Biosymbionce 3 The Children

By Joseph Philbrook

Tom's beloved children inherited DNA from the symbiotic daggerthorn plants that Jake had infused Tom's body with. The twins were telepathically linked to each other and were able to commune with the daggerthon since the day they were born. They were surrounded by love but suffered through more tragedy than most adults could have endured. Then an ancient evil cybernetic abomination abducts the twins even as Tom is returning to Gudjeon. While devastated by the tragic circumstances surrounding his children's abduction Tom pursues them through unstable sidereal portal apertures and across the void of deep space in an attempt to get them back. Meanwhile the twins themselves prove to be a force to be reckoned with as they find a way to strike back against their abductor.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joseph Philbrook
• Release date: Dec 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9781370762897

Joseph Philbrook

I'm a reader. I've always preferred reading a good book, to watching the movie. I spent most of my adult life, working at one unfulfilling job or another. While I dreamed of writing books instead. Lately I've decided to start living the dream.

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Biosymbionce 3

The Children

By Joseph Philbrook

Copyright 2020 Joseph A Philbrook III

Smashwords Edition

Revision 5

Smashwords Edition License Notes This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. All characters are fictional. Any resemblance of any of the characters to actual people, living or dead, is purely an unintended coincidence.

The following contains mature subject mater.

It's content has not been censored. And may not be suitable for all readers.

The story is about a complex future. Where expensive highly technical solutions exist for nearly all diseases, including sexually transmitted ones. A future where some biological solutions have also been discovered. In both cases, the lack of medical consequences for promiscuous behavior, can eventually lead to a change in what is perceived as moral behavior.

The bawdry, often explicit, occasionally humorous and sometimes even erotic concepts found in this story are not the point of the story. But they are part of it.

To those offended by such content. You are hereby warned. It's in there!

Table of Contents

The following contains mature subject mater.

It's content has not been censored. And may not be suitable for all readers.

Anguish or Joy

Chapter 1 Rendezvous

Chapter 2 Secrets

Chapter 3 Vengeance & Sorrow

Chapter 4 A Fateful Encounter

Chapter 5 A New Biosymbiont Emerges

Chapter 6 A Painful Journey

Chapter 7 A Twisted New Jump Ship

Chapter 8 Jump Training Etc...

Chapter 9 To XenDar We Go

Chapter 10 A Sad Trilling

Chapter 11 Strange Shared Dreams

Chapter 12 Trouble Brewing

Chapter 13 Hard Choices

Chapter 14 The Aftermath

Chapter 15 Life Goes On

Chapter 16 Children In Charge

Chapter 17 An Unusual Naming

Chapter 18 The Battle Begins

Chapter 19 Aggressive Countermeasures

Chapter 20 Reluctant Allies

Chapter 21 Extreme Exercise

Chapter 22 Induction

Chapter 23 Summons

Chapter 24 Nervous Travelers

Chapter 25 The Hearing

Chapter 26 Home Again

Chapter 27 Scene of the Crime

Chapter 28 A Melancholy Feast And A Funeral

Chapter 29 Unfinished Business

Chapter 30 The Sad Truth

Chapter 31 Back On Thorn Mountain

Chapter 32 Outward Bound

Chapter 33 Back To Thorn Mountain Again

Chapter 34 Surprise Visit From An Old Friend

Chapter 35 In Flight Training

Chapter 36 A Tearful Farewell

Epilogue

Appendixes

About The Author

Connect with Me

Galactic Standard Units of Measure

Author's notes

About the non-standard method of time keeping used on Gudjeon

Interplanetary Travel

Terraforming

Faster than light travel, parallel universes, and time travel...

About The Names In This Book

The capitalization of names in this book.

About the names themselves.

Anguish or Joy

His days seemed filled with much toil and anguish for so long that he forgot how to enjoy the few moments of true happiness he found in spite of himself.

The few occasions when he dispensed a small measure of kindness to anyone, all pale beside the fury of the all too frequent instances of his terrible vengefulness.

Yet even as he tires of it all, he comes to the realization that it is in these days that he does rejoice.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Rendezvous

"So where is it exactly that we are going?" Willful's image wanted to know.

"To a rendezvous with the Furtive Colossus of course," Tom's image replied with a grin.

Willful's image's eyes narrowed and in an icily polite voice that few high mothers could match, she asked for a clarification.

"Do you really expect them to meet us at this jump's exit point?" her image inquired.

Tom's image laughed.

"Alright, I guess that even my most willful adept deserves to understand the process, he began. You saw me launch a stealth message drone at one of the public broadcast drone network sites before we started this jump. I'm sure you also saw the request for a rendezvous in the text of the message. Along with a time frame that should coincide with the time we're about to spend recharging our energy sinks in the photosphere of the star we're approaching. Of course I didn't directly identify which star that is in the text of the message that would have been ‘broadcasted’ while we were still in the compression cycle of this jump. But there was also a simple number embedded in that request. The number 273 it was, which is a reference to it in the secure though temporary list of locations I left in the AI computer on the Furtive Colossus the last time I was there. So that they would know where to send a secure message drone with the time and location for an actual rendezvous. If you need to know more than that, please wait till after I get us safely through this jump's exit point. End transmission"

The null-Diver's immersive charging cycle had only had enough time to bring the energy sinks up to 89% of a full charge when the photosphere was saturated with a coded pulse that was designed to be undetectable from outside the photosphere. From within it however the precise location of the stealth enhanced secure message drone from the Furtive Colossus that had just entered the photosphere could easily be pinpointed. The pulse was on a specific wavelength that had been specified in the same secure file in which Tom had listed this star as a stage 1 rendezvous location. Accordingly Tom sent a counter pulse from the null-Diver's rear docking port. Which had been designed for a fairly large removable cargo hold or other large module to dock with the aft end of the null-Diver's shuttle bay. Since the message drone was too small for the docking port to get a seal against, it wouldn't attempt to complete the docking maneuver. Instead it would simply allow the drone to use the docking port's hardwired communication connections to securely exchange messages with the null-Diver's AI computer.

