Three Square Meals

Alyssa slipped her arm around John's and admired his reflection in the mirror. "I have to hand it to Mael'nerak, the man really knew how to make an impression. You look magnificent."

John glanced down at the beautifully tailored suit, with its high neck and stylish lines, then gave her a self-conscious smile. "There's certainly no fading into the background wearing this... but are you sure it says 'benevolent protector' not 'tyrannical overlord'?"

She turned to face him and stroked his cheek. "It's your smile that makes all the difference. I think it says 'handsome prince'... but I freely admit to being more than a little biased."

He laughed and gave her an affectionate kiss, then gestured towards the door. "We better head up to the Bridge."

"It's okay, Dana volunteered to land us on Genthalas," Alyssa said, accompanying him through the bedroom and into the Deck Two corridor. "We can go straight to the airlock and disembark as soon as the Invictus touches down. I know you don't want to keep Edraele and her girls waiting a minute longer than you have to."

"That was very thoughtful, thank you," John replied, as they walked towards the grav-tubes. "I can't believe it's been a month since we last saw them. So much has happened since then; saving Terra, the Kirrix campaign, defeating Larn'kelnar, rescuing the Kintark from the Brimorians... the list seems endless."

Alyssa nodded and gave his hand a supportive squeeze. "Don't forget you also met your parents, found out the truth about Kyth'vindathys, and finally confronted your guide. You've been through a hell of a lot personally, John... you're not the same man who left Maliri Space four weeks ago."

He nodded in agreement as they stepped into the red anti-gravity field. "I know... and it's a huge relief to finally be back home. With a bit of luck, we can avoid any trouble for the next few weeks and take a well-earned breather."

"You probably need a vacation more than the rest of us combined," Alyssa said softly. "I know you want to help Edraele deal with the new matriarchs, but I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you took some time off too."

John considered it, then shook his head. "I know I should be reeling after everything we've just been through, but I actually feel better than ever. Getting rid of my guide seems to have given me a new lease on life. First I want to focus on stabilising the Maliri Protectorate, then we need to start making preparations for the Progenitor War."

"I'll make sure the girls get a good rest, so we're all raring to go," Alyssa said, leaning into him. "We'll need to be on top form when we start hunting for Kythshara and the hyper-warp gate."

Slipping an arm around her shoulder, he asked with concern, "Are you sure you're okay being separated from me until then? I don't want you feeling like you've been abandoned."

She hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. "I'd love it if you joined us on vacation, but I understand that you've got some important stuff to take care of. Besides, the last few weeks have been incredibly stressful and I could really use some time to unwind. I'm actually looking forward to just kicking back and relaxing with Calara and the girls... it should be good fun."

"I thought I'd spend a couple of days with the Maliri, then I'll come visit you," John explained, as they reached Deck Nine. "I'd also like to talk to Helene when she wakes up and I've promised Jade some time alone with her sisters."

Alyssa gave him a fond smile. "That would be lovely, but there's no pressure. Me and Jade have been hogging you all to ourselves; now it's Edraele's turn to get some TLC."

*I agree, Master,* Jade chimed in. *I want you to focus on enjoying your time with the Maliri without worrying about us. You've done so much for me and my sisters this past month... please believe me when I tell you that we're all feeling extremely satisfied.*

"And my girls are all loved up after your orgy, so we're good too," Alyssa agreed as they walked along the corridor to the airlock.

John placed his hand on the DNA scanner next to the inner airlock door, then watched it flash green as the device recognised his genetic code. "Thanks, both of you. With Genthalas becoming our new base of operations, we'll be seeing a lot more of Edraele and the Maliri. I'm concerned about being able to give all of you the time you deserve... so please bear with me while we try to find a happy medium."

The blonde leaned in to give him a reassuring kiss. "You don't have to worry about a thing. Your trio of faithful matriarchs will be in constant communication, helping to smooth out any teething problems. If any of our girls needs some special attention, we'll just let you know!"

"Alright, sounds good," he agreed, hugging her gratefully.

