Next You Volume 2

By Angus H Day

The pairing of two novels in the Next You franchise, Having Nice Things and Utopian Estates, into one Volume.

Having Nice Things
The Earth is hurting from radioactive wastelands, over crowding and a xenophobic fear of the intersystem alliance. While adapting Next You Interstellar LLC donated technological innovation to reclaim areas of Earth made uninhabitable by wars of the past, religious and ethical movements threaten to unleash more war. How many people are too many? What can aliens and alien technology do to nudge the balance between war and progress? Read Having Nice Things, a Next You novel, and find out.

Utopian Estates
The Martian Dream is to have your own home, work a nice steady job and raise 1.2 well behaved offspring. Fiona and Ashley feel well on their way to accomplishing this when they make a down payment on their new home. The dream state descends from there. Just add water and alien shenanigans will commence leading to an adventure of Extra-Solar dimensions. Don't forget to pay the Homeowner's Association fee as learn about the options in Utopian Estates, a Next You novel.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Angus H Day
• Release date: Oct 7, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301042418

Angus H Day

I'm married, father of two fine children and I have made Fort Collins Colorado my home. Currently I work as a manufacturing chemist in the pharmaceutical industry, swim and write science fiction.

Book preview

Copyright 2012 Angus H. Day

Smashwords Edition

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Cover Illustration Copyright © 2012 by Belinda Pepper

I want to thank my wife, Cheryl Elaine Day, for believing in my ability to do anything I put my mind toward. I feel I only have that ability because of your love and support. I thank my parents for encouraging me to stay with reading while they were alive and my seventh grade English teacher Mrs. Prescott who helped me discover that a novel was not an intimidating thing.

Having Nice Things

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: The Way things Are

Chapter 2: Is brain washing the true path to God’s favor?

Chapter 3: Recuperating, Reenergizing and Recommitting.

Chapter 4: Finding Bishop!

Chapter 5: Cleaning up after the party.

Chapter 6: Massive mayhem.

Chapter 7: Innovating with the help of a ghost.

Chapter 8: Changing the rules.

Chapter 9: Can't take your crazy shit anymore.

Chapter 10: Giving up on Bishop.

Chapter 11: Closing a chapter and moving on.

Chapter 12: The Purge.

Chapter 13: Does anyone index history by outbreaks of peace?

Chapter 14: There are only resources for offense in space.

Chapter 15: New opportunities, now hiring.

Utopian Estates

table of contents

Chapter 1: Leaving the Nest

Chapter 2: The First day of work at a new job.

Chapter 3: A quiet night of first day recuperation.

Chapter 4: Diplomacy and business.

Chapter 5: Belinda gets pulled back from an abyss.

Chapter 6: Filling the pool.

Chapter 7: Just add water.

Chapter 8: Urban myths of Utopian Estates.

Chapter 9: Remodeling new houses.

Chapter 10: Repurposing.

Chapter 11: Home is where the ass is.

Chapter 12: You mind the business while we take care of...business.

Chapter 13: Revenge?

Chapter 14: Utopian Estates Phase Two.

Chapter 15: Having the means to deal with your genes.

Chapter 16: Sometimes it takes a road trip to get to know someone.

Chapter 17: A big empty egg with a light on inside.

Chapter 18: Tombstone.

Chapter 19: Contact that should have been remembered.

Chapter 20: Stand off on the edge of Empire.

Chapter 21: Did you call to stop the mail and paper?

Back to Top

Chapter 1: The Way things Are

Basil Wright is the current Vice President of Next You Inc.-Home planet recovery Division, HRD. He is in his mid-fifties though he has the health and image of a thirty something and he has a stunning girlfriend. The overall goal of the HRD is to gain back as much ground and resources as possible by cleaning up the vestiges of the genocide war of 2140. This will enable the dismantling of the domed cities which have become places of subjugation and economic enslavement. People were never suited to live in close proximity to each other for so long.

