Three Square Meals Ch. 121

Oblivious to his son's discomfort, Rahn'hagon's smile turned wistful. "It was... strange... to have company again after countless years of living alone. I began to realise how much I'd missed female companionship and Jessica managed to effortlessly insinuate herself into my heart. I grew increasingly fond of her..." He paused and looked away into the distance. "There's no equivalent for that word in the ancient dialect of our people. I don't know why, but the thought that they didn't need a term for gentle affection fills me with incredible sadness..."

John waited for a long moment, then cleared his throat to get Rahn'hagon's attention. "But even though you were developing feelings for Jessica, you got her pregnant and sent her away to Terra with the Cora. Why would you do that?"

Rahn'hagon stared at him intently. "I'd always intended to strike back at the monsters who had used me as a puppet, but meeting your mother gave me the impetus to take the next step. After weeks of careful deliberation over whether to implement my plans, I finally decided to sire an heir and initiate my retribution." He looked at John proudly. "You were the culmination of thousands of years of meticulous research and preparation. I can still hardly believe that it worked..."

*What's he talking about?* John demanded of his guide. *I wasn't created to just fight Larn'kelnar... what are you keeping from me?*

His calls for an explanation were met with a maddening silence, but John could feel the waves of sullen resentment pouring off his guide.

Despite his frustration at his malevolent alter ego's refusal to shed light on the situation, John was reluctant to reveal his confusion to his father. He loved seeing the pride in Rahn'hagon's eyes and was loathe to do anything to shatter the man's glowing opinion of him.

John decided to try a different tack. "You mentioned earlier that a drawn-out battle between Progenitors benefits 'them'... Who are you referring to exactly?"

Rahn'hagon's expression turned bleak. "There is a place of great wonders... and terrible horrors... where a mere thought can control reality. It is known as the Astral Plane and a host of ancient monsters lurk there... feasting on the souls of those that fall in combat. They control Progenitors and revel in the slaughter we commit at their behest; they feed off it... and have grown immensely powerful as billions have been annihilated."

Seeing the stunned look on John's face, Rahn'hagon leaned across and patted him on the hand. "I realise this must all be a dreadful shock to you, my son... but I had to keep it a secret. That's why your guide actively discouraged you from venturing into that place... I had to avoid exposing you to unnecessary danger. When you absorbed him and all his knowledge, I knew you'd be too focused on your objectives to waste time on unnecessary diversions..."

*So that's why you've been trying to stop me from going there!* John blurted out to his guide. *Why didn't you just tell me, for fucks sake!*

*Because I've been locked away for the last three decades!* his guide snarled furiously, unable to stay silent any longer. *You listened to that buffoon of an old man and managed to seal me inside your mind, then I couldn't communicate with you! You were never supposed to enter the Astral Plane... EVER! But you and that obnoxious bitch insist on taking jaunts there whenever you feel like it! You're like a couple of halfwit children playing with a loaded gun!*

*My grandfather was just trying to keep me out of trouble! I kept getting into fights until he suggested I take up martial arts to find an outlet for all that aggression. You can't blame him for the mess you created!*

"Son... are you alright?" Rahn'hagon asked with concern, seeing his furious expression.

John took a deep breath to control his temper and managed a curt nod. "The guide... it didn't work properly. I never fully absorbed him... he's still active in my mind."

Rahn'hagon's eyes widened in astonishment. "You still managed to achieve our goals... with your mind fragmented?!" He looked at him in awe and clasped John's forearm. "My son... you are magnificent!"

"It's been a trial at times..." John said through gritted teeth.

Rahn'hagon gave him a sympathetic smile. "At least you had access to all the ancient knowledge I imparted in you." His eyes darted to the glowing runesword propped against the sofa. "An artefact from a bygone era... how fitting that it was the instrument of their downfall..."

John joined him in staring at the mysterious blade. "Larn'kelnar had never seen anything like it. He was desperate to find out how I created it... at least until it burned him."

His father chuckled and shook his head in amusement. "I wish I could have seen the look on his face."

"So where did the runesword come from? And why didn't Larn'kelnar know anything about it?"

Rahn'hagon gave him a sly smile. "I wasn't idle during my time of isolation. I discovered a great many secrets... secrets that they do not wish anyone to know..."

