Three Square Meals Ch. 097

He was dimly aware of the Colossus' roars being abruptly cut off in a bubbling gurgle, and when he looked up from his bloody work, he saw Jade had her jaws clamped around the vast monster's neck. She tugged and strained, her gore-stained limbs digging into the mangled carcass for extra purchase before she yanked backwards, ripping out the creature's throat. She spat out the disgusting rubbery flesh, then gave him a toothy draconic grin.

John blinked in surprise, and realising she'd been faking her injuries, he noted with a wry smile, "You seem to have had a miraculous recovery..."

"I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT," she rumbled, nuzzling him affectionately with her massive horned head. "YOU JUST NEEDED SOME MOTIVATION, MASTER."

Jade turned and unleashed her lightning breath on the next wave of beasts, then bounded away to continue her enthusiastic slaughter, ripping the shrieking survivors apart with her gigantic claws. John stomped down on the body of a slithering reptilian monster that was bigger than a hover-truck and neatly decapitated the pinned creature with his sword. He paused for a moment to take stock of the battle looking back across the glade.

Below him, Dana, Tashana, and Sakura were busy shooting, freezing, and burning the incoming packs of monsters with ruthless efficiency. Mangled carcasses were piling up around the group, as relentless waves of abominations lumbered out of the fog. Although his team were holding their own against the horde, they'd run out of energy eventually and by the sounds coming from the fog, there were an unending legion of monsters still on their way.

"John!" Calara screamed, waving her hands at him. "It's Alyssa!"

He crouched down beside her, but still towered over the Latina, who was staring at his blonde Matriarch in panic. "What is it?!"

Before Calara answered he could see for himself... blood was trickling from Alyssa's nose and she'd gone deathly pale. Alyssa wavered and the Latina caught her, guiding her gently to the ground.

Looking up at him, Calara pleaded, "You've got to do something, John!"

A moment later the edge of the glade wavered, the field of grass appearing more insubstantial where it bordered the fog. John stared at it in alarm as the meadow contracted by a dozen metres, the pocket plane obviously shrinking. Now that he was focusing on the boundary between Alyssa's realm and the nightmarish sub-plane, he felt a familiar terrible presence looming just out of sight. He could feel it gloating in triumph as it battered against Alyssa's defences, slowly crushing the tiny sanctuary she'd created.

John looked down at the comatose teenager, her body slumped in Calara's arms. Alyssa was normally so strong and full of vitality, so to see her looking weak and frail was a terrible shock. Filled with cold fury at the ancient foe that seemed to take such delight in tormenting them, he rose to his feet and turned towards the edge of the clearing. He broke into a run, the startled calls from the girls ringing in his ears as he sped across the meadow. Jade and Edraele begged him to stop, their fearful telepathic voices echoing through his mind, but he ignored them all, remaining entirely focused on their despicable enemy.

His enormous armoured feet left metre-deep footprints in his wake and he carved his way through the startled monsters in his path as he sprinted through their ranks. Charging towards the boundary between the realms, he shouted a furious battlecry and dived headlong into the mists, plunging forward with his shining sword at the ready.

A shadowy form lurked just outside in the swirling fog, absolutely terrifying in its immensity and hideously alien in its nature. John battled through the waves of terror that assaulted him, his mind balking at the existence of something so abhorrently evil. He lunged at that towering malevolence and his flame-shrouded blade sank deep into its insubstantial form.

The inhuman shriek of agony that ripped from the ancient horror seemed to shear through his soul and the psychic backlash sent John cartwheeling backwards through the air. He landed with a thump, not back in Alyssa's pocket plane, but in the centre of his bedroom on the Invictus. The girls jolted back to consciousness with terrified screams an instant later, as their entire group was forcibly ejected from the Astral Plane.

They all clung to each other for comfort, with John holding Alyssa and Calara tightly in his arms. As they tried to settle their racing heartbeats, he was aware of a dampness against his heaving chest, and when he looked down, he saw a splash of red across the right side of his torso. It wasn't from him though, but from the blood pouring from Alyssa's nose. He sent a surge of regenerative energy through the injured girl, making her gasp at the sensation as he healed the lesions on her brain.

"Thank you..." she murmured, smiling gratefully at him for the sudden pain relief.

