Jade brought the Raptor in to land inside the Invictus, while John and Alyssa sat with Rachel. The young woman was still overcome with grief, the traumatic events of her past raked up once again due to their unfortunate recent encounter.

*I've let Calara and Dana know what happened,* Alyssa thought to him as she stroked Rachel's light brown hair comfortingly.

John nodded approvingly. *We could use their help getting the passengers settled. What's the situation with the pirates?* he asked her firmly.

*Now the civilians are clear, Calara is just waiting for you to give the word,* she replied, looking at him for his decision. *The frigate tried to escape, but she disabled them. They aren't going anywhere.*

*They knew the consequences when they turned to that kind of life,* John replied grimly, an air of finality in his tone.

Alyssa nodded her understanding, and stared into his eyes for a long moment, studying his face intently. *It's done,* she eventually said, marking the passing of the ill-fated Captain Farley.

"We're landed and are secure," Jade called to them having shut down the Raptor's engines, and she rose from her chair, then walked over to join them.

John smiled at her gratefully. "Thanks, Jade. You did an amazing job today. Could I ask you to look after Rachel for a moment, while I get the civilians up to the spare quarters on Deck Four? When we're clear, bring Rachel up to our room and get her settled."

The Nymph smiled at him warmly and nodded, as she said, "Of course, I'd be happy to."

He turned to look at Alyssa, and she rose immediately. "Sure, I'll plot us a course. Port Cadmus is the nearest Terran Federation outpost to our current location, if I remember rightly," she said, knowing full well it was, by 64.37 parsecs.

"Thanks, beautiful," he said to her gratefully.

*Do we want to let her grieve for a while, or bring her out of it?* Alyssa asked him, glancing at Rachel before she left.

John looked up at the blonde, and asked, *Bring her out of it?*

*A full tummy makes everything better. If we ask Jade to give her a feed, Rachel will be back to her normal happy self in no time,* Alyssa explained sympathetically.

John looked down at Rachel, where she lay against him. *As much as it pains me to see her this upset, she probably needs the release. I'm no psychologist, but she's probably been suppressing these memories for years,* he said, his voice ringing with concern.

The blonde girl smiled at him and nodded, then walked out of the bridge to carry out his orders.

"Let's get her out of the armour," John said to Jade.

They moved Rachel's left thumb so that it was touching her palm, and there was a cascading ripple of clicks as the armour plates unlocked. They carefully removed the front layer of the Phalanx body armour, and then John picked up the girl in his arms and carried her through to the cabin at the back of the Raptor. He placed her gently on the bed, and Jade climbed on as well and snuggled in with her.

"I've got her now," the Nymph told him confidently, and then began to murmur loving words in Rachel's ear.

John nodded, and left the brunette in Jade's capable hands, then walked back to the grav-tube to descend in a red glow to the floor below. He heaved a big sigh, and then pasted a welcoming smile on his face, before striding into the cargo compartment at the back of the gunship. The large room was packed full of the civilians that they had rescued from the clutches of the pirates, and a hushed silence fell over the room when he entered.

"We've landed on my ship, the Invictus. I'll take you up to the guest quarters, and get you settled in, until we can return you to the safety of the nearest Terran Federation outpost," he told them in a clear voice.

*Three hours,* Alyssa informed him, pre-empting the question he was about to ask her.

"It will take us approximately three hours to reach Port Cadmus, but for now, you can have a hot meal, and there's plenty of beds if some of you want to rest," he told them considerately.

One of the older men stepped forward and nodded to John, his face filled with gratitude as he said, "Thank you Commodore Blake, for everything you've done for us."

As sincere statements of gratitude echoed around the room, John looked at the man in surprise, not having introduced himself to any of the rescued passengers yet.

"I recognised the Lion of the Terran Federation from the TFNN report, and the emblem on your shoulder confirmed it," the man said with a wry smile. "When I saw your interview, I dismissed the stories of heroism as some fabrication for propaganda purposes. Somewhat ironic, considering you'd be rescuing me only a week later."

John returned the man's smile, and nodded in acknowledgement, before addressing the crowd once again, "If you'd care to follow me, I'll lead you to the hot meals and beds I promised."

He walked back through the Raptor until he reached the front loading area, the ramp already lowered when Alyssa had walked through. She had obviously mentioned he would be on his way, because the civilians here looked at him expectantly, and rose to follow him when he walked through into the room. He smiled at them, and repeated his invitation to use the guest rooms, and then strode purposefully down the ramp and into the Hangar Bay. Calara and Dana jogged into the room, and they ran over to join him.

John took one look at Dana and could immediately see the worry on her face. "Rachel's in the cabin behind the cockpit, and Jade's looking after her at the moment. Calara and I have got this though, so go ahead and keep her company," he said to the redhead considerately.

Dana kissed him on the cheek, and murmured her heartfelt thanks, before sprinting up the ramp and into the Raptor. Calara looked up at him sombrely as she stood by his side.

"Let's get these people settled in, then we can talk," he said to the Latina, and she smiled at him and nodded.

The two of them then guided their guests out of the Raptor, where they assembled patiently in the Hangar Bay, before leading them through the double doors and over to the grav-tubes. Those caused quite a stir, but they were so simple to use that everybody quickly picked up the general idea, and soon they had everyone moved into the now packed crew quarters on Deck Four. Dana had powered up the whole level, so the Galley and accompanying kitchen were also fully functional now.

Realising that he wouldn't be able to do much to help Rachel for the moment, John returned to the Bridge to remove his armour and stow away his gear, greeting Alyssa as he went. She confirmed that the grieving brunette was currently fast asleep, with Jade and Dana keeping a watchful eye on her, so John gave the blonde a kiss and packed away his battle gear. He then returned to the fourth floor where Calara was waiting for him. After a quick show of hands told him that most of his guests were hungry, he proceeded to cook up a large-scale stew to feed everyone. Calara helped him prepare and serve up the food, and at one point he watched her serving out portions to the civilians with a fond smile on his face, as she smiled and told jokes to help put them at ease.

The three hours flew by, until Alyssa contacted him by telepathy to let him know that they had arrived at Port Cadmus, and had been granted docking clearance. When she had landed the Invictus in the designated docking bay, she joined them on Deck Four, to help get the civilians disembarked. John went ahead of them to open up the hangar bay doors, making it easier for everyone to exit the ship, rather than expecting everyone to queue up to walk through the airlock.

There were a group of Terran Federation medics and soldiers waiting to look after the passengers, having been fully briefed about the nature of their arrival by Alyssa. John felt a strong sense of déjà vu, recalling a very similar scene on Port Heracles, as he nodded his greeting to the young officer in command of the Port Cadmus detachment. He was surprised when Rachel came down to join him, accompanied by an attentive Dana and Jade. The brunette was looking drawn after her raw outpouring of emotion, but she walked over to him and held his hand, as he smiled at her in greeting.

"Are you alright?" he asked her with concern, studying her face closely.

Rachel smiled at him bravely and nodded. "Can we talk later? I wanted to see the people we saved, but I'm only just keeping it together at the moment," she explained with a heavy sigh.

John nodded his understanding, and they both turned to watch the passengers begin to disembark. The civilians smiled at him and the girls in gratitude, with Calara and Alyssa bringing up the rear of the stream of people. He recognised the blonde woman who had spoken to him back at the gas mining facility, and he realised with regret that he didn't even know her name. She whispered something to her daughter who was walking along beside her, and the young woman looked his way, her pretty face lighting up with a grateful smile. They waved him goodbye, and he watched them leave, hoping that the girl wouldn't be traumatised by the events she had suffered through.

His attention was drawn back to the remaining passengers when a haggard looking man in his early thirties approached them. He was carrying a young girl in his arms, who was currently fast asleep, and he walked towards them tentatively.

"Thank you for saving us." he said to John and the girls earnestly, before turning to focus on Rachel.

John watched warily, unsure how the man was going to react. The man paused for a moment, his eyes filled with tears, before he finally managed to speak to the brunette.

"Thank you for avenging my wife. She was a wonderful woman, and didn't deserve to die so young and in such a horrible way. At least I'll know that the men who killed her, paid dearly for what they did," he said to Rachel with a shuddering breath.

Rachel bit her lip to stop herself from crying, and she nodded to the man, before turning and walking away. He watched her leave the hangar, and then with a last grateful look towards John and the girls, carried his daughter off the ship.

The girls left to follow after the troubled brunette, while John walked after the last of the civilians, and over to the young officer in charge of the Port Cadmus soldiers.

"First Lieutenant Darren Crawford, Sir. It's an honour to meet you, Commodore," the man said respectfully, looking at him from under his peaked hat.

A quick glance at the man's epaulets let John confirm his rank. "We were happy to assist, Lieutenant," he said in an even tone. "We eliminated the pirates, but I'll arrange for coordinates of their base, and the wreck of the Excelsior to be sent to you."

"Thank you, Sir," the young officer replied gratefully and saluted.

John nodded and then turned to walk back into his ship, closing up the huge hull doors into the Hangar Bay behind him.

*I'll set us on a course for Maliri Space again, and then meet you in our bedroom,* Alyssa said to him, her voice echoing in his mind.

*Thanks, honey,* he replied gratefully as he strode inside.

Jade was waiting for him in the corridor, and she looked up at him nervously when he walked through the double doors. "I'm sorry!" she blurted out suddenly.

"What for?" John asked with a puzzled expression on his face, as he held out his arms for her.

The Nymph gladly accepted his invitation, and hugged him fiercely, before leaning back to look up at him once more. "I could have stopped Rachel from doing what she did, but she just looked so heartbroken, I wasn't sure what to do," she confessed with regret.

John smiled at her and pulled her in for another hug as he stroked her back soothingly. "You did the right thing, Jade. I'm sorry you were put in such a tough spot. Don't worry though, everything will be alright," he told her comfortingly, and just held her for a while, brushing his fingers through her long dark-green hair.

