It didn’t take me long to figure out something was wrong, and that her kiss had been a wakeup call and not an invitation.

  Thea said, “Master, the Lovians have appeared in system and will be in Mars orbit shortly. All twelve of their ships.”

  Damn. Cock-blocking bastards. I almost snorted at the thought. It wasn’t the first nor would it be the last time that superhero business interrupted a tryst, and this one hadn’t even started.

  “Time?”

  Thea replied, “Forty seconds. Their power profile does not appear to be aggressive, just wary.”

  I nodded and conjured my super suit, as well as a device that would clean and groom me and the ladies as I got to my feet. It wasn’t something I did often, showers were mentally cleansing and extremely pleasant when shared besides, but I felt sticky and smelled like a brothel. I supposed there was no reason I couldn’t defend our solar system that way, but I’d have hated every moment of it.

  It essentially was an atomic teleporter similar to the air cleaning devices, that simply removed all the foreign substances from my mouth, skin, and hair, and removed nail and facial hair growth, then used force projections to brush my newly clean hair. It only took about two seconds, and I let the device dissipate as I cut off the energy supporting it. For the two ladies in the room, it did even more, such as grooming their landing strips, and shaving their underarms and legs.

  Kaya smiled in thanks, despite her worry. Maybe I’d add that technology to our nanite swarms that could be activated discretely by the user, just in case they were called in a crisis and didn’t have time to perfect their looks. It wouldn’t replace showers, but it’d be a good backup for emergencies.

  Considering how often all of us smelled like a brothel, I should’ve thought of it before.

  Thea and I teleported to her ship, while Kaya teleported to Chastity’s.

  “Status?”

  Thea said, “All A.I.s and their partners will be aboard before they arrive. Shields are engaged, and I’m sure they’ve noticed our configuration and power matches theirs now.”

  “Let’s see what they do. They could’ve arrived in orbit and opened fire.”

  She nodded in understanding. The Lovians had come in far from the planet, and they were moving in with a local space drive. They also hadn’t phased to sneak up on us while cloaked. Not that it would’ve worked, we had a list of all the quantum phases they found safe to use for that, and they’d been constantly under scan since.

  “Didn’t our probes pick up their joint mission profile?”

  Thea nodded, “Which is why I was standing at the foot of the bed and waking you two.”

  Right, duh. I reviewed the scans, their shields were on, but they were moving relatively slowly to their ship’s capability and no weapons were charging.

  The ships stopped about ten thousand miles away. My heart was pounding, and I was wide awake even without my morning coffee or a quickie. At the same time, my mind was telling me they weren’t necessarily here to fight, though the pessimist in me told me they would if we once again refused their demands.

  Which we would. Lay down and die, and let us kill the ones you love, wouldn’t ever be acceptable.

  But most of me was keeping an open mind.

  “We’re being hailed by the lead ship. Bill on the Cassidy is responding.”

  I nodded. Bill was our ambassador of sorts. Which was fine, I kind of wanted to yell at them.

  Bill said, “This is Bill of the starship Cassidy. You are in our space, state your intentions,” he demanded at the last.

  Well, so much for diplomatic.

  The Lovian said, “I am Captain Neto. We have come to discuss our impasse and search for a peaceful solution that both our peoples can live with. The restraint you exhibited during your attack have convinced many of us it may be possible. In the past, all other races we’ve come in conflict with have attacked us without regard for life, or outright started to attack our worlds. Unless we have misunderstood, you only wished to frustrate our efforts to find a counter to ships that dare use creation energy. We also did not fail to notice you built more ships for parity, and no more, meaning you have some small understanding just how dangerous this technology is.”

  Bill took a deep breath, “That is an accurate assessment, on both counts. I’m listening because we wish for peace as well. What is your proposal?”

  The Lovian said, “We have two points we can’t compromise on. You will stop using creation energy as anything but a power source, and secondly you will limit the technology to your current twelve ships as we do.”

  Bill nodded, “We can almost meet that. We will not build more ships powered by creation energy, and we will not use creation energy unless it is a last resort to prevent the destruction of our species. Seeing as your species is the only one that can achieve that level of threat in this galaxy, no others are of equal threat to necessitate such an act. I believe that makes it a moot point, but I won’t lie to you.

  “Simply put, we will not use the energy, unless you force us to with aggression. Which works out, because our requirements for peace is that you leave us alone, and we go our separate ways in peace. The universe is a large place, we don’t have to be at odds in it.

  “Lastly, you have not mentioned the state of our planet. We will not allow the energy to be removed as it would kill many of us. But, if you’ve been watching us, you know we have not and will not seed our colony planets. Those we call supers will be limited to living in this solar system.”

  The Lovian waved a hand, “We have decided if you are foolish enough to want to pollute your world and species, it is not our responsibility. We have made the attempt to clean up after ourselves, and you frustrated our efforts and destroyed our ship. The onus of responsibility no longer falls on our shoulders because of that.”

  Bill nodded, “I see, and the rest of it?”

  Neto said, “It is sufficient to our purposes, that you no longer use it. Do we have an agreement?”

