69: Monday Oct 19, 2043, 0900 hours CST: Countdown
"Colby my darling, how was your week of wedded bliss?" asked Zach.
"I'm looking forward to... let's see... 52 weeks in a year... ten times a year for the next 100 years more of this," Colby chuckled. "Yeah, in about 50 years, I'll be like, yeah. All night with a mechanized robot with a baseball bat for a dick? Bring it on! I won't even feel it. I've had my Zach reaming me to the size of a zeppelin hangar for the last 50 years."
"So I'm just preparation for our future robotic overlords?" said Zach.
"If so, I'll be prepared," kidded Colby. "I think I'll be walking funny until next time. Did you know the staff secretary, when she sees me, now greets me with 'Howdy cowpoke'? That's on you, buddy. Oh yeah, and the women around that office have started asking, 'How can I learn to walk like that?' I tell them it's a trade secret because you're all mine. Mine and, you know..." She had a touch of sadness that was gone in an instant. "I can still feel it in my tits from when you got me back-"
"Yeah," recalled Zach, "You started laughing, so I started laughing, but it was serious, and-"
"But after Berte you started making stuff up!" Colby laughed, "THIS is so you don't mess with Texas! THIS is to free the penguins!" They had a laughing fit together. "But tit slapping moratorium. Ha ha. Tit slapping armistice. I'm a reformed tit pacifist."
"Ha ha me too," agreed Zach.
"So I'll make sure all of Trigonometry knows the rule," smirked Colby.
"The rule?"
"Of how to treat you at the dinner table," said Colby.
"I thought that was ours," said Zach.
"It's clear to me you need it, and things like it, to stay healthy," said Colby. "Or not 'need.' More like it's a good way to keep you healthy, keep you all tuned up and purring."
"Purring," said Zach, "got it."
"Well, I'm off," Colby said.
"Um," Zach said. He didn't even know why. Or he did. Colby had put the image of Anming in his mind. She bent over his dining table with a humiliated, reproachful look and hesitantly, obediently exposed herself. There was Colleen slipping down her slacks and panties. She bent over his table with bedroom eyes and a sweet smirk. In his mind, Berte dropped her drawers and bent over with a confused look. She hadn't quite followed Colby's reasoning. She didn't quite know what to expect. Then was the vision of Aanya. She bent over and exposed her firm copper bubble buns, purring, waiting passively for her mock-rape. "Um," he stood up to face her. The hard-on straining in his pants was obvious.
"Zach," Colby said, shaking her head in wonder at his horniness. "Okay," she said. She stepped over to her usual fucking spot at the dining table. She slid her jeans and panties down to her knees. She rested and adjusted her front and head on the table for comfort. "I'm still slick from our morning, uh, however many times. Could you be quick? I have a 10 AM at the base." She was careful for his feelings. "I don't want to rush you, lover. It's just the demands of work."
Zach stepped around the table to behind Colby and unzipped. She was right, she was drenched. There was a little white showing, but mostly, it seemed, her own juice. He pushed into her with delight. She made a sound between intense pleasure and receiving a swift bear hug. She turned her head to the side. She knew he liked to see her face during. He hiked up the back of her blouse and ran his hands up onto her back. He delighted in the look and feel of her dark skin against his pale hands. As he enjoyed pushing and opening her wet tightness, he thought of their next hundred years, as she said. Her need for this time between them.
It stabbed him in the chest suddenly, that he couldn't really provide her with a happily ever after. Her one-on-one was not a permanent home but a time share. His reasoning sacked him again, how he would never provide what she needed. She was perfect, and he was a cheating dirtbag. "Honey," Colby broke in, "Are you crying?"
Tears squeezed helplessly out of Zach's eyes as he rapidly approached his crisis. She was with him. She whimpered and quivered out another orgasm. He felt so at one with her. She was his everything. He wanted to give... everything. His hips smacked and locked against her ass. He lovingly placed a thick dollop of his best deep into her womb. He sighed. More tears. He didn't want to tell the truth. She knew it anyway. "It's just that I love you so much," he said softly, apologetically.
"Honey, this isn't goodbye," Colby scolded. "Call if you need me anytime, even in the middle of the night. We'll go somewhere private and take care of you, okay, no questions asked."
Colby was treating Zach's desire for her like a physical addiction. She wasn't far from wrong, he supposed. She misunderstood his tears, which was just as well. He felt the lie between them though. "I'm sad that I can't give you everything you need."
"Honey, you give me absolutely everything I need," Colby argued a little too stridently. "Do you think I care about those other bitches? Well, they're friends of mine, actually, so I'm glad they get to be satisfied. But you get what I mean? I'm fine. I'm solid. Put it out of your mind, baby. Is this why you were crying yesterday afternoon? Oh, sweetheart!"
Actually, Zach had been crying yesterday afternoon because Berte left town. "It was related," he replied. He had a deeper web of lies wrapped around trying not to hurt Colby. He unpinned her from the dining table. He caught most of their product in his hand as he pulled out of her. He washed his hands in the sink as she arranged herself. She gave him a peck on the cheek. He heard his apartment door open and close. Duty called. She had been more than generous. She was more than generous. She was perfect. And he didn't deserve her. Sooner or later, that fact would catch up to them both. For now, for as long as he could, he resolved to ignore the problem.
-----
Trigonometry decreed that he would spend the next week without a wife. Instead he would focus all out on getting Michaela pregnant. Time was short. It was long past time, in the entire crew's minds, to knock up the Bulgarian. The crew must complete their collection of babies.
To this end, Zach began his week by having lunch with Michaela. "Ayana did all tests possible," she reported. "Called in fertility specialist to look as well. Was convinced it must be man. Ayana showed slides of all your many happy creature. She threw up hands, too." She smiled and added, "Ayana even did orgasm response test. Was thinking something wrong with cervix or muscles during the fuck. But no. Tenting fine. Cervix contracts very strong. Should admit many healthy sperm. So we all throw up hands." She smirked. "At least got couple really good orgasms out of it."
There were a couple of young coeds at the table next to them. In the loud coffee shop, they were furtively glancing at Michaela and muttering back and forth. No doubt Michaela's talk of orgasms had caught their attention.
"So what should we do this week?" asked Zach. "I'm at your service."
"We should be scientific," said Michaela. "Use principles of animal husbandry. Horse breeders know, little details can make big difference. Notable that you look at one of the ones I give choker to, all baby eyes. Us, good friends, but..."
"The best of friends!" Zach assured her, not knowing what she was driving at. "You know I have the utmost respect for you. And Anming, I know she wouldn't be making the progress she is without your help."
