"Yes... Lord and Master Domico..."
The words had left a taste of ash and bile in her mouth, not to be trumped by act of sucking off said bastard. Though she found that as the weeks went by they were getting easier to say. A fact that saddened the War Hound greatly.
Things had moved rapidly since that day. After forty-eight hours with no contact from Haures Andzral's suspicions had been confirmed. Once she teleported into the office building and found his personal office to be a complete wreck she took her frustration out on the closest living thing around. An SII guard stationed there to keep nosy workers out. Given her temper and anxiety it didn't take long for her to extract the information she wanted. The guard didn't survive the encounter. But now she was left with her own set of problems. She knew her master, had been his since he rescued her from a botched battle nearly forty years ago. He was a leader, a delegator, and despite the strong front he could put on he was a spineless pansy.
It wouldn't take long for SII or IGS to pry every last detail of useful knowledge from him. What made things worse was that her master's boss knew that fact as well. With the amount of information he had on Team Rocket and the amount of information Team Rocket had on the league it was almost certain they would try to kill Haures during his incarceration.
Evan wasn't fazed by the turn of events though. As far as he was concerned Haures had failed too many times as it was. His plan was to take over the remnants of Haures's harem and use them as he saw fit but they had scattered before he could get his hands on them, leaving only Tessa. She was physically the strongest and already broken in so aside from losing Andzral he didn't care much about the others leaving. Fortunately for Evan, Mr. G had left Arianna in his custody to use as he saw fit until they managed to acquire the rest of Avalanche.
______
The night air was cold where they had set up camp. Though thanks to some fire attacks the snow had been melted and the ground was dry. The Guard Maid was busy preparing dinner while Tessa gathered more wood for the fire. Ronda and Cyri, a Jurumi and Slutton respectively, sat on the logs they had felled earlier and eyed the newcomer. They already knew of Tessa, having been there for her breaking process, but the lone Arianna was a mystery. She sat as far away from everyone else as possible, hugging her knees with her back to a tree. A particularly loud shriek caused her to turn her attention towards the tent and its occupants.
Not long before they had set up camp, something they never really intended to do, Evan had been attacked by a feral Slicer. She was wielding what was essentially a long stick that with some imagination would resemble a staff. Her shock at it breaking over his head was counted as the least of her problems when she was quickly beaten by Tessa, Ronda, and Cyri then balled. Arianna figured that after the first hour of whatever he was doing to her she'd had enough. The following two must have been out of spite.
"I wonder if he's using the clamps?" Ronda mused with far too much excitement at the situation.
"Bet she wishes she stayed asleep." Cyri replied with a hostile snarl.
Arianna sighed and closed her eyes in thought. 'Bet I'm going to kill at least one of them before the night is up.' The soft sound of footsteps heading in her direction caused her eyes to snap open. Before her stood Tessa and the taller brown haired Guard Maid. "Yes, can I help you with something?" She asked in a mono tone.
Her eyes had been so focused on their faces she didn't notice the metal tray the Guard Maid was holding. She slowly knelt down and set the tray containing stew, bread, and a bottle of water next to Arianna and backed away just as slowly. "Your dinner, are you okay?"
"I'm fine... and thank you." She glanced over to Tessa with a questioning look. "Why are you standing there?"
"Just making sure you didn't attack her." Tessa replied in haste.
"What's your name?"
The Guard Maid took a step back and bowed politely. "I'm Sevon Ms., a Guard Maid. I was warned not to get too close to you but... you need to eat. I asked Tess to accompany me."
Arianna nodded and took the tray. "Nice to meet you Sevon, you can call me Ari. You've done nothing to provoke me so you have nothing to fear from me." Her eyes narrowed and cut to the Neo-Iczel. "She has, but I don't think she likes this situation any more than you or I do."
"What makes you think I don't want to be here?"
"Because Guard Maids usually don't like to leave their territory."
"You're right; I hate to travel, I hate the outdoors, and I... hate that man." She said through closed teeth and a low voice.
"Sevy, get your ass over here and serve us!"
"Coming!" She called back before bowing to Arianna. "It was nice meeting you Ari."
"One thing before you go. Who told you to stay away from me?" Arianna asked with a raised eyes brow then took a bite of the stew.
"I did. She's never been big on combat and is a good kid. I didn't want her getting hurt because you saw her as some sort of threat." Tessa explained. "Go ahead Sev; you don't want them getting mad at you."
Arianna waited until the Guard Maid had traveled far enough away then looked up at Tessa. "What's your deal? You've held me against my will for over a month. Beat me every chance you got. And now you're showing some form of compassion?"
"She got to watch her master and sisters be killed off one by one over the course of a week. Only one other survived, another Maid Yvette, fortunately taken by the only compassionate member of Tri Fotia. That member also paid a hefty price." She glanced back to the maid and shook her head. "Poor thing was forced to wash the blood out of the sheets and clothing of those she cared for. She looked haunted for weeks on end."
Arianna had been eating while listening to the story and picked up the metal serving tray. "And now she's been reduced to being the personal servant of that butcher. That still doesn't explain why you care about her."
"Because she's weak, always picked on then and still getting picked on now from the looks of things. The strong shouldn't bully the weak."
"There's something we can agree on. Did you warn the others about me as well?" Arianna asked while tampering with the tray.
She had flattened one side completely and was running her sharpener over it. Even though her combat knife was broken and lost in her fight with Andzral its sharpener was still good. Sevon had just finished making trays for the others and was walking to serve them when she tripped on a root and splashed the food onto the Slutton. Before she could apologize Cryi had pounced and was hitting her in the face. Ronda did nothing to stop the onslaught, instead kicking her feet and laughing.
Tessa sighed and started her way towards them. "I hadn't mentioned it to them. They can fight." Once she reached them she quickly pulled Cyri off and tossed her back. "Stop it, it was an accident."
"That little bitch had better learn to be more careful then. Who do you think you are anyway, remember your place Tessa." The Slutton griped.
"I know my place and it's always going to be above you. You never had the strength to take me on before and I doubt you have it now."
The smile and laughter was gone from the Jurumi and looked to the Neo-Iczel in aggravation. "You may be strong but remember who the Alpha is around here. Sevy needs to learn to do things properly and be more careful. How else is she going to learn?"
"Oh I'm sure you two knocking her around like that is teaching her plenty. You tried that with me once and it didn't get you far. Thank the lord for healing units’ right?" She said in her haughty tone. "Enjoy being the Alpha; I'd rather not be that close to him."
While the three girls continued to argue Arianna finished eating and continued sharpening the edge of the tray. She had listened to them bicker and ignore the Guard Maid who had crept back to her cooking area and started prepping more food to serve and cleaning herself up. Once Arianna finished with the tray she brushed it against the hair on her arm and nodded with approval as the tips were sheered clean off. Now it was time to make her presence known.
The four of them didn't notice her approach until she was by the fire, Cyri being the first to try talking with her. "Hey newbie, what's your story?"
Arianna ignored her then turned to Sevon and bowed. "Thank you for the meal, it was delicious."
"HEY, IM TALKING TO YOU!"
Sevon shivered for a moment at the yell then lowered her head. "Think nothing of it; I'm glad you liked it." Her eyes caught sight of the tray and noticed it had been altered somehow. "What happened to your tray?"
