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Blue Steel, the adult comic version of Boobs in Blue, marked its 50th issue with a double-sized edition. In addition to the regular cop story, a 'side-story' titled The Gladstone Girls, inspired by the Starfall short in the fifth Blue Undercover novel, was printed. The side-story, an adventure about a group of kidnaped naval ratings and their commander, proved quite popular.
 

1

Lt Commander Tabitha Gladstone, Chief Engineer of the medium cruiser Kenosha, was nursing a cup of coffee and going over the daily report. She used her file pad out of habit, though she had no real need for it thanks to wetware. Tabitha and her four life-support technicians had wetware implanted six months earlier. Instead of relying on a minicomp or file pad, the five women could simply draw upon the data stored in their 'ware to provide answers to problems.
     Tabitha smirked as she visualized her four charges. It seemed to be an unwritten rule that all life-support techs had to be women and scarcely above the 1.4 meter height minimum. There was Regina Souza, a woman whose face showed her Egyptian ancestry to the fullest. Belinda Grey had a jovial face and dark skin from her African parents. Marlina Neru was the proud product of her mother's Italian origins and her father's Malaysian roots. Finally, there was Yuki Youngerford. Her Japanese ancestry clearly ran true in her blood; her black hair took on a tinge of purple under some lights. Together the four techs could do the work of twelve.
     That left Tabitha. She'd been in the Commonwealth Space Navy for eleven years now. The Kenosha was her first post as chief engineer. Her husband Roger was, of all things, a gardener She met him seven years ago on Jadestone. Roger was planting a flowerbed for the port admiral when Tabitha walked by and tripped on a piece of garden hose, falling face-first into the exposed soil. Instead of cussing out Roger on his sloppy tool placement, the young lieutenant instead was mesmerized by Roger's handsome face and voice. Two months later, after what might have been the shortest romantic campaign of all time, Tabitha married Roger. After this deployment, she thought, I'll have the opportunity to spend some time with him.
     Concerning the current deployment, Tabitha used her 'ware and accessed the mission brief again. The Kenosha was making a courtesy call at the Candice system, at the very edge of settled space. The planet was the B-II component of a twin G-1 system. There were plenty of worlds in the core of Commonwealth space yet to be colonized, but some people wanted their breathing space. Candice had only 55,000 citizens and was still struggling, despite the rich asteroid resources that usually attended binary star systems. The planet was nevertheless quite hospitable to humans and promised to be self-sufficient once the orbital industry was up and running.
     On the Kenosha's first day in orbit, the planetary governor, one Travis Darby, paid a visit. Captain Thomas Langsdorff gave Governor Darby the full tour. Darby showed genuine interest in the ship, especially the composition of the crew. Commander Gladstone felt the Governor's eyes as he looked at her and the female members of the engineering crew, but she supposed that the ruler of this particular molehill could be excused a few quirks.
     The Kenosha left after one week in orbit. There wasn't that much in the way of shore leave, but the colonists were more than happy to share what they had with the navy crew. It would take the cruiser more than a day to reach the hyper limit of the system, and only ten more in hyperspace before Gladstone would be reunited with her husband.
 

2

It was ten hours before the Kenosha would reach the hyper limit, and Gladstone decided to have her four life-support techs check the vents in Cargo Hold 2. Thanks to their wetware, the four techs didn't need regular comm sets. In addition to normal work chatter, the four also delved deep into ship gossip. Gladstone was of the opinion that anything that made her techs work harder and faster was okay with her. Besides, she liked to listen to gossip also.

Communications picked up a distress call from the freighter Roman Gold, which had shared the same orbital pattern with the Kenosha for the past five days. Roman Gold had left orbit a good twelve hours earlier and would've been gone by now, but it had developed a fault in its hyperdrive. Bound by regulations, and more importantly by tradition, Captain Langsdorff had his ship alter course to render assistance to the crippled freighter.
     Just one hour shy of the hyper limit the Kenosha caught sight of the Roman Gold. After being in steady contact for nine hours, the signal ceased. Repeated attempts to raise the freighter failed. Langsdorff erred on the side of caution. He ordered shields raised, and the crew sent to general quarters. It was just as well.
     Three destroyers emerged from cloak, all at close range. The CSN ship went into evasive action. Langsdorff wanted it to be some unscheduled exercise, but fire from the destroyers removed all doubt. In the ensuing battle, particle beams and missiles were exchanged, with the CSN cruiser taking more hits than it was giving in return. Attempts to raise the fleet base at Jadestone on hyperwave failed, due to powerful jamming from the very freighter that Langsdorff had come to aid.
     With hyperwave unavailable, the Captain next went with his hyper-capable drones. Due to their size the Kenosha only had six, each in its own one-shot launcher attached to the hull. The drones still had to clear the hyper limit, but with their speed and acceleration, that limit would be reached in a mere 35 minutes. It wasn't enough. Twelve frigates came out of cloak. Two of them attacked each drone, and with the smaller ships' higher initial acceleration, all of the Kenosha's drones were destroyed.
     While the frigates were killing drones, the cruiser finally scored a decisive blow on one destroyer, hitting the smaller ship's main fusion plant. The containment field collapsed, and the resulting pyre was hotter than a star. The remaining two ships concentrated their fire on one spot of the Kenosha's hull. The shields failed locally, and the cruiser lost both its primary and secondary inertial dampening fields. The CSN ship now faced a dilemma: any maneuver, acceleration, or deceleration greater than 2.5g would incapacitate the crew. 100g would kill all aboard--but if the ship didn't maneuver at those higher gravities then it, too, would die.
     Langsdorff cursed to no one in particular. Over half of his crew of 308 was dead. It would've been higher, but the ship was extensively automated. The drones were destroyed and the hyperwave was still being jammed. Another damage report reached his earphones. The hyperdrive was fried. Now there was no chance of escape. He couldn't outrun his enemies. The destroyers had a higher top speed in normal space. If he tried any appreciable acceleration, then the surviving crew would be killed by the g-forces. If only the Kenosha had weapons instead of nearly-empty cargo bays! Langsdorff thought. The Kenosha was a ship of the LaRochelle class of medium cruisers, with the same volume as a fleet heavy cruiser, but as it was configured, only a light cruiser's firepower. The cargo bays were modular. In a matter of weeks a La Rochelle could be converted into a missile-armed strike cruiser, a marine assault transport, an anti-fighter platform, or a science vessel.
     If I had the missile option this would've been over 10 minutes ago, Langsdorff told himself. He looked at the battle plot. The remaining destroyers, hell, even the frigates could finish him off. The enemy destroyers knew they had decisively crippled the ship. Even now Communications was receiving messages demanding the surrender of the ship. There was only one decision left, and the Captain was surprised at how easy it was to make. He ordered abandon ship. All surviving crew were to make their way to the shuttle bay and board the small craft.

