A New Start

Breakfast was amazing! Walt was a little worried about the supplies and the pantry but they'd made it work. Still they'd definitely have to go shopping again... probably today!

It was a lot of work. But with Senko and Haruna helping Walt and Kali it had gone quite smoothly. Infact Haruna was a wonderful cook in her own right and Senko's skills were unbelievable! Kali and Walt both praised them and while they were definitely busy everyone found they were having a good time in the indoor and outdoor kitchens.

It was also in part to how well the maid staff sprang into action to support them. Lifts-Her-Tail was nervous about being the head maid but the others supported her and took her directions. Sayoko was beyond efficient and skilled. Haruhime took orders well and Roberta... Roberta was a surprise. She was definitely skilled in some ways but also surprisingly clumsy. Walt decided to have her and Haruna, who was unused to modern conveniences for cooking, assist him outside.

Roberta tripped and Walt caught her and her glasses as they slipped off her face. He could feel her extremly powerful muscles and surprisingly curvaceous body. "Master Walter... my glasses..." she said and he turned to see her hard, killer eyes looking away from him.

He smiled and, making sure she was steady on her feet, turned her to face him. He brushed her bangs from her face looking directly into her eyes, smiling. "You have nothing to worry about Roberta. "Rosarita" isn't who you are anymore. You're far more than she ever was and you don't have to hide or be ashamed of who you are with me." He very gently placed the glasses on her face. "You're a part of my family and my responsibility now... and I accept and value all of you and support you in whoever you wish Roberta to be."

Roberta nods quietly and smiles a bit. "Gracias, Master Walter," she said quietly. "You know about my past?"

Walt nodded letting her go and picking up the sack of potatoes she had been carrying. A few might be lost but it should be fine. He began preparing. "Just the highlights. My own past is... let's say, troubled and complicated as well. But the past is the past. While it's important not to forget it's lessons, the future is where we're headed to and we only have the present to make the most of."

Roberta nods. "Sí. That is very true." She puts her hand on his bicep and he stops to look at her smiling face. "Gracias, Walter. You're truly a good man, Master. I'm very happy to be a part of your family and receive such kindness." She looks at the potatoes and the knife he's holding. "May I?"

Without looking, Walt casually twirls the knife in his fingers so he's holding it by the blade and steps back holding out the handle to her. "Ciertamente! Just becareful. The blade is very sharp and I do not want you to injure yourself."

Roberta takes the knife and nods her understanding looking him in the eyes smiling. "I understand and I will be careful. I am good with a knife, Master Walter."

Walt also nods and smiles, stepping aside to make room for her next to him. "I know. So am I. Muchas gracias, Roberta."

"De nada, maestro Walter." She said joining him and began carefully cutting the vegetables.

Everyone enjoyed breakfast, though none as much as Sasha, even Pirotess, Anastasia, Demona and Mystique complimented the chefs. Walt and Kali both specifically added their appreciation to both Senko and Haruna as well as all the maids assistance. Senko was pleased everyone was enjoying the food and Haruna blushed at the praise and attention. She had been seated next to Sasha who thanked her and everyone with tears in her eyes.

After breakfast he talked with Penny, Pyrrha, Blake, Sienna, Lita and Ahnassi about last night. Neo and Kali joined them after helping the other ladies get started on settled in. After updating each other on everything that happened Walt apologized.

"I'm sorry. I should have been here." He clenches his fist. "I wasn't here when you needed me to be and I should have done better. I should have talked to you about my suspicions too about someone targeting you, Penny and potentially the rest of you."

Penny takes his hand shaking her head. "Everyone and everything is fine, Master... and you were here, in a way. Friday and "Home" and even 3S are extensions of you and your will to protect us. The bond we share with you too. When we were in trouble I thought about you and that helped me. Helped all of us."

The others all voice their agreement.

Kali puts her arm around Neo who slips her around Kali's waste. "You were with us. Keeping us safe too. Even during last night's fight you were protecting me and assisting Neopolitan. You also kept the other ladies safe too while finalizing your plan to rescue and bring them home. You aren't the type to abandon someone in need like that, Walt."

