Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2001 23:19:40 +0100
From: Beverly Taff
Subject: Spacetran 6

	The planned months of touring would probably have gone off without
a hitch had not one of the two boys had a minor accident during a trek in
the Grand Canyon.  Despite our strenuous efforts the boy had to be
hospitalised and I was forced to accompany him to the hospital whilst
Beverly cared for the remaining nineteen.  It was a minor break to his
wrist and we foresaw no complications so I was sitting quietly in the
hospital waiting room expecting my son to return with his lower arm
splinted up.  After what seemed like ages, he reappeared in the corridor
accompanied by several doctors and their expressions immediately caused me
alarm.
	"Mrs Denby?"  Queried the most senior looking doctor whom I
presumed to be the casualty consultant.
	"Yes."
	"Is this boy your son."
	"He most certainly is.  Can't you tell by just looking at him?"
	"Indeed yes.  Could I have a private word please?"
	"What about?"  I asked suspecting that all was not as it should be.
	"Well it's a little uhhm delicate."
	I frowned and followed him into his private office.  He turned and
smiled a sickly smile before offering me a seat.
	"Uhhm, how did your boy injure himself?"
	"He slipped on a narrow path in the Grand Canyon."
	"Well you understand that we always have to double check children's
injuries."
	"So?"
	"Well I uhhm examined him quite thoroughly and was disturbed to
discover his genital problems."
	A wave of sickening nausea swept over me.  I had never inspected my
sons amphibian reproductive system and I had no idea what the doctor was
alluding to.  Now I had a deathly suspicion and searched desperately for a
way out.  The trouble was I had no idea what the doctor had found.  I
decided that attack was the best form of defence.
	"Are you telling me that you inspected my son's genitalia without
my permission?"
	"I- Well it's normal procedure with children's injuries.  In case
there's some evidence of abuse."
	"Excuse me.  Your own paramedics can confirm they picked up an
injured boy at the bottom of a slippery rocky path.  The injury was
obviously caused by an accidental fall what possible excuse could you have
for interfering with my sons' privates.  This sounds like another one of
those medical abuse cases to me.  I've a good mind to call my lawyers."
	"I- I'm sorry Mrs Denby.  We intended no offence but I'm afraid I
had to mention the circumstances."
	"And I suppose the gory details are all over the hospital by now.
I bet it's the subject of salacious gossip from here to Colorado already.
Just look at those nurses staring at us.  Whatever happened to medical
confidentiality.  If my boy's got a problem with his reproductive organs I
don't see that it's any business of yours.  Your job is to set his wrist
not spread tittle- tattle and gossip.  The problem is being attended by our
own consultants back east and I'm afraid there's very little they can do.
I would have thought it was quite obvious that the deformities were
congenital.  Is there any evidence of physical abuse?"
	"Well- I- no, I don't suppose there is."
	"Does the boy seem cowed or frightened in any way?"
	"Well- no.  In fact he seems a very alert, intelligent little boy."
	"Exactly.  So why were you poking around his genitalia?  Are you
some sort of pervert?"
	"I don't think that's called for!"
	"I don't know what's called for.  I'm quite sure the boy has
described exactly what happened hasn't he?"
	"Um- yes."
	"And did he give an accurate articulate account?"
	"Uh- yes, very articulate; in fact."
	"So why treat him with any less respect than you would treat an
adult. If you had a problem like his would you like it bandied about all
over the hospital?"
	"Well it's just that it was so unusual."
	"And that gives you an excuse to go blabbing all over the place."
	"It wasn't like that.  The nurse discovered it and reported it to
me."
	"So your blaming your nurses now.  'Shit rolls downhill' does it?
Let some underling be the fall guy is it?  I suppose you do that all the
time."
	"I must protest!  I think you must agree it's an extremely rare
condition."
	"Of course it's a rare condition!  I couldn't agree more and that's
all the more reason for you to respect the child's' feelings and privacy.
Who else knows about this?"
