Chapter 16

5 Section 69 -- Confirmation

"The concubine Beth is pregnant," intoned the AI as the family had dinner. The room erupted with cheers, applause and catcalls. Beth sat quietly, smiling radiantly but with a bittersweet touch. Martin made his way around the table and knelt at Beth's side. They embraced, kissing tenderly but with passion.

"Thank you," he told her before she could say the same to him.

"No, Martin, thank you. Thank you for taking us all together. Thank you for selecting wonderful people for our family. Thank you for taking the children for your own. And thank you for the best sex I've ever had in my life. I will carry our children with pride and love. I will be indebted to you forever."

He simply smiled, knowing how firmly she believed what she had said. They embraced and kissed again before she shooed him back to his dinner.

"Does that mean the 'pregnant woman' rule applies to you now?" asked Jack.

She smiled at him as she shook her head. "I'm a tough old bird and I'm not afraid to tell any one of you where to get off. Just to keep you guys on the ball, I'll invoke the rule when I'm six or seven months pregnant, mostly for the benefit of the pregnancies that will follow mine."

"Are you done with exclusive use of our studly lord and master?" asked Emma.

Beth smiled sadly and nodded. "I'm afraid so, Emma. Now I?m back to being just one of the girls."

Blushing crimson, Emma turned to Martin, who was sitting at the next table. "We're the only ones who haven't had any of your seed."

Martin was plainly startled. "I guess that's right," he said. "I didn't mean for that to happen." He stood to approach the twins, who were sitting side by side.

"Sit down," Emma said. "We understand how things worked out. We just hope that we can have our first turn soon."

Martin sat back down. "I am your humble servant. You may choose the time and place." The twins giggled. "May I finish my dinner first?"

"Of course you can," laughed Emma. "We've waited this long. We can wait a little longer and still survive."

5 Section 70 -- Curiosity

Juanita squeaked and moaned as her orgasm approached. Alan pressed on the backs of her thighs, folding her nearly in half as he pounded into her core. She was almost there, almost there....

He stopped cold.

Juanita's eyes flew open. She stifled her complaint when she saw him looking to his left. Following his gaze, she saw a very surprised young Arthur standing in the doorway, his expression like a deer in the headlights. All three of them were frozen. The silence stretched for quite a long time.

"I thought you were hurting her," Arthur finally managed to sputter. His brain might not have known what he was seeing, but his body certainly did. His little pecker stood straight out, pointing right at them. Juanita had to stifle a giggle at the sight.

Alan sub-vocalized to the AI.

"Thank you, Arthur, for your concern," smiled Juanita. "Not only is he not hurting me, he's making me feel really good. We're practicing making a baby."

Lisa stepped into the room, mortified at her son's interruption. "Arthur, I don't think you belong in here right now."

"Wait, Lisa," said Juanita. "Arthur deserves to know. He told us he was worried that Alan was hurting me. I think we better have a biology lesson, right here, right now."

Lisa gave her a doubtful look and then shrugged acceptance. "I guess we should. Come on over here with me," she told Arthur. They approached the bed. "Arthur, it takes a man and a woman to make a baby. A man has to inject stuff called sperm into a woman. The sperm has to meet up with a teeny tiny egg made by a woman. It has to meet the egg in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. If the sperm meets the egg at the right time, then the egg moves into the woman's womb, which is in her tummy, and the egg grows into a baby. It takes nine months for the baby to grow in the mother's tummy. When the baby is ready, it comes out of the mother through the same place where the man put those sperms in.

"A man delivers the sperm with his penis. His penis has to get longer and stiffer to be able to put the sperm way up inside the woman, near her womb. See, your penis is stiffer than it usually is. You've seen Dad's penis soft. You've seen Alan's penis soft. Alan, please show Arthur your stiff penis."

Alan dutifully withdrew from within Juanita and allowed Arthur to see his stiff, glistening member. "Why is it all shiny?"

Alan answered. "It's shiny with a liquid lubricant that helps it go into Juanita without scraping her. Both Juanita and I have made that lubricant. That way it won't scrape me when it's my turn to practice making a baby."

"Are you making a baby in Juanita?"

"Not this time, Arthur," answered Juanita. "We're just practicing to make a baby. It feels really good for both of us." She pulled Alan's hips slowly toward her and managed to get him back inside her.

"I bet you didn't think it felt very good for Juanita, did you?" asked Alan. Arthur shyly nodded his head in agreement. "The man and the woman have to work pretty hard to get the man's sperm to come out. When it does come out, it's called an orgasm, and the man's body has a bunch of spasms or jerks. A woman can have an orgasm, those make her body spasm, but usually nothing comes out of her body. The orgasms feel really good. There is a big buildup of muscle tension in the body just before an orgasm. That's what caused Juanita to make those noises."

