"Fuck!" John snarled, incensed that the Brimorians were causing him even more problems. *Let me get this straight... the Maliri fleets won't make it in time, so now we're rushing to save the Kintark from an Enclave invasion?!*

*That's correct,* Edraele replied mournfully.

*Except we won't make it in time either,* Alyssa added, sounding heavily distracted.

John froze. *What do you mean?*

*It's kinda tricky to talk right now. Come up to the Bridge.*

He fastened up his trousers and reached for his T-shirt. *On my way.*

The door to Jade's quarters slid open, admitting the nude Nymph herself. She padded barefoot across the floor, then wrapped her arms around him, pressing her warm breasts against his bare chest.

"You were wonderful with her, Master... simply wonderful!" she gushed, gazing adoringly into his eyes.

Before he could say anything, Jade pressed her lips against his, giving him a tender kiss that was full of heartfelt emotion. As lovely as that was, John had been all set to sprint to the Command Deck and was hyped-up for action. The Nymph's languid sensuality took him completely by surprise, not at all what he was expecting from her in a crisis situation.

With her tongue lovingly duelling his, conducting a regular conversation proved to be a challenging prospect. *Err Jade... I need to get to the Bridge,* he prompted her, resorting to telepathy.

*I know...* she cooed, hugging him with surprising strength and making no move to let go. *But I love you so much... and you're just so deliciously kissable, Master!*

He squeezed her gloriously pert rump, making Jade gasp and give him a sultry smile. It also temporarily stopped the lusty Nymph from coiling her tongue around his and allowed him to talk again.

"Let me go speak to Alyssa, then I'll come back... I promise," he said, kissing the tip of her nose.

Jade giggled and nodded, then fell back on the bed and snuggled Ailita from behind. She began to purr contentedly, a serene expression on her face.

*It looks like I turned Jade into a love drunk,* John said to his blonde matriarch, while slipping out of the Nymph's quarters.

*It's rude to talk about a lady behind her back,* the Nymph protested, before her infectious laughter echoed through his mind.

*I wasn't... you heard every word,* he said with a smile, as he leaped into the grav-tube. *Now, quiet down for a minute or I'll have to shut you out of my mind, okay?*

Jade's laughter cut off in an instant, the sudden silence eerily abrupt.

The fact that Alyssa didn't make any comment about Jade's behaviour was ample proof of how distracted she was. When John reached the Command Deck and stepped out of the grav-tube, he saw the blonde leaning forward in her XO chair, staring intently at the holographic Sector Map in the centre of the Bridge.

Calara was sitting beside her and when she saw John had arrived, rushed down the steps to greet him. "Alyssa's trying to navigate a safe course to the Dragon March, but there's huge numbers of merchant and civilian traffic near Alpha Centauri."

"So we're en route to Kinta instead of Genthalas," John said, walking up the illuminated steps to the Command Podium.

She nodded, her beautiful face shadowed with worry. "Alyssa assumed you'd want to change course... but we're not going to reach the Imperial homeworld before the Brimorians arrive."

He frowned as he sat down in his Command Chair. "Didn't you tell me that we'd be able to make it in time?"

"Yes, but we've made so many diversions since then," she protested, looking at him anxiously. "A couple of hours detour to pick up my dad and Mateo, docking with the Epiphron to build my mom's new car, the wedding at Olympus, dealing with Khatri... it all added up."

John rubbed a hand over his face. "Shit."

Calara's expression was grim. "Even going full speed, we'll arrive hours after the Brimorians. The two Kintark fleets are massively outnumbered and at a big tech disadvantage; they have no chance of repelling the Enclave forces... absolutely none."

"But we're still flying there anyway?" John asked, staring at Alyssa's projected flight path that snaked past scores of systems towards the Dragon March.

The Latina looked at him in astonishment. "Seriously? You don't want to try to save the Kintark?"

John watched Alyssa's incredible navigation skills in action as she guided the white battlecruiser towards Groombridge 34, a yellow star only eleven light years from Terra. His eyes flicked to Alpha Centauri and he couldn't help wondering where his parents were lurking. It rankled that Rahn'hagon had ignored the banishment from Federation territory, but John grimaced and realised he shouldn't have expecting anything else from his father.

The Invictus shook violently as it plunged into the gravity well, then the vibrations fell away as the hyper-warp bow wave reared up over the prow. They raced around the star on the holo-map, skipping forward in short jumps as the navigation computer struggled to keep up. Clearing the edge of the system, the white battlecruiser weaved around freighter traffic at astounding speed, giving the merchant ships a wide berth to avoid obliterating them with their wake.

"What do you think we should do?" John asked, turning to face Calara.

She nibbled at her lip, indecision in her eyes.

"Just tell me what the wisest strategic decision is in your opinion," he urged her, clasping her hand and giving it an encouraging squeeze. "I don't care how callous it sounds."

Straightening, Calara met his questioning gaze. "We should fly directly to Genthalas and focus on securing Larn'kelnar's fleet assets. Tamolith and the Kintark forces have no strategic value in the Progenitor War and can be ignored. We should still order the Maliri fleets to wipe out the Brimorian invaders, to prevent the Enclave from conquering what's left of the Kintark Empire."

"If we let the Brimorians destroy Tamolith's forces and demolish Mar'Trinark Shipyard, the Kintark will never recover, will they? With no way of rebuilding enough ships to defend themselves, the Empire will be systematically picked apart by the Terran Federation, the Brimorian Enclave, and even the Drakkar."

"That would be my assessment, yes," she agreed solemnly.

John grimaced and sighed in frustration, then reached over to his console and activated the comms interface. He made a secure call and a stunning young brunette answered a few seconds later.

"John?" the sleepy Fleet Admiral asked, rubbing her eyes. "Everything okay?"

"Hi, Marie," John replied, emphasising her undercover name. "Please could you ask your Aunt to clear a path for us to the Dragon March. I need her to issue an executive order banning all civilian and military traffic from our route. It's for their own safety and we need it done immediately."

Lynette blinked in surprise. "Err... okay. I'll pass the message on."

"Thanks a lot," he replied with a grateful smile. "Sorry to disturb you."

She waved goodbye and grinned. "No problem!"

"Good night." John returned her wave and ended the call. Turning to Alyssa he smiled. "That should help keep everyone out of our way."

"Nice job," she replied, flashing him a quick smile before returning her attention to navigating a safe course through the thousands of spacecraft in the Sector. "If Lynette can give us a clear run, I'll be able to create an optimal flight path, and we might be able to get there a bit faster than I predicted."

"No problem." John rotated his chair to look at his Tactical Officer. "Alright, so we're rushing to the rescue... again. Can we slow the Brimorians down? Maybe mine their invasion route and use Gravity Well Generators like we did against the Drakkar?"

Calara sat down on the top step and frowned as she mulled it over. "I've got some ideas, but I'll need as much information as possible about the fleet assets and materiel the Kintark have available."

"I'm sure Edraele can get that for us," he agreed.

*I'm still on an open comms channel with Tamolith... I'll start gathering the data Calara needs,* Edraele informed him.

*Thank you.* He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and propped his chin up on his interlaced fingers. "Okay... anything else?"

"We should discuss this with the girls," Calara said, glancing at Alyssa. "They might have some useful ideas."

"They're on their way," the blonde instantly replied. "I'll get them to join you in the Briefing Room."

John got up and offered Calara a hand. "Send them to my Ready Room instead, it's more comfortable there."

It didn't take long for the girls to arrive, with Dana, Rachel, Sakura, Helene, and the Maliri twins all wearing cotton shorts and crop tops. Jehanna yawned as she followed after them, wrapped in a slightly oversized silk robe.

"What do you think?" Dana asked, doing a twirl to show off her outfit before sprawling on the sofa. "Cute, right?"

"Very nice," John agreed from the chair opposite, his arm around Calara's shoulders. "I half-expected you to turn up nude."

Rachel sat demurely on the sofa beside her girlfriend. "Alyssa thought that might be a little too distracting."

Jehanna eyed the seat next to John, then glanced around at the girls to see if anyone was going to take it.

Sakura encouraged her with a shooing motion. "Go ahead."

"Thanks," the reporter said with a grateful smile. She snuggled into John and stifled another yawn.

"You don't have to stay up for this," he said, rubbing her arm as he hugged her close. "You're exhausted, honey. You should be in bed."

"No, I'll be okay. I really want to listen to you plan this rescue mission," she insisted, before covering her mouth to fight back another yawn. Jehanna smiled self-consciously and looked around at the girls with admiration. "I don't know how you're all so bright-eyed and bushy-tailed... it's 4:00 am!"

"John likes to keep us on our toes," Irillith said, with a coy smile. "We're not always on our knees."

The girls laughed as they all took their places, with Helene sitting next to Sakura, and the Maliri twins seated opposite.

John welcomed them all with a warm smile, then his expression turned serious. "Alright, let's get down to business. Has Alyssa brought all of you up to speed?"

Tashana nodded. "We were settling down for bed when my mother raised the alarm. Alyssa headed up to the Bridge to change course and updated us on the way."

"Okay, good," he said, pleased that he didn't have to brief them. "So we need ideas on how to slow down the Brimorians, upgrade the Kintark fleets, or enhance our maximum FTL velocity."

"Ideally all three, I assume?" Rachel asked, tucking her legs underneath her.

"Anything would be helpful," Calara replied, looking at each of the girls in turn. "I have some ideas myself, but you're all very creative and might be able to suggest something I missed. Have you thought of anything yet, Sparks?"

"There's no chance of me being able to upgrade the Invictus to go any faster. I haven't even started looking into enhancing a Progenitor FTL drive yet, plus, I'd still need to build and install it which would take time we just don't have."

"Alright, forget about that for the moment," John said, keeping his eyes on the redhead. "What about giving some of our technology to the Kintark to upgrade their fleet?"

"I've been thinking about that, but there's a big problem. We've got access to a ton of amazing tech, but even if we give something awesome to the Kintark, they won't have enough time to build it before the Brimorians get there."

"What if we slowed down the invasion force?" Calara asked. "How long would something like... Pulse Cannons... take to construct?"

*Oh, by the way...* John said to Edraele, tuning out the technical discussion for a moment. *When you raised the alarm about the Brimorians with Alyssa, why didn't you warn me too?*

*You were deeply intimate with Ailita at the time,* the Maliri matriarch replied. *Jade said that you were making a profound difference to her sister and asked that you not be disturbed. As neither you nor the ship were in any immediate danger, Alyssa and I agreed to leave you alone.*

It felt fundamentally wrong to have been enjoying himself with a sexy girl while the fate of a galactic empire hung in the balance, but John couldn't find fault with their reasoning. *Okay... no harm done, I guess.*

*By the sounds of it, Ailita benefited immensely from the experience,* Edraele said, her voice soft and supportive. *Alyssa said that Jade was 'high as a kite' afterwards.*

*Yeah, I noticed...* he said with a wry smile.

Focusing his attention on the girls again, John listened to Dana calculating how long it would take for production lines to be modified before the Kintark could produce Pulse Cannons. The amount of time required to customise manufacturing facilities meant that they wouldn't have a single weapon installed before the Enclave besieged the planet.

"You need to think quick and dirty, Sparks," he interrupted, shaking his head. "What can the Kintark churn out that'll make a difference but won't take a massive manufacturing or refitting effort?"

"Oh, I know!" the redhead blurted out, her sky-blue eyes widening in inspiration. "What about EMP missiles?! I could send them the schematics we swiped from the Kirrix! A solid hit from one of those would instantly overload the Brimorians' shields!"

Calara sat bolt upright. "They'd be perfect! Kintark cruisers are already equipped with missile launchers. We could swap their plasma warheads for EMP payloads!"

"They wouldn't take long to mass-produce?" John asked, delighted that they'd already figured out something that could make a difference.

Dana shook her head and jumped to her feet. "I'll make some tweaks to the blueprints so they're even easier to build! The Kintark should be able to crank out a bunch of warheads if they start as soon as they get the updated schematic!"

"Well done, Sparks," John said to the beaming redhead.

"I'll let you know as soon as I'm done!" she exclaimed, waving goodbye as she rushed out of the room.

Irillith rose from her seat. "I can encrypt the schematic so that it'll only unlock when Tamolith speaks a specific command. We've still got samples of her voice from when you met her in the Xen-Nuchek mines."

"Sounds good, we don't want everyone getting their hands on them," John agreed.

"Wait... couldn't we use EMP missiles to knock out Thrall shields?" Sakura asked, her eyes shining with excitement.

Calara ruefully shook her head. "I'm afraid not. Thrall and Progenitor Shield Generators are both protected against EMP. Hard shields would also block the incoming missiles and the explosion would just cause some temporary instability in the defence field."

"Damn, that's a shame," the Asian girl sighed, sagging back in her sofa.

John nodded in agreement, then turned to Calara. "How much difference will the EMP missiles make to the Kintark fleets? Will they be able to hold their own against the Brimorians?"

Her brows furrowed as she played out battle scenarios in her mind. "Brimorian ship hulls are lightly-armoured compared to all the other space-faring races. If the Kintark can knock their shields out using EMP missiles, their plasma cannons will tear them apart. The Kintark are still outnumbered at least 4 to 1 though. We'll be lucky if any of their missiles get through the defence grid, with that many enemy destroyers protecting the capital ships."

"So we need to slow down the Brimorian armada long enough for us to arrive and take them out, or break up the invasion force into much smaller groups so the Kintark can try to overwhelm them piecemeal?"

"Yes, that's about the size of it," Calara confirmed, her expression grim. "But if we're relying on the Kintark, we can't afford to lose any defending ships to the first couple of Brimorian waves."

John ran his fingers through his hair. "Damn..."

*I've started receiving an inventory of the Kintark assets,* Edraele informed him. *I'll transmit them to you over a secure channel.*

The data arrived a few minutes later and Calara leaned forward to study the information. "It looks like Baledranax stripped their munitions reserves bare. There are hardly any mines left... not that they've got any minelayers to deploy them." Blowing out her breath, she sat back and frowned with worry.

"Worse than you thought?" John asked, stroking her back.

She nodded, her expression bleak. "I better get down to the Combat Bridge and start running simulations. The sooner I can come up with a defensive stratagem, the more time the Kintark will have to begin preparations."

Tashana eyed the list of equipment speculatively. "I notice they've got sizeable stocks of mining drones and seismic charges. I know a few handy tricks from my smuggling days... I'll come with you and see where we can put them to good use."

Calara gave the Maliri girl a grateful smile. "I'd appreciate that, thank you."

John patted Jehanna on the thigh and moved to get up. "Okay, let's go."

Calara shook her head and placed a hand on his chest. "Thank you, but that's not necessary. Unless you have a specific idea you want to discuss, you'd be more help getting a good night's sleep and reviewing my plans with fresh eyes."

"I was going to offer my moral support," he admitted with a rueful smile.

"That's sweet, but I'll be completely absorbed in planning and I won't be able to appreciate your company." She gave him a fond kiss. "Get some rest... you've been through a lot today. If you do think of anything helpful during the night, come and see me immediately so I can factor it into my plans."

"Alright, will do," he agreed, realising that she was right. Tiring himself out unnecessarily was pointless.

Calara nodded to Tashana and the two girls strode purposefully from the Ready Room.

"Okay girls, time for bed," John said, before glancing down at Jehanna who had already fallen asleep. "It looks like someone beat us to it."

Rachel, Sakura, and Helene laughed quietly, then waved goodbye and headed back down to the Observatory.

John rubbed Jehanna's shoulder to wake her up. "Come on, let's get you to bed."

"Mmm... sounds good..." she agreed, snuggling in closer. "You're so comfy..."

He scooped her up in his arms, then headed out onto the Bridge, where Alyssa was watching the traffic on the Sector Map like a hawk.

"You're not planning on pulling an all-nighter are you?" he asked with concern.

"I haven't got much choice. If we're trying to get to Kinta as fast as possible, then I'll need to nursemaid the Invictus until we're away from the Core Worlds," she replied, flashing him a rueful smile, before focusing on her route again. "It'll only be for tonight. If Lynette clears a path for us, it'll be plain sailing tomorrow and I can sleep all day."

"I feel bad about going to bed while you girls are working," he admitted, flashing an apologetic look towards Irillith at her IntOps station. "Are you sure you don't want me to keep you company?"

"And distract us with annoying questions all night long?" Irillith replied, the twinkle in her violet eyes letting John know she was just kidding. "I appreciate the offer, but you should get some sleep."

"Go to bed, handsome," Alyssa agreed. "You've got training in the morning with Sakura, then we need to teach Tashana how to Spirit Walk in the afternoon."

"Yeah, true..." He walked up the illuminated steps to give Alyssa a goodnight kiss. "Thanks for doing this, beautiful."

"It'll be worth it just to see the look on Tamolith's face when we arrive in the nick of time," she replied with a grin.

He laughed and gave Irillith a quick peck on the cheek before leaving the Command Deck. With Jehanna still slumbering in his arms, John exited the grav-tubes on Deck Two, then walked along the corridor to Jade's quarters. When John opened the door, he saw that Ailita was still asleep where he'd left her, purring contentedly as pink pulses swept out across her body.

Jade's emerald eyes glinted in the darkness, reflecting the light shining from her sister. "Hello again, Master."

"It's going to be a squeeze tonight," John whispered with a smile, placing Jehanna on the double bed beside the pink-hued catgirl.

Jade rolled off the covers and walked around the bed to join him. She seemed much calmer now, having regained her composure. "I'll move out of the way and let the three of you share the bed."

"Hey, I wasn't chasing you out," he protested, pulling her into a hug.

"I know," she murmured, giving him a warm smile. "But tonight is special; Jehanna decided to join the crew and you became Ailita's new master, binding them both to you permanently. You should be alone with your two newest mates."

John decided not to dispute Jehanna's status, but darted a guilty glance at the resting catgirl. "Jade, the things I said to Ailita... about using her for pleasure..."

"Were perfect," Jade said solemnly, turning him to face her. "You told Ailita exactly what she needed to hear, in a way that she could easily understand. You couldn't have handled things with her any better, Master... I promise."

He brushed his fingers through her long dark-green hair and studied the Nymph matriarch. "I know you were overwhelmed by psychic energy afterwards. Did the way I handled her really make that much difference?"

"Yes... among other things," she replied, her loving smile turning playful.

John chuckled and rolled his eyes. "Which I assume you're not going to tell me?"

"I love you very much, Master... more than I can put into words. Do you trust me? Will you let me keep this secret from you for a short time?"

Moved by her sincerity, he nodded and gazed into her eyes. "You're my perfect mate, Jade. Of course I trust you."

She quivered with delight, her smile broadening. "No matter how much I've evolved and grown, some things are still nice to hear." Jade glanced at the sleeping girls, then continued, "Thank you, on Ailita's behalf. Someday soon, she'll be able to understand just how precious this gift is that you're giving her."

Slipping out of his arms, she blew him a kiss, then padded out of the bedroom as if she was floating on a cloud. John watched her leave, glad to see how happy and contented Jade seemed to be. She seemed particularly serene and he was quite certain that there was some special significance to rescuing Ailita.

