Three Square Meals Ch. 103

His voice echoed around the colossal hangar, microphones picking up his heartfelt speech and broadcasting it to all the personnel assembled.

"Thank you, Admiral Harris," John replied, as he lowered his arm. "As always, it's the greatest honour and privilege to be able to protect the Terran Federation."

He glanced to his right at Calara, a question in his eyes. Her brown eyes flicked to him and he could see the anxiety there, but only because he knew her so well. To the assembled masses who were watching a huge holo-projection of her face, she seemed perfectly calm and composed. She nodded imperceptibly, acknowledging his unspoken question.

"Would you care to say a few words, Commander Fernandez?" he asked for the benefit of the vast audience. "You did orchestrate the entire battle after all."

"I would, thank you, Admiral Blake," she replied, with a tight smile to conceal her nerves.

Charles stepped aside, then stood at attention flanking the Latina, waiting for her to speak.

Calara took a deep breath, then addressed the assembled personnel, all eyes in the docking bay watching her every move. "There comes a time in everybody's life when they are given the opportunity for greatness. Today, that chance came for Rear Admiral Dacres and the brave men and women under his command... and they were not found wanting. If it wasn't for their valiant defence of the Alpha Centauri system, Olympus Shipyard would have been lost with all hands."

Her eyes shone with pride as she gazed out at the enraptured personnel. "You know that the Lion and his Lionesses will stop at nothing to defend the Federation. Time and again we've stood beside brave Terran forces, putting our lives on the line to defend our civilisation from the forces of darkness that threaten us. There might come a time in the future when I call on you to play your part for the greater good... should that day come, seize that moment!"

John could feel the crowd hanging on her every word, a feverish excitement in the air as she built them towards a crescendo with her speech.

Calara looked out at the huge audience, her confidence growing. "Just as the Defenders of Olympus will become immortalised in history for their valiant deeds, fight for your own chance to become a legend of Terra! What greater legacy could you leave behind for your children and the generations that follow? They will listen in awe to tales of your heroics, your lineage inspired to be a part of something so much greater than any one man or woman could achieve alone."

Holding herself tall, she raised her fist in salute. "For the Glory of Terra!"

John stepped up beside her and raised his own fist, mirroring hers. "FOR TERRA!"

The crowd roared back the Terran battle cry, their own fists raised in salute. John turned to Calara then pulled her into his arms, the two of them sharing a loving smile before he kissed her soundly. The jubilant cheers from the crowd intensified, the docking bay reverberating with the deafening noise from the celebrating audience. John and the girls grinned at the crowd, waving at the thrilled personnel, who whooped and cheered back.

Charles smiled at John and shouted to be heard over the cheering. "Stirring stuff!"

Alyssa glanced at the control panel to lower the hangar door again, the girls waving goodbye to the throng of Terran personnel gathered outside. When the hull was sealed once more the sound was abruptly silenced, leaving John, Charles, and the girls in the quiet serenity of the hangar, their ears still ringing in the aftermath of all that noise.

"That was so exciting!" Faye blurted out, her big eyes wide with joy.

The girls giggled and chattered together, all revelling in the adulation they'd received from the crowd.

"Fancy a drink?" John said to his old friend, giving him a broad smile. "We've got a bit of catching up to do."

"You're a mind-reader," Charles said, nodding enthusiastically.

"No, I'm the mind-reader," Alyssa said, giving him a playful wink.

He looked at her quizzically, unsure if she was joking, but the blonde's enigmatic smile neither confirmed nor denied anything. With Alyssa playing coy, Charles turned his attention to Helene and the four green-skinned Lenarrans, studying them in fascination. "One Nymph not enough for you, John?" he asked airily, his moustache twitching in amusement.

"Just reuniting long-lost sisters," John replied, raising an eyebrow and grinning back at him.

Charles shook his head in admiration, choosing not to comment, but his expression spoke volumes.

"Alyssa, please escort Charles up to the Officers' Lounge," John said, glancing back at Helene and the Nymphs. "I'll join you in a moment..."

"Sure, we'll take good care of him," the blonde purred.

She gestured towards the double doors that led towards the grav-tube, then Rachel and Calara fell into step with Alyssa and Charles as they left the hangar. The rest of the girls began to disperse too, still chatting together about the incredible reception they'd just witnessed. Jade stayed with her sisters and Helene, the five new girls all shocked by the euphoric crowds, albeit in different ways.

