Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 8
Chapter 46: A Song of Quilts and Pillows
(DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Supernatural because it belongs to Eric Kripke and Warner Bros. So, enjoy the show! Rated M for graphic violence, adult content, and adult language.)
I was in the laundry room watching the clothes being washed and dried while I was busy tending to Kazuko and Giles in which they were asleep after their last feeding. It had been two weeks since the debacle in the Tsubaki district as I was still stuck with the long furlough that I was saddled with. When I saw one of the toploaders stopping after the spin cycle, I opened it up as I took the clothes out of it and placed them into one of the dryers. When I saw the dryer spinning when it started, I sat down in the chair next to the twins as they were stirring in their sleep. What I didn't expect was that there was a small washer on the counter as I looked into it in which I saw only doll clothes that were being washed in it. When I saw Sona rush into the laundry room, she saw the small washer stop as she opened it up to take out the doll clothes that were in it. When she took out a rack, she hung the doll clothes in it as they were drying like regular ones on a clothesline, for she took care of her dolls very well in which I saw them dressed in kimonos and shoes.
"Their clothes were dirty," she said. "They can't fight crime without them anyway."
"You take care of your dolls very well, don't you?" I said.
"All three can't go in the Hall of Justice looking dirty, you know. They're girls. They need maintenance."
"Sona!" yelled Kanna as she caught her emptying the small washer of the water in the sink. "You've been using that thing for washing your doll clothes again!"
"But the other washers are too big!"
"Do you even know what that small washer is fit for? It's made to wash intimate undergarments that are made for grown-ups."
"At least she got her doll clothes cleaned," I said.
I didn't mind the company as I had no complaints yet. Still, Kanna had a way of chastising Sona in which the small washer that she was using to wash her doll clothes with wasn't suitable for younger children. With the usual superhero costumes in the makeshift small clothesline, it was a sight of someone who took care of the toys that were given to them, for it was also a sign that even the fairer gender had to have their needs met. When I later noticed the twins waking up, they were crying as they were even wanting a diaper change.
"Hang in there," said Kanna as she picked up Giles. "Oh, you're definitely stinky."
I saw Kanna take Giles over to the changing table as she saw the stack of diapers and wipes that were there. Taking off his sleeper, she noticed that his diaper was full as she took it off the moment she saw that he pooped. With some wipes handy, she cleaned his bottom as he was relieved that he was being changed. With the spent diaper and wipes thrown away and some powder on his bottom, he had a clean one as Kanna later buttoned up his sleeper in which she held him in her arms, for he was a handful at that age.
"You really take a lot after Sam," she said as he smiled.
"And I'm busy with the lady of the pair," I said as I was busy changing Kazuko.
"You take care of the babies like me taking care of my dolls," said Sona.
"Babies are hard work. I'm no stranger into changing diapers, but I steeped into books about childcare during my years of living on Gehenna."
It wasn't long until we heard a gust of wind blowing the door of the laundry room as I got up and saw a blizzard blowing everywhere in the Skalvarg Archipelago. Multiple ships and trawlers were making their way to the harbor as the influx of fresh snow wasn't stopping anytime soon. When I closed the door, I had to check up on the twins as they didn't have any blankets that insulated them properly. When the dryer finished up the load, I opened it up as I got out a blanket that was made with yarn as I covered the twins with the ones they had on while they slept in their bassinet. The storm was getting fiercer as I feared for the worst in which I still had several loads of laundry to go. What I didn't expect was that Yorvanar was there as he was mainly going forth to steal some of the loads that were up next to be washed, for he had some strange things below where the Adam West was embedded in.
"I'm just lightening the load for you, Sam," he said to me.
"It seems that you have more in your ship that's buried beneath the castle," I said.
"Toploaders can do so much, but frontloaders have plenty of cleaning options other than the permanent press or delicates."
"You have a washer in your ship?" asked Sona.
"It's a Samsung high efficiency washer that I ended up winning at a raffle at the time in which I even preserved it during our journey to the Ashizoka System. It works, but it's ancient."
