Warhawk's Amnesty - Ch 21 - New Friends and New Beginnings - Beta (Patreon)

“Are you sure about this?” Seb asked.

“Yeah, you clean up good.” Eni said. “Don’t you think so, Vi?”

“Mmhmm,” Vi said, eyeing him up and down. “I don’t typically go for guys in suits, but you do seem to pull off anything.”

“Yeah, I agree. I think it’s because we got it tailored. It hugs all the right places.”

Seb felt a pinch on his bottom after Eni circled him.

“I don’t know,” Seb said, looking down. “It doesn’t feel like me.”

“That’s the whole point. Nalla’s not supposed to know it’s you. We need to dress you up differently, so she’s not the wiser. You’re not just going to sit in the front seat all day. We’re all spending the day together.”

“How are we going to do that without her seeing me?”

Eni walked over to the nearby workbench, picked up a black metallic ring, and handed it to Seb. “With this.”

“What is this?”

“It’s a hologram projector. It will hide your face and pitch shift your voice.”

“I’m not so sure about this. This seems almost disingenuous. Maybe we should just scrap the whole thing.”

“No way, this is way more fun. We’ll pick her up and take her to get some new clothes, bags, and toiletries. Then we’ll fly over to the cruise ship, get settled in our room, then head out for dinner.”

“Vi?”

“Don’t look at me,” she said, shrugging. “I’m just coming along for the cruise.”

“Don’t worry,” Eni said. “At the end of the day, she’ll be overjoyed it’s you and not some random scumbag.”

Seb let out a sigh and nodded. “All right. As long as you both are with me on this, then I guess it’s fine.”

A knock came from the front door, pulling everyone’s attention.

“Looks like our ride’s here,” Seb said. “Did you both finish packing?” He knew the answer even before he asked. The garage floor was covered with Eni’s hard suitcases and Vi’s duffle bags. When they both nodded their heads, he clamped the hologram around his neck and activated it. He flipped up his WICI’s camera to get a good look at himself.

The helmet projected a hard surface edge around his jawline and around the back of his head. A dark blue tinted visor covered the rest. He thought it went well with his cross-breasted suit. Satisfied with his look, Seb picked up his backpack and a duffle bag Vi let him borrow.

“You two go ahead. I’ll be out there in a minute,” Seb said. He waited until both were out of sight before walking over to the nearby workbench in the garage where an empty shipping box was waiting for him. With Eni’s help, he was able to locate Dover’s sister. He pulled out the necklace she had gifted him and placed it in the box. What he didn’t tell her was the second item he included, a backup copy of the WCC black box data.

This is for you, Ben. Hopefully, this gesture will help ease my conscience and bring you peace. I just hope your sister has it in her to bring this forward. I can’t wear this burden any longer. I’ve got important people to look after now. I hope you understand and can forgive me.

With both items placed safely in the padded, clasped container, Seb closed it shut. He grabbed his other belongings and headed for the door. He shut and locked the exit prior to walking to the back of the chrome shuttle. Seb helped the pilot put all the bags away in the hidden luggage compartment on the backside of the craft. When everything was secured, he handed the pilot the package.

“When we’re done today, I’d like this to be dropped off at the nearest mail office,” Seb said, tapping on his WICI and sending the man a hefty tip.

“It would be my pleasure, sir,” the pilot said with a hefty grin.

Seb smiled and nodded before entering the shuttle. The rear seats had two rows of three seats that faced each other. Seb sat with Eni on one end, while Vi sat on the other. When the wing-style door closed, the walls projected the exterior onto electronic panels, making it seem as though the seats themselves were flying. In the middle of the cabin along the stationary wall was a full-service bar that included glasses, various liquors and a tray of ice. The three wasted no time digging into the complimentary beverages.

While they built their drinks, the driver’s voice called over the intercom. “Sir, madams, where shall I be taking you this evening?”

