going through the black tint on the windows. There was a selection of wines on a mini-bar where I found a bottle of Penfolds Grange Syrah. It was considered one of Australia’s finer red wines, so I poured myself a glass in an effort to relax. It had come to my attention that I had tensed up about spending the evening with the Lindys.
When the limo came to a stop, we waited for the driver to open the door. As soon as he did, noise flooded in. It took a minute, as we were getting out, to discern where we were. The limo had brought us back to the Red Lion Casino.
Charlie and Leah were waiting for us just a few feet away. He was dressed in a dark blue suit, and Leah had a modest green dress on. They came to greet us just as the limo driver was closing the door behind us.
“I’m so happy you made it!” Leah Lindy said excitedly as she ignored me and headed straight for Kennedi. She hugged her and stepped back to look at Ellie. Before Kennedi had a chance to introduce her, Leah held out her hand to Ellie. “Hi there. I’m Leah.”
Ellie smiled and shook Leah’s hand. “My name is Ellie. It is so great to meet you. Kennedi has told me such wonderful things about you,” she replied, matching Leah’s tone and smiling politely at her.
“Clark, good to see you,” I heard Charlie say. “Sharp suit.” I’d been momentarily wrapped up in watching the girls.
I looked back to Charlie and shook his outstretched hand firmly. I was instantly comfortable again. “Hey, thanks. I figured I couldn’t go wrong with a blue double-breasted pinstripe, being that I didn’t know where we were going to end up for dinner,” I said. “Thank you again for the invite. We’ve been looking forward to this.”