Ailanthia stretched like a cat on the soft black sheets, letting out a deeply contented sigh. She felt the wonderful heavy weight at her waist and one of her light-green hands slid down over her gloriously curved abdomen. She bit her flushed lower lip and let out a low moan, her skin feeling so sensitive where it had stretched taut to accommodate her cum-stuffed womb.
She let out a quiet, disbelieving laugh, awed by memories of the heated coupling with her Master this morning. He'd been absolutely magnificent and looked so heartbreakingly handsome... Ailanthia had gazed at him in wonder as he'd taken her, wrapping herself around this interstellar titan and sobbing with ecstasy as he pumped his seed deep inside her.
For Ailanthia, who'd seen the passing of so many long lonely years, her master's relationship with her had radically changed in what seemed like the blink of an eye. For millennia, he'd been dispassionate and aloof... utterly disinterested in her sexually for anything other than a perfunctory feeding. After all, it had been vitally important that she remain aesthetically pleasing for him. But in a matter of mere months, something had profoundly shifted in his bearing, and Ailanthia's heart sang with joy at the change.
Rolling carefully to one side, she ran her hand over the side of the bed he'd laid in, feeling the fading warmth and wishing he was still there. She inhaled deeply, a shiver running down her spine as she caught a hint of his scent. Closing her eyes, she relaxed in a state of bliss, happier than she ever thought possible.
A gentle touch to her swollen belly roused her from her doze and she gazed up at her master in surprise. He was looking down at her with an ambivalent expression on his face as he sat on the side of the bed, some unreadable emotion in his eyes that Ailanthia didn't recognise. Realising that she was awake, he slowly withdrew his hand and studied her for a moment, the vaguest hint of a smile on his lips.
Abruptly he rose to his feet and strode towards the door of the darkened room. He paused before leaving, turning back to look at her, his stunning bronzed features lit by the blood-red glow from the corridor beyond. "Come, Ailanthia, prepare yourself for the day ahead. The entertainment should begin shortly."
"Yes, My Lord," she replied obediently, sitting up in bed. "I will be with you momentarily."
His eyes had a wicked gleam of anticipation to them as he lifted the black cowl over his head and strode away.
***
Dana's features were bathed in the flickering blue light from Irillith's rapid shots, shadows dancing on the grey titanium wall behind her.
"The idea just kind of clicked," Dana said quietly, unsettled by the look of shock on John and Alyssa's faces. She glanced to her right at the long laser weapon in Irillith's arms. "The Pulse Cannons suddenly seemed wrong... like they were too big and cumbersome, so I refined the design to make a portable version. I didn't have time to make another Progenitor power core, so I stripped one out of a Quantum rifle, then built the cannon's frame with Alyssa's help, added the new heatsinks, anti-grav suspensors, improved focusing aperture, and all the rest..."
Irillith ceased firing and turned to look at her audience, a broad grin on her face until she saw everyone's stunned reaction to the weapon test. "What's the matter?" she asked, looking at each of them with concern.
"I've seen a gun like that before," Tashana whispered, her violet eyes wide as saucers as she stared at her sister. "You look just like the pictures..."
John turned to look at the Maliri girl, finally shaking off his shock. "You've seen murals of Thralls using these kinds of weapons?"
"Yes, in the temple where I found Valada's server. I've got copies in my research notes..." she murmured, transfixed by the long-barrelled weapon. "It's so distinctive, I recognised it instantly."
"We haven't got time now, but we really need to review all your research again," John said, staring at the Pulse Cannon and feeling that same nagging sense of satisfaction.
Irillith's angular eyes narrowed as she looked at John and Alyssa. "I understand why Tashana's reacting like this, but what's the matter with you two? Did I do something wrong?"
John shook his head, stepping forward to put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Of course not, honey. You just... took us by surprise, that's all."
Alyssa nodded and said quietly, "We each felt the same thing when we saw you; a Maliri woman in that type of armour, carrying a weapon like that. It... resonated for both of us."
Irillith glanced down at her gear. "So you're saying I look just like a Progenitor's Thrall?"
"Yes, basically," John said, with no small amount of trepidation.
She suddenly gave him a spectacular smile. "That's fantastic!"
He blinked at her in surprise, startled by her unexpected reaction. "Excuse me?"
Irillith put down the long weapon, then cupped his face in her hands. "Don't you see? This means we're closing the tech gap! You're a Progenitor... there's no hiding from that fact. We should embrace the opportunities every newly discovered piece of technology gives us!"
Dana grinned at the Maliri girl, delighted by her positive outlook. "Fuck yeah we should!" She turned to clap John on the shoulder. "Irillith's totally right, you shouldn't be freaking out, this is great! We've just got a new bit of awesome Progenitor tech right out of the blue!"
Nodding eagerly, Irillith said, "We know so little about Progenitors or the way their Thralls fight. This is a perfect opportunity to learn more!"
Walking over to join them, Alyssa slipped her arm around John's waist. "They make good points. We both knew we'd be reaching this point eventually."
"Know yourself and know your enemies, you'll be undefeated in a hundred battles..." John murmured, his expression brightening, suddenly seeing a whole new meaning to that ancient wisdom. He gave Irillith a grateful smile. "Thank you."
Irillith took off her Paragon helmet and shook out her snowy-white tresses before giving him a tender kiss. "You're always trying so hard to make me happy, it feels wonderful being able to return the favour!"
They hugged for a moment and John turned to look at Alyssa. "Can you call all the girls up to the bedroom please. I want to talk to everyone about something important."
