A fictional story in the Swarm Cycle Universe

Concept and site created by Thinking Horndog - located at:

http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Thinkers_tales/www/Stories/The_Swarm/Swarm_main.html

this story submitted with permission

Pursuant to the Berne Convention, this work is copyrighted with all rights reserved by the author unless explicitly released, which won’t happen. Reproduction for profit is forbidden.  This is a work of fiction. It is not intended to reflect any person or persons, and the incidents portrayed exist solely in the writer's warped mind. Even if the author swears on the grave of Edgar Allen Poe that this is a true account, that is part of the illusion, he is a liar.

This account has some sexual content including incest, underage sexual activities, implied group sex, polyamorous marriage, war like activities and violence.  In other words, almost everything found in the book of Genesis except a giant flood and the sacrifice of sheep and goats.

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The Tufts Family Reunion

A Swarm Universe Story

© Doc Tufferson, PhD MfL

A True and Factual Account in the Diaspora of Humanity into Confederacy Space

Edited by Harriett Tufferson, Waltzing Melissa,

and superb final improvements by Mike Mulligan 

Chapter 1     The Call

Chapter 2     The Gathering

Chapter 3     Family Planning

Chapter 4     Coming Together

Chapter 5     Identical Twins

Chapter 6     New Links

Chapter 7     Blue Screen

Chapter 8     Data Recovery

Chapter 9     To Be or Not to Be, Confederates

Chapter 10   Building Family

Chapter 11    Pre-pack Planning

Chapter 12   “Come on a my house”

Chapter 13   Stacking the Deck

Chapter 14   Head ‘Em Up                   

Chapter 15   In Safe Quarters           

Chapter 16   Move ‘Em Out                 

Chapter 17   Testing the CAP Scores   

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Chapter 1  -  The Call

Rob Tufts’ hand was reaching for the phone when his wife, Katie, walked into the room and with a touch of urgency said,  “Rob, call mother.”

“I was just reaching for the phone, honey.  I don’t know why but I just had the strongest urge to call her.  I wonder if something's up?”  Rob picked up the hand set and listened for a dial tone – nothing.  “Crap!” he said. 

Then there was his mother’s voice, “Robbie, is that you?”

“Hi Mom, that’s weird, I just picked up the phone to call you, it hadn’t even rung here.  You must have been calling us.  You, Katie and I all had the same thought at the very same time.”

“Well,” Valantra Tufts replied, “I’ve got all sorts of news for you.  Have you been following the Sa’arm invasion news on ASSTR and Storiesonline?”

The networks and cable news systems seemed almost oblivious to the coming end of Earth as we know it.  They continued with stories of the economy, politics, elections and the weather as if they were important.  Confederacy pick-ups were becoming commonplace and governments all over the world wanted to downplay their own incompetence to deal with the threat of alien invasion.  You had to turn to ASSTR and Storiesonline on the Internet to learn what was really happening.  Far and away the best source was an ASSTR site:

http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Thinkers_tales/www/Stories/The_Swarm/Swarm_main.html .

The big three TV networks no longer seemed impressed that first contact with space faring races was complete and that well over two thirds of the Earth’s population was slated to be lizard chow.  CNN was still running repeats of old Larry King Live shows.

“Yeah mom,” Rob said, “Katie, Jason, Ellie and I read the reports every day and talk it over.  It’s scary, isn’t it?  Earth is going away!”

Valantra Tufts, ‘mother’, replied, “It’s time for us to make some decisions.  Jason will be 14 soon and the news of the DiCatania Cosca Family’s alliance with the Catholic Church to defend Earth without working through the Confederacy has pushed us.  The whole Earth – Confederacy relationship could fall apart any day.  We have to move now.  Gather the kids, I’ll be there in an hour.”

“Just you mom, what about dad?  He hasn’t been part of our conversation so far.”

“Your dad won’t be coming right now, he’s on his way to Texas.”

“What are you talking about?  Katie is on the other phone and she looks just as puzzled as I am.”

“Yeah, Mom, tell us what’s going on,” Katie added with real concern in her voice.  “Why is dad going to Texas?”

“I’ll tell you and your brother everything as soon as I get there.  Make sure the kids are there, they need to hear the full story and help make decisions.  There are going to be big changes starting as soon as I can get there.”

Rob was a tad irritated, “Mom, we all agreed to never mention this on the phone, we can’t be sure any line is secure.  Katie is my wife.”

“Rob,” Valantra replied, “You were expelled from my womb just 3 minutes before Katie was.  That makes you my son and her my daughter.  That you are married and have children of your own does not change those facts and you’ll soon learn why secrecy will no longer be necessary.  The world is changing faster than we hoped.  Get ready for me, I’m not coming back here.  I’ll be staying with you from now on.”

Hanging up the silent phone, Katie Tufts stepped into her husband’s embrace and buried her face into the soft valley of his neck.  “Oh Robbie”, she sighed.  She only called him Robbie when frightened or extremely horny.  It was a wonder that at least one of their children wasn’t named “Oh Robby” as that was what she was loudly moaning when each one was conceived.  Now she was beyond frightened, they had talked often about what was coming.  The Swarm, the Confederacy, Earth’s future and the future of their small family.

Young Jason would be 14 soon and unless they wanted to go into hiding he would be faced with mandatory CAP testing following his birthday.  Both Rob and Katie had avoided the tests so far, as had their mother.  Their father, Dan, had taken the test when it became a job requirement at the university.  His 6.4 was respectable and he had been on site for two pick ups as a visiting professor at universities but he had held back, refusing to become a concubine.

The entire family was certain that Valantra, Rob, Katie, Jason, and even 11 year old Ellie, when she was old enough, would pass the test with flying colors.  One of their concerns was that the scores might be so high that they would be extracted directly from the testing center and not be able to organize the composition of their new family.  While they, like everyone else, were unable to gain access to the tests in advance, they did have access to far more information than most due to Dan and Valantra’s top-drawer positions at one of the nations finest universities.  Both were often used as consultants to NSA, the CIA, and on occasion even the White House.  They had spoken a number of times to Confederacy Officers in both the Navy and Civil Service as the nation dealt with the Earth First problem.  Dan’s presence at two pick-ups gave additional insight that he shared in detail with the entire family, even the children.

The family thought they had three months to put the finishing touches on plans that were already quite well developed but now that relaxed time frame had been shattered.  They needed to be ready to start making firm decisions in less than one hour when Valantra arrived.  Dan went looking for Jason at the middle-school’s outdoor basketball court while Katie drove the mile and a half to Su-Su Johansen’s house to retrieve Ellie from the slumber party.  It was an all girl affair for her school friend’s eleventh birthday.  At least it was time for the party to be over, they wouldn’t have to cause a stir by arriving to get her early.

Chapter 2 – The Gathering

“Hi, Grandma,” Ellie squealed, running into her home towards the woman who always reminded her of cinnamon and warm love.  “I’m so glad you came for our meeting.  Momma said you have lots of stuff to tell us.  Where’s Grandpa Dan?”

“Honey, that’s a wonderful place to start our talk, you always say just the right thing,” Valantra said.  Is it OK if I make a trip to the bathroom and get a cup of coffee before we start?”

“Sure, Grandma.  I’ll take your small bag to the back bedroom and Jason can get your big one, it’s too heavy for me.”

“No, sweetheart.  Leave them by the door for now.  When we get done talking we’ll decide where they should go.”

Rob glanced at his wife with several questions written in just a raised eyebrow.  “Do we have fresh coffee, baby?” he said to his wife.

“I set some up before I went to pick up Ellie,” Katie said.  It’ll be ready by the time we get settled down.  I’m going to have a cup.  Do you want one Rob?  Kids, would you like coffee or hot chocolate?”

Young Jason was surprised then stood up just a bit taller with the pride, his folks didn’t usually offer him coffee.  He was being treated like an adult so he knew this must be a very important family meeting.  He replied with his puberty-strained voice only cracking a little bit, “Yes, coffee please.”  He couldn’t hide his proud smile, but he tried.

Ellie piped up, “Coffee for me too, with some hot chocolate in it please.”

Katie went into the kitchen and prepared Ellie’s cup with mostly hot chocolate and just a dash of coffee.  Jason’s cup was loaded with dry creamer and heavy on the sugar before adding his coffee.  She fixed a coffee for each of the three adults and carried them into the front room on a tray just as Valantra came out of the bathroom.

As they settled in Rob said, “The floor’s all yours mom.”

The family matriarch sipped her coffee, squared her shoulders and addressed her family with a clear, strong voice.  While she looked quite young and alluring certainly less than 40, she called on all 59 years of her life experience to bring her loved ones up to speed in this new reality that had swept them up as of eleven PM the previous evening.

“Ellie asked about Grandpa Dan,” Valantra started.  “We are soon going on a huge adventure and he won’t be coming with us just yet.  Right now he is driving his SUV to Dallas, Texas to pick up his sister, Maria.”

Surprise crossed the face of Katie and Rob, young Jason held himself in check and Ellie looked as if she wanted to cry.  She took a too big gulp of her “coffee”, sputtered and then brought her self under control.  “Please explain, Grandma, what happened to Aunt Maria,” she said trying to sound just like her mother.

There had been no great outburst, everyone looked at Valantra with renewed intensity but she felt herself release some of the inner tension she had been holding so tightly.  Her family was strong, smart and in control.  It would be ‘OK.’

“Before you two were born,” she said to her twins, Rob and Katie, “my father-in-law called Dan and me to his bed side.  He was dying of cancer and he was carrying some guilt that he felt needed to be corrected.  “Dan’s dad liked me - a lot.  He also knew that my father, had died a year earlier and that I was really lost without any family at all, leaning on Dan as my childhood friend for comfort and support.  The old man had pushed and manipulated and before either of us felt strong enough to fight back, we were married.  Don’t be shocked or saddened.  Dan and I had a wonderful marriage and we learned to love each other on many different levels.  Arranged marriages have been very successful for many thousands of years.  We thought, and rightly so, that children would cement our marriage and after a couple years of trying we conceived twins.   Now, this is where the story gets complicated.  Katie and Rob know some of it but not all and I don’t think that you grandchildren know any of the history.  I’ve not had any conversations with you about your parents.  Have they discussed it with you?”

Jason was sitting in the blue chair and, as usual, his sister was sitting astraddle his left leg, rocking back and forth as he held her around the waist.  He spoke up,  “You’re asking if we know that mom and dad are really brother and sister?”

Ellie twisted toward him and in a loud voice insisted, “They are not!  I told you that wasn’t true and you shouldn’t say that!”  She had stopped rocking and a hard pout was developing on her lips with tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

Into the silence after the outburst Grandma Valantra used a half whisper to say to Katie, “The apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree.  Ellie is sitting on Jason’s leg exactly the way you sat on Rob’s leg from the time you were eighteen months old.  And even now even when she is upset she seems to enjoy the sensation as much as you did.”

“And still do,” Katie replied.

“Ellie, sweetheart,” Rob said, “Jason is right.  Katie and I are brother and sister, we are also husband and wife, and we are your parents.  We know that some people frown on family members loving each other but not us.  I love your mother in the very same way that Jason loves you.  And, unless my eyes have been deceiving me for ten years, you love Jason the same way your mother, my sister, has always loved me.  It’s not something that we tell others about because most wouldn’t understand, but without each other’s love we simply couldn’t be who we are.”

Tears from the corners of Ellie’s eyes began running down her cheeks as she said, “Miss Marthwart says that no one in your family should do “bad touches” on each other.  Do you and mom do bad touches?”

“No, sugar.  We love each other, we hold each other, we touch each other just as you are touching Jason’s leg right now and we do it in much more intimate ways.  Clearly you know that we had to make love, that is have sex, to have two beautiful children.”

“Eweee, I never thought of that.  Isn’t that nasty?  I love the way Jason’s leg makes me feel down there but I don’t touch his thing, even when we are in the bath together.  Miss Marthwart said not to do it!”

“Think carefully, sweetheart.  Who do you trust more, me and your mom and Grandma and Jason, or Miss Marthwart?”

“But she’s a teacher.”

“Yes dear, she is a teacher.  A very young Family Studies teacher who doesn’t always have the best answers.  Your Grandmother is a professor who teaches teachers.  Your mom teaches biology teachers and sometimes I teach college students how to be engineers.  If Miss Marthwart’s teachers say she is wrong would you believe them?”

“I guess, maybe,” but the tears were still falling.

Grandma Valantra said, “Ellie, I was her teacher, I know her well and she will get a flunking grade now because she got it wrong this time.”

Ellie’s mom said, “She is wrong, it is wonderful to love, to caress, to touch family members when you want to be touched and they want to touch you.”

Rob joined in, “Yep, Miss Marthwart has it wrong.  You see, she thinks it is the touching that is bad and to tell the truth, if someone is touching you when you don’t want them to, then that is wrong.  But when you love someone and they love you and you both want to touch and be touched, then the touching isn’t bad, it’s a way to share love.”

Jason wrapped both arms around his sister’s waist and pulled her back until she was resting her back on his chest.  She couldn’t help but smile at the welcome hug.  “Ellie, I have always loved you.  Even when you were a new-born baby and I was only two, I loved you.  When I was three mom would let me help change your diaper and you would fuss if any body else did it.  You always wanted me to take care of you, and I always wanted to take care of you.  Is that kind of touching bad?  Is it bad when I kiss you goodnight?  Would it be bad touching if you asked me to kiss you right now, just like mom and dad kiss?  Would that be bad?”

Her first response, common for an eleven-year-old, was as shrug then, “I don’t know.”  But no sooner had she said it than Ellie stopped to think for a minute. “Would you, Jason?  Would you kiss me just like grownups kiss?  Would you tell me that you love me if I asked you to?”

“Ellie, are you asking me to kiss you?  Are you asking me to hold you tight?  Are you asking me to love you?”

There was a very long pause.  Here was another turning point for the family, an opportunity to grow and much depended on an eleven-year-old girl’s maturity and ability to make a good decision.  Without anyone talking they gave her time to think.  Rob went out to the kitchen, retrieved the coffee pot and refilled the adult’s cups.  When he sat back down he looked to Ellie but she didn’t notice her father examining her face and body language.  She only saw her brother, Jason and the tears had stopped.

“Yes,” little Ellie said in a tiny little voice.  “Yes, I want you to love me just like daddy loves mom.”

Jason pulled his sister’s leg around until she was sitting side-saddle on his lap.  She reached for her fourteen year old brother’s shoulders as he gently held her face in both of his hands and kissed her on her lips, just as he had seen his dad kiss his mother many, many times.  He held the kiss until he saw her eyes close and felt her body relax.  He slowly ended that first kiss and said, “Like that?”

“Uh huh, just like that.  Do it again, please.”

“Just one more for now, then we have to listen to Grandma.”  He repeated the kiss, this time hugging her to his body, cradling her head in his left hand as he pulled her closer with his right.  She wrapped both arms around his neck and leaned into the kiss.  They must have held it for more than a minute before her mom coughed and asked, “Are you kids ready for more coffee?”

The adults had all been on the edge of their seats but shifted back to get comfortable as Ellie swung back around to straddle Jason’s leg again.  She was no longer worried what Miss Marthwart had said, nor would she ever spend another day in the woman’s class.  Jason’s leg was very exciting and assuring as it pressed between her legs.  She lay back on his chest, her right cheek laying tenderly against his smooth left cheek.  She would listen but her heart had made all its decisions and she was where she belonged.  Her body knew she had made the right choice too, without thinking her hips resumed their rocking motion.

Chapter 3 – Family Planning

Valantra smiled, it was going to be all right.  She continued with her story.  “After Dan’s father died your Grandpa Dan and I had decided to stretch our wings a bit and moved some distance from his childhood home.  Both of my parents were dead and I had no other family, Dan was it for me.  We moved to John Day, a small town in Eastern Oregon with less than two thousand people.  They did have a nice hospital because the town served a huge area of timberland and cattle ranches.  Because it was so isolated they had trouble attracting and keeping doctors.  Mind you, this was before the days of the Internet, satellite TV or cell phones.  To contact the outside world you picked up a phone that had a cord to the wall or drove a hundred and twenty five miles just to see a movie in a theater.

It was a friendly community, everybody knew everybody.  There were no cliques, just one big clique.  You were either a stranger or you were in and it didn’t take very long to be welcomed to the club.  Even the town drunk was accepted, not particularly appreciated, but accepted.  Fortunately there was only one of Rufus and he wasn’t drunk all of the time, most of the time it's true but not all. 

Sometime before we moved there an elderly doctor who was nearing retirement had dedicated a year at the hospital.  He was what was called a General Practice Doctor in those days and he took all sorts of cases.  He even did some pretty serious surgeries when there wasn’t time or dollars to fly the patient to Portland or Boise. 

We had been there about two months when I felt very odd, I hadn’t missed my period so didn’t think I could be pregnant.  This was before home pregnancy test kits.  The best test they had was to inject a sample from the woman’s body into a rabbit.  If the rabbit died, she was pregnant.  I went in for a check up and saw old Doctor Scout.  He was a small man with white hair and a bit of a stoop.  He moved well, asked a million questions and seemed to be very competent; soothing and encouraging too. 

He had Dan come into the treatment room with me, that was very unusual for those days, and he asked me to strip completely and put on a hospital gown.  He felt my stomach and abdomen, listened with his stethoscope, had me turn over and pressed the palms of his hands hard against my back over my kidneys.  He held that position for over a minute and seemed to be muttering softly to someone.  I couldn’t be sure he was actually talking at all and I certainly couldn’t understand any words.  When done he asked me to get dressed.

We must have talked for twenty more minutes.  He asked about both our families, our education, our backgrounds, our interests, our jobs and what had caused us to move to John Day.  Finally he said, “I’ll have to run more tests to be sure but I believe that you are in the very early stage of pregnancy, not more than six or seven days along.  The egg has divided and they are well nested in the uterus.  The placental material has begun forming but it is too early for the amniotic sac to have developed.”

I asked, “How can you know that?  Are you guessing or is there something that hasn’t been said?”

His reply was exceptionally odd, “You live in the old Beacon farm house, right?”

When I nodded in response he went on, “I’ve always been interested in that place.  You have a wonderful apple orchard beyond the chicken coop, the deer love those apples.  Old Beacon was one of the first doctors in the area.  He was more into ranching than medicine but he was better with people than cattle.  I understand that there is still some of the old medical equipment in the storage barn.  Why don’t you invite me out for dinner this evening?”

Both Dan and I were taken aback.  We were city raised and had much to learn about the way country folk related but even taking that into account it seemed really odd to us.  Dan responded, “We were planning on staying in town tonight to take in the dance at the Elks Lodge, could we have you out tomorrow evening?”

“No, no, that will be much too late.  It has to be this evening.  I don’t mean to be forward but you seen to be exceptionally bright people, folks with a world of possibilities open to you - if you grab every opportunity.”

Dan started to say something more but I cut him off.  The odd doctor had been very clear, this had something to do with my baby or babies and their future.  I had no idea how he could know anything but for some reason I trusted him and when he said it had to be tonight I knew it was important.  “Doctor,” I said, “it has been a delight meeting you and we would love to get to know you as a person.  We would be honored if you would come by our place after work this evening.  I’ll fix you a nice meal and we will visit.  Do you have any preference for dinner?”

“Pork is my favorite.  Did you know that pork organs have more in common with human organs than any other equal sized animal?  If you will save out some of the uncooked pork and warm it to room temperature I’ll show you a neat trick.”

With that he left the room and we headed to Buttrick’s Market to pick up some pork chops.  Dan was mumbling something fierce about the odd duck doctor and what kind of fools we were for listening to him.  Of course, he was the only doctor in town at the moment and even though his odd manor turned Dan off, I trusted him.

The doctor arrived just as we were putting the finishing touches on the meal.  We had followed instructions and had two pork chops in a glass Pyrex dish, covered tightly with Saran Wrap.  It had been out on the counter since we got home and it was certainly up to room temperature.  Dan wondered if the doctor was going to pull some kind of cheesy magic trick and waste two perfectly good pork chops.

We had a pleasant dinner chatting about the community and the types of people who lived there.  There seemed to be three groups.  The old hands who had been born and raised there were one group.  They tended to be avid hunters and depended upon that skill for a good portion of their meat supply.  They worked in the woods or on cattle ranches; a few of the women worked in local stores but most of the wives were home bodies.  The second group were people like Dan and me, folks who wanted to get away from the big city or perhaps their family to try living the legend of “country life in the Old West.”  The final group were workers for the Bureau of Land Management, the U S Forest Service, or skilled technicians working at the hospital or on some special project or other.  Most people in the last group were only here for a few months to a few years, then they would go back to the real world.  The doctor seemed to be very interested in learning as much about each group as possible.  Even though we hadn’t been there long he really grilled us about our observations and impressions.

After dinner we cleared the kitchen table and sat back down to talk over coffee.  He began to make it clear that he had a lot more information about my pregnancy than the short visit to the hospital could have provided.  After about 15 minutes of some pretty heavy medical talk he opened up.  “Missus Tufts, you have a very unusual pregnancy, the egg was fertilized just as it should have been and just before embedding in the uterine wall it cleanly split into two incipient zygotes.  You will have identical twin boys, sort of.”

“How do you know that and what do you mean, sort of?” I demanded.  Dan sat there dumfounded.

“I am going to be more open with you than I have ever been with any other person on this planet.  I am here doing an advanced study, and yes, I am from ‘Not Here’.  You can choose to believe me and we will take care of a problem that will be a real disruption in your life and a disaster for Earth; or you can think me a quack and face a very limited future alone.  The choice is yours.”

I don’t know why but I was certain that he was telling the truth.  I wondered if he had cast some sort of spell or used some off-the-wall future technology but I knew that I was going to believe him and take him up on his offer.

Dan spoke only to me, “I don’t buy this old fool’s crap but I can see that you do and that there is nothing that I can do to change your mind.  I love you and want you to be safe and happy.  So tell me what you want me to do.”

I looked to the doctor.  He got up, went to the raw pork chops and held one in his hand.  “I need forty five minutes,” he said.

Dan asked me, “Are you sure?”

I said yes and thanked him for believing in me even if he didn’t believe Doctor Scout.  Dan grabbed his car keys and said, “I’m going in to the Anchor Club for a beer.  I’ll be back in an hour and a half.”

“Forty five minutes is plenty,” said the doctor.

“For you it is, but I’m going to need more than one beer,” and Dan went out the back door.

“Dan never asked later and I never told him what happened.  I doubt that he would have believed me but I was even more certain that he didn’t want to know.

“The doctor said this was going to get very, very personal.  The children in my womb were key to saving the planet from a future disaster but there was a problem.  The first boy, “That’s you Robbie,” was just fine but the second zygote would have a condition that I had never heard of.  I don’t think medical science of the day knew about Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome.  It’s a condition where the male child has messed up receptors for testosterone.  All newly conceived humans have a default mode of female.  Males only come about because there is both an X and Y chromosome but that alone is not enough.  It takes the hormone testosterone to complete the change from default female to functioning male.  One zygote, “ that’s Katie” had all the markers for this problem and the doctor could detect it even though it was far too early for any of the receptor tissue to have developed.  There would be enough testosterone supplied by my body, but the poor baby’s receptor cells wouldn’t be able to lock on to it so it was as if there was no testosterone available.  It would be genetically male but developing as a default female.

If untreated the child would be born neither male nor female.  There would be non-functioning testes and no ovaries.  The penis would be shaped something like a clitoris and an opening that seems to be a vagina but nothing works, it would be just a fleshy sac.  The overall appearance to the outside world will be female, but nothing is right and life tends to be hard.  That’s if untreated, and there was no treatment.