She looked up at him gratefully as she leaned her head against his chest. "Alyssa told me she thinks that Rachel needs distracting. If you want me to nurse her, just let me know," she said, smiling coyly.

"I'll bear that in mind," John replied wryly, and then leaned down to give her a kiss, which she returned passionately. When they finally broke apart, he said, "Let's go and rejoin the others."

Jade nodded eagerly and took his hand as they stepped into the grav-tube. They floated up to Deck Two, and stepped out into the corridor that led to the officers' quarters, before walking briskly to his room at the end. The other girls were waiting for them on the bed, and they all looked up at him when he arrived with the Nymph at his side, as the two of them walked over to join everyone.

Before he could say anything, Rachel spoke up suddenly. "I'm so sorry," she began, in a tremulous voice. "I don't know what came over me. You must think I'm some kind of merciless monster."

John looked at her tormented expression and his heart went out to her. Dana made room for him and he climbed across the bed to take Rachel in his arms.

"Shh, don't be silly," he told her soothingly. "We don't think anything of the kind," he added gently.

Rachel heaved a huge sigh of relief as she leaned against him, and the other girls echoed his words in a kindly tone, leaning in to stroke her comfortingly.

"But I just slaughtered those men in cold blood," she protested, her face showing her distress at the memory.

"Those 'Pirates' were rapists and murderers," John corrected her, "They signed their own death warrant the moment they attacked the passenger liner. The penalty for piracy is death, with clemency only given if the local authority is feeling generous. I'm just sorry you ended up being the executioner."

"It's like wiping out vermin," Calara said helpfully, recalling the phrase John had told her after her first encounter with pirates. "Just focus on the dozens of people you saved today instead."

John smiled at the Latina and nodded, before turning back to the tawny haired girl in his arms. "I promise you I had no idea about your mother though, otherwise I never would have exposed you to that. Do you feel up to telling us what happened to her?" he asked gently.

Rachel looked up at him with eyes that were red from crying, and nodded tentatively.

Alyssa leaned out and placed a comforting hand on Rachel's arm. "Before you start, would you like Jade to top you up first?" she asked considerately. "I know how much better I always feel when my tummy is nice and full," she added with an encouraging smile.

Rachel laughed, sniffling slightly as she rubbed the back of her hand across her eyes. "That would help, thanks," she said self-consciously as she nodded.

The girls all stripped off, with Dana and Alyssa moving across the bed to give Rachel a cuddle, while Jade looked up at John hungrily. He removed his clothes and then lay back on the bed, so that Jade could get to work. Calara came over to kneel beside him, and he pulled her into his arms for a kiss while Jade sank his cock down her throat, and then began to suck on him insistently.

"How are you doing, gorgeous?" he asked the Latina, as he cradled her in his arms.

She smiled up at him and then kissed him gently on the lips. "If you mean, am I having doubts about taking out the Frigate? Don't worry, I'm fine," she said emphatically, as she stared into his eyes. "As the person responsible for firing the Invictus' main guns, my body count is in the thousands by now. They were bad guys and they needed eliminating, so what's a few more added to the list? I've got plenty of space left," she added fervently, her brown eyes sparkling with conviction.

"My fierce little warrior maiden," he told her proudly, as he held her in his arms.

They kissed tenderly as Jade worshipped his length, her throat rippling around him and urging him to unload. Calara could see the increasing arousal in his eyes, so she quickly pulled back so that he could run his hands through the Nymph's hair and hold her in place as his quad got ready for his release. He glanced to his left where Dana, Rachel and Alyssa were all watching him excitedly, and seeing the brunette licking her lips reflexively while the blonde stroked Rachel's slim stomach suggestively, tipped him over the edge. He stared into Jade's emerald eyes and she purred with contentment as he thrust against her soft lips, and began to pump his cum down her throat. Calara leaned in to kiss him lovingly, and he gazed into her deep brown eyes as he unloaded his balls into the kneeling Nymph. Finally he was done, and he sagged back against the pillows, with Calara snuggling up beside him.

Jade sat up and caught a few errant strands of cum from her lips with a delicate finger, before chasing them back into her mouth. She then glanced over at Rachel and smiled at her coyly, while raising an eyebrow. The brunette giggled, and then went over to join the green-skinned alien girl, eyeing her titanic tits hungrily.

John and the other girls sat back and watched as Jade cradled Rachel in her arms, and then leaned over so that the teenager could start suckling. The two of them stared into each other's eyes as the brunette fed, while the Nymph stroked her rising tummy with a cool, soothing hand. They switched breasts when the left was emptied, and by the time Rachel had greedily sucked out the contents of the right one too, her stomach was hugely rounded and stuffed full of spunk. She sat upright with Jade's assistance, and then let out a happy sigh as she cradled her heavily swollen belly.

"Feeling better?" Alyssa asked her with a knowing smile on her face.

Rachel beamed back at them happily, and nodded exuberantly, restored to her happy self once more.

John glanced at the blonde to his side. *This feels like cheating,* he said to her dubiously.

*Wallowing in her grief isn't going to help her in the long term. I have an idea what will, and I'll suggest it, if she doesn't think of it herself,* she told him confidently.

John sat up, leaning back against the headboard, and spread his legs to make room for Rachel as she crawled over to join them. She moved cautiously, repositioning herself with the heavy weight she now carried in her belly, before leaning back against his chest. He rested his hands on her taut skin, stroking her gently as she snuggled into him with a contented sigh.

The other girls fanned out around them, and sat waiting attentively for Rachel to start her story. She looked out at their supportive faces, and taking strength from John's arms that were wrapped protectively around her, she began.

"I was eight when it happened. We lived on New Eden in the Procyon system, and I had grown up on our family estate there. My mother had gone on a shopping trip to the capital, Avalon, which was just a short flight away from our home. She was protected by bodyguards of course, but on the way home, the hover-limo was ambushed, the guards killed, and she was kidnapped," the brunette said as she let out a heavy sigh.

"She'd been targeted because they knew exactly who she was married to, and everyone knows how wealthy my father is. They demanded twenty million credits for her safe release, probably figuring it was such a drop in the ocean for him, he would pay up without a second thought. They had no idea what an arrogant and stubborn man the 'great' Henry Voss would turn out to be though," she said, bristling with anger.

Alyssa looked at her sympathetically, and took her hand, squeezing it gently as she said, "He didn't pay up I take it?"

Rachel shook her head sadly. "I heard him speaking to the police detective who had been investigating a spate of high profile kidnappings on New Eden, and he urged my father to pay. I didn't understand what they were talking about at the time, but when my father refused to give in to their demands, I soon found out the hard way," she replied bitterly.

John leaned over to one side so that he could see her face. "Did they catch the kidnappers?" he asked her gently.

The brunette frowned in anger, shaking her head. "It was bad enough that she was taken away from me like that, but to know that the people responsible were never brought to justice makes it even worse. They should have paid for what they did to my mother," she said in a furious voice.

John was just about to respond, when Alyssa cut him off. *I know what you're about to offer her, but let Rachel ask instead. This needs to come from her,* she told him firmly.

Heeding the blonde's advice he sat quietly, watching and waiting patiently while Rachel was lost in thought. He glanced at the other girls around the bed, and he could see a fierce hunger in their eyes, as they ached to say the same thing as him, but had obviously been given the same warning. He could see the look of determination on the brunette's face as she finally made up her mind, and then looked up at him hesitantly.

"I know it's a lot to ask, but when we can spare some time, do you think we could look into my mother's kidnapping? I feel bad dragging you all into it, but you have resources and skills that are way beyond me acting on my own," she requested tentatively.

John nodded firmly and smiled at her. "We'll start right away," he replied, before glancing at Alyssa. "Change course for the Procyon System, please."

Dana darted over to hug her friend. "Those fuckers are dead men walking!" she swore vehemently.

Jade stroked Rachel's leg and said in a deadly voice, "We'll hunt down everyone responsible and help you avenge your mother."

Calara nodded at Alyssa as the pair of them moved to get up off the bed. "I'll start investigating the old cases, see if there's any connections tying them together, and look for clues," the Latina said, looking thoughtful.

Rachel held her up hands and said loudly, "Wait a moment... please!"

They all paused and turned to look at her, and she smiled at them all affectionately. "I appreciate your enthusiasm, truly, but we don't have to drop everything immediately. We're nearly at the Maliri border, and New Eden is right in the Core Worlds. If it's alright with you, we can stop there and investigate my mother's murder on our way to Trankaran Space. That's on the way, right?" she asked, looking at Alyssa for confirmation.

The blonde girl sat back down on the bed. "Yes, you're correct. A course from here to the Trankaran Republic would take us past the Core Worlds," she agreed, with a smile.

The girls all settled down again and nodded their agreement with the plan.

Rachel stared at them all, a lump welling up in her throat. "Thank you all, it means so much to see how passionately you all want to help me," she said with a gulp.

John hugged her tightly. "Of course, we'd do anything for you. You're part of the family now," he said sincerely.

The girls all agreed and moved in for a group hug with Rachel in the middle. She sighed blissfully as they gathered around her, feeling loved and supported. They all eventually separated and she smiled at them gratefully.

"You guys are so awesome. Thanks again for reminding me what a wonderful decision I made joining you," she said passionately.

Alyssa frowned at her playfully. "Are you after another group hug?" she asked, as her face lit up with a mischievous grin.

Everyone laughed, and with the mood lightened, John suggested they get some dinner after a quick glance at the ship's chronometer. They had a relaxing shower together, and then all strolled along as a group to go and prepare their meal. After working so well with Calara to serve food for their unexpected guests earlier, he asked if she wanted to work with him to prepare dinner for the others. She eagerly agreed, so John told the rest of the girls to just relax together, while he and the Latina got to work.

Calara suggested making one of her old favourites, Carbonara, and John nodded his agreement, letting her take the lead as he played sous chef for her. He smiled as he watched her humming happily to herself as she cooked, and they worked well as a team as he chopped up vegetables for her, and helped prepare the sauce.

