05 Oh the Beautiful Sea

Details: Written by: Grim; Category: Tamers; Published: December 06, 2014; Hits: 2611

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Pokemon is a copyright of Nintendo. Pokègirl and Pokèwoman come from the Pokewomon Forum at http://disc.server.com/Indices/169881.html.
"Wild Horses and Pokègirl" is the creation of Metroanime.

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Scene with Marc written by and used with the permission of PJAuthor

Oh the Beautiful Sea

. . . Blossom wiped the tears from he eyes and tried to look presentable, before she answered the quiet knock on her door. "Come in," she said.

. . . Rainbow followed him in, her mistress' friend and her would-be/might-be Master. He seemed concerned.

. . . Concerned about me, she wanted to ask, Or concerned about my being alone. She looked at his tentative approach, and considered all she'd been taught about humans, human males and this one in particular. And how most of it is only partially true.

. . . "Are you all right?" he asked as he sat beside her on the bed. The small, weak, squashy human kept looking at her with the soulful gaze, and took her hands. "Are you all right?"

. . . She glared at Rainbow, who merely shrugged in confusion, as if to say 'I didn't tell him anything.'

. . . "Why wouldn't I be -?" she forced her voice to remain steady, but couldn't launch into her rote diatribe on all humans and especially human males wanted from Pokègirls, and what the authors had done to this world and the people in it.

. . . Because most just want to be loved . . . that's all I wanted, she thought, And I don't know why it couldn't happen. If he was here, he couldn't have directed Kitten to die. She tried to ensure her tears would not fall. Not in front of him, she thought, I can't be weak in front of him!

. . . "Why wouldn't I be?" she asked again, and bristled as he leaned toward her.

. . . He gathered her into his arms, setting her head on his shoulder. "I miss her too."

. . . She sniffed once, trying to hold back the tears. But the first once slipped out, and an avalanche followed. She clutched him tightly to her as she rocked. Rainbow held them both as Blossom's cries of rage and sadness tried to contain the pain of having your heart cut out of your soul, and not being able to die.

. . . "Ah you got their mouths watering," Jen said and grinned as Naomi and Cheryl finished their description of their play.

. . . "And other parts as well," Shana said, "That is kind of exciting, in a really perverted kind of way." She shook her head. "But if I had to die by a male's hands, death by orgasm tsunami is the way to go."

. . . Fred mumbled something.

. . . "She says, 'you're all fucking perverts and race traitors!'" Alba supplied happily. She grinned at the assembly, then positively beamed at Seadamar.

. . . " 'Race traitors' is it," Shana said dangerously and Fred seemed to shrink into her chair, "And it was a superb idea to just drag these people here. Someone supposedly mailed Jenova's head to one of our embassies. They exposed our most important intelligence rings in Sunshine and the Capital Leagues. Someone else is blowing the Frelk out of the Limbecs. They know where both Sanctuary, and the Alpha Site are, maybe the Beta and Omega Sites for all I know. So instead of a long, overland advance over defended territory, they can drop a Lightning Brigade right in the heart of our cities. The links with the WAPL are strained, and may shatter. None of this done by our group. And that is praiseworthy in your estimation."

. . . Shana stood, but didn't advance on Fred, letting her raised voice do her work, "While our group is trying to hold back or temper the inevitable genocide, and we're the race traitors?"

. . . She shouted at the cowering Tomboy, "I do not want 'Sanctuary Goth' listed beside the Dodo and Passenger Pigeon as thoroughly and intentionally extinguished species."

. . . "Sorry." Fred tried to retreat into herself, and not look at the furious Ophanim. Daria took the opportunity to go snuggle with the contrite and petrified Pokègirl.

. . . "Speaking of stupid," Cheryl addressed Maus as she guided the Sanctuary agent back to her chair, "What were you thinking? Were you thinking?" Maus growled at that, but Cheryl continued after she got Shana seated, "He's an old guy, so sticking it in effectively ends the games once he shoots. So he was trying to wind you up as tight as he wound up Naomi, and you just had to have it your way. Who's the idiot here? The roleplayer, or the gourmet?"

. . . Maus frowned at that. She glanced around and caught the sea of thoughtful looks. She sighed and bowed her head.

. . . Cheryl looked around, addressing all of them, "So if he offers something a little strange, something maybe a 16-year-old with more spunk than brains wouldn't do. Just maybe he's trying to compensate for his lack of youth and stamina. Just maybe he's trying to do something nice. If Naomi and I hadn't not only agreed to play that little game, but been eager to, he wouldn't have included either of us."

. . . "How do you know so much?" Underworld asked as she glared at the Megami, then her expression fell and she shouted, "Don't tell me you bonded!"

. . . "Maybe," Cheryl offered and shrugged, "It's not recognition, but I can see his soulscape, if that's what it is. I wouldn't imagine trying to read his mind through the link, but I can sense his mood. Right now, he's enjoying playing plushie, making sympathetic noises to soothe a girl in pain."

. . . "He tries to be nice, but sometimes, he just wants to hit something," Naomi said, now in her uniform and wearing a big grin.

. . . "Not you too," Underworld lamented.

. . . "Only to keep an eye on him." The Tigress gleefully ruffled the Eidolon's hair, and took the answering punch with a grin.

. . . "I thought that was our job," Eko said angrily.

. . . "And you did such a good job," Naomi said scornfully, "I'm surprised he hasn't done that to you two for real. Given you both a good thorough Taming, so you fall asleep, and you both wake up surrounded by horny guys with pitchforks."

. . . The OfficerJenny frowned and sat back in her chair, while her sister Kay covered her face to keep her tears from the others. Adrian glared at Naomi while she comforted Kay.

. . . The Tigress ignored her as she took a seat near Cheryl.

. . . "So what are you suggesting?" Sabrina asked, she glanced around nervously, "I can imagine the issues he'd have with me, but I'd like to have a man Tame me." Which man was obvious by her blush.

. . . "It seems a three-way isn't completely out of the question," Roxanne suggested, "Especially if someone else asks for it."

. . . "You'd do that?" Sabrina asked hopefully, grinning shyly at the FarFuck'd.

. . . "I . . . I'm not happy with a man . . . sticking - but I understand I need it, from somebody," Roxanne stammered through her explanation, "And I need to get used to the idea of him doing it, in case Aurora or I really need what a human can do."

. . . "Thanks, when you broach the subject," Sabrina said, "I'd like to be there."

. . . The leotard-clad women nodded.

. . . Shana laughed. "He's an engineer, so how do you move a thousand tons with a 5-pound push? He'd know, and that's what he's applying. He might manage twice a day, but only with a big gap between. And he couldn't keep it up."

. . . "Oh boo," Warden said.

. . . "Point taken," Shana continued, "The fact is, he's got fifteen girls, maybe twenty-one, maybe twenty-seven. No regular Tamer could handle that, despite their certainty they could. So he's finding ways around it."

. . . "Bread and water, then a banquet," Alba suggested happily, then she frowned, "He must be very sad that he can't Tame you all at once."

. . . "I think that attempt would be a very bad idea," Seadamar warned her charge, "Let him do as he's doing. Now that we understand it, we can enjoy it."

. . . "Better question," the tall Megami with the wild, white hair asked, "Are you all packed for the trip tomorrow, or later today."

. . . Rainbow slipped in behind her Master. I never thought I'd see Blossom like this, she thought, gratified by the outcome, Holding a man. Clutching him like a beloved toy, or a sink for her pain. She spooned up behind the man, to let him know she was there, and supporting him. I don't understand it, but then I don't have to understand. I can trust my Master and I can love my Master and my Harem sisters.

. . . She settled in, ignoring her Harem-sisters soft cries as she tried to exorcize the guilt of not having saved her beloved. I heard the orders, yet we didn't follow them. Councillor Skara hated men, but that attack was idiocy. If we do things that have no point and make no sense, how do we expect to be taken seriously? How do we expect to survive?

. . . She snuggled against the pair and closed her eyes. With our new people, our new allies, she decided, That's how.

. . . The arrival of the entire force on the teak decks of the Daisy Mae resulted in some very disturbing screaming in terror.

. . . "They aren't pointed at you!" he shouted at the terrified Pokègirls who reacted to the sight of three, very large artillery pieces pointed not-quite at them.

. . . Miguelito got up off his hands and knees, once Antoinette and Voltaire quit covering him with their bodies. "The turret ring's jammed," he offered, "That makes chasing this ship the best proposition." He brushed off his lapels and grinned at the two chagrined Pokègirls.

. . . The flag brought shudders to him as he listened to Miguelito's assessment. Red field, pink 'Hello Kitty' (TM) wearing an eyepatch. 'Hello Cthulhu' I could handle for a pirate ship, but that . . .

. . . "Yessss, that is rather disturbing, isn't it?" Miguelito opined, as the Pokègirls calmed down, then tensed up as Megami by the dozens, and of all ages, appeared from hatches and from behind parts of the superstructure. The only thing in common was their uniform and at most shoulder-length hair. Even the kits were dressed and styled in that fashion.

. . . "Welcome aboard," a Megami-Sama called to them. Like the rest of her crew, she wore the Sailor Senshi-style leotard with very few frills and bows.

. . . "Color coding by division," he whispered to his team, then called out, "You are the captain, or first officer."

. . . "More frills, higher rank," he whispered to Miguelito. The smaller man nodded.

. . . "The second officer," the Megami-sama told them, "I'll be seeing to your quarters, and a few rules for your behavior aboard ship."

. . . "We're all potty trained," Isaik commented.

. . . "That's hardly all you'll have to learn," the officer said disdainfully.

. . . "I think we were also supposed to work on the guns," Miguelito commented, "Looking around - a full structural and control damage check might be a good idea. Some of these systems don't look like they've been maintained since they were built."

. . . "I agree. We'll need guides and a few engineers to help us. Once we know what needs to be fixed, we can prioritize what to fix."

. . . "That would be great," one of the Megami they'd brought with said.

. . . "Excuse me," the second officer said, trying to retake the conversation.

. . . "I think one should start at the front and work all the way back," he said to Miguelito, "And the other start at the back and work forwards. That way they should catch anything the other missed."

. . . "Agreed. The deck needs work, but I think our girls will be smart enough to see to that."

. . . "Excuse me!" the second officer shouted, but neither man, nor the engineers guiding them paid her any attention.

. . . "Forget it," Angie warned, "Once they have a machine to fix, you'll never stop them." She ran aftwards, to catch up with her Master, while Voltaire and Doctor Marilyn followed Miguelito forward.

. . . "Tell us, we still have to live with the rest of you," Shana said helpfully.

. . . The Megami-Sama growled and marched off.

. . . "I bet she's one of the unskilled," Cheryl said and headed after her Master, followed by a few others.

. . . Jen was worried about her Master. I'm worried he's going to throttle these stupid 'engineers' that run this equipment, she thought, A ship full of Megami, and they can only really see the problems in front of them. Another reason Pokègirls need humans.

. . . "No PM schedule?" he asked patiently, too patiently. His clenched fists behind his back the only clue to his true emotional state.

. . . "There's the night watch," the chief engineer offered and looked to the other for confirmation and support. The other Megami engineers nodded.

. . . "Pre - ventative Main - tenance," he said slowly, while his fingernails cut into his palms "PM, check things out, and replaces them before they break."

. . . "Why would we do that? We can fix anything."

. . . His palms were starting to bleed now. "So you don't overstress other equipment," he said very reasonably, "Or have a failure you can't fix, like the rear turret ring."

. . . "We haven't fixed that because we didn't have an shells for it."

. . . She watched as he clenched and unclenched his fists. The bloody fingernails told her what she needed to do. "You need some rest, Master," she said, "A few hours sleep and we can start again."

. . . "We need to finish this so we have more time to repair and fit out the ship and crew," he said politely.

. . . You aren't helping yourself or the mission by arguing with idiots, Jen thought, and glanced at Seadamar and Angie, I remember your warning, but a HyperDoll's gotta do, what a HyperDoll's gotta do.

. . . "Oh Master!" she squealed as she spun him around, "Your stubbornness make me SO HOT!" She rubbed his crotch against hers. "I've gotta have you! NOW!"

. . . "Wait! I - hey stop! This is - "

. . . "Mutiny!" Seadamar and Angie chorused as they ran after the HyperDoll, who had already removed their Master's pants.

. . . Jen found the desk she'd spotted earlier and set him down on it.

. . . "Just wait a second!"

. . . "Master!" she whined, then engulfed his cock and began bobbing her head and stroking it with her tongue.