"No, the meal was quite filling. A kindness like that should be rewarded."
"IF YOU DON'T ANSWER ME WHEN IM TALKING TO..." The Slutton never got the chance to finish her statement.
Arianna had turned sharply while holding the tray in one hand and threw all of her strength into the slash. For all the intelligence the Slutton may have had she didn't register the danger behind the tray and on reflex alone tried to catch it with her hand. This turned out to be a onetime only error as the sharpened edge, backed by Arianna's impressive strength, sliced clean through the girls hand and continued on to sever her head from her neck in an impressive fountain of blood. Ronda was still in shock by the action when she was seized by the throat and pinned against a tree. She wanted to yell out but the gripping strength of the War Hound kept her silent. Arianna's imposing form towered over her and for a moment she thought she would die right there.
"So you're the Alpha huh, well we're going to get some shit straight right now. I am not to be fucked with, and since I like her that maid is not to be fucked with, and anyone I take a liking to is not to be fucked with. You can be the Alpha all you want, I don't care, but if you mistreat anyone too weak to defend themselves you'll deal with me. I will hurt you, I will make you wish for death like I did, and if it does come it won't be from me."
Her voice was strained and tears were forming in the corner of her eyes. All the same she had a counter she could make. "Evan will not forgive this; you'll suffer for days before he puts you out of your misery."
Arianna inched closer to the girl’s face, her horn scratching against her head. "He can't kill me and he can't order that I be killed. I've endured pain far beyond your imagination and there is nothing he can do I won't survive. The only reason I'm going to leave you alive is so you can warn the other ‘strong girls’ not to trifle with me. They do so at their own risk." Having gotten that out of the way she picked up the headless body of the Slutton and tossed it next to the fire.
Sevon was still quite shaken after witnessing the swift and brutal execution of the feared Slutton. Not that she wasn't happy to be rid of one of her daily pains. But she now had a full grasp of why Tessa had warned her. "Thank you Ari, I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything. There are a few things I want though."
"Anything you want Miss." She was still very afraid of the War Hound but remember it being said that she had taken a liking to her.
"First, be sure to cook her well. Secondly," She stepped on the edge of the tray and flipped it into the air before catching it. "I want this to be my regular tray. And lastly, get some sleep after you're done. You'll start your training in the morning."
"Training?"
"Yes, training, I refuse to let someone I like be taken out as easily as I did her. Since the Alpha has yet to train you properly I will do it. The only mercy you’ll be shown is the fact that you’ll be alive at the end of every session.”
“But… I don’t like fighting.”
“You don’t have to like it, you have to survive it.”
~~~~~~
Evan awoke the following morning, crawled out of his tent, and was greeted to the sight of Sevon hanging upside down from a tree. In her hands was a cut off piece of a log. She was sweating profusely and forcing sit-ups through clenched teeth. True to her word Arianna had started training her and it began with excruciating exercise, her goal being to build up the Guard Maid’s strength and stamina. True combat training wouldn’t start until Arianna was sure she could handle the beatings she would suffer.
“What the hell is she doing?” Evan asked dragging what could have been mistaken for the lifeless body of the Slicer behind him. Only her shallow breathing and the fact that she was still bleeding from her wounds gave any indication that she was still alive.
Ronda scampered to Evan’s feet as quickly as she could and took his hand. “Lord and Master Domico, it’s horrible. Cryi is dead.” Her face and body had several bruises covering it whose origins where unknown.
“What?! What happened to her, why didn’t you come and get me?”
“That crazy new bitch killed her. There was nothing I could do to stop her.”
He reared back and slapped her hard across the face. “And you just let it happen? You shouldn’t have any issues beating her.”
“And yet that doesn’t stop her from being terrified of me. Good morning, Lord and Master Domico.” Arianna said cheerfully as she picked her teeth with a sharpened bone. “Your Alpha is rather lax in her training methods and I refuse to have useless weaklings traveling with me. If I’m going to be stuck here I should make some contribution.”
“Who gave you permission to do that, and where is Cryi’s body?”
“Much like my making it a rule to point out ignorance when I see it, I take it upon myself to train the weak. As for Cryi’s body…” She let out a low burp and tossed the bone into the large pile that had built up. Evan’s jaw hung slack when it dawned on him exactly what she had done. “I decided to leave her skull intact. Pretty sure there was nothing of value in there anyway.”
“You bitch!” Evan shouted and punched Arianna with all the strength he could throw.
Her head snapped off to the side and Ronda started laughing. That was until she straitened herself back up and cracked her neck. Her eyes shifted to the Jurumi and narrowed. “You want a fresh one?” She brushed herself off and checked her lip to see if it was bleeding then turned her attention back to Evan. “Lord and Master Domico, while it’s true that you have high natural… blood strength, your form sucks.”
“Excuse me?”
“You never had to train to be as strong as you are so your form sucks. Your stance is poor and your hits lack power because of this. You know how to punch, but you don’t know how to strike. You are leagues stronger than Colonel Readman and if you were to fight him now he would mop the floor with you.”
“Who said I would be fighting him, that’s what I have pokégirls for.”
“And not a single one of them could ever get close enough to lay a finger on him. The unit is too strong and too well organized; at best any force you bring could keep them occupied while you and Colonel Readman squared off. I know that after he killed you there wouldn’t be too much love lost from the majority of your girls, but that’s beside the point. Take her for instance,” She motioned over to Ronda. “Even some of the low ranks could kill her in short order and the Betas could each blaze through your entire harem.”
“I simply refuse to believe that any single group of pokégirls could be so dangerous.” Ronda scoffed.
“But you’re afraid of me…” Arianna snarled and took a step towards her to watch her flinch. “And I’m not the strongest.”
“But you’ll tell us who is?”
“I will do no such thing, you may have stripped me of my loyalty to them but my honor will not let me forsake those who took in my sister and me when we had nothing. I agree, though not of my free will mind you, to serve Lord and Master Domico as best as I could and I will. But there are certain things I will never do.”
“You will if I tell you to.” Evan grumbled.
Arianna’s eyes sharpened as she looked into his. “I can’t bring myself to kill you Lord and Master Domico. But that doesn’t mean I can’t make your life hell. Pam’s control can only go so far and you won’t risk my getting killed.” She moved past him and to the side of the quivering Slicer then began to bandage her up. “You can beat me all you like but we both know it won’t accomplish anything. You can’t kill me, you can’t sell me, and you can’t level-five me or your master will have your head. But you also can’t deny my abilities and know that just keeping me in a pokéball is too dangerous. You’re so busy and your Alpha is a moron so sooner or later I would go feral and by the time you remember and released me, I would come out and kill the lot of you. The best thing you can do is to use me for what I’m willing to do, accept the fact that I will try and keep you alive if you’re attacked, and be happy.”
Evan was burning with fury after her ultimatum and the realization that she was right. There was a whole list of things she could do that would bring unwanted attention to him and the others. But he was also quite limited on the ways he could discipline her. Pam’s control over the War Hound was enough to get to her do certain things but the amount of will power Arianna possessed was staggering. She was a battle hardened fighter and it showed in how she conducted herself. Sooner or later something would give and it was better for Evan to hedge his bets.
