Chapter 32: Preparations for Graduation

Cardinal Wong, the Papal Nuncio to the United States, which read in diplomatic speak meant the Ambassador to the United States from the Vatican, looked up in surprise as two men entered his office. After greeting the one he knew, Bishop Jacoby, he was introduced to Father Francisco, and they sat to discuss something that Bishop Jacoby considered extremely important.

"Your Eminence, I believe that this report should be transmitted to Rome without delay, and that it should go by the Diplomatic Pouch, hand delivered if you will." Bishop Jacoby explained.

"This is hardly something I would need to attend to personally." The Cardinal said truthfully.

"I felt that you should be aware Your Eminence."

The Cardinal shrugged and accepted the judgment of his subordinate. He took the leather folder and opened it. He began to read the memorandum inside.

Cardinal Wong read the report twice before he set the pages down. He looked at the Monsignor first. "How much have you told him?"

"Nothing Eminence."

Cardinal Wong nodded. "You have done well James, bringing this to our attention. I thank you, and will forward this report to Rome, by hand delivery only. I wouldn't want Marshall Blackburn's name to be discovered by the NSA who takes great and perverse pleasure in reading our email."

"Yes Your Eminence."

After Father Francisco left Cardinal Wong looked at the report and said. "Praise God if this is true."

"The other documents are supporting information, that I thought you would like to see as well Eminence."

Cardinal Wong looked at them briefly. "Do not tell Father Francisco anything about the Vassal Group. I'm afraid that he would find it difficult to understand how it got started, don't you?"

"Yes Your Eminence."

Cardinal Wong took up a sheet of paper at his desk and sat with a fountain pen.

Cardinal Wong signed his name, and then put all the documents into a large manila envelope. He lit a candle, and dripped wax onto the flap. Then he pressed his signet ring into the wax sealing the envelope closed, and clearly showing that it was done personally by the Papal Nuncio. No one in the legation, or the Church would dare open the envelope, and as it was to be part of the diplomatic pouch carried by the courier then no one but the Cardinal assistant to the Pope himself would open it.

Cardinal Wong handed the envelope to the courier, and said nothing more about the envelope. It would do no one any good to have it known that the Cardinal was more than a little concerned about that bunch of documents.

In San Juan Puerto Rico, Carlos Menendez watched the rough cut video for the second time. He turned to the Maestro and asked. "Where is this Academy they speak of?"

"In The United States. Connecticut as I understand it." Maestro Cortez said.

"Where did you get this video?" Carlos asked next.

"From a friend, in the lifestyle. If you wish to learn how to be the best Maestro, you can spend years with me, or weeks with them."

"Maestro Cortez, you are the best Dominant in San Juan, are you as good as these people are?"

Cortez took a look at the scene currently playing. A woman knelt before her husband, and began to suck his cock. "I am good, the best in all of Puerto Rico." He hesitated. "I believe I'm as good as they are, The advantage they have is the structure which allows them to focus on teaching, only on training their students and their slaves."

Carlos recognized the bluster for what it was. Cortez was good, everyone in the local scene said so. Cortez was not at this level though. "Maestro, I'm certain you can teach me a great many things, and I'm just as certain that your knowledge, when added to theirs, would make a Dominant that others would strive to emulate."

Cortez took the left handed compliment in stride. Menendez was not a man to be trifled with, he had too much money, and too much power for that.

Menendez settled the matter by lifting his cell phone and tapping the buttons to get the call initiated. He spoke quickly when it was answered. "It's Carlos, book me a flight to New York, and find anything you can about the Vassal Academy. Get me a point of contact, I want to meet with someone from the academy right away."

There was a pause and Carlos concluded the conversation. "I will speak to my Father before I go, just book the flight. I want to leave tomorrow."

Carlos hung up the phone, and said. "The bonus scene again please."

Maestro Cortez tapped the computer keyboard and selected the right scene. The interviews with the stars of the movie took about fifteen minutes. In addition to the jocularity that seemed out of place in the film set, but totally human all the same, there were two interesting things.

First, all of the actors sang praises for the Academy for helping to prepare them for the movie.

Second, they all mentioned Master Devon and they called him that. Master Devon.

The grace, and behavior of the actors and actresses were astounding. Carlos shook his head in amazement.

