A lot of noise reached Adam as he opened the door to his penthouse condo. It was normal for his friends to come here for evening meals, and usually they were boisterous in chatting and teasing each other as they ate. This time it felt different. Voices were raised, close to anger as they argued.

"How can you blame me?" asked Tom. "There are more of us than you. Not to mention we're more balanced."

"Our classes provide more utility and fill more roles," insisted Andrea.

"Sure, sure," mocked Tom. "But Nicky-boy is able to do it by himself. How can you even argue against it?"

Adam walked through the hallway and came into the dining room. As usual, the long table was full of serving dishes of meat, breads, sandwiches, vegetables, and sauces. All his friends already had plates loaded with food and most were digging into it.

Upon noticing Adam's presence, everyone got quiet. The wife chef gave Adam a wave and took out a pizza tray sized serving dish. She handed it to Lucas who put a bunch of cuts of meat before passing it to Brittney. She also put some food on it. The tray went down the table while becoming overflowing with food as it went.

Fido had already looked up from his three bowls of meat. Two of the heads gave Adam an excited look, while the third head barked and then went back to eating.

"What's the argument about?" asked Adam.

"You see, boss, I just said that…"

Immediately Adam cut off the explanation.

"You talked. That would do it. I'm out," Adam turned to leave.

"Harsh, boss," said Tom as he hung his head in disappointment.

Adam walked a few steps towards his room before stopping and turning back to the table.

"On second thought…"

"I knew you'd want to hear the story," said Tom with a smile.

"Nope, I just don't want to leave without food."

Adam waited for the large serving tray to reach him. He took it and then once more headed to his room. Fido hurriedly picked up his three bowls and followed after Adam.

"Well, that wasn't what I expected," pondered Tom. No one bothered to comment on how food kept disappearing from the table, summoned away through the Rift Menu.

"Anyway, I'm just saying I wasn't being sexist. It is based on our classes," continued Tom.

"That makes it sound all the more insulting," pointed out Brittney.

"While I'm not about to put my foot in my mouth like Tom, if we are doing this then we need stakes," suggested Carlos.

"How about the losers don't get the Rift capture stats?" suggested Alissa.

"You can have fun with this, but it is still dangerous," said Lucas. "Nothing that will weaken our group. We need everyone to get all the stat bonuses."

"What about the winning group can design the armor for the losers?" suggested Andrea.

"No," responded Brittney. "I don't trust them not to design something lewd or provocative."

Everyone followed Brittney's eyes to a smirking Randall. After a few moments of he and Joseph practically drooling while ogling all the girls, the rest all nodded in agreement.

"Then what about the Sentinel Army statue?" asked Tom. "I have a few ways I'd like to change it."

With Tom drooling even more than the other two at whatever statue he was imagining in his own head, the group watched him warily. Fortunately, there wasn't much he could do that was inappropriate to the statue. It still needed to represent the army and to inspire the troops. Eventually there was acceptance, and the group settled down to discuss the rules.

"It's guys versus girls to see who can capture more Rifts. Winners get to redesign our statue," announced Tom. "Our group will have me, Lucas, Randy, Joey, Carlos, Lamario, Nicky-boy, Brandon, Eddy, and Willie."

"If Emily is going with the girls, then I am too," said William, trying to honor the promise he made to Adam to protect her.

"Unless something has changed, I think you are missing the necessary chromosome to join that group," said Tom with a smirk.

"Plus, you're a dude," added Joseph.

Everyone stared at him for a moment. He seemed oblivious to why and went back to eating, so the rest moved on.

"Ashtala won't be coming," said Alissa, "It's too dangerous given her condition. We'll bring Karen, though it feels like we should grab a few more to even the numbers."

"What about Akuji?" asked Brittney. "I bet she will enjoy a bit more mayhem."

"Who?" asked Tom in confusion.

"The anime girl from Joseph's Reaper group," answered Carlos.

Tom looked at Carlos blankly for a moment. He blinked a few times and then nodded.

"That sounds fine if she can be a team player. Wouldn't want her to endanger the boss's wives if she will create the mayhem."

