Chapter 54

 

            Author’s note: This chapter presumes that you are familiar with Kelvin’s Choice’s story, Tamers, as well as Micah Hakubi’s story, Gunpowder, Treason & Plot, and uses characters and situations from them with their permission. If you have not read these stories, you are very naughty and need to remedy the situation immediately. Both are well worth the time.

***

            Iain opened his eyes and sat up slowly. “Morning.”

            He opened his eyes and sat up, pausing to lean over and kiss Pandora on the cheek. She opened an eye, closed it again and burrowed under the covers until only the top of her purple hair was visible. “Be that way,” he muttered.

            “I will,” her muffled voice came from beneath the blankets, “since it’s not time to get up yet.”

***

            April paused and watched the skirmish. The two figures were blurs as they moved in a spiral around the inside of the circle marked by the rope lying on the ground. The noise from the sound of metal on metal was loud enough to make her wish she’d put in earplugs before starting her rounds.

            With a finger she pushed the goggles on her forehead down so they covered her eyes and blinked as the fight slowed down to something she could resolve. Originally she’d thought the goggles slowed down what she was seeing, but Dominique had explained that it sped up her perception as if she had a speed enhancement of her own, just like when she used the speed card Iain had given her. If it slowed down the view, the Archmage had gone on; she’d fall behind on events and never catch up.

            Now she could see Eve and Pandora’s battle. She watched the fight for a handful of seconds before snorting in annoyance. They had turned what was supposed to be a training session into a friendly bout, something she’d warned them about before.

            Well, since she had warned them, they deserved what was about to happen. April looked around to make sure the area was clear. The rest of the harem was busy in their combat areas while her Dark Magician Girl orbited overhead.

            Nobody was in the prospective line of fire.

            April focused her will and pointed a finger at the ground inside the rope circle. The low power ice beam instantly turned the improvised arena as slick as glass.

            The results were immediate. Pandora had been moving forward to engage Eve again and she shot from the circle at high speed as she scrabbled for traction that suddenly wasn’t there. As soon as she exited the circle, her shoes dug into the ground and she slammed face first into the dirt. Eve was in the middle of a dodge and there was a loud crunch as she slammed to the ice before momentum carried her out of the circle almost at April’s feet.

            Pandora pushed to her hands and knees and spat blood. “Was that really necessary?”

            “You two were playing.” April managed to sound almost as disgusted as she felt. “That will really help a lot when the next Mhodvitnar attacks us and you two are so used to pulling your punches that you do so in the fight.” She looked down at Eve staring up at her. “And since it probably won’t be you that dies this time either, you will stop it right now.”

            Pandora clambered to her feet and picked up her sword. “I can’t fight Eve full bore right now. Her head hasn’t been in our fights for a while now. I won’t kill her in a practice bout.” She spat blood again and reached into her mouth to probe around for the source. “Bit a piece out of my tongue.” The Fallen Angel’s hand glowed as she healed it.

            “I see.” April reached down and took Eve’s hand, pulling her to her feet. “Let’s take a walk, you and I.”

            Eve’s armor and gear vanished to be replaced by a utilitarian set of gray coveralls and boots. “You are Iain’s therapist, not mine.”

            April shook her head. “I am the beta to this harem. While you seem to think that it means that I’m Iain’s confidante, the truth is that I’m everyone’s confidant if they need a sounding board. In most harems it means I’d get to listen to people bitch about Ninhursag’s policies. In this one the needs of each person are a little more exotic, probably because most of the harem is older than dirt.” She grabbed Eve’s hand and jerked the Megami-sama into motion.

            Eve glanced at her as they walked away from the camp and towards some mountains in the distance. “You’ve changed.”

            April looked down at herself. When she’d met Iain she’d been sitting behind a desk for a while and it had showed. Now she was trim and muscular while still being distinctly feminine and her exposed skin was turning brown from the sun. “I run with Iain three days a week and lift weights regularly.”