Arthur turned to his mother. "Does it feel good when you do that?" Lisa blushed and shyly nodded. "Does Vickie like it?" A smiling Lisa nodded again.

"Nobody in our home is going to be hurt, Arthur," said Alan. "Your dad and I are going to practice making babies with your mom, and Vickie, and Juanita, and Maria, and Muriel. Soon, it won't be practicing. Soon, all of the women in our family will start to grow babies in their tummies. Soon, we'll have a lot of babies that need a strong big brother."

"You are welcome to watch baby-making practice," said Lisa, "as long as the door isn't closed. A closed door means 'private' and that you should not enter. You may ask all the questions you have, but not during baby-making practice. Why don't you and I let Juanita and Alan get back to their practicing? You and I can go find a snack and you can ask me all the questions you can think of."

Day 6

6 Section 71 -- Embarkation drill redux

Clockwork. The drills went like clockwork. Not only for the neighborhood that had had so much trouble the day before, but every last neighborhood that was occupied by sponsors and their families completed the drill.

The secret to success was music. Sure, there was a Fear-Of-God speech delivered by Lt. Lentz in his own voice. It was now understood that the drills were life and death important and that no screw-ups would be tolerated. But it was the music that made it all work.

Female stewards met the sponsors assigned to units 1-A and 1- J, the units on opposite ends of the first row where the march to the transporter pads would begin. These two stewards started something of a conga line, stepping to the beat of the music, and none too quickly at that. When the first sponsors in the two conga lines understood what to do, the stewards broke off and began to see that the sponsor of each unit joined the conga line at the right time.

Yes, it took quite a bit of time for the first two lines of people to reach the transporter pad. But once the pad was reached, the metered pace was maintained. There was a line of people coming from two directions at once. A person from each line alternated with a person from the opposite line. There was a bit of jostling while the rhythm was fine tuned, but not enough to ripple back into the lines at all.

And, yes, it took a bit to perfect the timing of the start of additional rows of people. New rows began with the units furthest away from the main corridor. Sometimes the conga lines of people from the new rows arrived late and the transporter pad went unused for a time. Sometimes the new conga lines arrived a bit early and had to snake away from the goal in order to keep the line moving at the right pace. By the time the drill was done, all of the timing was down pat.

The drills began with the one neighborhood that had had so much trouble the day before. Everyone, stewards and neighborhood residents alike, was surprised that the drill went so smoothly. A cautious Lt. Lentz had assigned as many stewards to the offending neighborhood as had been needed the day before. Soon, it was obvious that far fewer stewards were needed. In fact, even fewer stewards were needed than an over-confident Lt. Lentz had originally envisioned. Happily, the number of stewards needed was the number assigned for routine patrol of a neighborhood. The surplus stewards remained in the neighborhood as observers and were later substituted in to allow for greater experience among the crewmembers.

The stewards in the neighborhood receiving 'passengers' had less experience with the problems suffered the day before by their counterparts on the sending end. The second half of the previous day's drill had been more subdued and orderly -- or less disorderly. The number of stewards assigned to the receiving neighborhood was reduced to match its counterpart. Surplus stewards likewise remained to observe and, later, participate.

The return trip drill was even better than the outbound trip. The lessons learned during the first half of the drill were quickly implemented. The entire drill was completed in ninety-five minutes.

All twenty-four of the stewards assigned to the two neighborhoods involved in the first drill were meted out in pairs as instructors. Soon, the drills were being conducted in the next six neighborhoods, a like number of empty neighborhoods receiving 'passengers'. These neighborhoods each had only six stewards, the standard complement. The drills, outbound and return trips, took an average of eighty-five minutes. For the third round, there were one hundred and eight experienced stewards able to instruct, and twenty-seven occupied neighborhoods were transferred to a like number of vacant neighborhoods. The third round went even more smoothly.

By the end of the third round, thirty-four neighborhoods had successfully participated in the embarkation drill. Lt. Lentz and his staff were mentally exhausted. The stewards who had participated in two or more rounds of the drill were also tired. Lt. Lentz pronounced the drills a rousing success and declared an end for the workday.

A cube ship contained three hundred and twenty neighborhoods. Not all of the three hundred twenty neighborhoods on Copernicus Station needed to fill the cube ship were yet occupied with completed sponsor families. The drills for the remaining occupied neighborhoods were conducted the next day.

6 Section 72 -- Too much

"What's wrong, Hattie?" asked David Anderson.

That brought a big grin, but it was bittersweet. "Mattie," she chuckled. "We're glad you can't tell us apart. We've enjoyed confusing people all our lives. After the med tubes, even we can't see any differences -- because there aren't any. Why can't you get the AI to tell you which of us is which?"

"I could," allowed David, "but it was obvious to me that you really wanted to sow confusion. It doesn't cost me anything to give you that source of pleasure. I had to tell the AI not to tell me who was who."

