Three Square Meals Ch. 126

"Jade actually started the first watch last night after you went to sleep. She showed the Nymphs what to do and they all took it in turns until this morning; the rest of us can keep an eye on the Bridge during the day."

"Sounds good," he agreed, stoking their backs. "Does anyone need any help from me this morning?"

Her cerulean eyes flicked to Helene and she gave him a coy smile. "Yep."

John chuckled and gave the two girls an affectionate squeeze. "Alright... while I'm doing whatever I can to help Helene, would you mind making breakfast? I'm hungry already and I suspect I'm about to work up even more of an appetite..."

Alyssa nodded enthusiastically. "Sure! What do you want?"

"Surprise me," he said, pulling her in for a kiss.

She let out a happy sigh, then blew them a kiss goodbye as she left the Observatory.

Turning his attention to the aquatic girl in his arms, he rolled Helene over so she was on her back looking up at him. "So... I hear you're in dire need of assistance this morning?"

Helene blushed and shook her head. "Alyssa was just teasing you... although, I did want to tell you that I had a wonderful time last night."

He interlaced his fingers with hers, then brought her teal hand up to his lips, kissing her finger beside the engagement ring. "I'm really glad you enjoyed yourself, my lovely fiancée.... but do I have to worry about you being addicted now, like Irillith?"

She struck a thoughtful pose as if seriously considering his question. "I think I'll need to make love to you normally, so I can compare..."

"It's important you know which is your favourite," he agreed, covering her body with his as she smiled and spread her legs for him.

Helene was already wet and eager, so he was able to push deep inside, her pussy fitting him like a hot glove. She moaned softly as he nudged into her cervix, the alluring sound lowering into a groan as her body yielded and let him penetrate her womb.

Placing a hand on her belly, she caressed the swelling created by the throbbing head of his cock. "This just feels so right..." she whispered, gazing adoringly into his eyes.

He nodded, cradling her head in his hands. "It really does..."

She wrapped her arms and legs around him, pulling him down into a fierce hug. "You've given me so much love, more than I ever dreamed possible. I promise I'll repay that someday."

"You already have, Helene," he said quietly, kissing away her tears. "I was in a dark place after Arcadia... and I needed your help. Any debt you might think you owe me, you've repaid in full."

Touched by his sincerity, her lips found his and they kissed passionately, thankful that they'd found each other. Helene's gentle mental caress coaxed him into opening his mind, then they shared minds and bodies, revelling in the profound intimacy of that connection.

***

The beep from the cardio-monitors was strong and steady, tracking the heartbeat of the comatose young man lying in the hospital bed. Admiral Laurence Walker glanced across the room at his wife, who had her arm around Anna Newmont, the exhausted blonde having maintained a tireless vigil over her fiancé since he'd arrived at the Unity City Medical Institute. The admiral's attention then switched to Thomas, who looked peaceful in his repose, oblivious to the distraught women watching over him.

Laurence could still hardly believe that his son had escaped the massacre in the Callopean Shoals. The Brimorians had slaughtered the entire fleet, but by some miracle, Thomas had somehow survived that terrible atrocity. Despite calling in as many favours as possible, the admiral hadn't yet been able to ascertain exactly what had happened in the battle, but he'd been assured that retrieval of black boxes from the Terran wrecks had begun in earnest.

Admiral Walker smiled to himself with satisfaction. Video footage of his son fighting a desperate last stand would make him a household name, placing him squarely on the fast track to promotions and glory. He could see it now... Commander Thomas Walker, the sole survivor of the Callopean Shoals massacre; a Novaburst and promotion to Commodore were all but guaranteed. He'd just have to coax his stubborn son into accepting a prestigious post in the Citadel... then a decade of service close to the centre of Federation power and Thomas' advancement into the Admiralty was a certainty.

"Admiral Walker?" a clipped voice asked quietly, interrupting his thoughts. "Might I have a word?"

Laurence turned to look at the man in the high-necked medical coat standing by the doorway and nodded. Leaving his wife with Anna, he followed the doctor into a deserted waiting area. "Have you found a cure for my son's condition?" he asked, making no attempt to hide his impatience.

Senior Consultant Fitzroy-Ferguson hesitated, irritation crossing his sombre features. "Yes and No."

"I don't have time for riddles, Doctor," the frustrated admiral snapped. "They said my son had a head injury and you're supposed to be the best neurosurgeon in the Federation! What the hell's wrong with him?!"

