12 Tamers II 04

Author's note: This chapter presumes that you are familiar with Kerrik Wolf's story, Into the Fire and uses characters and situations from it with his permission. If you have not read it, you should.

        Janus looked around the deck and seemed mollified that there were only the senior officers and Miguelito's Harem about. "They did this, and they're still going to hold us to the schedule?" Janus asked the Captain, on one of his frequent trips back and forth from the camp.

        Miguelito could almost hear Janus's temper was fraying, and his struggle to keep it from exploding on these guiltless people. Miguelito had tried and failed to maintain the same level of composure when he'd been informed.

        "Of course. They didn't know anything about this, until they let them out," the Captain said quietly, "And they expect us to fulfill our contract."

        "That's insane, but typical," Janus replied sardonically. The monster behind his eyes successfully caged again, for the moment.

        "Can we treat them on the move?" Miguelito asked carefully, "All the resources we have are ship-borne, so we could load them on the vessels, and use the transit time to work on their recovery."

        Janus sighed, as tired and anguished as he had been in the other dimension.

        Keep an eye on him, Miguelito made a mental note, then saw that Antoinette was looking at Hannibal and Clarice, in a way she often looked at Voltaire. Not speaking, but communicating volumes, Good, they'll keep an eye on him.

        "Yes. Whatever we've been doing, they are stabilizing, and we probably aren't going to lose any of them. But I don't know how stuffing them aboard two ships and sailing them to the Cascade Islands will affect that."

        "They should be fine," Kay said, "As long as we don't run into any pirates."

        "If we run into pirates," the XO growled, "It's the pirates who'll have to worry. Not us."

        "At least it will deal with some of our food problems," the Captain shuddered, but smiled, " 'Megami are friends not food,' I think our friends in the Sisterhood need to learn that. It also seemed remarkably effective in stopping the whining of the healthy long-term girls."

        "You do realize, as soon as they are their own crews," Janus said, "The Leagues will know all about the Tyrannodames?"

        "The security of Sanctuary and the myths surrounding it are all folktales and legends," the Captain said, "The reality is that everyone who really needs to know, already does."

        "Janus," Antoinette ventured, "On another note. You and your Harem may want to start sleeping in the camp tonight, rather than trekking back here aboard ship."

        "Is there any special reason?" Janus asked as he looked searchingly at Miguelito, Voltaire and Antoinette. Both Clarice and Hannibal were frowning.

        "I think it will be extremely beneficial," Miguelito explained, "The Megami may be able to gain from your proximity."

        "You - think," Janus replied skeptically.

        "We could be overrun out there," Hannibal said, "There is still a Jokette or two out there, as well as other Ferals. And Third Guards or not, I'm not eager to put my Master at risk."

        "Miguelito, it may be a marvelous idea, and highly advantageous, but I need some time alone. When I'm out there, there's a constant background hum that makes rest difficult, and would make sleep impossible," Janus said, "I'll be sleeping aboard ship, unless there's a more concrete example than your gut feeling, and if there's no need for me to be coherent after a sleepless night."

        He nodded grimly. "Understood," Miguelito said, "Please consider it."

 

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        Miguelito stood deep in the bowels of the ship. The sound of the engines running to provide electrical and steam power for the ship's operations dominated all other sounds. He watched the Tyrannodames of the Third Guard being carefully milked, then each took a ration of Flower's milk so they could continue lactating. The milk is one of the few acceptable sources of protein for the Megs and Sammies. So they get their oatmeal and rice with plenty of fresh milk. It's amazing, these fearsome monsters eagerly and selflessly pitch in to help, despite being on the boundary of being trusted or not. Sanctuary were fools to marginalize them the way they do. They want no more than to be good soldiers. If that means feeding fellow soldiers, they do it. He grimaced at the inherent unfairness of it all.

        Most began heading off to duty stations. They were not to expose themselves in daylight, and they took that admonition to heart. But only the letter of the law is being obeyed.

        He considered, I think it's best to not ask about the late night 'sweeps' of a couple dozen patrolling the woods around the camp. It wouldn't do to get confirmation of where and what they are supplementing their diet with. As long as it's just Menaces, I think I won't look a Tyrannodame in the teeth. Besides, with the Jokettes Ig is famous for, we need the patrols.

        He smiled at one of the younger Guards, who blushed and giggled slightly. The others continued to their stations aboard and within the ship. He smelled but couldn't hear the sound of cooking from the galleys, as instead of 150, or even 300, nearly ten times that number were going to be fed from the galleys of the Des Moines. He turned back to the group of kits that had been detailed to him. They don't look Feral, or Fading. But better them, than some of the more adult Megami the others are having to deal with.

