Chapter 74

Wednesday morning provided me with a situation unique to my function. Jasper Harmon taught sixth- and seventh-grade history and gym at the school. On Monday, he had taken on the Montoya family -- Hernando, his mate Consuela, and their thirteen-year-old concubine-tracked daughter Guadalupe -- but subsequent to that, there had been... issues...

"I know what I COULD do," Jasper told me, obviously frustrated, "but it's not something I WANT to."

"What has happened, exactly?" I asked.

"There have been two occasions since Monday when I approached Consuela -- and Hernando has interfered on both of them, denying me access. We've limited things to staring contests, but he refuses to allow me to become at all familiar with Consuela."

"What about Guadalupe?" I asked.

"She's very comely, but still only thirteen. I've managed thus far to avoid being a pedophile," Jasper replied, somewhat frostily. "I can wait a few months."

"Nonetheless, it is your intention, eventually..." I pointed out.

"Yes, it is," Jasper agreed. "Lupe seems to like me; to be fair, her mother is, ah, less enticing."

"You could alter that," I pointed out.

"I more or less plan to, in a limited manner," Jasper replied, "but the problem with Hernando needs fixing first."

"I agree," I mused nodding. "It has already gone too far. Hernando doubtless lacks respect for you."

"I didn't want to get into fisticuffs and get him killed in front of the women," Jasper frowned.

"Can you take him?" I asked.

"I think so." Jasper WAS an athletics coach, after all; he HAD the musculature...

"We could arrange for you to prove it, but you should not have to," I mused. "Hernando needs to accept you as his patron -- something he understands culturally. He needs to understand that you have the power of life and death over him -- something he clearly does not at this juncture."

We had a short discussion of ways and means and invited Hernando into my office. He came in and stood there, looking truculent. "Hernando, have you not been paying attention in your training classes?" I asked mildly. "Please assume the position of attention."

"I bow to no man," Hernando declared belligerently.

"But you accepted this man as your patron," I replied.

"Patron?" Hernando eyed me oddly.

"Exactly. That is what you and your mate did on Monday -- accept Jasper Harmon's protection. Patrons expect loyalty -- and they expect obedience -- and most of all, they expect you to bend to their will when it comes to paying for their protection," I stressed.

"I see nothing to compel me..." Hernando blustered.

"What would you want to see -- a gun?" I asked. "You do not understand the danger here, obviously. AI?"

"Hernando Montoya has committed numerous offenses against Jasper Harmon, any one of which could result in his termination," the AI intoned.

"Jasper Harmon has asked me to intercede -- not because he is a coward, but rather because he was loathe to have you executed in front of your mate and child," I told him harshly. "You mistake his reluctance to kill you for cowardice. At this point, he has few choices: You can declare your fealty to him here in this room, or you can be banished -- separated from your family for all time -- or he can just kill you."

"He cannot kill me!" Hernando sneered.

"You need to see a gun?" Jasper erupted. "Very well..." He pointed his finger at Hernando and mimed pulling the trigger on a gun. "Bang!"

Stinger fire erupted, at a power level designed to stun and cause intense pain, but not a loss of consciousness. Hernando went to his knees, bellowing like a wounded bull, his eyes bulging.

"This... less than final solution was always available to Senor Harmon," I pointed out. "He need not be armed. Just like many powerful men, he has his ever-vigilant enforcers with him at all times -- they are merely invisible."

Hernando blundered to his feet. Jasper rasped sharply, "Hernando! Assume the position of attention!" Hernando growled, glaring. "Very well..." Jasper communed with the AI yet again, and Hernando was again stung -- this time more harshly.

"Do you really wish to die, then?" I asked Hernando. I turned to Jasper. "If you decide to use the collar, I would appreciate it if you did not do it in my office..."

"Hrrrgh!" Hernando shook his head. He was on all fours from the second sting. "Collar?"

"Assume attention, you fool!" I snapped. Hernando lurched to a vertical position, kneeling, but reeling a bit. "Do you not remember this demonstration?" Between us, the AI constructed a three-dimensional reproduction of a concubine threatening his master -- and POP! The explosive charge in his collar separated his head -- messily -- from his shoulders!

