Three Square Meals

A wing of three Nievath interceptors blasted out of the Elauthin Kelrona's launch tubes, joining the rest of their squadron as they scrambled for combat. The Maliri fighters shifted course and raced towards a procession of Brimorian transports, each one of the blocky vessels filled with a cargo of slaves. Schools of Enclave strike craft quickly responded to the threat, adopting attack formations and moving to engage. Their Aobegh fighters had significant numerical superiority, outnumbering the Maliri by several hundred ships, all launched from the five Enclave heavy carriers guarding the transports.

Arrayed before the lumbering freighters were six Brimorian battleships, the massive craft like great blue whales protecting their vulnerable calves. The dark void of space came alive with a storm of dazzling light as yellow particle beams crossed paths with azure Maliri beam lasers, the capital ships from both sides exchanging ferocious broadsides. They ignored the groups of fighters charging towards each other, the actions of those tiny craft beneath the notice of such interstellar titans.

"Here they come!" Lorathyra exclaimed, her face alight with the anticipation of impending combat.

Torvanna took a firm grip of her flight stick. "Shall we make this interesting? A bottle of Holaris red to whoever gets the highest kill count!"

Lorathyra's expression shifted to a predatory grin. "I'll take that wager!"

Glancing at the comms display, Torvanna braced herself for a chastisement by their Flight Commander. Her straight-laced superior usually disapproved of mid-combat banter, but Krisalei had been strangely subdued that evening and the interface stayed silent.

She flicked her gaze to the combat HUD and aligned the targeting rune with the leading Brimorian fighter wing. A Nievath Interceptor had a significant range advantage with its trio of Pulse Cannons and she lined up the perfect shot as the enemy closed the distance. Her finger caressed the trigger and streams of azure laser fire streaked across space to hit the Enclave fighter. Its shields blazed with light, flaring wildly under the onslaught, until the barrier collapsed and the pulses cut through blue and purple armour plating.

Torvanna watched the Enclave fighter detonate in a fiery conflagration, but she wasn't satisfied with just a single kill. The Maliri pilot strafed her shots across the next fighter then the next, blowing them to pieces one after the other. By the time the Brimorian strike craft were in range to shoot back with their particle guns, she had ripped apart the entire wing.

"That's five!" she crowed, rolling her interceptor and realigning the nose towards the next cluster of enemy fighters.

Yellow particle bolts sizzled past her on every side, as nearly all the Brimorians concentrated their fire on the leading formation of Maliri interceptors. Dodging that torrent of energy blasts upset her aim and Torvanna grimaced in frustration as the fighter groups closed the gap and plunged into each other's midst. In a swirling dogfight, it was much harder to get clean kills and she had no intention of having her victories downplayed as "assists".

Torvanna kept one eye on the proximity display and prepared to make evasive manoeuvres to stay on her Flight Commander's flank. To her surprise Krisalei's interceptor flew directly ahead in a straight line, making no attempt to dodge incoming fire as it barrelled onwards. Several Enclave fighters looped around onto their tail and began a pursuit, spraying particle bolts at the Maliri craft. While Torvanna and Lorathyra banked and rolled to avoid the yellow blasts, their white-haired leader made no effort to evade. Krisalei's shields were battered by a hail of incoming fire, the status display rapidly shifting from green through to red.

"Be careful, Commander!" Torvanna called out in alarm.

"Pull up!" Lorathyra yelled, her panicked cry from the comms interface piercingly loud.

They watched in disbelief as Krisalei's interceptor plunged headlong through the strike craft formation and roared towards the Brimorian transports. The Enclave pursuers managed to knock out her shields, but the Maliri ship quickly pulled out of range. Travelling at full throttle, Krisalei's interceptor slammed into the flank of a Brimorian transport, then exploded in a conflagration that also consumed the Enclave freighter.

Torvanna sat there in stunned silence, then stabbed her finger down on a red rune in the centre of her console.

-- END SIMULATION --

Tugging off her flight helmet Torvanna tapped another rune on the side of the cockpit and the crystal canopy cracked open with a hiss. It swung up smoothly to reveal the training room and she sprang nimbly out of her seat. The golden plated simulators were grouped in clusters of three and on the far side of her Flight Commander's closed pod, Lorathyra also clambered out of her cockpit.