A flash of movement caught John's attention as he looked over Alyssa's shoulder, the view through the airlock's porthole changing from the blackness of space to the gleaming gold of Genthalas station. The Invictus glided into a huge docking bay, retro-thrusters flaring brightly along its hull as Dana slowed their speed. John felt a slight tremor beneath his feet as the battlecruiser touched down, the warship coming to rest in what would be its new base of operations for the foreseeable future.

Alyssa pulled back and gave him a dazzling smile. "They're eagerly awaiting your grand entrance, Baen'thelas."

John reached out to activate the outer airlock door, which spiralled open at his touch. He stepped out into the hangar and froze when he saw the vast crowd assembled to witness his triumphant return to Genthalas. As soon as he appeared there was a collective intake of breath, the endless sea of Maliri women gazing at him in starry-eyed wonder. His gaze swept over the adoring faces and John spotted many of the white-haired engineers amongst them, all equally entranced by the man that had made such a profound impact on their lives.

The thousands of Maliri gathered in the hangar stood as still as statues, all except for one, who stepped forward as soon as she laid eyes on him. The Maliri Queen glided forwards, her regal pace steadily increasing until Edraele threw decorum aside and broke into a run.

"John!" she gasped, throwing herself into his open arms.

He twirled Edraele around, thrilled to be reunited with her once again. "I've missed you so much!" he exclaimed, holding her tight.

Edraele trembled as she clung to him, returning the hug just as fiercely. "Oh, John... being apart from you has been awful! Please don't leave me for so long again!"

"I won't, honey," he said, rubbing his matriarch's back to soothe her. "I'm here to stay now."

She pulled back to give him a loving smile, her beautiful purple eyes now misty with unshed tears of joy and relief. They kissed and Edraele seemed to melt in his arms, the statuesque Maliri letting out a soft moan as his lips brushed against her own. The audience had been holding their breath as they watched, and seeing John in such a passionate embrace triggered a collective sigh of longing. John couldn't miss it with his sharp hearing, but he just smiled and continued to enjoy the intimate moment with the elated monarch.

Edraele looked quite flustered when they separated, although her eyes were sparkling with joy. "I didn't want that kiss to end, but I mustn't be selfish and keep you all to myself. I'm not the only one who's been desperate to see you again..."

Turning, she gestured towards the group of four beautiful young noblewomen that had approached while John was distracted. He broke into a broad grin at the sight of Tsarra Perfaren, Leena Ghilwen, Valani Naestina, and Nyrelle Aeberos, the quartet of lovely matriarchs that were all pregnant with his children. They beamed back at him, looking resplendent in all their matriarchal finery, the long robes showcasing their shapely figures. He suddenly noticed the rounded tummies that the clinging material emphasised rather than concealed and his jaw dropped open in shock.

Stepping closer he held out a trembling hand to Tsarra's swollen belly and paused an inch away. "May I...?" he asked, his voice catching.

She was staring at him in fascination and her smile widened in encouragement. "You don't need to ask my permission, John. Of course you can touch me."

He stroked the soft curve, gazing at her gravid stomach in awe. Seeing the visible confirmation of her pregnancy felt like being hit over the head with a sledgehammer. Before him was visible proof that he was going to become a father... and not just once, but four times over. Holding out his other hand he caressed Leena as well, then switched to stroke Valani and Nyrelle, letting his fingertips reverently trace over their curves.

"That feels wonderful," Nyrelle murmured in a hushed voice.

"We're so glad you're back," Valani said softly, placing her hand over his.

"I'm going to be a father..." John whispered, tearing his eyes from their prominent baby bumps to gaze at them in wonder.

Leena nodded, smiling at him fondly. "Yes... and you're going to be an amazing one at that."

"We're all so lucky to be sharing this experience with you," Tsarra agreed, looking at him with adoring eyes.

John stood there in stunned silence, overwhelmed by feelings of love and protectiveness for the Young Matriarchs.

Alyssa watched their interaction with delight, then led the rest of the girls out to join Edraele and the Maliri. "That's the last time I let you be primary matriarch; it's only been two minutes and you've broken him already!" she joked as she hugged Edraele. "Hello, gorgeous."

The Maliri Queen wrapped her arms around the blonde and returned the enthusiastic greeting. "Welcome home, Alyssa."

Rachel approached John and the Young Matriarchs, her professional curiosity piqued by the quartet of pregnant noblewomen.

