Fantasy The People Makers

The Story of Ira Weatheral

His name was Ira Weatheral. He was a mild mannered man, an accountant for the World Government's Bureau of Superficial Statistical Analysis, who had been snatched from the Earth just before it had been catastrophically destroyed by Temperature Change, though he remembered nothing of it.

He arrived a week after Haggis. He was a replacement for Judy Sepferton, a woman who had had many chances but had never been able to achieve an Experimental Score above 520. They had found her flash frozen in her quarters and Assada had conducted a memorial service in her honor, praising Ajuba in all his wisdom for protecting and guiding them.

Ira was unfrozen the day after Judy's body was wheeled across Bermuda. At first he was disoriented like everyone else. He let himself be seduced by Laura Giancomo and agreed to the pairing where his own genotypes would be suppressed in favor of hers. Haggis had attempted to warn him against that but Ira had been so spellbound by her beauty as well as her large breasts which made excellent handfuls. Ira had basically been an almost-virgin when he was taken and so the idea of having sex with a blonde bombshell made him instantly smitten.

They scored a combined total of 530, which was average, strictly speaking. Then Susan Shinn got her claws hooked into him and he agreed to partner with her.

Once again Haggis implored him not to let her suppress his genes again.

"She says it's for the best, Haggis," said Ira.

"Whose best?" Haggis wondered.

"She's been doing this for a long time and says she knows what she's doing," said Ira.

"If she's been doing this for a long time then she obviously has no idea what she's doing," said Haggis. "If she did, she would have produced a successful match by now."

"Don't listen to him," said Survey Service Captain Michael Taylor. "Haggis is a good man, but he's only been here for a few days. Susan is a great match. I've seen her produce matches with scores of 700, even 750."

"Really?"

"Yes," said Taylor. "A passing score is 800. She's so close. Let her do what she wants and you both may win together."

"Thanks! I will!" said Ira. He quickly got up to find Susan.

Haggis turned to Taylor. "I haven't heard that Susan got scores over 700."

"She has," said Taylor.

"You would think an achievement like that would be public knowledge," said Haggis.

"Public to some," said Taylor. "Has your memory started to return yet?"

"My memory?"

"Of what you did for a living back on Earth?"

"Yes," said Haggis, abruptly getting up. "I was a portable lie detector."

The combined score for Ira and Susan was 490, even less than Ira's first attempt. Susan apologized profusely but hypothesized that maybe Ira needed to find a different kind of partner who could better complement his genetic deficits.

After two low scores no one wanted to partner with Ira Weatheral. And such was the situation for a number of weeks until he met Becky Lesch.

They had much in common. Ira Weatheral was a shy man and Becky Lesch was a shy woman. At 28 she was three years younger than him, but since both were over 500 years old that hardly seemed to matter. Becky was not a virgin, not exactly. It had taken Paul Tanner six months of steady courting to get the shy reference librarian out of her shell. He smiled at her, took it easy, took it slow, and never pressured her for sex... at least, not very strongly. Gradually, small kisses grew into bigger ones, kisses grew into hugs, and hugs grew into fondling, and finally, five and a half months later, Paul got into her pants. It was a frightening, bewildering experience at first for Becky, but by the third time she had just begun to get used to it and even began to like it.

And then the Earth had suddenly been destroyed by Temperature Change and the Federationistas had rescued her, though Becky had no memory of it.

Becky grieved for Paul and was far from ready to take another mate, especially one she was expected to instantly repopulate New Earth with. The idea of having sex with a man she just met only compounded the problem.

And so for the first three weeks of her stay on the Space Station she had elected not to participate in the Experiment, rebuffing gently but firmly every man who wanted to get to know her.

Ira saw her sitting alone in Bermuda sometimes and smiled shyly at her. And sometimes, she would smile shyly back at him. But he couldn't work up the courage to approach her openly.

Ira was sitting in one day in Bermuda with some of the guys when Susan Shinn walked by. Ira thought Susan was very attractive. She was young, and although they all had white hair, a byproduct of the cryogenic suspension, she had managed somehow to dye it blonde, making her look young and virile.

"Hey Susie baby," said Craig Cobin. "You come looking for me?"