"Da, da, da, good friends," Michaela confirmed. "Most men, shitbags, but you, you are example of all best men. Great doctor, every dream of father. Are everything dead mother, bog da i pochiva dushata, would want husband. Okay, we think great, but back to subject, Zach. Baby eyes, but not same between us, good friends but not LOVE. Love is ingredient, too."
Michaela turned to the coeds, who had been a little too obvious in their efforts to overhear. "It has been only fuck friends between me and this stud, but now I want baby." The girls laughed with embarrassment. Michaela continued, "I tell him stud, pump me with huge dick. Like this girls." She indicated Zach's length with her fingertips. More nervous laughter from the coeds. "And woof," said Michaela, clenching her tiny fist to somehow give an indication of his girth. The coeds were blushing. Their eyes were locked on Michaela, definitely not Zach, definitely nothing below the neckline.
Michaela continued with her captive audience. "Make orgasm deep inside me, many deep orgasm, can't describe, then he waits another orgasm and boom!" The two girls jumped slightly. "His hot fluid is everywhere, everywhere inside! So much pressure!" The coeds were blushing deeper. "Repeat two or three times, many orgasm, boom! Fluid everywhere. Repeat. Orgasms. Boom! But after," here Michaela shrugged, "fuck off stud, is time for nap." The girls exploded in peals of laughter. Michaela and Zach joined to a lesser extent.
"So my idea, so my idea," Michaela calmly repeated, bringing her audience to order. "This week we handle stud just like breeding stallion, yes? Stud has many wives." Incredulous looks from the coeds. "Yes, many," she assured them. "Is like when they bring a new girl horse for stallion to fuck. First, stallion, smells his own dear wives, yes, wives get him all ready and loving. Then boom! In strange girl horse. Knocked up success."
"What exactly are you proposing?" Zach asked. The coeds were clearly wondering the same thing.
"Like I said," Michaela told Zach, turning to him. "Gather all possible wives. Make baby googly eyes and chase, get close. I hips up, keep myself on edge of orgasm waiting, and then boom, you enter, we orgasm, hot fluid injection. Then start over. Then I get thick fertile semen from you chasing wives with googly eyes. At last moment, boom, down into my pussy again. Body no time to react, must shoot good fertile stuff into yours truly. Understand?" This all with appropriate hand gestures.
"Well, good luck, heh heh," said one of the coeds. The two backed away from Michaela and scampered out of the coffee shop.
"When do you want to do this?" asked Zach.
"All week," said Michaela.
At Michaela's suggestion, Zach called around to muster what wives he could. Colleen and Colby were quickly onboard. Given it was her esteemed coworker, Anming was mortified. She knew Michaela was a regular sex partner of his. But the thought of being in a sexual situation together with her was embarrassing. She knew it was important to Michaela. Moreover, she drew great pride from being an obedient wife. She would serve.
After those three, there were conflicts. Aanya was off somewhere with Aarav. Berte was with Ben. Michaela thought of Charisse but immediately rejected the notion. Zach felt a pang of sadness at that.
A phone exchange with Khushi revealed new wrinkles. She said, "Zachary, I think I must entertain other lads for now. Ayana is suspicious of our love. She believes we should be romantic only with each other and see others for sex only. I don't believe the same. I feel something special for you, Zach, something we haven't fully been able to explore. I don't think I could make love to a man I didn't have feelings for. I'm not one for casual sex like Ayana." Clearly, Khushi had things to work out with Ayana before she could participate in something like Michaela's scheme.
Zach called Becky. "I'm so sorry Zach," she said. "My dating service has me running around every evening this week. They're really pouring it on. They think it will be easier for me to land a man before I start showing. They are calling me all the time, too, and watching me like a hawk. They are the best service in town, as you know. I can't afford to piss them off. Their rules are very strict about ex-boyfriends. I know you're not really an ex-boyfriend yet, but you know. I still don't want to piss them off. Give me a week to make arrangements, would you, dear?" So, no Becky this week.
"That's everybody," Zach told Michaela.
"Not so fast," said Michaela. "I know about other bitches. You must take break from bitches. All semen HERE," she said, adamantly pointing to her crotch.
Reluctantly, Zach called Beatrice. "Sweetheart," he said, "I've got surprise crazy things going on all week at work. Centrifuges and things. Look it up. Absolutely we'll do it next week, all back to normal. Love you. Tell Eric I'm sorry. Bye." He used the same excuse with Emma. Michaela nodded in satisfaction.
The five of them arrived at Colby's house at dinnertime. Colby began singing and cooking for the group. She had been out of her own kitchen for a week, and it was good to be back. Colleen was assisting, buoyed by Colby's ebullient mood. They were joking and laughing together.
At the table, Michaela and Anming were locked in an incomprehensible discussion about their work. It was something about whether certain properties of space-time could or could not be asymptotic.
Zach had a chance to sit back. He enjoyed being in the room with these four beautiful, powerful, fiery women. Colby was in a rare mood. He dared to hope their week together had something to do with it. She looked animated, fulfilled, more beautiful than he'd ever seen her. And Colleen, so youthful, a decade younger than Colby or himself. Yet she was so commanding, a superhero, archetypal. He watched her joke and laugh casually with the mortals around her. Anming, serene and so perfectly beautiful in the middle of her intellectual blizzard. No this, because that. And Michaela, the tiny fiery redhead. So interesting, so exciting to see her here in Colby's kitchen, knowing what was coming. She was bobbing and weaving with her logic looking for a weakness in Anming's clearly controversial thought.
As the five of them neared the end of the meal, Colleen prompted Colby, "So, the new rule."
"What about it?" asked Colby. "Straightforward."
"Well," said Colleen with a grin, "there's nothing like a demonstration. Would you mind?"
"Well, I'll show you a little, but I've just had a week. So really I must give it to somebody else." She stood up, staggered a little. "Plus, I'm still limping."
Colleen chuckled, "That you are."
"Well, it's simple. You just brace yourself against the table. Zach gets the picture, don't you?" Zach nodded. He noticed that Michaela was watching Colby with a grin. Anming was shielding her eyes from the sight of Colby. She didn't want to admit what they were talking about into her senses. Colby continued, "You can shake your butt a little if you want to be clearer." At this point she gave her ass a delightful little wiggle. "But already-" At this point, Zach stood up and began to move around the table. "But as I said, somebody else- Zach- Zach!" Colby ducked out of the way. A giggling Colby ran out of the kitchen, chased by a laughing Zach. The sound of running and squeaks and shrieks erupted here and there in the house as the chase continued.
Presently, the shrieks and running ended abruptly in the living room. The three women went there to investigate. A panting Zach was laid out on his tummy on the couch. Almost hidden, a panting Colby was trapped underneath him. "Zach, you just had a whole week of me!" To the women, she cried, "You don't know what it was like!"
"Oh it must have been horrible," Colleen chortled.