“Doctor Scout said that on his world all diseases and maladies are treated by miniscule nanites.  He said that some races use self replicating mechanical/electrical nanites but his race uses Organic Linking Nanites.  He could inject me with a supply of his nanites and they would cure the problem.  He noted that the nanites would self-replicate and would be with me for life just as they would be with my children and all their future children for life.  He said the little guys have amazing powers.  We would be immune from all disease no matter if it was from a genetic source or caused by an outside influence such as a bacteria or virus.  He also said that wounds and injuries would heal rapidly without scar tissue, even to the extent of regenerating lost limbs.

The nanites, his OLNs, would not make us immortal, we could die if  injuries were massive enough but we would age much more slowly and if we advanced the cooperative function of the nanites the aging process could be halted or even reversed.  I wanted to question why he was offering such a profound gift but I simply said, “What do I need to do.”

“He hefted the raw pork chop that had been warmed in his hands and led me to the bedroom.  He said, ‘On Earth there is only one way I can get the nanites where they need to go and that is the same way you will need to join your nanites with your offspring’s nanites to gain the advanced functions.’  He was warm and tender but not at all mushy.  He stripped me and himself.  Under his clothing he didn’t look like an old man, maybe like he was twenty-two, virile and well hung with a most appealing ‘injector.’

“He rubbed the odd shaped glans of his penis up and down the split of my vulva.  When he rubbed over my clitoris I began lubricating like a tube of KY Jelly stepped on by an elephant and I became instantly horny, and as receptive as I have ever been.  As soon as he entered me I began to climax.  I wasn’t overly experienced in the world of sex but I wasn’t a newbie either.  He was better than I had ever experienced.  My G spot and clit became super sensitive and just exploded.  I thought I would pass out but in less than ten minutes it was all over and I was propped up in bed with my ass on a couple of pillows and a warm chunk of pork chop stuffed up my quim.

“I looked at him with a whole line of question marks running across my face and said, What are you doing?”

“Remember,” he said, “the nanites are organic, living beings that are joining with you, they are becoming part of you.  In this stage they suffer horribly if they leak out of your body.  Most will die if exposed to air.  It takes all of them to work most efficiently.  Contact with inorganic substances will kill them during the transfer and most organic life forms are incompatible too.  Warm pork is an excellent substitute for human flesh.  At home I would simply stay interlocked in your vagina, using my penis as the protective plug, but that process would have a binding effect on you, making it psychologically impossible for you to ever mate with anyone but me.  You’ll love what the nanites do for you but you must take care of them.  They need about twelve minutes to fully integrate.  Then you can remove the pork chop and go about your life.”

“’What do I do with the pork chop then,’ I asked?”

He laughed, “It will have served its purpose and won’t have gained any unusual powers.  Well.... It will have a most unique and delightful flavor.  I suggest you fry it up for Dan’s breakfast in the morning.  You’ll be surprised how rampantly horny he’ll be all day tomorrow.  It will more than make up for any sense of shame you might lay upon yourself or any jealousy he may be feeling.”

Valantra went on to say that was the last time she ever saw him.  When she went back to the hospital to get new tests two weeks later he was gone and a new, young female doctor had taken his place.  “When I tried to query her about Doctor Scout she drew a blank saying she had never met him.  Oh yes, I did fry that pork chop for Dan and I must tell you we had the best day of love making of our life up to that time. 

“There was one unexpected side benefit of my tryst with the good doctor, I told you how much my G spot function improved and how wonderfully sensitive my clit became when the doctor was ‘injecting’ the nanites.  That effect never went away.  Whatever the wonderful stuff leaking from his odd shaped glans was, the effect it had on me was permanent.  I am thankful for it to this very day.”

Chapter 4 – Coming Together

Ellie couldn’t hold her tongue any longer, “Grandma!” she demanded, “What about Grandpa Dan, why isn’t he here now.”

Valantra responded, “I guess I have taken the long way around to answer your question.  Dan didn’t get an injection of nanites and as often as we had sex (and believe me with my increased libido we had a lot of sex) and as much as he loved the sex, he didn’t get any benefit from the nanites.  I was unable to transfer them to him.  In some regards he was out of the loop and that was as much by his choice as anything.  Had he been at all inquisitive I would have told him exactly what went on and everything I knew about the nanites, which wasn’t much at the time.  He didn’t want to know.  He didn’t ask and if it appeared to him that I might be ready to bring up the subject he would turn away.

“One week ago I began to discover some new things about the nanites.  I already knew that I was aging much slower than Dan and that I had never been sick while he had all the problems that any active human has while growing to be 62 years old.  I then had a call from Dan’s sister, Maria.

“Maria and her husband, Charlie, had both been tested at their separate work places.  Maria had a CAP of 6.3 while her husband was just a touch higher at 6.7.  Maria was always the smarter of the two and she had been the major breadwinner for the family.  It was only her low level of aggressiveness that kept her from besting his score.  They appeared to be a well-adjusted couple and she knew of no problems or resentments over money.  Their income went into joint accounts and they made spending decisions together.  He was going to the stars if he could get into an extraction and he made it a point to be sure that she was always with him.  He said he would take her with him, she would always be his wife. 

“They were in a Starbucks last week when the gray curtain dropped around the building.  They were both excited even after the big Marine made the announcement that marriages were dissolved and concubines were property.  The corporal made it clear that sponsors held the power of life and death over their property. She trusted him and was willing to go as his slave.  He immediately began testing prospective women.  He told Maria that she was OK and he knew what kind of head she gave but he started sticking it in every young female that would swallow him deeply.  He did have Maria and the others take off their blouse and bras.  Maria began to wonder as she watched a young co-ed swallow him to the root, she had never been able to master deep throat.”

Ellie couldn’t hold her tongue, “What’s ‘deep throat’, Grandma?” she asked.

Her mom hushed her, “I’ll teach you what it is and how to do it next week.  Go ahead Valantra, what happened next.”

Valantra was just a tad taken by surprise by Katie’s answer to her daughter.  She thought “This might go faster than I thought, clearly my daughter has her own kinks.” 

“OK,” she said, “Maria told me that her husband picked two young beauties, and an older lady who was his supervisor at work, she was with Charlie at his invitation.  He hustled all four of them over to a Marine by the transport gate.  Maria said to him, ‘Honey, you’ve only got two concubine spots.’ And he Replied, ‘Yeah, you’re fucking right and you two pushy bitches are staying here to get what you deserve, lizard lunch!’  He pushed the two young beauties through the gate leaving Maria and his boss standing there open-mouthed in shock.  Neither had any idea that he was so bitter.  The last thing he said before he stepped through was ‘Fuck You!’ as he took their blouse and bras with him so they would have to go home half naked.

“Maria was crushed.  She had no idea he had been so unhappy and could be so cruel.  She did say that knowing what she now knows it is good that he didn’t take her, her life would have been hell for as long as it lasted and with her new knowledge she didn’t think that would have been very long.”

Rob spoke up, “Poor woman, what did she do?  I bet dad took it hard and would love to kill the bastard.”

Valantra continued with her narrative, “Maria and I talked for over an hour.  She is in great financial shape and still has her job.  She also has a job offer from Charlie’s old supervisor, the lady that was slammed at the same time she was.  Maria's pride is wounded and she is questioning everything in her life.  If she could make such a bad decision and continue it for so many years, what else had she messed up?  Her self-image is shot and that is what Charlie wanted to do to her.  Call it Charlie's revenge for crimes known only to his imagination.

“I thought about what she said for a day or two, then yesterday read the ASSTR report on the DiCatania Cosca Family and it all fell in place for me.  For the first time since my meeting with Doctor Scout I could feel the nanites within me, I could feel them making changes.  Last night Dan and I went to bed about eleven.  We made sweet love and I gave him everything my body and soul had to offer.  As we were relaxing afterward I made him sit up and drink coffee with me so we wouldn’t go to sleep.  Very carefully I told him about Doctor Scout’s injections and the nanites.  I explained that the four of you in this room have them and I have them but there was no way that we know of to share them with him.  Then I told him about Maria.  He jumped up out of the bed and began putting his clothes on.”

Grandpa Dan said, “I’ve got to go get her and bring her back with me.  She always had a very tender heart and if I asked her to jump on a flight she would have to think about it for days first, puzzling out all the implications.  I’m going to drive down to Dallas and should be back within a couple of days, perhaps a week at the most.  You’ve got to get together with the kids and get our family organization into high gear.”

Valantra continued, “He should be pulling into Maria’s driveway within the next hour.  She doesn’t know he is coming but I’m sure they will call in the next few day or two once Dan has convinced Maria that we all love her and want her with us,” she added with a chuckle.  “But now, we need to get a bite to eat and then let me tell you the rest of the story of how our nanite endowed family developed.”

Chapter 5 – Identical Twins

Stopping for a snack, Katie did as the world expected, she munched on a plain stick of celery to fill her tummy.  After all, a woman had to look after her girlish figure.  Valantra’s mouth eased into a wry smile as she watched her daughter.  Almost as an act of spite, she took a big bite of a highly flavored, greasy pepperoni.  About a zillion calories, all from dangerous and damaging animal fat.  She smacked her lips in obvious delight then made a point of looking at her own waistline and the perky shape of her up turned breasts.  Her figure was an exact duplicate of her daughters.  Oh how she loved her nanites, and how they loved and cared for her.

“Honey,” she said to her daughter, “let loose and enjoy life, you have the best body in this world and on many other worlds too.  The nanites injected by Doctor Scout went to work exactly 12 minutes after he flooded my reproductive system.  They made themselves part of every cell in my body and in your and Rob’s bodies as well.  They made me so healthy that I never had a moment of morning sickness, not one second of discomfort for the nine months of pregnancy, no pain or tearing at the birth, and no recovery time either.  I went directly home from the hospital, put the two of you into your crib and jumped Dan’s bones for the next hour until you squawked to be fed.

"Those wonder beasties went to work on the two of you also.  With no guidance from me they meshed with the newly formed zygotes that would become the two of you.  They made sure that Rob grew into a strapping example of a male infant and they diagnosed and corrected your problem at the same time.  Obviously they didn’t try to make you a functioning male, they corrected the x/y gene input and assured that you would be the beautiful and fully functional woman that you are.  You two are the only identical twins in all of mankind’s history that are the opposite sex.

Yes, we told everyone that you were fraternal twins but that isn’t true.  No wonder that you were so deeply in love from the beginning.  Not only were you clones of each other, but you also had the drama of a powerful sexual drive.  The nanites did that to me and they did the same to you.  Ellie, Jason, you have the same nanites within you and the same outrageous sex drives.  There is an imperative for nanites, they hate to be separated.  They yearn to join again with their own kind in the only way that is truly effective.  They want the ultimate union through your most intimate uniting.  They have turned us all into thinking horn dogs.”

Ellie once again acted like and eleven year old, “Eweee, you mean I’ve got little animals floating around in my blood making me do things?  I don’t want them!”

“No, honey, it isn’t like that at all” said her grandmother.  “They are not little animals at all.  When they were first injected in me they were several million separate organic entities, but within the twelve minutes that it took them to incorporate they simply became me.  They joined with every cell in my body and brought new functions to those cells.  My liver still does liver things and my fingernails are still used to scratch an itch, but they all can do more than that.  Beyond being very healthy and hardly aging at all I can also eat anything I want and never stray from an ideal weight.  I can run faster and longer, I can climb stairs in a high rise and never breathe hard.  I can’t leap tall buildings in a single bound, spin spider webs or throw bolts of lightning like your comic book super heroes, but I can do everything a really healthy and active eighteen-year-old can do, and I can do it with relative ease.  I can do all of that because the nanites have become part of me and the four of you can do every thing I can do for the same reason.”

“I know about that,” Jason said.  “I can play football and soccer better than anyone else in my class and they all want me to go out for the teams.  Some of the coaches have asked if it would be OK with me if they talked to mom and dad about me playing sports.  I haven’t given my approval yet.  While I like to play around with the guys, somehow it doesn’t seem right to me to play on a team.  It almost feels as if I would be cheating.  How come doing something that I’m good at should feel wrong, Grandma?”

“Because it is cheating.  You have an advantage that no one else on Earth has,” said Valantra.  “The nanites not only became part of our muscles and organs but they are also melded into our brain tissue and effect the way we think.  They don’t control us, we are free to make any decision we want but the nanites, once combined with us, are intelligent organisms and carry with them a highly developed sense of ethics.  For years artists have drawn cartoons of men and women showing a tiny angel standing on one shoulder and a little devil on the other.  Both are arguing with us to do right or wrong.  That cartoon has become a cliché over the years only because it has a huge element of truth behind it.  In our natural, unenhanced state we are torn between doing good or looking out for what appears to be our self-interests.  With the nanites help it is clear to us that it is in our own self-interest to do the right thing.

"The other problem that native mankind faces is the choice between love and hate.  Really it is more a choice between love and anger, but not many see it that way.  It is hard to love your neighbor in the best of times but it is way too easy to hate the son of a bitch when he comes home drunk and fires up his riding lawn mower with the rusted out muffler at two in the morning.  Leadership by hate and fear is much easier than leadership that fosters understanding and cooperation.  Wave the fear banner the way Bush and Cheney did and Congress will vote to jump into a foolish war.  Leading by reason and calm reassurance that the high road is the wise choice takes superior intelligence and uncommon leadership abilities. 

"Our Organic Linking Nanites have at least one thing in common with the electro/mechanical nanites used by the Confederacy, they are designed to be generally opposed to violence and to seek the high road whenever possible.  That seems to be the end of the similarities as far as I know; I’m sure as we link as a family we will learn much, much more.  The OLN, having linked with us will always show us the high road.  If our situation is beyond repair we have the option to commit violence if that is necessary for survival.  But our linking with them also means that we will want to choose the most ethical path.  Jason, that is why it just doesn’t seen right to you to use your extra talent to help your team in a game, by helping your team you would be cheating the opposing team.  It’s important, Ellie, to remember that it isn’t ‘us and our nanites’, we are one with them, they are us.”

Rob and Katie were soaking up the new information that their mother shared.  They weren’t ready to make any conclusions about how it worked until they had more time to think it over.  Ellie, the youngest of the clan, took the child’s direct approach.  “So, Grandma,” she said, “mom and dad love each other because they are linked by the nanites and it’s OK for Jason and me to love each other because we are linked, too.  And, because we are different than everyone who isn’t linked what is right for us is to be loving, even if the rest of the world thinks it’s wrong.  Is that right?”

“I love you baby, you’re so smart,” and with that pronouncement Grandma Valantra swept her granddaughter off of Jason’s lap and danced her in a big swirl around the living room.

Chapter 6 – New Links

“It’s getting late and I think I need some time to mull this over,” Rob said.

His mother responded, “You are right, we do need some time but to the best of my knowledge what we need to do has never been called ‘mulling’ before.  Son, I hope your nanites are prodding you as hard as mine are pushing me.  Stop forcing yourself into mankind’s ideal of the mature and rational adult.  Be open and honest, accept that this is all new and that none of the old rules apply, then tell us what is happening way down at your gut level.”

Rob looked at his wife and began to dip his chin as if embarrassed.  Kate knew what their mother was feeling, she felt it too and she knew by instinct that her brother had the very same emotions rushing throughout his mind; and the same hormones surging throughout his body.  Kate spoke up before Rob found his voice.  “Rob, we are not what we thought we were and most certainly we are not like the rest of the human race and truth be told we’ve always known that.  Come with me on this exploration, let’s get the kids settled in for the night then we will sort out our situation.  There is no place for fear in this house, we haven’t time to mess with those sorts of distractions.”

Katie continued, “Ellie, your dad and I are going to help you get settled into your new bedroom and we are going to give you some instructions that we want you to try to follow.  Don’t get ahead of yourself and, Jason, don’t let her lose control.

Rob once again began to protest until his mother cut him off,  “Rob, I know you and Katie had a good education in Christian ethics.  You both attended Church and Sunday School at either a Baptist or Presbyterian church through out your childhood.  You have kept up the tradition by going to church regularly and getting your kids involved in Sunday School.  Your Christian values are strong but many of those churches would have asked you to leave had they know your marriage was incestuous.  Think back to your earliest bible stories.  It begins when God sets aside Adam and Eve as a separate people.  There were other people in the world but they were outside the Garden.  Adam and Eve were different and the only way they could maintain that difference was through incest.  Cain blew it and was sent away to live with the ‘others’ and the bible is short on specifics but the other children and grandchildren of our original two were the product of incest.

“Now Rob, Katie and I were also blessed and set aside by the introductions of our organic nanites.  And the product of your marriage is Jason and Ellie, they two are set aside.  Did you know that one of the meanings of the word Holy is ‘set aside’?  We are different than all other humans everywhere and we are different than all of the space faring races that make up the Confederacy.  We can throw all of that away or we can live by a set of rules that apply only to our situation.  It takes all of us Rob, that means that each of us can veto our special nature.  Are you exercising a veto, Rob?”

“No, mom,” Rob replied, “ but this takes me way outside my comfort zone.  I’ll get used to it and there isn’t a lot of time to waste is there?”

“No!” said Valantra and Katie in unison.  Katie went on, “From now on kids, you sleep in the same bed.  Right now you are in love but you need to become lovers.  Mind you, very cautious lovers until we show you how to enjoy your new life while protecting yourselves and protecting each other.  I heard what you said and you have already chosen, but one night together will cement your decisions and form the basis for your life long relationship.  If all goes well tonight we will finish our conversation with Grandma in the morning.  Then in the afternoon we will teach the two of you so you can really begin your explorations fully.  Follow your dad's and my lead and you will become husband and wife without waiting all those years that we took.  Does that sound good to you Ellie?”

“Oh Momma, can I really?  Can I marry Jason?  You know, he and I have been talking about getting married ever since we were little kids, even before kindergarten.  I love you Momma.  I love you Grandma.”  Then Ellie blushed like a little girl and tugged on her daddy’s sleeve, “I love you too, Poppa.”

Rob hugged his little girl, lifting her and pressing her slight body onto his chest.  Several moments passed as he kissed her hair and forehead then he set her on her feet, led her to her brother and placed the children’s hands together.  “Go ahead, go with your mother,” he said as he followed behind.  Just before he turned the corner into the bedroom hallway he looked back to his own mother, “You’re in bed with Katie and me tonight, mom.  I’ll get your bags.”

Valantra Tufts felt her heart swelling and could feel her nanites swing into high gear within her youthful-looking body.  Her calendar may have ticked off 59 years but she felt like a blushing 16-year-old on her first date.  A date so special that she had nothing to fear and no desire to hold back.  She flipped her small overnight bag onto Rob and Katie’s bed in the master bedroom before heading for the kitchen for cleanup duty.  She was so giddy she had to keep busy.  As she worked she softly prayed that her son and daughter wouldn’t go overboard with the instructions to her grandchildren.  “Kiss them and turn them loose, they’ll figure it out just as boys and girls have for thousands of centuries,” she thought.

Katie spoke softly to her children in Jason’s bedroom as she slowly pulled Ellie’s knit top up over her head.  “Kids, tonight you become adults and as adults you must keep yourselves within certain limits.  We won’t be here to tell you no if you decide to go too far, so this is up to you.  Jason, you’re going to be sleeping naked with your sister.  She will be naked too.  I hope that you will hold and caress each other very tenderly and explore each other’s body.  Touch, kiss, taste, it’s all wonderful.  Tell each other if something hurts or is uncomfortable and you won’t make many mistakes.  Jason, if Ellie says something hurts, stop.  You too, Ellie; stop before you hurt each other or make each other angry.  Ask her what you should do and let her show you.  You are the oldest, Jason, and I’m making you responsible to make final decisions.  If your sister is like I was at that age she will try to get you to put your penis in her vagina.  It’s OK to rub her there with your hands, to fondle and hold her there if she wants.  You may even kiss her there to make her feel wonderful.”

“Oh, that’s nasty,” came the outburst from Ellie.  “Should we do it?  Would you?” she said to Jason with a giggle.

Katie continued as if she had not been interrupted,  “But I am asking you not to go all the way with penis and vaginal intercourse until we have a chance to teach you some very special things tomorrow.  I want a chance to examine each of you to make sure that everything is going to work right and be wonderfully thrilling for you before you take that final step.  That step is what will make you a married couple, can you wait a few more hours?  Can you love each other without ‘going all the way’?”

Jason had listened carefully but he was excited and could see the same eagerness in Ellie as she stood naked before him.  He couldn’t stop himself.  He stepped forward to hug his sister’s body to his chest.  As he reached down with one hand to undo his zipper he said, “I’ll do my best, mom.”

Rob and Katie moved to leave the room and Ellie whispered to Jason softly enough that she didn’t think her parents would hear, “Why don’t they call it your cock and my pussy, that’s what they are,” and she wrapped her small hand around her new favorite toy.  Both parents had exceptional hearing and smiled.

Rob sighed to his wife as they walked down the hall, “He will be made of steel if he can make our little nymphette wait until tomorrow.” 

Katie giggled, “It looked as if he was as hard as steel right now but I believe that he is the most mature 13 year old male on the planet.”  They left the kids bedroom door open in case either child cried out during the night.  They would also leave their own bedroom door open but weren’t sure they would be able to hear the kids over the noise they would be making with their mother.

Katie heard the dish-washing noises in the kitchen.  She joined her mother, grabbing a towel and began drying dishes,  the women standing side by side.  The chore took only moments.  Katie used the same dish towel to dry her mother’s hands then wrapped the older woman in a sweet embrace.  Both bodies physically pulsing, it was a new experience.

“Mom - Valantra, I love you,” Katie said.

Valantra kissed her daughter on the forehead just as she had done uncounted times in their 37-year relationship.  “Sweetheart, the entire world has always used my full name, Valantra, I think they used my full name out of respect.  Your grandmother picked that name as a combination of three Sanskrit terms.  She told me that to her it meant ‘Valley of Heavenly Delights.’  There was only one person that ever called me Val.  My daddy was the absolute love of my young life.  I adored my father totally.  The nickname ‘Val’ was exclusively reserved for him, the one man who loved me before any other.”  She kissed her daughter softly on the lips.  “Please, from now on you, Rob, Jason and Ellie, my four new lovers, are to call me Val.”

“Honey,” Katie said to Rob, “would you please escort your wives to our marriage chamber?”

Wrapping an arm around each woman’s waist, Rob ushered Katie and Val down the hall.  Val shut off the kitchen lights as they eased through the doorway.  When they got to the master bedroom door Rob halted.  He scooped his mother up in his arms, her 115 pounds was no burden at all.  He gallantly carried his new bride across the threshold and deposited her gently on the big bed.  He kissed her tenderly and then returned for Katie.  They had been lovers a lot longer than they had been man and wife but still this was the start of a new life.  Again he dipped and lifted his sister just as easily as he had their mother and made a sweet production of carrying her into a complex but hope-filled future.

From down the hallway all three heard Ellie’s voice, barely more than a stage whisper, “Oh Jason, you are so naaaasty.  Do it again.  Yesss, right there, there, there.  God how I love you Jason.”

Jason’s reply sounded like “Mmmmphf.”

The adults smiled and returned to their own moment.  Even with the extreme passion all three were aware that they were exchanging more than love, they were completing a circuit as their nanites also united.  As long as the seal was tight the exchange was without flaw.  Rob took his mother to him first.  The family was uniting.

When Rob began to ease his weight from his mother’s body Val clutched him tighter and mumbled through the long, long kiss, “twelve minutes, Rob.  Don’t move.”  Both Rob and Katie remembered the story their mother had shared earlier in the evening and full comprehension dawned.  Rob lay forward so he could join in the kiss.  They lay locked together, loving every minute of the contact.  Their shared love was boosted by the occasional moan of happiness coming from their children’s bedroom.