Fitzroy-Ferguson held his hands up in a placating gesture. "Commander Walker's incapacitation is not due to the lacerations on his scalp. He's been exposed to a form of exceptionally rare protein-based neurotoxin that has no match in our medical databases. This substance appears to be natural rather than synthetic in origin, but we're unable to create an antitoxin because the samples are degrading at a cellular level."

Laurence huffed in irritation. "In English please, doctor! I'm paying you enough not to need a translator on standby."

Biting back a sharp retort at the admiral's curt tone, the doctor replied, "Whatever toxin induced this coma is breaking down. At the current rate of decay, it should be completely eliminated from your son's bloodstream in a matter of days... at which point, we believe he will regain consciousness."

Lowering his voice, Laurence asked in a gruff whisper, "Will there be any... problems? He's not going to end up a vegetable, is he?"

"We've seen no evidence of neurological impairment. The toxin proved remarkably effective at incapacitating your son without causing any adverse side-effects."

After sighing with relief, Laurence then frowned in confusion. "How on Terra did my son get exposed to something like that? His ship was shot to hell... but Brimorian particle bolts don't put people into comas!"

The consultant paused, uncertainty in his eyes as he glanced at the door behind them. "No... they don't."

***

Alyssa strolled across the Observatory and knelt beside the resting lovers, placing her tray on the bed. "Breakfast is served!"

John helped Helene sit up, then reached for the covered plate. "Oh wow... you're a lifesaver!" he exclaimed, a broad grin on his face as he saw the steaming pile of hash browns, sausages, and baked beans.

"Thanks for a lovely morning," Helene said with an affectionate smile, leaning over to kiss his cheek before rising to her feet. "I had a wonderful time with you."

"Me too, honey. Hey, wait a second... you're not staying?" John asked, looking up at her with a disapproving frown. Glancing at the well-stocked plate, he added, "There's loads here... plenty for both of us."

She lovingly caressed her swollen belly. "I'm going to feed the Nymphs. I'll share breakfast with them, if that's okay?"

John kissed her rounded stomach. "Of course. Thanks for a great morning."

Helene gave him a glorious smile as she waved goodbye, before padding out into the Lagoon with an extra swish to her hips.

*You made her very happy, John,* Alyssa murmured, her gaze following the aquatic girl as she seemed to float out of the Observatory.

*Helene's a very sweet girl... it would've been impossible not to fall in love with her,* he replied fondly, watching the door slide shut behind Helene. Turning to face Alyssa, he continued, "Thanks for going to all that effort to make last night special for her."

She sighed wistfully. "Ah, a girl always remembers getting buggered for the first time..."

He laughed and rolled his eyes at the blonde. "Well, she seemed to really enjoy herself... although I think a large part of that was down to her feeling truly accepted as one of us."

Alyssa lounged on the bed and nodded. "Helene's more obsessed with you filling her womb... nearly as much as Irillith is with you stuffing her tight blue ass. At least she gave anal a try and earned her ring."

John was reaching for a knife and fork, but he paused mid-stretch with a frown on his face. "I can't remember exactly how that idea started, but Helene really didn't need to 'earn' her engagement ring that way. I was going to propose last night whatever happened."

She gave him a knowing look. "John... it's me you're talking to."

"I'm serious!" he protested.

Sliding her slender fingers along his naked thigh, Alyssa purred, "You're telling me it wasn't thrilling to break in Helene's virgin ass? To see the love and trust in her eyes as she submitted herself to you completely... giving you full access to every pleasure her body had to offer?"

John's mouth went dry and he blushed as his body reacted to the memory of that look of adoration in the aquatic girl's baby-blue eyes.

Alyssa noticed of course and gave him a coy smile as she caressed his thickening shaft. "That's why it's important. Anyway, you better eat up before your breakfast gets cold."

He chuckled, then gestured to the extra set of cutlery. "There's loads here; get stuck in."

"Finally... I'm famished!" she replied, eagerly reaching for the knife and fork.

After cutting off a piece of hash brown and taking a big bite, John let out a contented sigh. "Compliments to the chef; this tastes fantastic."

She crinkled her nose at him affectionately, then skewered a sausage with her fork. Sitting together in companionable silence, John savoured his breakfast while watching Alyssa eat. She even managed to make eating look graceful, taking dainty bites before swallowing each morsel.