"Good time to start," said Michaela. There was just enough room left on the long couch for her to sit. She fished a small vibrator out of her purse by the couch.
Anming turned away from the scene, said "dishes" by way of explanation, and left the room. Colleen grinned and went to join her.
Michaela sat down, twisted her vibrator on, and began to play it under her skirt. Zach started fussing with Colby's clothes and his own, half wrestling. Colby was giggling, not really resisting. "Is auspicious," Michaela enthused. "Colby first wife to achieve knock-up." Zach didn't mention it had actually been Berte, but perhaps Michaela meant the first of those assembled.
Colby complained between orgasms, "You're going to cripple me!" She and Michaela were right next to each other on the couch by then. Both of them barked reminders to Zach to transfer as he approached his crisis.
Zach pulled out of Colby. Smoother than any of them expected, he moved over to Michaela. He plunged into her tight, slick womb with barely a break in his rhythm. Michaela began orgasming like a champ as soon as he entered her. In a few strokes, he gushed and squirted with a groan, filling her with his hot semen. "Feels like love semen," Michaela gurgled to a grinning Colby. They high-fived each other with glee.
"Go again?" prompted Michaela.
"He's always ready for a second time," assured Colby, then she groaned, "but for real, girl, I am wrecked."
Michaela spanked Zach on the side of the leg. "Up now! Kitchen," she ordered. "Grab fresh wife." Holding their clothes enough to walk, the couple left for the kitchen.
Anming protested but obeyed. She covered her eyes so she didn't need to see her colleague Michaela as matters unfolded. Zach bent Anming over the dining table. She only needed a brief little kiss and suck of oral before she orgasmed. She was poised, thirsty and wet for more. Despite her protests, she was evidently juicy with thoughts of this night's plans. She whimpered pitifully and orgasmed as Zach entered her and opened her joyfully. Right next to her at the table, Michaela braced herself and prepared with her vibrator. Part of Zach's first dose dripped lazily from her onto the kitchen floor.
Another transfer. Anming was left shaking and whimpering from a lack of that final hot satisfying flood. Instead, Michaela, poised right next to her, got it intensely. She moaned in orgasm and thorough satisfaction as Zach's penis filled her again and shot its straining intense cargo.
Colleen was next to serve as proxy. Through the evening and deep into the night, the wives rotated. Michaela was skilled at teasing herself, but fought sleep to continue the process. Zach began dropping asleep after every orgasm, but the next wife would rouse him and begin her teasing work. They were relentless on Michaela's behalf.
The next day, Zach was dragging. He was hugely grateful he had canceled Beatrice and Emma for the week. It would have been way too much.
The morning had stopped at Colby. As the dinner meal finished, Anming, without prompting, quietly covered her eyes and bent over the table. Michaela rushed to fetch her vibrator. Colleen and Colby dealt with the dishes.
All in all, it was a grueling, harrowing week for all of them, especially Zach. There were very few accidental discharges. Michaela became increasingly confident of success, her tiny womb always flooded and dripping with "love semen" as she termed it.
-----
The following Monday, with great relief, Zach settled into a quiet week living with Anming at his place. As with Colby, Anming began her tenure by sniffing and poking around. These women could get territorial. Zach had been so overburdened the past week, the couple did no more than cuddle the first night. Even through getting up in the morning, Zach let Anming out of bed with no more than a hug.
The next day, Zach kept his date with Beatrice. "I want you to make it up to me," she texted him in the morning.
"I'm at your service," Zach replied.
"I want Eric to watch us," Beatrice texted. "I promise he will only sit quietly in the corner. I want him to be able to see it in person."
"Okay," said Zach.
He arrived at their apartment for the rendezvous. It made better sense to meet at their place. His wives were now living at his place on a regular basis. Beatrice answered the door, and behind her was a blushing Eric. She dragged Eric by the hand into the bedroom. Zach followed. He was going to let this unfold however Beatrice arranged.
They discovered there weren't any chairs in their bedroom. Eric went to fetch a dining room chair. Zach suggested, "He could just sit on the edge of the bed. It's a big bed." Beatrice shook her head no.
Eric returned, set the chair as far away from the bed as possible, and sat. He hadn't said a word to Zach to the point where now it would be weird. So Zach just tried to ignore him. As was their custom, Zach got on the bed with Beatrice fully clothed. Their shoes came off. They started kissing and touching each other.
Beatrice straddled Zach and rubbed his back. "So you had a difficult week?" she asked.
"Yes. Up all night, night after night," Zach said. "This feels wonderful. I think I might fall asleep."
"I want you badly, Zach, but your past week sounds brutal," said Beatrice. "I'm okay if you just want a massage. Eric and I can see you Wednesday."
"No, I think I'm up for something," said Zach. "I got a good sleep last night. The best sleep I've had in a long time, in fact."
"However you are is fine," said Beatrice.
As the massage continued, they lost articles of clothing until they were naked. They switched to Zach massaging Beatrice. She made wonderful moaning noises as he massaged her. Soon he was hard. He nuzzled between her legs with his tongue, lips, and fingers. He suckled her nether lips and tongued her vaginal opening. She grew more excited and pumped her hips. He zeroed in on her urethra and clitoris, licking and sucking them. This sent her crying and moaning through a series of violent orgasms.
Zach couldn't stand to wait any longer. He came up for air and made to penetrate her missionary style. As he did, he glanced over at Eric. Eric was ejaculating neatly into a tissue. He was beet red. His eyes were locked on them as he jerked his hips against the tissue he held. Zach turned away from him and pushed into Beatrice, who bleated with pleasure and difficulty as he filled her.
Zach couldn't last long. Beatrice got in three or four more swift crying orgasms. He locked into her and filled her with a massive load of hot semen. This was the longest he'd gone without ejaculating in years. The hot wet fullness of his ejaculation felt special to her. She vibrated with pleasure and moaned.
Zach wanted to show Eric. He pulled out of Beatrice. A hot white flood of semen followed swiftly after. He saw Eric was jacking furiously again. Zach asked him, "Do you want to clean this up?"
"Uh, sure," stammered Eric. He approached the bed as Zach gave him room. He pressed his face to Beatrice's vulva and eagerly licked and sucked up the semen. Her hands flew down to caress his head as he sucked her. She shuddered and cried out in her most powerful orgasm yet. Having Eric's mouth take over for a while was really ringing her bell.
"Oh yes, cum on your husband's mouth, push out that spunk," Zach said. He figured that part of her excitement was that he was watching them.
At this point, Beatrice was fairly well cleaned up. Eric continued to suck on her clit, and she continued to orgasm spectacularly. Eric was frantically jacking himself as he pleasured her. "You should take a turn," encouraged Zach. "Go ahead and finish in your wife. You're close."