3

The freighter picked up the Kenosha'sshuttles. Gladstone and the remaining crew were trooped off into a cargo hold, a hold with only a single common toilet and a sink to service the 110 people placed in it. Thankfully, those people were only in that hold for twelve hours on the trip back to Candice. Out of the surviving crew, Gladstone was the only female officer. All the other women were noncoms and enlisted. The First Officer was the highest-ranking crewmember left, and he calmed his people down, telling them that they'd get out of this mess.
     The freighter entered orbit, and the prisoners were separated into groups. All the female personnel were placed into one group and herded into a shuttle. In all there were forty-six women, along with a good number of guards, in the shuttle. Gladstone could only reason that her captors were pirates. The Kenosha was sucked into a situation where it couldn't escape. But that begged the question why, if the attackers were pirates, was the cruiser attacked in the first place? Pirates knew that every CSN ship they destroyed meant twenty pirate ships knocked out in retaliation. No pirate would fight the Navy unless he had something to gain in the process.
     After a short flight, the shuttle landed, and the navy women were marched out onto a landing field atop a small plateau. A huge, walled complex lay before the captives, and the guards motioned to them to move ahead. A gate opened, and the women saw a veritable pastoral scene behind the walls, an idyllic vision with a huge mansion at its center. There were also some low, single-story buildings reminding Tabitha of the barracks back in basic. In time the women were placed in a courtyard. Then, to their surprise, they saw Governor Darby himself walking up onto a raised platform before them, with guards flanking him.
     Gladstone could smell the man's arrogance and pride. Before she could gag on the sensation, Darby spoke into a tiny microphone. "Ladies, I would imagine that you want to know why you're here. To be exact, you're my new permanent guests. Allow me to tell you a story... "
     Gee, we love stories. Don't we girls? It was Regina 'talking' over the link provided by the wetware. Thanks to transceivers implanted into ears, head, hands, and even nipples, a person so equipped could contact a similarly endowed person up to twelve kilometers away. Gladstone sent a curt signal to Regina, telling her to be 'quiet'. The Commander wanted everyone to hear and remember what the windbag was saying.
     "...Some eleven years ago I had the opportunity to 'obtain' a very special woman. A woman enhanced by the best nanite surgery that money could buy. However, before I could pick her up, my ship developed a fault in its drive system. A good thing at the time. The Police found and raided the place where my woman was. Denied, I bided my time. Bided my time to get women that will service me."
     Darby looked at the assembled women. More than a few were showing their nervousness. Those women were on their first deployment, and never expected to be held prisoner by an obviously criminal planetary governor. The Governor seemed to gain strength from those nervous women and droned on. "As you can see, I'm a very, very rich man. My money comes through my mob interests. I'm the current head of my family's crime empire and the very first in the mob to have a world all to his own. Yes, this world suits me just fine."
     Gladstone couldn't let that go unanswered. "Mr Darby, before you regale us further with your tale, I have to ask you some questions. First, why have you brought us here? Second, why and how did you get to be Governor of this planet? And third, how do you expect me and my crewmates to service you?"
     Darby looked at the naval officer, the one who dared to speak up. "My, at least one of you had the gumption to talk. I'm happy to answer those questions, in the order I choose. First, let me say that the Colonization Bureau is just as fallible as any government office. Enough money in the right hands can get you anywhere, my dear officer." Darby looked quite happy when he saw Gladstone's, and quite a few other faces, turn grim at that comment. "As to why I had all of you fine females brought here, that's simple. As I said earlier, I missed my opportunity to pick up my 'enhanced' woman. After that police raid, missing persons reports were taken much more seriously. And I couldn't very well take anyone off the street to fulfill my needs. No, my woman, now to say my women, had to be a specific type and be obtained in a specific way. My fair beauties, you filled that need quite nicely."
     The forty-six navy women started to turn ugly, but a sea of guns raised to point at them. They quieted down, and Darby once again spoke. "The conditions were right. Your ship was all alone. All the female crew were under the age of thirty-five and in great health. Plus, thanks to prolong treatments, your fabulous good looks will stay with you for decades. Of course, you won't be wearing your navy clothes for much longer." The women willed daggers into Darby. He didn't notice. "Back to the point, I have extensive control over the pirates working in this section of space. Those pirate ships would've destroyed you easily. Instead, I had them cripple your ship. Admittedly, some of your crewmates still died, but with forty-six beauties surviving I'd say it was worth the money I paid those pirate crews. In a month they'll forget that they lost those two destroyers."
     One female rating spoke up. She was on her first deployment, and was filled with the righteousness instilled into her from basic training. "The navy will find us, you bastard! They'll come find us and nail your pervert hide to the floorboards!" The rating's words made her companions feel a little better, but Gladstone knew that Darby covered all his bases.
     Darby was all smiles as he gazed on the rating. The young woman actually took a step back when Darby made eye contact. "Ah, yes. The foolishness of youth. My dear, your navy friends will come and indeed mount an extensive investigation. They will find nothing. They have only my word to go by, and that will have to suffice. Thanks to the best technical wizards that money can buy, the investigators will have to come to the conclusion that the Kenosha suffered from a cataclysmic fault in its hyperdrive just as the ship made the transition into hyperspace. Needless to say, no survivors and no debris worth mentioning will be found. A one-in-a-billion chance of such a thing occurring, but the investigators will have to go with that explanation. After a few weeks here and at the hyper limit of this system, your friends will leave. All of you will be considered dead. And nobody cares what happens to dead people."
     Another rating yelled out. "You actually sent the crews of two ships to their deaths... just to get some women?! Even though some of those women you wanted would be killed in the capture process?!"
     "My dear," Darby said, "you'll find in this world that some things can only be obtained at a loss. I would rather have all of the Kenosha's female crew alive. As I said, this was a wildcard opportunity. I had to take it now because it would never occur again." Darby yawned deeply and turned to his guards. "Guards, have these women taken to their quarters in groups of five. Have the odd-one-out brought to me. She'll have the pleasure of being the first one to spend the night in my bed chamber."
     That enraged the women beyond endurance. They rushed the platform, but all of them were stunned by the guards' guns. They were then divided into groups of five, with the one left over going into Darby's bedroom. Darby was very pleased with himself. In time, he believed, the navy women would thank him for letting them live and being a part of his new-found harem.
 

4

Lt Commander Tabitha Gladstone, late of the CSN cruiser Kenosha, paced the outer wall of Darby's private residence. It was a week after the capture, a week after the deaths of so many of her fellow crewmates. Also in that week doctors had examined all the women and, after basic treatment of bruises and cuts, applied a hypo to each of them, save Tabitha. She wondered why she was singled out.
     Tabitha's woolgathering stopped as she saw her four wetware-equipped ratings. Regina, Belinda, Marlina, and Yuki were pacing the wall also, looking for a way to get out. It was a way to pass the time, a way to keep hoping. Tabitha used her 'ware to contact the foursome. I see that some of my charges are taking the time to scout the place. Find anything new?
     Yuki kept her eyes on the wall, and replied to Tabitha's 'message'. Nothing, Chief. This Darby jerk has really covered the bases. Even if we did escape we'll still have to contend with 400 meters of sheer rock wall and 1,000 kilometers of hostile terrain... and hungry predators. I remember the planet briefing well, and I don't care to run into those cragcats at any time of day.
     She has that right, Chief, Marlina added. As for electronics, I can only say Darby has the bare minimum. They strip-searched us real good, but they haven't considered wetware in their calculations, assuming that they knew 'ware was being used in the first place. However, our implanted gizmos are as much worth as lead shoes if we can't access a computer or radio system. From what I've seen here we might as well be back in the 18th century.
     Tabitha nodded a reply and continued walking down the wall. Her friends were right. Whatever electronics Darby may have must be under tight control. Naval personnel were noted for their inventiveness, and he wouldn't want his 'harem' to get any ideas and find a way to escape or call for help. The compound was literally in the middle of nowhere. The closest habitation was the main town of Candice Prime, over a thousand klicks away in predator-infested wasteland. The navy women could go ahead and hope all they like, but it only served to salve their anxiety. The criminal governor no doubt utterly enjoyed his power over the women. The Commander vowed that Darby would die before her eyes, but she honestly didn't see that happening anytime soon.