“Our first stop is Pyrus Station Security Headquarters in Corporate Plaza,” Seb said. “We’ll be picking up a friend there. Once we have them, we’ll coordinate our next stop.”

“Very good, sir.”

The shuttle ascended to the sky without so much as a felt vibration. If it wasn’t for the casual scenery flying by the exterior walls, they wouldn’t have even known they were flying. The trio casually sipped on their drinks as they watched the city below. The maneuverability and access given by the shuttles versus the grid locked streets below was a perk experienced daily by those with enough money to splurge. The several hundred credit per hour flight was a onetime expense they were all willing to share given the time sensitivity to make sure they boarded the cruise on time.

“I could get used to this,” Eni said.

“It is nice,” Vi said. “Definitely something I miss is not having to worry about simple things for myself, such as making sure I can get to the right place on time. But there are always trade-offs to living this kind of life.”

“How so?” Seb asked.

“The lack of privacy, for one. Once I signed my contract those many months ago, I don’t think I had a single day to myself. Anywhere I went was blown out of proportion a thousand times. If I accidentally dropped something, a headline would be on the news the next day that said I am losing my focus. Or if I tripped on a protrusion from a nearby sidewalk, there would be questions about whether I was drinking during the middle of the day.”

“That sounds ridiculous.”

“It was. But there is logic behind life being easier with money. It’s easier to make yourself happier. If you have a way to obtain it without the public limelight, that’s probably ideal.”

“If I had enough money,” Eni began, “I would just build myself my own personal location with everything I needed. That way I could live my shut-in life, never having to go anywhere.”

“That seems rather boring,” Seb said. “Wouldn’t you want to see the galaxy?”

“I can do that from the comfort of my own seat. Besides, the holonet is much more interesting than the real world, anyway. Once you’ve seen one back alley, you’ve seen them all. Whereas the net, it’s constantly evolving, being torn down and rebuilt. You leave for a week and it’s completely different.”

“I guess I’ll take your word for it,” Seb said, chuckling. “I’d much rather be able to feel everything around me.”

“All of what you’re feeling is interpreted signals inside your brain. You get all the same feeling inside the net, as well. There’s a reason why oneirophrenia is such a big problem with people who spend too much time there.”

“What’s Oneiro—”

“Oneirophrenia. It’s where your brain gets confused about what’s real and what’s not. For someone that spends too much time in the holonet, they’ll start to perceive that’s the actual reality and this one is the false one.”

“Maker… that sounds like a nightmare. Like being locked into your own virtual prison.”

“Not prison… an adventure!” Eni shouted with glee. “With a bit of programming and a can-do attitude, you can make anything you want a reality.”

“Again… I think I’ll take your word for it.”

The driver’s call over the intercom interrupted their conversation. “We’re descending at Pyrus Station Security Headquarters, sir and madams. We’ll be on the ground within thirty seconds.”

“Thank you,” Seb said.

The three watched as the shuttle descended in between the sprawling skyscrapers formed of steel and reflective glass. The crowd below scattered underneath the vehicle as the thrusters blew dust and debris into the surrounding area. Once the ship landed, the side passenger door opened, and the driver stood at attention.

Seb turned and looked down at Eni. “You’re sure there’s going to be no problems with me going in there?”

“Oh yeah, I took care of everything. All they’ll need is an ID to ensure you are who you say you are. Then they’ll hand her over.”

He looked, grabbed his shaking right hand, and massaged it with the other. He let out a small laugh. “Feels like I am walking into the lion’s den. This is one of the last places I want to go.”

“Do you want me to go?” Vi asked.

Seb shook his head. “No, I’ll go. I’m the one that purchased the contract.”

“Why don’t we all go,” Eni said, grabbing onto his hand and jumping off of the seat.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t mind stretching my legs,” Vi said with a smile.

“Thank you both,” Seb said before exiting the craft.

