Author: Thinking Horndog
Title: R and R
Part: 5 of 6
Universe: R and R
Summary: A mercenary unit sets down on a backwater planet for a little
entertainment.

Keywords: M+F M+f Ff FF M+M rape nc oral anal ScFi

Chapter 5

	Becky decided it was time to take her run at things.  "About Anna,
Captain..."

	Rendec blinked.  "I thought I made myself clear; I understand that
Anna MIGHT be better off, but I'm not running a social welfare institution.
Anna isn't a combat troop, and I can't allow pets.  I also can't ship with a
socialator-in-training, especially one with one fuck under her belt -- the
numbers don't work!  Better to ship without!"

	Becky stood there, hands on her hips, determined.  "What ARE the
numbers?"

	"Upwards of two hundred males, and a few females whose tastes run in
that direction," Rendec replied.  Anna's face flickered; Rendec didn't know
whether the females thing had squicked her or not.  "At one a dec, that's
twenty DPs to get through the population, going all ten dec a DP.  MAYBE an
experienced socialator could handle that pace, but Anna isn't one, and she'd
have to sleep, sometime.  Generally, a unit the size of mine ships with three
or four, each a specialist."

	Becky eyed him.  "...And you didn't."

	Rendec looked hangdog.  "This was supposed to be an easy patrol
contract -- a show of force, with plenty of downtime.  Instead, we're on the
short end of an undeclared war, and downtime hasn't been possible..."  He
shrugged, looking around.

	"Okay," Becky returned, not letting him off, "Anna won't be alone; I
can fuck now, but it'd be better if I waited a bit -- but I can give blowjobs,
and the ass works...  She'd be able to get time off while I spelled her."

	"You're too young," Rendec returned, shaking his head.  The kid was --
what -- eight GSCs?

	Becky turned eyes on him that suggested that she was forty, not
twelve.  "For what?  Blowjobs?  You can make an infant a cocksucker, if you go
about it right!  And asses stretch -- perverts do that kind of thing all the
time!"  Yeah, she'd seen a thing or two, in various orphanages and foster
homes.  The 'generous souls' that took care of the homeless were often public
personas that masked other things...

	"You're too young, I said!  We have laws...  How old are you?"
Rendec's eyes gave him away; he was thinking about it.

	Trick question, no doubt... "I'm eighteen -- just slow to mature.
Since I LOOK younger, I'll appeal to the Lolita crowd.  I'm getting periods --
wanna see my tampon?"

	Well, the age gambit had failed...  Rendec took 'Lolita' and 'tampon'
in context; the girl was obviously telling him that puberty had arrived, and
'Lolita' must equate to 'young stuff'.  Time to up the ante...  "How do I know
that you know any more about sex than Anna?"

	"Seeing's believing."  Becky threw herself to her diminutive knees
before Rendec and went to work on his trap.  She'd never ACTUALLY given head,
per se, but there was that old perv when she was eight who'd taught her all
about hand jobs, and licking up spend.  If her mouth had been big enough to
handle the old bastard's fat cock, she'd probably STILL be living in that
foster home...  The upshot, anyway, was that she knew her way around a cock;
once she fumbled through the trap, she fished out the heavy hunk of meat and
handled it with easy familiarity.  "Nice!"  She slid her tongue along the
underside of the head expertly.

	Rendec realized that his bluff had been called.  As soon as he'd
stiffened a bit, Becky expertly jacked back the foreskin and started running
her tongue around the ridge at the base of the head.  Obviously, little Becky
was no stranger to cock!  "Okay, okay, you've proved your point!  That's not
the whole show, however; just because Annuh likes Sabac's dick, doesn't mean
she's going to want anyone else’s!  And I can't let him have a pet..."

	Rendec shut up; Anna had walked around in front of him, got down on
all fours, and was looking over her shoulder at him expectantly.  Becky hadn't
let go -- she was jacking him like she'd done it a thousand times before --
and he was fully up and running, despite the recent run-in with Red.  Everyone
in sight had that look on their face that said, "Well?" -- even Pops and Irma!
Trapped, Rendec dropped to his knees behind Anna and started rubbing his cock
against her rubbery nether lips.

	Anna moaned and dropped to her forearms, presenting her ass to make an
easier target.  Rendec found her opening and began to work his way in.
Entropy, it was tight!  And hot!  "Mmmmmmmm," Anna purred as Rendec worked
himself in deeper using short strokes.  Rendec had to agree -- this was the
good stuff!  Settled in, he started long-stroking, glans to root; Anna made it
easy by meeting every stroke halfway.

	Sabac, having moved around front, had a view that Rendec lacked, and
thus knew in advance what was coming.  Anna was more or less constantly
emitting a purring, "Mmmmmmmmm...." but it was getting more urgent; now he
watched her go pink from her forehead to her puffy pink nipples.  Seconds
later, Anna went, "Uuuuuuuuhhhhhh!!!  FUH!  FUH!  FUH!" and started slamming
her ass back toward the surprised Rendec.  This frenzy went on for about ten
strokes, then she froze, shaking, and wailed, "AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!"  Rendec
was thoroughly taken for the ride as Anna's vagina clamped down on him,
bringing him off in long squirts, a somewhat foolish look of surprise on his
face.

	After a moment, a somewhat shaken Rendec extracted himself from Anna's
still-pulsing pussy.  "Okay, so, she can fuck!"  He climbed to his feet and
made to close his trap, but Becky dove in and collected his oversensitive
hard-on, cleaning it with her mouth.  "And you can suck," he added, somewhat
breathlessly.  "But that STILL makes for about one and a half socialators, and
we need three to four.  If you want to ship out, you need to find two more,"
he directed, sweeping the trio with his eyes.  "I'd go see Red, if I were you
-- she's a pretty good bet.  But even if she says yes, you still need one
more!  Now git!  And don't bother me until you've found 'em!"  Rendec turned
toward the counter, "Coffee, Pop -- quick!"

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

	Becky started close-in -- with Marian White, who'd witnessed most of
the exchange from a position at the fringes where she and Ariel were eating
hot dogs under the somewhat loose control of Brok and Tenyek.  Becky didn't
even phrase the question -- she merely looked at the older woman.  Marian
shook her head, "Sorry, I'm the one man at a time type.  Today's given me
enough problems," she glanced at Brok, "but the Captain says he won't allow
pets..."  Brok blinked -- the woman was actually attracted to him?

	Becky shrugged.  "It was worth a try..."  Turning to Sabac, she
announced, "I'm gonna try to lock down Red -- you two could HELP, you know!"
then she dashed off.

	Clusters of activity around the blonde and the black woman were the
primary activity in an area where things had pretty much quieted down.  The
noisiest thing in sight was the black woman, who was wailing "Yes!  Yes!
Yes!" while some trooper pounded her doggy-style.  The daughter was on her
back, her arms and legs wrapped around the big black trooper she'd been
hanging out with while he worked his cock in and out of her.  The blonde was
making quiet grunts, but not much more was going to escape around the big,
black cock sawing in and out of her mouth; nonetheless, it was apparent to
Becky that Blondie was finally a full participant.  You could tell the
difference, if you looked closely, and Blondie was into it.

	Becky found Red lying on her back on a bench, panting, her head on the
lap of a big trooper who was idly caressing her face and hair.  "Uh, Red?"

	Valerie looked up, "The name's Val, Honey."  She caught the trooper's
hand to deflect it so that it wouldn't be a distraction as she talked to the
youngster; the trooper seemed just as happy to squeeze it.  "What can I do for
you?"

	"Did you have a good time?"

	Val checked the girl for sarcasm, but didn't find any.  "Well, yeah.
It's been a long time since I was challenged like that -- I thought I was
turning into an old Fudd.  Reminded me of some great parties in college..."
She pulled herself back from nostalgia, querying, "Why?"

