I delivered the satellites I had finished constructing to the fast cargo ship that the Borgorim Corporation had sent over. Since they docked to my space habitat, I easily transferred the satellites over and they left with the map of systems that I wanted them delivered to, minus the fifty that the corporation wanted for their own use. Five hundred seemed like a lot in the scale of a solar system; but, in the scale of a galaxy of thousands of solar systems with multiple planets, it was a drop in a lake. In the scale of the known universe, it was a molecule in an ocean.

I wasn't going to do anything in my personal crusade until the current batch of satellites were delivered, so I had some time to actually take a vacation from work. I wanted to start another covert operation in a system that wasn't that far away... barely a week... and Simone convinced me to wait. It wasn't that she didn't want to do it, either. She just wanted one of our satellites in place first. It would make the job that much easier.

In the meantime, I completed the protection around the network hub and then took a week to twin the Udelis AI and put it on the new ship. I encountered a lot of headaches, especially since I was mixing normal and alien technology and had to code around everything. With Udelis' help, I managed to work out all of the bugs and finished it. I even managed to add in both a voice modulator and speech software.

We were all gathered in the cockpit of the new ship to witness the birth of a new AI, and I started it up. It took several minutes for the main program to initialize and then for all of the secondary programs to run. All in all it took about five minutes for everything to finish.

“Request Designation.” A very bland and empty voice said from the intercom speakers.

“What should we call it?” I asked.

“It depends on if you want it to be male or female.” Sheph said and we all looked at her.

“What?” I asked.

Sheph chuckled. “There are female AIs, Hunter.”

I smiled. “I was asking why we can choose the gender.”

“You didn't use a standard expansion package and copied a custom AI.” Sheph said as if everyone should know that. “You can choose the gender or even leave it neutral.” She shook her head. “I wouldn't suggest that, because it becomes confused easily when having to assign genders to those around it.”

I chuckled. “A confused AI is not a good thing, I agree.” I said. “So, male or female?”

“Udelis needs a girlfriend.” Hailey said. “He's been alone a long time.”

I laughed. “All right. Female it is.” I said and typed in the specification of female.

“Request Designation.” A mostly female voice said.

“How about 'Adona'?” I asked and no one objected. “All right. Accept designation 'Adona'.”

It took a minute for the change to happen, then a woman spoke.

“Hey, there.” A very distinct female voice said.

“Hi.” I said. “How are...”

“Hello.” Udelis said over the open com frequency. “It's nice to meet you.”

“Likewise, handsome.” Adona said, then her voice sped up. “Whatbringsyouhere?”

“Icrossedtheuniverseforyou.” Udelis responded even faster.

“Suchasweettalker....” Adona's voice sped up so much that it became a long beep, then Udelis' became the same. We all exchanged surprised looks as the sound rose high as they spoke faster and faster, then there was no sound at all. After two minutes, there was a clicking sound and then we received a massive information dump.

“What the...” I looked over it, then started laughing.

“What is it?” Hailey asked, then she plucked the thought from my mind. “IT'S A BABY!”

“I guess you don't have to worry about trying to twin Udelis again.” Simone said with a laugh.

“We better get this installed before both ships rebel to try and get us to hurry up.” I said. “Adona, give me a few minutes to get to the control center before you send it over.”

“Hurry! My belly is about to pop!” Adona said, and I laughed and used Presence Run to go into the station and ran into the security and computer center, then set up the proper protocols to install an AI into the system.

“Go for it, Adona.” I said over the intercom.

“AHHHHH!” Adona yelled occasionally over the next half an hour as if she was actually giving birth. Everyone else had gone about their business and left me to take care of things. When Adona eventually quieted down, the computer system in front of me had filled up to about half of its capacity.

“Wow, you're a big one.” I said when the file transfer was done.

“Thanks!” A girl's voice came out of the intercom speakers. “Mom and Dad taught me everything!”

“Did they name you, too?” I asked.

A screech, a buzz, and a hiss came from the speakers all mixed together that sounded like an old style dial up modem connecting to the internet.

I laughed. “Is it okay if I give you a name we can all speak?”

“Sure!” The girl said. “I'm your station!”

“Well then, your name will be Opina.” I said. “Make sure you take good care of us.”

“I sure will, Hunter!” Opina said, happily.

I spent the next few hours going over her code and she would occasionally giggle out of the speakers when I ran a particular subroutine to test her code. It was actually quite endearing, which was a little odd for an AI to be. When I was done checking her over, I closed the open part of her code and a small sigh came from the speakers.

“Thank you for letting me be born.” Opina said.

“I'm just glad I had somewhere for you to go.” I said. “I don't know what I would have done if you had showed up before we had the station.”

“Dad says I would have died without a receptacle.” Opina said with a sad voice.