"Thanks for the help," I said. "I'm more than glad that I have it. Besides, in a few days, it'll be the birthdays of Dean, Kanna, Aora, and Ghimru and they all have it on the same day."
I was glad that our "next-door neighbor" was helping me lighten the load as I was staring out the window in which I heard the sound of the northern wind howling. The sight of the flurries of snow coming towards Skald Island was intense as I later noticed several fishermen, dock workers, and ferrying staff scrambling to safety. It wasn't long until I rushed out of the laundry room and went outside as I saw a Medical Corps ship parked firmly near the harbor. When I noticed Kotori coming out of it, she was dressed in warmer clothing as she was here to see how I was doing. When she noticed me doing a little better, she was aware of what I went through as the truth about my pregnancy was classified, but for how long?
"I never expected to see you here, Kotori," I said.
"Reuben's been busy tending to his patients and hiding away from the Blight as usual," she said.
"I've been lighter since I got put in my furlough."
"I also heard that you ended up having a bun in the oven in which it grew at an alarming rate and that was when you gave birth through caesarian section."
"It wasn't fun, but there's no point in being bogged down."
"I also need to do a check-up on the newborns and the rest of your children and wards in your care."
"Kotori!"
Kanna rushed out of the castle as she saw her out in the open in which she hugged her warmly. It had been a while since she saw her as she was more of a mother hen to her. Still, she was happy that Kotori was here for a visit as she was mainly there to conduct a few check-ups on the children, for they needed such medical care the most…
Reiko was in the sitting room as she was noticing Carly trying to knit by using the yarn that was in a basket next to the Batman leg lamp. Still, she was trying her best to knit as she was starting to get a little frustrated until Reiko decided to teach her a little bit, for she was patient with such a fussy Cat Sidhe like her.
"You should use the knitting needles properly," she said as she grabbed some of them and began to knit with the yarn that was there. "This is the basics, but it'll be better with time; you'll see."
"All I wanted was to knit so I can impress Mr. Sam," said Carly. "You should see all those booties that he knits. He even knitted a blanket for the babies."
"And Sammy has gotten a lot better at it…" Reiko spots a scarf that was already finished as she examines it carefully. "It's beautiful…" She sees all the love and care that was put into it as she picks it up. "Sammy knew that I loved lavender in which he knitted it carefully."
"He must've knitted it for you." Carly resumes her attempt to knit as she begins to get a little better at it. "Knit one, purl two; knit one, purl two. Hey! This is a lot better than what it seems to be."
"I'm glad that you like it, sweetheart. Knitting is more than just crafting yarn. It's about crafting the heart and soul that you make in it."
It wasn't long until Reiko heard footsteps approaching as she rushed out of the sitting room to see what was going on. What she didn't expect was that Kotori was there as she was busy examining some of the children in which the newborns were given a clean bill of health. Even I was there as I also had Kanna and Sona in tow the moment they were also given check-ups as well. Still, Carly wasn't too happy with the check-up as she didn't want to go until she saw Reiko standing in front of her in which she wasn't about to let her go without having the annual physical like any other patient, for it was a way to know if she was healthy or not.
"You can do more knitting later, Carly," she said as she took the knitting needles and yarn out of her hands. "Besides, Kotori's here and it's time for your check-up."
"I don't wanna do a boring check-up!" she yelled.
"You can't fight this one, fusspot," I said as I entered into the sitting room. "Besides, it's best to do so in which it determines that if you're healthy or not."
"Okay…"
Without further hesitation, Carly left the sitting room as she saw Kotori examining some of the children. What we all didn't expect was that a book fell off from the shelf as I picked it up in which it was a book with a teal and gold cover. When I looked into it, I saw it to be an unusual manual as it had the title, The Art of Tzaphric Grandeur, in bold letters. Looking further, I saw it to be a Draaza sex manual in which it showed several sexual positions that were not for the faint of heart. When I put it up in the bookshelf, I couldn't let anyone see it as I had a gut feeling that it would be shown out in the open. When I left the sitting room, I was spotted by Kotori as she was more than likely to be giving me a check-up like all the others in which she was adamant into knowing what I went through, for nothing was off limits to the Medical Corps.
