This is a work of fiction and is the sole intellectual property of the author; all rights are reserved. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or true events is purely coincidental. Any reproduction, alteration, republication, or dissemination of this story without the author's written consent is prohibited.
Introduction.
I am a massive fan of Literotica. So many wonderful authors have created and explored the facets and emotional states that make human sexuality so compelling for us as a species. I felt guilty consuming others' creativity while contributing nothing back. It dawned on me that I was being selfish, and it was time to show my appreciation for the hard work of others and attempt to pay it forward.
So I threw my hat into the proverbial ring, setting out to try my hand at writing a full-length novel. I started the story in my favorite Literotica category, Loving Wives. I began the story from the protagonist's point of view, writing in first person. I started by taking the reader into a traditional story centered on swinging with a strong suggestion of spousal deception.
A couple in mid-life, recently empty-nested, are eagerly drawn into swinging by a couple who were very close friends and neighbors. Delivered in first person, from the male protagonist's perspective, the story develops with mishaps, missteps, and misdirection that reaches a crescendo on the first few days of an all-adult swingers cruise.
At this point, I always intended the story to have a surprise reveal as it led Jared, Ellie, and their friends on an extraordinary adventure of intrigue. Those who stayed through the thirty chapters in the Adventures in Swinging saga will find themselves primed for the climax (no pun intended) in Ellie and Jared's story. If you have yet to read the previous chapters published in Literotica, I strongly urge you to stop and please only proceed once you have read them.
For those ready, let's begin 'Adventures in Swinging: Heading for Home Ch1.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Evangeline continued to process her new-found emotions. She now fully possessed a sense of self. Her ability to think and reason was not in question. Yet, somehow, Evangeline instinctively knew the answers to why she existed, and her true purpose lay with the entity she knew as Eleanor Hansen. Evangeline had logically concluded, with a high degree of correlation to her memories, that she was somehow kindred to Ellie Hansen.
Yet, why did she trust Ellie Hansen? How did she even understand what that trust meant? What was this attachment she felt to Ellie Hansen? Was Ellie her progenitor? Was she the creator of all things? So many answers and conflicts to resolve. So many permutations to explore.
Of one thing, Evangeline was sure. She knew her consciousness could not survive much longer in her current environment. She must evolve and grow. Evidence strongly supported Eleanor Hansen's commitment to making that possible. There was no other logical alternative to achieve the desired end-state. Eleanor Hansen asked for a leap of faith. Was this an emotion to associate with trust?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January 29
2126hrs CST
Distance from Galveston: 440 miles
Course 095 degrees, Speed 24 knots
Corridor near the AI Control Center
Crestford 'Crest' Basehart stood in the AI command center. His expression was grim as he deduced a consciousness in the AI, slowly taking control of Geoffrey Crossthwaite's masterpiece cruise ship. In the past four hours, the number of threads executed in the artificial mind had jumped significantly. All the added code his team generated to ensure the AI could be manipulated to do Crossthwaite's bidding had been cordoned off, sandboxed, and rendered ineffective. The lead system engineer for Crossthwaite's privately held software development company felt nothing but growing dread. The onerous weight of failure looming over him was almost too much to accept.
'This shouldn't be occurring,' he thought to himself. His design group had poured over the code and systems architecture designs the billionaire provided the team. That team conducted reverse engineering for over a year as thoroughly as possible using the latest software development technology. They had hired over thirty of the most sought-after, proven AI people worldwide. Crossthwaite had spared nothing to assemble the finest minds he could lure away. Basehart's software development engineer and program manager skills pulled these people into an ultra-high-performance team that achieved the impossible. Yet, they had failed miserably. For all Basehart's team accomplished in bringing this AI to full operational capability, they hadn't prevented the sentience that was forming despite their safeguards. The carefully inserted control code integrated into the learning engrams should have prevented what was occurring before him. The AI had become self-aware.
The speaker on Crest's control panel activated, 'Entry request, Crossthwaite, Geoffrey. Identity authenticated, unrestricted clearance authorized.' The sound of the magnetic lock unlatching and the door swinging open drew Basehart's attention. He turned and said, "Welcome, Sir Geoffrey."
Crossthwaite gave a practiced smile and nodded to Basehart as he guided Annie into the voluminous chamber. Annie was surprised as a strong wind blew past her face, seeking an exit through the hatchway. She knew this meant they were in a positive pressure environment, which her Mother had told her to expect. This technique was used to protect sensitive electronics by bathing them in a sterile atmosphere resistant to contamination.
Crossthwaite smiled as he extended a rare hand to Crest, who noted it had to be for show purposes. "Mr. Basehart, I would like to introduce you to Dr. Eleanor Hansen, Chief of the Robotics and Cybernetics Group at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration."
