Chapter 42 - Major Complaints

I woke back up slowly. Around me I could hear the gentle breathing of my sister concubines. I peeked around to find them slumbering with me in the bed. Rising further, I was disturbed that James was not sharing the bed. Immediately I started to climb over Tina, who was lying by the edge of the bed.

My left foot was about to touch the floor when Tina suddenly rose up and grabbed me around the waist. I sucked in my breath to scream only to find a hand slapped over my mouth. "Don't," Tina whispered in my ear. "I'm not trying to hurt you, I just had to ask. What did you do to James last night?"

She pulled the hand away, lowering it to my shoulder gently. "Nothing," I whispered. "I did nothing to him."

Tina leaned forward and bit my left ear teasingly. "No man walks out of a room looking like he did over nothing. It wasn't even an hour after you entered and yet he seemed completely shocked. What did you do?"

I could feel blood rushing to may face and looked down for a moment. "I gave him all of me," I whispered. "And pretty much demanded that he take it all."

Tina stopped stroking me for a moment. "That almost makes sense," she whispered back. "Now, James decided to sleep out with the babies. I believe he planned on feeding them during the night so we could all sleep together. Shall we go check on him?"

"Yes," I whispered. Tina let go of me and rolled out of bed. She jumped to her feet as I put my own feet on the floor and stood up. She reached out and grabbed my hand.

"Let's go," she whispered as she dragged me towards the door.

We left the bedroom and found James lying on the couch. He was holding Kristi and Jamie on his stomach. The two babies appeared to be falling asleep. He noticed us and swept the babies up in his arms as he sat up.

"Meiko, Tina! Come see your latest nieces," he called out.

We giggled as we dashed over to James. I claimed one of the two babies and took a closer look. The little girl had ginger hair and I immediately realized that I was holding Jamie.

"Jamie," I whispered. "May you always be a reminder to your mother of how much she is loved."

I glanced up to see James with a forlorn expression on his face. "I wasn't there for her," he muttered. "Worse, I nearly threw it all away."

I switched Jamie so that I was holding her against my right hip. Then I reached out with my left hand to put it on James' shoulder. "James, I don't know why, but that man was clearly trying to make you lose your temper. It was as if he needed you to attack him."

James nodded. "And I didn't because you were there to stop me. I owe you everything."

I shrugged as I carried Jamie back to the cribs. I set her down. Immediately she curled up and closed her eyes. Tina giggled as I paused to look. Then she placed Kristi down next to Jamie. The two babies clearly were ready to sleep.

From across the room I could hear Madoka waking up, so I walked over to her. I had not dressed yet, but realized that I needed to clean up a bit. Picking her up, I carried her over to James and placed her in his arms. "Hold her while I clean up," I commanded.

Tina laughed loudly as I disappeared into our bathroom. I rinsed my body quickly and then walked back into the living area. James had sat back down and was bouncing Madoka on his knee as Tina sat in a recliner and fed Tolwin.

I sat down next to James and reached out for Madoka. As I did, Tina looked at James. "So what is the plan for today? I mean, it sounds like you are going to try to avoid our visitors."

James handed Madoka to me and smiled. "We have all of the male concubines agreeing to man the command post, although we'll have concubines in our old command post doing most of the work. The work in the old colony center will be mainly to impress Colonel Johanes and his scientists."

"Won't that major and his marines figure it out?' I asked.

James started to laugh. "That's just it. I don't think any of them have that kind of training. On most planets the work we do is given to the navy rather than the marines. I'm sure they could take the time to learn it, but for now, it's unlikely they have any idea what we are doing."

"So the idea is to keep them away while we do the real work over here. That sounds way too much like what we had to do with Ruth and Manuel," Tina said. "I thought we were past that."

"Ruth and Manuel never had official approval," James said. "Everything Admiral Himmel has told us indicates that someone very high up at Central Command is willing to issue orders that Colonel Johanes is to be offered all possible help."

"And what does that mean?" I asked. "It seems like Colonel Johanes is willing to demand time with other citizen's concubines."

I heard Tina gasp as she switched Tolwin from one breast to the other. "Is that what happened yesterday?"

