Chapter 29: Giving a Tour

It took a moment for the laughter to die down and then I looked at Barbara. "Yes, you can stay, and we even have a pod you can move into, although you'll probably want to request some remodeling as both of our spares were occupied by sponsors who had no dependent children in the household. I can either show you directly to one of the pods, or we can find the rest of your household first."

"Where are the pods?" Barbara asked.

"The one that was Tasha's is the closest to the crossing, that's the first exit point out of this enclave. The other used to be Eric's and it's along the north passage in the back area near the recreation hall. The passage to the basketball court will be passing between that pod and Tyson's which is next door," I replied.

Barbara seemed to think for a moment and then smiled. "How about you show me around, and once we have gathered my household we can look at the pod near the recreation hall."

Yvette smiled. "Good choice. Meanwhile, I'm thinking party later tonight, so I should go organize the refreshments." Yvette stood to leave; offering her hand to Barbara's to shake. "Welcome again to Ishtar and we'll see you at the party."

Barbara took it with a smile as I struggled to my feet. Janice giggled, but hugged me lovingly once I had my feet under me. "Sorry," she whispered.

I shrugged a little and whispered in her ear. "Just do it again tonight."

Janice and Tina giggled loudly which caused Barbara to look over at us. Terrence had seen the conversation and just shrugged. "Just James' concubines enjoying life," he said as we all moved to leave the command post.

As we made our way out Tamara called out. "I've got it, we'll call today Refugee Day, since it's a safe word and we can celebrate the fact that we welcome others inside our walls. Well, maybe Refugee Day isn't perfect. But we'll get a name about how we are welcoming to others. Perhaps Welcome Day works. But Tif and I better be at the party."

Terrence laughed. "I'm sure we can talk Gina and Louis to trade off some time to cover for you. Don't worry."

The twins smiled and both jumped up to offer him kisses. I could see Tiffany whisper in Terrence's ear, which caused him to blush. Tamara appeared a bit miffed, but then shrugged and turned back to the controls.

We walked out and Terrence immediately headed off to his pod, walking away from us. I could hear Tina giggle, but ignored the incident and turned back to Barbara.

"We have a choice right now. If everything went as planned Robert is probably still at the multi-use room. Robin is likely at the school with Ann, and your children are definitely going to be in the recreation hall. It's the children's favorite gathering place when they aren't in school," I told her.

"Well, I know that Adam will want to see the rabbits," Barbara replied.

Tina giggled. "I'm sure that at least two are in the recreation hall right now. Brittany and Kitty do a lot of caring for them."

Barbara again looked surprised. "But aren't the rabbits in a pod? How can your concubines just walk up and collect a rabbit or two."

Janice giggled. "Respect for us. James' has given us blanket permission to walk in and out of our pods as often as we need to."

Barbara sounded confused. "Why not as often as you want to?"

Meiko gave her faint giggle. "Because if we had a choice, we'd always be in his arms and only leave the pod to be with him."

Barbara looked at Meiko who was holding on to me as we walked. I could see her trying to appraise the situation, but coming to no conclusion when Bethany called out. "Good, you came to the school first."

Barbara looked up, obviously a bit surprised to find that we were just outside the pod, which served as the combination school and nursery. The pod door was open and from inside the sounds of children at play could be heard. Bethany was standing in the doorway and smiled. "Robin is talking to Marilyn about lesson plans for Ann right now. They should be done in a moment. Do you want the tour? Or do you think you need to hear about the lesson plans?"

Barbara seemed surprised. "Well, what about my older children Amanda and Adam."

Bethany just smiled. "Tell me how old they are and we can tell Principal Reggie to get them enrolled."

Barbara paused for just a moment. "Amanda is thirteen and Adam eleven. Who is Principal Reggie?"

Bethany giggled as a cheer rang out and a number of children started to file out of the school, immediately dashing off once they were in the main tunnel. "He's the sponsor who tries to keep everything here in the school under control and official."

Barbara once again looked confused as Marilyn walked up escorting Robin and Ann. Robin saw Barbara and smiled. "I can't believe it. Everyone is so nice. Even all the concubines who are teaching at the school are just nice to me."

Barbara looked over at Bethany who smiled and then bent down to kiss me. "Aww. I think we surprised her, master."

I tried not to laugh as Marilyn giggled. Robin was counting heads and finally sighed. "You said six but I never believed it. Or that they would all be so affectionate. They adore you."

I smiled. "Well, I know Rene teaches here with Reggie. How does she act?"

Robin paused. "You mean the coed who was trying to organize the children to perform a play? She seemed so comfortable despite the outfit she wore."

