“That is sooo sexy.” She blurted.
Taking all that had been gathered, Oliver funneled it into the vambrace where the orange meter filled in a little bit more. Not enough for the eye to tell a difference though. Storing it for later rather than let it dissipate away. Renee looked at it to find the oval was roughly five to ten percent thicker, the black inside had shrunk some. She looked to her bracelet’s pattern and she had been storing all she could during captivity and had amounted to barely two hairs thicker than original. His luminous hair then lowered and returned to normal.
“I’m so glad you don’t find me repulsive or frightening.”
“The only fear she has is one day your phallus will kill her.”
“SPARKY!!!” Her face went an embarrassing shade of red as the Drake rumbled, his way of a laugh.
The door opened and Rose came on in. “Fear not Renee. I still fear my own mate’s enormous phallus. It ensures they were naturally blessed to service our beauty and our great sexual needs. Speaking of, I’m going to steal him for a time. He’s been in a coma for months and my nether-scales need to be scratched… as I assume yours does for your mate.” The last part was only heard by Renee.
“Maybe. I’ll see how things progress. You just be sure to punish Sparky for his naughty thoughts to try and embarrass me.”
“I didn’t try. I succeeded.” He thought smugly and moved over to run his hard snout along Rose’s face and down her neck which made her purr. They turned and left, not letting Renee get in the last word.
The savory meal was packed away and not seconds later after swallowing, the intercom to their room came on and a deep voice said “Lass, are ye busy?”
“No, Papa… Just finished eating.” She said as she made the door open and wrapped her arms around his waist to lay her head against his solid abdomen. Renee pulled back. “What do you need?”
“To sit down and tell ye something important.”
“Okay.” Jake stepped back and the med bay was quiet. The patients were all settled into nearby rooms to rest and heal under observation. Only one medic was sitting at the desk, but one look from the giant Scotsman and the smaller man left. Then Renee noticed Jessica, Stephanie and Andrea nearby all smiling in relief. Renee dropped down five seats from the roof, taking the one the medic from before vacated. Oliver sat at her side as the others took theirs, all facing each other in a circle. “So what is it, Papa?”
For one of the rarest moments, Renee saw her father uncomfortable. Being the largest in the room made it more obvious as he fidgeted. “Eh, er… how do I say this without ye getting upset…”
“Come on, Brother. Be as blunt as she is.” Jessica rolled her eyes when he cut her a scathing look. “Renee, he and Andrea are back together as mates and he wants you to know he’s planning on marrying her.”
“Huh?” She didn’t understand. It was as if they all began speaking a foreign language.
Andrea leaned forward, the soft lights playing off her caramel skin and shiny black hair. “Renee, I know you had it bad these past months, but Jake and I wanted to tell you about it before someone told you about me and your father.”
“Well how does it work? You are so small. He’d gut you like a fish.” Renee’s filter was switched off.
Andrea smiled at the imagery. “I’m a rather limber woman. Besides being a renowned scientist, I’m a fifty nine time Olympic gold gymnast. I also hold twelve silver and forty three bronze medals. So being with a man of Jake’s size is no issue for me.”
“How did it happen?”
“Yer taking this better than I expected ye to be.” Jake mumbled.
Renee looked up after she watched her father hold Andrea’s hand, well consume it between his fingers more accurately. “Papa, you’ve been alone ever since I was born. I’ve only ever wanted you to be happy. Just because I’m confused by how all this played out doesn’t mean I’m not happy you found someone you like that isn’t out for your money. I know Andrea Loke’s reputation so she isn’t a gold digger like those other propositioning women who contact you for mating privileges.”
“Ye are not mad at me?”
“For falling in love? Never, Papa. Since Ma passed away you’ve either doted on me or been shut in your room when your interests didn’t need our presence. Tell me what happened. Last I remember” Renee turned to Andrea. “you were shooting down Steven’s advances saying you had two mates already.”