James nodded. "He did, and tried to claim that he could issue that order simply because he is the governor of Ishtar. But we were interrupted at that point when Captain Werfel showed up. And before he could send them away, one of his scientists discovered something."

"Have we heard more about that?" I asked.

"Only that one of the devices we found moves if a certain raised circle is pressed in," James said. "I guess there are two of these buttons. One caused a tube to flip out from the center of the device. The other returned the tube to inside the structure. The tube was made from an alloy that was mostly lead with some heavier metals."

"Lead?" Tina asked. "Why would anyone use lead in something? I seem to remember reading that it's poisonous. It was in one of the texts Bethany had me read."

James nodded. "Yes, lead is poisonous to us. However, some of the radioactive metals, like Uranium, will actually turn into lead over time. One of the scientists believes he might be able to determine how long ago the civilization died."

I thought about that for a moment and then smiled. "So he's thinking that the tube was one made of uranium and has been decaying?"

James nodded. "That's what Terrence reported. Chief Scientist Johanes hasn't agreed with that assessment. It seems he is sure that the device has to be more exotic than that."

"Well, at least we know it's old," Tina said. "Now, what are you going to be doing?"

James smiled and looked at the ceiling. "AI, is Yvette awake and available?"

There was a pause and then I heard Carol's voice. "James? I'm afraid that Yvette is still wrapped around Esther and sound asleep. Is it important?"

I watched as my master shrugged. "Not too important. How about once she wakes up you have her contact me? I'm going to take a couple of my concubines to the laser center."

"Isn't that the laser room?" Carol asked.

"It was," James said enigmatically. He stood up and helped me to my feet. "Finish feeding your babies and grab something simple to eat," he said. "We have a new task to undertake."

"Will it involve you kissing me all over?" Tina asked. "Or perhaps you want me bent over the couch. You definitely have to give me the same treatment you have Meiko last night. It's been a long time since I passed out during sex."

I giggled. Madoka released from my breast. At first, I believed she was going to protest the movement, but instead of grabbing at my breast she started to push against me. I lifted her up so she could look me in the eye.

My daughter smiled as my arms rose. I kissed her forehead and then moved to set her in her crib. I was worried about needing to change her and was about to check when Bethany staggered out of the bedroom.

"Wow," she said. "Meiko, I'm not sure how you can move this morning. James left you completely wiped out last night. However, he's in the bedroom getting clothing for Tina and you. I can take care of Madoka if you want."

"She just finished nursing," I said. "I was going to change and burp her."

Bethany laughed. "I can do that for you."

"But..." I began.

"No buts, Little One," I heard James say as the door to the bedroom slid silently closed. "I want you with me, so no refusing Bethany if she offers to watch your daughter."

"I don't spend enough time with her," I said worriedly.

Tina giggled as she set her son down in his own crib. "Madoka knows you," she told me. "Next time everyone is leaning over the crib, watch her eyes. She tends to look right at you. And if you aren't there, she doesn't smile."

I sighed. Out of the corner of my eye I could see James smirking as he walked toward me. He had some cloth in his hand. As he passed me, he draped the cloth over my shoulder.

He was continuing to walk towards Tina as I reached up to claim the items he had put on my shoulder. It proved to be a halter top and skirt. As this seemed to be his preferred outfit for me I was not surprised, but I did notice that the skirt was similar to one worn by the schoolgirls in some of the anime James loved to watch. The comparison became more obvious when I noticed the halter top matched the skirt for color. Only the fact that the top stopped just below my breasts prevented it from appearing traditional.

"Well, we know James is a pervert, but not that he could get this kinky," Tina said as I slipped the halter top over my head. It took me a few moments to get my head through the opening. Once the top was on, I turned to look at Tina.

Tina was still standing there naked. She had the top in her hands and was slowly turning it around. I could see a small frown on her face.

"What?" I asked her as I looked around for some panties. I found that James had dropped a pair of white boy short panties on the couch next to me. I grabbed them and put them on.

Tina had been silent for several minutes and then sighed as I stood up and wiggled the panties into place. "It's just that I'll never look as good in these as you do."

