Bacchus

"That's true but we have to protect our chance at a future," Bron said quietly. He gave her a hug and she clung to him.

Angelina slipped off of Bron's lap and went to her room to get changed.

Bailley saw the sad look on Bron's face as he watched Angelina walking away.

"I understand Laura Augustine is throwing a welcome back party for Sasha tonight and has invited all of us," Bailley said to lighten the mood.

"That sounds like fun," Bron said with little enthusiasm. He saw Bailley's sad look and gave himself a shake. "I'm sorry. I'll cheer up. Getting out and dancing will be fun! It will be good to get together with the whole gang once more," he said with a smile and Bailley returned it.

Chapter 24

The party was held at the club Sasha and Bron first met Laura. They had the private room again only this time it wasn't set up as an orgy pit and the air wasn't tainted with pheromones.

Good music was playing with a driving beat and the lightshow kept the people on the dancefloor. Bron saw Laura had a lot of friends and they were all attractive. He mentioned this to Angelina and she looked up at him with a sweet smile.

"They're all dancers she hired for the party. Laura just invited Sasha and her friends. The rest are just to fill the dancefloor and to give us someone to dance with should the mood strike." She nodded towards Vicki who was already out amongst the dancers showing them how it was done.

Bron looked at all the people with a surprised expression and she patted his arm.

They made their way up some stairs and through the sound suppression field to a large, curved comfortable looking couch which wrapped around a low table to hold their drinks. Some of the gang was there and some had brought dates. Introductions were made.

Stephie was grinning from ear to ear as she clung to the arm of a handsome and strong looking man named Marc who apparently trained horses at the ranch Stephie rode at. Bron shook the man's hand as Marc looked up at him in awe.

Rhonda had another male model on her arm, Danny G, but he appeared to be less self-absorbed than Anno had been so her friends held onto a little hope for her. When he clarified that his last name was just the letter G and Rhonda looked away to roll her eyes, they just hoped she'd enjoy him tonight.

Rachel and Sarah both had men with them. Bodybuilders they'd met at the gym. They seemed nice enough though both tried to out squeeze Bron when they shook hands. He refrained from breaking their hands as this was a friendly party. Both laughed and shook their sore hands as they looked at Bron with admiration. Rachel and Sarah just rolled their eyes and grinned at Bron.

Bailley leapt up from the couch and grabbed Angelina's hand and dragged her and Bron out onto the dance floor. They danced together through three tracks before Angelina indicated she wanted to head back to the table. They found spots on the couch and ordered drinks, fruit juice for Bron, and looked for their host.

"I haven't see Laura or Sasha yet," Bailley said as they looked out over the dancefloor.

Asami made her way through the dancers and climbed the stairs to their seating area. The rest of the group stood and swarmed her with hugs and kisses. She was grinning with tears in her eyes when they pulled back. Bron was last to come forward. He picked her up in his arms and hugged her against his body. She pulled back and kissed him, hard. The group cheered and whistled at Asami's uncharacteristic forwardness and Bron's eyes were wide with surprise but he kissed her back.

When he set her back on her feet Asami was panting and he had to brace the woman as her legs were shaking. He guided her to the couch and Angelina put her arm around her shoulders.

"It's official. I am now Asami Kanada," she said to her friends.

"Kanada?" Angelina asked.

"My mother's family name," Asami explained.

Laura and Sasha arrived and there was another round of hugs and kisses and they included Laura much to her surprise and joy. Her eyes were shining with unshed tears of happiness as she grinned at her new friends.

"Would you like to dance?" Bron asked her.

"Yes!" she grinned up at him.

They went out to the dance floor and let the beat take them. Laura was wearing very little and what she did have on showed off her tight, hard muscles really well. She moved her body with a sinuous grace that Bron found more than a little mesmerizing. They danced close, Laura often touching Bron, occasionally rubbing against him. She smiled wickedly at his hungry expression. They made it through four tracks before Bron touched her shoulder and leaned in to speak in her ear.

"Is there someplace private we could go?" he asked with a rough voice.

Her eyes lit up and she grabbed his hand to drag him to the stairs at the side of the room. These led to private party rooms upstairs, one of which she had reserved on the second floor... just in case.