	But Becky had been distracted.  "Fudd?"

	"Elmer Fudd, the cartoon character."

	"Oh."  The look on her face said that Becky still only had a vague
idea...  "Uh, how good was it?  Would you want to do it again?"

	Val frowned.  Such strange questions...  "Well, gang-bangs are more
dangerous than they used to be...  These guys have pretty good medicine -- I
hope -- but I don't move in circles where you can just invite a bunch of guys
over to fuck, any more."

	Becky fidgeted.  "What if you did?"

	Val sat up.  "Out with it."

	"Okay."  Becky looked at her feet.  "My friend Anna and I, well, Anna
in particular...  We'd be a lot better off if we left with these guys."

	"Why?"  Val tilted her head.

	"They understand Anna -- she has a speech problem, but they have
things that allow them to not even notice.  Around here, she has to hang out
with morons because she can't talk...  They might even be able to fix her."

	"Okay...  Did they tell you that?"

	"No.  They didn't make any promises, if that's what you mean..."

	Val nodded.  Whatever else was up with them, these soldiers hadn't
lied to anyone that she'd noticed.  If anything, her time with their leader
told her that the whole thing was somewhat complicated by the fact that they
weren't really pirates or anything.  He'd seemed to be making it up as he
went, trying to control a situation that had started out more or less out of
hand and that he felt bad about.  "Go ahead, Honey."

	"Well, the Captain says he can't let the troopers take 'pets' -- he
doesn't mean we're animals; he's just making a point -- and Anna's not a
soldier, so he says there is only one way he can justify taking her along --
as a socialator."

	"What's that?  And what makes you think that he's taking ANYBODY?"

	"Well, there's one guy, one of the female troopers had sex with...
He's been up here -- you might have seen him.  He's been acting as an
interpreter and stuff...  He's already changed into one of their uniforms!"

	"Okay," Val nodded.  "Honey, I've heard the term 'socialator' bandied
about -- and it sounds a lot like 'hooker'!"

	"Well, it's more than that -- sex is a big part of it, but it isn't
illegal, and there is more status to it."  Becky stubbed a toe in the grass.
"I don't know enough about it to tell you properly -- all I know is that it
isn't the same..."

	The big trooper sitting beside Val cleared his throat.  "A socialator
derives her -- well, generally her -- income from sex, but that's not the
whole idea.  Basically, our culture doesn't enter into quasi-permanent mating
contracts as yours does -- everything is a bit looser.  Most males -- and some
females -- aren't looking for permanent, exclusive relationships.  Socialators
cater to this; they have a sliding scale for services from a quick fuck to a
regular relationship where they live in with the client.  More is expected --
it's more like having a mate one night a week, in a lot of cases.  The
socialator also provides emotional support and intimacy -- maybe mothering, if
that's what is needed.  Maybe 'contract mistress' is closer to the mark -- or
polygamous mate.  And it's all VERY legal.  Many times, a company like ours
will ship with a few socialators aboard to provide structure and keep the
testosterone levels down..."

	Val turned to him, "But you didn't, this time?"

	"No."  The trooper looked at the ground.  "We were trying to cut
corners and maximize profits on a low-rate job where we were SUPPOSED to have
regular access to facilities.  Damned thing turned into a war.  The Captain
isn't happy -- Hell, I'M not happy -- I was in on the original decision, and
that makes me at fault for this, too!"

	"You're a leader of this bunch?" Val waved her hand.

	"I'm a platoon leader," LT Kald announced dryly.  "About a quarter of
these troops answer to me."

	"You don't do this all of the time, then..."  Val looked up to see the
homely young woman who was apparently a subject of this conversation, and the
trooper she'd been with most often, walking up.  "We have laws of war..."

	"No.  Well, pillaging the losing side is allowed after a victory;
we've learned that it provides an incentive to both sides," Kald related, "But
this is an unaligned, backwater world with barely emergent technology -- that
makes you innocents.  Since you're theoretically primitives, and we are
allowed to claim this world for commercial exploitation, there are grey areas,
but most would consider this little raid as a blot on the unit's reputation,
despite the fact that we haven't killed anybody."

	"You haven't?"  Val was surprised.

	"Nope.  Closest we came was her," Kald waved toward Allison Hayes.
"But our med tech IS good -- physically, you won't find a scratch on her.  And
all of the effort that went into adjusting her mental attitudes will go by the
wayside, too, when we leave; we're going to put everyone to sleep with an
agent that causes a short-term memory loss."

	Val blinked.  "So I'll forget all this?"  She made it sound as if
she'd gone to some effort -- and she had!  And, frankly, this attempt to get
the whole thing out of her system had failed miserably.  If she forgot about
all of this, and went back to where she was mentally this morning, how long
would it take for her to make up her mind to do something about it?  And what
then?  Gang-bangs didn't just happen every day...

	 Kald eyed her in mild surprise.  "Yes.  In virtually every case, I'd
say it's a good idea, wouldn't you?  We were told that your psych people
weren't very good, yet -- better everyone forgot the trauma.  Besides, we need
to wrap this thing in secrecy..."

	Val sighed.  "I'd prefer to remember -- and move on..."

	Sabac's expression blanked.  "What would you move on to?"

	"I...  don't know."  Val was a lousy mother; her temperament just
couldn't handle the demands.  Mike did a lot better, as did Panfila, the maid.
Lack of sex just made things worse...  She was going to leave Mike; she knew
that, now -- but the future was cloudy; there just weren't many perfectly
legal outlets for her sex drive...  She shook her head.  Back to the basics...
"Where were we?  So, your friend, Anna, here, can ship out, but only as a
fancy camp-follower.  I'm starting to see why you're standing here, but it
isn't clear yet..."

	Becky looked at Anna, who nodded encouragement -- SHE couldn't explain
to Red; it was up to Becky.  But Becky was sidetracked again...  "Camp-
follower?"

	"Honey, whores have been following armies around since forever.  A
huge collection of males is a magnet for prostitutes," Val explained.

	"Oh.  Okay."  She stomped a foot.  "You INSIST on treating this as if
it was evil!  It's not!"

	"Okay, okay.  It is where you and I come from, and I have prejudices
to deal with," Val replied.

	"Well?  Then what does that make YOU?" Becky ranted.

	"Uhhh, okay, I get your point," Val placated.  Becky had hit the mark;
while she was being judgmental, she'd been ignoring her own recent activities.
“Go on..."

	"Okay."  Becky stopped sulking and moved on.  "Well, it's like this:
the Captain says she can ship as a socialator, but he can't ship with just
one, or one and a half -- it's not enough to handle the troops.  He said we
can only go if we find two more..."

	"One and a half?  We?"  Val arched an eyebrow.

	Sabac entered the fray.  "This is going downhill.  The two of them
refuse to be separated -- they're like sisters.  Becky's an orphan, and hasn't
had it good here, either -- from the demo blowjob she started on the Captain,
I imagine she's experienced beyond her years.  Basically, he's bending over
backwards, but he's right; one socialator -- or even two, if Becky lives up to
the tall tales she's telling -- doesn't service a company.  It would be too
much work, and in the end would probably make things worse than not shipping
with one at all."

	"So, for the benefit of everyone concerned, you're looking for two
volunteers..."  Val couldn't damp the sarcasm.  "Becky is jailbait, you
know..."

	Becky stamped a foot.  "I AM NOT!  I'm EIGHTEEN!  I'm just developing
slow!"

	"Oh, really?"  Val locked eyes with the diminutive spitfire.

	"Really."  Becky held Val's eyes for a moment, then winked.  No one
else could see.  "I've been around cock.  I bet YOU had, too, at my age..."

	"By eighteen?  Certainly.  But..."

	"I was eight.  Foster home."

	Both males present gasped.  Val rubbed her face.  "That's
exploitation, of the worst kind.  And it's what I'm trying to prevent, here."

