Three Square Meals Ch. 063

At the end of the day, she enjoyed how much he nurtured her emotionally as much as the rest of the girls did, so she shrugged her shoulders, and settled back in the chair. She closed her eyes to check on her beautiful wards, and smiled when she looked in on Calara and Irillith. It turned out that the Maliri girl had another reason for wanting some time alone with the sultry Latina, and she was asking for some rather intimate advice about a subject to which Calara had become something of an expert.

Smiling as she eavesdropped their conversation, she looked at the metaphysical representations of the girls in her mind. She could feel Calara's worry for her father and brother radiating from her crystal image, but they couldn't do much to stem her fears until they met this Fleet Admiral. Other than that, the lovely brunette was happy and content, her heart filled with love for John, Alyssa, and all her adopted sisters.

Irillith was similarly happy, delighting in the unquestioning acceptance she felt from the other members of their little group. Alyssa sometimes forgot that Irillith was older than all of them, except for Jade, but the Nymph's buoyant spirit just made her seem like a teenager. The Maliri's youthful appearance made her seem like she was only in her early twenties, but there were occasions when those decades of extra experience shone through, reminding Alyssa of her true age.

Talking of older women reminded her of Edraele, and she still struggled with the thought that the Matriarch had lived for over a century and a half. She knew that John and Edraele were getting closer, with their long-distance courtship over the past few weeks. Part of her wished he'd just banged her before he left, but she knew that was unfair, and John seemed to really enjoy his second Matriarch's company. Alyssa found his half of their telepathic conversations absolutely fascinating, and she hated not knowing what Edraele was thinking too. Although the Maliri woman was a century older than John, they sometimes seemed the same age, what with their confident self-assured personalities.

She turned her attention to Dana next, eager to check on her old friend. A big grin formed on her face when she realised just what she was up to at this moment, and she gave up on checking the rest of the girls as she relaxed and enjoyed Dana's aroused subconscious thoughts.

***

"Well I wasn't expecting that," Rachel said to John appreciatively, as she snuggled into him, her tousled tawny-brown hair draped over his shoulder.

He chuckled, which was made a little difficult with Jade lying on top of his chest, gazing at him with a look of wondrous adoration. Glancing down at Dana on his left, and Rachel on his right, he pulled them in closer, and asked, "What did you think we'd be doing, then?"

Dana tilted her head so she could make eye contact with him. Her sky-blue eyes were still heavily dilated with arousal, the golden corona clearly visible, and she said, "We thought we'd both be in for one hell of an ass-fucking after your recent promotion, -Rear Admiral-!"

He laughed, and said, "I'm saving that for later." He smiled at Jade and said, "I'd just had a romantic evening with a beautiful girl, and was just feeling in a loving mood."

Rachel turned slightly and tenderly kissed his chest as she said softly, "It was just what I needed, thank you."

"You're very welcome," he replied with a smile, leaning down to kiss the top of her head.

Dana rolled over onto her slightly rounded belly, smiling a moment as she felt the extra weight around her midriff, then stared straight into his eyes. "John... Would you mind if I asked you something?" she asked him, with her most beguiling smile.

He grinned at the exuberant young woman, and replied, "Go ahead, you can ask me anything."

Her eyes flashed with lust as she blurted out, "Did you really fuck Jade as a catgirl?!"

John could feel his face heating up, and he quickly glanced at the Nymph lying atop him. She sat up a little and met his gaze, saying honestly, "I didn't say a word, I promise!"

"Alyssa tells us everything," Rachel murmured, sounding a little drowsy. "Don't worry, we think it's hot."

"Oh my God!" Dana gasped, giddy with excitement. "Please let me be there next time! That must have looked so fucking awesome!"

Jade relaxed against him again, and said, "You would have loved it, he was spectacular."

"Please John! I'll do anything!" Dana pleaded with him.

He shook his head with amusement, and said, "Alright, but you're giving me carte blanche to do whatever I like to your sexy little body."

"That sounds nearly as exciting!" she replied with a wild grin on her face.

"Shh! Tryin' to sleep," Rachel mumbled, cuddling closer to John.

