Three Square Meals Ch. 061

Dana looked absolutely amazed, until her face lit up with a huge grin, and she said, "You know what having Deca-shaped armour means, don't you?"

"That we need to find out what the term is for shaping eleven times?" Jade asked far too innocently.

The redhead rolled her eyes, and replied, "No... It means that the Raptor is immune to laser damage! I didn't have a sample to test before, but the Crystal Alyssium followed a linear progression, and I predicted it would become one-hundred-percent reflective on the eighth shaping." She paused for a second, recalling her progression chart, then added, "It also has fifteen times the durability of Titanium. That gunship is damn near indestructible!"

"Can you test it? Make sure?" John asked her, as astonished at this bit of news as the rest of them.

Dana nodded eagerly, and started climbing off the bed as she said, "I'll go check it out right now!"

The girls took her departure as their cue to leave, and they began to climb off the bed to go and get ready. John called after them, "We'll meet in the Galley for a quick bite to eat in an hour!"

Calara had started moving to get up as well, and John turned to fix her with a steely gaze, and said sternly, "Where do you think you're going, Commander?"

She froze, and then looked back at him, and replied, "I was just going to go up to the Bri-."

"Nope, bed rest for you, young lady," he said, cutting her off, and pointing back at the bed.

Calara laughed but climbed back under the covers as he had ordered. He leaned over to give her a kiss on the cheek, and his voice was caring as he said, "Just rest, honey. You've had a hell of a shock, so relax, and let me heal you."

She nodded obediently, then snuggled in under the covers to watch them. John turned back to Alyssa, and said, "I guess it's time to find out what 'Radiant Alyssa' has to say for herself."

Alyssa gave him a teasing smile as she slipped under the covers, cuddling up with Calara as she said, "I'm guessing I can't spirit-walk at the same time, so I might as well get comfortable with my girl."

"Sounds like a good plan to me," he agreed.

Taking a big breath, John settled down on the bed sitting across from Alyssa. The blonde and brunette were gazing up at him, and those big alluring eyes kept making his mind wander. He couldn't help but remember the previous occasions that they'd worked as a team looking up at him seductively. He let his eyelids drift close to keep his mind off their distracting presence, then just focused on his breathing as he relaxed and felt at peace.

After the total chaos earlier that day, he relished the tranquillity as he calmed his mind, and drifted into a zenlike state. He started thinking about spirit-walking again, and as soon as he felt that tugging sensation in his chest, he let himself flow into it. Like last time, he felt the colossal weight on his back, like an anchor dragging him down and preventing him from leaving his body. Knowing exactly why it was so difficult allowed him to prepare accordingly, and it felt a little easier to slowly peel himself from his physical form.

John tipped over, and held out his hands to stop himself from sprawling face first on the bed. He assumed it hadn't worked, but as his eyes flew open, he could see the duvet through his transparent fingers. He realised he had been successful after all.

*Hello John, I'm so glad you came back,* a lovely warm voice said to him, drawing his focus to the resplendent creature waiting for him in the Astral Plane.

***

"So, the spider at the heart of the web makes her appearance at long last," the haughty young Maliri noblewoman sneered, eyeing the House Valaden Matriarch with contempt.

At least that was the emotion she was attempting to portray. Edraele had become an expert at reading people long ago, and she could tell that Leena Ghilwen was terrified. After arriving at Genthalas Shipyard, Leena had been left waiting for hours, as Edraele had been on her way to see her when John had been attacked by the assassin. The girl had grown increasingly nervous and apprehensive as the hours had slowly ticked by, without any sign of her captor. The House Valaden Matriarch glanced at Almari, who beckoned the two House Ghilwen assassins from the room, leaving Edraele alone with the frightened young woman.

The last remaining member of the House Ghilwen nobility was actually the second of Aradrea Ghilwen's three daughters. Her two sisters had been killed by Luna on the old Edraele's orders, in retaliation for the attempt on Irillith's life by a House Ghilwen attack fleet. At fifty-four, Leena was the eldest of the four noble daughters that Edraele had ordered brought to Genthalas, and she had deliberately saved her until last.

