The next day, there was a small reception in the Executive Office Tower. Nils was chatting with Chloe Fema.
"I've been looking over your Survey Service record. Most impressive, if I may say so," said Nils.
"Really?" said Chloe. She was flattered beyond belief that the tall handsome blonde man was even talking to her. Ever since they had arrived he only seemed to have eyes for Sophie Astor.
Nils smiled charmingly at her. "Yes, you've been decorated numerous times. The World Government must be
very
pleased with you."
"I like to think so," said Chloe, giving a pleasant smile. "We're trying to import the best of the World Government's values into the Service, but we're encountering a lot of resistance from the old guard, you know?" She cast a glance at Captain Taylor, who was chatting amicably with Susannah Barrington. "What they don't realize is that the World Government usually knows what is best for us. They have all the experts. They have all the smartest minds. We should listen to what they tell us."
Nils replied, "So you believe in the virtues of a centrally led government, where the government knows what is best, and the citizens carry out their central plan?"
"Of course," said Chloe. "Isn't that the whole basis of your colony here?"
"Yes," said Nils, smiling at her. "You're quite perceptive. Excuse me for one moment." He walked casually over to Susannah.
"But why, Captain Taylor?" she was saying. "Your crew is sitting out there on the tarmac, inside your tiny spaceship."
"Not so tiny, Susannah. The
Immortal
is the largest ship in the fleet," said Taylor.
"But why must they be locked inside your ship at all? Let them explore our gorgeous planet!" said Susannah.
"I'd like nothing better," said Taylor. "But unfortunately, the crew is in the middle of an all-hands system check. We're examining every ship system from top to bottom."
"How long will this... system check... take to complete?"
"Hard to say," said Taylor. "It's routine maintenance. It depends on how much they find."
Nils approached them. "Excuse me, Captain Taylor, could I borrow Leader Barrington, for just a moment?"
"Of course," said Taylor.
As Nils and Susannah walked away, Sophie said, "What shipwide systems check?"
Taylor put a finger to his lips.
Nils gently led Susannah to the far side of the room. "Has the capture plan for Captain Taylor been put into effect yet?"
"Not yet," said Susannah. "The Hive Mind is still weighing alternatives."
"Well, I have another alternative," said Nils. He explained what he had in mind. Susannah went stiff for a moment, as if staring off into space, and then she relaxed and nodded to Nils. They returned to Taylor and Sophie.
"There's been a small change of plans," said Nils. "Captain Taylor, Leader Barrington will continue to review your requirements for the Survey Service base with you. But Sophie, I regretfully inform you that I have duties to attend to elsewhere. Can my associate Neil Arjun substitute for me in this session?"
"Of course," said Sophie.
As the session got under way, Nils went up to Chloe. "Would you mind if I had a word with you in my office?"
********
Nils' office had incredible views, as did every office in the Executive Tower. Chloe stared out the window eagerly.
"Enjoying the view?" Nils asked.
"Yes! You have an incredible city! So orderly! So neat and tidy!" said Chloe.
"It's the result of intensive central planning, which I know you admire," said Nils. "Actually, we've put into place a rather unusual kind of central planning here."
"How so?" Chloe asked.
"We have a very specialized planning group. We call it the Hive. The Hive advises us on nearly every matter. It tells us what job we are best suited for. Where we should live and sleep. It even selects our lovers for us."
"Really?" said Chloe. "You let this... Hive... select your lovers for you?"
"Yes, of course. It knows best for us. It teaches us how to maximize happiness in life."
"Really?" said Chloe. "This... Hive actually maximizes your happiness?"
"It does," Nils confirmed. "The Hive is so wise and so brilliant. It guides us. It even tells us what to think."
"How can it do that?" Chloe asked.
"Let me show you," said Nils. He removed his shirt, and slowly turned around.
Chloe gasped as she saw the giant double banded rider on his back. She saw the giant knuckle bones grasping on to Nils. She gasped again when it pulsated. "What is
that
?"
"This... this is my rider," said Nils.
"What is it doing to you?" Chloe asked as she watched it inflate and deflate.
"It's guiding me. It's guiding all of us."
"You... you all have riders?" Chloe said, eyeing the hard bones grasping Nils' back.
"Yes," said Nils. "The Hive makes us happier than we've ever been. Every day is a simple one. We get up every morning, and our rider tells us what we have to do to maximize happiness for everyone in the community."
"And this... this Hive knows how to do that?" Chloe asked.
"Yes," said Nils. "It is the secret to our success as a colony."
"Can I... can I see this Hive?" Chloe said.
Nils smiled. "I thought you'd never ask."
********
Chloe had no qualms about taking off her clothes in the room filled with alcoves in the North Building. She was after all a fully licensed Pillow Worker, as well as a full Commander in the Survey Service, and was not ashamed of her body. She admired Nils' tall, handsome body and his long penis. As he led her deeper into the Hive, Chloe felt the air getting hotter and more humid and stale. The lighting grew green and dim. And then they passed an enormous room where people were having sex by the dozens.
"So this is where everyone in the city is!" she said.
"Yes. This is the Enrichment Chamber," said Nils. He gestured to row after row after row of women fucking or getting fucked. "The Hive makes sure all our needs are met. Especially our sexual needs. It uses its brilliance to match us with partners who will be best for them, and best for the whole community."
"Amazing!" said Chloe. "I've often wondered if the World Government could do something like that! You know, I'm a licensed Pillow Worker. I firmly believe in the redistribution of sexual wealth!"
"I know you do," Nils grinned.
He took her deeper into the Hive, into the Main Auditorium where Chloe beheld the Hive Mind for the first time. Chloe stared at the giant black oily ball, forty feet tall, with the two enormous eyes. "What is it?"
"This... this is the Hive Mind," said Nils.
Chloe stared at the giant black ball. "It's beauuuutiful," she whispered.
Nils spoke quickly in her ear. "The Hive Mind has the genetic wisdom of the ages. Thousands of years of experience guiding lesser races. It is wise and all knowing. And it wants to make all of us happy. It wants to make
you
happy."
"Yessss," Chloe hissed. She was mesmerized by those giant eyes. A bright white spotlight shone down on her. It played over her tits, and moved down to her pussy. Chloe shuddered as the Hive Mind inspected her, feeling the heat of it on her pussy lips.
"Momomomomomomom!" they heard.
"What did it say?" Chloe asked.
"The Hive Mind is pleased with you," said Nils. "Will you join us? Will you help us bring unity and perfection to the planet Earth?"
"Yes!" said Chloe immediately. "I will join you! I can clearly see that the Hive Mind is the next logical evolutionary step after the World Government, the living embodiment of centralized control of everything for everyone's benefit!"
"I thought you might feel that way," said Nils. He led her to a wall, and had her lean against it with her palms out. He snapped his fingers, and a Harem Guard appeared carrying an organic container. Nils opened it, revealing an immature rider.
"Is that...."
"Your first rider. Are you ready to join us, Chloe?"