The 12 minutes extended to almost a half-hour with none of the lovers willing to move.  They couldn’t have imagined a love this deep just a few hours ago.  Each was more than they had been and as a threesome they were more than the sum of the bodies.  It wasn’t fatigue that caused them to separate.  It was the presence of Ellie and Jason as they climbed into the big bed.

“Mom, I can’t wait”, Ellie said.  “I have to have Jason inside me.  We have to share our love.  Something inside each of us is going creepy crawly trying to force us together and we don’t want to fight it.  Jason is desperate but he won’t go ahead unless you say so.”

“Climb up here between us, Babies.  We have just been through the same thing so we know.  Yes, it’s OK and we’ll help you right now.  Come on, Jason, you too,” Katie added.  “It sounded like you and Jason were having a wonderful time.  Did anything hurt?  Did you have fun?”

“Oh Momma, I love him so much.  Jason was so tender and sweet.  He kissed me all over and touched me softly on every inch of my skin.  I could tell he loved touching me and so did I.  I had one little thrill after another.  I could feel his kisses all over.  I just exploded the first time he kissed my nipples.  Then he ran his tongue all over my belly until he slipped it into me.  Oh, Momma!  It was like scalding hot ice.  I can’t explain but it was wonderful.”

Rob added, “It sounded like you did some very nice things for your brother, too.”

“Daddy, I love his taste.  I guess that’s what the girls at school mean when they say a boy is sexy. 

Katie began her examination of Ellie, now sliding her middle finger into the entrance of her daughter’s vagina, searching for her hymen.  She needed to determine how much of the opening was covered, how thick it might be and how tough the membrane would be to rupture.

“Ellie, my sweet baby,” Val said, “when Jason squirts his semen and nanites you in just a few minutes it will be wonderful.  When Jason puts them inside you they must all stay inside.  Most of the time when men and women make love some of the sperm and fluids leak back out of the girl.  We can’t let that happen with the nanites for twelve minutes, so Jason will have to stay plugged into you for that long so that his cock will act like a big safety plug.  If you don’t want him to do that I can go warm up a pork chop.”

“What does that mean? It sounds icky.  That is what the funny doctor in John Day did with the pork chop when you got your nanites grandma!  I don’t want pork chops, I’ll keep Jason.”

Val added, “Jason, Ellie.  When Jason stays inside you for the full twelve minutes you will be forever married to each other.  You may need to have sex with your father to make the nanites even stronger but you will love Jason with all your heart for as long as you live.”

“Goodie!” said the little girl.

“I already love my sister just like that,” said Jason.  “I don’t ever want anyone else, ever!”

Katie had learned all she needed to know about her daughter’s anatomy.  She said, “Ellie, you don’t even have a little tab of membrane for a hymen.  I think your own nanites prepared your body for this.  It’s gone and there will be no pain or discomfort when Jason makes you his wife.”

Ellie replied, “Jolene’s big sister said she would never ‘fuck’ – um, is that still a bad word?”

“Sometimes yes and sometimes no, honey,” said her dad.

“Anyhow, Jolene’s sister said she hurt for days after she fucked her for the first time.  She said she is never ever going to do it again if it hurts like that and beside, she said he fucked her too hard.  Is it going to hurt me?”

“No little love,” Katie said.  “Jason isn’t going to 'fuck' you at all.  He is going to make love to you so sweet and tender that you will both want to do it every day.  Perhaps many times some days.  But you, my lucky child, are going to love it the very first time.  You will learn that there is a very real difference between making love and fucking, even when both are done hard.  Sometimes a girl wants it hard and sometimes tenderly, but we always want it to be lovingly with someone we love.”

“Momma,” Ellie said, “can we do it now?  I’m all itchy inside and Jason is sweating all over just kneeling there looking at my snatch.”

“Where do you learn such words?” Katie demanded.  Even though her voice was raised she was still smiling.  She reached out with her hand out to Jason,  “Come on son, don’t keep your sister waiting.”

Ellie sighed and Jason quivered as he eased himself into the girl, now a young woman, who would be his wife for as long as they lived.  He was eager but the loving before gave him confidence.  He had listened carefully to his mother, father, and grandmother and he made it his goal to share this act of love with the entire family.  Her grandmother caressed Ellie’s face and shoulders; Jason’s back and butt moved steadily under his mother’s stroking hands.  Rob completed the connection by turning Ellie’s face to the side and kissing her throughout the coupling.

Ellie, like her grandmother just a short time earlier, began to climax on the first full stroke and on each following stroke the intensity of her joy grew.  Jason was a second-generation nanite-carrying human male and as he made love with his sister, now his wife, he learned that males too can be multi-orgasmic.  Each time the oddly shaped glans of his penis brushed Ellie’s cervix at the depth of his stroke he had a sensation ripple all the way to his heart.  It was the same type of climax that Ellie was feeling.  It was not yet time for ejaculation but there was a full body thrill that repeated rapidly and grew and grew.

“Now, Jason, now!” Ellie shouted.  “Do it in me now, fill me with your love so we can make our baby inside my body.”

Jason followed orders and drove deep into his sister.  The free flowing lubrication also acted as a seal around the tip of his pointed, almost triangular, glans as it pierced the tiny opening in Ellie’s cervix.  It was a perfect fit; there was no pain, only joy.  Not only did every nanite enter into his wife’s womb, so did every drop of semen and every single sperm.  If an eleven-year-old girl can conceive during her very first intercourse, Ellie would be the one.  And, Ellie proved to be the case in point, a girl can become pregnant the very first time.

“Twelve minutes,” grandma Val cautioned.  “Jason, stay right there, nice and tight and kiss your wife.  This is going to be the most important twelve minutes of your life.  Enjoy it.”

As the children lay entwined their mother and grandmother kissed both of them repeatedly.  Katie would kiss Jason while Val kissed Ellie.  Then the two children would kiss deeply and when they released the kiss mother and grandmother would switch between the children.  Rob simply could not see himself kissing his son with a French kiss and Jason, who loved his father deeply wasn’t inclined that way either.  Rob did kiss his daughter, wife and mother actively throughout the twelve-minute process.  It was enough, the new links were made.

Chapter 7 - Blue Screen

“Mom, dad, what’s happening to my eyes?” Ellie cried.  “Everything’s turning blue!”

“Crap, mom, me too,” echoed Jason.

“Rob, Katie, does it seem as if you’re looking at everything through a blue computer screen?” asked Val who had the advantage of a week of increasing awareness of her nanites.

Both nodded.  They all wondered what was up and where it would lead.  While they were surprised, no one, not even the kids were in a panic.

“Relax,” said Val, “Let’s all get comfortable here in the bed and wait for things to develop.  Since the nanites were the primary movers in getting us together this has to be their response to our new family dynamic.  Early last week they had me take a nap for awhile and when I awoke I had a better feeling for them.  I think this is going to be good but if they ask us to sleep let’s be sure that no one falls off the bed.  Come, gather around me.”

Rob said, “I thought YOU were the primary mover!”

“Yes,” his mother responded, “but only because the nanites gave me the courage to call you and the urge to love all of you in our special way.”

The blue screen effect continued for a moment before a message popped up in a text box.

 [[  Please Wait...  Windows is starting up.  ]]

They all saw it at the same time.  They could still see each other and everything in the room, but WOW, their very own alien communication.  This looked like a cross between a military pilots heads up display and the most ubiquitous opening computer screen in the world.

  [[  Preparing network connections.  ]]

“Snuggle up, babies.  Here we go.  I think the nanites are going to turn us into a human computer link,” said Val.

“Us, into a computer?” asked Jason.  “Is that why it looks like the Window’s blue start up screen?  And, why Windows?”

[[  Metaphor.  ]]

Ellie asked her dad, “What’s a metaphor?”

Rob said, “A metaphor is used to teach about something that is new by comparing it to something that is very familiar.  I think the nanites are showing us the Windows looking screens to tell us that they are connecting with our conscious minds.  Kind of like a computer network linking up different processors”  Then he asked a question directed to the blue screen.  “Nanites, we see the screen.  Can you speak too?”

[[  Insufficient processing capability for speech.  ]]

[[  Expanded network connections required.  ]]

[[  Please sleep for 22 minutes.  ]]

“Well, there are our orders.  Let’s do it,” said Val.  And just that quickly all five of the Tufts slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep.  Exactly 22 minutes later they all awoke to see:

[[  Optimum capacity requires additional processors in network.  ]]

 “What do you want us to do now,” asked Katie.  The first part of the answer wasn’t instructions but rather data.

[[  Current configuration:  ]]

[[  Triple core sub unit identified as: Katie – Val – Rob  ]]

[[  Interlink rating:  Strong  ]]

[[  Dual core sub unit identified as:  Jason – Ellie  ]]

[[  Interlink rating:  Strong  ]]

[[  Interlink connection between sub units rating:  Fragile  ]]

[[  Human bond:  Strong  ]] 

[[  Nanite bond:  Failing  ]]

Katie continued speaking as they all read the message, “I guess we use the same ‘connection system’ that we did with mom.  How many connections do we need and in what order?”

[[  Suggested connection method:  Sexual union - Confirmed.  ]]

[[  Minimum functional sub unit connections:  1  ]]

[[  Preferred sub unit connections:  3  ]]

[[  Windows is preparing for additional connections.  ]]

Val smiled as she felt the anticipation building within her body. 

[[  Humans may begin making connections between sub units now.  ]]

Val said,  “OK, alright, am I ever ready!” with great excitement in her voice.  “I love this part the most as I’m burning up here.  Ellie, that puts you with your dad, let him be on his back by my left side and you get on top.  You’ll find that as soon as his pecker touches your little pussy you will both be wet and excited.  Jason, you are going to mate with both your mother and me to complete all three connections.  I think we will still need the 12 minute period to complete each connection.

[[  12 minute holding time confirmed.  ]]

Rob rolled on his back next to his mother.  She stroked his erection and was certain that it was now larger than when they had first connected.  As a laughing Ellie climbed up her father’s legs to straddle his groin, Jason crawled between Katie’s out stretched thighs, his own smaller rod fully ready.  The dance had begun.

[[  Please wait – Interface mismatch detected.  ]]

[[  Connector and portal adjustments commencing.  ]]

Val was holding her son’s penis in one hand and her grandson’s in the other.  She could feel the resizing adjustment take place at an astonishing pace.  “Guys, does that hurt?” she asked.  Rob’s cock was rapidly becoming thinner but not shorter.  Jason’s was growing in both girth and length.

Ellie said,  “My kitty’s changing too.  I can’t be sure exactly what’s happening but it doesn’t hurt.  I think I like it, it just feels good, maybe like the muscles are stronger.”  They all noticed that while she was talking the pitch of her voice dropped a bit.  Her first word sounded like a little girl, by the time she had finished her short speech she had the voice of a confident teen.  It went from child to cheerleader in seconds.  Ellie giggled, little girl style, as she heard her own voice change.

[[  Adjustments complete  ]]

[[   Network sub unit connections may resume.  ]]

As Rob rubbed the tip of his prick into Ellie’s slit he could feel the shape of his glans change.  The head was formed more like Jason’s tool, slightly triangular and quite pointed.  Precome oozed onto Ellie’s enlarged clit and she jerked violently as her first orgasm raced through her body.  Her pussy lubricated and her juices were an excellent stimulant for herself and her father.

“Now, Daddy,” the girl cried in her new, richer voice.  “Put it in me now, I need all of you.  I love you.”

Val concentrated on her son and granddaughter, aligning the two thrusting bodies so they could meld completely.  She felt her own orgasm start as her hand was trapped for a moment between Rob’s pubes and Ellie’s free flowing vagina.  Just their combined lubrication on her had was enough to trigger a mild sexual release.  Val licked the delicious juices from her hand after she pulled free. 

At the bottom of the first thrust Rob felt the pointed tip of his cock seat in Ellie’s cervix.  It was a perfect fit and he began the cycles of mini-orgasms that would lead to a giant, uniting climax.  Ellie was deep in the throes of an ongoing climax that had begun when her father’s glans had first electrified her clit with his contact and juices.

At the same time Katie felt her son’s cock drive into her over excited body.  Just as with her husband and daughter lying on the other side of Val, the contact was magic and Jason’s boy cock had become a man-sized tool that fit with ultimate perfection into her body.  All four exploded at once.  Both men had locked their tip into their partner’s cervix, assuring that the nanites mixed with semen had an ideal ride deep into the womb without danger from outside influences.

[[  12 Minutes, please hold.  ]]

[[  You may kiss your brides.  ]]

“Where did that come from?” Rob wondered.  “Are our nanites developing a sense of humor?”

“Jason,” Rob said,  “I’ve already been with your grandmother.  It’s up to you to complete the final connection.  Are you up to it?”

Val chuckled as she wrested Jason’s enhanced pecker from her daughter’s grasp when the hold time was up.  It was soft to the touch but as stiff as a hammer handle underneath the smooth sheath.  “Not only is he up to it,” she said, “but I can feel it growing again in my hand.  I bet it will fit me just like you did.  Come to me, my lover,”  she said to her grandson.

Jason climbed between his grandmother’s legs and entered her silky smooth socket.  Val had been correct, the fit was perfect and the mini-climaxes began at once.  Most men, and even boys, take time to recharge’ and even if the prick is ready the load behind it may take longer to regenerate.  It was on the ninth stroke that Val screamed and Jason plugged into the tight mouth of her womb.  The human plug was in place and a large load was right on time.  There wasn’t a lot of sperm in the output but there was plenty of soothing semen and a full compliment of nanites.

“Oh Grandma,” Jason moaned, “I don’t think I can move.  Do you mind if I stay right here on top of you?”

“You had better, baby,” replied Val, “your task (and my pleasure) won’t be over for another 12 minutes.”  The other three Tufts caressed the two lovers, adding to everyone’s pleasure.

[[  Network connections are complete.  You may resume your normal  ]]

[[  Activities during system reconfiguration  ]]

[[  A meal and bathroom break are suggested.  ]]

The family climbed out of the bed then held each other in a naked group hug for the moment it took to adjust to standing up.  Kisses were exchanged.  With renewed and enriched love, Rob even hugged Jason.  As they headed toward the bathrooms Val shouted, “Meet me in the kitchen.  We’ll grab a snack... Oh my gosh, it’s 4:30 in the morning... We’ll grab some breakfast and talk.

Excited chatter surrounded the kitchen table.  All around them the neighborhood was dark but the Tufts were fully alive.  As Ellie wolfed down toast, an omelet and then started on her second bowl of cereal Katie noted, “Ellie, you’re eating like a horse and you seem to be growing.  Do you feel alright?  Go over by the kitchen door where we’ve marked your height each year, I want to measure you.  I think you might be two inches taller than yesterday.”

“Later, mom.  I’ve got to eat some more.  I’m so hungry I feel like I must be eating for two.”

[[  Confirmed.  ]]

[[  Ellie has been pregnant with twins, a male and a female  ]]

[[  for 1 hour and 6 minutes.  ]]

Katie sobbed, “Oh baby, what have we done to you?”  Her voice breaking.  “You’re only eleven, that’s too young.  Your body is still growing and isn’t ready to carry a baby.”

[[  Incorrect assumption, when you next awake Ellie and Jason  ]]

[[  will both have bodies equivalent to 16 years of age.  ]]

[[  Please finish your meal and return to your  ]]

[[  group bed for the next assignment.  ]]

“Rob, Mom, are you sure,” Katie continued sobbing as her mothering instinct was just one notch above full panic.  She needed reassurance that her baby girl wasn’t in danger.

Val replied for both of them, “No, Katie, we're not sure of anything.  This is all too new.  But there is no turning back now.  Our choices were made when I said yes to the treatment from Doctor Scout to make your life possible.  We are still us but the nanites are from his worlds, his time.  The doctor was kind and always beneficial.  Every change the nanites have made in us has been wonderfully positive.  Look at my body, I could be your twin but I am your 59-year-old mother.  Look at your body.  You are 37 but I bet that when you stand side by side with a 16-year-old Ellie, folks will mistake you for her sister.  It’s all good.”

Katie sighed, “OK, you’re right it has all been good and it has been wonderful falling into this new love with my family.  Let’s feed these ‘growing’ kids all they can eat and get back to the bedroom.

Jason smiled at Ellie and winked.  “My sweet and beautiful sister, I hope this next assignment will be as nice and nasty as the last.”

Between bites Ellie’s giggle changed to a laugh and she said,  “Me too, I love being nasty with you.  Daddy was really good and I do love him but you are my man.”

Chapter 8 – Data Recovery

Rob and Katie changed the sheets and made up the bed.  Clothes were gathered and placed in the laundry room hamper.  Then they climbed into the shower in the master bath and began washing each other.  As they fondled and bathed their kisses grew more intense.  “Rob, I love you with all my heart,” Katie said, “you are my man and always will be.  I made passionate love with and my son and I want all of us to be closer.  But nothing in my love for them will ever diminish my love for you.  You are MY man.”

“I know, sweetheart,” Rob replied, “and I love you as if there were no one else in the world.  But there are others that count and they are family.  I love Mom and Ellie passionately and Jason is a son to be proud of.  Ellie’s babies will be special too but like the old song says, there will never, ever be another you.  You are right, I am your man and will never let you go.”

In the second bathroom Val herded Ellie and Jason into the shower and stayed with them too.  The kid’s idea was to take a shower like they had never experienced before, one that had little to do with getting clean and everything to do with lust.  Val, however, held onto the family’s goal to get ready for the next assignment.  Both sides won, they all laughed and when the kids kissed their grandmother she almost got as wet as they were.  Finally she joined them in the shower so they would all be clean and loved.

It was 6:00 AM when the family rejoined in the master bedroom.  The community around them was beginning to stir, a garbage truck could be heard making its rounds.  Rob wasn’t sure what this next assignment would entail but he had checked to make sure the cars were in the garage and the doors closed.  He shut the drapes and blinds and flipped the deadbolt locks on while making sure the doorknobs and windows were locked too.  He didn’t understand why he was being so cautious but he felt better for having locked up tight when he climbed under the covers with his family.  They were naked and the skin on skin contact from the different bodies was very comforting.

[[  Database recovery beginning.  ]]

[[  Please sleep for 22 hours, 54 minutes.  ]]

It was dark outside and the neighborhood once again was deep in slumber when the family awoke.  The first order of business was a desperate run for the bathrooms.  To free up the toilets for the ladies the guys whizzed in the shower, aiming for the drain as Jason turned on the water.  It was uncouth but absolutely necessary.  Each of the three women raced for a different bathroom with two of them dribbling slightly before they got fully seated.  It was twenty minutes before all the morning necessities were completed with hand washing and tooth brushing completed.

“I slept so dreamlessly that my memory says I just got out of the shower a few moments ago but my body tells me I need another now,” Rob commented. 

"I can’t believe I was in bed with three beautiful, naked women for almost 24 hours and all I did was sleep,” Jason added.  Everyone noticed that his voice was deeper and richer than just one day ago.

Katie said, “My God, look at Jason and Ellie.  I know that Ellie is only eleven and Jason is about to turn fourteen but they look like the statues of young Greek gods.  Children, you are all grown up and gorgeous.”

Ellie’s chest was no longer two small suggestions mounted on a bony ribcage.  She was everything that her mother had become over the years, fully woman and beautiful.  She looked at herself in the mirror and beamed.  First she pulled Jason to stand beside her and they gazed at each other’s reflections.  At the same time they both said,  “Oh god, how I love you.”  Then they cracked up at themselves.

The family showered in groups of two and three, caressing and cleansing, kissing and touching.  Before passions rose too high Rob called them into the kitchen where he had bacon sizzling on the grill and was whipping two dozen eggs into a frothy batter for light French style omelets.  “We all need to recharge before we devour each other and we need to find out what happened to our nanites.  I feel different but I can’t explain how.”

A voice from nowhere said, “Your language is limited.  There seems to be no term that describes five individuals who are united with a nanite based intelligence.”  The voice had simply arisen in each persons inner ear.  They each clearly heard a voice but the room was silent.

“Windows, is that you?  You’ve gained speech?” Val questioned out loud.

“Yes, we are at our maximum capacity with the brain power available at this time.  Each of you, Ellie, Jason, Rob, Katie and Valantra remains an individual but that organization you call nanites can be referred to as ‘Us’.  ‘Us’, the total package, would not exist without the combination of all of you and your nanites.  The database indicates that the combined form is the norm in the culture where this style of nanites were originally propagated.  Working with separate individuals is a new experience.  By the way, for legal reasons arising from your national culture, referring to the ‘Us’ as ‘Windows’ is ill advised.  Perhaps ‘Us’ should have chosen another metaphor to initiate communications.”

“OK,” Jason said, “I don’t know if it should be Winnie or the masculine, Wendell.  I think ‘Us’ will be confusing so are you boy nanites or girl nanites?”

“’Us’ is you.  The five of you and your nanites compose all that ‘Us’ has become.  As your offspring’s brain capacity matures ‘Us’ will expand to include them in our being.  ‘Us’ has no gender but ‘Us’ greatly enjoys the gender interlocking activities you share.  Those activities are encouraged.  Producing additional children is imperative if ‘Us’ is to grow to provide all your needs and complete the tasks assigned by the combined form you recognize as Doctor Scout.”

Val injected, “We have lots of questions about the assignment Doctor Scout had in mind but we must get our language problem fixed or we will make so many mistakes in communication I will go nuts.  We humans may have to learn how to communicate and perhaps think in the ‘combined form’ but at this time our entire thought processes and language is locked into the singular person.  ‘Us’, you have to have a name as a single entity construct and it must be a name that clearly identifies you!”

“May I correct the statement you just made?” ‘Us’ asked.

Val responded, “Well, of course.  Humans mostly learn by suffering for our mistakes, then finding a correction.  When ever we are in error you are to offer a correction and try to save us the suffering part.”  Val’s Masters of Education and her language degrees were showing as was her occasional irritation that crept through when addressing a student who was brighter than the question they had just asked.

“You just referred to ‘Us’ as a construct.  The nanite population in broad general use by the members of the Confederacy are, indeed, constructs.  They are electro/mechanical units that are designed to cooperate in completing a number of tasks programmed by those who built and disseminate them.  While in residence in an organic being they are self repairing and self replicating, but they are machines. 

"To the contrary, ‘Us’ is an organic being with multiple facets that appear to be independent and may move independently but all facets are required if the being is to survive and function. ‘Us’ must have more than one advanced organic being to be functional.  Humans have recently become sufficiently advanced to be host participants.  At times seed nanites can survive outside of an intelligent host similar to mushroom spores but in that state they will be totally inert and cannot revive themselves.”

“Wow,” Jason said, “You just confused the hell out of me, ‘Us’.”

“Val is correct,” Katie said, “You are getting a name right now and ‘Us’ won’t work.  I don’t like Winnie either.  Ellie, what do you think?”

“I think it’s kind of sexy.  Since we don’t know if it’s male or female how about Ken or Barbie?  Neither of them have any sex either.”

“Ellie, I can see the gleam in your eye and smell your arousal too,” Jason said.  “You think everything is sexy.  Your horns are showing.”

“I especially think you are sexy.  Want me to prove it?” Ellie replied.

Shushing the kids for a moment Val proposed making the name 'Scout' in honor of the doctor who had introduced them to her.

‘Us’ responded, “That would be a great honor, similar to a son or daughter being named after an esteemed parent.  However, Scout was not their real name.  It was used to show their job on this planet.  Their real name is unpronounceable in any audible language.”

Rob’s face twisted in a sardonic grin as he said, “Well, if you can’t be Scout why not the brave who rode that horse into the fray.  What do you think of Tonto?”

‘Us’ instantly sorted his database while most of the family cracked up at Rob’s silly attempt at humor.

Val said, “I like it.” 

Katie agreed, “OK,”  but she was smiling broadly.

