Three Square Meals Ch. 073

Tashana grit her teeth, fighting down the icy fingers of fear that crept up her spine, and snapped, "Open the fucking airlock!"

Faye paused a moment with a worried frown on her face, then nodded, and the outer airlock door spiralled open. Tashana dived through, glancing behind her again, and quailed as she saw figures descending in the menacing red glow at the end of the corridor. She hammered on the outer airlock door with her fist, and it spiralled open a second later, releasing her from the Progenitor's clutches.

The familiar smell of Maliri processed air filled her lungs, and what had once seemed so clean and fresh, now felt slightly stale after being on the Progenitor's ship. Still, that was a trivial price to pay for her freedom, and she lurched outside, desperate to flee before the others could join her. A quick glance behind her revealed the Progenitor had reached the corridor, and she whipped her head around, as she got ready to sprint to safety. There were several Maliri waiting to meet them, which brought her up short, and her angular violet eyes locked on the woman at their forefront.

Tashana's heart leapt with relief when she spotted the unmistakeable sight of her mother's finest ceremonial robes, and she started forward in a run to warn her of the danger. As her eyes lifted to her mother's face, she staggered a step, nearly sprawling onto the golden deck. "Oh my god, her hair!" she thought in horror.

Her mother. Edraele Valaden, Matriarch of House Valaden, was a thrall!

The long, flowing white mane brushed over Edraele's shoulders, framing her bewitchingly beautiful face. The tender look of motherly concern was jarringly out of place on the face of the icy cold woman she'd known for all her life, reinforcing in an instant that Edraele had been enthralled, and was now a slave of the Progenitor. Tashana froze in place, gaping at her in horror. Behind her mother were four other women, three of whom she recognised as House Valaden assassins, and the fourth was her distant cousin, Makaela. They all had medium-length white hair, thralls each and every one. A crushing weight of despair threatened to overwhelm her, as she realised all was lost. She was already too late.

"Tashana? Is that really you?" this false Edraele asked, her voice throbbing with a love that her malignant mother had never once shown. She looked at the golden-mask with and added with heartfelt sympathy, "I'm so sorry for everything you've been through! Is there any way you can forgive me?"

The sound of the Progenitor and his thralls approaching the airlock snapped Tashana out of her horrified stupor. Although she wanted to collapse on the floor and weep, she knew she had to get away, so she did the only thing she could think of. She stepped forward, and forced herself to sound convincing as she lied, "I'm so happy to be home, mother. I forgive you."

Edraele gave her an overjoyed smile, and opened her arms invitingly, as she said, "Everything will be alright, my lovely girl! We'll take care of you now."

Tashana stepped forward to accept that embrace, even though it made her skin crawl to feel the Progenitor's puppet put her arms around her. She counted to five in her head, to make the embrace seem authentic, then said quietly, "I'm exhausted, mother. Could I make use of some quarters to get some rest, please?"

"Of course, my darling!" Edraele replied, then turned to smile at her cousin and said, "Makaela, would you show my daughter to the suite you've prepared for her, please?" Such pleasantries sounded so wrong coming from her domineering mother, who used to make abrupt demands rather than polite requests.

Her cousin had always been a calculating, manipulative woman, who'd been obsequious towards her mother purely because she held all the power in House Valaden. Makaela had never shown even an iota of affection to Tashana before, so it was just as jarring when she smiled at her warmly, and said, "It's so good to see you again, cousin! I've arranged a lovely suite of rooms for your use, and if you'd like to follow me, I'll take you to them now."

Nodding at her enslaved cousin, Tashana said, "Thank you. It'll be great to get some rest."

Makaela looked pleased, and she turned and guided her towards the big doors that led out of the docking bay. Tashana felt like she was being watched, but she managed to resist the urge to turn around, knowing it was the Progenitor and his lackeys staring at her. Thankfully, it didn't take long for her enthralled cousin to lead her from the docking bay, and then they were in the station proper. There were many other Maliri based at Genthalas, and as she darted fitful glances at the women striding past, it came as a tremendous relief to see that they all still had short dark hair.

Perhaps it wasn't too late, after all. Edraele might be lost to the Progenitor, but he hadn't spread his corrupting influence through the rest of the Maliri, not yet, at least. She followed silently after fake-Makaela, listening to her friendly conversation, and making token replies so as not to arouse suspicion. House Valaden might be doomed, but there were still other options open to save her people.