Dana bit her lip to stifle a giggle, then settled down again, using his shoulder as a comfy pillow. Surrounded by sleepy girls, and having emptied his quad, John felt relaxed and at peace. He watched the soothing, ethereal green lights trailing slowly across the ceiling, the lines matching the pulses of light from Jade's body. The Nymph's breathing slowed, and soon she drifted off to sleep, shortly followed by the feisty redhead.

*You and I need to have words, young lady,* John said to Alyssa disapprovingly.

She sent him a telepathic grin, and replied, *Just relax and enjoy the light show. Remember, I know these girls inside out, and they're as naughty as you are.*

He wasn't sure how to respond to that, so he sent her a telepathic "harrumph", then just enjoyed feeling the girls around him. He started getting drowsy himself, and before he finally fell asleep, he said, *Wake me in a few hours' time please, beautiful. I'd like to be there when Sakura comes round.*

*Of course, don't worry,* she thought to him soothingly.

It didn't take long for him to drop off, and soon all four of them were fast asleep.

***

The foursome only slept for two hours before Alyssa roused them, but that was all they really needed to feel refreshed. John had already napped a lot that day, and the sweet tasting pick-me-up had done wonders for the girls' energy levels. They enjoyed a quick shower together before heading down to the Medical Bay, where Alyssa, Calara, and Irillith were already waiting.

Alyssa handed John a cup of coffee, while the other girls did the same for the other new arrivals, and they sat around in the waiting area as they sipped the hot drinks. Calara gave John a brief overview of her search into Sakura's background, and he listened attentively to her summary.

Checking the ship's chronometer, John said, "Five minutes to go, assuming she's out for fourteen hours."

Glancing over at Sakura who was still fast asleep, Rachel said, "Are you sure we should all be here for this? She's already going to be in for a shock, we don't want to overwhelm her."

John looked around at the girls, and said, "Perhaps if just me, Alyssa, and Rachel speak to her at first? When we've explained the basics, we can introduce her to all of you."

Calara nodded, and said, "I've gathered as much information as I can about her parents, and a number of other things she might want to know. If you bring her to the Briefing Room, I can answer any questions she might have about her old life."

Sakura let out a soft moan as she began to stir, and John quickly rose to his feet, then strolled over to meet her with Alyssa at his side. She was carrying a big glass of water, already anticipating the girl's first request. As the others slipped quietly out of the Medical Bay, the girl groaned, then said in a hoarse voice, "Thirsty..."

John helped her to sit up, while Alyssa steadied the glass in Sakura's hand, helping her to drink. The raven haired girl gulped down the entire contents of the glass, and sighed with relief as she handed it back to Alyssa. Her eyelids had fluttered open, and she suddenly gasped when she got a look at the blonde.

"You attacked me!" she blurted out, shrinking back in fear.

Alyssa nodded, and replied, "You were trying to kill us at the time, Sakura. Do you remember any of what happened to you?"

The girl's head whirled about as she darted furtive looks around the big room, shrinking back from John when she saw him on the other side of the bed. There was a flicker of recognition in her eyes when she stared up at his face, and she blurted out, "You were my... I mean Shinatobe's target!"

He nodded, and replied, "My name's John, and this is Alyssa, my second-in-command, and Rachel, the ship's doctor." He glanced at each of the other girls as he mentioned their names, then squatted down beside the bed so that he was looking up at Sakura, and would seem less threatening. In a soothing voice, he continued, "We're not going to hurt you. We've been working to free you from the man who enslaved you."

"Amatsu Mikaboshi!" she gasped, looking around fearfully once more.

"It's okay," John said, keeping his voice gentle and reassuring. "I fought him, and he ran away when I hurt him. He won't be troubling you again."

"Shinatobe fought you," Sakura said, her eyes wide. "Why would you help me?"

Alyssa sat on the other side of the bed, and said in a firm voice, "Sakura, look at me please."

The frightened young woman did as she asked, staring at Alyssa with her big brown eyes. There was another flicker of recognition there, but she frowned with confusion a moment afterwards.

"I've spoken to you before," Alyssa said, her voice softer now. "Not to Shinatobe, to you, Sakura. I reached out to your mind, and explained what we were about to do, to save you from Mikaboshi. Do you remember?"

"You seem so familiar," Sakura murmured, her fear slowly melting away. She looked puzzled as she said, "I remember you speaking to me, and I knew I could trust you..."