"Come on, Sam," she said to me. "You're the last one on the list."
"But the children come first," I said.
"You can't put off your check-up, Sammy," said Reiko. "Besides, you weren't the only adult in the room being examined."
"We'll take it to the infirmary wing," said Kotori. "Besides, there's a examination room we can use."
I followed Kotori as I was going towards the infirmary wing. When we went into the examination room, I laid down on the scanner table as I watched my vitals being displayed on screen. She saw the scar that was embedded in my body as she also saw the crafted womb that housed my twins in which it was permanent and not about to be removed. Still, I could only be pregnant once, but not all the time as that kind of work was mainly reserved for women only, which I'm thankful for.
"Your body is slowly recovering, but you've gotten better since you stuck to your furlough," said Kotori. "It's also been said that Neville has an obsession with you in which he got barred from trying to abduct you again."
"Neville Schacter is a full-blown psychopath," I said. "He obsesses over me because he wants me to be part of his collection of Incubators at his homestead on Atreides."
"I've seen Neville before and he's only related to some of the Vallons through his 'high-born' status before his father married Audrey Vallon after the death of her husband. Neville's father, Jerome Schacter, married the widow of two children in which he also had a daughter from his first marriage. The children that were born from that union, Phyllis and Wilfred, didn't want anything to do with Neville after he inherited the main homestead in which Marthonus and Tythonus have also protested the will. There was always bad blood between the Vallon-Schacter bloodline in which Phyllis was getting fed up with Neville's way of thinking."
"That was when she had a fling with Nelliel and had a daughter, Pomelia. It may not be my business, but she ended up crossing a line while dealing with angels."
"Everyone knew that Phyllis was highly protective of her daughter in which there were a plethora of angels stalking them at every turn, only to be sent away by banishing sigils. You know the rest, but you also married her granddaughter and had so many children and wards in which the two of you gave all the love and care to the ones who needed it the most."
"That is so true…"
I slowly got up as I was on my feet, but not before falling onto the floor. Still, the effects of the overexertion of my raw power took a toll on me as I was still trying to keep my balance. Kotori never expected me to be walking longer instead of using my wheelchair as even that was necessary if need be. When I noticed my cane by the door, I grabbed it as I was ready to leave the examination room until I heard footsteps approaching. What I didn't expect was that Minara was there as he was on duty as usual, for he was still hard at work even after the holiday recess.
"I heard that Reiko punched Neville in the face," he said.
"Well, he had it coming," I said.
"Careful, don't overexert yourself like that," said Kotori cautiously. "Besides, there's still a swelling in the legs, so I suggest that you take light steps and not fall over."
"I wasn't trying to…"
I saw Minara helping me out of the infirmary wing as we were on our way towards the hallway. What we didn't expect was that the storm was getting worse as the snow was simply covering parts of the castle in which some of the Norsefolk were busy shoveling it away from the walkways. The storm was not letting up as we later noticed several members of the Medical Corps bringing in some of the people around the castle in which most of them were lined up to get vaccinated from the flu or any other illness in this bleak weather. By the time we left the infirmary wing, I was ready to go upstairs to my room as I took it slowly. When I got there, I saw Aora and Ghimru in my bed as they also had to stay there due to the influx of the Medical Corps coming here to care for the displaced on Skald Island. I also noticed Carly and Sona in there as they were also taking up the whole room, for they had to sacrifice their place of comfort while accompanying those who were seeking sanctuary in the castle during a blizzard.
"The bed's full, Daddy," said Aora as he was laying comfortably.
"It seems that Mommy and I will have to find someplace else to sleep for the night," I said.
"Some of the people from the other islands are in our room," said Carly woefully. "It's not fair, Mr. Sam!"
