Chapter 37

Sunday morning -- early -- and I was up and around, yawning. Beth teased coffee out of the replicator; the kids were still in bed. Keisha got up with me, too; Frieda, being in the other room, was asleep with Tara when I started banging around. The morning would be taken up with two very different briefings -- one for sponsors, and one for concubines -- then at noon, all Hell would likely break loose...

<Collars have arrived,> the AI reported.

'Thanks,' I replied. "Beth, there is some stuff in the replicators..."

Beth fished them out and grimaced. "I thought we were past this..."

"You're not," I told her. "The collars have communicators in them -- and tracking devices, among other things. They also act as ID, granting you access to various places, and they will provide verbal directions here and there, like a GPS." I turned to Keisha. "Get Frieda and Tara up. The uniform of the day is skin -- and these. And it's likely to be the same for the forseeable future."

"And the kids?" Keisha asked.

"Kids go clothed. Abe might get a Dick Tracy wristwatch," I replied. I eyed Beth, who had thrown on a chemise; after a moment, she got the hint. "You won't be the only ones, and you won't be the most embarrassed -- by noon every concubine will be nude," I assured them. "Get the other two."

After a couple of minutes, my other two women came padding in. "New collars," I announced, reading nameplates and handing them out.

"What -- no spikes?" Frieda objected.

"I'll have to discuss the modification with the AI," I chuckled. "Again, for everyone's benefit, by noon, every concubine will be dressed as you are -- or will be, once you get those on. The collars have comm links and act as GPSes and help us track you so you don't get lost. They also act as access cards, granting you access to places you are authorized to visit. They are NOT interchangeable -- yours knows you and will not work for anyone else -- in fact, it will get nasty with you if you try to use someone else's. Wear it all the time -- if you're not in bed or a shower or whatever, it should be on you. It's waterproof, so if you're in a public pool or whatever, it stays on. We'll be doing some simple sorting out of people today -- anyone with clothes is a sponsor -- or a crewman, which comes down to the same thing -- and everyone who is naked is a concubine. The vast majority of concubines will be unowned for the next few days. It's bad manners to fondle someone else's property without permission, but it could happen -- tolerate it if you can, but report it; someone will be along to thump the perp on the head. Don't take any shit from male concubines -- no means no and if they are slow learners they'll get an opportunity to study breathing in vacuum. Oh, the third group of people are kids. Kids stay dressed outside these rooms -- although they may go naked inside. Shawna and Elise are too young, but Abe will be issued a wristband with the same properties the collars have." I looked around. "Questions?"

"I REALLY liked the spikes..." Frieda muttered.

"You're incorrigible," I grinned. "AI, kick my standard breakfast out of the replicator." I turned back to my women. "There will be a briefing this morning -- the AI will alert you. You know most, if not all, of it -- but I want you to sit through it anyway. You can take the kids to the Mess to eat and mingle a little; I want you on your best behavior..." I eyed Frieda, "and acting as an example for others. The AI will call you to go to Medical -- and will provide directions. We're just looking at health and welfare at this point. Later, I'll have Frieda's horns and tail put on..." That got a giggle.

Frieda stuck her tongue out. "You won't give me a tail," she insisted, "because you know I'd use it to play with myself..."

I laughed. "Duly noted!"

The replicator dinged and Keisha went to get my scrambled eggs and bacon and raisin toast and put it in front of me. I covered her hand, keeping her from retracting it. "I lied again, didn't I? I'm sorry -- this is just... really big. I might be able to do something tonight, and I might not. I know you have concerns; believe me, I'm not putting it off through any reluctance." I released her hand and cupped one of her fat titties. "The workload right now is just a bear..."

Keisha nodded. "I just wish I could do somethin'..."

"Come with me, then," I said. "Tara and Beth can keep an eye on the kids and Frieda..." I grinned at Frieda maliciously, and she pretended -- transparently -- to get huffy.

"Like this?" Keisha gasped.

"Like that. You'll be my example. You just stick that chest of yours out and sway those hips and smile," I insisted.