Rachel smiled at the bewildered young woman, and said, "Don't worry, we'll explain everything that's happened. Just take your time, there's no need to rush anything."

The Asian girl gave her a tentative smile in return, then looked down at her lap. She gasped in shock again when she saw her heavily rounded belly. Placing both hands on it she felt the taut skin, and her eyes went even wider as she suddenly remembered why she was in that condition.

Her head snapped to one side, and she stared at John in stunned disbelief as she blurted out, "This is your..." She didn't finish the sentence, and just stared at him in shock.

Alyssa leaned in a little, and said quietly, "Yes, that's right. Your stomach is full of John's cum. I spoke to your subconscious to ask your permission to do this; it was the only way we could heal your wounds."

Sakura held out her arms in front of her, staring with disbelieving eyes at the lovely slender limbs, all traces of the scarring and subdermal plating completely removed. She threw another glance at Alyssa, further recognition in her eyes, before she swung back to stare at John again. There was a subtle change in her shocked expression now though, one more of wonder, rather that fear.

"You're a Progenitor," Sakura whispered in awe, the cadence of her words making John realise she was repeating something she'd been told. "You roam the galaxy helping good people, and bringing evil people to justice. You have superhuman abilities, and you wanted to use them to help me. When a girl swallows your... cum... it lets you heal her."

John raised an eyebrow as he glanced at Alyssa, then replied to the stunned girl, "Essentially yes, that's right. Mikaboshi did some terrible things to you, and I wanted to help undo them. You were a good person, and you never deserved any of what happened to you."

She looked away a moment, then winced as she said, "I was abducted. They attacked me..."

Alyssa reached out to gently stroke the girl's shoulder, and said, "It's alright, I know what happened to you. You showed me the memories."

"How?" Sakura replied, turning to stare at Alyssa now. "I feel like we've spoken before, but this doesn't make any sense!"

Looking at the glass she still held in her hand, Alyssa concentrated on it, then slowly levitated it into the air. "I have abilities too," she said quietly. "It might be hard for you to understand at first, but I think you know we don't mean you any harm."

Sakura gaped at the glass in utter astonishment, watching spellbound as Alyssa floated it over to a table.

John cleared his throat, drawing her attention, and asked her, "Do you remember what happened after you were handed over to Mikaboshi?"

She did well to shake off her shock at seeing telekinesis for the first time, but she grimaced, and said in a tremulous voice, "They operated on me, turned me into a monster..." She covered her face with her hands, overcome by the horrendous memories, and began to weep.

"You poor girl, you've been through so much," John said as he gently rubbed her back. "All that's over with now though, and you're back to your old self again."

When he nodded to Rachel, she stepped around to the side of the bed, and said, "Here's a mirror, take a look for yourself."

Sakura brushed her arm across her eyes, wiping away her tears, then reached for the mirror with a shaking hand. Rachel helped her hold it, and the girl gasped in amazement as she stared at her reflection.

"It's me, but I never looked that pretty before!" she gasped, then rubbed at her eyes, and stared at her reflection once again.

She peeked underneath the sheet to look at the rest of her body, but she was fully dressed in some clothes she didn't recognise.

Alyssa saw her confusion, and said, "The jumpsuit Shinatobe was wearing was shredded, so I dressed you in some of my girlfriend's old clothes. She was about your build."

Sakura took a shuddering breath, then nodded at Alyssa in gratitude.

Rachel had been carefully watching Sakura's actions, and she said, "I know you're curious about the rest of your body. It might be easier to show you what you looked like before, and how you look now. Do you want to see?"

"Alright..." Sakura mumbled, then shook herself, and said in a stronger voice, "Yes, please."

Rachel turned to her Medical Console and pressed several buttons. After only a short pause, two images appeared. The first was grotesque, showing Sakura as she'd looked with all the plating crammed under her skin, her cryo-frostbitten flesh, and the latticework of surgical scars. The second showed her as she was now: slim, beautiful, and not a scar on her body.

Sakura gaped at the two images in utter amazement, and waving faintly at the first image, she asked, "How could you possibly undo all that?!"

"You said it yourself," John said, nodding towards her swollen belly. "When a girl swallows my cum, I'm able to heal her of all sorts of things. Your tummy will shrink back to normal size in a few hours' time."