"I was proud of you earlier today, when you helped me cook for those passengers," he told her with a fond smile on his face. "You were lovely with them, very caring and considerate. I could see how much they appreciated it, especially after going through such an ordeal."

The brunette smiled at him shyly as she gently stirred the pan in front of her as it simmered on the stove. "It felt good to be able to help them," she said softly.

John walked over to her and wrapped her in his arms, whilst being careful not to knock her stirring hand. "I love you," he whispered, then kissed her neck tenderly, and she leaned back against him as she let out a happy sigh.

"I better not distract you too much," he said playfully. "It didn't end well when Jade did the same to me," he added with amusement.

Calara giggled and then turned to give him a quick peck on the lips before turning her attention back to their dinner. It didn't take long to finish cooking, and John held the door to the kitchen open for her, as they walked out to join the others. The girls had been having great fun listening to Alyssa's raunchy stories about her time alone with John, before the others had joined them, and they eyed him wistfully when he entered the room. As Calara began to serve up, Dana let out a melodramatic sigh as she gazed at Alyssa.

"I do envy you being able to spend weeks alone with John like that," she said longingly.

Alyssa laughed as she glanced his way. "It was a lot of fun surviving on a high protein diet," she said with a smirk.

"But then again, I love seeing you girls with him too. I think I'd miss that even more," Dana admitted with a cute frown. Her face then lit up with an impish grin as she looked at John. "I must admit, making us all rampantly bi-sexual, and not even remotely jealous, was an inspired move."

John waited until the giggling died down, and was just about to reply when Rachel suddenly swore animatedly.

"Crap!" she exclaimed with annoyance.

They all turned to look at her in surprise, and Alyssa put on a mock pout, then said teasingly, "You're saying you don't find us girls attractive any more?"

Rachel flushed with embarrassment at her outburst, and shook her head. "No, I still think you're all absolutely gorgeous," she said with a smile. "I just got so distracted with everything that happened with the pirates, I forgot that I'd found out some amazing new things about John and Jade!"

They all looked at her with bated breath, waiting for her to continue. She smiled at them in amusement and then shook her head. "I'll need to show you the DNA strands, so it'll have to wait until after dinner," she said apologetically.

"Boo!" Dana blurted out energetically.

Alyssa laughed at the raucous redhead and then nodded, "We don't want to wait!"

John grinned at the brunette, and said, "I wouldn't understand the DNA images anyway, just summarise for us."

Rachel raised her hands in surrender, and they all cheered as she admitted defeat. They began to tuck in to the Carbonara as they watched her, making appreciative noises and complimenting Calara on her excellent cooking. After looking thoughtful for a moment, unsure where to start, Rachel finally began.

"As you know, I said I was going to look into John and Jade's DNA structures this morning. It turned out I managed to analyse their whole DNA chain just by sight in a couple of hours," she said in astonishment, looking around at them all and awaiting their reaction.

She was met by blank looks by everyone, and John just said carefully, "I take it that's a good thing? Well done?"

The brunette laughed and smiled at him affectionately. "Sorry, I forget that despite how smart you all are, you don't have my medical background. There's three billion pairs in a person's genetic code, and it would normally take a powerful computer a day to analyse the entire code. I can't even begin to describe how staggering it is that I could do it so fast by sight alone. I'm not trying to sound arrogant, I just wanted to let you know about something amazing that happened as a side-effect of the Gift," she explained carefully, glancing at Alyssa as she used her new term for the change.

"Sorry we didn't understand. That does sound incredible," John said encouragingly. "I did warn you that with your intellect, you'd be just as gifted as the other girls," he added with a slightly smug grin.

"So you did," she replied with a warm smile.

John smiled back and then gestured for her to proceed, "I'm sidetracking you. Please continue."

Rachel nodded and looked around at them all excitedly. "As I stared at his genetic code, looking at the DNA taken from him as an eighteen-year-old, and then as he is today, I noticed some amazing things!" she exclaimed eagerly.

"You were a very cute eighteen-year-old by the way," Dana smirked at John, desperately trying not to descend into a fit of giggles.

Calara leaned forward as she said eagerly, "You've got a picture of John at eighteen? You have to show me!"

The girls chattered away, discussing this astonishing breakthrough, and the noise intensified when Rachel confirmed that a youthful John was in fact, very cute.

He rolled his eyes and raised his hands to quieten the deafening chatter, and the girls looked at him with amusement. "Eighteen-year-old John wouldn't have known what to do with you all, he would have been far too intimidated," he said with a grin. "I know you all really prefer the firm authority that comes with the experience of a more mature man."

The girls laughed at that, and conceded he was right, their eyes sparkling at the mention of strong discipline. With an amused chuckle, he asked for Rachel to continue.

She grinned at him, then nodded, and began to explain more of her findings, "John's third strand was almost completely inactive in the earlier sample. At some point between then, and the sample I took the other day, significant sections of the third strand of DNA seem to have been enabled."

"So you ARE becoming more psychically active!" Alyssa exclaimed with a grin. "That backs up what the Ashanath were saying."

John looked puzzled as he looked at Rachel. "So what caused my third strand to suddenly become more active then? Was it age related? Because it seems a bit odd to wait until I'm forty to turn my life upside down," he asked, quite bemused.

Rachel glanced at Alyssa before studying him intently. "I can't verify this for certain, as I only have two samples of your genetic code, and one of those is from decades ago. I suspect however, it's because of her," she said, nodding at the blonde.

Alyssa now looked as confused as John. "Me? How could I have done that to him?" she asked in bewilderment.

Rachel smiled at her with amusement. "The deal you made back on the Fool's Gold, where you agreed to be his plaything for a month. From what I know of John's relationships prior to that, there was a string of one night stands, so no woman ever had that much exposure to his cum before," she said, darting glances between the two of them.

John had been stunned into silence, but Alyssa leaned forward eagerly, hungry for more answers. "So he packed me full of cum, and his Progenitor genes kind of activated, sensing they had a receptive girl to work with?" she asked, her eyes flashing with excitement. "If so, that's fucking hot!"

Rachel nodded eagerly. "Yes, I think you're exactly right, and it is! His body reacted to him feeding you so much cum, and must have responded instinctively, thinking he was getting you ready to breed," she said, her eyes sparkling.

Calara, Dana and Jade all nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly, that it was a very arousing bit of news.

Rachel then turned to John again, and decided to continue with even more revelations. "There's lots more I found out, are you ready to hear that too?" she asked him carefully.

John nodded hesitantly. "Yeah, hit me with the rest of it," he said warily.

Rachel nodded eagerly and continued with her findings, her voice animated. "The human body has something called telomeres, which are structures that constantly repair our DNA. The ones in our bodies get massively boosted every time we swallow your cum, so that our DNA is being repeatedly refreshed as I discussed before. Well, in the DNA sample taken from your eighteen-year-old body, everything about your telomeres looked normal, which is why you aged just as a regular Terran would do," she told him, breathless with excitement.

John looked at her carefully, as he said, "I take it things have changed?"

Rachel nodded, gazing at him with wide eyed wonder. "You now have 'super telomeres' for want of a better expression. They are always working on overdrive, and there's lots of them, constantly repairing your genetic code, and leaving it in perfect condition," she explained joyously.

"You're immortal too!" Alyssa gasped with delight, "And it's all because of me!"

John stared at her in shock, before turning to look at Rachel for confirmation. She spoke reverently as she stared at him in awe and said, "We'll live forever as long as you keep feeding us. You're the real deal though, and there's no caveats!"

Taking a big breath, he carefully walled off his mind to keep Alyssa out, "How about combat or accidents?" he asked Rachel delicately.

She frowned, and looked pained, which told him everything he needed to know.

"Never mind, forget about that," he ordered her firmly. "Is there anything else?" he added, more to distract the girls from thinking about his mortality than through willingness to hear any more bombshells.

"Oh yes!" Rachel nodded eagerly.

Dana waved her hand a moment, drawing everyone's attention. "Wait a sec!" she interrupted before Rachel could continue. "If his DNA is now being constantly refreshed, is he going to turn into the eighteen-year-old version of himself?" she added with a mischievous grin.

Rachel smiled with amusement, before shaking her head as she said, "Sadly, no. I'd need to take several more samples over the next few weeks for confirmation, but from what I've seen, John's 'template' was taken from the time his Progenitor genes became active."

Calara giggled as she looked at him. "It's a good job you decided to make that deal with Alyssa now, and didn't wait until you were eighty!" she said, as she reached out to take his hand and squeezed it affectionately.

John looked at her in surprise and then laughed heartily as he nodded. That would be a cruel twist of fate indeed, to be made immortal with a ravishing harem of insatiable girls, and being physically incapable of doing anything about it!

Rachel waited for his nod for her to continue with her results, and then she launched into them relentlessly. "As I was examining your DNA, my mind began to... understand, the patterns I was seeing in the genetic code. I can't easily explain it, but I know..." she stated, putting great emphasis on the word, "that you've been genetically modified."

John looked at her, astounded. "Me specifically, or Progenitors as a species?" he asked her bluntly.

"Your whole species," she said with conviction. "The knowledge started to be revealed to me slowly at first, but after two hours of staring at the structure of your DNA, I'm absolutely positive. There's a certain... uniformity in the areas of your genetic code that stand out, where they've clearly been manipulated. Your ears and enhanced hearing for one thing," she said glancing at them with a smile.

He reached his right hand up self-consciously, just as Alyssa leaned in and kissed the tip of his pointy ear. "I always thought they were cute," she told him lovingly.

"What else has been modified?" John asked Rachel with fascination.

"I believe your species was innately psychic, but that third strand has been heavily modified, in ways that I'm only just beginning to understand. Your 'equipment' is also greatly enhanced," she said looking downwards suggestively, and raising her eyebrow.

"I'm quite fond of that too," Alyssa said, with a lascivious wink.

The other girls giggled at this, and John nodded his understanding, as genetic modification certainly explained what he was able to do.

"And of course, there's Jade," Rachel said, dropping another bombshell.

