Downtime and Death (Apocalypse Gates Author's Cut Book 5)

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “What are your plans, Megs?” Becky asked. “Going to settle down and take up a craft, or going to keep on the patrol route?”

  “Patrol for now. There are a lot of crafters now thanks to the apprenticeships,” Megumin replied. “With Justin needing to support Joanna and Amie now, I should keep a steady income so not to strain our relationship.”

  “Later on, that might change,” Justin agreed, nodding. “But right now, she has the right idea.”

  “You’re leaving and going east?” Megumin asked.

  “Into southern Colorado, then maybe down into parts of Texas,” Alvin said. “We’ll be staying well away from cities and most major towns. I don’t want to run into another town full of zombies just waiting to waylay people.”

  “That was not fun,” Becky said. “It’s also why Ruffian stays in the damned garage now.”

  “What happened?” Justin asked.

  “Well, it was a bit over a week ago, shortly before we got back here,” Alvin said as he began to relay the story.

  ~*~*~

  Hours later, the three lovers were laughing and enjoying themselves when they went back to the inn. Alvin paused just outside and peered into the shadows of the dimly lit yard. After a long moment, he shook his head and followed Becky and Kuro inside.

  “What’s the matter, Hero?”

  “Thought someone was watching us, but I didn’t see anyone. Probably just getting antsy from our stay here.”

  “Let’s go distract you for a bit, then,” Becky winked as she took Kuro’s hand. “Come on, Mousie, let’s get the shower ready.”

  “As you wish, Gothy.”

  Alvin chuckled as he followed the two women, his eyes drinking in their swaying hips while they walked.

  “Talk about a lucky fuck,” one of the patrons muttered just loud enough for Alvin to hear.

  “Damned right,” Alvin laughed, not even bothering to look back.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  A loud snore right in his ear woke Alvin. Wincing, he turned his head enough to see Becky sleeping inches from his head. “Delicate princess,” Alvin whispered before sliding out of bed and triggering the shutters. “Morning, Mousie,” he said, seeing her waiting for him.

  “Morning, Hero.”

  “Thought you might need to use the bathroom,” Alvin said.

  “I do,” Kuro agreed. “Are we going to take a shower, too?”

  “Just a rinse,” Alvin chuckled. “Not like the hours we spent in there last night before cuddling and watching movies.”

  “I’m glad I finally understand them. If we watch Firefly again, I think I’ll appreciate it more now.”

  “I’m sure you will,” Alvin chuckled. “What do you think of B5?”

  “It is peculiar how many shows your world had dedicated to space fiction,” Kuro said. “I’ll join you in a moment.”

  “Sure thing,” Alvin replied as he stepped into the shower.

  Alvin had his eyes closed while he washed his hair. He gasped when a mouth found his limp manhood and began to entice him. “Mousie, I said a quick rinse,” Alvin managed, doing his best to get the shampoo out of his hair.

  “You did, Hero,” Kuro giggled from nearby. “Gothy didn’t know that, though.”

  Finally able to look down, Alvin saw Becky kneeling in front of him, already having brought him to full attention. “Good morning to you, Gothy.”

  A moan was her only reply before she began to work her expert skills on him. Alvin’s eyes fluttered, and he braced himself against the walls, letting her have what she wanted. Eyes going to Kuro, he saw her perched on the bench, water from the rain head falling over her while she rubbed her clit.

  “Gothy promised to share some of her treat with me if I didn’t warn you,” Kuro told him as her other hand began to tug at the hard points of her nipples.

  “Oh, she did, huh?” Alvin asked, looking down at Becky again, who gave him a wink. “Well then, that changes things.” One hand came down to tangle into Becky’s hair. “Someone needs to be reminded of who’s in charge here.”

  Taking control of her, Alvin roughly fucked Becky’s all too willing mouth. That only made Becky moan louder, and she began to pleasure herself at the same time. Alvin was glad that he had taken control; he was able to stave off his own orgasm, at least momentarily. Becky and Kuro both had at least one each.

  “Mousie, come here,” Alvin hissed, feeling himself getting closer to the edge.

  Kuro slipped to her knees beside Becky, just as eager for what he was going to do as Becky was. Becky groaned when she felt him pull away from her, trying her best to keep him in her mouth.

  “No, Hero, no...” Becky whined when he finally came free of her mouth.

  Alvin smiled at her, shifting his hips enough to push himself into Kuro’s willing mouth. “Who’s in charge?”

  “You, Hero... you. Please...” Becky moaned, still pleasuring herself.

  Alvin twitched when Kuro picked up right where Becky had been forced to stop. She was trying to get him over the edge, and was about to succeed. “You knew this was supposed to be a quick rinse and you tried to make it more,” he panted. “Is that being a good girl?”

  “No,” Becky whimpered, her eyes closing.

