Three Square Meals Ch. 124

"There's something going on," Henry muttered, his jaw set obstinately. "I pay for the best and my people are raising red flags."

Charles ran his fingers over his moustache. "Alright, leave it with me and I'll look into it."

***

Dana studied the broad cylinder that was partially embedded in the wall and rapped her knuckles on the glistening white metal. "Okay, knock a hole through here."

John pushed aside the ferns at the edge of the Lagoon and walked through the tropical foliage to join her. "We just need a regular doorway, right?"

The redhead nodded and stepped aside. "Maybe make it wide enough for two people to jump in at the same time."

He gestured towards the cylinder, focusing on a rectangular section of the Crystal Alyssium tube. The metal began to liquefy, then streamed away, leaving behind a perfectly-shaped doorway that gave them access to the grav-tube. There was a red glow coming from the anti-gravity field behind, which would drop them down to the Combat Bridge on Deck Four.

"Nice job," Dana said with a grin, nodding her approval. She glanced across the back wall of the lagoon. "Let's do the same to the other one."

John followed her out of the jungle and crossed the path that led towards the bridge. "How are you feeling this morning?"

She glanced at him over her shoulder. "I was just about to ask you the same thing."

"I'm okay. I guess I feel a bit... hollow," he quietly admitted. When John saw her look of concern, he quickly continued, "Talking to you last night helped, it really did. It's just that for as long as I can remember, I've had all these questions about my parents... and now I don't."

Dana stopped and waited for him, then slipped her arms around his waist. "Don't have any questions? Or don't have any parents?"

His bitter expression spoke volumes. "I gave them both a chance... you saw how that worked out."

"Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?" she asked sympathetically, running her slender fingers over his chest.

John drew her into a close hug and whispered in her ear, "Just keep being you... that's more than enough."

She pulled back and smiled. "Well, I'm not planning on being anyone else... unless you want me to find my schoolgirl outfit?"

He laughed and playfully smacked her wonderfully perky ass. "Maybe some other time."

"Are you sure?" she asked, giving him a flirtatious grin. "I'm sure we could rustle up some more outfits if you feel like administrating some discipline to the entire class..."

John paused at that intriguing thought, then reluctantly shook his head. "Very tempting, but let's save that for when everyone's feeling a bit more upbeat. Besides, we've still got a lot of work ahead of us and I want to get back to Genthalas as quickly as possible."

"Just say the word if you change your mind," Dana said with a smile, holding his hand as they walked to the second grav-tube. Giving it a quick glance, she pointed at the white wall. "That's a good spot."

He gestured towards the metallic cylinder and started to fashion a doorway in the curved surface. Flicking a glance at the redhead, he asked, "Were you trying to avoid telling me how you're feeling, or did you just get distracted?"

"A bit of both," she admitted, her smile fading. "I'm really missing Faye; the Invictus just feels so empty without her. She was everywhere around the ship... and now she's gone."

"I know exactly what you mean." John finished his modifications to the grav-tube, then wrapped her up in a supportive hug. "Is this the first time you've lost anyone you were close to?"

The redhead sighed and nodded, resting her head against his chest. "People I knew were always getting killed on Karron, but none of them I really cared about. Alyssa was my only real friend and I'd have been devastated if anything had ever happened to her. I missed her so much when she escaped from Karron on your ship, but at least I knew she had a chance at a better life." Dana tilted her head up and studied his face. "How about you?"

"I've lost a lot of friends in combat over the years. In the end that's one of the reasons why I retired from the military because I just couldn't take it anymore." He sighed and held her closer, feeling her soft warmth pressed against his body. "But Faye's the first person I've lost who I really loved..."

They stood quietly for a long moment, united in grief for their friend and drawing comfort from each other in that intimate embrace.

*Sorry about that,* Alyssa apologised, her voice tinged with concern. *Helene went out of range at about 50 metres. She's getting anxious, so we're heading back now.*

A moment later, John felt a wonderful sense of serenity sweep over him, gently muting the ache of loss he felt at Faye's passing. Likewise, the hurt from his parent's betrayal faded away, the bitterness dissolving in the face of Helene's overwhelming positivity.

Dana shivered in his arms, her long eyelashes fluttering. "Helene should bottle that shit... she'd make a fortune!"

"You too?" he asked with sympathy.

