A porn star surprise...

A/N: Decided to make up for lost time even further by keeping my now 3-day daily update streak alive with this one, so I hope you enjoy. I would appreciate some comments if you are liking them, though, but regardless, happy reading.

Michael's POV

The vibrant energy of the feast gradually softened into a contented hum. Plates were scraped clean, and conversations dwindled to weary murmurs. The flickering fluorescent tube overhead seemed to pulse in time with the settling calm. You pushed off from the wall, the concrete gritty against your palm, and addressed the room one last time.

“Everyone, listen up,” you said, your voice cutting through the fatigue. “Thank you again for today. For the hard work, the support, all of it.” You swept your gaze across the faces, ensuring you held their attention. “Get some rest. Tomorrow is another day, another chance to improve our situation if we play our cards right.”

The response was a wave of nods and soft affirmations. The order to rest was as crucial as any command to fight. Chairs scraped back as people began to disperse, moving with the heavy-limbed satisfaction of a full stomach and a renewed sense of purpose.

You saw Garcia approach the Patel family, her expression uncharacteristically ****. “Master Michael,” she began, her voice low. “With your and the Patels' permission, I’d like to sleep in my bag outside their apartment. Just… in case Vanders wakes up.”

Surya Patel placed a gentle hand on his wife Parvati’s shoulder. “Of course,” he said, his voice firm. “She is welcome.”

Parvati gave a tight, understanding nod. You granted a brief nod of your own, and the group moved toward the stairs, Garcia falling into step beside Aanya, their quiet conversation lost to the echo of footsteps.

You turned to Zhang next. “You’re off duty. until Lieutenant Mills asks you to relieve her night shift later. Get some real sleep in the meantime.” Then your eyes found Foreman, who was meticulously stacking empty plates. “Sergeant. Don’t forget. I have a reward for you waiting in my apartment. Clean up and relax until I get back.”

A faint blush crept up her neck. Her eyes flickered to yours for a split second; a question burned in their professional depth. “Sir, yes, sir,” she replied, her voice barely a whisper, before turning away with a swift, efficient movement.

You gathered three plates heaped with food, the venison still steaming. “I’m taking these to Mills and the rest of the patrol,” you announced.

Jade Jones was at your side instantly. “Let me help. Allen’s out there,” she said, her worry for her husband all but tangible in her tone of voice.

Divya Patel then stepped forward smoothly, taking the third plate. “I’ll carry this one.”

You nodded in approval and then walked on. As you moved towards the stairs, however, Clara and Jane Parker fell in alongside you, followed closely by Laurel and Kira. The two pairs of lovers quickly fell into an easy, curious conversation.

“So, you were a firefighter?” Laurel asked Jane, her voice laced with genuine interest.

Jane nodded, a proud smile touching her lips. “Six years. Best job I ever had. Clara here kept people loose as a masseuse. That's how we met. Didn't take me long before asking her on a date, and as they say, the rest is history.”

“We both wore white gowns at our wedding,” Clara added with a grin, leaning into her wife. “And we honeymooned in Amsterdam for two weeks. It was…perfect.”

The memory seemed to glow between them for a moment, a tiny ember from an old world that seemed far away now. Still, the conversation flowed easily until Jade, her anxiety getting the better of her, quickened her pace. “I’m going to find Allen,” she said, and you waved her on, watching her form disappear into the shadows ahead.

It was then you noticed Jane’s eyes lingering on Divya, her head cocked in concentration. She shook it slightly, as if dislodging a thought. “This is going to drive me crazy,” Jane muttered, catching Divya’s eye. “I know I’ve seen you somewhere before.”

Divya missed a step, her posture stiffening. She let out a ****, airy laugh. “That seems unlikely. Unless you’ve visited my family’s carpentry workshop?”

Jane’s stare intensified, then her eyes blew wide with stunned realization. “Oh my god,” she breathed, a grin spreading across her face. “Your stage name was Sonia Saffron, wasn’t it? You were my favorite Indian porn star before I got married!”

You stopped walking at that, your head moving towards her in surprise. Clara gasped. Laurel and Kira stared, their expressions shifting from confusion to sudden, awestruck recognition. The silence on the stairway was absolute for exactly 3 seconds.

“I…I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Divya stammered, her face a mask of panic.

“Divya,” you said, your tone leaving no room for evasion as you stared at the 27-year-old. “Answer me honestly. Were you a porn star?”

The compulsion of your claim seized her now that you told her she couldn’t lie. Her shoulders slumped, a deep crimson flush burning her cheeks. “Yes,” she whispered, the word sounding like a shameful confession to her, from her tone of voice. “I went by Sonia Saffron back then. I only did it to pay for my university studies. I quit as soon as I got my degree.”

Laurel let out a low whistle. “A damned shame. I had a few of your videos saved, girl. You were magnificent...wildly, wildly magnificent!" She uttered with a gaze that seemed lost in memories of her steamy career while her lover, Kira, and even Jane's wife, Clara, nodded in vigorous agreement as they themselves walked down porn memory lane.

Divya swallowed, her eyes pleading. “Please, my family is very conservative…they just think I won a mid-sized lottery. They can’t ever know.”

You placed a hand on her shoulder, feeling the tension coiled there. “They won't hear it from your dedicated fans,” You assured her as you looked at the four other women, your voice dropping into a command. “This topic ends now. You will not speak of it where her family might hear unless she gives you permission to do so. Is that understood?”

A chorus of “Yes, Master,” echoed immediately, obedience permeating their tone of voice.

Divya sagged with relief. “Thank you, Master Michael. Thank you for your kindness and understanding.”

“Don’t lose sleep over it,” you reassured her simply, and the group continued its journey, the atmosphere now thick with the shared secret.

Soon after, you found Lieutenant Mills and Emily Karlsson at their post, their figures silhouetted against the faint glow of the city. They accepted the food with gruff thanks, their attention never fully leaving the perimeter. The interaction was brief and professional, and soon you were turning back, the weight of the night settling on you.

As you walked, your mind drifted back to Divya’s terrified relief. The power you held was immense. You could command loyalty, eager effort, sexual attraction, and more. But could you rewire a lifetime of conservative conditioning? Could you simply command her family to not only accept but also celebrate her past as a porn star? The idea was starting to feel like an itch that wouldn't let go until you found out. Regardless, it could be a very useful experiment, a data point to test the true limits of your claim.

But then you shook your head and remembered you had other more immediate priorities, starting with Foreman's reward. So, remembering what you had in mind, you caught up with Clara, the professional masseuse, and her wife, Jane. "Hey, remember when you told me that you would gladly pay me back quickly for giving you two your own private apartment? Well...I have an idea..."

A/N: I first mentioned that tidbit about Divya's past in the original residents chart chapter of character bios (https://chyoa.com/chapter/Information-on-the-Cast%3A-The-Original-Residents-%28Forcy%27s-Branch%29.1403209) over a year ago, but it just never felt like a good, organic moment to bring it up since. Now that we have advanced with all the other missions, build-up, and plot points of the day, though; I finally got around to mentioning it in-universe.

And yes, I do have some steamy plans in mind for her in this, but until then, I would be curious to know if any of you have any suggestions or preferences.

Thanks a lot for reading, and see you in the next one.