"Well..."

"Too late -- it's an order," I declared, and went back to eating. I waved her around beside me and caressed her here and there and played with her ass while she got used to the idea -- and had her get herself a quick bite, since she wouldn't be going with the others.

Fifteen minutes later, we were out and headed down the corridor -- or maybe companionway -- whatever. I called Oliver and got him and his family moving while I walked, giving him the nickel briefing and finishing with, "You may want to check in with your Brinkman colleagues. Get the AI to lead you. Try to get in your visits to Medical this morning..." The more he interfaced with that group, the less I would have to babysit... The AI issued him a headset and his women collars while I was online with him; the headset would handle his issues until he got his implants later that morning. There was so much to do and so little time...

The headset reminded me of Maureen, so I called her. "I'm at Medical," she related. "I'm just going into the tube... Tony is done; the medics took his clothes. Decurion Tillotson made arrangements for me this morning." One less worry...

When I got to Colonist Operations, Major Howard was there -- with Vera. He put a collar on her and said, "Off you go -- the collar will lead you to your master. And thank you for your attentions..."

"Yes, thank you," Mark echoed, apparently embarrassed. I have to admit, I had no idea what was up... Vera actually dimpled, and waved at me as she padded out of the room.

"Do I ask?" I said diffidently.

"Ah! Something the omniscient Lieutenant Harper is not aware of!" the Major replied genially. "Oliver seemed to feel that Vera had short-sheeted me in the oral sex department the other night -- and treated it as a matter of honor. He gave me her use last night -- and she was superlative, wasn't she, Decurion?"

"Yes, very nice..." I don't think I'd ever seen Mark so embarrassed!

"You...?" I couldn't even picture it!

"Yes. She's... Well, she's a slut, actually -- and that's a compliment!" Mark suddenly found somewhere else to be.

I was nonplussed! The Major, fine -- that made sense. But Mark?

"I pressed a bit," the Major said quietly, "Told him he should really make comparisons before dismissing something. Vera is... seriously accomplished. Her oral skills are impressive and she's a fine fuck -- but it's attitude, too... Once she gets going..."

"She seemed pretty happy..." I noted. "She's been pretty diffident since the big revelation Thursday evening. Is she going to be okay?"

"She'll be fine -- but the Doctor may have to adjust his lifestyle," the Major opined. "One man doesn't do it for her. She took Tillotson twice -- and me three times... Granted, one time apiece was oral, and I took her anally -- but that just goes to show, doesn't it?"

"She didn't appear to be ashamed or anything..."

"No." The Major shook his head. "I think she's settled in with the whole thing. But I'm not certain that's the best thing for Oliver..."

I sighed. "Sometimes, you should be careful what you ask for. I was trying to help -- keep her from making a fatal mistake -- but I may have created a monster."

"Let's wait and see."

Overnight, we had one attempted suicide, one attempted murder and two assaults. That probably wasn't bad, for a small town's worth of people -- but they needed to get used to the fact that they weren't going to be getting away with anything stupid. The attempted suicide was in Medical, being treated for her self-inflicted injuries and depression -- and the other three were in a holding cell, having recovered from having been stung. The victim of the attempted murder was up and about. One of the assaults was apparently a husband irritated that his wife had made decisions for him; the other was a stepdad trying to get control of his stepson -- who just happened to be a sponsor...

It was 7 a.m. local; ship's time was synchronized, for now. "Wake 'em up..."

In approximately 500 sets of quarters, the AIs announced, "Sponsors and concubines, please report to the common room. Leave children in the sleeping areas." This got louder and louder until adults got a move on, then dropped off; we wanted as many children to sleep unmolested as we could get. In each set of quarters, the AI monitored things until we had all adults in the common rooms, then they -- and if necessary, a human crewman -- made sure everybody sent the young folk back to the bedrooms. When we had something like ninety six percent compliance, I took over. "People, I asked you last night to put it away and just get some sleep -- but some people just don't get it." On common room screens, we flashed up the holding cell. "The gent on the left tried to kill a fellow concubine; apparently, he thought he could just move in on the poor fellow's ex spouse..." We displayed video of the whole thing, from the moment the argument started to the point that the semi-automated stinger took him out. We had AIs watching EVERYTHING -- and passing incidents to human watch standers. The AIs could target, but they couldn't fire -- but all the guy on watch had to do was poke the button.