The redhead nodded, giving him a final squeeze before letting him go. "I worked closely with Faye during the refits... everything's reminding me of her at the moment." She glanced across the bridge spanning the placid waters of the Lagoon and changed the painful subject. "We're done in here, let's head to the Observatory."

John turned to look at the spheres of Crystal Alyssium he'd left by the grav-tubes. "Shall I bring the metal with me?"

"Sure," Dana replied, looking thoughtful. "We can use it to plan out the dimensions for the en suite."

"Maybe we could also put in a walk-in-wardrobe opposite?" John suggested as they started slowly meandering across the bridge, the orbs of white metal merging together as they floated behind him. "Then in an emergency, we could quickly get dressed and head straight to the Armoury."

"That's a great idea!" she enthused, bouncing along with an extra spring in her step. "We've definitely got plenty of room for it. We could keep all our fun outfits in there too!"

"Hey, wait for me!" Helene called out from behind them as she entered the Lagoon.

They stopped on the crest of the bridge, watching the aquatic girl hurry to catch up.

"Hi, honey," John said, greeting her with a kiss when she ran into his arms.

"I'm sorry I left you suffering!" the teal-hued beauty apologised, looking at him anxiously. "I tried to keep the connection going, but it got so hard the further away we went. I got so worried about leaving you alone, then suddenly I was back in your mind again."

*You should be proud of her, John,* Alyssa said, her voice glowing with admiration. *Helene really pushed herself; she doubled her previous maximum range when she re-established contact with your mind.*

"Don't apologise, you were amazing!" John exclaimed, twirling Helene around in an exuberant hug. "Well done!"

She blushed when he set her down again, looking up at him with her baby-blue eyes. "I felt terrible for letting you down when we lost contact, but Alyssa kept encouraging me until I managed to reach out to you again."

"Thanks for helping me too," Dana said, hugging Helene from behind. "I was so sad, I could hardly think straight."

Helene smiled at her in sympathy. "I know... I can feel how difficult this has been for you."

The redhead gave her a grateful kiss on the cheek, then the three of them separated and walked across the bridge towards the Observatory.

"Aside from a few uprooted trees, the Lagoon seems to have survived the crash without any damage," John noted, glancing down at the crystal-clear aquamarine water. "The Nymphs were very lucky all the water didn't drain out when the Invictus was cut in half."

Dana shook her head and smiled. "I designed it to be completely self-contained. We got rid of the old swimming pool when we built the brig, so I set up the new pump system and reserve tanks below the Lagoon."

"How come we didn't lose atmospheric pressure either?" John asked, glancing behind him and picturing the point beyond the doorway where the ship had been severed. "The walk-in-wardrobe upstairs was a mess, but I was expecting all our clothes to have been sucked out into space."

She skipped ahead to open the Observatory door. "As soon as hull breaches were detected, Faye activated the emergency safety overrides, shutting all the pressure doors. If we'd lost power first, before the ship was chopped in half, we would've been really screwed."

He remembered those chaotic moments after the ambush and sighed, wishing he could thank the purple sprite for saving them all. Helene squeezed his hand and he felt her gentle presence in his mind, wrapping him up in loving thoughts to ease his grief. John gave her an affectionate smile, then they followed Dana through the door into the Observatory.

The transparent crystalline ceiling was badly cracked, with fractures spiralling out from the huge dent in the roof. Above the battered dome, white armour plating had buckled and sheared off, crushed by the weight from the aft section of the Invictus when the stacked halves crashed into Arcadia.

Dana shook her head as she gazed up at the ceiling. "If Little One had made any miscalculations, the Nymphs would have been squashed when she caught the back-end of the ship during freefall. It was one hell of a ballsy move."

"We really owe her and the bots," John agreed, before raising a hand and gesturing at the clear Crystal Alyssium roof.

He melted the psychically responsive metal, then reshaped the floating orb several times to strengthen and harden it. When it started to get sluggish to respond, John shaped the liquid sphere into a flawless curved oval, which he held aloft as he studied the surrounding superstructure.

Dana pointed at the buckled white plating. "Just bend the rim for now to support the dome. When we're up on the topdeck, you and Alyssa can rebuild it all properly."