John stripped off his clothes, then climbed onto the bed between the two sleeping girls. As if drawn to him like a magnet, Ailita rolled over and draped an arm across his chest, with Jehanna mirroring her actions a moment later. He relaxed at the comforting and familiar feeling of being flanked by two nubile women, and drifted off to sleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.

***

Tashana stood in front of the glowing holographic map, her angular eyes flicking from side to side as she studied Kintark territory. "There!" she called out, pointing to a sweeping band of asteroids. "That'll do nicely!"

Tapping a button on the tactical overlay, Calara displayed the most pessimistic forecast of the Enclave's advance towards Kinta. "It's cutting it close. I'll ask Irillith to send the deployment order immediately, or the mining craft won't reach the asteroid belt in time."

"That's it for this sector," the Maliri smuggler murmured, her eyes roving over the map. "Move on to the next and I'll search for a nebula we can use..."

Calara nodded and shifted the focus of the holo-map. Leaving Tashana to her careful scrutiny of Kintark territory, the Latina continued updating her combat simulation, issuing Kirrix EMP missiles to the two Kintark fleets.

*Alright, I have a few minutes to chat,* Alyssa announced, the relief in her voice palpable. *Everyone's finally getting out of the way.*

The Latina leaned back in her chair and mulled over how to frame her question. The awkward silence stretched on, until Calara finally blurted out, *We should talk to John about contacting his father.*

*Even if Rahn is still sneaking around out there, that's not a good idea,* Alyssa said quietly. *You saw how angry John was earlier and that was just from talking to his mother.*

*But with Rahn'hagon's help, we could arrive in Kinta tonight!* the brunette protested. *Larn'kelnar used the dreadnought's wormhole generator to jump a Drakkar battleship deep into Ashanath territory and that ship was much larger than the Invictus.*

Alyssa let out an exasperated sigh. *There's no way in hell John would go along with that. It was only last week that Rahn punched him in the face and tried to kill him, for fuck's sake!*

Calara grimaced at that dreadful thought, but she wasn't to be deterred. *If Jessica is trying to contact us, Rahn'hagon must've had a change of heart or he wouldn't have allowed her to make the call. We know Jessica regrets abandoning John now and you've shielded her mind to stop Rahn from dominating her again; what if they're calling to apologise?*

*So what if they are? Rahn'hagon's got his own agenda and I don't trust him. Besides, John has more than enough to deal with at the moment, without dredging up all his parents' shit all over again.* She let out an exasperated sigh. *They hurt him, Calara... worse than anything he's been through so far. Even if they do apologise, I'm not sure John is ready to forgive them... at least not yet. You saw him come apart at the seams with your mother.*

*But you set that up to help John,* Calara said in confusion.

*Yes and I'm sure it did, but it's much too soon to push John into reconciling with his parents. We'll give him another few weeks to let things cool down a bit first.*

The Latina shook her head. *The Kintark don't have three days, let alone a week!*

*I'm not willing to risk John getting hurt again just to save the Kintark,* Alyssa declared, her tone defiant and uncompromising. *Don't forget, it's their own fault they're in this mess.*

*It was Baledranax that ordered the invasion, not Tamolith,* Calara corrected her. *I'm not exactly overjoyed that we're helping her after what she did to Mateo and those T-Fed prisoners... but John's committed to protecting Kinta now. While the remnants of the Kintark Empire don't matter in the scope of the Progenitor War, I am worried about more delays before we return to Genthalas.*

*Me too,* Alyssa agreed. *But the most important thing is supporting John and helping him recover from having his heart stomped on, otherwise recovering Larn'kelnar's fleets won't mean a thing. You know what's coming... and John needs to stay focused and eliminate his guide before we face another Progenitor.*

Calara mulled it over, then nodded. *Alright, I won't say anything to him, but I think you should seriously consider telling John what you did to Jessica. It might help him to forgive her if he knows she's not under Rahn's thrall anymore.*

*I will... but not yet,* Alyssa said softly. *Not yet...*

***

The first thing to register on Tom Walker's befuddled senses was a quiet rhythmic beeping, the noise increasing in tempo as it got louder. He tried to open his eyes and winced against the white glare that felt like stabbing lances into his brain.

There was a sudden flurry of activity and he heard muffled voices, the noises droning around him but not making any sense. He desperately strained his ears to try to figure out what they were saying, but he could only make out a few words here and there.

"... brain activity... check... responsive?"

"... Walker... hear me?"

He fought to respond and the irritating beeps got louder and more obnoxious.

"... cardiac... sedation!"

As he struggled, Tom felt a soothing wave sweep over his body, lulling him into its gentle embrace.

***

John stretched as he woke, being careful not to disturb the two luscious girls draped over him. He'd spent a wonderful night with Athena in the Astral Plane, kept safe from Xar'aziuth's clutches despite having just added the Nymph to his network of girls. Jehanna's mass of dark hair didn't so much as move when he stirred, but Ailita lifted her head and greeted him with a dazzling smile.

"Good morning, Master!" she whispered, before darting a curious glance at the raven-haired beauty slumbering beside John. "Is this Terran female your mate?"

He nodded and stroked Ailita's long pink hair. "She is. Her name's Jehanna and she helped me to choose what you look like now. Jehanna showed me a picture of a woman that she thought was very beautiful... and I agreed."

Ailita's look of idle curiosity turned to fascination.

John lay back and relaxed for a moment, just enjoying their soft bodies pressed against him. He glanced at the chronometer on the wall and saw that it was 8:04 am.

*Are any of you awake?* he quietly asked his three matriarchs.

*Good morning, John,* Edraele replied, also keeping her voice to a low murmur. *Alyssa only went to bed an hour ago and Jade is still asleep. Calara asked that I let her know as soon as you were awake; I imagine she will be up to see you shortly.*

*Okay... thank you,* he replied awkwardly, feeling a sudden pang of guilt. *Edraele... I'm sorry there's going to be another delay before we get back to Genthalas. I know how much you and your girls were looking forward to our return.*

*There's no need to apologise. As soon as I heard what had happened, I knew you'd feel compelled to intervene.*

*How serious a problem are we facing with the new matriarchs?* he asked with concern. *They'll start arriving at Genthalas in a couple of days, won't they?*

*I honestly don't know; this is an unprecedented event in Maliri history. I'm hoping that the initial shock of meeting a Maliri Queen with long white hair will keep the new matriarchs suitably awed until you return. If they force my hand, I have no qualms about keeping all of them under house arrest to maintain the peace... but I urge you to hurry back as quickly as you can.*

*We'll set off for Genthalas as soon as we've dealt with the Brimorian invasion,* John said adamantly. He smiled as he continued, *Then you'll be stuck with me hanging around for the foreseeable future. I'm sure you'll get tired of me eventually, like a houseguest overstaying his welcome.*

*That's never going to happen,* she said with conviction. Her tone took on a lighter note as she added, *Besides, you're not a guest... it's your home!*

He chuckled at her joke, but it was comforting to know that he and the girls had a place where they'd always be welcome. The stifled laughter still sent reverberations through his chest and Jehanna let out a contented sigh as she stirred.

"I could get used to waking up in your arms," she murmured, stretching languidly and turning to greet him with a lovely smile.

Jehanna's eyes went wide with surprise when she spotted their pink-haired bedmate and let out a startled gasp.

John stroked her back, grinning at her reaction. "Jehanna, I'd like you to meet Ailita."

"This one is very pleased to meet you, Jehanna," the Nymph said, her tone respectful.

Shaking off her initial shock, Jehanna couldn't help staring in awe at the exotically beautiful catgirl.

"She looks just like her..." Jehanna murmured, before realising how rude she was being. "I'm sorry for staring, Ailita, you just caught me by surprise. I'm very pleased to meet you too."

"Master said that you thought this one was beautiful," Ailita stated, her aquamarine eyes sweeping over the dusky-hued girl lying opposite. The Nymph gave her a flirtatious smile. "This one thinks that you are very beautiful too, Jehanna..."

"I was explaining to Ailita how you helped me choose her appearance," John explained, hugging both girls closer.

Jehanna's blush deepened, but neither John nor the catgirl missed the flare of arousal in those lovely dark eyes. Ailita leaned forward and gently kissed the entranced reporter, flicking a quick glance at John as she did so, to check his reaction.

"Does Master approve of this one kissing his mate?" Ailita asked, the twinkle in her aquamarine orbs suggesting that she already knew the answer.

"I do... as long as you both enjoyed it," he replied, running his hands across their backs in gentle encouragement.

Ailita nodded enthusiastically. "She has very soft lips, Master. Perfect for kissing... and other things."

Jehanna broke out into a self-conscious giggle. "This is crazy! I've fantasised about that sexy catgirl for months... I can't believe she's actually here in the flesh!"

She couldn't fail to see John's swelling cock out of the corner of her eye and shared a grin with the Nymph. Ailita placed a hand on his thickening shaft, her fingers curling around his girth.

"This one would love another full tummy, Master," the horny Nymph purred, licking her lips in anticipation. "But it would be so much more fun to share with your lovely mate..."

John groaned his approval as they began to lick his shaft, dragging their tongues along his length. He lay back and closed his eyes in bliss, savouring every moment of their coordinated sensual assault.

***

Calara rubbed at her tired eyes and tapped the icon on the comms interface, dispatching her last set of orders. The encrypted message soared through space to the nearest beacon, then onwards across the communications network into Maliri Space before being routed down towards Kinta. With her work done for now, Calara rose from the Tactical Station and moaned with relief as she stretched tired muscles.

The Combat Bridge was silent and still as she walked up the ramp into the Armoury, Tashana having retired for the night several hours earlier. Stepping into the express grav-tube, Calara was whisked up to Deck Two, where she strolled along the corridor towards Jade's quarters. Without bothering to knock, she opened the door and entered, abruptly bumping into John who was about to leave.

"I was just on my way to see you," he said, catching her as they rebounded. "How are you doing?"

"Tired," Calara said with a weary smile. "I sent out the last set of orders to the Kintark. All our defensive measures will soon be in place." She handed him a holo-viewer. "Here... you can see the plans for yourself."

He took the device from her and glanced at the detailed defensive stratagem she'd devised. "Amazing, thank you. I'll review this in detail while I get some breakfast. Do you want to join me?"

"Mmm... a full tummy would be wonderful," Calara readily agreed, her hand reflexively stroking her stomach.

John gave her a rueful look. "Ah... I'm sorry, honey, I just meant regular food. I didn't think you'd be in the mood after staying up all night, so I just fed Ailita and Jehanna. They're sleeping off breakfast in bed right now."

She grinned at him, darting a glance past his shoulder. "Can I see?"

He nodded and stepped aside, then followed the brunette as she padded into the bedroom. Jehanna and Ailita were entwined in each other's arms, their rounded stomachs nestled together, with John's morning load split evenly between them. Swirls of light spread out across the Nymph's body, the soft pink bathing Jehanna in a muted glow.

"They look so sexy together..." Calara breathed, gazing at the nude girls. "I love the contrast in their skin tone... is that why you like seeing me with Alyssa so much?"

John hugged her from behind and kissed her shoulder. "One of the reasons, yes. The fact that the two of you love each other so much makes it even more exciting to watch."

She nodded and smiled to herself, then glanced at him over her shoulder, a look of confusion on her face. "This is the second time you've filled up Jehanna since she came aboard. Have you changed your mind about making her a permanent member of the crew?"

He shook his head. "They were only half loads. I don't want Jehanna rushing to join us as a knee-jerk reaction to the fight with her parents."

They backed out of the room to avoid waking the snoozing girls, then headed towards the Officers' Lounge. Calara leaned into him for a sideways hug, which John returned, putting his arm around her shoulders. It was obvious to him that she was exhausted.

"You should head off to bed, honey," John said, stopping by the door and looking at her with concern. "You can barely keep your eyes open."

Calara nodded and covered her mouth to stifle a yawn. "Yeah... maybe you're right."

"I'll make a nice lunch for you when you wake up," he promised, giving her a farewell kiss.

The Latina turned to leave, but hesitated and faced him again. "John... can I ask you a personal question?"

"Of course," he agreed with an accommodating smile.

"Why are you keeping Jehanna at arm's length?" Calara asked, giving John a perceptive look that reminded him so much of her mother. "It's obvious she really loves you and I know you feel the same way about her."

His smile faded into a pensive frown. "I do... but Jehanna also loves being a reporter for TFNN. I don't want her to have to choose between a life with me and her career."

"I did," the Latina said, giving him a tender kiss. "It was the best decision I've ever made."

John pulled back to look at her in surprise. "But you never left the military!"

She looked him in the eye. "A stint on a retired marine's civilian cruiser wasn't exactly a career-advancing role, John... or at least it shouldn't have been. I knew I was probably flushing my T-Fed career when Alyssa made me that offer, but I was so broken, I just clung desperately to the two of you for support. In the end, the choice cost me nothing and gave me everything. I became a Captain and the youngest Stellar Cluster recipient in Terran Federation history, but that was only thanks to you. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to let Jehanna have everything she wants too."

"What about Jehanna's family? What are they going to say?" he objected, shaking his head. "She can't just turn up again after going through the Change!"

Calara grinned at him. "I did. My family made a few jokes at my expense, but they accepted me without too much difficulty."

"Jehanna's situation is quite a bit different," John said, looking sceptical. "She just had a huge fight with her parents and I don't want to make the situation worse."

The brunette shrugged. "You'll bring them together again sooner or later." She yawned again, then visibly wilted. "Anyway, I better hit the sack before I collapse. Goodnight!"

"Goodnight, honey," John murmured, lost in thought as he watched her leave.

***

"Hello? Can you hear me?" a crisp male voice asked, piercing Tom Walker's subconscious.

He roused from the haze of the sedative and slowly opened his eyes to see a dimly-lit hospital room. "Thirsty..." Tom muttered, his throat like sandpaper.

Gentle fingers brought an ice chip to his lips, a soft female voice murmuring, "Let this melt in your mouth."

Tom nodded his understanding and did as she asked, his eyes flicking from the dark-haired nurse on his right, to the man in a doctor's coat on his left.

"My name's Senior Consultant Fitzroy-Ferguson," the doctor announced, making eye-contact with him and studying Tom intently. "Can you tell me who you are?"

Swallowing the deliciously cool water, Tom replied in a gravelly voice, "Lieutenant Commander Tom Walker." He paused for a second to swallow again. "Where am I? What happened?"

"The Unity City Medical Institute. You've been in a coma for..."

Someone standing out of view cleared his throat and Fitzroy-Ferguson trailed off, not finishing his sentence.

The consultant glanced behind him, then returned his gaze to his patient. "Your vitals are strong and test results all show exceptional cognitive function. I'll continue to monitor your condition, but I'm very pleased with the speed of your recovery so far."

"Doctor... why was I in a coma?" Tom asked, growing increasingly alarmed by the medic's evasiveness. "Why am I here at Unity City instead of the fleet? What day is it? What date?!"

Giving him a reassuring pat on the arm, Fitzroy-Ferguson replied, "Stay calm and get some rest. Someone will be along shortly to discuss the answers to those questions with you."

Sensing he was not going to get any more information from the doctor, Tom sighed with frustration and sagged back on the hospital bed. The nurse handed him the glass of ice chips, then they retreated from the room, leaving him alone with his troubled thoughts.

***

John stared at the projection from the holo-viewer in fascination, thoroughly captivated by the detailed plans Calara had spent all night labouring over. He sat back in his dining room chair and mentally reviewed everything he'd spent the last half-hour studying, but couldn't pick a fault with her plans. He didn't envy the Brimorian leader in charge of the invasion force having to pick his way through that minefield... even if it was only a metaphorical one.

Glancing down, he frowned at the plate of eggs-on-toast which were now stone-cold, his breakfast forgotten about while he studied the defensive plans. With a grimace of distaste, he quickly finished off the food, not wanting to keep Sakura waiting any longer than necessary. He cleared the table, then left the Officers' Lounge, taking the grav-tube down to Deck Three.

Walking into the Dojo's armoury, John saw that all the training suits were still in their equipping frames and that the matched pair of ninjato were still on the weapon racks. He briefly wondered if Sakura was still in bed, but dismissed that thought just as quickly, knowing how diligent she was about her training. John entered the Dojo itself, then stopped in the doorway to watch the solitary figure inside.

Dawn was breaking over the snow-capped mountains surrounding the pagoda, bright shafts of light shining up from the horizon to push back the night's gloom. Illuminated by the morning's rays, Sakura moved with incredible grace, fluidly shifting from one Tai Chi stance to another. The smooth precision was breathtaking, each step and slide highlighting the strength and flexibility of her sculpted muscles.

John walked across the mats to join her, then began mirroring Sakura's Tai Chi chuan, flowing into the elegant steps and sweeping hand gestures. It felt like her body was an extension of his own and he instinctively knew what pose Sakura was adopting before she shifted her body to make those movements. She acknowledged him with a smile, her eyes locking onto his as they moved in perfect synchronisation together, sharing a special moment between them.

It felt soothing to lose himself in the familiar, putting aside his recent inner turmoil and falling into that calming meditative trance. He realised that he'd sorely missed this aspect of his life, needing the focus and clarity that martial arts provided more than ever. The routine was over far too soon, ending with Sakura facing him, one fist touching an open palm. She relaxed, then glided over to close the gap between them, a host of emotions in her almond-shaped eyes.

"Two souls in perfect harmony," she whispered, standing close and placing her hand on his chest.

He nodded and mirrored her action. "I felt it too."

They stood like that for a long moment, their breathing slow and measured as they felt the beats of each other's hearts.

"Being at your side on Mazaya..." she began, gazing into his eyes. "I sensed the closeness you talked about. I knew then that everything you said to me was true... that it was only circumstance that had kept us apart and it was never personal."

John could see the overwhelming relief on Sakura's face and was touched that his words had meant so much to her. "I love you, Sakura. I don't want you to ever doubt yourself like that again," he said, drawing her into an embrace.

They kissed and she melted into his arms, the outer facade of a disciplined warrior peeling away to reveal the vulnerable girl beneath.

When they separated, Sakura gave him a shy smile. "Never again."

"Good girl," John said, grinning at her as she beamed back at him. "Now, we better get geared up and start training. I'm afraid you're stuck with my company all morning."

Sakura took his hand and followed him into the armoury, the radiant smile on her face letting John know that she didn't mind a bit.

***

Staring up at the ceiling, Tom tried to figure out what could possibly have happened to him that would have led to a medical transfer to Terra. His memory felt hazy and indistinct, like a jigsaw puzzle with lots of missing pieces. He could clearly remember being stationed in the Callopean Shoals on the Brimorian border, serving on the carrier Janus as a Tactical Officer under Captain Preston Bexley, but it felt like that wasn't the whole picture.

Tom's last vivid memory was consoling his distraught fiancée, Anna's father having been horrifically crushed by Emperor Baledranax. The death of Fleet Admiral Vincent Buckingham had also hit his son hard, leaving Mason Newmont reeling from the news. Both siblings had grown distant from their father after their parents went through a bitter divorce, but despite how stoic Mason tried to be, Tom knew his best friend was grieving.