When the null-Diver's energy sinks were full Tom acknowledged the proposed physical rendezvous and the message drone promptly disconnected and began it's voyage to wherever the Furtive Colossus expected it's return.

Now that we have a rendezvous scheduled, we need to get there, Tom said. Would you like to make the jump or shall I?

You mean directly into the null-Diver's maintenance bay? Willful asked with obvious trepidation.

What has your thorn wizard told his adept about her self doubts? Tom admonished her, then continued without waiting for an answer. Actually you only need to get us inside the bay itself. I'm not even asking you to align the docking port. You'll have nearly five arms worth of positional tolerance to work with.

Not quite, Willful retorted. Five arms would be eleven feet and my calculations say I'll only have ten to work with and that's based on the assumption that the Furtive Colossus will be exactly where we expect to find it.

Tom smiled as he realized she had already accepted the daunting task like the adept she was and was only debating the tolerance factor on general principles.

I wouldn't worry about that part if I were you Willful, he said. The drone's message was digitally signed with the Admiral's personal key. So I'd expect the positional coordinates to be precise. But what you'll need to watch out for is to make sure you don't get distracted by the new subspatial rift they'll most likely be already generating to more quickly duck back into subspatial flight.

Tom gave Willful a few heartbeats to think about that before he continued.

So here's what I'm going to want you to do, he said gently. As soon as we arrive you can expect me to take direct control of the null-Diver while you use your interface to closely monitor my actions as I complete the actual docking maneuver. In the likely event that the Furtive Colossus returns to subspace before I've completed the docking maneuver, I'll want you to notice how I transition from using manipulator fields to a very gentle application of the virtual thrusters.

So we will probably be in subspace by the time the docking port is fully engaged, Willful mused. It's a good thing that I know you have what it takes to keep that from becoming a catastrophe or I wouldn't dare do this. But since I'm sure you can complete the docking maneuver for me we may as well head for our hibernation chambers now, right Tom?

Tom just smiled.

Tom was sure of both his adept's skills and the precision with which the Admiral would ensure that the actual position, in both time and space, of the Furtive Colossus would exactly match that which he'd encoded in the secure drone's message. So during the compression cycle, while his special hibernation chamber would let his perception of the compressed virtual time involved match the real time. That was passing just outside the spot where the null-Diver had opened it's subspatial entrance rift. He devoted most of his cognitive ability to thinking about his amazing children.

Then when the moment of transition came he only applied 25% of his attention to monitoring how smoothly Willful went from full virtual stasis to guiding the null-Diver's AI computer to correct for the subspatial energy waves that could otherwise have altered the effective direction of their jump. Then he reduced his monitoring activity to just 10%. Which he did with his internal resonant interface and since he could now do so safely he exited his hibernation chamber and made a small pot of blue asulrod tea which he laced with some of the excellent elixir that Willful had distilled during their last voyage. Then he brought the tea and a large mug out with him as he went out to the greenhouse deck to commune with the daggerthorn that were protecting him from the subspatial rift syndrome that the waves of subspatial energy would otherwise have afflicted him with. He took hold of a thorn bearing branch at the base of a thorn and as he took a small sip of his elixir laced tea, he asked for some nectar to add to it.

The daggerthorn was well aware that he couldn't afford to fall asleep, so the personalized blend that filled the thorn's poison sack, as the thorn transformed into a soft teat like appendage, included a stimulant that would help him to stay alert. This let him keep that 10% of his cognitive ability busy monitoring the jump while the rest of his mind was soon absorbed into a waking dream.

He first dreamed of how his twins had bid him a safe trip and a rapid return. Tom had just pledged to them that he would after saying he had business with the Admiral and wanted to visit the land of the giant trees. They seemed almost solemn as they replied in the unusual tandem way they usually spoke. Lynx said the first word, then his sister Iris said the second word and so forth. As they spoke they held the mock thornblades, the daggerthorn had given them to play with, over their hearts in imitation of how he had held his open belt knife over his as he pledged to return to them.

Be + safe, + give + CloudSong + good + hug, they said. Play + soon + with + us. + Be + quick. + Now + go + before + cry + we + will.

Tom remembered only being able to hold the tears their words evoked long enough to step through the boulder like door at the far end of his communion chamber. Next he dreamed of how hard it had been to let go of the deep hatred he'd held for the man who'd murdered Nightshade the first time he'd gone to XenDar and the gratitude he owed the Admiral for helping him do so before his hate poisoned the telepathic minds of his twins. He dreamed also of the terrible pain he had shared with CloudSong as they relived Nightshade's gruesome death in a shared waking dream and how Nightshade had been granted the final honor of a parting song. Sung not with words but with such a beautiful trilling by all the WildRunners who'd taken part in the quest to save their beloved forest world and possibly the entire galaxy, From the malfunctioning Kindred machine embedded in XenDar's sun. While the best he'd been able to manage was a heartfelt wailing.

Tom pulled himself out of the waking dream as the 10% of his brain that was paying attention to it, realized the null-Diver was approaching the exit point of it's jump and he would have to focus 100% of his cogitative capacity on his resonant command link with the null-Diver's AI computer. He settled for 95% however, as he realized that the daggerthorn were helping Willful focus, and he could feel her through them. The first thing he noticed was that Willful had timed their exit to the exact right moment that the Admiral had promised the Furtive Colossus would be in it's designated position.