John did as she asked, carefully lowering the transparent disc onto the supporting struts, then melting them to create a watertight seal around the circumference. "That should be fine for tonight, even if there's a tropical storm."

The redhead nodded distractedly, gazing up at the impressive view of the sky that the Observatory provided.

"Everything okay?" John asked when he saw her frown.

She continued to stare skyward and quietly replied, "It's just freaking me out... knowing another one of those Progenitor assholes is up there wanting to kill us."

"Do you think I made a mistake not following Sakura's suggestion to attack him?"

Dana turned to look at John and shook her head. "No, I agree with you; it was a great idea, but way too risky at the moment. There's no point rushing to fight one of them now, not while the Invictus is all fucked up and we're outgunned. With a few more weeks of research, I might be able to develop some more tech and then we can really kick some ass."

John nodded, relieved she thought the same way as him. "I didn't want to take any chances, not while we're so vulnerable down here." He glanced at Helene to check if she was equally unsettled by the Progenitor lurking above them, but she seemed quite calm. "What do you think, honey?"

Helene gave him a self-conscious smile. "I don't know anything about fighting, so I'm not really sure what we should do. You're both so sad about Faye though... maybe you should give yourselves a chance to grieve for her properly, before you try fighting someone as scary as Larn'kelnar?"

He gently cupped her face and stroked her cheek with his thumb. "That is good advice, thank you."

She turned to kiss his hand, looking pleased that he'd found her kind words helpful. "You're welcome."

John pulled her closer, then glanced up at the crystalline ceiling. "The only problem is knowing he's up there waiting for us. I hope that's not too frightening?"

"No, I'm okay. It's just like being back home," Helene said quietly.

Dana frowned and hugged the aquatic girl from behind. "Shit... that must've been a nightmare. I thought I had it bad with the Diablos, but it's not like any of them were just going to try to kill me for a laugh."

John looked down into Helene's expressive eyes. "I haven't forgotten my promise to free the Abandoned. I'm not going to stand by and let them suffer any more."

"I know," she murmured, looking up at him with nothing but trust and love. "You're Baen'thelas... the righter of wrongs."

***

Edraele Valaden pressed the button on her vambrace to lock her golden breastplate, the seals closing with a quiet hum. She rose to her feet, then glanced down at the form-fitting armour, unused to the strange, slightly claustrophobic sensation of pressure all over her body. It had been a long time since she'd worn a full suit, having little reason to have this level of interaction with anyone outside the Maliri Regency for over a century. Satisfied that her ornate body armour was fitted correctly, she reached for her bejewelled golden helmet, only to pause when she heard the chime from her office door.

"Come in," she called out, turning to greet her guest.

"Do you have a moment to talk, Edraele?" Valani Naestina asked as she hurried inside, a pensive frown on her beautiful face. Her expression shifted to surprise when she saw the Maliri Queen in her ornate armour. "Oh, are you contacting the Brimorians?"

"I will be shortly, but you're always my highest priority, Valani," Edraele said with a kind smile. "Now, please tell me what's bothering you."

The concern was back in Valani's teal eyes, her troubled gaze like a storm in a tropical sea. "We're worried about Kali... she's been spending more time alone, despite our best attempts to lift her spirits."

"Calm yourself, my dear," Edraele said, her tone soothing. She lowered her hand to gently stroke the young Maliri's toned stomach. "Kali is simply upset at herself for delaying her pregnancy with Baen'thelas. She sees that the rest of you are blissfully happy... and yearns for his return so that she can share in that happiness."

The House Naestina Matriarch sighed with contentment at that loving caress. "The last few weeks have been wonderful... but I let myself get distracted by Nyrelle when I should have been looking out for Kali. Tsarra and Leena both feel the same way; we're worried that we've all been so besotted with each other that we might have made Kali feel excluded, but I promise that was never our intent."

Edraele gave her a look of understanding. "It's not your fault, please don't take this to heart. John's delighted that you've grown closer to Nyrelle; he felt guilty that he couldn't be here for you, so he was relieved to hear that you've been... supporting... each other."

"Nyrelle's so passionate and full of life... I never imagined I'd meet anyone like her," Valani said with a shy smile, a dark indigo blooming in her cheeks. "However, all of us feel like we've neglected Kali and want to make it up to her."

