The winner, the blonde.

You can’t let yourself get distracted by a pretty scream, you made a plan, you need to stick to it. variance from the plan creates variables, variables that can go wrong. You should give the mask to the winner, that’s the plan.

Your thoughts only take a second, a second the runner-up spends looking around panicked and still screaming. It’s like she’s doing it intentionally, just to tempt you. The hesitation in your mind isn’t shared by the pageant winner. She grabs the mask from you, wraps her arms around you and yells “Yes! Take me with you!"

That wasn’t the anticipated reaction. It's a concern, you like your plans to go as planned. It's the whole point of plans.

“Umm, are we leaving?” Your beautiful blonde bride-to-be questions.

“Gah!” you yelp as you realize your hesitation may be perceived as a lack of manly impulsiveness. You must correct that. “Yes, fair maiden, we are off!” You use your manliest voice, the one you practice in the bath tub. She smiles, then shrieks delightfully as the rockets engage and lift the two of you into the sky. Your love holds tight as you fly back to your base, smiling the whole time. It is strange, a definite first for you.

“That was amazing, how did the rocket pack balance the added weight?” She gushes when you land. She walks behind you, running her fingers over the engine's chrome finish.

“I, uh,” you stammer, being thrown completely off guard, “The vertical orientation circuit connects to my vestibular system through a nano-bot relay.” You answer.

“Oh, that’s what this support is for.” She answers, touching your neck where the nodes intersect your skin. Her touch feels electric. When she follows that with a soft touch on your cheek. . . Lips. Real, female, human lips. It’s suddenly very hard to think.

“My brilliant man.” She whispers as she pulls away. Your face feels warm suddenly. Blood flow diverts away from your brain. You find it hard to think.

“Shall I prepare the bedroom sir?” James asks.

Your bride grabs your robot's arm. “Oh my God!” She cries. “A robot butler! Does he run learning software, or a true AI? AAHH! He’s not even touching the ground, you gave him repulsors? Oh you lucky robot!”

“The name is James, ma’am.” He replies dryly as you desperately try to regain control of your suddenly unresponsive body.

She is touching James, looking all over him, when your eyes meet, she smiles. This was not what you were expecting. This was not at all what you had planned. She senses your struggle and steps over to you, touches your forehead with the back of her hand.

“Are you okay, darling? You don’t have a fever do you?” She asks, her voice worried.

“I believe Sir may be hungry.” James states, saving you.

“Well then, is there somewhere I can freshen up? I’d like to look good for our first dinner together.” She smiles at you again.

“Y-Your room.” You manage.

“Shall I escort the lady there, sir?” James asks. You nod in reply.

“Oh, James can show me around while you get ready, lover.” The last word she says with a big smile and a wink. If your brain wasn’t already melting down, it would have started then.

“Is it okay if I ask James questions?” She asks.

“Mmhhmm.” You respond, half-conscious.

“Very good sir, madam will now have level 1 security clearance.” James responds. It gets a fantastic smile from your bride, and another kiss on the cheek before she bounces away with your robot butler.

You stand there, stunned for quite a while. That was not the expected response. Those words keep going through your head. That was not the expected response.

Eventually you pull yourself together enough to get out of your flight suit. It’s not easy, normally James helps you out of your suit, but he’s busy. You should build a robot maid for _____. Oh, right, you don’t even know her name yet.

You go to your room, dress for dinner. The unexpected behavior of your bride has you questioning the rest of your plan. You had planned to use the love potion on her at dinner, but now? You don’t know if it is even needed. Your hopes had never gone past your bride accepting her fate, you never thought she’d be excited. . .

You are dressed, standing in front of the mirror when James calls you to dinner. Your bride insists on sitting close to you, so you eat at the small kitchen table. She holds your hands and tells you about how she’s dreamt of this day, her husband and her finally together. She can’t wait to see the armory, the computer room, the super sonic helicopter that you used to rob the Springdale Bank. . .

As the two of you eat your chicken fingers James looks your way. You know he is waiting for your signal. What should you do? The love potion will ensure her devotion to you, but do you even need it, maybe it would be better to go without it? After all, you’ve never tested it on someone that already liked you. . .