She pushed open the door and Bron followed her in, closing and locking the door behind him. When he turned back Laura leapt into his arms and wrapped hers around his neck. She pressed her mouth against his and thrust her tongue into his mouth. Her legs went around his waist and she ground herself against his body.

Bron's mind was flooded with the bliss of her kiss and her body against his. He quickly undid the seal on his pants and let them drop to his feet, stepping free of them. He put his hands on her ass and she moaned into his mouth. He carried her across the room to a large cushioned platform. He moved to its center on his hands and knees as Laura clung to his body and continued their kiss.

He lowered them to the bed and gently pressed his bulge against her mound. She pulled back from the kiss to moan loudly as the pressure on her clit sent tingles through her body.

Bron discovered the skin on her neck just below her ears was exceptionally sensitive when he lightly stroked that surface with his tongue. She cried out as sparks shot through her nerves and she clawed at his back. He kissed and licked his way down her neck, her chest, spent some time on her small breasts and sensitive nipples, crossed her hard abs, then continued down to her shaven pussy. His licks drew screams of ecstasy and she came hard as she clung to his head, pressing it tightly against her pussy.

"Oh FUCK, Bron! That was so intense!" she panted. She glanced down at him as he crawled back up and saw his cock for the first time. Her eyes widened. "oh god..." she whispered.

Bron looked her in the eye. "The safe word is 'stop'."

She shivered and nodded as her eyes grew wider.

He pushed her legs back, tilting her wet pussy upwards. He ran the end of his cock across the opening and coated this hot flesh with her juices.

"Fuckfuckfuckfuck, uh umm ohgodohgodohgod... sohot!" she babbled as she trembled with both excitement and a little fear.

Once he was slick with her fluids he pressed the thick head against her pussy and felt it stretching open to accommodate him.

"FUCK... OH SSSSHIT!" she screamed as his cock sank deeper into her pussy.

He stopped and slowly pulled it back to the just the head.

"Yes, oh fuck yes!" Laura purred.

Bron pushed forward again, driving himself in faster and going a little deeper.

"AAAAAAAIIIIEEEEEEE!!!!!" Laura screamed and clung to his hips. Her eyes rolled back and she convulsed.

Bron held still, his cock buried deeply in the woman's hot, wet depths. He knew she'd reached her limit of how much of him she could take.

"oh bron... you're so big... so gooood..." she whispered as she trembled. He leaned down and took her mouth with his and she whimpered into the kiss as his tongue fired pleasure nerves she wasn't even aware she had. He began to stroke in and out slowly and she whimpered a little louder. It was too much sensation. She felt so full.

His hips began to tremble as he approached his release and Laura was moaning constantly. Bron's thrusts became shallow and rapid as he moved his mouth to the tender skin in the side of her throat.

"OHFUCKOHFUCKOHFUCK BRON! YES! OH GOD, YES!" Laura wailed as an electrical current shot between her neck and her pussy. Her body could no longer contain the bliss and she crested through a huge climax. She clung to his body to steady her tremors and to feel the heat from him.

This triggered Bron's own release. He moaned as stream after stream of cum fired deep into Laura's body. She moaned feeling his warmth spreading through her.

They both gasped for breath as their bodies came down from the high.

When Bron pulled his softening cock from Laura she sighed and smiled up at him.

"Best ever! Sasha was right! It's so much better when you actually like the person you're with," she said as she stretched, feeling her body tingling all over though some areas were buzzing stronger than others. She recalled the first time she'd spoken to Sasha and how she'd been overwhelmed by the aftermath of her time with Bron. She wondered how much more she'd have to do to get that level of intensity. She touched her neck below her ear and her eyes rolled back as shivers coursed through her. She licked her lips as she came out the other end of the burst. It was his tongue! Where it touched remained sensitive for some time. She rubbed her nipples and the delicious sensation raced through her nerves. When her mind returned she was tucked up against Bron's side as he rested back against the pillows.

"We should return to the party," Bron said gently.

Laura felt a surge of possessiveness but squashed it down viciously. She couldn't be like that anymore. Bron wasn't hers. He was willing to share his time with her and she had to be satisfied with that. She kissed his chest and smiled up at him.