***

John watched Tashana walk out of the Docking Bay, the black-and-red figure disappearing out of view as Makaela led her out through the double doors. He turned back to Edraele then, and the look she gave him was full of gratitude and yearning.

"I can't believe you managed to return her to me!" she gasped, as she ran to him. "Oh, John, it's so wonderful to have you home again!"

He caught her in his arms, and they shared a passionate kiss, as she pressed herself against him. "You've been amazing, Edraele! We never would have got through everything without your help," he said honestly, when they finally broke their kiss.

"All I ever wanted to do was support you," she gushed, her tone earnest.

She looked flushed and very excited, and he couldn't remember seeing her look more beautiful. Edraele blushed as she read his thoughts, and he could see the flare of arousal in those lovely purple eyes. He tore his eyes away from her to look at her three bodyguards, who were smiling at them affectionately.

"Luna, Almari, Ilyana... it's wonderful to see you all again! Thank you for keeping Edraele and each other safe," he said, with heartfelt appreciation.

The three women gazed at him adoringly, and when Edraele patted his shoulder and stepped away from him, he gathered the three Maliri in a hug. They leaned into him, and sighed with contentment as he gave each of them a kiss.

Alyssa stepped up beside Edraele, and said, "I know you were planning on having engineers ready to help us with the Invictus refit. Are they ready to start yet?"

Edraele turned to give her an apologetic smile as she said, "Not quite yet, no. It's just turned midnight in Valaden time, so I was planning on having them gather tomorrow morning, when I hoped John might address them. We can begin work immediately after that."

Turning to glance at John, Alyssa smiled as she said, *Let's stay on the Invictus for tonight. There's things we need to discuss with Edraele...*

John nodded soberly, having not forgotten his decision to break the bond with Edraele.

The Maliri Matriarch looked at him in alarm as she read his thoughts, and said telepathically, *Not yet! I have my surprise for you!*

*This is too important, Edraele. I need to free you from the bond, and the compulsion to obey me,* he replied, sad to see the wild consternation in her eyes.

Alyssa turned to look at the girls, and said, "Change of plan ladies. We'll stay on the ship tonight, John and I need to have a chat with Edraele."

Irillith's eyes darted to her blonde Matriarch, and she asked hesitantly, *By chat, do you mean what I think you mean?*

*Would it upset you, if it does?* Alyssa replied, her cerulean eyes holding her friend's gaze.

Irillith thought it over for a moment, then shook her head slightly, as she replied, *No, surprisingly it doesn't, not at all.*

As the girls turned to head back through the airlock, John looked down at the three assassins still wrapped in his arms. They looked at him confusion, until Luna asked in a quiet voice, "What do you want us to do, John?"

Alyssa walked over to them, and hugged the Maliri women from behind as she said, "You beautiful ladies are going to be our guests, and we're going to take very good care of you."

The girls came over to join them then, with a pair attending each of Edraele's bodyguards. Calara and Sakura each took Luna's hands and coaxed her gently towards the ship, while Dana and Rachel wrapped friendly arms around Ilyana and followed after them. That left Jade and Irillith to greet Almari with warm smiles, and guide her through the airlock.

That just left John, Alyssa, and Edraele standing together, the Maliri Matriarch looking wracked with worry.

"Come on, it'll be alright," Alyssa told her, as she slipped an arm around her slender waist.

John followed after them, and then closed the airlock behind them as they re-entered the Invictus. Edraele was silent as they walked along the corridor to the grav-tube, and John shared a glance with Alyssa when she looked back at him over her shoulder. The girls were disappearing into the grav-tubes with the Maliri bodyguards, and it didn't take long for them to rise up in the blue anti-gravity field until they stepped out into the corridor on Deck Two.

The girls peeled off in their pairs, leading their wide-eyed Maliri guests into the Officers' Quarters along the deck. Luna paused before following Calara into her room, and looked like she was about to object at all three of Edraele's bodyguards effectively going off-duty at the same time.

"Edraele's with me and John, we'll look after her," Alyssa said, a reassuring smile on her face. She reached out to the unsettled assassin, and said, "Just relax with Calara and Sakura. I'm sure they'll be able to answer any questions you might have about us. I'm sure there must be plenty of things you're dying to know..."