There's even more agreement and some of the others have joined them now.

Manami comes over and takes her hero's other hand. "You saved me and the others from something awful and you did it because you wanted to do it, expecting nothing in return. Some of them might not see it just yet but I do." She looks him in the eyes. There's that same adoration there but Walt thinks she actually means what she says from the bottom of her heart to. "You are my hero!"

He feels hands on his shoulders from behind the couch and when he looks up is surprised to see they belong to Willow and Senko.

Willow smiles softly. "And a good man. I believe that and in you. Please don't be like me. Do not doubt yourself."

Senko smiles with one hand on his shoulder and the other pats his head. "And you have a good, strong heart and a gentle, kind soul. This world... all worlds need more men like you."

"Thank you, everyone," he says seeing so much support all around him. "All of you make me want to do and be better. I couldn't do it without all of you. You all are my greatest strength and blessing."

He hugged them all tight. His greatest treasures of all. They held him tight too.

He didn't bother with the truck today. Too many important things to do. Including picking up supplies later. Bulk supplies. The kitchens could easily handle more food but when he lived alone it would have been wasteful. Even when it was the nine of them they hadn't used a fraction of some of the kitchens storage capabilities.

But their numbers had more than doubled now. Thanks to breakfast and last nights cookie making party they were critically low on some things... and the girls knew it! They wanted at least one of them to accompany him! Walt wasn't thrilled with the idea but he also knew he'd been the one who had set the pattern of their little "errand dates" and the ladies were excited for the next one.

When he agreed the 6 of the original 8 girls grinned and stepped back as one. Walt chuckled and nodded. Of course they'd planned this. Looks like today was a double date. He kissed and hugged the others and taking Ahnassi and Lita's hands they left.

They simply boarded one of the transports still going from home to base and back. They were on base in no time and he didn't dally as Friday directed him to each area and meeting by priority. He told Ahnassi and Lita to rest while he took care of business. They'd had a long night and a nap would do them good. The after action reports and meetings were brief but through. The one for the Casino went quickly. The update on the Gardner search and rescue took a little longer but went quick enough.

Last nights breakdown of the events that happened at home took the longest. The after action analysis of the battle was easy enough. Honestly everything in that couldn't have gone much better. Only a few wounded operatives and agents and all most all of them minor things like bumps, brusies and sprains.

Other than slight damage to flowerbed 37 Friday had protected home with accute precision using a minimum of ****. They forest had taken more damage but the specialist he'd called in for the flowerbeds had done some good repair and recommended some further specialists.

The analysis of the ladies battle was more interesting. Joy and Obi-Wan both pointed out mistakes on both the ladies side as well as the enemies part and Walt did too but everyone remarked how well the ladies worked and had preformed as a team. Walt agreed and it really made him happy and proud to see it!

Walt had never heard of a Wirewolf either. The analysis of the infiltration was interesting. Friday already had a new plan and program running to compensate for the minor detection hiccup that they'd implement from now on. She also recommended that Walt use characters to occasionally track and patrol the environment. He tought about Pirotess. Maybe she'd like doing something like that? She was a darkelf. He'd consider it.

Investigation was still running down leads but the protestor groups seemed to have been patsies. Interrogation and Detention was more interesting. He skipped "playing around" this time. They'd gotten a few more leads to pass off to Investigation through some extraction and probing.

He was looking at their "detainees" now listening to the reports. Someone passed him a cup of coffee as they passed by. "Thanks, Yondu."

"My pleasure, Brother." They bumped fists and he watched him walk off humming a little tune.

"...but other than the whole robotic werewolf thing he's just a mid to low teir hired muscle. Honestly he'd do well if he didn't let his personal tastes influence his job proformance. Too unprofessional to ever make it big." Jack looked at Walt. "But other than being a "Prime" you don't really care about him, do you?" He smirked.

Walt sipped his coffee. "Not even the slightest. You just basically told me he's a "coulda been, never was" like the others yall picked up. The only slightly interesting thing is what was picked out of their brains and that won't actually get interesting until Investigation is done." He looks at the drooling man in the cell. "How long will he stay like that?"

