Love, Lust, and Erin: Pt. 03

Chapter 8: Where no Man Has Gone Before
Dave relaxed on the couch, while the late morning sun beamed in through the open blinds. He had a cold towel on his forehead, and was dressed in his running shorts and a tank top, while perspiration gleamed on his skin. On the TV, old reruns of Saturday morning cartoons played. Autobots battling Decepticons registered on some level in his ears, but his mind was drifting, replaying the feel of Erin's light little kiss the night before. Suddenly, the cartoons stopped. A white, horizontal line stretched across the TV screen. Weird.
"Do not attempt to adjust your TV..." a voice said, and Dave sat up straight, wondering when this channel had taken up replaying The Outer Limits.
The line went vertical, but then began to pulse in time with Queen's "We Are the Champions," which began to blare. He set the laptop aside and stood up. What the hell? Just then, the front door opened, and the sound of two laughing girls filled the entryway.
"Good morning, Dave!" Erin crowed.
Casey followed her in, both of them dressed in cotton pajamas with the top two buttons undone, big fuzzy slippers on their feet. Casey tossed her overnight bag onto a chair, and they each hugged him tightly.
"You know, there really ought to be some kind of control on those things. Unexpectedly taking away a man's Saturday morning cartoons is a big no no, and a nostalgia killer."
"We are in control," Erin said, evilly, "We control the vertical, and the horizontal!"
He sighed, defeated, but not in the least put out.
"I take it you two had fun?" He asked.
"Loads!" Casey answered, and Erin stifled a giggle.
"We got you a present!" Erin said, digging in her purse.
"If it's a World's Greatest Grandpa mug, you can keep it."
"It's only slightly better than that."
She handed him a little black box. He took it, opened it. A set of shimmering contacts lay within.
"Are these...those things?"
The two girls swiped and poked at the air, and Dave watched as the color drained from their eyes, leaving them empty, black, and soulless. They approached him slowly.
"Dave..." Erin droned, "Join us, Dave..."
"It will be good for you, father," Casey added, "You must join uuuusss..."
Despite how horrifying the effect was, Dave let loose a guffaw that had his belly hurting.
"Stop it! Jesus, that's the creepiest thing. And no hearts!"
They poked the air, and their eyes returned to their normal colors.
"Put them in, Dave!" Erin cried excitedly, practically bouncing.
Dave took the box into the bathroom and removed his contacts, replaced them with the Haloes, and popped one of the accompanying earbuds into his ear. The sensation in his ear caught him off guard as the earbud seemed to expand, fitting itself tightly into his ear canal. A few seconds later, a glowing letter "H" hovered in the air in front of him.
"Too cool!" He exclaimed, and walked back to the living room.
The girls watched him anxiously as he went through the setup steps, then the Haloes asked him for a name.
"Suggestions?" He asked.
"Jarvis!" Casey said.
"No!" Erin cried, "Come on, Dave, you big nerd. If you don't name them Hal, I will actually kick you in the balls."
Dave grinned, and said, "Hal."
"Hello Dave. I'm Hal." A voice said in his ear, and it was a perfect match.
"Wow!" He exclaimed, "How did it know what Hal sounds like?"
"They've got perfect replicas of every pop culture AI built-in, of course."
"This is wild!" He had a cheesy grin plastered on his face.
"Dave," Erin said, and stood bouncing on her feet in front of him, "let me in. Leah, connect to Dave's Halo."
A message popped up in his vision, asking for permission for Erin to share his view. He accepted.
"Ok, she said. I'm ready. Do it."
Dave looked at her quizzically.
"Do it! Do it! Do it!" She repeated, her whole body quivering, eyes wide like some little anime girl.
"Open the pod bay doors, Hal."
"I'm sorry, Dave. I can't do that."
Dave chuckled, and Erin giggled, hands covering her mouth in glee.
"Again!" She cried.
"Hal, open the pod bay doors."
"I'm sorry, Dave. I can't do that."
She laid her hand on his chest and whispered, "Did you just have a little nerdgasm, too?"
He nodded his head, jaw slack.
"No. Not again," Erin said softly, "Save it."
He nodded again.
Casey rolled her eyes, and said, "Geeks. I'm going to have a shower."
"I'm next," Erin said.
"You wanna walk me through the rest of this?" Dave asked her.
While Casey went to shower, Erin and Dave finished setting up the Haloes. She jabbered excitedly, showing him features and functions, how to set up quick access, and generally playing around. Dave was enthralled. It was like half the sci-fi novels he'd read growing up were suddenly real, and then it dawned on him that he was about to witness people leaving for another planet in only two days.