        "Are you ready to help?" he asked them happily. The girls nodded eagerly. His own enthusiastic tone matched theirs, "All right, first we do some practice. Then we go out among the camps."

        The group seemed to almost shimmer with excitement over helping their fellow Megami.

        I just wish I could do this as well as Kerrik does, but I can do it, he considered.

 

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        " 'Where there's a whip there's a way. Where there's a whip there's a way. Where there's a whip there's a way!'"

        Janus stared through the tent flap at the BattleAngel- led work group walking through the camp, singing at the top of their lungs. He let the flap drop and returned to the desk. "Somehow I don't think that is exactly the kind of song that would have a beneficial effect on the Megami," he commented as the voices moved away.

        " 'We don't want to go to war today, but the Lord of Lash says nay, nay, nay. We're gonna march all day, all day, all day! Where there's a whip there's a way!'"

        "It is a catchy tune," Hannibal said politely as she checked the figures on food, medicine and their effect on the Megami, "And it seems the enthusiasm matters more than the words," she paused to listen closely, "I'm afraid you might be hearing more of it."

        He glared at her. "If they start singing The Bearer of the Ring I'm going to be very worried." He sighed. "When can we go out again?"

        "Miguelito needs you to stay here, while he performs his experiment. You and Kerrik would skew the results," Hannibal said.

        Clarice entered with team bearing a pair of older Megami evos on stretchers. She looked on approvingly, as her Master simply accepted, and walked over to sit on the ground between the two stretcher-bound figures. He dutifully missed the very proprietary looks both Hannibal and Clarice gave the Megami litter-bearers. He had took the patients' hands, and waited. Once they had the stretchers on the support frames, the four Megami decided to wait outside. Clarice curled up in his lap, while Hannibal knelt behind him and rested against him.

        After a time, he released the hands of the two Megami. Both had a ruddier complexion, and a more animated expression.

        "If I can't go out . . . " he said, and stared in surprise as another pair was brought in, "I thought Kerrik fixed most of them."

        "Yes, but some are resistant," Hannibal explained.

        "So he takes care of the batch lots, I get the one-at- a-time cases?" he said, "I can live with that." The new pair were a deathly pale kit, and a pretty woman his own age, who looked more dead than some corpses he'd seen. He took their hands and waited.

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        Kay watched another group being escorted to the latrines. A canvas wall surrounded the area, but there was no individual privacy once inside. I'm beginning to hate brown canvas, she thought. She glanced at Kamara and Shana, who seemed completely embarrassed that they knew what was needed by the listless Megami well enough to teach the other helpers what was needed.

        "Okay, you know what needs to be done, how?" she asked Shana as the group of nearly faded Megami did their business. Further away, beyond the walls, guards kept any humans away.

        "There's a prison, in the Dark Continent, where there are people who act much like this. Minor transgressions among the military means a short shift as a guard or trustee there. It makes the message of what happens when you really screw up very clear indeed."

        Kamara approached. "We, two, played a practical joke on an Infernal who had more political connections than ability. We got six months there. It was, not something I'd care to repeat. This should last only a few days. But the routines and rituals got ingrained in everyone who did a punishment detail there."

        "I'm almost afraid to ask. What all was involved?"

        "Feeding and emptying," Shana said quietly, "And dealing with the occasional attempt to rescue a prisoner, or a prisoner evolving. But those were extremely rare." She walked off and began the process of cleaning the Megami, and preparing the next batch to use the latrines.

        I almost wish we could use some of the others, but the Megami won't crap or piss if they can even see a human, she considered, I wonder what that says about them psychologically?

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        Jeremy walked wearily towards his tent in the Megami camp. A day of patrolling the perimeter and well into the evening had his bone-weary. Yeah, I'm gonna sleep inside a tin box floating on water, he thought with a shiver, I've already cleared it with Kelvin to let me sleep out in one of the lifeboats, when I have to be aboard. He pulled aside the flap of his tent, and froze. A young Megami knelt on his open sleeping bag, her eyes downcast, her clothes neatly folded beside her.

        The young Watcher swallowed. She looks older than some of the kids who've been following me around, he thought as he warily approached, Or is she just teasing me?

        She didn't move or look at him, she seemed completely content to remain motionless.

        "Excuse me?" he asked, only the slight blush of her breasts and cheeks showed she'd even heard him.

