Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Tim, the Teenage MC By Rass Senip Chapter XXII: Summer 90 Part 1 - Family
Surprises (mc, m masturbation) ---------------------------------------

   Finals and the funerals of the seven who died dampened my spirits the
week after the Pickle attack.  Joey insisted he go to the funerals despite
never having met any of them personally, except possibly to test them with
the coin that they had died for.  Suzi and/or I went with him, but we each
separately couldn't make one due to conflicts in final schedules.  Sarah
went to all but two, and several other people from the Group made it to
them as well.

   Like I said, it dampened my spirits, and when I feel down, people around
me feel down as well.  So I hung around my apartment away from other people
as much as I could, and once finals were over, I packed up a few things to
go home for a while.  But on Thursday night, the night before I was to
leave, my plans changed when I got a phone call from Brad's sister, Sandi.

   "Has Brad called you lately?" she asked straight off.

   "Nope.  Haven't heard anything from him since Christmas break.  Why? 
Hasn't he called you?"

   "Not since late March, and I'm really worried.  Could you take me to
find him this weekend?"

   "What, to Texas?"

   "Yes."

   "No offence, Sandi, but don't you think you're jumping the gun here? 
He's probably just tied up in school and his modeling thing."

   "I had my fifteenth birthday last week.  He wouldn't have missed it
without calling.  He's in deep shit, Tim.  I know it."

   "Fifteen, huh?  Alright, alright.  I guess it wouldn't hurt to take a
trip down there a couple days."

   "Oh thank you thank you!"

   "But Sandi?"

   "Yes sweet, adoring and sexy ex-master?"

   "Heh.  Uhm..  If we find out he's just super busy or something..."

   "I'll be broken hearted, but I won't make a fuss.  At least not until he
gets home."

   After arranging to pick her up around three the next day, I called home
to tell them what was up, then got airline tickets, made hotel
reservations, and did a little long distance snooping to see if I could dig
anything up before hand.  But because it was after hours and A&M's finals
were also over with, I couldn't get a hold of anyone useful to find
anything out.

   When I arrived at Brad's house the next day, my eyes nearly popped out
of my head when Sandi came out.  Sandi wasn't a little girl anymore.  In
fact Sandi was a hotty, and I instantly saw she loved flirting it too.

   "Wow, you certainly have grown since I saw you last," I chirped when I
popped out to help load her suitcase.

   "One hundred and fifteen percent all woman, Brad says," she proudly
stated while pushing her nicely defined bust out.

   "Yeah, you definitely have some to spare," I said, before waving to her
mom who was standing on the porch watching us.  "Do I need to..." I asked
in a lowered voice while motioning over at her mom.

   "Nah.  They know I'm going with you to see Brad.  I can't thank you
enough for this," she said before turning towards the house and yelling,
"Bye mom!  I'll call you when we get there!"

   Sandi was the exactly the type of girl I had attracted with my empathic
smile my senior year of high school.  Sexually active, experienced, yet
selective about the boys she had sex with, I normally would have at least
been tempted by the natural sexual vibe she emitted.  But I wasn't, and
that kind of confused me.

   Had my interests really completely shifted from girls to women?  Or was
it because of the guilt I felt concerning Sandi that turned me off? 
Probably a bit of both, plus the events the past few weeks concerning the
funerals, and of course...  Her.

   What about sixteen year olds then?  Jennifer was sixteen.  Had I lost
interest in her sexually too?  Did it matter?  I still loved her.  Even if
she didn't want me, I still wanted her.  That wasn't sexual to begin with,
and it was probably the sexual stuff that drove her away.

   "You're thinking of Jennifer, aren't you," Sandi said, breaking the
silence in the limo on the way to the airport.

   "Yeah."

   "Did you ever hear from her since she left?"

   "No.  Have you?"

   "No, but I did talk to her on the phone for a couple of minutes the day
you went nuts."

   "You did?" I said, my heart starting to race.  "What did she say?"

   "I don't remember exactly.  I called to see if she was okay, and she...
She sounded like her mom, almost.  Patient, but...  stern.  Or just
stubborn, maybe.  I think she had already made her mind up to leave.  But
she didn't even hint it to me or anything."

   "What about mad?" I asked more calmly than I felt.

   "You mean angry?  I don't know.  Her mom always came off like she was
angry at people, but Jennifer always said it was just her way.  I don't
think Jennifer was mad at you.  I think she was just scared and was just
doing what she thought she had to do."

   "Last year Joey found where she had gone and he and Suzi went to see her
right before Christmas," I began, then paused to wipe my eyes.

   "What happened?"

   "The house was empty.  But they found a note.  It said...  It said for
me to leave her alone."

   "That's..." Sandi started, then never finished as I took a deep sniffing
breath to clear my airways.

   We sat in silence for the remaining trip to the airport, but as we
pulled into the passenger drop-off area, Sandi said, "It just doesn't sound
like the Jennifer I knew."

   Unfortunately, I couldn't say the same.

   As we entered the terminal and looked up which gate our flight would be
at, I became aware of another voice scanning the crowd in some of the food
bars and shops.  I didn't bother to tell Sandi about it, but we kept our
distance since I really didn't want a confrontation in such a public and
busy place.

   By the time we reached our gate, the scans had stopped and I assumed
they had selected their prey and moved on to someplace private.  Yes, I had
strong notions to step in and protect the innocent mute or mutes involved,
but quite frankly it was none of my business, and to interfere would
endanger not just myself, but Sandi as well.  I had long accepted that for
my own good I would have to turn a blind eye to some of the evils other
voices did around me.  But that still didn't mean I was okay with it.

   While we waited for our plane to board, Sandi and I played a little game
of guess when they lost their virginity, and where they lost it at. 
Because of the other voice, I didn't use my telepathy to learn what the
correct answer was.  But I didn't want to alarm Sandi, so I just made up
the answers based on what my empathic sense said about their personality.

   While we lined up to board, I noticed a man in his mid twenties taking a
close interest in the women in the line.  I knew the look in his eyes all
too well.  It was the look of a predator...  A sexual predator.  The look
of male voice scoping out the fresh feminine flesh in order to ration out
how much pleasure he can have within a certain time period he was
constrained to.

   And obviously he was on our flight.

   His mind wasn't shielded, and he certainly didn't seem aware of my own
barrier, but just to minimize the chances he'd notice it later, I slowly
adjusted my shield to be as transparent as I could without allowing my
current thoughts to be easily read.

   Thankfully Sandi's sexual drive was running at a lower notch right then,
probably due to her concerns over her brother and our conversation about
Jennifer.  If she had been emitting the vibes she had been when I first
picked her up, she would have probably caught the voice's attention right
away.  But in this situation he overlooked her.  Of course I helped that a
bit by making sure I was between her and him the whole time.

   Man, I was glad I had chosen coach and not first class.  We were in the
mid section, and knowing voices as I did, I guessed he was up in the first
class section.  But just in case, I made sure I had an isle seat and
watched to make sure he didn't come down from the front section.  He
didn't. I was pleased with this arrangement because I would be able to see
him coming if he decided to wander into the back for some fresh meat.

   I started to relax once we were up in the air and hadn't sensed any
telepathic activity on the plane at all.  But just to be sure, once the
seat belt sign went off, I casually walked up to just inside the first
class section and felt it out empathically, then walked up and down the
isle once to visually confirm he wasn't there.

   Confident he wasn't onboard, I went back to my seat and relaxed,
eventually falling asleep like I usually did on plane trips.  Sandi woke me
up briefly as she got up to go use the bathroom, and even though I let my
eyes close again, I stayed awake and kept my inner eye on her swirls until
she came back.  Thankfully the rest of the plane trip was uneventful.

   We arrived at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport after dark and took a shuttle to
the hotel we were staying at for the night.  Sandi was surprised I had
arranged for separate rooms, and after she asked the clerk at the desk how
much the rooms were, she made a big fuss and wouldn't accept her key.  I
could have forced it on her, but that wasn't the way to handle it, so I
ended up compromising for a room with two beds that cost $50 less than the
two rooms together.

   Just my luck they had a honeymoon suite, and it was only five floors up
and two or three rooms over.  Sure, I enjoyed the sex during the dream
walk, but it also made me lovesick the next morning, and the twelve people
sharing their seven o'clock commuter flight to the campus with us had a
pretty miserable half hour trip because of it.

   Sandi and I spent the morning and afternoon talking to the few people we
managed to find that knew Brad.  One of Brad's neighbors told us Brad had
moved out around March without saying much, and after having to give this
one lady the urge to help us, we found Brad had withdrawn from his classes
early in the semester and had forfeited his partial scholarship.  His
account had been paid off, but the only forwarding address they had was the
same we had already checked.

   We checked into our motel room around five with no new leads, but we
still had a few old ones left.  We knew his agent's first name was Harriet,
he had done that shoot last fall for the department store adds, and that he
had come across the modeling job from a flyer posted around campus.  After
grabbing some dinner and freshening up, we went back to the campus and
focused on the bulletin boards there.

   It was getting pretty late when we passed three frat guys who made some
rather...  suggestive comments about Sandi's attire.  Sandi perked up and
flaunted her stuff, and quite frankly it was a nice break from her
declining mood.  With it being dark out and the lighting wasn't greatest in
that area, they didn't seem to notice her age, just her shape and abundance
of exposed skin.

   Sandi was about to end the encounter when I got the idea maybe they or
their frat brothers may know or remember something about the modeling
flyers.  After Sandi gave them the push off, I told her my idea, then
altered the frat guys' memories to think they had invited us back to the
house.

   We didn't get back to the motel until after three, but at least we had a
couple of names and phone numbers to try in the morning.  Plus I had
recruited a few of the brothers to help us the next day, finding that
several of them didn't have anything else constructive to do.

   By noon the next day, Sandi and I were on our way to where Brad's last
paycheck had been sent at the beginning of May.  Apparently Brad's
popularity had hit its peak over the holidays, and after three months of
declining dollar amounts in the photo shoot offers, Brad breached his
contract when he accepted an offer to be in a low budget porno.

   "He's here," I informed Sandi when we pulled up in front of the
apartment building and I found his mind.  "Looks like he's all depressed
about how things turned out, but...  Brad's still holding on to the hope
he'll make a come back and make things up."

   "Well, let's go!" she said impatiently when I didn't get out right away.

   I sighed and got out, but once we were inside I turned to her and
commanded, "Wait here until I call you, okay?"

   "Ohhhh!!" she complained, but didn't follow me when I entered the stairs
to go up.

   Brad was just coming out of the bathroom when I knocked on his door, and
after watching his swirls speed up while he didn't move to answer the door,
I said, "Brad, it's me.  Tim.  Open up."

   "Awe man...." he whined when he opened the door and saw me.  "Sandi made
you come down here to find me, didn't she?"

   "Yeah.  She's downstairs."

   "Awe MAN!" he exclaimed, repelling himself away from the door, then
paced back and forth nervously.  "Awe man!  Did you have to bring her?  Awe
MAN!  Fuck!"

   I stepped in and closed the door behind me, then watched as Brad put his
hands behind his head and sunk down on the couch avoiding my eyes.

   "I'm so fucked Tim.  I thought about calling you or Joey, but..."

   "You don't have to explain, Brad."

   "Shit.  Then you know about the...  pornos."

   "Yeah.  When I found your mind, it kind of stuck out being in the back
of your mind all the time."

   "I'm so fucking stupid," he groaned, his mind flashing through the key
events in just a second or two, not giving me the whole picture, but a bit
more than I had had.

   "You were just being honest with them.  They took advantage of you.  It
wasn't your fault.  At least not completely."

   "I don't know how to face Sandi," he said emotionally.  "I don't want
her to know..."

   "Well, I'm not going to make her leave without seeing you.  You're going
to have..."

   "I don't want to know either," Brad said, looking up at me with hope. 
"Dude, you could make me forget.  You can do that, right?"

   "No!  Absolutely not.  Face it, Brad.  You got fucked up the ass because
you got greedy.  They may have misled you a little, but you knew ahead of
time it was a bisexual bondage movie.  What did you expect?"

   "Man, they said I wouldn't have to do any faggy things.  But getting
your ass fucked is pretty faggy if you ask me."

   "Did you suck any cock?" I asked, more out of curiosity than to prove
any point.

   "No way, man!  They hung me up, put some color shit in my hair, put a
clamp on here and there, then teased me for hours, man.  I was so wound up
by the time they wanted to shoot the fuck scene, I didn't care what I had
to do.  Shit, man.  I'm so disgusted with myself.  I'd like to cut it out
of me if could.  Man, be my buddy.  Make me forget."

   "Yeah, and if I did, you'd end up having nightmares, or even worse, wind
up in the same predicament again.  Look, Sandi's about ready to go nuts
down there.  The sooner you tell her, the sooner you'll feel better.  She's
not going to think any less of you.  Shit, she's been through a lot worse
herself.  I bet she'll understand better than either of us can imagine."

   "Come on, man..." Brad begged, getting up and looking me in the eyes as
he put his hands on my shoulders.  "Please Tim.  This thing is killing me."

   The truth bubbled to the surface within the momentary empathic link, and
it was something I hadn't detected, or expected.  The reason he was wrought
with anguish and humiliation was because he had thoroughly enjoyed the B&D
aspect of the experience and yearned for more.

   "Oh Bradley..." Sandi cooed as she rushed through the door and hugged
him.

   Brad started crying, and despite everything he had said about keeping it
from her, the first words out of his mouth to her was, "I'm a fagot, Sandi.
I'm a fucking fagot."

   I had given Sandi the details on her way up to the apartment, but it
wasn't until after Brad had let it all out that she told him so.

   I have many regrets about the sexual relationship I helped create
between those two, but the bond of trust and love they had formed helped me
not feel so bad about it all.  Especially in situations like this.

   Sandi had to fly back that night since she had school the next morning,
but she talked me into staying with Brad a couple of days to help him tie
up loose ends, pack up, and move back home.  I felt sort of like I was
checking under the bed for monsters when I scanned each and every passenger
boarding her flight to make sure no voices were getting on, but after the
close call on the way down, I wasn't about to take any chances.

   Bright and early Monday morning, Brad and I went to the "studio" where
the small adult film company filmed most of their stuff.  The place was
just a small warehouse with an assortment of backgrounds, sets, and some
bondage equipment, a lot of which I had seen in the south study back home.
There wasn't anything being filmed that day, but there were people there,
including the producer Brad had worked for in the two straight movies he
had been in.

   In his first movie, Brad had only been a character in the background,
but had impressed the producer with his performance, earning him a major
role that was filmed the month after the first.  But the money they paid
him was nothing near what he had desired, so he didn't immediately refuse
when another producer who Brad knew did the bi flicks at a different
location offered double what he was getting if he signed on for his next
film.

   What Brad did wrong was telling this guy everything he liked about
bondage, then letting himself be blinded by the money promised to him, the
descriptions of the bondage he would experience, and probably purposely not
listening to exactly what kind of sex he would have to do.

   After examining his contract, I concluded it had been written in good
faith and that Brad had signed it without really reading it through.  The
document had given the director some improvisational power to go beyond
just a bondage scene if Brad verbally agreed to do it while the filming
took place.  They had his verbal consent to penetration on tape, and after
watching the sex scene through, I knew Brad didn't have any hope of a legal
action, not that that had even crossed his mind.

   Watching the tape had a strange result on Brad.  He had been impressed
by his own 'acting' as he thought of it, and after I had made them cough up
the rest of his promised pay for the flick, the combined temptation of the
money and the B&D was making him think.

   While he drove us back to his apartment, he asked, "How did you and Joey
start...  You know...  Messing around?"

   "I guess we first just wanked off to playboys together, then after we
wanked each other off a couple times, my telepathy started kicking in and
we started sharing our bodies and stuff.  We didn't really see it as having
sex with each other.  We just were sharing the pleasure with each other
until we could do it for real later.  But then when Suzi liked us messing
around, we just kept going further and further with it.  It was more of
trust thing than a sex thing."

   "What about that gay kid, Eric?"

   "That was different.  At camp, Eric was all hormones and no control, and
I guess I let him talk me into doing stuff I wouldn't have otherwise done.
But after the stuff Joey and I did at Northwest, it wasn't hard to let
Eric's excitement excite me too.  I've never fooled around with any other
guys.  Except James, but that was...  complicated."

   "Man...  Guys are not my thing, you know?"

   "Yeah.  They're not usually my thing either."

   "I wasn't too bad, though, was I," he stated.

   "Honestly?  You were excellent.  I'm sure they'll sell lots of copies
and make lots of money off it.  But you don't want to be labeled a porn
star, bi or otherwise, if you ever want to do the modeling thing again. 
Besides...  You're better than that."

   "Yeah, and it probably would just turn out like the model thing anyway,"
he sighed.

   After stopping off to get some boxes, we went back to his apartment and
started packing for about an hour before taking a break for some lunch.  I
knew this whole bi thing was still on his mind, but hadn't expected him to
ask me to have sex with him that night over Apple Jacks and hot dogs like
that.

   "What?!"

   "I gotta know if I like it, man.  I trust ya," he said, putting his hand
on my thigh.

   "You're nuts," I said while scrambling to my feet.  "Brad, no offense,
but I do not want to have sex with you."

   "Why not, man?  Fine if you don't, but I thought we were as good of
friends as Joey and you were."

   "Stand up," I told him after gauging his emotions.

   When he did so, I walked over to him, put my arms around him in an
embrace, then stared into his eyes and asked, "How does this make you
feel?"

   He shrugged and said, "Sort of scared.  Excited a little too."

   "Does it make you want to do anything?"

   "Uhm...  I don't know...  Like what?"

   "Like...  Do you want to kiss me, or feel me up, or fuck me?"

   "Faggy stuff?  No!" he said, appalled, yet not breaking away.

   "Well, wasn't that the idea?"

   "I guess," he said as I let go and stepped back.  "But I was thinking
more...  Ah skip it, man.  It doesn't matter," he said, sitting down and
going back to his food, still disturbed.

   Brad's concept of Joey's and my sexual relationship focused on the trust
factor we had had, which I admit was probably the biggest reason why we
dared to experiment in that way, but certainly wasn't the only significant
one.  Trust was important to Brad, for it was the trust he gave to people
that ultimately brought him the greatest pleasures, sexual or otherwise.

   But what haunted him the most about the bi porno was how he had felt his
trust had been betrayed, yet it had been one of the most erotic pleasures
he had ever experienced as well.  Brad wasn't confused about his sexual
orientation.  He was just confused.

   Talking about it as we packed seemed to help him, but he didn't act like
himself again until after he got home and had his parent's wrath to
distract him for a while.

   Ah, there's nothing like the pitter patter of little feet running to
greet you when you come home.

   Of course that's only if you can hear it over the long squealing
"Tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimmmmmmm-eeeeeeeeeee!"

   "You are getting so BIG!" I praised Richie as I caught the naked kid and
lifted him up for a hug.

   "Timmy Timmy Timmy!" he sang as he hugged me around the neck as hard as
he could.

   After he stopped cutting off my air supply, I asked, "What are you doing
running around without any clothes on?"

   "I'm like mommy.  I like wunning naked.  I can wun weeeal fast.  You
wanna see Timmy?"

   "Sure," I said, tickled by his enthusiasm.

   "'Kay," he said, scrambling out of my arms and running away crying,
"Catch me!  Catch me!"

   Running after the two-year-minus-one-day-old bundle of energy was harder
than I thought.  His short legs didn't really make him that fast, but man
could he turn and dodge!  And without clothes on, there wasn't anything I
could really grab without the fear of scratching or hurting him, but
eventually I faked him out and was able to scoop him up into my arms.

   Richie had to show me everything Michelle, his nanny and now teacher,
had taught him, and that was more than I could have dreamed.  Richie read
me a ten page book, answered seven out of nine addition flash cards
correctly, and even amazingly stood on his hands for a whole ten seconds
which is something I had never quite mastered myself.

   Both Michelle and my mom were present through all his demonstrations,
soaking up my surprise and impressed expressions while beaming with pride
themselves.  And little Richie just loved every minute of showing off what
he could do.  He was my brother, alright.

   At first, I was concerned when I learned my mom had brought five
unmarried mothers each with a child around Richie's age into the household,
thinking it was just so Richie would have children his own age to play
with. But after meeting the women that night and scanning their minds for
the details, I gave my mom a big hug and kiss from what I found.

   My mom was trying to give these women a chance to get back on their feet
after having no one to help them manage their unplanned pregnancies.  Two
of them had been teen pregnancies and had dropped out of high school,
another had lost her husband in an accident, and the other two had had
unfortunate timed one night stands.  They had all responded to an ad in the
paper for an apartment in a complex for single working mothers, and with
only a few minor adjustments, they happily moved into the mansion as my
mother's personal staff.

   Richie loved playing with his live-in playmates, but he also tended to
get fairly jealous whenever Michelle spent time with the other children
without it involving him.

   Despite the fact that most of the children were slightly older than him,
Richie had long mastered the things Michelle was teaching the others and
was for the most part bored despite Richie loving to show off his smarts to
the others.  So for half of the day, my mom took Richie away so Michelle
could work with the others, but then after rejoining them he would tend to
spend the rest of the day clinging to Michelle more than playing with the
other children.

   You could say I was pleased to find Richie clinging to me instead of
Michelle while playing in the playroom with him and the other kids.  I did
raise my eyebrows in surprise to find the two girls, Julie and Pat, were
just as happy to run around naked as Richie, Todd, Chris, and Willy were.
But it didn't bother me since it was all out of innocence, and I knew that
wouldn't last forever.  I figured let them enjoy it while they can.

   All day long I had wanted very badly to tell Joy and Honey about the
male twins I had met, but they were in their long deep regenerative sleep
after having seeded a pair of jocks they had picked up the night before. 
At first I was rather angry with them for doing this on the morning of my
return, but after seeing them sound asleep in their pillowless and
coverless synthetic tiger skin bed, I forgave them and decided to sleep
with them that night in their bed just so I could surprise them in the
morning.

   They surprised me, however, by not being there when I woke up in the
morning.  I quickly tracked them down, but found them too busy fucking
their new toys to even acknowledge my newly learned twin empathic hello.  I
left them with their mindless near orgasming slaves fairly confused and
little hurt, but quickly found comfort with my little snuggly brother who
had apparently slept in my bed instead of his.

   "Am I two?" he sleepily asked me after I had gotten under the covers
with him and he crawled on top of my chest.

   "Yep.  You're a big boy now."

   "Big boy now..." he repeated sleepily.  "Remember two?" he asked me.

   Richie had long gotten used to I, my mom and my dad being able to fill
in what he didn't say while he snuggled, a lot of the time not needing our
telepathy to do it either.  But this time I wasn't clear on his meaning, so
I peeked in his head and found him thinking of the pictures my mom had
shown him of my second birthday, along with the picture of me laying flat
in the tub proudly showing off how strait my little willy stood up when it
was hard.

   "Actually, I do a little," I confessed, faintly recalling the moment the
embarrassing snapshot had been taken.

   Richie looked up at me with a growing smile, then crawled out from under
the blankets and laid down beside me on his back saying, "Me like Timmy,
see?"

   As you probably guessed, his little soldier was at full attention, but
after tickling him to distract him from his hard on, he crawled under the
covers and back on top of me to get warm and to think some more.

   Watching his mind run through images and sensations was pretty neat.  It
was amazing how clearly he remembered things, how easily he associated
things together, and how quickly his attention changed from one thing to
the next.  I wasn't even really paying that much attention on what he was
thinking about, rather being more interested in how his streams flowed and
changed, but when I felt his little rod harden again, I found him thinking
about my mom and dad's sex he was constantly exposed to seeing.

   My dad's desire for Richie to have a more sexual relationship with my
mom apparently hadn't gone unnoticed by Richie, and between that and the
explanation I had given him several months ago about why girls liked boys
and such, it perplexed him why our mom didn't want to have sex with him.

   Luckily, many things perplex a two year old.  This wasn't any more
important to him than why Santa Claus only came once a year, why it rained,
why there was night and day, or why men grew beards and women didn't.

   "Timmy, beards?" he asked while looking up at me.

   "A long long time ago," I began.  "Before people knew how to build
refrigerators or cars, men had to go out during the winter into the cold
cold wind to hunt for food.  Men grow beards because back then they needed
them to keep their face warm."

   "Girls no hunt?" he asked.

   "Because the men were stronger, and the women needed to stay home to
take care of the children and stuff."

   "An' have babies," he added.

   "Yeah, I guess."

   "Twins have babies?"

   "No, the twins can't have babies.  Some women can't have babies."

   "Julie and Pat have babies?"

   "When they get older, probably yeah."

   "Three?"

   "No, Richie.

   "Ten?"

   No, Richie.  They have to be almost as old as I am."

   "Michelle babies?"

   I sighed, then said, "Yes, she could, but she won't until she finds the
right person to be the daddy."

   "Me be daddy?" he asked.

   "You're too young, silly.  You have to be almost as old as I am to be a
daddy, and by that time Michelle will have had babies with a daddy her own
age."

   I hadn't expected Richie to be hurt by this fact, but even if I hadn't
felt his emotions take a nose dive, his tearful whimpers would have
instantly alerted me to the fact.

   "Hey, hey...  Now don't cry.  Just because you can't have babies with
someone doesn't mean you don't love them.  I can't have babies with you,
and I love you."

   "Michelle have my baby?" he whimpered.

   "I guess she could when you get old enough," I said, seeing it as a way
out without there being any real harm.  I mean, good grief.  He was only
two.

   "Mommy have my baby?" he asked after a long silence.

   "Richie, if that ever happened, the baby would be very sick and stupid.
Mommy's and sons, Daddies and daughters should never have babies because...
because..."

   "Bad for them?"

   "Yeah.  It's bad for the baby especially."

   "Why?"

   "It just is, Richie.  Just like why it rains, or why there's night and
day.  It just is."

   Somewhat satisfied by this answer, he laid quietly for a few minutes
while I rubbed his back lovingly.

   "Timmy?"

   "Hmmm?"

   "Michelle have your baby?"

   "I don't want her to have my baby," I said, a bit surprised.

   Richie got up on his hands and knees, crawled up to my face, then said
very sweetly with a smile on his face, "Please?"

   I smiled back and said, "Nooo..."

   "Please?" he said, this time with a sad face.

   "Noooo..." I said with a sad face.

   "Please!" he commanded verbally.

   "No.  I'm not ready to have a baby, and I already picked the person I
want to have babies with and it isn't Michelle.  Now stop thinking about
having babies.  It's not something a two year old should worry about."

   Richie crawled off and headed straight for the door.  I knew his
feelings were hurt, but he also was being stubborn and wanted his way, so I
let him go to pout, knowing he'd forget all about it by the time I got
dressed and ate breakfast.

   To my surprise, I found the twins were mad at me, and it took me all
morning to work out it was because I hadn't invited them to Central State
like I had apparently promised them when I left last time.

   So by lunch-time, I had Richie and the twins ignoring me, and my mom had
her hands full keeping Richie occupied while the staff prepared the North
study for his birthday.  So after eating my lunch alone, I decided to see
what my dad was up to just to pass the time until Suzi came over for
Richie's party.

   My dad was getting a back massage by Edna, this fifty-year old woman who
knew how to torture every inch of a man's body with incredible fingers of
pain and pleasure, and I knew better than to try and talk to him while she
was working her magic.  Shit, that woman could make my dad howl with pain
one moment, then groan with pleasure the next.  I personally was never
brave enough to let Edna work me like that, but sometimes I rather wished I
had.

   "You sure you don't want Edna to give you a massage?" my dad asked as he
pounded her ass with his cock in reward for her services.

   "No thanks," I said, trying to keep myself distracted from the way her
flabby breasts swayed back and forth underneath her.

   As my dad tensed up all over from his orgasm reaching it's full height,
I studied his forty-one year old figure and admired how fit it was.  I
mean, you would think someone like my dad with all his servants and stuff
wouldn't have much muscle tone from the lack of exercise.  But in fact, my
dad was probably was as fit as I was, and told him so when he noticed me
studying his body while he toweled off.

   "I wish mother was here to hear you say that.  She always told me I'd
burn out before I was forty from all the Essence of Life I drink."

   "What, that stuff keeps you fit?"

   Carol held his robe while he slipped his arms into it, her naked form
momentarily distracting me from his face, but not long enough to miss the
smirk he had on his face.

   "What..." I asked suspiciously.

   "Carol could you leave us for a while.  I have some...  Family secrets
to share with my son."

   "Of course, Master," she simple said, smiling as she imagined several
sexual positions she believed he would be telling me about.

   "Family secrets?" I echoed, grinning myself from the way he had said it.
"Does this have to do with the Essence of Life and how it keeps you in
shape?"

   "I would think that's obvious," he said, looking at me with a humorous
gaze.  "Sex is the best natural exercise, and given enough variation in
technique, it can keep the entire body in shape."

   "I guess you could say you're living proof of that."

   "I am," he said confidently, purposely ignoring how I intended it to be
a joke.  "But that's only part of it, Timothy.  Without the Essence of Life
providing me the energy when I need it, I would have stagnated a long time
ago.  You could say it helps keep me young, but that's more in spirit than
in body.  I will never understand your resistance to deny yourself what
your body wants while it is young.  You're not living life to the fullest
if you don't let yourself fuck while you have the youth to do it all the
time."

   "You make it sound so simple," I said with a shrug.

   "It is that simple, Timothy.  You, your mother, Richie, and I were all
meant to have sex with more than just one person.  We have the gift, we
have the urges, and we have the Essence of Life."

   "Give me a break, dad.  If I went around fucking girls like you, you'd
be hip deep in grandchildren before you could enjoy Richie's first wet
dream."

   My dad smiled at me with that look that meant I had said something
ironic without knowing it.

   "What?"

   "You must promise not to tell Richie, or anyone else for that matter. 
It's a family secret that I don't want getting out."

   "Okay, okay.  What?" I asked, intrigued by his secrecy.

   "No," he said, sitting back against the cushions with a wicked smile on
his face.  "First we have a drink of the Essence of Life together, then
I'll give you a few simple hints and let you guess."

   "Oh, come on, Dad..." I sighed.  "You know how I feel about that."

   "Damnit, Timothy.  Can't you just try and be my son just this once?!" he
snapped.  "I'm trying to share something with you here.  Something my dad
shared with me that for once wasn't something he took away or tried to use
against me."

   "But Richie's party..."

   "Look son, I'll make a deal with you.  As much as the thought disgusts
me, we can fuck our hands until we get it out of our systems.  Alright?"

   "Whoa...  Okay.  I guess that's fair," I said, realizing how much he
really wanted this to have to stoop so low.

   By the time I had stripped, my dick was already at full attention from
the horniness I expected to feel from the drink, and after my dad handed me
my glass, I saw his was in the same condition as mine.

   My dad motioned for me to stand up with him, then after making a toast
to our vitality, we stood next to each other comparing our bodies while
sipping the bubble gummy drink.

   I have to admit, my dad was a fairly handsome man.  His cock was just a
tad thicker than mine, and his darker body hair seemed to cover just a bit
more area on his chest and stomach, but besides these differences and
perhaps the skin on his hands and face showing just a touch of age, we were
two of a kind.

   As we began to feel the effects of the drink, we lay down against the
mountain of cushions piled around us, facing each other slightly to talk,
but not too much so we weren't staring at each other when we jerked off.

   "Joey, Suzi and I used to drink it all the time," I reminded him.

   "Why did you stop?"

   "I don't know.  I guess we were afraid of getting addicted to it."

   "Three years ago, I would have said that was rubbish.  But then I tried
going without it for six months.  Longest six months of my life.  Thank God
your mother can fuck like an animal when she has too."

   "Why did you go back to drinking it if it was that hard to stop?"

   "Because I never intended to stop for good."

   "Then why..."

   "Damn.  I can't understand how you ever ejaculate this way," my dad
said, frustrated.

   I looked over at how he was doing it, then laughed, "Well you're holding
it backwards!"

   "I am?  But this is how the girls always held it," he said, releasing
his drooling cock and watching it dip and sway.

   "That's because...  Just hold it like you would when you pee."

   "Timothy, my mother taught me never to touch my penis when I pee. 
Didn't Sam teach you that?"

   "Uhm, I don't know.  I don't remember!" I said, frustrated.  "Look.  See
how I'm holding mine?"

   "Like this, huh?"

   "Yes," I said as I felt the deep tingles of my first of several orgasms
preparing to start.

   "Slow down, Tim.  It's not time yet," my dad objected.

   "Shiiiitttssss," I hissed as I slowed my hand and hip thrusts.

   "Most male voices I've met have dozens of illegitimate children," my dad
said while stroking with building confidence.  "I've never had any.  Well
except you, of course, but I don't think you could be called illegitimate
any more."

   "Thanks," I said, trying to wipe off enough precum off my dick and hand
so I could get a decent grip of my foreskin.

   I was rather distracted by this pointless task, for my precum was oozing
out so fast by this point I couldn't clean my dick's skin off fast enough
before it got slimed up again.

   "Cool," I said as I swung my dick around sharply and watched my precum
string out in a long rope before the strand broke completely away and
splattered against some cushions.

   "Tim, pay attention!" my dad said with frustration.

   "Sorry, what were we talking about?" I asked.

   "Fuck if I remember!" he said before madly humping his hand several
times then releasing it and wiping his hand off on the cushions cussing,
"This is the fucking stupidest way to cum I've ever fucking tried!  And
I've tried fucking everything!"

   Purely out of empathy, I scooted up next to him and took hold of his
dick with my spare hand.

   "What the fuck are you doing?" he demanded.

   "I uhhh...  I just," I stuttered, releasing his deflating member, then
realized its significance.

   "Stupid!" he exclaimed as he got to his feet and rushed towards the
exit. "I'm such a fucking idiot!  To think I wanted to have a man to man
talk with my queer cock sucking...  CAROL!  MIN!  LINDA!  Where the fuck
are my fucking..."

   I stopped listening at that point, for I either had to cum or start
screaming like my dad from the build up in my balls.

   Those were a dozen intense orgasms, let me tell you.  I must have been
dripping with cum from head to toe by the time I was done, for when I woke
up hours later, it was hard to move without the dried cum trying to pull
out a few body hairs out of their roots all over my body.

   I was in the shower just admitting to myself I was not having a good day
when Suzi popped into the shower with me.  It had surprised the hell out of
me, but in a good way, and I think I hugged her for a good five minutes
before we soaped each other up and had some clean fun in the shower.

   While we were drying each other off, my dad's last words popped into my
head and made me pause long enough for Suzi to notice.

   "What's wrong?"

   "It's nothing really.  My dad called me queer while he was tanked up on
the drink, that's all."

   "I'm sure he didn't mean it like it sounded," Suzi said after a long
pause.

   "It's not the words he said, Suz," I sighed, looking down between us,
then with a slightly wicked smile I gave her right nipple a tweak.

   "Ewp!  Stop that," she scolded me.

   My smile faded as I said, "I disappointed him.  He was trying to tell me
something that really meant something to him.  It was supposed to be a male
bonding thing where we fucked some women together or shit like that before
he revealed some sort of family secret.  He really tried, Suz.  He knew I
wouldn't be able to stand watching him fuck a girl with the drink in me, so
he tried to appease me by...  I don't think he had ever jerked himself off
before, Suz.  So I tried to help him and..."

   "I think I get the idea," Suzi said, clasping her hands behind my neck
and looking me in the eyes.  "Look Timmy.  I need to tell you something."

   "What?" I asked cautiously, already knowing I wasn't going to like it.

   "I sort of...  bumped into your dad while he was wandering around
looking for one of his sluts...  and..."

   "Why that fucking BASTARD!" I exploded.  "And I was feeling bad for..!"

   "Look at ME!" she demanded, taking my chin in her right hand and forcing
it to do just that.  "You can scan my mind if you want, but he didn't make
me do anything I didn't want to."

   The honesty was like a slap in my face, and all I could do was stand
there in disbelief as she calmly explained, "When I saw him all naked and
hard, dripping...  Timmy, he looked...  Shit, I thought it was you for a
moment.  I just couldn't resist the temptation.  He was so...  Sexual.  So
raw.  So...  Hot."

   "Suzi, you fucked my dad.  You fucked my dad!  Suzi!  You FUCKED my
DAD!"

   "And Joey's fucked your mom!  With your approval!" she defended.

   "And that makes it right!?!  SHIT, Suz.  God Damn it," I exclaimed as
the world started spinning around me, buzzing filled my ears, and
everything started going dark while I lost my balance.

   "Timmy?  Timmy, I'm sorry!" Suzi desperately said as the buzzing left
and the world returned to my senses.  "Are you okay?"

   Still a little dizzy, I closed my eyes, then, strangely enough, realized
that my eyes had remained open while everything had gone dark.

   "Timmy," Suzi said softly, then kissed my chest a couple of times before
touching my lips with her own, experimentally.

   It was a short kiss, but a forgiving one, and if I hadn't been so
un-horny, I know, I just know, we would have ended up making love on the
bathroom floor.

   After we got dressed and started making our way to the North study for
Richie's birthday party, I took her hand and asked, "So how was my old man?
Any good?"

   Suzi smiled, then teased, "Why?  Are you thinking of trying him out
yourself?"

   Seeing the frown on my face, Suzi quickly added, "He had style, he
had... incredible technique...  He really knows how to pleasure a woman,
but..."

   When I glanced at her, she smiled and said, "He doesn't have your heart,
Timmy.  There was no love in it, just sex.  It was like fucking a
machine... an incredibly experienced and pleasurable machine.  But after I
spend the night with him tonight, I'll probably have had my fill of..."

   She grinned wickedly when I looked at her to object, then I smiled
myself and said, "Well then...  I can't wait to hear how he rated you."

   -------------------------------------

   Oh we had a hell of a time keeping Richie's clothes on him during his
birthday party.  My mom kept apologizing to everyone, always adding how it
was her fault for ever having let him try going around the house nude.  My
dad didn't help by siding with Richie and pointing out it was Richie's
party, but my mom wouldn't hear to it until the candles were blown out and
the picture taking was over with for the night.

   At least Richie had forgotten he was mad at me, though I doubted he
could have remembered what it was he had been mad about if he hadn't.  It
was strange how he could remember your words from a month before, but other
things he would forget in an hour.

   But that is not to say he had forgotten what we had talked about that
morning.  While Suzi and I were goofing around by feeding ourselves cake
using the other person's arms and hands, Richie toddled right up to Suzi
and asked, "Su-su, are you gonna have Timmy's baby?"

   I choked on my cake while Suzi started laughing, and Richie just stood
there perplexed by what was so funny, then turned away with a goofy grin on
his face as his cheeks started to turn red.

   "That was so cute," Suzi sighed.

   "What's this?" I said as I got a strange vibe from her.  "You're not
actually thinking about it, are you?"

   "Maybe," she said, then her spirits suddenly sank.

   "Hey, what's the matter?" I asked, finding Suzi suddenly sniffing from a
rush of tears.

   "Nothing," she said, putting on a brave face and glancing at my eyes
hesitantly.

   "Come on," I said softly.  "Tell me, please?"

   "Ohhh," she sighed.  "It's really silly.  It's not worth mentioning."

   "I like silly things."

   I waited for her to say something, but she remained quiet longer than I
was comfortable with, especially with her looking down in her lap afraid to
show her eyes to me.  So I kissed her on the cheek and got up to go tease
Richie and Todd who where naked as the day they were born and shoving their
mouths full with cake.

   But Suzi grabbed me by the elastic of my shorts before I could get up
all the way.  So I sprang right back into my seat, put my chin on my hand,
its elbow on my knee, and stared up into her downcast face and waited for
her to speak.

   "Timmy..." she whispered.  "I don't want to hurt you."

   I smiled and said, "You won't.  I promise."

   She took a deep breath while looking up at the ceiling, then with a
hollow chuckle she said, "I was just thinking what it would be like for my
kid to...  say something completely innocent like that, then get
embarrassed and..."

   She glanced at my eyes a moment, giving me a taste of how torn she was
about saying...

   "And blush all over," she finally said.

   "That's it?"

   She frowned, thinking I hadn't caught the significance of what she had
said.

   "Come on, Suz.  Don't you think I realized by now that you and Joey... I
mean, nothing says you have to, but I always imagined you two would get
married and have kids."

   "Well I didn't!" she said emotionally, and very loudly as well.

   We suddenly became very aware of the sudden decline in background noise,
then as people started to go back to their own discussions, I nudged Suzi
and indicated with a quick tilt of my head for us to go up into the upper
level of the study so we could talk privately.

   "I never wanted to have to choose between you and Joey," she said
somberly, wiping her nose in the tissue I had gotten her from the box
hidden under some cushions.  "I never wanted to, but..."

   "Oh, Suz," I said, hugging her again.  "You didn't choose all by
yourself, you know.  We sort of chose together.  All three of us did.  I
still love you just as much as I would if you had imagined your kid with my
twinkling eyes and my much sexier ears..."

   "Now who's dreaming," she snickered.

   "Feel better?"

   "I guess," she sighed, then looked me in the face and her eyes started
filling up again.

   "Hey, I got an idea," I said brightly.  "How about we go look at all the
embarrassing photos my mom has of me when I was a little kid again, and
after you laugh your ass off, you won't feel so blue about your kid missing
out on having my good looks."

   "I don't think that's...." she began, then smirked as I shared the
recollection of that bathtub picture Richie had liked so much.

   Seeing the bait having been swallowed from the mischievous look forming
in her eyes, I got up and rushed down the ramp to ask my mom where the
photo books were.

   Fifteen minute later, my whole life was on public viewing as practically
everyone had followed my mom and us to the storage room to get the photo
albums to see how cute Richie's older brother had been at his age.

   I had seriously lost interest in all the comments and comparisons people
were making by the time they reached my kindergarten pictures, but Suzi's
interest was only invigorated by finding Joey was starting to appear in
them, and the frequency only increased the farther she went.  She and Joey
had seen them before back in our freshman year of high school, but a lot of
things had happened since then and she didn't remember that much about
them.

   The picture of Joey and I dressed up as girl scout hobos on Halloween in
fifth grade made me roll my eyes from knowing the type of comments Suzi was
about to unleash.  But in doing so, my eyes landed on another photo album,
one I faintly remembered looking at a couple of times back in the old house
before my voice had showed up.

   Intending to seek revenge on my mom by putting her own childhood up for
public review, I scooted over to the book and kept my back to the crowd to
give myself some time to dig up some dirt before my mom could notice.

   But instead, I found myself fascinated by the black and white pictures
of the people I had heard so little about, the farm house I had explored
with LeAnne, and the innocent little girl who was never caught on film
without a smile on her face.

   It was rather eerie looking at the black and white photos of that house
where my mother had grown up in.  Everything was new, the ground around the
house was all neat and tidy, and they had great big long flowerbeds lining
each side of the road as far as you could see.  That run down dilapidated
farm I had visited years ago had once been a beautiful home to three people
who expressed their happiness in every photo.  Oh, my grandfather never
once gave the camera a smile, but there were a few where he had been taken
unaware, and even without those I could see it in his eyes.

   My grandmother, Rosemarie Jasmine Turnsmith-Brandton, had the kindest,
warmest eyes I had ever seen.  I remember the first time my mom had shown
me those pictures, this one particular picture of my grandmother made me
cry because I wanted to give her this big hug...  And then my mom started
crying with me, saying she wanted to give her one too.

   Sorry.  Had a small case of the sniffles there.  A thirty-year old man
getting broken up over having never physically met his maternal
grandmother...  If my, um, superiors caught me doing that, they'd put me
through some more of their...  constructive emotion channeling lectures. 
Shit, why they ever picked an empath to do this job, I'll never know.

   Anyway, once I had reached my mom's high school years, I went back to
where I had started and went backwards through the first seven pages I had
skipped.

   My heart stopped a moment when I came across a picture of my
grandparents and my great uncle Tim at a table apparently in a bar
somewhere.  My great uncle Tim was stooped over behind them draping his
arms over my grandfather and grandmother's shoulders, and looking up at the
camera with a brilliant smile.  The shock was seeing the looks on my
grandparents' and great uncle's faces.  I knew those looks.  That warm,
fuzzy, happy, drunk on love, I don't give a damn about what anyone else
thinks look that I had seen on Joey's, Suzi's, and even Eric's faces when
we were together in public and making a scene.

   As I started to stand up to show Suzi, I turned the page to the very
beginning.  I always though my grandparents' wedding picture seemed
appropriate for a family photo book to start off with.  Only this time the
picture knocked the wind out of my lungs.  This time a face, a young man's
face that I didn't immediately recognize...  yet his unreadable eyes jumped
out at me and triggered all sorts of alarms.

   "MOM!"

   "Oh, don't be pulling that old thing out," she complained when she saw
what I was carrying.

   "Mom, who is Berry Livingston?"

   "Berry Livingston?" she repeated with a frown.  "I don't know, honey. 
Who is he?"

   Confused, I looked at Suzi in search for answers, then just as Suzi
looked up and noticed my stare, I turned back to my mom and said, "Berry
Livingston said hi."

   "Berry Livingston," she echoed as her face expressed her shock.  "Where
did you hear...  Is he still alive?"

   "Apparently.  Who is he?"

   "He's...  He was my Uncle Tim's...  ward, or at least that's what my
father called him.  He later became my uncle's best friend and partner, and
whenever Uncle Tim wrote us, he always ended the letter saying Berry
Livingston says hi.  Timmy, how did you..."

   "I met him.  Remember that cranky old guy who tried to kill me every
time he spilt his coffee?  I think it's him.  At least he claimed to be.  I
didn't believe him.  I didn't...  Mom.  Did Uncle Tim have voice?"

   "No, of course not," she said instantly, but then crooked her head as
something suddenly seemed to occur to her.

   "What?"

   "I think I need to sit down," she said, looking a bit pale.

   "What's wrong?" Suzi asked along with several others.

   "Perry.  He knew my mom's parents.  And he really knew my great uncle
Tim."

   "What?" Suzi exclaimed, not sure she understood me.

   "Here, look at this," I said, laying the old photo album down in her lap
and turning the page to the photo of the threesome.  "Remind you of
anyone?"

   "Who..." she softly gasped.

   "My great Uncle Tim, my Grandpa Jasper and Grandma Rose," I explained
while pointing to the faces, then left her to draw her own conclusions as I
joined my mom who was fanning herself.

   "He had voice, didn't he," I stated gently.

   "Yes, I suppose he did.  When I was a little girl, I fell asleep in the
woods one day, and didn't wake up until after dark.  I tried to find my way
back to the house, but I got lost and panicked.  I tried to run but twisted
my ankle on the rocks.  Then I heard...  At least I thought I heard Uncle
Tim talking to me, telling me Daddy was coming, and not to cry.  I never
saw him, and I never understood why he hadn't just helped me himself and
why he hadn't stayed afterwards.  But now I know why."

   "Timmy?" Suzi called.

   I opened a two way and asked, "Yeah Suz?"

   "This is creepy."

   "Why?"

   "It just is.  It's like history is repeating itself."

   "Huh?  How so?"

   "You're Tim, I'm Rose, and Joey's Jasper.  Jasper and Rose get married
and have Sam, but Tim never marries and..."

   "Who say's I'm not going to get married?  History isn't repeating
itself. It's just...  coincidence."

   "But...  Did you look at the wedding picture?"

   "Of course I did," I thought back, getting up and walking over to her.

   "Look at him," she said out loud, pointing at my Great Uncle Tim's face
in the background.

   Separation, love, sacrifice, hope, pain...  That's what the slightly
blurred image of my namesake said to my empathic sensitive eyes.  Feelings
all too familiar to me, and only an empath, or someone who knew that look
as well as apparently Suzi did, could have read it behind the mask of a
smile my great uncle wore.

   The unreadable eyes of the young man standing next to Tim with his hand
on my great uncle's shoulder didn't give away his thoughts or emotions, but
something else in his face made me realize he either understood Tim's pain,
or shared it.

   That night after the party and Richie had been put to bed, my mom and I
studied the pictures in silence in the dining room.  I had this
overwhelming feeling my grandmother had been quite a woman in her day.  I
kept sensing she was like a hub between the brothers, that she maintained
some kind of balance.  It didn't really make much sense to me, but then I
also realized I was probably reading too much into the aging black and
white photos.  They were just momentary fragments of a time long past.  You
can't reconstruct a city with only blueprints of a couple of buildings and
a very old map.

   Around three in the morning, I had a dream Perry was out to kill Richie
before he could turn two.  It was a strange mixture of places and events as
dreams tend to be, and I woke up before anything really happened besides
finding Perry's cane stuck to the wall above Richie's bed.

   Unable to go back to sleep right away, I decided it would be nice to
crawl into Richie's bed unexpected and uninvited for a change.  So I went
down the hall and carefully snuck into Richie's room, then froze in shock
finding Richie already had a bedmate.  Only this bedmate was naked and had
this strange lump on her stomach that I slowly realized was Richie's head.

   My baby brother was asleep in the most compromising position, his upper
torso lying on top of his nanny while his legs hung limply between her
spread legs.  I couldn't believe my eyes.  I covered my mouth in anguish,
then shakily walked out of their room, not knowing what to feel or think.

   By dawn I had probed their minds to learn my mother, not my father, but
my mother, had instituted changes in Michelle's perspective to make her
receptive in case my little brother attempted something sexual with her. 
Not even a week after that, Michelle innocently took a bath with Richie,
simply not knowing better any more, triggering Richie's curiosity which
quickly explored her lack of resistance to his touches and exploring.

   Richie knew nothing about lust.  He obtained no physical climax from
humping his nanny's warm wet hole.  He only knew it was what males did to
express their feelings to females, and that view was entirely my fault. 
But my mother's programming of Michelle's mind so that Richie's little
pencil brought her the same pleasures as a fully-grown cock was to me a
step too far.  But how do you confront the woman who taught you what was
right and wrong with something like this?  I couldn't.  I just couldn't
handle doing that right then.

   I was a queer disappointment to my father, the twins were giving me the
cold shoulder, and I couldn't bear looking my sweet little brother in the
face knowing his innocence was gone by my own mother's doings...

   So I scribbled a message saying Joey needed me back at school and left
it on the main dining room table.  Then after a brief detour by the south
mansion to pick up Midge, my helicopter, I headed to Central State where I
hoped I would be distracted from the heartache of losing the last vestiges
of the mother I had always known.

  
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+

   Tim, the Teenage MC By Rass Senip Chapter XXII: Summer 90 Part 2 - The
Group (mc, mf, ff, mff) --------------------------

   I suppose it shouldn't have been a surprise to find the Group fighting
off another voice after all the attention Central State had received about
the deaths and the cover up.  But I hadn't expected it and quite frankly I
was annoyed by the fact I had to drive around the campus the long way just
to stay out of the way.

   By the time I reached my apartment, I realized there was more than just
a single voice involved in the attack.  In fact, as I studied the scene
from the roof of the apartment building across the street from mine, I came
to the conclusion there were three different factions fighting each other
and the Group all at the same time.  One group of four voices was
apparently retreating while defending themselves from both the Group and a
six voice faction, and a two voice faction was attempting to use some of
the local mutes to distract them all by making them rush towards the six
member group with any weapon they could find.

   The Group was holding their own, but I quickly counted only seven active
voices within the medical complex, one being Joey's familiar pattern of
swirls dishing out a complex blanket command over some approaching hostile
mutes that knocked them out for a while.

   I carefully checked the attackers' swirls to make sure they weren't just
Group members performing some kind of drill, then asked myself out loud,
"Where's the hell is the rest of the Group?"

   Seeing there were only a total of twenty or so voices involved, and a
third of them I assumed were friendly, I felt relatively safe as I headed
towards the medical complex to ask if they would like some help.

   "Tim?" Joey thought to me just as I entered the medical campus.  "What
are you doing here?"

   "Just thought you might like a little help," I thought back while
sensing a hostile mind probing for mine.

   "Hurry up and get in here," he thought to me before closing the
connection.

   The two voices who were surprisingly holding off at least five others
found me despite the link closing before they could get a firm fix.  They
probed for my mental barrier, tested its strength with some command
streams, then hesitated when I hadn't done the same to them.  I imagine
they would have just left me alone at that point if the other two factions
hadn't noticed their probes and took interest in me as well.

   Suddenly all four sides were scrambling to keep the other three from
claiming me.  I had to defend my mind from some rather pathetic attempts to
enslave me to one of the three attacking factions, but besides that minor
annoyance, I rather enjoyed the symbolic fireworks display they were
shooting off in my honor, so to speak.

   My entertainment was interrupted when another voice I hadn't detected
before suddenly attempted to take control of my arms and legs, momentarily
disrupting my balance and spilling me onto the ground.

   Without even thinking about it, I locked on to the man's mind, felt out
the weakest point in his barrier, then distracted him momentarily with a
burning sensory stream to his crotch before penetrating his barrier and
scrambling his cognitive mind enough to render him harmless for a while.

   The moment after I did this, I became painfully aware of how every voice
on the campus had hesitated a moment before attempting to take advantage of
the distraction my reflex action had caused.  As I got up off the ground
and hurried my way towards the medical complex without even a probe coming
in my direction, I cursed myself for having exposed myself like that.

   As a couple members of the six-plus-one faction attempted to unscramble
their fallen comrade, the four-member faction used that opportunity to
disengage completely and run away.  The two-member faction seemed intent on
taking out the six-plus-one faction, and by the time I was inside the
medical complex the six-plus-one faction was faltering under the combined
attack of the Group and the two member faction.

   "I guess you don't need any help now, huh?" I asked Joey when I reached
the windowed fifth floor room he was in.

   "You think you can take out those four before they get away?" he asked
as he wiped the sweat off his brow while staring out the window with
unfocused eyes.

   "I can try," I said, pleasantly surprised, yet with a growing feeling of
caution.

   "Do it then," he said without as much as a glance towards me.

   Considering they were speeding away in two different directions in two
separate vehicles, once I had broken through one driver's barriers, I had
to have Joey finish up disabling the first pair so I could take out the
second before I would lose my lock on their minds.

   By that time, the six-plus-one member faction was defeated and the
remaining two intruders contacted the Group and called for a truce. 
Apparently the two brave women were only interested in freeing their
brother who had been enslaved by the six-plus-one faction, and after they
allowed the Group to probe them, Sarah took them for their word and allowed
them to leave with their brother and another who had been a friend.

   The nine others were not as easily dealt with.  Normally the Group freed
enslaved voices from their controller and gave them the option to either
join them or to leave with deeply embedded controls in their minds to
prevent them from remembering anything about the Group or their voice.  But
with the Inquisitor's ten voice per campus limit, they couldn't offer to
take them in and help them adjust to a sensible life with voice, and it
wasn't fair to those who had been enslaved shortly after their voice
surfaced to make them forget it ever existed.

   But that's what we ended up doing.  Yes, I said we.  Since I apparently
had to be counted as one of the ten voices on campus, I was flabbergasted
to learn I was welcome to stay instead of being forced to go somewhere else
to make room for a tenth Group member.  Naturally, I felt obligated to help
out in any way they allowed me to, and Joey and I stretched that to the
limits over the next couple of weeks of the heaviest period of attacks
Central State ever saw.

   While I had been in Texas with Brad, the Group met for the last time to
give everyone the chance to form their own independent groups elsewhere,
stay in the Group at one of the three campuses, or to go back to a normal
life without their voice or the memories of the their time within the
Group.

   Not surprisingly, many chose to form their own self-sustaining groups,
for they only had to stay together for a couple of months before they could
go off on their own if they wished to do whatever they liked.  A few were
not given that choice due to their history, and I was shocked to learn Neil
had opted to go with the block on his voice and memory like most of my
drinking buddies had.

   Neil apparently feared Joey might talk him out of it, so he had wrote
Joey a letter and had Sarah deliver it once he had been processed and
released to go home.

   Joey had taken that pretty hard, but he didn't have much time to think
about it as power mad voices from all over investigated the suspicious
"pickle hazing" and attempted to enslave the Group and each other.

   Thankfully the campus was all but deserted due to the spring
intersession classes having been canceled.  Of course there were still a
few mutes around, but they were mostly faculty and staff who for the most
part were not young enough to interest most of the invading perverts.  They
were still used by some as diversions, but we were getting pretty good at
turning this against them when they least expected it.

   Suzi scared the hell out of us when she called Joey's pager from a pay
phone just outside of town without warning.  After Joey's and my experience
with Steven, the Group had adopted to always assume the phones were bugged,
and so Suzi was very aware how she was exposing herself by calling his
pager like that.  But after nearly a week of not getting any word from us,
she decided she had had enough and came to join the fight.

   Joey and I scrambled to locate her mind for linking, and once we had, we
wasted no time bringing her into the fold and letting her take over for
others so they could get some well earned sleep.

   During a small break in the activity later that day, Joey told Suzi off
for risking herself like she had.  That was the first time in over a year
that Joey had even so much as raised his voice at her, and I think Suzi's
brief tears were more from the shock than what he said, but then he did
sort of take his anger out on her and said things he really had no right to
say.

   Once she had dried her tears, Suzi, being Suzi, put on a determined face
and set out to prove Joey wrong about how we didn't need her help.  Over
the remaining week as the attacks escalated and then finally tapered off,
Suzi impressed me with not just her offensive and defensive telepathic
skills, but also how she could predict their moves and use it to her
advantage.

   Those couple of weeks gave me a new appreciation for the tactics,
procedures, and training the Group had developed for these types of
situations.  At no point did we lose control of the situation, and I
accredit that primarily to the high use of teamwork, which virtually every
tactic the Group had in their arsenal relied on.

   Everyone in the team had a task.  Whether it was breaking down the
shields of the head voice or defending those who were, you only had to
worry about your part and leave the rest to the others.  It didn't matter
if you were sitting idle most of the time while someone else was straining
themselves to their limit.  As long as you performed your job without
distraction, the Group as a whole was safe and would eventually succeed at
whatever they were doing.  In the few cases where someone was being
overwhelmed by their task, they simply had to signal to whoever was
assigned to back them up to get relief.

   I usually got the job of defending the others, mainly due to my symbolic
sight allowing me to detect and counter incoming streams before they
reached their intended targets.  In the past, the people assigned as
defenders usually had to attack the attackers themselves to divert
attention away from the offensive Group members.  Most of the Group members
couldn't effectively shield anyone but themselves at one time, and the ones
who could always seriously weakened their own defenses when they tried.

   Both Joey and Terrence Wishmaker, the British voice I had dueled earlier
that year, could counter an incoming stream when it was directed at them,
but they both generally let their telepathic shields take the hit so they
could focus their attention solely on taking out the source.  Apparently a
lot of time was spent the previous year trying to develop and enhance this,
but to Sarah's dismay, they simply couldn't use it to protect others
without the symbolic sight.

   The first time I was assigned as defense was with Joey, Suzi and Thomas,
a twenty-three year old Native American with a sharp mind and sharper
tongue.  After the first five minutes, Joey and Suzi stood down and
eventually curled up together in a room for a nap while Thomas waited
patiently a good half hour for something to get through before taking my
advice and turning on the TV.

   Being the Group's shield was very cool at first.  It was showing off in
a sense, but this was okay.  We all already knew what my limit was from
Sarah's little surprise test in January, and nobody was interested in
retesting that, the least being me.  And since we were never attacked by
more than fifteen voices at once during that period, I was very comfortable
in the load I was handling.

   After the first week, however, I got very bored with it.  While usually
the head voice within a group was usually pretty powerful, the rest were
naturally less powerful, and they all were generally pretty inexperienced
working together.  They usually focused on sending the same single command
in synchronized surges which any seasoned voice knows can be devastating to
a telepathic barrier, but at the same time it was so much easier for me to
counter that than multiple different complex command streams.  Once they
became that predictable, the challenge was gone, and on more than one
occasion I got so bored with it I fell asleep while the others were mopping
up.

   Thankfully, Sarah foresaw that the others were probably getting too used
to not having the distractions of being attacked while on offensive duty,
and switched me over to offense once the frequency of attacks started
settling down.  I can't say I ever got bored with offense, but I quickly
came to the realization that it was almost a complete waste of my time to
assist them in taking out any less than three voices at once no matter how
crafty or powerful they were.

   I know what you're thinking.  Timmy finally got to show them his stuff
and kicked some serious telepathic ass!  Sorry to disappoint you there. 
While I don't doubt I could have taken out quite a few of the voices we
encountered without seriously straining myself, I didn't do anything more
than what was required of me or any other member of the Group.

   Speaking of which, I quickly became acquainted with the remaining group
members who were for the most part the pick of the crop of all the voices
in the Group before the breakup.

   On the men's side we had...

   Terrence Wishmaker: A Brit, whose tactics and strength was only matched
by his spurts of arrogance.  His ideal woman was a mother in her early to
mid thirties, and in his off hours could be found enjoying one of the many
divorced or unsatisfied married women who littered the Kenton county area.
His nickname was Uncle Terrence due the large number children in the area
knowing him by that name.  Terrence usually only had one slave, and that
was mostly just so there was someone watching his home, not for sex.

   Thomas Battise: A Native American male with very fast reflexes and wit,
Thomas was considered to be on par with Terrence in the offensive category.
He liked his women intelligent, bisexual, and dirty in the mouth when in
the sack.  Anal sex was his solution to pregnancy prevention.  He hated
condoms.

   Jon Brigley: Well rounded in both the offensive and defensive
departments, Jon was the only group member who enjoyed swapping bodies for
sex, other than myself.  He seemed to prefer threesomes, and while his cock
was the only one, he was pretty fair about getting fucked by it as much as
he fucked with it.  Out of all the voices with slaves, he modified his
women the least, but tended to get tired of them fairly quick.  Jon and
Thomas would usually combine their harems once a week for a group fuck.

   Shannon Baker: A big time pedophile, Shannon was the main reason all
group members were not allowed to enslave anyone under 18 and/or not out of
high school.  He was extremely sensitive to telepathic activity, which is
why he was such an asset to the Group.  He could sense out telepathic
probes miles away that even I couldn't detect without specifically looking
for them.  While he had fair defense capabilities, he couldn't attack worth
a shit, so he was usually with Sarah, keeping her updated with whatever was
going on and seeking out new threats.  The one time I dream walked into his
household really disturbed me, finding the women he had enslaved all
behaved like preadolescent girls who were just always curious about sex. 
Pathetic.

   Jacob Greenburg: A big time homophobe and redneck, Jacob was all about
tits and pussy, and getting as much of them as he can.  Extremely powerful
defensive abilities combined with a very good collection of offensive
attacks, Jacob was easily capable of taking out most average voices by
himself.  By the time he had encountered the Group, he had used his five
enslaved voices to build him a harem of over two hundred women between the
ages of fourteen and twenty three.  Jacob was also the youngest group
member, having only been sixteen when he had attacked the Group the
previous year.  Because of both his history and his power, Jacob was the
only group member who hadn't been given a choice about staying or leaving,
and in fact his mind had been significantly modified by Sarah in order to
make him trustworthy and loyal to the Group enough that he could become
apart of the Group.

   On the women's side...

   Gina Harrison: Sister-In-Law to Sarah and the person whom Sarah linked
to the most, Gina was useless in terms of defending the Group from anything
except possibly an invasion of a homosexual drama brigade.  Sarah and
Gina's older sister Denise had spent years helping Gina get her GDA, and
prior to moving to California to marry a famous actor whom I cannot name,
Denise had managed to help Gina get sufficient certification to become a
professor of the drama department at Central State.  Granted, Central State
didn't actually have a drama department before that, but the new drama
center was a nice addition to the everexpanding campus faculties.  It gave
Gina something to do besides looking for fresh meat, and she surprisingly
was very professional with her work and never touched her students even
after they completed her class.  Her lair was two complete levels below the
supposed drama center's basement, and closely resembled Wally's own lair
beneath the medical center, both in layout and security.  Her hobbies
included wine tasting, attending craft fairs, and turning innocent straight
young college men into bisexual cock whores.

   Josephine (Joe) Grant & Kara Briar: These two twenty year old women not
only grew up together, but developed their voices together, a sort of
female version of Joey and I.  Kara was generally more sexually active than
Joe, but Joe was definitely the aggressive one, and usually led the way
when dealing with enslaving the opposite sex.  They were very close, very
powerful when together, and always shared their men with each other and
never with anyone else.  They lived together, and because of that had the
largest harem of all the Group members, all of which were male.  To keep
things interesting, they liked to alter their slaves personalities when
they became boring, making them aggressive one day, meek the next, turning
them extremely innocent then seducing them and eventually perverting them
until they were mindless cocks with legs.  After running into one of their
ex-slaves one day and my vision of the damned momentarily kicked in, I
basically offered my services to clean their slaves when they were done
with them.  When they refused, I went over their heads and convinced Sarah
it was in the Group's best interest to ensure all retiring slaves were
properly cleaned to reduce the chance of drawing attention to them, and of
course us.

   Robin Stewart: Robin was a strange bird.  Intensely bisexual yet very
private, she wanted nothing to do with anyone sexually if they weren't
under her power.  My dream walks into her household were...  Not
disturbing, just somewhat distasteful.  The three and four way bisexual
action was pleasant enough, but it was always so focused on her will.  It's
not that she didn't attempt to pleasure her slaves, it just didn't have any
intimacy.  She would tell them what to do, they would do it and that's it.
Luckily for the guys she was a cum fiend otherwise I imagine they would
have suffered from blue balls quite a bit.

   The Cabal ordered that the Group could have no more than ten members
residing at each campus, and if you bothered to count the names, and then
added one more for myself, you would have came up with ten voices.

   So now you're probably wondering why Sarah, Joey, and Suzi didn't count.
That's simple.  They weren't technically voices, especially Suzi.  While
Sarah and Joey had some telepathic abilities when unlinked, they couldn't
control anything.  You may also recall that Stan, Sarah's husband, was also
telepathic.  However, when the Inquisitor had tested him, he deemed his
telepathic abilities were not much more that parlor tricks and didn't
consider him a true voice any more than Sarah or Joey was.

   And then there's Wally.  While his official residence was actually at
Central State, Wally normally spent more time at Northwestern state than
Central State and was counted as one of their voices, not ours.  While
Wally still held all of his weekend gatherings in his lair under the
Harrison III Medical Center at Central State, all of his special projects
were located at Northwestern State where he stayed during the week.  I
wasn't privy to what his special projects were, and I honestly don't think
even Sarah really knew what they all were either.  Wally pretty much did
what he pleased, mainly because everyone trusted him.

   That trust was strained a bit when Wally announced late that June he had
adopted a tenyear-old boy and everyone learned he was taking the boy to his
weekend lover's sessions.  The weekend after I heard of this, I dream
walked into the boy.  Yikes.  If Wally ever had a biological son, I
couldn't imagine him being any more like Wally than Terri was.  Terri was
definitely destined to be gay, and while he didn't have sexual intercourse
with anyone, he most certainly enjoyed watching the others and getting his
little dick sucked on by his adoptive father.  It took a lot to bring the
prepubescent boy to a dry orgasm, and if I hadn't experienced it myself to
know his whimpers and tears afterwards were out of happiness, I would have
been very alarmed by them.

   After those first two intense weeks of attacks, I generally tried to
always be around the ressy house so I could do some of the physical work of
setting up an office for taking over Perry's job.

   Apparently Perry left Central state the day after I had, and even though
the Group realized his absence almost immediately, they didn't have time to
give it much thought with the break up of the Group followed by the waves
of attacking voices.

   When I learned that Perry was gone and no one had stepped forward to
take over, I immediately seized the opportunity to have unrestricted access
to the ressies and control over the cleaning process.  Even though there
wasn't anyone else left in the Group who was interested in the job, I was
still surprised when Sarah just granted my request without a lecture or
even a discussion.

   The first thing I did was to put flyers out all over campus offering
jobs in "helping mentally ill human beings return to a normal life,"
splitting the money Sarah had been paying Perry eight ways for eight
positions.  I didn't have a great response to that.  In fact, only one girl
filled out an application, and she didn't return my phone calls.

   So after doing some field research, I used my own money to fix up six of
the rooms on the old admin building's ground floor as a sort of private
dormitory, and re-divided the funds six ways instead of eight to make the
job more attractive.  I can't say people flocked to my door, but between
the free room and board and the better wages, I didn't have a problem
hiring six undergrads to babysit the ex-slaves around the clock.  Part of
me despised doing it, but I took Joey's advice and inserted small rats into
my employee's heads to ensure their loyalty, reliability, and to somewhat
protect their innocence.

   I spent every minute of my free time that June and part of July cleaning
the minds of the thirty-eight ex-slaves we had accumulated before and
during the attacks, and that didn't include the ones I cleaned on the spot
after defeating a new group of loony voices.

   Suzi and I had arranged our summer schedule to where we were in the same
classes so we could take notes for each other, study together, and
generally cover for each other when one of us missed class for our
different reasons at the time.  Of course now whenever Suzi was called
away, I was generally called away as well; but whatever convenience was
lost there, was more than made up for by the strengthening of our
friendship from all the time we spent together.

   We rarely saw Joey during the week, but on Saturdays and most Sundays,
Joey and I would spend the afternoons working on a computer program and
database which I could use to record and eventually analyze the symbols,
their streams, and the complex interactions between them.  Suzi would come
and collect us for dinner around five o'clock, then afterwards I'd part
their company to give them their own time alone by going over to Joey's
house.

   Joey's dad had graciously allowed me to park Midge's trailer in their
big backyard, and I ended up spending the night at the Connors almost every
Saturday night so I could fly her in the morning before it would get too
hot.

   At first spending those evenings with Joey's parents while Joey wasn't
there felt a little strange.  But after Joey's dad and I did some male
bonding when he came out with me one night to do some maintenance on Midge,
I started to feel like I was part of their extended family like back when
Joey and I were growing up.

   So you could say I was thoroughly enjoying my time at Central State. 
Suzi and I were acing our classes together, Joey and I were working
together like in the old days, I was gaining a great deal of knowledge and
experience in the way the symbolic streams worked, and two or three nights
a week I'd experience the sexual exploits of some of my fellow students,
leaving me clear of the distractions my loins usually imposed when I wasn't
getting any.

   Of course, sharing in people's most intimate moments did present their
own distractions.  Many of the lovers I dream-walked into were total
strangers to me, but there was the occasional classmate, neighbor, or other
acquaintance; which I would see after the dreamwalk that I naturally had to
pretend nothing was different from the last time I had seen them.  Two
girls I had classes with were especially difficult to deal with for their
boyfriends were very much in love with them.  From my perspective during a
dream-walk, that meant I was very much in love with them, and the feelings
didn't entirely go away after I woke up.  I don't know what I would have
done without Suzi keeping me out of trouble in those classes.  Of course
she constantly commented how hypocritical she was with all of the carnal
sex she was having again.

   If I hadn't known it had been Joey's idea, I would have been very
concerned when Suzi started having her toy boys come over on Wednesdays
again...  but without Joey.  I suppose I understood he only wanted to give
her the chance to experience the solo voice scene.  I just hoped she
wouldn't go overboard with her kinky sex.

   Anyway, every night except Wednesday, Saturday, and most Sunday nights,
Suzi and I were always together doing homework, watching TV, playing
telepathic hopscotch, or just talking like only two best friends could.  No
topic was taboo, and we absolutely never took offense when the other didn't
see things the same way, which we very often did.

   Suzi just loved hearing my dream-walk stories.  It was our secret
gossip. We spent many a morning in my bed talking about the people and the
sex I had experienced the previous night, and it became a regular routine
to check in on the lovers telepathically together to see how they were
doing the morning after.

   One night I dream-walked into Jason, Suzi's older brother, just as he
used his well practiced fuck me look on a girl he had just met three days
before.  The blush on her cheeks and the slight movement of her thighs
meant she was responding very well to his empathic wooing, and with only a
few more enchanting smiles and maintaining this vibe he was constantly
sending out to her, she agreed to go with him to see his new apartment.

   During the ten-minute walk to our/his apartment, we started stoking her
heat by slipping our hand down her back and briefly patting her ass,
sending her our arousal in the brief glances she made.  By the time we got
her to our apartment she was like jello in our arms, accepting our tongue
into her hot wet mouth while sending her hands under our shirt and sliding
up our back to hold herself tight to our hot and pulsing bod.

   Her resistance to my hands removing her shirt and bra faded as our
sexual desire surged through our skin and poured into hers, her emotions
unable to resist my manipulation as more and more of my skin touched hers
and strengthened my control.

   As I unsheathed my cock and pulled her shorts and panties down with one
hand, I was thrilled for a moment when the wiggling mass of female flesh
seemed to pull herself together to object.  But just like the others before
her, her resolve fell to the chaotic lust I drove into her like a spike,
and despite the thrill instantly evaporating, my cock shortly followed,
driving into her somewhat satisfying tight cunt.

   From the point of penetration and on, the fucking was purely routine. 
Once I had gotten them this far, it was just a matter of motivation to get
them to do anything else.  Oh, getting them to want me to fuck their ass
was usually a significantly harder thing to do, but it just wasn't worth
the trouble to have to cope with them the next morning when they freaked
out.

   So I fucked her until she came, then rolled onto my back and let her
wear herself out, getting a small kick out of watching her little breasts
jiggle as she humped her way to a third climax.  Once she had that out of
her system, I settled in for the cuddling and after sex kissing where I
would have to work my magic again to keep her from hating me in the
morning.

   At first I was fairly relieved when she said she couldn't spend the
night and had to go, but I knew if I let her go, this thing would become a
long drawn out affair instead of the one night stand I had intended for her
to be.

   So we did some more of our magical wooing and got her onto her back
again before finding the whole thing ridiculously routine and stopped.  We
couldn't help but laugh in her face when she used the word "lover" while
asking us what was wrong, then laughed again when we saw how it infuriated
her, for a pissed off bitch was a much easier thing to deal with than a
sobbing wench.

   I started to drift away from Jason's mind as he watched her rush around
gathering her clothes to leave while calling him every filthy name she
could come up with, but I didn't drift so far not to notice how he got
deeply depressed after she left.

   Suzi and I spent hours debating whether or not we should invade her
brother's privacy to learn what was going on, eventually Suzi agreeing to
just go talk to him rather than spying on him like she originally wanted to
do.

   Once Jason cooled down about my mental eaves dropping, he spilled his
guts to Suzi.  He was just starting to understand that what he wanted most
out of a girl was someone who he could be equal to, someone who could do to
him what he did to her.  He wanted to find someone who could resist his
empathic spell enough to put him under her own spell.

   "What he wants is a female version of himself," I said with a snort over
dinner at Suzi's the next night.

   "Freud would have a field day with this," Suzi said between bites.  "Of
course it would be someone like mom who he'd say Jason was really looking
for."

   "More like my mom."

   "Yeah, but your mom would burn him out," Suzi joked.  "Which by the way,
she called here earlier asking me to have you call home.  You still haven't
talked to her since you left?"

   "No," I said, wishing I hadn't brought her up.  "I've been...  busy."

   "Well you're not busy now," Suzi said, getting up and heading for the
cordless phone Joey and I got her for her birthday last February.

   "I am kind of eating," I said as I took a second helping of hush
puppies.

   She was about to tell me I could call after I finished when the phone
rang in her hand, startling her a moment before she automatically pressed
the on button and saying "Hello?"

   "It's for you," Suzi said with a tone of caution, holding out the phone
to me.

   "It isn't your mom," she added when I hesitated.

   "Then who is it?" I asked her while taking the phone, but didn't wait
for her answer before putting it up to my ear and saying "This is Tim."

   "..."

   My eyes went wide, sensing...  knowing...

   "Eric?"

   "Yeah?"

   "Shit..."

   "Yeah..."

   "Uh...  Hi..."

   "Hi."

   "You sound...  Happy."

   "Yeah...  I have a new boyfriend..."

   "You do?  Hey, that's great!"

   "Yeah..."

   "When did this happen?"

   "It started a couple of months ago..."

   "Shit.  And you just now got around telling me?"

   "Yeah.  I...  I wanted to tell you myself.  But you know..."

   "Yeah...  I guess I do know..."

   <....>

   "His name is Randy Stein..."

   "Randy, huh?"

   "Funny, isn't it?"

   "What is?"

   "That his name is Randy.  Don't you remember?"

   "Sorry...  I guess not."

   "Like Randy Myers...  From camp?  The one I...  You know..."

   "Oh yeah...  I see what you mean.  Funny."

   "Randy's deep in the closet.  Only I know.  And you I guess."

   "Thanks.  That really means something to me."

   <.....>

   "Tim?"

   "Yeah Eric?"

   "I feel...  good about this.  About us talking like this."

   "Yeah.  Me too."

   "Not like last time," we both said at the same time.

   We both waited for the other to speak for over a minute before Eric
said, "Maybe you should put Suzi on."

   "I'm already on," Suzi said from her phone in the bedroom.

   "Oh," Eric said.

   "What's he like?" she prompted him.

   "Who?"

   "Randy!"

   "Oh," he laughed.  "He's tall, dark, muscular...  He played football and
baseball last year.  Did I tell you I was on the varsity baseball team?"

   "No," Suzi and I both complained.

   "Sorry.  Well, that's where we sort of got to know each other.  But I
didn't have a clue he liked guys until after he saw me in the showers one
day and started putting out these vibes."

   "Empathic senses kicking in again?" I asked.

   "Maybe.  But then you also know, you know?  I...  I couldn't really tell
which it was."

   "Well, what happened?" Suzi impatiently asked.

   "Oh.  Nothing right then.  He left the showers and avoided me as much as
he could, but when he was around me, I could feel him just...  undressing
me.  You ever feel someone doing that to you?"

   "Couple times," I said.

   "Once or twice," Suzi stated.  "So did you corner him and whip it out?"

   "What?" Eric laughed.  "No, I didn't whip it out."

   "But you did corner him," Suzi stated, pleased she had pegged it right.

   "Well, kind of.  I noticed he waited until after I finished my shower
before he would get his, so I started taking longer showers, and after
about a week of this, Randy was used to being the last to finish his
shower."

   "You turd," Suzi said with pleasure.  "You set him up."

   "Yeah, I did."

   "So?  Finish the story!" Suzi complained.

   "Hang on...  I need to...  do something..."

   Something brushed up against the phone, then after a long moment of
silence, we heard Eric's distant voice yelling "Jodie!  GET OFF THE PHONE!"

   "Jodie!  You better not be eaves dropping again!" Eric's mom yelled from
even farther away.

   Suzi and I just barely heard a click, then after over three minutes
passed, Eric picked up the phone again and said, "Okay, I'm back."

   "Your poor sister is probably dying to know what happened," Suzi
complained sadly, then added devilishly, "Quick, tell us before she figures
out something else to try."

   Humoring her, Eric lowered his voice to an almost whisper and said,
"Once everyone else was out of the showers, I went back in with some
shampoo, took the showerhead right next to him and told him I had forgot to
do my hair.  His eyes had that deer in the headlights look, but he didn't
leave.  I purposely made my hair so sudsy that I had to keep my eyes shut
the whole time, and made my uh...  trunk swing back and forth as much as I
could.

   "When I finally washed the soap out of my hair and opened my eyes, Randy
was hustling out of the showers.  I did the exact same thing the next day,
but I guess he got scared and left before I was done.  I thought it was all
over, but then that Friday we had a pretty late game and instead of
showering before going home, I just put on my street clothes and was
walking out when Randy looked at me and..."

   Eric paused and sniffed a few times before saying, "Sorry.  He just...
He didn't know what was going on.  He was so confused.  I felt like he was
begging me to stay, but he also wanted to run away if I did...  So I
pretended I had misplaced my keys and hung around.  I waited and waited for
him to come out of the shower until like a half hour after everyone else
had already left.

   "I was really getting worried about what he was doing in there so long.
I mean, he could have been committing suicide, you know?  So I went in and
found him sitting on the floor.

   "Tim, maybe I do still have some of that empathic stuff left.  I did
kind of feel something pass from me to him when he saw me and we made eye
contact.  I think it kept him from jumping up and running away from me."

   "Could have been," I said softly.  "But it may have been your normal
empathy or something."

   "Maybe..."