“So… what exactly can you do?
_____
Yule Eve, Avalanche Office
Three weeks had passed the capture of Alphonso Haures and they had yet to see any signs of Arianna. The pieces were slowly being put together and forming a nasty picture of the former chief’s involvement with Team Rocket. Links to the operation in Prussia, as well as the smuggling ring out of Stone Town, the Doc David in Celaboner, and the attack at Cerulesbian all pointed back to that one person. There was no amount of spinning he could do to dig himself out of the current hole he was in.
The unit, including the trio from Stone Town, sat around the dinner table enjoying each other’s company. To keep Marco from being around Lisa, Kelly and Chesra had gone to pick up Tam for the weekend before sending her back to the school. It was the first time in a long time they had actually been free to relax but the mood felt tainted. Too many troubles to count.
Those were things that could be thought about later. Right now they were going to take the time to enjoy a night of peace. Conversation was kept light and cheerful around the table along with some pretty naughty jokes courtesy of Mina. Elise was busy trying to catch up with Henrietta since she got to see Chris and Ariel on a fairly regular basis.
The trademark sound of bells alerted them to the visitors making their appearance and in one of the rarer instances Marco didn't seem to mind. Vana appeared as expected, bringing her daughters and sleeping niece along with her. "Merry Yule." They all chanted slightly off key and causing Toria to stir slightly.
"Mother, sis, little sis, slightly littler sis, Merry Yule. Have a seat, there's plenty of room and even more food." Marco said cheerfully, having had plenty to drink.
"Why thank you son, Queen Mera sends her regards." Vana replied with a smile.
His smile faded for a second when he thought about the mess she caused. "Yeah I bet she did. She and I need to have a little chat about the condition SII found that facility in."
Renae squirmed slightly when she remembered the massive chewing out she had gotten for allowing that to happen. The base and all of its contents had been completely destroyed and only one of the ships was salvageable, but it would be another ten years before they could do anything with it. To his credit, Marco managed to shift the blame onto the pirates but he had an idea of who was really responsible. Asking the Ice Princess just confirmed his suspicions.
"Somehow I think she will pass on such a conversation. That reminds me, your father should be getting back tonight. He said he would like to speak with you."
"And that's a conversation I'd rather not take part in." He laughed and turned his attention to Tasha. "If you need to put her down somewhere we have plenty of guest rooms."
"Thanks bro, she's been fighting sleep all night but gave up when I said we were going to visit you."
"Ahh youth, Carrie, can you show them to the rooms please?"
The Penance got out of her seat quickly and made her way over to the pair. She smiled reluctantly and motioned like she wanted to hold the little girl. "Sure, would you like to tuck her in?" Tasha asked and received a beaming smile from the shorter girl before handing Toria off. Carrie carefully took the child into her arms and lightly walked off leaving Tasha to have a seat. "I think that one is going to want children one day."
Marco barely managed to keep his drink from flying out of his mouth and coughed in a struggle to keep from choking. "Don't say that too loud, might start giving her ideas."
"Like the rest of us haven't had any?" Ashley said playfully. "I'm sure all of us will want kids someday."
Some of the color drained from Marco's face as he looked across to the rest of the harem and the slight nodded he was getting. "Oh dear..."
The night continued on with everyone having a good time and going off in their separate directions. As tradition though, it wasn't before Kelly had gotten out her violin to play her selection of music accompanied by Emaline on the piano. Marco and Chris had found their way to the bar and were having a pleasant drink together. Talking about how it felt to be the only humans in a building filled with pokégirls. Over the time they had spent together the two of them had gotten pretty close and were becoming good friends.
Also close was the proximity they had gotten to each other in terms of companionship. Despite Marco's unique abilities he was still a human and so was Chris. That meant there was a common bond they shared that the others couldn't. This hadn't gone unnoticed by Kelly of course. The Duelist was still jealous of the detective but not to the same degree she was around Kasumi.
"I know it's a rather strange question to ask but how do you like it here?" Marco asked while pouring the two of them another round of Boa Bombs that Kim had prepared earlier.
"Nothing to complain about. As I told Kelly, no one really makes a lot of demands for my time so it's basically like I'm living here rent free."
"What about your house in Stone Town?"
"Currently, I'm renting it out to my sister and her husband. The check I got from that thing in Prussian was enough to just about buy it off the bank outright. Not to mention what you paid for the last..." She looked over and saw his eyes drop all of a sudden. "I'm sorry; I know it's not something you like to remember."
"It's ok, she's not the first person I failed to save and I know there will be more before my time is up. She didn't deserve to go like that and I have to live with the fact that it was my order that put her there."
Chris had kicked off her shoes and had her feet propped up on the table when she leaned back more into the couch. "If not for that order one of us would have shot you eventually. By doing what she did she kept everyone else alive and I'm sure in her last moments she was glad you were safe." In an act that seemed to defy how much agility the large man actually possessed he lifted her legs with one foot and moved them over to grab them and rest them in his lap. None too gently he grabbed one foot with one hand and her toes with the other and bent them down till he heard the resounding crack then set to the task of massaging her foot. For a moment she thought her eyes would do a full 360 as the rolled into the back of her head. "You're really good at that you know."
"It's a gift." He replied before taking the other foot and repeating the process. "I guess you don't get your feet rubbed often."
"Not often enough... falls onto the list of a lot of things I don't get often enough." She said almost coyly. "Sleeping with the others is all fine and dandy. But... there is a certain something missing at times."
His hand had made its way up her pants leg and was massaging her calf. "I can only imagine what that something might be. Surprised there isn't a guy in Stone Town that's after you."
"Me? The hardnosed detective with ties to the toughest military group in Indigo? Oh yeah getting offers left and right, not that I'm entertaining any of them mind you. Aside from seeing Elise I don't really spend any extra time in town." She replied in a soft moan. "I do know of one fairly nice guy though. He's a tamer of sorts with a nice harem, always getting into trouble but has a good heart. Even helped me out of a spot of trouble." Chris had changed positions in the middle of her cooing and was now lying flat on his chest and making her way to his neck.
"Oh do tell, what kind of harem does he have?"
Chris chuckled lightly from the influence of the drink and the way his hands played across her waist. "Smartest girls I've ever met, I should be careful though, that Duelist can be pretty vicious when she gets jealous." She had been warned that he didn’t sleep with the women in the unit but also figured that she herself didn’t fall into the same category. She was linked to the unit but not a pokégirl, which meant that she wouldn’t just be loyal to him because they were sleeping together.
Her maneuvering up to his neck had resulted in them being in a rather peculiar position with Marco’s thigh pressed between her legs. Not that Chris really cared, pressing herself against his leg and squirming a little. Her breath came out in a low groan and then a gasp when he finally found his way under her shirt.
Their good time was ruined when they heard a heavy knock at the door followed by Marco's name being called in a low male voice. The actions had startled Chris so badly that she actually managed to fall off the couch and land with a soft thud. She was quick to get back on her feet and scanned the area around the door to find the buzz kill that ended her fun.
