"Wahoo!” Karen leered at me.

Ophelia tilted her head curiously and smiled. She hadn’t been there when I’d been told to strip off. Patricia on the under hand was suddenly all busy.

“Now, Elias. No more time for games. We need answer’s,” she barked at me and I jumped into action. Monotonously going through the motions.

Answer’s… right…

Once I was down to my socks and underwear I shot a look at the women, and Judy. All intently watching me take my clothes off.

“Could,” I cleared my throat and muttered, “could you at least turn around.”

“And miss the show?” Karen looked affronted by the very notion.

“I will at least,” Ophelia said for which I was grateful. “If that is what you truly wish?”

“I do—” I tried to reply.

“Get in the bloody medical pod, Eli,” Patricia snapped at me.

“Okay!” I squeaked, and stripped down my underwear, exposing my – yes – my starry purple penis.

“It is!” I heard Karen squeal as she clapped her hands overly excited. “And, damn…! you didn’t tell us what you were packing.”

“Shut up,” I grumbled at the blonde and covered my swinging dick with my hands.

“Socks! - as well,” Patricia announced from where she sat behind a monitor. I sent her a dark look but realised she was staring at me also.

Then I looked to Ophelia who had the good grace to blush heavily and look away from my probing gaze.

“Fine,” I hissed and fumbled about covering myself while taking my socks off. The medical pod bed behind me hissed, and I looked over my shoulder to see then it had rotated vertical and was now upright.

The clear glassy dome peeled opened. I turned and squared my shoulders, trying hard not to blush at their blatant stares.

I walked over and climbed on.

The bed had a slight indentation in the outline of a body. A small supporting footholds allowed me to stand upright and lean back. I did so and closed my eyes, Karen jeered approvingly, and Ophelia tried to clear her throat a couple dozen times.

“Starting the evaluation process,” Patricia announced loudly.

A loud whump sounded and I felt a vibration roll through the bed. “Try to relax, Eli. This will only take a moment.”

The clear glassy dome slid up to close around me. All I could see from the inside looking out was the reflection of my purple(d) appearance.

Another vibration rolled through the bed and a bright vibrant blue light streamed along the surface of the glassy dome. It shot by and I felt another whump followed by another, and then another. As the speed of the blue light past over me more quickly.

The sound of the light streaming over, and the constant vibration made hearing hard. Yet I heard it when Patricia exclaimed. “He’s barely passable in the genome!”

What does that mean? I thought to ask but the sound would be lost in all this chaos streaming over me.

“What does that mean?” Karen shouted.

“It means he has the Super’s genome. But its miniscule, of a lesser degree.”

“But surely that can’t be right,” even Ophelia’s soft tones were audible over the din of noise.

“They’re over anomalies in his DNA that I don’t recognise at all. They’re super complex even at a glance and I—”

“Miss, if I may?” interrupted Judy.

Suddenly I felt the vibration rolling through and under me, slow down. The streaming light halting its momentum incrementally.

“Judy! what’re doing?” Patricia gasped and the medical pod rocked as it whirred upright. A few seconds later the glassy dome blinked open and I stumbled off the bed falling onto my hands and knees.

Disorientation swept through me as I tried to wiggle some life into my numb limbs.

“Miss, is incorrect in her interpretation of Mr. Thompson’s genome.”

“Uh, no I’m not, look at it—” she waved her hand at the monitor even as Judy continued speaking.

“Here,” Ophelia offered, and I looked up see her hand extended down towards me.

“Thanks,” I said gratefully as she helped me to my feet. I leaned against her and wobbled. I tried desperately hard not to notice the softness of her skin, or the creamy coffee scent of her hair.

I looked over to Patricia as the Technomancer argued with the floating orb. A small slender cable bridged the space between Judy and the monitor Patricia had been working from.

“You were searching for the interpreted signifier that all known Super genome classes display. The one you found, yet do not understand is that of an Amper, of a lesser degree. But, Miss. What you’re failing to understand is that you’re looking at the smallest piece on the puzzle,” Judy informed her and us all.

I frowned in confusion, wanting to ask question’s but Judy continued.

“This, Miss. Bear a direct correlation to a single unknown case, I found stored in the Preyta SPBI storage facility before the collapse.”

“The one I asked you to pilfer before we fled the city?” the dark-haired beauty asked, suddenly intrigued. This was starting to get really confusing. Preyta city fell twenty-four years ago. Patricia didn’t look any older that I was. And if so it was only by a few years.

Something wasn’t making sense here.

“What was the unknown case, Judy?” Karen asked sounding curious.

Ophelia and I walked over to stand with them. No one seemed to notice my nakedness for which I was thankful. Instead we all watched the monitor, on which was a layout of my gene sequence.