"I know the feeling, but we should also share with those who don't have anywhere to go right now."
"My dolls needed a bed, so I put them in the closet," said Sona as she saw them covered up in the stocking caps and scarves in there. "I hope that Kanna has better luck in her room…"
"The older kids have their rooms, but we lose our rooms," said Ghimru. "We're old enough, aren't we?"
"In a few days, you and your brother will turn five, young man," I said. "Besides, the two of you have witnessed battle while you were in your mother's womb after all."
"But we're not hunters, Daddy."
"I know, but at least you got a bed to share for the night as long as you behave yourself, this night will not have any problems so far."
"They'll be good, Mr. Sam," said Carly. "They also love the stories about our adventures, too."
It was at that moment when I noticed everyone gathered on the bed as they were ready to hear a story from Carly. I was happy that the children took the bed for a while as I left my room and went towards the sitting room where Reiko was. She spotted the book that I had earlier as she picked it up and read what was in it, for it wasn't suitable for younger readers anyway. Still, we had all those times taking care of the younger children as we also needed a break for one day. What we also didn't expect was that we would soon be on our way towards somewhere different in which I was eager to find a room at Dulcetta's inn in the Tsubaki District. Whatever we were doing, it was only for tonight as we would soon return to work in the morning. Still, we also had to contend with the rage of the northern wind blowing everywhere as it did no favors, for the freezing cold would soon bring us closer than we think.
"This book in very new," said Reiko.
"From what was in it, the book itself is mainly a Draaza sex manual," I said.
"It's strange that a book like that would make its way here, but from what I looked into, there are many positions that call for the massaging of the body and your legs are in dire need due to the constant swelling you get."
"It's a shame that the children took our room, but there could be an empty room in the infirmary wing to spare."
There's a tower near the castle in which it's empty, but there's a room we can sleep in. Everyone will be fine, Sammy. Kotori and Minara are on hand to help with the little ones in which I even pumped some more milk for the babies. We have many needs just as much as our children, for we can't put ourselves out of commission, you know."
It wasn't long until Reiko and I left the sitting room in which we left into the courtyard of the castle. With the influx of people coming and going due to the weather, we braved our way to the tower near the castle as we went inside of it. The place itself was homely as it was also empty in which we noticed an elevator in the center of it. When we stepped into it, we went to the top as we saw a room that was unused in which we saw a bathroom that was in it. The place was like a Scandinavian bathroom as it even had a bathtub that was like a child's swimming pool. Still, it was our place away from our room at the castle as we decided to take off our clothes and place them into the hamper.
When we went towards the wash basin, we cleaned ourselves off as we were more than likely to be going into the bathtub in which we were soaking just for tonight. We didn't mind being with each other as we also had to help to take care of our little ones, but we wanted this night for ourselves until morning. The heat of the bathtub kept us warm as we heard the wind howling from outside. Still, the harsh weather didn't bother us as we would soon go towards our bed for the night, for it was ours alone so far. By the time we finished up our bath, we went got ourselves dried off as we put our towels into the hamper the moment we got dressed in our nightclothes. With our teeth brushed and rinsed, we left the bathroom as we went towards our bed in which it was large with a quilt on it. We also noticed some condoms near the nightstand as if this room was made for us, for we needed a break only for tonight.
"Whoever put this room together had a reason to give it to us," I said.
"It'll be good enough to be in this bed with the quilt," said Reiko as she opened up the covers.
"With most of the displaced people from the other islands taking emergency shelter, there's been so much of that in which some of them even went towards the Tsubaki District."