. . . He sat up to complain, she pushed him back down with one hand, and held him there while her other hand gently massaged his balls.

. . . "What do you suppose they're doing down there?" Daria asked Fred as they stood at the railing listening to the ship pass through the water. She grinned in the moonlight, already knowing her friend's answer.

. . . "Something perverted, probably Taming on the engines or something."

. . . She leaned against the Tomboy and whispered, "Their powerful throbbing sending waves through their bodies, while the steamy heat of the room makes their sweat-slickened bodies just slide over each other." Making Fred squirm and squeeze her legs together. "Just raw animal lust and thumping - pumping - machines," Daria whispered huskily.

. . . Fred squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her clenched fists to her belly as her imagination took her to places she didn't want to go. Her frightened squeak when Daria pressed deeply at the forbidden place, only made Daria smile more.

. . . "Thrusting, pumping, surging power," the S-Goth whispered into the Tomboy's ear as she pressed up.

. . . The conflicted girl was squeezing her own breasts through her shirt as Daria's hand rubbed harder against her jeans.

. . . "Please don't," Fred whispered.

. . . "You're afraid," Daria soothed as she switched to gentle strokes, "I won't hurt you, but I won't let you hurt yourself either." She licked the girl's ear playfully, as the Tomboy moaned.

. . . "Not here, not where everyone can see," Fred pleaded.

. . . "Right here, right now," Daria countered as she rubbed, "If we go inside, you'll have to be naked. Out here, you just have to enjoy it."

. . . Fred whimpered through her first orgasm, more ashamed than hurt, but Daria wasn't through. The man was right, start slow, and let it build up, she thought as she slipped a hand into her lover's pants, And keep things moving and off-balance.

. . . "Not there," Fred squealed as Daria's finger prodded her anus.

. . . "Why not?" the S-Goth teased, "Maybe somewhere better, and more, open, and wet?"

. . . Fred whimpered again as Daria's other hand slid into her pants, and touched and tickled her.

. . . Jen felt his orgasm approaching. She slowed her pace, and massaged his balls to ease the urgency. At least I don't have to keep holding him down, she thought as she ran her hands over his body, relaxing him further, I wish I could tell the others, but this is my plan, and I didn't have time.

. . . She felt she'd delayed it, and then sped up and sent her hands roaming again to build the pressure within him to a near peak. Just like you did Master, orgasm delayed, not orgasm denied, until it was an explosion, she thought happily, When that's ready, I'll mount you and feel the explosion too. She grinned. Then you'll be too tired to do anything but sleep.

. . . She felt the throbbing in his cock begin again. His short gasps told her that she'd gone as far as she could go. Jen pulled her mouth away, and climbed up on the desk to mount him. This was almost as bad for me, as it was for him, she thought as she slowly rode him up and down, I wanted this so bad, but I had to wait. She continued with her slow pace, against all her instincts to speed up. Control, control, she urged as each stroke stoked the fires inside her. Her breath came in gasps as she tried not to become a Cheetit in overdrive, letting the force of her own orgasm build. Let him go first, let him go first, she chanted inwardly as his hip thrusts against her and the pulsations of both of them drove her nearly insane.

. . . His ejaculation pierced her and her cries of delight echoed off the metal walls around them.

. . . Sorry, Master, she thought, But you were acting like an idiot about this. She felt the tension draining out of both of them. I feel exhausted, she thought, If that doesn't take the starch out of him, he's not human. She was pushed down beside him on the desk. She moaned slightly as she felt a nimble tongue doing unimaginably pleasant things inside her. Her Master groaned slightly as Angie sucked and licked him clean. Seadamar? Jen wondered as she lay there and grinned, Naw!

. . . Fred lay in the deck and whimpered again.

. . . "Another? What are you thinking about? A fish getting in there and wriggling about?" Daria asked as her hands busily stimulated her partner, "Or maybe a real octopus, with all those naughty muscular tentacles?"

. . . Fred whined and squirmed, but Daria had subdued the Tomboy already. Fred's hands groped and squeezed her own breasts and hard nipples. Daria rubbed her own thighs against each other in her own excitement and frustration. She's getting off, she thought, But she'll just go run and hide when I let her up. No fun for me. I guess I'll have to find someone else.

. . . Another soft whimper from Fred told her that the girl had climaxed again.

. . . So embarrassed, Daria thought gleefully, All alone and she thinks the whole world is watching and judging her. Ridiculous.

. . . Another soft sound caught her attention. The faint moonlight did little to reduce the gloom, but she caught a tall shadow moving across the deck.

. . . "SHARPTITS!" she shouted as she released an Aura of Danger to alert the others, and teleported herself and Fred back to their quarters.

. . . Blossom had been watching the two youngsters, when she'd spotted the newcomers. A spotlight caught one of them, and Daria's warning was confirmed. An instant later, Blossom, in battle-form, was behind the group of invaders, with Rainbow in battle-form ahead. The girls caught in the searchlight beam found themselves facing two monsters. Alarms sounded and lights came on throughout the ship.

. . . Blossom snatched up one in her mouth, crushing and shredding the girl instantly. Rainbow was doing the same

. . . "Royal Curse!" the centauroid Megami shouted, forming a gold shell over one of the SharpTits.

. . . A huge and terrible monster broached the surface, only to find an enormous and dreadful monster waiting for it. Blossom sunk her teeth deep into the six meter-long SharpTit's throat, but overbalanced and the deadweight pulled overboard as the wounded creature dropped back into the sea. She felt the powerful swimming motions of the Pokègirl as they descended.

. . . She's too big to crush, Blossom thought, Hyperbeam! She released the gutted corpse as blood and viscera filled the water. She used her powerful tail to swim away rapidly, as more of the monsters converged on the blood trail. She teleported back to the ship's deck, and looked around as lanterns and searchlights illuminated the deck. A dozen or more Boobfins lay panting on the deck, while Gwendoline lay on her side, Cheryl and Kay seeing to the exhausted Megami.

. . . The Captain was shouting orders. Blossom and Rainbow resumed their normal forms. "We have to sweep the ship," Isaik told them, "They may have slipped a team below decks."

. . . Rainbow snorted. "No, they didn't," she said flatly, "I'd smell them if they had."

. . . "We should check anyway," Isaik said and glanced back at the captain.

. . . Rainbow and Blossom shrugged, but followed the Eidolon below.

. . . The slap on the ass woke Jen immediately. "Get up, we have more work to do," her Master told her, his irritation was obvious. "What were you thinking?"

. . . She rolled out of the makeshift hammock and followed him. "That you were going to kill the chief engineer of the boat we're sitting in," Jen answered truthfully, as Angie and Seadamar fell in behind them.

. . . He grumbled, but didn't confront her.

. . . She sighed and glanced at the equally frustrated tech types. "I'd still do it again," she said to them, quietly.

. . . They nodded.

. . . The crowd of Pokègirls surrounded the hatch opening. The steel cover pulled aside to reveal the flooded sections used as a kiddie pool. They smiled and gazed blissfully as the immature Megami swam and played with the recently captured Boobfin. But Shana had other worries. "So, XO, do these kinds of boarding actions happen often?"

. . . The gruff, no-nonsense Megami-Sama grimaced and considered, "Never heard of it before. Attacks on the ship itself, then eating the drowning survivors, I've heard of. But I've never heard of them boarding a ship out of their lunar season, especially not one cruising at 28 knots." She looked at Shana, and her expression practically said 'they were waiting for us, with orders.'

. . . Someone sent them. Someone with contracts in the Limbec, and I think I know who, Shana realized, but kept her expression neutral, except for her nod to the XO.

. . . "Our chief engineer and damage control teams don't think much of those two humans," the XO said, showing her opinion of their opinions.

. . . As if either of us would do anything about that, Shana thought, But she had to pass the message.

. . . "They know how this ship was, and they just might be able to restore it to that condition."

. . . "In a month, at sea?" the XO chuckled, "Now who's fantasizing?"

. . . "You, if you think such trivialities would stop either of them," Shana said seriously, "If you have the Cosmic Awareness or whatever you call it, you know who the taller one is. With that kind of horsepower behind him, I'd tell your engineer to just get out of the boss' way and let them perform their miracles. Miguelito is brilliant enough to leave the boss in the dust. I wouldn't bet a credit against Gendo Giovanni's whole fortune that they can't do whatever they set their minds to."

. . . The Megami pirate smiled. "I'll believe it when I see it," the XO scoffed, "We'll still need both of them to Tame our friends. While they're okay as Ferals, I'd rather have that removed."

. . . "I'll make sure it gets done quickly," Shana said.

. . . Another reason we still need humans. Anti-Feral drugs are one thing, but curing Ferality would need something a lot stronger than we've been using, she thought as she watched the groups play, And not S-Goth, or Legendaries can cure Ferality the way some clueless teen-aged human can with what comes naturally. The S-Goths should have sold their takeover as 'we'll take care of the drudgery, you do what you want' and made it sound like paradise. But they didn't, why didn't they? If I let myself become one, can I even ask myself those questions?

. . . Angie ran into the bunk room the visitors had been using. Her haggard expression showed the hard work she and the humans had been doing for the past nearly 48 hours. "Everybody up," she ordered, "Everybody ears up and listening. One person even mentions getting a Taming in front of those two, and I'll personally feed you to Blossom and Rainbow, that means they'll tear you in half and feast on your still-living remains."

. . . "I'd never mention it," Fred said, "What's got you in such an uproar."

. . . "They are not happy, and I do not want them taking it out on anyone."

. . . "I thought each was going to start at one end, and work to the other," Shana said as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, "How do you know what they are both feeling?"

. . . "Master finished, and decided to help Miguelito. Big mistake letting the two of them go through the engine room together," Angie warned, "They are not happy."

. . . "You said that," Daria said and yawned, "How bad is it?"

. . . "I almost wish we were in sight of the demons. It would be an interesting fight," Angie said and dashed back out.

. . . "I have a great desire to throw myself overboard," Hatta Mary warned, "I think this is going to require great delicacy."

. . . "Why is everyone staring at me?" Fred complained.

. . . "I'll take Fred for a walk," Daria suggested, "I suggest someone tape Eko's mouth shut," she said and dragged her lover out of the room.

. . . The two men who entered looked like murder was a definite and immediate possibility. "We have a lot of work to do, and it is going to take everybody," their Master said. Miguelito simply paced, with Voltaire and Antoinette trying to keep some boundaries around him. Ronette threw Shana a meaningful look and just shook her head. Both Seadamar and Angie were in their battle forms.

. . . "The hull is rust, barnacle colonies and good intentions, the entire propulsion unit is cobbled together by a pack of drunken chimps out of every wrong way to use steam ever tried by man, the electrical system is barely functional except as a torture device, and I bet the hull hasn't been scraped in a century."

. . . "I take it they are fine with this?" Commander Genek asked as she entered, and backed up as he stared at her.

. . . "It's been fine for years, so it must be fine now. If something goes wrong, we'll just fix it," he replied carefully, as if taking each word from a hot fire. "For beings able to sense spirits, they have a Hell of a way to show respect for a fighting lady."

. . . "Ships are all female," Genek explained to the others, "Some ladies, some girls. So, what's first? I'm guessing the aft turret is down on the list."

. . . "The hull," he said, "They've counterflooded a half dozen compartments, to deal with the list. I don't want to guess what's in the bilges."

. . . The Commander glanced around as the rest of the group came fully awake. "How do we arrange that without a drydock?" Genek asked.

. . . "You don't need a drydock, when you have 150 Megami and Megami-Sama aboard. You just need to explain things, very carefully," he said quietly, then shouted while shaking with rage, "To a pack of willfully stupid morons."

. . . He looked at the Commander, and she recoiled. He softened his expression, but his temper was at the snapping point. "What made you willing to give these neophytes all the powder and shells? At least they have them stored correctly."

. . . "Because this ship is only really dangerous as long as they have shells and powder," Genek used a reasonable tone, "And it's dangerous because of how fast it uses those up. The ship is only this dangerous as long as we supply them. If they become a threat to the Navy or the League, their supply dries up."

. . . He nodded. "At least someone hasn't gone crazy. All right. We need to lift the ship, then we need to put teams over the sides to scrape the debris, although if we rework the plates, that may just burn off any weeds or barnacles."

. . . "Rework?" Shana asked, "Like take them out and remake them?"

. . . "More like convert them back from rust and concrete where they are," he replied. He yawned. "I'm in no shape to be civil. Ronette and Seadamar have complete scans of the entire ship and the critical repairs. I need a list of the recommended order of repairs, and teams to handle it."