	"Well there's my registrar, and the casualty sister, the
radiologist, the residents, the internees-."
	"And Uncle Tom Cobbley and all!"  I finished angrily.
	He fell silent and I realised I had won a temporary reprieve.  It
simply remained to get my son out of there before the consultant recovered
his composure.  To this end I invented an important appointment back east.
	"Is the boy fit to be released?"  I demanded.
	"Well- yes.  I-" He stammered.
	"Good!  I'll thank you to sign the release forms because I've a
plane to catch.  And you'll be hearing from my lawyers if any of this
becomes public."
	We returned to the group ASAP and when Beverly learned of events
she cursed as angrily as I had.
	"And you had no idea that their reproductive organs were more
amphibian than mammalian?"
	"No.  Though I'm angry with myself for not having realised.  We'll
have to get back to the cottage before this gets out.  You know what
doctors are like."
	Beverly shuddered and almost glanced furtively over her shoulder as
a private, long buried memory shadowed her face.  God alone knew what had
just flickered through her tortured mind. The very mention of the word
'doctor' made her seize up with fear.
	We broke camp immediately and made for the nearest airport as I
organised a private jet on my mobile phone.  This was one of the rare
occasions when I was grateful for my wealth and reputation as a lesbian
recluse.  As we arrived at the private field a plane was already landing
and we were airborne almost immediately.
	My fears were justified for when we arrived at the cottage there
was already a sheriff's car waiting to meet us.  He was our local sheriff
and I knew him well.
	"Evening Miss Denby."
	"Good evening Sheriff.  What can I do for you?"
	"I'm afraid we've had some disturbing reports from Arizona."
	"What about?"
	"Some children you had as party guests."
	"Yes.  Twenty of them they're in the minibuses. With my friend."
	The sheriff entered my bus to confirm my words then returned to
confront me.
	"Yes Ms Denby.  Whose children are they?"
	"Mine and Ms Beverly's.  I openly declared."
	"What all twenty of them?"
	"Yes- well ten of them anyway.  The other ten are hers'."
	"But they're all about the same age though they certainly have your
looks!"
	"Well of course they look like me, they're mine aren't they?"
	He fell silent, suspicious of the circumstances but puzzled by my
openness.
	"Well they certainly couldn't deny you, I didn't know you had any
children Ruby."
	"I live as a recluse sheriff.  When did you last come round my
property to find out?"
	Once again he was forced to confess he had been slightly remiss in
his duties.  The reason being that despite my fame and wealth I had brought
none of the problems normally associated with a famous person living on a
sheriff's patch.  In fact he was actually glad to have me around.
	Provided nothing sensational happened and my reclusive life
followed a normal humdrum existence he was happy enough to exchange a few
pleasant words with me when I occasionally visited the village store.  He
referred to some notes he was holding and glanced suspiciously at the
children again.
	"The hospital in Arizona was concerned about one of your um- boys."
	"I know all about that.  If they've reported it to the police then
they are in clear breach of medical confidentiality.  I'll bet that report
is not a regular formal official charge but an informal hotchpotch of
innuendoes and suggestions."
	I could tell I was right for the sheriff fell quiet and scratched
his head.
	As if on cue, a noisy convoy of press vans made itself heard.  I
realised things were getting out of hand so I invited the sheriff onto my
property.  He was a sensible, small town sheriff who had long forsaken the
noisy city life.  A raucous media circus was the last thing he wanted as a
single man trying to uphold the law.  The press were notorious for
sensationalising everything so he swiftly accepted my offer and I opened
the large metal gates as Beverly herded all the children into her bus and
gunned through the open gap.  The sheriff followed us and I swiftly closed
the gates thus clearly marking the boundary of my property.  He turned to
face the gathering crowd of pressmen as Beverly turned to squeeze my hand.
	"You stay with the sheriff while I get the kids back to the
Albatross.  I'll be back soon so don't be afraid."