In the door way stood a tall, heavyset, older man. His hair was a dark shade of brown with a light dusting of grey to show his age. Small splotches of moisture could be seen on his leather coat from the fallen snow that had melted.
Chris didn't have time to note how much he resembled the man she was just laying on and spoke first and in a somewhat aggressive tone. "Sorry, can I help you with something?"
"Yes Miss, I'm Eric Readman, I'm looking for my son Marco."
Chris's face flushed a deep red and she quickly ducked down to find her shoes in the low light. Marco was busy mentally cursing up a storm and stood up to draw his dad’s attention away from the detective. Chris found her shoes right where she had kicked them off but didn't put them on. Instead just picking them up and bowing to the man as she hastily exited the room.
As she stepped down the hallway the older man couldn't help but give her a once over. "Cute girl... human?"
"That she is Pop... You always did have bad timing." Marco grumbled before moving around behind the bar and retrieving a bottle of bourbon and a shot glass.
"What can I say son, it's a gift. Or should I be calling you Colonel?" Eric said before taking the offered items and pouring himself a drink.
"As long as we don't go around using nicknames. How are Kitty and Catherine doing?"
"Good as always, happy to take a break from the research. They're out conversing with the rest of your girls; I see a few new faces out there and a couple of evolutions."
Marco gave his father a warning look and chuckled. "Probably my personal harem and the new recruit. Hands off though."
Eric downed his drink and made a sour face, though not from the bourbon. "Ugh, don't even joke like that. Your mother would kill me. She'd probably think she was getting old and her youthful appearance was fading. You have no idea what it's like."
Marco thought to Kelly for a moment and shuddered. "I think I understand better than you know. Raging jealousy is something I'm becoming pretty familiar with."
There was a long pause and the two men looked back and forth at each other. Each looking for a way to start in on the tense conversation they were about to have. Eric took a few more shots and set his coat on the stool beside him.
"You look good son. I came to visit you while you were laid up. It was hard getting past the Penance, even with your mother there."
"Yeah, Carrie can be pretty protective at times but she's a good one. Though I have to admit, I'm surprised you stopped by."
"Vana insisted that I do so. So... about that message you sent me?"
Marco paused for a second to try and collect his thoughts. "Yeah, a lot’s been going on. I can't really go into actual detail but the family is in danger and I want you to hang around and keep them safe. It's really something I should be handling myself but I can't always be around and with everything that's been kicked up... I need your help."
"Ok." The older Readman said without a moment’s hesitation and to the surprise of his son. "It's my family too after all."
"Thanks, you know how I hate asking for help."
"You're my son; you hate to do it as much as I do. So if you're willing to ask then that means it’s a big problem. Anyone coming to attack my family had better be ready for the fight of their lives. Just tell me what you can."
Over the course of the next hour Marco explained everything he could about what had been happening and what he was expecting. Naturally there were certain things he wasn't supposed to go into detail on but it was worth it to secure his family's interest. For all the times Eric and Marco had argued over the years there was an understanding between the two men.
"So that's it in a nutshell. I'm expecting Team Rocket to attempt to attack and for Arianna to lead the charge. I don't know their harem compositions or the tactics they would use but it's a group that's not to be underestimated. For all the power Mom has I don't want her going up against them without some form of backup."
"I always did like Ari. Between Catherine, Kitty, and Vana it should be more than enough to overwhelm some young upstarts. That trio has been with me since I was a teenager. Speaking of which you still going to be running the tamers circuit?"
"Yes sir, since I apparently make good bait the plan is for me to keep doing what I'm doing and to draw Team Rocket to me. With any luck we'll be forced to face Arianna and can try to recapture her."
"Who will you be fighting next?"
"Sir Integra Fairbrook Windgates Helsing, the Gym Leader in Lavenderriere. I hear she's a tough one but I think we'll have what it takes." Marco checked his watch and made his way back from behind the bar. "Let's go check on the others. I haven't heard any gun fire so Kit and Rietta must be getting along."
Eric chuckled then slammed back his last shot before setting the glass in the sink. "Kitty probably glued herself to Kim; you know how she loves her little 'Ba-Bomb-Ba'."
The two men made it to the common room and were welcomed by the many dazed female eyes and red faces. The majority of the women were huddled around the poker table. Cards, chips, and glasses were almost scattered about along with a few scraps of clothing. Marco was quite thankful that his sisters had decided to watch videos of his gym battles and not take part in the game. In a dark corner of the room he could see two sets of glowing eyes hovering around the chess board. The blue ones obviously belonged to Carrie while the red ones were the Lucarda Catherine's.
Marco made his way over and planted a kiss on the Lucarda's cheek. "Aunt Catherine, good to see you."
The red eyes seemed to brighten for a moment as she regarded her 'nephew'. "And a fine thing it is to see you in good health Marco. Carrie is quite the formidable opponent."
As Eric had mentioned earlier the Lucarda had been with him since he had started out as a tamer and she was a Vampire, but her beauty hadn't faded one bit. She was generally quiet and reserved, a rarity for the breed, but when provoked could bring an amazing amount of power to bear against an opponent. Her specialty being horrific hallucinations that could leave her prey paralyzed with fear.
"She's sharp when it comes to strategy."
"The longer this goes on the more I'm starting to understand that. This is a welcome surprise." The small black kitten that lay on her shoulder had gone unnoticed until it opened its blood red eyes and yawned, showing an unnatural amount of pin point sharp teeth.
Carrie reached out through her delta bond and spoke to Marco. 'I like her but she's a little scary.'
He laughed to himself and started towards the poker table. 'She can be, just don't try fighting her.' "So who's winning?"
"We've managed to get your mom hammered just enough to stand a chance." Jean snickered.
"You still don't stand a chance dear. Just stringing you along." Vana replied with a snicker of her own, having lost some of her proper manners to the alcohol.
Kim waved weakly from the hug she was stuck in. Staying true to her breeds reputation Kitty, a Gun Bunny, had latched onto the younger Bombshell and wasn't going to let go anytime soon. Unlike her two sisters Kitty was far more fun loving and high spirited than either Catherine or Vana. All the same she was a pokéwoman as well and a seasoned battler. She and Henrietta had squared off on a few occasions and her years of experience always allowed her to prevail.
While Eric had taken to standing behind Vana, Marco was between Chesra and Kelly. The Duelist promptly stood up and gave him the seat then took her place on his lap, earning a bit of a jealous glance from Henrietta.
"I remember when little Marky use to sit in my lap like that. It was usually after he did something wrong and needed protection from Vana." Kitty sighed while nuzzling Kim’s cheek.
Vana thought back and Chuckled. "Yes, he was always safe for the moment but I always got my hands on him eventually."
"Great, more stories from my youth. Can't we talk about something else? I mean that was sooo long ago, I don't think some of the unit was even born yet." Marco fired back quickly.
The tiny kitten had left her mistress’s shoulder and jumped onto Marco's. The voice it carried was obviously that of Catherine's but she was above yelling across the room and used the cat instead. "That is a pretty roundabout way of calling us old isn't it?"
"I'm not that foolish Aunt Cat. You all still look young enough to catch the eye of plenty of fresh tamers out there."
"Don't get me started." Eric stated and places his hands on Vana's shoulders. "Some people just can't seem to take a hint when it comes to a polite refusal. Even when my wives are quite clear on the matter."
