Three Square Meals Ch. 062

The brunette broke eye contact with him, and looked up at the scan image, which highlighted the dozens of cybernetics interwoven within the cyborg's flesh. She studied the holograph intently, her mind working through the complicated and invasive surgical procedures she needed to complete to remove each cybernetic implant. Eventually she met his gaze once more and nodded.

"I should be able to remove everything, but it's not going to be easy, and I'm going to need help," she replied, looking around at the group.

John stared at the battered cyborg in the cryo-stasis pod, and asked, "What's involved, exactly?"

Rachel glanced at Irillith and Dana, and added, "I'll need a few hours of prep time to perform additional analysis on those implants, and I could use your assistance."

"You know I'll help with whatever you need," Dana agreed with a shrug.

Irillith smiled, and said, "I'd be glad to assist."

"Taking out all the implants will cause significant trauma to her body," Rachel continued. "If I was relying on conventional medicine alone, I'd recommend spacing out the surgeries over several weeks, if not months, to allow her body time to heal and recover."

John had been listening carefully, and realising what she was implying he said, "I'm happy to provide the healing, but I want to get her permission before we start loading her up. She's had enough decisions forced on her for one lifetime." Turning to look at Alyssa, he continued, "If you go back into her mind, can you reach her subconscious? Find out if she even wants this?"

Alyssa looked apprehensive about returning to that tormented place, haunted as it was by the mournful shade of Sakura. She nodded though, and said, "She seemed to understand me before, I'll try and make her understand what we're planning to do."

"Thank you," he said, squeezing her shoulder gently. He spoke to Rachel next, asking, "How long will the surgery take?"

"I'd estimate approximately eleven hours of nano-surgery to remove all of those devices," Rachel replied confidently.

Alyssa thought about how John's cum had affected each of the girls around her for the first time, and she looked up at him as she said, "She'll be slow to absorb your cum to start with, her body won't be used to it. You'll probably need to top her up half-way through though, to make sure she's carrying enough so that you can still keep healing her."

"Whatever happens, let's try and avoid a third," John said pointedly. He turned to Jade next, and added, "I'm sure Rachel can improvise some kind of feeding system if you're unwilling to be involved. I know what she did to you, and this must be difficult."

"I'd be glad to help," the Nymph said earnestly. "I want to free her as much as all of you."

He smiled at her affectionately and beckoned her over for a hug with his right arm, as Alyssa was already tucked under his left. When they finally parted, he looked down at the blonde girl beside him, and said, "I guess it's down to you now, beautiful. Does Sakura actually want us to help like this?"

Alyssa shivered, but she had a look of firm resolve on her face, and she squared her shoulders, then stepped into the spirit-world once again. Ignoring her friends, who were all gathered around with looks of concern on their frozen faces, she approached the pod, then leaned in to place her fingers on the cyborg's head. Unfortunately the metal lattice was back, and it was just as unyielding as before. She realised it must represent the unnatural synthetic brain disrupting the girl's mind, so she gathered her will and pounded into the barrier once again.

Breaking through for a second time was easier now she knew what to expect, and Sakura's mind map unfurled for her, letting her peer into the girl's subconscious. This time there was no howling cries of anguish echoing around the memory monoliths, and the ghostly shade of Sakura was waiting for her patiently.

Alyssa studied the pale, gaunt figure for a moment, then said softly, "I'm sorry I ran away like that. Seeing everything that happened to you was horrifying, and I needed some time to recover."

The ghost remained silent, but it slowly nodded as it stared at her unblinking.

When she realised that no response was going to be forthcoming, Alyssa went on, "My friends think they can help you. We can free your mind, and take out all these implants, but only if that's what you want us to do?"

Sakura's shade gaped at her in amazement, its eyes widening in disbelief. "P.. l.. e.. a.. s.. e.." it whispered, the sound eerie and discordant, but the unmistakeable ring of desperation echoed with every syllable.

Alyssa nodded, and said, "Alright, we'll help you." She hesitated for a moment, then continued, "The way we'll be keeping you alive through the surgery is... unorthodox. John wants your permission before we proceed."

The ghostly spectre looked at her curiously, tilting its head slightly to one side in confusion.

"Alright, let me try to explain..." Alyssa said with a sigh, then began to clarify exactly who John was, and what they intended to do.