"I thought Maliri gestation was the same as a Terran's?" she mused, equally captivated by the expectant mothers. "With a nine month pregnancy, the four of you should all still be in your first trimester. None of you should be showing for at least two more months..."

The four Maliri matriarchs shared mischievous grins then burst into fits of giggles.

"We prepared a huge banquet and gorged ourselves just before you arrived," Valani confessed, her teal eyes sparkling with glee.

Nyrelle patted her rounded tummy. "I'm so stuffed!"

Tsarra squeezed John's hand in apology. "I'm afraid you'll still have to wait a few more months until we're visibly pregnant."

John chuckled in appreciation. "Whose brilliant idea was this?"

"Mine," Kali admitted, walking forward to join the group. She looked at him with concern. "You're not upset with me, are you, John?"

"Of course not... quite the opposite," he replied, pulling her into a hug. "You really fooled me, you little minx!"

She laughed with delight and hugged him back. "We all know how much you like giving us full tummies. I thought you might like a preview of how we'll all look a few months from now," Kali gushed, pulling back to watch his reaction.

"I must admit it was a shock... but in a good way," John replied, giving her an appreciative smile. He turned to look at the rest of the Young Matriarchs. "I knew that the four of you were pregnant, but actually seeing you like this... it made it all feel so real."

"John, their pregnancies are real," Calara cooed, stroking Leena's rounded stomach. "Your baby is growing inside her tummy..."

The Young Matriarchs were soon surrounded by broody Lionesses, along with five Nymphs who fawned over their Master's mates. John spotted Luna standing behind the scrum of maternal females, the assassin watching him wistfully as she kept a respectful distance.

He made a point of striding over to embrace her. "Aren't you pleased to see me, Luna?"

She swooned in his arms, letting out a breathy sigh. "Of course... I missed you so much, John. But it wasn't my place to draw your attention away from the matriarchs."

John frowned in disapproval as they hugged and glanced at Edraele over her girlfriend's shoulder. *How long has Luna been feeling like this?*

*For a few weeks now,* the Maliri Queen replied. *When we sent Almari and Ilyana away with the fleet, I think Luna started to feel a bit isolated; she's the only woman on Genthalas that you've chosen for motherhood who isn't a matriarch. I suspect that being surrounded by such esteemed company has left her feeling a little insecure.*

Nodding his understanding, John pressed his lips against Luna's ear and whispered, "I missed you too, Luna... and I'd really like to thank you for taking care of Edraele while I was away. Would you spend an evening with me sometime this week? Just the two of us..."

The former assassin's yellow eyes were like saucers as she pulled back to gaze at him in disbelief. Biting her lower lip, she blushed and nodded enthusiastically. "I'd love to!"

Edraele watched with delight as her girlfriend seemed to blossom in John's arms, Luna's confidence restored to full bloom. After telepathically thanking him for his kindness, she turned her attention to Irillith and Tashana. The twins were fussing over Nyrelle, but they seemed to sense their mother's inquisitive stare and both turned to make eye contact with her.

Edraele glided over to her daughters, trying to hide her anxiety as she gave them a warm smile. "I'm so glad that the two of you have returned home. I dearly hope that we might be able to spend some more time together, whenever you're free to do so."

The twins exchanged a glance, then Irillith stepped forward to hug her. "You've changed so much, mother... and I'd really like to get to know the new you."

Tashana nodded as she embraced them both. "Perhaps we should simply put the past behind us and all start afresh?"

"That would be wonderful... thank you," Edraele replied, flooded with gratitude and relief.

Alyssa waited until they separated, then spoke to John and her two fellow matriarchs. *Shall we wait before we do all the formal introductions? I'm sure Jade would love to be here with her sisters and I think it'd be nice if Helene could be a part of it too. Besides, we do have quite an audience...*

John glanced at the crowds of watching Maliri and smiled. *That's a good point. Why don't we hold a party so everyone can really get to know each other? Maybe in a couple of days' time? That'll give me a chance to deal with the highest priority issues here, like speaking to all the new matriarchs.*

*A party sounds like a fantastic idea!* Edraele eagerly agreed. *Your safe return is something we should celebrate.*

