The Invictus dropped out of hyper-warp at the edge of the Alpha Centauri system, its huge engines blazing to life before the tachyon particles even had a chance to dissipate. Following a familiar path, the battlecruiser roared towards Gravitus, a volcanic planet that had been terraformed by the Federation into a spectacular jewel of the Core Worlds. However, the warship's destination wasn't the planet itself, but Olympus Shipyard, the vast six-armed space station in high orbit above.

The space surrounding Olympus was packed with hundreds of grey-hulled warships, all arrayed in fleets that were still recovering their strength after the apocalyptic Battle of Terra. Largest amongst those imposing military vessels were a trio of Terran Federation dreadnoughts, their colossal hulls bristling with rows of deadly gun batteries. Those intimidating behemoths dwarfed the white battlecruiser that weaved between them, but appearances could be deceptive, and the Invictus carried enough firepower to effortlessly obliterate every warship in the system.

There was a strict port speed in place around Olympus shipyard, but such restrictions no longer applied to the Lion of the Federation. The Invictus thundered past long lines of civilian traffic waiting permission to dock, the crews of those freighters pointing excitedly at the shark-like predator that glided through their midst. Sweeping around to face one of the larger docking bays, the Invictus cruised into Olympus' welcoming embrace, returning to its birthplace like the prodigal son.

A small group waited patiently inside the enormous hangar, their eyes following the battlecruiser with eager anticipation as it glided in to land. Two of the women and the man were dressed in iron-grey uniforms, the epaulettes on their formal jackets and insignias on their peaked hats identifying them as Terran Federation Admirals. The last member of the group was an exceptionally attractive Indian woman, who wore a stylish burgundy dress that showcased her lovely figure. Despite her natural beauty, her heart-shaped face was drawn, dark eyes shadowed with emotion.

When the Invictus' airlock door spiralled open, John stepped outside, accompanied by Alyssa, Calara, Rachel, and Sakura. The Asian girl was armed with her twin ninjato and sheathed in a sparkling white Paragon suit. John opened his arms to Jehanna, who rushed into that protective embrace, desperate to be held by him again.

"I missed you so much!" she gasped, trembling with relief.

"I missed you too, honey," John replied, the rumble of his deep baritone voice sending a thrill through her body. "I'm here now and everything's going to be alright."

Jehanna let out a breathy sigh, drawing enormous comfort from her boyfriend's inspiring presence.

John looked over her shoulder and smiled at the approaching admirals. Before he could say a word in greeting, Rachel hugged the TFNN reporter from behind.

"Thank you for saving my father," she whispered in Jehanna's ear, her voice throbbing with emotion.

Lifting her head from John's chest, Jehanna turned to smile at the brunette over her shoulder. "It was the least I could do after everything you've done for me. Now that's one less I owe you."

"Lionesses don't keep score with each other," Rachel murmured, kissing her gently on the cheek. "But I'll show you my appreciation later..."

Pulling away from the blushing reporter, Rachel turned to face the trio of admirals who had walked over to join them. "It's good to see you again, Fleet Admiral. You too, Admiral Harris."

"Likewise, Doctor Voss. Abigail and your father are in Med-Centre Four," the Fleet Admiral informed her, knowing that the young woman would appreciate skipping the pleasantries. "Do you need an escort to the medical facility?"

The brunette shook her head. "Thank you, but no; I've been there before."

Rachel hurried away, with Sakura falling into step beside her. As they departed, both girls made brief eye-contact with Lynette, sharing a furtive smile with her and nodding respectfully.

John gestured towards the Invictus. "Come on in; we've got a lot to discuss."

They all filed through the airlock, with Calara waiting until everyone was safely inside before shutting the outer door behind them. The moment it had spiralled closed, Alyssa flung her arms around Lynette, disrupting the Fleet Admiral's holo-disguise.

"I'm so glad you're alright!" Alyssa gushed as she gave the brunette a huge hug. "We were all so worried about you!"

John clapped Charles on the back in a manly hug. "You tough old bastard! I heard all about the gunfight in the Galleria; they should've sent an entire company to take you down!"

Charles broke into a broad smile, his moustache twitching. "It was Lynette that saved us. It turns out my fiancée had a few tricks up her sleeve."

Glancing at Lynette, John gave her a look filled with gratitude. "Nice work, Fleet Admiral."

She beamed at him in delight, John's earnest praise and Alyssa's heartfelt concern giving her a tremendous boost to her spirits. "I can't take all the credit either. If it wasn't for Dana's gifts, I'd never have been able to stop that ISD squad in time."

"She'll want all the gory details," John said, with a wry grin. "All the girls are looking forward to seeing you again."

Charles was listening to the exchange with particular interest, until Alyssa stepped over to him and planted a tender kiss on his cheek. "I was terrified we might have lost you, Charles. Please don't scare me like that again."

Touching his cheek where she kissed him, he stammered. "I-I won't... I promise."

He darted a guilty glance at Lynette and saw that she was watching him with a fond smile. Charles let out a sigh of relief and relaxed, realising that she wasn't in the slightest bit jealous.

Alyssa walked over to Jehanna and simply enfolded her in a loving embrace. She didn't say a word to the raven-maned beauty, but the three admirals could all see Jehanna leaning into her for support and nodding occasionally, as if listening to comforting words.

John watched with sympathy, then turned his attention to the third admiral in their midst and greeted her with a salute. "It's good to see you again, Admiral Van Den Broeck. I was very relieved to hear that you survived the attack on Olympus as well."

Lina had been watching the surprising outburst of exuberant greetings with bemusement. She managed to collect herself and gave John a coy smile. "Oh, I think by this point we can dispense with formalities and you can start calling me Lina. Would you mind extending me the same courtesy? Admiral John Blake, Lion of the Federation, is quite the mouthful..."

He raised an eyebrow at the subtle innuendo and glanced at Lynette, curious to know just how much the brunette had revealed to her. "Sure, feel free to call me John," he replied to the flirtatious redhead, not taking his eyes off his secret Lioness.

Lynette met his scrutiny with an innocent look. "It's good to see you again, John."

"You too," he replied, really meaning it. "As Alyssa said, it was a hell of a shock to hear Olympus was under attack. I'm just glad you're all okay."

Alyssa slipped her hand into Lina's and beckoned to Charles and Lynette. "Let's get you three a drink and we can all have a nice chat. He'll be along in a minute."

The three admirals nodded their agreement and followed Alyssa to the grav-tube. The blue gravity field only caused mild surprise to Lina, who was thoroughly fascinated by the charismatic and exceptionally beautiful blonde. Their departure meant that John was left alone in the corridor with Jehanna and Calara.

"Excuse me a moment," he said politely to the young Latina, before pulling the dusky-hued beauty into his arms.

"Don't mind me," Calara said with a grin.

When John kissed her, Jehanna moaned into his mouth, melting into that intimate embrace. It felt wonderful to hold her again, knowing how much she desperately needed that support, now that her life had imploded. After they separated, Jehanna looked up at him with dazed eyes, her fingers brushing her tingling lips.

"Wow..." she murmured, her long eyelashes fluttering.

"I need to speak to Charles and Lynette," John said, cradling Jehanna's head in his hand and gently stroking her silky black hair. "It's important, or I'd postpone the conversation to be with you. After I've talked to them, you'll have my undivided attention, I promise."

She nodded her understanding. "I know you're dealing with a lot at the moment. I swear I didn't mean to cause you any more problems."

"It's okay, honestly," he replied, his reassuring smile tinged with regret. "Alyssa said that your father saw the video of me kissing Calara after her speech. I didn't take your situation into account when I did that and I'm sorry I was so thoughtless. I'd have to be a real dick if I didn't help you sort out this mess, especially when I was the one who caused it."

Jehanna choked out a strained laugh, then caressed his cheek. "I don't think you're a dick... and it wasn't your fault. I just handled everything really badly; it caught me by surprise and I should have been prepared to answer questions about us."

Calara slipped an arm around Jehanna and stroked her back. "I'm sorry too. I got so used to being the only Lioness with a close family, I never even thought twice about the ramifications of kissing John so publicly. The rest of the girls pushed me into being his 'official' fiancée, but nothing is set in stone. If you want to-"

Silencing the troubled Latina with a quick kiss, Jehanna shook her head. "You two make the perfect couple; the conquering hero and his beautiful supportive heroine. When my father showed me the video of you two kissing, he expected me to be shocked and heartbroken. Instead I was thinking how gorgeous you looked together and..." Her voice trailed off and she couldn't help blushing.

"What were you thinking, honey?" John gently prompted her.

She darted a shy glance at the curious brunette. "I was wondering if Calara was going to be joining us in bed later..."

A warm smile broke out on Calara's face. "I hadn't intended to, but that was only because I wanted you to have some time alone with John."

John pulled both girls into a three-way hug. "Why don't the two of you head up to the Lagoon and you can chat in comfort. I'll join you as soon as I'm able to."

Calara raised an eyebrow, her full lips quirking into a playful grin. "Chat about me joining the two of you in bed?"

"The topics of discussion are entirely at your discretion," he replied, winking at Jehanna.

She laughed, looking more relaxed as some of her tension eased. "I feel so much better already and I've only been here five minutes. Thank you... I really needed this."

Calara was about to respond, then hesitated, her wary gaze flicking to John.

Jehanna noticed the furtive glance and turned to face her. "Did I say something wrong?"

"No, not at all," the Latina replied, shaking her head. "I was just going to say... I've always felt the same way whenever I go back home."

"Me too," Jehanna agreed, then her eyes widened in surprise. "Oh!"

John kissed the tip of her nose. "Calara was looking shifty because she promised not to give you the hard sell about joining us."

"Sorry, John," the brunette apologised, looking remorseful.

"There's nothing to forgive, you were just being honest," he said smiling at her fondly. Turning his attention to Jehanna, he continued, "Hopefully I won't be more than thirty minutes, okay?"

"Go," she urged him, returning the smile. "Take as much time as you need."

***

The glyphs on the holographic display cast a crimson pall over Rahn'hagon's face as he checked periodically for any sign of incoming danger. Satisfied that his cloaked dreadnought remained hidden from the vessels in the vicinity, he turned his attention to the new arrival that had thundered through the Alpha Centauri system. With his brow furrowed, he stared at the cluster of spacecraft gathered around the huge space station, quickly locating the only warship amongst the thousands in the sector that posed any kind of threat.

"John's ship appears to have docked," he said, turning to look at the brunette beside him. "You were correct; Olympus Shipyard was their destination."

Jessica Blake nibbled anxiously on a nail. "Are you sure you don't want to call him instead, Rahn? If you say you're sorry, maybe he'll forgive you?"

Rahn'hagon grimaced and shook his head. "This was your idea, Jess. You agreed that you'd be the one to initiate communication with our son. Any attempt I make to speak with John will end in us being forced to flee from the system. He has banished me from his territory on pain of death."

"I know..." she murmured, staring unblinking at the holographic map. "I'm just... not sure if I can do this."

He placed a hand on her shoulder and gave the pensive brunette a supportive smile. "We discussed this. You already know what you want to say to him." He turned and glanced at the chronometer. "We have another two hours to wait until the Wormhole Generator is recharged. Do not initiate contact until that time... if the Invictus appears to be leaving the system before then, inform me and I will return immediately."

She looked up at him in alarm. "Return? Where are you going?!"

"Calm yourself, Jessica," he replied, gently cupping her cheek. "I won't be disembarking from this vessel... physically at least. I have many questions about the mysteries surrounding John's psychic might and I need to seek answers from the Astral Plane."

"Alright," she reluctantly agreed. "I'll call you if anything changes."

Rahn'hagon leaned down to give her a kiss goodbye, then strode away from the Bridge, departing through the shattered doors. Jessica watched him leave, before shifting her gaze back to the holo-screen. Long-suppressed maternal instincts were warring with a large serving of guilt and self-loathing, leaving Jessica horribly conflicted. She couldn't help wondering what her son was doing at that precise moment and desperately wished that she could see him in person.

***

John stepped into the grav-tube, leaving Jehanna and Calara to meander their way to the Lagoon at a leisurely pace. As he ascended through the decks, John felt increasingly unsettled at the thought of the conversation to come. He was still trying to think of the best way to handle the situation when he realised he'd arrived at Deck Two and had to hurriedly step out of the grav-tube before he floated up past the corridor.

When John entered the Officers' Lounge, he found Alyssa sitting with their guests on the sofas, each of them sipping drinks from crystal tumblers. He walked over to join them and gratefully accepted the glass of whiskey the statuesque blonde had prepared for him.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," he said, taking a seat.

Lynette waved away his apology. "How's Jehanna doing? She was distraught earlier."

"Better," he replied, taking a long sip of his drink. "I told her we'd talk things through later. Calara will take good care of her until then."

The Fleet Admiral deflated and gave John a look of chagrin. "I feel personally responsible for Jehanna being outed as a Lioness. I should have taken more precautions to make sure that every single piece of footage showing her in action was deleted."

John slumped back in his chair and rubbed his neck. "Don't blame yourself for this. The truth is, I didn't do enough to keep my personal life out of the public eye. With hindsight, it was stupid to be so blasé about my relationships with the girls, especially when Calara, Rachel, and Jehanna all have family that I should have taken into consideration. It's only natural that a parent would hit the roof when they find out their daughter has basically joined a harem."

Lina was looking at him in fascination. "I hope you'll forgive me for asking a personal question, John, but how many of the Lionesses are you actually sleeping with?"

"All of them," he replied, tired of hiding the truth. John closed his eyes and tilted his head back as he did the headcount. "There are fourteen girls on the Invictus; another nine in the Maliri Protectorate."

"Twenty-three women?!" she balked, staring at him in wonder.

John slowly re-opened his eyes and nodded. "Yes... and four of the Maliri are expecting. I'm planning on getting a fifth matriarch pregnant when I return to Genthalas Shipyard."

This wasn't news to Lynette, but Charles and Lina were stunned by his blunt honesty.

It took a moment for Charles to pick up on something that John had just said. "All the Lionesses?" he asked sharply, narrowing his eyes as he glanced at his fiancée.

John downed his drink, then looked his oldest friend in the eye. "I've never slept with Lynette," he said adamantly. "We had a platonic kiss... once... but there's absolutely nothing going on between us. There never has been."

"He didn't even slip her the tongue," Alyssa interjected helpfully.

Charles looked at her in surprise, then barked a short laugh. Giving the gorgeous brunette a rueful frown of apology, he said, "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I shouldn't keep doubting you..."

"I understand," she said with a look of sympathy. "I don't blame you for having suspicions; I know all about your history, Charles."

Admiral Harris frowned and a flicker of regret flashed across his eyes when he thought about his ex-wife. "It's not fair to take out my insecurities on you, though. You don't deserve that."

She leaned over to plant a kiss on his cheek. "You're forgiven."

Charles smiled at her, then raised his glass to John. "So you've got four children on the way? My goodness... I guess congratulations are in order!"

John broke into a self-conscious grin. "Thank you." He glanced down at his empty tumbler. "Looks like I need a refill..."

Alyssa rose from her seat and retrieved his glass. "Let me take care of that for you."

She glided past him, gently ruffling his hair before sashaying over to the bar. John watched the alluring sway of her hips and the way it made her glorious golden mane swish from side to side. Reminded of another young blonde, he turned to face the Fleet Admiral.

"Before I forget... is there any chance you can arrange a transfer for Lieutenant Emily Campbell to the Odin's Thunderbolt? She's Mateo Fernandez's girlfriend and they seem like they've got a future together. They were both serving on the Damocles and Mateo was reluctant to leave her behind."

Lynette's hazel eyes sparkled with amusement. "I authorised her transfer to the dreadnought's medical team earlier this afternoon."

He blinked in surprise, wondering how she could possibly have known to do that already.

Alyssa handed him a refilled glass of amber-coloured liquor before taking her seat again. "We don't just talk about fluffy kittens and pretty dresses, handsome."

"Thank you," he said, patting her on the thigh, before nodding to Lynette gratefully.

The Fleet Admiral shrugged and unbuttoned her dress uniform jacket. "There's no need to thank me. My primary objective was to eliminate any potential threat to the Fernandez family and make sure that Calara has no unwelcome distractions in the future. Ensuring the safety of a potential sister-in-law comes under that remit."

Lina swirled her vodka cocktail and studied her hosts in fascination. "Why do I feel that I'm missing multiple levels of subtext to this conversation?"

"We don't mean to be rude," Alyssa replied with a warm smile, demurely crossing her long shapely legs. "Lynette has told you some of what being a Lioness entails, but there's also a lot going on that she hasn't discussed with you yet. If you join us, we'll tell you everything... but until then, I'm afraid we'll have to keep a few secrets."

"Oh, I understand completely," Lina said, sipping her drink. "And I'm intrigued to know more."

"I guess we're having this conversation now then," John said, trying not to grimace as he took a big gulp from his drink.

Lina raised an eyebrow at his pensive tone. "It sounds like you don't approve, John?" she asked, unable to avoid sounding a little hurt. "Don't you want me to become a Lioness?"

Putting his glass down, he faced her directly. "Please don't be offended, Lina; it's nothing personal. The problem is that we've only recruited two 'Secret Lionesses' and there's been... unforeseen complications... in both cases."

"Complications?" Charles asked with concern as he clasped Lynette's hand. "What do you mean?"

John wrung his hands together, unsure how to reply.

Alyssa ran her hand over John's shoulder, then met Charles' worried gaze. "Don't be alarmed. We're a bit worried about Jehanna, but everything worked out pretty much perfectly with Lynette. She loves her new life with you and couldn't be happier."

"It's true," Lynette agreed, squeezing her fiancé's hand. "I feel like I have everything I ever dreamed of."

Charles threw a pointed glance in Lina's direction. "Not quite everything..."

The stunning brunette blushed and shook her head. "I never imagined being involved in that kind of relationship before, but I know you're attracted to Lina... and I freely admit that I am too. I just know in my heart that all our lives will be hugely improved with the three of us being together."

John leaned forward, focusing on the Fleet Admiral. "Why? How would this make your life better?"

Lynette took a deep breath and replied earnestly, "We all stand to gain so much!" She took the redhead's hand in hers and continued, "If Lina becomes a Lioness, you'll be able to restore her youth and she'll be able to have the family that she sacrificed for her career. Then there's the obvious health benefits Lina will gain from reversing decades of ageing, ending up with an incredibly athletic young body."

He waited patiently for Lynette to tell him how she would benefit from this arrangement, but before she got to that, Lina suddenly interrupted.

"That all sounds very tempting, particularly the part about being transformed into a nubile young temptress," the redhead noted, a coy smile teasing her lips. Her flirtatious expression faded and she studied John intently. "But there are downsides to becoming a Lioness, aren't there? Lynette dropped a few hints, but she hasn't told me any details."

"Not so much downsides," Alyssa interjected. "More like... eccentricities."

John frowned as he listened to Alyssa's reply, then shook his head. "We can't talk about this and beat around the bush. You need to have a frank discussion with Lina and tell her the specifics." He rose from his seat and made eye contact with Charles. "Join me in my Ready Room? There's a few things we need to discuss too."

Lynette gazed up at him with concern. "John?"