Mason and Anna were the two people in his life that Tom could always rely on, brother and sister having his back since childhood. To Tom's shock, he felt flickers of sadness, pain, and distrust when he thought about them both, emotions that made no sense at all. The trio were the Three Musketeers... lifelong friends that had stayed incredibly close even after twenty years. Tom was shocked by the unsettling doubts in his mind and desperately wracked his befuddled mind for any clue as to why he might feel that way.

The door to the hospital room swished open, providing a welcome distraction from his troubling thoughts. A middle-aged man in a trenchcoat entered, his face remarkable for its nondescript nature. He was clean shaven, with dark eyes, short brown hair, and no distinguishing features of any kind.

Walking over to the bed, the man produced a holo-ID, showing his plain face slowly rotating from side-to-side. "My name's Colonel Compton, Internal Security Division," he declared, repeating the name and title stated on the badge. "I'm here to ask you some questions relating to recent events in the Callopean Shoals. Would you please state your name and rank for the record."

Tom glanced up at the ISD officer's small shoulder camera and realised the conversation was being recorded.

"My name is Lieutenant Commander Tom Walker," he replied, then was surprised to feel a flicker of uncertainty when he made that statement.

Colonel Compton raised an eyebrow, studying him intently as if something he'd said wasn't quite right.

Tom looked at the ISD officer with concern. "Wait a second... am I being charged with something? Do I need a lawyer?"

"Not at this time," Compton replied, his expression remaining neutral. "Please can you describe the events that led up to your rescue?"

"I've no idea, I can't remember a thing!" Tom replied, feeling a surge of frustration. "I don't even know what the date is! What the hell happened to me?!"

"Calm yourself, Walker," the Colonel said, unruffled by his outburst. "Are you stating that you have no memory of the Brimorian attack on the Callopean Shoals?"

Tom's face blanched and he stared at the ISD officer in shock. "W-what Brimorian attack?"

He was suddenly assailed by flashes of memory... bright yellow particle beams... grey-hulled federation ships ablaze... explosions... screams of fear and pain.

"Walker?"

"Walker?!"

The Colonel clicked his fingers in front of Tom's face, snapping him out of the flashbacks. "Walker, are you still with me?"

Tom looked up at the ISD officer in shock. "What?!"

"Commander Walker... Are you stating, for the record, that you have no recollection of the Callopean Shoals massacre? That you have no explanation to account for why you are the sole survivor of the fleet under Admiral Morgan?"

Tom gaped at him, too stunned and horrified to reply.

***

Razor-sharp shards of ice slammed into John's psychic shield and he focused his will on repairing the criss-crossed patterns of cracked hexagons. At the same time an ice javelin screeched across the pagoda towards his head, forcing him to duck and roll to the side. Sakura lashed out at him with her ninjato, stabbing and slashing in a wild flurry of blows that abandoned style and technique for sheer number of hits.

He could feel the structure of his hex shield wavering, the glowing blue sphere losing its cohesion under the relentless onslaught. Holding up a hand towards his determined opponent, he pummelled her with a rippling wave of telekinetic force, the repeated impacts driving her backwards and giving him some respite. Unfortunately, it didn't last long.

Sakura launched herself skywards, nimbly dodging the succession of eldritch walls that had knocked her backwards. Winds from her ice tornado seemed to suck her inside the maelstrom, whirling her around until she dived towards John in a fresh attack from a completely different angle. He staggered backwards and tried to repulse her again, but she dashed around him, matching the speed of his shield's rotation as her twin blades hacked at his shield.

Distracted by too many different things at once, John didn't realise what she was doing until it was too late. A cluster of hexagons shattered, allowing her to lunge inside with her weapon extended, the tip of the blade slamming into the armour joint covering his kidneys. John could feel the force of her blow through the plating and he held up both hands to concede defeat.

"You're so fast!" he panted, trying to regain his breath. "Trying to defend against everything hitting me at the same time is a nightmare!"

She grinned at him, her own chest heaving. "That's the trick... coordinated attacks! Larn'kelnar only lasted as long as he did because we didn't all hit him at the same time!"

John pulled off his helmet and flopped down on the training mats, heedless of the jagged ice fragments scattered across the floor. Four hours of non-stop training had left him exhausted, his mind and body aching after sparring with psychic powers for so long. Sakura dropped her ninjato and removed her own Paragon helmet as she collapsed beside him, equally tired after all the exertion. They sat quietly together for a minute as they recovered, each studying the other in silence. John could see that something was troubling Sakura, but he waited patiently until she was ready to tell him.

"John..." she began, a pensive frown on her face. "I've been thinking about... fighting your guide. There's something important we've missed in these training sessions."

He glanced down at his armour. "Well, he definitely won't be wearing a Paragon suit. He also favours shadow powers, but he's locked me out from those runes, so I can't recreate them for you to train against."

"That's all true, but not what I was thinking about." She took a deep breath, then said in a rush, "You need to cut me off from your network."

John cupped her face and gave her a look of sympathy. "Are you really sure that's necessary? I appreciate how hard it is for you, thinking about why you'd be fighting my guide... but cutting you off is going to hurt you, honey."

"He'll kill me if you don't," she said solemnly, looking into his eyes. "He can override Alyssa and just drain me to a husk before the fight even starts. We haven't got any choice."

"Shit!" John cursed, grimacing in frustration. "I didn't even think about that!"

"That's because it's something you could never do," she said, nuzzling into his hand. "It's probably better this way. At least we won't have to worry about any nasty surprises hidden in our connection that might stop me from keeping my promise."

John stared at her for a moment, marvelling at how brave she was being. "You're amazing, Sakura. I don't know what I would've done without you here to protect the girls. Is there anything I can do to support you and make this easier?"

"Actually, there is." Sakura rose to her feet and held out her hand, a coy smile appearing on her beautiful face. "I can think of something very important you can do for me."

He laughed and took her hand, letting Sakura haul him to his feet. They retrieved their discarded gear and headed towards the equipping room... and the bedroom beyond.

***

Roused from her sleep by a surge of sexual euphoria, Alyssa stretched like a cat and relished the delicious sensations. She could have checked her empathic connections to find out which lucky girl was being ravaged by John... but where was the fun in that?

*Afternoon, ladies!* she said cheerfully, greeting all the girls in her psychic network.

It only took a moment for them all to respond, then Alyssa was deluged with a cacophony of telepathic replies and outpourings of emotion.

Calara shifted beside her and snuggled in closer. "Shh, it's still naptime..." she grumbled, resting her head against Alyssa's shoulder and promptly falling back to sleep.

*Yo, boss lady!* Dana replied, as bubbly and enthusiastic as always. *I just had an awesome idea! I reckon it's time for Paragon suits 2.0! I've been thinking about some new features...*

*Hello, Alyssa,* Jade purred, sounding particularly happy. *John filled up Ailita and Jehanna when he woke up this morning. Unless you have anyone else in mind, I'd like to request that we keep feeding Ailita at every opportunity. John's already made such a tremendous difference to my sisters...*

Leylira, Betrixa, Neysa, Marika, and Ailita weren't able to respond telepathically, but they all reacted to Alyssa's friendly greeting with bursts of joy.

*I'm glad you're awake,* Rachel replied, sounding deep in thought. *Calara had an interesting conversation with John earlier this morning. She made several very good points regarding Jehanna joining us as a fully-fledged Lioness...*

Niskera's emotions fluctuated between respect and happiness, the Glowing Queen always glad to hear from the Great Protector's handmaiden.

*Greetings, Revered Matriarch,* Irillith said respectfully, despite the mocking reference to the title her great-grandmother had hated. *I've been preparing some particularly nasty surprises for former Admirals Almada and Petran. Let me know where you'd like me to start diverting their funds...*

Jehanna was surprised but happy to hear from Alyssa, her emotions then fluctuating to inquisitiveness, which usually meant she had a question on her mind.

*Hello, Alyssa!* Tashana replied brightly, although it was clear she was distracted. *I asked Rill for advice on Spirit Walking and I've spent the morning practicing. I haven't ventured into the Astral Plane yet, but I have been experimenting with shifting to my spirit form and I believe I'm on the cusp of a breakthrough...*

*A pleasant afternoon to you too, fellow Matriarch,* Edraele said, her voice warm and affectionate. The Maliri Queen hesitated, then continued with concern, *I've been attempting to make contact with Matriarch Vestele Waephyra but to no avail. I have yet to receive word from any noblewoman in her House, so I'm forced to conclude that the battle still rages between mother and daughters...*

Sakura couldn't articulate a reply, her telepathic response a wordless cry of ecstasy.

"Jackpot!" Alyssa thought to herself with a grin, tuning into both John and Sakura to savour both sides of their sensual coupling.

*Hi, Alyssa,* Lynette murmured, sounding forlorn.

Jolted out of her voyeuristic pleasure, Alyssa frowned with concern. She continued her separate conversations with the rest of the girls, but paid special attention to the dejected Fleet Admiral.

*What's the matter, Lynette?* she asked with sympathy, suspecting that she already knew the answer. *Still no word from Charles?*

*No, not yet,* the brunette replied. *I know I'm supposed to give him some time to think about things, but what if he can't deal with the way John changed me? Maybe, instead of waiting, I should go and see Charles instead? Then I can show him how much I care about him!*

*Relax, Lynette,* Alyssa said, her voice calm and soothing. *If you rush in and smother him, you'll be dealing with fallout from this for months. He needs time alone to put everything in perspective and realise just how much you mean to him. You won't be able to fix this with blowjobs... at least not until you're sure Charles doesn't have any hang-ups about the Change.*

There was a lengthy pause, then Lynette sighed with frustration. *Alright, I can see that makes sense.*

*Trust me... it's the best way,* Alyssa said firmly. *Besides, it won't take him long to see sense... you're a hell of a catch, gorgeous!*

Lynette laughed, sounding more at ease. *Thanks for the pep-talk, Alyssa. I suppose I'll just throw myself into work while I wait for Charles to think about us. Between going through all the updates from High Command and reviewing the latest border reports, I have plenty to keep me occupied.*

*Ah, shit!* Alyssa cursed, her beautiful face twisting into a scowl.

*What's the matter?* the Fleet Admiral asked, startled by the blonde's outburst of profanity.

*I'm really sorry, Lynette,* her matriarch said with regret. *I wanted to talk to you about this face-to-face, but we had the Lina situation to discuss, then I got distracted by the Voss wedding...*

*Believe me, I understand what you mean about distractions,* Lynette said, having had trouble staying focused herself. *Not to worry though, you can tell me now. What was so important that you thought we should discuss it in person?*

*The Outer Rim colonies are furious at High Command,* Alyssa said, her tone turning deadly serious. *They were already angry after decades of neglect under Sutton and then Buckingham, but stripping the fleets from the border and abandoning those planets to the Kirrix has made everything a million times worse.*

*I know they resent the lack of support they've received, but I have dispatched emergency aid that should reach them next week,* Lynette said with a frown of concern. *We've also allocated billions of credits to upgrading colony infrastructure, although it'll take some time before they start to see the benefits.*

*Lynette, listen to me,* Alyssa said firmly. *Those poor bastards had to watch their friends and family raped and impregnated by the Kirrix! Their kids were chopped up and fed to the bugs! Emergency aid isn't going to cut it this time. I've spoken to the Governors.... they're done with the Terran Federation.*

The Fleet Admiral blanched as the blonde's words sank in. *What are you saying? They can't seriously be thinking about rebellion?!*

The Admiralty had always come down hard on uprisings for very good reason. Rebellions were contagious and with humanity beset by alien threats on all sides, the Federation could not afford to risk becoming fractured with internecine conflicts.

*It's going to happen sooner or later and you need to prepare for how you're going to deal with it,* Alyssa said, her tone firm and uncompromising. *And one more thing... don't let anyone in High Command push you into using the fleets to squash this. John's agreed to protect those colonies if they come under attack.*

Lynette slumped back in her chair, horrified at the thought of those worlds seceding from the Terran Federation.

***

John offered Sakura a hand as she stepped out of the grav-tube beside him. "That was another excellent training session. Thanks, honey."

"It was... and being with you afterwards was wonderful," she agreed with a dreamy smile, running her hand over her cum-packed belly. "You were so in tune with me... you seemed to know exactly what I needed."

He smiled and caressed her cheek. "You said it best... two souls in perfect harmony."

As John drew Sakura in for a kiss, he felt that lovely sensation of familiarity again. Sakura sighed with delight as she kissed him back, obviously sharing the same feeling. John was quite certain that any lingering doubts Sakura might have had about the strength of their relationship were thoroughly banished now.

They parted ways with a wave and she padded away towards Jade's quarters, humming softly to herself. John watched her with a fond smile until she disappeared into the bedroom, then turned towards the Officers' Lounge, on a mission to make lunch for everyone. He considered several different recipes, then began preparing a tasty dish that he knew Dana and Alyssa hadn't tried yet.

With the recently expanded crew, it took him a moment to work out exactly how many servings were needed. Not including Ailita, who was about to receive a substantial meal, he put the fresh headcount for lunch at fifteen place settings.

*Leylira won't be joining us for lunch. She'll be keeping watch on the Bridge,* Jade explained.

*Okay, thanks for letting me know. I'll make up a plate for her to have later,* he said, gathering the ingredients for garlic butter.

With the realisation of just how much prep time he had ahead of him, John activated psychic speed, allowing him to finish in a fraction of the time.

"Isn't that cheating?" Alyssa asked, as she glided over to greet him with a kiss.

"Only Irillith seems to mind and she's not here right now," he replied, giving the blonde a conspiratorial wink.

She smiled at him affectionately. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me."

Alyssa leaned back against the counter and watched John place the trays of breaded chicken in the oven, then activate the large rice cooker. He nodded with satisfaction, then started top-and-tailing a huge pile of green beans.

John glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "You look like you've got something on your mind."

"I have," she admitted, twisting the toe of her boot on the floor. "But it's lovely seeing you in a good mood and I don't want to spoil it."

"That sounds ominous," he noted, focusing on deftly slicing up the vegetables.

"Yep," Alyssa agreed, her mouth twisting into a rueful frown. "We forgot to talk to Lynette about the resentment in the Outer Rim colonies."

"Dammit!" John hissed as he nicked himself with the sharp knife. He ran his hand under a cold tap, then watched as the wound quickly sealed together.

"Sorry, that was my fault. Let me kiss it better," Alyssa offered, taking his hand. She raised it to her lips, then added, "John... I talked to her about it myself."

John looked into her cerulean eyes as Alyssa enveloped his finger in her mouth. She sucked gently as she gazed back at him, the sensations oddly arousing despite her innocent expression.

"I suppose you also told Lynette that we're willing to defend rebellious colonies against any T-Fed attempt to suppress them?" he asked, using his other hand to brush his fingers through her golden hair.

Alyssa blinked slowly, but didn't reply, her lips preoccupied with his finger.

"Those colonies would actually be better off staying with the Federation," he said, stroking her head. "Why is this so important to you?"

She made no move to answer, just maintained that perceptive stare and the gentle suction.

John thought about his blonde matriarch for a moment and what was important to her. "This is about your childhood on Karron isn't it? You're getting your revenge against the Terran Federation for what happened to you on that asteroid."

Alyssa released his finger and kissed the tip. "If there'd been half-decent medical facilities on Karron, my mother never would've died during childbirth. If she'd survived, my father wouldn't have drunk himself half to death, and we could've left that shithole for a new life together. If my parents had lived, then a scared little girl wouldn't have been forced to... do whatever she had to... just to survive."

He looked at her with sympathy. "But if Lynette funnels money to the colonies, they'll be able to afford the kind of facilities that would have saved your mother. The infrastructure improvements will prevent just that kind of thing from happening to other vulnerable families."

"Yes, but how long is this new interest in the Outer Rim going to last?" Alyssa replied, her eyes narrowing. "Until Lynette retires? Twenty years will go by in the blink of an eye... and then what? The Federation will just go back to pouring resources into the Core Worlds and exploiting the far-flung colonies." She shook her head. "No... my parents deserve a better legacy than that."

She gave him a quick kiss to silence any objections and continued, "The Terran Federation has got too big, too fast, and the bureaucracy can't cope with so many planets. Don't forget that they also just annexed half the Kintark Empire and acquired hundreds more worlds, which means the strain on colonial administration is going to get much worse. The Terran Federation has always been focused on Terra and the Core Worlds... the systems on the periphery are going to keep being neglected as a result."

John leaned against the counter beside her and mulled it over. "I can't see how half-a-dozen worlds breaking away on their own are going to be economically viable, but then again, what the hell do I know about planetary administration. My main concern is security for the Outer Rim. Those worlds will still be bordering the Kirrix, which means they're going to have to be strong enough to fend off scouting patrols when the bugs rebuild their fleets."

"We can deal with the Kirrix when the time comes," Alyssa replied, smiling now that she sensed he was willing to go along with it. "As for the breakaway colonies... they'll be like one of the minor Empires in the Trankaran Republic."

"Alright, I guess we'll play it your way," he reluctantly agreed, reaching for the knife to continue his prep work.

"Thanks, handsome!" she gushed, giving him a big kiss. "I know this is the right thing to do for those colonies!"

"Go and set the table," he replied, giving her a playful swat on her perfectly rounded rump.

She pouted at him. "What was that for?"

"Not reminding me to talk to Lynette about it when we saw her. What kind of an XO are you?" he asked with a mock frown.

"One with an eye for the ladies?" she asked, grinning at him.

He rolled his eyes and shooed her out, smiling despite his misgivings about the Outer Rim.

***

"Come on, Dana! Lunch is nearly ready and we don't want to keep everybody waiting," Rachel said, tapping her foot with exaggerated impatience.

"Alright, alright, just give me a second, babes... I'm in the middle of something," the redhead muttered, her sky-blue eyes flicking from one schematic to another.

The golden coronas around her pupils flared with a golden light as she inscribed Progenitor script on the blueprints, detailing the newest systems built into the form-fitting body armour.

The brunette leaned over her girlfriend's shoulder to take a closer look. "What's got you so excited anyway?"

"Do you remember a few weeks ago, we took a look at the Hive Queen's armour plating?" Dana replied, the golden glow fading from her eyes.

"You mean when you coerced me into performing the autopsy, because you thought the Hive Queen cadaver was too 'icky'?" Rachel asked, raising an eyebrow. She adopted a disapproving frown. "The cleaning robots still haven't been able to wash that coagulant compound from the sleeves of my favourite lab coat."

"Yep, that's the one." Dana smirked at her. "Anyway, I decided to incorporate the idea behind the Hive Queen's bio-plating into my upgraded Paragon suit. If we get shot, then the inner gel seals the wounds and maintains the suit's atmospheric integrity."

She gestured to the holo-images and separated the armour shell into an inner and outer layer. The inner layer was much thinner, with hexagonal cavities dividing it from the sturdier outer plating.

"I can't read the runes," Rachel said, studying the Progenitor script. "What do they say?"

"Remind Rachel to synthesise a formula for the medi-gel," Dana read, keeping a straight face.

The brunette laughed. "Seriously?"