"I think I'm just going to lie here for a bit longer. You go ahead. I'll be along soon," she sighed.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes and thank you Bron. It was as wonderful as I hoped it would be. Maybe we could spend some time together in the next few weeks?"

"I'd like that!" he said with a smile and kissed her.

She purred at the feel of his lips on hers. He grinned and slid off the platform. He pulled his clothes back on and with a final smile back at the woman relaxing on the pillows he left the room leaving it locked behind him.

He made his way back to the table and saw it was empty. He looked out over the dance floor and spotted his friends except for Angelina. He looked back at the table and spotted her cell sitting all by itself. It wasn't like Angelina to leave her phone unattended. He frowned and picked it up. There was a slip of paper under it. He tucked the phone into his back pocket and unfolded the paper. There was some odd handwriting on it.

'Bron, come upstairs to room 3C. Come alone if you wish to see Angelina again.'

He looked around but no one seemed to be looking in his direction. He set off for the stairs and climbed to the third floor. Room 3C was at the end of the hall. He moved quickly down the corridor and listened carefully at the door but the room beyond was silent. He opened the door and saw it was pitch dark inside. He took one more step then the world exploded in light and pain.

Chapter 25

"Bron. It's time to wake up."

He didn't want to. That just led to pain. The darkness had no pain. He wanted to slip into its embrace once more.

"No more sleeping. I've got things to do," the strange voice said. He didn't recognize the speaker. "I know you're awake. Should I stick my knife into the bitch to get your attention?"

Bron heard a squeak and realized he was talking about Angelina! He cracked his eyes open and winced from the effort.

"Ah, here we go. Shock sticks are unpleasant but not crippling. It's nice to finally get to sit down and talk with you."

Bron's eyes adjusted to the dim lighting and he saw a man sitting casually on a chair a few feet from him. He discovered he was sitting on the floor with his back against the wall and his legs stretched out in front of him. His arms were shackled behind his back and around something metallic. He felt a soft body pressed against him. He looked to his left and Angelina's frightened eyes were looking back up at him. Her mouth was covered with a piece of wide black tape. He thought of her phone in his back pocket but he could feel it was no longer there.

"First things first. You are currently chained to one of the building's gas lines and an electrical conduit as is your girlfriend. Should you attempt to tear yourself free you will rupture the pipes and incinerate her. Was that clear?" Bron nodded. "Good. Then let me introduce myself as that's where your story begins. I am Gregory Taggart and I am your creator."

Bron looked closer and suddenly recognized him as the man with the pebble in his shoe.

"Ah, good. You do recognize me."

"The man with the pebble in his shoe," Bron said.

"Indeed, though that pebble was actually the chemical key I designed for unlocking your true potential. It removed your stupid Genie conditioning. It unlocked access to the full extent of your intellectual capacity. I had such high hopes for you but you turned out not to have any potential at all. That's actually why we're having this little conversation. I created you with all the tools for greatness yet you've shown none. My experiments have never yielded so little return. You're truly disappointing."

"What are you talking about?" Bron asked.

"I designed you, grew you, mapped your brain from the genius of my own but chemically restricted it to just a shadow of my brilliance. I ensured you'd be the only one of your group to survive, ensured you'd be enslaved by the vilest example of humanity and forced to endure horrors which should have keened the edge of your rage against humanity. Yet you've shown NONE of the emotions I designed you to experience. WHAT THE FUCK WENT WRONG!" Gregory screamed in frustration.

Bron looked at the man. He'd been responsible for all of the pain he'd gone through in his early days? Just to make him hate humans? "Why?" he asked.

"WHAT?" Greggory snapped.

"Why did you do that? Why would you want me to hate humans?" Bron asked quietly.

Taggart stared at Bron in disappointment. "Where is the intellect I gifted you with?"

"No, I get it. I'm a Genie. A big scary Genie and humans are frightened of me. I wish they weren't because I certainly mean them no harm. I have no desire to hurt anyone! Maybe I should hate some humans for the horrible things I was forced to do but I don't. Can't you see how pointless that would be? Hating people is a waste of effort and precious time. It may have been your intention to make me into a monster to terrorize the populace but can't you see how infantile that is? This was your genius at work?"

Gregory stood up from his chair, clutching the shock stick in his fist. He took a moment to stare at Bron then sat back down and chuckled to himself.