Later that day, Tabitha had the distinct displeasure of meeting with Darby. He was on an open-air deck, sitting in a plain lawn chair. His bodyguards looked like walls of muscle compared to his slight, aged frame. Tabitha went to parade-rest in front of him, eyes over his head.
     Darby found it amusing. "Still playing the pillar of strength, Commander? Go ahead, play the figurehead of authority for the benefit of your 'men'. The other forty-five women will come around to seeing things my way. And I have you to thank for providing that motivation."
     Tabitha still kept her eyes straight ahead. "How did figure that? Going to make me an object of control?"
     "My, how perceptive you are. The Academy does teach its officers well. Yes, my dear, you're going to be a control. Unless your people do what I say, you're going to punished. For each infraction they commit you'll be humiliated, each punishment getting worse and worse. I put you on display, showing what each little act of defiance is doing to you. So tonight, at dinner, you'll tell your friends to obey every command of mine at once and without fail. Otherwise your body will become less and less attractive."
     The Commander bit her tongue. Darby was right. As much as she wanted her crewmates to make an escape attempt or be general nuisances, they'd break down once they saw what was happening to their commander. Not right away, but eventually the women would have to stop. No, it was better to have her people obey, and stay alive. It was clear that Darby didn't know about wetware or that Tabitha and her four ratings were equipped with the new technology. Sooner or later Darby would screw up and let one of those 'ware-equipped women get access to a computer, a communications terminal, anything to let the outside world know what was happening on Candice. As much as she hated the gleam of victory in Darby's eyes, Tabitha had to submit...for now. "Mr Darby, I am forced to bow to your logic. My people will obey your commands."
     "Excellent, my dear Commander. For starters, from now on you'll be known as Tabby. Much easier to remember than Tabitha. I look forward to seeing you tonight at dinner. Seven p.m. sharp. Remember that... Tabby."
     Tabby only nodded her reply, came to attention and did an about-face. She marched away with the precision of a drill-square soldier.
 

5

Cleaning the table with an antique duster, Tabby lifted a marble statuette and cleared the area around that statuette's base. It was the last time she'd be doing that chore. After replacing the statuette she headed downstairs... to the furnace room. While going down the stairs Tabby recalled the night she made her speech to her people. They were quite indignant at the conditions Darby had placed on Tabby. Maintaining her air of control and authority, she told her people to obey Darby's commands as they would her own. Regina, Belinda, Marlina, and Yuki, the foursome, heard the hidden message in Tabby's speech. Using their wetware to keep in silent communication with Tabby, the four became the de facto commanders of the remaining forty-one women.
     Over the next two weeks, the four each took command over ten of the women. The odd-one-out, the only medical technician to survive the Kenosha's destruction, Tamara Jackson, was taken away from her friends. The women kept busy and pondered the fate of Tamara and Tabby. The four had their charges clean and straighten out their rooms, police the enclosed grounds, and do daily exercise. This activity reminded them of basic training, and strengthened their bonds of comaraderie.
     Darby must've been a closet luddite. There weren't even any laundry machines. All clothes had to be washed by hand and left to dry on clothes lines. On those days the women wore only their underwear. This may have amused Darby, watching the women parade and exercise in their skivvies. On those days he often said that he liked 'women out of uniform'.
     However, it occurred to Darby that as long as the women wore their shipsuits, regardless how ragged they'll eventually become, they will still consider themselves naval personnel. He couldn't let that happen. One night he had all their shipsuits taken away and simple shirts and pants put in their place. The women didn't agree. The next morning the women got up and assembled outside for the daily count. It was a cool morning, and dew was still on the neargrass, but it didn't bother the women that they were naked as jaybirds. They even refused to wear the shoes that Darby provided.
     After the first few seconds of amusement, Darby turned furious. He told the women that they could play their little games as much as they want. Their precious Tabby will suffer for each little infraction. Thanks to wetware, Tabby was able to tell the foursome what Darby did. Instead of being a bird in a gilded cage, Tabby became a maid. Now wearing a skimpy French maid outfit, Tabby spent the next two days cleaning every nook and cranny in Darby's expansive house.
     To top their stunt, the women next decided to imitate Darby's voice. Still in the buff, they paraded to the cadence of Belinda's voice. In her very best Darby impersonation, Belinda had the women perform drill sequences that would've made a marine feel like he had two left feet. The mobster cum governor didn't like that at all.
     Darby gathered all the women together in the courtyard, save for Tabby and Tamara. With a deliberate tone, he told them what was injected into them three weeks ago: nanites, breast-enhancing nanites on time-delay activation. The forty-four assembled women, still naked for God and man to see, ever so lightly glanced down at their naked busts. With devilish delight, Darby told them that in five weeks that they'll be the proud bearers of breasts the size of overinflated basketballs. And that wasn't all...
     Darby had a new punishment for Tabby. The mansion had an antique heating system. Instead of electricity, or even natural gas, the house was heated by coal. That's right, coal. Coal hadn't been used for anything, save for making diamonds or paperweights, since 2048. He told the forty-four women that Tabby would have the pleasure of shoveling coal every day until he was satisfied that his harem knew who was in command. As for Tamara... well, she'd have the distinction of being the only 'pillow woman' in the Darby Compound. Tamara's breasts would grow to the size of bean-bags. To make matters worse, the house had no artificial gravity rooms, so Tamara would eventually need help going to the bathroom and taking showers. With even more evil pleasure, he told the assembled women that Tamara would have no micropumps implanted to help her heart pump blood into her enlarged breasts. Each step would be a labor for her. And if the women pulled off another smart-ass stunt, Darby was willing to let Tamara's breasts get so big that she'd die of a heart attack... and pick a new woman to be his afternoon nap-lap.
     The foursome had to admit defeat. Regina, acting as Tabby's replacement, spoke on behalf of the women, and affirmed that she and her 'men' would behave from now on. Darby was pleased. To show his gratitude he allowed the women to get their uniforms back... modified to his benefit. The shipsuits were cut up drastically. Now each woman had a pair of shorts. The tops were ever more modified - they were basically very high-cut tank-tops. When the womens' breasts stopped growing they'd be only half covered by those skimpy tank-tops. As much as they wanted to bitch about what happened to their uniforms the women 'sucked it up'; they internalized their displeasure and maintained an air of control and non-expression. Only that night did they cry into their pillows in frustration. The foursome were still in communication with Tabby. She, too, shared her friends' frustration and cried with them.
 

6

After shoveling a load of coal in the furnace, Tabby took a breather. She imaged herself being an engineer on one of those ancient, coal-fired steamships, feeding the ever-hungry fires with black rocks. At least Tabby wasn't alone. With her were four young men; all tall, strong, sweating, and stripped to the waist. Every open patch of skin was covered with sweat, coal dust, or both.
     Earlier, feeling a little daring, she had asked how those four men came to work for Darby. She wasn't surprised that the men were prisoners also. The four were high-school seniors... two years ago. Back on New Sardinia, the boys decided to soap the windows of a limousine as part of a senior-year prank. Instead, they were caught in the act by one Travis Darby. In a flash they were transported to Candice and made to work for the crime lord. In addition to feeding the furnace , the boys-turned-men worked the grounds and did household repairs. They too thought of escape, but soon were shown that escape was impossible.
     Seeing that Tabby was sweating up a storm one man, Rico, gave her his water ration. The heat and work were taking their toll on Tabby, and Rico's gesture was worth its weight in gold. She gladly drank the water and thanked her chivalrous friend. Rico only smiled and shoveled in another load of coal into the furnace. At least eight more shovels were needed to heat the house for the rest of the day. With strength born of determination, Tabby went back to work and assisted her four new comrades.