Dana broke into a grin and shook her head. "No, but if you could work on it, that'd be awesome." She pointed to the armour plating and continued, "When I originally designed Paragon armour, John and Alyssa could only manage quad-shaped Crystal Alyssium. Now they're shaping it up to 25 times, so we can get the same durability and tensile strength from much thinner plating. I figured I could incorporate two layers, the outer one a bit tougher to shrug off conventional weapons and the inner layer inscribed with protection runes."

"To ward us against psychic attacks," Rachel said, nodding her understanding. "But why not just inscribe your protection runes directly onto the outer layer?"

"Because John and Alyssa can't make field repairs until I drop the runes," Dana explained. "This way they can patch up regular battle damage without me having to get involved."

"Very convenient," the brunette said with a smile of approval. She studied the sleek shape of the conspicuously female body armour, her eyes following the pronounced curve of the bust. "Is there a reason why Paragon suits have to be quite so... flattering?"

Dana turned away from the rotating holographic images. "The original design was based on thrall armour and I guess I was just following John's schematics."

Rachel accompanied her down the steps from the Engineering Podium. "The suits look very sexy and the Lionesses have got a certain image to maintain, but maybe you could bulk them up a bit?"

"Like John's Lion armour?" Dana mused, as they left the Workshop. "That's actually not a bad idea. Then I could make both internal and external shells tougher with thicker armour plating."

"I'm sure John would approve of anything that would give us greater protection," Rachel noted, sharing a smile with her girlfriend.

They stepped into the grav-tube with Dana lost in thought. "I was a bit wary about increasing the size too much because Paragon suits give us amazing manoeuvrability, but I suppose I could upgrade the armour with frictionless joints like the Valkyrie. We won't suddenly be able to go sprinting around like Sakura, but it should offset the slight increase in mass and volume from a bulkier suit. Plus, if I make them a bit bigger, I'll have even more room for new features!"

"Sounds like a plan with no drawbacks," Rachel said, giving the redhead an encouraging smile.

Dana's eyes were alight with inspiration. "I can't wait to show John the new version!"

Stepping out onto Deck Two, Rachel asked, "Will you be able to finish the design before we reach Kinta?"

"The design... yes. Building a prototype? I doubt it," Dana said with a rueful frown.

"At least we're only going up against Brimorians, so I suppose it can wait," Rachel said with a shrug. "It's not like we're about to fight a Progenitor."

Dana looked at her in alarm. "Are you crazy? You can't say shit like that! Are you trying to jinx us?!"

Rachel tapped the button to open the door to the Officers' Lounge. "We'll be fine, just don't walk under any ladders. Oh, and watch out for black cats crossing our path," she said, rolling her eyes at her superstitious girlfriend.

"Hello Dana, hello Rachel!" Marika said, the black and silver-striped catgirl walking over to greet them.

The two Terran teenagers froze and shared a worried glance.

"Alyssa requested that you help her set the table," the Nymph informed them with a friendly smile.

Marika left the shocked pair to join her sisters, who were gathered around Ailita, cooing over the pink light pulsing from her rounded stomach.

Alyssa emerged from the kitchen with steaming food served up on plates and smirked at the approaching teenagers. "Uh oh... have you two just doomed the ship?"

"That wasn't funny!" Dana protested as Alyssa started laughing. It proved infectious and the redhead dissolved into a fit of giggles. "Alright, you got me good."

Rachel laughed too, then smiled self-consciously at the blonde as she admitted, "You actually had me worried for a moment too."

"I'm sorry, I couldn't resist," Alyssa said, giving them each a quick kiss to seal her apology.

John appeared from the kitchen carrying several more plates which he started placing on the table. "Hey everyone. Take a seat, lunch is ready."

Dana sat down in her usual spot and eyed the breaded chicken on a bed of pilau rice. "Is this Chicken Katsu again?" she asked inquisitively. "Where's the sauce?"

"You'll see," John replied with a grin. "And this is a different dish called Chicken Kiev."

"Oh fantastic, I love this!" Calara gushed, eagerly taking a seat.

John returned from the kitchen with more plates. "I'll have to teach you the recipe sometime." He placed one of them in front of Jehanna, then looked at her curved stomach in surprise.

"It looks delicious, but I'm already full up..." she said, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

He shot a questioning glance at Sakura who shrugged helplessly. "They wanted to share and I didn't have the heart to say no."

John sighed and squatted down beside Jehanna. He ran his hand over her rounded belly and watched her long eyelashes flutter as she quivered with pleasure at his gentle touch.

"If I keep feeding you like this, you're going to keep growing," he said quietly, looking up into her eyes. "It'll only take a few more days and you'll start looking like the rest of the girls. When you complete the Change, you're never going to want to leave."

"I've made up my mind... that's what I want," she declared, interlacing her fingers with his. "I'm tired of missing you and feeling lonely. I love being here with the girls and I want to be one of your Lionesses, John."

"If we keep going, your body is going to go through some big changes. You've got a lovely slim figure at the moment, but if we continue, you're going to become as tall, athletic, and busty as the rest of the girls."

"I know... I can't wait!" she interrupted, sharing a flirtatious smile with the twins.

"And I'm sure if we asked the girls, they'd all love to have you join us," John said, glancing around the table to see everyone nodding enthusiastically. Focusing on Jehanna again, he continued, "But what about your career? Jehanna Elani, TFNN's Lead Anchor, is famous throughout the Terran Federation... If I change your appearance, it'll raise all sorts of awkward questions."

"I'm sure if I asked nicely, I could convince Dana to make me a holo-disguise like the one she built for Lynette," she replied, darting a quick glance at his Chief Engineer.

"Yeah! I can make that for you, no problem!" the redhead agreed, giving Jehanna a broad grin.

Jehanna flashed her a grateful smile in return, then turned back to John. "Avery would be ecstatic to have an embedded reporter on the Invictus giving him TFNN exclusives. Calara was right... the Progenitor War is going to be the big story now, not what's happening with High Command."

"Alright, that's true enough," John conceded, before squeezing her hand. "But more importantly, what are you planning to do about your parents? You can't use holo-illusions to trick them if they want to give you a hug. How are you going to explain your body being enhanced? Surely that's going to make it even harder for you to mend bridges with them?"

She deflated and nodded reluctantly. "You're right... but I don't want to be stuck in limbo because I had a fight with my parents. I feel drawn to you and the girls... I know I'm making the right decision to be with you now."

He leaned over to kiss her tummy. "Just make sure you've really thought about what you might be risking if we continue. The last thing I want is for you to get hurt."

"You've spent a lot of time trying to discourage me from becoming a Lioness; do you actually want me to join you, John?" Jehanna asked, looking down at him with worry in her big dark eyes.

"I do... but this isn't about what I want," he replied with a frown.

"Your opinion counts too," she disagreed.

John hesitated. "I don't want to influence you more than I already have, Jehanna."

"I need to know, John. Tell me what you want," she insisted, locking eyes with him.

He glanced around the dining table and saw that all the girls were waiting with bated breath. Flushing with embarrassment at being the centre of so much attention, he raised himself up to her head height and started whispering in her ear. Jehanna's eyes darted to the twins and flared with arousal, then her gaze softened and she caressed her swollen belly, before leaning into John and giving him a tender kiss.

"What did he say?!" Dana demanded, desperate to know.

Jehanna gave John a doe-eyed look as she gazed into his eyes. "He was very sweet... and he wants me too."

That declaration was met with a collective sigh of approval from the girls.

John kissed her again, then gave their audience a self-conscious smile. "Alright, enough mushy stuff. Let's eat before your lunch gets cold."

Everyone was eager to sample more of John's cooking, except for Ailita and Jehanna who were already stuffed. The Nymph was happy to pour drinks for everyone, making sure glasses were topped up with fruit juice.

Dana cut into her chicken, then blinked in surprise as garlic butter seeped out across her rice. "Oh cool!" she exclaimed, slicing it open to take a better look. "This is just like how the new Paragon suits are going to work!"

"New Paragon suits?" John asked, looking at her in surprise.

That prompted a round of updates from everyone, describing what they'd been up to that morning as they enjoyed their lunch.

He listened and nodded, suitably impressed. "Nice work everyone, especially those that stayed up late last night to get everything prepared for the Kintark."

"What were you doing this morning, John?" Helene asked politely.

Worried about upsetting the girls with the truth, John hesitated, unsure how to reply. He had no intention of telling them that he was training Sakura to kill him if he should lose to his guide.

"He was doing me, Helene," Sakura blithely replied, before grinning at her friends.

The girls erupted with catcalls and good-natured jokes, making John blush. He made fleeting eye-contact with the Asian girl and gave her a slight nod in gratitude.

Turning to Helene, John said, "I actually spent the morning training with Sakura in the Dojo. You've seen how quick she is and she makes an excellent sparring partner to train against."

"Are you doing me this afternoon, John?" Tashana interjected, her violet eyes sparkling as she flirted with him.

"Yep, it's your turn next," he replied with a wink, smiling at the ensuing laughter from the girls.

They finished their lunch and everyone thanked John for the delicious meal. Dana and Alyssa were particularly appreciative, always relishing a chance to try something new that John prepared for them.

"Would you like some more drink, Master?" Ailita asked, posing coquettishly with the jug of fruit juice.

"No, but I would like a hug." He smiled and patted his thigh in clear invitation.

Ailita wasted no time in discarding the jug and sitting on his lap, the glowing catgirl giving him a dazzling smile as he put his arms around her. The Nymph was a creature of simple needs, fanatically obsessed with pleasing her master, so it was easy to keep her happy with any gestures of affection.

"Good girl," he said, stroking her cum-filled tummy.

She trembled in ecstasy and nuzzled into his neck, planting soft kisses on his throat.

"John, there's something important we need to discuss..." Jade began, drawing all attention to her. "What are we going to do about rescuing the rest of my sisters?"

John looked across the table at his green-skinned matriarch. "You think there's more Nymphs being held captive by the rich and powerful?"

She nodded. "I do."

"Yeah, that's my gut feeling as well," John said, his expression grim.

"Lynette just offered to make owning a Nymph illegal," Alyssa informed them, reaching over to stroke Ailita's arm. "She could offer an amnesty first, letting owners hand over their Nymphs without fear of repercussions."

John glanced at Jehanna. "When you ran that TFNN appeal for information about the Nymphs, were any of the people that came forward the actual owners of Jade's four sisters?"

Jehanna shook her head. "They were all whistleblowers; employees that were willing to turn on their employers for the reward money." She glanced at Ailita and watched the fawning catgirl with a sad smile. "It's not surprising really. A Nymph's master owns his perfect woman; she absolutely adores him and will eagerly do anything he desires. Would any man willingly give that up?"

There was silence around the table, everyone knowing the answer to her rhetorical question.

"I don't think outlawing Nymph ownership would make any difference," Sakura said, her voice solemn. "The kind of people who might own an exotic alien sex slave and keep her secret for decades are likely to be very wealthy and connected. The privileged elites tend to consider themselves above the law and would just ignore it."

Rachel nodded her agreement. "The one thing they'd resent more than being forced to give up a Nymph, would be any threat to their reputation. It's far more likely they would simply kill a captive Nymph, rather than hand her over and risk being tarnished by a tawdry sex scandal."

John ran his fingers through his hair. "So that means manually tracking down any surviving Nymphs and launching individual rescue missions?"

"I could try searching digitally," Irillith offered, but her expression revealed her doubts with that plan. "The problem we face is that Nymphs are incredibly convincing when they shapeshift and their owners aren't likely to be discussing their true nature. I scoured Khatri's personal files and security network, but there was no mention that Ailita was a Nymph. There were also no cameras in his dungeon, but even if I had seen her, she looked just like a beautiful Terran girl and I never would've suspected that she was a Lenarran."

"What about drawing up a list of the top 500 richest people?" Dana suggested. "We could visit where they live and Alyssa could check to see if they've got a Nymph. If we find one, we take out the bad guys and free her!"

Calara grimaced and shot a worried glance at John. "I hate the thought of any Nymphs being held captive and tortured like Ailita was, but we can't spare the time for this at the moment. Preparing for the Progenitor War has to take priority." She glanced at the Nymph matriarch. "I'm really sorry, Jade."

"There's no need to apologise, I understand the threat we're facing," Jade replied with a forgiving smile. She looked at John and continued, "My sisters will survive until we're in a position to help them. When you claim them as their new master, they'll instantly forget any abuses they've endured."

John considered their options for a moment, then reluctantly nodded his agreement. "It looks like our hands are tied for now, but if we do stumble across any Nymphs, it goes without saying that we'll free them immediately. Otherwise, we'll just have to wait until we resolve the Progenitor War, then we can deal with this situation properly."

He looked around the table and saw nods from everyone there, including Jade and her sisters.

"Speaking of Nymphs, I'm going to take Leylira's lunch up to her," he said, gently nudging Ailita, who slid off his lap to allow him to get up.

"I can do that for you, John," Jade volunteered.

He shook his head and went into the kitchen to retrieve the covered dish. "It's okay," he said over his shoulder. "I want to thank her for watching the Bridge."

When he emerged into the dining area again, Alyssa glided over to give him a kiss. "We'll get geared up and meet you in the hangar, handsome."

"See you soon," he said, before waving goodbye to everyone.

As he left the Officers' Lounge, John felt calmer than he had done in what felt like months. The time training with Sakura really had done wonders to relax him, especially when it was followed up by spending an hour enjoying a simple meal with his growing family. He felt like he'd done his best to encourage Jehanna to weigh all the pros and cons of abandoning her old life to join them, but if she was adamant in her decision, he wasn't going to deny her what she wanted.

After a short ride up in the grav-tube, he stepped out onto the Bridge, where Leylira was waiting for him up on the Command Podium. The Nymph was sitting in the XO chair and keeping a careful watch for civilian traffic roaming into their flight path, but she turned to greet him with a smile as he walked up the steps to join her.

"Hey, Leylira," John said, leaning over to give her a kiss. "Thanks for keeping an eye on things up here. I'm sorry you couldn't join us for lunch."

Her smiled turned sultry as she purred, "That's quite alright, Master. Jade said you were planning on filling me up..."

John laughed and showed her the covered tray. "I am. I brought you some lunch."

"I was hoping you'd take care of me personally," Leylira replied, affecting a moue of disappointment. She delicately sniffed the air and her expression brightened. "Although that does smell very good..."

He placed the tray on a level section of the console and removed the lid. "Bon appétit."

She gave him a grateful smile and edged forward to pick up the cutlery. Hesitating for a moment, she replaced the cover and turned to face him.

"John, may I speak with you for a moment?"

"Of course, honey," he replied, giving her an encouraging smile. "What's on your mind?"

"I wanted to thank you for rescuing Ailita... and for allowing me to be part of it," she replied, speaking carefully so that she didn't revert to her old speech patterns.

"You're welcome," he said, cupping her beautiful face and stroking her cheek with his thumb. "This won't be the last time that you'll be at my side when we free your sisters from slavery, Leylira."

She brushed her lips against his wrist, the kiss surprisingly tender. "John... seeing Ailita as she is now... I didn't really understand before, what you were trying to do for us... for me."

"Have I done the right thing?" he asked quietly.

Leylira nodded, her big amber eyes shining with gratitude.

John leaned over to give her a kiss. "I really love the person you've become."

She shivered with delight, then smiled self-consciously. "I'm glad, Master... We're going to be together for a long time."

"Very true," he agreed, straightening up. With a look of regret, he continued, "I'd like to stay and discuss this with you some more, but Tashana and Alyssa are waiting for me. Could we continue this conversation another time?"

"Perhaps this one could spar with you tomorrow, Master?" Leylira asked, falling back into her old habits, she was so excited at the prospect. "We could talk before... or afterwards."

"I'd really like that," he agreed, stroking her jet-black hair before reluctantly descending the illuminated steps. "Don't let your food get cold, honey."

She shook her head and waved goodbye. "I won't. Thank you for bringing me lunch."

They shared a smile and he stepped into the grav-tube, descending in the red anti-gravity field until the grateful tigress had disappeared from view.

*Leylira's doing well,* John noted to his Nymph matriarch. *She's starting to show real insight and self-awareness.*

*It was a rude shock for my sisters, seeing the way Ailita behaves and realising that they used to be just like her,* Jade replied, a strong undercurrent of emotion to her voice. *They're really starting to appreciate the changes you made to them and the way you've encouraged them to evolve.*

*When we rescued the four of them, I remember you going through the same thing,* John said with sympathy. *Was it easier this time?*

*I lack the eloquence to describe the difference, Master,* she said in a quiet murmur. *But it is profound.*

*Is this the secret you were keeping from me?* he asked curiously.

*In a manner of speaking,* she replied, a mixture of playfulness and elation in her voice.

He laughed, realising she wanted to hold onto it for a while longer. *Will you tell me tonight?*

*Perhaps we could schedule some time together this evening? I promise I'll bare my soul to you then, John,* she replied, sounding excited at the prospect.

*It's a date,* he immediately agreed, then started wracking his brain to plan something romantic for the Nymph.

*That's not necessary, Master,* she murmured, touched at his concern. *Simply being the focus of your attention is like a romantic moonlit stroll for me. Let me plan this one.*

He smiled with relief. *Thanks, Jade. I'll look forward to it.*

Reaching Deck Nine, he left the grav-tube and entered the Secondary Hangar, where Alyssa and Tashana were waiting for him.

"Hey ladies, sorry to keep you waiting," John said, jogging over to the Raptor. "I'll just get geared up and be right back."

Alyssa sighed in mock impatience. "Sure, take your time... it's not like we've got anything better to do."

Tashana pouted as she played along. "He never used to keep his thralls waiting around all day."

"Claiming the Maliri must have gone to his head," the blonde agreed, tutting in disapproval. "Such a rude Progenitor."

"Yeah, yeah, very funny," he said with a grin, bounding up the steps to the gunship.

It only took him a few seconds to be clad in his Lion armour and he was about to reach for a Tachyon rifle when he saw that his sword was propped up against the weapon racks. He sheathed it across his back, the magnets in the hilt locking it into place as he emerged from the Raptor.

"Thanks for carrying my sword down," he said to Alyssa as he joined the pair.

"Telekinesis has its uses," she said, wiggling her fingers at him. "I wasn't even going to try lifting that heavy old thing."

Tashana checked her twin pistols, then slotted them back in her holsters, ready for action in case anything went wrong. "Okay, I'm all set."

John glanced at the reinforced door to the Primary Hangar and remembered that the Progenitor shuttle was inside that room. After Alyssa's adverse reaction to the black metal, he didn't want to subject her to any further discomfort.

"I was going to suggest we practice in the other hangar... but we've got plenty of room here," he said gesturing towards a clear space away from the Raptor.

Alyssa gave him a grateful smile. "Thank you."

They moved away from the parked gunship and John turned to Tashana. "Alright then, we'll start by giving you a quick rundown of how to project yourself into the Astral Plane."

"Like this?" Tashana asked, her eyes starting to glow with an eerie violet light.

She took a deep breath and focused her willpower inwards, then carefully stepped out of her body in her spirit form.

