Chapter 67 Bloody Date Part 1

A week went by in a blur as I put most of my focus on creating a fusion reactor for the base. Already having the knowledge and skills to produce it was the easy part, but the problem was moving all the pieces. While I was superhuman, I was still just one man, but this problem was easily solved due to Cortana's assistance.

As an advanced AI, she seamlessly connected to all the scouts in the base, coordinating and optimizing their efforts. Basically, they handled all the grunt work while I dealt with the intricate parts of the construction.

The result was a fully functional fusion reactor, humming with energy and efficiency. So much so that I had more energy than needed. If I really wanted to, I could hook it up to New York and power the whole city without losing out.

Taking advantage of all this excess energy, I began transferring it to my energy shields which now encompassed the entirety of the base along with certain corridors and rooms that held important material. Now the base truly felt secure, having the capability to withstand a nuke.

Besides working on that, I also completed my construction of Curie. Compared to the reactor, she was much simpler to make and only took around an hour of my time, but in the end, it was well worth it. The robot was quirky and had a fun personality that I knew Ned would love. So, without waiting, I quickly introduced the two, much to Ned's joy. His reaction had been worth it despite my hesitation at the time, thinking that he wanted a female robot for unsavory purposes.

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[Flashback]

Ned stood in the lab, eyes wide as he looked back and forth between myself and the robot. "You really did it, Kol. I can't believe it."

I gave a light smile, gesturing to Curie. "Ned, meet Curie. She's fully operational and has one of the best personalities you'll ever encounter."

Curie floated forward, staring at Ned with intrigue. "Ah, bonjour, Monsieur Ned!" Curie exclaimed, her voice carrying a hint of a French accent. "It is such a pleasure to finally meet you!"

Ned blinked in surprise, then grinned broadly. "Whoa, she can even speak French?"

Curie chuckled softly. "Oui, I have been programmed with knowledge of several languages, including French."

Ned glanced at me, his excitement palpable. "Kol, this is incredible! She's… she's amazing."

"I thought you might like her, but I only have one condition: she must stay here in the lab. You see, bringing Curie outside is still too risky and will get you a target on your back from people who would want to disassemble her." I said from experience, as many scouts had already been attacked by multiple forces, including the government.

"Agh, yeah, that's true…" Ned said dejectedly, understanding where I was coming from.

"Do not worry, Monsieur Ned, I very much enjoy being here. In fact, I prefer it because I am designed for scientific research and here Monsieur Kol is making new advancements every day! Then there is also Madame Cortana who is very kind." Curie may not have had a face to make expressions, but that didn't stop her from showing her joy through her voice and actions.

Hearing her words brought ease to Ned as he was happy to see the joyful robot. Besides, he didn't need to take her home yet when he'd be living here for the rest of the month.

Afterward, the two continued talking, leaving me out of the conversation completely before wandering off to explore the base together.

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Back in the present, I shook my head and refocused on what was most important right now. Surprisingly, it wasn't my projects or any plans I had, but instead, it was something I had been planning. It was time for my date with Gwen.

I had arrived early and, for the first time in a long time, I felt my nerves heighten. Which usually wouldn't be possible thanks to NZT, but today I wasn't on the mind-enhancing drug.

I wanted this date to be experienced completely naturally, without my mind caching every single detail. I only wanted my focus to be on one thing today, and that was Gwen…

Looking down at my clothes, I had to admit that I didn't look too shabby. In fact, I looked really good. If this was Fallout, then I'd have 10 points in Charisma. My clothes were made of high-quality material that hugged my Inhuman physique. Every ab and muscle definition was visible, attracting the attention of many women who walked by.

The location was also carefully chosen, with Central Park being our destination. Today, the park had a lot more activity than usual because of the fair that was taking place. Which I may or may not have had a hand in funding. Yeah, these were definitely simp tendencies, but it's not like anyone would know besides myself and, well, Cortana, but she can keep a secret. I think.

Yeah, I'm going to need to talk to her after this.

Glancing at my clock, I saw that it was nearing the time and began scanning the crowd. It didn't take long before I found Gwen. She looked stunning, to say the least. Her attire was a simple white sundress, but on her, it looked like it was made for a Greek goddess. Especially because of her long, toned legs that extended as she walked with grace, along with her flawless skin.

I had seen Gwen's enhancement only through the security footage of my labs and hadn't talked to her in person since I gave her the CH-24. So this was actually my first time seeing its effect and I can say it was well worth it.

"Gwen," I greeted, a genuine smile spreading across my face. "You look beautiful."

Gwen blushed as she struggled to keep eye contact. "Thanks, Kol. You don't look to bad yourself ." That last part she said with some emphasis as her eyes focused on the definition that peeked from my clothes.

Eventually, she realized what she was doing and blushed harder before grabbing my arm and pulling me along. "Well, we should get to it, right? What's first?" Gwen said as if trying to erase her previous reactions, but I could tell she was still blushing because of how pink her ears were.

'Aww, what is this cute creature before me…' I asked internally. At this moment, I really wanted to keep teasing her, but the date must go on.

"Well, I haven't eaten, so how about some food?"

Hearing my question, she slowed down her pace and agreed softly, "Mm, that sounds good."

With a smile, I held her arm closer before taking the lead as we walked further into the fair. It had been so long since I felt a sense of normalcy like this, and I had to admit that this was the happiest I'd been since arriving in this world.

From the moment I arrived, I constantly worried about the dangers, and even after gaining power, I still focused on more. So much so that I forgot the little things like this. Well, from now on, this will definitely change. Besides, I got Cortana to help remove some of my responsibilities.

Noticing me lost in thought, Gwen gained back some of her spunk and pinched my side. "Hmph, I can tell you're overthinking something again. You better pay attention."

"Haha, yes, yes."