The four 'ware-enhanced techs were sitting under a tree, enjoying the shade provided by the ample branches. It was now the sixth week, and three weeks since the nanites had started working. All the women now sported well-defined breasts. In two more weeks they'd reach their final sizes. The skimpy tank-tops would only cover the upper half of the breasts when the growth stopped. The women were definitely not looking forward to that event.
     Even more depressing was Darby's announcement that the Navy search effort was over and the last ship had left that morning. The normally purposeful women prisoners were understandably listless. They exercised little and spent most of the day sitting around, either on the ground or up on tree branches.
     Regina spoke, breaking the numbing silence. "Well, at least our chests won't be bigger than that marshall we rescued nine months ago."
     "We'll be big enough for Darby. Big enough to bury his head between our balloons," Belinda added. "and he'll be coming for us this week."
     Belinda was referring to Darby's bed partners. He had slept with forty out of the forty-six women so far, one for every day of captivity. That left Tamara, the four techs, and Tabby; it was just a matter of who was next. They soon found out. A guard came to the foursome and ordered Yuki to follow him. She got up and went with the guard, telling her friends over the link that she'd manage, somehow. Yuki was the only virgin in the whole group, even before Darby had bedded the others. She was scared to death, though her face showed only blank acceptance.

Tabby was sleeping on a cot in the furnace room. The work had driven her to exhaustion, and the four men prisoners made to work the furnace had given her some water and a thin blanket. The oppressive heat didn't bother her sleep now, and she even managed to dream, or least she thought so.
     She saw Darby in her mind's eye. The criminal governor had on a rich robe and held two glasses of wine in his hands. He gave one to Tabby, and made a toast. Wine to Tabby tasted all the same - like vinegar. As the dream progressed, Darby undressed his companion. Tabby could've sworn she felt the lacy gown she had on in the dream come off her body. Now naked, the unlikely couple got onto a sinfully soft but firm bed. Darby touched his bed partner, and again Tabby felt like she was actually being touched. The touching progressed to fondling of breasts and buttocks, then the thighs and the nether regions. Unable to help herself, Tabby actually moaned in pleasure, moving one hand to her crotch. She was shocked to find that her panty was actually moist.
     If it were some perverse, exotic dream then Tabby didn't mind. She needed a distraction, however odd, to take her mind off the fact that the Navy had called off its search for the Kenosha and any possible survivors. As the dream progressed, Darby's face changed to Roger's, making the experience more palatable. Then it struck Tabby like a brick.
     It wasn't a dream; it was actually happening. For some unexplainable reason, her wetware was receiving the transmitions of another 'ware-equipped person. She saw a ceiling-mounted mirror through her 'eyes', and in the mirror was a face: Yuki's face.
     Tabby wanted to pull out, but she stayed in. She thought it as much a violation as what Darby was doing now to Yuki, but there was a difference. Yuki was her friend, and Tabby knew that Yuki was a virgin. At least Tabby could still be there to provide instant comfort and support while Darby contemplated his next conquest. As the bed partners climaxed and decoupled, Tabby came over the link, consoling and comforting her friend. Yuki knew that someone was 'watching' her, and was surprised as much as Tabby to find that the wetware was transmitting her sexual stimulations. For the next hour Tabby consoled her now-deflowered friend, hoping to ease the hurt as much as she could. Yuki mentally cried over the link, knowing that at least one person cared.
 

7

It was morning on the last day of the eighth week. Darby got up early to see the women fall out and assemble for morning exercises. As predicted, the forty-four assembled women now sported breasts that were half-again as large as basketballs. The cut-up shipsuits now showed signs of wear. The shorts, made from the lower half of the suits, were a little ratty on the edges. The tank-tops, made from the top half, were equally ratty. Although nanite-enhanced and maintained mammaries were proud and firm, the women found running with them cumbersome and just did power walks around the compound. Darby liked those walks, seeing his women 'fall out of uniform' with each step.
     Later that morning Darby had the women turn in their tiny work outfits. A team of tailors and seamstresses arrived and fitted out the women in basic harem clothes. Darby watched in barely-controlled lust as his harem tried on their new garb. Once clad, they formed up in their drill pad for their daily regimen of marching. Darby headed back to his office. Tabby was waiting there, and Darby was intent to make her see 'reason'.

During the two weeks after Yuki lost her virginity, Tabby kept in daily contact with her violated friend. The other three techs were informed of what happened to Yuki and the strange side-effect of the wetware. The navy women thought that the 'ware connection was on a much deeper level than even the biotechnicans were willing to admit. So far only Tabby and Yuki had had the experience, but they all reasoned it could happen to them as well.
     Darby entered the office, interrupting Tabby's thoughts. She went into a parade-rest stance, and the sex-crazed Darby only smiled lustfully as he sat down. Tabby was a mess. She was allowed to keep her shipsuit in one piece, but it was filthy. Coal dust was on every square centimeter. The dark blue and black of the suit were barely visible past the dust. She was allowed to bathe only twice a week--and today wasn't one of those days.
     After making himself comfortable, Darby used his silver tongue on the miserable-looking Lt Commander. "It's over, lass. Your navy friends gave up two weeks ago. Your women have followed every one of my commands since your employment in the furnace room. I'm now satisfied that you have been 'rehabilitated'. At my word, you can rejoin your friends and be part of my harem. Nothing more can be gained by your uncooperative attitude. Please say yes, and you will have a life of luxury and contentment. Only at the price of providing a wealthy man a well-endowed, shapely woman to look at every day."
     I hope all of you heard that, Tabby said over the link. That bastard thinks he's won. I would rather spend the rest of my life in the furnace room than give that lech the satisfaction of seeing me in glorified skivvies.
     Don't sweat it, Chief. I got a plan, Yuki replied. There was a hint of a caper in Yuki's 'voice', and, via the 'ware, Tabby was able to see what was going on.
     Yuki and her three friends marched the other women to the duck pond. Next, the little women spoke in their best drill sergeant impersonations on the importance of camouflage. Grabbing a cup of mud in each hand, the foursome then proceeded to put that mud on their bodies and harem clothes. After getting a good coating, the four next pulled up and applied neargrass blades to their mud-covered forms. Satisfied with their work, they then told their 'troops' that they should do the same, becoming walking pieces of ground.
     A guard rushed in the office to tell Darby what the women were doing. Furious, he had Tabby pulled along. When he arrived she saw all the women had put mud and neargrass blades on their bodies. The harem outfits--made from genuine silk, imported from Earth, worth over 100,000 c-bills--ruined in a matter of minutes. Somehow holding back his rage, Darby announced that Tabby would now be his permanent house maid. Not wanting her to be the odd-woman-out, Darby had nanites injected in the still-dirty Commander. In six weeks Tabby would sport breasts measurably bigger than the rest of the women. But first she would spend one more week in the furnace room, just out of spite.
     As Darby walked away with Tabby in tow, Yuki yelled out a final command. "Okay, girls. Looks like we passed the camouflage portion of training. Hit the pond!" With that, all the women dived into the water, shedding the ruined harem outfits and enjoying the impromptu swim.