            “That’s not what I meant. You’ve grown into the role of beta. It suits you.”

            April suppressed a smile but it flickered around her lips anyway. “I think it’s because Iain knows what my job is supposed to be and backs me to the hilt if anyone gives me any lip, but thank you for the compliment.” She stopped and turned to face Eve. “Now would you like to talk about what’s been bothering you?” When Eve looked away, she shrugged. “Then I get to guess. Is this about the fact that you’re no longer the alpha?”

            “No, no it’s not.”

            “I know Ninhursag hasn’t been singling you out for abuse and neither have I.” She cocked her head. “Is there something that I’ve done? Or not done as the case may be?”

            “You’ve been fine.”

            “Is it Iain? Has he done something?”

            “Of course he hasn’t. If I had a problem with Iain, I’d have talked it out with him already.” She sighed. “It’s Lucifer.”

            April blinked. “I’m afraid I don’t know enough about her to guess what could be bothering you about her.”

            “Then why don’t you shut up and listen,” Eve snapped. April nodded and she continued. “Lucifer and I met during the war and became friends as well as lovers. We’ve been friends ever since. I trust her with my life and she trusts me with hers.” She smiled slightly at a memory. “Once, not too long after the war was over and we were teaching ourselves how to read, we read a story about two men who became blood brothers through an ancient ritual where they mingled their blood. We liked the idea and became blood sisters. We have been together, off and on, for over three hundred years.”

            “You love her.” It wasn’t a question.

            “I do.” Eve sighed and found a nice rock to sit on. “I have never denied her anything that I have, but now I think that she wants Iain to give her children and I don’t know what to do.”

            April looked stunned. “I heard she said she wanted to come with us so she could help the world out.”

            Eve shrugged slightly. “She did and she wasn’t lying about it. That doesn’t mean she’s not interested in Iain too.”

            “I think your worry is a little premature.”

            “You don’t think she’s interested in our husband?”

            The Duelist sat down next to Eve and put her arm around the Megami-sama’s waist. “I don’t think it matters right now and I think you’ve made a couple of mistakes in your thought process.”

            Eve rested her head on April’s shoulder. “Please tell me I’m wrong.”

            “To be honest, I don’t know if Lucy wants Iain or not. However, I can tell you this: You said you’ve never denied Lucy anything that was yours. Iain isn’t yours to give, loan, sell, rent or lease and so it doesn’t matter what she wants from you. Can you imagine his response if you told him that you were loaning him to someone for sex after what happened in that village with the Dildoqueen?”

            Eve relaxed against her sister. “He might actually hit me.”

            “No, he’d be disappointed in you, which would hurt you more than if he did strike you.”

            Eve shook her head without lifting it. “Are you aware that’s a Megami trick, making disappointment into a weapon? He’s the first human I’ve ever known who could use it the same way they do.”

            “He says it’s a more common ability where he comes from, but be that as it may, he would also not just trot off and stick his dick into Lucy because you said he should. I haven’t asked him if he’s interested in her, but he’s repeatedly said he’s not that excited about the idea of sex outside of the family. As you know, he claims that we keep him sexed enough that he needn’t look elsewhere for it and I don’t think he’s just saying that to make us feel good about ourselves.”

            “Lucy isn’t family. I also know for a fact that the reason he let Vanessa stick around in the beginning was because she’s carrying what he considers his kid. He might be willing to pimp himself out to keep us safe, like in the village, but I think he draws the line at getting strange women pregnant and walking away. He said once that it happened a lot on the world he came from and he’d always found it appalling that anyone could be so callous to their own offspring.” April realized she was still wearing the goggles and tore them off with an exasperated motion. “But while you can’t tell him to fuck Lucy, if you were to ask him not to have any sort of relationship with her, that he would listen to.” She tightened her grip around Eve’s waist. “So it is within your power to keep Lucy away from Iain even if she desires him.”

            “But should I?”