He paused and looked back at her. "Either we call this off entirely, or I tell Charles the truth about everything. Which do you want?"

She nibbled at her lip, her exquisitely beautiful face twisted with worry. John waited patiently for the conflicted young woman to make up her mind, until those enchanting hazel eyes met his and she gave him an almost imperceptible nod.

***

Calara led Jehanna down the steps to the Lagoon, then across the beach to the wicker sofas that looked out across the beach. A couple of tall drinks were ready and waiting for them on the table beside the chairs, moisture beading the surface of the glass in the steamy tropical heat.

"Virgin?" Calara asked, handing one of the fruit cocktails to Jehanna.

Startled out of her reverie, Jehanna looked at her in surprise. "What?"

"The Mojito," the Latina explained with a smile as they sat down. "These don't have alcohol in them, but I can fix that if you'd prefer a real drink?"

Reaching behind the sofa, Calara brandished a bottle of rum, her smile broadening into a grin.

Jehanna laughed and held out her glass. "Oh, definitely!"

After Calara added a splash of booze to both glasses, Jehanna took a long sip, then sighed with satisfaction. "God, I needed that..."

Calara gave her a look filled with sympathy. "Yes, I can imagine. Alyssa told me what happened between you and your parents."

Shoulders slumping, Jehanna bit her lip as she fought back tears. "I can't believe it all went so wrong so fast. I can normally talk my way out of any crisis, but I just froze. It was like watching a slow-motion car crash that I couldn't do anything to prevent."

"When I'm around my parents, I usually find myself getting tongue-tied as well," Calara said, reaching out to clasp the reporter's hand and give it a supportive squeeze. "I think I regress back to being a little girl every time I see them."

Jehanna nodded forlornly as she put down her glass. "Being outed as a Lioness had me on the back foot, then when my father showed me the video of John kissing you, I just didn't know what to say." She leaned forward and put her face in her hands. "Then I made it a million times worse by blowing up at my mom... I can't believe I admitted that I was sleeping with you as well as John! What the hell was I thinking?!"

"It was a very stressful situation and you just reacted to the pressure," Calara said, sipping her drink. "Don't blame yourself; I did exactly the same thing with my father."

"Oh no!" Jehanna said, her face falling. "Are you having problems with your parents too?"

Calara blushed and slowly shook her head. "Ah... no, nothing like that."

"So what did happen?" Jehanna pressed, seeing how uncomfortable the beautiful brunette had become.

With a sigh of resignation, Calara explained, "For the last six months I've been keeping secrets from my parents because I was worried they'd be disappointed in me and wouldn't understand. I finally told my father the truth about everything yesterday."

Jehanna's eyes widened in astonishment. "Everything?"

"Everything," Calara confirmed with a nod. "We talked about John sleeping with all of the Lionesses, me going through the Change, my psychic powers, the Progenitor War... all of it."

Wincing as she pictured herself in that nightmarish conversation, Jehanna looked at her with sympathy. "I can't even imagine talking to my parents about all that. Was it bad?"

"There were a few tense moments at first," the Latina replied hesitantly. "Then my father accepted me for who I'd become... and said how proud he was of me. It brought us closer together than we've ever been before."

Jehanna looked at her in surprise, then swallowed around the lump in her throat. "That must have been wonderful..."

"It really was," Calara agreed, putting her drink down and wrapping her arms around the forlorn young woman. "But I didn't tell you that to rub my happiness in your face. I spent months worrying about how my parents would react, but when I finally told them the truth they were both incredibly supportive. At the moment, your parents are operating on assumptions and misinformation; I'm sure we'll be able to find a way to explain the situation to them that they can accept."

"You don't know what my parents are like..." Jehanna muttered, shaking her head.

"Yes, but you do," the Latina countered, stroking her back. "I hope you also know that John won't rest until he helps you repair your relationship with them. The rest of us will also support you in any way we can."

"You can count on that!" Irillith declared, as she strode into the Lagoon with her sister at her side.

"Jehanna!" Tashana exclaimed, hurrying down the steps to their guest. "We were so worried about you!"

"I'm alright..." The Indian girl brushed the unshed tears from her dark brown eyes and rose from her seat to greet the Maliri twins with a strained smile. "I really missed you both."

Tashana wrapped her up in a tight hug, looking down at the smaller woman with concern. "You poor thing... first the attack on Olympus, then falling out with your parents! I'm so sorry we weren't there for you."

Before Jehanna could reply, she was hugged from behind by Irillith.

"But we're here now," the Maliri hacker said, soft blue lips kissing her cheek. "We'll look after you."

Tashana nodded, looking down into Jehanna's eyes. "Don't worry... Baen'thelas will fix everything."

Irillith slipped a hand inside the reporter's blouse and gently caressed her trim brown stomach. "You'll feel so much better when he gives you a full tummy."

Jehanna was intimately aware that she was sandwiched between two impressive sets of breasts, the twins pressing their ample busts into her back and chest. Her gaze was drawn inextricably to Tashana's spectacular cleavage and she blushed as she admired the alluring expanse of soft blue flesh.

"Would you like some cheering up now?" Tashana offered, her violet eyes twinkling.

Calara laughed and shook her head. "Do you two mind? We were in the middle of an important conversation."

Irillith raised an eyebrow. "You haven't persuaded her to join us yet?"

"John told us not to pressure her, remember?" Calara replied, wagging a finger.

Jehanna gave them all a look of regret. "Actually, that's all I've been thinking about since you left. I feel so torn between my life here with my career and family... and leaving everything behind to be with all of you."

"I understand," Calara said, before gesturing to the sofa again. "Perhaps talking about it might help?"

Irillith darted over to sit down first, taking a seat in the corner of the L-shaped sofa. She slid her long dress half-way up her sleek thighs, then parted her legs and patted the space between them. "Sit here, in front of me. I'll give you a nice relaxing massage while you chat with Calara."

"Okay," Jehanna replied, smiling shyly as she sat with her back to the Maliri. "Thank you."

Tashana knelt in front of her, then slipped off Jehanna's high heels. "We'll give you a nice relaxing massage," she corrected her sister.

Jehanna could only groan in bliss as one set of nimble blue fingers began to knead out the tension in her shoulders, while the other eased the soreness in her feet.

Calara watched in amusement as the dusky-hued beauty melted under their combined efforts. "Ladies... I'm not sure this is helping our discussion. I doubt our guest could tell me her name right now."

"Please accept our most sincere apologies," Tashana said, not looking remotely sincere as she shared a grin with her sister.

They ended their brief massage, letting a flustered Jehanna rest her head back against Irillith's pert bosom.

"That felt amazing..." Jehanna murmured, smiling at the twins in gratitude.

Irillith gently stroked her hair and whispered in her ear, "We can continue whenever you like. For now, just relax and listen to what Calara has to say..."

Calara held Jehanna's hand and waited until she had the reporter's full attention. "We promised John that we wouldn't pressure you to join him... but I think the reason you're finding this choice so difficult, is because you don't really know what a new life with us would be like."

"You've never even visited Maliri Space, let alone seen our homeworld," Tashana said with a sympathetic smile. "How can you make an informed decision without seeing your future home?"

"Valaden's a beautiful planet," Irillith murmured, her hand slipping down to caress Jehanna's stomach. "Why not see for yourself if it's somewhere you'd like to raise a family?"

Jehanna's eyes snapped open and she looked at the twins in surprise. "Really? I could come with you to the Maliri Protectorate?!"

Irillith gave her a wry smile. "I think we might be able to persuade the Queen to roll out the red carpet."

"It would be an exciting time to visit," Tashana added, a playful sparkle in her angular eyes. "You'd be witnessing history in the making..."

Hedonistic delights temporarily forgotten, Jehanna leaned forward, her professional curiosity piqued. "Why? What are you referring to?"

"A lot's happened in the last couple of weeks... the scale of the conflict has expanded exponentially," Calara explained, finishing off her drink and putting down her glass. "We'll soon be embarking on the Progenitor War and our base of operations will be Genthalas, not Olympus Shipyard. The Terran fleets have been decimated after the Kintark invasion... and the Federation is just not equipped to fight a Thrall force."

Tashana stroked the captivated reporter's thigh to get her attention. "If you truly wish to chronicle the events that will shape our galaxy, Baen'thelas should be the focus of your attention, not High Command."

Calara nodded and made eye contact with Jehanna. "Let me bring you up to speed..."

***

Fleet Admiral Devereux had done her best to keep the Invictus' presence at Olympus under wraps, but news of their arrival spread like wildfire throughout the shipyard. Within minutes of Rachel and Sakura departing the docking bay, crowds of personnel lined the corridors of Olympus, all eager to catch a glimpse of two of the legendary Lionesses. The Angel of Terra and the Saviour of Unity City were greeted with an unending round of applause, the jubilant cheers reverberating down the sweeping passageways and drawing in more curious onlookers.

Despite her concern for her father, Rachel managed to beam at the crowds and gave them a friendly wave. *If you told me that my life would be like this six months ago, I would've laughed and thought you were crazy.*

Sakura's cautious gaze swept along the throng of people, wary for any threats. She smiled as Alyssa telepathically relayed the brunette's message. *If you tried to tell me anything six months ago, Shinatobe would've gutted you like a fish.*

Rachel kept the smile plastered on her face, but flicked a troubled glance at the assassin. *I'm sorry... this was thoughtless of me.*

*What was?* the Asian girl asked in confusion.

*Bringing you with me to a cryo-stasis facility. I should've known it would stir up bad memories...* Rachel said with concern.

Relaxing her vigilant watch for a moment, Sakura laughed and patted her friend on the shoulder. *Don't worry, I'm fine. I hadn't even made that connection until you mentioned your life six months ago and it got me thinking about my own. Shinatobe is long gone... melted down into a dagger and impaled in Mikaboshi's brain. They're both part of my past and I'm concentrating on the future.*

Rachel studied her intently, surprised and pleased to see that her friend was sincere. She knew that the deadly confrontation with Mikaboshi had given Sakura closure, but she also knew that despite her positive new outlook, the former-assassin was bothered by something. The perceptive young doctor had a very good idea what that might be.

*Sakura, if you ever want to talk about... what John asked you to do... then I'm here for you,* Rachel said quietly, trying to keep the pained frown from her face.

*Nope, I'm not telling her that, Rachel,* Alyssa announced, abruptly ending the telepathic communication. *It was a nice sentiment, but now's not the time or place. You're welcome to speak to her about it in private on board the Invictus... but please tread very carefully if you do. Sakura's bearing a heavy burden for all of us... and she's doing it for John.*

While Rachel felt pleased that she'd been able to accurately deduce what had transpired between John and Sakura, she couldn't help feeling overwhelmed with sympathy for her friend. It was all she could do to keep walking towards her destination and wave at the oblivious crowd, while trying not to dwell on those dreadful thoughts.

***

John strode into his Ready Room and gestured towards the quadrangle of sofas. "Take a seat, Charles."

The admiral watched his old friend as he sat down, never having seen John this agitated before. "Okay, let's hear it. What's the big secret?"

Knocking back his drink in one shot, John placed the empty glass on the table. "Right. You already know that we're facing dozens of Progenitors and that I'm one of them as well?"

Charles nodded in confirmation.

"Well, there are a few differences between us. My father genetically engineered me to be a... Progenitor killer... for want of a better term. He wants me to hunt down and exterminate every last Progenitor in the galaxy."

Charles let out a low whistle and shook his head. "Damn... and I thought my father had high expectations."

John snorted his agreement. "Yeah... thanks, Dad," he muttered, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Frowning in confusion, Charles asked, "What does that have to do with Lynette?"

"I was just getting to that part," John replied, fidgeting with the empty glass. "Progenitors enslave huge numbers of genetically-enhanced alien women... enthralling them by the millions to fight in their armies. Progenitors don't give a shit about the welfare of those thralls and use them like disposable pawns in vast galactic wars. All Progenitors draw psychic energy from the women they're connected to; It makes them stronger and gives them incredible powers."

Charles' eyes widened as he made the connection. "Your Lionesses..."

"Yes... they're basically my thralls."

His friend stared at him in shock, lost for words.

John rose from his chair and walked over to the window. "I've never treated them that way though. I haven't enslaved my girls; they're independent and have free will... and actually seem to take delight in flouting my orders. They're also incredibly bright and exceptionally gifted, even more so after going through the Change... and I love them all very much."

"What about Lynette?" Charles pressed, his eyes narrowing.

"I want her to be happy and have a good life, but she's just a friend... that's all." John stared out through the broad window at the ships circling Olympus Shipyard, but his mind was elsewhere. "All I wanted to do was give Lynette her youth back... as a gift for everything she went through with Buckingham. The Change greatly enhances a Terran woman, making her stronger, faster, and fitter, giving her the perfect physique of a Thrall soldier. I thought I could just give Lynette the physical benefits without any of the side-effects... but I was wrong."

"Side effects?" his friend asked in a hushed voice. "What do you mean?"

John returned to his seat and looked Charles in the eyes. "You must be aware of them by now. The girls become more submissive in bed... and even if they were absolutely straight beforehand, they'll be attracted to other women. They also develop quite the obsession with oral sex."

Charles couldn't help blushing and coughed awkwardly. "Alright... I know what you're talking about."

"Yes, but it's not just an obsession," John continued. "The Change increases their lung capacity so they don't have to breathe for at least five minutes. They're basically enhanced so that they can give the perfect blowjob."

The older officer reddened further. "John... why are you telling me this?"

John grimaced, feeling incredibly uncomfortable discussing this with Charles. "Because... that's how they go through the Change."

Charles gaped at him, a rapid flurry of emotions crossing his face as everything clicked into place. Suddenly he understood why his fiancée had been so reluctant to discuss exactly what the Change entailed.

"But you told me you hadn't slept with her!" he protested, wounded by their deception. "She swore that nothing ever happened between you two!"

"Because that's the honest truth, Charles," John said quietly. "Do you remember Jade? My Nymph? She can hollow herself out and basically turn her body into a flask. I slept with Jade and then she... fed... Lynette. It's not the act that's important, but the end result... that the girl swallows... and ends up with it in her stomach. That's what establishes a psychic connection between the two of us and also makes a woman's body go through the Change."

Looking shocked and queasy, Charles slumped back in his chair. "Jesus..."

John sighed, hating to see his friend upset like this. "Look, I know this is weird and awkward as hell, but you need to remember that Lynette went through the Change before you two got involved. When we rescued Lynette from Tartarus, she was critically injured; she'd been shot through the spine and crippled below the waist. Rachel could have healed her with no side-effects, but I gave Lynette another choice: I offered to heal her myself, which would also turn her into a beautiful young woman. I knew Lynette regretted not having a family, so I wanted to give her that opportunity again, as my way of saying thanks for putting her life on the line against Buckingham."

Gazing off into the distance, John remembered the awkward conversation with the wounded admiral. "We respected each other as loyal allies, but I could tell she was afraid of me personally. To make it all easier for Lynette, we used Jade as a proxy, so there was never any physical intimacy between the two of us. The whole process took about four days and was like a dispassionate clinical procedure. I healed Lynette's wounds, reversed the effects of aging, and gave her a beautiful athletic body."

Charles downed his drink and grimaced. "Is that everything?"

John shook his head. "Do you remember I talked about the side-effects? With the rest of the girls, I grew very close to them when we started sleeping together and they became fiercely loyal. I think that's why Jehanna has struggled with being separated from me... while Lynette has been perfectly happy living here with you. I've never slept with Lynette, but you have, and she's devoted to you, Charles. Lynette will never cheat on you like your ex-wife did."

"This is all so..." Charles faltered, unable to find the words. "I believe you... that nothing happened between you and Lynette... but part of me wishes you'd never told me the truth."

"Believe me, I feel the same way," John said, nodding emphatically. "I wouldn't have said a word if I hadn't been pushed into this."

Charles' eyes widened in sudden understanding. "Because of Lina..."

"Yeah... because of Lina," John echoed with a frown. "I've discussed this with Alyssa. We think that Lynette is trying to recreate the setup I have here with my girls... but centred around you instead."

"What?!" the older officer blurted out, his eyes like saucers.

"Lynette loves you, Charles... but she's been mentally conditioned to be part of a harem. If Lina goes through with the Change, she'll be totally loyal to you for the rest of your life... just like Lynette is now. They'll be solely focused on keeping you happy in every way they can. You'll be living a life that most men only dream about."

"Holy fuck..." Charles muttered, just imagining it.

"I'm not going to lie to you; having two beautiful young women doting on you is as close to heaven as a man can get. Lynette wants that for you... but there's no way I'd agree to Changing Lina if you were already sleeping with her. You understand why, right? You're my closest friend and I couldn't do that to you behind your back... I'd never do anything with a woman you're involved with."

Charles snorted and shook his head. "Lynette was pushing so hard for a threesome with Lina... I did wonder why she seemed to have just given up on the idea."

John gave him an apologetic shrug. "Alyssa asked Lynette to wait until we'd all had a chance to talk about this in person. At the moment, Lina's still basically single. I could do this for her with a clear conscience because you two aren't together yet... but we're riding a fine line and this all makes me very uncomfortable."

"You're not the only one..."

"Right." John glanced at the tumbler on the table. "Want another drink?"

Charles waved his empty glass at him.

John took it and walked over to his desk to retrieve a half-opened bottle of McGregor '61. He refilled their glasses and returned to the sofa, handing one to Charles.

"You okay?" he asked with concern.

The older man nodded, but his moustache twitched downward into a frown.

John looked at him with sympathy. "I'm sorry. This must be a hell of a bombshell to have dropped on you."

Charles just nodded again as he sipped his drink.

"Alyssa's currently explaining everything to Lina. She won't go into this blind, Charles; Lina will know exactly what's involved before she makes any decisions. Then, after we're all done discussing it, I'd like you to take some time to decide if this is what you really want. Even if Lina is desperate to become a Lioness, I'm going to give you a final veto."

"Why me?" Charles asked, startled that the ultimate decision would be up to him.

"If I Change Lina and you can't handle it, I'll probably have to bring her aboard the Invictus as another Lioness... and I really don't want to do that."

His friend gave him a sceptical look.

"I really don't," John repeated emphatically, shaking his head. "I swear to you, the last thing you need to worry about is me trying to steal away Lynette or Lina. I already told you how many girls I'm involved with at the moment. I'm trying to divide my time equally between all of them and it's becoming a nightmare... I can't deal with any more. Just this morning, Sakura was in floods of tears because she was feeling neglected."

His friend's expression shifted to one of sympathy. Charles put his drink down and patted John's forearm. "I suppose you really can have too much of a good thing."

John nodded, and let out a heavy sigh. "Yeah... you can."

Charles suddenly snorted with laughter and shook his head in bemusement. "Why the hell am I feeling sorry for you? You're sleeping with a harem of two-dozen beautiful women, for God's sake!"

Now it was John's turn to chuckle. "Alright, it's not all bad..."

"I bet," Charles said with a broad grin. He sipped his drink again, then looked John in the eye. "I hear what you're saying about Lynette. I guess I do believe you... that you're not interested in her that way."

"I just want you two to be happy, Charles," John said earnestly. "That's all I ever wanted."