Currently the Tribunal and Next You are deciding on which stretches of the earth are going to be the quickest to recover and relieve the crowding pressure in the domed cities. Chair person Sheila, the survey shows that the Pampas in Argentina and the Great Plains of Canada will have the quickest turn around. Second tier will include Northern Europe, Russia, Antarctica, Greenland, Iceland, Australia, New Zealand's south island, Madagascar and the area formerly known as Peru and Colombia. All other areas are third tier. First tier is doable in one year, second in three years and third tier we can begin repopulating in ten years if no natural disasters delay the schedule.

Mr. Wright, I'm amazed by the technology and the desire to use it in such a philanthropic manner. That being said I don't know that we can maintain civil order long enough to accomplish that time line. Just bringing starvation under control should have mandated taking a million from each of the domes a week ago. What would you suggest we do for the first year considering the land you say will be ready will only support roughly 500 million people?

I think you might have to offer incentives for people to immigrate off world in the short term to get the population issue eased. You are the political leader; I'm just a business guy trying to do the right thing. Our OCD (Off-world Colonization Division) can make ships available again, but we need destinations negotiated in advance. Our neighbors have made it quite clear that there is an accepted method to colonization and that our previous method almost led to a problem.

How soon can we begin the colonization to relieve the pressure? I don't believe we can wait a year for the first reclaimed land.

We can have the first colonization convoy ready to load in a week with a likely destination past Wolf 359. We will ask the Vessir to make contact for us. The convoy will be capable of transporting 250 million colonists and the vessel will remain with the colony for support.

Why that's outstanding, thank you.

Oh don't thank me for that. The HRD operates at no cost to the Tribunal or the Earth. It is a complete charity. The colonization operation will cost you however and the price is Next You ownership of the continent of Antarctica.

Tribunal Chairperson Sheila, who appeared to be in her early forties experienced a shock induced fainting spell upon realizing the cost that the pressure relief operation would require. When she awoke the face looking into hers was that of a woman of Indo-Asian descent and she was smiling.

My name is Miranda and I work with that rather rude man Basil. Maybe he should have asked you to take a seat before dropping the bill on you.

Yes, that might have helped. What on Earth do you intend to do with Antarctica if I am authorized to pay you with it?

We intend to establish a Next You facility there for processing energy for the entire planet. All materials from the recycled domed cities will be processed through there and be delivered to reclaimed land homesteaders.

Won't it cost more to do things that way?

Basil again My dear chair person that will not be your cost to bear. No one uses Antarctica these days so you might as well have the Tribunal attorneys draw up the deed and be ready to turn it over as soon as the ships start loading. We'll be in contact as soon as the ships are ready to load and two weeks will go by fast. You don't want the population to know that you passed on a chance for them to leave for a new world. Have a nice day.

As Miranda and Basil made their way back to their courier ship they chatted like a young couple though they had been together for five years and they were both in their mid fifties. Weren't you too harsh on her Basil? What was the point of shocking her like that?

CP Sheila has made quite a reputation for herself in negotiating circles. She's actually gained an advantage in two recent IA support treaties soon after suspiciously timed illnesses. Her father was a con-man in New Sydney until last year when he tried to extort the Tribunal and Sheila cut her family ties. I'm fairly sure that as she fainted back there she was making a list of things she had to do to make the sale happen.

I think I'll just stick to energy, physics and fooling around with you. Basil, how would you feel if I wanted to transfer?

I thought you wanted to help me with the HRD but if you are unhappy I won't stand in your way. I could visit you anywhere unless you want to be rid of me also.

Um, I'm talking about transferring into a Next You avatar and cranial unit. What are you talking about?

Apparently the wrong thing. Why do you want to do that when you look frigging awesome? I understand why Robert and Etresca did it in response to their injuries but what is the point in giving up a perfectly good body that has nanites doing maintenance?

To look better, feel better about ones self, be stronger, faster, live longer to be around those that you love as long as possible. The point is that I won't do it without you.

That stopped all the words that Basil Wright had jammed up in his head at the idea of transferring one's self. If they had been composed of mass his head would have become a black hole at that moment.

I don't think I'm ready to take that step yet Miranda, but if you want to then I'll support you and stay with you in it.

You do know that there is only so much those nanites you have can do for you right? Remember when Etresca took all those micro-meteorite holes, they just barely kept her alive and then couldn't repair the damage.

Well I believe that I said her injuries justified the action she took. Can we talk about this later?

