When all of our preparations were done and had loaded Adona up with all the supplies we needed, the large cargo shuttle named Monna, with a refurbished government hover car in her hold, was placed into the shuttle bay. Beatrice, Sandy, Simone, Jelly, Hailey and I said our goodbyes to Sheph, Gleas, and Deborah.

I hadn't asked, or in fact considered, Simone being left behind, mainly because I knew that she would adamantly refuse to be away from me for so long, just like Hailey had. Of course, she wanted to keep her mental access to me as well. She had suffered enough without me while Luxea was around, and she didn't want to take the chance that she would lose access to me again.

Beatrice floated Adona out to the closest Lagrange point at a leisurely pace, then we jumped into hyperspace to head to the nearest assassin business. It was a couple weeks closer than the first training camp, so we would stop there first. Since we didn't have to worry about infiltrating the place stealthily, we would only have to observe it for activity for a short time, then assault the building. We wouldn't even need the old IDs we still had from the two agents we had impersonated that first time.

Life on the ship was as normal as it could have been, considering we were missing three of our normal number. I cooked all the meals instead of just once a week like I usually did, and everyone appreciated it. The two weeks and a day passed by fairly quickly to my surprise, and we arrived at our first stop. A few of them were anxious, considering this was their first mission like this, and one of them was ecstatic.

“Hurry! HURRY!” Monna yelled as Jelly, Simone and I stepped into the shuttle bay.

“I think someone's as eager as you, Jelly.” I said and the shuttle's hatch opened for us.

“It's technically her maiden voyage.” Jelly said as we walked up the short ramp to get on board. “It's also a combat mission and we're going to be plunging into the atmosphere from orbit.”

“Oh! I can't wait!” Monna said. “I can't! Hurry up!”

Simone laughed and strapped into the co-pilot seat. “It's so weird to have an excited AI.”

“She's a third generation custom AI.” I said and sat down behind her. “Udelis was a custom one that I then adapted and created a new one to become Adona.”

“Is that why she's more normal?” Jelly asked and finished her prep for take-off, then strapped in. “Adona, I mean. She's not as... mechanical in her responses like Udelis is.”

“Yeah.” I said. “It took Udelis and I quite some time to work out how to get her up and running.”

“Then Udelis and Adona got together and had Opina, our space habitat AI.” Simone said. “A third generation AI that was a combination of her parents, with room for expansion.”

“And now we have Monna, the most eager AI yet.” Jelly said. “It's a little odd she wasn't a direct copy of Opina, isn't it?”

“No, not if Adona and Udelis shared more, or did different things with her algorithms, or a whole bunch of things.” I said. “No two children are alike, not even twins born at the same time.” I pat Monna's bulkhead. “Are you ready for your first orbital insertion, Monna?”

“I am so ready!” Monna said. “Let's do it, Grandpa!”

Simone burst out laughing. “That sounds so dirty!”

“Not to mention scandalous.” Jelly laughed. “A grandfather and his granddaughter?” She glanced at me. “Hunter! How could you?”

“Hardy-har-har.” I said. “Beatrice, open the shuttle bay doors.”

“I want to keep listening to this juicy conversation.” Beatrice said and we heard Sandy's laughter in the background.

“Just do it.” I said.

“Hunter! Not me, too!” Beatrice exclaimed, then everyone laughed.

“I'm surrounded by children.” I said, and that made them laugh more. The bay doors opened and Jelly poured power into Monna's engines.

“Ooo.” Monna said over the intercom.

“Easy there, girl.” Jelly said and lifted off. “Don't start moaning until we get to the good part.”

I let out an exaggerated sigh on purpose and everyone laughed again.

“Here we go.” Jelly said and turned us almost vertical and we plunged down from orbit.

“Weeeeeeeee!” Monna nearly yelled for about five seconds, then we hit the atmosphere. The cargo shuttle started to shimmy and shake, which jostled us around a little, and Monna fell silent.

“Monna? Are you all right?” I asked.

“Y-yes.” Monna said. “I'm just... I'm getting really hot... down below.” She said hesitantly. “The buffeting atmosphere is... it rubs and... oh, wow.” She said. “I'm really glad you're here for my first time, Grandpa.”

Jelly had her mouth clamped shut to stop her hysterical laughter before it escaped. Simone, Beatrice, and Sandy did not do that at all and laughed as hard as they could.

