Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 The Librarian

   By deGaffer

   Copyright (c) 2008 by deGaffer

   SUMMARY: A wealthy and politically connected college librarian
manipulates a group of students and encourages them to put together a team
that the Confederacy shouldn't ignore.
UNIVERSE: The Swarm Cycle
WARNING: This story contains material unsuitable for minors and
narrow-minded individuals.  It probably contains sex, violence, and other
socially unacceptable material.  You have been warned!
CONTENT: no-sex ScFi
This story is set in the Swarm Cycle Universe created by Thinking
Horndog.  Get a grip; this is fiction.  Any resemblance between the content
of this story or any of the characters depicted herein with real persons,

places or events is totally coincidental.

   It started with a simple concept that should have been a short story,
but it seems to have morphed into an epic saga of scheming, planning,
deception, and of course, sex.

   I very much appreciate the patience and efforts of Mulligan.  His help
has made this a much better story.  I claim full responsibility for all
errors and omissions.

   Pursuant to the Berne Convention, this work is copyrighted with all
rights reserved by its author unless explicitly indicated.  Reproduction
for profit is forbidden.  Any distribution must include this note and the
author's email address.

   CHAPTER 14: Confrontations

   The library became the group's de facto information center.  Lesa met
with her co-conspirators in one's and two's throughout the day collecting
and disseminating information and suggesting assignments for the next step.

   Jake stopped by mid-morning with a magazine article about Dr.  Grayson
that had a picture of his staff and graduate students.  Lesa started a
dossier on each of names.  The project looked very promising.  She even
risked kissing Jake as he reluctantly left for his next class.

   The kiss didn't go unnoticed.  Gloria Sanchez couldn't believe her eyes.
Right there on the mezzanine in full view of the main floor, the
ultra-conservative Lesa Crews kissed a boy too young to be a student right
on the mouth!  Could he be related to her?  No, there was too much passion,
the kiss lasted too long for him to be her son or a nephew.  This deserved
closer examination.  As she watched the boy leave, she was sure she had
seen him in the library before.

   Jake and Ralph spotted Marvin heading into Starbucks.  Looking at each
other they reached a non-verbal agreement that now was as good a time as
any to brace him.  They were in the line when Marvin stepped back to wait
for his order.

   "Hey, Marvin, if you've got a minute, Ralph and I would like to share
some ideas with you." Jake spoke up when he caught Marvin's attention.

   Marvin's expression clouded, but he nodded assent.  "I'll get us a table
outside where it's less crowded." When his name was called, he collected
his order and stepped outside without looking at either Jake or Ralph.

   As Jake and Ralph approached the table Marvin had staked out, he opened
fire.  "What the hell is going on between you two and my women?  They've
been out all hours and not telling me shit.  I'm sure that librarian bitch
is involved."

   "It sounds like you'll not be interested in the project that 'the
librarian bitch' is proposing." Jake responded with a sigh.  "As far as
your problems with women are concerned, that's most likely something
between you and them, whoever they are."

   "I know that you've been fucking Leslie, needle dick." Marvin glared at
Ralph.  Turning to face Jake he continued, "I can't imagine why either of
them would be interested in a geek like you, but I know you've been
spending a lot of time with them at that librarian's house.  Stealing my
women can get your scrawny asses kicked." Marvin was fuming, shifting his
glare from one to the other.

   "I haven't touched Leslie since you dumped her on me Saturday.  She was
a wreck after you left.  It took me an hour to get her calmed down, cleaned
up, and out of my room.  I thought you might like to know what has her so
upset.  But, if you're going to be a belligerent asshole, I'm out of here."
Ralph stood to leave.  He hesitated when Jake raised his hand.

   "Hang on a second, Ralph.  In the battle of the sexes, Marvin needs all
the help he can get.  It isn't right for us to let him go down in flames by
withholding vital information from him." Jake turned from Ralph, who
remained standing, to look Marvin in the eyes.  "I don't believe that
someone else could lure them away if you weren't doing such a fine job of
driving them off.  Do you realize how much humiliation you've been
subjecting them to?"

   "What are you talking about?  Cunts like them get off on humiliation."
Marvin retorted hotly.  "They're ungrateful bitches, too.  They're both
lousy lays.  One is too loose for me to feel it except in the ass.  The
other is too dry and frigid to be worth the effort."