	"This is employment.  I know what I'm doing, and so does Anna."

	Sabac entered the conversation, "Can I speak to you privately for a
moment?"  Val nodded and got up, and the pair stepped away a little distance.
"The Captain is going out of his way, here," Sabac insisted.  "Both of these
women are insistent, and he's trying to do right by them.  Annuh was a virgin
when I got to her, but she was MORE than willing; the Captain braced her with
her inexperience, and she knelt up and took HIM, right there!"

	Val raised an eyebrow.  "That's all well and good -- Anna is old
enough to make these decisions and follow through with them -- but Becky?
She's not eighteen -- I figure she's about twelve..."

	Sabac looked a bit embarrassed.  "Our regs say that she's not an adult
until she reaches ten GSCs -- about fifteen of your years.  But others
disagree, and I've been places where nobody cared at all.  If she and Annuh
weren't close and she weren't an orphan, the discussion would be over -- but
they're kind of a sister act...  The Captain asked her her age, and she swore
she was eighteen -- if she'd said twelve that would have killed the thing, too
-- but the other issue is the fact that she DOES know cock!  She proceeded to
demonstrate on the Captain, and I have to tell you, she's been there -- it was
obvious to everybody watching!  The Captain asked all of the right questions
-- the fact that she doesn't have her birth documents with her allow him to
pretend ignorance and keep them together.  But if it weren't for the other
things, there wouldn't even be a discussion."

	"Still, sex with a twelve year old?"

	"The plan under negotiation is that we take on both Annuh and Becky as
socialators in training.  Becky's excuse is that she can fill in orally for
Annuh until we can get her mouth in better shape.  Anal sex might be an
option, too, depending upon a number of factors, all under Becky's control --
you don't rape a socialator, it's a relationship."

	Val frowned and shrugged, but nodded, and the pair returned to the
group.  "This gentleman has convinced me that the pair of you are serious,
sooo...  Let's hear the rest of it."

	Becky eyed her.  "You already know.  We need two more, or the Captain
won't let us go.  You're..."  Becky stopped, at a loss for words.

	Kald filled in the blanks, "... Eminently qualified.  You obviously
enjoy sex in large quantities, something important in a socialator."

	Val rubbed her face.  "Sure, I like it, but I can't see me stalking
some strange world as a two-bit hooker with a worn-out..."

	"It's not like that!" Kald erupted.  "Socialators come in all shapes,
sizes and capacities, but the pay or whatever other benefits you negotiate are
excellent and there aren't the links to crime that you're expecting.  Worst
case might be a bad business deal...  You call the shots!  You say who, when,
how...  For instance, we have a standard contract rate, based upon the number
of troops you expect to service -- we need more, but even one every couple of
DPs is above subsistence rate!  That's why we won't lift with just one or two
-- coverage is inadequate!  Nobody expects you to hold gang-bangs..."

	Val chuckled.  "What if I LIKE gang-bangs?"

	Kald, nonplussed, threw up his hands.  "Up to you, then...  It might
make it easier to justify coverage, if you did, but nobody would expect it."

	Sabac called his captain on comm, "Sir, could I borrow Leegates?
We're having trouble pitching the concept of a socialator; apparently, the
nearest thing here is a criminal activity..."

	"Stand by."  Rendec switched to Teela, "Put Leegates on with Sabac --
he's got a translation problem."

	"Sir."  Teela spent a minute teaching Lee how to switch channels on
comm, then turned him loose on Sabac.  In the meantime, the whole group,
including Brok, Tenyek, and the Whites, began moving back toward the boat.

	"What is the problem?" asked Lee.

	"We're trying to interest Red in being a socialator, but she's
apparently hung up on the fact that your nearest analogous activity is
illegal.  I need new terms..."

	"Hmmmm.  Try heterae, or courtesan.  She probably won't know of the
former, but might have a concept of the latter.  I'll pitch the former when I
get there..."

	"Thanks."  Sabac turned to Val.  "Ever hear of a heterae, or a
courtesan?  Leegates says that might approach socialator closer than your
other terms."

	"Courtesan...  Hmmmm.  It's a fancy name for it.  I'm not sure they're
paid, either; they're more like mistresses, I think..."

	"Maybe that's it.  Most socialators aren't into short-term cash
transactions -- they enjoy themselves, and they may live with a man or move
between two or three.  It's not just about sex, although it is about the
sexual arts."

	"Hmmmm...  I dunno..."  Val glanced up to see the group arrive, and
picked out Lee.  "Okay, so, what's a heterae?"

	"Ancient Greek sexual professional," Lee replied.  "Prostitution was
an honorable profession before idiot moralists and STDs.  It's a recognition
that men, in particular, have needs, whether they're capable of a relationship
or not.  Instead, we look the other way, and desperation leads to all kinds of
problems and abuse."

	"Maybe," Val grunted.  She eyed Lee, "Why are YOU going with them --
and in what capacity?"

	Lee looked embarrassed.  "It's a prime opportunity to do some things
I've always wanted to do, and get away from a trap I'm in.  I'm officially a
consultant, but I have a military background; I might end up in boots again."

	"Opportunity?"

	"Space travel.  See new places, new things.  Apply my mind to bigger
things."

	"Trap?"

	"Bad relationship.  Divorce would leave me penniless.  This way, I'm
dead -- and can start over..." Lee glanced away.

	The comment surfaced Val's prime excuse, "I'm married, and I have two
little girls..."  She looked at Anna and shrugged.

	Anna was deeply disappointed.  This would make things impossible, in
all probability...  Sabac, more practical, grunted, "Best move on, then...
Maybe the black women -- they're popular."  The trio -- Sabac and his women --
moved off.

	Val caught the eye of her friend Marian.  "I was worried about you."

	Marian, settling herself on the bench beside her, waved it off.
"Brok?  He's a pussycat -- well, a tomcat..."  She grinned at the trooper in
question, who fidgeted, wondering where he should be.

	"Allison Hayes might not agree..."

	Marian snorted.  "Allison is abysmally stupid, and handles every
situation in a single manner."  She paused a moment.  "Ever heard of a
berserker?"

	"Uh, yeah..."

	"Nice guys, generally, but when they go into combat, the adrenaline
starts flowing and they turn into the Incredible Hulk.  Beneficial in combat,
but you don't fuck with them.  Allison fucked with Brok, and he was charged
up, so he fucked back..."

	"So, you had a plan?" Val asked, sardonically.

	"Yeah," Marian agreed.  "I KNEW, from looking at him -- his eyes in
particular -- that he wasn't rational.  He was charged up from the landing --
probably a conditioned reflex; God knows we weren't a threat -- and floating
in a sea of testosterone on top of that.  The Captain had got his attention,
so the whole thing was receding, but anything less than full cooperation was
going to make things rough.  And you KNOW I have those slave fantasies..."

	"And the choke-fuck?" Val grinned.  Marian wanted to be used, hard.
It was a regular thing when they talked about sex.

	"We were both out to prove something -- Brok that he was Master, and
me that I was going to do as I was told.  It worked."  Marian smiled.

	"What's with them?" Val asked, waving at Ariel and Tenyek.  Out of
some sense of decency, Tenyek wasn't quite pawing Ariel's small breasts, but
Ariel would have welcomed it; her position, leaning against the big woman,
made that clear.

	Marian was nonchalant.  "Apparently, there was a little girl-play in
the barn.  I don't know any more than you do, but..."

	"You're not pissed?"

	Marian shrugged, "Like I have a vote?  Besides, Ariel is a chip off
the old block -- I'm... omnivorous..."

	"Shit."  In five and a half years of coffee talk that centered
regularly around sex, THAT had never come up!  Val wished it had, loudly.
"Jeez, we could have been doing EACH OTHER all this time!"

	Marian's eyes crinkled, "You, too?"