That was the harshest he had been with her since they had started being together and though she wasn't hurt she decided she would back off. All right Basil, I won't nag you about it. What are we going to do next? I really need to get to the lab and begin working on the power generation technology that you have pitched to the Tribunal.

Can you stay with me long enough to check on the broken equipment on the pampas?

Yes, that would be fine and I get to go to Argentina with you. Can we stay overnight in our company suite at the Inca Nights Hotel?

Basil got this smile on his face that he got when the opportunity to play with Miranda presented itself. I definitely think we can burn a night there. Would you like to go dancing?

I want to dance, dine and swim with you. Then once I've gotten you all tenderized I want to... the rest of the offer was drowned out by the rotor wash of the fusion powered tilt rotor aircraft that was going to take them from Geneva to Buenos Aires. The expression on Basil's face, as he understood what she wanted to do to him, could only be compared to that of a citizen child finding out that they were getting a pony for their birthday.

During the flight they reviewed company reports on the progress of reclaiming the pampas and the problems they were having with the equipment. Most of the earth moving equipment was maintained using batches of nanites to repair bent metal restore worn hydraulic parts and maintain the micro reactors that provided power. The breaks appeared to be a problem with the detection and processing sections of the equipment. The local technicians were rated able to deal with this sort of thing but were still having unexplained glitches.

Atmospheric flight was still the preferred method for crossing continents on earth even though the travel time could be cut using sub-orbitals. The engines driving the propellers produced no pollutants and the aircraft could sustain high enough flight to avoid the violent storms which would destroy anything short of an asteroid. Miranda and Basil enjoyed a private cabin where they snickered at having joined the mile high club, though their previous couplings had been off-world, on a courier ship, at a Dyson world, the moon Phobos, the planet Cassius...you get the point.

When they arrived in Buenos Aires the plane deposited them on the heli-pad on top of the dome and they checked in at the Inca Nights. A Next You engineering technician greeted them.

Hello Mr. Wright and Miss Patel. He stopped for a minute as if processing what he had just said and deciding that laughter would probably end his career. The suite is ready and when you want to inspect the breakdowns I will be available to take you. My name is Paco Ventafio and I program the maintenance routines for the equipment nanites.

Basil didn't even look at Miranda as he said We'll head up to the suite to freshen up and meet you back here in an hour and a half.

Very good sir, I will be here then.

Basil put his arm around Miranda and walked to the lift. Miranda, there is something not quite correct about Mr. Ventafio. Did you sense anything odd?

I kind of thought he reminded me of someone who has been sequestrated. I think we need to commune with Etresca as soon as we get to the suite.

Really, I was kind of hoping we had time for that thing you wanted to do to me in the spa tub.

Smiling she replied You know you're going to get it but we really need to get business done first. Besides, I really do want to freshen up first to be fully alert if this guy is a puppet.

They arrived at the suite to find their travel things had already been delivered. All right, why don't you go for the shower first and I'll contact Etresca.

Miranda grabbed her personal care things and headed for the bathroom as Basil took a seat in front of the balcony window, blinking to start the communing state with Etresca. He happened to catch her at a moment when Robert was on the job and it was a little bit awkward as she responded to his message and Robert's ministrations at the same time. Etresca shut him out with a blink and the wall was up.

Basil was out of the chair slinging off clothes as he made progress to the bathroom. When he opened the door his shirt was off and his pants were around his ankles, his erection so hard that it pushed out the waistband of his boxers. Miranda had one foot in the shower adjusting the water temperature as he came up behind her reaching around to cup her breasts teasing her nipples with his thumb and index fingers. She pressed the silky roundness of her buttocks back into him feeling the erect penis pressing into the small of her back and hearing him groan with building excitement.

That was a quick conversation. What did she suggest we do?

Nothing yet, I caught them in the middle of doing each other.

Oh my, I see.

She turned around and covered his mouth with hers as she took a grip on his now fully engorged shaft. He was able to lift her up against the wall entering her as she brought her legs up to wrap around his torso and lock in the small of his back. Basil moved his hands one at a time under her thighs to cup her butt cheeks and he kept a rhythmic thrusting going, building up friction against Miranda's clit until she spasmed and clamped down on him. The heat and closeness of her and the sweet smell of her skin drove him to release and they both ended up on the floor.