	I kissed her desperately and stepped down from the bus as the
yelling pressmen surged frantically against my gates.  The sheriff had
already drawn his pistol and stared nervously at the creaking latch.  He
motioned to me with a question in his eyes.
	"What the hell's all this about Ruby?"
	"I'm not sure sheriff.  I'm about to find out."
	So saying I faced the media.  Inevitably the questions inundated me
and it was several minutes before the sheriff could restore some sort of
order.
	Those minutes were precious for as calm finally settled over the
media I sensed that familiar eerie light. Beverly had saved the day and
provided me with the best answer possible.  Cold Albatross 2 was hovering
silently above us.
	As one, all the cameras turned skywards whilst the sheriff
holstered his gun and frowned at me.
	"You lied to me Ruby."
	"I didn't sheriff.  They really are my children.  Well, ten of them
anyway.  The other ten are Beverly's and she's piloting that space ship."
	The sheriff knew my story well.  When I had bought up the
surrounding properties and created a private retreat for myself he had made
his acquaintance and I had told him everything in the strictest confidence.
He had always respected that confidence and we had maintained an excellent
relationship.
	By way of saying 'thank you' I had built a small prosthesis factory
in the county and provided work for the local citizenry.  It had brought
stability and security to the small town and the sheriff's job had been
made that much more secure and pleasanter.  He was firmly on my side
without any of the sleaze normally associated with 'buying the sheriff'.
	"What now Ruby?  If that thing lands I won't be able to hold this
lot."
	"It's not going to land sheriff.  In fact I'm not sure what my
friend is going to do.  Let's just wait and see."
	As I spoke the Cold Albatross silently descended until it was only
a few feet above the sheriff and I.  The cargo door slid back and Beverly
appeared trying to restrain the curious children who had realised that we
had been discovered.
	"What d'you want to do Ruby?"  She called loudly and clearly for
the media's benefit.
	I glanced at the sheriff who was staring open mouthed at Beverly
and the hovering craft.
	"Well?  Are you going to arrest me?"  I asked him loudly for the
medias' benefit.
	He shook his head confusedly.
	"Hell Ruby.  This is bigger than I can handle.  What the hell's
going on?"
	I whispered a brief explanation and he gaped stupidly at me.
	"What!  You're saying there's two aliens aboard there now?"
	"Yes."
	I called up to Beverly and she returned to the controls whilst
Thlom and Dumia appeared in the doorway with a doughnut of children's faces
framing them.  An explosion of flashlights startled them briefly before
Thlom called down.
	"Are you coming with us Ruby?"
	"Not this time.  There's the anti-grav drive to sort out.  Give my
regards to Beverly and tell her I expect to see her soon.  Tell her not to
leave it so long next time.  I want to see my children again."
	Dumia gave a wide smile as Thlom ordered the children to their
seats.  The door whispered shut and the Albatross silently departed.
Within moments it was a dot then it was gone.  The sheriff gave me a
knowing grin and motioned to his car for a private chat.  As I settled in
the seat he gave a few brief words to the growing crowd before joining me.
	"Well thank God the spaceship's left.  D'you feel like facing that
lot?"
	"I'll have to unless you want to arrest me."
	"I've no intention of that.  You haven't committed a crime as far
as I know."
	"What about the 'illegal aliens'?"
	"If they're your children then they're U.S. Citizens.  They ain't
aliens."  He reasoned disarmingly.
	"What about Thlom and Dumia?"
	"As I recall, I didn't actually see them 'land' in the U.S."  He
smiled knowingly.
	I grinned at his helpful deviousness.
	"And Beverly's children?"
	"Beverly! Beverly!  She's a citizen of Earth ain't she?  She's got
a right to land on Earth and I dont suppose it matters where."  He finished
easily.
	I thumped him on the arm affectionately and he smiled as he
recognised my clear message of gratitude.  The least I could do for him was
face the press and I stepped outside as the gates creaked with strain.  I
was quietly glad that only the press seemed to be around.  No military or
FBI figures seemed to be creeping about.