"I hope that wasn't too overwhelming," John said to the aquatic girl, concerned that she was alright.

"They loved you..." Helene murmured, looking up at him in awe. "You and the girls... you're heroes amongst your people!"

"We just try to do the right thing and help those in need," John said modestly, clasping her hand and squeezing it.

Before he could say anything else, the four Nymphs had surrounded him, nuzzling up against him and holding him tight. Helene watched in amusement, releasing his hand so he could return Marika's and Leylira's enthusiastic embraces.

"This one did not know that Master was so powerful!" Marika gasped, then started placing fluttering kisses on his cheek.

Leylira nodded eagerly, standing on tiptoe to give him a big kiss on the lips. "Please take this one soon, Master! This one aches to be with you!"

He felt a soft fingertip trace along the contour of his ear up to the tip, making him shiver at the exquisite sensation. Neysa leaned in close from behind and whispered, "This one will do whatever Master desires..."

Betrixa was making soft mewing noises as she rubbed up against him, her emerald eyes ablaze with lust. Jade embraced her fellow Nymph and grinned at John as she said, "I thought they might like seeing you with the crowds..."

John gave her a knowing look, then pulled her into his arms, Marika and Leylira stepping aside to make room for their sister. "And why did you think that might be the case?"

Jade's eyes smouldered and she crossed her wrists behind his neck. "Because I love seeing you being adored by the masses... you deserve nothing less, Master." She gave him a passionate kiss, her long tongue wrapping around his and massaging it lovingly.

It took a real battle of willpower to pull away from the fawning Nymphs and John gave them a look of regret. "I'm sorry, but I have to leave, ladies. I need to speak with Charles about some important things."

"Go, it's okay," Jade replied, giving him an understanding smile. "We'll finish this later..."

Helene and the Nymphs accompanied him to the grav-tube, but parted ways at Deck Three, leaving him to travel up to the Officers' Deck alone. Walking into the Lounge, he spotted Charles and the girls sitting together on the sofas. His old friend was flanked by Alyssa and Rachel, with Calara sitting opposite, the four chatting amiably as they sipped their whiskey.

Alyssa turned to smile at John and slid a glass across the table, the bronze-coloured liquor swirling amongst a cluster of ice-cubes. "Here you go, handsome."

He sat down beside Calara and picked up the glass. "Thanks for the warm welcome, Charles. We all appreciated it."

The older man raised his drink in toast and grinned, his moustache twitching. "We all appreciated you saving us from the Kintark. I'd say we're even, but that seems more than a little unfair to you and your crew."

"If that means you're feeling inclined to do us a few favours, I'm certainly not going to object," John replied, smiling back at him and taking a drink, savouring the burn of the liquor in his throat. "Dana's requested four more Mass Fabricators for her workshop. Is there any chance you can requisition those for us in the next couple of days?"

Charles laughed and waved a hand dismissively. "Consider it done. I thought you were going to ask me for something challenging!"

"I'll let you know if I think of something else," John said, relaxing as he enjoyed the banter.

The admiral studied him for a moment, his expression turning sombre as he looked at John then Calara. "All joking aside, John, thank you for saving my life. If I hadn't already seen what you were capable of, I would have thought Olympus was doomed when that Praetorian fleet jumped in. Even then, I freely admit I was terrified; I still struggle to believe that your plan allowed Dacres' fleet to inflict so much damage."

The Latina gave him a magnanimous smile. "Speed, mobility, and firepower, they make for a potent combination when you've got the advantage on all three."

John put his arm around the brunette and gently squeezed her shoulder. "It wasn't just Calara's tactical brilliance that saved Olympus; you really pulled out all the stops on the refit, Charles. I can't believe that entire fleet was a bunch of burnt-out hulks only six weeks ago. You performed a miracle getting them spaceworthy in time."

"I can't take all the credit for that," Charles admitted, relaxing in his chair and glancing at Rachel. "Your father might be a pain in the ass, Doctor Voss, but he's been an absolute godsend to the refit program. I'm not exaggerating when I say that we'd have had no chance of getting the upgrades completed in time, if he hadn't thrown his corporation's full resources into the refit."

"Really?" Rachel asked, looking thoughtful. "You do surprise me..."

