What we should take from this is to combine medical equipment with tails or paws, as ears simply do not have enough space to include anything.
-Pitch for new line of insulin pumps, MedNetics, 2033
Cari broke away first, “As much as I am… relieved that my surprise worked, I would like to remove all of,” she gestures to all of her with the tip of her tail, “him off of me before we continue.”
I nod, letting her go slowly, reigning in my thoughts that are running rampant.
I want to touch her scales, hear her gasps at my touch. I want to explore every inch of her and make her feel like the warrior queen I now see her as. I want to feel her breath on my skin-
I clear my throat, “Outsid-,” my voice breaks, “Outsider, please show her where the showers are in the Screen.” I get out
As Cari slithers away I stand over the corpse that is her kill. “Synaptic, do we have a way to preserve this?”
You could purchase a Stasis Unit Catalog for fifty points and a unit large enough to accommodate it for twenty points.
“Please and thank you.”
Unlocked Stasis Unit Catalog
Points reduced to 94250
A bulky metal framed box with clear walls appeared next to me. I had my swarms move Cari's prize into the box and close it. I hear a hiss as it seals and the walls fog up with condensation almost instantly.
So, did you enjoy Cari's surprise?
I glare and look a bit to my right and up. It feels better than just glare ahead. “You knew my preferences, Synaptic?” I mutter.
Not until you saw her for the first time. Your browsing history is, surprisingly for a human, very clean with no indications that you preferred anything at all, let alone something so exotic as a slitherian.
Of course not, not when Cody was the admin of our old net access. No way I could give such easy ammunition to him. But it seems that Jill knew, or at least suspected, that I would prefer this… I would have to ask her later.
I shook my head and ordered my armor to clean itself. I also controlled them to clean the blood from my face. As much as I enjoyed kissing Cari, the blood of this fool was not welcome.
I walk back to the Screen and see Cody having a blast tormenting the now twelve separate groups of soldiers spread throughout the fifty six floors Morrigan trapped. Bo and Cassandra were tearing into some crab that Buddy bought from Synaptic, since the hydroponics could not grow crabs and the like.
Buddy did buy five points worth of shellfish, though, and it was really good. I really liked the king crab claws with that herbal butter Buddy whipped up. Had to fight Roger for them.
Outsider also had quite a bit of fun messing with their sensor equipment, showing all clear readings on every test they had, when instead they should have been reading some very interesting things.
The Fog, for instance, was a fun physical reaction of water that Marrigan was able to suffused the floors with. Something about a specific temperature and pressure kept water vapor perfectly in the air at manipulatable densities. The water itself was just that, water, but their sensors would have read the pressure differences if Outsider wasn't messing with them. Or if any of them took off their helmets, they would have felt it instantly.
The monsters were my idea, utilizing nanites with the stealth facades to cover unique drone frames, filling them with pig blood packets. The frames were recyclable, and the facade was designed to be eldrichy, and based on how Cody and Roger laughed, it seemed to have worked to scare the shit out of the intruders.
I then saw Outsider pout, which, while cute, is an expression I didn't think she would do.
“Everything okay, Outsider?” I ask.
She jumps a bit, her facial features returning to her neutral soft smile. Bahamut chuckled, “Told you, Outsider. Not even you are immune to Synaptic's pranks.” He turns to me, “While we have no proof, we all believe that Synaptic hid a series of emotes and tells in our code that affect our physical platforms that only activate when we are not fully focused on our frames, indicating our actual emotional state.”
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Huh. That sounds interesting. I should ask him about that later.
I look at Outsider and motion for her to explain. “One of the intruders had a Spatial disruption detection device that I did not notice, and thus when they activated it, they received confirmation that they were indeed in a spatially controlled space. They have just killed themselves to prevent capture.”
“Oh.” I say. “And… you're upset that there was a sensor you didn't know about?”
She nods vigorously, “Yes! They had it in their arm as a part of their cybernetics. Looking at now, it is obviously an after market addition that they added themselves, but still! I should have been able to block it.”
Oh, wow. She's very upset about that. “Well, you know how to look for it next time, right?” She nods. “Then learn from this mistake and do better next time. None of us died, so it's not a major problem.”
I see her sigh as she goes back to her task of fooling the intruders.
I am about to sit when Jill whistles at me. She points with her chin behind me. Turning, I see Cari is making her way over, still in her lamia, or slitherian, form.