It was the last day for Tabby in the furnace room. She made the decision to tell the four men prisoners about her 'ware. There was the risk that the men would rat on her, but after spending so much time with them she decided that they were made of sterner stuff. The men had more access to the house than Tabby; perhaps, she reasoned, they could help in the women's quest to escape.
     One of the men, Lucci, had a flash of insight. He remembered that Darby always had an electronic key handy. Some rooms in the mansion could only be accessed by that key. Tabby thought of the possibilities, and she thanked her friends with a supportive hug. With her new job as maid she'd have opportunities to stay in contact with those men at various times. She also informed her four ratings. The next time the foursome had sex with Darby, they'd try to get hold of the key. The wetware would do the rest.
 

8

It was now the eleventh week. Looking out of a third-floor window, Tabby saw her women fall out for morning exercises and drill. They still had the pieces of shipsuit allowed them, with only the shorts providing any real coverage. For the past three weeks the women had walked around the huge compound in formation. Their enlarged busts would jiggle too much in any sort of run; pushups were almost impossible, and sit-ups were a distant memory. However, there were enough exercises to keep their stomachs flat and firm, just as Darby wanted them.
     After breakfast and a shower, the women put on their new harem outfits. Now bedecked in gems, diamonds, and gold lacing, the outfits made the women look like half-naked, gussied up dolls. The halter tops were quite snug and firm, exposing the upper half of each breast and the upper quarter of each aureole. The solid bottoms were connected to transparent leggings, each ending in a solid cuff at the ankles. The tiny, armless vests were pure decorations, unable to reach around the massive breasts to close in front. Each woman's head bore a tiny, rounded cap. To complement the apparel, Darby spared no expense on jewelry, necklaces, and ornately wrought earrings. The women were in a cage, but it was a gilded cage.
     Tabby went back to work. One of her jobs was to check on Darby's pillow woman, the surviving medical technician, Tamara Jackson. Medical technicians were more than nurses and less than full-fledged doctors, but Darby's mind only saw the word nurse. And shouldn't nurses have large, shapely breasts? Now fully enlarged, Tamara spent her days on the second floor of the mansion. A special chair/bed was provided for her, and she spent eight hours each night and two each afternoon in it. Darby slept on Tamara's overample bosom on afternoons and Friday nights. Tamara was finally at peace now that another female survivor was with her to talk to and cry tears of frustration on.
     Tamara wasn't as large as Darby made her out to be, but it was bad enough. Even with the light flesh built by the nanites the breasts were heavy. Tamara had to wrap an arm around each one in order to walk. After spending a few minutes with Tamara, Tabby had to go perform her other duties. Giving one last supportive hug, Tabby left her friend to fend for herself for one more day. At least she knew that she wasn't alone anymore.
     The four furnace men - Rico, Lucci, Tony, and Pepo - were making their rounds, chopping wood for Darby's fireplace and preparing to mow a section of the massive compound. Tabby brought out some lemonade for the men to drink. They really appreciated the gesture, and told Tabby more about the compound layout. Power cells, recharged by techs brought in on the infrequent supply shuttle, provided electricity. The cells were kept in one of the few rooms under lock and key. The Armory was another such room. Thanking the men for that piece of information, Tabby went back to work. Darby was not known for his patience.

Darby lounged on his plastic-covered bed. Before him were four women that used to be life-support technicians, each one barely over 1.4 meters in height. In a spirited mood, Darby decided to have his nightly pleasure with all four of these women. He had them stripped naked and anointed with vegetable oil. Darby had his room and bed covered in a thin layer of plastic, so that the resulting mess would be minimized. He ordered the women to pleasure him, to make a 'tossed salad' with their bodies. He had to admit the women were quite willing to oblige him.
     Regina, in concealed joy, saw that Darby did indeed have an electronic key. He was wearing it like a necklace. She made it her mission to get that key in her hands for the few seconds the 'ware needed to transmit a special program into that key. The four tiny women began a sensual rub job on Darby. Belinda worked on the left arm, moving it up and down like a substitute penis between her breasts. Marlina did the same with the right arm. Pouring more oil on Darby's backside, Yuki used her hands for a minute and then used her breasts. Regina worked the front, her hands massaging Darby's pecs and shoulders.
     Darby realized that he still had on his key. He took it off, but Regina grabbed it. Holding it firmly in her left hand, she worked it over her breasts. The cool metal caused her nipples to harden and become erect. She handed the key back to Darby, who let it fall to the floor. Transfixed on Regina, Darby worked his hands on her, tracing and touching each oily centimeter of skin he could reach--and he could reach all of it. The mutual oil rub and massaging party continued all night. The fivesome shared a common shower and Darby had the pleasure of even more touching and fondling. Only when did the four women leave did they perform a mental high-five. Darby's electronic key was compromised. It was only a matter of time before the crime lord used it, and the 'ware-equipped women would know when and where that key was in use.
 

9

Five days after the oily sex party Darby had with the foursome, the criminal governor made one of his infrequent trips to Candice Prime, the capital town of Candice. Before leaving he used his key to access a room. A room that Tabby wasn't able to enter... until then.
     Strangely enough, that room was right next to the third floor linen closet. There were no guards in the hall, and Tabby stood by the locked door. She ordered her wetware to unlock the door, and she was delighted that the infected key had done its job. The door opened of its own volition. Carefully sneaking in, Tabby saw the room was the Armory. A row of heavy-duty stun rifles and catch-net throwers lay in plain view.
     Tabby had her 'ware prepare and transmit a changeling program into all of those guns' computers. The guns still functioned, but now any of the 'ware-equipped women could turn them off remotely. Better yet, the unaffected guns the guards were carrying wouldn't stay that way. Once in range of an infected weapon, that weapon would transmit the changeling program into the 'clean' one. The affected weapons would remain 'dirty', even after repeated wipes of their built-in computers. Work completed, Tabby left the room, having her 'ware lock the door. With a small hand cloth she cleaned the door handle and proceeded to her next chore.

Darby came back the next day, and he wasn't alone. Ten friends had come to visit him, all either fellow mobsters or obscenely wealthy men. That night, Darby had his harem assemble outside in groups of four. Each of Darby's friends had four women to attend and pleasure them: one woman served as a living headrest, her bosom cushioning a man's head, two women worked on his arms and chest, massaging them and giving manicures, and the fourth woman worked on his feet and legs and also trimmed his toenails.
     For the men it was heaven; for the women the scene resembled some ancient Arabian adventure film. All smiles and charm outside, inside the women wanted to strangle the men they serviced. Only Darby's threats of punishment held them in check. To underscore his control, he brought out Tamara and Tabby.
     The women were a mix of sorrow and anger when they saw Tamara. The medical technician was a true pillow woman, resting in a special chair and in turn providing rest to one Travis Darby. The crime lord was quite pleased with his control. The four women servicing him kept up appearances, but at all times one was holding one of Tamara's hands, out of sight, providing the pillow woman at least some comfort and support.
     Tabby had her own predicament. Wearing a skimpy maid outfit, Tabby was made to serve the men drinks and appetizers. Like her women, the Commander's front now sported overlarge breasts shown off by her low-cut shirt. Darby believed that Tabby, as commander of her crewmates, should have a bust commensurate to her status. Breasts the size of large watermelons proved difficult to work with. Tabby had to serve bending over sideways, because her arms didn't quite clear her front. Since her skirt was practically non-existent, every time she bent over her panty-clad bottom was exposed for everyone to see. The men found it amusing, but the women saw it as just another insult, a slap in the face that showed Darby's control over them.
     The night came to a close. Each man was escorted to the bedrooms by his own quartet of lovelies. The 'ware women all hoped that one of these men would foul up and use a minicomp or file pad before retiring to sleep, and they weren't disappointed. One man, Sal Oberstein, was going over his ship's manifest. One of his quartet of bed partners was Marlina, and she saw her chance. Naked and proud, she grabbed the file pad out of Sal's hands and clutched it to her bosom. The receptors in her nipples came to life, and mere seconds later the 'ware transmitted a special changeling program into that pad. To remove suspicion, Marlina moved that pad up and down her breasts, pretending to get aroused.
     "Why do file work now, my mountain of a man?" Marlina said in seductive voice. "My three friends and I will make you forget work, at least for the next six hours."
     Sal's loins caught fire. He took the pad away from Marlina and dropped the device onto the floor. In minutes he was surrounded in a sea of womanhood, wishing that the night would never end.