I think we could use a 'hat on the door' signal for this communing thing. I probably could have sent a hyperspace message to coordinate a commune but the time lag would have been too much. I'll try again in a few minutes.

Right, lets get you in this shower with me you dirty boy.

Fifteen minutes later as they were toweling off Etresca gave him a mental nudge. Hey Basil, Robert and I would like you to forget what you saw. What did you want to say to me?

First, I'm sorry on the timing thing, we really need some kind of doorbell thing. Second, we're in Argentina and we've met our guide a Paco Ventafio. He appears to be sequestrated. Any thoughts as to how we should proceed?

When are you meeting with him?

He is taking us to survey the broken equipment in about an hour.

Postpone until tomorrow morning. I'll get three of our corporate security agents down there to accompany you. In the meantime stay in the corporate suite, your employee number should open a false wall in the bedroom opposite the balcony. There should be M972s, and slug thrower handguns. Arm yourselves with the handguns; I've activated your corporate carry licenses.

Do you expect there to be trouble?

I expect you to prepare for trouble. Now about your little intrusion, I've devised a little out of the office wall for you to hit in the future if I'm...occupied. I would suggest that you and Miranda do the same as we will have increased difficulty maintaining a working relationship if we are constantly distracted with 'on the job' images of each other. As for what you've seen already, I suggest you use some nanite behavior modifiers to do some erasing.

Yes E, thanks.

Not a problem, later.

Basil told Paco that they would delay the tour until the morning and that they were staying in to rest up from the travel. Paco took the news with no expression and silently left the hotel lobby.

That was damn odd Miranda; he didn't even ask what time to be here in the morning.

Yeah I think staying in was an excellent idea, at least until reinforcements arrive. Shall we get something to eat?

Let's get room service; I haven't had lamb in a long time. After dinner we can luxuriate under the ceiling screen of what the sky would look like out of the dome. You know that screen is over the pool?

Yes Basil that had caught my attention. Do you think it is safe to sleep here?

I intend to secure the suite once we have our dinner. The executive security kit in the armory room has enough features to keep us safe.

They ordered room service and after 15 minutes of waiting decided that getting the security kit ready would be a reassuring way to pass the time. One of the instruments in the kit scanned for intruder nanites and needed to be tuned to normal level of the protected beings. It was fortunate that they decided to tune it because it alerted them to danger when the food arrived. The wait staff delivered clean food but they were absolutely infested with breachers and behavioral modifiers. It didn't help to settle things down when Miranda realized that the second person was Paco Ventafio or his exact clone.

When they left the room Basil ran for the armory room and snatched up the active Gamma scanner giving the entryway a thorough hosing with hard radiation. The scanner detected no more breachers or sequestrators out to its maximum range of thirty meters. They heard a series of thumps outside their door. They drew their handguns and opened the door to find a dozen humans including the wait staff unconscious on the floor.

I hope I didn't overdo it with the Gamma. Do you think they will make it?

I'm not a Doctor of Medicine, damn it Basil. We better summon emergency services and keep the scanner going. Maybe the local 'Next You' clinic recovery team should be here.

Right, I'll call them.

You did the correct thing.

It just doesn't feel that correct Miranda. I don't want to be a killer.

Twenty minutes later a team of doctors from the Next You clinic and the local Peace Corps liaison arrived. Seven of the bodies had expired and Captain Ingersoll of the Peace Corps was busy determining if anybody should be executed or imprisoned pending an investigation. During a lengthy conversation with the Tribunal enforcement bureau concerning Next You executive status the body furthest from the suite door jumped up and ran at Basil.

Capt. Ingersoll put him down using his side arm and an entire magazine of twelve millimeter ammunition. That little side incident seemed to close the entire investigation as far as the Peace Corps was concerned and he left with an unaccepted offer to provide additional local security.

After three hours of people in and out of the suite Miranda and Basil were finally alone again.

Basil, do we stay or move to a Next You property?

I think we stay and wait on Etresca’s reinforcements, and then we get out and get an accelerated handle on how to get this project back on the rails. You don’t have to stay with me if you don’t feel safe.

