John stretched as he awoke, feeling the familiar and comforting presence of two luscious female forms draped over him. Glancing down he was surprised to see that his bedmates had switched while he was resting, with Helene and Calara replaced by Rachel and Dana. The brunette was fast asleep with a serene expression on her face, but the redhead greeted him with a warm smile.

"Good morning sleepyhead," Dana whispered, leaning in for a kiss.

He enjoyed the gentle tenderness as her wonderfully responsive lips explored his own. She looked very contented when she pulled back, the softness in her eyes reflecting her mellow mood.

Brushing his fingers through her luxuriant auburn hair he returned her smile. "I could get used to waking up like that."

"You earned it after the way you took care of me earlier," she replied lovingly, before smirking and darting a glance at her girlfriend. "I expect Rach will be singing your praises too... when she finally wakes up."

John followed her gaze to the tawny-haired brunette, then looked up into those sky-blue eyes with concern. "At the end there, when I asked you to join in... I was trying to make it better for Rachel, I wasn't trying to rub your nose in me dominating her."

"Are you telling me this because I was pouting about you power fucking her?" Dana asked, her brows furrowing.

He nodded, searching her face to try to gauge how the redhead was feeling.

She kissed him again, her soft lips lingering on his before they lifted into a grin. "Don't be silly, I was only playing... besides, I can't get jealous, remember? Watching you make my soulmate cum so hard she passed out was one of the hottest things I've ever seen."

He smiled in relief, then raised an eyebrow. "Your soulmate?"

Dana suddenly looked guilty and stammered, "I-I was talking to Rach the other day... we... I mean, I just..."

"Hey, don't get all worried," he said soothingly, gently stroking her cheek with his thumb. "I love how close you two have become; I just didn't realise how close..."

She took a deep breath then turned to kiss his hand. "Thank you. Yeah, I love the hell out of her, she's totally awesome..." Her blue eyes looked at him intently as she added, "But that doesn't change the way I feel about you... okay?"

He beckoned her closer with a crooked finger and she leaned down, so he could whisper in her ear, "As long as I still own your incredible mind and you're going to let me breed your gorgeous body, everything's perfect..."

"Oh, don't..." she protested with a breathy moan. "We're supposed to be getting up in a minute, but now I just want you to pound the fuck out of me..."

"Mmm, an experience not to be missed," Rachel purred, stretching like a cat and turning to beam a dazzling smile at them both. "That was just what the doctor ordered."

Dana shook her head in awe as she stared at her girlfriend. "Damn... he really rang your bell! You look gorgeous when you're blissed-out like this."

The brunette let out a happy sigh, tilting her head up to look adoringly at John. "It's still ringing... you were absolutely magnificent."

"So were you, sexy girl," he said brushing his fingers through her hair. "Your soulmate and I were just discussing that very same thing."

Rachel blushed, then her eyes flicked to Dana and back to John with concern. "She told you?"

"He's totally cool with it, babes," the redhead interjected, giving her a joyful hug.

John nodded and looked at the girls in turn. "Why don't you two give me a little demonstration of how much you love each other?"

They smiled coyly and sat up to face one another. There was no mistaking the tenderness as they gazed into each other's eyes and John watched in fascination as they drew closer, their full pouty lips making light contact. The kiss deepened, with the two lovers losing themselves in that intimate moment.

"Beautiful..." he murmured appreciatively, stroking their backs in encouragement.

After bringing the sensual kiss to a lingering close, the girls turned to look lovingly at him, a sense of shy vulnerability to them both.

He groaned in frustration. "Please don't look at me like that. It's hard enough resisting the urge to get you both pregnant and now you're making it ten times worse!"

They giggled and hugged him tightly, no mistaking just how happy they were.

John savoured the embrace, then glanced at the ship's chronometer and let out a rueful sigh. "We better get a shower, we'll be arriving at Valia Gate soon."

Reluctantly getting out of bed, they strolled into the bathroom and washed each other in the shower. John had an active connection with both nubile girls and it made them feel even closer to him as they hugged under the streams of hot water.

*Our long-range scans have picked up a Kirrix force leaving the system,* Alyssa informed him. *You three need to hurry...*

*Have you plotted an intercept course?* John asked, turning off the shower and letting the girls leave the cubicle.

*It's already set,* she replied with grim determination. *We're looping around the system and going to drop out of hyper-warp directly in their path.*

John let the auto-driers evaporate the water in soothing blasts of hot air. *Perfect. We'll be right there.*

They dressed quickly and took the express grav-tubes down to the Combat Bridge. The rest of the girls except Jade's sisters were already at the various stations, their attention drawn to the holographic map that floated above them.

"Any sign of a battle?" John asked Calara as he walked down the ramp.

She shook her head and pointed towards the fifth planet orbiting the blue dwarf star in the Zeta Phoenicis system. "There's no sign of major debris fields around Valia Gate so it doesn't look like this fleet fought each other. When we arrive in-system, the sensors will be able to pick up a lot more information."

"Looks like a small fleet," he said, studying the sensor contacts on the Tactical Overlay. "Three drone carriers and three hive ships?"

Calara nodded. "The Kirrix knew what they were doing. They only sent comparatively minor fleets to these outlying systems and sent the bulk of their forces towards more populated Federation worlds."

Helene started to get up from his Command Chair, but John smiled and shook his head, patting her on the shoulder. "It's okay, you can stay there." He turned to Alyssa and asked, "ETA?"

"51 seconds," she informed him, tapping her console and displaying their projected flight path. "I executed a sling shot around the gravity well and we'll be dropping out of hyper-warp right in their path."

He watched the Kirrix fleet crawling towards the edge of the system. "Do we need the Raptor like last time?"

Calara shook her head as she flexed her fingers and grasped the weapon controls. "If we scan the hive ships and locate Terran colonists, I can alpha strike the drone carriers with a Nova Lance blast and a Tachyon Lance salvo from the topdeck. Then if Jade can keep us within range of the hive ships, I'll strip their shields and immobilise them using the Tachyon Lances on the Invictus' underbelly."

Jade smiled at the Latina and gave her a thumbs up. "No problem."

"We can have the whole fleet neutralised in ten seconds," Calara concluded, glancing back at John with a confident gleam in her eyes.

"I'd like to see how they react when they see us instead of sneaking up on them," John said, studying the map. "I'm curious if our theory about a Kirrix civil war is correct."

Irillith nodded, looking intrigued. "If they're trying to keep the colonists, they'll attack us and try to run, but if they're trying not to antagonise Alyssa, their reaction should be quite different."

"10 seconds," the blonde warned them, her eyes locked on the map.

The Invictus appeared on the edge of the Zeta Phoenicis system, the outer hull encased in a quickly dissipating field of Tachyon particles. Dana activated their shields which flickered into existence a moment later, the powerful protective field shimmering with a faint azure tint. Jade pushed forward with the throttle control and the Invictus' six massive engines roared to life, sending the white battlecruiser charging towards the ochre fleet.

It took several seconds for the Kirrix to realise that they had company and their reaction took John by surprise. He'd been expecting the carriers to launch a defensive screen of drone fighters in a desperate attempt to protect the hive ships as they fled from the local gravity well. Instead all six vessels cut all power to their main engines, retro-thrusters across the bow of those vessels blazing brightly to bring them all to a rapid halt. Then they just hung there in space, not even attempting to raise their shields.

"There was a battle," Calara said quietly, enlarging an image of the lead drone carrier.

The Invictus' sensors were receiving far more detailed information at this range and they stared at the ravaged hide of that behemoth, which was criss-crossed with livid scars.

"Those were caused by neutron beams," she murmured, her eyes flicking to the trenches gouged in the hulls of the other two drone carriers. "Judging by the damage they sustained, there were probably five drone carriers in the original fleet... two must have been destroyed."

"Scan the hive ships, let's just confirm that there are no Terrans aboard," John said as the Invictus cruised past the stationary vessels.

Dana shivered as she stared at the enormous insectoid capital ships. "Those things creep me out even when they aren't trying to kill us." Drawing closer to the first of the three hive ships, she tapped on her console to begin an active scan. "Just give me a minute, I'll let you know if they're trying to sneak off with any colonists."

"I've tried hailing Valia Gate, but no answer yet," Rachel informed them, a finger resting on her earpiece.

"The Kirrix might have destroyed the capital's comms array when they attacked the colony," Sakura suggested, studying the Federation overview of the green and grey planet. "According to T-Fed records, there's only one major settlement."

"Forty-seven," John said, nodding distractedly.

She frowned and looked at him in surprise. "I know this is the Outer Rim, but Federation records can't be that inaccurate can they?"

He turned her way and smiled. "No, the city is called '47'... you'll understand why when we reach the planet."

"Looks like it's just bugs onboard," Dana said with relief as she studied the scan results.

"Not-quite-so-bad Kirrix?" Alyssa asked, raising an eyebrow speculatively.

John nodded, staring at the ochre-hued fleet. "It certainly looks that way. Okay, head to Valia Gate, but let's keep an eye on the Kirrix just in case."

"I'll watch them for you," Faye immediately offered. "We should be able to track them on the long-range sensors for at least an hour after they jump out of the system."

"Thanks, Faye," John replied, before feeling a light touch to his arm as the aquatic girl beside him sought to get his attention. "Everything alright, Helene?"

"Do you think any of the children managed to escape?" she asked in a hushed voice.

He brushed his fingers through her light-green hair. "I'm sorry, honey. I don't think so," he replied, seeing the heartfelt sympathy in her baby-blue eyes. "Valia Gate was the second colony to be hit by the Kirrix, so they had plenty of time to round up everyone. It's not like Brecken's World either, where the colonists could run away and hide in the forests."

Sakura's eyes narrowed in anger. "I almost started to feel grateful to those evil bastards for returning the colonists. I can't believe we're letting child-killers escape from justice."

John beckoned her over then put his arms around the furious young woman and looked her in the eyes. "I know, it's galling... but we can't afford to think of it that way. As long as we're seen to be keeping up our end of the agreement, the Kirrix will keep fighting their civil war. We're saving the lives of many thousands of Trankaran children and preventing hundreds-of-thousands of adults from being infested with eggs."

"Don't worry, the Kirrix will get what's coming to them eventually," Alyssa said, her tone bleak and uncompromising. "I'll never forget what they've done to all those people."

John turned to study her, but chose not to comment.

She looked back at him and raised an eyebrow. *What? Sakura's absolutely right; the Kirrix ARE evil and they need to pay for the millions of people they raped and butchered. I understand your concerns about xenocide and what that might mean with your Progenitor heritage, but I certainly don't feel that way. If Sparks ever figures out how to make a Quantum Annihilator, you can just take the day off or something, and I'll be happy to take care of business. I'd have no qualms about pulling the trigger on Kirr-Inax.*

*I don't necessarily disagree about the Kirrix, but we can discuss you vaporising planets as and when that time comes,* he said, keeping his voice deliberately neutral.

She gave him a wry smile. *It should be an interesting chat.*

Turning his attention back to Helene, John said, "You did a wonderful job comforting the Brecken's World colonists, do you think you can do the same for these people? I think they're really going to need your help."

Her eyes widened and she whispered, "No one's ever really needed me for anything before..."

"Some of those colonists don't have much time left until those eggs hatch, they'll be terrified," he said quietly. "Many of them will have given up hope already..."

"I'll do whatever I can to help them," she said, her voice filled with compassion.

"Good girl," he praised her, leaning down to give the teal-skinned beauty a grateful kiss. "Just remember to speak to Alyssa when you start getting tired, she'll be able to give you lots of assistance."

She nodded, her expression reflecting the mix of nervousness and anticipation she was feeling.

*You want me to let Helene tap out her own reserves first?* his blonde matriarch asked curiously.

*Yes please. She needs to learn her limitations, so she doesn't accidentally hurt herself,* he replied, giving Helene an encouraging smile. *If we keep doing it this way, she'll also be able to see how much stronger she's getting.*

*Building up her confidence too? Aren't you a sweetheart,* Alyssa said affectionately.

"I'm picking up life signs in Forty-seven!" Dana called out, turning to grin at John. "There's thousands of people down there... they're Terrans!"

"Take us in to the starport please, Jade," John said, feeling a flood of relief. Turning to look at the girls he continued, "Let's get geared up and ready to disembark. We need to contact the local Governor and request his assistance in bringing all the infested colonists to the Invictus. I'd like to treat them as quickly as possible so that we can move on to Menganus IV."

"I'll work with Faye to setup a holo-projection above the city just like we did above Mulbharum," Irillith volunteered, with the purple sprite nodding her eager agreement. "That should save some time trying to round everyone up."

"Great idea, thank you," he said with an appreciative nod.

Jade was focused on the flight controls as she brought the Invictus into the planet's upper atmosphere. "I've asked my sisters to help. They're getting changed now," she informed him over her shoulder.

John smiled as he thought about the Nymphs in their revealing nurses' uniforms. "I'm sure the citizens of Valia Gate will be very grateful for their assistance."

"Oh, I get it now!" Dana exclaimed, drawing all their attention. Realising everyone was looking at her, the redhead swiped her fingers across the console, bringing up a planetary map of Valia Gate. "I just realised why the city is called Forty-Seven..."

The light-grey and green planet had several vertical rings, which wasn't that unusual amongst planetary bodies. Dana zoomed in on some of the rocky terrain to the north of the city, focusing on a sluggish stream curling through the grey expanse.

"That's liquid silver!" she marvelled, showing them a spectacular view of bubbling liquid metal pouring down a cliff face like a shiny waterfall.

Jade looked at her blankly. "Is the city surrounded by 47 rivers?"

Dana shook her head and grinned. "No, the atomic number of silver is... Forty-Seven!" Her excited reveal was met with polite smiles from the rest of the girls, so she sighed in resignation and looked at John. "Well, I thought it was clever."

He beckoned her over. "Come on, you can tell that to the Governor, I'm sure he'll appreciate it."

"She," Sakura corrected him as she walked up the ramp at John's side. "According to Federation records, the current Governor is a woman."

***

Lucyna Novitsky fought down the urge to be sick as she felt something quivering in her gut. Leaning back in her chair, she took a deep breath to calm herself in an effort to stop the rising tide of panic. Placing her hand on her distended stomach, she felt a fresh tide of revulsion, and tried not to think about the disgusting spawn that were wriggling in their eggs inside her. Even worse, was the knowledge that in a terrifyingly few days' time, the Kirrix grubs would start hatching...

"You alright, Luce?" her husband asked her quietly.

It pained her to hear him sound so despondent. Theo had always been a larger than life character, but the Kirrix had crushed his spirit when they'd abused him, and the spark in his eyes seemed to be growing dimmer by the day. Just like every other colonist on Valia Gate, he was now carrying a clutch of insectoid eggs in his guts, the unnatural swelling in his belly a visual reminder of the horrific rape they'd all been forced to endure.

She reached out to squeeze his hand. "I'll be fine, Theo. You just stay strong for me, okay?"

He sighed and nodded, then his expression turned queasy and he hurriedly looked away, his eyes filling with shame. Theo had refused to hug her for the last several days, the slightest brush against his distended stomach proving too traumatic for him to be persuaded to try again. She'd felt hurt and rejected at the time, but those feelings had been overshadowed by fear as her husband had continued to withdraw into himself.

"Help's coming," she said, forcing herself to fake a smile. "I know the Federation won't just abandon us..."

Theo didn't reply, but Lucyna knew he didn't believe her hollow words any more than she did. The Terran Federation had left them exposed in the first place, so why would they bother coming to their rescue now? Still, she had to be brave for the colony's sake... there were so many people relying on her. She watched her husband in silence as he stared blankly out the dirt-stained window, a humiliated man spiralling ever deeper into depression.

Running her fingers through her grey-streaked blonde hair, Lucyna turned to the radio transmitter and picked up the microphone. "Niklas, you there? Come in?"

After a long pause, her Chief Engineer muttered, "I'm here, Gov... Whaddya want?"

"What's the news on the Comms Array?" she asked, trying to ignore his surly tone.

He laughed sardonically. "It's still just as fucked as it was an hour ago..."

She gritted her teeth in frustration. "We must call for help, Niklas. How soon do you think you can get it up and running?"

"The bugs blasted the shit out of it!" he snarled. "I can't work miracles, Lucyna!"

As much as she wanted to lash out at him in return, she knew he was just as scared as everyone else and his anger wasn't really directed at her. "Look... we're running out of time. You're the only one who can-"

"Don't you think I fuckin' know that?!" he yelled, finally snapping. "Fuck! Why me? What the fuck?!" He suddenly broke down, his racking sobs sounding tinny over the radio.

Fighting back the urge to burst into tears herself, Lucyna wiped at her eyes and took a shuddering breath.

"They're here..." Theo whispered, his croaking voice had a hysterical edge to it.

Looking at him in alarm, Lucyna quailed at the thought of the Kirrix returning, "What, Theo? What do you mean?"

"Look!" he blurted out, pointing towards the window with a trembling finger.

Lurching from her chair, she had to steady herself against the desk, not used to the heavy weight in her bloated stomach. Staggering over to the window, she stared up at the sky, searching for any sight of those hideously ugly Kirrix ships. What she actually saw couldn't have left her any more shocked.

The door to her office slammed open and the colony's senior metallurgist looked at her with wild eyes. "Luce, listen to this!" he threw the door wider, jamming it with his boot.

Lucyna gazed at the 100-foot-wide projection of the Lion in awe and heard his strong confident voice booming across the colony.

"-or anyone you know that is infested with Kirrix eggs. Come to the starport where we will use the medical facilities aboard my ship to treat anyone in need of assistance. I say again, citizens of Valia Gate, you are now safe. We are here to protect you and will provide free medical treatment to anyone who needs it."

She turned to look at her husband who was looking at her with tears rolling down his cheeks. "You knew they would come for us," he whispered, shaking his head in disbelief. "You never gave up hope..."

****

John stood in the Secondary Hangar, lost in thought as he stared up at the Raptor gunship.

"I found her!" Sakura called out to him, jogging across the huge room, her Paragon boots making no sound as she moved with the precise step of a lethal assassin.

He turned to face the Asian girl as she reached his side. "Well done, honey. Could you take me to her please?"

She nodded and fell into step beside him as they walked towards the double-doors leading into the Primary Hangar. There were long lines of colonists forming near the treatment area that snaked far back into the vast room, thousands of desperate people all waiting to have the death sentence lifted from their heads... or more precisely, removed from their stomachs. Along that line the Lionesses stood out in their brilliant white armour, as did the Nymphs in their pristine nurses' uniforms. There was a tense atmosphere of strained anticipation hanging over that crowd and John could only imagine what state they'd be in if he'd arrived just a couple of days later.