"And I don't have enough on top to make the French maid outfit that James loves to dress you in look right," I said as I began to step into my skirt. "You are perfect just as you are."

I fastened the snap that held the skirt to my hips and then turned. Tina had stopped looking at the outfit and had already pulled the top on. James was standing by the doorway so I headed over to him. We met with a loving kiss and then turned to wait for Tina to finish.

Tina noticed that we were waiting and started running toward us as she fought with the buttons on the skirt. James swept her into his arms and held her until she had secured the skirt and was able to put her arms around his neck.

"That's better," James said as he kissed Tina. "Now, stop worrying. The Little One is right, I think you are perfect. And you are very sexy in that outfit."

Tina let go. "But I'm wearing panties. I thought you would want us open for you."

"For me," James said with a growl as he turned to nibble on my neck. He led us out of the pod and down the hallway. "But never for anyone else."

Tina and I giggled at this. I was going to say more when the speakers above us hissed. "Private Rabb, can I have a moment if your time?"

James stopped and looked around. "What can I do for you Major?" James asked.

"I want to look at the laser setup you have," Major Bonham replied. "There is some question on if we want to start training to use the system."

"The lasers were both ruined by the Sa'arm attack," James said. "But I guess I can show you the setup. Do you know the pressure door you have four marines guarding?"

"The one that leads outside," Major Bonham replied.

"Outside?" James asked. "Who told you that? Right now the only openings in the colony that go outside are the ones the lasers used to enter the atmosphere. Why would you think it led outside?"

"I walked the colony when we first arrived," Major Bonham said. "That was the only door I could not figure out. By the way, where are your people living? I haven't seen them since the first day."

James laughed. "Major, has anyone explained about the schism we had on the way here?"

"Only that you arrived on Ishtar with one hundred citizens and now have less than a quarter of your original number. That's wasteful and has been reported to Central Command. Someone needs to pay for throwing away so many good troops," the major replied.

"If you can find anyone who actually commanded them, go for it," James said. "We ended up with four factions before we had even landed. Some of our citizens were extremely aggressive towards concubines and threatened anyone they encountered, even the marines we had riding with us. In the end, twenty of us requested that we end up separated from the others when we were dropped. That door is one that guards our homes from the rest of the colony."

"So you are on the other side of this door," Major Bonham growled. "I don't like that. You should be living with the rest of the marines so you can receive training."

"I'm not part of your unit," James quietly reminded the man. "Anyways, head to that door and I'll meet you there."

James started walking again. Tina and I wrapped our hands around his arms as he made his way through the tunnels. "James!" I hissed. "He could be planning another ambush."

"Nope," James said. "Or if he is, it won't happen. I have a plan."

I looked around James to see Tina gazing back at me with a worried expression on her face. James said nothing more as we walked to the door that closed off our end of the passage between the two halves of the colony. James paused there and pointed at the guard post. "Just rest over there and watch," he told us.

Reluctantly, I let go of his hand and started to walk slowly toward the guard station and the padded benches inside. I could see Tina vying with me for who could take the longest to reach the station, as we both took tiny steps and paused to look back constantly.

James just stood there shaking his head and smiling. "Get over there, you two teases. I'm not putting myself into danger, and you don't have to worry."

"But we have to worry about you," Tina replied. "You don't seem to worry enough about your own safety."

James only laughed. "And I assure you that I have a plan. AI, why don't you give the girls video and audio of this meeting, but only as long as both are sitting in the guard post. And open this door, but close it after I step through."

The massive door started to open. Defeated, I scampered into the guard post and jumped on one of the padded benches we had inside. Tina had started running just before me and was already sitting as I settled in and looked at the wall, which lit up with a picture of James walking down the hall between our first and second doors.

There was a loud bang as the first door closed tight just as James reached the second door. However, instead of immediately ordering the door to open, he nodded and turned to the wall. "AI, is Major Bonham outside the final door?" he asked.

"Affirmative," the AI replied. "He arrived a short time ago."

"Please open communications with him," James said, as the display split to show Major Bonham standing in front of the door.