"The fellow in the center was irritated that his one-time spouse made the decision to emigrate for him; instead of staying on Earth, he came along -- then decided to give her an attitude adjustment." We had video on this, too -- he got in one good lick before an automated stinger scrambled his nervous system.

"The guy on the right REALLY screwed up! You see, his stepson is a sponsor -- and he tried to make the point with him -- physically -- that concubine or not, he was still in charge..." Again, we had beautiful video...

"There are just too many of you for us to have to play games with, day in and day out. We have excellent recorded evidence of these incidents -- I can't emphasize enough that you are monitored constantly by AIs. Justice is swift..." An alarm claxon began sounding in the holding cell; the three perps looked up -- and the wall behind them suddenly opened to space... Holding cells were deliberately along the periphery of the ship, for just this reason -- and we only needed a few... Once again, we didn't leave the mess floating in vacuum, but the screamers in the audience didn't know that...

I waited for things to settle down and said sadly, "There will be briefings on conduct today; many things will be explained and described. Please pay attention -- your life may depend upon it! Everyone will be going to medical today for examinations and minor treatment. Sponsors will be fitted with implant connections to the communications network. Concubines will be provided a collar that will provide these services. These collars are multi-function -- they grant you access to your living quarters and tell you how to find things like the Mess, among other things. Each is keyed to the individual wearing it -- and will not only fail to function, but will provide nasty surprises to someone trying to wear it who isn't its owner, so you should avoid thinking about borrowing someone else's. Children of age five and up will get a wristband with similar functions; children below that age are more likely to just be irritated by the thing, so they are expected to be controlled directly by parents.

"Uniforms. At Medical, whatever you're wearing will be confiscated until we arrive at the colony. Sponsors will be issued jumpsuits or coveralls. Concubines -- pay attention, everyone -- concubines get nothing! Uniform of the day for concubines is nudity." THAT caused comment.... "Yeah, yeah -- you know, most of you knew this already -- what's the beef? EVERY concubine will be nude -- so nobody is singling anyone out, here." I waved at the NCOIC and a camera was aimed at Keisha and I. "This is one of MY concubines -- note how she's dressed... Give 'em a spin so they get the whole effect, Hon." Keisha did so, her usual milk chocolate complexion overlaid with pink. "She's a little embarrassed, too, obviously. 'I can't do that because I'm homely or fat or covered with spots' doesn't cut it -- you have to deal with it. DON'T get caught impersonating a sponsor -- a concubine in a coverall is a walking corpse, and you'd be REAL surprised to find out how quickly we can pass sentence! Wear skin and get used to it! Kids wear clothing -- what they have, or if it is soiled, more can be obtained from the AIs."

"You'll be going to breakfast by quarters number; the group with you in the common room -- and the associated kids -- is your group. Stay with them. When you get called to Medical, the AIs will keep track of you individually and lead you down the halls by voice until you can get your implants or your collars -- don't get lost! We're going to want to know why you felt like you had to slow things up or can't follow instructions..." I threatened.

After a moment, I added, "I'm not going to kid you -- the adjustment you're going to have to make over the next few days is going to be unpleasant. But it's NOT always going to be like this -- in a few weeks, you'll most likely remember it as a growth experience, like basic training -- something tough and painful, but ultimately rewarding. If it all gets to be too much, let an AI know and we'll get you something to reduce the stress some."

