Three Square Meals Ch. 072

Turning back to Irillith, John was pleased to see she looked more at ease now, and he asked, "While we're on the subject of new abilities, what happened up on the gantries outside Hades' base? I saw your eyes glowing brightly, and you reached up and did something. What was it?"

Irillith was quiet as she replied, "I was furious at the thought that Hades had Tashana locked up somewhere. I kind of snapped, and just lunged for the cameras. I could see the data flows linking the camera network together, so I just rode that back to their Command Centre. When I got there, I wanted to hurt them so much I was able to... project myself out of the screen. It's hard to describe, I wasn't thinking straight at the time."

"Yeah, you must have been really fucking pissed," Dana said, looking impressed. "It looked like you zapped some pirate who got too close to you."

The Maliri glanced at the redhead, and nodded solemnly.

"Do you think you could do that again?" John asked her. When she raised an eyebrow, he smiled as he clarified, "Not the electrocuting someone, the remote hacking without being near a console."

Looking askance around the room, Irillith's angular eyes seemed to be following things that no one else could see. She eventually turned back to John, and replied, "I was always able to see flowing data-streams before, and once I started a spirit-walk, I was able to just follow them to a console and then enter the Cyber-realm. That part wasn't really new, but projecting an actual physical manifestation through the digital network definitely is."

Nodding his understand, he asked, "Have you managed to figure out why you couldn't hack Underworld from the Invictus? It seems odd that you were able to enter the camera network so easily after that."

The Maliri girl frowned, and replied, "Actually the camera network was on a separate subnet that they'd installed using normal Terran-style hardware. That definitely wasn't the same technology as Underworld..." She trailed off for a moment as she thought about the impenetrable data network built into the refinery, then continued, "I've never encountered anything so strange and alien before. Whoever built that station used some very strange technology, which didn't seem compatible with our own. I wasn't even able to enter their gateway; our connection protocols just don't work that way. I'm actually surprised the comm channels worked!"

"It's a really old station," Dana said thoughtfully. "And when I say old, I mean - really fucking ancient!"

"Progenitor tech?" John asked, intrigued.

"Nah, it didn't look or feel like their stuff at all," Dana replied, shaking her head.

"I agree wholeheartedly," Irillith said with a firm nod. "I've been inside Faye's server, which we know for a fact is Progenitor technology, and this felt nothing like it."

Rachel looked thoughtful for a moment before she interjected, "Perhaps it pre-dates the Progenitor's dominance of this part of the galaxy?"

"Tashana would know more about it, I'm quite certain," Irillith said, her voice full of conviction even if her expression was sorrowful.

John smiled at her, and in an attempt to buoy Irillith's spirits, he said cheerfully, "I'll ask Tashana about it tomorrow, when she wakes up." He paused for a moment, studying the downcast young woman, then added, "Alright ladies, time for dinner, then we should celebrate the successful rescue."

Alyssa nodded thoughtfully, and grinned as she exclaimed, "Sounds like an excellent plan to me!"

The girls rose from their seats while smiling at each other in anticipation, and filed from the room as they headed towards the Galley. Irillith still seemed a bit subdued, so John stopped her with an upraised hand, and she looked at him quizzically.

"You might want to eat light at dinner," he advised her, moving his hand down to caress her trim stomach.

She looked startled for a moment, then her full lips turned up into an ambivalent smile as she said, "You don't have to do that on my account."

He shook his head, and replied off-handedly, "Don't worry, I'm being entirely selfish. I just want to see that blissful look you get when you swallow down my cum, it's one hell of an ego-boost."

Irillith chuckled briefly, but her smile faded as she turned away from him and replied, "I know what you're trying to do, but I'd just feel too guilty. Tashana's lying maimed, disfigured, and alone, down in the Medical Bay. I should be by her side."

John gently stroked her blue arm, and said, "I know how guilty you must be feeling at the moment. Nothing I say is going to really change that is it?"

She let out a sad sigh, and shook her head as she replied, "I know you're going to tell me I've changed, and I'm not the same girl any more, but I remember everything I did to her! Planting the evidence, framing her, gleefully informing our mother, and gloating as Tashana got sentenced to exile. I set her up for thirteen years of horrific abuse over some petty jealousy!"