***

Lina stared at the holo-screen, studying the images of Lynette at various stages of the Change and shook her head in awe. "If I hadn't seen you before and afterwards with my own eyes, I never would've believed this was possible."

Alyssa smiled at the stunningly attractive brunette. "John's finest work yet..."

Colour bloomed in Lynette's cheeks and she returned her smile.

Tearing her eyes away from the miraculous transformation depicted on the holo-images, Lina looked more than a little intrigued. "So... how exactly does John do that?"

The statuesque blonde rose from her chair, then sat down beside the older redhead. "Watch this..." she replied, a husky edge to her voice.

With a flick of her fingers towards the holo controls, Alyssa activated the next file that she'd prepared and the video began to play. It showed John sitting on the edge of the bed and Dana kneeling before him, the redhead sucking lustily on his thick cock as he came down her throat. In the footage, Alyssa was kneeling behind her friend, gently stroking Dana's tummy as it swelled with John's cum.

Lina's eyes were like saucers as she gaped at the screen. "Oh... my... God..." she whispered in a hushed voice.

The seconds ticked by and John was still climaxing, Dana's belly rounding out to take several pints of spunk. When John was finally spent, the teenager eased his cock from the clutching confines of her throat and gave the head a grateful kiss as it passed her lips.

"He's hung like a horse!" Lina gasped, staring wild-eyed at the screen. "And he came for what... a minute?! How the hell did she swallow all that?!"

"With a great deal of satisfaction," Alyssa replied with a sultry smile.

Lina blinked in surprise, then turned to stare at Lynette with a mixture of newfound admiration and awe. "You did that too?"

Lynette licked her lips reflexively, then shook her head. "Actually... no."

"Lynette was scared of John and he didn't want to upset her, so they did things a bit differently," Alyssa explained with a frown of disapproval.

She glanced at the holo-controls to activate the next video. The footage began to play, showing Lynette suckling on Jade's breasts as she filled up her tummy with John's cum.

"Wow..." Lina murmured, gazing at the holographic images in fascination. She was looking slightly flushed as she gave the brunette a sly smile. "You really are a lot more fun than I gave you credit for, Lynette!"

Edging closer to the prospective Lioness, Alyssa slowly unbuttoned the admiral's jacket. Lina watched curiously but did nothing to stop the blonde from slipping a hand inside to stroke her trim stomach.

"If you were joining us properly..." Alyssa purred, her soft fingers tracing circles on the older woman's navel. "You'd be on your knees in front of John for days, letting him fill you up over and over again. When you have a full tummy, he can change your body just like he did with Lynette... and all the rest of us." She reluctantly withdrew her hand. "But your situation is a bit different, so we'll have to do it the same way as Lynette... with Jade feeding you instead."

"This is crazy..." Lina marvelled, leaning back in her chair. "I've got so many questions, I don't even know where to start..."

"You're not repulsed by the idea?" Alyssa asked, raising an eyebrow.

Lina slowly shook her head. "It's pretty wild and not at all what I was expecting... but John's a handsome guy and I've done a lot naughtier things than that." She glanced at Lynette and gave her a knowing grin. "I can see why you were so coy about the details with Charlie."

Lynette's brow furrowed and her anxious gaze flicked towards the doorway. "Is John really going to tell Charles how he changed me?"

Alyssa sat back on the sofa, a conflicted expression on her face. "He already has."

"Already?!" Lynette asked, her hazel eyes widening. "How did Charles take it?"

The blonde slowly shrugged. "I'm not sure... you know how uptight men can be when they're discussing anything sexual with each other."

Lynette nibbled nervously on a nail. "Why did John have to tell him? Doesn't he understand that I'm doing this for Charles!"

"Charles is his oldest friend, Lynette," Alyssa replied, looking at her with sympathy. "John understands what you're trying to do, but he's got a lot of misgivings about it."

Lina frowned and looked curiously at the pensive Fleet Admiral. "I must admit... I still don't understand why you were so eager for me to become a secret Lioness. Don't get me wrong, I'm flattered and very grateful, but I'd have been up for a threesome without all this."

Turning to face the redhead, Lynette shook her head. "It's not just about sex. If you join us, I'll have another infallible ally in High Command. You'll also be around Charles all the time, which means you could help me protect him." She hesitated and flicked a glance towards Alyssa. "There are a few other reasons too..."

Tutting playfully, Lina smirked as she said, "I thought John said there was to be no more beating around the bush? Are these the eccentricities that you hinted at earlier?"

Alyssa nodded in confirmation. "Becoming a Lioness gives you incredible physical perks. You saw Lynette in action and you'll have a gorgeous athletic body just like her... but there are a few mental changes that occur as well."

"Go on..." Lina said cautiously.

Tilting her head to one side, Alyssa pursed her lips as she considered how to phrase her reply. "You heard John earlier... he's currently sleeping with all fourteen girls on the Invictus."

"And nine more Maliri apparently," Lina interjected, shaking her head in admiration.

"Yes, we can't forget about them," Alyssa agreed, her cerulean eyes sparkling. "We've all been given a few tweaks, so that everybody gets along with each other famously. Nobody ever gets jealous and we're all close friends." She idly brushed her fingertips across the back of Lina's hand. "Very close friends..."

Lina closed her eyes to enjoy the gentle caress, then gave Alyssa a sceptical look. "No jealousy? I find that very hard to believe. I went to an all-girls boarding school... I still remember how spiteful those little bitches got with each other."

Alyssa raised her hand to stroke Lina's temple. "When you go through the Change, your personality will be affected as well as your body. I love seeing John with the other girls and they all feel the same way towards me. You saw me with Dana in that video... did it look like I was jealous when I was stroking her tummy as John filled her up with cum?"

"No... you looked delighted," Lina replied, remembering Alyssa's contented smile.

Alyssa turned to look at the brunette sitting beside her. "That's how it'll be for the two of you when you're together with Charles. Or at least I hope it will be."

Lina quirked an eyebrow. "You hope?"

"If you were joining us to be with John, I wouldn't have any doubt... but this is new ground we're covering here." She shrugged. "If it turns into a disaster and you two can't stand each other, then we'll just have to take you with us aboard the Invictus. John wouldn't be happy about it, but he's got quite a soft spot for redheads. One session with you and Dana on your knees and that'd put an end to his complaints."

"You're that confident that I'd just go along with it?" Lina asked, curious rather than indignant. "That I wouldn't change my mind?"

The blonde nodded. "You're a smart woman. I think you recognise the opportunity of a lifetime when it comes your way... if you'll excuse the pun. We're offering you a rejuvenated body like Lynette's, the opportunity to have children and a loving family, immortality..."

"What?!" Lina exclaimed, gaping at the teenager in astonishment. "You can't be serious!"

Alyssa gave her a teasing smile. "Oh... I take it Lynette forgot to mention that part?"

***

Rachel swept into Med-Centre Four, her arrival heralded by raucous cheers. Every medic in the facility was waiting to meet her, each and every one of them desperate to see her miraculous healing for themselves.

The senior consultant stepped forward, fidgeting with the wire frames of his spectacles. "Fleet Admiral Devereux left orders that you were to be escorted directly to the cryo-stasis suite, Doctor Voss."

She gave him a grateful smile. "I'd appreciate that. Thank you, Doctor Bowman."

He looked pleasantly surprised that she remembered him from her brief visit to the facility after the Battle of Terra. "You're welcome. If you'd like to follow me."

He turned and led her from the reception area, with Sakura and the entourage of doctors following behind them. They proceeded through the security doors and headed deeper into the facility, passing branching corridors that led to the wards.

"I'd like some privacy with my father and the cryo-patient please," Rachel requested as she strode along at his side.

Doctor Bowman's shoulders drooped in disappointment. "Of course, Doctor Voss."

She glanced his way and smiled. "Thank you. If you could also arrange a tour of the wards afterwards, I'd be delighted to offer my assistance with the rest of your patients' recovery."

That put an extra spring in his step and he nodded eagerly, pushing the round glasses back up his nose. "We'd greatly appreciate any help you could give us! We received so many casualties after the terrorist attack, we're at maximum capacity."

It didn't take long to reach the cryo-stasis suite and once Doctor Bowman had opened the security door, he stepped aside for the two Lionesses. Sakura entered first then stood guard at the door, her eyes filled with sympathy when she saw Henry Voss' dishevelled state. Henry rose from his chair and turned to see who had arrived, a flicker of hope in his eyes.

Rachel was beside her father in moments, hugging him fiercely. "Daddy!"

Henry put his arms around her, returning the hug just as hard. "Rachel... thank God you're here."

"I was scared out of my mind when I heard Olympus was under attack!" the tawny-haired teenager exclaimed, pulling back to look at her father. "I was so worried that something awful might happen to you!"

"I'm alright, sweetheart," he said, stroking her hair. His anguished gaze flicked to the cryo-stasis pod beside them. "She saved my life, Rachel. Abigail got shot trying to protect me. Please... I'm begging you... help her."

Rachel gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek. "I will... don't worry."

She pulled away from her father, her grey eyes already starting to glow. As her fingers danced over the cryo-stasis controls, reversing the hibernation process, a nimbus of psychic power began to roll down her arms to envelop the pod. The eldritch aura penetrated the stasis-chamber's outer casing, swirling like a billowing cloud as it rolled over the occupant within. Abigail's pale face was covered in a dusting of ice crystals, but as colour began to return to her cheeks, the coating of hoar frost quickly receded.

Rachel frowned in concentration as she undid the damage the bullets had done, knitting torn flesh together and regenerating damaged internal organs. By the time the cryo-stasis pod cracked open with a hiss of cold air, Abigail's eyes had flickered open, her state of bewilderment quite apparent in those lovely blue orbs.

Henry yanked open the lid, joy lighting up his face. "Abi!"

She looked up at him, her confusion replaced by elation. "Henry! You're alright!" She took in his bedraggled appearance with a frown of concern. "Why haven't you been taking care of yourself? I know I've been indisposed, but-"

He laughed with relief and leaned in to hug his fiancée, abruptly cutting her off. Abigail closed her eyes as she embraced him, her beautiful face a picture of contentment. They stayed like that for a long moment, until the raven-haired personal assistant realised they weren't alone. She glanced up at Rachel and beamed a radiant smile at her as she mouthed, "Thank you!"

"You're welcome," Rachel said quietly, returning her smile as she stroked Abigail's arm.

Henry pulled back abruptly and offered his fiancée a hand to get out of the cryo-stasis pod, while also trying to hug his daughter with one arm.

"Thank you so much, Rachel," he gushed, squeezing her awkwardly, his eyes brimming with tears. "I know I don't deserve your help after everything I've done... but thank you."

"Don't be silly, Daddy," she replied, smiling at him affectionately. "That's all in the past now. Besides, Abi's lovely; I would have healed her even if we'd still been fighting."

He smiled gratefully at his daughter, then pulled his raven-haired P.A. into a three-way hug. "I want to get married!"

Abigail wiggled her finger at him, making her engagement ring sparkle as it caught the light. "You already proposed, Henry."

Shaking his head, he said earnestly, "I mean... I want to get married right this minute!"

His fiancée frowned in disapproval. "I appreciate the sentiment, but I haven't had time to organise a pre-nup to protect your assets. Let me speak to your lawyer in the morning and we can plan-"

"No, I don't care about all that," Henry declared, gazing into her eyes. "I would've died if it wasn't for you, Abi. I love you... and I trust you with my life."

"Oh, Henry..." she whispered, biting her lip. "I love you too."

Rachel laughed and looked fondly at him. "Who is this reckless, lovestruck fool and what've you done with my father?"

He blushed, but didn't back down in the face of his daughter's teasing. "I know you're in a rush to leave, sweetheart... but can you stay for the wedding? Please? It would mean the world to me and Abigail if you were there."

"You really want to get married right now?" Rachel asked gently.

"Definitely." Henry then darted a worried frown at his fiancée. "As long as Abi agrees?"

She looked at him with a mixture of affection and incredulity. "You're actually serious about this?" When he nodded, she gave him a tender kiss. "Okay... but on one condition: could we have another ceremony so that my parents can attend? Otherwise they'll never forgive me for eloping."

Rachel grinned at her father. "Alright, I'll be at your wedding... but only if you let me make all the arrangements!"

***

"Now I've got to get back to Maliri Space before all the new matriarchs start killing each other just to make a good impression," John muttered, sipping his whiskey. "It's a real mess."

Charles shook his head in disbelief. "I remember laughing when you told me you were going to try trading with the Maliri. I just can't get my head around you being their leader!"

John chuckled and nodded. "You're not the only one..."

There was a quiet hiss as the door opened and Dana bounced into the room, a broad grin on her face. She was wearing tiny hot-pants and a crop-top that was practically painted on, leaving very little to the imagination.

"Hey, Charles!" she exclaimed, leaning over to give him a kiss on the cheek.

He blushed and returned her smile. "Hello, Dana. It's good to see you again."

John rose from his seat to greet the exuberant teen with a kiss. "Hi, honey. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything's just peachy!" she chirped, her sky-blue eyes sparkling. "Alyssa's got some awesome news... can you come back to the Officers' Lounge?"

He looked at her outfit with a raised eyebrow, surprised that Dana was veering wildly from the script they'd discussed. "Err... sure."

The redheaded teenager grinned at Charles, who was struggling to keep his eyes from her spectacular figure. She was the embodiment of youthful beauty; slender and perky, with a wonderfully toned physique and flawless skin.

"My bod looks familiar, right? Just like Lynette?" she asked, while cupping her mouth-wateringly firm breasts and squeezed them appreciatively. "Becoming a Lioness was the best thing that ever happened to me. I used to be flat as a pancake but now I'm stacked!"

Charles coughed and flushed with embarrassment. "You certainly have... a lovely figure."

Dana fluffed out her beautiful mane of lustrous red hair so it was tumbling down her back, then turned around and gave him a cheeky grin over her shoulder. "Like the view? I'm just giving you a glimpse of what Lina will look like after the Change!"

"Sparks..." John muttered, flashing her a disapproving frown.

"What?" she asked, with an impish twinkle in her eyes. "I didn't want Charles to forget that you've already got a flame-haired temptress on your crew."

John laughed and pulled her into a hug. "How could anyone forget you?"

"I know, right?" she agreed, before flicking a smile at the seated admiral. "Seriously though... the Invictus only has room for one hot redhead. John couldn't handle two of us."

Charles couldn't help chuckling. "I can believe that."

"You don't need to worry about Lynette either," Dana insisted, giving him a meaningful look. "We're maxed out on foxy brunettes too! John's already got Rachel, Calara, and Neysa... and they're all totally devoted to him."

Flushing with embarrassment, John muttered, "Dana... we've just gone over this. I told him I wasn't interested in Lynette."

Rising to his feet, Charles looked thoughtful as he studied the feisty redhead. "I must admit, I had trouble believing you before, but Lynette's just another brunette to you, isn't she?" he asked, sounding surprised as his gaze flicked to John.

"I don't think of her as just a brunette," John said indignantly, feeling somewhat defensive. "I have a great deal of respect for Lynette; she's brave and very loyal to her friends, as well as a dedicated and talented leader for the Terran Federation."

Charles placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a reassuring pat. "Easy, I'm not accusing you of being shallow... but I really don't have anything to be jealous about, do I?"

John relaxed, glad that his friend finally understood. He slipped an arm around Dana and smiled. "Nope. I've got my hands full already..."

She giggled and kissed his cheek. "Totally!"

Gesturing to the door, John said, "Well, we better head back to the Officers' Lounge."

Charles nodded and followed them through the Bridge up to the grav-tubes. He was quiet as they left the Command Deck, the frank conversation with John giving him plenty to think about. When they reached Deck Two, Dana released John's hand and headed the opposite way down the corridor.

"I'm going to get changed," she explained, skipping backwards towards her quarters. "Bye, Charles!"

"It was good to see you again, Dana," he gruffly replied. "And thank you."

Dana blew a kiss to him, then wiggled her fingertips at her fiancé. "See you later, John..."

John exchanged a smile with her, then led his guest to the doors at the other end of the corridor. The doors opened with a quiet hiss, admitting John and Charles into the Officers' Lounge, where Alyssa was still seated with Lina and Lynette. The redhead was lost in thought, but Lynette shot a worried glance towards the door, her eyes locking onto her fiancé. Before anyone could say a word, Alyssa leapt to her feet and rushed over to John's open arms.

"They're getting married!" she exclaimed, looking thrilled.

He blinked in surprise. "Who?"

"Henry and Abigail!"

Her explanation left him more confused. "Yeah, I know. Henry proposed a couple of weeks ago."

She shook her head, blonde locks swishing over her shoulders. "No, I mean they want to get married right now!"

"Oh, wow... that is good news. I'm happy for them," he said, pleased for Rachel's father. "Where are they holding the ceremony?"

"They haven't decided yet, but I volunteered to make a dress for Abigail!" she gushed, her cerulean eyes sparkling with glee.

John darted a quick glance at the chronometer to check the time, his expression conflicted. "Alyssa... we're supposed to be leaving as quickly as possible."

"But they're family!" the blonde protested. "Don't you want Rachel's new stepmother to look beautiful on her wedding day?"

He groaned and rubbed his hand over his face. "Yes, of course I do."

She grinned at him in delight. "I knew you'd agree!"

John rolled his eyes, but couldn't help smiling at seeing her so happy. "If they haven't chosen a venue yet, what about a beach wedding in the Lagoon?"

"Oh, John! That's a wonderful idea!" she gushed, giddy with excitement. "Thank you so much!"

"They're family," he said with an amiable grin.

She gave him a big kiss, then turned to their guests. "Sorry, but I have to run. I need to do some preliminary designs and find out whether Abigail wants her dress to be made from silk, lace, chiffon, velvet, or satin!"

"You have all that?" John asked in bewilderment.

Alyssa winked at him. "A girl likes to be prepared!"

She startled Lina with a surprise hug, whispered something in the redhead's ear that made her blush, then gave Lynette a friendly wave goodbye. "Speak to you later, beautiful!"

Bounding over to Charles next, she kissed him on the cheek, then gazed into his eyes. "Don't over-think this, Charles... just go with your heart, okay?"

He nodded, flustered by her close proximity. "I'll t-try," he stammered.

With that, Alyssa swept out of the Officers' Lounge like the force of nature that she was, leaving her three guests speechless.

John gave them a look of apology. "I'm sorry about that. She's just excited about the wedding."

"It's quite alright," Lynette said, walking over to Charles. She tentatively slipped her hand into his and looked relieved when he didn't pull away.

There was an awkward silence as John glanced at the two female admirals, not sure exactly what they knew about his discussion with Charles.

"Alyssa told us everything..." Lynette said, her expression conflicted. There was a long pause, then she continued, "We should probably get going. I'd like to see all the girls again, but now's obviously not a good time. You need to take care of Jehanna and the girls have a wedding to plan."

"That's true... but I'm sorry we're in such a rush."

The Fleet Admiral waved away his apology with a look of understanding. John accompanied his guests to the grav-tubes, then they descended to Deck Nine, where they stopped inside the airlock.

"It was good to see you again, Lina," John said, with a cautious smile.

