Hopefully, it wouldn’t be needed, and the world wouldn’t freak out with another change to the core of our planet, even if this time it was a good change. It would calm down geological activity and natural disasters, as well as making new supers rare.

  I’d also as planned, called Faith in the afternoon that day. Just to chat, and we talked almost a full hour. She had a lovely voice, warm and sensual, the kind of voice I could listen to all day. Thea had that kind of voice as well, richly vibrant, but hers was more teasing with a heavier sultry quality.

  Point being, she’d been obviously thrilled that I had her on my mind and called. We’d also avoided the whole big question she was thinking over and just stuck to small talk. I didn’t want to pressure her, and later that day was soon enough to find out if I got a second date.

  I was excited to be seeing Faith again, but at the same time it was a barbeque with a lot of other friends of hers so I wouldn’t get to monopolize her time or attention. Which was fine, and the expectation. The real question was if she’d say yes when I asked for that date.

  Thea finished packing up our contribution to the barbeque feast, and I teleported to the sidewalk in front of their house. Then we walked around and through the gate into their yard like a normal person. It was a fairly large ten-bedroom mansion on the swanky side of town. It was also really hot in Texas.

  I had on a pair of jean shorts and a comfortable collared pullover. Thea looked delightful in a pair of loose red shorts and shirt outfit, with white accents, and a pair of white sandals.

  I spotted Faith right away, chatting with the cute redheaded Mara, dirty blonde Alyssa, and light blonde Ashley. She looked breathtaking in a simple pair of short jean shorts that showed off her sculpted legs and tight little heart shaped ass, and a yellow halter top that showed off half her generous c cup cleavage and her tight stomach and curvy waist. I didn’t want to pressure her, but she was the one that invited me, so it made sense to make contact with her first in my head.

  She gave me a warm smile as I walked up, then included Thea as she saw her by my side. I could practically see the emotions go through her in a wave, curiosity, surprised attraction, and a tiny sliver of jealousy.

  “Hi, ladies,” I said softly, but my eyes were on warm ocean blue ones I could get lost in.

  The moment hung there for a second, because I could clearly see she wanted me to hug her, but I had no idea if that was in her conscious or not. I settled for claiming her hand for a quick squeeze, and released it a few seconds later, even if I wanted to keep it.

  Faith said, “Glad you could make it, and you must be Thea?”

  Thea replied, “Yes. It’s really great to meet you, in the flesh. Though we’ve spoken more than once before.”

  Faith smiled.

  Alyssa said, “Thanks for the assist the other day.”

  Thea grinned, “My pleasure,” and then held up the cookie tins in question.

  Faith waved toward the outdoor tables, “Anywhere on those.”

  Alyssa said to me, “Why don’t you drop that off, give us girls a chance to talk. I know Bob and Oracle want to talk to you too.”

  I nodded, immediately guessing my designs on Faith to form a triad were common knowledge. There was no doubt in my mind she’d gone to these three for advice and perhaps others in the three polyamory groups as well. It also made sense from another angle. If Faith was to decide on that second date today, it wouldn’t hurt for her to at least get to know Thea without me underfoot, even if only how their vibes mix in the short time involved. The relationship between them would be just as important as the one between me and Thea, and me and Faith.

  I was also sure she’d like Thea, I could already see her initial attraction, and Thea was too sweet and accommodating as an A.I. to rub anyone wrong. Save perhaps someone that thrived on angst, and that was definitely not Faith.

  I took the cookies while giving Thea a private wink, and I dropped them off at the table on the way to the large outdoor barbeque. Oracle was grilling food in the company of Bob and Daniel.

  “Hey.”

  They all nodded, and Oracle said, “Glad to have you here.”

  Daniel said, “Thanks for bailing out Alyssa and Faith.”

  I nodded, Daniel could’ve protected her, but the meta-energy weapon he had was a last resort, and it would bring up too many questions if used. No doubt, he believed I didn’t know about it, but that was fine too.

  “Was happy to help.”

  Daniel said, “I don’t suppose you’d be willing to sell a few, for Alyssa, Faith, and Bob. I worry.”

  I replied, “I’m wary of that level of technology getting out, but I’d be willing to let you study the active fields and configuration of one. Then you could build three enchantments, that the government couldn’t make heads or tails of even if they got their hands on it.”

  Daniel looked like he might object but I added, “It’s not a strength issue, or overpowering a titan’s gravity. It’s just that gravity won’t work at all within the field, no matter how powerful. The enchantments won’t need to be strong, or enhanced, to work.”

  Daniel laughed, “So, you know what I can do.”

  I nodded, “I can detect the energy as well as you can, which means you now know what I can do as well.”

  I conjured one of the bracelets right there, and I was positive he could sense the meta-energy in it when I handed it to him. There was no point in hiding it from this group, I thought they could be trusted not to betray the information. Plus, it was worth the risk to safeguard three of the four titans who were so vulnerable to gravity. Without Ashley there to shield them from it, they’d just die.

  It also didn’t betray my main secret, that I could manipulate creation energy, even if I didn’t fully understand its full potential yet, or how it fit into the natural universe fully. But I would, over time.

