Mythran's Master Of All

It didn't take long for supper to be ready, and everyone went back up to Ren's room to eat. Stella carefully fed Ren and herself from the same plate; her with the roast beef, him with the gravy fries. It was quiet in the room while they all ate, and the only sounds were breathing and the clinking of utensils on plates. Barbara asked to see the footage of what happened, and Elise played it for everyone to watch. When they were done eating, Barbara gathered everything onto the push cart.

“I think going back into the game so soon might not be a good idea.” Stella said. “Lisa's right. Your brain is not going to register properly.”

“I'll take the chance.” Ren said. “Hopefully I'll adjust much faster because of the time compression, and my body should stop this damn twitching by the time I log back out.”

“I'm going to contact the CEO of Sid Tec and tell him what happened.” Elise said.

“No, don't.” Ren said.

“What? Why?”

“Isn't it obvious? He'll shut the game down.” Ren said.

“But...”

“It's not the game's fault that I'm susceptible to hypnotic suggestions.”

“Ren, you were attacked...”

“Was I?”

“Ren!”

Ren smiled at Elise's indignation on his behalf and looked at their clasped hands. She hadn't let go of him the entire time, despite him squeezing too hard at first. “We both know that even with the video, it's still subjective about what actually happened.”

Elise shook her head. “We have several witnesses that saw what took place.”

“Yes, and it can be argued that it was my people that attacked first, and not her.” Ren said. “I'm glad Officer Holly gave us the rest of the footage, but having the rest of the people there killed is not in my favor.”

“Ren...”

“No, it's okay.” Ren said. “There's definite proof of witness tampering at the very least.” He smiled at her. “You can use that wonderful brain of yours to come up with the best way to handle this situation.”

“Don't worry, I am.” Elise smiled wickedly. “You can try to go into the game for a while, and if there's no problems, I'll meet you in there later.” She said. “In the meantime, I've got some calls to make and some video files to transfer.”

“Make sure you tell them that I'll give a full deposition with all the details of what happened to me, and I'll tell them who's responsible and everyone else that's involved.” Ren said, and Barbara coughed. “When I'm able to.”

“I'll make sure that's the first thing I tell them.” Elise said as she reluctantly let his hand go, and looked at Barbi. “Let's get back to work.”

Barbi nodded and the two women stood up.

“Wait.” Ren said, and they looked at him. “I'm going to experience something with Xuunah tonight, and I don't want anyone to get mad about it afterwards.”

“What are you going to do?” Elise asked.

“We're not going to have sex, since it's apparently forbidden for Light beings to sleep with mortals.” Ren said. “At least, I don't think it'll be sex.”

“Just spit it out.” Stella said.

“I think I found a work around for it.” Ren said.

“You and that mind of yours.” Stella chuckled. “Always looking for loopholes.”

“I kind of have to, considering everything that happened and the restrictions I've had to deal with.”

“So, it might be sex, but you're not sure?” Elise asked.

Ren nodded. “I think it's going to be more of a deep emotional sharing instead of physical.”

“You're going for Nathalia's mother figure... again?” Denise asked, a little disheartened.

“I'd like to say that it's not my fault that I have a mother complex; but, it totally is.” Ren said and smiled. “Plus, they're pretty hot.”

“Excuse me?” Barbara put her hands on her hips.

Ren raised a hand in surrender. “Let me correct that statement and say that I think other people's mothers are pretty hot.” He said to placate her, and saw her relax. “I'm not going to say something like that about my own mother, even if it's true.”

Barbara's face went red at his words. After a moment, she nodded slightly and pushed the cart out of the room.

“That was nice of you.” Stella whispered, and Ren smiled a little.

“I'll be discussing it with Nathalia first anyways, and she might say no... but, I wanted to talk to you all before approaching her or Xuunah about it.”

“Why now?” Elise asked.

“You're all here... except for Gloria... so it seemed like the right time to ask.”

“Are you going to do whatever this is when you log in?” Lisa asked.

“No, but it might happen later, or not at all.” Ren said. “I'm just making sure you know about it, so if it does happen, it's not a shock for everyone or something I've done without your knowledge.”