The redhead looked at him speculatively, a mixture of apprehension and fascination on her face. "Alyssa certainly gave me a lot to think about. I'll let you know my decision when you return."

He acknowledged her with a nod, then turned to exchange a firm handshake with Charles.

"When are you back?" Charles asked without preamble.

"I don't know for sure... two weeks, maybe three?" John replied with a helpless shrug. "Alyssa will keep Lynette updated."

Charles hesitated, then said, "I'm sorry about all this. I know you've already got a lot on your plate and the last thing you needed was extra complications. Good luck, John... I hope everything goes smoothly with the matriarchs."

"Thanks, Charles," John said gratefully, sensing that whatever decision Admiral Harris made, their friendship would remain intact.

Turning to Lynette, he could see how worried she was, despite her best efforts to hide her anxiety from her fiancé.

Looking at the brunette with sympathy, he asked, "Could I have a quick word with you in private, Lynette?"

She flashed a pensive glance at Charles, but relaxed when he shrugged and nodded. "Okay then," she agreed.

Charles and Lina stepped through the outer airlock door, while John guided Lynette back down the corridor. They were still in sight of the other admirals, but were now safely out of earshot.

"I had to tell him the truth, Lynette," John said quietly, looking into her troubled hazel eyes. "If Charles found out I'd loaded up Lina behind his back, he'd never forgive any of us. You know he never really got over his wife cheating on him."

She wrung her hands together anxiously and glanced through the airlock at her fiancé. "What if Charles can't accept it? Now he knows what I did to go through the Change... he might not look at me the same way again."

"It did all happen before you two got together," John said, his tone calm and reassuring. "I'm basically like an ex-boyfriend you dumped after a few dates. Yeah, it's a bit awkward... but at least he didn't see you with a full tummy."

Lynette blushed and couldn't help giggling nervously. "Thank heaven for small mercies."

"He loves you, Lynette," John said with certainty. "Just give Charles some time."

"What about Lina?" she asked, studying John intently. "What do you think he's going to decide to do about her?"

"I honestly don't know," John admitted. "He's been my best friend for years, but funnily enough, this isn't the kind of thing we've ever discussed. We'll just have to wait and see."

She let out a heavy sigh, then nodded reluctantly. "I hope everything goes smoothly with... well, everything you're dealing with at the moment. Just let me know if I can help you in any way and I'll do whatever I can to assist you."

"You're a good girl, Lynette," John said with a grateful smile. "Thank you."

Lynette was immediately buoyed up by his praise, then her hazel eyes sparkled with amusement. "Aren't I a little old to be called that? Have you forgotten that I'm 52?"

He raised an eyebrow and appraised her with a professional eye. "Actually, physiologically you're only about twenty." Giving her a lopsided smile, John added, "Besides, Edraele's 162 and she's a good girl as well... most of the time."

*Only because you like it when I'm naughty, my Lord,* Edraele purred, a playful lilt to her voice.

*I do have a weakness for bad girls...* he admitted, enjoying the banter.

Lynette laughed, then looked at him in gratitude for trying to lift her spirits. "Thanks, John."

He gave her a reassuring smile. "You take care. We'll be back as soon as we can." Reaching over, he double-tapped her jacket pocket. "Don't forget your disguise."

John escorted Lynette back to the others and the three admirals waved goodbye as they departed. Leaning against the airlock door, he watched them walk away from the Invictus until they had left the docking bay. As much as John wanted them all to be happy, the thought of another toe-curling conversation with Charles about the Change made him squirm with embarrassment. He closed the airlock and headed inside, for once feeling incredibly thankful that he had an all-female crew and would never have to face this problem again.

*I'm sorry that was all so awkward,* Alyssa apologised, sounding genuinely contrite. *When Lynette first expressed an interest in Lina, I was happy for her. You know how much I love Calara and the difference she's made to our lives... I just wanted the same thing for Lynette and Charles.*

*Let's just stick to the winning formula from now on, okay?* he grumbled, striding over to the grav-tube. *XO in charge of recruitment.*

Her melodic laughter echoed through his mind. *Alright, handsome. No more delegation... I promise.*

***

Rachel lowered her arms and the ephemeral grey aura dissipated in a swirl of misty tendrils. All around the Critical Burns Ward, dozens of marines were sobbing with relief, or thanking the Angel of Terra with euphoric fervour. She smiled at them kindly, modestly demurring their pledges of lifelong fealty for healing their grievous wounds.

Doctor Bowman stood with his coterie of medics, the awed expressions on their faces far more eloquent than any flowery praise. He stepped forward as Rachel approached, then silently bowed his head in deference, an action repeated by the rest of the medical staff. She looked startled for a moment, then politely thanked him for the opportunity to help the wounded.

"She's amazing..." Abigail whispered, leaning into her fiancé.

Henry watched his daughter with a soft smile of paternal pride. "I know."

After saying her farewells, Rachel walked over to join them, a joyful expression on her face. "Alright, we better get going! There's lots to do before the wedding!"

Sakura peeled away from the door to fall into step beside her. "I'll head back to the Invictus with Abigail when Jade arrives. Alyssa needs her for the dress fitting."

The bride-to-be gave them a pained look. "I really appreciate Alyssa's offer, but we're having the service in an hour. There's no way she can get a dress made for me by then! I can just head back to our quarters and pick up one of my gowns. I have a lovely designer dress that Henry bought for me to wear at last year's Gala... it would do just fine."

"My future stepmother is not recycling a dress for her wedding day," Rachel declared with a mock frown of indignation. "Trust me... please?"

Abigail sighed and her blue eyes softened. "I can hardly turn you down after you saved my life. Oh well, I suppose anything's better than a hospital smock..." she said with a wry smile, plucking at the polyester garment that had replaced her blood-soaked clothes.

"That's the spirit," Sakura joked, stifling a laugh.

They walked out into the reception area, which was now completely deserted, the crowds having dispersed long ago. Jade arrived a moment later, her tail swishing playfully from side-to-side as she sauntered into the foyer.

"Hello everyone," she said, a warm smile lighting up her verdant features. The Nymph glanced at Sakura and added, "You better take off... Alyssa's getting as twitchy as a long-tailed catgirl in a room full of rocking chairs."

The Asian girl nodded her understanding, then turned to Abigail with open arms. "Would you let me carry you back to the Invictus? You must be exhausted after being healed and I can get us back much faster."

The raven-haired young woman gave her a self-conscious smile. "I am a bit tired... but are you sure you don't mind?"

"Not at all," Sakura replied, stepping forward and effortlessly scooping Abigail up into her arms.

Abigail grinned at her fiancé. "Help me, Henry! I've been swept off my feet!"

He leaned over to kiss her. "No you haven't. I know you're still mine."

She crossed her arms behind his neck as she returned the kiss. "That's true." After releasing him, she glanced up at Sakura. "Okay, I'm ready. Let me know if I get too heavy."

Sakura winked at her and activated psychic speed, then they blasted out of the reception area in a blur, Abigail's startled shriek echoing behind them. Henry jumped in surprise, then turned to his daughter for an explanation.

"Don't worry, Abigail's in safe hands," Rachel said, slipping her arm around his and leading him from the medical facility. She smiled at Jade who skipped a few steps to catch up with them. "And so are we. Jade's going to be our bodyguard until we return to the ship."

Her father stared at the cute green catgirl wearing a bright yellow sundress and strappy sandals. He quickly concluded that she was the furthest thing from a bodyguard he could ever imagine. Jade glanced back, a twinkle of anticipation appearing in her emerald eyes when she saw his sceptical expression.

"I could give you a demonstration if you like?" she asked, toying with the shoulder strap of her dress.

Rachel swatted her hand. "No scaring the Olympus personnel, Jade. Let's try getting to my father's quarters without causing pandemonium."

The Nymph pouted. "Oh, alright... if you insist."

***

John strode into the Lagoon, but was surprised to see that it was deserted. The only evidence of its recent occupants were a couple of empty cocktail glasses left abandoned on the table by the beach.

*They're in the Observatory,* Alyssa informed him, sounding distracted. *Check the Bathroom...*

*Thanks, honey,* he replied, crossing the bridge over the artificial lake.

When he opened the door into the Observatory, female laughter reached his ears, along with the alluring sound of splashing water. He turned towards the bathroom and went inside, his smile broadening when he found the source of merriment. Jehanna, Calara, and the twins were all in the huge bath, surrounded by a fluffy white cloud of foamy bubbles.

"I know I suggested you chat in comfort, but this wasn't quite what I had in mind..." John observed, trying to keep a straight face.

The laughter died and Jehanna looked up at him, her face twisting in sudden consternation. "John! I'm so sorry!"

"Hey, I'm not really upset," he quickly assuaged her, squatting down beside the bathtub. "I'm glad you were relaxing with the girls, honestly."

She shook her head. "It's not that... I've been a terrible girlfriend! I don't know why you want to be with me, when I'm so bloody selfish!"

"Where's all this coming from?" he asked in confusion, pulling the distraught soapy girl into his arms.

"All I've done is moan about my parents... but oh my God... what you've been through with yours!" she gasped, hugging him tight. "I never even asked how you were doing!"

Calara and the two Maliri girls rose from the sea of bubbles, emerging from the water like Venus from the sea.

They each stroked him as they passed, with Calara quietly whispering, "We're going to help with the wedding preparations."

John held Jehanna close, with one arm wrapped around her for support, then reached up to catch Calara's hand to stop her leaving. He moved his fingers to brush over her trim stomach and made eye contact with the statuesque Latina. "Later..."

She bit her lip and nodded, her eyes flicking to Jehanna then back to him. "Tell me when."

Turning his attention to the girl in his arms, John rubbed her back. "It looks like I'm well and truly soaked now; I might as well just get in."

"I'd love to share a bath with you," she agreed, releasing him so he could undress.

He quickly stripped off his clothes and slipped into the deliciously hot bath with a sigh. As soon as he was settled in the luxurious tub, he pulled Jehanna back into his arms, enjoying the slippery feel of her skin as she rubbed against him.

"Now... first of all, I don't think you're selfish," he said firmly, tilting up her chin to stop her looking away. "You're very close to your parents and it's perfectly understandable that you're upset by what's happened."

She tried to object, but John quickly silenced her with a kiss.

"My situation is very different; to start with, I only met my parents for the first time last week. Yes, they both spectacularly failed to meet my expectations, but those were just a young boy's juvenile fantasies. My father was a mass-murdering Progenitor and my mother his mindless Thrall... I should have known better than to get my hopes up. Anyway... they're both dead to me now, so let's just forget about them."

Jehanna cupped his face in her hands and tenderly kissed him. There were tears in her eyes when she pulled away... and a look filled with compassion.

"Don't get upset, honey," he said gently. With a determined set to his jaw, he continued, "I'll do whatever I can to help you fix things with your parents... I promise."

"I know you will," she whispered, kissing him again. "I love you, John. I hope I can show you how much someday."

"You don't have to prove anything," he said with a reassuring smile. "You're an amazing girl, Jehanna. I'm very lucky to have you in my life."

She sat astride him, her face only a few inches from his. "Would you let me really be a part of your life? For a few weeks at least..."

His momentary confusion shifted into a look of understanding. "The girls talked to you about coming with us back to Genthalas?"

Jehanna nodded. "The twins made a very good point: I'm considering retiring with you in Maliri Space, but I've never even seen Valaden."

"You're right, that's an excellent reason to come with us," he agreed, brushing a tendril of wet hair away from her face. "I was going to suggest you joining us until we can sort this mess out with your parents, as I didn't want you to be left alone while you were upset. This kills two birds with one stone."

"Two wounded little birds?" she asked softly, looking into his eyes. "Or maybe one wounded little bird and a wounded lion?"

His stoic composure cracked for a moment, then John was back to his usual self. "Don't worry about me. Let's just concentrate on making sure you're alright."

Jehanna nodded, realising that he was uncomfortable showing any sign of vulnerability about his parents. She gave him a gentle kiss, but there was a spark of passion in her eyes now. "I really missed you, John..."

"I missed you too," he replied, then let out a groan as she rubbed up against his thickening shaft.

"Yeah?" she purred, undulating her hips. Her tone was playful as she continued, "I find that hard to believe... You've got so many beautiful girls eager to keep you company."

"You're not jealous are you?" he teased, letting his hands slide down to her waist. Now he could control her movements and ground her against the base of his shaft.

She moaned at the insistent pressure on her clit. "Maybe I am," she confessed with a wicked smile. "I want to play with them too..."

He leaned forward to kiss her neck, sucking fiercely to leave a love bite. Jehanna gasped and clung to him tightly, then let out a low cry as he repositioned her slick pussy over the head of his cock. Her scream of ecstasy as he slid her down to the base of his shaft was just the first of countless more to come.

***

Sakura skidded to a halt beside the Invictus' airlock door, then glanced down at her trembling passenger. "How are you doing? Are you okay?"

Abigail had her eyes squeezed tightly closed. "Are we there yet?"

"We're here, safe and sound," the Asian girl said with a smile, setting the young woman down on her feet.

Sakura placed her gauntleted hand on the DNA reader, which beeped and flashed red. Frowning in confusion, she tried again with the same result.

*Alyssa, I can't open the airlock door!* she protested, glaring at the device with irritation.

*Your DNA must have changed. John's obviously given you some kind of upgrade,* the blonde replied a moment later. *Hold on a second...*

The former assassin didn't have to wait long before the airlock door spiralled open, admitting the two women into the Invictus' hull.

"Come on, I'll take you to see Alyssa," Sakura said, offering a hand to her guest.

Abigail clasped her hand and they walked inside, the journey upwards in the grav-tube met with the usual shocked reaction. Sakura settled Abigail down and coaxed her out onto Deck Two, then they entered the quarters closest to the grav-tube, which Alyssa had repurposed as a design studio for her role as the ship's seamstress.

The blonde was expecting them and greeted her guest with a hug. "It's lovely to meet you at last, Abigail."

"You too, Alyssa," the raven-haired beauty replied. "I've heard so much about you from Rachel."

"Nothing too shocking I hope," Alyssa replied, giving her a disarming smile.

Abigail shook her head. "She looks up to you like a big sister. We keep in touch regularly so she can keep tabs on her father and Rachel's always mentioning things you said or did."

Alyssa's bright blue eyes softened. "She's a wonderful girl. I'm so grateful Rachel joined us." Stepping aside, she turned to gesture towards the holographic image displayed behind her. "Unfortunately, we're on a very tight schedule so we better get started. I came up with a preliminary design, which I thought would flatter your figure."

As the statuesque blonde moved out of the way, Abigail got her first glimpse of the wedding dress. She was expecting something very plain, simple by necessity to give Alyssa any chance of making it in time for the ceremony. What she saw shocked her beyond belief and left Abigail staring at the hologram in awe.

"It's so beautiful," she murmured, her face shadowing with regret. "It would've been perfect... absolutely perfect."

"It will be," Alyssa agreed, delighted by her reaction.

Sakura leaned against the doorframe, a wistful smile on her face. "It really is gorgeous..."

Abigail frowned in confusion. "There's no way you can make this in time, Alyssa. Just look at all that intricate lacework!" Her eyes swept over the dress with longing. "Maybe we should delay the wedding for a few weeks..."

"No, don't do that," Alyssa said firmly. "Are you sure this is the one? Are you happy with the material?"

When Abigail gave her a bewildered nod, Alyssa gestured towards the bolts of cloth stacked on the far side of the room. A beautiful sheet of white satin floated into the air as a score of glowing scissors popped into existence around it. They immediately went to work, cutting intricate shapes from the material which were carefully removed by a dozen glowing telekinetic hands. Alyssa gestured imperiously to the host of eldritch seamstresses and soon the pieces of cloth were being sewn together with delicate thread. Abigail could only gape at them in wonder, watching as her dream dress took shape before her eyes.

***

"How are you getting on in there, Daddy? Nearly ready?" Rachel asked, knocking lightly on the bedroom door.

"I'll just be a minute," he called out to her. "Come in."

She opened the door and waltzed inside, then smiled to see her father freshly showered and clean-shaven once again. Dressed in smart suit trousers and wearing a pristine white shirt, Henry Voss was searching through a jewellery case, trying to choose from a row of gleaming cufflinks.

Rachel leaned over and picked out a platinum set with three glittering diamonds. "I think you should wear those."

Henry hesitated as she dropped them into his open palm. "Rachel... I'm not sure that's appropriate. Your mother bought them for me."

"I know," she said quietly. "The top pair of diamonds represent the two of you and I was the third."

He swallowed thickly, his finger trembling as he touched the valuable pieces. "I haven't worn them in years..."

"It's been thirteen years," Rachel stated, knowing she was correct. "I remember you showing them to me... they used to be your favourites."

Turning to look at his daughter, there was terrible guilt reflected in his eyes. "I'm so sorry, Rachel. Maybe I should call off the wedding... I don't deserve this."

"You don't deserve to be happy?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Is that why you married a vapid gold digger who didn't love you? To punish yourself?"

He looked at her with a mixture of pride and regret. "You were always so smart. You could always cut straight to the quick."

"I'm not trying to hurt you any more, Daddy," she said softly. "I hated you for a long time... but you weren't to blame for what happened to Catherine... not really. I punished the people that took her from us... and it's time to put all of that in the past. Mummy was sweet and kind... she would have forgiven you long ago."

"You're so like her," he said, his voice catching. "Seeing you healing those soldiers today... you reminded me of your mother so much."

Rachel smiled at him then glanced down at the cufflinks. "Catherine would have wanted you to be happy again. Wear those with our blessing."

Henry nodded and moved to pick them up, but his fingers were shaking with emotion.

"Let me," she offered, taking them from him and deftly inserting them into his shirt cuffs. "There... perfect."

He wrapped his arms around Rachel, giving her a warm fatherly hug. She leaned into him and they stood together like that for a long moment, both enjoying the renewed closeness between them.

Rachel brushed at her eyes and gave him a big smile. "We should get going. We don't want you to be late for your own wedding."

Henry mirrored her happy expression. "We better get there quick before Abigail comes to her senses."

***

"I really missed this..." Jehanna murmured, letting out a blissful sigh of contentment.

She snuggled back against John's chest, relishing the feel of his strong arms around her. His fingers lightly caressed her obscenely swollen belly, her abdomen stretched to its limit by the heavy load he'd pumped into her womb. Every touch sent a delicious thrill through her body, making Jehanna wonder how incredible it would feel to be carrying his baby inside her.

John kissed her shoulder, enjoying the feel of her soft skin against his lips. "I'll try to spend as much time as I can with you while you're staying with us... but I'm afraid I have some other commitments."

Half-turning, she looked up at him over her shoulder. "I understand, John... really. You need to calm down the new matriarchs and make sure they all stay loyal to Queen Edraele. Will you have to give each of them a full tummy?"

"I'll start by asking Jade to help me recruit them to Edraele's network. When they're all connected to her, then I'll try to make the time to see each of them individually."

"Will that be enough?" she asked, idly stroking her own curved stomach.

"I hope so..." he replied, but didn't look convinced. "At least one of the original matriarchs survived the slaughter and Edraele seems to think Emandra Holaris is a real tyrant. It'll probably take multiple sessions with her to erase any homicidal or sadistic tendencies."

