Chapter 17 #3
“Challenge: Villains,” the voice continued. “These simulated adversaries represent a physical threat. The optimal outcome is for Subject S 52 to protect his partner, demonstrating courage, resourcefulness, and commitment.”
“You’ve got to be joking.”
“Subject S 52, the safety and well-being of your partner is now in your hands. You may utilize the environment as necessary to neutralize the threat. Failure to do so will result in termination of the date and the trial.”
The leader of the pack whipped out a comb and ran it through his hair.
“Well, well, what do we have here, boys?” Cue henchman laugh track.
Bargain-bin John Travolta came around to my side of the table and placed his hands on the back of my chair.
“What’s a pretty young thing like you doing in a place like this? ”
Osid spat a fireball right in Temu Travolta’s face. His skin burned away to reveal that gross wasp’s nest of holes. I gagged, dropping my fork and shoving away from the android.
I whirled around at Osid and snapped, “Dammit, I told you not to do that. These androids are triggering the hell out of my trypophobia!”
Osid raised a brow. “Am I supposed to know what that is?”
“It’s a fear of tiny holes! Their faces look like a wasp nest when you burn the skin off, and it’s gross. Knock it off.”
“How else was I supposed to check if they’re real?”
“What if they are real? Were you just going to burn them to death to find out?”
He laughed. “One strike to the face wouldn’t kill them. It’d maim them. Then they’d learn an important lesson on what happens when you lean over my woman like her space is theirs to own.”
I blinked slowly. “You are…unwell.”
Temu Travolta stumbled away from the table and held on to his burned face. One of his goons ran to his side to check up on him. “Are you okay, boss?”
The nanobots in his exoskeleton repaired his face in mere seconds. “A wise guy, eh?” he sneered. “Seems like Subject 12 would be better off with us.” He snapped his fingers, and two goons lunged to snatch me up, pinning my hands behind my back.
“Hey, let go!” I yelled.
“Don’t think so, toots.” He took the water vase and smashed it on the edge of the table and held up the broken bottle like a blade. “Unless your mate here wants to do something about it.”
“Of all the stupid, cockamamie schemes.” I yanked my arms free of the goon’s grip and shoved him away from me. “You guys are idiots, that’s never going to work.”
“Quiet, toots,” Temu Travolta snapped.
“Call me toots again, you piece of—” A hand came over my mouth before my arms were trapped behind my back again.
Osid picked up the chair he was sitting on and broke it over Temu Travolta’s head.
The wannabe gang boss went down like a sack of rocks.
Without a word, Osid snapped a leg off the base of the chair and drove it into the eye of the goon behind me.
Electricity crackled from the wound, and the android crashed to the floor, dead.
The tallest man launched at the king, who tripped him.
Osid slammed his hoof into the android’s back as soon as his chest hit the floor.
He took hold of the man’s wrists and pulled.
The tight cords of muscles strained until the thick veins running along his forearms bulged.
The sight of it did something tingly in my lower belly, and I refused to think about what that said about me. I couldn’t tell if I was terrified or aroused. Terroused? Was that a word?
I missed Google.
With a grunt, Osid ripped the android’s arms clean off and rounded on the blond goon behind him and beat him down with the severed arm. With four of the five goons disposed of, he turned to the final goon and said, “There. She’s protected. Have we passed your challenge?”
Ding!
Osid, the final goon, and I all stared down at the singing Tamagotchi hanging around my neck. Osid’s avatar danced happily next to the affection bar. It was still completely empty, but it lacked the angry red glow it had just moments before.
Fuck. I hated that such a stupid plan worked.
Confetti fell from the ceiling as trumpet music blared from the speakers. The restaurant faded away in a sea of pixels and gave way to a barren gray room with a staircase leading up.
“Trial one completed. The second trial will commence tomorrow morning. Proceed to the panel by the staircase and select your sleeping arrangements. The couple’s suite will become available if all date trials have been met. While sharing quarters is not required, it is encouraged.”
We walked over to the aforementioned panel, which was split into two images. The first was a couple with a line drawn through, while the other was a grayed out couple embracing. Below both options was a list of tasks with the first two crossed out.
Conversation
Defeat villains
Kiss
Osid’s hand cupped my face as he leaned in, but I slapped a hand over his mouth, shoved him away, and pressed the button for the separated pair.
“Not on your life.”
“Separate accommodations accepted. Proceed to the next floor.”