Chapter 7

Four people in a queen-size bed are a lot. Especially since they had always slept alone. Well, Jenny hadn't slept with anyone for years. Whenever one of them had moved or turned over, at least one more had been awakened.

Kayla felt Michael spoon up behind her. Then she felt his hard cock pressed against her butt. She tried to go back to sleep, but the thought of that cock going unused preyed on her mind. She finally gave up. She reached behind her, lined him up with her entrance, and slowly pressed him home. God! That felt so wonderful! She felt so safe, so loved in this bed, with her new lovers. She started gently moving her hips, trying to get friction.

She felt Stacy roll toward her. Soon, she felt Stacy's hand on her breast. Stacy nuzzled in and gave her a gentle, loving, but deep kiss. "Shhh," whispered Stacy, who snaked her way down Kayla's body, kissing and licking all the way. When she reached Kayla's center, Stacy nudged her leg back and over Michael's. She started to slowly and gently lick her new sister's pussy.

Of all the fantasies she had ever had, Kayla had never dreamed of being fucked and licked at the same time. The very idea of it, combined with the sensations, sent her lust rocketing. It took Herculean effort to keep her motions restrained, lest she wake Michael, and maybe even Jenny behind him. And so she found herself restrained, as though bound, if only by her own need not to disturb the rest. That too added gasoline to the flames of desire coursing through her.

Stacy's questing tongue, combined with Michael's cock sunk deep within her, soon had tiny orgasms rippling through her body in wave after wave. Stacy's tongue was circling and lapping over her clit. Holding her body relatively still only made her lust climb higher and higher. Finally, she felt the jets of the still-sleeping Michael's release deep within her. Like a lightning bolt, a powerful orgasm struck her entire body, doubling her over. She trembled and quaked. When she had recovered, she pulled Stacy back up to her and they shared deep, loving kisses. They fell back to sleep.

Bob was gently shaken awake. He snapped to semi-alertness and began to carefully extricate himself from his sleeping daughter. It certainly wasn't morning yet, but the log in his pants said otherwise. He hoped he could hide his condition long enough to make it to the bathroom. He was doubly embarrassed that he had been cuddled up to his own flesh and blood.

Sleeping on the hard floor had caused him to wake often. Having Sandy wrapped in his arms had made it worse -- she wasn't used to sleeping with another, and her apparently vivid dreams had caused the motions of her young body to be more pronounced than her mother's ever were. He silently prayed that Sandy had slept soundly. He was at least comforted in the knowledge that he hadn't waked with his hands on the wrong parts of her body.

Jean laid the sap beside him, told him quietly that they'd settled all the kids in their bedding, and wished him good night. By the time he had managed to rise and was seeing that the blanket still covered Sandy, Jean had moved to join her husband on the other side of the room. He 'pocketed' the sap under his belt in the small of his back and padded off to relieve himself.

His beer consumption sent down the sewer pipe and his face washed, he emerged from the rest room. He found Ellen serving coffee for them both. "Good morning, sunshine," she greeted him. "I don't think caffeine is going to help very much. I don't know which is worse, one hour's sleep, or none." She smiled.

"At least you didn't have to share a blanket with a wiggle-worm," chuckled Bob. "Between the hard floor and Sandy acting out her dreams, I wonder if I ever got five minutes of sleep at a time."

They fixed their coffees and began a slow, aimless stroll, examining the carnage so casually wreaked upon the facility by the young partiers. No real damage was evident, but the mess was truly world-class. They walked together, everywhere. The girls' room was not as thoroughly trashed as the boys', but in both rooms the stench was overpowering. No young supine bodies were found other than in the sleeping area, thankfully. The perimeter doors were closed and secure. Jean and Mike had seemingly stored what little food that had remained in good condition. Much food had been spilled or otherwise scattered, beyond redemption.

Their Grand Tour completed, they headed for a card table to sit down. Clearing the wreckage from the tabletop to a nearby table, they sat across from each other. After an amiable silence, Bob said "I've known you for a lot of years, Ellen. In all that time, I don't think I have ever had the opportunity for a casual conversation with you."

"You may be right," she allowed. "Our participation in the Core Group may even be the only time we have ever met outside my office." Both sat, woolgathering, occasionally meeting their eyes. "You know, don't you, that the entire town feels that you are solely to blame for the entire extraction and CAP enhancement plan?"

Bob blushed, shaking his head. "You know that isn't so, Ellen."

"On the contrary: I may well be the greatest adherent," smiled Ellen. I have seen you in our meetings. Steve helped bring some focus to the plan, especially before it became part of the town consciousness. But Steve isn't invested in the plan, really. Yes, he comes to our meetings and actively participates in the discussions. But, since this ball got rolling, I think you have devoted more than half your time working on it. Was Steve at the orientation yesterday? Did Steve attend tonight? Can you name anyone else who thought of this crackpot scheme?" She smiled at him. He just shook his head, a rueful smile on his face.

"You will forgive me, please," she continued, "but I am astounded that your CAP score doesn't qualify you to volunteer. When was the last time you were tested?"