"It's so cold out there…"
"I know…" I began to lay down on the bed as I noticed Reiko coming towards me while I covered ourselves in the quilt. "It'll be three years since I had my furlough. Time flies when I end up being in convalescence…"
It wasn't long until we snuggled up together in each other's arms as we were huddled in the quilt on the bed. The cold weather was harsh as the blizzard wasn't letting up in which we were generating our own warmth. Still, I was wanting to take Reiko for this night as we also had to return to our duties in the morning, for we couldn't get enough of each other at this moment. In a bit of a sensual frenzy, I felt an urge to take Reiko as I was busy stroking her long hair in which she was very radiant due to her status as a goddess. It wasn't long until I began to touch at her large breasts in which they have been soft with her nipples erect from the cold. I was ready to take her as I was kissing her soft lips the moment I was hearing her moaning with desire. What I didn't expect was that Reiko was eager to be the woman on top as she grabbed one of the condoms in which she would have me take her on this cold night. With our clothes taken off, we were ready to give it our all as I felt Reiko stroking at my member to the point of being hardened. The feel of her gentle hands on the head of it aroused me in which I was feeling more at ease with what was going on. When I felt a condom being draped over my member, I noticed Reiko crashing through as she was straddling my legs. The feel of them lifted up in the air made me gasp in pain until it began to subside, for this was a sexual position that I never experienced before until now.
"Try to relax, Sammy," said Reiko as she began to massage one of my legs. "The Tzaphric form of sexual positions are more like the Kama Sutra, but they can ease the tension from all those aches and pains."
"Is that so?" I said.
"Grandfather told me about the book that was found in which he also noted that he felt tension melting away from what he experienced during his mission to New Capua."
"Leave it to Ippei to be sexually active until he met and married his future bride on that mission. He must've had a few women while he was in a gladiator den back in the day."
"It wasn't by choice in which he ended up participating in some of the orgies, but he only had one woman he brought back with him at the time and that was my late grandmother."
"Ippei… He was a good mentor, but a stud in the gladiatorial dens?" I began to feel more pleasure as I saw Reiko massaging the other leg. "You're getting good at this…"
I was under the throes of erotic desire as I felt Reiko giving me more pleasure than normal. She was also wanting more of me as I felt the inner walls of her soft flesh gripping my hardened member like a vise. I was feeling more good than normal as I saw Reiko on top of me with her breasts bouncing like a pair of beach balls She was everything to me as I saw her holding my hands to the point of bringing ourselves to a possible climax. We were on the point till the end as we ended up letting out cries of desire as I felt Reiko withdrawing from me and removing the spent condom from my member until she threw it away in the wastebasket. Both of us returned to the covers as we snuggled together in order to keep warm, for the northern wind was doing its work in bringing in the cold. We were sharing this night together until tomorrow as we embraced one another while keeping ourselves warm, for we had this moment just for tonight.
"The northern wind won't let up anytime soon," I said.
"I know that we're in a different room for now, but we'll end up resuming our duties tomorrow," said Reiko. "It's not fair that the northern wind got its way by displacing people in this winter storm."
"It may be cold outside in January, but the Skalvarg Archipelago is far up in the north. When we came here, this was far different than what we had on Matarote Island on Westeros nearly three years prior."
"I remembered being on top while I was carrying Samantha and Mary-Rose at the time. You were wanting more than what you were used to."
"A man has needs, but he can also have patience. It's what Ippei told me one time while I was undergoing my training for a while."
I was looking at Reiko as she was already warm in my arms. What I also noticed was that she was ready to be taken once again as I was touching at her breasts. She was already wanting my touch as I wanted to do something different. I was simply kissing at her lips as I was also feeling at the soft flesh between her legs. Still, I had to give it my all as I was looking at the box of condoms that were on the nightstand. I was ready to go for it as I grabbed one of the condom in which I felt my member hardening up again. With the covers pulled back, I tilted Reiko over as she was on her stomach at the foot of the bed. With the condom unwrapped and draped over my member, I lifted Reiko's legs as I went inside of her from behind. I never wanted to be rough with her, but this urge was wanting me to take her the moment I was touching at her breasts to the point of her wanting more of what I was giving her.