. . . "Understood," Seadamar said, "You both need sleep."

. . . He glanced at Miguelito, then at the Pokègirls. "Yes," he said simply. He let Warden and Acer lead him out of the room to his own bunk. Antoinette led Miguelito after them.

. . . Voltaire sat down at the table and the huge girl put her head on the table. "Very bad."

. . . "So that's what disarming a live shell feels like," Roxanne said as she relaxed, "The scarey question is why am I suddenly wide awake and horny?" She let the others giggle at her question.

. . . "That's what having a Master is about," Shana said as she grinned, "Too bad they were tired. A little hate sex would go down real sweet right now."

. . . " 'Hate sex'?" Kay asked, and pointedly stared at Eko, daring her to say anything.

. . . "You loathe someone, or are furious about something. Turn that emotional energy to just screwing a partner raw. It's best if the two of you just want to tear into each other. Isn't that what you're building up to Eko?"

. . . The OfficerJenny made a strangled noise, but the others were laughing too hard.

. . . "Back on subject, because I'd like to finish my night's sleep before a day of work," Roxanne said, "Strong as me and Aurora are, we can't lift an entire ship like this. We'd punch through the hull for one thing. We can burn off the debris, but I don't know if that's what he wants."

. . . "Then sit down and listen to the brilliance of two very angry men," Angie said carefully, relaxing a bit as she sat down at the table and the others clustered around her, "I just want to know who'll convince the Captain to let us do this."

. . . "Me," Ms. MixMaster said, "I think I can get the ministers to help me. Cameron's ex-Navy."

. . . Seadamar accepted a hug from Alba, before putting her on her shoulder and projecting a diagram of the ship. "The green is where the hull is dangerously thin."

. . . Shana frowned as she sat and stared at the slowly rotating image. "Wouldn't it be easier to color the good hull spots?" Shana asked.

. . . "Yes, but that's what's got them so pissed. As well as the system used in the engines. They're using a fire-tube boiler. I didn't see the problem, until Master explained that a fire-tube boiler is much more likely to explode and destroy the ship and crew than a water-tube boiler. I didn't ask what the difference is, but they made it clear that the change is necessary."

. . . "It's a correct assessment," Commander Genek said as she took a seat, "I hadn't thought it was this bad." She ran a finger through the image pointing to the worst areas.

. . . "The electrical system includes internal communications," Seadamar said, she glanced around, "Testing them was not a pleasant experience."

. . . "Ouch. I'll bet," Underworld said as she pushed her way to the front and sat at the table, "He always was proud of his technical skills, and those of his nation. This has to be a particular outrage."

. . . "Just be ready for a lot of very strange work over the next few days," Seadamar said from where she stood, "They mean all this work to be done in a week."

. . . "They're joking!" Genek said, "Even our best yard crews would take a couple of months to fix this." She gestured at the image.

. . . "Because they would operate as yard crews, not as gods," Seadamar replied calmly, "Let me tell you what they have planned for the hull refit. You can scream in protest later."

. . . Deep in the hull, as near the keel as they could get, a pack of little Megami kits giggled.

. . . He shook his head. "I'm serious, the metal of this ship keeps you from drowning in the sea, it keeps you from getting soaked in rain squalls, it keeps you from getting too cold or too hot, and it gives you safe places to run and play. I just want you to tell it that, to let it feel how much you love what it gives you."

. . . The pack of beribboned kits all laughed at the entire idea.

. . . "You talk to the plants, right? And you're planning to eat those," he pointed out, "How is this different?"

. . . "They're food!" one Megami kit pointed out.

. . . "And this is your home," he replied as he pointed around them to the bulkheads and hatches. There were fewer giggles this time. "Don't you want your home to know you love it?" Now guilty glances replaced the giggles. "So it's not so silly after all."

. . . The girls huddled together, to decide what they were going to do. He stepped away to let them decide, while other tasks were in the works. Angie waited. From deeper in the ship, the sound of the bilges being drained could be made out, as well as the perception of something passing through the entire ship.

. . . "They're ready to lift, and Aurora and Roxanne are ready to push. Why do we have to keep moving?" Angie asked.

. . . "Because that SharpTits attack came once we were out of Sunshine League waters. They can sense me now, where I'm going and they can guess what I'll be doing. I am willing to bet that some of them won't be happy."

. . . "Unhappy you're preventing a massacre?" Angie asked incredulously.

. . . "The humans will get the worst of that massacre. The S-Goths believe they can rebuild faster than the remnant of Humanity can, so if they knock the humans down to manageable levels, they can use the survivors as breeding stock, and they win by default."

. . . "To rule a half-obliterated wasteland?" Angie asked as she stared at him, "Nobody is that stupid."

. . . He smiled back. "Don't confuse ordinary stupidity with virulent hatred," he warned, then loftily added, "It is not important that we win, but that they lose." He snorted in disgust. "Has the Commander gotten the paint?"

. . . "Blossom and Rainbow teleported in the last pallet aboard. I still think this is crazy."

. . . "You saw the condition of the hull," he replied, "It's now, or we drown if we get in combat. I'm willing to bet our enemies know that too."

. . . The Titmouse nodded and headed up the ladder to get to the weather deck to direct operations for her Master.

. . . "We'll do it," the ersatz kit leader told him, "But it sounds funny."

. . . "So does the idea of making iron float, but you live in floating iron," he replied evenly.

. . . The vessel, all 21+ thousand tons lifts smoothly out of the water. The two Farfuck'ds in their white leotards and red capes, fly down to the inboard propellor shafts and begin to push, maintaining the vessel's progress towards its target still nearly two weeks away.

. . . Master roams the deck and below decks, supervising the magics that absorb the rust, steel, weeds, barnacles and the mess in the bilges into the steel of the ship. Below, the kits are expending their energies 'infusing love' into their home, while their elders are divided into three groups, a skeleton crew to maintain the ship, a team lead by Ms. MixMaster keeping the ship hovering over the water, and Angie and Miguelito assisting the last group in converting the structure of the ship back into the tough steel it once was. I watch Seadamar examining sections with her sensors, to assure the process is going ahead properly. The rest of us stay out of the way and watch, having neither the naval architectural knowledge, nor the skill with metallurgy to assist in a meaningful way.

. . . Some assist manning the 5 inch guns, or the anti-aircraft batteries, to prevent unpleasant surprises from the air. Occasional water types poke their heads up to watch this oddly, low-flying airship. None attempt to attack us, but I cannot shake the feeling that we are being closely watched by unfriendly eyes.

. . . The process continues without a hitch or bobble to and past sundown. The sun on the water is breathtaking, and all come to the upper deck or the superstructure to enjoy it. As darkness falls, we are reinvigorated and ready to work, but the Megami insist that we await the return of the sun, before we finish the painting job.

. . . I bet they want the 17 Boobfin we have aboard Tamed before we go on, I think as Master and Miguelito return from their tasks.

. . . "I'm glad you're in better spirits," I tell my Master.

. . . "We're finally getting this tub back in fighting shape, Jen," Master says, he smiles but both are clearly tired, "Everybody has done very well."

. . . Why do I want to toss you down on the newly-polished deck and have my way with you? I wonder as Miguelito makes 'go ahead' motion behind my Master's back, then walks away giggling, You're everything I should avoid, but I . . . I care for you. And wish you'd see that. No, even me, I play the dutiful Pokègirl. I shouldn't care, I'm not supposed to care. But I like these people, I like him. Even if he does make me crazy.

. . . "Then I'm going to broach the subject," I tell him, "Our hosts have made a request."

. . . "To you? See, a change of scenery and a change in attitude," he tells me as he caresses my face and smiles.

. . . I hug him. It's all I can do, not Tame him right there on the deck.

. . . "Our Boobfin friends," I tell him.

. . . Reminding myself why I must restrain the impulse, I think, against my nature and desires.

. . . "I think Miguelito and I have that covered."

. . . "You two are going to handle seventeen raunchy Pokègirls in one night?" I comment, "You may be able to do miracles with steel, but people aren't your strong suit," I tell them, "Neither of you."

. . . Both grin at me. Miguelito laughs at a joke I can't get.

. . . "We are going to need every randy Pokègirl on our side. Miguelito and I will break them out of their Ferality, but it's up to the rest of you to sexually satisfy them," Master tells me and grins, "I figure at 10-to-1, we shouldn't do too badly."

. . . "You're serous?" I ask incredulously, "You are really serious?"

. . . Both men nod.

. . . "That trick with Naomi!" it hits me, "No penetration, no ejaculation; no ejaculation and you two can easily service eight or nine each." I pause and the rest falls into place "That's medical, then the fun comes with the rest of us . . . you two are still going to be exhausted."

. . . "True," Miguelito says, and laughs, "But I'm an artist, I don't want to watch you painting the ship tomorrow." He laughs at the joke. Master only shrugs, showing he doesn't get it either.

. . . I realize, I'm going to need a team to keep Master safe, and coordinate that team with Miguelito's two handlers. And I know exactly who.

. . . His hands, arms and tongue burned from the effort of the last few hours. "Great idea," he whispered. Above his head, happy squeals rang through the ship as the de-Feraled BoobFins coupled with their eager partners in a grand orgy. "I don't think I could make a stand if my life depended on it." He remembered Voltaire and Antoinette carrying away their equally exhausted Master. The smooth skin and furry shoulders he suddenly found under his shoulders and legs broke him from his reverie. A joint grin, and they moved his hands so he cupped a breast in each

. . . "Girls, I appreciate the gesture," he told Jen and Naomi, "But I -"

. . . "Last time, you just wanted to cuddle. That's it, just cuddling," the Tigress told him firmly, "That time I wanted to keep Taming Cheryl."

. . . "Up top -?" he asked dully.

. . . "There's something about Taming a - fish - that doesn't set right," the Tigress explained, "I know they're mammals, but they live in water. They're fish."

. . . He shook his head. "And you?"

. . . "I think a nice cuddle with my nice Master would be good," she said.

. . . "Don't respect me too much, or you'll evolve into a Redeemer," he teased, "And they aren't as powerful as you are."

. . . "He does only love me for my power," Jen said happily, "I thought he only wanted my mind."

. . . He shook his head and let them carry him to his private nook with the makeshift hammock made from strips of what felt like silk. They set him down long enough to drape a sheet over the webbing. Then they lifted him in.

. . . "Present from some Tarantella they rescued from Rome," Naomi explained as she climbed in after him, then Jen slipped in behind. The whole thing swayed alarmingly, but held between the athletic pair, he felt safe.

. . . "If I wake up in the middle of the night with a raging hard-on," he warned, "Make sure I don't just have to pee real bad."

. . . "Water sports and golden showers aren't my style," Jen assured him.

. . . "Cats don't like getting wet," Naomi said as she pulled the silk coverlet over the three of them.

. . . The warm softness around him soon lulled him to sleep.

. . . It was a very different pair of curves he awoke between. "We were wondering if you'd ever wake up," came Warden's concerned tones.

. . . "How long have I been asleep?" he asked. He tried to sit up, and was quickly pulled back into the enveloping softness.

. . . "Two days," he recognized Hatta Mary's voice, "You need to eat."

. . . "And I have milk or juice to choose from," he said, "How did the BoobFin enjoy their Return to Sentience party?"

. . . "It only broke up a few hours ago, although they did change out partners so we could get the ship painted," Warden explained, "Although a lot of the Megami preferred ship painting to partying with the BoobFin."

. . . "Like Cheryl said, they're either good, or terrible," he replied, "I assume Maus had a good time."

. . . "She was one on the second rotation, and I think she went from partner to partner," Warden said, "Jen and Naomi slipped away from you when Isaik and Angie needed a break. I think the BoobFin were trying to see just how many orgasms they could give a Titmouse, before she couldn't speak or move."

. . . "She quit at eighty-seven, and sort of crawled away. Later we traded with them when they started worrying that you and Miguelito weren't waking up. He did about two hours ago."

. . . "Too much work," he explained and ceased trying to even sit up.

. . . If Angie's out there, and Seadamar, they know what needs doing, he thought, Until we have to refit the boilers, and Miguelito knows that.

. . . "Are we back in the water, or still flying?" he asked, "Dumb question, the paint has to dry."

. . . "And Miguelito was going on about boiler design," Hatta Mary said with a mix of reassurance and impatience, "So he's got that covered."