"This way," Sakura said, touching his arm and leading him into the treatment area itself.

He felt Helene's calming presence brushing against his mind before he saw her, the aquatic girl holding one of the colonist's hands and speaking to him quietly. She sensed John's presence and immediately turned to look his way, a warm smile on her face despite the look of sympathy in her eyes. John glanced at the dejected-looking man on the treatment bed, an unspoken question passing between Helene and himself. She nodded imperceptibly, confirming that he was a parent who had lost a child. Not wanting to interrupt her conversation, he stroked her back as he walked past in a simple gesture of affection.

Sakura led John to the far side of the treatment area, where Rachel was guiding a protesting middle-aged woman over to a bed. The Asian girl stepped closer to him and whispered, "I'll assist the colonists. Let me know if you need anything."

He shared a smile with her, then turned his attention back to Rachel and her patient.

"It's not right that I skip the queue!" the greying-blonde objected, struggling against the brunette's grip as the doctor attempted to bring her to a treatment table. Her eyes darted back to a man near the back of the lines. "Some of these people were raped before me!"

Rachel's smile was sympathetic but determined. "This isn't about giving you special treatment because you're the governor, this is about serving the greater good. As the leader of Valia Gate, you're in a unique position to be able to organise additional aid for those people and it'll be a lot easier for you to do that when you aren't infested with eggs. We have several days to treat every colonist before the eggs begin to hatch and as long as the rest of my patients don't waste my time with arguments, everyone will be fine."

The woman stared at the youthful doctor in surprise, then gave her an embarrassed look. "I'm sorry, Doctor Voss... I didn't realise what you were doing."

"I should be the one apologising, the onus was on me to clearly explain the situation," Rachel said with a warm smile, before gesturing to the treatment table. She turned to greet John as he approached, "Admiral Blake, I'd like to introduce you to..."

"A cantankerous old battle-axe who should know better..." the woman interrupted with a self-conscious grin. "My name's Lucyna Novitsky, but most everybody around here calls me Luce."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Luce," he replied, removing his Paragon helmet and shaking her proffered hand. "Please call me John."

"Everyone knows who you are, Lion," she replied with a chuckle, staring up at him and suddenly freezing, starstruck at meeting the man she'd seen so often on the holo-net.

He patted the table. "You better hop on here before Doctor Voss gets angry at me for distracting her patients." John raised an eyebrow and added, "And forgive me for saying this but you're certainly not old."

"I'm practically a fossil compared to this stunning girl," Lucyna grumbled good-naturedly, jerking a thumb towards Rachel. She squinted at her and added, "Are you sure you're a doctor? Shouldn't you still be in school?"

Giggling brainlessly and leaning closer, Rachel replied in an airheaded whisper, "Actually, I don't even know what half this stuff does! John just hired me to look pretty in a doctor's coat!"

The Governor recoiled, suddenly looking very worried.

"Rachel... don't tease her," John admonished the brunette.

Rachel straightened and studied the older woman with an appraising eye. "Patient is a Terran Female, aged... 49 years old. She broke her right ankle approximately six years ago and the incorrectly set bones resulted in a faint but noticeable limp. Judging by her mild retinal scarring, she underwent corrective laser surgery on her eyes aged... 34. Burns on her right arm and wrist are consistent with a smelting injury sustained in her mid-twenties. Currently suffering from mild Anemia... which could easily be remedied with an iron-rich diet."

Lucyna gaped at her in shock, stunned as the Lioness recited her medical history.

"Mrs. Novitsky is otherwise in good health, with the exception of a Kirrix egg infestation of course. I intend to neutralise the parasites with harmonic wave vibration... should she actually follow my instructions," the brunette concluded with a playful smile.

"H-how did you know all that?" the Governor stammered, staring at the young woman in astonishment.

John helped the unresisting blonde onto the treatment table and eased her down onto her back. "Dr. Voss is exceptionally gifted. I'm not exaggerating when I say that she's the finest physician in the Terran Federation."

"I'm sorry for teasing you," Rachel said, reaching out to pat her shoulder.

"You got me good," Lucyna admitted with a wry smile. Her troubled eyes darted to the queue and she continued anxiously, "And you can definitely treat everyone in time? My husband, he's not doing well... not since... you know."

Rachel nodded, her gaze softening. "Based on our initial headcount, I believe there's approximately 17,000 colonists? We should be finished treating everyone by around eleven this evening."

"Thank you," the governor said gratefully, squeezing her hand. Her voice caught as she added, "There used to be over 19,000 citizens... the children..."

John's expression turned bleak. "Did you... lose someone... from your family?"

She shook her head. "Never got around to having kids... left it too late." Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "But I knew a bunch of the little tykes around town... I can't believe they're gone."

"I'm so sorry," he said, gritting his teeth to tamp down a surge of impotent fury.

Lucyna looked up at John as if seeing him for the first time. "You're not at all like how I imagined. You really care, don't you?"

He nodded, trying not to let the anger show on his face as he made eye-contact with her. "Like I said, I'm very sorry for everything you've suffered through."

Rachel placed a hand on his shoulder and said softly, "John, I think Dana and Alyssa want to speak with you."

He gave her a curt nod, then smiled at the governor who was watching him intently. "We'll do everything we can to help. You and your people are in safe hands, I promise."

"Thank you," she said quietly, giving him a brave smile.

He nodded, then turned and walked away, spotting Alyssa waiting for him by the door into the Secondary Hangar. As he left the treatment area, John realised that Rachel had adeptly extricated him from that melancholy situation, and he felt an intense wave of gratitude towards the astute doctor. The sense of gratitude was quickly followed by a flicker of shame, for feeling so uncomfortable around those deeply traumatised people.

He greeted Alyssa with a strained smile. *Faye was right, I've got a real problem with these humanitarian relief efforts. I hate not being able to do anything to help those colonists... it's so damn frustrating.*

*We all have our strengths, John,* Alyssa murmured, her soothing voice echoing through his mind. *You've given girls like Rachel and Helene the skillsets to help those people... you've contributed a tremendous amount just by that alone.*

He let out a heavy sigh. *I was actually considering taking a couple of the girls with me in the Raptor and scouting out the last invaded world. It's going to take the rest of the day to treat these citizens, but it's only a four-hour flight from here to Menganus IV. I thought it might save us quite a bit of time tracking down the last colonists if we start the search right now... but maybe I was just looking for any excuse to avoid being here.*

*Actually, I think that's a great idea!* Alyssa enthused, linking her arm with his and walking into the Secondary Hangar.

*You do?* he asked in surprise.

She nodded, glancing up at him. *Definitely. Jade, Irillith, and Tashana are the perfect choices to accompany you. The twins have to keep their faces concealed around the colonists, so they've been finding it a lot harder to gain people's trust than the rest of us. Irillith's worked out how to communicate with Kirrix ships, so she'll be invaluable... and Tashana knows plenty of smugglers tricks to avoid detection, so I bet she'll have some good ideas for tracking the Kirrix if they try and give you the slip. Finally, you'll be out of range for Faye to fly the Raptor, so Jade's a great choice for pilot... she's only really acting as eye candy here anyway.*

*Yeah, those are mostly the reasons I picked them,* he agreed, pleased that Alyssa thought it was a sensible plan and not just some frivolous jaunt.

As they walked closer to the Raptor, John spotted Dana staring intently at the pair of Pulse Cannons mounted in the gunship's chin turret.

She turned and greeted John with a broad smile, pulling off her helmet as she bounced over to join them. "Hey! I was just thinking about upgrading the Raptor before you leave!"

"I was thinking the exact same thing a few minutes ago," John said looking up at the Raptor. "We'll definitely need to install armour-equipping frames in the armoury. Jade refuses to wear armour, but we need them for me and the twins."

"Installing them won't take much time at all. We could move three from the Briefing Room and I'll build some replacements up there later," Dana agreed with a nonchalant shrug. Her eyes sparkled as she continued, "I was actually thinking more about upgrading the Pulse Cannons to Tachyon Cannons!"

"Tachyon Cannons?" John asked in surprise. "What are they?"

"Basically, a turret-mounted version of the Tachyon rifles!" the redhead gushed with a huge grin.

John glanced at the two-metre-long weapons currently mounted in the turrets. "Won't they take hours to design and construct? We can't afford to lose the time if the Kirrix have fled and we need to track them down."

"Nah... it won't take long," Dana drawled, waving a hand dismissively. "I've been toying with a design for an upgrade to the Pulse Cannons ever since you suggested the Tachyon Rifle. They won't need a portable power core as the gunship has more than enough juice for six of them. We can also ditch the underslung barrel so they'll be simpler to make and the laser part will have way more firepower with a larger focusing chamber!"

"Even so, any time we delay will make it harder to reach the colonists in time," John said, with a worried frown.

Dana shook her head. "With more firepower, you'll have a much better chance of knocking out the hive ships before they can scatter. Just think how many hours you'd waste having to track them if that happens."

He nodded thoughtfully. "That's a good point."

Alyssa stood on tiptoe and kissed John on the cheek. "I'll leave you two to hammer out the details. I've already told Jade and the twins your plans... I'm sure you won't be surprised to hear that they're overjoyed at the prospect of joining you on this mission."

Dana's joyful grin faded and she looked at John hopefully. "Are you sure you don't need me to come along too? I could create gravity wells for you to dump the Kirrix out of hyper-warp..."

The blonde laughed and shook her head. "Sparks! You were just with him this morning!"

"Yeah, but it's not the same as going off on a cruise together," she pouted. "It'd be just like you two were on the Fool's Gold..."

"Sorry, Sparks, I need you here to help the colonists. The town took some damage in the invasion, so they'll need to get their comms array repaired," John said with a sympathetic smile. "Besides, this trip isn't meant to be some sex-fuelled romp."

Alyssa raised an eyebrow and looked at him curiously. "Shall I tell the twins to leave their collars behind then?"

"Ah, no, that's okay," he replied, sounding more than a little flustered. "Tashana definitely needs hers, just in case we get in combat... and Irillith might want to... match her."

The blonde laughed as she gave him a knowing look.

Dana couldn't help groaning in envy. "See, I knew it!"

John's face shadowed with regret as he said, "I can understand you feeling frustrated; you must feel short-changed having to share me between so many girls. I'm sorry I can't devote as much time to both of you as you deserve..."

The redhead's expression switched in a flash and she looked at him in alarm. "Oh no, it's not like that at all!"

Alyssa flicked an irritated glance at Dana, then stepped closer to John and cupped his face in her hand. Gazing intently into his eyes, her voice was firm and unwavering as she said, "I don't want you to ever feel bad about spending time with any of the girls. First of all, I practically browbeat you into recruiting all of them, so I'd be the most ungrateful bitch in the galaxy if I started complaining about having to share you. Second, I love it when you're with them. It's not quite the same as being with you myself, but I feel all your emotions and theirs every time you get together... it's a huge rush and I get to experience it several times a day!"

Dana gave him a tight hug. "I absolutely love spending time with you too, but please don't feel bad that we're not together all the time. When you're busy with the other girls, I'm either working on exciting new research or having fun with Rachel. I still get incredibly turned on at the thought of just living off your cum for weeks, but I get why that's not practical right now... not when you're trying to help Helene and the Nymphs get stronger."

He removed his gauntlets and let them drop to the deck with a clang, then gently brushed his fingers through their long silky hair. "It was so much simpler back at the start, when it was just a few of us and I could lavish much more attention on each of you." He moved his thumbs to their mouths, tracing the sensual lines of those lusciously curved lips. "Looking into your eyes as I fed you, over and over again... I miss that intense intimacy."

Both girls responded with quiet moans, giving him smouldering looks of desire as they opened their mouths to envelop his thumbs and suck suggestively.

"All you girls are wonderful in your own way... I just worry about spreading myself too thin and neglecting you." He gazed into their eyes in turn and continued earnestly, "If it was just me and either of you on our own, I'd still consider myself the luckiest guy in the galaxy and relish every moment we had together."

Dana gently stroked his arm, the overhead lights catching the sparkling gemstone adorning her ring finger. Her sky-blue eyes darted to it before focusing on him again.

"That's right. If we were just a regular couple, we'd be married and settled in our new home, our first baby on the way..." he said quietly, picturing it in his mind. "And I'd be the happiest man alive."

The girls released his thumbs and hugged him close. "Oh, John... that sounds amazing..." Dana whispered, tears in her eyes.

Alyssa nuzzled into him and planted loving kisses on his neck. "Just think about the way that makes you feel... but multiply it by all the girls you're closest to. When we eventually retire, you're going to be the centre of our huge loving family. It'll be everything you ever dreamed of..."

He held them both and tried imagining it... the thought was very pleasant indeed.

"But there's over 20 of you now, including Edraele and her girls... I've no idea how I'm going to make time for all of you..." he said, daunted by the prospect. "I'd hate the thought of anyone feeling lonely or rejected."

Dana smiled and kissed him again. "I can't wait to share my pregnancy with Rachel; I won't be able to keep my hands off her when she's all knocked up! I know she feels the same way about me, because we talk about it all the time."

Alyssa nodded, her eyes flashing with desire. "I'll be keeping Calara very entertained, you don't need to worry about her feeling neglected in the slightest. Besides, we'll still be seeing you on a daily basis anyway."

"What about the girls who aren't paired up with anyone?" John asked with concern.

Dana giggled and shook her head. "Do you even pay attention to what we get up to when you're not around? Sakura's not settled down with anyone yet, but that doesn't stop her from having fun with me and Rach, or being Calara's sparring partner in the dojo and the bedroom. I think she hasn't made any commitments because she's having too much fun sleeping with all of us."

Alyssa gave him an eager grin. "And throw the Young Matriarchs and the assassins into the mix? Trust me, we're all going to be very busy little girls..."

*Alyssa, Jade, and I will take care of everything, you don't need to worry about a thing,* Edraele said, her voice soothing. *You'll be free to spend time with whoever you like and no one is going to mind, or complain that you're playing favourites. Whenever you want female companionship, but don't mind who, we'll organise everything to make sure your time with the girls is balanced evenly. You can trust us to make sure that no one will feel starved of attention.*

Nodding her agreement, Alyssa smiled coyly, "It'll be like the system I put in place to work out who was sleeping next to you. There'll be lots going on behind the scenes, but we'll only have done our jobs properly if you don't even notice..."

"It sounds like you've got everything figured out," he said with amusement.

*It was worrying you, so we've been discussing the issue at length,* Edraele admitted, an edge of concern to her voice.

*I'm really looking forward to running a harmonious household,* Jade said enthusiastically. *It'll be so wonderful when we have all the children running around too!*

John smiled at the dopey grins on Dana's and Alyssa's faces, then realised he probably had one of his own.

*Oh yes,* Alyssa confirmed for him a moment later.

He laughed and released the girls, before squatting down to pick up his discarded gauntlets. "Let's get moving, Sparks. I'll do all the psychic shaping you need for the Tachyon Cannons."

"Just let me know when you're ready to assemble them," the blonde requested, watching as the pair walked away towards the grav-tube. "I'll send Jade up to help."

They waved goodbye and headed out through the double-doors into the airlock corridor beyond.

*I know John's worried about you and your girls needing a break from combat, but he's struggling too,* Edraele thought quietly to her fellow matriarch.

*He puts himself under too much pressure,* Alyssa agreed, watching pensively as John left. *And despite the calm facade he's putting on for our benefit, he's struggling with the compromise I made with the Kirrix... it goes against his every instinct.*

*Considering what I did to the Fulmanax, this will make me sound like an unbelievable hypocrite, but I agree with you regarding the Kirrix and Kirr-Inax,* Edraele said, a harder edge to her voice. *After all the atrocities they've committed, they don't deserve any mercy.*

The blonde turned on her heel and headed back towards the Primary Hangar. *You're no hypocrite, Edraele. The vicious psychopath that used to inhabit your body has paid for what she did and was obliterated... I'm very fond of the woman you are now.*

*The feeling is mutual, as I'm sure you're well aware,* Edraele said softly. *It's not just John I'm looking forward to seeing when all of you return to Genthalas...*

Alyssa leaned against the doorframe and gazed out across the hangar at the crowd of colonists, watching her girls keeping them calm. *The thought of returning to Maliri Space feels like we're going home... even more so after what just happened on Karron.*

*That's so wonderful to hear!* the Maliri matriarch gushed, genuinely touched. *We'll do everything we can to make your stay as restful as possible.*

*I know you will,* the blonde said with an affectionate smile.

Edraele hesitated for a moment, then asked, *Are you sure you can't delay the trip to Arcadia and come straight home? Waiting even longer to see all of you will be torture, for both myself and the Young Matriarchs. Kali in particular is desperate to see John again... If you were to return here as soon as the Kirrix threat has been dealt with, we could refit the Invictus with the new tech you've acquired, then you could head directly to Arcadia from Maliri territory.*

Alyssa listened to John's thoughts, his ever-present worries about his parents having grown all the more insistent in the last few days. *He's had this hanging over him for so long... I can't ask him to wait another three weeks when we're so close to getting some answers.* Her mouth lifted into a wistful smile as she continued, *It was so wonderful meeting my mother for the first time and being able to say goodbye to my father... I want John to get some closure and experience that same sense of inner peace. He really needs this, Edraele.*

*I wish I could be there to help ease his mind,* the Maliri said longingly. *I suppose I'll have to rely on my daughters to offer him succor.*

*They'll certainly be doing plenty of that,* Alyssa said with a grin, her eyes flicking to the Maliri twins, easily identifiable with the white Lionesses on their pauldrons. *He adores your girls, Edraele, and I know they'll take great care of him.*

*Ah, maternal pride... it's such a lovely feeling,* Edraele said, with a contented sigh. Her good mood evaporated a moment later as she faltered, *I only wish their father was still here so that he could see what incredible young women his daughters have become.*

*John's determined to find a way of arranging that for the twins... and you know how relentless he is once he sets his mind on something.* Alyssa smiled fondly as she thought about the extreme lengths he'd gone to in facilitating her reunion with her parents. She would always be grateful for the massive risks he'd taken for her.

