Chapter 54: Surveillance
The water from the shower cascaded down Dave’s shoulders, the steam curling around them as Liki gazed up at him, her desire obvious.
“Liki, lemme tell you a trick,” Dave began with a hint of hesitation in his voice, “if you suck my… my penis, I’ll, uh… be able to make sperm even faster than if I use my hands.” He winced inwardly at how awkward the words sounded, but Liki tilted her head, her expression a mix of surprise and confusion.
“I thought you didn’t like having your penis sucked on,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of insecurity. Her tail stopped moving, and she looked up at him with her wide, innocent eyes.
Dave blinked, caught off guard. “Why would you think that?” he asked, his brow furrowing as he tried to recall.
“Because… I tried to do it once. Back at your house. That time in the shower,” she said, her voice soft and quiet. “But you pulled away from me. And then you left the house. I thought I did something wrong.” Her small hands dropped from his chest, and she looked down, her shoulders slumping slightly.
Dave’s heart clenched as the memory came flooding back. That day. He had been so conflicted, so unsure of what was right. It was back when Liki couldn’t speak yet, and he’d felt so overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of his feelings for her—feelings he hadn’t fully understood at the time. On top of that, the Wimil user manual had so many warnings. Its rules and restrictions had made him frightened of crossing some invisible line. Once again, he hadn’t even realized how much his careless actions had affected her.
“Liki… I’m so sorry,” he said, his voice thick with regret. He reached out, cupping her face in his hands and tilting it up so she had to meet his gaze. “The reason I pulled away wasn’t because of you. It was because… I wasn’t sure if it was right. I didn’t mean to make you feel like I was… rejecting you. I just… I was scared. Scared of breaking the rules, scared of… the way that I felt about you.” It seemed like forever ago. How long ago was it? Two weeks? Three?
Her eyes widened, and a flicker of relief passed over her face. “I thought you were mad at me. You didn’t smell mad, but… I was so confused. I cried really hard after you left.” She blinked, and for a moment, Dave thought she might cry again. “I almost went to look for you.”
“Liki, I’m so sorry,” he repeated, pulling her into a tight embrace. “I would never, ever treat you that way. When I left to go to work, I just thought you understood that I’d be back. I’m sorry for always being so stupid.” She nestled into him, her small body warm and reassuring against his. After a moment, she looked up at him, her eyes shining with a mix of relief and mischief.
“So… can you make that sperm for me now?” she asked, suddenly playful again, her tail flicking against his leg. Dave let out a surprised laugh, the tension in the air dissipating.
“Okay, okay,” he said, grinning down at her. “But let’s finish getting clean first, okay?”
Liki smiled and nodded as she helped Dave wash himself, her former energy returned. When they were done, Dave dried her off gently, his eyes lingering on the small yellowish bruise on her stomach—a reminder of the fight from a few days ago. He was amazed at how fast it had faded. Juni had said that Wimils heal faster than humans, but he hadn’t expected the difference to be so drastic. Underneath her bandage, the cut on her head was now just a thin scab. Her knuckles were still swollen and scraped from punching that damn robot earlier in the day, of course. He took her hand in his, running his fingers lightly over the scraped and bruised skin.
She’d been so brave, he thought, so unflinchingly courageous in the face of danger. The way she’d thrown herself into the fight earlier that day, attacking a robot that she stood no real chance of beating, had left him in awe. She hadn’t hesitated, hadn’t faltered, even when the odds were stacked against her. Of all the things that there were to admire about her, her honesty, her beauty, her kindness… her courage was the one that he admired the most. She had taken on so much, not just physically but emotionally, too. And yet, here she was, standing tall, her spirit unbroken. Brave, he thought again, the word echoing in his mind. She is so much braver than I could ever be.
He dried her off, ruffling her hair and rubbing her all over, as she pressed against him. “So, what do you want to wear?” he asked, tossing the towel into the laundry basket, and picking up her discarded clothes from earlier in the day. Liki’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she grinned up at him.
“Nothing!” she declared, her voice full of playful defiance. Before Dave could respond, she pushed him backward onto the bed, her naked body landing on top of his with a soft smack. She laughed, the sound bright and carefree, as she wiggled her hips against him.
“It’s DNA time,” she said, her voice a teasing purr. Dave chuckled, his hands moving to rest on her hips.
“Okay, okay, how about this,” he said, an idea forming in his head. “Lie on top of me and turn around, so your butt’s toward my face. Then I’ll lick you while you suck me.”
Liki’s ears twitched, and she looked at him with a skeptical expression. “I won’t be able to see your face if I’m turned around,” she said, her tail flicking slightly.
“Just try it,” he urged. “I think you’ll like it. Trust me, okay?”
Liki searched his face for a moment, then nodded, her expression shifting to one of quiet determination. “Okay,” she agreed, her curiosity getting the better of her.
She shifted her body, positioning herself so that she was straddling his chest, her perfect butt positioned right in front of his face. Dave couldn’t help but admire the view—her smooth, flawless skin, the gentle curve of her hips, and the soft, pink, inviting space between her legs. Slowly, she bent down until her mouth was level with his erection that was throbbing almost painfully.
Liki hesitated for just a moment, her warm breath brushing against him, sending a shiver up his spine. Then, with a soft, tentative lick, she began. Her tongue was light and teasing at first, exploring him with a mix of curiosity and eagerness. She opened her mouth and wrapped her lips around his head. She tried to fit a little more inside her, but it was difficult. “Uff feelf fo vig ih vy vowff,” she said, her mouth full.
Dave laughed. “What did you say?”
Liki scooted back, releasing Dave’s cock—and burying his face between her cheeks.
“It feels so big in my mouth,” she said, laughing.
“Oh, vuh fanf fwoo,” said Dave, his voice muffled.