   "Just stop right there," Jake was clearly disgusted with the
self-centered athlete across the table.  "First of all, I've run into some
'cunts' on the campus, but haven't bothered learning their names.  I know
the names of the women I've seen you with, and NONE of them are 'CUNTS'!"

   Jake took a deep, cleansing breath to calm himself a little.  He held up
his hand to tell Marvin to remain quiet.  "Secondly, I may be an
inexperienced geek, but I know women don't appreciate being talked about,
and they certainly don't like public reminders of their supposed
shortcomings.  When you make it clear you don't like them, why in the Hell
should they hang around?"

   Ralph spoke up, "You're a very smart guy, Marvin.  Use your brain, man.
Step back and take an objective look at your behavior and tell me why any
woman would want to be around you when you treat her as I've seen you treat
Sara, Leslie, or even Sasha.  Lately you've starting giving her the same
disrespectful treatment you've been giving Sara and Leslie for weeks.  I'm
guessing that Sasha finally gave it up to you; so, you don't feel like you
need to be nice to her any longer."

   "That's not true!" Marvin glared at Ralph for the ending barb, but
settled back.  "Okay, maybe you're right about part of what you said.  I've
been thinking about this all week and would really like to blame you,
Ralph. But I was a real ass to you on Saturday and basically gave Leslie to
you.  Maybe I do have issues.  It could be that I'm making my problem their
problem, and I've been punishing them because they know about my ...
deficiencies.  I'm embarrassed; so, I embarrass them.  It's worse when I've
been drinking."

   Ralph sat down and looked at Jake.  Neither of them could believe Marvin
could admit his issues, even to himself.  "I'm no expert, Marvin." Ralph
continued to run with the ball.  "But, I don't believe there are any
performance issues that can't be overcome with technique, if not with
modern chemistry."

   "You know!" Marvin jumped to his feet so fast he knocked over his chair.
"What did those bitches tell you?  I'll break their necks!"

   "I was there, Saturday, remember.  Sit down!  You took the backdoor
while I went through the front.  Don't look at Jake.  Even if he knows,
he'll keep his mouth shut.  Jake's a true gentleman.  You and I fall
pitifully short of that distinction.  Just look at the things you and I
have said at this very table in the last two minutes." Ralph was being
brutal, and brave.  He didn't recall ever being this angry.

   Marvin just blinked.  Both Ralph and he knew that Ralph couldn't last
five seconds against him, but the skinny guy was in his face showing more
backbone that anyone would have thought possible.  Marvin picked up his
chair and sat back down.

   When Marvin was settled at the table, Ralph also calmed himself and
continued in a softer voice, "Our partner in Saturday's fuck fest told me
that she loves having you up her ass.  You're the best she's ever had back
there, but you get too rough with her tits and twat.  When your fingers get
a little better education and skill, and when you start paying more
attention to your fuck-buddy than to yourself, women will be clamoring
around you wanting it up the ass." This oratory was crude even for Ralph.

   "What can I do?" Marvin asked equally quietly.

   "See a doctor," Jake suggested pulling out is PDA and pulled up a
listing.  "Lesa gave me the name of a specialist here in Atlanta." Jake
sent the information to Marvin's phone.  "Then, start repairing self
esteem, both yours and theirs."

   "It's too late for that." Marvin sighed.

   "I don't think it's too late to see a doctor, and it's never too late to
be concerned for others.  Even if it's too late to reestablish a
relationship with your current partners, it's not too late for the next
ones.  There's plenty of fish in the sea if you don't shit in the water. 
You guys are a bad influence," Jake observed reflecting on his own
unaccustomed crudeness.  "I'm out of here," he said as he extended his hand
to Marvin, who accepted the offer of friendship.

   "Thanks, guys," Marvin said as he also shook hands with Ralph.

   Before they separated for their next class, Ralph offered, "Janet tells
me Lesa has some grand scheme to start a specialized colony.  Is there
anything I can do to help?"

   "I'm sure there is," Jake offered, "check with Lesa.  She's coordinating
everyone's efforts.  Toby, Janet and I are submitting thesis proposals that
need a lot of research.  Someone with your Internet skills can certainly
help with that.  We also need help with 'people skills'.  A large group of
Type-A personalities is going to be a powder keg.  You've certainly proven
your talent in that arena today." Jake smiled at his friend has they parted
company.

