A Store In The Atrium

  Ash was leading Niki around the shop, piling clothing high enough into Niki's arms that she couldn't see over the pile.

  "Are you sure this isn't too much, Ash?" Niki said, trying to look around the side of the growing pile.

  "Well, you have your work clothing, some casual wear, and pyjamas," Ash said while rifling through more clothing.

  "Yeah, those pyjamas looked super cute and really comfortable." She replied.

  "Well, don't expect to wear them too much," Ash said, tossing another set of clothing on top of the pile.

  "Ahh... Wait? Why?" She replied, confused at what the older woman meant by that.

  "Why? The same reason we bought you a maid outfit, a swimsuit, and lingerie. So you can get John horny, and he rips your clothes off you and ravages you."

  "Eeeekkk! You can't be serious, he isn't that kind of guy!" Niki said, aghast at the thought Ash just put in her head.

  "Oh my sweet summer child, he might be nice and galnt, your very own white knight, but I guarantee that the moment you give him an inch, he will be ripping off your clothing and devouring you. And you won't even want him to stop."

  "Eeekk! I...I don't know if I am ready for that!"

  "Niki, don't be scared. Even though he has groped me a few times, he is a good guy. While I haven't had a chance to see how he is in bed, I am sure he will make your first time special, something you will fondly recall for the rest of your life."

  "Y-You think so?"

  "I do. Now, let's look at the drugs over there. There are a few things you will need to have." Ash said, dragging the nearly overwhelmed Niki over to another shelf. "These are for spaceflight sickness. Just pop one when you are queasy."

  "Isn't there a medical pod for this?"

  "You might not have time to go to the pod, so the pill helps for those occasions."

  "Ahh... That makes sense, I guess."

  "Take these pills when you need to stay awake. One pill can keep your brain functioning at a 100% for three days straight, though you'd better clear your schedule for when it wears off, as you probably won't wake up for twenty-four hours afterwards."

  "That is a really long time."

  "Yeah. It is not very often that we need to use them, but it is better to have and not use them than need them and not have them. Oh, you want to have a few of these if you do end up using that pill." Ash said and pulled out a pack of adult diapers. "The next is-"

  "Wait, wait, wait. Why do I need those?!?"

  "These? They are adult diapers. In case you need to pee while you are sleeping off the effects of that pill. You wouldn't want to embarrass yourself by accident, right?"

  "This whole situation is pretty embarrassing."

  "Oh, stop freaking out over every little thing. It is just a precaution."

  "Ahhh... hawww... hawwww...." Niki breathed in deeply, trying to rein in her emotions. After about thirty seconds, she got ahold of herself. "Phew... okay, I am okay now. I can handle this."

  "That's the spirit! Now, this pill will reduce your monthly flow and eliminate the cramps."

  "That seems like a useful one."

  "It is, however, there is a one in three chance it starts making you very fertile. I am sure John would love seeing a bunch of his children running around, don't you, Niki? Niki?" Ash said. When she didn't get a reply, she turned around. Niki was on the floor, colpsed underneath the pile of clothing.

  Ash snickered a little bit, then started to pick up the fallen clothing.

  Poor kid, I hope I didn't take my joke too far... Naw, she's good.

  The Dwarves Apartment"Make yerself at home. Do ya want a beer?" Chris asked John when they got upstairs.

  "Yes, please, it has been a hell of a day." He replied, then looked around. The apartment had an open-concept design, with grey metal walls and a few doors that he assumed led to bedrooms. The kitchen area was small, with only a small fridge and a food synthesizer on the counter. The living room area had a couple of rge, grey sectional couches in front of a rge television. He set the bag of burgers down on the counter, then sat down on one of the couches.

  Chris joined him a few moments ter, two cans of beer in her hand. "Here ya go, hon. Be careful with it, it's a dwarven ale, and it might be a bit stronger than yer used to."

  "Thanks. I'll be okay." John said and took a sip.

  What? It's like a strong German beer. I loved those in my st life.

  "Mmm, it's good. So, you seem rather rexed considering what happened outside." He said, noticing that she left the wrench on the counter.