I gestured to close things off, then had a thought. "Remember when I told you all to pass on sex last night, if possible? Well, a bunch of you didn't -- and that isn't a problem -- it's a comfort thing, sometimes. But there were a few cases where we observed something that looked a lot like non-consensual sex. That would be rape, for those of you who would rather have short, blunt words. Now, I used to have a girlfriend whose favorite word in the transports of orgasm was 'No!' so I'm prepared to be sympathetic -- but the AIs say we had three too many last night for them all to have my old girlfriend's affliction -- something about probability and coincidence. Ladies, it is NOT too late to prefer charges! In Medical, it'll be you and the kids and a medic and the AI -- and we know who we saw and what we saw and if what you tell us matches our impression, SOMEONE is in trouble!"

Enough was enough, I figured. "Okay, that's all. We'll try to keep gore off the video screens for the rest of the day. You have a long day in front of you -- let's get fed and looked at in Medical and our briefings under our belts. You can ask a question of the AI any time, once you're hooked up -- use that service to stay out of trouble! That is all..."

I turned to the watch officer. "Have everybody keep an eye out for people who are too dumb to live -- especially at mess. It seems like there is always SOMEONE..." The watch office nodded and passed the instructions to the operators. The AIs knew what was up already -- in general, at least. This wasn't quite the same as a normal pod-ship pickup, but things were similar. They had incident data...

'AI, where is the rest of my family?' I asked.

<They are just departing for Passenger Mess 73,> it replied.

I turned to Keisha, "Okay, Hon, I'm taking you to breakfast." I just flicked a glance at the watch officer; he knew enough to call me if something got out of hand. Major Howard and Mark followed, apparently deciding to tag along...

Britney and Judith and I were up early, due to Jack's call; I was already awake, anyway -- I confess to being mildly worried about Vera, not that I felt that the Major meant her any harm. The night before, it had been THE thing to do -- but Vera was still mine... I was uneasy.

I was even more uneasy when Vera came in; she seemed a lot less agitated than I expected her to be. In fact, she seemed... serene, happy. She greeted me and came into my arms and I asked carefully, "How was your night?"

"Fine, Master. I think I accomplished everything you wanted me to," was the reply I got. Judith was also a bit off-balance at Vera's attitude -- and Britney was concerned largely because we were, I think.

We were all present for Jack's little morning production, and I'll be the first to admit that it was harrowing -- but I understood the purpose behind it. They had a HUGE number of people they were trying to control, and a picture really IS worth a thousand words... After the video, the AI indicated that it would be wise if we ate, and that there would be a mixed group including my Brinkman Foundation colleagues in Passenger Mess Seventy Three, so we set out for there. My concubines -- and Judith -- were nude, which might have been jumping the gun, but Jack's concubines were all nude, too, as it turned out when we discovered them in the corridor. "Jack wants us to set an example," was Beth's explanation. I almost asked after the heavy black girl, Keisha -- then I remembered that she was with Jack.

Tara apparently knew quite a bit about how to obtain food from the automated replicators; we were almost done when I noticed Dave and the Brinkman group filtering into the room. Divining that Jack would want it, I had my entourage settle in at a highly visible table near the replicators. Dave came over and shook my hand, muttering, "That was an ugly little show this morning, wasn't it?"

"Indeed," I agreed, "but they have several thousand people to control; they need to know that they ARE under control and that foolishness won't be tolerated. We've both read the reports -- someone usually gets used as an object lesson after a pickup."

Dave nodded. "You're well, I see..." His eyes slid over Britney and Judith and Vera -- pausing on Vera -- before moving on to Jack's entourage. "Getting ahead of the game?"

"Trying," I replied, nodding. "Jack's women, in particular, are setting an example. Mine are no better than his, and they've been through the same mill, so I see no reason why they should be coddled. Besides, I tend to enjoy the view." Dave chuckled, nodding. Beth and Tara got up to demonstrate the replicators; after a moment, Vera caught my eye, received a nod, and followed. A second flick sent Britney after her. Judith sat for a moment, realized that I wasn't going to pretend to control her, and followed; Frieda, on the other hand, stayed to deal with the children.