            “That isn’t my decision to make. Personally, I don’t think Iain needs to get involved with breeding pokegirls outside of our little family.”

            “It’s having children, not breeding.”

            “That’s semantics, Eve, and you know it. Humans are bred just as pokegirls are. The word has no negative connotations for me.”

            “I don’t like it.”

            April shook Eve gently. “Your problem is that you celestials often focus on the delicate aspects of being human and ignore the realities. Humans are as brutal, in their own way, as pokegirls are. They are to us and they are to each other, just like we are. Iain says it’s just part of what shows we’re as human as they are.”

            “Sometimes Iain talks too much,” Eve’s voice was soft.

            “Only when he has something to say,” April countered, “otherwise he’s about as chatty as a boulder. If you ask him not to get Lucy pregnant, he won’t. If you ask him to not have any contact with Lucy at all, he’ll follow your wishes once you explain why.” She kissed the crown of Eve’s head. “And he needs to know this.”

            Eve’s voice was softer. “I know. It’s just that this is tearing me up inside. There are two people I love most in the world and they’re it.” She sighed heavily. “I can’t tell him.”

            April rubbed her back soothingly. “I know you can’t. Don’t worry, Eve. I’ll do it. It’s part of my job.”

***

            Iain settled back in the uncomfortable chair and tuned out the speech Colin Llewellyn was giving as a part of Monica’s retirement. It was all pabulum anyway, filled with platitudes about her long and distinguished service to her country and how it should be lesson to everyone else about rededicating themselves to the advancement of the league and diluted only by the occasional anecdote involving Chambers that served to drive whatever point he was making home in the minds of the listeners.

            The higher up someone climbed up the management ladder, the more generic these speeches became and the more the persons making them politicized them for their own advancement. After all, if the person they were supposed to say nice things about was leaving, it was very tempting to use the speech to instead say nice things about the speaker since he or she still had a career to advance. And if that career was political, involving convincing others to vote for him…it was just too great a temptation to resist.

            Or perhaps Iain was just too much of a cynic.

            He looked around the room, surreptitiously eyeing the seated people who’d decided to attend the open ceremony. Even if it had been a state secret about the circumstances of her abrupt retirement, ugly rumors would have still swirled around Chambers. The regular citizens of the league weren’t aware of what had happened and the whole situation involving the Orange League’s theft of military pokegirls had been classified and buried. However, it wasn’t a complete secret in the halls of the government and most of these people had elected to attend more to see and be seen by the elite who were remaining in the government and not because they wanted to bid Monica a fond farewell. They didn’t really want to be here, but had decided to attend in order to show solidarity with the administration and also to try and bend the ear of the President of the Blue League as well as members of the Cabinet. Iain had circulated quietly before the ceremony had begun and had overheard the pointed barbs at Monica’s expense.

            Remembering some of the comments, he decided that no, he wasn’t too cynical.

            Once the speeches were over and the crowd had started a surge towards the expansive buffet that lined one wall, Iain began slipping through the crowd in Monica’s direction, closely followed by Dominique. He wasn’t allowed to be armed here and the assemblage included several of the free pokegirls in the upper administration of the league, so the Archmage was careful to keep him within arm’s reach.

            As he made his way in her direction, a Herochan with bright orange hair cut in a crop shook Chambers’ hand and headed for the buffet. Camille saw them approaching and whispered to her mistress, causing Monica to turn and give Iain a bright smile. “Kerrik, I’m glad you could make it. You too, Dominique.” She looked past them and turned inquisitive eyes on Iain. “Where is everyone else?”   

            “I’m afraid the invitation said I could only bring one harem member and Dominique here insisted it be her.”

            Monica’s smile faded into a quick scowl. “I didn’t know they were limiting attendance for people. It’s not like this was standing room only.”

            Dominique took her hand and squeezed it gently. “I’ve attended a lot of retirements and this was new to me, too. I think, perhaps, they were concerned that Kerrik would stage a coup and make you President. After all, you and he are friends and we all know you’re not retiring because you want to.”

