Chapter 17

Adam, Todd, Sal, Leo and Kurt had been on Dóchas for a couple of days when Sally of Sarah’s Clan inquired, “What are your plans?”

“Well,” replied Adam, “I think the first thing I need to do is see when I can be scheduled for the genetic treatments. Once I am out of the incubator I can then work with my spouses on a Security team. It would be nice to do something else as well.”

Todd added, “Not speaking for anyone but myself, but I believe we all have pretty much the same idea. When does a group formally become a clan?”

“It is a decision you make as a group. Once a clan forms, you can add new members. Sometimes a new member is added upon meeting them. Almost like love at first sight, which we attribute to instantly making a strong telepathic connection.”

“Like when we first met,” responded Leo.

“Something like that, although the bond can also form slowly, sort of like growing together.”

Briana said, “We are a clan. I think ours formed before Adam when he left at the end of his leave.”

Todd responded, “Well Cathan, Sorcha, Ciar and I feel the same way, but we sometimes feel ... well ... incomplete is the word that fits best.”

“To me that is an indication that your clan will add more spouses,” said Tara. “If I understand you correctly I know what you mean, because we had those feelings at times before Maeve and Aoife expressed a desire to be closer to us.”

“Thanks,” said Abbie of Caoilinn’s Clan.

Adam said, “Once our meeting is over this morning, I am going to see the doctors.”

“Mind if we come?” asked Briana with a smile.

“Mind? Never! Whether you physically accompany me over there or not is dependent on what you need to be doing. From my perspective, our minds are permanently linked together and their entanglement grows all the time.”

“Yes, it does,” replied his spouses.

“Am I right in thinking that our clans have special links with each other,” said Sal.

“Yes,” replied Darcy. “I didn’t notice them at first, but they have grown stronger since you went to Afghanistan.”

Abbie of Caoilinn’s Clan said, “Now I understand; that is what we were evaluating last night.” Her spouses all nodded in agreement as they smiled.

Just then Maeve tapped the table to get everyone’s attention and said, “Good morning.”

“Good morning,” responded everyone.

“We don’t have any announcements at this point. Does anyone else, or are there questions?”

After the meeting Joyce said to Adam, Sal, Todd, Kurt, and Leo, “When you finish in medical you probably should visit the learning center for a skills evaluation. It may help you with choosing what to do besides security stuff.”

“Thanks,” said Brid, “I had forgotten to mention that.” The other ladies nodded.

Adam said to his spouses, “Shall we go.” With that his clan left for the Medical department.

It was three weeks after the charter flight had been declared missing and the searches called off that a group gathered in a city park in Washington. The group consisted of two women and three men, who looked like typical office workers as all were dressed in business suits. The park was unusual in that it was open and noisy but had no buildings overlooking the grounds. As a result, it was seldom used during the day.

Four cloaked bots watched the group gather as their drone recorded the meeting. It was the first time this group had met since the bots began shadowing them. The bots moved close enough to hear the conversation but remained far enough away to avoid inadvertent contact. By taking positions around the group they could clearly hear each of them. While they listened, they also monitored the approaches.

“A very nice location, sir,” said the younger man.

“Yes, there is sufficient noise that long range microphones are ineffective, plus there aren’t any buildings that overlook the park. Even so, remember, no names or titles.”

“What is the status on restoring our supply?” asked the woman from the Senator’s office with an irritated tone.

“A group has been established to begin harvesting in Eastern European countries in the next week or two. There will be no more sluts coming from Afghanistan,” said a tall man that they hadn’t seen before. “Our contact is dead, with a bullet to the back of the head. US Intelligence has everything that was in his office so all of our contacts there are lost. The last transport run was forced to land at a US base in Afghanistan. The pilots were eventually released but the others are in jail as a large quantity of raw heroin was found on the plane. As a result, we have severed ties with anyone he might have had contact. While we could still recruit in that county, the decision has been made shut down all lingering operations in that country.

“On another note, some idiots tried to blow up the MAC flight that brought the TTC unit and those rescued back to the states. If I find out who it was, they will fill an opening we have in the special dungeon. They will suffer for their stupidity.”

“Could the terrorist network have tried it?”

“Yes, but not likely. This was a more scripted than they have shown the ability to handle or create.”

“Any idea who it was?”

“We have some leads, but it will take time. An inside job is a possibility.”

“What about college student recruiting?”

“That source will yield us the required number of new sluts in time for the semi-annual gathering and auction. Due to supply issues their training and conditioning has been accelerated, even so they will not be up to our usual standards. As a result we are anticipating the auction prices to be depressed. The resort is now operating year-round and accepting a limited number of special guests. To fill any auction shortages we will include some of the new Eastern European stock. These will be offered as untrained, which in the past has yielded surprisingly good interest from the S&M clubs and private bidders. In a few cases, the buyers have paid us to train them after modifying them as requested.”

