Three Square Meals Ch. 091

*So much of Tashana's mind was focused on all the trauma she'd experienced, there was no way for me to easily separate it all. I guess I forgot about that while I've been powering her up over the last few weeks. Now her mind's complete again, it's like her natural talent is merging with my enhancements...* he stopped mid-sentence, a frown on his face. *You didn't answer my question earlier. Are you worried she might have trouble coping?*

*Oh, sorry! No, I just meant that she's so much stronger mentally now,* Alyssa clarified. *I think she'll be okay, but I'll keep a very careful eye on her emotions just in case she gets distressed.*

*Thanks, honey,* John replied, walking into his wardrobe and pulling on some boots. *How's everything going with the evac?*

*Just about done, actually,* Alyssa replied, her tiredness starting to come through in her voice again. *We've loaded nearly eleven thousand Trankarans on board and-*

*How many?!* John blurted out in shock.

*Yeah, you heard me right; eleven thousand. Rachel wanted to bring all the infested civilians along with the wounded, just in case there were any complications after their treatment. The Primary Hangar looks like it was buried in a rockslide!*

Striding out of his room and into the corridor on Deck Two, John frowned with worry. *Can the Trankaran fleet handle that many refugees? I'd like to rendezvous with Edraele as quickly as we can, so I don't want to get bogged down in some lengthy relocation mission.*

*Rachel's confident her patients will make a full recovery and Chancellor Niskera thinks Thandrun's fleet has capacity. Oh, she's asked to see you by the way. Do you want to meet her in your Ready Room?*

*Who? Rachel or Niskera?* John asked in confusion. He chuckled as he stepped into the blue grav-tube field and added, *Actually, it doesn't matter which. 'Yes' to either of them!*

*Niskera wanted a chat,* Alyssa clarified for him. *I'll bring her up.*

*Thanks, beautiful. You should get some rest afterwards, I know how tired you are,* he said, his voice full of sympathy.

There was a brief lull in the conversation and John stepped out onto the Bridge, waving distractedly at Faye as he awaited an answer from Alyssa.

*Actually I feel much better now!* the blonde suddenly replied, sounding much more cheerful. *I tapped a bit of energy from Tashana, seeing as how she's just had a second wind. I'd like to sit in on your conversation with Niskera, as long as you don't mind?*

*You're always welcome,* he replied with an affectionate telepathic smile. *See you soon.*

Rather than waiting in his Ready Room, John walked towards Faye, who beamed at him happily.

"Tashana looked so much happier after your talk with her!" the purple sylph-like girl said, her wings fluttering as she perched on his console. "I know I always feel amazing after one of our chats!"

"Speaking of which, anything you want to discuss with me at the moment?" John asked her with a smile.

Faye opened her mouth to reply, but hesitated before she spoke. "There is, but it can wait. Alyssa and the Chancellor are on their way."

"Remind me later and we'll talk it over," John promised the cheerful purple-hued girl, as he finished climbing the steps up to the Commander's Chair. He reached out to run his fingers down one of her slender holographic arms, being careful not to break the image. "You excelled yourself today, honey. I just wish you had a body so I could give you a hug to show my appreciation."

"Me too," Faye said breathlessly, while gazing into his eyes with a dreamy look on her elfin face. She blushed as she snapped herself out of her daze. "I'm just really glad I was able to help!"

He heard conversation in the grav-tube behind him and when he turned around, Niskera and Alyssa stepped onto the Bridge. As soon as Niskera saw him, she immediately went quiet, that same look of awe on her face that he'd seen back in the tunnels under Mulbharum. Alyssa pointed out the door to the Ready Room, then jogged down the ramp towards the Briefing Room to remove her armour.

John smiled at the Trankaran Chancellor and said, "I'll join you in a moment, Niskera. I just wanted to have a quick word with Alyssa, then I'll be right there."

"Let me help you get comfortable!" Faye offered, leaping off the console and fluttering down to join the tall grey-skinned woman.

Alyssa reappeared on the Bridge a few moments after Niskera had disappeared into the Ready Room. She ruffled her hair, then swept it over her shoulders, managing to still look gorgeous despite being in combat for the last three hours. She glided up the steps to join him on the Command Podium, so that she could set a course for Fleet Warden Thandrun's fleet in the Delta Corvus system.