"But you were marooned on Arcadia," John protested, looking at him in confusion. "Where did you find this out, if you couldn't leave the planet?"

"In the heart of our enemy's domain... hidden deep in the Astral Plane," Rahn'hagon replied quietly. He raised an eyebrow and his smile broadened. "Would you like to see for yourself?"

John blinked in surprise. "Didn't you just tell me it was incredibly dangerous to travel there?"

"For you to travel there alone and unprepared would be extremely hazardous... but with me to protect you? The danger will be minimal," his father replied, his tone reassuring.

"Alright, you've piqued my curiosity," John said with a grin.

"Just close your eyes and I'll explain how to undertake something called... a Spirit Walk..." Rahn'hagon said dramatically.

***

Alyssa's smile faded as she listened to John's interactions with his father and heard them planning a trip to the Astral Plane. Trying to distract herself from worrying, she turned her attention to Jessica, who seemed oblivious to the conversation between father and son. The brunette was leaning against a table in the interrogation chamber and studying the huge sleeping tiger in fascination.

"And Jade's really a Nymph?" Jessica whispered, giving Alyssa an incredulous look. "I thought the Lenarrans were extinct!"

"There's only a handful of them left," the blonde explained, looking at Jade with sadness. "After we realised how long-lived they were, John offered to help Jade track down any surviving Nymphs. We've found four more of her sisters so far... they were all in the front of the Invictus when we were attacked."

"Oh no!" Jessica gasped in horror.

"It's okay," Alyssa said with a reassuring smile, patting the brunette's hand. "They all survived."

Jessica gaped at her in disbelief. "But your ship got cut in half! I saw it falling towards the planet!"

Alyssa gave her a helpless shrug. "I'm not sure how they escaped, but Jade can sense all four of them and knows they're unharmed."

"Did they... turn into dragons?" Jessica asked, glancing back at the tiger with wide eyes.

The blonde laughed and shook her head. "No... or at least I don't think they did. Nymphs are all natural shapeshifters, but they usually only change to look like their master's ideal mate. John broke the various limits on Jade's behaviour to free her and massively enhanced her shapeshifting capabilities. She's truly one of a kind... until he upgrades her sisters as well."

Jessica looked at her in amazement. "How on Terra did he do that?"

Alyssa gave her fellow matriarch a knowing smile and gently caressed her stomach. "You've been with a Progenitor for the last forty years... If Rahn is anything like John, I expect he likes giving you a full tummy?"

The brunette blushed as she realised what Alyssa was implying, then her expression shifted from embarrassment to confusion. "I still don't understand what you mean exactly?"

"Rachel did some detailed analysis of Progenitor cum. Any girl who's with a Progenitor automatically undergoes physical changes, so that we match thralls in height and build, but that's not all-"

"Wait a moment... what physical changes?" Jessica interrupted, looking bewildered.

Alyssa let out a sigh of resignation and stood before her. "What height would you say I am?"

"You're quite tall... maybe five-foot-eight without the heeled boots?"

"Good guess... five-nine to be exact," Alyssa said with a grin. "How tall are you?"

"I'm only five-four," Jessica replied, frowning ruefully. "I always wished I was taller..."

"Your wish... is granted!" Alyssa exclaimed with a dramatic flourish, before pulling Jessica upright from where she was leaning against the table.

The brunette was still wearing thrall armour with accompanying black-heeled boots. That meant she was exactly the same height as Alyssa in her Paragon suit... and the two women were now seeing eye-to-eye.

Jessica's lovely green eyes were like saucers. "How? That's impossible?!"

"As long as a Progenitor is feeding you regularly, it only takes a week or two to complete the change... and you end up with a super-hot athletic body and a fantastic rack," Alyssa replied, gesturing to her statuesque figure. "Those guys like their women to look a very specific way... just be thankful that John and Rahn aren't chubby chasers!"

Jessica was too preoccupied to laugh at the joke. She stared down at her body in awe, as if seeing it for the first time. Cupping her impressive breastplate with her hands, she exclaimed, "There's no way I can fill this... I'm only a B-cup!"

"Not anymore," Alyssa said, brushing her fingers through the brunette's silky hair. "I'm sorry if this came as a shock. For some reason, we're unaware of the changes until they're pointed out to us. We've all changed for John... except the twins of course; they're Maliri, so they looked like this already."