  Not that they wouldn’t figure it out, when it became clear the core was drained of three quarters of the creation energy the people who knew me would probably figure it out. Or at least suspect enough to ask. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that, but it was what it was, and I was here to make friends and allies, not just woo Faith.

  Daniel grunted, “That’s… wow. I didn’t think mad scientists would break this for a long time.”

  “Yeah, I’m uniquely powerful in that class. I don’t think any others will for a long time. I’m rather keen to keep it a secret as well. Otherwise, I’ll have to hide from our government.”

  He said, “I got it, thanks for that,” and handed it back, and I let it dissipate.

  Bob nodded, “Thank you too.”

  “Where is everyone else?”

  I couldn’t help but notice Bill’s three mates, and the other three A.I.s, were missing. The Bob and Daniel’s other mates were spread out in the yard in three groups.

  Bill said, “In the house trying to get the toddlers and babies down for a nap, and mixing up some potato and macaroni salads. They’ll be out in a minute. My ladies can be a bit standoffish, don’t take it personally, all of them would risk their lives for you but they don’t trust men much.”

  Daniel nodded, “My Tina as well. But Alyssa, Rose, and Mara will talk your ear off, Carol is just shy.”

  We chatted for a bit longer before Faith got my attention, and I excused myself and headed back that way. Alyssa, Ashley, Mara, and my Thea kind of melted away when I arrived leaving the two of us alone for the moment.

  I smiled confidently, which made her smile ruefully, as if she wanted to be offended by my presumption but just couldn’t pull it off, even as she was obviously turned on by it.

  Faith said, “I like her, Thea seems like a sweetheart, and the others answered a lot of questions for me. I guess you could say I’m a lot more concerned about what kind of man you are than the triad arrangement of polyamory. I like you, and I had a great time two days ago. I also loved that you called me just to talk and tell me I was in your thoughts. I guess what I’m saying is the only way to settle that question about you is to go forward. But I want Thea on our second date as well.”

  I tilted my head, “You want to see how I treat her, because I could treat her badly and she’d still stay with me.”

  She blushed, “Yes, but I also want to get to know her, as I get to know you. My initial impression is we’ll get along great, but that’s no guarantee of deeper compatibility, only that we could friends. She also doesn’t have to like me either, my relationship with her will be far different than yours with her.”

  I asked, “Did I mention you look fantastic?”

  She smiled, “No, you didn’t.”

  “Well, you do. Look amazing. What you said makes sense, and I suppose I can share your attention and mine on our second date.”

  She grinned at my playful grudging acceptance and moved closer, and then softly caressed my cheek, which was downright mesmerizing as I lost myself in those blue eyes. She was vibrantly sweet, and her eyes were telling me both sweet and dirty things were likely in our near future.

  “We’ll still do that too. Intimate dates and time spent one on one until we figure this out. Thea will also be visiting me alone so I can have the same with her, for lunch, tomorrow. Maybe shopping too. So our second group date will be the second date for all of us. Until I make the decision to either bail or jump in with both feet.”

  I said playfully, “The water’s fine,” intimating she should jump right in, “and the intimate dates won’t end there. Wooing is a continuous process, even for strongly bound couples.”

  She giggled, “I love the way you’re looking at me right now, and I really hope you meant what you just said. Umm, so…”

  “Oh, right. I should probably tell you about our second date then, you had me a bit distracted. We’ll have a late picnic on my private beach, where the three of us can focus on getting to know each other in relative privacy. Then we’ll watch the sunset and head in my house until you get tired of hearing our voices.”

  It felt right, dancing and loud places seemed a couple’s thing, and Faith had told me more than once she like relaxing pursuits on her time off. We couldn’t go dancing for every date.

  She blushed, “I’d love to.”

  “Tomorrow night too soon? Two dates in one day.”

  She giggled, “No, that sounds wonderful.”

  “So the polyamory isn’t a thing for you?”

  She shook her head, “It sounds enriching, and like I said I’ve gotten a lot of good advice. Also, though she won’t be servile with me I know as an A.I. I can trust her not to be looking for the advantage either. She also has a wickedly sweet sense of humor I really like. Umm, I’m assuming if it gets to that step, we’ll all be together first, before any separate intimacies.”

  I nodded, “That sounds like a good idea to get around jealousies and to make sure that your ready to be with both before being with either of us.”

  She said, “That’s what I thought too.”

  “That also clarified the worry about me but not her thing, since she won’t take advantage of your kind and vibrant personality by her very nature.”

  She squirmed a bit, “You’re not upset?”

  I shook my head, “No. I’d never take advantage of you that way, and I’ll always give back, even be focused on that part and just accept what you give me, gladly. But words are cheap, and I’m content with proving that with my actions to soothe your fears. It does make me wonder about those reasons you said you weren’t ready to share.”

  She bit her lip, “I’ll fill you both in tomorrow night, if of course my lunch and shopping date with Thea goes well and I don’t cancel on you.”

  She winked to soften the blow. It was a real thing, but I wasn’t that worried about it. I didn’t imagine they wouldn’t get along, nor that their initial attraction to each other wouldn’t grow like mine and hers seemed to be in that moment.