"The man's been working night and day to pour huge numbers of personnel and materials into Olympus' drydocks. I've never seen anyone so driven before," Charles said quietly. He raised an eyebrow and added, "I've allocated him a suite of offices next to mine; I know he'd appreciate a visit..."

Rachel smiled at him gratefully. "Thank you, I will. I had planned on visiting Olympus' Primary Medical Centre after we'd spoken, but I'll see my father beforehand."

John put down his drink and leaned forward. "Charles, I actually wanted Rachel to join us for a reason. Have you seen the footage of her in action outside the Citadel?"

Charles gave him a wry smile, then glanced at the brunette. "You've become quite the celebrity, young lady. I'd be surprised if there's anyone in the entire Federation who isn't astounded by the miraculous things you're capable of."

Rachel blushed, but her grey eyes shone with pride at her achievements. She held Charles' hand and said, "You're one of John's oldest friends and you've done so much for us; I would have died at Port Medea if you hadn't sold him the Invictus all those months ago. In return for that, I'd like to do something for you..."

He looked startled and shook his head. "You just saved me from the Kintark. I think we're more than even."

"She's offering to heal you, Charles," John said gently, smiling at his old commanding officer.

"But... I'm not injured," he faltered, looking around at everyone in confusion.

"I can check for any conditions or genetic diseases you might not be aware of yet," Rachel explained, stroking his hand. "I'll heal those and rejuvenate your body. Even if I don't find any problems, I'll be able to add at least another two decades to your natural lifespan."

Charles gaped at her in amazement. "You must be kidding?!"

Her grey eyes started to glow and she shook her head. "With your permission?"

He could only nod, struck dumb as he stared at the glowing radiance that surrounded her.

Rachel's misty aura rolled down her arms and enveloped him, then she began to carefully study the older man. After only a few seconds, she frowned with concern and said, "You've been getting migraines, haven't you? Bad ones..."

Charles' eyes widened and he blurted out, "Yes, but how did-" He didn't finish the sentence, his words trailing off into a shocked gasp at the soft tickling sensation that flooded his senses.

"Elevated blood pressure is aggravating the synapses in your frontal lobe," she said quietly, her brow furrowed with concern. "With all the stress you're putting yourself under, you're likely to have a massive hemorrhagic stroke within the year. Let me take care of that for you..."

Alyssa ran her hand over his shoulder and grinned at him. "You're part of our team. One of the perks is great health benefits."

John and the girls watched for a minute as Rachel gave their shocked guest an exhaustive check-up, with Charles trying not to laugh at the soft tickling sensation shrouding his body.

"There, all done," Rachel finally said with satisfaction, removing her hand from his and dismissing her healing aura.

Charles blinked in surprise then pulled the brunette into a fierce hug. "I can't believe it! My head feels absolutely clear for the first time in years!" There were tears in his eyes as he patted her on the back. "You don't know what a relief that is! Thank you!"

She hugged him back, squeezing him gently. "You're quite welcome." When Charles released her, she continued in an admonishing tone, "Now I've done everything I can, but you'll need to work to maintain your health. Not too much alcohol and get plenty of exercise... then you'll age gracefully through to those extra twenty years."

He laughed and nodded. "I feel like I could wrestle a bear! I won't waste this gift, I promise."

Rachel gave him a peck on the cheek. "Good. We're all quite fond of you, we want you around for a long time to come." She rose to her feet and glanced at John. "If you'll excuse me, I need to make a house call with Mr. Henry Voss..."

"Thanks for all your help, honey," John replied, giving her a grateful smile. His smile wavered as the tawny-haired girl walked away and he couldn't help worrying about letting her travel unguarded, even on an ostensibly friendly station like Olympus. He called out to her, "Rachel, can you ask Sakura to go with you?"

She paused and looked back at him, the appreciation for his concern quite evident in her soft grey eyes. "Don't worry, I'm expecting company." Rachel blew him a kiss, then turned and glided from the Officers' Lounge.

*Tashana's already geared up...* Alyssa informed him, her tone soothing. *She'll be her bodyguard while Rachel's off the ship.*

*Perfect, thank you,* he replied, relaxing again.

Turning his attention back to Charles, he was surprised at the dramatic effect Rachel's healing had just had on the man. His old friend was sitting up straighter now, no longer burdened by the stress and anxieties that had plagued him with headaches for years.