Jessica blinked in surprise and her eyes flicked to the sleeping girls, then back to Alyssa. "John changed all of you?!"

"He did," Alyssa agreed. "And not just physically, but mentally too. A Progenitor's cum acts as a psychic catalyst, connecting us to him and letting him make much more complex changes. That's how John was able to give us those psychic powers we used on Larn'kelnar."

"John did that?!" Jessica balked, gaping at the blonde.

"He loves all of us very much," Alyssa replied with a warm smile. "As well as giving us incredible psychic powers, he gave each of us a ring with different coloured stones to match our eyes." She removed her gauntlet and showed Jessica the sparkling sapphire ring adorning her finger.

Jessica stared at the bejewelled ring in awe. "It's so beautiful..." She suddenly realised which finger it was on and looked up sharply. "Wait... is that an engagement ring?!"

"He proposed a couple of months ago," the blonde replied with a nervous smile.

"Oh, congratulations!" Jessica gushed, throwing her arms around Alyssa and giving her an affectionate hug.

Wincing at the close contact with the black armour, Alyssa returned the hug as best she could and smiled at the brunette when they parted. "Thank you. I adore your son... I promise I'll love him for all eternity."

Jessica's eyes suddenly filled with tears and she wavered before leaning heavily against the table. "I've missed so much of his life... how could I have just abandoned my son like that? And my mom and dad... oh god..."

She began to sob wretchedly, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"I'm so sorry about your parents," Alyssa said, her tone kind and sympathetic. "But it's not too late to build a relationship with your son. Family is incredibly important to John; I know he'd love spending some time getting to know you. He's not really mad at you, he just feels rejected."

Sniffing and rubbing at her eyes, Jessica gazed hopefully at the blonde. "Really? Do you think he might give me another chance... even after the way I treated him?"

Alyssa nodded and gave her a reassuring smile. "John's incredibly loyal to his friends and family... I know him better than anybody and I'm sure he'd be willing to start over. Your parents loved and cared for John, but he always wondered what happened to his mother. Part of the reason he got angry before, was that he feels guilty for not tracking you down earlier while your parents were still alive."

"I have to make it up to him," Jessica declared, a new resolve in her eyes. She reached out to gently pat Alyssa on the arm and gave her a grateful smile. "Thank you for being so kind and understanding. I can see why John fell in love with you."

"He's in love with all the girls too," Alyssa said, with an affectionate glance at the women sleeping next to Jade. "When they've recovered from the battle, I'll introduce you to each of them. I know they're all eager to meet you properly."

Jessica bit her lip and darted an anxious glance at the girls. "Are you sure? They probably all think I'm a heartless bitch after what I did..."

"No, not at all," the blonde said firmly, turning and looking into Jessica's eyes. "They all understand how... overpowering... it can be, falling in love with a Progenitor. Trust me, they'll all be thrilled to finally get a chance to meet John's legendary mother... we've all seen the extensive dossier he put together about you, when he was trying to track you down."

"I don't feel like much of a legend..." Jessica muttered, hugging herself.

"Without you, there would be no John... without him, none of us would be alive today," Alyssa said, gently caressing Jessica's cheek. She paused and studied her in fascination. "I can see his features in your face. You both have that lovely curve to your mouth when you smile... and you have the same kind eyes..."

"You really do adore him, don't you?" Jessica whispered, seeing the reverent look in the blonde's eyes.

"I do... and the girls all feel the same way. I promise you'll get nothing but support and affection from us... unless you deliberately try to hurt John... so please don't do that."

"I won't, I swear!" Jessica said earnestly. She sighed, then shook her head with regret. "But I've no idea what to say to him after all this time. I want to apologise... but how do you say sorry for just abandoning your son? I'm worried I might hurt him by accident..."

"Are you asking me to use what I know about John, to help coach you into being the perfect mom?" Alyssa asked in mock indignation.

Jessica was about to protest her innocence until she realised what the blonde was offering to do. She grinned at Alyssa, her eyes sparkling in delight. "Really? You'd actually do that for me?"

Alyssa smiled back at her. "I just want John to be happy... and nothing would make him happier than you becoming a part of his life."

"You're amazing!" Jessica gushed, flinging her arms around Alyssa again. "Thank you so much!"

"You're welcome," the blonde replied, smiling despite the uncomfortable proximity to the black armour. "I think the first thing we need to do is..." Alyssa suddenly froze and gasped, "Oh no!"