"You had the right idea getting a shower," she said with a self-conscious smile as she reached the top of the steps. "I'd love a long hot soak in the-"

John swept her into his arms and gave her a passionate kiss. She knew what he was planning, but the intensity still caught her by surprise. Alyssa returned it with equal longing, tangling her fingers in his hair as she moaned into his mouth.

When they eventually parted, she let out a happy sigh. "I'll wreck the Invictus more often if I get kisses like that as a reward!"

He pulled her into a close hug. "I'm sorry I was sharp with you earlier. I hate exposing you to danger like that and when I saw all the damage to the ship, I panicked..."

"We were okay," she said gently. "Calara was incredible... she guided us through one hell of a shitstorm."

"How did it get that bad?" he asked, lightly brushing her cheek with the backs of his fingers. "I thought she had everything all planned out."

"Sakura..." Alyssa said, her expression a fine balance between admiration and irritation. "She went off-mission and we had to do something. Calara said we would have lost her if we hadn't intervened."

"It sounds like you didn't have any choice." John exhaled deeply then shook his head. "Let's talk about this later during the debrief."

"Let me plot a course for the Trankaran fleet, then I'll come and join you," Alyssa said, darting a glance at the Ready Room.

John smiled at her and released her from his arms. "See you in a minute."

He walked down the steps then over to the Ready Room and found Chancellor Niskera sitting on one of the sofas, waiting for him patiently. She rose to her feet in a gesture of respect as soon as he walked through the door.

"Vice Admiral Blake, thank you so much for agreeing to speak with me," she said deferentially and for a moment John thought she was about to genuflect to him.

He nodded to Faye, who smiled at them then disappeared in a purple flash. Walking over to join the Trankaran Chancellor, he reached out to take one of her hands in his, Niskera's amber eyes going wide at the contact.

"I'm just a man, Niskera, I'm not some terrifying god you need to be in awe of. Oh, and please just call me John. There's no need to stand on ceremony," he said with a disarming smile.

"But all the things you can do! You are a 'Progenitor' aren't you? Like the Great Ma... I mean Mael'nerak was?" she asked haltingly.

John gestured to the sofa behind her. "Please take a seat and we'll talk... like friends, okay?"

She nodded and slowly sat down on the sofa, then watched as he sat on the chair to her right. They sat there looking at one another for a long moment, until John broke into a smile and shook his head.

"I know you wanted to speak to me, but I'm curious about something too. You seem to know quite a bit about the battle between Mael'nerak and his enemy. Would you tell me what you know?" he requested politely.

She nodded, a curious expression on her face. "Where would you like me to start?"

"Perhaps with what you know about your Great Maker first?" he asked, sitting forward and listening intently.

Clearing her throat, she began to speak and from her tone it sounded like she was recounting something she'd read or heard. "The Great Maker shaped the people in his grand forge, bringing them forth to serve as his most treasured servants. The people were strong and hardy, and he was pleased to see us hone our skills with rock and metal. For many years we served him, helping to mine the metals his Favoured Ones needed to forge the great wheel."

Her voice dropped a few octaves as she continued, "All was good with the people, until Ranagon the Despoiler appeared amongst the stars one terrible day. Jealous of the wondrous accomplishments of the Great Maker, he brought forth the terrible War of the Heavens, determined to ruin everything the Maker had achieved."

John's ears pricked up at the mention of the name 'Ranagon', but he let her continue her story uninterrupted.

"The Despoiler razed entire worlds to ashes in his thirst for blood and destruction. None were safe from his wrath, not the rock-brethren, nor even the Favoured Ones; all fell before him. Hounded from our homeworld and forced to flee for our lives, the people despaired of ever finding peace again."

"Then just as suddenly as the War of the Heavens began, it ended, leaving us with nothing, our homes shattered and ruined. But the Great Maker had built the people to endure. The Rock-Brethren settled on new planets, mining the shattered remnants of our broken worlds, to help us rebuild what we had lost. The Despoiler was gone, just as the Great Maker had vanished, taking his Favoured Ones with him to the heavens, never to return."

Niskera gave John a self-conscious smile and finished by saying, "That's all I can tell you I'm afraid. So much was lost during the war that our history was kept alive by living memory. My people were too busy fleeing for their lives to keep accurate records." Her eyes gleamed as she continued, "It might sound like some silly myth to you, but I promise you that it is the truth. The Trankarans do not deceive each other over something as important as this."