She moved forward a bit and leaned back down to try again. Okay, my turn, Dave thought as he gripped the back of her thighs and parted her pink lips with his thumbs. He leaned forward and pressed his tongue against her.
The moment his tongue made contact, Liki let out a soft, surprised gasp. Her tail twitched, and she arched her back slightly, her small body trembling with pleasure. Encouraged by her reaction, Dave began to lick her more deliberately, his tongue sliding against her in slow, steady strokes. Her wetness was intoxicating, and he could feel her body responding, her legs trembling as she pressed herself closer to him.
Liki, meanwhile, was finding her rhythm. Her lips wrapped around him, her tongue swirling in ways that sent jolts of pleasure coursing through him. Though she’d never done this before her technique improved rapidly, and soon every movement of her mouth seemed perfectly calculated to drive him wild. Her small hands gripped the base of his shaft, her fingers teasing and stroking in time with her tongue. Dave’s sudden realization that her innate skill was probably from one of the ‘SX’ behavior mods in those seven pages ahead of her military program mods didn’t dull the intense pleasure he felt as her hot, wet mouth continued to swirl around him.
Dave pressed his hips upwards, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps as he alternated between licking and sucking gently on her tiny, sensitive clitoris. His hands tightened on her thighs. He could feel her body trembling above him, her tail curling and uncurling, hips swinging in slow, deliberate, circles as she moaned softly around him. The combination of sensations—her soft mouth on him, her moisture on his tongue—was almost more than he could take.
Dave’s hands moved up her thighs, his fingers gripping her soft, rounded butt cheeks. With a gentle but firm pull, he spread them apart, and pushed his tongue in deeper. Liki let out a surprised gasp, her tail twitching wildly as Dave’s tongue dove into her, wildly exploring her insides. The sensation was overwhelming, and she instinctively pressed herself harder against his face, her hands gripping his thighs for support. Her gasps and squeals vibrated around him, as she continued to enthusiastically lick and suck. His scruffy chin tickled her clit, as his probing tongue circled the entrance to her vagina, her inner muscles clenching and releasing around his tongue as it darted into her.
On the other end, Liki alternated between long, deep strokes into the back of her throat, and quick teasing swirls around the head of his manhood. She lay down fully on his stomach and gently grasped Dave’s testicles, one in each hand, giving them a firm squeeze. The shock and the intense sensation drove Dave over the edge and he couldn’t hold back any longer. With a deep, almost pained-sounding moan, he came, his body trembling as his delicious fluid sprayed directly into Liki’s waiting mouth. She let go of his balls and grabbed Dave’s penis with both hands, sucking it like a straw, trying to get every last drop. When there was no longer any of Dave’s secret sauce to be had, she sat up and sighed deeply. “Mmmm,” she purred.
Dave had finished, but he wasn’t done. He put his hands around her waist and shifted her backwards to sit directly on his face. “Oh!” Liki gasped, tensing momentarily. As Dave’s tongue resumed, she braced her hands against his chest and let the sensation continue to crash over her. Liki purred louder and louder, until it was a deep rumble emanating from her chest.
*
In the bedroom directly below them, Lin sat in the dim glow of the scanning device, its lens trained upward. The screen flickered with a hazy image of the pair above—Liki perched on Dave’s head, the faint sound of her squeals and purrs murmuring out of the speakers.
“Come on Dave, you got this. Make her come. Make her come hard,” coaxed Lin enthusiastically. She felt a little bit guilty that she was still watching them like this, but Tendo had ordered her to keep tabs on them the first night they’d arrived here. He’d wanted to make sure they weren’t planning to escape, and he’d never told her to stop monitoring them, so… here she was. She was just following orders. She looked down to her lap where her hand was buried deep in her shorts. Her fingers moved in slow, deliberate circles, and her hips rocked slightly against her hand as she hoped against hope that she could time this absolutely perfectly. She was close, but she couldn’t tell from the image on the screen how close Liki was. Dave had already blown it and come like three minutes ago.
The scene in her imagination was clearer than the one on the screen—Liki’s small, perfect body, her tail twitching with pleasure, Dave’s big, rough hands roaming over her as he brought her to the edge. Lin’s fingers moved faster, her gasps coming faster too as she felt her own climax building. Come on Liki, you’ve gotta be close by now…
Her free hand gripped the edge of the desk, and her knuckles turned white as she felt herself teetering on the brink. Just a little more, she thought, her toes curling as her body tensed. And then, with a muffled cry, she came, her body shuddering with the force of her release.
For a moment, she just sat there, her hand still between her legs, enjoying the feeling of her lower muscles continuing to contract uncontrollably. When the spasms ended, she pulled her fingers out, wiping them on her shorts, and let out a long, shaky breath. She glanced at the screen just as Liki began to shudder, her entire body trembling as a massive orgasm crashed over her.
“Dammit, you guys. We were supposed to come together!” she hissed at the screen, half joking, half serious. She couldn’t help but laugh softly at herself as she reached for the scanner’s power button.
She opened the logbook app on her tablet and quickly jotted, “Observation subjects engaged in intimate activities. Subject B commented on the size of Subject A’s genitals in her mouth. Subject A responded something unintelligible. Both subjects engaged in mutual oral copulation to climax. Observer did not detect any signs that an escape was being planned. Observation terminated at 7:51pm.” Lin sighed and pushed herself up from the chair, her legs still a little unsteady beneath her. As she opened the door, light from the hallway illuminated the darkened room for a moment before she stepped out.
“I really need to get a life,” she muttered bitterly as the door clicked shut behind her.
Chapter 55: Happiness
The morning light filtered gently through the blinds, casting soft stripes across the tangled sheets of Dave’s bed. He stirred awake to the faint sound of rustling fabric and the subtle, rhythmic motion of the mattress. For a moment, he lay still, half-asleep, his mind slowly piecing together what was happening. Liki. She was next to him, her body curled in close, her breathing soft but uneven. He could feel the warmth of her skin against his arm and the faint tremor of her movements.