“Very true and I did.” Andrea smiled, happy Renee didn’t lose her renowned temper at the news. She was beginning to like the young redhead. “You see, when I was mated to your mother and father, long before you were born, I was a bit more lively and easily excitable. One day your parents proposed we seal our trio in marriage. I tell you now in full disclosure I truly loved Isabelle and Jake more than any mate I had before… or since… but the idea of the old Earth tradition of marriage scared the shit out of me back then. They were both of an era before mine. I didn’t want anything to do with it so I thanked them for sharing their bed with me for the past ten years and we parted ways as is proper. I spent the following two years alone before finding the courage to take a new mate.
“When Jake called me up a couple months back, it brought all the old and happy memories back. I knew Isabelle had died in childbirth and I cried for weeks when I got word because I had been thinking thirty years ago about calling her up and ask to see if we could rekindle our relationship.” Andrea wiped a tear away as the emotion was coming back. “But Jake sent me data on Oliver and you and I was floored to say the least.” She smiled. “But then the Hunter Deegen and the wolf Bell were killed and you were kidnapped.
“Now that I’m older and wiser, my nature had tempered to where I could see things more clearly. Even over a century later Jake hadn’t changed. Family is still the most important thing to him. I didn’t understand just how much till I had a son and daughter of my own. I know I would do anything to see my children returned safe and Jake is a very paternal person if you look past his appearance.”
“And just what is wrong with me appearance?”
“You look like a well groomed hairy barbarian,” Lifted a second finger. “wear skirts better suited to women” Then a third finger raised. “and you don’t wear underwear so one breeze and your dong will poke the eye out of anyone in the crossfire.” Andrea deadpanned.
Silence lasted hardly a second before Oliver burst out laughing followed by Jessica, Stephanie and Renee.
“It’s a kilt to honor me ancestors and Scottish heritage!” Jake billowed.
“It’s a skirt. If you wore underwear it would be a kilt. It’s sexy for a woman to wear nothing under a skirt. Showing pussy is less terrifying than that monstrosity of a tree limb you tote around. For a hairy bear like you it’s normal, but to normally average height people it’s like fearing getting slapped to death by an anaconda if you turn suddenly. Hell, I’m on the receiving end of that monster every time we go to bed so you ought to thank me for pointing it out.”
Renee was laughing so hard the tears flowed. “I never knew anyone other than me or Jess to banter with Papa about his skirts.”
“Kilt. It’s a damn Kilt. K. I. L. T!” Jake huffed. “Men don’t wear skirts. And kilts were originally worn without undergarments.”
“I missed this.” Oliver said and the laughing settled down. “It has been far too long and serious. Andrea, please continue the story.”
“Very well. Where was I? Oh, importance of family. Well in the past century I calmed down after having children and being a mother. So after Jessica and I climbed back up the stairs you threw us down and knew you were taken… I knew Jake’s temper and how to help. I paid to keep you from having body parts sent to us. Oliver was frightening the crew with whatever he was trying to do during those first weeks. But seeing Jake in turmoil with you gone reminded me of how bad I was after hearing about Isabelle’s passing and I’m no telepath, but I knew Jake would be thinking he couldn’t lose you too.
“Befo
re leaving Havannah I met up with my mates and thanked them personally for the past few years together and we separated on good terms. You see, I never told Jake and Isabelle ‘No’ to their proposal. I still loved and still do love your father.” Jake smiled down at her as Andrea kept eye contact with Renee who kept listening. “Jake, as everyone in the galaxies know, has a very short temper and even shorter patience on some things. Something you’ve clearly inherited. So I did my best to keep him from going after you before your mate came back.” Renee looked to Oliver and they smiled at each other to squeeze their intimately connected hands. “Jake made many plans, but the likelihood success of rescuing you was pitiful in calculated percentage. He is a stubborn, but determined man. It is what drew me to him and your mother back then too.
