Adaptive

All characters and events in this story are fictional. Any resemblance to real persons or events is purely coincidental. All characters engaging in sexual situations are 18 years old or older.

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This is a step away from my usual writing style and story genres. I have taken on the challenge to explore brave new ideas and "new worlds" by using Science Fiction. I included the use of AI, not to write this story, but as a character in it. In this episode, plans are made for moving forward with obtaining means to gather materials to repair the ship, and other things...

Frodov

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Adaptive -8- Planning

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"So... any ideas for costumes?" Eric asked as he sat back down at their booth at the Pizza Hub, just off of campus.

"I've got a few ideas." Kyle responded as he grabbed the pitcher of beer that Eric had just sat on the table and poured his glass full again.

"Care to share?" Eric asked as he watched Kyle going to pour yet more beer in his glass. The double meaning of the question evaded Kyle all together it seemed.

Kyle had been increasingly bitter and resentful towards just about everything and everyone since his stay in the hospital. Honestly, Eric was beginning to wonder if Kyle had deeper issues than just being tired of being a pawn for his politician old man. Before the storm, and the search party for Adam Ronan... and the Bigfoot incident... Kyle had been one of the few guys on campus that could get lucky any night of the week. Since then, however, not so much. Seems word of his drunken hallucinations and hospital stay in the psych ward had spread and most were shying away from him.

"I don't know, maybe a devil." Kyle said after taking a long drink from his glass and contemplating the question a bit.

"Again? Haven't you been the devil like... three or four times over the past five years?" Eric asked grinning and shaking his head before reaching for another slice of pizza.

"Yeah... probably need to do something different. Wouldn't want anyone to know who I was right off the bat. Hey! Bat... Batman maybe?" Kyle said with a cheesy grin and reached for a slice himself.

"That'd be... different. Just don't expect me to dress up as Robin." Eric snorted and rolled his eyes while shaking his head.

"I hear the university declared that there would be no alcohol served at parties on campus anymore, that sucks." Eric lamented.

"Not a problem." Kyle said with a smirk dismissing the new rules.

Eric just looked across the table at his friend and shook his head, knowing that there WOULD be alcohol at this costume party, one way or another, as long as Kyle was going to attend anyway. They moved on to other topics, mostly about the upcoming away game this coming weekend as they finished off their pizza and beer.

*****

"You did it again... didn't you?" Cindy declared after Jade got into her car and they started the drive to work.

Jade just looked at Cindy with that sheepish grin and shrugged even as she blushed a bright pink. Cindy grinned sardonically and shook her head, returning her attention to the road.

"What?" Jade asked.

"I don't know... just a little jealous maybe. I mean I'm happy for you babe, don't get me wrong. But you live with the guy so he sees a lot more of you than I do. Well... intimately anyway. We don't seem to have as much free time to play when we are together." Cindy lamented half-heartedly and turned to smile at Jade to ensure she knew it was not a whining complaint just a longing for more between them.

"And what about you and Adam?" Jade asked teasingly.

That caused Cindy's head to whip around to look at Jade with a startled and questioning expression on her face. Jade giggled and smiled back at her only making it worse.

"What do you mean?" Cindy asked still sounding startled and uncertain where this was going.

"Girl! I know you like guys too... and I saw how you looked at Adam that day by the lake. You have to be wondering what it would be like with him. Not to mention what I've told you about he and I. If it were possible..., would you like to be with him... maybe once anyway?" Jade asked seriously but still smiling.

This was too much. Cindy pulled over to the side of the road and put the car in park before turning to face Jade. Her face a picture of questioning confusion and... curiosity. She took a deep breath then exhaled slowly puffing out her cheeks because she really didn't even know what words or questions to ask. She just tilted her head to one shoulder and waited for Jade to elaborate.

"You know I wouldn't mind. Hell, maybe if you two got along well... and were interested in more... maybe all three of us could... play?" Jade said, trying to keep her voice level and calm, even though she flushed bright red in her face and a smile played at the corners of her mouth and there was a glimmer in her eyes. A glimmer of hope perhaps?