"I've only been tested once," he answered. "I knew most people don't qualify. I got my score and accepted it. Sure, I was deeply disappointed. But I was a grown man and I didn't think a re-test would change anything."

"There is a difference," she smirked, "between growing and maturing. Any of these youngsters can be a father, but it takes much more to be a dad."

"Well," he sighed, "we'll see. I decided to spend all day, every day proctoring the kids in their Program. Maybe, just maybe, some of their education will rub off on me."

"I have absolutely no doubts, Mr. Minter, that you will sponsor your family, and others, when the time comes."

"Hope springs eternal," he smiled at her. "We shall see."

"May I turn the conversation somewhat?" she asked.

"Away from me?" he asked. "Oh, please do. Otherwise, I may have to find a hole to crawl into. My embarrassment level is becoming almost unbearable."

"Oh, you!" she laughed. "OK, I'd like to talk about an aspect of the Program that doesn't seem to have earned much attention. I think the Program is well organized for the kids. But what about the adults? How and when will suitable candidates be identified? How and when will they be trained?"

"Oh," he said, nonplussed. She watched as he began to put his mind to the problem. She took the time to refresh their coffee, placing his refilled cup beside him and returning to her seat.

"If you don't mind," he said after a time, "can we first work through the second part of that first, and then tackle the first?" She nodded. "As for the training, and as I think about it, it seems that having adults in with the kids will be detrimental to them both. The kids may be denied opportunities to express leadership and innovation; the adults may consciously or unconsciously devote time helping the kids rather than helping themselves. So, I guess that means the adults would have to train before and after school, and on weekends. Adult trainers, proctors and teachers will have to be recruited.

Ellen beamed. "*That*, Bob, is the kind of intelligence that gives lie to your CAP score. I don't know whether you have been working the problem, even subconsciously, but I think you've scored another bulls eye."

"Thanks," he shyly smiled.

"What about the problem of selecting candidates?" she asked.

"That is a problem, certainly," allowed Bob. "Here are my thoughts. We have, or we will soon have, CAP sub-scores for everyone in town. But we don't know how to interpret what we have. Even the Confederacy doesn't know exactly why one person gets to volunteer, and another doesn't. So, we'll have to select candidates by guess and by golly.

"As I see it, there are two distinct groups that need attention. Some of us, well, some of them, have already scored well enough to volunteer."

"There's that self-deprecating from you again, Bob," she chided. "I'll make you a bet. If you aren't a volunteer on the day we are extracted, I'll bequeath every dime I own to you."

He smiled shyly. "I appreciate your confidence in me, however misplaced. All right, you have a bet. What's the payoff for you if I can volunteer?"

She smiled coyly. "Oh, we'll find a suitable reward, I'm sure. Maybe I'll ask you to make a donation." She blushed crimson.

Bob was shocked, but smiled wanly. "OK, some have qualified to volunteer. The rest have not. For the already-volunteers, we ought to at least *consider* whether it seems likely that enough enhancement could be had to let the volunteer take two more people.

"For those below a CAP score of 6.5, we need to do our best to help them enhance their scores enough to volunteer. And I mean that formulation: they need help to help themselves. The non-volunteers -- maybe all of the candidates for enhancement -- should mostly self-select. If they don't jump at the chance to train, there might not be much hope for them anyway."

Bob saw that Ellen was lost in thought. He turned his attention to his coffee, and let his own mind wander.

"Hot damn, Bob," she finally said with a smile, "you've nailed it again. I hadn't thought about them self-selecting. Let's have a run through the statistics, and see what pops out."

They decided to make another tour of the facility to make sure all was well. They stopped and re-filled their coffee and began to stroll. As they expected, all was quiet. When they had finished, Bob checked the time.

"Ellen, it's nearly 6:00. We agreed to hand off our watch and, presumably, go back and try to sleep. "I, for one, don't think two hours' sleep on a hard floor at this hour will do me much good. I think I'll stay up and let at least one chaperone sleep. Would you like to get some sleep? I wouldn't object if you wanted to just go home. Or, you can stay up with me, if you promise not to pry out my darkest secrets."

She laughed gaily. "I have a hunch that all the adult supervision available will be needed when these yahoos get rousted out of here. I think I'll stay for the duration, thank you."

"I confess," smiled Bob, "that I'm glad of your answer. I have enjoyed your company. We may actually have been productive, for a while. Which surprises me, because I feel like my brain is in a vise. I shouldn't be able to rub two thoughts together in my condition." Ellen's laughter sparkled in his ears. "I think my challenge for the next two hours is to hold up my end of a very pleasant conversation with the single most private person in the entire town."

Ellen blushed deeply. "I'm not that bad," she said defensively. "I am active in the community. I attend meetings, parties, and other social functions. What makes you say I'm such a private person?"

Bob grinned. "I congratulate you, Ellen. With casual grace, you have laid an amazing mine field." She blushed. "I'm already nearly brain-dead from exhaustion. I most humbly ask that you withdraw my gaffe."