Her voice heavy with regret, Edraele murmured, *I hope with all my heart that he manages it someday.*

Alyssa hesitated, then asked, *Edraele... How would you feel about being given the chance to speak with your parents again?*

The Maliri matriarch was silent for a long time, before she quietly replied, *There's no solace for me there, Alyssa. My father took no interest in his daughters... and the most valuable lesson I learned from my mother, was that some people are just evil to their core.*

***

Tony felt the bed shift beside him and started awake, disorientated by his unfamiliar... and very clean surroundings. He took in a deep breath and was astonished by the crisp air filling his lungs, quite unlike the dusty staleness that he'd known on Karron. There was an enticing female form lying beside him with one of her legs thrown over his and her warm soft skin felt amazing. It took him a moment for his befuddled brain to recognise the glossy golden mane draped over his chest and he smiled when he realised that Perl was still fast asleep.

"Sorry I woke you," Kelli murmured from across the bedroom, her apology followed by the alluring gurgle of a drink being poured. "I was getting thirsty and I remembered Faye left us a big bottle of peach juice."

"Yeah, I'm parched too," he grunted, swallowing around his dry throat.

She sat beside him, a second glass in her hands and a caring smile on her face. "Way ahead of you."

He lifted his head up and she gazed into his eyes as she brought the glass to his lips. The juice tasted incredibly fresh, the flavour lighting up his taste buds as he drank his fill.

"More?" the brunette asked when he finished the glass.

Tony shook his head. "I'm good... thanks."

She put the glass on the side table and knelt at his side, looking down at him with adoring eyes.

He felt an unfamiliar flicker of guilt and had to look away. "It's not right, you lookin' at me like that... I don't deserve it."

Kelli's small hand gently turned his chin so he was facing her. "Sure you do. Forget about all the shit you went through before we met... it's what happened afterwards that matters to me."

"You're our hero," Perl agreed, followed by a cute yawn as she snuggled into him. "I don't care about your past either, Tony. You did some bad things... I get that. If you can forget the things me and Kelli had to do to survive, I'm willing to do the same."

He stared up at the ceiling in silence, mulling that over. "I can't forget," he finally said, his mind made up.

The blonde cringed and turned away from him. "I'm... sorry."

Tony looked up at Kelli's hurt expression in surprise, then he realised what had upset them and reached for them both, pulling them close. "No! I didn't mean you two!" He sighed and stroked their backs. "I meant all the shit I've done... I can't forget that, not if I'm gonna try to make up for it."

The change in them both was dramatic and they hugged him tight, bright smiles on their faces.

Kelli then frowned at him quizzically. "So does that mean you want to go back to Karron then?"

He shook his head. "No... Most of the people I screwed over there are gone now. I'm just gonna try to be a better person, not an asshole ganger."

"All three of us can start again, someplace new," Perl agreed, nodding enthusiastically. "As long as you still want us tagging along?"

Tony glanced at Kelli and smiled. "Someone told me last night I had to get used to you two bein' around. I guess that won't be so bad..."

The brunette giggled and shared a sly smile with her nubile bedmate. "He doesn't seem very excited about that... Maybe he doesn't appreciate what he's got Perl?"

The blonde nodded, gazing intently into his eyes. "You treat us right, Tony, and we'll do anything you want..."

Tony gulped and it wasn't because he was thirsty. The smouldering look that Perl gave him was something he'd never witnessed before... and seeing it mirrored by Kelli made it twice as shocking. Their excitement had an immediate effect on his anatomy, making him painfully hard in moments.

Kelli propped herself up on an elbow, her smile widening as she undid the cotton belt tying his robe and slipped a hand inside. "We're going to take such good care of-" Her eyes went wide. "Holy fuck!"

Her shocked exclamation accompanied her dainty hand wrapping itself around his cock.

Perl giggled at her friend's stunned expression. "Whatcha find, Kel?"

"Have you seen the size of the meat he's packing?!" the brunette gasped, sitting up to take a better look. She suddenly looked sharply at the laughing blonde. "Hey! You knew!"

Trying to hold back her giggles, Perl nodded. "I asked him about his nickname back on Karron."

Kelli giggled too, her eyes locked on his throbbing shaft. "Yeah, I get it now... that is a fat cock..." Her confidence wavered and she darted a quick glance at Tony. "Giving you anything you want might be a bit of a stretch... literally. There's places I'm not sure that monster will fit."

Perl sat up and placed her forearm next to the appendage in question, her fingers curling into a fist. "Nah, you'll be alright."

The brunette blushed and struggled to meet Tony's shocked gaze. "Okay, you can take my ass too if you want..."

"You've got to be fuckin' with me?" he asked sceptically. "You're only little, Kelli..."

"And that's no starter cock," Perl interjected with obvious approval.

Kelli gave him a furtive smile. "No, we're not teasing you." Her smile wavered a little as she added, "Just... please be gentle if you're going to fuck me in the ass. I'm not much into pain, but everything else I'm totally up for."

Perl leaned down to lightly brush his lips with hers. "I don't mind," she whispered quietly.

He stared at them in disbelief, not having expected this side to them at all... even with everything he knew about their past.

The girls saw his shocked expression and darted worried glances at each other. "Shit... was that too much information?" Kelli asked in alarm.

Perl winced and gave him a look of sympathy. "We fucked up didn't we? You said you'd try to forget we used to be whores... we're not making it easy."

"No, it's not that, what you did in the past don't matter," Tony said, shaking his head. Choosing his words carefully, he continued, "I got used to you two being really scared... and needin' lookin' after. I just wasn't expectin' you to be so... confident in bed."

Kelli smiled slyly at him. "We can play the shy virgins if that turns you on?"

"No that's not it," Perl replied, quickly shaking her head and studying him carefully. "He just needs to get used to us taking care of him... right Tony?"

He nodded and quietly replied, "Yeah, it feels... weird. But you were already watchin' my back last night... when you saved my life."

The girls looked at him in blank incomprehension.

"Alyssa... she would've killed me for sure if it wasn't for you two," he reminded them. "So if you're doin' this because you think you owe me... you don't. We're all square now."

Their smiles softened and they took turns giving him a tender kiss.

"I don't know about you, Kel, but I want him even more now," Perl purred, her eyes sparkling.

Kelli nodded, squirming against him. "I'm so wet... I can't even remember the last time I was this horny!"

The blonde smiled mischievously at her friend, then turned back to Tony and crooned, "You just relax... let your Perl look after you..."

The girls exchanged another glance and sat up, peeling off their cotton tops. He gazed in fascination at their uncovered breasts for the first time, their pale mounds no more than a handful. They rolled their shoulders and arched their backs slightly to emphasise their compact but very pert busts.

"Like the merchandise?" Kelli asked, a flicker of insecurity in her voice.

He reached up to brush his fingers over their velvety skin, self-conscious about his rough hands against their softness. "You're a couple of smoking hot bitc-... beautiful women," he murmured, correcting himself.

Perl's eyes gleamed and she leaned closer. "You don't have to be polite... you can say whatever nasty things you like... we love it..."

"Dirty talk gets her going," Kelli said with a grin, peeling off her shorts and grinning at the big damp patch. "Told you I was horny..."

Wriggling out of her own shorts, Perl patted the bed beside Tony and smiled at Kelli. "I better double-check your pussy, baby. You're gonna have to be lubed-up to take that beast."

The brunette climbed over the speechless ganger, pausing only to grind her glistening labia against his shaft with a low moan. He was pretty sure checking was unnecessary after the slick way she glided on him, but Kelli quickly rolled to the empty space on the bed. She lay back and spread her legs obscenely for her friend, drawing her knees up so they framed her perky chest. Perl moved with deliberate slowness, a coy smile on her face for Tony as she knelt between those splayed thighs. Moving with practiced familiarity she descended on Kelli's sex, covering her clit with her mouth and lapping away immediately.

"Oh, Perl..." the brunette cooed, running her fingers through those blonde locks. She turned to look at Tony through hooded eyes. "This okay? You don't mind us playing first?"

He rolled onto his side and cupped one of her breasts, kneading the flesh, and brushing his thumb over her puffy nipples. "You two look hot together..."

Kelli pulled him down for a kiss, her eyelashes fluttering as Perl slid a couple of fingers inside her. She groaned into his mouth as their lips met, her tongue flickering against his as the kiss deepened. Her breathing got heavier as the blonde sucked and licked her clit, leaving Kelli teetering on the brink of climax.

"There, all ready," Perl said with satisfaction, wiping the brunette's juices from her mouth. She reached for his cock and gave him a sympathetic squeeze. "Let's get this where it belongs..."

Tony moved into position, replacing the blonde between Kelli's thighs. His eyes were drawn to the moisture beading her neat lower lips that made her glisten in the light. The petite girl was definitely ready, but whether she'd actually be able to take him he wasn't so sure.

Perl pressed herself to his side, her hand stroking his back as she looked down at the panting brunette. "I'm going to help Tony ruin you for other men..."

Kelli gazed starry-eyed up at him. "There won't be any other men... not anymore. I'm his now..."

His heart pounded in his chest when he saw that look and Tony glanced at the excited blonde beside him. "Can you help me make it real good for her?"

Perl's gaze softened and she gave him a soulful kiss. "I'm gonna tell you all her secrets, baby. You own her slutty pussy now... and mine too."

Tony kissed her fiercely, then turned his attention to Kelli, lining himself up with her sopping hole. The brunette moaned wantonly, wriggling around as though trying to impale herself.

"Take it slow with that fat cock, she's a tight little girl, even if she is ready to fuck..." Perl hissed, her fingers busy on her own clit. "Stretch her out nice and easy..."

He started pushing forward, watching Kelli's lips form a perfect oval as she felt his girth spreading her wide.

"Holy Fuck!" she squeaked, her pupils like big dark pools as she stared at him in wonder.

Following Perl's advice, he took his time, pausing every few inches to let the young woman adjust to the penetration until the blonde squeezed his ass to urge him onwards. Kelli was incredibly tight and he could feel her inner walls stretching to accommodate him, then fluttering wildly around his shaft. She whimpered as he went deeper, but made no move to stop him, her thighs trembling as she finally took his full length.

"You're stuffed full, baby," Perl murmured, moving up the bed to lie next to the impaled brunette. "Does that big cock feel good?"

"So hot and hard..." Kelli moaned, writhing helplessly beneath him. She gazed up at Tony and panted, "I fucking love it!"

Perl's hands moving to caress those pale breasts, before she nuzzled into Kelli's neck, kissing her exposed throat. When Tony started to move too, Kelli's eyes rolled back and she cried out as she climaxed, having been teetering on the edge for what felt like hours. Shaking uncontrollably, she bucked back against him, her body responding instinctively to his thrusts. The blonde began showing him where all Kelli's most sensitive spots were and what she really liked and when. It was like being read an instruction manual on how to drive the girl crazy, and as he ramped up the pace, he followed Perl's advice to spectacular results.

Kelli climaxed over and over again, whimpering for Tony to stop, then begging him to keep going, a helpless slave to the ecstasy her lovers were coaxing out of her. They finished with Tony gazing deep into Kelli's shocked eyes as he pumped her womb full of cum, the brunette announcing her final release in a wordless orgasmic scream.

"Never seen a girl go crazy like that before..." Tony groaned in disbelief, sliding his softening cock out of Kelli, who lay sprawled insensate on the bed. "Hottest thing I've ever seen."

"You taught her pussy who was boss," Perl purred with satisfaction, her eager tongue darting out to lick his cum-covered length. "Now, let me just clean you up..."

When she was satisfied with her handiwork, she moved over to Kelli and made eye-contact with Tony as she licked their combined cum from those puffy lips. The brunette let out a feeble moan as she twitched on the bed, too exhausted and dazed to respond with anything more. Tony watched Perl slowly and lovingly lapping at her friend, her throat bobbing as she swallowed everything he'd pumped into Kelli. She was in no hurry, taking her time to finish the job while gently soothing the brunette's swollen pussy. By the time Perl had finished, Tony had started stiffening again, incredibly turned on by the lustful looks she'd been giving him as she filled her tummy with his sperm.

The blonde pulled back and gave his throbbing shaft a hungry look. "You ready to break in another horny little bitch? Perl needs it real bad..."

"C'mere, sexy girl," he replied, grabbing her and pulling her over him as she giggled in delight.

Her laughter died as Perl found herself straddling him, the contact of his cock to her glistening pussy like a bolt of electricity coursing through her body. Biting her lower lip, she looked at Tony under long lashes as she lined up his throbbing head with her entrance and started rolling her hips, easing him inside. He held her slim waist in his broad hands, and looked down at where they were joined, watching as his thick cock inched its way into the tiny opening. Perl relaxed, letting him slide deeper into her snug depths, every inch gripped tight by her velvety passage.

She took all of him, her obscenely spread lips touching his groin at the same time his blunt head gently nudged her cervix. It was like a switch had been flipped in her and the wild gleam in her eyes softened as she gazed down at him.

"Oh, Tony..." she whispered, leaning forward for a kiss.

This was new for him too as Perl melted into his arms, the blissful expression on her face making his heart skip a beat. They kissed with languid passion, just revelling in the connection as their relationship was irrevocably changed from friends to lovers.

"I was so scared back there," she murmured, between passion-filled kisses. "But I knew you'd keep me safe. I never want to leave you, Tony... please let me stay."

Tony wrapped his arms around her in a protective embrace. "You're not goin' anywhere. It's you, me, and Kelli now, baby."

Perl paused her heated kissing to listen to him, then she let out a soft moan and renewed the sensual assault. She began to undulate her hips, making his cock slide back an inch before being fully enveloped in her steamy folds again. When he bottomed out at the end of her snug passage, she clenched her inner muscles, giving him a loving squeeze.

Tony had never experienced sex like this before, having grown accustomed to frantic couplings with girls shrieking about the size of his cock. Perl was in a whole different league, riding him with accomplished skill and moving her nubile body in a sensual dance that made him want to possess her completely. All the while, she gazed lovingly into his eyes with a dreamy look of adoration that was as intimate as it was erotic.

He could feel his arousal building, starting small in the pit of his stomach, then the feeling spreading out over his entire body as she fanned his passions up to an inevitable climax. Perl had been coasting through a wave of rolling orgasms, the gentle bumping against her cervix stirring something almost primal inside her. When she tipped him over the edge, her toes curled at the feeling of his hot load spurting into her womb and joined him in a powerful release. Her strength gave out and she sagged against him, her slender body coated with perspiration from her exertions.

Perl sighed in bliss, then whispered breathily in his ear, "I love you, Tony."

Her heartfelt words managed to pierce his post-coital daze and he turned to look at her in shock. The blonde had closed her eyes, a serene look of contentment on her pretty face. Glancing up, he saw Kelli was watching them with tears in her eyes, her mouth lifted into a lopsided smile. When she realised he was looking up at her, Kelli leaned over to kiss her girlfriend on the shoulder, before kissing him too.

"Yeah, me too," she murmured, gently ruffling his hair, then snuggling in beside him.

Tony held the girls in his arms as they drifted off to sleep, both of them looking content and happy. By contrast, his own head was in turmoil, stunned by how serious their feelings for him were. He'd never let a woman get that close before and the stifling sense of commitment was overwhelming. As that burst of panic faded, he glanced down at the blonde and brunette, then realised the feelings of responsibility and protectiveness he felt towards them weren't exactly new.

After they had fled from the Diablos' base, the fraught days with the girls were the longest he'd ever really spent in female company. His history with women mostly consisted of fucking a bunch of hoodrats and whores, but they were just pump and dump encounters that rarely involved much in the way of interesting conversation. He had become accustomed to feeling like he had to protect Kelli and Perl from the Kirrix, but more than that... he'd actually grown to like them both. Was that the same as being in love though?

Tony always thought that "being in love" was a bunch of bullshit that losers used as an excuse for being pussywhipped. In his experience, telling a girl you loved her was really just a way of getting into her pants faster. It had worked pretty well for him in the past, apart from dealing with the pouting and tantrums when he kicked the sluts to the kerb afterwards. However, the thought of doing that to Kelli and Perl made his chest tighten; the last thing he ever wanted to do was hurt either of them, especially after the way they'd risked their own lives to save him too.

Kissing each girl on top of her head, he smiled as the softness of their hair tickled his nose, then relaxed back on the bed and pulled them both closer. The way the girls responded with quiet murmurs as they cuddled into him made Tony smile with resignation. Apparently, he wasn't just a dumbass who put his life on the line for a couple of whores, he was also a pussywhipped loser who had fallen in love. The escape from Karron had sure been enlightening...

With that thought in mind, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, the contented smile on his face matching Kelli's and Perl's.

***

Governor Novitsky waited nervously outside the entrance to the bathroom stalls, butterflies fluttering in her chest as she waited for her husband. Lucyna had felt incredibly guilty when she was picked out to be amongst the first to be treated, convinced that thousands of eyes were watching with resentment. If there were any complaints about preferential treatment, they evaporated when her staff brought in grav-carts loaded with food and drink, all generously paid for by the Lion. After that, no one raised an objection when her husband had been brought forward to have his clutch of eggs liquidated, especially as he'd been one of the first to be assaulted.

Another colonist emerged from the bathroom, a look of incredible relief on the young woman's face. She saw the Valia Gate governor and rushed to hug Lucyna, bursting into tears as she thanked her over and over again. Although Lucyna didn't feel like she'd done anything to deserve such gratitude, she patted the colonist on the back, knowing exactly how it felt to have that death sentence lifted.

"Luce..."

Releasing the young woman, Lucyna turned back to see her husband emerging from the bathroom. He looked quite different now; Theo still had bags under his eyes, but he'd lost that disconcerting hollow-eyed stare.

"Theo!" Lucyna gasped as she rushed to her husband, clinging to him desperately.

He wrapped her up in his strong arms and she trembled with relief to be held in that protective embrace once more.

"Luce... I-I..." he stammered, the shame in his voice painful to hear.

Shaking her head, she looked up at him pleadingly. "Please just forget it all happened! I don't want to even think about that ever again!"

He hesitated, then nodded, the couple tightening their hug and doing their best to comfort each other. When they parted, Lucyna realised that they had company, with Doctor Voss watching them sympathetically from a respectful distance away.

"Would you be able to spare a few minutes to talk, Governor Novitsky?" Rachel asked, her refined well-spoken voice polite and respectful.

"Of course, Doc," Lucyna replied, before turning to look up at her husband. "Why don't you grab something to eat and drink, Theo? You'll feel a lot better."