   "So did you get naked and make love?" Suzi asked with impatience.

   "No!" Eric said firmly.  "We talked.  We talked for...  Well, a long
time.  My dad grounded me for a week when I came home so late without
calling, but it was worth it.  Randy started to open up to me after that.
About three weeks ago I kissed him for the first time, and then...  We...
you know...  did it...  this afternoon."

   "I knew that's what it was," I admitted, more to myself than to him.  "I
could feel how relaxed and...  in love you are."

   "Yeah, I love him," he said little surprised, then chuckled and
repeated, "I love him.  I love him.  I really do love him.  I can't believe
it."

   "Why?" Suzi asked.

   "Because...  I don't know.  I just...  Didn't think I'd ever feel this
way again.  I...  I'm me again.  I'm...  me."

   Eric's phone call put me in such good spirits I ended up calling my mom
later that night just to tell her the good news.  After we exhausted the
topic, I could tell she was concerned by my sudden departure and lack of
weekend phone calls, and after making small talk a while, she out right
asked me if anything was wrong.

   Unable to speak, my answer was in the click of the phone going on hook,
and since she didn't call me back, I guess she knew exactly what that
answer meant.

   That Saturday we ate dinner at Joey's, and from the moment I entered the
house, I knew that the barbequed pork steaks wasn't the only reason we were
all there.  It was obvious that Margaret, Joey's mom, had learned I was
avoiding my mother, but it was also obvious she didn't know why.  Heck,
even Suzi didn't know why I was upset with my mom, and I normally told her
everything.  But since I hadn't come forth with it on my own and my mom
hadn't pushed to get things cleared up, Suzi had decided to stay out of it.
But not Margaret.

   I was a bit preoccupied sorting out what I would say if and when the
topic arose during dinner.  It was still hard for me to accept that my
mother had altered Michelle to not only allow it, but to thoroughly enjoy
having sex with my little brother.  Telling someone else about this would
only make me feel like I was slandering my own mother, and I didn't want
other people to see her any differently than I wanted to see her myself.

   Yet I couldn't ignore the hope that telling the Conners and Suzi would
somehow make the problem go away.  I wanted to tell them, but I didn't want
to either.

   I sat down to dinner still undecided what to say, and my face drained of
color when Margaret mentioned that she, Tom, and my mom and dad were
planning to take a camping trip to the Grand Cannon at the end of July. 
And then she turned to me and asked point blank, "Would you like some bread
and butter?"

   "I really don't want to talk about her," I stuttered out.

   "Huh?" Joey exclaimed as I felt my fingers and toes go ice cold.  "Her
who?"

   "My mom," I said before taking a big drink of my milk to avoid looking
into anyone's eyes.

   "Your mom?" Joey questioned, but was hushed by both Suzi's and
Margaret's warning glares.

   When nobody said anything for a couple of minutes, Tom cleared his
throat and said, "Tim, you better check Midge out good before you fly her
tomorrow.  I caught Tommy and Josh playing in her a couple of times this
week, and yesterday Margaret noticed Tommy had engine grease on his hands."

   "I didn't say I saw it on his hands," Margaret corrected.  "It was all
over the bathroom sink."

   "It still had to have been Tommy," Tom insisted.  "Joey and I know to
wash our hands off in the utility sink when they're that dirty.  Tim, I
think it would be best if you lock Midge back up in the trailer when you're
done with her tomorrow."

   "Especially with Tommy and Kathy spending the week here while Sarah and
Stan are out of town," Margaret added.

   "Actually, I was kind of planning to take her to school for the week," I
announced.  "That's why I didn't drive my car today."

   "How come you've been leaving it out anyway?" Joey asked.  "I would
think you'd be worried about someone stealing it, or the birds shitting on
it."

   "The trailer gets really hot from the sun where it's at, and after I
opened it up and nearly choked on the smell of rubber and gas a couple of
weeks ago, I've been parking Midge in the woods under a tarp.  There's no
way someone is going to get her out of the woods unless you know how to fly
her in close quarters like I do or you disassemble her.  You can't roll her
out.  Too many rocks and dead trees.

   "Heh, I guess that explains what Tommy and Josh have been conspiring
about all week," Joey snickered.  "I swear, Tim.  Those two remind me of us
at that age more and more."

   "Well, Josh is not going to be here all next week like he was this
week," Margaret said firmly.  "When Josh wasn't coaxing Tommy into
something they knew they shouldn't be doing, he was wearing my ear out
talking about his poor sick grandmother."

   "But it's good that he talks about things like that," Suzi inserted. 
"And talking to someone he doesn't really know very well can be a lot
easier, especially if it really bothers him."

   "And it makes sense he'd talk to you about his grandmother since you're
Tommy's," Joey pointed out.

   "Oh," Margaret groaned.  "Now you're making me feel guilty."

   "Sorry," Suzi said, meekly.

   "My brother fucks his nanny, and my mom programmed her to do it," I
blurted out.

   "What did you say?" Margaret asked.

   "I...  I didn't say anything," I moaned as I pushed my chair back. 
"Excuse me.  I'm not feeling well."

   I might have left if I had drove there, and I didn't feel like going out
into the heat to check Midge out, so I just went to my room.

   Of course it wasn't really my room.  They had two guest rooms that
shared a bathroom, one with a queen-sized bed, and one with a bunk bed.  I
would have been just as happy to sleep in Joey's bed, but Margaret had made
such a fuss about it, saying I shouldn't have to sleep in Joey's dirty bed
when there was perfectly good clean bed available that hardly ever got used
in the first place.  I personally think she just wanted to have a real
excuse to change the sheets once in a while.

   The room with the bunk bed was basically Tommy's exclusively, as he
tended to spend a lot of his summer weekdays there to play with kids his
own age.  Security was a big thing to Sarah and Stan, and it didn't really
surprise me when I learned that Tommy wasn't allowed to have friends over
to his house.  Of course even if he invited one over, he wouldn't have been
able to tell them how to get there.  Tommy didn't know where his house was
in relation to the rest of the town, didn't know what its address was, or
anything else that someone could lift from his mind and expose where they
lived.

   The lengths of which they went through to ensure no one knew where they
lived was astonishing, and Margaret and Tom were both quite upset when
Sarah wouldn't even tell them her home phone number.  Even Joey had been in
the dark until he had proven that he could encrypt his most private
thoughts and knowledge, and even then Sarah took three months before taking
him to their secret home.

   Anyway, you can see why Tommy liked to stay at his grandparents.  He
could live like a normal kid.

   I was truly missing those days where I had been a normal kid, with a
normal mom and normal friends.  I laid on the bed lost in my childhood
memories for...  well, a lot longer than what I had thought.

   The room was getting dark from the sun having set when I sensed Margaret
hovering outside the bedroom door, undecided whether or not to peek in to
see if I was asleep.

   "I'm awake," I simply said.

   "May I come in?"

   "Sure," I said, then cleared my throat from my voice having cracked.

   She entered, leaving the door open behind her, but hesitated when she
saw I was looking out the window.

   "Joey and Suzi still here?" I asked, already knowing they weren't.

   "They left over an hour ago."

   "Oh.  Sorry about...  Dinner."

   "Tim, what did you say at dinner?  Nobody understood you."

   "Good.  I think that's the way I'd rather have it."

   She sighed, then said, "All right.  I won't try to worm it out of you
any more.  But not talking to your mother isn't going to make whatever it
is go away.  You're just dragging things out."

   I finally turned my head and looked at her, then nodded silently in
agreement when I saw she was right.  Then after a moment of staring at how
she had her arm crooked behind her back, I asked, "Your back bothering you
again?"

   "Yes," she sighed with a touch of aggravation.

   "You want me to..."

   "Only if you feel up to it," she said while her fingers lingered around
the edges of her blouse.

   "Sure I'm up to it," I said, rolling myself off the bed and following
her to the bathroom.

   "I really appreciate this, Timmy," Margaret said as she handed me a
couple of towels and the baby oil, then closed the door after me so she
could undress.  "Until this afternoon, I haven't had any problems with it
since you massaged it last weekend."

   "Any idea what causes it?" I asked as I spread the towels out on the
bed.

   "Oh, I have a very good idea of what causes it."

   "But you're not going to say," I stated.

   "No.  And don't be poking your mind where it doesn't belong, either,"
she warned.

   "I wouldn't dream of it," I said while canceling the probe I had been
forming.

   I kept my back to her when she announced she was coming out, then once
she had climbed on the bed and had gotten comfortable, she said, "Okay Tim.
I'm ready."

   When I turned around, I was surprised to find she had removed her shorts
as well, and while she still wore panties, they were a light tan color and
for a moment I thought she was literally butt naked.

   After warming the oil up in my hands, I started the massage at her upper
back and worked my way down, finding her back a lot less tense than it had
been the previous weekend.

   My own back started to complain a bit from the angle I was working at,
and after trying it kneeling on the bed on the other side of her which was
worse, I had her swing herself around so her head was at the foot of the
bed.

   When that was only marginally better, we ended up moving to the floor
where I straddled her like I had the last time.  Not only was I much more
comfortable, but I could put more weight into the massage when I needed to.

   Everything was going fine until Tom walked by the bedroom and caught a
glance.

   "Timothy Brandton, what the fuck are you doing with my WIFE!" he
exploded.

   I was so surprised that I had to look back down at Margaret's oiled back
and then back at my hands before my mind recollected itself enough to
remember.

   But just as I opened my mouth, Margaret spat, "He's helping my back! 
What does it look like!"

   "It looks like he's...  You know God damn well what it looks like!  Tim!
Get off her!"

   My cheeks grew hot and rosy as I stood up, doing so somewhat slowly as
to be careful to not touch anything with my hands.  But then I made a dash
for the bathroom when Margaret rolled over and I got a flash of her breasts
a swingin'.

   They went to their room and argued a few minutes, then things grew
suspiciously quiet before their shower was turned on, drowning out any
further sounds.  I took a quick shower myself, then went out to the kitchen
and chowed down on some leftovers from dinner before plopping myself in
front of the TV for a couple of hours.  From my symbolic sight, I knew they
were in there fucking like two teenagers on their honeymoon, and I had to
work at keeping myself interested in the TV programs as I didn't want to
feel like I was spying on them.  I didn't dare go to sleep.  I couldn't
think of anything worse than dream-walking into that lot.

   I spent most of the next morning and early afternoon working on Midge
after finding Tommy and his trouble-making friend had played mechanic with
her.  I was pretty upset when I realized that, but the weather had turned
nice, and I later admitted to myself I really enjoyed the time Joey's dad
and I spent on it together.

   Later in afternoon, Joey came home in his Mustang with Suzi pulling up
behind him in her car.  By four thirty, Midge was up and running, so while
Tom grilled some steaks, I started giving Joey and Suzi lessons on flying
my baby girl.

   By the time it was dark, Suzi was flying Midge fairly comfortably, but
Joey's extra bulk caused him to sit closer to the controls, restricting his
movements so much he had trouble with turns.  After one of the blades hit a
tree's trunk hard enough to stall the engine, the resulting scare made him
swear he would never get in the thing again.  And even though it broke my
heart to say it, I agreed he probably shouldn't try.

   That Wednesday evening, Suzi only had one of her toy boys over instead
of the usual two.  Kent Sklar was one of the two toy boys I had encountered
the first night I had stayed in my apartment, and at the time he had been
confused over who he was sexually attracted to more, Suzi or Jeff, Suzi's
head boy at the time.  As Jeff was participating in a co-op job over the
summer and wasn't on campus, he left Kent in charge after Kent had
impressed him with his devotion to pleasing Suzi the rest of that semester.

   Suzi was fairly impressed by him herself, and had teased Joey on more
than one occasion that Kent was more attentive to her needs than he was
with all of the time Joey committed towards the Group.  I honestly was
starting to get sick of the guy showing up to cook her dinner three times a
week.  It was an interruption to Suzi's and my nightly routine, especially
when he started staying the night on her couch so he could cook her
breakfast and served it to her in bed.

   Suzi was very strict about not having sex with any of her boys except on
the designated nights, so it only reinforced how dedicated he was to her
that he did these things without expecting anything sexual in return.  He
was so in love with her that it was making Suzi feel really guilty.  So
that evening she undid all of the enslaving commands and they spent the
night making love on a more equal level.

   I don't know if that had been my idea or hers, but we both felt it was
the best thing to do in the situation.  Neither Joey or I saw any problems
with her having another lover, especially after I realized how similar her
feelings for him were to that of my own for someone like Holly Quinn, the
girl who had given me Midge.

   I had a difficult time staying away from them during my dream walk that
night, but I managed to keep myself entertained by staying in Thomas, the
Native American group member.  I had a deep respect for his quick wit and
fast reflexes, but most of all, after Terrence <echem> defeated me <cough>
that spring, Thomas had challenged Terrence the next day and put him in his
place.  Of course I helped him a little.  Even Joey and Suzi didn't suspect
I had used my version of Stan's telepathic shift to make Terrence's
telepathic senses misjudge where Thomas's mind was a couple of times.

   You remember when I first met Sarah's husband Stan, don't you?  His
seeming impenetrable shield and undetectable illusions were so effective
that in the early days of the Group, he had been the only reason they had
never fallen to another telepath.  Stan's abilities were based on being
able to shift telepathic energy away from him so regular telepathic probes
never actually reached his mind.  Without the symbolic sight to show me
where his mind actually was, I could never have adjusted my aim, so to
speak, so that the shift actually pulled the command stream to him instead
of away.

   Generating illusions to the senses without telepathic detection was a
bit more complicated to figure out.  I honestly don't know how Stan does it
without having symbolic sight.  I wouldn't be able to tell if my streams
reached their intended receptacle cluster without it.  Basically I generate
a telepathic shift to carry the sensory differentials to the target's
nervous system.  By differential I mean I only send the changes to the
sensory data, not a complete replacement.

   Each sense's symbolic streams get generated at points outside the brain.
A telepath can usually shield any part of their nervous system, but you
usually don't shield anything but your mind as it takes quite a bit more
energy do more than that.  It is very difficult for a telepath to maintain
any sort of firm hold over another telepath's nervous system since the
owner has a hard wired connection and the other does not.  But if the owner
doesn't detect another telepath's mental energy, then the only way they
could know their senses are being mucked with is by something obvious like
their body moving when they didn't intend it, or they see something they
know couldn't possibly exist.

   Shifts are very closely related to telepathic pulses except a pulse
doesn't shift everything in one direction.  A pulse is a ripple or a wave
of telepathic energy that can optionally carry a payload.  Of course the
biggest difference between the two is that a shift is nearly impossible to
detect without symbolic sight, but a telepath would have to be very drunk
or stoned not to know exactly where pulse came from or what it was
carrying. And if you have a mental shield up when a pulse reaches you, you
can get a headache from the shield absorbing the pulse's telepathic energy.

   I certainly do like going off on wild tangents, don't I?

   Getting back to Thomas, he was a pretty typical red blooded male voice.
There had been an all time high in the number of students who had accepted
to be slaves over the summer in exchange for financial aid.  But with the
large number of group members having left, there wasn't anywhere near
enough voices to take them all in, so for the six remaining voices
interested in having them, they got to pick and choose.

   Thomas had chosen one of each.  By that I mean, a blonde, a brunette,
and a red head.  As I mentioned earlier, he liked them smart, bi, and
noisy. The blond needed a little work to say the dirty words he liked to
hear, and the red head had to be taught to enjoy girl sex, but other than
that and they couldn't go more than a couple of days without sex from him
or one of the other girls, he didn't alter their minds as much as most of
the voices had their financial aid sluts.

   The lesbian sex I was enjoying that night was the first I had had all
summer.  I nearly pulled out when Thomas came in with his cock pointing
straight ahead and heading for my lover's ass, but the dirty talk coming
out of the two women's mouths was so filthy, I think I accidentally
triggered my host's orgasm from my own surge of horniness.

   Thomas liked watching them sucking his cream out of each other's asses
too.  That was a bit of a treat for me as I hadn't experienced that in a
dream walk before.  It really was totally gross and disgusting and
completely kinky beyond words.  I flip-flopped back and forth three times
just to suck his cream out of the other's ass, then slipped into him when
he laid down and let them lick the sweat off him and each other before all
four of us fell asleep together.

   It was just starting to get light outside when Thomas and I sensed a
disturbance in the force.  Or at least that's what it felt like considering
we were dreaming our own episode of Star Wars at the time.

   We opened our eyes, finding Sal, the red head, slipping her nighty off
to join the rest of us in bed.  We were just about to invite her to slip in
between us and Taylor, the brunette, when she pointed a water pistol as us
and hit our face with a stream of liquid.

   Thomas's senses went dead so fast that for a moment I thought I had
died. But just before I woke up, my symbolic vision revealed the four of
them on the bed, all four of their symbolic clusters were slower than any
deep sleep would normally produce.  They were drugged.

   Snapping awake, I had to collect myself before trying to reach out
across town to where my mind had just been, and it took me at least five
minutes to locate them, mainly due to how small their mental signature were
in the state they were in.

   That was the first time I got to call a red alert, and between the
adrenaline and not having done it before, I think I knocked everyone out of
their beds from the intensity.

   Terrence, Suzi, Robin, Jacob, and finally Joey checked in, then when
after a minute went by without hearing from anyone else, Terrence ordered
everyone to knockout anyone in the home with them and to lock their doors.

   "Suz, you heard him," I thought to her when I saw she hadn't knocked
Kent out.

   "I spent all night in his head," she thought back.  "He's clean."

   "You can't be sure of that," Terrence urged.  "Put him to sleep, pet."

   "You'll both be safer if he's asleep," I added.

   "No," Suzi thought to all of us firmly.  "The last time I did that, I
ended up getting attacked from behind.  I'm going to send him home.  He'll
be safer there than staying here."

   "Don't bother arguing, Terrence.  I'll cover her," I thought to
Terrence, seeing she had made up her mind.

   "I'm clear here," Joey thought.  "Everyone is locked in their rooms."

   "I'm clear too," I echoed.

   "I'm clear," Robin chimed in.  "Terrence, weren't you on watch?"

   "No, Brigley and Grant were.  I'm clear."

   I was so focused on watching Kent that after he and Suzi got dressed, I
didn't notice Jamie, the girl who lived in the apartment across the hall
from Suzi, standing at her door until she opened her door just as Kent
opened Suzi's.

   "Suzi DOWN!" I commanded while at the same time taking control of
Jamie's right hand and arm and diverted her aim away from the door.

   "Damnit!" I yelled as both Suzi and Kent went down, and for a moment
felt my own energy being sucked through the share link.

   Joey willed a block into place before it could really affect me, but he
was still sharing himself fully with Suzi, hoping it would keep her from
getting knocked out.  The pulses he sent me through the share link told me
to hurry, and I could feel it was dragging him down pretty fast.  So I
rushed to my own door, flung it open, and found myself looking straight
into the eyes of Roger, the guy who live across the hall from me.

   My empathic senses immediately warned me of the abnormal vibes coming
from Roger, and without even thinking I zapped him with my empathic zapper,
stopping him just before he could pull the trigger on his water pistol.

   "Shit!" I exclaimed from the shock, and stood there dumfounded for
several seconds.

   Once I recovered my wits, I used the extra energy the adrenaline
shooting through my veins gave me to leap up the steps four at a time. 
When I saw Suzi struggling to shake herself to stay conscious, I almost
didn't notice Jamie's drugged body at the top of the stairs in time to hop
over it.

   After touching Suzi's wet face and finding my hand going numb, I grabbed
her and carried her to the shower.  I turned the water on full blast, and
without waiting for it to warm or to remove any of our clothes, I held her
sputtering face under the water until she gasped, "Stop."

   I shut the water off and held her against me as she caught her breath,
then after we both had calmed down enough, I gently made her look at me as
I asked, "Are you okay?"

   "Still a little drowsy," she said.

   "How about you?  Are you okay?" I thought to Joey.

   "Need caffeine," was all he sent back.

   "One of us, or just you?" I asked him.

   "Suz."

   "'Kay," I thought back before saying to Suzi, "Joey wants you to drink
some coffee.  Do you want your instant or my perked?"

   "Instant," she said as pulled her head away from my shoulder to look at
me.  "Timmy, what happened?"

   "Jamie shot you and Kent with a water pistol full of some sort of
knockout juice in it.  If you hadn't been linked to Joey, you'd be in dream
land right now."

   "Kent?"

   "He's okay," I said after checking him with my symbolic sight.  "Just
deeply asleep."

   "Coffee," Joey reminded us.

   I carried Suzi out and put her down on her bed, and was just standing up
when I sensed Roger entering the room.

   I zombified him just as he was about to speak, and after making sure he
didn't have the water pistol or anything else that could be used as a
weapon of any sort, I had him carry Kent in as I closed and locked the
front door.

   I had zombie Roger start Suzi's coffee while I took Kent into the
bathroom and washed as much of the chemical off him as I could.  That had
been fairly difficult to do as he was as limp as a noodle, and since the
drug's affects prevented me from taking control of his body, I couldn't do
a very good job without risking drowning him as he slept.

   After stripping his wet clothes off him and putting him in Suzi's bed, I
woke Suzi who had dozed off and said, "Coffee's ready."

   I carried her out to the kitchen, then helped her with the cup as she
started sipping the coffee.

   After downing about a half cup, she suddenly noticed Roger and asked,
"What's he doing here?"

   "He walked in right as I was going out to make your coffee, probably
wanting to know what was going on with everyone lying around asleep in the
hall."

   "Tim, can you reach Terrence or any of the others?" Joey queried.

   "Shit, I forgot all about them," I asked before checking.  After several
minutes of querying, I used my eyes in the sky to check out the other's
last known location.

   "Robin's out," I said once I found her asleep on her bathroom floor,
naked from the waist down.  "Not sure how."

   "More coffee," Joey said just as Suzi set her empty cup down.

   "Make yourself some," Suzi thought back with a touch of annoyance.

   "I can't.  I'm busy securing the house," was his response.

   Suzi sighed, then mentally commanded Roger to make her some more as she
said, "I hope he remembers coffee makes me irritable."

   "I'm sure he does," I said patiently.

   "Mostly because it makes me have to pee every five minutes."

   "Yes, I know."

   "He's the one who likes coffee.  I only drink it to be sociable," Suzi
said, getting up and heading for her bathroom.

   I navigated my feathered friend down Jacob's chimney and into his living
room, finding two women lying on the floor with a water pistol laying
several feet from one of them.  I began checking the other rooms, and found
Jacob also asleep in his bathroom's floor, his britches pulled down to his
feet.

   "Jacob's out too," I announced as I navigated my feathered friend back
to the fireplace to escape.

   I was about to turn my attention to find Terrence when the fact they
both had been in the bathroom started ringing bells in my head.

   "Suzi!  Don't sit down on the toilet!" I yelled as I leapt towards her
bathroom.

   "Too late," she said, already having sat down and started peeing. 
"Why?"

   "Shit Suz.  Don't move," I said, approaching her cautiously.  "Both
Jacob and Robin were knocked out right after they used the toilet."

   Suzi sat still as I carefully inspected her porcelain throne for any
hidden booby traps, then sighed with a little relief when I announced there
wasn't anything there.

   "Good," she said, reaching for the toilet paper, then yanked her hand
back like it had bit her.

   "What?" I asked when she looked up at me with worry in her eyes.

   "Do you think it's the paper?"

   "I don't know," I said before I went over to the vanity and looked
underneath.

   "Here, this should be okay," I said, ripping open a new bag of tp and
handing her a roll.

   "And don't flush it when you're done," Joey added.  "That might trigger
something."

   "Are you done?" Suzi asked Joey.

   "Yeah," Joey thought back.  "I found a water pistol in my mom and dad's
room.  The bastards planted some sort of suggestion in my mom to squirt me
when I got up."

   "What about your dad?"

   "I didn't find anything in his head, or the little ones either.  I'll
wake them all up after I'm on the road."

   "Joey, I think you should stay right where you are," I thought to him
urgently.

   "Fuck that."

   "If you get hit with this stuff, it'll either affect all three of us,
which would be really bad, or just you which is worse as it'll knock you
out so hard, we'll lose the share link, leaving Suzi defenseless."

   "I'm not going to just sit here while you two are in danger," Joey
thought back stubbornly.  "I'm coming whether you like it or not."

   "Joey, listen to me," I though to him while sending surges through the
share link.  "You're our best defense.  If one of us gets hit again, you
can do just like you did with Suzi."

   "But what if you need me?  I think I should at least be on campus."

   "If you come shooting out now, whoever is doing this will know you're
still a player.  But if you wait, they'll eventually assume you're out for
the count, and if things get really bad, then you can be superman and fly
to our rescue.  You'll have the advantage of surprise on your side then."

   "Superman, huh?"

   "Timmy's right, Joey," Suzi thought to us.  "You're our link, our safety
net, and our Calvary."

   "I'm Superman and the Calvary," Joey thought back.  "Okay, I guess I can
live with that.  But whoever is doing this apparently knows everything
about us.  It's almost like it's an inside job."

   "You mean..."

   "I just mean watch your backs.  You can't trust anyone."

   "Understood," I thought back.

   "And if the share link breaks, you're both to go straight to Tim's mom's
and dad's."

   "We're not going to abandon you," Suzi immediately replied.

   "Suz, while Sarah is gone, Terrence and I are in charge, so you have to
follow my orders."

   "Shit," Suzi muttered.

   "Don't worry, sweetie." Joey thought back while sending a gentle surge
of his own through the share link.  "Nothing is going to happen to me. 
This house was built to keep anyone from getting in or out in case
something like this ever happened.  As long as I don't use the potty, eat
anything, or, shit, touch anything, I'll be fine.  Of course I might go mad
with boredom..."

   As Joey was about to make a joke of his situation, I sensed a shielded
mind entering our building and sent a warning pulse through the share link.
I didn't recognize the mind's swirls, but I couldn't be sure if that was
just due to their heavy shielding.  Since the mind wasn't actively probing
for us, we didn't dare probe them, so we just waited as I watched the mind
search my apartment the old fashioned way before it started climbing the
stairs.

   Suzi stood two yards from the door holding the water pistol aimed on the
door as I prepared to open it once the mind walked up to it.  But just
before I was about to spring our trap, Terrence's hushed voice called out,
"Suzi.  Tim.  You in there?"

   "Yeah," I said cautiously, motioning to Suzi to stay ready.  "Terrence,
we thought you were knocked out like rest.  Why didn't you respond when I
called?"

   "You git, you broke protocol," Terrence said, his voice remaining
hushed. "If an outside force continues to take out Group members after an
alert is called, all members are to maintain telepathic silence to prevent
the intruders from locating..."

   "Okay, okay.  I remember it now," I groaned before saying cautiously,
"I'm going to open the door now.  Don't make any sudden moves, okay?"

   "Yes.  But no fast moves from your lot either," Terrence said with equal
caution.

   "Agreed," I said, turning the handle as Suzi took aim again.

   As it turns out, Terrence and Suzi were both looking down the barrels of
identical water pistols, which after the shock of that wore off, Suzi
giggled before lowering her aim.

   I came out from behind the door to find Terrence, who had also lowered
his gun, slightly blushing as he walked in wearing a nurse's uniform:
skirt, bra, panty hose and all.  It would have probably looked convincing
if his head wasn't so obviously male.

   "Is that supposed to be a disguise?" I asked, resisting my urges to
laugh.

   "It was the best I could do in the little time I had," he said, spotting
the cup of coffee still waiting to be drunk.  "I say pet, are you still
going to drink that?"

   "Not if I can't use the potty," Suzi remarked.  "Help yourself."

   "Thank you," he said sitting down and taking a sip.  "Cinnamon. 
Fantastic."

   "You look ridiculous," I said.

   "I wore a wig," he said, understanding what I was thinking.  "I took it
off when I came inside so you would see it was me."

   "That was good thinking," Suzi said while her face was still smirking
like mine.

   "What of Joey?" Terrence asked.  "Is he still up and about?"

   "He's up, but not about," I simply said.  "He's locked in his house
until this all blows over."

   "I remembered his house was fitted with a lockdown," Terrence began. 
"But I didn't think he would trigger it with you two still on the loose. 
Well, one less to worry about, I suppose."

   "He's more use to us out of harms way than in," Suzi said, giving me a
look that meant she really needed to go pee.  "Timmy, why don't you run
downstairs and get dressed while I put our neighbors away and use Jamie's
toilet.  Then we can plan our...  plans without any extra ears around to
overhear."

   "If it's not too much trouble Tim," Terrence began as I headed out the
door.  "Could I borrow a pair of pants, shorts and shirt from you?  I doubt
this attire will help any if we're seen together."

   "Pants and shorts?"

   "Underpants and shorts."

   "Oh...  Gotcha covered, old chap."

   "Old chap," Terrence muttered, shaking his head and rolling his eyes.

   I grabbed two sets of clothes, my emergency kit, and a bottle of
unopened orange juice, then started to snag Roger's water gun with my right
pinky on the way out, but noticed it was leaking and just left it there.

   By the time I got back upstairs, Terrence and Suzi had already covered
the windows and unplugged all the phones from their outlets, and were just
each plugging in a privacy generator when I walked in.  The generators made
both audio and electrical noise, which rendered any listening devices
inside the room or focused on the room from the outside useless.

   "Hey, make sure your pistols aren't leaking," I said as tossed my load
onto the couch and Terrence secured Suzi's apartment door behind me. 
"Roger's had a puddle under it."

   "We better not take them with us then," Suzi said, thinking out loud. 
"They'll leak on us if they warm up, and it's supposed to be in the
nineties again today.

   "Thanks, _old_ _chap_," Terrence said as he took the clothes I brought
for him.  "These will do nicely.  Pet, any chance of a quick breakfast?"

   "Do we have time for that kind of thing?" Suzi asked.

   "We might as well eat while we plan our next move," Terrence said with a
shrug.

   "Yeah," I agreed.  "Who knows when we'll get another chance to eat
anything."

   "But what if the food is drugged?" Suzi asked.

   "Unlikely," Terrence said.

   "If they booby trapped the toilets, then why not the food?" Suzi
insisted.

   "The toilets?" Terrence asked.

   "That's how they took Robin and Jacob down even after they had dropped
everyone in their homes," I explained.  "I'm not sure how they did it, but
it looked like Robin and Jacob had just enough time to realize what was
happening but couldn't get away fast enough.  Jacob still had his pants
around his legs."

   "The compromised slaves simply sprayed the seats before they went in to
spray their master or mistress," Terrence said after a moment.  "Rather
brilliant on their part.  Even in emergencies, most people will take care
of a call of nature.  But I doubt anyone got to your loo or your food with
your neighbors being your attackers."

   "Makes sense," I said, giving Suzi an apologetic glance.

   "We should still be careful as they would have taken other precautions.
But I believe we can rule out any booby traps in here.  They wouldn't have
risked early detection by entering our flats and leaving something behind.
Oh, weren't you the one to call the alert Tim?"

   "Yeah."

   "How did you detect them?"

   "I didn't actually detect them per say," I said while looking to Suzi
for help.

   "Yes, Timmy.  How did you know we were under attack?" Suzi asked as she
loaded the toaster with frozen waffles, pretty much guessing what the true
answer was.

   "I uh...  Was sort of dream walking, and..."

   "Dream walking?" Terrence repeated.

   "Yeah.  When I'm asleep, sometimes my mind kind of wanders around and
I..."

   "Oh for heavens sake," Suzi exclaimed.  "He pops into peoples heads
while they're shagging, and gets off from it."

   "Shagging?" I repeated, understanding the word as she meant it, but
having never heard her say it before.

   "Having sex," Terrence said, again rolling his eyes.

   "I know what it means," I stated.

   "It didn't sound like it to me.  So you dream walked into someone
boffing some bird.  Who?"

   "Thomas."

   "Thomas?!  And he didn't object?"

   "Well, he didn't know."

   "Rubbish," Terrence snorted.  "You couldn't possibly..."

   "Last Thursday night.  'Yes, pet.  Suck my nob and lick my crown jewels.
Gordon Bennett, you're randy tonight.' Then this Monday night, you were
snogging the bird across the street in her back yard while her husband and
kids were sleeping.  A police car came screaming down the street and
startled you, but after you made sure everyone was still asleep, you had a
romp in the pool," I said, grinning.  "I have more."

   "You're nothing but a bloody peeping tom," Terrence exclaimed.

   "Maybe, but at least I'm not worrying about whose eye's Janice Goodman's
new baby has," I said coolly.

   "Fuck," he said, his face turning pale.  "If you know that, then you
know bloody everything."

   "I wouldn't go that far, but I think I know you well enough that I bet
you were already wearing that uniform when I called the alert."

   "I think we're a little off topic here, boys," Suzi pointed out as she
handed me glasses for me to fill.

   "You're right," I said.  "So what's our next move, Terrence?"

   "Procedure states we head for the medical center," Terrence stated. 
"Then we try to determine what the invaders are after and stop them."

   "What about the others?" Suzi asked.

   "We must know what the goals of our enemy are first.  Time may be
critical, and we can't waste time trying to increase our numbers.  I don't
really believe we'll be able to revive any of the others before the
invaders are gone, do you?"

   "Probably not," I agreed.

   "It would help if we just knew their numbers," Terrence said, rubbing
the sleep out of his eyes.

   "There wouldn't need to be more than one or two," I stated.

   "It would take more than that to prepare all of the slaves, monitor our
movements, learn our procedures..."

   "Not if they already knew all of that," I stated, anticipating I would
enjoy the chaos this would cause in the orderly symbolic streams zooming
around inside his skull.

   "Indeed," Terrence said as only a few streams took a divergent course.

   "So you already considered it could be an inside job?"

   "Considered it, yes.  It is far more likely one of the members who left
the Group is the source of our security leak, but I doubt they are doing it
by choice.  The only reason I can think any of the past members coming back
like this would be for revenge, and you don't put everyone to sleep for
revenge."

   "Unless they wanted to torture us one at a time," Suzi pointed out.

   "Actually, we can rule out revenge pretty easily," I said.  "If you
wanted to get revenge, who here would you want revenge on the most?"

   "The Doc, of course," Terrence said.  "So it must be someone else behind
this.  Someone smart enough to choose to attack now while the Doc, Harrison
and Richardson were all away, and realized most of us would be distracted
by our own private activities while they were gone."

   "While the parents are away, the children will play," Suzi said.

   "So we know two important things about them," I began.  "They're smart,
which is a bad thing, and they think they know exactly what our moves will
be, which can be a good thing."

   "Are you suggesting we don't follow procedures?" Terrence asked.

   "I'm suggesting we let them think we are until we can get a better
handle on what they're after.  Then we may be able to catch them off guard
by doing something not in the procedures."

   "But we have to follow procedures," Terrence argued.  "They have been
carefully thought out, taking nearly every possible..."

   "You can't live by the play book if the other team has a copy," I
interrupted him in exasperation.

   "For the past month, Joey, the Doc and I have been working on new
procedures written specifically for this exact situation.  You didn't
really think this sort of thing wasn't anticipated, did you?"

   "So what do these new procedures say to do then?"

   "It depends on what they are after."

   "Alright, then in order to figure that out, we may need these," I said
as I grabbed my emergency kit and opened it up.

   I took three of the four compact walkie-talkies out, then dialed in the
combination to open the locked compartment inside the kit and took out two
of my special packs of double mint gum.

   While I was disappointed that Suzi didn't even raise an eyebrow, I still
got to grin at Terrence's expression from the seemingly ridiculous security
for four packs of chewing gum.

   "Special gum?" Terrence queried, not letting me bask very long.

   "Very," I said with complete seriousness.  "This gum is probably the
only good thing that came out of a very bad experience Joey, Suzi and I
suffered through several years ago."

   "Steven?" Suzi asked while suppressing the shudder saying his name had
tried to trigger.

   "Yep," I said.  "The gum is laced with a chemical that magnifies a
voice's power for a short time.  With the same dose a single stick has, I
was able to shield my mind against nineteen of the Cabal's more powerful
members while they threw everything at me at once."

   I handed one of the packs to Terrence and said, "It's extremely potent,
expensive, and if you use it right, it could turn a losing battle around.
But whatever you do, don't take more than a quarter of a stick per half
hour, and don't' chew it.  Just stick it under your tongue.  It'll get
absorbed into your bloodstream through your mouth and tongue.  And I have
to warn you, the aftereffects of a full stick are ten times worse than any
hangover you've ever heard of, and after the amplification affects run out,
you'll be useless for a good day.  Taking slower smaller doses will give
you a significant boost without making your head explode afterwards."

   "Blimey," Terrence muttered, looking at the pack of gum.

   "Don't I get a pack?" Suzi asked.

   "Sorry Suz," I said, slipping my own seven stick pack in my pocket.  "It
wouldn't be very effective with the share link.  I'm only taking some with
me in case we lose the link and I get in a tight spot.

   "Oh, and Terrence?" I added when I noticed he had opened his pack up. 
"I'll want them back when this is over.  The twenty eight sticks I have
with me took three years of R&D and cost a quarter of a mill to produce."

   Terrence whistled, then said, "I suppose shouldn't have opened mine up
then.  You don't have a zip-lock baggy I could rap mine up in, do you pet?"

   At that point I grabbed two of the waffles and my orange juice and
headed to the door.

   "Where do you think you're going?" Suzi asked after running past me and
blocking the door with her body.

   "The bat cave," I said grinning with my mouthful of waffle.  When she
gave me her frustrated look, I added, "The woof."

   "The roof?" Suzi repeated, then frowned and said, "I thought you needed
more height to see the campus clearly from here."

   "I'm not going to try and see the campus, just the immediate area around
us."

   "You think someone is watching us?"

   "If we're the only members left, they'd have to have someone watching
us. If they have voice, then they'll most likely have a shield up which
I'll see.  And if not, a pulse would reveal their location."

   "It isn't in the procedures," Terrence began.  "But it isn't prohibited
either.  If it works, it should at least give us somewhere to start.  If
Suzi and I stay indoors, the worse that could happen is they knock you out
while you're outside."

   "I didn't think about that," I admitted.  "I doubt they could hit me
with the stuff in water pistols, but they could have tranquilizer darts."

   "Or just bullets," Suzi pointed out, worriedly.

   "We don't have a lot of options," I said, looking her in the eyes,
questioningly.

   "All right, but don't linger up there," Suzi said, stepping away from
the door to let me pass.

   "Are you kidding?  I'll melt if I stay up there more than a few
minutes," I complained.  "I'll be back in a flash."

   Even though the roof wasn't as hot as I had expected it to be, I still
didn't waste any time to look around with my eyes before studying the area
around us with my symbolic sight and then sending the pulse out.  But when
it didn't any reveal minds focused on watching us, I did take a quick look
around and realized with all the traffic heading into the campus, now was
the best time to go if we wanted to sneak in undetected.

   "No one is watching us," I said when I got back to Suzi's.  "And if we
leave right now, we can join the morning commuter rush."

   "Bollocks," Terrence exclaimed.  "That means if they didn't know we were
still active, they will now."

   I shrugged and said, "At least now they'll be coming to us instead of us
having to find them.  Who's car we taking, Suz?"

   "Kent's," Suzi said after a moment, then turned to head for the bedroom
to get his keys.

   "Brill idea, pet," Terrence said.

   "Yeah, smashing even."

   Suzi giggled from the bedroom, then said, "Timmy, stop trying to talk
British.  It just doesn't sound right coming out of you."

   "Fine," I said, not really offended, just disappointed.

   For once, I was grateful that Kent had parked in my usual parking space.
Because he had, his car was behind Suzi's, right out front at the curb
where it was easy to pull out into the main road leading to the campus.  My
car, on the other hand, was around the corner.  That wouldn't be a big deal
if they had put in a stoplight at that intersection, but they hadn't, and
trying to get out of that side street during morning rush was really a pain
in the ass.  Or at least it was when you couldn't use your voice.

   I was just stepping out into the street to get in on the passenger side
when we all sensed someone telepathically manipulating someone else's mind
just down the street.  I immediately focused my symbolic sight on the
general area it had come from, looking for any signs of a shield or a
telepathic transmission.

   The next thing I knew was some tires were screeching, Terrence shouted
at Suzi, then the back corner of Kent's car came up behind me, popping me
on the butt and sending me up in the air.  I bounced once on his trunk lid
before the back of my head hit his rear window's glass with a crunch.

   As I took inventory of myself, I found I wasn't hurt.  I wasn't even
scratched.  I was, however, sitting on top of Kent's trunk whose front end
had been hit by a rather large bus.

   "My CAR!" Suzi suddenly cried.

   Both she and Terrence were on the grass several feet away from the
vehicles.  Apparently Terrence had grabbed Suzi and thrown them both out of
harms way.  The bus had been on the other side of the road when it suddenly
veered left, crossed two lanes of opposing traffic, and slammed into both
Kent's front end and Suzi's rear.  How I had escaped injury was pure luck,
but if Terrence hadn't had kept his wits, he and Suzi would have been
seriously hurt, possibly killed.

   Traffic was now at a halt, and several people had rushed over to offer
help to those who were in need, leaving Suzi and Terrence alone once they
had stood up.  As the shaken people started getting off the bus, I let my
anger at what could have happened help me power my next move.

   "Son of a BITCH!" I exclaimed, standing up on the trunk, then hopping up
onto the roof.  "That's it!  They want to play rough!  I'll show them what
rough really is!  How about pickle, pickle, you fuckers."

   "Timmy!" Suzi yelled as I started building up energy in order to release
my own short ranged version of the pickle-pickle spell.  "Think about what
you're doing.  If you do it, everybody would know, and you'll never be able
to live it down."

   "But...  They just tried to kill us!  They nearly killed you!"

   "But they didn't kill anyone.  Now come down from there before they try
something else."

   I pursed my lips together, then released the energy I had been building
up as a pulse of pure telepathic energy without any commands or thought
transmissions embedded in it.  Both Terrence and Suzi clutched their heads
with a moan, then a few moments later I sensed another moan coming from
across the street.  I just barely had enough time to look to where it had
come from before witnessing a mind's swirls of symbolic symbols fade away
from my sight.

   "Holy shit," I said in a hushed voice before scrambling off the car and
hid behind it.

   "What?" Suzi hissed as she and Terrence ducked down out of sight as well
and moved over to me, ignoring the few bystanders' reactions.

   "I just saw someone across the street cloak their mind from my symbolic
sight," I said while focusing my vision on the area where it had been.

   "If that's true," Terrence began, "then we must get away from here
quickly."

   As police and fire department sirens started getting nearer and the
chaos in the local area increased sharply, I agreed, knowing it was the
best chance we'd have to get away without anyone following us.

   Using my eyes in the sky and my symbolic sight, I managed to locate the
cloaked mind by a process of elimination and watched the man from above
while we headed to my car.  After we turned the corner, the man started
following us, but then stopped and waited as we approached my car.

   "I don't like this," I said, stopping a full car length away from my
car. "Either someone else is watching us and telling our other friend what
we're doing nontelepathically, or he can sense us without visually seeing
us."

   "Could he just be sensing your links with the birds?" Suzi asked.

   "Can you?" I asked simply.

   "A little," Suzi said after moment of trying to passively feeling them
out.  "It's very faint.  I don't think I'd sense them if I didn't already
know they were there."

   "Non-human sensory streams are pretty hard to detect if you're not used
to working with their energy signature."

   "That sounds like something Joey would say," Suzi said, watching the
traffic carefully as Terrence peeked into my car's windows.

   "Well he didn't," I stated before turning to Terrence and asking,
"Anything?"

   "I'm not sure," Terrence said.  "Did you leave your sunroof cracked?"

   "No," I said, unhappy with seeing it was now open if just slightly.

   "Then I'd say we need to find some other transport.  The seats look a
bit too dark for my liking."

   "You think they sprayed them?"

   "I think they've been tampered with."

   So we walked passed my car and headed further down the street, and after
we were four or five car lengths away from my car, the man watching us
started moving in the direction of campus at a very fast pace.

   "He's heading for campus."

   "They must have someone else watching us," Terrence said.  "I'll try
doing a pulse like you did on the flat's roof, then Tim, you try one like
the one you did on the car.  That should reveal our watcher no matter if
they are mute or voice."

   "What range?"

   "Range?  Whatever you can do is fine."

   "So you want it to cover the entire county?"

   "A quarter mile then?" Terrence sighed.

   "Right," I said as he started powering up his pulse.

   After he sent it and nothing came back, I started powering up the second
one.

   "Uh, you might want to drop your barriers.  This one's going to be a bit
stronger than the one I did earlier."

   "I'll be fine," Terrence said.

   "Okay, it's your head," I said, then nodded to Suzi.

   The moment she dropped her shield, I let it go, then both Suzi and I
scrambled to catch Terrence after he let out an "Irk!" and passed out.

   Suzi ended up having to catch him all by herself as I was instantly
distracted by two minds nearby suddenly appearing then disappearing from my
symbolic sight.  I immediately set two of my more hearty birds to follow
them, then when I noticed both Suzi and Terrence's shields were down, I cut
my links to all of my bird friends and lowered my own shields.

   "Why did you do that?" Suzi asked.

   "I think they're tracking us by our shields.  That's how I'd do it,
anyway."

   "But we're not protected," Suzi said worriedly.

   "I'll catch anything before it reaches us," I promised as I stepped out
into the street and stopped the next car.

   Once I explained to the driver our friend had hit his head and passed
out, I talked the driver into taking us to the Medical Center which was the
nearest medical facility.  While I didn't use my voice, I did have to use a
little empathic power on him to get him to fully cooperate.

   "Oh, my bloody head," Terrence moaned about a minute or so after we got
in.

   "Lie still," Suzi said.  "You hit your head pretty hard."

   "What are you talking about, pet?" Terrence said.  "I didn't hit my
head."

   "Yes you did," I said, stressing the importance empathically.  "And this
nice gentleman is giving us a lift to the medical center to get your head
checked out."

   "Oh.  Well I don't remember hitting my head," Terrence said weakly. 
"Bullocks.  A bloody concussion, that's what I have.  I'll be forgetting me
name next."

   "Looks like they closed Penn Street," the driver said, indicating the
turn we would take to reach the parking lot nearest to the medical center.
You want get out here?  Or try another route?"

   Suzi and I looked at each other a moment, then Suzi turned to Terrence
and asked "Can you walk?"

   "If you have some aspirin, yes," he moaned.

   "I didn't bring my purse," Suzi sighed.

   "Try a piece of gum," I suggested.

   He looked at me a moment like I was speaking rubbish, then his eyes lit
up when he remembered the gum in his pocket and pulled the pack out.

   "We'll get out here, thanks," I said to the driver, then pulled out a
fifty and handed it to him saying, "For your trouble."

   "God damn," the man said, taking it hesitantly.  "I don't know what to
say.  I didn't expect anything from you."

   "I know," I simply said, opening my door, stepping out, then opening the
rear door to help Terrence out.

   "You don't have your shields up," Terrence observed as our ride pulled
away from the curb.

   "I think they were using our shields to track us," I said.  "Hey, can
you shield someone else's mind while shielding your own?"

   "Normally, yes," Terrence said, using both hands to press on his temples
to try and reduce the pain.  "Why?"

   "We might use it as a diversion later," I said.  "Shit.  We really
should split up now and make our way to the center, but you can barely
stand up by yourself."

   "I think the gum is starting to help, so just leave me here.  I'll catch
up with you later."

   "We have the walkie-talkies," Suzi reminded us.

   "Make sure they're on channel 7," I said after looking at mine.

   After doing a quick voice check, Suzi and I left Terrence sitting behind
a tree, then once we reached the walkways, we split up.

   "I just checked with my birds," I said over the radio a couple of
minutes later.  "The two that were watching us earlier are heading back
here.  I don't think they know where we are though."

   "How are you feeling, Terrence?" Suzi asked a few moments later.

   "Better.  I'm on my feet now.  I'll head for the loading bay entrance."

   "I'll go to the south entrance then," Suzi said.

   "Main doors for me," I said.

   "Main doors?" Terrence asked.

   "If they're watching the entrances, it won't matter what door we go in,
and it would be hard for them to block if I needed to get back out fast."

   "Are we going in all at once?" Suzi asked.

   I was on a walkway with at least two-dozen people heading the same
direction as I was, so it was somewhat of a shock when I sensed a probe
directed right at me without probing the people in front of me first.  I
knew Suzi had constructed a fake personality like I had while we were in
the car just in case someone tried probing us, but because there had been
no warning, I couldn't activate mine in time.  I was able to shift the
probe's energy so it didn't return to its owner, but as a result, I
couldn't get a fix on its sender.

   "Someone just tried to probe me, so watch out," I said over the talkie.
"They did not, I repeat, did not probe anyone else around me."

   "Location?" Terrence asked.

   "Inside the medical center, I think."

   "You think?"

   "Their probe caught me by surprise.  I couldn't tell where exactly it
came because of the way I prevented their probe from working."

   "Timmy, are you watching me?" Suzi broke in.

   "No."

   "Well then someone else is watching me.  I can feel it."

   "Shit.  Shields then?"

   "Affirmative," Terrence said.

   I could see the main entrance, and everything looked just as it should.
I picked out the swirls of the receptionist and the two guards and didn't
see any obvious tampering in their streams.  When Suzi and Terrence raised
their barriers, their symbols became fuzzy and appeared obviously abnormal
compared to the people around them.  But while I had known where Suzi's
mind was due to my familiarity with her swirls, I hadn't known where
Terrence was until he had raised his shield.

   Perplexed as to how the enemy could have known my location, I stood
there and simply observed while the other two approached their entrances.
After a few minutes, I started noticing how some people's minds faded
momentarily as if something walked in front of them, and began tracking
these anomalies as best I could.

   Suzi and Terrence were in position and were waiting for me when I
finally got a grasp at what I was seeing.

   "There are at least seven cloaked minds inside, five watching the
entrances, and two upstairs.  They are definitely expecting us."

   "Where upstairs?" Terrence asked.

   "Third or fourth floor, around the research labs I think.  I don't
really remember what's in that part of the building."

   "Any sign of Jon or any of the others?" Suzi asked.

   "No," I said, mainly because I was not interested in looking for them.

   "Is there anyone in Richardson's lair?" Terrence asked.

   "Negative," I said after checking.

   "Meet me in Larson's basement."

   "Roger."

   The Larson building was the nearest building with classrooms to the
medical center, and had been built at the same time the medical center had
been.  While I hadn't known of the secret passage into Wally's lair from
the men's bathroom in the basement, it didn't really surprise me.

   What did surprise me was the fact that there was a hidden room right off
of Wally's bedroom that had three monitors that could be switched to
observe any room in the Medical Center, including the restrooms, with only
one exception.

   "Records room?" I repeated.

   "The room with the metal door and electronic lock," Terrence clarified.

   "You mean that Star Trek looking door?" Suzi asked.

   "Yes.  It contains everything we keep secret.  Our procedures, the Doc's
medical research, all of the financial and business information for all the
projects, the records on all Group members, and so forth.  Oh, and Joey'
coin."

   "So that's where he's been keeping it," I said as I focused my symbolic
vision in that room's general area.  "I don't sense it.  Is it shielded?"

   "Yes.  Are you sure there are no cloaked minds in that area?"

   I didn't respond right away as I as having difficulty determining where
the cloaked minds were from beneath.

   After a minute or so, I gave up and said, "I can only make out three on
the upper floor.  There's no one between us and the others at the
entrances, so I can't get a fix on them from down here.  The three that I
can detect are at the northern end of the building."

   We switched monitors to the rooms in that area, and found everyone
apparently searching the labs for something.  Not only were they looking
through papers, journals, and filing cabinets, but also through the
equipment, test tubes, bottles and everything else.

   "Jefferson," Terrence pointed to a black man who wasn't in a lab coat.

   "And Peter Louis," Suzi said a moment later.

   "And Brian something," Terrence said a couple of seconds after that.

   "All ex Group members?" I asked.

   "Yes," Suzi answered.

   "This doesn't make any sense," Terrence said.  "We have to figure out
what they are after."

   "Well, we could just take the elevator up there and ask them." I said
seriously.

   "Or you could do that dream-walk thing," Terrence said, just as
seriously.

   "It's not that simple," I said carefully.  "I haven't figured out how to
trigger it.  It just...  happens."

   "Boys, I think I know what's going on," Suzi said.

   Ten minutes later, I was on my way up to the fifth floor in the elevator
wearing a lab coat and trousers, both a few sizes too big for me.  I could
see the anomalies moving closer to the elevator, and could almost sense
their confusion when the elevator didn't stop at their floor.  By the time
I had reached the fifth floor, I knew I had their full attention as I
tracked a total of eight anomalies, five of them moving up the stairwells.

   When the doors opened, I walked out and went straight towards the
briefing room where fifteen other people wearing lab coats were planning
the next week's research.  They didn't take any notice of me when I came in
and sat down, and while I was actually trying to blend in, it was rather
strange how easy it had been.

   When five of the anomalies approached the room I was in, I almost forgot
what I was supposed to do from the discovery of how their cloak failed to
hide them when in close proximity.  The field they generated seemed to
distort my symbolic vision.  It was like looking into one of those fun
house mirrors that made you look really skinny or fat.  From a distance,
you disappeared.  But when you were close up, everything was completely
distorted and their swirls where not only visible, but magnified.

   When the five outside didn't come into the room, I made no physical
indication that I knew they were there while I focused my symbolic sight on
locating the other three.  When I sensed them below me right where they had
been searching before, I knew this whole thing was a complete waste of
time.

   "You were right, Suz," I said into the radio as I stood up, ignoring the
surprised looks of the people around me.

   After I sent the five unshielded minds outside into dreamland, I
confirmed they were simply puppets, apparently following orders coming from
an ear piece they all wore.

   I sent three pulses to Suzi through the share link then, as I waited for
her acknowledgement, Terrence and I began building up for a double pulse.
Once I felt her pulse back, I let mine build a little more until I felt a
slight tickle of an ache in my head, then said over the radio, "Now."

   The moment I saw their shields lower, I let the pulse go, Terrence's
pulse following mine a second later.  I marked each cloaked mind as they
shimmered into my symbolic vision and let Terrence and Suzi take them out,
the dual pulses effectively covering over a mile and a half out.

   When the five cloaked voices followed me but didn't attack without me
first provoking them, I realized they couldn't have been using their own
judgment.  And when I saw the other three had continued their fruitless
search, it was obvious they were only there to distract and delay us.  They
knew we would head for the medical center first, so whoever was in charge
of this whole thing had ordered some of the voices under their control to
guard the entrances while they had three of them search the labs for
nothing in particular.  It probably would have worked if Suzi hadn't known
Peter Louis well enough to see he wasn't acting anything like himself.

   They were all ex-Group members, all enslaved to follow orders given to
them by someone they had never met.  We didn't find the master-mind behind
the operation that day, nor did we really learn exactly what they were
after.  Whatever it was, they apparently weren't in too great of a hurry to
get it as it would be several months before they tried again.

   You think that was anticlimactic, just imagine how disappointed Joey was
when he learned he wasn't going to get to come flying in on Midge to save
the day.  Heh.  He had even made up his own little jingle, "Joey Conner to
the rescue!" complete with trumpet fanfare.

   Suz and I agreed he really had gone a bit mad.

  
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+

   Tim, the Teenage MC By Rass Senip Chapter XXII: Summer 90 Part 3 -
Beyond the Boundaries of Sex (mc, mf, body swapping)
---------------------------------------

   The week following the attack, Brad visited for a week to check out
Central State and to get a break from his parents who irritated the hell
out of him.  I suppose that was only normal, for he was the first child of
the household to have lived on his own for nine months and then return to
find his freedom reduced.  I suspected Sandi's refusal to have sex with him
any more also had a hand in his frustration with home life, but I was a bit
surprised to find he hadn't gotten laid since his porn roles.

   Suzi immediately rectified that, and later said in all the times they
had fucked, Brad had never been so active in the sex as he had that night.
It was also in that conversation I learned that Suzi had accepted a supply
of Life's Essence from my dad and had shared some with Brad the night
before he left.  At least that explained why he was so tired the next day,
and why Suzi felt so sore for the next couple of days.

   Joey, Suz and I gave Brad the full tour.  Well, we didn't show him
anything Group related, but he did get to meet some of the other voices. 
Brad was a little disappointed when he didn't get invited to any orgies
while he was there, but the four of us did go to one of the Eta's famous
summer keg parties and we all had a blast in the mud wresting rink.

   I knew Brad had convinced himself he was going to attend Central State
that fall before he had even seen it.  With Joey and I around, Brad
believed he would be less apt to go chasing after another model or porn
career, having decided he wanted to get his schooling out of the way and
get out from under his parent's monetary control before chasing any of his
wetter dreams.

   Brad was going for a mechanical engineering degree, and while Central
State did offer that degree, it hadn't been accredited yet.  Brad was
trying to put pressure on Joey and I to use our influence to get it
accredited, so even though we had no idea what that really meant, we ended
up promising him we would just to get him to stop moaning about it.  Of
course then he started moaning about having to live in the dorms, but we
weren't about to touch that subject yet.

   Brad really impressed me when he and Joey started talking about
calculus. You have to understand that my empathic senses constantly told me
Brad was as lazy as they come.  And I can't tell you how many times in the
classes I had with him in high school I had found his mind wandering all
over the place instead of listening to the lecture.  School was a complete
and utter bore to him.

   Brad was explaining something to Joey about double integrals (I think)
that ended up to being some sort of joke.  As they were both laughing, Brad
glanced in my eyes and for the first time I saw that the reason school had
been so boring to him was he was so incredibly book smart.  Suzi later told
me that it wasn't uncommon for really smart people to be lazy.  Brad wasn't
the brightest when it came to common sense or people smarts, but when it
came to book learning, he probably could top both Joey and I put together,
and that's saying something.

   On the day Brad left to go home, Suzi got a surprise phone call from
LeAnne, the only graduate from Timmy's Slut University.  Suzi came rushing
up to me after the phone call saying we had twenty four hours to get her
apartment ready for a surprise orgy in LeAnne's honor.

   And just like that, I was drafted into preparing for another orgy I
wouldn't participate in.  I spent the rest of the day running around
getting supplies while Suzi pulled strings of every size to ensure all of
her toy boys would be in attendance the next evening, which was no easy
thing to do.

   Suzi was just so excited about showing off her legion of toy boys to the
only person she thought could appreciate them, and for the most part it was
my pleasure to help her in her time of need.

   But Suzi's plan's for twelve hours of uninterrupted sex with her toy
boys came crashing to the ground when LeAnne showed up at her door five
hours early, desperate for Suzi's and my help to become a man.

   "A man?!?" Suzi exclaimed as I sat down on Suzi's couch, way beyond
stunned.

   Like everything else in her apartment, the couch had been covered with
black plastic in preparation for the night's rather unpredictable
activities.  You wouldn't think anything would be stranger looking than a
room covered in nothing but shinny black plastic, but compared to LeAnne's
physical appearance...  The black plastic room looked normal.

   Imagine a 38 double D knockout dame, add large nearly fatless muscles to
her entire body, give her a crew cut, let her arm pit and leg hair grow out
a bit, and then squeeze her into a tight fitting sleeveless shirt that
barely contained her braless chest, and you'll start to get the picture. 
She was a confused mess, both physically and mentally.

   "I've completely lost control over my other-self," LeAnne said, looking
me in the eyes as she strutted in.

   "It wants to be a man, and nothing I've tried seems to satisfy it.  I've
been on male hormones for months now, but they don't seem to affect these,"
she said, cupping her breasts with her hands.  "I was hoping you'd help me
find a way to fix them without needing surgery."

   "Leanne, reducing the size of your breasts won't fix the problem," I
said as Leanne sat down next to me while Suzi shook her head in disbelief.
"Surely you know that."

   "Yes I do, but I'm getting to the point where I can't stop thinking
about it.  I'm not looking to get a sex change operation.  I just need to
look like a man for a little while, but I can't with these honkers on my
chest."

   "Like a man..." Suzi repeated, still in shock.

   I looked at Suzi, then sighed and said, "The doc told me the venom
changes the fat that was already in your breasts into something the body
couldn't break down.  Any new fat added to it later would also be changed
until the excessive venom left in the original fat was used up.  There
maybe a drug out or something that could break down the altered fat, but I
don't think anyone has ever looked for it.  I can try and contact the
doctor to see if he's ever heard of something to reverse the effects, but
do you really believe it will stop there?"

   "No, but it gives me some time to try and get this thing under control
again," Leanne admitted.

   "This whole thing is ridiculous," Suzi butted in.  "Timmy, this would
only take a few commands to straighten her out, something you should have
done in the beginning."

   "Suzi, if there's nothing else I've learned from working with the
ressies and cleaning people's heads, it's to let people deal with their
emotional or psychological problems without tampering with their mental
perspective.  There are no quick fixes," I said before turning to Leanne
and saying, "Besides, I know how to give you what you want without having
to touch your breast size."

   "You do?  How?" Leanne asked somewhat cautiously.

   "Before I get to that, I need you to be honest with yourself, and with
us.  Don't hold back your desires.  Let them have their say.  Okay?"

   "Alright, I'll try."

   "What would you do if you had a male body?"

   "I'd try to hang out with the guys and shoot the shit."

   "Okay, what else."

   "I guess I'd want to have a relationship with a girl."

   "A sexual relationship?"

   "Yes, I suppose that's where it has to go...  But it couldn't go that
far before she'd find out."

   "That wouldn't be a problem.  What about guys.  Is shooting the shit all
you really conceive on doing with them?"

   "You mean, would I want to have sex with another guy?  No.  Why bother?
I've already had sex with lots of men.  The idea isn't even interesting to
me."

   "What about group sex?"

   "Boring...  I've had enough of that to last me a life time."

   "But, what about fifteen hunky, sweating, throbbing to your every
breath, toy boys?" Suzi whined.

   "What if it was just one girl the whole time?" I said, ignoring Suz.

   "Just one?  Well, I suppose I could live with that, if she's willing to
go the extremes."

   "I think you'd find her almost over qualified in that respect," I
grinned, not daring to glance at Suzi who was now glaring at me.

   "Who, Suzi?" Leanne guessed with more than a hint of reservation in her
voice.

   "Now wait a minute!" Suzi exclaimed.  "You know I'm not into girls any
more!"

   "Suz, it'd have to be you.  You're the only person I'd feel comfortable
with like this."

   "Since when do you have to be comfortable about someone I have sex
with?" Leanne demanded.

   "You'd be doing it with my body."

   "With your body?!?"

   "Timmy...  Are you sure about this?" Suzi interjected, suddenly seeing
where I was heading and switching gears where her head wasn't in the
gutter.

   "Well, if it doesn't work, we can always go to more conventional..."

   "I don't mean that.  You've been so committed to stay celebrate, which
you have been for almost a year now...  Are you sure you want to give that
up just to help Leanne?"

   I shrugged, and then simply said, "I wouldn't be experiencing the sex."

   "Echem," Leanne interrupted.

   "Suz?" I asked while gently probing her for permission to form the links
between her and Leanne.

   "Why not just swap with...  Oh.  Nevermind," Suzi said when she saw I
wanted to switch girl to girl bodies.  "Swap away."

   After watching Suzi's face go bug eyed from Leanne's surprise, I killed
the links and asked Leanne, "Any questions?"

   "Shit.  Give me a minute," Leanne gasped.

   While Leanne started to understand the full meaning of what I was
offering to do, Suzi finally sat down beside me and said a bit woefully,
"Well I guess the orgy is officially off then."

   "If you think I'm going to start this tonight, you're nuts," I said
affectionately.  "Besides, I worked all day on getting this place water
proof for your little fuck fest."

   "Poor Timmy Wimmy.  All pooped out from a hard day at work," Suzi
teased, but then seriously added, "It would be a shame to let all this go
to waste."

   "Yep.  Plus Lisa Martec promised Brian Geare some action tonight.  I
just love how my employees get along..."

   "You men never learn.  How many times has she promised him that?"

   "Yeah, but Suz...  If they do it, and I miss it...  I think I'd go
fucking loony.  They're just so right for each other."

   I was taken a bit off guard when Leanne suddenly slid herself onto my
lap and seductively ran her right hand across my left cheek, her eyes full
of passion as she softly said, "I've never told you how thankful I am for
what you did for me."

   "You're welcome," I said just as softly, instinctively avoiding eye
contact to prevent her emotions from flooding into me.

   "I owe you so much," she said, taking my hands in hers, holding them
above our heads while pushing us down so I was on my back with her heavy
chest pressing their hardened nipples into me.  "And now you offer me more
than I ever dreamed possible."

   "Leanne, don't be such a slut," Suzi objected, then added, "Or at least,
not right now!"

   "Takes one to know one," Leanne said as she ground her crotch into mine.

   "No, I mean it, Leanne," Suzi insisted, firmly putting her hand in
between Leanne's shoulder and mine to begin wedging us apart.  "You'll hurt
him more than you can imagine if you get him hot enough to go through with
this."

   "Like any woman could hurt you," Leanne breathed in my face as she
brought her lips towards mine.

   "Leanne!" Suzi exclaimed in frustration, then nearly fell over backwards
when I rolled Leanne and myself off the couch and onto the floor.

   "Like I said, you're welcome," I said, kissing Leanne on the nose before
rolling off from on top of her.

   As Leanne sputtered some nonsensible words, I accepted Suzi's
outstretched hand and stood up, pecking her on the cheek before offering my
hand to Leanne.

   "What the hell was that about?" Leanne demanded as she slapped my hand
away and got up by her own means.  "I willingly give myself to you, and you
toy around with me?"

   "Well, if you weren't such a slut," Suzi started to defend me.

   "I'm not the one with plastic covering her entire apartment," Leanne
shot back.

   "Suz, give me and Leanne a minute, k?" I said, cutting in.  "I promise
we'll be good."

   "Alright...  Then I'm going down to your place to make a few calls.  But
if I hear one moan from either of you two, I'll hose both of you down with
the fire hose."

   Once Suzi had left, I looked into Leanne's blazing eyes and gently
slipped into her space.

   "I'm sorry if I pissed you off.  It's just been a while since I've been
near a sexual dynamo like you that I wasn't prepared for your directness. I
really am trying to stay celibate...  Well, in mind if not in body."

   Her skepticism turned into a mixture of confusion and disbelief, causing
her to step away from me with a short laugh before stating with a sharp
edge to her voice, "That's just great.  Here I am, the biggest slut in the
world, thinking I owe everything I am to a single man.  A man who turns out
has rejected the very thing he taught me to embrace.  You're a fucking
hypocrite, Tim Brandton!"

   "Oh, don't even try to make me feel guilty about this," I said with a
touch of venom.  "Maybe I over did it when I took you to the extremes I
did, but do you really believe you wouldn't have gone to those same damn
extremes later on your own if I hadn't?  Ask yourself this question. 
Knowing how you always, and I mean always, go to the extremes about
anything you do, can you truly tell me you wouldn't be in the same damn
position you are now if I had just taken your cherry and released you onto
the world?"

   "You're the one who took me down that path.  You thought it was the
answer to all my problems.  Well it looks like you were wrong.  My problems
didn't go away.  They just...  changed."

   "Look, you came to me for help.  Maybe the answer I gave you back then
was wrong, but that's because I didn't know the answer for myself, let
alone anyone else.  But now I know my answer, and I also know everyone has
to find their answer their own way.  The right answer for me probably isn't
the right one for you.  Or maybe it is.  You won't know it until you find
it for yourself."

   "Then why the body swap?  Why help me degrade myself even more by making
my sluttiness complete?"

   "Because I know you want something more than the love and sex you've
experienced.  You'll never really know if you have the right answer if you
don't try alternatives.  I don't think you'll find what you're looking for
by being a guy, but you said yourself you can't seem to move on without
trying it."

   "So you don't think this will work..."

   "I don't think it's the answer to all your problems, but it's better
than you trying experimental drugs or having surgery done which you
eventually would have to submit to otherwise.  And I have to admit, I
wouldn't mind trying out your body for a while, even if I never get to fuck
in it."

   "Now that sounds more like the Tim I know," Leanne said with a smirk. 
"Are you sure you wouldn't want to..."

   "Positive.  But I would like a different kind of sexual favor..."

   "It's been a while since I've blown anyone, but I think..." she began as
she approached with hands ready to seek out my little buddy in his cave.

   I intercepted her hands and directed them to wrap around my waist before
pressing my lips to hers and snaking my hands down to her ass for a
squeeze. She responded with passion and I had to instantly cool both our
jets before I could lose control and crash and burn.

   "Doesn't look your feminine sexual urges are hurting any," I commented
as we rested foreheads together and listened to Suzi's hurried footsteps
coming up the stairs to fetch the fire hose.

   "I haven't had them for three months...  Are you sure they're mine and
not just something you did?"

   "All I did was stroked the motor," I said, giving her ass one last
squeeze before taking a step back to break our embrace.

   "I was just helping to make sure the orgy was still on," I offered to
Suzi who was standing in the door with her arms crossed.

   "That's the favor?" Leanne chirped in surprise.  "You want me to have
sex with Suzi's...  men?"

   "Not just men," I corrected.  "These are hand picked from an entire
campus of triple A prime muscle toned males, specially conditioned to have
a level of self control beyond anything you've ever experienced."

   "Self control?"

   "They shoot on demand," Suzi said huskily.  "And only on demand."

   "And since they're medically tested three times a day for all known
diseases, sexual or otherwise, we're talking about the ultimate safe sex
without condoms or other stuff."

   "No condoms..." Leanne said somewhat distantly.  "How many cocks again?"

   "Fifteen each," Suzi gushed out, her excitement getting the better of
her.

   "Each?"

   "And I have twelve gallons of Tim's dad's drink.  You remember the
purple drink, don't you?"

   "Sure I remember....  Then...  Well, hell, Suzi.  You think fifteen each
will be enough?"

   "I think my job here is done," I said mostly to myself as I turned and
headed for the door.

   I was just opening the door to my apartment when both Suzi and Leanne
came rushing down the stairs, giggling like a pair of school girls, and
calling my name, making me wince knowing this couldn't be good.

   Five and a half hours later, I was knocking on Suzi's brother's door
with my pillow under one arm, my toothbrush behind my ear, and my clothes
on hangers hanging from my teeth.

   When Jason opened the door, he shook his head and said, "I can't believe
you let her kick you out of your own place."

   "They didn't kick me out.  I left voluntarily," I thought to him before
taking the hangers out of my mouth and walking in.

   "Not that I wouldn't have done the same thing, but...  Why?"

   "Because if I didn't I don't think I could have stayed out of being in
the middle of it," I said as I took in Jason's humble abode.  "If Joey's
grandparents weren't in town right now, I would have gone there instead of
having to bother you."

   Pleased to see the couch was not only new but very plush, I handed Jason
my hangers and dived onto the couch with my pillow under my head.

   "Ahhh...  perfect," I said closing my eyes.  "This is probably better
anyway.  I would have ended up working on Midge all night again if I was at
Joey's.  At least here I'll get some sleep."

   With my symbolic vision, I watched Jason hang my clothes over a chair,
then stood there looking at me with several spiraling streams which
intersected each other, traded components, then split again, sometimes into
three.

   "You know, I've never noticed how similar your streams are to Suzi's
before.  Especially when you're worried.  Must be a sibling thing."

   "My what?" he said a bit uncomfortably.  "I thought you didn't read
people's minds without asking first..."

   "I'm not really reading your mind," I said while watching the worried
streams multiply.  "Think of it as if I'm watching your lips move as you
talk, but you're speaking Russian so I don't really know what you're
saying."

   "I see.  You recognize the emotions behind the words and can kind of
piece it together," he continued for me.

   "Something like that, yeah.  Say, you're not still bothered by my dream
walking into your sex life, are you?"

   "Shit, that was the farthest thing from my mind," he partially lied as
he sat down in the chair opposite to the couch.

   "Don't forget who you're talking to here," I said, opening my eyes and
looking in his.  "It might not be the big thing you're worried about, but
you are bothered by it."

   "Of course I'm fucking bothered by it!" he snapped.  "You fucking
sneaked into my head while I'm seducing a girl, and then you tell my little
sister all the details!  Of course then she comes to me all worried and
shit when she's the one..."

   When he didn't continue, I closed my eyes to block out the anger
covering his humiliation and fear his own eyes were flooding me with and
said, "You're jealous."

   "Jealous?!"

   "Yeah.  But hey.  It's perfectly normal for you to be jealous of Suzi
when she has everything you think you want yourself."

   "I am not jealous," he said confidently.  "You better get your... 
whatever it is checked because you're way off."

   "Your sister is getting fucked out of her brains practically every week
by the hottest guys she can find, has almost unlimited power over them, yet
she manages to keep it all in perspective and under control to have a sort
of normal relationship with Joey.  Now tell me I'm wrong."

   After feeling his jealousy surge to the forefront of his emotions, Jason
sighed, then said "Fuck...  How did you do that?  I never even
considered..."

   "When I dream-walk, I'm not really in anyone's head.  I think I'm just
sort of eavesdropping.  If it makes you feel any better, I felt everything
you felt, did everything you did...  I'm not exaggerating when I say I know
what you're going through, because for at least that night, I was going
through it all with you.  But I've had the luxury of stepping back away
from it since then, and looking at it from the side, so to speak."

   "I don't think it's only...  jealousy," he said honestly.  "She's
getting deeper and deeper into this sex slave stuff.  I don't want her to
end up...  unhappy like me."

   "You're not the first person on this campus to find himself wanting more
out of a girl than submission and sex.  You know, maybe you should talk to
Joey about joining the Group.  You do have some of the skills..."

   "The Group?" he laughed with disbelief.  "I can't do anything that can
compare to what Joey or the rest of them can do.  Besides, I've been their
toy thing.  They'd never see me as anything else.  Or at least that's how
I'd always feel."

   "You're not telepathic, but you CAN manipulate people in ways that, if
done right, telepaths won't recognize as being abnormal.  Don't sell
yourself short, Jason.  For a self taught empath, you're pretty powerful.
And the twins said the same thing.  Err, well, not in words of course
but..."

   "The twins..." Jason murmured as calmness rippled through his symbolic
streams.  "You know, I had expected them to be strong, but not impossibly
strong.  They were...  amused when I tried to use my smiles on them, but
then one of them looked into my eyes...  I sort of remember one of them
fucking me...  What did they do to me?"

   "They seeded you.  Didn't Suz explain all that to you?"

   "I didn't really listen," he said as his symbolic streams returned to
their previously agitated states.  "I mean, how could she really know. 
She's not like us."

   "She knows because she's been seeded herself.  So have Joey and I.  But
it's nothing to really worry about.  You just can't knowingly and purposely
hurt them or my dad without it killing you first.  Oh, and I guess they can
turn you into their willing mindless sex toy anytime they desire it.  Next
time you go home, you'll probably have this huge desire to see them."

   "I don't have to go home to feel that," he admitted.  "It's funny.  I
can't remember anything about what they did to me except that I loved it
and it made me happy.  But if I go back before finding someone else that
makes me feel happy like that, I'm scared I'll never want anything but them
again."

   I sat up and looked him in the eyes to say, "Well then it's no wonder
you're unhappy if you're fighting the twin's seeded controls.  It's only
going to get worse the longer you resist it, and I can guarantee you won't
lose your desire to find someone else that makes you happy.  They can't
make a permanent love slave out of you because you're...  Um..."

   "What?  Because I'm Suzi's brother?" he snorted, breaking our eye
contact by looking away.

   "Well, yeah.  Basically."

   "Fuck!  Can't I even get enslaved by two beautiful women without it
involving her?"

   I kept my mouth shut as he stared at the eight by ten photo of him
standing next to Suzi who was dressed in her high school graduation cap and
gown.  For a moment I wondered if Suzi was naked under the robe in the
picture like she had been during graduation, and made a mental note to ask
her the next day.  (The answer was no.)

   "You know what makes this whole thing ironic?" he said somberly.

   "What?"

   "A year ago, I thought I was going to be the one showing her the ropes
and protecting her from the shit that goes on here.  But she never needed
me for any of that.  She has Joey.  And now with you around, I hardly even
hear from her unless she wants me to do something for her.  Thank God I'll
be out of here in another six months.  I don't think I can take much more
of my little sister's fame and glory."

   With that, he got up from the seat he had been sitting in and headed
towards the bedroom, but paused before he entered it to say, "There's a
blanket in the coat closet and you're welcome to help yourself to what
little there is in the fridge.  I'm going to bed.  'Nite."

   "Um, thanks.  Goodnight," I said as his bedroom door closed.

   I was just lying back down after having brushed my teeth and grabbing
the blanket when Jason came back out in just his jockeys and asked, "I
don't suppose you've ever taken someone with you on one of those dream
things, have you?"

   "Uh, no.  And I can promise you right now that my mind is staying in my
skull tonight too."

   "Figures," he said before turning around, taking five steps, then
stopped and asked, "Any chance you'd be able let me see what's going on
over there tonight?"

   "You mean without Suzi knowing it?"

   "Yeah, exactly."

   "Nope.  Even if I would do such a thing, she'd know it was me."

   "But it wouldn't be you.  It would be me," he pointed out, walking back
over to the couch.

   "It would still be me making the links.  Look, if you want, I can ask
Suzi if she'd let me link you to one of her guys, but I'm not doing
anything behind her back."

   "If I wanted her to know about it, I'd just go over there myself!" he
spat with frustration before turning around and heading back into his room.

   Having felt his helplessness and concern for his sister's well being, I
found myself considering his sarcastic remark a rather good idea.  After
couple of minutes of watching his mind's emotional chaos, I carefully felt
Suzi out and let her know I needed to talk to her when she had a moment to
spare.  I felt her mind touching mine about twenty minutes later, and after
we established a thought channel, I quickly explained what was going on and
how this was the perfect time to show him what her sex with her slaves was
all about.

   "Jason?" I called as I knocked on his door, then opened it without
waiting for his answer.  "Get up and get dressed.  You're going to be a sex
slave tonight."

   "What?" he said sitting up with a start, the color in his face draining
as he comprehended my words.

   "After I get done programming you, you're going over to Suzi's to serve
as one of Leanne's toy boys.  While she's not requiring your attention,
you'll be able to see exactly what Suzi does with her men, not that you'll
really care all that much about it at the time since you'll only be
interested in pleasuring Leanne."

   "You're joking, right?" he said with fear in his eyes.

   "Relax," I said while empathically reinforcing it with direct eye
contact.  "It'll just be until tomorrow morning, and then you'll be your
old self again, okay?"

   "Do I have a choice?" he asked.

   "Depends on whether you can give me one good reason not to."

   "I don't want to.  Isn't that good reason enough?" he said angrily as he
recovered his wits.

   When he tried looking away from my eyes, I simply said, "Not really,"
and formed a one way link between him and the guy Leanne was teasing by
holding her nipples just within reach of his tongue's touch and no closer.

   When Leanne suddenly plunged her cunt down swallowing his dick with hot
wet pressure, I slowly dissolved the link and then waited for Jason to come
back to his senses.

   He swallowed hard as he pulled down the tent pole under the covers with
one hand and wiped his forehead with the other.

   "Ready?" I said gently.

   He only managed to nod his head once at that point, but ten minutes
later he was thanking me graciously as he rushed to shower and change. 
Before he left he insisted I sleep in his bed instead of the couch, and
seeing he wouldn't be using it that night, I did just that.

   ----------------------------------

   When I got home the next afternoon, I was actually a bit disappointed
when I didn't find naked unconscious men lying all over my apartment where
they had dropped from exhaustion.  But finding Leanne sandwiched between
two men with a third at their feet and a fourth on the floor on the other
side of the bed, all dead asleep, gave me the warm fuzzy that it had gone
well.

   My apartment had survived the sex-athlon for the most part, although I
was pretty sure I'd have to have someone come out to clean up all the fresh
cum stains on my bedroom's ceiling and walls.  While I was surveying this,
I accidentally kicked the leg of the body on the floor, waking him up.

   "Is she still here?" Jason numbly asked me as he struggled to sit up to
see.

   "Yeah, she's still here," I said, hiding my surprise that he was still
there four hours after his enslavement had ended.