"I believe every word," John said sincerely.

The door to the Ready Room slid open and Alyssa strode over to join them, sitting beside John. "Your history actually ties in with what we've already learned about Mael'nerak," she said to Niskera, before sharing a glance with John. "But this 'Ranagon the Despoiler' is new. We didn't know the name of the Progenitor that fought Mael'nerak."

Niskera looked at her in bewilderment. "How did you-?"

"I hear his thoughts," Alyssa explained with a warm smile. "You've seen some of the things John and the girls can do; well I'm telepathic... amongst other things."

"Thank you for telling us about your history," John said, drawing Niskera's startled eyes to him.

"It's the least I could do!" she exclaimed. "The Trankaran Republic owes you a huge debt! You must have saved over a hundred-thousand Mulbharum citizens from becoming hosts to the Kirrix!"

John paused for a moment, studying the Trankaran Chancellor. "I must admit that I had an ulterior motive when we liberated Khalgron. Don't get me wrong, I'm very glad that we were able to save your people from the Kirrix, but our main objective in coming here was to rescue you, Niskera."

"Me?" she asked, looking at him in surprise. "Why would you risk so much, just to save one person?"

"Because I'm trying to forge an alliance between the various empires that made up the Galactic League. The Maliri and the Ashanath are both firm allies with me now, and I'm working on the Terran Federation. I believe you have the skills and desire to help me bring the Trankaran Republic into that alliance," he explained, carefully studying her granite-grey face. "I was hoping that by rescuing you, it would help you consider an alliance more favourably."

"We agree!" Niskera blurted out, a look of joyful disbelief on her face. "Whatever your conditions, the Trankaran Republic wishes to ally with you, John Blake! I'll personally beat those thick-headed Senators into agreeing if I have to!"

John laughed and shared a smile with Alyssa. Then, his expression turned more serious. "You might want to hear everything else I have to tell you first. All our people are in great danger and while I could really use your help, I don't want you feeling like you weren't given the full picture before you agreed to an alliance."

To his surprise, Niskera rose to her feet and walked over to the long window, beckoning John and Alyssa to join her. When they did, she pointed at the massive debris field that trailed away from Khalgron. The broken remnants of ochre-coloured Insectoid ships stretched far away into space, forming a long trail of brutally smashed drone carriers.

"I've been speaking to the women on your crew. I know that using but a single ship and a crew of three, you were able to obliterate the Kirrix armada that devastated a whole fleet of Trankaran vessels." Her face fell and her voice thickened as she continued, "Warden Dulnir led our fleet in their defence of Khalgron. He was a good and loyal friend and I listened to every moment of their valiant last stand against the Kirrix. Despite his bravery, they were hopelessly outnumbered as they fought the swarm. With his last words to me, he begged me to save our people from the Kirrix threat and I fully intend to see his final wishes fulfilled."

John nodded his understanding then offered her his hand. When Niskera took it, he led her back to the sofas to retake their seats. "I won't hold you to anything yet, but you do need to know what we're up against. Let me tell you everything we know about the new Progenitor threat that we're facing. When I'm done, I'll give you time to think this through before you commit to anything."

She smiled at him indulgently. "My mind is made up, John. I'm quite certain there is nothing you can say that would convince me otherwise. However, I will listen to what you have to say."

John began by telling her what they knew of the other Progenitor. How he'd been stirring up trouble throughout the galaxy, instigating the war between the Terran federation and the Kintark Empire, and how Terra had nearly been destroyed by Nexus and his part in it. John explained how the Drakkar had tried to eliminate the Ashanath until their eventual destruction at the Battle of Ashana, and how the Ashanath had used the remnants of Mael'nerak's black ship to defend their homeworld.

Hearing mention of Mael'nerak, Niskera wanted to know everything he could tell her about the Great Maker. John carefully explained what they had discovered about that ancient Progenitor and his part in shaping the various empires that populated this part of the galaxy, including the Trankarans. She was deeply saddened to hear about his eventual fate, but John could see the look of admiration in her eyes as he described Mael'nerak's desperate gambit against his Progenitor adversary.