Before Zach had finished his sentence, Eric was on top of Beatrice and excitedly pushing in. Eric thrashed in her with wild sexual abandon, so close to orgasm. She shuddered and cried out lewdly. Just as he groaned and ejaculated into her, she opened her eyes and stared into Zach's eyes. She held Eric close as he jerked. Her eyes remained locked to Zach's, a look of pure excitement. Her eyes fluttered shut as she cried out in orgasm again. It was red hot to see the couple enjoy each other and the situation so thoroughly. Zach was hard as a rock again. "My turn again, okay?" he asked.
From then on, Zach and Eric tag-teamed Beatrice several times. They sucked out each other's cum, giving her more orgasms. Or they splashed into the other's leavings as they saw fit. Semen was splashed all over Beatrice's lower half and the bed. Beatrice was held in a state of near-perpetual orgasm from this. For two hours they had her repeatedly, back and forth. When they were done, she waved them away with a groan and fell dead asleep a moment later. Zach left to return to his apartment as Eric tidied up.
That evening, after dinner, Anming was puzzled that Zach wasn't forcing himself upon her as she might expect. She felt his forehead and clucked at him, believing he must be ill. She fed him cold medicine and tucked him lovingly into bed. After about an hour of sleep, he woke up refreshed, remembered the lube, and startled her with his ardor. After this, she was quietly thankful to see him return to his normal relentless pace.
Amidst Anming's constant pleading that it was dirty and disgusting, Zach had occasion to ask why she pleaded so. Clearly she enjoyed his attentions. "My husband," she answered, "you own my body and soul. I say yes to you with every part of me. Yet my mind retains the desire to point out the difference between normal civilized behavior and what we do. It allows perspective."
Zach still didn't quite get it, but he nodded as if he did. Next he asked, "About the other day, about your other needs. Are you getting them met?"
"Please my husband, let's not discuss this," Anming insisted.
"Are you getting them met, and in a healthy way?" Zach asked again. "As your husband charged with your happiness and well being, I must know these answers in some way."
"I will not speak of this," Anming sighed. Finally, she offered, "Speak to my physician." By this, she meant Ayana.
Ayana was happy to meet with Zach. She had obtained permission from Anming to answer his questions. Ayana began by saying, "Anming is seeing both myself and another therapist while she's here on Earth. On Mars, it will be me for real-time discussions, but rest assured. I'll be backed up by a stellar group of rape trauma professionals."
Ayana continued. "Anming knows the rape was not her fault. She knows this consciously. Emotionally though, feelings of guilt, helplessness, worthlessness, and so on, they persist."
"As I mentioned, we're doing therapy. Her gentle and normal life with you, Zach, is very important to her healing process. Even though the five wives is a little unusual, it appears to be within good comfortable boundaries for her."
"Now getting punished, avoiding any serious or permanent injury of course, is important for the time being. It is a kind of pressure or guilt release valve for her. The punishment greatly reduces her self-hate for a time. This way, she can function happily and comfortably in her relationship with you. For her own mental health, she needs to compartmentalize these two things."
"She was seeing the woman, as you know. Now we have moved her to a much safer alternative of a professional, ah, disciplinarian. Our plan for the mission and Mars is to have Alexis perform this service. Alexis is very capable in this respect and has readily agreed to this."
"I'll have to remember to thank her next time I see her," interjected Zach.
Ayana continued, "That's only for as long as Anming needs. It's our hope that Anming will heal. We expect she will grow the confidence to leave this punishment behind for the most part. There will always be stressful times. Nobody can ever be completely and reliably rid of such things. But trust me. Things will get better and better for Anming."
"Thank you so much, Ayana, for all you're doing for her," said Zach.
-----
On Friday, Zach had just gotten back to his office on base after double penetrating Beatrice with Eric's help. She'd orgasmed particularly poignantly with him in her vagina and Eric in her rectum. As he was relaxing for a moment, he got a call from Khushi. "Are you free this afternoon?" she asked.
"I can make myself free," said Zach. "What's up?"
"I have a hotel room. With Ayana's blessing, I'm spending the night with... well, no matter. I've checked in early, so I have three hours before I'm to meet... my dinner date. Can you visit me?"
"Certainly," said Zach. "I'll be right over." She told him the hotel and the room number.
When Zach arrived at Khushi's hotel room door, she leapt naked into his arms. In short order, she had him stripped down and was excitedly riding him cowgirl style on the couch. She figured they shouldn't use the bed, lest her official date wonder why the bed was all messed up. Her marvelous dark-tipped copper jugs mesmerized him as she rode.
She expertly worked on him for her pleasure. Her orgasms grew more and more intense. She was shaking and holding her breath tightly, turning a dark shade. Both her nipples erupted and squirted a clear salty fluid onto him. Her right tit really let loose, and her left one leaked too, but more weakly. It was colostrum. She had started to lactate.
Khushi interpreted this first squirt of hers as a confirmation of her firm and undying love for Zach. Zach reiterated that he felt the same. However, the last thing he wanted was to cause friction between her and Ayana. Khushi resolved to discuss the matter with Ayana. They continued to make love until Khushi had to start preparing for her dinner date.
-----
Starting Monday November 2, it was Colleen's week. Colleen was overwhelmed with last minute work. They discovered some tasks she could offload to him, and that was good. Aside from this, lots of massages and TLC in the evenings and mornings were in order. Zach had never seen Colleen in such a vulnerable state. He really felt their relationship was getting deeper, that she could share this with him. He loved taking care of her. He resolved to continue taking care of her even after their week together was over, right up until launch.
In their conversations, Colleen's fears came out for the first time. She was afraid of losing control of the mission while she was confined to the bubble for the sake of her fetus. She had all kinds of fears, both reasonable and unreasonable. She would talk about them and cry softly into Zach's shoulder. Zach didn't try to argue or fix them, he just listened and comforted. Zach was reminded how very young Colleen was. And so much responsibility. Nobody but her could do the job. She would surpass all expectations. Her fear was part of that process. Zach felt honored that for the first time she was able to express it at an emotional level with him.
Colleen was extremely gregarious and charming, so it didn't take long for her to meet Zach's neighbors. This included "THE Beatrice" as she called her. When she arrived for the evening before Zach, she would wander down the hall to converse with Beatrice.
On Wednesday, Zach and Colleen learned that Michaela had gotten her period again. Their mood was somber at dinner. While they were cleaning up and Colleen was about to assume the position, the doorbell rang. Colleen went to answer. It was Beatrice. She had a liquid measuring cup in one hand. In a singsong, they greeted each other like forever buddies. "If you don't mind, darling," said Beatrice, "I'm here to borrow a cup of semen."
"Certainly!" said Colleen cordially. "Come in, come in, come in!" She shut the door behind Beatrice. "Certainly not in this, eh?" Colleen said, taking the measuring cup from Beatrice.