"No sir, not on your life," she chuckled. "Now I have you on the ropes. Time to finish you off."

He laughed too. She let him gather his thoughts, hoping she hadn't thrown cold water on their very pleasant time together.

She smiled shyly, looking first at her coffee, then at him, then down again. "Allow me," she said quietly, "to take you off the hook a little bit." She looked him right in the eyes and held his gaze locked with hers. "You have not co-opted me into making disclosures about myself against my will. I would like you to know a bit more about me. And it will be therapeutic for me to say these truths out loud, for the first time in a long time."

She took some time, gathering her thoughts, gathering her courage. "I was born and raised in the big city. "I was the eldest of four children. My father is -- was -- a cardiac surgeon. He practiced and taught at the university medical school. Although my mother didn't work, she was an accomplished musician, and she often wrote magazine articles. She was incredibly quick-witted. Her repartees were razor-sharp, always thoughtful, and seldom mean-spirited. She was never catty about anything or anyone. I have never met anyone so skilled at delivering such devastating insults. We roared with laughter. I had a wonderful childhood. I had everything I needed, and nearly everything I wanted. Our home was filled with laughter and much love.

"When it was time for me to go to college, and to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up, there was never any question in my mind but that I would be a doctor. Undergraduate school was challenging but fun."

She was silent for a time. She toyed with her coffee cup, steeling her nerve. "You can see the punch line coming, can't you?" He nodded, sadly.

She looked down at the table as she spoke, nearly whispered. "I went to a sorority party one spring night. On my way home, alone, I was raped."

The silence stretched between them for a long time. Finally, she brought her head up and looked at him again. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. "I was a virgin," was all she said. She returned her gaze to the tabletop.

"I dropped out and moved back home. I didn't get pregnant, fortunately," she choked. "That would have been more than I could have borne. I was frightened until my period started. My only thoughts were re-living the rape, and the awful knowledge that I would bear that child, and love it, and always see its father in its eyes, forever."

She took a deep breath, trying valiantly to recover herself. She returned her gaze to his. The tears continued to stream down her face, but she ignored them. "Being raped destroys far more women than you will ever know. My parents wouldn't let that happen to me. My parents -- especially my mother -- nurtured me, trusted me, believed in me, flooded me with all the love I could handle, gave me all the space and time I needed to recover.

"And I did recover. By the time summer was over, I was ready to go back to school, and I did. Some rape victims become militant, hate-filled shrews. I didn't. But in the deepest part of me, I knew I was empty, bereft. I knew he had stolen from me far more than my hymen. I knew he had stolen from me any chance to have a family, to have children, ever.

"I didn't cry. I got to work. I poured my every fiber into my schooling. I went directly from undergraduate into medical school. When I finished, I knew I wanted to be a family doctor. I knew I wanted to live in a town so small, I'd be the only doctor. I found Dr. Hampton trying to sell his practice so that he could retire, secure in the knowledge that the town was well cared for. He wouldn't take nearly the full worth of his practice. But he grilled me for a long time, long enough so that he *knew* he would leave the town in good hands.

"I have a libido. I knew I simply would never have a man in my bed. There are more rape victims than you would care to imagine. We find each other. I became lovers with many of them. Most were simply in need of a hot night in the sack, and no more. There were some who may have had the capacity to be my long-time partner. I knew the odds were long enough, even before I shared with them my plan to move to the middle of nowhere, that I never tried to find someone.

"So I moved to town, bought a house, and began the practice of medicine. You know better than I how the gossip mill works in a small town. I gave up any thought of finding that special someone here. The risk that we would have a falling-out, that she'd vindictively share my secret, was too great. Which meant I was still suffering the after-effects of the rape, all those years later. Such is the enormity of the crime of rape.

"One of my patients was a little mouse of a woman, almost painfully shy and very submissive. She would let a man take her to bed, let him dominate her, let him abuse her. I watched the progression over and over. It always ended up with him beating her. She would present herself to me with cuts, vivid bruises and nasty abrasions, sometimes even with broken bones. At least the beatings would prompt her to terminate the relationship. Too many women do not have it within them to escape their abuser. Fortunately, she had no children.

"Finally, one time she told me she had nowhere else to go. I took her in. I meant it only as an act of compassion. I had no designs on her. But that first night, she came into my bedroom, stark naked, told me she was starved for affection, and begged to come into my bed. I let her. I learned that her shame was the key to her lust. The greater her shame, the greater her lust. She has been with me ever since. She never dresses. She has a deep need for humiliation. That is not my kink, but she is sometimes so needy that I have no choice but to fulfill her need. It turns out that she likes to be beaten, whipped, spanked. I can only bring myself to accommodate that need on rare occasions. For days afterward, she fawns over me.

"And that, but for you, Bob Minter, would have been my fate, forever. Thanks to you, my home will soon be filled with the sights and sounds of children, happy, laughing, loved children. Without knowing it, you have given me a gift more precious than any other. I owe you *everything*, Bob. I will be your friend, your supporter, for the rest of my life. I will gladly do anything, give anything, help any way. And all I can ever do for you will pale to the enormity of your gift to me."