"That was really nice of you."

"You deserve it, Mattie. Both of you do. You still haven't told me what's wrong."

"Well," said Mattie slowly, "it's hard for me to say it, really. You've been so wonderful to us. Heidi and Rachel have worked so hard to make us equal members of our family. You really were right about our enhancements. We are exotic! The effect wouldn't have been nearly as good if we'd made our skin lighter. Coal black bodies, brilliant white teeth and emerald green eyes! Our collars and our matching lips and nails really stand out against our deep black skin and they really help emphasize our green eyes. You've turned us from okay-looking colored girls into... almost goddesses. The problem isn't really enough to bother with. We'll get used to it. It's really okay, David."

David smirked. "Okay isn't good enough for any of my girls. Come on, Mattie, spill it."

Mattie could not bring herself to look at him. A tear ran down her cheek. "It's hard for me, David. I feel like I'm asking for a trifle when I'm so very grateful for all you have done, for all that Heidi and Rachel have done."

David knelt and collected her in his arms. She did her best to stifle her sobs. "Mattie, it doesn't cost anything to give you what you want. It's just like taking another bite of the dessert that's already right in front of you. Come on, Mattie. Let it out."

"Alright," she sniffed. "All of the enhancements are wonderful but there's just one tiny detail that we didn't realize was so important." She took a deep breath, let it out and looked David in the eye. "We look like we've been dipped in tar. It doesn't look natural. We didn't realize that it's important that us black people have lighter color skin on our palms and the soles of our feet. It doesn't have to be as light as it was before, but it needs to be lighter than the rest."

"Mattie! That's so simple, so perfectly reasonable, and you had a terrible time telling me there was a problem? Would you like to go to the med bay right now?" asked David.

Mattie was dumbfounded. "Just like that?"

6 Section 73 -- Wet nurse changes

"Something is troubling me," Claire Godwin told the family as they ate their lunch. "I may be completely off in my thinking, but I'd like to air my concern and see how the rest of you feel about it."

"Shall we talk about it now?" asked Beth.

"If you don't mind," answered Claire, "can we have a little meeting in the living room after we finish our lunch?" The entire family was agreeable and they enjoyed a pleasant meal together. When they had finished, Martin encouraged Daniel and Logan to lead the littler ones upstairs for some playtime. The kitchen and dining area were quickly cleaned up and the adults migrated to the living room.

Claire made a point of drawing the twins to sit beside her. The twins wondered what it was that they had done to get themselves in trouble, but said nothing. When the rest of the family had settled themselves, she began.

"No," she said as she hugged the twins to her, "you're not in trouble. I'm very proud of you both, even though Beth was right in predicting that you would quickly become sex fiends." They all laughed as the twins blushed furiously. "What I'm worried about does involve you. I know I'm just your mmm... big sister, but I am worried. I want to discuss my concern with all of us, so you two don't think I'm just being mean to you."

She raised her gaze to the rest of the family. "Erin and Emma are really looking forward to helping Laura feed her baby. I don't want to be the one to say they can't, but I am beginning to think it is a bad idea. Wait, before you all jump in, here is my thinking." She hugged the twins to her and looked back and forth at them. "You're already sexual experts. You're showing maturity far beyond your years. I love you so much and I'm as proud of you as can be. BUT, you are twelve years old. I know, almost thirteen. Your bodies are still growing. You don't yet have your full height. Your pubic hair is still filling in. Your titties aren't done growing by a long shot.

"To show you what I mean," and she looked again at the family, "AI, will you please make a hologram of one of the twins for us just as she is now?" A full-sized hologram of Emma appeared and slowly rotated before them. "Now, AI, would you please slowly age the Emma hologram to eighteen, and assume no enhancements?" Over about a minute, the hologram figure grew about three inches in height. Its facial features matured. Its hips broadened. Its breasts filled out. The baby fat disappeared. The figure was by no means slender but was attractive. "Now, AI, would you please hold the Emma hologram and make an Erin hologram beside it that is as she currently looks?" The new hologram appeared. The differences between the two figures were striking. "AI, would you show us on the Erin hologram what she'll look like if she were lactating?" The change was stunning. The twins had been watching intently. They -- and everybody else -- gasped at the image.

"I see what you mean," Beth said softly. Turning her attention to the twins, she said, "It isn't that you physically can't do the job. The lactating Erin holo doesn't really look right, does she?"

The twins scrutinized the hologram as best they could with tear-filled eyes. They reluctantly shook their heads. Beth turned to Claire. "May I?" Claire nodded. "AI, will you instantly change both holograms to fourteen years old?" The AI complied. "Now, please age Emma by nine months as you show her pregnancy advancing."

