John and his crew went down a ramp at the back of the stage to a reception area where all the senior officers in the Terran Federation militocracy were gathered. Calara went straight to her father Jack, who proudly introduced his daughter, the youngest officer to ever receive the Stellar Cluster, to all his friends. The other Lionesses all spread out to mingle. In their snow white uniforms, they stood out among the gray Terran Federation coats like diamonds among gravel. John walked up to Charles.
"Excellent speech, John! I thought we were going to charge into battle for a second there. Have you any idea where my fiance has disappeared to?" John's friend asked.
"Pretending to realize she's made a terrible mistake in building up the Lion of the Federation and getting in Buckingham's good graces," John whispered into Charles' ear.
Charles tensed. "If you get my future wife killed getting close to that psycho, I'll kill you myself, John."
"I'd let you," John said solemnly.
"Well, moving on. Let me introduce you to High Command and some Vice Admirals I know," Charles said, wrapping an arm around John's shoulders.
John spent what felt like a week shaking hands and trying to memorize names. When Charles finally exhausted his long list of friends, John walked up to Jack, who had an arm wrapped around Calara. "Hey, Jack," John shook his future father-in-law's hand.
"Still no ring? I'm insulted, John," Jack said jokingly.
"We're headed for the Trankaran Republic after a quick visit to everyone's families in the Core Worlds. I'll get the gem there," John explained. "Will we see you at Jericho?"
"Sadly, I'm shipping out tonight for the Kirrix border. I'd ask you to give Maria a kiss for me, but I'm afraid she'd leave me and run away with you," Jack chuckled.
"I would never do that to you," John said. A tiny part of his mind thought that there was every chance Maria would outlive Jack and be up for recruitment then, but he tried to hide it so Alyssa wouldn't pick up on it and tell Calara. It was bad enough, what he had with Edraele, Irillith, and Tashana without adding Maria into the mix.
*Your secret's safe with me, but believe it or not, Callie's actually thought the same thing,* Alyssa informed him.
*Don't, if I pop a boner talking to my father-in-law I'll never live it down,* John mentally groaned.
Jack's wrist communicator rang, he gave Calara a final hug and kiss, and went to take it. The girls all gathered, Alyssa bringing along Jehanna. "Look who I ran into," Alyssa grinned.
"Jehanna, would you like to go clubbing with us? We're going to Enigma. Be warned, we got word today that Mikaboshi is planning to come after us after the ceremony. You could be caught in the crossfire," John told his newest Ward.
Jehanna's eyes widened. "Oh no… are you going to be okay?"
"Those cybernetic bastards won't know what hit them," Sakura grinned feraly.
"No offense, but I don't have fancy space magic. But I'd love the chance to do the news feature on the attack! Could you drop me off at the Invictus before you go? I could bond with Nia and Obi, according to the poll TFNN launched on 'most popular Lioness', Nia's actually ranked second after Calara. Guess lots of guys and girls have a thing for digital fairies, who knew?" Jehanna proposed.
"Sure." John and the girls led Jehanna back to the Invictus, Victory Square having mostly cleared out by then. John and the girls got out of their uniforms and into clothes fit for both dancing and impromptu combat. They all belted Tachyon Pistols, two in Tashana's case, and went to the Raptor. The Invictus had lifted into orbit, and Nia landed the Raptor on the street in front of Enigma. When the Lion and his Lionesses walked up to the velvet rope, the bouncers didn't even think of stopping them.
They were led to a VIP booth, ordered virgin drinks and food, and settled in to wait. "Come on, I'll teach you to dance before they get here," Jade said to Lirrash, Rachel, Sakura, and the Maliri twins. Jade imparted her mastery of dance to 5 willing students, and they enjoyed the music of the club, expertly picked for its catchiness and beats.
After an hour, Obi called John's wrist communicator. "A stealth craft is on approach for the Invictus," he warned.
Calara's brown eyes began to glow. "The bomb is coming with our next drink order," she said, seeing over 10 minutes into the future.
John and the Lionesses got ready. When the anti-grav tray was brought in, they waited until the waitress left and then they all formed concentric spheres of shields around the tray. When the bomb went off, it was completely contained.
Alyssa sent out a psychic pulse while Irillith hacked the sound system. "This is Lioness Irillith. There is an attack in progress. Please leave in an orderly fashion," she looped on the speakers. John and his crew charged out of the booth. Jade, hardy as a tank after all the reinforcement John had given her, charged right out the window, transforming into a dragon in midair. The Maliri twins leapt onto her back and rode her down to the ground, where a large group of red silhouettes were approaching the club.
