They arrived at the ranch late at night after driving down a long dirt road. Rhys had ridden all day way in the back seat, running ideas through his mind, trying to make plans with Bob. They had decided on an initial approach. Use the resources from the shuttle to make the ranch secure as possible, then train the girls in combat tactics.
As much as he did not want to involve them, they were all he had. Even if they did not end up fighting, they needed to know how to defend themselves. The changes Bob was making mentally and physically should help them adapt and learn quickly. Rhys did not realize just how efficient Bob could be in developing warriors but found out in a few days. He didn't know it yet, but combat was now in their DNA, literally.
As they approached, Bob was in contact with the shuttle. Bob had not been here, he had merely directed the shuttle to fly back to this location.
"Rhys, this is more than just the shuttle. There is a base AI here
," he said with surprise.
"Stop the truck now," Rhys quickly shouted to Amancia.
"The
AI does not know us," Bob noted to us all, including the girls in the conversation. "I was not programmed to be here, so I am attempting to update the AI database so we can proceed
." Looking around, we could not see much in the dark. A house was located at the base of the mountain. A dry stream bed ran alongside the road, and a few trees were growing near the front. The ground was broken, rising steeply to the back and up a large hill. Vegetation was mainly cactus, mesquite, and everything seemed to have thorns. The land was empty otherwise, deer, coyote, and other small mammals, but little else. It was a barren land, ideal for a hidden base. Other than a porch light, there was nothing to indicate anyone lived here, no other lights.
"We have been under surveillance for several miles," Bob noted, had we progressed much further we would have been destroyed.
"So, the base is armed." Rhy mused, "that is a good thing.
"
"Only with minimal weapons for basic defense, most of the defense is passive
," Bob explained.
"What does that mean," asked Sandy.
"Hidden, I think, probably strengthened walls in the house and such." Then Rhys felt something click in his head, and he noticed the girls jump as well. Suddenly the overlay was visible in his mind, showing the ranch and surrounding area, defenses detailed, and location of the shuttlecraft. "Wow," how deep does that shaft go," Rhys said, mentally indicating a vertical tunnel dropping down from the house.
"One thousand meters."
Rhys wasn't sure, but it seemed from the data Bob was feeding him the defenses were more than just passive concealment. Amancia started up the truck and headed for the house. "I don't know about the rest of you, but this conversation can continue after a meal and a shower," she said, eager to get out of the truck. Rhys agreed and shut up as she drove to the front of the house and parked.
The ranch house was in good shape, clean, and smelled as if no one lived there. It was a typical house for the area, old looking, and seemed to be made out of stone. The rooms were nicely furnished but looked unlived in. Rhys guessed Jake didn't spend much time here. It was isolated, which suited Rhys fine, they didn't need neighbors who might be interested in the new occupants.
The girls spread out looking the two-bedroom ranch-style house over, which did not take long. "Not much in the kitchen," Amancia noted.
"King-sized bed and nice shower. Come on, Amancia, let's unload and get cleaned up," Sandy called out.
Rhys was more interested in the defenses and what lay below. The Drans had gone to a substantial effort to build a deep underground hanger; he wondered what else was there.
"Bob, are you in control of the AI," Rhys asked out loud?
"
Yes
."
"Do you have an inventory?"
A list of equipment scrolled across his eyes. It seemed substantial, but he didn't recognize most of it.
"Take me through the defenses."
Bob showed him a schematic with the blueprints for the base. Sensors to detect movement and energy sources along the road and surrounding area covering 50 miles in all directions. Some kind of weapons designed to stun (he hoped) humans if necessary. Some others that he did not recognize that seemed to be for air defense. Explosives intended to collapse the shaft were in place that could be used to destroy the shuttle and all other alien technology.
"So primary defenses from humans, light to moderate defenses against the Om, but nothing to stop a serious attack. Designed for stealth.
"
"Correct."
Not as extensive as he had hoped, but it would have to do. Sandy and Amancia had begun unloading their stuff from the truck. They only had what we had picked up along the way, a few sets of clothes, toiletries, (makeup of course), and some groceries. And heels, where did they find time to shoe shop?
The first thing Rhys did was familiarize himself with the layout. We needed to be ready in case of another attack.
"The Om or their creatures cannot approach without warning," Bob said, "I will warn you of any approaching danger
."
Rhys heard the girls call him, and walked back in to find them drying off from a shower.
"Your turn," Sandy said, throwing him her towel and standing there naked.
"Hurry up," said Amancia, "time to try out the bed."
Hurry, he did, but the shower felt good after being in the car all day. When Rhys came out, he found the girls laying on the bed, and somewhere they had acquired some very sexy lingerie, and heels that would have looked at home strutting around a pole. He took a moment to enjoy the long legs and breasts so prominently displayed.
"I think he likes our outfits," said Amancia as Rhys stared somewhat speechless.
"Where did you find those," Rhys asked in a husky voice.
"Surprising what you can find at Good Will," Sandy said with a sly smile that promised lots of fun.
"Hmmm, I wonder if there is a Goodwill store near here because those may get ripped off of you."
The girls laughed and replied, "there is not enough here to bother ripping off," as they grabbed his hands and pulled him into the bed.
Rhys quickly found himself smothered under some delicious flesh. He could see the small kernels of female emotions in his mind. Mentally he reached for them but stopped to observe. Rhys could sense the emotions flowing from the girls, happy, aroused, in love with each other and him. Instinctively he knew he could manipulate those emotions or share his with them.
His control was growing.
Knowing how they were reacting to something gave him a distinct advantage in bed, as he could see just what aroused them and how much. Rhys decided the ladies deserved a lovely award for the heels and the lingerie, so reward them he did, a first with his tongue, then with his cock, several times. Just enough orders to keep them aroused.
When Rhys woke up, the light was just streaming in the window. Rolling over, he saw Sandy lying on her side, watching him. Amancia was not to be seen. "Just you and me this morning, we have not been alone together since I woke up in your bed a few days ago."
Rhys smiled, thinking of other mornings spent with Sandy ."Good morning beautiful, it has been kind of hectic; the three of us have barely been apart for a few minutes since this all started."
Sandy had a thoughtful look on her face as she said, "How are you doing with all this Rhys? You have been taking care of us, making sure we are ok, and you killed four of those men that attacked us in the house and then those from last night." Looking at me with a worried expression, she continued, Amancia and I worry that we may be leaning on you too much. I know we were overwhelmed at first, but we're better now.
"I know, I can feel it in my head."