        Where're the others? he wondered about his group, Jean! He waited for an answer or a reaction, and the Megami didn't seem to be interested in much of anything. I hope this isn't one of those 'she's always been here' tricks. He touched her hair, which needed a washing/combing, or a grooming cycle. That normally gets a reaction. He knelt down beside her and looked around, then ran a finger down her bare shoulder, and down her arm. He enjoyed the smoothness of her skin, but not the lack of reaction. She blushed a little more, but showed no other reaction.

        "Look, maybe I should tell you. I'm not some hotshot Tamer who's going to just throw you down and Tame you," he said carefully as he wondered.

        How much of this is a trick? he thought as he listened for the snickering of either of his two CameraGirls recording his 'exploits' with a nearly catatonic girl.

        He spotted the tear running down her cheek. "It's not that I don't like you!" he hastily offered, "Or that I'll force you to do something you don't want!"

        It's just, what would you see in me? he didn't ask aloud.

        He moved closer, and she didn't react. He leaned over and kissed her. Finally, he thought as he felt a reaction, her pressing her lips against his. He broke off the kiss and realized that she was looking at him now. She has the most piercing eyes, he thought, I wonder what she did to get thrown in prison. He unzipped the sleeping bag completely, and practically had to load her into it.

        "Are you nervous?" he asked as he slipped in beside her, "Or - "

        Or you don't care who de-Ferals you, he thought, Even some skinny, barely-legal kid? Only when he'd slid up against her, did she tentatively put her arms around him.

        "I'll take that as a 'yes, I want you to Tame me'," he said, as he discarded his shorts, and carefully fingered her, as Sherry had taught him.

        The Megami pouted, but seemed to relax as he pressed deeper inside her. When he could feel her reacting, he rolled her on her back, and began Taming her in earnest.

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        He hadn't heard, but outside, his Harem had watched dozens of young Megami close in and cluster around his tent.

        What are they doing? Deniece asked Jean, as Sherry tried to find a way through, without climbing on the Megami themselves.

        I'm reading brain patterns almost like sleep, the Alaka-Wham replied, Or deep meditation. But they've no hostile intent.

        If they keep me away from my Master too long, Sherry thought as she searched for a gap in the crowd, They're gonna get more 'hostile' than they know what to do with.

        Keep filming, Denephew told them, Most Megami don't let themselves be studied, maybe they're just doing what other Pokègirls do, when one of them is getting Tamed.

        "I'd feel better with one of us watching him," Sherry whispered as she rejoined the group. She gestured at the Megami crowd. "This is just weird. More like Zombabes than Megami."

        "Except Zombabes wouldn't stop," Jean told them, "Or get all brain numb. Weird. We'll tell the others in the morning."

        Sherry looked around and noted more Megami closing in. "That's if they let us out, to tell anyone," she commented.

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        Kelvin was in an already foul mood when he walked into the Megami camp before dawn. The forced 'integration' of the two camps was complete, and the healthy Megami ex-prisoners had begun to apply the same manic rigor and straightening to this new combined camp. "It shouldn't have taken this long for them to step up and help without a knife to their throats," he grumbled, "None of them were Feral, and many of them were spies and not prisoners. How do they expect to keep their new ships, if they can't learn to work together and be proactive?"

        "Aren't you the one who keeps saying that 'good is not the same as nice, and Megami are nice, not good'?" Warden asked carefully.

        "Don't worry about setting him off, Warden," Hannibal explained, "He's more embarrassed than angry. More worried about what he happened to us, than what happened to him."

        "Or didn't happen," Cheryl said, and giggled.

        "That's not what has you so . . . pissed," Acer said, from her rearguard position.

        Kelvin frowned at that, as his loyal Harem stifled their giggles.

        "It happens to lots of guys," Hannibal said, smiled, "Age has nothing to do with it."

        "It hasn't happened since I've been here," he replied tartly, "You seem to be taking this in stride."

        Her wings and arms wrapped around him. "I love my Master, and he loves me. What more do I need?" Hannibal told him with a superior tone, and the others nodded sagely, while hiding their smiles. She released him, after she pinched his butt. "Besides I like you a little less certain of everything," she whispered, "You were getting too much like an arrogant Megami."

        That caused bursts of laughter from the entire group, save him and Seadamar.

        "Damned embarrassing," he said and shook his head, "I mean wetting a bed, at my age."