He sat in stunned silence. Words failed him. After much time, he rose, drew her to stand, and wrapped her into a deep hug. They stood, hugging silently, for a very long time.

Jenny carefully extricated herself from the pile and climbed out of bed. She gazed lovingly at her three lovers sleeping peacefully, then padded off to the bathroom down the hall. After she had finished her business, she stepped in for a quick shower. When she had toweled off, she decided she wouldn't dress. She headed to the kitchen to make coffee.

As she poured her first cup, she heard footsteps behind her. "Yes, please," sang Stacy. "Good morning, Jenny," she continued. Jenny turned and saw Stacy pulling a nightgown over her head to stand as nude as her mother. She approached and wrapped Jenny in a warm hug. Both reveled in the feel of the other's bare skin on her body.

"Don't you think they've both got a great ass?" they heard Michael say. Kayla giggled. Still wrapped in their hug, Stacy and Jenny turned to look at them. Michael and Kayla shed their clothes as well and they approached and joined a group hug.

"Thank you so much," whispered Kayla, kissing the others. "Last night was more than I had ever dreamed of, more than I ever hoped for."

"You deserved it, Kayla," answered Stacy. "You earned it, by being my best friend for, like, forever!" she giggled.

"A satisfied customer is the best source of new business," said Michael. "I'm so glad for you."

"What do you mean?" asked Kayla as they unwound themselves from the group hug.

"Let's get coffee and I'll explain," said Stacy. They busied themselves serving coffee, then settled themselves in the living room.

"Kayla," began Stacy with a smile, "we talked yesterday about what it'd be like at the pickup as a virgin." Kayla nodded. "You were the one who told me you were in a bind, that you had no one to do the deed." Kayla nodded again. "We told you that last night was first for you, but it was a trial for us, too. Kayla, we haven't talked about it, but I already know Michael and Jenny feel very good about you."

"You feel pretty good, too," chuckled Jenny.

"Especially when you're crazy with lust!" laughed Michael.

"Stop it, Michael," chided Stacy, grinning. "Kayla, all of us, you, me, Jenny and Michael will need to take some time to sort out our thoughts and feelings. I really think you're going to be my sister and my lover for the rest of our lives. But, in the meantime, think about this: you said you didn't have anyone else to turn to. Think about how awful it would be if you hadn't had Michael and us to help you. Now, how many other girls do you think are in your same straits?" She let Kayla wrap her head around that thought.

"Kayla, I'm not pimping for my loving brother. He can have all the fucks he wants from Jenny, you and me. But I feel a responsibility to help other girls, too. I think you have a responsibility, too. I can't go around inviting girls to Michael's bed. None of us wants the whole school talking about what we did last night. Here's where you can help.

"Yesterday, when we were with Alexis and Chelsea and Lauren, I talked to all of you about how awful it would be. Everyone agreed. By tomorrow night, that thought will be all over school. How many virgins do you think there are in school, especially in the lower grades? How many girls have the same problem you had? How many girls would thank you forever if you helped them out?

They could see that Kayla was lost in thought. "You got the royal treatment, Kayla," said Jenny, "because you were already as near to being in our family as you could get. Any other girls Michael helps won't get the whole nine yards, but it will still be special, and wonderful."

"So what do I do?" asked Kayla.

"Lots of girls," answered Stacy, "will talk to any other girl who'll listen about their fears, and their hopeless situation. If you get a chance, one on one, let her know how much fun you had, sleeping over at my house. Tell them I might be able to help them. Have them come see me." Kayla grinned, nodding.

"Look at you, Michael," Kayla laughed. "Your dick is a fountain of precum! You're dreaming of being awash in maiden's-blood, aren't you?" Michael looked down at his condition and blushed. "Stacy, remember what you did to me last night? I want to do that to Jenny. Please?"

"What?" squeaked Jenny.

Stacy got a wicked grin. "Kayla woke up in the night and found Michael's hard cock pushing against her butt. She reached around and guided him into her. She tried to be quiet about it, to not wake me up, but I did anyway. When I figured out what she was doing, I slid down and licked the place where they were joined."

"And tongue-lashed my clit!" Kayla added with glee.

"You did?" asked Michael. "I didn't even wake up!" Kayla nodded, blushing.

"So, how about it, Jenny?" asked Stacy.

Jenny looked at each of the three in turn, a doubtful expression on her face. "What the hell," she finally said with a smirk. She rose and approached Michael. He slid down in his seat, his pelvis now near the edge. Jenny turned her back to Michael and moved back, straddling his legs.

Kayla moved to kneel in front of Jenny. "Let me help you get wet," she said.

"Kayla," Jenny chuckled, "I was sitting in a puddle over there. I'm plenty wet already. Just wait a minute 'till I get settled."

"God, Jenny," Stacy squealed, looking down at where Jenny had been sitting. "You weren't lying! Look at the size of that puddle!" Jenny blushed, but giggled. Stacy made a show of licking at the puddle of girl-juice.

