Three Square Meals Ch. 119

He held her tighter, then his gaze drifted to the second Maliri twin, the only girl left from his original crew they hadn't discussed yet. "What would have happened to Tashana?"

Rachel grimaced, then reached over to clasp the Maliri girl's hand supportively when the next image appeared. The picture had been taken in that very bedroom, just before Tashana had agreed to join them. Her bald head and body were covered in an appalling patchwork of scars, the horrifying sight matched only by her hideously mutilated face.

"Hades was planning to give me to the Enshunu," Tashana said in a low voice, squeezing Rachel's hand as she stared at her grotesque appearance. Her eyes burned with hatred as she snarled, "An Enshunu captain did that to me... until I finally snapped and roasted the flesh from that bastard's bones!"

"We got there just in time to rescue her," Rachel said, leaning down to kiss Tashana's cheek as Irillith wrapped her sister up in a comforting hug. She looked pointedly at John and added, "But if you hadn't recruited Irillith, we would never have known that Tashana even existed. The Enshunu would have slowly tortured her to death, leaving her in a constant state of agony for months."

John shook his head as he murmured, "I've never really thought all this through before." He let his gaze sweep around the group, lingering on the girls Rachel had mentioned. "All of you... dead."

The brunette nodded, locking eyes with him. "Edraele had another five years, then the brain tumour would have killed her... if the excruciating headaches didn't drive her to suicide beforehand."

*The pain had grown nearly unbearable,* the Maliri matriarch said in a hushed voice. *I swore that I'd never take my own life like my mother had... but my resolve was fading by the day.*

*Saving you was the only worthwhile thing my Guide accomplished when he hijacked my body,* John ruefully admitted, conflicted at feeling grateful to his malevolent alter-ego for anything.

*I'll always be thankful he destroyed my predecessor, paving the way for you to rebuild my mind,* Edraele said earnestly. *Without him, I never would have existed... and without the new version of me attempting to consolidate your control of the Maliri Regency, eventually all the Young Matriarchs would have been killed by intra-House assassinations.*

John shook his head in disbelief, then glanced at Jade's sisters. "And the Nymphs? What would have happened to them?"

"They would have remained as sex slaves for the foreseeable future," Rachel replied, giving the four green-skinned girls a sympathetic look. "But accidents or murders would have claimed them all in the end, like their sisters."

The quartet of Nymphs looked troubled at that thought, reaching for each other and embracing.

"Which only leaves Helene," John said, turning to look at the aquatic girl. "But at least she would have been safe at Neptra village?"

Rachel hesitated, reluctant to reply.

"It's alright," the teal-skinned beauty said with a sad smile. "I know how the villagers viewed me... as a broken woman who had lost her value to the village. It was probably just a matter of time before I was killed trying to defend our home from predators."

After glancing at Alyssa for permission to continue, Rachel asked quietly, "Helene, how many of your villagers were over... fifty years old?"

Helene thought about it for a moment and her eyes widened in surprise. "There were only seven! Chief Leomaris, his two assistants, and the four Elder midwives..." Looking bewildered, she added, "Now you mention it, I do remember there being others when I was younger. I heard they moved to another village, but no one really knew for sure... I just accepted it as the truth."

John looked at Rachel in alarm. "You think the Brimorians are doing something to the older Abandoned?"

"It would be a way of slowing their population growth," the brunette said quietly. "This is the first time I've discussed it with Helene, but based on her experiences at Neptra village, it seems highly likely. Women old enough to go through the menopause would no longer be able to bear children, reducing their value to the Brimorians. The men lead a life of hard physical labour in the kelp beds and decades of gruelling work would take a heavy toll. By culling the older villagers, the Brimorians would avoid having to deal with any age-related medical issues amongst the Abandoned."

"So if they're already killing the older villagers... and the Abandoned population is still growing too large..." John said in a hushed voice.

Rachel nodded, her expression grim. "I think a larger-scale effort at population control might be imminent."

Helene looked stunned. "Everyone knew I was a broken woman. I would have been amongst the first to be taken away!"

"If I'm right, we need to address the Abandoned situation quickly," Rachel said, looking pointedly at John. "The Brimorians might already be killing them on a vast scale."

John glanced at Calara, curious to see if she'd raise an objection.