. . . They just want me to eat, and leave the problems to others, he realized as he began suckling from the Fiendish Cherry, and when she relaxed, he slipped a hand between her legs, stroking up and down her thighs while the other hand circled the aureola of the breast he wasn't suckling. The nipple he was suckling, grew harder and warmer in his mouth

. . . "Tease," she breathed as she pulled him atop her, "Why don't you just shove it in and take me? You have to tease?"

. . . You really want me to stop and explain? he didn't ask as he drank from her breast.

. . . She began thrusting her hips against him, faster and more insistently, but he wouldn't speed up or touch what she wanted touched.

. . . "Master!" she protested.

. . . "Now, me browed peauty, your peers and tarers have no hope."

. . . "Master," she laughed breathlessly, and slumped. "Massst . . . " she said, like a dying balloon. She closed her eyes and relaxed.

. . . "Honestly Occifer, she was like that when I found her," he told Warden, who giggled in response, then looked at him with panic as he fluttered his fingers at her. "Cheryl was very instructive on a few things. I'm almost afraid for poor Ms. MixMaster when it's her turn."

. . . "Ah, Master, you do need to eat, and get to work today."

. . . "Ah, but you don't need to leave today?" he grinned evilly at her as he climbed atop her.

. . . "I'm going to have a long talk with that Megami," Warden said as she glanced over the side of the hammock, then back at her suckling Master and his roaming hands, "Maybe laTER!" she shrieked.

. . . He walked on deck feeling much better about himself and the world. Those are some neat tricks, and so easy, he thought, I'll have to thank Cheryl . . . some other way than showing how well I learned them.

. . . The girl in the loose shirt and the ordinary jeans standing at the rail caught his eye. The Megami of the crew pointedly walked around her and refused to look at her. Haven't seen her before, he thought as he walked over.

. . . "Excuse me," he began and realized the shirt was loose because it could have fit two of him in there, and it was camouflage for her copious and luxurious curves.

. . . "No, I don't want to Tame you! I won't hurt you or your crew any more than I'd hurt her or her family! She's good and kind to me, and I love her, isn't that enough for your people!?" exploded out at him.

. . . "Hi, most people call me Janus, if they don't call me Master," he said as he held out his hand, "And what are you called?"

. . . She closed her eyes and shook her head. She carefully took his hand and shook it. "Sarah," she said, "I'm Doctor Kincaid's assistant, protector and lover. And yes, I'm a Succubus."

. . . "Taken to counterpunching before you can be attacked, I can relate to that," he said and shrugged, "And thank you for reassuring me about my people. I'm rather protective of them."

. . . "So I've heard. I'm sorry for the outburst. The RevDoc let me out to help with the BoobFin. Since then, most of the girls have been, politely disapproving."

. . . "As the great philosophers used to say in the 21st Century, 'Fuck 'em'."

. . . She laughed at that. "You do realize what a disaster you're sailing into, don't you?"

. . . "Yep." He sighed, shrugged, then smiled sadly. "I've got a way out, but I'm not happy about using it."

. . . "Nukes don't work on demons," she told him, "Unless you use holy heavy water."

. . . "This is quite different from atomics," he said quietly, "And goes to the fundamental structure of the world."

. . . "Maybe we should have a few philosophical debates," she said, and grinned, "With the Megami, your Celestials, and the three ministers, it might be interesting."

. . . "Don't forget me and Miguelito," he said, "That might be a war worth having. Oh, be careful of Maus, I don't think she's happy about Succubi."

. . . "Warden warned me, but since I'm not in her Harem, she and I had a . . . friendly competition," Sarah told him, "And the BoobFin certainly enjoyed it."

. . . "Good to hear." He considered. He looked around. "Would a kiss on the hand scandalize the crew and cause an irreparable rift with your Master?"

. . . "Mistress," she replied and held out a hand, "Enchante`."

. . . He kissed her hand and moved off to check on the progress of the work.

. . . "You said that your ability lets you know something about a situation by hearing music, correct?" Carmen asked.

. . . "Yes, that's true," Marc replied, "At least to a point. Sometimes it's specific, sometimes it's general. It all depends on the music."

. . . "I'd like you to listen to this and tell me what you feel is going on. Would you mind? All you have to do hold it in your hands and focus on it." She pressed a cool crystal sphere into his hand as she spoke.

. . . Marc nodded, and focused. "It's calm. A peaceful situation. A sense of something in the background. Something magical? Rising tones, the sense is stronger. Sounds otherworldly. Wait. Martial music. A battle getting ready to start. Troops gearing up? It's started. Battle, fighting, running. Finality. Deaths? Now we're back to more peaceful music. Still otherworldy, but with added stuff. More martial music. No battle yet. Planning? New music again. Sounds interesting. Can't quite tell what's going on. A person coming to a decision? Maybe something being planned. Climactic music. More of decision music, ending with climactic. Otherworld music again. Louder. It's like it's closer each time. Something strange about it. Danger. More martial music. Troops marching? Someone going out to war. Both sides are ready it sounds like. Battle being joined. Greater danger. Conflict is rising. It's - it's stopped." He looked up, staring sightlessly at Carmen. "What was that? How does it end?"

. . . Carmen turned and left. Outside his senses, she composed herself and found a phone. "Yes, Granny. I have confirmation from the other author, he's a good boy and no lies. No, no, it isn't good. You'd better send Angie to get her sweet behind back out there with her little flock, and get this back before he notices it's missing. Although he's probably laugh about the use we put it to. Yes, Granny. No, Granny. I'm afraid it's worse than the doctor was afraid of, Granny. Poor dear's made his decision, one-hundred percent commitment, has it all planned out, probably to the finest detail, the monster's probably coming out with no leash, if it hasn't already, and neither are planning on coming back. No, he won't sacrifice the girls Granny. We should probably think about the dears' safety and recovery. Yes, yes, Granny, I understand." She hung up the phone and considered. "I don't like it, but I understand completely. Damned idiots have started a war this planet can't survive. Maybe we should leave the other authors to just clean up the mess once and for all." She shook her head. "God have mercy on whatever they face, because those killers won't."

. . . "Master," Cheryl approached him.

. . . He braced himself for yet another rebuke for not getting the world. Just because I made it, that doesn't mean I could how to live here, he sighed inwardly, But they are trying to help.

. . . "Yes, what did I do wrong now?" he asked.

. . . "Not - wrong, per se, Master," Cheryl said carefully, "It's just - something you can do - better. With magic."

. . . "I'm not really that great a mage. I've got only a handful of low-level spells."

. . . "It is a low-level spell," she said, then brightened, "A Celestial spell!"

. . . Okay P.T. Barnum, I'll bite, where's this egress of yours? he thought.

. . . "It's called 'The Way of Weeds'," Cheryl explained.

. . . He frowned. "It doesn't involve marijuana or Jimson Weed, does it?" he asked suspiciously.

. . . "No, it's just the translation from the Latin. It gives a Tamer - greater - staying power."

. . . " 'Staying Power'?" he asked suspiciously.

. . . "You know - staying power," she said quietly, and made a hip thrust at him, "Staying power."

. . . He closed his eye and shook his head. Terrific.

. . . "Why isn't this spell more widely known? I've never even heard of it. And that's saying something."

. . . "It something of a secret of the Megami, those who are good at it . . . if you understand."

. . . "I understand. So why is that a low-level spell?"

. . . "It has a side-effect, which you have to be pretty secure in your Taming ability, or pretty unconcerned might be a better way," she explained, then hurried on, "It greatly sensitizes your partner, so - well - getting her off is - really easy."

. . . "That doesn't sound like a problem."

. . . "Like I said, 'unconcerned'," she said and smiled at him, "You think the whole point of Taming is to get her off. On the other hand, if you thought that it's a way to judge your manhood, then whispering the word 'pencil' and getting her to squeal doesn't help your ego and confidence any. There's also the problem of . . . turning it off."

. . . " 'Turning -' like, it just stays up?" he asked, not trying to hide his horror, "That isn't healthy, it might even be dangerous."

. . . "It's worse, once the spell starts, is sort of - feeds on sexual energy as it goes. The more orgasms, the longer the spell lasts. It doesn't completely override your limitations, but it's better for an older man, than a young one. They're more likely to go back down, before they're damaged," she offered sheepishly.

. . . " 'More likely.' So let me get this straight. I'll - last longer, sensitize my partner or partners so I'd hardly need to last long - "

. . . "Oh no, having Master inside is lots better, it's just - maybe only a couple strokes the second time."

. . . He shook his head to clear it. "Okay, so I last long, but they really don't?"

. . . "Right."

. . . "So I can service more of them, but the more thoroughly I service them, the long I'll last . . . something's not right about that being a low-level spell."

. . . "Young Tamers are never taught it," Cheryl repeated, "For their physical and emotional health. And it really doesn't do much more than a very limited Energy Drain, with specific targets and side-effects."

. . . " 'Way of Weeds'," thought aloud, "Via gra-men?"

. . . "Yes, Master."

. . . I should have never agreed that the after-dinner discussion should be to let the various people 'ask questions of the gods', he thought as he glanced around the large mess hall filled with every person aboard not on watch.

. . . "Are you all right?" Doctor Kincaid asked, her modestly-dressed Succubus staying close.

. . . "I just realized why God doesn't manifest anymore. Too many questions."

. . . "If I'm to understand you," Bishop Cameron said, "The Bloody Flu didn't just affect women?"

. . . "It's the three plagues together that you have to analyze. And remember, I told you, I'm in the minority here. But I suspect I'm the only trained scientist in the group. I know I'm the only one who discussed it with the university faculty in the genetics department. The Bloody Flu sterilized all the women alive in 1993, I assume that means the ones in the womb as well. But male humans are discovered to be interfertile with Pokègirls in 1997 and could produce viable offspring, that is offspring capable of reproducing. Why would Sukebe allow that? He didn't intend it. The Bloody Flu sterilized almost all women, and began altering the male DNA, not enough to be easily discernable, and most attention was aimed elsewhere, but I firmly believe that the reason male and female human couplings have such low fertility rates, and male human/Pokèwomen couplings have such high rates is that males were altered to be closer to Pokèfolk than human females were. Like Lions and Tigers, or Horses and Jackasses, they aren't exactly the same, but the sterile hybrids they can produce are human females. It also fits in with Sukebe's strategy. He hated women, and he wanted to cut them out of the future. What better way than leaving them human, while everyone else moved to the next evolutionary plateau?"

. . . "How do the other plagues fit in?" Miguelito asked, his face aglow with the possibilities.

. . . "In 2000 the Chinese release a variant of the Bloody Flu called the Monster Flu. It really didn't do the job, but it saturated the air-breathing biosphere with the virus particles. Then in 2004, the Red Plague breaks out. Since there have been no girls conceived after the Bloody Flu died off who have reached puberty, it's impossible to test, but I suspect that the Monster Flu attacked all the people who hadn't already been heavily altered by the Bloody Flu. The more you'd been altered, the less severe your symptoms. Pokègirls are immune to it, and so were some humans. All modern humans are totally immune. But I wasn't, and I suspect neither were the other authors. Those immune humans probably were genetically closer to Pokègirls than the normal strain."

. . . "No real humans anymore?" Voltaire asked.

. . . "Exactly," he told the Francinestein, "The whole idea of Pure Strain Humans is ridiculous. The last Pure Strain died during and of the Red Plague. Everyone alive, other than dimensional travelers, are some variant of Pokèfolk. That's why even Pure Strains sometimes still throw out a Threshold case now and again. They don't dare look at it closely, because genetic purity is the source of their power and authority. If the truth came out, they'd be down in the weeds with the normals in a heartbeat."

. . . "But that makes no sense," Doctor Kincaid exclaimed, "Why would they perpet - never mind, they'd perpetuate such a lie to keep their power. If everyone is 'just Pokès' then there's less reason to treat them as property and treat Blood-Gifted humans as barely tolerated freaks."

. . . "It would explain why of adults, only males have Bloodgifts. A 'Bloodgifted' female child is practically a guaranteed Threshold case," Miguelito said, "Your theory says she's nearly a Pokèkit anyway."

. . . "Correct."

. . . "What about the other part of the theory, Master," Underworld said, and grinned at her Master's frown.

. . . "I'm a fan of H. P. Lovecraft's works, and many of the Lovecraft Circle who kept the dark versus black-and-white tone of some later authors. There's an entity called Nyarlathotep, the Crawling Chaos. It struck me that this terminally and terribly naive scientist goes dimension hopping, and randomly lands on worlds where the native proteins don't cause instant and lethal anaphylactic shock, yet he can bring back technology than is simple enough he can reverse-engineer it, and mass-produce it, yet cutting edge enough to make him a fortune? I don't buy that. Not without a guide."