Jack arrived about then; Keisha flowed by and settled next to young Abe, relieving Frieda of some of her workload. Major Howard and Decurion Tillotson were along, trailing Jack. "Ah, the elusive Lieutenant Harper," Dave announced himself. "I keep either hearing from you or hearing about you. I'm Doctor Chambers."

"Good morning," Jack replied, taking Dave's extended hand. "I hope I didn't spoil breakfast for you."

"Well..." Dave looked diffident.

"Believe me, that little exercise will result in an easier time for all of us," Jack assured him, "But don't kid yourself -- I hated doing it, too."

I turned my attention to the Major. "I'm told that all went well."

"Vera understates the case," the Major replied. "She was exquisite -- a true hetaera."

I blinked in surprise. "Indeed?"

The Major nodded. "I sampled, well, everything, actually, and Tillotson, here enjoyed her expertise in deep throat and a more standard doggy-style ride. I think she actually has him looking on meatier morsels with a bit more favor..."

"Well..." I was flabbergasted, frankly. Judith eyed her mother as if she'd grown a second head! Vera merely smiled gently.

"She was the soul of cooperation and was helpful and enjoyable and displayed a wonderful attitude, even during anal sex," the Major added.

"I see..." I cannot believe that my expression was impenetrable, despite my best efforts. "I'm pleased to hear it."

"It's so unusual to find a woman who actually enjoys sex in quantity, rather than just enduring it. I'm going to have to raise my standards," the Major mused.

I eyed my concubine and one-time spouse; her return glance was a bit diffident, but also a bit defiant. Clearly, she was saying, "I told you so..."

Dave cleared his throat, embarrassed. "Apparently, you've turned her around quite effectively, Oliver."

All I could do was agree...

We moved on to other subjects, and on to the meal; Dave brought Peg and her little boy and Antonio Vargas over to sit with us. They were still clothed -- and somewhat embarrassed about it, I think, given the state of the other concubines present; well, it would all shake out... When we'd eaten, Jack announced that he was taking his concubines to Medical -- but that I should perhaps join my colleagues; I have to admit that I felt somewhat as though I'd been dismissed. On the other hand, my colleagues were all happy to see me and lauded my accidental efforts to see to their rescue, inflating my importance to the process beyond all proportion.

Then we went off to Round One of the day's briefings -- separately -- sponsors were segregated from concubines and got what was apparently a totally different brief. We got clarity on some of the psychological aspects of the situation, answers to genetics questions, and case studies in what a concubine could and could not be allowed to do -- and why. Serious discussion on the subject of male concubines highlighted the fact that the kind of denial that COULD be employed was going to be extremely hard on them -- we were urged to be selective and no more controlling than was absolutely required.

About ten a.m., I got the call and brought my entourage -- including Judith -- to Medical. The room was huge -- there must have been one hundred of those med tubes we were told about in the morning briefings and this was Medical Center Seventy-Three! The Valhalla was indeed huge!

Britney and Judith were packed away quickly, followed by Vera; the medic -- a female -- approached me and asked me my preferences and I -- who had only recently been so proud of my performance -- shamefacedly asked about augmentation.

The medic didn't blink. "Since you're Navy, well look at firming you a bit and sloughing off about fifteen years worth of wear and tear, rather than doing the Marine Incredible Hulk thing. Are you planning on altering your concubines radically?"

"I... really hadn't intended to..." I stammered.

"Judith is your daughter -- and not assigned -- so we wouldn't be doing anything to her, anyway, except general health maintenance. You have options with Britney and Vera," I was told.

"How is this relevant to me?" I asked.

"If you plan to alter their throats or their vaginas or their rectums, we'll want to go for an optimum fit..."

"I hadn't planned on any of that..."

"Okay..." The medic pulled some data from Britney's and Vera's med tubes. "Wow! No gag reflex at all..." she mused, examining Vera's data. "Okay, if we size Britney up just a touch to match Vera for depth, we can add a touch of girth and maybe a centimeter in length and still have you able to pound away and maybe, periodically, just touch the cervix... Actually, your penis is already quite impressive for an unaugmented individual..." She smiled at me and I wondered if she told everyone that.