"A while," Jack said. "Want it to be permanent?"

Walt sipped his coffee and shook his head. "No. I bury my own bodies if I have too. He's hardly worth the trouble of disappearing." He shifts his gaze. "Well one other interesting thing about him and the others..."

Jack nodded. They started walking past the cells full of a ton of different characters. "Most are either low level videogame mobs and enemy/henchmen characters from various franchises. Slimes, Goombas, Skeletons, Orcs, Stormtroopers, etcetera. We patched up the ones we could and the others are waiting for you along with the yakuza guy you brought in. There were some exceptions though..."

They stopped in front of a few cells. "These were the three with the Wirewolf guy. Serana, Lydia and Aela the Huntress from a Skyrim instance. We removed their obedience chips easily enough."

Walt nodded. The three ladies had been treated, patched up, fed and cleaned up like the others. "Odd choices for a "semi-pro" to use."

Jack shook his head. "Not really. They were his "personal" characters, Walt."

Walt looked at them a little closer. "Ah, I see. Modded to have the same body type and similar figure enhancements. Sex slaves as well as muscle."

Jack nodded. "Apparently the guy was a fan. I don't know all the exact specifics, don't really want to, but it's all here in the report."

Walt looked at the data coming in. "Wow. That's... comprehensive." He sighed. "That's a lot of mod work... but he left their minds intact. At least they're not bimbos."

Jack shook his head. "I didn't want to read all the rest. Honestly... might have been better off if he hadn't."

Walt sighed. "You might be right." He stepped up to the cells. "Friday. Reduce opacity within their cells to 5% and enable communication."

(("Yes, Boss. Reducing opacity and opening communication now."))

The containment field shimmers just slightly and the three ladies react startled. They can see out now.

"Greetings Aela, Serana and Lydia," Walt said. "How are you feeling? Is there anything I can get you?"

Aela pounded on the transparent feild, while Serana just crossed her arms. Lydia though spoke. "I'm feeling a bit like myself again. Who are you?"

Walt nodded. "I'm the man who's home you attacked last night under your owners orders."

Aela spat on the ground. "That filthy swine! I feel the curse of compulsion lifted from my mind."

"I do hope you've come to tell us you've killed him or perhaps something better and lingering. His suffering shouldn't end too quickly," Serana added.

"I can't believe I called him "thane" and did the things he demanded of us!" Lydia states then she kneeled. "Please accept my apologies for our unlawful intrusion and attack upon your home and estate, noble wizard."

Aela hesitates but also kneeled. "It's a shame for I as well. We owe you a great debt, indeed."

Serana also kneeled. "You freed us of the vile enchantment of slavery over our minds. Might I be so bold as to inquire what you intend to do with us?"

Jack looks at Walt. "Shakespeare in the park isn't really my thing... you good, Walt?"

Walt nods. "Thanks, Jack." He shakes Jacks hand. "Come up to the house and have a drink sometime?"

The one eyed man nods and smirks, "Love to. See you later ..."Boss"," then turns. His bandana wrapped around his head fluttered behind him as he left.

Walt nodded and looking at the kneeling ladies sighed. He sat down on the floor.

"Please dont kneel to me? I don't feel I've done anything to deserve it. Let's sit like friends and equals, alright." The three seemed surprised by this but nodded at the simple request and sat down.

"I'm going to be completely honest with you ladies." He nodded and took off his hat placing it brim up and ran his fingers through his hair. "You all deserve that much. First. He's not dead though he is imprisoned and currently in a temporary catatonic state drooling on himself." He shows them a live feed of their owner slack jawed and staring into nothingness.

The ladies look happy to at least hear and see that much and there's cheering to that effect at least. Walt now that he's closer to them tries NOT to notice just how that moves their modded bodies and NOT think about "jiggle physics". *At least it's semiproportionate to their bodies. They're actually really nice mods. Looks natural even if there's a bit too much motion. Must have cost a bit,* he thinks then shakes his head trying to banish those thoughts.

Walt raised his hand. "It's not all good news though. You're still his slaves, his property. In this world you belong to him, to do with as he sees fit. That's the law here and how things are."