"Well played," he nodded to Bron. "I see my genius did surface after all."

"No, I don't think you see the truth at all," Bron said sadly. "I think you just see what you want to see like everyone else does."

Gregory's smile slipped away. "Well I'm wasting my time after all it seems. My curiosity is sated. You're just a failed experiment. It happens. First time for me so the novelty factor was interesting."

"You've proven to be quite a disappointment for me as well," Bron sighed.

When the shock stick jabbed his thigh he did his best to lean away from Angelina but she caught some of the punishment. As he screamed loudly he dug his fingers into the wall behind his back tearing into the lumber and brickwork as quietly as he could.

Taggart pulled the stick back and Bron's chin dropped to his chest. Agony burned through his limbs but he forced a calm look on his face.

"Th-that doesn't... help your... case," he said with a wince as he forced his head back up. He looked into the eyes of his tormentor. Gregory's expression was blank but the corner of his eye was twitching badly. Bron let him see the pity in his gaze.

Gregory spun on his heel and walked to the other side of the room quickly. Bron took a chance to move his hands deeper into the hole he'd made in the wall. He could now squeeze his hands into the gap behind the pipes. He took a grip on the chain between the cuffs and tested its strength. His tortured muscles shook as he quietly and slowly increased the stress on the links. They weren't the weak point. He relaxed his arms once more as Gregory returned carrying a heavy duffle bag over to a spot on the floor a few metres away from Bron.

He lifted a heavy black toolbox from the bag and set it down on the floor. He pulled a small power tool out next and screwed the four corners of the toolbox into the floor permanently. He flipped open the lid to the box and set a timer on a digital display inside. Bron saw him set it to thirty minutes. He closed the lid and sealed it with his thumbprint. Then he turned back to Bron.

"While you wouldn't fulfill your destiny as a catalyst for social disruption you did do one useful thing in your pointless life." Gregory's lips held a smile that didn't reach his eyes. He pulled a small silver pendant from his shirt pocket. "You brought me this. It is reputed to contain data that will topple empires and not just those on Earth. I'll have to see that for myself."

"Are you aware it is also reputed to be guarded by a very aggressive AI? Any access to the storage device might release it. It's too dangerous to access as it would wreak havoc on Walla's networks and possibly beyond," Bron said.

"Once more you display your dismal ignorance. It's tedious speaking with you but as mine will be the last voice you will hear I will grant you the explanation as I work." He pulled his chair over to the duffle bag and pulled out a small collapsible table and set it up in front of the chair. He pulled a small computer from the bag next and set it up on the table. He pulled a black orb from the bag. It had a series of cables exiting one side with a universal input port on its other side. He held it up for Bron and Angelina to see.

"Do you have any idea what this- never mind, of course you don't. It's a virtual and identical model of Walla's social network. When it's powered up it behaves exactly like the real one. It has hours of real traffic recorded on it. The big difference is that I control every part of it from this device via closed loop avatars installed within the virtual network. I can communicate with them but there is no direct linkage. When I plug in the pendant into the connector I'll be able to see if an AI initializes and begins to explore. My hunter avatars will coordinate and contain the AI while my researcher avatars analyze and collect the data."

Angelina was trying to say something so Bron tilted his face her hers and licked up the edge of the tape with his rough tongue. Then he snagged the loose corner between his teeth and pulled while she turned her face in the opposite direction. The tape came off and she stretched her jaw as one cheek tingled madly from his tongue's touch.

She looked gratefully at Bron and frowned when she saw him chewing the tape like a wad of gum. She shook her head and looked over at the madman.

"You sound like you have everything figured out but you know nothing about the level of sophistication of the AI inside," she asserted.

"Let me say this in tiny words your puny little brain might be able to comprehend. The pendant is storage media not a powered computer. Everything on it is dormant until you connect it to power. The environment I am connecting it to is a closed system. I control the traffic flow coming out of the virtual environment. I know more about programming than... anyone. I could write an AI if I set my mind to it. It's been a rainy day project of mine for some time actually. Nothing inside this pendant outside of the data it contains is dangerous. I will disseminate the data in a series of surgical strikes to cut off the heads of the dysfunctional entity you call civilization and out of the chaos new powers will rise. Powers I will guide into a new age."