	In half an hour I had related the basic facts then I made my
excuses and retreated to my cottage.
	I had some E-mail to send to Switzerland concerning the anti-grav
drive and it behoved me to get it away before any government agents tried
to prevent me.  As it was they appeared within hours of my having sent the
gen and seemed quite antagonistic until I showed them the copy of the
agreement that the British Naval captain and I had hammered out with the
international community in Switzerland.  There, clearly visible was the
U.S. signatory.  All the information and knowledge about anti-grav
propulsion was to be disseminated and shared.  Nevertheless, despite my
having stuck to the narrowest letter of the international law, there were
still some agents who felt I had somehow committed treason.  It took the
local sheriff all his authority to finally remove them from my cottage and
he returned later that evening to share a well-earned supper.
	"Jeez Ruby!  Don't do that to me again.  The town's alive with
agents, reporters, cranks and all bloody sorts."
	"Sorry sheriff.  I didn't foresee what such a minor accident to a
single little boy would result in such a circus."
	"I've had to put two of my deputies on permanent patrol of your
boundary.  The whole world and his dog are out there.  For God's sake go
and give them a proper press conference and let's get the whole bloody
thing finished with."
	"I'll do it tomorrow and I'll pay for all the deputies' overtime
I've incurred."
	"Thanks. That'll help my stretched budget.  I'll give you an escort
at about ten, is that OK?"
	"Fine by me.  See you tomorrow."
	I spent the whole of the following day giving press releases and
interviews until darkness fell and I made my weary way home.  I was aghast
to find the whole perimeter of my estate virtually surrounded by cameras
except for a few loyal neighbours who had foregone the huge bribes.  There
was no way Cold Albatross 2 was going to get back without being spotted.
	The only chance Beverly had was to get in and out before the
hysterical masses detected her then broke every trespass law to invade my
property.  To this end, I painted a huge cross on my roof with an arrow to
my highest attic window.  Despite it being seen by hundreds of helicopters,
I hoped she would be 'in and out' before they could respond.
	Beverly remained true to her word.  Weeks later as the intense
curiosity was getting to me I received E-mail advising me of the time and
place.  She arrived dead on cue and I hastily flung my luggage through the
cargo door and clambered aboard just as the firts helicopters came
clattering into view.  Even so it was a narrow escape and one of the
helicopters crashed as it's rotor got too close to the hovering Albatross 3
and crumpled itself on the super-tough hull.  It only fell a few feet and
the sheriff was waiting to charge the occupants with trespass as they
crawled from the wreckage.  From the cargo door I waved my thanks to him
before it slithered shut and we warped away just as the inevitable squadron
of F-16's tried to tail us.  Beverly grinned and deliberately loitered like
a wounded bird to emphasis their impotence.
	Suddenly a reddish flame erupted under the wing of the leading
aircraft. To my chagrined astonishment I realised the first aircraft had
actually fired a missile at us. Beverly cursed angrily then slammed the
levers and warped away to disappear from their screens.  She turned to me
as the moon whizzed past.
	"See!  That's bloody Earthmen for you!  They'll never learn.  I
have rescued their spacemen, I have given them the biotechnology, I have
given them anti-gravity drive and I have never shown or done a single
aggressive act but they still bloody shoot at me.  What sort of pigs are
they?"
	I had to admit it made me feel guilty being an American.  I fell
silent as the huge bulk of Jupiter and it's moons fell astern and we
streaked away to the outer planets.
	In her fury Beverly forgot to warn me and I suddenly felt a
retching nauseous sickness empty my guts as the stars flashed blue for an
instant before disappearing from sight.  She had warped as soon as it was
possible and we were already on our way to see the children.  This time
Beverly was travelling with all the stops out and I could feel The Cold
Albatross actually shaking as unimaginable forces were harnessed to speed
our journey.
	"We've got a night to ourselves and we'll be there by morning."
	It amused me that she still related to 'night and day' in the
infinitely vast blackness of space.
