Forever Yours
40
The Purge
HENRY HAD TAMPERED with online content before. He didn’t tell anyone about it, but he kept the tools secreted away just in case he needed them. There had been the process of locating information on Tom Reynolds, distributing it to authorities, wiping out his bank accounts, and then removing every trace that he’d ever had anything to do with it, which included wiping email from an ISP.
When Kaitlyn tried to blackmail him into marrying her, he tracked down where the pressure was really coming from, rewrote her trust, and wiped all evidence that he’d ever been there.
Locating and purging video content was a different matter. It would attract too much attention to remove it. But video content wasn’t that difficult to corrupt. He just had to find it first.
Henry’s search AI had been in use and development for five years. The company had released a version of it and he handed it over to the team to create a network version, but one of the things about having a personal AI working on your searches was that it learned and expanded its base as it grew. Henry could also set degrees of separation parameters. If he discovered a computer with the content he wanted destroyed on it, he could also search any device connected to that computer. Henry set and refined search parameters repeatedly until he had discovered well over 300 videos on various servers and private computers.
When he first tested the counterattack software, he’d set the attack to simply change the file extension of a key file. That blanked the computer screen, but it was a simple fix to just reset the file extension. That was too simple for this job.
When he’d run the counterattack on the Chinese hackers, he couldn’t risk them coming right back and getting to him again. He’d used a two-fold attack, installing a viral reverse optimization that scrambled the hard drive and letting that propagate to all the computers between the second and sixth degree. The 0, 1, 2 degree computers were completely wiped of all their content and system. That was too much for what he wanted to do with the video files.
He wanted people to attempt to launch the videos and get an error that the file was unplayable and probably corrupt. He didn’t want to affect anything else on the computer. And he wanted any backup of the file that was uploaded or installed to automatically corrupt itself. So, the AI virus needed to be self-propagating.
For video content, scrambling the clock would make the file play poorly, but would not make it impossible to see. He wanted no trace of Chastity posing nude or being fucked. That would require randomizing the video signal itself. He would introduce unrelated code into the file and blocks of data from it. The best part of this was that if anyone compared two of the corrupt files, they would find they were corrupted in different ways.
He made sure Chastity backed up any images she wanted to keep and disconnected her computer from the internet. Then he also ran searches for her images on ‘professional’ sites and ‘industry’ social media sites. When he was certain that he had as much of her content located as he could find, he checked with her to be sure this was what she wanted.
“All I want to keep is my real identity and my money,” she said. “As far as I’m concerned you can erase any other trace that I existed.”
“Honey, are you sure?” Lisa asked. “Henry, can you even distinguish that kind of information that she would need and what she wouldn’t? How about medical records?”
“I don’t want to risk erasing you completely, Chas. We need to stick to content that is offensive to you. I’m ready to pull the trigger if you say to,” Henry said.
“Do it,” she said firmly.
Henry launched the corruption program and it began the process.
“Devices that are off line won’t be affected until they connect,” he said. “And it will take longer to locate files on cell phones. I’m not 100% sure that the search has located things residing on cell phones, though I’ve got a lot of confidence in it. It doesn’t make a difference what operating system the device is running. This is going after a specific file type and we’re going to get them all.”
Henry turned from his computer in his chair. He saw Chastity stripping off all her clothes and standing before him and Lisa.
“Take me,” she said. “However you want me. Whatever you want to do to me. Take me and use me. I’m free!”
“No!” Henry said, even as Lisa was reaching for her girlfriend. “What I just did might be illegal. Some might say it was immoral or unethical. But I did it because my friend was hurting. I did what directly affected her. And we never have sex just because someone thinks they’re owed or because it’s convenient. That was a promise I made to Lisa and I’ll make it to you as well. Even if it means we can no longer be lovers, I’m nullifying the transaction. I love you and I care for you without expectation from you, now and forever.”