Major Bonham was unarmed. He was wearing a green and brown camouflage uniform. His stance was relaxed while he talked with one of the four armed marines he had set up as guards over the door. We could hear the AI chime ring and he turned. "What?"

"Major Bonham, James Rabb would like to speak with you," the AI said.

"Why here?" the man asked. "And I thought he was going to meet with me.. Put him through, I need to remind him of military courtesy."

"Open door three," James said as the connection was made. "Major Bonham, the door should be opening right now. If you would be so kind as to leave any weapons with your guards and step through the doorway alone, I can take you to our laser room."

"I'm not going to enter a possibly dangerous area without an escort!" Major Bonham barked.

"Major, I'm thinking of everyone's safety right now. The laser room is still undergoing repairs and it's hazardous. I'd much prefer to only have one person to watch out for as we examine the damage," James replied reasonably.

"This is highly improper," Major Bonham said as he walked through the doorway. It immediately began closing behind him. The marines called out a warning, but the doors closed before any of them had moved more than a step. James just nodded.

"And open door two, please," he said once the third door was closed.

The door separating James from Major Bonham opened up. On the screen, we could see the major stare in shock as the doorway revealed a new passage. It took him several minutes to notice James and then he stepped through the open doorway. "What is this?" he asked.

"It was our only real defense when we first landed," James said. "The doors are armored so they can't be opened without explosives. And the AI kept most of the explosives out of the reach of the barbarians we had to share the colony with."

"Wise. I'm not sure I agree with the implied sentiment that my marines are barbarians, but I have to admit the setup makes sense," the major said as James led him back down the hallway to the final door.

James seemed to be smiling as they walked. "It's not supposed to be a statement about you or your people. We just always keep these doors secured. It's habit now. We've all lived here for over a year and the doors have been a source of security. It also keeps people from wandering into our living areas."

The final door was opening up. Tina and I both jumped from the bench and dropped into a running crouch. "When James steps through the doorway," Tina whispered to me as the door finished moving.

"Why would that matter to you?" the major asked. "Pod doors only open to the owner or anyone he's authorized."

The major had stepped through ahead of James and was looking down the passage to our right. He seemed distracted by the lack of doorways. Finally James entered the chamber and I took off running.

Somehow I had reacted a bit faster than Tina, but my sister concubine quickly caught up to me. We made our final lunges towards James in unison. Tina had aimed for James' neck and shoulders, slamming into them. I had ducked under her lunge to wrap my arms around James waist. He took a step back to steady himself as we wrapped him up.

The major whirled around, dropping into a combat crouch, but James freed his left arm and held his hand out, palm facing the man. "Don't, Tina and Meiko just decided to be a bit enthusiastic with their welcome."

"They are?" the major asked as he relaxed and stood up. I could feel his eyes scanning me as James worked to get us to stand next to him. Tina fought him for a moment and placed a few kisses on his neck before releasing him with a giggle and moving to stand behind him.

"My concubines," James said as he coaxed me to stand. "That's a huge part of why we have the doors working the way they do. Our concubines are encouraged to spend time outside our home pods, either helping their citizen or just visiting each other."

"Why would you do that?" Major Bonham asked. "Aren't they just around for comfort?"

"We can be much more than that," Tina said. "Who do you think helps them get into their armor before they can get on the lasers? We don't have a full support team for that."

James nudged me forward, obviously hoping that if we started walking it would avoid an argument. Tina followed, her left hand on James' shoulder. The major watched us start down a hallway and then hurried to catch up.

"So you try to help," he said. Disbelief and sarcasm oozed from those five words. Beside James, I could see a wicked smile on Tina's face.

"Last time we had James in his armor and ready to go in fifteen minutes," she said sweetly.

"Impossible," Major Bonham spat. "It takes at least twenty-five to get into the armor with one helper. With none it can take more than forty."

"The record time on Ishtar for getting into armor is held by Brad. In one instance, he was fully armored in eleven minutes fifty-one seconds," the AI intoned.

"Was that the time the O-ring in his armor was sheared off?" James asked.

"Affirmative," the AI replied.

"We should not count that as the record then," James said. "A successful suit-up should not include a stay in a medical pod when the armor fails."