"Me?" Jade asked, looking shocked. "I've been modified too?"

Rachel looked at her for a long moment, before glancing at John, seemingly suddenly unsure if she should proceed. John recognised that look, and its meaning. "Go ahead and tell her everything. She has a right to know," he insisted firmly.

The brunette got up and walked around the table to sit next to the Nymph and took her hands in her own. She stared into the alien girl's emerald eyes and began to speak to her softly, "Your whole genetic code has Progenitor 'fingerprints', I guess you'd call them, all over it. I believe the Nymph species is a genetic construction made exclusively by the Progenitors, and I don't think you were a naturally occurring species at all. They seem to have drawn in and melded different genetic traits together, using a form of feline DNA structure as a base, but that parent structure is so massively modified it's a tenuous genetic link at best."

Jade looked at her in astonishment. "So his people made me and the other Nymphs? But why create us and then abandon us on Lenarra?" she asked in shock.

Rachel shook her head helplessly. "I'm certain your species was created by the Progenitors, but as to why you were left on Lenarra... I'm sorry, but I have no idea why," she said to her sympathetically.

Jade nodded as she absorbed this information, before she suddenly turned to look at John, her face looking dumbfounded. "Didn't the Ashanath think that the last time the Progenitors were active in this area was nearly ten thousand years ago?" she said, her eyes wide as saucers.

The girls gasped, seeing what she was hinting at as he nodded. "Which would make you at least ten thousand years old," he confirmed for her softly.

A profound silence settled over the dinner table as they desperately tried to wrap their heads around this latest string of revelations. Even Rachel was stunned, having not realised the Nymph's likely age.

Jade shrugged suddenly and beamed a sparkling smile at John. "At least I have a great ass for a deca-millennial," she said with a giggle.

John laughed loudly holding out his arms for her, and she bounded over to him and sat in his lap. "You do have a spectacular ass," he told her sincerely, and she laughed gaily, hugging him tightly.

Rachel grinned at her, relieved to see that she wasn't upset. "I'm glad you're taking this so well," she said to Jade happily.

Jade beamed a broad smile back at her and shrugged nonchalantly. "I can do some pretty bonkers things, so this makes as much sense as anything. It actually explains why I'm genetically compatible with John, whereas Nymphs weren't with any other species in this section of the galaxy," she explained astutely.

John reached his hand down and stroked her slim stomach, and she purred with delight as she nuzzled into him, kissing him eagerly. The other girls watched them with broad smiles on their faces until the couple finally broke apart.

*It explains her aversion to using guns as well,* Alyssa observed. *It looks like your forebears didn't want the Nymphs using weapons.*

*You think she's been genetically coded with a strongly adverse reaction to firing guns?* he asked her curiously.

*That would be my best guess,* Alyssa agreed. *We can always ask Rachel to look into it.*

John took a big breath, before looking at Rachel again and smiling. "Any more shocking revelations for us?" he asked her playfully.

Rachel smiled back at him and looked thoughtful for a moment. "Only one minor thing. Terran DNA shows no Progenitor tampering at all," she noted with certainty.

"It can't be a coincidence that we look so alike as a species," John protested. "There must have been some kind of tampering going on?"

Rachel looked at him and shrugged. "It's possible that Terrans are based on some kind of generic template that was left unmodified, and then our species was seeded on Terra millennia ago. That would be pure speculation on my behalf however," she said helplessly. "At least, my pre-gift DNA was completely unaltered. My DNA now though... that's a completely different story. To continue the earlier analogy, my DNA is covered in your Progenitor fingerprints like a piece of paper with a toddlers first efforts at finger painting," she added with a wry chuckle.

John looked worried at this, but when he saw her happy smile, he breathed a sigh of relief. "You've done an amazing job with this research," he told her gratefully. "It's amazing to get some answers to these questions, no matter how shocking."

"You're welcome," Rachel told him graciously. "It's the least I can do, considering everything you've done for me already."

Dana looked at her, curious to see if her guess about the usefulness of the Psi-detector would be accurate. "What are you thinking about researching next?" she asked speculatively.

"Psychic powers," Rachel said, her eyes glimmering with excitement. "I know nothing about the field, and I'm aching to learn more. It seems apparent that Alyssa, John, and Jade all have them to some degree, and I'm sure they're as curious to know more as I am," she said looking at them all with an eager expression on her beautiful face.

John met her gaze and nodded. "That's the next big mystery," he said in agreement.

Dana smiled with satisfaction as she said, "I've developed a prototype for a Psi-detector. I'll need the mass fabricators to finish making the components, but I'll have it ready for you tomorrow."

Rachel grinned at her happily across the table. "I don't know what I'd do without you," she said gratefully, as she rose and walked back to sit next to the redhead.

They all sat quietly and continued to eat the rest of their dinner, while they absorbed Rachel's latest astonishing revelations. Fortunately the heated plates had kept the dinner from getting cold while they chatted, so it was still hot and delicious as they finished off their food. When they were finally done, they tidied everything away, clearing the table, and then sat on the sofas sipping drinks.

Alyssa swallowed down her drink, and then lay down on the sofa, resting her head on John's lap. He stroked her long mane of silky-soft blonde hair, and smiled at her as she stared up at him lovingly with her bright blue eyes.

"We'll be arriving at Maliri Space tomorrow morning," she said, as she relaxed happily against him. "Why don't you tell us what you know about them?"

John looked down at her and nodded, and was about to begin when Dana downed her drink and walked over to him. She smiled endearingly at Calara, who shook her head with amusement, and then got up to go and sit between Rachel and Jade on the other sofa. The redhead blew her a grateful kiss and then lay down on the other side of John, leaning back and resting her head on his other thigh. She sighed contentedly as he began to stroke her lustrous auburn hair too, gazing up at him with her sky blue eyes.

He chuckled and then looked away into the distance for a moment, as he recalled his interactions with the Maliri.

"We've been at peace with the Maliri Regency for centuries," he began, giving them an overview of what he knew of the mysterious race. "I've traded with them a few times now, and I like them. They've always been pleasant and cordial with me, but they have an absolutely zero-tolerance policy towards unwanted encroachment into their territory. Any unauthorised incursions into Maliri Space are dealt with swiftly and lethally, and you'll see evidence of that when you see 'The Warning', as we approach the trading post."

Calara sat opposite him on the other sofa, with Jade and Rachel now lying back against her, copying the blonde and redhead resting in his lap. They all listened intently to him as he spoke, as Calara stroked their hair in a similar soothing fashion.

"What do you mean by 'The Warning'?" the Latina asked him curiously.

John smiled back at her and shook his head. "That one has to be witnessed first-hand I'm afraid. You'll see it soon enough though," he replied, not wanting to ruin the surprise.

Rachel then spoke up next, asking curiously, "Do they trade with other races too?"

"Oh yes, their trading posts are thriving centres of commerce, and are usually packed with merchants from most alien species. The Terran Federation has an open borders policy with most alien civilisations, aside from the Kintark of course, but most species that travel through Terran Space then go on to visit with the Maliri," he explained.

"What are they interested in exactly?" Alyssa asked him curiously. "Are you planning to do any trade yourself?"

John nodded as he stroked her hair, and she smiled at him languidly as she grew more relaxed. "The Maliri prize luxury goods over anything else, but they tend to be mostly interested in exceptionally rare items from alien civilisations that are further afield. Delicacies, exotic beverages, perfumes, spices, gemstones, they're all in very high demand. As I mentioned before, we're going there to inquire about upgrades to our laser weaponry, but the Maliri have also developed sophisticated electronics. If we can get a good price, I might be able to make a tidy profit, selling that tech to the Trankarans," he said, as he laid out his plans for them.

Dana shifted in his lap, and he looked down at her questioningly. "What do the Maliri look like themselves though?" she asked in fascination.

"It's one of the galaxies great mysteries!" he replied in a dramatic voice, and she giggled as she looked up at him.

"Didn't you say something about them wearing fully enclosed armour because they had some kind of contagious disease?" she asked him, watching his face avidly.

He smiled at her, and continued brushing his fingers through her dark red hair before continuing in a more serious voice, "That's just one of the wilder theories I'd heard. It is true that they wear ornate full-body armour, and people have made all sorts of guesses as to why we never see their faces. Theories range from hideous plagues, to them being so horrifically ugly that they were ashamed to let anyone see what they really looked like. I even had some crazy old spacer telling me they were actually a race of intelligent robots, who pretended to be organics, so they could study and kill us at their leisure."

Dana rolled her eyes at that, and he chuckled at her reaction. "I thought you'd like that one," he said with a wry grin.

"What do you think the real reason is?" Jade asked him curiously.

John shrugged as he looked over at the Nymph. "All those reasons are probably wrong, but the honest answer is, I have no idea. The Maliri merchant I've dealt most with before is a very civilised fellow, and I like him a lot. I made a tidy profit shipping him a cargo of Rylian Cagfish, which I picked up nice and cheap at a trading post on the Brimorian border. That little deal helped set me up with the last of the funds I used for the Tyrenium deal in Karron, but it took weeks to get the stink out of the cargo bay of the Fool's Gold!"

Jade looked at him a little confused as he finished his story, and John smiled at her apologetically, "Sorry, I got a bit sidetracked, and didn't fully answer your question. I've dealt with this Maliri merchant called Ceraden on a number of occasions, and we have a great rapport. Even saying that, I just knew that if I asked him the real reason they wore the armour, it wouldn't be a well received topic of conversation at all."

Jade nodded her understanding, and smiled up at him as he looked across the coffee table at her. He noticed Calara mulling something over and he looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"If this Ceraden person deals in delicacies, I was just wondering how you plan to get access to laser weaponry from the Maliri?" she asked him curiously. "Does he trade in weaponry as well?"

John shook his head. "He doesn't, at least as far as I know. We've built up something of a friendship though, and I was hoping he might be able to put me in touch with an arms dealer," John said optimistically.