Hernando reached for his collar, howling. "DON'T!" I barked. "An attempt to remove it at this point would result in the explosive being discharged, and I do NOT want blood all over my office!" Hernando released the collar, finger by finger.

"Now, Hernando," Jasper admonished, "we are doing this in private -- not in front of the women -- so that you may retain their respect. But you have your duty to me and you owe me your loyalty and I intend to either receive it or dispense with you -- do you understand?" He came forward to stand over Hernando. "DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"

"Yes." Hernando glared, but gave the proper response.

I sighed and shook my head. "My patience is completely exhausted, Hernando -- so I am certain that Jasper Harmon has none. At this point, you can accept his patronage, you can be banished, or you can prepare yourself for death. Which is it going to be?" I shifted my attention to Jasper. "It is with some reluctance that I must advise you to kill him."

There was a long silence while Jasper eyed Hernando, weighing his fate in the balance. Finally, Hernando hung his head. "I am sorry, Patron. I did not understand."

"Understand now," Jasper grated. "The AIs watch over me day and night. In the unlikely event that you manage to kill or injure me, you won't survive the effort -- they will kill you before you can leave the room. This is my power over you; this is EVERY sponsor's power, but it is mine, in particular. You will return to our quarters and you will inform your mate that you have been foolish and you will remind her of her duties to me. You will do the same with your daughter. In return, I will not embarrass you before either of them by demanding your mate's attentions in your presence -- unless you anger me, in which case I will publicly cuckold you and kill you without warning if you interfere. Do you understand?"

"And my daughter?"

"She is not yet a concubine," Jasper replied, "and I am not a pedophile. Still, she has reached the age where she may consent to limited sexual contact with an adult. If she presents herself to me -- in or out of your presence -- I will accept her attentions. You would have to give her up to some male soon in any case, right?"

Hernando nodded. "Right."

"And you wouldn't be sleeping with her, so I wouldn't be cutting you out, right?" Jasper pressed.

"Right."

"Then she can do as she likes. I don't expect you to interfere. Likewise, until she reaches the age when she becomes a concubine, I will make no demands of her. When that time comes, if she offers herself to me, I plan to accept her -- at which point I WILL bed her, when and where I please. Are we clear?" Jasper rasped

"Clear, Patron."

"You should be dead. You have undermined my position and disrespected me. I've tried to be lenient, but it hasn't helped. From now on, expect to get stung if you screw up -- I'm not taking any more crap!" Jasper hollered.

"Yes, Patron."

"Get out! Go do as I told you! I want to find Consuela in my bed when I get there!" Jasper pointed at the door.

"Yes, Patron!" Hernando hove himself up and staggered out, his nervous system still fried from stinger fire.

Jasper tuned to me. "I may have gotten carried away, there..."

I steepled my fingers. "Perhaps not. Hernando needs a strong leader -- and he does not understand the strong silent type. I believe that this is a 'tough love' situation -- Hernando is a child in his way." I pursed my lips. "No, I believe that you need to be firm with him; he should always know that you are in charge. Do not merely threaten him, either -- offer him some physical abuse if necessary. He must know that you can follow through. Coordinate with the AI so that he isn't unnecessarily terminated by mistake." I paused for a moment, then added, "But if necessary, kill him. I don't think it will be, now, but he tends to act like a bull. Do not hesitate to punish him because of the women, either -- no doubt they will understand." I paused again before adding, "I noticed that you are careful about his manhood -- but it might not hurt to press that a bit -- even in the presence of Consuela and Guadalupe."

"Thank you, Gonzalo," Jasper said, turning to leave. "I appreciate your help and advice. I REALLY didn't want to kill him."

"There are other tools at your disposal," I replied, smiling.

"I have a few minutes, and then I have a class to teach, so I'll be on my way." He extended his hand and I shook it and we parted company.

I hurried up the hallway toward my quarters; my schedule didn't support sex with Consuela at this point, despite the instructions I gave Hernando. I hadn't given him a whole lot of time to talk to Consuela, either; when I burst into my quarters, they were talking in the main room. "Go!" Hernando yipped, pointing, and went to his knees. "Patron..." Consuela took off at a dead run.

"Never mind -- change of plan," I told him. "Consuela! Come back here!"