There were oohs and aahs as the hologram changed. "On Erin, please advance her apparent age to seventeen as you advance her pregnancy." This time, the entire group -- and especially the twins -- cheered and applauded.

"Twins carrying twins!" laughed Diane. "Disappear the younger, please. Show us both Erin and Emma aged seventeen and about ready to pop out her own twins!"

"You look fabulous!" purred Claire as she hugged the twins to her.

Erin turned to Martin. "Can we still get pregnant when we turn fourteen?" Martin smiled and nodded. "And will you let us look seventeen when the babies are born?" This time, Martin laughed and nodded.

More cheers and applause. The twins blushed but were plainly very happy and proud.

"Okay," said Emma, "we concede that we shouldn't help Laura feed her baby -- or at least not this baby. But if we don't do it, who will?"

The entire family remained silent in thought for a moment. "Aren't I last in line for pregnancy," asked Sandy, "except for the twins?" There were nods of agreement. "Then, I volunteer to help feed Bozo. Laura, when are you going to tell us Bozo's real name? We can decide later when Laura and I should stop lactating. Laura is scheduled to get pregnant again right after me, and right before the twins."

"You don't mind?" asked Laura.

Sandy knelt in front of Laura and gave her a hug. "I love nursing babies, Laura. Erin and Emma were so excited about doing it that I didn't say anything. I don't mean to crowd out the twins, but I think they realize that Claire is right. With time, Emma and Erin will have beautiful bodies that make plenty of milk for lots and lots of our children."

Laura smiled at Sandy and caressed her face. "Thank you, Sandy. Thank you so much." She reached her arms out, urging the twins to her. The twins leaped to her side and she drew them into a hug. "I'm sorry to be the cause of a huge disappointment, Erin and Emma!"

"Don't worry about it," said Erin. "Mmm... er, Claire is right." She leaned over and kissed Sandy. "Thank you, Sandy, for helping Laura. We'll do our best to be helpful, too."

A smiling Sandy moved back to her seat. Laura sighed. "Sandy, you asked me when you could call Bozo by his name. That's the problem. I don't have a name for Bozo." She turned her gaze to the rest of her family. "Will you guys help me choose a name for Bozo?" Everyone laughed and cheered.

The name game lasted for quite a while. The baby's father's name, Kevin, was immediately rejected by Laura. "I don't want anything or anybody -- especially my first baby -- to remind me of the pain and suffering I endured with that man. I am soooo much better off in my new, loving, family."

The names "Martin,' 'Rob,' and 'Jack' were also quickly rejected, there being enough opportunity for name confusion already. A lot of boy names were called out but none of them seemed to really catch Laura's fancy. Some were close, and prompted lively discussion, but were ultimately rejected.

"We seem to be on the wrong track," said Claire. "Beth, have you begun to think about names for your son? What are we doing wrong here?"

"Not really," answered Beth. "I haven't even been pregnant for very long at all. It wasn't by chance that both of my girls' names begin with 'S' though."

That point sparked a lively exchange between all of the women. Someone pointed out that Bozo would be the first baby born into their new family. Laura decided that Bozo would be named 'Adam' after the first man. The rest of the women agreed to name future children with the same first letter, going up the alphabet in order of birth. Beth said her boy and girl would be given names beginning with 'B.' Sarah's girls would have names beginning with 'C' and so on.

The women moved on to imagining features of their future home life. The more they talked, the more their comfort grew and their concerns waned.

When they were alone after the Bozo-naming meeting, Claire softly said to Sandy, "I thought I was last in line for pregnancy."

"Well," allowed Sandy, "you were. It suddenly dawned on me that the twins would be doubly hurt if they lost their chance and it fell to you instead. I thought it would sting a little less if it was me and not you."

Claire smiled. "That was quick thinking on your part, Sandy. Thank you for being so thoughtful to Erin and Emma."

"It was just a tiny part of us making a happy and loving family," chuckled Sandy.

Day 7

7 Section 74 -- Males prepare to return

"Settle down, please," Fleet Auxiliary Sergeant Ian McCormick said, using his amplified voice. He looked over his audience as they seated themselves. He could feel the tension and distress of these unsponsored males as the deadline approached.

"I know you are acutely aware that most of you will be going home tomorrow. Tension has been running higher with each passing hour as you compete more openly and more aggressively with the dwindling number of available sponsors. The stewards are interceding more frequently. Many incidents have escalated so rapidly that concubine prospects have physically attacked the stewards. Not all of these attacks are by males.

"Many of your peers have already given up. Many more have been evicted from the areas where sponsors are seeking concubines. When guys get evicted, they immediately go to all-male neighborhoods and simply wait to be returned to Earth; their wives are transferred to neighborhoods containing single women.

"I'm not suggesting that you give up. On the other hand, you need not sit idly in the common areas in order to be available for interviews. The AI knows your traits and the traits of your wives. If a sponsor expresses a desire for a couple that approximates your traits, the AI will arrange for you to appear for an interview.