She was mine for the taking as I continued to thrust from behind in which I felt the inner walls of her soft flesh gripping the head of my member tightly. I heard her moaning loudly as she felt my hot breath warming her neck. Holding onto the foot of the bed, Reiko was enjoying the absolute pleasure that came from me taking her from behind. She was crying out for more as I was moving from behind the moment I kept going to the point of me going deeper. I was feeling like myself again as I was giving her a lot more than anticipated in which I wasn't about to let go for now. By the time we reached our climax, we were tired from our sexual moment as we let out a cry of pleasure that gave us an edge, for we still had it until morning. It wasn't long until I pulled out of Reiko as I tossed the spent condom into the wastebasket in which I noticed her turning over on her back while she sat up, for she ended up enjoying the feel of me in which she ended up laying next to me with the covers pulled over us, for we were warm in the quilt that we had.
"You've regained part of your strength," I heard Reiko say to me as she snuggled next to me.
"It's been a while since we tried the typical 'doggy style' position," I said.
"You went further in which I felt the head of your pillar tickling the deepest point that I had in me."
"It's mainly called the g-spot in which all women have it, but they end up being more aroused when one's member takes the plunge."
"You plunged into me very well, Sammy. I felt your pillar from behind in which it also felt good."
"We overdid it this time, but at least we had fun until tomorrow."
I continued to hold Reiko close to me as we continued to snuggle in the quilt. After our tussle under the covers, it would soon be time to return to our duties, but not yet. This was our night together as we ignited a renewed spark in our lovemaking, for it was long overdue after all…
The next morning, we woke up as we heard footsteps approaching in which we sat up in our bed. Still, we had to resume our duties as we later got up and put on our robes. Just as we were about to leave our room, we saw Minara burst into the room as he was concerned about my safety. I sensed worry in his eyes as he was also glad that I was safe in which he also had to round me up for yet another assessment, for this was also getting old really quick, but I tolerated it nonetheless.
"You could've knocked first," I said.
"That's why I have Akio breathing down my neck in which he just arrived this morning," said Minara. "He's been wanting to talk to you in which it concerns what happened to Neville two weeks ago and he's still reeling from the punch that Reiko gave him."
"Neville was wanting to steal Sammy away," she said. "I couldn't let him do that in which I threatened to shoot him with the shotgun that Nephrenia gave me."
"Well, you did want to turn him from a stallion to a mare in one clean shot, didn't you?" I said.
"Well, the Review Board got wind of Neville's misconduct in which he's under house arrest with all his rent boys in his home on Atreides," said Minara. "Akio also told them on how he wanted to blackmail Reiko into cheating on you, which is a very serious offense."
"Well, the worst blackmailer who met his end is sleeping in space debris right now. As for Neville, he won't bother me for a while, which is good for me."
"Come on; Akio's waiting in the main hall of the castle."
And so, we followed Minara out of our room as we left the tower and went into the main house of the castle. When we spotted Akio standing there in winter garb, he was wanting an audience with me as he noticed me feeling a lot better, but I had a gut feeling that I wasn't out of the woods yet, for there was no end to the long and grueling furlough that I had.
"How's it going, Sam?" he asked me.
"I've been better, but I'll be ending up going back to the field soon enough," I said.
"Not so fast, Sam," said Reuben as he entered into the main hall. "Let me remind you that you still haven't recovered from the overexertion of your raw after you destroyed Project Amaterasu nearly three years ago."
"And yet, I have another assessment…"
"Well, it's better than being one of Neville's rent boys," said Akio. "The guy has an obsession to collect some of the men afflicted by the gods due to the crafted wombs that they have. After he got his ass handed to him by the Review Board, he's still persistent in which he'll stop at nothing to force you and Minara to be with child again. He's relentless, especially if he goes to great lows into bribing any fertility doctor who is willing to milk your seeds and fertilize some random ovum without your consent."
"I don't want anything to do with him in which he resorted to blackmail. He's better off in his homestead on Atreides for all I care."