"I had no idea it could be done so quickly," Major Bonham whispered. "Do your concubines help that much?"

"We try," I whispered.

James said nothing we were approaching the major crossroads where the ceiling had come down only two days before. It was clear that the ceiling had been repaired, but piles of metal debris still cluttered up the hallway.

"Some of the damage from the hit," James said as we slowed down to climb over one three-foot tall pile that blocked the corridor completely.

"And you had no deaths from this?" the major asked.

"Not unless you count the fact that Barbara lost her unborn baby," Tina said. "She's a bit saddened by that."

"Not my problem," the man snapped. "Now where are the lasers?"

"Right in here," James said as we reached the door to the laser room. "I think number one might be a bit easier to look at. It is somewhat intact. Amanda tells me laser two is a twisted ruin."

We entered the airlock. It quickly sealed and then opened up to allow us into the command center for laser one. James walked in confidently. Major Bonham followed, but stopped a moment later to look around.

The room did not show many signs of damage. There were a couple holes in the wall that separated the two laser rooms. Both of the chairs citizens sat in while dressing in their armor were knocked on their sides and, in one corner, a pile of melted metal stood testament to a suit of armor that had spent a bit too long in the atmosphere. The only upright chair was the one used by the citizen who was assisting with targeting.

The major walked over to the control panel and looked at it. I had never studied it, but I remembered that it was actually rather complex, with multiple small screens and a full keyboard. "What's all this?" the major asked.

"Firing the laser is a two person operation," James said. "A citizen would be in that chair, updating the targeting for the laser. The firer just has to refine the aim and push the button. It saves a lot of time, which is important, since we can't exactly take a long time to line up a short."

"It'" almost like an artillery setup, where you need a forward observer helping refine the targeting," the major said. "What about the laser?"

"Through here," James said as he pushed aside the first of the hanging panels which guarded the route to the laser.

I followed, a bit worried about what I might see. The last time I had run through one of these tunnels acid had attacked my hand. This time, nothing happened as I stumbled out into the laser chamber. I glanced up to find the huge laser lying on its side. It was against the left wall rather than sitting in the middle of the room. James immediately walked over to look at the unit.

Major Bonham was not directly following me so I took a moment to walk over to the center of the room. I found the pillar that held the laser sheared off a few inched above ground level. The still jagged break was a mute testament to the fury of the explosion. I ended up giving thanks that James had survived.

"How did we survive that kind of power?" I heard Tina exclaim in my left ear. "That laser has to weigh a ton."

"This has to be a hoax," the major spat as he looked at the room. "There is no way there would have been survivors from an explosion that did this much damage."

"Citizen Deborah was the only person in this chamber at the time of the explosion," the AI reported. "She was in full armor. The armor absorbed much of the force and was then able to inject nanites that kept her alive until she could be placed in a medical tube. Barbara was the only citizen in laser two, and also in full armor. All of the others who were knocked out were in the two support rooms. The panels you had to move through to reach this room help dissipate the force of explosions like that one. All personnel in both support rooms were knocked unconscious."

Major Bonham just snorted and walked over to take a closer look at the laser. "I've never seen something like this used by the Confederacy," he admitted. "It looks more like an old anti-aircraft setup from world war two, but with that strange rotating barrel."

"The lasers are crystal based," James said. "Each crystal can only be used once, so we have to have the rotating barrel setup if we want to take multiple shots. It actually works rather well."

"Can we train for this?" the major asked.

"The sleep trainers can show you how to operate one," James said. "But it's going to be some time before we have an operational laser. It looks like both stations will need to be completely rebuilt. I've been told that the other one is in even worse condition."

"Do you plan to replace them?" the major asked.

"There are a couple things that need to be considered," James said carefully. "From the damage, it might be a good idea to separate the lasers, but that will complicate manning them. Yvette and I were going to have a meeting about it."

"I might like to be part of that," the major said.

I could see the frown on James' face, which indicated that he was not pleased with the idea. He was about to respond when Ulla's voice called out. "James, we have a jump point opening. The signature is Confed, and the vector indicates that the ship came from the Wolf system again."