   He crawled up on the bed and hovered over the three closely packed
bodies before sighing, lying down beside them, and falling fast asleep
again.

   Out of curiosity, I let myself in to Suzi's place, wrinkling my nose
from the heavy pungent odors of male sweat and lots of drying cum, and very
carefully followed the path between the puddles and little rivers of cum
from the door to the bathroom and then to the bedroom.

   "She'll be sore for a week," Joey said softly from beneath her.

   "That's okay.  She'll probably sleep that long too," I said, finding it
relatively dry in there and didn't have to watch my step to get to the bed.
"What time did you get here?"

   "A little after eight the first time to drive about a third of them
home. I didn't get in bed until after ten though...  Jason's still here."

   "Yeah, I know," I said, preparing to lie down beside them.

   "Uh, you might want to strip first.  The bed is still pretty wet."

   After testing it with my hand, I remarked, "It's not cum.  Why is it so
wet?"

   "Sweat, I think.  Could be melted ice cubes too."

   "I guess I'll just stand then."

   "You think she over did it?" Joey asked after neither of us said
anything for a minute.

   "Don't you?"

   "I asked you first."

   "Well...  I guess so.  Although from the looks of my bedroom compared to
the rest of Suzi's apartment, I think a lot of the mess out there was
Leanne's doing."

   "It doesn't matter who thought of what.  I'm worried about what Suz does
the next time."

   "You mean, how she can top this..."

   "Exactly."

   "I don't know," I began as I started stripping off my clothes.  "I trust
her to a point, but after what Steven and you put her through while you
were Joseph, I guess she's liable to do about anything if she gets worked
up enough."

   "Tim...  I'm getting fucking scared.  I thought she would have burnt
herself out by now.  Sort of like how I did after coming back from
Venezuela the first time.  But if anything, she's just getting more and
more..."

   He didn't say the word, but he didn't have to and he knew it.

   "Let's just see how she is after she recovers from this.  And I don't
want us to start worrying about her behind her back.  I don't think I could
ever do that again."

   "Yeah, alright," he said, stroking her back lovingly a few times, then
spread her butt cheeks and asked, "Did you know about this?"

   I hesitated a moment before sitting up and looking, then exclaimed,
"Holy shit!  Who the hell did that?"

   "She did.  That's from two cocks, not one big one," he explained.  "Is
it still bleeding?"

   "Not that I can see," I said, getting a bit queasy from all the damage I
could see.  "How bad is she on the other side?"

   "It's fine," he simply said.

   I got on my knees and took a closer look, then announced "It needs to be
cleaned up and stuff put on it so it doesn't get infected.  You think her
tub is in any better shape than mine?"

   "I don't know, and I don't really want to wake her up."

   "Then we won't," I said, feeling my way around her low level barriers
and slipping a few blocks into her sleeping mind.  "There.  We could
perform major surgery without it disturbing her sleep."

   I cleaned up her bathroom before Joey carried her in, then after a few
minutes of the two of us trying to hold her limp body up under the shower
without getting it in her face, I sat down on the toilet, closed my eyes,
and slipped her body on.

   "Shit!" Joey exclaimed as he jumped in surprise when I stood her up
straight.  "Damn, Tim.  You could have warned me."

   "Sorry," I said with smiles on both faces.  "I need the practice."

   The only thing I had intended to do was keep her on her feet while Joey
washed her, but I was finding it hard to keep my mind on business with
Joey's hard lean wet body sliding against mine.

   When Joey stood up after finishing Suzi's legs, he suddenly found me
staring him in the eyes deeply aroused.  At that point he forgot it wasn't
Suzi staring up at him, so he automatically pulled me up to him for a hot
wet kiss.

   His hands, his skin, even his whiskers made me feel all wet and tingly
down there, and we were really starting to get into the foreplay when I
made the mistake of saying "Mmmm Joey," from my real mouth.

   "BWAHHH!" he cried as he jolted away from Suzi's body like it had
electric current running through it.

   Neither of us was able to keep our balance standing in the bathtub as we
were, and ended up butt to butt on our backs after sliding down opposite
sides of the tiled walls.

   "God damn it, Tim.  Don't you ever fucking do that again!" Joey yelled
as he scrambled to get back up and then made sure Suzi's body wasn't hurt
by the fall.

   "Sorry!  It wasn't like I planned it!" I huffed.  "And it was those
fucking commands Suzi put in your head that made you jerk back like that."

   "I think she's okay," he said after taking control of her body himself
and checking things out.  "Look, I'll take things from here.  I'm going to
wake her up after I get her dried off.  Why don't you just go and take care
of Leanne and Jason while I take her to the Center and have her checked out
right."

   "I don't think she's that bad off," I protested weakly.

   "The last time I heard, your major was still undeclared, so I think I'd
rather have a real doctor's opinion."

   "All right," I said meekly.  "I am sorry."

   I left the bathroom as he shut off the water, and distracted as I was, I
stepped right in a puddle of cum without thinking about it.

   The next thing I knew I was flat on my back with Joey's voice calling
out to me, "You okay?"

   "No!" I gasped as I labored to recapture both my breath and my wits
which had been knocked out of me.

   "Yes!" I corrected myself desperately as Joey rushed out of the
bathroom, his wet foot instantly slipping on the plastic.  He landed on his
side with his face about a foot below mine.

   "Oh shit," Joey groaned, then looked over at the bathroom door as Suzi
dazedly peered out at the two of us.

   "What's going on?  And why are you two lying around in my cum?" she
asked with a yawn.

   "Wait Suz!" I cried as she took a step out onto the plastic.

   Joey and I both scrambled to catch her, but ended up only looking
foolish as she agilely stepped around our scrambling limbs and the wet
spots without any difficulty.

   "What do you think this is?  A mud wrestling rink?" she yelled.  "Stop
that before you pull the tape apart and it leaks onto my carpet!"

   Joey and I just looked at each other, then as she turned around to go
back to bed, we each grabbed a leg, pulled her off her feet, and dragged
her through the nearest puddle.  Satisfied by her sputtering, Joey and I
then helped each other up and went back into the shower to rinse off.

   Once Joey and Suzi left for the medical center, I headed back down to my
apartment to wake up the remaining boy-toys for cleanup detail, and found
the three of them already awake and getting dressed.  Even though they were
happy to help Suzi, they were a bit disgruntled of having been kicked out
of bed by Jason, having used his status as her brother to get them to
comply.

   After assuring them I'd make sure Suzi knew of their complaints, I sent
them out to get mops, buckets, and a few more boy-toys, then looked in my
bedroom to see what Jason was up to.

   Jason was lying awake beside Leanne with his back to the door.  Just as
I was about to speak to him, he realized he wasn't alone and asked with an
annoyed tone, "What?"

   "I thought you'd like to know Joey took Suz to the medical center, and
I'm getting ready to clean up the mess upstairs."

   "To the medical center?  Why?" he said with a slight note of concern,
yet still not turning to look at me.

   "Joey found some cuts on her that need to be checked out," I said
truthfully.

   "Well they might want to look at her ass while they're at it after the
shit she pulled last night," he said with displeasure.

   "I'm sure they will," I said while watching his slightly agitated
streams return to their previous contented state.

   "Something else?" he asked after a minute of silence went by.

   "Yeah.  I think its time for you to go home."

   "Oh, so you're kicking me out?" he said, finally rolling over to look at
me.

   "For one, yeah.  But I don't mean for you to just go back to your
apartment.  Go home, Jason.  Go home and see the twins."

   "I don't need to see them," he said argumentatively.  "And I'm not
leaving Central State while she's here."

   "Here's a news flash for you Jason," I said a bit louder than I should
have, especially around a sleeping person.  "Tomorrow, Leanne and I are
swapping bodies for a few weeks so she can live as a man for a while."

   "A man!" he exclaimed, turning back to Leanne who sleepily acknowledged
it with a half shrug half stretch.

   "Not only will you not be able to woo her while she's here, but I'm sure
you'll just love to know that while she's controlling my body, the only
person who she can do any wooing with is Suzi."

   "FUCK!" he shouted after it had sunk in.  "That's the last straw!"

   He jumped to his feet and brushed me out of the way as he headed for the
rest of his clothes on my couch, glaring at me as he pulled on his shorts
and reached for his t-shirt.

   "Go home, Jason," I repeated myself as he finished and headed for the
door.

   "Fuck you," he said as he opened the door, then paused to say, "Fuck
you, fuck Suzi, and fuck this whole damn town!" before slamming it closed
behind him.

   Since Leanne was already back to sleep, I went upstairs to organize the
clean up operation, but kept a lock on Jason's mind to make sure he wasn't
going to do anything foolish.  He spent about an hour walking around campus
and then headed to his apartment to eat and shower.

   Everyone froze three hours later when Joey carried Suzi in, asleep in
his arms, but we went right back to finishing up once he had taken her into
her clean bedroom and closed the door.

   All was very quiet and peaceful once the help had left.  After fixing
something to eat, Joey and I ended up in front of the computer I had
borrowed from the computer lab.  We worked fairly late entering in
different symbols and their interactions with other symbols when part of a
symbolic string or stream.  We quit around three in the morning only
because we both agreed we would have to rewrite another section of our
software before we could go any further, and didn't feel like starting it
that night.  So I accepted his invitation to share Suzi's bed, mainly
because I didn't care to sleep in mine until the sheets were changed, and
didn't really trust myself waking up with Leanne in the same bed.

   "Good morning," I chirped brightly as Leanne emerged from my bedroom
wearing only a pair of shorts late the next morning.

   "Please tell me you have coffee," she muttered as she walked into the
kitchen and opened the pantry door.

   "Coming right up," I said while willing myself not to stare at her meaty
breasts with their slightly hardened nipples, and pulled out my coffee
maker out of a cabinet.

   "I slept almost twenty four hours, but I feel like I could go for
another fourteen," Leanne yawn after sitting down at the kitchen table.

   "Well, was it worth it?"

   "Without a doubt.  I haven't felt this...  content with myself after an
orgy since...  the week before Thanksgiving two years ago, I think. 
Football players get so horny just before the holidays."

   "Football players are always horny," I pointed out.  "Especially after a
game."

   "Horny, but tired," she said, leaning forward in her chair and resting
her breasts on the table.  "I think that was the last time I found
satisfaction in sex with a man.  I went on a lesbian binge for a while
after that, but that didn't do it for me either, so I gave up on being a
full time slut and tried to focus on school."

   "How long did that last?" I asked, sitting down next to her as the
coffee maker started doing it's slurping and gurgling.

   "A couple of months," she said as she adjusted her left breast so it was
stretched out on the table like her right one was.  "Then I ran into this
transvestite while I was out bar hopping, and something in my head just
sort of clicked.  I bought my first pair of jockeys a week later, and it
all cascaded from there."

   "I take it you didn't have any problems with it last night?"

   "Not a one.  I feel like a woman again, and it feels good."

   "Really..." I said cautiously.  "Does this mean you don't want to swap
bodies for a while?"

   "Ughh...  Honestly, I don't know right now.  I need caffeine," she
moaned as she let her head droop down and almost touch the table.

   "Almost finished," I assured her.  "So what did you think of Jason?"

   "Who?" she asked as she rearranged herself again and laid her head on
her arm on the table.

   "Suzi's brother..."

   "Oh him.  He was okay, I guess.  He wasn't very aggressive.  Of course
none of them really were."

   "You'd have to tell them its okay to be aggressive before they'd do it,"
I explained while standing up to get her a cup for her coffee.  "So nothing
special about Jason's performance?  Sugar?"

   "No."

   "No sugar?"

   "Yes.  No sugar," she said with a touch of annoyance.  "And if I had
known I'd have to rate them afterwards, I might have paid attention to who
did what.  But I didn't.  I made sure they all had their turn, but after
that, a cock was a cock, and I didn't care who was attached at the other
end.  I just used whoever was closest for my pleasure."

   "I see," I said as I filled her cup and carried it over to her.

   "I do like cream in it," she said, hiding a wicked smile.  "You have
any?"

   "Yeah," I said, turning towards the fridge, then froze when she grabbed
my waistband, then slipped her hand cross my crotch.

   "I like mine to be fresh," she said teasingly as I removed her invading
hand with my own.

   "Prairie Farms 2% is the only cream you're getting from me," I said as
she released her hold on my shorts.

   "Hmmph," she chuckled, "Don't you feel a bit hypocritical for someone
who's about to loan his body out to a slut."

   "Perhaps," I said as I grabbed the milk from the fridge.  "But then if I
really did feel that way, there wouldn't be any body swap."

   The look I gave her as I handed her the milk told her to drop the
subject, so we spent a few minutes sitting quietly while she sipped her hot
coffee.

   "You and Joey must have your hands full with Suzi," Leanne said as she
stretched.

   "Not really.  She's usually pretty careful about not over doing it."

   Catching me looking, she smiled wickedly before giving me her best
seductive look.  Lips wetted, nipples hardening, legs parting, and her
hands roaming down her body to amplify her bust and trim figure.

   Getting the results she had hoped for, she asked teasingly, "Tell me
honestly.  Do you really like the shape my body is in right now?"

   "You mean all muscular?" I clarified, allowing myself to enjoy what her
body was doing to me.

   "Yes," she said as she took a wetted finger down to her left nipple.

   "It's different, but yeah, very sexy," I admitted.  "Anything particular
you want for breakfast?  For nourishment, that is."

   "Cold cereal is fine.  But I usually shower before I eat," she said
standing up and slipping off her shorts.  "I'll be right back," she said
with another seductive pose before heading for the bathroom.

   I knew she thought I was just playing hard to get, and apparently it was
turning her on.  So when she called my name a few minutes after she had
started the water, I wasn't the bit surprised by what I found.

   "I'm awfully sore from the orgy," she said sounding as innocent as she
possibly could, standing on the mat right outside the shower with her
breasts and stomach lathered up and the rest of her wet body shimmering in
the light.  "Could you come and do my back?"

   I dropped my drawers with a quick "Sure," then yanked my shirt off and
waited a moment for her surprise to wear off before following her into the
shower.

   "You sure changed your tune," she remarked as I pressed my body up
behind her, making sure my hard cock slipped into the crevice between her
butt cheeks as I gave her neck a lick.

   "Nothing turns me on more than a naked woman in the shower," I said
huskily as I reached around to pinch her nipples.

   As I slid my cock up and down her crevice in an increasing humping
motion, I slid one hand down to her cunt and slipped a finger in.  Her
juices were flowing, but I wasn't sure how much was from earlier when she
was trying to seduce me.

   So I slobbered up and down her neck a bit, fingered her cunt like an
inexperienced teenager, alternating from over-stimulating her clit to no
contact with it at all.

   After a few minutes of that, she turned around, but immediately had to
turn her head to avoid my tongue slipping into her mouth.

   "Tim, this isn't working," she complained as I drilled my tongue into
her ear.

   "I thought this was what you wanted," I said while squeezing her ass.

   "Maybe I'm just all sexed out," she complained as she wiggled free of my
grasp.

   "Well that's just great," I said sounding frustrated and playing it up.
"You get me all turned on and ready to go, then you pull this.  Now you're
the one changing your tune."

   I turned to step get out, but Leanne stopped me with her hand on my
shoulder, and I turned around only to find her turning me in the opposite
direction and feeling her body press up against the back of mine.

   "You don't have to leave unsatisfied," she said as she grasped my cock
in her hand from behind.

   "Uh, I don't..." I began, finding my plan backfiring on me a bit.

   "Changing your tune again?" she teased as she slid my foreskin all the
way back, then forward again.  "If you're having any more of those chiastic
thoughts, then how about just a hand job.  I'd like to see what this puppy
can do before I have to use it myself."

   Torn between my feelings and my loins, I stood there undecided as she
teased my cock with her experienced hand, and found myself enjoying it too
much to make it stop.  For minute I let myself go and leaned up against the
wall with my legs parted for easy access, and even closed my eyes and
moaned my appreciation for her efforts.

   I was just starting to feel my climax coming on when Jennifer's face
popped into my mind's eye, her smiling face clearing my head and brought me
back to my proper senses.

   "What's wrong?!?" Leanne exclaimed, finding my dick shrinking in her
hand.

   "Nothing's wrong," I said happily.  "In fact, thank you for proving it
to me."

   "Proving what?" Leanne cried after me as I grabbed a towel and left the
bathroom.

   "You wouldn't understand," I replied as I dried myself off just outside
the door.

   Once dressed, I told Leanne I'd be back in about two hours, then went up
to Suzi's and surprised her and Joey by lying down beside them as they were
making love.

   "Didn't you get enough of this the other night?" I teased Suzi as they
stared dazed at me, panting for their breath.

   "Some people didn't get _any_ the other night," Joey irritatedly
answered for her as he resumed his slow deep thrusts.

   I watched silently as he slowly increased his speed, but then he
suddenly slowed down to a stop just as Suzi was really getting into it.

   "Did you need something?" Joey asked with more irritation before rolling
onto his back and pulling Suzi on top of him.

   "No, not really," I said, backing off the bed with embarrassment.  "I
didn't mean to interrupt..."

   "Timmy?" Suzi queried as I turned to leave, her tone implying I didn't
have to go.

   "S'alright, Suz.  I should check on my ressy's anyway," I said with a
lump in my throat.

   I was halfway across Suzi's living area when I heard Joey's frustrated
groan followed by the bed squeaking and two feet hitting the floor.

   "Tim, hang on," Joey called as I reached the door.

   "Don't do this," I pleaded, not turning around.

   "Do what?"

   "Just go back and pretend I hadn't been here.  Please?"

   "I'm sorry for snapping at you, 'kay?  It was those commands Suzi put in
last Christmas that caused it, but they're gone now."

   "Timmy?" Suzi called from the bedroom.  "Please don't go."

   Joey put his hand on my shoulder and softly said, "Please?"

   "But I _was_ intruding," I said.

   Joey turned me around, looked me in the eyes and said, "You could never
intrude on us.  Understand?  The last thing Suz and I want is for you to
feel left out.  We want to share everything and anything that you'll let us
share with you, but we also want you to trust that we won't let anything go
so far that we'll regret it later.  So will you stay?  Just for a little
while?"

   I couldn't help but smile in happiness from his sincerity, and after I
wiped my eyes I nodded and let Joey lead the way back into the bedroom.

   "If it makes you uncomfortable watching us, we can wait until later,"
Suzi offered as Joey climbed back onto the bed.

   "It doesn't," I said honestly.  "I wouldn't have come in the first time
if it did."

   "Good," Joey said as he moved partially on top of Suzi and kissed her
with increasing passion.

   "I don't mean to be a spoil sport, but I didn't actually come up here to
watch you two like this.  And I really do need to check on my ressies."

   "What did you come up for then?" Suzi asked after Joey sighed and moved
back off.

   I leaned over the bed and gave her a short kiss on the lips before
saying, "I'll tell you both later, okay?  It just isn't that big of a deal
now."

   I could feel their disappointment as their eyes watched me heading for
the door again, so I paused in the bedroom doorway and gave them both a big
smile followed by a, "I love you guys.  After this thing with Leanne is
over, I promise we'll spend more time together as threesome.  Now get back
to work so I don't feel so guilty for interrupting you."

   I left the apartment building with a spring in my walk and the
reassuring music of squeaking springs echoing in my ears.

   "Good afternoon," Sabel said enthusiastically when she greeted me at the
door.

   "It _is_ a good afternoon, isn't it Sabel?"

   "It's a _great_ afternoon," she said, wagging her imaginary tail as she
followed me down the hall.

   "How's your fork and spoon practicing going?"

   "Jeff says I'm a good girl, but he still won't give a treat, no matter
how much I whine."

   "Literally whine?  Or just a figure of speech whine."

   She made a brief doggy sounding whimper before saying, "A little of
both."

   I suddenly paused in my footsteps and let her crash into me from behind,
just as she usually did when she was following right behind me like her
doggy conditioning had her do.  I waited patently as she shyly walked up
beside me with her chin against her chest, the little girl she had been
before becoming a human canine showing through.

   I put my arm behind her back, started walking again, and said, "You're
doing fine, Sabel Anne Parker.  You may have been a dog-person longer than
you've been person-person, but you're definitely acting more human now than
canine."

   As if to prove my words, she gave me peck on my right cheek, a lick on
my left, and another peck on my lips before bouncing away, her pretty long
hair swaying back and forth like a tail.

   "All she gives me is a lick on the hand," Jeff Campos scoffed from the
office doorway.

   "Don't feel bad.  She's just trying to get a treat out of me," I said
while waiting for the short Hispanic sophomore to move aside so I could go
in the office.

   "I'll give that little bitch a treat, right when she goes into heat" he
said jokingly as he let me through.

   Accustomed to his crude sense of humor, yet sensing some truth to his
words, I idly thumbed through the log from the past day and a half and
joked back, "Last time someone fucked her while she was in heat, they ended
up howling in pain when she started using her claws and teeth."

   "She wouldn't hurt me," he said sincerely.  "Not after all the time
we've been spending together."

   "Just don't forget that there's a little girl hiding in that woman's
body.  You might scare her off if she ever hears you talking about her like
that."

   "I haven't forgotten," he said with just a hint of irritation.  "I was
only joking around, you know."

   I looked him in the eyes and said, "Yeah, and I know what else you were
doing.  Stop it or I'll have Angela trade Precious with you.  I doubt
you'll be having any fantasies about _him_ at night."

   His response was fairly understandable, mainly that of embarrassment and
guilt followed by getting rattled from my apparent invasion of his privacy.
Since the others were showing up for our meeting in the room across the
hall at that point, I turned my attention to gathering the files I needed
and let him slip out without another word to join the others.

   Once all six of my employees were there, I sat down at the overly worn
conference table and began apologetically, "Sorry for calling this on such
short notice, but something's come up and I'm not going to be able to come
in for a couple of weeks.  I think you all are experienced enough and
hopefully comfortable with what we're doing here that you all can handle
running the day to day stuff without my help for a while.  Anybody feel not
up to it?"

   I knew something wasn't right when nobody said anything, so I took a
good long look at each one of them and found they weren't as comfortable
with the job as I had assumed.

   "Anyone having second thoughts?" I asked gently.

   Again my question was met with silence, so I waited a minute before
asking, "If you can't tell me what's wrong, how am I supposed to do
anything about it?"

   It was obvious by their reaction that I had touched the subject they
were all having a problem with, so I singled out Angela Cross, a senior and
the oldest in the room, by asking, "What's going on, Angela?"

   "What's going on?" she repeated hesitantly.

   "Yeah, what's going on.  Are the Ressies too much work?  Are you having
problems dealing with what we're doing here?  What?"

   She looked over at the others while shrugging, so I looked over at John
Belt, my sophomore business major who liked to shock people by stating his
mind freely.

   "John?"

   "What?"

   "You like it here?"

   "Most of the time," he said honestly.

   "What about the rest of the time?  What don't you like the most?"

   "I guess it just gets a little...  scary seeing how messed up these
people are."

   "You mean, how they got that way," I concluded.

   "Yeah, pretty much."

   "Everyone else feels the same way?" I asked, looking around at the
others, and suddenly understanding exactly what they all were feeling.

   "Look, I completely understand how unnerving this all can be, and if it
helps any, I'm sorry that I had to expose you to this...  secret evil of
the real world.  But I can't do this on my own, and I made sure you all
were capable of handling this before I even interviewed you.  I did warn
you that the job would probably turn your concept of the world upside down
for while."

   "That's an understatement," Lisa Willamette remarked.  "When I'm out,
I'm constantly wondering who around me could be listening to my thoughts,
and I start praying they won't take me and make me like one of the
ressies."

   "I do that all the time too," Lisa Martec announced while taking a hold
of Brian Geare's hand for comfort.

   "You don't need to worry.  The Group are the only telepaths on campus,
and since you're my employees, I can promise you that none of them would
dare touch any of you, mentally or physically."

   "That still leaves you," Angela pointed out, her distrust hitting me
square in the face.

   "Shit," I moaned while massaging my suddenly stiff feeling face with my
hands.  "You know, my empathic senses must be way out of calibration after
all the cleanings I've done this month."

   When I finished my facial massage, I found them all staring at me from
having no clue what I had meant.

   I gave them an empathic smile and said, "Normally I would have taken one
look at you all and known it was me, not the job, you were unsure about. 
I'm sorry...  There's been so much to do lately...  I guess took advantage
of your...  uhm...  job conditioning a bit more than I should have.  You're
all probably feeling pretty emotionally stretched, especially for what I'm
paying you."

   "Not really," John insisted.  "I did some charity work at a nursing home
in high school, so I think you're paying us pretty good."

   "And living here sure beats another semester in the dorms," Brian added.

   "Look, I'm not going to force any of you to trust me, but I swear to you
that besides the security precautions I embedded into your subconscious
minds, I haven't tinkered with your perception, and I don't read your
thoughts.  Hell, just having these doubts and feelings about me should be
proof that I haven't screwed around with your heads."

   Another dose of my empathic smile seemed to take the edge off the room,
so I tried to drive things home saying, "I've told you the truth about what
we're trying to do here.  I know teaching Sabel how to eat with silverware,
exercising Precious, and changing a lot of beds and diapers doesn't seem
like you're doing that much, but until we find ways to bring some part of
their real self out of what they are now, that's all we can do for them.

   "Which brings to what I called this meeting for in the first place," I
said, sliding one of the two files I had brought with me over to Jeff.  "I
think its time to give Sabel a little responsibility of her own."

   Jeff hesitantly opened the file, then bulged his eyes out when he saw
the photo of a thirty seven year old woman chained naked to a concrete
wall.

   "Camille Swanson," I informed them.  "Loving single mother of two girls,
or at least was until her neighbor discovered his voice and began
experimenting on her and her two daughters.  Turned the three of them into
incestual lesbian sex freaks for a couple years until he noticed the oldest
daughter was having her periods and made the two girls his cock fiends. 
After unsuccessfully trying to get Camille pregnant, he spent his idle
hours twisting Camille's mind into goo."

   "She's one of the ressies, right?" Lisa Martec asked after getting a
good look at a second photo after Camille was taken into the Group's care.

   "Yeah.  Camille is probably one of our worst cases too, but then again
they're all probably just as bad in one way or another.  She's one of the
four we have to keep diapered and hand feed all the time.  Normally she's
completely impassive and you're led to believe nobody's home in there.  But
she recognizes her daughters on sight and becomes very violent if she isn't
allowed to be with them.  They've had to be kept apart because Camille
tries to sexually stimulate them, and until now the girls were way too
fragile emotionally to cope with that.

   "This is her oldest daughter, Kim," I said, opening up the other file
and showing them the picture of an early teen girl with the familiar absent
look in her eyes common to pre-cleaned ex-slaves.  "She's sixteen now and
has almost recovered from her cleaning enough to try and draw her mother
out before I clean her.  Don't worry.  We're not going to have to deal with
Camille while she's with Kim.  That will be run by the specialists at the
hospital."

   "What does this have to do with Sable?" Jeff asked.

   "I want Sable to start taking care of Camille while she's here, and when
Camille starts going over to the hospital for her visits, I want Sable to
go with her.  It should help draw Sable out more as she'll be taking the
parental role, and I'm hoping with Sable's doggy loyalty, Camille will
latch on to her right after her visits with Kim and not rush back into
hiding inside her own mind right away."

   "When are they going to start the visits?" Brian asked while studying
Kim's file.

   "Probably in about a month."

   "Says here Kim had a baby?"

   "Yeah, I saw that too and asked about it.  It was born premature and
only lived about a week.  It might have survived if the bastard had
attacked the Group six months earlier than he did."

   "What about the other girl?" Lisa Willamette asked.

   "Charm...  Cool name, isn't it?  I think she's fourteen now.  She's got
a lot farther to go before she could handle her mother.  Hopefully she'll
be up to helping out while Camille's recovering from her cleaning."

   I gave them another dose of my empathic smile as they started asking me
more questions, and after another twenty minutes of talking and reassuring
them, I drew the meeting to a close, mainly because Precious walked in
wanting Angela to take him out for another run so he could watch some more
TV.

   "You know, Precious will do just about anything to watch a half hour of
TV," Jeff said as I put the files back in their drawer in the office.

   "Yeah, too bad they're not all that easy," I said, closing filing
cabinet with a flick of my wrist.  "Look, Jeff...  I meant what I said
earlier.  I didn't go poking around your head.  I just could tell by the
way you talked that you weren't entirely joking about Sable, and I simply
assumed the rest, seeing that you're a red blooded guy and all."

   "I just...  wanted to make sure you're not mad or anything."

   "Nah.  Just concerned.  Sable is starting to trust you.  If you betray
that now, she'll never trust you again.  She's overdue to be cleaned, but
she hasn't developed an interest in anything solid that we can help her
focus on to keep her sane after the cleaning.  Hopefully Camille will be
it, but it will slow things down if she starts to doubt the people who are
trying to help her.  So keep your mind out of the gutter where Sable is
concerned, okay?"

   "Yeah," he said with a surge of redness to cheeks.  "I'll try and get a
girlfriend or something."

   "That's cool.  Just as long as it doesn't..."

   I clapped my hand over my mouth when I realized what I was saying, then
it was my turn to blush as I explained, "I almost gave you my mom's dating
and school speech.  It scares the living shit out of me when I talk like
her."

   I had Jeff write the meeting up in the log while I went and peeked in on
Lisa and Brian, dieing of curiosity whether I had missed out on their
promised coupling I had mentioned to Suzi two days earlier.  It was obvious
I had.

   Lisa Martec and Brian Geare were one of the first couples I had
dreamwalked into after I had made it an acceptable means of getting off. 
My encounters with them were always very brief, mainly due to the fact that
they were taking it slow.  They were a sort of side show for me, only
staying with their kissing and fondling until some hotter action elsewhere
popped up for me to enjoy.  But their passion had been increasing while
living in the same building for the last month, and I had known it was only
a matter of time before they became the big show.

   I was extremely upset that I had missed their opening night performance,
and had to take a long walk in the late July heat before feeling up to what
I thought awaited me back at my apartment.

   Of course that hadn't included finding Sarah, Joey's sister, waiting
there.

   Leanne, Suzi, and Joey were all sitting on my couch and Sarah in the
easy chair with the TV on.  I had walked in on some friendly chit-chat
between the four of them, but now that I had arrived, they all stood up,
Joey turning off the TV.

   "It's about time you showed up," Leanne complained.  "I was starting to
wonder if you were chickening out on me."

   "I had to take care of some business at the old admin building," I said,
mainly for Sarah's benefit.

   "Everything working out all right over there?" Sarah asked pleasantly
enough.

   "The staff is still a little unsure of me, but other than that
everything is running pretty smooth," I assured her.  "But I take it you're
not here about that..."

   "No, I'm not.  But if you start having problems with taking care of the
Ressies..."

   "I won't," I said firmly, attempting to cut her off.

   "...  I might be able to increase your funds," she finished bluntly.

   "Oh," I said, feeling the blood rushing to the tips of my ears.  "Um...
I think I'm okay for now in that department, but thanks.  I'll keep it in
mind if things start getting too complicated."

   "Now, about this swap thing you're planning," she said, using her most
official tone of voice.

   "You can't possibly think this will be a danger to the Group," I
exclaimed.

   "No one here has tried anything like this before.  We can't afford to
let down our defenses or draw any more attention to..."

   "Fine!" I exploded.  "I'll just take Suzi and Leanne back home and do it
there!"

   "Tim!" Joey snapped.  "What's your fucking problem?!  She's here to help
you, not to stop you!"

   "Help?  How?" I asked, hesitantly.

   "Let's step in your office a minute," Sarah growled, motioning towards
my bedroom.

   "What do you need to do that for?" Joey complained as I followed her in.

   "So you don't get hit in case we start throwing punches!" Sarah snapped
at him before closing and locking the door.

   "Throwing punches?" I asked with an uncertain grin.

   "Well, that's what he always says we'd do if we were locked up in the
same room together alone," she said humorously.

   "Heh," I chuckled honestly as I sat down on the foot of my bed.

   Sarah slowly paced back and forth in front of the bed a few times
without looking at me, her mind doing a sort of sanity check on what she
was preparing to say and do.  I'd seen her do this quite a lot over the
past few months, so I just waited quietly for her speak first.

   On the third pass, she suddenly turned to me and said, "Tim."

   "Sarah."

   "We sort of got off on the wrong foot, didn't we?" she asked, her eyes
sharply probing my features for signs of emotion.

   "I guess so," I said with reservation.

   "And a lot of it was my fault," she admitted with a sigh, leaning up
against my dresser with her rear end.  "Ever since you and Joey infiltrated
our defenses looking for me, I've distrusted you.  Part of me believed you
altered all of our perceptions for your own purposes, making Joey and my
parents care about you, and things like that.  Shit, at times I even tried
working out how you could have been the one responsible for making me
believe my parents and brother were dead, thinking you did it just so you
could have them for yourself all that time.  It was so easy to blame all my
problems on you.

   "I hope you can understand how terrified I am of losing my family,
especially to a telepath, and why it made me a bit crazy when Joey started
pushing me to allow you to come here.  I couldn't help but believe you were
making him feel that way so you could infiltrate us again, but this time
you would take over the Group and destroy everything I had."

   "So you gathered your troops and launched a surprise attack on me,
hoping to break through my defenses and expose my plans," I concluded out
loud.

   "And after that didn't work, Perry bugged your apartment and he waited
for you to say or do something to give yourself away.  But after two
months, he told me you were nothing but what you appeared to be, and if I
couldn't believe that, I should go see a shrink."

   "What would have happened if..."

   "He would have killed you," she said, cutting me off.  "That's what he
was really here for.  I hired him to help protect me and my family from
you. You, and others who I thought you were like."

   "Why are you telling me all this?" I asked her, trying to keep my cool.
"You could have kept it to yourself and I would probably never have known."

   Sarah looked down at her feet and hesitated a moment before saying, "My
shrink said I needed to come clean with you before I could put it all
behind me."

   When she didn't offer to say anything further, I asked, "So what do you
want from me?"

   "Nothing," she said with honest surprise.  "Or at least...  For what
it's worth, I am sorry.  I can't blame you if you hold my...  craziness
against me, but for the Group's sake, I hope you'll still be apart of it.
We need you.  ....  I need you."

   I honestly was a bit stunned by her sudden reversal of her attitude
towards me.  I never expected Sarah to drop her defenses like that, and I
knew how difficult it had been for her to say it.

   Before the awkward silence, which had fallen between us, could grow any
further I said, "I appreciate the gesture, but you were doing just fine
before I showed up, and you'll do just as well when I leave.  I don't want
to feel responsible for the safety of the Group beyond what any one of us
already is.  That's your job, and I respect that.  I think respect is all
you're going to get from me.  So are we done here?"

   "One last thing," she said firmly.  "The swap."

   "Great.  What?" I sighed, expecting to hear a long list of conditions
and safeguards.

   "While you're...  Swapped, I think it would be best if you just ignore
any attacks that may happen.  Unless we're overwhelmed, of course, but then
we'd call you in specifically.  And it probably would be a good idea to
work out some kind of plan with Leanne in case that happens."

   "Thanks.  Not worrying about having to rush over to the center on a
moment's notice would make things easier, and I'll let you guys know what
Leanne and I work out for emergencies."

   "Well then, I guess I'll get going," Sarah said, standing up straight,
then hesitating a moment before moving towards the door.  "Let me know if
you need anything."

   No one said a word as I followed Sarah out into the living area.  We all
just sort of stared at each other a moment before Sarah grabbed her purse
and left offering a simple "good luck" without waiting for a reply.

   "So...  What bombshell did she land on you this time?" Joey asked after
I plopped down in my easy chair with a long sigh-like groan.

   "Nothing I shouldn't be used to by now," I evaded.  "The good news is, I
won't have to worry about responding to any red alerts while we're doing
this."

   "I told you she was trying to help," Joey said.

   "Yeah, you were right," I gave him, not wanting to go in to it right
then.

   "Timmy, are you sure you're up to doing this today?" Suzi cautiously
asked.  "You look tired."

   "I'll be alright," I assured them.  "Besides, I'm kind of looking at
this like being a vacation, and I think I really could use a vacation right
about now.  So I guess lets go over the ground rules first."

   When Leanne didn't say anything, I said, "What's the matter, Leanne? 
Are you starting to get cold feet?"

   "No," Leanne said gently.  "I'm just...  being patient."

   "I called her an impatient whore earlier," Suzi explained.  "So now
she's trying to prove I'm wrong."

   "Later tonight, we'll see who's really the impatient whore," Leanne said
confidently.

   "Ground rules," I announced just as Suzi was about to return fire.  "No
drugs, no booze, and no pinkish-purple sex enhancing drinks..."

   I waited for Suzi's and Leanne's loud moans to subside before
explaining, "I'm going to link as deeply into our senses and motor
functions as I can, but stuff that's carried to our brains by the blood I
can't do anything about."

   "Share link could," Joey pointed out.

   "Yeah, but Leanne won't be in the share link."

   "You sure know how to take a guy's fun away," Leanne sighed.

   "No smoking," I continued.  "I don't think that will be a problem, but I
thought I'd mention it anyway.  Oh, and then there's hormones."

   "What about them?" Leanne asked.

   "Well they have the same problem as the drinking.  When one of us gets
aroused, the other one is going to feel some of its effects.  I don't want
to put a limitation on what time of the day you can have sex, but it would
be nice if you could keep it in my pants most of the day.  I mean, I
understand if you have this erotic moment and take advantage of it, as long
as it isn't every two hours every day."

   "So much for our all day orgy," Suzi muttered to Leanne.

   "No sex with anyone except Suzi.  You can flirt as much as you want, but
no sexual contact with anyone but Suz."

   "But what if Joey wants to join in?" Leanne asked.

   "If Joey joins in," Joey inserted, "it will only be a joining with
Suzi."

   "Well put," I said.

   "Okay, okay..." Leanne sighed.  "Anything else?"

   "We need to make up some sort of plan in the case of an emergency.  I
may have to break the links suddenly, and if I do, you might be on your own
a while.  Probably the best thing to do would be to come here and stay here
until you hear from one of us."

   "Okay, anything else?" Leanne repeated.

   "Um, just one other thing," I said slowly, unsure exactly how to exactly
phrase it.

   "What?" Suzi exclaimed before Leanne could.

   "Um, I just wanted to make sure you're okay with, um, if I used a few...
Toys.  Just while you're having sex of course."

   "You can do whatever you want.  I'm sure its nothing I haven't already
tried," Leanne snorted.

   "Okay.  I guess if you're ready..."

   "Ready Freddy," Leanne chirped.

   "Okay...  Here we go," I said, closing my eyes and focusing my mind on
our two bodies.

   Even though I had swapped bodies dozens of times before without taking
but a few moments to perform the swap, I spent over twenty minutes
optimizing the different neurological links in hopes of minimizing the
strain this long-term swap may have.

   "This is fucking incredible!" Leanne exclaimed with my voice as she
stood up in my body.  "I feel a bit tipsy without my breasts, and GOD!" she
exclaimed as she fondled my crotch.

   "Stop that!" Suzi said flustered as she pulled Leanne's hands out of her
shorts.  Err, my hands and shorts technically, but you know what I mean. 
"We're going to the Rave and I don't want you getting all hot and sweaty
until after we get there.  We got all night to play with your new
plaything, remember?"

   "How about just a blow job before we go?" Leanne begged as Suzi led them
to the door.

   "Now don't start that again," Suzi warned.  "And take your hand off my
ass before I give you your first case of blue balls."

   "Well, looks like Leanne's in good hands," I sighed as I moved my new
body into my easy chair.

   "Yeah, well don't get too comfortable," Joey said with a shit eating
grin.  "Your dad called while you were a zombie.  He and your mom are at my
house, and he's coming over by himself to talk to us.  He should be here in
another twenty minutes or so."

   "Shit," I said, flinching.  "I wonder what does he wants."

   "Heh.  Before or after he finds his eldest son a woman?"

   "Shut up," I said as I got up and started straightening the couch's
cushions next to Joey.  "Why didn't you tell me before Suz and Leanne left?
I could have suspended the swap and..."

   "And Suzi would have made us both miserable the rest of the night for
having missed getting down to the Rave before it got too crowded to dance."

   "I guess you're right," I sighed while noticing how badly the place
needed a good cleaning.  "Hey, just don't sit there.  Grab the Hoover and
go over the carpets.  I need to dust and get some of that shit off the
counter."

   "Shit.  You're a woman for less than five minutes, and you're already
telling me what to do," Joey complained as he got up.

   I let out an "Ack!" when he gave my ass a slap as he passed me on the
way to the closet, but then I grinned evilly knowing how easily I could get
my revenge if I chose to.

   Twenty-five minutes later, Joey slipped into the bedroom out of sight
just as my dad knocked on the door.

   I took a deep breath, then opened the door and asked, "Hello...  Can I
help you?"

   My dad was started a moment, but then took a small piece of paper out of
his pocket and checked it against the number on the door.  As he opened his
mouth to say something, his eyes looked in mine a moment, then after a
second, he stepped past me saying, "Very funny, Tim."

   "Shit, dad.  How did you know?" I asked after I got over my own surprise
and closed the door.

   "I recognized that twinkle of mischief in your eyes.  Where's Joey?  He
didn't leave, did he?"

   "I'm right here," Joey announced coming out of the bedroom with a grin
on his face.

   "Good," my dad said while going into the bedroom himself.

   "Um, dad?" I called after him when he didn't come back out right away.
"What's this all about?"

   "It's about a number of things," he said while he slowly walked out,
deep in thought.  "I need to talk to you about Richie and your mother, but
first there's something else I need to discuss with both of you.  I just
can't remember what."

   "You can't remember?" Joey repeated.

   "Dad, you never forget things," I said with some concern.

   "I know.  That's what's..." he said, looking up and into my eyes,
freezing as a strange empathic connection suddenly formed and moments later
broke, startling us both.

   "What?  What happened?" Joey asked as I leaned heavily against him and
my dad shakily sat down on the couch.

   "I don't know," I said.

   "I do," my dad said after taking in a deep breath.  "Joey, look at me."

   "Sorry, not until..." Joey began, gently probing Leanne's mind, then
realized his error.

   "Tim, do you remember last summer?" my dad patiently suggested.

   Just like that, any of the fuzzy memories during my time spent in
Venezuela the previous year became crystal clear, so I looked up at Joey
and said, "It's okay, Joey.  I think he's going to unlock some of your
memories from last summer."

   "Are you sure?" Joey asked softly with concern in his eyes.

   "Yeah.  I'm sure," I said with a smile.  "Although, you may want to sit
down first."

   After Joey sat down in my easy chair, he allowed his eyes to look in my
dad's, then after a moment he gasped and closed his eyes.

   "Shit," Joey said a few moments later, opening his eyes and blinking a
few times.  "How did you do that?"

   My dad formed a telepathic channel to both of us, and indicated we
should do the same to each other, which after glancing at each other, Joey
and I did.

   "The twins have been doing some digging into my...  other life, and they
have learned some new tricks," my dad thought to us with a grin.  "Tim's
own empathy released the twin's memory block in my mind, and then I used
something else they had implanted in me to release both of your memories,
but it's only temporary."

   "Wait.  Why did you hide all this from yourself?" I asked him.

   "Because I can't leave the knowledge that I'm Gladius's keeper, so to
speak, unprotected like that.  Quite frankly, I don't have a choice, and
neither do you.  You won't consciously remember most of what I'm about to
tell you after I leave unless you need to, and then it will only be for
that instant."

   "Shit," Joey said in a hushed voice, then thought to me, "I wish the
Group had that kind of security in protecting our secrets."

   "Are we in some kind of danger?" I asked.

   "Not any more danger than you're already aware of," my dad thought back.
"Tim, the twins have become extremely protective of me, and with you being
my son and Joey being their guardian, they feel your presence here where
you are constantly being attacked by other voices is too great of a risk
to..."

   "Now wait just one damn minute," Joey interrupted.  "I love the twins
and all, but I'm not going give up everything I have here just to make them
feel more secure."

   "That's not what we have in mind, Joey," my dad thought to us patiently.
"The twins will come back with Tim next semester and help him expand his
empathic abilities to where he can trigger anyone seeded with their
control's into their mindless states."

   "And exactly how would that help?" Joey asked.

   "What, you don't know?  Tim, surely you figured it out while they were
playing with Eric..."

   "Uhhh...  No," I replied.

   "While someone is in their mindless emotional state, they're immune from
voice."

   "Shit," Joey and I both said out loud, then looked at each other as the
same thoughts began running through our heads.

   "You'll need to find two males who have not been seeded yet so you can
help seed them and then learn how to trigger and control their mindless
states.  Once you've mastered that, you and the twins can seed as many
people as you see fit, but I'll need them back home by Thanksgiving."

   "I'm not going to have to...  uhm...  have sex with the guys, am I?" I
cautiously asked.

   "No, of course not," he said out loud.  Then he thought to us, "Males
cannot seed males, just like females can not seed females."

   "Then how do we seed women without a pair of male twins?"

   "With the twins help, you should be able to do it yourself, Timothy. 
But we're not entirely certain you can without Eric, and that might be
disastrous for Eric if he entered into that kind of empathic meld.

   "Now, I also came here to assess the living arrangements.  This
apartment is far too small for our purposes.  You will need something large
enough for you, the twins, and the two males you seed to live in, and if
possible Joey and Suzi as well as they should both be reseeded with the
twin's enhanced controls to better protect them.  You'll need to spend a
lot of time with all of them until you are able to trigger their controls,
so it would be best if they all shared the same apartment or house with
you. Plus you can have them pay rent which is always a good business
practice, even between friends."

   "What do you think, Joey?" I asked him.

   "About what?  The living arrangements?  Or the whole thing?"

   "Either.  Or both."

   "Well, my mom would have a fit if I moved in with you, but I don't think
it would be hard to spend more time at night with you and Suzi now that my,
er..  special project is done."

   "Special project?" I asked privately.

   "I'll tell you later," he sent back.

   "Joey," my dad hesitantly thought to us.  "You'll need to seriously
consider letting Tim and the twins seed your parents and the rest of your
immediate family."

   "Shit.  Yeah, well, I'll have to think about that one."

   "Well, you probably won't remember to do it after Dad leaves," I pointed
out.  "So don't take too long."

   "I don't have to decide right now, do I?"

   "No," my dad confirmed.  "And you won't forget it entirely until you do
make up your mind.  Now, I need to talk to Tim about some other things. 
Joey, would you mind taking a walk or something to think about it?  I won't
leave until you get back just in case you have any questions."

   When Joey glanced at me, I gave him a shrug, so he got up and said,
"Well, I guess I'll see you in, say, twenty minutes?"

   "That should be plenty of time," my dad said out loud.

   After Joey left, my dad stared at my face a few moments, then said,
"Isn't this the girl you helped a few years ago?  The one that needed
bigger breasts?"

   "Yep," I said, standing up and doing a slow 360.

   "Very nice.  Now let's see the rest of her."

   "Dad!" y "If I remember correctly, those breasts of hers cost me a
quarter of a million dollars.  I think I'm entitled to see the end
results."

   "But dad...  I mean...  Well you're not going to fuck them."

   "I'm certainly not going to with you in there," he snapped back.

   He sighed when he saw how I flinched at his comment, then said,
"Timothy, I need to warn you about Richie."

   "Richie?" I said with more than just a little concern.

   My dad sighed again, then said, "I gave him a copy of the tape of his
first fuck, and he...  <sigh> He somehow found a copy of "Tim's First". 
His tape was called "Richie's First", and you know how smart he is about
names and words..."

   "What are you getting at, dad?"

   "Timothy, Richie loves you very much, and quite frankly he worships the
ground you walk on.  He wants to be just like you, and now that he saw you
and Joey....  Well, he hasn't actually done anything yet.  He seems
confused about it, but he won't talk to us.  I just didn't want you to be
surprised if he suddenly asks you about it, that's all."

   "I see...  Damn.  What do you think I should tell him?  I know he will
ask about it."

   "I don't know, but whatever you do, don't lie about it.  He'll know it
instantly.  Your mother said you were the same way until you started going
to school.  She always thought it was because of your voice, but apparently
not."

   "Hey, maybe that means Richie will be an empath too."

   "Timothy," my dad said very sternly.  "I don't want Richie growing up
thinking its okay for him to fuck boys in the ass.  It just isn't normal."

   "It isn't normal for him to want to fuck his mom, or at his age, a woman
for that matter," I said just as sternly.

   "Look, I already got that speech from Sam.  If it helps any, I'm sorry I
gave him the tape.  But I'm not sorry that I try to give him the things I
had when I was his age.  And Sam and I are both trying to raise him the
same way we were raised, so don't try and blame it all on me."

   "Oh, like mom ever had sex with her father," I said with contempt.

   "No, not with her father."

   My eyes opened wide when that sank in, then I yelled "You're sick, you
know that?"

   "Tim...  I didn't come here to argue over our differences of view in
raising a child...  Fuck.  What I really came here for was to apologize."

   "Apologize?!?" I said, sensing the deep guilty feelings behind his
words.

   I took a hold of my anger and brought it under control as his troubled
feelings grew even stronger, then I said in a calm voice, "About what?"

   "On Richie's birthday, I wasn't thinking straight with all that drink in
me, and..."

   "It's okay dad," I said, touched by how guilty he was feeling, thinking
it was about his queer remark.  "I know you didn't mean it."

   "So...  You..  you knew?" he said, his voice going a bit hoarse.

   "Uh...  Now I'm not sure.  You're not talking about calling me a queer?"

   "A queer?!?  You're not queer!  You're....  I don't know, but you're not
queer!"

   "Yeah, I know that!  But you called me a queer when I...  You know.  And
then you stormed out."

   "Fuck.  I don't remember calling you a queer.  I didn't really mean it,"
he said with frustration.

   "Oh wait," I exclaimed as it dawned on me.  "It's okay dad.  I know you
fucked Suz.  Suzi told me almost right away.  She wanted to do it, and
she's a big girl.  It's no big deal."

   "Fuck, that's a relief," he said truthfully.  "That's been eating away
at me ever since it happened."

   I couldn't help myself.  I gave my old man a hug, and after his surprise
faded, he hugged me in return.

   Curious to see what difference my being in a woman's body would have,
after the hug ended, I altered my position slightly where my arms were
around his neck and I was sitting across his lap with my head leaning
against his right shoulder.  I waited for him to say something as he seemed
uncertain about how he felt about this, and actually found myself kind of
comfy and said so.

   He sighed, put his right arm around my waist to help hold me and said,
"If you weren't my son just as much as Richie is..."

   "Heh..  You'd be fucking me by now."

   "Damn tootin'.  But then again, your mother would kill me."

   "What?  Why?"

   "Because this," he said indicating my crotch, "can do things no other
cunt can do besides your mother's.  You don't really think I married her
just for her brains, did you?"

   If I hadn't known he was joking about that last part, I would have
gotten out of his lap right then and there.

   "Which brings me to the last reason I came," he said, gently squeezing
me.  "You need to come home after our trip and talk things out with your
mother."

   I tensed up when he said that, but I found his gentle caresses on my
lower back strangely relaxing, and ended up just sighing, "Okay..."

   And that's how Joey found us when he got back from his walk.  Both of
Joey's eyebrows shot up in surprise, but I couldn't get even a single one
to rise up when I then promptly stood up and stripped for my dad.

   My dad left to go back to the Conner's after we talked a little more
about who we'd want to seed for their own protection, not to mention ours.
Joey was still not sure if he wanted his parents or sister to be done
despite the assurances my dad made that Kain's twins wouldn't be able to
trigger them without seeding them themselves.

   As our memories started to get fuzzy about what we had been talking
about, Joey and I eventually drifted over to the computer and started
hacking at our code.

   After a couple of hours, I was trying to ignore the constant swooshing
and swirling of the symbolic clusters around my real head as Leanne was
dancing with Suzi at the Rave.  To distract myself, I got up to grab us a
couple of sodas from the fridge, but ended up losing my balance when the
room suddenly spun around me and I fell face down to the floor.

   "What happened?" Joey asked urgently as I rolled onto my side.

   "I can't shut out my symbolic vision..." I tried to explain.  "There's
so many people around them, and when she moves my body, it's like
everything else moves but me.  It just took me off guard a bit.  I'll be
okay."

   Joey helped me up using both hands, but didn't let me go once I was on
my feet.

   "Don't want you to fall again," he stated when I gave him a questioning
look.

   "What's the matter, Joey?" I said, running my right hand up his chest
before punching him in the gut with the left and saying, "Don't think I'm
getting delicate, do you?"

   "Fuck you!" he said with irritation as he let me go.  "If that's the
thanks I get, I'll just go."

   "Oh, come on, Joey!" I pleaded after him.  "That couldn't have possibly
hurt!"

   "That's not the point," he said, pausing at the door.  "I finally have
time at night, every night, to spend with Suzi, and what happens?  She
becomes unavailable.  Well, I thought, that's okay.  That just mean's
you'll be free and we can get this database thing finally working.  But of
course with you being a woman now, that's probably the last thing on your
mind, but I thought I'd hang around anyways just to pass the time.  But not
if you're going to...  Flirt."

   "Flirt?!?" I exclaimed.  "I wasn't flirting.  I was just playing
around."

   He looked me in the eyes and sternly asked, "Are you sure?"

   "Shit!!" I gasped as the world suddenly twirled around me again.  "Damn
it, this is the last time they go dancing at the Rave."

   As I breathed in a breath full of his cologne, I suddenly realized I was
leaning against Joey, and his left arm was wrapped around me to keep me
vertical.  I shifted my weight back to where it belonged, but instead of
moving away from him, I put my head over his shoulder and gave him a gentle
hug while saying, "I'm sorry.  Stay, please?"

   He hesitated a moment before putting his arms around me, saying, "Shit,
Tim.  Maybe I shouldn't stay.  I mean...  This isn't something I was
expecting us to do."

   "What?  Can't I hug my best friend?" I said, relaxing even more as Joey
took me into a tighter hold.

   "Best friend," he snorted.  "Suzi's your _best_ friend.  I'm just your
buddy."

   "Since when?" I said, straightening up and looking him in the face.

   "Since...  I don't know.  Christmas probably.  You spend more time
together than with anyone else, and you two talk about practically
everything.  I'd call that being best friends.  Unless you want to claim
being her boyfriend."

   "I'm not her boyfriend.  You are," I sputtered, alarmed that he could
see it that way and wiggled to try and back away from him.  "If you think
I'm spending too much time with her..."

   "Stop.  Look at me," he said gently while holding me firmly.

   Once I did as he asked, he said, "I feel a lot less guilty about not
being with her when I know she's with you.  And I'm not afraid you'll take
her away from me.  The three of us have never had that kind of
relationship. You couldn't take her away from me any more than I could take
her away from you."

   "But what about...  Us." I asked, then blushed from how lame it sounded.

   Joey made a toothy grin and then said, "I don't know, Timmy.  This being
a woman thing, kind of puts a new spin on things.  Who knows...  You might
just steal me away from Suz."

   "Not likely," I said as I struggled a moment to break away from his
hold.

   When he did release me, I had to grab right back onto him to keep my
balance, then I was disorientated a moment as I instinctively tried to get
my bearings through my symbolic sight and everything seemed to suddenly
twist around me.

   I was breathing harder than normal by the time I got my balance back,
and finding myself wrapped around Joey again didn't exactly calm me down.

   As I struggled to break free again, Joey tightened his grip and said,
"Timmy, don't you trust me?"

   "Trust you?" I asked, giving up a moment and relaxing.  "It's not you
I'm worried about.  It's me I'm not sure I trust."

   "Nothing is going to happen, Timmy," he said gently.  "I won't let it.
Trust me."

   "I do," I sighed, letting myself relax as he guided us over to the couch
to sit down.  "But you keep calling me Timmy."

   He shrugged with a grin and said, "Well, it just fits better than Tim
right now.  You want me to stop?"

   "You can call me that if you want.  You just haven't called me Timmy
this much since Junior High."

   "Well you never stopped calling me Joey," he pointed out.

   We just sat there a moment looking at each other as our grins began to
fade, but seconds later I lost my focus and suddenly couldn't keep my
symbolic vision at bay.  I mistakenly followed my instincts and closed my
eyes as I tried to shut the symbols out again, and for a moment I heard the
loud music playing at the Rave in my ears.

   "Maybe you should just tell them to come back," Joey suggested after I
snapped my eyes back open and tried to force my focus there where it
belonged.

   "Maybe you're right," I sighed.  "I've never had this much trouble with
it before, but then I guess I've always stayed pretty much in the same room
as the person I was doing the swap with."

   "Plus it's been over four hours," Joey pointed out.

   "So?"

   "You've never done it that long before."

   "Sure I have.  Lots of times."

   "When?"

   "When I was down at Southeastern State.  On the weekends, I'd swap
bodies with the girls I was living with and spend all night having lesbian
sex.  And even before that I had almost gone all night doing a three way
swap with Tammy, Holy, and myself.  In my sleep even."

   "Now that you said it, I think I remember you saying something about the
three way one, but you never told about the lesbian one."

   "Well, we weren't exactly on the best of terms when I got back," I
reminded him.  "I don't know what I would have done if Eric hadn't been..."

   "I could never keep the links formed long enough to enjoy it," Joey
interrupted.  "I can't just form them and forget them like you can.  I've
done lots of two ways though.  They're easier, for some reason."

   "Swaps aren't that hard," I assured him.  "It's just a matter of
training yourself to do it.  Sort of like when you get stitches and you
have to learn not to get them wet in the shower.  After a week, you just do
it automatically without thinking of it.  Or like how we keep the share
link up all the time.  You just have to want it bad enough."

   "I guess my problem was I never ran into a group of lesbians that I
wanted to swap bodies with," he said with a sigh.  "There definitely were
days I wanted it bad though."

   "Lesbian sex is cool," I said brightly.  "I mean, without a dick around,
you have to be a little more creative and more attentive.  But it was
always a blast."

   "Was it almost as good as the sex you had with Eric?" Joey asked a bit
uncomfortably.

   "Doesn't even come close to it," I said carefully, sensing there was
more emotion to it than what he wanted to show.

   "He was that good?"

   "The only thing that can compare is what you, me, and Suz had."

   "What about...  When we were at Northwest?"

   "That was different," I said, taking my turn at feeling a little
uncomfortable.  "We shouldn't have gone until after you had recovered more.
Things would have probably turned out differently if we had just waited."

   After a lengthy silence, Joey asked softly, "So you wish it hadn't
happened?"

   I hesitated a few moments, then said, "You mean the dirty sex..."

   "Yeah," he confirmed, avoiding looking into my eyes.

   "Why?"

   "Why what?"

   "Why are you worried about it?"

   "I'm not worried about it.  I just want to know how you feel about it."

   "Look me in the eyes and say that," I dared him.

   At first I thought he was going to change the subject, but then he
looked me in the eyes and said, "I've done a lot of thinking over the past
year about everything that happened to me back then.  When Steven started
having that kind of sex with me, there was this euphoric sense of
corruption about it that was like a drug of its own.  Besides Steven,
you're the only person I've experienced that kind of high with.  I tried it
later with countless girls, but it didn't mean anything because I was
forcing it on them.

   "I love Suzi, and if I spent the rest of my life only having sex with
one person, there's no question it would be her.  But in some ways, that
dirty homosexual sex we had back then was the best sex I've ever had.  I
guess I was just looking to hear you say something similar."

   "Thank God they're finally leaving," I announced as the "noise" of the
symbols around my real head started to diminish.

   "Sorry," I added when I saw my announcement had startled Joey.  "It's
just a relief they..."

   "Its okay," Joey said with a sparkle in his eye.  "Now maybe we can get
back to work on that database?"

   "Yeah, that'll be swell," I said with relief.

   "Swell?" Joey snickered as we both got up to go over to the computer in
the corner of the room.

   "Fucking A!  Is that better?"

   "Huh.  Maybe it would be better to lay off the cuss words."

   "Why?" I asked him as I sat down in front of my almost brand new
Macintosh with its ten inch black and white screen.

   "Because..." he said, resting his chin on my right shoulder and wrapping
his arms around my midways.  "Coming out of that mouth, connected to that
body...  It kind of turns me on."

   He further emphasized his point by nibbling my earlobe, which in turn
produced a pleasurable tingle down below.

   "Joey, if they come back and have sex," I said unsteadily.

   "You want me to stay and distract you?"

   "Um, yeah" I lied, realizing he had only been joking around again.

   Fifteen minutes later, I realized Joey had been right about his ability
to distract me with the work we were doing on the computer.  I was so
involved in working out the exact logic for a few common symbolic terms
that I jumped when Suzi and Leanne walked in my door.

   "Did you have fun?" Joey asked Suzi rhetorically as he stood up and
walked over to give her a peck on top of the head.

   "We had a blast!" Leanne answered for both of them.  "I even flirted
with these two girls who knew you."

   "Yeah?  Who?" I asked.

   "Your two dirty dancing sluts," Suzi said plainly.

   "Oh.  Well that narrows it down," I said sarcastically.

   "One had this cute dimple on her left cheek," Leanne recalled.

   "Amanda," I confirmed.  "And the other one probably wore five ear rings
in one ear, and only one in the other?"

   "I didn't notice," Leanne said.  "She had ice tits though."

   "Spoken like a true male," Suzi snickered.

   "What, I call breasts tits all the time."

   "That's not what I meant," Suzi said, shaking her head and then saying
to Joey and I, "I'm just glad to see you two aren't acting any different. I
half expected to find you two in each others arms."

   "Echm, funny that you mention that," I started, then caught Joey's wide
eyed glare and quickly made up, "I was just saying to Joey I didn't feel
any different."

   "Yeah, same old Timmy and Joey," Joey said.

   "Ya-know," Leanne purred with my voice as she stared at her real body
with growing lust.  "I don't suppose I could talk you into letting me start
out by bonking my own body..."

   "Over your dead body," I said firmly.

   "Which body would that be?" Joey joked.  "Her current one, or her
original one?"

   "Take your pick," I said daringly.

   "Well, why the hell not?" Leanne asked roughly.  "It's my body."

   "Because that wasn't what we agreed on."

   "So?" she insisted.  "You said you've swapped with more than one person
at a time before.  Why couldn't you just swap with Suzi and.."

   "Oh, so my body's not good enough for you?" Suzi pounced, sincerely
insulted.

   "I didn't mean it like that," Leanne said apologetically.  "I just
thought you might like to try my body out."

   "Sounded more like you were the one who wanted to try it out," Suzi
snarled.

   "Oh..." Leanne whined, taking Suzi's hand.  "Don't be like this.  I
really was thinking of you.  Would I lie to my cum sister?"

   "Cum sister?" I repeated as Joey's right eyebrow shot up.

   "If you really mean that," Suzi said while completely ignoring Joey's
and my smirks, "Then you won't ask to have sex with any body other than
this body again."

   "If that's what you want," Leanne said assuringly.  "Then I will do my
very best to pleasure your hot sexy flesh and pound you with my meat, using
every ounce of my manly strength and then some."

   "Hmph..  Truth is in action, not words," Suzi said coldly.

   "In that case," Leanne said, picking her up, and turning to leave.

   "Only if it's okay with Timmy," Suzi said over Leanne's/my shoulder,
hiding her cat like grin from Leanne's eyes.

   "Um, well, I guess if she needs to prove herself to you..."

   "He does," Leanne barked.

   "Then...  Okay."

   "See?  I told you," Suzi said to Leanne, hopping down from Leanne arms.
"Men can be reasonable.  You just have to show it to them in a way they can
understand."

   "That was too easy," Leanne said unconvinced.  "Now, convincing him to
let you swap bodies with mine, that would..  YAA YAA YAAAA!"

   "Don't press your luck," Suzi growled, keeping her fingers clamped
around my family jewels and leading her out by them.

   "Hey!  Go easy on the equipment!" I exclaimed after them.  "It's only a
rental!"

   "Maybe you should have put an extra charge clause in the contract for
rough handling," Joey smirked.

   "Maybe I should have had a contract," I moaned.

   Joey sat back down next to me at the computer as I turned around to face
it, but we just sat there a few moments without doing anything before Joey
glanced at me, and asked, "So, do you feel different?"

   "Only if I think about it," I said bluntly.  "It's not easy to ignore
the softer skin, the weight of my chest, and the empty void where my cock
should be.  You've swapped with Suzi and a few others.  You know what its
like."

   "Yeah, but when I swapped, it was to try all those things out in sex,
not to go about everyday life with them.  I was just a horny guy living out
one of those horny fantasies.  But in all honesty, I wouldn't want to do
what you're doing.  Women are higher maintenance."

   "Higher maintenance," I snickered.  "You sound like you're talking about
cars."

   "Yeah, well, they have a lot in common," he said, putting his hands on
the keyboard.  "You want to work on the left angular branches or the
curved?"

   "Curved," I simply said, accepting it was time to change the subject
again.

   I was used to hearing the clinking sound of Suzi's bed during her sex,
but I was chagrinned by the fact that Joey hadn't.  It wasn't until that
distraction wore off that I started having problems with keeping my
attention focused where it belonged.

   "You're sweating," Joey said after noticing my attention wasn't on the
computer any more.

   "I'm about to fucking orgasm," I said huskily.  "But Suz isn't even
close.  You'd think Leanne would know that."

   "Which kind of orgasm?" Joey asked slowly.  "Male, or female."

   "Don't make me think about it," I groaned while my left hand went
between my thighs to squeeze some of the juices out of my cunt.

   "What do want me to do?"

   "What, besides ripping off my clothes and ravaging me?" I laughed
nervously.  "Shit, this wasn't supposed to be this hard."

   "What's hard?"

   "My cock, my nipples, you name it."

   "That's not what I meant, and you know it."

   "Fuck it, Joey.  I'm fucking having sex with Suzi, but yet I'm not. 
It's like I'm partly there.  Like a dream I'm stuck in where I can't wake
up all the way.  That's it!  It's like I'm dream-walking, only in reverse."

   When I suddenly stood up and sprang over my chair, Joey nearly fell off
his chair from surprise.

   "Where are you going?"

   "To fuck myself with a vibrator!"

   "Oh."

   "Oh fuck!"

   "What now?"

   "I forgot the fucking batteries."

   "Don't you have something else?"

   "It was just for ...  Oh my GOD!"

   "What!" Joey exclaimed, then moments later poked his head into the
bedroom.

   "Here, catch!" I exclaimed with excitement, slowly loading the sleek
silver vibrator back into my slick cunt.

   With a grunt, I launched the silver projectile straight at him, nearly
hitting him in the gut if his hands hadn't blocked it.

   "Come on, come on," I said impatiently as Joey fumbled with the
slickened object.

   "Shit.  You could really hurt someone with that," he said, finally
picking it up and holding it out to me.

   "Load me," I said playfully.

   Joey hesitated, then said, "All right.  But just this once."

   "Come on, PUSH," I urged him, tickled beyond any further words as he
struggled to find the gap with the pointy end.  Of course, I doubt anything
larger than a pencil would have fit while I was purposely compressing it to
its smallest diameter.

   "Very funny.  I'm going back to the computer."

   "Wait!"

   "What?"

   I wiggled the tip in myself, then with well practiced vaginal muscle
motions, I smoothly sucked the vibrating silver pleasure probe into my
juicy hole without any further use of my hands.

   "See how easy it goes in?"

   "You fucker," he said, "Keep that up, and you'll be doing that to the
real thing."

   In the state I was in, that sounded quite wonderful.

   After bringing myself to an orgasm fairly quickly, I sighed and gave up
on ignoring the symbolic sight and just closed my eyes and watched my body
fuck Suzi's front door.

   Leanne had already cum once at that point, and I was glad to see she was
now focusing herself on pleasuring Suzi rather than getting herself off
again.  And pleasure Suzi she did.  Leanne yet again proved that when she
put her mind to something, she performed better than anyone could expect.

   Three wonderful orgasms later, I opened my eyes to focus myself away
from Leanne cuddling lovingly with Suzi.  Feeling the clear-headed bliss of
having purged myself of my sexual needs, I didn't even think about cleaning
the vibrator off with my mouth when I pulled it from my cunt and got up to
shower.

   But then I noticed how frustrated Joey was, finding him having a slight
case of blue balls from listening earlier to the moans and groans coming
from both above and from my bedroom.  I hesitantly walked over to him, my
nose recognizing the odor of a cock in the air, and from the sweat on his
neck and face I realized he had been jerking off but had stopped before
having climaxed.

   "Hey," I said while wrapping my arms around his neck lovingly and gently
hugging him from behind.  "Why don't we jump in the shower and I'll give
you a hand job?"

   "Tim, I really don't think that's a good idea," he said while tensing
up.

   "I trusted you, now you trust me," I said firmly.  "I'm not the least
bit horny any more, but I know you are.  Come on.  It's been a long time
since I've jerked off my best buddy, and from the looks of things, you
could really use it right now."

   Joey sighed, then said, "Yeah, but if we do this tonight, then we'll
want to do something else tomorrow night, but the difference being we'll
both be horny.  Tim, I don't want to risk it."

   "You know what?" I sighed as his loyalty made my heart swell.  "I love
you.  I almost wish I really _was_ a woman just so we could be lovers all
the time.  You're right, of course.  If we do something tonight, we'll
probably do something tomorrow.  But Joey?"

   When he finally looked at me, I said while looking in his eyes, "I trust
us.  Whatever we end up doing, it won't be because we lost control.  And no
matter what happens, I won't regret it.  Just like I don't regret any of
the sex we've had in the past.  Okay?"

   After the full meaning of that sunk in, Joey blinked his tears out of
his eyes and softly said, "Yeah.  And I love you too."

   We kissed gently, and despite myself I couldn't help feel a tingle
between my legs.

   So when we broke our lips apart, I blushed and said, "Well, I guess we
are feeling a little different, huh?"

   "You maybe, but I'm not," he said with bright eyes.

   I smiled at him, then I took his hand, tugged it to get him to stand up,
then led the way to the shower.

   I got the shower going as he stripped, then we got in together and each
took a turn getting wet under the shower head before I turned my attention
to Joey's hard cock.

   "Fuck, Timmy," he said, stroking it a few times.  "You better get
started or I'm not going to be able to keep my hands off of you."

   "All right," I said, resisting letting the tingles I was feeling between
my legs cloud my mind.  "I guess I'll stand behind you and do it."

   "Yeah, that's a good idea," Joey said, tearing his eyes away from my
breasts.  "And you don't have a dick to tease me with."

   As I leaned up against his backside and reached around to take a hold of
his staff, Joey suddenly shivered, then cussed, "Fuck.  But your tits are
going to drive me nuts."

   My nipples hardened the moment I realized they were pressed against his
muscular back, and between that and the tingles exploding in my cunt, I
knew this wasn't going to work without making me as horny as he was.

   "Close your eyes," I said as I stepped away from him.

   "What are you going to do?" he asked as I guided him to back up against
the wall.

   I got down on my knees and simply said, "Blow you hard and fast."

   "Timmy," he said nervously.

   "Shut up.  When I'm done, we wash, then we go back to the computer with
clear heads."

   "But..."

   I cut him off by plunging his cock into my mouth, then after a moment
getting used to his size, I swallowed him whole.

   Five more swallows and a little humming, he blew, then just as I said,
we washed, then went back out and worked at the computer for a couple more
hours without any further distractions.

   The next morning, I awoke startled to find Suzi stirring on top of me as
my morning hardon pressed up longingly against her pussy lips.  After a few
moments of confusion, I recognized the fact that we were in Suzi's bed and
came to the conclusion that the links had broke.  So I immediately started
reforming them, but only got halfway before I felt a twitch of pain inside
my head.

   "Fuck," I said, canceling the links.

   "MMmmm yes..." Suzi sighed as she raised her hips to mount my eager
cock.

   "Down boy," I gasped as my cock's head slipped between her damp pussy
lips.

   Suzi gave a grunt of displeasure, then with a frown on her face she
opened her eyes and looked up at me.

   "Hi," I said apologetically.

   "Timmy?" she half groaned, half asked.

   "Yeah.  Sorry.  Links broke, then head hurt," I simply said as my little
buddy reversed its deflation from his head still being between her pussy
lips.

   "Does this mean we can't..."

   "Um, Suz?" I shivered, finding my cock sliding up inside her all by
itself.

   Suzi wickedly pushed her crotch down even more to get me fully inside
her, then with a few squeezes of the vaginal muscles she asked, "What's the
matter, Timmy?  You don't like girls anymore now that you've been one?"

   "Oh fuck, Suz," I gasped in pleasure as she began humping me slowly.

   "I know you were here with us last night," she said with a teasing tone.
"So don't tell me how wrong this is when I know you were fucking me as much
as Leanne was."

   "Down boy," I grunted with effort.  "And stay down."

   Suzi gave out a dissatisfied huff, then said, "Happy?"

   "No." I said, rolling us over, then rolling myself off her and swung my
legs over the side of the bed.

   "Timmy..." Suzi called, a touch of an apology in her tone.  "I know you
gave Joey a blow job last night.  You're not being fair."

   "Fair?" I cried, suddenly feeling emotional.  "Oh fuck it.  I don't
care."

   I stood up and started walking towards the door to take a shower, but
suddenly found myself dizzy and paused to lean up against the door frame.

   "Timmy, what's wrong?"

   "Dizzy.  And my head feels a little tender.  I think between me and
Leanne, we overdid it last night."

   There was a sudden screech from below us, and as we heard Joey exclaim,
"What?!" I announced, "Well, Leanne and Joey are awake."

   "Go downstairs, take a shower, and get dressed," Suzi said gently as she
gave me a hug.  "Then come back up and eat.  I'll keep Leanne under control
until you work out what you want to do."

   "Okay," I sighed, hugging her back.  "But if this happens again,
don't.."

   "I know.  I'm sorry.  I won't.  It's just hard not to feel we didn't
have sex last night."

   "I know exactly what you mean," I said, kissing her forehead as we let
each other go.

   "...  your cock against my ass!" Leanne spat as I entered my apartment
and she stormed out of my bedroom wearing a t-shirt and a pair of my
shorts.

   "What the hell happened?" Leanne asked, her tone losing her anger.  "I
thought you said you've gone through the night before?"

   "Tim, you all right?" Joey asked, stepping out of the bedroom as he
fastened his shorts.

   "It's a little tender up in here," I said, tapping my skull.  "But I
think I'll be okay after I eat and get some sugar in me."

   "If you ask me, you've had a little too much sugar in the past," Leanne
said with a touch of humor while patting my admittedly not as flat as I
liked tummy.

   "Without sugar, you can kiss this," I said grabbing my crotch,
"goodbye."

   "Oh," she said.  "Well then, I guess I'll just go back upstairs and get
you something sweet for breakfast."

   "Yeah, that would be a good idea," I said seriously.

   I went into my bathroom and started the shower, then turned around and
nearly bumped into Joey.

   "You want me to go help her?" he asked while his eyes told me he'd
rather not.

   "I guess not.  It's the least she could do, considering," I said,
looking down to keep myself from getting pulled into the tender look in his
eyes.

   "Tim...  I know this probably isn't the right time, but..."

   "But," I prompted him, as I turned around to check to see if the shower
was warm enough to get in.

   As I stepped in the shower, I heard Joey unsnap his shorts, and I bit
down on my lip as I heard them fall to the floor.

   "Hey," he said when I moved away as he stepped in as well.  "I though we
trusted each other."

   "We do," I admitted.  "I'm just not into starting anything right now."

   "Oh."

   I took the soap and started lathering up my cloth, then caught a glance
of Joey's semi hardon and found my own hardon perking its head up.

   "I thought I told you to stay down," I scolded it softly, only partially
wishing I hadn't canceled that command after getting out of Suzi's bed.

   "Tim..."

   I looked at Joey, ignoring how his full hardon was only making mine
quicken its pace to match his, and said, "Yeah?"

   He cleared his throat and said, "After everything I've been through...
the brainwashing, the wipe, the hate, the slave girls, all of that...  the
one thing I never lost was wanting to suck you off.  Even when I was Joseph
and was raping you and Suzi, I still had this desire to suck your cock. 
It's weird.  I know you took those commands out of my head a long time ago,
and shit, Tim.  You would have thought the wipe would have gotten rid of
the effects.

   "Anyway, I guess I'm standing here, in the shower, with you, wanting to
know if you'd let me return the favor from last night."

   "What did Suzi say when you asked her?" I asked cautiously.

   "I haven't asked her," he said, somewhat amazed at himself.

   "Are you going to?"

   "Apparently I don't need too since you obviously don't want me to," he
said stiffly.

   "Joey, you know where this might lead..."

   "That's not what you said last night.  Look Tim.  I can't handle this.
If you swap with Leanne again, I'm going home, and I'm not going hang
around with you until you're finished playing Timmy-ete.  You can't expect
me and Suz to have two sets of feelings for you, one for when you're in
your own body, and one when you're in somebody else's."

   Joey got out of the shower at that point, and as he dried himself off, I
just stood there not moving as my feelings and desires battled to come to
some kind of compromise.

   After Joey went upstairs, I slowly finished my shower, finding myself
split three ways.  I wanted to swap with Leanne again, I wanted to keep
working on the database with Joey, I wanted to keep things nonsexual
between me and Joey and Suzi.

   And I wanted very badly to show Joey how much his loyalty and love meant
to me, and that I trusted him more than ever.  Okay, so that's four things,
nearly five, but whenever I added that on to my list, it ganged up with
first two and beat the shit out of the third, but the third I really didn't
want to ever touch, let alone smack with my emotional fists.

   By the time I joined the others in Suzi's apartment, I was completely at
edge with myself for wanting to tell Joey to suck me off at the table, and
so naturally I wasn't prepared at all for the first question I was asked
when I sat down.

   "Have you figured out how to restore the swap without it hurting you?"
Suzi asked.

   "No."

   "No?" Leanne said from the kitchen, her voice extremely disappointed. 
"Nothing at all?"

   "I really haven't given it any thought," I admitted, finding the smell
of the pancakes and sausage in front of me suddenly very appealing. 
"Where's the syrup?"

   "Here," Leanne said, sprinkling powered sugar over my stack of pancakes,
then setting the bottle of syrup down in front of me.

   I started scarfing it down, finding myself very hungry despite the
discomfort of the decision I needed to make.

   After nearly emptying my plate without taking a single sip of my milk, I
took a big gulp then nearly choked on it when it was sickly sweet.

   "You put sugar in my milk?" I gasped.

   "Honey, actually," Leanne said.  "Come on, come on...  You need your
sugar, remember?"

   "No thanks," I said, finding myself suddenly feeling full, but still
rather thirsty, and got up to get some unsweetened milk.

   "We have classes today, Timmy," Suzi reminded me when she noticed me
standing in the kitchen, holding my half empty glass near my mouth but lost
deep in thought.

   "Hmmm?  Oh yeah.." I acknowledged.

   "Okay, what's going on?" Suzi asked after a few minutes.  "Joey, what
did you do?"

   "What makes you think I did anything?" Joey said crankily.

   "Because Timmy is occupied with something other than the swap, and
you're not trying to drag it out of him."

   "I gave him a blow job last night, and now he wants to do the same for
me," I explained, without emotion.  "When I didn't want him to...  Joey,
I'm sorry.  You're right.  I'm trying to play by different rules when I'm
not in my own body.  I'll let you blow me if I can blow you too."

   "Hmph.  Hmph.  HMPH," Suzi huffed in objection.  "Oh that's just great.
You two can do that, but I'm not allowed?"

   I groaned, then said, "Alright, fine.  Just...  Just forget the whole
thing!" I said, moving towards the door.

   "Oh no you don't," Leanne said, stepping in my way and blocking my path.
"Don't you think it's just as hard on them as it is on you?  You're being
selfish and..."

   I walked around the frozen statue, expecting Suzi or Joey to try and
stop me, or call me back, or something.  But when they hadn't said a word
by the time I reached the door, I paused and looked back at them.

   I looked down after feeling how accurate Leanne had been, then sighed
and said, "I told you...  I told you this would happen.  I've gotten too
close, and now I'm trying to step back, but I can't without hurting both of
you."

