A talk with an elder

Early the next morning Kim sighed as she got out of bed knowing she needed to update the elders but felt so sore she could hardly move. She **** herself to get moving and knew she couldn’t let on how she felt or people would become suspicious. She showered hoping the hot water would help ease the soreness but let herself remember the evening before with a huge smile. She still couldn’t believe James’s stamina or recovery time but she was happy about both. She sighed again when she got dressed knowing it was going to be a long day for her as she went to the elders chambers to update them with the information she wanted them to have. She knew she couldn’t reveal the details of what happened the night before but smiled at what she’d decided to tell them.

“Doctor how did your plan work for getting the semen sample from young Mr. Wilkens?” Irene narrowed her eyes but refused to think of the plans details. “As anticipated James wasn’t ready for the making love portion of the evening. I have however discovered that I’ll need someone to go into the nearest town and purchase an extra, extra-large package of condoms before the next attempt.” Kim smiled at the thought but fought the urge to caress her stomach since she still had multiple loads of his semen held inside of her by her cervical cap. “Doctor you assured us this plan would work and now you’re saying it didn’t!” Irene was very upset with her now. “I warned you that with the way you’ve made sure they were raised he probably wouldn’t sleep with someone on the first date and maybe not even the fifth. I told you this would take some time but you evidently didn’t listen. Now as much as I hate to kiss and tell I discovered we’ll need those condoms because he did let me do more than just touch it. I won’t go into any further detail other than to tell you that you should be very pleased I discovered this or he could seriously hurt one of those virgins with that weapon.” Kim smirked but saw how most had blanched at her small description.

An hour later James was awakened by his father which interrupted the best dream he’d ever had. He’d been dreaming of the night before and how many times they’d made love in the few short hours they’d been together. He sighed as he got up and showered before going into the living room to find out what his father wanted this time. He frowned when he entered the living room to find the elder who’d stopped him from hurting the boy assaulting his sister was waiting. Gavin was surprised with how well James was moving since he knew he still had stitches in and should be moving a great deal slower. “James I hope you remember me; I’m Elder Gavin but please just call me Gavin. I’m here to discuss a few things with you concerning everything that’s taken place so far this summer. Would you care to sit or to take a walk?” Gavin smiled hoping he’d listen to what he had to say. “I’d say take a walk. I need the exercise after the bear attack.” James shook his head wondering what this was really about.

With a smile Gavin gestured for him to go first and was happy he’d sent everyone to another area so they wouldn’t be overheard. James let his face fall into an impassive mask as he walked outside just ahead of the elder. “Before we go too far, may I call you James?” Gavin smiled encouragingly hoping he would be civil. “Please do; after all I soon won’t really have a last name now will I?” James spoke stiffly since he didn’t want to anger the man yet. “James the truth is we aren’t banishing you; in fact we have a gift for you. A reward if you will for services rendered and that’s only the tip of what I wish to speak with you about. You see James; we take everything very seriously here. One of those things is we don’t permit sexual **** or bullying. We also take the protection of the family to be one our most important things here. So the elders have decided to reward you for your actions in both areas recently and at great bodily harm.” Gavin smiled but wondered if he’d ask what kind of reward.

“What does that even mean?” James shook his head as he realized he might need to keep his guard up. “Your father made you an offer not too long ago. Do you remember what it was?” Gavin smiled wondering what he would come up with. “A ranch of my own, a small herd of horses, and a new truck.” James sighed wondering what that had to do with this. “Well we are giving you the ranch, a medium size herd and a new truck as well as a check for $50,000. Those are all free and clear no strings attached. Those are your rewards for your actions along with one other reward I’ve personally chosen. I know your father has demanded that you start dating the girls here one for every date with the Doctor. I’m going to tell you now you only need two dates a week with one of the girls here and you can date the Doctor as much as you wish but understand this; you can’t choose the Doctor at the end of the summer.” Gavin smiled wondering if this would work. “Why not?” James bristled at the idea. “Son she’s only here to keep everyone healthy. She’s not here for what this is all about.” Gavin sighed wishing he didn’t need to get into all of this. “And just what is this all about?” James knew he wouldn’t tell him but had to ask.

“James I can’t tell you that yet but trust me when I say this much; the Doctor is not the one for you. She’s not an option here for you. The one for you is somewhere within the ladies present here.” Gavin smiled hoping he’d buy it. James couldn’t explain why or how but he knew the man was lying in his last statements. “So you’re saying two dates a week and I can date Kim as much as I want. I’ll take that but I wouldn’t get your hopes up if I was you. One thing I’ll stipulate though is there has to be a place for me to take any date I choose away from observation and we both know I’ll know if it’s being observed.” James smiled sincerely knowing Kim was his chosen one. “Agreed. There’s a small cabin further out past the river we never bothered to wire up since it’s so far from the encampment. Now we have another serious issue to discuss. There’s the issue with your sister that needs to be addressed.” Gavin hoped he’d discuss the issue with him but doubted he would.