After a hearty breakfast, Sal and his other nine friends were taken back to Candice Prime. There, they next boarded their respective shuttles and returned to their ships. Sal went to his cabin and uploaded his revised manifest into the computer. Had he stayed to watch, he would've noticed that the upload took a bit longer than usual. Instead, Sal was in the head, relieving himself. The changeling program that Marlina implanted into the pad was now loose in the main computer of Sal's freighter. In ten minutes it was over. The changeling program took over the ship, but allowed the crew to think that they still had control. The program just had to wait for the ship to enter hyperspace, then it would really be in command.
 

10

It was late, and Tabby finished folding the last bit of laundry. She put the bed linen away and made for her small, private bedroom. The completely spartan room felt very empty. Glad to get out of her tiny maid outfit, Tabby pulled a tent-like nightshirt over herself and sank into the bed, going over a timeline in her head. It was now eleven days since Darby's friends left. If there truly was a God than that Oberstein jerk would've left the system the very day he reached the town of Candice Prime. Oberstein surely would upload his manifest into his computer aboard ship, and the changeling program would take care of the rest. At a minimum of ten more days, most likely fifteen, Tabby and her crewmates could expect a rescue.
     As Tabby drifted into sleep, she noticed that Belinda still had her 'ware on, and, just as with Yuki, it was transmitting her thoughts and feelings to Tabby. Belinda was having a romantic fantasy imagining herself wrapped up in the arms of her dream lover. Tabby was about to turn off her 'ware and give Belinda her privacy when she 'saw' the face of the fantasy man that Belinda was pleasuring. It was Darby.
     Bad enough that my people had to service that bastard Darby and his men. Now he's taking over their dreams! Tabby was livid, and she brought her 'ware to full function and contacted Belinda.
     Technician 3rd class Grey, what in the hell are you doing? Tabby's words were like fists, smashing Belinda to consciousness. Waiting for a few more seconds, Tabby went back on the attack. It's bad enough the Darby is manipulating us, making us to forget who we are and how we ended up here. He wants you to think of him as your master. If he has your dreams then you might as well give up now. Well, mister, you want to be a harem hussy for the rest of your life? You're still in the Commonwealth Navy and under my command. I expect you to perform your duty. That's an order, sailor!
     Belinda sounded like she was crying over the link as she replied. I'm sorry, ma'am. I couldn't help it. That program in Oberstein's file pad is a one-in-a-million shot. So many things can go wrong. I'm afraid that my resistance is going. I'm... Belinda stopped, and most likely was crying in reality. Tabby came back over the link, trying to salve her friend's fear and uncertainty.
     Don't sweat it, Grey. If Darby truly knew about us then he would've killed us at the start. I want you to stop crying and suck it up. That changeling program will work, and I can give you my word as your superior officer that Darby will pay for his crimes with his life. Who knows, we might be able to take over the compound once all the locked doors become corrupted by his key. Please, give me your word that you'll be as strong as you can. For me and for everyone else trapped here.
     Thanks to the link Tabby actually heard Belinda stop her sobbing. The addled rating took a full minute before responding. Aye-Aye, ma'am. I'll do my best.
     Grey, Tabby said in reply, I don't expect you to do anything else. Get some sleep. I'll talk to you and the other three tomorrow morning. With that both women went into slumberland. This time Belinda avoided having Darby in her dream.
 

11

Oberstein was rudely awakened by the attention buzzer. Cursing softly, he called the bridge to find out what was going on.
     "Sir, this is Helmsman Bates. For some reason we're coming out of hyper four days early."
     "Early?" Oberstein replied. "Was the navigation plan entered correctly?"
     "Aye, sir, but the back-up program says were scheduled to stop at Jadestone. That system is ten hyper-days out from Candice. In five minutes we'll be out of hyper and I can't reverse the process."
     Oberstein was a little put off at the delay this apparent glitch would cause. A ship had to be clear of a sun's hyper threshold before going into hyper, but a ship can hyper into a sun's gravitational influence. An additional day in normal space wouldn't make much of a delay, but Oberstein liked to be punctual. Getting dressed, he headed for the bridge. Jadestone played host to a navy fleet base, and Oberstein had to put in the required hellos and information requests to that base and Jadestone traffic control.
     The freighter exited hyperspace...practically on top of the Jadestone fleet base. Normally a ship entered normal space of a planet or base with an ample safety margin. But in this instance the ship was a mere 50,000 klicks away. Needless to say it was a major faux-pas and Oberstein prepared to contact the base and 'apologize' for his ship's inadvertent proximity to the base.
     The changeling program in Oberstein's computers had other ideas. It seized control of the communications systems and contacted the fleet base on a coded channel. Oberstein was completely confused by what was happening. It was as if some gremlin had taken over his ship. His techs were locked out of their computers, rendered impotent by the crafty program that resided in the ship's brain. In a matter of minutes two heavy cruisers hoved into view and locked tractor beams onto the freighter. Oberstein heard an order coming from one of those ships, telling him that he was under arrest for aiding and abetting pirates. Any resistance would be met with instant reprisal.
     Numbed by the rapid turn of events, Oberstein replied in a soft voice that he would put up no resistance and would await the arrival of the marine boarding party. Oberstein just hoped that he'd get the opportunity to find out how and why his own ship turned against him.
 

12

Tabby went through the checklist again. Darby had visited all the rooms that were locked. In turn those rooms were now available to her, thanks to the changeling program that infected the locks. One room had a communications system, capable of contacting a ship in orbit. Another was apparently Darby's secret study. It held his personal computer and records of all of his dealings, legal or otherwise. Another was the medical stores. The final room held the power cells. Tabby and her ratings finally knew what Darby had in his house. It was the twenty-third day since Oberstein's ship left, and the supply shuttle did its duty yesterday. Darby himself said that he was on an extended holiday, leaving his work to his loyal, and totally clueless, Lt Governor. And all the guards were on duty this afternoon. On duty with their infected stun rifles. Her mind made up, Tabby decided to effect the rescue of herself and her crewmates. Now.