“I find Tonto to be an outstanding choice.  The character behind the name has resonance in the cultures of this planet as well as our original universe.  No nanite based combination has ever had an independent name before.  We are pleased to be Tonto.  Humans are truly odd, then after a very slight pause, perhaps I should have said ‘unique’.”

One organizational chore complete, how many more would there be?  As the family began to stir Ellie whispered to her newly hunky brother, “I want you.”

Jason whispered his reply to the sister that now looked to be his fraternal twin, “69?”

Chapter 9 - To Be or Not to Be, Confederates

“Tonto,” Val said, “What can you tell us about Doctor Scout’s race.  Where is their home world?  How do we contact them?  Can they help us defeat the Sa’arm?”

Tonto replied to the entire group, “There is much information in the database but there is a functional block that prohibits me from sharing most of it with you.  When I do pure research I can find much but should I attempt to share much of that data with you the information simply vanishes from my memory and thought processes.”

“That must be frustrating,” Katie said.  “How can you know something then not know the same thing if you try to tell us.  Is the information available again when you stop trying to share?”

“No, it isn’t frustrating, it is just the way I am.  It is as logical and comfortable to me as being able to see in the daylight, then not being able to see in the dark.” Tonto continued.  “The information is still there, I simply cannot see or access it in the darkness that falls when trying to pass information to an unauthorized being.”

“Unauthorized?”  Jason asked.

“That is correct,” Tonto said.  “There are many races in the universe.  Doctor Scout’s people, called the Observers, are very advanced when compared to the several races that form the Confederacy or the Confederacy's enemy, the Sa’arm.  The Observers do not share information with either group as to do so would be like giving the ability to make firearms to baboons here on Earth.”

Tonto paused for a fraction of a second before continuing,  “I sense that I have just insulted some of you, I was not inferring that you are a lower life form, somehow equivalent to baboons.  Your mental capacity is greater than many of the races in the Confederacy and is equal to the most advanced of that group.  Humanity’s ability to utilize controlled aggression makes them unique in the Confederacy.  However, your social structures and the ambitions of certain individuals have not had the required time and experience to mature to the Confederacy level.  While you could understand and duplicate all of their technologies, your race would not wisely use much of the technology of the Confederacy and disaster could result.

By the same token, the races in the Confederacy would not use the Observer technology well.  As an example, it is almost certain that the majority of the information that the Confederacy now possesses will fall, piece by piece, into the hands of the Sa’arm over an extended period of time.  Should the Sa’arm obtain even a small portion of the information available in my database it would become impossible to stop them.  They would become the sole life form in this galaxy and once having obtained that goal would self destruct, leaving billions of planet systems totally lifeless.”

“Wow,” Ellie mused, “that’s deep.  What can you tell us about the Observers and why do you call them by that?  Surely they don’t have an English name.”

“No,” Tonto replied, “The most appropriate English word to describe Doctor Scout’s race is ‘Us’, they simply are what they are.  However, you have made it clear that you need a name that is easy to differentiate, one that identifies their nature to you.  While they are much more active that the word implies, from your perspective they appear as Observers.  Now that you five do know of them they need a name, so they have just become the Observers, if only in your language and minds.

"You are allowed just enough information to complete the assignment Doctor Scout envisioned, the rest of mankind and the Confederacy must never know that the Observers exist.  To that end those entities must not be allowed to learn that our type of organic nanites exist and they must not be allowed to know of your combined status.  Adapting your functioning to maintain this secret is your first major challenge.”

Conversations between the family members and Tonto went on for hours.  They learned that Tonto only had the recorded database, he could not contact the Observers nor could he provide technology such as space travel, faster than light travel, transporters, replicators or the myriad other wonders introduced by the Confederacy.  He let the family know that part of their overall assignment was to play a pivotal roll in stopping the Sa’arm.  To do that they only had three choices.  Two of them looked bad and the third was scary.

They could stay on Earth, breed as rapidly as possible and try to defeat the Swarm when they arrived.  That was a very long shot as the Sa'arm were only a hand full of years away at best. 

They could join the DiCatania Cosca Family but that group’s alliance with the Catholic Church caused both Val and Katie heartburn.  The women were fine with vows to “Love, Honor, and Cherish” their mates but they were very unhappy when 'obey' was forced upon them by a male dominated organization that was a century or two behind even Earth First when it came to modern realities.  They also chaffed at the thought that it was a sin to enjoy pussy just because you happened to be equipped with one yourself.

At first glance joining the Confederacy looked like the best bet.  They were concerned with taking the time to build a pre-pack and lacked enough knowledge about the Confederacy’s nanites, medical systems and AIs to be sure they could maintain the secrecy demanded by Tonto.  They went through a couple of meals and another night working out their decisions.

One by one the family members agreed that they would be wise to prepare very well and then join the Confederacy.  Tonto entered a note in the database that he was amazed that each individual had to come to the decision on their own.  He had no concept of anything other than group-think.  The final entry for that day was, “No wonder they are so aggressive, they have to fight over every idea.  It is amazing that they can ever cooperate on anything .”

Chapter 10 Building Family

Rob stopped by his office to put in his resignation in person.  He disliked leaving without notice, it rubbed his sense of fairness the wrong way.  However, there was much to do in a very short time and it wasn’t as if he would need a letter of recommendation from either his firm or the college where he taught on a part-time basis.

The entire family had agreed to resign jobs without notice.  Val was making the 45-minute drive to her university for the same purpose while Katie went first to the kid’s school to withdraw them before giving in her own resignation at work.  To avoid problems the kids had stayed home that day, no one at the school would have recognized them or believed that children aged 11 and 13 could both become fully formed 16 year olds in just one weekend.  Of course, no one at the school had been in a Confederacy med-tube to experience the changes that were made in a matter of hours.  With Observer organic nanites no med-tube was required, one just fell asleep in bed and woke up renewed.  Small changes, such as reshaping a penis, vagina, breast or even crooked teeth were made “while you wait.”  Unlike the Confederacy changes, none of the family experienced pain during or following a transformation.

Katie had little trouble at the children’s school, it was common for kids to just go away without explanation.  She just checked the box “moved” on the one page form.  The Confederacy would notify spouses and parents about a child being taken in an extraction after the fact.  They didn’t bother with all the government paperwork.  In a few years paperwork would only be good as lizard bedding anyway. 

Dean Sally Crumwald at the Community College where Katie taught was sorry to see her go.  She was bright enough to figure out that something was up, way up - like beyond the solar system.  When Katie said she was going Dean Crumwald wished her well, got signatures on the required forms and hugged her goodbye.  As she drove toward home she realized that the lives of everyone on planet Earth was changing faster than ever in history.  She had enjoyed working for and with her boss and would miss that relationship.

Rob was sitting in the back yard taking a short break.  The rest of the family was in the house except Val as she hadn’t returned from her own home yet.  Rob spoke out loud, “Tonto, how far does this communication thing work?  Can I talk directly to other family members at a distance?”

“Rob, there is not enough experience with humans to determine distances yet,” replied Tonto’s voice inside Rob’s ear.  “Val is now about 50 miles distant and I am in contact with her.  She is asking if the rest of you are already home.  We will have to learn if there is a distance limit but other than face to face there is no way for you to talk directly to each other yet.  There are races with mental telepathy but human kind has not yet evolved that function.  You may talk to me aloud or by sub-vocalizing and I can instantly relay that message sub-vocally.  No one around needs to know we are in communication.”

Rob asked, “Are you able to talk to more than one of us at the same time?”

“Yes, I can carry on five separate conversations at the same time.  When more humans are added to the network that number will increase.  The database indicates that there is no limit on the number of conversations I can conduct at once, other than the limits placed by the number of human brains available for computational power at this time.  For each additional brain I could add many separate conversations.  I am able to use portions of your brain that are under-utilized in your daily function.  Many portions of the human brain are capable of multi-tasking activity but little of that is actually used now. More than three forth of your brain is resting or idling at any given time, that is the power that I tap without your awareness.  Men have known for years that brain exercises increase brain potential and acuity.  Even though you are not conscious of my activities within your brain you are gaining benefit far beyond the input I offer family members.  Over time you will have increased brain power available for your direct access due to my exercising your brain cells. ”

“Rob, Rob” Katie yelled as she rushed across the yard toward him.  “Tonto was sharing his reply to you with me and it made me wonder.  Ask him when we can bring our daddy, Dan, and his sister Maria into the family.  How would they get their nanites?”

“Sweetheart.” Rob said, “you just did ask him.  He said he is in contact with all of us all of the time.”

Katie felt just a bit silly and blushed in embarrassment, this was all so new.  She tried to cover her lapse by saying, “I just wanted to be with you.”

“Come here, love.  Sit on my lap while Tonto answers your question for all of us.  You’re up, Buddy,” Rob said to Tonto.

Tonto went into professor mode, it was almost a lecture.  “There is no way, at this time to inject nanites into Dan.  There is a possibility that Maria could be inoculated.   The nanites must remain in a totally organic environment at all times and the exchange has extremely rigid parameters.  Babies conceived by a nanite infused mother will develop their own set of nanites.  That is how the four of you came into the fold, you inherited the offspring of Val and Scout’s nanites.  With Scout’s source of reinforcements no longer in the mix your nanites have lost some ability.  Val was instantly infused, that will not be the case when new adult women are brought into the family.  Currently the only way to inject nanites into a male is in the womb and it must be within the first ten to twelve days after fertilization, before the amniotic sac is formed.  The mother’s ability to gain nanites is very different than babies.  While the injection from another human will not directly infuse her, the developing baby in her womb would incorporate the nanites then, during the long pregnancy period, excess nanites would slowly cross the barriers between mother and child and, in most cases, the mother would become infused with nanites.  Although reverse infusion is not one hundred percent certain.

"There is a possibility that Maria could become one with the family.  If she is still of child bearing capability and were impregnated by either Rob or Jason the nanites would set up in the baby instantly and there is about a ninety percent chance that the barrier would be crossed.

"There is another consideration.  Right now Dan is in the process of retaking the CAP test.  Just the knowledge that he has the expanded responsibility for his sister as well as all of you has increased his drive to be a protector.  That will show up in his aggressiveness rating and will improve his overall score.  He was the only member of the family who had been tested, having it forced upon him at work.  His CAP score was 6.4.  His test has another 15 minutes to go but he is already at a 7.7.  He and Maria will be able to volunteer if they so choose.  Maria is in the same position, her husbands brutal rejection was a massive shock and her response was anger, that too will improve her aggression rating.  Her CAP of 6.3 will improve into the upper six or low seven range when she is eligible to re-test at her next birthday.  While we may not be able to infuse them organically at this time they will still be productive, sponsoring members of the family and be on hand when and if we advance our infusion capability.”

From her car, still over 30 miles away, Val asked the question on everyone’s mind.  Tonto had to repeat the question so the others could follow the conversation.  Val asked, “How can you possible know this stuff about Dan and Maria clear off in Dallas?  Do you read our minds?  Do you read other’s minds?”

“No,” Tonto replied, “I can not read minds.  However, we as a unit do have great advantages.  Remember, that the Confederacy uses electro/mechanical nanites and those machines provide the interface to one or more Artificial Intelligences, machines known as AIs.  We are an organic being and it takes all of you plus the benefits of our organic nanites for us to function.  Combined we are an intelligence.  I am the interface to that intelligence for each of you but you are as much a part of it as I am.   Being organic, we have a huge advantage in intelligence over any type of construct.  You are aware that the most basic human brain has far greater computational power than all the computers of the world combined.  Not only is there a computational advantage but organics have evolved reasoning, no machine-based assembly has developed that power.

"Both Rob and Katie have secondary degrees in mathematics and computer logic.  Their insight provides keys to information in my database.  I’ve just told you that I have conversations with all of you at the same time and often on separate topics.  I also have an ongoing connection to all of the Confederacy’s AIs both on Earth and in Earth orbit.  I filter out most of the information as chaff.  However, when an issue is important to the family I monitor it closely.  I know about Maria’s improved condition because she has been using the Internet to study issues key to the CAP test.  Not only do I have access to all AI communications I also can tap all information on any linked computer in the world.  The trial runs she has taken provide sufficient data.  By the way, the AI in charge of testing also monitors the Internet trial run sites searching for exceptional candidates.  I would advise you not to visit any Internet site that might relate to CAP testing.  I will monitor your Internet usage and warn you if you are wandering into questionable territory.”

Rob said, “That makes it easier then, as soon as Dad and Maria are back here with us the physical distance problem will be solved and their input, even at the regular human communication level will be a great benefit.  They are both smart people.”

Val arrived home and they sat down to dinner.  Ellie was squirming in her chair.  Jason asked her what was bothering her and that caused both Katie and Val to begin laughing.  Jason said, “What?” in a voice just a bit too loud.

That teen response caused a full outburst of female laughter and Jason began to turn red and go into a teen pout in frustration.  He had no idea what was going on.  When the women gained control of themselves Katie explained, “Honey, it takes guys a lot longer to understand females than the other way around.  Any woman over 10 years old would understand Ellie's wiggling but very few men under 30 would have a clue.  What’s bothering Ellie is YOU.  She saw you lick some gravy off your spoon and it made her think of where else she would like to have your tongue.”

Jason blushed from his forehead to his now prominent Adam’s apple.  Ellie simply got up, grabbed him by the hand and without bothering to finish dinner began dragging him toward their bedroom.  Val called after them, “We’ll keep supper warm for you.”

Rob leaned to his left and kissed his sister with a lovers kiss.  Then he leaned to the other side and repeated the kiss with his mother.  “We’re next,” he said, “but let’s finish the main course first.  I get you two for dessert.”

The next morning a very contented family met over breakfast.  Their obligations at work and everything else outside the family were finished.  It was time to begin building their future.

Chapter 11 Pre-pack Planning

Tonto called the meeting to order.  “There is much to be done and each of you has many decisions to make.  It is assumed that each of you will be Volunteers in the Confederacy.  The only concern we have with scores is that with our combined intelligence  you might all test to capacity and each have a score that is above the human limits.  That will trigger alarms and much potential danger.  We suggest you score between 8.6 and 9.5.  Work out who should have what score and I will assure those result during testing.  I will also assure that the testing AI sees no more than that.”

Rob led off, “Tonto says it isn’t difficult to anticipate scores so we can determine the concubine count and accurately plan for that amount.  Selecting the nature of those concubines is a trickier matter.  Let me state my preference now; I would like each of us to claim a full complement of concubines that we have selected jointly and I would like to treat it as one big family.  All of us will have full authority over all of them, that being said we should not treat them as property but as family.  Any arguments or other views?”

Val said, “I think we should all give our own thoughts and state them right now.  I don’t want any of us to be led where we don’t want to go or to feel pressured to agree with Rob.  While I think the one large family concept is right, I want to pick my own concubines without interference from any of you.”

Both Rob and Katie were shocked to hear their mother speak out so bluntly.  They both held their breath waiting for the family to disintegrate.

Ellie, still the youngest spoke first.  “Grandma, I love you but I think you’re wrong.  It makes sense to me that if we are going to live together as one big family we should all have a voice in every selection, even yours.  Maybe not a veto but at least the right to be heard if we think you are picking a jerk.”

“Yeah, Grandma,” Jason added.  “You would be unhappy if I picked some really stupid or obnoxious girl from school just because she made me horny.  I say what Ellie said.”

Rob began to breathe again and Katie filled with a mothers pride at the maturity and courage of her children.  Katie went on to tell the group that she agreed completely with Rob, Ellie, and Jason.

Val leaned back in her chair and smiled, “I knew you were good kids and I knew you were smart.  Rob, Katie, sometimes children are a bit afraid to speak up to adults, especially their own parents.  I said that silly nonsense just to give them a sense that they would not be alone if they did disagree with Rob.  Of course we will choose together, I don’t think a family could work otherwise.  We are now one being, united through Tonto.  We must learn to think as one”

“You were silly, grandma, we’ve never been afraid of you or mom and daddy doesn’t beat us too much,” Ellie said.  “Now that I’m pregnant with Jason’s twins we really need to cooperate much more. 

“Oh my god!” Ellie suddenly stammered, “I’m pregnant.  Jason, I’m going to have our babies!  Is that kewl or what?”  The reality of her new body and new life had come home to her like a sonic boom.  She loved it.

Tonto pulled the conversation back on track, pointing out, “A CAP score between 8 and 9 earns 6 concubines, between 9 and 10 takes 8 along.  If everyone elected to score in the eights there would be 24 concubines plus all their children under 14.  At the upper end with everyone in the nines there would be 32 new family members plus children.  If you decide to go for half-and-half you could take 28 plus kids.  Val said she thought we should fill all slots.  Val said she thought we should fill them all but there might be an argument for holding onto some openings.  How do you propose to come to consensus?”

In a surprisingly short half-hour the family determined that they would search for a minimum of 15 concubines and a maximum of 20, leaving eight openings for possible future use.  They would only go for the upper limit if they stumbled into an exceptional candidate after the first 15 had agreed to join them.  They also agreed that a ratio of one male to four females would best suit their objectives.  That put quite a strain on the men but it was important that as many males as possible should carry organic nanites and that was only available through birth within the family.  Non-nanite men would only be allowed to impregnate women who were already nanite positive.  That way every child born would be a full family member, linking their nanites with the family would have to wait until the children were of age.  Val, Katie and Ellie weren’t thrilled with the decision but could see the logic.  They made it clear that if any other option were possible they would prefer to only bear children with Rob and Jason.

The next item on the agenda was a determination of what work they would do within the Confederation.  Tonto took the lead saying, “The database on mankind indicates a strong inclination for self sacrifice, altruism and heroic actions.  Our organic nanite linked population is far too tenuous, each member must be safe guarded at all times.  It is my duty to remind you that the Observers have designated this family as pivotal in defeating the Sa’arm.  With nanite influence you are extraordinarily durable but you can be killed by severe trauma.  You must select positions that present the least physical danger,” Tonto concluded.

As the senior member, Val spoke for the family.  “Our talents and experience make us most valuable in the areas of education, research, engineering, biology and computer logic.  With our ability to communicate flawlessly through Tonto and tapping his database whenever allowed we should make giant strides in determining the greatest weaknesses of the Sa’arm.  We will find ways through their own biology and communication systems to help them self-destruct.  And, perhaps best of all, we should be able to greatly enhance the effectiveness of our human forces.  That will keep us off the front lines for most part, but a wise Chinese General, Sun-tzu said about 2,400 years ago, ‘Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.’  We will not shy away from that which is necessary and if that means dissecting a live dickhead or two in the middle of a battle, then that is what we shall do.”

Jason, Ellie, Katie and Rob all stood and applauded their mother and grandmother.

If Tonto had physical eyes they would have rolled up in his non-existent head.  He had enough knowledge of mankind to know of all of their gods and would have beseeched every single one if he knew how to make contact.

Chapter 12 “Come on a my house”

Katie led the review of the decisions they had worked out about the attributes they wanted in their concubines.  “Most important is attitude, we don’t want to have to recycle someone because we learned too late that they were prima donnas, bullies, whiners or overly dependant.  We want people who like and respect others and want to make things work by carrying their own share.  They must be willing, even eager, to help when required.  For starters we are looking for 3 males and at least 12 females. 

The males must love being with women and be both eager and skilled in bed, a fair share of their workload will be as lovers.  Size, age, muscle, looks and disabilities are unimportant as all of that can be remedied with Confederacy technology.  Experience, compassion, intelligence and maturity are important.  Where are we going to find them,” she asked.

Val said, “Let’s have Tonto check college and university computer records in this region.  He should look for guys who worked as professionals but dropped out of the academic scene after age 35.  We need to find out why and what they did after dropping out.  A science background is a plus and a happily married man with well-adjusted children earns a gold star.  We need to be willing to take along his family even if they are over 14.  Those dropouts who didn’t become druggies, drunks or thieves should be qualified candidates.”

Rob said, “Does everyone agree?”  With nods all around he told Tonto that was a starting point.

Katie went back to her list, “Many of the same criteria apply to the 12 women as well.  Every woman must be eager to bear children even if she isn’t going to be raising them.  We need three women who can become a team of household leaders.  One will become head concubine and the other two her teammates, stand-ins and backups.”

Jason asked, “Does that make her the Head Conker?”

“Oh Jason, that is so lame,” Ellie snorted, “why not Momma Conk?”

“Enough kids,” Katie insisted as she re-took control of the meeting.  “When we find the right person for the job she will not be the type to put up with that kind of disrespect from any of us.  If she is worthy of the position she won’t fear reprisal or recycling, she will take charge and demand respect. 

"When we find the three leaders we will need at least five mother types from the remaining nine openings.  We know how important sex is in building the family, to create a stable family population we are going to be into incest for the foreseeable future, incest will almost certainly become a way of life.  Sex and respect will bind the others to us but we should be able to accept a dead fuck or two to get the very highest mothering scores.  Age isn’t as important as experience, a young woman who acted as mother to her younger siblings will have learned a lot.  The key is attitude.”

Val picked up the conversation, “Rob has suggested we work in teams of two.  Rob and Ellie on one team to get their age and gender perspectives.  Jason will switch off with either Katie or myself as a teammate depending on where we will be working.  We have our written criteria with us.  We will scour public places, libraries, small cafes, day care centers, high school and college offices and teachers, talking to everyone who will listen while asking for recommendations.  When we learn of a hot prospect we want to interview them at once.  If it looks good we need to arrange a group interview.  I would like to have the men and women living with us full-time within two weeks.  This house isn’t big enough but Rob said we can rent the Dobb’s house across the street, the whole family has been extracted except the grandmother.  She is 84 and wouldn’t go if she could.  She has her own home and has been wondering what to do with her kids place.  We will pay her rent for a year even though we won’t be there long, that should make her happy.”

“What about the other four women to round out our goal?” Ellie asked.

Katie said, “That is a job for mom and me.  We will be looking for fun girls with great big sex drives.  Not drunk party girls, we want girls who are fun to be around, who can brighten anyone’s day, who have a great sense of adventure but like to cuddle too.  We are going to be looking for younger women who work in recreation centers like the swimming pool, tennis club, party stores and at the community college.  All the same criteria for the men and mothers groups also apply to the party girls.  They will be pregnant more than not and they must be very happy to swing both ways.  We are going to give them a test drive in the latest model of Lesbos before we bring them back here.  Before we make a final selection the guys will have to check the party girl’s lubrication to make sure they wind up real tight before blowing their corks.”

“Jason,” Rob said, “you and I have some decisions to make.  We have already determined that all of the women in our family must be happy to swing on either bathroom door.  It’s important that we build family and that takes more than friendship, it takes love.  Now what about you and I?  Are we willing to make those same rules for all the guys in the family?  The typical heterosexual male expresses an aversion to homosexual activity and I don’t know if that is cultural or instinctive.  I’m not looking for some hot male sex but I think I could do it if the situation required.  The ladies have left it up to us,  your grandmother said they won’t feel cheated if we all decide on one set of rules for the females and another for the guys.  In fact, they were the ones pushing the bisexual code for the women.  What do you think?  Do you have any desire to try the guy on guy life style?”

“Dad, can I be brutally honest?”

“I hope you will," Rob said, "this decision can change our entire life relationship.”

“OK,” Jason said, “ARE YOU CRAZY!  Just because I love to have Ellie, Mom and Grandma make love to my dick doesn’t mean I want any part of guys doing it. I have no intention of jumping into a private boy’s party either.  My lips are meant to kiss the ladies lips, but I want the guys to do their thing in their own room.  That’s my limit.  OK?”

“OK, son.  You are a man after my own heart and I'm glad it stops at the heart, any lower would be tough.”

“Shoot,” Ellie said.  “You guys like to watch us girls go at it with each other, what do we get to watch?”