"I encourage you to spend this last day alone with your wives, and with your children if you have them. Make the day memorable for yourself, for your wives and for your children. Ask the AI for guidance and assistance. If you and your wife want your wife to go to the colonies carrying your child, tell the AI. Your wife will be made fertile today. You won't be there when her cycle comes around again.

"Please give your wives the sense that you're going to be okay back on Earth, that you'll make a full life for yourselves and that you'll do your part in fighting the Swarm. Doing your part doesn't necessarily mean joining the armed forces. That would be very good if you qualify and if you are so inclined. Mountains of war materiel must be produced, transported, stored and, when the time comes, distributed. Make no mistake: the odds against humans successfully defending Earth from occupation and destruction by the Swarm are very steep. Every bit of your bodies and spirit will be needed if we are to win.

"Your wives deserve better than to agonize over your fate after you go back to Earth. Your wives -- and your children -- will be healthier if they can turn their focus toward their new lives rather than dwelling upon you.

"Another reason that we recommend that you hole up with your family is that we are concerned with the escalating aggression in the common areas. More and more concubine candidates -- and not just men -- have physically lashed out at sponsors and stewards. That is an immediate death sentence, with no appeal. We are concerned that these attacks will become even more frequent as the deadline approaches. Of course, you wouldn't do any such crazy thing. Unless, of course, your wife or your child goes off on someone, and a steward brutally restrains your family member, and you try to protect your family member...." He let that thought hang in the air for a while. "You could be the victim of an attack. Your wife or your child could be the victim of an attack. A steward might not be nearby and able to protect your family member. We would much rather you be safe than sorry.

"That's the end of my spiel. We want your family safely evacuated to the colonies. We want you safely returned to a productive life on Earth. We want all of you not to fret about the other. I will answer all of your questions now. I'm willing to spend all the time necessary to answer all of your questions and concerns."

The questions began slowly, diffidently. Soon, however, the very legitimate questions were tinged with all of the fears and frustrations the men felt. The question-and-answer session lasted for a long time.

7 Section 75 -- Laura Godwin

"Can I sit here?" Laura asked, indicating Martin's lap.

"Of course!" grinned Martin. Laura settled herself with her legs to the left of Martin's, her lower legs and feet over the edge of the sofa. She cuddled into him. Martin didn't move his hands at all, waiting for Laura to let him know what she wanted. She reached behind her and guided his right hand to her shoulder. She moved his left hand onto her tummy and got herself comfortable.

Martin watched her, her eyes closed almost as though she planned to go to sleep. After a few minutes, she lifted her head and opened her eyes. Spotting Diane, she crooked her finger asking Diane to approach. She put her index finger over her lips, indicating that she wanted Diane to be quiet. She pulled Diane in so she could whisper in her ear.

"May I have Martin now?" she said.

Diane was surprised. She turned her head to look at Laura. "You mean...." Laura smiled coyly and nodded. Diane smiled and nodded as well. Laura brought her close so she could whisper again.

"Will you do a big favor for me?" Diane nodded without moving her ear. "Will you get him hard for me? Will you guide him inside me?"

Diane fairly shuddered at the thought and had to stifle a giggle. With a big grin, she knelt in front of Martin and parted his knees. Laura turned and kissed Martin softly, lightly. Her lips lingered near his. She brought her hands to his face and caressed his cheeks and neck.

By this time, Diane had reached in and collected his flaccid cock. The mere fact that she held him was enough to start the blood flowing. Her gentle caresses with both hands aided the process greatly.

Martin recognized a setup but he did not know exactly what the women had in mind. Whatever it was, he was more than happy to go along with it. He set his own hands to work, one on her back, shoulder and arm and the other over her tummy and along the underside of her breasts.

When Laura felt Martin's hardness on her thigh, she lifted her right leg up and over Diane until she was facing the same way as Martin, her back on his chest. Diane dutifully raised Martin's cock. Laura had to lift herself a bit before Diane could get Tab A aligned with Slot B. When she felt him in the right place, Laura relaxed and let herself be impaled. She brought Martin's hands up onto her breasts and pressed.

Martin knew he was not in the driver's seat on this. He kept himself still, waiting for Laura to set the tone and pace of the coupling. But she didn't. She sat still, a dreamy expression on her face, while her vaginal muscles rippled up and down his cock.

Somehow divining Laura's need, Diane moved in and gently, softly, blew on Laura's pussy. Laura shuddered in appreciation but made no sound. Encouraged, Diane began slowly and gently kissing the outer lips of Laura's pussy. Laura looked down to see Diane looking up at her, seeking guidance. Laura simply smiled and nodded slightly.