Erin saw the faraway look on his face.
"What is it?" She asked.
"It just kind of hit me that escort izmir all my childhood fantasies about spaceships and cool tech just became real life. You know, when I was your age--"
Erin groaned dramatically.
"When I was your age," He continued, "I never would have dreamed that I'd be alive to see something like this, but damned if I didn't just become some sort of cyborg. It's just, kinda nuts."
"It's all moving so fast," Erin agreed, "Personally, I think it makes you value more, the people you have around you. Even if they are cyborgs."
"Ok. Epiphany over," he said, "Continue showing me cool stuff, please."
Dave fed them sandwiches for lunch, during which he was treated to the sight of the girls, once again, in tiny panties and their pajama tops. He still felt like a guilty pervert, but he had to admit that it was enjoyable.
After lunch, he lounged on the couch, flicking through Halo menus and exploring his new toy. The sound of footsteps running down the stairs drew his attention, and he sat up, curious. Erin burst into the room, her hair whipping behind her.
"They're coming out of the walls!" She cried, and dove behind the armchair.
"What?"
"Leah! Draft Dave into the war!"
A message popped up in his vision, stating, "Erin has requested you join the fight for freedom."
He tapped yes. A giant mechanical spider crawled over the end of the couch in front of him. He yelled and fell off the couch. He looked up, and the thing skittered menacingly toward him, and then it exploded into a shower of sparks.
"Die!" Erin shouted.
Dave looked over at her, She wore a cowboy hat and held a smoking laser pistol in her hand. What the fuck was happening? Erin skirted the armchair and kneeled beside him.
"I've got you, Dave, but they're holding Casey hostage. It's up to us!"
"Jesus! What are they?"
"Mechanorachnids, and the queen has got Casey!"
Dave sat up, and noticed that he had a pistol in his own hand. He grinned like a kid, and felt like one, too. He pointed his pistol over Erin's shoulder and blasted another spider as it crawled over the armchair, feeling a thrill of delight as it vanished in a puff of sparks. Together, they got to their feet. He had to admit that it was a little odd seeing Erin wearing a cowboy hat, pajama top, and thin panties, while she blasted mechanical spiders into dust, but the effect was kind of sexy.
A wave of spiders poured down the stairs, and together they blasted through them, sparks flying into the air, evaporating as they fought their way up the steps. On the landing, a gigantic mechanorachnid with glowing ruby eyes blocked the way. They blasted it with the pistols, but they had little effect on the gleaming, metal body.
"Go for the eyes!" Erin said, and they took aim.
The creature hissed in fury as 2, then 4, then 6 of its horrid eyes exploded in puffs of red dust. It thrashed, keeled over, and then burst into sparks.
"Was that the queen?" Dave asked, as they crept up the steps.
Erin poked her head around the corner, gulped, and then said, "Nope..."
Dave leaned over her and looked, "Shit!"
Guarding Casey's door was a hulking black mass with jointed, razor-sharp legs. It had two heads that swiveled back and forth watchfully, gleaming red eyes attentive for intruders. Dave and Erin glanced at each other, nodded, and then split up, drawing the gaze of those sweeping eyes in both directions, firing at the glittering rubies. The thing screeched in pain as they blasted out its eyes, its legs flailing.
Jesus, it looked real, Dave thought, and the creature stood up on its hind legs, protecting its remaining eyes. A bolt of blue fire arced through the air, striking Erin in the shoulder, and she went down, crying, "I'm hit!" Dave saw smoke rising from her shoulder, but she rolled away from a second blast, and came up on one knee, firing her pistol in rapid succession. On the creature's abdomen, Dave glimpsed a swirling, blue crystal. He took careful aim, fired, and saw the crystal burst into a million blue shards. The queen collapsed, her mechanical legs folding beneath her as the light faded from her eyes. She evaporated into a thick black cloud and swirled away. Erin hobbled toward Casey's door, which was coated in shiny, translucent webs. She fired her pistol, and the webs burned away. Casey came rushing out of the room, and threw herself into Erin's embrace.
"My hero!" She cried.
"It was a team effort." Erin admitted, rubbing her smoking wound.
Casey hugged Dave, giving him a peck on the cheek. Dave returned the embrace, careful to keep his sweaty hands from groping her ass. In his Haloes, a stat screen appeared, showing his shots fired, hits, misses, and score.
"Old man's got skills!" Erin said, "Deadeye Dave, we'll call you."
Dave grinned like a maniac and blew smoke from his pistol.
"Next time, you're the hostage." Casey said to her.