Kelly sat back and rests herself against Marco's chest. "I guess you Readman men really know how to pick you're women. Attractive, smart, loyal, and with bad tempers when jealous."
"It's a gift." Both me replied in unison then looked to each other, earning laughs around the table.
_____
There was always an interesting phenomenon around Indigo on Yule Day. No matter where, what the standard climate was, or what the previous day's temperature was, Yule morning always brought at least a foot of snow. Most speculated that it was a large group of fun loving ice-types who enjoyed the holidays. It was generally a welcome thing and gone by noon unless it actually turned out to be natural.
Gift giving in Avalanche was frowned upon for numerous reason. The main ones being that Marco was a guy and had no idea what they wanted, aside from a good stiff taming. He never gave those out and refused to accept gifts from them since he didn't have anything in return. It just became tradition that they have a nice breakfast and a day off from training. It was helpful with raging hangovers that the morning also brought.
Everyone who had come over the night before had stayed the night. The only exceptions to this were Marco and Kelly who had gone back to his apartment. Several very hot hands of poker were played between the members of the harem, including Kelly and Mina. The stakes were fairly high considering the sleeping order had been on the line and the winner had gotten Marco for the first two nights. Obviously Kelly had won, but barely managed it over Bernadette and Ashley.
Conversation at the table was rather light. Most were making an effort it keep in down till they were fully awake and the headaches had gone away. Tessa was taking a break while Carrie was trying her best to help feed Toria, the Penance being full of energy having not downed much.
Ashley sat and watched as the Lucarda sank her teeth into Eric's neck and started drinking his blood. "So you use to be a tamer Mr. Readman?"
"That I was. Even competed in the Indigo championship, we made it to the fifth round before getting beaten by a female tamer. We stayed on the circuit for another five years before I retired from taming. After that I decided to become a researcher."
"Aye, can't wait until I get a chance to battle. All those eyes on ya, people cheerin ya name, tis the good life." Bernadette said in her piratical accent.
Eric gave the Piratit a strange look then turned to his son. "Does she always sound like that?"
"I swear, after a while it starts to grow on you." Marco explained and shook his head.
Jean's eyes traveled across the three pokéwomen and a question started to form in her head. "So if you don't mind me asking. Who was the Alpha?"
Vana regarded the harem and gave them a smile. "Of course the unit already knows the answer so this question if for the harem... and Tam of course. Who do you think the Alpha was? Between the three of us was it me, Catherine, or Kitty?"
The harem huddled together and began discussing the matter pausing every so often to take a look at the three women. Eventually they made their decisions but each had their own ideas. Tam on the other hand reached out and raised her hand.
"Who did you have first and how long until all three of them were in the harem together?"
"Excellent question Tam, Kitty was my starter, Vana came along after a salvage battle, and we captured Catherine after that. Though I guess the better question is who stayed the Alpha the longest, since it did change over the years."
"That's an easy one." Replied Ashley. "It was Vana."
Jean shook her head. "You think so? I figured it would have been Catherine."
A faint giggle was heard from Carrie as she started signing. 'It was Kitty for sure.'
"Carrie got it right." Announced Marco. "How did you know?"
'I’ll say it though the bond if you don't mind translating for me.'
"Go ahead... She said that Kitty made the most sense. Mom didn't have me until she was a pokéwoman and Harlequin make pretty lousy Alphas. In the same token Vampires and Lucardas are too blood thirsty. If Kitty was a Bunny Girl to start then she probably wasn't the Alpha in the beginning but she's a great choice after she evolved into a Gun Bunny."
"That's some pretty sound deductive reasoning if you ask me." Said Chris before taking a sip of coffee. "But what happened to the rest your harem Mr. Readman?"
"Sadie Pokéns. Even though they all cared a lot for me the life of a researcher is pretty dull. They moved on to continue life on the battle circuit. I miss them of course but it was their choice to make. And please, call me Eric."
"I would like to state that I resent being called 'Blood Thirsty' young lady. Even if it was true it doesn't need to be said aloud." Catherine stated and made a show of wiping some of Eric's blood from the corner of her mouth. A small smile formed when Carrie stood and put her hands together then bowed in apology. "I kid, when I'm really offended you would know."
"Cut that out Catherine. Remember the last time you teased like that?"
Alexis shivered and squirmed in her chair. "I still have that nightmare every once and a while."
"It had been so long since I had the sweet taste of celestial blood. I really didn't think you'd mind. On the other hand I could have waited till you were awake." Catherine explained in a dry tone before taking a sip at her coffee.
"Have you ever bitten Marco?" Asked Jean.
"I have. Even after the fight and retaliatory pranks Vana didn't talk to me for a month. Not long after that she became a Lady Luck and I was met with a peculiar string of bad luck."
Vana closed her eyes and thought back. "I'll admit I was a little angry and may have over done it a tiny bit. But to make things right Catherine spent a whole day out in the sun helping me plant the garden. I couldn't stay mad after that. She... well you explain the rest."
"After she was done being mad and we sat down to talk. I explained that I wanted to link myself to all the human members of the family so I could never hurt them. Since then I've taken blood from the girls too. Little Toria is a bit young but with her mother's permission I will get hers when she comes of age." Her red eyes began to dim slightly. "I've learned my lesson on taking without asking."
"Actually Aunt Catherine I want to ask a favor of you. But first I have some other matters to attend to. Will you be around for a little while?" Marco asked.
"Of course I will, the family is all here and I won't be leaving until they do. Take care of whatever business you have then seek me out when you're done."
Marco slid out of his chair and started walking. "Thank you. Carrie, I need to see you in my office."
The Penance held a questioning and uneasy look then began to follow. The pair made their way into the office and sat down. Marco opened his desk drawer, pulled out a small box, and set it down before looking at Carrie. The glowing blue eyes looked uncertain and she sat up straight, though fiddling with hem of the sweater she wore.
"I have something I want to give you... but considering the timing and what we'll be doing next I'm going to make it your decision on if you take it now or later."
'Why, why do you have such faith in my decision making? You know I would do whatever pleases you so why give me the option to do otherwise?' She thought through the delta bond.
"Why shouldn't I. You've never given me a reason not to trust you. You mastered your sword with no problems. But this..." He pulled back the lid to reveal the Psi Crystal contained inside. "Is a tougher decision to make. If I make it for you I know I'm going to be selfish about it. So I want you to decide."
"You've never been selfish, you're the most caring and giving man I have ever met. What reason would you have, that would be selfish, that you wouldn't want me to evolve?"
Marco sat back and closed his eyes. "The next gym we’re going to is in Lavenderriere Town. Integra Helsing, the Gym Leader, specializes in ghost-type pokégirls. As a Penance you're a dark-type and extremely strong against then, which is why I would make you the anchor for the team. If you evolve then you'll be a Mistress, a psychic-type, and weak against them."
'Oh... I see.' She thought through dejected eyes. 'So because I would be more useful in the battle you don't want to evolve me. But because you care for me you do want to evolve me... That's really sweet... and very mean too. You can't make the decision so you're forcing me to do it?!' She thought in what equated to a yell as tears began to fall from her eyes. 'Why would you do that to me? I was better off not knowing; just thinking you didn't have the stone.'