            The redhead shrugged slightly. “It happened on my watch and therefore was my fault. I knew what the result would be and I accept it without complaint.”

            Dominique snorted. “Blind obedience is just that, blind.” Iain took her elbow and shook it slightly, making her glance at him. “What?”

            Iain decided that this was not the place to call Chambers by the nickname that apparently only he used. “We’re here to support Monica in her decision, not to be critical of it.”

            The Archmage’s skin was too dark to see her flush, but it could be heard in her voice. “He’s right and I’m sorry, Monica.”

            Chambers squeezed back and let Dominique’s hand go. “It’s ok, Dominique. Just because I accept what’s happening without complaint doesn’t mean that I like it.”

            “So what’s next?” Iain deliberately changed the subject. “Are you going to write your memoirs?”

            Monica chuckled. “I may, but in the meantime we’re starting a family, remember? I suspect the children will keep us very busy.”

            Iain’s brow furrowed. “Children? Is Undine carrying more than one then?”

            Chambers shook her head. “Not as far as we know, she isn’t, but Camille and I have decided to get pregnant too. I’m not that old and one of the few good things that comes from having enough pokegirl blood to worry about threshold is the fact that the women of my family don’t go through menopause until we’re in our seventies. I’m not anywhere near that.”

            Iain blinked. “Who’s the lucky fellow?”

            Monica gave him a smug look. “Jamie.”

            Iain’s face froze. “He gave you sperm?”

            “Not exactly.” Monica hesitated for a moment. “I’m never sure just how much you know about the programs in the government, but are you aware of why we take blood and tissue samples from tamers when they register?”

            “It’s to test for blood traits and other issues.”

            She nodded. “That’s correct, but those samples also have other uses. White blood cells have DNA in them and we separate out the white cells and store them. If a tamer proves remarkable and dies before reproducing, his or her DNA is removed from storage and used to inseminate volunteer pokewomen. It’s a good way to keep as much genetic variability as possible in the population and also helps to slowly improve humanity. Jamie Harris Wolf was declared dead a while ago and I’ve volunteered.”

            “You’re not a pokewoman.”

            She smirked. “Yes, I’ve noticed that. I am, however, highly placed in the government and there’s a pilot program to use the DNA for human women to have kids. I pulled some strings and got me and Camille into our respective programs. Donna will be eligible too, when she’s ready to have children. The process makes it almost seventy percent likely that a pokewoman’s child will be human, by the way.”

            “Oh.” Lost for a moment in the privacy implications involved in the Blue League’s latest idea, Iain had to pull his mind back to the present with an effort. “Well, congratulations on your upcoming pregnancy.”

            “Thank you.” Monica looked over Iain’s shoulder. “One of President Llewellyn’s security staff is waving to us. I think she’s trying to get your attention, Kerrik.”

            Iain looked over his shoulder. The blonde Amazonchan stopped waving at them and made an imperious motion for him to come to her. “I think you’re right.” He glanced at Dominique. “Should I go find out what she wants?”

            The Archmage flashed teeth in a grin. “That might be a good idea.”

            “Go on, Kerrik.” Chambers made a shooing motion with her hands. “We can talk more later on when I see you again.”

            “All right. Be well, Monica.”

            Camille waited until he was well of earshot before speaking softly. “You didn’t tell him, mistress?”

            Monica shook her head. “One knows that cutting the hair of a Dark Lady will anger her without having to actually do it. I don’t have to tell him to know that Kerrik wouldn’t be happy and some of his harem might try to do something about it if they knew.”

            “Yes mistress.” Camille watched Iain with troubled eyes. “Canaan is psychic and she might find out.”

            “She’s not here and we’ll just have to be careful when we’re around her.”

            “Yes, mistress, I will.”