He nodded and bowed awkwardly to the girl in white armour, intimidated by her beauty, class, and profession. Lucyna watched him leave, her husband meandering back towards the grav-carts stacked high with provisions, his shoulders slumped and his back stooped. It saddened her to see that he hadn't regained the confident strut that had always made her tingle and she couldn't help wondering if she'd ever see it again.

Rachel smiled at the older woman and gestured with her hand. "I'd like to speak to you in private, if that's okay?"

"Sure," the older blonde agreed. "Hardly gonna begrudge you that after what you've done for us."

They walked towards the big double doors leading into another hangar and another of the Lionesses fell into step beside them. Unlike the tawny-haired brunette, this girl was a golden-maned blonde... and Lucyna couldn't help staring in awe at the most breathtakingly beautiful women she'd ever seen in her life.

"Alyssa, this is Governor Lucyna Novitsky," Doctor Voss said, greeting the new arrival with a lovely smile. "Luce, I'd like to introduce you to Alyssa; she's John's Executive Officer."

"Ah, so this is your boss?" Lucyna asked, nudging the brunette with an elbow.

Rachel's lips twitched into a grin as she pretended to mishear the question. "Is she bossy? Absolutely."

Alyssa's melodic laughter echoed around the hangar. "Oh, I wouldn't say that, I just like to run a tight ship. It's a pleasure to meet you, Governor."

They took a detour to avoid a couple of maintenance bots, which were carrying big metallic frames up the ramp into the Raptor gunship.

"Call me, Luce," the older woman said distractedly, studying the blonde goddess in fascination. "Mind if I ask you a question, boss lady?"

"Ask away," Alyssa replied with a disarming smile.

"How the hell are you all so beautiful?" Lucyna blurted out incredulously. "You, the doc here, that Asian girl, those alien nurses... Jeezus! Even when I was a hot twenty-something, I'd look like a troll compared to you lot."

"I suppose it's all in the genes," Alyssa replied softly, sharing a brief glance with Rachel. Those enchanting cerulean eyes flicked back to the Governor. "I'm sorry if we're making you feel intimidated; that's the last thing any of us want."

Lucyna looked mortified and quickly shook her head. "Shit... I wasn't trying to make you feel bad, sweetheart, especially after everything you've done for us. I swear I'm not normally this tactless."

"You've been under an incredible amount of stress," the blonde said with sympathy, patting the older woman on the arm. She winked at her reassuringly. "And don't worry, it takes a lot more to piss me off than telling me I'm beautiful."

The governor laughed as she followed the two armoured women into the Cargo Bay. "Before I put my foot in my mouth again... what did you want to talk to me about?"

Alyssa's fingers twitched and the reinforced door shut behind them. "I'm sorry if this is a painful subject, but I need to find out more information about the Kirrix that abducted you."

Lucyna's jaw clenched and she nodded. "Those bastards need to pay for all the people they hurt." She hesitated as her anger faded and humiliation took its place. "S-should I start telling you what happened... from when they... c-captured us?"

"Shh, don't think about that," Alyssa said soothingly, removing her gauntlet and lifting her fingers towards the Governor's temple. "Is it okay to touch you?"

"Y-yes," the older woman stammered, glancing at the blonde's hand and finding herself fascinated by the flawless perfection of her skin.

Alyssa brushed her fingertips against Lucyna's temple, massaging her gently. "You don't need to tell me anything. If you relax and let me look into your mind, I can see exactly what happened."

Jerking her head back in surprise, the Governor looked at her incredulously. "You're fucking with me!"

"I'm a telepath, I can read people's minds," Alyssa said, her voice soothing. "I promise I'm being completely honest with you."

Rachel stepped forward and gave the older woman a reassuring smile. "The Lionesses all have gifts, Luce. I started healing wounded colonists after treating your egg infestation; I'm just surprised no one has said anything to you about it yet."

"I was busy looking after my husb-" Lucyna's bewildered voice trailed off and she gaped at the brunette's grey eyes in astonishment as they started to glow. "What the hell?!"

"This won't hurt a bit," the brunette said softly, as a misty grey aura spread out to envelop the governor. "Let me prove we're telling you the truth..."

Lucyna gasped at the tickling sensation that flooded her body and couldn't help a startled laugh as Rachel went to work. In less than a minute, the doctor was done and the older woman blinked in shock, her gaze darting to each girl in turn.

"How are the hand and ankle?" Rachel asked with a hint of a smile.

Lifting her right hand and staring at it, Lucyna let out a startled cry. "The smelting burn! It's gone!" Looking down next, she bounced on her toes and her eyes widened. "Holy shit! My ankle doesn't hurt either! I thought all the rumours on the holo-net about the Lionesses was just PR bullshit, but you're the real deal!"

"She's the genuine article," Alyssa agreed, smiling appreciatively at Rachel. "Believe us now?"

Lucyna stared at them both wide-eyed and gave them a tentative nod. "I'd have to be a complete dumbass not to. So what happens now?"

Alyssa brushed a tendril of grey-streaked hair away from Lucyna's face. "You don't have to do a thing except relax. I'll be able to look directly into your mind and view your memories of the Kirrix." She felt the older woman tense with embarrassment and continued quietly, "I won't look at that one, I promise. I need to know more about what happened later... when the Kirrix decided to bring you and the rest of the colonists back to Valia Gate."

Reaching up to place her hand atop Alyssa's, Lucyna met the blonde's sympathetic gaze. "I trust you," she whispered, despite feeling incredibly vulnerable.

The psychic blonde gave her a grateful smile, then her eyes began to shine with an inner radiance. "Just relax... you're perfectly safe," she murmured, her voice mesmerising.

***

Alyssa peeled off her spirit form and found herself standing beside the Valia Gate governor, who was gazing at her in wonder. Reaching up to touch her temple, she made tentative contact with Lucyna's mind and was pleased to find that the older woman had thrown open her innate mental defences in invitation. Alyssa could have broken her way in effortlessly, but to have complete and unabridged access to another person's mind was such an intimate experience, she would never dream of doing that to someone without their consent. Except bad guys of course... but they didn't count.

Lucyna's mind was laid out in much the same way as the other Terran subconsciouses that Alyssa had previously explored. Glowing orbs represented memories and were clustered together in a way that made sense to that person. Leading up to each memory sphere were multi-coloured trails, the various hues indicating the emotions associated with those specific events.

A glance at the closest set showed flickering images of an elderly gentleman with a distinctive handlebar moustache, and further back were hundreds more, the same man looking much younger. She saw the familial resemblance immediately and the warm pinks of the paths leading to those orbs spoke of the loving memories this woman had of her father. As fascinating as it was to get an insight into the hidden depths of a person, Alyssa reminded herself that she wasn't here for a spot of metaphysical sightseeing, she had a job to do.

Gliding through the vast collection of remembrances that combined to form Lucyna's mind, Alyssa honed in on the more recent ones. They weren't difficult to find, sticking out from the rest of the woman's memories like the equivalent of a mental sore thumb. Lucyna had led a hard, but largely fulfilling life, which was filled with love for her family, friends, and husband. Amongst those warm pastel tones were a cluster of some very ugly greens and browns, the colours representing disgust and humiliation.

Alyssa approached them cautiously, mentally preparing herself for the horrific experiences the woman had suffered at the hands of the Kirrix. Lucyna had organised those memories chronologically, so remaining faithful to her promise, the psychic blonde walked past the earlier ones. A glimpse at the surface of each one revealed a vague hint of what was contained within and she shuddered in revulsion as she found the horrific memory of being raped by a hivelord.

Walking past, Alyssa paused and turned back to look at that memory, seeing the lurid greens and browns representing the deep-seated trauma the woman had suffered. It would only take a focusing of her will to blast that orb into oblivion, completely removing all recollection of that horrific assault... and for a long moment, Alyssa stood with her hand upraised, poised to do exactly that.

But she forced herself to stop.

Lucyna's memory of that event was connected to many more horrible recollections, the fleeting snippets showing the abuses her friends had suffered at the hands of the Kirrix. Knowing exactly what they had gone through gave Lucyna a special insight into those people, a shared empathy they would all need to survive this trauma. Deleting that specific set of memories from all 17,000 minds was the only way to do the job properly; doing it piecemeal would cause no end of confusion and chaos. Alyssa had seen the tangled mess that John had snared himself in just trying to juggle Edraele and the twins... she dreaded to think what it would be like undoing memories in thousands of people.

That's not to say that there was nothing Alyssa could do. She threw an obfuscating aura over the repugnant memory, taking the sickening edge off and leaving it more of a distant recollection. When she was done, the colours had muted considerably, reminding her of memories that time had allowed to fade. Eventually it would no longer cause Lucyna any pain at all, allowing her to put it entirely behind her.

With that good deed done, Alyssa began hunting through the more recent memories of the governor's time on the Kirrix hive ship. Finding the right one actually proved to be incredibly easy. The path to this particular memory was streaked with a bright orange stripe, which made it glaringly conspicuous amongst the ugly greens and browns. Bracing herself for the experience to come, she placed her hand on the swirling orb and let her mind be drawn into the memory...

~~~

Alyssa's surroundings shifted to the interior of a hive ship, the muted glow from the hexagonal walls pulsating like a heartbeat. Lucyna was locked in a cage, surrounded by a dozen other despondent Valia Gate colonists, who sat propped up against the bars. The heavy weight in her belly filled her with revulsion, an expression shared by her fellow captives... except for those still in shock after being brutally traumatised by their assault.

Lucyna's husband was one of those people. To see her proud, confident man be reduced to a quivering shell made her heart ache with sympathy for him. When they were first captured, Theo had been so brave and comforting, doing all he could to make sure she didn't give up hope... but he'd barely spoken a word since he was abused. She stroked his arm and her aching heart sank like a stone when he flinched to her touch.

The hive lord's lair echoed with the distressing sounds of weeping colonists, a feeling of melancholy and despair filling the huge room. As depressing as that was, Lucyna was just glad she didn't have to listen to tortured screams any longer... now that the hive lord had finished with all the colonists. That subdued quiet was suddenly shattered by a booming crash, the ship shaking violently and jostling her where she sat. After a few startled shrieks, the colonists went deathly silent, listening to the eerie chittering as squads of Kirrix soldiers rushed past.

Lucyna strained to listen for more sounds to find out what was happening, but there was a lull in the unsettling noises, a sullen silence descending once more. The minutes ticked by, then she jumped when she heard another thumping boom. It was followed by the high-pitched shriek of neutron rifles being fired, the awful sound sending shivers down her spine and bringing back terrible memories of the Kirrix invasion on Valia Gate.

The noises from the gunfight intensified, as did the piercing screeches of Kirrix soldiers being shot, the sound of combat drawing closer. She flinched as the hive lord stomped by, the hulking creature twitching and looking agitated as it glanced backwards, moving away from the fighting. It froze, mandibles clicking as it let out a high-pitched cry that almost sounded like anguish. That was when squads of Kirrix drones entered the nest chamber from the rear, neutron rifles raised and ready for combat.

Lucyna could only wonder what had boarded the ship and cut down the Kirrix troops. She was desperately praying that it was a Federation rescue force, but she hadn't heard any assault rifles being fired or shouts from Terran marines. She watched in confusion as the hive lord backed away from the Kirrix reinforcements, wondering why it wasn't seeking protection behind the drones. Her mouth fell open in shocked disbelief when the drones suddenly opened fire, sickly-green energy bolts striking the Kirrix monstrosity.

The enormous insect lowered its head and charged at the drones, using its upper set of clawed limbs to protect its face. It descended on the front row of troops, hacking and maiming them with its scythe-like claws, gouts of green ichor splattering all around the room. The hive lord cried out in agony as it was shot dozens of times, lashing out at its tormentors in an attempt to stop the hail of neutron fire.

The hideous creature eventually toppled to the deck, surrounded by the mutilated remnants of the scores of soldiers it had dismembered. It tried to drag itself across the floor towards the next group of drones, but they shot it again and again... blasting chunks out of the Kirrix leader as it writhed on the metal deck in torment. Eventually it shuddered and went still, the hideously ravaged corpse leaking sticky green blood that spread out in a growing pool.

Lucyna exchanged uncomprehending glances with her stunned companions, not one of them expecting the Kirrix to have turned on each other like that. Seeing the cruel beast that assaulted her suffer an agonising and protracted death sent a dark thrill through her body, but that elation was tempered by disbelief that her saviours were more Kirrix. She watched the insectoid invaders in utter bewilderment as the drone squads began releasing colonists and herding them out of the chamber.

~~~

Having seen everything she needed, Alyssa withdrew from the governor's mind and returned to her own body. She opened her eyes to find Lucyna and Rachel staring at her in anticipation.

Glancing at the brunette, Alyssa nodded. "Just what we expected. The Kirrix fought each other and the victors boarded the hive ship... they rescued the colonists and returned them to Valia Gate."

Rachel placed her hand on her matriarch's shoulder and said softly, "You saved them, Alyssa. If the fleet scattered to evade pursuit, it's highly unlikely we would have had time to chase down all the hive ships before the eggs started hatching. Even if we managed to reach a few of the Valia Gate colonists in time, rushing after them would have meant abandoning all hope of rescuing those from Menganus IV. If it wasn't for the Kirrix civil war, most of these people would have died."

Lucyna's eyes widened and she asked in a hushed voice, "Civil war?! What do you mean?"

Those troubled cerulean eyes flicked back to the governor. "It's a long story, but basically the Kirrix pissed me off, so I had a little chat with them, girl to Hive Mind. I threatened to blast the fuck out of their homeworld as payback for their invasion, so now half their fleets are desperately trying to return all the colonists they abducted... that's why they gunned down the hive lord that captured you and brought you back home."

The older woman gaped at her in astonishment for a moment, but she could tell the blonde was telling her the truth. She put her arms around Alyssa and hugged her tight. "Thank you... so much," she said in a choked voice that was thick with emotion.

"I'm sorry we were too late to save the children," Alyssa whispered, unable to keep the anguish from her voice. "But don't worry about Theo... he'll be okay."

Lucyna pulled back, wild hope in her eyes as her gaze flicked between the blonde and brunette. "You two can really help him?"

Alyssa shook her head, but gave the older woman a reassuring smile. "No, but we're not the only girls with gifts..."

***

Dana plugged the power coupling into the base of the Tachyon Cannon, then squatted down beside it to make sure the two-metre-long weapon was locked to the tripod. Glancing down the barrel, she made a couple of adjustments, ensuring that it was pointed squarely at the thick sheet of Crystal Alyssium. With everything prepared, she bounded up the steps to the Engineer's Podium and darted over to the central console. Slowly ramping up the energy she was feeding into the weapon, the redhead studied the fluctuating holographic charts, checking for any anomalies in the power gain.

"How's it looking?" John asked, turning his attention away from the sparkling white gunframe he was shaping.

She didn't take her eyes away from the energy readouts but gave him a thumbs up. "We're all in the green and looking good."

There was a low and ominous thrum in the workshop which had John eyeing the Tachyon Cannon warily. "Are you sure about shooting that thing in here? Wouldn't the firing range be more sensible?"

"Nah, this is way quicker... I'd normally test all the components separately, but doing it like this, I can check the heat dissipation rates and energy containment in the focusing chamber all in one go." Dana threw John a set of noise-dampening ear protectors and added, "Here, put these on."

Jade looked up from her work on assembling another of the elegant weapons and shook her head, declining the set Dana offered her. "I'll be fine, don't worry."

Dana shrugged and turned back to the console, pulling on a pair of tinted glasses. "Okay, here we go!"

She tapped the big red button in the centre of the console and light raced along the beautifully sculpted barrel, gathering as a nimbus of energy at the muzzle. There was a dazzling burst of flashes an instant later, accompanied by a staccato screech as the cannon began to fire. The stream of tachyon pulses hammered into the armour plating, causing the capacitor next to it to start smoking. A moment later it burst into flames and the volley of pulsed beams burned through the Crystal Alyssium, then started blasting the rear wall of the Engineering Bay.

"Shit!" Dana yelped, stabbing her thumb down on the console to turn off the cannon.

A fire alarm went off and that section of the workshop was encased in shimmering force fields, stifling the supply of oxygen to the fire. The blaze quickly guttered out and died, leaving a blackened charred mess where the capacitor used to be and a scorched hole in the centre of the armour plate... as well as the rear wall.

"That was deca-shaped wasn't it?" John asked, shooting a worried glance at the redhead.

She nodded as she walked down from the engineering podium, grimacing at the acrid smell of the smoke. "I should have hooked up a much more powerful capacitor..." Her face lit up with a bright smile. "But on the other hand, these Tachyon Cannons are fucking awesome!"

He nodded his agreement. "That they are. I've finished shaping the last components, so as soon as Jade's finished assembling it, we're all ready."

Dana waited beside the cannon while being careful to stay clear of the shimmering heat pouring off the flux heat-exchangers built into the barrel. Judging that it had cooled sufficiently, she unhooked the power coupling and turned to look at John. "Could you carry this over to the loading lift? The maintenance bots should have installed the other four by now."

"Sure," he agreed, walking over to scoop up the weapon and cradling it in his arms. It felt pleasantly warm to the touch as he carried it to the chevron-marked lift.

Jade reached for another piece of the Crystal Alyssium gunframe and began slotting it into place. "I'll bring this down myself when I've finished and meet you in the Raptor."

"Are you sure?" he asked, glancing back at the Nymph. "I can come back for it."

She shook her head and smiled. "No, it's fine. You still need to get your gear and supplies for the trip, but I'm ready to go."

"You're not bringing anything with you?" he asked in surprise.

Jade grinned and shook her head. "I expect I'll be staying aboard the Raptor for the entire mission, which means clothing is entirely optional." Her emerald eyes glinted as she gave him a hungry look. "And you'll be supplying me everything else I need... Master."

Dana groaned and looked up at him with big pleading eyes. "Are you really sure you don't need your trusty Chief Engineer on this one?"

He propped the Tachyon Cannon on the floor, then reached out to cup her face in both hands. "When you've finished taking care of the Valia Gate colonists, you'll just be killing time aboard the Invictus until you catch up with us. I'd like you to work on one of the technologies we've discussed, like the Psi Communicator, the Quantum Flux Cannon variant, or cracking the secret of the black progenitor armour. If you can complete one of those outstanding research projects... I'll come up with a suitable reward."

"I want a whole day!" she exclaimed, feverish with excitement. "Just me... your sex toy for an entire day!"