She slides up to me and wraps an arm around my waist, leaning into me. I wrap an arm around her as well. “We are going to need to redo our furniture for you.” I mutter into her hair.
She squeezes me a bit. “I can still use my human legs, love.”
“Sure. But both of your forms are beautiful, so you should have the option to be either.”
I feel her smile and her heartbeat rise slightly.
I accelerate my thoughts.
The Slytherian race has a few unique catalogs and technologies. You have seen their form shifting biology, and part of their weapons Catalog. For furniture designed for their serpentine form, you will need to unlock the Slytherian Comfort Catalog for forty points.
It is a catalog that is used by many reptilian races across Protector territories, as it is hyper focused on comfort and not war, which already makes it cheaper, however the popularity does make it a bit more expensive, especially because it uses some advanced technologies.
There is a type of machine I know I have mentioned to you before called a Dream Learning Module. It will allow you to learn any information you wish through dreams and by buying the relevant information in forms you can digest.
Correct. It works for her because you purchased a specific link for her that works as a nice loophole for me to use. For you, however, you will need a new cybernetic, and will have to purchase lessons from the catalogs you have.
Yes.
Unlocked Class I Slitherian Comfort Catalog
Unlocked Class I Dream Learning Cybernetics
Purchased Slitherian chair for Cari.
Points reduced to 94150
As I return to normal time, a large egg shaped couch appears floating behind Cari. The couch is a nice light blue with slightly darker blue cushions, however it was closer to a futon bed than a couch in dimensions. It did have a nice indent with a gently raised back and sides.
Cari looks surprised, then slaps my shoulder lightly. “You didn’t need to do that!” she hissed.
I chuckle at her. “Yes, yes I did. Now, unless I am wrong, this looks big enough for the both of us. Shall we?”
I hear Cody fake gag at us. “You got awfully comfortable with PDA around us super fast, Vic.”
Jill snorts, “It's cause she's more his type now. Remember the job at the reptile biocenter? How he was enraptured by that python the head researchers let us interact with while undercover?”
“Jill! Really!?” I shout. “I was eleven! How enraptured could I have been? I mean, snakes are just cool, you know…” I could feel my face heat up as I realized I was just digging a deeper hole for myself. Cari started laughing super hard as she pulled me down onto the couch. Oh, the cushion was gel.
Then I was buried in Cari’s tail as it curled around and over her. I shifted my armor to my more relaxed set, shorts and a t-shirt, and I felt her scales and how cool, smooth, and soft they were. I could feel her muscles shift, feel the power of them as they rippled. The pressure of her on top of me felt… divine, grounding me in my body and this moment. I felt my entire body relax as I released a breath I didn't realize I was holding.
Cari’s laughter flowed through me, her joy infectious as I joined her in laughter, chuckling and forgetting my embarrassment.
Cari held me as we focused on the event happening below us. Bo and Cassandra just smiled at us, knowingly.
Suddenly, the DM Screen door opened and Morrigan came rushing in, jumping on the table and striking a pose. Hand on her hip, the other pointed to the Heavens, shouting “I have returned!”
That pulls me back to reality as I shift focus away from this wonderful feeling to Morrigan, still laughing with Cari. “Welcome back, oh astronaut mine.” I say. “And how was the moon this time of year?”
She jumps in place, turning to face me. “It was very cold because I landed in the shadow of the earth, Oh Creator Mine.” She announced, pantomiming shivering. “Two portals up and running, one a few floors down, one three miles down.” She straightens up, adjusting her glasses. “And I made it back to see how effective my work has been! And to see you curled up with a snexy snake lady.” She covered her mouth with one hand giggling, wiggling her eyebrows.
I just smiled a stupid smile full of satisfaction and joy. “Yes. Yes I am.”
“You did miss him nearly rushing into the fight Cari had because he didn't know she could shift like this.” Jill helpfully adds. “You also missed the bloody make out sesh. Don't worry, I kept the recordings.”
Oh. That's right. I kissed Cari very awkwardly and passionately not that long ago. I feel my face flush a bit as I squeeze Cari.
I glance at her, and even though she is recovering from her laughing fit, I can see her blushing as well.
Bo giggled, “Oh, to be young and in love!” She said dramatically. “Cassandra, dear, love of my life, is this how we looked all those years ago?”
Cassandra shook her head with a small smile. “No, Bo. That is how you still act when we are alone.” She brushes her tail up Bo's side. “Though, to be fair, I have to work a bit harder to get you that flushed, love”