"I told you because you deserved to know. What kind of heartless bastard would I have been if I just kept it from you? I want you to evolve, you deserve to evolve. I love you as you are now and will love you just as much as a Mistress."
As she wiped the tears from her eyes some of the hurt and disappointment had faded. 'I want to evolve. To be able to talk to you in private and not need the delta bond, to not need someone there to translate what I'm signing, to sing at the top of my voice. But I'm not going to hamper our chance of victory for instant gratification.' She took a longing last look at the gleaming crystal then reached out and closed the box. 'After the match is over I want to evolve and I want it to be our night together. So in a moment of ecstasy you can hear me call your name.'
The full impact of what he had just dawned on Marco. They were both aware of the growing delta bond, hell it was part of the reason their last mission hadn’t ended with him being taken over. Now he had to face the fact that he had been neglecting her that whole time. "I didn't mean to upset you like that. If you want to you can evolve right now, I wouldn't stop you and wouldn't blame you either."
In a move that surprised him, she got out of the chair a left the room closing the door behind her. 'Don't tempt me Master.’
"That seemed a little out of character for her. All things considered I shouldn't be too surprised; I did spring it on her rather suddenly. Maybe she wouldn't have been mad if I didn't tell her, but it seemed like the right thing to do... Since when did I start talking to myself?"
The door opened and Chesra smoothly slid her way inside. "I think it might by a response to the delta bond. You've always been quiet and withdrawn so it may be you trying to keep us form picking up on your thoughts. Be that as it may, you can't hide your emotional state from us now and it hurt you to watch her walk out like that." She said calmly and took her own place in the chair.
"When I got her she was terrified of everything and everyone but me. She was everything the dex said she would be and more. That may have been the only time she was really, truly, mad at me."
"She wasn’t mad, hurt and a little disappointed maybe, but not truly mad. Look at it this way though. She has a delta bond with you, is happy to be with you, and if she can openly be mad at you, then you restored her former personality. That personality is apparently willing to compromise what it wants and put the rest of us ahead of herself. You keep giving her choices and she keeps choosing others."
"Then what about you? Are you ready to evolve yet or do you insist on finding Andzral?"
"Why should I evolve when we have a gym battle coming up where my current form is at the advantage?" Marco had raised an eyebrow at the inflection in her reply. As if to say that he should know better. "As your councilor I'm going to give some advice. You're a tactician; don't let your emotions override your better judgment. If you know that a particular action is advantageous then you should stick with it. Explain why if you must but don't let our feelings compromise what you know is best."
He sat for a moment and took her words in before rocking back in his chair. "If I do what you say then how am I different from any other tamer out there who neglects the opinions and feelings of his harem? How would I be any different than Jean's old tamer?"
"Um... Well... You don't hit us." She said after some thought and not being able to come up with anything solid.
"I don't have to lay a finger on any of you to do irreparable damage and you know it. But I'll consider what you're saying. Still, you always have the option of evolving and if Carrie kicked that door open and took the stone I could only be happy that she's getting what she wants."
Chesra left the chair and gave him a kiss before starting out the door. Before she left completely she turned back to give a final word. "We can't always get what we want... some of us need to understand that more than others. Especially when we all want the same thing."
~~~~~~
That evening found the Readman men sitting together at the bar. The majority of the harem and unit were off doing their own things with the exception of Catherine, Chesra, and Carrie. Marco's earlier request of his aunt was a simple one, to train Carrie in fighting a Lucarda. Chesra joined in for the sake of training purposes. The Penance was still mad at him but couldn't deny the possibility that she would have to fight that type of pokégirl and it was a good way to be prepared.
As the men sat and watched videos of Marco's matches there was an odd tension in the air. Truth is known they generally didn't get along all that well. "You've got a fine harem son. You could have given me a run for my money back in the day."
"I'll take the praise when I can get it... rare as it may be. You always gave me such a hard time when I was a kid."
The bottle of bourbon had been significantly drained since the men had been around each other and Eric took another shot before looking back to his son. "You were always so weak and pitiful. You never showed much drive, your physical capabilities were meager; you just weren't very tough for a boy. I generally blamed this on your mother coddling you but I was always away doing research so I didn't help matters much."
Marco didn't look up, instead thinking back on his childhood. "And yet you threw a fit when I said I was joining the military."
"I didn't want you getting killed by some random feral. I like pokégirls and if you were to die to one I can’t say there wouldn't be some resentment. Imagine my surprise when I learned that you scored so high on your test that you went in as an officer. But then again you always were pretty smart."
"I guess I had to do something to make up for being so feeble." His tone something close to corrosive. "But I had to toughen up if I was going to do things my way. That first year was rough but I had Chesra there to help me through it."
"I liked her since the first time you brought her home. Sharp as a tack and tough as nails. And yet you weren't taming her."
Marco laughed as he idly fingered a scar on his chin. "That was our first mutually physical confrontation. You got on my case about that, I told you to mind your own damn business about how I did things and we came to blows. Mom and Ches were too stunned to break it up and both knew better than to jump in."
"Honestly, I had never been more proud of you... even if I did kick your ass." Eric laughed back. "You got your shots in but I paid the real price later. Your mother and aunts were so pissed at me; they froze me out for a month."
"Ouch, they never said anything. But if I remember correctly I didn't come back for another two years. By then Avalanche had been approved of and the unit was just starting to form."
"Right, you came home with some of the unit and got Renae. Vana took to Kelly instantly like she was another daughter. I was told to be on my best behavior or I wouldn't be getting any unless they were about to go feral."
The two men shared another laugh that was disrupted by the door being opened and the three girls coming in. Both Chesra and Carrie looked as if they had been put through their paces. Catherine didn't look like she had fared much better. Despite her breeds high speed regeneration she had some nasty looking cuts all over her body and her hand appeared to be glowing with fury as it repaired itself.
"My dear nephew, I think your ladies are quite prepared for your next gym battle. Though you could have warned me about that sword of hers."
Carrie tapped her fingers against the sheath and it pulsed white when she made contact with it. 'I internalized the celestial power, though yes I'm still upset, and sent it through my hair and the blade.' She sighed and looked to Marco for a moment before looking down. 'I actually did some research on ghost pokégirls after our talk and I intend to make short work of that gym leader so I can hurry and evolve. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to train some more.' She said harshly through the bond and left the room.
Marco didn't say or do anything to stop her, letting her walk out to do whatever she wanted. "How exactly did she do in your session?"
Catherine applied the Recovery dispenser that she had been given earlier and waited for her wounds to heal then took a seat next to Eric. "Very well all things considered. Mind you not much would have really stopped me from killing her under normal circumstances. I'm much older, more experienced, and on a completely different level of powerful than either of them are. On the other hand they both train in precision, both their strikes and in their movements. I was forced to take things up a notch when she cut off my hand."
Eric took a look at the freshly reformed appendage. The pulsing had calmed down but it still carried a slight glow. "You're normally more careful around celestial weapons."
"That is no celestial weapon. You can't tell when it's sheathed but there is a lot of evil pulsing off of it. Then all of a sudden, wham, you feel a wave of holy radiance."