John gaped at her open-mouthed, until Alyssa said, *You're not going to make us wait around on the Astral Plane as well are you?*

He glanced at the blonde and saw Alyssa was smiling at him, her eyes shining with a radiant light. Shaking his head, John followed suit, separating his consciousness from his body as he shifted to the Astral Plane. He instinctively braced himself for his guide's usual intransigence, but the move to his spirit form was effortless, his malignant alter-ego still safely locked away.

*That was easy,* Tashana said, pretending to frown in confusion. *What was all the fuss about?*

Now that her subconscious had shifted to the Astral Plane, the Maliri psychic was denuded of her Paragon suit, which left her critically vulnerable to a tickling attack. John was remorseless, reducing the mischievous girl to fits of giggles until she begged for mercy.

He let out an exaggerated sigh as he helped her up. *For the sake of my battered ego, please tell me that wasn't the first time you've tried to Spirit Walk?*

Tashana smiled and gave him a peck on the cheek. *I actually spent all morning practicing with Irillith. We think the same way, so it was relatively easy for her to guide me through the process.*

*I think it's safe to say that you've mastered the basics,* John said, giving her a smile of approval. *You know how to get here now, so we need to cover the most important lesson... protecting yourself.*

She listened attentively as he explained how the Astral Plane allowed her to shape reality with her thoughts. John demonstrated by garbing himself in an archaic suit of Kyth'faren armour, a replica of his ancient runesword appearing sheathed across his back.

*Why don't you try?* he suggested, gesturing for her to proceed.

Tashana closed her eyes and thought about protecting herself from harm. She blinked in surprise as her athletic body was swathed in compression-weave combat armour, her face concealed by a grinning golden mask. She tore off the mask and stared at its ghastly sneer in horror, recognising it immediately as the face of Malifica... her pit-fighting persona in the Unclaimed Wastes.

Alyssa slipped an arm around the shocked Maliri and said quietly, *Malifica protected you when you needed her the most. It makes sense that your mind would make that connection.*

*It feels like a lifetime ago,* Tashana murmured, hugging the blonde.

John removed his helmet and embraced her from behind. *Are you okay?*

Tashana nodded and smiled at him over her shoulder. *I am. It's just so strange to think of all those horrible things happening to me... it feels like they happened to someone else.*

Alyssa nodded in agreement. *I know exactly what you mean.*

They shared a brief group hug, then John said, *It was actually good you thought of Malifica; it was a useful lesson.*

*What do you mean?* she asked in confusion.

*The Astral Plane allows you to create whatever you can imagine, but the power behind it comes from you. You have to think very carefully about your actions here, because stray thoughts can have consequences.* He patted the fabric of her compression-weave jacket and smiled. *Do you want to try again?*

Tashana stepped away from them and focused her will again, this time concentrating intently on picturing herself in a Paragon suit. When she opened her eyes again, she was gazing at the couple through a clear Crystal Alyssium faceplate. Copying John, she removed her helmet and was about to tuck it under her arm, then grinned and let it vanish into thin air.

*Well done,* John praised her, patting the Maliri girl on the shoulder. They weren't in any immediate danger, so he dismissed his own set of wargear. *Now, let's move on to the runic alphabet. I'll need to teach you how to form phrases in Progenitor runes so that you can ward and conceal yourself. Alyssa, would you like to demonstrate?*

The blonde formed a glowing disc of hexagons before her attentive student, each six-sided tile containing a runic symbol. Tashana's eyes were drawn to a rune on the circumference, which looked like a pair of vertically curling wings.

*That represents fire, doesn't it?*

*Very good,* John replied, nodding in confirmation. *We all seem to have an instinctive affinity to particular runes in the Kyth'faren eldritch alphabet.*

*Those two are mine,* Alyssa noted, pointing to the runes denoting Force and the Mind. *I felt drawn to them, just like you were to Fire. They're used in Telekinesis and Telepathy, two abilities that we know your great-great-and-a-dozen-more-greats grandmother was also able to use.*

*Neither Alyssa or Valada were naturally psychic, so they were probably given those affinities by me and Mael'nerak when they became our matriarchs,* John explained, rubbing the blonde's back. *All matriarchs need to manage a Progenitor's psychic network, so it makes sense for them to have access to those runic abilities.*

Tashana had been listening to them in fascination. *So why am I attuned to Fire?*

*I'm sure you inherited your natural psychic abilities from Edraele, but both you and Irillith have different affinities to her. I don't know how that works exactly, but your grandmother was also attuned to Fire.*

*There isn't a rune for insanity is there?* Tashana asked, looking worried. *I never met my grandmother, but the stories about Falihna torturing people to death are horrifying.*

*No, you've got nothing to worry about there,* John replied, giving her a reassuring smile. *I don't think your grandmother's pyromania and sadistic outbursts had anything to do with her runic affinity. Don't forget that she was in constant pain due to a brain tumour and it's distinctly possible that it also affected her mental stability.*

Tashana gave him a tender kiss. *Thank you for healing mine. Those migraines were awful... I used to be in agony.*

*You're welcome.*

A flicker of concern crossed her beautiful azure face. *John, when we have children, will they inherit psychic powers... and brain tumours as well?*

He considered it for a moment. *The psychic powers are a distinct possibility, but I strongly doubt they'll get brain tumours. I healed you, Irillith, and Edraele personally and the changes I make usually go right down to your DNA. Besides, I'll be feeding the three of you throughout your pregnancies, so your babies are all going to be in perfect health.*

She gave him a lovely smile, her violet eyes softening. *That sounds wonderful...*

*It really does,* he agreed, brushing his fingers through her long snowy-white hair.

Tashana snuggled into John and kissed his cheek. Looking thoughtful, she glanced up at him and asked, *So if I'm attuned to Fire, I'm guessing that Sakura's attuned to Cold and Irillith's attuned to Lightning?*

*I haven't checked with them yet, but it seems highly likely,* he replied, nodding in agreement. He smiled and continued, *Don't ask me what Dana's runic affinity is; there doesn't seem to be a rune for the kind of things she can do.*

*How about you, Baen'thelas?* Tashana asked, looking up at him reverently. *What rune do you have a natural affinity for?*

John's gaze flicked to the glowing Kyth'faren alphabet, his eyes inextricably drawn to a rune on the periphery.

He hesitated for a moment, then pointed it out to her. *That one...*

Tashana studied the runic symbol, which looked like a downward facing blade. *What does that represent?*

She turned to look at him with a bright inquisitive smile... which faded when she saw the bleak expression on John's face.

*That's the rune for Destruction.*

***

The clank from Kintark machinery was oppressively loud, as missiles intended for Imperial warships were assembled in the munitions factory. The volatile plasma payload had been removed from the process, resulting in a hollow delivery system that posed no threat to an enemy vessel. However, thousands of workers had been gathered together and split into dozens of teams, each following instructions on how to make those missiles far more potent.

High Prelate Zorlin paused in his tour of the munitions factory, impressed by the speed with which the new EMP missiles were being constructed. "How did you bring the asssembly linesss up to thisss level of productivity ssso quickly?"

The Kintark Sub-Prelate beside him gestured to the workers. "We didn't have the time to modify the automation of our manufacturing facilitiesss, ssso the build processs hasss been broken down into sssimple ssstepsss, with jussst thisss kind of manual operation in mind. We already had huge numbersss of the required componentsss, which have all been repurposssed for thisss project."

"The microwave transssducer from a hyper-pulssse generator... the regulator coilsss from a power core..." Zorlin scanned down the list, shaking his head in astonishment as he studied the schematics in more detail. "Will cobbling together piecesss from all thessse random devicesss actually work?"

Sub-Prelate Jartak frowned, his scaly brow creased with worry. "Our finessst ssscientissstsss have been poring over the ssschematicsss sssince they arrived thisss morning. At firssst they disssmisssed the idea asss preposssterousss... but after intensssive ssstudy, they changed their mindsss. It ssseemsss imposssible to believe, High Prelate, but I have been asssured that thessse EMP misssilesss will work asss promisssed."

"It isss galling to think that we had the meansss necesssary to field weaponsss with thessse capabilitiesss all along..." Zorlin muttered, shaking his head sorrowfully.

"Yesss... but we lacked the mad geniusss to build them," Jartak whispered, turning to stare at the first rows of completed missiles.

Zorlin joined him in studying the stockpile of ordnance. "How sssoon will it be before you dissspatch the firssst delivery of EMP misssilesss to the fleet?"

"They were delivered an hour ago, High Prelate," Jartak replied, standing taller with pride. "We are currently preparing our sssecond batch of warheadsss."

The Kintark senior officer walked over to the closest missile and ran a scaly claw over its iridescent green housing. For the first time since the Brimorian forces had invaded the Empire, he felt a flicker of hope for their salvation.

***

It was raining outside the Unity City Medical institute, the droplets hitting the glass of the hospital window and gathering into rivulets that streamed down the surface. They matched the tears that rolled down Tom's cheek as he grieved for his friends and crewmates aboard the Janus, the heavy ache in his chest threatening to crush his heart. Hours had passed since the ISD Colonel had informed him of the terrible fate of Admiral Morgan's fleet... hours spent alone in mourning.

He couldn't stop thinking about Mason... his best friend... as close to him as a brother. Tom balked at the idea that he was gone, finding it impossible to believe that he could be dead. He'd spent his entire life with Mason, the inseparable pair backing each other up for 24 years.

A relentless onslaught of memories flashed through his mind, chronicling their lives together. Playing with toy spaceships as children... the treehouse fort they'd built in Tom's back garden... riding bikes along the leafy boulevards in the Admiralty residential districts on Terra. The long years at school, always insisting on being on the same team for any sports, the endless hours spent studying together for their exams. Their joy at both being first and second ranked in their year, knowing they'd managed to secure prestigious places in the Terran Federation Officer Academy.

Through it all, Mason's sister always seemed to be with them, the third member of their loyal little band. Anna never wanted to be left out from her older brother's games, following the two boys around like a lost puppy until they relented and let her join in. She was the heart to Tom's spirit and Mason's intellect... binding them together in a fast friendship that had lasted two decades without so much as a squabble. Anna had grown from a mildly annoying little pigtailed girl, into a daring tomboyish teenager, before developing into the stunningly beautiful blonde that had captured Tom's heart.

Thoughts of Anna filled him with hopeless despair, knowing just how devastated she must be at the loss of her beloved brother. Tom longed to be with her, to support his fiancée when she needed him the most. It felt like he was failing her being apart like this, piling crushing layers of guilt onto suffocating layers of grief.

As he thought about the two siblings, odd flickers of strange emotions sliced into his mourning. The pain of loss he was suffering was sharply undercut by different kinds of pain... feelings of betrayal that just didn't make any sense. He recoiled from those disturbing thoughts, shying away from the murky flashes of memories lurking just out of reach.

Tom rubbed both hands across his face, desperately trying to cope with the loss of so many other friends and colleagues. Studious Chen on Tactical, Ivan and Alex the rambunctious engineers, supportive Captain Bexley... all good men and people he'd sorely miss. Then there was Beth... oh God, Beth!

He pictured Beth's smiling face, her kind eyes gazing at him with that familiar intensity. He'd known her for years, ever since a nervous Mason had introduced his new girlfriend to the other musketeers, the new couple accompanying Tom and Anna on a double-date. As Tom thought about the sweet-natured girl, he suddenly had a flashback of her lying beside him, her beautiful chestnut hair spread out across a pillow.

Freezing in shock, he remembered the way her green eyes gazed at him, filled with... love? He clutched at his head in alarm as snippets of disjointed conversations flashed through his mind, the words too terrible to contemplate.

"He proposed... but I turned him down."

"It was always about you, Tom..."

"Mace has gone totally crazy..."

"You were fucking her behind my back for months!"

"She was heartbroken when I told her what you did!"

"I found Anna's car at Davenport's apartment... she was there all night..."

Tom lurched bolt upright, his strangled cry of horror echoing around the hospital room. The memories were like a flood, revealing in vivid detail those awful weeks leading up to the Brimorian ambush. He remembered... he remembered it all...

***

Jehanna stood in front of the mirror in her quarters and studied her reflection. The worry lines and bags under her eyes had vanished, her coffee-coloured skin now flawlessly smooth with a lovely healthy glow to it. If she didn't know better, Jehanna would've sworn that she'd just spent an hour with the makeup team, making herself look impeccable for the camera.

Other than the remarkable condition of her skin, she felt no different from before, although her freshly-laundered clothes did feel a little tighter. She glanced down at her cleavage and cupped her breasts, trying to gauge if they'd grown in size. It was surreal to think that she was on the cusp of a transformation into a breathtaking Amazonian beauty and the dusky-hued girl felt a thrill of anticipation course through her body at the prospect.

She had always been an attractive woman, drawing male attention since she was a teenager, so that side of the Change was nothing new. It was the thought of becoming an equal to the other Lionesses that Jehanna found so exhilarating. She'd followed John Blake's exploits from the start, when he first made a name for himself stopping a band of pirates trading slaves with the Kirrix. His acts of heroism were wonderfully refreshing, especially after covering hundreds of stories about dreadful acts committed by the dregs of humanity. Jehanna never dreamed that she might actually become a part of his legendary crew, but here she was, only a few days away from that reality.

The thought of living on nothing but John's cum for several days was deliciously kinky and Jehanna got wet just thinking about it. She ran her fingertips over her flat tummy, a naughty smile appearing on her face. Tashana had topped her up a couple of hours earlier and the prominent bulge in Jehanna's stomach had only just disappeared, her body eagerly absorbing her boyfriend's load. She still had a few reservations about abandoning her old life, but every hour Jehanna spent aboard the Invictus convinced her that she was making the right decision.

Walking over to her desk, she activated the comms interface and called the TFNN building on Terra. The corporate logo appeared a few seconds later and she waited patiently for the Editor-in-Chief of the news organisation to answer the call. Avery Gibson's features coalesced together in a flurry of pixels, a huge grin splashed over his normally-dour face.

"Jehanna!" he exclaimed, delighted to see her. "I've just been reviewing your latest exclusive... it's absolute dynamite!"

"Hey, Chief," she replied, greeting him with a bright smile. "I'm glad you liked it."

"Liked it?!" he snorted and shook his head. "It was sensational! The Lion of the Federation brings the ringleaders behind the Olympus terrorist attack to justice... the public are going to just lap this up! How did you embed the list of crimes each of those bastards committed into the feed? Being able to click on each of them and find out what they did before they were executed was inspired!"

"I had a little help with that," she confessed, before looking at him with concern. "It's not too gratuitous? I included a gore-free edit for you to broadcast before the watershed, so you can use that instead, if the other crosses the line."

"The public's baying for blood after we ran your sympathy piece with the grieving families... this is going to be ratings gold!" Avery exclaimed, waving away her concerns. He hesitated, unreadable emotions in his eyes. "Jehanna, I also had a look at the clips of raw footage you included..."

She nodded and answered his unspoken question. "It was genuine, Avery... all of it."

"Goddamn," he muttered under his breath, turning a shade paler. "Are they... what you were looking for?"

Jehanna locked eyes with him and nodded again, confirming that the ferocious tigers and terrifying dragon were in fact Nymphs.

"Thank you for showing me." He took a moment to compose himself. "I deleted those files after I'd seen them, as you requested."

"Great... thanks," she said, feeling a sudden flutter of nerves as she thought about the real reason behind her call.

Avery noticed her fidgeting nervously and fell back into his angry editor persona. "Alright, Miss Elani... spit it out! What's got you so jittery?"

"I'm... ah... going away for a while," she stammered. "For a couple of weeks... but it might be longer."

He slumped back in his chair, a flicker of sadness in his eyes. "Will you be coming back?"

That her boss would so quickly jump to that conclusion took her by surprise.

"I heard the rumours about you being a Lioness on the holo-net and you're calling me from the Invictus," Avery explained when he saw her shocked expression. "All those exclusives with the Lion of the Federation... I can't believe I never made the connection when it was staring me in the face. It shows I've lost my edge as an investigative reporter after being a desk jockey for all these years."

Jehanna hesitated for a moment, then admitted, "I'm staying with John for a few weeks while he travels to Kinta, then on to the Maliri Protectorate."

Avery let out a low whistle, a hungry gleam in his eyes. "Please tell me you're going to give me one last exclusive: TFNN reveals what the Maliri are hiding beneath their armour?"

She smiled and shook her head. "Afraid not." With a pensive frown, she continued, "I'm not sure if I'll be staying with John permanently, Chief. I haven't made a final decision yet."

Her boss gave her a knowing look and he said quietly, "Yes, you have. You wouldn't have even mentioned the possibility of leaving if there was any chance you were going to stay."

Jehanna realised he was right and swallowed around the sudden lump in her throat. "I loved working for you, Avery. Thanks for all the opportunities you gave me."

"I always knew you'd go far, Jehanna," he replied, looking at her affectionately. "Keep searching for the truth and light it up for the galaxy to see."

"I'm a crusader, it's what we do," she said softly, with a poignant smile. "Goodbye, Avery."

"Goodbye, Jehanna... I'm going to miss you," Avery replied, his voice catching as he looked away.

He ended the call, leaving her staring at the blank screen.

***

*Thanks for calling her, John,* Alyssa said gratefully. *She's not very happy with me at the moment.*

He eased back in the leather chair, his gaze fixed on the winged sword icon of the Terran Federation that floated above his desk. *That's alright. I've been meaning to call Lynette and find out how she's doing anyway.*

John watched as the Fleet Admiral's homely face appeared on the holo-screen, her true features concealed behind her holo-disguise. Her brow was furrowed with worry and he could see at a glance just how stressed she was.

"Hello, Lynette," he said with sympathy. "Irillith has secured the call, so we can speak freely. I hope this is a good time to talk?"

Her hazel eyes flashed with a host of emotions. "I'm not having a particularly good time at the moment, but by all means... let's talk."

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Alyssa told me about the conversation she had with you earlier... regarding the colonies on the Outer Rim."

Lynette gave him a curt nod. "She made your position perfectly clear."

John grimaced at her reproachful tone. "I don't think she did."

"So you're not stabbing me in the back?" the brunette asked, looking deeply hurt. "You're not deliberately committing treason by supporting a rebellion against High Command? I thought we were friends, John! How could you betray me like this?!"

He leaned forward and said earnestly, "I'm not betraying you, Lynette, I promise!"

"But Alyssa told me that you've pledged military support to the rebel colonies! She warned me not to use the fleets to suppress the rebellion or you'd intervene! How else am I supposed to interpret that?" she snapped, her voice rising in indignation.

John held up his hands defensively. "Hey, hold on a second! I just don't want to see civilian cities subjected to an orbital bombardment. Surely you can't blame me for that?"

Lynette paused and shook her head. "No, but-"

Not giving her a chance to interrupt, John pressed onwards. "Alyssa's outlook towards the Terran Federation is different to mine... and while I don't necessarily agree with her, I do understand why she feels the way she does. You know her history, Lynette... and you must admit, she has very good reasons for feeling so much resentment towards the Federation."

Lynette was forced to nod in agreement. "What happened to her was horrible."

"Yes, and a lot of people on the Outer Rim feel the same way Alyssa does about High Command and the Terran Federation," John said gently.