	Eventually we 'levelled out' and Beverly uncoiled from the pilot
seat. She visibly shuddered as her anger finally subsided.  She had
obviously vented her spleen by thrashing the faithful little Albatross 2
through the boundaries of reality.  Gently I grasped her hands and
whispered.
	"Can the Albatross take that sort of punishment?"
	She studied me through nervous tearful eyes before speaking.
	"She'll never betray me and I hope you don't either."
	I was stuck for words.  I desperately wanted her but I also wanted
to live on Earth.
	After the last hostile 'farewell' however, it seemed we would never
be able to return.
	"What are we to do?"  I whispered.
	"Let's sleep on it."
	Thus encouraged I nodded towards her bedroom and raised a
questioning eyebrow.
	"You go first please.  I'll join you."  She suggested.
	Eagerly I slipped into her room and stripped naked in anticipation
before burrowing under her duvet.  Suddenly Beverly switched off the
gravity and I found myself unexpectedly floating with the duvet tangled
around me.
	The thrill of sex without gravity sent a nervous tingle through my
body as Beverly drifted through the door and started to strip as I watched.
Within minutes we were floating in an erotic twosome as our weightlessness
caused our bodies to touch tantalisingly then drift provocatively apart. As
a form of foreplay it surpassed anything I had ever experienced and it
excited both of us to see our full ripe breasts regain their youthful
teen-aged buoyancy. The novelty accelerated our appetites and soon our
urgent clutches forced our bodies together as we consummated our needs.  I
literally hooked myself onto Beverly's desperately hard organ and we
drifted off into ecstasy both literally and figuratively.
	Strangely after completing the act it was difficult to relax
without gravity and Beverly slowly increased the power until we settled
gently on the bed.  Once we were comfortable she curled up once more with
my nipple gently held between her lips.  I felt a tingle of pleasure
flutter down to my loins but she was already asleep.  In the low gravity it
was no discomfort to squash together with her head resting lightly on my
breasts like a nursing child.
	We awoke in the same position and I felt her curious fingers gently
exploring my other nipple as her tongue delicately rasped the covered one.
The sensation made me shudder with delight and I gasped as my groin
dampened.  In response I gently fingered her own stiff little strawberries
and she squeaked softly as I felt her penis stiffen and twitch
appreciatively.  Within moments we were locked together again and eagerly
indulging ourselves again whilst savouring the reduced gravity.  Our turgid
nipples lovingly fenced with each other.  Eventually we satiated our
passions and duty required Beverly to attend to her navigation.  I prepared
a light brunch while she brought us to the amphs' planet and I met the
familiar reception committee.  In addition to the ambassadorial ship and
the two accompanying patrol craft I also saw the familiar shape of Cold
Albatross 3 and I presumed Thlom was at the helm.  The thought of my
children brought an unexpected tug at my heart-strings and my mothering
instincts warmed my heart.  Fortunately Thlom had finally managed to
persuade Beverly to get some communications fitted to Albatross 2 so we
arranged to meet in the ambassadorial ship and enjoyed a splendid family
reunion before going planet-side.  There a veritable mansion had been
prepared and I indulged myself like an eighteenth century lady with my
family around me.
	The next few months proved idyllic.  I also met each of my
children's different genetic fathers and was persuaded to part with some
more of my eggs.  I also discovered why Beverly's female children were all
the same colouring.  The genetic engineers had not had the same success
with her sperm as with my eggs and her sperm had only been used
successfully in conjunction with the same batch of eggs.  All of Beverly's
children were full blood brother and sisters and I was not surprised to
learn that Dumia was their mother.
	After a month upon the planet during which time our relationship
had blossomed, Beverly approached me nervously.  She wondered if we could
make our relationship permanent and I was quite taken aback by her
turn-around.  Under Amph law there was no such thing as marriage since the
overcrowding crisis and strangely Beverly wanted to make our relationship
legal.  Once again her insecurity was surfacing to affect her life.  When I
pressed her I was surprised to learn that she was angry about never having
existed legally as an adult.  No social security number, no tax coding, no
health number, - nothing.