. . . "Nyarlathotep," Doctor Kincaid said.

. . . "Who hates all life, and everything not himself. So he realizes he has an opportunity to give this highly intelligent moron a real poison present. Pokègirl technology. The whole thing. The Balls, the Taming equipment, breeding facilities, everything. And so the nitwit takes the gift with a smile in his heart, never once considering somebody might have a hard time accepting that a rich, man, was building sentient, sex-slave toys. Considering the furor over genetically enhanced foodstocks, I can imagine the furor over a living, breathing blow-up doll."

. . . "So this Nyarlathotep gave him the tech, knowing it would cause the disaster?" Cheryl asked in alarm.

. . . "Probably directed what's-her-face, McKenzie to the site and got her all self-righteous and excited over her scoop. Brilliant, naive idiot can't understand why someone would kill his harmless, friendly sexpets. His old guide probably poured poison in his ear, about being able to build warriors with the tech. Or he already had an army and a fascinating plague all ready and waiting for his protege to strike back with."

. . . "Then the Bloody Flu and the Revenge War," Underworld said, "That would explain how he grew the Legendaries so fast. Not the Titans, but the 2nd Gen, somebody had them on tap, ready to go. When?"

. . . "Probably when he met him, and started laying the seeds," he explained, "Remember, I said this was my private theory. And I'm in the minority. Although considering the manufacturing difficulties, he would have had to get the factories up and running to gin out an army, let alone several. That takes time, months to years. Also, the Red Chinese never were the biotech experts either the Americans, Canadians or Israelis were."

. . . "So, he helped the Chinese create the Monster Flu, this Nyarlathotep?" Cheryl asked, "Just because he . . . ?"

. . . "Wanted to destroy annoying humanity."

. . . " 'Get off my lawn you rotten kids!' seems a very poor reason for universal genocide," Bishop McClellan said, as he paused from taking notes, "You also seem to hold with the belief the universe must operate in a logical fashion."

. . . "The logic may be internal to that universe, but if left-handed hammers fall up on Thursdays, then on Thursdays, everybody either tethers their hammers, or puts them in a heavy box."

. . . "Or collects them together to move that heavy rock they want moved," McClellan said, "Interesting."

. . . "So this alien, gives Sukebe all these neat toys, so when he gives him a poisonous one, he won't notice. Then when the predictable happens, he just happens to have a genocidal assault force ready and waiting. Then, he let himself get captured to help the Chinese develop the other half of the Plague to exterminate humanity?" Underworld asked, "Wouldn't the Legendaries know about this?"

. . . "Do they?" he asked, "Or would they have been programmed not to see it?"

. . . He wondered about Warden and Maus's gleeful expressions and grins at each other.

. . . "So what does this have to do with our current operations?" the Captain asked from her place at the head of the table.

. . . "I don't think anyone has a strong grasp of what's going on. Not the S-Goths, nor the Legendaries, and the Celestial Alliance has never known what they were doing."

. . . There was laughter from the Megami.

. . . "I don't think this was anything but a bad idea no one had the courage to say 'this is stupid' about," he explained.

. . . "What about bonds?" Underworld asked.

. . . And why hasn't Master bonded with most of his girls? he mentally translated.

. . . "Our 'dex says that an Alpha bond is a simple, physical one, it's strictly a hierarchy marker. A joining of minds is a Delta class bond, emotions and even thoughts can be shared. Recognition is the joining, or rejoining of souls. So it's Alpha, Delta and Recog. as body, mind, and soul."

. . . "So can Pokègirls Delta bond and Recognize?" one of the crew asked.

. . . "Yes, I wrote a story about two who had Recognized, and it was accepted as canon, so for Recognition, the answer is yes. I think one of the mods had Beta and Gamma bonds between and among the Harem-members, but I don't remember the details off the top of my head."

. . . "Why haven't you bonded anybody?" Fred asked, and the temperature of the room dropped sharply.

. . . "It's a fair question," he said, to prevent a lynching. "But not one being an author would provide me any insights for."

. . . Bitch, as if that was any of your business, he kept to himself.

. . . "Did you personally create any Pokègirls?" another of the crew asked excitedly.

. . . "Not the way Sukebe did, but I did create the concept for several."

. . . "Which ones! Which ones!" the rating asked.

. . . "No more coffee for her," Shana growled.

. . . "I came up with the Tarantella line, Warden and Maus are two girls I never submitted, so is Underworld." He noticed the jealous gazes from some of the Megami. "I also did some rewrites, of the Battle Angel and her evos. I also did the MaryAnn Drews."

. . . " 'Evos'?" Shana asked, "That's 'author speak' for evolutions?"

. . . He nodded.

. . . "Who came up with the S-Goths, and why are most of them such - dirtbags?" Shana asked.

. . . "An author who went by Gorgo wrote Pokègirls and the Great School about events following Ranma Saotome's speech at Dogpatch. He had a habit of writing stories about superpowered lesbians with an omniscient morality license. 'I am more advanced, therefore whatever I do is for either your good or the greater good of the universe. Oh, when you're out of the hospital we'll make a female copy of you so the two of us can have sex.'"

. . . "Sounds like the Alliance," Ms. MixMaster said, "Except for the last part, they wouldn't make a copy. So what happened?"

. . . "In the opening scenes, a young S-Goth is going to find her destined lover. Her Maid Yvette expresses concern, and our hero zaps her with an aura attack. I'm sorry, but that's kind of over the top for as weak a girl as a Maid Yvette is, and she was just expressing a legitimate concern for her mistress. That, and their constant arrogance to those they didn't control, and sucking up to the ones they wanted to, really cemented their role as villains in my mind."

. . . "You don't think we're all evil?" Daria asked nervously, "Do you?"

. . . "I said 'villains' not evil. They never had the moral courage to be truly evil, or truly good. They personified the 'kiss up, shit down' mentality of nastier middle managers, they would hurt anyone who got in their way, or offended them, and they were always so superior to everyone else. Believe me Daria, if you read that story, you wouldn't have liked the S-Goths. The supporting stories were worse. To save a group of Pokègirls, they tortured to death a group of other Pokègirls, to punish their Delta-bonded Tamers."

. . . "What!?" Fred was on her feet shouting, "We'd never do that!"

. . . Shana, Blossom and Rainbow wouldn't look at her.

. . . "I don't know the canonocity of that story, but there have been others where researchers into anti-Feral treatments, and Threshold researchers, have fallen victim to either the S-Goths, their allies in the PsiDyke nation or the Limbec pirates. To deal with those people."

. . . Daria was now glaring at Shana, who had the decency to look embarrassed. "I thought we were helping people," she hissed.

. . . "I thought so too," Shana said quietly, "When I started. So is there any hope for us?"

. . . "That's more up to you than me. The S-Goths' annihilation is a no-no, although I did have an AU story with them summoning Nyarlathotep, and having an earlier version of Evangelion marching in to battle him."

. . . " 'Earlier -'? What's that?" Alba asked.

. . . "You have to understand, certain things which happened in your past, happened at different times for us. Originally, Evangelion was based on a 40-meter tall 700-ton living robot. She was changed to her current form later. Likewise the HyperDoll's current evolution was my suggestion, rather than let them be destroyed," he added as Jen's expression darkened, "I suggested it follow the Panthress's. So instead of being destroyed as a cheap knock-off of the Demon-Goddess and the Neo-Iczel, the breed became what it is now."

. . . "You're right," Jen said angrily, "God is cruel."

. . . "This was all a fantasy to us. The characters and setting were entirely within my mind and the minds of the other authors," he replied defensively, "I never intended to hurt anyone. It was entertainment for myself, and for others. You've got another problem that should be addressed. If you got me, and Kerrik, and FF from what I can tell, and a few others, this world may just come to an end. With no one to maintain the archives and keep the whole thing going, the world just might all cease to exist."

. . . "That's assuming you created us, and that you weren't just observing what was already going on," Bishop Cameron said.

. . . "That would paint God in a particularly unfavorable light. I'd prefer to think of a group of bumbling humans as the twisted Demiurge who created this place, rather then put our mistakes on His doorstep." He stood and stretched. "It's late, and we all need rest. Especially if we're going to reconfigure that boiler system tomo - later today." He walked out into the darkness, leaving them behind to gossip and compare.

. . . "It's not your fault you know," Sarah said as she walked after him.

. . . "Unfortunately it is. I knew that suffering makes characters more interesting. Makes the read more interesting. But I could have given up my plans to be a novelist and gone elsewhere to exercise my artistic side. I didn't, I helped shape this world. I wrote some influential stories, created some important changes. I was never a mod, but I still carried some weight, so I bear a fair share of the responsibility."

. . . "If you hadn't created us," Sarah said as she leaned against the rail, effectively blocking his advance, "Then we wouldn't exist. So the question is, is our suffering your fault, and our joy your vindication? Or are we somehow responsible for how are lives go?"

. . . "With the main characters, when they are 'on the screen' . . . sometimes, they take the action right out of my hands and go run off in another direction. So I don't know. They are real to me, as real as my thoughts are, and often they operate as if they were independent, but . . . I really don't know. I don't."

. . . "Then don't blame yourself. You may have created the world, or at least one League of it, but our lives are our own. And we still have hope, and love to look forward to."

. . . "Then I envy you. I have one or the other, and maybe neither. And I don't see a clean way out of it, except one, and I'd really rather avoid that. Good night." He stepped past her and down into the dimly lit bowels of the ship.

. . . The Angie he found in his bedroom was not his Angie, although he'd created her. "You gonna tell me I'm a horse's ass for creating you, or are you and your girls just going to beat the crap out of me?" he asked pointedly.

. . . "My, you're in a mood," Angie frowned and replied, "Girls, would you like to meet the person who arranged for all of us to be together?"

. . . The Neo-Iczel, HyperDoll and Demon-Goddess looked at each other, and their mistress and grinned. "Yeah." "Sure." "Eh, why not?"

. . . "HyperDolls are always so enthusiastic," Angie said, "They already knew, and I had to order them to keep from hugging and kissing you." She grinned at him. "You might just steal them away. Unlike most humans, I do understand the need for good and bad things to happen in a life. You haven't learned it completely, despite understanding it."

. . . "That doesn't change the fact that I could have left this entire world for others, and gone on to something else."

. . . "And what would that have mattered?" Angie asked pointedly, "Maybe you were just reporting what already happened."

. . . "You don't believe that anymore than I do," he responded angrily, "I assume you're here for some reason. Why don't we go to that, and get on with it?"

. . . "Then what's bothering you? That you had a hand in creating this? You aren't Metroanime, you didn't even know about this place until someone else told you about it. Or that somehow you could have taken a greater hand in controlling this place? At what cost to your schooling and career? You didn't know any of this was real. Maybe it wasn't, until they brought you here. Or maybe it's because, despite your attitude, you want them to like you."

. . . He glared at her, then frowned.

. . . "Ah," she said as she stepped up to him, close enough he could smell her shampoo, feel the warmth of her body, "Do you know what's a Pokègirl's only real weakness? They forgive. They forgive almost anything," she whispered, "A beating or betrayal, all they want to know is what they did to deserve it. That's it, that's the secret. About the only thing they won't forgive is someone hurting their Master, even if he's a complete scumbag, they'll still feel terrible that they couldn't protect him/her or it. Only getting another Master they can put all their hopes and desires in, will let them recover. The Tigress, the Penance, the Fallen Angel, - and the other one - they're all evolutions caused when they were convinced they failed their Master in some huge, unforgivable way."

. . . "So, what, after throwing them all into this shitstorm, they're all just looking for a way and a chance to forgive me for it? That's ludicrous."

. . . "Ludicrous or not, it's the truth. And you not forgiving yourself for all of it doesn't change how they feel about it."

. . . He wanted to scream denials. "Histrionics aren't going to get me anywhere, especially not with you."

. . . "Not really," Angie told him.

. . . "And what am I supposed to do if I just don't care. About me, about them, about anything except making sure they can't do to others, what they did to me." He braced himself and continued quietly, "Maybe you haven't read all the reports. They killed me, as a softening up exercise. They decided to show off their medical skill by disassembling me, and putting me back together. While I was paralyzed and could feel all of it. Several times."

. . . "And after a while, you quit caring about what they did," she said, not sweeping him up in her arms to ease the hurt.