        "You did warn us about you waking up that way," Cheryl said as she got her giggles under control, "Besides some girls get turned on by that kind of thing." She sobered, slightly, and admitted, "We shouldn't have woken you up that way. My and Hannibal's clothes don't need washing."

        At that point they all giggled, even the normally dour GunValkyrie, further darkening his mood. Warden halted. She, like Acer, was his guard for the day. "Let us pass," the Bust Angel requested, and squared her shoulders. All of them came alert, scanning the people around them and considering.

        The Megami were up and around, more than they had been the day before.

        "Let us pass, please," Warden repeated herself in a commanding tone, and backed up a pace as the Megami slowly advanced.

        "They're closing in behind," Acer warned as more Megs and Sammies surrounded them. He heard Seadamar's weapons deploy.

        "What's the story say?" Hannibal asked as she formed a defensive ring around him with the others.

        "Nonthreatening," he said in confusion as he watched them mill forward. Not purposefully advancing, but tightening the knot around them. "Everyone stay loose, but be ready."

        "For what?" Seadamar asked.

        "We can't push them back," Warden reported, "They're packed and overlapping."

        "Hoplite-style formation," he said as the five girls were crowded in against him, "We can still fly," he said, "Hannibal, they look about five yards deep, are more coming?"

        "Not really, they seem to have . . . nucleated around us. They're only pressing us back against you, but not trying to crush us," the Angel replied. The tension in her voice matched the tension in her body. All of the others were coiled and ready to fight for their Master's safety.

        "Their expressions aren't hostile, but they aren't really anything, either," Acer reported from her front, "But I think they're not going to let us go without a fight."

        "They haven't hurt us, we shouldn't start hurting them. Understand?"

        "BOSS!" came a frightened cry over the radio that made all of them jump, "The Megami, they closed in on us, and won't let us go!" Kay reported.

        He struggled to get the radio loose from the press of bodies. Acer's vine pulled it clear and wormed it up where he could talk into it. "Thanks, are you in danger?"

        "No, but Maus and Aurora are pressed up against me, and we're all pretty nervous."

        "Are you hurt?" he asked.

        "No, they stopped well short of that. They didn't act like this yesterday."

        "Or the day before," he replied, "I think this is new. Okay, Aurora and Maus can get you out of there if it gets bad. But stand fast, I don't think we're in any real danger. We're in the same fix, pressed close, but not hurt. I'll contact the ship and see what help is available."

        "This is the Des Moines, we're monitoring your situation and have help standing by," came Kay's voice over the radio, "What's our recommended course of action?"

        "Charging in shooting won't help anybody," he told her, "We're near the town-side edge of the camp. Can you place a force some distance from us, but nearer the edge of the camp? Draw their attention, and do the same for Kay's group?"

        "Can do. Jeremy's people reported a similar behavior early this morning," the comm officer told him, "They surrounded his tent while he was Taming a Megami. They only reported it a little while ago."

        "I'll think about that," he replied.

        "You do that," Acer said, "A nice Taming wouldn't be too bad right now. 'Cause we're not going anywhere."

        "If we need to go," Hannibal reminded her, "We can still go up. I doubt they'd chase us across the skies."

        "Spoilsport," Acer said.

        "Master is nervous about public Tamings," Warden said, "And I'm not sure we have the free space to even try."

        Kelvin blushed at the new and expected subject of conversation. "I'd like to know why they're doing this, and why not earlier?"

        "Master, wouldn't we all," Warden said as she looked around.

        "Hey! We can lift him up top! They're packed in so tight, it would be like a lumpy floor," Acer said eagerly.

        "Can't you think of anything else?" he complained.

        "Not when pressed so tight against my Master," Acer panted and squirmed against him, "Especially when he needs reassuring so bad."

        The girls giggled, and all pressed in and wriggled against him.

        "I wish Jen were here, then I could beat on someone who'd enjoy it," he commented.

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        "Celestial rescue service," Taylor said as they led Kelvin's group out, "Seems you aren't the only one who needed rescuing. Every human present in the camp since last night got surrounded."

        "That's interesting," Kelvin said as the Seraphs of Taylor's Harem formed a wall to let the other man escape. Kelvin considered. "Wait a second. Kerrik was out there too. Didn't he have this problem? And why didn't he report it?"

        "I do not know, sir," Taylor said tersely.

        "If it was Hazel and Stupid Fuzzbutt rescuing him, I can see why no one wants to talk about it," Kelvin admitted.

        "No comment, sir," Taylor said.

        Kelvin looked at the pack of Megami, staring at him from beyond the walls of Seraph wings.