Jenny grasped Michael's fuck-stick, lined herself up over it, and sat down, taking all of Michael into her in one swoop. She visibly shuddered and sat there for a moment, a look of pleasure on her face.

"Let's work on her tits first," said Stacy. She and Kayla dove in, sucking and lashing both of Jenny's tits at once. Jenny caressed the backs of both of their heads. Then Stacy pulled back, found Michael's hand, and placed in Jenny's tit. Kayla followed suit.

"You work on those lips, Kayla," Stacy said, pointing down, "and I'll work on these." She began to kiss her mother's mouth, lovingly and passionately.

Kayla needed no further encouragement. She moved down into position. First she gave a visual and tactile inspection of the junction of the two bodies. "Amazing," she breathed, and then started to attack Jenny's pussy with her tongue. She started her lick as far down Michael's shaft as she could go and slowly moved up Jenny's slit all the way to the top. She devoted extra attention to Jenny's clit, causing Jenny to shudder. Kayla repeated her efforts, again and again. Sometimes, she'd end her upward stroke by sucking Jenny's clit into her mouth. Sometimes, she lashed at Jenny's clit with her tongue.

Jenny was full of man-meat, her twat was being eaten, her tits were being wonderfully mauled, and she was sharing passionate kisses with Stacy. Jenny soon began a series of orgasms, one after another, each one stronger than the last. Soon, she was thrashing, quaking, and screaming out her joy. The feel of Michael's semen jetting deep within her was the last straw. An orgasm swept over her that was so powerful, she passed out.

Michael held her up, preventing her from falling. "There's nothing, nothing in this world for an ego boost like having my lover fucked into oblivion!" he cackled. Kayla and Stacy laughed. He eased Jenny back against his chest and allowed her to recover.

"Is that what you wanted, you slut?" laughed Stacy. Kayla could only nod. She was laughing uncontrollably.

"Good morning, good morning," sang Jean as she strolled through the sleeping room. "Rise and shine, people. Fold up your blankets, wade into the septic pools formerly known as bathrooms to do your business, serve yourselves coffee, tea, sodas or water. When you're fully awake, go home and have some breakfast! Tell your folks what an awful time you had last night."

The adults had never seen so many zombies at one time in their lives. Some of the kids were plainly still drunk. Others needed more than a little assistance getting themselves vertical and under way. There was little talk from the dazed, hung-over troupe. But they followed Jean's instructions and, in a surprisingly short time, cleared out of the facility. Some of the kids even had the presence of mind to thank the adults. Admittedly, some of the appreciation was muttered, or slurred.

The adults had just enough time to sit down together and enjoy a cup of coffee, debriefing themselves on the previous night's events.

Debbie Davis had been drafted to assemble and lead a team to clean up. Into the hall swept a dozen people, armed with all manner of cleaning supplies and equipment. Steeled to expect an awful mess, the cleaning team was still appalled at the depth and breadth of the devastation. After a few expressions of wonder, they set to work. They began on the other side of the room, leaving the chaperones in relative quiet.

The operative word was "relative." The adults, already suffering their lack of sleep, conceded the facility to the cleaning crew and left, on their separate ways home.

"My God," Jean said as they stripped and climbed into their bed, "I'm glad I have that in my book of experiences, so I never have to do that again!" She turned to her husband and cuddled up to him. "I'm so tired, I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep! Dr. Stevens, how about an injection to help me fall off?" She giggled, urging him on top of her. "I've never seen so much sex in plain sight in all my life. It made me wildly horny," she whispered.

She didn't need, or want, very much foreplay. As soon as she had him rock-hard, she guided him deep within her. He set a slow, gentle rhythm. He kept it up until she had achieved a good, strong orgasm, then let himself flood her womb. He rolled to her side and kissed her tenderly all over her face and mouth. They went almost instantly to sleep.

Several hours later, Jean awoke to find Mike lying beside her with a loving expression on his face. She smiled at him, her love and joy obvious. "After all these years, Jean, I love you more than ever. Sometimes I feel I love you so much, it aches. I can't wait to put a baby in you, my love," he whispered. She shuddered with anticipation of her own. They lay there together for a long time, gently kissing and sharing sweet nothings.

"What about Megan?" she asked him softly.

"What do you mean?" he asked in response.

"I want her to go with us," she said. "I want her at least to be picked up with us. Do you want your daughter in our bed? Do you want to make babies with Megan?"

"Do you want Megan in YOUR bed?" he answered.

She blushed crimson. "I hadn't thought about it like that. I suppose I'll be a lover to our whole new family, won't I?" He simply nodded.

"Maybe this is a good time for us to start thinking about that," Mike said. "You get two plus an extra, and I get two plus an extra. I hope you want to share a household with me?"

"Well of course I want to share your bed every night," she grinned. "Did you ever wonder that I might not?"

"I have not the least doubt that you love me," he said. "Still, I would not deny you anything, even if it meant losing you."

"Oh, you're so sweet. But I couldn't live without you, silly," she smiled.