Sakura formed ninjato out of solid ice in her hands, apparently using her pistol was too impersonal in her mind. She charged with Psychic Alacrity at the furthest away cyborg assassin. John and the others drew their Tachyon Pistols and, with Alyssa's instantaneous target allocation, began to pick off the red silhouettes that marked the invisible assassins' locations.
Within 5 minutes, it was over. John went to the manager of Enigma, who had very wide eyes. "I apologize for drawing these villains' attention to your business. I'll settle all the tabs and reimburse you for the damages."
"T-thank you, Vice Admiral Blake," the overwhelmed woman said.
John settled the cost with his credit chit, leaving a generous tip for their own tab, and led his Lionesses out of Enigma. Jade had shifted back, and many of the spectators behind the lines of police tape had phones out, having recorded her transformation from dragon back to Nymph. John, confident that Buckingham and Weber would have sufficient incentive to gather the Nymphs, took off his shirt and covered Jade. Lovely as she was to look at, she was for his eyes only.
The Raptor landed and lowered its loading ramp. John and the girls began to walk towards it. A flustered looking police officer approached John. "S-sir, you have to stay to give statements."
"No, I have to go hunt down the bastard who sent his men to try and kill me. I'm a Vice Admiral, consider yourself ordered to let us go. I'll submit my AAR to High Command and they'll get the information back to you," John said firmly.
"Yes, sir!" the officer saluted, happy not to get in his way.
Nia took them back to the Invictus. They went straight from the Primary Hangar to the Command Bridge, where Jehanna was waiting. They got armored and grabbed Tachyon Rifles, John sheathing Kyth'vindathys. They were proper Ward Armor and Progenitor War Armor after the second Genthalas refit, with miniaturized Progenitor Shield Generators that would last hours against all but Thrall-grade weapons. If Dana was to be believed, they'd even survive a direct hit from a Terran Beam Laser.
Jehanna had pulled out her phone and was recording. "This is Jehanna Elani with TFNN. I'm with the Pride of the Federation, Vice Admiral John Blake and his Lionesses, on the Battlecruiser Invictus. They have just survived an attack by unknown perpetrators while enjoying a fun evening at Enigma after their award ceremony earlier. John, care to explain what the hell's going on?"
"The men sent to kill us were cyborgs, all of them. We strongly believe that this is the work of Dominic Hooper, aka Amatsu Mikaboshi, and his organization of hitmen. A second team was sent to capture the Invictus, but Nia and Obi used the anti-boarding measures to kill all but 1. We've interrogated him, and we used what he knew to narrow down Mikaboshi's base to Kozuno in Proxima Centauri. We're headed there now to finish the fight he started," John said with a serious expression.
"Proxima Centauri is the closest star system to Sol, and I'd bet my ridiculous TFNN salary that Dana reverse-engineered the Ashanath Tachyon Drive you acquired for the Invictus. How soon until we arrive?" Jehanna asked.
"Less than an hour," Alyssa spoke up, sitting in her XO chair and plotting the route as they spoke.
"We're getting amateur footage of a dragon of all things attacking the assassins outside Enigma. Where did that come from?" Jehanna asked.
"I'm a shapeshifter, remember?" Jade spoke up.
"You turn from this adorable 5'9 catgirl into a 100-foot green dragon?" Jehanna asked with just the right note of disbelief.
"Nymphs' masters are very lucky that they can't even think of fighting back. If they were all freed like John's freed me, we wouldn't be slaves much longer," Jade grinned, her slit eyes dilating.
"The assassins seem to have all been wearing some kind of invisibility cloak technology, yet they all seemed to glow a blood red color from an unknown source. Care to explain this phenomenon?"
"We've genetically engineered ourselves to be psychic," John decided to say. He'd keep Progenitors a secret from the public. "Alyssa used Telepathy to read the minds of everyone within a square mile of Enigma. If they glowed white, they were good guys. If they glowed red, they were bad guys. I'd recommend that Enigma check the security footage to see if any of their guests turned red, might turn up some interesting discoveries."
"What are all your powers?" Jehanna asked, knowing that this footage would be just as poured over as her earlier exclusive.
"Telepathy, Telekinesis, Photokinesis. I read minds, move shit with my mind, and can make lasers," Alyssa spoke up.
"Prescience, I see the future," Calara stated.
"I can read the atomic makeup of the materials around me and alter their physical properties. I can even alter the gravity around me to create black holes," Dana grinned behind her faceplate.
"Nymphs are naturally shapeshifters, but mine's been upgraded. I also have Electrokinesis," Jade said.
"My base Ashanath powers of Telepathy, Telekinesis, and Empathy have been enhanced greatly," Lirrash revealed.