"I'm somewhat concerned about longevity and my ability to repeat," I muttered.

"Well, you're above the curve for two concubines..."

"I may be going to three or four," I noted, "and Vera has shown recent signs of an increase in requirements."

The medic shuffled through her data. "Britney is highly sexed, it seems, but you are well within range..." Then she frowned. After a moment, she went to Vera's tube and apparently took another download -- and frowned again. "We'll... double you up," she said hesitantly, then added, "Doctor, Vera's current readings are a poor match to her CAP test data. May we test her again?"

"Yes," I agreed. "She's been traumatized, poor thing. The last week or so has been tough going -- and maybe a lengthy period before that." I didn't know what the knowledge of an even lower CAP would do to poor Vera's psyche, but if it would assist in her treatment, I was all for it.

The medic nodded. "We'll go for an orgasm, sustained, every two hours -- that's three in the first hour, under load, and another in ninety minutes -- and the ability to sustain for an hour at a time, as necessary. That's impressive, but I see your point..." She gazed at the figures again.

"That should do," I agreed. "Anything more than that and I'll undoubtedly need help."

"Okay, then. Minor vaginal depth tuning for Britney. Anal? Oral?"

"What can she support?" I asked.

"She'll be fine with very little rectal work -- but her throat is a bit narrow."

"Will it change her voice?" I asked.

"Not noticeably."

"Fine. I want her comfortable. What about Vera?"

"No issues in those areas," the medic replied. "But I'm sure you would want her tuned up a bit." She punched up a hologram. "Age regression to match yours, I imagine, and, let's see... remove the stretch marks on the upper slopes of the breasts and firm the skin up... Do you want them reduced?"

I remembered a younger Vera. "Not particularly, without her input." I felt some guilt over what she'd been put through; doing things to her, rather than for her, didn't seem right... "If they were raised back up a bit and made more conical..."

"More like Judith's?"

"More, ummm, like the front of a bomb..." Vera had come closer to fat, round cones than Judith's rounder, more grapefruit shaped orbs -- not that they ever DIDN'T sag...

"Like this?"

Just jacking them up a bit helped tremendously, I noted. "Yes. We don't want to go too far -- I don't want to lose the essential Vera..." That was the phrase Jack had used, yesterday, with Maureen, I remembered -- 'The essential Beth.'

"We'll give her just a touch more pectoral and some support over the ribcage -- nothing gauche -- some support. Should they continue to point away from each other like that?"

"When you pack them in a bra, do you get cleavage?" I asked.

"Yes." The medic smiled at me.

"Leave them -- they're not gun turrets."

"Fine. I'm thinking that this roll here could use removal?" The medic pointed out the shield of fat that sagged a bit from Vera's belly over her pudenda.

"Yes," I nodded. "Smooth it out like Judith's, but leave a bit more. If she doesn't like it, we can come back. Once again, it's the..."

"...Essential Vera," the medic finished for me, smiling. Rotating the hologram, she said, "These saddlebags on her hips?"

"Judith doesn't have those -- and she didn't, before Judith. Again, start with Judith, but make it more robust. The posterior should be less square -- it USED to be more rounded..." We did a little thigh work, then backtracked to her face. I was extremely picky there -- it had to BE Vera. We removed a little thickening and the hint of a double chin and I pronounced the alterations complete, "unless she wants more."

"Fine. Doctor, I would like to retest you, too, while you're under -- the AI has posted some notes..."

"As long as I don't end up wearing a collar!" I retorted.

"No, no, the AI seemed to think there will be a significant increase -- and it's never wrong, in my experience..."

"Very well." I was a bit nervous, but everything should be fine... I slid out of my clothing and climbed into the tube.

"This shouldn't take long at all!" the medic said cheerily. "Just a moment, while I prep things..." I got a prick in the arm -- the anti-claustrophobia injection -- and the cover slid closed...

... and then I began to dream...