"This reminds me of us back on the Fool's Gold..." he said, reaching out to hold her hand.

"Good times," she agreed, caressing his fingers. "The meals you've been cooking on the Invictus are amazing, but I do miss you giving me a full tummy for breakfast, lunch, and dinner."

"Me too," John conceded with a wry smile. He studied her for a long moment, then continued quietly, "Alyssa... we went from just the two of us, to you sharing me with a couple of dozen other girls. Do you really not have any regrets about the way things turned out?"

"I thought you were over all that silly guilt nonsense?" she protested, raising an eyebrow.

"I am... but that's not why I'm asking," he replied, his brow furrowing. "I just find it hard to believe you wouldn't have wanted things to turn out differently."

Alyssa hesitated, then looked into his eyes, a deep sadness reflected in her own. "You're more perceptive than I give you credit for, John. Yes, you're right... there are some things I regret."

"I'm so sorry, honey," he said, squeezing her hand sympathetically. "Do you want to talk about it?"

She sighed and nodded, a wistful look appearing in her cerulean orbs. "I really wish I hadn't attacked Tony on Karron... if I hadn't scared Kelli and Perl, they might be here right now. My cousin, John... just imagine how fucking hot giving her a fully tummy would've been!"

John blinked in surprise, then groaned when he realised she was teasing him. "Alyssa..."

A huge grin broke out on her face. "Wait, I haven't finished! Felicity from Oceanus was gorgeous, I should have totally convinced you to recruit her! Then there was Mary Tavistock, that base commander at Port Megara... there was some sizzling chemistry between you two! Plus we can't forget Madison Wessex... if her sergeant hadn't been such a lovesick puppy, I would have snapped her up in a heartbeat! So many sexy girls I let get away... ah, what it is to live with a life of regrets."

"Eat your breakfast," he grumbled, trying not to laugh.

Alyssa smiled at him affectionately, then stretched out on the bed as she reached out to impale another sausage. "Honestly, I couldn't be happier with how things have worked out. All our girls are lovely... why wouldn't I want to pick up more along the way?"

"You'd really just keep recruiting indefinitely?" he asked, giving her a half-disbelieving look.

"Yeah, pretty much... at least until we got to the point where you started feeling overwhelmed," she replied with a shrug. "If it was up to me, we'd have a few dozen more girls on board and we'd all be knocked up."

"You know why I haven't. I want to be there for my kids and I'm already worried that I'm overcommitted."

"I know, handsome... and I understand," she said softly, an adoring smile on her beautiful face. "I'm just being honest with you. I love it when you get all protective over some lost little waif; then watching you turn her life around while she falls madly in love with you is hot as hell. Helene was a perfect example... she was so sad and lonely before we picked her up, but now she's a happy, confident woman with a wonderful future ahead of her. You were able to make all her dreams come true, John... and a gift that precious is something that should be shared."

He nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe I should trade in the Invictus for a magic lamp? if I'm going to go around granting wishes, that is the traditional mode of transportation."

She laughed then pouted at him. "Hey, I'm being serious!"

"It's annoying being teased, isn't it?" he asked, thoroughly enjoying the role reversal.

With a gleam in her eyes, Alyssa replied, "Yeah... and I remember what happens next!"

He grinned as she pushed him back onto the bed, but his confident expression was wiped away when she summoned a dozen telekinetic hands to help find his ticklish spots. Trying to fend her off, John was roaring with laughter when the door to the Lagoon slid open. Tashana strode inside, a purposeful look on her face, which shifted to hesitation when she saw Alyssa giggling as she mercilessly tickled her fiancé.

John noticed the Maliri's arrival and quickly shielded himself with a hex barrier, pushing back the glowing telekinetic hands. "Hi, honey!" he gasped, panting for breath. "Everything okay?"

Tashana nodded, watching them from the edge of the oval bed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. Let me know when you're free and I'll come back."

"It's okay, I'll make him beg for mercy later," Alyssa said with a wink, dismounting John and patting the bed beside them. "Come and join us."

Kicking off her shoes, Tashana padded across the bed and greeted John with a kiss. "It's lovely to see you looking so happy."

"It's been a good morning," he replied, guiding her to sit down on his lap. "Now, what's on your mind?"

