Chapter 68

Monday morning I bounded out of bed at the sound of the alarm, squeezing a handful of Graciela's plush ass, and went off to shower and prepare for the day. Life was good -- I had more sex from hot women than I knew what to do with and things were starting to turn on the couples front. Javier met me in the main room for coffee, also looking chipper; there was some kind of an issue between him and his mother, but sex with Grandma Estrella was just fine... I suspected it was merely the fact that Estrella was mellower -- maybe only in bed, but then, that's the location under discussion...

We gathered the clan for breakfast; I coordinated with Javier as to our planned final stop and elected to take Nana with me on my usual audit...

...And that's where things got a little weird...

You see, Nana was dressed -- in more or less regular clothing, the way dependents (mostly children) were dressed, not in a sponsor's uniform or a crew uniform. But she APPEARED to be maybe forty... Concubines that looked at her were immediately incensed; if she was forty and not a sponsor, then she was a concubine, right? And if she was a concubine, why wasn't she naked? I passed off the initial rumbles and grumbles, not realizing the problem, but in the second mess, we were approached. A heavyset woman planted herself in front of me and said, "Decurion, what's up with this woman?" Why do I have to run around naked and she doesn't?" In a blink of an eye, it seemed that we were surrounded by unhappy concubines of both sexes...

"There is a simple answer," I replied, frowning at her in my best forbidding manner. "The woman is dressed as a dependent because she IS a dependent. MY dependent."

"Yeah, right!" some male groused. "What makes her a dependent?"

I thought about it. "AI, please project Nana Salazar's appearance upon arrival on the Valhalla." The AI obliged, displaying Nana as a crone in widow's weeds. "Nana is the product of the same medical treatments many of you have obtained and will obtain," I explained, "but there is only so much that can be done. She is -- how old are you, Nana?"

"Eighty-two," Nana supplied.

"As a result, we can't possibly restart her reproductive system. This is the youngest appearance we can provide for her, unlike many of you who will likely be shifted back to your teens or twenties. Therefore, she is a dependent."

"She doesn't LOOK like a dependent," someone grumbled. "How do I know that's her?"

"Do you remember World War Two, young man?" Nana asked. "I don't mean newsreels -- do you REMEMBER it? How much do you think gasoline cost during the Great Depression?"

"I don't know," the guy rasped, "Do you?"

I rubbed my face; appearances were deceiving, regularly, given Confederacy medical care -- but many of these people had not been exposed to it enough yet to realize that they might be looking at an octogenarian. This was a complication I hadn't expected when I ordered Nana regressed as far as was practical...

"Marcus, would it make your life easier if I went nude?" Nana asked. Despite a certain mild danger, her eyes were laughing. No doubt there were a dozen automated stingers pointed at this mess, but whose fault was it, anyway?

"It would seem to be the simplest solution," I admitted.

"Then I will make it so." Nana started getting out of her clothing. "Does that meet with everyone's approval?"

A small child appeared, having wormed her way through the crowd. "You're really eighty-two?"

"Yes I am, child. Let that be a lesson to you -- appearances can be deceiving." Nana, having removed everything, rolled her clothing up, then eyed the roll, grimacing, before turning and walking slowly to the recycler and dumping it. People parted before her and tended to close after, but she made it back to me unmolested. Smiling crookedly, Nana said, "Actually, I'm somewhat pleased that you think I look good enough to join you in this -- you certainly would not have wanted me to a week ago..."

"You look better than me," the original woman grumbled.

"Your sponsor will no doubt improve your appearance markedly, child..." Nana patted the woman's face. "All will be well. I'm sure you'll have many fine children; alas, my days of making such a contribution are long at an end." Nana turned to me. "Shall we go, Marcus?"

We had no further issues -- UNTIL we got back to the family! Graciela freaked! "Why is Nana naked?" she demanded.

"I'm not naked, Granddaughter," Nana replied haughtily, "I'm wearing a fine outfit of youth and beauty -- and as such should be on display!" Further explanations took a few minutes -- but the family understood, once they thought about it. "If the price I pay to look like this is to display it for my men to see, I pay it gladly!" Nana declared. "Other men get to look, but not touch..." I had the AI replicate some flip-flops; Nana had been wearing regular shoes when accosted, leaving her barefoot -- and everyone ELSE was in flip-flops -- well, all of the other concubines, anyway.