"Outfit?" Barbara asked.

Just then Rene walked up. The slightly frumpy middle-aged woman I had met back before the medical bay opened had been transformed into a vibrant and extremely sexy college-age coed with an impressive bust. She was in her typical school outfit of artificial grass skirt and bikini bra top. Tina saw the outfit and giggled.

"I see Reggie hasn't moved to another part of the Earth yet. Didn't he say that he'd found a picture of some Asian woman's outfit he liked?" Tina observed.

Rene blushed a little but then giggled girlishly. "Oh god, he wants me in a kimono, but is thinking of having most of the material be transparent. I've seen him testing it on a hologram and it's so sexy. I know he wants to surprise me with it though."

Janice and Bethany laughed as Barbara looked back and forth and Robin smiled. "Kimono? And right now a grass skirt?" Barbara asked. "What is this?"

Just before I could answer Candi and Randi came tumbling down the hall, practicing some flips. They had not been watching for people and I ended up catching Candi's legs in mid-flip, falling backward as her weight came down on my shoulders. The worst part was having her naked pussy mere inches from my face, as the girls were not wearing panties underneath their cheerleader skirts. Tina noticed and with a wicked grin tipped Candi so that her pussy dropped against my lips before she could steady herself and stand up.

I had managed to avoid licking Candi, but her blush told me that she had enjoyed her fall and wished I had been willing. However, Barbara was looking back and forth at the two girls and appearing even more puzzled. "Who?"

The girls giggled and Randi spoke up. "Sorry, usually this area is free for us to tumble and play. Brad is currently visiting the command post and offering to cover for the twins as penance for missing the earlier fun."

"And Brad is?" Barbara asked, although from her expression she already knew.

Candi just beamed. "Oh, he's the man who turned me into a cheerleader fucktoy slut and I love him for it."

Robin gasped. "Such language!"

All of the nearby concubines burst into laughter. "What's wrong with the truth?" Marilyn asked. "We told you that the school pulls no punches and Ann will hear about this. We teach the children and try to concentrate on making them as ready as possible for their CAP test, but not all will score high enough to pass. Therefore, we are including lessons on The Tradition."

"The Tradition?" Barbara asked, having obviously heard the capital letters in the name...

Candi giggled. "None of the concubines you will talk to has any illusions about what we are legally. We are property, owned by our masters and mistresses. But James was right about one thing. We are part of a family despite that status, and he suggested that instead of trying to write special laws we work on establishing a tradition of trust, respect and love. You'll find that with the sad exception of Jack's two concubines, every concubine here knows that they are loved and valued. And we return that by being happily and lustfully becoming the sex slaves of our owners."

Robin looked a bit surprised. "But isn't that degrading? And making you dress like that. Cheerleaders? Hula Girls?" Just as she finished Cleo walked up wearing a set of black underwear and her familiar smile.

She must have heard the final words because she just giggled and said. "Of course you might get masters like my Tyson who prefers his concubines in even less."

Robin was shocked into speechlessness as Ann looked around. "Mommy, why is that woman wearing her underwear like that?" the girl asked.

Cleo knelt down and looked the girl in the eye. "I'm wearing it because the man I belong to loves to see me like this and I want nothing more than to please him. However, you need to study hard, so you can become a sponsor like James or my master Tyson."

Robin appeared to want to glare at Cleo, but said nothing as the woman stood back up to look quizzically at her. "I guess I'm meeting the newcomers," she said.

"Oh my, my manners," I said. "Sorry everyone. This is Barbara, who is a refugee sponsor. Robin here is one of her two concubines and Ann came with Robin. She has a male concubine who should be with Philippe and Nathan right now, and I expect her two children are being entertained in the recreation hall. Barbara, Robin, I guess I should introduce the many concubines here." I started to point at each one. "Candi, and Randi are Brad's cheerleading duo. Cleo here belongs to Tyson. Marilyn is with the Jenkins twins who have a combined household, and Bethany, Janice, Tina and Meiko are my original four concubines."

Barbara was about to say something but visibly paused. She seemed to think of a moment and then spoke. "I remember two others at the entry who were yours and should be with my kids. What is your CAP?"

Bethany started laughing. "We don't know, but the AI threatened to retest him when he tried to get out of taking in Kitty. It was seven point two before everything happened here."

Barbara ended up laughing and the group of concubines started to disperse although my concubines stuck around. Robin found herself looking around as Meiko knelt down to whisper to Ann. "This is overwhelming," Robin said mournfully.

I nodded, but then pointed down the hallway. "In a good way I hope! Meanwhile, let's go find Robert."