  "Oh, that. It's not the first time they tried something. Usually, they run away with their tails tucked between their legs when I threaten them with a wrench. Cami and Timur must be pushing them hard fer them to have the balls to take me on without guns." She replied. She then stripped off the coveralls she was wearing and tossed them to the side of the room. She was wearing bck shorts and a purple t-shirt underneath. She sat down beside him and stretched her arms above her head.

  "Oh, really? I thought you were in dire straits there." He said, smiling at how cute she looked doing that.

  "Well, she did manage to grapple me this time, so I do appreciate the help. I probably could have broken her hold, but I dunno if I would have had time before the other punk shocked me." She said, then took a swig of her drink. "I am very happy ya stepped in and saved me. Like a white knight out of Tanya's fantasy novels."

  She gave him a quick kiss on his cheek, then continued. "Besides, the look of terror in her eyes when you put your bde to her throat was priceless. She had no idea you had walked up behind her."

  Ahh, that was sweet. Will Chris be the first somewhat normal woman I meet in this world? Wait, she is an engineer, that title alone means she isn't normal... drat.

  "Heh, thank you. It was my pleasure to help. So Ash said something about racing?" He said, moving the topic away from the gang members.

  "Yeah. Pod racing. The regional qualifiers are taking pce tonight in preparation for the main event. We usually have a little gathering to watch them. Greg sponsors a racer who is a family friend of ours. The party usually becomes a celebration if she wins."

  "Is she another Dwarf?"

  "Naw. She is a Dark Elf. She has reflexes like a cat and is fearless. Serena is her name. She and Ash are friends, though their retionship is kinda weird. Frienemies might be a better way to describe them." Chris said, then sighed.

  "What's with the sigh?"

  "Oh, just remembered that I'm about to get really busy again. Serena brings that coffin of hers here after every race to get maintenance, and with the new racing season starting, it will be here more days than not."

  "And since Greg sponsors it, you need to provide free bour?"

  "Heck No! I charge a premium for it. I think Serena just likes my work or something like that. She definitely doesn't have any interest in my brother; her brother and mine have their own thing going on. Besides, he is rarely here anyway."

  "Maybe she is interested in the mechanic herself?" He said, teasing her a little bit.

  "Pfft! As if. She is into her racing, I'm into my machines, not women." Chris replied, ughing along with John.

  As she was talking, John noticed Tanya had arrived and was sneaking up behind her sister. She got close, and as soon as Chris stopped ughing, she popped up behind the couch. "I thought ya were into tall guys with kind hearts and big dicks?"

  "Well, yeah, that too- Hey! Don't out me like that, ya troll!" Chris said, swatting her sister. "Did ya get Serena all set for her race? Oh, where is Greg?"

  "Yep, she is ready. Greg is downstairs, said he needed to take a call." She replied, then looked at John. "I see ya there, John. Where is Ash and this new crewmember ya hired?"

  "They are out shopping. Niki needed a complete wardrobe as she was living on the streets. You see..." John said, then reyed everything that had happened since he left the guild st night. Greg showed up in the middle of the story, so John had to repeat a few things. He thought about hiding it for a moment, but as Ash already knew, and with the gangs threatening Chris, he figured he might as well be honest with his new friends.

  Huh, I suppose they really are my friends, aren't they? I really don't have many friends in all of these worlds yet. Not including Nanael or Shizuka, Bazan and the lineage of the White Wolf are pretty much it. I can't call anyone else in High School of the Dead a friend, as most of them seem to see me as something more than human now. I didn't make any friends in that DxD universe either... it was mainly a bunch of kids pying school administrators.

  John paused at that thought. He really missed just hanging out and shooting the shit with people.

  I need to make more friends when I move between these worlds, even if it's just a handful of them. It would help me stay sane.

  "Damn man, ya didn't waste time. I still remember my time as an IDS. I'm just lucky Tanya had enough money to bail me out of that. Treat her well, eh?" Greg said, bringing John out of his contemption.

  "I am still not completely comfortable with this situation. I pn on treating her like a crew member, not an IDS." He replied.

