Chapter 83

Thursday morning, I was kind of shaky; I'd done as the Lieutenant suggested and filed transfer paperwork, but it wasn't going anywhere until we popped out of hyperspace. That was due around one o'clock, and radio transmission times were such that we wouldn't be THAT far behind its arrival. Given the way bureaucracy tends to operate, I expected to be halfway across the galaxy before anyone acted on the paperwork, effectively either ending my relationship with Judith or fixing it so that my efforts to keep her in the vicinity of her family were a waste of effort. The Lieutenant had a lot more confidence in these things than I did -- and I marked that down to the fact that I had a lot more experience.

The AI announced our dropping out of hyperspace around one; I sat at my desk wondering when Judith was going to transport to the surface without me if I didn't move my ass. Transport wouldn't begin until the morning, and might take all day tomorrow; we would be reorienting to hit various pads in several population centers, dispersing the passengers across the colony -- but I would be busy doing just that when it came time for Judith to leave. I was going to have to make the leap, blind; fortunately, neither Doctor Hopkins or Sub-Decurion Hopkins seemed unduly concerned over the possibility that they might never see their daughter again.

Five minutes later, my team lead, Danny Hopkins (no relation) stuck his head in my door. "Chief! I just got promoted!"

"Yeah?" That was a surprise. "Congratulations!" You didn't get money or anything, really, for being a certain rank -- you got just about everything you COULD get for free and the next guy had the same things available to him; it was all about responsibility and leadership. That probably sounds weird, but it works for the truly committed -- and only the truly committed achieved rank... "Where are you going?" Then my communications screen pinged...

You are directed to proceed immediately on permanent change of station. Report to Confederacy Naval Shipyard, Nuevo Angelino, NLT (tomorrow) for assignment to the Personnel and Cargo Transport Section, Platform 5... (blah, blah, blah...) 14 days leave en route is hereby authorized...

"Yeah, that's the other part," Danny muttered, reading over my shoulder. "I'm coming here."

"Huh! No shit, Sherlock!" I chuckled.

"You look surprised..."

"I didn't expect the wheels of bureaucracy to turn so quickly," I replied. "I figured thay would say yes in about six months when it was a waste of time."

The LT (Lieutenant Harper) stuck his head in the door. "We dropped out of hyperspace and launched a drone yesterday, Chief, to give everyone a heads-up on what we got and when we were coming. The return drone was there when we popped out -- and AIs are pretty quick at sorting mail."

"Still..."

"Major Howard signed the approval," the LT added, winking.

"Ah."

"Get out of my chair, Chief!" Danny prodded. "Go pack your shit! I relieve you!"

I stood and looked around; things were kind of surreal. "I stand relieved. Congratulations, Danny. Good luck; you're gonna need it on THIS tub!" Danny laughed and shook my hand and I wandered out behind the LT, headed for Doctor Hopkins' quarters.

He was there. Britney answered the door, and the Doctor took one look at us and cocked an eyebrow, smiling sardonically. "Is there an announcement in the offing?"

"Yessir," I agreed, nodding. "Two, actually."

"Be careful what order you put them in," Oliver Hopkins advised me. "Can I gather the clan?"

I nodded. "Please."

Oliver pinned his concubines with a look, "You can wait to tell Judith she has a visitor until Vera and Maureen are here." Beth and the rest of the LT's little family came wandering through the door behind us and arrayed themselves here and there; the Hopkins weren't all that big on making concubines kneel and such at home, and I guess the LT wasn't, either.

Maureen showed up in under five minutes, but Vera took ten. "Sorry, domestic disturbance. Is this what I think it is?"

"If you think it's about Judith, it is," I agreed.

Oliver counted noses and turned to Rhonda. "Get her. Not a word." Rhonda nodded and padded out.

Moments later, they were back; Judith looked surprised at the gathering. She'd also been crying..."Howard?"

I smiled. "I'm slow, but I get there. I'm here to make an honest woman out of you -- after a fashion."

"You ARE?" Judith's tremulous smile lit the room and I kicked myself for making her suffer all this time.

"I am." I strode forward and took her hand. "Judith Collins, I offer you my sponsorship."