   "So what are you going to do?" Joey asked with an edge to his voice. 
"Pull a Jennifer and run away?  Put Suzi and I through the same damn hell
you went through?  What you're going through?  What we already went through
last fall?

   "Because if you do," he choked, then didn't finish.

   "Then what do I do?" I asked them, turning around and looking back and
forth between their emotional eyes.  "Tell me what do I do that doesn't
make me hate myself for the rest of my life?"

   "Timmy, you're not being fair again!" Suzi said emotionally as she
stomped her foot.  "You say want to stay celebrate, but then you let your
mind wander at night and experience sex in your dreams that's as real to
you as if you were doing it yourself.  You draw this line that we can't
cross, but you can cross it whenever you...  What?!?"

   "A line," I said shakily.  "You're right!  I drew a line!"

   "What the fuck are you talking about?" Joey exclaimed.

   "Remember a couple of years ago I said I was a new me and then we went
and played fairy god fucker to that overweight chick?  It was after Penny
lured us into a trap by grabbing Suzi and using her as bait, but before
Steven grabbed us and brainwashed you two.  Well, I swore I wouldn't draw
any more lines in the dirt, and if I did, I'd cross them the moment I saw
they were there."

   "Timmy...  What I said.  It was only figure of speech," Suzi pointed
out.

   "Maybe, but...  But you're still right about it.  Damn it.  Why didn't I
see this before?  Every time I do draw a line, or decide I can never do
something, I just end up making myself miserable while the pressure builds
up and I eventually do it anyway.  Most of the time, whatever it is just
goes away and I don't do it again because it really isn't something I want
to do.

   "Shit, Suzi.  You did it again," I said, stepping up to her and kissing
her with all of my might.

   "Hey!" Joey complained.  "Don't I get some of the credit here too?"

   I broke the kiss with a grin on my face, then as Suzi and I panted in
each others face, I slipped my hands down and slid my shorts off saying,
"Would this do?"

   "Fuck," Joey groaned while rolling his eyes.  But then he looked my
hardening cock with a look of interest as he said, "What about Leanne?"

   "Oh yeah," I said as I remote controlled her body over to the couch and
laid it down.  "There."

   "That's not what I meant," Joey said, looking at Suzi questioningly.

   "Oh, all right," Suzi sighed.  "But go downstairs and do it.  I don't
want to watch."

   "You know Joey?" I said as he got on his knees in front of me in my
living room.  "I never thought I'd see the day that Suzi wouldn't want to
watch."

   "Heh.  No shit."

  
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+

   Tim, the Teenage MC By Rass Senip Chapter XXII: Summer 90 Part 4 -
Higher maintenance (body swapping, mf, incest)
---------------------------------------

   "Sorry I'm late," Joey panted as he came into my apartment that evening
around seven.  "Took us longer to finish the calculus homework."

   "No problem," I said.  "I think I got most of the symbols used in
primary motor functions entered in, but I can't get the thing to combine
them into streams."

   "Did you try resorting them first?" Joey asked, peering over my left
shoulder.

   "Several times," I said, smiling as he took a deeper breath from
smelling the bathing powder I had put on earlier.

   "Well, let me have the captain's chair so I can try," Joey said,
ignoring my grin.

   I stood up, then once he sat down, I walked behind him and started
giving his shoulders a rubbing.

   "Tim, are you trying to distract me from this?" Joey said after minute.

   "No, not really," I admitted.  "But it's nice to know I can."

   "Come on," he said, pulling the other chair closer beside him and
patting its seat.

   I had reformed the swap links around lunch time without any warning
pings from my brain, and had spent the rest of the day working on entering
more symbols into the database whenever I wasn't listening in to one of my
classes.  Well, that's what I officially accomplished, but I also had been
experimenting with my new body and had taught myself how to control
hardening my two hyperactive nipples individually without the use of my
telepathy.

   So as I sat there with my mind focused on Suzi's nervous system while
she, Leanne, Jason, and a couple others were out bowling, I absent mindedly
toggled one nipple to go hard, then the other, back and forth, trying to
see how fast I could do it.

   "Shit, Timmy," Joey suddenly exclaimed when he glanced at my t-shirt
covered chest.  "What are you doing to those things?"

   "Push-ups?" I grinned wickedly.  "Up, down, up, down, up, down."

   "Well stop it.  You're making me horny."

   "Tell me about it," I groaned.  "If Suzi doesn't stop stroking Leanne's
ass every time she gets up to bowl..."

   "Hey.  You're here with me, remember?"

   "I know it, but I was starting to get a headache so I've cut a few links
on my side to lighten the load."

   "I don't understand why the share link isn't helping," Joey said with
frustration.  "It's always helped before."

   "Yeah, well, we've never had three people fully linked at the same time
either.  Shit, I hate to say it, but I'm getting tired of this.  Being in
two places at once, worrying about every little ache in my head whether
it's real or imaginary.  Woops."

   "What?"

   "I think I just wet my pants."

   "What?  Which pants?  Male or female?"

   "Male.  Yep.  Oh shit.  Hey..." I chucked.  "Leanne thinks she did it."

   That got a good laugh out of Joey, and as I was telling him how Leanne
was trying to cover up the wet spot on the shorts, I felt a stabbing pain
in the middle of my brain right as Leanne was walking up to take her next
turn.

   "Ow!  OW!" I exclaimed, dropping the bowling ball back into its corral
and clutching my head.

   "Timmy?" Suzi cried with concern as she rushed up beside me.

   "Sorry Suz.  Game's over," I said, batting away the tears of pain from
eyes.

   I took a deep breath and forced more blood into my head, then when that
helped a bit, I said.  "I guess its time to try some drink."

   "But what about the horniness?" Joey thought to me.

   "I guess I'll just," I began thinking back to him before feeling another
stab of pain.

   "ARGH!  Okay, Suz.  Stick a fork in me, because I am done for the
night!"

   "Here," Suzi said, handing me a soft drink.  "Drink this."

   "Shit, Suz," I exclaimed as I realized how full my stomach was from
drinking soda.  "I feel bloated.  No wonder I wet my pants."

   "You wet your pants?" Jason said with a snicker.

   "Do you want to wet yours?" Suzi snarled.

   "No ma'am," Jason sang humorously.

   "You sure are chipper," I said to Jason a few minutes later as we left
the ally.

   "I went home and saw the twins yesterday," he said with a goofy smile.

   "I told you you'd feel better."

   "You're right.  You did," he exclaimed good-naturedly before he kissed
me on the lips, joking.

   "Shit, if I didn't know better, I'd swear you were drunk or something."

   "Or something," he said before reaching over to Suzi and tickling her
left side.

   "JASon!" Suzi cried before taking control of his body from him and
making him walk stiffly beside us.

   "Awe come on, Suz," I said warmly.  "He's just feeling good."

   "Well let him feel good somewhere else," she grouchily said while she
canceled the control links.

   "Yes, mistress grumpy," Jason hissed teasingly.

   "I think I liked him better when he was miserable," Suzi said as Jason
ran up to Molly Brinson, picked her up, put her over his shoulder, and then
raced out of the building with her.

   "Heh, like I don't know you're enjoying it almost as much as he is."

   "Doesn't your empathy ever make your head hurt too?" she asked
exasperatedly.

   "Nope."

   Suzi drove the four of us back to campus, and I couldn't help but enjoy
Jason's overwhelming high spirits despite the now low throb in my head. 
Molly was constantly giggling from his little silly comments, and I swear
if Suzi hadn't been there, I probably would have been giggling as well.

   By the time we reached the campus, however, the giggles from the back
were due from what he was doing as much as saying, and it wasn't a surprise
that when we dropped them off at his apartment building, Molly followed him
up the steps giggling with her hands in his back pockets.

   After she pulled into her parking space in front of our building, Suzi
shut the engine off, then sighed and didn't move to get out.

   "I'm sorry this isn't working out the way we hoped," I said, reaching
over and squeezing her hand.

   Her response was to unbuckle her seatbelt and snuggle up to me.

   "Heh.  It's been a while since we've gone parking," I said once she got
comfortable.

   She gave me a squeeze, then said gently, "Timmy, if this swap thing is
going to hurt you, then I don't want you doing it any more."

   "I want to give it one more try with the drink, okay?  I was thinking
maybe a couple of teaspoons every couple of hours might do it.  It
shouldn't make me too horny, but it still should be enough sugar to keep
the links going safely."

   "Alright, but Joey told me you were cutting pieces out of the link
earlier because it was getting uncomfortable.  Promise me you'll just kill
the swap altogether at the first sign of discomfort."

   "Okay, Suz," I said, giving her a squeeze.  "I promise."

   "Good.  Now how about a kiss?"

   I smiled, then gave it to her.

   "I saw that," Joey said with a smirk when we finally walked in.

   "Jealous?" Suzi asked before looping her arms around his neck and
pulling herself up to his lips.

   "Always," he said with a goofy grin when they broke their lips' suction.

   "Tim, why are my nipples sore?" Leanne asked, walking out of my bedroom
without her t-shirt on.

   "I was um..."

   "They were doing push-ups," Joey offered.

   "Actually, yeah.  They were."

   "Whatever," Leanne said as she fondled them in front of us.

   I tore my eyes away from the stimulating sight, then made an "Echm," to
steal Joey's attention from it as well.

   "Yeah?" Joey said with humor in his eyes.

   "Could you drag one of the five gallon containers of drink out of the
basement and put it in Suzi's kitchen?"

   "Resorting to that already?"

   "Well, I don't think we have any other choice except cutting Suzi out of
the share link."

   "That wouldn't be a good idea.  We need her in case of an attack."

   "I know.  So could you?"

   "Aye-aye, captain," he said with a sloppy salute before turning and
heading upstairs to fetch the keys to Suzi's storage cage in the basement.

   Suzi came out of the bathroom at that point, reminding me how badly I
needed to go myself, and how I really needed to change my shorts.  I ended
up taking a shower after realizing how wet my shorts actually were.

   "Here," Suzi said handing me a full glass of the sex drink as I was
about to get out of the shower.

   "That's a lot more than a couple of teaspoons," I complained before
taking a sip.

   "Tough," Suzi said as she climbed in with me.  "It's time for you and I
to cross that line of yours while your brain recharges, and then once
you're feeling up to it, you can do the swap."

   I sighed, seeing I really didn't have much choice, and simply said,
"Bottoms up," before downing the super sweet bubble gum smelling sex drink.

   "You know, I wish Eric could be here," Suzi sighed as she stroked my
growing hard on.

   "What's the matter?  Joey and I not enough for you?"

   "More than enough," she said giving my cock a nearly painful squeeze. 
"I just miss him."

   "You're not the only one," I said with emotion.

   "Okay, time to change the subject," Suzi said quickly when she realized
I was going soft on her.

   "Suz, I don't want to do this.  At least, I don't want to do this right
now."

   "I think it's a little late now," she said seriously.  "You already have
it in your system."

   "Well then let Leanne work it out of my system," I said, gritting my
teeth and forming the links before she could object.

   I was startled to find myself lying on my bed with my vibrator going in
my cunt and my nipples still tingling from what my hands had apparently
been doing to them before the swap.

   Seeing this was actually what I had in mind doing in the first place, I
simply went back to where Leanne apparently had left off.  I spent the next
hour and a half in a state of high arousal until Leanne finally expelled
enough of the drink out through my cock to end the sexual heat I was
feeling and allow me to fall asleep.

   The next three days became somewhat of a routine.  I'd wake up beside
Joey, get up, get dressed, make breakfast, then spend a half an hour
resisting the effects of the fuck juice Leanne had taken that morning while
Joey ate his breakfast and then left to go to class.  As soon as he was out
the door, I would strip and fling my hot naked female body onto the bed and
inserted my two vibrating dildos into their holes and fuck myself for a
while.

   Once that was out of my system, I would sit down at the computer and
work until my first class.  At lunchtime I basically repeat the whole
process, minus the waiting part since Joey wasn't around at lunch.  I would
reconnect myself to my senses during each of my classes, but didn't need to
take any control over my limbs since taking notes was the least Leanne
could do.

   The evenings were harder, mainly because not only was Joey there, but
Leanne and Suzi would have sex off and on which always made me want to run
into my bedroom for another fucking from vibrating plastic cocks or the
slick silver one I had used the first night.

   Wednesday was the absolute worst.  Joey went to weight room after he
finished his classes, and came in still sweaty and smelly from his workout
just before it was time for the eight o'clock dose of fuck juice.  I spent
two hours fucking myself with his odor and his sweaty body stuck in my
mind, and I nearly shit when he poked his head in the bedroom asking me if
I was calling his name.

   But after the hell Wednesday night, I was quite proud of myself when I
actually resisted the fuck juice's call the next evening, and didn't even
flirt with Joey the whole night.

   Friday followed the same pattern until the eight o'clock evening dose
started kicking in while Leanne decided it was time to try Suzi's ass.

   I was pulling every trick I could think of to keep my mind centered on
the first set of serious tests of our software.  My nipples were going
nearly twenty pumps a minute, my legs stayed tightly closed together, Joey
constantly bombarded me with questions about the symbols trying to get the
software working right, and finally, after the third orgasm shook through
my body, I couldn't stand it any more and started frigging my twat right
there in front of the computer.

   "Shit, Tim.  Fuck.  I guess we're not going to get any more work done
tonight."

   "Fuck, Damn, Fucken Shit!  I wish I could fucken turn off my sight just
for a night!"

   "Yeah, well I wish I could _have_ your sight for one night," Joey
sighed.

   "YEAH!" I exclaimed before closing my eyes and focusing all my energy
into somehow pushing the sight through the share link.

   As another orgasm started ascending to its brink, I pushed, pulled,
yanked, and finally just screamed at it as the orgasm broke out, then with
what sounded like a pop inside my head, I found myself panting beside Joey
with only the five normal senses I used to have.

   "Holy Shit, Joey.  I think I did it!"

   "What?  Did what?"

   "I..  I..  Oh shit.  I think I really did it.  Oh fuck.  I'm mute."

   "What?!" Joey exclaimed with alarm.

   "Wait a minute," I said as I struggled to make a connection with his
mind.  "Um, I can't quite form a connection, but I definitely feel your
shield.  I must have shunted more than just my vision through the share
link."

   "What do you mean, through the share link?"

   "I tried to shove my symbolic vision through the share link to you," I
said somewhat bashfully.

   "I don't feel anything different," Joey said after a few moments.

   "Well maybe Suz..  Shit.  Hey, ask Suzi.  I can't make a connection to
her either.

   After confirming she didn't sense anything different, Joey said "I don't
like this, Timmy.  Maybe I should break the share link temporarily."

   "Not yet," I pleaded.  "Oh man, this is so cool." I said standing up and
twirling around with my arms out.  "For the first time since I've gotten my
symbolic vision, I actually feel like I'm really a woman."

   When I stopped my spinning around, I was a little dizzy and said so. 
Joey automatically stood up in case I wobbled too much and fell, so I
wobbled towards him and let him catch me in his arms.

   "Hi," I said, finding myself slightly breathless as I gazed up into his
amused face.

   "Hey, pretty lady," he said with a grin.  "Care to dance?"

   "Eww..  Yeah.  Let's dance," I cooed.

   "Heh.  I was only kidding."

   "I'm not," I said, popping away from his grasp and hitting the power
button on the stereo.

   It being Friday night, a couple of the stations had dance mixes on, and
after seven or eight faster beat songs, I shivered in delight when a slow
song came on.

   I had never danced with Joey like that before.  He was taller than I
was, so it wasn't hard to let my head rest on his shoulder and let him led
us, feeling what I imagined Jennifer must have felt when dancing with me.

   When the song ended, I had tears in my eyes, and after sniffing a few
times, I finally looked up at his face and saw all the love and tenderness
I had ever felt from anyone staring down at me in his pretty bluish grey
eyes.

   I kissed him lovingly, then found his arms pulling me tight against him
as he returned the kisses with as much tenderness and love as I had felt in
his eyes.  We only kissed for maybe three or four minutes, then after a
long hug, we went back to the computer and worked for a while.

   Shortly after midnight, after being stuck on the same problem for the
past hour and a half, I began feeling the return of the effects of the fuck
juice, and immediately had Joey query Suzi about it.

   I was outraged when she admitted they had both taken a small glass just
to give them some more energy, and I ended up going upstairs and describing
to them in detail the hell I was about to go through before rushing back
downstairs, admittedly excited, to try my dildos out without the
distractions of my symbolic sight.

   I was just coming down from my second orgasm when Joey poked his head in
nervously asking, "You're not really calling out my name, are you?"

   "Fuck!  I guess I am!" I groaned as I rolled my head back and lifted my
butt off the bed, allowing me to pump the vibrator in my ass in and out
like its sister in my cunt without the use of my hands.

   When I felt Joey's hand touch the vibrator in my cunt, a bolt of sexual
pleasure flashed through my body for a split second.  As he worked both of
them in and out of my spasming holes, I let go of all of my inhibitions and
started moaning his name as loud and as long as I cared to, feeling the
king daddy of all orgasms building up inside my woman's loins.

   Then suddenly he sobbed and left me there, but I was too far gone to
stop before finishing what he started, and no more than a minute later I
lurched my body into the air as the vibrator in my cunt shot out the
bedroom door and clanged noisily somewhere on the kitchen floor a few times
before hitting the far wall of my apartment.

   When I regained my senses, I recognized the sounds of my shower running,
and recalled Joey's strange emotional sob before he had left.

   I found him in the shower still in his shorts, leaning forward against
the wall as the water ran down his back.

   "Joey, what's wrong?" I asked as I opened the shower door intending to
come in, but hesitated when I realized he only had the cold water running.

   He didn't answer me, but didn't stop me from warming the water up or me
getting in.

   "Hey.  Did I do something?" I asked gently, hugging him from behind.

   "Tim...  Did you and Eric..."

   When he didn't continue, I asked, "Are you jealous of what Eric and I
did together?"

   "No, not exactly," he said before turning around and looking me in the
eyes.  "All right, maybe I am.  But I shouldn't be, and I know it."

   "What were going to ask me?" I asked gently once the empathic connection
his eyes had asked for had done its thing.

   He let out a short chuckle before saying, "I wanted to know if you and
Eric had ever had lesbian sex together."

   I felt a knot form in my throat as I recalled the day prior to Eric's
and my departure from Southeastern State.

   "Lisa and Nickie, two of the lesbians we were living with, offered to
swap bodies with Eric and I the day before we came home.  It was a sort of
a going away present while also serving as a distraction to Eric to get his
mind off of James leaving us.  He did it, but only because I wanted him to.
After only about fifteen minutes, he lost interest in the girl to girl sex
and had me cancel the swap I had with Nickie so I could fuck his front door
while Lisa fucked his back door.  We never tried it again.  He just wasn't
interested if it didn't have a cock involved."

   "Do you think we could..."

   "What?  Have lesbian sex?" I chucked.

   "Not tonight.  Just...  Some day?"

   "Yes.  Some day.  But Joey?" I said with all the love I felt for him,
"Would you like to make heterosexual love to me?  Now?"

   "What?" he gasped.  "But what about..."

   "All of the times I've swapped with women, I've never felt this fully
swapped before.  I can't explain it, but I feel like I truly am a woman. 
And, as a woman, I can't think of anyone else I would rather make love to
than you."

   "Timmy, are you sure you're not letting the drink affect your judgment?"
he asked with fresh tears in his eyes.

   "Yes, I'm sure.  I have better control over myself than to make this
kind of decision while I wasn't clear headed.  Of course, if you don't want
too, that's different."

   "Don't want too?" Joey exclaimed before pushing his drenched shorts down
and letting them fall heavily to his feet as his cock sprang up ready to
go.

   But then he suddenly tore his eyes away from mine, reached down and
pulled them back up saying, "But I can't.  I can't betray your true wishes
like that."

   "But Joey, these are my..."

   "No, they're not," he said firmly, turning away and shutting off the
water.  "You're letting yourself get swept away with what you're
experiencing in that body.  But when this is all over and you're Tim again,
you'll be right back to not wanting anything sexual between us.  But the
worse part will be you won't trust _us_ anymore.

   "Get out, please?" he asked softly, keeping his back to me.  "I need to
wring my shorts out before I do, and it would be a lot easier without those
tits staring me in the face."

   So I did what he asked, and after drying myself off, I went back to the
bedroom, put on a fresh t-shirt and pair of shorts on, then sat down on my
bed and waited.

   "I think I better go home to sleep," Joey said once he finally came out
of the bathroom.

   "No," I said firmly, having made up my mind.  "Suzi was right about me
having drawn a line that I could cross, but not you two.  My dream-walks
are as real as if I was doing it with my own body, and by allowing the
dream-walks to continue like I have, I have already broken my pledge to
myself about not having sex."

   "Then what about love?" Joey pointed out.  "That's what you said was
keeping you from coming with us last fall."

   "Joey, I already love you and Suzi as much as I ever have in the past.
Especially you.  Over the past week I've realized how deep your loyalty to
me really is.  And that just makes me trust and love you even more.  Please
don't go.  We don't have to have sex.  Just hold me and let me fall asleep
in your arms."

   "Tim...  I swear, if there is any doubt in your mind, you better say it
now before it's too late."

   If he had called me Timmy, or hadn't looked me in the eyes with such
conviction, I probably wouldn't have hesitated long enough for a doubt to
form, but he had, and so I did.

   "It's Jennifer, isn't it," Joey said sternly when I broke my eyes away
from his.

   "Yes.  I guess so."

   "Look, Tim.  She deceived you, she altered your perspective, and then
when I made you see the truth, she ran away rather than face the
consequences.  She doesn't deserve your loyalty.  You didn't do anything to
deserve what she did to you, so stop making yourself feel guilty.  You keep
hoping that she'll change her mind if she sees you've stayed faithful to
her when she was the one who wasn't faithful to you."

   "Everything you said is true, except the most important part," I said
with emotion and a few tears.

   "And what's that?" Joey asked gently from the door.

   "I'm not trying to be faithful to her anymore.  I'm trying to stay
faithful to myself."

   "Huh?" he said, finally coming into the bedroom and sitting down beside
me.

   "Losing Jennifer made me see things differently than before," I began,
taking his right hand in mine.  "I kept telling her that sex is not love,
that you can have sex with someone without it affecting the love you felt
for someone else.  But when she left, I found that I loved her so much that
sex wasn't what it used to be to me.  And all that time where I would make
love with a girl, then make love to another, my feelings faded for them
after we stopped having sex.  But they didn't for you, Suz, Eric, and
especially Jennifer since we never actually had sex.  You're all inside me,
apart of me, and now I can't help but feel that sex should be reserved for
that kind of love.  I want to save it for those special people.  And last
fall I wanted to save it just for Jennifer because I thought she was saving
it for me as well.

   "But now I only want to show you how much you mean to me, and no matter
how I may feel later when the swap is over, I will still trust us because I
know that you could never betray me again, just like I could never betray
you again."

   I noticed his tears dripping off his face as he brought my hand up to
his lips for a kiss, then he got off the bed and walked out of the bedroom,
stunning me as I thought he was still going to leave.

   But when he went into the bathroom, then a minute later came back out
without his wet shorts on but wearing a slight blush on his cheeks, I let
out a sigh of relief before scooting back on the bed and laying down.

   "Do you want to wait until morning?" he asked once I was happily
snuggled up against him.

   "Let's just see what happens," I said lovingly as I moved my face up to
kiss his lips.

   We kissed lovingly for a few minutes, but when Joey pulled me on top of
him and I felt his cock touch my lower bare thigh, I shivered in excitement
and started using more tongue.

   His hands started wondering down my back, eventually slipping his hands
under my t-shirt and started working it up my body.  When we broke our kiss
to get back our breath, I raised my arms over my head and pulled the shirt
off with a quick yank.

   The next instant I moaned his name as his fingers found my hardened
nipples.  Without even using his own version of the magic touch, I found
myself gasping with pleasure as he rolled them with his thumb and
forefinger just as I had done many times to others.

   His wet tongue and lips soon found their way to my tingling nips and the
large orb like mounds of flesh they were attached to, and while he explored
the valley between them with a passionate tongue, his arms wrapped around
me to squeeze and hold me tight.

   My cunt by that point was drooling with its juices, and suddenly I felt
the ache to fill its emptiness with the mass of his great steed.  As my
hips began to pump to signal my readiness, Joey suddenly nipped my left
tingling nipple with his teeth, which triggered a momentary blast of sexual
pleasure through out my whole feminine body.

   I was slightly dazed when I felt Joey's hands sliding inside my loose
shorts and started sliding them down, but I instantly moaned my approval
and wiggled my whole body to help as he tried to finish the job with his
foot.

   Once I was fully undressed, I looked him in the eyes and said with an
evil grin, "Now we're going to find out what this cunt can really do."

   Joey's excited grin faded slowly as I stared into his eyes while raising
my hips up, capturing his rod with my dripping hole, then opening my
vaginal gates all the way and plopped down over it like a large open mouth.

   His astonishment was only barely registering on his face as I relaxed
those muscles and allowed my fuck passage to close in around his helpless
cock, then once I had full contact with his dick, I began to gyrate my hot
wet velvet glove to pull him in deeper like I had with the vibrator.

   Joey's eyes went wide as I started turning up the gyration speed and
pressure, and I watched with satisfaction as his eyes lost their focus and
his mouth opened in a gasp of pleasure.  His hips started instinctively
moving beneath me, his eyes closing with pleasure while his breaths became
deeper and more energetic.

   I pushed myself up onto my hands to give myself greater leverage, then
just as Joey started to acclimate to my cunt's massaging of his great tool
and raised his hands to play with my breasts, I blew his mind as I reversed
the direction of my gyrations, but ended up turning the pressure down a bit
to keep his dick from actually being pushed out despite my weight baring
down on it.

   Carefully watching his face, I noticed how the sweat would bead up on
his skin before its mass became too great and would roll away.  My empathic
senses were not entirely at their full strength as I wasn't completely
accustomed to using Leanne's facial features, but I didn't need any of that
to know Joey was in heaven, especially when his head would roll in a
desperate moan of delight every time I reversed my cunt's polarity and
grip.

   Orgasm after orgasm I massaged his helpless dick through, bringing him
to at least a dozen climaxes; not once did he start going soft until I
finally felt he had had enough and stopped without I having humped even
once.

   Joey lay beneath me, sweating panting, and completely wiped out, while I
had only formed a slight sheen of sweat, mainly from the great heat coming
off his powerhouse of a body.

   "Holy shit, Timmy!  Holy fuck!" Joey finally gasped once he was capable
of speech.  "That was...  Holy fucking shit!"

   "So you liked that, did you?" I teased, sliding my body down to where my
head was on his chest and laying down, and found myself quite comfortable
on top of his sweet sweaty heaving-for-breath body.

   "I don't think I've ever cum that hard, that fast, and definitely not
that many times without the drink!" he exclaimed.

   "You think that was good, wait until we actually fuck," I said with
pleasure while swirling my left hand through the hairs under his sweaty
armpit.

   "I don't' think I have it in me to try that tonight," he said honestly.

   "That's okay.  We have all weekend, you know," I said, looking up at his
face.  "And I'm not horny for it right now anyway."

   "I love you," he said with emotion.  "If I didn't have Suzi..."

   "Shh," I said as I moved forward and kissed him on the lips, then slid
back down and got comfortable for the night.

   I fell asleep on top of him like that, feeling his mind running at full
speed while his right hand caressed my back like I had seen him do to Suzi
practically every Saturday night since I had arrived.

   When I awoke the next morning, I found myself full of the fuck juice's
horniness, and shuttered in sexual pleasure recognizing Joey's semi hard
cock against my left ass cheek as he slept.

   I turned towards him and gave his lips a couple of lusty licks to awaken
him, and could barely contain my impatience as he opened his eyes and said,
"Good morning, lover."

   "Fuck me," I growled with the primal need to fuck in my voice.

   When his eyebrows shot up in a moment of surprise, I took his arm and
started pulling him on top of me.

   "Okay, okay," he chucked as his cock grew to full size.  "But if you
want this to last, you're going to have to lay off the...  Oh shit you're
tight."

   "Yesss," I hissed as he continued to push his cock deeper into my fuck
hole, having tuned it the night before to know exactly how tight to make it
for him.

   "Just a little bit further...  Right there!" I exclaimed as I gripped
his cock where its ridge was right against my favorite g-spot.

   "Shit!" Joey gasped as he found himself unable to pull it out or push in
any further.  "Damn, Timmy.  If you have that much control over it, then
what the hell do you need me for?"

   "To fuck ME!" I grunted as I sucked his cock in deeply, nearly pulling
Joey off balance.  "Fuck me, Joey.  Fuck me and make me come screaming!"

   As Joey began his full body pumps, we both quickly became covered with
sweat as we felt the pleasure from the other's sexual organs doing their
thing.

   As his cock slid back and forth inside my well-lubed hole, I varied my
slut muscles movement so that each penetration and withdrawal was different
from the last.  Sometimes I sucked his cock in, other times I added
resistance, but never enough to prevent it from moving in the direction he
was driving it in.

   Joey admitted to me later that he had put a block on his orgasm until
the drink's effects on me were wearing off.  I didn't know that at the
time, but I didn't really care if he came or not from the intense pleasure
his cock was providing me.

   Nothing is as good as the real thing.  I only orgasmed four times, but
they were huge and noisy, and by the time I was satisfied and felt Joey's
cum splatter across my stomach and the base of my tits, I was ready to fall
asleep from the post orgasmic bliss.

   But Joey wasn't finished yet.  He cleaned his spunk off with his tongue,
enjoyed my breasts for a bit, then fucked me with renewed passion using his
voice so our orgasms went off at the same time.

   I guessed Suzi had drank some drink herself and had shared its effects
with him through the share link, for I couldn't imagine how he could have
produced so much ejaculate that it started leaking out of me while his dick
stayed hard and buried inside me.

   After moving into a sixty-nine position, I confirmed my suspicion by
recognizing the sweeter taste of his precum as it continued to drool from
my mouth's attention.  Joey's wicked tongue nearly brought me to another
orgasm, but I was momentarily distracted at the critical moment by the
flooding of my mouth of his drink enhanced cum.

   It was Joey's turn to lie on my chest and fall asleep as I stroked his
head lovingly.  My mind wandered a while until I too got a bit sleepy and
joined him in slumber.

   Joey was still asleep on top of me when I awoke again, but after a few
moments of lying there with my eyes closed, Suzi's voice beside me startled
me enough that I jumped and woke him up.

   "Sorry," Suzi said with weak grin.

   "You okay?" I asked her when I saw how fast her grin faded.

   "I'm fine," she said softly and warmly.  "I just got caught up in the
moment, that's all."

   "What moment is that, Suz?" Joey asked, crawling towards her while his
cheeks burned bright red.

   "Nothing bad, I promise," she said, kissing Joey on the top of his head.
"I just came down to see if you were ready for lunch, and if you wanted
some drink yourselves."

   "Mmmm," I mentioned as I stretched, finding it a bit of a relief to get
Joey's mass off my legs and chest.

   "Was that a yes?" Suzi asked humorously.

   "If I drink some, it will only affect Leanne, not me.  So it's really up
to you and Leanne."

   "What about you, Joey?" Suzi asked.

   "I guess I could use a small glass," he said while staring at Suzi. 
"Are you sure you're okay with this?"

   Suzi smiled sweetly, and then kissed him on the lips gently before
saying, "What's done is done.  I'd rather you just get it out of your
system now and not worry about it."

   "Suz..." Joey moaned with concern.

   "Are you two coming upstairs for lunch?" Suzi asked, ignoring Joey.

   "Yes," I answered, seeing we needed to get out of the bedroom for a
little while and that was as good of a reason as any.

   "Suz..." Joey again moaned, scrambling off the bed and following her
out.

   I watched his sexy ass until the wall blocked it, and then sighed,
finding myself quite content and happy despite how Suzi was apparently
upset by our sex.

   After a quick shower and dressing, I went upstairs and found Joey still
naked, fixing our lunch while Suzi and Leanne sat at the kitchen table,
necking.

   "Timmy?" Suzi gasped as Leanne slobbered on her neck.  "Can I give you
some hickeys?"

   "Suck away, Suz," I said without hesitation as I joined Joey in the
kitchen.

   "Just proving I'm still her love slave," Joey said with a grin when I
gave him a questioning look.

   "So she's not upset?"

   "Nah.  She just wasn't sure exactly how things stood, that's all," he
said as he flipped the toasted cheese sandwiches he was grilling.

   "And how do things stand?"

   "Uh, well...  Pretty much like they did before, except we've both come
to the conclusion we're having the best sex we've had in a long time, and
it isn't with each other, but our, um, best buddies."

   When he saw my disturbed face, he said, "Hey...  Don't worry about it.
We're both okay with it.  It just gives Suz and I both something to work
on. Something we can work on together, you know?"

   "But maybe we should..."

   "Don't even say it, Tim.  This whole thing was your idea, and if Suz and
I weren't both having the same good time, maybe then there would be
something to worry about.  But this isn't going to last that long, so lets
just enjoy it while we can, okay?"

   "Yeah, I guess you're right," I said with relief.  "Because I don't know
how I could live with myself if you didn't fuck my ass a couple of times."

   "Heh.  Old habits die hard, don't they Timmy?"

   "You can say that again," I said, playfully sticking my tongue in his
ear.

   During lunch, Joey got a call from one of the medical center's lab
technicians, then made a couple of phone calls before coming back to the
table to finish eating.

   "What was that all about?" Suzi asked.

   "I had one of the lab techs analyze a sample of the drink to try and
figure out what's in it that boosts the blood sugar levels.  I thought if
we could isolate it, Tim could take it by itself so he wouldn't have to
deal with the horniness three times a day."

   "You shouldn't have done that without consulting me first," Suzi
interrupted.  "Tim's dad said I'm not supposed to let anyone take any drink
home with them, and specifically told me to never allow it to be analyzed
by anyone.  He doesn't want anyone else to ever get their hands on the
formula."

   "I knew that," Joey admitted.  "That's why I had Doyle do it.  He's as
loyal to the Group as Sherman is to Tim's dad.  Besides, I only gave him a
couple of ounces.  He said would need a larger sample and probably another
week to do the job, but he also said he had given a small dose to a lab rat
and took a blood sample while the rat was under its affects.  What he found
in the blood wasn't just glucose, but some other stuff that was a little
over my head.  So I called Sarah, and after she talked to the Doyle, she
wrote up a prescription that should do the trick.  She's having one of the
Eta's get it from her and have it filled.  It should be here in about an
hour."

   "Thank you," I said as I climbed into Joey's lap.

   I gave him a long loving kiss, then climbed off to let him finish his
lunch.

   Once lunch was cleaned up and Joey had gotten dressed, the four of us
watched TV together in Suzi's living room.  Joey and I were doing some
serious flirting with each other, and I kept getting this strange vibe from
Leanne.  I don't know how to describe it, as I never really identified the
emotion behind it.  Not that I really gave it much thought.  I was too busy
enjoying myself flirting with my oldest friend to care about anything else.

   Joey was chasing me around the apartment with a glass of ice cubes when
the Eta arrived with the prescription and a bag of supplies.  I teased the
poor boy the entire time he was there (my nipples were visible through the
damp tshirt), but settled down and got serious when Joey pulled out a
package of hypodermic needles from the bag the Eta had brought.

   "It didn't come in a pill form?" I complained.

   "No," Joey said patiently, then asked Suzi and Leanne, "Do either of you
know how to administer an intramuscular injection?"

   "I do," Leanne said.

   "Can you administer it to yourself?"

   "I'm sure I can, but I've never tried," Leanne admitted.

   Joey and Leanne instructed Suzi how to prepare and give the shot, and I
was fairly grateful that I couldn't feel it from the yip Leanne made when
Suzi stuck it in my body's left arm.

   "How often will one shot last?" I asked.

   "Eight to ten hours, for our purposes," Joey said.  "Sarah said we
should only try one today and one tomorrow to make sure there aren't any
negative affects and just use the drink for the rest of the day.  We can
bump it up to two shots on Monday, and if that works out okay, then we can
try doing three on Tuesday.  Tim, if you feel even the smallest amount of
discomfort, you let me know so we can take care of it before it gets
serious."

   "Don't worry," I said.  "I'm not going to risk losing the links and miss
out on what may be my only chance at experiencing being a woman without my
sight interfering."

   "Good," Joey said, wrapping his arms around me and bending down for a
kiss.

   We all went back to watching TV a while, then during a commercial Leanne
and I started talking about the discoveries we made concerning our borrowed
bodies.

   After running downstairs to get my silver vibrator, I demonstrated my
muscular control, but didn't fire any rounds off like I had originally
planned when I felt both Suzi and Leanne feeling a little uncomfortable
about the subject.

   Leanne gave a demonstration of her own muscular control by maintaining a
full hardon for over five minutes without stroking, then witnessed Suzi
demonstrating her own skill at keeping it hard without touching it by
teasing my/Leanne's nipples in various ways.

   Three hours after the injection had been given, I was lying on my
stomach with my head on Joey's lap enjoying the feel of his hands rubbing
my back while watching Suzi's and Leanne's flirtatious kissing.

   "Shit, Suz," I exclaimed when Suzi captured Leanne's lower lip in her
teeth and pulled it back.  "Be careful."

   Suzi rolled her eyes, then let go of her captive and plunged her tongue
into Leanne's mouth.

   I personally wasn't the least bit aroused watching them make out, but I
could sense that Joey was getting turned on by it.  Several minutes went by
before Joey finally shifted to give his hard-on more room.  I waited
another minute after that before rolling over onto my back and gently
placed his wandering hand onto my left tit.

   I was surprised when he immediately removed his hand and started to get
up, but after lying down beside me, Joey pulled my t-shirt off and started
orally worshiping my nips.

   "Timmy?" Suzi called as she gasped for air.

   "Yeah Suz?"

   "If Leanne and I gave each other enemas, would you care if we did a
little butt munching?"

   "Shit Suz," Joey said before catching the look on my face.

   "Awesome idea, Suz," I exclaimed.  "But only if Leanne is okay with me
and Joey doing it too."

   "Fuck, I don't care," Leanne groaned.

   After moving the furniture around in Suzi's living room and putting two
comforters down on the floor, we all went to the bathroom and took turns
getting enemas before taking a quick shower.

   Thirty minutes later, Joey himself was proving his earlier words about
old habits dieing hard.

   "That's right, Joey," I gasped, "Suck my ass.  Suck my slutty ass.  Suck
all your dirty shitty butt fucking cum out of my ASS!"

   "Shit," he chuckled before he tried to wiggle his tongue back into my
gaping open rose.

   "Oh God, I wish I could do that to you," I moaned with my eyes closed as
he tickled my clit with his thumb.

   He pulled his head away from my ass and said, "My tongue is tired, and
my cock feels like it's gonna explode again.  Which hole do you want it
in?"

   "Fuck my PUSS!" I hissed.

   "Yeah.  I hate to say it, Timmy, but I like your pussy better than your
ass anyways.  Damn, you're practically foaming down there!"

   "Fuck me, Joey.  Fuck my slut hole and make me feel like a fucking
WOMAN!"

   He slammed his cock into my oozing sex and proceeded to fuck me doggy
style as I pulled all the stops out of my cunt's pleasuring his fuck stick
and started sucking it in and blowing it back out as hard as I dared.

   After finally letting ourselves come in what had to be the noisiest
verbal exchange of orgasmic pleasure we had ever exchanged, Joey slowed his
humping, then gently rolled us over so he was on bottom, his semi hard cock
never leaving my wet velvet glove.

   As we rested, I became aware of Leanne's eyes watching us as she sent
another round of those strange vibes I had felt earlier.

   Suzi walked over with a pitcher of lemonade and 4 glasses, giving both
Joey and I a clear view of her asshole when she bent over while setting the
drinks down.

   When she turned around and faced us, she hesitated a moment as my
empathic senses got blasted by her lovesick fear.

   "Come 'ere Suz," Joey called gently, sensing her emotional turmoil
himself.

   I rolled off from on top of Joey, then when Suzi just stood there
undecided, I reached up and over to take her hand and gently tugged her
down.

   Once Joey and I got her to lie on top of him, she gave Joey a testing
kiss on the lips, then relaxed and gave me a weak smile.

   "You're my mistress, my love, and my life, Suz," Joey said gently as he
stroked her hair and back.  "I'm yours mind, body, and soul.  You say the
word, and Timmy and I will stop messing around."

   "No, you don't need to stop," Suzi insisted.  "I guess it disturbs me
seeing you with another woman...  But I really am okay with you and Timmy
sharing your love like that.  I keep forgetting it is Timmy and not another
woman, that's all."

   "Are you sure Suz?" I asked.  "We really can stop if you want."

   "Yes I'm sure," Suzi said confidently.  "It makes me feel good knowing
you can both feel that way about each other without it having to involve
me."

   "I love you," Joey said emotionally as he gave her a gentle hug.  "I
love you I love you I love you I love you.  I can't say it enough."

   After they exchanged another tender kiss, Suzi asked, "Timmy?  Could you
and I have a chance to get close again like you and Joey are right now? 
Maybe next semester sometime?"

   "Yes," I said, approaching her face, intending to give her a kiss of my
own.

   "Ugh," she said, avoiding my lips.  "But in your body.  Not someone
else's."

   I gave her a peck on the cheek and said, "Okay."

   After drinking some lemonade and resting a bit, Joey suggested we knock
off the sex play until the eight o'clock dose of drink.

   "I have a suggestion though," I began.  "How about a game of Suz ball
before dinner."

   "Suz ball?" Leanne repeated.

   "Fine by me.  Suz?" Joey queried.

   "Okay," Suzi said after few moments.  "But I don't want to overstrain
Timmy's body, so just one round, okay?"

   Around seven thirty, Joey and I took a shower, washing each other
without rushing, and more importantly, without anything more but a simple
kiss here and there.

   As we lay in bed together, we sleepily watched the clock as it made its
way towards eight o'clock, talking about our software and our plans for
next semester, ending up on the topic of what it will be like having the
twins around for a while.

   The talk was immediately forgotten the moment Joey announced it was
eight o'clock to both me and the two upstairs who apparently were waiting
in bed just like we were.  Joey then passed the partially filled plastic
Tupperware bottle of drink to me, then once I had drank my share, he
accepted it back and drained it before tossing it off the bed with a grin.

   "You know, we're going to have to find something less strenuous to do
tomorrow besides fucking all day," I said as I mirrored his grin while he
climbed on top of me and waited for the drink to reach his somewhat
undecided cock.

   "I don't know," he said, looking in my eyes with a mischief gleam in his
otherwise sleepy eyes.  "I was kind of thinking of asking you and Suz if we
could try a little homosexual sex."

   "But Suz doesn't care for...  Oh, I see.  You swap with Suz and... 
Grrrr...  You waited until I had the drink in me to mention this, didn't
you?"

   "Not purposely, no," he said honestly as his fully hardened cock started
slipping through my wetting vaginal gates.  "Just forget it for now and
concentrate on THIS!"

   I rolled my eyes up in pleasure as his cock surged with his magic touch,
washing my mind clean of any coherent thought while I moaned and began to
thrash underneath his hard pumping body of masculinity.

   We fucked for nearly an hour straight, during which his cock remained
inside my cunt the whole time, only pausing in our fucking long enough to
catch our breath, take another gulp of drink, then hump slowly while we ate
each others lips until the drink could kick back in.

   After that first hour stretch, we kissed, we sucked, and then gave each
other enemas again and munched on each other's asses with abandon.  Only in
this instance did I miss my cock.  Sucking on his ass just wasn't any fun
for me without the cream filling.

   Joey's hard on bobbing against my bare ass woke me the next morning, and
after waiting for it to finish its hardening, and then found it shrinking
again, I allowed myself to roll onto my back and stretch as Joey stirred.

   I crawled up to his face and kissed his lips with tenderness, then
smiled as he began to kiss me back sleepily.

   Once I was satisfied that he wasn't going to go back to sleep, I started
kissing my way down his sexy body, intending to give him a morning blow.

   But just as I was passing his belly button and closing in on my target
which was already fully deployed, Joey sudden gasped and sat up with eyes
wide in amazement, knocking me off balance to where I hit my shin on the
bed's foot board.

   "Timmy!" he gasped as I started to recover my wits.  "I see them!  I can
see them!"

   "What?" I asked, immediately forgetting my pain and the displeasure of
being interrupted by the excitement and wonder in his voice.

   And then just as I had worked it out myself from seeing the far away
look in his eyes, Joey choked out emotionally, "The symbols.  The...  The
beautiful and fucking awesome symbols!"

   "Joey, I need you.  Stay with me," I begged him.

   He blinked a moment, looked at me with his full attention, but then he
said, "Wow.  Look at all those streams," as his eyes unfocused and his
empty gaze followed the sensory streams up to the ceiling and beyond,
probably ending somewhere in Suzi's bed.

   "Joey, you need to wake Suzi so she can give me my morning dose," I said
urgently.

   "Oh yeah...  Okay," Joey said distantly.

   "Did you wake her?" I said after listening for movement upstairs.

   "Yeah, I'm just filling her in first," he said as he let his gaze return
to a more natural position.  "Wow, Tim.  Now I understand why you tuned
everything else out when you first got your sight.  Even when you formed
that one link thing that let me see them, it wasn't anything as spectacular
as this."

   "Really?" I said with surprise.  "It was supposed to be identical."

   "Well, I guess it was, but you were in control of what we focused on, so
I never really felt what it was like with it all around us."

   Joey then blinked his eyes, looked at me with his full attention again,
and as his eye began filling with tears, he said with increasing emotion,
"Timmy, this is the greatest gift you've ever given me."

   We immediately hugged, sniffing from our mutual moment of happy tears,
and then he lay down while pulling me on top of his chest to lovingly rub
my back while he began exploring his newest sense.

   All too soon my peaceful and loving contentedness gave way to the
tingles and demands of the fuck juice, and after several long and restless
minutes of resisting my need to fuck, I crawled up to his face and licked
his lips to see if he would respond.

   "Heh.  Horny, huh?" he said, looking me in the eyes a moment before the
life left his.

   I stuck my tongue in his mouth and began sucking as much of his spit out
of his mouth, getting his attention back to the situation at hand long
enough for his cock to respond.

   I shivered in relief and lust as I lowered my dripping and anxious cunt
onto his one eyed warrior, sucking it in with my pussy's vacuum on full and
proceeded to fuck him with everything I had.

   I couldn't blame him for going soft.  The symbolic sight just overwhelms
you when you first get it.  You can't help but forget about everything else
as you explore the wondrous clusters of the minds around you, even when
building up to a fucking grade A orgasm as I had been furiously working to
giving him.

   So I left him lying in bed with that absent look on his face and went to
fuck myself in the shower with my favorite toys.

   Once I had enough of the fuck juice out of my system to somewhat think
straight, I got out the razor LeAnne had demonstrated how to shave her legs
and armpits with and proceeded to shave off all the stubble that had formed
since then.

   By the time I had finished, I understood exactly what Joey had meant
about women being higher maintenance.  At most, all we guys have to do is
shave our faces once a day.  Women have to shave their legs and their pits,
worry about their periods messing up their clothes, and there were several
other women afflictions I thankfully didn't have to contend with, but could
see how annoying they would be.

   And putting makeup on was a lot harder than I thought it would be.  All
I wanted to do was put a little eye-liner on and some lipstick.  Lipstick I
had done before and didn't have any problems with, but it took me at least
twenty minutes to get the eyeliner evenly applied on both sides.

   Once all that was done, I searched through LeAnne's clothes to find
something feminine to wear.  After finding nothing besides a tube top and a
pair of tight shorts, I had a brainchild.

   "Joey, honey?" I said after getting his attention by holding his mouth
and nose shut.  "I'm going shopping and don't know when I'll be back. 
Don't stay a zombie too long or you might get a headache."

   As I gathered my car keys, checkbook, and LeAnne's pocketbook with her
ID from my desk in the bedroom, Joey stretched and said, "Yeah.  I'll be
there in a minute."

   "What?" I asked, putting my hand on my hip and giving him the annoyed
look Suzi always gave us when we hadn't heard something she had said.

   "Didn't you just ask me if I wanted to help you with the database?"

   "No.  I said I was going shopping and I didn't know when I'll be back."

   "Oh.  Well have fun," he said as he got up and walked out without even
registering my slutty look.

   "Oh, I will," I said with a wicked smile.  "Look out world.  Here comes
Timmy, queen of the mall sluts!"

   ----------------------------

   "Hey, Skippy," I greeted the mid twenties teller who I was on first name
bases with.  "How's Darlene?"

   "Fine...  Doing fine," Skippy eventually said, struggling to keep his
eyes off my nipples as they hardened and softened about ten times a minute.


   "Timmy Brandton sent me over to get this check cashed," I said, handing
over the check I had written.

   "Timmy Brandton?  Oh Tim Brandton," he said with recognition, and
finally glanced down at the check, frowned, then flipped it over.

   "I'm afraid I can't cash a check made out to cash unless the account
holder is present."

   "But I am...  err..  Come on Skip.  Timmy's busy right now and I don't
want to interrupt him."

   "I'm sorry miss.  Now if he had made it out to you and you have an
account here, then I could accept the check and depending on your..."

   "Okay, okay," I sighed, turned to leave, but then suddenly sensed the
irritation and disgust of the lady who was already approaching to take my
place.

   "Slow down there, miss bunchy pants," I said with humor, pointing both
of my nipples at her accusingly.  "I'm not done yet."

   The scowl on her face was just starting to reverse from my empathic
smile when I turned around and directed it at Skippy, turning it up to its
top most setting.

   "Skippy, Skippy, Skippy," I sighed as the edges of his lips started
twitching upwards.  "I so much wanted to do this for Timmy Wimmy.  I'd hate
to have to take him away from the three little orphans he's with at the
amusement park.  He told me specifically to see Mr.  Osmond, the handsome,
intelligent, warm loving eyed teller because he knew you wouldn't want to
spoil their fun, not even a moment."

   "He...  Told you?" he gasped, his eyes lost in joy from my smile.

   "Timmy tells me everything," I said as I carefully turned down my
empathic smile until it was off, then stuck my tongue out and touched the
tip of my nose.

   "I guess I can..." he said as he recovered his senses.  "I'll need to
see your ID, and you'll have to sign the back of the check."

   "You ever tell Darlene about the secret handshake?" I asked in order to
distract him as I carefully copied LeAnne's signature from her driver's
license.

   "Uh, no, not yet," he said, momentarily thinking back to his own
orphanage days and the time he first learned the touching of your nose with
your tongue would get you a blow job from a girl if she liked you.

   "Well, that's too bad," I said as I handed the check and the driver's
license over to him, and then suddenly noticed how attractive he actually
was.

   "Skippy?"

   "Hmm, yes?" he responded as he handed LeAnne's ID back, then looked up
at my face.

   I carefully touched my tongue to my nose, then mouthed the word, "you"
with a suggestive look.

   Startled, he nervously looked around to see if anyone saw what to him
had been an obvious sexual gesture, then relaxed and said quickly, "Thanks,
but uhm...  Darlene.  You understand."

   "That's a big affirmative, Skip," I said with an empathic smile. 
"Sorry. I should have known."

   As he counted out the twenty one-hundred dollar bills, he started
getting uncomfortable about what he was doing.  So I asked him for a piece
of paper and pen, wrote down Suzi's number and told him to call it and ask
for Timmy.

   Suzi immediately connected with me to find out what I needed, and within
seconds she passed everything to LeAnne who told Skip over the phone the
check was genuine.

   "Well, see ya, Skip," I chirped, stuffing the wad of cash into the tube
top between my ample tits, and getting a moment of satisfaction as I turned
my two hooters away from his hungry eyes.

   As I drove into the mall's parking lot, I found myself getting really
excited about the whole shopping thing.  Or more like what I was planning
on trying to get away with while I was shopping.

   And to make things even more exciting, I wouldn't be able to rely on my
voice to get myself out of a tight spot since the only thing I had been
able to do so far with it is to read someone's current thoughts, and that
required a lot of concentration to get it to work.

   But I still had my empathic abilities, plus an awesomely sexy body, and
I was pretty sure I could use my nipples to literally hypnotize an
unsuspecting male.

   First order of business, however, was to buy some appropriately slutty
clothes to wear, then grab some lunch.

   The moment I entered the mall, I announced to the twenty or so people
within my voice that their mall slut had arrived.  I loved making a scene,
and damn it!  Did it ever feel good with all those eyes on me.

   Most of them decided they had misunderstood what I had said, and I had
to strain against my urge to repeat my declaration so I wouldn't get kicked
out the minute I had arrived.

   And not everyone had dismissed my words.  As I made my way towards the
nearest department store, I felt two pairs of eyes watching me, and when I
realized the owners were following me, I gave this woman at the perfume
counter such a blast of my empathic smile, she cried out in happiness.

   "Whew, I better watch that," I muttered to myself after realizing the
poor woman had also wet herself.  But I didn't even try to force the smile
that had made on my lips go away.

   When I felt the disgust of the saleswoman in the lingerie department, I
just couldn't help but alter my plans.  I left the tiled walk and wandered
around the displays of women's underwear, not pausing more than a second or
two on anything until I reached the more exotic collections.

   Once I had made sure my faithful two pairs of eyes found me again and
were sticking around, I selected three black lace bras, all three far too
small for LeAnne's ample bust, took them up to the sales lady, and just let
my nipples do their thing as I waited for her to finish with another
customer.

   "Yes.  May I...  help you?" the fifty something woman said, looking over
her glasses with cool and steady eyes.

   "Hi ya," I said, turning my nipple speed up to twenty cycles per minute.
"You think these would be okay as a training bra for my little sister?  She
wanted something extra sexy, and the regular trainers are just so... 
blah."

   "I see," she said, taking it all in stride.  "Are these the proper
size?"

   "Well, I was hoping you'd know," I said hopefully.

   "I see," she repeated coolly.  "How old is your, echm.  Little sister?"

   "Fourteen," I said, giving up on the nipples as she was convincingly
ignoring them.  "Her titties are just about your size, and I can't tell you
how hard it's been trying to talk her into trying a bra on at all.  I don't
want her waiting too long like I did.  I just can't stand wearing a bra
after my girls grew up without one.  My nips are just too sensitive."

   "Well, if you truly want her to like wearing one, lets try something
that's a little more comfortable, if a little less..."

   "Slutty?" I offered.

   "Not my first choice of words, but...  appropriate."

   I followed her over to a more boring selection, but then suddenly
recognized the brand as the same as Suzi bought, and with a little stretch
was able to recall her size.

   I sighed as if I was undecided, and then when the saleslady looked at me
over her glasses again, I explained, "I completely agree with what you're
saying, but if you were a fourteen year old boy, would you get excited
seeing a girl wearing these?"

   Her lips tightened like she was about to taste something bitter, but
then surprised me by saying, "As I recall, fourteen year old boys get
excited about everything."

   "You know?" I said while nodding my head," I think you're right.  But I
better find out for sure.  I'll be right back."

   I walked straight across the aisle to where my two fourteen year old
pairs of eyes were hovering, held up the plain white bra over my pulsing
nipples and asked, "Could you tell me if this bra turns you on?"

   My jaw dropped in surprise when they turned white, then walked hurriedly
away back the way we had come.

   "Shit," I exclaimed with disappointment before sighing and walking back
to the sales woman who was again looking over her glasses at me.

   "I didn't mean to scare them off," I explained unhappily.

   "Well, I'm glad you did," the woman said honestly.  "The moment I saw
them following you, I felt like I was back in sixth grade again."

   Sensing she thought I would understand the significance of this, I
looked her in the eyes and it suddenly dawned on me.

   "Early bloomer?" I asked with compassion.

   "Very.  I hated the leering attention boys gave me until the other girls
finally caught up with me, but then I was just average.

   "But, enough about me.  I think your little sister will find these to be
quite comfortable, and if she thinks they aren't...  sexy enough for her,
you just bring her up here and let her watch all the boys who go out of
their way just to walk by this part of the store, okay?"

   I grinned at her, and was delighted to see her return it with her own
grin.

   "I'll do that, Loraine," I said, reading her name off her name tag. 
"You know, that is such a pretty name.  Loraine.  You don't hear many girls
being named Loraine any more.  I wonder why?"

   "Actually, there are probably more of us than you think," she said with
a genuine grin of her own as she rung my seven bra's up.  "My friends call
me Lori."

   "Well, it's been a pleasure, Lori," I said with a smile.

   "If you ever decide to give them a try yourself," Lori offered as I
walked away.

   "I'll be sure to ask for you by name," I said, giving her one last
empathic smile before walking out of eyeshot.

   "Shit, Tim," I muttered under my breath.  "You go shopping for some
slutty clothes, and what do you do?  You by seven bra's you'll never use.

   "And now I'm hungry," I said with a frown after my stomach growled.  But
then I grinned and said, "Oh well.  Time to get this mall slut a couple of
hotdogs."

   The Great American Hot Dog Experience was surprisingly not that crowded
yet, and I was pleasantly surprised to find not only a good looking guy
behind the counter, but my two favorite fourteen year old studs in the
corner booth watching a group of chattering girls their age.

   Finding the two boys weren't the least bit interested in me, I simply
shrugged and took a seat at the counter in front of the hot hotdog serving
hotdogs.

   "Hi ya, Roger," I chirped once he turned towards me and instantly
noticed my pulsing nipples.  "Could you tell me how long your wieners are?"

   He opened his mouth to answer, but then had to mentally playback what I
had asked him when the double meaning occurred to him.

   "Uh, foot long.  Or uh...  Regular," his seventeen year old voice
managed to say while his eyes stayed glued to my tits.

   I paused my nipples as I slowly licked my lips, then once his eyes were
on my face, I asked him, "Could I have a large root beer and the thickest,
longest, and juiciest wiener you got?"

   His expression was that of complete lust as his mouth hung open for over
a minute trying to form a reply.

   Finally, he took a deep breath, gasped, "Yeah, coming right up," and
turned towards the rack of assorted wieners cooking behind him.

   I watched his cute butt as he struggled to calm himself down as he
filled my soda, then after he set my glass down before me with his eyes
never looking up from my breasts, he fumbled with the tongs while looking
for the biggest and best one of the bunch.  After changing his mind a
couple of times, he seemed satisfied by his third choice and put it on the
bun he had nearly dropped twice.

   "Uh, what..  <swallow> What would you like on it?" he asked somewhat
anxiously after he ever so gently placed the plate with my juicy dog in
front of me.

   "Mmm," I said as I picked the foot long floppy wiener out of the bun and
let one end bend towards my mouth.  "Let's see how good it is all hot and
sweaty like this first."

   The damn thing was still hot, but I managed to keep it from disrupting
my little show of sucking it in, inch by inch, licking and slurping, making
an mmm sound whenever it seemed appropriate.

   By the time I had finished consuming it, all three guys behind the
counter, my two fans from the department store, and a couple of older
teenage boys a couple of seats down were sweating and struggling to keep
their britches flat.

   Hell, my performance had even turned me on.

   After downing my root beer like a saloon drunk on his first glass, I let
out a belch the noisy girls even heard, then captured Roger's eyes with my
own and said, "Mmm.  That was almost as good as the real thing.  I'd sure
like another, but now I need to go the lady's room.  How about you?"

   He understood my meaning without a doubt crossing his horny mind, and
simply nodded his head as I stood up and turned towards the bathrooms in
the back.

   I was startled when Roger suddenly exclaimed "Hey Tim."

   "Yeah?" one of his coworkers replied.

   "Bathroom break."

   "Yeah, okay."

   "Lucky fucker," I heard one of the older teenagers sitting at the bar
mutter.

   "Hi yah, boys.  Enjoying the show?" I asked brightly when I passed the
back booth, the two fourteen year olds desperately trying to avoid making
eye contact with me.

   "Uh...  Uh..." The darker haired boy stuttered.

   "That's good.  See yah around," I said warmly with my empathic smile set
to sixty percent.

   I walked into the ladies room, had enough time to check myself in the
mirror before Roger nervously poked his head in.  I smiled at him to help
restore his waning confidence, and then once he had slipped himself through
the door, I walked up to him and reached past him to flip the lock on the
door.

   "Hhh hi," he said as I slowly backed up, his entire body shaking from
the combination of nerves and excitement.

   I looked him in the eyes and closed in on him again, this time pressing
my lips against his and gently probing his luscious mouth with my cool wet
tongue.

   He limply leaned up against the locked door as I explored his mouth,
finding myself getting hotter by the moment from his innocent and
submissive reactions.  But as mall slut, I reminded myself, I had a job to
do, and that job didn't include taking this boy's virginity no matter how
tempting it was.

   So I let my hands wander down to his Dockers and with skilled fingers
unhooked and unzipped them in a fluid fashion.

   I pulled my mouth away while my tongue was still inside his, then as I
fished his nearly six inches of meat from his briefs, I got down on my
knees and said his name.

   "Huh?" Roger replied, opening his eyes and looked down just in time to
witness his cock being sucked into my hot wet mouth.

   He was putty in my hands, that Roger was.  I brought him up to the brink
five times in the ten minutes I spent sucking, licking, and deep throating
that cock that had obviously never been touched by anything but its
master's hand since before the age of two.  His gasps and his ever so soft
moans sent tingles to my crotch, but after ten minutes of being on my knees
in that bathroom, I decided his time was up.

   I put both of my hands on his ass, had him stand up straight, and then
began directing him with my hands to fuck my mouth, taking him in my throat
at every stroke.

   I was annoyed to say the least when he suddenly thrust his cock in deep
as he began blowing his load, but then he pulled back for a few shots
before thrusting in deep again, giving me the taste I had wanted while at
the same time making me realize I usually did the exact same thing when I
came.

   By the time he had finished cumming and I was satisfied I had gotten the
very last drop of his seed, Roger was laying with only his head propped up
against the door while the rest of him was spread out all over the floor in
a haphazard but sexy way.

   "Now that was a good wiener," I said, wiping the corners of my mouth
after I stood up.  "You should serve that to all your customers."

   He giggled, and then slid out of the way as I unlocked the door.

   "Get up, silly," I said patiently when he didn't move to follow me out.
"You can't stay in the ladies room, especially like that."

   After Roger bashfully stood up and pulled up his pants, I gave him a
simple kiss on the lips, and then waited a few moments after he left to
give him the chance to collect his wits.

   When I walked out, I was disappointed to find everyone's attention
diverted away from me by one of the noisy girls loudly saying, "No way!" in
a snobby insulting tone.

   The two older teens who had been sitting a couple of chairs down from me
laughed cruelly, and it wasn't until that moment I noticed my two poor
fourteen year old fans had apparently finally worked up the courage to talk
to one of the girls, only to be crushed like a precious flower under a ten
ton block of steal reinforced cement.

   "How much, Roger?" I quickly asked.

   "Uh, no charge," he said softly, looking at my face without even
glancing at my breasts.

   "Thanks, Rog, but I'm not that kind of girl," I said gently, giving him
a ten and leaving him with the change.

   My two bashful buddies were just starting to get over their
embarrassment standing next to the rail overlooking the lower level just
outside the entrance to the hotdog place.  As the darker haired kid offered
the other one a stick of gum, I got an idea and stepped up behind them.

   "Excuse me.  Could I have a piece of that?"

   The two surprised teens both stared up at me a moment, then the darker
haired kid held out the pack of gum.  As I took a piece, I rewarded him
with an empathic smile which took the edge off his shaken nerves.

   "Thanks," I said with relief.  "That Roger guy kind of left me with this
funky aftertaste.  I think he eats too much garlic."

   I was starting to have second thoughts from the way neither of them
reacted to my comment, but then the blond haired boy's eyes suddenly
widened before they looked down to hide the smirk growing on his face.

   "Sorry if my little joke with the bra scared you," I said honestly.  "I
knew you were following me, and I thought a couple of horny dogs like you
two would have gotten a kick out the idea of me wearing such a small bra."

   "I, uh...  Think we better go," the darker haired boy stammered.

   "Oh, come on, Ron," the other boy complained.

   "Yeah, come on, Ron," I echoed.  "I'm really just here to have some fun
while shopping for a new wardrobe, and thought maybe you two would like to
make some cash by helping me carry my bags."

   "You don't have any bags," Ron pointed out hesitantly.

   "She just got here," the other boy said with exasperation.

   "Look, I'm sorry, but we don't know who you are.  And even if we did, if
my brother saw us hanging around you, he'll use it against me until I was
thirty."

   The other boy sighed and said, "He's right."

   "Your brother's here with you?" I asked.

   "You sat next to him in the hot dog place," the blonde boy said.

   After glancing over my shoulder and finding Ron's brother and his friend
still in their seats in the hotdog joint, I smiled wickedly as a plan
formed in my head.

   "Ron," I called, capturing his eyes when he glanced at me.  "I don't
mean you any harm, and if I took care of your brother so that he couldn't
hold it against you, would you be interested in spending a couple of hours
with me?"

   My empathic senses flooded me with Ron's struggle between his shyness
and ever growing attraction to the opposite sex, his fear of his brother's
reprimand, and his curiosity and excitement fighting his caution about not
trusting strangers.  So I smiled and said, "You can call me Kimmy."

   "Jake," the blonde boy chirped.

   "Nice to meet you, Jake," I acknowledged him with a warm smile.

   "All right," Ron sighed.  "It's our last day, so we might as well make
the best of it."

   "Last day?" I asked.

   "I'm moving to Cincinnati tomorrow," Ron said without emotion.

   "Ron," a familiar voice called from behind me.  "What are you doing?"

   "Talking," Ron said defensively.

   Ron's brother's lips froze in the middle of forming his response when I
turned around and showered him with my empathic glare.

   "Excuse us, guys," I said with an authoritative voice.  "I need to have
a man to man talk with Spike here."

   I ignored the confusion my slight slipup made as I directed the older
boy towards a corner by the mall's exit, keeping my empathic glare on him
to prevent any resistance from forming until we could speak privately.

   "What's your name, boy?" I asked him once I had him backed up against
the wall.

   "Scott Gray," he responded hesitantly.  "Look, I don't have any money,
and neither does Ron."

   "I'm not a prostitute," I laughed.  "And I certainly am not interested
in your money.  I came here to shop and have a little fun, but the one
thing I can't stand is a bully.  Are you a bully, Scott?"

   "No," he said with surprised honesty.

   "Ron sure thinks you are," I continued despite not quite getting the
response I had expected.  "And you weren't very supportive when that girl
shot him down earlier."

   Scott's face showed a moment of confusion before he frowned and
exclaimed, "Supportive?!?  The idiot was asking them if they were going to
go to the lingerie section after they eat!"

   Seeing the shock on my face, Scott gathered his wits and said, "For your
information, I offered to bring them here so they could hang out together
one last time before we move out of town tomorrow.  If Ron thinks I'm a
bully, that's only because I'm always stopping him from getting into shit
he shouldn't be into, and that definitely includes you.  So go find someone
else to tease or whatever you do and leave us alone."

   I instinctively tried to use my telepathy to buy myself some time to
think, and when that didn't work, I couldn't decide what to do as I watched
Scott led the four of them away into the lunchtime crowd.

   I lost sight of them before I had sorted through my feelings and had
listened to my instincts, and as I slipped my way through the crowd after
them, I was feeling particularly helpless without my telepathic abilities.

   After ten minutes of searching, I sat down on a bench to rest and think,
and couldn't help but get a thrill out of how most of the male eye's
walking by lingered on my pulsing nipples as they did their thing.

   Within five minutes, I was discussing wardrobe options with three high
school graduates who were getting more and more excited about their
upcoming first year of college the longer we talked.  The conversation
naturally progressed to where all three 18 year olds jumped at the
opportunity to go shopping with me.

   The three "men" made an interesting trio.  Craig, a dirty blonde with a
small ponytail, wore a sleeveless t-shirt, blue jean shorts, and sandals.
His eyes did the most traveling over my body, spending as much time on my
legs as they did on my tits and face combined.  He was definitely a leg
man.

   J-man, on the other hand, was a black haired Hispanic American that only
had eyes for T&A.  Smooth talking with a flare for humor both innocent and
not, he was easily the most experienced of the three when it came to
flirting with the opposite sex.  He wore black shorts and a black
basketball jersey numbered 88 with the name Garcia across the top of the
back.

   And then there was Zeb.  A typical curly haired redhead with faded
freckles anywhere his decent tan didn't cover, we wore a pair cutoff jeans
and a red tank top with a black "?" on the front, and a black "!" on the
back.  While he was intrigued by my nipples' calisthenics, he didn't really
seem that interested in my breasts, and his eyes paid no attention to my
legs or anything in-between.  Yet it was obvious he was very excited to go
with us to pick out an entire summer wardrobe for me.

   At the first store we went into, Craig picked out this top that both he
and J-man swore up and down wouldn't be too small when it obviously was.  I
couldn't get an answer from Zeb one way or the other.  While this irritated
me, I was more interested in seeing what affect it would have on Zeb.

   So I said, "Even though I know it's too small, I'll try it on anyway. 
But since you two can only think with your dicks, only Zeb gets to see."

   And with that, I took the top in one hand, Zeb's right wrist in the
other, and headed for the dressing rooms.

   As we entered the women's dressing rooms, a woman who was also entering
gave us a funny look.

   "He's with me," I simply said as I swung Zeb around me and into the
nearest open stall.

   "Don't you want me to wait outside?" Zeb asked in a hushed voice.

   "Do you want too?" I asked him honestly.

   He shrugged, then with a blush that started at his ears and flowed down
to his cheeks, he shook his head no.

   I put my finger to my lips to signal for him to keep quiet, then twirled
the finger in a circle to indicate he should turn around.

   Slightly disappointed, he turned his back to me.  I carefully watched
him as I pulled the t-shirt over my head and attempted to put the simple
tie in the front type of top on.

   After three attempts, I concluded the top was too small to get it tied
together without help.  So I sighed, tapped Zeb on the shoulder, held the
thing closed as he turned around, then whispered, "I can't tie it.  Could
you try?"

   He hesitated a moment, then after he nodded, I pulled the two ends away
from my chest to hand them to him.  He hesitated again from the sight of
the two massive bare hooters immediately in front of him.

   After we had an exchange of smirks, Zeb very professionally made his
best attempt at tying the two ends of the cloth into a simple knot.  He
succeeded for the most part, but it was barely covering a fourth of the
flesh, and not to mention was uncomfortable as hell.

   "Too small?" I asked for the record.

   "Definitely."

   "Good.  Now untie it for me."

   It took longer to undo the tight knot than all of the attempts to put it
there combined, and I swear I was feeling light headed from the lack of
circulation.  Once he finally worked the knot out and released my captive
breasts, I rewarded him and myself by having him massage the blood back
into the poor things with his warm and steady hands.

   His interest started to wan after a little over a minute of this, so I
said thank you, then took the t-shirt when he offered it to me and pulled
it back on.

   "You're not into breasts, are you Zeb?" I asked him once we exited the
dressing room.

   "No, not really," he said honestly.  When I didn't say anything
immediately, he added.  "They're for feeding babies."

   A bright backless top caught my eye and stopped at its table to examine
it.  Zeb was at that point distracted by trying to answer the questioning
from the other two boys and and their suggestive expressions as they
slinked over to us.

   Once they were close enough to hear me speak without the chance of
anyone else hearing it too, I said, "Zeb, do me a favor while I try this
top on.  Tell them exactly what happened in there, and make sure you don't
leave anything out.  Then when I come back out, I either want to find three
professional and honest men who will behave just like you did in there, or
no one at all."

   When I did come out, I was very pleased when Craig and Jman apologized
for being "dick heads", and flashed the trio a smile loaded with empathic
forgiveness.

   We had a lot of fun shopping for the hottest and naughtiest outfits we
could find.  I admit I had caught the shopping bug that day, and I was such
a mall slut.  I ended up taking one of them into the dressing room each
time I changed into a new outfit, letting them watch as I put it on. 
Nobody got to touch me in the dressing room, though.

   Zeb's fetish came evident when I started looking at shoes.  If we hadn't
been in such a public place or if I had been able to use my voice, I would
have given in and let him slobber all over my toes like he wanted to.  But
instead he got to fondle my feet as much as he wanted, and then I caught
him sniffing his hands before slipping a finger into his mouth for a taste.
Not exactly a turn on for me, but he seemed to enjoy it.

   Around three thirty, I was getting a headache and feeling pretty tired,
so after the boys helped me load my packages into my car, I gave each of
them a blowjob as my mall slut duty dictated before heading home.

   "Thank God you're back," Leanne exclaimed, meeting me outside the
apartment building.

   "Why?" I asked, stifling a yawn.  "Something wrong?"

   "I'll say there is," Leanne said.  "Suzi was feeling really tired after
lunch, so she lay down to take a nap.  Now both she and Joey are asleep and
I can't wake them up.  I wanted to call 911..."

   "Oh fuck," I said, feeling a little dizzy.  "Help me get inside.  I'll
try to wake Joey so he can break the share link."

   Waking Joey up was a lot harder than I had thought.  When the ice cubes
in his underpants didn't work, I tried clasping his mouth and nose shut,
but released them after three minutes without him even stirring.

   After a couple of attempts of shouting at him, I was having trouble
staying awake myself.  In desperation, I tried pulsing the share link, and
suddenly felt the knife stab the middle of my brain moments before both the
share and swap links broke.

   I was clutching my head with my own two hands sitting on the floor when
Suzi exploded through the door, awaking Joey in the process.

   "What happened?" Suzi asked.  "Timmy, are you okay?"

   "Need drink," I gasped.

   My head wasn't hurting that much, but the dizziness was overwhelming me,
and between that and the lack of energy, I could barely keep myself upright
sitting on the floor as I was.

   Joey reformed the share links, then picked me up and carried me to my
bed.  Once I was flat on my back, I relaxed and just let the world spin
beneath me freely.

   "Here," Suzi said gently seemingly moments later while pressing a small
glass of drink to my lips.

   After swallowing the two swallows of drink, I said, "I'll need more if
I'm going to reform the swap links."

   "Not tonight, you're not," Suzi said parentally.  "You're going to sleep
in your own head tonight."

   "Oh, okay," I said, relieved and disappointed at the same time.

   "How is he?" I heard Leanne ask outside my room a few minutes later.

   "I'll be okay," I said loud enough for her to hear.

   I was a little surprised to see Jason when he accompanied Leanne into my
room, but gave them both an empathic smile before saying, "I think we just
over did it, that's all."

   "We've been talking about that," Leanne said as both Suzi and Joey came
in as well.

   "I just spent six hundred dollars on a new wardrobe," I said with alarm.
"You guys have to let me try at least a couple out before calling it
quits!"

   "That's fine," Joey said reassuringly.  "But Jason brought up the fact
that each time you had to break the links, it was either during or right
after you and Leanne's bodies were physically apart by a fair distance for
an extended amount of time."

   "Oh."

   "In honesty, I think I've gotten what I needed out of this," Leanne
said. "Don't get me wrong.  I love being a guy.  But ever since I watched
you with Joey, all I've been thinking about is trying out some new things
I've learned from being a guy on a guy."

   "Is that why Jason's here?" I asked.

   "No.  I called him when I couldn't wake Joey or Suzi up," Leanne said as
she considered the idea.

   "I guess it wouldn't kill me if we didn't swap anymore," I said while
struggling not to look at Joey.

   "I'm not ready to say that," Leanne said, looking a Suzi.

   "Good," I said, looking at Suzi, then finally Joey.

   "We only have two more days of classes before finals," Suzi said.  "I
don't know about you, but I'd like to go home on Saturday once all of the
Group stuff is finished.  So let's just plan on wrapping things up by
then."

   "Sounds good to me," I said with a yawn.

   "Come on," Joey said to the others.  "Let's give him some time to rest
before dinner."

   Suz gave me a kiss on the cheek before leaving with Jason and Leanne,
but Joey remained, closing the door after them.

   "You tired too?" I asked.

   "A little," Joey said, climbing on top of me.

   We exchanged a long and loving kiss before Joey rolled off and lay
beside me with a happy sigh.

   "I can still see the symbols," he announced gently.

   "You can?" I said happily.  "My sight came back the moment the share
link broke."

   "It still might fade away on me like how my voice does after the share
link breaks.  But even if does, I meant what I said.  It was the best gift
anyone ever gave me.  Thank you, Timmy."

   "I love you," I said, turn to give him another kiss.

   "I know," Joey said before moving to accept the kiss, but then cut it
short to say, "You need to rest, and I need to check in with Sarah."

   "Okay," I said with a sigh.

   Joey left without another word, so I just rolled onto my side and closed
my eyes to sleep.

   A couple of hours later, Suzi woke me and ordered me to sit up for
dinner.  I did as instructed when I saw the tray of food.

   "Where did the others go?" I asked when I didn't sense them in either
apartment.

   "We've all already eaten," Suzi began.  "Leanne wanted to try a game of
Suz ball with Jason and Joey.  I didn't think you'd mind.  They went over
to Jason's apartment so it wouldn't disturb your sleep."

   "Oh," I said with a mouth full of roast beef.  "Hey, this is really
good."

   "Thank you," Suzi said with a soft look in her eyes.

   Once I finished eating, Suzi took the dishes and the tray away, then
came back just as I was climbing back into bed from taking a leak.

   "Want to snuggle?" I offered, seeing that soft look in her eyes again.

   She grinned, nodded, and climbed on the bed, but then hesitated when I
pulled the covers down for her to get in.

   "What's the matter?" I asked.

   "I really need to take a shower," she said climbing off.  "We didn't
take one last night or this morning, and after cooking, I'm really feeling
kind of icky."

   Sensing I was a little icky myself, I stripped in the bedroom then
followed her into the bathroom.

   "I didn't mean to make it sound like you needed to shower too," Suzi
objected when I parted the shower curtain to enter.

   "I know," I said as I stepped up to her and took her hands.  "I'm not
really that tired any more though, and thought maybe you'd like to cross
that line with me tonight."

   "Oh Timmy," Suzi sighed.  "I'd love to, but I'm tired myself.  Can we
just shower and snuggle?  Maybe in the morning we can cross that line of
yours."

   "That's fine," I said.  "I'm not really that horny."

   "Uh huh," Suzi said, grasping my hard on and giving it a gentle squeeze.
"You're just happy to see me."

   She gave my cock a couple of slow strokes, then let it go as she looked
up at my face.  We exchanged smiles, then hugged for a minute before
exchanging a quick kiss on the lips and letting each other go.

   We playfully washed each other, then exchanged a longer kiss before
getting out, drying ourselves off, and climbing back into bed nude.

   "I've missed seeing that look in your eyes," Suzi said after a very long
exchange of saliva and oral love.

   "Which look is that?" I asked, stroking her hair and back like Joey
always did.

   "The one you painted on us and yourself in that painting of the three of
us," she said before kissing my chin.

   "Oh," I said.

   Suzi laid her head back on my chest and within minutes I nodded off.

   We were both awakened later when Joey came back and started the shower
up, and then again when he slipped into bed with us.

   Suzi gave me a kiss on the lips before wiggling over to lie on top of
Joey, ignoring Joey's complaints that he hadn't meant to intrude.

   "He's not used to me sleeping on top of him," Suzi explained as she got
comfortable on him.  "Besides, I haven't slept well for nearly two weeks. I
need my king sized cushion."

   "I love you," Joey said.

   "I love you too.  Now shhh."

   -------------------------

   The next day, I went with Suzi to our classes in my own body.  Leanne
didn't really want to have to sit through them, and apparently she and
Jason had been up pretty late since she didn't even get up until eleven or
so.

   However, Leanne was back in Suzi's apartment when we got back from our
last class, so I reformed the links and then went downstairs to watch some
TV while Leanne and Suzi made her bed squeak.

   I was studying by the time Joey got back around eight.  Not that Joey
saw me studying.  The moment I sensed him approaching the building, I leapt
from the table into my bedroom to change my clothes.

