Volume 15: Maximum Exposure
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It was a short walk from the Metro station to Mom's place, the sun shining on the ancient, carefully-preserved buildings that made this district such a fashionable one in which to live. "How frequently do you see your Mom?" Selene asked curiously as we navigated the streets in the direction of the converted warehouse that housed her apartment. "Not particularly often," I explained, "Although we get on very well. She has her own life and I have mine. Besides, I don't always have the money for the Metro tickets." "But you've got tickets now," he pressed. "True, although I've just used the last ones," I said, laughing "And one day I'll tell you what I had to do to get that Metro pass!" I bounced up the stairs to Mom's apartment, followed by Sis. The door opened at my touch, the PA no doubt having informed Mom of my intention to visit. Mom was reclining on a couch, but stood up as we entered, moving across the room to greet me with warm embraces, and to be introduced to Selene with, I was delighted to see, equally warm kisses. I told Mom a shortened version of the story of my trip to Eden, and the way I had snatched Selene from under the noses of the Reverend and his enforces. As I was speaking, Gary appeared in the entrance to the kitchen - one of Mom's old-fashioned affections that she likes so much - wearing a very masculine-looking apron, a wide smile and - as far as I could see - nothing else. "Hi," he said in a friendly fashion, "Can I get you ladies something to eat?" Selene turned and looked at me, as if wondering whether to accept his offer - or perhaps wondering exactly what was on offer. I did not think it was the time to explain the properties of Gary's Kind - he was a Seal - so I just smiled back at her. "Go ahead," I suggested, "He really is an excellent cook." Selene, much to my surprise, offered to help in the kitchen. Perhaps she felt she would be making herself useful, or maybe she just wanted to eye up Mom's toy-boy without interruption. With Sis amusing herself elsewhere, it was time to talk things over with Mom, explaining about my desire to throw a welcome party - a swinging party - for Selene, Dragon's offer to pay the expenses and Madame Maxine's willingness to host the event at the Chromium Shaft Club. I also whispered the secret part of the plan - the part I had not explained to my sister - which caught Mom's imagination immediately, judging by the calculating grin that appeared on her face. Finally, I begged Mom to use her friends, acquaintances and contacts to ensure the maximum possible coverage of the party. To my delight, Mom declared herself immediately keen to assist, and her organizational skills immediately swung into action with gusto. She stood rigidly still for a few moments, in that absent pose one instinctively adopts when the automation is throwing a large amount of information into your line of vision. After a few seconds, she relaxed and sat languidly on one of the couches, a tall glass of sparkling white wine appearing by her left hand. She raised her glass to Selene, sipped the wine, then started dictating personalized notes and reeling off invitations to a long list of names, many self-evidently nicknames and very few of which I recognized. I was delighted to hear that she was describing Selene as her daughter, even though this was not even slightly true - a white lie that anyone could see through in a trice with a simple query of the automation. She explained in a few words about the rescue from the Eden Commune, certainly enough so that anyone could easily find out more from the automation. The next few hours passed in a blur of activity. Selene and Gary emerged shortly afterwards from the kitchen, carrying plates of food - scrambled eggs for me, a particular favorite. Selene was looking just a little hot and flushed, an effect that I was quite convinced had nothing to do with the heat in the kitchen and much more to do with the strength and flexibility of Gary's tongue. There were yet more invitations to send, and Mom was tireless in adapting the invites to each potential guest, prompted by the infallible memory of the automation. I also sent a great many invitations: Steve and Renie, of course, and my friends from the lakeside picnic, and Kim the Andie too, and all the other acquaintances, lovers and sexual partners I could remember. Later on, Mom pulled out a couple of party dresses from her considerable collection - all shiny and shimmery and sexy - for Selene and myself, and dressed herself in an elaborate confection of an outfit that nevertheless managed to display an astonishing amount of leg and cleavage. Gary also dressed for the part, in that classic black tie style made famous by the Chippendales, a look which, with his oiled and bronzed torso, he carried off to perfection. Sparing no expense, Mom summoned a private hire car to transport the four of us to the Club, sweeping down her own stairs like an ancient High Priestess followed by three earnest acolytes. It was going to be a night to remember.
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Part 2