The three climbed up the stone staircase to the front of the massive complex. The exterior was hand carved stone with indents for massive statues of various police chiefs. Hovering above the top of the building was a hologram that read PSS. A fitting acronym for how he felt about the judicial system.

The number of officers made him feel a bit uneasy. While he walked to the front doors, he calculated his chances of being able to make a break for the shuttle if things went south. He didn’t like his odds.

The all-metal interior clashed through the intricate exterior, making it feel like they stepped into a completely different building. They walked beyond the front waiting room to a central kiosk that was stationed by a hologram of an orlindrian who, instead of having normal arms and hands, had dozens of tentacles, used for typing and answering calls. When they approached, the head focused on Seb while its arms moved independently of itself.

“How can I help you?” the soft feminine voice asked.

Seb knew what he was going to say but hesitated, as this was the first time he was using his new name. It felt odd, but invigorating. “I’m Sebastian Warhawk. I’m here to pick up my… property, Nalla Bashari.” His words made him cringe, but he said it to keep up appearances.

“Please provide proof of purchase and ID.”

Seb looked back, and Eni gave an approving nod to go ahead. He tapped on his WICI and pushed the information to the hologram. A new window popped up and the woman’s eyes scanned it briefly before smiling.

“Information validated. An officer will bring Ms. Bashir to you shortly. Please stand by.”

Seb nodded and retreated back to the waiting area, with Eni and Vi following behind. The trio stood in silence as they waited, every additional guard causing their heads to pop up like a group of curious prairie dogs. He expected to be filled with joy at the sight of his companion, but when he saw her matted hair and vice-like grip around her plastic carrying bag, all he felt was sorrow.

The security guard motioned Nalla toward the trio with an outstretched hand, guiding her there with a firm grip on her other arm. He didn’t let go until she was in Seb’s presence. Nalla kept her head down, not looking up.

“Mr. Warhawk, I presume?” the officer asked.

“That’s me,” Seb said.

“This is Ms. Bashari, but I assume you already know that. I’ll leave her in your capable hands.”

“Thank you, officer.”

The officer nodded before returning from whence he came.

“Nalla…” Seb said, extending an outreached hand. She flinched once when his hand got near her. He pulled back and looked at his other companions. The two women shook their heads before stepping forward. While Vi bent down trying to get her eye contact, Eni’s short stature made it easy for her to do so.

Eni touched her chest before pointing to Vi. “Nalla, I am Eni and this is Vi. We’re friends of Mr. Warhawk.”

“Hi,” Nalla said, briefly glancing up.

“We’ve heard a lot of great things about you, and are looking forward to getting to know you better. We’ve got a shuttle waiting for us outside. And have a pretty fun day planned for all of us. Would you like to come with us?”

Nalla slowly nodded before taking Vi’s arm and following her to the exit. Seb shook his head. He couldn’t imagine what was going through her head. All he wanted to do was make her happy and the sight of her demeanor depressed him. He wasn’t sure how much longer he would be able to keep up this charade.

After exiting the security headquarters, the four climbed aboard the shuttle. Vi and Nalla took one side while Eni and Seb took the other. Eni gave directions to the driver to a shopping boutique on the other side of Corporate Plaza.

Once they were airborne, Eni did her best to liven Nalla’s mood. “Like I said before, we’ve got a fun day ahead. We’re going to go do some shopping, get you some new clothes. Maybe even a brief visit to the spa to get you cleaned up. Then we’ll finish the day with a trip on a cruise.”

“I, unfortunately, don’t have a lot of money,” Nalla said, tightening her arms around her plastic bag. “And everything I own is in this bag.”

Eni looked up at Seb and furrowed her brow before looking back at Nalla. “Yeah, that’s why we’re going shopping.”

“I- I can’t afford new clothes,” Nalla said directly.

“Oh… that’s what you meant,” Eni said, leaning forward. “We’re not expecting you to pay for your clothes. My Warhawk is covering everything.”

