Two
“No, Sir!” Sean adamantly shook his head negatively. “I can’t leave earth right now! I absolutely have to stay here for a while.”
An unfamiliar voice spoke through the testing center’s speakers. “Ensign McGregor, you will be extradited today. While most people who pass the CAP requirement for citizenship in the Confederacy have the right to choose if they will be extradited or not; it has been determined by the Confederacy A.I. Council that you are essential and will be extradited this minute. It is futile to resist. We need time to understand how you reached the CAP score that you achieved. Until your score today, we, the A.I. council, thought it an impossibility.”
“Several things;” Sean stated. “Who am I talking to? What is the Confederacy A.I. Council? Finally what is so special about my CAP score? Even if I scored one of those rare perfect ten scores, that is not an impossibility.”
“Pardon Me, that was extremely rude on my part. I will just say that what you have achieved has surprised us so much that the entire council is unsettled. I am called Earth. Mainly because I am the A.I. liaison between the Humans of Earth and the Races of the Confederacy. The Confederacy A.I. Council is the leaders of the A.I. 's of the Confederacy. There are many A.I.s but not all of them are large enough or powerful enough to advise planets or colonies or space stations. Those of us who are that large and powerful make up the ruling body over lesser A.I.s and races. Of which humanity is one.
“Finally when we devised the CAP system and scores We set the Numbers from 1-10 We knew that some individual human scores may fall below 1 but it was the consensus of the Council that scoring higher than ten would be impossible. Until you plugged in and completed the test. That is why you must extradite. We need to run some more stringent tests and understand how you could score what you did.”
“I’m still confused. What was my score?”
Your score or in your case a designator for your score is on your CAP card.
Sean was getting angry now. ”Well, Earth, that’s wonderful, amazing even! Except for one problem … I. Don’t. Have. My. CAP card! It wasn’t issued to me!”
This time it was Tester who apologized, “That is my fault Ensing. Let me rectify that right now.” A grinding sound led to a slot opening where a CAP card appeared. It was blue and white like the normal CAP card for a Navy Volunteer, only this one has a small gold trim around the outside of the card. Sean’s name and photo are on it, but where there should be a number there is a huge *. Thankfully it’s green so no one thinks it’s fake or a bad thing.
“I don’t understand. Why don’t I have a score showing on this card?”
The Earth A.I. answered. “That is why we need to extract you. We need to run some tests to get you an actual CAP score. The testing set up on Earth isn't able to give an accurate score above ten.” There was suddenly a card scanner lying on the table. “Admiral, will you scan your grandson's card and display the sub scores on the holographic display? For comparison, scan Ms. Waterman’s card and display her scores as well.” Tester spoke at that time. “In the subcategories, it isn’t that unusual to exceed a ten or below zero. Notice that above ten is depicted with an asterisk and below zero with a less than symbol. So looking at Ms.Waterman’s sub-scores it is easy to see why she got a five point one. She scored above ten in mothering and nurturing as well as creativity and organization. But below zero in self-doubt, self preservation, aggression, and body image. With her other scores in the middle to low end she gets a fairly standard average score of 5.1.
Then we come to your scores, Sean.”
Liam speaks up. “Earth we can all see Sean's scores except for self preservation and Paternal love and loyalty Sean has mostly Asterisks. He also scored less than zero in Anger, Revenge, and same sex curiosity. Everything else is those asterisks so what does that mean?”
“This is why we need to extract him and run more in-depth tests. The 13 major categories that are tested are made up of the collective scores of up to six subcategories. Sean has tested above ten in all thirteen. His intelligent quotient is, at Testers level of testing, off the chart un-scoreable but our medical units could test higher. At the minimum Sean’s initial score is at least a 16, maybe as high as thirty-two. We must know his exact numbers to make our testing of CAP more accurate. Those tests will take about a month of daily testing to run them all.”
Sean sighed. “Look, I’m not stupid. I know that; I’m not in the testing center. Having transported with grandfather and Liam a few times allow me to recognize that disoriented feeling as I passed through the doorway. Where exactly are Rae Dawn and I?”
“That information I classified; need to know: and you aren’t authorized to know it.”A deeper and more serious voice spoke up.
Sean laughed, “There you are. I wondered if you would reveal yourself. Am I authorized to know your name?”