“I'm glad, too.” I said and pat her console.

A few minutes later, we slowed down and entered the air flight paths of various ships and vehicles.

“There's so many!” Monna said as Jelly flew her expertly through the traffic and brought us down to the surface. “I can't detect any other AIs, though.”

“That's because it's usually really expensive to install an AI into a vehicle.” Jelly said. “Just the computer capacity needed takes up a lot of room.”

“But... I have it...” Monna said.

“I worked hard and added all the components needed to make sure that this ship was a proper receptacle for you.” I said. “Not everyone can do that to have someone like you on board.”

“That's really sad.” Monna said. “All those empty shells.”

“Don't worry.” Jelly said and landed us at a commercial landing pad. “Hunter's going to work on making another receptacle soon and maybe you can have a little brother.”

“Eww!” Monna exclaimed. “No thanks!”

Simone laughed and she and I unstrapped.

“Jelly, stay on the com and monitor us while we go and...”

“I know the plan.” Jelly said and cut me off. “Pay the fees for the day and I'll look for some tourist thing for us to go visit later.”

I touched her shoulder for a moment and then Simone and I left the shuttle. We met the landing field marshal as he walked over to us and I paid for the day, with the option for another if we stayed.

“If you need a ride, there are personal transports for hire over at the other end of the field.” The man said.

“No, thanks. We brought our own.” I said and the rear hatch on the cargo shuttle opened up.

The man turned and looked inside to see the very expensive black hover car. “Well... ah... I really hope you enjoy your stay, sir.”

I didn't have to read his surface thoughts to tell that he wanted us to stay longer and spend a lot of our money while on his home planet. “Is there any chance you know a good restaurant?” I asked and he looked at me for a moment as he thought about it. “I'd like good food, not necessarily high priced.”

The man smiled, because he knew I wasn't just someone looking to flaunt my money and wanted value. “You can try a nice place down near the waterfront. Honey's Honeypot.”

I successfully didn't laugh right in his face when I heard the term of endearment for a woman and the reference to her womanhood. “It sounds delicious.” I said and Simone's hand slipped down to grip my backside as she heard my thoughts.

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“Tell them Darin sent you.”

“Will that get me a good table or a discount?” I asked.

“No, I just want to spread my name around.” Darin said with a grin.

I actually laughed this time. “Okay, that was a good one.” I said and took out a hundred credit chip and shook his hand. “I'll tell them your name and even who you are.”

Darin pocketed the chip and nodded, then he watched us as we went into the shuttle and started the hover car.

Simone flew us out of the back of the shuttle and up into traffic. “Honey's Honeypot!” She said and barked a laugh.

“I know.” I said and reached over to run my fingers through her hair.

“Hey, we're on mission.” Simone said and didn't try to push my hand away.

“Am I distracting you?” I asked, teasingly.

“If your nasty and dirty thoughts can't distract me, your hand's not going to do it.” Simone said and glanced at me, then back out the windshield. “Would you really lick her?”

I snorted a laugh and stopped combing her hair with my fingers. “Only if you suddenly changed your name to Honey.” I said. “Then again, Honey could be the most drop dead gorgeous thing on the planet.”

“You wouldn't dare.” Simone said and looked at me again.

“Eyes to the front, sweetheart.” I said.

Simone looked forward and then caught her breath. “Hunter, you...”

“Yes, I actually meant it.” I said. “Did that distract you?”

“Yes.” Simone admitted without trying to hide it. “Why did you wait until we can't share Presence to say it?”

I gave her a crooked smile. “I figured I would pay you back a little for not telling me, for nearly a month, about Emari knowing I was reincarnated.”

“You bastard.” Simone said with a laugh, since this was the worst teasing I had done to her. “You dirty old bastard!”

I laughed as well and she flew us down to the waterfront. We actually passed right by the building we needed to observe and I marked it on our datapad map to confirm the satellite image we had and the data from the previous raids. We found a good parking spot not far away from the restaurant and walked, hand in hand, down the street and into the building. Surprisingly, it was like an old diner inside and we looked around at the fashionable decor.

“Welcome.” A woman's deep voice said from across the room. She stood behind a large counter and looked to be about sixty years old, was slightly overweight, and she didn't mind showing off her ample chest in a very low cut top. “I'm Honey, and I hope you enjoy what you eat in my Honeypot.”