"You're serious... are you?" Cindy stated then slipped into a more questioning tone, her eyes going wide and her eyebrows reaching for her scalp.

"Yes. I'm serious babe. I can't think of anyone else I would rather share my Adam with than you... or share you with him." Jade said a little more quietly, her face tilting down to affect her eyes looking up through her eye lashes.

"What about... what about his 'girlfriend'? Rene'?" Cindy asked, again turning her head slightly to one side.

Jade laughed out loud and grinned like she had a secret to share.

"What?" Cindy asked.

"Rene' is something else. I'll give you that. But you already know she came to me to ask if it was okay for her to even see Adam. I told her that she was welcomed to spend time with him if he wanted and I had no claims on him other than if she hurt him, I'd kick her ass. Do you know what she did yesterday... last night I guess...?" Jade asked.

"No, you don't. I haven't told you that yet. Buckle up babe... this is going to curl your toes." Jade informed Cindy and then began relaying what Adam had told her about his trip to the lottery office and all that happened afterwards.

Cindy's face grew more and more incredulous with each passing minute. Her eyes grew wider and wider, her heart sped up and she found herself getting heated. Both from the blushing and from arousal. DAMN! Rene' was something else alright... and this Corrine sounded like... like nothing she had ever experienced in her life. Not even with Jade. So, when Jade wound down her retelling of the previous evening's adventure between Adam, Rene' and Corrine, Cindy was practically hyperventilating. She tugged at her blouse fanning herself to cool down as she shook her head in disbelief while looking Jade in the eyes.

"And all they did was oral?" Cindy asked still trying to wrap her mind around it all.

"That's what Adam said. He said that this Corrine suggested that He and Rene' take that next step before the three of them do anything else. But she wanted more, definitely!" Jade replied.

"And are they... going to... do it?" Cindy asked.

"Adam is inclined to, but you know him well enough to know that he is going to be a gentleman about it and not rush anything. Hell, Rene' will probably have to drag him into her bed to get there." Jade giggled and shrugged.

"And you want ME to do it too? With Adam?" Cindy asked, her heart beating faster still.

"I don't mean right away, but if you're interested in maybe checking it out, I wouldn't be opposed to it." Jade said bashfully.

"I'll... I'll... think about it... some more." Cindy giggled too.

"Oh SHIT! We gotta move! We're going to be late for work!" Cindy said noticing the time.

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*****

"She looks so happy lately." Marna commented quietly as she sipped from her cup of tea at the kitchen table watching Jade get into Cindy's car and leave for work.

Adam looked up from his plate to see his mammon watching through the window, a kind warm smile playing at her lips as she sipped her tea. His pause in eating caused her to turn her eyes towards him. He could have sworn he saw a glimmer of humor in her eyes before she blinked and smiled again before taking another sip of tea. Adam knew that Marna was aware of his and Jade's intimacy. How could she not know? They all lived in the small house, and Marna had always been a keen observer or people, especially her two charges, raising them as her own all these years.

"Are you happy, Adam?" Marna asked softly as she reached for her buttered muffin to take another nibble.

Adam paused once more, moving the last of his scrambled eggs about his plate idly with his fork. He tilted his head slightly to one side as if contemplating the question, or perhaps his answer. Marna saw him nod, unconsciously agreeing with himself before he spoke.

"I am. But to be honest, there have been so many... changes... so many new thoughts and experiences lately I'm still a little overwhelmed. It's a lot to take in. Maybe that blow to my head during the storm has affected my brain. But, yeah... I'm happy." Adam finally commented, turning to look Marna in the eye and smiling softly.

"That is good to hear, Adam. Yes, there have been a lot of changes since... the storm. I can imagine that you have been rather overwhelmed, indeed. But you can handle it. I know you. You are smart and caring... and have a big heart my boy. No... no longer a boy. You are a fine young man, Adam. Just follow your heart and it will all work out. Take your time and not be in a rush for answers to life's mysteries. Look at me, as old as I am and I'm still wondering about so very much. I think some things will always be mysteries." Marna said with a genuine and loving smile on her face as she reached over and patted the top of Adam's hand with hers, before returning to her muffin and tea.