  “Good. Now, remember to share,” Alvin moaned as he started to cum. After the first pulse, he pulled himself from Kuro’s mouth. The second spurt hit Becky’s cheek, but the third landed on her tongue when she opened her eyes and mouth to do what he said. The fourth spurt coated Kuro’s chin.

  By the time he stopped twitching, both women had gotten an almost equal amount of his seed. Leaning against the shower wall, he smirked as they began to clean each other’s face, neck, and chest. Once they finished, Alvin had his hands soaped up and was waiting for them.

  “Okay, turn around and give me your backs,” he told them in a commanding tone, and both did so immediately. Scrubbing them down, Alvin smiled. “Next time, Gothy, I’ll give it all to Mousie. Understood?”

  “Yes, Hero,” Becky pouted. “I just wanted my favorite treat.”

  “Then ask for it,” Alvin said, punctuating his statement with a solid slap to her ass.

  “Yes, Hero.”

  “Same for you, Mousie,” Alvin said, spanking her ass once, too. “I know you wanted it just as bad as she did. Ask next time. If you ask, I will very likely give you what you want. Asking doesn’t hurt anything.”

  “Yes, Hero.”

  “Good, now give me those tits, both of you,” he ordered them.

  Once they were covered in soap, Alvin nodded. “Because today’s shower is already running long, we might as well enjoy it.” Stepping past them, he turned off the shower head over the bench and laid chest down on it. “Get me all clean. You can only use your bodies, though. No hands.”

  “Yes, Hero,” they said in unison.

  Alvin relaxed— though part of him was anything but relaxed— as the women did as he commanded. He enjoyed the soft, silky smooth feeling of their bodies rubbing along his, but did not touch them himself, making them do all the work. He turned over when they asked, and Becky made a hungry sound when she saw his firm flesh standing straight up. “Cleaning only,” he told them softly.

  They both let out a disappointed whine, but they did not say anything, instead going back to cleaning him with their bodies. When they started cleaning him again, Alvin noticed that both of them were shaking a bit as they rubbed against him. He smirked when he realized what they were doing.

  “Stop pleasuring yourselves, and each other,” Alvin said, and both whimpered in response. “You should have known that was going to happen.”

  “You’re being mean, Hero,” Becky grumbled as she moved down his leg.

  “A little,” Alvin agreed.

  “We understand,” Kuro murmured as she brushed her breasts against his chest. “Are you pleased with us, now?”

  Alvin opened his mouth to speak when Becky pressed her breasts around his straining shaft. “Oh, yes. Cleaning only,
Gothy.”

  “I’m cleaning,” Becky replied as she began to slowly slide her breasts up and down his shaft. “Just making sure to get every... wonderful... thick... inch.”

  Alvin made a small sound of pleasure as she continued her task. After a minute, Alvin reached down and tangled a hand in her hair, pulling her away from his cock. “You’ve done enough.”

  “Yes, Hero,” Becky pouted and moved over to the leg she had not cleaned yet.

  Exhaling deeply, Alvin tried to calm himself. He had almost succeeded when Kuro’s hard nipples grazed his chin. “Mousie…”

  “Cleaning, Hero,” Kuro replied with a hint of laughter as she covered his face with her small, but firm breasts.

  Alvin laughed into her chest and slapped her ass, earning him a squeak and Kuro moving away. “Fine, fine, I get it. Finish cleaning me, already.”

  The two women hurriedly finished soaping him before rinsing him with the rain head above him and two wands. Once he was free of soap, they rinsed each other. Alvin opened his eyes in time to see both of them exchanging a longing look from inches apart.

  “Okay, Gothy, your choice: my mouth or my cock. Mount the one you want most right now. Mousie, you get the second option, and you can pleasure each other again.”

  Becky climbed over his hips and pushed herself down his length, making both of them moan in pleasure, before Alvin’s was muffled by Kuro lowering herself against his waiting mouth.

  The three of them rode through several orgasms as the first position changed to another, then a third. Alvin called an end when he came for the third time, finishing in Kuro’s tight slit.

  “Enough,” Alvin panted as he stepped back with wobbly legs. “We’re supposed to be leaving today.”

  “It was a good sendoff party,” Becky moaned as Kuro pushed her over the edge into another orgasm. “Good girl, Mousie... so good.”

  They dried off and got dressed, with Alvin wondering how the morning had gone completely opposite to his original plan. That’s a succubus and her pet for you. Always able to make me change my mind.

  “What are you thinking about, Hero?” Becky asked as her armor appeared on her.

  “That with you and Mousie, my life will always be a little unpredictable, and I’m fine with that.”

  “You’re so sweet,” Becky said, kissing him. “Actually, you’re a little salty, but I do love that.”

  “Nut,” Alvin laughed, slapping her ass. “Go on.”

  “She isn’t wrong, Hero. I also love it since Gothy first introduced me to it,” Kuro added as she followed Becky.

  “One of these days, I’m going to die a husk in bed,” Alvin muttered with a smirk. “I think a lot of guys would long to die that way.”