Three hours later, he was speaking to his Father at the family home. He'd already been to his apartment to pack. The conversation was somewhat heated, and Spanish is an excellent language for emotional discussions. "Father, I am not needed at work. All of the memo's from my office are dictated by Uncle Fernando. All of the work I'm assigned is always done by another, and I'm supposed to supervise." He waved a hand. "Bah. You know I have a window seat. I can show up and stare out the window for all I accomplish."

"Carlo, you have to think this through, the police are done with you, yes, but this could blow up in your face. I might not be able to save you next time."

"Papa, I hurt that girl because I had no idea what I was doing. She ended up in hospital for a week because I was a fool. I will not make that mistake again. I will learn, and they are the best."

"Let him go Father." Alejandro said. "If my brother wishes to learn how to be happy at the hands of this academy, then he should go."

"Alejandro, you don't understand either."

"Papa, he's a man. He's grown up in your shadow, and mine. He isn't you, and he isn't me. He isn't Uncle Fernando, and he isn't like Belicia, He must find his own path."

"If you go." Rafael Menendez said growling the threat. "Then your job will not be here when you return."

Before Carlos could respond, Alejandro had leapt to his feet. "I am in charge of Operations, and I decide if he has a job, or not. You made me the Vice President, and the Vice Chairman of the Board Father. You have already given me the stock I need to secure my position. I owe you, but I will not turn him out like that." Alejandro turned to his brother and said. "You have a months leave of absence, if you need more time to chase this dream my Brother, then you need only ask me for it."

The conversation grew more heated and then settled down. Finally it was agreed that Carlos could go, and the job would be here when he got back. The family business would not throw him out, and it would not turn it's back on him. It was an empty threat. The shame in public of the business elite of the world knowing that there was one child who did not work for the family business was worse than the possible reaction of the world that Carlos had gone to the Academy to learn to be a proper Dominant man.

Either way, Carlos would have a family, and a job to return to.

Dominique took the phone call the next afternoon. "Dominique speaking, may I help you?"

"Dominique? I understand you are the President of the Vassal Academy."

"I am. How may I help you?"

"My name is Carlos Mendoza, I'm on a flight from Puerto Rico to New York right now, and I'd like to meet with you as soon as possible to discuss training."

Dominique shrugged. "We can meet tomorrow if you like."

"What are you doing this evening?" Carlos countered.

"I'm having dinner and then I'll be at the Club de Sade. I don't suppose you're a member are you?"

"No, I'm afraid not. Could I meet you there to discuss my desires?"

Pushy bastard. Or desperate, but either way, he's a potential client and that's the reason we're members of the clubs in the first place. "I can meet you there. Tell the doorman you're my guest, they'll be expecting you Mr. Mendoza."

"Thank you Dominique, I'm sorry, I didn't get your last name."

"It's Gavarro but no one uses it." Dominique said.

"Thank you Senora Gavarro, I'll see you tonight."

Dominique set the phone down and then turned to her computer. She started to search the web for rich boys, for he sounded fairly young, from Puerto Rico. She found him almost instantly, and then she started to familiarize herself with his family, their business, and the gossip around him. Some of the pages were in Spanish, which was no challenge for her.

Dominique was Spanish by very distant descent. She had been captured by the Vassal Group at the age of sixteen. They had an order for several young girls of Spanish descent, and she fit the bill. The group held onto her, when they discovered her above average intelligence, and instead turned her into a trainer. She was a very good trainer, and soon became a lead and in time, moved up to supervisory slots.

Dominique did not spend any time, waste any time that is, considering her life to date. She was, where she was, doing what she was doing. How and why she came to be doing it was a waste of energy. If she had not been captured, she would either have spent her life in a sweatshop earning pennies an hour, or been a prostitute for a few dollars a trick. Such is the life of a Peruvian Refugee who is running from the Cartels because her Father didn't want to plant the right crops. Because he resisted the desires of the Cartels, he was murdered, and Dominique and her Mother had started running. Always heading north, always headed towards the United States. Where freedom and opportunity existed.

Dominique's Mother got ill as they crossed Mexico, and she never lived to see the border for the United States.

A Coyote, who smuggled people across the border agreed to take her, if she would agree to work for his friend for two years. She agreed, and joined a group of young women who were headed north. Dominique's last view of freedom had been as she squatted in the back of the truck and watched the door close as they prepared to sneak across the border to the United States.

Dominique considered the information before her, and wondered what his request would be. He had said training, but for whom? Certainly not the woman in the Hospital, and it was doubtful that he would have found another one so soon after this last episode. Not one who would be suitable for training.