There's a lot of dismay at this bit of news! "I'm not happy about it either but that's truthfully how your situation is," he tells them.

"That's a hard truth to hear." Aela said. "Thank you for being honest with us...?"

Walt nodded. "It was the least I could do, Aela. My names Walter. Walter Stark. But you can call me Walt if you'd like."

"Thank you, Master Stark-er, Walt." Says Lydia correcting herself and trying to be informal.

"Walt, you have done so much for us and we're already in your debt," Serana states "but is there truly nothing to be done for our situation?"

Walt sighs. "Once you leave here you'll be his property again. The only exceptions are if he resells you and you become someone else's property or he disposes of you and you're picked up for recirculation or reintroduction by Rein Corp. You're popular types in certain circles and you, ah-" he coughs trying to hide his embarrassment. "You're very lovely ladies. I very much doubt you'd remain unclaimed or unsold for very long." He looks down at his hands. "I'm very sorry ladies."

The ladies look at him with his bowed head, then each other thinking. Then look back at Walt again for awhile as if studying him, then back at each other and nod.

"That grand estate last night is yours, correct?" Aela questioned. "It was like a small fiefdom."

Walt looks up and nods. "I'm not sure how that's relevant but, Yes. I own it and pretty much all of the countryside around it. I suppose it's a bit much."

"Like a Jarl." Lydia said. "And this place and the people here are yours as well and under your command? That makes you a powerful and influential man of great means, Jarl Stark."

Walt shakes his head. "I'm not a "Jarl" or a "Thane", Lydia. But yes, the rest is accurate. This is my company and I am the person in charge."

Serana nods. "Then if you truly want to aid us further, we do have one request to ask of you that you may be able to grant..."

All three say, "Please purchase us from our owner."

Walt sits there stunned and hears laughter behind him.

"Master Walter, has a talent for finding "trouble" and ladies!" he hears Lifts-Her-Tail say giggling.

"Ahnassi, agrees Lita! Ahnassi, thinks very, special friend should honor lovely, ladies very, special request. Sharing gifts and sharing cares is important to him after all and one of the things he does best. This would be both of those things, yes?"

Walt didn't look back at them as he slowly came back to himself shaking his head. "Ahnassi, Lita. You're awake? How much did you hear? And you do realize they're some of the people who attacked you all last night?"

Lita's just getting over her giggles but there's still a tone of mirth in her voice. "Friday woke us up saying your business was nearly complete and directed us here. An... interesting fellow with a red Mohawk fin showed us where you were. We heard you explain their situation and the rest, Master."

"Ahnassi recognize people who attack us. They are Characters, yes? So they must do as their master bids them. Most likely compelled to do so. Ahnassi can sympathize and forgive. Why does not lovely ladies asking to come home with Walter not make him hsppy? Besides we just added so many. Some who were less than grateful for their rescue and hospitality shown. These three look properly grateful and show good manners and judgment when asking. Three more is fine, yes?"

Walt looked back at the two of them. "Is it though?"

They both grinned and nodded. "Yes, we asked."

Walt sees a message on the glasses. He opens up a picture of the ladies gathered around Penny. They're all smiles and giving a thumbs-up. He chuckles.

Walt looks at the three new ladies and nods. "Friday. I need a purchase contract and a bill of sale as well as a receipt made up in a hurry please and inform them we need the hypnotoad back in detention level A, block 35."

(("Already done boss. I have a contract and bill of sale with receipt coming from legal. It outlines the purchase of the three characters for one hundred credits apiece, minus a one hundred credit processing fee, a one hundred credit relicensing fee, a ninety-five credit handling fee and a two credit notaries fee leaving him a total final profit of three credits. Is this acceptable, Boss?"))

Walt nods and looks at Ahnassi and Lifts-Her-Tail. "I'll be back shortly. Stay with them a few minutes, please?" Seeing them both nod he walks off to finish up today's business. "That's aimost exactly what I had in mind, Friday! Good work... no, tell them I'm on my way..."

The three ladies look up at the other two.

"Does that mean..." Aela started daring to hope.

Ahnassi nods. "You all will be coming home with us," she stated with a smile.