Marco nodded and moved behind where Chesra had sat and started rubbing her neck. "There is a lot of history behind that sword and she keeps it on her at all times... I'm actually starting to wonder if the psychic pull isn't finally starting to take its toll and change her."
Chesra shook her head. "I've held the blade since my transformation into a Fallen Angel and I can't feel the pull. That’s just the real her finally coming out of the shell...” Her eyes drifted closed and she began to seek out his emotions. At the forefront was doubt. “Yet I feel my words don't bring any comfort to your mind."
"Just the thought that we really don't know anything about her. We've trained her to the point where she is immensely powerful and given her a weapon that bolsters that power."
"Do you fear that she may turn on you one day?"
He paused for a moment and thought about the question, then smiled though she couldn't see it. "Not in the slightest."
"Then you have nothing to worry about. But I think you should take tonight to reaffirm your role in her life."
"Chesra speaks with wisdom as always my nephew. Sometimes a girl starts to wonder about her own self-worth and it takes more than a kind word to make things clear again." Catherine stated and gave Eric a pat on the thigh.
"Take their advice son. These ladies offer priceless wisdom."
Marco chuckled and massaged Chesra's earlobe. "Of course, I mean really, what kind of man would I be if I didn't value the opinions of my ladies?"
Chesra could feel the smug sense of I told you so coming from him and suppressed the urge to reach back and smack him for it. "Ok, you're point having been made, I'll go find Kelly. She needs to be informed that her day got switched."
"I'm sure that will go over well." Eric laughed. "Vana was always sooo understanding."
~~~~~
The trek through the snow to Carrie's normal training area was a short one. When she first began learning the ins and outs of her sword she required a lot of open space to work in. The potential collateral damage cause by Carrie’s use of unpredictable powers being a primary and huge factor. But as she came to understand her weapon her need for space decrease. All the same Marco marveled at the sight before him.
All the snow around her had been melted away. She stood with the sword stabbed into the ground and her hands resting on its pommel. Around her roared an ocean of black flames, the hellfire radiating from the center point where she stood.
"Hey, we need to talk!" He yelled out to get her attention.
Her eyes opened and for a moment the flames intensified before dying down though never going out completely. 'What do we need to talk about?' Her eyes closed again. 'You told me what you want and I need to concentrate. The upcoming battle is important.'
"That's not what I wanted to talk to you about! Now can you stop that so we can talk?!"
'IM A PENANCE! I CAN'T TALK!' She mentally yelled at him.
Part of Marco was proud she was standing up for herself. But another larger part was getting quite irritated at how things were going. "Look damn it! I am not above walking through a wall of flames to get to you! Now you have three seconds to do something about the fire or I'm coming in and there will be a very different conversation had!"
Slowly he started to walk forward and the second he reached the edge of the flames they evaporated as if they were never there. She removed the sword from the ground and sheathed it before putting in back in the case. She had sensed his displeasure at how she was acting and was worried about the threat he had made.
'What did you want to talk to me about master?'
"Since you can't talk you get to listen then! I don't know what the hell your problem with me is right now but we're going to get to the bottom of it. I'm doing the best that I can to be a good tamer to you and the others but it just seems to be blowing up in my face. I try; I try to make sure you have whatever you need and get you what you want. You all do a lot, way more than what I should ask of you, as a matter of fact this may be the first thing I have ever asked of you. Do I want you to stay a Penance forever? No! Obviously I care a lot for you or you wouldn't even have the option of evolving. All I'm asking you to do is wait. And I know, I know what I'm asking is harder than I make it sound. But it's all I'm asking you to do."
Though he wasn't yelling at her she could feel the anger in his words. He really had given them a lot and never wanted anything from them in return. She had been mad at him for giving her a simple option that she never would have known she had if it weren't for him. 'I've been acting like a fool.' She thought to herself before breaking down and crying into his shirt.
'I'm sorry. I don't know what's come over me. I want to make you proud and happy. But I also find myself wanting things that I didn't before. I feel like a missing piece of myself is back, but I'm not sure if I like what's coming with it. I don't want it to change how you feel about me...'
He pulled her close and scratched the back of her head. "Remember what Jean was like in the beginning. If I could deal with that, then whatever this new part of you brings I should be able to handle." Giving her a kiss on the forehead he took her hand and started heading back towards the office. "Now let's go, you and I are spending the night together."
'But, it's Kelly's night.'
"I'm more concerned about you at the moment. My girl's wellbeing always ranks above a simple night of pleasure."
~~~~~
Back in the building a different conversation was being had. Kelly had been working out when Chesra and Henrietta came to find her. Three of her cards were out and running her through some hand to hand combat. She hadn't bothered to stop when the pair came in and took several hard shots when the news distracted her.
Clearing the blood from her chin she stumbled back to her feet. "What do you mean my day got switched with Carrie?"
"It is just as I said. She's going through some stuff and Master is going to spend the night and help sort it out." Chesra explained, though obviously leaving out the details.
"So I just get brushed aside? What kind of issue?"
"It is a personal one, not concerning you. She needs this and I advised him to take such action."
"Without consulting me first?" Kelly exclaimed in rising aggression.
"I remember Chesra saying it didn't concern you. And since when does anyone need your permission to do something?" Henrietta replied sharply.
"When it comes to my spending time with Marco, YES, it’s my concern as well. And I'm the Alpha, which also makes it my business."
Chesra shook her head. "In either capacity you have no say. As Carrie had mentioned a while back, you’re being Alpha of the unit means nothing in the harem. I am the Co-Alpha of the harem and a Beta in the unit. In either case I can go around you if I please to inform Master of potential problems and advise him on the best action to take."
"Furthermore, you don't have some sort of monopoly on time spent with him. You've been the unit Alpha since before I joined and have gotten to spend more time with him than anyone else. Why are you being so selfish?"
Kelly took a breath in an attempt to calm herself down. "The time I spend with Marco is important to me and I don't like losing any."
"I fear you are beginning to misjudge your place with him. We are all special to him, not just you."
"The place where I stand with him is between me and him and none of your business Chesra. Considering I'm not the one who almost killed him." Kelly spoke abruptly, not considering or caring about what she said.
Chesra's eyes were cast down as Kelly's words impacted. Not thinking, she reached forward and grabbed the Duelist by the throat before lifting her off the ground. "You are stepping over the bounds of my tolerance. You have also become complacent; do not think that your position can save you if you mouth off to the wrong person."
Henrietta stepped forward and took Chesra by the wrist, making her break the hold. "That's enough from both of you! Kelly, what you said was uncalled for and I don't blame Ches for wanting to strangle you. Chesra, you know this isn't the place to do this. Neither one of you want Marco hearing about this."
Kelly backed away and idly rubbed her neck. "You're right, I was out of line and I apologize for what I said. But that doesn't change how I feel about this."
"Shut the hell up Kel. If you really have a problem with it then you can take it up with him."
"I do and I plan to, now out of my way." She spoke softly though still with an undertone of annoyance and pushed past them. Her first place to look for Marco turned out to be the right one heading into the office and seeing him behind the desk with Carrie waiting off to the side. "What the hell is going on?"
