Cheat, page 18
“S. Y. S. It’s our AI friend? I mentioned her already, right?”
She had, though it had only been the one time, when she was explaining how they’d known about Lewis Rhyse and what was likely to happen to him.
“I remember. Well, if this tests out, my part is nearly done. Then you can stop dressing up like Sam all the time.” He sighed and looked away, but knew that he wasn’t going to be needed for the rest of things. Not past some technical advice every now and then. “I’ll miss you. I wasn’t kidding when I said that Sam is my best friend.”
That got him a hug, which was a lot closer and warmer than he would have expected.
“Thanks. Do you know how many men have said that to me in the last two years?”
“Nope?”
“You. The rest just wanted to use me, for one thing or another. This is different. This time I’m the one doing the using.” She shook her head. “I mean, that was the original point. Why I was sent to meet you in the first place. I really like you, just so you know. I don’t want you to, you know, think that it’s all business.”
Leaning in, she kissed him, which he did back, since telling her that he was going to miss her, and then pulling away would be so out of step with normal behavior as to be rude. Besides, as risky as it was, he did like her.
After a bit she moved back, smiling.
“And now Carry is going to come and you’ll spend the week doing her instead of me. Well, I should have asked first. Really it isn’t a bad plan. She’s sweet, for one of us. A celeb. It doesn’t hurt that you look like this now.” She waved at his face. “We can put you in front of the press, and no one will think anything of it. They’ll probably just figure that you’re breaking into the business, if they don’t look you up first. Then they’ll just assume you’re a social climber trying to get into our good graces by giving us free stuff.”
That it wouldn’t have seemed right before was just accepted. Mason could see that one. When he’d looked into the mirror earlier and saw his perfectly smooth face staring back at him, he’d jumped, not recognizing himself. For a moment it had seemed like someone he didn’t know had snuck into the bathroom with him.
Stalking himself.
“I don’t know if I’m vid ready. What would I say?”
Sam smiled, her face prettier than he was used to seeing it in person, because her makeup imbed had adjusted to the slightly dark space already. Instantly, in fact.
“No comment? That’s the universal code for ‘pay attention to what I’m doing’. I’m surprised you didn’t know that already.”
He hadn’t. The idea of anyone caring enough to even take his picture was sort of a big thing. No one had since high school, and even then it had just been for the yearbook section. Mason hadn’t even kept a copy of it, choosing to forget as much of that time of his life as he possibly could. It hadn’t all been bad, just boring, and filled with useless things like history and social studies. That, and merciless fat shaming.
Sam grabbed his hand, and pulled gently.
“Come on. You can come back down here later. If you need to. Really, the rest of us can handle it now, I bet. Just come and get the things from the machine over there? Then put the imbeds on like you showed us before? I’ll get someone to be in charge of that, so you can stay with the others most of the time. It will look better that way.”
Why that was, he didn’t have the background to understand. Mainly though, he knew she was right. Unless he had an idea to work on, his job was done for the time being. The rest of the thing would have to be about what others did.
There was more to the plan, but John had never told him what that was.
The upper level was done in light colors, had a nice big kitchen and a living room that could easily hold fifty people without anyone sitting on the floor. There was a great fireplace, made of stone with a large wooden frame on it for some reason. On top of it, and all around the tan and white room there were replicas of shells, and sea stars. Starfish, Mason thought they were called.
In the corner, running already, was a vid screen set up. It was a half dome holographic that was currently showing one of the twenty-four hour news feeds. The gossip one, from what they were saying. Adam was perched on a sofa in front of the thing, leaning forward avidly. On the screen there was a big gray house, with solar panels on the roof. In one of the first floor windows you could see the flash of a blue head.
Sam cleared her throat.
“Well, so much for a bit of peace and relaxation. G-One already has a drone watching us? Just in time. It looks like the first group of people is just getting here. We should send someone out to help with their luggage.” That was a joke, but as the car pulled up, Adam stood.
“Good point. I’ll go. Mason, can you help with it too, love?” There was a pat that was aimed at a behind, but that didn’t land.
Mason nodded.
“Why do you keep calling me love?”
“Wishful thinking? If I do it long enough you might remember how incredible I am and let your guard down.” They moved to the door, and as the blue headed man opened the door, he whispered a single word. “Love.”
Outside the first group of people climbed out, their giant assistants moving first, setting up a guard perimeter. They were in the second car, not the black limo. From that one, after the driver came around, four people popped out. Ben, Tara, George, and to his surprise, Deidre Omry.
Before he could mutter hello, Adam squealed and ran toward them, slapping backs and handing out hugs.
“Everyone! I missed you so much. Now, Mason here and I have come to help with your things. Tara, you can sleep in my room. That way you won’t be stuck with your Dad the entire time.” It had the sound of a joke.
Mason was taking it that way, but Tara nodded somberly.
“Good. He snores.” She pulled her own small suitcase though, as did the others. There was more, so Adam grabbed two, and so did he. That left one of the big people that followed getting one of the things, but that was all. The woman that took the bag winked at him and Adam as she did it.