Then he sensed Willful's angst as they both detected the new subspatial rift that the Furtive Colossus was opening even as they began to see through it's stealth field to sense the actual exit point of their jump. She had positioned the exit point within a subarm of her intended target. Yet it was certain that the Furtive Colossus would be back in subspace before the docking maneuver could be completed.

So as he had promised he took control and used non gravitational optimizer based manipulator fields to begin the maneuver. This was important, if he were using a gravitational optimizer when the Furtive Colossus penetrated the virtual surface then they would all have ceased to exist as the matter they used to be composed of was all catastrophically ejected from the rift in the form of subatomic particles. Then when the docking port was within half a subarm of making contact the Furtive Colossus and all it contained began it's subspatial flight. Tom used his resonant connection to the null-Diver's AI computer to smoothly shut down the suddenly unstable manipulator fields and apply a micro burst of virtual thrust to engage the docking port.

"I never really understood how much of my thorn wizard's mind really is inside the null-Diver's computer before, Willful transmitted through her, so called, tutorial interface device. But this time the daggerthorn you were still communing with showed me how it feels to you to think with it. The fact that you still feel like you when you do that is making it difficult for me to maintain a firm grip on my belief that there is no such thing as magic. In fact I'm fairly sure that even you can't quite explain why it doesn't qualify as magic to me. At least not yet."

"Truthfully Willful, Tom transmitted back. I can't quite explain that part to myself either. But I'm still certain that it isn't actual magic...

"Greetings Tom and I presume Willful, the Admiral transmitted via the docking port's connection. Would I be correct to assume Tom, that the reason you didn't jump directly into docking port alignment is because without your resonant connection to the null-Diver's AI your adept needed a little more tolerance for the precise placement of your jump's exit point? The Admiral continued without waiting for an answer. In which case it is evident by our survival that Willful is now almost as skillful a deep jump pilot as you are and that you knew that before you allowed her to make the jump. I would have allowed a subcyclet or perhaps even two to complete the docking maneuver before opening our entrance rift if I had known she would be making the jump Tom but otherwise I'd have been comfortable with your assessment of her improved skills. Though you should know that Tracie Shoresman is not as convinced and is even now on her way to your docking port to and I quote ‘get in their faces about it.’. So consider yourselves warned. End transmission.

Willful was already checking that he had activated the traditional subspatial shield emitters in the access passage and entrance chamber as he got there. They didn't need to talk about it to be sure that they would be better served to meet Tracie at the docking port before she requested access. As soon as they reached the docking port, Tom checked that the subspatial shield emitters in the outer passageway were on and that the air seal was secure. Then he opened the null-Diver's docking port door and gestured for Willful to precede him. He quickly followed sealing the door behind them. While he did that he noticed that Willful double checked the status of those emitters before she opened the Furtive Colossus's docking port door.

Tracie was standing there with a surprised look on her face. Her hand was extended towards the communications panel. Then her eyes narrowed.

The Admiral warned you didn't he? she demanded crossly.

We were already planning to head for one of the habitat rings anyway Tracie, Willful hedged in a friendly voice. Perhaps we could talk there over a nice hot pot of asulrod.

Tom's emphatically sensed Tracie's resistance to that idea so he quickly interjected something she wanted to hear.

Actually Tracie, I'm hoping we can discuss how to make these rendezvous sequences less hazardous. I'm convinced that we cannot keep doing it this way. With your backing I may be able to convince the Admiral to cooperate with a safer process.

You had better mean every word of that, Tracie warned. But actually my nerves could use a little blue asulrod about now. Then with a follow me gesture as she started moving towards the primary habitat ring she continued. Shall we go?

Actually, if you don't mind, I'd much prefer the forward habitat ring. Even if it is a longer and more convoluted walk to get there. I presume of course that by now the double redundancy layer of back up subspatial shield emitters have been installed along the route like I requested.

Very well Tom we can go that way, Tracie conceded as she smoothly used the surface effect manipulators that served as the feet segments of her prosthetic legs to turn around in a tight circle. It won't take a subcyclet for me to order the computer to activate those emitters.

You don't really need to bother with that Tracie, Tom replied. I've already informed the computer that I needed them turned on. Then he offered Tracie his hand. Shall we stroll along together?

When they got to the habitat ring, Willful suggested they settle into a nice little alcove with a daggerthorn encrusted bench that formed a half circle around a small table. Then she volunteered to go brew the pot of the asulrod tea Tom had promised. Meanwhile Tom tossed a pouch of fresh asulrod leaves on the table and sat down in the deepest part of the curved bench.

Use these Willful, he instructed. They're from the asulrod that the null-Diver's daggerthorn tend for me. Would you mind if Willful laces the pot with a little of her elixir Tracie? And have you learned how to get the Furtive Colossus's daggerthorn to custom blend some fresh nectar for your health yet?

A little elixir would be nice I think, Tracie replied. And no I haven't quite dared to try that yet Tom. Though I have studied what I could find on the process. Thing is, I find the idea of suckling on a teat that's really one of the daggerthorn's thorns somewhat unsettling Tom. But we are going to talk about the way the null-Diver has been jumping directly into it's maintenance bay! Right Tom?

Suddenly Tom was holding his belt knife over his heart.

I pledge by the honor of thorn clan that we shall do that just as soon as we've both enjoyed a few sips of asulrod tea, Tom pledged and smoothly returned his blade to it's sheath.

That's when Willful returned with a covered cast iron kettle full of hot asulrod tea and a tray with three glass mugs and what was left of Tom's asulrod on it. She had used a little more than half of the pouch.

There's no need for you to actually suckle on a thorn teat for you to get the benefits of fresh custom nectar you know Tracie, Tom asserted.

Certainly not, Willful confirmed as she poured the tea. In fact most high mothers and more than a few adepts prefer to ask the daggerthorn to dispense a little nectar into a cup of asulrod. And that's the tree's own truth.