The black-haired girl met his gaze once more, and her eyes were filled with gratitude as she said, "Thank you so much for saving me. I thought I was lost in that hell forever."

John reached out to hold her hand, then squeezed it gently as he said, "You're quite welcome." He studied her face for a moment, then added, "Do you remember what happened after the surgery?"

She nodded, looking haunted as she replied, "I couldn't control my body any more. Mikaboshi made me attack people... murder them." She shivered with revulsion, before she continued, "Shinatobe killed hundreds; one a day for at least a couple of years."

*She doesn't realise how long she's been like this,* Alyssa said sadly. *She can't have any idea it's been over seventy years.*

John squared his shoulders, then said to the subdued girl, "We looked into your background, Sakura. Your full name is Sakura Honami, and you were born on New Eden on the 12th of February 2684. Is that right?"

She met his gaze, and nodded, replying, "Yes, that's right."

"Do you know what date it is now?" he asked her gently.

With a confused frown on her face, she admitted, "Sorry, I don't know. If I've been held captive for a couple of years, it must be late 2704?"

He slowly shook his head, and said, "Do you remember the picture Rachel showed you? How damaged your skin was?"

She nodded, looking worried now, and said, "Yes, it looked absolutely horrible. What happened to me? What are you saying?!"

Rachel's voice was full of sympathy as she explained, "The skin damage was cryo-frostbite from being put into cryostasis hundreds of times."

"Hundreds of times!" Sakura exclaimed in alarm. Her eyes flicked to John, and she gasped, "What year is it? How long was I in stasis for?!"

John spoke to her quietly as he replied, "We think you've been in stasis for at least seventy-five years, being brought out a day at a time for each assassination. The year is 2779."

"Seventy-five years... 2779..." Sakura whispered, her brain too numbed with the shock to react. Her eyes suddenly widened, and she cried out, "My parents?!"

John could feel her trembling with fear as he held her hand, but he couldn't give her the answer she so desperately craved. "I'm so sorry, Sakura," he replied, his voice full of sympathy for the tragic young woman.

Heartbroken, she curled up on the bed, her body wracked with sobs as she whimpered, "Mom... Dad..."

John glanced at Rachel and Alyssa, and they got up and left her to her grief, giving her some privacy as she struggled to cope with the dreadful shock and feelings of loss. When Sakura had finally cried herself out, John approached her again, sympathy etched on his face when he saw her mournful expression.

She looked his way when she heard him approach, and she whispered, "What happened to them? I have to know."

His voice was kind as he replied, "One of my crew did a background search. If you come with me, she'll be able to tell you what you want to know."

Sakura nodded, but didn't say any more, simply climbing off the bed, and walking over to join him. He led her over to the door, with Alyssa and Rachel falling into step behind them. The grav-tube drew a look of confusion from the grieving girl, so he briefly explained how it worked before stepping into the blue anti-gravity field at her side. She gave him a wan smile despite herself as they began to float upwards, and when they arrived at the Command Deck, he offered her his hand to help her step out of the tube.

The rest of the crew were waiting up here, and they gave her tentative, sympathetic smiles as she walked past them. Sakura was too absorbed in her grief to acknowledge them though, and she drifted along at John's side, her hand still clutching his for support. Calara rose from her chair and opened the door to the Briefing Room, then walked inside to wait for them there. Rachel walked over to join Dana, leaving just John and Alyssa to accompany the girl into the room.

John pulled a chair out for Sakura to sit down, and she finally released his hand as she sat, before crossing hers in her lap. She looked small, vulnerable, and alone like that, her face drawn from crying. His heart went out to her, and he glanced across the room at Calara, who was wearing a similar look of empathy for the grieving young woman.

The brunette sat down next to Sakura, and said gently, "Hello, my name's Calara. I'm very sorry for your loss."

Sakura met the other girl's gaze, and even though she was wracked with grief, she managed to smile bravely in thanks. "John said you can tell me what happened to my parents?" she asked, her voice catching at the end.

After taking a deep breath, Calara replied, "Your father passed away ten years ago, and your mother six. It was peaceful for both of them. They never had any other children, and I couldn't find any record of other surviving relatives."

Sakura's shoulders trembled, but she bit back her tears, and asked in a choked voice, "Did you find any pictures of them? I can't believe they're gone. I need to see them again."