Dave kept his eyes closed, listening intently. The soft, wet sounds were unmistakable. She’s touching herself. The realization sent a jolt of warmth through him, but he stayed still, pretending to sleep. He didn’t want to interrupt her, not yet. The idea of her pleasuring herself beside him, lost in her own world, was strangely intimate. He could hear her soft purrs, the sheets shifting as she moved. He enjoyed listening to the soft sounds of her pleasure for a little while and considered joining her, his hand moving slowly toward his hardening cock.
He cracked his eyes open just enough to see her. She lay on her side, naked, facing him, her slender fingers moving between her legs. Her eyes were half-lidded, her lips slightly parted as she focused on the sensations she was creating. Her free hand rested on her breast, fingers alternately pressing gently into her soft flesh, or flicking across her nipple. She looked so beautiful, so peaceful, lost in her own pleasure.
Dave smiled, pretending to be just waking up. “Good morning,” he said softly, his voice still rough with sleep.
Liki didn’t stop what she was doing, though she looked up to meet his eyes. “Good morning, Dave,” she replied, her voice cheerful and casual. She didn’t seem the least bit embarrassed or self-conscious.
He chuckled, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “Whatcha doin’ there?” he asked, though it was obvious.
“I’m just masturbating a little,” she said matter-of-factly, her fingers still working between her legs. “It’s really fun.”
Dave laughed again, shaking his head. Her innocence and candor were endlessly endearing. He kissed her face again, nuzzling against her cheek as she continued to touch herself. She let out a soft sigh, her body arching slightly as she chased her pleasure.
Her voice broke the quiet a moment later. “Dave, I was wondering something this morning.”
“Hmm?” he murmured, as he reached out to gently stroke her side.
She paused, her fingers stilling for a moment as she looked at him with those wide, curious eyes. “I was thinking… you can make something that tastes delicious to me. So, I wondered if my body could make something that tastes delicious to you.”
Dave blinked, caught off guard by her question. “Oh?” he said, trying to keep his tone neutral. Though he was always amused by Liki’s ideas, he felt bad laughing at her.
Liki nodded eagerly, her expression serious. “I wanted to surprise you. So, first I tried to make some milk like a mammal,” she said, cupping her breast and giving it a hard squeeze, “but it doesn’t work. Then I thought, maybe I could try to make my DNA come out like you can, but…” She held up her glistening fingers, showing him the clear fluid clinging to them. “So far, it’s just my normal vagina juice. Do you want to taste it? Maybe it tastes different when I’m trying to make it taste good for you.”
Dave stared at her for a moment, his brain struggling to process her words. She was so earnest, so determined, and so utterly naive. It was impossible not to be charmed by her. “Liki, you don’t have to—” he started, but she interrupted him.
“Please, Dave? Taste it,” she insisted, holding her fingers out to him.
He hesitated for a moment, then he gently took her hand, guiding her fingers toward his mouth. He sucked her fingers, tasting the faint, barely noticeable flavor of her juices. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it didn’t really taste like anything either.
He met her gaze, his expression soft but apologetic. “I’m really sorry, Liki,” he said gently. “It just tastes… like water. Maybe a tiny bit salty?”
Her face fell slightly, her shoulders slumping in disappointment. “Oh,” she said softly. She sighed, her tail flicking behind her in a gesture of mild frustration.
“It’s okay,” Dave said quickly, reaching out to stroke her cheek. “You don’t have to make anything delicious for me. Your kisses are delicious to me.”
Liki’s eyes softened, and she leaned into his touch. She sat up and kissed him. “You’re just saying that to make me feel better, but it’s okay,” she said, smiling. She looked at him, her brow furrowing, as another thought seemingly came to her. “What if… what if my pee tastes good to humans?” she asked, a serious look on her face. “I’ll go pee in a cup, and you can taste it.”
Dave’s eyes widened, and he couldn’t hold back his laughter anymore. “Oh my god, Liki,” he said between chuckles, shaking his head. “I don’t think I should drink your pee.”
She pouted slightly, her tail swishing in playful defiance. “Why not? You don’t know if it tastes good unless you try it.”
Dave laughed again, reaching out to tickle her sides. She squealed, her body squirming as she made a token attempt to escape his fingers. “No, no, no!” she shrieked, laughing and writhing uncontrollably. Liki struggled and her hands found Dave’s sides, and soon they were both laughing and gasping for breath.
Dave finally relented, and Liki’s fingers slowed as well. They collapsed back onto the bed, their chests heaving as they caught their breath. Liki’s cheeks were flushed, her hair mussed, and she looked up at him with a mixture of exasperation and affection. She sighed, nestling closer to him. “Well, if I you don’t want to taste my pee,” she said, her voice eager and earnest, “do you want to have some sex? I’m already really wet inside from rubbing myself.”
Dave grinned, still breathing hard as he slid his hand down to rest on her thigh. “Now, that idea… is a really good one. Yes, I would love to have some sex. With you,” he said, his voice low and warm.
“There’s something else I want to do today, too,” Liki said, her tone suddenly serious.
Dave raised an eyebrow, curious. “What’s that?” he asked.
She climbed on top of Dave, straddling him in preparation for their love-making. “I want to talk to Katya,” Liki replied.
*
Katya lay in the infirmary bed, her body stiff and aching. The faint click of the door opening barely registered in her foggy mind. Her broken arm still ached faintly, and it itched maddeningly inside the cast. Her legs throbbed from the strain of being forced to run at an impossible pace while locked inside the abductor frame, and her head felt heavy, her thoughts sluggish from the lingering effects of the anesthetics and nano-neuro blockers they had injected into her. Juni had given her a shot of nanobot phages to neutralize anything still in her system, but she still felt like shit. She stared at the wall, her back to the door, too drained to move or even care who might be coming in.