With the uproar behind us, we ate, then Marisol and Javier headed off to classes and I escorted my harem back to my quarters -- from the center of the formation. I was enjoying the sway and roll of Graciela's generous hips from the rear when Nana crept up beside me and whispered, "Have you had her culo yet?"

"No." But I threw a hardon.

"Leave it to me. Marisol and I will prepare her for tonight."

"Estrella has the duty," I objected.

"Duty -- bah! Pleasure, you mean!" Nana retorted. "There will be plenty for Estrella after you have introduced Graciela to the joys of having her culo plunged..."

"What are you angling for now, old woman?" I whispered back, amused.

"It is my place to be indispensable..."

I chuckled; the little sneak WAS up to something! I hugged her to me, murmuring, "I don't know if I can spare you, now that I have drunk in your nude glory..."

"It's all part of my grand plan for domination of the males in the family," Nana teased. "Watch the tetas..." She wriggled her shoulders, initiating a delightful jiggle. "Soon, you will follow me everywhere, drooling, like you do Graciela's culo..." I laughed out loud, prompting a glance from Graciela -- which caused another chuckle.

"Graciela's culo will wait until tomorrow," I chided Nana, "I'd planned to drag you along with me today, especially now that you're dressed for it."

Nana cocked her head and eyed me sidelong, smiling, "Perhaps I can interest you in my culo?" She presented it and twitched it at me.

"When you have given up your plans for male domination, perhaps," I chuckled.

"When that happens, I will show you a culo that knows how to entertain your pito..." Nana smiled.

"You two!" Estrella erupted, hands on her hips in mock horror, "Why don't you just do it in the hallway? Nana, have you no honor? You would steal our man from us to be your plaything? Your own daughter and granddaughter?"

Nana waved negligently at her, "Eh, you are American -- you have no appreciation for the finer things... Marcus is a pearl beyond price, and you would spend him for hamburgers."

I laughed out loud.

We dropped the girls off and went to Colonist Control and then my office -- but the culo talk continued off and on all day, comments like:

"Estrellita has done it, I am sure; Hector would have talked her into it. But you know Estrellita -- she's a bit of a tight-ass, so she probably has bad habits. I'm sure she would whine about it hurting."

And another time:

"I have high hopes for Marisol -- she's young and eager and doesn't have the hang-ups the other two do. I'm sure that if it is presented properly, she'll be thrilled to death to let you use her culo all the time..."

I was surprised that she didn't prognosticate about Javier! Of course, the upshot of the whole thing was that by evening my cock was like steel! Still, I gritted my teeth and determined that there would be no ass action; Estrella's pussy would do just fine. Actually, I needed her mouth before dinner to take the edge off. Estrella, of course, wanted to know the source of the excitement -- and Nana, seemingly unconcerned, was happy to provide the information: "We've been discussing Graciela's culo -- well, and yours... And Marisol's, too, I think..." THAT got me a look...

"You are fascinated by...?"

"Actually, it's your mother who won't drop the subject," I growled. "She thinks she's found something to tease me with and it has been culo, culo, culo all day long..."

"Well..." Estrella raised an eyebrow.

"Well, nothing!" I snapped. "If you want, we can see if Nana's predictions regarding you are correct -- or you can do what you were doing!"

"He's a little testy, isn't he?" Nana said mildly.

"Mama!" Estrella backed off her suction to admonish her mother.

"Of course, you know who has the most fuckable culo in the Salazar family, right?" I growled. "According to Nana, of course..."

Estrella gave her mother a look, "So THAT's it!"

"Just exactly!" I replied. "It's a blatant attempt to lure me into her web -- and she's turned you into a victim! Suck!"

Estrella managed to laugh about it.

Later, in bed, Estrella, fiddling with the fur around my right nipple, mused, "It has been a long time since Mama has had a man..."

"And?"

"You should give her a taste of her own medicine."

"How, exactly?"

"Make her watch." Estrella grinned at me. "Make her watch you with me, make her watch you with Graciela, make her watch you with Marisol. If you want to win this battle, you need to take the fight to her!"

"You could have a point," I agreed, "but your ass might be forfeit. In the process of giving her what she thinks she wants I may have to lay a trap. Currently, she thinks exposing me to culo will cause an addiction."