“Thanks. I didn’t know we had two little cuties to help us out. You working this thing?” That was addressed to him, since being well made up or not, it was kind of clear that the woman thought he was one of the help. The bags in his hands kind of said that.
“Nope, I’m a plus one. But, you know, I might as well make myself useful if I can.” That was the literal truth, but Adam laughed at it, and shook his head. The whole thing was over-exaggerated enough the the woman looked at him.
He seemed to be recognized right off the bat.
“This is Mason Sims. The tech guy? Not some rentboy brought in for the party. I can see how you’d make that mistake, Melinda. He looks delicious, doesn’t he?”
There was a squeal from behind him, then a clatter and two arms wrapping around him from behind. Half a moment later he was hit from the other side, which left his arms trapped, his hands still filled with bags.
“Mason? I didn’t recognize you! You look amazing.” This was from Deirdre, whose face was about an inch from his. It had to be fake though, since she’d seen him the day before, looking nearly identical to the way he did now. Possibly not, however, since he’d set his new imbed to do whatever it thought he needed to look right.
The other set of arms was Tara, the girl.
“Me either! I love the new look, M. Who did your styling?”
Since, as far as he knew no one had, he was about to try and explain it, when Ben interjected, winning him free from the imprisoning wall of very attractive girl. It was a lot easier to walk then, and the bags were getting a little heavy. That probably had more to do with what was in them weighing about eighty pounds each than the fact that he was incredibly weak.
The thin, and kind of average looking, chef guy patted at the other two until they relented.
“Ha! Here I’d been planning to kidnap you and tuck you into my luggage to get you in here. I should have realized that someone else would think the same thing. Maybe we can get together for a few minutes later? I’d love to go over some ideas with you, if you can spare any time.”
He nodded, since as far as he knew that would actually work into the plans pretty well.
“Sounds good? I’ve got a new imbed for everyone. It’s just some sun block, and eye protection, but you’ll want it anyway. Everyone.” It was tempting to put some emphasis on the words, but not too far off there were no less than three hovering cameras. The idea that they wouldn’t have sound was silly.
Melinda having a free hand, moved up along side of him.
“Everyone everyone, or is that for the famous people?” She whispered it, making it low enough that no one else could hear it, most likely.
So he did the same thing back. She was shorter than a lot of the other women, being about six-two, and kind of square looking, being so powerfully built. She looked like a girl though, and like Lisa, seemed to be trying to make up for being better built than he was with a huge rack. It really did help to soften the image a bit.
“Everyone, everyone. In fact, we can get you all set up first, if you want? The things are in the basement.”
The woman sighed, and nodded.
“I see, so it’s a trick to get me to the sex dungeon right off? I’ll go, too. I’m trusting that way. When will I ever learn?”
At the door, he paused, to let her go first, which let Adam skip in too, hurrying. He looked to be about ready to drop his two bags. There was a desperate air about it anyway.
“God Tara, what did you bring?”
The girl made a sound that was playful, rather than stuck up or entitled.
“Two of my friends, of course. We should get them out of there quick. I don’t remember if I made air holes.”
Once the door shut, the mood changed a little, as the three larger people spread out, checking the place, room by room. That got John, Mike and Lisa into the front room as well. The gray haired man let the others go over everything however, before standing back and speaking, when the people finally came back down the stairs.
“We have a special treat for you all, downstairs.”
Melinda moved over and clapped Mason on the shoulder.
“You really do have a sex dungeon? All right, but I get to be on top. Unless you ask really nicely, I mean. Then I might consider trading off with you. You aren’t into chains and stuff, are you? I hate being tied up.”
Mason tilted his head, considering the situation.
“Um, that’s a good point, actually. Maybe we can talk about it later? I mean for real. Right now, go that way. It’s free.” It was a good selling point, and the others seemed to trust John, if not him yet.
The stairs were through a door, just off the kitchen, where Ben got sidetracked, looking at the set up.
“We can work here.” Then the man was dragged down into the dark maw, along with the others.
The space was big enough, if very bland and empty. It could use some chairs, Mason decided. He could print some out, if there was enough energy for it, later. For the time being Sam stood there, looking cute and girlish, with a line of roller applicators sitting on top of the disassembler. The black box could have been anything, but there were containers behind it being filled with various things, and hoses that connected it directly to the assembly portion.
To him it was practically screaming what was going on, but no one else seemed to get it. Almost no one. Melinda gasped a bit, and then turned to stare at John. She was the only one to respond however.
At least until Lexi spoke to the room, seeming polished and like she’d been hired to be a spokes-model.
“Welcome! We have an amazing new product for you all to try today. Sun screen. It’s the code name for a new nano-imbed that will make you five times more bullet and shrapnel resistant than the next best skin based armor available. That includes the military stuff. It’s nearly transparent, and can be covered easily with makeup, or a makeup imbed. As a bonus it comes with eye drops that act as protective lenses in case of a light based attack. It will last about six months, on your skin. The eye treatment is separate, and needs to be replaced weekly. Just to sweeten the deal… It actually protects you from the sun.”