John lowered a hand to her stomach and nodded as he slowly caressed her trim waist. "Alright, it's a deal. Make a major breakthrough and I'll use you shamelessly for 24 hours."

"Holy fuck..." Dana whispered, going weak at the knees. "Oh, it's on..."

He smiled and leaned down for a kiss, pausing an inch from her bee-stung lips. "Are you really sure? You'll need the rest of the week to recover when I'm finished with you..."

She let out a breathy moan. "I get what you're doing; you're trying to make me so horny I can't concentrate..."

"Why would you think that? I really hope you win. I plan to keep you stuffed full of so much cum, you'll look like you're 9 months pregnant... all day..."

Dana whimpered and leaned against the guardrail for support. "Oh God..."

John kissed the tip of her nose, then straightened and waved goodbye to Jade. "See you down there, honey."

She returned his wave then the loading lift dropped through the floor, the accelerated anti-grav system bringing them down to the Cargo Bay at startling speed. John scooped up the Tachyon Cannon and strolled towards the double doors, turning and walking backwards so he could look at his redheaded companion.

"Aren't you coming, Sparks?" he asked airily.

Shaking herself out of her daze, she left the lift and jogged to catch up a wild grin on her beautiful face. "You're so bad..."

"Just trying to motivate my crew," he said, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. "Did it work?"

She met his gaze and nodded, a blaze of inspiration in her eyes. "I'm so fired up right now, I can't wait to get started!"

John tilted his head to one side as he checked off a list of the crew helping to treat the infested. "Alyssa, Calara, Rachel, Sakura, Faye, Helene, and Jade's four sisters... that should be enough to take care of the colonists. If you want to make a start on your research, I'm sure Alyssa will let you know if they need a hand."

Dana beamed a dazzling smile at him, flung her arms around his neck and gave him a sizzling kiss. "Have a safe flight... but don't wear yourself out having wild orgies with Jade and the twins, I want you ready for action!"

He laughed and nodded. "Okay, I'll try to restrain myself. Good luck."

She bounced back to the loading lift and gave him a cheerful wave, then ascended to her workshop in the blink of an eye.

*I hope losing Dana isn't going to put too much pressure on the rest of you?* John asked Alyssa as he left the Cargo Bay and crossed the corridor into the Secondary Hangar.

*No, we'll be fine,* his blonde matriarch replied. She sounded amused as she continued, *Nice job, by the way. I can't understand half the things buzzing around in Dana's head right now... but to say she's excited would be the understatement of the year. Oh and she's stopped pining after joining you on the Raptor, so I don't have to listen to that either which is a huge plus.*

He smiled as he approached the gunship. *Happy to be of service. Can you remind her to speak to the Karron survivors when she's calmed down a bit?*

*Will do,* Alyssa agreed.

There were two maintenance bots in the hangar, working on installing the Raptor's new Tachyon Cannons under Faye's watchful eye. The industrious automatons had removed all the Pulse Cannons from their turrets, installed three of the replacement weapons and were now attaching the power couplings to the fourth. The purple sprite turned to greet John with a joyful smile and hopped off the Raptor's wing. John's heart leapt into his throat for a second, but she floated down to join him, landing lightly on the floor.

"You had me worried for a moment there," he admitted wryly. "I forgot you could fly with your anti-grav system."

She looked up at him with big eyes. "What do you mean? I use pixie dust!"

He laughed and propped the Tachyon Cannon on the deck. "Of course, my mistake. So where do you want this?"

Faye turned and called up, "Thirteen, can you come down and grab this please?"

One of the maintenance bots stopped what it was doing and obediently glided down to join them, its inbuilt anti-grav chassis making the faintest of hums.

"Thanks," John said, holding out the Tachyon Cannon.

The robot saluted him, much to John's amusement, then cradled the weapon in its arms and floated up to the upper-spinal turret mount.

"Want me to keep you company while you get your gear?" Faye offered, sounding hopeful.

He nodded, putting his arm around her shoulders as they walked towards the express grav-tube. "There's the girl I know and love."

She slipped an arm around his waist and gave him a tight squeeze. John was surprised to feel her trembling as she hugged him and glanced down at her with concern. Faye's luminous eyes glistened with moisture and when she realised he was watching her, a dark purple bloom appeared in her cheeks.

"I'm going to really miss you," she said, a catch in her voice as they stepped into the grav-tube.

They rushed up to the armoury and John turned to face her. "I won't be gone long, probably no more than a day."

"I think that's the longest we'll have been apart since I've known you," she said softly. "I wish I had the range to at least send an avatar on the Raptor."

He brushed his fingers through her soft purple hair. "You'll have your hands full here. I'll be relying on you to help keep the girls safe while I'm away."

"But what about keeping you safe?" she asked with a worried frown.

"I'll have a big green dragon watching my back, I think I'll be fine," he replied with a playful smile.

"Jade is pretty formidable," Faye agreed, but the frown hadn't disappeared from her face. "But the Raptor is nowhere near as tough as the Invictus. Please don't put yourself at risk against Kirrix fleets!"

"I can't make any promises," he said, gently stroking her cheek. "We might need to intervene to save the colonists."

"Well can you promise to at least be careful?" she asked, a pleading look in her eyes.

He nodded and leaned down to kiss her. "I can do that."

When they parted, the couple floated up to his bedroom via the second set of grav-tubes and John strolled into the walk-in wardrobe.

"I've packed plenty of fresh provisions in the Raptor's kitchen," Faye informed him nervously, as she lingered by the door. "I also spoke to the twins and they've offered to take care of all the cooking."

John grinned as he pulled out a travel bag. "Thanks, mom."

Faye blushed and gave him a shy look. "I just want to make sure you're looked after."

He folded up some spare clothes and placed them in the bag. "Are you angling to be promoted to my fourth matriarch?"

She leaned against the doorframe and gazed away into the distance. "You mean spending all my time listening to your every thought, protecting you and making you stronger in combat, or searching for talented women for you to recruit?" With a wistful sigh, she looked at John again and smiled. "What makes you think I'd be interested in that?"

John sealed up the bag and walked over to join her. "You're doing most of that already, honey."

Faye frowned in confusion. "I am?"

He gathered her in his arms. "You might not have telepathy, but getting me talking about the things on my mind is invaluable. You also protect me and make us all stronger in combat with all the vital roles you take on, freeing up the other girls for special assignments."

"And recruiting beautiful women?" she prompted looking up at him in fascination.

"Have you forgotten that lovely brunette waitress on Gravitus? Claudine the veterinary student? I seem to recall you urging me to give her a full tummy..." he replied, stroking Faye's trim stomach.

Her eyelashes fluttered at his caress and she murmured, "Oh, I wish I'd encouraged you more now..."

"You suggested the idea then respected my wishes," he said approvingly. "My current matriarchs could learn a thing or two from you..."

*But where's the fun in that, handsome?* Alyssa teased him, a playful lilt to her voice.

*My personality is entirely your creation, so I take no responsibility for my wayward ways, my Lord,* Edraele said, sounding entirely too innocent.

*Mine is too,* Jade agreed, the very thought exciting her. *You must find rebellious women arousing for some inexplicable reason, Master.*

*Oh, it makes perfect sense,* Alyssa noted, her voice turning sultry. *Bad girls need to be punished when they're naughty...*

John blushed at their commentary, his embarrassed expression making Faye giggle.

"I take it Alyssa, Edraele, and Jade had a few interesting things to say about that?" she asked him with a knowing smile.

"See, you don't even need telepathy," he replied, pulling her in for a hug. "We better say our goodbyes now, before I put my armour on."

Faye wrapped her arms around him and stood on tiptoe to give him a toe-curling kiss. It was tender but filled with passion, conveying everything she wanted to say without words. They shared an intimate smile afterwards, with Faye letting out a happy sigh as she hooked her arm around his and accompanied him back through the bedroom where they descended to the Armoury.

John handed her the bag and approached his equipping frame, stepping into the boots and sliding his hands into his gauntlets. Activating the robotic arms with a touch of the thumb button, the armour plates were lowered into place and sealed with a rippling click. He collected his sword and a Tachyon Rifle from the weapon racks, then descended in the grav-tube with Faye at his side.

"See you soon!" the purple sprite exclaimed, handing him his luggage then blowing him a kiss goodbye.

He waved back at her then headed towards the Raptor, where the twins were already walking up the loading ramp. They were armed and armoured as well, carrying bags with the clothes they were taking along on the mission. Although John only anticipated being away from the Invictus for a day, perhaps two at most, their luggage was bulging with what looked like at least a weeks' worth of outfits.

*I should have told the twins to travel light,* he noted to Alyssa as he walked towards the gunship.

*They are travelling light,* she protested, making him chuckle.

John admired the Raptor as he walked around to the loading ramp, taking in the aggressive lines of the new Tachyon Cannons mounted in the turrets. Judging by the fire test, they should be strong enough to cause some serious damage to hive ships or drone carriers. The thought of engaging a Kirrix fleet in a solitary gunship was surreal to say the least, but there was no arguing with the hard reality of the firepower the Raptor was packing. After brushing his fingers along the twin Tachyon Cannons mounted in the chin turret, he strode up the ramp into the forward loading area, then entered the corridor through the door at the back.

There were familiar clicks and whirs coming from the armoury to his left and he found the twins there, removing their Paragon suits. After stepping out of the armour-equipping frames, they gave him coy glances and glided out of the room without saying a word, but the seductive sway of their hips spoke volumes. John smiled to himself as he stored his weapons on the racks, then removed his Lion armour in the larger equipping frame sized for him.

*I'm not getting a goodbye kiss?* John asked Alyssa, trying to hide his disappointment.

*Come through to the rear loading area,* she replied softly.

Leaving his bag in the corridor, John opened the door leading to the cargo compartment at the rear. Alyssa, Calara, Rachel, Sakura, and Helene were all waiting for him there and when he entered, he was quickly enfolded in a tearful group hug.

"Hey, don't get upset, I won't be gone long," he said, doing his best to embrace all the girls at once. "This won't be very different from when I spent time with the Young Matriarchs on Genthalas."

"But you were never far away," Calara protested, squeezing him tight. "If I really started missing you, I always knew the Maliri would welcome me with open arms."

"I don't like being away from any of you either, but it'll be another 13 hours until all the Valia Gate colonists have been treated. If we scout Menganus IV now, it might make all the difference in tracking down the Kirrix if they've run for the border."

She sighed and nodded. "I know it makes sense, but it's still going to be hard."

"I'm going to miss you too, gorgeous," John said, pulling her in for a kiss, the rest of the girls quickly demanding their own. He looked around at them and smiled. "You've been doing an amazing job with the colonists so far. I'm very proud of all of you."

That earned him more hugs until they eventually separated, the girls leaving via the loading ramp so that it was just John and Alyssa left. She looked into his eyes for a long moment, then her lips were brushing against his, her tongue deepening the sensual kiss.

"I'll take care of everything here," she said with a reassuring smile when they parted. "I want you to have fun with Jade and the twins... you need a break from all this."

He frowned and protested, "That's not the reason I'm-"

Alyssa silenced him with another quick kiss. "I know."

He tapped his temple and said, "Stay in touch..."

She gave him a wicked grin. "Oh, you don't have to worry about that; I'll be making sure you don't forget about me..." Turning, she flounced out of the Raptor, pausing only to give him a cheeky wave goodbye.

John laughed and closed the ramp after her, waving to the girls one final time before heading up to the cockpit. Jade was in the pilot's chair, her hands easing back on the flight stick as she pushed the throttle forward. By the time he reached her side, the Raptor had roared out of the Invictus, leaving the settlement known as 47 behind as the gunship raced for the stars.

"Welcome aboard, Master," the Nymph said, smiling at him over her shoulder.

He placed his hand on her dark-green shoulders, massaging her affectionately. "Hey, honey. I see the clothing optional rule has kicked in already..."

Her cat-like eyes twinkled with delight as she arched her back to display her magnificent naked breasts. "Now you can ravish me whenever you feel the urge."

John let his hand drift lower to cup one of those impressive orbs and give it a gentle squeeze. "I'll bear that in mind..."

She purred in approval, then reluctantly tore her adoring gaze away from his face to focus on the flight controls. The Raptor punched through a series of thick cloudbanks and they quickly left Valia Gate's atmosphere behind.

"Have you got the course plotted for Menganus IV?" he asked, studying the Sector Map.

"Faye uploaded Alyssa's flight path for us. It'll take just under four hours, so we should arrive at 2:08 pm," Jade replied, touching a button on the console and projecting their course onto the Sector Map.

John leaned in to get a closer look. "I think we have to assume that the Kirrix left Menganus IV at least a couple of days ago... probably when Alyssa confronted the Hive Mind, but perhaps even earlier."

*I discussed it with Calara to work out the possibilities,* his teenage matriarch informed him an instant later. *There were only 14,000 colonists when the Kirrix attacked and the planet's a dustbowl... there's not much in the way of settlements.*

*Which means the Kirrix would have been able to round everyone up quickly and departed days ago,* John said, nodding as she echoed his thoughts. *So we'll probably encounter the Kirrix fleet returning to the planet to drop off the colonists, or they'll have already reached the border to Kirrix Space if they've decided to keep them.*

*Yep. I figured you'd want to visit Menganus IV first, just to be on the safe side, so I've plotted a route from there directly into Kirrix territory to give you the best chance of catching them. If the not-so-bad Kirrix won, then you'll bump into them returning with the colonists roughly 2 to 6 hours after you leave the planet.*

*And our worst case scenario?* he asked, gazing at the red line marking the border.

*They might have left four days ago, giving them a huge head start,* she explained, sounding troubled. *Fortunately, the Raptor's Tachyon Drive is six times faster, so the absolute latest you'd catch them is in 19 hours, plus 4 more for the flight time from Valia Gate to Menganus IV.*

*Assuming they didn't split up and avoid the most direct return route to Kirrix Space,* John said, his expression turning grim. *If they did...*

*We have zero chance of catching any of them,* Alyssa confirmed for him a moment later.

He looked at the vast territorial border separating the Outer Rim and Kirrix Space. *What about the sensor grid along the border? Any chance we could tap into that and find out that way?*

*Calara did think of that, but the relays are down, so the signal's not getting through to T-Fed command. We could investigate the specific sensors where the Kirrix were most likely to have crossed, access their logs and get confirmation that way,* she suggested after a brief consultation with the Latina.

John's eyes fell on the sensor suite built into an asteroid belt near the most direct crossing point. *Okay, we'll bear that in mind if we can't find any trace of them.*

Turning to kneel on the Pilot's chair, Jade kissed him on the cheek, her lips refreshingly cool against his skin. "If anyone can rescue those colonists, it's us."

He smiled at her and traced a finger along her jawline. "Well, I have absolute faith in our ace pilot to get us there."

John heard the click of heels in the corridor behind him, followed by an exasperated sigh.

"Oh, that's just wonderful," Irillith sneered sarcastically. "We have to put up with this ape pawing us the entire flight..."

Keeping a grin from his face was one of the hardest things John had ever had to do, as he turned to face the belligerent Maliri hacker. The twins stood tall and elegant in the entrance to the cockpit, their snow-white tresses styled up in elaborate hairstyles, and the exquisite beauty of their faces was subtly accentuated by cosmetics. Both wore long, figure-hugging dresses that highlighted their stunning athletic bodies, the slashes in the material at tasteful locations revealing hints of their flawless azure skin. The sight he found most intriguing, was the matching metallic collars that adorned their slender necks.

The twins were absolutely identical, which made telling them apart problematic at times. Fortunately, the sister on the right had a disdainful sneer of contempt twisting her lovely features, letting John hazard a guess as to which one was Irillith. By contrast, Tashana gave him a sparkling smile that lit up her face, accentuating just how radiantly beautiful she was.

Walking over to join them, John circled the sisters, making no attempt to conceal the way he was ogling their figures. "I think I'll be doing far more than pawing..."

Irillith snorted in disgust, while Tashana tried not to laugh, rolling her eyes at her twin's theatrics.

John reached out to lightly brush the backs of his fingers against their gorgeously toned stomachs. "In fact, I see those lovely blue tummies of yours nicely rounded with cum in the very near future."

Tashana made no attempt to hide her delight at the prospect, her smile broadening. Irillith tried to scowl, but the flicker of naked lust in her violet eyes gave her away.

***

Dana studied the three broad holo-screens floating in front of the engineering podium, her sky-blue eyes flicking to each in turn. They displayed outlines of the various tech projects that were currently outstanding, along with all the research notes she had currently compiled. Focusing on the first, she studied it longingly then let out a sigh of frustration.

As much as she desperately wanted to understand how the black Progenitor armour was manufactured, the metallurgical composition was mystifyingly complex. It didn't help that her initial analysis had proved so inconclusive, with her state-of-the-art instrumentation incapable of even identifying all the elements that formed the sinister-looking material. The black metal was proving to be quite the enigma, but that sparked her intellectual curiosity all the more and she longed to crack that code.

She moved onto the next major project, which was as exciting as it was daunting; designing her own variant of the Quantum Flux Cannon so that it could be built using Crystal Alyssium. Dana knew that to be able to use a less resilient material, she'd need to contain the colossal forces within the flux chamber, which would require an unparalleled understanding of the technology. Dana always found working on new weapons to be the most exciting part of her job, but she was concerned that such a project might actually be a waste of her time. If she were ever able to fabricate black metal of her own, then this project would be pointless.

Moving onto the third potential area of research, she glanced through her preliminary notes on creating a psychic communication device. Dana was convinced that the answer lay in an evolution of the Ashanath Psi-shaper, perhaps combined with the range-boosting psychic transmission system they'd discovered in the Kirrix dreadnought. The trick would be to convert a tech schematic into some kind of... psychic wave... which could then be broadcast to another such device. Tapping a finger on her chin she mulled over a few more ideas, including how to actually test it once she'd developed a prototype.

"I'm not sure how I feel about being a lab rat for your experiments," Alyssa said playfully, as she stepped off the loading lift and walked across the workshop, her hands folded behind her back.

Dana turned her way and grinned. "I could make it worth your while... what if I throw in a tasty chunk of cheese?"

"How could I resist an offer like that?" the blonde replied, joining her on the podium. "I just wanted to remind you about speaking to the Karron survivors; Faye said they're up now."

The redhead nodded and deactivated the first two holo-screens, leaving up her notes on the Psi-shaper. "Sure thing. I could use a bit of thinking time before I really get stuck into this anyway."