"I would do this. Mama needs to be taken down a peg. I will speak to Graciela, too. We will beg for it and act like it is the most wonderful thing..."

I eyed Estrella. Are women just not happy unless they're involved in some kind of conspiracy? "Very well. If you can, try to brace Graciela. We'll do the thing with all proper ceremony -- and witnesses -- tomorrow night."

"It will be as you say, Master." Estrella grinned.

Monday, I sat down with my girls. Vera was gone for the day; to be fair, Vera was gone, period. I knew that she wanted to continue our relationship after a fashion, but we'd opened her little chrysalis and the butterfly that emerged didn't REALLY need me; she had other needs and desires and foci. Rhonda and Britney were too bright and too valuable to leave at home every day; I wanted them with me. That meant that we needed a woman at home -- and maybe more than one; maybe a man, too, although that admission came harder. Judith was going with Chief Slocum if I had to handcuff them to each other -- anything else was just ridiculous. Therefore it was time to go hunting a couple. After the morning Brinkman staff meeting, I put my girls on it and set myself the more onerous task of preparing the speech I would give Vera releasing her, when that situation came to a head.

I considered that the children were the important component of the situation; I wanted bright, sponsorship-capable children properly picked up and nurtured, if at all possible. That set the girls some parameters and they got busy -- but there was quite a bit of sifting to be done.

As it turned out, they needn't have bothered; I saw something viable the moment it passed in front of me, in the form of a young, well-dressed, dark-haired boy carrying a large bowl of ice cream. We had just arrived for luncheon and the boy was in the line in front of us at the replicators, where he collected his massive dessert -- and he was just in the process of carrying it off when a voice erupted, "Adrian! Adrian Turner, you take that back and get a sandwich, NOW!" I turned to see a somewhat heavy brunette in her early thirties facing the boy down, feet planted, fist on hips.

"Aw, Mom!" the miscreant whined -- but he turned back and took the bowl to the recycler, trying to sneak a bite as he did.

"Adrian..." his mother warned. Adrian dropped the spoon, then dumped the bowl in the recycler, angrily.

"Britney..." I murmured.

"I'm on it." She began murmuring to the AI. In a moment, the data was appearing for me; Evelyn Turner, thirty-two, CAP five point nine, good nurturing and problem-solving scores, mother of Adrian Turner, eleven, in sponsor track at Siefort and Claudette Turner, nine, track indeterminate. Husband Jeffrey, thirty-three, CAP six point one, occupation listed as laboratory technician at a chemical plant.

Nudity did not present Evelyn well; her breasts sagged and the roll at her belly was visible and her legs weren't that nice. She'd had two kids -- and it showed -- and not just in the form of the vertical Caesarian section scar on her belly. She turned and noticed me examining her and looked behind me at my girls -- and burst into tears and fled.

I didn't understand. "What just happened?"

"I think we were a little daunting," Rhonda offered.

"Ah." I thought about it while we collected our food, then turned to young Adrian, who had been forced to rejoin the line behind us. "We're going to go sit over there," I told him, pointing out a spot. "Please ask your mother and father to join us."

Adrian eyed me suspiciously. "Why should I, Mister?"

"Because if you do, I am going to insist that you be allowed that bowl of ice cream," I replied, "AFTER your sandwich, of course."

Adrian gave the idea some thought and nodded. "Okay."

"We'll be waiting." We moved off and settled at the designated table. Moments later, young Adrian gravitated to the vicinity of his parents and delivered the message. His mother's head came up, swung our direction, and her eyes met mine -- then she hunched herself and looked away. Her mate, however, -- a tall, thin, rather cadaverous looking individual in glasses and a brush cut -- gently but firmly motivated her to collect the children and slowly make her way into my presence.

"My son says you want to see us..." Evelyn said quietly, "although I can't guess why."

I waved at seats. "I was impressed with your demonstration of parental authority," I told her. "It's so refreshing these days." While Evelyn eyed me suspiciously to see if I was serious, I turned my attention to the male, "Jeffrey, is it? What kind of laboratory work did you do?"

"New materials research," he replied, naming a major firm. "Polymers, mostly."

"I am Dr. Oliver Hopkins," I related. "This is Dr. Rhonda Patterson, when I allow her titles. Britney Shelton was -- is -- a graduate student and research assistant. We're with the Brinkman Foundation."