   "Holy shit," Joey exclaimed when he entered and saw me standing in my
bedroom's doorway in a seductive pose.  I was wearing one of my hottest
outfits.  A pink leather top that only covered my shoulders and chest,
leaving my arms and tummy exposed, plus a matching pair of tight shorts and
pink heals.  I thought the shorts made my butt look fat, but my panel of
experts at the mall said it was just really sexy, even Zeb.  Of course Zeb
only really cared about the shoes, so who knows.

   "Hi ya, sexy," I purred.  "Long day?"

   "I, uh," Joey stuttered as I turned my back towards him and bent over to
pick up a piece of lint of the carpet, giving him a good look at my ass.

   "I did my homework at the library before coming back," he said after I
stood up and caught him staring.

   "I know," I purred as I walked sexily up to him.  "Hungry?  For food I
mean."

   "A little," Joey said as he took me into his arms.

   I closed my eyes during our kiss and was instantly distracted by my
symbolic sight showing me Suzi lying beside me.

   "What's wrong?" Joey asked when we parted lips.

   "It doesn't feel as real as it did before," I said while hugging him.

   "Have you tried shunting the sight back through the share link?"

   "At least a dozen times," I said unhappily.  "Don't worry about it
though.  As long as I don't close my eyes, this is good enough."

   We talked about the symbolic sight while he ate, then sat down on the
couch to watch some TV together.  Joey was trying to talk me into watching
another Star Trek the Next Generation episode with him next weekend by
telling me about the last season's cliffhanger where Captain Picard had
been turned into a Borg.  I got a little bored with that, so I started
kissing his neck and then nibbled his left ear lobe.

   "So how was Leanne last night?" I asked him once he stopped talking
Trek.

   "Very good.  Different in style, though," Joey began as he sent his hand
round my back and gently pulled me on top of him as he lay down.  "She's
nearly as good as you are at manipulating that cunt of hers."

   "Really?" I said.

   "Yep," Joey said as he ran his hands up and down my back.  "I think
Jason's addicted to it.  Or at least he'd like to be if Leanne would let
him."

   "Heh.  What about you though?"

   "I'll probably miss it at first, but Suzi's is the only cunt I'm truly
addicted to," Joey said honestly.

   "Hmmm.  Hey.  How does Leanne and I compare to what my mom's does?"

   "Your mom doesn't do anything really extraordinary," Joey said.

   "Really?  Huh.  I wonder if that's on purpose.  I've always been under
the impression she saves the best stuff for my dad."

   "She probably does," Joey agreed.

   We watched TV like that until the show ended at nine and Joey had to use
the bathroom.  When he came back, we snuggled up on the floor where we
watched another hour of TV.

   Joey started kissing my neck during a commercial while we were watching
the news, then stopped when the news came back on, but then started
squeezing my ass.  At the next commercial break, I passively allowed him to
fondle and kiss my breasts, tummy and crotch, enjoying the growing tingles
in my cunt.

   When the news came on again, Joey moved so he was behind me with his
hardon pressing against my tight leather covered ass.

   For the rest of the news program, he slowly dry humped my ass, then the
moment the news was over, he stood up and asked, "Shower?"

   Remaining completely passive, I allowed him to undress me and wash me,
then I lovingly washed him.  Once we finished washing, Joey took me in his
arms and kissed me with an intensity that made my legs wobble and my crotch
tingle like mad.

   Joey and I spent at least twenty minutes kissing and fondling each other
in the shower before Joey turned the water off and dried us both off.  I
loved every minute of his pampering and letting him do everything for me.
And despite all the heavy petting and fondling we did in the shower, once
we got in bed, we cuddled and fell asleep without actually having sex.

   I was awakened early the next morning by Suzi getting back into bed
after using the bathroom.

   "Does your head hurt?" Suzi asked when she sensed I was myself.

   "No," I said after testing my telepathy without feeling any discomfort.
"I don't know why the links broke."

   Suzi snuggled up to my side and stroked my chest a moment before saying,
"Jason's in love with Leanne."

   "Not surprising," I said as I put my arm behind her to rub her lower
back.  "Did Leanne tell you that?"

   "No, Jason did.  He came by last night to talk.  Timmy, I like the idea
of Leanne and Jason getting together.  I know it's selfish, but...  If
Jason used his smile on Leanne, do you think it could work without too many
negative side affects?"

   "You want my honest opinion?"

   "Yes."

   "I think it would be okay for Jason to use his smile just enough to get
her to warm up to him, but then he'd have to stop there and let nature take
its course.  The worse thing he could do is to get her addicted to his
smile.  But I think he knows that."

   "He does," Suzi admitted.

   I sensed she was still a little troubled over something, so gave her a
little squeeze and asked, "What else is bugging you?"

   She sighed, then crawled on top of me and got comfortable before saying,
"Leanne's bored with me.  I'm afraid Joey will be too after this is all
over."

   "Joey could never be bored of you," I said reassuringly.  "In fact we
talked about it last night.  He said he might miss the sensations Leanne's
cunt can produce at first, but yours is the only one he's addicted to."

   "Addicted to?" Suzi snickered.

   "That's what he said."

   "That's nice, I guess," she sighed.  "After we came home from England
last summer, I couldn't stop thinking about having sex with Joey.  Then
after Joey left with your dad to find you and Eric, I realized Gladius's
twins had conditioned us to seek each other out whenever we were troubled
about what we weren't supposed to remember, and part of the conditioning
was sexual.  When Joey came back, the sexual excitement wasn't there like
before.  I guess I'm just afraid Joey won't find me sexually exciting
anymore after being with you in Leanne's sex machine of a body."

   "Do you still find Joey sexually exciting?"

   She took a moment before answering, "Yes, but not as much as I used to."

   After thinking a minute, I said, "Joey wants you to enjoy yourself with
the life voice can give you.  I can't imagine you finding anyone else so
attractive that you'd leave Joey, so besides that, what is there to worry
about?"

   "I don't know," Suzi sighed.  "I guess I'm also starting to experience
what your mom was telling Sarah last summer about sex with her men getting
old.  But you're right.  I'd never leave Joey for someone else.  Except
possibly you, Timmy, but I'm not worried about that happening, so don't
lecture me about it."

   I shut my mouth with my teeth making a "cluck" for I had in fact opened
it to lecture her as she had said.

   After a few minutes of silence passed, I caught myself about to drift
back to sleep.

   Since Suzi was still very much awake, I asked, "So are you tired of
Leanne?"

   "A little, I guess," Suzi admitted.

   "Then I guess I don't need to bother swapping until tonight."

   "Don't you want to snuggle with Joey?"

   "We snuggled all evening," I said with a yawn.  "We'd probably only end
up having sex if I did swap.  I can wait until tonight for that."

   "Is it any harder to swap two other people than yourself with another?"

   "Not really.  Why?"

   "Because I thought it might make things a little more interesting for
you and Joey if Leanne swapped with Joey tonight instead of you."

   "I honestly don't want to try it, Suz.  I like being the woman."

   "So do I," Suzi said with a grin.

   I drifted off, and somehow Suzi crawled off without waking me up, for
when I awoke again she was asleep on top of Joey.

   "Morning," Joey said softly when I stretched.

   "Morning," I echoed, then carefully got out of bed to potty.

   Instead of returning to Suzi's bed, I decided just to go downstairs and
get dressed.  Jason was at my door knocking when I started down the stairs,
so I told him to go on in, and followed him when he did.

   "Good morning," Leanne greeted us in one of the outfits I had bought. 
"Tim, I have to say I love the clothes you bought."

   "Me too," Jason said under his breath as he adjusted his hard on in his
shorts.

   "I'm glad," I said.  "Sorry about the links breaking.  I don't know why
they did.  My head feels fine."

   "That's okay," Leanne said sweetly.  "I wanted to spend the day with
Jason anyway."

   "All day?" I asked cautiously.

   "Just until seven or so, if that's okay."

   "Yeah, that's fine by me."

   "Cool," Jason said, bathing us both with his empathic smile a moment.

   After they left, I took a shower then went upstairs.  I had intended to
make breakfast for the three of us, but Joey was already doing that when I
got there.

   I was just finishing setting the table when Joey wrapped his arms around
me from behind and started to give me a kiss on the neck, but he stopped
when I stiffened.

   "No!" I cried when Joey let me go and started to turn away, hurt. 
"Joey, you startled me and your beard hurt my neck and...  Shit, I'm
sorry."

   "It didn't hurt while you were in Leanne's body," Joey said somberly. 
"I told you you wouldn't feel the same way when you're back in your own
body."

   "That's not true," I said while finding myself struggling to make it so.
"I mean, it does feel different when I'm in her body, but how I feel about
you doesn't change."

   I gave him the hug he tried to give me, including the kiss on the neck,
then let him turn around before I surprised him by giving him a passionate
kiss that left us both breathless.

   "I need to finish breakfast," Joey said once he had regained his breath.
"Thanks, though."

   "My pleasure," I said, grinning.

   "I suppose this means you two boys will start humping each other again,"
Suzi teased from across the room with a cat like smile.

   "No it doesn't," I objected.

   After feeling both of their hopes fall, I realized what those hopes had
been and so I added, "I'm not saying we won't mess around once in a while,
but I'm not ready for us to be a threesome again.  Right now, loving both
of you separately feels safe to me...  Look, whatever happens, happens, and
I won't regret it later.  Can't we just leave it like that for now?"

   Seeing they were agreeable with that, we dropped the subject.

   When Jason dropped Leanne off after eight o'clock that evening, I
immediately knew Leanne's feelings for Jason had deepened from the happy
glow around her, and stated the fact.

   "Is it that obvious?" Leanne sighed.

   "Yes," Suzi confirmed with sparkling eyes.

   "You're not upset?" Leanne asked Suzi.

   "No.  Just the opposite," Suzi said.

   "She thinks it would be cool if you were her sister-inlaw," I stated.

   "That's not the only reason," Suzi defended.

   "I have to admit," Leanne said, smiling.  "It would be pretty neat."

   "Well, I guess that means we're through swapping," I said.

   "No, not just yet," Leanne said, stepping up to me.  "There is still one
thing that I feel I must do.  I need to experience what it feels like as a
man while having sex with my body.  I didn't want to ask until Suzi and I
were done..."

   "Suz, you okay with it?" I asked.

   Suzi looked at Joey before saying, "I'm not the one you need to ask."

   "Joey?"

   "I think we pretty much covered this at breakfast," Joey said honestly.
"Suz and I can just stay up here tonight.  We need spend some time together
anyway before you both go home."

   "What about Jason?" I asked Leanne.

   "He'll be okay," Leanne assured me.  "He knows I need to do this."

   I looked at Joey, and for a moment I was seriously thinking about
demanding one last night just so I could be with him one last time.  But I
could see in his eyes that if I did, it wouldn't be real for him.  The only
way I could truly be with him again would be in my own body, and that
wasn't something I was ready to do yet.

   So Leanne and I went downstairs, then rekindled some of the passion we
had shared three and a half years prior.  It wasn't very real to me though.
Nothing was as real as that day and a half with Joey without the sight.

   The next morning, Leanne packed her things and moved in with Jason for
the rest of the week.  I tried to let my life go back to the way it had
been, yet I felt less enthused about everything, and both Suzi and Joey
noticed it.

   So after our last final on Thursday, Suzi and I went back to her
apartment with the understanding we were to spend the rest of the day
crossing that line of mine together.  I honestly felt a little
uncomfortable about it, as it seemed to me like we were forcing it.  But
once Suzi had us kissing in the shower, I let go of my inhibitions and
decide to just let it happen like I had said.

   "You know, I would think you would be tired of having sex with my body,"
I said as Suz teased my nipples with her tongue and teeth.

   "It's not the body as much who's driving it," Suzi said, looking up at
me.

   I smiled and kissed her, then pushed her against the shower wall and
slipped my cock inside her.

   I fucked her slow and steady for nearly ten minutes while we watched
each other's faces.  I stopped without either of us orgasming, mainly
because it wasn't the right time of the month for anyone to safely cum
inside her front door.

   We got out of the shower after that and made slow and steady love for
nearly a half an hour before taking a break and watching some TV.

   Everyone in the Group was fairly busy the next two days with the end of
semester programming of the Eta's and the financial aid slaves.  For those
who would not be returning the next semester, we had to remove the rats
from their minds, while the rest of the students simply had their mental
rats disabled to prevent it from being detected.

   The time consuming part was testing their memories for anything their
rats may have been unable to cover for.  The new and improved rats the
Group had developed after Joey and I had infiltrated the Group several
years ago prevented the subject from remembering anything the Group wanted
to keep hidden by putting the person's conscious mind into a dream state.
Essentially, the person would make up whatever memories they needed to fill
in the blanks on the fly and their personalities would adjust naturally to
their situation.

   The financial aid sluts were usually the worst to work with.  Their
personalities were okay, but their memories always seemed faked.  I hate
planting memories.  It's tedious work, and maintaining continuity is always
harder than what you would expect.

   But given the chance, I would have rather have stayed and spent the next
three weeks planting memories than face going home that Sunday morning.

   Suzi, Leanne, Jason and I drove home together in two cars, Jason's and
mine.  Suzi rode with me and kept me somewhat distracted with her constant
chit-chat with Leanne in the other car.

   But about halfway into the trip, I was reaching out to Leanne's mind
again to pass Suzi's question on to her when I accidentally reformed the
swap links without thinking.

   I broke the links before Leanne even had time to react to her hand
movements causing my car to swerve onto the shoulder.  Once I had the car
back on the road and crossly explained to Suzi what happened, Suzi ordered
me to pull over to let her drive.

   I complied, then after twenty minutes of driving in silence, I found
Leanne's and Jason's own conversations had dried up and formed the swap
links again.

   "Women," I sighed to Jason after listening to ten minutes of Suzi's and
Leanne's chit chat.

   "I told you this would happen," Jason said without any trace of
surprise.

   "I know, but you know how stubborn Suzi and Leanne can be.  There wasn't
any point of trying to convince them to ride with each other."

   "Suzi said you didn't really want to go home," Jason prompted after a
few minutes.  "Something about your mom."

   When I didn't reply, Jason asked, "Have you and your mom ever...  messed
around?"

   "No," I said as coldly as I could make Leanne's voice sound.

   "I think I would have if she had been my mom," Jason said honestly.  "I
remember seeing her and your dad doing it when I went to see the twins. 
You know, Leanne's body looks a lot like hers."

   "Did you see Richie?" I asked.

   "Yeah.  It was kind of weird seeing him humping a full grown woman like
that, but it was the most innocent thing I think I've ever seen."

   "How could it be innocent?  He's only two fucking years old!"

   "I don't know," Jason said carefully, having finally sensed how
disturbed I was over this.  "He worked so hard at trying to pleasure her,
and each time she came, he'd smile like he had just been handed a puppy or
something.  I don't really remember anything else other than seeing him
curled up in front of her sleeping with his thumb in his mouth.  You have a
really cute baby brother, Tim.  And that's coming from someone who thinks
babies are kind of lame."

   I was lost in my own memories of my baby brother when Jason asked, "Do
you know if Leanne wants kids?"

   "Eventually," I said absentmindedly, then asked, "Do you?"

   "Never really thought about it until now, but yeah.  I think I'd like
being a dad."

   "Even if Leanne isn't the mom?"

   "I guess," he said half-heartedly.  "So you don't think I stand much of
a chance with her?"

   "I honestly don't know," I said.  "How much do you two have in common?
Besides Suzi and uh...  sexual appetites."

   "We both love pro hockey and going rollerblading.  And one night we
talked all night about how to persuade people to do things for you and the
science behind it."

   "Sounds promising," I said while sensing his mind wander away.

   "Oakley fifty four miles," Jason read out loud as we passed the mileage
sign.

   "About an hour left," I sighed while the feeling of dread in my stomach
returned.

   "I'm confused," Jason said after a few minutes.  "You're upset with your
mom because your little brother is humping his nanny?"

   "I'm upset with my mom because she made my little brother's nanny open
to the idea and physically enjoy it," I said shakily.

   Jason frowned, then asked, "Why did she do that?"

   "I don't know!" I exclaimed.  "But you know it's wrong!"

   "So you don't know why she did it," Jason stated calmly.

   "I already said I didn't know," I said heatedly, confused why he didn't
see how horrible it was.

   "Did you ask?"

   "What?"

   "Did you ask her why?"

   "No!" I exclaimed.

   "Why not?"

   "Just because," I groaned.

   My emotions began colliding with each other as they struggled to prove
they were the strongest in that category, so I put my face in my hands to
help get a grip on myself.  It wasn't until heard Suzi say my name that I
realized I had broke the link with Leanne.

   "Timmy," Suzi repeated.

   "Yeah?" I croaked.

   "Are you okay?"

   "I guess," I said.

   After a few minutes of sorting out my feelings, I said, "Suz, could you
ride with Leanne and Jason the rest of the way?  I need some time alone
before I get home."

   "Don't you think it would be better if we talked about it first?"

   "Normally yes," I admitted.  "But your brother already made me realize
that the only person capable of helping me with this is my mom."

   A smile started to form on her lips before she covered it up with a
frown and huffed, "Men.  I've been telling you that all summer."

   "I know," I admitted guiltily.  "And so has Joey's mom.  You'd think I'd
have learned my lesson by now about listening to you."

   "You would think so," she said as her smile returned.  "Do you still
want to be alone a while?"

   "Yeah," I said, looking out the window at the cows buzzing past. 
"Besides, I'm sure Jason would like to know the plan worked.  Who's idea it
was it anyway?"

   "There was no plan, really.  I only suggested to Jason that if the
opportunity arose, he might try and get you to talk about it.  The two of
you did the rest."

   Once Suzi joined the others, I spent the rest of the trip not focused on
working out why my mom did what she did, but why I hadn't confronted her,
why I hadn't trusted her, and most of all, why I felt so insecure about the
whole ordeal.  In the end, I realized it was simply my greatest fear coming
back to haunt me.

   You remember my greatest fear, don't you?  The nightmare I had when I
first started using my abilities was really my visualization of my personal
hell.  I believed, and still do believe, that dream to have laid the
foundation for my moral fiber, my sense of right and wrong, especially
concerning the use of my abilities.

   I had long gotten over my fear that I would eventually succumb to the
temptations my abilities present to me everyday.  But the concept that my
mother was in fact slowly going down the very path she had warned me
about...

   My mother was not stupid or blind.  She had gone down that path once,
and then paid the price for doing so with fourteen years of abstinence and,
more importantly, forced guilt.  The more I thought about it, the more I
knew her decision to alter Michelle's mind was not due to corruption, but
just the opposite.

   And I knew she felt guilty for doing it too.  So guilty that she
couldn't bring herself to face me and make me understand.  And that was so
unlike her.

   I took a service entrance into the north mansion's grounds and parked my
car next to the empty greenhouses used to grow the flowers planted every
spring.  My parents weren't expecting me for another hour or two as I had
told my dad that morning I would be going to Suzi's first.  I wanted to
talk to my mom in private first thing, but if Richie got wind I was there
before that happened, there would be no privacy without having to weather
through a temper tantrum.

   The symbolic sight was such a useful thing to have when you are trying
to locate another telepath from a distance without anyone sensing you. 
Suzi has proven there were exceptions to this, but in this case it was very
effective.

   Unfortunately, my mom was helping Michelle and another woman with the
children while they swam in the outdoor pool.  I counted eleven children,
two of which were at least eight or nine, and all apparently calling the
north mansion their home.

   I snuck up as close as I dared and hid in a small grouping of trees and
bushes while contemplated contacting my mom and hoping she could get away
without Richie noticing.  But when the twins came out, surprisingly in swim
suits, I instantly knew including them in the plan would be my best chance
for success.

   I carefully crawled out of the bushes and kneeled beside one of them for
partial cover before sending the twins the empathic greeting I had learned
the previous semester.  The twins froze in their tracks and only hesitated
a moment before turning in unison towards my position.

   It's amazing how much information can be conveyed through emotions.  As
long as you only need to transmit the gist of the situation and not any
precise details, empathy is a much faster form of communication than
telepathy.  We only made eye contact for second, but not only did they
understand what I was asking them to do, they managed to express their
happiness to see me, their apology for being so cold last time, and managed
to give me a woody as a sort of sisterly tease.

   The twins then unhurriedly and gracefully dived into the pool and
converged on my unsuspecting little brother.  I couldn't help but gasp in
concern when they came up and launched the poor boy into the air, and I
watched in horror as Richie's scream was cut short by his splash.

   But then Richie surfaced and laughed, and as I recovered from my shock,
he swam like a little doggy fish up to the twins and exclaimed, "Again! 
Again!"

   I made my presence known to my mom while Richie was hurtling through the
air screaming a second time, then simply thought to her, "Garden path,"
when she hesitated.

   When she reached the garden path and saw me, my mom paused, then said in
an uncertain tone, "Hello stranger."

   I simply walked up to her and hugged her.

   Here again, my mom and I shared more information with each other in that
somewhat emotional five-minute hug than we could have if we had talked for
over an hour.  Not that we didn't talk for at least an hour out there in
the garden.  But mostly we were just catching up on the things we would
have normally shared over the phone the past three months.

   I never did learn the exact reasons for what she did to Michelle.  It
just didn't matter to me any more.  My empathic senses told me all I needed
to know.  Michelle wasn't any more a pedophile than I was, and Richie had
absolutely no interest in experimenting with the other children as he
understood they were simply too young for his "wee-wee" to feel good to
them.

   By the time my mom and I had finished catching up, everyone else had
gone back inside.  My mom and I joined Richie and the other kids in the
north study where they were watching cartoons.  There I learned that the
twins and my Dad had left on some sort of business trip, but they had left
a message with Sherman they would be back by nine and the twins wanted me
to spend the night with them.

   By the time the twins were back, Richie was sound asleep from a very
busy day of play.  I was fairly tired myself, and my back was a little sore
from all of the piggy back rides and rough-housing I had done with the
kids, but I forgot all about that once the twins and I were in the shower
together for some innocent fun.  But after several hours of sharing with
them not only my summer experiences but the pickle affair too, my
exhaustion caught up with me, and I fell asleep before I was finished.

   At the time, I would have never admitted to myself or anyone else I
missed Leanne's incredible cunt.  Or to be more precise, I missed using it.
The control I had had over its muscles had astonished me.  Her fuck hole
was an incredible tool that nothing else could compare to.  Sure, I could
telepathically mimic the sensations it produced, but it was just so much
more satisfying to do it with the real thing.  Plus it made me realize how
limited a cock was in the sense that I had no idea of how to use it to
produce similar affects on a woman without telepathic help.

   So between that and the fact I hadn't dream walked since before Leanne
showed up at Suzi's door, what happened next shouldn't have been that big
of a surprise.

   I believe it started off as a real dream, and I don't really recall the
beginning.  I do remember I was playfully strobing different muscle
combinations in my cunt just to see what the affect would be on the
semi-hard cock lying stationary inside it.  It wasn't until the cock fully
hardened and started to move that it became more than a dream.

   I was lying on my back with my eyes shut, completely at ease, enjoying
the warmth and weight of my lover's body on top of me.  My pussy's stroking
of the love rod inside it made him stir on top of me, and I detected a
faint bubble gum like odor on his breath when he playfully licked my lips
and repositioned his limbs to fuck.

   We were so well tuned to each other that we were like two pieces of the
same machine.  Every movement one of us made was so familiar to the other,
we knew exactly how to move our self to maximize the shared pleasure while
expending the least amount of energy to keep the momentum building.

   As more muscles were put into motion, the slight sensation of their
fatigue coupled with the pungent scent of our sex in the air reminded me we
were on our third and final climax of the night.  This of course meant it
be the longest and most challenging dance, but ultimately the most
rewarding.

   With nearly unbearable patience, I carefully alternated my vaginal
fingers massaging his slowly pumping cock.  The goal was to keep the
momentum building as slowly as possible, yet not so slowly that it
stagnated and died.

   Normally in a dream walk, I'm simply a passive observer, experiencing
the event just how the host experienced it without any sense of my own
personal self.  But in this case, a sense of impatience and desire to try
some random variations to spice up our current slow waltz grew inside me
that started to wedge between me and my host.  Frustration and desire
triggered an almost instinct like reaction in me, and without consciously
meaning to, I formed the links for a full two-way body swap.

   The resulting disruption to the dance's rhythm nearly ruined it, but my
dance partner managed to catch us before we completely lost our balance by
nailing my g-spot with his cock; my loud moan and vaginal spasm gave him an
equal spike of pleasure in return.

   Somewhat awake now, I opened my eyes briefly to see where I was, but
only got a glancing view of a dark room before I got caught up in the
pleasure of wearing that finely tuned cunt again.  I realized I had swapped
with Leanne again, and while I felt a little guilty about it, I was
enjoying it too much to cancel the swap.

   I managed to somewhat get back in sync with my partner just before
realizing whom my partner was.  I almost chuckled as I imagined Jason's
reaction if he realized who he was fucking.

   I felt a flash of frustration from him, and I realized I wasn't paying
enough attention to the dance.  So I focused on the task at hand, but found
I didn't have the intuition I needed to make our dance as smooth as Leanne
had.  After a couple of minutes of giving it my absolute best, I was almost
to the point of tears by my failure at what I had thought I was a natural
at.

   All my emotions were jerked from under me, however, when my partner
grunted out, "What's s'matter, Sam?  You said you up for this."

   My entire body stiffened, my eyes flew open, and I barely heard his
groan of pleasure over my shock of getting fucked by my own father.

   "That's more like it," my dad chuckled before he pulled his dick
completely out, then re-entered my still somewhat clenched hole.

   I couldn't help it.  My groan echoed his as my eyes rolled up in my head
with the intensity of pleasure I was receiving from my borrowed cunt. 
Purely by instinct, I held my sex passage in its somewhat rigid state until
his crotch was fully pressed against mine, then I started using my vaginal
muscles to pull him in deeper.

   "Going old school, eh?" he gasped, then grinned.

   Quite unexpectedly, my dad threw his hips left, then a little harder to
the right, causing the rim of his dick to scrape against my g-spot.  I
convulsed with the sharp pleasure, then exploded in a gasping laughter when
he did it again with similar affects.

   "Your turn," he said, looking deep into eyes.

   I could see my mothers face reflected in his eyes.  You know how a
microphone stuck in front of its speaker produces that uncontrolled
feedback loop?  Well, for a moment I forgot I was in my mom's body, and
between the love and arousal my dad was projecting and the arousal and
perhaps even lust I was projecting through my mom's face, my own emotions
got stuck in a similar feedback loop.

   I can still see my smile on my mothers lips right before my dad shut his
eyes and went rigid in pleasure.  I was swishing my juices around his cock
head, something I had tried to do with Joey, but with Leanne's cunt, it
produced too much pressure on his cock to be pleasurable.  It seemed that
my mom's equipment had a softer touch in comparison to Leanne's, and that
difference was not a bad thing.

   Once it had had its full effect, I eased up on the pressure, but kept
the motion going while he slowly began pumping in and out again.

   He lowered his head and said softly into my right ear, "That was a new
one," before licking then nibbling that earlobe.

   I opened my mouth to reply, but then noticed motion at the door of the
master bedroom.  I could just make out a figure hovering outside the dim
lighting surrounding the bed when my dad's head came up and blocked my
view. Distracted by what I knew had to be my mother's presence, I didn't
recognize his mouth heading for mine until it reached it.

   If I hadn't been so surprised, I would have stopped the whole thing
right then.  But during my hesitation, he turned everything up.

   My senses exploded with the love, companionship, trust, and fulfillment
emerging from the driving lust he emitted.  I could have never imagined the
blind, naked, and raw love flooding out of him, and the power it had
coupled with his vast experience in sex with the body I inhabited took me
to a level of pleasure and happiness I never had experienced before or
again as a woman.

   This was a secret side to my dad I hadn't fathomed before.  He was
making love, possibly the most extraordinary love I had ever witnessed much
less experienced, and I was too far lost in the sensation to do anything
but do my best to give him the same.

   The climatic orgasm brought me to tears, and as my dad's post orgasm
euphoria lifted, he realized I was trying not to choke on those tears as we
puffed to get our breath back.

   "What's wrong?" he asked, somewhat alarmed.  "Did I hurt you?"

   I couldn't speak, I was so overcome with emotion, and I was nearly as
startled as my dad when my mom said with my voice, "He'll be alright in a
minute, dear."

   "What?  What!" My dad exclaimed.  "Tim, what are you doing in here?!"

   "Charles, that's Tim,"

   My dad had some trouble understanding her meaning for several seconds,
but then turned and looked at me as it finally clicked.

   "Hi..." I said weakly, wearing a teary and apologetic smile.

   "TimOTHY!!!" he screamed, rolling off of me.

   "I'm sorry!" I blubbered as fresh tears filled my eyes.

   I was still feeling extremely emotional, and my tears confused my dad so
much he didn't know what to feel himself.  Sitting back on his shins on the
bed, he stared at me blubbering like a little kid with a scrapped knee, and
then he nearly fell off the bed when my mom wrapped her arms around him.

   "What the hell is going on?" he said with a shaky voice as my mom sat
down beside him.  "If you're Sam..."

   "I'm sorry...  I'm so sorry," I blubbered.

   As my mom started to explain what she had experienced, I was starting to
get a hold of myself and I final tried to cancel the swap links.  In the
state I was in, it took a minute to realize I couldn't.

   "Oh crap," I moaned.  "I'm mute again!"

   "What do you mean?" my dad asked.

   "I mean I can't access my voice," I said emotionally.  "I can't cancel
the links!"

   "That's ridiculous!" he exclaimed.  "You're the one who's doing it!"

   "Yes and no," my mom said with a touch of guilt.

   "Samantha..." my dad said in a warning tone.  "This isn't funny."

   "What?" I croaked with confusion.

   "No, Sam," my dad said in a steady tone.

   They were just looking at each other, conversing privately,
telepathically.

   "What?!" I repeated desperately.

   "I'm sorry, Timmy," my mother said while trying not to show her
amusement on her face.  "While you were...  distracted, I put a lock on the
swap so you wouldn't cancel it prematurely."

   "Oh," I said somewhat relieved, yet perplexed.  "Uh, why?"

   "Sam, I really don't...  It...  <sigh> Not him, Sam.  It's not right."

   "Mom!  What are you two talking about!" I exclaimed.

   "Timmy," my mom began with the humor sparkling in her eyes.  "Richie
isn't the only one in this family a little curious about your... 
experimentation with another male."

   "No shit?" I exclaimed.

   "No shit," my mom snickered.

   "This isn't funny," my dad growled as his face turned red.  "And I'm not
doing it."

   "Sweetie," my mom cooed oddly with my voice.  "Think about it.  It'll be
with me."

   "In his body!"

   "Didn't your father always say to only trust your deepest secrets within
the family," she insisted.

   "But it's...  Just so wrong."

   "Look me in the eyes," she said gently.

   "Sam..." he moaned despairingly as he complied.

   I couldn't see his face, but after more than a minute of silently
looking into what technically were my eyes, his composure seemed to relax.

   When my mom slid my body onto his lap, I pretty much guessed it was a
done deal, and they confirmed it with a gentle kiss.

   When a second kiss followed that one, and then a third that contained
some tongue, I started feeling edgy and a more than just a little creeped
out.

   "Shit, Sam," my dad chuckled a little nervously when she pushed him onto
his back on the bed and then straddled him.

   She was still wearing the shorts I had put on before bed, but my dad was
naked, and getting hard.

   "This is weird," he added as she leaned forward for another kiss.

   "You can say that again," I said under by breath.

   I didn't mean for them to hear it, but they obviously had as they both
were looking up at me with uncertainty.

   "Is this okay with you?" my dad asked.

   "I guess so," I said, not really sure how I felt about it.

   "Are you going to stay and watch?" my mother asked seriously, yet
somewhat teasingly as well.

   "No, I think I pass on that," I said as I moved to get off the bed.

   "So much for the threesome," my mom teased to my dad.

   I hurried towards the door, not wanting to hear what I knew my dad would
say next.

   "You know Sam," my dad began.  "You've always wondered what it would be
like to..."

   Safely on the other side of the master bedroom door with my fingers in
my ears, I managed to block out the rest.  I didn't care if I was drawing a
line in the dirt again.  I wasn't going fuck my own mother even if it was
her behind my cock instead of me.

   I went to the nearest bedroom to theirs and lay down.  Despite being
fairly exhausted, I knew I wouldn't be able to go to sleep while my mom was
active.  Once my body's hormones were flowing, I ended up raiding the
twin's toy box to help alleviate the horniness.

   Normally, the idea of pleasuring myself sexually while wearing my
mother's body would have been completely disgusting to me.  But this wasn't
normal in any definition of the word.

   You see, my symbolic vision wasn't active, and that made the experience
feel as real as it had when I had shunted the vision through the share link
to Joey.

   Whenever I dream walk into someone, I always experienced what the host
experienced, and that naturally didn't include the symbolic sight.  Of
course in a dream walk, I couldn't influence the host's actions without
making a more active connection, and I hadn't done that since the first
three or four times.

   I didn't understand why my symbolic sight wasn't active, but I wasn't
about to tempt fate either.  I doubted I'd ever have another chance to be
completely free of the sight while swapped with a woman again, especially
one whom had been...  upgraded like my mom and Leanne had been.

   After bringing myself to my first orgasm in record time, I took my time
and explored the differences in my mom's equipment from Leanne's.  The
closest comparison I can think of that of a pair of shoes.

   When you get a new pair of sneakers, they have that new leather smell,
fit firmly on your foot, and are spotless.  They look great and all, but
until they've been broken in, they can make your feet hurt if you wear them
too long at a time.

   But there is nothing more comfortable than a pair of a well broken in
sneakers.  And because you're not so worried they'll get dirty or smelly,
you have less inhibitions about taking them through the mud, getting them
soaked, or wearing them days on end.

   While I didn't try anything with my mom's body I hadn't done with
Leanne's, my mom's was definitely more comfortable and flexible than
Leanne's.  Her vaginal senses were sharper, she seemed to have greater
control over her vaginal muscles, and I discovered my mom had not just one
g-spot, but three.

   There were plenty of possible physical reasons for these differences,
such as my mother having bared two children, differences in age, or it
could even be genetic.

   But the most likely reason in my mind is simply my father.  Remember, he
forced her to complete the training and development of her modified body to
what she originally desired.  But the love he felt and shared with my
mother by the time they had finished the training made him feel extremely
vulnerable, and to protect himself, he had kept its depth a secret from
everyone else, including his mother and his two sons.  Without my father's
love, my mother would not have continued to broaden and refine her body's
capabilities in both receiving and inducing physical pleasure through
sexual intercourse.

   I don't remember falling asleep, but I was awakened the next morning by
my dad's panicked, "Oh shit!"

   I had just managed to hide the dildos under the covers when my dad came
barreling out of their bedroom without even his robe on.

   My mother met me at the bedroom's door laughing.

   "What's up with him?" I asked as an involuntary smile crept onto my
face.

   "We were comparing notes, so to speak, and I suggested that we watch
Timmy's First later with you tonight after Richie is asleep."

   She paused, expecting me to figure it out, but when all I gave her was a
blank stare, she pointed behind me at the mirror in the room I had slept
in.

   It only took a moment to understand she wasn't pointing at the mirror
itself, but the video camera hidden behind its one way glass.

   "He's destroying tapes from last night so Richie..." she began just as
it clicked in my head.

   "Doesn't see his older brother fucking his dad in ass!" I exploded.

   We both laughed so hard we were clinging onto each other to keep from
falling down.

   Once we had come to our senses, my mom unlocked the block on my mind,
and I killed the links.

   My mom gave me a big hug, thinking to me, "Thank you, sweetie."

   The hug I gave back made any other reply unnecessary, and after we
exchanged a peck on the lips, my mom yawned which I instantly echoed.

   She tugged on my hand and nodded in the direction of the bed I had slept
in.  I passively followed her inside, closing the door behind me and
locking it to keep Richie from waking us up.

   As I approached the side of the bed opposite to hers, she pulled back
the cover, chuckled, then gave me a humorous look.

   I just shrugged, climbed into the bed, and threw the dildos onto the
floor behind me.

   After a brief snuggle, we spooned, then closed our eyes to go to sleep.
But before we could, we heard my dad come back down the hall, triggering a
fit of giggles from both of us.

   Just as we were settling down again, the memory of my dad's love making
popped in my head, and it stirred up some very mixed feelings.

   After stewing about it a few minutes, I came to a decision and said,
"Mom?  I think I better sleep at the south mansion a few nights starting
tonight."

   "Oh?  Why?"

   "I...  uh," I stammered.  "I don't know if I could...  What I mean to
say is..."

   "Oh, I think understand," she interrupted gently.

   "Uh, you won't tell dad why, will you?"

   "It'll be our little secret," she said with another yawn.

   A minute later, she added, "At least now you understand why I wanted to
be with him after he found you."

   I smiled, gave her a hug, then with an increasing feeling of
lovesickness filling my heart, I sighed, "Yeah.  I understand completely."

  
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+

   Tim, the Teenage MC By Rass Senip Chapter XXII: Summer 90 Part 5 -
Starships and Queens (mc, mf, mff, mm, mfm, all very brief)
---------------------------------------

   Joey was weaving through an asteroid belt made of cotton candy when a
distant electronic chime gently brought him out of his sweet dream.

   "Alarm off," Joey muttered as he rolled onto his side.

   Twenty minutes later, Joey suddenly snapped his eyes open and gasped,
"Shit.  Computer.  What time is it?"

   "The time is oh six hours, fifty-two minutes," the female voice
instantly replied.

   "I still have eight minutes then," Joey said with relief, and then
proceeded to stretch.

   After letting out a whoop of a yawn, Joey bounced out of his bed and
went straight into the sonic shower in the corner of his room.

   "Computer, time," Joey commanded once he had finished the basics and
found the tingling sonic vibrations had restored his morning woody.

   "The time is oh six hours fifty-five minutes."

   "Argh," Joey moaned, then opened the shower's door.

   "Warning!," the computer chirped instantly.  "Sonic shower deactivated.
On next use, please deactivate sonic shower and wait for the end of cycle
tone before opening door.  This will ensure..."

   "Computer, time!" Joey barked, cutting it off, as he reached for his
underwear.

   "The time is oh six hours, fifty-five minutes," the female voice
replied.

   Joey stepped into his tunic and zipped it up, then paused in front of
the mirror to make sure everything was in order before frowning and saying,
"Computer, edit time preferences for Joey Conner.  For one hour after a
wakeup alarm, all verbal time requests should include the seconds.  Save
changes and tell me the time again."

   "Changes saved.  The time is oh six hours, fifty-eight minutes, twelve
seconds," the female voice replied.

   "Shit.  There is no way I'll get to the bridge in less than two
minutes," Joey groaned before grabbing his communicator off his night
stand, and then dropping it when it chirped.

   "Lieutenant Commander Joey Connor, report to transporter room two," the
slightly muffled voice of the computer said through the communicator.

   "Oh, well now you tell me," Joey exclaimed with irritation as he picked
the funky looking metallic arrow up and slapped it to his chest.

   Joey pressed the unlock button on the keypad by the door of his
quarters, then smiled as the door swooshed open.  At least now he had an
excuse to be late.

   But instead of rushing down the corridor to the turbo lift like he had
intended, Joey paused from the sensation that he was missing something
important in his rush to leave.

   He turned around and scanned his quarters with his eyes, then queried
the computer for the time again.

   "The time is oh seven hours oh one minutes, thirty-five seconds," the
female voice instantly replied from the interior or his room.

   "Computer, why didn't you announce my change of orders over the room's
com system?"

   "Inquiry not understood.  Please clarify."

   "Why did you use the communicator instead of the room's com system when
you relayed my orders to report to the transporter room a few minutes ago."

   "Inquiry not understood.  Please clarify."

   "Clarify yourself!" Joey said with a huff.

   "Reference to change of orders not found within default time reference."

   "What's the default time reference?"

   "Twenty-four hours."

   "Computer, where am I supposed to be right now?"

   "Lieutenant Commander Joey Connor was scheduled to be on the bridge at
seven hundred hours."

   Joey's right eyebrow shot up, then reversed its direction as it joined
his left eyebrow in forming a frown as he tapped his communicator and said,
"Connor to the bridge."

   "Brigley here.  Joey, you're late again."

   "I know that.  But late for where?"

   "For the bridge, where else would you...  Well, never mind now.  Your
goose is cooked.  The captain just stepped out of the turbo lift."

   "Jon, I swear it isn't my fault this time.  The computer told me to
report to the transporter room over my com badge when I tried to put it on,
but now it doesn't seem to know..."

   "Lieutenant Brigley," the Captain's voice interrupted in the background
of the communicator's signal.  "Is that our ops officer reporting in to say
he overslept again?"

   "Yes sir.  Or rather, no sir.  He seems to be having difficulty with the
computer this morning."

   "Tell him to get his ass up here on the double, or he'll have more
problems than the computer to deal with.

   "Aye, sir," Brigley replied, then privately to Joey said, "You heard the
lady."

   "Yeah, I heard her," Joey said.  "Hey Jon, do me one quick favor first.
Update the orders in the computer.  I want to see how it announces it to
me."

   "Okay, but I wouldn't waste any more time if I were you.  Brigley out."

   Joey stepped back into his room and locked the door, then waited for the
computer to speak for over a minute.

   "Computer, time," Joey demanded impatiently.

   "The time is oh seven hours, oh nine minutes, fourteen seconds. 
Lieutenant Commander Joey Conner, report to the bridge," the computer said
through the room's com system without any hesitation in between.

   "Somebody must be playing a fucking joke on me," Joey huffed as he
flicked his finger at the unlock button and ran to the nearest turbo lift.

   Joey's ears were already red as he stepped out of the turbo lift and on
to the bridge, but his spreading blush abruptly halted itself as his blood
froze from the way his sister's fingers on her left hand were tapping
rhythmically on her chair's status console.

   "And I just got comfortable," the ensign muttered under her breath as
Joey stepped up to the ops station and officially relieved her.

   "Commander, I wish to have a word with you in my ready room," the
captain announced just as Joey had gotten settled in.

   "Aye, sir," Joey automatically said while his left hand momentarily
spazed out from his surge of anxiety, which was only worsened by the panel
noisily complaining at his invalid entry.

   Joey quickly secured his station and logged off before standing up and
catching the look on the brunette's face as she walked up to take his
place.

   "Don't get too comfortable this time, ensign," Joey said with a firm
tone.

   "I'm just keeping the seat warm for you, sir," she playfully replied.

   Joey had to wipe the smile off his face before pressing the call button
on the ready room's door.  And when he heard his sister's voice say "Come,"
he realized he strangely felt relaxed about what was about to take place.

   "Captain," Joey said after the door swooshed closed behind him and Sarah
hadn't turned from her position at the window.

   "What did I say right before I authorized your transfer to my ship?"
Sarah said with a quiet yet firm voice.

   "No breaks on account of being the Captain's brother," Joey sighed.

   "What else?"

   "Come on, Sarah.  We went through all this last week."

   "Well apparently it didn't do any good.  What else?"

   "I have to be the perfect officer, never slouch on the job, and
basically never give anyone any reason to say you play favorites."

   "I have to reprimand you just like I would anyone else," she said,
turning around.

   "Okay, okay...  I know the drill.  I'll be painting the ship's hull on
my day off again."

   "And you'll use the right paint this time.  Not the kind that glows neon
green or any other color when we're on the night side of the planet."

   "Yes sir."

   "Joey, you're the best ops officer we have, and I know that all the
effort you put into your special projects can leave you drained.  If you
can't report to duty because you're too tired to get up, then get the doc
to give you a note or something.  Just don't make up lame excuses like
trying to blame the computer.  Nobody on the bridge is going buy that, so I
can't either."

   "Get a note from the doc.  Check.  But for what its worth, somebody was
playing a trick on me this morning by sending a false change of orders
computer announcement though my communicator."

   "Really...  Have you reported this to security?"

   "Awe...  Do I have to?"

   "I want you to be here on the bridge when you're supposed to be, not
wandering around the ship on a wild goose chase next time the Borg decide
to attack."

   "Well, I kind of hoped to track down whoever it was myself, but I guess
you're right."

   "Of course I'm right," Sarah said with a false insulted huff.  "I am the
Captain after all.  Now get back to your post, Commander."

   "Aye, sir," Joey said while giving her a fancy salute.

   Just as the ready room's doors swooshed opened from Joey's approach,
Joey's communicator chirped and then announced, "Lieutenant Commander Joey
Conner, report to transport room two."

   "See?" Joey exclaimed to both Sarah and Jon.

   But everyone's attention was instantly diverted the next moment by the
computer's announcement of, "Intruder alert."

   "Where?" the Captain demanded as she quickly followed Joey out of the
ready room.

   "I...  I don't know, sir," the ensign at tactical announced.  "There are
no unaccounted life signs aboard."

   "Computer," Sarah barked as she landed her butt into her chair with a
bounce.  "Explain the intruder alert."

   "Inquiry not understood.  Please clarify."

   Anticipating the computer wouldn't be able to explain itself, Joey's
fingers began to fly across his console as he inputted query after query in
tracking down what had triggered the computer's automated announcement. 
Strangely enough, when he found the source, he didn't feel the least bit
surprised.

   "Captain," Joey exclaimed, interrupting the computer's explanation of
its confusion, much to Sarah's relief.  "Someone or something is trying to
activate the transporter system in transporter room two."

   "Yellow alert," Sarah barked into the com system in her chair's arm. 
"Security to transporter room two.  Secure the doors, but do not enter
until the captain's party arrives.  Engineering, shut down power to all
transporters until further notice.  Lieutenant Commander Wishmaker report
to the captain outside transporter room two."

   "Joey," Sarah said with her you're-with-me tone, shortly followed by,
"Lieutenant Brigley, you have the con."

   Joey followed Sarah into the turbo lift, then just as Sarah instructed
the lift to take them to transporter room two, her communicator beeped and
said, "Engineering to the captain."

   Sarah tapped her com badge and said "Go ahead."

   "Grant here sir.  All attempts to reroute power from transporter room
two have been unsuccessful.  Do you want us to shut down the grid to that
section?"

   Joey's communicator beeped again, then announced, "Joey Conner to
transporter room two."

   Joey and Sarah looked at each other, then as the turbo lift slowed to
make a turn, Sarah said, "Go ahead and get ready to, but don't turn off the
grid unless I give the order.  And lieutenant, start monitoring Lieutenant
Commander Connor's communicator.  I want to know the exact location of
anyone sending a message to his communicator."

   "Aye sir," Grant said with a slight hesitation to her voice.

   "Captain out," Sarah said before tapping her com badge to disconnect.

   "Times like this I wish I did have a first officer," Sarah said while
pulling a rubber band out of her pocket and using it to put her hair back.

   "It didn't call me Lieutenant Commander that time," Joey pointed out
with a thoughtful frown.  "And you know you'd be playing favorites if you
made me first officer."

   "Who said anything about you being first officer?"

   "Fine then.  Make Terence your first officer and be done with it," Joey
said, the first officer issue being the last thing on his mind at the
moment.  "What are we going to do, Sarah?"

   "Well it's obvious this isn't a computer glitch, and it isn't Borg.  It
isn't their style.  Someone is trying to get you to go to that transporter
room.  So let's give them what they want and see what happens.  I'll have
Jon raise the shields if they try to transporter you out.  But my instincts
say that's not what's going to happen."

   "Well, just remember," Joey said as the turbo lift finally stopped and
the doors opened.  "Mom is going to be pissed if you lose me to a bunch of
aliens."

   "Is the room secure?" Sarah asked Terrence as they approached the
heavily armed party outside the transporter room.

   "Secure?  Depends on your point of view," he said, handing Sarah and
then Joey a phaser.  "The doors are magnetically sealed, nobody is inside,
and no one has come out.  However, I didn't lock the doors, and they aren't
responding to my security overrides.  I'm about ready to blast a hole
through the bloody thing."

   "I don't think that will be necessary," Sarah said.

   As Sarah filled Terence and the security team in, Joey slapped his
phaser onto his hip before walking over to the open panel next to the
transport room door.

   The moment Joey touched the diagnostic controls normally covered by the
panel, the corridor lights died, the red alert klaxon wailed along with the
sound and shimmer of force fields being raised throughout the corridor, and
the computer's voice announced over the ship's com system, "Intruder alert.
Security fields activated.  First officer Commander Joey Conner to
transporter room two."

   Just as Joey was getting a handle on the situation, for a split he felt
the tingle of a familiar mind touching his, and then the transporter room
doors opened on their own accord.

   "Joey, don't even think about going in there," Sarah warned as she
tested the force field blocking her way with her hand.

   "It's okay, Sarah," Joey said as he felt the touch again.  "I think it's
Tim."

   "Computer, deactivate force fields outside transporter room two!"
Terence ordered.

   "Unable to comply.  Security level zero required."

   "Security level zero?!?" Terence exclaimed.  "There is no such security
level, you bloody machine!"

   "Computer, who has security level zero clearance?" Joey asked.

   "That information is unavailable.  Joey Conner to transporter room two.

   "Please," the computer added after a small delay.

   The familiar mind touched his again, lingering long enough that Joey got
a sense of the direction it had come from.  Joey probed the transporter
room with his limited unlinked telepathic senses and got a wispy trace of
what he decided was an incomplete thought.

   "Commander, hold your ground," Sarah ordered when Joey moved towards the
door.

   "Be ready to raise those shields," Joey said after a slight hesitation,
then walked into the transporter room.

   The doors closing behind him barely registered to Joey as his limited
telepathic senses tingled with the wispy traces of another mind trying to
reach him.  Joey froze in fear when he found himself standing in front of
the transporter controls with his right hand reaching for the energizer
touch pad without consciously knowing he was doing it.

   But then the wispy thoughts seemed to focus themselves enough to impart
the urgency of situation, and without any further thought, Joey started the
rematerialization sequence.

   Joey held his breath as the sparkles of the transporter beam formed
between the floor and ceiling pads, but after over a minute of waiting for
something to materialize, he had to gasp for his breath while checking the
controls for what could be wrong.

   "Not enough power," Joey muttered to himself before tapping his
communicator and saying, "Conner to the Captain."

   When he didn't get a response, Joey sighed, tapped his communicator
again and said, "Conner to the bridge."

   "Fucking fantastic," Joey muttered when again he didn't get a response.
"Computer, are you still with me?"

   "Inquiry not understood."

   "At least some things don't change," Joey said to himself.  "Computer,
increase power to the transporter."

   "Unable to comply.  Power routing for this section has been disabled."

   "Shit," Joey said when his attempt to override the lockout failed. 
"Computer, where is Captain Harrison?"

   "Captain Harrison is not aboard the Harrison."

   "What?!?" Joey exclaimed.  "When did she leave?"

   "That information is unavailable."

   "Computer, fuck yourself in the ass.  You're useless!"

   "Unable to comply.  Command not understood."

   Joey estimated that he had less than a minute left before the matter
stream would destabilize and whoever or whatever was in the beam would be
lost.  As he scanned the room for an additional source of power, his hand
brushed up against his phaser.

   "Well, if it worked on TV," Joey said as he took his phaser off his hip
and went to the other side of the transporter console.

   Before Joey could finish removing the access plate from the rear of the
console, the mind which he nearly forgotten all about suddenly found its
way to him again and desperately tried to get Joey to form a share link
with it.

   The mind was very weak, so weak that Joey was hesitant on forming the
link knowing it would drain him like a battery.  But he also felt the
mind's desperation and anxiety, and most of all, he felt the other's fear
for the life trapped in the beam.

   So Joey physically braced himself before forming the share link, and for
a moment he thought it had failed when he didn't feel anything more.

   The familiar sound of a materialization behind him caused Joey to turn
around, then he felt his strength leave him as the beam's occupant began to
take physical form.

   Joey was on his hands and knees with dizziness when the transporter
cycle completed and the figure on the transporter pad slumped to the
ground. The room spun around Joey as he tried to crawl over to the
transporter pad, but he quickly found himself so disorientated and weak
that his hand could just barely find his com badge and tap it before he
lost his coordination all together.

   "Medical emergency in transporter room two," Joey said as loud as he
could despite his voice refusing to work.

   The world around Joey blurred to a hazy nothing, his mind getting stuck
somewhere between being awake and asleep.  At one point Joey sensed he was
being moved, and later managed to open his eyes when he heard Sarah saying
something to him.  But when he couldn't focus enough to understand her,
Joey gave up and fell fast asleep.

   The sound of the red alert klaxon brought Joey out of his deep
regenerative sleep seemingly only moments after having entered it.  He sat
up feeling somewhat sluggish both mentally and physically, and took a
moment to take in his surroundings.

   Joey was just coming to the conclusion he was in sick bay when someone
stirred on the diagnostic bed next to him.

   "Doc?" Joey called before carefully slipping his legs over the edge of
the bed and trying to stand up.

   "Doctor Brown?  Nurse?" he called again when he felt dizzy and sat back
down.

   "Joey?" the other bed's occupant softly called out.

   Joey took a deep breath before staggering over to the other bed, then
struggled to see through his dizziness to identify the other patient.

   "You found me," the stranger said.  "I didn't know where I was, and I
kept hearing you and Suzi, but I couldn't find you."

   "I'm sorry, but I'm so dizzy I can't see straight," Joey said with
difficulty.  "Who are you?"

   "Eric," the faintly familiar voice said.  "Eric Roberts?"

   "Eric?" Joey gasped in shock.  "What the hell are you doing here?"

   Joey's found his dizziness fading while he watched Eric's increasing
astonished face taking in their surroundings apparently for the first time.

   "Joey, where _is_ here exactly?" Eric asked softly.

   "You're aboard the USS Harrison, a Challenger class starship."

   "Starship?"

   "Yeah.  Cool, huh?"

   Eric took another look around the sick bay, then laid back down sighing,
"It's just a dream, then."

   "I know it seems like it, but it's not, Eric.  We're really on a
starship."

   Eric frowned, then asked, "Oh really?  Then how did I get here?"

   "Well, that's actually a good question," Joey said.

   Eric didn't try to interrupt Joey's description of the events leading to
Eric's arrival, but at the same time, he didn't believe a word of it and
stated so when Joey finished.

   "Alright," Joey said, throwing his hands up in front of him to signify
he was giving up.  "I can't spend any more time here trying to convince
you. We're at battle stations, and I need to report to the bridge."

   "The bridge?  Oh, of course.  You're the Captain, right?" Eric sneered.

   "No, I'm not," Joey said huffily before tapping his communicator and
saying, "Conner to the bridge."

   "This is the Captain.  Joey, are you all right?"

   "I think so," Joey said.  "Why are we still at red alert?"

   "The Gaylord is under attack.  We're twenty minutes away from intercept.
If you're up to it, I'd like you at ops."

   "Is it...  Borg?"

   "Yes.  Wally said they popped out of nowhere.  I don't know what we're
going to find by the time we get there, but they're going to pay for what
they did to Jon Luc."

   "Oh, give me a break," Eric muttered.

   "I'll be there as soon as I can.  Conner out," Joey said before closing
the channel and turning back to Eric.

   "Eric, I think it would be better if you came with me."

   "Why, oh phantom of my imagination?"

   "Look!" Joey said, seizing Eric by the shoulders and pressing his
fingers into him.  "Whether you want to believe it or not, you're in the
middle of this, and you have to be here to help us somehow.  You remember
Wally, don't you?  Well, right now he's probably getting the shit blasted
out of him."

   "By the Borg?" Eric said with discomfort, finding Joey's pinching grasp
a little too real for a dream.  "But they're not real!  None of this is!"

   "A couple of months ago, I would have said the same thing," Joey said,
releasing Eric from the look of uncertainty in his eyes.  "Eight years ago,
a couple of members of a secret organization of telepaths called the Cabal
sensed a linked consciousness with inhuman thoughts approaching Earth. 
Eventually they were able to determine that these aliens intended to
enslave us using a combination of genetic and electromechanical
modifications of our bodies.

   "So they started gathering the greatest scientific minds and put them to
work building spaceships more advanced than anything ever seen before, and
also started a program to train as many voices as possible to man the ships
when the time came.

   "My sister's group at Central State was one of seven groups of telepaths
trained without them even knowing it.  They found that the team-ship formed
when they thought they were alone was much stronger than in voices who knew
it wasn't a life or enslavement situation.

   "Three months ago, they contacted Sarah and brought us into the fold, so
to speak.  We've been training on the ships for over two months now, and
we're just to the point where we can handle them on our own without our
mute commander guiding us."

   "What about Suzi and Tim?" Eric asked, unsure what to believe.

   "They're on Earth.  Last week, Tim nearly fried his brain out taking on
the whole damn Borg collective while we tried to rescue the Challenger.  We
saved a lot of the crew, but Jon Luc was...  Well, he's just not human
anymore."

   "Is Tim okay?" Eric asked.

   "He will be.  He just needs to rest his telepathy a while.  Suzi went
with him because I was having problems linking afterwards, and she'd be
vulnerable to the Borg's control if she isn't linked through me."

   "The Borg are telepathic?"

   "Very.  That's why everyone on the ships is either a voice or immune to
voice."

   "Everyone but me," Eric pointed out.

   "You'll be alright," Joey said reassuringly.  "We shielded our mute
first officer through three attacks without a problem.  And the Borg
probably won't even bother with you since you're not part of the crew.

   "Computer, how long until we're in range of the Gaylord?" Joey queried
when Eric didn't immediately ask another question.

   "Fourteen minutes, forty one seconds," the computer replied.

   "Come on," Joey said when he suddenly noticed Eric's clothes.  "We need
to get you out of those shorts and into a uniform."

   "Why a uniform?"

   "Because that's all we have," Joey chuckled.  "You feel up to walking?"

   "I think so," Eric said after standing up on his feet and taking a
couple of steps.  "I feel really light though.  Like I'm floating."

   "Half a gee of gravity," Joey explained as he led the way out of the
sick bay.  "I say gravity, but it's really inertia.  The ship's just a big
spinning donut with a big rocket mounted at the center of the hole.  The
first time Tim, Suz and I saw the Harrison, my sister had to stun the three
of us just to stop us from making each other laugh with jokes."

   "Rocket?" Eric said with surprise.  "What, no warp drive?"

   "I wish," Joey said.  "No warp drive, no Vulcans, and no tractor beams."

   "But you have transporters," Eric said, finding himself at odds with the
whole situation again.

   "One good thing about the Borg," Joey said as they stepped into a turbo
lift.  "They can't keep a secret worth a damn.

   "Deck five, section C," Joey told the turbo lift before explaining
further to Eric, "We picked up the warp drive, the transporters, energy
weapons, and force fields from just listening to their collective mind."

   "You just said you don't have warp drive," Eric objected.

   "The Harrison doesn't, but we do have the technology.  It just doesn't
do us any good since you can't use it when you're in a gravity well."

   "Gravity well?"

   "Er, gravity field then.  The warp technology the Borg have only works
outside a gravity field, which means we'd have to fly outside the solar
system before we could use the drive."

   "That sucks," Eric said.

   "Yeah, well, if it wasn't for that, we'd all have been Borgified years
ago.  We think it's taken them over twenty years to get here from where
they warped in at."

   The turbo lift came to a halt, and as they waited for the doors to open,
Eric heard someone whisper, "He's dreaming."

   "Did you hear that?" Eric asked Joey just as the doors opened."

   "What, the doors?"

   "No.  I heard someone whispering."

   Joey immediately stopped in his tracks and turned towards Eric with
alarm all over his face.

   "Whatever you do, don't listen to them."

   "Who?"

   "The Borg!"

   "It wasn't the Borg," Eric said as he felt the color drain from his
face. "I mean, it doesn't make sense."

   "Can you hear them now?"

   "No."

   "Good," Joey said, visibly relieved.  "If you hear any other whispers,
focus on something else and let me know you need help, okay?"

   "Yeah, okay."

   Joey stopped and asked, "Hey, you're almost Tim's size, aren't you?"

   "I guess so," Eric said with some surprise.  "I haven't seen him for
about year now, so I don't know."

   "Let's try his quarters first then.  If they're baggy on you, we can try
someone else's."

   Eric felt somewhat insulted by this.  For the past six months, Eric's
friends and family were constantly commenting on how amazed they were by
his latest growth spurt.  Randy, his boyfriend, had convinced Eric to join
a gym with him so they could both get into shape over the summer and try
out for the varsity football team together.

   Eric wasn't vain, but he had become a bit proud of his masculine and fit
body.  He was fairly sure he wouldn't fit in the clothes Joey had pulled
out of the drawer, but Joey insisted they would stretch.

   And they did stretch.  Eric was standing in front of the mirror admiring
how every ripple of his six pack was visible through the tunic when Joey
returned to the room and gasped.

   "Joey, what's the matter?" Eric said with alarm.

   "Eric?"

   "Yeah.  Are the Borg attaching?"

   "What?  No.  No, nothing like that," Joey stammered while his eyes
studied Eric's face with a fierce intensity.  "You...  changed."

   "Yeah?  Shorts go bye bye, remember?"

   "Not just the clothes.  You...  You grew up.  Shit, you're like nearly
six foot tall."

   "Five eleven, one eighty five, plus a six pack," Eric said proudly. 
"That's how Randy says it."

   "Eric, up until I left a couple of minutes ago, you were...  Shit, you
were like you were in Venezuela."

   "Sees what you see," Eric heard whispered.

   "Bridge to Lieutenant Commander Conner," Joey's communicator chirped.

   "Go ahead, Jon," Joey replied.

   "The captain wanted me to inform you we're five minutes away from
interception.  If you're going to be at ops when we get there, you better
haul ass."

   "Roger.  On my way."

   Joey looked at Eric, then shook his head and said, "Come on.  We'll
figure it out later.  Right now we have to save the human race.  Again."

   Between Joey's anxiety of the upcoming battle and Eric's doubts of the
reality of his situation bubbling through his mind again, the turbo lift
ride to the bridge was in total silence.

   The moment the doors open, however, Eric couldn't help but let out an
astonished "Wow!"

   "I'd give you the tour, but we don't have time," Joey said, just as the
big view screen at the front jumped to the image of a big black donut with
a bright white flame coming from its otherwise empty center.

   "What the hell?" Joey exclaimed as he made his way forward to his
console.  "Is he doing what I think he's doing?"

   "I don't know," Sarah said, her tone full of dread.  "They still have
under seven minutes left to turn the ship around and do a full burn to
avoid collision.  Terence, are you sure we can hit their engine at this
range?"

   "We'll know in six minutes from...  mark," Terence said calmly.

   "Come on Wally," Sarah said under her breath.  "Don't make me do this."

   Eric was looking around for a place to stay out of the way when Sarah
suddenly noticed him.

   "Eric, you can come and sit in the first officer's chair, if you like,"
Sarah offered.

   "Uh, thanks, but wouldn't I be in the way?"

   "Only if you start acting like a first officer," Sarah said, generating
a snicker from the entire bridge crew.

   After Eric sat down beside her, Sarah asked.  "Do you understand what's
going on?"

   Eric nodded and said, "You're hoping Wally turns his ship around."

   "No.  If he does, it means Wally and the others on the ship have been
taken over and will try and dock with the Borg's ship to be processed."

   "But if they don't turn...  Won't they be killed?"

   "Either way, they're already dead.  I just hope I don't have to be the
one to kill them first."

   "You'll fire on them if they turn," Eric stated, his gut tightening at
the thought of Wally's demise.

   "Better that than to be mutated into one of them," Sarah said with a
bitter resolve.

   "Captain!" Terence exclaimed.  "Two life pods just ejected.  And two
more!"

   "And another pair.  And another," Joey announced.  "Looks like standard
evacuation launch pattern too."

   "Make sure you get an accurate count on the number of pods launched and
their headings, Terence," Sarah commanded.  "Jon, what's the E.T.A.  for
our point of no return?"

   "Uh," Brigley stammered, then said, "Eight minutes, twenty one seconds."

   "Shannon, send an update to the Cheap-Slut and the Black Hawk.  Tell
them if they don't receive another update before that time, we'll be
following Gaylord's example."

   Eric shivered as he felt the tension on the bridge shoot up, and as
Sarah ignored the nervous chit chat going on around her, Eric started to
get pretty scared.

   "Bathroom," Eric's mysterious whisper said.

   Eric looked all the way around the bridge looking for some sign of a
bathroom of some sort.  Out of three doors, two were labeled turbo lift,
and the other was labeled Captain's ready room.

   While Eric was uncertain whether to trust this whispering voice, he
couldn't see how it could possibly be the whispers Joey had been so afraid
of and decided to investigate it.

   "Excuse me, Captain.  Where's the head?" Eric asked Sarah.

   "The what?"

   "The head.  The toilet."

   "Oh," Sarah said before pointing over her left shoulder.  "The door
between the turbo lift and the ready room."

   "That door wasn't there a moment ago," Eric said to himself, already
feeling better about not telling Joey about his whispering friend.

   "Hello?" Eric whispered once the bathroom's door shut behind him.  "I'm
here."

   Silence.

   Eric sat down on the stainless steel toilet and listened to the gentle
hum of the small room's lights and air system.  There were no whispers, and
even the sounds of the bridge crew and its equipment were totally blocked
out of the five by four foot room.  It was so peaceful, Eric wanted to
close his eyes and just let himself float away to sleep...



   "Wake up," the whisper said with urgency.

   "About time," Eric said, snapping his eyes open only to find himself in
complete darkness.

   "Take Joey and Suzi to Tim," the whisper said gently.

   "Who are you?" Eric asked in a soft voice.

   "Take Joey and Suzi to Tim," the whisper repeated, but this time so
faint Eric barely heard it.

   "Hello?" Eric said a little louder when the whisper didn't say anything
else.

   "You know, I'm getting tired of this shit," Eric shouted as he stood up
and stretched his arms out to feel around.

   Eric quickly realized he was still in the bridge's head, there just
didn't seem to be any power.

   "Damn it!  What kind of starship is this?  Didn't they ever hear of
emergency lights?"

   "Emergency lighting activated," the computer's voice announced as the
room lit up in a dull red light.

   "Alright, let's give this Star Trek shit a try," Eric said thoughtfully.
"Emergency door open."

   Nothing happened.

   "Uh...  Open sesame?"

   "Open says me?"

   "Think Eric.  You've watched a few episodes," Eric mumbled to himself.
"Computer.  Uhm, override door control."

   "Access code required for all override commands."

   "Access code.  Let's see.  How about two, four, six, eight?"

   "Access code accepted for security level zero."

   "Good.  Now, open the damn doors."

   "Unable to comply.  Main power off line.  Doors must be opened using
manual override."

   "Right.  Um.  Computer, where is the manual override?"

   "Manual override for type seven compartmental doors is located behind
the access panel marked manual override."

   "Oh," Eric said with a bit of embarrassment, having remembered noticing
it before his little nap.

   After popping off the access panel, Eric found a metal handle that he
ended up pumping to open the doors.

   As Eric wedged himself through the doors, emergency lights snapped on
revealing a deserted bridge.  The view screen and all of the controls but
one panel were dead.

   "Navigation," Eric read out loud from the faintly glowing panel.  "I
suppose this means the ship is on a collision course with the Borg ship."

   Eric sat down at the controls and tried to decipher them, but what
labels there were didn't help explain how to use them.

   "Computer, where is Joey Conner?" Eric asked when he wondered it
himself.

   "Lieutenant Commander Joey Conner is on deck three, corridor five,
subsection C."

   "What's he doing there?" he asked himself.

   "That information is not available."

   "I wasn't talking to you," Eric said, but then asked, "Computer, where
is everyone else?  Why is the power turned off?"

   "At thirteen twenty seven, Captain Harrison ordered the crew to abandon
ship.  At thirteen forty one, main power was taken off line by Lieutenant
Commander Joey Conner."

   "Computer, if main power is off, how come you're still working?"

   "Computer core and ship wide communication systems were connected to
emergency life support power at thirteen forty by Lieutenant Commander Joey
Conner."

   "Computer, how many crew members are left on board?"

   "One."

   "Is there anyone else on board?"

   "Internal sensors are off line.  Last sensor reading at thirteen forty
one indicated seven unknown life forms had materialized on deck seven,
engineering section four."

   "Were they Borg?"

   "There is a ninety seven percent probability the unknown life forms were
Borg."

   Eric paused, then asked, "Computer, are there any life boats left?"

   "Seven life pods were ready for ejection before main power went offline.
Current status of life pods is unknown."

   "Can they be launched without main power?"

   "Affirmative.  Life pod type C dash eight are capable of manual
un-powered launch."

   "Computer, how do I get to Joey."

   "Turbo lifts are off line.  Use bridge maintenance ladder two to access
deck three, corridor five, subsection A.  Afterwards, take corridor five to
subsection C."

   "And the bridge maintenance ladder two is where?"

   "The four bridge maintenance ladders on Challenger class starships are
each located behind access panels labeled Bridge Maintenance Ladder."

   "All right, wise ass, where on the bridge are these access panels
located?"

   "Bridge maintenance ladder access panels for Challenger class starships
are located on either side of the spin and counter-spin bridge turbo
lifts."

   Eric quickly found the access panel labeled Bridge Maintenance Ladder
Two and after pulling it off, he stuck his head through the two and a half
foot square opening and shouted, "Computer, turn on the emergency lighting
for bridge maintenance ladder two."

   "Unable to comply.  Bridge maintenance ladders on Challenger class
starships do not have automated emergency lighting."

   "Do they have regular lighting?"

   "Affirmative.  Bridge maintenance ladder lighting on Challenger class
starships are powered from main power.  Main power is offline."

   "Well then can I connect them to emergency power?"

   "Affirmative.  Bridge maintenance ladder lighting can be rerouted
manually through access panel labeled..."

   "Yeah, yeah.  Bridge maintenance ladder lighting power.  Where is the
access panel?"

   "Bridge maintenance ladder lighting power access panels for Challenger
class starships are located next to bridge maintenance ladder at each
level."

   Eric sighed, then asked, "Computer, just tell me where I can get a
flashlight."

   "Bridge access to hand held lighting devices for Challenger class
starships is from one of the four storage cabinets labeled hand held
lighting."

   "And where...  Ah forget it.  I'll find them myself."

   Once Eric had retrieved a flashlight, a medical kit, and what he assumed
was a phaser from their individual storage cabinets built into the walls of
the bridge, he crawled through the opening and nearly dropped the light
down the hole from it being right inside the opening.  After getting on the
ladder, he pulled off the lighting power access panel, then quickly decided
the flashlight was all he needed and started to climb down.

   Deck three was only two decks below him, and Eric was almost
disappointed by the short journey down.  But once he kicked the access
panel off and crawled into the corridor, he purposely dropped the access
panel down the hole and listened for it to hit bottom.  When it finally
did, he decided he didn't feel disappointed any more, for it was a long way
down.

   Eric had to admit the designers had done a good job at labeling things.
After all of the stupid questions he had asked the computer, Eric had
learned to look around before asking.  So when he realized the corridor he
was in went in two directions, all he had to do was to look around and
immediately found a sign on the wall:

   Deck 3, Corridor 5

   Section A <-- Section B

   Section Z -->

   Figuring section C would be after section B, Eric went left, and before
he knew it, he had not only passed section C, but D as well without any
signs of Joey.

   "Computer, where is Joey Conner?"

   When the computer didn't answer, he retraced his steps to section C,
then looked for some sign of where Joey might have gone.

   His foot found the answer before his eyes did by kicking a door's manual
override access panel which was laying flat on the floor beside a closed
door.

   Eric immediately grabbed the pump handle and started pumping the door
open, then just as he started wiggling through the doors, a hot and bright
beam of energy shot right through his head.

   Eric's alarm and panic quickly dissipated when he realized he wasn't
actually hurt, and then when he got hit in the shoulder by the same energy
weapon, he exclaimed, "Hey!  Will you stop that!"

   "Eric?" Joey exclaimed from within the dark.

   "Yeah," Eric said with relief as he finished slipping through the doors.
"What the hell are you still doing here when everyone else left?"

   "I couldn't leave without finding you first, and then Borg boarded us...
Eric, you have to get off the ship.  It's going to explode."

   "Well, I can't say I'm surprised," Eric said with a shrug.  "So where's
the nearest life boat pod thing."

   "Deck seven, section F."

   Eric started wiggling back through the door, but stopped when he
realized Joey hadn't moved to follow him.

   "Aren't you coming?" Eric asked.

   "I can't.  The Borg shot me with some kind of stunner and I can barely
move."

   "I'll carry you then."

   "You can't.  I'm too heavy.  Besides, the Borg are still on board, and
you don't have time to be slowed down by me."

   "You forget," Eric said as he lifted Joey off the floor and put him over
one shoulder.  "Half a g makes you weigh half as much."

   "Shit," Joey gasped when Eric kicked one of the doors' edge and both
doors slid open all the way.

   "Okay, maybe you are a little heavy," Eric admitted a minute later,
setting Joey down on his feet, then found Joey managing to stay upright. 
"Can you walk?"

   "I'm not sure," Joey mumbled.  "My whole body feels asleep."

   Eric thought a moment, then said, "If you can move on your own, I'll
scout ahead a bit, then come back and help you.  Okay?"

   "But what if you run into the Borg?"

   "You let me worry about that.  Just keep moving."

   "All right, but if they catch me, just go.  Don't try and save me.  I
doubt I'll be anything worth saving by then."

   Other than not being able to hold his head up straight and his arms
dangled limply from his shoulders, Joey didn't have as much trouble as they
both had expected.  Within minutes they were outside the turbo lift's door
for section F.

   As Eric opened the ladder access panel, Joey slumped to the floor.

   "Come on.  No time to rest," Eric said when he crawled back out of the
access hole after inspecting the ladder.

   "I'll never make it," Joey complained, sleepily.

   "Sure you will," Eric told him confidently.  "Get up.  Don't you want to
see Suzi again?"

   "Well, yeah, but.."

   "Come on then.  If you stay here, you'll die right?  And if you fall off
the ladder, sure, you'll die there too.  But if you don't fall, and we make
it to the life pod..."

   "Okay, okay," Joey mumbled.  "But I'll go first so I don't knock you off
the ladder if I do fall."

   "Sorry, Charlie," Eric said as he went into the access hole first. 
"You're too slow.  I can be on deck seven before you get to deck four.  But
don't worry.  I promise I won't try and catch you if you do fall."

   "Thanks," Joey muttered with a small smile on his face.

   Once Joey was on the ladder okay and was making his way down, Eric
started his way down as well, but nearly fell off the ladder when the
lights came on.

   "That's better," Joey muttered as he closed up the lighting power panel.
"Couldn't see."

   Eric let out a sigh of relief, turned his flashlight off, and in no time
was kicking the access panel out into the corridor on deck seven.

   The first thing Eric noticed after crawling halfway out the access hole
was the fact that the lights on that deck were on.

   And then an ashen white skinned man with electronic appendages sticking
out of his gut, chest, and forehead walked right past Eric without showing
any signs of noticing him.

   Eric carefully backed up and climbed back on the ladder, then whispered
up to Joey, "The lights are on and there's a Borg walking around the
corridor.  Are there any other life pods nearby?"

   "I don't know," Joey said.  "But we could try the shuttle bay instead.
It's just one deck down."

   "Good idea," Eric said before sliding down the ladder to the next access
hole.

   While that deck's lights were on as well, Eric scouted the area while
waiting for Joey to catch up and didn't find any signs of Borg.

   But just as Eric saw Joey's feet reach the access hole, a tone drew his
attention to the turbo lift.

   Eric froze in fear when the doors opened and two Borg stepped out.  As
the two inhuman creatures jabbered in some alien tongue walking straight
for him, Eric backed up against the wall and closed his eyes, terrified of
what was to come next.

   When he realized the Borg had walked right past him, he opened one eye
in time to watch the taller Borg glance around, then push the smaller one
against the wall and kiss it passionately.

   "Okay, now it's getting too weird," Eric said as he carefully approached
the two interlocked creatures.

   The movements of their arms and heads, along with their kissing's
noises, only convinced Eric more and more that two creatures before him
weren't really monsters, but two human beings with the hots for each other.

   When Eric was standing within two feet of them without them noticing his
presence, he decided to try something more decisive.

   "You two should get a motel room," Eric said boldly.

   When neither reacted to his statement, Eric reached out and grabbed the
taller one's shoulder, but no matter what he tried, he couldn't affect
either of the two kissing creatures.  They were like two stone statues that
could move on their own, yet were totally solid stone to Eric.

   Eric tried yelling at them, and then out of desperation, he spat at
them, and nearly fell over backwards when the taller one suddenly turned
his head towards him and said something.

   The two seemed as spooked as Eric was, and after only a short exchange
of words, they hurried down the corridor and passed through the doors
marked Shuttle Bay.

   "Well, that was weird," Eric said as he joined Joey back at the turbo
lift.  "I wonder what scared them off."

   "I think they saw me," Joey said, slumping up against the wall.  "I
don't understand why they didn't attack."

   "I think I do," Eric said.  "Come on.  Let's get out of here."

   Joey watched as Eric confidently entered the shuttle bay without
apparently caring whether there were Borg inside or not, and struggled to
keep his numb body moving to keep up.  Up until he found Eric making faces
at the two Borg, he had nearly cried out in despair from thinking Eric had
been taken over.

   But now Joey didn't know what to think.  He was so tired, and things
weren't making sense any more.  If it hadn't been for Eric, he would have
curled up somewhere to go to sleep, knowing all too well he probably would
have never woken up.

   When Joey entered the shuttle bay, he found Eric walking towards him
with a frown on his face.

   "There aren't any shuttles left," Eric simply said.

   "Damn," Joey said as the hope of getting home in one piece evaporated.

   "Hey Joey," Eric said as Joey got comfortable on the floor.

   "Huh?"

   "Your link thing.  Is it working?"

   "Yeah," Joey said as he tried to think straight.

   "Are you linked to someone right now?"

   "What?" Joey asked groggily.

   Eric kneeled down, lifted Joey's heavy head and looked him in the eyes
when they flickered open momentarily.

   "Come on, Joey.  Stay with me just a little while longer.  All we need
to do is hitch a ride to Suzi's."

   "Hitch...  Hitch from whom?" Joey asked once he managed to comprehend
him.

   Eric sighed, then asked, "If Tim was here, and he was trying to get back
to Earth, but there weren't any more life pods or shuttles left on board,
what do you think he'd do?"

   "He'd...  Uhm.  I guess he'd try to hijack a Borg and have it fly him
home."

   "So can you do it?"

   "I don't know, Eric.  I can't think.  I'm so tired."

   Eric sat down beside Joey, then said, "I guess you would be.  It must be
hard to keep this thing going as long as you have."

   "Huh?"

   "Nothing," Eric sighed.  "I wish I could...  Hey Joey.  If you linked
with me, maybe I could do it!"

   "Link with you?" Joey repeated groggily.

   "You link with Suzi and she can do those things right?  Why couldn't I?"

   "You don't know how," Joey eventually said.

   "Oh, come on.  How hard can it be?  Besides, it's better than waiting
for the Borg to find you, right?"

   "Okay," Joey said, too tired to even argue any more.

   "Well?" Eric said when Joey frowned a few moments later.

   "I can't find you," Joey complained.

   "Open your eyes," Eric said, hoping that would somehow help.

   Joey opened his eyes just a crack, then after a few moments of trying to
focus them, Eric's image suddenly formed in front of him, and a moment
later, so did his mind.

   "Whoa," Eric gasped as he felt Joey touch his mind.

   "You have to accept it," Joey said with frustration.

   "Oh..  Uh...  There.  Okay?"

   "Mmm," Joey grunted, seeing this as his chance to finally get some
sleep.

   "Wow.  This is...  Cool." Eric said as he began to feel the minds around
him.

   Just as Eric was getting the hang of his new sense, the rest of his
senses dimmed and then went out all together.

   Yet he could still feel the minds around him, including Joey's, whose
mind was now much calmer than the others.

   Eric quickly felt out the nearest mind traveling in a vehicle, then
after a few attempts at trying to command the mind to find them and only
getting a confused response, Eric realized why and focused on tapping into
the mind nearest to his and Joey's.