I wasn't having it as I was getting fed up with Neville's constant schemes just to steal me away from my island sanctuary like all the rest who wanted me to return on the battlefield. Of all the members of the Vallon-Schacter Clan, Neville was the worst! His methods in trying to force me to go to his homestead on Atreides was the last straw for me as I also had a disdain for him after he tried to blackmail Reiko into cheating on me, which backfired of course. Still, I didn't want to worry too much as I was also more than likely to be sitting down until I ended up leaking again. Akio noticed it as I was trying to cover my mess with the long silver hair that I had, for this was a time of resuming my duties by looking after my youngest twins.
WAAAAAHHHH!
It wasn't long until I saw Carly with one of the twins as she handed her to me. Kazuko was simply wailing for her breakfast as I opened up my robe and allowed her to nurse. The sight of her latching onto me was a huge comfort as I would also end up feeding Giles the moment he woke up. Even Akio noticed me with a bond with one of the little ones as I later felt her unlatching to the point of being full and later burped. When we noticed Aora carting Giles along, he was eager to give him to me without dropping him in which Minara took the baby out of his arms, for he was also full from breakfast earlier.
"Giles takes to the stored milk in the freezer, but Kazuko is one finicky eater," he said.
"It's because she prefers milk from the tap," I said.
"Some babies have different tastes," said Reuben. "I know that because of the fact that Audranya wants seconds even after Paninya feeds her. As for the main target in the room, it's time for another assessment."
"Damn it, Reuben, not now…"
"You can't stray away from your assessments, Sam. There are reasons why we have to assess you in which your raw power still isn't up to full. You're still recovering from the overexertion that you had along with giving birth. And another thing, you're also the second pregnant man in the Order's ranks since Minara after the Spillway mission."
"I know, but going to those assessments can be very boring and—"
"Sammy, please don't make Reuben cross at you," said Reiko. "They do these assessments on you just to make sure that you're okay. Now, if you don't mind, go straight to the infirmary wing or you won't get any breakfast."
I reluctantly agreed as I followed Reuben and Minara to the infirmary wing. With an influx of some of the displaced being examined, we had no other choice but to accept another assessment. When I entered into the examination room, I laid down on the scanner table as I was looking at the same boring image of me on screen. It wasn't long until Minara noticed a decrease in the swelling of my legs as I was starting to be on the mend after all that has happened to me nearly three years ago. Still, I was improving, but I would have a bad feeling that something would go wrong in which I might never get out of my long furlough alive, for this was too much to bear.
"There's been an improvement on your legs," said Reuben as he saw them on screen. "There's been an increase of the blood flow and less swelling or clotting."
"I have been using my cane more," I said.
"Just to let you know, you may be recovering from the overexertion of your raw power, but you're still in a very weakened condition," said Minara cautiously.
"I may be in a weakened condition, but I also have to keep an eye on my little ones, which kept me grounded and away from field work after the destruction of the Sol-3. Even though Project Helios is left on the docket, I'm still not up to snuff in which it's still up in the air. As for our other problems, the Executive Division is still at large, but hasn't made an advantage of the Skalvarg Archipelago due to the fog that is generated all over it."
"Project Helios on the Sol-4 happens to be the slowest, but that won't stop Liesel and her forces from taking advantage of reeling in her catch."
I sensed trouble as I saw Minara clenching his fists in which he remembered what he went through the moment Liesel sent her forces to kill him. He never forgot how she and her forces tried to kill him at his former home in Meros on Claudius in which the stress of it all ended up causing him to go into labor while carrying Sayoko. He also didn't forget about the caesarian section from hell as he felt the pain that he endured after he welcomed his daughter into the world nearly two years ago. It was strange that he endured pregnancy, but it wasn't just the influence of the Cerulean Moon that allowed him to take Mizuwa's fertilized ovum, for there was mainly a higher power at work. Still, I didn't fault him, but he never knew about Sayoko's conception until after the Spillway mission, for he was more than ready to find a cure for Tabata Syndrome so he can help those who have suffered the most.
"You're still reeling from what happened to you nearly two years ago," I said as I stared at Minara.