Evelyn hung her head and muttered, "Looks like that and..."

I chuckled. "If you've seen my spouse of twenty-some years, you would be a good deal less worried, Evelyn -- you don't mind if I call you Evelyn, do you?"

"God, no! It's better than 'Jo Jo the dog-faced girl'..."

"You know, it really isn't as bad as all that," I insisted.

"Did either of them look like me?" Evelyn asked.

"Well, er, no, actually..."

"You're not helping, Master," Britney interjected, taking over. "See that rather large woman over there in the Civil Service uniform?" Britney stood up and waved, "Vera!"

Vera was over at the main Brinkman table. She got up and ambled over, followed by Mike and Cletus. "Hi, Ollie. Hi, girls. Why aren't you over at the main table?"

"We're interviewing a couple," I supplied. "Evelyn Turner, meet Vera Hopkins -- my spouse until very recently. Evelyn has body image issues..."

"Been there, done that," Vera snorted. "I'm better, but I'm not slinky on purpose -- it helps me to deal with others like me." She turned to me. "This is a good idea -- you need a new Head Bitch..."

"My thought exactly -- someone to keep the children in line and the household running smoothly. Evelyn believes in exercising parental authority," I related.

"Oh, good!" Vera grinned, "We have one son and three daughters and they're all either sponsors or well-placed for concubines and I have to believe it's because I didn't just talk them to death."

"So, you're serious?" Evelyn looked surprised.

"Very. You've met the immediate family. Vera is semi-independent; she has those two male concubines, there, Mike and Cletus. They're both gentlemen. Vera can be... very demanding, sexually, so her harem is all-male. Britney and Rhonda compose my immediate entourage, but they are obviously more oriented on intellectual pursuits. I'm assuming that given an opportunity, Jeffrey would find our work more rewarding than playing a cross between Mister Mom and Deuce Bigalo, Male Gigolo. I need a woman who can handle the child raising and other household duties -- maybe two, in fact -- but you have impressed me as possibly being able to handle the leadership role..."

"I, uh, Jeffrey?" Evelyn turned to her mate.

"He just bribed me, Dear," Jeffrey replied. "I think you should look at this seriously."

"As for sex," I continued, "I don't have any bisexual leanings. Jeffrey, we can discuss impregnation of individual females on a case-by-case basis, as you and Evelyn appear to be turning out a quality product. We'll be taking you down to Medical and bringing your physical age back some and making other repairs and adjustments, but Evelyn, you should understand at the outset that I have no intention of making you a carbon copy of a fashion model. We'll want you to retain some features that many equate with motherhood."

"B-but..." Evelyn stammered.

"That doesn't mean he won't be having you slimmed down and tightened up, Hon," Vera interjected, "you'll just be a huskier honey. Oliver isn't used to sleeping with Twiggy, you know." She fluffed her hair and posed. "No doubt, he would have touched me up a bit more, but I put a stop to it, deliberately."

"Not much, actually," I replied, "Variety IS the spice of life."

"Jeffrey needs Medical!" Evelyn declared. "I think he got into something at the lab. He's been better the past few days, but..."

"Now, Dear..." Jeffrey muttered.

"We'll be looking at repairs and maintenance for everyone," I noted. "Do you like sex? It's not required, I guess, but it is certainly a convenience. Clearly, my time with you will be limited, but you will be taking part in the population growth."

"I like sex," Evelyn said diffidently. "So, you and Jeffrey and..." She turned to Mike and Cletus, "What about them?"

I pursed my lips. "I hesitate to rule them out. Concubine's duties usually extend to sex with the sponsor and literally anyone else the sponsor designates. That might or might not mean Jeffrey -- but it is stipulated in this case. I anticipate that Vera may not be a long-term member of the household..."

"You do?" Vera looked stricken.

"Not because I want it or you want it, Dear, just because you have your duties and I have mine," I rushed to explain. "I'm not spurning you -- I just think that at some point you will decide to be on your own."

"We'll have to talk about this..." Vera had tears in her eyes.

"I really didn't expect to until you brought up the subject," I said softly. "It's been on my mind, however, so it surfaced..." I pulled her down to kiss her -- something she returned fervently. "It's more on the order of acceptance, should you discover that it is time to spread your wings. I'm happy to have you -- I just don't want to hold you back."