***

It only seemed like Alyssa had been gone for a minute or two, when she took a big intake of breath, alerting them that her mind was back in her body.

"What's the verdict?" John asked the blonde as she slowly opened her eyes.

Alyssa had a look of deep sadness on her face as she said, "She's so desperate to be free, I think she'd agree to anything. She begged me to help her."

"Alright, let's get started," John said decisively. He turned towards Rachel, and continued, "Can I leave you here to look into your prep work? I'd stay too, but I need to get up to the Bridge. We'll be on top of the Dragon March picket forces soon."

"Of course," Rachel agreed, darting glances at Dana and Irillith who both nodded.

Leaving them to begin their analysis of the cyborg's implants, John led Alyssa, Calara, and Jade out of the Medical Bay, and towards the grav-tube at the end of the corridor. They were quiet as they walked along in a group, all equally disturbed by the unsettling revelations about everything the female assassin had been through.

Faye looked up in surprise when they stepped out of the grav-tube and onto the Bridge. "That was good timing!" she exclaimed. "I've started picking up what looks like a big fleet of ships on the extreme edge of our sensors. I was just about to call you and let you know."

"Thanks, Faye," John said gratefully as he strode up the illuminated steps of the Command Podium with Alyssa at his side.

She fluttered up to sit on his Command Console, and said quietly, "I watched what happened on the Medical Bay cameras. I think you're doing a good thing helping her."

John smiled at her as he sat down, and said, "It's lucky you didn't light her up with the Gatling Lasers after all."

Faye looked thoughtful, and replied, "You're right, I hadn't thought about it like that. Maybe something positive can come out of everything that happened."

As everyone quickly took their seats, Calara looked down at her gloved hand with a worried expression on her face. She turned her Tactical chair so she could make eye contact with John, and she looked grim as she said, "I'm still crippled, I won't be much use to you in a fight."

He snorted, and said, "Nonsense, Commander. Even one-handed, you're a better gunner than anyone in the Terran Federation." Giving her a comforting smile, he added, "You'll be back to normal again very soon. In the meantime, I promise I'll try to not get into a shootout with the T-Fed picket forces."

She smiled at him, and said, "I'd appreciate that, thanks." When she turned her chair around again, she looked a little less tense.

Alyssa had been watching the Latina with concern, and John shared a quick look with her before he asked, "How long until we're in their sensor range?"

"Just over five minutes," the blonde girl replied. "Do you want to hail them pre-emptively?"

Shaking his head, John replied, "There's no need to let them know how strong our sensors are." Facing the Nymph in the Pilot's chair, he continued, "Jade, Keep on course towards Port Medea, and let's wait for them to contact us."

"Yep, no problem," the green-skinned girl agreed, her attention focused on the sensor contacts they were seeing at the edge of the long range sensor sweeps.

"I can see the Medusa," Calara informed him, not taking her eyes off the Sector Map. "It looks like the picket forces have been reinforced. They've added four modern cruisers and a battlecruiser to the supporting ships."

John stared at the big holographic map in the centre of the Bridge, and just as Calara had described, the size of the picket group had been increased. Centred in the fleet was the Heavy Carrier, and it was surrounded by three heavy cruisers, several light carriers and dozens of destroyers. The addition of the modern cruisers and the battlecruiser made this a substantial battlegroup indeed. The Invictus swept forward, travelling at an incredible speed as it soared across the heavens, and inevitably they drew close enough to be picked up by the Terran Federation forces.

"We're being hailed," Alyssa noted, seeing the flashing red warning light on her console.

When she pressed the button to accept the call, the view-screen crackled to life on the Bridge, and the face of a stern man in a Terran Federation Navy uniform filled the image.

"Commander Blake..." Captain Maddox said, his eyes narrowing with distaste. "The Dragon March is strictly off-limits. You will reverse course immediately, or expect to be interdicted and fired upon."

John didn't appreciate the man's tone, and he replied gruffly, "I don't know what kind of shoddy outfit you're running here, Captain, but I expect junior officers to salute a member of the Admiralty."

"Point one of them out to me, and I'll be happy to do just that," Maddox sneered. He eyed John with contempt, and demanded, "What're you doing here, Commander?"