Judith looked around at her family. I'd just put the onus on her. I could have told her that she wasn't choosing between me and them, but for some reason I didn't. She took a breath. "I accept."

"Duly recorded." The AI popped in from nowhere, as usual. Judith stumbled to me and we cuddled and kissed and fooled around and you'd have thought it was a wedding instead of her selling herself into slavery. Well, it was, more or less...

When we broke and people started coming forward to congratulate us, I held them off, telling Judith, "Now, before you get tangled up in goodbyes, I have a second announcement. I've been reassigned to the shipyard -- so we aren't going anywhere! We'll be on Nuevo Angelino!"

"You did? You are? OMIGAWD!" Judith was all over me, crying her eyes out; fortunately, they were happy tears.

"The LT and Major Howard pulled some strings," I murmured into her hair as I cuddled her. "We owe them."

People started coming forward then and congratulating us; we were back in wedding mode. I'd had three or four concubines and I'd never seen the like of this; Oliver summed it up with, "Welcome to the family, Howard."

Well, that was the plan, wasn't it?

The rest of the afternoon was kind of scrambled; we had to get through the congratulations and stuff, then the two Civil Service women had things to do -- and I needed to go to my quarters and pack my shit. Judith followed me like a puppy dog -- and entered my quarters for the first time as someone with a right to be there. I thought I was going to have to carry her over the threshold or something, but that didn't make sense -- this was no longer my home...

That didn't keep us from tearing up the bed, though; I spent half the afternoon enjoying the jello jiggle of Judith's bubble butt as I put the meat to her, it seemed like; I was already ruined by suppertime and she followed me to mess bowlegged. I mean, we'd been sleeping together and fucking for a while, but we tried to set a new record that afternoon -- and succeeded.

Vera thought it was hilarious! Cocking an eyebrow, she smirked, "So, Chief, how goes the honeymoon?" We got a lot of good-natured ribbing from the extended family -- but I finally felt comfortable sitting at that table, instead of like a thief in the night. It was a good feeling.

After dinner, I got the urge again; now that it was legal and I wasn't stealing it, I couldn't get enough. Judith's response was, "My pussy is kind of sore... how about a blowjob?" But I had something else in mind...

"There's another place..."

Judith got this odd look that combined 'Uh oh' with 'Oh boy!' She moaned and groaned, but she let me lead her to the bathroom and she suffered through an enema -- and she knelt up, willingly, for me to slowly press my lubed cock up her ass. Then her little secret was out; she went totally bonkers under me! Hell, she LOVED getting her ass poked! She wailed like a crazed thing when I pumped my juice into her; we're gonna do THAT a LOT! Once was enough, though, for both of us; when it was over we cuddled up and went to sleep.

Chief and Judith tied the knot just after we popped out of hyperspace. Chief got his orders and that opened the door. The whole family gathered for the event; you'd have thought it was a wedding or something! Hilarious...

By then, the countdown clock was ticking loudly; those of us in the original party all had things to do in preparation for disembarkation -- and Vera and Maureen did, too. Frankly, just about everyone had SOMETHING, but some of us had more responsibilities than others. Based upon general guidance, we let the AIs organize the disembarkation, scheduling groups based upon our projected orbital position and passenger volumes. We were dispersing sponsors and families over a number of sites in order to make absorption of the additional resources easier to deal with. Once they were in the system, they could transport anywhere necessary, but we couldn't afford to flood terminals or strain local resources unduly at any one site. We got back together for dinner and then scattered again.

Once in orbit, it was time for me to check on Dottie and Tina. Tina answered the comm with "Jack! I missed you! Dottie's being a bitch..." I got this litany of real and imagined offenses and realized that Dottie was at work and unable to defend herself.

I broke in with, "Well, relax -- help is on the way. I've got four new concubines and three kids..."

"More kids?" Tina wailed, crestfallen.

"Two of the concubines are talented mothers," I explained.

"Talented how? Making more?" Tina whined, rubbing her swollen belly; she was six months along.

"No, taking care of them."

"Thank God!" Then she grimaced. "Four more, though? Isn't that a lot?"

I shrugged. "Maybe. If they help, do you care?"