"I... all right, then." Vera's lip quivered and her voice was husky with emotion, but she got control of herself and stepped back. Turning to Evelyn, she said, "I'm a gang-bang slut -- something you hear about, but seldom see. The boys have their hands full -- but I'd like to see them get something periodically besides my skanky pussy."

Cletus, in particular, looked shocked. "Uh, Vera -- ain't you being a little hard on yourself?"

Vera smiled at Evelyn ruefully. "Cletus is a gentleman... a black gentleman. I got him at something over sixty and he doesn't have a rude bone in his body. Mike is a cut above, too."

Evelyn nodded, bemused. "Jeffrey?"

"I think it's a wonderful opportunity," Jeffrey declared.

Evelyn turned to me. "Uh, okay, then, I guess."

"Recorded," the AI's voice seemed to come from somewhere over the center of the table. "Jeffrey Turner?"

"I accept," Jeffrey nodded.

"Duly recorded. Evelyn and Jeffrey Turner are now the property of Dr. Oliver Hopkins, who assumes guardianship of Adrian and Claudette Turner." As suddenly as it popped up, the AI's presence disappeared.

"So now what?" Evelyn wondered aloud, "Medical?"

"Well, we have an open issue," I replied. "I made a promise, and despite the effect on your parental authority I need to keep it." I turned to Adrian, "Have you finished that sandwich, young man?"

"Yessir."

"Go get the bowl of ice cream I promised you."

"Yippeee!"

Evelyn looked irritated, so I explained, "Adrian held out for a reward when I asked him to direct you over here. Given the success of the venture, I cannot in good conscience deny him... You remain in charge of child nutrition."

"Come on, Ev," Jeffrey chided, "He's right -- it's a big day."

Evelyn nodded, mollified.

The revised Evelyn looked quite a bit like Judith, from a purely physical standpoint; we left her under in a tube for a good two and a half hours to get the whole thing accomplished, given the fact that other issues led us to spend the time, anyway. Evelyn's concerns over Jeffrey proved warranted; somewhere along the line he had been exposed to a carcinogen. His initial medical processing had stopped the ongoing destruction, but hadn't repaired damaged organs; I had that taken care of, which required some serious tube time. I hope to be forgiven for ensuring that his copulatory performance was just a touch short of mine -- which did actually require minor improvements to effect...

The rest of the day was all about getting everyone settled in my quarters; Evelyn had come under the impression that I still had children running around, and was surprised when she discovered that Judith was it -- and she had already been married and wasn't really expected to be a fixture.

Bedtime got awkward quickly. After the children were settled, I gathered my family in the main room and settled them into chairs. After a moment's embarrassed hesitation, I broke the ice, "I believe that I will be taking Evelyn tonight." I paused, eyeing Jeffrey. "You have options in this, but I'm sure you realize that it must be done and might as well be done early. You may observe or you may participate -- or you may choose to do neither, in which case I can offer some consolation..."

I had rocked Evelyn several times, by now -- but the worst was the last. "What? What consolation? I thought..."

I eyed her more or less attempting to lead her by my mild demeanor to take a step back and look at things calmly, "You thought what, my dear?"

"I know that you... Dammit, he's MINE!" Evelyn burst into tears.

Jeffrey made to move but I held up a finger. "This is for me to deal with -- you clearly cannot help." Jeffrey nodded and subsided. I got up and walked over to Evelyn and hugged her to me. "I know you have been told this multiple times since your arrival -- and I know that, like many women, you have chosen to ignore the facts, mostly out of fear and an inability to envision the results. Jeffrey is NOT yours -- you gave him up that day over a week ago when you stepped onto a transporter disc and came here. I'm sure you didn't realize it at the time, but it is true, nonetheless. If anything, Jeffrey belongs to me -- just as YOU belong to me. I control who Jeffrey sleeps with just as I control who you sleep with."

"B-but..."

"But what, my dear?"

"If he..."

"If he sleeps with other women, it will ruin your relationship?" I supplied. "That assumes that all that has gone before between you is a lie. If you sleep with me, will it change how you feel about Jeffrey? You will, you know -- tonight."

"I... no." Evelyn looked up at me, sniffling.