John closed his eyes and checked the rest of the girls, but was relieved to see that Calara, Sakura, and Irillith were fully healed from their previous injuries and were now only exhausted. It took several minutes for everyone to calm down, then they slowly sat up, looking around at each other with wide eyes.

Alyssa leaned her head against John's shoulder and sighed. "With hindsight... assaulting the Astral Plane might not have been one of our best plans..."

John put his arm around her and nodded, his face filled with remorse. "You're right. I should never have instigated this... I'm sorry I put all of you in so much danger."

Jade shook her head a stubborn glint in her piercing emerald gaze. "No, you're both wrong!"

He raised an eyebrow and said sorrowfully, "It doesn't really feel like it, honey."

She sat taller, looking at him with pride shining in her eyes. "For the first time, you were the cat, not the mouse!"

Sakura smiled at the Nymph. "She's right. That bastard got a taste of your claws and he didn't like it!"

"We all heard that howl when you attacked," Tashana said quietly, hugging her sister close. "It wasn't just pain I heard... there was shock..."

"And fear..." Irillith murmured, her voice sombre.

"That was terrifying and not something I'd ever care to repeat," Calara said in a hushed voice. "But we stormed the enemy's base and made him feel vulnerable. I'd say that was a significant strategic victory."

Rachel nodded looking hopeful. "At the very least, the master of that sub-plane might be reluctant to pull us back in there again."

"That's not something I'm eager to test anytime soon," John said, pausing for a moment and sharing a smile with the girls. "But you make a good point; that thing knows we can fight back now. At the very least, let's hope that makes it wary about coming after us for a while."

Tashana glanced at Alyssa, eyes widening as she blurted out, "That reminds me, how did you manage to create that pocket-plane?!"

"I got the idea after visiting the Ashanath," Alyssa explained with a self-conscious smile. "They said that Mael'nerak created their Command Network, and that only really powerful minds can make a sub-plane like that. Ularean was able to make a pocket within that plane and he's always going on about how much more powerful I am than him. So I figured... fuck it! If I'm going to be a really shitty houseguest, I'll just start ripping up that thing's home and really get settled in."

"You undoubtedly saved my life by creating it when you did," Irillith said, giving her a tired but very grateful smile. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, beautiful," the blonde replied, before giving her a playful wink. "But if you want to show me how appreciative you are, I certainly won't object."

"Whatever my Matriarch desires," the Maliri girl said, returning her smile. "After a little rest first... I'm exhausted."

"We should all get some sleep," John agreed, with a look of sympathy. He took a deep breath, then continued in a solemn voice, "All of you were incredible tonight. As terrifying as that was, knowing that I had you there to support me made all the difference, let alone how well you handled yourselves in the fight!"

They all looked pleased at his earnest praise and Dana exclaimed, "You were pretty impressive yourself! But there is one important thing I was curious about..."

John graciously accepted the compliments from the rest of the girls, then asked, "What was that, honey?"

"I was just wondering... When you were 'giant John' was everything to scale?" Dana asked, grinning at him as she darted a glance at his groin.

He laughed and rolled his eyes, but hearing the girls giggling at the redhead's joke made him feel much better about everything. He met Dana's blue-eyed gaze and gave her an appreciative smile for lightening the mood.

When they had settled down again, Faye walked over to the bed to join them. "I'm sorry to interrupt, I know how important these debriefing meetings are!"

"Go ahead, Faye," John said, giving her a smile of encouragement. "What's up?"

"We're approaching the Brimorian border and it looks like they have a military fleet guarding their territory," she warned him, appearing anxious. "I thought it might be sensible if you were to come up to the Bridge to speak with them."

He nodded and moved around Alyssa to climb off the bed. "Let me get dressed, I'll be right there."

John headed towards the walk-in-wardrobe, then paused when he remembered his chest was daubed in Alyssa's blood. He looked back at the blonde and beckoned her to join him as he walked into the bathroom. He had already cleaned himself up by the time Alyssa entered the cubicle, alerting him to her presence with a light touch to his shoulder. Frowning at the sight of the dried blood around her nose, he gently washed her clean as she waited patiently before him.

"There, that's better," he said, pleased at his handiwork. "Beautiful as ever."