I wasn’t genealogist, but even from a glance I could tell something wasn’t right. It looked ridiculously complex and convoluted.

A file blinked opened atop it.

“The case was classified unknown in the SPBI database. The data was taken during contact with an unknown entity. This was prior to the sinking of Preyta.”

“How prior?” Patricia asked firmly.

“One month,” Judy reported.

“Any detail?” she probed the orb. The filed skipped several pages, and scanned a blurry section.

“An SPBI patrol made contact with an unknown wounded assailant,” Judy reported.

“Where?”

“Flying over the Keldasen ocean towards Preyta. The wounded assailant was being pursue by three other entities of a similar nature. The patrol tried to intercept them but only the pilot survive. It is noted that the wounded flying assailant saved the pilots life and dropped her on the outskirts of Preyta city.”

“Then what happened?” I asked.

“The fight for Preyta began,” Judy stated ominously.

“And somehow I’m related to this. How?” I shook head and swayed unsteadily.

“The pilot reported in, and was immediately evacuated to the nearest SPBI station. The wounded assailant’s blood coated the pilots overall’s.”

“The genome analyse is a seventy-nine percent match between Mr. Thompson’s, and this: Exemplar Z.”

“Exemplar Z? Nalsteader mentioned something along those lines,” Karen said thoughtfully, and I nodded remembering.

“He said, the Exemplar’s are returning after twenty-four years, that was before he was interrupted by the Devotee,” I said thoughtfully. Then after a long deep breath I turned my attention back to Judy. “Is there any more information on this Exemplar Z?”

“Certainly,” the orb bobbed minimally. “What would you like to know?”

“What-” I started and swallowed thickly. “What are the chances that we’re related?”

“Over fifty percent,” the orb answered immediately. “Most of your specific genome is segmented largely by this unknown factor that links you to the DNA print of Exemplar Z. A smaller portion of your more base genome classifies you as a lesser Amplifier.”

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

“Which in itself,” Patricia noted. “Could be why the Unbound are willing to tempt you instead of kidnap. Amper’s are no joke.”

“I heard there was a Amper capable of blocking someone’s powers, just as easily as she could amplify them,” Karen nodded.

“Judy,” Ophelia said, speaking up on her soft voice. “Does the file note the abilities of this Exemplar Z?”

“Yes it does, Miss Walker. Exemplar Z was thought to be a highly powered Telekinetic. Linked files also suggested that those chasing the wounded assailant. Exemplar Z. Were also thought to be equally powerful Telekinetic.”

“So telekinesis,” Karen said doubtfully and glanced at me. Then her eyes trailed down my body towards my hanging cock.

“They’re subsidiary notes attached that suggests that they were capable of hurling cars with a wave of their hands. Flying, knocking building down, or picking up such building’s and throwing them. Miss. Gillian,” said Judy, and I detected a note of annoyance in its otherwise robotic tone.

“Powerful Telekinetic power’s then,” Patricia nodded and clapped her hands lightly. “Judy, run the scan of, Elias’s DNA and genome throughout the database and see if they’re any known connection’s to other power’s out there. Then once you’ve done that, and if you are capable. Revaluate this Exemplar Z DNA and genome cycle once again. Then draw up a list of base capabilities, Elias could use.”

“It shall be done, Miss,” Judy bobbed and flapped one of her wing-fans in a wave and went silent. I on the other was still reeling. Judy had answered my question on the chances of relation.

“Elias,” Ophelia murmured still supporting me, and I realised I was leaning on her more heavily now. “Are you alright?”

“Fine,” I said numbly and blinked. “I think… I think I need to call home.”

“Use the Coven house phone,” she told me firmly and walked us over to my dropped clothes. A small robot having neatly piled them helpfully.

I got dressed and joined the three women a moment later, still feeling wobblily and numb.

“Ophelia mentioned I could use your coven phone. If that’s alright?” I asked after nodding towards the angelic woman.

“Its fine. I figured you would want to eventually at some point today. I also think it might be best for you stay here at least for tonight,” Patricia suggested, and after a moment’s consideration I nodded.

“Sound idea. I just want to let my mom know I’m okay is all,” I cautioned. Fully knowing it was likely the SPBI had met with my mom already. And were Likely monitoring her calls and messages.

“We’re untraceable through technological mean’s,” the Technomancer boasted proudly.

“It’s more human curiosity that’ll see us found,” Karen grumbled, and I remembered that a few people had recorded our fight with the Sentinel, and recorded it. “We could be all over the news by now. Luckily, I’m protected. But if the ASP society catches wind of this—”

“Karen!” Ophelia hissed disapprovingly and shot a glance towards me.