"What happened? Is Krisalei alright?!" her wingmate blurted out, looking equally shocked.

Torvanna shook her head helplessly. "I have no idea. She stopped responding!"

They rushed over to the third training pod and hit the emergency release rune. The crystal canopy tilted upwards and they found their flight commander huddled up in her seat, her expression filled with despair.

"Krisalei!" Torvanna gasped, shocked at the state of her. "What happened?!"

"He's gone... and he hasn't come back..." she whimpered, both hands clutched to her chest.

Her two wingmates exchanged a worried glance.

"We better get her to Medical," Lorathyra suggested, carefully removing Krisalei's helmet to reveal her shock of white hair.

Torvanna nodded and crouched down to scoop up the distraught woman. "Don't worry, Commander. The medics will take good care of you."

Lorathya helped Torvanna pull their commander to her feet, then they both slipped an arm around Krisalei's waist to keep her upright. The trio set off towards the exit, but had barely walked a dozen steps when Krisalei arched her back and let out a shocked cry.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Torvanna asked, staring wide-eyed at her commander.

Sagging in their arms, Krisalei sighed with relief, a beatific smile lighting up her face. "Nothing's wrong... everything's wonderful!"

***

The sun dipped below the horizon on Trankara, turning the sky from a frigid blue to a glorious burnt orange. High in the granite towers of the Radiant Palace, the Glowing Queen stood alone on a balcony, her amber eyes taking in the spectacular view. Sunset on the Trankaran homeworld was known as Forgelight and Niskera normally found the sight uplifting; it was as if the Great Maker himself was shining his benevolence upon her planet, showing his approval of the Rock Brethren. However, on this occasion, she found herself too distraught to draw any comfort from the natural beauty of her volcanic home.

She rubbed at her broad chest, grimacing at the hollow ache that still lingered hours after the connection had been severed. Alyssa had warned Niskera that the Great Protector would be temporarily cutting himself off from their network, but the Terran girl hadn't prepared her for just how awful it would feel. The sense of loss was heartbreaking and Niskera desperately longed for their connection to be restored.

The Trankaran monarch glanced back into her quarters at the Comms Interface and bit her lip with indecision. Not for the first time, she considered contacting Edraele, in the hope that the Maliri Queen might have some much-needed answers. Alyssa's continued silence was making Niskera nervous and she couldn't help fearing the worst as the hours rolled by. She fretted anxiously, torn between the desire for more information, and not wanting to shame her people by acting with such desperation in front of their new allies.

Niskera's sense of duty won out yet again and she let out a pensive sigh as she turned back to the magnificent sunset.

She suddenly gasped in shock as the connection to the Great Protector was restored in all its glory, her entire being responding with elation. Quite overcome by the psychic surge, Niskera sank to her knees, the fleeting contact with his mind the most intense spiritual moment of her life. Closing her eyes, she tried her best to commit that rapturous feeling to memory, so that she would never forget what it was like to be touched by a god.

To Niskera's surprise, a faint echo lingered, its warmth banishing the hollow void in her chest. As she concentrated on that lovely sensation, two different feelings blossomed in her mind. The first was a sense of the Great Protector's earnest gratitude, astonishing Niskera that someone so powerful felt grateful to be connected to her. The second made her heart swell with joy as she knew, with absolute certainty, that he genuinely cared about her wellbeing.

Rising to her feet, Niskera gazed out over her volcanic home and basked in the glory of Forgelight. Taking a deep breath, she sang out to the heavens, her melodious voice carrying through the upper levels of the palace. Trankaran senators, soldiers, and workers alike all stopped and listened, spellbound by the Glowing Queen as she gave thanks to the Great Protector.

***

The girls stared at John in shocked silence as he slowly descended, glowing progenitor runes orbiting his body and casting a rich sapphire light across the oval bed.

"Don't be afraid... I'm still the man you know and love," he said, smiling at his stunned audience.

Dana rose to her feet and stepped closer, then looked suspiciously at the eldritch script circling his body. "Am I going to get fried if I walk into that?"

He chuckled and shook his head. John took a deep breath, then the runic phrases faded away, as did the dazzling radiance shining from his eyes. "There... you're quite safe now."

She launched herself into his arms, quickly followed by the rest of the girls, all of them desperate to join the group hug.