Alyssa's smile wavered and she flung her arms around his chest, her face crumbling as she finally let her guard down. "God... that was fucking terrifying!"

"You don't need to be brave for the girls," John said softly, stroking her back and holding her close in a soothing embrace. "Every single one of them adores you, they'd fall all over themselves to be your shoulder to cry on."

She hugged him tighter and murmured, "You don't want the job any more?"

"I'm always here for you, but you can open up with them too," he replied with a smile, kissing her on the forehead.

They stood together for a while until she calmed, drawing strength from his arms around her. Alyssa glanced up at him an anxious expression on her beautiful face. "I know how much they rely on me being strong for them... I just don't want to let the girls down."

"They know you're strong! You saved all of us today," John said, letting his sheer admiration for her fill his voice. "While I was running around like a headless chicken trying to rebuild my hex shield, you just decided to remake the world..."

She laughed and stood taller, buoyed up by his praise. "I wish I could've seen that thing's face when I basically redecorated his lounge."

Laughing with her, John nodded. "Yeah, definitely the shittiest houseguests ever." They shared a grin then he looked at her thoughtfully, cupping her head in his hands. "Our relationship is changing, isn't it?"

"What do you mean?" Alyssa asked, suddenly wary.

He kissed her to calm her worries. "I talked about us being partners before, but previously I just meant in terms of freeing you from my Progenitor control; I always wanted you to be my friend and lover, not a slave. Since then, you've taken to all this psychic stuff like a duck to water. It's like you're growing in leaps and bounds, while nothing's changed much for me recently."

"Do you mind?" she asked quietly, studying his face.

He chuckled and shook his head. "I don't resent you being better at psychic abilities than me, far from it. I actually feel bad about effectively dumping all that responsibility on you, but I guess we're just naturally inclined towards different things." He paused and looked at her with concern. "How about you? Do you mind?"

She gazed into his eyes and slowly shook her head. "Only if you start treating me differently. I love experimenting with powers and pushing the envelope with Athena's help, so I'm happy to handle that and leave you with the military stuff." Alyssa gave him a tender kiss then continued, "Always remember that you're in charge, especially in the bedroom."

"So you're happy as long as you get to keep taking my orders and my cum?" he asked with a flirtatious smile.

Alyssa laughed and nodded. "Yep, exactly!" It was her turn to look at him with admiration. "I could never do the things you do so effortlessly, like earning the girls' total devotion and leading us to victory after victory. I want to be there to support you every step of the way and if I can do that best by being your psychic specialist, that's quite alright by me."

"I'd be lost without you," John admitted, stroking her back and holding her close. "You're such a good girl."

"The best," she agreed, hugging him back. "I think you're a good man too."

He pulled back and smiled. "The best?"

Alyssa giggled and nodded. She paused for a second and raised an eyebrow. "Also the tardiest... weren't you supposed to be on the Bridge speaking to the Brimorians?"

"I can't help it, you're too distracting," he replied while faking a frown, reluctantly releasing her from their embrace and leaving the shower.

"Don't be long," she said with a soft smile as she waved goodbye. "I want to fall asleep in your arms..."

John felt like he was floating on clouds as he went to get dressed, even humming a happy tune to himself as he left the walk-in-wardrobe. Despite the fact that they'd been fighting for their very lives against some antediluvian horror less than an hour earlier, spending time with Alyssa was always guaranteed to send his spirits soaring.

Faye rose from her chair and matched his pace as he left the bedroom, walking along with a light bounce to her step. He glanced down at her and smiled. "I'm not used to you keeping me company in the corridors like this. Normally it's 'Poof!' there you are!"

"Being a holograph was pretty handy," Faye said with a rueful smile. "It's taking a little getting used to, remembering to bring my body wherever I need to go!"

"Buyer's remorse?" John asked playfully.

She giggled and shook her head. "No! Of course not." Glancing up at him, she continued in a tentative voice, "I thought I'd keep my body as near to you as possible... just in case you need me for anything. I don't want you to feel like I'm stalking you though!"

John reached for her hand and squeezed it gently as they stepped into the grav-tube. "I've always liked you watching over us while we slept. I won't have a problem with having a cute purple shadow."

Faye beamed at him, looking delighted. "Will I be able to come with you off the ship too?"