        "A little haste, they aren't insistent, but there are a lot of them," one of the Seraphs recommended.

        "Wonder what would happen if we tried that ring and -"

        "They'd be standing over us all night," Seadamar replied, "Even Megami wouldn't mind you looking up their dresses at that point."

        He frowned at the image and his foolishness for not thinking about it first. "Probably right."

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        The medical center was now dealing with more cases of bumps and bruises from the nucleation incidents, than the initial problems of dying Megami.

        "I don't like the fact that they will be making us pack up and move in a few days," Kay protested politely.

        "The Leagues are not willing to delay their acquisition longer than that," her Master explained, he looked around the brown, canvas walls of the tent, "Or did you want to set down roots here until we figure out how to raise those ships from hundreds of miles away?"

        "Knowing you and Wolf, you could," she said quietly. She sighed, set down the equipment she'd been moving, and looked around. "What do you need us for?" she asked worriedly, "Batteries, entertainment, what? You can get anyone you want. Kerrik could probably magic up any companions he could want. What do you need mundane Pokègirls for?"

        He stared at her for a moment, then walked over and held her trembling body against his. "What's all this all about?" he chided her, "You've been listening to your sister's wild theories about us. She's frightened and she hates the lack of control that the Authors represent."

        She rested her head against his chest. "While this makes me feel better, it doesn't answer my question."

        "What does anyone need anyone for?" he replied, "The same question could apply to anyone -"

        She pushed away from him. "Not - Pokègirls. If you haven't noticed, we tend to be drawn to powerful Masters. Even if said Master beats or abuse us, if he is strong willed, we cannot break away. None of us would leave you if you hit us, or insulted us. But what do you need any of us for?"

        "If I didn't need you, wouldn't I have already sent you away?" he asked quietly as he gathered her back in.

        He still isn't answering, she thought.

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        Miguelito took his late afternoon constitutional out on the deck of the Daisy Mae and considered the situation he'd found himself in. Of course they sent me all the kits. And once mixed with the Des Moines' kits, they made a startlingly fast recovery, he considered, That was the breakthrough we needed. Add a few of the oldest grandmothers to the mix, and this had begun a cascade effect and proved the concept.

        He grinned at Cameron coming up on deck and enjoying the evening weather. "How goes the experiment, Doctor?"

        "Well enough, Professor. The incident this morning confirms my findings," Miguelito replied, "And you?"

        The man shrugged. "I wish we could have gotten more help from the Spanish Inquisition."

        Miguelito nodded. After we 'segregated' the, to put a fine point on it, elderly-appearing ones who needed Taming, Miguelito thought, It was the least we could do for our more active friends. Although I do wish that Bishop Cameron had been able to see past his vow of chastity. Our other two friends have been more help.

        "I'm just thinking on the rather bizarre circumstances," Miguelito admitted to his fellow academic, "Janus, or Kelvin, believed and proved that human DNA and physical intimacy of the right mind-set would eliminate Ferality in a Pokèkit. Give them some of yours, and play and cuddle with them. Claiming them, blood, soul and mind, as yours. Kerrik, or Iain, firmly believed it was a mixing of life energies, and singing together would have the necessary effect."

        "I've heard you sing, I can believe it," Cameron said.

        Miguelito grinned at the flattery, "It's one way to keep a Bardess happy."

        "So which one was right?"

        His expression was a frustrated mix of frown and smile. "That's the odd thing." Miguelito admitted, "When Kelvin was close, even within 500 yards, his method worked flawlessly. When Kerrik was within 500 yards, his method worked flawlessly. If neither was, neither method had much effect. And if both were, the closer had more effect, but it was far weaker than it would have been alone."

        "So they were curing Ferality in the kits, simply by being there, and someone following a ritual?" Cameron said, his worried expression mirrored on Miguelito's face, "That leads to some fascinating possibilities."

        "Frightening possibilities," Miguelito agreed, "I begin to wonder if the S-Goths were correct in their suppositions."

        Cameron leaned against the rail. "Maybe, but it would take a while to assemble the logical assumptions that both seem to use about how things work. With sufficient brain washing it might," Cameron looked out over the sea, "Can you imagine what would have happened if they had been wiser about putting on the leash?"

        "Thank you for the stupidity of my enemies," Miguelito paraphrased.

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        "All night, just me, and you in your battleform?" her Master asked, his confusion manifest even in his scent, "And then in the morning -?"

