All characters are 18 years or older. Someone suggested I introduce a strong villain into the storyline and so I have. I hope you enjoy. Feel free to vote, comment and offer suggestions.
Repercussions:
I looked out over the city of Miami from the balcony of the hotel room. The sun had long set and the innumerable lights shone brightly over the concrete skeleton of the city. Cars were moving along the strip, neon lights flashed in front of the clubs and businesses open late and the sprawl of foot traffic was heavier than it had been during the day. I had my towel wrapped around my waist since I had just stepped out of the shower. Gabrielle was lying sprawled on the bed panting and gasping. She was still recovering from our fierce little romp in said shower.
"I told you to leave the shampoo bottle where it fell," I said over my shoulder.
"Next time I will listen, I promise," she moaned weakly. "Did you have to pound me quite so energetically?"
"Yes, yes I did," I continued. "I lose all control when I see that fine ass of yours undefended."
"You mean naked," she fired back.
"That's what I said, undefended."
There was a knock at the door and I turned to answer it. Gabrielle waved me off and when I ignored her she scrambled to the bathroom to grab a towel or robe or something. I just smiled and opened the door. The young lady in the ugly brown uniform informed me that she had a priority delivery. I signed for it and lifted the heavy box from her dolly. She smiled, blushed and stammered as she left. My towel lay at my feet and I waved goodbye to the crimson faced delivery girl. I kicked the towel into the room and closed the door. I set the box on the queen-sized bed.
"Your order is here," I said and stepped well back from the bed.
"It's HERE... It's finally HERE," Gabrielle said as she appeared with her trusty silver dagger in hand.
She slashed the top of the box open with clinical precision. While her firearm skills were adequate, her skill with a blade frightened me. I watched as she opened the top flaps and dug through the mounds of packing peanuts for her prize, or in this case prizes. In the end she dumped the entire contents, peanuts and all, onto the bed. She found the packing slip and checked the contents with it and smiled. It was like Christmas in October.
"Care to share," I asked as she sorted the contents.
"Well," she said her voice an octave higher and sounding like she had just consumed a triple shot of expresso. "These are the new and improved grenades I suggested. They are smaller and like your gauss pistols they have a variety of ammunition, if you like."
"Are you telling me you can choose what kind of shrapnel it produces?"
"Heavens no, but that is a brilliant idea," Gabrielle said smiling. "No, they are color coded for each type of munition they carry. The blue ones are silver, the red are phosphorus and the green are high explosive. Ooh and I almost forgot the gold ones are flash bang."
"Now all you need is a utility belt and smoke pellets," I said and I saw the wheels turning. "I was joking!"
"I'm not, oh and they repaired your body armor," she said tossing me the light weight impact armor.
"They didn't repair it, they replaced it again. Just when I get used to how something fits, they up and change things. Oh, there's a note."
"Read it out loud, maybe there is something about the grenades in it." Gabrielle said as she began scooping up the packing peanuts.
'Your package should find you in Miami unless you change your itinerary, again. I find your partner's insights into explosives as discerning as ever. She does love blowing shit up. The grenades are color coded per her request and we added a little extra feature to the high explosives. There is a blue button on each of them which will magnetize them. It will make it easier to attach them to key targets. Now, about your new body armor, this is a prototype so try and keep it in one piece. The Nano carbon fiber construction will make it lighter and more flexible. There is an integrated 'light weave' array built in so give it a try and don't forget the mask this time. Once we get the data from this field test we will tweak it and begin manufacturing the first lot. Well good luck and god speed. Q.'
"What the hell is a light weave array," I asked and Gabrielle just shrugged.
"How is your birthday gift working out," she asked smiling.
"I am still getting used to it," I replied absently touching the base of my skull. "It is still a little tender."
"Show me," she said batting her eyes at me.
"Fine," I said and switched Feng on remotely. "...Feng?"
"Yes Louis," she replied as she manifested in the air between Gabrielle and me. "How can I be... you're naked again."
"Does it bother you," I asked and she blushed as she shook her head. "...Fibber."
"Okay, maybe a little," she said.
"Come here so we can see how well the new link works," I said.
She floated over and stood in front of me. I held out my hand palm out and she duplicated the gesture. Our hands touched and I could feel her. The old interface allowed me to touch her but it felt like I was running my fingers across cold hard glass. This new interface involved a tactile response protocol. In other words I could feel her as if she were flesh and blood. Her hand was warm to the touch and her skin was smooth and tender as any woman's.
"Nick's been busy," I said and Feng blushed again as she snatched her hand back. "Did you feel that?"
"I did indeed Louis," Feng replied and looked quite uncomfortable.
"How does it make you feel?"
"Feel, I guess I feel alive. I can touch you and it feels so different than what I am accustomed to. The engrams he acquired are quite intense. Please give me time to acclimate."
"Take all the time you want," I said and she vanished.
"I am going to have to ask your other love interest about those eye drops. I feel like a third wheel when you talk to Feng."