They stepped onto the Command Deck, Faye Secondary exchanging a nod with Primary before vanishing in a purple flash.

John walked up the illuminated steps to the Command Podium while he thought about her question. "Provisionally yes, as long as it isn't going to be too dangerous," he replied, sitting in his Command Chair.

Faye hopped up onto his console and crossed her legs demurely, then gave him a worried frown. "But if I'm nearby when there's danger, I can help protect you and the girls!" She tapped her chest and added, "My chassis is made from crystal Alyssium remember..."

John placed a hand on her thigh to give her a reassuring pat as he would any of the girls, but the warmth and firmness beneath his fingers was very distracting. He gently stroked her silky-smooth purple skin, lost in the sensations as he murmured, "Actually, I'd forgotten..."

Faye squeaked in shock. "Oh my!"

He pulled his hand away as if he'd been scalded and blurted out, "I'm so sorry, Faye! I know we said we'd take things slow... you just felt so good and I forgot we didn't have that kind of relationship for a second!"

She managed to get her fluttering eyelashes under control and blushed as she shook her head. "You just took me by surprise, that's all." Giving him a shy smile, Faye reached for his hand and placed it on her bare thigh once again. "I've always longed for the kind of tactile relationship you have with the girls. I'd be a fool to turn down the chance now!"

John brushed his fingers just above her knee, trying to keep things fairly chaste. "That okay with you?"

Faye bobbed her head, grinning wildly at him. "Perfect!"

They shared a smile as he caressed her and then John said, "Anyway, we were talking about you coming with us off the ship. As I say, in non-combat scenarios, you're welcome to come along, but in a pitched battle I don't want to expose you to unnecessary danger..."

Faye protested, "But I-"

He held up a hand so that she would let him finish. "It would be different if you had a set of armour, but there's logistical difficulties in designing and storing your own bespoke suit. And as unlikely as it sounds, it's far easier and quicker for me or Rachel to patch up the girls than it would be for Dana to repair you. So I want to keep you safe, at least for the time being."

"Okay, that sounds reasonable," Faye reluctantly agreed.

John glanced at the Sector Map that lit up the Bridge with a soft blue glow. "I better have a chat with the Brimorians. Assuming they let us into the Enclave, then your first jaunt off the ship could be on Brimor..."

"Yay!" Faye exclaimed in delight, clapping her hands.

Clearly marked on the map was a Brimorian fleet, consisting of far more ships than he would have expected for a normal border patrol force. Faye was watching him attentively and zoomed in the map so that he could study the large formation of alien ships. The Invictus was just inside the Maliri side of the border and the Brimorians were well-within sensor range, close enough for him to be able to see the size and shape of their vessels.

Brimorian vessels were wildly exotic compared to their Terran Federation counterparts, with different designs for the various ship classifications, but each still following the same general aesthetic theme. Their ships looked a little like a reverse squid, with long, curved superstructure at the prow, the stern ending in sweeping tails, each slender protrusion actually a navigation vane. The Brimorian vessels were a mixture of dark-blues and purples, with strips of aquamarine adding a flash of bright colour along the flanks.

Humanity had underestimated the Brimorians when they first encountered them, assuming the elegant vessels would be weak and easy to defeat. While their hulls were no match for a Terran Federation warship, the Brimorians relied on their advanced shield technology to protect themselves, rather than thick titanium armour plating. The effectiveness of those shields had been a surprise to the Terran forces all those centuries ago; a most unpleasant one that ended up costing many thousands of lives.

*Looks like we stirred them up,* John said wryly to Edraele as he studied the fleet, noting a mix of cruisers, light carriers, and picket ships led by a battleship.

*Ambassador Circhoi must have passed on my kindest regards to the Deep-Pool,* she replied with a telepathic smile. *Fortunately, the Brimorians haven't given Lilyana's fleet any trouble so far.*

John leaned back in his chair and rubbed his chin, lost in thought. *Any advice for dealing with the Brimorians? I've only visited the Enclave twice before and thought it best not to hang around. There was strong anti-Terran feeling the first time I visited and it hasn't improved in the last eight years.*

*Perhaps emphasise that you're not a Terran yourself?* Edraele suggested. *Of course, you're welcome to drop my name if you so choose, although it might be prudent to keep the true nature of our relationship a secret.*