        Tonight was to be her turn, and she wanted to get things straight before it happened. "You won't hurt me, I assure you," Rainbow explained as they stood in one of the lower deck wardrooms. The place where she'd planned it to take place.

        He rolled his eyes, and his scent changed to as he grimaced at her.

        He's found a problem, or he's protecting his girls, or both, she analyzed from previous times she'd caught that now-delightful smell, And he's going to kill that problem.

        "I think you've been talking to Flower too long," he commented sardonically.

        "It is the idea of being the lone protector, transport, lover and food source for my male is an interesting experience," the Tyrannodame commented, "But there is more to it. The Third Guard wish to have the 'cub huddle' of Blossom and I on the outer ring, and all of them clustered inside."

        "Now that sounds a bit on the unsafe side. All of them smelling me all night."

        "Eugene and Amanda have been Taming them, several a night, since they got here. And they will continue," Blossom chimed in, "It seems he has a slight problem with Megami."

        "He's got a reason too. He ran into one of the Megami who, if not a member of the Celestial Alliance, was one of its inspirations for the Authors. That and Kerrik's Svetlana pretty much cemented the idea of callous, sneaky do-gooders, 'Paradise at Any Price!'"

        "That does not answer the question of whether my Master will sleep atop me tonight, and feed of my milk in the morning."

        "Sorry, you're right it doesn't. I - have a hard time picturing you wanting so prosaic a dream, warrior goddess with a nearly vestigial man attached."

        "Hardly, but suggesting you leading a band of us on a hunt for the last Jokette stronghold, or with the Boobfin to attack the Sharptits who were attracted but the smell of helplessness that the Megamis' spoor put in the waters, would have me skinned alive by Clarice and Hannibal, if not by Rainbow," Blossom admitted, "So that must remain fantasy. But the general sleeping off his victories, with his captives, and kits all mixed around him, can be simulated."

        "That explains the lack of Feral attacks on all that helpless meat shambling around those camps," he said and he rubbed his chin. He looked at her placid expression.

        I hope he approves, she thought quietly, Another thing to ask, does Kerrik's Harem 'play' as we do? Or are they more prosaic in their Taming?

        Finally, her Master decided. "I'll think about it," he said, "But I think that you'll only be satisfied with the hunt as part of the imagining, and I can't come up with a good way to bring that off."

        "You will," Blossom said and hugged him, "Thank you."

        "I wonder if the other authors allow such, play," Rainbow asked.

        "Kerrik's Harem is here," he told them, "You can always ask them."

        "I somehow doubt they would," Rainbow said, "You both have blind spots. Your's is thinking of us as human, though more sexual. His is not being able to release his darker side, and keep it under control. I doubt you will ever integrate with your whole Harem as he does, and he could never play the game you did with Cheryl and Naomi."

        "Which several of the Third would like to play, with you, specifically," Blossom added, and when he cringed, "And have been told 'no' with sufficient force to believe it will remain so."

        "I hope you haven't done that to anyone inside the Harem," he said flatly.

        "Anyone in the Harem would have taken the request to Maus, or to you directly," Rainbow reminded him, "Those outside, do not have an automatic right to you or your time."

        He nodded.

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        Miguelito had assembled enough data that speculations would become facts, once the briefing was given, so Kelvin hurried to the cruiser. Cheryl and Warden were on close guard. "Hey, that's Kerrik. I wonder - " He stopped and looked at the crowd of Megami and Samas approaching. "I thought we fixed that," he said as Cheryl and Warden took a position farther forward that they usually did.

        He spotted Kerrik and his Harem hurrying up the gangplank as the lead elements of the Megami cloud approached. Then he saw all of them had plates or little packages.

        The babble of overlapping voices translated into, 'We can't tell you how grateful we are for your rescue.'

        "We -" he managed, before a spoon of something warm and vaguely slimy was thrust into his mouth. In an instant, dozens more spoons, cookies, knitted socks, and other tokens were thrust in his face. He looked from face to face, while trying to swallow the material that tasted of sugar and berries, and stuck to the inside of his throat like concrete. He spotted Kerrik giving him a 'sorry, but better you than me' look, before that worthy vanished below decks with his Harem. Cheryl looked horrified, Warden was trying to get him some breathing room, and was getting disapproval on her clothing and figure in return.

        "I -"

        Can't open my mouth to speak, he thought as he hoped whatever it was he was swallowing wasn't poisonous.

------------------------------

        Miguelito saw that all the necessary players had assembled in the mess hall. Voltaire had passed out the packets to everyone to read while he explained.