Laura pulled Martin's face into her neck. He got the message and began gently to kiss and lick her jaw, neck, and ears. She in turn caressed his face but did not try the awkward turn needed in order to kiss. He heard her breathing become a little more ragged.

Diane settled in for a long haul. She decided to make sure Martin stayed hard for as long as Laura wanted him inside her. Martin's balls and the base of his cock were gently laved with Diane's tongue. She didn't want to over-excite him, but she did not want him to go soft, either. Her licks on the base of his cock were soon extended and she gently licked up one outer lip and down the other, avoiding Laura's clit.

Laura encouraged Martin to enjoy her tits. She guided him by simply doing to the backs of his hands what she wanted him to do to her breasts. Before long, Laura could no longer really sit still. Her ardor was steadily increasing. She gave no indication that she wanted motion from his cock.

She put her index finger on her clit. Diane got the message and began to gently lick it. Laura put her hand on Diane's forehead, silently asking to slow the pace. Diane got it. Laura leaned back and enjoyed for quite a long time the combined sensations she was receiving from Diane and Martin.

In spite of the languid pace of the entire episode, Laura's lust rose steadily. Finally, she moved Martin's hands onto the cheeks of her ass. Using her own leg muscles, she lifted herself up and then slid herself down his shaft. Martin understood and he began lifting her up and letting her down his shaft. He increased his pace when he felt her leg muscles doing the work.

Laura meanwhile put her hand behind Diane's head and pulled her into her crotch. Diane understood and began scaling up her attack on Laura's pussy and clit. Laura's passion rose, and rose. Her face and upper chest became impossibly flushed. Body parts moved in spasms. Her face was a rictus but no sound emerged. It seemed like she was struggling for breath. Finally, finally her orgasm swept through her body. At least then her muscles were all spasming together. Still silent, she bounced around like a marionette.

Her body stilled and she lay there with her eyes closed, an odd expression on her face. She opened her eyes and captured Diane's with her own sparkling eyes and expression of sheer joy and comfort.

"Thank you," she breathed as she held Diane's gaze. Still looking at Diane, she brought Martin's hands up and onto her tummy. She squeezed his hands in appreciation. "And thank you, Master, for the best sex I have had in... forever!"

"I thought you wanted your lover to look you in the face while you made love?" asked Martin softly.

"Oh, I do. I just had this episode in my mind as a kind of fantasy, starring you two and me. I just had to live the fantasy. The reality was much, much better than the fantasy. Thank you both so much!"

"Well, then I'll wait until you're ready before we make love with Bozo between us."

"If you wish to do so," interjected the AI, "it is recommended that it occur soon. Laura will begin labor within the next forty-eight hours, and probably sooner."

Laura and Diane squealed with joy. Diane lifted herself and embraced Laura. A smiling Martin gently stroked both women. When the excitement had wound down and Diane was about to sit back on her haunches, Martin said to her, "Diane, I have something I would like you to do for me, and for Laura."

"Of course I will," she smiled, "what is it?"

"Well, it's more than a trifle. I know you are scheduled to get pregnant in four months. I know, at our meeting the other day, we just gave the job to Sandy. Still, I would like you to be the one to help nurse Adam for the first few months.

Both women were shocked. The rest of the household had heard what the AI had said and came into the living room to congratulate Laura. She was still laid out, her legs outside of Martin's, her back on Martin's chest, her exposed pussy drooling fresh man seed. Diane looked and found the gleam in Beth's eyes. Beth winked and nodded slightly. Laura quickly looked for Sandy, who was smiling and nodding. "I think that's a wonderful idea," said Sandy, "if you're willing to do it. I'll be happy to take up the job when you get bred, Diane."

Diane looked around at the rest of the family and found only smiles and nods. Beth knelt and pulled Diane into a hug. "I hope you'll do it," Beth whispered. "You'll be glad you did." Beth broke the embrace and looked into Diane's face, her own face brilliant with happiness.

"What do I have to do?" asked Diane.

"You have to say 'yes' if that's what you want," chuckled Martin.

"Yes, I'll do it. That's not what I meant. What do I have to do to start lactating?"

"At Martin's direction, your body has already been prepared for lactation," intoned the AI. Diane looked at Martin and found him smiling and nodding. The AI continued, "The nanites within you have been messaged by me to begin the changes necessary to commence lactation. The changes are not unpleasant but will be felt by you. Laura did not notice these changes because they occurred over months. Your milk will 'come in' two days from now, in the evening."

The whole family clapped and cheered. Laura moved herself off Martin's lap so that he could wrap Diane in a bear hug that lasted a long time.

7 Section 76 -- Emergency drill

"You and your neighbors have done very well in conducting embarkation drills," the AI said. "While these drills will continue in order to keep sharp, a different type of drill is necessary.