It was a lazy afternoon. The huge swimming pool was in use. Darby had his harem wear just thongs and sandals. The women lounged around the pool or floated on air mattresses on the cool water. Darby had three of them apply sun screen to his body, enjoying every stroke of their hands.
     Tabby was still wearing the tiny maid outfit. Thanks to its black fabric, she was sweating up a storm. Walking toward Darby, she contacted her four ratings, informing them that now was the time. In turn those four women subtly told the other women to prepare themselves. Holding a kettle of tea, she stepped next to her 'master', awaiting for him to acknowledge her presence.
     "Well, thank you Tabby. I was just about to send for you. Please, do me the pleasure of pouring a cup of tea." Darby had his shades on, so Tabby could only guess that he was full of himself, as usual.
     Instead of pouring the tea into a cup, Tabby aimed the kettle spout over Darby's crotch. The three women servicing Darby knew what was going to happen next. In an instant the crime lord cried in pain, his manhood scalded by hot tea. The three held him in place as Tabby continued to pour.
     The guards nearby rushed to his aid. At that moment Tabby sent an order via her 'ware to the guard's guns. The power cells in those guns were ordered to overload and explode. Next she had all the other guns explode, knowing that by now, all the rifles had been infected by her changeling program. Tabby sent another command, this time to her four 'ware-equipped ratings. In turn those women ordered the others to secure the house and the compound. The few remaining house staff were easily cowed and the off-duty guards were no match for the now-freed, vengeful navy women.
     It was over in a mere twenty-five minutes. An exploding stun rifle more often than not kills the person holding it. The few surviving guards lost their hands or had other severe injuries. Tabby had her crewmates do what they could with the medical supplies from the house to aid the crippled guards. As for Darby himself...
     Darby was still in his lawn chair, but tied up quite well. He whimpered in pain, crotch and genitals swollen from the hot tea. Tamara was brought out of the house with two friends helping her walk and support her massive bust; she would not be denied seeing Darby tied up and helpless.
     Tabby had Regina get her a cleaver from the now-open kitchen lockers. The Commander now held that cleaver, looking quite purposeful. Darby could only squirm in fear. Turning to face the now-assembled women, Tabby spoke loud and clear. "My fellow crewmates, now that we are free, I can tell you how our freedom was achieved. Thanks to wetware implanted into me, technicians Souza, Grey, Neru, and Youngerford," she pointed out those four tiny women, "we were able to infiltrate several computer systems and file pads belonging to Darby and one of his friends. I expect any day now a rescue force will arrive from Jadestone Fleet Base. Thanks to our fine work the rescuers will instead find us already liberated, and more decently attired and 'presentable' to boot." That comment brought a few sniggers and laughs. No one wanted to be seen in those tiny harem outfits, except maybe by their husbands.
    In a more formal voice, Tabby continued her speech. "Mr Darby here got more than he bargained for. He should've known that kidnaping and forcing navy personnel to do his perverted bidding would be his undoing." She moved back to Darby, cradling the cleaver in her hands. She motioned to the three women that held him down earlier. They did so again, and Darby's left arm was untied and placed on the ground. The gleaming metal of the cleaver was bright, and Darby would've screamed were it not for the gag in his mouth.
     "Remember all those weeks ago when he said that he wanted women to service him. Service him for the rest of his life." Tabby looked on at her women. The crew nodded and murmured their affirmative replies. "Now, as I see it, since this man still has hands he could've 'serviced' himself. However, it is in my power to make his desire come true. All of you, listen well. When the rescue team questions you on what is about to happen, tell them the truth. What I am about to do is of my own volition. I did not ask for anyone's opinion nor did anyone volunteered theirs. I alone will pay for what I am about to do."
     Before anyone could stop her Tabby swung high and brought down the cleaver on Darby's left wrist. It was a clean cut, and Darby nearly choked on the gag. The right hand followed the left in quick order, and Tabby had smart bandages applied to the fresh stumps on Darby's arms.
     "There you go, you abusive bastard. I may lose my naval career over this, but at least I'll see you die before my very eyes. Pirates and those who support pirates can only expect one sentence from any court: death. Don't worry, a military trial is short and sentence is carried out immediately. I expect that the trial will be over by lunchtime. Lunch... with plenty of tea." Tabby slammed a fist into Darby's wounded crotch. The pain was so intense that he blacked out.

It was now late afternoon. Tabitha, no longer Tabby, and her crewmates had a cookout dinner. It was a celebration that was long in coming. Genuine Nebraskan steaks with barbeque sauce, Australian beer, Crimean caviar, and other dishes were prepared from Darby's ample grocery supplies. Darby was tied up to a tree, and at a distance he watched his former harem celebrate. He didn't know which hurt more: having his hands cut off or seeing the finest, most expensive caviar being used as so much relish on hot dogs.
     Tabitha had the four young men in the furnace room set free to join the party. The freed navy women were still in their thongs, and the men resigned themselves to the fact that the women would be that way for the rest of the day. Tabitha sensed the poor men's uneasiness; after spending two years as slaves, the men were now looking at more than forty over-endowed, shapely, and practically naked young women. She resolved to fix that problem. Tabitha got the party goers' attention.
     "Crewmates, let me introduce the fine young men who helped me endure my time in the furnace room." Motioning with her arm, Tabitha named off the men. "Rico, Lucci, Tony, and Pepo. These poor men were kidnaped and forced to work for Darby for over two years. And the majority of that time was spent feeding that damnable furnace with coal." The assembled women looked at the coaldust-covered men, and the attention made those men blush.
     "As you can see, shoveling coal is quite dirty work. It is a duty for a member of the Navy to provide assistance to civilians in distress. I have decided that we should give these men whatever assistance they require, including a good scrubbing and 'companionship' for tonight. Despite what has happened to us over the last four months, are there any volunteers to 'service' these men?"
     All the navy women raised their hands. Smiling, Tabitha had the men get up and walk towards the shallow end of the pool. "Don't worry, friends. You're in the safest of hands. Unlike Darby, all four of you are fully deserving of the service we're providing." With a devilish glint in her eyes, Tabitha egged on the men to take off their clothes and enter the pool. While one batch of women cleaned the filthy garments, others brought out scented oils, lotions, and bath brushes. The men allowed themselves to feel happy and satisfied for the first time in over two years. The navy women were especially gentle and supportive, giving the men the best bath of their lives.
     Afterwards, wrapped in towels, each man was led off to the house by a woman -- right into one of the waiting bedrooms. Tabitha was surprised that Yuki had recovered to the point where she was willing to bed a man of her own free will. Rico was a true gentleman, but he wasn't quite prepared for Yuki's new-found aggressiveness. Tabitha was sure that Yuki wouldn't allow herself to become a female version of Darby, but she'd probably do enough to confirm the myth that all sailors were sex-starved maniacs.
 

13

The rescue task group arrived thirty-six hours later. Led by the battleship Warspite and the fleet carrier Coral Sea, with attending escorts, the task group was the largest concentration of navy ships in Candice since the colony was founded. Using the radio in Darby's formerly locked radio room, Lt Commander Tabitha Gladstone had kept an around-the-clock watch, waiting for any navy broadcast. The Kenosha survivors were finally able to express their joy in being rescued. When the rescue force landed in the compound they found it like a cadet barracks ready for inspection. All the women had on oversized shirts liberated from Darby's ample closets. Even Tamara had a huge blanket wrapped around her, giving her a modicum of cover and dignity.
     The remaining Darby employees were sent off to Candice Prime for trial by a civilian court. The four young men that Tabitha worked with in the furnace room would be sent home. Also, they would have the pleasure of seeing Darby put on trial.
     With evidence provided by changeling program from Oberstein's ship and Darby's own computers, a military court was held in the very courtyard that Darby used to greet his harem. Darby, after several emotional outbursts, was gagged by his own counsel. His many crimes included aiding and abetting pirates (a capital offense), kidnaping, torture of naval personnel, and ordering the deaths of naval personnel. The Kenosha survivors had hoped against hope that the men were still alive, but the Roman Gold's captain testified on the stand that Darby had ordered his men to herd the captured male crewmembers into a hold, and then open the hold to space. The women kept quiet, but inside they screamed with rage and pain when their worst fear was confirmed.
     The court made its decision after a short recess. The sentence was death by firing squad. Darby's counsel did ask for some leniency, since Darby was already wounded. The court agreed. In no time Darby was tied up to a post and a seven man squad, composed of the Warspite's Marine complement, lined up. The six enlisted men used antique, single-shot, breach-loading rifles while the lieutenant in command had an equally antique Colt revolver. As promised, leniency was observed. The squad sent five bullets into the ex-governor's gut, with the sixth going into his chest. Darby still lived after two minutes of lingering. The lieutenant finished the man off with a shot to the head.
     With sentence carried out and Darby's body buried in an unmarked grave, the women were transported to the Warspite. A provisional colonial government was set up and tasked to run Candice until all of Darby's cronies were found and tried. Meanwhile a proper funeral service, led by Gladstone, was held for the Kenosha'sdead in the Warspite's main shuttle bay. Gladstone and her fellow survivors managed to make it through the service before letting some tears go down their cheeks.
     The Warspite, with the heavy cruiser Damascus and the destroyer Shigure in attendance, left orbit and headed for the hyper limit. Ten hours later, the trio of ships reached that limit and transited into hyperspace. The Kenosha survivors only then allowed themselves to yell in celebration. They were going home.
 