  Chapter Twenty-two

  “Morning, sir,” Jarvis said from the kitchen. “Now that you are awake, I can put the finishing touches on breakfast.”

  “Where did the troublemakers go?”

  “The kiosk room,” Jarvis said as he pulled items out of the refrigerator. “Five minutes, perhaps ten, for me to finish this.”

  “You got it,” Alvin said, spying a full coffee pot.

  “Sammi? You about?” Alvin asked the air, transferring three mugs and then the coffee pot to the table. He turned back to get cream and sugar to find Sammi sitting there. “Coffee?” he smiled brightly at her.

  “Please,” Sammi said. “What do you need this time?”

  “I was wondering if you listened to all the brainstorming we did yesterday?” Alvin asked, pouring coffee into two of the mugs.

  “The whole quest thing?”

  “That, and the other ideas.”

  “It’s under consideration. It’s an idea that’s come up before. We’re also considering changes to mandatory in-game time, especially considering how you’ve been circumventing it. Part of why I’m here is to ask you: are you willing to test a new system?”

  “What’s in it for me?” Alvin asked, sitting back and sipping his coffee.

  Sammi grimaced, “My thanks?”

  “Really?” Alvin chuckled.

  “To start with, you wouldn’t have the daily requirement. Instead, you’ll be given weekly quests. They’ll be pretty easy at first, but they’ll get more challenging. You’ll also have access to up to five other quests, which you can get at any kiosk except one inside a base. Some of the quests may be timed. They can be posted by anyone, and I expect a lot of crafters will post quests for materials they need. The first person to accept will be the only one allowed to fulfill it, unless the quest is dropped for another. Failing to complete quests might end up having negative repercussions, but that’s still being debated.”

  “For the first part of the testing phase, I’ll be the only one getting quests?”

  “For now, yes.”

  “How am I going to get quests if no one else can access the system to post them?”

  “We’ll be putting up a selection at any settlement you stop at. For you, it’ll seem like the system is fully live. You will also be required to turn quests in at a settlement, sometimes a specific one. We want to give you reasons to go different places, after all.”

  “So, no turning them in from the field?”

  Sammi studiously looked away, and Alvin noticed she was staring at the door of the kiosk room. “No.”

  “Hero, I bet if you picked up the upgrade that let you send and receive items from settlements, it would be included.”

  Sammi grimaced, “Hello, Becky.”

  “Sammi, call me Gothy, please. After all, we are trying to be nice and not deliberately breaking shit. Because we could.”

  “Morning, Sammi,” Kuro said as she followed Becky to the table.

  “Morning, Kuro.”

  “Mousie, please. That is my name now,” Kuro said with a smile.

  “If I agree, I won’t have to do the whole eight hours a day thing, but I’d have to complete the weekly quest... what happens if I fail the quest?”

  “Same as if you fail the hourly requirement currently.”

  “Lose a life,” Alvin nodded. “If I fail some other quest, there will be a penalty, but not the loss of a life?”

  “Perhaps. That is one thing being evaluated during this period. Any penalties need to be severe enough to deter people failing for no reason, but not crippling if a sincere effort was made to complete the quest.”

  “Sounds complicated,” Alvin chuckled.

  “Are we going to do this, Hero?” Becky asked, stirring her coffee.

  “That’s the current question. Thoughts?”

  “Do it. If nothing else, it gets rid of that dumb hourly requirement and gives us the chance to have a real vacation. We might have to push on the weekly quests to knock them out as quickly as we can.” Becky turned her gaze to Sammi, “Just make sure not to artificially increase the difficulty because we’re so good at what we do.”

  “During testing, you won’t lose a life so long as you make an actual effort on the weekly quest,” Sammi said. “We want a true baseline.”

  “Hero, I agree with Gothy.”

  “Okay, Sammi, I’ll be your guinea pig. At least this time you asked before experimenting on me.”

  “That is hurtful, sir.” Jarvis said, bringing a loaded tray to the table. He served each of them bowls of hot porridge with berries, starting with Sammi. “Sammi, if you’d try this for me and give me your opinion?”

  “What is this? Cream of wheat?” Sammi asked.

  Jarvis smiled politely and waited for her to try it. With a frown, Sammi tried a spoonful. Her face went through a range of expressions, settling on a combination of longing and disbelief.

  “What is this? Is it even real?”

  “The prep time is high, and the base isn’t just cream of wheat. It features a thick berry crème that is diluted to give it a texture similar to cream of wheat.” Jarvis explained as he went back to the kitchen to get his own bowl. “I take it you approve?”

  “Is this a real food?” Sammi asked as she sta
red at the bowl.

  “Difficult to make, but yes, it can be found in your world,” Jarvis said and took his seat next to her. “I’m glad to know it has your approval.”

  “Mine, too,” Becky said.

  “Same,” Alvin added.

  “It is delicious,” Kuro said.

  “A unanimous decision. Wonderful,” Jarvis smiled as he took a bite.