Susan's eyes narrowed. "Why would I do that?"

"So we can do it," said Craig, waggling his eyebrows.

"I already partnered with you once, Craig. The results were underwhelming, to say the least." She turned to go.

"I'm not talking about partnering, Susie."

She paused, turning back. "Then what do you mean?"

"A fuck. Just a plain fuck. Wouldn't you like to have me?"

Her eyes narrowed again. "I already had you, or don't you remember?"

"How could I forget? You were hot, Susie babe!"

She gave a small smile. "What's the point of having sex if we're not going to partner again?"

"The point? The point is in here, babe," said Craig, grabbing his crotch.

"You're ridiculous." She waved a hand dismissively and turned away.

She hadn't even acknowledged Ira, who she had just partnered with and was sitting five feet away.

"She'll be mine again," said Craig confidently.

Becky Lesch sat in the Entertainment Sphere, just watching the spectacle watching the spectacle of giant colorful energy waves paired with musical sounds. She turned her head and stiffened when she heard someone enter the room.

"Hi," said Ira.

"Hi," said Becky.

"Mind if I sit here?" Ira asked.

"I don't want to partner with you!" said Becky. "I thought everyone knew that by now! Please don't ask me!"

Ira stiffened. "I'm sorry. I just came here to see the light waves." He turned to go.

"Really?"

"I always come here," said Ira. "It's a nice place to think. But I don't want to disturb you, so I'll go-" He turned to leave again.

"Wait!" Becky bit her lip. "You can stay."

"Really?"

"I'm sorry I was short with you," said Becky. "I want you to stay. Please, stay." She patted a segment of floor on the catwalk next to her.

Ira sat down next to her. "My name is Ira."

"I know," said Becky.

"You do?"

"I asked Hot Dog your name," said Becky.

"You did?"

"You look at me, in Algeria sometimes," said Becky.

"I... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare," said Ira. "Perhaps I should go-"

"No." Becky put an arm on his shoulder. "It's all right."

They sat and watched the light waves surfing around the room. They were safe on the catwalk, but if they ventured off of it the waves could tear them to pieces.

"I like the orange," said Ira.

"I like the yellow," Becky said. "The sound of it is nice."

"Yeah," said Ira. "You know, you can change the sounds, if you like."

"Really? How?"

"Just move your arm. It reacts to us."

"Really?"

"Try it!"

Becky raised her left arm. The light wave became broader, redder and the music from it became deeper, richer. She raised her right arm, and the light became blue and the music became more ethereal. Then she kicked her legs in the air and laughed as she created a massive cacophony. As they played with different combinations, Becky looked into Ira's eyes and realized this was the first time she had laughed since she had come here.

"Shinn Girl."

Susan Shinn gave Craig a wintery smile as she walked by his table in Bermuda. "Hey Craig."

"Ready for me to pound your pussy?"

Abner Dune's eyes grew wide.

She blinked as if slapped. "Craig, I will never be ready for you to pound my pussy."

"You seem to like it well enough the first time."

"You were... adequate." Her lip curled, but she looked faintly amused.

"Second time is always better."

"A shame, because I'll never know," she said, petting her blonde hair self consciously. "I'm off to more important things."

"Harrison Welton," said Craig.

"How did you know?"

Craig tapped his enormous twisted nose. "The nose knows."

She laughed. "All right, I'm trying to partner with him. But Shelly and Laura and Missy are making plays for him as well."

"Shelly and Laura and Missy don't have half your sex appeal, sexy girl."

"Thanks, Craig," said Susan.

"So?"

"So what?"

"Are you ready to have sex with me?"

"I already told you no!"

"Come on, Susie! Let's fuck!"

Ardis McDuff's eyebrows shot up. Abner Dune covered his face in his hands.

She leaned towards him. "Listen very, very carefully Craig." She cupped her breasts. "You will never touch these again." She grabbed her groin. "You will never plow into this again. Get used to it, loser!"

She turned and walked away angrily, her hips and ass swaying with every move.

"She wants me. I can tell." Craig looked supremely confident.

"Does she?" Donnie Burch asked. "Didn't sound like it."

"Her mouth says no. But her eyes say yes."

"A pity you can't fuck her eyes," said Dickie Weymouth.