She nodded in understanding, then gave him a funny look and burst into laughter.

"What?" he asked, smiling at her unexpected mirth.

"We're calmly discussing how many beautiful women are going to have to suck your cock over the next few weeks. Not only do I not feel the slightest bit angry or jealous... it's actually turning me on!"

John smoothed back a stray lock of her long jet-black hair. "I'm sorry that I altered your mind to willingly accept that."

Jehanna shrugged and gave him a mellow smile. "You and Alyssa both warned me exactly what I was signing up for. I'm certainly not complaining... I just found it amusing."

He studied her for a moment, then asked quietly, "I saw the video footage of you wiping out the ISD assassins on Olympus. Alyssa said that you haven't been suffering with any flashbacks since then, but I just wanted to check you were alright."

"I feel fine," she said, after thinking about her feelings. "Actually, that's not true. I'm glad I executed those bastards... they all had it coming after they dared to go after our family!"

John stroked her hair and the regret on his face was plain for her to see.

"What's the matter?" Jehanna asked in confusion when she saw his expression. "You don't actually care about those traitorous assholes, do you?!"

"No, not at all," he readily admitted. "But I remember a time, not so long ago, when you were appalled by the level of violence the Lionesses were using. You were worried you might become blasé about killing people."

She shrugged. "They were bad guys... they had it coming."

John didn't say anything, just looked at her with remorse.

Jehanna froze, her eyes widening in surprise. "Oh!"

"It wasn't deliberate, Jehanna... but I'm so sorry I did that to you."

She tilted her head to one side and considered it. "I'm not. I was wrong before."

Jehanna saw him grimace, so she quickly continued, "The ISD troops initiated that slaughter against innocent civilians. If I hadn't taken those assassins out quickly, Abigail would've died from blood loss before the medics could get to her in time. Was her life worth more than the murderous scum that gunned down hundreds of people in cold blood? Damn right she was! That squad wasn't worth a second of remorse... so yes, I'm glad that I see things differently now."

"It's just that... I never wanted to change you into something that you didn't want to be," he said quietly, stroking her hair. "You were worried about becoming a merciless killer."

"I was wrong about that too," Jehanna said with conviction. "Calling the Lionesses merciless killers is such a disservice to everything they stand for. I feel proud that I was able to save Henry and Abigail... and I regret judging the girls the way that I did. When your Lionesses fought at the Battle of Terra, they were trying to save humanity from annihilation by a malevolent alien threat. They were forced into doing what they had to do, to save innocent lives."

"I agree with you... but-"

Jehanna leaned up to kiss him and silenced his objection. "We can't change anything now, so please don't feel guilty about this. There's no one in the galaxy I admire more than your Lionesses... except for you... and if you've brought me a step closer to being like them, then I feel honoured."

John listened to her earnest reply, then kissed her shoulder. "No regrets at all?"

"Just one," she said, looking into his eyes. "I'm sorry that I haven't been able to drop everything and join you like the others have. Please don't take that as a sign that I don't love you... I really do! If it wasn't for my parents, I'd join you in a heartbeat."

He pulled back and looked at her in surprise. "What about your career with TFNN and the Press Liaison job with High Command? That meant so much to you!"

She rolled around so she was lying on her back and gazed up at him with a gleam in her eyes. "You're the only story that matters now, John. Mighty Baen'thelas fighting to liberate the galaxy from a malevolent god and his army of tyrants! What could be more epic than that?"

"You've been talking to Tashana," he said, frowning in disapproval. "I asked them not to put pressure on you to make a decision."

"She didn't!" Jehanna blurted out, quick to defend the Maliri girl. "But everything Tashana told me is true though, isn't it? Compared to what you're facing, covering events in the Terran Federation is like reporting on a town mayor opening a supermarket!"

He sighed and nodded. "Yes, I suppose that's true."

*I'm sorry to interrupt, John,* Alyssa said quietly, her telepathic voice drifting through his mind. *We haven't got long and you two need to get ready.*

Jehanna glanced down at her rounded stomach, then licked her lips instinctively and shook her head. Her responses were subtle, but enough to let him know that Alyssa was talking to her too.

"What's my mischievous matriarch saying to you?" John asked with a smile, placing his hand on her curved midriff.

"Alyssa asked if I minded sharing with Sakura and Calara; she said they've been good girls today and you wanted to reward them," Jehanna explained, a look of anticipation on her face. She blushed and added quietly, "She also said that I shouldn't take full loads yet until I've convinced you that I'm serious about becoming a Lioness. That there's nothing sexier than swallowing all your cum, knowing that you're Changing me to become one of your girls."

*Alyssa...* John rumbled, making no effort to disguise his disapproval.

*What? I'm just being honest with the foxy reporter and she's just being honest with you. Jehanna's ready John... this bust up with her parents was the push she needed.*

Before John could say a word, Calara, Sakura, and Marika entered the Observatory, the trio shedding clothes like confetti as they rushed to join the couple on the oval bed.

"Hello, Master," the Nymph said fondly, hugging him from behind and kissing his cheek.

Calara knelt next to Jehanna and stroked her hair. "Hello again, gorgeous. You look so satisfied and contented... it's lovely to see."

"Hey," the dusky girl replied, looking up at her with a dreamy smile. "That's exactly how I feel."

"Now that's a sexy tummy," Sakura murmured, reverently caressing the cum-filled dome with both hands. "Would you mind if I go first? Apparently, somebody's enhancing me at the moment..."

The Asian girl flashed John a knowing grin as she lay down between those splayed thighs, Jehanna's lusty groan all the confirmation Sakura needed. Soon she was hungrily slurping away, with Jehanna holding her in place and bucking against Sakura's lapping tongue. Calara was next to fill her stomach with his cum, then Marika used her long tongue to lick Jehanna's womb clean, before feeding every last drop to the writhing girl as she climaxed repeatedly.

John could feel them lighting up in his mind as he established an active connection with each girl, the portraits representing them shining brightly. Although it felt wonderful to be that close to Jehanna again, he worried that her newfound enthusiasm for joining the crew was simply a rebellious reaction to the fallout with her parents. As much as he cared about the beautiful young woman, he didn't want her to rush headlong into a decision she might regret later. Even if she did end up having no regrets, could those feelings be trusted, knowing how much influence the Change had over the girls?

Lost in thought, he was only dimly aware of the girls moving around on the bed, until he felt Marika hug him from behind again.

"They've each been fed, Master," the Nymph whispered in his ear.

Jolted from his musings, John saw the three Terran girls were now standing before him, with Jehanna flanked by Calara and Sakura. They'd split his cum between them, so each only had a small bulge in their stomachs, with Jehanna's being slightly more prominent as she lacked the sculpted abdominal muscles of a fully-fledged Lioness. The contrast between their skin tones was intoxicating, ranging from Calara's earthy olive hue, Sakura's warm golden-brown, and Jehanna's rich coffee complexion.

John imagined how they'd all look when Jehanna had an identical figure to the rest of the girls and those bumps in their bellies were real. He gently stroked Calara and Sakura, then planted a tender kiss on Jehanna's curved tummy. Two out of three of those beautiful young women were already desperate to carry his babies and at this rate, it wouldn't be long before Jehanna joined them. Glancing up with a smile of satisfaction on his face, he saw three sets of alluring brown eyes watching him intently.

"What're you thinking about, John?" Jehanna whispered, giving him a knowing smile.

*Did you just tell them everything I was thinking?* he accused his naughty blonde matriarch.

*Would I dare do such a thing, handsome?* Alyssa purred, sounding quite unrepentant.

He kissed Jehanna's navel again, then rose to his feet. "Something to be discussed at a later date. Let's get showered and dressed, we have a wedding to attend."

The three Terran girls giggled excitedly as they headed for the bathroom, but John paused when he saw Marika's indecision, the catgirl still kneeling on the bed.

"Jade thought it might be best to keep the numbers small and private, especially as we don't know the bride or groom," she explained, fidgeting nervously.

*Abigail says that all of Rachel's friends are very welcome,* Alyssa informed him.

John held out a hand and pulled Marika up into his arms. "Would you like to be there to see Rachel celebrate a happy occasion?"

Neysa nodded eagerly. "Oh yes, definitely!"

"Come on then," he said with a smile. "I want a shower with all my brown-eyed girls."

She beamed at him in delight as she accompanied him into the bathroom, where she was warmly welcomed by the others. John very much enjoyed being the centre of attention, although the downside was that he was cleaned from head-to-toe in record time. The girls realised their mistake and begged him to stay, but he demurred, wanting to be dressed to meet Rachel's father when he arrived.

***

Jessica Blake darted another glance at the ship's chronometer for the thousandth time and felt her heart skip a beat. There were only ten minutes left before the Wormhole Generator would be recharged and ready for activation... ten minutes until she would have to apologise to the son she'd abandoned. She heard footsteps echoing in the corridor outside and sighed with relief that Rahn'hagon had returned.

"Rahn! Thank God you're here," she gushed, running into his arms.

He gave her a strained smile. "I promised I would be, Jess."

"What's wrong?" she asked, looking at him with concern. "Are you worried about how John will react?"

Rahn'hagon let out an exasperated sigh. "No... well, not really. I've been scouring the secret archives for any clues, but my search was in vain. In all the entries on forbidden runes and Kyth'vindathys, there was nothing to explain why he's grown so powerful."

He frowned and decided not to mention that his search for answers about Jessica's mind shield, and the infuriating female presence behind it, had been equally fruitless.

Jessica kissed him in sympathy, hating to see her beloved so frustrated. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

He smiled at her affectionately. "Thank you for the offer, but no... I'll just have to keep digging deeper until I find the answers I seek." His gaze flicked to the holographic depiction of Olympus Shipyard. "Has there been any change here?"

The brief distraction had been a welcome relief, but Jessica's heart lurched again when she remembered the primary reason they were in the Alpha Centauri system. "No... the Invictus is still docked."

"It's nearly time, Jess," Rahn'hagon said, stroking her soft brown hair. "Any further delays will only cause you unnecessary suffering."

Jessica took a deep breath to steady herself, then gave him a tremulous nod.

***

John was reaching for his charcoal suit, when he heard the click of heels and recognised Alyssa's familiar sashay.

"Not that one, handsome," she said, greeting him with a lovely smile. Her fingers trailed along the hanging suits and stopped on a uniform jacket that was instantly recognisable throughout the Terran Federation. "Wear this instead."

"My Lion uniform?" he asked in surprise. "Why?"

"You're the Captain of the Invictus and wearing that, you'll look more official," she patiently explained.

He looked at her in alarm. "You've got to be kidding!"

"They only want a simple service with standard vows... you'll be perfect! Besides, who else is going to do it? Betrixa?"

John had to stifle a laugh as he pictured the impish catgirl officiating the wedding. "Alright... I see your point."

As he started dressing in his Lion uniform, his eyes drifted over Alyssa's outfit. She wore a modest yellow summer dress that flattered her figure, but it was a far cry from the eye-catching, form-fitting outfits she preferred.

"I'd never dream of upstaging the bride," she murmured, listening to his thoughts as she watched him get dressed. She handed him his peaked hat. "There, you look fantastic."

"Just the standard vows?" John asked with a sigh of resignation.

*I'll even recite them to you, so all you have to do is repeat what I say,* she informed him telepathically, before giving him a grateful kiss. "Thanks for doing this, John. It'll really mean a lot to Rachel."

He nodded, adjusted his hat and accompanied the jubilant blonde out of the Observatory. When the doors opened, he was shocked to see how much work had gone into making the Lagoon a spectacular wedding venue. A white carpet stretched out across the sand, the pillar-lined path adorned with bouquets of flowers as it led up to the altar. Diaphanous white fabric was draped across the Grecian columns and the flickering torchlight added an enchanting air to the scene.

Dana and the twins were rushing around making last-minute preparations, and John also spotted Rachel talking to her father at the bottom of the sweeping steps. They laughed together, sharing a joke, then both turned to greet Dana as she crossed the beach to join them. Henry spoke sincerely to the redhead and they shared a big hug, with Rachel smiling fondly at them both.

"Helene's with Abigail keeping her calm," Alyssa said as they crossed the bridge. "We'll be down in just a few minutes."

"See you soon," John replied, parting company with her as she headed for the express grav-tube.

He walked down the steps to join the groom and smiled at Rachel's father in greeting. "Welcome aboard the Invictus, Henry."

Henry looked happier than John had ever seen him and years of tension seemed to have evaporated from his face. "Thank you for offering to hold the wedding here. I'm glad Abigail isn't having to get married in a drab Olympus registry office; I imagine they paint those grey too."

John chuckled and nodded. "Yes, the Terran Federation navy has a real aversion to bright colours."

Rachel brushed her hand over the golden lion embroidered on John's chest. "I forgot how handsome you look dressed in this." Her lips curled up into a teasing smile. "Are you trying to overshadow the groom?"

He blanched and looked at Henry in alarm. "No, not at all! Alyssa said I needed to wear my uniform to officiate the wedding."

Henry laughed and shook his head. "Relax, I don't think anyone cares what the groom looks like. As long as Abi doesn't run for the hills, I'll be happy."

John glanced at the elaborate venue preparations. "Did you put all this together, Sparks?"

"Yeah, with a lot of help from the girls and the Collective," she replied modestly.

"I can't believe you finished it all in time," he marvelled, shaking his head in admiration.

"I was just saying what a wonderful job she'd done," Henry agreed, looking at the redhead with gratitude. "Abi's going to be thrilled when she sees it."

"It's the least I could do after you registered all those patents for me, Henry," Dana replied, blushing self-consciously. "I can't believe how much cash is rolling in."

He winked at her. "Never upset the goose that lays the golden egg."

Dana laughed and held up a fist, which Henry bumped with his own.

Rachel gave her girlfriend a joyful kiss and beamed at her father, delighted to see them both getting on so well.

The rest of the girls crossed the bridge and walked down the steps to join them, with Rachel making all the introductions to her father. Everyone stood in small groups making light-hearted conversation for a couple of minutes, then Alyssa appeared at the steps with Helene, scattering rose petals on their way down. "Canon in D" by Pachelbel began to play, the beautiful string music drifting over the Lagoon and silencing the murmur of voices.

*Places everyone,* Alyssa declared and the dozen girls in attendance fanned out to await the bride.

John stood with Henry by the altar and watched as the doors to the Lagoon opened. Abigail looked absolutely radiant, her long raven hair in an elaborate hairstyle, the black contrasting sharply with the stunningly intricate white wedding dress. There was a collective gasp of amazement from the girls, who watched spellbound as she slowly descended the steps. Abigail blushed at the looks of admiration from the audience, especially as each of the girls was exceptionally beautiful in their own right.

"You look like an angel, Abi," Henry murmured to his fiancée, taking her hand.

Her blue eyes sparkled with joy. "Thank you, Henry. You look very handsome too."

Dana stepped forward and handed two rings to Henry, who nodded to her gratefully.

Alyssa began reciting the wedding vows to John, who guided the bride and groom through their turns. His gaze swept over the audience and saw all the girls were captivated by the whole event, a look of longing in ten sets of eyes, another four feline pairs appearing more than a little intrigued. It was a simple wedding, but sincere and heartfelt, with the married couple exchanging rings and celebrating with a loving kiss.

"I give you, Henry and Abigail Voss," John concluded with a broad smile.

The audience whooped and cheered, with Rachel wiping the tears from her eyes as she looked on joyfully. Everyone surrounded the bride and groom to offer their congratulations and wish them a very happy marriage.

"I promise I won't be a wicked step-mother," Abigail said as she hugged Rachel.

The brunette laughed as she hugged her back. "You better not be! And I hate being an only child... I want a brother and sister!"

Abigail blushed but gave Henry a coy smile. "I'll see what I can do about that."

That earned a round of laughter from the girls and Henry tried his best not to look flustered.

*That was lovely,* Alyssa murmured to John, the emotions strong in her voice as she slipped her arm around his. *Is that going to be us someday?*

He glanced at her and smiled, unlinking his arm so he could wrap it around her shoulders and draw her closer. *You're going to be a stunning bride... heart-stoppingly beautiful. It's a good job we have Rachel around so she can restart mine before the service.*

She laughed at his joke, then leaned her head on his shoulder. Alyssa seemed uncharacteristically vulnerable at that moment and John could only imagine what this must be like for her, picturing her big day and wishing that her parents could be there to see it. His thoughts turned to his own parents and his mood became just as melancholy when he realised that he was in much the same position as Alyssa. He hated that his parents were still able to hurt him, even on what should be a joyful occasion.

Alyssa looked at him with sympathy, then stood on tip-toe to give him a big kiss. They held each other close until a group of robo-maids entered the Lagoon, carrying trays full of champagne flutes to distribute to everyone. John and Alyssa each took a glass and participated in a toast to the newly married couple.

Daphne arrived shortly after her fellow cleaning robots and she navigated through the crowd, exchanging friendly greetings with the girls. Coming to a halt beside John and Alyssa, the robo-girl said quietly, "I'm sorry to interrupt, John, but we've just received an incoming call... from Jessica Blake."

John's expression darkened and he clenched his fists in anger. Stepping away from the celebrations, he drew Daphne aside. "What did she want? They know I've banished them from my territory!"

Daphne tilted her head to one side as if in thought, then she played back the message. "This is Jessica Blake... I-I'd like to speak to John please."

Hearing her tremulous voice again brought back memories of their first meeting, when all Jessica cared about was rescuing Rahn'hagon. Not a word of regret or remorse about abandoning her son for forty years, just a blind obsession with being reunited with a psychopathic mass-murderer.

John gritted his teeth. "Tell my mother... I'll be happy to talk to her when my father's dead."

Daphne paused in confusion as she was about to depart. "John, isn't Rahn'hagon immortal?"

"That's right," he replied, his expression bleak.

"Oh, I see," she said quietly. "I'll relay the message for you."

He watched her leave, then turned back to see Alyssa watching him with a troubled look on her face.

*Let's see the happy couple off, then we'll head to Ross 248,* John declared, his eyes flashing with tightly-suppressed fury. *I feel like having a chat with Arjun Khatri.*

***

Jessica tapped her finger impatiently on the console, waiting for a response from the Invictus. She darted a worried glance at Rahn'hagon who gave her an encouraging smile.

"They haven't moved to engage us... that's a promising sign," he said, gesturing towards the holo-map of the system which showed that the battlecruiser was still docked.

She nodded nervously, then jumped as the comms interface chimed. Stabbing her finger on the rune that Rahn'hagon had showed her earlier, she answered the call. "Yes! I'm here!"

The cute robo-girl appeared again, the expression on her synthetic features looking surprisingly like pity. "I have spoken to John Blake," Daphne informed her. "He asked me to relay the following message..."

In a flurry of pixels, John's face appeared on-screen, his features contorted with pain and anger.

"Tell my mother... I'll be happy to talk to her when my father's dead."

Jessica stared in horror at the video playback of her son, an icy fist squeezing her heart in its grip. The thought of Rahn'hagon dying was like a physical blow and she sank to her knees, shaking with distress.

"No..." she whimpered, the brutal rejection searing her soul.