	"Well, I like my dick, but I'm not allergic to pussy juice..."  She
switched gears, "The girls?"

	"They're playing in the barn, safe," Tenyek replied.  "I don't molest
girls who aren't old enough to want it."  This time her hand stole into
Ariel's blouse; Ariel nodded confirmation of the first assertion to Val, then
shifted her attention to her mother, who failed to react negatively to the
sight of Tenyek's fingers working her nipple.  Satisfied that there wasn't an
issue, she closed her eyes and sighed.  "Watching you two give head made me
SOOOOO hot..."  Her eyes popped open.  "Especially YOU, Aunt Val -- you're a
sex machine!"

	"Everybody says so," Val remarked absently.

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

	Zakan hit his comm as he approached the ambulance, "Hey, Sprik, open
up!"

	"Do the combo -- I'm busy!" Sprik replied, his voice reflecting some
exertion.

	Zakan blinked.  "Okay."  He hit the combo, wondering what Sprik was up
to...  The hatch opened, and he announced himself with, "The Captain
apparently wants us to hand out a shitload of generals..."  His eyes,
adjusting to the lower light levels, picked up motion in a bunk.  That HAD to
be Sprik's ass bobbing up and down...  "Entropy, Man -- in the ambulance?
You're gonna clean that up..."

	"Shut the fuck up," Sprik grated, panting, "and lemme finish this in
peace.  Captain made me (puff) defrost a BDU..."

	"Oh, okay."  Zakan shook his head and started breaking out short-term
general maintenance bot loads in their disposable injectors, flicking his eyes
at the couple working more and more furiously in the bunk.  The woman was this
odd, reddish brown shade...  Chunky, too -- had a big ass...  Zakan thought
about it and took another look; yeah, it was one of Dolf's victims.  She
wasn't acting like a victim, now, with her legs wrapped around Sprik's skinny
frame -- the sound she was making was more like a purr...  Zakan suffered a
certain resurgence, watching the pair at work -- the blowjob from that stupid
blonde had been hard to get through, but was easily forgotten.  He'd dropped a
tray into place and started a second layer of injectors when the woman started
wailing, "Fuck, fuck, fuck, ohh, Baby!  Fuck, fuck, AWWWWWW!"  Zakan looked
up; that big ass was going a mile a minute; she was doing all the work from
the bottom, it looked like!

	"Sucking entropy!" Sprik squalled, and stiffened, arching.  "What a
ride!"  He collapse on Nayla, who settled down fairly quickly, but seemed to
be in no hurry to release him.

	Zakan filled the tray, then looked up.  "You gonna help?"

	Sprik levered himself up, taking in a creamy smile on Nayla's face.
"Yeah, I guess."  He squeezed a fat, brown nipple.  "Damn, you're good!"  She
was pretty when she smiled, too -- oh, not beautiful, but she had sweet
features...  "Let me up."

	"Okay."  Nayla unwrapped her legs.  "Later?"

	"Again?"  Sprik was surprised.  Big Ass -- well, he didn't have a name
for her -- had taken to cock pretty quickly...  "We'll see -- I'm worn out,
for now."  He stood up.

	"Lucky you," Zakan grunted.  "All I got was a pretty poor blowjob from
a stupid blonde who thought looks were everything..."

	"Now you mention it," Sprik threw a thumb over his shoulder, "she
gives good head, too."

	"Fuck!"  Zakan groused.  "Rub it in, why don't you?"

	Sprik stopped and looked behind him, locking eyes with the Indian
woman.  She merely returned his gaze, not making any indication of her
preferences, leaving it up to him.  Sprik shrugged, and stepped into the rear
bay, "I'll lay things out for a while; go get you some."

	Zakan glanced up, surprised, at Sprik, then looked toward the woman,
who merely looked back.  He headed toward her, but stopped when Sprik added,
"But do right by her; she's kinda sweet.  I don't want her... unhappy."

	The pair of them looked at the woman, whose dark eyes glowed.  She
smiled at Zakan and beckoned, "Come on, then."

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

	Rendec passed the word to his first sergeant, and 1SG Kamicki got on
the all units band, "Awright, you yard birds!  Start recovering to the boat!
And if you fucked it, sucked it, or even slapped its ass, it goes to the
ambulance for a general!  Don't trip all over yourselves, but start moving
things back toward the boat -- we're outta here in half a dec!  If you're
quick, you still got time for sloppy seconds -- or thirds..."  The troops
heard, and took their time, but to Zakan's extreme irritation, people started
showing up at the after hatch of the ambulance almost immediately.  Sprik
waved it off and started handling things by himself, and Zakan went back to
applying cock to the gently smiling woman below him.

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

	Anna and Becky shifted their attention to Donna Jackson, but Donna was
wasted.  Amelia chuckled, "Anything's better than that bastard Alvin --
besides, Momma likes cock!" but Donna wasn't having any.  "I'm not goin' wild
places -- I can barely handle it here!"

	Becky sighed, and turned away.  "Let's go to the ambulance --
everybody will be going there."

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

	Val grimaced.  "It took me forever to think of Nikki and Frances...
Motherhood is just NOT second nature to me..."

	Marian nodded.  This was an old conversation; Val had a governess to
help with the girls, because she was seldom able to deal with them.  She
wanted to -- she just didn't appear to have the tools.  "They're all right --
these soldiers have standards.  Besides, if Ariel says they're okay, they're
okay."

	"We're gonna forget all this, you know," Val sighed.  "That sucks; I
don't know how long it's gonna take me to get back to here."

	"Where's here?" Marian asked.

	"Here is where I start looking for the door, Hon.  I can't be doing
this -- this sainted motherhood thing -- any longer!  Pretty soon, I'm going
to be too old to have fun..."  She looked up at Marian.  "Will you watch out
for the girls?"

	"Sure."

	Brok rumbled, "I can fix it so you remember -- but that might not be a
good thing.  You'd have to keep the secret."

	Marian looked at Val.  "There's your solution."

	"No," Val sighed, "Not really."

	"Come on," Brok grunted, "Let's go get your generals."

	The women got up, and Brok pointed them at the ambulance.  Marian
asked, "So, what's a general?"

	"It's a general health maintenance inoculation.  It'll fix any minor
physical problems you might have gotten from all this -- and probably a whole
lot more."

	"Really?"

	"Yeah.  The Captain doesn't want to leave anyone busted."

	"Nice."

	The women joined the line; the troopers stood off to the side.  Lothar
was standing there.  "Did you mark her?" he asked, nodding at Marian.

	Brok blinked.  "No."

	"Was it good shit?  Would you want it again?"

	"Well, yeah.  We had... kind of a thing going."

	"I marked mine," Lothar said, nodding at Joy.

	Brok took a look at her, and was unimpressed -- no accounting for
tastes...  "Why?  We won't be back."

	"Captain says we might -- says the place might be worth commercial
exploitation."

	"No shit?"

	"No shit.  Something about their computers."

	Marian became aware of Brok looking at her.  He stepped up, and
whispered, "Do you want to remember?"

	Marian locked eyes with him.  It was clear to her what he was asking,
and her answer was equally clear: "Yes."

	"Bend over and don't ask questions."  Marian did so and took a sharp
swat on her ass.  She looked the question, but Brok wasn't volunteering.
"I'll give you a pill later that will allow you to remember.  But you'll have
to keep it to yourself..."

	"I know."

	Val leaned over.  "That makes it easier.  You'll watch the girls?"

	"Yeah.  Why?"

	"I'm gonna get stupid."  Val stepped out of line and walked over to
where Anna and Becky were wringing their hands.

	Anna was crying openly, and Becky was sniffling; their luck had been
miserable.  They'd gotten no bites.  Most of the women in line were OBVIOUSLY
not going to be interested in shipping out with the troops, despite the fact
that they were objectively in good shape -- rape was rape, after all...  The
half-dozen possibles had all fizzled; now they were basically waving the whole
thing goodbye.  Val stalked up and sighed, "Okay, I'm game.  I'll do it!"