"No, that was more of a prop," said Beatrice. They laughed together.
"Zach, take off your clothes, dearest," said Colleen. "Where do you want him? The bed?"
"The couch is fine," replied Beatrice.
"The bed is much more comfortable," insisted Colleen.
"I shouldn't impose," insisted Beatrice in return. Zach carried Beatrice to the bed and removed her clothes and his own. Colleen watched from the bedroom doorway with a smirk, arms folded.
"Actually, you're helping me with a chore," Colleen told Beatrice.
"You don't say- HUH!" said Beatrice as Zach dove his tongue into her wet pussy.
"Oh yes," continued Colleen. "The wives have decided that every evening Zach should have it at the dinner table."
"You don't say... Ohmygod Zach right there!" cried Beatrice.
"Yes, like a dessert course," said Colleen. "So you see, your timely inquiry saved me a dinner chore. Though I wouldn't exactly call it a chore."
"HUH! HUH! HUH! HUH!" cried Beatrice, not exactly in reply. She was being railed fast and hard by Zach.
"Zach hasn't been drained in hours, I don't think," said Colleen.
"HUH! HUH! HUH! HUH!" Beatrice's cries continued.
"He should have good volume and deliver it pretty quick, I'd say," said Colleen.
"HUH! HUH! Ohyeah!" Beatrice gurgled, "He's close, he's close, AAAAHHNNGG!!"
"Oh," said Colleen. One hand strayed down to her crotch and gave it a rub. "You got a good one."
"HAAAAH... He's still cumming... Ohyeah, ohyeah, ahhhh..."
"Well, you really got quite a load," said Colleen, giving herself a few more rubs, like scratching an itch.
"Yes," Beatrice enthused, "a good little quickie... or BIG quickie."
"I'll get you a paper towel for your panties so you can carry all that home with you," said Colleen helpfully.
-----
That Thursday, Aanya showed up at Zach's office wild-eyed. She was angry and looked half out of her mind. As soon as Zach grabbed her and held her, she burst into uncontrollable tears. "What's wrong?" Zach asked.
"AARAV! Buh-huh-huh-huh-huh!" Aanya cried.
"What about Aarav?" Zach asked.
"KHUSHI! Buh-huh-huh-huh-huh!" Aanya cried. Uh-oh.
"You mean, Aarav and Khushi?" asked Zach.
"YES! Buh-huh-huh-huh-huh!" Aanya cried.
"What? Did they tell you?" asked Zach.
"NO! Buh-huh-huh-huh-huh!" Aanya cried. She shoved her phone at him. On the screen was what looked like a copy of a text/image/video chat with Khushi from Aarav's phone.
"How did you get this??" Zach asked.
Aanya abruptly stopped crying. "I broke into his phone," she said guiltily.
"You know that's illegal," said Zach. Aanya looked away. Zach set that point aside. "Did you two have an agreement not to see other people?"
"Well, no," said Aanya. "Aarav knew about you. He said he didn't care."
"What about him from your standpoint?" Zach asked.
"I knew back in India he saw... people. I didn't care. But KHUSHI!!" Aanya fumed. She was right, it was pretty bad. A coworker, a delicate relationship. Shame on both of them. Especially given Aanya's innocence at matters of love and her past of ugly betrayal.
"Okay, you shouldn't have this," Zach said of Aarav's conversation with Khushi. He copied it to his phone and deleted it from Aanya's. "It would only serve to aggravate you. I will give it to Colleen. I expect that she will call you both in for a talk. You've committed a serious crime. I think we can keep you from getting kicked off the mission if you behave. Go back to Colby's house and stay there until either Colleen summons you or I do. Will you do this?"
"Yes," Aanya said passively. She was genuinely afraid for the future of her carefully engineered bacteria, fungi, and other fauna. She wanted Mars to blossom with life. Her own future was much less important to her. She left his office to go straight to Colby's house.
Zach called Colleen's office, but she was in a meeting. He would have to wait about 15 minutes to see her. Zach began to wonder whether the material Aanya found was anything more than a little flirting. Considering her innocence and history, Aanya could easily be overreacting.
He looked at the thread. It started with Khushi sending Aarav a copy of the selfie they took with a nice note, "Such a pleasure to meet you!" Perfectly harmless.
Aarav's response was flirty. "My face has never before been so beautifully and warmly framed." He was talking about her breasts.
Khushi responded, "I couldn't stop them. They wanted to get closer!" Then a heart emoji. That's where the first exchange ended.
The next day, late morning, a text from Aarav, "Hey beautiful! What are you up to? GF gone off to work. Really bored. Need to unpack, ugh." By GF he meant Aanya of course.
"Just got out of the shower after my workout," replied Khushi.
"Mmm! I need a local gym," texted Aarav. "What do you recommend?"
"I go to a boutique gym here called Buckley's. I'm doing well with them," Khushi texted back. Then, a photo from Khushi. She was in the bathroom with panties on, that was it. She had a nice distinct camel toe. She had a towel in her hair and was right out of the shower. One arm restrained her breasts and hid her nipples. Technically, no more revealing than the beach. But there was no mistake. Her look was seductive. The selfie was red hot. "As you can see," she concluded. To be fair, Khushi's resting face was seductive. Mostly naked like this, she could be nothing other than red hot.
"Just what I need! I am going to pot," Aarav texted. A selfie of him. Big smile, t-shirt up showing tight abs.
"You look very tasty to me," replied Khushi with a big heart emoji.
They flirted a little longer that day. Suggestive, but not dirty talk. A few more suggestive photos, but no nudity. More approximately daily exchanges, escalating to nude photos, and remarks like, "I'm wet for you," and "I'm hard for you," respectively. Khushi sending a video of a sexy striptease, including the pussy-popping vertical splits move. Masturbation videos. Mutual masturbation video chats. Did everyone persist their video chats these days? It was a bad practice in Zach's opinion.
Videos of them having sex. Several videos. Who would film this? Oh right, he's a movie actor. And he sent them to Khushi as well. Insanity. He peeked at the first one. Khushi's characteristic shriek of pleasure as he entered her. The shake of her ass a moment later at the conclusion of her first orgasm under him. Scrolling to the end, his globby creampie running out of her. Another in a hotel. Another in a public park. Another in a beach cabana perhaps? Their whole affair had been very graphically documented, it seemed. Well, movie actor. This was indeed about as bad as it could get.
To their credit, there was significant discussion of Aanya. How she was such an innocent, such an angel. How they needed to protect her at all costs. How they could never live with themselves if they hurt her, and so forth. Aarav's justification was that Aanya was so inexperienced. He craved a more worldly, seductive woman at least every once in a while. Also, his relationship with Aanya was technically an open one. They had each tacitly condoned the other having other partners. Khushi's justification was a list she'd made in middle school of men she would never say no to. She sent an image that looked authentic. The list was in curly pretty middle school girl cursive. Aarav's name was third on the list. It was fate, she concluded.