"But I'm trying to improve things for those colonies!" Lynette protested. "A rebellion is the absolute worst thing they could possibly do. There's no logic to it... this isn't in their best interests at all!"

"Yes, but you can't expect these people to think logically right now. They're hurt and bitter and very, very angry. Put yourself in those Planetary Governors' shoes for a moment. What do you say to a man who was forced to watch his wife raped in front of him and his children butchered? A man who was then violated in a horrific way by monstrous aliens?"

Her shoulders slumped and Lynette let out a despondent sigh. "I don't know, John... I don't know what I'd say."

"I didn't either," he admitted, sinking back in his chair. "Do you remember I went chasing after the Menganus IV colonists in the Raptor?"

"And besieged a Kirrix world to rescue them," she replied with a faint smile. "Yes, I remember."

"Before that, I was with the girls on Valia Gate, saving the colonists by destroying their egg infestations... and I couldn't handle it. The absolute devastation in their eyes was one of the worst things I've ever seen. I left Alyssa in charge of the relief operation and rushed off to Menganus IV... supposedly to check if the colonists had been safely returned. But I knew, Lynette... in my gut, I knew they wouldn't be there... and it gave me an excuse to take out my rage and frustration on the Kirrix to avenge those people."

"And the only outlet the colonists have to vent their anger... is High Command," Lynette said softly.

John nodded, pleased that she understood. "These people aren't thinking logically, they're lashing out at the government that was supposed to protect them from this nightmare." He gave her a sympathetic look and continued, "I'm not a diplomat... but you are, Lynette. Please try and find a peaceful solution for these people... they've suffered enough."

She gave him a look of contrition. "I'm sorry for lashing out at you, John. I just... don't know how to handle this. I've spent the last thirty years being conditioned to come down hard on rebellious colonies... and you've taken away the only tool I've been trained to use. Without the threat of military force to keep rogue colonies in line, I'm not sure how we can get through to them and make them listen to reason."

"I've got every confidence in you, Fleet Admiral," John said with an encouraging smile.

Lynette snorted with indignant laughter, then couldn't help smiling back at him. "Thanks for the vote of confidence... even if you are leaving me to sort out this mess."

He frowned, giving her a guilty look. "I'd help if I could, but I'm juggling so much at the moment... I honestly can't manage anything else."

Her hazel eyes softened with compassion. "I know, John. Don't worry, you can leave this with me. It's a Terran Federation internal issue and you've got bigger fish to fry."

John chuckled. "Pun intended?"

"Absolutely," she agreed, giving him a lopsided grin.

He paused for a moment, then asked, "How's everything going with Charles? Has he been in touch?"

Lynette bit her lip and shook her head. "Not yet."

John drummed his fingers on his desk in frustration. "He's being a stubborn ass... the two of you are perfect together. I've known Charles for decades and you're basically his fantasy woman. Give him a few more days, he'll come round."

"What if he doesn't?" she asked, her face a mask of worry.

"One way or another, I'll make sure you're happy," John said, making eye-contact with her. "I've got your back... we all have."

Lynette gave him a grateful smile, looking far more relaxed. "Thanks, John. I really appreciate you calling me... it meant a lot."

"You're welcome... and feel free to badger Alyssa for help in finding a solution for the Outer Rim colonies. She stuck her nose into this mess, so it's only right that she helps you fix it."

The brunette laughed. "Alright, will do. Goodbye, John," she replied, saluting him respectfully.

"Bye, Lynette," he said, returning the salute and ending the call.

Her face disappeared in a swirl of pixels, leaving John staring at the Terran Federation insignia.

*I'm sorry, John,* Alyssa said, sounding genuinely contrite. *Thank you so much for calling her. I didn't know she was going to take it that personally.*

*Yes, but I would've known... and handled it differently,* he replied, not making any effort to hide his disappointment. *I give you a lot of latitude, Alyssa... but this is something you should've discussed with me first. Lynette's our friend... she's one of us... and because you let your resentment towards the Terran Federation cloud your judgement, she ended up feeling betrayed... by me.*

*I never meant to hurt her!* the blonde protested. *I was just trying to protect the colonists!*

*I understand that... and I know why you feel so strongly about the Outer Rim,* he replied. *But I have a responsibility towards Lynette, which means it's your job to assist her in every way you can. She's alone right now and I never want her to feel like she doesn't have our full support.*

*I'm really sorry, John!* Alyssa blurted out, on the verge of tears. *I promise I'll never let you down like that again!*

*Please make sure that you don't,* he muttered, gazing out the window.

A knock on the door to his Ready Room caught John by surprise as he wasn't expecting anyone.

"Come in!" he called out, turning towards the door.

It swished open and Jehanna entered the room, giving him a hopeful smile. "Hey, John. I wondered if you had some time to chat?"

He forced a smile onto his face and rose to greet her. "Sure, honey."

Jehanna's cheerful expression wavered with concern. "You don't look very happy to see me. Did I do something wrong?"

John gave her a quick kiss and shook his head. "It's not personal, I promise. I'm just dealing with a naughty matriarch."

"Not the fun kind of naughty?" she asked with a playful smile.

He laughed and gestured towards the sofas. "No, not this time. Do you want a tea or coffee?"

She sat beside him and frowned in disapproval. "Caffeine at this hour? No wonder you and the girls are such night owls."

"Yeah, you're right... I wasn't thinking," he admitted, rubbing a hand over his face. "I'm just a bit distracted at the moment."

"Do you want me to come back later?" she asked, stroking the side of his face. "I know better than to try talking to someone when they aren't in the right mood."

"Am I being interviewed then?" he asked, relaxing and smiling at her.

"We'll get to the really tricky questions later, but only after I've put you at ease with my disarming wiles," she replied, winking at him.

John laughed again and patted her thigh. "How are you settling in so far? Is everyone being nice to you?"

"You know what the girls are like... they're all lovely," she replied, kicking off her shoes and tucking her legs underneath her. "Sakura and Tashana have been taking very good care of me."

He let the backs of his fingers brush over her stomach. "Yes... they're very accommodating hostesses."

Jehanna blushed, then looked him directly in the eyes. "I'm sticking with my decision to join your crew as a permanent Lioness. I want to stay with you."

"You're absolutely sure?" he asked, his voice turning quiet and serious. "Even if it makes it harder for you to mend your relationship with your parents?"

"Yes, I'm not going to change my mind," Jehanna replied, equally solemn. With a nonchalant shrug, she added, "I don't really care either way about my parents. I've given up trying to make them happy."

"What?!" John blurted out, shocked by this casually-delivered bombshell.

"They can't accept me for who I am... so fuck the pair of them!" she declared, her dark eyes glittering. "I don't need them in my life!"

Clasping her hand, John gave it a supportive squeeze. "I know you're upset and your parents hurt you badly, but please don't just give up on them," he urged her, aghast that she'd taken such a hard stance already. He desperately hoped that it wasn't related to her going through the Change. "You haven't even talked to them since you had that fight, it might not be as bad as you think."

Jehanna raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Yes... I suppose you're right. It would be silly to disown my parents without even giving them a chance to apologise... wouldn't it?"

Startled by her abrupt change in mood and lightning-fast agreement with him, John suddenly frowned as he understood what she was doing.

"We're not talking about your parents, are we? This is about me and mine..." He scowled, his jaw tightening. "It's not the same thing, Jehanna."

He pulled back, but Jehanna quickly caught his hand before he could withdraw it. "John... you promised me we'd talk about your mother and father."

John groaned in exasperation. "I know I said it before... but I made a terrible mistake recruiting a nosy journalist."

"Yep and you're stuck with me now," Jehanna replied, giving him a sultry smile as she guided his hand to her stomach. "It's just a matter of time until I become one of your sexy broodmares... letting you breed me as often as you want..."

He swallowed and stared at her wide-eyed.

"And as one of the future mothers of your children, don't you think I deserve to know everything there is to know about my prospective in-laws?" she asked, her brown eyes twinkling.

With a chuckle of resignation, John nodded. "When you put it like that, I can hardly refuse, can I?"

Jehanna shook her head and smiled at him in triumph. "Afraid not. So tell me... why did you get so angry when your mother called?"

He stroked her tummy to stop himself clenching his hands into fists. "You know what happened when I met Jessica?"

"Tell me," she said softly.

Pain flashed across his face and John seemed to deflate before her eyes. "She was my father's loyal thrall," he said bitterly. "The only thing Jessica cared about was rescuing Rahn'hagon and being reunited with him. She didn't give a shit about her heartbroken parents, who went to their graves never knowing what happened to their daughter. She murdered the crew of the Cora in cold blood, but their lives didn't mean a goddamn thing to Jessica, because her beloved Rahn'hagon told her to wipe them out."

"And how did she feel about you?" Jehanna prompted him, her voice gentle and sympathetic.

"I meant nothing to her... absolutely nothing!" he snarled, the pain of that rejection reflected in his eyes. "She didn't give the slightest fuck about abandoning her son; Jessica never even thought twice about me after all those years. She showed about as much interest in me as she would about a turd she flushed on Olympus 40 years ago!"

"Oh, John... I'm so sorry," she said softly, stroking his hand with her thumb. "But you must know it wasn't personal? Jessica was enthralled by Rahn'hagon... he changed your mother's mind so she was nothing like the woman she used to be. This wasn't her fault."

"Why did she have to be so goddamn weak?!" he snapped, staring off into the distance.

Jehanna shook her head. "There was no way any Terran woman could mentally withstand a Progenitor and stop him from enthralling her... you know that, John."

"Yes, but Jessica seduced him!" he said indignantly. "She was a Xeno-Biologist; what the hell was she thinking abandoning Xeno-quarantine regulations like that? If she'd acted like a professional instead of a cock-crazy slut, none of this would've happened!"

"But then you wouldn't have been born," Jehanna reminded him. "And you wouldn't have saved all the girls' lives... including mine; I was on Terra when Nexus tried to destroy the planet. We can't undo the past, John... and I wouldn't want to. I think that eventually, you need to come to terms with what Jessica did and forgive her."

"What's the point?" he asked dejectedly, slumping back against the sofa. "I know how Jessica feels about me now... she made that perfectly clear. How can I have any kind of meaningful relationship with a mind-controlled thrall?"

Jehanna considered his question, but didn't voice an opinion either way. "Alright... well what about your father?"

"Don't get me started on that asshole," John growled, almost baring his teeth with a lip-curling sneer.

"Did he really attack you?" Jehanna asked, her gaze filled with sympathy. "The girls won't talk about what happened in any detail."

"Yeah, he attacked me," John muttered, glaring off into the distance. "Rahn lost his mind when he found out I hadn't been his obedient little slave and done his bidding. He tried to kill me... but the gutless coward was too weak and pathetic. I let him go... but I should have just executed his treacherous ass."

Jehanna winced at the thought of John's life being in danger, then she brushed her fingers though his hair. "Why did you spare him, John?"

He snorted with derision. "Because my mother begged for his worthless life. She never said a word when Rahn'hagon was about to bash my brains in, but as soon as he was in danger, she came rushing in to save him. It's a perfect example of how much she cares about him and how she couldn't care less about me."

"I didn't know that part," she said softly. "I'm really sorry, John. That must've been awful... like being rejected all over again."

John shook his head in weary resignation. "They're just as bad as each other. Do you know what the worst part of dealing with Arjun Khatri was for me?"

Jehanna looked at him in surprise, not expecting this abrupt shift in topic. "No, what was it?"

"When Khatri found out we were coming for him, he tried to kill himself to keep his family out of danger. A cruel, sadistic monster like Khatri cared more about his family than either of my parents do about me. What does that tell you?"

"I care about you, John," she said softly, leaning forward to give him a hug. "And all the girls love you very much."

"I know, honey," he replied, wrapping his arms around her and rubbing her back. "But my parents are totally self-centred and don't care about anyone but themselves. I don't want anything more to do with either of them."

"I understand... and I'm sorry I was so pushy trying to get you to talk about it. I didn't realise just how much they'd hurt you," she said, cuddling up against his chest.

"You weren't there... how could you know?" he said, brushing his fingers through her silky black hair.

Jehanna pulled back a little so that she could look into his eyes. "You're right... and from now on, I want to be there for you."

"I want you too, honey... and I'm not going to try to discourage you anymore. You can go through the Change and join us properly."

"Really?!" she gushed, looking thrilled.

"Yes. I'll start feeding you tomorrow," he replied, leaning down to kiss her on the tip of her nose.

Jehanna grinned in delight and crossed her wrists behind his neck. "How about starting tonight?"

"You'll probably end up with another full tummy, but it won't be from me directly," he replied, stroking the small of her back. "Jade wants to spend some time with me later."

"Mmm... mint flavour!" she exclaimed, smacking her lips in anticipation.

John laughed at her enthusiasm. "You like mint?"

Giving him a parting kiss, she nodded. "Jade tastes delicious." Jehanna slipped her feet into her shoes and got up from the sofa. "I'll leave you in peace and stop harassing you now. Thanks for the interview, Lion of the Federation."

"Any time, Miss Elani," he replied, rising from his seat. "I'll come to bed in a little while."

Jehanna waved goodbye over her shoulder as she sauntered out of the Ready Room, pleased with how the conversation had gone. She walked onto the Bridge and was surprised to find Alyssa and Rachel waiting for her by the Engineering Station. The brunette looked pleased, but her blonde matriarch seemed uncharacteristically pensive.

"Using your own family crisis to get John to open up about his parents was very clever," Rachel noted, giving her an approving smile. "You did well, especially without any guidance from us."

"But there are a few things you don't know," Alyssa said, holding out a hand. "Come on, let's go have a chat."

***

John stood by the long window that ran the length of his Ready Room, staring out at the glittering sweep of stars. It was a spectacular view, one that he usually found inspiring and moving in equal measure. However, that evening all he could think about were the numerous threats he was facing and the varied places he had to go. Kinta, Genthalas, Kythshara, the Larathyran Empire, Brimor... every destination posing different risks and challenges.

Even after he'd ticked all those destinations off his galactic checklist, he knew his work had only just begun. He remembered the sprawling map of the Milky Way, with dozens of ominous sigils representing individual Progenitors and the locations of their malevolent Thrall empires. The sheer scale of the coming conflict was almost too daunting for him to comprehend, making John feel tiny and insignificant in a vast and terrifying game that had played out over billions of years.

Staring at the shining field of stars, he wondered if any of those faint specks of light represented the home system of one of his Progenitor adversaries. Perhaps one of those god-like tyrants was staring up at the night's sky at that precise moment, revelling in his victories and planning his next wave of brutal conquests.

"Enjoy it while you can," John whispered, his eyes narrowing with anticipation.

"Enjoy what, John?" a quiet voice asked politely.

He jumped in surprise and turned to see Neysa standing behind him only a few feet away. The tawny coloured catgirl was wearing a skirt suit with the jacket buttoned up, her light-brown hair tied back in a severe bun. She looked like a prim librarian... and he guessed that she was setting the tone for a serious discussion with him.

"I didn't even hear you come in," he admitted, giving her a rueful smile.

"I'm sorry for startling you," she said quietly. "You were lost in your thoughts and I didn't want to disturb you."

"That's quite alright," he said, waving away her apology. "So... what can I do for you?"

"I wanted to discuss Ailita, if you can spare a moment?" she asked, her hazel eyes studying him inquisitively.

John was struck by the difference between this Nymph and her sisters. Neysa was very smart and perceptive, developing a sense of self and adapting her speech patterns far faster than any of the others had managed. She was also the Nymph that had suggested they adopt a new form, understanding that John's initial selection had only been to placate them, rather than choosing something he truly desired. He found himself curious to discover what new insights she might reveal.

"I can always spare time for you, honey," he replied, before gesturing towards the sofas. "Would you like to take a seat?"

She shook her head, with not so much as a hair displaced from her bun. "I'm quite comfortable here... unless you'd prefer to sit?"

John smiled and leaned against the edge of his desk. "Okay, go ahead. What's on your mind?"

She clasped her hands in front of her, everything about Neysa's posture rigidly controlled. "I'm overjoyed that we freed Ailita, but in rescuing my sister, I've had something of a disturbing epiphany." Her vertically-slitted eyes narrowed in concentration. "It shocked me to the core to see her as she is now... blindly obsessed with pleasing her master to the exclusion of all else."

He nodded in understanding. "It must be very difficult to see her behave like that, knowing that you used to be just like her. Men can easily take advantage of Nymphs when they throw themselves at a new master... Mael'nerak was very cruel to make you behave that way."

"That's true," she agreed, looking into his eyes. "Ailita's obsession with you is entirely superficial; she doesn't know you like I do, so she's incapable of truly appreciating you for the wonderful man you are. Her feelings aren't real... and I find myself pitying Ailita for her inability to recognise just how fortunate she is to have fallen in your lap."

"That's very kind of you to say," he said, feeling self-conscious at her effusive praise. "Thank you."

Neysa stepped closer, unclasping her hands and gently caressing his jawline. "No... thank you, John. Thank you for making me what I am today. I finally understand what you're trying to accomplish with me and my sisters... and why giving us the gift of free will means so much."

John studied her in fascination. "Why is that?"

"Because you seek to free us from the chains that have bound Nymphs for millennia. You've opened my eyes to the possibility of a life beyond being a simple sex slave; by giving me free will, I can choose my own destiny and the path I wish to tread."

"I only ever intended to be your master for as long as you needed me to be," he said quietly. "I want you to embrace your freedom to choose, Neysa... and if you decide that you wish to leave me, you'll have my full blessing. The reason I value Jade's dedication to me so much, is because it's a life she chose for herself... the decision wasn't forced upon her by barbaric restrictions to her behaviour."

"I wish to choose too, John," Neysa said earnestly, her hazel eyes shining with purpose. "You're a good man striving to be a champion of my sisters. What more noble purpose could I find with my life, than aiding you in your goal to liberate Nymphs from thousands of years of despicable slavery."

John stroked her jawline, making Neysa tremble at his touch. "I'll gladly accept your help, Neysa. If you still want me to be your master, then it's a role I'll be honoured and privileged to accept."

"I still feel the desire to please you," she explained, licking her full lips instinctively. Her hazel eyes softened as she continued, "But the difference is profound. I want to make you happy, John... but not because I need to please you, but because I want to show you how much I love you."

He rose from the desk and gathered the tawny-hued catgirl in his arms. "It's wonderful to see this change in you, Neysa," he said earnestly. "I love the bright, perceptive, caring woman you've become."

She gave him a tender kiss, her lips brushing lightly against his. "Would you like me to show you how much I love you... Master?" she purred, her voice turning smoky and seductive.

*Jade, is Neysa your surprise?* he asked his Nymph Matriarch.

*In a manner of speaking. I'm very much enjoying the first part of our date, Master!* she replied with a joyful laugh.

John smiled at the catgirl pressed against him. "Yes... I'd like you to show me."