They both sat in silence for a few minutes as they finished their breakfasts. Adam not only eating all of his, but finishing Jade's and even having a couple of muffins as well. Marna just shook her head slowly in amusement but didn't discourage him in any way. Adam did more than just clean the plates however. Always conscious and thoughtful of how much Marna did for himself and Jade, Adam helped out any way he could around the house and the garden. That included doing dishes. He cleared the table and washed up the few plates and dishes from breakfast.

"Have you had time to think further on what you are going to do with your lottery winnings Adam?" Marna asked from the table as she watched Adam drying a last plate before putting it away in the cabinet.

"I have. Rene' asked me the same question yesterday and got me to thinking about several things that I'd like to do." Adam responded as he wiped his hands off on the dish towel before draping it over the oven door to dry, then taking his seat at the table once more.

"And?" Marna prompted with a kind smile and waited for him to elaborate further.

"Well, first thing I want to do is buy a truck or a car. I don't mind my bicycle but all it can do is get me around. I kind of want something for an idea I have in mind... have had for a while actually." Adam began, watching as Marna's eyebrows rose a little questioningly but waited quietly for him to continue.

"I have thought that you could probably sell a lot more vegetables and herbs if you could get your produce into some of the grocery stores in town. Not everyone has time or will make the effort to drive out here to your stand. It's just not convenient for them to do so. So, if I had a truck or maybe a car, I could transport the produce to the markets a couple of times a week." Adam explained, Marna's eyes got big, and her smile faltered a bit as what Adam was proposing sank in. Again, he was thinking of others before himself.

Marna set her tea cup down and wiped at her eyes even as she smiled at Adam's concerned look as he watched her. She reached a hand over to rest atop both of his that he had resting in front of himself on the table.

"Adam... Oh Adam! You will never change, will you? Always thinking of others first. Your mother would have been so proud of you. I am certainly proud of you. So sweet and kind and thoughtful. You make my heart swell." Marna declared with a loving smile and shining eyes from tears that had not quite fallen yet. Happy tears though.

"Well... I haven't got a truck or car just yet, but I know of one that is for sale in town. I asked Rene' to give me a ride again today when she gets out of her classes this afternoon. I have other ideas as well. For the garden and the stand, we already have. I want to put in some lights and build a roof or cover of some sort over the stand to keep yourself and customers out of the rain. I want to run some irrigation lines so that you don't have to pull the hose or carry water cans to water the plants in the garden on those dry days. You can simply turn it on at the house, or even better, it could be automated on a timer that turned the water on and off whenever you set it for..."

Adam continued to tell Marna his ideas for fixing up the garden and even the house. Things that she had dreamed of over the years but were not practical or affordable on the little money she made from her garden. Raising two children was expensive at times. The more Adam talked the more Marna felt her heart swell and the happier she got. Even when he began to tell her about his thoughts of traveling a little and even taking up some studies either independently or through the university. When he mentioned maybe learning how to scuba dive however, she grew a little confused.

"You would want to swim... underwater?" Marna asked sounding perplexed.

Marna did remember Adam's fascination as a young boy, watching television shows like National Geographic and others that showed the undersea world of fishes and marine animals. But for the life of her, she never imagined that he had ideas of exploring underwater in that way. Marna herself had always had an aversion to water, at least big water like lakes and oceans and even storms. She had, after all, lost her only daughter and son in law to a flash flood from such a storm as what Adam had nearly fallen victim to as well recently. So, the thought of swimming in endless depths was just alien to her mind.

Adam could see the fear and worry behind Marna's eyes as he told her about the diving and exploring underwater. It did bother him that she would be worried for him, a little. But he also knew that this idea of learning to scuba dive would also be a cover story for another thing he had promised to do... helping Xiba and Data repair their space ship, and that would involve spending time at the lake. He knew that he probably didn't even need the SCUBA gear to do so, but that would be highly questionable to anyone else who didn't know that he had the ability to affect changes with his body... to adapt.