"True." Craig openly squeezed his crotch without shame. "But I have to empty my balls somewhere."

"Try your quarters."

"I have a better idea." He got up and went over to the Weeping Girl. He talked with her for a moment and then they heard him say, "It will be all right. It will all be all right. Come, come."

She let herself be pulled out of her chair. Craig took her in his arms and they walked away. He looked back only to leer and wink at the others.

"Is he for real?" Abner asked.

"He has a strong sex drive." said Haggis O'Leary, who had watched in silence. "That can be a real asset in a place where everything is about the urge to reproduce."

Becky Lesch and Ira Weatheral got to know each other. They spent hours every day in the room filled with colorful, musical live waves. Once Becky realized that Ira really wasn't trying to partner with her or get inside her pants she relaxed visibly. Ira started to remind her of Paul, not in the way he looked, but in his gentleness, his curiosity, and his patience with her. Over time it was only natural that she would start to form an attachment to him.

Sometimes they would just stare at each other, face to face, in complete silence. They would have staring contests until one of them started to laugh. Becky finally realized that she was subconsciously hoping Ira would kiss her, but he never did. Finally she took the plunge and kissed him. It was just a little peck on the lips but Ira looked shocked.

"I'm sorry... I had just the urge-"

"Don't apologize! I loved it!" said Ira. "I've been wanting to do that for days!"

"You have?" Becky's eyes lit up.

"Yes! Can I... can I kiss you back!"

"Yes!" She punched his arm. "But next time, don't ask!"

Ira locked his lips with hers and felt a tingling all over his body. She embraced him with her arms and moaned.

*

Susan Shinn seemed to make a purposeful detour to walk by Craig's table in Oregon, though she pretended not to look at him.

"Shinn Girl!"

She turned and fluttered her eyelashes. "Yes, Craig?"

"Ready for my Grade A Cockmeat?" Craig grabbed his crotch.

"Unfortunately, Craig, I have no time for that," said Susan.

"But Susie Babe, I want to pound your pussy! I want to squeeze your tits! I want to hear you cry my name while my cockmeat drills you real hard!"

She leaned against an empty chair. "You mean like this?" She gasped as she fondled her body, her breasts, her groin. "Oh Craig! Oh Craig! Yes, yes CRAAAAIIIGG!"

"Yeah," Craig smiled.

"Never going to happen, loser." She turned to go.

"How's Harrison Welton coming around? Have you tasted his cockmeat yet?"

"Not yet," she said, turning to face him again. She petted her hair self-consciously. "I'm working on him."

"I'm sure you are," said Craig. "Flash that beautiful smile at him."

"You... you think my smile is beautiful?"

"Of course, Babe. Goes so well with your blonde hair. Makes the green color of your eyes really pop," said Craig. He saw the effect he was having on her. "You're the whole package, babe. Those breasts... those slender hips... you're such a sexy fucktoy. I can't imagine a red blooded man who wouldn't want to spend an afternoon working on you."

Susan's shoulder jerked up slightly and she gave a slight grin. "Thanks, Craig." She turned to go.

"Still convinced you'll have her?" Michael Taylor asked.

"Definitely," said Craig, putting his hands behind his head as he reclined, staring at her receding form.

Becky and Ira were kissing and touching each other all over.

"Oh Ira, oh Ira, you make me so excited!" she said.

"You do too, Becky!"

"You're so gentle and kind.... I feel like I'm with Paul again! Oh, I'm sorry, I shouldn't say that!"

"It's all right," said Ira, who was actually flattered to be compared to Becky's previous lover. It meant she liked him. He hugged and kissed her furiously. He couldn't help but be erect and noticed that her nipples were sticking out hard from her jumpsuit.

"Listen, Ira, I have an idea, an idea for the two of us," said Becky.

"It sounds good already," said Ira.

"I want to do it," she said, her eyes shining.

"You do!" Ira's erection tingled in his pants.

"Yes," said Becky.

"Let's go to my quarters," said Ira, starting to pull on her. But she wasn't budging.

"No silly. I mean, I want to partner with you."

"Oh," said Ira. "Oh. Oh. Oh." He drew back slightly.