She stuck her head around the corner, "Patron?"

"Come here. Things have changed. I need to be elsewhere." I beckoned her and she came cautiously forward. "Stand there," I directed, then circled her. I'd had nothing done to them since their selection; Hernando's belligerence made me think that I might have to send them all away. I went to stand beside Hernando. "I think we'll back you both off ten years to start. AI, project this." Life-size representations of Hernando and Consuela appeared in the air before us, with Consuela on the other side. "Let's keep the breasts -- properly supported, but not sticking straight out. Let's keep them real -- bring them up a bit, but not anything stupid." Apparently, Consuela's bust had increased markedly when she breast-fed Guadalupe. The AI slid them slowly up the projection until I said, "There!" and added, "Remove the scars." She had a Caesarian section scar and an appendectomy or something, apparently. I turned to Hernando, "Why were there no more children after Guadalupe?"

"I'm not sure, Patron."

The AI announced, "Endometriosis has been diagnosed and will be corrected as a matter of course."

"Fine. Do either of you have any invisible issues?" I asked.

Consuela shook her head. Hernando said, "No, Patron."

"All right," I nodded. "You can finish your talk with Consuela on the way to Medical. I have classes to teach. And Hernando -- you can be a bull, or you can be a steer, understand? Right now, you're still a bull..."

"Yes, Patron." One look at the expression on his face said he got it. Consuela did, too. It was a good jab and it hit the mark.

"Go," I told them. "Spend the time to get a good start on things. I'll contact Medical and make sure they understand. I'll see you all after lunch. Do you think Lupe requires anything?"

"Minor things, Patron, maybe. Scars or whatever," Consuela replied, getting into the swing of things. Guadalupe had a few acne scars -- and might have other things.

"Okay," I replied. "I'll give them general guidance for her. Take her down there when she comes in, Hernando." If I was planning this correctly, Hernando and Guadalupe would be in Medical when I got back from classes -- but Consuela would be available... I waved them out ahead of me and all but ran to class.

No doubt the kids would have preferred to have gotten a vacation -- but it was more convenient for all concerned (except maybe for us teachers) that they spend some structured time every day out from under their parents' feet. Pursuant to that, I was teaching two periods of history -- American History to sixth graders and World History to seventh graders -- and a gym class for male students. American History almost started late due to the Hernando issue. Still, I had thirty young faces in front of me -- none nude. American History was probably less than required at this point, since we were in the process of resettling elsewhere -- but it was in the curriculum that we had built to meet local standards. I suspected that by the next term, it would have been deleted and a more in-depth World History curriculum proposed as a replacement. There were still lessons to be learned from the home world's past, after all... I was working on computer animations and models with the AI designed to make things more interactive and less dry and hoped to have something that Ms. Epperson, the curriculum coordinator, would pass on for next term...

I had Lupe in World History -- that's how her family came to my attention. After class, I called her up. "I had to be somewhat forceful this morning, but I think your father and I are now on the same sheet of music," I told her. "After class, your father will take you to Medical for a checkup. Make sure they fix anything they need to -- old broken bones and such." Tactfully, I didn't mention her acne scars. "I like this..." I waved at her generally, "the way it is, so don't go thinking I want you to move up a cup size or anything. For now, we'll let nature take its course, understand?"

Lupe nodded. "Yes, Sir."

I held up a finger. "Your mother is to stay in quarters. Speak to her, if you need to, about your needs -- but she stays home. If your father doesn't understand, have him call me."

Guadalupe understood -- I could see it in her eyes. "Yes, Sir." She hesitated. "Sir..."

"Speak to your father," I told her. "Later, when we both have the time, I'll ask you what he told you and we will see if his instructions mirror mine -- okay, Honey?"

"Yes, Sir." She nodded tightly and ventured a smile.

"Run along, then."

Gym gave me a chance to settle down, somewhat. There were a couple of fourteen year old students in World History -- female, concubine-tracked ones who were necessarily nude. I would be a liar if I didn't admit that I found them attractive, but they were also taken, as I understood it. Boys seventh-grade gym gave me an opportunity to cool off -- even if there were a few male concubines present... Frankly, I needed relief, but the Donovan kid freaked me out a bit...