“We may want to consider backing off acquiring college students in favor of the Eastern European source as their disappearance is easier to cover. A check of various databases for students that we know were harvested has found that their data is still accessible. That is a major problem, so either we need to change the way they disappear or find another source. No decision has been made. If you have suggestions, pass them along.”

“Sluts with missing fingers are of no use to us in Western countries.” said the other woman. “None of the customers want to use them, much less buy them. I think your suggestion has considerable merit. It is strange that sluts with no hands are in more demand than those with missing fingers.”

“We know. The mutilation of the hands also seems to be unique to that source. Actually there are several countries where that style of mutilation is used with difficult slaves or wives.”

“Have the five special sluts started their training?” asked the manager from the EOUSA office.

“Yes. We brought two of our college recruiters to the private section of the resort to handle that. They are overseeing their conditioning and video performances. A new drug combination is being used and seems to be effective. By using it, their addiction to sexual pleasure will be achieved without using any of the old techniques. I understand that they are already accepting instructions from their coaches with no hesitation. Their physical changes are progressing nicely with some essentially complete. They’ve been on steady diet of sexual activity for about six weeks. For about the last four weeks they’ve been participating in sex videos. They’ve participated in live shows in front of a few members. I have seen the scripts and trailers for the videos, and the coaches have done a great job preparing them. These will probably be some of the best authentic sex videos on the market.”

“So the master really thinks we will be able to use them as blackmail against those who wish to expose us,” said the woman from the Senator’s office.

“He thinks that blackmailing is the cleanest way to avoid someone else following up their interest in those two events. Once all the laundry is washed and forgotten, well ... accidents do happen.”

“Doesn’t the submissive drug kill their personality? Others I have seen treated with those drugs were little more than a live dildo or breathing mannequin.”

“This treatment regime is different in that the primary drug attenuates the women’s pleasure sensors in the brain, and indirectly the body. Over a short time of continuously elevated arousal, they become focused on sexual pleasure. It is similar to a narcotic addiction, as their addiction progresses, the sexually sensitive areas on their body increase in sensitivity. With those two enhancements, it is but a short step to making sexual pleasure into an obsession. Besides, we need to terminate this investigation as quickly as possible before they stumble onto something else. This is the quickest way to create a bargaining chip. As for the sluts, if the blackmail plan doesn’t work then they can be moved to the Councilor’s private lounge for the final step. This final step should take about two additional weeks. By that point who cares, as I am told it is impossible to undo. Once interest in the women declines there are several future options available. Since they appear to have the appropriate attributes to be breeders, sending them to a farm is one option. Selling them is also an option, but perhaps a very dangerous one. We will definitely make a lot of money from their films, which is likely the only positive in this whole mess.”

“I agree,” said a woman. “I was at the resort the night they did their first performance. It was clever of the two coaches to take them to the show, induce them to perform, then move them into our section of the resort. I enjoyed using several of them during the evening. When they were watching, the coaches fitted the two older ones with the ElectroStim device linked to the shows performers. The bitches’ performance at their table sort of drew attention away from the stage. When they performed later on stage, they did reasonably well for being new untrained sluts. I’ve told the Grand Master that they would that they would be a nice addition to staff at my farm.”

“What kind of activities are they doing besides the films?” asked one of the men.

“Well filming takes place during the day and typically involves all the women. After breakfast they exercise, which includes some sexual stimulation. While the exercises aren’t required, they accentuate the changes their bodies are under going and their addiction to pleasure. While subtle, the benefits are noticeable if you compare their appearance in an early video to a recent one. Several evenings a week, they are available to host a member’s party. All of their entertaining takes place in their suite. Any performance during the party is recorded. The Grand Master has restricted their availability to their suite for now. There was talk of placing them in the lounge as live, bound statues, but that will not take place.”

“I’ll have to make sure I get a chance to attend a party,” said the young man with others nodding in agreement.

“That takes care of one part, what of the other four,” said a woman.

“They will be about a week before the other two are given the choice of cooperating or disappearing. After some interrogation and abuse in the dungeon, the four will become mute and lose their hands. The men will be castrated. As to whether they will keep their bag, it hasn’t been decided. Once the amputations have healed and their body modifications are complete, the two men will be programmed to serve their woman friends as body servant. Other modifications were discussed. The sluts will be conditioned so they are willing to do anything.