Leaning forward in his Command Chair, John's eyes narrowed as he said, "It's Rear Admiral Blake to you, Captain."

Captain Maddox's face wrinkled in confused annoyance, and in the background on the Medusa's Bridge, John could hear furtive whispering. One of the Bridge crew suddenly appeared on screen, then leaned in to urgently whisper something into Maddox's ear. It was actually quite funny to see how white the obstinate Captain turned, as all the blood drained from his face.

"B-b-but how?!" he stammered, his quailing voice betraying his absolute shock. "You were only Commander rank a few months ago!"

"I've been busy," John replied a little smugly. He narrowed his eyes, and said, "Now stand down, Captain Maddox, I have urgent business in the Dragon March."

Maddox glanced to one side, his expression fearful, before he replied, "I'm supposed to restrict all access into the sector, Sir. I can't let you or anyone else in, under orders of Admiral Lynton!"

Edraele had been listening intently to the conversation, and she sounded confident as she contacted John telepathically, *Bluff him. The man sounds like a rank-obsessed weasel, and now he knows you outrank him, I doubt he'll have the courage to stand against you directly.*

John stared at the man, and said, "Switch to a secure channel, Captain, what I'm about to tell you is for your ears only."

Looking worried, Maddox pressed a button on his console as he rose from the Command Chair on the Bridge of the Medusa. Less than a minute later he reappeared in a plush leather chair in a much darker room, and it looked like he'd moved to his Ready Room, as his face was no longer illuminated by the glow of the Sector Map.

"Alright, it's only me here, Admiral," Maddox said impatiently.

"I'm following an executive order from Admiral Devereux," John said, his voice low and secretive. "With the big push against the Kintark, and my combat experience against the Empire, I've been asked to lead a task force there. I must reach Fleet Admiral Buckingham to report for active duty."

Maddox looked shocked, and gasped enviously, "You're leading a task force in the invasion!" He managed to get himself under control, and looked thoughtful for a moment before he mused, "I suppose this does supersede Admiral Lynton's orders, but you'll still have to rendezvous with her in Iota-Leonis."

John frowned and asked, "Why? I need to report in with Buckingham, not Lynton."

The carrier Captain looked chagrined as he admitted, "Information on the invasion is strictly on a need to know basis. I don't actually know where the Fleet Admiral is at the moment, but Lynton will, she's got operational command over the Dragon March."

Straightening up, John nodded, and said, "Thank you, Captain, we'll proceed directly to the Iota-Leonis system." He paused, and added, "Unless you still plan on firing at us?"

"No, Sir," Captain Maddox replied, flushing with embarrassment. He gave John a respectful salute, and said, "You may proceed at your leisure, Rear Admiral Blake."

John saluted him back, and said, "Very good, Captain. Carry on." He glanced at Alyssa, and she closed the comm channel.

"Very nice," she said with a sly grin.

*That was excellent advice, thank you,* John thought to Edraele while he smiled at Alyssa.

He could feel her amusement over their telepathic bond as she said, *I've dealt with petty dignitaries like that for most of my life. Fortunately they've been bowing and scraping, rather than attempting to lord it over me, but I know his type very well.*

Looking up at the Sector Map, the Invictus sailed unopposed past the picket forces, and they proceeded on towards Iota-Leonis. It made sense to John that Admiral Lynton would be based there, as that was the location of Port Medea, the biggest Terran Federation starbase in the sector. It was there that he and the girls had foiled an attack by the Kintark Empire, and after their heroics, he'd been promoted and Devereux had dubbed him the Lion of the Federation.

Just as Captain Maddox said, all that happened only a few months ago, but the amount they had been through since then had been staggering. The Maliri, the Armoured Cobras, the Trankarans, Nexus, the assassins; he'd seen more conflict in a couple of months, than in his entire career as a marine in the Terran Federation military.

*We met in that time too,* Edraele teased him. *Hopefully you aren't including me in your list of troubles.*

He chuckled, and replied, *Of course not. You and Irillith have been beautiful silver linings in some very dark clouds.*

Edraele's wry amusement come through clearly over their bond as she said, *You know we need to have a conversation about that at some point?*

*About what?* he replied, deliberately being obtuse.