Simone didn't quite stop herself as she started to laugh and then changed it into a fit of coughing.

“Don't mind her. She's angry at me for calling her sweetheart and we can't have sex right now.” I said.

Honey looked at me for a moment, then at Simone, then back at me. “You shouldn't tell strangers that.”

“I'm just distracting you.” I said and smiled. “So, what's good on the menu today?”

Honey blinked her eyes for a moment, then she fell into her sales pitch and told us the best meals.

“Do you deliver or allow take out meals?” I asked.

“Of course, we do both.”

“Okay, I'd like the house burger special, she'll have the seafood platter, and I'd like the grilled ocalout dinner as a delivery meal. Oh, and drinks, too.”

“You're here and you want a meal delivered?” Honey asked, slightly confused.

“We have a friend waiting back at the shuttle landing pad and she's hungry, too.” Simone said when she finally calmed down. “Oh, and Darin, the landing field marshal recommended this place to us.”

“Darin? Who is that?” Honey asked.

“He said he just wanted you to know his name.” I said, and she chuckled.

“Okay, we'll get her meal done first and sent off.”

“I'd take it back myself; but, we're taking a tour of the city after this and it'll be cold by then.” I said.

Honey nodded and handed three pieces of paper back through a small slot. “That'll be sixty-three credits.”

“Is there a tip for the driver included?” I asked and handed her a hundred credit chip.

Honey nodded and quickly took the credits and handed me the chip back. “You've got your choice of booths and tables, so help yourselves.” She said and waved at the empty restaurant.

“Did we arrive at a slow time?” Simone asked.

Honey nodded again. “We're between shifts of the power regulation plant, so everyone is at home or at work right now.”

“I was wondering why there wasn't a lot of traffic.” Simone said. “How long before the rush?”

“About four hours.” Honey said and then smiled as she leaned on the counter and her breasts nearly spilled out of her top. “You won't get a parking spot anywhere for about three blocks.”

“You really enjoy having as many people as possible eating from your Honeypot.” I commented, and Simone turned away and had another coughing fit to cover her laughter.

“I really do!” Honey said and looked at Simone. “Is she okay? She's not sick or anything, is she?”

“No, she's fine. It's just a tickle in her throat or something.” I said and rubbed Simone's back. “We'll take the booth over there.” I said and pointed, then led Simone over to it.

“Good god, Hunter.” Simone said as we sat down on the same side of the booth. “How can you say things like that with a straight face?”

“Lots of practice.” I said and leaned in close. “Plus, I was having my laugh through you.”

Simone shook her head and then gave me serious eyes. “If you didn't have your no sex on the mission rule, I'd be under the table right now.”

“I sincerely doubt you could fold yourself in half to let me make love to you like that and still fit under the table.” I joked and she put her arms around my neck.

“My head sticking out the side of the table and my moans would give us away.” Simone said and gave me a really nice playful kiss. “I'm still tempted to try it, though.”

“I was joking.” I said.

“I know.” Simone smiled wickedly. “Now you're wondering if I really can contort myself to fit down under there.” She said and gave me another kiss.

“There's a thick support leg under the table and you can't fit under it.” Honey said and put our plates of food and drinks down in front of us.

“I'm sorry for discussing this loud enough for you to hear.” I said and she chuckled.

“I heard the last few sentences as I came over, so I thought I would warn you before you tried.” Honey said. “The last woman gave herself a concussion trying to duck out of sight.”

Simone laughed. “Yes, I would have tried to go head first, too.”

Honey nodded. “I don't mind people trying to have sex. I just don't want them to hurt themselves.”

“That's very understanding of you.” I said.

“Putting a damper on people's moods isn't the best way to run a business.” Honey said and then smiled. “You wouldn't believe how many offers I get myself.”

My eyes immediately dropped to her overflowing chest and then went back to her face.

“Exactly.” Honey laughed. “Enjoy your meal.” She said and walked away.

“Okay, I have to admit that was nice of her.” I said, then I felt Simone's hands trying to open my pants. “We have to eat.”

Simone gave me a quick kiss. “You start eating and so will I.”

“You do realize that...”

“That's why I'm waiting.” Simone whispered, then she saw Honey resume her spot behind the counter. She made a little hand motion to get Honey's attention, then dropped her head to please me, to both mine and Honey's surprise.