That doesn't sound so bad, Tracie admitted as she took a sip. I love what your elixir does for this tea by the way. Though I think the tea itself is a little more flavorful than the asulrod the Admiral asked the hydroponics department to consider as a required priority crop. It's almost a shame that you already added the elixir though or maybe I would have tried some nectar in it.

Tom chuckled.

That's not a problem Tracie, he explained. All you'd need to do is to take a small sip of whatever beverage you'd like the daggerthorn to spike with some nectar but don't swallow until you ask it to. The daggerthorn will adjust the custom nectar accordingly. Allow me to demonstrate.

At which point Tom took a sip of his tea and while holding it in his mouth he reached out to a thorn bearing daggerthorn branch. Which he carefully gripped at the base of a thorn. Then as he felt the daggerthorn touch his desire for nectar, he pointedly let Tracie see him swallow. At which point the thorn quickly transformed and with a practiced squeezing stroke he ‘milked’ a squirt of nectar into his cup.

It really is that easy, Willful said. You just have to want some when you touch the base of the thorn. The daggerthorn will sense that and do the rest.

At which point Willful reached out to the same thorn. Which had only just returned to it's normally sharp state. A subcyclet later she was expressing a little nectar into her tea.

When Tracie attempted the same thing one cyclet later, the thorn never transformed. After nearly three full subcyclets, she gave up and let go as she swallowed her mouthful of asulrod.

You made it look so easy Tom, she complained. Was I doing something wrong?

I think I can answer that, Willful interjected. I was listening to the daggerthorn while you tried to ask for the nectar. It was confused by the conflicting emotions it sensed in you. And while I'm sure the reason was different, there have been members of the Sisterhood with a similar problem. For whom a somewhat interesting solution was devised. In their case sucking or expressing the nectar from the thorn teat felt too much like performing a sexual act on another woman. Whereas what I felt from you was more like it felt too much like taking something intended for little babies. I don't know why that would bother you so much but I think the same solution might work for you. Would you like to hear what worked for them Tracie?

What have I got to lose? Tracie said. What did they do about it?

In their mind's eye they imagined a very different kind of sexual act Tracie, Willful explained. They imagined they were milking a very different liquid from a thorn phallus. The trees themselves don't care what we think of the nectar, as long as we drink it often enough to safeguard our health.

Tracie blushed as she thought about it.

Well I don't know about that, she said. But I suppose I ‘could’ pretend I want to ‘milk’ a deposit from Tom or even corporal Whinchal to flavor my tea with.

Then Tracie took another sip of tea and tried again. This time it took less than half a subcyclet for the thorn to begin to transform. Tom thought it's transformation looked slightly different than any he had ever seen however, because it actually looked more like a phallus than the usual thorn teat. Though it's over all proportions were about the same. Tracie giggled a little as she expressed a little of the nectar into her cup. A strange expression crossed her face as she took another sip of her tea.

Not that I really mind it this way, Tracie said. It's still delicious but I'm thinking yours doesn't taste like a man actually had an orgasm in it?

Willful looked like she wanted to giggle. Whereas Tom looked like the mere question had made him uncomfortable.

I think I can speak for both of us when I say that you are correct, Willful spoke up. Neither of ours tasted anything like that. Did I ever tell you that I was the daughter of a high mother on my home world. Or that before it became obvious that I was destined to spend my life following Tom around she had started to groom me to follow in her footsteps. Which is why I was taught about that unusual solution to a problem I didn't have. Now I'm wondering why my mother never mentioned that even the nectar's taste would be affected. Then noticing that Tracie was still drinking her tea, Willful continued. I'm glad that doesn't seem to bother you. So I suppose it's time we discuss the null-Diver's subspatial jumps.

You do realize don't you Tom, Tracie said. That it's only the null-Diver that the Admiral would even think of allowing to jump directly into the Furtive Colossus's interior

Not quite true commander Shoresman, the Admiral screeched as he entered the habitat ring. "But it has been the only vessel for which those thoughts don't immediately lead to the total rejection of the idea.

Until today however, I didn't think anyone without Tom's ability to think via his immersive resonant link to the very same crystal based super computer where the actual controls are, could learn to do such a thing.

You should be very proud of you new skill Willful."

Perhaps I would be if I hadn't needed Tom to complete the docking maneuver, Willful explained. Things could have gone very badly if he hadn't been able to do that for me.

That's only because I had no idea you would be making the jump Willful. Should it ever become necessary for you to do so again, please warn me and I'll allow enough time for you to complete the docking before I open the next subspatial rift.

Tracie opened her mouth to protest but Tom spoke up before she could say a word.

Actually Admiral, I think we need to review the whole process, Tom began. I've come to the conclusion that Tracie has very good reasons to protest the way we've been relying on my resonant link to the null-Diver's AI to do it. The consequences of even a small miscalculation are simply too severe to justify continuing to do it the way we have been. With the only possible exception being if we should really need to complete such a rendezvous when the Furtive Colossus is already under attack. And even then it would be better to have a fallback rendezvous prescheduled.

If you really think so Tom, I'd like to hear your reasoning, the Admiral screeched. What procedure would you recommend we follow?

I'll explain that in a moment Admiral, Tom replied. But first there's something else I should finish explaining to Tracie before I forget to. Tracie about the process of getting the daggerthorn to dispense that custom nectar you just learned. As you know it could only work because it recognized you as the same person who fairly recently used one of the tree feeding stations attached to the same daggerthorn super cluster. But what you should also be aware of is that while that was custom blended nectar. It's benefits were somewhat limited. To get the daggerthorn to dispense a dose of custom blended nectar with all of it's potential health benefits maximized you need to request the nectar immediately after using the tree feeding station. And speaking of which you should also know that if the daggerthorn should ever offer the nectar unasked before you've had time to get off the tree feeding station it would mean that it found some dangerous pathogen or toxin and in that case your very life could depend on that nectar.