*The intricacies of you having a relationship with both me and my daughter, of course. You seem to have been studiously avoiding it,* she said playfully.

John felt himself getting hot under the collar, but he wasn't entirely sure if it was due to embarrassment. He replied, *I figured that with you trying to rebuild your relationship with Irillith, I'd try and keep things as uncomplicated as possible.*

She was quiet for a moment, then said, *That was very thoughtful, thank you.*

*It's the least I could do,* he replied. *I can see how much it's meant to both of you, building up that mother-daughter bond again.*

Edraele was quiet again, but when she finally spoke, her voice was filled with longing as she said, *I wish you were here with me right now.*

*It won't be long, I'll be there soon,* he said soothingly, but he could feel how much she was missing him.

The Maliri Matriarch went quiet in his mind, and he roused himself from his introspection to find Alyssa staring at him with an intrigued look in her eyes. *You -have- to tell me what the other half of that conversation was all about!* she pleaded with him.

*Later,* he promised. Sitting up in his chair, he asked her out loud, "How long until we reach Iota-Leonis?"

"Just over five hours," she replied, not needing to check the flight path.

John smiled at her in gratitude for her quick reply, then looked down at Calara, studying her curiously. He saw she was cradling her gloved right arm against her stomach, unwilling to attempt to use it on her Tactical console as she tapped away with just her left hand. He was curious how the healing was progressing, and up until then he'd always figured that he had no way of knowing, having to rely on the girls themselves, or more recently Rachel, to give him a status update.

Alyssa glanced his way, looking at him speculatively as she thought, *That's a really good point. Your mind is guiding your psychic ability to heal her, so you must subconsciously know when she's fully healed.*

Reaching out to both his Matriarchs, he asked, *Any suggestions how I can keep track of healing?*

*Well, you fully healed Irillith and didn't need to be in the same room as her,* Alyssa mused.

As he recalled healing the grievous wound the Maliri girl had received from the Trankaran thermal shotgun, Edraele spoke up, *If you were healing her remotely, then you don't need line of sight, and spirit-walking is unnecessary as you've only just learned how to do it.*

Alyssa turned to him, looking excited, and thought, *Hold on! I just thought of something! Remember when I was maintaining that null-zone on Ashana? I didn't realise I was doing it until Councillor Talari pointed out that I was keeping it going inside one of my mind compartments. Maybe that's the case for you too?*

John raised an eyebrow and nodded thoughtfully as he thought about what she was saying. It certainly made logical sense, as much as any of this psychic stuff did. He closed his eyes and thought about Calara, focusing on her physical condition. To his astonishment, it was like a black curtain was suddenly lifted back, and a shroud pulled away from a section in his mind. He looked on in stunned disbelief, as a huge section of what had appeared to be a featureless void was suddenly filled with row upon row of compartments.

It instantly reminded him of one of those organisation charts that senior officers in the Terran Federation military had always seemed to be so obsessed by. There at the top, clearly set apart from the others were his Matriarchs, Alyssa and Edraele. Beneath Alyssa were all the girls on the Invictus, starting with Calara on the left, then Dana, Jade, Rachel, and finally Irillith. Each girl was linked by thick, powerful lines to Alyssa, which he instinctively knew represented the strength of their connections with the beautiful blonde girl.

Underneath Edraele was a first tier made up of three Maliri girls, and he instantly recognised Luna, Almari, and Ilyana. Beneath them were the eighty engineers he'd linked to her back on Genthalas station, as well as Makaela the shipyard Commander. He glanced through row after row of the girls linked to Edraele, and he was amazed that he could remember every single one of their names, even if he'd only spoken to some of them for less than a minute.

The connection lines between the assassins and the House Valaden leader were considerably stronger than those from the engineers, which seemed very faint indeed. There were a few exceptions however, primarily Ioelena, the girl who'd fallen off the Invictus hull and who'd been saved by Jade. He also noticed that the four girls he'd spent most of his time chatting to from the weapons team seemed to take slightly higher prominence over the rest of the Maliri engineers.

It was fascinating to see all the girls linked in his mind, and all told, he counted a total of ninety-one mental compartments to house them all. He started to feel a bit better about only having six active compartments to work with, when it was now apparent that a huge section of his mental capacity was devoted to maintaining links with all these women.