“Sir I’d rather not discuss that.” James sighed but doubted he’d leave it alone. “James I understand what you’ve been going through but you need to make up with your sister. She’s important in her own way and she’s hurting with this separation between you two. James she’s not capable of searching for her own match if she’s worried about your relationship. We need you to make things right between you.” Gavin glanced over but wasn’t able to figure out what his expression held. “It’s not me that destroyed our relationship so it’s not me that needs to make this right.” James shook his head at the idea but kept his face expressionless. “James I implore you; please just make things right and I promise you now you’ll be able to call upon the elders for any favor you wish.” Gavin shook his head at the young man’s stubbornness. “Any favor? All I have to do is make her feel comfortable and I can have anything I want?” James smiled slightly as he knew what he’d ask for. “Absolutely anything James. And don’t forget I have a reward I haven’t named as yet waiting for you.” Gavin smiled thinking he knew what he would ask for.

“Very well elder Gavin, I’ll attempt to make things right but it also depends on her. If she can’t admit to what she did then I can’t be held accountable.” James sighed but knew he had to accept. “I understand and I agree. It takes two to have an argument or in this case a falling out and she will need to do her part to make things right. If she fails too then you’ll still get the favor.” Gavin sighed but knew he was right. “I still don’t understand though what all of this secrecy has to do with arranged marriages. If that’s all it is then why try hiding it this hard?” James shook his head at the whole idea. “James it’s not just about arranged marriages. It’s more about genetic compatibility. We’re attempting to create a better class of human kind here.” Gavin sighed but suddenly realized what he’d said. “Thanks for that elder Gavin. Now I know it’s a science experiment and arranged marriages.” James smirked wondering if he was smarter or cleverer than even the elders. “So it’s a war of wits you want is it?” Gavin chuckled but thought this could be serious. “Sorry elder but I don’t fight people who are unarmed.” James smirked but had to admit he liked the elder for not giving much away.

“You must be really good at chess then. How about a game next Friday?” Gavin chuckled admitting to himself he liked the young man and wondered how he’d do in a game meant for brains. “I’d be honored but before I pencil it in to my calendar I want a guarantee you won’t get rid of Kim because she’s important to me right now.” He sighed but suspected they’d try that too. “You have my word that Doctor Larson will be here until this all ends.” Gavin smiled but cursed his intelligence and foresight. “Then I look forward to next Friday then. Where should we meet?” James smiled knowing he’d won this round. “The common room east of the dining hall.” Gavin hoped this was the end of the conversation. “Elder I want to say one thing before we part. Please forgive me but if any part of our agreement or conversation proves to be inaccurate then I can guarantee you all won’t get what you want from me.” James smiled amiably but hoped the elder wouldn’t take it the wrong way since he got the feeling the elder wasn’t completely honest. ”James you have my word right now everything will be just as we spoke of. Understand this though; we will be holding you to your agreements as well.” Gavin sighed knowing he must follow through now.

“Elder you’ll have to forgive me for this too but I won’t put up with another elder coming to me later talking about the agreements aren’t valid. I’m holding the entire council to your agreements. If they fail to abide by them I promise you now everyone will suffer because I promise you I will leave. I know you’ve received copies of my genetic code by now but those mean nothing without me as proof and they can’t be readily replicated to prove them. So whatever goal you have will fail if that happens because I promise you now that will be the last time I give anyone a blood test for genetic reasons.” James spoke earnestly knowing they would have some kind of backup plan for that eventuality. “James I must say you sure know how to make a case airtight. I know the other elders are listening so they will understand the consequences of breaking one of our agreements. I’ll be by tomorrow or the next day with the paperwork for your rewards including the check.” Gavin shook his head knowing James was closing off every avenue of escape the council had.

James was smiling as he returned to the cabin knowing things would be far different with his parents now. He hid his smile when his father appeared with a serious expression once he’d returned. "“So have you decided who you’ll be seeing tonight? Other than the Doctor I mean.” Steve chuckled darkly wondering what he’d discussed with the elder. “I’m not unless it’s the Doctor.” James spoke softly wondering if his father was aware of his conversation. “James I told you already that for every date with the Doctor you have to date one of the girls here that are acceptable.” Steve gritted his teeth wondering what his son was thinking. “Just like you told me I was going to be banished?” James asked curiously and smiled when his father blanched. “That’s two different issues James!” Steve tried to get the upper ground again despite feeling off balance. “No it’s the same thing Steve. See if I can’t believe you about one I’m not giving you the other. Either your honest with me or you can go to hell and that includes anything you say or suggest.” James smiled as he walked into the bedroom feeling on top of the world. He knew the elders thought they had the upper hand but knew they were at their weakest with him now.