  Bill replied, “Please standby. My species is not telepathic, and my eleven other colleagues must agree as well. I’ll hail your ship, when we’ve decided.”

  The Lovian cut the transmission without a word.

  The bridge suddenly got a little crowded as the holographic emitters put the other eleven captains and their ship A.I.s in a circle. Kaya and Alina were on my right and left, with Chastity and Hope behind them, and the circle continued around for the other nine. All the others would see the same thing, on their bridges.

  It was Rose that started us off, with a violent snort.

  “They’re just playing for time. They want to rebuild the research outposts and search for a way to destroy us, without us blowing them up each time they do. As soon as they find it, this peace will be over.”

  I nodded, “You’re probably right. But won’t it take them forty times longer than us to complete the picture of the universe? That seems like good odds, although I’m not happy they might even have a chance with those odds, it’s much better than the alternative. We’d need to destroy them all if we don’t accept this.”

  Daniel sighed, “He’s not wrong. There’s also a chance the Lovians are being honest, lying is probably a foreign concept in a telepathic race. It does seem rather convenient they’ve changed their minds, but we do have them over the barrel right now and they know it. If they don’t stop, then we’ll have no choice but to destroy them, or at least destroy their technology and suppress it.”

  I thought it’d be worth the risk, since we held most of the cards, and would be ahead of them even further shortly. The longer the peace went on, false or not, the more we’d know about the universe that they didn’t.

  Plus, a part of me, even if I couldn’t be sure, truly believed that Rose’s theory was wrong. That there was no counter to creation energy in this universe, and our willingness to use it when the Lovians couldn’t meant that they’d never be in the position to destroy us.

  In other words, there was a part of me that thought we’d already won.

  But it was still a gamble for humanity’s future, no matter how stacked in our favor.

  Ashley said, “Maybe it’s naïve to say, but I think we can trust them to keep their word. They’re willing to live with the risk, so that they can get back to their race’s advancement. It’s also the only path that doesn’t lead to their race’s fall, or outright destruction. I’m sure they hate it, but that doesn’t mean they won’t accept it against the worser alternatives.”

  Bob interjected, “I don’t think it’s naïve. Sorry Rose, but I think you’ve been jaded by dealing with the backstabbing and petty governments of humanity too long. They don’t have a government, and all of their race has made this decision. And as the others said, even if it does turn out to be wishful thinking, taking some risk to avoid taking a path of genocide is worth it.”

  Rose sighed, “I don’t want to take that path either. I just wanted to make sure everyone knows what kind of arm’s race we’ll really be in. One of survival for the human race. With that on the line, we can’t afford to extend trust, at least not without some history to back it up.”

  Sara interposed, “There was nothing in there that said we can’t keep an eye on them. We have those little passive probes.”

  I said, “True, and we’ll be moving forty times faster than they will in our research. Which means in a very short time we’ll have ways of destroying their ships they don’t know about, and have no defense against, without using any creation energy.

  “Just don’t tell them that. I think they’d be just as alarmed at how unfettered our A.I. family is as they are about the creation energy issue.”

  Amber said, “I agree. I think Rose just wants us aware and to be vigilant. If we pursue the safer option of destruction, then we won’t be the people we are anymore.”

  Angel just nodded in agreement.

  Bill said, “So, we accept the deal?”

  Amber sighed, “I hate to be a cynic. But what happens if we accept the deal, then the Lovians don’t build nine research stations. What if they build hundreds of research stations, seeing the need to move forward with more alacrity in the arm’s race.”

  Well, shit. I hadn’t even considered that. Three hundred and sixty of those outposts would put us on parity, and more than that would stack the odds in their favor instead.

  Bill replied, “If they do that, then they’ll have proven this peace is a farce, nothing but an empty cease fire to buy time to learn how to destroy us. At that point, I don’t think we’ll be required to honor it, and we’ll be forced to act.”

  “I can agree to that. We’ll hold them to the spirit of the accord, since the technicalities are left out and undefined.”

  There was general agreement to that, so the conference ended, and once again it was just Thea and I on the bridge.

  Bill hailed them and accepted the deal, and the twelve ships left.

  Without a fight, all of that adrenaline had nowhere to go. That time was one of the rare times I initiated sex without Thea seducing me into it, as I had a lot of it to work off…

  It was over an hour later, and my mind was wandering as I held a naked Thea in my lap. I’d taken her over the console, and then she’d ridden me hard in the chair. We exchanged a soft loving kiss in our post-coital bliss.

  “Baby, you need to be vigilant when I’m gone, our kids too. Five thousand years is a hell of a long arm’s race.”

  Even if it would be two hundred thousand years for them, give or take a century or two in that estimate. It was an uncomfortable conversation, but I wanted to be sure my A.I. lovers and family would go on without me.

  Thea chuckled, and kissed me softly, then nibbled her way to my neck and whispered in my ears.

  “I’ll have you here to remind me. Do you actually think that I’ll ever let you go, do you? And suffer for two billion years without you?”

  I shook my head, “What are you saying?”