"Healing and shields. I can cure you and stop you from getting hurt in the first place," Rachel explained.
"Through a combination of Telepathy and Electrokinesis, I'm a Psychic Hacker. I slaved the Thor's Hammer at the Battle of Regulus in under a minute," Irillith said proudly.
"Cryokinesis, Aerokinesis, and Psychic Alacrity. I move like the north wind and bring the ice cold hand of Justice to our enemies," Sakura said, well, coldly.
"I'm a Pyrokinetic," Tashana said, making her hand burst into white-hot flames.
"And yourself, John?" Jehanna asked.
"I have everything, or at least everything we could cram into my DNA," John answered.
"Should we expect the whole Terran Federation military to develop psychic powers in the coming years?" Jehanna asked.
"The process is dangerous. We all risked our lives to get the procedure. We've been very lucky so far. I'm restricting the technology to those who join my crew," John pulled out of thin air.
"Understandable," Jehanna nodded. "So, John, what's it like to have 2 Stellar Clusters?"
"Seems a tad redundant, honestly," John managed to smile.
"What was your first one earned for?" Jehanna asked.
"Galon Prime," John said flatly.
"I was a little girl when the rebellion happened. Care to elaborate?" Jehanna asked.
"A rebel Cruiser snuck up on the Invictus. We managed to lead a counter-boarding action and take it. We used the ship as a Trojan horse to dock with the rebel flagship. I led over 200 Marines, brave men and women I'd fought and bled with, and a grand total of 17 of us survived including me. But we took the ship and the rebellion crumbled. I blamed myself for the orbital bombardment afterwards, though I've since come to realize my guilt was misplaced. I retired shortly after getting the Stellar Cluster."
"I'm a bit confused. You say you're retired, and yet you've been promoted 3 times since buying your old ship," Jehanna pointed out.
"Technically, I'm still retired. I'm outside the Chain of Command, and yet Admiral Lynette Devereux keeps upping my clearance level to reflect my new ranks," John said, trying to give no hint he felt any affection for his Ward.
"Doesn't that mean that all your actions since buying the Invictus, from going after the pirate band and the Kirrix to the Battle of Regulus, were completely voluntary?" Jehanna asked for the audience's benefit.
"That's correct. Like I said during our interview last night, I have this compulsive need to help out where I can," John said.
"Well, I think I speak for the whole Terran Federation when I say we're very lucky to have you, John," Jehanna grinned. "Hypothetically, what happens if you get promoted to Admiral?"
"Hope to God I don't get elected to Fleet Admiral. Can you imagine anything more dull than having to run an empire?" John chuckled. Like all paranoid men, Buckingham would take his denial of wanting to become Fleet Admiral as confirmation he wanted to.
"This is a minor thing, but why did you get a bodysculpt for your ears?"
"They're not a bodysculpt, I was born with them. For whatever reason, my grandparents didn't have them corrected," John shrugged.
"Grandparents? You weren't raised by your mother and father?" Jehanna asked. She knew she was approaching shaky ground, but one of the most popular searches on the Holonet was for "John Blake biography". She knew billions wanted to know.
"My father knocked up my mother. She abandoned me the day I was born to run away with him," John said briefly, making it clear he didn't want to talk about it.
"My apologies for bringing up painful memories," Jehanna said. "So, what were your plans before the criminal Dominic Hooper sent his men to attack you?"
"While we're in the Core Worlds, we figured we'd visit New Eden so Rachel can see her father and Sakura can see her parents' graves. Then we were going to Jericho to visit Maria Fernandez and help plan the wedding. Then we were going to the Trankaran Republic so I could finally get Calara the right ring," John answered.
"Oh, you and Calara are engaged? Congratulations! When's the big day?" Jehanna gushed.
"That's part of what we're going to plan out," Calara chuckled. "With how often all the empires keep getting into trouble, finding a solid time where we're free to plan the wedding and enjoy our honeymoon is going to be a nightmare."
"Plus finding a bridesmaids' dress color that doesn't class with all our skin tones," Alyssa chuckled. "I'm maid of honor, by the way."
"John, who will be your best man?" Jehanna asked.
"I haven't asked him yet, but I was hoping my friend and old CO, Admiral Charles Harris," John replied.
"Any thoughts on the venue?" Jehanna asked, just passing the time until they arrived at Proxima Centauri.
"Oceanus at sunset," John said with a grin, remembering the wedding from his first life.
"John, I can't help but notice that rather impressive sword behind you. Why do you use a melee weapon at all when Dana has provided such powerful firearms?" Jehanna asked, sure lots of people were wondering the same thing.