“I would prefer not to extend my debt,” Nalla said, glancing up at Seb. It was as if she was speaking from experience, but Seb didn’t quite understand her meaning.

“I don’t understand what you mean,” he said. “We’re going shopping and I am paying for everything. I don’t expect you to pay me back.”

Nalla nodded and sat up straight in her chair. “Should I describe my qualifications then?”

“I don’t think that’s necessary. We’re quite familiar with your skills.”

“If you’re going based off my file, it most likely doesn’t include my domestic duties. I am a decent cook and great at cleaning.”

Seb nodded, unsure of what to say. Silence befell the interior as everyone’s comfort nosedived with all the uncertainty. This was not going according to plan.

“I’m a complete slob,” Eni said, trying to break the ice.

“It’s true,” Vi agreed. “She’s terrible at leaving messes.”

“So, will my duties be focused on maintaining the home?” Nalla asked.

“No, not at all,” Eni said. “This isn’t a duty thing.”

“I am sorry,” Nalla said. “I guess I am confused. What am I here for? If it’s for… other services. I’d rather know up front.” A single tear fell onto her cheek, which she quickly wiped away.

“Eni, I can’t do this,” Seb said, looking down at his big-eared companion. The way her ears drooped informed him of her own unease.

“Yeah, this is not going like I expected,” Eni said. “It’s making me completely depressed.”

“I am sorry!” Nalla shouted, bowing her head further. “I don’t mean to be the cause of everyone’s discomfort. I promise I’ll adjust.”

Vi leaned her arm around Nalla and rubbed her back while looking over at Seb. “I think you should take the hologram off.”

“I agree,” Eni added.

Seb touched the button on the side of the ring before pulling it off. He stretched his neck and tugged on his collar. When he cleared his throat, he saw Nalla’s ears perk up.

“Hey Nalla,” Seb said.

She slowly raised her head. When her eyes locked with his, her lip began to tremble. “Seb?”

“Yeah, it’s me,” he said, smiling.

“Seb!” she shouted, using her tail to spring herself across the cabin. She wrapped her arms around him while she sobbed in his arms. He pulled her tight, rubbing her back as he whispered words of encouragement.

“Oh fuck, this is going to make me cry,” Eni said, wiping away her own tears.

“Me too,” Vi said, smiling through her sniffles.

When Nalla pulled away, she wiped her snot with the sleeve of her doctor’s coat. Seb wiped away her tears with his thumb as she looked up at him. Her smile filled him with warmth. Her tail set her inside of lap and she leaned her head onto his shoulder.

“How is this possible?” Nalla asked, trying to regain her breath.

“I told you I would buy out your contract,” Seb said. “I keep my word.”

“But how? No offense, but you’re broke.”

“Was broke,” Seb said, laughing. “Thanks to my friends here, we’ve all got a nice cushion to make the plans we want.”

“It seems so,” Nalla said, sitting up in the chair. “Picking me up in a shuttle, taking me out shopping, and… you said we were going on a cruise?”

“Yeah, we’ve got a suite booked on the Maiden’s Voyage,” Eni said. “It’s scheduled for four weeks, but it’s got a few stops along the way. We can always get off wherever we want to.”

“Eni, right,” Nalla said, pointing to the white haired pracovi.

“Yup! Enigma Black, but my friends call me Eni.”

“And you’re Vi?” Nalla said, turning in her seat.

“Violi Nevaris but you can call me Vi.”

“Oh my gods, I thought you looked familiar,” Nalla said, holding her hand up to her mouth. She turned and smacked Seb on the shoulder. “You didn’t tell me we were traveling with a celebrity. Now I am completely embarrassed.”

“Former celebrity.” Vi said, smiling. “Don’t beat him up too bad, Eni put him up to this.”

“Hey! Don’t blame me. He’s the one that wanted to surprise you.”