  She replied, “You’d have probably noticed soon anyway, that you haven’t aged a day in the last few years. Supers take longer to mature, but you shouldn’t still look twenty, like you did on the day you quickened, when you’re on the verge of twenty-three. I might lose you to mischance, or in battle if you’re taken by surprise, but the ravages of time will never touch you, master. I won’t lose you to that.”

  Oh, umm, “How?”

  She said, “Part of my powerset, an aspect of the upgrade part. Our lovers are immortal as well, at least when it comes to aging. Everything dies, or can die, and probably will eventually. But not to time. We’ll all be young and beautiful for you forever.”

  I frowned, “Why didn’t you tell me, and when did you change me? Do the others know this?”

  She nibbled my earlobe, “It’s not a permanent thing, once and done. I would never change your biology without your approval. It’s a continual regeneration process to maintain our youth. I suppose I kept it to myself because I didn’t want anyone staying with me out of that temptation. I should’ve told you, Alina, and Faith when we got married, or perhaps right before, but it honestly didn’t occur to me, until now.”

  I swatted her ass, “You need to tell them.”

  I was still trying to wrap my mind around it.

  She replied, “Yes master.”

  “How is it you didn’t think of it?”

  She shrugged, “It’s involuntary, like my pheromones that keeps everyone’s libido running high when they’re around me. I don’t have to think about it or initiate it. It’s an always on power, like your intelligence, or Kelly’s telepathy.”

  “So, our friends?”

  She shrugged, “I see them all at least once a week when visiting Rose, Serena, and Angel, so it’s likely they won’t be dying anytime soon either. It won’t start effecting Kelly until she sheds the remains of youth, somewhere around nineteen, I’d guess. Have I been a naughty girl?”

  “Yes, for real this time, so no spanking.”

  She pouted cutely and I couldn’t help but smile, despite my mind being overwhelmed with the implications and being honestly annoyed at her about keeping it hidden. Our four teams would be together and protecting the Earth for a longer time period than even I could truly comprehend the weight of. Of course, humans would probably grow up and attain high technology themselves long before that happened.

  So… we’d have a really long retirement.

  Not a bad thing, but holy shit.

  “Anything else I should know?”

  Thea replied, “No, master.”

  I sighed, “Alright, you need to tell them all, today. Not just our spouses but the other teams as well.”

  She nodded, “Understood, master.”

  “So, you’ll do it?”

  She tilted her head, “Yes, master.”

  I nodded, “Just checking, since technically you don’t have to follow any of my orders anymore.”

  She nibbled my earlobe, “But it makes my clit tingle when I do, master.”

  Fuck me, naughty temptress.

  She giggled sensuously at my cock’s response, and quickly grabbed it, lined it up, and slid down it. Apparently, we were going to have one more round, before she got to that, and before I got back to work too. Or to work, technically we didn’t even have breakfast yet, it was still in the early hours of morning.

  What’s a man to do?

  I said, “Oh, we need to talk about the twins too, Kaya had an interesting idea last night.”

  She said, “Yes, master,” and let out a little mewl of pleasure as our bodies rocked.

  We’d talk about it, later…

  Definitely going to hell, as I enjoyed Kelly’s birthday hug and lingering kiss on my cheek. I enjoyed her embrace and warmth, and her toned blonde cheerleader body against me, far more than I was comfortable with. Technically, she was past the age of consent in every state and a legal adult as an emancipated minor. I could legally marry her not just take her to bed, but it still seemed too young for me, at on the verge of twenty-three.

  The fact the embrace had been full bodied, and she was in a white string bikini showing off her generous athletic curves, might’ve also had something to do with it. Part of it was also her telepathy and empathy of course, she knew exactly how much I’d enjoyed it.

  There was also the fact all my other mates were only two to three years older than her, which was a quite reasonable split. But I was sticking to the idea of eighteen at a minimum before I went there, but I had to admit I was no longer hoping she’d move on even a little bit. Kelly was a breathtaking young woman, and in a lot of ways she was already part of the family. Just not in the circle.

  Regardless, it was just after noon on the next day, and we were at a resort near the western border of my territory, right on a seaside to the north. We weren’t on the beach yet though, we were around one of the resort’s pools that had been blocked off for the lunch part of the party. There were two women running the catering in dark blue one-piece bathing suits, as well as two men working behind a bar offering soft drinks and another cooking burgers, steaks, hotdogs, and BBQ chicken on a large grill.

  I was fairly sure I was paying for all of it, or Thea was, throwing a birthday party for her government employee and friend. Not that I cared about that, much less begrudged it, it was just an unavoidable thought for someone who overthinks everything.

  On an unrelated note, everything in the resort and my territory for that matter was discretely powered by my weak power supplies. There was no power infrastructure from the start, and no burning of fossil fuels.

  The whole family was there including the twins. Ashley was there too of course, as one of Kelly’s closest friends, and she’d brought Mara and Angel along, though the rest of them from that team hadn’t come. Ashley, or someone else, had invited the other teams as well, who Kelly all knew well from our monthly barbeques. From Silver Seraphs it was Alyssa, Daniel, and the youngest, Mara. The others must’ve been on patrol or otherwise engaged.