  Her fear also implied that Thea’s guess about the source of her avoiding men that might take advantage, was her quickening. She wouldn’t be so worried about that, or in trusting me, if she wasn’t easy to take advantage of once she let someone in on an intimate level. I suspected once she gave her heart and threw herself into a relationship, it was extremely difficult if not impossible for her to back out of it, even if a man became a dick.

  That wasn’t a temptation at all, to take advantage I mean. In fact, it ramped up my protective instincts significantly. Not that I wouldn’t enjoy and even feed that submissive side, because she’d need and enjoy that, but I’d also give her what she needed and never be a taker that drained all her energy and gave none back.

  She was sweet, vibrantly and warmly vivacious, and hot as hell, with a submissive streak a mile wide who wanted a man to be a man, as long as he cherished her.

  I mean, how hard was it to cherish such an amazing woman and be possessive and protective. Especially for a low-maintenance type like Faith was, save her wide vulnerability. I suppose most men wouldn’t do more than they had to in a relationship, and in Faith’s case that’d be almost nothing. Except, like I’d said at the end of the date earlier in this account, I could see her deeper needs, the ones hidden under her constantly exuberant and vibrantly warm personality. I’d also be moved to address them. I was really perfect for her that way, it’d just take time to prove it, and to make sure we fit on every other level as well.

  Assuming I was on point, and Thea’s theory was right, but from what I was seeing in her in that moment I really was.

  “If you’re ready to tell us, if not I can wait. I won’t pressure you either so don’t feel like you have to share it yet. I want to know all of you, Faith. You are a breathtaking woman, that curiosity can wait.”

  She laughed, “No, you won’t pressure me. You’ll just make assumptions.”

  I nodded easily, which made her giggle again.

  “You did say yes to our second date, after all,” I said teasingly.

  She pushed my chest playfully, “Stop it,” but her smile was blinding, as was the exuberant expression in her eyes and on her face.

  I was so tempted to kiss her in that moment, instead I took her hand and turned, “Shall we join the others?”

  She nodded, “Yes, though I am tempted to spend the time getting to know you, we should.”

  I smiled, “Me too. I’m here to make some friends too, and tomorrow is another day.”

  We moved off, and I did keep her hand until we ate which she really enjoyed. I also spent most of the day with her and Thea, but at the same time I didn’t dominate her time at all, and I was conservative with chiming in on conversations.

  It was a good day, and I made a few friends as well, save Bill’s mates and Tina that is, who kept their distance from me. That was okay too, and it wasn’t in a rude way.

  Chapter Eleven

  The next morning, I made it out of the bed with great fortitude and willpower, and the promise of coffee and filling my empty stomach. Thea was far too tempting.

  The rain was coming down hard outside Chicago when I arrived at the Super Max. The guards were giving me even more suspicious looks than usual as I worked my way through security. But nothing untoward happened as I made my way through, and I released my soaked robes as I conjured new ones.

  The answer to the guard’s new wariness was in the interrogation room. Kaya had her body bowed and folded in in, with her feet on the chair in front of her. Her power cuffed arms were around her legs, and she looked absolutely miserable.

  I felt a surge of anger wondering if she’d been abused, but I took a deep breath so my voice would be calm.

  “Good morning, Kaya. How do you feel? Did something happen?”

  She looked up at me in confusion through her wide glassy eyes, and that made me reassess her mental state.

  “Nothing, I’m a monster,” she said in a calm voice that was edged with hysteria.

  I’d been expecting something like this, though I wasn’t sure what exactly. No two people are the same after all, even under universal truths. I conjured a scanning device, and I frowned. I’d only been treating her five weeks, and it should’ve been another seven before she was fully healed. Yet, her emotion centers were diagnosed as human normal.

  Which was too fast, and it’d given her no time to adjust to her changing emotional range. Given the weight of her past, her upward fetal position and shock made a lot more sense to me. The guilt over the pain and death she caused must’ve been horrific when hitting her so hard and all at once.

  It took me a minute to figure out the issue, so much for my grand intellect being perfect. Everyone made mistakes, even me. It looked like once she’d reached a certain level of emotional empathy, her super healing had finished the job without my device.

  Thing was, she didn’t have invulnerability, and that shouldn’t have happened. I’d have been aware of the risk if she had. The only thing I could figure was her power itself worked on the emotions and sensation areas of brain, and perhaps had a healing side effect. So that her targets wouldn’t have those centers burned out by her power, or her projections.

  A subtle support system hidden within her own powers that I’d failed to divine.

  Being constantly drained by the cuffs and various projection fields in the prison, that healing had probably been slightly extended, which is why it didn’t happen at the end of last week’s session, but I didn’t imagine it took much power at all to accomplish.

  I felt guilty for her anguish, and I slowly took a seat.

  “Do you want to talk about it? You know it was your power, burning out the emotional centers to escape whatever you faced in the past. That past is over and you’re not that person anymore. I know that sounds empty right now, but one day you’ll accept it. This wasn’t supposed to happen, your power apparently healed in under a week what was supposed to take seven more.”