"That was a...blast!" Dave said, and the girls groaned.
"Hey, now that we've saved the world, I have some last minute shopping to do for the trip. You?"
"I could escort izmir use a few things." Dave agreed.
"Are pants required?" Casey asked.
"We could wear bikinis!" Erin suggested.
Dave flushed, and added, "I need a shower."
The next morning, Dave found himself wedged into a middle seat on the plane between the girls. They shared a movie in their Haloes during the flight, getting odd looks from the people across the aisle, as the three of them stared off, seemingly at nothing, and chuckled to themselves. Dave didn't care. The kid in him was practically bouncing out of his seat with excitement. The last few days had made him feel so young. Now, with the prospect of a childhood dream coming true, and his new cyborg eyes, he really did feel like a kid. He'd been as horny as one, too, unfortunately. He didn't remember a time when he'd jerked off so frequently, as he had these past few days.
He'd stopped feeling quite so guilty about it, because it was becoming normal, but he couldn't help that twinge of sickness, thinking of himself as perverted when he stroked his cock, imagining Erin's delectable bottom. He made a strong mental effort, though, not to include Casey in those fantasies. That was a line a little too far. The memory of Erin's suggestion that she was going down on his daughter, however, did not make that an easy thing to do.
The blinding Florida sunshine greeted them as they departed Melbourne International, but there was something a bit off about it. Blinding. It should have been blinding, because he'd forgotten to pack sunglasses. It wasn't, though. His vision itself was tinted against the bright rays. He caught Erin's eye, and saw that her normal bright blues were darker, like a shade had been drawn over them. She cocked her head in question.
"Do the Haloes...adapt to the sunlight?"
"Of course!" She chirped.
"Jesus. These things are even gonna put sunglasses out of business."
The three of them, bags in hand, crossed to the car rental, where Erin checked them in. A short time after, a valet brought around a bright red EV convertible.
"Nice choice!" Dave praised her.
"Every hot blonde needs a cherry red drop top." Casey said.
"Beats the old bucket back home, that's for sure." Erin agreed, took the proffered keyfob from the valet, and got behind the wheel. Casey vaulted the passenger side door into her seat, Dave, awkwardly, clambered into the back seat. They cruised down the ramp and hit the highway. Off to his right, Dave watched the rolling ocean waves, dotted by small boats and parasailers. Yeah, this was the life. He settled back in his seat, while Casey tuned the radio, until the Red Hot Chili Peppers were crooning, "Road trippin' with my two favorite allies..." from the speakers.
"Now that's timing!" She said, and settled back in her seat, kicking her feet up on the dash, her bare legs soaking in the sun.
"Do you know where you're going?" Dave asked.
"Leah," Erin said, "Share the map with Dave."
In the corner of his vision, a HUD displayed an overlay of a GPS route on the road ahead.
"Should have known." He answered himself.
He stared off at the ocean and lost himself in the music and the whipping of the warm coastal wind.
"I can give you a better view, Dave." the voice of Hal said in his ear.
"Shit!"
Casey looked back at him, and he caught Erin's eye in the mirror.
"Hal." he said, and waved it off, then he replied, "Ok, Hal. Show me what you've got."
Something like the zoom control of his phone camera winked into existence, floating in the corner of his right eye. He scrolled the dial, and watched the ocean grow closer, closer, until he felt like he was right there on the beach. The effect made him feel a bit dizzy, like he'd lost his depth perception, but he became accustomed to it quickly. He could even make out a gaggle of girls in bikinis along the sand, and chuckled to himself. These things were a peeper's dream. If he'd been a peeper.
Erin pulled the convertible into the Radisson Resort at the Port. The place was completely packed, and not just with the usual early-summer vacation goers. This was a global event, never to be repeated. Though the world had known for some time that it was coming, as the launch grew closer it actually became real for people. Even getting flights and a hotel 3 months before had been a challenge, and it hadn't come cheap. The entire state was gouging on prices, and it was paying off big.
Rocket Launch View Point would be off limits for the general public, having been reserved for high-ranking dignitaries, and covered in massive amounts of security. Fortunately, they'd be able to get in at Port Canaveral Park. While it wouldn't be a front row seat, just being a part of it was enough.
There was a festive mood in the air, and everyone was on a space craze. On every available bit of sidewalk was someone with a booth, a cart, even kids with wagons, all of them hawking some kind of souvenir to cash in on the event. They couldn't walk 10 feet without nearly tripping over a martian, a Klingon, or some other space-faring creature. Children with masks, rockets, laser guns, and space helmets were everywhere. People were decked in shirts reading, "take me to your leader," or "Pale Blue Dot," and other memorable sayings.
