*We did it!* Alyssa cried out jubilantly to the girls.
The answering surge of joyful relief from all of them was wonderfully uplifting, and Alyssa's face lit up with a spectacular sparkling smile. She filled them in on everything that had happened, as John rose unsteadily to his feet and offered her his hand, helping her to stand too.
He stretched his weary muscles, and happened to glance across the room, spotting Edraele Valaden comatose on the bed. Her enormously swollen belly was fairly convincing proof that their relationship with the Valaden Matriarch was never going to be the same again.
"Any idea what happened?" Alyssa asked him, as she saw where he was looking.
He shook his head, as he replied, "The last thing I remember was Irillith going down on me, back on the Invictus."
Alyssa couldn't help but giggle as she said, "Well, you finally got some mother/daughter action."
John frowned and said, "This is serious. What on Terra do I say to Irillith?"
She leaned up to kiss his cheek and said, "Don't worry, I think she'll be able to handle it. She's actually been really great since you were out of action. She apologised to Dana and Rachel for the way she's behaved, and I wouldn't have been able to rescue you without her help. Progenitor-John ordered us to stay on the Invictus, but she managed to break out through force of will alone."
John looked startled and said, "Irillith must have extremely strong willpower to have pulled that off."
"Yeah she's got some real spirit to her. Once she was out, she goaded me into breaking free too," Alyssa told him with a grin on her face.
John pondered this for a moment, while looking down at the unconscious Maliri Matriarch, and eventually said, "I still think we should keep them apart, just until her mother wakes up. Then we can try to find out what happened between Edraele and Progenitor-John."
"Sure, you're the boss," Alyssa agreed, still jubilant that he was back to normal.
John smiled at her and said wryly, "Not any more."
She laughed and said, "Don't be silly, of course you still rule the roost."
John sat down on the bed, and explained carefully, "That's not quite what I meant. After what happened with Progenitor-John, I didn't want you girls to be trapped, completely powerless like that again. Before we reconnected, I suddenly began to understand a bit more about the way we were linked, and I changed the nature of our bond. I removed the compulsion you girls had to obey me, so you're all completely free from any control I had over you before."
She followed his lead, sitting beside him, and crossed her legs as she gazed at him adoringly. Her bright blue eyes sparkled as she replied eagerly, "I felt you change it! That's how I was able to double-up our connection."
She leaned in for a kiss, and when he responded, their lips brushed against each other. It felt like there was a tingle of electricity between them, and both their eyes opened wide at the sensation.
"If kissing's like that, I can't wait until you fuck me!" she said enthusiastically.
John looked equally eager, and he pulled her in for another kiss. They kissed more passionately this time, and he grinned at her when they finally separated, his lips still tingling.
"I didn't know that was going to happen," he said with a smile.
She stared into his eyes, and said earnestly, "Thank you for changing the bond. That was really sweet."
He studied her face intently, and asked, "Does it change the way you feel about me?"
She shook her head fiercely and said, "Of course not! I still love you with all my heart." Then she winked at him playfully and added, "And I'll still be a good obedient girl for you."
He chuckled, and sagged back on the bed, feeling exhausted. Alyssa crawled over to lie by his side, and as she cuddled up next to him, their eyes were both drawn to Edraele as she slumbered peacefully.
"What a mess," John said with a sigh.
Alyssa arched an eyebrow and said, "I think everything actually worked out fantastically well! With the huge load you just fed Edraele, it looks like she's going to get her brain tumour healed, and I doubt she'll be thinking about double crossing us on the Maliri laser deal after that. We also got top-of-the-range Trankaran engines installed in the Invictus, so your ship's going to be one unholy beast when we've finished all the upgrades.
We made friends with the Trankaran Government, and Dana made the deal of a century, so you're even richer now than when we started this whole Maliri saga. We accidentally gained Faye, so now we've got a really helpful AI as a handy research assistant for Dana and Rachel. Then finally, you've acquired a smoking hot Maliri girl for the team, and you haven't even screwed her yet. Think how much fun that's going to be!"
He smiled and said, "Alright 'Miss silver lining', I get your point." His expression turned sombre as he said guiltily, "But you girls have been through hell. Thinking that you were going to be enslaved to that monster must have been terrifying."
Alyssa laughed, waving her hand dismissively as she said, "He didn't like us in the end, and cut off our connection. I think you made us too feisty for his tastes."
He chuckled, but she saw that he wasn't convinced by her facetious jesting. She turned, and swung her lithe leg over his waist so that she could straddle him, settling her lissom young body over his. Her silky blonde hair fanned down like a golden curtain around their faces, shutting out the world so that it was just the two of them, and she leaned in and kissed him tenderly. They were both entranced when they parted, the exciting electricity passing between them making them feel like they were kissing each other for the first time.