        "At the risk of being accused of being loveless," Miguelito paused to let his friends enjoy the joke, "This has been a fascinating problem to study, and very useful."

        "How doctor?" the Captain said, that and her glance preempted others.

        "There was no malice involved in any of this. The Leagues, housed these Pokègirl prisoners as they always had, letting them out of long-term storage into heavily shielded rooms, with guards who would not be swayed by any apparent distress of the occupants. Most were put through Healing and First-level Taming cycles prior to release. Most Pokègirls released with other Pokègirls, will deal with the Ferality question rather straightforwardly and immediately. That these simply sat, perhaps exchanged a few words, and just sat, was attributed to it being a nonissue. They were returned with no incidents, and placed back into storage. Because of the slow onset, and the periods in the storage banks, the Megami and Megami-Sama themselves never realized what was killing them, or that they were dying. They were just 'lonely'. I've heard that description over and over."

        Doctor Marilyn took up the discussion. "It's been known for a long time that Megami require emotions, like a Succubus requires sex energy, although to no where near the same degree. What hasn't been known, is that below a certain point, Megami quit radiating this emotional energy for others of their breed to feed on. Like a dehydrated body stops sweating, Megami and Megami-Sama stop being -"

        "Call them Megs and Sammies," the XO said, "Time is more important than politeness."

        "Very well," Miguelito said, "The Megs and Sammies were isolated, for long periods of time, and when they were let out, received no emotional support. As other politicals were rotated into their groups, the newcomers were essentially thrown into a barren wasteland. They provided some food for the others, but their reserves soon dried up and they entered the Fading. While some of this could be inferred, without hard data, none of it could be proven. Most Megami avoid researchers, and these captive populations were primarily political prisoners. Keeping them isolated from everyone, including researchers, was government policy, even a government mandate. Any Meg or Sammy who voiced complaints was treated as a trouble making prisoner, which they already were."

        "And none could analyze well enough to make a logical argument."

        "Why let them out now?"

        "Because the governments examined their causes, and they are either mainstream now, or so hopelessly outdated that they offer no threat to the current administrations," Commander Genek explained, "They are no longer a threat."

        "Again, at the risk of seeming heartless, it actually works in our favor. Those 1800 who were starved, are making a fast recovery . . . as long as they learn to learn. The - well, Stugs, Megs and Sammies, who are teaching them, are a veritable feast, as long as they don't try the emotional blackmail that has become most Megamis' stock in trade. If they cry or wail, the teacher closes off emotionally. In the Stugs' case, it's to avoid being angry, since anger at idiotic superiors would be severely punished. The newcomers suddenly have the food cut off so abruptly, that they can't help but make the connection. They quickly learn that knuckling down and getting the job done is the best way to have the praise and affection keep coming. They also get pressure from the others to quit cutting off the banquet. The 600 who were far more healthy, are a bit more trying."

        "You can say that again."

        "Stubborn is the word."

        "Agreed, but let's deal with who we can," Doctor Marilyn said, "We have the trump card, sole access to humans. Like Taming out of Ferality is a Human only ability, a Human produces a - more diverse - set of emotions. Leave them among just each other, and they'll get to notice the soup's grown a bit thin. Play ball, and you get the whole bouquet or banquet of human emotions."

        "And other things."

        There was some laughter about that. Miguelito let it go, Pokègirls being Pokègirls. "True, some of us can do other things of value."

------------------------------

        Master, Clarice's thought appeared in his head. He looked up to see that Angie, Maus, Blossom, Cheryl and Clarice were clustered at the hatch.

        "Come in, if you'll all fit," he said as he put away yet another mind-numbing piece of paperwork for tomorrow's loading.

        I think we may have a target for Blossom's hunt, Clarice told him.

        "A target? Who and/or what?" he asked.

        The others in the room can hear. No one else, Clarice explained, When Kerrik's new girl scanned us, she scanned me in particular.

        "Damned impolite, but I suspect you did something equally impolite right back," he said.

        Kerrik has a Sanctuary assassin/hunt-group after him, Clarice said.

        Her Master threw down the pen he'd been using. "There are three forces right here that would be considered entire armies in this world, and he hightailed it out of here? With that on his tail?" Kelvin frowned and shook his head. "And he took me to task for not including him in the meatgrinder I'm standing in. Okay, you know about it. Frankly in terms of pure wizardry, he has me beat all hollow. But you already have a solution, don't you?"

        The Wild Hunt, Clarice said. Cheryl blanched.