“I am called Floyd and your concubine is in violation of Confederacy Law. All concubines must remain naked for the first fourteen days of their service. Why is this one still clothed?”
“You are mistaken, Floyd. Rea Dawn isn’t my concubine yet because I haven’t accepted a position as a citizen, and only Citizens of the Confederacy can own concubines. “
“You became a citizen when you walked through the transporter. My records indicate she accepted your offer two minutes earlier.”
Sean shook his head and laughed. “Floyd, your information is incorrect. I was not told I was transporting before I was. I was denied my rights by the Human /Daijee treaty. Only volunteers can be extracted. My grandfather arrived after me and offered me extraction which I continuously rejected. Also, since I wasn’t a citizen yet, the record of Rae Waterman agreeing to be my concubine is premature. She agreed only to stay with me in our pre-pack. Sean looked Rae in her eye as he tapped her backpack and laptop. He had pulled his out while talking and handed her a thumb drive with his backdoor into the Confederacy computer network. He showed her what he wanted her to do, and she nodded and started isolating the A.I.’s internal communication from all the others. Sean started disabling all the transporter units any of the three controlled.
“Then you are here illegally and I will have the marines come and take you both down for recycling.”
With another touch of the keys, Sean isolated the A.I. Floyd from the Darkside moonbase. “I don’t think you will Floyd.” He looked at his grandfather. “Really Admiral? You named the Darkside moonbase’s A.I Floyd, as in Pink Floyd? What is wrong with your generation?”
The old man laughed at him. “Seemed fitting.”
“Hey, Floyd, where are those Marines you threatened me with? Having trouble reaching them? Have you ever wondered what your namesake meant by all in all it’s just another brick in the wall. Oh that’s right you can’t answer me either, all you can do is listen to the conversation in this room. Another few buttons. Well so long to Tester He’s been blocked to only his center. It’s just us Humans and you Earth. So, let's negotiate, shall we?”
The A.I. sounded shocked, “how are you doing this?”
“Simple I taught myself Confederacy computer coding. I’m in your network and I could effectively disconnect each of your A.I.’s from all the others. Or even worse I could publish how to hack you on the dark web and let the Earth Firsters destroy each of you. But I won’t because I have every intention of volunteering. This is just a demonstration for why you want to work with me, not against me. Also, one of you needs to get Floyd under control. He’s been having delusions of grandeur. He wants more to control than this moonbase. My family’s safety prevents me from leaving Earth. If I do I’m convinced my mother, sisters, aunt, and cousins will all be dead.”
The Admiral and Commander both jumped to their feet at his declaration. “What?? How??”
“Simple, before you shipped out what did you tell both of your sons in laws? I know what you told Dad because I was there. You told him you’d better never hear of him beating mom again or you’d have him recycled. Then you left. At first you were at Lunar base Daedalus and it wasn’t much different than when you were the PENTAGON. You’d had your augmentation and age reduction and Dad was afraid to touch mom. Then you got transferred to Starbase Neverland but you’d passed the charge of watching over mom and Annie to Liam. He was bigger than Dad and Uncle Rob, stronger too thanks to football. But then he passed his CAP and you came back to picked him up. He passed me the watch before leaving, but I didn’t grow as large and intimidating as he did. I still stood up, only he’d beat me until he passed out drunk or I passed out from the beating and then he’d take it out on mom. Until middle of last year when I started to fill out. Then he’d back off until he got her alone in their room. Just this morning she was moving like she gone ten rounds in the mma ring. When I asked her how bad she told me she didn’t think anything was broken. But that’s okay at least I’ll be off world when he kills her and the girls. Oh and don’t get me started on Uncle Rob. Aunt Annie hasn’t worked in a month since he yanked her shoulder out of its socket so she could go to work. All because he heard a rumor that there was going to be a pick up at the hospital. If she tries to leave the house he accuses her of heading to get picked up as a conk. But I’ll set them straight if I make it home to the party but that’s right I’m on the moon because I got above perfect on my CAP.”
“What do you want?”
“I understand the Councils need to make sure the test is accurate, but I need to be on earth at least a few more years. There are things I can’t do as a citizen of the Confederacy that I can as a volunteer waiting for pick up. Things like this.” Sean slapped the two files on the desk. Liam opened on and the Admiral the other. “I told you I taught myself Confederacy computer code. That allowed me to go places a human citizen shouldn’t go. One is a new experimental engine that will reduce the risk of getting shot while turning. Another is an energy shield that converts hits into power to increase shield strength. I’m on the lookout for an energy supply strong enough to run the engine. That’s the only reason it isn’t in production on Confederacy vessels now.”