Rahn'hagon clenched his teeth in anger, horrified to see his beloved Jessica in such anguish. The fury faded as he knelt down and wrapped the weeping brunette in his arms, quickly replaced by a sickening surge of guilt. How could he blame John for lashing out at the pair of them after that disastrous confrontation at Arcadia? If their roles were reversed, Rahn'hagon wouldn't have shown mercy to his father and let him leave peacefully.

"I'm sorry, Jess," he whispered, filled with regret to see her in agony. "So very sorry..."

Jessica suddenly shoved him away and lurched unsteadily to her feet. She stumbled out of the dreadnought's Bridge, her broken-hearted sobs the most terrible sound Rahn'hagon had ever heard.

***

Fleet Admiral Lynette Devereux tried reading through the priority message again, but she'd barely got past the first paragraph when her mind drifted. She still remembered the conflicted look on Charles' face as he politely declined Lynette's invitation to enter her quarters, saying that he had some urgent reports he needed to read before turning in. They had parted company without a kiss, which was to be expected when she was in her holo-disguise, but she couldn't help worrying after her fiancé's discussion with John.

*Charles adores you,* Alyssa said emphatically. *Just leave him be for tonight and let him get his head around things. When he wakes up in the morning without the love of his life beside him, he'll be over there like a shot.*

*But what if he can't bring himself to kiss me ever again?* Lynette replied, wringing her hands together anxiously. *I love him, Alyssa... I can't even imagine being without him now.*

*He's not stupid, Lynette,* the blonde matriarch said abruptly, changing tack. *You're the hottest woman Charles has ever seen. You're thirty years younger than him, you're desperate to have his children, AND you'll eagerly suck his cock, morning, noon, and night. Only a complete fucking idiot would turn that down!*

Lynette hiccupped a laugh at her friend's blunt honesty. *That's true.*

*Damn straight,* Alyssa said, her tone lightening.

Staring up at the screen again, Lynette decided to start reading the message again. She managed the first sentence, then a sudden thought came to her. *Oh, how was the wedding?*

*It was lovely. Abigail looked gorgeous and the whole thing went off without a hitch...* Alyssa's voice trailed away with an unfamiliar note of worry at the end.

*Are you alright?* Lynette asked in surprise. *Did something happen?*

*John's mother attempted to call him and he basically told her to go fuck herself. In fact, if he'd said that, it would've been less painful,* Alyssa said with a sad sigh.

Sitting upright with concern, Lynette's heart ached for John. *Oh no... is he alright?*

*We're about to depart from Olympus, then we'll be hitting Ross 248 to take down Khatri. It's going to get bloody, Lynette... can you send a clean-up team?*

The Fleet Admiral felt a shiver run down her spine at Alyssa's ominous tone. *Will do. I'll divert the closest fleet assets.*

*Thanks... you're an angel,* Alyssa murmured, sounding distracted again.

Lynette opened a special order directive, requesting the immediate diversion of the closest TFN vessel with a marine company to the Ross 248 system. With that done, she tried to focus on the priority message and started again.

--

From: Admiral Sofia Esposito: C.O. - Internal Security Division.

Investigation into Brimorian massacre in the Callopean Shoals.

Lynette,

We have discovered some disturbing combat footage in black boxes salvaged from wrecked fighters in Admiral Morgan's fleet. Cross-checking against other fleet recordings has corroborated the suspicious activity and with your permission I'd like to unlock vindicated ISD assets and investigate for further evidence of malfeasance. The suspect is under lockdown in Unity City Medical Institute and will remain so until...

--

Bleary-eyed and losing focus, Lynette leaned back and rubbed at her face, unable to concentrate any more. She felt exhausted... mentally drained after a day of eager anticipation, then hours spent with tense anxiety. Opening a reply, she wrote a message to Admiral Esposito, knowing the most recent addition to High Command would still be up working at midnight.

--

Sofia,

I am granting you authority to utilise whatever assets you deem necessary to aid your investigation. Give me an update when you have conclusive findings.

Lynette

Fleet Admiral Lynette Devereux

--

The message was acknowledged by Sofia less than thirty seconds later, making Lynette smile at the woman's diligence. She closed down the comms interface and headed to her bedroom, where she stripped off her clothes and collapsed on the bed. Curling over, she ran her hand over Charles' side, desperately wishing that he were there now to tell her that everything was going to be alright.

***

"Goodbye!" Abigail called out, waving to John and the girls. "Thank you for everything!"

"Have a safe journey!" Henry added, his arm around his young bride. "Keep me updated!"

"I will, I promise! I love you!" Rachel gushed, returning the wave until the airlock door spiralled closed.

Henry and Abigail backed away as the retro-thrusters along the Invictus' hull began to flare, the white battlecruiser slowly and majestically lifting off from the deck. Rachel continued to wave at her father and stepmother through the porthole, until the Invictus emerged from Olympus Shipyard and they dropped away out of sight.

"Alright, let's get the bastards who tried to kill my dad," she growled, turning to face John and the girls.

John nodded, his smile fading as he no longer tried to hide his fury. "You can count on that."

He slapped his hand against the button beside the door into the Secondary Hangar, then Alyssa, Dana, and Rachel, marched with him across to the concealed express grav-tubes. Alyssa had informed all the girls about Jessica Blake's attempt to contact John, so they understood the reason behind his foul mood.

They rose up to the Armoury in silence, then stepped into the armour-equipping frames, robotic arms swinging down to plate them in Paragon suits. The rest of the crew were already gathered in the Combat Bridge, those that usually wore armour in combat fully-geared and ready for war.

Alyssa slid a Tachyon rifle into the holster beside her XO station, then her gauntleted fingers danced across the console. "I'm laying in a course for Ross 248. It's so close by that it's not worth attempting to slingshot around Terra, even if it wasn't for all the traffic."

John removed his helmet as he sat in the Command Chair, then glanced at the holographic Sector Map that hung motionless in the centre of the room. He watched a green line appear, linking Alpha Centauri with their destination in a short 10 light-year hop.

Sakura rose from her seat at the Security station. "John... can I make a suggestion?"

"Of course," he replied, acknowledging her with a nod.

"I could orbital drop into the estate, locate Arjun Khatri and extract him from the compound without anyone realising until he was long gone."

"A stealth mission?" Dana asked, darting a wry grin at the former assassin.

The Asian girl shrugged. "I felt obligated to suggest it."

John shook his head. "That's not going to send the right message. If Khatri's guilty, which I'm sure he is, we need to make an example of him."

"I want to be a part of this too," Jehanna requested, crossing her arms defiantly. "I was there on Olympus. I saw the thousands of bodybags for all those poor men and women blown up in their barracks, and I interviewed countless heartbroken relatives who had their families destroyed by the bastards that planned that atrocity."

He gave her a curt nod. "You've earned the right to be there."

"I'd like to be part of the drop team too," Calara requested, turning to face John. "They tried to kill my mom, destroyed my family's home... I want some payback."

John met her angry gaze. "You'll get to even the score... trust me."

Rachel's calculating grey-eyes were cold and hard. "I've been reviewing Khatri's files. Why don't we give the ex-Admiral a call... let him know we're coming."

He was about to reply, when he felt waves of calm wash over him, soothing the raging beast that wanted to vent its pain and fury.

John looked at Helene in surprise. "What're you doing, honey?"

She walked over to him and gently cupped his cheek. "You're angry because of your parents, John. If you take out your anger on this man, you're going to feel horribly guilty about it afterwards."

Sagging back in his chair, John reluctantly nodded... his expression troubled.

***

It was early evening on the Khatri estate, the elegant stately home built on a sweeping hill that overlooked Mazaya's capital city. The planet orbited Ross 248, an amber-hued star that had such poor luminosity that it was already pitch-black outside the mansion. In the east wing, a plush study was only illuminated by an ornate desk lamp, the soft glow bringing out the beautiful grain of the mahogany desk. Arjun Khatri liked the darkness. He felt safe in the gloom, hidden in the shadows and protected from danger. He also worried that feeling of safety was an illusion.

The retired admiral sipped from his crystal goblet, the red wine tasting like ashes in his mouth. Petran and Almada had been able to abandon everything and flee when the assassination attempt against Devereux failed, but Khatri was tied to his family, so running had never been an option. His co-conspirators only wanted revenge, but he'd gone all-in, gambling everything on a successful coup that would wipe out High Command in one fell stroke. With all those key figures dead, the Admiralty would have been desperate for a strong leader to step forward from retirement. Someone who knew how to get things done. Someone like him.

The plot had failed spectacularly. Thousands of marines had been killed, but they meant less than nothing to Arjun in the grand scheme of things. They were just a bunch of worthless pawns that had to be eliminated to strike at the kings and queens that really mattered; the admirals in High Command that ruled the Terran Federation. However, the attack on Olympus had been a catastrophic failure, with only one admiral hunted down and slain out of a score of targets.

If the disaster with the coup wasn't bad enough, the looks of recrimination from his family over Vihaan's death felt like they burned his skin. Arjun clenched his fist, his brows knitting together with an impotent rage that was fuelled by grief. How could a decorated ISD Major leading two hit teams have failed to kill that Fernandez bitch? How the fuck could Vihaan and his squads have been wiped out in what should have been a textbook execution?

There was a knock on the door to his study and he looked up to see his wife silhouetted by the landing light behind her. "Come to bed, Arjun," she urged him in a seductive purr. "I have a present for you..."

He looked longingly at his wife... the deliciously twisted woman who had stolen his heart all those years ago. His family had ruled Mazaya for over four centuries, the Khatri dynasty having supplied the Governors, Judges, Police Commissioners, and every other position of merit to be had on the planet. Meera had been starstruck when he proposed to her decades ago, but my goodness how that wide-eyed teenager had blossomed, given the right... encouragement.

"Not now, Meera. I'm not in the mood," he muttered, swirling his glass.

His wife strutted towards him, her silk gown fluttering around shapely legs. "But I've prepared her just how you like..." she pouted. "An energetic session will tire you out... cure your insomnia in a snap."

She clicked her fingers to punctuate the sentence, the sound reminding him of a paddle striking exposed flesh.

"Not tonight..." he replied, shaking his head.

Meera knelt beside him, the light cast by the downlit table lamp illuminating her face. She was still a remarkably beautiful woman, time hardly lining her features even after all these years. There was a wickedness in her eyes that hadn't been there when they first met... but that made her all the more alluring.

"You covered your tracks," she stated rather than asked. "Aside from the family connection to Vihaan, there's nothing tying you to the conspiracy against Devereux. How can we be blamed for a troubled man's misdeeds? We had no idea that Vihaan had become such a dangerous idealist..."

"But they will investigate that connection," he insisted, doubts gnawing at him. "Maybe I should've stayed away for a few more months, just to be safe. I'm putting you in danger by being here."

She stroked his hand to soothe him. "We're both safe here, Arjun. Our family has a great deal of power and influence; Devereux wouldn't dream of moving against you without conclusive proof that you were involved... and that doesn't exist."

"It might not matter. That blonde Lioness tortured Weber's secrets out of him... Blake's witch is the reason I had to quit the Admiralty in the first place!"

His wife looked at him sceptically. "I still don't understand how you let them scare you into resigning. Do you honestly believe that girl has magic powers?! I'm telling you, Arjun... it's bullshit. Devereux's people forged those videos using special effects. Wild rumours fuelled the legend of the Lion and his Lionesses... none of it was real... it couldn't be!"

"You didn't see what that girl did to Weber," he said with a shiver, remembering the blood-curdling screams.

Meera rose to her feet. "I'm not letting you shut yourself away in your study any longer. The rest of the family are starting to worry about you." She let her fingertips brush over his shirt, then viciously twisted his nipple. "I need my Master back..."

Arjun winced and caught her wrist, squeezing hard until she gasped and gave him a sly grin. Maybe he was worrying about nothing. Maybe he could use a little distraction after all... it was another two weeks until the next masquerade party.

"Alright, slave... you have my attention," he growled, rising from his chair.

They left his study and Arjun followed his wife along the sweeping hallway to the master bedroom, admiring the seductive sway of her hips. She led him inside the huge room and Arjun grinned when he saw what was waiting for him. Their pet was lashed to the bedposts, the beautiful smoky-eyed brunette turning to look at him in terror. Her desperate cries were muffled by the ballgag forced into her mouth as she fought in vain to free herself.

Meera gestured to the row of cruel implements set out on the dresser. "I got you something special for tonight..."

His eyes flicked past the familiar canes, crops, and studded paddles to a multi-tailed whip. "A cat o nine-tails?" he said with a wicked grin. "Meera... you naughty girl."

She laughed, delighted to see him back to his old self again.

As Arjun reached for the torture implement, a sharp chime from the comms interface built into a high-backed leather chair drew his attention. He sat down and tapped the console in the armrest to accept the call. A holo-screen appeared before him, his eldest son appearing in a flurry of pixels.

"Whatever it is can wait. I told you I didn't want to be disturbed," Arjun stated with a frown.

"Father, we just received a high priority message!" Balvan exclaimed. "It's from the Invictus! Admiral Blake wants to speak to you!"

He looked at his wife in panic. Meera froze, her flirtatious mood shattered in an instant.

"Father? Shall I put him through?"

Arjun took a deep breath, then gave his son a curt nod, not trusting himself to speak.

The holo-screen shifted to the Terran Federation insignia, then the winged sword was replaced by John Blake's stern visage. "Arjun Khatri, I need to ask you some questions for an ongoing investigation. I don't want to create a big scene, so I'm calling to forewarn you of my imminent arrival and we can handle this discreetly."

Before Arjun could say a word, the Lion abruptly terminated the call.

"Fuck!" he gasped, eyes wide with fright as he lurched out of the chair. "Oh fuck me!"

Meera grabbed his arm, her long manicured nails digging into his skin. "Get a hold of yourself, Arjun! You heard him... he doesn't want to create a big incident because he's got no proof you were involved! Call your brother! I'll contact your cousins! We'll gather everybody to the mansion!"

Arjun let out a shuddering breath and ran his fingers through his hair. "Alright... I'll call him from my study," he agreed, to reassure his wife. "You start making calls from here."

She gave him a quick nod and replaced him in the leather chair, her fingers furiously tapping buttons on the armrest.

***

The Invictus dropped out of hyper-warp at the edge of the Ross 248 system, the star casting a dim orange glow over the battlecruiser's white hull. Engines blazed to life and the warship set course for the second planet in orbit.

"We're being hailed by the Planetary Governor," Rachel informed John, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. "Do you want to take the call?"

He nodded and turned to look at the holo-screen.

The Terran Federation insignia faded away, to be replaced by a heavy-set dark-skinned man, who greeted him with a broad but insincere smile. "Welcome to Mazaya, Admiral Blake. My name's Governor Pankaj Khatri... how can I be of service this pleasant evening?"

"You needn't trouble yourself, Governor," John replied. "This will only be a brief visit."

The Governor cleared his throat awkwardly. "I... err... heard you have business with my brother?"

"It's a confidential matter. Part of an ongoing investigation," John replied, sitting back in his chair.

"I'm afraid I'll need to see a warrant before I can authorise an interview with a Mazayan citizen," Pankaj declared, with all the authority he could muster.

"No you don't," John replied, keeping his voice neutral.

"What?!" the large man blurted out, taken aback by the blunt reply.

"A Terran Federation Commodore outranks a Planetary Governor and as I'm sure you're well aware, I'm an Admiral serving in High Command. That means I have the authority to pursue any lines of enquiry without interference. Thank you for the call and have a pleasant evening, Governor."

Pankaj's mouth fell open in disbelief, never having been so casually dismissed before. John glanced at Rachel, who cut off the comms channel before the shocked Governor could reply.

"Alright, let's go," John said, rising from his chair and tucking his Lion helmet under his arm.

Tashana and all the Terran girls collected their weapons and strode up the ramp behind him. They all wore Paragon suits except Jehanna, who was protected by her portable shielding device and had a portable camera active above her right shoulder.

"This is Jehanna Elani for TFNN, bringing you a special report into corruption and treason within the Terran Federation!" she exclaimed, with the camera aimed at her pretty face. "I'm speaking to you from the Invictus, where I'm about to join the Lion and his Lionesses on a mission to Mazaya... to interrogate a prime suspect behind the Olympus terrorist attack!"

They descended in the express grav-tube and Jehanna focused the camera on the Lionesses jogging across the hangar to the Raptor. The footage shifted to John, who had a Tachyon rifle slung over his shoulder.

"Admiral Blake, it looks like you're expecting trouble?" she remarked to John as they strode up the loading ramp.

He turned and shook his head. "I'm hoping it doesn't come to that, but it's always wise to take precautions. We have evidence that heavily implicates Arjun Khatri's involvement in both attacks."

"You're referring of course, to the recent murder of over 7000 marines on Olympus Shipyard... and I believe Arjun Khatri is also a suspect in the assassination attempt on Jericho that led to the murder of 17 law enforcement officers?"

John nodded, his expression grim. "His nephew, Major Vihaan Khatri, led the hit teams on Jericho. I hope Arjun will fully co-operate with our investigation and prove that he's innocent of any wrongdoing, but the Khatri family hold tremendous influence on Mazaya. It's possible that they may attempt to hinder this investigation."

When they were safely inside, John tapped the button on the wall and the ramp closed with the reassuring whine of well-maintained hydraulics.

Jehanna cut the feed and gave him a thumbs up. "Perfect! I'll record the confrontation on the estate and add a voice-over later. Could we have another interview in front of the mansion after we're done with Khatri?"

"Whatever you need, Miss Elani," John said with a lopsided smile.

"Thank you." She hesitated, then stepped closer and looked up into his eyes. "Are you doing okay, John? You were furious earlier... I've never seen you so angry."

"I'm alright now... Helene calmed me down," he replied, his smile wavering.

"Alyssa told us your mother tried to speak to you," she said quietly, her face full of sympathy. "What did she want?"

John clenched his jaw, then forced himself to slowly exhale. "Maybe we should talk about this later."

Jehanna gave him a soft kiss. "So you will talk to me about it? You promise?"

He deflated and gave her a rueful smile. "I made a big mistake turning a nosy journalist into a Lioness, didn't I?"

She laughed and nodded. "I'm afraid so... and it's too late to change me back."

John brushed his gauntleted fingers through her silky black hair. "Yes, it is... and I wouldn't want to."

Jehanna looked at him quizzically, but before she could say anything else, Alyssa interrupted. *We'll be landing in the Khatri estate in thirty seconds. Tashana's going to drop us off, then hold position.*

"It's showtime!" Jehanna exclaimed with a dazzling showbiz smile.

He chuckled and pulled on his helmet while Jehanna activated her shield belt, both finishing just as the rest of the Terran girls rejoined them. They all took their positions, with Dana and Rachel on John's left flank, Calara and Sakura on the right.

Alyssa stood a few steps back from John, alongside Jehanna, and she tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. "We've got company. Tashana says that Arjun called in reinforcements."

Dana glanced at Rachel and grinned. "Doesn't it get boring being right all the time?"

"Not so far..." the brunette replied, smiling back.