        "You can't," the Megami stammered, "You said you couldn't control it! Please, we all love Kerrik, but you can't unleash that on Sanctuary." She looked from her Master's grin, to Clarice's, and back. "I'm missing something. Something that would make you two bonded to a once-Hild Angel giggle."

        "Dreams." Dreams. The pair told the others.

        "Blossom's hunt dream," he explained, "We have three armies, and we can send them all into the battle. A few hundred combat trained Pokègirls will be a match for any assassin group Sanctuary is likely to be able to cobble together."

        "You can't enter Dreamtime," Cheryl said, "We've all tried to teach you. You never show up there."

        "Because I go somewhere else. Beyond that soulscape you were traipsing around in. All I have to do is lure the hunt group to a location there, and then we spring the trap."

        "How will you know when they are awake, and asleep, and more important, dreaming?" Angie asked.

        "I have ways, but if they're hunting Kerrik, they'll be hunting him on Blue League time," he realized, "So unless they're following a nocturnal schedule, we'll have to hit them in local broad daylight."

        "How soon?" Blossom asked, "Kerrik brought you back. He helped here. Even if we don't get all of them, we can break them up."

        More important, Clarice added, If a death is sufficiently traumatic in the dreams, the body dies of shock in the waking world.

        Blossom considered, then quietly asked, "How traumatizing are we permitted to be?"

        Cheryl looked at the others, even her Master, who were seeking her word. "Enough to work," she said reluctantly. "I - I won't have a hand in torture. But if it helps Kerrik and his family, I won't stand in the way of it."

        "Traumatic doesn't necessarily have to be tortuous, just shocking and obvious," he said, "And she doesn't need examples, Blossom."

        "You and Clarice are far more imaginative than I am," the Tyrannodame said.

------------------------------

        "You'd think with so few possessions, and a love of order, getting them aboard ship would be easy," Blossom commented as she directed yet another Megami to the correct vessel.

        "They know the ones boarding the Des Moines are getting the premier treatment," Kelvin told the Tyrannodame, "And the ones going to the Galvis Bay, are going to get second tier."

        "Like I said, I thought they followed orders," Blossom said.

        "Not our orders," he replied, and headed to where the pallets of food were being loaded aboard. Including several hundred pounds of fish.

        The leader of the Boobfin was looking particularly pleased with herself. "Least we could do," she said, "Not that we weren't getting a little tired of the fare as well."

        "We'll be moving slow enough, you'll be able to hunt the seas underway."

        She nodded to Blossom and Rainbow. "They swim real good, and don't mind playing in the cold water," the Boobfin leader admitted. She grinned. "Who designed men so they can't play in cold water."

        "Someone who expected us to be land-dwelling," he replied and headed to check the harried group at the Des Moines' entry gangway.

        "You're not on the list," Eko told the Megami crowd who were trying to insinuate past the guards.

        One use for a stuck up rules-worshipping martinet, he thought of the officer going over the paperwork, as he approached.

        "Captain, we have mistakenly been assigned to the wrong ship."

        He realized they were talking to him, and answered. "There's only one Captain, I am not she," he told them sternly, "And the assignments have been reviewed and are correct."

        "Most of those going aboard are from the -" The Megami fell silent as she was about to say 'other camp.'

        "Don't they have more need for human contact than you do?" he asked stonily.

        The Megami realized her faux pas and smiled. "I'm certain I didn't mean that."

        "You meant it," he said flatly, then gave a grin that would frighten a Mazouku, "Now get back to your correct embarkation line or I'll have you dragged and thrown over there," he told them calmly.

        The crowd dispersed quickly.

        "Why didn't I think of that?" the Officer Jenny asked.

        "Because you aren't ready to make the rules, only enforce them," he replied, "And you're as vulnerable to the 'oh I'm a Megami, help me' as everyone else. I'm not," he added darkly.

        "Thank you," Eko offered as she turned to another Megami, "Are you in the correct embarkation line."

        "There's been a terrible mistake."

        "GET BACK IN YOUR CORRECT LINE OR I'LL HAVE YOU THROWN IN IRONS!"

        Many waiting in line scrambled towards the Galvis Bay.

        "Next."

        "Where is frame 23?" a Megami-Sama timidly asked.

        "Personnel aboard ship will direct you, join the line on the stairs. Next."

        "Uh, I can't read."

        Eko looked at the tag. "Galvis Bay, over there. Check in with an officer there for help," she said as she wrote 'illiterate' on the ticket and handed it back.

        Kelvin walked away, leaving the Pokègirls to do their work.