Then Tom turned to face the Admiral. Who was then the only one who could see Tom briefly raise his eyebrows and then wink suggestively before he resumed speaking.

Now Admiral about that safer procedure I was talking about, Tom said. I wanted to discuss it in front of Tracie because I think we could both learn from the way she really cares about doing things safely. So I want her involved in this decision. Now about my idea, it occurs to me that if we can so accurately schedule the alignment of the null-Diver's maintenance bay. Then we could just as accurately schedule the alignment of it's ‘open’ access door. In which case, it wouldn't much matter whether I was in control or my adept. Either one of us should be able to park the null-Diver without disengaging our own stealth mode until we were inside the bay. Then I think it would be best if you didn't open a new rift until the docking port was fully engaged. I expect the delay should usually be less than a cyclet or at the very most two. What's more that process could easily be adapted for almost any ship headed for the construction bay as well.

Very well Tom, I have to admit that does sound safer, the Admiral conceded. So if commander Shoresman will sign off on that process, so will I. Then I think we should talk privately about something else Tom.

It's a deal Admiral, Tracie agreed just before giving Tom a sensuous kiss. Your a man of your word Tom. Thank you! Do you need me to go someplace so you and the Admiral can talk?.

Not really, Tom said. I'm sure we can route our discussion through secure communications links with the null-Diver's AI.

In that case may I ask if either of you would object if Willful and I impaled ourselves on your manhoods while you have your private little chat? Tracie asked.

Willful giggled as her ship suit suddenly became very transparent.

I suddenly have very little objection to that, the Admiral admitted. But the nature of what I have to discuss with Tom would not be compatible with such pleasures. So what I would suggest Tom is that we first indulge the ladies, then perhaps we could all share some relaxing asulrod tea while Tom and I engage in a secure conversation. Though I would strongly prefer it if commander Shoresman refrained from spiking mine with any nectar.

The girls both laughed.

You needn't worry about that Admiral, Tom assured him. Unlike the elixir or even generic nectar that is often used to spike a whole pot of asulrod. The custom blended kind is both much more concentrated and a very personal thing. The daggerthorn formulates it for the health and well being of just one individual person. It's like a strong medicine that could even be harmful for anyone besides the individual for whom the daggerthorn blended it. So I'm sure Tracie would never spike anyone else's tea with it.

Perhaps this would be a good time for us to all shuck our ship suits and climb into that daggerthorn branch hammock over there, Tracie suggested.

Neither Tom nor the Admiral spoke a word as Tom proceeded to shuck his ship suit and the Admiral's nanosymbiont temporarily reassigned the personal nanomorphic material that his nano-armor was composed of into a collection of nano-pods configured as perimeter scouts. The only thing the Admiral was still wearing was a document pouch strapped to his chest, which he promptly set on the table. Then they both climbed into the hammock. Where the girls effectively pounced on them. It took Tracie a couple extra subcyclets to remove her prosthetic legs and snuggle up but Tom didn't mind. He enjoyed watching Willful guiding the Admiral's erection into her obviously moist vagina.

Tom on the other hand decided to start by using the daggerthorn enhanced strength in his arms and legs to bodily lift Tracie up and turn her around. When he set her down, he began aggressively pleasuring her with his mouth. Tracie took the hint and quickly engulfed his shaft. She was, Tom decided, rather skillful. So much so that it took much effort not to succumb to her ministrations as soon as she began writhing in ecstasy from his. This was especially true because he had also reached through the daggerthorn to sense what his adept was up to. So he was very aware of the wave after orgasmic wave, each more powerful than the one before, that Willful was having while she rode the Admiral's shaft.

Meanwhile Willful had known that the Admiral's nanite enhanced body would be able to withstand her attentions much longer than it took for her ecstasy to become so intense that she had to do something about it. So she lifted herself up and turned around so that she could swallow the Admiral's rock hard shaft. Though she waited a subcyclet before she opened her legs enough for the Admiral to reach her most sensitive places with his tongue. When she did so she opened her mind to the daggerthorn again. So she could sense what Tom and Tracie were feeling when Tom finally gave in to Tracie's oral ministrations.

For her part, Tracie didn't stop what she was doing and it wasn't long before Tom's daggerthorn enhanced sex drive had him ready for more. At which point he helped her to turn back around so that she could impale herself on him. That's when Tracie whispered a request in Tom's ear.

Is there a way we could do this with me sitting in your lap as we both watch Willful pleasuring the Admiral? she asked.

An excellent idea, the Admiral screeched.

His nanite enhanced hearing was of course sensitive enough for the Admiral to hear Tracie whisper. Meanwhile Tom asked the Daggerthorn to reshape the hammock so that it would be easy for the Admiral and himself to sit facing each other as they helped the girls position themselves in their laps in such a way that each couple could easily see what the other was doing as both girls impaled themselves again.

I'm hoping Tom can hold out long enough this time, Tracie said. So that I can watch the Admiral empty himself into you Willful, while you watch Tom shoot his load into me. If he can I'm going to pretend that Tom's the one unloading in you while I'm the one making the Admiral explode. Will you share my fantasy?

When I was still a member of the Sisterhood, such a fantasy would have been absolutely forbidden to me. Willful explained. But in order to properly serve Tom I had to resign from the Sisterhood. So since I already know how much Tom would enjoy sharing such a fantasy with us I will, on this occasion, try.

Since Tom had already shot his first load, he was in fact able to hold out long enough for all four of them to share a mutually orgasmic state that lasted until all of them were thoroughly spent.

"Perhaps next time you would like to ride my shaft for real commander? the Admiral inquired.