*I couldn't agree more, Master!* Jade enthused, sounding just as thrilled. *Alyssa's right though; we should wait until Helene has recovered, then she can meet the Maliri at the same time as Jehanna and my sisters.*

*Sounds good to me,* John said, before turning to face the spectators. *Why don't you update the girls about what we're planning and I'll say a quick hello to our audience.*

As the three matriarchs spread the word about the party, John walked closer to the vast gathering of watching Maliri. The crowd was densely packed and dozens of rows deep, which meant that most of the women at the back weren't able to see him clearly. John held out his arms and shrouded his body in a soft blue glow, causing gasps of wonder from the onlookers. He slowly rose into the air until he was floating serenely dozens of metres above them, the massive audience gazing up at him in awe.

For a moment he wished that he'd been wearing a suit of Paragon armour, so that he could use the speaker system in the suit to address the crowd, then John remembered that he had an alternative solution at hand. Tapping into sound and air runes, he projected his voice, enhancing the volume so that he could be heard throughout the sprawling hangar.

"It's wonderful to see all of you here this evening! Thank you for making me feel so welcome on my return to Genthalas. There are lots of familiar faces before me, and so many more of you that I haven't yet had the privilege of meeting... but hopefully that's something that I can rectify in the coming weeks. Queen Edraele has generously invited me to consider this my new home, so I'm afraid you'll have to get used to me loitering around the station."

The Maliri were thoroughly spellbound, hanging on his every word. They all laughed at John's joke, their faces alight with excitement at the prospect of him being nearby for the foreseeable future.

"I know how hard you've all been working to refit our fleets and I just wanted to say how much I appreciate that effort. Upgrading our ships will save countless Maliri lives and for that you have my eternal gratitude. The safety of our people is paramount to me and I consider the supporting roles that many of you have here at the shipyard to be amongst the most valuable in the Protectorate."

The white-haired Maliri engineers had heard John express similar sentiments before, but there were also many thousands more women present who had only recently arrived at Genthalas in the past month. To hear such effusive praise from an impossibly handsome male, was the absolute highlight of their lives so far.

"I wish I could reward each of you personally for all your sterling efforts, but I'm somewhat outnumbered and I fear it would take me a lifetime. Instead, I'm planning some major changes for the Maliri Protectorate on your behalf... major changes that should see all of your lives greatly improved for the better. The first step we've taken towards this brighter future was to cease the unending conflict between the Noble Houses and bring all of you together as one people. I expect that many of you never imagined a day when you'd be standing between women from House Valaden and House Loraleth without ducking for cover..."

He paused for another round of laughter from the audience, the tens-of-thousands of Maliri smiling affectionately at the women from those Houses. Ever since the fleet refit program began, the engineers had worked in mixed shifts, with prior House affiliations discarded in favour of project efficiency. Edraele's white-haired wards had smoothed out the whole process, acting as a calming influence between the once-bitter rivals.

"This isn't some temporary truce... this is the way it will be for our whole empire going forward," John declared solemnly. "Now that I've healed the rifts between the Houses, my next step will be to reunify the Maliri living on the homeworlds with those living in exile on the border stations. It's long past time to encourage the males to return home and end this destructive division of our people. Together we can rebuild the Maliri Empire to its past heights and glories... then greatly surpass them!"

The quiet attentiveness of the crowd was shattered as they reacted to this news, the enthralled audience exuberantly cheering and applauding his impromptu speech. John smiled and waved at the jubilant Maliri, then dropped down to land gracefully next to his matriarchs and their girls.

"Shall we say our goodbyes, ladies?"

They exchanged fond farewells, with the Maliri waving off the Invictus crew as they walked back to the ship. Edraele and her wards stayed with John, all except her faithful bodyguard who strode over to join Alyssa at the battlecruiser's airlock.

"Where's Luna going?" John asked in surprise.

"She volunteered to escort my honoured guests to their new accommodations," Edraele explained, watching the assassin enter the ship. When the Maliri Queen saw John's raised eyebrow, she continued, "I asked her to stay here, but Luna insisted. When she's satisfied that your girls are settled and have everything they need, she'll rejoin us."

"Was she just being thoughtful or is this down to what we discussed earlier?" John enquired, watching the former assassin stepping through the airlock.