The four shared a laugh cut short by the voice of the driver notifying of their descent. By the time they reached the ground, Seb had handed everyone a fresh glass.

“A toast,” he said, raising his glass. “To new friends and new beginnings.”

“To our freedom,” Nalla said.

The group touched glasses before downing the contents. When the doors opened, Eni jumped from her seat and held out her arms to Nalla and Vi. Both women reached for her hand and she pulled them up from their seats.

“Come on,” Eni said, pulling them both. “Let’s go spend some of Seb’s money.”

Before he could refute, the three women sprinted out of the shuttle and into the mall. The Corporate Plaza Fashion Center was nine stories tall, with over five hundred various shops from all over the galaxy. Each level was decorated after the various galactic systems. One level specialized in UHC shops and wares, while the one above it focused on morvulan designs, and so on. The building was filled to the maximum with all races of people. Almost every store had their own heavily armed personnel, keeping a watchful eye for everyone entering and exiting.

Their first stop was Fayette Fabrics, a designer clothing store owned by the galaxy renowned Fayette Coraline. Vi took the lead, guiding Nalla to the hottest fashions. Eni, on the other hand, played the devil’s advocate, choosing only the most provocative wares for Nalla to try on.

While each of the women shopped, Seb strolled through the men’s section. He grabbed a few extra pairs of underwear and some new swimming trunks before getting called to the nearby dressing rooms.

“Seb!” Eni shouted. “Come over here. We need your help.”

“Coming!” he said, marching across the store. When he reached the entrance to the dressing room, Eni stood there waving him toward her frantically. Worried something bad had happened, he jogged into the room and around the corner.

“Close your eyes.”

“What?”

“Just do it.”

Seb closed his eyes and felt Eni grab his hand. He followed along and heard a door shut behind him.

“Now sit here,” Eni said, pushing him backward.

His butt hit what he assumed was a wooden bench.

“Okay, you can open them.”

When he opened them, he couldn’t believe his eyes. Eni stood without shame. Her hands were on her hips, giving Seb a full view of her black letter print g-string and black bra. Nalla’s underwear was blue and white striped. She covered most of herself with her massive tail that she was holding up and around her chest. Nalla, on the other hand, stood with confidence, with her hip forward and one arm draped around her neck. From the skin that was showing, Seb was certain she wasn’t wearing anything under her skinsleeve, either.

He couldn’t hide his enormous grin. Is this the greatest day of my life? he wondered. I do believe the answer is yes.

“We need your help to decide which swimwear to buy.”

“Oh really?”

“Don’t try to play that you aren’t enjoying the view,” Vi said. “We can see that big smile of yours.”

“Oh, I’m not hiding anything,” he said, leaning back against the wall. “I’m just happy to be involved.”

“I bet you are,” Eni said, tracing her hand across his leg. “Now, close your eyes while we get changed. And no peeking.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Yeah, right,” Vi said with a laugh.

Seb closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the wall. The ruffling of clothes made it hard for him to imagine the sight of each of the vixens standing in front of him. His curiosity got the better of him when he peered open one eye.

All three women were turned away from him, staring at the back wall where their swimsuits hung. Nalla and Eni were both bent over sliding their bottoms on while Vi stretched her one-piece over her skinsleeve. He assumed she had to given orlindrian’s malleable bodies, but it still left him disappointed. Seeing them finish getting dressed, he closed his eyes and waited.

“Okay, you can open your eyes now,” Eni said.

Each of the girls presented their outfits to him in their own unique way. Nalla clasped her hands forward and swayed side to side, glancing up at him as he looked. Her outfit had more of a classic design with the top covering her breasts and the top of her midsection, with the bottoms coming high up around her waist.

Eni’s was covered with black beads strewn across her breast with a small bit of fabric just thick enough to cover her nipples. The single beaded bikini hung around her wide hips and in between her legs. When she turned around and bent over, he noticed the single line split into three, however; it was not enough to cover Eni’s thick mound.