"But that sets up a conundrum," he continued. "If I take three women, and you take three women, plus yourself, that makes seven women and little ole me. I'm pretty sure you don't really want to kill me. Do you think I can handle seven women?"

"Ah, death by fucking. Is there any better way to go?" she smirked.

"Smartass," he chuckled. "I'll have to go on cruises so I can recuperate. When I come home, you'll all want me twice a day so you can catch up. I'll die for sure."

"Oh, so you want Navy, then?" she asked.

"I am a Navy veteran, you'll recall," he replied.

"I hate to tell you this, Hon, but I think there's an acute shortage of water for cruising in outer space."

"I'm a Squid," he said. "You remember, 'Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to see'."

"Yeah, I remember, but I think it was 'nor any drop to drink.' Anyway, you're no Ancient Mariner" she laughed.

They quietly held each other, woolgathering. "It seems to me," he finally said, "that there is at least a remote chance that the Confederacy will unilaterally abort our CAP enhancement program and extract us all on very short notice. Not a high probability, but at least a remote chance. I don't think the rest of this semester will matter much to Megan, one way or the other. It certainly won't raise her CAP score to volunteer level. I think we should get her home, and soon, just to be safe. When she gets here, we can talk to her about what she wants. We'll find out if she has� what's the opposite of an Oedipus Complex?"

"The Electra Complex," answered Jean. "I think you're right about getting Megan home. I'll call her this afternoon. Somehow, you managed to evade my original question. Do you want to take Megan to wife?"

"If she inherited her libido from you, than just the two of you will kill me," he laughed.

"Oh, and you're the eunuch in our family? I don't recall ever having to ask twice for a roll in the sack. Answer the question, please, Mr. Stevens."

"Well, whatever her libido," he answered, "she inherited all the best of your genes. She's a beautiful young woman, and not only on the outside. I love her at least half as much as I love you. I know she loves us, too. I say, the decision should be completely up to her. If she wants us, I will be the luckiest man on earth -- in the universe, I should say."

"Oh, you, go on, and on and on," she laughed. "But that's the answer I wanted to hear. I agree with you completely. Now, whether she joins our new family or not, let's discuss the rest of what we want."

He sighed deeply. "OK. Let's do the easy part first. We each get a 'motherly' extra. That means both of them will have children, grown or not. Do you have any sense of who, or what, they should be?"

She took her own deep breath. She was quiet for a time, collecting her thoughts. "I suspect that at least some, maybe most, of our concubines will be very young. I'm not going to have to rely on them to be my friends. I am accustomed to being around youngsters, and I'm comfortable with them. And I don't want the mothers to have to rely on me for friendship very much. I guess that leads me to conclude that either one, or both of the mothers should be young. I guess that means we'll have instant family -- the children brought by the mothers."

"I agree with you at least as to one of them," said Mike. "I know I said we'd work on the mothers first, but your good point brings another to my attention. I have to plan on being shipped out some of the time. The children need a dad. Seven women might -- just might, I say -- be a little much for me. Do you want me to be the only dad in our family? If not, do you want the other dad to be young, or mature?"

"Oh," said Jean, "that's a tough one. Let me think about it for a bit." She went into her own mind, considering. Presently, she said, "I think I would like to hold our final decision until I see how the entire extraction shapes up. I know that a lot of males, probably hundreds, will be left behind. However, one of the two goals of the Diaspora is to increase the population. I want to make sure that every last woman is extracted. So, if it is clear that all of the women can be extracted and we have a slot remaining, then we should take a male. If we do, then I would like to select a student who has given his every fiber to earn a chance to volunteer, but has failed."

"Dang, Jeannie, I think you're spot on. I think that means our second mother should be young as well."

Jean said, "The two mothers will be close, at least, to the ages of the young ones we select. They'll also be near Megan's age, if she comes with us."

"I think your answer about rewarding a boy who tried hard puts me in mind of another type we can help," said Mike. "The youngest of the girls are the most vulnerable to abuse, even if only by thoughtlessness, of their sponsors. Our family will be filled with love and respect. I think we should load up on as many very young girls as possible."

"That's a very good point," said Jean. "I think we just set the design of our family. Two young mothers; Megan, if she wants to be with us; a boy, if all of the women are accounted for; and then either two or three young girls, depending upon whether we take a boy. Good job, Honey!"

They wrapped themselves in a deep hug, and were silent. After a while, Jean looked Mike in the eyes, grabbed his steel-hard cock, and laughed, "Why, you lecherous bastard! Are you fucking our daughter, or a barely fourteen-year-old girl?"

He blushed deeply. "I don't think I want to answer that. I've never wanted to sing soprano!" They both laughed.

She got an evil grin on her face. After a moment, she rolled over and opened the drawer in the bedside table and extracted a tube of KY Jelly. As her eyes locked onto his, she liberally coated her sphincter, inside and out. When she was done, she moved onto her tummy, knees under her, her ass high in the air. "Come here, stud. I think I might be getting constipated. I need my bowels stimulated."