Joseph waved his hand. "She's a nut job, but I doubt she would cause problems."

Brittney then spoke up. "I've actually been hanging out with her. We, uh, play fighting games together. I think it'll be fine. Fun even."

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"Fun?" questioned Lamar. "Going out and slaughtering living things has become fun?"

An embarrassed blush came over Brittney's face. "That part isn't fun, but the excitement, strategy, and challenge can be. Besides," she spoke up with too much defensiveness, "we need to take down these bases anyway. Might as well get closer to each other while we do."

"That's fine, then," said Tom, as if he was the arbiter of the contest that he had instigated. "You should take Angie and Marge too. It'll be nice for them to get a bit more advanced leveling."

"We'd love to have them," agreed Abbey. "I've been meaning to invite them to an outing anyway. I just thought it would be more casual."

Tom then looked at Abbey with serious intensity. "Just, you know, make sure they're safe. They'll be lower level than the rest of us."

"They'll be fine with us," said Andrea.

"I'm sure they will be," said Tom quietly. "Just make sure. I mean, I know you will. I just want…ha," Tom's volume lowered as he muttered, looking down at his food with a distant look in his eye. Everyone could see his concern for them. "I just want them to stay safe."

Lucas watched Tom's focus drift off, so he spoke up.

"We'll do this to add a bit of intrigue to the base assaults, but remember that even if we are competing, it is just a childish argument. Don't take too much on. If you need help, retreat and ask for it. I'll make sure Adam is ready to come to help. We'll have support groups waiting outside each base just in case. We all need to survive, and the Rifts will be attacked regardless."

Everyone nodded in agreement and then went back to eating and trash talking.

***

A yawn escaped Adam as he turned his head to the left. The windows in his room were only letting in a modicum of light. This wasn't him using the Rift Menu to allow him to sleep in. It was still early in the morning.

The back of some fingers reached up and gently stroked Adam's cheek. A weight on his chest and abdomen shifted as Alissa poked her head above the covers. Adam made sure his next yawn wasn't near her ear or face.

"You sleep too much," she complained, even as she squirmed up and kissed Adam tenderly.

One of Adam's arms came up and wrapped around Alissa's back, carressing up and down it. His other arm was held down by a fuzzy Ashtala. She was in a fetal position, pressed as closely against Adam and part of Alissa as she could manage. It had taken Adam and the girls time to get used to how tightly she pressed against people as she slept, in the Leputi fashion.

"So I've been told," responded Adam. He wiggled his arm out from under Ashtala and then petted the back of her head, and then along her spine. Alissa also reached out and stroked Ashtala's fur. Ashtala made some appreciative sounds and cuddled into the touches.

The blue gray Leputi fur had become much softer since using the shampoo and conditioner that the girls had shared with her. It had been a little stiff and pokey before, while now it felt more like a fleece blanket.

"I was starting to wonder if you were even planning on seeing us off," pouted Alissa as she continued to give little kisses to Adam's neck and jaw.

Adam tightened a little at her comment.

"Are you sure this will be safe?" he asked, the concern clear in his voice. "This was Tom's idea after all."

Propping herself up using her elbows on his chest, Alissa looked at his face. "Are you being sexist, mister? Do you think us girls are too dainty and delicate to conquer bases together?"

Adam frowned. "Maybe it is sexist, but I can't help being concerned for you. It killed me inside when Nick went off. Whether I believed in him or not, I kept envisioning the bad things that would happen to him. I have enough concerns with the world, and right up at the top is your wellbeing."

"As it should be," Alissa said haughtily, with a weak slap of his chest. "Maybe you should also think about how we feel when we hear you've been captured, or we have to watch you getting injured. Even now we can all feel some of the constant pain and concern you hold regarding the damage to your soul. Do you even have a plan to fix that?"

"Have a plan? Has anyone on Earth ever been able to prove that souls exist before now, let alone understood how to affect them? Of course I don't have a plan."

"Well, at least we do have a plan. We're going into the bases as a group of experienced Tier 3s. Andrea and my soldiers will be waiting for us outside, while several Leputi scouts will be ready. Plus, we chose the five bases we'll be raiding. If anything, you should be more concerned about the group going in with Tom. He was the one who chose their bases."