She heard Juni’s voice, low and calm, saying something she couldn’t quite make out. The sound of footsteps followed, quiet but purposeful. Katya didn’t turn, didn’t react. She just lay there, her mind drifting, her body feeling detached and oddly numb. The events of the previous day replayed in fragments—the cold metal of the frame, the sharp stabbing pain as the needles pierced her neck, the overwhelming fear that had gripped her when she was sure that the micro-bomb inside her was going to explode at any moment.
The footsteps approached her bed, and she felt the shift in the air as someone stood nearby. She still didn’t move, her eyes fixed on the wall, her breathing slow and shallow.
Whoever it was, they didn’t speak right away. The silence stretched, broken only by the faint hum of the infirmary’s equipment. Katya’s thoughts wandered, her exhaustion pulling her into a haze of half-formed memories and disjointed emotions.
Finally, a voice broke the quiet—soft, tentative, and familiar. “Katya? How do you feel?” It was Liki.
Katya turned to her other side and saw Liki crouched down next to her bed, her eyes and the top of her head the only things that were visible.
Katya turned her head slightly, her eyes meeting Liki’s. “I’m fine,” she said, her voice flat and unconvincing.
Liki tilted her head, her expression earnest. “You don’t look fine,” she said softly, “and you smell like you’re angry.”
Katya let out a dry laugh, though it lacked any real humor. “Thanks for telling me how I feel,” she muttered, closing her eyes.
There was a pause, and Liki shifted slightly. “Katya, can I ask you a question?” she said, hesitant but curious.
Katya sighed, her shoulders tense. “Yeah,” she said, her voice tired. “But only because you saved me yesterday.”
Liki’s eyes grew serious, and she leaned in a little closer. “Why did you decide to become a bad guy?” she asked. Her tone direct but not accusing.
Katya’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, she didn’t respond. She turned to look at the ceiling and her fingers gripped the blanket. Finally she spoke, her voice low and bitter. “I’ve done lots of bad things, but I never wanted to be a ‘bad guy’. It wasn’t something I chose.”
Liki frowned, furrowing her brow. “But you did those things. You said you killed people, and you tried to capture me and Dave,” she said. “Why didn’t you choose to not do those things? Why don’t you choose to be happy instead of angry?”
Katya turned her head to look at Liki again, her eyes sharp. She didn’t expect this creature to understand her life but was she really this naive? “You really think it’s that simple?” she snapped, her voice rising slightly. “How do I say this so that a Wimil can understand?” Katya’s eyes narrowed, and she propped herself up on her unbroken arm. “Imagine this. Imagine when you very first woke up in your box from the Wimil store, and the box opened, but there was no one there. Just a dark, empty room. You look around and there’s no food, no clothes, no bed, nobody to help you, nobody to take care of you. What would you do?”
Liki’s ears flattened, and her tail flicked uneasily as she considered the question. Her brow furrowed, and she tilted her head, trying to process the scenario. “I… I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice small. “I’d probably be scared, though.”
“Exactly,” Katya said, her voice low but intense. “You’d be scared. You’d be alone. And when you’re scared and alone like that, you do whatever it takes to survive. You don’t think about whether what you’re doing is good or bad. You just do it. Because if you don’t…” She trailed off, her gaze fixed on Liki, her eyes hard but vulnerable. “If you don’t, you die.”
Liki stood up so Katya could see her over the edge of the bed. “But… I would still try to find someone to help me,” she said softly, a tremble creeping into her voice.
Katya let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. “That’s the luxury of your life, Liki. You found someone to take care of you. Some of us only find people who want to use us, or hurt us, or own us. People who tell us the only way that we can survive is to do bad things… like hurting other people for money.”
“Is that how it was for you?” asked Liki quietly.
Katya’s body stiffened, her fingers gripping the edge of the blanket tighter. She didn’t answer, and she lay back down again, her jaw clenched. The room fell silent, the weight of the question hanging heavily between them.
Katya’s silence was answer enough for Liki. Her ears drooped, and her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and confusion. “I didn’t know it was like that for some people,” she murmured, barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry.”
Katya’s expression softened slightly, though her guard remained up. “Yeah, well, now you know,” she said, turning on to her other side to face the wall again.
Liki hesitated for a moment, as she looked at Katya’s back. “I hope you can be happy someday,” she said softly, sincerely.
Katya’s shoulders tensed, but she didn’t turn around. Her fingers clutched the blanket, and she didn’t say anything more.
“Okay, I better go now,” said Liki. She turned and padded quietly toward the door.
Just as Liki reached the doorway, Katya’s voice stopped her. “Liki,” she said, her tone softer now, almost hesitant. “Thank you for saving me.”
Liki paused, and she glanced back over her shoulder. Katya was still facing the wall, but her words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken emotion. “You’re welcome,” she said simply. She stood there for a few moments longer, as if she wanted to say something else, but she was silent. Finally, she stepped out of the room, closing the door gently behind her.
Katya lay still, staring at the wall, her chest tight. She let out a slow breath, her grip on the blanket loosening. The room felt quieter now, but the silence was less stifling. Happiness. She closed her eyes, trying to push down the ache in her chest. Maybe someday, she thought.
Chapter 56: Secret
Dave sat at the large round kitchen table, eating a PlanTurkey sandwich with some blue Crickers. The safe house kitchen was cavernous, with its brand new AI-linked appliances and immaculate, polished concrete counter tops, but it felt cozy enough. Liki sat beside him, poking Wimil pellets into her mouth, one by one, with the focus of a cat savoring a treat. She sipped on a bottle of Wimil juice, as her tail swished lazily behind her. Every now and then, it purposefully slapped against Dave’s rear end, not-so-subtly reminding him of her presence. He glanced at Liki, a faint smile on his lips. She still looked so fragile, but she had thrown herself into danger and come out unscathed more times than he could count.