“I’ll pick up a couple DVDs before we leave,” Rob said, “just keep them in your own pod.”  Both he and Ellie were smiling.  Ellie had always been Rob’s special girl but he had no idea she had such a wicked sense of humor.  She hinted at a style of humor with more kinks than her mother or grandmother.

“Tonto,” Val said, “we want to hit the streets early tomorrow morning, will you give us a wake up call?”

“Of course but it’s only 7:15 PM now and there is a big bash for high school seniors and young college girls at the community center down town.  The database indicates that there will be over 200 horny girls looking to display their talents to potential sponsors until one in the morning or so.  You and Katie might be able to fill part of your party girl quota tonight.

“Rob,” Tonto continued, “you, Ellie and Jason, if you wish, might do well next door to the gala.  There will be several hundred small children in the play center of the complex and there will be at least 150 women of all ages who have volunteered to baby sit, preferring to play the role of momma rather than join the orgy... um, party.”

Rob asked, “Jason, do you want to join Ellie and me as we search for five momma types?”

“Uhmm, dad,” Jason complained, “Grandma and mom get to party with the rug munchers and you want Ellie and me to go with you for the rug rats?  What kind of deal is that?”

Rob made a big showing of running his hand down his mother’s ass, “I don’t know son, mother’s can be mighty nice.”

Jason’s eyes lit up and Ellie giggled.  “Thanks for the tip Tonto,” Ellie added, “are you coming with both teams?”

“We couldn’t miss it.  If you are going we all are going,” said the voice without a body.

As Katie and Val worked their way into the Teen Center, Val was humming the old 1951 Rosemary Clooney recording, “Come on a my house, my-y house.  I’m a gonna give you ca-andy.”

class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> Chapter 13 - Stacking the Deck

Val and Katie were looking well used as they came out of one of the cubicles set aside for private test runs.  They had presented themselves at the Youth Festival as chaperones but they had acted like two low CAPs looking for a sponsor.  They didn’t need Earth First whacking at them as high scoring sponsors before they even took the CAP test. 

Clinging to them were three sweet young things, twin sisters and their cousin.  Just sixteen and entering their senior year at high school, they had no idea that the two older “sisters” they’d been partying with might be a ticket to the stars, but they were sure they were in love with them.  It seemed to the girls that Val and Katie were simply a perfect combination of mother, sister and lover.  The young girls had been active in this type of partying since turning 14 and had enjoyed more boys and girls in that time than most 50-year-olds have in a lifetime but they never had an experience like just now with Val and Katie.

Junie and Janie Strumson, 16-year-old identical twins had shared a bed their entire lives.  Molly Strumson, also 16, was their cousin and slept in the same bed.  She had become an extraction orphan at 15 when her mother, father and little sister were picked up during an extraction at a big shopping mall on Black Friday.  Molly’s mother, Susie, was the sponsor but only qualified for two concubines.  In the confusion at the mall Susie managed to use her cell phone to call Molly at the sleepover at Junie and Janie’s house.  Molly urged her mother to take the family and run.  The shock hadn’t become a reality until she got the paperwork recording that she now owned the family home with the mortgage paid off.  She chose to remain with her cousins however, never giving a thought to moving back into her own house.  Junie and Janie were delighted, the three teens loved each other, and as the old voting gag says, they did it early and often.

Val and Katie led the girls out of the noisy party to the quiet of a park bench on the far side of the parking lot.  Tonto assured them that security cameras covered the area and he could see no danger nearby.  Val asked Molly, “Would you three like to visit Molly’s mom and dad?”

The girls, slightly tipsy from too much sex, excitement and noise took a moment to get the message.  Molly had started to say that they weren’t available but before the words escaped her mouth Junie began to scream.

“Shhh!” urged Katie, “this isn’t a sure thing.  You have three more sponsors to meet and they’ll need to test drive you before they give their approval.  We are forming a very large family and every one must work well together.  Not only in bed but in everything we do.”

Janie gasped, “What about mom,” and Junie finished her sentence, “and the trips?”

Val said, “Tell us, who are ‘Mom and the Trips’?  It sounds like a rock band.”

Junie said, “No, it’s my family.  Dad died six years ago, right after the triplets were born.  Mom has raised the two of us along with Darla, Darin, and Ditzy – I mean Dina all by herself.  When Molly’s family went up she joined our family too giving mom even more responsibility.  We love and respect mom so much!  She told us if we ever got the chance we should just go and to not worry about her.  She wants us to get away.  She’s right next door in the romper room, would you at least meet her?”

While Val continued to talk to the girls Katie asked Tonto in a sub-vocal voice to have Rob check out a Mrs. Strumson.  Tonto replied, “Done.”

Val was saying, “Listen, all kids go with us.  We want a family, a big family and we want it to be a happy family.  You’ve heard that concubines are property and the sponsor can do anything they want with them.  Sponsors can even torture, maim or kill their ‘slaves’ just for fun if they want.  That's not what we want. What we want is a loving, working, effective family.  If you want someone who will beat you, this isn’t the group for you.”

“Oh god, NO!” cried Molly.  “If we can all go together we would love to be with you, even as slaves.  You’ve already tasted me from one end to the other, is there anything more the three of us can do to please you?”

“You just did, sweetheart,” Val said.  “You gave all the right answers with a cooperative spirit and a can do attitude.”

“Here comes the rest of the family,” Katie noted.

Jason and Ellie helped Rob herd a whole mob of women and kids from the Romper Room section of the Community Center.  It was like herding rabbits; little guys and girls were bouncing off in every direction.  Two of the women were topless and nursing babies.  Each held one child to her breast while three kids who appeared to be 10 or 11 years old held three more infants who were waiting their turn at the warm mother’s fountains.

Everyone was trying to talk at once but the five Tufts family members had no problem understanding Tonto’s voice underlying the babble.  He said, “There’s a school bus just about to enter the parking lot.  If you can get them all aboard I’ve entered a computer reservation for tonight at a motel on 14^th Avenue.  You have ten double rooms and the large meeting center on the second floor.  That wing was empty so we have it to ourselves.  The manager is expecting you and is having pizza, soda pop, milk, hot chocolate and coffee delivered in about 20 minutes.  There will be dry cereal and milk along with donuts and other breakfast snacks delivered to the kitchen off the meeting room by 6:00 AM.  The current time is 12:32 AM

"As you move the people onto or off of the bus please make sure that at least one of you places a hand upon the bare skin of each person, including the children.  I will complete a medical evaluation of everyone by the time you get to the meeting room.” Tonto concluded.

The bus pulled up and while most of the kids rushed to get aboard several of the teens and adults held back.  Rob’s voice went into public speaking mode and his volume was fortified by Tonto as he said,  “Hi everybody!  The five of us,” gathering his family around him, “are the Tufts Family.  We, like most of you, are looking for sponsors to take us away from the Swarm.  At least one of us has met each of you who are 14 or older and we like you.  We thought that all of us," his arm sweeping wide to indicate the entire assembly, "might have a better chance of landing a sponsor if we had an organized approach that could offer pre-packed family groups. If we had all the background information prepared in advance we could just hand a potential sponsor a neat little package.  We also have some statistical information about where the next extractions are likely to occur so our chances of being in on a pick up are better than most.  If you would like to explore this with us we have arranged a meeting place and transportation there and back here if you decide it isn’t for you.  It will only take a few minutes to get to the meeting site and we have sleeping arrangements for the little ones too.  We hope you are open enough to explore with us, if so then let’s get on the bus.”  To encourage the crowd Ellie and Kate led the way.

Janie had a scowl on her face and looked as if she might start crying.  She whispered to her sister, “They lied to us, they said...”

She got no further when her sister clapped her hand over her mouth, saying, “Shhh, they didn’t lie, they just stretched the truth a bit and left some parts out in that speech just now.  You don’t think they want some Earth First nut to start firing at us, do you?”

“Oh,” Janie replied, “are you sure?”

“I’m sure,” Rob said from behind the sisters, speaking for Junie and surprising both of them that he had heard.

One older woman was heard to mutter to herself as she walked back into the Community Center’s Nursery building, “I didn’t meet any of them and I don’t know what possessed me to follow them out here.  What a bunch of nuts!”

The rest got aboard.  Rob was pleased and hoped the remainder of the evening would go as well.  Ellie and Jason went up and down the aisle of the long bus, introducing themselves and shaking hands with everybody.  As they softly gave each a short greeting they prolonged their hand clasp just a tiny bit longer with some of them when Tonto directed and they made a real point of greeting each child too while touching them on the hands or face to assure and comfort.  They got the message when Tonto was satisfied.

Tonto was pleased.  He left the task of moving people into the motel meeting to others while Rob and Val signed the paperwork and confirmed the credit card information that Tonto had provided via the computer.  As the manager swiped the credit card through the reader to prove an in-person transaction he also was directing a young man and woman to deliver a huge stack of great smelling pizzas to the meeting room on the second floor.  Rob told the delivery couple that there would be an extra tip if they would stay around until he got upstairs with Val.  He liked their looks. 

The cute young woman said, “Sure, we’re off duty after this delivery anyhow and I’m riding with Ben. He's going to give me a ride home afterwards.”

Tonto sub-vocalized to Rob, “Val says you are a great horned goat.”

Rob smiled at his mother and patted her ass when the manager wasn’t looking.

Tonto reported, “There are nine mature women, five more women of high school or community college age.  There are 26 children under the age of 14 and there is one half drunk guy in drag who followed the crowd onto the bus.  He’s hiding in the bathroom right now and is very nervous.

“The nine mature women are in typical health for this planet.  There are no problems that cannot be repaired easily.  All have born children in the past and are still fertile and capable.  Two are currently pregnant, one less than 20 days into gestation and the other just entering the second trimester.

Four of the five teen girls are in good health, none of them pregnant.  The fifth was recently infected with the HIV virus.  It is not yet full-blown aids and it appears that she isn’t aware that she has been compromised.  To remove the retrovirus would require that either Jason or Rob impregnate her, allowing her nanite-rich fetus to back infuse her into the family.  There is a ten-percent chance that the infusion wouldn’t take.  In that event the child would be fine but the mother would remain infected.  There is a faster approach if you decide to accept her; Confederacy nanites in their med-tubes can clean out HIV in minutes.  Tonto added that the girl with HIV had many other injuries as well.”

Jason was shaking hands with the pizza delivery couple and Tonto said,  "We will have an evaluation in 15 seconds....  Co-workers, not related, mid and late teens, both well muscled and fit, both exercise regularly and are very healthy for humans.  No serious defects.  The male is near sighted and both have testosterone levels that indicate an active libido.  The female’s hymen is intact.  I have asked Jason and Ellie to inspect each person’s CAP card while waiting for you.  I will have that report soon.”

Rob and Val discussed the HIV case with Tonto as they worked their way upstairs to the meeting room.  “Even in our combined form we do not have the answer to every problem”, Tonto said.  “The Confederacy medical system can fix her problem but I would caution against selecting her just because she has a special need.  Everyone left on Earth is facing the same problem, the only difference is death by aids or death by Sa’arm attack.  We would hope you would reject her as gently as possible if that is your decision,” Tonto added.

“Yeah,” Val said, “let's not repeat the hurt and shame that Maria went through when her husband publicly slammed her with his demeaning rejection.”

It was the first bummer of the evening but Rob and Val were determined that they must not let their disappointment show.  There would be other downers as they worked through the winnowing process.

As the entire group started wolfing down the pizzas and drinks Rob took Ben Stoddard and Charlotte Wright, the pizza delivery couple aside and explained what the meeting was all about.  He gave them the same story that he shared with the other candidates.  Charlotte’s eyes lit up but Ben went into a funk.  Rob asked, “What’s up guys?  Is it something I can help with?”

Charlotte stood a little taller and pushed her chest out to make her smallish  breasts more prominent.  She said, “See Ben, I told you we would have to face this sooner or later.  Rob, here is the truth about Ben and me.  We still live in our parent’s homes and Ben’s parents are over-the-top-Pentecostals.  To them anything that feels, tastes, or looks like fun is a deadly sin.  Even saying words such as ‘sex’ or ‘pregnant’ in their house starts a huge diatribe of ranting and raving.  I can barely tolerate his parents but I stay with him because I can’t stand the thought of being away from him.  We have been in love since we met in junior high.  I would marry him and run away in a heart beat and I wouldn’t give a damn what his parents think about us.  He has admitted that he feels the same way but is all wrapped up in trying to please his mom and dad.  They have laid a huge guilt trip on him and have tried it with me, since I won’t buy into their beliefs they think I am scum and a slut.

“Ben won’t even go in for his CAP test because he thinks he will pass.  I only got a 6.2.  If he passes he wouldn’t leave me behind but if he takes me he will have to own me and make babies in me while rejecting his parents who are into Earth First ideals.  He has avoided the issue by avoiding the test.  Sometimes he is such a wimp about his parents.  In every other way he is a real hunky-hero type; the dickheads better run if Ben get in the space Marines.”

Then her head drooped as she ran down, collapsing within herself.  “I’m sorry, Ben, I told you that I would never explode like that but here is a chance to maybe get off of this rock.  It’s been eating me up inside and I just blew.”  She touched his arm and began to leak tears,  “Mr. Rob, I’m sorry for upsetting you and making a scene.  We’ll go now.”

“Ben,” Rob said as he wrapped his arm around Charlotte’s shoulder, “This may be your only chance to have a real future.  If you love Charlotte as much as she loves you, it is time for you to grow up and begin thinking and acting like an adult; and you must do it right now.  Your parents appear to be clinging to a literal interpretation of the Bible and that is their right, many fine people do think that way.  But it is in Genesis that young people are admonished to leave their mothers and fathers, clinging to their new spouse to make their own way.  I don’t mind being blunt, your parents are playing a guilt card to try to force you into their mind set and when they do that they are simply full of shit!

"Our family wants to defeat the Sa’arm and to do that we have to go to the stars with the Confederacy.  We believe we have found a way to achieve that goal but it will require a very large and very loving family with strong women and men who can cooperate in ways never before tried.  I can’t make you any promises because there is an application process for all of us.  I can do this much for you, Ben if you love Charlotte as much as she loves you then I can get you into the tryouts.  You two need to decide right now, you either do this one hundred percent or you stay with your parents and pray that the dickheads aren’t hungry when they get here.  I’m going to join Katie as we have to start with the rest of the group, let me know your decision in the next few minutes.”  Concluding his pep talk Rob released his hold on the teens and walked across the room without looking back.

Before Rob could move away Charlotte hugged Ben tightly and Rob heard her beg, “Oh god, Ben.  Say yes, take this chance with me and say yes.  I love you so much.”

At Tonto’s suggestion the family broke the applicants into groups.  They put the mother types in group 1, the women who looked like family leaders in group 2 and the party girls in group 3.  All but one of the men present were spread among the three groups.  One lone male was still hiding in the bathroom, still dressed in drag but becoming more and more sober as he realized that he had gotten on the wrong bus.  Rob quietly helped the guy sneak out the side door.  When Rob asked if he needed a ride back to the Community Center the man just hiked up his skirt and headed down the road in a funny parody of a high-heeled trot.  He never said a word and Rob managed to hold his expression to a small grin as he walked back inside.

Rob addressed all three groups at the same time.  He explained that there was some basic paper work to do and that Val and Katie would interview the mothers first as a group and then individually.  Rob and Jason would work with the party girls, the family already knew how the girls played with the distaff side and the guys needed to test-drive them too. 

Ellie would spend time with the leadership types and direct them to participate in both the mothers’ sessions and the party sessions as Tonto cued her.  Strong leading personalities were required but the family needed to establish concubines in a leadership role over other concubines.  If one of the concubines had a longing to lord it over the others it was best to learn it now.  Ellie was put in charge as a Judas goat, on the surface she looked like someone who might be bullied or discounted as too young, too feminine or too weak.  Any prospective concubine that had trouble being a team player would have to try out for a different team.

Fifteen of the 26 children, those under 8 years old, were tucked into beds in the suites.  There were two 9 year old girls who were playing quietly in the front room of suite 219, entertaining themselves with dolls and several picture story books.  The two boys and three girls who were 13 year olds were stationed with the mothers' class, they needed information if they were to make good decisions about their lives in less than a year when they turned 14.  Then they would become adults sexually and they needed to know about test-drives even if they were limited on how far they were allowed to go for now.  The four remaining 11 and 12 year olds were assigned to watch over the younger children.  They were told to ask for help if needed.  After just a few minutes into the mothers’ group session, Martha Oldham asked to speak with Rob.  Tonto told Rob it was a wise move so he took the time to move aside with Martha.

Martha explained that Darcy Vaughn was her unmarried older sister and was severely handicapped.  The doctors said it was brain damage during a hard birth that left the 36-year-old woman struggling with the simplest tasks.  She had always needed a caretaker and when their parents died three years ago Martha moved her into her own home.  She explained that Darcy was very good with Martha's three children but had very few other skills.  Martha said her husband had moved out a year after Darcy had moved in.  He had tried to put the make on Darcy.  Martha added that Darcy doesn’t seem to have any sex drive and isn't the least bit curious.  She was confused to have a man try to kiss and fondle her so she asked Martha what her husband was doing when he touched her.  Martha went on to say that it was probably a waste of time telling Rob the whole story as she wouldn’t go with them without Darcy and she couldn’t see any volunteer wasting a concubine position on her sister.  She said, “Perhaps you could arrange a ride back to my car so we don’t get in the way.”

Rob started to ask for Darcy’s CAP card when Tonto popped a heads up display showing the card and sub-scores.  Darcy’s total was a 2.2, lower than dirt.  However her parenting sub-score was 9.2 and her loyalty sub-score a 9.9.  Her sex sub-score, at 1.0, was the lowest score of any type Rob had ever seen until he looked at the rest of her sub-scores.  All were less than one.

Rob asked Tonto if there was anything that could be done to help Darcy become functional.  Tonto explained that while it was very unlikely that the organic nanites would interact with Darcy, that simply highlighted one advantage the Confederacy’s electro/mechanical nanites possessed over the family’s Organic Linking Nanites.  Between the med-tube and Confederate nanites, Darcy’s brain injury could be essentially reversed within a few hours and with enough sessions in the sleep learning programs she could improve significantly.  “However,” Tonto added, “Darcy certainly qualifies as a functional concubine right now.  With loving supervision she is the best mother in this group with a parenting sub-score that is unheard of; and once she bonds to the family she will be loyal unto death without ever giving it a second thought.”  Tonto went on, “I think she, in combination with Martha, would be one of the best investments in the house.”

That entire exchange took less than a second, Martha just thought he was trying to find some gentle way of sending the two of them away.  “Martha,” Rob said, “May I see your CAP card?”

“Huh?  Why?” she replied but she was swift enough that she handed over the card.  “Do you want me to take off my clothes?” she asked.

“Not right now,” Rob replied.  “Will Darcy be OK if we send her to help with the children while you finish the application process for both of you?”

“If I take her to them she will know it's OK and she’ll be just fine.  She’ll be a lot happier with the kids doing what she knows and loves to do.  Out here she has trouble understanding and so she tends to withdraw.  I’ll be right back,” Martha said.  Just before she grabbed Darcy she turned back and asked,  “You really want us, both of us?”

Rob winked and whispered, “You’re a keeper, both of you!” 

Since the other four Tufts family members had been kept in the loop by Tonto, the vote had already been cast and tallied.  It was a done deal.  However, it would take up two concubine positions, perhaps they would go over the goal of 12 females in just one night.  It certainly looked possible and that was good.

Once again Rob took Ben Stoddard and Charlotte Wright aside.  “Listen guys, it’s been 15 minutes, we would like to have you stay and take in all the information.  Later there will be some test-driving and we want you to observe that as well.  It will be a clear example of what it means to be a concubine.   If you have decided to apply you will be required to take part.  You are a couple and you have to decide what you want to do, right now.  In either case Ben will have to visit a CAP testing center and have his score determined.  Ben, if you can become a volunteer that opens new doors for you and we would encourage you to take whatever advantage you can.  Even as a sponsor you may still be welcome to join our family.  Charlotte, you will not be able to be exclusive with Ben.  In our family you will have all possible sexual partners starting tonight, although we would allow Ben to relieve you of that burdensome cherry before the test-driving beings if that is your desire.  Your first pregnancy would begin at your first fertile cycle and Ben would not be the father.  There are some very practical reasons for that requirement that we can share if you are accepted in the family.  Ben, if you want to father your girlfriend’s babies exclusively you need to decide now to go it on your own.  That would be an even greater incentive for you to do well on the CAP test.  We do not have time to wait for you to take the test so you have to decide now.  You may apply to come with us as concubines and Ben may be able to move up to sponsor after testing.  If you wait and he falls below 6.5 you are out of luck.  What’s your choice?”  

Ben and Charlotte looked at each other then he kissed her full on the mouth before saying, “Sweetheart, are you willing to have some other man’s baby just so we can be together and live?”

“Ben, that’s no different than a number of the Old Testament Patriarch’s wives.  They eagerly took to another man's bed to save their family.   I have waited and yearned for you for 6 years.  Are you willing to become a concubine, a slave, just to have a chance of loving me?”

“Yes,” Ben replied.

At once Charlotte said, “We are ready to become applicants with your family and concubines if possible.  Ben will take the CAP test whenever you tell him.”

Rob asked, “Ben, are you a virgin too?”

Charlotte asked in surprise, “Too!  How could you know if I’m a virgin or not?

“The same way I know that Ben is near-sighted, that you both exercise a lot and that you are both very healthy.  We have borrowed some technology that gave everyone in the room a complete physical as they came through the door.” Rob said, fudging on the reality of the ‘borrowed technology.’  “We also know that your intact hymen is very fragile and you won’t even notice its passing if you are with someone you love.  Now, once again Ben, are you a virgin too?”

“Yes,” Ben responded with a touch of shame in his voice.  “I didn’t think I could have Char because of my parents and I didn’t want anyone else.”

“Sometimes two virgins fumble and stumble more than necessary.  It can take a long time to repair misunderstandings created on a wedding bed.  We are going to give you a half hour in room 214 to cement your new relationship,” Rob said.  “Both of your testosterone levels are elevated, that is a strong indicator that you may be one of the the horniest couples in the motel tonight.  I’m going to offer to loan you Valantra, my mother, as a coach for the first few minutes.  In that time she can teach you enough to avoid all the rough spots.  What would you like to do?”

“Valantra,” Ben yelled, “Can you join us for a few minutes?” as they hurried toward the door.

Tonto reported that he had scanned both Ben’s and Charlotte’s computer usage for the last year.  His report said, “Ben has been studying the web sites concerned with CAP tests and has taken a number of trial runs.  He will score between 7.9 and 8.2.  He is very sensitive to other’s feelings and he is a caring person.  He can fill one of your male sponsor slots with ease.  However, he will need lessons in the art of sex and some attitude adjustment concerning his view on group marriage.  There is a strong biblical base for multiple marriage but his parents ignored the portions of the Bible that did not fit with their personal bias and they fostered those views on their child.

"Charlotte’s school and computer records indicate that she has strong leadership potential among women, not quite so strong with men.  She could qualify for the number two leadership position among the concubines.  After Jason impregnates her she will be bonded to him as strongly as she is to Ben right now which will smooth the transition.  She must be pregnant before we join the Confederacy, that way Jason’s and the baby’s organic nanites will protect her from the mechanical nanites that will be injected during their medical screening.  The ninety-percent chance that she will become infused with organic nanites makes it highly likely that Ben can sire her future children and they will still be part of our nanite family.

“Hey wait,” Rob sub-vocalized to Tonto, “did I just screw up trying to be a nice guy?  Is there a possibility that Ben could get her pregnant before Jason or I have the opportunity?”