Nyrelle Aeberos, and Valani Naestina were both around Kali Loraleth's age, with all three girls in their early thirties. They hadn't been exposed to so much of the bitter, black-hearted Maliri politics at that age, and as all three were the youngest of several siblings, they had largely been ignored by their Matriarch mothers. Edraele knew she would have to handle the conversation with Leena a little differently.

"Take a seat, Leena," Edraele said, eyeing the younger woman with cold disdain.

Leena tried to be brave, and she said obstinately, "I know you killed my mother! I'm not taking orders from you, Valaden B-...." However, her confidence failed her, and she let her voice fade out, not daring to finish the insult.

Edraele's eyes narrowed, and her voice was chilling as she said, "You will sit now, or I'll break both your legs and make you crawl on the floor."

Shaking with fear, Leena sank back on the long sofa, her face a mask of dread. "W-w-what are you going to do to me?" she stammered, barely able to find her voice.

Drawing herself up to her full height, the House Valaden Matriarch glided across the room with all the regal splendour of someone who had spent decades practicing such an entrance. She stood over the quaking girl, and said, "You must know that as the last remaining member of House Ghilwen, you are all that stands between me, and total subjugation of the worlds under your control?"

Leena's trembling increased, her light-green eyes widening as she realised the truly desperate situation she found herself in. "You're going to kill me..." she managed to gasp, her face blanching.

Edraele didn't answer for a painfully long moment, until she finally said, "You know my reputation. Am I likely to show you even the slightest bit of mercy?"

The young woman was overcome with despair, and she shook her head slowly. She gazed up at Edraele, too scared to answer, and almost too afraid to even blink.

Stepping to the side, Edraele sat elegantly on the other end of the sofa, and she let a warm smile light up her face, as she said, "It's fortunate that my reputation no longer matches reality." With a sad sigh, she continued, "Please accept my humblest apologies for scaring you like that. It was purely an act, and I bear you no ill will. I needed you to understand the gravity of the situation you're currently in, and thus, hopefully you'll seize the gift I'm about to give you with both hands."

"What gift?" Leena asked, not daring to believe that this wasn't some kind of trick from the devilishly cunning woman.

Edraele spread her hands in an open gesture and replied, "Your life."

"You're not going to have me killed?" The House Ghilwen noblewoman asked incredulously.

Shaking her head, Edraele replied, "Definitely not. In fact I wish to protect you, and offer you an alliance. If you choose wisely, you'll become a valued member of the alliance I've just forged with Houses Loraleth, Aeberos, and Naestina."

Leena stared at her in shock, and gasped, "Shaedra Loraleth would never agree to that! She hates you almost as much as my mother!"

Studying her carefully for her reaction, Edraele said, "Shaedra is dead. Her youngest, Kali, is now Matriarch, and has sworn fealty to me. Likewise, Nyrelle Aeberos, and Valani Naestina now rule their Houses, and both have agreed to serve."

Slumping back in her chair, Leena shook her head in total disbelief, and muttered, "Four of the top five Houses... who can stand against that?!"

Edraele smiled at her, and said honestly, "I'm hoping no one will even try. Especially you, Matriarch Leena Ghilwen."

"But why?" Leena asked, truly bewildered. "You could crush House Ghilwen with ease, even if you don't just kill me here and now."

Edraele moved closer, then placed her hand on Leena's, giving her a reassuring smile as she said, "I have no wish to crush any of the Houses, least of all yours. I promise that whatever you decide, you'll be free to leave unharmed." She squeezed the younger girl's hand very gently, and added, "I'm truly sorry for what I did to your mother. You're correct, she is dead, but I was assured it was painless."

"Why are you telling me this?" Leena asked, staring down at Edraele's hand covering her own, and still reeling from the shock.

Leaning in, Edraele said earnestly, "I'm hoping that by being completely honest with you, you'll understand that I had no choice. Please do me the small courtesy of being honest with yourself, and answer me this: Would your mother have ever agreed to form an alliance with me?"

Leena knew the answer immediately, and she replied in a quiet voice, "Never. She absolutely despised you."

Edraele nodded, and looked pained as she said, "Which is why, to my regret, I was forced to end her life."

