Chapter 19
"Okay ladies, you asked us here. The floor's yours," Ben said, smiling encouragingly at the two girls.
"Thank you everyone, for agreeing to this meeting. Cori and I have been giving a lot of thought to our situation here, and we've reached some decisions. The first one is that we would like to stay here. Everyone we've met has become an almost instant friend, and you've all been so helpful. We don't want to loose that. We understand that there are things that go on here we're not supposed to know about, and that's fine; we'd still like to help as much as we can," Michelle said and smiled at Cori.
Cori took her friend's hand and faced the room. "The second decision we've reached was more difficult than the first." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "For the time being, if it is allowed, we would like to not join a family, but perhaps start our own. Please don't let us give you the wrong idea; both of us are extremely attracted to all of you, but mostly to Ben and Kathryn. We would still like to spend the night with some or all of you from time to time, but we do not wish to intrude further. We want to wait and see how our feelings settle once we get this episode behind us. We know we love each other, we only think we're in love with Ben and Kathryn. We believe we should wait and see what happens."
"The final thing we've decided is to ask for your help to guide us, and make sure we don't make any huge mistakes. We both realize how old we really are, and despite everything we've been through, we would still like to have some form of stability in our lives. We would like this family to be it," Michelle finished.
"I have a question for you girls," Amanda said, smiling.
"Okay, what would you like to know?" Cori asked.
"You said you don't want to join our family right now, and that's fine, but then it sounded like you wanted to join the family at the end. I'm a little confused, sweetie."
"Well, the way we understood joining the family, we'd be joining as wives..." Michelle said. "Not that we would really mind, but we want to make sure what we are feeling is real and not the emotional response to what's happened to us."
"I think we might have mislead you, girls," Ben said. "You can still join our family, even if you don't want to be our wives yet. Everyone you see here is a member of this family, but not all of them are our mates. That isn't a requirement to join us. I'm sorry if we led you to think otherwise."
"Oh, in that case, I think we would love to join the family," Michelle said and glanced at Cori.
Cori was nodding in agreement. "Yes, we would. But as we said earlier, we would still like to join you in bed from time to time, if that's alright?"
"Does anyone have any objections, or questions for the girls?" Ben asked.
The question was met with a round of hugs and kisses, welcoming the girls into the family. Very shortly, the only people left in the den were Ben, his wives, Lizzy, and the girls. Lizzy was sitting on Ben's lap like it had been made to hold her. The rest of the girls were spread around the room, talking quietly.
Ben: "So do we try to activate their mental powers, or should we wait and see what happens with them?"
Kathryn: "I don't see why we can't, but I think that might be pushing them. I'd wait until they decided to join us as wives; otherwise, with this type of intimate contact, they won't have much choice."
Diane: "As much as I hate to say it, I agree with Kathryn. If they could touch us mind to mind, I don't see how they could help falling love — well, falling more in love. They do already love Ben and Kathryn, they're just unsure of themselves."
Amanda: "Once, I asked Ben and Kathryn to limit the number of people that shared our bed. However, I don't regret anyone that's been added and would feel incomplete without any one of you. I don't feel that for these two yet, but I think the potential is there. I'd like to wait to activate their powers."
Elizabeth: "I don't want to be the wet blanket here, and I'm not your lover yet, but are we even sure we can activate their powers? They are both fully human."
Amanda: "Sweetheart, you're our lover in all the ways that matter, just not physically. As for their powers, yes, I think we can. After all, you are fully human, as is John. You were born with active abilities, but John had his activated by an accident."
Chris: "It would be cruel not to at least tell them about our abilities. They're really worried about the upcoming assault. They're sure we'll fail."
Melissa: "I think we should at least tell them, Master. They care about us a great deal and don't want to see us get hurt."
Kathryn: "Don't you think telling them will freak them out? They've gone through a lot already."
Diane: "It might, but if they're going to be members of this family, they do have the right to know. Carol? You're being pretty quiet, hon; what do you think?"
Carol: "I can see the girls' point of view as well as all of yours. It's really hard for me to make a decision because I agree with everyone. I was hoping to listen more, and maybe make a decision from that. But here is what I'm leaning toward; we can't activate their powers without telling them about ours anyway. They are worried that the upcoming mission will fail since they don't know the whole picture, and that lack of knowledge is hurting them. I'm thinking we should tell them about the abilities, and perhaps let them know they will have the option of obtaining them in the future."