   At first it was all just a jumble of thoughts and sensations to him, but
then when Eric tried to push them in some kind of order, he found himself
sitting at a reception desk, tapping a pen in boredom.

   "Whoa.  I'm a girl," Eric said when he tried looking around and noticed
the extra weight on his chest.

   After giving one breast a sampling squeeze, Eric glanced around the desk
looking for a clue as to where he was.  He couldn't believe his luck when
he found not just the address, but a map of the entire county.

   "I knew it," Eric exclaimed when he looked up from the map and noticed
the "Welcome to Central State University's Harrison III Medical Center"
spelled out in eight inch high silver letters on the wall opposite from the
main doors.

   Eric found a pencil and quickly traced a route from the Medical center
to the highway that would take them in the direction of Suzi's parent's
home.

   "Now, do I take Joey myself, or just hitch us a ride?" Eric asked
himself out loud.

   "Who you talking to, Sheryl?" a male guard said as he walked into the
lobby.

   "Oh, nobody," Eric quickly said.  "Just thinking out loud."

   "So anyway," the guard said as he leaned up against the counter like he
was planning to stay a while.  "My brother was hell bent on getting even
with me.  I had to watch my step for three weeks before I got wind of
what..."

   "Hold that thought," Eric interrupted him.  "I got to go pee."

   "What, again?" the guard said as Eric slipped the folded map into the
back of his skirt and walked out from behind the reception desk.

   "You know how it is," Eric said as he walked towards the corridor on the
left.

   "Sheryl," the guard shouted.

   "Yeah?"

   "The ladies room is that way," he said pointing down the hall he had
come from.

   "There's one down here too, isn't there?" Eric quickly shot back.

   "Yeah, but...  ah, never mind.  Women."

   Eric was blindly using his expanded senses to lead him back to Joey, but
they only led him to a dead end with Joey below him.  So Eric turned his
borrowed body around and headed for the elevator, but then stopped at the
door next to the elevator marked stairs.

   "I wonder," Eric said to himself before going through the door to check
out the stairwell.

   "Main power," Eric said, flipping the light switch off with a chuckle.
"Emergency power," he said as he flipped it back on.

   After flipping the lights on and off a few more times, Eric went down
the stairs, then shook his head with a grin spreading across his borrowed
face as he headed for the door marked loading bay.

   "So this is the shuttle bay.  I wonder what room we started out in,"
Eric said as he stuffed the map into Joey's shirt before turning around to
return his body to where it belonged.

   "Sheryl, what the hell are you doing down here," the guard asked from
the stairs.

   "I was just getting some exercise," Eric made up.  "I needed to do
something to wake up."

   "Well I'm sorry if I was boring you," the guard said, insulted.

   "It's not you.  It's just so late," Eric stammered.

   "What are you talking about?  It's only a little after eleven."

   "It is?" Eric said, looking at the watch on his borrowed wrist with
surprise.  "It can't be.  It's been hours since...

   "Uh...  What are you doing?" Eric asked, noticing the guard was holding
down one of the buttons on his radio.

   "Oh nothing," he lied.  "Better come back upstairs with me now, Sheryl."

   "Okay," Eric said as he tried to leave the girl's body.

   After stepping in the elevator, Eric sensed another mind touching
Sheryl's, then two more minds from farther away joined the first in an
attempt to pry her body from Eric's control.

   Parts of her body seemed to go numb as others flared with increased
sensitivity, and if Eric hadn't been just as anxious to leave the body as
they were to free it, he probably would have enjoyed the tug of war they
apparently were having.

   It wasn't until he found himself handcuffed to a post in a small room
that Eric focused himself on returning to Joey so hard he finally did break
free, and found himself wearing Joey's body a moment later.

   When one of the distant minds touched Joey's as he ran out of the
docking bay's back door, Eric instinctively shoved the other mind away, ran
to another building across the street, and slipped inside.

   Finding no one in the immediate hallway, Eric walked briskly towards the
doors at the other end of the building, but skidded to a stop when he heard
a voice speaking over a radio, followed by another man's voice saying,
"Yeah, yeah.  I'm checking it now."

   Spotting a men's room two doors down, Eric dashed across the hallway and
ducked into the door before anyone came around the corner.

   "Alright!" the surprised guard said when Eric nearly slammed into him.
"Hold it right...  Oh it's you."

   "Yeah, it's just me," Eric instantly said.  "You heard what's going on?"

   "Yeah," the guard said, indicating his radio.  "I was just about to
secure the doors.  What are you doing in here?  I thought you'd be out
there with the rest of them looking."

   Eric smiled convincingly and said, "Probably the same reason you came in
here.  I gotta pee."

   "Ha, yeah.  Well, I'll leave you to your business then," the guard said,
then left the bathroom.

   Finding that Joey's bladder was actually in need of emptying, Eric
decided it wouldn't hurt to actually use the facilities while he was there.
And while he did so, he noticed the mind of the guard was standing right
outside the bathroom's door, but then walked away in a hurry after
apparently being satisfied by the sound of liquid against porcelain.

   Eric kept a mental eye on the guard as he cut his piss short and
hightailed it out the bathroom.  Just as he was leaving the building, he
heard the guard's running feet and a voice yelling over the radio something
he couldn't make out, but Eric was sure it was about him.

   Eric jumped over a metal railing, dropped ten feet, then hopped over
some bushes to reach a small grassy field with walkways running to the
buildings on the other side.  Realizing he was heading deeper into the
campus instead of out of it like he wanted, Eric hesitated as to what to do
next.

   At the far end of the field to his right, Eric saw headlights whizzing
by, and then by chance, Eric noticed a bicycle's wheel sticking out of some
bushes that ran along the concrete wall he had just jumped down.  He was
just pulling the bike out of its hiding place when he felt a wave of
telepathic energy pass through Joey, part of which he sensed was reflected
back to the wave's source.

   Not waiting to see what was going to happen, Eric hopped on the bike and
pedaled as hard and as fast as he could to put as much distance as possible
from where he had been when that wave had hit.

   Sensing at least a half a dozen minds scanning the immediate area behind
him only made Eric push his borrowed body even harder, but in his mad rush
to escape, he didn't see the drainage ditch at the end of the field until
he collided with its grassy bank.

   Joey's lip was bleeding and his shirt was ripped, but Eric was relieved
to find that was the worst of his injuries.

   The bike, however, wasn't so lucky.  The chain had come off, but
considering that the front wheel was so bent out of shape it couldn't do a
complete rotation any longer, Eric abandoned it and headed towards the road
twenty meters away.

   But just before he reached the road, Eric flopped down into the grass
out of sight and took a moment to catch his breath while he tried to decide
how to throw his pursuers off his tracks.

   Not once had his own mind been touched by the other telepaths, the most
likely reason being his mind was actually several hundreds of miles away.
Eric was certain he could use this to his advantage somehow, but since he
didn't have much experience in using telepathy, he didn't know exactly how.

   What experience he did have, however, was limited to mute side two ways
and the occasional mind hopping game across town.

   Joey's body was still breathing fairly hard when Eric was startled by
another wave of telepathic energy passing through Joey.  Eric was preparing
to flee when he suddenly remembered the first time he had ever heard of a
telepathic pulse.

   "Tim told me about it at his mom and dad's wedding after it gave several
people a headache," Eric muttered.  "I wonder if I could..."

   Using what he remembered from the mind hopping games, Eric slowly popped
from one mind to another, staying as close to the edge of the campus as he
could while heading for a large group of people at the opposite end.

   The moment Eric jumped into the nineteen year old male's body he had
chosen randomly from the forty or so minds within the group, he knew
exactly were he was and who was in charge there.

   "Where are you going, lover?" the Hispanic beefcake asked when Eric
disentangled his borrowed limbs and got up on his feet.

   "I just remembered something I need to tell Wally," Eric said, then
paused a moment to take in the beauty of the person he was addressing.

   The boy smiled while running his hands down his naked chest, rubbing his
obvious erection still contained by his shorts while Eric felt his own
erection growing in his.

   "Are you sure you remember?" the boy teased.

   "I, uh....  I'll be right back," Eric said, turning away and heading for
the bed, finding himself suddenly a bit out of breath.

   To his surprise, Eric found the bed empty, but it only took a moment for
Eric to realize that Wally was probably out looking for Joey with the other
telepaths.  Seeing that it probably would have taken quite a lot to
convince Wally who he was, if Wally even remembered him in the first place,
Eric decided it was probably for the best and simply went back to his
original plan.

   After several minutes of unsuccessfully trying to generate a pulse
himself, Eric rested a moment and took in the groping mass of half naked
men all around him.

   They were all in a sort of holding pattern, kissing and groping each
other without instigating anything more.

   Eric's attention was at that point drawn to the expectant and hopeful
eyes of the boy who Eric's host had been entwined with earlier.  Eric
exchanged smiles with him, then without really thinking about it, went back
over to him.

   "What did Wally say?" the boy asked as Eric got down on the floor with
him.

   Eric glanced back over to the empty bed, then realized Wally had made
everyone believe he hadn't left and probably was responsible for no one
having even slipped their hands into the other's shorts.

   Figuring Wally wouldn't have done this if he planned on being long, Eric
smiled as a plan formed in his head.

   "He said," Eric began as he put his lips on the other's and initiated a
tonguey kiss.

   As soon things were about where they had been when he arrived, Eric made
a quick leap just outside the campus grounds into a man riding in the back
of a pickup on the way home from getting drunk.

   The man's body was slow to respond, but the two men in the cab weren't
too bad off.  Eric once again drew from his limited telepathic experience
and managed to convince the men they needed to pick up Joey once the coast
was clear.

   After making sure the men knew where to look, Eric popped back into
Wally's suite, this time finding himself sucking on his partner's right
thumb while his partner did the same to his.

   "Simon says, now suck your own thumb," a young boy's voice said.

   Eric barely had enough sense to follow the order as everyone else
complied with it.

   "Simon says, stop sucking your thumb, you big babies!" the boy exclaimed
with a chuckle.  "Simon says, uhm...  Simon says tickle your lover."

   "Simon says, burp in your lover's face."

   "Pee in your pants!"

   "Terri!" Wally's voice called from the other room.  "Don't abuse them."

   "But I didn't say Simon says," the boy said with a soft yet happy voice.
"I wasn't really trying to make them pee.  I was just seeing if you were
listening."

   "I always listen to my pretty boy's voice," Wally said, coming into the
room and joining the boy on the bed.

   "So can we go back to the game now?" Terri asked.

   "Not just yet," Wally said lovingly.  "They've found Joey and are
getting ready to take him back to the medical center.  It shouldn't be but
a couple of minutes more."

   Eric internally moaned, then decided he had better put his plan into
action before it was too late.

   "Pop goes the weasel!" Eric exclaimed loudly, then jumped to a different
mind.

   "Danny?" Wally called to the young man Eric had just left.

   "Danny wanny, the big fat nanny!" Eric exclaimed before jumping again.

   "Ch, ch, ch, ch, ch, Whoo WHoo!!" Eric yelled, then jumped.

   "What's up, Doc?  What's cookin', Doc?"

   "Ain't nothin' but a hound dog, barkin all the time..."

   "Bingle!  Bangle!  Snip, snap, BOOOIIING!"

   Bouncing from one mind to another, Eric continued to shout out random
lyrics and lines as the room's startled occupants began asking Wally what
was going on.

   Wally was far more concerned over protecting Terri from whatever threat
Eric's shenanigans posed, and within seconds the group of half bewildered
half scared young men were falling to the floor unconscious.

   Entirely by accident, Eric bounced into the youngster, and for a moment,
Eric and Wally stood there frozen in shock.

   "Get out of MY BOY!" Wally suddenly exclaimed as he grabbed Terri and
held on to him so he couldn't move.

   Eric sensed Wally's desperate probes of the boy's mind attempting to
feel out Eric's controls, and then moments later, six other minds focused
on the boy's and started a game of tug of war.

   "I'm sorry, Wally," Eric gasped when he caught a glimpse of the man's
panicked face, but stood his ground hoping to give the men more time to
grab Joey.

   Standing his ground was becoming increasingly difficult, as the seven
minds were collectively taking more and more control of the boy away from
Eric.  He held on as long as he could, then when the last vestiges of the
boy's senses stopped, Eric found himself seemingly floating next to Joey's
deeply asleep mind.

   When Eric slipped into Joey's body, he was relieved to find himself in
the back of the pickup truck as it sped away from the lights of Central
State's campus.

   It took Eric about fifteen minutes to find someone who was heading in
the direction he needed to go, and once he had Joey safely in the back of
the van and they were speeding away without detecting any other minds
sensing them, Eric relaxed, quickly falling asleep from the gentle sounds
and vibrations of the road beneath.

   ----------------------------------------------------------

   "Good morning, my Queen," the smooth muscular guard greeted softly when
Queen Suzanne awoke on top of him.

   "Good morning," the Queen replied as she pulled herself up to the young
man's face and gave him a wet kiss on the lips.

   "Good morning, my Queen," a familiar voice rang out from the dark corner
of the room.

   "Timicus, come out of thy shadows," Queen Suzanne beckoned as she
grasped the guard's little solder between her thighs and enjoyed feeling
the shudder flow through the man's body.

   "Nay, my Queen.  I do not wish to intrude on the Queen's playtime."

   "Then come joineth," Queen Suzanne ordered gently but firmly.  "Or does
thy Queen's body arouse your manhood no longer?"

   "My Queen, I did not arrive here to induce an offer of fornication from
thee.  I have news of the Queen's Champion."

   "Sir Joseph?" the Queen asked with emotion.

   "Aye, my Queen.  He has been rescued from our enemy's dungeons by our
old playmate Sir Eric Roberts.  The two of them are on their way to thy
castle as we speak."

   "Timicus, what wondrous news!" Queen Suzanne exclaimed, bolting out of
the bed with not a stitch of clothing on.  "Thou sure of thy source?"

   "My Queen, I would not tell thee if I was not sure of my source,"
Timicus said as Queen Suzanne put a robe on.

   "Fenton, get dressed," the Queen ordered her uncertain bedmate.  "The
Queen's Champion shall have a hero's welcome awaiting him."

   "Yes, my Queen."

   Queen Suzanne immediately called for her handmaidens and the captain of
the guard, and once she had given her instructions, she sent them on their
way and sat down to write a message to her brother.

   "Timicus," Queen Suzanne called once she had finished her letter.

   In a poof of pink smoke, Timicus appeared beside her and asked, "Yes, my
Queen?"

   "Could thy deliver this to Duchess LeAnne?"

   "My Queen, I am thy court sorcerer, not thy messenger boy."

   "Please Timicus?" Queen Suzanne said gently as she stuffed the letter
into an envelope and then sealed it with melted wax and her royal stamp. 
"I should like Duke Jason to attend the Queen's Champion's return, yet he
would need to leave within the hour to make the journey in time.  Thy magic
is simply faster than the swiftest of steeds in thy Queen's stables."

   "Very well, my Queen," Timicus sighed, then snapped his fingers to make
the letter disappear in a poof of smoke.

   "Is that all, my Queen?"

   Queen Suzanne gazed at her sorcerer a moment, then asked, "How does thy
feel of his brother's return?"

   "My Queen?  I am overjoyed, of course."

   "Timicus," Queen Suzanne scolded.

   When Timicus sat down on the unmade bed behind the desk at which the
Queen sat, Queen Suzanne knew he was undecided about his feelings on the
matter.

   "We have been apart too long, my Queen.  I am uncertain he will still be
the brother I once knew."

   Queen Suzanne sat down beside her closest friend and most trusted
adviser, feeling his turmoil and finding it a familiar one.

   "My love, do thou still have...  feelings for him?"

   "My feelings for Eric are most complex," Timicus admitted.  "Almost as
complex as they are for thee."

   Catching him peering at her bust, Queen Suzanne smiled and laid back,
allowing her robe to fall open.

   "Thou knowst thou will be needed to oversee the preparations," the
sorcerer said with hungry eyes.

   "The Queen has faith in her staff.  We have the time."

   "But what of thy energy?" Timicus said, climbing on top of Queen Suzanne
with his robes still fully in place.  "Would thou not wish to conserve it
for thy champion's return?"

   "Will my champion be able to perform his...  duties?"

   "Nay, my Queen.  I doubt he will."

   "Well then, thou can perform yours."

   "Very well, my love," Timicus relented as he snapped his fingers and his
robes vanished in a puff of pink smoke.

   Queen Suzanne let herself drink in the magical sensations only her
lover's sorcery could provide her, never minding the world quickly
dissolving around her as she entered a wonderous orgasmic yet gentle cloud
of pink smoke that became sleep.

   ----------------------------------------------------------

   Joey's cussing awoke Eric with a start, and to Eric's dismay, he found
himself inside a futuristic cabin, which he immediately guessed to be a
shuttlecraft.

   "Sorry if I awoke you," Joey said apologetically.  "The computer won't
release the controls."

   "Good," Eric said with relief.  "You'd kill yourself if you tried to
drive asleep."

   "I'm not asleep," Joey said crankily.  "Besides, after flying a starship
through an asteroid field, I probably _could_ fly this tiny thing in my
sleep."

   Eric stood up and looked Joey in the eyes to say, "Joey, this is all
just a dream.  You're really in a van on your way to Suzi's from Central
State."

   "What are you saying this for?  Are you trying to confuse me?  The Borg!
They've.."

   "Stop IT with the BORG already!" Eric yelled.  "After you blacked out, I
remembered enough about telepathy from what Tim and I used to do together
to jump into a few people around us.  We weren't on a starship.  We were at
a medical center at Central State."

   "But...  I remember leaving Earth.  And flying the Harrison.  And Tim
taking on the whole Borg collective."

   "It's all a dream, Joey," Eric enforced.  "You're probably remembering
dreams you've had before tonight."

   "I don't believe you," Joey declared.

   "Think about it, Joey," Eric said with a moan.  "You shot me in the head
with a phaser and it went right through me without leaving a mark.  How
could I have survived that?"

   "The...  The phaser's batteries were low," Joey sputtered.  "Or it
malfunctioned."

   "What about after I put on this...  uniform.  Before I looked myself in
the mirror and visualized myself, you only saw what you remembered from a
year ago.  I didn't grow up on the spot, you know."

   "Then maybe you're the dream," Joey said.  "The way you arrived on the
ship, and then you disappeared, and then you conveniently reappeared after
everyone else was gone except..."

   As Joey's eyes grew wide from his suspicions generating alarming
conclusions, Eric decided he had had enough and grabbed the phaser still
attached to his waist.

   "What are you doing?" Joey said in alarm when Eric pointed the phaser at
the glass window on shuttle's door.

   "Proving it's a dream," Eric said as he pulled the trigger and
disintegrated the glass, which was followed by an explosive decompression
of the shuttle's interior.

   Joey's eyes were shut when Eric's vision blurred, but both felt a wave
of dizziness pass through them as a great vacuum surrounded them.

   Eric forced his eyes open again just in time to witness the blackness of
space replaced by a dark fog, then a moment later, sound and motion
returned with the jolt of the wooden wheels beneath them encountering a
large rock.

   Joey gasped for breath as the sounds of hooves hitting earth and the
creaks of the enclosed carriage they were in filled their imaginary ears.
Their noses were assaulted by musty wood, sweaty horses, and most of all
the combination of blood, several days of sweat, and the forged metal of
which they found themselves suited in.

   "What the hell?" Joey exclaimed, then groaned in pain as he discovered
the source of the smell of blood was from his impaled left shoulder.

   "Told you it was a dream," Eric said after getting over the shock
himself.

   "I thought you weren't supposed to feel pain in dreams," Joey complained
in discomfort after the cabin jarred again from another rock.

   "This isn't any ordinary dream," Eric pointed out while examining Joey's
wound.  "Shit, I can't see anything for all the blood.  Just remember,
Joey. It's not real.  You can't die."

   "Maybe not, but it sure feels like I'm dying."

   "Computer," Eric called out.  "Computer..."

   When Joey gave him a crazy look, Eric shrugged and said, "Well, it was
worth a shot."

   "M'Lord?" a male voice called from outside.  "Were thou calling me?"

   "Uh, yes!" Eric exclaimed.  "Could you tell us what year this is?"

   "M'Lord?"

   "Yes.  My injured friend here doubts my word."

   "I see, m'Lord.  'Tis the year four hundred ninty seven, m'Lords."

   "And where are we going?" Joey called out.

   "Why to the Queen's castle, m'Lord.  Does the Queen's champion not
remember ordering thus?"

   "The Queen's champion has lost a lot of blood and is somewhat
delirious," Eric made up.

   "Well, I guess we know who's dream this is," Joey moaned.

   "Queen's champion.  Not bad, Joey.  I would have pegged you to be
her..."

   "Don't you dare say the U word," Joey growled.  "Suz might change her
mind and make it happen.  To both of us."

   "Ugh," Eric said with a shiver.  "I never thought of that."

   "Did...  Anything like that happen with my dream?"

   "Nothing as drastic as becoming a...  You know what," Eric said with a
grin.  "Actually, the only thing I can think of was there wasn't a bathroom
on the bridge until I asked about it, and then it was there."

   Joey frowned, then said, "I don't remember there being a bathroom on the
bridge."

   "Well, that explains it, doesn't?" Eric chuckled.

   Joey started to chuckle too, but quickly decided against it from the
discomfort it caused him.

   "You said we're on our way to Suzi's," Joey asked after a minute went
by.

   "Yeah."

   "Why?"

   "I uh.  Well, remember the whisper I heard?"

   "Yeah."

   "Well, I think it was Tim, and he told me to take you and Suzi to him."

   "Oh," Joey said while shifting his weight uncomfortably.  "Shit this
armor is heavy.  I can barely move."

   "You're probably trying to move your real body in your sleep," Eric said
thoughtfully.

   "Hey!" Eric exclaimed a moment later.  "I can't feel anybody's thoughts
anymore!"

   "I think...  I think I'm linked with Suzi now," Joey said after feeling
out his sides of the share links.  "I don't remember doing it though."

   "Damn.  Well, I guess it's a good thing you're still able to move your
body then.  You're going to have to do some walking to get to Suzi's front
door.

   "I don't understand," Joey said.

   "I'm not really here, Joey," Eric explained.  "My body is back um... 
Uh..."

   "What's the matter?"

   "I'm trying to remember where I was," Eric said with confusion.  "Or
when it is."

   "Driver," Joey yelled out.

   "Yes m'Lord?"

   "What's today's date?"

   "Why its Tuesday, twenty-first day of August, m'Lord."

   "Thank you, driver," Eric called out as the date rung a bell.  Eric then
said to Joey, "I'm at a motel with my dad."

   "With your dad?!?" Joey exclaimed as incestual images popped into his
head.

   "Yeah, we're in Champagne, Illinois checking out the University there.
It's where my mom and dad went to college and met each other."

   "Oh," Joey said as he blushed.

   "You're turning red," Eric snickered.  "What did you think?"

   "Damn it!  Even in a dream I...  <sigh> It doesn't matter what I
thought."

   "M'Lords," the driver interrupted.  "We're approaching a village where I
normally water my horses.  We shan't be stopped more than a half an hour,
if thou permits me."

   "We permit thee," Eric said, then said to Joey, "The van probably needs
gas."

   "A half an hour to get gas?" Joey pointed out.

   "It must be around midnight, so he's probably tired," Eric said with a
shrug.  "Besides, I'd like to check out what this dream world is like
before we reach Suzi's.  It could come in handy if Suzi really thinks she's
a Queen in the late fifth century."

   "Fuck, this damn wound really hurts," Joey cussed after readjusting his
position again.  "Hey, get some bandages out of that box under your feet
and patch me up.  I doubt the Queen's Champion is supposed to bleed all
over her royal robe when he returns to her."

   Eric pulled the wood box out from under his seat, looked inside, then
after pulling out a roll of white cloth, he examined all four sides of the
box and its lid.

   "How did you know there were bandages in here?" Eric asked as he put the
box back where he had found it and handed the roll to Joey to hold.

   "I'll tell you later," he said with a strained voice as he turned
himself on his seat so Eric could get to his armor's laces.

   "Shit, you smell," Eric commented when the combination of BO and dried
blood flooded his imaginary nose.

   "You don't smell so great yourself," Joey grunted.

   It took Eric nearly five minutes to untie enough of the leather laces
that he could remove the damaged armor, and nearly didn't finish the job
when blood started pouring out that caused Joey to pass out.

   "Shit," Eric cussed over and over as he held a handful of bandages to
the front wound while unrolling more to do the same to the smaller wound on
Joey's back.

   Eric let out a screech of surprise when just as he had finally gotten
both of Joey's wounds covered and the slowed the bleeding, Joey's entire
body vanished.

   "What in the..." Eric started to say, then almost tumbled over when the
carriage came to a quick halt.

   "We're here, m'Lord," the driver announced as he opened the door. 
"Looks as if the tavern is still open if thou would like an ale.  I shall
join thee after me horses are watered and fed."

   Eric assumed Joey had just gone back into a dreamless sleep again and
would eventually return, mainly from realizing the driver wasn't surprised
that Joey was missing.

   So Eric took the man's advice and went over to the only building nearby
which was still lit.

   Another knight on a horse galloped into the small field in front of the
tavern just as Eric reached the open doorway.  Eric took a moment to admire
the knight's slick dismount, then when the knight pulled his sword from its
holder on the saddle and put it into its sheave on his belt, Eric for the
first time noticed a sword's handle sticking out of the sheave on his own
belt.

   Eric slowly unsheathed his sword, finding the sight, sound, and feel of
doing so strangely exciting.  He was so entranced in his sword that he
didn't notice the knight approaching the tavern.  The knight's respectful
"M'Lord" made Eric jump and he ended up pinching his right index finger and
thumb when he slammed the sword back into it sheath.

   "Fuck!" Eric exclaimed in pain, then fell onto his back when the knight
swiftly drew his sword and shoved him backwards.

   "Thou best have a good reason to curse at thy brother knight, m'Lord,"
the knight growled.

   "I wasn't cussing at you," Eric exclaimed.  "I pinched my fingers, see?"

   Eric raised his bare hand up to show the knight, but after only a simple
glance at Eric's hand, the knight suddenly seemed more interested in the
crest of arms painted onto the chest plate of Eric's armor.

   "My apologies, your Excellency," the knight said as he held his hand out
to help Eric up.  "A tavern in Broths tis not a place where I expect to
meet the Viscount of Atlantia."

   "The what?" Eric asked as he let the knight help him to his feet, then
immediately thought better of his question and said, "My apologies as well,
er, M'Lord.  I am a bit tired from my long journey and just wasn't..."

   "No harm done then," the knight said cheerfully.  "If you will excuse
me, your Excellency.  You see, my bladder is quite full..."

   "Uh, sure thing," Eric said to the back of the knight's suit of armor as
the knight hurried inside the tavern.

   When Eric entered the tavern himself, the tavern's keeper immediately
strained his eyes at Eric's chest, then suddenly gasped and exclaimed,
"Your Excellency, thou honor us with thy presence!"

   Eric was dumbfounded as the room's occupants all bowed their heads in
respect while the few who were standing also kneeled.

   "Uh, thank you," Eric said, embarrassed.  "Please go back to what you
were doing.  I'm just here for a quick drink."

   As the dozen or so patrons attempted to do so, Eric quickly moved to the
nearest empty stool and sat down.

   "What does your Excellency wishith?" the keeper asked, obviously pleased
as punch to have Eric in his joint.

   "I guess I'll have an ale," Eric said, getting a kick out the concept.

   "Oye!" the keeper exclaimed across the room a moment later.  "Don't be
doin' that in 'ere!  Take it outside or upstairs if you must!"

   "My apologies, your Excellency," the keeper said with great regret as
three men and two very young looking women slinked their way out the door.
"Thou shouldn't have to put up with commoner's disrespect here."

   "That's okay," Eric said, somewhat mystified.

   Once the keeper presented Eric with his ale, Eric couldn't help but
smile wickedly as he brought it up to his lips, knowing his dad would have
had a fit if he knew.

   But his smile vanished the moment he tasted the warm stuff, finding it
not much more than herb-tasting water with only just a slight trace of
alcohol in it.

   Not wanting to insult the keeper though, Eric struggled to drain his mug
in one go, and then just as he was setting it back on the counter and
letting out a great burp, Eric felt someone else's surge of fear a moment
before everything blurred.

   Eric found himself flat on his back with a scruffy looking guy in his
late twenties laying on top of him, covering Eric's mouth with his hand
while saying, "listening to you whine about your stupid parents.  The boys
and I think its time you two start putting out, or you just might find
yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere, or even worse.  Clear?"

   Eric found himself nodding, then realized he wasn't in control of the
body he inhabited when he couldn't move it as the man roughly started
tugging his/her shorts off.

   When Eric heard another girl's whimpering to his left and his host
turned her head to look, he caught a glimpse of another man watching them,
apparently waiting his turn, followed by the sight of a gas sign in between
the trees all around him.

   Everything then suddenly blurred again, and Eric found himself sitting
at a bar staring at the half drank soda in his right hand.  When he looked
up, he found the face of the knight staring back at him in the bar's
mirrored wall, but instead of wearing armor, he was wearing a black tshirt
and blue jeans.

   Sensing more of the fear from the girl he had just left, Eric jumped to
his feet and rushed towards the door, barely catching the fact that the
bartender was yelling at him to pay for his drink.

   Eric grabbed the wallet out of his back pocket and tossed it to the
bartender while yelling, "Call the police!  Those three men are trying to
rape those two girls!"

   Eric was slightly disorientated when he came out of the bar when he
didn't find the gas station where he expected it to be.  But since he still
could sense the girl's fear, Eric simply followed this across the street
and into the woods.

   A muffled cry and surge of anxiety from the girl caused Eric to run at
full speed into the small clearing where he instantly leapt at the nearest
man and tackled him straight off the half naked girl underneath him.

   Eric's fist slammed into the man's startled face, then just as he was
about to do it again, Eric sensed someone in the process of tackling him
from behind.

   In a move which would have impressed a ninja, Eric leapt straight up in
the air, timing it so perfectly that the second man slid right under his
scissoring legs which closed around the man's middle.

   Eric's legs rendered the man breathless when they landed on top of the
first man who was still trying to gather his wits.  But when Eric looked
over at the stunned girl, her attention wasn't on him, but behind him.

   This time when Eric tried to roll out of the way, he got kicked in the
face by the second man just before the third kicked him in the stomach.

   "Damn!" Eric exclaimed when he didn't feel as much pain as he expected,
and then shot his legs up and returned the kick in the stomach with both
feet.

   Eric was exhilarated when he easily flipped himself to his feet, and so
he exclaimed, "This guy's body is awesome!"

   "Look out!" the other girl cried from the bushes, drawing Eric's
attention to the fact the third guy had just flicked open a switchblade.

   "You are so fucking dead," the knifeman said as he took a slash at Eric.

   "A little help would be nice about now!" Eric cried out.

   Eric's feet were suddenly knocked out from underneath him by the second
man, followed by the first guy landing his knee into Eric's gut.

   "No, not by you two!" Eric gasped as he swung his body around, balled it
up before springing himself through the gap between the first two men and
rolling to his feet as he landed.

   Eric started backing away when the first guy grabbed his own switchblade
from his discarded jeans, but then Eric stumbled on a rock and nearly
didn't hear one of them cry "Surround him!" as he fell.

   Eric managed to get back up to his feet in time to hop out of the way of
one slashing hand, but then fell over when he narrowly escaped another
slash a moment later.

   When a blade made contact with his left upper arm, the cold yet burning
sensation it left in its path sent a shock wave through his entire body,
leaving a strange tingling feeling in his toes and eyebrows.

   As more adrenaline pumped into his borrowed body's blood stream, Eric's
senses and awareness seemed to double while time seemed to slow down.  A
flash of light reflecting off a rapidly descending switchblade triggered
Eric to put his powerful body back into action.

   Kicking one switchblade out of a hand and reaching out to grab the wrist
holding another, Eric again was exhilarated by the speed, strength, and
flexibility of his temporary body.  He yanked the man whose wrist he had
grabbed and sent him to the ground, ducked under the third's blow and head
butted him in the gut while kicking the other in the face.

   Now that Eric was out of the middle of the three, he immediately turned
his attention on the third guy who still had his switchblade.  Eric made a
move towards him to initiate another slash, and when the man obliged, he
caught the man's wrist as he leapt into the air and used the weight of his
whole body to force the man's hand to the ground, burying the blade and
generating a painful cry from the man as his hand was nearly crushed.

   Eric was about to roll away to finish off the other two when they jumped
him.  But just as they were about to start pounding the life out of him,
they suddenly went limp.

   "About freak'en time, Tim," Eric gasped as he pushed the two unconscious
men off him, then almost hit the two girls in their faces when they
appeared hovering over him.

   The girl whose fear he had felt earlier dropped a large rock she that
had been holding when Eric had jerked into motion, making him instantly
realize it was they who had knocked the men out.

   "Ungrateful bitches!" the third man cursed as he leveled a gun on them
with his remaining good hand.

   "Police!  Drop the gun!" a voice cried from the edge of the clearing.

   The man dived towards Eric and the girls while firing his pistol at the
officer, but was so involved in trying to hit the ducking law-man, he
didn't notice his human cover wasn't just sitting still.

   When the man swung his gun towards Eric, Eric threw the rock the girl
had dropped like a baseball at the man's gut while throwing himself away
from the girls and the officer in hopes of drawing the man's aim and
attention away from them.

   Eric rolled and sprang behind a tree just as another series of shots
rang out, but only five or so shots were fired before someone cried out in
pain and fell to the ground.

   "You there!" the officer's voice called.  "Come out slowly with your
hands where I can see them."

   As Eric held his hands out and stepped away from his cover, flashing
lights appeared from the direction of the road while the sounds of a
vehicle skidding to a halt reached his borrowed ears.  Eric hesitated when
he saw that the man giving the orders wasn't wearing a uniform or even a
badge, but relaxed when the man kept his leveled pistol pointed halfway
between Eric and the fallen men.  The man who had pulled the gun was
sitting on the ground holding his bleeding right arm.

   "Everyone just stay right where they are and don't make any sudden
moves," the officer's voice said before shouting.  "Over here boys!  And
call in an ambulance!"

   "Already on its way!" a voice replied.

   "Can we get our clothes?" one of the girls asked shakily.

   "Not yet," the officer said firmly.

   "You came just in time," Eric said gratefully as hurried footsteps
approached.

   "You're just lucky I suddenly decided to stop for gas before heading
home for the night," he replied in a more friendly tone while not dropping
his guard.

   "Yeah, lucky," Eric said while thinking, "Thank you Tim."

   A moment later, two uniformed officers came into the clearing with their
guns drawn, one of them asking, "What you got, Sheriff?"

   "Not sure yet," the Sheriff replied as he holstered his weapon and
stooped to pick up the discarded gun at his foot.

   "I was filling up my tank when that fella over there," he began, nodding
at Eric, "runs out of Barney's and high tails it across the road and into
these woods.  Then Barney comes out yelling something about a rape.  I had
Barney call you while I ran after him.

   "By the time I caught up with him, those two were down," he said while
pointing to the two dazed men, then points to the third man and said, "But
then that one pulls out a gun.  When I ordered him drop it, he started
shooting and I returned fire.  I shot him in the arm, he dropped his
weapon, then we all just sat here waiting for you boys."

   "They," one of the girls began, pointing to the three men, "tricked us
out here, and were going rape us when he came out of nowhere and..."

   "Kicked their asses," the other girl finished abruptly.

   "Yeah," the first girl confirmed.

   Another pair of deputies arrived just as the three men started to tell
their own side, to which the Sheriff responded, "You all are going to have
to come down to the office where you can make your statements.  Ladies, you
can put your clothes back on now."

   Eric stayed silent as the deputies cuffed the two relatively uninjured
men on the ground, deciding the less he said the better as he expect to be
whisked away from his borrowed body at any moment.

   But when one of the deputies started to handcuff him, he asked, "Am I
under arrest?"

   "Not yet," the Sheriff said.  "It's just until we can verify who you are
and check out your story."

   "I gave the bartender my wallet," Eric offered while feeling a little
bitter.  "And I was only trying to stop those men from hurting the girls."

   Eric was lead out of the woods and across the road towards the bar's
parking lot where the police vehicles and ambulance were parked.  Eric
tried to separate himself from his host body, then doubled his efforts when
he noticed the van that Joey was in was nowhere to be seen.

   "Agent Riley, are you feeling all right?" Eric heard the Sheriff's voice
address him.

   "What?  Yes I'm fine," Eric quickly said as the handcuffs where removed
from his wrists.  "Just a little tired."

   "You should have identified yourself to me in the woods, Mr.  Riley,"
the Sheriff said as he handed Eric his host's wallet back to him.

   "Would it have mattered?" Eric asked before opening the wallet and
almost dropped it in surprise.

   "I suppose not," the Sheriff admitted.  "On the rare occasions we've had
F.B.I.  agents visiting Broths, they were here to work with us on a case."

   The Sheriff's voice had implied the last bit to be an indirect question,
and since Eric had no idea what the truth was, he simply said, "I can't
answer that at the moment, but did anyone happen to see which way a blue
van went?"

   The last police car left ten minutes later leaving Eric standing alone
in the middle of the parking lot.

   "All right Tim.  What am I supposed to do now?" Eric asked out loud,
looking up at the twinkling stars.

   When no answer came, Eric sighed and turned around to go back to the
bar.

   As he approached the entrance, he recalled the first time he had
supposedly entered the pub, then did a quick about face when he remembered
how the knight had arrived.

   "Yes!" Eric exclaimed when he spotted the Harley exactly where the
knight had dismounted his steed.  After patting the front pockets of his
jeans, he found a small ring of keys, one of which he recognized as the key
to the Harley's ignition.

   Having gotten his bearings from the Sheriff earlier, Eric popped a
wheelie as he tore out of the parking lot in hot pursuit of the van
carrying Joey.

   The exhilaration of speeding down the highway at high speed was dampened
by the concern of finding the van, but Eric couldn't help the grin which
kept forming on his face whenever he passed another vehicle and he imagined
what the other driver saw.

   Eric knew he had found them the moment he saw the taillights of the van.
He didn't recognize it.  He just knew, and knew Joey was still inside.

   For the remainder of the twenty-five minute trip, Eric relaxed and
enjoyed riding the machine.  His dad wouldn't let him take their Harley out
on the road, saying it was a family tradition that he had to wait until he
graduated high school before he could have one of his own to ride wherever
he liked.

   Eric wondered about what was going on in that motel room in Illinois. 
The last thing Eric remembered was lying on the bed in his clothes watching
T.V.  waiting for his dad to finish washing up in the bathroom.  Eric
didn't think his dad would have tried to wake him up, but if he had and
couldn't, Eric could only imagine the panic his dad would have felt.

   After worrying about that for several miles, Eric switched his thoughts
from his dad to his boyfriend Randy.

   Randy was a bottom.  In case that doesn't mean anything to you, that
means Randy liked to be the one fucked, which usually meant he was
positioned on the bottom.  For the first month after they started having
sex, Eric was constantly finding himself confused by Randy's lack of
interest in equal play.  But once Eric understood this about Randy, he
found himself very content being the fucker and never the fuck-ie, and
until recently neither of them could have been happier with their
arrangement.

   Football camp had started three weeks ago, and on the first day, both
Eric and Randy recognized the stealing glances Pete McGregor had made in
both the locker room and the shower.

   Eric kept finding Randy's eyes on Pete's ass, and just before Eric had
left for Illinois, Randy had asked Eric what he thought about having a
threesome with Pete.  Eric said no without making a big deal about it, yet
it had hurt a lot to find Randy thinking about having sex with anyone
besides him.

   He had been thinking about this all day and had nearly convinced himself
to talk about it with his dad, but somehow just the concept of talking
about it made it more real than what Eric wanted to make it.  And if he
didn't love Randy so much, he probably wouldn't have been thinking about it
as much as he had.

   Eric knew that part of his attachment to Randy was simply out of fear of
losing his own persona.  All year long he constantly struggled to identify
what feelings were Eric Robert's and what feelings were Tim Brandton's, and
before he had noticed Randy, Eric was never sure about any of them.

   Before Randy, Eric was living in an emotional hell, not sure of who he
was or what he truly liked.  Twice he had become so distraught that he had
taken steps to end his life, and in each case his dad had caught on and
stopped him before he could.

   Then Randy came on the scene, and Eric's feelings towards him always
felt like true Eric Roberts feelings.  Eric was afraid of what would happen
if he lost those feelings.  Even the realization that a typical Tim
Brandton response to Randy's suggestion of a threesome would have been the
opposite of the one Eric gave didn't seem to help alleviate Eric's fears.

   When the van signaled that it was getting off at the next exit, Eric
shoved his worries into the back of his mind again and focused on
navigating the roads ahead.  It had been several years since he had been to
Suzi's, and between the dark and new construction everywhere, he was having
trouble remembering exactly how to get there.

   But once he saw the catholic church that used to have a tree that had
always reminded him of a cock, he knew where he was and where to go.

   When Eric shut the Harley's engine off and the van's driver did the
same, the quiet that followed felt a little eerie after all of the
excitement Eric had had that night.

   The fact there was still lights on in Suzi's house barely registered
when the house flashed momentarily into a large stone wall with a doorway.

   "Do you have anything I can write a note with?" Eric asked the van's
driver before the driver could open the van's side door to get Joey out.

   Eric simply wrote, "Take me and Suzi to Tim", on the piece of paper the
driver handed him, then folded the paper in half and stuck one half down
Joey's shorts, leaving the other half sticking out the front.

   Eric helped the driver carry Joey up to the front door, and was about to
knock when the world blurred again for a moment.

   "Holy sh...  Mom!  Dad!  It's Joey!" Jason cried after he had opened the
door and his eyes went buggy.

   As Jason grabbed Joey's limp body, Eric said, "Take Joey and Suzi to
Tim."

   "Hey, where are you going?" Jason cried out as he found himself the one
only holding Joey.

   Eric turned to find not only the van's driver but Agent Riley walking
back to their vehicles.  Eric was so surprised by their quick departure
that he barely had time to cry out, "Thank you!" before they had started
their vehicles and waved goodbye.

   Suzi's dad was helping Jason carry Joey inside while Suzi's mom took a
second look around before closing the door, Eric's hand passing right
through it when he had tried to stop it closing.

   "Shit, now I'm a ghost?" Eric exclaimed after walking right through the
closed door.

   "I'll call Margaret and Samantha to let them know he's here," Eric heard
Suzi's mom say.

   Eric entered the living room, finding the two men just standing up
straight from having laid Joey down on the couch.

   "He's out cold just like Suzi," Suzi's dad commented.  "How the hell did
he get here?"

   "Those guys looked like they were being remote controlled," Jason
pointed out.  "They probably didn't even know that they had been here."

   "What's that?" Suzi's dad asked, noticing Eric's note peeking out.  It
had somehow worked its way underneath Joey's shirt while they had carried
him in, but one of its edges was trying to poke back out.

   Jason pulled the paper out and read out loud.  "Take me and Suzi to
Tim."

   "Show it to your mother," Suzi's dad said after looking at it himself.
"But tell her it might be a trick."

   "A trick?" Eric exclaimed.  "Oh come on..."

   Eric sat down in the chair next to Joey, finding it as hard as a rock
despite its cushions, yet he didn't feel any more or less comfortable than
when he had been standing.  Eric was tired, possibly more tired than he
ever had felt before, but he wasn't ready to close his imaginary eyes yet.

   "Margaret wants us to take Joey to Sam's and Tim's southern home, and
Sam thinks we should take Suzi there too," Suzi's mother said from the
kitchen.

   "What if this is some kind of trap?" Suzi's dad insisted.  "What if
bringing them all together is what whoever is doing this wants?"

   "I still say everyone is making too big of a deal about all this," Jason
disagreed.  "I practically can guarantee its Tim causing this."

   "What, put them all into a deep sleep and kidnap Joey from his home
halfway across the state?  Even if I thought he could do it, why would he?"

   "I don't _know_ the why dad, but I don't have any doubt that he could.
Shit, dad.  That painting he did of us is all the proof you need.  And Suzi
told me he's even more powerful when he's asleep than awake.  He probably
just got so caught up in a dream he pulled Suz and Joey into it."

   "But that doesn't explain why he'd physically kidnap Joey," his dad
argued.

   "Maybe he just doesn't really know he's doing it," Jason said with a
shrug.

   "If that's the case, then there's no harm in keeping Suzi here," his
mother pointed out, entering the room.

   "Fine by me," Jason said with a yawn.  "My point was I think we're all
losing sleep over nothing."

   Eric yawned his own agreement and without a further thought let himself
fall asleep.

   ------------------

   "My queen," a familiar voice called, waking Suzanne from her royal
slumber.

   "Timicus?"

   "No, my queen, 'tis Elizabeth," the handmaiden spoke humbly.  "Word has
cometh from the village.  Thy champion is safe and will arrive shortly."

   The Queen smiled, then smiled even wider when she realized her bed was
covered in rose pedals an inch deep.  She rolled her naked body over and
rubbed a handful of pedals over her stomach and breasts before asking, "And
Sir Roberts?"

   "His Excellency...  was not with him."

   "Explain," she said, not really concerned as she knew Timicus would be
the first to deliver bad news if there was any.

   "There is nothing to explain, my Queen.  According to Sir Joseph, his
Excellency was with him for most of the journey, but Master Timicus said he
parted his company to rescue some damsels in distress."

   "Thank you Liz.  Please tell the stewards I wish to bathe."

   "Yes, my Queen," Liz replied, closing the door which she had only
cracked to speak through.

   "Timicus," Queen Suzanne called out after covering most of her torso
with the rose pedals.  "When thou haveth a moment, the Queen would like to
speak with thee."

   The formation of a rose pedal shower above her indicated he had heard
her, and the Queen's smile only broadened as she closed her eyes and let
herself be covered by the falling petals.

   "Yes, my beautiful Queen?" Timicus said gently, waking Queen Suzanne
some time later.

   "Is Eric well?" the Queen asked, stretching her naked body, then smiling
at her beloved sorcerer's ogling eyes.

   "He is, my Queen," Timicus said softly before bending down to kiss her
lips.  "He demonstrated his superior skill with the sword."

   "Impressed?" the Queen queried.

   "Very," Timicus admitted.  "His skill could equal that of your
champion's."

   "Really..." the Queen purred, stretching again before sitting up to get
up.

   "Indeed," Timicus said patiently.

   Suzanna put on her gown intending to go straight to the bathing chambers
when the hidden meaning to his words occurred to her.

   "Thou is not suggesting Eric should challenge my champion for his
place?"

   "Of course not."

   "Then why would thou make such a comment?"

   "My queen, the wound thy champion received may never heal completely if
it was caused by the enemy's black magic.  If we do not wish to see our
champion fall before his service is over, we must elevate his status above
that of champion.  But not before we have a new champion whom we trust to
take his place.

   "There is no higher status above the Queen's Champion," Suzanne pointed
out.

   "You are mistaken, my Queen."

   "Timicus," the Queen said shakily.  "Thou know that is not possible.  I
can not choose between thee."

   "My love, thou must make him thy King.  I fear his life will be short if
thy do not."

   "Surely thy magic can cure his wound," she argued.

   "Black magic is rarely reversible without the consequences being worse
than the original spell.  Thou know this to be true."

   The Queen glanced nervously at the metal door at the other side of the
room, closed her eyes, then nodded her agreement.

   "I shall always be yours, my love," Timicus softly spoke as his robed
arms wrapped around her from behind.  "And the spell the three of us cast
together will not break.  Our magic and love is too strong."

   "Very well," the Queen relented.  "If the Queen's Champion agrees to
this, then I will make him my King.  But thou best decide what to tell the
Prince once and for all for thou know he will ask."

   "Yes, my Queen.  He will ask.  He will ask."

   ------------------------

   The sensation of someone washing his face awoke Joey from the dead sleep
he was in.

   He struggled to open his eyes and for a moment he succeeded, but he
couldn't quite bring anything into focus.  So he closed them again as the
wet cloth wiped soothingly across his face and chin.

   Once the cloth had been removed, he cracked open his eyes and found
himself stripped bare and surrounded by six women who where busy washing
the remainder of his body with wet cloths.

   "Uh, thanks, but uh.." Joey began, but stopped as a pink vaporous mist
formed at the foot of the cot he was on, quickly thickening into pink smoke
before the smoke focused itself into human form with a flash.

   Joey blinked then started laughing uncontrollably.

   "Control yourself, my friend," Timicus said, obviously baffled by the
laughter.

   "Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately?" Joey laughed.  "You
look like a bearded hippie wearing someone's bed sheets!"

   "Hip e?"

   "You know, make love, not war?"

   "Thy speak words of great wisdom, Sir Joseph."

   "Cut the crap, Tim," Joey said suddenly serious.  "What the hell is
going on anyway?  What are we doing in Suzi's dream?"

   "Queen Suzanne," Timicus corrected him while motioning the attendants to
leave, "Sent me to see if thou art strong enough to attend a celebration in
thy honor..."

   As the last attendant closed the door behind her, Timicus then added in
a near whisper, "And more importantly to learn why thou returned before thy
task was done."

   "And what task was that?" Joey sighed, deciding Timicus was just part of
Suzi's dream.

   "To kill our greatest enemy," Timicus said with uncertainty.  "Do thou
not remember?"

   "To tell you the truth, I don't care any more.  Suzi, this is all just a
dream."

   "I believe thee to be delirious," Timicus said sadly.

   "Delirious, eh?" Joey said, sitting up.  "Could you hand me my watch? 
It's on the table over there."

   Timicus, hesitated before turning around and spotting the digital sports
watch on the wooden table.

   "Where did thou obtain such a device?"

   "Thin air, apparently," Joey muttered, "Could you hand me my dress
clothes?"

   "Do ye feel well enough to attend the celebration?" Timicus asked
uncertainly while picking up the pile of satin-like clothes from the same
table.

   "Shit.  If the Queen is throwing me a party, I'd be a fool not to go,
wouldn't I?  Besides, you know she'd never forgive me if I didn't."

   "'Tis true thy queen would jest about it if thou missed it, but she
would not hold it against thee."

   "Okay, now I need my white dress shoes.  Hmmm...  I don't see them,"
mumbled, Joey pretending to be concerned.

   "Perhaps they are still in your chambers?" Timicus suggested.

   "You're right.  I bet they are."

   "Allow me," Timicus said, closing his eyes a moment, then snapping his
fingers.

   Joey was amused when after a puff of pink smoke his old white dress
shoes he wore freshman year in high school appeared on his feet.  But
seeing he had gotten away with his charade that much, he decided to go a
little further.

   "No, not these.  They make my feet hurt.  I'm talking about my albino
alligator skin shoes.  You know.  The ones made out of the giant albino
alligator I killed a few years ago."

   "Oh of course," Timicus said with some embarrassment.  "My memory is not
what it was."

   After another puff of pink smoke, the white alligator shoes Joey had
imagined appeared on his feet.

   Joey hid his smile by pretending to examine his shoes, then stood up and
gave the dream character a sincere, "Thank you."

   "'Tis good to have ye back, my friend.  The Queen and I both have missed
thee more with every day that came to pass." Timicus said tenderly.  "And
if all goes well, thou wilt not have to leave us again."

   "That's good," Joey said, not sure why this seemed so significant.

   "Are thou not curious how this is to be done?"

   "Of course I am," Joey said, fainting interest.

   "When his Excellency, Sir Roberts, returns, the Queen will request that
he take thee place as the Queen's champion.  If he agrees, the Queen will
announce both her betrothal to thee and her new champion without thou
fighting to the death."

   "No fight to the death.  That sounds like a good plan."

   "You will be King," Timicus clarified.

   "Yeah?  Isn't that a good thing?"

   "For thou, indeed," Timicus said with obvious hurt feelings.

   "Hey," Joey said tenderly, catching on a bit late.  "It was your idea,
right?"

   "I suggested it, yea."

   "Well, do you want her for yourself?"

   "Nay, thou know that 'tis not possible.  I am but a commoner.  My veins
contain no royal blood."

   "That's not what I meant," Joey sighed.  "Look Tim, Suzi, whoever is
running this thing.  I will not marry Suzi without Tim's whole-hearted
blessing.  And it's okay if Suzi doesn't want to marry me because of Tim.
It's never been a contest, and we've been through too much shit together to
start making it one.  That's my take on it, you two figure out the rest. 
Now let's go.  There's a party waiting with my name on it."

   As they made their way to the main hall where the celebration was being
held, Joey was considering playing along with the dream for a while longer.
He was sure he could snap Suzi out of her dream persona simply by
confronting her with the truth, and knowing that made him more comfortable
with just letting her dream on a while.  Joey was intrigued by how real
everything seemed, and was honestly thrilled to find he could alter the
dreamscape simply by suggesting it as the watch and his shoes proved.

   As they approached the doors to the main hall, trumpets sounded to
announce his impending entry.  Joey grinned at the fanfare, then suddenly
realized the Queen's champion probably should have a sword when greeting
his Queen.

   "I could really use a ceremonial sword right about now," Joey whispered
to Timicus.

   "Indeed," Timicus muttered, snapped his fingers behind his back, then
announced, "I present the Queen's Champion his sword."

   "Thank you," Joey said formally, taking the bright silver sword in its
sheath attached to a velvet belt, then hesitated a moment before asking,
"Did they put the Velcro on it as I asked?"

   "Yes, m'Lord," Timicus acknowledged, turning the ends of the belt over
to show the Velcro strips.

   "Very good," Joey said, putting it on while resisting his desire to
chuckle.

   To the trumpeters' relief, Joey finally entered the great hall, its size
and the number of people inside making him gasp.  The ceiling was seven
stories high and the hall was as long as a football stadium, yet only 200
ft wide.  Of course that's only if you didn't include the stairs and the
seven terraces above.

   "We added on last year," Timicus explained.  "The Queen wished to be
able to launch an arrow from a bow and not have it strike the far wall. 
Unfortunately the peasants make very good bows these days."

   "Shit," Joey exclaimed, mostly due to the people bowing as Joey
approached.  People were packed in from the floor to the ceiling, making a
vertical and horizontal wave as they bowed.

   As Joey approached the far end, he could see Suzi sitting on a silver
throne wearing a white fancy dress that made her virtually glow in the
candle lit room.  The closer he got, the more she seemed to glow, and it
was giving him goose bumps seeing how beautiful and happy she appeared to
be.

   A small boy around six whispered something into her ear which made her
smile even more as she nodded.  As his goose bumps were suddenly replaced
by a warm sensation, Joey was grateful that his body flush wasn't visible
like his erection apparently was in the satin clothing he was wearing.

   When they finally reached the end of the hall, Timicus stepped forward
and announced, "My Queen, I present to thee your Champion, Lord Joseph
Theodore Conner of Oakley."

   Joey stood there awed by her brilliance and beauty until Timicus nudged
him in the ribs and whispered "Bow."

   So Joey bowed, saying "My Queen."

   "Timicus, could ye turn the dress down a wee bit?" Queen Suzanne
whispered.  "I can barely see anything past it."

   "Of course, my queen," Timicus whispered back, snapping twice.

   The brilliance of her dress slowly lowered to where Joey wasn't
squinting any longer from the bright light.  But a moment later he squinted
again from the smile on his face triggered by the one on hers when their
eyes met.

   "My beloved people," Queen Suzanne then began in an official voice,
"your Queen's Champion has returned from his quests of righting wrongs,
slaying evil dragons and spreading his Queen's love to the lands beyond
hers.  Your Queen calls for a feast!"

   The crowd exploded in a simultaneous "Hurray!"

   "You Queen calls for a celebration!"

   Another "Hurray!" exploded, louder than the first.

   "And after our bellies are full and our barrels of ale are dry, your
Queen calls for an orgy!"

   The walls and floor shook with the resulting "Hurray!", which was
followed by a someone's crying out "Long live the Queen!" that crowd
immediately echoed at a deafening level.

   "Let the feast begin!  Timicus?"

   Timicus held his hands up above his head, closed his eyes and mumbled
something before clapping his hands together.  The clap was far louder than
any noise the crowd had made, and in the blink of the eye the entire room
was empty except for the people who where around the throne.

   "Where did they all go?" Joey asked.

   "To their homes to eat," Timicus answered.  "We don't have enough room
to feed everyone here."

   Queen Suzanne stood up, her dress falling to the floor.  After one of
her handmaidens helped her put on a robe, she stepped right up to Joey
who's smirk had turned to a genuine smile.

   "Welcome home, my love," the Queen said gently.

   "Nice to be home, my love," Joey replied before meeting her lips with
his.

   <flash>

   "He would be our son," Timicus explained.  "The Queen's, yours, and
mine. His innocence would cure the Queen, but no one can ever learn of the
spell we cast tonight.  For if they do, the spell will be broken and the
darkness would take control of not just the Queen, but all three of us. 
Forever."

   <flash>

   "What was that?" Joey asked,

   "What was what, my love?"

   "Uh, nothing."

   "Art thou hungry?" the Queen asked her champion.

   "Depends on what kind of hunger you mean," Joey said, having recognized
the look in her eye.

   "Which ever hunger thou feels most," the Queen said, winking at her
sorcerer.

   <poof>

   Joey found himself with his arms around the Queen just as he had, only
he was now in the royal bed-chambers, and neither of them were wearing any
clothing.

   "I have missed thee," the Queen said, kissing his chest while sending
her hands up and down his back.

   "I've missed you too," Joey said honestly, but not mentioning that it
had only been a week since she had left.

   "Timicus, are thou joining us?" the Queen suddenly asked.

   "I shall join thee shortly, my Queen," Timicus's voice came floating in.
"I must fill the ale barrels and cast the spell of prevention."

   "Spell of prevention?" Joey queried.

   "For the orgy so the kingdom doesn't overrunneth with children in 9
months," the Queen explained.

   "Ah," Joey chuckled before lifting her up off her feet and tossing her
onto the bed.

   Joey's staff went to full mast from the way Suzi's body and hair laid
all spread out, her eyes and mouth held open invitingly, compelling him to
ravage her with all his strength.

   And ravage her he did.  He found he had limitless strength and energy,
never tiring in his thrusts, and only slowed down after each of her orgasms
to let her catch her breath.

   When she begged him to come inside her as she felt her sixth orgasm
approaching, Joey missed a beat, then went all out.  It had been an
established protocol for over a year to never to come inside her, but Joey
knew this wasn't real, no matter how real it felt.  And damn did it feel
real.

   Even so, he almost pulled out just out of habit when he felt his orgasm
peaking, but steadied himself as his shudders and shakes began, each jolt
of semen squirting deep inside of the queen's fuck hole.

   Joey soon rolled them over so he was on bottom, then the two enjoyed
some tender kissing before the Queen settled down in her usual sleeping
position, both of them enjoying the feeling of some of his cum dripping out
around his soft cock still embedded inside her outer lips.

   -----------------

   Eric awoke in complete darkness, and after feeling the bed beneath him
and the sheets covering him, he relaxed and rolled onto his side.

   But then someone else moved in the bed behind him, and he shivered when
a soft feminine body pressed themselves against his naked backside.

   "M'lord is cold?" the body's owner asked.

   "M'lord?" another woman's voice asked immediately in front of him, just
before she too pressed her body against his, her head snuggling up against
his chest.

   Despite the shock, Eric found their soft bodies pleasantly comforting,
and simply decided to enjoy the moment even if it wasn't real.

   "What time is it?" Eric asked softly.

   "Just past three, m'Lord," the woman at his chest answered.

   Eric moved his arm and draped it over her upper back and began rubbing
it as he marveled at how real her skin felt.

   She returned the affection with simple kisses to his chest.  Once the
other woman felt the movements and heard the kisses, she began kissing his
upper back and neck while one of her hands found its way to his butt cheek
for a squeeze.

   That awoke his cock, and as it began to fill, the woman at his chest
sensed it and snaked a hand between them to grasp it.

   Eric was about to call a halt to the fondling when his curiosity got the
better of him.  Whenever he had had an erotic dream before, he always awoke
when it became too exciting.  Plus he was curious to see how real it would
feel.  It wasn't like he was cheating on Randy.  It was only a dream.  And
if it felt too real, Eric decided he could simply stop it.

   So Eric rolled himself and the woman at his chest so she was on her back
and slid down so his face was even with hers.  As their tongues entwined,
Eric's right hand slipped down heading for its usual entrance to tease
open, but corrected its course when he remembered the current residence had
a front door.

   Her wetness startled Eric.  It had been a long time since he had had sex
with a girl who hadn't been a twin.  And he never recalled any girl ever
being this wet without the help of the drink.

   But what startled Eric the most was how arousing it was to dip his
fingers into her folds and rub the warm slimy fluids between his digits. 
Sticking his finger's into a guy's ass never aroused him quite like that.

   And the sensation of pressing the head of his giant manhood into the
warm, wet, self-lubricating entrance was almost as stunning as finding
himself sinking into her without having to stretch her open first.

   "It's as if a woman's cunt was designed to accept a cock," Eric thought
to himself, then rolled his eyes at its stupidity.

   When he bottomed out, Eric enjoyed lying on top of her with her legs
straddling his.  It wasn't a position he was accustomed to since Randy's
legs were always either up in the air or underneath him whenever Eric had
his cock inside his rectum.

   Eric shuttered in pleasure as he started pulling back and felt her
juices sliding between their sexual organs.  Her tightness was so evenly
distributed, her skin was so soft, her body felt so light beneath him, Eric
lost himself in the moment and started pumping into her like his instincts
demanded.

   Her vaginal contractions during her orgasm triggered his own, and Eric
reveled in the feeling of his own cum shooting out inside the quivering
juicy hole.

   He collapsed on top of her after pulling out his deflating member and
letting the juices that covered it smear between both of their lower
stomachs.

   Eric had forgotten all about the other one until a pair of hands began
fondling his buttocks.

   Eric smiled when the hands started caressing his rose, then lifted his
ass into the air and enjoyed the fingers rubbing the pussy juices into his
little hole.  But then he screeched when he felt the head of a cock press
up against his relaxed hole.

   Eric took a hold of himself and after a moment of convincing himself it
was something he wanted, he told the cock in the dark to proceed.

   The cock was average size, but even then it took a while to work it in
to Eric's tight ass.  All the sensations he felt were as real as real life,
and while Eric did gain pleasure from it once the discomfort of stretching
his ass left, Eric was troubled by how much he desired to be fucking that
pussy instead of being the one getting fucked.

   After the cock blew its load and left without Eric getting anywhere
close to a second orgasm, Eric laid down in the now empty bed realizing how
great a mistake it all had been.

   He was close to tears when he heard the whisper say, "Don't cry."

   "Why not!" Eric shouted.  "I fucking don't know who I am any more!"

   "You are you," it whispered after a long pause.

   "And who is that?  Eric Roberts?  Or Tim Brandton?  Or both?"

   After an even longer pause, the whisper said, "You are the son of Steven
Michael Roberts and Mary Lisa Kensington."

   Another whisper seemingly from a different direction said, "The apple
does not fall far from the tree."

   Then the original whisper said, "Your deepest feelings are inherited
through them."

   The second whisper followed saying, "Believe in yourself, and the world
will be at your feet."

   "Believe in yourself."

   "Believe."

   "Believe."

   While he didn't completely believe them, their words did comfort Eric
enough that he wasn't distraught any longer, just worried.

   He found the bed sheet and pulled it up over him, then laid there
letting his feelings settle out before saying, "Thank you."

   "You're welcome, Eric Nicholas Roberts," the whisper said in his left
ear.

   "Who are you?"

   After getting no response, Eric sighed, then decided to try one more
time.

   "You're not Tim, are you."

   "No."

   "Are you the one running the dreams?"

   "No."

   "Are you stuck inside them like us?"

   No answer.

   "Can you help me?"

   "I can advise, that is all."

   "Then what is your advice?"

   "For now, play along with the dreams while they are fun and don't be
afraid if they turn bad.  You should sleep now."

   Eric took a minute to process that before asking, "Why are you helping
me?"

   "Your family is important to me."

   The second whisper said, "I care about them."

   Followed by a third whisper saying, "I care about you."

   Then all three whispers said, "You are never alone."

   And then first whisper said gently into his ear.  "I am always with
you."

   "Then why haven't I ever heard you before?"

   No answer.

   "Who are you?"

   Eric sighed, then closed his imaginary eyes intending to fall back to
sleep.

   "If I can, I will show you when the time is right," the whisper said
faintly from beyond the bed, seemingly moving further away.

   "Okay," Eric said sleepily, having been truly comforted by the thought
he wasn't alone.

   --------------------

   Queen Suzanne awoke on top of her Champion's chest feeling more content
and fulfilled than she remembered having felt in a long time.

   "He's different," Timicus said from beside them.

   The Queen studied her sorcerer's expression as he studied her champion's
face, then smiled at him lovingly and stroked the side of his face.

   "How so?"

   "His lovemaking is much more...  patient."

   "Yes, he savors the moment more, and does not rush to reach his climax,"
the Queen agreed lovingly.

   "Even more than that, my Queen.  He brought thee to six climaxes before
allowing himself his own.  He has greater self control than I knew was
possible without the aid of magic."

   "Your Queen is amused by thy jealousy," Queen Suzanne mocked.  "Rest thy
worries, my love.  Thou hast never disappointed me in thy loving with or
without thy magic.  The return of our champion will not change this."

   "You are right as always, my Queen," Timicus acknowledged with a slight
blush.

   When Timicus returned to studying their champion's face, the Queen did
so as well.

   "He is different in another way," the Queen said after a few minutes.

   "Yes my Queen?"

   "He was attentive to me, but did not wait to include thee."

   "I noticed, my Queen, but when I spoketh of our plan to make him King,
he shared his heart with me.  I do not feel excluded from his love.  It may
be some time before he shares it physically with me again, but I trust he
will."

   "Timicus, what thoughts can you give of your Queen desiring another
child?"

   "They are happy thoughts, my Queen.  A Queen should have many heirs with
her King."

   "And what of her other love?  Should a Queen feel bound to restrict her
bloodline to pure blue?"

   "The Queen should only do what's best for her people and by the people.
The blood of any child birthed by thee should be blue for the people to
accept the child as royalty."

   "And what of the Prince?"

   "My love, the Prince's blood is pure blue.  My influence is purely
magical and emotional."

   "Thou led us to believe otherwise," the Queen said with a touch of
anger.

   "Nay, my Queen.  The Prince is as much my child as yours or our
champion's.  My blood does not flow through his veins, but he bears my
heart and feels the natural forces around him as I do.  In honesty my
Queen, I believe he is thy Champion's son in body, but my son in mind and
spirit."

   "And what part does your Queen share with her first born?"

   "All of him, my Queen.  He is your son, mind, body and soul."

   After several minutes of digesting that, the Queen said, "Timicus, if I
cannot mix my blood with yours, then I desire thee to take a mate of your
own."

   "I understand, my Queen, and will make it so.  Thy descendants will
always have my magic at their disposal."

   "Yes, my love.  But more importantly I believe someday the purity one's
bloodline will not matter to the people, and all three of our blood will
finally mix and rule the land as one."

   "Yes, my Queen.  I love you, my Queen."

   Queen Suzanne crawled over and straddled the sorcerer, and as they began
to make love, they did not notice Joey awakening beside them.

   Joey watched their lovemaking with mixed feelings.  Surprisingly the
conflict wasn't over the fact that they were doing it, or doing it without
him.  It was the fact that it wasn't real.

   Joey knew that deep down inside, he and Suzi both wanted the threesome
again.  But Joey had a deep gut feeling that it would never happen, and
watching Suzi play it out in a dream just seemed like it was tempting fate.

   "Fuck it," Joey muttered, deciding if he couldn't get it in the real
world, he might as well take advantage of it there.

   So he joined in by burying his face into the Queen's ass as it hopped up
and down on the sorcerer's cock below it, then relived a game of Suz-ball
before sucking the sorcerer's cock while Timicus sucked the Queen's ass and
cunt for their seed.

   When the sorcerer didn't resist Joey's finger probing his ass, Joey lost
the mood and stopped.

   "Joey, what's wrong?" Suzi asked when he got up off the bed.

   "That's not Tim, and you know it," Joey said sternly.  "Playing out this
fantasy will just make thing worse in the real world, so just stop it,
okay?"

   "But..."

   "If you want to play Queen, go ahead," Joey said gently.  "I'll be your
King, and Tim can be your Merlin.  Just don't make it about sex, please?"

   "Who is this Merlin thou speak of?" Timicus asked before he and the rest
of the world faded to black.

   "Joey?" Suzi called out into the darkness.

   "I'm still here," he replied, his voice sounding more confident than he
felt.

   "Where are we?"

   "Well," Joey began as he moved his imaginary body towards Suzi's voice.
"We _were_ in your dream, but now I don't know.  I'm trying to find you, so
keep talking."

   "Okay.  Should I move too?"

   "No, you stay still.  I'll come to you."

   "Is Timmy doing this?"

   "Eric thought so, and I did too, but now I'm not sure."

   "Eric is here?  Eric, can you hear me?"

   "He must be asleep, Suz."

   "But aren't we asleep?"

   "We're dreaming, sort of.  Ah.  Found you," Joey said gently when his
imaginary hand found her imaginary arm.

   "You're still naked," Suzi giggled as she hugged him.

   "So are you," Joey replied.

   "So what do we do now?"

   "Are you tired?"

   "A little.  Are you?"

   "Yeah, I guess.  I wonder what time it is."

   "Weren't you still wearing that watch?"

   "Shit, you're right," Joey exclaimed, immediately reaching over and
pressing the light button.

   "Hi," Suzi giggled when the light came on and illuminated their upper
bodies to each other's virtual eyes.

   Joey gave her a grin before announcing, "If this watch matches the real
world, then its three thirty seven."

   "AM or PM?" Suzi asked as the light shut off.

   Joey hit the light button again, then said "AM."

   "How many days have we been in here?"

   "None.  It's Wednesday morning."

   "But I've been in here longer than that," Suzi frowned.

   When the light shut off again, Joey didn't hit it again, and just said,
"It sure seems like it, but I bet you just remember other dreams you've had
in the past.  At least that's what Eric said about mine."

   "What was yours?"

   "It was...  Group stuff."

   "Joey..."

   "It was Group stuff in space, okay?"

   "I knew it," Suzi laughed.  "I bet you and Captain Kirk had a race or
something."

   "No, but I'll try to work the suggestion in some night," Joey said
thoughtfully.  "Well, seeing there isn't anything else to do, let's just go
to sleep."

   "What, here?"

   Joey got down on the featureless floor, turned his watch light on to see
if he could see any of the floor's features, then grunted his
disappointment when nothing showed up.

   "Just lie on top of me," he suggested after lying on his back and
finding it comfortable enough.

   Suzi did as he suggested, and after Joey started rubbing her back as he
always did, they both felt safe enough that they closed their imaginary
eyes and entered a deep dreamless sleep.

   ---------------------------

   Eric awoke to the sounds of birds chirping and a clanging of pots in
another room.

   From the mud colored walls, straw roof, and stone cobbled floor, Eric he
guessed he was still in Suzi's dream.  From the two naked women sleeping
beside him and the state of the bed, Eric assumed part of the previous
dream had happened in this one.

   A gentle knock on the door distracted Eric from the ass of the brunette
woman whom he supposed he had laid, and after a moment to consider what to
do, he called, "Yes?"

   "Master, thy meal is ready," a strangely familiar young male voice said
from behind the door.

   "Okay, I'll be out in a sec," Eric replied as his two bed companions
stirred.

   Eric crawled over the brunette whom he had fucked and stood up, then
turned around in a circle looking for his clothes.

   "Does your Excellency have to leave so soon?" the blonde asked woefully.

   "I'm sorry ladies.  Duty calls," Eric answered.  "Any idea where my
clothes are?"

   "Out by the fountain, m'Lord," the brunette answered coyly.

   "What thee didn't toss into the river," the blonde added with a lusty
smirk.

   "Figures," Eric sighed, then had an idea.

   "Boy?" Eric called out the door.

   "Master?"

   "Run out to the fountain and fetch me my clothes, please?"

   "Yes, Master.  But Master, sir, your porridge is getting cold."

   Once Eric heard the door close, he asked the girls, "Is there anyone
else home?"

   The two girls looked at each other with growing smiles, and both
replied, "No m'Lord."

   "Good," Eric said, ignoring their disappointment as he opened the door
and walked out to the kitchen.

   Eric picked up the bowl of porridge and turned around to dump it down
the drain, then said, "Shit, no sink."

   So he pretended it was a bowl of milk and gulped it down without
bothering to taste it.

   Clumsy footsteps outside the door alerted him to the boy's return, and
Eric barely had time to dash back down the rustic hall before the exterior
door opened.

   The women were still in bed naked, the blonde brushing tangles out of
the brunette's hair.

   Suddenly the bedroom door opened and a young teenage boy walked in
holding a pair of woven trousers up in front of him with one hand while
covering his eyes with the other.

   "This is all I could find, Master," the boy said.

   "Thank you," Eric said slowly as he took the trousers, his eyes studying
the lower half of the boy's familiar face.

   Eric slipped the trousers on, ignored the itchiness of its fabric while
his eyes were locked on the boy's partially hidden face.

   "Master?" the boy queried when Eric gently took hold of the boy's wrist
that was connected to the hand covering his eyes.  The boy didn't resist
Eric lowering his hand since his eyes were shut tight as well.

   "James," Eric gasped.

   "Yes Master?" the boy asked, opening his eyes to find Eric's shocked
expression, and in confusion glanced over at the bed.

   "I'm sorry Master!" the boy gasped as he not only shut both eyes, but
covered them with both hands.  "I didn't see the ladies.  I didn't see the
ladies."

   "My goodness, Lindsey" the brunette exclaimed.  "You certainly don't see
that kind of chivalry around here these days."

   "No, you certainly do not."

   "Here, boy.  You don't need to fret.  There we are.  We put our clothes
back on," the woman teased.

   "Did they put their clothes back on Master?" James asked innocently.

   Eric sighed.  "No James, they're making fun of you.  Go on outside. 
I'll be out in a minute."

   "Yes Master," he said, turning around and walking straight into the
frame or the door.

   "Sorry Master."

   "We were just havin' a little fun with the boy, your Excellency,"
Lindsey said apologetically.

   "I want a straight answer.  No bull shit," Eric said seriously.  "Whose
dream is this?"

   "M'lord?"

   "Don't play stupid," Eric said angrily.  "I'll play your little game,
but only if I know who's running the show!  Now whose dream is this!"

   "Yours," she said emotionlessly before everything disappeared into
blackness.

   "Thought so," Eric said with a yawn, then closed his eyes and let his
imaginary body fall over, knowing it wouldn't hit the ground.

  
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+

   Tim, the Teenage MC By Rass Senip Chapter XXII: Summer 90 Part 6 - Sir
Eric Roberts of Atlantia (No sex) ---------------------------------------

   "Master?"

   Sir Eric Nicolas Roberts, Viscount of Atlantia, sighed, then mumbled,
"Hmm?".

   "Is the Queen's castle much further?"

   His Excellency opened his eyes and looked down from his horse at his
squire walking besides him.

   "Do you see it yet Squire?"

   "No Master, I do not," he said just before he clumsily stumbled.

   "Are you tired boy?"

   "No, not tired...  My left shoe has a hole in it, Master, and I keep
getting pebbles in it."

   "Hop up here, then," Eric commanded.

   "Thank you, Master," James said with relief.

   It took James three tries to get on the horse, and the only reason he
made it on the third was from Eric grabbing the boy's arm before he toppled
off again.

   "Thank you, Master," James repeated once his butt was settled in the
saddle in front of Eric, innocently pressing it against Eric's crotch.

   "Just make sure you get your shoe fixed before we leave for Atlantia,"
Eric said evenly.

   James turn half way around with a look of happy astonishment, then when
Eric couldn't stop a grin from breaking through his mask of indifference,
James swung his leg over to give Eric a hug, but fell off the horse
instead.

   "Not again," Eric thought to himself.

   "Sorry, Master."

   Eric held his hand out to the boy, and despite himself was enchanted
even more by the boy by his innocent blush as Eric pulled the boy back up
on the horse.

   "Thank you Master," James said as he hugged Eric.  "I'll be the best
squire in the entire kingdom."

   "Just don't forget that, boy," Eric said sternly as James turned around
to face the front.  "I can think of three other boys who are just as eager,
but they don't chatter on like you."

   "Sorry Master," he said, his enthusiasm drooping.

   Eric simply handed the boy the reins to restore his spirits, then closed
his eyes to try and get some more rest.

   "Master?"

   "Hmm?"

   "I think the devil is in my head."

   "Why do you say that?"

   "I can't stop thinking of those two ladies."

   "How old are you, squire?"

   "Fourteen and two months, Master."

   "Has your pecker grown any hair?"

   "Yes, Master," James said uncomfortably.

   "Then no, you don't have the devil in your head."

   "Then why do I..."

   "Squire, do you know what fornicate or copulate means?"

   "Yes, Master."

   "You can't copulate with your clothes on, can you?"

   "I don't think so, Master."

   "So it's normal for a boy with hair on his pecker to like thinking about
women without their clothes.  It's just getting you ready to copulate."

   "Ohh.."

   ....

   "Master?"

   "Hmm?"

   "My old master liked to fornicate with his boys."

   "Doesn't surprise me.  Did he fornicate with you?"

   "A couple times."

   Eric grunted.

   "Master?"

   "Hmmm."

   "Do you want to fornicate with me?"

   "No, squire.  I fornicate with women, not boys."

   "I'm glad, Master."

   ....

   "Squire?"

   "Yes Master?"

   "I won't share my women with you.  You have to find your own to
fornicate with."

   "Yes Master, but...  How did you know I was thinking that?"

   "Because I asked my master the same thing when I was your age.  Now hush
up.  I'm trying to rest."

   "Yes Master," James said happily.

   Ten minutes later...

   "Master?"

   "What squire?" Eric asked grouchily.

   "I can see the castle.  What do the black flags mean?"

   "Black flags?" Eric said, jolting his eyes open, spotting the black
flags James was talking about, then took the reins from James's hands and
commanded, "Get behind me!  MOVE!"

   James had barely gotten his leg over the horse behind Eric when Eric
brought the horse to a gallop.  As the horse increased its speed and cut
into the forest, James had to wrap his arms around Eric to keep from
falling off.

   "Squire!" Eric yelled.

   "Yes Master?"

   "Black flags mean the castle is under siege.  We're making for a stream
where I'm going to drop you off.  Follow it upstream until you reach the
second bridge, then follow the road to your right until you reach a farm.
The farmer will keep you safe until I come for you.  Clear?"

   "Yes Master."

   "Tell me where you're going?"

   "To a farm."

   "And how do you get there?"

   "Follow the river upstream.  Second bridge, right."

   "Good boy!  Now give me your shoe."

   "My shoe Master?"

   "The one with the hole in it."

   "I'm sorry master.  I fibbed.  I _was_ tired."

   "Boy, if you want to be my squire, don't ever fib to me again, no matter
how little."

   "Yes master, I won't ever again."

   Once Eric spotted the stream, he slowed his steed as they approached it,
and then brought it to a halt beside it.

   "Squire, run and don't stop until you see the farm.  Don't stop for
anything.  I'll see you in day or two."

   "Master!" the boy shouted after Eric had turned to go.

   "Squire, I said run!"

   "Yes sire, but...  For the Love of the Queen!"

   Eric grinned and said, "Yes squire!" then echoed the kingdom's battle
call, "For the Love of the Queen!"

   After a mad gallop through the woods, Eric slowed his horse and
dismounted it when he approached the forest's edge near the castle.  The
grounds surrounding the castle were littered with the bodies of solders,
all of whom wore the crest of the Queen's only enemy, Lord Harris.

   Despite there being so many bodies, a large force of the enemy was still
at large, most of which were trying to find their way through a tangle of
magical booby traps scattered about.

   "Solders are so much like mice when put into a maze," Timicus said,
appearing on a rock just beside Eric who was crouched down and watching the
enemy through some bushes.

