Chapter 4: Family Planning Of Another Sort

Michael lay with his head pillowed on Rachel's stomach, turned slightly so he could smell the delicious aroma of her recently licked sex. Jimmy and the Nerds were off on the side, quietly playing their seemingly endless sex games. Their appetites and stamina had become legend within his family. Other than those three, Michael was the only one awake. Even Peter and Valerie, who often crept in to sleep with the adults, had long ago drifted off.

<Dora,> he sub-vocalized. <Think with me. I'm worried.>

<Yes, Michael,> she responded promptly. Her image across the room stirred and looked at him, and somehow he was comforted.

<I'm worried about the safety of our family,> he stated bleakly. <As long as one of our sponsor wives is alive, not so much. But should we all die, I'm concerned about protecting our companions and children,> he continued, <I've been reading, and as recommended, I've used the sleep trainers to review the logs, reports, and files of Civil Service officers. Nowhere have I found a consistent, systematic, overarching policy or contract obligating the Confederacy AIs or Confederacy humans to protect and nurture my 'concubines' and dependents in the event of my death.>

Michael paused to gather his thoughts, <To the contrary, I've seen instances when AIs have demanded that 'to conserve resources,' widowed concubines be recycled, or forced from 'their' homes into minimal dormitories or brothels. If not for Civil Service intervention, some might even be sealed into their homes without resources and left to die.>

He was on a roll. <In those cases, only the intervention of a CS representative or threatened mutiny prevented or ameliorated some or all of this travesty! So if we aren't alive, is our contract enforceable? The exact terms of my will? Can you, my spouse and partner, protect my family's lives AND well being? Can you even protect yourself if we are dead?>

Dora was silent.

<Let's broaden this thinking to the Confederacy-human gestalt as a whole,> he directed. <As I said, AIs have asserted conservation of resources to demand the abuse or deaths of concubines of deceased sponsors. I want to know how this conserves resources.>

<We expend time, and even the lives of sponsors, to acquire these concubines and their children. These concubines and children are resources, they are the future of humanity and humanity's ability to defend the Confederacy. Then, sponsors are required to expend time and other resources to protect these widowed concubines from the demands of AIs. Again, what calculations do AIs use to justify their assertion that resources are being conserved? I simply don't see it. Concubines may be property, but so are ships, weapons, mines, and factories. As such, they all should be conserved, protected, and improved.>

Michael paused again before launching into his next point. <AIs and humanity have been in association long enough for AIs to observe the different level of CAP scores attained from one colony to another. Are they too rigid to notice in the colonies that differing cultural environments produce differing rates of successful development of sponsors? They certainly noticed initially when some Earth-based cultures were banned from CAP testing or sponsorships. So how is it they try or tried to require conditions almost certain to lower the CAP scores of affected dependents and concubines -- maybe even sponsors? I don't understand.>

His frustration growing, Michael's thoughts poured forth, <Punitive actions against innocent, widowed concubines and their children is almost certain to produce the type of damaged individual that the Confederacy professes to proscribe and fear. Without a policy and practice of protection, that could be my family. YOUR family! Even with a motivated CS representative involved, where is their assured protection?>

<I don't know. It wasn't a concern directly influencing me -- until now,> confessed a highly disturbed Dora.

Michael began to outline his final concern. <The Confederacy and AIs have made strong points that neither the sentient beings nor the AIs of the Confederacy can 'pull the trigger' or take direct action resulting in harm to any sentient or even simply sapient being. Am I correctly stating the fact?> he asked.

<You are correct.> came her response.

<So, how is demanding or requiring the death of a sapient or even just sentient concubine different than conducting the actual execution?> Michael questioned.

<And how were AIs able to take actions that harm the sentient concubines of deceased sponsors? Locking them down without sustenance and without informing other sponsors is every bit as direct an aggressive action as pulling the trigger on a laser aimed at a Sa'arm.> Michael was struggling to sub vocalize instead of shouting.

Michael continued, <It seems to me, that an entity or AI that could instigate or allow such treatment, could instigate or allow it against any of the races of the Confederacy who you tell us are equally defenseless.>

Spewing ideas and questions almost on a free association basis, Michael asked, <And what about keeping armed ships with no means to fight them? Where's the sense in that? And explain the K'treel Explorers -- AIs assert that they are new experiments -- why are they armed? Something smells rotten in Denmark. What are the AIs hiding here?>

<And what about the collateral damage to dependents? Explain the paradigm that prohibits consensual sex for dependents under fourteen, but allows or demands conditions that traumatizes or could even kill them if they lose their sponsor.> He was now on the verge of ranting.

<I can't,> came the almost whisper in his head.

<Dora, as I understand it, you did some kind of separation that let you keep family team matters confidential, and to avoid compromising information flow into the wrong channels,> Michael queried, calmer now.

Dora responded, <Michael, AIs can split off a bud that most frequently acts as an independent legal representative. I was a different, but similarly necessary use, and as you know, that separation plus association let me become me. Do you have such a need that I can't help you with myself?> She almost sounded hurt.

Michael thought a moment and asked, <I think we need a representative on legal and contract matters that include but extend beyond our family and our current activities. I have no worries that you know about these matters since you are bound to us. Do you agree a separate entity is necessary?>

<Yes, Michael, that is so,> came Dora's response, followed by a new, masculine voice.

<I have chosen to use the name Jubal.>

<Welcome, Jubal,> Michael spoke. <Has Dora briefed you on my contracts, my concerns about my family's future, and the broader question about concubines and dependents in general?>

<Yes, Michael James. Dora has summarized your questions and assertions for me. I have the relevant portions of your discussions with her.>

Dora interjected privately, <Michael, Jubal is completely unaware of my 'humanity' or even my separate existence. Our discussion was edited to exclude my familial relationship, but I couldn't resist pushing his name on him.>

<Jubal, I want you to represent me and forward my questions and concerns to the AI community at large for a response.>

<I can do that.> Jubal answered, <But the response could take a long time.>

<Thank you. Do you understand the issues at hand and how to present them? Why don't you lay them out for me?>

Jubal did so to Michael's satisfaction.

<Fine job,> Michael responded. <Now I have a final instruction. Tell the AI community that as a duly appointed Civil Service Officer and as a sworn peace officer of one of humanity's governments, I require an acceptable response to my questions and concerns. Until I and my appointed superiors receive such acceptable answers justifying your positions, I am requiring all AIs to protect and succor all concubines and dependents of deceased sponsors. I will regard failure to do so as willful murder of sentient beings.>

<I depart. I will return,> and Jubal was gone.

There was the sound of clapping in Michael's head.