He nodded sombrely, and said, "You're right, I know you're not the same vindictive girl we met months ago. If you were, you wouldn't be feeling this way." He paused for a moment as she considered his words, and then added, "After what happened earlier, I don't think reconciling with Tashana is going to be easy, do you?"

Irillith looked at him in surprise, and she looked even more downcast as she shook her head.

Gently lifting her chin, he tilted her face so she was looking at him once again, and said, "Standing watch in some kind of all-night vigil, while you wallow in these feelings isn't going to help Tashana. You'll need to be lucid, alert, and sincere when you talk with her tomorrow, not exhausted and overwrought."

"You're right," she conceded, nodding thoughtfully, her violet eyes shining with determination.

He pulled her in for a hug, and brushing her long silky white locks away from her pointed blue ear, he murmured, "We're all here for you. I know it's going to be hard, trying to rebuild your relationship with Tashana, but you can count on all of us for support, okay?"

She nodded and hugged him back fiercely as she replied, "I know, and it feels amazing."

With that they shared an intimate kiss and a smile, then walked out of the Briefing Room to catch up with the others.

***

The small blue star cast a frigid pallor over the chrome-coloured cruiser as the Enshunu vessel jumped into the Alamak system. The ship sat silently for a long moment while the seconds ticked by, as if the vicious-looking spacecraft were coldly studying the devastation outside the ancient refinery. The five powerful engines at the rear of the ship glowed a fierce orange, and the Enshunu cruiser began to slink forward as it picked up speed, warily easing its way towards the battlesite. It passed ruined weapon platforms, which had been sliced in half or blown to pieces by weapons capable of ferocious firepower, then changed course, heading towards one of Underworld's enormous docking bays.

The ship had to weave its way past dozens of wrecks, but there was too much debris to pass by without numerous collisions. Pieces of blackened armour plating clunked off the hull, and the cruiser swept an uncaring path through the field of charred ship pieces. The chrome vessel callously bumped into an armoured mercenary's corpse, sending the man's body spinning away, his face still frozen in an expression of horror.

Finally reaching its destination, the cruiser stopped, hovering outside the eerily still docking bay. There was no movement inside the station, even though the huge bay was full of vessels and would normally be teeming with activity. A closer examination of the deck around the merchant ships would reveal the reason for this lack of movement, with scores of perforated corpses scattered haphazardly about.

A chrome shuttle detached itself from the underbelly of the cruiser, then pivoted and proceeded into that chilling mausoleum. There were several large empty spaces amongst the carnage, and it was in one of these that the shuttle descended, undercarriage lowering as the troop transport touched down. A broad door in the side of the vessel yawned wide, and a moment later, a boarding ramp extended and swung down to the deck, crushing a Terran merchant's mangled cadaver.

Two-dozen armoured troops marched in step down the boarding ramp, fanning out and covering all angles with their ferocious-looking chrome rifles. When they were in position, there was movement on the shuttle, and a red-robed figure in a golden mask strolled down the ramp, only pausing for a few seconds to look around the bay. With a curt gesture to his men, Vizier Sag'kalyak pivoted, then strode purposefully deeper into the venerable station.

The Enshunu seemed unperturbed by the charnel house that was the Underworld, stepping heedlessly on twisted corpses as he proceeded into the base. His men walked briskly ahead, alert and mindful of danger, but finding none amongst the ghastly scenes of battle. They breezed past the slaughtered flesh merchants without a second glance, but Vizier Sag'kalyak did pause by the bodies of a group of Ruiner mercenaries, who lay scattered near some mining trucks.

He shoved one of the corpses with his boot, and rolled the dark-blue armoured figure onto his back, the man's lifeless eyes staring into the gloom above. Crouching down beside the slain merc, the Vizier's red eyes could be seen behind his mask as they darted back and forth, examining the large holes that had been bored straight through the man's armour. Sag'kalyak's eyes narrowed as he stared at the scattering of grievous wounds that had melted into that ragged torso.

Rising abruptly to his feet, he made another sharp gesture with his right hand, and the soldiers that had been waiting patiently around him continued apace. Their boots rang with the sound of metal on metal as they ascended the ramps to the Command Centre above, passing the crumpled remains of Bloodnova pirates who'd been gunned down in their droves. The massacre continued up the ramp, right into the command complex itself, and Sag'kalyak paused once again, his pupils flaring slightly as he gazed at the battered portal, its door smashed inwards.