"Mr. H?" he addressed me, wandering up. I had two basketball courts running.

"Yes, Pete?"

"Can we talk?"

"What about?"

"Well, Mom and I haven't been picked up yet," Pete said diffidently.

"I'm sure someone will..." I began.

"Maybe not -- it's Wednesday, you know," Pete replied, "And we get in on Friday."

"There will be opportunities at the colony," I assured him.

He shrugged. "For Mom, maybe." He looked up. "Hey, you know, I know what guys have to do..."

I assumed a guarded expression. "Like what?"

"You know -- suck and fuck... I can do that, you know..." He looked uncomfortable -- but he wasn't a patch on me!

"I, uh, I'm sure that's not required, Pete," I stammered.

"Well, it's a little embarrassing, but if you want..."

"Let's not -- this is a class, you know?" I said hurriedly. "Perhaps we can talk about it another time..."

"Um, sure..." Pete hung his head and hurried off, leaving me wondering what had caused him to think I might be sexually interested in him. Frankly, I wasn't surprised -- the poor boy had 'twink' practically tattooed on his forehead -- but that didn't explain his approaching ME... 'How did THAT happen?' I mumbled to myself.

Well, I THOUGHT it was private... <Peter has no father figures except for you,> the AI let me know on our private channel. <You DO tend to examine the less hirsute and muscular concubine stock of all ages,> it added. <This is observed behavior. Your psych profile indicates...>

'Uh, yeah, that's enough, I think...' I replied. 'If I start poking the students, my credentials as a teacher will suffer.'

<They needn't,> the AI replied. <If you were to accept the boy's mother, there would probably be no questions asked. Clearly, you could accept the boy, also, without his mother.>

'Rumors would persist,' I noted, 'Especially in the second case.' Was I entertaining this crazy idea?

<The character of your use of a concubine owned by you is not a subject for comment. You may do as you wish.> the AI objected.

'I am a teacher and in a position of trust where sex is concerned,' I replied.

<How is this different than the case of Guadalupe Montoya? Peter Donovan is of the correct age...>

'But the wrong sex,' I replied. 'I can't procreate with him.'

<He would provide genetic material for Guadalupe and Consuela Montoya,> the AI argued, <Impregnation of his mother is also an option. These are reasons to consider his offer.>

'Yeah, right. Show me his mother.' The AI did so. Cora Donovan was a dime-a-dozen overweight matron with thin brown hair and washed out blue eyes. She had the pink cheeks I tend to associate with Irish drunks. The face wasn't awful, and the hands and feet were okay. She looked doughy and had big hooters.

<Excellent motherhood scores,> the AI offered.

'She smothered Pete to death,' I snorted. 'Does she drink?'

<Not to excess.>

'What's with the flush?'

<A minor circulatory issue.>

There was some kind of scrabble on Court Two and I blew my whistle and waved to stop it, "Boys!" During the period it took to get them moving again, Cora Donovan's projection hung in the air, forgotten, until I started back to my station. "Damn! No wonder they were giggling!" I erupted. 'Shut that off!' I subvocalized. The apparition winked out. I looked around -- and found Pete looking back, naturally... To say that I was bothered was to understate the case. I had a concubine slot left -- two, actually, since taking in a family with a male was considered a wash -- and I should be looking to take on some woman -- but Pete's offer simultaneously attracted and repelled me. Could I do... that? What if I just took them on and attempted to point Pete in another direction? Did I dare do this in the first place? How much like a predator would it make me look? And then there were the Montoyas, with whom I really hadn't gotten out of the woods yet...

The boy was right about one thing, though; It was Wednesday, and in two days he and his mother would be separated. I needed answers. 'See what the Dean's availability for, say, mid-afternoon is,' I instructed the AI.

Thirty seconds later, I got back, <You are scheduled for fifteen hundred hours.>

'Acknowledged.' The AIs didn't seem to be into 'thanks.'

Pete came to me straight from the showers, of course. "I saw you looking at Mom, Mr. H."

"Yeah, well... Tell me -- this other thing -- is it a lifestyle choice or are you just trying to get Mom taken care of?" I asked.

Pete cocked his head. "What does that mean?"