  "Ha! I knew it. Yer always one to protect others, ain't cha, John. Poor Ash found a tough one." Tanya said, flopping down on the couch on John's right side.

  Poor Ash? What is she talking about?

  "That is good of ya, John. Now, I'm gonna get a beer and turn on the races." Greg said, making his way to the kitchen.

  "Oh! Before I forget, Cami and Timur's thugs were here while ya both were out. They were looking for more credits for their ridiculous protection fee." Chris said, sitting up a bit.

  "What did ya do?" Greg asked from the kitchen.

  "Well, one of them managed to get a hold of me after I knocked another one out. They were about to stun me when John showed up and introduced them to that sword he wears at his hip. I gave their leader a nice love tap with my wrench afterwards for good measure, though." She replied, then leaned lightly onto his shoulder.

  "Really? Those rats are gonna give us more trouble than it's worth at this rate." Greg sighed. "Thanks for looking after my sister, John. We owe ya one, again."

  I really don't think they owe me anything, but it's probably rude to say so. Might be a dwarven honour thing.

  "It's fine. I think I've pissed his gang off once today, what is one more time?" He said, taking another sip of his drink.

  "Ha! Ya really are turning into a white knight from a fairy tale, John. Be careful, or some fair maiden will sink her teeth into ya before you notice anything." Tanya said, then leaned into his other side. Chris started giggling at her sister and leaned into him harder.

  "Please. If she is using teeth, then he'd better run away quickly." Greg said, coming back to the living room. He gnced at his sisters for a moment, shrugged and sat down at the other end of the couch. He picked up a remote and turned on the TV.

  "We shall see how that turns out," John replied, then looked down at the two women leaning on him. He whispered. "Do you two want to cuddle here? Or can I have my arms back? I am good for either, I just want to know what you two want?"

  "Cuddles." They both said simultaneously, making John chuckle. He set his beer down on the table in front of them, then draped his arms over their shoulders. He was a rge man, but he looked absolutely massive next to these two. Though after watching Chris swing that wrench around, he was under no illusion who was actually physically stronger.

  "So, Chris was telling me about this pod racer you sponsored. How did that end up happening?" He asked Greg.

  "Heh, ahh Serena. Yeah, she is a character. She is a former mercenary whom I worked with before the girls left home to join me. We did a few jobs together, but one day, there was a weird request at the guild for a repcement pilot. She took it and fell in love with the sport. Ended up selling off her ship to buy herself her own pod. She asked if I could help with the finances for a cut of her winnings.

  I wasn't hurting for cash at the time, so I agreed. She is one of the fastest racers in the sector, and even made it as far as eighth pce at the Emperor's Cup in the capital, so my investment has paid me back handsomely. Honestly, at this point, I feel bad taking part of her winnings, but she doesn't want to buy back my shares. So I stay active in her career, so at least it appears that I am earning the money." Greg said at length.

  "Oh, whatever, Greg. She is worried that if she buys yer shares back, Chris will have no reason to fix her pod anymore." Tanya said, tossing her empty beer at her brother.

  "Bah, you're imagining things!"

  "Oh, really? Who was it again that begged me to either drop clients or work double shifts st season so her pod would be in tip-top shape?" Chris said, throwing her own empty at him, too.

  "Hey, what is with the cans? And ya know we needed the money since the gang's protection fees went up! Tanya and I are not always nearby to watch over ya, err, the shop." Greg replied, picking up the cans off the floor.

  "Don't even. Just cause yer a merc doesn't mean I won't whoop yer ass! C'Mere!" Chris said, unching herself at Greg. The two siblings started quarrelling on the couch.

  "Ack! I'm sorry! Let go of my hair!" He yelped.

  John whispered to Tanya. "Is this a normal occurrence?"

  "Yeah, usually a few times a month. Sadly, she doesn't learn from her losses." Tanya whispered back.

  "I see. Hey, where is the bathroom at?" He asked.

  "Downstairs. First door on the left." She replied.

  John stood up. "I'll be back. Save my seat." He said, then moved downstairs.

  Tanya watched him go, a hunger growing in her eyes. She gnced at the two wrestlers, then got up and followed him.