I don't want your charity Admiral! Tracie replied.

What charity? the Admiral countered. You are a beautiful woman with the spirit of a great warrior. Surely you don't imagine that having a few artificial parts would make you any less desirable to a nanosymbiont such as myself. I would in fact very much enjoy pleasuring you. Though if you should ever decide to let me go there, I'd recommend pretreating your parts with a topical application of a little elixir. I have it on good authority that it helps treat and/or prevent the soreness that can be caused by marathon sex sessions.

Tell you what Admiral, Tracie replied. If you will, whenever protocol doesn't demand otherwise, start calling me Tracie instead of overusing my rank and I'll think about it.

I will also think about it Tracie, the Admiral replied. I will do so frequently, with much hopeful anticipation. Now however I think it's time we had that asulrod tea, so that Tom and I can get around to our conversation.

Then they all got dressed. That is Tom and the girls all donned their ship suits and the Admiral strapped on his document pouch as he recalled the nano-pods he'd had watching the perimeter and commanded them to reform back into the nano-armor he had been wearing.

I see a vacant alcove more suitable for four people to sit around a table, Tom said as he handed his remaining asulrod to Willful. Would you mind fetching a kettleful of asulrod with a double dose of elixir, while I get Tracie and the Admiral settled in at the table, Willful?

But please use my asulrod, the Admiral interjected as he reached through his nanomorphic armor to extract a hefty pouch of asulrod from his document pouch. I suspect Tom will want some of those superior leaves he brought afterwards. And in the meantime mine were freshly harvested from the best asulrod interbank credits can buy. And they have been in a hibernation shielded stasis pouch until today. Feel free to use the whole pouch if you want. Just please conserve Tom's good stuff for his use after our conversation.

Willful hesitated for only a heartbeat while she looked fiercely into the Admiral's eyes. Then she sniffed the very coarsely chopped asulrod leaves in the Admiral's pouch. She shrugged and tucked Tom's remaining asulrod in a boot pouch, next to the open flask of elixir. Then she collected the empty kettle and went to brew the tea. When she returned she handed the Admiral's pouch back to him. It was about half as full as it had been.

I suspect you were right about that being the best you could buy Admiral, she said as she began to ladle tea into their cups. Anything of higher quality, simply would not be for sale.

They proceeded to quietly enjoy their tea together. What conversation there was, was on trivial topics. Though Willful noticed that Tom wasn't participating in it. The Admiral waited until Tom had had his first sip of his second cup before he opened a secure channel to the null-Diver.

"Are you ready yet?" the Admiral transmitted.

"Yes Admiral, Tom sent back. I'm as ready as I'll ever be to hear what's on your mind. But after that there is another matter that I need to discuss. Something about those crystals you recovered from colonel Hailstead."

"I find it interesting that you should mention Hailstead Tom, the Admiral continued his transmission. For he is the topic I would discuss with you. As you were no doubt aware, at the time of his capture his only remorse was for having been captured. Then when he realized what I would have in store for him it became for having been captured ‘alive’. The simple fact was that he felt no other remorse, even after he was sufficiently rehabilitated for me to allow him a reason to desire life. But since then I decided that he should know something of the honorable warrior whose death he caused. And of the magnitude of the problem he caused when he quarried those crystals. I also informed him of the fact that you and the WildRunners had been in the middle of the quest that would eventually prevent that destruction, when he attacked."

"Why do you tell me of this? Tom's message suddenly interrupted the Admiral's presentation. Then he continued without waiting for an answer. It was with great difficulty that I forced myself to seek to release him from the torment my hatred had consigned him to. And as much as I'm grateful that you found a way to do so, I'm not ready to hear the details of how he now feels about his crime."

"I'm sorry Tom, the Admiral explained. But I must ask you to endure something that I think you will consider worse than my describing this to you. You see, I started the course of action I just described for selfish reasons. I was tiring of the way my continual exposure to his feelings about it was affecting my own feelings about my honor bound obligation to manage his confinement for as long as I could keep him alive. And I miscalculated the effect this information would have on Hailstead. Who presented me with a recorded message for you. Which I now ask you to, as a favor to me, listen to. Are you willing?"

"I owe you much Admiral, Tom messaged back. But what you ask would cause me to feel again the pain that lead to my hatred in the first place. In fact I find the very idea of it so disturbing that I need to ask both of these beautiful women if they would be so kind as to take their company elsewhere while I recover from the anguish I'm already feeling. Then since I don't believe you would ask this of me without good reasons I will, once I can devote my whole being to it, endure this thing. End transmission."

Tom sat silently for a couple of subcyclets before he felt he could keep the anguish out of his voice as he asked the girls to please give him and the Admiral some privacy. Willful insisted on knowing why. When Tom finally told her she treated the Admiral to a look that easily conveyed the anger she was barely suppressing. Then she told Tom what she thought of the idea.

Only if you pledge to commune with the daggerthorn while you view this message will you get me so much as ten feet away from your side! Willful exclaimed in utteronce.

Very well Willful, Tom replied, also in utteronce, as he placed his open belt knife over his heart. I do so pledge that I will be in communion with the daggerthorn when I open this message. And as your thorn wizard I hereby require you to go much further away than that. Please bring Tracie with you. And above all, do not use the daggerthorn to tap in to my emotional state. At least not until later when I will very much need you.

Willful still looked very angry as she extracted both the partial flask of elixir and the pouch of Tom's asulrod from one boot pouch and a full flask from her other boot. She was about to explain that even though it would be better if the tea was spiked with more elixir than was left in the open jug. The full one must be reserved for the possibility of the seizures that might be triggered if the message made Tom as upset as she feared it would. Before she could open her mouth the Admiral had extracted the rest of the contents of his document pouch. Which consisted of an open flask with almost as much elixir as was left in hers and the sealed flask that she had asked him to keep against Tom's future need.