"You're all such sweet girls. I'm very proud of the way you've risen above House prejudices to become such close friends," Edraele murmured, her gaze softening as she pulled the young woman into a tender embrace. "The five of you embody the spirit of unification that will be John's legacy to the Maliri people. I couldn't have chosen finer women to become the mothers of his children."

Valani warmly returned the Maliri Queen's hug. "You've been so kind to all of us, Edraele. We have so much to thank you for." They held each other for a long moment, then she pulled back to study the older woman's expression. "How is John faring after everything that happened on Arcadia?"

Edraele paused as she decided how best to answer. "In his formative years, he desperately longed to be reunited with his parents... a wish that continued into adulthood. Now he's finally met his mother and father, and was bitterly disappointed to discover that neither of them thought twice about abandoning him on Terra. The loving reunion that he'd always envisaged has been cruelly rebuffed and he's reeling from having his dreams shattered."

"That's awful, Edraele... I hate to think of him in so much pain," Valani whispered in a hushed voice. "I wish he were here so that I could comfort him."

"As do I, with all my heart," Edraele murmured, her voice full of sorrow. "When he returns to us, we'll have to do whatever we can to bolster his spirits. Now that he's started a loving family with each of you, he'll be starkly reminded of the absence of parents in his own childhood."

"I must confess that the idea of him being so actively involved in raising our child was surprising at first, but now I love the thought of us being parents together," Valani admitted, her hand drifting down to idly stroke her stomach. "Do you think John was so insistent on that because of his own upbringing?"

"He's always been very concerned about making sure he will be there for his children," Edraele confirmed with a nod, before letting out a forlorn sigh. "I dearly hope you and the rest of the Young Matriarchs can reassure him that he will make a fine father... his confidence has been badly shaken after the way his parents rejected him."

A steely look of determination appeared in Valani's eyes. "You can leave that with me, Edraele. I'll discuss it with the others and we'll make sure he knows just how much we treasure him being in our lives."

Cupping her cheek, Edraele gave the earnest young woman a loving smile. "I'm so glad that we became friends, Valani... especially considering the terrible circumstances in which we met."

"Another kindness I'll be eternally grateful for," the azure beauty murmured, leaning close for a tender kiss. Her lips were soft and warm where they lightly brushed against Edraele's. "It was only a matter of time before one of my sisters would have had me murdered, but you saved me from that fate. I'll always be there for you in any way I can."

Edraele held her close. "I feel the same way, darling girl. As for Kali, I was already planning to speak with her after calling the Brimorians, but please continue with your own efforts to make her feel loved and appreciated."

"Of course," Valani agreed, as the two Maliri noblewomen parted. "We all adore Kali and it's horrible seeing her upset like this. I'll speak to the rest of the Young Matriarchs and let them know everything we discussed."

United in purpose, they shared a smile, then Edraele picked up her helmet and followed the young woman from her study.

***

Deep Lord Athgiloi stared at the holographic map of the Brimorian Enclave and bared his teeth in a feral grin as the Callopean Shoals shifted from green to blue. That the Terran Federation had been able to annex such a valuable piece of Brimorian territory for so long was shameful, but now the Enclave's honour had been restored... and the Terrans dealt a crippling blow for their effrontery.

A slender hand brushed over his broad shoulders, making a delicious slithering noise as scaly fingers caressed his powerful muscles. "Congratulations on your glorious victory, Master," Celphna purred, her sultry voice sending delicious shivers down his spine. "This one never doubted you would be triumphant."

He basked in her adulation, knowing that he deserved nothing less. "Everything is going just as I planned, my beautiful temptress. Soon the Enclave will be the undisputed power in the galaxy!"

Celphna gave him a gorgeous smile, but Athgiloi was shocked to notice what looked like a brief flicker of doubt in her shimmering black eyes.

"Truly you are courageous, wise, and powerful, Master!" his concubine gushed, with all her usual fervour. She wrinkled her blunt snout, giving him a coy glance. "Would you like to celebrate your victory?"

Athgiloi studied her carefully, his brow furrowing with concern. Celphna still seemed besotted with him, just as she had been ever since Emperor Baledranax gave him the Nymph, but this wasn't the first time her behaviour had caused him to question her devotion. Memories of Celphna on her knees, looking up at Larn'kelnar in rapt fascination sprang unbidden into the Deep Lord's mind.