"Don't be like that, Silly!" she said, smiling at him. "We'll also have sex, of course. That's what you want, isn't it?"

"Uh... yes," said Ira cautiously.

"I just warmed up to the idea of pairing with you. You seem like a really nice guy... and I think together the two of us would make great kids...."

"I do too!" Ira cried. He moved to kiss her again, but she pulled back.

"I just... need a little more time."

"More time?" Ira looked confused. "For partnering?"

"For sex," said Becky. "The girls tell me we are expected to have sex if we partner. I mean, that's what you did with those girls, right?"

"Uh... yeah." Ira turned red.

"Well, I'm willing to do it... I think."

"You think?"

Becky bit her lip. "I just need a few more days. I've only been with Paul, you see? And that was what... over 500 years ago. I just need a few more days. To get myself fully used to the idea. You understand, don't you?"

Ira admitted that he did.

"Becky's going to partner with me!"

It just blurted out of him. Ira hadn't intended to tell anyone. But he had had it with the mocking smiles and snide comments and false sympathy of his peers.

Gavin Ansom's eyebrows shot up. "Really?"

"You're not joking?" said Ardis McDuff.

"No! I'm being serious!"

Michael Taylor slowly rocked back and forth in his chair. "Good work, Ira. How did you do it?"

"I... I don't know. I just started talking to her."

Dickie Weymouth slammed his hand on the table. "Talking to her! Why didn't I ever try that!"

"Because you were too busy sticking your dick in their mouths," said Craig, to laughter. He turned to Ira. "So when are you going to do the deed?"

"The deed?"

"Sex. He means sex," said Ardis.

"I don't know," said Ira. "Becky says she needs a few days to get ready."

That provoked wide scale laughter.

"What? What are you all laughing at?"

"She needs a tutorial on how to pull down her pants," said Dickie, chuckling wildly.

"When she figures it out, plow her real good," said Craig.

"Plow her?"

"Fuck her hard! Make her breasts jiggle. Bang her pussy until she screams in delight!"

"I... That's not my way," said Ira.

"That's all right, Ira," said Dickie. "You just go on being patient and give her all the time she needs. You're a good fellow, and good people get what's coming to them." He gave a broad smile.

At that moment Susan Shinn walked by their table. "Hey Craig," she said, greeting him for the first time. Usually she pretended not to see him.

"Hey beautiful," said Craig. "How did it go with Harrison Welton? Did he pound your pussy really hard?"

"He didn't pound it at all!" said Susan, running a hand through her blonde hair. "Laura stole him out from under me!"

"Literally? While you were fucking him?" Craig gave a savage grin.

She punched his arm. "You know what I mean, loser! She has nice tits, bigger than mine, I'll give her that, but she's 10 years older. Who would want to bang an old girl like her?"

"If she were available, I'd bang her right now," said Craig.

"You'd bang anything with a pulse and a hole," she said scornfully.

"A pulse isn't always necessary, as long as the body's still warm," said Craig.

"You're a real asshole, Craig!" she cried, turning to go.

"Wait!" said Craig. "Who are you after now?"

"Who said I was after anyone?"

"Because you always are."

Susan gave a sly grin. "Bob Patterson."

"Bob Patterson," said Craig, in a low, musical voice.

"What?"

"What?"

"You said his name like you know something," said Susan.

"Nothing!" said Craig, giving a wide grin.

"What do you know?"

"Nothing... Bob Patterson is a great choice... if he can still get it up," said Craig. He grabbed his crotch. "You'd have a much better time with me, I guarantee it."

She leaned towards him. "I had you once."

"And loved every minute of it."

"I barely remember it."

"Because you were in a state of euphoria. Don't you want to find out what you're missing?"

Susan pursed her lips and gave a hard stare. Then she started to turn away again.

"Susan, wait!" said Dickie Weymouth.

"What?"

"You owe me a favor, if I recall?"

"Do I?"

"Remember that thing I did for you, a few weeks ago, involving Bessie and-"

"Oh yes," she said suddenly. "I do remember. What of it?"

"I'd like to call in my favor," said Dickie.

Her eyes narrowed. "What do you want?"

Dickie cast a quick glance at Ira. "Not here. Let's go and talk." He wrapped an arm around her and walked away.