Tina thought about it. "Maybe not." Frankly, I wouldn't have been surprised to discover that she'd enjoyed my absence. Tina had a lot to do just thinking about herself, let alone responsibilities to others; she didn't handle such things well. Have you ever dealt with someone you thought was selfish, then realized that he or she was just limited?

"Let's put it this way," I told her, "Jack Junior will be your problem a LOT less often." Her face cleared and I withheld the follow-on thought, which was, 'and someone will be there to make sure you don't screw up raising YOUR child...'

"Well, okay. THAT sounds GREAT, actually. But you'll, uh, be around a lot less often, huh?" Tina was cyclical about sex; when she was in season, she wanted it -- and when she wasn't she whined a lot. I figured she was itchy...

"There will be a rotation," I told her. "Dottie and one of the other girls will arrange it, I imagine. I'm sure I'll be available when you feel like it -- and there will be more available to take the load when you don't." I knew this was more difficult than it sounded, but I also knew it would shake out.

"Well, okay. When do you get in?"

"Tomorrow."

"I'll call Dottie."

"Don't bother, Hon -- I'll call her at work." I closed the call and called Dottie.

"Dottie Har-- Jack! Thank GOD! Tina has been driving me NUTS!"

"And vice-versa, I hear," I laughed. "Well, help is on the way. I'm bringing four more concubines."

"FOUR?" Dottie gasped.

I nodded . "Two have natural motherhood instincts and one has kids and is therefore experienced." After a second, I added, "And the fourth is a natural organizer. I'm aware that you would rather be out working..."

Dottie pursed her lips. "Am I gone?"

"No, I just lightened your load considerably," I replied. "Frieda can keep an eye on Tina and there will be plenty of help with the kids."

"Oh," Dottie nodded, thinking furiously. "That SOUNDS better, anyway."

"Things have been smooth thus far," I replied. "I imagine that once you and the new girls sit down together, a working dynamic will present itself."

"I see..." Dottie mused.

"Given the headcount and the fact that I'm not Superman, even augmented, I picked up a male, too."

Dottie flinched. "You're kidding!"

"His mission statement says he covers anything I can't, but not me," I clarified. "We're strictly heterosexual."

"What's he look like?"

I had the AI project Mack. "He's not a bodybuilder or anything -- or even Superstud. And he has a young son. I basically took him on because he's a nice guy. No one has complained."

"No, I imagine not..." The look on Dottie's face was interesting; Mack might be seeing a lot of Dottie, based on that look. "You have good taste, Jack."

"I get by," I replied smugly.

"What do the girls look like?" Dottie asked. I had the AI project them. Dottie blinked. "You're kidding, right? Have you altered them?"

"This is how they are," I told her.

"But why?" Dottie asked, bewildered.

"Supermodels are a dime a dozen," I replied. "The white chunky one is Beth; we just hit it off -- I can't explain it. She's the Earth Mother type, though. The small boyish one is Frieda -- she's Beth's best friend. She has some issues, but she is very good at organization and is absolutely wicked -- from a sense of humor viewpoint, that is."

"Black chicks?" Dottie said faintly.

"The older one is Tara -- she's the one with kids. Wait'll you meet Abe... She has some personality quirks that make her easy to deal with. The young, heavy one is Keisha; she was Tara's babysitter. Once again, motherhood scores like you wouldn't believe."

"But she's an elephant! Or a buffalo..."

I shrugged. "It doesn't hurt anything -- and having a big, comfortable mama to go to doesn't hurt the kids, either. I'm sure she'd like for me to shrink her some, and maybe I will -- but she's never going to be tiny -- it doesn't go with her personality or her job."

Dottie eyed me. "Maybe I should put on a few pounds?"

"It wouldn't hurt you," I replied, poker-faced. "Like I said, supermodels are a dime a dozen around here -- and a lot of them are more or less like Tina. Believe it or not, if you drifted back toward where you were when I took you on, you might attract more attention. I was surprised at my own reaction, frankly."

"We can talk about it," Dottie muttered, adding, "Jack? I missed you..."