"I will be careful, of course. But all of that is in the future. First things first. Car or truck, garden improvements, house improvements..." Adam smiled sheepishly, just as his phone began to vibrate in his shirt pocket.

"Perhaps that is your girlfriend Rene'." Marna mentioned with a smile as she stood up to rinse her tea cup out and begin her day.

It was, in fact, Rene' she was between classes. She informed Adam that she had one more class for the day and then she would be free. She wondered if he would like to get some lunch somewhere when she was done with classes. He readily agreed, of course. He told Rene' that he would be helping his mammon out in the garden till she arrived to pick him up. They parted with verbal kisses over the phone. Adam was glad that Marna had stepped outside the house already, that was little embarrassing he thought, but smiled all the same.

*****

"What is this SCUBA diving that you mentioned?" Xiba asked Data distractedly as she went about detailing steps for repairs on her downed ship.

"It is a mechanical system that allows humans to breathe air while submersed under water. The word is an acronym for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus. It is essentially breathable gasses compressed in a cylinder and is released through a regulator as the diver breathes in through the mechanical mouthpiece. There are variations for other activities that require breathable air for humans as well where the atmosphere is not ideal or favorable for their natural breathing needs. Fire fighters use something similar, extra atmospheric or high altitude where the air is much thinner than they require are also augmented with breathing systems that are similar. It is rather ingenious actually. It seems humans are naturally inclined to adapt to their surroundings if they are not ideally favorable." Data explained, sounding to Xiba's ear to be rather fascinated.

"Why are you telling me of this Data? Does it apply to our current situation somehow?" Xiba asked, now paying a bit more attention to what Data was relaying.

"Indeed. Monitoring Adam's conversations with others, I heard him tell his caretaker, Marna, that he was interested in learning how to use this breathing gear and learn how to 'Scuba dive' himself. Perhaps it is somehow subjection on my part, but I suspect that Adam mentioned that to create a reason to spend more time here at this location helping you with the ship repair and recovery." Data informed Xiba.

Xiba sat down on the pilot's couch and clasped her hands in her lap thinking. Once more Adam was showing how thoughtful and considerate he was. Xiba had rarely experienced anyone or anything like him before. It touched her in ways that she was hard pressed to describe let alone explain, even to herself. Again, she felt a tingling sensation between her legs and it went all the way to her very core. She shivered involuntarily for a moment then felt herself smiling for some reason. Her thoughts were interrupted once more by Data.

"Xiba, I may have found a means to identify and collect the ore nodules from the meteor impact efficiently enough for our needs. With Adam's help of course." He informed.

"How so?" Xiba asked, pulling her mind back to their current situation.

"There are individuals and groups of humans here on earth who search for metals for sport or as a hobby as well as for their vocation. They use electronic devices that detect various metals in the soil or surrounding strata that masks the metal from visual detection. They devices are called metal detectors. There are a vast array of various models and applications. I have identified several hand-held and operated models that could be modified by us to work exceedingly well for our needs. If we can get Adam to acquire the devices, I can make the modifications much like I did for his cell phone and tablet."

"And that would speed up the collection process?" Xiba inquired.

"Absolutely." Data replied.

"Then at our first opportunity, I suggest we inform Adam of this idea and you can work with him to acquire these devices." Xiba said sounding almost wistful once more.

*****

Marna wiped her brow with the sleeve of her blouse, sitting back on her heels and watching Adam lift yet another bushel basket of tomatoes to carry to the display stand by the garden gate. He didn't seem to be making any effort at all, like the basket was nearly weightless to him. She shook her head in amazement and smiled before turning back to her weeding of the plants in front of her.

Adam had just stepped through the gate and set the basket into the waiting spot on the stand for the tomatoes when he heard a car horn toot behind him in the driveway. It was Rene', rather than text or call ahead, she simply got in her car after her last class and drove directly to Adam's house. She was waving to him happily when he looked her way. He couldn't help but to smile. Adam raised his hand holding up one finger indicating that he'd be right back, then he turned and went back through the gate into the garden to let Marna know he was leaving now. She waved and told him to have fun and good luck.