	There ensued about ten seconds' worth of wild joy, cut suddenly short
by Sabac's announcement, "You're still one short."  Things took a dip, just as
quickly.  "Who have you asked?" Val asked Becky.

	"Anybody who wasn't crying," Becky sniffled.

	Rendec, standing off-side, began to wonder if he wasn't going to have
to back off on the four-woman requirement, but it wasn't necessary.  A dark-
haired head popped out of the back of the ambulance, "Are you girls talking
about leaving with these guys?"

	Three pair of wide eyes swung to the hatch.  Nayla stood there,
leaning against the side of the opening.  Zakan grunted, "Move, Woman!" and
sidled past with a tray of injectors.

	Val asked him, "How many women do you have in there?"

	"Just Nayla," Zakan answered.  "Entropy, she fucks like a mink!  How
many do we need?"

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

	Rendec stood before his little group of volunteer socialators,
wondering what the fuck he'd stepped into.  He had two, flat-chested redheads
-- one of which was undoubtedly still flat because she was too young to have
tits, despite her claims otherwise.  Well, Becky was a thinly-veiled charity
thing, as was the brunette, Annuh.  At least SHE had tits -- nice ones, not
huge, but capable of swinging, with puffy nipples.  Overall, she had a nice
shape, padded in the right places.  Too bad about the face, though...
Rendec's eyes swung to the newest addition, this Nayla.  SHE was rounded,
chunky, with a big ass and big, pillowy breasts that sagged on her chest.  Her
hair wasn't brown, it was black, like a Nubian's -- but without the kinky
texture -- and her skin color was this reddish brown...  Rendec had never seen
that color before.  "These three think they know what they're getting into --
do you?"  Nayla nodded.  "Tell me."

	"Um, it's sex, mainly.  Some mothering and support.  More like
multiple relationships than prostitution as we know it."

	Rendec grunted.  "Didn't Dolf get you?"

	Nayla's eyes got round.  "Yes."

	"And what do you think of that?"

	"It wasn't fun.  Dolf's gonna have to be real nice to me if..."

	Rendec blinked.  "You'd consider it?"

	"No fisting."  Nayla shuddered.

	Rendec stepped away a bit and turned to his first sergeant.  "I dunno
-- what do YOU think, Top?"

	Kamicki grunted, pointing at Anna and Becky.  "I know what's up with
them, and overall, I approve.  It's kinda fucking stupid, but if they're
willing to pull their weight...  THAT one," he fingered Val, "I've seen in
action -- she'll do fine."

	"And that one?" Rendec nodded at Nayla.

	"Placid.  Looks like a fertility goddess.  My first guess?  You got a
winner, there."  He waved a hand, "Sprik, come here a sec."  Sprik glanced up,
handed off to Zakan and another medic, and strode over.  "What's the deal with
chunky, there?"

	"Don't look like much, does she, Top?" Sprik replied, "But you'd be
surprised.  It's good stuff.  And she gives you this feeling...  Comfortable,
maybe.  Hard to describe."

	Rendec sighed.  "Pop four BDUs -- I just hired us some socialators."

	"Big Ass is going?" Sprik chuckled.  "I'm gonna be too broke to get
drunk..."

	"She's that good?"  Rendek couldn't see it.

	"Gives head like a vacuum cleaner, and fucks like a mink.  And there's
something about the way that ass moves..."  Sprik obviously wasn't objective.

	Rendec and Kamicki shared a glance.  "Who ELSE fucked her?"

	"Zak got a piece.  Hey Zak!"  He waved the other medic over.
"What'cha think of Big Ass?"

	"Nayla?  Living proof that looks ain't everything, Sir," Zakan
directed the reply at Rendec, realizing the true source of the question.  "As
if the dizzy blonde hadn't ALREADY made THAT case.  That's fine pussy, Sir."

	Rendec shrugged.  "Sprik, pop the BDUs and get a sample from each of
those four.  They want to go, and I want to avoid doing THIS again!"

	"Aye, Sir."  The pair moved off.

	Rendec planted himself before the quartet.  "Okay, these are the
ground rules:  I'm offering Red..."

	"Valerie," Val interrupted.

	"Yeah -- and Nayla -- standard contracts.  Flat rate for individual
crewman or soldier serviced.  That's minimums.  There are standard fee
structures for more advanced stuff that the individual involved will have to
fork over.  Basically, however, you make your own, as long as it isn't
ridiculous.  You're nobody's pets -- I expect you to be thoroughly polygamous
-- but you say who, when and how.  Understood?"  Nods.  "We have contracts --
it'll all be spelled out.  Leegates and Teela will help settle out any
misunderstandings.  You two," Rendec picked up Anna and Becky with his eyes,
"are in training, at half rate until further notice.  Becky, you, in
particular, are limited in the following ways:  No using your pussy to fuck
for a timeframe to be determined by our onboard Medical Officer after he
examines you to see how physically mature you really are.  You're limited to
blowjobs and such.  Anal sex at your discretion after the Medical Officer
clears you.  Aside from that, the other statements I made apply -- the four of
you need to spread yourselves over the ship's complement, keeping the
testosterone level down and maybe licking the occasional itchy pussy.  You get
basic medical and the translation package -- the Medical Officer will give
Annuh a look and make recommendations, but advanced work -- especially
cosmetic -- comes out of your pockets.  You'll find that's fair, I think.
Questions?"

	"We're just going to disappear?" Val asked.

	"No.  We're going to leave a replicated body in your place, simulating
your death, to close off questions.  It'll be open and shut -- as far as
everyone here is concerned, you'll be dead."

	"That'd be convenient..." Val eyed Rendec.

	"You're perfectly free to choose to stay until the hatch closes.  I
don't want you if you don't want to be there." Rendec replied.  Val threw up
her hands, distancing herself from the comment.

	"Anything else?  Don't expect to come back -- you're done here.  For
some of you, that's a good thing, but the others need to think about it."  He
eyed Nayla, but she merely returned the look; life on the reservation had been
insular, joyless -- everybody knew everybody and the selection of available
males had been poor.  After she'd left, she'd been alone a lot, taking up work
as a home health aide while studying for her LPN, a job where she could help,
and be with, others.  Anything that appeared to happen to her would be a
cautionary tale for the old squaws to scare kids with, but she wouldn't be
missing anything.

	"I need to see my girls," Val demanded.  "And I'd like to take Marian
with me."

	"Certainly," Rendec shrugged.  "See the medics first, so we can get to
work on your replacements.  Brok, see to it.  You can't take them, you know."

	"That's a good thing," Val countered.

	Rendec blinked.  "Anything else?  No?  See Top, here, if you think of
anything."  Turning to Kamicki, he murmured, "They're all yours."

	"Gee, thanks.  Brok, get Red -- uh, Valerie -- to the medics, then off
to see her kids.  The rest of you follow along to the medics, and come back to
me," Kamicki directed.

	As the group crossed the inoculations line, a woman hissed, "Sluts!
You're disgusting!"

	Marian's hackles went up.  "So, you didn't get any?"

	The woman, a thick-bodied brunette with saggy breasts, ranted, "Too
much!  That bastard over there -- he used my heiny!"

	She pointed to a trooper, who grinned, "AFTER discovering she couldn't
give a blowjob and was a dead lay!  I should have known by lookin' at her that
she'd have a tight ass, though!"  There was a series of heavy chuckles, and at
least one titter.  "You got an old man?  Gimme his comm code -- I want to mail
him a sympathy note!"

	The others had gone past, but Marian was only along for the ride,
anyway.  "So, let me get this straight -- you were raped, but you think so
little of women who would put themselves between you and the needs of these
men that you'd prefer to be raped again?  Maybe regularly?  Do you have any
girlfriends you'd like to volunteer to get fucked alongside your sorry ass?"