That was very manly of you but I want to be with you and if saving this planet is what you want to do then I’m in too.

This is our home world you know. Don’t you feel anything for it?

Not as much as I should I guess. I think the Law of Exchange had a lot to do with killing my nostalgia. I don’t think of earth as home.

I have some of that trouble too, but I think this is a rare world and worth protecting. All right, I’ll reset the alarms then join you in the pool?

The pool was four feet deep and ten yards square with a waterfall on stones feature on the edge. They floated in each others arms for an hour watching the screen image of the sky on the ceiling cycle in time with the night outside of the dome. Gradually they shifted to more intimate positions until they only had focus for each other. The passion and heat of their lovemaking even in the pool raised the water temperature a couple degrees until they reached climax and folded back into a snuggled embrace. They gently dried each other off as they moved to the suites master bed and slept until midmorning.

Miranda was the first to wake up to the gentle knock at the suite door. She checked the scanner then disabled the alarms and traps to greet the Next You security detail. The team leader at the door was human but definitely in an augmented body. She stood at least two meters and appeared to mass one hundred and twenty kilograms of muscle and bone. Miss Patel, Etresca sent us to work for you and Mr. Wright. She said that without a giggle, more discipline than I have.

Please come right in, we’ll be with you in about a half hour. We are just now waking up.

Excuse me maam but how do you know it is safe to let me in?

I scanned the door prior to answering, why?

Did my nanites not appear in your scan?

No they did not as a matter of fact, but all Next You augments give off a friend signal to the scanner. I guess that could become a problem if the enemy begins using our tech. Is that currently a problem?

No maam, this is just the first time my team has been dispatched against an OPFOR with nanites tech and I’m trying to be thorough on our options.

Anything else or should I go get ready for the day?

Yes maam, we’ll stay out here and in the hallway until you are ready to leave.

Okay, I need you to call me Miranda and what is your name?

Stacy Burns but my friends call me Stackhouse, ma…Miranda.

That’s better Stackhouse; we’ll get ready and meet you here to brief you on our agenda and the events to date in one hour.

Yes Miranda.

I retreated to the bedroom and brought Basil up to wakefulness in my own way. We were out in the greeting room discussing the needs of the day in one hour. Stacy did nothing to discourage any of our plans to tour the recovery equipment sites.

Stacy said All of my team are body transfers from the NYIAID security division. Our immune systems should be up to fighting off breachers and sequestrators. There are fourteen human-forms plus myself and four myrmidon which will deploy once you travel to the Under Ocean city states.

Basil said I hadn’t told you of my plans for the UO cities. What makes you think I will do any such thing?

Mr. Wright, Etresca had our entire team training to support your operations here for the last month and we are all familiar with the plan you devised using Enrico to orchestrate the recovery of the earth. Our deployment here was only sped up by the attack on you and Miss Patel last night. There are over two hundred and fifty more operatives in your specific security division enroute to Antarctica.

Miranda spoke I guess that leaves me as being the one behind. What plan and who is Enrico?

Enrico is a super computer AI on Phobos that I have been using to model my recovery plans for earth. The plan wasn’t final yet and I thought only Enrico and I were accessing it.

Stacy said Enrico took it upon himself to brief Etresca on your plans. He is an AI you know.

Awesome.

Miranda testier this time The plan dear?

Well the broad strokes are this: we try to convince the tribunal to spit out regular colony expeditions to relieve pressure in the domes while we recover as much living space as sustainable on earth, including in the oceans. Not only do we need to abate the damage to the arable lands but we need to recondition the oceans, removing as much of the toxins as we can to help the atmosphere recover and heal itself.

Those do sound like broad strokes. Do you have a magic wand to address how to accomplish these things or would you accept some help?

I have no idea how to do these things but Enrico assured me that the technology was doable. My main purpose currently is to negotiate with the tribunal, the UO cities and anyone else I need to achieve buy-in.

Miranda’s hackles seemed to smooth down after she realized he hadn’t deliberately tried to shut her out.

Stacy sensed that peace had been achieved. We’re ready whenever you want to leave. I have a gravitic repulser pod on the dome platform.