“After interrogating the two targets, they will be shown the videos of their wives and daughters performances. They will be shown a portion the alterations to the journalists’ bodies, then the Grand Master will offer them their freedom, provided they drop the investigation. In return for cooperating, they will be allowed to go home with their now sex obsessed women. If they don’t, the two will watch their women complete the final steps of their addiction. This will take place in members lounge. Once the women are addicted, the two targets will be taken to a special dungeon where they will be available for general use, with no restrictions as long as death is slow and painful.”

“The four disappearing could cause some problems.”

“We don’t think so. They don’t have any close family. It will appear that they’ve left on vacation when we pick them up.”

“What could cause us problems are these two families abruptly disappearing,” said a man from EOUSA office. “The ramifications of that are hard to predict. An accident could be a much better choice.”

“I will convey your thoughts to the Master. An accident is still an option. If it comes to that, the recordings will still trash their reputations which should taint any further investigation. Sir,” turning to the man from the EOUSA office, “the Grand Master wants you to take a special role in this. You will receive your instructions when everything is ready.”

“Okay.” The group broke up and went back to their offices. A bot followed the tall unknown man until he entered a secure apartment building. Unfortunately there wasn’t an opportunity to attach a spider to him.

On Dóchas, Shannon, Danny, Muireann, Jason and Evelyn were at their consoles reviewing data when the Intelligence department AI said, “The four we are monitoring in Washington have met with another man in a park.”

The group reviewed the data from the meeting in the park. Some of the comments, in terms of numbers and activity, seemed to match for MacFarland and O’Toole, their families and the journalists. They had the drone again verify Sue, Irene, Kelsey, Karmen and Sam were at the resort. The drone confirmed that the tracking devices the women were wearing showed them to be within the resort complex. Next they queried the decoys at the homes to see if James and Clarence had received e-mails or talked to their families. The decoys told them they received an e-mail about every other day, but they had not talked to them since right after they arrived at the resort. Sue had told James in an e-mail that her new cell phone had quit working, which was why she hadn’t called. The Intelligence departments monitoring showed the e-mails were going through the anonymous account they had set up before leaving.

All the data indicated that James and Clarence’s families were at the resort as planned. The only thing lacking was either a visual or a voice contact with any of the five women.

The comments regarding Afghanistan agreed quite well with what had happened to the bandits and those on the C130. Mention of a new supply of sluts from Europe worried them, as did the comment about them still inducing more college students to work for them. They added a bot and drone to watch the apartment building where the unknown man went after the meeting.

Muireann said, “We need a bot in the resort. It would be better if they go as a pair, perhaps as guests.”

“Let’s discuss this with Command Staff,” said Shannon.

Adam, Todd, Sal, Leo and Kurt had been out of the incubators a week when they started working with their spouses to learn to use the tools available to the Security teams. While they were in the incubators GISS began to get inquiries from former captives and discharged soldiers. Since Briana’s, Cathan’s, Darcy’s, Caoilinn’s and Edana’s Clans knew them, they met with them to go over the details of the work. This was done to ensure that the information they remembered was correct. In a few cases there were family members to be included. Not surprisingly, they all chose to move to Comrie. While one of the five clans remained their primary contact, others assisted them in making arrangements for a long absence. When everything was in place, it was the same clan that interviewed them who went to pick them up.

It wasn’t long after the former captives and soldiers arrived at Comrie when Adam and his friends went to Comrie for a visit. All of them were ecstatic to see them alive and well. Their new appearance was a surprise but everyone commented on how well they looked. A few said that when they heard that their plane had disappeared they had suspected it was a ruse.

While many of the new arrivals intended to join a Security team, they chose to fill other positions as their primary activity. This change was due to the results of their skills evaluation. All of them felt like they had found a new home and family. They felt accepted for who they were.

Adam and Todd were a bit surprised when they realized that they were directing the Security team’s exercises and situation planning. They were concerned about whether they were pushing too hard or were missing something. Their spouses assured them they were doing fine. Still, both sensed that they were overlooking something but couldn’t quite put their finger on it.

Sally and Terry joined them on one of their training exercises. Once it was complete, Sally told the group that they needed to work on their martial arts skills. Several looked puzzled and wondered why, because their tactical suit gave them everything they thought they needed. Both Sally and Terry noticed the expressions and lack of enthusiasm.

“Well it looks like my duty today is as a myth buster!” said Sally. “First myth, your tactical suit is an aid to your actions, not a cover up for your weaknesses. Yes it has a lot of attributes, but so does your body. To be successful, you need to fully meld with the suits capabilities.” Adam, Todd and several other TTC soldiers looked puzzled. They had been showing what they had learned from their TTC training and experiences.

“All of you are taking the easy way out. Verbal communication do not always work. Radios don’t always work. Hand signs don’t always work. All of you are telepathic. Some of you have other psionic abilities. Some are very good in other skills. ALL of you must use ALL of your abilities. This must be done as a team!