"What was that all about?" Abner Dune asked.

"We may never know," said Donnie Burch.

"Most of us, anyway," said Craig.

The following day Ira finished a quick breakfast so he could go off to the color & lights room to spend more time with Becky when he practically ran into Susan Shinn.

"Hey Ira," she said.

"Hi, uh... Susan," he stammered.

"Surely you haven't forgotten my name since we paired together?" said Susan playfully.

"Uh... no, of course not," said Ira.

"I, I just wanted to tell you how sorry I was that the pairing didn't work out. I've been terrible to you since, not even saying hello when I saw you. I just felt that things worked out so badly that I... I sort of blamed you. But I can see now it wasn't your fault, it wasn't anyone's fault. And I just wanted to ask if... if you could forgive me." She looked at him shyly.

"I... of course I do," said Ira.

"Good!" said Susan. "Let's go and talk and catch up!"

"But I...." He was about to go and see Becky.

"You don't have a few minutes to talk to me? You're still angry with me, aren't you?"

"No, not at all!" He gave an uneasy smile. "Of course I can talk for a few minutes."

"Good," said Susan, steering him to a table. "I can't wait to get reacquainted."

"Hey you," said Becky, as she sat on the catwalk dangling her feet from it as she watched the light waves bounce around the enormous chamber.

"Hey you," said an unfamiliar voice.

Becky turned around to see the smiling face of Dickie Weymouth.

When Ira finally showed up an hour later he was perspiring profusely. He had thought that Susan would just want to talk to him for a few minutes but she kept talking and talking and talking and he could barely get a word in. Finally he managed to break away with a promise that he would see her later. Ira wasn't sure what Susan wanted from him. Surely she didn't want to pair with him again? Maybe she really did feel guilty and just wanted to have him as a friend.

When he got to the music & light chamber he found Becky sitting the alone. "Hey you."

"Hey," she said, not looking at him.

"Sorry I'm late. I just-"

"No need to explain," said Becky. "We don't have to spend every minute together, Ira, I understand." She patted the catwalk. "Come and sit with me."

For three days Susan Shinn intercepted Ira right after breakfast, desperately eager to talk to him. She spoke about everything and anything, her life on Earth, her friends, what she did, and asked all about Ira's life as well, giving running commentary to keep the conversation flowing steadily. It was always an hour or more before he could tear himself away from her without openly offending her. He didn't think Becky would mind after the first time and apparently she didn't. After all, they still spent two hours together every day, that was certainly nice enough, complete with hugging and kissing.

But on the fourth day when he went to kiss her she responded half-heartedly and pushed him back.

"What's wrong, Becky?"

"I... I...."

"Just take a deep breath, it's going to be all right," said Ira.

"I know it is," she said. She took a deep breath, causing her breasts to stick out momentarily. Then she said, "Ira, I have something to tell you. I've... I've been seeing someone else."

"Someone else?"

She nodded. "Dickie Weymouth. He comes to talk to me in the early morning hours, during the times you used to come."

"What... what does he want?"

"At first I thought he just wanted to be my friend," said Becky. "He's so flirtatious! And funny! He told me how beautiful I was. How... how sexy I was. He... he kissed me." She looked at him.

"He kissed you?" said Ira, his voice full of hurt.

"Yes," she said, looking down momentarily. "Ira, I feel I have a special connection with you. Really, I do. But Dickie... Dickie is different. He flirts with me. He tells me how pretty I am. He... he makes me feel so excited."

"What... what are you saying?" Ira asked.

She looked down again. "Dickie... he... he wants to partner with me."

"I thought you wanted to partner with me!"

"I know!" said Becky. "I just... I can't decide! I like you both, but in very different ways!"

Ira turned away and abruptly started pacing furiously back and forth, back and forth.

"Ira! Tell me what you're thinking!" Becky cried.

"And so what did you tell her?" Captain Taylor asked.

"I...." Ira felt the eyes of the men on him. What he was about to say was incredibly painful, incredibly personal, but he had to talk to someone about it.

"Go on!"

"I... I told her to go with Dickie if she liked him better," said Ira.

"What?" said Donnie Burch.

