Queen Maureen
Family Meeting
The Operators stayed with their trans shifter while John and Maureen made their way back to the Jupiter.
The family mobbed them on sight.
'Where have you been!" Judy asked, 'We were worried sick."
We were on Niolani's planet
"The empress? " Penny asked.
"The same" Maureen said. "Where's don?"
He's out with the robot and chariot, searching for you."
"Call them back, please, Maureen, I'll fill them in."
Doctor Robinson called Don on the radio, reporting their safe return. He expressed disbelief at the mention of Niolani.
"
The professor had just given will, penny Judy, and smith the short version.
“We’ve told you about Niolani’s Jupiters and their war against the bugs.”
“It sounded pretty cool, mom.”
“It wouldn’t have seemed so cool if you were there, Will. Some people were really hurt.”
‘Dreadful insects.” Smith said, “You acted with bravery, madam.”
“Thank you, Doctor. “, Maureen replied, “Anyway, a Council to whom Niolani answered has ordered her to bring us into the empire.”
Don flexed his shoulders. “I get enough shovel time here.”
“She says we would be members of her own royal house this time. No digging.”
“What would Will, John and I do in a femdom society?”
“I understand we would be assigned to their spacecraft industry.”
“Well that makes sense.”
‘And what about me?” Doctor Smith said. “Am I mentioned?”
‘You do have some technical skills, Doctor.:, she evaded.
Don smiled “Their intelligence service could use him for weasel training.”
‘Indeed.: he huffed.
Maureen smiled. Some of the girls had already studied him as a dangerous male.
What about the Robot and Verda? Will asked
“Verda’s apparently a female human. She would be alright.”
“I did see some more mechanical robots there.” Maureen said, but I couldn’t be sure of their rights.”
“I will accompany the family wherever it goes.” The robot chimed in. ”Whatever my status.”
Verda softly raked her fingers across Don’s chest. “This is my country.” She said. “I’m with Don regardless, but yes I can pass if need be.”
“It all sounds great” Penny said. “I like the idea of women in charge.”
“And Mom and Judy and I could look out for you guys they way you kept the monsters off us.”
“She makes an important point.” The Professor said. “Once actually members of this society we can use its uiles.”
“And if we vote to join I know we can depend on our women to protect us within the limits of that framework.” he continued. “But I want everyone to look through the protocol files I brought back.”
“They won’t peg us , will they?” laughed Don.
“No.” he pressed ahead. Thse children were adults with sex lives of their own. “Anal is not unknown, but it’s improper to force it on anyone of either sex.”
“So we’re safe Don.” Will said.
“They’re a lawful society.” Maureen added, ‘So we can expect what’s described in the files.”
“What did you experience , dad?”
I was visited by a couple of girls in my quarters.
The professor said. “Including thora.”
“Thora? “ asked don
“Yes” the professor smiled. ”She and one of her friends joined me in the Hot Tub.”
Judy cast a look of astonishment. It was known that they had permission to fool around when needed, but still.”Sounds cozy” she said.
“It was.” Maureen said, shutting down the speculation.”
“We talked about life I nthe Palace.” He said, “And they made it look pretty sweet.”
“I’m, certain they’re correct.” Smith said.“I vote for citizenship.”
“And there it is.” The Professor said. “ I think we’ll go secret ballot again.”
Some of the gravest decisions on the expedition had been made by secret ballot.”
There were sixteen alien pearls, eight white and eight black. Marbles would be deposited into a jar then counted.
No one would know how anyone else had actually voted.
It came up no, by 1.
There could be no accurate recrimination with a secret ballot.
“Well that’s it.” The Professor said. ‘We decline as politiely as we can.”
“And what happens when Niolani won’t take no for an answer?” Don asked