They continued on into that sepulchral complex, a place that had once been thriving with the clamour of the living, now a bleak and silent tomb littered with the dead. His men spread out as they picked through the detritus, and as they delved further into Hades' stronghold, one of the soldiers hurried back to his master.

"We've found Captain Yil'magur, Vizier," the soldier said, bowing to the golden-masked Enshunu respectfully.

"Show me!" Vizier Sag'kalyak demanded his tone haughty and imperious.

He followed after the soldier who whirled around, and marched back the way he'd come at a brisk pace. It didn't take long to find the partially incinerated corpse, and Sag'kalyak knelt down to study the scorched body in fascination. Shaking his head in admiration, he rose to his feet then whirled away, walking briskly down the corridor. It didn't take long for him to reach the Command Centre on the second level, and he looked around the large room, his gaze lingering on the blackened corpse by the panel of broken viewscreens.

One of his soldiers approached from the far side of the room, brandishing a three-foot-long object in his hand. "We've found it, Vizier!" the man said, jogging over to his master with hand outstretched.

Vizier Sag'kalyak snatched the brass rod from his soldier's hand, and his blood-red eyes gleamed as held it aloft, turning it slowly so that he caught the light with its metallic surface. He spun about, and moving quickly now, rushed over to the central console, shoving a dead pirate off the heavy brass panel. He had a fierce gleam in his eyes as he slotted the control rod into the vacant slot on the command console with a satisfyingly loud click.

His hands moved in a rush over the controls that populated the brass surface, pressing buttons, twisting dials, and flicking switches in the precise sequence that would trigger the startup routine. He was done in just under a minute, then stepped back, eyes wide with excitement as he stared at the curved panels showing the defensive capabilities of the Underworld.

Outside the colossal edifice to a long-extinct race, hundreds of octagonal armoured plates lined the vast panels between each docking bay. With a tortured groan, the tan-coloured doors sank into the surface of the refinery, and then began to roll back into the frame.

The Underworld had awoken.

***

John woke to the gentle sound of someone singing a lilting tune, which caressed his sharp ears and made him want to soar to the heavens. He kept his eyes closed and revelled in the hauntingly beautiful notes of the uplifting song, relaxing in bed with Alyssa and Irillith's lithe bodies entwined around him, enjoying the feel of their silky blonde hair draped across his chest.

Abruptly the singing stopped, and he opened his eyes in disappointment, looking down the bed for Faye. "Why did you stop it?" he protested in a whisper, as soon as he spotted the cute purple girl. "That recording was absolutely lovely. What was the name of the singer?"

Faye climbed on the bed, then sitting astride him on top of the covers, she replied in a quiet voice, "Thank you. It was me singing."

He gaped at her in astonishment, lost for words before he said, "But how did you..."

"One of my hobbies," she replied with a self-conscious smile, her wings moving in lazy strokes through the air. "That was the first time I've tried singing outside of the digital network. I thought you might like it as a wake-up call, but it didn't seem to be working."

He shook his head as he whispered, "I loved it! I was just enjoying hearing your voice, it was beautiful."

She leant forward, and with a quick glance at Alyssa who was starting to stir, Faye murmured, "I'll sing to you again then, if you're sure?"

"That would be wonderful, thank you!" John replied, genuinely touched.

Faye smiled at him, and nodded as she moved back across the bed as the others began to stir.

Alyssa didn't stretch this morning, she just cuddled in closer, and brushed the hair away from Irillith's face as she said, "Mmm, last night was fun."

The Maliri girl woke at her gentle touch, then blushed furiously as she recalled the previous nights events.

John leaned down and kissed her soft white mane, and said, "Don't be embarrassed, it was exciting seeing you that turned on."

She glanced up at him, and protested, "I know you wanted to distract me, but setting all the girls on me for an hour was crossing the line! I lost count of how many times I came."

"We brought you off nine times," Alyssa supplied helpfully, a teasing smile lifting the corners of her mouth. "Lucky number ten was when John buried his cock down your throat and packed you full of spunk."