The cut on her head from just three days ago was so close to being healed that when Juni checked up on her earlier in the morning, she’d applied some anti-scarring ointment and told Liki that she didn’t need a bandage anymore. Dave recalled Juni enigmatically saying, “Try to be more careful though, my little salamander,” as he and Liki left.
The sound of heavy boots on the tiled floor made Dave look up. Tendo stood in the doorway, his broad frame filling the space. His dark sunglasses hid his eyes, as usual, but his pursed lips suggested he was assessing the scene. Dave straightened in his chair, instinctively wary. Tendo had a way of showing up when you least wanted him to.
“Dave,” Tendo said, his voice low and gravelly. “Mmm, blue Crickers. Nice. Hey, got a minute?”
Dave raised an eyebrow. “Do I have a choice?”
Tendo ignored the comment and stepped into the kitchen, his boots thudding against the floor. “Whoa, settle down,” he said as he poured some coffee and grabbed a pizza MealWorld lunch bar from the basket on the center island. “I just have a message. Lin told me that she’s planning something special for you and Liki tonight and she wanted me to let you know,” he said matter-of-factly. “Last night before the big operation tomorrow. She wants to make it… memorable.”
Dave narrowed his eyes. “Memorable how?”
Tendo shrugged, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I’m not allowed to tell you. Besides, it wasn’t my idea. I’m just a cranky old asshole, and I’m not the sentimental type. But I did contribute something to her little scheme.”
Dave leaned back in his chair, studying Tendo’s expression. The man was unreadable as always, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice that made Dave suspicious. “What did you contribute?”
“You’ll see,” Tendo said, his smirk widening. “I think you’ll like it.”
Tendo unwrapped his MealWorld bar and took a bite, chewing as though food were more annoyance than enjoyable. Then, to Dave’s mild disgust, Tendo dipped the half-eaten bar into his coffee. Pizza and coffee? Nasty. He took another bite, smirking as he caught Dave’s disapproving look.
“Speaking of Lin, you seen her around?” Tendo asked casually, muffled by the mouthful of food.
Dave shook his head. “No. Why? Should I have?”
Tendo shrugged, his dark glasses reflecting the fluorescent kitchen light. He glanced around the room, his head tilting slightly as if scanning for something—or someone. “I was looking for her last night around 8-ish, but she wasn’t in her room… It’s funny though,” he said, his tone almost playful, “even when you can’t see her, doesn’t it feel like she could be watching you still? Right when you least expect it.”
Dave frowned, his unease growing. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Tendo didn’t answer. Instead, he finished his coffee-dipped MealWorld bar in one final bite and crumpled the wrapper in his hand. He tossed it into the trash can with a practiced flick of his wrist, then turned toward the door.
“See you tonight,” he said over his shoulder, his smirk lingering as he walked away. The heavy thud of his boots echoed down the hallway, leaving Dave with more questions than answers.
Dave sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “God, that frikkin’ guy. He’s always gotta be so mil mew cryptic, like he wants to make you double-freel sure that he’s a spy,” he muttered, turning back to Liki.
She was reading the label on the side of her Wimil juice bottle, having seemingly not paid attention at all to the conversation. “What kind of fruit is this guy on the bottle supposed to be?” she asked obliviously.
Dave looked at the cartoon fruit character on the bottle, its exaggerated smile and round, berry-like shape making it conspicuous. The label called it a “Wimil Fruit,” but he couldn’t quite place what it was supposed to represent. It looked like a cross between a raspberry and an apple, with vibrant blue-ish green skin and tiny, cartoonish seeds dotting its face like freckles. It had an almost mischievous grin, as if it were in on some joke he wasn’t privy to.
“No idea,” Dave admitted, turning the bottle in his hand. “It’s probably some weird hybrid fruit that an AI engineered in a lab. You know, like those things they sell at the fancy grocery store that cost twice as much because bugs won’t eat them.”
Liki tilted her head, her blue eyes studying the bottle with curiosity. “Humans make a lot of things complicated,” she said simply. “Even the fruit.”
Dave laughed, a short, warm sound that made Liki’s ears twitch in response. “You’re not wrong,” he said, setting the bottle back down on the table. “But hey, at least it tastes good, right?”
Liki smiled at him, her expression serene. She reached out and placed her hand in his, her touch warm and reassuring. Dave looked down at their hands, and felt his tension from his talk with Tendo easing slightly. He squeezed her hand lightly as he appreciated her almost magical ability to calm him down when she sensed his agitation.
After lunch, Dave and Liki decided to take a walk outside. The safe house was surrounded by a sprawling yard landscaped in the new “anti-lawn” fashion that was so popular among rich people who could afford houses. The grass was tall and wild, with patches of flowers breaking through the overgrowth. Paved paths wound through the trees and tall grass. The sun was warm on Dave’s skin, the breeze carrying the scent of earth and blooming plants. It was a rare moment of peace, and Dave was determined to savor it. Liki seemed to enjoy the simple pleasure of the outdoors too, her flowered sundress blending seamlessly with the natural beauty around her.
Liki suddenly gasped softly, her eyes widening in delight. Dave turned to see a vibrant butterfly perched delicately on the floral pattern of her sundress. Its wings shimmered in the sunlight, a kaleidoscope of blues and purples that seemed almost otherworldly. Liki froze, her breath held, as if afraid to disturb the fragile creature.
“Shhh,” Dave whispered, pulling out his phone. He snapped a quick picture, capturing the moment perfectly. Liki’s expression was a mixture of awe and joy, her ears twitching ever so slightly as the butterfly fluttered its wings. It stayed for a few seconds longer, then took off into the air, leaving behind a sense of fleeting magic.
“So pretty,” Liki murmured, her gaze following the butterfly as it disappeared into the nearby flower beds. Her voice was filled with wonder, as though she’d just witnessed something magical.