14

The personnel of Jadestone Fleet Base and the inhabitants of Jadestone greeted the returning women with parades, award ceremonies, and gifts. Thankfully, navy doctors had injected breast-reduction nanites into the women before they left Candice, so their ampleness would be less prominent on their arrival. Tamara still had a long way to get back to normal, but at least she got some custom clothes for her now-shrinking bust.
     An investigation was held on the conduct of the women while they were held prisoner by Darby. Thanks to the wetware recordings, the investigators were satisfied that the women did everything they could to endure and resist Darby's treatment for them. As for the 'wares transmissions of sexual feelings and images, the investigators wisely let the biotechnicians handle that hot potato.
     That still left Gladstone and her act of cutting off Darby's hands. As very short court was held: it lasted a mere ten minutes. It was determined that Gladstone was under 'extreme duress' when she cut of Darby's hands. She was reminded that such conduct would not be tolerated in the future and she should consider herself lucky that no charges were going to be made. Relieved, Gladstone left that court and headed home. She was the only one of the Kenosha's crew with relatives on Jadestone. The fact that the relative was her husband made it more special.

Roger Gladstone opened the door and found his wife on the other side. She had on a generic uniform, and her bust, though shrinking, still dominated her frame. This was the first time that the couple truly were alone since Tabitha came back, and she made that fact known as she practically crushed the wind out of Roger.
     "Whoa, honeycakes! After all you've been through, don't kill the man that still had faith in your return." Roger said after regaining his breath.
     "Please forgive me, darling. I just had to make sure that you're really here, and not part of some 'ware fantasy." Tabitha then gave her love a deep kiss that lasted for many moments. Roger maneuvered an arm around her waist and moved towards the bedroom.
     "Boy, Roger, you read my mind. Even though Darby didn't bed me he might as well have done it. Yuki's experience can easily be counted as a violation."
     "Oh, that 'ware thing. Was is really that intense?"
     Tabitha worked on one of Roger's ears. "Intense is the word. Far better than any VR simulation. But still it can't compare with the real thing."
     Roger raised his eyebrows in mock surprise. "And I thought that myth of sex-starved sailors was just that - a myth. Even I can tell you need some 'decompression'; in bust and in lust."
     They reached the bedroom and soon clothing was on the floor. Roger hated what that Darby jerk did to his beloved, but he was going to enjoy his wife's breasts while they lasted. Navy regulations stated that a woman's bust could only be a certain size, and Tabitha had four more weeks before she could be considered back in 'Regulation C' size.
     The first night of sex was wonderful. The couple spent most of the next day talking and catching up on events. After dinner and with a devilish grin Tabitha retrieved a suitcase and opened it. She next showed Roger the clothes that Darby had made her to wear. Tabitha put on the maid outfit and performed the part of a naughty house cleaner. The sex that night was even better.
     The following day had Tabitha go to a group therapy meeting with the rest of the Kenosha survivors. She got back home before Roger did, and when he did arrive he found Tabitha lying on the couch. She was wearing a fully-bedecked harem outfit. Seeing so many precious stones and gems on one person filled Roger's eyes with avarice. But nothing could compare to the real jewel wearing that skimpy outfit.
     "Well, honey, can you explain that little nothing you have on? Not that I mind."
     Tabitha gracefully got off the couch. "Well, as the therapists said, I should transform a negative experience into a positive one." She fingered a gem that could easily been worth 15,000 credits. "Darby planned to bed me, and had this outfit made. It's not a perfect fit. I was supposed to wear it while I had those watermelons on me."
     Roger agreed. Though Tabitha's reducing bust was still impressive, the halter top was a bit 'large' on her chest. Noticing her husband had now fixated on her chest, Tabitha spoke again. "Let's see. You're suppose to be the all-conquering galactic emperor, returning from the campaigns. Out of your harem of exotic beauties you choose me to be first one to sleep with you." She pushed out her chest and placed her hands on her hips. "What will my lord have me do for him tonight? A sensual bath, or pillow talk?"
     Roger was about to scoop his wife into his arms when he heard a knock at the front door. Tabitha went into the bedroom, knowing that she was far from presentable. A minute later Roger came back with a box in his hands. The box was addressed to Tabitha. She opened the box and drew out the contents.
     It was a reproduction of the skimpy work outfit that Darby made his harem wear for their morning exercises, except for one difference. The backside of the shorts had words printed on it, and they said 'Property of CNS Kenosha CM-22 Rec Room' in bright red lettering. Tabitha read the card attached to those shorts. It was signed by all of the Kenosha's survivors, with four signatures really prominent. Those signatures belonged to Technicians 3rd class Regina Souza, Belinda Grey, Marlina Neru, and Yuki Youngerford.
     "Those insufferable little scamps." Tabitha said as she shook her head. "Roger, I'll wear this little piece of nothing for tomorrow morning. I hope that you've been exercising, otherwise I'll leave you behind. But I suspect that seeing half of my breasts exposed due to a skimpy tank-top will make you exercise to the point of exhaustion." With that Tabitha pushed Roger on the bed. She did a sensual strip-tease, letting the harem outfit fall to the floor tiny bit by tiny bit. At the end she got on the bed and buried Roger's head between her breasts, breasts the size of overinflated basketballs. Tabitha was going to make the most of her four remaining weeks of ampleness, and Roger had every intention of enjoying every one of those twenty-eight days... and nights.
 

[Epilogue]

The Kenosha survivors started a special sorority called the Gladstone Girls. They made it a point to keep in contact with each other for the rest of their lives, and give aid to people rescued from sex slavery and other such unpleasantness.
     The Gladstone Girls found it easy to stay in contact with each other. The other forty-one women had wetware implanted, seeing how effective it proved to be in their rescue. But more importantly they were all assigned to a new ship. A fleet carrier was just finishing acceptance trials and was about to be commissioned. The navy made it a point only to name a ship upon its commission, but in this case the Bureau of Nomenclature made an exception. CV-16 was going to be the next ship to carry the name Kenosha, with one Commander Tabitha Gladstone as Chief Engineer. The other women were placed into that ship's complement, and the four tiny life-support technicians went back to the work that suited their frames and training: cleaning and maintaining the narrow vents and machines of the Kenosha's life-support systems. After their experience as being harem girls, the four technicians were more than glad to get their hands dirty and fingers layered with callouses. They were truly back in their element -- and home.
 
 

END

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