"The drills you have participated in are for the orderly, routine embarkation to a transporter which will carry you to a colony. Evacuation is not the same as embarkation. Should it become necessary, the stewards assigned to Copernicus Station must be well trained in emergency evacuation procedures. It is not expected that you will be part of a real emergency evacuation. Nonetheless, you are required to participate in the emergency evacuation drills for the benefit of the stewards.

"In the embarkation procedure, the entire neighborhood is guided to the central transporter pad in essentially single file. Personnel are transported one at a time. After transport, sponsor families proceed afoot to the same unit number in the destination neighborhood. The second half of the drill is a repeat of the first.

"The emergency evacuation procedure is to collect each sponsor and family at the doorway of the living unit. The sponsor and family exit the living unit and are corralled in a force field box, which speeds to the transporter pad. The entire family is transported at once, still within the confines of the force field box. Upon arrival, the force field box speeds back to the identical living unit in the destination neighborhood. The sponsor and family step off of the force field platform and into the living unit. In extreme emergency conditions, two or even three sponsor families are shuttled to a single living unit. However, extreme emergency drills will not be conducted.

"The second half of the emergency evacuation drill will serve to train the steward personnel in what was your destination neighborhood. You will be returned to your home neighborhood in the same manner: each sponsor and family will be shuttled to the transporter pad, transported together as a family, and shuttled back to your own living unit.

"Forty-five minutes have been budgeted for both halves of the emergency evacuation drill, which will commence at eleven o'clock this morning. Do you have any questions?"

The force field box was generated directly in front of the living unit door. Each box was two meters square on each of five sides. There was no top to the box. There was no requirement that the walls and base be visible. However, as a visual aid to the passengers, a slight blue tint was added. The walls were nearly transparent, and could be touched without harm to the passengers.

The base and the three sides not adjacent to the living unit door were first generated. That is, the sponsor and family could exit the living unit into the box but could not get beyond the confines of the box. Once all of the family was within the box, the fourth side was generated.

The then-enclosed box was lifted one millimeter off the floor. Its movement down the corridor began slowly -- again, for the benefit of the passengers -- but soon was moving at about sixteen kilometers (about ten miles) an hour. The AI were managing the force field boxes and the transporter pad. The speed of the force field boxes was adjusted to maximize the efficiency of the transporter pad.

Each neighborhood was designed with ten rows of ten living units each. One force field box was generated for each row. The force field box was transported with its passengers. When the passengers were disgorged into the destination living unit, the force field box was dissolved. The instant the box was transported, a new box was generated in front of the next living unit.

The neighborhood residents were familiar with the routine embarkation drill. The evacuation drill was much the same. The sponsor and family had only to exit the living unit when prompted by the AI. Plenty of advance notice was provided to each sponsor and the commencement time was counted down periodically. No one suffered claustrophobia while confined in the force field box. The time in the box was much less than one minute.

The stewards were surprised to discover that they had no real work to do. The AIs handled the entire affair. Sponsors were forewarned and then prompted to exit on time, the door opening at the right moment. Auditory warnings encouraged haste, the sound level rising as time passed.

The initial drill was conducted in only one neighborhood. The first half of the drill was completed in seventeen minutes. Three minutes were devoted to praising the participants and preparing them for the return trip. The second half of the drill required only fifteen minutes.

7 Section 77 -- Fill 'er up!

"The marines from Gemini Clipper were able to extract one hundred sixty-seven sponsors today," Commander Eisenstadt's assistant reported. "The AI suggests we 'top off' the Kilo with sponsors we extracted today, split about evenly between those from Perth and from St. Louis."

"That's about eight hundred and fifty sponsors," the commander pointed out. "Our program is to bring the sponsors and concubines here and let them match up later. How many of today's sponsors were pre-packs?"

"Eight thousand six hundred seventy-one volunteers were extracted today," replied the AI. "Of those, six hundred twenty three arrived with a full complement of concubines. An additional three hundred eighty two volunteers have already selected a full complement of concubines from among the candidates brought with them. The total is more than the number required to complete the loading of Gemini Clipper."

"Make it so," sighed the commander with satisfaction. "What does tomorrow look like?"

"Tomorrow," answered the aide, "we go to Heidelberg, Belfast, Columbus and Mobile. Tomorrow, Ares Clipper arrives in orbit."

"The destination of Ares Clipper is a breeder colony," interjected the AI. "All of the volunteers will be accorded an additional concubine."

That surprised the commander. He was silent for a time, considering. "I don't think we should tell all eight thousand of the volunteers we extract tomorrow that they get an additional concubine," he finally said aloud. He was quiet for a time. "AI, any suggestions?"