They entered the lobby and stood in line to check in. Dave soaked in the temporary decorations that had been put up in honor of the launch. Banners sprinkled with comets and stars hung from the ceiling. Twinkling LED stars covered the walls. Carpet runners covered in comet trails crisscrossed the floor.
"This is the coolest freakin' thing in the world!" Erin said.
"You mean...out of this world!" Dave shot back.
Casey rolled her eyes, and said, "You two should get a fantasy suite, and just bone in a moon crater."
"Oooh!" Erin cooed, "I could be a sexy Orion Slave girl, and Dave can be a gross, slimy tentacle monster from planet Zorkon Prime!"
"Jesus! What kind of sick fantasies do you have?" He asked, then added quickly, "Forget I asked. Please, forget I asked."
"Good catch, Dad," Casey said, "She will tell you in lurid detail right here."
The couple in front of them cleared away, and their turn to check-in came up, cutting off whatever witty reply was, no doubt, about to come from Erin. They checked in, were given key cards, and made their way up to their room. Room. Singular, Dave realized.
"Um, you don't have your own room?" He asked.
"It was hard enough to get the one," Erin said, shaking her head, "But it has a big king bed, Dave. Don't worry. Unfortunately, it is not a moon crater, so please get your disappointment out of the way, now."
"I left my giant slime bottle at home, along with the fully poseable tentacle suit, anyway. You just never know what to bring on vacation."
Erin let them in, and tossed her bag on a chair. Casey and Dave set theirs down. Dave crossed the room and drew back the curtains to the balcony, letting the sunlight fill the space. Erin kicked off her sandals and flopped down on the bed. Casey joined her. Dave admired the view of the Cape from the balcony, scanning the bustling town with his Haloes.
"Bikini time!" Casey said, suddenly, and vaulted from the bed.
She dug her swimsuit from her bag. Erin followed her, and together, they disappeared into the bathroom. Dave opened his own bag, retrieved a pair of baggy shorts and a tee, and tried not to imagine what was on the other side of the door. He was not successful. He wondered, briefly, if Haloes came with X-Ray vision.
"Hal, activate X-Ray vision." He whispered.
"I'm sorry, Dave. I can't do that."
Well, it was still in Beta.
After much giggling, the door opened and the two girls stepped out. Casey was looking very cute in an ivory two-piece with red and yellow splashes, a pair of Tory Burch thong sandals on her feet. Erin was downright sexy in an emerald bikini that showed it all off, and a sheer sarong wrapped around her waist. Both of the girls had their hair tied back in ponytails. Dave tried his best not to salivate as they began to smear sun lotion all over each other. He busied himself applying his own.
The sun was just beginning to dip into early evening, now, as they strolled through the milling crowd on the streets. Dodging vendors, they found a trendy little cabana restaurant for dinner, and wolfishly tucked into their food. For the next few hours, they explored the shops. Erin and Casey found matching sun hats, while Dave picked himself up a NASA baseball cap
The nightlife was in full swing as they walked back in the direction of the hotel. Casey spotted an under 21 dance club, and after a bit of convincing, they dragged Dave inside. The place was pumping out dance pop, something about "Backdoor Girl."
"Is that music?" Dave asked.
"It's Bratty Britt," Erin explained, "She's too naughty!"
"I'll say."
They found standing room in a corner, and Dave tried to understand the appeal of the utterly trashy lyrics
"Grab my reigns like a pony, baby
Pull em back and show me
How a backdoor girl makes her money"
"You ain't gotta buy me dinner
Or take me to a movie
Just bend me over rough
And put that big one right through me"
"I'm a backdoor girl, baby, backdoor girl
Bottoms out, scream and shout
Bury that stick
I'm a backdoor girl, baby, backdoor girl"
"Split it wide. Come inside.
Slap it. Watch it jiggle.
My math skills stop at divide.
I'm always open for a ride.
Can't resist the way my backside wiggle"
"It's about butt sex," Erin explained.
"Yeah, I picked up on the subtle lyrics." Dave said.
The filthy song blended into something less racy, whereupon Dave found himself being pulled onto the dance floor by the two girls. He had no moves, but he didn't care. He couldn't look any more ridiculous than the other people bouncing around. He was sandwiched between Casey and Erin, who laughed and ground against him, pushing their asses against his hardening crotch. He went with it. After a few songs, though, the day began to catch up with him, and he excused himself, becoming an observer. Other men took his exit as an invitation, but the girls ignored them, instead dirty dancing with one another to the delight of every male within view.