	"It's as though I never existed on Earth- a 'none-person'."  She
muttered sadly.
	"Oh you exist Beverly.  Believe me you exist."  I smiled.
	"Yes but I could never go back there.  They could put me away again
and nobody would ever know I existed."
	"Don't worry Bev, they know you exist.  If only because the
doctors, politicians and judges have been exposed for what they did to you.
They're either dead or in prison or out of office now.  I'll be there to
protect you as well."
	I added the last bit to encourage her to return.  I desperately
wanted her as my permanent partner and I desperately wanted to live on
Earth.  She sat staring at the floor as the options were weighed carefully
in her brain.
	"Will there be a safe place where I can go?"
	"Of course there are.  Some cities have even got gay areas where
any gender disphorics can move about with safety.  Anyway you'd 'pass' at a
beauty contest.  Nobody would ever read you."
	"Ghettos!"  Observed Beverly ignoring my compliments.
	"No!"  I argued impatiently.  "They're whole areas, several blocks
wide where gays and trannies live and move about with impunity.  Clubs,
restaurants, apartment blocks, offices, just about everything.  Even the
police are friendly.  I've got a splendid city apartment in New York
although I must confess 'I've hardly stayed there more than a few times.
Your country England is even more liberal I'm told."
	"I've seen gays and transvestites beaten up and killed by the
police in Brazil and China."
	"How?"  I demanded.
	"Recently.  I've been returning quite frequently since we escaped
with the children.  It wasn't safe to visit you because of all the watchers
but it's easy to visit remote parts of the planet."
	"Well, I can't speak for the less developed countries but the
advanced countries have come long way."
	I could see her weakening and it was obvious she was missing Earth.
After a painfully long silence she nodded imperceptibly.
	"OK then, I'll come back but I'll go and visit some other
acquaintances before I expose myself to those bloody idiots with their jets
and missiles again."
	"What d'you mean?"
	"There's other races out there Ruby.  Races that are just as
beholden to me for giving them anti-grav as my friends the amphs.  There
are a million favours I can call in.  They are much more aggressive peoples
and they have much more advanced weapons.  The amphs are a peaceful race
they don't even have weapons."
	"Can I meet them?"
	"If you wish.  It'll have to be in Cold Albatross 2 though.  They
might not recognise Albatross 3 and they might take a pot shot at us as we
re-materialise.  They've got their star system well sown up and they're
itching to reach out to other stars."
	"Won't that be dangerous?"
	"Of course.  They're just like Earthmen.  That's why I keep them at
arm's length."
	I shook my head sadly.
	We returned to Sol a few weeks later then Beverly redirected the
Albatross 2 towards a remote galaxy some several million light years away.
I studied the navigational hologram and wondered what this new race would
be like.  Beverly's nervousness was infectious and we made no attempts at
lovemaking during the passage.  Our fears proved groundless.  The
supposedly warlike race welcomed us openly and we arrived on their home
world to a rapturous reception.
	As a typically dominant race, these people enjoyed all the classic
fears of dominancy.  Having achieved that primordial dominance by the
ordinary tribal mechanisms of confrontation and conquest they inevitably
carried a historical burden of racial paranoia.  They had always been
puzzled as to why Beverly carried no protection for her frail craft so when
she asked for weapons they swiftly set to work.  Within a few weeks
Albatross 2 was sporting a protective shield device and some fearsome
looking weapons.  We departed to their outer planets and held a few brief
'firing practices' before parting on excellent terms with promises to
return soon. The return journey was a much more relaxed affair and we
indulged our sexual needs to the maximum.

	Once behind the moon we debated our strategy and once again found
the old 'aircraft-carrier equation' to be the least risky.  The Spanish
Navy had an aircraft carrier equipped with harriers so that seemed the best
option.  It simply remained to find it.  We eventually did so in The
Mediterranean Sea quietly minding it's own business and not actively
launching any aircraft.