"The number of volunteers, the number of 'pre-packs', and the number of volunteers who quickly sponsor a full complement of concubines has been rather steady," said the AI. "Tomorrow, those extracted in the primary phase should be encouraged to bring as many women as possible in the secondary extraction. The AI will selectively accord an additional concubine to volunteers as the opportunities present themselves. The AI will coordinate with the Ares Clipper AI. By this time tomorrow night, the Ares Clipper will be filled. Each volunteer supplied to Ares Clipper from Copernicus Base will have an additional concubine."

Day 8

8 Section 78 -- Males go home

The remaining unbound concubines from the Day 1 extractions had been concentrated in four neighborhoods. There were very few couples remaining. Almost all of those men had given up and freed their wives and girlfriends to search for sponsors unburdened by a male. Most of the adult males remaining in that neighborhood were sons rather than husbands.

The males in the neighborhood reserved for the hopeless were sullen and lethargic. Mostly, they could not be bothered with aggression. What was the point? The men lazed around in their living units or in the common areas. The AI tried to moderate the alcohol consumption, to little effect. The men did not even have enough left in them for drunken brawls. AI supplied entertainments saw some use. Half-court basketball and volleyball were available and occasionally used.

The neighborhood containing males still trying for sponsorship was another story. Sponsors and concubine candidates alike had learned that the youngest men were generally more pliable and hence more attractive to sponsors. The stewards had reluctantly segregated the young men from the older men. The smartest of the men realized that the dwindling number of sponsorships went to the meekest, best behaved among them. Those not disposed to restraint suffered debilitating stings from the vigilant stewards more and more frequently.

The women-only neighborhood was the most troublesome. The aggressive women realized that their wombs were much wanted. Knowing that they had only to resist attacking stewards, sponsors and children, they gave free rein to their worst behavior on their neighbors. The interior of living units was no longer safe haven for the meek.

"In six hours, all unsponsored prospective male concubines will be returned to Earth," the AI's voice came from every green collar. The responses ranged from vacant stares through tears, abject bawling, fright, panic, terror to unbounded rage. More males were killed in the next half-hour than had died in the past two days. Something of a riot broke out in one side corridor of a men's neighborhood. The stewards and the steward-controlled drones simply stung every man in sight.

The sponsors in the men's neighborhoods beat a hasty retreat. Many of the sponsors turned to the neighborhood containing mothers and sons. The young men were so distressed that they could hardly conduct themselves in interviews. Tearfully grateful unbound female concubines offered themselves to any sponsors who selected their sons.

Those in the men-only neighborhoods were directed to dress in the clothes worn when they arrived.

A lot of those men had lost or abandoned their clothes. They were amazed when replicators disgorged garments, belts, shoes, wallets, keys and the like, identical to the original down to the tiniest detail.

"Gather round, guys," the steward's voice boomed. "There's no reason we have to wait for the precise minute before you can be returned to Earth. I have a few things to tell you before you go. Please find a place to sit down and listen."

Men scurried out of living units and gathered around the steward. When there seemed few men still arriving, the steward began. "You guys are on your way back to Earth. We wish you hadn't had to go through this past week. We're still trying to find ways not to inflict this trauma on guys like you in the future. I don't know how successful we'll be.

"A lot of you guys have come from the two office buildings we evacuated a week ago. The rest of you came as 'dependents' of those office workers. You've been absent from your work for a week now. In many cases, the offices you worked in have so few employees remaining that the office may no longer be viable. In other cases, your boss isn't going to be very happy to see you back after being gone for a week.

"The Confederacy wants -- needs -- you to get on with your life, needs you to resume being productive citizens. The Confederacy cannot act as an employment agency. We can't find jobs for you. There are some things we CAN do to help you, however." The steward explained how to reach the Confederacy through a website.

"This episode has been unpleasant for you guys -- or worse. We wish we could take all of you, but we can't. I'm warning you now that the media is going to be all over you for your stories about your experiences. We want you to remember that your families are safe now, and they weren't a week ago. There are a couple thousand of you guys who are going back. Remember that about twenty thousand people from each of your two cities are now on their way to the colonies. We're still gearing up for mass emigrations. The office building method will continue to be used until Earth First or somebody finds a way to wreck it. The Confederacy needs to be able to evacuate as many people as possible before the Swarm arrive."

The men steadily made their way to the main transporter room and then back to Earth. With just under a thousand men in each of the two cities, it was decided that the men would initially be returned to the roofs of the two office buildings. A detachment of marines oversaw security. Fortunately, the weather in both cities cooperated. As the men stepped off the transporter pads, they were escorted down to the top floor elevator lobby, there to go their separate ways. Those who did not work in the office building were given cab fare home.

When the men first began to appear within the building, the media was alerted. Before long, there were TV cameras set up in front of the buildings and reporters were attempting to corral as many participants as they could. The marines made sure that the newshounds were unable to reach the top floor. Those returning men foolish enough to allow themselves to be interviewed soon came to regret their decisions. However, the Confederacy was generally well treated by the returnees.