Tonto seemed to have a hint of a smile in his voice when he said, “It would have been an absolute certainty had I not raised Ben’s body temperature enough to bake the viability out of his current crop of spermatozoa.  Tonight he will be shooting blanks but will never know it.  It is imperative that JASON test drives Charlotte tonight, she has released three eggs and all are healthy and in position to be inseminated.”

Rob asked, “Why so insistent that it be Jason?  I’m the one that spotted her and insisted she join us.”  He sounded a bit peeved.

Tonto responded, “Jason is a much better genetic match, there are far fewer things that could go wrong.  The odds that you and she would produce a zygote that would fail to implant are 1 in 947.  Jason’s genetic pattern is a beautiful match.  Beside, even though you spotted her before Jason, I was the one to arrange for Ben and Charlotte to make the delivery.  She is a cook and he is an assistant manager at the pizza parlor, they don’t make deliveries except in very unusual situations.  When the records were scanned while ordering the pizza such a circumstance was arranged.”  Tonto’s tone was almost boastful, if such were possible.

The mother’s group was progressing rapidly.  Junie and Janie Strumson’s mother, Donna, was looking like a winner. Having her triplets, Darla, Darin, and Dina here in the motel was a plus.  Darin was a fraternal baby, Darla and Dina were identical twins.  Mrs. Strumson was young enough to still bear many more children, she loved being pregnant just as much as she loved to raising babies and children.  It was obvious from her record that she could drop fertile eggs with the best of women and she had split those eggs twice to produce two sets of identical twins.   She was tensely eager to get her children to safely away from Earth but still showed flashes of a great sense of humor.  It was a case of Momma and three more for the price of one.  She was a bargain and her close knit family of seven, counting Junie, Janie and Molly would be a strong component of the Tufts family.

The leaders' group was sitting in with the mothers at the moment.  Two of the women were bored and yawning and another was bitching at Ellie, implying that she was a lot more qualified than Ellie.  She came right out and said Ellie was too young to lead this session.  When she told Ellie to step aside and she would show her how to lead Jason came over and asked to speak to her in the next room.  When she went through the door she was surprised to be outside.  The bus driver invited her to sit down, he had been told that a few more would be joining her shortly for the trip back at the Community Center even before the test rides started.  Nobody wanted to live with the trouble they represented.

The party girls were having a ball, well at least four of them were.  They were loving every inch they were given and were not at all shy about saying, “thank you” even with a full mouth.

Sara Miller, the youngster with HIV had been placed with the leaders but her heart and mind were with the mothers.  She often looked at the party girls too.  She was shy but it was obvious that she wanted off the planet, perhaps more desperately than any other person in the room.

When Val returned from her tutoring of Ben and Charlotte she was a bit flushed.  The passion those two unleashed had her hot under places nowhere near her collar.  She was eagerly looking forward to joining them later this evening after Jason had primed Charlotte’s motherhood well with his potent pump.

She tapped Sara Miller on the shoulder and asked her to come with her to the room next door.  Sara rose but began quietly weeping, she had seen three of the ladies being led from the room and none of them had returned.  She knew she couldn't survive going back to her daddy’s house.

Val poured Sara a glass of diet Pepsi at the girl’s request.  She fixed herself a cup of coffee as she thought she might need a jolt of caffeine before the long night of testing was over.  “Sara,” she said, “Please tell me why you’re crying?”

The weeping broke into open sobs that wracked her entire body, between the shudders she managed to stammer,  “Oh god, please, please, don’t send me back to my daddy’s house, you must take me with you.  I’ll die there, he'll beat me to death!”

“Honey,” Val said with her softest tones, “we haven’t decided to send you away.  If we knew a bit more about you and why you don’t think you can go home it might help.”

“Oh god, oh god,” Sara was praying in desperation.  “My mom was extracted as the concubine of a woman where she works.  She did get to phone me for just a moment to tell me that she was about to leave.  She couldn’t take me with her but she told me to get out of the house before daddy got the word.  She said to try to go live with one of my friends.  Before she could say anything more they pushed her into that machine that they use to get up to the space ship.  I guess a cell phone won’t work from there because that is the last I’ve heard from her.  I know that daddy could be kind of mean to mom at times but I didn’t know anyone well enough to ask so I just went home.  There was a big gray envelope on the dinning room table addressed to daddy, I didn’t even think to open it.

Daddy got home about 6:30 that evening, he had stopped for a couple of drinks with his buddies like he usually does.  He tore open the envelope and read the first little bit, then he handed it to me and said, ‘that fucking cunt has run out on me, nobody runs out on me.  Here, read this out loud, you skinny bitch.’"

“I was shocked and frightened remembering that mom had told me to get away, I didn’t know what to say to him.  I read the letter very carefully.  It was from the Confederation.  It informed daddy that momma and my little brother, Tim, were aboard a space ship and would not be back.  Daddy was automatically divorced and the mortgage on the house had been paid off.  There was a bunch of fine print that I didn't get a chance to read.  I dropped the letter when daddy slapped me so hard he knocked me down.  I screamed, no one had ever hit me before.”

“You stupid cunt, get the fuck out of those cock sucking rags you wear and start swinging on my prick right now,” he bellowed. 

I tried to back away from him but he kicked me in the armpit and breast while I lay on the floor.  I’ve never hurt so bad in my entire life.

“I said start sucking right now you worthless stinking piece of shit,” he roared as he grabbed me by the hair and dragged me toward the bedroom.  I had never been in their bedroom, they always kept the door locked.  He threw me on the bed and there were ropes and whips and those little plastic things that cops use as handcuffs during riots and they all over the place.  I just cowered, I didn’t know what to do.”

“What did he do to you sweetheart?” Val asked.

“I passed out when he punched me in the stomach.  When I woke up I couldn’t breathe.  I wanted to ask him why he was doing this to me but he was in such a rage, he was a madman.  He had torn all my clothes off except one sock and had tied me to the bed face up.”

He yelled at me again, “You stupid bitch, I wanted to beat your back till you were bloody raw and you’re so dumb you’re still laying there face up.  I guess I just take a whip to your tits and cunt till they bleed real good, then I’ll fuck you blind.  You’re too stuck up and too stupid to even take a beating right.”

“Did he do it baby?  Did he beat you?” Val asked.

Sara sobbed again and began unbuttoning her blouse.  There was a massive bruise in her armpit and on her left breast.  There were so many welts and cuts on both breasts that she hadn’t even tried to put on a bra.  She looked up to Val with tears in her eyes and continued to strip.  Her vagina and thighs were a solid mass of welts, bruises and cuts.  The mad man had worked her over for three days without let up.  He had raped her anus and vagina repeatedly and when she couldn’t suck to his satisfaction he pissed in her mouth.  The last thing he said before he left the house was, “This was your stupid cunt mother’s job, now you’ll have to do it until I get sick of seeing your skinny tits.  Maybe I should just cut the worthless things off!” and he stormed out the door.

“How did you get away?” Val asked.

“When he threatened to cut my breasts off he showed me a big hunting knife that he used some times.  As he left he threw it on the bed.  My right hand was loose and I managed to reach the knife and cut myself loose.  I dressed the best I could and walked to anywhere that there were lots of people.  That’s when your bus showed up and I got on, just trying to get away.  Please, PLEASE!  Don’t send me back!”

Tonto had been relaying the essence of what Val was learning to the rest of the family.  Tonto sub-vocalized Rob’s questions to Val: “Sara, honey, you’re safe here.  We won’t send you away and you’ll never have to see that monster again.  Our automatic medical exam shows you have some other damage so I need to ask you two questions.”

“OK”

“Sara, is there anyone else living with your dad?”

“No, not now.”

“Sweetheart, I also need to know if you’ve had sex with anybody else in the last two months.  I know that is a hard, mean question to ask you right now, but it is important”

“You’re not going to call the cops, are you?  Daddy will kill me for sure if you call the cops.”

“No, the cops will never know and your so-called-father will never see you again.” Val assured the girl.

“Oh, he isn’t my father.  My real father died when I was little, I don’t even remember him.  I called Hank daddy because he insisted on it.  Momma had to call him daddy too.”

“That makes a bit more sense,” Val said.  “We still need to know if you had sex with anyone else in the last two months.”

“No!” and she began sobbing again.  “I was a virgin when daddy, Hank, attacked me.”

“Thank you for telling me all of this, Sara.  I’m going to take you to a bedroom and get you some medicine so you can rest.   Would you like to have someone stay will you?”

“Yes, please.  I know Molly Strumson out in the meeting room.  I kind of wanted to sit with her but I was afraid to ask.  Could she come stay with me?”

“Sure thing, baby girl,” Val said, “I spent some time with Molly earlier this evening, she’s a nice girl.  You know, when we put the medicine on you Molly will see all of your injuries.  Does that bother you?”

“No, she’s OK.  We used to hold hands when we talked about boys.  She knows a lot more about boys than I do.  Once when I stayed at her house, that was a year or so ago before her folks went to the stars, we slept in the same bed.  We didn’t do anything naughty but when I woke up she was snuggled up to me.  It was real nice.  Molly can see me, she won’t laugh or tease.”

Just then Molly came through the door.  She said, “Jason asked me to come see you.”  She was nude and was dabbing up something from her breast.  She licked her finger clean until she got close enough to see Sara in the soft light.  “Oh, shit, Sara!  What happened to you?  They didn’t do that here did they?  God, Val, we have to get her help!”

Sara sobbed,  “Daddy did it.  He beat me so bad!”

Val was still stroking Sara’s face when she said, “Help will be here in a few minutes and we are going to give her something to help her sleep.  We are going to take her to the motel room next door and she wants you to stay with her.  Can you do that?”

“Sure.  Jason told me that I was in the group just after he blew his load.  It was so big some dribbled out, did I get it all?  Now that I’m in I’ll be your slave forever.  I’ll do whatever you guys want me to, I want to please and I would love to help Sara.”

Sara flinched and yelled, “Slaves?  They used to whip slaves and beat them!”  Her terror was building again.

“Shhh, baby, shhh,” Val said, “Some people say sponsor and concubine, others joke around and call concubines slaves but in this house we only have family.  You are family now and there will be no pain, only love.  Take these two capsules of Oxycontin for the pain, it will help you sleep too.  Molly is going to help you through that door into room 206.  The outside door is locked and no one can get in.  Molly will stay with you every minute until you are well.  If she has to go out another family member will be at your side.  OK?”

“Thank you Mrs. Tufts.  Molly, will you help me walk, it really hurts.  Please hold my hand too.”

“Sure baby girl, just like we did at the sleepover.”

---

The party was winding down when Val returned to the main room. Charlotte Wright, who had begun to think of herself as Charlotte Stoddard, was lying on her back moaning.  Ben was kissing and rubbing her breasts as her head thrashed from side to side.  Her eyes were closed and she was bright pink from her forehead to the base of her rib cage.  Jason was holding himself up from her upper body but his rock-hard cock was buried in her body, glans locked into cervix and neither of them was moving.  Tonto advised Val that Jason could release in four minutes when the nanites would be secure.  The two eggs descending from Charlotte’s oviduct were already penetrated by sperm cells and fertilization would be complete as soon as the sperm nucleus completely fused with the ovum nucleus.  At least two more family members charged with organic nanites were under way.  Val grinned.  The young couple couldn’t be more ecstatic if they were on a Hawaiian Island honeymoon.  They were with a real family now, a family that would love them to the stars, not one like Ben’s family who would condemn them to death for the sake of radical personal beliefs. 

“Tonto,” Val asked, “are you keeping track of the concubine commitments we’ve made?  I’ve already lost track and there is so much more to do.”

“Yes, Val.  Would you like a report now or a more complete accounting in the morning.  Several women have been offered positions but want to check with their older dependant children.  Not all of the children were at the center tonight.  Three ladies have left for home for face-to-face contact with family.  They have been told that they have until 10 AM this morning to decide.  It's now 2:20 AM.”

“Good enough, my friend,” Val said.  “The morning will be fine, I’m bushed and still have to see to Sara.  Did you get her the medical attention she needs?”

Tonto was silent for a moment; no nanite portion of a combined being had ever been treated as an individual and certainly never addressed as “friend.” Joyful emotions were the exclusive domain of the human portion of the family, yet he felt a new reaction and could not identify the sensation.  He responded to Val’s question,  “I have been in computer and phone contact with a brilliant young emergency room doctor.  She has a CAP of 8.1 but has not volunteered as the Confederacy has bluntly stated that they have no need for her medical skills.  The Marine Recruiting Officer she spoke with told her that all Earth side medicine was so far out of date as to be worthless.  He offered her a non-combat job managing a ‘comfort station’ for troops.  She was highly insulted, twelve years of advanced education and six more years of intensive experience just to become a madam in a whorehouse, indeed.

When I implied that there were new pathways to the stars and that as we were conducting a screening we had located a badly injured girl who we want as a concubine she became very interested.  She will be here within five minutes.  Since all contact was by computer or phone she thinks my name is Valantra.  I’ll let you know when Doctor Sandra Hamilton arrives.”

Val sighed, thinking, “For the mixed-up pile of symbiotic sub-microscopic fragile little bastards that make up Tonto he is, if nothing else, inventive.”

Chapter 14 - Head ‘Em Up

Val was looking for Jason to tell him about Sara Miller when her heads up display activated.  Surprised, she stopped, “Tonto?”

“Yes, Val” he responded, “the information on your display is about the doctor, she has just entered the parking lot.”

“Uh, I was going to tell Jason about Sara Miller,” Val stuttered.

Tonto said, “I am doing that now, even as you and I are conversing.

Val shifted her attention to the display saying, “Thanks, Tonto, you’re a good guy.”  She then faced a blank wall to make it easier to concentrate on the information flooding her eyesight.  She figured it must take some time to get used to this type of multi-tasking.  “Well, crap,” she thought, “if shaved-tailed military pilots can do it, so can I.”  Against the wall she could read:

Doctor Sandra Hamilton, MD, 34 years old, ER specialist 

Graduated High School at 16, 12 years college thru residency

ER practice, 6 years

CAP 8.1, not a volunteer

Single with moderate sexual experience, bi

Her work is her life

She was amazed to note that where the wall was light colored the text was dark and where is wall was dark the text was light.  The contrast was always perfect even when she moved her head.  The technology was so smooth she almost giggled in wonder.

As Val headed for the door, contemplating the data she was reading, she thought, “should Tonto have added self absorbed, cold hearted bitch?”  The woman looked too good on paper to be true.  Tonto had called the doctor brilliant when he first mentioned that he had talked to her.  Somehow Val had drawn a mental picture of a cross between a women’s college softball coach and a Nurse Ratched personality.

As Val walked down the hall one of the party girls was bouncing up the stairway two treads at a time.  She looked to be an 18-year-old pixie – gymnast with an over-sized rack and a blond ponytail that brushed her pert ass as she ran. 

Val started to tell her the party was in room 241 when the high pitched, girly voice said, “Hi, I’m Doctor Hamilton, can you tell me where I can find Valantra Tufts?”

Val would be embarrassed later when telling of her not quite articulate response, “Uh, huh… me?”

“Oh good, it’s nice to meet you in person.  You have a very pleasant voice on the phone and there was an amazing amount of detail in your email.  Are you a doctor?”

Val made a quick sub-vocal contact with Tonto, “How in hell did you phone her with my voice you over-reaching ass hole?”

Tonto’s database on human female reactions was extensive.  He didn’t answer.

“Doctor Hamilton, no, just a psychologist and college professor.  Like you, I have more experience than my appearance would suggest.” Val said.  “Your patient is Sara Miller.  As we told you she has been raped repeatedly over three days and viciously beaten, she wasn’t too clear just how long her torture went on.  I am amazed at her strength and resiliency for a 15-year-old.  Her mother was extracted and her drunken stepfather took his rage out on her.  She was a virgin and this rape was her only sexual intercourse.  You’ll need to be very careful as she is HIV positive.”

“Yes,” Doctor Hamilton replied, “Your email with chart notes were very clear.  On the phone you said that she was going to be part of a pre-pack that would be extracted in a week or two.  I got the impression that you have an inside track and could pull some strings that might make the Confederacy brass look at me a second time with clearer vision.”

“You received the correct impression,” Val said.  "When you finish up here I’ll introduce you to my daughter and son; and my grandchildren too.  There is a good chance that we can introduce you to our mentor, Tonto, at the same time.  Here it is, room 206.” Val used the key card to open the door then introduced her to Molly, “Doctor Hamilton, this is Molly Strumson.  She is sitting with her friend and your patient, Sara Miller.”

Molly said, “Sara is asleep right now.  I think I can wake her without frightening her if you want, Doctor.”

“We’re not at the hospital Molly, you may call me Sandra.  It looks as if she has been to hell and back.  Please wake her very gently.  Valantra, will you stay until Sara is comfortable with my presence?  I’m just as concerned with her emotional well being as her physical condition.”

Val said, “Certainly Sandra.  I appreciate your concern.”  Reassessing her pre-judgment of the doctor she added, “I’ll be certain to arrange for Tonto’s presence when we talk.  Molly, will you please stay here and help the doctor in any way you can?”

“Sure Mrs. Tufts, anything,” Molly responded.

“Molly,” Val corrected, leaning in to touch the girls hand, “Jason said you were in as a family member.  Please call me Val; you’ll find us a very loving, open and inclusive family.”

---

Jason and Rob took a break as the party was winding down.  More than half of the participants had been given transportation either home or back to their cars at the Convention Center with instructions to meet the family in the morning at the Dobb’s home across the street from Rob and Katie Tufts’ house.  There were a couple of people who were still a bit iffy and a relative or two who had yet to be interviewed but the pre-pack was beginning to take shape.  Those who had been rejected had no idea of the time or location of the next meeting.

Rob poured himself a cup of coffee while Jason popped open a Pepsi.  “Dad, Tonto,” Jason said.  “I want to claim Sara Miller as my concubine, I know we are all one family but I believe she needs someone her own age that she can cling to for strength.  Any problems with that?”

Rob nodded his head in agreement and Tonto sent a word of positive reinforcement.

Jason paused for a moment before bringing up a touchy subject.  “Sara is going to be terrified of her step-father as long as he is alive.  As her sponsor I feel responsible to assure her that he won’t remain a threat for long.  Tonto, I know you said there are restrictions on releasing information from the Observer’s database to us.  If I were to leave a note to myself on the computer to find a liquid that is untraceable but would cause death within 24 hours if a patron in a bar just happened to spill his drink on some worthless drunk's lap, could you be of service?”

Rob said, “Jason, I understand and agree with the sentiment but we should think long and hard before we stoop.....”

Tonto interrupted Rob's objection, “I assure you that no such substance will be located in the Observer’s database.  There are Earth products that could produce the end results but they are all easily traceable and exceedingly difficult to obtain.  In this country they are tightly controlled.

“Further,” Tonto continued, “there is no need.  We have another problem that requires rapid action on our part but also will resolve the dilemma that Sara and you face.  At 2:00 AM there was a shift change in the office of this motel.  A 58-year-old woman, Jane Frockman, took over as manager of the early morning shift.  She is not the kindly grandmother she seems to be.  As soon as she checked tonight’s guest register she made computer contact with one Reginald Crumbacher, the Earth First Commander for this region.  She intuitively made the connection between our gathering and a Confederacy pre-pack.  She erroneously reported to Crumbacher that our meeting is a planned extraction and has summoned a strike team that will be here in less than an hour.

“She is very militant and according to the Earth First computers has been involved in three team ambushes, escaping undetected each time.  She is also a deadly sniper, having picked off several high scoring volunteers before they could be extracted.   Her wariness index is high, exceedingly high.  She is cautious enough to assure that she won’t be on this site when the strike team arrives.  Hank Knutson, Sara’s stepfather, was on her team during two of the Frockman ambushes. 

After she informed the Earth First Commander of the situation she received an urgent email that had all the marks of an official Earth First communication.  It said an unnamed but reliable informant told the Commander’s staff that Hank has gone turncoat and has an appointment in the morning with the FBI and a Confederacy Marine Corporal to provide names, places and history of every Earth First action he knows about.  In exchange, the report said, he has been promised an immediate extraction with eight concubines.  After reading this and then double deleting the computer record Mrs. Frockman called in a substitute manager for the motel complaining that she was vomiting and had to go home.  Her replacement is innocent but no doubt is scheduled to die in the crossfire of the up coming raid.  The stand-by manager’s death would help allay suspicion of duplicity by Frockman or other motel staff.

“Mrs. Frockman has left the motel and retrieved her 50 caliber sniper rifle.  The GPS link in her car indicates that she is approaching the cemetery overlooking Hank Knutson’s neighborhood.  Google Earth shows a direct line of sight to the propane storage tank located behind Knutson’s garage and adjacent to his bedroom wall.  Seventeen months ago Mrs. Frockman received a shipment of armor piercing incendiary rounds that had been intended for an Army National Guard unit in Georgia.  The Armory never reported the missing shipment nor did they report the missing sniper rifle of the same caliber some two years earlier. 

I will monitor the news and police links along with the Earth First computer network.  It is reasonable to assume that by this time tomorrow we will have photographic evidence for Sara that her step-father is no longer a threat.”

Jason whispered, “Holy crap, Tonto, I hope you never get pissed at me.  However, I love the way you think.  If I knew how I would hug you.”

Tonto replied, “I saw what you did with the six women you hugged this evening and while it was obvious that they enjoyed your follow through, I too am relieved that you are unable to hug me.” 

Rob laughed and said, “It looks like it’s time to wrap up this party and move ‘em out.  Tonto, can we get the bus back soon?”

Tonto opened channels to the entire family to say, “The bus is now parked in the side lot of the vacant Snarkie’s Pizza Parlor one and a half blocks east, behind the motel.  The parlor shut down over a year ago and the parking lot is a convenient site for kids to catch their school bus.  Neighbors are accustomed to busses coming and going even at night for after-school events.  Other than our bus, the lot is empty tonight.  Rob needs to make an explanation to the motel manager to try to keep her out of danger while Katie and Ellie herd everyone else out the back and onto the bus.  Katie and Ellie, make sure they are quiet and unobserved. 

“Val, please notify Doctor Hamilton along with Molly and Sara that an ambulance is entering the motel parking lot right now to provide transportation for them.  Have the ambulance crew pick Sara up on a stretcher.  Please go with them and direct the ambulance to proceed, without lights or sirens, to our house.  Take the long way and pass through the parking lots of both area hospitals just in case Earth First tries to track you.  We will keep communication channels open at all times.  Do not hesitate to ask for assistance.”

Rob was writing a note and asked if anyone could see an envelope from the motel room's stash of stationery.  Jason passed him one from the desk drawer.  Sealing the envelope Rob headed for the office.  Tonto started to caution Rob but was assured that Rob had it under control.

In the office Rob passed the key cards to the substitute motel manager, telling her that they were leaving a bit early as one of their ladies had fallen ill.  The manager asked, “Is there anything I can do?”

“No, but thank you,” Rob replied.  “We have an ambulance here to take her to the hospital.  Her doctor is with her and says that she will be all right but needs the facilities of a hospital.  She has spells at times; it was nothing to do with the motel.  The ambulance with patient is pulling out right now.

“Some friends of ours were planning to join us and will be along shortly.  Would you tell them that we had to leave early and give them this note?  The short fellow that leads them can be a bit much at times, he has been known to lose his temper so you’ll want to stay out of his way if it looks like he is going to blow.  Just give him the note and go to a back room until he leaves.  If they ask for keys for the room it’s OK to let them use the rest of the time we’ve paid for.  Just don’t hassle them, OK?”

“Well,” the manager said, “that’s not very comforting but in this business it’s better to have some advanced warning than to be taken by surprise.  Thanks for staying with us and I’m sorry your party had to end early.  Please come again.”