Alyssa brought her hands around in front of her, revealing a chrome submachine gun. "Recognise this? I took it from Kelli earlier... but I have a feeling it doesn't belong to her."

Dana held the weapon and stared at it for a long moment, slowly turning it in her hands. "I based this on a Katelli R-57 SMG... I added a Baenhauser XF laser targeting scope, an underslung flashlight, and extended the mag," she murmured, lost in her memories. "I remember being so proud when I finished it. But now? It looks so crude and primitive."

"So much has changed since then," Alyssa agreed, stroking the redhead's arm. "But one thing stayed the same. I used to be in awe of my friend Sparks... and I still feel exactly the same way now."

Slipping her arms around the blonde, Dana hugged her tight. "If you hadn't come back for me, I'd be dead right now, raped and murdered by the Kirrix. You always had my back... always."

"I love you, Sparks... always have, always will," Alyssa whispered in her ear, her eyes welling up. "You saved my life a bunch of times back then... I'm glad I was able to return the favour."

"No keeping score, remember?" the redhead said with a choked laugh, her voice thick with emotion.

Pulling back, Alyssa nodded, smiling at her friend. "No keeping score. I think we'd all end up owing John otherwise..."

Dana gave her an impish grin. "That doesn't sound so bad..."

Alyssa didn't react, deeply lost in thought as she gazed away into the distance

Poking a perky breast with her finger, Dana said, "Hey, you were miles away!"

The blonde faked a pout and rubbed her chest. "I was thinking about important Matriarch business."

"Yeah, yeah, I know... you were just daydreaming about John," Dana smirked, ejecting the magazine from the SMG and leaving it on the console. Raising the weapon, she gave it a gunsmith's appraisal, examining the barrel and working parts for wear. "I'll give this back to Tony, unless you have any objections?"

Alyssa shook her head. "I just wondered if you wanted to keep it as a memento, but if you're not bothered, he can have it back."

With a nonchalant shrug, Dana replied, "Nah, I want to put my past behind me. There was only one thing from Karron I want to hang onto." The teenagers shared a warm smile, then Dana skipped down the steps and headed for the door. "I'll see you at dinner. Maybe me, you, Rach, and Callie can hook up tonight?"

"That sounds like a lovely idea, I'll ask them," the blonde agreed, sounding distracted once again. "I need to have a chat with them both anyway..."

***

Governor Lucyna Novitsky watched from across the hangar, as dozens of her fellow Valia Gate colonists listened enraptured to the exotic teal-skinned beauty. She recognised those people, mostly couples in fact, who had all lost children in the Kirrix invasion. While they were moved to tears, it wasn't the anguished sobbing that she'd grown so accustomed to over the last few days, their quiet sorrow had a forlorn air of acceptance to it.

The green-haired girl stopped speaking and the colonists gathered around her, waiting their turn to hug her in gratitude. Lucyna was too far away to hear what they were saying, having maintained a respectful distance to give them their privacy, but there was no mistaking the burden lifted from her people's shoulders.

"What did she say to them?" she whispered to Rachel, who stood quietly beside her.

"Helene lost her own baby several years ago," the tawny-haired brunette replied, her dulcet voice tinged with sadness. "She understands how deep their sense of loss is and can empathise with that grief, having experienced it herself. Listening to her talk is quite moving."

Lucyna darted an anxious glance at the supply trucks where her husband was helping to hand out supplies. She could see he was trying to put on a brave face for the other colonists, but she knew Theo well enough to see how much effort it took for him to force a smile.

Her heart broke to see him trying so hard and she turned back to the young woman who was watching her with concern. "Doctor Voss... can she really help my Theo? He's just so... lost..."

Rachel gave her a reassuring pat on her arm. "We'll let Helene finish speaking with those parents then I'll introduce your husband to her." She glanced to her left and continued, "Please excuse me for a few minutes, there's another group of colonists in need of healing."

Turning to watch the elegant brunette stride away, Lucyna saw one of those purple fairies guiding limping colonists over to the triage area. Faye hovered in the air, her wings moving like a blur as she directed the injured to a series of cots, where they were able to slump down and rest their wounded limbs. Those people had already been treated for egg infestation, their various gunshot injuries making them a higher priority.

After placing her Paragon helmet on the ground, the young woman greeted the assembled colonists with a disarming smile. "Hello everyone. My name is Doctor Voss and as you might have guessed, I'm here to treat the various wounds you've sustained. Now, this won't hurt in the slightest, but I've been told it does tickle a bit, so please don't feel embarrassed if you react accordingly."

Her audience viewed her with a mixture of trepidation and scepticism, which was quickly replaced by shock as Rachel's eyes started to glow with a soft inner light. The misty grey aura spread out to envelop the seated colonists, who looked at it in alarm, a few of them struggling to stand. That ended as they felt a gentle tickling sensation and a number of people couldn't help giggling or bursting out into laughter.

Lucyna watched in fascination as ugly neutron gun wounds closed before her very eyes, the seared skin regaining a healthy tint as all signs of those injuries seemed to melt away. Barely a minute had passed before the healing aura dissipated, by which time every injured person there was staring at the tawny-haired doctor in open-mouthed wonder. Rachel was soon surrounded by grateful people who wanted to express their earnest thanks with hugs or pats on the back.

Waving goodbye to the last of the grateful colonists as Faye ushered them out, Rachel returned to Lucyna and smiled. "It looks like Helene is free now. Let's take your husband to meet her."

The Valia Gate governor nodded, turning to walk towards Theo, who was still handing out nutri-bars and bottles of water. Glancing at the doctor out of the corner of her eye, she quietly marvelled, "I wouldn't have the first clue how to cope with the stress of having a gift like that..."

Rachel looked at her with interest. "What do you mean?"

Lucyna paused, struggling to find the right words. "I dunno... isn't there a huge amount of pressure on you to tour the Federation patching everybody up? I'm surprised someone from the Admiralty hasn't ordered you to go running from world to world, healing everyone you can."

The brunette considered the question for a long moment before answering. "Well first of all, I work for John rather than High Command, so they aren't in a position to order me to do anything. Secondly, as much as I'd love to be able to do something like that, there are strict limits to how many people I can heal before I get exhausted. On planets with populations in the billions, I'd have to be very selective in choosing the people I helped."

"Like all the kids dying from cancer?" the older woman asked, genuinely curious.

"If it came to that, yes, I'd probably have to restrict myself to healing children suffering from terminal diseases." Rachel let out a sad sigh and continued, "However, I also have certain... responsibilities... here on the Invictus, which preclude me from helping people that way. The Lion needs me to heal the Lionesses in battle and if we were to fail a critical mission, many billions of people could die."

Lucyna shook her head. "Jeezus... That sounds even worse! I can't even imagine what having that much responsibility piled on you must be like."

Rachel met her sympathetic gaze and said, "As a planetary governor, surely you must feel similar pressures?"

"Looking after nineteen-thousand isn't like taking care of billions," Lucyna replied dryly. Her face fell as she added, "And I still managed to completely fuck that up."

"There was nothing you could have done to prevent the invasion or protect those children," the brunette said, her voice calm but firm. "Not against such an overwhelming force of alien attackers."

Lucyna's eyes narrowed and she nodded. "No, you're right... the Terran Federation was supposed to have our backs and the Navy just ran away and left us to die!"

Rachel stopped and clasped the older woman's hand. "They were ordered to leave the border by Fleet Admiral Buckingham. If they'd disobeyed, they would have been guilty of treason and could have been shot. I know for a fact that they didn't all follow those orders willingly."

The blonde's shoulders slumped and she nodded dejectedly. "Yeah, I guess you're right; I know the T-Feds are a bunch of tight asses about their rules. I just feel so guilty about what happened... it felt good to be able to blame someone else."

"Buckingham was to blame," Rachel said, rubbing her arm. "If it's any consolation, his last moments were spent in abject terror... until he was ripped apart by the Kintark Emperor."

Lucyna brightened a little. "You know what? That does make me feel a bit better."

"I thought it might," the young woman said with a wry smile. "Now, are you going to introduce me to your husband?"

Rachel waited as Lucyna walked over to speak quietly to Theo. He listened to her and seemed reluctant at first, but his wife became more insistent, until he finally wilted as she wagged a finger in his face.

"Doctor Voss, this is my husband, Theo," Lucyna said, with an arm around his waist.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," the brunette said, greeting him warmly. "I was curious what kind of man could tame a woman as belligerent as Luce."

Theo actually chuckled at that and glanced down at his frowning wife. "Yeah, she can be a handful alright. I'm not sure I ever had much luck taming her though..."

"C'mon, you big oaf," Lucyna grumbled, trying to hide her smile of delight at hearing him laugh. "I must need my head examined letting you anywhere near these gorgeous girls, but one of them wants to chat to you..."

"She does?" he asked in confusion.

"If you'd care to follow me, there's somewhere we can go to speak in private," Rachel said, leading them over to the far side of the hangar.

They walked through the big double doors into the corridor beyond, then the brunette opened a second set of doors, revealing the interior of the Mech Bay. The two colonists stared in awe at the thirty-metre-tall war machine, their eyes drawn inexorably to the Valkyrie's huge guns as it towered above them, dominating the room.

Rachel cleared her throat to get their attention. "Luce, Theo, I'd like to introduce you to Helene. She's taken on the role of the Invictus' counsellor."

Theo tensed at hearing the word counsellor, but one look at Helene's captivating smile left him speechless.

"It's lovely to meet you both," the aquatic girl said, gazing at each of them in turn with her guileless baby-blue eyes.

"Yeah... likewise," Theo murmured, desperately trying not to stare at Helene's luscious figure, which was showcased to devastating effect in her figure-hugging aquamarine dress.

Lucyna bit her lip, then looked up at her husband. "Theo, this lady wants to talk to you... I mean us... about what happened with the Bugs."

He visibly crumpled, his expression shadowing with shame. "I don't want to talk about it..." he muttered, glaring at his wife. "I can't believe you'd do this..."

Helene stepped closer and clasped his hand, her teal fingers wonderfully soft against his skin. "You've been through a terrible ordeal," she whispered, those gentle eyes full of compassion. "You were so brave... but we're here to help you now. Please let us..."

Theo opened his mouth to reply, when he suddenly felt a lovely warmth seem to flow through him, scattering his thoughts. He felt like he was wrapped up in soft feathery blanket, his mind safe, protected and suffused with a gentle kindness that took his breath away.

"Luce loves you so much, Theo," Helene said quietly, her expression caring and full of sympathy. "She's so proud of you, but she's scared and hurt too, and needs you to be strong to help her..."

He looked down at his wife in horror and pulled her into his arms. "Oh God... Luce, I'm so sorry!"

Lucyna hugged him fiercely, weeping into his chest as she finally let go of her tightly-wound emotions. Theo held her close, tears rolling down his cheeks as they clung to each other for support.

Helene stroked their backs, her voice soothing as she said, "You don't have to feel any shame or embarrassment about what happened in the past... that's all over with now. All that matters is you have your future together... as husband and wife who love each other with all your hearts."

She pushed a psychic wave through their subconscious, the gentle teal-hued tide flowing through their minds and seeking out the traumatic events they'd experienced. Every time a pulse crested over those pathways, it robbed them of the anguish, disgust, and terror that made those experiences so humiliating. The colours faded, the virulent greens and browns replaced by a serene shade of aquamarine, as the empath gave them decades' worth of closure in a matter of minutes.

Lucyna looked up at her husband's astonished face and saw no sign of the broken man who had emerged from the Kirrix hive ship. Her heart felt like it was bursting with love as she gazed at him and it skipped a beat when she saw those heady emotions reflected in his eyes. They kissed with a passion she hadn't experienced in years, and any remaining worries she had just fell away. She was shocked at how unencumbered she felt... it was as if her mind was truly free of fear and doubt for the first time.

When they broke off the kiss, Theo brushed his fingers through her hair and held her close to his chest as she trembled with relief. She glanced over at Helene, and saw a tender smile on her lovely face.

"Thank you," Lucyna whispered, wrapping her arms around Theo's broad back and hugging him as tight as she could.

***

Dana left the Engineering Bay and strolled along the corridor, humming a happy tune to herself as she approached the grav-tube. Walking into the field of blue particles, she suddenly remembered the reason why she needed to speak to Tony, Kelli, and Perl, and her good mood evaporated. As she floated up in the gravity field, Dana worried how they were going to take the news.

After recruiting Alyssa as her gopher and spending the next several years working as the Diablos' gunsmith, she had led quite a reclusive life for most of her teenage years. Having had very little contact with people outside the base, the loss of everyone on Karron hadn't hit her nearly as hard as it could have... but she dreaded to think how the three survivors would react. Dana stepped out of the grav-tube on Deck Four, debating with herself exactly how much detail she should use in describing the dreadful fate of Karron's colonists.

Faye popped into existence and greeted her with a supportive smile. "Hey, Dana. I told them you wanted to have a chat... they're all waiting for you." She turned and gestured towards the closest door then stepped aside.

"Thanks, Faye," Dana said softly, steeling herself for the painful conversation to come.

The purple sprite waved goodbye and disappeared again, leaving her alone in the corridor.

Approaching the door, she knocked on it with her knuckles. "Hey, it's Sparks."

"Come in!" a muffled female voice replied, the door opening a moment later.

Dana strolled into the quarters to find Kelli and Perl seated cross-legged on the bed, and Fat Tony leaning against the desk. "Long time, no see," she said with a friendly smile.

The three of them gaped at her, eyes wide in astonishment as the statuesque redhead glided gracefully across the room.

"Sparks?!" Kelli balked, staring at Dana incredulously. "No fucking way!"

Perl was lost for words and looked like she couldn't believe her eyes.

"Jeezus..." Tony muttered, too shocked to stop himself gawking at her spectacular figure. "What the fuck are they feedin' you here?!"

Dana couldn't help laughing at that. "Yeah, amazing what three square meals will do for a girl..."

Kelli and Perl slid off the bed and rushed over to get a closer look.

"You're like a foot taller than before!" Kelli gasped as she looked up at Dana, who towered over the petite brunette, standing 5'11" in her heeled boots, compared to Kelli's five-foot-even.

Perl couldn't tear her eyes off Dana's impressive gravity-defying bust. "And your tits are awesome!"

"You like?" Dana asked, posing for them playfully.

Kelli was awestruck by her curves, which she could appreciate even more after seeing a Lioness out of armour for the first time. "You've got the hottest body I've ever seen!"

"Your scar..." Tony said quietly, staring intently at her face. "It's totally gone."

Dana touched her cheek reflexively. "Yeah, life's been good to me since I left Karron."

Kelli brushed her fingers down Dana's bare arm, shaking her head in disbelief. "Your skin's as soft as a baby's," she marvelled, before looking up into those warm blue eyes. "What the hell happened to you, Sparks?"

The redhead nibbled at her full lower lip, unsure exactly how to reply. "Me and Alyssa... we work for the Lion now. I can't go into all the details, but basically, John recruited us both and fixed us up. He healed all our scars and injuries, and now we're beautiful, I guess... if I can say that without sounding totally vain."

Perl gazed at her in wonder and shook her head. "It's just the truth... you look stunning."

Dana gave her a bright smile. "Thank you. It took me a long time to get used to it; I'm sure you remember what I looked like before..."

Kelli shrugged. "You were always this cool edgy chick... the scar kind of worked for you. I didn't notice it after a while, not when you got excited and were telling me about all the crazy stuff you were building."

Dana looked at the petite brunette in surprise, but could see she was telling the truth. She'd always felt incredibly self-conscious about the hideous red scar that had disfigured one side of her face, so it was startling to hear someone be so blasé about the effect it had on her appearance.

Shaking it off, she turned to Tony. "Speaking of things I built..." Dana handed him the submachine gun she'd kept concealed behind her back. "I believe this is yours?"

Tony recognised the chrome weapon immediately, having been its proud owner for the last two years. Pleased to get it back, he reached for the gun, then suddenly froze as he remembered its chequered history. The Diablos might have given Sparks the materials for her gunsmithing, but they'd never paid her a single credit for the thousands of hours she'd spent labouring over their weapons. He knew she'd worked on that gun for weeks, not as a favour to him, but because she didn't have a choice. Pitbull's threats and intimidation had kept her cowed, while the gang raked in the credits from all the high-quality guns they were selling on the black market.

Guilt flashed across his face and he looked away, unable to look her in the eye. "I'm real sorry, Sparks," he said quietly. "I treated you like shit before... you never deserved that."

Not expecting an apology from him for one moment, Dana placed the SMG on the desk and studied him curiously. "I'm not going to argue with you there..."

He took a deep breath and forced himself to meet her inquisitive gaze. "Maybe I could pay you back to make things right? I'm broke for now, but I'll get a proper job, maybe send you some cash or somethin'..."

Before the redhead could reply, Kelli brightened and darted over to her backpack that lay crumpled on the desk. "We've got money!" She grabbed one of the cred-sticks and grinned as she thrust it into Dana's hand. "Me and Perl stole that from the Diablos stash! There's 5000 credits on there... they owed you that much at least!"

Dana graciously accepted the cred-stick, and idly turned it in her hand as she studied the big ganger. "I thought you said you were broke?"

"I-I wasn't bullshittin' you, honest!" he stammered, darting a frustrated frown at the brunette. "That's their money... not mine."

Perl stroked his arm and smiled, before looking at Dana. "We told him we looted Pitbull's vault, but Tony let us keep the cash."

"Is that right?" the redhead murmured, looking at Tony appraisingly.

He swallowed, feeling uncomfortable being the focus of her speculative stare. "Look... maybe I should go, let you three catch up without me here. I do wanna pay you back though... on top of the five grand. Kelli's right, the Diablos owed you a shitload more than that."

Tony moved for the door, but Dana sidestepped to block his path, her hand upraised. "Hang on a sec, there's something I need to talk to all of you about." Seeing his anxious gaze, she gave him an encouraging smile. "Please just sit down and listen. I'm not mad at you, I promise."

Kelli and Perl returned to their places on the bed, making room for Tony to sit beside them. The trio watched her nervously as Dana sat down on the covers, her expression troubled.

"Did we do something wrong?" Perl asked in a hushed voice.

Quickly shaking her head, Dana replied, "No, this isn't about any of you, it's about the rest of the people on Karron..."

The three survivors exchanged worried glances.

"The Kirrix shot everyone... dragged them away," Tony said, feeling a familiar surge of shame for abandoning his friends.