"Well... What's the word on girls?"

"They're okay, I guess."

"For sleeping with?" I pressed.

"Like, sex?" Pete asked.

"Yeah."

"Well, I haven't..." he admitted.

"Okay..." I drew a breath. "What about the other thing?"

"What other thing?"

Clearly, I wasn't handling this well... "Guys. Sex."

"Oh. Yeah. I've done it."

"Giving? Or receiving?"

Pete looked around and said quietly, "Both, I guess. I suck. I fuck. I told you that, didn't I?"

"Actually, you said you were willing to -- there's a difference," I pointed out.

"Oh. Yeah, I guess." He looked bothered. "I, uh, like it on the bottom."

Yeah, okay. Too much information.... No, I really needed to know, come to think of it...

"I really don't do that," I told him. "If I were to take you on, you would have to try out girls. I might need for you to make one or two of them pregnant occasionally."

Pete thought about it. "Um, yeah, well, I could try..."

I puffed out a breath. "I have a reputation as a teacher to uphold. How many guys know for sure?"

"Nobody at school," Pete replied, and blushed a bit. "I like older guys."

I rubbed my face. "Look, this is complicated for me. I'm a teacher -- the whole thing could crash just because of that. I'd be looking to help you and your mother -- I don't know about the other thing. You know I have Lupe Montoya's folks, right?"

"No kidding? He's a big guy, right?"

"And very macho," I replied. "He might take it into his head to stomp you if you offered..." This was NOT going to plan... "What about Lupe?"

"I like Lupe..." Not, 'she's hot...' or anything like that; the vibe said they might discuss a guy's ass...

"Look, Pete -- I'll think about this, but no promises. What you're asking is outside my comfort zone."

"Please, Mr. H! You're my only hope!" Pete pled.

"The Dean could say no right off the bat," I told him. "I'm a teacher in a position of trust -- I might have to stop teaching gym, for instance, if someone decided I was interested in boys..."

Pete hung his head. "Yeah, well -- it's worth a try, right?"

"I'll see what I can do -- but like I said, no promises!" I waved him off. Shaking my head, I got ready to leave the gym. If Pete wasn't gay, he thought he was -- and depending on who else knew that, things could get dicey... I cleared my mind and refocused on Consuela Montoya.

Consuela was where she was supposed to be; she got out of a chair and went to her knees when I arrived. Medical had carved off the excess above her hipbones -- something I've heard referred to as 'saddlebags' -- and trimmed her down some. She was still good-sized, but she was curvy rather than dumpy. They'd taken some of the flour sack shapelessness out of the breasts, too, making them resemble fat cones more. Her features had been thicker, too; they were still wide, but not as fleshy. She hadn't been that bad to start -- she had Cora Donovan beat all to Hell -- but she was looking good now, if you like curvy gals -- and I do... I approached her and got up close and personal, collecting one of her hooters. (Don't ask me why I call them that -- too much time in the restaurant, I guess.)

"Patron," she said carefully, "Hernando and I have spoken and I know that things have changed and he more clearly knows his place, but..."

I pursed my lips. Consuela wanted to know if I was taking the coward's way out. "AI, get me Hernando."

"Patron?" Hernando's voice came over the air.

"I am with Consuela," I related. "Is this a surprise to you?"

Hernando sounded martyred. "No Patron."

"I know that I indicated that I would not burden you with this any more than I must, but Consuela was concerned that I was here..." I thought about it, working on the phrasing, "...like a thief in the night."

"Consuela," Hernando barked. "I pay a price for our patronage and you pay a different price. Do not make mine heavier. I know he is there and I know what for. Would you shame me by making me watch?"

"Dios! No!"

"Then do not ask this question again. The subject is closed. When our patron comes for you, you give him what he wants -- and our discussion is limited to you telling me that he has called for you. He has said he will not shame me with these things unnecessarily unless I am unworthy -- do not force his hand."

'AI, there is no visual feed in that direction, is there?' I asked.

<No.>

'Don't provide one.' If Hernando was going to behave, he needn't watch me play with Consuela's hooters.

"I understand, mi amor. I am sorry. I didn't know..." Consuela babbled.