   At three o'clock, Jake made his way to the library.  His mind was
focused on the problem of a pulse weapon's cycle time.  Non-destructive
pulse weapons required some kind of recharge or cooling-off time between
firing.  Destructive pulse weapons consumed the emitters.  They had to be
physically replaced between firing.  Something on the order of the old
Gatling gun principle made really fast rapid-fire weapons feasible, but
they were bulky, slow to aim, and too small to be effective against fast,
shielded or buried targets.

   Climbing the steps in his mental fog, Jake's autopilot didn't register
the slender figure that stepped into his path and stopped in front of him
until it was too late.  He walked right into Susan Delaney and almost
knocked her off of her feet.  Jake's backpack slipped off his shoulder and
acted as a counterbalance on his left arm as his right arm reflexively
wrapped around the small girl's shoulder.  His right leg had gone between
Susan's as she had tried to sidestep out of his path, and the majority of
her weight was on Jake's thigh.  Fortunately his foot reached the next
tread of the steps before they collided again.

   Susan's books and papers went flying as she grabbed Jake's arm with both
hands and closed her legs on the surprisingly muscular thigh she found
pressing against her crotch.

   "I guess that's one way to sweep a girl off her feet," Susan said in
good humor.  "Am I so tiny that I didn't register through those thick
glasses of yours?"

   "I'm SO sorry," Jake apologized.  "I wasn't watching where I was going.
A hazard attributed to trying to walk and chew gum at the same time when
your skill set doesn't fully support both at the same time."

   Susan added, "Um, if you're finished feeling me up, do you think you can
put me down?"

   "What?  Oh!  Sorry, again." Jake turned bright red.  As he was getting
control of his faculties, he noticed Susan bite her lower lip as she slid
over his knee when he released his grip on her shoulder.  He asked, "Are
you okay?"

   "Yes, I'm just a little shaken," she answered.

   When she was safely on her feet, Jake stepped back and helped her gather
her things.  He looked up after retrieving the items that had tumbled down
the steps behind him.  Susan's heart-shaped butt filled Jake's focus.  She
was bent at the waist, and for a thin girl she appeared to have a smooth
round butt and soft thighs.  Jake scrambled up the steps to help her
organize her scattered possessions.

   He added the items he had retrieved to the stack on the steps just as
Susan picked them up, trapping his hand between her small breasts.  The
startled girl almost dropped the stack again.

   "Oh, I thought you weren't interested in feeling me up any more," She
said with an impish smile as she gripped her books even tighter pressing
Jake's trapped hand tightly against her chest.

   "I'm sorry, I was trying to ... and you ..." Jake couldn't think.  Susan
clearly had nothing on under her thin blouse.  He could feel one of her
nipples harden against the back of his hand, and too much of his blood
supply was being diverted to his southern parts for him to form coherent
sentences.

   Susan laughed again, "You're so easy to embarrass.  With all the hot
babes that hang around you, I should think that you would be immune to a
plain-Jane like me." She shifted her grip on her burden and allowed Jake to
retrieve his hand.

   "You're hardly plain.  You have such fascinating eyes.  I can't tell
what color they are.  They seem to change color as the light shifts." Jake
caught himself drifting again.  "Sorry, I didn't mean to hit on you.  You
were at Lesa's last night, Susan, right?"

   "Well, at least you're polite enough to know my name before reaching for
an after-sex cigarette.  Yes, I'm Susan Delaney, and you're Jake
Caulfield." Susan was enjoying Jake's discomfort too much.  "Now that we're
such intimate friends, can you tell me what was going on at Lesa's house
last night?"

   "I'm not sure there is much I can add to what was said last night.  I
thought Lesa explained things rather clearly." Jake was not being
intentionally evasive.  He really didn't know what Susan was asking.

   "Yeah, I got that part.  I'm talking about all the sexual tension
permeating the group." Susan said in conspiratorial tone.

   Impossibly, Jake's red complexion got brighter, "I really can't talk
about that.  If anyone there wants it known who is with whom, then they
will have to publish it themselves." Now Jake WAS being intentionally
evasive.

   "How about you?  You seem to have the interest of several women,
including Mrs.  Crews!  Care to tell me about how you seem to be collecting
a harem?" She put her hand on his arm to keep him from entering the
library.

   "Part of the structure Lesa is proposing is not just the core research
team, but also their supporting staff and ... domestic partners.  The
Confederacy sanctioned relationship model is polygamy, which sounds great,
if you're a guy, but it can be hard to sustain.  It requires an open
mindset, compatible personalities, and mutual cooperation.  These are all
very difficult attributes to accommodate in a culture with a long history
of monogamy." Jake's mini-lecture was still not telling Susan anything she
wanted to hear.