"I know," Dana said, her voice heavy with sadness. "We chased after the Kirrix fleet that attacked Karron and caught up with them this morning. I'm really sorry... but they're all gone."

Tony stared at her in horrified silence, the feelings of shame turning into a leaden weight in his chest. He had a flashback of Choppy Bob's look of terror, his blood-brother begging him for help.

Perl's eyes filled with tears and she murmured, "Everyone? Even the little kids?"

Dana didn't have the heart to tell her about their actual fate. "There was a battle... the Kirrix went crazy, attacking each other in a civil war. No one survived."

Lurching to his feet, Tony staggered past Dana as he went for the door.

"Tony, wait!" Kelli blurted out, sliding off the bed to chase after him.

He slapped his hand down on the button to open the door, then waved her away. "Stay here... I just wanna be alone for a bit," Tony croaked, stumbling into the corridor.

Dana caught the brunette's arm and refused to back down from her angry glare. "Leave him be, Kelli... at least for a little while."

No longer resisting, Kelli slumped back on the bed when Dana released her. Perl wrapped her arms around her friend, and after staring at the door for a long moment, Kelli hugged her back.

"Would you like me to leave you two alone?" the redhead asked, her voice filled with sympathy.

The blonde and brunette shared a look, then Perl quietly replied, "No, please don't go. We want you to stay."

Kelli studied the striking redhead for a long moment. "Did you lose anyone, Sparks?"

Dana hesitated, then shook her head. "No, not really. I was with the Diablos for years but it's not like we were pals or anything. Alyssa was my best friend, and after I helped her escape from Karron, she asked John to come back for me." She looked at the petite girls with sympathy. "How about you two?"

Kelli let out a heavy sigh. "A few of the whores at Madame Trixie's were kind to us... they never deserved to die. We hadn't seen them in years though, not since she sold us to Pitbull."

Perl brushed at her tear-filled eyes. "I just feel so bad about the kids..."

"Me too," Dana agreed, nodding her head despondently.

Giving her a tentative smile, Kelli asked, "Want a hug?"

"Yeah, I would actually," Dana replied, with a look of gratitude.

She opened her arms and the other two Karron survivors gladly embraced her. They stayed like that for several minutes, sharing that disconnected sense of grief for the acquaintances they'd known in the hollowed-out asteroid. It wasn't the same sharp loss as the death of a close friend, but they all felt a strange sense of emptiness, knowing that the place they'd grown up and they people they knew were lost forever.

When they eventually separated, Dana stroked their backs and asked, "What are you girls planning to do now? I mean... now that Karron is gone."

They exchanged a worried glance, then Kelli ruefully admitted, "Honestly, I've got no idea."

Perl sighed and nodded. "We only know how to be high-class whores. We might be awesome in bed, but it's not like we can do anything else except fuck a guy's brains out..."

"And we're giving that up... whoring I mean," Kelli explained, blushing a little. "Tony said we don't have to do that anymore."

Dana looked at them with interest. "Actually, those sound like pretty handy skills..."

The blonde looked at her in surprise. "What? You want to go to bed with us?"

"No, that's not what I meant," Dana quickly replied, although she was unable to keep her eyes from sweeping over their lovely slender figures.

"Are you sure?" Kelli asked with a knowing smile, having caught that furtive glance.

The redhead laughed and shrugged. "Alright, you're both sexy girls and I wouldn't say no... but I don't want to mess up your relationship with Tony." She handed the cred-stick back to Kelli and continued, "But I was actually wondering if you might be interested in giving me a few pointers?"

Kelli stared at the cred-stick in astonishment. "You want to pay us 5000 credits for lessons on how to fuck?!"

Dana leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. "No, I was going to give that back to you anyway. If you two really know what you're talking about, I'll pay you to teach me whatever you can."

"You're crazy!" Perl exclaimed with a giggle.

Shaking her head, the redhead said, "I really love... my man... and I've made a ton of credits selling inventions; I can't think of a better way to spend it."

"It's John, isn't it?" Perl asked with an excited grin.

Dana blushed and gave her a tentative nod.

"Holy shit, Sparks!" Kelli gasped, her eyes twinkling in delight. "I can't believe you're actually screwing the Lion!"

Perl's sharp gaze darted to the sparkling sapphire adorning the redhead's ring finger. "Oh my fucking God! Look at that rock, Kel... she landed an Admiral!"

The two girls gaped at her in awe, as Dana waved her hands at them, a panicked expression on her face. "Hang on! That's meant to be a secret!"

"What's he like in bed?" Kelli asked in fascination. "I've never fucked a genuine hero before... that must be such a rush!"

Perl grinned at the flustered redhead. "You must already be a vixen in the bedroom, if you got him to pop the question!"

Dana groaned and rubbed at her face. "Oh crap! Look... you need to keep all this to yourselves..."

She wilted under their enthusiastic barrage of questions and didn't hear the door slide open behind her.

"Hello, ladies," Alyssa purred as she sashayed into the room. "I hope you don't mind me intruding on this fascinating conversation..."

Perl and Kelli froze, their questions dying on their lips as they darted fearful glances at the sultry blonde.

"Please don't be afraid," Alyssa said gently, a warm smile on her face. She reached the bed and tapped Dana on the shoulder. "Budge up, Sparks..."

The redhead slid over the covers to make room for her friend as Alyssa kicked off her shoes and sat on the bed, gracefully tucking her legs underneath her.

"We won't say anything to anyone," Kelli said in a hushed voice.

Alyssa nodded, looking pleased. "Good, because it's for your own safety that you keep this quiet. We've made quite a few enemies and if you were to start telling people what you know about the Lion and his Lionesses, it would paint a huge target on your backs."

Perl spotted the engagement ring on Alyssa's finger and her eyes widened when she noted the identical design.

With a coy smile, Alyssa held the ring up for the two Karron girls to inspect. "Yes, I'm engaged to John too."

Their fascination with the engagement ring overcame Kelli's and Perl's fear of the blonde and they leaned in to take a closer look.

"Look at the size of that diamond," Kelli whispered, shaking her head in admiration.

Perl nodded absent-mindedly, her focus on the intricate sculpting of the band. She suddenly sat up in shock, her eyes like saucers. "All of you?!"

Alyssa locked eyes with the petite blonde, a smile teasing her lips. "Very good... you're a smart girl."

"What?" Kelli asked in confusion.

After a nod from Alyssa, Perl said quietly, "Check out the band on that ring..."

Mystified, Kelli squinted at the ring around Alyssa's slender finger, examining it further. "There's a load of lions around it... ten of them?"

"Lionesses," Perl corrected her, studying the beautiful women sitting opposite.

Kelli suddenly squeaked as she understood. "He's fucking all of you?!"

Alyssa's raised eyebrow made Kelli blush, then the blonde broke out into a lovely smile. "Yes, we're all engaged to John."

"He must be a legend in bed if he's keeping ten women satisfied!" Kelli gasped with glee. She darted a knowing glance at Perl and added, "Or very rich!"

"They love him, Kel," Perl said quietly. "It's not about the money..."

Alyssa nodded. "We're all quite comfortable financially; money has nothing to do with it."

"So you want to pay us...what? 5000 credits? Just to make you better in bed for John?" Kelli asked, shaking her head in amazement.

Reaching out to hold their hands, Alyssa smiled when Kelli and Perl didn't flinch at her touch. She stroked them gently as she replied, "No, I want to pay each of you... 100,000 credits... to give me and Sparks a masterclass in pleasing a man in bed."

Their mouths dropped open in shock. "You're fucking with us..." Kelli muttered, unable to believe her ears.

"Not in the slightest," Alyssa said calmly. "Sparks and I were incredibly fortunate to meet John, and now we want to... spread the wealth. After all, us Karron girls have got to stick together."

Dana nodded, her smile tinged with sadness. "There's not many of us left."

Perl stared at Alyssa in fascination, drinking in every feature of her beautiful face. "If you both looked like us before... is there any way that we could look like you two now?"

Alyssa returned her gaze without replying, her expression deeply conflicted. Perl could see a fierce look of longing in those cerulean eyes, but it was warring with other emotions that she just couldn't read. Dana frowned and elbowed her friend, drawing a mournful sigh from Alyssa.

"I'd love to do that for you, I really would," she said earnestly, looking at them in turn. "Unfortunately, there's certain rules that I won't break when I'm recruiting Lionesses. If your circumstances were different, I'd snap you up in a heartbeat..."

Kelli looked stunned. "You'd want to recruit us as Lionesses?!"

Alyssa nodded and there was no mistaking her sincerity as she replied, "Oh, absolutely! You're both very bright, capable women, who managed to survive a Kirrix invasion with no training of any kind. With some careful nurturing, you'd be magnificent."

"It's because we're with Tony, isn't it?" Perl asked, in a sudden flash of insight.

"But he's not a bad guy anymore!" Kelli protested in frustration.

Dana placed a hand on Alyssa's shoulder and gave the brunette a reassuring smile. "Yeah, I saw. He's different now, he really is trying to be a better person. If he was still an asshole, I doubt you two would have fallen in love with him."

"Unfortunately, that makes the three of you a package deal, which is why I can't recruit you," Alyssa said softly, with a hint of regret.

Perl nodded her understanding. "Because all the Lionesses belong to the Lion."

"That's the way a Lion's pride works," Alyssa said with the hint of a smile.

Looking at the blonde matriarch appraisingly, Perl asked, "If we left Tony to join you, we'd end up being rich, famous, and just as beautiful as the rest of the Lionesses, wouldn't we?"

"Yes, that's right," Alyssa confirmed, studying her in return.

"Hey!" Kelli protested, but her friend squeezed her hand to silence her objections.

The two blondes shared a long look, before a warm smile spread across Alyssa's face. "I really hope Tony appreciates just how lucky he is. I'm sorry that you're not joining us, but I am glad we'll be able to help give you a great start at a new life."

"Thank you," Perl said graciously.

Kelli relaxed, then grinned at the two Lionesses. "I can't wait to teach you every last thing we know about sex!" She shook her head in wry amusement. "You know what? This is the first time I'm actually glad I was a whore."

Perl traced her finger over the back of Alyssa's hand, her own smile turning wicked. "So... how naughty do you want to get for your Lion?"

"A girl likes to have lots of strings to her bow," Alyssa replied, her demure smile not quite in keeping with the gleam of anticipation in her eyes.

***

Flight Commander Krisalei stood in the observation gallery overlooking the Elauthin Kelrona's Flight Deck. Although there were scores of Trankarans aboard the heavy carrier, their movement within the vessel was severely restricted, so she felt quite safe gazing through the one-way crystal windows without wearing full body armour. She watched in fascination as the hulking rockmen engineers laboured on her Nievath Interceptor, refitting the nimble strike craft with new technology.

The armour plating along the starboard flank of the sleek strike craft had been removed, exposing the section of hull behind the cockpit, where the survival equipment locker was located. A burly Trankaran carefully hauled out the metre-long compartment under the supervision of a Maliri deck officer, foregoing the use of a hoist and relying on raw physical strength alone. The golden-armoured crewwoman nodded her approval, then beckoned over another of the hulking rockmen, who carried the new Brimorian Shield Generator to the ship in his broad arms.

"Krisalei! We've been looking everywhere for you!" Lorathyra called out, the Maliri pilot striding into the observation gallery, accompanied by the third member of their wing.

Turning away from the Flight Deck of the Sylmenor-class heavy carrier, Krisalei greeted her two wingmates with a smile. "Good afternoon, ladies. I was just watching the Trankarans refitting my ship."

The two pilots darted a quick glance at Krisalei's short white hair, the pair visibly relaxing at that strangely alluring sight.

"See, I told you she'd be up here," Torvanna said with a condescending grin aimed at her wingmate.

Ignoring her fellow pilot, Lorathyra nervously ran her fingers through her crop of dark hair. "Commander, are you sure it's wise letting these... walking boulders... have free reign with our interceptors?"

"Lorathyra! That's no way to speak about our allies," Krisalei admonished her with a frown. "Baen'thelas trusts them and who are we to disagree with him?"

The Maliri pilot blushed, looking contrite. "I'm sorry... I was just worried about non-Maliri working on classified technology."

"They're being carefully monitored..." the Flight Commander replied, gesturing through the window at her interceptor. "See for yourself."

Torvanna took a cursory glance into the Flight Deck. "Actually, we watched them upgrade my ship earlier. I just pray we're never forced to crash land... that would be most unpleasant without any emergency survival gear."

"I'm more than willing to exchange a thermal tent for a shield generator," Krisalei said, returning her attention to her vessel. Her cyan eyes flicked to a hulking Trankaran who hefted the new device up to his equally huge compatriot, neither showing the strain from carrying the solid-looking component. "Besides, I think the Trankarans are quite appealing, in a... substantial... sort of a way."

Wrinkling her nose in distaste, Lorathyra darted an incredulous look at her Flight Commander. "You can't be serious?! They have all the aesthetic appeal of a mountain range!"

Torvanna laughed, her eyes roaming over the eight-foot-tall rockman. "Forget their brutish appearance for a moment, I'd be far more worried about getting squashed..."

Krisalei smiled at their teasing and raised an eyebrow at her wingmate. "Ah yes, you prefer your men with a nice pink complexion. What was that Terran called again?"

"I believe his name was Murphy," Lorathyra supplied with a smirk.

Blushing a deep Indigo, Torvanna protested, "Hey! You agreed he was handsome!"

"That he was," Lorathyra conceded, recalling the strong masculine features of the Terran pilot, which she found very attractive despite his exotic skin tone. "I'll admit that I certainly wouldn't object to an intimate liaison with him, but a male from any other species?" She shuddered at the very thought.

Krisalei didn't comment, lost in her memories of one particular male from another species she would give anything to be intimate with again. Kneeling before Baen'thalas with nineteen other Maliri officers had been the most intensely arousing experience in all of her 93 years. It was no exaggeration to say that it had changed her life, a fact she was reminded of every morning when she looked in the mirror. Toying idly with a lock of her white hair, Krisalei wondered how long it would take before it grew to the same length as Queen Edraele's spectacular snowy mane...

Torvanna laughed and shook Krisalei's shoulder. "Daydreaming about him again?"

Krisalei was about to protest when Lorathyra smirked and gave her a knowing look. "Don't bother trying to deny it, we just called your name three times."

With a self-conscious smile, Krisalei shrugged helplessly. Eager to change the subject, she studied her Nievath interceptor and was pleased to see that the maintenance teams had resealed the access ports on the trio of Pulse Cannons. "It looks like they've finished upgrading my heatsinks with the latest Kintark variants."

"I spoke to the maintenance crew chief a few minutes ago," Lorathyra informed her. "She said that all the Elauthin Kelrona's interceptors were prioritised for the refit, to make sure we're ready to take on the drone swarms. The turret guns on the bombers will have to wait until later."

Torvanna nodded, an eager gleam in her eyes. "And the techs have modified the holo-simulators to reflect our new loadout. The increased firepower from our Pulse Cannons should be impressive and now we have Brimorian shields, we can be far more reckless securing a kill!"

With a grin of anticipation, Krisalei turned and gestured towards the exit. "Then what are we waiting for, ladies? To the simulators! Endless drone swarms await!"

The two wingmates laughed as they fell into step beside their leader, equally keen to put their upgraded ship to the test.

Torvanna glanced at her Flight Commander. "Krisalei... after we've completed our training simulations against the Kirrix, perhaps we could rerun a simulation of the Battle of Terra?"

"I wasn't aware that the Kintark still posed a threat?" Krisalei replied, trying to suppress a smile.

"Err, they don't," the flustered pilot quickly replied. "I just thought it might be interesting to see the difference our upgraded interceptors might make to the outcome of that battle."

Lorathyra snickered and rolled her eyes. "You just want to relive your fantasy of rushing to that Terran's rescue!"

Torvanna blushed furiously, her cheeks turning a lustrous dark blue.

Krisalei put her arm around the embarrassed woman's shoulders. "Actually, I think the idea has merit. It would be fascinating to objectively compare the performance improvements." She leaned in closer to her wingmate and whispered in her pointed ear, "And he was very handsome..."

***

John cradled Tashana's head in his hands, thoroughly enchanted by her adoring expression as she stared up at him starry-eyed.

"I don't think I can... not again," she murmured breathlessly, her chest flushed a dark blue as she recovered from yet another powerful climax. "H-how many was that?"

"Nine," he replied, feeling no small amount of pride. "Just one more? I love seeing you like this, you look so beautiful..."

Tashana blushed and gave him a shy smile, then nodded as she caressed his flanks with the velvety-smooth skin of her splayed thighs. "Okay, just one more..." She glanced at her twin, who knelt partially-clad beside them, wrists grav-cuffed above her head. "Rill must be going out of her mind."

Irillith's chest was heaving as she panted for breath and there was a dangerous glint in her violet eyes. "I'll make you pay for ravaging my sister, you brutish Neanderthal!" she snarled at John.

"Excuse me a moment," he apologised to Tashana, then gently eased his length out of her glistening pussy.

She groaned and uncoiled her impossibly long, slender, and muscular legs. "Oh, that feels so good to stretch. This has been incredible, but I'm not used to making love to you for hours..."

"Just giving you the attention you deserve," John replied with a smile. He turned to Irillith and raised an eyebrow. "Now, what can we do to quiet that acerbic tongue of yours... I don't want you spoiling your sister's grand finale."

She glowered at him in a very convincing display of fury. "Of all the indignities I've had to endure, listening to your pitiful whining is by far the worst torment of all..."

"Ah, I know," he said with a knowing smile, sliding off the bed and moving around behind her.

The shackled Maliri glared over her shoulder at him with flashing eyes. "What do you think you're doing now- Oh!"

John grasped the flimsy straps of Irillith's panties and tore them off her flawless body, leaving her completely nude.

"They were from my favourite set!" Irillith shrieked in protest.

"The lady doth protest too much..." he said with a grin, feeling how soaked with her arousal they were. John glanced at Tashana and she giggled as he gently wiped the fabric over her sopping pussy.

Irillith's angular eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't dare!"

He cupped her chin in his hand and watched her clamp her lips tightly shut. "Open wide..." he said, exerting the lightest of pressure.

She pretended to fight it, but eventually succumbed, opening her mouth as if under duress. John popped the moist silky material inside and Irillith snorted through her nose, her eyes threatening to roll back as she tasted herself, Tashana, and a liberal dose of John's precum.

"Now just be patient, it'll be your turn soon enough," he chastised the squirming Maliri, giving her a firm slap on the butt that made her cheeks tremble.