"When you can be super fast and strong on command, a sword can be deadlier even than a laser rifle. Its name is Kyth'vindathys, which translates as Revenge of the Kyth'faren."
"Who or what are the Kyth'faren?" Jehanna asked.
"A distant ancestor of the Maliri. I got the design from them," John lied.
"We're 10 minutes out," Alyssa responded.
"And sadly, my phone is almost out of battery. That's all the time we have, viewers. My next report, I have every confidence, will be regarding John Blake's triumph over Dominic Hooper and his organization of cyborg assassins. Good night." Jehanna ended the recording. "Crap, my phone can't send a data file this large."
"Let me fix that," Irillith said, her eyes glowing. "There, Avery just got it. I'm sure he'll be smart enough not to run it right away, might tip Mikaboshi off."
"Let me call him to be sure," Jehanna said, turning away and talking into her phone when her boss picked up.
They arrived at Proxima Centauri, and Jade took them in. They went to the Raptor, leaving Jehanna safe with the AIs. The Raptor raced for the assassins' hidden base. Nia took an active scan of Yomi-no-kuni and fed the floor plan to their HUDs. Calara used the Raptor's guns to pick off the 4 cyborgs on guard at the entrance, and they landed in the central courtyard.
"He's mine," Sakura said before rushing off at psychic speeds. John and his Lionesses filed out of the Raptor, Alyssa sending out a psychic pulse. Then, drawing their Tachyon Rifles, they went through Yomi-no-kuni, killing everyone who glowed red. There were no white glows in the mountain base.
Sakura moved faster than the eye could track to Mikaboshi's escape hangar. "Dominic Hooper! Your time has come!" she shouted, floating down to the ground with Aerokinesis, her ninjato's runes glowing ice blue and limed with frost.
The Master Assassin gasped like he'd seen a goddess. "Shinatobe, it's you!"
"My name is Sakura Honami, you motherfucking bastard!" Sakura snarled.
The cyborg's face twisted in hate. "How did they reverse the cyborgification?! Such a thing should be impossible, especially your brain implant!"
"Rachel's the best doctor in the galaxy. And John's made me stronger than your precious 'Shinatobe' ever was. Why me? Why did you ruin my and my parents' lives?!" Sakura demanded, approaching at a slow walk.
"Your face most closely matched the mural of Shinatobe I found in a Shinto temple when I was a boy and fell in love with her," Dominic Hooper admitted.
"You kidnapped me because I looked like your crush on a fucking painting?!" Sakura screamed. With a howl of rage, she charged forward.
Mikaboshi activated his adrenal implant and drew his two katana. But Sakura was stronger, faster, and more skilled. She stabbed Mikaboshi right through the eyes, freezing his brain in his skull. He collapsed backwards, and Sakura distinctly heard a shatter as his head hit the ground.
Sakura dropped her ninjato and fell to her knees, bawling her eyes out. Finally, she had her revenge. She'd brought Justice to her kidnapper. Her parents could rest in peace now. John found her 10 minutes later, all cried out. He helped her to her feet, took off their helmets, and gave her a comforting kiss. "It's done. You're free."
"I could never have done this without you," Sakura said with love and gratitude. "If not for you, I'd still be trapped as his slave."
"You were a wounded little bird. Now you're my strong, beautiful Lioness," John grinned.
"I'm going to fuck you until you can't walk tomorrow," Sakura said heatedly.
"You're very welcome to try," John chuckled.
They grabbed Mikaboshi's swords as keepsakes and walked to the command center of Yomi-no-kuni, the other girls having cleared out the base. Irillith's eyes glowed violet as she milked the digital cow of Mikaboshi's files. "I'm compiling a list of victims and hirers. The former will get reparations from Hooper's nest egg, over 300 million credits. The latter will be turned into the authorities."
"The exclusive, the award ceremony, and Jehanna's phone interview already have over a billion views each. They're the textbook definition of 'viral'. Your legend is spreading like wildfire, John," Obi noted through their helmets.
Alyssa frowned. "Lynette is in a meeting with Buckingham and his coterie. He's practically frothing at the mouth. And he's made no less than 7 digs at Lynette's intelligence and her character in the last hour alone."
"Is she okay with that?" John asked worriedly.
"She's the very picture of contrite. Weber thinks you're a filthy alien using mind control on us whores, Caldwell is convinced you're going to lead a coup, and Mishra is trying and failing to be the voice of reason," Alyssa reported. "In good news, they seemed very interested in Jade's transformation and remembered your reward. They put 2 and 2 together and realized you want to recruit more. Safe bet Tartarus will start hunting them."
John sighed. "To think, 12 hours ago I was enjoying lounging at Neo-Babylon. My life is way too exciting."