I'm not stupid -- I knew what THAT meant. "I'll be sure to save you a little. The other girls had plenty en route -- although I have to tell you, Beth is, well, a clinging vine."

Dottie's eyes hooded. "And you're allowing it."

"Yes."

Dottie nodded. We loved each other -- but we weren't IN love. Dottie knew the difference as well as I did. "Does she share?"

"Yes, but she doesn't want to be relegated to any back seat role," I replied. Dottie nodded.

"When do you arrive?" she asked.

"Some time tomorrow -- when is dependent upon how smoothly the disembarkation goes."

"We'll be ready," Dottie replied. "Love ya."

"Love you, too." I signed off. THAT was handled...

Javier approached me Wednesday afternoon in my office, rather diffidently. "Mark, about Mama..."

Estrella was in the room, on duty, more or less -- I pointed at the door and she got up and went out. "Go ahead."

"With Grandma it isn't so bad, but Mama... I don't know -- it bothers me. What might sound stupid about it is the one time we had sex before she was altered, I loved it. I loved HER! But the new Mama doesn't make things better..."

I sat back and pursed my lips. "What about Nana? Marisol?"

Javier grimaced. "Nana... I don't know. Marisol, well, yeah, I'd like to do her -- somehow, that doesn't bother me."

I cocked my head. "What is this about, exactly?"

Javier looked down at his feet. "Having sex with my female relatives is fun, occasionally, but..."

"But not as a steady diet?" I finished for him.

"Exactly," he nodded, raising his eyes to mine. "I expected to have... options."

"And so you should," I said quietly, steepling my fingers. "Do you want me to take them, Son? All of them?"

"Is that ungrateful of me?" he asked.

"No, it isn't," I replied. "I was responsible for pinning them to you -- because I feared taking them on, frankly. That's over." I sat back. "We're still family. Technically, you're my son -- at least in my eyes. I want what is best for you -- and your mother and grandmother and great-grandmother are probably NOT good for you in large doses. Even your sister is... questionable."

"I've had them -- well, some of them..." Javier began.

"And you might like to again?" I asked, smiling. "Tell you what -- I might want to put one or more of them in their place by getting a little strange, periodically. Why don't we agree to mutual availability -- you can play with mine and I can play with yours..."

Javier grinned. "Okay."

"You have something in mind, don't you?" I asked.

"Yes," he agreed. "I found a mother / daughter pair... They need work, but I think that will bind them to me."

"It might," I agreed. "A word of warning about something that happens all too often -- don't take them to the supermodel stage. Settle for something presentable, but not a Barbie doll." Javier nodded. "Are we agreed, then, that I should take over full ownership of Estrella and Graciela and guardianship of Nana and Marisol?"

Javier nodded, "We are."

"Duly recorded," the AI announced. Somehow, neither of us jumped.

"Good luck," I told him. "If you want my take on your selections, drag them around. I'm old and jaded and might help you keep from making a mistake."

Javier grinned. "Thank you, Mark."

"My pleasure." He turned to leave. "Send your Grandmother back in here, will you?"

"Of course."

We didn't make an immediate announcement, either of us; Graciela found herself at loose ends at bedtime, and I invited her into my bed even thought Estrella had 'the duty.' She waited until we were in my room to ask, "Javier...?"

"I had a talk with Javier," I supplied, "He has issues with having sex with you two -- you in particular, Graciela. He will be pursuing his needs elsewhere, except for an occasional interlude."

"Elsewhere?" Graciela frowned and I knew she was doing the math. Javier had two slots...

"I have taken full ownership," I explained.

It was Estrella who piped up with, "I think that's for the best. And Nana and Marisol?"

"I took over guardianship," I agreed, nodding.

Both women nodded. "Nana will be pleased," Estrella opined.

"So will Marisol," Graciela added, "You know that, don't you? She can't wait..."

"She's a child," I replied.

Graciela cocked her head. "Do you know what Nana would say? Perhaps I should go get her?"

"I need a bigger bed, first," I replied, sighing. "You two share -- but it's Estrella's night." I managed one load apiece at that session -- but Estrella teased another out of me a couple of hours later.