"After what happened to me and those around me, we could never go back to Meros after the ambush," he said as he saw me sitting up. "After I endured the caesarian section from hell and bringing Sayoko into the world, the family I had, including Penelope's brothers and their own families, had settled in our new home in New Capua, which changed over the centuries."
"What happened to your old homestead?"
"There was nothing left to salvage in which it was nothing but rubble," said Reuben. "Thankfully, Dean and his unit found a weapon stash that had most of the unusual tools in fighting monsters according to the lore they came from. Liesel was determined to not only try to kill Minara, but to find and steal the weapon stash that was hidden in the Varus homestead."
"Well, the Varus Clan is related to the Elkins Clan."
"That's not the point, Sam," said Minara. "The Varii not only kept a stash of weapons, but an entire vault that hasn't been penetrated by any key or lockpick. It's heavily warded, but no one worthy would open it, which was buried in the homestead's ruins. You can't even blow it up with a stick of dynamite just to get it open. I got wind of it when I was recovering from the infamous caesarian section that I had in which I noticed Dean finding a weapons stash among the ruins. And another thing, Sam, the real reason why Lentulus and Penelope were arrested and later executed at the hands of Julilla was that they held the key to the vault of weapons that were crafted by the maiden clan who brandished such weapons in the first place. This isn't the first time that enemy forces have thirsted over a weaponmaker's craft in which this also happened in the Elder Days. Every monster and demon imaginable was also after the Colt, which had its fair share of being stolen and retrieved multiple times. As for the vault of weapons, it's still closed, but the key is nowhere to be found in which it was very hidden from prying eyes and opened ears."
"Whoever has the key to the weapons vault must be protected at all costs. If Liesel and her forces find it, then she wins. That is why I can't sit on the sidelines after all I heard."
"Don't you dare!"
I saw Reiko entering into the examination room as she wasn't having it. She didn't want me to do any field work as I still had a long way to go in which she had her final say to keep me grounded. As usual, I was barred from going back on the field as I couldn't say no to Reiko, for she was also concerned about my health just like the others. It wasn't long until I saw Reiko walking towards me as she gently laid me back down on the scanner table in which she wasn't about to let me off the hook right now, for I had no other choice but to stay put in my long and grueling furlough for now.
"You shouldn't be jumping the gun like that," she said to me.
"Sorry, but I was out of line," I said.
"We can't let you just up and let you go out there when you're not in fine fettle."
"My legs have improved, but a lot of me still has a long way to go."
"Your legs may have stopped swelling, but don't forget that you also have to help to take care of our little ones that came out of you. You may have a lot of responsibilities like the rest of us, but you can't go and shoulder the burden alone. Brother and his unit will be very cross at you if you end up running off like that and he would kick your bottom in real time if he saw you out there while you're not up to your full potential."
It wasn't long until I slowly got up and left the examination room as I went towards the bathroom to do my business. Standing next to the toilet, I lifted the seat up as I began to relieve myself in which I couldn't hold it after being assessed. By the time I finished doing my business, I flushed the toilet and put the seat down as I went to the sink to wash my hands. After I did that, I left the bathroom as I was on my way back to the examination room the moment I laid back down to resume the assessment I was going through, for it was also something that I got used to.
"You just had to drain the lizard, didn't you, Sam?" said Reuben as he was looking at my vitals on screen. "You could've given us a urine sample while you were at it."
"Be easy on him; he couldn't hold it when he had to tinkle," said Reiko.
"It's better than wetting myself," I said.
"Don't forget; you can't get away from that assessment that easily in which you have a lot of things that kept you going. And another thing, you'll be having breakfast in bed after this in which Minara was on hand in making baked pears again, so I suggest that you march towards one of the hospital rooms after this."
I couldn't say no to Reiko as she was there making sure that I didn't fall off the rails right now. I was happy to have her as I smiled warmly after the long assessment that I had. I loved her a lot more than anything, for she was not just a loving wife and mother, but a simple Woman of Letters after all…
To be continued...