When Irillith finished, they went to the Raptor and returned to the Invictus. Jehanna, who'd recharged her phone, recorded John detailing the assault on Yomi-no-kuni and giving a warning that a similar fate would befall all enemies of the Terran Federation. Then they caught a Quantum Devastator atomizing the mountain on video. Jehanna uploaded the video to Avery. Then they returned to Terra and dropped Jehanna off at her apartment. They returned to the Invictus, got unarmored, and Sakura did her level best to fulfill her promise to John.
They had a lie-in given their late night, waking up at 1100. Nia reported that they'd gotten so many emails that she proposed they change the Invictus' comm code just to block the tsunami of data. John agreed, had Nia send an updated comm code to all their contacts, and then settled into his Command Chair. "To Kodiak. I want to let Eito know in person."
Alyssa got them to Alpha Ursae Majoris. John and Sakura took the Raptor down to Yamamoto's home. John knocked on the front door. Yamamoto answered. His eyes widened. "John… what are you doing here?"
"I take it you don't watch the news," John said dryly. "Amatsu Mikaboshi attacked me last night. As I promised, he did not survive the encounter. He's dead, Eito, him and all his men. I present his swords as a trophy." John handed over the two black katana, hilt first.
Yamamoto took them with shaking hands. "He's dead. My Ayumi and Kimiko are avenged," he said quietly.
"Maybe now you'll reenter the kendo circuit. Or maybe you could open a dojo. Once it gets out that the Lion of the Federation uses a sword, I predict a major increase in interest. I could endorse you, if you want," John offered.
Yamamoto burst out laughing. "I just might do that. I thank the gods that you came into my life, John Blake."
"If you ever want to get your ass kicked, or test yourself against my own students, just let me know," John grinned, offering his hand to shake. Yamamoto took it.
They returned to the Invictus and went to Procyon. They arrived by dinner. "I can't convince you this is too dangerous?" Sakura asked as they got armored up and grabbed their weapons of choice. Even Calara had her own icosa-shaped katana.
"I want to meet my parents-in-law, get their blessing to marry you," John said resolutely.
They took the Raptor, landing in front of Sakura's old house. Alyssa had just bought it back from the new owners at triple price. They entered the house and Sakura was overcome with memories. Bracing himself for a possible confrontation with Xar'aziuth and the Fallen Progenitors, John gathered the psychic imprints of Sakura's parents and reached into the Astral for a Spark of Consciousness.
He must have taken the Devourer by surprise, because solid ghosts of Shiro and Emiko Honami appeared before them. "Sakura! We were so worried!" her father cried, wrapping her in a hug that her mother quickly joined. Sakura began to shake with sobs as she got to feel her parents' embrace one last time.
"Oh, my little angel! We thought we lost you!" Emiko sobbed.
John cleared his throat. Sakura's parents looked up at him. "Who are you? Was it you who brought Sakura back to us?" Shiro asked.
"I'm Vice Admiral John Blake. Me and my crew rescued Sakura from the man who kidnapped her," John told the substantial spirits.
"Thank you, son. Sakura is the most precious thing in the world to us!" Shiro grinned.
"I'd hug you, but I don't think I can let Sakura go!" Emiko laughed.
"It's funny you call him 'son', Dad," Sakura said, regaining her breath. "He's my boyfriend. I want to marry him. But he hasn't proposed yet, he wants your permission."
"I've fallen in love with Sakura. She's a brilliant, charming, beautiful, lovely woman, who completes me in so many ways. I promise I'll protect her and keep her safe, and always do my utmost to make sure she lives a long, happy, fulfilling life. May I have your blessing to marry her?" John asked Sakura's parents.
"You have it," Shiro nodded.
"You two will have such beautiful babies!" Emiko gushed, bursting into tears.
Sakura bit her lip then rushed over to her parents, hugging them both tightly. "I love you both so much! Thank you for giving me such a wonderful life with you. I'll never forget you!"
"We love you too," they said, hugging her back. "Goodbye, Sakura."
"Goodbye..." she whispered, holding onto them as long as she could before they stepped away from her.
They waved her farewell, loving expressions on their faces as they slowly faded away.
The girls gathered around Sakura in a group hug. When the Asian Lioness finally got a hold of her emotions, she kissed John. "So, isn't there a question you need to ask me?"
John got down on one knee. "Sakura Honami, will you marry me?"
"Of course, you idiot!" she cried, hugging him with all the strength in her body.
They returned to the Raptor and to the Invictus. Sakura got properly drunk, and passed out snuggling into John's side. He carried her to their bed, had Rachel sober her up so she wouldn't have a hangover, and they all went to sleep.