"What the hell happened?!" Alyssa exclaimed, pulling back to look at him in amazement. "I thought you were just restoring our connection, but that was crazy!"

Sakura nodded, her eyes wide like saucers. "I could feel the power pouring off you... it was incredible!"

"Was it something to do with the change you made to our connection?" Rachel asked, gazing at him in fascination. "What did you do exactly? The last time you made any modifications, we all experienced a huge gain in power... is that what happened to you?!"

"And what was all that stuff about you being 'Kyth'vindathys... Vengeance of the Kyth'faren reborn'?" Dana intoned in a faux-baritone. She crinkled her nose and continued, "What a mouthful! You don't seriously expect us to start calling you that?"

John raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Calm down everyone and I'll answer your questions as best as I can."

"Calm down?!" Jehanna blurted out, a beaming grin on her face. "John... you were flying!"

The girls broke out into laughter with John joining in with them.

"Wait... where's Helene?" he asked, his gaze sweeping over the fourteen women gathered around him.

"Oh no!" Jade gasped, darting away from the group and crouching on the floor.

As the crowd of girls parted, John saw the teal-hued beauty sprawled unconscious on the bed.

Rachel darted to the Abandoned girl, her arms already swathed in her misty aura. As she touched Helene's shoulder, the swirling grey shroud spread out to envelop her body.

"She drove herself to the brink of exhaustion!" the tawny-haired medic exclaimed in alarm. "Her heartbeat is very weak!"

"How badly hurt is she?" John asked with concern as he knelt beside them.

Rachel's eyes began to glow as she poured healing energies into her unresponsive patient. "I've stabilised her... but Helene pushed herself much too far. She needs complete bedrest for a few days to give her body a chance to recover."

"This is all my fault!" Alyssa cried out, her eyes filling with tears. "I was so distracted, I wasn't paying any attention to her!"

John shook his head and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You're not to blame for this... you weren't in control of yourself." He rose to his feet and looked down at his Nymph Matriarch's worried face. "Jade, please can you take Helene to her quarters and look after her. If she stays in the Observatory we might disturb her rest and I don't want to do anything that might hinder Helene's recovery."

"Of course, Master!" she quickly agreed, scooping up the comatose girl and hurrying from the Observatory.

He watched them leave, then sat on the bed and gestured for the remaining crew to join him.

*Edraele, are you there?* John asked, as he waited for the girls to sit.

*I am... and it's so good to hear your voice!* she gushed with joy.

*Are you and your wards alright? The disconnection was much harder on everyone here than I anticipated.*

She hesitated for a moment before quietly replying, *Being disconnected from you was very difficult for all of us, John. We eagerly await your return.*

*We'll be back home as soon as we can,* he replied, his tone apologetic. *I need to have a brief discussion with Alyssa and the girls, then I'll ask her to plot a course for Genthalas. She'll be able to give you a precise ETA in a few minutes time.*

*Thank you...* Edraele murmured, her sense of relief palpable.

The girls had settled on the bed, sitting in a semi-circle around John and looking at him expectantly.

"I'm sure you must have lots of questions..." he began, gazing around at the group.

"You bet your ass we do!" Dana exclaimed, giving him a lopsided grin.

He smiled back, then his expression turned sombre. "I think the easiest way to explain what just happened is by going back to the beginning... starting with the reason why I was born in the first place. When Rahn'hagon created a Progenitor guide for me, he allocated a portion of my subconscious to maintain that construct, using my mind to nurture it and keep it alive until it could complete its purpose."

"But it went rogue," Irillith interrupted. "Your guide never completed its purpose."

"Correct. The guide was supposed to teach me how to use the psychic abilities written into my DNA and prepare me for the logistics of a war with the Progenitors. When I locked the guide away to stop it interfering in my life, it became impossible for it to fulfil its mission or for me to absorb it. So for my entire life, I've been missing part of my mind."

"And now you're finally complete," Rachel said, gazing at him in fascination. "For the first time in your life, your mind is fully unified as one complete person."

He made eye contact with the tawny-haired brunette and nodded. "Precisely."

"No offence, but your guide was a real asshole..." Dana said, her mouth twisted into a worried frown. She looked at him with trepidation. "Now you two have merged minds, are you going to start acting more like him?"

John shook his head and gave her a reassuring smile. "I sincerely hope not. I'm still me, it's just there's a lot more of... me... than there was before."