Dominique put the considerations on the back burner in her mind, and then moved on to looking over the initial production and distribution reports from Pleasure Products on the Academy line of toys. She compared each line to the estimate from the company, and the one from in house, and found the in house one closer, as expected.

She typed a short report and attached it to the reports, and after encrypting it, sent it to the cut out in the Cayman Islands, and from there it was electronically transmitted to Switzerland, and from there? God alone knew.

Dominique then decided she'd bled enough for the office today, and left for an appointment with her hairdresser. She had to look the part of the Mistress in command didn't she?

Dominique considered calling Devon to discuss this matter concerning Carlos Mendoza, but he was busy at the house. Frankly, he was up to his ears in work. He was overseeing both Ann and Diane, who were both so close to finishing. Then it was possible that Dominique hadn't found the right Carlos Mendoza, there were more than one after all.

Dominique had some doubts about the trainers apprenticeship program when Devon had proposed it. The idea that you must have gone through the training yourself, and conquered it, before you could be a trainer was chiseled in the stone of Dominique's mind. However, from what she'd seen of Ann, and the reports on her performance, it would appear that the program was a success.

At the Academy, dinner was ready as the Trainers sat to discuss the day's activities, and future plans. Devon began, as usual. "OK, Sarah's going to be here next week, and Dominique tells me that Theo should be ready to begin training in another couple weeks."

"We're going to graduate Diane aren't we?" Thomas asked.

"Yes, she's about ready. When do you want to start?"

Thomas hesitated, and Rebecca filled the gap. "Devon, we have another problem with graduation."

"What problem?" Devon asked.

"How do you wear out Crystal?" Andre asked.

Devon blinked and said. "Shit."

"Yeah. We were discussing it and we can't figure out how to do it. We'll kill her before she passed out from the activity." Thomas said.

Devon sighed. "Damn it, I was focused on the next one up, and not considering it as a standard for the others."

"OK, so what do we do about it?" Ann asked.

Devon looked from one to another and said. "OK, let me hear what you all have thought up."

"I have no idea." Andre admitted.

"Beat's the shit out of me." Thomas admitted.

"That's where we're stuck Devon, what can we do to Diane, that would both test her, and show she'd graduated that would also be a good test for the others?" Rebecca admitted.

Devon poked at his food as he considered. His face started to show a scowl and he finally leaned back shaking his head. "I don't know either."

"OK, let's back up." Ann suggested. "The final tests are to wear her out, and make sure her training is so much a part of her that she doesn't give any sign she's not a slave at heart right?"

"Yeah." Thomas said distractedly.

"So test her." Ann said.

"What do you mean?" Devon asked.

"In school, you have final exams right?" Ann looked at them as she asked the obvious. "Test her."

Devon blinked and then glanced at the others before saying. "You mean in each subject?"

"Yes. Ballet with all of us watching, taking notes on things she does well, and mistakes. Massage on you Devon, since you're the Lead, and Oral Arts, stations eleven and twelve for time." Ann said throwing her ideas out there.

"Arousal test against the clock, can she get ready in two minutes?" Andre offered.

"So test her, but to a standard." Devon summarized.

"Objections anyone?" Rebecca asked.

"Ann, I want the four of you to come up with the standards for a fully qualified slave. Let's keep it at a four-sensor probe for cunt training. Let's make that adjustable of course, individual ability should not make it impossible to pass." Devon said.

Ann nodded. "No one but Jeannette, and you all, can come on command yet. So instead of that, can we say, the ability to resist for ten minutes?"

"Keeping them right on the edge, ready to go over, and judge her ability to resist until given permission." Andre said nodding his head. "I like it."

"Instead of a Marathon, a gang bang, all of us, and her as the centerpiece." Thomas offered.

Devon nodded. "We have some good ideas, Ann, you're in charge of coming up with the testing standards, and organizing all of our ideas into a series of tests. Plan on three days of tests, culminating in the new Marathon test."

Ann nodded. "OK." She turned to the others. "Plan on spending some time in discussion gang, we're going to be busy planning our finals for the staff."

After dinner, Devon found Ann waiting for him in his office. "Yes Ann?'

Ann seemed to be searching for the words. Finally she spit it out. "What do I have to do, to be tested, to get qualified."

Devon walked to his cabinet, and poured a drink for himself, and one for Ann. He handed her a Brandy and sat in the other guest chair, closer to her, more informal than the desk would be. He took a sip of the Brandy and then said. "Ann, you realize that there is little more we can teach you, skill wise. Now, it's experience, learning to fully apply what you've learned to date."