She snuggled into his comforting embrace. "I've spent the last couple of hours going through my research notes, but I still haven't made any new discoveries. There's still more to go, but I know my work by heart and I'll be very surprised if I've missed anything important."

"Well, it won't be too long until we're back in Maliri Space and we can excavate the thrall facility. Hopefully we can find out more then."

"Actually... there's another source of Progenitor lore we could start investigating right now..." she ventured, tracing intricate shapes on his chest with her fingertips.

John looked at her quizzically, then the answer came to him in a flash. "The Kyth'faren citadel on the Astral Plane..."

Tashana nodded, her violet eyes alight with excitement. "Exactly! That place must be a treasure trove of Kyth'faren secrets!"

"The Deep Astral's very dangerous, honey... it's teeming with fallen Progenitors. When I went there with Rahn'hagon, it felt like we were sneaking around Xar'aziuth's backyard," he muttered, his face shadowed with doubt. "I remember the warding runes my father showed me... but I'm not sure it's wise to head back there alone."

Alyssa snorted and rolled her eyes. "As if I'd let you go alone! I'll be going with you, obviously."

"I'd like to come too," Tashana said, a determined set to her jaw. "I'm the closest you've got to an expert on Progenitor lore."

John didn't even bother attempting to dissuade Alyssa, knowing it was futile, but he paused at the Maliri girl's declaration. "But you're not able to Spirit Walk, honey."

"You could carry me with you," she quickly countered. "Alyssa took Sakura into the Astral and you did the same thing with Jade."

He shook his head. "That's not the same thing. On both those occasions we didn't stray very far into the Astral Plane."

Tashana frowned in confusion. "But we were hundreds of light years away when Alyssa saved you from your guide's trap. She travelled a huge distance to reach you!"

"No, he's right," Alyssa interjected, sharing a look with John, before focusing on the Maliri. "The Astral is weird... distance doesn't work the same way there."

Seeing the confusion on Tashana's face, John gave her a sympathetic smile. "It's hard to understand unless you've been there." He paused for a moment to try to think of a helpful analogy. "Okay, try to picture it like the Lagoon..."

"With the water as the Astral Plane?" she interjected, listening attentively.

"Yes, exactly. The surface of the water is the barrier between dimensions, which we can cross with a Spirit Walk. You can travel just below the surface and easily reach a telepathic mind that might be hundreds of light years away in the Material Plane... but you haven't actually gone very deep into the Astral."

Her face lit up with understanding. "That must be why distance is never a problem when you're speaking to my mother. No matter how far away we are from Maliri Space, in Astral terms, Edraele's always close by."

He nodded, pleased that she grasped the concept. "That's right, you're getting it."

"It's the same with the Ashanath," Alyssa interjected. "In Astral terms, they're not far away at all."

"And if you dive deeper into the water, you travel deeper into the Astral?" Tashana asked, looking intrigued.

"Visiting the Deep Astral is like diving to the bottom of an ocean," John explained, recalling his trip with Rahn'hagon. "The fortress my father took me to is about as deep as you can get."

"So how do sub-planes work?" the Maliri enquired, fascinated by the subject.

"Alyssa's the expert on those," John replied, glancing at the blonde. "Can you think of a good way of explaining them, beautiful?"

"Actually, they're pretty easy to understand," Alyssa said with a nonchalant shrug. "Just think of pocket planes as bubbles in the water. The one I created is right next to the surface, just like the one Mael'nerak built for the Ashanath, and the palace the Kirrix Hive Mind constructed. The sub-plane that Xar'aziuth controls is deep in the astral... which John was being dragged to when he was having his nightmares."

John hesitated for a moment, then said quietly, "I got the distinct impression that place was just one of the sub-planes under Xar'aziuth's control."

"If he's as powerful as Rahn seemed to think, then I'm sure you're right," Alyssa agreed. "Maybe each of them is run by a... boss... like that Progenitor training place was?"

"I sure as hell hope not," John muttered, shuddering at the thought of that dreadful encounter.

Tashana felt the shiver run through his body and gave John a reassuring hug. "As monstrous as that creature was, it still fell before your might, Baen'thelas."

He didn't want to remind the girls that he'd actually been killed in that battle, so just gave the Maliri an appreciative smile. "True... but you've seen how lethal those fallen Progenitors are. I can't risk carrying you with me into the deep Astral if I'm going to have to fight things like that. I'm sorry, honey... I don't think it's a-"