Predictably, Javier surfaced two blondes Thursday morning -- dirty blondes, but blondes, nonetheless. Sarah and her mother Yvonne were both plain and rather tall, but a little doughy, especially Yvonne, who had that motherhood pooch to her belly. They were both blue-eyed and a little flat and rabbity in the face; Sarah's was pink and oily and Yvonne's showed the pocks that were the result of the ravages of the acne that the nannites had probably gotten control of in Sarah. They had low-slung breasts of a size not anything amazing; they were the long cotton skirts and sandals type, if you know what I mean, doing without their trademark clothing. They had 'flower child' or 'pioneer woman ' written all over them, but they were both a bit thicker than the classic beanpole build usually associated with the type. Neither of them displayed the kind of rounded curves that were the norm in Salazar women. The hair color was natural, too -- they both had thick pubic growth in a shade that matched the hair hanging lank to about halfway down their backs. "What's their claim to fame?" I asked Javier when he brought them into my office, eyeing them critically.

"Sarah is a classmate," Javier supplied.

Graciela, frowning, opened her mouth. I snapped my fingers, glaring, and she subsided. Graciela had 'the duty' today. "Get your grandmother," I directed her. She nodded and left. When the door closed behind her, I said, "If I want a woman's opinion on who you decide to fuck, I'll ask for it -- and it likely won't be your mother that I ask."

Sarah's eyes popped. "That's your mom?"

"Yes." Javier grinned tightly.

"We're blessed with four generations of Salazar women in our household," I advised. "Bringing in gringas may cause ruffled feathers -- but I'm assuming that you wanted something different, eh Javier?"

"Yes," Javier agreed, nodding.

"What kind of testing have you done?" I asked.

"Nothing really," he related, "I wanted your opinion before getting in deep."

"Ultimately, this is your affair and not mine," I pointed out.

"I asked your opinion," he said, shrugging, "Besides, it isn't as if you have no vested interest in my selections..."

"What does that mean?" Yvonne asked, sounding only mildly interested. Both of them stood there with that apparently impenetrable calm that is a trademark of the type. Yvonne wasn't kidding me, though; both of them were giving off that little subsurface quiver that a rabbit has while holding itself motionless to avoid notice by a wolf.

"It means that we have a pre-existing agreement in place to share each other's harems," I replied, allowing myself a somewhat feral grin. Turning to Javier, I asked, "Why this particular classmate?"

"She has something -- I can't quite put my finger on it," Javier replied.

I got up from my desk and directed, "Kneel at attention, both of you," then circled them inspecting each without touching. Both knelt without presenting issues. "I see some obvious things," I noted, "shape, body type, coloration -- and temperament. Neither of them is a fiery Latin."

Javier nodded to himself. "Maybe that's it. Sarah takes some crap at school, but it rolls off her."

I circled around in front of Sarah and gazed down at her. "In public, yes. I bet she's had her share of nights spent crying into her pillow." I squatted in front of her. "Tell me what you think of Javier," I instructed her, "Be honest."

"He's..." She stopped. There was a pregnant silence, then she burst out, "He can do better than me!"

"What are you prepared to do about it?" I asked. I had the AI call up the girl's scores while she pondered this -- she wasn't stupid by any means. Neither was her mother. Both were low sixes.

"Whatever I can," was her answer, finally. I looked up at Yvonne; her washed-out blue eyes were bird-bright and locked on me.

Nana arrived at that point. "What is this?"

"A couple of petitioners for your great grandson's harem," I replied. "I believe his current focus is on providing the family a bit of genetic diversity."

"Hmph," was Nana's initial response. "What do you think is the primary draw?" she asked, eyeing the pair as if they were seriously wanting.

I grinned, replying, "The fact that they appear to be lacking in hot Latin temperament."

Graciela would have been irritated, Estrella bemused -- but Nana's eyes lit with amusement, "Aha!" She spun on Javier, "Tired of histrionics, are we?"

"I, well..." Javier began.

"Let's just say he noticed the difference," I rescued him.

Sarah wasn't controlling herself very well. "Out with it, "I directed.

"She's your great-grandmother?" Sarah burst out, looking at Javier.

"Yes," Javier shrugged.