The sound of good-natured laughter echoed around the room as the other girls woke up and listened to John and Alyssa's teasing of the Maliri girl. It was at that moment that Rachel walked back into the bedroom, having already been woken by Faye an hour earlier.

"Morning everyone," Rachel said cheerfully, smiling at Irillith when she saw she was awake. "Have fun last night?"

Irillith groaned theatrically, but she was over her embarrassment now, and smiled at the brunette as she sat up and stretched. When Rachel sat down on the end of the bed, the Maliri girl asked, "How's Tashana doing?"

"Still asleep," Rachel said, stroking Irillith's leg through the covers. "I gave her enough Valanex to let her sleep until ten, so she won't wake for another hour."

"How are the other girls doing?" Jade asked, an optimistic smile on her lovely face.

Rachel gave John an appreciative nod of the head, his incredible healing powers never ceasing to amaze her, and replied, "The miracle worker has done his stuff. They're all in perfect health now, and eager to thank you in person."

John nodded, and clambering out of the covers, he said, "I better get down to Medical and say hello."

Shaking her head, the brunette replied, "I moved the Terran girls up to the guest quarters on Deck Four. The rooms are nicer than the medical bay, and it'll give them more privacy."

"Thanks honey, that was very considerate," John said stopping to give Rachel a kiss on his way towards the shower.

"Mmm, you taste like excited Maliri," she noted, licking her lips, and glancing at Irillith, who blushed a fetching shade of indigo.

John laughed as he strolled into the bathroom, and said over his shoulder, "I do love Maliri, quite delicious!"

The girls were eager to join him, and Rachel stripped off as well so she could cuddle with him under the warm water. It was a tight fit in the shower, but no one really minded, although John did end up glancing at Dana curiously.

"What's up?" she asked him, then sighed as Rachel began to wash her back and began massaging her muscles.

"After seeing your plans for the Invictus, I had a few ideas of my own. Are you open to suggestions?" he asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"It's your ship, I'll do whatever the hell you like to it," the redhead agreed, then let out a moan as Jade began working on her front too.

Without too many more distractions, they finished getting showered, then quickly dried off before leaving the bathroom. John and Alyssa waited until last, and after sharing a brief telepathic conversation, they followed Irillith and Jade from the shower.

John reached out and gently held Irillith's arm as she was about to leave, and said, "Can we speak to you for a moment before you go?"

The Maliri girl nodded immediately, and replied, "Of course, what did you have on your mind?"

Jade waved them goodbye, and John led the two blondes to the bed, where they climbed on and sat in a circle. He stayed quiet, not answering her question for a moment as he tried to figure out how best to answer it.

Alyssa smiled at him, then rolled her eyes as she said to Irillith, "He's worried you'll be upset with him if he persuades Tashana to swallow his cum."

"You could have phrased it more delicately than that!" John objected, giving her a stern glance. Turning back to Irillith he added, "I could probably heal her in just one or two doses, like we did for Sakura. But my cum had a very strong effect on you..."

"And you're worried it'll affect her in the same way?" Irillith finished for him. "So if she wants to get healed, she basically has no choice but to join us, and you're worried how I'd feel about that?"

John nodded, and replied, "That's about the size of it, yes." He gave her a pointed look as he added, "Considering how intimate we are as a crew, I thought it might cause a few issues."

The Maliri girl sat back, a slight frown on her face as she thought through all the ramifications of everything he'd said, and also the things that had been implied...

She took a deep breath, then sat forward again as she said, "I know what you're asking. Let me just say that I'd do anything for Tashana to make up for what I put her through. I can't really describe how incredible it's been, living here on the Invictus with all of you, and I want the same for her too. Despite the privileges and resources available to a Matriarch's daughter back on Valaden, the life she'd have there pales in comparison to what she could accomplish here with us."

"There, easy!" Alyssa exclaimed happily, her cerulean eyes flashing with excitement as she clapped her hands together with glee. "Now we just have to convince Tashana to say yes!"

John chuckled at her tireless optimism, and said, "Come on, let's go and have some breakfast."

Irillith's angular eyes flickered over to the doorway and he knew that breakfast was the last thing on her mind at that moment, and that she was thinking only of her twin sister.