She had a troubled look in her deep brown eyes. "We do need to focus on our Primary mission, but we can't abandon our humanity in the process; I couldn't just stand by and let millions of Abandoned be slaughtered. In any case, the Brimorians are an ongoing threat to the Terran Federation and I believe they need to be dealt with."

He nodded his emphatic agreement, then looked around at all the women watching him, finally understanding the massive impact he'd made in all their lives. Focusing on Rachel, he gave her a grateful smile. "Thank you for the presentation. It was awful to think about what might have happened to all of you if we'd never met... but I needed to hear it."

Alyssa turned to look at him. "How do you feel now? About recruiting us?"

John reached out to cup her face and gently brushed his thumb against her cheek. "If we'd never got together, everyone in this room would have suffered horribly as a result. I always felt so guilty, because I thought that if I hadn't interfered in your lives, you would have all gone on to be happy and successful on your own... but now I see that just isn't true."

He beckoned the tawny-haired doctor over, then held Calara's hand as Sakura slipped out of the way to make room for the masterminds behind the presentation. Calara, Rachel, and Alyssa knelt directly in front of John, watching him expectantly.

"For the last six months, I've been torturing myself with guilt over the best decisions I've ever made." He looked at each of them in turn. "Thank you for helping me see it all from a completely different perspective."

John pulled the three girls into a hug, feeling overwhelmed with gratitude towards them. The trio looked delighted at his reaction, embracing him fiercely.

"You really mean it!" Alyssa gasped, trembling in his arms as she sensed the difference in his outlook.

"I had to change you, and Calara, and Dana... or all these wonderful girls would have been killed," he said quietly, giving her a tender kiss. "How can I ever regret that?"

"You've changed too," she said sincerely, giving him a loving smile. "All the girls have made their mark... you're very different from the man I met when all this began."

"We don't feel the slightest bit guilty though," Rachel said, leaning in to give him a kiss.

He laughed and kissed her back, then his stomach grumbled loudly in protest.

Alyssa grinned at him. "Some things never change."

"I'm looking for assistants in the kitchen..." John said, glancing around the group. "Any volunteers?"

Everyone nodded and raised their hand, so Calara pulled away from him and said, "Let me organise dinner. Why don't you and Alyssa relax with a drink in the Officers' Lounge?"

"Well, I'm hardly going to say no to that," he replied, giving her a grateful smile.

The girls all rose from the bed, chattering together as they left. John heard snippets of conversation, ranging from them discussing his reaction to the presentation, to Sakura enthusiastically thanking Helene for the feelings she'd shared with her. The sound of their voices faded as they walked away along the corridor.

"Alone at last," the blonde purred, with a coy glance under her long lashes.

John gave her a knowing look. "Calara wouldn't have suggested we spend some time together unless there was something on your mind."

Alyssa hesitated, then nodded, giving him a look filled with regret.

Raising an eyebrow, John lay down on the bed and pulled her down with him. He undid a few buttons on her blouse and slipped his hand inside to stroke her smooth stomach making her shiver with pleasure.

Alyssa sighed with delight, then suddenly frowned in protest. "That's not fair... You know I'm powerless to resist when you touch me like that."

His smile broadened. "That's what I'm counting on. Despite all the evidence to the contrary, I know you're really a good girl... You should be happy and content with a tummy full of my cum, but there's something on your mind. Now, what do you want to talk to me about?"

Alyssa's expression brightened and she blurted out, "I bonded with Helene!"

"Oh, really? That's great news!" he said, looking pleased. Thinking about that for a moment, he nodded, having noticed the changes. "She seems different now, much more comfortable with herself. Helene really needed to feel like she belonged... I think this will help her a lot."

"Maybe as much as that little pep talk you gave her," Alyssa said with sincere admiration, running her fingers across his chest. "I thought she was going to burst with joy at one point... then you had the bright idea of sharing all that with us and we all got a bit love-drunk..."

He smiled at the memory, remembering the sense of sheer bliss he'd felt at being coupled with the aquatic girl. Focusing on Alyssa again, he went back to stroking her toned tummy. "That was an interesting diversion, but now I'd like to know what's really worrying you."

She sighed in resignation. "Worried isn't the right word... but I found out something important while you were away." Looking up into his eyes, she said softly, "Do you remember Perl? The blonde survivor from Karron..."