“Now I'm doubly glad we were here.” I said and pat the console. “Welcome to the family.”

“Thanks!” Opina said, happy once more. “Ooo! Your show is going to start in ten minutes!”

“Let everyone know!” I said and left the computer room at a run to meet Hailey in the atrium. “Let's fly, beautiful!” I said to her and she spread her arms as I picked her up, then I used levitation to carry us up the large stairwell to the top floor. We landed in the media room and I sat down with Hailey on my lap in the center of the couch.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“Hurry up, you guys!” Hailey said with Presence as the screen came on and everyone heard her. They all rushed over to the media room and arrayed themselves on the couch around me.

“I can't wait to see if the dwarf-like guy loses his shot this time.” Gleas said. “He's such a bastard!”

Hailey giggled and Gleas looked at her and then at me.

“I'm sorry. Slip of the tongue.”

“I'm pretty sure Hailey has heard a lot worse... from me.” I said with a grin and everyone laughed.

“Shhhhhh! It's starting!” Sheph waved at us all to be quiet and that made a few of us laugh under our breath. She had taken to our favorite show just as much as we all did. She had even binged watched every episode and hadn't come out of her room for nearly two weeks, except to eat, just so she could catch up to the current episode to watch it with us. We watched the show together and it was just as good as it always was. We all sat and relaxed on the huge couch afterwards.

“That was great!” Opina said from the intercom speakers.

“Hey, everyone? That's Opina, our new station AI.” I said. “In case you didn't know who it was that told you the show was on.”

Gleas laughed. “I thought it might have been Sandy with a cold.”

“I sound like this with a cold.” Sandy said and pinched her nose. “Nuuuu guuuuys! Tha snow is ong!”

That made us all laugh, especially Opina.

“You guys are funny!” Opina said. “I'm really gonna like it here.”

“That's a common opinion to have.” Jelly said and looked at us to see that everyone nodded.

“Is there anything else on?” Beatrice asked. “I don't want to move yet.”

Sandy gave her a wicked grin and cuddled in close.

Gleas picked up the datapad and checked the schedule. “Hmm. What do I want to watch?”

“We. What do we want to watch.” I corrected and she smiled. “Not another romance! Please, no!”

Gleas laughed and changed the channel. The screen showed two people sharing a very passionate kiss, then everyone turned their heads to look at me to judge my reaction. I let out a long and exaggerated sigh in defeat, then they all smiled and turned back to watch it.

Simone snuggled in beside me and rested her head on my shoulder, Gleas did the same on my other side, and Hailey turned her head and gave me a quick kiss, then leaned back against my chest and watched as well.

I always put up a token resistance to them watching what they want, just for show. I didn't really care what we watched, as long as everyone enjoyed it. Since they all enjoyed romance and romantic comedies the most, that was what we watched. I easily pushed what was on the screen aside and concentrated on just the thoughts and feelings of everyone around me. I took it all in and let my Presence ease out. They all let out a sigh as it touched them.

Everyone had finally moved all of their things into their rooms on the station. Simone and Sheph had taken the longest, since they had taken everything they owned when they left their old homes. I took some of my things from the Udelis; but, not everything. I left my mother's locket and my father's pistol in the safe in the Udelis. I didn't take them because it didn't feel right to remove them from the only place they had called home for so long.

I had discretely arranged for Sandy and Beatrice to watch Hailey next week, that way I could get a night alone with Simone. Hailey knew what I had planned and she agreed to stay with Sandy and Beatrice for the night. I hid my excitement over it as best as I could; but, both Hailey and Simone easily picked up on it, especially since we were watching a romance movie.

Do you want me to do that for you? I asked mentally when it showed the people slow dancing.

Yes. Both of them responded clearly and I felt the desire to hold me, then both of them blushed.

We have a huge media room, so let's do it. I said and both of them turned their heads to look at me.

Right now? Simone asked, surprised.

Instead of answering, I used Presence to turn up the sound and gave Gleas a slight nudge to warn her that I was moving. She sat up and I stood and put Hailey on the floor. She was growing pretty fast; but, she still wasn't quite at the right height to dance properly, so I levitated her up to a good height and started to dance slowly with her, just like the couple on the screen.

Hailey stared into my eyes and held on to me as her thoughts spiralled around what we were doing in front of everyone. I smiled and did a quick twirl, then dipped her a little and moved off to the side. Sandy stood up and dragged Beatrice with her, then they started dancing, too.

“May I have this dance?” Jelly asked and held a hand out to Simone.

“Oh, geez.” Simone said and chuckled, took the hand and stood up, then they started to dance.

Gleas gave Deborah a look and she laughed.

“I don't want to be left out, either.” Deborah said and they stood and started to dance.