“Oh, shit. Sorry, Elias,” the blonde began apologetically. “None of us really have any relatives anymore. All are either long dead or…” she trailed off when Patricia stared hard at the blonde.

“Well, sorry,” she said lastly.

“It’s… quite alright,” I soothed and looked down at my hands. “I should expect as much, at least. What’s done is done.”

I reached into my pocket and took out my Arium collar when an idea struck me. I looked at the Technomancer, “Patricia, could you work with this collar and find some means of making it activate on and off with a button, switch, or something?”

“Hah. Of course I can do that. We all have similar item on our person’s at all times when we’re out,” the raven-haired beauty chuckled lightly and took the collar from my hands. “Maybe I’ll even bejewel it for you,” she mused.

“Please don’t. I have to wear that after all,” I told her flatly.

“Maybe, maybe not.”

I knew what she was saying. Ophelia had suggested the same thing a few hours ago. That I could possibly force the change myself. I just don’t even know where to begin. I was abruptly hit by a bout of gratitude towards these three outstandingly stunning women.

“Thank you, all three of you. I can’t imagine how my day would’ve went if I hadn’t stumbled into Karen in the corridor,” I smiled at the blonde.

“Oh, I was waiting for you to leave the cafeteria anyway,” the blonde waved me off without explanation.

I turned to Ophelia. “Thank you as well, Ophelia. For helping to calm and soothe my nerves and fear.”

Then I turned to Patricia next and opened my mouth, but she waved her hand dismissively. Her pale skin flushing lightly.

“We get it. You’re grateful. Now, do want to use the phone to call home or what?” Patricia asked and I smiled at her gratefully. She had saved my life once already, at Bysons, and now she was basically housing me.

“Please,” I nodded firmly. We walked outside following behind the raven-beauty. I expected her to walked back down the street, but instead she moved to the house opposite us.

“You can take house five for tonight. I wanted to give you Devlin’s room, but she tends to leave horrible runes about that take a snapshot of your soul. A stranger in her house, would likely cause her to throw a fit.”

I looked down at my wrist-phone and noted that the time was past seven in the evening. I hadn’t realised we’d been talking for so long.

“Ophelia will bring you some spare bedding and pillow’s. She has the most.”

“That, I do,” the angelic-woman seemed strangely proud of that. It was cute.

“Just use the phone inside,” the Technomancer continued. “The kitchen and cabinets are always kept fully stocked, so use it freely. It’s just a like a house but all completely open plan.”

“I will,” I assured her gratefully. “And thank you again.”

“If you need anything, just shout or come get us,” Karen waved to me as she started off down the underground street.

“Exactly,” Patricia nodded at the blonde’s departing words. “We- I, did kind of have a role in the events that lead to you facing this.”

“No, you really didn’t—”

“I could’ve easily have been of more help to you. But instead I chose to follow my leads instead wasting time on you. Then, Nalsteader came to the academy. The Devotee Elementalist. Then the SPBI sentinel’s. All of this, for you, could’ve been avoided if I had taken the time to do so.”

“You really didn’t do anything wrong—” I tried to waved off her words.

“For that I’m sorry, Eli,” the raven-haired woman bowed her head to me, and followed after the blonde.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve heard her say something so honest,” Ophelia smiled sadly. “A long while ago, she took on a massive responsibility. She built something for herself and for those around her, and made it something great. Now she has no control over it anymore. It’s all she can do is protect it from those wishing to cause it harm.”

“What did she build?” I asked her curiously.

“Everything,” the angelic-woman replied cryptically.

“What does mean—”

“I’ll go and collect the extra bedding. We’re direct neighbours, so I shouldn’t be too long,” the angelic-woman bounced on her bare toes. The motion doing all sort of things to my attention.

“I’ll be back in a minute,” she quickly turned like she was about to sprint off, then twisted back to face me.

Before I could even blink she threw her arms around my neck and gave me a quick hug.

As fast as her embrace had been it ended.

She crouched low and sprang into air with acrobatic back flip. Her wings snapping taut and beating furiously. She flew done the underground street, and I got a perfect view of her full ass in a pair of lacy black panties.

~*~*~*~

The inside of house was exactly what it was cooked up to be. A large wide-open planned house. The middle of the room was spacious and largely taken up and soft brown shapely couch. Before it, was an oval table. On which sat several docking devices.

One of which I saw and was grateful for, was an empty wrist-phone dock. Besides that, was a slim manual phone with a cord connecting between the dock and the phone.