. . . For which he was grateful. "Yes. That seemed to both piss them off, and make them much more inventive. I'm almost glad I couldn't speak. I was tempted to give them advice. I can only hope they assumed that it wouldn't work on the others either, and they were spared it," he replied quietly, "And now I'm supposed to play the sun, the moon and the stars to a bunch of people who think the only reason I don't walk on water is that the ship is faster than walking. I can't do that. My native arrogance only goes so far. I've managed to not to wake up screaming a half-dozen times a night, and I've managed to not flinch when anything vaguely female touches me. That should be a enough for a few weeks after what was done to me. I never was a stoic hero. I was a clown, or I was a competent professional, but I keep finding out that's not good enough. You've got connections, what am I supposed to do? Endure. Survive. Step up to the plate, and achieve what the armed forces of this planet never managed in all their operational time here?"

. . . "Because they weren't you. They didn't know the rules, and they couldn't bend the 'guidelines'. I watched a good sniper hit a Mini-Top with a .50 cal sniper rifle from 200 meters. Perfect headshot. She charged him. But you took one out with a .45 pistol. If you aren't a hero, then you're a protagonist, and what you have to accomplish - works. Fine, it costs you, maybe it cost you dear, but it damn well works. You authors are sufficiently arrogant that nothing short of a Legendary could kill one of you. Quit trying to be a hero, and go back to being an author and an engineer. You know how the system works, and you know what the audience wants to see and what the rules are. You also know the ways and times you can circumvent or ignore the rules because it's important."

. . . "Arrogant?"

. . . "You would figure out a way out, a way around or something out of left field. You especially. I've read the entire site-rip, especially your works. You put all the clues out ahead of time, and then pull them out when you need them. That piano some giant threw on page 43 lands on the villain on page 85, miraculously saving the heroine. If a Widow popped up, you'd figure out a way to ignite her HyperVenom and blow her up with the back blast."

. . . "I don't think it's that blatant," he replied, "Or that I could do it."

. . . She stared at him and grinned. "Leave the Charge of the Light Brigade to the Pokègirls, that what they are for. Your job is to make sure they get the support they need once they've done it, and to make them really believe that they were doing it for a reason. You do that, and they follow you into Hell, and drag your sorry carcass back out again, whether you want them to or not."

. . . "What have I done to deserve that kind of loyalty?" he asked.

. . . Angie shrugged. "Same as every other Tamer, not a damned thing. You have a pulse and you can keep Ferality away. That's all they care about. Anything else is just gravy."

. . . She left him alone in his room, taking her harem with her.

. . . He sighed, and climbed into bed.

. . . Angie encountered Angie as they walked back to the mess hall. "Is he okay?" the Titmouse asked.

. . . "No. An agent had one of the other authors do a cold reading on him. The critical items were: finality, death, decisions made, and a sudden stop. The analysis is that whatever he's planning to do, he's not planning on coming out of it. Not now." She held up a hand to forestall questions. "You are going to get a lot further ahead by at least seeming to go along with this, and then putting rescue plans into operation, rather than acting as bodyguards or convincing him to change his plan."

. . . The Titmouse sighed. "Why can't they be like all the other Tamers?"

. . . "Because 'all the other Tamers' would have died from what was done to them, the authors. Pokègirls keep forgetting that the humans won the war. They screwed themselves over with the plague they manufactured. If they hadn't, they might have done away with the Pokègirls and found another solution to Sukebe's first plague. That's the people we're dealing with, learn to live with it."

. . . The Captain peered through the plexiglass window at the beaker. "What am I supposed to be looking at?"

. . . "A fire tube boiler," he replied, and nodded to Seadamar, "There's a real problem with superheated water. That is, liquid heated above the boiling point."

. . . The pea hit the beaker and the water flashed to steam explosively.

. . . The Captain jumped back, despite the enclosure containing the blast.

. . . "The water can do that," he said, "That was a few liters at 373K, if it was a few dozen gallons at 1000K and 20 atmospheres, it might be enough to rupture the boiler, and then all the water flashes to steam, and you kill everyone on board."

. . . "How will your modification prevent that?" the Captain asked, as she scraped her dignity off the deck, along with herself.

. . . The next set-up looked like the condenser of an air conditioner. "The water is kept moving through the heated environment. This also has the advantage if you wanted to switch to a liquid metal system, so the pressure could be reduced, you could. Since the water moves, any areas of superheating would be disrupted before it could react."

. . . "All right, you've convinced me. How long will we have to shut the power plants down?" the Captain asked.

. . . "Less than half a day," he told her.

. . . She stared at him incredulously. "That's not possible."

. . . "That's why we practiced on the hull first. Now it's not only rust and barnacle free, but it's forged aligned-crystal steel plate, which is superior to the original. The restructuring should take at most 16 hours, but probably closer to 12, once the water is drained and the fires either banked or moved elsewhere."

. . . "Do it," the Captain said as she walked away, occasionally glancing at the water dripping off the inside of the first test cell.

. . . Miguelito hurried up. "Twelve hours?!" he whispered, "You and I discussed it, and we agreed we could do it in half-an-hour."

. . . "So I said half a day, so when we do it in four hours, we're geniuses," he replied. He smiled as Miguelito stared at him in shock.

. . . "Two hours and thirty-seven minutes," the Captain said, as she looked at her pocket watch, "Including draining and replacing the fire and the water."

. . . "It hasn't been tested yet," he replied, "It isn't done until all the paperwork is done, and in this case, that's a full power test."

. . . "I'd recommend no more than half-power," the second officer said.

. . . The Captain rolled her eyes. "Their plan calls for just enough to make steerage way," the Captain replied, "And then incrementally ramp up. So when do you fix the gun turrets?"

. . . "After the engines are fully functional. Move from less complicated to more," he explained, "The turret ring is the most stressed item on this ship, it has to be right."

. . . "The engineers will have steam in an hour. We aren't in a hurry, and I want to see what the system does," the Captain said, "The problem with liquid metals is they are either corrosive, explosive or poisonous. I think we'll stick with water as the coolant and working fluid for the turbines."

. . . "How do you deal with the mineral build up?" he asked.

. . . "Disciplinary action," she said with a smile.

. . . "Why haven't you - landed? The ship hasn't touched water except to verify the hull's water tight integrity," he asked.

. . . "Practice," the Captain replied, "The problem of propulsion remains. Your two girls are probably getting tired of pushing the warship through the air."

. . . "I have noticed it only takes one of them now," he said, "I wonder if all the exercise is good for them."

. . . She smirked and headed down the deck towards the bridge. He remained at the hatch to directly access the engine room. Sabrina approached.

. . . "Master?"

. . . "You don't need my permission to speak," he said, "And I'm not ignoring you because I'm not looking at you. I want to see the boilers and turbines come up."

. . . "Yes, Master. Roxanne and Aurora had a special request, and that I'd be part of it."

. . . "What is it? I thought those two were Taming each other."

. . . "They are, but . . . they wanted to know if - ah - you could help them with something," Sabrina said, and fidgeted as if she was standing barefoot in a skillet. "Ms. MixMaster, has been - well, she is your Pokègirl, and they kinda wanted to ah . . . "

. . . "I left my thumbscrews in my other jacket, so you'll have to spit it out," he said.

. . . "Ah, she's been - bothering them, saying that since they are more interested in girls, they should . . . you know."

. . . "For a Pokègirl you seen awfully nervous about the details of Taming."

. . . "For a Tamer, so do you," Sabrina said carefully, "Master."

. . . He walked through the corridors, occasionally shaking his head. When he spotted the only other male on the ship, he had to ask, "Doctor, do your Pokègirls sometimes ask for something, kind of bizarre? Taming I mean, specifically Taming someone else."

. . . "Voltaire sometimes has me cook for Antoinette." Then the small man blushed. "And Doctor Marilyn."

. . . He considered. "I'm not sure it's the same."

. . . "Then you've forgotten what a passion cooking is for Voltaire. She'll let people watch, maybe even help a little, but do it all themselves while she stands back, never. Except when she asks."

. . . That stopped him. "Watching you cook, for another Pokègirl."

. . . "Watching me cook, and flirt a bit, with another Pokègirl, while she watches the whole thing," Miguelito corrected. He thought about it and added, "Sometimes she just sits across the room and sometimes she hides in the pantry and watches through the door."

. . . "That why the spyhole in the door, it's not to look in, it's to look out," he said.

. . . "Exactly."

. . . He thought abouth that, then shook his head to clear it. "Okay. Now I need two sets of headphones, a waltz, preferably in Allegro, I doubt she could handle Presto, although it might be interesting, and a piece in 4/4 in Adagio."

. . . "Do I want to know?" Miguelito asked, "Besides having all that equipment available, and Taming proof?"

. . . "Maybe not, but there's one thing that has bothered me. Is it possible to - force the situation - with a Pokègirl? I know that most will accept a Taming under nearly any circumstances, but is a safe-word all that's necessary?"

. . . "A word that let's them terminate the encounter?" Miguelito said as he considered, "That's more than they would expect, so unless you're planning to burn her alive, that should be sufficient."

. . . "Funny you should mention that."

. . . "That's it?" he asked Cheryl and Isaik, "Everyone else thinks magic is difficult."

. . . "They are only low-level spells," Isaik said, "No fireballs or lightning bolts, no slay a thousand enemies with a wave of your hand."

. . . "I could do a better job of that with a nuke, and I know how to generate that kind of blast. It just seems that people go to magic schools for years to learn what you two can teach in an afternoon."

. . . "Like I said, you already know you can change the world, you already know the fundamental structure of matter and energy," Isaik said.

. . . "You know the various theories behind how magic works, both physically and psychologically, and you accept that there is a high power to tap into and therefore energy to direct," Cheryl added.

. . . "Prayer is a lot different than spellcasting," he replied, "All the wands and toads and that crap aren't necessary."

. . . "Except as a psychological crutch, an energy store, or an aiming system," Cheryl added, "You might want to look into getting a staff, not just to store and generate power, but also because a wizard is expected to carry one, and a six-foot chunk of fire-hardened, spell-reinforced wood is a good persuader if someone gets past you."

. . . "Why do I think this is going to be combat training in a few moments?" he asked worriedly.

. . . "Because it is," Cheryl grinned, "For both of you."

. . . "I'm sorry Master, I led you into this."

. . . He hugged Isaik. "We'll die together," he replied, "Bravely."

. . . "I love you Master!"

. . . "I know."

. . . "Very funny," Cheryl told them.

. . . "I think I died, Master," Underworld said, as she dragged herself to the washroom adjoining the practice room they'd been using, "I knew Megami were sneaky and underhanded, but good fighters? Never."

. . . "They're either good, or bad, at something," he replied as he winced at every step, "It was - instructive. Now I could be killed by the average Pokègirl, without making a complete fool of myself."

. . . "Maybe not average," Gwendoline said as she met the battered pair as they entered the washroom and sat them down on a bench, "Cheryl said I should make sure you don't drown, or get hurt worse than just bruises and muscle strains."

. . . "I think that tub of water will make good Underworld soup," she said as she dragged herself over to the whirlpool.

. . . "Let me get him on a table, then I'll show you how it works. Typical Megami thinking, there's no timer or automatic shut off," the centauroid Megami complained, "Maybe that's why some of them go for engineers, so someone can temper their native naivete."

. . . "How did you avoid it?" he asked as she carefully set him on the massage table.

. . . "The part of me that wasn't Megami was practical," Gwendoline told him as she trotted over to the tub and started it.

. . . "OH! Tickles," Underworld said, "A Taming in here might be fun."

. . . "I think that's it's main use anymore," she told Underworld, "Don't worry, I changed the water and scrubbed it out. While all the geniuses and tech types were running around, we were fixing up places like this. Did you know this ship had a band? All the instruments were still stored below. Some were in pretty sad shape after all this time."

. . . "I wonder if the armory is still there . . ." he supposed, "And what condition the weapons and ammo are in after 300 years."

. . . "The armories have been used," Gwendoline said, "But not the band room. Strange, with Megami, I'd almost expect the opposite to be true." She carefully pulled down his shirt and began working on the sore muscles.

. . . "They're trying too hard to not be Megami-the-stereotype," he replied, "They can't let themselves just be joyful. Even Marines let their hair down occasionally, metaphorically speaking."

. . . "Converts make the worst bigots?" Gwendoline asked.

. . . "More like they're afraid they can be one thing, or the other," he replied.