"There are lots of things I haven't done yet." Ann pointed out.

Devon shrugged. "You can't ripple, unless you've been training yourself for that."

Ann shook her head. "No, but I can squeeze the Klegal muscle with no problem."

Devon sipped again and said. "Your skills in Oral Arts are more than good enough to teach, same with Ballet. You can give, and receive a Massage without problems. You've got experience with a whip, both ends. You're knowledge of Bondage and the techniques is a little weak, but improving."

Ann grit her teeth. There were times when Devon could be infuriating. Ann knew he did it on purpose. He loved to torment people. He took a perverse and obvious pleasure in the discomfort of others. "Damn it Devon, you know what I'm asking."

"Yes Ann. Anal. As I recall, I said I would allow you to veto it when, or if, we reached that point. So I haven't mentioned it." Devon said with a thin smile. "You don't need it to be considered fully qualified."

"You know, there are times when you are infuriating." Ann said.

Devon smiled. "Joking aside." He shifted and leaned forward, signaling to Ann who knew his gestures, and his mannerisms that he was serious now. "Ann, you have reached the Golden Gate Bridge, It's about time for you to decide."

"Yeah, I know." Ann said with a tension in her voice.

Devon nodded. "If it helps your decision, You will be considered fully qualified without it."

Ann looked at him for a moment. "Mother told me I wasn't allowed to hate something until I'd tried it."

Devon nodded his understanding. Ann felt she was ready to try it, and was asking without asking. He noted her sense of pride that prevented her from coming out and asking for it. If she had a personality flaw, it was this. She was unable to request things for herself easily.

Devon suddenly started to blink rapidly, he'd just had a sudden insight into Ann. He was running his mind over their entire experience. Daily contact, for the entire day sometimes, for more than six months. A frown came over his face as he concentrated hard on the problem. He saw it now, and spent an uncomfortable minute checking his conclusions, and came to the answer, he saw Ann's one flaw more clearly now.

"Devon?" Ann asked. She recognized his mannerisms well now. She knew he was thinking hard, he'd just had something click in his mind, and he was spinning it around and looking at it from every angle.

"Ann, forgive me." Devon started. Then he stopped, and then started again. "I've just realized something important."

"OK, what is that?" Ann asked. "Something about Sarah? Diane?"

"No, you." Devon said softly.

"Me?" Ann asked surprised.

"Yes." Devon said. "I've just realized that you hate to do things for yourself, or I should say, have others do things for you."

"What?"

"Ann. You have no idea what it's like being the center of attention do you?" Devon asked.

"What?" Ann repeated.

Devon smiled. "This will take some time." He closed his eyes and considered. "A few days at least."

"I don't understand." Ann admitted.

"Forgive me Ann, but I've just figured out how to Graduate you, and it's something I think you need." Devon said. "I'll explain more later, please understand, this will take some time to arrange."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Ann asked with an edge of anger to her voice.

"Ann, in six months, you've taken about all of four days off, and on one of those, you were working anyway, you went to New York." Devon explained.

"So? You don't take time off either." Ann said accusingly.

"All my friends are here. All my family is here too." Devon said. "You have friends, and family out there, right out there in the community."

"We have work to do." Ann said simply.

Devon nodded. "I know." He smiled disarmingly. "Please believe me when I say that I admire your dedication, and your determination."

Ann interrupted him. "What the hell does any of this have to do with anal?"

"Nothing, and everything." Devon said. "I have to get to work now Ann, preparing your Graduation. If you'll excuse me." He rose and walked to the desk. He picked up the phone handset and tapped one of the buttons on the phone.

Ann watched him for a moment feeling very confused. She was about to ask, had practically asked Devon to take her ass, and now he was talking in riddles. She frowned and then got up and walked out feeling rejected, and a little hurt. She could hear Devon speaking on the phone. "Dominique, forgive me for interrupting your evening, but I need something from you."

Ann listened, hoping something that would explain this would be forthcoming. Devon spoke again in a moment. "Do you remember the Ambrosia we had twenty years ago?" After a pause he said. "Do you think you could find the Recipe without too much difficulty?"

Ann shook her head and wondered off towards the staff wing. Perhaps Rebecca would have some insight into this. Ambrosia? What the hell is that about.

"Ambrosia?" Rebecca asked in just as much confusion after listening to Ann.