   "Aye, but they may turn into lions if they become trapped," Eric warned.

   "'Tis good to see you, brother," Timicus said as he knelt to watch along
side Eric.

   "Aye, brother.  I see you have been busy with the magics?"

   "You know the Queen.  She firmly believes that killing the enemy only
fuels their family's quest for revenge."

   "I know the wisdom in her words, but then the enemy just comes back."

   "Yes, but they don't remember doing so, so the same tricks can work
every time."

   "Surely you do not rely on this."

   "Nay, my brother.  I bore much too easily."

   Eric chuckled, then said, "The Queen and her Champion are well?"

   "For the moment.  However, Sir Conner's wound was made by a sword forged
by black magic.  It will never heal entirely.  I fear our Champion will not
live to see his duties through."

   "Then I trust my brother has a plan to circumvent this."

   "I do."

   "Am I to guess this plan of yours?"

   "Eric, my brother, your skill as a swordsmen is nearly as great as your
skills as a lover.  The Queen must have a champion who can spread love for
her and bring justice to those who need it.  You qualify beyond measure for
both."

   "Brother, I know you are not suggesting that I challenge Joseph to a
fight to the death."

   "Nay, my brother.  Our offer to you to be the Queen's next Champion
requires no human bloodshed besides that of those foolish to challenge you
to the right.  But the Queen's Champion must have no other loyalties
intruding on his service to the Queen.  Do you love your Queen enough to
abandon your duties as Viscount of Atlantia for the next seven years?"

   "You well know that my father, the man who raised us as brothers, would
personally castrate me if I even hesitated to say my life belongs to my
Queen.  There is no conflict.  My duties and loyalties have always been to
the service and love of the Queen."

   "Then I shall inform the Queen she has a new Champion, and as we shall
need to prepare the castle for a double ceremony..."

   Timicus stood up, put his fingers to his mouth and let out a long loud
whistle.

   Eric stayed crouched as a few of the enemy solders noticed Timicus and
quickly had the entire force's attention.

   "Excuse me!  I'm afraid there's been a cock-up.  The castle you're
looking for is seventy miles that way!" Timicus yelled, pointing to the
East.  "This castle is owned by a pair of newlywed dragons who should be
getting back from their honeymoon any minute now."

   The crowd of solders became very agitated, some of them looking
frantically up at the sky for any sign of the beasts while a couple shouted
something back to Timicus.

   "I believe they're both fire breathing, but I did hear someone say they
were into sniffing acid, so I suppose its possible they could breath it
back out on you," Timicus shouted back.

   After another man shouted, Timicus put his hand on his hip and cried,
"Look, I'm not a dragonalogist.  As I see it, at best you all will end up
as toasted marshmallow men on those pokey sticks you all seem to have, so
if I were you, I'd haul ass east!"

   "Morons," Timicus exclaimed before saying in a mocking voice, "But I
thought fire breathing dragons hated acid breathing dragons.  Hello?  It's
a dragon.  Who cares what they breathe."

   "Double ceremony?"

   "Yea, the wedding of our Queen to Sir Connor.  Huh.  They still aren't
leaving."

   Timicus closed his eyes and muttered in an ancient language a moment
before clapping twice and then sneezing.

   "Bless you."

   "Thank you.  I'm allergic to dragons, you know."

   "But there isn't going to be any dragons, right?"

   A scream from the distant men was followed by a sudden hush, and just as
Eric saw what appeared to be an extremely fast moving cloud, the entire
enemy army ran like hell eastward.

   "Oh shit!" Eric said just as Timicus sneezed again.

   "Oh shit is right.  I need a handkerchief.  I don't suppose you have the
kidneys of a rabbit or squirrel on you?" Timicus asked.

   "What?  No.  Will they stop dragons?"

   "No.  They're <sniffles> natural antihistamines for dragon allergies. 
Take two squirrel kidneys and your dragon sniffles go away, my auntie
always says."

   "Your auntie is a loon, and I'm thinking you are too if actually called
two dragons to get rid of that lot."

   "No, the dragons are mainly for you to slay.  Slyterious Zonicous
Zi-squirrel!"

   A poof of pink smoke left two small fresh kidneys in Timicus's hand.  He
then held his nose as he popped them in his mouth and swallowed them whole.

   He made a face, then snapped three times.  The large turtle that poofed
into existence in front of him made him frown, but then he snapped once to
poof it back to where it had come before snapping three times with the
other hand.

   After a glass of water on a pedestal poofed before him, Timicus quickly
downed the water before snapping once again to poof it away.

   "What was the turtle for?"

   "Oh nothing.  I forgot I had made three snaps on my right hand pot luck
on every Wednesday.  The Queen finds it quite amusing when my magic doesn't
always work the way I expect it to."

   "Timicus, I've never slain a dragon before," Eric said urgently.

   "Yes, and that is why I have provided you with not one, but two dragons.
The Queen's Champion must also be a proven slayer of dragons, you know."

   Timicus looked over to Eric's horse, then tilted his body to look beside
the horse before asking, "I say, Eric.  Haven't you forgotten something?"

   "No, I did not bring any dragon fighting gear," Eric said, exasperated.

   "I didn't expect you to.  But shouldn't you have a squire by now?"

   "Oh him.  I sent him to the Keller farm.  He's not ready for combat."

   "The Keller farm, eh?" Timicus echoed, closing his eyes.

   "Brother, please don't bring..."

   <Snap> <Snap> <Poof>

   "Him here."

   "Master!?  What happened?  How did I get here?"

   Eric sighed, then said, "Squire James Nathalion Ritter, this is the
Queen's sorcerer, Timicus Brandton of Atlantia"

   "Wow!  The Timicus?"

   "Accept no substitutes," Timicus said, snapping once to poof an ink
plotter and feather to him.

   Timicus picked up the feather and held it in the air as he looked down
at the boy.

   "Rather puny for a squire.  Is he the best you could do?"

   "He makes up for his size in other ways," Eric defended.

   Timicus reached out and felt behind James's ear, then pulled it back and
remarked, "He's still wet behind the ears.  Did you take him from his
mother's arms?"

   "I sort of...  Tripped," James said with embarrassment.

   "Tripped?"

   "Yes, master.  Into the stream."

   "I see," Timicus said, walking around him.

   "Only once," James offered, then after glancing at Eric, he lowered his
head and said, "I mean, twice."

   "Well, I suppose if a dragon gobbles him up, you can just get another
squire."

   "Dragon?" James asked, then slowly raised his eyes upward until he
spotted the circling beasts.  "Master, there are two dragons circling the
castle!"

   "Oh pixy poop!  I forgot to change the flags," Timicus suddenly
exclaimed.  "Blast, was it my left pinky, or my right?"

   As Timicus poofed a half dozen foreign objects to and from the castle
looking for the right snap combination, James said, "Master, the dragons
aren't acting like dragons."

   "What?" Eric exclaimed.

   "Dragons don't like to fly when they don't have to.  They should be
swooping down testing the castles defenses, or at least gobbling up all
these dead men."

   "And I forgot about the men," Timicus exclaimed.  "Aclaimous kalarato
home-us!"

   The field of sleeping men became a field of pink smoke.

   "Now, where was I?" Timicus asked.

   Eric glanced up at the castle, then chuckled and shook his head.

   "What?" Timicus groaned.

   "Red flags mean plague.  Green flags mean dragon."

   "I'm sorry, but I don't have a spell for green flags," Timicus said with
frustration.  "Red will just have to do...  Hmmm...  Unless...  I could
make everyone color blind for a day.  Then they couldn't tell the
difference between red and green."

   "Red is fine," Eric assured him.  "No one will approach the castle
either way."

   "Master, I don't think they are dragons at all," James commented.

   "And how do you know so much about dragons, Squire?" Timicus demanded.

   "My father is the Lord of Saint Greggor, sire.  Not a day goes by
without a dragon swooping down from the Clara Mountains for a meal."

   "Perhaps your choice of a squire was not such a bad one after all, my
brother," Timicus said honestly.

   After Timicus poofed the inkwell and feather to him again, he said,
"Very well, I Timicus, Master of the elements, court sorcerer of the great
Queen Suzanne Aster, yada yada yada, officially proclaim these two soldiers
of the Queen's army dragon slayers, otherwise known as 'Ye slayers of
dragons,' patent pending, yada yada yada, till death of all dragons, or the
slayers themselves.  And now I sign.  Drop your drawers, boys."

   "Excuse me?" Eric asked.

   "I said drop your drawers.  I have to sign your left butt cheeks."

   When Eric didn't move, Timicus said, "Seriously."

   "You want to sign our asses."

   "I know, I know, it's a little bizarre, but your ass is the whitest
piece of flesh on your body, and this ink just doesn't show up well on
tanned skin."

   "Is this really necessary?"

   "Look at it this way, my brother.  If anyone ever asks you for your
authorization to kill a dragon, all you have to do is...  well, show it to
them."

   Eric lowered his drawers, Timicus bent over and scribbled his name, and
then Timicus stood up and turned towards James.

   "Won't it just wash off?" James asked, his face flushing as he lowered
his pants as well.

   "This ink is made from the feces of flying elephants.  It will never
wash off."

   "Flying elephants?"

   "He is joking, Squire," Eric said while pulling his trousers up
carefully.

   "I am certainly not joking.  Boy, you need a bigger ass."

   "Master, what does feces mean?"

   "You don't want to know," Eric replied as Timicus dotted his i's, making
the boy yip.

   "There we are," Timicus said, standing up and putting the feather back
in its inkwell.  "Now that the legalities are taken care of, let's get down
to business.

   "The boy is right," Timicus said, giving James a wink.  "Those are not
real live dragons, but for both your sakes, no one else must ever learn of
it or your credibility will be ruined for the rest of your lives."

   "Then what are they?" Eric asked.

   "Dead ones actually," Timicus said as he poofed his inkwell and feather
away.

   "Ghosts master?" James asked with apprehension.

   "Ghosts do not have physical bodies, boy," Timicus scolded.  "Wouldn't
be much of a show would it?  Try to stab the bloody things and you just
fall right through them.  Think before you speak, boy.  That's a good lad."

   "So they're puppets," Eric concluded.  "And you're pulling their
strings."

   "You are getting the picture now, my brother," Timicus said approvingly.
"I could not risk the Queen's safety by bringing two real live dragons
here, but it isn't quite as simple as that, I'm afraid."

   "No, of course not," Eric sighed.

   "I didn't lie when I said I wasn't a dragonologist.  In order to make
the fight believable, they will have to fight like real dragons.  Therefore
their strings will be cut for the actual fight.  But fear not, lads. 
You'll get the hang of it."

   Timicus poofed a set of brown cloth suits beside them, their shapes
resembling suits of armor, just without any metal.

   "These will help protect you from their fire, but you probably won't
want to wear them until you have to.  They're awfully itchy."

   Two more poofs revealed a pair of shields and long pikes with silver
tips.  The shields were insulated with the same material as the suits,
while the pikes were coated with a shiny waxy substance.

   Another set of poofs brought an assortment of other items such as nets,
throwing axes, a couple of very long longswords, and a cushioned chair
which Timicus immediately sat down in.

   "Ready?" Timicus asked once Eric had looked through the equipment and
was swinging one of the long swords to get a feel for it.

   "You must be joking," Eric said.  "I am supposed to fight two dragons
without any instruction or practice?"

   "Practice?  What a marvelous idea!" Timicus exclaimed before clapping to
make everything go <poof>.

   As the pink smoke thinned around him, Eric found they were standing in a
small desolate valley surrounded by dark menacing mountains.

   After noticing a cliff face that resembled a human skull, James
exclaimed worriedly, "Grimm's valley," and quickly moved to stand in his
master's shadow.

   "Come again?" Eric said, not finding the name familiar.

   "Master, Grimm's valley is where the dragons come to...  copulate."

   "Timicus..." Eric said warningly.

   "The boy is correct, but what he doesn't know is they only copulate when
the females are in heat, and that won't be for another moon.  Or so our
queen's current champion claims, and I don't have any reason to doubt his
word in this matter."

   "So what now?" Eric said grouchily.  "You call one of your pets and we
dance around until it kills one of us?"

   "Pretty much the idea, yes," Timicus said as he pulled two medallions
hanging on chains out of his robes.  "Most dragon slayers train for a
decade before attempting to take on a real dragon, and then they only have
a twenty percent chance of surviving it.

   "Seeing that we don't have a decade, and we certainly want better odds
than four to one against, I made these," Timicus continued as he started to
raise one of the medallions' chains over Eric's head, but then paused and
asked, "Do you need to potty?"

   "What?  No, not really."

   "Urinate?"

   "No."

   "Hungry then?" Timicus began, retracting the medallion's chain from
above Eric's head.  "Thirsty?  Have a cramp in you leg?  Need to blow your
nose, scratch your ass, or anything else you need to physically do before
we start?"

   "No, why?"

   "Well, once I put this on you, the medallion will memorize your body. 
Every detail will be stored, from the clothes on your back, the sweat on
your skin, the position of your feet, the food in your belly, and of course
the shit in your ass.

   "And yes, I am quite sure you will both die in the next few minutes,
very noisily and probably making a very bloody mess.  But after your heart
has missed one thousand beats, which is approximately fifteen minutes, your
body will instantly be reassembled right where you're standing, exactly the
way you are now with only one exception.  You will remember everything you
did."

   "Cool," James exclaimed.

   "You may think so now, but after you've died once or twice I think you
will agree it isn't a game."

   "How many times can we die?" Eric asked.

   "There is no limit," Timicus said as he crouched down to the ground. 
"However, there are other limitations.  The medallions remember the exact
place you put them on the very first time, and will only work if you are
within sound's reach from that spot.

   "This is the valley," he said as he drew a large and rough oval in the
dusty dead earth.  He then pressed a shiny rounded pinkish flat pebble into
the dirt in the very center and said, "And we are here."

   After a double snap, a roll of dark red twine poofed into his hand.  He
cut two arm lengths off and tied it into a loop, then poofed the roll away
and kneeled over his map.

   Carefully positioning the twine inside his drawing of the valley, he
created a rounded rectangle within the oval while saying, "If you go
outside the twine, the medallions will deactivate.  You would have to
return to the center to reactivate them, which will cause them to memorize
your body again.  While they are active, the medallions infuse themselves
into your chest to prevent accidentally falling off, but this also means
you can not remove the medallions unless you deactivate them first."

   Timicus at that point pulled a small leather bag out of his robes and
began sprinkling the grey powder contained within it over the pebble and
the twine while mumbling a short chant repeatedly.

   Once he finished sprinkling the twine, he tore off two strips of cloth
off his robe, dipped them in bucket of water he poofed in, then handed Eric
and James one each saying, "Put these over your nose and mouth and get
ready to close your eyes.  It's about to get very windy."

   Eric couldn't help but smile watching James tie his cloth behind his
head with his eyes closed.  He was just about to tell James to open his
eyes when Timicus took a deep breath and started to blow on the pebble at
the center of the map.

   Winds like Eric had never experienced before descended from the clear
sky, blowing the loose dirt surrounding them into the air, his vision
instantly reduced to where he couldn't even see his squire standing five
feet in front of him.

   Dirt pelted his clothes and skin as the cloth covering his nose began
clogging with dirt, and as the wind shifted its direction and he adjusted
his weight to stay upright, he was startled to find the very ground beneath
his feet crumbling and blowing away.

   Then as suddenly as they had come, the winds died, and after Eric blew
enough of the caked dirt from the cloth over his mouth to breathe, he
cracked his eyes and found the air practically clear.

   James was on his knees and looking around through his fingers when Eric
suddenly noticed the ground around him was not only shiny, but hard and
pink just like the stone Timicus had pressed into the earth.

   Eric removed the cloth from around his face as he watched the front edge
of a large cloud of dirt and dust travel across the valley in the distance,
certain it was traveling the exact path Timicus had made with the twine.

   "Master, where is Master Timicus?" James asked from beside him.

   "I don't know, squire," Eric said with awe.  "Up in the sky somewhere, I
suppose."

   "Do you think he sees the dragons?"

   Eric's eyes shot up and instantly found four of the beasts flying at the
far edge of the valley.

   "They don't seem to be coming this way," Eric analyzed.  "They probably
don't even know we're here."

   "Master, dragons can see a sparrow a mile away.  They know we are here.
They must be planning something."

   "I see I've stirred up more than just dust," Timicus said, startling
them both when he poofed in right behind them.

   "Master, there are six more over there," James said, pointing southwest.

   "And another five over there," Eric said pointing southward.  As more
began popping up all around the valley, he turned to Timicus and said, "I
don't believe there is much to learn from a slaughter."

   "I suppose we can come back later," Timicus admitted after counting up
to thirty and losing track.  "A week should do it, so that would be... 
help me here.  72 beats per minute times 60 minutes is....  4320 beats an
hour...  24 times 43..."

   "2580" Eric announced.  "Hurry up, they're coming fast."

   "25 times 7..."

   "175!" Eric exclaimed as fire began to bellow out from dozens of
approaching mouths.

   Eric leapt for one of the long swords as he yelled to James to grab a
shield.

   "Oh that's right," Timicus exclaimed.  "I already figured this out. 
Four snaps of my third finger on my left hand and..."

   <poof>

   The nearly full moon high in the sky cast an eerie glow to the rising
pink smoke around Eric.

   "Well that's not right," Timicus exclaimed with frustration.

   "Master, shh!" James whispered desperately.  "Dragons."

   Timicus and Eric froze as they took in the landscape around them and saw
it was filled with the still forms of countless dragons scattered
throughout the valley.

   Timicus was about to snap his fingers to poof them away again when a
second Timicus poofed in.

   "Ah, there you are at last," the second Timicus, who appeared to be a
good twenty years older than the original, said with a smile.

   "Good lord!" the original Timicus exclaimed.  "What on Earth are you
doing here?  And what the devil did you do to my hair?"

   "Masters...  shhhhhh!" James repeated urgently.

   "Don't worry, lad," the middle aged Timicus said smiling broadly as he
patted his freshly trimmed short hair.  "These dragons..."

   A third Timicus, this one looking much older and completely bald, poofed
in and said in chorus with the second, "Are all dead."

   "Dead?" Eric and the bald Timicus echoed as the bald Timicus sat down on
a dead dragon's midsection with a bored expression.

   "My HAIR!" the original Timicus exclaimed as the bald said it in a
monotone voice.

   The bald Timicus then points his finger at James and mumbled "The boy
says all of them".

   "All of them?" James asked.

   A fourth Timicus, who appeared to be only a few years older that the
original, poofed in with an enthusiastic smile and a crew cut.

   "I apologize for being late," the enthusiastic and the bald Timicus's
said.  "Laws of time, you know."

   The bald Timicus points to Eric.

   "How many of you are there?" Eric asked with the bald Timicus's monotone
accompaniment.

   "What is this all about?!" the original Timicus exclaimed with the bald
Timicus's bored support.

   Both the middle aged and the younger future Timicuses sigh, then along
with the eldest Timicus said, "Laws of time."

   "We are here because we were here when you are here the first time,"
both the enthusiastic and the bald Timicuses said.

   "But why did you all cut my hair?" the original Timicus asked painfully
with the bald Timicus's accompaniment.  Then the original Timicus shouted
at the bald one, "Will you please stop that!"

   "Don't mind him," the bald Timicus said in his bored monotone voice. 
"He's just proving a point."

   As the bald Timicus looked up, apparently startled by the fact he had
been the only one to speak, another enthusiastic Timicus poofed in and
said, "I apologize for being late.  Laws of...  No?"

   "One more," the first enthusiastic Timicus and the bald Timicus said.

   "Sorry," the second enthusiastic Timicus said as the bald Timicus echoed
him with a yawn.

   <poof>

   "Hair?" the original Timicus reminded everyone.

   "Echem", the middle aged Timicus said as the bald Timicus snapped his
fingers at the enthusiastic one, surprisingly without causing any poofs.

   "Oh sorry.  I'm still new to this, you know," the enthusiastic Timicus
said.  "Now don't tell me...  Ah yes.  Laws of time.  Yes, that was it."

   "Laws of Time?  You all cut my long beautiful hair because of bloody the
laws of time?"

   "Not me," the bald Timicus said with only the slightest interest.  "Mine
fell out."

   "Oh, that's just lovely," the original Timicus moaned.  "Thank you so
much for sharing that!  I have so much to look forward too now!"

   "How did these dragons die?" Eric asked, ignoring the bald Timicus's
echoing of his words like the rest were.

   "Yes, let's discuss that, shall we?" the original Timicus said with a
touch of contempt.

   "You and the squire killed them," the middle aged Timicus said.

   "It was friendly contest between you two," the enthusiastic continued
enthusiastically.  "Very entertaining."

   "Yes, yes.  The Queen still talks about it even in my day," the bald
Timicus added.

   "Really?  Who won?" the original Timicus asked.

   "It wouldn't be much of a contest if they find out now, would it?" all
three of the future Timicuses said, then the younger and middle aged
Timicuses looked at each other and both said, "Pardon me."

   Another enthusiastic Timicus poofed in momentarily, then poofed away
again.

   "Is this where I get to explain?" the enthusiastic Timicus asked.

   "Well you might as well now," the middle aged Timicus sighed.

   "You see lads, my youngest self here hasn't quite mastered his time
travel spells yet and..."

   "Look who's talking," the original Timicus snorted.  "Popping back
through time looking for us.  It's very unprofessional."

   "Well if you actually knew what time it was when you arrived here, then
I wouldn't have had to pop back every minute or two to find you."

   "Timicuses, please," Eric cried.  "Stop arguing with yourselves and just
explain."

   "When I brought you here the first time," the youngest future Timicus
began with enthusiasm, "I had taken you into the past by four months
believing I had only taken you back one.  Then when I skipped us ahead to
escape the dragons, we only skipped two and a half days, not...  What was
it?"

   "A week," the middle aged Timicus said.

   "Yes, a week.  Thank you."

   "I still don't und..." Eric began, but was cut off by another youngest
future Timicus poofing in.

   "Excuse me," the newly arrived Timicus interrupted.  "But does anyone
know how many more I have to go?"

   "Two or three more," Eric moaned.

   "Thank you," the new Timicus sang, which was followed by a <poof>.

   "The plan was," the remaining youngest future Timicus continued, "to
take you back a month and let you train yourselves as much as you needed
before returning you to the present to fight the two dragons at the castle.
Spectacular job you do too, I might add.  Your squire here even
accidentally discovers a new weakness in a dragon's armor that no one had
ever considered before."

   "I do?" James exclaimed.

   "So much for the laws of time," the original Timicus grumbled as the
youngest future Timicus smiled and nodded his head for the boy.

   "So then we kill all these dragons afterwards?" Eric asked as another
youngest future Timicus poofed in and out again.

   "All I can say is that sometime in your future you will decide to go
back to the moment immediately after which you had escaped the incoming
dragons.  The results of which are all around us for you to see."

   "So my plan works rather marvelously," the original Timicus said with
pride.

   "Yes, quite marvelously," all three of the future Timicuses said in
agreement.

   Just then, a poof of dark blue smoke revealed a boy around nine who
immediately walked up to the original Timicus and whined, "Dad...  Jeffrey
blew up my dragon."

   A light green poof brought an older boy around fifteen who immediately
said, "Dad, it was an accident.  He wanted me to make it breathe blue fire
and...  Whoa.  What's with the hair?"

   "Boys," the middle aged Timicus said patiently, "Didn't I tell you not
to follow me?"

   "I was following Roland, dad," the older boy said without concern for
all the duplicates of his father.  "He's the one who followed you here."

   "But Daddy..." the little one whined.

   "Jeffery, take your little brother out over there and help him find a
new one.  I'll be done here shortly."

   "Whoa!" the two boys exclaimed after looking where their father was
pointing, then raced out into the field, barely avoiding the pink poof of
smoke of another Timicus poofing in and out.

   "Now you know why all my hair fell out," the bald Timicus snorted.

   "So the Queen's descendants will have their sorcerers after all," the
original Timicus muttered.

   "Master, may I go look too?" James asked, hearing the boys exclaiming
loudly in awe at what they were finding.

   When Eric looked at him, the boy winked the eye facing away from all of
the Timicuses.  After taking a moment to get over his surprise, Eric
verbally consented, then winked back when no one but his squire was
looking.

   "Any hints to who their mother is?" the original Timicus asked.

   "Just the most beautiful, the most enchanting, the most," the youngest
future Timicus began with distant eyes.

   "Sexually exhilarating, the most intellectually stimulating, the most,"
the middle aged Timicus said with the same distant eyes.

   "Manipulative, overbearing, pain in the ass woman you can imagine," the
bald Timicus finished.

   After he saw the frowns on the other three, the bald Timicus said, "I've
been married to her for thirty seven years and had nearly a dozen children
with her.  What did you expect me to say?"

   The youngest future Timicus sneezed, then said, "Blast it.  I forgot to
take my second dose of squirrel kidneys.  I best write that down for next
time so I remember to bring myself some."

   After the middle aged Timicus handed him a pair of squirrel kidneys, he
immediately popped them into his mouth and swallowed.  The youngest future
Timicus then pulled out a small leather bound book, a small inkwell with a
cork in it, and a feather and proceeded to ink the feather.

   "They say your memory is always the first to go," the original Timicus
moaned.  "I suppose that's just another thing I have to look forward too."

   "Nonsense," the youngest future Timicus snorted.  "My memory only
improves as I get older.  This is purely for organizational reasons."

   "Organizational reasons?" the original Timicus sneered.  "What a crock
of dragon shit."

   "Were we truly this naive?" the youngest future Timicus asked his elder
selves.

   "I'm afraid so," the elder two Timicuses answered.

   "Naive?!?" the original Timicus exploded angrily.

   "Yes, naive," the youngest future Timicus said, also losing his temper
slightly.  "First of all, you attempt to take two others back in time
without ever having attempted to take anyone but yourself before, never
considering that their presence would have a very important affect on the
time travel calculations.

   "And now, while my second most elder self's memorizes everything we've
said here without the aid of a feather or magic, and witnessing my most
elder self's flawless recitation of that memory, you have the impudence to
insult yourselves instead of thanking them for their hard work and, most
importantly, their valuable time?"

   "So listen to us, youngling," the middle aged Timicus said with
authority.  "By not having to memorize every little detail, your mind will
be less cluttered and your memory more efficient.  As soon as we're done
here, you go get yourself a book and start writing everything down that you
may need to remember later.  Every spell, every incantation, and write down
your time travel calculations.  You'll need every single one of them when
you get to be us."

   "But start with your snaps," the youngest future Timicus insisted. 
"They're so helpful when you're in a hurry."

   "And for the kingdom's sake, get a hair cut!" the bald Timicus grumbled
before he and the youngest future Timicus both snapped and poofed away.

   "How rude," the original Timicus said to the middle aged one.  "They
didn't even say goodbye."

   The other Timicus shrugged then said, "Wasn't their fault.  Laws of
time, you see.  I would have left with them if our boys weren't still
here."

   "Then I'll say it for all of us," the original Timicus said thoughtfully
as he put his hand out to his elder self.  "Good bye.  And thank you."

   The other Timicus smiled, then as they shook hands he said, "Goodbye,
youngling.  Just remember, our fate is in your hands."

   After giving Eric a friendly nod, the other Timicus headed out towards
the three boys to see what they were up to.

   "It would appear you have some very large shoes to fill, my brother,"
Eric said gently after a few moments of silence passed.

   "As do you, my brother," Timicus said softly.  "I apologize for rushing
you into this.  I tend to forget my manners when I'm working the magics."

   "You also forget how well I know you, my brother," Eric said.  "I
trusted your intentions and judgment, and I knew you would explain
eventually.  I admit that I was concerned you had leaped before you looked
as you sometimes do, but I never truly believed you would allow harm to
befall on us."

   "Eric," Timicus began with a sigh.  "Did you understand my elder self's
last words?"

   "About their fate being in your hands?"

   "Yes."

   "I suppose not."

   "Time travel is a very risky business," Timicus said in a serious tone.
"The laws of time specify that no event is fixed, neither in the past or
the future.  By my future selves coming here and telling us these things,
they risked creating a separate reality which on their return to their
proper time may be vastly different from the reality they had come from. 
How close the future they returned to from the one they had left depends on
our actions from this moment on.

   "My point is, do not believe you are invincible just because you know
there are events in the future you must partake in.  You must follow your
instincts and force yourself to base all of your judgments on the
information you have at the present time, not what you believe to be in the
future.  For if you do, even in the slightest way, the future we shall live
in will be different than the future which my elder selves had come from,
dooming us and them to live out the rest of all our lives within it."

   "Then why did they do it if there is so much at risk?"

   "Yes, why indeed," Timicus muttered with a frown, then his frown
reversed into an expression of enlightenment before exclaiming, "Of course!
I'm such a clever fellow."

   Timicus started pacing back and forth excitedly as he muttered to
himself how clever he was, then looked up when Eric let out a grunt of
impatience and said, "I apologize my brother.  I apparently am a bit naive
as I just comprehended what my elder selves were saying."

   "And that was?"

   "When I asked them what they were doing here, what was their response?"

   "They kept blathering on about the laws of time," Eric said.  "I don't
see what..."

   Eric heard James's sudden cry, and for a moment Eric was deeply
concerned when he couldn't locate the boy or the others who had been with
him.  But then James stood up after apparently having simply tripped again,
and so Eric simply kept his eye on the boy as James made his way back to
them.

   "Yes, the laws of time," Timicus said while poofing a campfire with a
pot of stew cooking above it in front of them.  "But they also said they
were there because they were there the first time we were.  Don't you see?
They had to come in order to ensure their version of our future didn't
change.  If they had not come, their own pasts would have changed, and the
disastrous results would have cascaded into their present."

   "So everything you just told me about the laws of time isn't really
true," Eric concluded.

   "No, no, quite the contrary," Timicus said with almost a panicked tone.
"My brother, you must understand that the future is not fixed, and you must
base all of your decisions on the here and now.  The quickest way to
destroy one's future is to depend on that future.  That is what my elder
self meant by their fate is in our hands."

   "So what purpose did their trip back here serve?" Eric exclaimed.

   Timicus sighed, then after a moment of thought, he said, "To play their
part in our present in order to allow their future to exist.  I know it is
very confusing.  I was confused by it myself until just a few minutes ago.
Trust me on this, my brother.  You are very much still in control of your
own destiny.  If you believe you can-not lose because of what you learned
here, you will surly die.  My future selves could have simply been lying to
us about your fate in order to preserve theirs."

   "You would do such a thing?" Eric asked.

   "I would if I believed the consequences of not doing so would result in
something worse than the death of my own brother," Timicus said gently as
James finally approached the fire and looked into the pot.  "However, rest
assured that I would not continue this plan of ours if I believed it would
result in your permanent death, or even the death of your squire."

   "I understand, brother," Eric said.  "I shall look upon this night
simply for encouragement for what could be, not as what will be."

   "I could not have said it better, my brother.  Now if you and your
squire could tend the fire and kettle for while, I must pop into town to
run a few errands.  When I return, we shall eat and then begin the
practice."

   <snap> <poof>

   "So squire," Eric sighed as he sat down in front of the fire next to
James.  "What do you think of all this?"

   "I never dreamed of being a dragon slayer, Master.  I don't know how it
can be true."

   "I myself never dreamt of being a dragon slayer or the Queen's champion,
but I must admit I am looking forward to the adventure.  But if you do not
feel up to the task, I won't think anything less of you if you would
prefer..."

   "I don't feel up to it, master.  For I am useless," James whimpered.

   Eric put his arm around the boy and gently said, "You are not useless. I
know of no other squire who could have recognized those dragons at the
castle as not being real, nor who would have kept their head at the sight
of a single dragon, let alone nearly a hundred like you did when we arrived
here."

   "But I was scared, master."

   "As was I and Timicus," Eric assured him.  "An important trait of a
knight is to not let his fear rule him, yet also never ignore its message
either."

   "But I still...  I'm so clumsy, master.  I tripped four times walking
back here after the others left."

   "Believe it or not, squire, I was just as clumsy if not more so when I
was your age.  You will grow out of it, just as I did."

   After a minute of silence, James wiped the tears from his face and
finally looked up at Eric and asked, "Is that why you made me your squire?"

   "No, son.  I made you my squire because I could see your true potential
as a knight and knew you would serve your Queen and lessly myself as best
you knew how.  No one expects you to battle dragons or the Queen's enemies
until you are capable of doing so.  Doing battle is my job.  Your job is to
learn from me how to be a knight while taking care of my equipment, my
horse, and myself.  Do you understand?"

   "Yes master," James said with relief.

   "So my question to you was whether you feel up to that task knowing what
I will be confronted with.  I don't' want to hear you moaning about
cleaning dragon guts out of my armor."

   "I am, master, and I won't ever complain."

   "Good squire.  Now, did you learn anything interesting from Timicus's
offspring?"

   "Yes, Master.  Jeffery says I have a castle and a wife!"

   "I'm glad to hear it, squire.  But did he tell you anything about how we
kill the dragons?"

   "No Master.  He said it would break the laws of time if he told me that.
But he did tell me who your wife is," James said with sparkling eyes.

   "And who would that be, squire?" Eric asked with more than passing
interest.

   "I can't say, Master.  Laws of Time."

   "Not you as well," Eric sighed with frustration.  But then he asked,
"Then did you learn anything that would help us kill the dragons?"

   "Well, many of the dragons we looked at had their throats cut," James
offered.

   "Good squire.  What else?"

   "We were having trouble finding dragons that still had their eyes."

   "So we poke their eyes out and blind them.  Go on."

   "There was a lot blood under their tails."

   "Our blood or theirs?"

   "I'm not sure, master, but I think it was theirs."

   "Hmm..."

   "One of them was torn into two halves, another was scattered in pieces
all over the place, and another we couldn't find anything wrong with it. 
That's the one they took with them."

   Eric and James chatted about different ideas on how to kill a dragon
until Timicus returned about an hour later.

   As Timicus began dishing out the stew, he said, "After we eat and take
care of any nature's business, we'll pop ahead a few hours and clean up
this mess before I bring in your first dragon to slay.  While you're going
at it, I'll work on my time travel calculations to get us back to our
proper time.  Once you've started getting the hang of it, we'll try popping
ahead a couple of days to test my calculations."

   "What mess?" Eric asked.

   "Why all these dead dragons, of course," Timicus said as he sat down to
eat.  "Wouldn't want them stinking up the place while you're practicing,
now would you?  We'll have to burn them all.  I just hope they still have
some flammable gas in their stomachs."

   "So we're not going to use them for practice?"

   "I considered that, but I don't have enough dragon eye for that.  It's a
pitty they all had their eyes cut out.  But it isn't like there's a
shortage of dragons in the kingdom."

   After they ate and emptied their bowels and bladders, Timicus had to
jump them three times before they finally found the sky lighter by the
approaching sunrise.  Timicus had gotten very discouraged by how off his
calculations had been, but lightened up while they watched the beautiful
sunrise the clear dry air provided.

   "If you lads don't mind, could you drag all these carcasses into a
single pile for me?" Timicus asked after the three had lost interest in the
sun.

   "And how are we supposed to do that?" Eric exclaimed.

   "Thought you'd never ask," Timicus said with wicked grin before flicking
his fingers at Eric and James several times while muttering, "empus
katraren expandos."

   After growing twenty times their previous size, Eric and James stomped
around the valley gathering up the mouse size dragon carcasses and piling
them up at the valley's edge down wind from the center.  When they were
done, they stepped out of the valley and gathered nearly a hundred dead
trees from the surrounding mountains and carried them back to the valley to
bash against each other, producing a mountain of splintered firewood.

   Two hours after they started, Timicus raised his arms above his head and
called forth several bolts of lightening to strike the wood surrounding the
pile of dragons, then poofed himself back to the center where Eric and
James had just finished shrinking back to their original size.

   "This should be quite a good show," Timicus said as he poofed three
cushioned chairs to them.  "Ever heard of the tyrant Babcock's funeral
celebration?"

   "No," both Eric and James said as they sat down.

   "Ramos Babcock was this tyrant king who ruled a small kingdom about a
hundred and seventy years ago.  After twenty years of living under his
rule, the people revolted against him and assassinated his entire family.
They held a large celebration, made this huge bonfire which they placed
four freshly killed dragons and the tyrant's body in the middle.  The
explosion that resulted killed nearly a third of the people there
celebrating, but they said it was quite a show of lights.  For several
decades after that, once a year they built a bonfire and placed a single
dragon in the center of it to celebrate their freedom and to honor the
people who died in obtaining it."

   "Why have I never heard of this celebration before?" Eric asked.

   "Oh, they got conquered and enslaved by another tyrant thirty or so
years later.  They didn't have much to celebrate after that."

   "How many people died again?"

   "About two hundred, I believe."

   "And that was from four dragons?"

   "Yes.  And I know what you are thinking, my brother.  But these dragons
have been dead for nearly three days now.  What little gas is left in their
intestinal track should only make a small fireball, if we even are lucky to
get that much.  But if you like, we can activate the medallions now while
we wait for the show, just incase something unexpected does happen."

   Timicus's eyes were as bright as the morning sun as he had Eric and
James stand at the center of the giant pebble and ceremoniously hung the
medallions around their necks.  Watching the medallions burn their way
through their shirts and infuse themselves into their chests gave Timicus
the warm fuzzy that they were working while completely ignoring Eric's and
James's cries of pain.

   By the time they recovered from that, the first dragon went off, and
within minutes the three of them were watching fireball after fireball
feeding the ever increasing blaze, every once in a while witnessing a
dragon exploding into pieces, sending smoking bits up in the air like
rockets.

   Once the fireworks were exhausted, Timicus said, "All right lads, time
to get to work.  You best decide what equipment you wish to start off with
before I call your first victim."

   "Wouldn't it make sense to have Sir Joseph join us?" Eric prompted.  "We
could learn a great deal from his experience."

   "I'm afraid that isn't possible at the moment," Timicus said rather
apologetically.  "Right now Sir Joseph is still sitting in Lord Harris's
dungeon waiting for you to rescue him.  I could pop ahead and borrow him
from our present, but until I understand the error in my time travel
calculations, we would risk bumping into ourselves and altering our own
past on the return trip back here.

   "You and the squire are simply going to have to work this out on your
own.  But look on the bright side boys.  You have four months to get it
right before the dragons return to repopulate their ranks.  Oh, I must
write that down."

   When Timicus pulled out the small leather bound book, the small corked
inkwell, and a feather like his older self had done, Eric exclaimed, "And
what do the laws of time say about that?"

   "Hmm?" Timicus said with a touch of surprise.  "My elder selves told me
what I must do, so I did it.  Who am I to question someone as brilliant as
myself?"

   Eric groaned, then said to James, "Come squire.  We best get our gear
on."

   "I recommend you don't bother putting on the fire armor until you know
you need it.  It is awfully itchy, you know," Timicus reminded them.

   "Master, have you ever seen a dragon fight?" James asked as Eric tested
the weight of the long sword again.

   "I can't say I have, squire.  I trust you have though?"

   "Three times, Master.  All three dragons flew away before they could be
slain."

   "Any recommendations on how not to get killed?  Besides not fighting
them in the first place."

   "Watch out for their tail, master.  And their claws.  And their fire. 
And don't look them in the eyes."

   "Why not, squire?"

   "It angers them."

   "I'll try to remember all that," Eric sighed as he picked up one of the
insulated shields and handed it to the boy.  "I want you to stay out of the
way and keep watch on what the dragon does.  If I go down, don't try to
help me.  I need you to learn from my mistakes and still be alive when I
come back so you can tell me what I did wrong.  Is that clear?"

   "Yes, master," James said nervously.

   "Think of it as a game, son.  We are bound to lose the first few rounds
while we learn the rules.  But with your help, we'll figure them out in no
time and start kicking some dragon butt around.  Isn't that right, squire?"

   "Yes master," James said with a weak grin.

   By the time Eric was ready, Timicus had poofed a desk to him and was
busily scribbling notes down in his little book.  When Eric approached him
to tell him they were ready, he walked straight into an invisible wall.

   "Timicus, what is this?" Eric asked as he felt out the slightly curved
wall with his hands.

   In a muffled voice, Timicus said, "Just a bubble of protection for
myself.  Terrible manners, dragons have.  They don't care if you're busy
with more important matters than them filling their stomachs.  Good lord,
is that all you're going to use?  A sword and a shield?"

   "Squire here says its better to stay light on your feet when facing a
dragon.  I'll likely plant the shield and dodge behind it when need be."

   "I see," Timicus said, sounding unconvinced.  "Well, I suppose we'll
find out soon enough if he's right.  I've already called for your first
opponent.  She should be arriving shortly.  The nearest one was twenty
minutes away by air."

   "It will be just one this time, correct?"

   "Of course.  Don't worry my brother.  I won't bring more than one at a
time until you ask for more than that.  Mind you, there doesn't seem to be
any dragons in the local area, so you'll have to let me know in advance."

   After five minutes or so, James suddenly stood up and shouted, "Master!
Dragon!"

   "I see it squire.  Go make yourself scarce now."

   Eric walked off the giant pebble and stood patiently watching the
creature fly straight for him.  Keeping himself perfectly still, he stared
straight at the dragon's distant eyes, never wavering while the monster
began screeching and breathing fire angrily.

   If you neglected their tail and their very large wings, the dragons
which they had burned were no larger than six feet long and stood three or
four feet high.  Their tail of course added another five or six feet to
their overall length, but it was their wings which made the creatures look
so huge, both in the air and on the ground.

   Eric learned his first lesson when the dragon plowed right into him
without ever slowing down.  You don't play chicken with a dragon because
the dragon will always win.

   Eric suddenly found himself standing on the giant pebble a few moments
after feeling the impact of the dragon's body break nearly every major bone
in his body.  After a quick inventory of his condition, he sought out James
and quickly realized the squire was no longer in his hiding place and
no-where to be seen.

   "Thank goodness you're back," Timicus yelled over the dragon's
screeching as it attempted to claw its way into Timicus's protective bubble
from above.  "It's very difficult to work with all this racket going on."

   "Where's the squire?" Eric asked as he dashed towards the equipment
rack.

   As the dragon turned its attention to Eric, Timicus replied, "Swallowed
whole, I'm afraid.  He shouldn't be much longer.  The beast knew exactly
where he was hiding, and after he finished you off, it went straight for
him."

   "Can you take him in there with you when he comes back?" Eric yelled as
he dodged the rack of weapons crashing down from the dragon's tail slapping
out and hitting it.

   "Sorry.  These things only hold one person at a time.  There isn't
enough fresh air flowing through it to keep two people alive for more than
an hour or so.  Oh do look out for its tail."

   "I'm trying!" Eric exclaimed as he dived away from dragon's tail
whipping out from behind the beast again, nearly braining himself on a rock
that was in his path.

   "Master!" Eric heard James cry.

   "Squire run for cover!"

   "Master!  Get the sword and cut its throat!"

   "I'm trying!" Eric exclaimed again just before getting blasted in the
face by a fireball.

   Eric screamed in agony as he felt his flesh and eyes burn away clear to
the bone before the intense heat boiled his brain to the point it could no
longer function.

   "...  fire breathing nincompoop!  I say, go away!" Timicus finished
shouting when Eric reassembled again.

   Stunned, Eric didn't move or speak until he noticed James's left arm
laying a few feet away next to a small puddle of blood.

   Jolted back to the situation at hand, Eric quickly scanned for the
nearest long sword, then inwardly moaned realizing he had carried both of
them off of the pebble during his previous two attempts.

   Seeing that the dragon had yet to notice him, Eric decided he would try
and wait for the squire to return, then attempt to distract the beast while
he had the boy collect the swords and bring them back to the pebble for
next time.

   Eric didn't' have to wait long before James's left arm suddenly
twitched, then it and the blood around it sparkled into nothing as James
sparkled back into existence beside him.

   James closed his eyes as a violent shudder passed through him, but then
wisely didn't say anything when he opened his eyes and saw Eric standing
next to him.

   Eric carefully raised his finger to his lips, then without making any
sudden movements he indicated to James his plan.  After James appeared to
understand his task, James attempted show Eric something about cutting the
dragon's neck, but Eric shook his head, then mouthed the words, "Tell me
next time."

   James made an unpleasant face when he realized they would both die
again, but then nodded and indicated he was ready.

   "Go," Eric whispered, then the pair of them took off towards the
overturned weapons rack.

   While James kept going past the rack, Eric grabbed one of the pikes and
turned to face the dragon, only to find the dragon still occupied with
trying to dig her way under Timicus's protective bubble.

   So Eric took cover behind the equipment and alternated between watching
the dragon burrowing into the ground and his squire dashing from rock to
rock on his way to the farthest sword.

   Eric held his breath when James reached the sword and accidentally
dropped it with a muffled clang, but the dragon never heard it simply from
all the noise it was making as it dug.

   James was about halfway back to the pebble when he tripped and fell,
emitting a cry of pain the dragon heard that time.  It snapped its head
around and scanned the terrain carefully as it smelt the air with its red
snake-like tongue.

   When it seemed to be focusing its senses in the direction where James
was laying as still as a rock, Eric jumped to his feet and ran in the
opposite direction.

   Hearing the dragon's screech was the only acknowledgement he needed to
know his diversion was working, but then decided it wasn't all that great
of a plan when he heard the sound of the dragon's wings beating against the
air above him.

   The dragon gracefully landed in front of him as Eric skidded to a stop
with a cuss, but then after a moment passed and the dragon hadn't made an
aggressive move towards him, Eric stood there befuddled by the dragon's
calculating stare into his eyes.

   Eric involuntarily jumped when the beast suddenly screeched at him, but
remained still as the dragon breathed loudly through its nostrils,
apparently trying to decide whether Eric was really the same creature it
had killed twice before.

   Realizing he was still clutching the pike in his hand, Eric waited
patiently for the dragon to make its move.  He nearly dropped his guard,
however, when the dragon suddenly turned away like it was about to leave,
but caught the sight of its tail whipping towards him and managed to duck
beneath it and ram the pike into the beast's side.

   The pike only scraped across the dragon's scales, and the last thing
Eric saw was the dragon's mouth and tongue as it closed around his head and
its teeth pierced his upper chest.

   "Shit," Eric cussed softly when he found himself standing in the center
of the pebble again.

   "Good boy, squire," he said a few seconds later under his breath when he
saw both long swords laying just a couple of feet away.

   The dragon was tormenting Timicus again who was doing his best to ignore
the creature's screeches and its attempts to dig under the protective
bubble around him.  When he didn't see any sign of the boy, Eric decided
James must have been swallowed whole again.

   Hoping James hadn't been eaten very long after Eric had, Eric waited
quietly for him to reappear.  After waiting ten minutes, however, Eric was
starting to worry, but then suddenly the dragon noticed him and charged.

   So Eric leapt towards the swords, grabbed one and turned, neatly swiping
the blade across the dragon's neck, its sharp metal sparking as it scraped
along the dragon's scales moments before the monster's mouth bit the arm
grasping the sword into three.

   The next thing Eric knew, he was lying on the ground grasping the
bleeding stump of his right arm while the creature crushed his left foot
with its own.

   "Fucker," Eric managed to groan after the dragon finished and screeched
in his face.

   Then it turned and left him there to die.

   "Fucking motherless WHORE!" he spat.  "FINISH ME!"

   It completely ignored him and went back to digging.

   Eric was in a daze of pain and shock when he felt a hand touch his left
hand.  He opened his eyes and managed to recognize James through his
unfocused eyes and croaked, "Squire.  Finish me."

   "Master?"

   Eric closed his eyes and muttered, "Kill me, squire.  I'm in agony."

   Eric was about to repeat himself when he felt the long sword enter
through his stomach and travel up into his chest, the relief of death
slowly washing over him.

   He sighed his relief a moment later, then nearly fell over when the boy
flung himself onto Eric to hug crying "Master!"

   "I thought I killed you forever," the boy wept.

   "Now why on earth would you think that?"

   "You took so long to come back, master.  Hours, master.  Master Timicus
was so worried he froze the dragon and came out to see what happened."

   "Well, I'm back now, squire," Eric said gently, returning the boy's hug.
"And you did good work out there."

   "But I fell," he said guiltily.

   "And then didn't move, just the way you should have.  And you got both
swords before you died."

   "I didn't die, master.  The dragon just didn't seem to care about me any
more."

   "The fool probably thought she had had enough to eat already," Timicus
said gently as he walked up to them.  "She probably didn't see the boy as a
threat where she did you and I.  I don't mind telling you that I'm very
pleased to see you, my brother.  You gave us both a pretty bad scare."

   "Any ideas why it took so long for me to return this time?" Eric asked.

   "Yes, I think so.  My time estimates were based off the average of the
number beats an average adult heart makes per minute.  Obviously if you are
excited or, in your cases, fighting for your life, your heart would beat
faster than that.  In this instance, however, it was just the opposite. 
Your heart was beating very slowly just before the squire put you out of
your misery, probably due to the amount of blood you had lost.  Therefore
it took considerably longer for your heart to miss one thousand beats than
the previous times."

   "Then nothing went wrong."

   "Apparently not.  The medallions worked as designed.  However, this has
also shed some light on what I was doing wrong with my time travel
calculations.  But I won't bore you with the details.  I'm sure you want to
get right back to work."

   Eric groaned, then nodded.

   "Master, don't you want to know what I learned?" James asked.

   "Just a moment, brother," Eric said, before saying to James, "Yes,
squire.  Tell me what you have learned."

   "Their scales, master.  You can't cut through their scales."

   "I already know that squire," Eric groaned with frustration.

   "But master," James insisted.  "Before the dragon <shudder> swallowed me
the first time, Master Timicus tried to call it away from me.  When it
turned its head to look behind itself, its scales moved apart to where I
could see skin on the side of its neck."

   "Squire!" Eric exclaimed.  "That is positively brilliant!"

   "Really master?"

   "Son, if what you say is true, we just learned our winning move."

   Naturally, nothing is as easy as it would first appear to be.  Once
Timicus returned to his bubble and James had taken position behind some
rocks, Timicus unfroze the beast and watched as Eric taunted it, attempted
to trick it, then promptly got his head bit off.

   After a couple of hours of unsuccessfully trying to get it to look away,
Eric finally conceded to the idea of letting James distract the monster by
charging at it with one of the pikes.

   Eric watched in horror as he witnessed the boy's death for the first
time.  The dragon chomped his right arm and shoulder off, then grabbed the
boy in the middle and shook him like a rag doll before tossing him up in
the air and swallowing the rest of him whole.

   In anger, Eric savagely attacked the creature, and even managed to run
his blade through the dragon's left front foot before it roasted him for
his trouble.

   When Eric reassembled after that death, he was momentarily alarmed by
finding James was still dead.  But then James sparked back into existence
right beside him, and after the boy shuddered again, he looked up at Eric,
shrugged and grinned.

   "You're not starting to find this a little fun, are you squire?" Eric
yelled as they dashed off in opposite directions.

   "Not yet, master!  But almost!"

   This time Eric attacked the dragon first, keeping the creature's
attention on him until James rammed the pike into dragon's left hip.  The
pike's tip actually managed to work its way under one of the dragon's
scales and burrowed its way into the dragon's meat.

   The moment the dragon screamed in pain and turned its head to see what
had caused it, Eric saw the scales along the creature's neck separate and
with a quick downward slice he drew blood.

   It was not a fatal blow, however.  The dragon immediately swung its head
around, belching fire as it extended its wings to take off.

   Eric somehow managed to duck out of the way of the fire and even managed
to roll back onto his feet before lunging straight at the monster just as
it opened its mouth to belch out another fireball.

   To the surprise of both Eric and the dragon's, there was only a small
flash of flame, then as the dragon began pounding its wings, it opened its
mouth to screech its goodbye.

   You can imagine its surprise when Eric's sword rammed straight into its
open mouth, spearing right through the back of its mouth and into that
extremely tender spot generally known as the brain.

   As the beast shuddered and collapsed, Eric managed to withdraw his hand
before its mouth snapped shut from its impact with the earth.  Eric lay on
the ground for several long moments, half expecting the dragon to suddenly
get back up and lunge at him again, but after the last ounce of air left
the creatures lungs, Eric knew it was over.  He had slain his first dragon.

   "Well, one down, twelve thousand three hundred thirty four more to go,"
Timicus said from his bubble.

   "Squire?  You all right?"

   "I'm afraid the boy didn't survive this time," Timicus said.  "The
creature accidentally stepped on him and crushed the poor boy's chest.  You
best gather your weapons and prepare for the next one.  It'll be here in
less than a half hour."

   "What is the rush, my brother?" Eric complained.  "I have just killed my
first dragon.  Surely we can take a break and celebrate."

   "We shall celebrate when you have killed more dragons than the number of
times the dragons have killed you and the squire," Timicus said sternly. 
"We are not here for pleasure but for you to learn."

   "Well, then how long until the squire is back?" Eric asked crossly.

   "He'll be back before then," Timicus said with a sigh.  "I apologize, my
brother.  It has not been an easy day for me either.  Quite stressful in
fact.  Watching the pair of you die in such terrible ways..."

   "Then let us take a break after this next dragon," Eric suggested.

   "No, my brother," Timicus said patiently.  "Even though it seems like
four months is a long time, we must use every minute of our time to hone
your skills to perfection.  Once you leave this valley, you will be
fighting these beasts without the safety of the medallions.  We shall break
when night falls, and not a moment before."

   "Very well," Eric said with displeasure.  "But if I die again because I
am overtired..."

   "You will be reassembled renewed and refreshed fifteen minutes later."

   Eric later admitted to himself Timicus was right about how they needed a
lot more practice.  They killed two more dragons that day, but only after
Eric got killed five times and James eight.

   Once it got dark, Timicus made the fourth dragon fall asleep, then sent
the squire to fetch some of the fire wood left over from the bonfire which
was still glowing at the other end of the valley.

   "The boy's courage is quite remarkable, my brother," Timicus said once
James was out of ear shot.  "I must say I believe he's going to be quite a
knight some day."

   "Indeed," Eric said, watching the boy stumble again.

   "He strongly resembles his master at that age," Timicus said gently.  "I
can see why you chose him."

   "Yes, but I don't remember being so talkative."

   "You don't recall your father telling you to hush at the table every
night?"

   "Ah, but those were exciting times, were they not?" Eric said, trying to
avoid answering the question.

   "Indeed, my brother.  Quite exciting," Timicus said as he stepped up
behind Eric and wrapped his arms around him lovingly.  "The Queen still
finds it amusing I first used my magic to teleport you and me every night
just so we could fornicate."

   "The Queen is a remarkable woman, is she not?"

   "Indeed."

   "The first woman either of us made love with."

   "And I couldn't imagine it any other way, could you brother?"

   "Nay.  The Queen rightfully rules us with her heart and by our hearts. I
would not be the man I am if she had not been my first."

   "Do you ever miss the old days Eric?"

   "You mean when you and I were lovers?"

   "Yes."

   "At times I do.  But my life is my Queen's.  Her will comes before mine,
so I spread her will and her love the only way I can."

   "Spoken like a true knight of the Queen's army," Timicus sighed.  "Her
love is more powerful than any magic I know, and I am her willing servant
because of it.  But I too sometimes miss the days when it was just the two
of us."

   "Come now, my brother.  You of all people...  Do not tell me the Queen
does not arouse your manhood any longer."

   "Nay, my brother.  It is not that."

   "And what of Sir Conner?  Have you not shared in each others love as
well?"

   "We have indeed."

   "Then what talk is this?"

   "I simply wished to express that my feelings for my brother have not
diminished over the years.  I still sense a hole in my heart which I had
given to you.  Do you not feel something like wise?"

   "Yes, I do.  But in all honestly my brother, dwelling on such things
will only make our task here harder.  We should focus on the present and
let the past stay in the past.  Neither of us have the strength to break
our love to the Queen, even if it would mean we would be free to love
others once more.  You shall always be more than just my brother.  But
considering what the Queen's love provides us in return for ours to her,
the memories of our past are all we can hope to have for each other."

   "Indeed, my lover.  Indeed."

   "Timicus, do you think the Queen would find it in her heart to give my
squire her love when we return?"

   "I imagine she'd do it if we requested it, but I'm sure she'd rather
wait until he's a bit older and can provide her more physical pleasure than
he could now."

   "If I am to be the Queen's Champion, we may not be back for many years."

   "True, my brother.  Then I agree it would be best if the Queen shared
her love with him before you leave the castle to carry out your duties as
her Champion.  I shall suggest it to her when the time is right."

   "Thank you, my brother.  It will mean a lot to him, and to me."

   Over the next week, James and Eric practiced and refined their technique
of distract and slash, and while they were successfully reducing the time
which they took to kill a dragon, they never succeeded without one or both
of them getting killed in the process.

   So Timicus decided they needed to switch roles to get a better feel for
the other's task.  That was a disaster, mainly from James having not gained
enough physical strength to cut the dragon's throat with the long sword due
to the sword's weight.

   After spending three days on the same dragon, Timicus finally let them
return to their previous roles, then was beside himself with self pride
when they managed not only to kill that dragon without dieing, but the next
two as well.

   By the end of the week, Eric and James were getting pretty tired of
repeating the same thing over and over again, and after killing twelve
dragons in one day and neither of them dieing, Timicus announced they would
leave the valley and celebrate their achievement in the nearest town.

   The medallions deactivated the moment they poofed into town, but their
plans for celebration were immediately postponed when both Eric and James
collapsed from exhaustion.

   They slept for two solid days before awaking with the appetite of a
pregnant ogre, and after gorging themselves and enjoying a warm bath, they
were shocked to learn a celebration would held in their honor that evening.

   They were considered heroes, for Timicus had let it be known that they
had killed the dragons which had been plaguing their village since anyone
could remember.  Of course he didn't mention the fact that they hadn't
personally done it yet, but Timicus didn't see why that would matter.  The
dragons were dead, and they would be responsible for it, eventually.

   Eric spread the Queen's love quite a lot the next two nights while they
were there.  Timicus kept James out of trouble while each night Eric went
to bed with three women, then awoke with three different women waiting and
raring to go.

   By the time they poofed back to the valley, all three of them had gained
a few pounds and were not really looking forward to getting back to work.

   But work they did.  Eric had the foresight of making sure they both had
long swords, a shield, and their pikes on their bodies before putting their
medallions on so they would always be reassembled with their weapons after
they died.

   Eric and James spent two days brushing up on their routine before
finally requesting Timicus to call two dragons at the same time.  Timicus
jumped them into the future a few hours a couple of times to test some of
his new calculations before calling the first pair of dragons to the
valley.

   They spent three weeks before managing to kill both dragons without
dieing.  During those weeks, Eric and James deactivated their medallion a
few hours before nightfall and worked out together in hopes of building
James's muscles up while also eliminating the exhaustion that had built up
last time.

   After enduring two weeks of listening to James whine every night about
how tired he was and how sore his arms and legs were in the morning, Eric
had James lift a rock that he hadn't been able to lift the day they had
started their nightly workouts.  That effectively shut the boy up.

   On the first day of the second month, they added a third dragon to the
mix.  This complicated matters considerably, and after spending two weeks
without much improvement, they decided to add a fourth just to see what
would happen.  Suffice to say, they didn't try that again.

   After another week fighting two dragons at a time and James only dieing
twice while Eric only died once, they decided they were as ready as they
were ever going to be.

   Eric and James both felt rather odd after poofing back to the castle
only moments after they had left it.  Especially when they realized they
were actually looking forward to killing the dragons while an audience
watched.  When they had left, they would have been scared out of their
minds at the very thought, with or without anyone watching.

   Things didn't go as smoothly as they expected, however.  After dancing
with the two dragons for twenty minutes, they finally had one of them
isolated enough to slay the other one without fear of the second one
attacking while they did so.  But as they moved into position to kill the
second dragon, James stumbled over the other one's tail just as Eric was
starting his final lunge and went in for the kill.

   Instead of the dragon turning its head when it was supposed to, Eric
found himself looking it straight in the eyes as his sword bounced off the
dragon's scales.  Eric turned to dive out of the monster's immediate grasp,
but the dragon's tail whipped out and knocked his feet from under him
before he could.

   Eric knew he was doomed as the dragon opened its mouth to announce its
victory and to chomp of his head, but the dragon's screech suddenly took on
a different tone; one of pain, agony, and alarm.

   The moment the dragon turned its head, Eric scrambled to his feet,
grabbed his sword, and swung with such force he cut the dragons neck into
two.

   "Master!"

   Squire?"

   "I did it!  I found it!"

   What's that, squire?" Eric asked as he came round to the dragon's back
end.

   James pointed at the dragon's tail end, and for a moment Eric thought
the beast had defecated (that means pooped).  But then he realized it was
the handle of squire's pike he was looking at, and suddenly he understood.

   "That's the weakness in their armor?" Eric exclaimed.

   "Yes master," James said, laughing.  "For now on master, I'm aiming for
their anus!"

  
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+

   Tim, the Teenage MC By Rass Senip Chapter XXII: Summer 90 Part 7 - For
the Love of the Queen (mf) ---------------------------------------

   Feeling the familiar warmth and weight of Suzi lying on top of him, Joey
didn't move when he first awoke.

   But when he opened his eyes and found himself back in the royal bed
chambers, he decided he needed to after all.

   "Suz," he said gently, rubbing her naked back.  "Wake up Suz.  The dream
is back."

   "Hmmm?" she said sleepily, then smiled and stretched as she pulled
herself up to give him a kiss on the lips.

   "Morning to you too," Joey said tenderly.  "Is the Queen the Queen, or
herself right now?"

   "Huh?" Suzi asked as she opened her eyes and took in her surroundings.
"Hey, I know this place."

   "I hope so," Joey said warmly, relieved to see she wasn't in her dream
persona.  "You're the decorator, after all."

   "Joey, this is amazing," Suzi exclaimed after sitting up and taking it
all in.  "It looks and feels completely real."

   "Yeah, I know.  Even the sex feels real," Joey said suggestively.

   "Didn't you get enough of that earlier?" Suzi asked with a crooked grin.

   "I never get enough of it when it's with you," Joey said while giving
her the raised eyebrow.

   "Tempting..." Suzi said before stroking Joey's hard on, sending him into
another world from the incredible pleasure the Queen's touch produced.

   Just then, the chamber's door was opened a crack, followed by a familiar
voice calling "My Queen?"

   "Yes, um..  Liz," Suzi replied.

   "My Queen, two dragons are circling the castle, and the enemy's army
outside has fled.  His Excellency, Sir Eric of Atlantia is preparing to
slay the dragons.  Master Timicus thought you would like to observe?"

   "Yes, I think we will," Suzi said, releasing Joey's cock from her grasp.
"Thank you Liz."

   "Thank you, my Queen."

   "Who was that?" Joey asked slightly dazed.  "Her voice sounded
familiar."

   "I don't know, actually," Suzi said as she got up and put on her robe.
"I don't think I've ever seen her face."

   "Shit, Suz.  Aren't you going to put something more on than that?"

   "Nope," Suzi said while grinning so hard her teeth showed.  "It's good
to be the Queen."

   Joey chuckled, then grinned for another reason as he said, "Well, since
I'm going to be king, can you hand me my robe?  It's hanging on that chair
behind you."

   Joey witnessed both the chair and the robe materializing out of thin air
as Suzi turned towards it.  He didn't bother covering up his smile when she
turned and handed it to him, knowing she would simply take it as him
getting a kick out of seeing her breasts barely covered like they were.

   Suzi led them to the balcony doors and opened them.  They both gasped at
the incredible view they found waiting for them outside.

   From their high vantage point, they could see three villages in the
distance separated by lush green forests.  The castle itself was humongous,
as was the garden like grounds surrounding the castle walls.

   "What the hell?" Joey exclaimed as a strange shadow moved across the
castle and onto the grounds beneath them.  "Holly shit, Suz.  It's a
fucking dragon."

   "Well, that's what Liz said," Suzi stated as she shaded her eyes from
the bright sun and peered out looking for Eric.  "I don't see him.  Maybe
he's on the other side of the castle."

   "Who?"

   "Eric," Suzi said, frowning at him.  "Didn't you hear what Liz said?"

   "Uh..." Joey stammered as he started turning red.  "I guess not.  You
were...  And I was..."

   Suzi grinned and said, "I forgot what the Queen's touch does to a man.
Come on, my king-to-be.  Lets go find out what Sir Eric is up to."

   After inquiring one of the guards posted outside the bedchambers, Suzi
lead them out to what she called a belvedere.  To Joey it was simply a
small lookout tower along the outer wall.

   Several people were already there watching as Eric and his squire
shuffled around the two beasts looking for their moment to strike.  Suzi
and Joey watched with astonishment as Eric dodged two fireballs then hoped
over one of the beasts' swinging tail without losing his position.

   "Who's that with him?" Suzi asked after the boy tumbled out of the way
of a slashing claw.

   "My brother, my Queen," they heard Liz's voice say from the other side
of the tower.

   Even before Joey looked over at her, he had recognized the voice, but
Suzi hadn't until she saw the woman's worried face and gasped, "Candice."

   "Your brother?" Joey asked as Suzi recovered from her surprise.

   "Yes, m'Lord," Candice/Liz replied, her eyes never leaving the scene
below.  "I heard my brother had been selected as his Excellency's squire,
but none mentioned his training with dragons."

   Suzi turned to watch the boy closely, then in a huff said, "I wish
someone had a pair of binoculars!"

   Timicus poofed in and said, "Did I hear my Queen make a wish?"

   "Yes," Suzi said turning to her sorcerer, but then hesitated a moment to
smirk at his untamed long hair and facial hair.

   "The Queen would like a pair of binoculars," Joey said for her.

   "Bi knock.." Timicus said with some confusion.

   "It's a device with curved pieces of glass that make distant things
appear closer to the person using them."

   "Ah, you speak of a crystal ball," Timicus said before poofing one into
his hand.

   "Err, no, but I guess that'll work too," Joey said.

   "Show me the boy," Suzi commanded.

   Timicus placed his hands on the sides of the ball and stroked it with
his fingers.  The crystal clouded, then a blurred image formed in the
center and started to sharpen.

   "I know that face," Suzi said once James's image had come into focus. 
"Isn't that the kid that ran off on Tim when he was down at Southeast
state?"

   "My Queen?" Timicus said, baffled by her words.

   "Not you," Suzi said before looking up at Joey and seeing his guilty
expression.

   "What's wrong?" Suzi asked tenderly.

   "I don't know him," Joey confessed.  "I mean, I know some gay kid went
with Tim and Eric to Southeast and ran off, but I never met him."

   "I assure you, my Queen, James would never leave his master without him
wishing it," Timicus insisted.

   "Well it has to be him," Suzi sighed.  "I guess this means Eric's
running the show now."

   "Running the show?" Timicus queried.

   Suzi gave Timicus a smile and said softly so the others would not hear,
"Never mind, my lover.  Never mind."

   "Yes, my Queen," Timicus said with tenderness.

   The gasps from the others brought their attention back to the fight
below and they realized they had missed the slaying of the first dragon as
Eric and James started to reposition themselves around the second.

   When James tripped and moments later Eric got knocked off his feet,
everyone gasped again and held their breath as the dragon opened its mouth
to finish Eric off.

   But James had scrambled to his feet and while the dragon's tail was
still high up in the air, he rammed his pike straight into the beast's bum
hole clear to the hilt before leaping backwards to get out of the path of
the beast's already shuffling feet and swinging tail.

   "Holy shit!  That has to hurt!" Joey exclaimed as the dragon screeched
in pain.

   "Not as much as that did," Suzi said when Eric sliced the beast's neck
in half and the head part fell to the ground.

   "Request to leave the safety of the castle, my Queen?" Candice asked
rather shakily.

   "Request granted," Suzi said.  "In fact I think we'll go with you."

   "Suz, wait a sec," Joey said as everyone began shuffling out.

   "Wait outside, boys," Suzi ordered her personal guard.

   Once they were alone, Joey said, "What are you planning to do?"

   "I don't know," Suzi said honestly.  "Why?"

   "Well, seeing how the dream ended when I brought you out of your
dream... um, self..."

   "You mean if Eric is running the dream and we wake him up, we'll be in
that black place again?" Suzi concluded.

   "Yeah, I think so.  But maybe it's Candice or someone else who's
dreaming it, and Eric is just playing along for the fun of it."

   "Joey, if Timmy is doing this, why isn't he in here with us?  Timicus
isn't Timmy.  He's not even a dream-self version of Tim.  I would know if
it was."

   "Yeah, I know what you mean," Joey admitted.  "The moment I first saw
you on that throne, I knew it was you and not a dream character.  I don't
know, Suz.  But I'm actually kind of enjoying this.  Aren't you?  It's not
every day you get to live within one of your own dreams."

   "So I guess that means if Eric is the one running the dream now, we
don't try to bring him out of it," Suzi assumed.

   "That's my vote," Joey said, then grinned and added, "After all, I'm
about to be crowned king."

   Suzi mirrored his grin, then grasped his hand and tugged him towards the
exit saying, "Let's go, my King.  Our new champion awaits."

   After Suzi navigated the way through the tunnels and halls down to the
main floor, Joey whispered to her, "How do you know where you're going?"

   "It's _my_ castle," she whispered back mysteriously.

   Joey simply shook his head and accepted she must have dreamt the place
up many times before.

   As they approached the large group who where escorting the dragon
slayers inside, the crowd all fell to their knees and bowed their heads in
respect to their Queen.

   "Rise, my people," Suzi said with a grin.  "And bring forth the two
heroes who have proven their courage and love worthy of receiving the
Queen's kiss."

   "Shit, Suz," Joey chucked under his breath.

   "Get used to it, buddy boy," Suzi whispered to him.

   As Eric and James approached the Queen's party, both Suzi and Joey knew
from Eric's expression that he was in fact in a dream persona.

   "My Queen," the two slayers said in respect as they kneeled and bowed
their heads again.

   "Sir Eric Roberts of Atlantia, you and..."

   "Squire James Nathalion Ritter of Saint Greggor," Timicus whispered.

   "You and your squire," Suzi shortened, "have proven yourself in combat
against these terrible beasts which threaten your Queen and her people. 
Sir Eric, you have also proven many times in the past your expert
swordsmanship and your dedication to spreading the Queen's love and will to
her people.  Therefore, I hereby name you as my next Champion, effective
immediately following my marriage to our new King, Sir Joseph Theodore
Connor of...  of..."

   "Oakley, my Queen," Timicus reminded her.

   "Of Oakley," Suzi finished, resisting the grin trying to form on her
lips.

   "I am honored, my Queen," Eric said with eyes full of life.

   "And as for you, Squire," Suzi said, her own eyes sparkling.  "Approach
the Queen and prepare to receive her kiss."

   James nervously got up on his feet and stepped forward, but tripped on
his own feet and fell straight into her.

   As the boy began tearing up and apologizing, Joey grinned and said
loudly, "Your beauty is truly intoxicating, my Queen."

   After the crowd chuckled, Suzi put the boy at ease by kissing his lips
and gently running her tongue across them to part them.  Once the boy
obliged, she French kissed him for nearly a minute before gently breaking
their lips apart and smiled at the dazed boy's face.

   "Let it be known throughout the kingdom that tomorrow night we shall
crown our new king and re-knight our new Champion."

   "And the orgy, my Queen," Timicus reminded her.  "Don't forget the
orgy."

   "Oh, and following that, the standard twenty-four hour kingdom wide orgy
will commence," Suzi rattled off quickly.

   "Hurray!" the crowd cheered.

   Joey just shook his head grinning as Suzi turned red, but he didn't say
a word.

   "Lady Elizabeth," Suzi called out.

   "Yes my Queen?"

   "Please tend to the Squire's needs while his master takes his
purification bath and then joins his Queen for his duties."

   "Yes, my Queen."

   "My Queen," Timicus interrupted in a low whisper.  "It is Sir Eric's and
my wish for the Queen to share her love with the Squire before they leave
on their seven year quest.  This is of course only if the Queen desires to
do so herself."

   Suzi frowned, then looked over at the boy and caught him bashfully
lowering his eyes in respect, but not before she caught his gaze of wonder.
When the boy glanced back up a moment later, she watched his cheeks turn
red, then she smiled warmly at him when he unconsciously adjusted his
crotch.

   "Very well.  Send him to me in the morning."

   "Yes, my Queen.  Thank you, my Queen."

   "Timicus, is there any other business I need to...  announce?"

   "No, my Queen.  I believe you have covered it all."

   "Very good.  Then everyone is excused to return to their own business."

   "That's weird," Joey suddenly said as everyone stood up and started
chatting and wandering away.

   "What is?" Suzi asked.

   "I just realized...  When this was your dream, everyone talked really
strange.  Now they don't talk as funny."

   "I don't understand."

   "Saying thee, thou, shit like that."

   Suzi shrugged her shoulders and said, "It must be because Eric is the
one dreaming it, and not me."

   "Yeah, but why is everything else the same as yours?  Timicus, the
castle, the, heh, orgies."

   Suzi started turning red again, but then shook it off and said, "I guess
he must have liked the idea and kept the setting.  I don't know.  We'll
have to ask Timmy when we see him."

   "Hmm," Joey grunted in agreement.

   "Oh, I just remembered," Suzi exclaimed.  "Come on.  I want you to meet
our son."

   "Our son?" Joey echoed.

   As Suzi led the way towards the Prince's chambers, they came upon
Candice and James slowly walking to Candice's quarters, James chattering
away about his dragon slaying training.

   "How many times did you die?"

   "I don't know.  I lost count.  I got swallowed whole lot, chomped up
into pieces, stepped on, burned...  I got melted by this one acid spitting
dragon three times in a row.  Oh, and one time this red dragon sliced me in
half with its claws.  That was kind of cool.  I never saw the back of my
legs before."

   "Didn't it hurt?"

   "Yeah," he said with a shrug.  "But you get used to it after the first
twenty or thirty times.  "Master and I even joked about how much we must
have liked dieing as much as we did it.  But we really didn't.  The worse
parts were when I had to kill the master myself to end his pain."

   "Oh, James," Candice said, hugging him.  "Are sure you want to be his
squire?  I could ask the Queen..."

   "I'd rather die for real than not be his squire," James exclaimed with a
touch of panic, pushing himself out of her hug.  "He's...  He's..."

   "Okay, my little brother," Candice said calmly.  "I just don't want
another member of my family to be eaten by a dragon."

   "I won't, I promise."

   As Candice and James continued on, Suzi waited until they were out of
earshot before saying to Joey, "Why is _she_ here?"

   Joey looked at her in surprise and said, "Isn't it obvious?"

   "Not to me, it isn't," Suzi said, frowning.  "She messed with his mind
and his family's.  Why would he even consider..."

   Joey sighed, then said, "Tim told me last fall that Eric felt pretty
confused about how he felt about her.  Tim thinks he still loves her, just
won't admit it to himself."

   "Why didn't Timmy tell _me_ about this?"

   "Because he didn't want you worrying about Eric going back to her.  Tim
said he'd tell you himself if you ever asked anything close to it, or if
Eric ever mentioned Candice to either of you on the phone.  We weren't
really trying to keep it from you, sweetie.  We just didn't want you to
worry about him any more than you already do.  We both know you don't
really like her."

   "It's not that I don't like her," Suzi insisted.  "I just don't trust
her not to meddle with his mind.  Was Timmy sure..."

   "Yes, Suz.  He was sure she didn't put those feelings in his head.  At
least not telepathically anyway."

   Suzi sighed, but then got angry and demanded, "Joey, are there any other
secrets you and Timmy are keeping from me?"

   Joey's surprise was quickly replaced by his sorrow and guilt as he said,
"No mistress, I swear.  We both said we'd never hold anything from you
again.  We would never lie to you or try to mislead you.  We just didn't
think it was worth mentioning it to you unless there was a good reason."

   "Well next time, let me be the judge of what I should and should not
know," she said irrationally.

   "Yes, my Queen," Joey said, kissing her hand.

   Suzi let out a frustrated but forgiving sigh, then said, "Come on, love
slave.  We'll meet our son later.  I want to try some things we can't
really do in real life."

   "Uhhh..." Joey gasped out when Suzi grasped his cock from under his robe
and led him back to the royal bed chambers with it.

   After experimenting with inserting various limbs into each other's... 
cavities, Joey and Suzi were just about to drift off to sleep when the
chamber's doors creaked open and Candice's voice whispered, "My Queen?"

   "Yes, Liz," Suzi said, rolling her eyes.

   "I...  I'm sorry, my Queen.  I shouldn't have bothered you."

   As the door creaked closed again, Joey nudged Suzi, so Suzi said, "Wait,
Liz.  Please come in."

   Candice opened the door to enter, but then hesitated seeing her soon to
be king was still naked while the Queen put on her robe.

   "My apologies, my Queen.  I did not wish to disturb you."

   "That's all right, Cand...  Liz," Joey said, yet deciding he wasn't
going to follow Suzi's example of putting a robe on.  "You didn't interrupt
anything."

   "I am...  relieved, m'Lord," Candice said while her eyes lingered on his
naked form.

   "So what's on your mind?" Suzi said.

   "My Queen, I have a small favor to ask of you.  You have always said
never to be afraid to ask you for such, but I have never needed to until
this very day."

   "What favor do you ask from your Queen?" Suzi asked patiently.

   "Please, my Queen.  I fear for my brother's life.  I know thou has great
trust for your next champion, but I am besides myself in worry for my
brother's safety."

   "If you are asking that I command Sir Eric to choose another squire..."

   "No, my Queen.  My brother would never forgive me for such a thing.  I
humbly request that I may be given the duty of the Champion's Slut so I may
journey with them and look out for my brother as much as I can."

   "Your request is not reasonable or possible," Suzi said frowning.  "You
are one of the Queen's handmaidens, and a Lady of noble blood.  The
Champion's Slut is a position intended for a commoner, and I have decreed
that its position will not be filled during my reign as Queen."

   "But my Queen," she sobbed.

   "Oh, for Pete's sake.  Get grip on yourself," Suzi groaned.  "If you
want to go with him, I'll just decree the Champion must have a handmaiden
to spread the Queen's wisdom and fashion sense.  But no funny business."

   "My Queen?"

   "No fornicating with my Champion."

   "Oh, I would never," Candice exclaimed, apparently revolted by the very
thought.

   "Fine," Suzi said with a touch of annoyance.  "Now go and tend to your
brother."

   "Yes, my Queen," she said, kissing Suzi's hand.  "Thank you my Queen."

   "Oh, but have him prepped and ready to go first thing in the morning,"
Suzi added as the door closed.

   Joey stepped behind Suzi and kissed the top of her head before saying,
"You old softy."

   "It isn't always easy being the Queen," Suzi sighed.

   ----------------------------------------------------------

   "Mind if I join you, my brother?" Timicus's voice drifted to Eric's ears
over the sound of bubbling water.

   Eric opened his eyes, then inhaled the steamy air surrounding him to
say, "Does your body need purifying as well, my brother?"

   "You can never be too pure for the Queen," Timicus said, stepping into
the hot bubbling water on the opposite side of the small four man pool.

   "Especially the two of us," Eric remarked after spotting Timicus's
enlarged member before it submerged.

   "Indeed."

   "Will you be joining my re-knighthood orgy with the Queen tonight?" Eric
asked.

   "That will be up to the Queen," Timicus said as he sat and relaxed.

   "Surely she would not deny her lover's desires."

   "She would not if I made my desires known to her."

   "And why would you not?"

   "Because any love exchanged between the two of us in her presence, or
even with her knowledge, becomes an act of her will, and not ours."

   "The Queen would not approve of your words."

   "Never the less they are the truth."

   "Brother, it disturbs me you would plot behind the Queen's back."

   "Eric!  I would never do such a thing."

   "Then why speak as if you are?"

   "My brother, I simply wish to experience our love freely one last time
before your heart is completely filled by her love.  The Queen will not
disapprove of this once I tell her, but it must be after the fact, not
before."

   Eric stirred in his seat uncomfortably before saying, "My brother, I do
not wish to hurt thou, but I do not care to reopen our past love.  Despite
your faith in the strength of the Queen's love, I do not wish to risk the
confusion that it may bring."