Amanda: "That's going to sound like we are bribing them to become our lovers. Yet, once they chose to accept the powers, they probably will. It's a catch twenty-two."
Ben: "No, it isn't. We tell them why we are not offering them to them yet. That we are afraid the intimacy of this type of contact would skew their decision about loving us. As long as we stick with the truth, I think they'll understand."
Kathryn: "I can agree with that."
There was a general agreement over that, even from Carol.
"Girls?" Ben asked to get their attention. "I know this is going to sound like it's coming out of left field, but what do you think of mental abilities; telepathy, telekinesis and the like?"
"We've read about them in school of course, but other than that, there has been no verifiable proof that such things exist. Why?" Cori said.
"What if I could prove it? Would you believe then?" Ben asked.
"Are you saying you have mental abilities? I guess that would explain why you have so many beautiful women as wives, but I don't get the feeling that they are being controlled," Michelle said, chuckling.
"I would never do that to someone I cared about. Consider this; how do you think we broke your programming so quickly?" Ben said, changing his tactic.
"We've actually wondered about that, but however you did it, it sure seemed to work pretty well. Are you trying to tell us that you have mental powers and that's how you helped us?" Michelle asked.
"With the exception of the two of you, everyone in this room has mental abilities. This is the family secret I told you about earlier. Now that you've decided to join us, we're letting you in on it," Ben said, smiling softly.
The two girls sat quietly thinking. Cori cocked her head to one side and asked, "None of you are influencing either of us right now?"
"No, we try to live by a strict policy of respect for the rights of the individual. To influence you would violate your right to privacy. When I went in and removed the programming you had received, I did so without your permission because at that time, you were an enemy to my family. Had you discovered the truth, you would have turned against us," Ben said.
Michelle said, thoughtfully, "I almost wish we had them too; I have no idea how it really feels to be connected to those you love, but it seems to me, if you were a bad person, or had dark thoughts and emotions, it would repel instead of attract us. If we had the abilities you've described, it seems to me that we would have more information on which to base our decision."
"For the most part, you are correct," Kathryn said. "However, no one is either purely good or purely evil, and everyone has some kind of dark thoughts; that's just simple human nature. But we know that if, for example, you felt us in your mind, a bond would form. You see, I know exactly how everyone in this room feels about me. I also know little Lizzy has to go to the bathroom, but doesn't want to miss out on the conversation, and that Chris is still hungry because Diane has been trying to help her heal herself faster. I can feel all of these things. I love everyone in this room with all my heart because I know them as well as, or better than, they know themselves. If you were exposed to that, you would have no choice about your feelings. We can activate these abilities in both of you, and we will regardless of what you decide, but only after you figure out how you feel about us; we feel that having them now would skew your feelings and bias your decision."
"Don't you want us?" Cori asked, sounding almost hurt.
"Sweetheart, of course we want you!" Diane said. "But we want to make sure it's your choice to be with us."
Chris reached over and took Cori's hand. "When Melissa and I were first told about what Ben and Kathryn could do, I thought he was making me love him, because I had fallen for him so hard, and so fast. I felt betrayed, and used. Diane helped me realize that no one was controlling me. These people loved me for me, and didn't want my love for them to be forced. That would be repulsive to them.
"We are fighting to save the world from a great evil, one that has no problem with stealing children and turning them into sex toys for the rich, or using blackmail, brainwashing, or any other dirty trick they can think of to control the world. What good would any of us be, if we did the same thing as those we are fighting against?"
Cori got up and sat on Chris' lap and faced her. She leaned in and tenderly kissed the older girl on the lips. She controlled the amount of passion, but it was a very loving kiss. When they finally broke, Cori leaned back and looked into Chris's eyes. "I don't really think the matter of falling in love with the rest of you is going to be an issue. This whole thing just feels like a dream to us right now, that's why we are hesitating. If you really are the people we think you are, this shouldn't take very long at all."
"I really want to just say 'to hell with it, ' and join you as a wife, because I am very attracted to all of you. I do love Kathryn and Ben, and there are strong emotions for the rest as well," Michelle said. "We just... It's only been a couple of weeks, and we don't think we should feel as strongly as we do. We think it's because of the whole abduction episode. If you all can read minds, maybe you can help us and see if our feelings are real, or if they are a reaction."