	"They're STILL sluts!"

	The next remark came from an odd corner; Allison Hayes, seated nearby
because she hadn't recovered enough to stand, looked up, "Martha, you're kind
of stupid, aren't you, Dear?  It took me a while to learn to let people go
their own way and not expect them to meet MY expectations, but I DID learn!"

	"You don't know what you're saying!" Martha blustered.

	"Dear, I hope to God those four women keep these men happy for a
loooong time!  But if they don't, I'll be happy to set a bonfire in YOUR yard
for them to home in on for their next landing!" Allison quipped.

	"I'll give ya a landing beacon, Honey!" one of the troops quipped.

	"You can all come to MY house for snacks, after!" Allison added,
watching Martha blanch.

	Marian took up the torch.  "If these men were truly BAD, we'd ALL be
dead!  As it is, nothing is hurt but the pride of a few of us -- which is bad
enough, in some cases.  Some of us, on the other hand, didn't get the memo..."
She eyed Martha.

	"You'd justify this horror?"

	"Horror?  Honey, you ain't seen horror!" a trooper husked, with a
thousand meter stare, "You know what an atrocity is?  An atrocity is where
someone stakes you out on the ground and slits your guts open, then rapes and
kills your kids before your eyes before you go out yourself!  An atrocity is
firebombing a hospital and shooting anyone who tries to get out!  An
atrocity..."

	"Tillek!  Enough!" another trooper snapped.  Turning to the women, he
apologized to a sea of stricken faces, "Sorry, folks.  Tillek's... seen some
shit.  And he prefers to remember, rather than let the psychs wipe it for
him..."

	"Why, in God's name?" came an anonymous voice.

	"It's the last memory he has of the wife and kids..."

	Rhonda Kensington stood there, transfixed.  Early on, Tillek had cut
her from the herd and hauled her slight form, kicking and screaming, some
distance, then shredded the nineteen year old blonde's riding outfit and threw
her on the ground.  She'd fought and kicked and ranted and wailed -- and he'd
fallen atop her, confirming her worst fears.  But then, he'd collected a
handful of her hair and covered her mouth, hissing, "This is it, okay?  I'm
gonna pretend to fuck you -- you can pretend to enjoy it, or you can pretend
it's a horrible rape, but as long as I'm lying here, nobody ELSE is gonna fuck
you!  Understand?"  Surprise had shut Rhonda up; she'd laid there quietly,
with Tillek sprawled atop her, periodically pretending to hump her, for over
an hour.  It took fifteen minutes to get over the worst of the fear and
confusion -- after that, she lay there, clinging to him, but the whole thing
had made little sense.  When he'd let her up a few minutes ago, saying, "Go to
the ambulance and get seen," there had been little gratitude in her -- things
were still too vague and confused...

	Now, however, it all made sense.  And it was hugely sad and left her
with the realization that she'd been incredibly lucky -- and she owed the
trooper gratitude, at the very least.  She stepped out of line and went to
Tillek, taking his hand and murmuring, "Tell me."  She pulled on his hand and
he turned to follow, docile, while everyone stared.

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

	Tesh approached Captain Rendec, "Sir, I think we ought to take care of
the males in place.  Some of them have been dealt as bad a shock as the women
-- maybe worse."

	"Good idea."  Rendec went to comm, "Sprik, we need to do the men in
place.  Some of them won't be up to seeing women -- especially THEIR women..."

	"Oh.  Aye, Sir," Sprik replied, and dispatched PFC Gart to the men's
group.  "Get the little one with Tillek and the people at the food booth,
too!" he admonished.  Gart, pushing two trays balanced on a null-grav buoy,
nodded and waved.

	Rhonda and Tillek sat on a bench, Rhonda holding the trooper's hand.
Tillek wasn't huge, but he had a rangy strength that he'd displayed in their
first encounter; now, however, there was little evidence of it.  "Go on,"
Rhonda encouraged.

	"I was an agronomist.  I was out working when a raiding party hit the
settlement where I lived.  They caught me early -- I was out in the open --
and dragged me back to the house, staking me out in the back yard.  One of 'em
used a knife..."  Tillek absently drew a line across his midsection with his
free hand.  "Then they waited.  Lona came home with the kids...  Dee and Rina
went pretty quickly, but Lona must have done two dozen before some bastard
garroted her to get her to thrash while he came..."  Tears poured.   "I'm --
we're not like them.  We shouldn't have done this, but nobody will be harmed.
Still, I couldn't..."

	"You're right.  You're right."  Rhonda pulled Tillek's face into her
shoulder.  People were watching, troopers and women both.  Rhonda glared at
them and rubbed Tillek's neck.

	The medic strode up.  "Gimme an arm."

	"What is this?"

	"General health-maintenance inoculation," the medic replied.  "It’s
what you were in line for.  Most of you don't need it, but it'll fix a bunch
of things -- it's kind of a peace offering, I guess."

	"Go ahead," Tillek mumbled into her shoulder, "He's telling the
truth."  Rhonda nodded and the injector hissed; Gart moved on.

	Tillek had settled a bit, so...  "Why me?" Rhonda asked.

	"You... look sorta like Lona did when we were going together -- not
the hair, she was brunette -- but a bit in the face and a lot in the body.
She got some hips after Dee, and she kept the bigger breasts after Rina, but
when we were going together..."

	"She'd be proud of you," Rhonda asserted.  "You proved that you're
better than they were."

	Tillek grimaced.  "Yeah..."

	"But you went without, huh?"  Rhonda tried to hold his eyes.

	They slid away.  "I'll wait and get something willing..."

	Rhonda had had sex three times in her life, and none of them had been
particularly good -- but this needed doing...  "I'm willing."

	"No, it's okay."

	"No, I'm willing!" Rhonda announced firmly, holding his chin.  "I know
I'm safe, now, and I owe you for your kindness -- for being you.  Come
here..."  She drew him into a kiss.  Tillek waved his hands around a bit, but
subsided; men don't come equipped to resist a willing woman -- all of their
weapons are offensive, not defensive.

	"What on Earth does she think she's doing?" Martha made a spectacle of
wondering aloud as Rhonda pushed Tillek flat on the bench.

	"You know, Lady, I don't have any fucking idea," a hard-bitten private
replied, "but I'm sure it's got a lot to do with a bunch of fine sentiments
YOU ain't got!"

	Meanwhile, Brok and Sprik got the four socialator candidates
organized, and Marian and Ariel got their generals.  "Gimme the memwipe
protection pill," Brok whispered to Sprik while he was drawing Valerie's
blood.

	"What for?  Cap'n wants 'em blank."

	"This one's watching her kids," Brok pointed out Marian and Val in
order.  "I trust her -- it'll be cool.  And Val will owe you one..."

	Sprik glanced at Val, shrugged, and dialed several selectors on a
dispenser, coming up with a black pill.  "Before the gas, or it'll do her no
good," he cautioned.  Brok nodded.

	Medical procedures complete, Brok waved to the boat.  "Ladies, board
through the forward landing strut -- you'll find it has steps.  We'll be along
in a bit."  He ushered Marian, Ariel, and Valerie back through the line of
women and headed toward the barn with them.

	Other women milled around, finished, obviously without any idea what
to do.  "If you got kids, why don't you go see 'em?" Brok called over his
shoulder.  Several drifted behind the group; others watched the other three
women board the boat with a mix of expressions, or, with similarly mixed
feelings, watched Rhonda, now rising and settling on Tilllek's erection,
straddling the bench.