“Then you listen to me, Henry Pascal,” Chastity said straightening up in her naked glory. “Our relationship left the realm of a transaction years ago. I am a free woman and I’ll do what my heart and my body tell me is right. And right now, it’s right for me to show you how much I love you.”
Chastity pulled Henry to her and kissed him, opening her mouth and thrusting her tongue into his. They continued for a breathless minute.
“Don’t get used to that. I’m still not your girlfriend. But I am and will always be your lover.”
She then turned to Lisa and drew her into a similar embrace. They kissed for significantly longer than she’d kissed Henry.
“You, however,” Chastity gasped when they broke the kiss. “I am your girlfriend.”
December was an intense month for everyone at Open Cloak. Ari Patel started work the fourth and spent two days in seclusion with Henry mapping out a plan for power conservation. He’d worked in the power industry, developing software for power management from the utility perspective. He was ready to focus on power management from the consumer perspective. Henry stressed the importance of reducing the power consumption of AIs and Ari was all for it.
All those who were in college had final exams for the first semester the week of December 11, just two weeks after Thanksgiving. As students, Henry, Lisa, Chastity, Luke, Isobel, Josh, and even recent grad Conrad were accustomed to having at least four weeks’ vacation at the end of the year. But a corporation preparing to pay its first month’s rent in January didn’t shut down. As soon as exams were over, everyone was back in the office full time working on the many projects.
Henry, Lisa, and Chastity spent Christmas Eve with Ryan and Sylvia, then took off Christmas morning for Louisiana. Jackie picked the three up at the airport and drove them up to Baton Rouge. She scarcely knew what to do with Chastity. She was committed to being an accepting person and an ally, but never expected her own daughter to bring both a boy and a girl home with her.
“How should I introduce Chastity to your grandparents?” Jackie asked Lisa when they had a few minutes alone. “Is she a they?”
“No, Mom,” Lisa said patiently. “Believe me, she is all woman! Um… I mean… Henry and I are a couple. Chastity is our lover. As in, we both love her. To infinity!”
“It’s okay!” Jackie said. “I’m not upset or anything. God knows we did stranger things when I was in the sorority. I mean… I just don’t want to offend anyone.”
“Mom, you can relax. Chas has never had much of a family. No parents or grandparents. Do like Sylvia does. She treats Chastity like her own daughter. In fact, I think Chastity visits Henry’s parents more often than he does,” Lisa whispered.
“That will do it!” Jackie said. “My other daughter. We don’t need to explain anything else you don’t want to. But… uh… what are the sleeping arrangements?”
“Can Chas have the guest room?” Lisa asked. “That whole being alone thing? She doesn’t like to wake up next to anyone, even if she starts the night with us.”
“Oh, of course! It’s all made up. I didn’t think your bed was big enough for three. At least not to sleep comfortably.”
They arrived at the Hartman home and as soon as Chastity was greeted by Bill and everyone put their luggage in the rooms, they all loaded back in the SUV and went to Beau and Solange’s house for Christmas dinner.
Henry and Chastity gazed out the car windows as they turned up the long drive to the Benoit estate. The lane was lined with live oaks. In fact, the entire estate seemed to be a small forest at the center of which was what appeared to be a modest house with three dormers gracing the front. Inside, however, the home was sprawling.
“Come in. Come in,” Beau bellowed at the door, greeting the family. “Merry Christmas!”
It looked like Beau had already been imbibing in some Christmas cheer. When Solange emerged from the kitchen, it was obvious he hadn’t been drinking alone.
“Oh, you’re all here!” Solange said. “Muah. Muah,” she said as she went down the line greeting their daughter’s family. “Lisa, who is this beautiful creature with you and Henry?”
“Mamé, this is ma chère, Chastity.”
“Oh! And Henry?”
“Notre cher,” Lisa answered.
Jackie stared at the two in surprise as Henry and Chastity tried to figure out what was passing between Lisa and her grandmother.