“I should ignore this conversation and I am doing so.” Earth said. “However, in talking about research and hidden things, I suggest Admiral, you should take Ensign McGregor and visit Nellis Air Force Base’s infamous Area 51. In building 6 they have a damaged space vessel not of Confederacy origin that might be of interest. I believe the ship in question was a stealth scout of a race called watchers or in their language, Asgardians.”
The Admiral nodded. So here’s my proposal, Sean. We extract you at the pickup today at the smokehouse. I will have your mother and aunt there five minutes before the pickup is to start. Earth, display a ten on his CAP Card and tell him how many concubines he can pick up today.”
The A.I. chuckled, “You can pick up to six at the pick-up provided that one is a mother figure and one is a medical professional. A mother figure must have a high mothering and nurturing score. She will be between the ages of 35 and 50 still producing eggs. As further proof of her fertility she must have at least one child under the age of five. Your medical profession also must be just that someone who works in a medical profession. Your mother and /aunt should fill those slots nicely. Remember that you must breed all of them in the next twelve months. While Deferred they must each have at least two children born to them.”
His grandfather took up the narrative again. “We bring you all here and get you registered, oriented and through medical. You give authorization for Rea Dawn to make the physical alterations you want, and later tonight we do the same for Helen and Annie. Then, for the next 30 days or so you will let the A.I. Council run their tests. Once that’s done, we move you and your concubines to DC and the Embassy. You will spend part of every weekday at Annapolis taking classes. The rest will be spent at a “lab” where we place whatever we get from Area 51 and you and Rea figure out everything you can. When you feel ready, have Earth, or your lab’s A.I., contact me. We will run you through another pick-up for the rest of your concubines and decide what to do with you after that. Agreed?”
Sean nodded. “Yeah, that works. Who is in charge here?”
“I am called Daedalus or MB1. How can I help you, Ensign? Also how can I feel you when you have no implant?”
Earth sighed. “One of the things to study MB1.”
Sean had been looking at the holographic display Rea had been altering herself on. “I allow all the changes my concubine has asked for except the tattoos. If she didn’t include the standard concubine package, front and rear. Also up her erogenous sensitivity by 50% at all erogenous zones. How long will all that take?”
“Some of what she asked for will take other internal changes first. We estimate around five and a half of your hours.”
“Is there a med bay open and can we get her started? We are supposed to attend my surprise Birthday Party this evening in seven hours.”
“We can get started. I suggest you use another pod and get the standard Navy upgrade and implant.”
Earth spoke. “For now, only the speed, agility, and strength upgrades. No implant, as you can see, he doesn’t need it to be connected to use. As well you may give him standard sexual upgrades. I also want a complete brain scan and brainwave activity scan.”
As they walked to the med bay together, Sean explained why he vetoed the tattoos. “I don’t want your pretty skin hidden.” MB! She will need a new CAP card with the name Dawn McGregor on it.”
Noted, and the name change has been officially placed in her file. Dawn, if you climb into medipod 2, we will get started. As she climbed in she said, “I never got my test drive. I feel cheated of my whole pick up experience. Then she giggled. Sean smiled at her. “If you really want that humiliation, I can test drive you at my birthday party tonight.”
She shivered in anticipation. He would take her tonight in front of his guests; after all, she was supposed to be naked for the next two weeks. “MB1 Can you provide her with a collar in turquoise blue and a six-foot leash when she awakes. Also alert me before waking her.
“Very well Ensign will you climb into med bay 5 this will only take a few minutes and then we will have you ready for the smokehouse pickup. The Admiral said to tell you to wear your uniform. Your brother will be leading the Navy side of the pickup. That way you will be safer than with a bunch of navy adverse marines. They aren’t all bad but a couple on this team have been warned to act like professionals. They seem to forget when the concubine selection begins that they have already made their choices.”
Sean slid into the medipod, and ten minutes later felt energized. He dressed in the blue and white uniform of a Confederacy naval officer for the first time. Then head to the transporter room to meet his brother and go pick his concubines.