I picked it up and heard the toneless noise coming through it. At the back centre of the room, was an overly large king-sized bed. The top right corner of the house was the fully stocked kitchen and beside that was a large cabinet and pantry. The lower right corner was a dining area, equipped with table and chairs enough to have everyone over and comfortable.

The upper left corner of the house was the bathroom and shower. A small one-person cubicle. A murky partition blocked sight between the bed and toilet.

I had to laugh at the thought of having people over for a meal and needing to take a shit. I might blocked sight, but sound? The thought made chuckle at least. The lower left corner of the room had various exercise equipment. Treadmills, and rowing machine. A bench for weight lifting. A mat for stretching. Various size Medicine ball’s.

It was nice, I found.

It met every desirably need if not homely. The door thudded and I walked over to pull but realised that these door’s slid aside. It opened as I neared and nearly toppled Ophelia inwards. Her wings folded to accommodate the entrance.

“Here,” she huffed and smiled widely. Her brown satin dress hugged her splendid figure lovely. “These should fit your bed perfectly,” she informed me and searched through the pile.

“And this,” she came back up with a single pillow long enough to fit the entire width of the king-sized mattress. “Should suit your needs perfectly.”

“Thank you, oh mistress of comforts,” I bowed obsequiously to her. She giggled at me false servility.

“So you should, purple man,” she grinned, and I blinked realising that I was in fact still purple.

“I’m gonna need to work on that,” I murmured looked my black nails.

“You’ll get it,” she mumbled a little sadly. I could see how she was sort of hoping vicariously through me. And wishing all the while that she could simple - think - her wings away.

“Me too,” I said after a moment past between us. I didn’t want her to see the pity I had just felt for her. I could only imagine she saw that enough as is.

Was she even able to go outside. To fly and be free. Or was this place her cage. A comfy one, but still a cage with all its trappings.

“Fancy helping some poor unfortunate student do his bedding?” I asked, and scrunched up my face. “I usually have my lesser servant’s do this for me,” I said imperiously.

“I am but a humble maiden, my lord,” the angelic woman bowed giving me an ample view of her breast’s. She grabbed one end of the bedding and fanned it out, giving me access to my end.

“Humble,” I snorted. “Isn’t a Mistress of comfort another name for a… you know,” I started wiggled my eyebrows suggestively.

She looked at me in confusion for a moment before realisation hit. She burst out laughing and I smiled at the tenderness of her cheery tone. Then she took on affronted looked and stared false dagger’s at me. “That mean’s, that my lord just called this humble – humble – maiden, a slut.”

It was my turn to start laughing. “One that promotes such, at least,” I wiggled my eyebrows with a chuckle. We fell into contemplative silence. Both of us wearing matching grins on our face.

“I like this,” she said after a moment.

“Of course mistress,” I replied automatically.

“No, seriously,” she snickered. “I liked meeting new people. It’s why I run the bar upstairs with Karen. I get to see all kinds of folk. Some more interesting than other.”

“I can imagine,” I agreed. My mind trailing back to the thought of the cage.

“And I like you. A lot really,” her words caught me off-guard and I blinked owlishly at her. “You look at me—” she began her focus intend on spreading the sheet out.

“Sorry—” I tried to apologies unsure of myself.

“I’m not offended,” she said hurriedly. “In fact, I’m pleased you look at me. You look at me. Not at my wings, and they don’t seem to disgust you either.”

“They don’t,” I said forcefully and shook my head. “They’re… b-beautiful. But they’re just a part of you, not the whole…” I trailed off awkwardly and cleared my throat.

What the hell was I confessing?

“Which is why I should be thanking you. Even if you leave us in a couple of days and we never see each other again. I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you making me feel … uncaged. Even if only for a little while.”

She looked up at me, and I immediately stepped around the bed and caught her up in an embrace. Pressing her smaller body against my larger frame. One hand played through her silken hair, the other gently running circles on her back between her wings.

At least that’s what I wanted to do.

Instead, she smiled sadly at me, and left the room. Left me standing there like a dumb fool. I swallowed thickly. Trying to bogged down the sudden rise of emotion.

What could I say to her.

To that.

Her words had been so gentle, sincere, and truthful. I would leave them in a couple of days, and yes, likely never see them again.

See her again.

I sat down on the bed and stared blankly at the door. Expecting- no, wishing she would walk back through. I may’ve been collared my entire life. But I have never been trapped and without freedom.

What meagre words could I give her to fill a void I had never felt?

I rubbed at my wrist and felt the absence of my phone. It was docked and charging on the table. I reminded myself that I needed to call my mom.

This novel is the work of Rhys Thomas. If you are reading this and it has not been published by Rhys Thomas, then this work has been stolen. Please report this to Amazon and me at email: [email protected]