Chapter 1

"The motion is carried. Lucian Truscott Butler is hereby stripped of membership in Central Baptist Church of Spartanburg, South Carolina, for certain offenses against Christian morality.

"1. He has, by his own admission, willingly tested for CAP ranking at a Confederacy station.

"2. He has also declared his intent of volunteering for service in the Confederacy Space Marines.

"3. He has further indicated that he plans to claim four 'concubines', to keep with him in a state of sinful cohabitation and improper carnal knowledge.

"4. He also stated that he doesn't intend to exclude married or divorced women, or adolescent girls above the awful new age of consent as candidates for concubinage.

"These actions and intentions being sins of both body and mind, Mr. Butler is hereby deemed to have fallen into a state of sin and carnal living, and must be disciplined and separated from Christian fellowship. He is not excommunicated, as this is not a true Christian practice, and members of this church may still converse with him. He may even still attend services, but he is to be denied the benefits of membership, including a vote in all matters of church business.

"Signed herein by:

"Rev. Hiram Anderson, Senior Pastor; Rev. Wilbur Royce, Assistant Pastor; and Roger Claremont, Senior Deacon."

Lucian walked through the church doors with the pompous letter in his hand, but his head was held high with dignity. So, they had kicked him out for accepting cold, hard facts. Well, he understood to some extent. Much of Christian doctrine was hard to reconcile with the new reality, from extra-terrestrials to concubines to some of the craziness that were rumored to happen at pickups.

Even so, he felt the shame and revulsion from his own family as he was kicked out of the church that he had attended all of his life (aside from his four years in the Army). It hurt him deeply, knowing that he was basically disgraced in the eyes of his parents. No matter how flawed they might be, one always wanted the approval of one's folks. His father and mother were good, hard-working, law-abiding citizens. He just didn't see eye-to-eye with them on the Swarm issue.

He hurried back to his studio apartment and made himself some instant coffee. There was no beer in his fridge, as until the Swarm announcement, he was a complete fundamentalist like the rest of his family. Their moral code included abstinence not only from pre-marital and extra-marital sex, but also from alcohol, tobacco, and other substances. Thankfully, they didn't go as far as the Mormons and ban caffeinated drinks. He hadn't even tried drinking in the Army.

Lucian thought about this for a moment and realized that if he was considered a sinner and he had doubts about his faith these days, he might as well quit acting like an evangelical Christian. He would go down to the local bar and try some beer. There was one right there on the same corner as his apartment. He could walk there and not worry about DUIs. He might even meet some women there, including possible concubines.

He finished the coffee, changed clothes, locked up his apartment, and walked to the place, which was actually a cantina. He had never so much as darkened the door of this place before, so he didn't know what to expect from it. He was greeted with the noise of some mariachi music, which didn't bother him at all. Since this was South Carolina, not the Southwest, such things were still new to him.

"Beer, please," Lucian politely asked the bartender, a very laid-back Mexican.

"What brand?" the barkeep replied, a bit amused by what was obviously a novice at this business.

"What do you recommend? I've never drunk beer before," he replied, somewhat nervously.

"Here, try this. It's my favorite," the bartender handed him a local microbrew.

"Thanks," Lucian said, trying not to grimace because the taste of beer was clearly an acquired one.

He kept drinking it anyway, since the point of booze was to give one a buzz, not to appeal to the taste buds. Pretty soon, that effect hit him, making him feel better about himself and his situation. After all, he was now a VERY eligible bachelor. Women in particular would be much nicer to him than they had been in the past. The days of being dismissed by the ladies at work were over.

Of course, he hadn't let it bother him that much until now, since those were not acceptable women at the time. Things would change now. He would have to get more acquainted with his colleagues. Since he was one of only two men who worked at the hospital's billing office, it should be considerably easier.

He ordered a second beer of the same variety and remembered that he wasn't alone at the bar. He caught a thirty-something brunette ogling him, though she turned her head away in embarrassment when she knew that he saw her. When he walked up to her stool, he realized that it was Violet. She blushed now, well aware of who he was and the fact that he had recognized her.