Dave smiled, slipping his phone back into his pocket. “It thought you were a flower. Maybe you have some flower DNA in you, too?” he said, his tone teasing and affectionate. Liki’s cheeks flushed faintly, and her tail swished happily behind her. For a moment, the world felt lighter, and Liki reached out and took Dave’s hand again.
They spotted Jotaro patrolling the grounds, dressed in his usual black tactical gear with his long blond hair pulled back in a ponytail. He had returned from the hospital earlier that day, and his arm was wrapped in a Regenisleev bandage that almost looked like armor. The injury was minor, thanks to modern medicine, but it was a reminder of the violence they’d all faced.
“Hey, Jotaro,” Dave called out, raising a hand in greeting.
Jotaro turned, his face breaking into a small smile. “Dave. Liki.” His voice was soft, almost shy, but there was a warmth to it that made Dave feel at ease. “Nice out today, huh?”
“How’s your arm?” Dave asked, nodding toward the bandage.
Jotaro glanced down at it, flexing his fingers slightly. “Not bad. The doctors said I can take off this sleeve in a day or two.”
“What about Kaji?” Liki asked, voice soft but filled with concern. She stepped closer to Jotaro, her eyes wide and earnest.
Jotaro’s smile faded, his expression turning somber. “He’s… alive. That’s the important thing. But he’s going to need a new lung—most likely a cybernetic replacement. He might need a new liver too. Those things suck, apparently. They take forever to install. But he might not need it… We’ll see. Either way, it’ll take a while for him to recover. He won’t be part of the operation tomorrow night.”
Liki’s ears drooped slightly, her tail going still. She looked down at the ground, her small hands clutching the fabric of her sundress. “I’m glad he’s okay,” she said quietly. “I want to visit him in the hospital after the operation.”
“If we survive,” Dave muttered under his breath, the words slipping out before he could stop them. He immediately regretted it when he saw the way Liki’s shoulders tensed. He reached out and gently touched her back. “We will,” he said firmly, trying to reassure her—and himself. Liki looked up at him, her blue eyes searching his face. “We’ll both go visit Kaji when this is all over.”
“What about Norton?” Dave asked, changing the subject. “Is he fixed yet?”
Jotaro shook his head. “Still in the shop. He should be ready by tomorrow night. They’re replacing most of his plating and giving him a whole new back end. The company has plenty of money so getting the parts is no issue.”
“What company?” Dave asked.
Jotaro scratched his neck, his expression neutral. “Oh, the government. Uncle Sam.”
“Oh, yeah,” replied Dave.
As they said their goodbyes and walked away, Liki squeezed Dave’s hand. Her grip was firm. “I smelled something funny about him,” she said quietly, with a hint of confusion in her voice.
Dave glanced at her, puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“He smelled like… how you smell when you’re embarrassed or keeping a secret,” Liki explained. “I don’t know what it is, but I think he knows a secret.”
Dave frowned, his mind racing as he tried to piece together what Liki had just said. Had Jotaro’s demeanor seemed a little off? Was he hiding something? And if so, what? More importantly, Dave wondered when had he ever kept a secret from Liki? He prided himself on being open with her, even when the truth was uncomfortable. He glanced at Liki, her blue eyes watching him with her quiet intensity. Maybe he wasn’t as transparent as he liked to think. He searched her face, trying to understand.
“When have I ever kept a secret from you?”
Liki smiled up at him, her expression soft and knowing. Her tail wrapped around his leg, her little way of wordlessly expressing her feelings for him. She didn’t answer his question, but the way that she squeezed his hand and brushed against him as they walked made him feel like maybe he didn’t need an answer.
Chapter 57: Incarceration
Dave and Liki returned to their room, the inside of the safe house strangely quiet. Dave was the first to notice the suit bag laid out neatly on the bed. He approached and inspected the bag. “What’s this?” he muttered, lifting the bag. Liki trailed behind him, her tail swishing lazily as she eyed the bag with equal intrigue.
“A note,” Dave said, picking up the small piece of paper attached to the bag. It read simply: For tonight. He glanced at Liki, who tilted her head, her blue eyes sparkling with curiosity. Dave unzipped the bag, revealing a sleek, well-tailored suit in a deep charcoal grey. The fabric was smooth to the touch, expensive-looking. Liki reached out, her small fingers brushing against the material as she let out a soft, appreciative hum.
“Fancy,” she murmured as she examined the suit. Dave couldn’t help but smile at her fascination. He hung the suit up in the closet, smoothing out any wrinkles. Liki, meanwhile, knelt on the floor, arranging her Wimil cubes into a neat pattern. Dave sat on the edge of the bed, watching her for a moment before his thoughts drifted to tonight’s mystery. What is Lin planning? And what is the suit for?
As if summoned by his thoughts, the door creaked open, and Lin poked her head in, her black hair framing her warm smile. “Hi Lin!” said Liki happily, waving. Lin smiled back and gave a little wave to Liki, then turned to Dave. “Oh, Daaave,” she sang, stepping into the room. “Do you like your suit?”
Dave chuckled, leaning back on his hands. “Yeah, it’s nice. But what’s it for? Tendo told us that you’re planning something, but he didn’t say what.”
Lin’s grin widened, her eyes sparkling. “It’s a surprise. You’ll have to wait and see. The real reason I came by was because I need to—Oh, Wimil cubes!” she exclaimed, distracted by the pastel colored cubes in mid-sentence. She crouched down beside Liki, who was still engrossed with the cubes. She joined Liki on the floor, the two of them stacking the cubes with focused intensity.