He was startled, not only by her bursting through the door but by her aggressive tone. Over the years they had gotten to know each other rather well and she had never approached him in such a manner. "You’re going to need to be a bit more specific."
"Why wasn't I told about my day getting switched?!" She yelled then glared at Carrie, the Penance not shying away like she expected.
"You obviously were, otherwise you wouldn't be yelling at me like this." He quickly noticed the aggressive stance Carrie was taking and thought it best to stop things before they escalated. "Carrie go and wait for me, I'll be along shortly."
As the two girls passed they exchanged glares again. The look on the Penance wasn't smug or anything resembling it but Kelly was seeing what she wanted to at this point and it made her blood boil. "Tonight was supposed to be our night together, why am I getting switched for her?!"
Marco calmly sat back in his chair and took a deep breath before responding to the angry Duelist. "You need to calm down. Not knowing what, if anything, you've been told. Carrie is having a bit of a crisis right now and needs the time with me."
"Why was I the last person to be told? How could you do that without asking me?"
His irritation at the current situation was starting to rise but his Cool Head kicked in and he leveled out. "Well you weren't standing right next to me when I made the decision and I seriously doubt you're the last one to know. All the same, since when did I need to discuss how I run the harem with you? Now we'll talk about this later when you calm down."
"I'm not going anywhere!" She let out in a low yell and slammed her hands down on his desk. "If you care for me like you say you do you'll change it back!"
Her action caused him to snap and he would have to really try to get back under control. "Sit your ass down! It shouldn't matter who I sleep with or why I change things around! Why? Because, and I hate to put it like this; I'm the Tamer, the Colonel, the Master; though not wanting to use that word. You're the pokégirl, a very special one that I care a lot about, but still the pokégirl."
His tone and words shook the Duelist to her very core and she began to wonder when the room got so cold. "Is... Is that all I am to you? Just a pokégirl?"
"Of course not, if that was the case I wouldn't do the things I do for all of you. But right now, for this situation, that is what you are."
"But I was your first? Doesn't that put me above the others?"
"You're the freaking Alpha. I have the same responsibility to you that I have to the rest of the harem."
"So you're not going to change it back, of course you wouldn't."
"As I said, Carrie is having a bit of a crisis and needs the time."
"What crisis, and what does that crisis have to do with! …us?"
For a brief moment Marco couldn't believe what he was hearing. "It has nothing to do with us! It has plenty to do with me since I'm her tamer! And the crisis has nothing to do with you or the unit, so back off!" He yelled back.
There was an awful taste coming into Kelly's throat along with the lump she had to choke down. For a moment she thought back to Chesra's words and began to understand their meaning. She forced herself to stand straight despite wanting to curl into a ball on the floor. "I... I guess I was mistaken... It will never happen again... Master." She turned and started to leave, her mind so clouded she didn't notice Marco calling to her or getting out the chair.
Marco made swift work of beating her to the door, turning her chair along the way. She was half way out when she was taken roughly by the arm and pulled back in. He slung her with enough force to send her into the chair and kicked the door causing it to slam. She wanted to protest but the look in his eyes doused any fire that was building.
"What the hell is the matter with you all?! First Carrie is pissed at me, now you're pissed at me! I can only take care of one problem at a time and you've managed to get my attention. So spill it, what's your deal?"
A twinge of fear ran through her body as she rubbed her wrist where he grabbed her. Without his rings his strength was nothing she couldn't deal with, but the act had shaken her up. "I... I... I love you."
"... And?"
She was dumbfounded by his response and shook her head. "No... I really love. But now I understand you don't feel the same way."
"What? I love you too, I'm sure I've said it at least once before. You, Ches, Ashley, Carrie, Henrietta, and Jean. Mina and Bernie not so much. I care for Mina like I do the others and I'm still getting to know Bernadette, but I love you and the others." He explained.
Kelly shook her head again, knowing she was actually going to have to spell it out for him. "No, not the way you love them. Like how your mother loves your father. A singular love between just two people. I don't want to be second place or to have another person in the way. I just want you and I... I want you to just want me..."
In the time it took Marco to move from the door back to his chair he had processed what she said and was trying to come up with a suitable response. Trying and failing. "You say that, knowing it can't be the case. You've seen my family; you know my father is 'married' to three pokéwomen. So what you're asking is that I forget about the others and focus only on you?"
Having heard what it sounded like coming out of his mouth she realized exactly what she was asking for and knew he would never agree. Never the less she was going to make a final push to get what she wanted. "Is it so wrong for me to want this? I care about you, I love you so much, and do you have any idea how hard it is for me? To hold it together when something happens to you, to keep leading the others when you were abducted or in that coma? Every little bit of time I get to spend with you is precious to me... and every day, with everything that's been happening... It just feels like it’s getting shorter and shorter."
He heard her words, felt her thoughts, looked into her eyes, and understood where she was coming from. It was true that he cared for her as well, maybe even on a level close to hers. But he couldn't forget the others either. "I'm sorry; you just can't be the single most important one in my life. I know hearing that you're in the top three doesn't help… but it's not bad either. I don't want you thinking you don't have a spot near the top, but no one will ever solely hold number one." He tried to explain in the most comforting voice he could.
Kelly took a shaky breath and stood up from the chair she had been tossed into. Once it was clear that he wouldn't try to stop her again she started towards the door. "I can accept being 'in the money' for now. But that won't stop me from trying to get first place." Not giving him time to respond she quickly exited the room.
Marco let his head hit on the desk much harder than intended but didn't bother picking it up. He let it rest as he sent the mental call to the other two delta bonded members. Henrietta and Chesra appeared before him in short order, both having worried looks. Concerned about the current state of mental turmoil he was in and the possibility of being in trouble.
"Sir?" They both asked in unison.
Marco still didn't pick his head up, turning it slightly so his voice carried. "You both know I love you right?"
Chesra stood with her hands behind her back and idly fingered the rings he had placed on her hand. "Of course."
Henrietta had reclaimed the bullet he had on the chain and glanced down at it. "You about to die or something?"
He chuckled weakly and finally sat back. "Or something, that was all. Can you send Mina and Carrie in here? Carrie and I will be spending the night together and I'll let Mina take me home."
"Right away sir... are you going to be ok?" Chesra asked.
"Yeah, just thinking about the future."
_____
|
Alpha- Kelly- Duelist |
|
Delta |
Echo |
Indigo |
|
Beta- Chesra- Fallen Angel |
Beta- Henrietta- Ghostrider |
Beta- Mina- Kunoichi |
|
Emaline- FireMaiden |
Field Beta- Selena- Caphoochie |
Zianna- Lupina |
|
Kim- Bombshell |
Rebecca- Smokey |
Renae- Ice Maiden |
|
Nikki- SexSlash |
Alexis- Cherub |
Isabella- Mecha Musume |
|
Arianna- War Hound- MIA |
Lily- Gloomy |
Tam- Catgirl- School |
|
|
|
Leona- Lamia- KIA |
Harem
Chesra- Co-Alpha
Henrietta- Co-Alpha
Carrie- Penance
Ashley- Peekabu
Jean- Dark Kitsune
Bernadette- Piratit
Handler
Christina Reynolds
Ariel- OfficerJenny