"It is clear to me who is boss and who takes what is his," Hernando told her. "This has been presented to me in such a way that even one as hard-headed as I can understand it. Again, our Patron did this in private, mano a mano, to prevent me from being shamed before you and Guadalupe. I did not understand him before -- and I made terrible mistakes -- but I do now, and I will not repeat them. Do not shame me before him by not doing YOUR job..."

"I understand." Consuela hung her head. "I am sorry."

"Let's close the book on this," I said. "Hernando, I need an hour or so; please take Lupe to lunch if you need to."

"Yes, Patron." I cut the connection.

"What do you want of me?" Consuela asked.

I settled into a chair and waved her over close to me. "I have to deal with Hernando in a particular way," I told her. "I really do not want to deal with you in the same manner. I don't know how clear this is..."

She cocked her head. "Not very, Patron."

"Okay. What I want." I ticked things off on my fingers. "Your body. Children. Your loyalty. And a piece of your heart. The first three, you owe me -- they are in our basic contract. The fourth, I can't demand from you, but I hope you will give me."

She pursed her lips. "What about Hernando?"

"He understands. Do you? I know that you went to training, right? Who is first? Not in your heart -- who is first according to our agreement?"

Her face cleared. "You are."

"Right. The ugly truth is that I allow you and Hernando to remain together -- and I don't have to. But I have committed to making it work. Hernando has, too. I hope you see the benefit in that."

"I do," she nodded, and she slid her hands along my trouser legs. "What do you want, now?"

"Oral sex? I really didn't get deep into your skills... Do you do that? If we have the regular kind, I won't last very long because I have done without for some time..." I muttered, embarrassed.

"I do that." She went after my fly, suddenly very practical. "Since you didn't really think before you accepted Hernando and me, what motivated you?" She looked up, her eyes twinkling, "Lupe?"

I grimaced in embarrassment. "It isn't like it sounds, but yes."

"She will be flattered -- you are her favorite teacher." Consuela figured out the drop-flap on my pants; Confed uniforms use this thing like old navy uniforms where there a whole front panel replaces the zipper -- but instead of buttons, they have a seal. "Oh, my! Do not show this to Hernando..." she said, grasping my erection.

I blinked. "Why?"

"He is not... gifted..."

Well, I'd had a little added, actually -- about an inch or so. "Is it a problem?"

<Penile length for Hernando Montoya is five point two nine inches.> the AI supplied helpfully.

"No." She took it in both hands and did this twisting stroke thing and I got to be like steel. 'We do not speak of it, but I did not come to my marriage bed totally ignorant." I couldn't believe how calmly she was treating things...

Subvocally, I told the AI, 'Have Medical tube him and bring him up to six inches.' Aloud, I said, "You should speak of it to me, sometime -- I want to know."

"Yes, Patron." She rolled her lips over my knob and I bit mine -- and it didn't help. I searched frantically for a tactic that would allow me control for about six seconds, then let off in her mouth like a teenager getting his first suck! While I groaned and shuddered, Consuela milked me dry and sat back, unperturbed. "How long has it been, Patron?"

"Months."

"We will fix THAT!"

"God, I hope so!"

"About Lupe," Consuela asked, slowly jacking me back to full hardness. "What do you plan to do with her?"

"There are rules, and I plan to live by them," I replied. "Nothing, if she wants nothing from me -- but if she asks, I won't deny her."

"And in a very few months, when she reaches her fourteenth year?" Consuela pressed.

"At this point, if she asks, I plan to accept her," I replied. "I said as much to Hernando. I also told him that I would not be circumspect with her as I plan to be with you, since he would have to give her up to another man soon, anyway."

"How long do you plan to hide what we do?" Consuela asked.

"Until he stops having heartburn over it. Do you think bringing in another woman would help?" I asked.

She eyed me sidelong. "Would he be rooster to this hen?"

"For the sake of argument, yes. What do you think?"

"I think his heads -- both of them -- would swell very large, and he would not concern himself so much over my activities." She smiled, slyly.

"I'm surprised at how you are handling this," I murmured.

She shrugged philosophically. "I am not a man. Machismo is not my concern. There is much to be grateful for." She licked my knob like an ice cream cone and added, musing, "More all the time, I think. Can we fuck now?"