	Rhonda had no idea why she had carried things this far; it just seemed
necessary; besides, it was working out...  Rhonda had lost her virginity at a
graduation party where the liquor and the drugs had flowed freely; she'd come
up out of a stupor to find her knees at her shoulders and an unidentified boy
shredding her hymen, roused by the pain.  The whole thing hadn't lasted long
enough to be enjoyable, and besides, she'd discovered an urge to puke that
took precedence...  Despite the fact that they were in college (or maybe
because of it) the other two incidents had been similar; she'd gotten totally
stoned and apparently sent the right signals to an unnamed male, and the next
thing she knew, she was a receptacle.  The third, embarrassingly, had been too
drunk to maintain an erection; he'd rolled off and wandered away, covering his
failure with the announcement that she was a dead lay, which failed to improve
her social life.

	This was different; Rhonda was awake, stone cold sober, and running on
adrenaline.  Furthermore, she was in charge.  Tillek seemed to be eight to ten
years older, and was undoubtedly experienced, but aside from a perfunctory
resistance at the beginning, he'd laid back and let her do whatever was
comfortable for her.  Currently, she was bracing her hands on his shoulders
and riding him from a position straddling the bench.  Straight, sex beat
masturbation; she didn't remember this feeling in any of her previous
encounters, although number three had begun to bring a tingle before he shut
down.  Having a cock in there was nice, and it added a bit to the tingle
building in her clit...

	Tillek swept his eyes over her; some of the worry and pain lines had
left his face.  "Lona used to like to do all the work.  I didn't like it at
first, but I learned to do this..."  He managed to snap his hips at the bottom
end of her stroke, and Rhonda's eyes popped, "Oh!"

	"Like that?"  Tillek actually smiled.

	"Uh huh!"

	"Good!"  Tillek added it to the action.  Rhonda began feeling the
jazzy, sharp tension that presaged an orgasm when she masturbated, but it
overlayed an oily layer of smooth sensation that promised something bigger.
Something about it said that the normal thing, while good enough, was a side
issue...  Tillek reached up and collected her stiff nipples between his
fingers and began working them.  "How's that?"

	"Oh!  Uhhh!"  Rational thought fled; Rhonda's nipples were directly
attached to her clit, and the promised package started ringing the doorbell.
"I'm...  gonna..."  The nuke went off, and the EMP that came with it lost her
nervous system control; Tillek shifted grips, supporting her along her
ribcage, thumbs cupping the underside of her flat breasts, while Rhonda did
this little uncoordinated dance on his erection.  She said nothing; her teeth
were locked and her eyes were... gone... Tillek tried to hold his, but the
sight and the sensations were too much, and he began to pulse seed into her
from his overloaded testicles.

	Top Kamicki, inspecting the state of the inoculations, eyed the
couple.  "Tillek's a little late, ain't he?"

	PSG Idrek nodded.  "Yeah, but it's keeping the troublemakers busy,
watchin' 'em.  Besides, Tillek had one of his attacks and started scaring the
piss out of 'em.  The girl wandered out of line, hauled him off by the hand,
and the next thing you know, they're fucking.  I figure it's therapeutic."

	Kamicki grunted.  "Awright.  That'd be good.  I'm not sure Tillek's
been getting any at all...  She had her general?"

	"Yeah.  Gart got her on the way to do the men."

	"How much longer?"

	"Couple of cents, I imagine.  Civilians always take forever, and some
of these cunts are suspicious, but it's flowing pretty well."  Idrek spat on
the ground.  "You think four's enough?"

	"One is a surprise, given the situation.  The Captain set four as the
minimum number possible, and the two that wanted it worst had their work cut
out for 'em.  Besides, one of 'em likes her dick in carload lots."  He glanced
around.  "I got three -- where's number four?"

	"At the barn with Brok, I imagine.  He wandered out of here with a
harem."

	"Oh?"  Kamicki grinned.

	"Him and that cunt he's been fucking -- not the blonde he tore up, the
one that had sense -- Tenyek and some young thing, and Red."

	"Well, Tenyek don't count -- she's not into dick."  Kamicki chuckled.

	"Too bad, too.  Nice looking piece.  Ever watch her work out?"

	"Yeah."  Many of the troops worked out in the nude or almost so;
Tenyek went the distance.  "No sense getting worked up about it.  Tenyek's
seen dick under poor circumstances; blame it on someone else and shelve it --
she's settled in her ways."

	"Shit."  Well, it happened often enough, and Idrek had had his share
after a successful campaign.

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

	Val was facing the usual heavy weather with her kids.  "Mom, you're
naked," Nikki announced.  Frances, younger, just stared.

	"Yes, Honey..."

	"Aunt Marian is naked, too!"

	Val rolled her eyes.  "Yes...."

	"When are you all going to stop playing with those men so we can
ride?" Frances wanted to know.

	"Soon, I think..." Val started, but...

	"They're having sex, stupid!" Nikki pontificated.

	"Well, okay, when are they..."

	"GIRLS!" Val interrupted.  She suspected that the girls concocted
these jabbering contests just to drive her insane...  "Pay attention, now!
I'm going to take off for a while -- Aunt Marian will be keeping an eye on
you.  I want you to mind Aunt Marian, okay?"

	"Okay," Nikki sulked.

	Frances merely nodded.  Momma was always leaving her with SOMEBODY;
Aunt Marian was better than most.  "Can I take my clothes off, too?"

	Val rolled her eyes, but Brok chuckled.  "Won't matter in the long
run."

	"It'll keep the confusion down if they don't," Marian counseled.  "If
they're the only ones, it'll draw attention to them."

	"No, Honey, this game is for grown-ups." Val related.

	Frances looked indignant.  "I'm grown up -- I'm eight!"

	"Sorry, Honey," Marian stepped in, "you need to be older than Nikki to
play.  Go play in the stalls; I'll be here."

	Nikki favored her mother with an accusatory glance and took off,
Frances following more slowly.  Val shook her head.  "... And the important
shit goes by the wayside again, because they can't focus for six seconds..."

	"They're a chip off the old block," Marian chuckled.

	Brok intervened, "We're out of here.  Take the pill, Woman."  Marian
took it and swallowed it, but her laughing eyes challenged Brok.  He accepted
it, sweeping her in and delivering a kiss.  For a moment, he stood there,
rubbing her back and looking into her eyes, but what do you say?  Do you make
promises you can't keep?  Besides, why would she want to see him again?
Instead, he stepped away and turned toward the door.  "Let's go, Red."

	"Val."

	"Val, then."

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

	"Awright!  Get your asses on the boat!  We're outta here!" Kamicki
roared.  Troops started moving seriously all over the field.  Lothar palmed a
pill he'd collected and passed it to Joy.  "Take that, Ch...  What the fuck IS
your name?"

	"Joy."

	Lothar laughed, finding that ironic.  "I want you to remember Lothar.
But I recommend that you not tell anybody that you do, because no one else
will, and that'll make you uncomfortably popular..."  He swatted her on the
ass.  "You keep an eye out for Lothar; I may come for you again!"  Lothar got
up and strode off, whistling, adjusting his battledress coverall.  Joy watched
him for a moment before rising and going to get her general.

	SFC Idrek, in the boat's command center, eyed the outside of the
interdiction field.  "Hallek, dial up the field to beyond those ground
vehicles.  Dommick, Alegi, Teela, go with Leegates to collect his
whatyamacallit."

	"Right, Sarge."  CPL Dommick collected the others with his eyes, and
they made for the forward port, breasting the tide of inbound troopers.

	"Zakan," Rendec called, "When will the BDUs be done?"

	"A cent or so, Sir," Zakan replied.

	"Roger."

	A woman sidled up to Zakan, "Uh, about the shots..."

	"Yeah?  You'll be fine.  Better than fine."  Zakan eyed her.

	Megan Ellis had diabetes, and her daughter Beth was showing the early
signs.  Megan ALREADY felt better than she had in years; the bots were
programmed for the condition.  "I know -- but my daughter..."