Then before she could decide what to say she noticed corporal Whinchal approaching as fast as he could run. He was carrying a kettle full of steaming hot water which he placed on the table along with a very small thermocutter. Which looked identical to the one the Admiral had once seen Willful use to bring a metal carafe of hot water to a full boil. Then corporal Whinchal wordlessly saluted the Admiral then he also saluted Tom and left, without having said a single word. When she looked back the Admiral was ladling the last of the tea made with his asulrod into Tom's cup.

Willful decided to take the hint and held her hand out to Tracie.

Will you accompany me while I go fetch a lot more elixir? was all she said.

Tracie just nodded, took Willful's hand and they left without another word. Tom quietly drank about half his cup of tea before he accessed the message that the Admiral had already uploaded to the null-Diver.

"Thank you for viewing this message commander Coggerson, colonel Hailstead's image said. I do not expect that what I'm about to say will earn me any real forgiveness from you or from anyone else. But I thought you deserved to know that I'm now actually ashamed of what I did to such a brave and honorable warrior. And I'm grateful to both you and all those WildRunners for stopping the bigger calamity that my ignorance nearly caused. If you should see fit to forward this message to them, tell them that I'm also ashamed of the fact that I used to think WildRunners were nothing more than uncooperative savages. I don't know why you allowed the Admiral to make my life worth living. I'm glad you did, but I didn't deserve such kindness. I'm now very much aware that I did in fact deserve the fate you consigned me to on that day. I'm very aware that there is nothing I can ever really do to atone for what I did. But I want you to know that so long as I live, I will nonetheless seek to do so any way I can. End transmission."

As soon as the Admiral perceived that Tom had viewed the message he used the thermocutter to heat the kettle to a full boil. Then he dumped the rest of Tom's asulrod into it. Then he picked up what was left of his and hesitated as he looked into Tom's eyes. If he had so much as blinked he might have missed it when Tom nodded with a barely perceptible motion as he otherwise appeared almost catatonic.

At which point the Admiral dumped the rest of his asulrod into the pot. Then just as the boiling water was reduced to a slight simmer he upended both open flasks of elixir into it. He used the ladle to stir the aromatic tea just enough to ensure that the elixir was properly mixed in. Then he ladled some tea into Tom's cup. Finally Tom moved just enough to pick up his cup and take a sip. Then he gestured at the Admiral's cup with his other hand. The Admiral took the hint and soon they were quietly appreciating the soothing effects of the tea.

By this time they were basically alone. For while there were a few curious individuals who remained just close enough to keep an eye on them. Everyone close enough to hear them had quietly vacated that section of the habitat ring. All of them, guildsmen, Alliance and Hillside personnel alike had taken the hint when they observed corporal Whinchal's wordless behavior.

When they were about halfway through their third cup of the current pot of asulrod Tom was beginning to look like his usual self again. It was also at that point that he decided he had waited long enough.

"Thank you for waiting Admiral, Tom messaged. And for helping with the tea. But I'd like to ask you something about those crystals you recovered. Specifically there was one type in particular that had been formed into a coil like shape that was dimly glowing with a vivid shade of green when Steve entered the chamber where he encountered the last of the XenDar's Kindred. I can't imagine that Hailstead managed to harvest it's equivalent from the second site without shattering it into small pieces. Nor do I know what color it would appear if it wasn't glowing. But I'm very interested in some of the properties I believe it would have possessed. Can you tell me if any of the recovered crystals appear to be of the type I'm asking about?"

"Your more than welcome Tom, the admiral messaged back. Though if I might suggest that you will most likely be better off if you have consumed at least one of the full elixir flasks before your adept gets back with the promised larger supply. But about the crystal you've just described, I'm not completely certain. There were 32 crystal fragments that might have had a similar coiled shape. Though they were translucent gray in color and there were not quite enough of them to account for the size of the coil, that in Steve's report of his visit to the equivalent chamber at the first Kindred site, had such a green glow. Why do you ask?"

"As you know I have been using the Furtive Colossus's crystal core super computer to study the 363 Kindred data disks that I recovered from XenDar, Tom sent back. You also know that I access the data through the null-Diver's AI. What you may not know is that while I was spending time with my family on Gudjeon I also spent some time reviewing the data I've so far extracted. And I noticed something that I believe was a reference to something about that kind of crystal. If I'm right. And if I can successfully culture some of that crystal. It might help me to find a way for someone afflicted with stasis saturation to survive a deep subspatial jump. So if I might be allowed to take possession of few of those fragment's I'd like to try cultivating them into a full sized crystal to test my theory. Is that possible?"

"I'll have to consult with the council first Tom, the Admiral responded. But before I ask them, I'm getting the impression that your thinking of attempting this someplace besides the Furtive Colossus. Is that assumption correct? And if so why? The council will want to know."

"As a safety precaution Admiral, Tom replied. If I'm right the crystal's glow had to do with the energy that was flowing through it. And It's not certain how it will respond to subspatial energy while it's being cultivated. That's all I can really say about it until after I've run some tests. So why don't you send a message drone to ask the council about it while I chug down some elixir. The null-Diver says Willful just left with over half a dozen flasks and I'm thinking she will be much less disagreeable if I've finished off at least one flask before she gets here. End Transmission."

Even before he finished transmitting, Tom reached out with his right hand and picked up one of the two full flasks. He absently noted that the cap cover was the style and color pattern of the one Willful had given to the Admiral. He quickly broke the seal and drank the entire contents in such a continuous series of gulps that to any observer it would have looked like he had opened his throat and simply poured the elixir down it.