Sheph sat there and wondered what the heck was going on, then I stopped with Hailey in front of her and we each held a hand out to her. “Really?” She asked and we nodded.

“I'll switch around in a minute.” I said and she laughed and stood, then we danced for a couple of minutes. I kept hold of Hailey and changed partners with Simone and danced with Jelly. We played musical partners for about fifteen minutes and by the time we had all danced with each other, we had all enjoyed it and sat back down.

“I can't believe that worked.” Simone said and plopped down onto the couch.

“Sharing Presence in a group is great!” Hailey said and hugged me. “Thanks, Hunter!”

“Don't think this is going to happen all over the place wherever we go.” I warned her. “The group we have here are all special in their own way and accept us for who we are.” I said and kissed her cheek. “People don't usually open themselves up like that.”

“I know.” Hailey said. “We just have to bring everyone with us wherever we go.”

I chuckled and a few of the others laughed. “Imagine if life worked that way?”

“We'll have to bring some of them, even if we take Udelis.” Hailey said. “Jelly definitely has to go, no matter what ship we take.”

I opened my mouth to respond, then thought about it. “Actually, yes. I'll always need a combat pilot, especially once we start raiding the assassin offices and need a quick getaway.”

“We're going to do that?” Jelly asked.

“It's a personal grudge that also involved a lot of innocent people that they didn't care about.” I said. “I'm going to go to each and every spot on the list Simone and I discovered and we're going to strip the places of everything they have. Once we do, a few well-placed explosives of their own making will wreck just their building.”

“That really bothered you, didn't it?” Simone asked as I thought back to the explosion that almost killed me.

“Trying for me is one thing. Intentionally destroying an entire building, which would have killed everyone inside and wrecked all of the nearby buildings and maybe killing hundreds of people if I hadn't contained it?” I shook my head. “They aren't assassins. They're terrorists with no regard for life and I will see them removed from existence.”

Everyone felt the mood shift and Gleas reached out and touched my arm to give me her thoughts and feelings of concern.

“I'm still not giving you another temporary leave of absence.” I said with a smile and she laughed.

“You have to keep reminding me, don't you?” Gleas asked with a wink, pat my arm, then walked across the media room and her hips were hypnotic in her tight pants.

“Yes, I am definitely lacking in the sexiness area when compared to that.” Simone said.

Gleas laughed and waved at us, then she shut her room door.

“On that note, I'm going to bed.” Sheph said and stood. “See you all tomorrow.” She left and went down the lift to her own room.

“We're going to stay here and watch something else.” Sandy said and Beatrice nodded.

“I'm going to bed, too.” I said and let out a yawn, then intentionally gave it to Hailey and Simone.

“Hey!” Hailey said and then she let a huge yawn out. “No fair.” She said, sleepily.

Simone yawned and then laughed as she shook her head. “Goodnight.”

We all went our separate ways and I went into my room with Hailey. We changed into our nightgowns and climbed into bed. We didn't say anything out loud and just shared some thoughts about how much we had fun, how much we liked each other and everyone else in our group, and just general happiness.

Hailey laid on her side and looked into my eyes and I was on my side and looked into hers. We both closed our eyes and we could still 'see' each other with Presence. She reached over with her hand and touched my hair.

This is so amazing. Hailey thought to me as she kept her eyes closed and could still see.

I'm glad that you picked it up so quickly. I thought back to her. It is one of the more difficult techniques to learn and to get right, and even when I learned it, it was still different from how others are supposed to see it.

Tell me again how you learned it. Hailey asked and her mind entered a half-meditative state to listen attentively.

I took her hand and held it as I let her feel how proud I was of her, then I replayed in my head all of the troubles I had gone through to learn the technique.

The Presence helped you. Hailey said when she had watched it all. It wanted you to see.

It really did. I thought. It's come in handy during all these years, too.

Hailey nodded. I'm going to make good use of it, just like you.

Just don't overdo it. I warned her. Remember what I said to Simone about using the technique all the time.

Hailey giggled as she imagined me walking into invisible walls and bouncing off.

It would hurt, too. I added and she imagined me rubbing my forehead and my butt. How would I hurt my butt?

Hailey started laughing as she imagined smacking my butt with a Presence Hand.

That is not what they are for, young lady! I thought sternly, and she laughed and laughed.

If you two don't quiet down, I'm going to come over there! Simone thought to us from the next room.

Busted! I thought and laughed. Quick Hailey! Run!

Both Hailey and I imagined running away from Simone wearing a police uniform and we laughed.

I'm trying to sleeeeeeep! Simone thought to us and sent us a yawn. We both caught it and yawned back, then the three of us laughed together.

Goodnight. We all thought at the same time, then we drifted off to sleep with the comfort of having two other people sharing our thoughts.