Neysa grinned and pushed him backwards towards his high-backed leather chair. He laughed as he fell into the seat, but his laughter died as she unbuttoned her jacket with one hand and shook out her hair with the other, the brown locks tumbling wild and untamed across her shoulders. She went from prim and proper librarian to sultry seductress in the blink of an eye, and the lust blazing in her smouldering gaze made him as hard as steel. Her six-inch-heels clicked provocatively as she prowled around his desk, the Nymph moving with a graceful elegance that left him staring at her in awe.

"I heard that if I really want to show how much I love you, I need to share all of my body with you, Master," she crooned, turning away from him and bending provocatively over the desk.

She arched her back, tilting up her rounded ass, which made the knee-length skirt ride up her thighs. Neysa began swaying her hips sensuously from side to side, her tail curling down to lift the hem of her skirt even higher. She was wearing black stockings, the seam running down the backs of her gloriously long and shapely legs.

Neysa watched him over a shoulder, her hooded hazel eyes glinting through the wispy tendrils of her tousled chestnut mane. "Would you like that, John? To enjoy every delight my body has to offer?"

Lost for words, he could only nod in reply, his eyes dropping to her rising skirt. The hem inched over the tops of her stockings, revealing a caramel expanse of smooth skin up to the sumptuous lower curve of her ass. Neysa's rhythmic swaying kept him hypnotised as her pussy came into view, already moist with her excitement. A few more inches and her skirt slid up over her pert cheeks, not a hint of sag in those perfectly rounded orbs. Nestled between them was a glistening star, the sight of her pre-lubed ass making John's throbbing cock ache with desire.

Raising his eyes to look at Neysa, he saw a host of emotions in her alluring gaze. Her arousal was obvious, as was the open invitation to take her this way, but there were deeper feelings there too... love being foremost among them. John rose from his seat and stepped up between her spread legs. He ran his hands up her stockinged thighs, feeling the luxurious silk change to deliciously smooth flesh. The Nymph was also warm to the touch, her cool skin heating up with a deep-seated lust as she saw his reaction to her provocative display.

"I can't hide any of my fantasies from you, can I?" he asked, tearing his shirt off and casting it aside. "Showing off how smart you are, getting dressed up for me... you're pushing all my buttons."

Neysa's eyes sparkled, then the Nymph lowered her eyes demurely. "Please be gentle, Master... it's my first time."

Stripping off his trousers, John moved into position behind her, the exotic beauty still fully clothed. He took a firm grip of her hips to hold her steady, then nudged the broad head of his cock against her tightly-clenched anus.

"Relax for me, honey," he said, gently stroking her flanks to calm her. "We'll take it nice and slowly so you don't feel any pain."

She drew a deep breath then did as he asked, the tension easing from her rigid posture. John had kept up an insistent pressure on the entrance to her rear passage and the crown eased inside as she willingly yielded for him. Neysa hissed as his first three inches stretched her open, the muscles clenching like a fist around him and halting his progress once more.

John slid his arms around Neysa and pulled her back against his chest. "That's a good girl," he murmured in her ear. "Take your time."

Trembling with the sexual tension, she tilted her head back to look him in the eyes. "I'm ready," she whispered, her spread cheeks gently squeezing his shaft.

They gazed into each other's eyes as John pushed deeper into her impossibly snug depths, Neysa's luscious mouth parting as she let out a low cry. He paused to let her adjust to his huge girth invading her body, giving her virgin bottom plenty of time to get used to being deflowered.

In his excitement, John forgot that the beautiful shape-shifter had complete control over her body and that Neysa could have easily taken his entire length in a single thrust. The evocative responses from the gorgeous catgirl had him convinced it was her first time, so he was gentle and considerate, trying to make the experience as pleasurable for her as possible. Neysa wasn't doing this for her own benefit though, she simply wanted him to savour the moment, understanding that it would make claiming the prize of her anal virginity all the more satisfying.

When she relaxed for him again, he pushed deeper into her body, listening intently to her mewling groans for any sign of distress. Neysa took everything he could give her, until her anal ring was stretched tight around the base of his shaft. She writhed against him, her body gripping and squeezing every inch of John's impressive length.

"I feel so full..." she breathed, lifting up her shirt and guiding his hand to the bulge in her abdomen.

"Does that feel good?" he asked, stroking the elongated bump in her toned midriff. His fingers dipped lower, past the bunched-up skirt that had ridden up her thighs, to seek out her sopping pussy.

"Your fingers feel amazing," she whispered to him, her ass pushing back against his groin as if trying to impale herself even further. "But you don't need to do that for me..."

"I want you to enjoy it too," he replied, circling her soaked clit with a fingertip.

She gave him a loving smile and nuzzled into him, pursing her lips for a kiss. He leaned down to kiss her passionately, his tongue probing her mouth as she welcomed him inside.

When they parted, she said quietly, "The most enjoyment I can receive is by giving you pleasure, John. I adore you... and I want you to use me in any way you desire. The more excitement you derive from my body... the more powerful my own climax will be... Master."

John paused and looked at her in surprise, suddenly remembering her true nature. He smiled and gave the eager Nymph a tender kiss. "Why did you pretend that this was your first time?"

"You chose this body for me. It belongs to you... and you alone," she murmured, her soft ears brushing against his cheek as she nuzzled him. "This is our first time being together this way."

He wrapped his arms around her to give her a tight hug. "You're amazing, my sexy little Nymph."

"Tell me what I can do to make this more pleasurable for you, Master," she urged him, her breathing quickening with her excitement.

John nodded and whispered in her ear. "Listen carefully to Jade and do exactly what she tells you."

Jade could hear his every whim and passed those thoughts on to the eager catgirl, who moved instantly to obey. Neysa quivered with excitement when she heard the authoritative shift in his voice, then leaned forward over the desk, supporting her upper body on her outstretched arms. John moved with her, resting on her back as his hands cupped and kneaded her breasts.

He started with long smooth strokes, revelling in the slick warmth clinging to every inch of his cock as he sheathed himself inside her. Neysa moaned her approval, pushing back to meet every rhythmic thrust. Shifting position, John placed his hands on her shoulders and raised himself up, so he could watch his rigid shaft plunging between her trembling buttocks. His toned stomach slapped against her quivering cheeks when he was balls-deep, adding a percussive beat to her excited gasps and soft feminine grunts.

John felt a pang of guilt at using the accommodating Nymph so selfishly, when he was struck by a sudden epiphany. Jade and her sisters might look like exotically-coloured Terrans, but they were alien creatures with very different emotional needs. It wasn't actually possible to be a selfish lover with a Nymph, because the more pleasure he derived from having sex with her, the more excited she became.

The way Neysa was responding to him was absolutely genuine, her cries growing more passionate to match his own rising excitement. He'd made her strong and resilient, her body capable of withstanding tremendous physical punishment, but John had no intention of harming the lovely Nymph. He deactivated his psychic strength, removing any risk that he might accidentally hurt her. Safe in the knowledge that Neysa was now far stronger than he was, he let loose his inhibitions, pistoning in and out of her magnificent body at a pounding pace.

Neysa responded immediately, throwing her head back in a howl of ecstasy, her body bucking as she took every thrust with rapturous glee. Their coupling turned primal, John dominating the gorgeous girl bent over his desk, while she joyfully submitted her body and soul to him. Neysa turned her head for a kiss over her shoulder, only managing one liplock before her eyes went wide and she screamed with pleasure. John wrapped his hand in her long hair, using the ponytail for reins as he rode Neysa's furiously bucking body.

He tried to hold out for as long as he could, simply to enjoy pounding her with utter abandon. Her tail snaked below them, gently stroking and massaging his taut quad as if urging him to unload. Every deep thrust into her pliant body was accompanied by a sonata of her ecstatic cries, Neysa consumed by a relentless chain of orgasms. It was impossible for John to resist the building wave of pleasure that seemed to grow from the pit of his stomach and he exploded inside her, his howl of release joining hers.

Her frantic thrashing slowed to a gentle rocking, the snug grip milking his cock as he pumped her belly full of his load. Neysa whimpered and gasped as she swelled to take him, her tummy rounding out against his desk as he spurted out every last drop of cum in his balls. By the time he was done, John collapsed on her back, his breathing ragged and his chest heaving.

It took him a couple of minutes to recover, then he lifted his weight from her and gingerly eased his aching cock from her trembling ass. Neysa had been rendered insensate, sprawled over the desk with her stocking-clad legs quivering with the aftermath of the fierce fucking. Regaining his senses, John quickly checked on her to make sure she was alright, but one look at the serene smile of blissful contentment on Neysa's face put him at ease.

"She'll need some time to regain her senses, Master," Jade murmured, stepping forward from the shadows and affectionately stroking her sister's unkempt mane. "Neysa has never known such pleasure before."

John collapsed back in his chair and panted for breath, too exhausted to speak. Jade was content to let him rest, caressing Neysa while she waited until he'd recovered.

"I'm sorry, Jade... I've never given you what you really needed," he finally said, looking up at the green-skinned Nymph with regret.

She shook her head vehemently. "That's not true, John! Making love with you has been wonderful. You're very considerate in bed and always made sure I enjoyed our time together before seeking your own release. It gave you pleasure to see my excitement... which was like delicious foreplay for me before we shared a climax."

He beckoned her over and Jade knelt beside him. "You tried to explain this to me weeks ago, didn't you? When you wanted me to indulge my fantasies."

Jade giggled and looked up at John starry-eyed. "Being Felicity for you was such a thrill!"

John brushed his fingers through her dark hair as he remembered the night of passion with the Oceanus rep. "Yeah, that was a lot of fun. I'm just sorry it took me this long to really understand what you need."

Her emerald eyes shone with love as she gazed up at him. "Neysa is very clever, Master. She was able to explain our nature to you in a way that I could not."

"She's a smart girl," he murmured, looking at the cum-stuffed Nymph with a fond smile. Turning his attention back to Jade, he continued, "Was this your secret?"

Jade hesitated and shook her head. "This was a lovely surprise for me too, Master. But it's not what I wanted to share with you."

"Was it that Neysa loves me?" he asked, relaxing in his chair. "Or that she wanted to choose to stay with me as her master?"

She shook her head again, her dark mane swishing over her shoulders. "Neysa did confess her feelings to me beforehand... but that's not my secret either."

He studied her joyful expression and could see that she was bursting to tell him. "What is it, Jade?" he asked with a grin. "Don't keep me in suspense any longer!"

A crystal tear rolled down her cheek, her emerald eyes shining with elation. "Neysa understands why you wanted her to have free will... she chose to be with you for herself! She's just like me now, John! I'm not unique in the galaxy anymore!"

John looked at her in surprise, then pulled Jade up into his lap and hugged her tight, the overwhelmed Nymph crying tears of joy.

***

Alyssa could feel Jade's jubilation blazing across their bond, her feelings of happiness making the Nymph shine like a beacon across the psychic network.

*I'm so happy for you, gorgeous,* Alyssa said, her heart lifting for her friend.

*Thank you, Alyssa!* Jade gushed, sharing her delight with her fellow matriarch.

Wobbling unsteadily at the sudden influx of power, Alyssa glanced fearfully at the water below the bridge where she was seated in momentary alarm. She lay back on the bridge and closed her eyes, the brief feelings of panic fading away now that reason had returned and she remembered she could swim. It felt soothing to lie there on the cool sandstone, her lower legs still dangling over the edge above the water.

By the time Neysa roused from her sexual nirvana, Alyssa had regained full control of herself, the recent surges of power growing easier to adapt to. She waited patiently in the Lagoon as John and the two Nymphs left his Ready Room and made their way down to Deck Three. Rising to her feet, she greeted the trio with a warm smile when they entered the Lagoon. Jade and Neysa hugged and kissed her as they passed, glowing pulses emerging from their curved tummies and casting an ethereal light over the lush jungle.

Watching John's approach, Alyssa stepped forward to meet him. "I'm very sorry, John," she said sincerely. "Please forgive me for overstepping my authority, for upsetting Lynette, and for undermining your relationship with her."

"Do you understand why I was disappointed?" he asked, brushing aside a stray lock of golden hair that had fallen across her pensive face.

She nodded, tears welling in her cerulean eyes. "I promised you before that I wouldn't go behind your back on command decisions... and I broke that promise."

"I realise that you're passionate about the colonies on the Outer Rim and I shirked my responsibilities there, leaving you to deal with all those infested colonists," he said with regret. Meeting her questioning gaze, he continued, "But no matter how much you despise the Terran Federation for what happened to your family, always remember that Lynette is on our side. She's trying to make a difference to those colonies and prevent the kind of events that led to your horrible childhood."

"I know... and I'll find a way to make amends with her," Alyssa said adamantly. She hesitated, looking unsure of herself. "What can I do to make this up to you, John?"

"I need your support more than ever right now," he replied, his expression solemn. "Don't cause me any more problems and we'll consider this a useful learning experience."

"I'll support you however I can," she said, nodding her agreement. "And I'll try really hard not to cause you any trouble."

He couldn't help smiling wryly at her second pledge. "You'll try?"

She gave him a rueful smile in return. "Would another promise mean anything after I just broke the last one?"

John pulled her into his arms. "No... and I appreciate your honesty."

"I've always got your best interests at heart, John," she said with absolute conviction. "It might not always seem like it at the time, but that's one thing you can rely on without fail."

"I know, beautiful," he said, giving her a grateful kiss.

Alyssa sagged with relief, sensing that she was forgiven. Clasping his hand, they walked across the bridge towards the Observatory in companionable silence, feeling like they were in sync once again.

***

Tom glared across the table at the ISD Colonel in frustration. His requests to communicate with his fiancée and family had been denied the previous evening, leaving him in turmoil all night long. After being given an early breakfast, Tom was deemed fit enough for another interview and escorted to this sombre grey room, where he'd been subjected to a barrage of relentless questions.

"This is ridiculous!" Tom blurted out, gripping the armrests of his chair. "You can't seriously believe I had anything to do with the Brimorian attack! Why the hell would I do that?!"

Colonel Compton stayed maddeningly calm, unruffled by any of his suspect's outbursts. "You tell me, Commander Walker. Why would you sell out your friends and comrades?"

"I didn't!" he insisted, his hands clenching tighter. "I'd never do that!"

"And yet you miraculously survived the massacre, despite the Brimorians gunning down escape pods and destroying crippled ships to kill their crews. How do you explain your mysterious coma, Commander Walker?"

"I... don't know... I can't explain it," he faltered helplessly.

"What if I were to tell you that medical scans detected a Brimorian neuro-toxin in your system?"

"What do you mean?" Tom asked, his face blanching. "What kind of toxin?"

"A toxin that conveniently rendered you unconscious without any long-term physical harm," Compton replied, studying Tom intently. "A toxin that made it seem like you were wounded in battle when your Claymore was wrecked by enemy fire. Except... black box recordings don't show your ship taking so much as a single hit from enemy fighters during the battle. How do you explain that, Commander Walker?"

"My Claymore was malfunctioning... I couldn't fire my guns," he stammered, increasingly alarmed. "Maybe the Brimorians didn't see me as a threat?"

"The Brimorians didn't see unarmed escape pods as a threat, yet every single one of them was targeted and destroyed."

"But my Claymore was wrecked!" Tom quickly countered. "The rescue teams found me in my badly damaged fighter... you just told me that yourself!"

"According to ballistic reports, the damage is consistent with shots from a particle cannon, fired at short range against a stationary target... inside an oxygen-rich atmosphere."

Tom shook his head. "That's impossible. The battle took place in space."

"The battle did, Commander Walker. However, I'd postulate that your ship was fired upon inside a Brimorian hangar to simulate battle damage. Now why would the Brimorians avoid shooting at you, then tractor beam your Claymore into a hangar, and fake damage to an otherwise unscathed Terran Federation fighter?"

"I've got no idea!" Tom protested. "I don't even remember being captured! The last thing I do remember is seeing the Janus destroyed by Enclave forces!"

He started to sweat as he shook his head helplessly, realising just how bad these allegations were starting to look.

"I'm innocent, you've got to believe me!" Tom pleaded with his interviewer.

"That's a significant problem, Commander Walker, because I don't believe you," Colonel Compton said, his mouth turning down into a stern frown. "All I've heard is a string of denials without a single solitary piece of evidence that might vindicate your story. A story, which is implausible to say the least. Are you really trying to claim that the Brimorians ignored your Claymore for the entire battle, then crippled your ship and injected you with a neuro-toxin, only to leave you to be rescued?"

Tom swallowed around his dry mouth, feeling an increasing sense of foreboding. "Look... you can't keep me locked up indefinitely; I'm done answering questions! Either charge me with something, or let me speak to my family! My father's Admiral Laurence Walker!"

An ominous silence fell in the interview room. Colonel Compton just stared at him, not moving a muscle as the seconds dragged on into minutes.

Darting a nervous glance at the door, Tom wasn't sure if he should just get up and walk out of the room. He was just about to rise, when the ISD Colonel stood first.

"Commander Tom Walker, you are hereby formally charged with treason against the Terran Federation and conspiracy to commit murder... 347,189 counts."

Tom gaped at Compton in horror, not able to believe that this nightmare was really happening.

***

*Hey, John... it's time to wake up.* Alyssa's gentle voice drifted through his subconscious.

John stirred from sleep and carefully stretched, trying not to disturb the two girls snuggled up beside him. He felt Jehanna shift on his right-hand-side and he received a big kiss before he'd even had a chance to open his eyes.

"Morning!" she gushed, her happy face grinning down at him.

He chuckled and cupped her cheek. "Good Morning. You woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed."

Neysa propped herself up on an elbow beside him, her sinuous tail curling around to playfully tickle his nose. "I certainly did!"

Jehanna grinned at the catgirl, then her smile turned coy as she looked at John. "I was really looking forward to you giving me breakfast..."

"I think I can accommodate you there." John sat up and was startled to see the entire crew in attendance on the huge oval bed. "You're all here! Who's watching the Bridge?"

"Daphne volunteered to help out," Alyssa explained, crawling across the bed to join him. "The Invictus has got a clear run for at least thirty minutes and everyone wanted to watch you feed Jehanna."

He frowned in confusion. "Really? But you've all seen us together before. What's special about today?"

Jehanna encircled his shaft with her delicate brown hand and began to gently stroke him, making him thicken in response. "This will be the first time you've fed me a full tummy since you agreed that I could join you permanently. Are you going to give me psychic powers?"

"What?!" he asked, blinking in surprise.

"It totally makes sense," Dana explained, nodding sagely. "You've given all the girls on the crew psychic abilities, except for the Nymphs... but you're powering them up to become dragons."

Ailita looked at him with a trusting innocence in her aquamarine eyes, not reacting at all to Dana's proclamation. However, Leylira's amber gaze was filled with hungry anticipation and the three catgirls they'd rescued with the tigress looked excited by the prospect.

"Unless you're intending Jehanna to be like the Young Matriarchs?" Irillith asked, as she hugged the dusky-hued Terran girl from behind. Her slender blue hands stroked Jehanna's trim stomach. "Are you planning to get her pregnant when we return to Genthalas?"

Calara shook her head and gave John a knowing smile. "Jehanna's one of his brown-eyed girls now. He wants all of us with baby bumps at the same time."

John raised his hands and said, "Okay, hold your horses everyone. I wasn't planning on giving Jehanna psychic abilities today."