"I think I understand," Rachel murmured, lost in thought. "Rather than your guide being the embodiment of all your negative personality traits, he was a distinct person created by Rahn'hagon. When you defeated your guide, his personality was destroyed and your subconscious expanded to occupy the space he previously occupied."

He nodded. "That's it exactly."

"Ah... so it was a bit like deleting a secondary drive partition, then reallocating the storage capacity to the primary drive?" Irillith pondered aloud, looking relieved. "There's no trace of data left on the secondary because it's been wiped clean in the process."

John's brow furrowed in confusion. "Um... No, because he had valuable knowledge that I needed to access and integrate. It couldn't just be deleted."

"Never mind... I get it now," Dana said, flashing a grateful grin at the Maliri hacker. She turned back to John and added, "So that means you're exactly the same awesome guy you've always been!"

He hesitated, a distant look in his eye. "Not exactly the same... no. The guide was a tool, designed to teach me how Progenitors think and fight... but he became a distraction that I couldn't see past until he was destroyed. Now that he's gone, it feels like a fog's been lifted from my mind. I know who I am... and what my real purpose is now."

"You are Kyth'vindathys..." Tashana said softly. "Vengeance of the Kyth'faren reborn."

John took a deep breath then confirmed her proclamation with a nod. "We already knew that my father created me to destroy Progenitors... but now I can feel it in my bones. The Kyth'faren planned for someone like me to fight a Progenitor War and it's a legacy I have no intention of shying away from. We must save the galaxy from Xar'aziuth and his pawns; trillions have died because of him... and the slaughter will continue until he's stopped."

"This sounds like ample proof that Rahn'hagon imbued you with all the secret Kyth'faren knowledge from the citadel," Rachel said, looking thoughtful. "Harnessing mysterious runes, forging an ancient runeblade... do you know how to consciously utilise all of that information now?"

He rubbed at his temples and slowly shook his head. "I've got full access to all the Progenitor knowledge my guide was hoarding, but I was acting purely on instinct when I gave Dana her powers and when I forged my sword."

Rachel raised an eyebrow. "So you're acting on Kyth'faren instincts? In that case, I'd say that defines you as a Kyth'faren, not a Progenitor."

John considered that for a moment, then broke into a wide smile. "That sounds like a logical deduction, Doctor Voss."

Alyssa gently cupped his face in both hands. "You're still the man I know and love..." she murmured, before leaning in to kiss him.

When they parted, John smiled with relief. "That's good to hear. I don't feel any different... but it's nice to have you confirm it."

She gazed into his eyes a moment longer, studying him inquisitively. *You're holding something back though. I can feel you keeping part of your mind closed off to me... You've never done that before.*

*I'd like to surprise you with something later, but I can't if you have full access to my mind. Do you trust me?*

*With my life,* Alyssa replied without hesitation.

They shared a tender kiss, then he turned back to the group. "All of that comes back to my explanation for what happened earlier. The last time I reconnected to our psychic network, my guide was still taking up a significant portion of my mind. This time, I was able to fully commit to our connection... and you saw what a difference that made."

"So you're telling us you had commitment issues?" Jehanna joked, raising an eyebrow.

He laughed and shrugged helplessly. "In my defence... it wasn't my fault. I'm all-in now though."

"Just like us," Calara gushed, clasping his hand and giving it an affectionate squeeze.

"Just like you," John agreed, looking around at the girls.

"So you finally believe us now?" Dana asked, her blue eyes twinkling playfully. "No more doubts?"

"None," John said, his tone solemn. "Your love and loyalty are precious gifts... and I'm really sorry for calling them into question so many times."

The girls exchanged startled glances at the earnestness of his reply.

"There's no need to apologise, John," Rachel said, her voice gentle and sympathetic. "We all understood why you had reservations. You were just concerned about the extent you accidentally tampered with our minds."

"That's true... and I wish that all of you had known exactly what you were signing up for when you joined me," he said, making a point of glancing at Alyssa, Calara, then Dana. "If I could go back in time and make sure that each of you was fully informed beforehand, I would do so in a heartbeat... but I can't alter the past. You've all told me repeatedly that you're happy as you are now and that's what truly matters. If you agree, we'll let this matter rest for good... and I'll simply focus on striving to give each of you the wonderful future you deserve."