"I'm concerned about them as well," admitted Adam. Then with a mocking smile he added, "I just prefer waking up with you girls rather than them."

"Then I guess we'll just have to stay healthy for your preference."

With that, Ashtala unfolded her balled up form and partially climbed up onto Adam's chest next to Alissa. Alissa shifted to make room for her. With her triangular nose wiggling a little, she gave Adam a kiss on the cheek. Her facial fur and whiskers tickled him. Leputi didn't kiss like humans, and so this was something she had consulted the other girls about and had to learn.

"Good morning, your highness," she said bashfully. Then she turned and gave Alissa a cheek kiss before greeting her. "Good morning, Lady Alissa."

"Good morning, Ashtala," responded Adam. "Are you going on the base raids?"

Ashtala looked at Adam in surprise, as if she just realized he didn't know something everyone else did.

"No, your highness. I will be joining my tribe for a few weeks."

"Weeks? Really?" asked Adam with surprise. "Is there something wrong with living here? Or do you just miss them?"

Alissa swatted Adam's shoulder. "Let a girl have her mystery. She is allowed to spend time with her relatives. Just think of how lonely you'd be in an alien environment."

"Well, sure, but she's able to visit them daily."

"It just might not be the same."

"Fine then," mumbled Adam. "Ashtala, just let us know if you need anything else or if it is too much living in the tower."

"I will, your highness. You may contact my father if you need assistance or attention," responded Ashtala with an expression that Adam couldn't read, followed by a subtle glance at Alissa. Then she scooted out of the large bed.

Before Ashtala made it to her clothes, Alissa leapt from the bed and pounced on her. Hugging her furry body from behind. She moaned a bit as she rubbed her own exposed skin against it.

"Mm, I can't get enough of this fur!" squealed Alissa.

Ashtala seemed a little uncomfortable with it but also was used to Alissa's touchiness, even if it differed from how the Leputi touched. Adam looked away. With the girls gone for several days, Adam didn't want this scene to be stuck in his head while he was alone for the next few nights.

Rahsha was waiting in the living room. He had slept on the sofa while Alissa spent the night with Adam. Upon their exit he bowed to Adam and then knelt to Alissa.

"Fear not, your excellency," said the Tier 3 Leputi upon hearing Adam's concerns. "I will give my life to safeguard the lady."

Alissa petted his head, as he smiled wide, still on one knee. His ears quivered in pleasure. "I know you will, cutie. But don't come into the bases until called. This is our contest to win."

"Yes, my lady."

***

Later in the morning, before he even had time for more than a snack, Adam watched a line of trucks driving through the gates. Each of the teams had about 200 from the Sentinel Army following for support, and 40 Leputi warriors or scouts.

The support were meant to watch the two teams of Adam's friends, but also to check the areas for human remnants while also making sure invaders didn't leave the bases. They were a "just in case" situation and had tried to prepare for everything.

Both Colonel Davian and General Carmichael treated this situation as just reckless teenage hijinks. Tom had very convincingly explained, while only using a small amount of his persuasion skills, that they needed to test their core group's strength against invaders, while continuing to clear bases in the surroundings. It was important to clear out the region of invaders now, since they were weakened from the Scyrric loss and Cruxannith's absence.

While the military leadership had understood, or at least been swayed by Tom's powers, Adam made them all agree to retreat in bad situations and to stay away from Scyrric bases. Adam wanted to be a part of those assaults, even if everyone was hesitant to let him fight until he figured out how to heal his damaged soul.

As the last truck passed through the wall, and Adam watched all the remaining people who had seen them off disperse, he began the walk back. Concern wouldn't leave Adam, and he even felt his appetite affected as he sent a message to his chefs for only three breakfast pizzas.

With his mind too occupied to spend time inspecting Cruxannith's soul, Adam decided to spend the day at the Adventurer's training field. He would get some sparring in with the troops. Maybe it would help them, or even himself. Hopefully, it would keep his mind off of the worry he had for his friends.

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