With relief and a raging hard-on, he turned both the evidence and the matter over to Colleen. He went to the nearest restroom and rubbed one out thinking of Khushi. He felt a little guilty peeping on her nasty private affair like that. Now all four of them were criminals, at least morally. His ejaculation seemed to put the matter emotionally behind him. He was done with it now unless specifically called upon.
At the dinner table that evening Colleen had alluded to how horrible it was refereeing Aanya and Khushi. There was more to come the next day. Aarav was on a plane back to India. A service would pack and ship his personal items. She was not pessimistic of the outcome, though, more just exhausted by the work. When she was done unburdening herself, mid-meal, she abruptly stood up and bent over the table. Her message was clear.
Zach hastened around the table and caressed her lovingly as she relaxed. He slid down her slacks and then her wet, gooey panties. Her crisp spicy smell wafted up, intoxicating. She was glistening slick, dripping, and open. Her lips and clitoris were straining erect. She had apparently thoroughly researched the affair. He was sure she didn't want to discuss it. He knew the feeling.
Without delay, Zach thrust into Colleen and began taking his pleasure. After only a moment, she orgasmed spectacularly and kept orgasming. Over the next while, he creampied her twice without stopping as she continued to shake with intense orgasms. He got the vibrator out from its hiding place under the flowers of the dining table centerpiece. She teased her vulva with it excitedly as he penetrated her anus, her copious juices easily slicking the way. She spun up into an even higher level of orgasms. Even though he had just ejaculated in her twice, the pulsing tightness of her anal sphincter swiftly drove him to a third crisis. He barked and grunted as his overtaxed balls squeezed everything they had left, one good squirt, deep into her rectum.
Colleen was semi-comatose, resting head and torso on the table. He saw the look of serenity on her face. It seemed to him that the guilt over her arousal at her delicate research had been alleviated. He gently patted a clean towel on her and gently pulled up her panties to hold it in place. Now she didn't have to fuss over herself. He arranged himself, washed off the vibrator, wiped their drips off the floor.
Zach returned to his meal, gazing at the stunning Colleen drifting further into slumber. Her job had been beyond crazy before this other thing had blown up. He ate as quietly as possible. By the time he had finished the meal, she was fast asleep and snoring gently. He put some plastic wrap over the rest of her meal and put it in the fridge. Quietly, he tidied up around her. He read some medical journals there at the table with her, wanting to stay close.
There were a few hours of her crashed asleep on the table and him reading next to her. He figured it was time for bed. Gently, he lifted her in his arms. She roused and kissed him as he carried her to bed. He undressed her. He made love to her a couple more times where she fully roused, made noise, had orgasms. Then they both fell into a deep sleep.
-----
The week starting Monday November 9 was designated a Becky week by Trigonometry. "Is this practical?" he asked Colby when she called to inform him of the plan.
"Do you think we don't check, baby?" Colby chuckled. "She's playing hooky from her dating service. It's all arranged. Now, go cripple that bitch. Sic 'em!" Colby's attitude continued to concern him. It would hold until after launch, though. Colleen didn't need more to worry about at the moment.
At work, Zach became Colleen's unofficial quartermaster, freeing her from overseeing those duties. He ran around base, visually checking and confirming various supplies and shipments. He was already good at logistics. Although technically it was not doctor stuff, anything that alleviated Colleen at this point was very much his business.
Zach felt so natural welcoming Becky to stay at his place for the week. They'd done this for years. Other women had recently been in there organizing things their way. First thing, the entire apartment was reorganized back to the Becky way. She didn't ask permission. She knew he knew women had to do this. He didn't resist or question it. He was no dummy.
Despite needing things organized her way, Becky was open to the ever-evolving traditions of Trigonometry. She had been wearing her choker proudly. It was the talk of the courthouse, the mystery of what Becky's choker meant. As soon as Zach arrived for dinner, Becky stood up and bent over the dining table. With a grin, she dropped her panties and flipped up her little hentai schoolgirl skirt. "I heard about the new rule," she giggled, "Fish taco appetizer!"
"It's usually the dessert course, but I'll take it now, thanks!" Zach said. Becky was wet and ready, perhaps having greatly anticipated this nasty new tradition. He pushed into her without delay. "Oh! I've missed you so much!" he marveled.
"Me too," Becky breathed. "I feel our baby growing inside me." She was panting, her excitement growing rapidly.
Over the week, their lovemaking grew more fervent than ever before. They were on the honeymoon they would never have.
Around the middle of the week, they were walking through downtown in the evening. Becky spotted one of her suitors, quite a tall and handsome fellow, though older. He had poor eyesight as well, apparently. They ducked into an alleyway without being spotted and had a good laugh about it. Becky knew her dating service had figured out she was breaking the rules. She would deal with it later, she said. Their blissful week continued. They tried not to think about the future much except to talk about the baby.
-----
In his office that afternoon, Zach called Khushi. "I'm free now if you want to show me that thing."
"Ayana might spot us over near your office," Khushi said. Ayana's office was near Zach's. "When I brought up the matter of seeing you again, she went ballistic. Ever since then, it seems like she’s having me watched. It’s lunchtime. Come over to the fabrication plant." Zach had a nice walk all the way across base to the fabrication plant.
Zach knocked on Khushi's office door and she answered. Silently, she let him in and shut the door. "I suspect Ayana has someone in the building who spies on me," she said, “but everyone is out to lunch now.” Zach was about to say something when Khushi threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. The kiss turned passionate, then sloppy. When they came up for air, they were both panting and wild eyed. "I mustn't," she said, "but a kiss is just a kiss, right?"
"Sure," said Zach, "right."
Khushi grabbed Zach's hand and pressed it onto her tummy. Then she slid it lower. He was confused. Did she want him to ignore what she’d just said and finger fuck her? It was moving in that direction. Then he felt it.
Khushi's baby, their baby, kicked his hand. He was really a father. They smiled at each other like lunatics and kissed softly, romantically. Something would have to change about this Ayana thing.
-----
The week starting November 16, Michaela was again fertile, but Colby put her foot down. "I need my week with my man," she stated in no uncertain terms. "You can let that Bulgarian skank waste more of your sperm in your own free time," she told him. And so that's the way it was.
Michaela was a pessimistic person under normal circumstances. These were incredibly trying circumstances for her. Zach did not try to cheer her up. Nothing could be more apt to get Michaela fighting mad. Despite her pessimism, she kept their dates and did what she could. He knew she would. Their dates were not as playful as they once were. They were not grim, they had fun, but the whole matter had an air of desperation about it.