Dave watched, amused, as Lin, a Full-Size Wimil, crawled across the floor to grab one of the cubes. Her short skirt rode up and he caught a glimpse of her lacy black panties hugging the subtle curve of her ass. He quickly looked away, pretending to be engrossed in his phone. The internet was still blocked in the safe house, but he fake-scrolled anyway, his cheeks warming slightly. It wasn’t like he meant to look; it just… happened. Lin, seemingly unaware, stayed focused on the cubes as she and Liki discussed the best way to arrange them.
“Every time I look at these things, it’s so obvious that vertical arrangement has superior aesthetics,” Lin mused seriously. “But horizontal is so much more stable.”
Liki nodded in agreement, her tail twitching thoughtfully. “It’s true. We could do a hybrid arrangement… it combines both of those, but I feel like it doesn’t really do either very well.”
Lin sighed dramatically, flopping onto her stomach to examine the cubes more closely. “It’s just so hard to get it exactly right,” she said. Dave stifled a laugh, shaking his head. He had no idea what they were talking about, but it was oddly endearing to watch. His eyes flicked briefly in Lin’s direction again, and he caught another semi-unintentional glimpse up her skirt. Seeing Lin, who was always so cool and in control of the situation, now suddenly so oblivious to her compromised position was just so… bizarre. It was almost as though the Wimil cubes were subtly controlling her behavior somehow. He quickly looked back at his phone, scrolling through nothing in particular, his face burning. Is she doing this on purpose? he thought, wondering if Liki was already smelling his second hand embarrassment.
Lin sat up with both her legs to one side as she slipped off her clogs to get more comfortable. She stayed on the floor until she and Liki finally settled on a pattern: four cubes lined up by the closet and four more stacked against the wall by the bathroom door.
“That looks right,” Liki said happily, as she and Lin stepped back to admire their handiwork.
“Good job, Liki,” Lin said, ruffling the smaller Wimil’s hair affectionately. “I think we nailed it.” Lin stood and straightened her skirt. She picked up her shoes and turned to Dave, her expression suddenly serious. “Oh yeah, I almost forgot… the reason I came in here was to ask you if I could borrow Liki for a little while.”
Dave raised an eyebrow, suspicion creeping in. “What for?”
Lin’s eyes twinkled. “It’s for the surprise. I promise to give her back tonight.”
Dave narrowed his eyes at Lin, still not sure what she was scheming. When he didn’t answer right away, Lin moved behind Liki, gently pulling down the corners of Liki’s mouth with her fingers, giving her an exaggerated frown. “Look how sad you’re making her,” Lin teased, her tone playful but insistent. “You’re breaking her little heart, Dave.”
Dave glanced at Liki, who, aside from her forced frown, looked like she was trying not to laugh. He sighed, shaking his head. “Don’t ask me, ask her. I bought her from the store, but I don’t own her.”
Lin turned to Liki, crouching down to her level. “Liki, you want to come help me with the surprise, right?” she asked, sweet and coaxing. Then, she leaned in, whispering something in Liki’s ear. Liki’s eyes lit up, and she nodded enthusiastically, getting to her feet.
“Dave, we’ll be back later!” Liki said cheerfully.
Lin grinned, throwing Dave a playful wink. “Yeah, Dave, we’ll be back later.” The two of them left the room, whispering and giggling like conspirators, leaving Dave alone and more confused than ever.
He lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The hell is Lin up to? he wondered. He decided to pass the time by trying on the suit. Slipping into the tailored jacket and pants, he marveled at how well it fit. The fabric hugged his frame perfectly, making him feel more put-together than he had in years. He stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of his shirt, when he realized that he should probably do something about his scruffy face. This thing seemed to be shaping up into something fancy, whatever it was. He took off the suit and went to the bathroom to grab his razor.
*
Dave had been in his room for what felt like hours when his stomach began to growl. The tantalizing aroma of food wafted through the air, pulling him out of his boredom. Must be dinner time, he thought, his mouth watering as he stood up and stretched. He made his way to the door, eager to find the source of the delicious smell, but as he stepped into the hallway, he was met with an unexpected obstacle: Yaten.
The stern, dark-haired man stood just outside his room, his east Asian features hard and unyielding. “Where do you think you’re going, prisoner?” he asked sharply. His left arm was still missing but his right hand rested on his plasma pistol in its holster.
Dave blinked, caught off guard. “Uh, dinner? I smell food. I thought I’d… you know, eat.”
Yaten shook his head. “Not happening. Tendo’s orders. You’re not allowed to leave this room.”
Dave raised an eyebrow, a mix of confusion and frustration creeping into his voice. “What the hell, man? Am I under arrest or something?”
“Yeah, something like that,” Yaten replied coolly. He stepped closer, glaring at Dave. “You fucked up big time. You’re in trouble so you’re going to stay put until I receive orders.”
“I’m in trouble? What the hell did I—” Dave started, but Yaten cut him off.
“Back in your room, prisoner. Now!” he barked. Yaten pulled his pistol an inch out of the holster.
Dave held up his hands in surrender and backed into his room, muttering under his breath as he closed the door.
What the hell is going on? he thought, pacing the room. His stomach growled again, louder this time, but there was nothing he could do. He slumped back onto the bed, the mystery of Lin’s surprise now overshadowed by his hunger and his sudden confinement. His mind raced. Have the plans changed? Is Tendo double-crossing me, and taking Liki away? What is going on?
About ten minutes later, he was about to march out into the hallway and demand to speak with Tendo when there was a knock on the door. Dave opened it to find Lin standing there, looking nothing short of breathtaking. She was dressed in a stunning traditional red silk, Chinese cheongsam, form-fitting and adorned with intricate gold embroidery. Her lustrous black hair was styled into elegant double buns, held in place with ornate hairpins. And is that… perfume? Dave thought, catching a subtle, floral scent as she stepped closer. Damn it, is she pheromoning me again? he wondered, slightly worried.