“Oh! You are all three so beautiful! Come and have a glass of sherry before dinner,” Solange said.
“Could we have something without alcohol?” Lisa asked.
“Of course,” Beau broke in. “We’ve got anything you’d like.”
He ushered them into the massive living room with a fireplace between the living room and the dining room where a fire was roaring. Festive garlands were strung around the fireplace, but there were few other decorations.
“What a beautiful home, Beau,” Henry said. “Thank you for welcoming us on this Christmas Day.”
“The old place threatens to fall down every day,” Beau laughed. “My great grandfather, back in 1875, built this place. Of course, things have been updated. Three bathrooms now to go with the three bedrooms. You’ll find they are all rather small by today’s standard. The house was made to entertain people, so most of the 4,000 square feet are reserved for that purpose, though I have a nice little office on the side over there. That’s where I’ve been recording most of my memoirs for you.”
He pulled Henry aside to get the drinks for everyone. He never asked what Bill or Jackie wanted. Just poured their cocktails and set them on a tray.
“Your maîtresse is a beautiful woman. But I detect she belongs to Lisa as much as to you,” he said.
“Yes, sir.”
“Takes me back, it does. Sol and I had a maîtresse when we were younger. Well, I suppose we’d still have her if she hadn’t passed on. Sad to lose her so young. Jacqueline would hardly remember her, I suppose. I’ll have to record that story, I think.”
He handed Henry three glasses of soda water on ice and took the cocktails to his daughter and son-in-law. There was never a question about Chastity being accepted. Jackie’s worrying had been for naught. In fact, she was quite amazed at how open and loving her parents were.
They had dinner and Solange summoned her daughter and granddaughters to join her in her craft room so she could show them her latest projects. Henry joined Bill and Beau in a walk outside. It was chilly, but the northerners had come prepared with warm jackets.
“When Great Granddaddy built this house, it sat on nearly four miles of property, stretching from here to the river and north over what is now the university campus. Over the years, the plantation has dwindled to just six acres, but it’s a pleasant property. If she wants it when we’re gone, it will go to Lisa. Of course, I don’t expect it to stay in the family forever. We live in a different world these days. It will ultimately be sold and the Benoit name will be forgotten.”
“Not forgotten,” Henry said. “Your descendants will always have your legacy and your stories.”
“Ah, yes. Forever Theirs. I’m happy to leave that behind. How about you, Bill?” Beau asked.
“Of course,” Bill said. “I just hope I have your years to record things. And as many adventures as you’ve had.”
“I’m glad we’re creating this,” Henry said. “It seems a lot of people are happy about it. We’ve sold over five hundred systems already.”
“Well, it’s all part of the new era, I was talking about,” Beau said. “People today don’t know their heritage and family history. They move away from home—sometimes thousands of miles—and they don’t see the family that much. Or, they’re abandoned like your sweet Chastity. Your parents and Lisa’s parents will adopt her and make her part of our heritage. I’d guess some of those sales you’re making are to people who don’t have children or don’t know their descendants and are just afraid that no one will remember them when they’re gone. But someone will have a disc labeled Forever Yours and will ask it what life was like when they were young.”
“I hope you’ve started creating yours, Henry,” Bill said. “It would be a lot easier to grab some of those memories while they’re still fresh instead of waiting until you have to research your own life in order to remember what it was like when you were a teen.”
“I certainly believe that,” Henry said. “I’ve had mine collecting information about me from social media, school records, and scans of things I’ve done, as well as anything that resides on my computer. One of the things I’ve discovered is how much of my life is a little embarrassing. Already, I’ve discovered things that make me cringe when I think of having done them. I’m guessing that some of the things I’m doing now will make a future me shake his head in wonder that I could be so stupid.”
“Well, it all goes into making us who we are. You know what they say. Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment,” Beau laughed.