Anal sex was not uncommon for them. Jean accommodated him easily. Once he was completely inside her, he started stroking at an easy pace. "I love you, Jeannie. I will love you forever," he said. She murmured agreement. He gradually increased the speed and force of his thrusts. She felt the jets of his spend deep within her. When he withdrew, they returned to their cuddling, sharing gentle kisses and loving words.

"Hello?"

"Megan, It's your mother. How are you doing?"

"Fine, Mom. What's up?" she chirped.

"Megan, I have something I need to discuss with you," said Jean. "It's rather important, and I would like to discuss it with you while you're alone. Is this a good time to talk?"

"Sure, Mom. Now's a very good time. I needed a study break anyway. Is everything all right?"

"Well," said Jean, "I think everything is better than all right. After we talk, I hope you agree. Before we begin, I need to extract from you a promise not to share this with anyone. Will you do that?"

"Sure, Mom," said Megan. "Lay it on me."

"Megan," Jean said, "we're making plans to have an extraction by the Confederacy. All of the volunteers in town, all of the children in town, and as many women as we can will all be extracted at the same time. In preparation for the extraction, we have organized a months-long program that means to improve the CAP scores of as many of us as possible to volunteer level. We're doing it to try to increase the total number of us saved. The Confederacy is supportive of our plan."

"Wait a minute," said Megan. "You just said the extraction will be months from now. Why are you telling me now? Why are you doing it over the phone, instead of the next time I come home?"

"The answer," said Jean, "is that your dad had a thought that scared us both. Dad and I are afraid the Confederacy might cancel our program and insist on very short notice to have the extraction. Megan, we can't bear the thought of you not being with us. The extraction will happen before the end of your semester so, if you will go with us, you won't be able to finish anyway. You'd *better* go with us! Your dad and I want you to wind up your business as fast as you can, and bring all your stuff with you when you come home."

There was silence on the line for a long time. Jean drew on all of her will power to wait until Megan recovered.

"Did I just get expelled from school?" she giggled. "So, you're saying, I should pack my bags and just, like, leave? What should I tell the school? What should I tell my friends?"

Jean said, "Tell your friends your mom called you home for an emergency. Cry if you need to. I know you can cry any time you want to -- you did it to us often enough. Act like it's the most rude thing you ever heard of if they ask you why. Don't explain any more. If they ask you if something is wrong, tell them that you have courage and that you're sure it'll be better soon.

"As for the university, I'll call them in the morning and explain that I need you at home. Tuition is already paid for, and we'll probably have to pay the dorm fees as they come due. It doesn't matter, Megan. We won't have need of money after we leave."

"Mom, all the stuff I have here fits in the back of the car. I don't think I can keep my mouth shut for very long. Can I come home right away?"

"I'll send Dad to pick you up right away. You know how long the drive is. Can you be ready to leave when he gets there?"

"Yes, I'll be ready," Megan answered. "Mom? What about Brandon?"

Jean said, "The Confederacy has strict rules against extraction of active duty military. When you get home, we'll call your brother. Maybe he can arrange some leave and come home to say goodbye."

"Megan? It's Dad. I'm just pulling up to the front door of the dorm."

"Dad, wait. Pull around to the side. Remember where you parked when I moved in?"

"Sure, I forgot," said Mike. "I'll see you in a few minutes. You'll have to let me in that door."

"I will," she said.

Megan's stuff was quickly loaded into the car. Mike wondered, not for the first time, why Megan needed so much stuff. Megan had exaggerated only a little. There was just enough room, barely, for her stuff and for them.

On the way home, Megan peppered him with questions. His deflection of her questions along a certain line was artful, he thought. As always, Megan had an inexhaustible supply of words. She chattered gaily about recent events in her life. She told him about the drama surrounding her abrupt departure from the dorm, her tearful goodbyes to her roommate and her friends, and more, and more, and more. He was charmed, and proud to have Megan as his daughter.

Enchanted, he realized, was the word he was seeking. He was enchanted by Megan. She was so beautiful, so intelligent, so vivacious. He enjoyed her inner beauty. He found himself unable to appreciate every detail of her outer beauty as well. He had a thoroughly fine time with Megan all the way home.

He couldn't help thinking about Megan as his lover, wondering and fearful at what her response would be when Jean and he had to broach the subject. He was daunted by the thought that she would be revolted, that she would scream and cry and hate them forever.

It was well past dinnertime when they finally arrived at home. Megan had resisted a stop for dinner along the way, claiming a great appetite for her mother's home cooking, even if just leftovers. Mike sent her in to see her mother while he began the task of unloading a mountain of her stuff from the car.

When he finished that chore, he found Jean and Megan in the living room, drinking wine (!) and having a merry chat session. He poured himself some wine, topped off their glasses, and found a seat with them.

"I let Megan share what you said about the extraction while you drove home. I didn't want to go over the same territory again. I think she has the baseline facts in hand. I'm afraid most of the consequences haven't registered with her yet."

"What consequences?" squeaked Megan, suddenly shocked.