Calara looked a bit dubious at his reply, and said, "Charles seemed convinced that we wouldn't have any success. Why do you think we'll be able to trade with them where the Terran Federation were firmly rebuffed?"

"That's a good question, and I have no guarantee we'll have any luck. We are - strictly speaking - an independent civilian ship, rather than an emissary from the Terran Federation military, so that might make a difference. I've heard that a few civilians have successfully traded for Maliri laser weaponry in the past though, and when you see 'The Warning', you'll understand why it's worth the effort to at least try," he replied, explaining his reasoning.

Calara grinned back at him and said, "I think I'm even more excited to see this 'Warning' than the Maliri themselves!"

John laughed at her enthusiasm and nodded. "It's a very impressive sight," he agreed, before he looked down at the blonde and redhead who were nestled in his lap. "Now, having you two beautiful girls lying here like this is doing wonders for my libido, so unless anyone else has any questions, I suggest we retire for the night."

Dana and Alyssa both flashed him smouldering looks, both sets of blue eyes sparkling with excitement. He glanced across at the three girls opposite, and received similar flirtatious glances from them too. The girls stood up gracefully, and the redhead and blonde both offered him a slender hand, which he took as he rose, then pulled them into his arms.

"It's going to be a long night, I'm afraid girls," he apologised to them with lusty grin. "We're going to start off by thanking Alyssa for kick-starting my Progenitor genes, and getting our lovely little group together in the first place."

The blonde moaned and writhed against him, getting increasingly turned on as he sent a constant stream of raunchy thoughts her way, describing in lurid detail what he planned to do to her.

*Sneaking onto that clapped out freighter was the best decision I've ever made,* she thought to him, feverish with excitement.

John grinned at her, then looked at the others as he announced, "Then I intend to show each of you why this forty-year-old Progenitor has more than enough stamina for all of you."

"You're talking a big game, old timer," Dana teased him, flushing with arousal. "I'm feeling pretty fucking horny right now, so I hope you're not just all talk."

"Are you challenging my virility?" he asked the redhead, firmly squeezing one of her taut cheeks.

Dana sucked in her breath as he manhandled her, and grinned at him. "Let's see what you've got," she purred eagerly.

John released the blonde and redhead from his arms, and then looked at the five girls who were all staring at him intently.

"I'm going to clear up here, and I want you to start without me. By the time I arrive, I expect to see you all naked and primed for me, and If I don't hear Alyssa screaming with pleasure as I walk down the corridor to our room, I'm going to be very disappointed," he told them sternly.

As a group, five beautiful sets of eyes went wide as they listened to his firm tone, and then they darted away as they followed his orders. He watched them dash out of the Officers' Lounge with a huge grin on his face, and he laughed as Jade turned and gave him a cheeky wave, before she sprinted to catch up with the others.

He walked over to the coffee table and collected the empty glasses, before taking them over to the bar to use the auto-cleaner to sanitise them and tidy them away. His cock throbbed as he heard Alyssa's thoughts get increasingly frantic when the other four girls pounced on her, and when he stopped and listened carefully, he could faintly hear her cries of pleasure even from here.

Satisfied that he'd given them enough of a head start, he strolled over to the double doors of the Officers' Lounge, and pressed the button to open them. Alyssa's climactic cries suddenly assailed his ears as the doors swished opened, and he grinned with satisfaction, as the other girls followed his instructions to the letter. He walked briskly up the corridor, and entered the Commander's Quarters, to find the girls putting Alyssa's spectacular body through its paces.

He stripped off as he walked over to join them, and Jade grinned at him excitedly, moving from between Alyssa's splayed thighs while licking her lips.

"Good girls," he told them proudly, as he took Jade's place and then slowly thrust his throbbing cock into Alyssa.

She arched her back and screamed his name as he pushed deep inside her, and he grinned as she clung to him desperately.

*Now the big question is, who do I take next after we fuck you senseless?* he thought to her playfully, as she thrashed underneath him and moaned helplessly.

He leaned back a little to give the four girls room to kiss and caress the writhing blonde, and between them, they proceed to do exactly as John had predicted.

***

John lost track of time, somewhere between hearing Calara gasping out her fourth climax of the evening, and pounding Dana through her third. He was as good as his word, and he put all four teenagers to the test, playing their beautiful bodies like a concert pianist, and making them sing a lovely tune for him. He grinned proudly when Rachel finally sprawled unconscious, having been rendered insensate by a combination of his pounding cock, and Jade's questing tongue. He pulled out of the tawny haired brunette gently, then repositioned her to cuddle up with Dana, who was still out for the count.

That just left Jade, as he had intended, and she smiled at him warmly when he held his arms open for her. She crawled across the bed and then moved to sit astride him where he knelt, sinking his cock into her hot, wet pussy.

"I've wanted you inside me all evening," she said with a long sigh, as she smoothly dropped down into his lap.

"I couldn't have conquered them all without you," he told her playfully, and she giggled and hugged him tightly.

John held her in his arms, and then leant forward so that she was lying back on the bed. He hadn't started moving yet, and she just revelled in being wrapped around him, her hands gently stroking his back. He studied her face intently, and then leaned in to kiss her tenderly on the lips.

"You're being very gentle with me," she observed, smiling at him adoringly. "Don't get me wrong, it's lovely, it's just a bit of a contrast to the rough pounding you used to overload the other girls."

"I just want to show you how much I care about you," he told her gently, "You've become such a wonderful part of our little family, I wanted to do things a little differently with you tonight."

Jade sighed delightedly, and stared into his eyes as they kissed very slowly, as if exploring each other's lips for the first time. She paused for a moment, and looked at him pensively.

"Tell me, what's on your mind?" he asked her encouragingly.

The Nymph looked like she was torn on whether to answer or not, but then asked, "Do you feel any differently about me, knowing that I'm from an artificially created species?"

He could see how vulnerable she looked as her cat-like eyes watched for his reaction. "Not at all," he told her honestly. "You're just the same kind, beautiful, loving girl you've always been."

Jade let out a quiet sigh of relief and she kissed him again gratefully.

"How about you? Do you feel any differently since you found that out?" he asked her curiously.

She blushed a little and nodded. "I feel like I was made just for you," she whispered to him softly.

John's broad smile lit up his face, and Jade giggled at his obviously delighted reaction. "You're an amazing girl, did you know that?" he asked her happily.

Jade nodded earnestly. "Rachel's been telling me that repeatedly, practically every day since she joined us," she said with a cute grin on her face.

He laughed and nodded, as he said, "She's a smart girl, and she's right. Nymphs are an amazing species, and you make all our lives better just by being here. In fact, I've actually made a decision about Nymphs..."

"You have?" she asked him, staring at his face spellbound.

John nodded decisively. "I've decided that you're far too wonderful a species to let die out, so as we're spending eternity together anyway, why not do something about it. What do you say? Would you like to be the mother of a whole new generation of Nymphs? It means I'll be breeding you constantly for decades..." he told her in a quiet, serious voice.

"Oh, John..." she gasped with wonder, her eyes filling with tears, she was so overcome with emotion.

John kissed the crystal clear drop of water on her cheek, and smiled at her kindly. "Is that a yes or a no? With the tears, it could be either one," he asked her playfully.

She laughed and her mouth spread into a glorious smile, "A thousand times, yes!" she said joyfully.

"Perfect," he replied, as he began to move inside her. "Why don't we have a trial run now? Remind you what it's like carrying my cum in your womb?"

Jade let out a little moan as she nodded, and she was so excited that she could hardly breathe. She stared up at him in awe as she rocked against him, while he cradled her head in his hands and watched her face as a riot of loving emotions threatened to overwhelm her. Her hips moved rhythmically underneath him, while her legs gently squeezed his sides, and her hands massaged his back sensually. It was as though her whole body was completely focused on bringing him to a climax.

They kissed passionately, as he gazed into her sparkling emerald eyes, and it was the pure unadulterated devotion he saw there, that eventually tipped him over the edge. He groaned with ecstasy as he kissed her, and she whimpered as she felt his cock throbbing deep inside her. John's quad was taut and tense after being teased to distraction for hours, as he'd ridden one gorgeous teenager after another, while managing to hold off his release. When his balls nestled up against Jade's pert ass, and John held himself deep inside the Nymph, his quad wasn't going to waste another opportunity to fill a compliant and beautiful woman.

Long spurts of cum began to shoot out inside her, and she arched her back, her mouth open in a silent scream as she experienced an orgasm so intense that it threatened to overcome her completely. John bucked inside Jade, riding his own incredibly powerful climax, and she seemed to move fluidly with him, accepting every thrust as he filled her belly full of cum. After the longest orgasm of his life, he collapsed against her, lying across her stuffed abdomen as they both desperately gasped for breath.

He eventually pulled himself together, and worried about squashing the green alien girl, lifted his weight off her.

"No, stay," she urged him, hugging him tightly with her arms and legs.

John nodded and kissed her tenderly. "That was incredible, thank you," he said to her gratefully as he lay back down against her.

They cuddled together for a while, with Jade running her fingers through his hair and stroking his head, both of them enjoying the intimacy together.

"Did you really mean what you said?" she eventually asked him, still not quite willing to believe it.

He gently pulled out of her and then lay on her side, so that he could stroke her swollen belly. Jade looked down, watching the soothing motion of his hand as his fingers traced circles over her rounded tummy, and when she gazed up at his face, he nodded as he smiled at her.

"I can't wait to do this for real," he told her honestly. "I love you, Jade."

"I love you so much, I didn't think it was even possible..." she murmured, awestruck as she stared up at him.

John lay back against the pillow, and Jade snuggled up against him. He eventually rolled her so she was on her side, and he spooned up behind her, wrapping her protectively in his arms. With an expression of wondrous disbelief on her face, the Nymph eventually drifted off to sleep, feeling protected and loved by the man she had resolved to devote the rest of her existence to.