"What a small world! How are things going with you, Violet?" Lucian made small talk, hoping to help both of them relax. He was about to hit on a co-worker, after all.

"To be honest, they're not so well. I'm having trouble with my ex. Custody issues over my daughter. What about you? You don't really talk about your personal life very much, which tends to make people think of you as a monk. You don't live like one, do you? I mean, you're in a bar. Places like these are about drinking and sex, not very monastic pursuits," she recovered a bit of her self-confidence, teasing him playfully.

"Well, it's my turn to be more candid about something. I didn't frequent bars until today, when I was kicked out of my church. Yes, you're looking at someone who most of his life was a fundamental Baptist. Hellfire, brimstone, and the works. Son of a deacon, grandson of a preacher, and everything. Seven generations of Butlers attended my church. We were charter members. I ended that tradition this afternoon, when I was expelled during the business meeting. I guess that you could say that I've lived much like a monk until today. Things are gonna change, though. The worm has turned," Lucian informed her, much to her surprise.

"So you were a real Boy Scout, and now you're ready to cut loose. You're not a virgin, are you?" Violet wondered aloud.

"Yep, afraid so. All of that stuff was a serious no-no. Ten Commandments and all that jazz. 26 years old, and I've just visited a bar for the first time in my life. I think that this is the first time I've hit on a girl, instead of doing the Christian courtship scene. It's quite nerve-wracking, I'll admit. I felt brave enough to do so because you seemed to admire me from a distance until I noticed. Well, that and the beer is helping me unwind," he grinned.

"So you find me attractive enough to hit on me, huh? I'm older than you. Doesn't that bother you?" she started worrying again.

"Not in the least. You must be about thirty to thirty-five, tops. You're a pretty, friendly, cheerful woman. I'll go ahead and say something that wouldn't have passed my lips this morning. You're sexy. You've always been nicer to me than some of the other women at work, too. They've been distant, though I confess I have been, too, at times," Lucian reassured his colleague as he emptied his bottle.

"Okay, but I have baggage, too. A kid, custody issues with her father, an occasional wild streak, things that might be an adjustment for a man with such a strict raisin'. Besides, what exactly are you after, if I might be so bold as to ask? Do you want a one-night stand? I'm game for that, but it would have to be on a night like tonight, when Tricia is with her dad. I've had such a dry spell that I'm definitely here to get laid.

"Do you want a fling or a relationship? I'd be willing to consider that as well. There would just have to be issues to work out, such as the whole Swarm thing. That issue tends to break people up with their significant others," Violet explored the possible directions that this flirtation could lead them.

"I'm glad that you brought up the Swarm. I'm not just here to drown my sorrows or chase a skirt. Do you know why I was stripped of membership in my church?" he posed the question, giving her a chance to find out his real intentions.

"I take it that it had something to do with the Swarm. Your old church presumably disapproves of the sponsor-concubine relationship. I would have to disagree, since a good sponsor is my ticket to a new life on another world. I'm not exactly cut out to be a volunteer, as you might have known. Aggression is not in my nature," she guessed as she drank the rest of her draft beer.

"I thought so. Well, today is your lucky day, Violet," he told her, leaning closer to whisper, "I'm a sponsor. I have a 7.8."

Her face changed instantly to one of absolute resolve. It was the most assertive that he had ever seen her be.

"Excuse me. Do you mind if I go to the ladies' room for a second? I have to do something, really quick," Violet suddenly asked him.

"Of course, go ahead," he grinned, not sure of her exact plan, but confident that it had a connection to the news that he just gave her. Until then, he sipped a third micro beer, killing time.

She returned with a very familiar, raven-haired woman of about the same age, notorious for her sour facial expressions. Of course, Miranda had her charms as well, such as large breasts, long jet-black curls, and overt sexual aggression. Her marital status may have prevented her from dating colleagues, but Lucian wasn't certain of that. He wouldn't have been surprised if the only thing keeping her faithful at work was the dearth of men. Anything might be going on outside of work, naturally.