“So I came back into Jake’s arms and had forgotten how virile he is.” Andrea gave a wry grin. “And it’s not just his prowess in the bedroom, I’ve fallen in love all over again. And we decided to hold off the marriage till we got you back. We wanted it to be right and not rushed on account it would be seen as a spur of the moment against near certain death had we come to get you early… and for… other reasons.”
“What reasons?” Stephanie asked, batting her bright blue eyes.
“She’s pregnant.” Oliver said.
“What?” Jessica shot to her feet so fast she lifted a meter off the ground.
“How did ye know, Lad?” Jake asked, digging a finger in his ear as Andrea nodded with a great big smile of satisfaction.
“She has a similar smell as Vanessa when she carried Taylor. But it is faint. She can’t be far along.”
“I’m going to have a baby brother or sister?” A smile grew on Renee’s face. Using Solarian speed Renee sped forward to scoop the little athletic woman in her arms and laughed. “Thank you! I always wanted siblings!” Renee sat the stunned Andrea down and when the shock wore off she giggled and Renee said “What did the tests say? Oh, I always wanted to say this first.” She turned to the captain. “Papa, seems like you’re not shooting dust after all huh.”
Jessica giggled and threw her arms around Andrea next. “Now Jake will be too busy with the new little Dorgen to pester me and Steph. Thank you!”
Jake’s brow furrowed as he tried to understand Renee’s quip. When he did he glared, but it didn’t last long as his beard could not hide his grin to become a father again.
“I don’t really know how far along I am. I unfroze my cycle three months ago and last week I was checked and found pregnant, but I wanted to find out in nature’s course. I’m a high risk carrier for miscarriages. My first two children were close after twelve other miscarriages.”
“No way in hell am I losing a sibling. Get on the table and I’ll splice the issue right out and see what gender I have to look forward to doting on.” Renee commanded, so caught up in the second best news of the day besides freedom.
Out slid a bed from the sanitary white walls. Andrea looked to her mate and saw him nod so she took a steadying breath and laid down her athletically toned body on the warm azure gel of perfect comfort. Andrea placed her hands beneath her small breasts after rolling her shirt up as a drone dropped down to scan. Renee whipped up the counter-solution to combat the miscarriage defect within her own body and delivered it directly in Andrea’s neck. Andrea looked to only see Renee’s right arm pointing at her and furrowed her delicate brow. “What are… Wait, is that the bracelet that female Solarians use to administer stored solutions they collect into themselves?”
“Yup. Oh and it’s not called a Multi-tool. It’s original name is a Valek. I store tens of thousands of basic hormones, liquids and minerals inside my bones at lethal concentrations. I even learned a few poisons that killed more of those bastards than they knew and I never left a mark on their body. One I even gave an overdose of heavy metal poison by using the titanium door they closed me in. All in all I killed half their Phantoms without them suspecting a thing with this innocent little trinket they didn’t know at all about. It came in useful all the time and they could never figure out how the hell I did half the shit they knew I pulled. Until they used the prisoners I was actually having fun playing. Now hold still. I’m going to collect a few traces of dead cells in the amniotic sac. By the way, scans show you are just seven weeks pregnant.” Renee cheerfully smiled while painlessly spearing a needle close to the womb.
In a few minutes she cheered “A BOY! I’m going to have a baby brother!”
“A son? Ye’ve blessed me with a boy!” Jack scooped a laughing Andrea into his massive arms and kissed her full on the mouth and she seemed to enjoy it. “I’m going to retire with me bride to be.”
“Hold your horses, Wooly Booger!” Andrea pushed against his thick barreled chest, but wasn’t set down. “Before we go back to celebrate we need to discuss after Verard.”
“Verard?” Oliver crossed his arms.
“Aye… about the five planets. The Queen castles you found in the nursery. We discussed it with Rose since Sparky was asleep and decided we ought to visit Valley Prime, the Drake home world first. To find this Queen castle. She said she doesn’t know about it, but maybe the Elder Drake council does. Ye decide when it is time as we will not go till ye are up for more adventure. Next’ll be Zerika. We found the ice and volcano world, but they are a bit of a stretch and need time to prepare for preliminary extreme conditions we’ve detected from long range telescope views. We are still searching for the fifth one. The ocean world seems to be a bit elusive. Ye tell us when ye are ready. Sister, Stephanie, ye fill them in on yer project.”