   "But, why were you and that flake, Janet, getting so much attention? 
I'm dying to know why so many hot women seem to be after your body.  Do you
have a magic wand in your pants?  Are you intimate with any of them, all of
them?  Come on, you can tell me." Susan's true colors were beginning to
show.

   "If you really want to know that, we just might have to go somewhere
more private where you can find out for yourself." Jake could not believe
he was saying such a thing to a real, live college girl he hardly knew.

   "Oho, is the wolf going to shed his sheep's clothing?" Was she really
interested herself?

   "Actually, Janet and I have high CAP scores.  If we're selected for duty
by the Confederacy, we'll be expected to have multiple partners.  I think
Lesa is trying to get everyone who'll be taking part in this grand
adventure to understand the implications of such a household structure."
Jake finally gave Susan an answer, not the level of detail that she wanted,
but it was something she hadn't realized.

   "How high is your score, Jake?" Susan asked straight out.

   "I'll need some kind of commitment for sexual favors before revealing
that bit of information." Jake produced a rakish smile and turned to enter
the library.  He had finally scored a hit on Susan.  He was inside before
she gathered her wits together and followed.

   Susan had recovered from the shocking suggestion that came from this
nerd, but was intrigued.  "What kind of sexual favors?" Susan was fishing
again and attracting attention.

   "I have to complete my homework before meeting friends for a weekend
trip." Jake answered quietly, creating a fictitious outing.  He didn't want
to tell Susan that he was planning to spend the weekend in Lesa's bed. 
"Why don't you think about making me an offer?  Maybe you'd be willing to
give me something like a BJ if I'm between 6.5 and 7.5, a heated session of
slap-and-tickle if 7.5 and 8.5, an all-nighter if 8.5 to 9.5, and
around-the-world if my score is above 9.5.  If your offer interests me,
I'll show you my CAP card and collect; otherwise, you'll just have to get
used to not knowing.  Now, please, I really need to study." Jake kissed the
flustered girl on the forehead, turned her around, and patted her butt to
send her in the direction of the exit.  Jake was shocked at his own
audacity.

   Gloria was watching the shocking display as Jake sent Susan on her way.
She stepped up to the table where a small group of giggling girls had been
entertained by the young man's antics.  She was sure it was the same young
man she saw kissing Lesa.  "Excuse me, do any of you know if that young man
is a student here?"

   "I believe so," one of the seated girls answered.  Another said, "Yes,
he's in my differential equations class."

   Gloria asked, "Do you know his name?"

   The girl shook her head; then said, "Wait, I have a contact name for
that class somewhere.  ... Here, it is." Gloria tried to remain patient
while the girl flipped through the small notebook.  "He'd offered to help
anyone having trouble with the class.  I wrote it down just in case.  Here
it is: Jake Caulfield."

   Gloria thanked the girl and retreated to her desk where she used her
computer to make inquiries about Mr.  Caulfield.  She was not able to find
much with her level of access to the school's records, but she went into
Lesa's office anyway before leaving for the day.  "Tell me about Mr.  Jacob
Caulfield, Mrs.  Crews," Gloria asked formally.

   "What do you want to know, Gloria?" Lesa tried for a less formal
conversation.  "He's a nice young man who's finishing his bachelors in
physics this year.  Are you interested in meeting him?  I can introduce you
if you like."

   "I might want to know why you were checking each other's tonsils on the
mezzanine before I become visible to him." Gloria replied.  "What kind of
hold does he have on you?"

   "Hold?  ... What is your CAP score, Gloria?" Lesa asked, but continued
without waiting for Gloria to answer.  "Mine is six-point-three meaning
I'll likely die on this rock in less than seven years unless someone like
Jake takes an interest in me."

   "Mine is lower than yours," Gloria replied, "much lower.  To be picked
up, you have to be at the right place at the right time, right?  It's not
enough to know someone.  You have to be with them, and convince them to
take you."

   "That does seem to be the situation.  But, what if you could predict
when there would be a pickup?  Would you show up?  What would you be
willing to do?" Lesa looked at the woman she had worked with for almost ten
years.

   "Just how far have you gone with that boy?" Gloria was shocked by her
own mental images.