The other flask was one of the ones with a seal that resembled the null-Diver's ring style aft habitat deck. So the nectar it had been distilled from was mostly from the daggerthorn variant with orange branches. He quickly opened that flask but had not quite had enough time to chug down half of it's contents When Willful announced her presence by setting her decorated bag on the table. Judging by the clinking sound there were at least six flasks in the bag and, he was sure, two more in her boots. Tom stopped drinking to greet her.

I'm glad your here Willful... Tom began.

Shut up and keep on drinking! Willful interrupted him in a no nonsense tone. It's a good thing that you like the taste of elixir Tom. Because for the next couple overcycles, you will be drinking a lot of it. Then as Tom finished off the flask, she continued. Though I suppose you can have some of it in some more asulrod tea. As she said that she extracted a pouch of fresh blue asulrod from her bag. I was able to harvest enough for two kettlefuls of it from your little garden.

That was when Tracie got there with a steaming hot kettle. Which she set down on the table.

We seem to have acquired a collection of cast iron kettles, she commented. It's going to be difficult to find enough room on the table to fill the cups

I'll dispose of the extra kettles, the Admiral screeched as he started to collect them.

Before you go Admiral, Willful said as she used the thermocutter he had left on the table to bring the fresh kettle to a full boil. I'd like you to take a couple of these with you. She extracted two flasks from her bag with seals that resembled the null-Diver's aft habitat ring. As before, I ask that you reserve one of them for Tom's future needs.

As soon as she handed the flasks to the Admiral, Willful dumped about half the asulrod into the pot. Then as the boil was reduced to a simmer, she poured in half a flask of elixir.

About a cyclet after the Admiral was seen leaving the habitat ring, a steady trickle of curious onlookers started to fill up the assorted alcoves surrounding them. They all seemed interested in Tom's appearance and in the way Willful seemed to be hovering over him. This bothered Tracie so much that she muttered something about ‘vultures’ as she put down her tea and started to get up.

Oh let them look, Tom said quietly. "By now I doubt there's anyone on board who doesn't know that I had some kind of problem that was severe enough for the Admiral himself to act a little like a mother hen. It won't hurt my reputation any, for them to see me responding well to the way the willful adept has resumed her duties in a similar fashion. It will no doubt occur to some of them that the Admiral was actually trying to copy her usual behavior. And it won't do any of them any harm to realize that drinking tea under the daggerthorn has such therapeutic value that the most safety conscious commander on board seems to believe in it.

By the way Willful I really am feeling much better now. So much so that I think I'd like us to start making our way back to the null-Diver..."

Tom would have said more but he was interrupted by an all stations alert bulletin coming over the public address speaker system.

"Now hear this, the Admiral's voice screeched from the speakers. We will be exiting our subspatial flight one cyclet from now. We will be in normal space for an extended period. All stealth mode protocols will be strictly enforced. All personnel are reminded that during this time no transmitted signals are permitted. With the only exception of fully shielded resonant systems such as used by a nanosymbiont's nanites and commander Coggerson's resonant link to the null-Diver's crystal core computer. There shall be no other exceptions. All crew members are reminded that there are hard wired communication systems in every compartment and corridor. Including those areas not equipped with subspatial shield systems. Which shall be open to use by all personnel. Be advised however that in the event of an emergency need to resume subspatial flight, there may only be a three cyclet warning. So care must be taken to ensure that you are able to reach a shielded area within that time frame.

Attention all maintenance crews, this is a good time to inspect all areas of the Furtive Colossus that are not equipped with subspatial shield systems. End Transmission."

One subcyclet later they could all feel the Furtive Colossus return to normal space time. Which sensation those who were sensitive to the daggerthorn hardly noticed because they were too busy noticing that the intensity with which they felt the daggerthorn in their minds was suddenly several orders of magnitude weaker.

Duty calls, Tracie said. I better go make sure everyone is complying with all appropriate safety protocols in the non shielded areas. Or some of those idiots are likely to set themselves up to get stranded, if they were to suddenly only have 3 cyclets to get back to a shielded area.

And that's why I needed you to be part of the command crew Tracie, Tom said. I suspect we will be leaving soon. But hopefully we'll get to finish what we started, the next time I'm here. Until then may the winds favor you...

And the trees soothe your spirit, Willful finished for him.

Tom took a firm hold on a daggerthorn branch and willed them to feel his gratitude for their help. Then he took Willful by the hand and started walking. Two cyclets after they had settled in to the null-Diver's primary habitat, the Admiral sent Tom a secure message.

"The council replied quite promptly Tom, the Admiral sent. I told them of your request and why you didn't want to test the energized properties of those crystals on the Furtive Colossus. They agreed to let me give you possession of the three smallest fragments provided that you agree not to energize them within a million GS lightyears of XenDar's sun regardless of what your sidereal coordinates are at the time. And of course, they expect that you will treat any usable data obtained from your experiments as subject to the same sharing and licensing agreement as if you made such discovery onboard the Furtive Colossus. On the assumption that you would so agree I've embedded in this message, the time and space coordinates for you to rendezvous with the Corsair II to collect the crystal fragments. You will notice I've allowed more than enough time for you to use an inverse fringe flight to leave the immediate vicinity. And then to immersively charge your energy sinks in any one of several suitable stars within reasonable fringe flight range. All before you need to make the required jump. In the unlikely event that you find the council's terms unacceptable, you are requested to advise me before the null-Diver disconnects from the docking port. They also request that you take great care for your own safety when you experiment with them. For in spite of the numerous occasions when you have found a way to upset them, they consider most of your activity since you accepted the honorary rank of civilian commander to have been a valuable asset that they don't wish to lose. Speaking for myself, I agree with them. Except that I would feel such a loss much more keenly. End Transmission."

Looks like we'll be making a slight detour on our way to XenDar Willful, Tom said. "Not that it will cost us much. We'd have