"Reading emotions is not as accurate as reading thoughts. Emotions tend to change from moment to moment, whereas thoughts at least follow a common thread. We can try, if that's what you want, but we won't do it without your consent," Amanda said softly. "I think we should get John or one of his wives in here to read them though; our own feelings could bias the results."
"They might be... busy at the moment, but I'll ask," Ben said. "John? Am I interrupting?"
John: "Not yet, we're just sitting around cuddling and talking right now, what's up?"
Ben quickly explained what the girls had asked for, and Amanda's proposed solution.
Jenny: "I'll help; I'm better at the emotional stuff then John or Renee. I'll be right down."
Ben thanked her, and broke the contact. "Jenny will be here shortly to help with the girls' request. Any idea how to go about this, Amanda?"
"A couple, but I'll let Jenny decide. She would know better how to find these things out."
A few moments later, Jenny knocked on the door before opening it and coming in. "I heard you might like my help?"
"Wow, you really weren't shitting us about the telepathy, were you?" Michelle asked.
"I think I once told you that none of us would ever knowingly lie to you, didn't I?" Ben said grinning.
"Yes, but that doesn't mean you wouldn't tease us," Cori said.
"How do you want to do this, Jenny?" Ben asked.
"Well, you girls want to know if what you are feeling is real, or a reaction to your ordeal, correct?" Jenny asked.
"Yes; we're pretty sure about our feelings for Ben and Kathryn, but we just don't understand our feelings for the rest," Michelle said.
"Then do I have your permission to look into your minds and try to get the answers to your questions?" Jenny asked. Both girls nodded their permission. "Okay, who wants to go first?"
Michelle nodded to Cori, and Cori pointed to Michelle; Jenny laughed. "Okay, come here Cori. Now, hold my hand and slowly, one at a time, look at each of the people in this room. I want you to think of how you feel about them, and how you would feel if they were no longer in your life."
Cori did as she was told and slowly looked at each person. She remembered her encounters with each, and how she would feel if she could no longer be around them, or if they were taken away from her. She finished by looking at Michelle, then back to Jenny.
Jenny smiled down at her, and kissed her forehead. "Okay, Michelle, your turn."
Michelle took Cori's place and slowly looked at each person. When she finished, she received a kiss as well, and Jenny sat them down. "Normally, I wouldn't share what I've learned with anyone other than the individual I've read. But I can sense that Cori and Michelle want you all to know.
"They are concerned that their feelings for all of you are the result of the traumatic events in their life. What they are feeling does stem from that, but is not because of that. They do love all of you, but most especially Ben, Kathryn and each other. They almost see Amanda and Diane as they would their mother, but the desire in those feelings is anything but familial. It is my opinion that your feelings are based on reality, and not the result of emotional trauma." Jenny smiled at the girls. "They don't love everyone equally, but they do feel romantic love for all of you. I got a good baseline when they looked at me and all I felt was platonic love."
Michelle and Cori were holding hands, and looking at the rest of the family. "Okay, I guess we know what we feel is real, but where does that leave us now?" Cori asked.
"Needing a bigger bed I think," Ben said, smiling. "Speaking of bed, it's getting late. Why don't we sleep on it, and talk some more tomorrow."
"I think that sounds wonderful," Amanda said. "Come on ladies, Jenny needs to get back to a very important task, and I think we do too."
Everyone thanked Jenny for her help, and she headed back to her mates and Cat. Ben and his growing family went to their own rooms and piled into bed. Cori, Michelle, Kathryn and Chris got into the big bed in Ben's room, and the rest of the girls slept in another room. It was a little awkward at first, but eventually everyone was asleep.
"Solms' headquarters in this hemisphere is here," Ben said, putting a red mark over a spot in Mexico. "Obviously, he has a few other places he can safely visit, but this is the base of operations; for now we are calling it 'The Fortress'. Forsythe has only been there once, but he would like to go back. He was treated like a visiting head-of-state, and believes that to be what Solms has in mind for him eventually.
"As far as security, Forsythe is no expert, but was impressed by the set-up around The Fortress." Ben brought up a computer mock-up of Solms' Mexican palace. "The guard posts are always in visual as well as radio contact. They have what looks like two random roving patrols outside their parameter, and three inside. I can only imagine what kind of electronics we are talking about, but I'd wager they're pretty extensive.