   "Jake can do anything he wants with me, and I'll do anything he asks."
Lesa held Gloria's eyes in a steady gaze.  "He hasn't challenged me, yet.
He's very considerate, thoughtful, and sweet.  Now that I've gotten to know
him, I'd probably do the Mrs.  Robinson thing even without the prospect of
being rescued."

   "But, why risk trouble by kissing him here?" Gloria was beginning to
understand even as she asked.

   Lesa looked steadily into Gloria's eyes, "Because he wanted me to. 
He'll be devastated if he gets me into trouble, but the poor boy is very
affectionate and demonstrative.  He can't help himself.  I can't help
myself, either.  Had he nodded his head at the banister, I would have
leaned over it and taken pleasure in whatever he wanted to do under my
skirt." Gloria's eyes widened in shock as Lesa spoke frankly.  "If he had
asked, or if I just thought that he wanted me to, I'd lay naked across this
desk or even one of the tables downstairs and scream with pleasure as he
fucked me silly.  I've only known him for a few days, but only my children
are more important to me than Jake."

   "You have me daring to dream, Lesa.  But, why would anyone be interested
in a dried up hag like me.  My metabolism burns calories faster than I can
consume them.  All of the medication I've tried makes me too drowsy to
work. I have droopy sacks on my chest and bones protruding everywhere,"
Gloria complained.

   "You may not be much to look at without your clothes on, but you're
considerate, thoughtful, and sweet.  There are guys out there who don't
worry about the outside if there's a beautiful person on the inside.  This
is especially true if the Darjee medical facilities are as effective as the
stories I've heard.  Their nannites can easily put plastic surgeons out of
business, and I'll bet they can correct your metabolism problems as well."
Lesa thought for a moment before continuing.  "Jake and some of his friends
will be having diner at my house Saturday at eight.  If you decide to come,
you need to be there at seven or give me a call so I know how many to
expect for diner."

   Looking at Gloria, Lesa added, "Think about what you'd be willing to do
for the chance to get off of Earth.  Do you like to fuck?" When Gloria
nodded, Lesa asked, "Do you give head?  Are you any good at it?"

   "I don't know," Gloria answered honestly.  "I have never had a partner
who wasn't drunk.  I think I'd do just about anything to experience sex
with someone who's clean and sober."

   "They don't come more clean and sober than Jake and his associates."
Lesa laughed.  "You really should come expecting to get involved with
someone nice, but you'll be required to share.  If you get into a
relationship, can you get along with stable mates?  How about group sex? 
Would you enjoy a three-way with another woman?  Would you welcome the
attention of two or more men at the same time?"

   Gloria gasped, "Oh, my.  That doesn't sound very romantic, or even
sweet."

   "Actually," Lesa replied, "it can be both romantic and incredibly
sweet."

   "You've done such things!?" Gloria was nearly too breathless to speak.
"I ... I don't know."

   "Come to diner.  Nothing will happen that you don't want to happen.  I
promise!" Lesa sounded very confident and sincere.

   "What should I wear?  Something trashy like the girl I saw Jake with
earlier?" Gloria asked.

   Gloria was surprised and intrigued by Lesa's response, "Absolutely not.
Sluts scare these guys off.  I find them to be incredibly, painfully shy.
Wear something comfortable and tasteful, but be prepared for wild,
abandoned sex.  Give yourself an enema, take a long bubble bath, trim your
bush and get some help with your hair and makeup.  I am going to encourage
someone there to give you a test drive and check all three of your holes
for air tightness.  You can say 'no', but I don't recommend it.  Be in a
frame of mind to relax and enjoy it." Lesa recommended.

   Recovering from her shock, Gloria asked, "Should I shave my pubic hair
off.  I'm really bushy down there."

   "Only if you think it improves your desirability.  Unless you have a
nice, plump pudendum I'd leave the bush.  Shave your legs to the crotch,
and give your bush a clean margin on your abdomen.  You'll want to appear
plush and comfortable down there." Lesa suggested.  She thought about
having her come over earlier so she could help, but didn't know how she
could help Gloria while occupied with Jake being there all weekend.

   Lesa was relieved when Gloria mused, "It sounds like I should spend the
afternoon at the spa.  I've always wanted to do that, but have never had a
good excuse."

   "Please do come.  Now, we have to get out of here so I'm not late
picking up my children at daycare." Lesa stood and escorted Gloria to the
door.