I started off and Barbara quickly caught up as my concubines surrounded Robin and began asking her questions. Barbara had a bemused expression on her face as I led her through the tunnels. "This is so different from what is going on outside," she said as we approached the multi-use pod door. "I guess we expected you to all be far less friendly."

The door was open and we could hear a bunch of men shouting inside. I shrugged to Barbara before stepping through. "My main goal was to maintain a level of community. It's helped that we have good people here."

Inside I stopped for a moment and then jumped aside as a soccer ball came flying by to bounce off the wall and continue its journey toward the far wall. Barbara had followed me and gasped as we watched four men chase after the ball as two others stood lonely and alone in front of goals.

"Philippe!" I shouted. "I see you have the indoor soccer goals made up!"

He stopped for a moment and the ball rolled over to David who quietly picked it up. The others stopped and looked over and I could see Robert nervously try to hide behind Nathan.

"Well, we thought it a good way to introduce Robert here to the brotherhood," Philippe replied. "Give him an opportunity to meet the gang and all. It's not often that we can all get together like this."

Barbara was standing quietly but looked over the group. "Are all these?" she asked.

Philippe bowed to her, as did the other male concubines. "The male concubines of Ishtar as your service, mistress. Currently we are enjoying a rare afternoon where none of us are working, but I'm sure one or more of us will be called away soon."

Barbara was looking over the group as Robin released a squirming Ann who ran out and threw her arms around Robert. "Hey Annie. You having a good time?" Robert asked as he gathered her in.

David saw this and smirked. "Look out Philippe, you have competition for best daddy now."

Philippe played at being offended. "I'll have you know my children love me," he said with a laugh.

The other men laughed and came over to stand in a row. Philippe gave Barbara a smile. "Sorry to kidnap your stud, but we wanted to see how he was adjusting. Being a male concubine is a change and we've found that having a support group helps."

Bethany giggled. "Yes, although I still say you need to call it the "Sex Addicted Concubines' Support Group"."

Philippe rose up and stomped over to Bethany. Unfortunately his five-six height meant he was looking up at my senior concubine when he blustered. "I'm not addicted! I just know that I don't get to say no."

"And you don't want to anyways," Tina said with a giggle.

Philippe blushed and backed off. "Yes ... well..."

Barbara was laughing at this point. "Are any of these concubines serious?" she asked.

"Nah," I said as I kissed the cheeks of Bethany and Tina. "But having confident and feisty concubines seems to make it all worthwhile. It's heavenly to look in the eyes of your concubine and realize that she stays with you because she truly wants to."

I received hugs from my concubines for that as Barbara turned back to Philippe. "I'm guessing none of these men belong to you James, but do you think I can be introduced. I'd like to know them for later."

I nodded to Philippe who bowed with a flourish. "Of course we can accommodate the lovely lady. I am Philippe. I, along with Nathan belong to Yvette who you met right as the alarm sounded." Philippe started walking down the line. "We have Michael, who serves Gina and also doubles as one of our medical bay technicians. Jacques who came with Donna and usually is helping with the children. David is Shawna's stud and helps in the medical bay as part of the quick response team that rushes out with the gurney and trauma equipment. Craig here was the twin's track coach and now concentrates on keeping all the children in shape as well as helping in the command post. And Robert here is new and needs a place. We'll find one for him."

Barbara started laughing at how easily Philippe added in Robert. Robert seemed a bit nervous but stepped forward to look at his mistress. "I'm a bit confused," he said. "Are we really staying?"

Barbara smiled hugely. "Yes!" she cried. "I still want to see Amanda and Adam, but the welcome has been wonderful, even if it has Robin blushing."

"I just don't understand it," Robin said. "There is so much joy here. It's not what I expected."

Bethany gave her a hug. "Just don't fight it. If your mistress trusts and respects you, let it become love. You'll find the rewards are great."

Barbara looked at me and I smiled. "Very well. We know the children should still be bowling. And it's on the way to your new home anyways so shall we take a walk."

The men all booed at our leaving so quickly, but came up to shake Robert's hand and promise future contests before heading into the tunnels looking for their mistresses and any possible assignments.

The walk to the recreation hall was through busy tunnels. Yvette had announced a party for later and many concubines were trying to gather up children and get them cleaned up before the party. Once again Robin looked completely perplexed at the smiles on everyone's faces.

The recreation pod door was opened and we could hear the crash of bowling balls knocking pins over, as we got closer. "You weren't lying about bowling?" Robert asked.

"Six lanes of fun," Janice chirped. "Big screen video attached to console games. We have plenty of table space for board games or to set down food and drinks. This is everyone's favorite room. You'll see tonight when it fills for the party."