"She must be..." Sarah began.

"Over eighty," Javier finished for her.

"The Confederacy doesn't take..."

"Yet here she is," I interjected. "AI, display Nana as she was at transport." The wizened crone who gave me Hell at mess that day hung in the air before us.

"You see, child?" Nana said softly, "They really CAN make a silk purse out of a sow's ear! I cannot bear children and I have reached the lower limit of what they could do for me, but I am grateful for small favors."

"You are not a concubine," Yvonne stated.

"No," I replied, "She is my... ward. She is not a child, but she exists outside the rules for concubines."

"Why are you naked?" Sarah asked.

"Once I was regressed, there were too many embarrassing questions to be answered for those who thought I was doing something wrong," Nana replied. "I pretend to be a concubine quite convincingly, when I want to -- when having sex with Marcus, for instance." She allowed herself a wicked smile.

"You have sex with...?" Sarah gasped.

"Child, I had done without for longer than you have been alive!" Nana declared, "And I remembered it with fondness! Would I pass up an opportunity now that I am comely again and almost everything works?"

I was forcibly reminded of Yoda: "When nine hundred years old you are..." I couldn't help being amused.

Nana turned to Javier, "Well, boy, what do you plan next?"

Javier shrugged. "I'm not sure, exactly."

"Perhaps you should sex them," Nana suggested. "Given that they are so placid, they might not be exciting bed partners."

"Nana..." I made to warn her.

"I know, they are controlling themselves -- well, in fact. They aren't the cattle they appear to be." She examined Yvonne closely. "But they might be... something else..."

"Exactly!" Javier burst out. "There is something..."

I circled behind Yvonne and reached around her neck to take her chin in my hand. Touching her, it was clearer; her apparent reserve masked other things. "I sense excitement, anticipation. This one wants to do something -- something out of the ordinary -- to prove herself." I became aware that Yvonne was doing her absolute best to display her low-slung breasts. Releasing her, I beckoned Javier and Nana and led them a few feet away. Addressing Nana, I said, "Have you had the AI show you scores?"

"I don't have your augmentation," she reminded me.

"They're both close to sponsor class -- very close. There are some interesting oddities in their scores. They're both very obedient -- aggressively obedient," I explained, musing. "They're good choices and will be very loyal -- and very... biddable, I guess."

"They will do as they are told?" Nana asked.

"Without argument and virtually without limitations," I replied, "if they are given what they hunger for."

"And that is?" Nana asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Affection."

"Indeed," Nana murmured, eyeing the pair. "That's all?"

I nodded. "The older one KNOWS what she wants; the younger one merely hungers blindly, never having had it." I turned to Javier. "Your instincts stand you in good stead."

"They're homely," Nana muttered.

"You want competition?" I retorted, amused. "We'll give them chins -- that will help with the slightly prune-faced look. I bet they would both be happier with some more breast flesh and a little less at the hip, but I wouldn't go overboard, Javier. Hot, narrow women are a dime a dozen in the colonies and, frankly, the standard adjustments don't help baby production one bit. Jack pointed that out to me, and recent experience watching families come together has proven him right. Part of the reason they hunger so is their looks -- they've been unable to attract much attention."

Javier was smiling. "I knew all this -- I was just unable to put it into words."

"What's next?" I asked. "Suggestions?"

"Sarah's mom wants to do something wild and crazy?" Javier confirmed.

"I think so," I replied. "I think she wants to prove something -- and she hopes you'll make her step outside the boundaries to do it."

Javier grinned. "How about culo?"

I thought about it. "It's a start, but I don't think it is enough."

Nana grinned slyly. "What if she has to do all of the work?"

I blinked. "Sorry?"

"What if all you provide is the hard manhood -- and she has to get it hard and KEEP it hard. What if she has to impale herself upon it? That could be... very difficult..." Nana explained. "To open yourself in that way, voluntarily, without assistance..."

"I believe Nana has something, there," I mused.

"What if they fail?" Javier asked.

"We grade them on effort," I replied. "But they WON'T fail -- too much is at stake."

"I like it," Javier grinned.

"You run it -- they're yours," I told him.

"Let's discuss rules," he replied.