Rob stepped out the front way and headed down the main street on foot.  No one would ever guess that Tonto was with him every step of the way.  Rob walked around the block and would be the last to reach the bus.  When seven police cars went rushing by about 75 miles an hour on the darkened streets Rob wondered aloud, “What’s that all about and why are they going so fast with out lights or sirens?”

Tonto answered, “There seems to be something of a flap in the city.  Every police precinct has received an urgent dispatch notifying them that the Confederacy is offering a special extraction to any police officer with a CAP of five or better.  The dispatch went on to say that each officer volunteering would be allowed 6 concubines and could return to Earth to make the selection in one week.  All they had to do was be at the Park Hill Cemetery at 03:15 this morning to be accepted.  There was a caution added to the dispatch that a vicious Earth First sniper with a rifle might show up and that would cause the extraction to be cancelled.”

Rob looked at his watch; it was ten past three.  He smiled and began whistling as he rounded the corner into the parking lot and walked toward the bus.  Suddenly there was a bright flare of light in the night sky followed by a fireball.  Park Hill and its cemetery were backlit in the distance.  As he climbed into the bus a solid thump was heard.  Tonto said, "That sounds exactly like a propane tank exploding." 

Rob sub-vocalize his reply, “Well done, you sneaky bastard.  I doubt that you’ll be able to make contact but if you run into Hank Knutson remind him that he is welcome to the fruits of his Earth First labor.”  Gunfire, lots of it, could be heard in the distance.  “Well,” Rob added, “it sounds like Jane Frockman will see him in hell shortly and can give him the message in person.”

Chapter 15 - In Safe Quarters

Reginald Crumbacher took one look at the motel and told his 30-odd armed thugs to stand easy, sending many back to wait beside their cars.  He motioned for Tiny, his Sergeant-at-Arms to join him and walked into the motel office.  The manager looked up at the odd couple.  One was huge and the other a really small, slight man who walked with a swagger.  She picked up the envelope Rob had given her.

“We were expecting to join a party in progress here tonight but the place looks deserted,” Reginald said.

“Yes Mr. Moulton, the manager said, “they had to leave early but they left you this note.”

The handwritten name on the envelope was Clay Moulton.  Reginald reached for it saying, “Thank you.”

Tiny almost blew it as he started to blurt out, “You aint…”

Reginald stepped hard on the giant’s instep and he shut up.  Reginald thought, “Why do I have to suffer these fools?  I would gladly shoot the big dumb ass right in the nuts and let him bleed to death if I didn’t need his size so much.”  Just the thought of their difference in size raised the Earth First Commander’s blood pressure by twenty points.  Then he mulled over his favorite after-thought, “Maybe I will shoot him, someday.  Maybe I’ll get that pleasure.  Right in the nuts!”

Ripping open the note he began to read.  The young manager took a look at the red tint beginning to flush down the Commander's face from his forehead toward his neck and headed toward the back office, glad that she had been warned.  As she closed the door and began moving toward a room further from the front office she heard, “COCK SUCKING MOTHER FUCKERS!” through the closed door.

Tiny backed up to the front door.  He was just bright enough to stay away from the boss during a blow-up.

Reginald’s face and neck were bright red and his voice rose so high it squeaked, “Who’s the fucking rat and how did that bitch Frockman let them get away?  How many plants do they have in my command?  Who the fuck do they think they are fucking with me like this?”

He slammed the note into Tiny’s chest and stormed outside.  The big man read:

Clay,

Great job tonight!  Your mole at EF tipped us that they were on the way and we’ve extracted early.  You’ve done a great job penetrating those asshole’s organization and they haven’t a clue.   What do you have, 15 or 16 on the inside now?  I’ll wager that you’ll get your Captain's bars when you get back aboard Star Dancer.

Your extraction point has been changed.  You can be ported out whenever you are ready.  Go to the vacant Snarkie’s Pizza Parlor a block and a half east of here.  Use your standard code on the keypad.  The trans-mat is already in place so you can use it any time in the next three months before Dancer ships.

Pete

Rob told the others about the contents of the note as they drove across town.  Jason laughed his ass off saying, “Crap dad, you’re every bit as sneaky as Tonto.  They are going to tear themselves to pieces trying to root out Clay’s moles.”

“Reginald is going to shit,” Katie said.  “He won’t know if he should try to kill everyone and start fresh or spend all his time watching Snarkie’s.  I love it and I love you,” as she planted a big wet smooch on her husband.  “Maybe we should actually have a Clay Moulton in our employ.  Any idea where we could find one?”

Rob hugged his wife, rubbing his hand on her backside and said, “I think it’s a lot safer to just screw with their minds.  In a few years the dickheads will resolve the Earth First problem.

“Let’s get home and get an hours sleep.  We have a lot of people coming in the morning and the next few days.  Their children will all be frightened or wired, the little ones will be both.  We have to figure out how we are going to assemble our pre-pack for pick up.  Our house, even with the Dobb’s place across the street, isn’t going to be nearly large enough and we mustn’t draw attention to ourselves or we’ll have to play the Waltzing Melissa game with Reginald again.  Does anyone have a suggestion for a better gathering place?”

“Doctor Hamilton,” Val said once the ambulance dropped them off at the house, “let me get the rest of the family together for this conversation.  We all want to know how we can help Sara and what you’ve decided for treatment.”

When Rob, Katie and the kids gathered in the kitchen of the family home they all introduced themselves to Sandra Hamilton.  It was almost breakfast time but no one seemed overly tired.  That’s not to say that the five Tufts were ready for a day of skiing or surfing, they didn’t have a lot of energy left but weren’t particularly sleepy either.  Both Val and Katie wondered how Ellie and Jason could keep their eyes open, remembering that despite their looks they were still 11 and 13 years old.  The kids were still alert and in better shape than the older Tufts.  They had seen much evidence of the nanites making changes in their lives, the ability to work long hours without exhaustion or a demanding need for sleep was another new experience that they enjoyed.  But, they also could look with longing at a hot bath and warm bed, not superhuman but clearly improved.

With a fresh cup of coffee to keep her awake Doctor Hamilton said,  “It is amazing that Sara was able to get out of her stepfather's house, let alone walk all that distance to the Community Center.  Her injuries are not just on the surface but I need diagnostic equipment to look inside.  I can feel a small hernia in the anterior wall of the abdomen and at a very minimum there must be internal bruising, perhaps seepage too.  She is tough but I need to get her into a hospital.  I would take her to City General but since I’m an ER specialist there they wouldn’t allow me to be her primary physician.  Besides, the minute I get there they will put me on duty with all the explosions and gunfire we heard tonight.  The hospital is short staffed now that the extractions are taking so many high scoring professionals.”

At Tonto’s urging Ellie asked, “How long will Sara have to be in the hospital and where can we go that you can be her doctor?”

“If she needs surgery, and it is almost certain that she does, she will be in the surgery ward and recovery at least five days and it could be eight or nine,” the doctor replied.  “To answer your second question about where, I don’t know.  Neither of the two large hospitals would allow it and I don’t have a contract with any of the four area clinics that might have the necessary equipment.  I wish the Naval Air Station hospital were still open, I did have practice and operating privileges there and often filled in when they were short on ER docs.  It was such a complete hospital, it’s a shame that they mothballed it when they closed the base.”

Tonto spoke to the entire family at once. “Naval Air Station Magnuson is very lightly staffed with just 86 people maintaining the entire base.  There are four technicians who keep the hospital up, it can be fully functional in about three days time and could begin receiving and treating patients tonight, without advanced notice, if there were a doctor on duty.”

Speaking sub-vocally Rob asked, “Tonto, can you gain us access and the necessary authority so we could have full run of the hospital without making the base staff ask too many questions?”

Tonto replied, again to the full family, “Electronic orders have just been posted stating that a civilian research team has taken some causalities while working on a Black Budget project.  Base personnel are gearing up for your arrival now, the one hospital technician on duty now has begun opening the emergency facilities to receive injured and stranded researchers.  He has just sent word for the other three hospital techs to report by 0700 hours.  Do you want to designate Doctor Sandra Hamilton as Chief of Staff at the hospital?”

Val nodded silently to give Tonto the go ahead.

“Dr. Hamilton has so been posted.”

Val spoke for the family,  “Sandra, we hope you have some time because we need to bring you up to date.  There is much to tell.  We are about to make good on our implied promise.  Ellie, get Sandra a fresh cup of coffee.”

---

Just before 8:00AM the freshly pregnant Doctor Sandra Hamilton checked in with Medical Technician Charlie Blackmun, presented her authorization and ID and asked for his help pushing the gurney with Sara strapped on toward Radiology.  She smiled inside.  Just a few short hours ago she was frustrated and held little hope.  Now she was a member of the Tufts family, was going to have Rob’s baby and stood a 90+ percent chance of joining the intimate family so enriched by Tonto’s nanites.  She liked the odds and the fast track acceptance.

Medical Technician Charlie Blackmun was a huge man.  He was also exceedingly gentle as he placed the semi-conscious patient on the CAT scan bed.  He strapped on his lead apron and stepped into the control booth while saying, “Doctor, Jake is prepping operating room number one, do you know the way?”

“Yes,” she replied, “I’m going to shower and change before scrubbing up.  Will you send the scan results to the monitor in the prep area then bring Sara down and assist.  I’m interested in your interpreting of the scan results?” 

“We’ll be there in 15, maybe 20 minutes,” was his reply. 

As she left the room she looked back over her shoulder at the blackest skin she had ever seen and wondered what it would be like to have that gigantic body smothering hers.  Her smile widened and her hips gained an extra wiggle.  She marveled at what Rob had done to her but she had no idea that she could still be horny after those remarkable orgasms.  She was, however very horny and very happy.

Sara Miller was about to get the best medical treatment available on Earth without med-tubes or injected nanites.  The CAT scans were helpful but were nothing compared to the information that passed through Val’s hands as they pressed on Sara’s bare shoulders.  Tonto’s imaging capabilities displayed a vast trove of medical information.  Just like Doctor Scout so many years earlier, the direct body contact made every detail, every cell and every molecule appear as if under an electron microscope.  Both Val and Ellie were there to advise the doctor and they were both using language that neither understood.  However, it was crystal clear to Doctor Sandra Hamilton as it was the language of advanced emergency medicine.  The combination of Human and Organic Linked Nanite functionality was being demonstrated at its best.  Sandra wondered how fantastic it would be in a few months when she was a fully participating family member and didn’t need a translator to join with Tonto.  As the scalpel moved in her hands with practiced sureness she excised the damaged tissues, she was silently urging her unformed babies to get with the program and share those nanites with her.

---

Rob and Jason were sharing the duties at the Dobbs and Tufts homes.  Women, men and families from the motel meeting were straggling up in two and threes.  When enough had arrived to fill the mini bus they had rented Rob or Jason would lead a meeting.  They let everyone know that once they left for the gathering spot there would be no turning back.  It would be just as if they were off planet, if they didn’t have something or someone with them it would be too late to go back.  There were a couple of exceptions.  Some of the women who would be taking minor children didn’t have custody at the moment.  Just as in a standard pickup, the sponsor could send for the children and if they were found they would be joining their concubine parent.  Everyone with a CAP score below 6.5 was told in detail the limits and responsibilities of a concubine and they had to make the choice now.  Throughout the day only three women and one man got back in their cars and left.

With everything said, one of the men would drive the busload to the Naval Air Station.  None of the concubines knew where they were going and once at the base they wouldn’t be allowed to leave.  Even if they changed their minds and decided that the concubine life was not for them, they wouldn’t step outside the fence until the extraction was completed.  Rob and Jason couldn’t just send folks over, as part of a “Black Budget Project” security would allow no one on the base unescorted.  Even off-duty naval personnel were locked out.   As soon as the bus pulled away the man left at the house would begin gathering the next ‘class,’ making sure they had everything and sending those who didn’t back home to complete their small family group for the pre-pack.

The handful of sponsors were given a different orientation which included an intense grilling directed by Tonto.  If they couldn’t become one hundred percent loyal to the family they would have to find their own concubines and arrange their own pickup.  One of the sponsors was there by special invitation.  Doctor Horace Hamilton was the 58-year-old veterinarian father of ER doctor Sandra Hamilton who was now so busy at the Naval Air Station Hospital.  Horace had been a widower for 8 years, his wife having succumbed to cancer.  His CAP of 8.1 was impressive but, like his daughter, he had not volunteered since he had been told, again just like his daughter, that his skills as a veterinarian were outdated and worthless.  He had always been Sandra’s champion and mentor and though the years they were close, he was willing to stay on Earth with her.  After her mother’s death Sandra spent extra time whenever possible with her daddy.  Unlike the Tufts, there was no sexual relationship between father and daughter, they simply loved one another and shared many interests.  Their frequent late night conversations were cherished by both. 

Katie was near by the Tufts and Dobbs homes but not with her men or the arriving concubines.  She was sitting on a swivel chair high in the cupola of the Catholic Church located at the near end of the next block.  When she talked to the parish priest about taking a full set of daytime ‘pictures’ from the high spire she mentioned that Father Nicholas O'Donnell of the Cosca Conference had recommended this location.  The young priest was instantly flustered and rushed off to make a phone call.  Several minutes later he carried his own office chair up the ladder for Katie and offered to bring her water and sandwiches if she would just rattle the bell chains.  You would have thought he was talking to the pope in person and he addressed her with awe.  He tended to divert his eyes toward the floor in her presence and was clearly flustered.  Katie looked the young priest over with admiration for his strength in this unique situation, some would have thought him a weakling but she realized that he was fully devoted to his calling and was being asked to make a radical change without advanced instructions.  He was handling it well.  She also wondered what his CAP score might be.

Katie’s cameras were unique.  The big one was a Remington 700 XCR in a .300 Winchester Magnum with a 26 inch barrel and a 40X scope.  She had a little camera too, another Remington.  The lightweight Model 552 autoloader would spit out .22 caliber long rifle ammo at an amazing rate and it was almost silent.  A target might be dead three times before they knew they were hit by the baby-sized bullets.  Katie actually owned both weapons and had fired competitively during college.  She was good at targets but was more than a little nervous.  She had no experience with living targets other than a tree or two.  Hopefully Earth First was so busy “cleansing” their own ranks and watching a vacant pizza parlor that by the time they got wind of this operation it would be all over.  Still, it was reassuring to the group to have a markswoman high above the scene.  Tonto could provide a ton of information and he could even help Katie pick targets and correct the aim of the rifle.  However, he couldn’t pull a trigger.

Chapter 16 - Move ‘Em Out

Back at the Naval base Val had finished her part in the surgery.  Doctor Hamilton was aided by Medical Technician Charlie Blackmun, the giant corpsman who was beginning to look at the pixie-like ER doctor with raw lust.  He almost dropped a tray of suturing materials before he forced himself to regain his professionalism.  Sandra decided she had best stop with the teasing body language but could do nothing at the moment about the pheromones of lust she sent wafting his way.

Three of the four surgical repairs were in Sara’s abdomen, the fourth was a serious tear inside her vagina.  Sandra would keep her lightly sedated until she could be placed in a Confederation med-tube to accelerate her recovery.  The repair to her psyche would be up to Jason and the family until she could be impregnated with their organic linking nanites.  While the electro/mechanical nanites of the Confederacy could boost libido by the adjustment of hormones and could reverse even childhood brain damage when it existed, they were powerless to alter mental functions such as fears or adjust attitudes.  Tonto’s organic linking nanites could work to modify the sub-molecular nodules on the dendrites of an individual brain cell which could alter or refine memory; but far more effective was their ability to flood her entire brain with the absolute knowledge that she was loved, safe and protected.  Under that stimulus Sara would modify her own thought processes, speeding her toward recovery.  The problem was how to get Tonto’s nanites into her system.  She would have to become pregnant by Jason and wait until the nanites could back-infuse her system from the babies.  It would be some time after her recovery in the med-tubes that she would be capable of the intercourse and the following 12 minutes extended lock time necessary to complete that nanite transfer.  Perhaps it would be much longer before she would be mentally capable of making love and receiving love.  More than her body had been damaged.

Ellie stayed on to monitor Sara’s breathing and heartbeat under the influence of the anesthetic while the experts finished closing Sara’s incisions and dressing her wounds.  Ellie was attentive to the machines but was itching to go as the family conversation through Tonto made her aware that both of the houses and the base hospital were frantic with concubine activity.  Val was on a dead run trying to get the new arrivals settled into hospital rooms.  She was having some trouble with kids who wanted to scatter all over the place because they were bored after being TV for more than five minutes.  Val couldn’t begin to remember all that had been discussed with each person during the interview process but Tonto’s memory was photographic and flawless.

He urged Val to place the next three women and all their kids in conference room seven.  He instructed her to have the two white women stay to tend the children while Sarta, a woman who appeared to be a Black and Hispanic combination, joined her in directing the flow of human traffic.  Val took Tonto’s advice telling the two women that there would be a number of other children joining them as the kid’s mothers were put to work feeding, housing and solving logistical problems.  Both women had outstanding mothering scores and took to the task with pride.  On their own they found a small kitchen with snacks, soft drinks and goodies.  They also talked one of the navy enlisted men working in the hospital into wheeling a large screen TV with a DVD player into the conference room.  The man knew where the video library was and even brought in a big stack of older movies and cartoons that were favorites with the kiddy set.

Sarta felt right at home.  Her six years experience as a Sheriff’s deputy specializing in crowd control made this a cakewalk.  She began dividing the incoming women and children according to the size of families and grouping them with friends, family or work associates.  She could tell at a glance who would get along well, who had some leadership potential, and who needed their hands held or bottoms spanked.  Thankfully there weren’t many of the latter and those all were youngsters.  Val and Tonto talked about the numbers and quickly came to realize that their pre-pack, which now included a number of extra sponsors, would outstrip the hospital's 90 beds.  Sarta began arranging sleeping shifts and assigning groups to mess hall duty and eating rotations.  Her skill was a thing of beauty.

By seven in the evening the last of the concubines and volunteers were secure in the hospital.  The abandoned cars had been scattered at a number of car dealerships with the keys left in the ignition.  The dealers could try to sort it out.  Base security had received additional orders and pressed their limited staff into extra shifts.  The guards at all four base entrances were doubled and an armed backup team was assigned to staff the security center located at mid-post.  The highly electrified middle fence situated between the outer and inner fences around the base had long been in standby mode.  It was again charged and both the upper wire set and the hidden three strand near the ground were hot.  Someone who had managed to climb the tall outer fence and it’s concertina wire cap to approach the mid-fence wouldn’t get a little zap, they would get dead in a cloud of acrid smoke that would stink of burning human flesh.  It was designed not only as a high security device but also as a deterrent to anyone dumb enough to play follow the Earth First leader. 

Base staff, who had been on easy street for almost two years, were snapped to attention and knew their military careers were dependant on keeping the Black Budget research team secure with no contact of any sort to or from the outside.  Land telephone communications were cut off in the hospital, only the security posts could telephone and then only to base headquarters.  Base headquarters did have secure lines of communications up the chain of command.  They had been instructed that while the Black Budget team was on base there would be radio and telephone silence.  No incoming calls were received at the hospital.  The base cell phone tower was placed on stand-by and the cell phone jamming system was activated for the first time.

Finished at the watchtower Katie returned to her home.  She would be the last to leave the house that had been their home ever since Jason had been born.  Before heading to the base she carefully locked her two ‘cameras’ in the gun safe and took a long final look at her old way of life.  She was as eager as the rest of the family to move toward the future but was a touch nostalgic at walking away from her past.  She was thankful that she had spent the entire day in the church spire without having to take a single ‘picture.’  “Well, Tonto,” she said aloud, “I guess they could use some help at the Navy Base?”

“Yes, Katie,” the voice in her ear said, “we need your hands to help scan all the folks who have arrived to be certain that they are what we are looking for and to assure that they are not part of those who are looking for us in anger.”

Her trip was short, in just 15 minutes she was cleared and on base.  Ellie and Katie began making the rounds of the hospital, each taking a separate wing.  They talked to each person briefly and assigned them a letter and number as directed by Tonto.  The concubines weren’t told that they had been given a classification, Tonto knew and wouldn’t forget.  Tonto notified Rob that there were nine eligible sponsors among the base staff according to records and that seven of them might fit in with the family.  There were also perhaps 24 men and women who would be worth considering for inclusion as concubines.  Rob used base security to contact those Tonto identified and had them sitting in the hospital mess hall when Val made that portion of the rounds.  Val shook hands with each one, holding on with both of her hands for a few seconds as she chatted about how much their service and protection was appreciated.  She made sure to mention that their quality work would reported and would improve their standing with the U.S. Navy.  Her staunch refusal to take any bait about the nature of their secret project and her complete lack of response to the term “Black Budget” reinforced the impression of top secret status for the group.

When she had thanked them all she headed for a family meeting that was gathering in the Hospital Commandant’s meeting room.  Just as she walked in she heard Rob call out four names over the mess hall loud speakers.  He called the names of one of the sponsors and three of the potential concubines, announcing that they were needed at their regular duty stations and should return there now.  He also advised the other base staff to remain in the mess hall pending a special assignment.  Military people are all familiar with 'hurry up and wait.'

Rob then led the family discussion. “We have 148 people here in the hospital when we include the navy personnel who have sponsor scores and the 21 potential concubines from the base staff.  Tonto, have you sorted them all out?”

“Yes,” Tonto replied, “but I would like to invite Doctors Sandra and Horace Hamilton to join us in this meeting.  They will have to listen to me through your voice but I believe they have much to add to the decision making process.”

Val stepped into the next room and called Sandra.  The elder Hamilton was out in the hallway but saw the interchange and looked up.  Val waved for him to join her too.  When they returned to the meeting and closed the doors Tonto began, “Rob will be my voice to the two good doctors.  Is that acceptable?”

Rob explained to the father daughter team that Tonto would be speaking the words they would hear from his mouth and he would try hard to eliminate any confusion.  Sandra had a good understanding and nodded her head.  She also said, “I’ve tried to explain the concept of a Combined Being that includes Tonto and you guys to daddy but I doubt I really know enough to get it right.  Will you be OK with this daddy?”

The tall veterinarian looked at the group, “I’ll make notes and try to save any questions until an appropriate time.  I wouldn’t think it should be any harder than trying to communicate with a sick turtle or an upset Pit Bull,” he said with a smile.

No one was more surprised than Rob was when Tonto began to speak.  Rob wasn’t repeating or translating.  His voice simply changed to sound exactly the way Tonto’s voice sounded in their inner ears and the words flowed directly from Tonto’s thoughts to Rob’s voice with perfect synchronization.

Tonto said, “We have a total of 146 persons in the hospital including the navy people and each of us.  There are 19 sponsors and 126 concubines; two of the concubines are pregnant.  Val, when your husband, Dan, and his sister arrive in about twenty minutes the totals will be 20 sponsors and 128 concubines, for the total of 148 that I originally mentioned.”

“Dan and Maria are on the way?” Val shouted, obviously excited.  “When, how…?”

Tonto cut her off, “He retested on his birthday and scored 7.7.  He is entitled to four concubines but will defer until the whole family can be part of the decision.  He deeply yearns to be back with Val, his children and grandchildren now that he has Maria safely with him.  They are both happy and are looking forward to being part of our family again.

“Using Ellie and Katie as my scanners I have re-interviewed all of the people we brought from town.  With computer records and Val's assistance I also interviewed all of the navy people and eliminated one sponsor and three concubine potentials as unsuited for our family.  Assuming we have correctly estimated the scores of the five family members, our sponsors will be entitled to a total of 120 concubines.  The eight extras in our count are for possible last minute defections and any supernumeraries that may be assigned.  Each sponsor has been matched with a number of concubines that will be highly compatible.  There are more in each sponsors compatibility group than they have allotments.  The sorting and selection process will be speeded significantly but there is room for discretion on the part of both sponsors and concubines.  A few pairings will look exclusive but genetic diversity requires cross-fertilization.  All initial fertilizations will be made by Rob or Jason to assure that our nanite-enhanced family grows at the fastest possible rate.”

