Scouts Read Free Page B

unapproved drugs, no alcohol, no caffeine. Of course, it’ll be hard to violate that rule when you’re on a Scout craft, but it’s a rule you should always follow.
    “Two: Take care of your mind. I’ve already seen your academic records and you two have solid foundations. You still have much to learn to be full-fledged Scouts. Astrophysics, engineering, xenobiology, economics, history, politics, diplomacy—you’re going to study it all. Scouts get sent on a wide variety of missions, and your most efficient tools are the ones you carry around in your heads.
    “Three: No orgasms without my express permission, under any circumstances. The ship is highly sensitive to releases of orgone energy. It shouldn’t be an issue since there’s no privacy on this ship, but there have been accidents.”
    I looked at Val. Her brow furrowed.
    “I know,” said Shirley, “you’re young, and you need release. I’ll make sure you get the opportunities you need, but they must be under controlled conditions. Don’t worry. The last thing I want is to cause you trauma.”
    Masters’s voice broke in, transmitted from the bridge. “We’re away, Shirley. Ready for jump.”
    Shirley nodded. “Thank you, Masters. Meet us in the chamber.” She addressed Val and I again. “Looks like it’s time for your first engineering lesson. Faster-than-light travel is dependent upon orgone energy. Merchant ships use basal orgone, the ordinary everyday energy of life. Warships need to be able to generate bursts of speed, so their engines can also accept crisis orgone from rage, fear, and pain. It’s a horrific life, but as long as there are Pirates preying on Merchant ships, we need the Fleet.”
    “And then there’s us. Scout ships can travel across the galaxy in a moment, powered by transcendent orgone. Some of the great adepts have learned to release it at will, but most of us use orgasm.”
    “Orgasm?” The implications of this secret burst upon me like a bomb.
    “You are familiar with the concept?” She smiled. “I’ve read your medical report; everything seemed to be all right, but if there’s a problem . . .”
    “No, no.” I shook my head. “No problem.”
    “Good.” She glanced around the room. “This chamber is surrounded by collectors that channel the orgone into field generators set in the hull. If the field generators are properly primed, and the navigation computer set to trigger? Pop! We’re there.”
    Masters emerged from the passageway and stood in the center of the room.
    Shirley stood and moved next to him. “Ready to give a demonstration?”
    “As always,” he said, and pulled his shirt up over his head.
    I scratched the back of my neck and looked away. “Don’t you want us to, um . . .”
    “Of course not,” said Shirley. “How else are you going to learn? Station folk have different ways of looking at sex.”
    Masters chuckled.
    Shirley shot him a look. “So to speak. You need to shed your inhibitions, and this is your first step in doing that.”
    I looked up to see her tossing her top behind a bench. Her full, round breasts bounced with her movements.
    “Should I take off my clothes, too?” I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. It felt strange to just sit there, watching.
    She rolled her pants down, revealing full hips and thighs. The naked cleft of her pussy held my fascinated attention.
    “No, keep your clothes on, and don’t touch yourself, either. You need to learn control and now is the time to start.”
    I looked over at Val. Her lips were pursed and one hand nervously picked at the neck of her shirt. She caught my eye and gave me a fleeting smile. This would test her as much as it would me.
    Now completely naked, Shirley and Masters kissed, their left hands laid gently on each other’s waist, their right hands roaming over each other’s body. Their kisses were quick, rhythmic, but open-mouthed and full of passionate promise. They sank down onto the floor as one, performing a dance