"He didn't abandon my people," she said quietly, when John explained about the blast that had devastated the Zeta-Pegasus system and created the Niryean Rift. "He sacrificed himself and saved all of us from The Despoiler."

"It looks that way," Alyssa agreed. "Mael'nerak was determined to save Valada, a Maliri girl he'd fallen in love with."

"I think the Maliri are the 'Favoured Ones', from your people's history," John said quietly to the Trankaran Chancellor. "It all fits, with Mael'nerak using the metals the ancient Trankarans mined to build Genthalas station in Maliri Space."

Niskera was shocked by this revelation, then listened in fascination as John explained about the Maliri's history and their special relationship with Mael'nerak.

"They were always so aloof and reclusive, I never would have guessed that they were the same people that worked closely with us in the past," Niskera marvelled, shaking her head in amazement. She looked at John with newfound wonder in her eyes as she continued, "And now you've assumed Mael'nerak's mantle of leadership over the Maliri."

"No, it's not like that," John replied, shaking his head. At the same time, Alyssa nodded and replied "Yes, basically."

Niskera looked at them both in confusion. "How can both answers be true?"

John shot Alyssa a frown. "You know I'm just trying to protect them. I'm not interested in being their King."

She rolled her eyes and smiled at him affectionately. "Have you forgotten who runs the six biggest Maliri Houses? Do you really think Edraele and the Young Matriarchs would disagree with anything you asked them to do? What about your plans for our little cross-border rendezvous? I know I'm really looking forward to seeing you fu-"

He cleared his throat loudly to cut her off, earning himself a wicked grin in return. Turning back to look at Niskera, he said, "Let's just say that the Maliri are very close allies. I've been working with them for a few months to try and address some of the problems they have in their society. In exchange, they're absolutely committed to helping me fight this other Progenitor."

"As am I," Niskera said, her voice solemn as she gazed into his eyes. "The last time two Progenitors fought to the death, my people were nearly exterminated in the process. Standing aside will not save us, not from the Kirrix, nor from this other Progenitor I suspect."

John nodded grimly. "I'm inclined to agree. He created the Glowing Queen and caused the rebellion in the Trankaran Republic. He was either hoping to take control of your people using her, or just seeking to cripple you badly enough to make you vulnerable to a Kirrix invasion."

Niskera listened in fascination, then exclaimed, "So that's why you were so adamant that the Glowing Queen needed to be assassinated! You were right of course; after her death, the rebellion ended practically overnight." She tilted her head to one side, studying him curiously. "You said that this other Progenitor created the Glowing Queen? I'm sure that explains why she had such tremendous sway over my people, but how did he accomplish such a thing? From everything I've heard about her, she was astonishingly beautiful to behold..."

John faltered and cleared his throat awkwardly. "Well the other Progenitor definitely made some changes to her, but that particular threat's dealt with now, so the details aren't all that important."

"Yes they are!" Alyssa protested. She grinned at Niskera and continued in a rush, "If we told you we knew of a way to make the entire Senate be like putty in your hands, would you be interested?"

"Alyssa!" John said sharply.

She whirled around to look at him, her eyes narrowing. "She's got a right to know this! It would solve all her problems overnight!" Alyssa broke into a smile and her melodic laughter echoed around the room as she added, "Literally in this case!"

Niskera reached across to gently touch John's hand. "Please tell me. If there's a way to unite the Senators, it will make galvanising the Senate into making preparations for war dramatically easier. The fate of the Trankaran Republic is hanging by a thread... I would be willing to make any sacrifice, no matter what the personal cost, to protect my people from the Kirrix and this Progenitor."

John frowned at the grinning blonde sitting next to him. "We need to have a long talk after this, young lady."

"Of course, John," she replied contritely, but he could tell she was anything but.

He sat back against the sofa and rubbed a hand over his face. With a sigh, he looked at Niskera who was watching him curiously. "Alright. I'll tell you, but only because you insisted." He glanced at one of the hidden cameras in the room and said in a louder voice, "Faye, could you show us a before and after shot of Alyssa please?"

Almost instantaneously the two pictures appeared, the first showing Alyssa as she'd originally looked when she stowed away on the Fool's gold. She was deathly pale, emaciated, and barely over five-feet-tall. The second showed her after a couple of weeks in his care, her bronzed, supple body practically glowing with health as she stood tall and statuesque in the holograph.