“You're just covering your bases, to use a sports analogy.” Barbi said, and Ren nodded. “You're a strange one.”

Ren chuckled. “You know that old saying, you don't know the half of it? Well, you don't know 1/32^nd of it.”

Barbi looked at him with a bit of a frown on her face.

“I mean, you barely know me at all.” Ren said. “I wasn't saying that you're dumb.”

“Oh.”

“Come on, Barbi. Let's get things rolling.” Elise said. “I'm glad lawyers work late on Saturdays.”

Barbi nodded and the two women left the bedroom at a fast walk.

*

Officer Holly had logged back into the game to tell Xuunah and the others what was going on, and that Ren's condition was stable. She stayed there for 4 game hours, then logged back out to check her messages. She was relieved to hear that Ren was awake and getting something to eat, so she logged back in to let everyone know he was going to be okay.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

*

“You're going to have to use the bedpan again.” Ren said to Stella when she moved out from cradling him to let him lay back on the bed. “There's no way the foil packet is going to be good enough.”

Stella snorted a laugh. “Are you planning another marathon session?” She asked. “You can't seriously think...”

“I'm assuming there's going to be a lot going on.” Ren said. “After Lisa in the Sanctuary, I still have to visit Jennifer at the club tonight.”

“Oh, damn.” Stella said. “Billy.”

Ren nodded. “After that is Elise in Aurora. It'll be our first time together in the game, so you know I have to impress her.”

Stella chuckled and nodded.

“Since I'll be in town, I'll probably visit Anabelle afterwards.”

Stella shook her head. “How can you keep them all going?”

“Some of them are patient with me, thank god.” Ren said. “Anabelle especially.”

“I don't know how you can please so many of us all the time.” Lisa said.

“I do.” Ren smiled. “I was conditioned for it.”

“Wh-what?” Denise stared at Ren, then looked at Stella's contemplative face, and Lisa's understanding one. “Wait, you two knew?”

“Not really.” Stella said. “I've been suspecting something of the sort, especially after...” She exchanged looks with Lisa. “Well, let's just say my thoughts have been going along similar lines, like he was made to please women.”

“It didn't start out that way.” Ren said. “I mean, look at me.” He said and the three women looked at him. “Do I look like an appealing sexual partner at first glance?”

Denise was the only one to blush, but he knew Elise would have been in the same category.

“Ah... to most women.” Ren corrected, and Stella chuckled.

“Remembered Elise, did you?”

Ren nodded. “After quite a few other experiments, including sexual enhancement surgeries...”

“Wait, what?”

“I don't know all the details, since I was unconscious for a lot of it.” Ren said. “But I was awake for the discussions afterwards... and the extensive testing.”

“Oh, god.” Lisa put a hand over her mouth. “Please, don't tell us that...”

“No, no.” Ren shook his head. “Thankfully it was all by my hand or mechanical in nature.” He said. “My real first sexual experience was with Lucy, and that was only after she had transferred to a different department in the hospital.”

The three women sighed in relief, and Ren touched each of their hands in turn.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” Stella asked.

“For not looking at me in a different light because I can remember all of the things I've gone through.”

“Oh, Ren.” Lisa leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. “You know we all have you up on a high pedestal. This little thing won't sway our opinion of you.”

Ren chuckled. “So, high enough to stand on, but not too far to fall?”

Lisa chuckled, too. “Exactly.”

Denise handed over his VR headset. “Are you sure you want to try this so soon?”

“I might as well.” Ren said. “The situation's going to be the same whenever I try it, so now is as good a time as any.”

“I'll meet you in there.” Lisa said and stood up as Stella helped Ren put on the headset. “I'll wait for you by the door.”

“You'll see and feel me coming.” Ren said and smiled. “Geez, I'm full of double meanings today.”

“Denise and I are right here, and we'll watch you carefully to see if it works.” Stella said.

“It might take a few minutes to register my altered brain pattern, but it should work.” Ren said. “Flow Login Start.”

********

Ren appeared in the white loading area and stared at the popup.