Lydia bows. "We owe you both an apology and thanks."

Lifts-Her-Tail shakes her head. "You're actions weren't your own and we did it for him as much as you. Besides you three will be friends and hopefully family soon." Lifts-Her-Tail kneels to the three of them instead. "Infact Lita requests your aid. Please help us to keep him happy. Master Walter is a man just learning to find happiness and joy in life."

Ahnassi joins Lita in kneeling. "Murrr. You needn't sleep with him. Very, special friend Walter would actually be very sad and upset if you felt you had to! Ahnassi requests you give him trust, support and friendship. If decide for yourself more later that is also fine, yes? Though you'd have to take that up with our homes head lady Penny."

The three look at each other then smile. "It's obvious you all care very deeply for him," Lydia nods. "I accept and also swear if he proves an honorable man to give him my fealty and pledge myself as a housecarl and call him my Thane willingly, if he'll have me. As my Thane, I'll be sworn to his service. I'll guard him, and all he owns, with my life."

Aela nods. "Aye. Friendship is the least I can offer in repayment and would be a debt I'd be glad to pay. If he shows me his courage I shall be happy to consider him a shield brother and companion and even follow his lead."

Serana looks thoughtful. "I'm sorry to hear that. He seems a good man. My own... life... has been difficult and lonely as well." She sighs but nods and smiles slightly. "I would be... happy to have a friend who accepts me and calls me friend as well... friends and an actual caring and supportive family would be a wonderful thing to have."

Ahnassi and Lifts-Her-Tail smile and nod. "Thank you."

"Thank you Friday... and the five of them are comfortable?"

(("Yes, Boss. They're all having a nice relaxing chat together. They'll be fine while you finish up today's "business" in sector Omega."))

Walt nods. He'd already stripped down and donned the plain robe as he gathered the artifacts he needed.

"Have the "Serenity" warmed up and standing by for departure. We'll take her since we'll be buying in "bulk"... I really hate going shopping there."

(("You could just order the supplies, Boss. Also that last time was entirely your fault but it could have happened to anyone. Please watch where you're going this time."))

Walt nods grimly. "You know I like to handle as much of my own business as possible... and I won't make that mistake again! Days of filling out the proper paperwork just to go home."

He'd checked that all was in readiness and then turned to face the corpses. "This won't take long at all. Let's take care of last nights batch first, then we'll move on to the Yakuza..."

Ahnassi and Lifts-Her-Tail are boarding a transport similar but a little different from the one from when he took them home from Rein Corp with Walter who's talking.

"...and if they don't catch a ride there before then, we'll pick the three of them up on our return trip from shopping with the Serenity. Then we'll all go home together." He looked at the two of them seriously. "Do you remember the rules I outlined for this trip?"

"Yes, Master Walter. Lita remembers. We must stay together at all times and not get separated," Lifts-Her-Tail says.

"Ahnassi remembers. Triple check before entering any and all doorways and always only enter the same one as everyone else." She nods.

Lita holds up a third finger. "Be aware of what asile and row you're in at all times. In the event of separation have our identification ready, explain the situation and request escort back to that specific location."

Ahnassi sighs on the last one. "Final rule is the most important. Do not play around too much. Serious business, this is. Not an opportunity to "fool around". Walter and Friday will tell us which areas and zones are "safe"... Is this not a little excessive? It's just a market place shopping trip, yes?"

Walt shakes his head. They'd understand a bit better when they got there. Closing the bay doors he hit the Coms. "All aboard. Take us to "Costco", please."

[Walter Stark Penny Polendina F.R.I.D.A.Y Neopolitan Pyrrha Nikos Blake Belladonna Kali Belladonna Sienna Khan Willow Schnee Glynda Goodwitch Ahnassi Lifts-Her-Tail Senko Sayoko Shinozaki Roberta Cisneros Haruna Sasha Blouse Ilulu Raven Minami Aiba also with Tsuyu Asui Haruhime Sanjouno The Baroness Demona Mystique Pirotess Lydia Aela the Huntress and Serana

Will Return In

Settling In and Adventures In Buying In Bulk

Coming Soon]