"If only I were thirty years younger... she's a hell of a girl," Charles murmured wistfully, his awestruck gaze following Rachel down the corridor before the door closed behind her.

"You'll get no argument from me there," John said with a smile, before taking another sip of whiskey.

Charles blushed and he darted an apologetic glance at John, then at Calara and Alyssa. "Sorry, I shouldn't be staring at her like that."

John waved away his apology. "She's absolutely gorgeous, you'd have to be dead not to notice."

"I just... well, I can't believe what she did..." the older man marvelled, glancing down at his body. "I feel like I've been given a new lease on life."

"You only live once," Alyssa said with a teasing smile. "You need to make the most of it..."

"That's excellent advice, young lady," Charles replied, raising his glass. "I'm sure the good doctor won't object to me drinking to that!"

They all joined him in a toast, clinking glasses together before having a drink.

John watched his friend for a moment, then said, "I wanted to speak to you about the meeting with High Command tomorrow. All being well, Admiral Devereux should be attending with me and the girls."

"I assumed you had Lynette tucked away somewhere aboard the Invictus," Charles said, his curiosity piqued and his concern obvious. "How's she doing? Is she alright?"

"We've healed her injuries, but she's asleep at the moment," John replied, deliberately omitting a few important details. "She was shot multiple times in the back and critically wounded, with one of the bullets causing massive damage to her spine. She'll be alright now, but Lynette was paralysed from the waist down when we found her. It'll take her a little while to fully recover."

"I admire her bravery in trying to warn you about the Kintark, but I wish she'd told me the full story when we met on Olympus," Charles said with a rueful sigh. "Maybe we could have found another solution that wouldn't have ended up with her nearly getting killed."

"She was worried about you," Alyssa said quietly. "Lynette realised how important you were to the refit operations; we need to upgrade the Terran fleets to face the Progenitor threat. She decided that you were more important to the future of the Federation than she was, so didn't want to expose you to danger. Unfortunately, she underestimated how ruthless Buckingham could be."

Charles listened quietly, nodding his agreement as he considered the selfless sacrifice his fellow admiral had made.

"Would you have a problem with nominating her as Fleet Admiral tomorrow?" John asked, putting his drink down on the table. "I know you're not interested and I can't think of anyone else more suitable."

"She's more than proved herself in my eyes," Charles said with conviction. "I'll be happy to suggest her as a replacement for Buckingham."

"Thanks, Charles," John said with a grateful smile. "I think it would be better coming from someone else, rather than Lynette putting her own name forward. I'd nominate her myself, but I'm just a Vice Admiral, so I'm not actually part of High Command... just in case anyone decides to become a stickler for the rules."

"Just a Vice Admiral..." Charles said with a chuckle, shaking his head. "Quite the meteoric rise from Marine Commander aboard the Invictus." His moustache twitched as he grinned. "Have you decided whether you're still retired or not?"

John laughed and gave him a helpless shrug. "I think I've been well and truly forced out of retirement for the moment. Hopefully we can deal with the other Progenitor in the upcoming few months, then I really will retire for good."

"After the shockwaves you've just sent through the Admiralty, I can't imagine you just leaving all this behind you," Charles said with a wry smile. "Are you sure you won't be keeping an eye on things to make sure High Command doesn't go off the rails again?"

Slowly shaking his head, John quietly replied, "I'm only doing this right now because I have to. The politics never interested me and I'm tired of all the fighting. I just want to settle down and raise a family... it took me a while to realise what I wanted, but now I really want that life."

Alyssa rose from her seat and sat beside John, then leaned in to give him a tender kiss on the cheek. He smiled at her as he put an arm around her shoulders, then she joined Calara in snuggling up to him.

"You're a very lucky man, John," Charles said, glancing at the two beautiful young women before smiling at his friend.

"I like to believe that you make your own luck, Admiral Harris," John said with a friendly wink.

Charles laughed and took another sip of his whiskey. "Alright, better tell me your plans for the Invictus repairs before I turn green with envy."

"Dana informs me it'll take a good 48 hours to get all the work done," John explained. "Docking Bay One was great for the reception earlier, but not really practical for the repairs... I'd prefer something a lot smaller that we can keep completely secure."