   "If that is your final word on the matter..."

   "It is."

   "Then I shall honor it.  I beg my brother's pardon."

   And with that, Timicus snapped his fingers and <poof> was gone.

   "Shit," Eric exclaimed as the hole in the water left by his body filled
in with a loud whoosh.  "Timicus, don't leave it this way."

   When the sorcerer didn't respond, he sighed and simply let the purifying
powers of the bath wash that concern away with the rest.

   An hour later, Eric was awakened from his bubble-induced nap by the
arrival of six of the Queen's handmaidens there to powder and dress him. 
So he stepped out of the pool and stood still with his arms and legs spread
apart while the women toweled him off and applied the white powder to his
entire body.

   Once the Royal Robe of Champions was wrapped around his otherwise naked
body, Eric shivered both from the cooling of his body and from expectation
of feeling his Queens love passing through him once again.

   Eric tingled all over in excitement and increasing sexual arousal as he
approached the Queen's chambers.  And once he passed through the chamber's
doors and saw the Queen's smiling face, the fact that Sir Joseph was there
whilst Timicus was not barely registered as he approached her to exchange a
kiss.

   "My, someone is excited," Suzi joked before grasping his massive cock
with her right hand.

   As Eric gasped and dazedly sank to his knees, Suzi chuckled and said,
"Opps.  Sorry.  I forgot."

   "That is quite all right, my Queen," Eric said, forcing his mind back in
order and standing back up.

   "Shit, Suz," Joey chuckled himself.  "Does the King get any special
powers like that?"

   "I don't know.  I guess we'll have to wait and see," Suzi said smirking.
"So Eric, how does it feel to be a dragon slayer?"

   "It is very exciting, my Queen."

   "Eric, it's just us here.  You don't have to be so formal."

   "Yes, my Queen.  But it simply is natural for me to address you that
way. Does it bother you?"

   "No, I suppose not," Suzi sighed, then grinned to say, "Actually I'm
beginning to like it so much I might have my boys back home call me that."

   Eric echoed Joey's chuckle despite not understanding the humor of her
statement.

   Suzi pumped him for the details of his dragon slaying training, and for
a while both Suzi and Joey forgot Eric was not himself from listening to
his natural enthusiasm in his voice as he talked.  And for a few minutes,
even Eric forgot as well, but by the time he had reached the end of his
tale, Eric was very much back to thinking as Sir Eric Roberts, the Queen's
soon to be Champion.

   "My Queen, before we begin," Eric said when Suzi moved to embrace him in
a kiss.

   "Hmm?" Suzi said, deciding just to tease his ear lobe with her tongue
and lips.

   "Timicus...  My Queen, please.  This is important."

   Suzi sighed, then sat back and asked, "What about Timicus?"

   "My brother is feeling rather confused."

   <poof>

   "I am not confused," Timicus said crossly.  "I simply feel we were never
given the opportunity to freely decide to end our relationship."

   "Huh?" Suzi said, blinking.  "Did I miss something?"

   "My brother is..." Eric began.

   "Hold it," Joey interrupted, "Pretend I'm new to this world and don't
know jack shit about our pasts.  You're not brothers."

   "No, they're not," Suzi said, seeing Joey was upset by this notion.  "In
this world, Tim's parents died when he was very young and Eric's dad took
him in and raised him."

   "And I came in where?"

   "Can't I explain all this later?" Suzi said through her clenched teeth."

   "No.  I don't care if he wakes up," Joey said crossly.  "If anyone
should be his brother, it should be me."

   "Boys, could you excuse us a moment," Suzi said to the bewildered pair.

   Once Timicus poofed them away, Suzi took Joey's hand and said, "Joey,
this is only a dream.  And remember, it's my dream, not Tim's.  You know
the twin bond thing between Tim and Eric kind of makes them brothers in a
sense.  Don't be jealous.  In this world, you, me and Timmy are together.
The three of us even had a son together."

   "Yeah, and about that.  Suz, sometimes I worry about you."

   "Look, I know it disturbs you that Tim and Eric had something together
that the three of us had.  But you don't feel jealous over Eric and I, do
you?"

   "No, but that's different."

   Suzi sighed and decided to take a different approach.

   "Timmy was taken from Eric when Eric loved him very much.  I think Eric
is just acting out some of his feelings over never having the chance to...
See their relationship through to the end.  You have to remember you're
Timmy's oldest and closest friend.  Nobody will ever take your place in his
heart.  You two have history even I can't compete with."

   "Shit, I suppose you're right, but...  Suz, I like Eric a lot.  I think
he's a great guy and we've had fun together.  But he got close to Tim.  I
can't help but sometimes feel he got closer to Tim than I ever have.  And
this twin thing just makes it even more...  frustrating."

   Suzi crawled on top of him and said softly, "You once chose Tim over me
when you went to Venezuela.  You left me, possibly never to return to try
to save him."

   "Suz," Joeys whimpered.

   "Hush, I'm not done.  You used to quote something from one of those Star
Trek movies.  The needs of someone..."

   "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.  Or the one."

   "Didn't it go the other way too?" Suzi asked with confusion.

   "Yeah, but...  What's your point, Suz?"

   "My point is you chose Tim over me because he needed you to.  His needs
outweighed mine.  That's why I never really got all that upset over it.  It
wasn't a matter of who you loved more, but who needed you more."

   "So how does that apply to Eric and Tim?"

   "Eric was there for Timmy when we weren't," Suzi said as gently as she
could.  "Now Timmy doesn't need Eric because he has us again, but at times
Eric sort of needs Timmy.  You don't turn your back on someone when they
need you like that."

   "So you're saying anything Tim does that looks to me like he cares more
about Eric than me or us, you're saying its because Eric needs him to, not
because Tim feels that way?"

   "Close enough," Suzi said.

   "Damn, Suz," Joey said after blinking.  "You're getting pretty good at
this psycho-annalistic bullshit."

   Suzi smiled before nibbling his nose and saying, "We all have our little
niches in life."

   "I'm not saying you're right about it all, but.."

   "But you feel better about it."

   "Yeah.  Better than I did I guess."

   "Good.  Can I call them back now?"

   Joey yawned, checked his watch and then said, "You're the Queen, my
Queen.  But later, can we take a nap?  It's nearly five in the morning."

   Suzi yawned herself, then huffed, "What's purpose of yawning in a
dream?"

   Joey yawned again and sleepily said, "To make it more real, probably. 
Would you care if I slept for a while?"

   "But what if you miss the coronation?"

   "I won't miss that.  I promise."

   "But I don't want to be here without you," Suzi admitted.  "If you
really want to take a nap, let's just do it together.  The dream will take
care of itself."

   "As you wish, my Queen," Joey said lovingly as Suzi crawled on top of
him.

   "Joey?"

   "Hmmm?"

   "I love you."

   "I love you too, your Majesty."

   -----------------------------

   Eric awoke with the comforting sensation of two warm and naked bodies
pressed up on either side of him.

   As he recalled the sex and love he had experienced the previous night,
he felt content and sedated, the Queen's love having truly filled his heart
completely this time.

   He momentarily felt remorse when his brother's words predicting this
fate came to him, but it did not matter now.  What was done was done, and
at least he and his brother had had one last chance to share in each
other's love before the Queen had called them to her.

   Eric glanced at the sleeping form of his adopted brother beside him
before turning his gaze to take in Her majestic beauty and glow.  Her touch
had been pure bliss; Her sex was beyond any pleasure ever known to man. 
And Her compassionate will was so powerful and overwhelming, he knew he
would carry out Her orders and desires for the rest of his life.

   "For the love of the Queen," Eric sighed, kissing her left shoulder
gently.

   "Aye," Sir Joseph's voice said gently from the foot of the bed.  "For
the love of the Queen."

   "Do the soon to be King not know it is bad luck for the groom to see his
bride on their wedding day?" Eric jousted.

   "I am still her Champion," Sir Joseph reminded him.  "This comes before
all else.  Including superstitious nonsense."

   "And how is this a duty of the Queen's Champion?"

   "You see that metal door?" Sir Joseph said, nodding towards the far end
of the room.

   "Yes."

   "Behind that door is the Queen's curse of darkness.  If it is ever
allowed to escape, the Queen's powers will reverse and anyone touched by
her love will be consumed with her lust.  The kingdom would then be plagued
with acts of violent rape and mindless copulation.  The only person who
could end the madness is her Champion.

   "And as her Champion, you would be filled with more lust than anyone
else in the kingdom except the Queen herself.  Yet if the task falls upon
your shoulders, then you and you alone must resist it and carry out your
duty.  All for the love of your Queen."

   "Surely Timicus's magic can prevent this from ever occurring."

   "It was Timicus's magic which created it in the first place.  But do not
blame him.  He and I knew what the consequences would be.  We simply had no
choice at the time."

   "I do not understand."

   "And I'm afraid you won't," Sir Joseph sighed.  "Simply accept that the
honor of being the Queen's Champion comes with the responsibility that he
may have to kill his own Queen for the sake of the Kingdom.  A
responsibility I pray none will have to ever carry out."

   "Does the Queen know of this?" Eric asked worriedly.

   "She does.  And she'll tell you herself she'd rather die than allow that
fate to befall her people."

   "Yes, I am sure she would."

   "Speak of this to no one but the three of us, Eric.  No one else must
ever know of the Queen's curse of darkness."

   "On my life and honor, I swear I will repeat your message to no other."

   "Good.  Now I take my leave of you and our Queen.  Your squire shall be
joining you shortly.  I advise you to awaken the Queen before he arrives.
She can be a bit bitchy when she first awakes."

   "I shall.  Thank you, Joseph."

   "You're welcome, my friend.  And thank you."

   After Sir Joseph left the chambers, Eric glanced back over at Timicus
and said, "All right, my brother.  You can stop faking that you're still
asleep."

   "Only if the Queen does as well," Timicus said.

   "A bit bitchy when I wake up," Queen Suzanne muttered as she stretched.
"I'll show him what bitchy is tomorrow morning."

   "Now now, my love," Timicus said as the Queen crawled on top of Eric and
straddled him.

   "I only get bitchy if I don't get all the loving I want," she said as
she slipped Eric's cock inside her love tunnel.

   "I love you my Queen," Eric gasped as every nerve in his body exploded
in pleasure.

   "Yes, I know," she said wickedly before driving her tongue into his
mouth.

   After three explosive orgasms, Eric lay on the Queen's bed dazed until
the bouncy motion of the bed and the sound of his squire's gasps brought
him back to his surroundings.

   Eric watched with endless tenderness as his squire's face expressed his
wonder, his pleasure, and his love for his Queen during his ten minute
session of receiving the Queen's powerful brainwashing love.  After his
seventh orgasm, the Queen gave the boy one last kiss before giving Eric a
quick peck on the cheek saying, "He wasn't bad."

   "Master," James said dazedly a minute later.

   "Yes Squire?"

   "I understand it now," he said emotionally.  "For the love of the
Queen."

   "Yes son," Eric said, sitting the boy up and hugging him as James's
tears began to flow.  "Everything we do is for the love of our Queen."

   Once the boy exhausted his tears, Eric sent him back to his sister's
chambers to rest while Eric spent the rest of the day worshiping his Queen
and absorbing her love until his body oozed with it almost as much as hers
oozed with his semen and spit.

   Suzi awoke cuddling on top of Eric with his soft cock still embedded
within her cunt.

   Suzi became aroused by Eric's dazed and full of love expression, for she
had instantly recognized the look of a toy boy whose only desire was to
pleasure their mistress with their mind, body and soul.

   She thought back to the very last time she and Eric had made love.  It
was two nights before Eric moved to Atlanta, and after Joey had somewhat
agreed to it, he had rented the motel room for them since Suzi had not yet
turned eighteen.

   Suzi had a special place for Eric in her heart.  He was the most gentle,
the most excitable, and while she would never admit it out loud, the most
fun lover she had known.  The hour and a half they spent together in that
motel room was one of the most precious times of her life, and yet it
pained her to know how much he had suffered despite her best efforts to
make him happy again.

   That killed her sex drive, and it took Eric a few moments to realize the
wetness he felt falling from her face was not her sweat, but her tears.

   "What is wrong, my Queen?" Eric asked.

   "I'm sorry.  I'm...  just being silly," Suzi said, wiping her tears away
and giving him a grin.

   But her grin faded as a few more tears started to form, and at that
moment Eric awoke from the dream and said, "Don't cry, Suz."

   "I can't help it," she said, desperately trying to get a hold on
herself. "You were so miserable, and I couldn't help you.  Nothing I did
made anything better for you."

   "Of course you made it better," Eric said, his own tears welling up.  "I
would have died without you.  Even when Tim was back and I didn't want to
believe it, and even though you had Joey, I always felt you were there when
I needed you."

   "Really?"

   "Really."

   "I've missed you," Suzi said while giving him a hug.

   "I've missed you too," Eric said truthfully as he returned the hug and
gave her a kiss on the cheek.

   "Suz?  How come neither of us are dreaming, but we're still in your
dream?"

   "I don't know.  Joey and I thought it was your dream while you fought
the dragons, but maybe there's someone else running it too."

   "Where is Joey?"

   "Asleep, I think.  I hope he wakes up in time to make it to our
wedding."

   "Your wedding," Eric chuckled, then grinned and said, "This _is_ pretty
cool."

   "It is, but I still would like to know what's going on."

   Eric yawned, then said, "Well, whatever it is, I'm not going to worry
about it.  In fact, I think I'm going to go back into the dream."

   "You can do that?"

   "Yeah, it's easy," Eric said.  "You just close your eyes and let go, and
the dream will do its thing.  Watch."

   Eric closed his eyes and relaxed, then after a minute he felt himself
drifting off.

   When he opened his eyes, he felt his Queen's love fill his heart and
soul, prompting him to say, "My Queen, you are as beautiful as the..."

   "Eric, snap out of it," Suzi said, a little panicked.

   Eric blinked a few times, then said, "What?  Why did you stop me?"

   Suzi sighed in relief, then said, "I'm sorry, Eric.  I just didn't want
to be alone.  I wish Joey was here."

   "What?  Don't you like being Queen?"

   "Well, yes, but I can't fall back into the dream until Joey gets back. I
don't want to do it without him."

   "Okay.  I guess I can stay with you until then," Eric sighed.

   "Thank you."

   "So what do you want to do?"

   "Well, we could pick up where..."

   "No offense, Suz," Eric interrupted.  "But I do have a boyfriend.  Doing
it in a dream as a dream is one thing, but if we do it like this..."

   "I understand," Suzi sighed.  "So what now?"

   "Well...  How about you try slipping into your dream character for a
minute.  Then I'll snap you out of it."

   "Okay, but only for a minute."

   Suzi rolled off and lay on her back beside Eric before closing her eyes.


   But after a minute she sighed, opened her eyes and asked, "Eric, why is
Candice here?"

   "Candice?" Eric repeated.  "She's in here too?"

   "I don't think it's the real Candice.  You mean you haven't seen her?"

   "No, I don't think so."

   "She's your squire's sister, Liz."

   "That was Candice?" Eric said very confused.  "Huh.  I guess it was
her."

   Suzi opened her mouth to tell him how she would be going with him on his
journeys, but then though better of it when she saw Eric was somewhat
occupied with his own thoughts.  So Suzi closed her eyes, then found
herself more at ease and drifted off fairly quickly.

   The Queen opened her eyes and stretched, then studied her next champion
whose thoughts were elsewhere.

   "Your Queen is not amused by your lack of attention to her, Sir Eric,"
the Queen said impatiently.

   "Huh?  Oh.  Sorry.  Wake up, Suz."

   "I beg your pardon?"

   "I said wake up.  Snap out of it," he said before clapping his hands
together very loudly.

   "Sir Eric, you are acting quite the fool.  Are you playing some sort
of..."

   Eric pressed his lips against hers to shut her up, then after she
responded in kind, Eric broke the kiss, looked straight into her eyes, and
said, "Suz, if you don't snap out of it, I'm going to go back into the
dream myself and leave you."

   When he saw the change in her eyes, he said, "That's better."

   "Sorry," Suzi said.

   "That's okay," Eric said, getting up and stretching.

   "Eric, do you still love Candice?"

   "I don't know," he huffed with frustration.  "I guess so.  Just a
little."

   "Do you trust her?"

   "Suz, I really don't want to talk about her."

   "Oh."

   "In fact, I'm going back to the dream.  I don't want to think about any
of this shit anymore."

   "I'm sorry."

   "I know you are," Eric said, feeling a little guilty.

   After thinking a moment, he turned around, climbed up on top of Suzi and
said, "You know Joey won't be allowed to see you until the ceremony, but
I'll be with you until then.  Come back into the dream with me.  Joey can
wake you up if he wants to."

   "I don't know," Suzi said.

   "We'll be making love nearly the whole time," Eric reminded her.

   Suzi couldn't help but weakly grin, then nodded her head in consent
before saying, "Just let me write Joey a message first."

   Suzi went to her desk and wrote the note, then called Timicus.

   "Yes, my Queen?" Timicus said, poofing in beside her.

   "If you see Joseph looking lost or if he asks to see me, could you give
him this?" Suzi asked, handing him the sealed message.

   "Of course, my Queen," Timicus said, slightly baffled.  "May I ask what
it is about?"

   "It's just...  a couple of ideas in case he gets bored."

   "And when you give it to him," Eric added.  "Tell him I said to try the
purifying bath too."

   "An excellent suggestion, my brother," Timicus said.  "Sir Joseph could
stand a little purifying after his ordeal in the dungeons of our enemy."

   "I'm sure he could," Suzi said with a grin.

   "Before I go, my Queen, I'm afraid I told my auntie about your request
that I seek a mate of my own, and she has arranged for the Sorceress Alexia
of Talon's Keep to be my escort to the wedding.  I am expected to entertain
her the rest of the evening, so I can not predict what time I will be able
to join you and Joseph tonight."

   "But you do plan on joining us, right?" Suzi asked carefully.

   "If that is still your wish," Timicus said uncertainly.

   "It is," Suzi said honestly.  "But Timicus, if you find yourself
desiring to stay with her more than coming to join us, we will not be hurt
by your absence.  Nothing would please me more than for you to find a love
which matches that for your Queen."

   "I understand, my Queen, but I believe you underestimate the strength of
my love for you."

   "Perhaps," Suzi said, taking Timicus into a lover's embrace.  "But
perhaps it is you underestimating the wisdom and perception of your
Auntie."

   "Indeed," Timicus said before they kissed.

   -----------------

   When Joey awoke, he was startled to find himself in a room he didn't
recognize, and further startled finding his supposed son sleeping on top of
him naked.

   "Shit Suz," Joey muttered before attempting to move the boy off of him
without waking him up.

   But the moment he broke skin contact, the boy opened his eyes and said,
"Daddy?"

   "Yeah?"

   "Love you."

   Joey looked the boy in the eyes, then felt that ole familiar feeling
form before the boy's love began flooding into his heart.

   "I love you too," Joey said tearfully, hugging the boy.

   After a long hug, the boy crawled back on top of Joey and got
comfortable, then closed his eyes to go back to sleep.

   The next thing Joey knew, he was waking up again, but this time he was
alone.

   "Timicus?" Joey called.

   "Yes?" Timicus said after poofing in.

   "What's the Queen doing?"

   "Why making love with her new Champion, of course."

   "Oh," Joey said.  "So does a soon to be king have any duties he must
perform before his wedding?  Something kinky maybe?"

   "Joseph, you know very well you are supposed to abstain from all sexual
activities until your honeymoon."

   "Figures," Joey sighed.  "The Queen gets to have all the fun."

   "The Queen foresaw your restlessness, my friend," Timicus said, pulling
out the scrolled up note and presenting it to him.

   Joey broke the wax seal, unrolled the note and read:

   Joey,

   Eric talked me into reentering the dream with him.  I don't really want
to, but I upset him and now he won't stay awake with me.  Call me chicken,
but I really don't want to be awake in here by myself.

   If you want to enter the dream yourself, just lay down with your eyes
closed and let yourself drift off like when we go to sleep.  Your
subconscious should do the rest.

   But if you stay awake, wake me up when you see me, okay?

   I love you.

   Your Queen, :)

   Suzi

   "Eric suggested you visit the purification baths as well," Timicus said
tenderly when Joey looked up from the note.  "If it pleases you, I'd very
much like to join you."

   "You could never resist having some fun in the shower," Joey chuckled.
"What the hell.  Let's go take a bath."

   <poof>

   "I do beg your pardon, ladies," Timicus exclaimed just as the pink smoke
around Joey cleared enough that he could see the two naked women sitting in
a hot tub.

   <poof>

   "How embarrassing," Timicus said as Joey stepped out of the pink cloud
around him and almost stepped into the bubbling pool.  "I forgot the Queen
declared the old bath to be for her handmaiden's only."

   "They'll get over it," Joey said as he stuck his foot into the water to
test it.  "Huh.  It tingles."

   "Indeed," Timicus said strangely, but then eased himself into the pool
and let out a long pleasurable sigh.

   Joey carefully lowered himself into the water, finding the tingles very
pleasurable yet not overwhelmingly so, and allowed himself to close his
eyes and enjoy it a few minutes.

   After nearly drifting off to sleep, Joey opened his eyes and ended up
studying the sorcerer's relaxed face, noting the slight rosy color to his
cheeks and admiring the neatly trimmed beard.

   "I feel your eyes upon me, my lover," Timicus said with a grin, yet
keeping his eyes closed.  "I hope thou is not contemplating breaking thy
vow of celibacy."

   "And what if I am?" Joey asked despite the thought hadn't actually
crossed his mind.

   Timicus opened his eyes and said lovingly, "I imagine I would be
powerless to stop you."

   "Shit," Joey snickered.  "You powerless?"

   Timicus simply smiled and closed his eyes.

   "Tim?"

   "Hmmm?"

   "Why are we here?"

   Timicus opened his eyes a moment before closing them again and said,
"For now, don't concern yourself with the why, my friend.  Simply accept my
word you are here to enjoy all what this world has to offer.  No one
expects or needs you to do anything more than that."

   Joey closed his eyes and contemplated if he should enter the dream or
not.  If he did, and the dream was some sort of threat or a distraction...

   But every instinct told Joey it wasn't, and while he knew Timicus was
only a dream character, he couldn't help trusting him.

   "Joseph?" Timicus called gently.

   "Hmm?"

   "I may call Eric my brother, but he shall never be the brother you have
been."

   Joey opened his eyes to find the familiar soft look in the sorcerer's
eyes, and didn't hesitate to say, "You're the only brother I've ever known
or ever wanted, Timmy.  It's hard for me to accept the same isn't true for
you about me, but it's okay.  I told you it wasn't a contest between you,
me and Suz, so why not Eric too?  Suz and you both love him, and that's
okay because I know you love me too."

   "I wish you to know that Eric and I will likely never physically share
our love again.  I hesitate to ask, yet I know I must.  Do you feel this
will be true between you and I?"

   "Maybe one day, but I hope that won't be for a long time," Joey said
honestly.  "It'll really be up to you and Suz, not me."

   "That is what I expected you to say," Timicus sighed as he closed his
eyes again.  "Perhaps when I find my mate I will no longer desire to
copulate with you and the Queen.  But I find that hard to believe.  We have
such chemistry and magic together."

   "Time will tell," Joey said happily.  "Time always tells."

   "Indeed."

   ....

   "Timicus?  What does a King do exactly?"

   "Whatever he pleases, I imagine."

   "Yes, but what are his duties?"

   "To rule and protect the kingdom, naturally.  I admit I still am a bit
anxious about building an army without the Queen's knowledge or blessing,
but I said I was with you on the matter.  Are you now having second
thoughts?"

   "I'm not sure," Joey said honestly.  "The Queen would castrate the pair
of us if we kept something important from her."

   "True.  But better that than allow our enemy to use his newly acquired
black magic to learn of the Queen's darkness and release it.  He must be
stopped at all cost."

   "I guess I'll be pretty busy waging war after the honeymoon, then."

   "Yes, and about that...  I am not sure when I will be joining you and
the Queen tonight.  I have a date, you see."

   "A date?  You?" Joey teased.

   "Auntie set it up without my knowledge," Timicus sighed.  "I don't dare
cancel it.  Alexia could be a powerful ally if nothing else."

   "Well then don't worry about trying to get back to us tonight.  We'll
save you some loving for when you have time."

   "The Queen said something similar," Timicus sighed.  "If I did not know
better, I would suspect you both did not want me to join you tonight."

   "If you didn't know better," Joey said tenderly.

   "Indeed."

   Joey knew Timicus wanted something sexual to happen between them, and
even though it somewhat appealed to him, the concept of doing something
like that with a dream character simply did not sit well with Joey.

   So Joey gave in and let himself drift off into the dream, hoping he
would snap back out of it once he met up with Suzi again.

   When Sir Joseph opened his eyes, he immediately crossed the pool and
straddled the startled sorcerer's legs with his own.

   "The Queen shared her love with you last night, did she not?" Joseph
said with authority.

   "She did, as did Sir Eric before that."

   "If I break my vow of celibacy to share my love with you right now, will
this ease your worries and let you focus on your date without distraction?"

   "Yes, I am sure it would," Timicus said expectantly.

   "Then take us to someplace private and secure," Sir Joseph commanded.

   "Yes, my lover," Timicus cooed before snapping his fingers and poofing
them away.

   -----------------

   At a quarter to two the following afternoon, Sir Joseph approached the
carriage waiting to take him to the altar on the castle's grounds at the
far side of the castle.  Fifty of the kingdom's finest knights were on
horseback and lined up in front and behind the carriage to escort the
groom, one of which Joseph immediately recognized.

   "Are you ready for this, Captain Brigley?" Sir Joseph asked his old
friend.

   "Shouldn't I be the one asking you that sire?" Jon jested.

   "Indeed," Joseph chucked.  "However, knowing the Queen, I doubt either
of us is truly ready for what awaits us outside."

   "For the love of the Queen then?" Sir Jon asked as Joseph climbed into
the carriage.

   "For the love of the Queen," Sir Joseph confirmed as he took his seat.

   As the groom's procession started to make its way towards the castle's
gates, sound of horns and bells filled the air, followed by the cheers of
thousands.

   The moment the carriage cleared the gate, Sir Joseph understood why the
wedding ceremony was being held outside the castle instead of within the
great hall.  The vast open grounds that surrounded the castle were filled
with people coming to witness the ceremony.  The great hall, impossibly
large as it was, would not have held a fraction of the people who had
traveled who knows how far to share in the occasion.

   An endless sea of men and women were flocking to the roadside in order
to glimpse a peek at their new king, and soon the road to the altar was the
only earth visible in the ocean of people stretched ahead.

   As Sir Joseph sat and waved to his future subjects, a flock of birds
flying in formation caught his eye as they reorganized themselves to form a
heart.  To the west, a larger flock of birds was flying in another
unnatural formation, and it took a few moments for Joseph to make out what
the formation was.

   "More seating on the eastern hill," Joseph read aloud.  "Shit.  She's
thought of everything."

   "She may have had help with some of it," Timicus said beside him,
startling Joey out of his dream persona.

   "When did you poof in?" Joey exclaimed.

   "A minute ago," Timicus said anxiously.  "You had your head out the
window."

   "Is something wrong?" Joey asked.  "You look like shit."

   "Just pre-wedding nerves," Timicus said before poking his head out the
window on the other side of the carriage to look up at the sky.

   "How many flocks of birds have you seen?" Timicus asked a moment later.

   "Just two.  Why?"

   "I seem to have misplaced one," Timicus groaned as he sat back down. 
"There was supposed to be a third flock counting down the minutes."

   "Relax," Joey said as he returned his attention to waving out window. 
"I'm sure the birds are okay, and I doubt anyone is going to miss the start
of the ceremony."

   "Fiddle sticks," Timicus groaned before popping his head out the window
again.

   "How's the Queen doing?" Joey asked when Timicus finally sat back down.

   "If you're asking if she's feeling nervous as well, I have to say no,"
he said with frustration while digging through his pockets.  "Blast, where
did I put the damn thing?"

   "What?"

   "The ring, of course!"

   "Oh," Joey said.  "Can't you just snap your fingers or something?"

   "Certainly, if you don't mind this carriage growing wings and flying off
to the edge of the world.  You know how unstable my magic is when I'm
nervous.  Ah!  Here it is."

   "Then who's running the sky messages?"

   "Auntie," Timicus said as he held up the ring to inspect it.

   "So if she's controlling the birds, then why are you worried about the
third flock?"

   Timicus sighed and relaxed a little before giving Joey a weak grin and
saying, "Because I forgot she was."

   Joey grinned and shook his head before going back to waving at the
crowd.

   The crowds abruptly ended at a vine covered archway, and once the
carriage passed beneath it, Joey sat back in his seat and relaxed as well.

   "So who's doing the ceremony?" Joey asked.

   "Winchester."

   "Winchester?" Joey exclaimed.  "You mean Kyle Winchester?"

   "Indeed."

   "That's a riot!" Joey laughed.

   "A riot?" Timicus exclaimed as he peered out the window for signs of
trouble.

   "No, stupid," Joey chucked.  "I just mean the Kyle Winchester I knew
back in high school was a Satan worshiper.  Suz and I ran across him and
his gang late one night in the football field last summer.  They were
sacrificing a rabbit to their dark master."

   "Why wasn't I wasn't aware of this?"

   "Uh, I don't know.  Just never came up before."

   "What were you two doing there?"

   "It was Suzi's idea.  She went through this phase were she wanted to
make love in public places.  I personally would have preferred it to the
mall, but I couldn't get Suzi to do it after watching them perform their
little ceremony."

   "And why didn't you stop them?"

   "There were five of them, and they all had knives," Joey said with a
shrug.

   Before Timicus could reply, the carriage drew to a halt.

   "I guess this is our stop," Joey said as the door was opened.  "Come on.
I can't do this without my best man."

   "I suppose not," Timicus sighed.  "Pity."

   -----------------

   "Mother, no one would have known I wasn't wearing undergarments!" the
Queen exclaimed.

   "I would have known, and now so does half the castle," the Royal Mother
groaned.  "You may not be the virgin the white dress proclaims, but you
could at least act like the lady I brought you up to be and not that animal
you once became!"

   Queen Suzanne shuddered as the memory of her animal existence flooded
her mind.  If it hadn't been for the spell Timicus and Joseph had cast,
Suzanne would still have been the animal her mother spoke of.

   "Suzanne," the Royal Mother said gently.

   "Yes mother?" Suzanne said a bit hoarsely as she refocused her eyes on
the wall in front of her.

   "I'm sorry."

   "I'm fine, mother," Suzi said tenderly.  "I know you would not say such
things if it wasn't so important to you."

   "I am finished, my Queen," the hems woman announced.

   "Thank goodness," Suzanne sighed as she climbed down from the steps she
had been standing on for the past twenty minutes.  "All that for a simple
tear?  I was beginning to think I would have to go naked."

   "Suzanne!  Don't even say such a thing," the Royal Mother gasped.

   "Oh mother," Suzanne groaned.

   "Is my little princess ready to go yet?" Suzanne heard her father ask
outside the room.

   "I'm Queen now, Daddy!" Suzanne cried.  "And yes, I am."

   "You'll always be my little princess, princess," came the reply.

   "Mother, can Eric please come out of the closet now?" Suzanne asked.

   "I suppose so.  I still wish you could have waited until after the
honeymoon to knight him your Champion."

   "Sir Eric!" Suzanne screeched.

   "My Queen?" Eric's muffled voice drifted through the closed door.

   "You can come out now!"

   "What's that my Queen?"

   "Oh for heaven's sake," the Royal Mother groaned.  "Regina, open the
door and let the poor boy out before the Queen ruins her voice."

   "Yes, Mum," the aged handmaiden croaked before hobbling over to the door
to open it.

   Eric wobbled out of the closet and stood still, blinking a few moments
before finally proclaiming, "You look stunning, my Queen."

   "Don't start that again," the Royal Mother hissed.  "We are already
late. Let's get a move on!"

   Suzanne allowed herself to be led out by her handmaidens and carefully
mounted her horse, and privately thanked God when her dress didn't snag or
rip like it had the first time.

   "Ready princess?"

   "As I ever will be, Daddy," Suzanne said.  Then with a rush of
excitement, she cried, "I'm getting married!"

   Suzanne's involuntary clenching of her legs momentarily confused her
horse enough that it started to shuffle its feet and whinny, startling the
hems woman attempting to attach her fifty foot train to her dress.

   Seeing the crowd outside didn't phase the Queen in the least, and as the
royal party made its way down the road, they appeared quite comfortable
waving and blowing kisses to the countless citizens declaring their love
for the royal family.

   "This reminds me of you coronation!" her father shouted as the sky began
gently raining white flower petals.

   After blanketing the road with an inch of flower petals, the petal
shower stopped and was replaced by several hundred white birds forming a
giant image of the Queen and her groom with a heart shaped outline around
them.

   The Queen had never felt so loved by her people before that day.  She
had tears in her eyes for nearly the entire journey, but the sight of her
two men standing beside the altar brought about an internal calmness, like
she had just awakened from a dream.

   "Damn," Suzi exclaimed.  "I was enjoying that."

   "What's that princess?"

   "Nothing, Daddy."

   Suzi silently cussed at herself a few more times for having woken up
from the dream persona.  After first having some trouble getting off her
horse, she forgot about the train attached to her back and almost pulled
herself off her own feet when she tried to walk before the handmaidens had
even picked it up.

   But all was forgotten once she was walking down the aisle beside her
father and her eyes met Joey's.  Joey's eyebrow shooting up sent a wave a
relief through her as she realized he wasn't in his dream persona either.

   Suzi's relief produced such a strange expression on her face that Joey
couldn't help but chuckle, and his own expression triggered a chuckle out
of Suzi as well.

   Joey and Suzi were in their own private world as they basked in each
other's smiles and feelings.  The entire ceremony went by in a blur of
recanting the words spoken to them and patiently enduring the moments up to
the exchange of the infamous words, "I do," the placement of the ring on
her finger, and the long awaited kiss.

   The dream world faded away as they kissed, and after they realized they
were back in that black place, they simply lay down and exchanged another
long loving kiss before letting themselves fall asleep again.

   -----------------

   The next afternoon, the new Queen's Champion arrived at the royal bed
chambers as ordered by the Queen.

   "Please come in, Eric," the Queen called before he could announce
himself.

   "Thou wished to see me, my Queen?" Eric asked as he entered the
chambers, hiding his surprise from finding the King and Queen still in bed.

   "Has thou seen Timicus since the wedding?" the Queen asked.

   "I have not, my Queen," Eric said.  "Have thou?"

   "Nay, we have not," the Queen sighed.  "I do not wish to disturb him if
he is occupied, but it is unlike him not to check in with me in the morn.
Especially today."

   "He did seem very taken by the sorceress," Eric commented.

   "Did thou see her?" the King asked.

   "Nay, I did not, my King," Eric said.

   The King's mouth twitched into a brief smile from the use of his new
title, but then he said, "My love, I do not like this.  Call him to you so
we can put our minds at ease.  He will understand."

   "Very well," the Queen sighed.  "Timicus?"

   When nothing happened, the Queen sat up, then whined, "Ohhh!  Joseph, do
something!"

   "My Queen, allow me to try," Eric said.

   Eric closed his eyes and called up Timicus's image in his head, then
imagined sensing Timicus's presence before speaking clearly, "Timicus, the
Queen needs to see you immediately."

   "I do beg your pardon, my Queen," Timicus exclaimed after poofing in a
second later wearing bed clothes.  "I was dead asleep after a most exciting
but exhausting night of poof and seek with the good sorceress."

   "So your date went well?" King Joseph asked while Timicus gave the Queen
a quick kiss.

   With a distant happy look on his face, Timicus nodded and sighed,
"Indeed it did.  Quite exhilarating."

   Timicus turned to Eric and said, "I believe she is the one my elder
selves spoke of, my brother."

   "Do not forget the laws of time, my brother," Eric said gently.

   "I have not," he said assuring.  "But I am more concerned about the laws
of love at the moment.

   "My Queen, when you have the time, I would like your womanly advice on
such matters.  Now, what is it you needed to see me?"

   "We were simply concerned for your safety," the Queen stated.

   "I see," Timicus said with a yawn.  "Well if you have no further need of
me, may I retire to get the rest of my sleep?"

   "Just one question," the King inserted before the Queen could grant his
request.

   "Yes, my King," Timicus said with a slight grin.

   "What does the sorceress look like?"

   Timicus smiled and with a distant look said, "Awe yes.  What does she
look like indeed."

   When Timicus didn't continue, the Queen said with a warning tone,
"Timicus?"

   "My apologies, my Queen.  For reasons she has yet to fully disclose to
me, the sorceress does not wish for anyone but those with the magics to see
her and has cast a spell on herself to ensure this.  Beyond saying that she
is extraordinary beautiful, I'm afraid I am unable describe her to you."

   "I am not comfortable with this," the King stated.  "How can we trust
this woman if we never meet her?"

   "By simply trusting me," Timicus said gently.  "Alexia is not and could
never become a force for evil."

   "It was his auntie who arranged their date," the Queen said to her King
with tenderness.  "Her council never failed my mother."

   "Very well," the King sighed.  "Off you go then."

   "Thank you my King and Queen," Timicus said, then turned to Eric and
said, "In case I do not see you before you leave..."

   Eric exchanged a hug with the sorcerer before Timicus poofed away.

   "Does my champion have time to talk and perhaps make love to his Queen
before he begins his quest?" the Queen asked.

   "I do not wish to intrude on the King's and Queen's honeymoon," Eric
stammered.

   "You would not intrude, Eric," the King stated.  "The Queen has been
somewhat anxious for someone else to join us."

   "It is the real reason I asked you here," the Queen said huskily.

   "I am the Queen's loyal and obedient servant," Eric said as he hurried
to unclothe himself.

   "No, you are my Champion," the Queen said as they made room for him on
the bed.  "Unlike the other knights in my kingdom who spread my love and
will to the women in our kingdom, it is the Champion's own love and will
which he spreads, not his Queen's."

   "But my will is yours," Eric said worshipfully.

   "For the moment it is," the King stated.  "But the Queen's will fades
over time, and after the first month or so, your will shall be your own
once more.  We trust you to always be loyal to us, that is why we chose you
to be our next champion."

   "Eric, my love, the Champion's love is as strong as mine in order to
ensure diversity of thought and spirit within the kingdom.  Like the
knights, you may love women who are already wed, but be careful to share
your love only once with a woman already in love with another man, wed or
not."

   "Don't forget about the Champion's Slut, my love," the King reminded.

   "The Champion's Slut?" Eric asked.

   "If the Champion makes love with a commoner woman sufficient number of
times, the woman will become addicted to it.  My mother's predecessor liked
for her Champions to do this and created the title of the Champion's Slut.
The first thing my mother did when she became Queen was to decree no
Champion of hers would have a Slut to humiliate and control.  And I feel
the same."

   "I could never do such a thing," Eric said truthfully.

   "We didn't believe you would," the Queen said gently, snuggling up to
him.  "It has become a secret only known to the Queen's handmaidens, her
closest male advisers, and her Champions."

   "I understand, my Queen.  Is there anything else I must know before we
begin?"

   "Just that I love you, Eric," Suzi said tenderly.  "I'm always here for
you if you need me."

   "I know, Suz, and I love you too," Eric said.

   Joey coughed, then when Suzi and Eric looked over at him, he said,
"Sorry.  Swallowed wrong."

   "So how do you like being King?" Eric asked as Joey's flush started to
fade.

   "It's okay so far, but I think it might have been a mistake.  Being the
Queen's Champion keeps sounding better and better."

   "Boloney," Suzi snapped.  "I know you're just aching to go play general
in your own private war."

   "How do you know about that?"

   "It's _my_ castle," Suzi said with a wicked grin.  "If it happens within
its walls, the Queen knows it.  And that includes you breaking your vow of
celibacy with Timicus.  The dungeons are part of the castle too, you know."

   "Shit, Suz," Joey said, shaking his head.  "You've thought of
everything. My dream didn't even have a bathroom on the bridge."

   Eric chucked, then said, "Yeah, but I haven't seen a bathroom in the
castle either."

   "That's because I don't allow any shit into my castle," Suzi joked.

   After they finished laughing together, they all exchanged looks that
indicated they all wanted to re-enter their dream personas.  So Suzi took
their nearest hands into hers and they laid back and slipped into the dream
together.

  
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+

   Tim, the Teenage MC By Rass Senip Chapter XXII: Summer 90 Part 8 -
Virtual Timality (no sex) ---------------------------------------

   Eric awoke to the sounds of static coming from an old black and white
television set.  Sitting up, he realized he was in his grandparents' living
room, and as he took the room in, everything appeared to be the way he
remembered seeing it the last time he had been there.  Everything except
for the television set.

   As Eric stood up, the static faded into a picture of a little boy
sitting on a couch playing with a four-inch high Indian figurine.  The
couch looked as dated as the TV Eric was viewing it on, and just as Eric
recognized the room being the very one he stood in, a young voice cried
distantly from the TV, "Mom?  Have you seen my red Indian?"

   The little boy jerked, accidentally knocking the figurine off the arm of
the couch where it fell into the floor register beside the couch with a
clank.  The little boy became very alarmed, scrambled off the couch and
peered down the register.

   Eric immediately recognized his dad when an older boy entered the room
and asked, "Eric, do you do have my red Indian?"

   "No," the little boy said without looking away from the register.

   "Are you still trying to see the mouse?" little Steven Roberts asked,
kneeling beside his little brother.

   "I though I heard it again," the little boy made up.

   The two boys listened quietly for over a minute before little Steven
sighed and said, "You want to watch Flash Gordon?"

   "Yeah, okay."

   The two boys got up, then as little Eric sat back down on the couch,
little Steven walked up beside the camera's view.  With a click, the TV's
picture flashed and went back to static.

   Eric walked up to the TV and changed the channel a few times, but every
channel was the same static, so he flipped it off.

   When he turned away from the TV, a painted wooden ray gun toy sitting on
the coffee table caught his eye.  He picked it up and looked at it, and was
about to set it back down when the crayon marking on the side caught his
eye.

   "Shrink ray?" Eric said out loud.  "You want me to shrink myself?"

   "Yes," the whisper answered.

   "Hello again," Eric said.  "I was wondering if you were going to come
back.  I take it you want me to shrink myself and go down the vent?"

   "Yes."

   Eric shrugged his shoulders, then pointed the toy at himself and pulled
the trigger.

   "Nothing is happening," Eric said after a few moments.

   "Wind it up."

   Eric took another look at the gun, found the winder on the side and gave
it a good couple turns.  He pointed it at himself again and was about to
pull the trigger when he thought better of it and stepped over to the
register.

   "Here goes nothing," Eric said as he pointed the toy at himself again
and pressed the trigger.

   A flash of blue light shot out and a moment later Eric was falling
through the vent.

   The slope of the duct was beneath him before he knew what was happening,
and within a few seconds he was sliding to a stop.

   Eric stood up and dusted some of the large clumps of dust from his legs
and shirt while staring into the dark duct immediately ahead of him.  Just
beyond where the register grill above him stopped, the duct went straight
down.

   "I don't see it," Eric said.  "There's a penny, a couple of ball
bearings, and other stuff, but no Indian here."

   "Down."

   "I knew you were going to say that," Eric sighed as he looked over the
edge into the blackness.  "I can't see a thing down there.  Any chance of
getting a light?"

   When no answer came, Eric rolled one of the bowling ball sized ball
bearings over the edge and listened for it to hit.  It bounced off the side
wall twice before hitting bottom, apparently making a soft landing from the
sound.

   "Geronimo, I guess," Eric mused before walking right off the edge.

   Eric had a little trouble standing up from the cushion of dust and,
strangely enough, ashes, but once he had, he spotted a dusty object a full
sized foot away and rushed over to it.

   To his horror, it wasn't the red Indian, but the skeletal remains of a
rodent.  Eric continued walking down the black passage until he couldn't
see anything, then turned and doubled back to make sure he hadn't missed
anything.  He hadn't.

   "Well I can't see how it could be down here," Eric finally announced
after returning to where the blackness was complete.  "It couldn't have
bounce this far."

   "Keep going."

   "Look, are you going to tell me who you are?" Eric asked after taking a
few careful steps.

   "Soon."

   "Are you grandma?" Eric asked as he started walking at a normal pace. 
"Or grandpa?"

   When he didn't get an answer, Eric stopped and said, "I'm not going
another step unless you tell me who you are."

   Silence was met with more silence.

   "You know I can always just lie down and go to sleep," Eric said
honestly.

   More silence.

   "Fine," Eric sighed as he bent over to lie down.

   After lying on his back for several minutes, Eric rolled over onto his
side and felt his breath hitting something.  He opened his eyes and vaguely
made out a pair of blank eyes, which startled him so much that he jerked
and kicked something hard.

   "Shit," Eric exclaimed as he calmed down, realizing he had finally found
the figurine.

   "Okay, I found the Indian.  Now what?"

   "Keep going."

   Eric sighed again, but got up and started walking again.

   "Feels like we're going back up," Eric commented a moment later.  "How
much farther?"

   After not getting an answer, Eric picked up his pace.  After twenty or
so paces, he felt the floor level out, before he tripped over a metal lip
and slammed into the ground, hard.

   Echoes of spraying water filled his ears as the sight of wet grey and
white tile filled his eyes.

   "Are you okay?" an unfamiliar voice asked behind him.

   Eric turned onto his side, finding himself in a locker room's shower he
didn't recognize.  The sensation of water hitting his bare skin was just
registering when the voice said, "Let me help you up."

   Eric's blood turned cold in shock from the sight of his Uncle Eric
standing over him naked offering his hand.

   "Are you all right?" the elder Eric asked with concern.

   "You're just a dream," Eric said as he pulled himself together.

   "Not exactly," the elder Eric said as he helped his nephew to his feet.

   When his nephew's face expressed his disbelief, the uncle said, "This is
dream, but I'm not."

   "Okay, but you're dead," Eric said bluntly.

   "I know," the uncle said.  "And this wasn't my idea."

   "What wasn't?"

   "All of this," he said, indicating the showers before taking a bar of
soap from its dish and working up a lather in his hands.

   "So whose idea is it?"

   "I don't know," he said with a shrug as he bent over to soap up his
legs.

   When Eric realized he was staring at his dead uncle's rose, he turned
towards the wall, then noticing the soap in the dish in front of him, he
found himself following his uncle's example.

   "Your dad and I used to do this all the time," Eric senior said, drawing
Eric junior's attention to the fact they were soaping each other instead of
themselves.

   "Randy and I started to do this once at school," Eric said as his
disturbed feelings evaporated.  "I chickened out though, because..."

   "Because of what happened to me," Eric senior finished for him as he
tugged on his trunk to get it growing.  "Are you bigger than your dad?"

   "No," Eric junior said, finding his trunk growing too.  "You?"

   "Nope," Eric senior said, offering to let his nephew hold his mammoth
cock.

   "Wow," Eric junior said with awe as he grasped the giant one-eyed
monster.  "Dad never let me touch his."

   "Weird, isn't it?  You don't really realize how big yours is until you
hold one that's just as big."

   "Yeah," Eric junior said, giving it a couple testing strokes.  "I wish I
had had a brother like you or my dad."

   "You've done alright," Eric senior said tenderly.  "I'm very proud of
you, Eric.  You and your dad."

   Eric let go of his uncle's snake as his cheeks burned from his blush,
then said, "Dad misses you a lot.  He..."

   "I know," Eric senior said as he rinsed himself off.  "He still blames
himself a little for what happened to me."

   Eric was very conscious of his uncle's eyes watching him as he rinsed
himself.  He thought it was strange that he wasn't disturbed by it, but he
admitted that he had always wished to have met his uncle, and on a few
occasions even had even wished for the chance to do something sexual with
him like his dad had.

   So finding his uncle's body pressed up against his backside giving him a
hug was a somewhat pleasant surprise.

   "I need to tell you some things, but not here.  Let's go to your room,"
Eric senior said gently as he ended the hug and took his nephew's hand. 
"This way."

   Eric followed his uncle willingly; barely noticing the hall they were
walking down was the one in his house in Atlanta.  His room's door was
open, but after they were both inside, the door was already shut when he
turned to close it.

   "I'm not going too fast for you, am I?" Eric senior said in his right
ear from behind him.

   Eric turned, finding himself on his back in his bed with his uncle on
his side next to him.

   Eric smiled and said, "No, not really."

   "Good," he said with tenderness as he gently touched Eric's nose with
his finger, then repeated it.

   Eric couldn't help but let out a happy giggle when his uncle missed
Eric's nose on the fourth touch, and gave the finger a kiss when it
approached to try again.

   "You remind me so much of your dad," Eric senior sighed as he moved the
hand down to stroke his nephew's chest.  "You're built a lot like him, and
you're sweet like him.  It's no wonder you're losing your interest in
guys."

   "What?" Eric said, losing his warm happy feelings.

   Eric's uncle slid himself on top of his nephew's body, instantly
relaxing Eric and bringing back the smile to his lips.

   "When your dad came home from college for Christmas, he was different.
He wasn't eager to mess around, and I thought at first he was mad at me. 
After three days of excuses, I finally cornered him in the bathroom and...
I got him in the mood."

   "You peed on him," Eric said with a grin.

   "He told you?"

   "No, Tim sort of showed me when we were...  together."

   "Oh...  I forgot about that."

   "And I know my dad started noticing girls when he started college.  He
did tell me about that."

   "When?"

   "A couple weeks ago," Eric shrugged.

   "Hmm.  I must have missed that while I was with Karen."

   "Karen?"

   "She's a lot like your mom was.  She saved her virginity until she met
someone who swept her off her feet."

   "So Karen...  Got swept?"

   "About a month ago," Eric senior said, before looking Eric in the eyes
and saying very gently, "She doesn't know this yet, but she's pregnant."

   "Pregnant?" Eric said with concern.

   "It'll be a boy," Eric senior said.  "And I'm pretty sure he'll inherit
the Robert's shlong."

   Eric grinned, then reached up to touch his uncles lips with his right
index finger.  After his uncle kissed it, Eric kissed it himself before
touching his uncle's nose.

   "Yep, Karen takes after her mom," Eric senior said, grinding the semi
erect snakes lying between them together.  "But you and Jodie definitely
take after me and your dad."

   "We always said Jodie took after mom, the way she likes us gays."

   "I guess she takes after all of us then," Eric senior said, scooting
down a little and laying his head on his nephew's chest.  "Remember what
you where like at fifteen.  She's just as horny as you were.  You should
talk to her before she does something stupid like you did when you were
thirteen."

   "What did I do?"

   "You threw yourself at Tim.  You really don't know how lucky you are he
wasn't what I thought he was."

   "And what was that?"

   "It doesn't matter," he said.

   "Uncle?  Who am I?"

   Eric's uncle looked up at Eric's stressed face and said, "I told you
before.  You are your mom and dad's son."

   Eric shook the warm and fuzzy feeling off as he connected the dots.

   "You're the one who's been helping me?"

   "Eric, I won't lie to you and say everything you feel is really you,"
Eric senior said sliding up to his face.  "Some of it is still Tim, but
most of it is really you.  You have to believe me when I say the feelings
you felt about Candice in that dream were all yours."

   "But I'm gay," Eric said, struggling against the warm happy feelings his
uncle's touch was generating.  "Like you."

   "I'm not gay any more, Eric," he said, running his fingers through
Eric's hair.  "I'm dead, remember?  And if I hadn't died, I probably would
have ended up liking girls just like your dad did.  My mom's brother and
her dad did the same thing."

   Eric stopped resisting the feelings his uncle's touch was giving him,
but this time the uncomfortable feelings in his gut didn't leave.

   So Eric asked, "Nothing says I can't stay gay, right?"

   "No," Eric senior said as he slid down to lay his head on Eric's chest
again.  "Eric, it's your life.  Gay men have a harder time finding a lover
to spend the rest of their life with, and you can't have children with
another man.  I guess what I'm trying to say is don't force yourself to
choose now.  Let yourself find your own way as time goes on.  Enjoy the
time you have left with Randy, then let whatever happens, happen."

   "What time I have left?" Eric repeated with emotion.

   Eric senior sighed, slid up to his nephew's face again and said, "Randy
hasn't...  matured enough yet.  He cares about you, but it isn't really
love.  You didn't really believe you and he would be together forever, did
you?"

   "No, but..."

   "He hasn't cheated on you yet, but it's only a matter of time before he
does.  And don't blame yourself when it happens."

   "Get off me," Eric commanded angrily.  "You don't know shit about
Randy!"

   Eric senior did as he asked, and didn't stop him when he got out of bed.

   When Eric turned to face him, his bedroom and his uncle were gone.

   "Uncle?" Eric cried anxiously into the blackness.  "I'm sorry!  Please
come back?"

   "The others need you now," the whisper said.  "Take them to Tim."

   "I can't," Eric said, holding back tears.  "Suzi's parents won't take
her to Tim's."

   "You don't need to take their bodies, just their minds."

   "Oh," Eric said with mixed feelings.  "I wish you could have told me
that before."

   "Go now."

   "Uncle?" Eric said without having moved.  "Just one more minute?"

   When nothing happened, Eric asked softly, "Please?"

   "I'm here," his uncle's voice said from the dark.

   "Where...  Oh," Eric said as he found the bed right where it had been.
"No lights?"

   "I'm afraid not," Eric senior said, touching his nephew's nose with his
finger.

   When Eric once again found himself lying on his back without having done
it himself, he rolled over on his side to face his uncle, then slipped his
arms around the warm body he found there and hugged it.

   "I love you too," Eric senior said tenderly as he returned the hug. 
"Tell your dad I'm proud of him and I'll always be with him.  I'm with all
of you."

   "Will I ever see you again?"

   "I don't know," he whispered in Eric ear.  "Now take your friends to
Tim. I won't be able to help you any more, so don't let anything distract
you until you find him."

   Eric didn't move a muscle, afraid if he did his uncle would disappear.
But when he sensed light hitting his closed eyelids and he opened them, he
saw someone else's face attached to the body he was holding in his
dresser's mirror's reflection.

   "Eric?  Is that you?" the body's owner asked who was also looking at
their reflection in the mirror.

   Eric looked up at the somewhat familiar face, and when the boy's face
saw his hesitation, he said, "Randy.  Randy Meyers?"

   "Randy?" Eric said in shock, finally recognizing his first suck mate's
features on the seventeen-year-old's face.  "What are you doing here?"

   "I..." he said as he looked around in confusion.  "Where is here?"

   "A dream of my room," Eric said, unsure whether he was talking to a real
person or not.

   "A dream?" Randy asked as they moved apart.  "Well that explains why I'm
naked, but...  Are you just part of my dream?"

   "That depends if you're just part of mine or not."

   "Wow!" Randy exclaimed when he saw Eric's cock.  "This has to be my
dream.  You're huge!"

   "Randy, I don't have time for this," Eric said when Randy took Eric's
snake into his hand and gave it a squeeze.

   "Well, you're not going anywhere until I get to suck it," Randy said
excitedly as he got on his hands and knees to move around.  "You want to
suck me too?"

   "No, and you're not..." Eric began as he tried to get up, but found he
couldn't get his body to move.

   "Not what?" Randy asked with a crooked grin before straddling Eric in a
69 position and added, "Now open up."

   Eric did open his mouth to refuse, but found it wouldn't close back up,
and then his tongue reached out to welcome the cock descending into it.

   The more Eric struggled to counteract the movements his body was making,
the less control he seem to have over it, so he gave up and completely shut
down.

   When Eric's body moved on its own to get on top, Eric found himself
detached from his body, and immediately got up off the bed.

   "Wow," Eric said, finding Randy's mouth and throat stretched and bulging
as his dream body's cock fucked it with abandon.

   Eric stood there watching them for a moment, then snapped himself out of
his daze and said, "Randy, I have to go now."

   Randy's eyes bulged when he glanced over to Eric and saw him, then he
used his hands to free himself from the dream Eric's cock.

   "Sorry," Randy said as he brushed the still sucking mouth from his cock.
"I just thought..."

   "It doesn't matter," Eric said, turning to leave.

   "Eric, wait a sec."

   Eric paused, then turned to find himself in an unfamiliar bedroom with
Randy standing up from a twin bed fully clothed.

   "If it's really you, and if you can remember when you wake up, could
you...  call me?  I really need to talk."

   "Uh..  Sure, I guess," Eric said, not sure if he really meant it.  "I
think I still have your old number."

   "Thanks," he said, relieved.  "I've been having these really weird
dreams where I'm always wanting to suck guys off and stuff, but I when I'm
awake, I'm totally turned off by them.  I think that guy at camp made it so
I couldn't talk to anyone about stuff like that but you."

   "Sounds like something Tim would have done back then," Eric admitted. 
"I promise I'll call you Randy."

   "Thanks," Randy said picking up a school bag.  "I have to go to school
now.  See ya."

   "But its summer and..." Eric said as the bedroom door shut.

   "Randy?" Eric called down the familiar hallway.  "Randy!"

   "Eric?" Suzi's voice cried emotionally.  "Eric, RUN!"

   "Suz?" Eric called, hurrying down the hallway towards where Suzi's voice
had come.

   When Eric turned into the room she was in, he found two Borg creatures
strapping Suzi down to a chair while another larger Borg picked up a foot
long syringe containing a green liquid and approached her.

   "Joey, stop, please stop," Suzi sobbed.

   "Both of you stop," Eric commanded.  "You're dreaming again!"

   "Eric RUN!" Suzi again cried as the bigger Borg turned towards him.

   "Joey?" Eric exclaimed, seeing Joey's face beneath the electro
mechanical pieces attached to it.

   Two more Borg suddenly grabbed Eric from behind and held Eric still with
strength beyond any human as Joey approached and said, "Resistance is
futile."

   "Yes, it is," Eric admitted as he relaxed.

   "YEOW!" he cried a moment later when Joey stuck the syringe's needle
into Eric's neck.

   Eric's senses exploded with pleasure as the contents of the syringe was
emptied into Eric's bloodstream.  His body grew distant as electronic
noises began filling his head, and he suddenly felt lost and unable to
think as the electronic noises took control of his mind.

   "Eric?" Suzi sobbed as the Borg beside him released their grip.  "Eric?"

   Pity momentarily flared through Eric's brain before the electronic
noises washed it away and instructed him to refill the syringe.

   "Eric fight it!  Please Eric, fight it!"

   It took the electronic noises longer this time to flush the emotion from
Eric's mind, but as Eric turned towards Suzi with the refilled syringe, he
was again completely under the electronic noises' control.

   "No, Eric...  No, please," Suzi sobbed, shaking all over from the
intensity.

   This time when his emotions flared up, Eric immediately shut himself
down.  When his borgified body took another step forward, it left Eric
behind.

   Eric tapped his other body's right shoulder and said, "Excuse me.  Can I
see that?"

   The expression on his borgified face made Eric grin before he punched it
in the chest and sent it flying across the room.

   Eric's double hit the far concrete wall with such force the concrete
broke, and moments after it hit, sparks flew out of Eric's double before
its body went limp.

   "One down, five to go," Eric said to Suzi before turning around.

   "Or ten more," Eric corrected himself before running head first into the
horde of Borg.

   Eric punched his fist through one's gut, kicked another's head off as he
did a back-flip into the air, crushing two more with his feet when he
landed, then tossed Joey toward a second chair saying, "Have a seat, Joey.
I'll be right with you."

   When Joey immediately rushed towards him again, Eric grabbed the phaser
still attached to Joey's belt and stunned him.

   Eric popped the remaining Borg's heads off with a couple of quick kicks,
then dusted his hands and said, "Well, so much for the Borg."

   "Eric, how..." Suzi said, before glancing down at Joey.  "Untie me."

   "We're dreaming, you know," Eric reminded her as he undid the
restraints.

   "I know, and I think Joey knows it too," Suzi said.  "But the dream
takes over and you can't stop yourself."

   "Yes you can," Eric said as Suzi undid the last restraint herself and
got up.  "You have to let everything go and ignore everything you seem to
be doing.  Then you just sort of fall out."

   "Come on Joey.  Its over," Suzi said gently as she kneeled down beside
him.  "You can come out of there now."

   When Joey's open eyes didn't show any signs of acknowledgement, Suzi
bent forward and kissed him on the mouth.

   "That's better," Suzi said when she leaned back and found emotion in his
eyes.

   Suzi huffed when the emotion faded a moment later, but then she simply
climbed on top of him and attached her mouth over his and kissed him with
passion.

   Thirty seconds later, Joey's right arm came up to help hold her head as
he kissed back with increasing energy.  Eric grinned and watched them for a
minute, then took a moment to look outside the room they were in, and
finally recognized the décor.

   "Hey, we're at Tim's south mansion," Eric announced to the two
breathless humans lying on the floor.

   "We know," Suzi said after she spat out one of the Joey's electronic
implants she had accidentally sucked into her mouth.

   "Ouch," Joey said when Suzi pulled another one off his left cheek.  "Any
blood?"

   "Nope.  Just a red spot," Suzi said as she inspected his cheek.

   Joey pulled another off and examined it, then said, "Huh.  They're like
stickers."

   Suzi took one off of Joey's forehead and stuck it to hers before
scooting herself back on top of him.  She then looked into his eyes and
said in a robotic tone "Resistance is futile."

   Eric rolled his eyes as they kissed again, and after giving them a few
moments, he said, "Come on, you two.  We need to find Tim."

   "You called?" Eric heard Timicus's voice say behind a cloud of pink
smoke which poofed beside him.

   "The real Tim, not you," Eric said before snapping his own fingers and
sending Timicus away in another poof of pink smoke.

   Timicus poofed right back and said, "How rude", before poofing away
before Eric could raise his hand to snap again.

   "You're really starting to get the hang of these dreams," Suzi remarked
as she and Joey stood up.

   "Yeah," Joey agreed, then asked, "Eric, could you hand me that tricorder
from the table behind you?"

   Eric turned around and picked up the futuristic device before realizing
that both the table and the tricorder had not been there a few moments
before.

   "Hey, how did you do that?"

   "You're not the only one who's getting the hang of the place," Joey said
with a smirk.

   "What are you two talking about?" Suzi asked.

   Before Eric could answer, Joey said, "You don't want know.  It's Star
Trek stuff."

   "Oh," Suzi said, losing all interest as Joey flipped opened the
tricorder and pressed a button.

   Eric moved to see what he was doing, then when the little screen didn't
show anything that made sense to him, he asked, "What are you trying to
do?"

   "Well, if I can remember how to work it, this thing might help us find
Tim," Joey said, as he pushed another button.

   "Not very many buttons," Eric noted.

   Suzi's patience ran out after three minutes of waiting for the two boys
to finish playing with their new toy.  So after tapping her foot a few
times, she said, "Well, let's just keep heading for his room while you're
messing with that thing."

   "Yeah, okay," Joey agreed.

   "Why his room?" Eric asked as they re-entered the hall.

   "Well, if he's asleep, that's probably where he's at," Joey explained.

   "But we're not really at the south mansion," Eric pointed out.

   "I'm not so sure about that," Joey said.  "Try opening a door, or
picking something up."

   Eric tried the nearest door and found it locked.

   "It's locked."

   "Not just locked.  Try rattling the handle."

   "I see what you mean," Eric said after finding the knob totally
immovable.  "It's just like when I was outside the shuttle hanger and tried
touching those kissing Borg."

   "Kissing Borg?" Suzi asked.  "Joey, I think I'm going to have to start
watching Star Trek with you."

   "Cool!  Uh...  why?"

   "Because sometimes I don't know where you get your ideas from, but I bet
it's from that stupid show."

   "We're on the ground floor," Eric interrupted them.  "If we can't open
doors, won't we need to go back to the main hall so we can go up the grand
staircase?"

   "Shit, I didn't think of that," Joey said as he halted.  "I'm so used to
taking the elevator or the side stairs...  Sorry guys."

   "Well, I didn't think of it either," Suzi consoled him.

   After the trio turned around and started heading back the way they had
come, they soon passed one of the doors marked stairs, and it gave Eric an
idea.

   "Hey Joey," Eric said as he tore his eyes away from the door.  "Can I
try?"

   "Yeah, okay," Joey said a bit reluctantly, and handed the tricorder to
Eric after making it beep one more time.  "I wasn't getting anywhere with
it anyway."

   Eric pushed a couple buttons, then pushed a couple more, not caring what
they did so long as they beeped.

   After a couple more satisfying beeps, Eric stopped and announced, "Hey,
I think I figured out how to open the doors."

   Joey frowned and moved beside him to see, then said "You can't open..."

   Eric's nudge in the ribs cut him off, and after Eric held the tricorder
up in front of Joey's eyes, then lowered it down revealing Suzi impatiently
standing in front of them, Joey understood and said, "Oh, yeah.  Why didn't
I think of that."

   "Think of what," Suzi said, not really believing they got anything
working.

   "Tricorders can open locked doors," Joey explained.  "Here, I'll show
you."

   Seeing that Joey hadn't quite understood what he had in mind, Eric was
about to object when Joey nudged him and then took the tricorder from his
hand.

   "Here, Suz," Joey said, holding it out to her.

   "What?  I don't want to play with that thing."

   "I just thought you'd like the honor," Joey said, pretending to be hurt.

   "Oh, alright," Suzi sighed as she took the tricorder from him.

   After looking at it a moment, she asked, "What is this in, Klingon?"

   "Uh, it's upside down," Eric made up.

   "Oh," Suzi said turning it upside down.  "Oh, I see," she then said,
looking around then back down at the screen.  "So to open that door, I push
this?"

   The tricorder beeped, then the door to their left opened by itself.

   Suzi stepped over to look in the room as Joey and Eric exchanged grins,
followed by Joey's offering his hand in congratulations, which Eric took
and shook.

   "Okay, so the nearest stairs is this way," Suzi said as she came back
out of the room, pressing the buttons one after another and not looking up
from the screen as she turned back down the hall.

   "So Suz," Joey began as he struggled to keep his grin from returning. 
"Are you picking up Tim on that thing?"

   "Um...  Let me see," Suzi said as she backed out of the current menu and
started scrolling through the list.  "Topographical, radiological,
electromagnetic...  Biometrical?"

   "Uh, yeah, I think that one would work," Joey said with surprise.

   "Okay.  What does it mean by active or passive?"

   "You want active," Joey said, looking over her shoulder.  "Passive
wouldn't have as much range."

   "Okay, now what?" Suzi asked when the tricorder displayed the message
"waiting for scan."

   Now it was Eric's turn to get a little impatient as they had stopped
moving again.

   "How about we just keep going," Eric suggested.

   "Oh I know what it is," Joey said.  "It wants us to use the little
scanner thingy to scan someone's vitals and shit.  Suz, back out and see if
there's one that's called life signs or something."

   "Um...  Yes, here it is.  Life signatures.  Active scan..."

   The tricorder made some electronic whirring noises, then beeped and
flashed a message.  After Suzi pushed a few more buttons, she then held it
out as she slowly turned, doing a complete circle before it beeped again.

   "Shit," Suzi sighed, "Nothing."

   "Shit," Joey sighed himself.  "I thought for sure that would work."

   "Well, let's just go back to our original plan then," Eric offered.

   So they headed for the stairs Eric noticed earlier, and after Suzi
opened the door using the tricorder, they all got a kick out of Suzi's
expertise with it as she opened the door at the second floor with only a
couple of button taps.

   Eric was telling Suzi of his experience on the starship Harrison when
Joey interrupted him saying, "Well, that's a good sign.  His door is open."

   "And the lights are on," Suzi said as she hurried ahead of them.

   "Timmy?" Suzi called as she entered the room, but then halted, and
turned around.

   "What's wrong?" Joey asked, then looked over her head into the room.

   "What?" Eric asked as Joey turned around himself, his face showing his
disappointment.  "He isn't in there?"

   "Yes and no," Joey simply said as he stepped out of Eric's way to let
him see.

   Eric walked up to the bed and looked at me as I slept next to Joey,
knowing that they had only found our bodies and not our minds.

   "Well, where to now?" Eric asked.

   Suzi flipped the tricorder closed after finishing another scan and said,
"Well whatever we do, this thing isn't going to help us much longer.  Its
batteries are getting low."

   "How do you know that?" Joey asked.

   "It said low battery."

   "Oh."

   "I wonder what time it is," Eric thought out loud.

   "It's a quarter till seven," Joey announced after checking his watch. 
"Shit, it sure seems longer than that."

   "Crap," Eric said.  "My dad called the front desk to have them ring us
at seven thirty.  He's really going to freak if he can't wake me up."

   "Alright then, let's find Tim so we can all get out of here," Joey said.

   "I like it when you take charge," Suzi said, grinning.  "So sexy."

   "Heh, yeah, well..."

   "So now what?" Eric asked, trying to keep them focused.  "Do we split
up?"

   "Not yet," Joey said.  "Let's think about this.  It has to be Tim doing
this, right?"

   "Yeah, I think so," Eric said after a moment.

   "Suz?"

   "Well, I guess.  But I haven't felt him watching me."

   "Maybe he isn't watching us then," Joey said as he thought.  "Maybe he's
stuck in his own dream and was trying to connect to us for help.  But
instead he only trapped us in our own dreams."

   "So who's dreaming this?" Eric asked.

   "Maybe we all are.  I don't know."

   "Joey," Suzi said with a frown.  "I don't think Timmy would have pulled
us into a dream if he was trapped in it himself.  He wouldn't have risked
getting us trapped in it too."

   "Well, he either did it on purpose, or by accident.  Which do you think
it is?"

   "Hey, wait a minute," Eric said before turning to Suzi and asking,
"What's the last thing you remember?  While you were awake I mean."

   Suzi thought a moment, then said, "Jason and I were talking about
Leanne, I think."

   "Do you know what time it was?"

   "Around seven thirty maybe?  It was after dinner."

   "I was with Sarah and Terence in the executive conference room," Joey
said when Eric turned to him.  "It must have been after eight, probably
closer to nine when I got sucked in.  We were wrapping things up, and Sarah
had to leave at nine to pick up my nephew from his friend's house."

   "Okay," Eric said slowly.  "I know it was after ten when I got pulled in
because the news was on most of the channels.  So why did he pull us in one
at a time and not all at once?"

   "Well, it wasn't for the share link," Joey said.  "He didn't need that
until he was trying to pull you in, Eric."

   "So if he didn't need us for the share link," Suzi began, "then he
needed us for...  What?  Not company.  We haven't even seen him."

   "And that would rule out needing us for moral support or sympathy," Joey
added.

   "So what did he need us for?" Eric repeated.

   "Wait a minute," Suzi said.  "Timicus!"

   "What are calling him for?" Joey groaned.

   An antique telephone on a pedestal poofed in front of Suzi and
immediately rang.

   Before she picked it up, she said, "My reasons are psychological.  Think
of it as my Star Trek and trust me."

   "Yes my Queen?" Timicus answered when Suzi picked it up.

   "Timicus, why didn't you come yourself?" Suzi asked.

   "I did not wish to upset my brother again with my presence."

   "He won't get upset, I promise."

   "Darling, tell the Queen you're busy and come back to bed," Suzi heard a
female voice say.

   "Err, I am also in the middle of something my Queen.  May I call you
back later?"

   "No!" Suzi said, stomping her foot.  "Get your magical ass over here
before I come and kick it across..."

   <poof>

   "I am here, my Queen," Timicus said, hoping up and down as he finished
pulling his pants on.

   "Dreams.  Sharing of.  Explain."

   "My Queen?"

   "Do I have to repeat myself?"

   "No, my Queen," Timicus said as he straightened up, then snapped for his
book of magic.

   "Dreams, dreams..." Timicus muttered as he flipped through the pages.

   "Index?" Eric offered.

   "Marvelous idea, my brother," Timicus exclaimed, flipping to the back.
"Oh yes, here we are.  Dreams.  See fantasies of the night's mind. 
Fantasies.  Fantasies."

   "Any day now, Timicus," Suzi said, tapping her foot impatiently.

   "Here it is...  Page...  Oh, I see.  I need a different volume."

   <poof>

   "Here, let me try Suz," Joey said, stepping forward, taking the book out
of the sorcerer's hand, and tossing it away.

   "But I need that," Timicus said weakly as Joey stared into his eyes.

   "No you don't," Joey said firmly.  "You already know the answer.  You're
just stalling."

   Timicus sighed, then said, "You know me too well, my King.  The one you
are looking for is in the ballroom.  With...  Her."

   "Her?" Joey asked.

   "Jennifer," Eric said with a shiver running up his spine.

   "He was just floating around in dream-space when he found her," Timicus
explained as they rushed towards the other end of the very long hallway. 
"She was dreaming of skiing with her parents and him.

   "When the dream faded out, he forced himself to stay in his dream state
and waited for her to come back.  But then his own dreams started, and when
he realized it wasn't her dream, he pulled Suzi in to run his dreams while
he waited for Hers."

   "Then why did he pull the rest of us in?" Joey asked.

   "Suzi eventually went into a dreamless sleep which he couldn't stop
without fearing he'd hurt her.  So he pulled Joey in to take her place and
when Joey started to tire as well, he had Joey help him bring Eric in. 
After that, however, She came back.  He would slip back into your dreams
whenever Her dream would ended, then slip back out when She started to
dream again."

   "I can't believe he'd be that selfish," Joey said angrily.  When he saw
Eric's and Suzi's disagreement on their faces, he said, "You know it must
have scared the living shit out everyone when we just fell asleep and
couldn't be woken up.  He should have at least warned us before he did it.
I love him, but he can't pull shit like this without asking first."

   "You're right, Joey.  He should have asked," Suzi sighed as they finally
approached the ballroom doors.  "But if Tim or I had just left without a
word like she had, then you found us in a dream, would you have taken the
chance that the answer was no?"

   "Shit," Joey said guiltily.  "I guess not."

   "He knew we'd understand," Eric admitted.  "But I need to get back to my
dad before he wakes up.  I've put him through a lot of shit this year.  I
don't want to put him through any more."

   "All shall be as you wish, my friends," Timicus said, snapping his
fingers to make the ballroom doors open.  "But first, he invites you to
enjoy the last dream with him before he lets her go."

   Beyond the ballroom doors was a green hillside speckled with yellow and
white daisies and outlined by a blue sky that contained only two white
puffy clouds.

   As the three walked inside the virtual room, a gentle breeze carried
sounds of birds chirping and the faint scent of roses.  The short grass
waved in the wind, appearing as if the grass itself was beckoning them to
follow it over the hillside.

   "Come on," Suzi said, taking Eric and Joey both by the hands and giving
them a gentle tug towards the hill's crest.

   The three walked up the hill holding hands, then stood at the top in awe
of the scene.

   Below them was a burbling river of deep blue water, its banks lined with
red and white roses, the red ones clustered together to form hearts of
varying sizes.

   And floating on this river was the Rosemary IV, an eighteenth century
yacht with bright white sails and golden trim.  Anchored and its gang plank
down, it currently was only serving to shade its passengers as they sat on
the shore amongst the roses.

   "There's Timmy," Suzi said, pointing out the only solitary figure among
the roses.

   "And that's Jennifer," Joey said, pointing to the redhead whom I was
watching from several feet away.

   "Oh no," Suzi said unhappily after shielding her eyes to get a better
look.

   "What?" Joey asked.

   Eric started to hurry down the hill towards me as Suzi said, "That's not
another Timmy she's sitting with."

   "Beautiful, isn't she?" I asked gently when Eric reached me.

   "Are you okay?" Eric asked, putting his hand on my shoulder.

   I looked up at him with a weary smile; holding my arm out, and said,
"Sit down.  You won't miss your boat home, I promise."

   Eric hesitated, then sat down beside me.

   I put my arm behind him and gave him a happy hug, then said to all
three, "I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to scare anyone.  It's not always clear
what's really happening out there when you're in here.  It won't happen
again."

   "That's okay, Tim," Joey said.  "It was actually pretty fun, most of the
time."

   "Stop!" Jennifer giggled as the boy next to her nibbled her earlobe.

   Her laugh was still tingling in my ears when I saw their confusion
concerning my smile.

   "I've seen enough here to know she still feels something for me, and
that she's still determined not to have sex with anyone until she's
married. She's happy, and that's all I really wanted to know."

   "She's grown quite a lot," Suzi remarked.  "I take it she can't see or
hear us?"

   "No.  She's immune.  I couldn't affect her dream even I wanted too.  I
added the scenery to our side of the dream, so she doesn't see the river,
the boat, the roses, or anything else we see, including herself.  Just...
Him."

   Suzi stepped over to her for a closer look anyway while Joey sat down on
the other side of me and took interest in one of the roses.

   "Huh," Joey muttered.  "Roses without thorns."

   "Tim," Eric said while watching Suzi dance around Jennifer and her... 
friend as they started wrestling, nose to nose.  "Was Candice in the dream
with us?  Or was she just part of the dream?"

   "I honestly don't know, Eric.  I only brought you three here.  You were
all in control of your own dreams.  It's possible you brought her in
yourself."

   "But you..."

   "You'll have to ask me later," I said as my watch alarm went off.  "It's
time for you to go."

   "Already?" Eric asked.

   "Holy shit, he's right, Eric," Joey exclaimed, looking at his own watch.
"It's nearly seven thirty."

   "Time works differently in here," I said with a shrug.

   I took one last look at Jennifer, then stood up and said, "Come on. 
Let's all go.  If I stay much longer, I'll just try decking that fucker
again.  My hand can't take much more of that, real or not.  It's like
punching the marble statue of my dad."

   "You punched your dad's statue?" Joey asked.

   "A long time ago.  I was still pissed at him from when he made Penny his
slave and fucked her.  I didn't know him doing that would save my ass later
on."

   "It saved Joey's and my asses too, you know," Suzi reminded me.

   The ballroom doors were still open when we reached the top of the hill,
so I cut the link I had with Jennifer's distant mind, startling the others
when the entire room went pitch black except for the doors and the hallway
beyond them.

   "Eric," I began before we reached the doors.  "The quickest way for you
to go back is for you to stay here."

   "But," Eric began, wanting strongly to come with us, but then nodded his
head.

   Eric stood still after I shut the doors and left him there in pitch
black.  He was waiting for something to happen, which of course nothing
did.

   "Tim, I don't think it's working."

   "Tim?"

   "Eric," someone whispered.

   "Uncle Eric?"

   "Uncle Eric?" his fathers' voice said more clearly.  "Come on, sleepy
head.  It's getting late."

   After a pillow hit him in the face, Eric flung his eyes open and
exclaimed, "Dad, you won't believe what I was doing all night!"

   "I listened all night to what you were doing.  I know all about it."

   "You do?"

   Eric's dad made loud snoring sounds, then touched his son on the nose
with his finger saying, "All night long."

   Eric just smiled and kissed his dad's finger before saying, "I love you,
Spanky."

   "I love you too, squirt," his dad said, wiping the moisture from his
eyes that the flash back Eric had triggered caused.  "Now get your butt up
and shower.  We're going to be late."

   "Yes, my King," Eric giggled as he scrambled out of bed.

   ----------------------------------------------------------

   "Timmy, any idea what Penny's up to nowadays?" Suzi asked as we
approached my bedroom.

   Joey and I exchanged looks, knowing exactly why she was asking.

   "Last I heard, she was pregnant with her third baby," I said truthfully.

   "Oh," Suzi said, losing all interest in the subject.

   We entered my room and found my mom and Joey's mom both sitting on the
bed talking with their backs to our bodies.

   "Well, I guess I better bring this dream to a close," I said.

   "It's been fun, Timmy," Suzi said, giving me a kiss on my cheek.

   "Yeah, but let's not do it again," Joey said.  "Or at least not..."

   I snapped my fingers and <poof>.

   "Until we're together and.." Joey finished from his real lips.  "Oh. 
Morning mom.  Moms."

   "You stinker," Suzi said as Joey was instantly assaulted with questions
from both our mothers.

   "I simply couldn't resist, my Queen," I said in my somewhat British
Timicus accent before snapping my fingers two more times.

  
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