Basil was anxious to get Miranda back on the fun loving side of things. I got you a hat to wear on the pampas dear. We could probably both use some solar protection with as much time as we spend in space.

You know that our nanites immune system protects us from gamma ray bursts in space right?

Okay, this hat is a peace offering and a gift to my love. Will you kindly accept it?

Yes dear, I’m sorry. This hat is very fashionable, thank you.

You are welcome. I think we’re ready Stacy.

Back to Top

Chapter 2: Is brain washing the true path to God’s favor?

The city state of Nuevo Columbia had been built on top of the ruins of old Cuzco in what had once been the country of Peru. The project had been a joint effort of Peru, Ecuador, Columbia and Brazil to provide for the upper castes after the genocide war. Ground at that altitude had not seen the contamination that had descended on the lower lands and the only worry was providing for food and water. Nothing big mind you.

On the edge of the dome was the technical institute of South America, the leading university remaining on earth besides Geneva. A professor-researcher named Hernando Pacheco was working late in his lab manufacturing artificial insects to deploy other things around the world that his church leaders claimed would cleanse the population of non-believers. He didn’t think about whether he agreed; he just did what they told him to do.

The fact that the creator now had a name, Ahura Mazda, was not something he’d questioned either. It seemed new that they now used that name in church but he couldn’t remember when it had first been introduced. The demons they were to fight against had been brought to this world in a time of weakness after the genocide war and were spreading using the Next You Corporation according to the church priests. The current head priest, Mithras, had declared our resistance to the Devas or Demons that would enslave all of us for their evil purposes.

He was on the council of deacons that had started sacrificing the captured Devas, anyone who resisted the nanites of God. His beautiful insects would help distribute God’s nanites to the rest of the world and bring unbelievers into the loving arms of his god. Over the decade he had toiled in the lab making all manner of replica insects he had grown to love his fliers the best. With the new close packed hexagonal battery nano-technology available for his use, the fliers could operate for days before settling into an electromagnetic field to leech more energy. That this technology was an offshoot of the benefits brought to earth by the demons did not prevent him from incorporating it.

Jose Vargas entered the lab Are the latest batches of your creations ready to deploy?

Yes, I’ve boxed them in stasis to preserve their initial charge. The nanite generator is in a separate box with a photovoltaic array built into the skin. You should keep it in darkness until you are ready to deploy the carriers or you will be overrun.

I know my fucking business Hernando; just make sure your shit works, yes?

Cursing during god’s business is a bad sign. Be careful my friend.

I will thanks. I’m off to Buenos Aires.

Stacy’s second in command was piloting the pod and landed them next to a broken down topsoil recovery tractor. The tractor was the length of a city block and the width of a soccer field. It’s sole purpose was to pickup the top twelve centimeters of soil and cleanse it of radioactivity, viruses and manufactured bacteria. It was not a simple task but the machine was well engineered, robust and used task specific nano-technology for all the complicated stuff. It used the separated radioactive isotopes to chemically manufacture materials for medical and reactor scanners. The autonomous controller pod had overloaded and the simple AI had been purged. The head of the crew staff, Jose Vargas, had just returned from his daughter’s marriage in Nuevo Columbia.

Basil was speaking Jose, your job is not in danger. I just need to know what resources we need to bring to bear on this problem to keep the schedule from disintegrating. The pressure to make these lands ready for settling is not artificial; our models show that riots will double in the domes unless we relieve the crowding on schedule.

I believe you Mr. Wright. Having backups ready for the controller pods would help but we don’t know what fried this one. I don’t know how many backups we need or if we need to do something else.

Miranda joined the conversation. Has the pod been tech analyzed yet?

No we don’t have a portable lab out here. It is on the ground over there by the treads.

Miranda walked over to the controller pod with Stacy who activated the nanite scanner while walking. The indicator emitted a screaming wail into her wireless earpiece prompting her to immediately shut it down. Quietly she remarked to Miranda that there seemed to be a lot of nanites of non-Next You manufacture really close. Miranda took the scanner and muted the audio. She used the touch screen to set a holographic modeling display to detect the nanites and render a three dimensional graphic representation.