The young woman could tell that Edraele was telling the truth. She was astounded at how different the House Valaden Matriarch was in person, compared to everything she had been told about the woman. Leena had grown up listening to her mother's furious tirades about Edraele Valaden, and after Leena's two sisters had been assassinated, Aradrea Ghilwen's hatred had intensified to a frightening degree. The reality was though, that Edraele actually seemed... nice. A personality trait like that would normally be considered a terrible weakness in any Maliri woman, let alone a Matriarch, but Leena knew instinctively that Edraele was anything but weak. Far from it, in fact.

Leena stared at the older woman, and now that she had calmed down a little, she truly took in her shocking appearance for the first time. She'd been so scared out of her wits before, that she hadn't been able to appreciate just how stunningly beautiful Edraele actually was. Although she knew that Edraele was well into her middle years, her skin was as clear and fresh as a girl half her age. Then of course, there was the hair. Throwing propriety to the wind, Edraele had grown her hair well past her shoulders, and her silky white mane looked absolutely breathtaking. Leena found herself filled with an urge to reach out and stroke those beautiful tresses...

Edraele could see the subtle shift in Leena's demeanour as the personality modification encoded in her DNA took effect. She smiled at the younger woman, and said, "I've had a vision of the future for the Maliri. Would you like to hear it?"

Nodding distractedly, Leena continued staring at Edraele's hair for a moment, before she turned to look at her, and asked, "Vision? What do you mean?"

Moving closer on the sofa, Edraele spoke now as though to a confidant, one Matriarch to another, "You must be aware of the disastrous consequences that the males withdrawing to the border stations has had on population levels?"

Leena was listening closely now, her mother having raised similar concerns in the past. "Yes, I'm aware it's becoming a problem," she conceded.

"Along with the relentless assassinations, and inter-House warfare, it's become much more than a problem," Edraele said passionately. "The Maliri are in a death spiral towards their own extinction!"

Shocked for a second time that evening, Leena managed to reply, "It can't be as bad as that, surely?"

Edraele looked sombre as she replied, "You only have to view our cities to know it's the truth. Scarcely a quarter of Melfalas, my own capital city on Valaden, is still populated. The numbers continue to decline by the year."

"So what are you going to do?" Leena asked, spellbound by the captivating older woman.

Edraele's violet eyes gleamed with a fiery passion as she replied, "For far too long the Maliri have been at each other's throats! I want to end all the pointless violence: the torture, the killings; we can do away with all of that, and work together as a people instead of against each other!"

"You want to rule the Maliri!" Leena gaped at her, truly astounded by the woman's ambition.

"No, I just want to stop us slaughtering each other," Edraele replied, with a light laugh. She gazed into the younger woman's eyes, and asked, "Would you like to help me in achieving this goal? I wish to establish a ruling council of Matriarchs, and you would have your own place of honour at that table. Together, we can save the Maliri from extinction, and work together to forge a bright future amongst the stars!"

Leena was stunned. This meeting with Edraele had gone nothing like the way she had imagined it would. The House Valaden Matriarch was passionate, inspiring, and speaking to her with a frank honesty that Leena didn't doubt for a second. Although she'd lived through decades believing that Edraele was supposed to be her nemesis, now that she had finally met her in person, she found that she actually liked the woman. Yes, she had terrified her initially, but Leena could see why she'd behaved that way, to snap her out of her own preconceptions about Edraele Valaden.

Taking a big breath, Leena said earnestly, "You have my fealty, Matriarch Edraele Valaden." She added with a shy smile, "And I'd love to work with you. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."

Edraele looked delighted, and she beamed a wide smile at her as she said, "Oh, you wonderful girl! Thank you!"

Leena shook her head in amazement, and said, "I should be the one thanking you. You hold all the cards, and here you are, offering me my life, and a chance like this!"

"I promise you, you won't regret it," the older woman said, brushing her hand against Leena's cheek in an affectionate gesture.

Now that they were this close, the young Maliri's eyes wavered, and those light-green orbs flicked to Edraele's long hair. She stared at her in fascination once again, seemingly unable to avert her gaze. Edraele saw Leena's slender hand lifting up subconsciously, but she made no move to pull away.

"I've never seen anyone quite so beautiful," Leena murmured, totally enthralled, her fingers brushing ever so lightly through the silky white-blonde hair.

Edraele smiled at her, enjoying her gentle touch, and said, "What a lovely thing to say. Thank you, Leena."