"Of course."

Alyssa's face shadowed with regret once more. "She's my cousin..."

John's eyes lit up in excitement. "Honey, that's fantastic news! You've found some real, genuine family!" He paused when he saw the blonde's downcast expression. "I don't understand? Why aren't you overjoyed?"

"Because I really wanted her for you!" Alyssa blurted out, finally giving voice to her frustration. "Perl's beautiful, sexy, smart, and just a really lovely girl... but she's fallen in love with Tony, so I had to let her go!"

He looked at her in surprise after her outburst, then laughed and gave her a hug. "I've got more than enough girls as it is! You don't need to feel bad about that."

Alyssa pulled back and gave him a penetrating look. "Just imagine how she'd look after you'd fed her for two weeks... then after we retire, the two of us looking at you with doe eyes as we stroke our big pregnant bellies. She was my cousin, John. Can you honestly tell me that you wouldn't want to breed us both at the same time?"

John froze as he imagined the extremely erotic picture Alyssa was painting for him.

She sighed with regret when she saw his expression. "That's why I feel bad..."

He chuckled and shook his head. "Alright, I admit that thought really turns me on..." Looking into her eyes, he continued, "But that's mainly because of you, Alyssa. Besides, I don't even know Perl... believe me, the idea of you and Calara together is far, far, more exciting."

"Really?" she asked, looking sceptical.

John kissed the tip of her nose. "Yep. I seem to remember you telling me that a blonde and a brunette is the classic combo... and you weren't wrong. Anyway, Edraele and the twins made it quite clear that they plan to indulge that particular line of fantasy to the max."

Alyssa giggled as she relaxed. "Alright, I guess knocking up a mother and her twin daughters is pretty epic. I can't really compete with that."

He smiled when she laughed, pleased to see her looking happier. "It's still brilliant that you found a real relative though. You must keep in contact with Perl and find out how she gets on. Did you give her some credits to help out?"

"Yes, yes, and yes," Alyssa replied, agreeing with and replying to his three statements. She smiled and added, "I gave Perl and Kelli 200k to set them up on Valia Gate. I also got them to promise me that if things don't work out between them and Tony, to let me know immediately..."

"You really are incorrigible," he said with a fond smile.

"For you? Absolutely!"

John rolled his eyes at her affectionately, then climbed off the bed and offered her a hand. "Come on, let's go get that drink."

Alyssa buttoned up her blouse, smoothed down her figure-hugging skirt and slipped her feet into a pair of four-inch high heels. Fluffing out her hair, she looked like she'd just stepped off the cover of a fashion magazine. "There, ready for dinner," she said with a smile, taking his hand again.

As they walked down the corridor, John glanced her way. "Would you really have recruited Perl just so that I could get her pregnant?"

She gave him a coy smile. "Why not? It's been a winning formula with the rest of the girls, why change it..."

John stopped and looked at her in surprise.

Alyssa laughed and squeezed his hand. "You should see your face!" She waved her hand at the door controls as she carried on walking, then turned to tug him after her into the lounge. "Actually, Kelli and Perl have some very valuable skills and a lot of potential. They'd make really great Lionesses, so if they do get in contact and ask to join us, I hope you'll be... accommodating."

He tried not to dwell on the thought of those pretty young women swallowing his cum, but a glance at Alyssa's satisfied smirk told him he'd failed. "Take a seat, you vixen. What would you like to drink?"

"Surprise me," she purred, sitting demurely on one of the sofas.

John poured himself a whiskey and dropped in some ice cubes, then set up a second glass with ice, mixing vodka, coffee liqueur and cream. He joined her on the sofa and passed her the drink. "Try this..."

Alyssa sipped it and her eyebrows climbed. "Delicious!"

John clinked glassed with her and smiled. "Nostrovia."

They relaxed together and spent some time just watching the stars go by, enjoying a rare moment of tranquillity. After all the stress and tension of dealing with the Kirrix invasion, it felt wonderful being able to put that traumatic chapter behind them.

John caught Alyssa's eye and raised his glass again. "Half-a-million colonists... well done, honey. You and the girls should be very proud of yourselves."

She touched the rim of her glass to his. "We're your girls, John. This was all down to you."

He paused, considering that for a long moment. With a self-conscious smile, he sipped his drink.