Luna darted a longing look at John, and then bit her lip as she glanced into Calara's room. The Latina stepped out and took her hand again as she said soothingly, "There's nowhere safer for Edraele than with John and Alyssa right now, they'll keep her quite safe. In the meantime, I'll answer any question you ask, I promise."

When Edraele smiled at her and shooed her into the room, Luna grinned, and let Calara lead her away. The Maliri Matriarch watched the door close behind the assassin, then her smile faded as she glanced at John with worry. Alyssa slipped her tanned hand through Edraele's slender blue fingers, and tugged her towards the bedroom, with John walking along after them.

Edraele's smile returned when she saw the huge bed that she'd provided for them, and said, "The frame looks beautiful. It really sets off the white bedding."

"Yes, remind me to thank you for that later," Alyssa purred. "We loved your gift."

They walked over to the bed, with Edraele and Alyssa slipping off their high-heels as they climbed onto it, the two women sitting with their legs tucked underneath them. John kicked off his own shoes, and sat on the middle of the bed, watching Edraele carefully.

"I'm happy like I am!" she finally blurted out. She looked frightened and distressed as she added, "Please don't remove the bond, I don't want anything to change between us!"

John heaved a heavy sigh, not wanting to tell the shaken woman what she didn't want to hear, but doing so, nonetheless. "The bond we have at the moment takes away your free will, and forces you to obey me. I don't want to lose you, Edraele, you've come to mean a lot to me, but we can't continue with things the way they are. I'd rather you decided to leave me, than force you to stay without giving you that choice."

Edraele desperately wanted to disagree, to beg him to change his mind, but she could see the determined set to his eyes. She lowered her head, and said sadly, "I will do as you command, My Lord."

He reached out to her with his hand, then guided her over on the bed to him, before laying her back with her head against the pillows. Leaning down beside her, with Alyssa sitting opposite, he brushed his fingers along Edraele's jaw, catching the tear that trickled down her cheek.

"Thank you for everything you've done for me," he said to her. "You've saved so many lives with your wise advice. I don't know how I can ever repay you."

"Make love to me before you cut the bond!" she pleaded. "It's all I want!"

John frowned and slowly shook his head, as he replied, "I can't do that, not until you're free of my Progenitor-side's bond."

Edraele nodded while looking forlorn, already expecting his answer, but her heart still ached at the rejection.

Alyssa grasped her hand with one of hers, the other stroking it comfortingly as she warned her, "If this is the same for you as it was for me, this could be unpleasant."

John took a deep breath, then closed his eyes as he looked at the mental map of his Matriarchs and their wards. The connection from him to Edraele was there before him, glowing a bright white, although in comparison to his incandescent bond with Alyssa, it appeared faint and frail. He instinctively knew that he could focus his will on his bond with Edraele, and with a savage cut, their connection would be ended in just the same way his Progenitor-side had brutally ended his link to Alyssa and the girls.

He glanced at Alyssa, and she looked grim as she said, *Best to get it over with. The sense of loss when our bond was cut was overwhelming, so we'll need to be there for her, to help deal with it.*

Closing his eyes again, he took another long look at the thick eldritch cable that represented their bond, and began to gather his will. Rather than slashing through the ethereal connection though, he used his focused will to ease his consciousness back from hers, gently decoupling the intimate enmeshing of their minds that allowed her to read his every thought.

Edraele had spent over a century reaching into people's thoughts, using her ability to Spirit-walk to penetrate the subconscious of more Maliri than she could count. Her eyes opened wide in shock as she felt the colossal might of his mind brush against hers, before that vastness scooped her up in its gentle embrace, and carefully parted her from him. She could feel how much he still wanted her in that uneven meeting of minds, and even though it tugged at her heart to be separated from him, she knew she was welcome back if she chose to return.

Then, just like that, it was done, and Edraele and her web of Maliri wards dropped from John's mind. It was a strange feeling, as a vast space opened up in his mental map, with scores of Maliri no longer tethered to him in their own metaphysical compartments. As liberating as it was to absolve himself of that responsibility, he felt a pang of loss, missing the feeling of protectiveness they had inspired within him.

John opened his eyes, and looked down at Edraele, where he leaned on the bed beside her. "Are you alright?" he asked with concern. "Any pain?"