"These are your sisters," I said, waving at Britney and Rhonda. "They are here to help, to shoulder part of your load. You would deny them the benefit of Jeffrey's company?"

"Well..." Evelyn looked away.

"Jealousy ill becomes you and will not be tolerated," I declared, moving things up a notch. "In order that you are unable to blame Jeffrey for any sexual contact he should have with Britney and Rhonda, I can merely order it. Jeffrey seems sensible -- he will obey orders -- but even if he were to take the potentially deadly chance of NOT being obedient, I can always apply coercion with him, just as I can with you!"

"Coercion?" Evelyn was taken aback.

"We're going somewhere ugly, here -- and that isn't something I do in my family," I snapped, irritated. "Let's not go there. Surely, though, you've been listening in training, right? You understand a concubine's duties?"

"Well, yeah," Evelyn admitted.

"Surely you realize that those duties apply to Jeffrey in general, too? That he has to please me? I'm not in the least interested in him having sex with me, but I may need to call on him to assist me with one or more of the three of you..."

"I'm just a little..." Evelyn mused.

"These things are coming at you pretty quickly, I guess," I mused. "I think once you get started your perspective might change some -- what do you think?"

Evelyn looked up at me, her expression guarded. "Maybe." We were both well aware at this point that she had few options.

"Let's start simple," I suggested, "Do you do oral sex?" Evelyn glanced around the room, clearly unwilling to discuss the subject. "Come now," I chided, "At some point, everyone in the room will know the answer -- in fact, at some point, the answer will be yes, even if it isn't now." I was becoming irritated; I had been open-handed with her and she insisted upon acting as though she had no idea what her situation was! This wasn't my first experience with females who stubbornly refused to accept reality, but it was growing old...

"It was a low priority thing with us," Jeffrey volunteered, drawing a glance from his mate. "There was something lacking in her technique -- I just couldn't get off..."

"Technique can be handled by training," I replied, "I can ask Vera to step in -- she is accomplished." Latching onto certain cues in Jeffrey's demeanor, I added, "Attitude is also correctable. If I detect a bad one, I'm not above taking corporal measures to correct it."

"Corporal measures?" Evelyn looked up at me, wide-eyed.

"Spanking, and so forth," I clarified. "You would be surprised at the attitude adjustment a few strokes from a riding crop delivers." After a momentary pause, I added, "Why don't you show me your technique now?"

"Um, okay..." Evelyn threw a glance at Jeffrey and started working to open my fly. Britney tittered; she knew what was going to happen as well as I did. I simply do not understand the feminine thought process; why would you withhold something pleasurable from your mate? Males don't operate like that -- yet females do, regularly! When it became apparent that there was nothing wrong with Evelyn's technique that practice wouldn't cure, I waved Jeffrey over.

"Perhaps practice has improved her," I offered. "Why don't you see?" I backed off and pointed to Jeffrey, eyeing Evelyn in a manner designed to browbeat her into proper performance. Evelyn shifted over, eyeing me guiltily.

Soon after Evelyn took him in, Jeffrey gasped, "This DOES seem better..."

"You've been dealing with her too gently," I told him, with a significant glance that said this was a general comment, not limited to blowjobs. "You should assert yourself and make sure she knows what you want. Handle her a bit..." Jeffrey grasped Evelyn's head and began guiding her. "She knows what's coming." I watched them for a moment. "Let's move to my bedroom. Britney, bring me that crop, after which you girls can go to bed. Have the AI alert you to issues with the children."

Women are such cowards; I merely slapped my palm with the crop a couple of times and Evelyn rolled over. In less than five minutes, I was admonishing her, "Jeffrey's seed is precious. So is mine -- swallow every drop!" Jeffrey, head back, poked her throat and gushed.

After that, Jeffrey and I were a team; Jeffrey knew too much about Evelyn's hot buttons and I accepted no excuses. By midnight, Jeffrey was enjoying his first anal sex while I plunged up into Evelyn's vagina from below and she clutched herself to me mewling in pleasure. Neither of us was particularly brutal in our delivery methods but had given her no choice in the matter, Evelyn accepted what she was being given and drew pleasure from it. Of course, the fact that the pair of us alternated giving her cunnilingus until she was a quivering mass of overloaded nerve endings might have had something to do with it...