Lin raised an eyebrow, her eyes sweeping over him with approval. “Look at you,” she said, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “The suit fits perfectly. And you even cleaned yourself up.” Dave had tidied up his face, shaving his scruffy beard into a neat goatee. She reached up, brushing her fingers against his freshly shaved cheek, her touch light and flirtatious. Dave narrowed his eyes, his suspicion growing.
“Where’s Liki?” he asked, glancing past her.
Lin waved a hand dismissively. “She’s fine. Don’t worry about her. Right now, you’re coming with me.”
“For dinner?” Dave asked, his stomach rumbling again.
Lin nodded, her smile widening. “Oh, yes. Dinner,” she purred. Lin turned and started down the hallway. Dave started to follow but Yaten stepped in front of him, his hand on his pistol again. “Halt, prisoner,” he growled, “I have orders to shoot to kill if you take one more step outside your room.” His steely gaze was deadly serious.
Lin burst out laughing, her melodic voice filling the hallway. “Yaten, shut up,” she said, rolling her eyes. Yaten’s stern expression cracked, and he laughed too.
“You’re no fun, Lin,” he said. He gave Dave a playful nudge before stepping back. “Alright, I’m going to go get changed for dinner. Don’t let the prisoner escape,” he joked, twirling his pistol as he walked away.
Lin shook her head, a smile still playing on her lips. “That crenzo guy,” she muttered. Dave stood there, his confusion only deepening.
“What the hell is going on, Lin?” he asked, with a mixture of relief and irritation in his voice.
Lin turned to him, her expression softening. “I told Yaten to guard your room and make sure you didn’t come out while I was setting things up,” she explained apologetically. “It was all part of the surprise. I didn’t think he’d take it so seriously.”
Dave groaned, running a hand through his hair. “Dammit, Lin,” he said, exasperated. “I really thought I did something wrong.”
Lin giggled, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Sorry, Dave. I didn’t mean to scare you,” she said, her voice sincere but still laced with amusement. “Trust me though, it’ll be worth it… I hope. I feel like maybe all this mystery has oversold things a little. But now, come on—dinner’s waiting.”
She took his arm, gently pulling him down the hallway. Dave sighed, shaking his head, unable to help but smile a little. Whatever Lin was up to, he had a feeling that at least it would be memorable. Lin led him downstairs and turned towards the kitchen. As they passed the study, Lin abruptly tugged him into the dim room. “What are you doing?” Dave asked, suddenly a little concerned.
“Shhh, you’ll see,” she whispered as she approached one of the bookshelves. Standing in the dark room alone with Lin was making Dave nervous. Where is Liki? Is Lin leading me to some kind of secret rendezvous? Is this all a plot to get me away from Liki so that Lin can pheromone me into doing something with her that I’ll regret later?
He was about to take a step backward, when she tugged on one of the books, and there was an audible ‘click’. Lin grasped the edge of the bookshelf and pulled. The whole shelf opened, revealing a well-lit hallway within. Lin went inside, motioning to Dave in a way that seemed both furtive and seductive. “Follow me,” she whispered.
Dave swallowed hard, and he looked down the hallway. His mind raced with wild possibilities. He expected to see maybe a hidden bedroom or a secret sex dungeon, but instead he saw a large room, with a massive black screen taking up the entire front wall, and rows of about twenty or so plush, reclining chairs, like the kind he remembered at high-end movie theaters from when he was a child. Twinkling lights traced the center aisle and framed the ceiling, casting a soft, inviting glow. The delicious smell of food grew stronger. Lin turned around and took both his hands in hers. Smiling coyly, she started to pull him down the short hall and into the large room. There were ornately framed, old-fashioned movie posters on the walls that featured movies and actors he didn’t recognize, relics from the 20th century.
Dave finally understood. This place was a secret home movie theater, meticulously styled after the theaters that used to be so prevalent, until about twenty years ago when home streaming and VR entertainment finally killed the decaying industry. At the back of the room, a soda fountain and a popcorn machine stood ready to serve. Beside the popcorn machine, a long counter ran the length of the rear wall where a massive feast, consisting of two dozen neatly arranged containers of food, was laid out. Multiple pizza boxes, cartons of Chinese noodles, rice, and stir fry dishes, trays of BBQ ribs and brisket, buckets of fried chicken, boxes of biscuits, large cups of mashed potatoes and gravy, and smaller containers of side dishes. There were also three bowls, each filled with a different color of Wimil pellets, and a dozen bottles of Wimil juice in a silver champagne bucket filled with ice.
“Ta-da!” said Lin, her arms sweeping out as she presented the room to him, her red silk dress swirling about her. Dave looked around, clearly delighted and impressed.
“Wow, Lin. Look at all this food! For a moment, I was a little scared that you were dragging me into a secret dungeon to have your way with me,” he said, laughing nervously.
“A little scared? You smelled terrified!” she laughed, putting her hands on his waist. “Oh my god, I’m sorry… but it was just so adorable to see you about to run for your life. I’m so sorry… I mean it,” she said as she pulled him into a gentle hug, still giggling.
When she pulled away, she held her wristwatch to her mouth. “Okay, everyone else can come in now,” she said, her tone slightly more serious. Moments later, Dave heard voices in the study outside, and other team members began to gradually appear, taking immediate notice of the food. Sumiko and Yaten arrived first, both wearing dress pants and suit jackets. “Oh, ho, ho, this is a wanzing!” chuckled Sumiko, rubbing his hands together as he eyed the food. “Are those ribs real meat?”
“Yes, everything is real. It cost a fortune,” replied Lin, with a hint of pride in her voice. “You have no idea how hard it was to get all these places to deliver to us way out here.”
Dave turned toward Lin again. “Seriously, thank you, Lin. Are we going to watch a movie in here or something?”
“Something like that…” she responded, as mysterious as ever. “You’ll see! There’s another surprise after this too.”
Dave laughed, and was about to ask where Liki was when he heard a soft, familiar voice behind him.
“Dave…”