Suddenly realising what she was doing, the young woman jerked her hand away, a look of wild panic on her face. "I'm so sorry! I don't know what came over me!" she blurted in alarm.

Gathering the girl's trembling hands in her own, Edraele stroked them softly, and said, "Be at ease, my dear, you haven't done anything wrong."

Shuddering slightly after the shock, Leena gazed at the Valaden Matriarch, and said in awe, "You're nothing like the person I thought you'd be. You're so kind and caring..."

Edraele smiled at her, and said, "I met someone who transformed my life for the better, and you'll be able to meet him soon as well. Would you like me to tell you all about him?"

Leena nodded, then listened in rapt attention as Edraele began her tale.

***

John lifted his head to look at the girl who'd spoken to him, and immediately recognised the glowing white figure that he had come to know as Radiant Alyssa. She was sitting cross legged in front of Alyssa herself, who was still lying in bed, cuddled up with Calara. The girl was streaming light from her body, and he narrowed his eyes against the glare as he tried to make out her features.

She saw him squinting, and she smiled as she said, "Please forgive me, I forgot how bright my aura is now. Alyssa's been getting so much stronger."

The brilliant radiance dimmed somewhat, allowing John to look at her clearly for the first time. The girl appeared identical to the real Alyssa, right down to the last detail, but she was shrouded in a soft nimbus of white light. He sat up from where he had toppled over earlier, sitting a few feet apart from the girl, who was studying him with her penetrating gaze.

Her voice was clear and calm as she said, "When we spoke before, I promised I'd answer your questions. You must have many you want to ask me."

Watching her warily, he asked, "Who are you?"

The beautiful girl tilted her head to one side, and replied, "Alyssa, or part of her at least."

He smiled wryly, and asked, "So should I just call you Alyssa then?"

Her full lips quirked up into a half-smile, and she said, "I think it might get a little confusing if I went by Alyssa too." She looked thoughtful for a moment, then added, "Perhaps you should call me, Athena instead"

"Well it's nice to meet you, Athena," he said politely. "You seem to know who I am already."

She nodded, and replied, "I've been watching you for months now. I know you very well indeed."

John hesitated, then decided to be forthright, and he said, "I might as well come right out and ask... what are you exactly?"

"You don't recognise me, do you?" she asked him, her focus on him growing more intense. "Don't I seem familiar to you, at all?"

He was about to shake his head, but something about her presence made him hesitate. She was right... there was something about her, something he felt he knew so very well indeed. Then the feeling was gone, drifting away in the ethereal wind.

"There is something, but I can't place it," he was forced to admit. "Why are you so sure that I should recognise you?"

She smiled at him enigmatically, and replied, "Because you created me."

John stared at Athena in confusion, and exclaimed, "That can't be right! I don't even understand what you are exactly, so there's no way I could have created you!"

She gave him a knowing smile, and said, "You've done lots of fascinating things over the last few months, and you weren't consciously aware of doing most of them. Why should creating me be any different?"

He was about to protest, but when he thought back to all the crazy things that had happened to him recently, he realised he'd sound like a fool. Trying a different tack to give himself a chance to arrange his thoughts coherently, he asked, "Do you know why I created you?"

"To protect Alyssa," she replied simply, turning back to look at the blonde girl who appeared to be frozen, such was the time dilation effect of the Astral Plane.

He followed her gaze, looking at Alyssa for the first time since he had begun Spirit Walking. A shimmering light shrouding her head made him pause, and he approached her, leaning in to take a closer look. She was adorned with a gleaming, beautiful diadem, which sparkled majestically as it caught the light. Despite its seemingly delicate appearance, he could tell the golden crown was forged with great strength.

Athena was right by his side as he stared at Alyssa, and she said, "That's a mind-shield, just like yours."

John reached out his fingers to touch it, and Athena gently intercepted his hand, restraining him from approaching any closer. "Please don't break it," she cautioned him. "Her mind isn't ready to merge with me yet."

Turning to look at the girl in astonishment, he said, "Merge with you? What do you mean?!" He frowned in confusion, and before she could reply, he added, "And Alyssa's spirit-walked before, so how come she didn't see you, if you're here in the Astral Plane?!"