“Why martial arts? Because the art, you have partially mastered, encourages you to know yourself. Your strengths. Your weaknesses. We will meet for two to three hours twice a week on our Pacific island at sunrise.”

“Now,” said Terry, “let’s clear up a few other possible issues. You should consider dividing yourselves into smaller sub teams. Each sub team should have a full selection of strengths. I presume everyone has had the genetic treatments.” She paused. “Hmm ... I sense not, although I know you plan to. If you wish to continue in this role, see the medical staff today.”

“Why?” said Sally. She looked around the group making eye contact. “It is critical for your survival. Without access to those additional attributes, you will put yourselves and everyone around you at risk. This is one of the sections where belonging to our species is an absolute must.”

“Why the lecture?” queried Adam, growing a bit irritated.

“Briana, Cass, can you tell him why?”

“I think there are two main reasons,” said Briana. “I’m sad to admit I didn’t see it and believe I should have. First, we have virtually no team bond or mind-link. We have one with our spouses on the team, but none of us have it with the others. Second, if we consider us as two groups each of us is in awe of the other group. Yes former TTC soldiers, we are as much in awe of you as you are of us.”

“Good. The mind-link you form with your Security team members is different to the one you have with your spouses. It does have some of the same elements. Simply put, one key element for you to be successful is that you need to be able to sense what your team members are sensing. You need to see what your team members are seeing. These abilities are only available through the mind-link. Do you now see what I am getting at?” They all nodded their heads.

“What does this do for you? Once you have jelled as a team, we suspect you will discover that each of you is a facet of your team. Being such, any one of you can lead the team as circumstances dictate. By lead, I mean someone always needs to be on point.” Terry smiled. “The Pacific island is not being used very much, so it would be an ideal place for you to do your exercises. Several here have already experienced the island. Adam, Todd, Sal, Leo and Kurt, you should include all of your clans for at least the initial part of the exercises. Your clan mentors would be very happy to be your coaches. Several of them are warriors. Ask them!

“While some of you are undergoing the genetic treatment, the others on your team will be learning new skills. Skills that they can help you learn once you are up and about.”

“We need to go now,” said Sally.

“Sally, Terry,” said Cathan, “thanks. I think all of us needed to hear that. Could Judy and Gail join us after lunch so we can make sure of our physical and telepathic status? I suspect those of us who have received the genetic treatments may be suffering from beginner’s uncertainty on how to use or access the new abilities.”

“Good point,” said Sally as she paused for a moment. “Both will be with you after lunch. Let me know when you want to start Aikido instruction.”

“Yes, Master,” said Adam as he gave Sally a formal bow. Several smiled as they saw him give a traditional acknowledgment.

Sally returned the bow before leaving with Terry. Together they felt that the Security teams would now begin growing toward their potential.

Madeline and Ursula met Adam and Todd as they arrived for lunch. Adam knew something was up by the way they were approaching. “Good, we’ve found you two,” exclaimed Ursula.

“We have had calls and e-mails today from members of the group who came back from Afghanistan with you,” said Madeline. “One call was from Pat O’Brien and Kaelee, they want to come and visit. They suggested that they would like to make it as soon as was convenient. There was a similar message in an e-mail from Kara and Melissa. We have also had calls from Eryn, Laurin and Melanie using the code word for the Afghanistan captives.”

Adam and Todd along with their spouses smiled as they heard the news. “So what’s the problem?” asked Adam baiting them a bit. “How are these different from those who have already come here?”

Madeline glared at him while smiling with her eyes. “None really. You were unavailable before so we thought this time it might be nice to involve you all. You can help us decide on who is their liaison for the transition. Pat O’Brien and Kaelee declined a preview so tentative arrangements have been made to pick them up in three days. They’ve been sent the information on how to prepare for a long absence. For the others, we were thinking of scheduling their pickup for next week. It looks like it will take two trips.”

“I’m hungry,” said Todd. “Let’s work out the details over lunch.” The six clans sat down together after selecting their lunch from the buffet.

Together they decided to ask Nancy and her clan to be the leads in greeting the guests on arrival, as they knew them from before. They would then have Leann’s, Siobhan’s and Maureen’s clans assist with each group, along with some of their own clan members who weren’t with the Security teams. With this approach, they could continue the training exercises on the Pacific Island.

As they were preparing to leave after lunch, Jan walked into the room. “I hope I didn’t miss lunch.”

“What happened? I thought you were right behind me until I got here,” said Madeline.

“I was, then I saw the light blinking on the phone. As soon as I answered one call, another came in.”

“What’s up?” said Ursula with a worried look.