"I want her to be happy, and if being with Dickie makes her happy, then that's what I want," said Ira.

"No, you fool," said Haggis O'Leary. "He stole her right out from under you, and you even helped him. If you like the girl, you should fight for her! Go back right now and tell her you love her!"

"I totally disagree," said Captain Taylor. "I think Ira is being extremely noble to think about Becky's happiness before his own. You're such a good man, Ira."

"I am?"

"Just like the proud tradition of the Survey Service's finest," said Taylor. "Don't regret a thing."

"I... all right," said Ira. "Thanks, Captain." He got up and left in a daze.

"In the proudest tradition of the Survey Service's finest," said Haggis. "Just what is the official motto of the Survey Service again, Captain Taylor?"

"It's, uh...." Taylor frowned, concentrating. "It's.... Don't leave anything undone."

"No," said Haggis. "It's don't leave your people behind."

The next day they saw Dickie and Becky walking together in Bermuda, hand in hand, laughing and smiling like they didn't have a care in the world.

"Did they do it?" Gavin Ansom asked anxiously.

"They did it," said Craig decisively.

"How can you tell?" Donnie Burch asked.

"She has that freshly fucked look," said Craig. Becky's hair looked disheveled and wild. She was smiling and grinning broadly. She swayed her hips as she walked as if a restraining tightness had been unlocked within her.

To Ira's intense horror they passed by his table. "Oh, hello, Ira," she said with a broad smile. Ira didn't know which stung more, her smile or Dickie's hand around her waist.

"Hi Becky. Are you all right?"

"Never felt better," said Beckie. "Dickie and I just got to know each other a bit better before our meeting with the Council."

"Dickie, you pounded her pussy really hard, didn't you?" said Craig.

Becky's eyes grew wide and Ira wanted to hide under the table.

"A gentleman never tells," said Dickie.

"Since when did you claim to be one of those?" Ardis inquired.

"In case you are curious, yes, we have our meeting with the Council later today. Wish us luck, everyone."

"Good luck," said Survey Service Captain Michael Taylor.

"Best of luck," said Ardis.

Craig winked and gave a thumbs up and a nasty smile.

"Aren't you going to wish us luck, Ira?" Dickie asked, with an irritating smile.

"Oh, Dickie, leave him be," said Becky.

"No, it's all right," said Ira. "I wish you the best, Becky. Really, I do." Their eyes met for a brief moment until Becky bit her lip and looked away.

"Awwwww," said Craig.

As they walked away Gavin Ansom said, "There goes a loving couple if I ever saw one."

A few moments later Susan Shinn walked by.

"Hey Lover Girl, how you doing?" Craig asked.

She frowned and shook her head.

"Bob Patterson didn't work out?" Craig asked.

"Not exactly," said Susan.

As she spoke they heard the voice of Hot Dog saying, "Make way! Please make way!" and before long they saw him leading a motorized stretcher with Hamburger pulling up the rear. On the stretcher was the desiccated, white powdery body of Bob Patterson.

"He died on me," said Susan.

"While he was inside of you?" Craig inquired.

"No, loser! It happened last night. We had a nice long chat and I felt I was making progress. I was planning to seal the deal with him today."

"Never put off a fucking tomorrow for one you can do today," said Craig.

"Oh, I feel so bad," said Susan, shaking her head. "All that time wasted!"

"Come here," said Craig.

She looked uncertainly at him

"Come here," he commanded, patting his lap.

Susan sat down in Craig's lap, to the astonishment of everyone.

He started to rub her shoulders. "What you are forgetting is that you are a very sexy woman."

"I am?" she said.

"An extremely sexy one," Craig assured her. As he rubbed her shoulders she unconsciously flexed her body, making her breasts stick out more. "You can have any man you want. You just need to find one who won't die on you."

Susan giggled and gave a little laugh.

"That's better," said Craig. He slowly got up and held her by the hand. "Come have a drink with me?"

"At 9 o'clock in the morning?"

"Just one drink," said Craig.

Her eyes narrowed. "All right. Just one drink." She let herself be led away.

Abner Dune's mouth dropped open. "Is she really going to sleep with him, after telling him so many times how much she hated him?"

"What do you think?" Gavin asked.