            The DNA salvage program was actually two different operations under the same umbrella name. In the first, tamer DNA was induced into undergoing meiosis and halted in mid reproduction, resulting in the same amount of DNA found in a sperm or egg cell. The result was combined with the pokewoman’s DNA in usual fashion through in vitro fertilization and the egg developed normally. In the second, the tamer’s entire DNA was inserted into an empty egg, which was then stimulated to develop. While there was some genetic change because the egg itself influenced the development of the fetus, this technique resulted in the closest thing to a clone of the tamer as possible. The second process was the one that Camille had volunteered to undergo, but she wasn’t going to be using Jamie Wolf’s DNA.

            She was going to have a clone of Iain Grey.

***

            Iain stopped in front of the Amazonchan. “Good afternoon, Mallory. I hope you’re well today.”

            Her eyes widened in surprise. “How did you know my name?”

            “President Llewellyn thanked you by name when you took me to see him. Now, what can I do for you?”

            “He wants to see you, Admiral Wolf.”

            Iain felt a tiny surge of anxiety from Dominique and sent her a feeling of reassurance that he wasn’t sure he really felt. He didn’t dislike Colin Llewellyn, but the man was president of the Blue League and therefore a consummate politician with all that meant. “I’m not really sure I’m up to hobnobbing, but I’ll do my best. Where is he?”

            Mallory motioned to a door. “Please come with me, admiral, and I’ll take you to him.”

            Llewellyn was standing with a swarthy man wearing a dark suit and tie. The only color on him was from the Blue League pin on his lapel. A neatly dressed Amachamp and a tall Grandelf stood close enough to spring into action but far enough away to give the illusion of privacy to the two humans.

            Llewellyn smiled as Iain followed Mallory into the room. “Admiral Wolf, it’s good to see you again.”

            “Thank you, Mr. President.” Iain took the offered hand. “Mallory said you wanted to speak with me?”

            “I did, admiral. I wanted to introduce you to Minister McHugh. He’s taking Minister Chambers’ place.”

            The swarthy man nodded briefly to Iain. “Admiral, I am Caleb Pierre McHugh and I’m the new Minster of Defense. I asked President Llewellyn to introduce us. I’m sorry we haven’t been able to meet before and I’ll need to have a word with you as soon as I’m done with the president, so if you’d be so kind as to wait over there I’ll be with you in a moment.”

            Don’t do it. Dominique silently warned. He doesn’t know you yet.

            Iain didn’t glance in her direction. “As you wish, minister.” He bowed in Llewellyn’s direction. “Mr. President.” Then he and Dominique moved to join Mallory, who had taken up position near the door they’d entered through.

            McHugh and Llewellyn spoke quietly for another minute before the president headed for the door. He stopped in front of Iain. “Kerrik, I finished that painting. I was wondering if you’d be willing to accept it as a gift.”

            Iain blinked. “I’d be honored to. I liked it.”

            “Thank you, Kerrik. Mallory will contact you tomorrow and arrange for you to come over and get it. I and the league are very grateful for what you have done, but I’m afraid the entire incident was classified so, once again, you don’t get any medals out of it.”

            “That’s ok, Mr. President. Like I said, in the beginning I was just doing Monica a favor and it kind of snowballed.”

            “Yes, I remember you did. Well, thanks again and I hope you have a nice day.” His security team surrounded him and he left.

            McHugh waited until Llewellyn was gone before turning his attention to Iain. “Admiral Wolf, I want you in my office tomorrow morning at nine. You and I have a lot to talk about.”

            “Has the Des Moines delivered the new cruiser already? I hadn’t heard anything from Monica about it, but then I’m not sure when she was relieved of her duties.”

            McHugh shook his head. “No, it’s not, but I am not going to have an admiral collecting full pay while he’s waiting for his dream job to appear. There are other things you can be doing while waiting for it and tomorrow we’ll discuss what I want to you do in the meantime.”

            Iain realized he was looking inside McHugh’s torso at his heart and imagining it in his hands. He forced himself to focus on the man’s craggy face. “Very well, minister. I’ll be there at nine. How much time should I allocate for this meeting?”