Zach and Colby were having the best of mock-monogamous relationships. Later in the week, in the evening, Zach was reading a medical journal. Splash, all over his face, chest, and journal! He sputtered out of his reverie to see that Colby had bared her tits and given him both barrels. Oh no, it was an impish Colby, now armed with built-in colostrum squirt guns!
-----
November 23rd was Anming's week. At the end of their first dinner together, when Zach put his fork down, Anming reacted immediately. Even though she had a few bites left, she stood up and bent over the table. She rested her head and torso on the table, squeezed her eyes shut and gritted her teeth. He rose, and she whimpered in fear and excitement. He knew she anticipated and wanted his attentions. But he also knew that as soon as he touched his mouth to her lady parts, she would object. She felt obligated to call it dirty and disgusting. "Can we just stipulate that what I'm about to do to you is dirty and disgusting? Can we be done with the running commentary?"
"My husband?" she whimpered, confused.
"Should I gag you? Is that how I solve this problem?" asked Zach.
"Please, no, my husband," said Anming.
"Then what? I'm well aware you think it's disgusting for me to put my mouth on your vulva," said Zach. "Message delivered. May we move on, or do you have to say it every time?"
"It's not me," argued Anming. "Society thinks it disgusting. You, when you were a child, would have thought it disgusting. It's objectively disgusting."
"I agree," said Zach. "When I was eight, if someone had told me that later in life I would suck on a girl's hoo-hoo, I would have said, 'EW!'. Now do we have to belabor this point between us?"
"But it's dirty," Anming argued. "There are many germs, as you well know."
"I well know that any moist surface on or slightly in a human is covered in bacteria. But there are good and bad bacteria. With healthy humans like us, good bacteria greatly predominate," Zach said. "With strangers, one must take great care. But with lovers like us, we basically share all the same germs. Even our immune systems are intertwined. So, 'dirty'? I don't think so. Not unless it's dirty for me to touch my tongue to the roof of my own mouth."
Anming was silent.
"So will you please stop?" asked Zach.
Anming seemed to be having an internal battle. Finally, she said, "Yes, my husband."
Zach walked around the table, got on his knees behind Anming, and pulled down her Capri pants and panties together. She had a bit of crust in her panties. "Mmm, looks like you might have been thinking of me."
"Michaela likes to tease me now," said Anming.
"Tease you?" asked Zach.
"Ever since... hmm... that week... she describes how you most recently... hmm... tried in her. She talks about the number and strength of her... hmm... moments. And she also describes your... hmm... finishes, with volume estimates in milliliters. She makes disgusting sound effects and hand gestures. She laughs and insists that I blush when she tells me these things."
"Should I speak to her about her behavior?" asked Zach.
"Please don't, my husband," said Anming. "I only speak of it because yes, I have been thinking of you. Thinking... hmm... it's better by far than she describes."
"Thank you," said Zach. "That's such a sweet thing to say. I try to please you. I love you to the ends of the Earth."
"It's accurate, my husband," Anming said. "I'm not... no. I am perfect as I am. I love you with all of myself. Aah! Rrr!" Zach dove in and tasted Anming's sweet fragrant vulva that spoke of her day and layers of anticipation. She was making new noises, he suspected, to stave off her usual automatic complaints about dirty and disgusting. Old habits were hard to break, and she wouldn't be perfect. Zach felt so grateful to have Anming.
For the almost the first time, their lovemaking was devoid of Anming's complaints. It was as devoid of words as it had been their first few times together. Then, she had been too timid to say practically anything. This time between them was serene and energetic. Anming made her sounds of joy and satisfaction. When he could hold back no more, Zach made joyful and satisfied sounds as he finished in her.
The rest of their evening passed with barely a word passing between them. There was no need to talk. Anming mulled over her equations, and Zach studied his medical journals. When he deemed it time for bed, he lifted her from her chair and carried her to bed. There was no need for Zach to fruitlessly coax or cajole or for Anming to complain and resist. Zach undressed her and made love to her. The only noises from her were ones of pleasure and release. He finished in her vagina twice and then excitedly lubed her anus. He asked her, "Would you use a vibrator to help your pleasure while I use this part?" He was rubbing a lubed finger into her anus.
"No, my husband," Anming replied. "Use me as you wish, and I will gladly serve."
It seemed they were speaking at cross purposes. Zach deemed it a discussion for another day and proceeded without the vibrator, twice. Despite Anming's stated intention merely to serve, she had more than a couple powerful orgasms. Not nearly as many as vaginally, but more profound. Maybe her earlier response was just her polite way of saying she preferred to do without the vibrator.
As the week continued, their relationship got ever more serene. Zach was sure she was speaking to Ayana and her therapist about these things. They were being helpful. She seemed at all times to remember that she was worthy of love and capable. It seemed that the discipline must be working, too. He never saw any marks on her body. Nothing but the occasional bruise she may have gotten just by bumping against her desk. She did come to the dinner table wetter on a few days. Sometimes her bottom looked a bit spanked. This could just be Michaela's teasing and sitting in a hard chair, though. He didn't want to make anything up. Whatever regimen was working, and that's all he cared about.
Anming seemed more confident and joyful than ever during their quiet times together. When he wanted her, he would quietly take her. He would then wipe and restore her to more or less her former state unless it was bedtime. She never fought or complained any more. They always had great joy in their lovemaking and made great sounds together. He felt calm, quiet, happy and satisfied like never before.
The only time they spoke one evening was when Anming asked, "What size is our baby?"
"Our baby is about the size of an almond," answered Zach.
At this answer, Anming smiled and re-engaged with her equations.
-----
One day around lunchtime, Zach dropped by Colby's garage to give her a square of chocolate. "Yum," she said as she savored it. "And feel this." She put her hand low on her tummy. It moved. "That's your future son or daughter," she said, smiling and falling into his arms.
"When did this happen?" asked Zach.
"Just this morning," said Colby. "All the wives felt it."
"I'm so happy," said Zach. This led to kissing, which led to him giving Colby head on the warm hood of a Humvee. Then Zach took her up against the Humvee. It seemed a lot of their off-week sex was in her shop. Still, for a quickie, Zach found it quite satisfying. The baby was dancing around afterwards. They seemed to like it too.
-----
Every week, Zach mock-raped Aanya in the mud. Charisse almost always slyly watched them and masturbated. By now she knew that he knew she was peeping and didn't care. In fact, he thought it was pretty hot. Aanya didn't seem to notice. Since Aarav left town, she and Zach had increased the frequency of their mock-rapes in the mud to three times a week.