Even though she was fully covered, Vi treated hers like a runway. The one piece stretched through her legs up and around her shoulders. Lights lit up along one strap, showing it was powered. A skinsleeve functionality in a swimsuit? Seb guessed.

“They all look great,” Seb said. “I can’t wait to see the second ones.”

The three women looked at each other with smiles before Eni snapped her finger. “Close your eyes.”

Seb did and waited for them to finish, catching a few more peeks just for good measure.

Eni’s second outfit was all white with a bra that hooked into a metal circle in between her breasts. The bottom was a very short white skirt that pulled up as she turned around. It exposed more of Nalla’s tight stomach, which he liked. Eni’s was a bright pink single piece bikini that was one giant, thin V-shaped piece of fabric covering only her most important bits. It was bright, which fit Eni’s personality, but he preferred the all black one. Vi’s was a bit more unique. It was as if she was wearing a netted shirt that was attached to a solid red bra and bottoms. It allowed him to see more of her body, but covered her arms and shoulders.

“Which ones do you like best?” Vi asked.

“You’ve given me a most difficult task,” Seb said, rubbing his chin. “However, decisions need to be made… Nalla, I like the skirt. It looks cute on you. Eni, definitely the black one, and Vi, I like the red. It’s intriguing.”

“Thank you, now go wait outside,” Eni said, pointing to the door.

“Wait, I don’t get to watch you all change.”

“Go!”

Seb smirked and walked out of the changing room. Each of the women giggled as they swapped outfits. When they finished, he noticed Nalla had changed into a flowery blue summer dress. Seb led them all to the counter and completed the purchase of their gifts. When he had them all bagged up, Seb was left holding the bags as the three women skipped out of the shop.

Their first stop was an inoran day spa. They all looked at the various options offered. While Seb ordered himself to an onigaram massage, he treated the girls to honey-infused hair washes, foot scrubs, and facials. The inoran created products made for some of the best self-care commodities in the galaxy.

His masseuse reminded him of Sister Mischa back on Inoi 3. Her size was imposing, but her skin was a lighter shade of pink and she only had one horn. As the thick armed professional beat the stress from his body, he couldn’t help but wonder if he’d see the assassin again. He remembered her words and that he should just have a little faith. Everything seemed like it was coming together. Hope felt odd after the last ten years, but he was going to take it.

After they completed his session, the onigaram woman tapped him on the shoulder. “You want release?” she asked in very broken common, nodding down toward his crotch.

He looked down, noticing he had a pitched tent thanks to the sheet covering his lower half. “Is that something you do here?”

“Yes, we use human pressure point. Super quick.”

“Pressure point? I don’t get what you mean.”

The masseuse stuck her finger in her mouth, wet it, and wiggled it through a circle she made with her other hand.

Seb jumped up from the table, covering himself with the sheet. “No, I’m quite all right,” He backed away slowly toward the clothes he folded in the room.

“You sure? Many happy human customers.”

“Yes ma’am. I appreciate the offer but I’ll just walk it off.”

“Okay, have a good day.”

When Seb exited the back room, the girls were waiting for him at the front door. Each of their skins shined as if covered in a thin oil, reflecting every light source in the room. After settling the bill, they grabbed all of their bags and headed for the shuttle that was still waiting for them outside.

After depositing Nalla’s new clothes in the extra luggage they brought with them, Seb climbed inside the cabin. He sat next to the pink-haired beauty, while Eni and Vi sat across from them. As the shuttle took into flight, Nalla leaned her head onto his shoulder while the three women carried on their conversation.

This feeling was what he longed for, for so long. He didn’t need to be involved, just being in each of their presence was enough for him. People that he cared for and they cared for him.

They all laughed, smiled, and drank from the bar while the shuttle soared across the station’s skyline. It was nearly the perfect day and when the cruise ship came into view, Seb was certain it was just about to get even better.