The three went back to the house just as the women were coming down the stairs laughing. Beau stoked the fire in the fireplace and they sat with cups of chicory or cocoa and opened the little presents. The Benoit/Hartman family weren’t particularly big on giving gifts, but each one was meaningful. Henry was amazed that Solange had managed to prepare a gift for Chastity. It was a cameo necklace she said was just costume jewelry, but she’d had it far too long not to pass it on. Lisa received a mother-of-pearl pendant on a gold chain. The gifts were small, but meaningful for each of them.
Lisa drove back to her parents’ house because she deemed her parents to have drunk over the limit. She and Chastity sat in the front seat while Henry joined Bill and Jackie in the back. When they got home, no one was interested in staying up any longer.
“This is the happiest Christmas I’ve ever had,” Chastity said as she kissed and undressed with her lovers.
“Merry Christmas, lover,” Henry said.
“I’m so glad you are with us,” Lisa added.
“Your parents and grandparents,” Chastity said giving Lisa a quick kiss, “and your parents,” she added, kissing Henry. “They’ve accepted me like I’m their own daughter—like I’m your sister.”
“Is this legal then?” Henry asked as he bent to suck on a nipple.
“Oh, shut up and keep sucking,” Chastity moaned. She kissed Lisa intently as they all fell into Lisa’s bed. “I’m so happy, I’m leaking.”
Henry grabbed a tissue from the bedside table and dabbed at the tears streaming from Chastity’s eyes.
“I didn’t mean my eyes,” she giggled.
Henry got the message and quickly moved between her legs to begin kissing and lapping at her juices. Lisa and Chastity kissed deeply. Soon, Chastity was crying out her first orgasm, only partially muffled by Lisa’s lips.
“Do me!” she cried, tugging at Henry’s head to get him to move up.
She pulled on Lisa to get her to straddle her face. Henry looked quickly to the side table to find a condom, but there were none there.
“I need to get a condom from my bag,” he gasped, starting to get up. Lisa stopped him.
“I don’t think you need one any longer,” she said. “Chas is clean. We got tested earlier this week. She’s done with the life and is all ours.”
She positioned Henry’s cock at Chastity’s opening and pulled him forward. Henry sank unprotected into Chastity for the first time in their long relationship. Lisa leaned forward to kiss him deeply while Chastity licked her to a frenzy.
“Yes! Oh, my God and Goddess! Yes!” Lisa cried out as she tried to devour Henry.
He reached for her breast and found one of Chastity’s hands cupping it. He was not going to last long.
“Are you sure this is okay?” he gasped, trying to hold back his orgasm.
Lisa lifted up off Chastity’s face a little and Chastity called out to Henry.
“Do it! Come in me! I want my lovers!”
The dam broke for Henry and he began spewing his come into Chastity’s unprotected vagina as Lisa cried out her orgasm from Chastity’s renewed licking.
When Henry’s pulses died down, Lisa pushed him back and lowered her face to Chastity’s crotch to lick her clean and bring her along to another orgasm.
They gradually separated and arranged themselves facing the same direction on the bed so they could cuddle and kiss.
“I haven’t had come in me since my last movie and there is no longer any record of that,” Chastity said. “It’s like you are my first, Henry. And you made sure I got a good come from it, too, Lisa, darling.”
“You know you don’t have to have me in you if you don’t enjoy it,” Henry whispered. “I’m happy to lick you, too.”
“Oh, I like it,” Chastity explained. “I don’t come from it, but I still like having you in me. If any other man tried it, I’d kill him on the spot. I just want you two.”
“I love it,” Lisa said. “I know I’ll get him in me before the night is over and you’ll return the favor of cleaning me up. I’ll just get two orgasms from it instead of one. Please don’t ever leave us, lover.”
“You need to make sure you are together so I can be with both of you,” Chastity said.
Something in Henry’s mind clicked. He saw the three of them together—even with a family.
“Lisa,” he said softly. “Will you marry me so we can keep our lover with us forever?”
Please feel free to send comments to the author at devon@devonlayne.com.