Fourteen faces fell with looks of disappointment, Ailita being the odd exception, who studied the rest of the girls curiously.

"I haven't even given you a third helix yet," John said, cupping Jehanna's face. "But I can modify your DNA today... if that's definitely what you want?"

She nodded eagerly, her brown eyes sparkling. "Oh yes, definitely! What powers do you plan on giving me?"

"Let me give it some thought," he replied, before leaning in to give her a kiss. "Let's focus on getting you through the Change first, okay?"

"Sure!" she agreed, opening her mouth and leaning forward to go down on him.

"Hold on!" Alyssa interrupted. "The angle's not good here with John sitting down next to you. Give me a second."

She waved at the pillows and cushions scattered around the huge oval bed and they gathered together in stacks, forming a very comfy-looking chair. John sat down on his new pillow throne and Jehanna shifted over to kneel between his parted legs.

Alyssa knelt beside her and stroked Jehanna's long silky black hair. "There you go. Now, lots of eye-contact, remember?"

Jehanna nodded and darted a grateful smile at the blonde. "This is perfect, thank you."

Watching in fascination, John gazed into Jehanna's smoky-eyed gaze as she parted her lips and engulfed the head of his cock. He felt the emotional connection between them as she inched down his shaft and knew that their relationship had changed significantly after the decision made the previous night. Jehanna was one of his girls now and it was past time she looked the part.

"That feels amazing," he murmured, brushing aside a strand of jet-black hair that had fallen across her eyes.

She hummed in response, the vibrations in her throat feeling sensational. John gently stroked her hair as she began bobbing up and down in his lap, relishing her submissiveness.

*Can you make her cum for me?* he asked Alyssa, who was watching the pair with a delighted smile.

*Of course, handsome,* the blonde immediately replied, cuddling Jehanna from behind and letting her hand slip down between the raven-haired beauty's dusky thighs.

Jehanna moaned in response to the extra stimulation, her pupils dilating as her body was flooded with endorphins.

"Good girl," John murmured, his breathing getting heavier. "Let's finish at the same time."

She acknowledged him with a slight nod, her rhythmic suction increasing as she got more turned on. John could see she was quickly approaching the crest of a huge climax, his own just as close behind as he watched her worshipping his cock. With a final groan of ecstasy, his shaft throbbed powerfully in her throat, pumping the first blast of cum into her empty stomach. Jehanna gasped and whimpered as she joined him with her release, the pulsating sensation of his cock spurting down her throat enough to tip her over the edge.

*You're one of us now, gorgeous,* Alyssa crooned as she brought off the writhing girl with her nimble fingers. *You feel how much he wants you? He wants to make you a Lioness just like us!*

Jehanna tried to maintain eye-contact with John as long as she could, her hands cradling her stomach as it swelled to contain his prodigious output. The thrill of knowing that John would be changing her body, making her grow tall and strong made her orgasm far more potent, delicious waves of pleasure sweeping over her. By the time his lengthy climax was complete and his spent cock slipped from her flushed lips, she was trembling in the aftermath of one of the most powerful orgasms she'd ever had.

John slipped off the chair to kneel on the bed and give her a fierce hug. "That was incredible," he panted, holding her close. "Thank you."

She laughed between breathy gasps and leaned into his hug. "I should be thanking you. I've never cum so hard in my life!"

He stroked her back and said, "You should get some rest, honey. I'm getting you ready for psychic abilities and I'll be making some major changes to your body."

"Okay," she agreed obediently, giving him a grateful smile.

"I'll stay with her," Irillith immediately volunteered, grabbing a couple of pillows and a blanket.

Tashana opened her mouth to echo her sister, but John shook his head. "I've got plans for you, honey. We're heading to the Astral Plane."

The Maliri archaeologist nodded eagerly. "I can't wait!"

"I'd like to keep Jehanna company too," Helene requested, looking at John for approval. "As long as that's okay?"

"Fine by me. Thanks for looking after her," he agreed with a smile. Turning his attention to the dazed reporter he continued, "Don't spend all morning chatting. Try to get some sleep, alright?"

"I will," she agreed, stifling a yawn.

Leaving her with Irillith and Helene, John got up from the bed and offered Tashana and Alyssa a hand. "Let's take a shower, then we'll get geared up and see what Kyth'faren secrets we can uncover."

Sakura leapt to her feet to join them. "I'll stand guard while you're Spirit Walking. If anything goes wrong, I'll be right there to keep you all safe."

"Perfect, thank you," John said, nodding to her in gratitude.

"And I'll make everyone some breakfast," Calara offered, stretching as she got up.

She was deluged by offers of assistance and John left the Latina to pick her cooking assistants as he walked into the bathroom.

"So what's the plan exactly?" Alyssa asked as she turned on the shower.

John held his hand under the soap dispenser, then started lathering up Tashana's back as hot water jetted out from the walls and ceiling. "We'll set up protection and concealment wards, then head into the deep Astral to find that fortress. I've been there once before, so finding it again should be easy. After that, we'll search the Kyth'faren knowledge archives and find out exactly what my father found there."

"I can hardly believe we're visiting an actual Kyth'faren site!" Tashana exclaimed, looking thrilled at the prospect. "It's like a link to the past that goes back millions of years!"

"And I thought I was old," Jade said with a wry smile, stepping into the shower to join them. "Hello everyone."

"Hey, honey," John said, greeting her with a kiss. "Everything okay?"

"I'd like to watch over you too, Master," she replied, wrapping him up in a hug.

"The more the merrier, but I'm not actually expecting any trouble," he agreed. "I know the warding runes work, so we should be able to get in and out of there without any difficulty."

Sakura brushed conditioner through Alyssa's long golden hair. "What about the Kyth'faren fortress itself?"

"The place seemed harmless enough," John said with a shrug. "Rahn'hagon must've visited it thousands of times while he was marooned on Arcadia and he never mentioned any kind of problems. There's an antechamber in the centre with a hexagonal device that acts like a data repository."

"Is there anything special you want me to do?" Alyssa asked, tilting her head back as Sakura rinsed her hair.

John shook his head. "We'll stand guard over Tashana while she investigates the Kyth'faren archive. If there is any trouble, we'll leave immediately."

She nodded her understanding. "Got it."

They soaped each other up with a minimal amount of playful teasing, then crossed the Observatory so that John, Alyssa, Tashana, and Sakura could get dressed in jumpsuits. Jade was wearing a flowery sundress as she accompanied them out of the walk-in-wardrobe, an extra spring to her step in her strappy sandals.

She caught John watching her with a fond smile. "What?" she asked, doing a pirouette. "Don't you like it?"

"You look very pretty," he replied, entering the Lagoon with the Nymph at his side. "It's just not very... combat appropriate."

Jade waved his concerns away with a smile. "Don't be silly. I won't be wearing this in a fight... I'll be naked!"

He laughed as they crossed the bridge over the crystal-clear lake. "Of course you will."

The rest of the Nymphs were in the Lagoon with Ailita, teaching her to swim. They all paused what they were doing to give John friendly waves as he passed.

"Jade..." he began thoughtfully, waving back at the grinning catgirls.

"Yes, Master," she replied, already knowing what he was thinking. She gave him a coy smile. "Ready and willing..."

John coughed with embarrassment, drawing curious looks from Sakura and Tashana, and a knowing one from Alyssa. They entered the grav-tube and rose up to Deck Two, where they entered the Officers' Lounge and walked over to the dining area. The table had already been prepared for them, with a lavish breakfast ready and waiting.

Dana appeared with a jug of coffee. "They're here!" she called back into the kitchen.

Rachel and Calara emerged behind her, bringing a rack of toast and a plate of steaming pancakes.

"This looks wonderful," John said appreciatively as he took his seat.

Calara leaned down to give him a kiss. "I didn't want you to feel left out after making a big fuss over my dad."

He pulled her onto his lap, much to her delight. "There, now I feel really spoiled."

John took a pancake off the stack, then sprinkled sugar on it and added a dash of lemon juice. Calara dutifully opened her mouth for the first forkful, then hummed with satisfaction as she took a bite. After that they alternated, clearing the plate and starting another pancake.

"How are you feeling after seeing the family?" he asked, pouring a portion of grapes into a bowl and feeding her one. "We haven't really had much of a chance to chat since we saw them."

She swallowed the fruit and smiled. "I can't believe how well it went. Telling my dad all about us was such a huge weight off my mind."

"It can't have been easy for him to accept everything, but I'm so glad it went well. I just hope I can be half as good a father when the time comes," John said, his hand brushing over her stomach.

Calara placed her hand over his. "You're going to be such a push over. There'll be a score of boys and girls with you wrapped around their little fingers."

"Sounds about right if they take after their mothers," he replied, smiling to himself as he pictured it. He glanced up at Calara and added, "Anyway, I should probably get your father some kind of gift to say thanks for being so supportive."

"You already did," she replied airily, reaching over for some more grapes.

John frowned in confusion. "I did?" He glanced across the table at Alyssa. "Did you give Jack a present from me?"

"Rachel did actually..." the blonde replied, smirking at the brunette.

"I received a very appreciative message from Maria yesterday," Rachel explained, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "Apparently, the health-check I gave Jack did his libido a power of good and healing Maria's leg has opened up a world of new possibilities in the bedroom. They both decided to thank Viv for coming to the rescue and between the two of them, completely wore her out."

"Too much information!" Calara protested with a grimace, covering her ears.

John laughed and finished his coffee. "Sounds like we're all square then." He stretched then patted Calara's thigh. "Thanks for breakfast, that really hit the spot."

"You're welcome, darling!" she gushed, giving him a kiss.

"Check out the domestic goddess," Dana said with a grin. Her expression wavered a moment later and she looked at John with worry. "Shit... are you going to expect me to be like that when we're married?"

"Of course, darling!" he said cheerfully, then broke into laughter when he saw the look on Dana's face. "No, you're awesome just as you are, honey."

The redhead sagged with relief. "That's not funny. I'd suck as a housewife."

Rachel patted her girlfriend's hand. "As long as you keep doing that, I'm sure John won't have any complaints."

The girls burst into giggles, the laughter intensifying when John nodded his agreement.

After they calmed down, John picked Calara up and placed her to the side so he could stand. "Alright ladies, let's get geared up."

He was surprised to see Calara, Dana, and Rachel all nod and accompany the rest of the girls towards the door.

"I've got nothing to do until our forces engage the Brimorians," Calara explained. "I thought I'd join Sakura on guard duty."

"If something does go wrong, you might need a medic," Rachel said, patiently stating the obvious.

Dana gave him a lopsided grin. "I didn't want to be stuck clearing up after breakfast!"

John shook his head in disapproval. "Sparks, you can't just leave the cleaning bots to tidy up after us."

"Nah, it's fine. They love it," she replied with a shrug.

As if on cue, the door ahead of them opened and two robo-girls sauntered through.

[Bonjour monsieur!] the closest said as she flounced past.

[Have a luverly day, your Lordship!] the second added, before sharing a saucy giggle with her companion.

John watched the two robots quickly and efficiently clear the table, the pair chattering happily to each other as they did so.

Dana winked at him. "See? How could I deprive them of such joy?"

He laughed and tickled the redhead as they left the Officers' Lounge. From there, they continued along the corridor to the Commander's Quarters, then took the express grav-tubes down to the Armoury. It only took a few seconds for John and the girls to be sealed in Paragon suits, then they equipped themselves with guns and swords from the weapon racks.

John loaded a magazine into his Tachyon rifle, then shouldered it and reached for his gleaming runeblade. It felt comforting to hold the rune-embossed sword in his gauntleted grip, having left it behind while training with Sakura over the past few days. Satisfied that he was ready for combat, he took the second set of express grav-tubes down to the Secondary Hangar, then led the girls out to the open space beside the Raptor.

He glanced around at the six Lionesses in their Paragon suits who were locked and loaded for war, and nodded his approval. His gaze fell on Jade in her flowery summer dress, which prompted the Nymph to bare her teeth and growl, her hands raised like claws.

"Very fierce," John noted, shaking his head in amusement.

Jade's emerald eyes twinkled as she nodded. "The fiercest, Master."

"Alright, all set?" John asked, turning to look at Tashana and Alyssa. When they nodded, he smiled at the others. "See you girls soon."

John, Tashana, and Alyssa focused their will inwards, then the trio stepped out onto the Astral Plane, each in their spirit forms. Going through the defensive preparations they'd practiced the previous day, John covered his ethereal body in his Lion armour, while the two girls wore matching Paragon suits. Taking their time, they meticulously crafted the runic phrases that would ward them from detection in the deep Astral, checking each other's work for mistakes when they were done.

*Looks good, honey,* John said, nodding his approval to Tashana. He turned his attention to Alyssa and marvelled at the elegant perfection of her wards. *Very nice, beautiful.*

*Not bad yourself, handsome,* she replied, giving him a thumbs up.

John held out a hand for each of them, then rose off the featureless ground, the two girls rising with him. He pictured the Kyth'faren fortress in his mind, remembering how it looked and its precise location... then they took off, racing across the endless expanse of the Astral Plane.

*This place is immense,* Tashana said in a hushed voice, her violet eyes fixed on the horizon. *How can you hope to find the Kyth'faren citadel again?*

John hesitated before answering. *I just... know... where it is. I suppose the closest analogy I can think of, is travelling from your home to work in a hover-car. When you've done the journey so often, you don't even have to think about it anymore.*

*Even after only visiting it once?* she asked, fascinated by the concept.

Alyssa leaned around John to look at the Maliri. *That's the way it worked for me and the Kirrix palace.*

*So could you guide us to the Ashanath subplane?* Tashana asked the blonde.

*I don't see why not,* Alyssa agreed. *I know the location and I could just tow you both there.*

As they continued onwards across the ephemeral substance of the psychic dimension, the sky above began to darken ominously.

*What's happening now?* Tashana asked, looking up at the gloomy sky.

*We're entering the deep Astral,* John replied quietly. *Xar'aziuth and his minions all lurk in the deepest recesses of the plane.*

Tashana looked at him curiously. *Why?*

*There's power there,* John replied, gazing out over the plane which seemed to stretch to infinity. *Something ancient and forbidden... I've reached out to touch it in the past.*

*When you saved Jade?* Alyssa asked, her voice quiet and introspective.

He nodded but chose not to elaborate, concentrating instead on avoiding a murky fogbank that had appeared on the horizon. The roiling mists moved in strange jagged leaps, like it was being rapidly repositioned rather than simply moving under its own steam. Lurking amidst the billowing clouds, it was possible to make out colossal misshapen monsters, their disjointed movement unsettling to the eye.

*Fallen Progenitors,* John whispered to the two girls, the knowledge of what those hideous creatures actually were, making the sight of them far more horrifying.

Tashana stared at the hulking beasts, her posture rigid with tension. *Do you think Larn'kelnar's with them?*

That thought shocked John, who hadn't even considered the possibility of the slain Progenitor being dragged here to do Xar'aziuth's bidding.

*If not here, then with another pack,* he replied, trying not to shiver with revulsion. *That's the fate that Rahn'hagon fears above everything else.*

The Maliri's eyes widened with horror... and concern. *What about you?!*

He gave her a reassuring smile. *According to Rahn, I'm safe. All those Progenitors gave a portion of their soul to Xar'aziuth to seal a pact with him. I didn't, so it's not something I have to worry about.*

*He tried to tempt you though,* Alyssa said quietly, just as tense as Tashana.

John grimaced and shook his head. *His offer was rubbish... I turned him down flat. I got a much better deal with you girls.*

Tashana and Alyssa glanced at each other and shared a smile. They didn't say anything, but the way they both drew closer to John spoke volumes. Their fear seemed to fall away, each of them drawing strength from his reassuring presence.

They passed several more fogbanks and the daunting numbers of hulking monstrosities that were partially visible amongst the mists got John thinking. He wondered just how many fallen Progenitors Xar'aziuth had accrued over the millennia, each of them leading a failed army of thralls that had been butchered by the victor. The sheer scale of the carnage was horrific and trying to picture trillions of dead was like peering into a dreadful abyss where insanity awaited.

Tashana's angular eyes tracked a six-legged titan that towered high above the billowing clouds. *I wonder why some of them are bigger than others?*

*Maybe they were stronger than other Progenitors while they were still alive?* Alyssa suggested, staring at the barbed tentacles lashing from its many mouths.

John shook his head. *Rahn said they always get worn down in protracted wars before they're defeated. They must all be pretty weak by the time they're killed.*

Alyssa considered that for a moment. *What about their strength at their peak? Didn't Mael'nerak say 'they've sent their strongest'?*

*Yeah... my father,* John muttered. *He said the same thing when he was bragging about how powerful he used to be. Rahn also said that at one time, Mael'nerak used to be stronger than he was.*

With a shiver of revulsion, Tashana said in a hushed voice, *So that... thing... could actually be Mael'nerak?*

John watched the colossal leviathan lurching through the mists and felt a surge of pity for Tashana's great ancestor. Mael'nerak might have started life as a cruel Progenitor tyrant, but the millennia spent under the protection of the Shroud had given him the opportunity to choose a new path. He'd started to create life rather than destroy it, ultimately becoming the creator of the Trankarans, the Ashanath, the Drakkar, and even humanity. Mael'nerak eventually went on to valiantly sacrifice himself to protect his creations... and Valada, his beloved Maliri matriarch.

It saddened John to think of that noble hero meeting such an ignoble end, as a hideously deformed beast in Xar'aziuth's shambling armies.

*John, watch out!* Tashana exclaimed in alarm. *Something's coming!*

He looked out towards the horizon, searching for whatever had frightened the Maliri. He spotted a huge shape rushing towards them, then smiled as he recognised the lofty spires of the magnificent Kyth'faren fortress. It was a peculiarity of the Astral Plane that objects appeared to be moving towards you, when you were actually travelling towards your destination.

*Relax, honey... that's the Kyth'faren sanctuary,* he said, his calm tone putting her at ease.

They soared towards the ancient castle, flying higher as they approached the pale stonework buttresses that formed the outer wall. John brought them over the parapet, where they landed safely on the battlements of the citadel.

Alyssa released his hand and crouched down, running her gauntlets over the smooth, perfectly chiselled fortifications. *It's just like my fortress in the pocket plane,* she said quietly, her eyes wide with a mixture of apprehension and wonder.

*Yeah, I recognised it too.* John squatted down beside her to study the masonry. *What made you choose to build your castle using these exact same blocks?*

*I... don't know,* she murmured, gazing away into the distance. *It was the first structure that came to mind. I didn't even give it any conscious thought... I just started building.*

Tashana stood next to them, her fascinated gaze sweeping over the fortress. *Rahn'hagon researched these Kyth'faren sanctuaries before creating John, then John created Athena to guide you,* she said, turning to look down at Alyssa.

Alyssa rose to her feet and nodded. *So the design originated here and was passed on to me.*

*Let's see what else we can find!* Tashana said, her eyes glinting with excitement. *Maybe Rahn missed something!*

John smiled at the eager Maliri and set off towards a towering door that led into the central keep. *Alright then, follow me. It's this way to the Kyth'faren archives...*