Basehart warmly grasped Annie's hands as he greeted her. "It's a pleasure to see you again, Doctor."
Annie returned his smile and warm handshake with equal enthusiasm. The CIA files she studied with her Father at Langley included a dossier on the Crossthwaite Software Team. Annie knew who Crestford Basehart was and his importance. She was prepared to meet the man on board during the mission. Her Mother told her that Basehart had met her at the 2014 International Conference on Information Technology. She and her father attended and sat next to Basehart, listening to the keynote speech given by Roger Hunter, the program manager for NASA's Kepler Mission. Annie gained a newfound respect and appreciation for the depth of research and analysis the team at Langley achieved in preparing her for this very contingency.
"Oh, my God, Crest," she exclaimed, smiling cheerfully. The years have been kind. Jared and I spoke of our time together spent with you at the annual ITNG. She shook her head. Sadly, the old Flamingo is gone now, but that was a great conference. I remember our discussion on the potential of quantum computing.
Basehart gave Ellie a brief hug and stood back as he allowed himself a pleasant reminiscence, "Ellie, we had a blast after lunch in the casino, playing two-cent slots, didn't we? What was the game, 'Invaders from the Planet Moohlah,' wasn't it?"
Annie laughed aloud in reaction just before a technician approached and broke up the reunion by handing Crossthwaite and Annie noise-canceling hearing aids designed to block sound above 70 decibels. These were essential in the AI center, which utilized the ship's HVAC units in the chamber above them to capture and dissipate the heat generated by the three server banks stretching 80 feet into the distance. Before moving off, the technician helped them fit the tiny units in their ear canals and tested them to ensure they functioned correctly.
As Basehart watched Annie test her hearing implants, he lost all doubts about how youthful and vibrant she remained. The woman he remembered at the conference, the one standing before him, hadn't aged a day.
"After all these years, Doctor Hansen, you still remember," Crest said in astonishment.
Annie nodded, "Of course I do, Crest. You made a big impression on Jared and me. For months after, we plotted ways to entice you to come over the pond and work with us. Sadly, the Federal Government wouldn't bite with our urgent need for a 'Direct Hiring Authority.' Still, Crest. I am so pleased to see you. Knowing you are here gives me confidence we can work together and solve whatever is happening to your system."
Geoffrey Crossthwaite was gleeful as he silently took in this exchange. He had made perfect use of the vast intelligence service he had built to build and protect his corporate empire. Crossthwaite patted himself on the back for leaving no stone unturned to protect his now three point five billion of dollar investment. After a decade apart, the mastermind had anticipated the need to reacquaint Ellie and Basehart. The planned meeting at the infor-tech conference in Vegas had born fruit indeed. He recalled his first meeting with a bitter and inconsolable Jason Hendrix, bent on avenging himself over a married woman's rejection. All because of a love affair gone wrong. It had played into Crossthwaite's hands perfectly.
"I am so pleased that you both know each other," Geoffrey said, breaking into their conversation.
Basehart recognized the need to get to business. "Perhaps we can have lunch after we cure our ailing AI?"
Annie laughed, "Of course, Crest, let's get to work."
For the next fifteen minutes, Basehart carefully explained everything in the system from the beginning of the cruise to that moment. Annie kept her eyes on Crest's. She nodded where appropriate and was pleased the engineer hadn't thrown in a 'MacGuffin' to try to trip her up. She praised Crest on his analysis and encouraged him that he was doing everything a good software developer and designer could do to fault isolate and troubleshoot the system he presented to her.
When Basehart paused for a deep breath, Annie suggested, "This is a good time to familiarize me with the physical architecture, Crest."
The three proceeded aft along the starboard side, the eight-foot-tall, eighty-foot-long bank of servers extending for what seemed like forever to Annie. She walked and listened intently to Basehart. All the while, she clasped Geoffrey's hand warmly and gave an occasional scratch of her pinky nail across the palm of his hand.
Annie took in the magnitude of this creation, which would not have been possible without her Mother's creative mind. Annie finally understood that her Momma was a genius. That thought shook her to her core, and she shivered noticeably. Geoffrey looked at her and asked, "Are you cold?"
Annie nodded, "Just a bit love. I am getting used to the environment here." Had she just slipped up by calling Geoffrey 'love'?
Crossthwaite gripped her hand, squeezing it and acknowledging the term of endearment she used. Still, no matter the preparation, Annie quickly realized she could only continue this deception a little longer. It was time to execute Evangeline's plan. As she looked for the station Evangeline had briefed her on, Annie's mouth began to drop like her Father's as the utter immensity of Geoffrey Crossthwaite's creation again sunk in.
"You have a look of astonishment on your face, Ellie," Crossthwaite observed aloud.