***

After such an energetic orgy, the entire crew slept soundly, only waking at about nine the next morning. John was the first to wake up, as was usually the case, and he stretched lazily, with a broad grin on his face as the memories of the previous night came flooding back to him. He glanced down at the girls, and while Jade was cuddled up against his left side, Alyssa was now tucked in against his right. She awoke next, and looked up at him with twinkling eyes.

*Well the lion certainly proved his prowess last night,* she said, smiling up at him happily. *I hope you guys had a good time after you rendered me insensate...* she added with a wry grin.

*It was awesome, and I managed a full house. Well except with Jade, but that was special in its own right,* he explained contentedly.

Alyssa looked up at him quizzically. *You know I'm the only one allowed to be cryptic around here. What happened?* she asked him eagerly.

*I told her I planned to repopulate the Nymph species, by knocking her up repeatedly for decades. She quite liked the idea,* he thought to her with a mischievous smile.

Alyssa stifled a giggle as she stared up at him with wide eyes. *Oh, I'm so sorry I missed that. That must have driven her wild!* she said, getting excited just imagining it.

John shook his head slightly as he glanced down at the Nymph who was snuggled in tightly on his left hand side. *It was very loving actually, gentle and passionate,* he explained with a smile.

The blonde frowned as she looked up at him, and said, *She's already hopelessly devoted to you, I don't think you can make her love you much more than that.*

She closed her eyes and examined the mosaic of Jade in her mind, and was astonished to see that it had changed dramatically. Jade was gazing at the depiction of John with an awestruck expression on her face, and she now stood next to him, rather than kneeling at his feet. The tiny stones that made up the mosaic, depicted John placing a protective hand on the Nymph's belly, his caring face full of love as he looked down on her.

Alyssa shook her head in amazement and smiled up at him. *Yeah, I was wrong, you seem to have taken her to an entirely new level,* she told him, both her surprise and her happiness coming through clearly on the telepathic link.

Jade, Calara, Dana, and Rachel woke up shortly afterwards, cutting any further conversation short. The girls all smiled at John shyly, feeling a little embarrassed at the completely uninhibited way they had been with him the previous night, and he grinned at them each in turn.

Alyssa pouted as she read all their thoughts and emotions. "Hey! Leave me until last next time! I seem to have snoozed through an epic night," she grumbled indignantly.

The girls giggled at her outburst and then began to sit up and stretch, giving John a lovely view.

"You were all magnificent last night, ladies," he told them graciously.

Dana grinned at him, and tipped an imaginary hat his way. "Fair play to you, Sir," she said to him cheekily. "You proved you're more than capable of fucking me absolutely senseless."

John laughed, "Glad I didn't disappoint," he said in amusement.

Calara and Rachel grinned at each other and nodded enthusiastically, "You certainly didn't!" the Latina said gleefully.

This started another round of giggling and John smiled at them all as he sat up. He waited until they calmed down and glanced at Alyssa while he was waiting.

*Crew morale seems to be in a good place,* she smirked.

John smiled back at her. *I like to do my bit to perk everyone up,* he agreed, and the blonde stifled her laughter.

The girls had quietened down now, each of the beautiful young women looking attentive, as they waited for him to speak.

"We're nearly in Maliri Space now, so I think we should get up and dressed, have some breakfast, and then head up to the Bridge," he suggested amiably.

They nodded eagerly, remembering his talk of "The Warning" from the previous night, and they climbed out of bed and all headed into the shower, chattering amongst themselves as they guessed what it might be.

After a brief shower, they split up to get dressed, with business attire being the order of the day. John got dressed in a light grey suit, with a white shirt and royal blue tie. As he tied the full Windsor knot, he watched Alyssa as she sashayed past him wearing matching white underwear, and cream coloured heels, trailing a finger lightly along her formal outfits as if deciding which one to wear.

She eventually stepped into a cream pencil skirt, which she pulled up over her pert bottom, and put on a white blouse, before sliding her slender arms through the sleeves of her jacket. She glided over to stand before him, and reached out with her hand to gently feel the heat of his hard cock through his trousers. She nodded with satisfaction that her outfit had achieved the desired result, then smiled at him coyly before sauntering out into the bedroom.

John followed after the mischievous girl, laughing heartily and shaking his head. The rest of his crew were waiting for them in the corridor outside their quarters, and he stopped to admire them too.

Dana was wearing a two-piece outfit, which consisted of a light grey, figure hugging skirt that stopped just above the knee, and a matching crop top with three-quarter length sleeves, that left her shoulders bare. Calara was wearing a similar outfit , but this one was a black sleeveless high neckline crop top that revealed an inch of her toned stomach. Jade was wearing a long form-fitting one-piece aquamarine dress that ended mid-thigh, and showed off her shapely legs, while Rachel was wearing a black fishtail skirt that ended above the knee, along with a white short-sleeved, closely fitting blouse.

Wearing heels, all five girls were nearly at his height, and they smiled with satisfaction at his obvious approval, as John whistled appreciatively when they posed for him. They had all taken the time to artfully apply make-up, and the cosmetics skilfully enhanced their natural beauty, giving them smoky eyes and making their eyelashes seem even longer as they gave him come-hither looks.

"They were going for 'demure secretary, who'd look great on her knees' as a look," Alyssa informed him helpfully. "Do you think they managed to carry it off?"

John strolled over to the girls, then gently caressed each of their slender waists in turn, looking into their eyes as he brushed his fingers over their toned stomachs.

He looked thoughtful as he turned to Alyssa, and said, "You all look the part for any business meeting, and I can honestly say I don't think I've seen you girls look any sexier. All I'm wondering right now, is how stretchable the material around the waistline needs to be, so I'd say a resounding success!"

The girls grinned with delight, and he gestured politely for them to proceed to the Officers' Lounge for breakfast, while he followed behind, walking beside Alyssa.

*That's a hell of a view,* she thought to him, as they both watched the girls' hips swaying seductively as they glided along in their heels.

John glanced at her, and grinned, as he said, *Aren't I supposed to be the one saying that?*

*Hey, they're all gorgeous, and I love fucking them as much as you do,* she told him saucily, much to his amusement.

Breakfast was over and done with quickly, with John resisting all attempts to pry any clues out of him about what to expect on their way to Maliri Space. All five girls looked scrumptious, but he just about managed to resist the desire to give one of them a full tummy, as it would be impractical when they docked at the trading post. It was doubly hard to resist, knowing full well that he could ask any of them for a blowjob, and they'd be on their knees within seconds of him requesting it. Alyssa sent him a smouldering look as he thought this over, licking her glossy lips, while staring into his eyes.

*You're such a naughty girl,* he thought to her as she grinned at him.

*You literally made me this way,* she teased him playfully, and gave him a wink.

They headed up to the Command Deck as a group once breakfast was done, with each of them striding over to their respective stations. Dana had brought the holo-reader with her, and she handed it over to Rachel, as she paused at the Comms Station on her way to Engineering. The brunette thanked her profusely, and then began to study the various functions of the Comms Station, eagerly learning as much about her new Bridge position as she could.

Alyssa strolled down to the lower section of the Bridge to speak to Jade, and started to give her some guidance on piloting the Invictus. Jade had learned to pilot the Raptor under Alyssa's careful tutelage, and the two of them immediately dropped into their familiar pupil/teacher roles as they discussed the finer points of manoeuvring the five hundred metre long assault cruiser.

Dana walked over to join Calara, and they chatted together about the Latina's plans for the modification of the weapon controls for the Tactical Station. They had both been thinking of new ways to improve on the original plans, and they spoke animatedly together, growing increasingly more excited as they envisaged the upgrades they could make.

John sat back in his Command Chair, and surveyed the bustling Bridge. He smiled contentedly to himself, seeing the place becoming such a hive of activity, and he watched the girls working studiously, with an affectionate grin on his face.

Alyssa glanced up at him, and smiled his way. "Proud of your crew?" she asked him seriously for once.

"You're all outstanding young women. It's incredible to see how dedicated you all are to your lives here on this ship," he replied, his voice ringing with glowing appreciation.

The girls turned to look up at him, grateful for his praise. "You do a pretty fine job yourself, Commodore," Alyssa told him earnestly, with none of the usual mocking undertones. "You're very good at telling us how fantastic a job we do, but you lead us, and it's your command decisions that keep us safe."

John looked down at her, surprised by the honest sincerity of her words.

"Just think how many close fought battles we've been through over the last few months; the Pirates, the Kirrix slavers, the Drakkar raiders, and protecting the Terrans against the Kintark. We've achieved some remarkable victories, and they're largely due to your leadership. Thank you John, you're proving to be an excellent leader," she said to him with frank honesty.

The other girls looked up at him, and as he glanced around at each of them, they nodded to him, respect shining in their faces.

"Thanks, all of you, that means a lot," he said, touched by their genuine appreciation of his efforts.

Alyssa smiled at him warmly, and then looked up at the Sector Map when a soft chime echoed around the Bridge. "Saved by the bell," she quipped, as she strolled around the Bridge and then gracefully ascended the illuminated steps up to the Command Podium. She reached out and gently squeezed his shoulder, before sitting down in the Executive Officer's chair.

She zoomed in the Sector Map, and they could all see that the Invictus had now crossed into Maliri Space, as the holographic representation of their ship followed the green path to the Trading Post.

Dana glanced at her console, before turning in her chair and calling out a warning. "We're picking up something big on the long range sensors," she said, as her hands moved in a blur across the console, as she attempted to gather more data.

Alyssa brought up the system map, which showed the large yellow star of the Theta-Aquarii system, and the Invictus dropped out of hyper-warp as they approached the gravity-well of the star. At the far side of the map, deeper into Maliri territory, was the trading outpost. Alyssa brought up the tactical map too, and the passive sensors began to provide more information on the vessels in the area.

The trading outpost was actually a huge starport, that seemed to be bustling with activity, and the transponders from dozens of merchant vessels from all sorts of alien species now began to appear on the map. Each ship was displayed as the sensors gathered more data, and Dana watched the tactical map eagerly, excited to see so many strange and unusually shaped alien spacecraft.

