Chapter 272: Amanda (1)
After Jack sat, he put his hand on Analise’s thigh and asked her, "Ready?"
"Yes," she said as she nodded.
He located Analise’s sister Amanda in a snapshot, and focused on templatizing just her body, no clothes. Once that was done, he summoned a copy of her and gave her the usual subconscious obedience and speak honestly modifications.
When he’d located her in the snapshot, she was sitting at a desk in a cramped office that was practically stuffed with odds and ends. She worked in the engineering and fabrication department at NSU, where she helped design various bits of custom experiment equipment.
She appeared, sitting in the chair, hunched over, finger poised over a now-missing keyboard.
She froze, blinked several times, then sat up slowly.
On seeing Jack and all his ladies arrayed before her, she said, "If Jasper spiked my coffee, I’ll kill him!"
"Surprise!" said Analise cheerily.
Amanda looked down at herself, then back up at everyone else and asked, "Why am I naked? And where am I?"
"It would have been awkward if you were the only one wearing clothes," said Analise teasingly. Then added, "And welcome to Jack’s tropical island paradise."
"Okay," said Amanda slowly, dragging out each syllable. "Then why is everyone else naked? And how did I get here? Did you seriously drug me and fly me to a tropical island?"
"No," said Jack. "No drugs. I made a copy of you. Your original is still back at your desk, oblivious to what’s happening here. And since all these ladies are in my harem, we thought it fun to enjoy a clothing-free day at the beach."
"Harem? Seriously? All of you?" she asked, looking at each of his girls in turn.
They all nodded enthusiastically.
"Yup," said Madison. "And we’re hiring!"
"Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Madison," said Jack, then turning back to Amanda said, "If you’ll give me a few minutes, I’ll tell you where you are, how I brought you here, and why I brought you here."
"Please," said Amanda, "because this is all a little confusing."
He then described how he received Genesis Heart, some of what he could do with it, mainly focusing on snapshots, sapient templates, and soul bonds, then explained what would happen if she died after soul bonding with him.
"Ah," said Amanda. "So my dear little Anna can’t bear the thought of losing me."
Analise huffed and muttered, "I’m bigger than you."
Amanda was taller than Analise by several centimeters, but was thinner, like Katie, and had smaller, but still perky, breasts.
"It’s more accurate to say she doesn’t like the idea of having to keep all my secrets from you," he said. "I have a lot going on, she will be a part of that, and she doesn’t want you to miss out on all the fun."
Amanda gave Analise a tender, knowing look, then asked, her tone tinted with hope and hunger, "And what about you, Jack? What role do you want me to play in your life?"
He’d met Amanda a few times when he’d spent some time with Analise in her home, and each time he’d gotten the feeling that Amanda was interested in him but was holding back in consideration of her sister’s feelings.
"There are three roles that I’m considering: outer circle, employee, or acquaintance."
Before he could continue, she asked, "What about inner circle?"
He reached over and squeezed Robin’s thigh, who was sitting next to him, opposite Analise, and said, "Now that Robin has joined my inner circle, that role is full and I’m not considering anyone else for inner circle for the time being."
"And can I assume that outer circle is still part of your harem, but the other two are not?"
"Correct."
"Okay, what do I need to do to get into your outer circle? Because the way Analise walks after your visits makes me think you’re dyne-o-mite in the sack."
"Oh, he is," said Analise with a grin. "And don’t think I didn’t notice the way you were looking at him when you didn’t think we were paying attention. I’m willing to share him with you, but only if you behave."
"I, and the rest of my ladies, have some questions for you. Once you’ve answered them, I’ll decide."
"Sure. Fire way," said Amanda confidently.
He quickly determined that she had no underworld ties or skeletons in her closet and that there were no ideological incompatibilities. Then the other girls asked a few questions, focused on her intentions towards Jack, and learned that Amanda was mostly just horny, but was open to something more emotionally intimate in the future.
When Nora asked Amanda what she did in the fabrication and engineering department, Amanda said, "I help design custom devices for the various NSU labs."
"Do you like your job? If you could work anywhere you wanted, where would you go?" asked Nora.
"SpingMotion or AstroLaunch," said Amanda without hesitation. "I was actually offered a job at SpringMotion but turned it down because I didn’t want to take Analise away from her friends."
"What?!" exclaimed Analise. "Oh, god, Mandy, you should have taken the job. I could have made new friends."
SpringMotion was the leading designer of robots and had contracts with the Federation military. If you wanted to work in robotics, SpingMotion would be your first choice employer. They were also headquartered on the other side of the country from Stetle and NSU.
"Maybe, but then you wouldn’t have hooked up with Jack," replied her sister.
"Oh, you’re right. Still. I wish you had told me!"
"I just did?" said Amanda, sounding just a touch guilty.
That Amanda was willing to give up a job offer at one of the most famous robot companies for the sake of her sister said a lot about her.
Analise huffed, but he could tell she wasn’t angry, just exasperated, but also deeply touched by the sacrifice her sister had made for her.
"Does anyone object to adding Amanda to my outer circle?" he asked, looking at each of his girls.
They all shook their heads.
"Great." Then, looking at Amanda, he said, "So, I can probably form our soul bond the way I want it without physical contact, but it’s a lot easier, and more enjoyable, if I do it while I’m balls deep inside you."
"Does this mean I can join your outer circle?" asked Amanda excitedly.
"Yes, it does."
"Yes!" she said excitedly while pumping her fist. Then she asked, "So, um, can we do it now?"