"The Fortress itself has exterior guards posted every fifty feet or within visual range if there's a corner. Forsythe was given a bracelet at the gate he was told was his 'visitor's badge' and he was never to take it off until he left. At first, I didn't know what the hell that was for, but later, whenever Forsythe walked through a doorway, there was a soft, barely heard tone. I think it's a security measure, like a tracking collar that disables some type of internal security system.
"There are pairs of security guards roving around the interior at all times. But there are always four to six in any room that has Solms in it. The local population is used as slave labor, serving the 'Emperor' and his guests in every way. Forsythe has fond memories of spending a few afternoons in the company of a young brother and sister. The Senator particularly enjoyed fucking the ten year old girl while her fourteen year old brother fucked him up the ass. It was one of the more boring entertainments offered, but the Senator didn't get into the more... exotic ones.
"Mrs. Forsythe didn't have those constraints. Her favorite 'game' was to be raped by a young man, only to have one of her girls catch them in the act. The girl would stop the rape and kill the young man while the Senator's wife watched. Mrs. Forsythe would 'reward' her savior by fucking her over and over in the same room with the dead man." Ben stopped the briefing to swallow the bile in his throat. "Again, I got the impression that was still considered somewhat tame as far as distractions went.
"We'll need more information where the security systems are concerned before we attempt an assault on this place, but I don't see it being easy no matter what we find out. There are literally hundreds of security personnel, and gods-only-know how much electronic junk.
"I'm hoping that someone at the school might have more information on the security arrangements at The Fortress, but we can't count on that. After the assault on the school, we might need to make a covert scouting mission down there to try to glean more information. Any questions or comments?"
Justine raised her hand, and Ben nodded to her. "We have found a link between the computer at the school and another system in Mexico. It very well might be the computers at The Fortress, but we haven't been able to hack into them yet. We'll keep working on it, but if physical security is that tight, the computers might be harder to crack than we thought. They might even have active defenses, in which case we could lose our tracking computer at the least, the whole system at worst. I'll let my people know that we need to isolate a single machine for this task at a remote location; it'll slow us down, but it'll be a whole lot safer for us."
Ben nodded in approval "That sounds like a plan, Justine. Remember John's golden rule; just don't get caught."
She smiled at him shyly, but nodded.
"Sir, what about that assault on the school? It's been the better part of a month since you were there; any word on when that's going to happen?" A man Ben didn't immediately recognize asked.
Ben touched his mind briefly to get his identity before replying. "Not yet Mike; John and I are still pounding out the best way to get this done without hurting the girls we are trying to save. It's getting pretty complicated, but don't worry, you'll get a chance to shoot it down before we stick our necks in the noose." Ben grinned. "And yes, you'll get to play this time."
"Are you reading my mind, Sir?" Mike asked grinning.
Ben snorted, "I don't need to! I could hear Charlie team itching to get out of here even without telepathy."
Michael Tollman was the only male team leader that CDI had, and he was a good man. He really cared for his people and was justifiably proud of them. "I was starting to wonder if I wasn't pretty enough to be invited to the dance," he said playfully.
"As many ladies as you have? Nope, just been going in alphabetical order is all. Besides, since we are raiding a girls' school, we thought we would bring you along as our secret weapon just in case everything else fails; you can charm them into submission," Ben teased back.
Laughter burst out around the table, and Mike grinned. Ben could sense Mike made a decision about something in his mind, something about Ben. Ben hoped it was approval; he would hate to have to work with someone that didn't like him.
"He got you good there, Mike!" Heather Parker said from across the table. Heather was team leader for Delta. "May I assume then that Delta will be used for the assault on the Fortress?"
Ben got serious for a moment. "Actually Heather, you will probably be going to New Orleans with us. The school plan will need a larger force because we'll be there to rescue a large number of girls, and we may run into heavy, wide-spread resistance. All the plans we are considering call for at least two full teams. John should be calling a tactical meeting soon to talk it over with you folks. The assault on The Fortress will probably take damn near everyone we have, but it's hard to tell without better intel, and I don't feel particularly comfortable leaving the ranch that vulnerable."
"I don't think any of us would, Sir," Mike said.
"Which is why we need more intel, and better planning, before we try anything on The Fortress. Right now, it's a pipe dream," Ben said.
"To bad we just can't drop a nuke on it," someone said.
"That might very well be what it comes to, but we'll look at all the
other options first," Ben said. "If there are no other questions or
comments, let's go have lunch; I'm starving."