The Nymphs appeared from the kitchen shortly afterwards, carrying stacks of plates and cutlery. They waved and said hello, then were soon followed by the twins who started placing wine glasses around the table.

Tashana smiled at the couple on the sofa, then her face lit up with delight when she saw Alyssa's drink. "Is that a White Russian? I've always wanted to try one of those!"

John rose from his chair. "Let me make you one."

She grinned at him, her violet eyes twinkling. "It's just a shame the Invictus doesn't have a bowling alley..."

Irillith laughed at John's look of confusion. "Don't worry, it's just a holo-movie reference. I'd like one too, please."

Alyssa joined him at the bar and took everyone's orders, then helped him mix the drinks. By the time Calara and her assistants appeared with several steaming bowls of spaghetti and aromatic garlic bread, their beverages were waiting for them. The meal was delicious and the accompanying conversation was relaxed and comfortable. John looked around at the happy women that made up his extended family and smiled with a newfound sense of contentment.

He knew Rachel had a vested interest in trying to make him feel better about their situation, but he could tell she'd told him the unvarnished truth. It had been shocking to realise that if he hadn't recruited Alyssa, they all would have died... and often in a brutal and horrifying manner. Each girl they'd recruited afterwards had fit neatly into place, giving the group access to new skills and capabilities which had allowed them to rescue all the rest. There was a satisfying sense of unity in working together like that, assuaging any lingering feelings of remorse he might have felt about the Change and the impact it had on their lives.

Alyssa reached out to squeeze his hand. *I'm sorry it took me this long to figure out what you needed to hear.*

*And I'm sorry I've been wallowing in guilt for the last six months, it must have been unbearable...* he replied with a rueful smile of apology.

*Seeing you torturing yourself like that was awful,* she agreed, her expression turning sombre. *Meeting you was the best thing to happen to all of us... and it was so frustrating that I could never make you see it.*

*At the very worst, being with me is probably better than being dead,* he agreed, his lips twisting into a grin.

Alyssa laughed at his joke and leaned over to give him a kiss. *That's the upbeat message we were shooting for!*

They shared a smile and continued their dinner, with everyone quickly finishing off the delicious meal.

John glanced at Calara and raised an eyebrow. "I thought I tasted oregano... Have you been tweaking my recipe?"

She bit her lip and nodded.

"It was excellent, bravo," John said, raising his glass in appreciation to the Latina.

The girls joined in, thanking her profusely as she smiled happily at their praise.

John retrieved another couple of bottles of House Holaris' finest vintage and filled everyone's wine glasses. "Now, I'm eager to hear all about Irillith's and Tashana's victory over the Kirrix fleet... our last meeting came to a rather abrupt and premature end before we could discuss it."

Dana blushed bright red when all eyes flicked to her. "I'm sorry, okay? I was just going crazy after being separated from you for so long." She glanced around the table. "You girls know what I mean..."

Rachel looked confused and shook her head. "I actually found the break incredibly productive. It was refreshing being able to really immerse myself in my work without the constant sexual demands..."

"What a load!" Dana snorted indignantly, elbowing her girlfriend. She looked at John and frowned, "Don't believe a word of it. Rachel's been pining after you even more than I have!"

The brunette flashed a grin at John, her grey eyes twinkling.

He smiled and raised his hands for quiet. "And I missed all of you too... but no more diversions, I want to hear all about the twins in action."

"Actually... I only took out one hive ship," Tashana admitted, leaning back and darting a look of admiration at her sister. "Then I just twiddled my thumbs as Rill tore their entire fleet apart."

"What was the original fleet strength?" Calara asked with professional curiosity.

"22 drone carriers and 45 hive ships," Irillith replied nonchalantly, before taking a sip of wine.

The room went quiet as her audience looked at the Maliri hacker in awe.

"That's about the same size as the invasion force that attacked Carolus III..." the Latina murmured, her eyes widening. "How could you possibly handle so many ships? You've only been able to hack a couple of vessels at a time before."

"It was rather a unique situation because of the nature of the organic systems running each Kirrix ship. I spoke to each drone carrier and informed it that I was now the hive queen in charge." Her blasé attitude faded as she stared at the rich red liquid in her glass. "They were quite trusting actually... I don't think they were used to someone being polite and respectful with them."