Much closer to them however, and directly between them and the trading post, was a colossal freighter that seemed to be stationary, as though waiting for docking clearance. Alyssa altered their course so that they would fly around it, and as they drew closer, the freighter appeared in detail on the tactical map, causing the girls to gasp in shock.

"The Warning," John confirmed for them in a sombre voice, as they glanced back at him in awe.

Dana brought up a detailed zoomed-in view of the massive freighter, and the hologram hovered above them in the centre of the bridge. The archaic vessel was huge, nearly two kilometres long, and they could all immediately tell some horrible fate had befallen it. The enormous merchant ship had been hit by hundreds of laser blasts, and every facing showed catastrophic weapon damage to the armour plating. Titanium armour had been blasted away in innumerable impact areas, with huge gouges carved through the thick plating before slicing into the hull beneath. As they drew alongside, they could see that vast holes had been melted directly through the gigantic ship, punching through the superstructure and coring out the stricken freighter. The diameter of these tunnels was so wide, they were almost big enough for the Invictus to fly through.

"What kind of laser weapons are powerful enough to do that?" Dana asked in wonder, interrupting the deathly silence that had descended on the bridge.

Calara shook her head in disbelief. "Nothing the Terran Federation has access to, that's for sure," she replied staring at the devastated vessel in shock.

They all looked up at John, awaiting an explanation, while the Invictus eventually passed the ruined hulk, leaving the forlorn wreck behind.

He looked around, making sure he had their attention, and then began his tale in a grim voice, "I've heard their expedition was a joint venture, by a number of merchant guilds a few centuries ago, and shortly after first contact with the Maliri Regency. No-one had really pushed the Maliri at that point, with them still being a relatively new and unknown alien species for the Terran Federation. The merchants assumed that the Maliri would never actually fire on a civilian vessel, but as you can see, they were wrong.

The merchants ignored the warnings to go no further into Maliri Space than the outpost, and delved deeper into Maliri Territory. The Maliri ambushed the flotilla, and ripped the ship apart, obliterating their escort vessels too. A few months later, 'The Warning' appeared on the approach to the most popular trading outpost, and you can understand why no-one has ever tried anything like that again."

Dana stared at him in amazement. "So you're hoping to upgrade our ship's guns to be able to do... that?" she asked him, with a quick glance at the devastated freighter.

John returned her gaze, and gave her a wicked grin as he said, "I certainly wouldn't say no. We'll have to see how the encounter with Ceraden plays out first, before we get too excited."

Calara and Dana glanced at each other, obviously deciding that it was the perfect time to start getting excited, as they shared similar grins of anticipation. Alyssa brought the Invictus in closer, and a flashing light on John's console told them that they were being hailed. He nodded at Rachel and she pressed a couple of buttons, opening the comm channel with the Maliri Space station. The view screen crackled for a second, and an image of a humanoid in ornate armour filled the display.

Rachel looked on eagerly for her first glimpse at the Maliri. The alien's armour was gold and worked with intricate silver filigree in elaborate, swirling designs, and included a helmet that completely covered the Maliri's face. It was by far the most ostentatious set of armour she had ever seen, even managing to make their own glossy white Phalanx suits look positively bland in comparison.

"Greetings, and welcome to the Geniya Trading post!" The Maliri starport traffic controller said in a pleasant tone. "Please could you identify yourselves, and let me know what business you have with us today?"

"My name is John Blake, in command of the Invictus, and I'm hoping to be able to meet with the merchant Ceraden, to discuss some trade deals," John replied in a polite and courteous tone.

The Maliri bowed his head respectfully, then said, "You are welcome at Geniya again, Mr Blake. Please proceed to docking bay twenty four, and I'll provide your navigation computer with the guide path. Would you like me to contact Ceraden to let him know of your arrival?"

"That would be much appreciated, thank you," John replied with a respectful nod of his head.

"I hope you have a pleasant visit with us, Mr Blake," the Maliri said amiably, and then ended the call.

The green guide path appeared, showing them the route to take, that would lead them to the correct docking bay from the dozens dotting the starboard side of the starport. Alyssa turned the Invictus, and gently powered up their engines, bringing them in closer to the starport at a sedate pace.

"They seem very friendly," Rachel observed, as she looked up at John.

He smiled at her and nodded as he replied, "As I said before, the Maliri are a friendly and civilised species, and trading with them is quite enjoyable."

They turned back to watch the Geniya spaceport as it loomed larger above them, and the Maliri architectural design turned out to be just as striking as their armour. The whole station was coloured a rich gold, that seemed to reflect the light of the sun, making the whole outpost gleam brightly as it hung there in the blackness of space. Where the Terran Federation tended to build their starports vertically, the Maliri station spread out in a wide arc, the surface dotted with towers and spires that reached gracefully for the heavens.

As Alyssa brought their assault cruiser around on final approach to the docking bay, the green guide path brought them higher, and gave them an even better view of the station. From here they could see that there were numerous curving crystal domes built into the surface, and from the green foliage within, it was obvious they were hydroponic zones.

"This place is beautiful!" Rachel remarked in wonder, voicing the thoughts that the other girls were sharing too.

Dana looked up at John and grinned as she remarked, "I think the Terran Federation could learn a thing or two about design aesthetics from the Maliri!"

There was a chorus of agreement as they looked out over the resplendent starport before them, until they were eventually swallowed up by the docking bay. Alyssa brought them in to land, and the Invictus touched down gently in the centre of the huge room. John stood and smiled at the others as they rose to join him, and once Alyssa had powered down the engines, she glided down the steps of the Command Podium by his side.

"How about weapons or armour?" the blonde asked him as they walked over to join the others at the grav-tube.

John looked thoughtful for a moment and then said, "The Maliri won't tolerate any fighting on their territory, so we shouldn't need any. I've never actually tried carrying a weapon there before, so I'm not sure if it's even allowed."

Alyssa nodded agreeably, and replied, "I'll defer to your experience then. It was just a precaution."

John glanced at the figure hugging garments the girls were wearing and said wryly, "I don't think those outfits leave many options for concealing a weapon anyway."

Dana linked her arm around Jade's and bumped shoulders with her. "Jade's our concealed weapon!" she said enthusiastically, and the Nymph laughed while nodding.

They descended in the red glow of the grav-tube, and then strolled down the corridor to the airlock. Calara was in the lead, so she placed her hand on the DNA reader by the airlock door. The light swiped past the scanner and then flashed green as it matched her DNA with the list of authorised users, and the outer airlock door spiralled open. A refreshing breeze wafted through the portal, and everyone took in a deep breath, filling their lungs with wonderfully clean, crisp air.

Dana's eyes lit up with excitement. "I've got to take a look at their oxygen filtration systems! The air in this place reminds me of Jericho," she said, remembering the similar high quality air on Calara's home planet.

John winked at her, and said, "I'll see what I can arrange. I have to admit, breathing air this fine would be a fantastic upgrade to the ship."

They all filed out through the airlock, which Alyssa closed behind her, as she was the last person to exit the ship. The interior of the Docking Bay wasn't quite as ostentatious as the exterior, but the walls were still a bright metallic silver, with heavy gold ornamentation on the support buttresses and around the doorframes. Two guards stood at the entrance to the actual facility itself, and they nodded at John and waved him and his retinue through as they approached.

As they walked past, Dana darted a quick glance at the sleek laser rifles that the guards held, and sighed wistfully, as she wondered if the Maliri might let her have a quick peek. Guessing the likely answer, and not wanting to cause any trouble, she walked briskly to catch up with the others as they strolled through the doorway.

The corridor leading out from the Docking Bay had a high ceiling, with a transparent crystalline window that ran the entire length, providing an excellent view of the stars overhead. This section of the spaceport was quiet and empty, but as they reached the end of the corridor, they could hear the bustle of activity coming from the room beyond. After striding through the large doorway, they found themselves on a long, curving gallery, that overlooked a thriving merchant district.

The girls darted forward eagerly, then leant against the balcony, looking out at the hundreds of aliens gathered below. They stared and pointed at the really unusually shaped ones, while trying to be discreet and not too raucous about it. Numerous Maliri were dotted through the crowd, either merchants themselves, or guards on patrol, reminding everyone of their presence in the trade district.

*This reminds me of our first trip to Port Heracles,* Alyssa thought to him happily, as she leaned over the balcony to drink in the amazing sights before them.

John walked up behind her, and watched over her shoulder, looking to see what had drawn her attention. *At least you can stare to your heart's content from up here,* he teased her playfully, remembering his warning to her about being too obvious about it.

Rachel and Dana walked up to them and flanked him, looking up at his face eagerly. "Can you tell us what all these species are, please?" they asked him sweetly.

He laughed and nodded, and they clapped excitedly, before leaning out over the balcony once again. Dana spotted a couple of diminutive Ashanath walking through the crowds, standing out with their shiny silver jumpsuits and large bulbous heads, and she pointed them out to Rachel.

Alyssa looked startled for a moment, and then turned to grin at John. "The Ashanath just said, 'Warm greetings to you JohnBlake, and to your most curvaceous companions'," she informed him with some amusement.

He laughed, and shook his head. "It seems our fame precedes us. Please pass on my best wishes to them as well," he requested with a smile.

Rachel looked puzzled, and asked, "How could they know you were up here? I didn't see them look up at all."

"The Ashanath are powerful psychics," Alyssa explained. "Perhaps they sensed we were up here?"

They then returned their attention to the aliens below, and John began to identify them for the inquisitive girls.

"That's a Slarmian," he said, nodding towards a bizarre looking creature that looked somewhat like a mottled green eel, but had two pairs of arms. It was raised up, standing about seven feet tall, and looked like the letter 'S' as it slithered across the plaza below.

A trio of black carapaced insectoid creatures scuttled over to the Slarmian on eight sturdy legs, and began to have a heated discussion, clicking their forelimbs in the air in annoyance. "What are they?" Rachel asked him in amazement.