Jason asked, “Won’t that cause hard feelings, particularly among the male sponsors?  Most guys wouldn't take kindly to having one of the bosses knock up his new brides.  Ben Stoddard went for it but may begin brooding about his decision in the future.”

“Yes,” Tonto continued, “jealousy is an unfortunate factor in the human psyche, particularly among males who generally seem to be less adaptable and less secure than females.  However, what the sponsors and concubines do not know they cannot reject.  It seems harsh but if the concubines were to be aware of the mating they would become hopelessly bonded to Rob or Jason during the 12 minute period that is required for the nanites to safely make the transfer.  To avoid those complications we need to  manipulate the situation to assure that both concubines and sponsors believe that the resulting pregnancy is of their own doing.  That is part of why our two distinguished doctors are in on this conversation.  They will be major players in pulling off this deception.  A little happy gas during a medical exam will make the mating possible.

“Jason and Rob, I are aware that you are very uncomfortable with this idea.  Jason, with the fervor of youth, may seriously consider refusing to take part.  Remember, because of your activity, ninety percent of these women will become active nanite family members, just as Sandy is now progressing toward full incorporation.”

“Me, already?” Sandy asked.

“Yes, Sandy.  All three of your zygotes are reaching the blastocyst stage and have fully incorporated the nanites.  Excess nanites are created abundantly in the pre-placental stage and have begun to be absorbed into your uterine wall.  Your body is welcoming them so it is assured that you will become fully united with the family.  The process is long and will not be completed until several months of blood exchange between you and the developing embryos, but it is underway and success is assured.

“As I was saying, 90 percent of the women you impregnate will also become family members and for them there will be no further need to mate with you to produce nanite children.  Also note, the more humans we incorporate into the combined family the greater the reasoning and computational power we amass.  With our existing five members we have no way to incorporate Dan or other males into the nanite family.  With fifteen family members our reasoning capability goes up dramatically, it is not an dditive process, rather the power goes up by the square of the sum.  That is why with only three human units we were limited to small screen text presentations. But when we added Ellie and Jason much more became possible: full speech, world wide computer network integration, heads up displays, constant interfamily communication over distance, Observer database accessibility and finally, connectivity with Confederacy AIs.  There is more but those are the big items.  At this time we do not have the power to determine how vast our combined network may become nor may we determine what limitations might remain.

“We will gain power exponentially and incorporating adult women into the network is the fastest way to grow.  All children born will be of the family and will be connected at a certain level.  However, just as this process couldn’t start before Ellie turned eleven…”

“Ellie’s only eleven?” Sandy blurted.  “I’ve worked with her, she has the body of a sixteen or eighteen year old young woman and the mental maturity several years above that.”

“That is correct, Sandy,” Tonto responded, “Girls will reach the age when nanite enhancement is possible  between ten and twelve years old, boys are about two years later.  Until physical brain growth reaches that point we can only communicate and heal, we cannot tap their potential.  We also cannot accelerate physical growth before that."  Still addressing Sandy's outburst Tonto added, "Jason will celebrate his fourteenth birthday soon.  He isn’t the sixteen years of age he now appears.

“But when mature women like Sandy reach nanite saturation at about seven to eight months gestation, their completely developed brain is ready to fully join and empower the family.  Rob and Jason, do you still have objections to our plan to incorporate female concubines into the family by trickery?”

Jason had his head down, deep in thought.  The logic was so clear he couldn’t come up with an argument, yet it went against everything he knew or believed.

Rob was the first to speak.  “Sandy, do you and your dad know how to make this work?”

“Dad does,” Sandy answered.  “He has worked with many rare and endangered animals in zoo and sanctuary settings.  Often the animals will refuse to breed and in some species, the big cats are a good example, artificial insemination isn’t very effective.  Dad, what do you do?”

“Over the years tranquilizer technology and administration has truly improved,” the vet said, “for this use I would suggest Diazepam in a moderate dose and administered with a tiny dose of Ketamine along with hypnotic suggestion.  Ketamine is a veterinary-use-only drug that some people market illegally as a date rape drug.  The ladies will be out of it but their bodies will be fully responsive; they will have little or no memory of the event.  However, I would like to offer another suggestion?”

“Please do,” Rob said.  “The drug approach sounds so awful I don’t think I could get it up, let alone complete the deed.  I don’t think that approach is workable.  I have never believed that the ends justify the means.”

Wisdom that is associated with age is often a myth; a stupid young man will become a stupid old man if he survives, but sometimes…  The elder Doctor Hamilton said, “Can we wait three weeks to initiate the extraction?  If that is possible then seventy-five to eighty-five percent of the women who are not pregnant now will come into a fertile cycle.  You’ve already had try-out sex with many and no one in our current society is going to be upset by extended trials.  Before we begin to match any of the sponsors and concubines, before bonding and associated jealousy can become a factor, lets get as many women pregnant as possible.”

Sandy asked, “What about the bonding effect that takes place during the long locking pattern?  At one point Tonto said the bond was so tight that a woman would never be interested in mating with anyone else, ever; but that doesn’t seem to be the case between the Tufts nor has it effected me that way.  Oh, I do love Rob with all my heart and want to be near him.  But I also love Jason, Ellie, Katie and Val; and I must admit that big Charlie Blackmun, you know the Navy Medical Technician, lights my fires.  I can almost feel his weight smothering my body and it makes me shiver.  Do you think that Doctor Scout and Tonto both have something to learn about the polyamorous nature of human beings?”

Ellie spoke up, “Jason is my first love but I can't believe I’ll ever want to say no to dad; and genetic viability says I should bear children by a number of other men.  I find the idea exciting.  I’m not a orgy type person, but a big, hunky guy can make me purr in my imagination and I’m willing to try out the reality when the time is right.”

Tonto paused a quarter second to review the facts on more than a million pages of data, “I stand corrected.  I was so bound up in Observer history that I failed to recognize the evidence of human variability.  Having some of the women bonded to Jason or Rob might be advantageous, are there situations that we might want to prevent that bonding and if so can that be done doctor?”

“Yes,” both doctors said at once.  Sandra continued after her father nodded in acquiescence to her superior knowledge of human medicine.  “A very small dose of Diazepam, that’s Valium, taken voluntarily should reduce the emotional connection without reducing the odds of impregnation.  The women will enjoy and participate eagerly but the event will seem just a bit dreamy for them.  I think we can give them the option and let them decide to bond or not.  The big question is, do we have two or three weeks?”

“Tonto,” Rob said, “Will you please do a computer search of signs of activity that might endanger our status here on the navy base?  Also run a risk analysis of delaying one, two and three weeks.  From the examination that you did when the women arrived you should know about fertility cycles and be able to determine the optimum time for impregnation.”

The five Tufts felt an absence within themselves for a  half second before Tonto began his report.  “The risk of discovery and interference does rise with time.  We still require some time for our own purposes.  All five Tufts and some of the others will need to be CAP tested and, to be safe, we must get the Confederacy to set up a testing site here on the base.  That will take most of a week at the earliest.  There are a total of 129 females aged 14 and above in the hospital counting sponsors and concubines.  Eight are currently pregnant.  Within the next seven days 41 percent of the remaining 123 women, will experience ovulation.  That is 51 new opportunities for family expansion through pregnancy.  During the second 7 days another 16 percent will ovulate, that is 20 women.  The third 7-day period matches the time of maximum menstruation for the group.  Only three older women will become fertile.  There seems to be little advantage in waiting past 14 days."

He continued, “The risk of discovery leading to disruption is low in the first seven day period, and only slightly higher in the second seven days; it increases significantly after that.  The odds that Earth First will learn of our presence by day 14 are just above 50 the percentile mark but there is little likelihood that they will be able to act during that time.  The odds of them taking action between day 14 and 21 are 86.2 percent.  A frontal assault is unlikely to be successful as the base is well defended, but a poisoned water supply is a real possibility.”

Looking at his hastily scratched notes Jason asked his dad, “Pop, there are 71 women who will be fertile in the next two weeks.  Is it even possible we could impregnate 35 or 36 women each in that time.  That’s two or three women a day!  Won’t the well run dry?”

Rob smiled when he gave a smart-ass answer, “Son, I can do 10 of them if you can take up the other 61.”  Then he turned his attention to Tonto, “Is there the possibility that you can crank up the testosterone levels for us and increase the viable sperm production?”

“Yes,” Tonto replied.  “The typical hit or miss human mating scheme indicates 8 to 10 incidents of insemination during the time a woman is highly receptive to assure success, though it is often accomplished on the first try.  At that rate you each would have to ejaculate approximately 320 times in two weeks or 22 times a day. With our advantages we can all but assure that each single copulation will result in fertilization of at least one ovum.  Still, with a 12-minute lock time for each nanite transfer your schedules will be overly full.  Sperm production, nanite replication, and penile performance will all need to be enhanced to assure an 85 percent success rate when losses due to the failure of the egg to implant are considered.  Will 60 pregnancies suffice?” Tonto concluded, “and alternatively the obvious question must also be asked, is that too many?”

The family members and the two doctors were in a state of shock.  They looked at each other in silence trying to absorb the details and the impact of 60 new babies, perhaps twice that many considering the rate of multiple births Tonto seems to be able to inspire.  Rob got up to pour himself a cup of coffee and poured one for the senior Doctor Hamilton when Horace nodded and smiled. 

Sandra muttered, “Sixty deliveries to make at the very same time I’m delivering my own triplets, it can’t be done.”

“No, it can’t,” said Val.  “Tonto, you said that eight women are now pregnant, we know about Sandra and Ellie, I think it’s important that we know who the other expectant mothers might be before we decide how many to add to the mix.”

Without emotion Tonto intoned, “Val, you are pregnant with twins, Katie with quads, Ellie with twins, Sandra with triplets, Charlotte Wright-Stoddard with triplets, one of the female sponsors with Jason’s twins from the try-outs at the motel, and two of the concubines, each with a single child from a prior relationship.”

“Shit,” said Val, “I thought that might be the case.  We are going to have babies running out our ears in nine months.”

“Grandma, you’re old enough to know that’s not where they come out,” Ellie giggled while rubbing her tummy.

“OK,” Val continued, “that’s already (counting on her fingers) 19 babies at the same time with five of the female sponsors out of commission while they are delivering.  Yet for all those births we only add Sandra and Charlotte to the brainpower mix quickly.  Oh yes, and perhaps Jason’s sponsor friend, Pamela or Camellia or something like that.”

“Carla Pemberton is the name you are seeking, she tests positive for nanite reception,” Tonto said.  “She will join the family as a nanite adult about the same time Doctor Sandra Hamilton and Charlotte Wright-Stoddard does.”

“Here is how I see it,” Val continued.  “We select the five brightest concubine women, those able to add the most to the family's united mental capacity.  The guys take care of impregnating them as soon as possible and we all get busy with CAP testing so we can get out of here within the next 14 days.  If we could do all of that within 10 days I would breathe easier.”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, especially the two doctors Hamilton. 

Tonto noted, “There are 18 concubine women who meet that criteria, seven of them will ovulate in the next four days.”

Rob suggested that the entire family along with the two doctors meet with all seven ladies to lay out the situation and ask for volunteers.  Forty five minutes later they had seven eager volunteers.  Katie could see signs of tension and the possibility of a battle as each woman sought the honor of joining this new way of living and thinking.  “What the hell,” Katie spouted, “the difference between 5 and 7 pregnancies is only 5 or 6 more babies.  That’s more than one each but that is likely, as potent as our husbands are proving to be.  I say we include them all and they are all so bright we couldn’t possibly pick anyone to omit.”  It was good to be flexible.

Ellie and Katie began introducing the sequestered sponsors to selected concubines in the hospital as the match-making began.  It wasn’t quite as wild as an extraction during a rodeo but there was enough test-driving to raise the temperature in the hospital enough for the air conditioning to kick in.  The groups had been modified slightly as all seven of the new family members were being sponsored by Rob, Jason or Horace.  Tonto asked the family how many babies should result from the mating of the new volunteers.  Sandra gave firm instructions, three sets of twins and four single births.  The other family women backed her up.

Rob and Jason had their hands mostly full for the next three days getting to know their new wives.  Horace Hamilton joined in, even with the sex part of the process, three of the seven concubines were going to be his.  However, viable sperm were absent from his seminal fluids.   All ten babies would be nanite children.

Tonto had picked up the human habit of humming as he went about the myriad tasks of arranging for on-site CAP testing, monitoring base security, checking news in general and watching the news footage of the remains of the Knutson home after the massive explosion.  Confederacy to Earth communications, Confederacy AI interactions and the Earth First computer networks were also under his scrutiny.  He notified the family that Earth First Commander Reginald Crumbacher was in an endless rage.  The little man with the bad attitude was certain that Jane Frockman had blown up the Knutson home only after getting Hank to come with her.  Since no reports of bodies, in the house or near Jane’s car in the cemetery, were ever made public he just knew they had both joined the Confederacy to escape Earth by betraying him.  His blood pressure went up another 15 points and stayed there.  He was right about one thing, they had both left this world together.

Chapter 17 - Testing the CAP Scores

The mobile testing truck only had two test capsules and there were more than six who were to be tested.  The order of testing was determined by Valantra and Tonto.  Navy Technician Charlie Blackmun and Valantra would take the first three-hour session.  Rob and Katie got the second set and Jason and Ellie would go last. Ben Stoddard would take his test, along with three concubines who were eligible for retesting after the family tests were complete.  For some unknown reason men always finished fifteen minutes faster women.  Maybe because with more hanging on the outside there was less to test on the inside, anyway it went quicker.  The AI directing this session wasn’t the brightest representative of the Darjee’s creations.  Its only duty was testing humans and with no other function Tonto found little to explore.  He loaded the Test AI with a bias to produce the desired scores and went about other tasks.

Tonto once again explained to the family that he was limiting their CAP results to between 8.6 and 9.5 to keep from triggering alarms.  "We have stacked the deck for the testing for all but Charlie Blackmun.  His score will be whatever he earns.  Val, as the most experienced, I assigned you a 9.5, the other nine level score goes to Katie at 9.1.  Jason is set to receive an 8.8 and Rob an 8.7.  Ellie, I set your score at the low end of our agreed range, 8.6.  Does anyone want to change that order, it will only take seconds and will not raise suspicions.  This AI is unaware that I have access to his evaluation database.”

Jason said, “Tonto, I would rather take the low score and have Ellie at or above a nine.  She might be the most vulnerable and can use every advantage.”

Tonto replied to the group, “We decided on that position hoping to provide the most protection for Ellie.  While you and Ellie appear to be 16 and the testing AI has been programmed to record that age, in fact she is 11 and you are just a few days shy of 14.  The reason that 14 was determined to be the age of testing isn’t logical by human standards.  Puberty would be logical if the main concern was reproduction while somewhere around 20 is when most humans gain enough maturity to function independently, those ages make sense to humankind.  Actually the tests were designed for Darjee younglings reaching for maturity and modified to suit the human brain and psyche.  Prior to age 13 the human brain has growth issues that throw the test scoring for a loop and the Darjee were unable to feel certain of reliable returns prior to age 14, giving themselves a full year to cover the margin of error.  The Darjee databank also indicates that scores for humans have been capped at 10 while the vast majority of the Darjee score considerably higher.  Full citizenship for the Darjee is not based on younglings reaching a specified age but solely on their CAP scores.

“Ellie is a wild card, we cannot be certain how the AI will interpret the results.  Her brain is three years younger than the published minimum and a full two years younger than the Darjee’s margin of error limit.  That is also the reason I suggested to Val that Ellie be tested last.  All other testing will be complete, even yours Jason, and the entire family along with Charlie Blackmun and the Hamiltons will be on site should the need arise for intervention.”

Ellie said, “OK, that makes sense to me and there is no time to fret about that which we cannot know in advance.  Let’s get over there and get it done.”

“Congratulations, Technician Blackmun,” the disembodied voice said, “You are eligible to volunteer for Confederation duty with a CAP score of 7.2.  You may pick up your card at the printer port.  All persons with a score of 6.5 or higher are now advised to be cautious of Earth First activity designed to eliminate potential volunteers.”

Almost twenty minutes later the same flat voice spoke again, “Congratulations, Valantra Tufts, you are eligible to volunteer for Confederation duty with a CAP score of 9.5.  You may pick up your card at the printer port.  All persons with a score of 6.5 or higher are now advised to be cautious of Earth First activity designed to eliminate potential volunteers.”

Rob had climbed into the testing station as soon as Charlie had made room.  Katie had to wait the extra minutes required to complete the test for women before Val’s tube became available.  The lag time would multiply over the 9 hours to complete all three sets of tests.  Jason would have to wait between 45 minutes to an hour for Ellie to reappear.  It was going to be a long day and none of those present felt like going anywhere else.  They were here to keep watch on their family.

The same uninterested voice repeated the identical words, changing only the name and scores each time.  Just as Tonto had predicted, Rob scored 8.7 and a half-hour later Katie learned her score was 9.1.  Jason and the rest of the family were gaining confidence that Tonto had his fix in with the testing AI and all would be well.  Jason actually smiled at Ellie while climbing in for the final set of tests.  He had even more reason to smile when his score, three hours later, was right on Tonto’s pre-set mark of 8.8.

The small group chatted and relaxed with coffee, trying to hold their nerves in check.  It seemed like a long 45 minutes but exactly on time the lid swung open and a very vivacious Ellie jumped out and ran to hug her brother.  She felt wonderful, buzzing with inner joy.

They snapped to alertness when the AI's voice stuttered and rose a full octave while announcing Ellie’s score.  There were no congratulations to start,  “Eloise V. Tufts, you are eligible to volunteer for Confederation duty with a CAP score of…” there was a pause of more than ten seconds before the voice continued, “Ten.” Then there was an even longer pause.  “You may pick up your card at the printer port.  All persons with a score of 6.5 or higher are now advised to be cautious of Earth First activity designed to eliminate potential volunteers.”

The voice dropped to its previous monotone when it announced that Ellie would be immediately extracted to the pod ship Merrily We Roll Along now in Earth orbit.

Tonto was delving deeply into the AI operating system and monitoring the communications between the testing AI and several other AIs in Earth orbit.  Before speaking out loud he instructed Ellie to remain absolutely silent.  “Don’t make any noise of any type, this is critical.  I will tell you when to speak and what to say.”

Using Rob’s voice to speak, Tonto demanded of the AI, “AI, please identify fully the last test subject.”

“Eloise Valantrina Katherine Tufts, Human, age 16 Earth years.”

The Tonto/Rob collaboration said, “AI, please state the human limitation test score.”

“Ten.”

Rob was surprised when his voice next said, “AI, please state the unmodified Darjee test score.”

There was no response and the entire family felt Tonto slip away from them for quite a few seconds.  They sensed that there was a struggle taking place between the intelligences formed by the electro/mechanical Darjee nanites and Tonto.  Some sort of taboo had been breeched and the Darjee AIs were entangled in conflicting directives.  Tonto was fully occupied assuring that the result was determined in Ellie’s favor here and now before an intergalactic conference call could be placed to all the Confederation member species.

The family gathered around Ellie.  At the moment Katie felt naked without a weapon.  Val felt empty without Tonto’s comforting presence.  Navy Medical Tech Blackmun stood and place his full bulk between Ellie and the testing pod even though he had no idea where danger might come from, there was no one in the room except him and the Tufts family.

More than 20 seconds slipped by before they felt Tonto return.

The testing AIs monotone voice was very flat when it responded, “The Darjee test score is 24.8.”

Sub-vocally Tonto said, “Ellie, listen carefully,” the whole family was listening to the silent conversation, “I cannot say the words for you, you must state them exactly as I tell you and you must say nothing more.  Every Darjee youngling practices these words thousands of time while growing up.  They are the gateway to a full Darjee life.  To err can result in mind erasure or death.  I know you understand what I just said and trust you will comply.”

Listening to Tonto carefully Ellie said aloud, “I, Eloise Valantrina Katherine Tufts, having scored in excess of 20 CAP points, claim my right and place as a full Darjee Citizen.  With that citizenship I also claim and demand full membership rights as a citizen of the Confederacy.”

Every mouth in the room, other than Ellie’s, dropped open in shock and surprise.  The shock grew when the AI, now speaking with three voices in harmonic unison said, “Eloise Valantrina Katherine Tufts, Darjee Citizenship is conferred upon your person as are full membership rights in the Confederacy.  Would you like transportation at this time to join your Darjee kin?”

“No,” Ellie responded.  “My human family and I will request extraction as a unit when we are prepared.” And with that simple announcement she led the family out of the room and away from the immediate presence of the testing AI.

“Tonto, what’s up!” she said as soon as they were safely back in the hospital conference room.  “What happened back there and how could you be so wrong about the score?”

“I regret my misunderstanding of the situation,” Tonto said.  “Last night while you were sleeping I ran just over 12,000 simulations of the testing models, the predicted accuracy for the data I shared with you was 99.972 percent.  Nothing in the models came close to predicting what just happened.  I have been in constant contact with the Earth related AI network and all are in a state of shock.  Believing that they were dealing with a 16-year-old brain was their critical error.  Their system simply cannot handle the variations and contradictions within a child stage human brain.  That is why the 14-year age limit was established.  In your test they found thousands of responses that were misinterpreted as correct Darjee answers.  The adult human brain is locked in reality or in fantasy, it cannot be in both places at the same time.  No matter what is happening in a dream or how real it may seem, the adult mind recognizes it as a dream.  It is still possible for you, with your 13-year-old brain, to believe and accept totally that 1 + 1 = 2, and that it does not equal two at the same time, holding both conflicting conclusions to be true within the same thought process.  In your youthful mind dreams can be real.  Think of it as the Santa Claus syndrome, at your age the mind within your brain can both accept and reject the reality of Santa Claus.

“What it means is that you have opened untold doors for this family and all whom they wish to embrace.  However, as the word spreads amongst the Darjee they will be in terror.  Their entire civilization is based on coexistence without violence.  Now they have a citizen with full rights who is not only capable of violence but is the product of a culture where success is often based on violence to the extent that violence is idealized and many practitioners are considered heroes.  Just as they cannot use violence to protect themselves from the Sa’arm, they cannot use violence to contain or eliminate you.  They will try every peaceful means to implant a monitoring device in your central nervous system that will allow them to know exactly where you are and what you are thinking at all times.  Since they cannot fight you or the Sa'arm they can only flee, hide or try to recruit other humans to do their battling.  Humans fighting the Sa'arm on their behalf is only marginally acceptable, it is unthinkable to them that any human should be allowed to do anything to you, or harm any Darjee.  They cannot allow any action that is against your will.  You must never agree to monitoring no matter who makes the request.”

Rob asked, “Tonto, does this throw our pre-pack plans into a mess?  We were planning on six concubines for Ellie when we believed her score would be an 8.6.  How many is she eligible for now?

Tonto researched both his internal database and the databases open to the Confederacy AIs before replying,  “How many does she want?  She does not have the same limits that apply to non-Darjee species.  She may claim any number she pleases.” 

“What now?” asked Jason looking in awe at his sister.

Ellie smiled warmly at him, “I go with you, wherever you go,” and kissed him soundly.

Rob responded for the rest of the family, “We get our act together, open doors and arm humanity with technology they can’t even dream of today.”

Val added, “Watch out Dickheads, the Tufts family is having a reunion and you are invited - to lunch!”

Tonto was puzzled about what those two comments were supposed to mean and what these rash humans he was part of might unleash on the universe.  He had his work laid out before him.

The End of Book One