. . . "Most Pokègirls are like that," she explained as she rubbed away the pain of the sore muscles, "Only humans are generalists who can also be experts. For Pokègirls, you're either an expert, a failure, or mediocre in everything."

. . . "You're good at this," he said, "I don't hurt as much."

. . . "Healing magic, plus a fair amount of skill," she replied, "But a Mini-Top, or Seadamar giving a back rub? Easier to find a breed already skilled in that. We aren't as interchangeable as humans. So we'd never be able to form a stable society, only a tyranny of varying oppression."

. . . "Big Brother to Stalin, terrific," he said, "So what are the S-Goths supposed to do when they take over?"

. . . "What historically happened when agents provocateur were given the keys to the castle?" Gwendoline asked, "Think about it, I've got to check on Underworld, she changed to Isaik."

. . . He lay there and thought, In the colleges I've been in, the only department where the backstabbing wasn't chronic, was the one where the Frankfort School wasn't in full swing. Engineering, even the Hard Sciences were bastions of political correctness. Weird, in the Chemistry department it was appeal to altruism, and the greats staring at you. In the Engineering department, it was engineers get the best salaries right out of school. 'Be a great hero of the people, who will never understand your work', or 'be well paid for your brilliance'. Very different philosophies.

. . . "Back," Gwendoline said, "She fell asleep, so she's on a bench cooling off."

. . . "Thanks," he said, "I think where those who fight against the system become the system, they become exactly the system they warned everyone about. 'Don't elect them, they're mean and sneaky,' and the people who make those claims are infinitely more vile and underhanded because they've convinced themselves that's how those in power actually work."

. . . "So, did you answer your question?"

. . . "Yes, if the S-Goths take over, you'll see a Reign of Terror like the French Revolution and Stalin's Purges rolled into one. They don't know how to rule, they only know how to scheme and backstab. Because they have convinced themselves that's how it's done."

. . . "Now you understand why you and the others have to stop them?" she asked as she worked out the kinks in his back and arms.

. . . "You've been talking to Angie, one or the other," he said sleepily.

. . . "That's an Alpha's job," she replied.

. . . Suddenly becoming aware of being 'in the spotlight' awakens me. One of the spells my girls taught me comes easily. And now I have time to react. The problem with this spell is unlike most time stop spells, the area of effect is tiny. So things don't get out of the way as they do with more advanced spells. Moving through air is like moving underwater, through fog would be like through mud. A rain shower or closed door is as good as a stone wall, and a snow flurry would be like walking through a shower of broken glass, I think as I get my bearings.

. . . The bed and covers are as stiff as steel as I crawl out from under them, worming my way out. Dammit, next time I pay the extra nickel and get the version that doesn't leave sheets as tough as armor plate, he thought as he checke the etensive bruises and scrapes the silken sheet had inflicted on him, The woman is only steps from the bed, having bypassed the wards I set, and she holds a blade ready to thrust it into my heart. I consider the tableau and the choices I have.

. . . I've only got what I preprepared, I think as I draw out the 60d nail and slip out of the bed, The hips are the best target, nearly solid bone. I push the nail towards the Pokègirl at hip level, stopping about half an inch from her skin. As the nail reverts to normal time and hangs in the air, I move out of reach of the Pokègirl's attack.

. . . I realize I overdid it as the edges of the nail begin glowing cherry red as I turn back to the scene. How many times faster am I moving, so how fast is it moving to heat that quickly? Maybe it will hit her as a plasma bolt, instead of a solid projectile. I cancel the spell of time slipping as I raise one of unnoticability. As I watch, the nail goes from red to white before it hits the Pokègirl and throws her sideways against the bulkhead with tremendous force. The nail blows out through her opposite hip and bounces off the overhead and a bulkhead, before burying itself in the door. The heat from the nail sets the door smoldering.

. . . I pull the door open. "Intruder alert! Intruder alert! Turn out the guard!" I spray cooling gas on the nail, eliminating the chance of fire. The troops begin coming out of their quarters. I stand at the far side of the room, waiting for reinforcements, not trusting that the horribly wounded woman is as incapacitated as she appears.

. . . Naomi and Jen are the first to arrive. While Naomi put herself in front of me, and literally backs me into a corner, Jen approaches the woman. The dark blade in her hand a clear mark of her intent.

. . . "Bastard," the girl gasps, coughing blood on the dress more appropriate for a 6-year-old's Easter party than an assassination.

. . . "I shot her through the hips, that's a ruse," I warn Jen, who draws back slightly.

. . . "How?" the wounded girl demands. I respond with silence.

. . . "Yeah, she's chewed up," Jen says as she scans the woman with a 'dex, "Megami. Never knew they had assassins."

. . . "Hunters," I tell her, "Random genetics."

. . . "This one's only going to be hunting for a slab. She's hurt as bad as she's shamming. Whatever you hit her with broke both hips, burned up a lot of her insides, and then broke a lot of her ribs."

. . . "How, I can't smell anything except burnt," Naomi says.

. . . "Because that's all I smell, and I can see the damage better," Jen says, "There should be latrine smell if her gut were pierced, unless the wounds were cauterized. There's also no blood. Wounds like that and she should be bleeding out. Plus I can see the charring, and the ash is white, not black."

. . . "She should have broke the ward, instead of bypassing them," I tell Jen, and stare at Naomi's expression as it changes from horrified to understanding.

. . . She'll take false info back, even if she dies, I can't tell her, Good, she figured it out on her own.

. . . "Did you think the Alliance was through with you?" the wounded Megami asks, coughs up more blood, "We will find you, now that you're out of your League."

. . . "As I understand it, now that he's out of the Sunshine League," Jen tells her, "A kid with a widget board could find him."

. . . "Ouija," Naomi corrects.

. . . "Naw, they wouldn't need even that." Jen taps the Megami with her foot. The girl stifles a scream but keeps glaring at him. "If they won, what would happen to the rest of us?"

. . . "1984 by George Orwell, 'Mother is Watching always, Mother Loves you," he says.

. . . "I can hear the capitals from over here," Jen says, "Do we save her, or put her down?"

. . . "That's for the Captain to decide," I tell them, "Ah, the XO, I think you'll need some restraints for her. Medical treatment I leave to your discretion."

. . . "How did she get on board? How'd she get through all our defenses?" the XO demands.

. . . "Better ask her," Naomi says as she leads me out of the room. Jen falls in behind as teams move through the area, searching for others, for traps or other sabotage.

. . . Once it's clear where we're headed, Maus and Warden take up positions near the door. Inside was once officers' quarters, the two beds pushed up against each other to provide a decent-sized sleep space for more than one.

. . . "You two have been Taming each other?" I ask.

. . . As if I need another example of not doing my job, I think.

. . . "Sure," Naomi says enthusiastically, "Nearly everyone else aboard is so - fragile."

. . . I cringe and the pair start giggling. "Yes Master, I am a Tigress. And we do like to push things in bed, but Jen is strong and durable enough that I can go all out without hurting her," she tells me, as the HyperDoll blushes. Then Naomi leans close and whispers, "I think she likes the sole attention too."

. . . Jen's hearing is good enough she heard that too, and squirms uncomfortably. "But this is just cuddling!" Jen nearly shouts, then gets control of herself, "Just cuddling. You need to know you're safe. You are safe, with us. If she gets rambunctious, bite her tail. She turns into a great-big, tiny kitten with saucer-sized, soulful eyes if you bite her tail."

. . . Naomi's answering growl tells me the truth of it.

. . . "How about just nibbling?" I ask, mortifying the Tigress so I have two deeply blushing Pokègirls.

. . . "How about nibbling, later?" Jen suggests, and leads me to the bed.

. . . "You two have been working with Gwendoline cleaning the place up?" I ask.

. . . They glance at each other nervously. "With the others doing the heavy stuff under your command, we thought we'd help get this place clean up and 'ship-shape'," Naomi says as she settles onto the bed, drawing me after her. Jen spoons up behind.

. . . "I'm not complaining, I'm glad you took the initiative. I'm glad you enjoyed doing it. I also notice you took one of the cleaned rooms, instead of staying in the general bunking area."

. . . They don't say anything, and soon the warm quiet lulls me back to sleep.

. . . Angie found Angie during the search for other surprises. "I see that Jen and Naomi collected your Master," the human said.

. . . "They did what they needed to do," the Titmouse replied.

. . . "Have you wondered why those two are so well-behaved and good-natured? The two of them have been? And why they're often together?" the human asked.

. . . "They're bonded somehow?" the Titmouse answered, "They bonded with him?!"

. . . "I don't think either of them are bonded," the human soothed, "And I doubt he's managed better than an Alpha bond with anyone besides Underworld/Isaik. They're in love. Old fashioned I know, but the evidence does tend to support that."

. . . " 'In love'? Is that even possible? Wouldn't a Delta bond or Recognition supercede that?" the confused Titmouse asked.

. . . "Maybe, maybe not," the human suggested, "But you might want to have a talk with them about how they are treating him. Because he went rather placidly along with them to their boudoir, and while they've maybe gotten less Taming than the others, they've definitely gotten more time."

. . . The Titmouse frowned but accepted the information. "So what do the rest of us do?"

. . . "Observe, and learn," the human told her, "Learn about the similarities and differences. He's not trying to hurt you and the others. He's scared, of you and of himself, of what you can do to him, and what he might do to the world. Unlike most Tamers who desperately want to go out and change the world, he can."

. . . "And he's frightened of it," the Titmouse sighed, "It's never easy is it?"

. . . "Not when it matters," the human replied before heading off.

. . . The wounded Megami threw herself at the guard, only to have Cheryl hit her once. The girl crumbled in a heap at the other Megami's feet.

. . . "I don't care what training you've had," Cheryl said, "You aren't good at this."

. . . "Traitor, you gave up everything, for what?" she gasped, then screamed as Cheryl tapped her leg.

. . . "We ask the questions, but because I didn't want to be the ally of demons," Cheryl said, "Now, you can answer our questions, or you can wait for the experts to arrive. I guarantee you, you won't like the effects."

. . . "Bitch, you'll be cast out, abandoned and destroyed!" She screamed again as Shana gave her a gentle tap.

. . . "I don't think she's going to cooperate, or live that long," Shana said, "I suggest we start the questioning."

. . . "Agreed," Cheryl said sadly, "You really should just volunteer to answer our questions."

. . . "Get Tamed with a branding iro - EEEEEE!" she screamed as Shana tapped areas on her body that had been damaged by the nail, or by being thrown against the bulkhead.

. . . The Megami the ships intelligence officer confronted, was a whimpering wreck, who answered questions with a minimum of fuss and obfuscation.

. . . Down the hall, and out of ear shot Shana considered. "I guess he was right. You disconnect the answers from the pain, and just use it to make them feel helpless. Breaks them right down."

. . . The Titmouse combed her ears nervously. "I'm sure there's laws against it," Angie said.

. . . "Only protecting uniformed combatants and civilians, and none for someone who wants to be a little of each," Kay explained as she arrived with her medical kit, "Especially if they choose when to change. Better to be a civilian caught impersonating a soldier, than the other way around."

. . . The interrogators left, and nodded to Kay.

. . . "I don't know what you can do," Shana told Kay, "A Level 5 Healing cycle might work, but what hit her effectively fried a lot of her insides. She'll be a paraplegic at least, and I don't know of a single League that wouldn't euthanize her on the spot."

. . . Kay frowned but entered the cell. Aurora and Roxanne had arrived and stayed close.

. . . "I'm with the SLIS. I can heal you enough so you will survive to be interrogated by them. Or I can give you something so you'll die easily. Your choice."

. . . "Rotten bedside manner," the captive complained.

. . . "I scanned you before the interrogators arrived. Among other things, you can't be Tamed, at least not the usual way. And once I clear the charred junk out of the way, you'll have to wear a diaper for the rest of your life."

. . . The Megami began tearing up.

. . . "Not to mention your legs will probably have to be amputated. The blood vessels and nerves have all been severed and then cauterized. Even a Healing Cycle won't restore them. Better to cut them off and avoid gangrene. The rest of your internal organs have been burned. I think I can restore them to some functionality."

. . . The Megami was weeping.

. . . "So, you were ready to knife a sleeping human, but your own death brings out your true courage. I think I will keep you alive," she said as she injected the Megami, "And let you see what happens to tough girls in SLIS hands. You'll wish you were living in the Blue League, where they'd turn you into electricity."

. . . The Megami slumped as the drugs took effect. Kay waited as the girl's breathing slowed and finally stopped.

. . . "She's dead?" Roxanne asked.