She moved, gracefully, and used her hands to showcase the bottle with movements that seemed practiced. That kind of thing was her job, so it made sense she’d be good at it.
Melinda looked around and then took a few steps forward, again toward John.
“Holy fuck. Is this for real?”
“Dead on. We can get in on the friends and family plan if we act fast. Mason holds the copyright on it, and is feeling generous. We should abuse that for as long as he’ll let us.”
There was a clapping sound then, as Lexi giggled and waved at everyone.
“So, and this is the way a party should be started, with presents and naked people… Strip. Last one done has to do the next group.”
It wasn’t him, but one of the giant men that came in last. Something to do with a stuck zipper it looked like. Everyone there went, including Sam, since it wouldn’t hurt to double up on the protection. Actually, it should be additive, which meant that if shooting started he was still going to hide behind her. It was hard not to stare at the others, since they all looked interesting in their own ways, but he managed it, mainly by looking off at one of the far walls.
It was kind of awkward for him, though literally no one else seemed to mind in the slightest. The big people were all excited, if in a slightly subdued way. There was muttering to that end, anyway.
When they were all dressed again, Melinda wandered over to him, along with Lexi and John.
“So, I’m sleeping with you from now on? Because I’m pretty sure I can’t afford this, and giving it back isn’t happening. Don’t wanna, can’t make me.”
John slapped the small square looking woman on the back.
“No shit. Though, if you mean it, Mason is looking for a head assistant? It pays room and board, but has some benefits. Like this? Though we should shoot someone, to check it out. Where’s Adam?” That seemed like a joke, until one of the other big men pulled a weapon and shot the blue haired boy in the chest. He didn’t have a shirt on, so everyone saw what happened
He was knocked down, but stood up instantly, glaring at the big man that Mason didn’t know. He looked pissed at first, then looked down, and posed heroically, with his hands on his hips.
“That’s right. Not a scratch. Because I’m just that sprong.” After a second he rubbed his skin a bit and shook his head. “The fall hurt, but not the bullet. Next time we shoot someone else though. I’m hungry, anyone else?”
Mason realized that he’d managed not to eat all day, as far as that went, so nodded. It was true and might keep the noise level down. He hadn’t even thought of something to dampen sound. Now it seemed like an oversight. That was doable, if a bit riskier. Than the other things. By stabilizing the small bones in the ear, temporarily, when a loud noise came in, it would muffle things. He needed to make certain that it wasn’t going to happen all the time though, or whoever had the nano set would be functionally deaf until they broke down.
It was an idea however. Basically like earplugs you could keep in all the time.
Ben practically raced up the stairs, heading toward the kitchen, calling back a bit. “All right, do we have a cook I need to push out of the way, or was the plan just to eat out all the time?”
Lexi called to him, her voice a bit subdued.
“Both? We have staff coming in tomorrow. I was thinking we’d go out tonight. Everyone should change? The best local place is actually mid-range. So don’t go too dressy. On the good side we can walk down the promenade to get there. It isn’t far. We should wait for everyone else though. We’re still missing about half the people I invited.”
Several people looked at the others and then laughed, as if it were a joke. Mason kept his lips shut, since admitting that he didn’t understand it would probably get them to keep going the entire week. Making jokes that he wouldn’t understand, even if it meant coming up with things that didn’t have any meaning. Instead he smiled, in a weary fashion, since that would mean he both understood and was on the inside.
That wasn’t true, but VR had taught him that lesson pretty well. How to fake it. Everyone there probably had the same basic training that he had that way. Maybe more, since they did it for a living, if from the other side.
They waited, and a few more people did come. One of them, arriving on foot, carrying a single bag, was Carry Samson. Mason saw her through the window, and ran out, taking the bag from her.
“Thanks! Are you… Mason? Hey!” He got a hug, and a kiss, which was probably for the benefit of the drones that were hovering around waiting to see what the people there were going to get up to. More of them had come. A variety of the things, too. Some of them, he was nearly certain, weren’t even controlled by a person.
It would be what he’d do, if he had that job. You could print out twenty of the things, download a few programs with bio-metrics and watch a given location for days on end. The things would need to trade out every six hours or so, to recharge. That was the only limitation and a person would eventually need more breaks than that. Okay, so you might need real human eyes to see if the man sitting nude on the roof was famous or just looked a bit like someone who was. Either way, given this group, it would eventually work out for whoever got the pictures.
Mason played the scene up, kissing her back and looking directly in to her cool blue eyes. Her hair and basic makeup was the same today, which left her looking like herself. No one would care if he looked different, not knowing who he was, but he got the basic idea. Carry had to present herself carefully.
“Let’s go in? The, um, thing I mentioned is inside?”
She smiled, making it seem like he was being coy for a bedroom reason. Until they got to the door, where she cooled a bit, and drew back.
“Is everyone here already? I had to walk from the train station. I look like an idiot now. Damn it. I should have known better than to think someone like Lexi Horn would look out for me. Every cunt for themselves. Witch.” She was angry enough that Mason suddenly wished that he’d skipped the whole thing.