“Sure.” Jessica replied.
“Oh, Papa, I want to ask if I can raid your liquor stores. Since I’m not on medic duty for a few weeks I plan to get wasted and try getting my idiot Match to catch a buzz.”
“Take whatever ye need, Lass. I will see ye for lunch though. Keep it in mind.”
“I promise, Papa. Now you go take care of my new girlfriend and don’t hurt my baby brother or so help me I’ll spice you to shrivel to a safer size.”
“Not without my permission.” Andrea winked. “I hope we become close friends. I don’t want to come between you and Jake.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’m mature when it comes to seeing my Papa happy. Don’t count on being called Ma, but I get the feeling you’ll bring some more laughs into the family.”
“Speaking of family.” Jake paused at the door. “Lad, I already incinerated that present ye left behind before ye left. Can’t take too many precautions yer seed gets in the wrong hands. Rose has already checked for more threats to the crew and found none are disloyal to me rule. Can’t have another Deegen fiasco. Still, yer seed can change the world. I eliminated it being used without yer blessing.”
“I haven’t thought twice about that. Thank you.” With that, Jake and Andrea left hand in hand.
“A baby brother.” Renee sat down with a wistful smile. “He’s going to be so spoiled.”
“Just like his big sister if I have any say. But hopefully a bit kinder and not a biter when throwing a tantrum.” Jessica laughed as Renee flicked her off. “Now let’s come up with a better name for thekid than…”
“Shamus! Stars, is Papa still wanting to call his first son…”
“I didn’t know Andrea was pregnant, but Jake is still determined to call his first son that awful name. We’ve got to intervene. The little guy will never live that name down, even if Jake is his father. Children are mean.”
“We better pull Andrea aside and warn her.” Stephanie added and the other two women were in for it.
“I’ve noticed that though she is a bit eccentric, Andrea can hold her own in a battle of wills. She knows Jake will never strike her and when she wins he has this little laughing twinkle in his eyes. Also he seems to relax whenever she is around.” Jessica told them her observations.
“I’m glad Papa finally found someone to love. It’s been too long. Now I can screw with him by planting ideas in her head.” Renee chuckled evilly.
“Don’t underestimate her, Sweetheart. She isn’t stupid. Next to Jake, she one of the foremost intellectuals in the scientific community…”
Oliver saw his presence wasn’t needed as the conversation was out of his league. This was a time for girls to gather, but sensing his intent Jessica said “Oh, before we head out to give you two time to recover from the separation I wanted to tell you about a few nifty things that has happened while you’ve been gone.”
Oliver paused half way and slid back into the seat with a curious expression. “What kinds of things?”
“Babe, you’re up.” Jessica leaned back, playing with her own auburn hair.
Stephanie smiled and leaned forward. Reaching behind she grabbed something and brought around a baby blue metallic sheathe holding her glittering pink dagger.
Quicker than a striking snake the knife vanished from her hand and she looked up to find it in Oliver’s large hand. He had the knife handle in one hand and the little sheathe in the other. “You finally did it. The sheath membrane is so thin, but you were able to fold the lip back around so you didn’t cut yourself sheathing it.”
“Correct.” Stephanie calmed. “After Renee’s kidnapping Jake kept up pretenses going to the other worlds he banks with or funded. Jess and I contacted his fastest ship in the fleet and under his orders we took command and brought along the stubborn little Jacob Wrench who hopped around till his leg grew back. We brought along the Gravity Forge, as Jessica coined.” Jessica crossed her legs smugly. “We had the prototype and brought along Steven, Visor and about a thousand kilos of varying sheets of metal. From there we slid into subspace for about three weeks to get as close as we safely could to the core of the Andromeda galaxy, being outside the deadly pull of the closest super-giant black hole.
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