. . . "Of course," Kay said as she wiped away the tears she could finally loose, "There was no hope, she was just too thoroughly damaged. Whatever Master did, I doubt anything less than a Mantis could handle those kinds of injuries. Even a Trollop would be hard-pressed, because so much of the damage was then burned."

. . . "But you said that she was going to be - " Aurora said.

. . . "She tried to assassinate my Master. The only thing I owed her was a painless death, not any comfort for what she did. How many grieving families has she left in her wake? How many Pokègirls left to the whims of chance, because it was necessary for the 'Greater Good'? Let her die knowing she died a pathetic wretch who would only be a vegetable, if not something used to frighten children. I'd feed her to the fish. If it were up to me."

. . . Roxanne and Aurora stood out of the way of the Nurse Joy as she walked out. They looked at the cooling corpse and shivered.

. . . His breath tickled the fur on her neck, and Naomi had to force herself not to tickle him back. She listened to the soft breathing of her Master and her Harem-sister, and watched the slight movements of their sleeping bodies as the slumbered. This is better than any meditation, she thought, To feel at peace. To feel at one with another. What do you dream? Do you walk together in dreams, or do you only dream of each other?

. . . I know what I want, to feel you inside me, to feel your seed filling me. And in a few years, to feel your - our children filling my womb, she thought idly, But what do you want here? Death? I don't believe that. Honorable death in a just and honorable cause? Perhaps. But a cop knows that you need to go home at the end of the day. Because there's always another be another just cause tomorrow, another person who needs rescuing, or just someone who really needs a cop.

. . . Morning found Kay still walking the deck, port side to the stem, starboard to the stern, and back as she had when she left the dead Megami. No one had tried to stop her. She'd noticed that.

. . . He walked out on deck, and her heart skipped a beat. I should just run into his arms and sob my heart out! she thought, but found her feet putting themselves one in front of the other, moving on their habitual path, away from him. Stop dammit! He's right there! Turn around! Go talk to him! You love him. She threatened him and his mission, so you killed her, becasue no one else would. If he punishes you, that's his right as a Master. Still her feet moved her farther and further away from him.

. . . Coward! she wanted to scream at herself, You know what you want, you're part of his Harem! Go to him! Accept his love, his punishment, but go! She stole a glance over her shoulder and saw Pool Mouse was leading him over, chatting animatedly about something that made him nod and smile. She stood there, petrified in all but stone.

. . . "Master. Mistress. I think you two have some things to talk over," the cheerful Pokègirl told the pair. She smiled at the pair, but the smile had an edge.

. . . "You needed to talk to me?" he asked.

. . . Pool Mouse had moved to block her escape, and waited patiently. When she didn't speak, instead fidgeting with her skirt, Pool Mouse's tail accidentally swatted her on the butt.

. . . Kay squeaked and jumped into her Master's arms.

. . . "Sorry." Pool Mouse grinned.

. . . Kay blushed as her Master's arms came around her, keeping her from falling, and holding her tight against his body. She looked up, to stare into his eyes.

. . . Say something! Tell him he's got pretty eyes! Tell him he's got food in his teeth! Something!

. . . To her stunned amazement, he scooped her up in his arms, and carried her across the deck.

. . . What's he doing? Is he taking me to his cabin?! Is he going to Tame me?! she wondered, her thoughts racing and all her surroundings ignored.

. . . Until he dropped her through the open hatch covering the recently cleaned and refilled 'pool'. She couldn't even scream as she hit the water. She splashed to the surface as her Master dove head-first into the water. She watched in amazement and alarm as he circled like a Sharp-Tits. "This isn't funny!" she shouted as she treaded water and searched for the ladder to climb out.

. . . "It is, if you realize the water's breathable for you both," Cheryl shouted from the edge of the hatch, "You splashing around like a bewildered kit." The Megami laughed.

. . . Kay shrieked as something grabbed her leg and pulled her under. She inhaled a lungful of water, and found that she could breath it, and that her Master had pulled her under. He pulled her down into the darker depths and pulled her close. I should hit him, for scaring me like that! she thought as he held her close, and pulled them deeper with powerful strokes of his legs.

. . . The water was warm, and although breathing was a bit harder, she realized, He planned this, a little break so I could react. Now, what? I can't talk to him, but I couldn't talk to him on the surface either. And while everyone is probably clustered around the hatch, they can't really see us down here. I just hope none of the kits or gods help me, one of the Boobfins are swimming in this. Do I take off my clothes and - or do I just enjoy floating in his arms? Idiot! Try holding him for a start!

. . . She hugged him tight, wrapping her legs around the outside of his, so he could penetrate her if he wished. They floated just holding each other for a while. Idiot, you've been trained in seduction, for both interrogation and infiltration, she thought, If you want him, use those techniques!

. . . Kay climbed out of the water, letting Eko and Roxanne help her out. A moment later Aurora and Jen helped their Master out of the water.

. . . "Well!?" Hester shouted, the Jugguar bouncing with a nervous demeanor.

. . . "Should we tell them?" Kay asked impishly.

. . . Master considered the question, and the division of forces. "No."

. . . Jen grabbed him and flew away from the crowd of angry Pokègirls. Roxanne grabbed Kay and flew away in another direction.

. . . "I won't tell you," Kay said.

. . . "I don't have to ask," the Farfuck'd said, "X-ray vision, remember?"

. . . "You watched?" Kay squeaked.

. . . "No, I see the changed in you right now," Roxanne told her, "I can keep a secret."

. . . "Thank you."

. . . "Now I need your help talking to him. Ms. MixMaster is driving me crazy," Roxanne said.

. . . The Megami who've been practicing holding up the ship now assemble on the rear deck. The metal remaking team stands by, ready to do their magic. Miguelito has briefed everyone, but this is the one I'm most nervous about, he thought as he looked at the aft turret, And everybody waits for me. He shook his head and signaled for the lift crew.

. . . With a loud creak, the turret shuddered, squealed, and rose a few feet into the air. He watched as the huge machine stabilized. Then he looked at the lifting crew. Serene, they aren't struggling, so they should be able to hold it. It's only about 450 tons, instead of 21000+, so they should be able to hold it. But I wasn't sending a crew under to work, before this. He tried to look as confident as he didn't feel.

. . . He stifled a wince as Miguelito headed in under the mass of metal hovering over the deck. They cleared the magazine and ready use lockers, and there's no one on that thing, he reminded himself, Miguelito knows what he's doing.

. . . The small man had the broken tooth from the turret ring and held it in position as the team reformed the old, worn metal into a precise shape.

. . . Next they'll restore the metal to its pristine or better than factory condition, he thought, They've remade the hull. They remade the powerplants. So why am I so nervous about this? Because this and the two forward turrets are the whole point of this boat.

. . . Seadamar and Angie in her WarMech mode moved up to examine the steel and make sure it met spec.

. . . "It will be okay," Rainbow told him.

. . . "This isn't something we can take chances with," he replied, "The forces these guns have to handle could kill or wound anyone on deck or in the turrets."

. . . "You worry too much," she said as she hugged him.

. . . "It provided me a good living," he replied as the two tech-types agreed that the ring was sound and proper.

. . . The rework team moved in, to check on the source of the screech, and verify there were no scratches or damage to the turret. That done, they moved out and the entire repair team pulled back. He signaled the lifting crew to lower the turret back into position.

. . . "You're allowed to breath you know," Rainbow told him, "Turning blue and falling over is bad for morale."

. . . "Thanks," he said, as the turret settled back into position, the ship's structure groaning and straining as the weight slowly returned to it's accustomed place. He sighed and whispered,"That's one."

. . . "Good job everyone!" he shouted, "If you're up to it, we'll check out the forward turrets. We'll break into teams and do the 5-inchers tomorrow." There were groans and protests.

. . . "Why don't we do all of them in one fell swoop?" came from the chief of the lifting team.

. . . "Because we don't know what we'll encounter," he replied. He held up his hands as if in surrender. "If we complete the work before lunch, I'll think about doing the 5-inchers. And if I so much as suspect you're rushing the job, we won't."

. . . He ignored the grousing about his decision and headed towards the turret itself. Inside Miguelito was already hard at work.

. . . "Useless!" the small man shouted, frightening all around him, "We can only get the cycle time down to 4 seconds at best!" The man's fury nearly had him on the verge of tears.

. . . "Make the notes on what would be required. When we have time and a proper drydock, we might be able to put those changes into effect."

. . . "Do you thinks so?" the mercurial little man asked eagerly.

. . . "Are you kidding?" he replied, "I think the Commander is going to come after us with hot pliers and thumbscrews, unless we detail the process."

. . . "There is that. Oh, I should get up to the forward turrets!" Miguelito said, and Voltaire carefully picked up her Master, deftly slipped through the hatch designed for smaller people, and trotted to the foredeck.

. . . He sighed again. I need my head examined for this, he thought as he moved forward to supervise, Even the Captain is taking orders from me now. How'd I get into this mess - how do I get out?

. . . "Boss sacked out?" Acer asked as she entered the work room. Maus, Warden, Aurora, Roxanne, Seadamar and Alba all worked on their secret project.

. . . "Bloosom and Rainbow collected him about an hour ago. That man worries too much," Aurora said as she examined the wire that she and her sister had drawn, "The whole primary and secondary batteries are complete and ship-shape. I think some of the Megami learned the method well enough, they'll be refitting the 3-inch AA mounts tomorrow."

. . . "He wants to do well," the plant girl said in defense of her Master, "Oh, have you seen the gardens they have? For growing food. It's amazing! Lights like sunlight and racks and rack of fruits and vegetables and -"

. . . "Easy, you're going to hurt yourself," Warden said, "I was wondering where you disappeared to."

. . . "Why? Was something going on?" the plant Pokègirl asked.

. . . Maus growled at that. "Yzz," she managed as she took the wire and began working on the next section of the project.

. . . "So, we don't tell the Sanctuary types about this, right?" Acer asked quietly, nervously looking around to spot any of them.

. . . "Not even Blossom or Rainbow," Warden said, "Those two are probably trustworthy, but none of us know what clever tricks the S-Goths may have planted in their brains."

. . . "I think that level of subtlety is beyond them," Alba said, "Daria is less subtle than Fred, and that's saying a lot." The small girl minutely examined the parts Warden and Maus had prepared. "We're going to have to disguise this, so even if it gets hit, it won't be obvious."

. . . "We have Tarantella silk to weave around and through it," Seadamar assured the smaller Pokègirl, "That will work admirably."

. . . The little HandMaid beamed at the GunValkyrie. "He's going to be so happy!"

. . . "We all hope so," Warden said.

Notes:

Kelvin's Choice (Janus) - Harem
Isaik/Underground - Eidolon (Hild's agent)
Warden - Bust Angel (Hild's opposed agent)
Maus - HeavenKat (Hild's opposed agent)
Seadamar - GunValkyrie
Alba - HandMaid
Aurora/One Medallion/Earth -1 - FarFuck'd
Roxanne/Two Medallions/Earth -2 - FarFuck'd
Blossom - Tyrannodame (Kitten's Harem)
Rainbow - Tyrannodame
Angie - WarMech Titmouse (Angie Douglas's faction)
Sabrina - DildoQueen (Kitten's Harem)
Hatta Mary - Fiendish Cherry
Acerpalmatum - Chikotit
Jen - HyperDoll
Cheryl - Megami
Naomi - Tigress

Allies:
Eriko (Eko) - Officer Jenny
Erika (Kay) - Nurse Joy (SLIS agent)
Hester - Jugguar (Kay's Harem)
Adrian - Heroine (Kay's Harem)
Pool Mouse - Pool Mouse (Eko's Harem)

Bishop Cameron (Catholic)
Bishop McClellan (Anglican)
Doctor Kincaid (Presbyterian)

Miguelito Carmen - human
Antoinette - Bardess (Miguelito's Harem)
Kitten - human (deceased)
Voltaire - Francinestein (Miguelito's Harem)
Doctor Marilyn - Alaka-Wham (Miguelito's agent)

Angie Douglas - human (SLIS agent, Angie Douglas's faction)
Sam - Neo-Iczel
Happy - Demon-Goddess
Jodie - Hyperdoll

Neutral or Undecided factions:
Commander Genek - Oni (ONI Office of Naval Intelligence)
Daria/Little StormCloud - Sanctuary Goth (faction unrevealed)
Ronette - SmartDoll (faction unrevealed)
Fred - Tomboy (faction unrevealed)
Shana - Hunter Ophanim (Ancelot's faction)