John tilted his head to the side as he studied the creatures. "Bract merchants from way out past Trankaran Space I think. I'm not quite so good at recognising insectoid species," he admitted.

The girls pointed out a wide variety of alien creatures, and John dutifully identified each species, as the unknowing aliens went about their business. From a squat looking mollusc, with five eyes at the end of long stalks, to a thin, feathered avian species, which had a blunt beak and numerous dextrous looking talons at the end of its several short arms and wings; he named every unique species that the girls could spot.

"Hey, that's a Bolon isn't it?" Alyssa asked him, nodding her head towards the familiar dark green gelatinous blob that she saw squelching from merchant to merchant, examining their catalogues of goods. It was followed by a couple of robotic porters that carried numerous boxes in their arms.

John followed her look and nodded when he spotted the creature. "Well remembered," he said with a smile, recalling her first encounter with one months before.

*Hello!* Alyssa thought to the viscous, jelly-like creature. *How are you today?*

The Bolon paused, turned slightly, and then seemed to jump a little. Without a face of any kind, it was quite hard for Alyssa to tell which way the creature was looking, or what kind of emotions it was feeling.

*My apologies, bright one, I was absorbed in my browsing. Pleasant greetings to you as well. May I be of assistance to you on this splendid morning?* The Bolon thought to her in its kind, melodic voice.

*No, I'm fine thanks! I met a Bolon on Port Heracles, and he was very nice. I just wanted to say, 'Hi',* she said to the alien in a friendly tone.

The Bolon seemed to think a smile to her and said, *You seem very nice as well, bright one. If you'll forgive me, I must return to my business, but I hope you have a lovely day!*

Alyssa sent him a mental wave goodbye, copying the technique that the Bolon had used with her, before focusing her attention on her friends once more.

Rachel had been tapping her index finger on her chin, as she pondered something, and John smiled when he noticed her copying one of Dana's mannerisms. "There actually aren't that many mammalian humanoid species, are there?" the tawny haired girl observed thoughtfully.

John glanced about below, then thought about the vast array of species he had studied, in the hunt for information about his father. "Yes, you're right. There are a few more which I haven't spotted below us at the moment, but life in the galaxy seems to be pretty diverse," he replied, nodding in agreement.

"How fascinating," she replied, looking distracted as she was lost in thought.

The novelty of seeing so many exotic aliens seemed to be wearing off a little, and the girls had started to talk amongst themselves, rather than staring in awe at each new species. John sensed it was time to move, and stepped away from the balcony.

"Unless any of you have any pressing business you'd like to attend to first, let's head over to Ceraden's offices," he suggested, eager to get things rolling.

The girls waited patiently, with none of them requesting any urgent diversions, so John turned to his left, and started to walk around the long gallery. Alyssa joined him at his side, slipping her hand through his, and then beamed a sparkling smile at him when he turned to look at her.

"You seem happy," he observed, returning her smile.

She looked up at him and nodded. "I was just thinking that I would never have been able to see amazing things like this if we'd never met," she said appreciatively, as she walked beside him.

"You were a smart and resourceful girl," John replied sincerely. "I think you'd still have had some fun adventures if you hadn't met me."

Alyssa smiled at him indulgently, but she knew full well the brutal realities of life a girl on her own could face, with no friends and no money. She squeezed his hand again, marvelling at just how lucky she had been.

It took them about ten minutes to walk completely around the gallery until they reached the end of the long merchant district. John led them down a broad set of steps, and then they weaved through the throng of alien merchants as they walked over to the entrance to the Maliri Trading Commission. The area behind them had been set aside for all alien races to set up stalls to barter their wares, but the area they were walking into now was reserved for the various Maliri merchants themselves.

The main foyer area was huge, and relatively peaceful after the chaotic gathering behind them. Trees and flower gardens were spaced evenly around the massive room, and fully armoured Maliri civilians went about their business, while armed Maliri guards stood to attention around the walls. There were lots of elaborate glass frontage areas along each wall, with long cloth banners in various bright colours hanging down from the ceiling.

John looked around for a moment, and spotted a crimson banner with an elaborate sigil on it, over on the far side of the room. "Ceraden's offices are over there," he told them, pointing it out clearly to his companions.

They followed after him as he walked purposefully in that direction, but he stopped abruptly when he heard Dana call out, "Rachel, are you okay?"

He looked back and saw that the brunette was staring in fascination at a large group of Maliri, who were gathered together chatting amiably on the other side of a small park. John walked over to join her, and she watched transfixed as the group of Maliri walked away. She then turned and began carefully studying another group of Maliri that were walking across the reception area.

John reached out and gently placed his hand on her shoulder, causing her to jump in surprise, then look up at him and flush with embarrassment. "What's the matter, Rachel?" he asked her curiously. "We lost you there for a minute," he added with a friendly smile.

She glanced back at the Maliri again, then leaned in towards him conspiratorially. "The Maliri... they're all male!" she whispered to him furtively.

The other girls had gathered around them, and had overheard her quiet observation.

"How can you tell that?" Jade asked curiously. "Is it because the armour doesn't have..." and she mimed comically large breasts.

The girls giggled, Rachel included, before she shook her head. "Female humanoid mammals typically have a larger hip-to-waist ratio than men, to aid with childbirth. This changes the gait, so that a man walks differently to a woman. Unless the Maliri are in fact a secret army of robots, I'm sure that every Maliri we've seen has been male. Even the posture of these stationary soldiers. All male," she stated with conviction.

"Perhaps the Maliri like to keep their women at home, barefoot and pregnant?" Alyssa joked, grinning at the brunette.

Rachel pondered this a moment, and nodded. "You might be right, it could be cultural. It was just something interesting I noticed, sorry to hold you guys up," she said apologetically.

John offered her his hand, and she smiled at him gratefully as she accepted, and they walked hand-in-hand across the reception area. It took a couple of minutes to reach the other side of the huge room, and the girls looked impressed when they arrived at Ceraden's "offices".

John led them through the wide crystalline entranceway, and the lobby interior had a number of elaborate fountains spaced around, the water tinkling musically. The floors were made of some kind of polished stone that looked to have been pristinely fitted, with the striations in the stone flowing smoothly across the large room, and the joins between slabs were completely invisible. A Maliri in intricate gold and red armour was studying a holographic interface, and he turned to greet them when they walked towards him.

"John! It's wonderful to see you! I received a call from Traffic letting me know you were on your way, and I've been on tenterhooks ever since. How long has it been?" the Maliri asked, sounding overjoyed as he held out his hand to clasp John's in a firm handshake.

John grinned at the armoured man, and exclaimed, "It's great to see you too Ceraden! At least six months since I saw you last I think. Did you manage to shift those Cagfish?"

Ceraden doubled over with laughter. "That was such a sweet deal! Even if those damnable creatures stank up my warehouse! I had a buyer all lined up, but he... backed out... at the last minute. I managed to hunt around, and then found someone desperate for a shipment for an ambassador's reception. I doubled my profit in a stroke!" the Maliri said with glee.

"Very nice, you must have made a fortune," John said, nodding appreciatively, and smiling at his friend's success.

Ceraden glanced at the girls and tilted his head to the side as he turned to look at John again. "You seem to have expanded your crew somewhat since we last spoke. And there's me thinking you were a lone wolf!" he said, teasing him gently.

John grinned self-consciously, then turned to the girls and said, "Ceraden, please let me introduce Alyssa, Calara, Dana, Jade, and Rachel. Lady Luck's been smiling on me recently too, and the girls help me crew my new ship."

"Ah yes, Commodore John Blake and the assault cruiser Invictus," Ceraden said with some amusement. "Not bad, for someone who was supposed to have retired from the military a decade ago."

"How did you...?" John blurted, looking startled.

Ceraden wagged a finger in his direction, "Come, come, John. You should know better than to ask me something like that," he said, and it was easy to visualise the Maliri's smirk, even behind the armoured helmet.

Rachel took advantage of the opportunity to stand that close to a Maliri, and studied the alien curiously. The gold and red armour he wore was elegant and form fitting, studded with a myriad of extremely valuable glimmering gemstones, making the suit worth a small fortune. Ceraden himself stood at about five foot ten inches in his armoured boots, so with Rachel wearing high heels, she actually looked down on him slightly. The Maliri was obviously of a slim build, but other than that, he could well have been a Terran with an Ectomorph body type.

Ceraden waved them over to some double doors that seemed to suddenly appear out of the wall, and had begun to open smoothly. "It's a pleasure to meet you all, ladies," he said to the girls graciously. "Why don't we go and relax somewhere a little more comfortable?"

The girls nodded, and followed after John and Ceraden as they strolled down a long corridor with a clear crystal ceiling. They passed a few doors to their left and right, before a set of double doors began to open up in front of them, further down the corridor to the left. John walked through the doors after Ceraden, and the large room contained a number of comfortable looking sofas, and an ornate desk against the far wall.

There was another armoured Maliri sitting behind the desk, fully absorbed in whatever it was looking at. The Maliri ignored them completely as they all trooped into the room, and Ceraden held out his hand invitingly, gesturing for John and the girls to sit down. He then strode over to the desk, and he seemed to bristle with anger as he looked down at the seated Maliri.

"Irillith, I have guests. Could you use another room, please," he requested in a civil tone, but it was obviously a struggle.

The seated Maliri snorted with contempt, and then rose gracefully, picking up a sinister looking black device from the desk as it stood. When the Maliri, Irillith, walked around the desk and finally looked up at them, she suddenly stumbled, gasping in shock. The black device she held in her hand tumbled from her fingertips and crashed to the floor, shattering into dozens of pieces. Irillith staggered backwards clutching at the desk for support, before she got a hold of herself, and sprinted from the room, abandoning the wrecked device that lay smashed on the floor.

Rachel nodded with satisfaction. "That was definitely a female," she whispered to Dana, who was sitting next to her.

Ceraden heaved a sigh, and then slumped in the recently vacated chair. "Sorry about that," he said wearily. "She can be a real bitch."