She stared at him in awe, and shook her head as she replied, "Your mind... it's breathtaking. I felt like I was in the presence of a god..."

He chuckled self-consciously, and said, "Well, I don't know about that, but I'm glad you're alright. Do you feel any different?"

Edraele continued to stare at him for a moment, before she blinked and looked astonished as she answered him, "No! I feel just the same way about you as I always did!"

Alyssa giggled, and they both turned her way in surprise.

"What's tickled you?" John asked, with his eyebrow quirked.

She grinned at them both, reaching out to stroke both their heads affectionately as she said, "You rebuilt her mind from nothing, remember? Of course she's not going to feel any differently!"

John looked at her in surprise, then down at Edraele, who beamed a gorgeous smile at him. "Reforge the connection, John, let me support you as I did before," she urged him. "There's nothing I want more than that!"

He leaned down and kissed her, opening his mind to her again as she moaned and writhed against him. It was a simple thing to guide her eager eldritch presence back to his, and she gasped with relief as their minds were enmeshed once more. Their connection was different now, more of a supportive partnership without that compulsion to obey him, and he closed his eyes as he felt a surge in his mind. The connection between them blazed like a Nova Lance beam, and row after row of Maliri flashed back into place, eagerly choosing to be linked with him once more.

His eyes tensed behind his closed eyelids as he felt a massive rush of sensation from all those women as they re-bonded with him. Edraele's bodyguards were the first to appear, with their immense gratitude to him for restoring their fertility, and he felt a similar sense of elation from the scores of engineers, nearly all of whom were now carrying new life inside them. The connection felt intensely intimate, and he gasped at the overwhelming wave of emotions that crashed over him. He pulled back from Edraele's soft lips, so that he could gasp for air.

"Wow!" Alyssa exclaimed, as she reeled from the flood of emotions that swept through his mind. Her eyes were wide as saucers as she blurted out, "What the hell was that?!"

He shook his head in amazement, and said, "I've no idea, but that was a hell of a rush!"

Edraele let out a satisfied sigh, and she smiled at him as she replied, "You were right, the new bond is different. I was able to share what I feel from all those women you helped, their huge sense of gratitude for the massive difference you made to their lives."

"That was amazing, thank you," he said, staring at her with newfound appreciation.

"You're quite welcome," she replied, gazing at him with her enchanting purple eyes. She leaned up and placed a tender kiss on his lips as she added, "May I have my reward now?"

Alyssa looked torn with indecision for a moment, before she asked reluctantly, "Would you like to be alone together?"

Edraele smiled at her, reaching up with her hand to guide the Terran teenager down to her. She paused while Alyssa was inches away, and whispered, "We're his Matriarchs, we have to work together as a team." With that, she pulled her down to kiss her enthusiastically, and the two women let out little sighs as their lips moved together, velvety tongues darting into each other's mouths.

They stripped off quickly after that, all three of them equally eager to get started. When they were all nude, John knelt on the bed and pulled them both into his arms, taking it in turns to kiss them both.

"We're both here to serve you," Edraele said earnestly, leaning into him, and squashing her breasts against the left side of his chest.

Alyssa nodded, copying the Maliri and pressing herself against him as she said, "You know we're both totally dedicated to you."

"I want you to be partners, not servants," John said firmly, although his cock throbbed with their teasing.

Both blondes gave him a knowing smile, then Alyssa leaned in and whispered, "I know your head's telling you to say the right thing, but your heart wants us to worship you. It's okay, you don't have to hold back with us, we know the real you."

Edraele nodded, and said in a hushed voice, "I spend every minute of my day listening to your thoughts. I love that you constantly fight your nature, and try to do the right thing."

"I love you too," he replied, hugging them close to him, his heart surging with happiness.

The two blondes shared an intimate look, then Alyssa spoke for them both as she said, "We know..."

Both of them leaned in and kissed him tenderly on the cheek, and he groaned with delight as he felt their diamond-hard nipples brushing against his muscular chest. Moving lower now, they kissed their way down opposite sides of his throat, soft lips caressing his flesh, and pausing occasionally to let their tongues flicker out so they could taste him. As they breathed out, the exhalation made the moist patches of his skin tingle, and he shivered at the dual teasing sensations.