"Miranda, I think that you know this guy. Lucian, what do you think of a two-for-one special? Miranda's husband got picked up yesterday and his sponsor took their son with her. She's rather lonely and eager, I believe. Whatever her faults, she also comes with a bonus: she's pregnant. You also know her reputation at work. Not all of it is bad in this context," Violet commented.

"Yes, I flirt with men, but not at work. Clifford is gay and I thought that Lucian was, too, until just a few minutes ago. I only cheated twice, both times while drunk and with patrons of this bar. I'm not the office slut, you know," she bristled at what she thought was her friend's innuendo.

"That's not what I meant, sugar. You're just known for your enjoyment of liquor and male company. Don't tell me that you haven't imagined sex with Lucian, either. We've talked about this before, if you'll recall. Both of us agreed that he's hot, if mysterious. Apparently, he likes me. Maybe he'll like you, too. Well, Lucian? Penny for your thoughts," Violet hugged her friend, looking rather cozy with her.

"Okay, I admit that I'm interested. However, you know what that means, both of you. I want to hear you say that you understand exactly what it means to be concubines," Lucian stipulated.

"Sure. We've seen the show. We'd be sex slaves. You'd be the master and we would be kept women. We would have to submit to anything that you want from us. For the record, now that it is out in the open, I am willing to sign up for it. So is Violet, of course. It was her idea to drag me out of the stall and bring me to you, after all," Miranda declared.

"Well, as long as you know what you're getting into, and still agree to it, we can move on to the next phase. Violet, you told me that you're free tonight. Miranda clearly is as well, though I'll have to be careful not to hurt her unborn child. I think that tonight we should go for a test-drive at my place. It's virtually next-door to here, and Miranda here won't have to play designated driver, though she still won't be able to drink," Lucian offered.

"Okay, honey, let's pay up and crash at your place," Violet winked at her new sponsor, who stopped her short of actually covering her own drinks.

"Here, this should cover her tab as well as mine. She's with me now," he told the bartender, who gave the trio a knowing grin.

Miranda rushed to follow Lucian and Violet out of the front door, determined to stay with her girlfriend and their new man. They arrived at his apartment after a brisk walk and he quickly let them inside his Spartan residence. Not waiting for orders, Miranda reverted to form, stripping to her birthday suit in anticipation of a roll in the hay.

Violet, for her part, put her arms around Lucian's waist and French-kissed him. She felt his hands move to her butt and slide into her panties, so she unzipped her tight jeans and dropped them to her ankles. Seeing a potential problem, Miranda went to her knees and removed her girlfriend's shoes and socks. Unable to resist, she found her hands wandering up the back of Violet's calves and thighs. This gave her friend chills of excitement, which only heightened when Miranda assisted Lucian with her panties.

Before anyone quite expected it, the natural course of events became a chain reaction. Miranda's tongue settled between Violet's ass-cheeks, while her fingers joined Lucian's inside her pussy. They played with her cunt for what seemed a year, penetrating her folds with their digits. Responding instinctively, Violet rid herself of her top and bra, releasing her small, but perky breasts. Miranda stood up behind her and cupped her best friend's tits, manipulating her nipples because she recalled Violet saying that they were sensitive and easily led to arousal.

Turning Violet 180 degrees, Lucian parted her thighs and used his fingers as well as Miranda's to guide his own cock inside her pussy. In seconds, he was feverishly engaged in fucking her from behind. Miranda refused to be left out of the action, and fondled her sponsor's buns while he lost his virginity to her close friend. She knelt behind him and began sucking his balls as he rammed Violet. The attention was too much now, and he exploded in his new concubine's cunt.

Miranda was too wound up to stop now. She positioned herself directly in front of Lucian and started sucking his cock straight from her best friend's pussy. Violet regained her balance and added her oral services to those of her girlfriend. Their eyes left no doubt that they were eager to gratify their master. Lucian had a lot of built-up sexual desire and he soon recovered his erection.

Within minutes, the triad were on the hardwood floor, with Miranda riding his stiff cock as if her life depended on it (well, actually, it did). Violet wasn't sure what to do, but she finally acted on a whim and fed her pussy to Miranda, letting the other woman lick up Lucian's cum. When it was gone, she planted her cunt on his face and he started to devour her with his lips and tongue. At the same time, Miranda's pussy continued to milk Lucian, her muscles tightening as she approached orgasm at last.