Jessica pulled back and saw Alyssa's face twisted with anguish. "What's the matter?!"

"It's Rachel..." Alyssa replied, shaking her head and stepping away from the brunette. "Sorry, we'll have to continue this later. Do you know where Medical is?"

"Sure, follow me," Jessica replied, striding for the door.

***

John peeled away his ethereal form and stepped clear from his body onto the Astral Plane. His guide made no effort to stop him this time, and for once he was very grateful to the interloper in his mind. The transition to this alternative reality had been smooth and effortless, letting him stand before his father, who was waiting patiently for him to arrive.

*That was excellent, well done!* Rahn'hagon praised him warmly. He turned and gestured to the featureless expanse that stretched away to eternity. *Behold... the Astral Plane. Thought can control the essence of this place, shaping it to obey your will... and a truly powerful mind can create wonders the likes of which you cannot even begin to imagine!*

Trying to look suitably awed, John gazed off into the distance, before glancing furtively at his father. *You said this place could be dangerous, but that you could protect us here. Are there some form of runes that we can use?*

*I should have known you'd take to this naturally, my son,* Rahn'hagon said with a proud smile.

*You fraud...* the guide sneered at John.

*Fuck off...* John snarled back.

Fortunately, Rahn'hagon was oblivious to their heated internal exchange. *Yes, you're right... there are runes we can inscribe to mask our presence... and amplify our power.*

He made a gesture in the air before him and suddenly Rahn'hagon was clad from head to foot in armour. John recognised the archaic design instantly... it was the same ancient plate he'd worn in the battle against the overlord in the mists. He copied his father, creating his own suit of rune embossed white body armour, complete with his artefact blade sheathed across his back.

Rahn'hagon blinked in surprise, then smiled as he patted John on the shoulder. *Ah, my boy... I never would have imagined you'd take to this so readily. You don't know how good it feels to share this with you.*

*I think I have a good idea... father,* John replied with a self-conscious smile.

After grinning and clapping him on the shoulder, Rahn'hagon began creating intricate circles before them. *Now, this is an Obfuscation Ward, it will keep us concealed from the malignant beasts that haunt this place...*

John stared at the pattern in fascination, recognising the complex runes. Athena had attempted to reproduce them, but her attempt had been crude and simplistic in comparison. He could see the way the runic script flowed together, strengthening and reinforcing the phrases to make them much more powerful.

Cloak of shadows to mask my presence from unfriendly eyes.

When Rahn'hagon's work was done, the glowing ward appeared emblazoned on his chestplate. *Now, let me conceal you as well and we can begin our journey...*

John smiled and held up a hand. *I've got this... let me try.*

Rahn'hagon inclined his head, unable to stop himself smiling with paternal pride.

John made a series of swift gestures, inscribing an energy amplification rune on his armour, the glyph appearing in a flare of blue.

Wellspring of power to sustain my fury.

He then began crafting the same runic phrasing his father had showed him, feeling the rune on his chest easing the energy load required, as he followed the same intricate steps. Runecrafting like this felt as natural as breathing, the eldritch power flowing smoothly into the elegant runic phrase as if eager to find form and substance. A perfect copy of the Obfuscation Ward appeared on John's armour, blazing with a brilliant sapphire light.

His father laughed aloud, shaking his head in astonishment. *By the stars, you're amazing! I could never have imagined you would be so gifted!*

John held himself up proudly, basking in his father's admiration. Experiencing that heady rush of emotions banished the feelings of rejection he'd been harbouring for the last forty years... and he had to swallow around the sudden lump in his throat.

Rahn'hagon showed him how to create a power amplification rune, which John dutifully copied on his own armour. *These are just a precaution,* he warned his son. *I have no intention of fighting today, but it is far better to be prepared for any eventuality.*

*I couldn't agree more,* John said with a nod.

Pausing for a moment, Rahn'hagon looked him in the eye. *We are about to venture deep into the deadliest reaches of the Astral Plane, where beasts of unspeakable horror reside... There is no shame in having second thoughts about undertaking such a perilous journey; in fact, I would admire you for choosing prudence over such a reckless course of action.* The seconds ticked by as his father gave him time to consider the dangers involved. *If you've had a change of heart, let me know now.*