Moving the detector to point at the pod they could see that the entire structure was composed of non-company nanites, foreign manufacture. The picture expanded as Miranda cranked back on the resolution to develop a map of the area. Though there was an even distribution of several parts per billion in the space between people, Vargas and his aid were absolutely crawling with them.

Stacy tapped Miranda’s upper arm twice gently as she announced to the group that the area would require a protocol forty four clean up. On the edge of the last code word her second and two other team members tossed gamma emitting grenades at the controller pod and Vargas. The pod reduced to a puddle of liquid metal. Vargas and his aid were now comatose and badly burned. Suspecting this Stacy had a second repulser pod come in with medics and several stasis bays to preserve any casualties worth saving.

After Vargas and his aid were in stasis Miranda spoke first Basil, I believe we owe Stacy our gratitude. What do you say Stackhouse?

Just doing my job Miranda and I think we need to get moving. Do you two need to do anything to this machinery or can a crew be dispatched to get it running again?

Basil replied I thank you anyway Stacy and I honestly don’t know. In my youth I used to program machines but this is beyond me I think. Do we have any assets in orbit that can come to our rescue?

Miranda I kept Hammond’s team waiting for a report of our findings. They have the staff for this sort of thing. I guess this means we start scanning all the locals.

That seems to be the best plan. Can we visit the other two sites Stacy or did this little incident blow our resources for today?

No sir, I have the next standby pod all ready on station and we haven’t even messed up the schedule if we leave right now.

Good job and please call me Basil. If we complete today’s schedule intact I promise your entire team the dinner of their choice when their shifts permit.

All right then s…Basil, let’s move it along. I can all ready taste my real steak.

You almost called me Sir Basil. I kind of like that.

Miranda Oh Christ on crutches Basil, let’s go.

I love it when I test her patience.

The next two stops went without incident except for a cut that Basil received when he had tried to hold a butterfly that had landed on the back of his hand. Looking at his hand and seeing his nanites starting to knit the cut together he neglected to say anything about it. The security team dined well that night as Basil and Miranda relaxed in their suites pool.

Miranda started the conversation Basil, are work days touring sites and nights of our mutual debauchery all part of the plan you and Enrico cooked up?

Basil sighed I don’t know how many times I need to tell you that I’m sorry I didn’t mention that to you, but if you give me any number I promise I will start right now.

Miranda laughed Its kind of fun torturing you like this but I forgive you. I want to meet and thank Enrico by the way. He seems to be on my side.

The next time we are on Phobos we can make that our first appointment. I’m considering asking him to be my best man.

A very awkward silence lasted for almost five minutes before Miranda said anything.

I suspect I shouldn’t have to ask this but who are you planning to marry?

I heard it was you but regardless of whom it is I would still ask him to be my best man.

Basil you unbelievable asshole, are you proposing or not?

If I was would you be accepting or not?

I asked you first as she took a firm grip of his manhood and started leading him under her.

Yes he said as his head slipped under the water surface and he made for the bloom of her lips blowing bubbles toward her clit and making her dance on the pool bottom. He surfaced in time to hear her say the same word.

Basil caught his breath and said Yes, will you marry me?

Yes I will and yes keep doing what you were doing.

I’ll need to get gills for that but I’ll give it the best I’ve got for tonight.

We probably better finish this in the bed, I don’t want to drown my fiancé and I don’t think I could stop myself from holding your head down there.

They left the pool for the bed without drying and Basil slipped and fell on the tiles in his hurry. By the time they reached the bed they each had that hungry look in their eyes and began to excite each other by toying with their sensitive private secrets. Basil knew that Miranda loved having her nipples tongued while her clit was rubbed against her pubic bone. Miranda knew that Basil wanted the shaft of his manhood rubbed while she took his balls into her mouth. They both knew that they could only take a few minutes of this before he needed to be inside her. He rolled her over onto her knees and spread the lips of her as his cock entered. The thrusting began slowly, heating up as they both approached the cliff and went gladly over.

This was not like any of the other couplings they had engaged in because this time they wanted each other as beings, persons in love with each other and reciprocating. This was bliss.

Stackhouse was in her efficient form the next morning as the happy couple made their announcement at the briefing-breakfast meeting.

Congratulations you two. Do you have a date set yet?

Basil "No I just asked her.