"Megan," Jean said, "it is critically important that you understand what is about to happen to you. If we start tonight, it will take quite a long time before we stop. Do you want to get started tonight, or are you too tired?"

"Mom," she said, "you just sprang a big surprise on me. There's no way I'll be able to sleep, wondering what horrors you will explain to me later. Please, please let's talk about it all right now. Let's get it over with."

Jean turned to her husband. "Mike?" she asked.

"She's right, Honey," he replied. "There's no stopping it now."

Jean nodded, but said nothing. She seemed to get an intense interest in her wineglass. Both Megan and Mike knew she was gathering her thoughts. Gathering her courage, Mike thought. Finally, she raised her gaze to her daughter.

"What is your CAP score, Darling?"

"You know it already, Mom," said Megan. "My CAP score is 5.9."

"And so you will be the concubine of some volunteer," added Jean. Megan quietly nodded her head. Her look moved from her mother to her father and back again. "We know your CAP score, and you know ours, don't you." Again she nodded.

"Your father and I have agreed to a joint household. For a number of reasons, the Confederacy has allowed an additional concubine, over and above the usual number, to each volunteer. Each additional concubine has to be a mother, and must have a minimum CAP score and good maternal sub-scores.

"So I will have three concubines, and Dad will have three." Jean was silent for a time as she watched her daughter. "Have you given any thought to who, or what kind of person, you would like to have as your sponsor?"

Megan was poleaxed. She sat stock-still, suddenly and forcefully driven inside herself. Jean and Mike sat still, watching her, waiting for her to recover. They waited for a long time.

After a great while, she began to move her gaze from one to the other. Tears began to roll down her cheeks, but she ignored them. Finally, she ever-so-slightly shook her head 'no'.

"I had a vision," she whispered. "I saw myself being dragged by the hair, and thrown onto the bed, and forced into rough, painful sex with a man I didn't even know. And I knew, I knew this man would take me as often as he liked, whether I wanted to or not." The tears flowed freely, unnoticed. "I don't want that, Mom. I can't do that, Dad. I can't live not being loved."

Jean continued, in spite of the pain she was so obviously inflicting on her beloved daughter. "You know, don't you, the duty and purpose of concubines?"

Megan nodded slowly. "Concubines make babies," she whispered.

"You get to choose, Megan," she said. "You get to choose one time. You get to decline anyone you do not want. But once you choose, once you agree to be the concubine of a certain person, then your choosing is over. You will be his slave. You will do as he says, you will dress as he says, refrain from anything he says. Do you understand that, Megan?"

Megan was visibly shaken. Finally, she nodded 'yes'.

"Megan, who in the whole world loves you unconditionally? Who would do anything for you, give anything to you, protect you, nurture you, guide and aid you to fulfillment?"

"You," Megan said. "Only you, Mom, and Dad."

"We invite you to join us, we invite you to be part of our family for ever and ever, Megan. Would you like that?"

Megan vigorously nodded 'yes', tears still streaming down her cheeks, but now also with a radiant smile. "Oh, please, yes," she whispered.

"And who will make babies in you, Megan?" asked Jean. Rather than answering, Megan rushed into her father's waiting embrace, now sobbing uncontrollably. Jean moved quickly to join them. They remained in their embrace for a long, long time.

They all agreed that Megan had had enough for one night. Jean thought ruefully that the other side of the coin, rubbing Megan's nose with the implications of the fact of her other soon-to-be sponsor, should wait for another time. They headed down the hall to their bedrooms. Megan delivered a fierce hug first to her mother and then to her father. They bid her good night and walked to their own bedroom.

"That was rough," Mike said softly as they undressed for bed. "I have to thank you, though. You handled it perfectly, if brutally. I don't think any other way would have been as successful." They climbed into bed and drew themselves into a deep embrace. They remained clasped together for a good while. Then, just as Jean was reaching to turn off the lamp on the bedside table, their bedroom door swung open.

There in the doorway stood Megan, as naked as the day she was born. "Come in," was all Jean could think to say. Megan mechanically trudged to Jean's side of the bed and then stood still.

"Will you have me, Mom? Will you have me, Dad? Will you let me join you in your bed?"

Jean sprang from her bed, as naked as Megan, and embraced her daughter. "Of course we will, Darling. Climb in."

Megan slowly, carefully crawled into the middle of the bed, in the space vacated by her Dad, and lay on her back. Jean crawled in behind her, pulling up the blankets and turning to hug her beloved. Jean reached over and pulled Mike into the joint hug as well.

"Megan," Jean whispered, "if I ever lose the light in your eyes, the smile in your heart, I will die. We love you, Megan. We cherish you. We want you to never have to cry again, ever. Do you understand?"

Megan smiled wanly and nodded. "I'm a virgin, Mom and Dad. Will you be gentle?"

"When the time comes, Megan," her Dad said, "we will be very gentle with you. But that time is not now, not tonight." He kissed the top of her head.

Megan reached out and found one hand of each of her parents. She drew them to her breasts and pressed them into her. They soon fell asleep.