	Zakan snatched up a diagnostic sensor and got Megan's report.  "She
got that, too?"

	"Yeah."

	Zakan switched to comm.  "Cap'n, we didn't do the young ones, and it's
come to my attention that some of them could use it."

	Megan glanced away.  "I'll do... whatever."

	Thirty minutes prior, it might have made a difference; now...  "You've
done enough, I imagine," Zakan replied.

	"We got enough with us?" Rendec queried.

	"Ummm, there's a shitload of 'em, but if we take from the boat..."

	"Execute.  All hands.  I want to be able to lift as soon as the BDUs
are mature."

	"Aye, Sir."  Zakan turned to Sprik.  "We're doing young ones.  I think
we ought to move the ambulance, rather than start a circus.  Where's Gart?"

	"I'm coming," Gart grumbled on com.  "I'll meet you there."

	"Get HQ, willya?  We're gonna need injectors from the boat," Zakan
directed Sprik.  Turning to Megan, he grunted, pointing at a seat along the
bulkhead, "You -- come inside.  Sit there and don't touch anything."  Megan
did so, mute.  Zakan went forward to the pilot compartment; in a moment the
ramp began to rise.

	"Hroosh," the HQ Platoon Sergeant responded to comm.

	"Sarge, the Cap'n's decided to shoot up the kids with generals.  We're
gonna need injectors from the boat.  A little help wouldn't hurt, either, if
we're gonna get off this rock," Sprik related.  "Oh, and we're gonna move the
ambulance closer to that damned building."

	"Awright.  I'll send you the stuff and you can keep the detail,"
Hroosh replied.  "Tesh, pull some more injectors out of the med locker --
we're doin' kids!  Take a couple of bodies and help out -- see if you can get
Tenyek to go."

	"Aye, Sarge!"

	"CC, Black Eight."

	"Black Eight, CC."  Hroosh recognized Idrek.

	"Medics are moving the ambulance to service the kids."

	"Roger."

	"Better make an announcement..."

	"I'll ask the Captain to do it."  Idrek eyed Rendec sidelong; Rendec
rolled his eyes and set up external comm.

	Speakers on the outside of the boat powered up.  "Ladies, by now most
of you are aware that the injections we gave you are beneficial; I've been
asked to extend this to the children, too, and have decided to grant the
request.  The medics will be moving their small craft closer to the
outbuilding where the kids are, so don't be alarmed.  They're gonna open up
shop for a few minutes there and give generals to any kid whose mother wants
it done.  This is totally your option, and it's gonna happen fast and furious,
so make up your minds, quick!  That is all!"

	Zakan had waited until the announcement was over, but immediately
afterward he brought the ambulance to hover and sidled it toward the barn.
Megan sat watching Sprik with fear-filled eyes, but he merely chuckled.
"Don't worry; you're gettin' off..."

	Marian heard the relatively quiet sound of the ambulance's movement;
kids went wild, wanting to see or not see, depending on temperament.  Women,
both those that had straggled in with her and others that hadn't, started
frantically trying to collect their offspring, either to ensure they got
injections or ensure they didn't.  Watching the ambulance settle back to the
ground outside the barn door was a three ring circus for the vast majority of
the kids, though, including Nikki and Frances.  "Cool!" Nikki whooped, "Can we
go see?"

	"Yeah, come on," Marian laughed.  Val had never gotten the hang of
going with the flow; the girls could be redirected to do about anything if you
handled it correctly.  Well, it was her problem, now...

	The next fifteen minutes were absolute chaos; four medics and three
other crewmembers trying to get a hundred and fifty or so children organized
and inoculated with only random assistance from their mothers.  Some were
still nervous, despite the discernable effects on themselves; some were in a
tearing hurry to get the benefit.  Since the kids tended to differ in opinion
from their mothers either way, there was conflict everywhere.  Finally,
however, things got quiet; Sprik nodded Tesh and her team off to the boat
while he was doing the last couple of injections.  "All set here, Cap'n."

	"And the corpsicles?" Rendec prompted.

	Sprik glanced at Zakan, who gave him the thumbs up.  "All set."

	"Drag 'em under the boat; we'll fry 'em a bit from hover with the
ascent engine before going vertical."

	"Aye, Sir."  Sprik took one, Zakan and Gart took two apiece, sliding
the chambers they were in along on null-grav.  Marian saw the operation and,
interested in it, followed; the girls were again playing in the stalls in the
barn.  Sprik, recognizing her, put her to work.  "Help me with this one," he
grunted, hoisting a faux-Val up by the shoulders.

	Marian grabbed the feet.  "Sure looks real," she mumbled doubtfully.

	"It's supposed to."  Sprik switched to comm.  "Is Red around?  Her
girlfriend is worried that the BDU is real..."

	The pair laid faux Val out and went to empty the other chamber, Marian
still eyeing the body doubtfully until Val stuck her head around the side of
the front landing leg and announced, "That's not me, Hon."

	Relief flooded Marian's features; she and Sprik placed the second BDU
while Val, in a ship's coverall, descended the steps.  The two hugged for a
moment, and Marian husked, embarrassed, "Have a good trip..."

	"I will," Val grinned.  "Thanks!  For everything!"  She waved, and
bounced back up the stairs.

	Sprik removed the metal support packs from and set off the small
charges designed to scramble the heads of the BDUs and picked up any obvious
detritus.  Marian was shocked; it was surprisingly messy.  Marian helped with
the recovery of the chambers to the ambulance.  Sprik eyed her, "You're pretty
cool.  Why aren't you going?"

	Marian shrugged.  "I'm a man at a time type.  Brok -- well, he has
possibilities, but I can't be doing thirty or forty others to be with him;
besides, I understand that that's not how it's done.  Still..."

	"I'll tell him his presence was appreciated," Sprik grinned.  "Who
knows?  Maybe we'll be back..."  Chambers stowed, Sprik waved her off.  "We're
outta here!"  Marian nodded and headed for the barn.  Sprik got on comm, "All
set, here!"

	"Release the gas.  Make sure it has memwipe in it," Rendec directed.

	"Aye, Sir."  A dispenser opened in the upper surface of the ambulance,
and six gas grenades arched out over the field, each oriented differently.
The stuff was fast; there were six pops and people started to collapse all
over the little valley.

	Marian saw it coming.  Her last conscious thoughts centered on whether
she would ever re-awaken...

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

	Aboard the boat, a klaxon wailed.  "Everybody into the rests!" the
pilot announced, "I have to stand her on her tail to toast the corpsicles!
Report readiness by compartment!"  Troops climbed into their acceleration
rests, snapping into shock webbing.  Various of them took care of the
civilians, which took more time; as a result, it took more than a cent to get
reports on all sections.  Grumbling, he turned to Rendec, "Ready to lift, Sir
-- finally!"

	Rendec chuckled.  "Socialators.  Recover the I-Field generator."
There was a click and a nod from the weapons officer.  "Launch."  The klaxon
honked and the pilot stood the boat on its forward and centerline thrusters,
pointing the nose at zenith (which wasn't good for the BDUs), then fired the
main engine (which toasted the remains).  By contrast, the ambulance rose
silently on its null-grav until it cleared the bowl of the valley, and
accelerated away to the west.  Both were stealthed before they had moved a
thousand meters.

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

	Two hours passed before anyone happened by, and two more before there
was a serious response from the authorities.  Two hours after that, the FBI
owned the place, as drugged victims began to revive -- and an hour after THAT,
a unit from an agency that no one could name took charge.  "This is as weird
as all hell," FBI Agent Manning related to his superior and the rep from Unit
Six, whatever THAT was...  "The vast majority of the women and some of the men
are showing signs of sexual contact -- but otherwise, there's not a mark on
'em.  We have five victims that got in the way of either something explosive,
or some kind of flamethrower.  And thus far, nobody remembers a fucking
thing!"