One muddy episode, they lay in post-coital stillness, Zach still fully buried in Aanya's womb. Aanya was coated in mud, and Zach was heavily splashed. She moaned, "Ohhh... you hurt me you rape me..." which was her way of saying he'd done a good job. Zach heard behind him and to the side Charisse's little stifled gasp and grunt. She'd successfully finished off her little voyeuristic session.
While they were washing the mud off themselves, Zach asked, "What's going on with Aarav?"
"He's history for both of us," said Aanya dully. Presumably she meant her and Khushi.
"How's it going with Khushi?" asked Zach.
"We're close now," said Aanya. "She's been sending men at me, perhaps by way of apology. Some of them have been interesting."
"Well, that sounds positive," said Zach. "Are you going to do a week with me?" he asked, given the new Trigonometry plan.
"Not until after launch," Aanya replied. Zach was fine with that. Three times a week was enough of her for him in the short term. He'd rather she explored as long as she stayed safe. He knew she would stay safe.
-----
One afternoon, Zach got a call from Ben, his mentor from Portland who Berte was seeing. “I had to tell you Zach,” Ben said, “the baby moved. She’s so happy.”
Zach wondered a moment why Berte wasn’t calling him, but then, that was Berte. “How is Berte doing?”
“She’s so happy, Zach,” said Ben. “She’s getting to be quite the psychic, or something. She keeps telling me that she talks to Jenny in her dreams. She says it makes her happy. It’s weird, but I don’t think it’s bad for her. I think it helps allay her concerns about what will happen to me after she leaves for Mars.”
“You’re the expert, Ben,” said Zach. Then, more seriously, “Are you going to be okay after Berte leaves for Mars?”
“We’ll correspond,” said Ben. “I’ll be fine. In fact, it looks like I’ll have an immediate problem to distract me. What Berte doesn’t notice, but I can’t help noticing is this. Women are circling me like piranha. It’s a little frightening.”
“Women you know?” asked Zach.
“Some, like Jenny’s friends who are widowed or divorced. But women of all ages,” said Ben. “Berte keeps getting invited to these physics events at the local university. Interesting how all the women researchers over there want to stay in touch with me. They range from Berte’s age to my age; it doesn’t seem to matter. And, it seems, every eligible woman at my college. I think it’s me being seen in public with Berte. You know what a knockout she is. It appears I’ve gained a reputation. Undeserved, I assure you.”
“I don’t know about that, Ben,” said Zach. “You’re a hell of a catch.”
-----
On the last day of November, which fell on a Monday, Colleen was supposed to take Zach over from Anming. At lunch, Colleen had a different idea. "You and I have the rest of our lives together," she said. "You should really spend your last two weeks on Earth with Becky."
"You are a treasure," said Zach. "I'll do my best to repay you."
"You already are, quartermaster," said Colleen. "We'll figure the rest out on the way."
His kissed her passionately right there in the lunch place. People noticed it. Reporters probably noticed it. He didn't care.
Becky scrambled to rearrange her schedule. Her dating service sent her a nastygram saying they were firing her as a client if she didn't desist. Becky said, "Fuck 'em. They're going to break a contract with a lawyer? I don't think so. I'll pay them some money after you're gone and they'll calm right down."
"What about the suitors?" Zach asked.
"If they're not patient and persistent enough to survive on their own for two weeks, they're not for me," said Becky.
Becky and Zach spent a romping fun two weeks together until launch. They didn't think about anyone but each other and the baby. They didn't think about any time but the present.
The most surprising thing that happened was that Anming married Becky in a civil ceremony. It took about an hour at the courthouse. Zach found out about it afterwards. At first, Zach was very confused, and all Anming would say was, "Because we are both Trigonometry, we were already married. We just made it official." He started to see the reason of it quickly, though. Among the crew, only Ayana, Colette, and Anming had no relatives to come to the sendoff. Only blood relatives and legally married spouses could attend the ceremony. Colette was already legally married and wanted to stay that way. Ayana was concerned about offending Khushi. This didn't prevent her from making all kinds of raunchy jokes about a wedding night with Becky, though. Anming was the most logical choice, being part of Trigonometry. Plus, Anming really wanted to piss off the Chinese government, and boy did she ever!
Notes of gratitude and condolence came to Becky from every member of both crews.
Anming said a beautiful thing at her civil ceremony with Becky. Zach saw the whole thing on video afterwards. "We will all carry Becky with us in our hearts forever. I'm so happy we're officially wed."
Jason, Aiden, and Ethan sent a nice card. Mateo sent a separate, more personal message. The part Becky would let Zach see said, "I regret not being able to get to know you better." Reciprocal oral sex seemed plenty thorough enough knowledge to Zach, but he was biased.
Colette sent a card that said, "I know what it is to leave the one you love best behind forever. Be assured that you will continue to be loved and missed deeply. Flowers caught in amber never fade."
Colleen let the gift of the extra week speak for itself, and sent a card that simply said, "Enjoy."
Michaela's card said, "Restrain yourself from strangling the little crying and pooping monster when it comes out. We don't want to have to fly all the way back to Earth to knock you up a second time."
Khushi sent Becky two pairs of adorable baby booties, one pink and one blue.
Ayana sent a card that said, "But for prior commitments, I would have reveled in teaching you the heights of sapphic ecstasy that you can now only imagine in your wildest dreams. Talk to your dating service! Maybe you can still cross this off your list. XOXOXO" This enclosed with Khushi's baby booties.
Charisse sent Becky her collection of crystals of all shapes, sizes, and colors, solemnly informing her they were good for her baby.
Aanya sent Becky a toe ring.
Alexis sent Becky a book entitled, "Speed Dating for Predators: How to Land Any Man in 30 Minutes or Less." The title page had a note from Alexis, "With deepest respect from one predator to another."
Colby gave Becky her stunning geodesic dome vacation home that Zach and the wives had once used as a retreat. This was an exorbitant gift, but not really from Colby's perspective. The house and all the surrounding land were valued at twenty-three million dollars. Colby was worth billions. Her note enclosed with the deed said, "I wanted this place I love to go to a person I love. Enjoy it."
Berte's card read simply, "Sorry! Love ya."
-----
Zach's goodbye with Emma was poignant but brief. They had both known it was coming for some time. They gave each other one last long hug and promised they would email. Maybe they even would.
To wrap up his time with Beatrice, she made him lunch at her place. Eric arrived to join them. Beatrice broke the news that she was pregnant. She didn't know which of them was the father.
The doctors had told the couple it would be a miracle if Beatrice ever got pregnant. The problem was a congenital malformation of the fallopian tubes, a birth defect that prevented her eggs from being fertilized. They could have gotten some of her eggs surgically removed and done in vitro fertilization, but had decided against it.
The couple was beyond overjoyed that Beatrice was pregnant. They would let Zach know who was the biological father, but they didn't want anything from him. Regardless, Eric would raise the baby as his own.
(To be continued)