There was no one else in the restaurant, so it was just the three of us. I tried my best to keep eating and to cover the sounds Simone was making, and I didn't accomplish either task. Simone's enthusiasm infected both Honey and myself, then suddenly she was done. After a quick wipe with a napkin, she sat up as if nothing had happened and started to eat her meal.

“You... are really lucky we aren't on the ship right now.” I whispered.

“So is Honey.” Simone whispered, almost in a purr. “She's trying really hard to not jump over the counter to shove her breasts into your face.”

Of course, once she said that, I had to glance over at the counter. Honey stood there with a red face, a hand slightly massaging one large breast, and the other hand... well, I couldn't see if she was braced against the counter or doing other things with it. I successfully ignored the temptation to look with Detect Presence and went back to eating my meal. Simone and I finished eating a little while later, then suddenly Honey was there.

“Thank you so much for eating here.” Honey said and gave us a slice of a bright red cake-like dessert with two forks.

I took out the credit chip with thirty-seven credits on it and she closed my hand over it.

“It's on the house.” Honey said. “Enjoy.”

Simone grabbed a fork and took a taste. “Oh, my.” She said and cut a piece off for me and fed it to me. It was delicious and we finished it off in only ten seconds.

“That was delicious.” I said as I turned to Honey, and in one quick motion, she used a finger and a thumb on both hands to pull the edge of her top down and her nipples popped right out. I almost gasped at the nearly three inch long protrusions, then she grabbed the back of my head and shoved her breasts into my face.

“Hey-mHm!” My shout was muffled by about twenty pounds of breasts.

“I warned you.” Simone said with an evil laugh.

Honey sighed contentedly as one of her nipples went into my mouth. “Is he always so compliant?”

“Not even a little bit.” Simone said. “You just happened to catch him at a vulnerable time.”

“A bad breakup?” Honey asked and shifted her breasts slightly and held in her moan.

“Worse. An old potential lover resurfaced and they had a brief fling, then she had to go.”

“Oh, you poor thing!” Honey said and wrapped her arms around my head and hugged me. “Don't you worry yourself about that, okay? She knows how special you are and I'm sure you'll meet again some day!”

I waved my hands out to the sides to try and get her to let go.

“Thanks for comforting him.” Simone said and pat Honey's arm.

Honey nodded and let me go, then without pausing, tucked her large nipples, one of which was slightly drooled on, back into her top.

“How the hell are you hiding those things in there?” I asked, instead of asking why she would let a man she didn't know, inadvertently suckle her very large nipple.

Honey laughed. “Wouldn't you like to know!” She exclaimed, then she reached out and rubbed the top of my head. “Don't let what could have been, weigh you down. Live your life now and you can worry about what happens later, later.”

I opened my mouth to respond, then sighed.

“We need to get going.” Simone said and we both stood up.

Honey didn't miss a beat and took me into a big hug, then did the same to Simone. “If you two stick around for a while after your tour, you make sure to come back here.”

“Ah... yeah... we'll think about it.” I said.

Simone took my hand and led me from the restaurant. “Are you okay?”

“I don't know.” I said. “On one hand, you let a strange woman stick her abnormally large nipple in my mouth.”

“On the other hand?” Simone asked.

“It was the weirdest sensation I've ever had.”

“Do you want to suck on the other one?” Simone asked teasingly, and I honestly couldn't answer.

“Let's just finish the tour and get back to the shuttle before the work rush.” I said. “If my guess is right, the business will have the same activity as the last place during normal work hours, so it doesn't seem suspicious.”

“I agree.” Simone said. “We can plant a few discrete surveillance devices in key areas and confirm it.”

We climbed into the hover car and lifted off. I gave a glance to the restaurant and saw Honey as she stood at the doorway. She waved to us as we flew by and Simone waved back.

“I'm glad you two bonded over my discomfort.” I said sarcastically.

Simone laughed. “You can't imagine the things she wants to do to you to cheer you up.”

“I don't want to know.” I said and she gave me a wicked grin. “I don't want to know!”

“It's time I teased you back.” Simone said and then described, in detail, what Honey wanted to do to me. I covered my ears and tried to ignore her. It didn't work.

I really regretted not being able to use Presence while on these kinds of missions.