Violet's own climax was imminent now. Despite his lack of experience, Lucian was a natural, and she aided him by the necessary movements across his mouth. Between them, the crescendo of pleasure built up to such an extent that Violet finally came with maximum noise. This freed Lucian to focus on Miranda's needs, and he gestured for Violet to assist him. She interpreted his signals correctly and licked her friend's bottom until it was impossible for her to stop the end result, even if she had wanted to do so.

Her walls now firmly clenched around Lucian's cock, Miranda soon felt the explosive release of his cum inside her. His limp dick now eased out of her pussy, while Violet and she struggled to their feet on wobbly legs. They then helped Lucian stand up, all of them realizing that they had burned a myriad of calories during their wild tryst.

Not being familiar with the reality of sexual congress, let alone a threesome, Lucian was stunned to discover that he was famished. Violet and Miranda also noticed their bellies growling with hunger, and the decision was easy. Since he was no cook and the fridge lacked the necessary ingredients for a proper mid-day meal, they agreed to go out and grab a bite of fast food. It was too early for delivery, after all.

"Well, girls, I think that I have seriously missed out in many ways by living like a monk," Lucian grinned with the satisfaction of one whose frustration has finally ended.

"I've got an idea, if you're cool with it," Violet proffered, having a brainstorm just then.

"Sure, go ahead," he asked, while they finished getting their clothes back on.

"Move in with me. Both of you. We can pool our resources, you can help me raise Tricia, I can cook for all of you, and we can all get laid as often as possible. It will prepare us for when we're picked up and live together permanently. We might as well get started on it. Any issues with landlords can be settled up when we're evacuated. Most importantly, we girls can get used to obeying Lucian's commands. He can be head of the household early," she proposed to her colleagues.

"I think that idea's a winner. I vote for it, although it's really up to Lucian here. He's the boss, as they say," Miranda agreed, looking forward to sharing a bed with these lusty companions.

"I can see absolutely no problem with it at all, so we'll go with that plan. We just have to get busy with the moving. Mind you, much of that process will be selling off possessions. We won't take them with us and they can help pay the expenses of dining out a lot, which we'll have to do to increase our chances of being picked up together," Lucian settled the issue, pleased with Violet's common sense. It was another pleasant surprise.

By now, they reached Marcel's BBQ, a local eatery with a long history of making memories and clogging arteries. Marcel Jr. now ran the place, just like his father before him, and he was already fifty. Marcel III just bided his time, carrying out Papa's instructions with the same no-nonsense attitude as his sharecropper ancestors.

As they ate their chopped beef and pulled pork sandwiches, washing them down with true milkshakes and completing the ensemble with steak fries and horsey sauce, Miranda thought of something else.

"Remember Kylie Douglas? She's on maternity leave with her second baby, about seven months along. Well, her husband and she are looking for a sponsor for themselves as well as for their older daughter Erin. He actually had a vasectomy, but reversed it so as to be a better candidate. He has a 4.4. She has a 4.8. I think that her advantage comes from her higher sex drive, nothing else.

"Anyway, I wonder if they would like to tag along in hopes of being in a pickup at the right time. He's been a bit of a workaholic, but this Confederacy business is waking him up and they have already approached me about swinging as preparation for life in the colonies. Would you be interested in orgies with them and possibly adding Erin as your third concubine? She's not just a looker, but a bright student in her freshman year at community college. She could have gone to a nicer school, but she wanted to spend time with her parents with this whole Swarm stuff going on," she propositioned him.

"Hmm ... they're both hot, mother and daughter alike. Why are her scores only in the 4s, though?" he probed.

"She's very average about most things, including motherhood, has poor technical skills, and has little aggression outside of shopping and sex. Not necessarily in that order, these days. I think that she has stepped out on her old man, which caused him to take the path of least resistance and open up their marriage in hopes of finding a sponsor for them and getting some strange himself. He's human, just got too distracted and needs to re-focus on improving his libido, so as to get out of here.