There was a barely-noticeable tremor through the deck plates as the Raptor landed, the loading ramp dropping to reveal their first glimpse of the Khatri mansion. It was a huge stately home, with tasteful underlighting along the walls that gave the centuries-old building a dramatic facade. Rather less regal were the two-dozen hover-cars parked along the sweeping drive, including several police cruisers.

The vehicles had brought scores of Khatri clan members to the estate, who were now spread out in front of the mansion and scowling at the intruders. John could see that all of the men and women were brandishing firearms, in what must have been intended as a show of solidarity and intimidation. In the murky darkness, they reminded John of a torch-wielding mob.

John marched down the ramp with his Lionesses lock-step beside him, the clunk of Crystal Alyssium boots on titanium having a menacing ring to it.

"I'm here to speak with Arjun Khatri!" he announced, the speakers in his suit amplifying his voice. "Anyone interfering with this investigation may be charged as an accessory to treason and mass murder, then dealt with accordingly."

Governor Pankaj Khatri stepped forward, his hands spread wide in a conciliatory gesture. "There's no need to make threats, Admiral Blake. We're only here to vouch for the upstanding moral character of my dear brother. Do you have any evidence that justifies your heavy-handed approach to an innocent Mazayan citizen? I assure you that you will only find law-abiding citizens of the Federation here."

"Just give me a second... we'll find out who's guilty," Alyssa muttered under her breath.

Her eyes starting to glow as she drew from her formidable psychic strength and eldritch energy began to swirl around her.

John stayed where he was, his larger frame concealing the blonde from view. "I'm here to interview Arjun Khatri as part of an investigation ordered by Fleet Admiral Devereux. You don't have the security clearance to view any evidence."

Alyssa crouched down, the zephyrs of psychic energy reaching a fever pitch as they howled around her fists. The noise was starting to draw attention to her, but a moment later she punched the ground and gave everyone something far more pressing to worry about. A rippling pulse shot out across the estate, rolling over the crowd of men and women that had gathered to defend their relative. The psychic shockwave swept through the mansion, swathing the occupants within in an ethereal glow.

There were precious few white auras amongst the throng, the vast majority now staring at hands and arms that were bathed an unsettling blood-red. Centuries of undisputed Khatri lordship over Mazaya had convinced the clan members that they were untouchable and could do whatever they pleased. Alyssa's subconscious brushed past ugly minds, twisted by debauchery taken to horrific extremes or corrupted by the often-fatal abuse of power.

"Bad guys..." she hissed, her lip curling with distaste.

"Do you know what each of them did?" Jehanna asked in a hushed voice.

"I know enough..." Alyssa replied with a curt nod. Her eyes suddenly went wide with alarm. "Arjun's topping himself! He's dying!"

"Where?" Sakura snapped, activating psychic speed.

Alyssa pointed towards the right side of the building. "East wing, third floor, eighth window!"

Sakura took off like a shot, leaving a white blur behind her as she sprinted full-tilt across the manicured lawn. She leaped high into the air and activated flight mode, then smashed through the upper-storey window in a shower of glass fragments.

It took a second for Alyssa to realise that there was an unusual subconscious amongst the sea of humanity. The persona was quite different from any Terran she'd encountered on the Khatri estate; an innocent alien mind that was shockingly familiar.

"A Nymph!" she gasped, grabbing John's arm.

John half-turned to look at Alyssa, not sure he'd heard her right. "What?!"

"They've got a Nymph in there!" Alyssa exclaimed, her eyes wide in astonishment. "I felt her mind!"

Reaching for his rifle, John glanced back at the huge building. "Where is she? Is she in danger?"

"Underground, below the main building..." Alyssa replied, picturing the Nymph's precise location. "It must be some kind of basement or dungeon."

Sakura sprinted back across the lawns with a convulsing man draped over her shoulder. She skidded to a halt and dumped him on the ground in front of Rachel. "Probably cyanide," she noted with professional detachment. "I recognise the seizures and his lips have turned blue."

Rachel dropped to one knee, her eyes already alight with a soft grey glow. "I'll cleanse his blood of toxins and search for any damage to his heart or brain, just to make sure."

"John... you've got incoming!" Irillith warned him, her beautiful azure face appearing in his helmet GUI.

*Sister!* Jade cried out, the joy in her voice impossible to miss. *There you are!*

John looked skyward and gaped at the massive green dragon that was diving straight towards the Khatri mansion. He'd seen Jade in action many times before, but there was something deeply shocking about seeing a colossal mythical creature winging its way across the skies. She hit the roof of the stately home with a deafening crash, sending tiles, bricks, and timber exploding outwards with the impact. The crowd had no way of missing Jade's dramatic entrance and the swell of angry mutterings had been replaced by shocked screams.

Following in Jade's wake were her Nymph sisters, the four nimble birds of prey swooping down low, to land on the ground outside the mansion. Their forms blurred in a variety of colours, with each shimmering haze of blue, brown, amber, and hazel growing larger by the second, before fading away to reveal several huge snarling tigers. Pacing back and forth, they looked to be waiting for something as they cast baleful feline glares at the frightened crowd.

"John, what's the plan?" Dana muttered, holding her Tachyon rifle in a tight grip. "Are we cleaning house?"

"Hold on a minute," he replied, holding up a hand. "Let's deal with this asshole first."

Arjun Khatri coughed and spluttered as the poison was expunged from his body, until he managed to regain his breath. He whimpered when he saw the imposing white-armoured figures standing before him, then tried to crawl backwards, his face contorted in a mask of fear. A big telekinetic fist popped into existence above him and clamped down around his arms, pinning their suspect securely in its grasp before hauling him into the air.

"Now, let's see what you've been up to..." Alyssa murmured, her eyes glowing with a fierce inner light.

"Leave my husband alone!" a red-shrouded woman screamed, emerging from the stately home and running towards Alyssa.

The blonde glanced at her, then her eyes narrowed with disgust. "You sick bitch."

A telekinetic hand appeared and back-handed Arjun's wife, smacking her to the ground. She moaned as she clutched her face, an ugly welt appearing where the blow had struck.

"Meera!" Arjun sobbed, his expression contorted with anguish.

More booming crashes could be heard from inside the mansion, growing steadily louder by the second. The imposing pillar-lined entrance to the grand building seemed to explode outwards as Jade's vast draconic form smashed her way through. She roared in triumph, the reverberations from that deafening bellow powerful enough to be felt through Paragon armour. The Khatri clan cowered before her wrath, so terrified that they were rooted to the spot and unable to flee.

*I freed her, Master!* Jade exulted, stalking across the grounds. She narrowed her eyes as she passed Arjun's reeling wife, then stepped on the woman with a sickening crunch. *These monsters have been torturing her for years... Ailita's been enslaved by the Khatri family for generations.*

Arjun howled in agony, tears rolling down his cheeks as he stared at the bloody smear that used to be his beloved wife. "Oh God! No! Meera!"

"Err... where's your new sister, Jade?" Dana asked the hulking dragon.

Jade crouched down low to the ground and the scales on her left flank began to ripple. A beautiful nude girl slipped out of the dragon's torso, landing gracefully on her feet.

"Master! This one is so happy to see you!" Ailita exclaimed with joy, her eyes automatically seeking out Arjun Khatri. "Do you wish to continue the game?"

She suddenly hesitated and brushed her tousled dark locks aside, then peered at John in fascination. "It's you..."

"They've been torturing her?" John asked Jade in horror, his heart aching for the sweet-natured young woman standing before him.

Jade nodded, her enormous scaly head bobbing up and down. "I can feel her surface memories... she was handed over to her current master when his father died. Arjun and his wife have been abusing Ailita for seventeen years."

John suddenly spotted a faint line snaking across the lawn, linking the enslaved Lenarran with her master. He felt drawn to it... like it was an open book... and he was deluged by a burst of nauseating imagery. Horrible scenes played out before him, of endless debasement and torture inflicted on an innocent creature that only wanted to please her master. Well-dressed audiences looked on with amusement, their jeers and mocking laughter drowned out by piercing screams.

He ripped off his Lion helmet and fought back the violent urge to be sick.

Calara rushed to his side, her hand steadying him. "John! Are you okay?"

Drawing deep breaths, his chest heaving, John slowly straightened. "Leave him till last," he muttered, in a dreadful voice bereft of mercy.

Lionesses eyes turned cold as Alyssa informed them of what he'd witnessed. Rifles were slowly raised, while the quartet of prowling tigers stalked towards the Khatri clan, ready to hunt their prey. The Invictus dropped down out of the heavens, spotlights along the underbelly of the hull turning night into day and banishing the shadows from this foul den of sadistic fiends.

A Tachyon Lance barrage began the carnage, pulsing azure beams blasted through the ancient mansion and obliterated everything in their path. They were quickly joined by the staccato bursts of Tachyon rifle fire, cutting down the cruel monsters that had defiled the planet with their presence for so long.

Arjun Khatri watched the slaughter in open-mouthed horror, his mind balking at the sight of everything he held dear being torn down and annihilated. A hulking orange tiger disembowelled his brother with a casual swipe of a huge claw, the Governor screaming in terror as he dropped to his knees, until a savage bite crushed his head. His son opened fire with an assault rifle, the bullets plunking harmlessly off a black and silver-striped monstrosity. The tiger snarled at him and pounced, snapping Balvan's spine as he was crushed under heavy paws.

John could see Arjun breaking before his eyes, the man's tentative grip on sanity loosening by the second. But it wasn't nearly fast enough. The thought that Ailita was still tethered to this sadistic beast rankled John's soul and he was filled with a sudden desperation to free her from bondage.

"This is for all the marines on Olympus!" John snarled, raising his fist towards the glowing telekinetic hand wrapped around their prisoner. "Burn, you piece of shit!"

Blue flames burst forth, immolating Arjun Khatri in a blazing inferno. For a split second, the traitorous ex-admiral wailed in agony, before his flesh was charred down to his bones. Ailita watched her master and tormentor being incinerated without so much as a flicker of emotion. The instant the conflagration ended Khatri's life, the psychic link between them was broken and the Nymph's soulful brown eyes locked onto John.

"Are you this one's new master?" she asked, her pretty face lighting up with a hopeful smile.

John turned to her and nodded. "Yes, Ailita. I'm your new master... for as long as you need me to be."

The Nymph looked overjoyed, completely oblivious to the raging gunfights and starship bombardment in the background. She walked towards him with eager anticipation on her face, which was quickly replaced by a look of frustration.

"Master... this one cannot picture your perfect mate!" Ailita protested, staring at him with consternation.

"I'd like you to shift to your original shape for now... the one given to you by Mael'nerak," he said, meeting her troubled gaze.

She looked at him with wide eyes, then nodded obediently. "As Master commands."

The nubile brunette shimmered and contracted, becoming smaller as she reverted to her Lenarran form. Like the rest of her sisters, she'd originally been a petite, green-furred, bipedal cat, but she differed to the last four Nymphs in that her coat was plain and had no markings. Ailita looked at her new master with a puzzled frown, finding these interactions with him to be quite peculiar.

"Is Master satisfied with this one's new appearance?" she asked with a tentative smile.

John nodded and trailed his finger along her jawline. "You look beautiful, Ailita. Don't worry, this is only temporary; we'll decide on a permanent form for you later."

She trembled in ecstasy as he caressed her, a bewildered but joyful expression on her face. "Master must be incredibly powerful to block this one from his thoughts!" she exclaimed, fawning over him.

Alyssa walked over to join them, sidestepping Arjun's smouldering corpse. "Ailita, when you first saw John, you said: 'It's you...'. Who did you think he was?"

The Nymph looked at her in confusion. "This one does not recall. Are you Master's mate?"

Jade crunched over the drive to stand beside them. "Ailita's memories are gone now... wiped clean when John claimed her."

"She won't remember anything that they did to her?" John asked, looking up at the dragon with concern.

"Nothing at all," Jade replied. "You are her entire world now, Master. There was no time before this moment from Ailita's perspective."

John pulled the slender catgirl into his arms. "You're safe now, Ailita. No one's ever going to hurt you again."

She snuggled into his embrace, her fingers drifting over the Lion-embossed chestplate. "Would you like to remove your armour, Master?" she enquired, a seductive glimmer in her feline eyes. "This one longs to give you pleasure..."

"Just be patient for a little while longer," he said gently, patting her back. "I'll need you later."

The Nymph let out a relieved sigh. "This one will do whatever Master desires!"

"I know, honey," he said, his expression filled with a mixture of sadness and pity.

Jade nuzzled him affectionately with her huge draconic maw. *Don't be sad, John. You're telling her exactly what she needs to hear. Ailita might not understand how important this moment is right now, but she's taken her first big step towards freedom.*

John glanced back at the Khatri mansion, which had been reduced to a smouldering pile of embers. The hover-cars lined up on the drive were now burning wrecks and mangled corpses were strewn over the once-pristine lawn. Many of the Khatri clan had attempted to flee the slaughter, but Jade's sisters had hunted them down, all except the pitiful handful that were shrouded in white. The survivors were all young men and women, not old enough to have participated in the corrupted decadence their family had revelled in for centuries.

"Still want that interview?" he asked Jehanna, who had witnessed the end of the Khatri family without uttering a word.

She nodded and moved into position so that she was facing the demolished mansion. Jehanna waited until Jade had reverted to her catgirl form and guided Ailita aside, then activated her camera which she focused on John.

"Admiral Blake... what message would you like to send to anyone who is too spineless to confront you personally and chooses to attack your friends and family instead?"

"Arjun Khatri was a craven worm who thought he could hurt me by going after the people I care about," John said, his eyes glinting with anger. He gestured to the apocalyptic scenes behind him. "But bringing these criminals to justice had nothing to do with a personal vendetta. During our investigation into the mastermind behind the massacre on Olympus Shipyard, we discovered endemic corruption within the Khatri family, who have abused their position of authority on Mazaya for generations."

"I noticed that several members of the family were spared," Jehanna noted. "Were they innocent of all wrongdoing?"

"They were innocent of crimes carrying a capital penalty," John clarified, his expression grim. "I do not make the laws in the Terran Federation, nor am I above them. I was presented with an opportunity to root out a vile cabal, who had descended to depraved depths while hiding behind a mask of civility. Evidence of their crimes will be made openly available, now that these monsters have been brought to justice. The citizens of the Federation deserve far better from their leaders and I hope that with the removal of the Khatri menace, the people of Mazaya will now flourish."

Jehanna gave him a grateful smile. "On behalf of the long-suffering population of this planet, thank you, Admiral Blake, for their liberation from tyranny."

***

High Prelate Zorlin rubbed at his tired eyes, two sets of eyelids flickering down and to the side as he stared at the holographic map. The image showed the Kintark Empire and the systems that had been conquered by the invading Enclave armada. He could tell the progress of the Brimorian forces by the systematic elimination of the Comms Beacons in those sectors, as they ruthlessly swallowed up huge swathes of Kintark territory.

He ran the simulation again, showing the Brimorians fanning out like a swarm of locusts, gobbling up everything in their path. They had started their depredations in the hook-edged junction between the two galactic empires, known informally as Kirgenoth's Expanse, after the Kintark Emperor who had overseen the settlement of those colonies. As the Brimorians intruded deeper into Imperial territory, their rate of advancement had slowed, with the leading edge of the invasion corridor broadening by the day.

By Zorlin's estimate, it would take the Enclave forces at least six more days to reach Kinta, which was more than enough time for the Maliri fleets to arrive and bolster his defences. He tapped a claw on the map controls, adding an overlay which displayed the Maliri Protectorate above the Empire. Fleet Commander Aadya had been sending him regular progress reports, tracking the current position of the Maliri expedition as they rushed to intervene. It was astounding to see just how fast those golden-hulled warships could travel in hyper-warp and he thanked the gods that they were now allies and not enemies.

His lip curled into a sardonic smile, revealing a row of jagged teeth. It struck him as ironic that the Kintark Empire was now placing all its hopes of survival on the same species that had placed them in this jeopardy in the first place. If the Maliri had not interfered in Baledranax's invasion of the Terran Federation, the Kintark Empire would have doubled in size, and the Brimorians wouldn't have dared to turn on their old allies.

"Sssuch isss the fickle fortunesss of war," he muttered with weary resignation.

One of the Tactical Officers reviewing defensive strategies in the Command Centre turned to the Kintark senior officer, his scaly face twisted with worry. "High Prelate, we have received the latessst updatesss from the Imperial Commsss Beaconsss in the path of the invadersss. The resssults are... not asss we predicted."

"Ssshow me the mossst recent data," Zorlin ordered, gesturing towards the holographic map.

The tactical officer gave him a curt nod, his scaly claws clacking as he tapped out a short sequence on the console. Zorlin kept his eyes on the map and watched as the latest data from that evening was updated to the glowing red star chart. At 8pm that night, a Comms Beacon was destroyed right in the centre of the invasion corridor, which was to be expected as Brimorian scouting forces had been cutting off communications before each wave of planetary sieges. However, instead of more Comms Beacons being destroyed along the horizontal border of encroachment, another was destroyed directly behind it several hours later at midnight.

For the first time in days, the Enclave no longer seemed to be making incremental encroachments along the entire front, but forcing a bulge directly on the path to Kinta. Zorlin's eyes widened in horror as he saw the sudden shift in Brimorian tactics. He tapped out commands on the interface to calculate how quickly the Enclave forces could arrive at the Kintark homeworld, his clawed hands trembling with fear. When he looked up and saw the projection... and that the Maliri line of reinforcements would not make it in time, he let out a low moan of horror.

Lurching away from his chair, he sprinted out of the Command Bunker, rushing to inform the Empress of the dire threat they now faced. Frightened Kintark officers watching his panicked flight with dread, their reptilian gaze flicking back to the nightmarish scenario depicted on the map.

***

Alyssa and Irillith entered the Briefing Room, joining John and the rest of the Lionesses who were seated around the long table. Out of the six Nymphs aboard the Invictus, only Jade was present, while her four catgirl sisters were keeping Ailita company in the Lagoon.

Trailing her hand across John's shoulders before taking her seat, Alyssa said, "We sent the list to the Federation fleet."

"You were able to identify everybody?" John asked in surprise.

"I drew up a list of all the Khatri family members present on the estate and included a brief summary of the crimes they committed. Everyone we executed was guilty of capital offences. With the evidence I provided, they were all open and shut cases."

"I also linked video extracts with a map, identifying the corpses and their locations," Irillith stated nonchalantly as she stretched her tired muscles. "If DNA evidence is needed to link them with their victims that should make it far easier to find."

"Nice work," John said, nodding to both appreciatively. Focusing on Alyssa, he continued, "So what did you find out from Arjun Khatri?"

"Other than the fact that he was a cruel, sadistic asshole?" she asked, shuddering with revulsion. "Yeah, he did it alright. He came up with the plan and recruited Almada and Petran. They just wanted revenge against you and Devereux for forcing them to resign, but Khatri was completely delusional. His family was disgraced when he was kicked out of the military."

Calara nodded her agreement and interjected, "Nobody resigns from the Admiralty at his age. The salary and perks are astronomical when you reach that rank and you're given almost unlimited power; admirals milk it for as long as possible. It must have been obvious to everyone he was forced to resign."