Tashana moaned, writhing on the bed as she beckoned him over. "I need you..."

Knowing that both twins were feeling everything he did to either of them, he looked at her curiously as she spread her legs for him. "Did that feel good because Irillith gets off on being spanked, or because you like it too?"

She sighed with delight as John pushed his way back inside her, easing through her pliable uterus into the snug confines of her womb. "Everything you do feels wonderful..."

"I just worry about flashbacks..." he said cautiously.

Tashana looked up at him with hooded eyes as she wrapped her arms and legs around him. "There's nothing to worry about. I know you'd never hurt me."

He caressed her throat, his fingers brushing over the metal collar. "Does this help?"

She gave him a coy smile. "It helps turn me on... but no, I don't need it to have absolute trust in you." Nuzzling into his neck, she kissed his throat. "The past is nothing but a distant memory now. I feel... complete... and being with you is the only thing that matters."

"You're amazing," he whispered in her ear, as he started to move. "I'm so proud of you, Tashana."

She shivered in delight, her slender azure limbs gripping him tighter.

John glanced at Irillith who was watching them with feverish eyes, before focusing on Tashana again. "Do you think you can temporarily block your shared connection? I don't want your sister passing out on me just yet."

Tashana giggled and looked at her twin. She concentrated for a moment, barring Irillith's entrance to her mental defences, which resulted in a muffled moan of protest.

"Well done," John praised her, brushing his fingers through Tashana's hair and cradling her head in his hand again.

"Am I a good girl?" she asked breathily.

"So good," he agreed, giving her long thrusts as she responded to him. "You won't have to wait much longer now... Soon I'll be able to reward you properly; make that lovely blue tummy of yours grow big with my baby."

Tashana whimpered, her hips gyrating as she humped back at him. "I want that... so much..."

"Of course you do," John agreed, his lips brushing her ear, sending shivers down her spine. "That's what your sexy little body was designed for..."

"Oh! Oh god..." Tashana gasped, gripping him tight as she felt a huge climax building.

Rubbing her g-spot with every stroke, John felt her tensing in anticipation and shifted position so he was gazing deep into her eyes. "I'm going to love you forever, beautiful. Take special care of you and all our children..."

Tashana's back arched and she let out a wordless scream, her pupils flaring impossibly wide as she rode a euphoric high. It was a deliciously long climax as she cried out in rapture, her mind adrift in a sea of ecstasy. John rode her through it, whispering loving words in her ear to intensify her pleasure, Tashana's instinctive need to obey his deep baritone voice sending her into orbit. With a breathy gasp she sagged backwards, reeling from her explosive orgasm and collapsing insensate.

John smiled in satisfaction and eased his throbbing cock out of her fluttering depths, the Maliri too exhausted to even react. He turned to smile at Irillith. "Your turn now..."

Her eyes blazed as she watched him approach her, but she was held helpless by the grav-cuffs and was unable to retreat. John ignored the cuffs around her ankles and touched the button on her wrist restraints, allowing her upper body to be repositioned. He pushed her down on her belly so her head was on the mattress, leaving her delightful blue rump sticking up in the air. The wadded panties in her mouth muffled her shriek of protest and he tried not to laugh at her antics as she accidentally adjusted her knees, exposing her well-lubed anus to his hungry gaze.

"Such a bad girl, lubing yourself up like that... it's almost as if you want me to stretch that tight little ass..."

Irillith panted with anticipation, violet eyes watching his every move. John knelt beside her and gathered her long mane of hair in one hand, then tugged it back, controlling her head and making her face forward. Before she realised what was coming next, he delivered three firm smacks to her perfectly positioned bottom. There was no mistaking Irillith's slutty moans as she shuddered with each impact on her cheeks and a glance at her beautiful face in profile revealed her eyelashes fluttering wildly. He let his hand slide down between her parted thighs and slid his thumb into her slippery ass, which drew another squeak as his fingers reached for her clit.

She came almost the instant he made contact with her sensitive nub, her strangled climactic cry muffled by her gag. Taking advantage of her blissful daze, John tapped the grav-cuffs on her ankles and flipped Irillith over onto her back, smiling at the look of shock on her face. He positioned her wrists so they were crossed above her head and locked them so she wouldn't be able to move. Lifting and spreading her legs, he pushed them back so her knees were framing her breasts. John tapped the cuffs on her ankles, leaving her locked in position and obscenely vulnerable to any form of penetration he might desire.

Tugging the rolled-up panties from her mouth, John looked down at her with a grin. "Comfy?"

Credit where it was due, Irillith recovered quickly and scowled at him. "What the hell are you doing now, you perverted ape?!"

Ignoring her indignant question, John positioned the head of his cock against her glistening anus and pushed forward, applying gentle but insistent pressure. Any further commentary from Irillith was cut off in a shocked squeal as he slowly but surely stuffed his entire length up her ass, his huge girth stretching her to the limit.

"Holy fuck!" she shrieked as he hilted himself inside her, the hot throbbing shaft deep in her belly.

"Now, my wilful little vixen," John said, gently cradling her head in his hand. "I'm going to make love to that spectacular ass of yours and watch your beautiful face as you come for me over and over again. We've got two hours until we arrive at Menganus IV, so I'm all yours until then..."

"Oh, John..." she murmured with a breathy sigh, her eyes softening.

He gave her a tender kiss as he began to move, sliding out a couple of inches, then sheathing himself in her clutching depths. "Shh now, gorgeous. Just relax and enjoy... this is all for you."

She bit her lip and slowly nodded, gazing up at him with nothing but love in her eyes.

***

Fleet Commander Lilyana watched her flotilla of golden-hulled spacecraft crossing the Sector Map, the three-dimensional models inching closing to Dun Gerluhr. The sleek Maliri vessels were actually surging through hyper-warp at almost impossible speed, but that was lost on the map due to the vast scale of space. Almost at their destination, she saw a flood of sensor contacts appear in the system and quickly changed to the System Map.

"Multiple contacts, all Kirrix," the Galaena Serine's tactical officer informed her.

The spacecraft were all clustered around Dun Gerluhr, where a formation of what could only be capital ships assuming a defensive formation over the besieged planet.

Almari stepped closer to the Maliri Fleet Commander. "Warden Brokurlun reported that these Kirrix were firing on each other. Are the victors of that battle releasing the Trankarans they captured or abducting more?"

Lilyana considered that for a moment, then glanced over at her navigator. "We need to get within scanning range of the Kirrix forces; I want an active scan to confirm their intentions."

The golden-armoured Maliri nodded respectfully and she plotted a flight path from the edge of the system towards the fourth planet. Dun Gerluhr was a volcanic world, the surface a striking mix of dark volcanic plateaus and glowing molten lakes. Surrounded by a thick disc of rings, the black and orange planet naturally drew a viewer's attention on the System Map, standing out in comparison to the other five planetary bodies that were grey featureless rocks.

The minutes ticked by and the leading edge of the Maliri flotilla reached the system, dropping out of hyper-warp and immediately moving into position. The rest of the fleet spread out into an aggressive attack formation that was spearheaded by the trio of Shandrass class battleships and flanked by the cruiser squadrons. The three Sylmenor class heavy carriers lingered near the rear, their launch tubes flaring with light as squadrons of Nievath interceptors rocketed into space.

"Eight drone carriers in high orbit," the tactical officer informed her commander as their sensors began to supply more detailed information about the enemy vessels. "Hive ships have landed on the planet's surface."

"Bring us in for a closer look," Lilyana ordered her helmswoman.

The second assassin pointed to the System Map a short distance from Dun Gerluhr, the area strewn with a wide field of debris. "The site of the battle?"

Lilyana made a gesture with her hands and that section of the map expanded, providing them with a zoomed-in view. She counted a dozen drone carriers smashed beyond repair, the ochre vessels obliterated in a point-blank bloodbath that must have been a truly terrifying sight. Surrounding that massacre were hundreds of shattered drone fighters, the strike craft gunned down in a raging dogfight. Near the outskirts of the battle were largely-intact but crippled hive ships and it appeared their engines had been blown apart as they tried to flee.

"We would have sustained significant losses engaging a force of this magnitude..." the Fleet Commander said quietly, her aquamarine eyes studying the remnants of the massive Kirrix fleet.

Ilyana turned and smiled at Almari. "Perhaps your reverence for Baen'thelas should be more appropriately focused on Alyssa?"

Almari gave her a coy smile, but chose not to reply.

"They've spotted us... and they're launching drone craft," the tactical officer called out in warning.

Lilyana shared a troubled look with the assassins, then shifted focus on the map once more, centring it on Dun Gerluhr. Opening up the fleet interface, she ordered, "All vessels, hold fire unless fired upon."

The Maliri engineer turned in her chair. "Fleet Commander, we'll have to fly through the blockade to scan the hive ships."

Almari tilted her head to one side, then made eye-contact with Lilyana. "Edraele wishes to remind you that we must preserve our forces at all costs. Initiating a battle at close range is... inadvisable."

Lilyana sat in her Command Chair and drummed her fingers on the armrest. "As much as I'd love to pre-emptively exterminate those parasites, the Kirrix might not be aware that we're allied to Baen'thelas. I'd rather not put the Trankaran colonists at risk unless absolutely necessary." Activating the fleet interface again, she said curtly, "Send a strike craft wing to scout the Kirrix landing sites on the planet."

A trio of Nievath interceptors peeled away from the squadrons protecting the capital ships, the nimble strike craft rushing towards the planet. Lilyana found herself holding her breath as the golden-hulled ships closed within range of the Kirrix big guns, waiting for a barrage of deadly neutron beams to obliterate the interceptors. The seconds ticked by without response from the drone carriers, but the real proof would be when the Maliri ships reached the overlapping fields of fire from their neutron gun defence grids.

The drone fighters swirled around them but maintained a cautious distance, avoiding any chance of accidental collisions. When they passed unmolested through the blockade, all the Maliri relaxed on the Bridge, realising that the immediate danger was over. A minute later, a holographic image of one of the interceptor pilots appeared before them.

"Fleet Commander, they're releasing the Trankaran prisoners," the pilot informed them with a smile. "We buzzed three landing sites... many thousands of civilians have already been freed; their release was not triggered by our presence in the system."

"Excellent. Return to your carriers," Lilyana replied with a grateful nod. Opening the fleet interface, she continued, "All vessels withdraw and prepare for a jump to hyper-warp. We will be setting course for Theg Haldrim." Turning to the pair of assassins, she smiled as she concluded, "Please ask Queen Edraele to inform Niskera that Dun Gerluhr has been liberated and the citizens require treatment for infestation."

Inclining her head politely, Ilyana passed on the message to their matriarch, while Almari stepped closer and brushed her fingers across the back of the Fleet Commander's hand.

*Very well done, Lilyana,* Edraele said, her voice radiating approval. *Your compassion for the Trankaran civilians is duly noted... and will be remembered.*

Lilyana blushed at the earnest praise and shared a shy smile with the assassin.

***

Jade slipped off the bed, and gave John a fleeting kiss on the cheek. "I'll be in the cockpit."

"Thanks, honey," he said gratefully, watching her saunter out of the cabin.

Turning his attention back to the dozing Maliri twins, he reached out to gently caress their cum-filled stomachs. The sight of those azure bellies swollen up like that was incredibly arousing, fulfilling an instinctive, primal urge to see fertile Maliri girls in a state of impending motherhood. John imagined what it was going to be like seeing Irillith, Tashana, and Edraele in that condition on a daily basis and couldn't help smiling.

*Don't forget the Young Matriarchs and the assassins,* Edraele purred, enjoying his erotic thoughts. *If the sight of all of us gravid with your progeny becomes too much, I can happily supply you with an endless stream of deserving young maidens who would be delighted to help you... relieve the pressure.*

*You're getting as bad as Jade and Alyssa,* John replied with amusement.

*Ah, but the difference is, I already have the resources to make it happen...* she teased him. *Beautiful, nubile resources, who would be so very grateful for a chance to be with the mighty Baen'thelas...*

He swallowed at the thought of that enticing offer, which would satisfy one of his basest urges... and most compelling fantasies. *You're making being good, very difficult, you naughty girl.*

Edraele's carefree laughter echoed through his mind, bringing a smile to his face.

Irillith's long eyelashes lifted as she was awakened by his touch and she gave him a sleepy smile. "Mmm, you were magnificent..."

"So were you, beautiful," he replied, leaning over to kiss her cheek. "Sorry I woke you."

"You're forgiven," she replied, sighing contentedly as he stroked her. Irillith shifted on the bed, moving even closer to Tashana so their rounded tummies were touching, then fell asleep in her sister's arms.

John left the two exhausted girls to sleep, then stepped into the shower to clean himself up. While the bathroom facilities aboard the Raptor were adequate for a vessel for this size, he couldn't help missing his palatial shower about the Invictus. That reminded him of Alyssa's promise that he'd never have to shower alone, but he gave her a pass this time, thoroughly sated after several hours of intimacy with the twins.

*Everything going okay back there?* he asked his blonde matriarch. *I haven't heard a peep out of you for nearly four hours... isn't that some kind of record?*

*Sorry, handsome,* the blonde replied, sounding flustered and distracted. *I've been a bit preoccupied...*

He paused mid-soak. *What are you up to?*

*My elbow?* she replied with a lusty giggle.

John frowned in confusion, then shrugged and resumed his shower. *I might have guessed you'd be getting up to mischief. Have fun, I'll chat to you later.*

*Okay, will do!*

He chuckled to himself and turned off the water jets, then padded out to towel himself dry. After dressing and one last look at his delectable bedmates, he left the cabin and headed along the corridor to the cockpit. The relatively cramped confines of the gunship reminded him of his lonely existence as a trader aboard the Fool's Gold and that jaunt down memory lane gave him a new appreciation for all the people he had in his life now.

"Hey!" Jade protested when he joined her in the cockpit. "You're wearing clothes!"

"My mistake, I thought it was clothing optional, not mandatory nudity," he said with a smile. Leaning over, he greeted her with a tender, loving kiss, before taking a seat in the co-pilot's chair.

She gave him a giddy smile. "Alright, you're forgiven."

John tapped a button on his console bringing up the Sector Map. "Not long until we reach Menganus IV."

"Just a few minutes," the Nymph agreed, bringing up the System Map as well. "We should start picking up contacts on the long-range sensors soon."

He nodded, studying the arid light-brown planet. "If we don't pick up any ships, I'd still like to do a scan of the settlements for life signs. It'll only take a couple of minutes, so we might as well do a thorough job."

"You don't think there'll be anyone there, do you?" Jade asked, studying him curiously. "You wouldn't have reduced the twins to a blissful state of oblivion if you thought there was any chance of combat."

"Menganus IV was hit first," he replied, staring at the map. "Those poor bastards never had a chance, not this close to the border. I think the Kirrix will be long gone..."

She nodded thoughtfully. "And the likelihood we'll be able to track down the fleet?"

He grimaced and gave her a helpless shrug.

"It's not too late yet," Jade said with a sunny smile.

John laughed and squeezed her hand. "Not much gets you down, does it?"

She pretended to frown. "There is something that's bothering me..."

"And what might that be, my lovely little Nymph?" he asked, listening attentively.

"You seem to be avoiding spending time with my sisters," she said, emerald eyes drinking in his features.

He blinked in surprise. "I didn't realise I was."

"We've had some fun orgies together and they loved it when you made them stronger... but to really shape their personalities, you'll need to devote some time alone with each of them," Jade carefully explained. "They're looking to you for guidance, Master... they want to please you."

"Wow, no pressure then," he said, with a strained smile.

Jade rose from her chair and slid onto his lap. "You've done it twice before... Edraele's one of the loveliest women I've ever met, and I might be biased, but I think you did quite a nice job on me too."

"That was more blind luck than skill," he said putting his arms around her trim waist. "And they're your sisters, Jade; I don't want to make any mistakes."

"They'll be wonderful and I'll love them with all my heart," she whispered in his ear.

He placed a hand on her chest and looked into those enchanting emerald eyes. "Your crystal heart has a lot of love to share."

She nuzzled into him and began to purr, the light vibrations strangely soothing.

"I promise I'll give them the time they deserve," John said, stroking her back. "We've got the trip to Arcadia coming up, then the journey back home to Maliri Space; that should give me a nice opportunity to really get to know each of them."

"I can't wait to see how they develop," she murmured, gazing at him in adoration. "It should be a fascinating insight into your personality, Master."

He smiled and shook his head. "I don't know about that, but if they're anything like you, I'll be a happy man."

She grinned at him, then glanced back at the holographic maps. "Oh! We're nearly there."

John helped her off his lap and she returned to the Pilot's chair. "No sign of any ships," he said, noting the absence of sensor contacts.

"Dropping out of hyper-warp in ten seconds," the Nymph said as she grasped the flight stick.

The Raptor arrived at the edge of the system, appearing in a flurry of blue tachyon particles. Twin Trankaran engines ramped up to full thrust and the gunship rocketed towards Menganus IV, making quick work of the distance to the planet.

"Starting a scan for life readings," John said as they reached the upper atmosphere.

Jade sat there quietly, studying the russet coloured flats between banks of scudding strato cirrus clouds.

The console emitted a quiet chime to let them know that the scan was complete and John let out a heavy sigh as he read the results. "Nothing... the three main settlements are completely deserted."

The Nymph's cat-like eyes flicked from John back to the dusty world. "This planet reminds me of Lenarra," she said softly.

"I thought Lenarra was a Terra-classification planet with lots of forests and plains?" John asked, reaching across to hold her hand.

"That's right, but I wasn't referring to its appearance. On both worlds a race of alien conquerors arrived and removed the entire population for their own sexual gratification," she said, lost in her memories. "I suppose the main difference is humanity isn't facing extinction at the hands of the Kirrix."

"I'm sorry, Jade," he said, standing and pulling her into his arms.

She traced his jawline with her index finger. "You did nothing wrong."

"But I am going to make it right," he said decisively. "We'll find a way to rebuild the Nymph population and make sure you have a place in the galaxy."

Jade gave him a loving kiss. "I'm very much looking forward to rebuilding our population too..."

They embraced for a long moment, then John turned to look at the Sector Map with the long snaking route Alyssa had plotted that would take them into Kirrix Space. "Okay, let's get clear of the gravity wells and jump to hyper warp. They've got a long head start on us."

The Nymph nodded, a gleam in her eyes. "Let the hunt begin..."