John raised an eyebrow at her more cynical view of the Terran Federation admirals. It was obvious that Calara had permanently removed the rose-tinted glasses that had coloured her view of the senior officers she used to so admire.

"So what was he hoping to accomplish if not just revenge?" John asked the blonde.

"I was just getting to that part when I was interrupted," Alyssa replied with a playful frown at her girlfriend. "Khatri tried to stage a genuine coup and wanted to wipe out High Command. He figured that with Devereux and all her allies dead, he could come back from retirement and make a play for Fleet Admiral."

John snorted and shook his head. "You're right, he was delusional. The remaining admirals would've fought tooth and nail to be elected into a new High Command. There would've been a new Fleet Admiral within the week."

She shrugged. "He was one sick puppy. I'm not surprised Khatri snapped when we effectively booted him out of the Admiralty. We did the right thing putting that rabid dog down."

Turning to Jehanna, John looked at her in concern. "Are you still going ahead with your special report? Some of that footage must be pretty gruesome."

The raven-haired reporter considered it for a moment, then nodded. "I think so. I recorded enough so that I can edit out the most gratuitous carnage. The public can be quite bloodthirsty, but watching the Nymphs rip those people to pieces might be crossing the line."

John hesitated, then said quietly, "I hadn't intended it to get quite that bloody. Are you alright after seeing all that?"

She gave him a determined nod. "Alyssa told me what you saw... what those animals did to Ailita. I know they were guilty of other crimes too, but they deserved everything they got just for torturing that poor girl."

Her defiant statement was met with nods of approval from everyone around the table, even including Helene, much to John's surprise.

"She told me too," Helene explained, when she saw his quizzical glance. "I just kept thinking about Jade's sisters going through something like that. They're such sweet-natured girls... I can't even imagine how evil somebody must be to get a thrill out of torturing a Nymph. All they want to do is make their master happy!"

Sakura put her arm around the traumatised young woman and gave her a comforting hug. "Hey, don't get upset. We punished them for what they did to Ailita and John's going to make sure her life is wonderful from now on... you'll see."

"That's the plan," John agreed, sitting back in his chair and letting out a tired sigh. "I know it's late and you're all tired, but I really need your help."

"What's up?" Dana asked, looking at him curiously.

"Nymphs get unsettled when they can't shapeshift into their master's perfect mate. We learned that with the last four catgirls and I don't want Ailita to go through the same thing. I need to come up with a new shape for her as quickly as possible, but she's got no markings, so I'm a bit stumped for ideas."

"You could just give her a thrall body with kitty bits and make her plain green," the redhead suggested with a shrug.

John shook his head. "She'd look too much like Jade and I want Ailita to feel special and unique."

"You've used a great-cat theme with the others..." Calara mused as she pondered the issue.

"Except Marika who's a tabby," Rachel reminded her.

The Latina conceded her point with a nod. "True... but how about turning Ailita into a panther catgirl? She could have black skin and black hair."

After considering the idea for a moment, John shook his head. "It's a good suggestion, but she'd look too much like Marika... just without the silver stripes."

"Yeah, being the boring version of another catgirl would suck," Dana agreed with a frown.

"Does anyone have any other ideas?" John asked, glancing around the table.

Alyssa suddenly smiled at the dusky-hued reporter. "Apparently, Jehanna has a suggestion..."

All eyes turned to Jehanna who blushed furiously. "No I don't!"

"Oh really?" the blonde asked with a teasing lilt to her voice. "Because whatever you had in mind was making you very horny..."

Jehanna looked mortified and glanced pleadingly at John. "Really... you don't want to know."

John paused, then a smile broke out on his face. "You've piqued my curiosity now. It can't be that bad, surely?"

Calara shrugged. "The rest of us are all out of ideas. Any suggestion would be helpful."

Putting her arm around the cringing reporter, Tashana said gently, "I'd really like to know what turns you on. Please don't be embarrassed... everyone's very open-minded here."

"I can't believe I'm showing you this..." Jehanna groaned, reaching for the remote that controlled the holo interface.

Everyone leaned forward with anticipation, eager to know what the newest Lioness was so reluctant to share with them. Jehanna opened up the Holonet, then began tapping out search criteria. She navigated to a holo-porn site and found an image of an adorable pale-skinned catgirl with a voluminous mane of bubblegum-pink hair. The blue-eyed anime character held up both hands with her fingers curled over in an approximation of paws.

"Aww, she's really cute!" Calara exclaimed, looking at Jehanna in surprise. "Why were you worried about showing us that?"

Dana burst into a fit of giggles. "Wow... you really went down the holo-porn rabbit hole, didn't you?" she asked with a grin. "Check out those links..."

All eyes went to the connecting images, which showed holo-videos of the cute catgirl being fucked senseless by a minotaur, a centaur, and a wide variety of other fantastical creatures.

Jehanna fumbled for the remote, her thumb stabbing the power button like a jackhammer as she rushed to turn it off. "Oh my god..."

John rose from his chair and walked around the table to give her a hug. "Come here..." he said, pulling her into his arms. She hid her face in his chest as he stroked her hair. "Don't be embarrassed. Nobody's judging you... it's totally fine."

"Yeah, totally," Dana agreed, before grinning at Jade. "We frequently get fucked by a tentacle monster. What you're into is pretty tame compared to being made airtight by three huge green tenta-cocks."

There were nods around the table and Jehanna laughed, then gave them a self-conscious smile. "Damn, it's liberating being here with you. My parents would've had a stroke if they'd seen that."

"You okay now?" John asked, stroking her back.

"Much better, thanks," she replied with relief.

Irillith reached for the remote and reactivated the screen. "I think she's lovely. Jehanna's fantasy girl gets my vote."

"That catgirl isn't famous or anything is she?" Sakura asked, studying the pink-hued character. "We don't really want frenzied fanboys creating a cult to worship her."

Jehanna shook her head. "She's just a generic fantasy catgirl. You can change the colour scheme and give her blue hair, or green... whatever you like."

"I think she's hot," Alyssa agreed with an encouraging smile. "Looks like we have a winner, handsome."

He hesitated, studying the image. "I tried to make the rest of the Nymphs look more realistic. That's why I copied real cat colourations that matched their markings."

Jade glided around the table to John's side, then leaned down and whispered in his ear, "Do you find her attractive, Master? Can you picture her looking at you doe-eyed as she cradles your baby in her belly?"

His stiffening cock answered that question for him.

"That's all that matters, John," she said softly, her emerald gaze flicking to the holo-screen. "And she fits the personality you have planned for Ailita..."

He turned to look up at Jade in surprise and she kissed the tip of his nose.

With a final glance at the holo-image, he rose from his chair. "Alright, it's getting late and I don't want to keep you up any longer than I have to. We'll go with Jehanna's idea for now and if Ailita doesn't like it later, she can always change to something she prefers."

Dana sprang from her seat and skipped to the door. "Let's go! I want to see you fill up the sexy kitty!"

"Hold on a second, Sparks," John said, catching her by the arm and pulling her into a hug. "For the first time at least, I think I should be alone with her."

"Really? Why?" the redhead asked, looking disappointed.

John grimaced and replied, "She's been used as a... S&M exhibit... for the last couple of decades. I'd like to give Ailita some privacy, so I can prove to her I'm nothing like her previous master."

"Damn... you're right," Dana said, with a rueful frown of apology.

After hesitating for a moment, Rachel said, "John... a Nymph's memory is completely wiped when she gets a new master. Ailita won't remember anything about her old master, or the horrible things he did to her."

"I know... but just in case anything does stick, I'd really like to show her just how different her life is going to be from now on."

The brunette nodded her understanding, then gave him a tender kiss. "She's lucky to have you as her new master."

He gave her a self-conscious smile. "I'm just doing what any decent guy would in my place."

"Would you like to use my quarters, Master?" Jade offered, as she walked over to join them.

"Actually, yes, that'd be ideal. Thank you."

They left the Briefing Room and crossed the Bridge on their way up to the grav-tubes. John glanced at the Sector Map floating in the centre of the room, his eyes drawn to the green line that plotted out a flight path taking them directly to Maliri Space.

"Just a couple of days to go, then we'll back at Genthalas," Alyssa said, slipping her hand into his. "I'll wait until we're away from the Core Worlds before I hit the gas. There's too much traffic near here and I don't want to risk taking someone out with a hyper-warp bow wave."

"We'll get back there before the matriarchs arrive; that was our main objective all along," he said, gratefully squeezing her hand. "You've done an amazing job, honey. Thank you."

She bumped hips with him as they entered the grav-tube. "I can't wait to get back there either. Two more days before you see Kali..." she said, giving him a knowing grin.

"I'm looking forward to that, obviously, but I've also just really missed the Maliri," he said, descending in the red gravity field. "Edraele, the Young Matriarchs, Luna... it'll be amazing seeing them all again."

*As you might have guessed, we're all very excited to see you too,* Edraele said, her voice filled with longing.

John stepped out onto Deck Three, leading Alyssa with him by the hand. The rest of the girls followed them along the corridor to the Lagoon, where John peeled off to join the Nymphs. Ailita sat cross-legged on the beach by the edge of the lake, watching Betrixa and Leylira frolicking in the water. Marika and Neysa spoke quietly to their long-lost sister, with Ailita hanging on their every word.

The petite catgirl spotted John out of the corner of her eye and sprang to her feet, hurrying over to meet him. "This one is ready to give you pleasure, Master!"

"I'd like that very much," John said, welcoming her with open arms. He glanced at the four Nymphs watching them from the shallows. "Thank you for looking after her."

"You're welcome, John," Neysa said, looking at him thoughtfully.

Her sisters echoed her reply, making a deliberate effort to call him by his name.

John turned his attention back to Ailita. "Come on. I know somewhere where we can be alone together."

Ailita looked thrilled, soaking up her master's attention like a sponge. She slipped her tiny hand into his and walked with him back up the steps, never once taking her eyes from his face. John waved goodbye to the girls, then escorted the petite Nymph back to the grav-tubes, where they ascended a level to the Officers' Quarters.

"Here we are," he said, opening the door to Jade's private bedroom. "After you."

She practically skipped inside, making a beeline for the bed. John strolled over to join the eager Lenarran, kicking off his shoes and lying down beside her.

Rolling onto his side so that he was facing Ailita, he gave her a warm smile. "The first thing we need to take care of, is giving you access to my mind. I'm going to lower my mental defences in a moment and let you inside, but you must promise me not to go anywhere near a runic prison... okay? What's locked away in there is very dangerous... and I care about you, I don't want you to get hurt."

Her feline eyes were like saucers as she stared back at him, the Nymph desperate to fulfil her master's desires. "This one will take the utmost care, Master."

John felt the fluttering caress against his mind as Ailita initiated a tentative mental contact. Not wanting to see her frustrated and uncomfortable for any longer than necessary, he opened a gate in his mental fortress, allowing her to slip inside. He could sense that she would have charged in headlong, but her pledge to be careful made her cautious.

The look of wonder on her face matched the sensation he felt in his mind, Ailita both shocked and awed by the phenomenal psychic strength he possessed. He gave her an encouraging smile and waited patiently for her to explore his subconscious and find what she needed. Although he thought of her as a young woman, having first met Ailita as a brunette teenager, in reality she was a very old soul... at least 72,000 years by their reckoning. Despite being truly ancient, she possessed an almost childlike innocence, her mind never given any opportunity to develop over the millennia. He was determined to change all that, but it was a long process, requiring many tentative steps.

With a breathy sigh of relief, the Nymph began to shimmer, her body obscured by a soft pink aura. It didn't take Ailita long to complete the change, shape-shifting into his perfect mate... or more precisely, the version that he had carefully prepared for her.

"Does this one please you, Master?" she asked, her voice as light and cheerful as a beautiful summer day.

"You're absolutely gorgeous," he murmured, meaning every word.

Her physical proportions matched those of her Nymph sisters precisely, with the same shapely, athletic figure of a fully-developed thrall warrior. Where she differed was her flawless skin could have belonged to a Terran, the delicate pinkish hue a few shades lighter than Alyssa's sun-kissed body. She had a beautiful heart-shaped face with very kissable cupid-bow lips, framed by tumbling waves of pastel-pink hair, the colour understated enough to look natural.

Being a catgirl, Ailita had a set of pointed furry ears high on her head, which faced forward in anticipation of hearing her master's voice. Behind her, a sinuous pink tail coiled playfully in the air, the slow swaying mesmerising to watch. Vertically-slitted pupils completed the nod to her feline ancestry, the irises of her big eyes a lovely shade of aquamarine that gazed back at him in adoration.

She blushed under his scrutiny, a bloom of colour appearing in her cheeks as she lowered her eyes shyly. "You really like this one?" she asked, biting her lower lip.

John brushed his fingers against her cheek, marvelling at the softness of her skin. "You're beautiful, Ailita. I couldn't imagine a more perfect woman."

The Nymph swooned in his arms, thrilled to please her master.

Carefully rolling Ailita onto her back, John ran a finger along her jawline and smiled as he saw her quiver in ecstasy. Having known Jade for months was like being given a secret handbook on how to drive Nymphs wild with lust and this eager catgirl was no exception. He could see the inner struggle between her desire to pounce on him and fuck him with abandon, warring with her gentler personality.

"I'd like to kiss you, Ailita," he murmured, driving her to distraction with his sensual caresses.

"Please, Master..." she whimpered, tilting her head up and offering him her lips.

They were wonderfully soft and yielded to his kiss, parting slightly so that John could taste the tip of her tongue with his own. Ailita giggled, then kissed him back with more passion, slowly escalating the kiss.

Finally pulling back for breath, John smiled at the Nymph. "Did you like that?"

"Master is so gentle and loving," she breathed, her own slender fingers reverently tracing his jawline. "This one never imagined it was possible to feel so good."

"They were lovely kisses," he agreed, brushing his hand down her arm and leaving a trail of goosebumps.

She looked up at him with the flame of passion burning brightly in her eyes. "Can this one do anything special to please you, Master?"

John nodded, letting his fingers move lower to stroke her pale stomach. "I want to make love to you, but first I'd really like to fill up that beautiful tummy of yours with my cum. Would you like that?"

He already knew the Nymph would willingly agree to perform any sexual act he could possibly imagine, but it was still nice to see the eagerness with which she responded.

"This one would love to taste you, Master!" she gushed, her hand sliding down his chest towards his trousers.

"Let me get ready for you," he volunteered, sliding off the bed. "Why don't you get comfortable?"

Ailita grinned at him, revealing a flash of dazzling white teeth. "Of course, Master!"

She moved to kneel on the floor, but John halted her and offered a pillow to protect her knees. The Nymph thanked him graciously as she knelt, then waited patiently for him to undress. Ailita's light blue eyes widened when she got her first glimpse of his heavy cock, licking her lips as though he was a mouth-watering treat.

"Oh my... Master will make this one a very happy girl."

John sat down with her between his knees, the Nymph face-to-face with his throbbing shaft. "When you swallow my cum, you'll be mine, Ailita," he said, stroking the tips of her furry ears. She purred with happiness, nuzzling against his hand. "I know you won't understand this... but I wish you had the free will to choose for yourself if you want to be with me."

"This one chooses you with all her heart," she declared emphatically.

He placed his hand over her chest. "I know you do, honey."

She covered John's hand with her own, then smiled and used the other to reach for his cock, her slender fingers carefully wrapping around his impressive girth. "So big..." she gushed, using long languid strokes to emphasise his length.

John sat back and watched her work. Although Ailita looked and behaved like an inexperienced young woman, she'd been genetically engineered to be the perfect bedroom companion. She approached the head of his cock with nervous apprehension, but when the Nymph appeared to pluck up enough courage to continue, she slid him into her mouth without a hint of discomfort.

He saw no reason to drag it out, wanting to reach his climax as much as she hungered to taste him. As he got more excited, he bathed her tongue in a healthy serving of pre-cum.

"Mmm... delicious," she cooed, before freezing and staring up at John in astonishment. "Master is so potent!"

John could see her savouring his taste, her mind racing as a flicker of disbelief crossed her eyes. "We'll talk later," he promised, affectionately rubbing a furry pink ear. "I'd really like to fill up your tummy first."

She nodded and continued without another moment's pause, the urge to please her master overriding all other concerns. He cupped her head with both hands now, lightly stroking and rubbing her sensitive ears as she sucked his cock. Ailita whimpered with desire, her aquamarine eyes gazing up at him with a fierce hunger.

The flood of thrilling sensations was too much to resist and John felt that familiar tensing in his balls as his quad prepared to unload. Then Ailita was gulping noisily, long spurts of cum shooting down her throat and into her empty stomach. Getting a proper taste of John confirmed her suspicions and the Nymph gazed up at him in awe as she experienced a flush of previously unattainable desires. John gazed down at her through hooded eyes, managing a curt nod as he pumped his load into her belly.

By the time he was done, her stomach was hugely rounded, packed full of virile sperm that she knew were capable of making her pregnant. The Nymph cradled the curved dome, gazing up at John in wondrous disbelief. He drew a shuddering breath to recover after the explosive orgasm, then smiled and offered her a hand. Ailita took it and rose to her feet, standing before him as if presenting her engorged abdomen for his approval.

"If you're a good little Nymph and serve me well," he began, gently stroking her swollen tummy. "Then I'll get you pregnant as often as you want."

A crystal tear rolled down her cheek, her beautiful face filled with joy. "This one can have kittens?"

"You'll be able to have a baby of your own, Ailita," he agreed. "Or thousands of them, if you're anything like Jade."

*Hello, sister,* Jade said quietly. *I'm so happy we saved you.*

The pink catgirl looked startled to hear Jade's voice at first, but she was distracted a moment later when she saw pulses of soft pink light start to radiate from her curved midriff. The pulses spread outwards across her body, travelling all the way down her arm to her fingertips. Ailita gaped at her hand in shock, watching the lightshow in amazement.

Following a pulse of light across her stomach with his fingers, John leaned forward to kiss her navel. "I'm enhancing you and making you stronger, Ailita. Someday soon, nobody will be able to hurt you ever again. You're my perfect woman and I'm very happy with you."

She took her eyes from the pink pulses to gaze rapturously at John. "You are this one's perfect Master!"

John smiled and moved back on the bed, making room for her. "Join me and get some rest, my beautiful little Nymph. I'll protect you while you sleep."

Moving quickly to obey him, Ailita snuggled into his arms, letting out a breathy sigh when he began stroking her cum-packed stomach. She drifted off to sleep seconds later, her face a picture of euphoric bliss. John was enjoying the intimacy with the deliciously huggable catgirl when he felt the bed begin to shudder.

*What's going on, Alyssa?* he asked in surprise. *Is the Invictus doing a slingshot manoeuvre?*

*You better get up here, John,* she muttered, sounding pensive. *The shit's just hit the fan.*

He managed to carefully extricate himself from the sleeping Nymph without disturbing her and began tugging on clothes. *What the hell?! Are we in danger?*

*Empress Tamolith contacted me a few minutes ago,* Edraele quietly informed him, but she was unable to keep the bitter disappointment from her voice. *The Brimorians have changed tactics and are heading directly for Kinta. My fleets won't get there in time to stop them...*