            “Clear your schedule, admiral. I am your boss, after all.”

            Iain nodded slowly. “Yes, minister, you are. If there’s nothing else,” he let his tone rise at the end to make it a question. When McHugh nodded, Iain opened the door for Dominique and followed her out.

***

            “I know you’re busy, but can I steal you for a few minutes?”

            Eve closed the box and sealed it with tape before looking up to see Iain and Ninhursag. “I could use a break from all of the packing. What did you want?” She sat down on the bed and waved towards it. “Sit, please.”

            Iain ushered the Elfqueen into Eve’s bedroom and shut the door behind him. “April came to talk to me about your problem.” He shrugged slightly when she glanced at Ninhursag. “I wanted her here too because this has the potential to affect both inside our family as well as outside, so the maharani needs to know about it.”

            Ninhursag looked curiously from Iain to Eve. “What is going on?”

            “Eve’s concerned that Lucifer is going along with us in part because she wants a child from me.”

            The Elfqueen ran fingers through her silver hair. “I’d thought about that myself and I’m not surprised that Eve, as our Megami-sama, considered it too.” She patted Eve on the thigh. “I finally decided that it was a bit premature to worry. However, you and Lucy are as close as twins and if you’re worried, then there’s something to worry about. What do you think, Eve, or did she tell you this?”

            “No, she hasn’t said anything about it, but when Sif became interested in Iain, Lucifer responded as vigorously as I did. She was behaving like a woman protecting her man and that caught my attention. She’s not normally like that.” She frowned as a something occurred to her. “Iain, have you bonded Lucifer to you?”

            His eyebrows shot up. “No, I haven’t, and we have not been involved in anything the least bit supernatural together, so I doubt there’s any chance it happened by accident either. She’s outside the family and I have my hands full with all of you. I’ll look at other women, but you ladies keep me so busy I doubt I could raise more than a smile for an outsider. And, to be honest, I don’t want to try.” He sat down on the bed next to Eve and leaned against her. “I’m happy here. I wasn’t happy much before I met you ladies.”

            “So you’re not interested in Lucifer?”

            “I am a male and we have certain drives. However, outside the urge to breed every female I meet, I am not interested in bedding Lucifer and, if she offered, I’d turn her down. I’ll be her friend, but that’s it.”

            Eve rubbed her neck thoughtfully. “What if I wanted you to sleep with her?”

            Iain stared at her. “Why would you want to do that?”

            “I love her, Iain. I love you too and I don’t know if I would want to share you with her.”

            His eyes narrowed. “Let me make this easy for you. You don’t get to share me. I don’t really care what you and Lucifer did before now, but I am not property and I do not get shared.”

            Eve groaned. “I didn’t say that right, Iain. I meant what if I wanted you to participate in a threesome with me and Lucifer.”

            “I get threesomes now, if I want them.” He held up a hand as she started to snap something at him. “But I understand what you’re saying. Lucifer isn’t a part of this family and if I have sex with her there is a chance she’ll bond with me. If she’s willing to chance it and you’re willing to chance it and,” he waved a hand to include Ninhursag, “everyone else is willing to chance it, then and only then can you come to me and we’ll find out if I’m willing to chance it. If I am, then we will negotiate in advance what might or might not happen.” He gave her a stern look. “And I will ask the others if you consulted with them long before I make any promises to you or anyone else.” His head swiveled to pin Ninhursag in his gaze. “And that’s the way I will entertain any ideas like this from anyone in our family. If everyone is in accord, then someone can come and talk to me. If one person dissents, just one of you doesn’t like the idea, then don’t bother.”

            Ninhursag nodded. “Doesn’t that pretty much guarantee that nobody will ask you to have sex with anyone outside our family?”

            He looked surprised for a second. “Why, I do believe it does. Fancy that.”

            Eve snickered in spite of herself. “Fine, I accept your rules. We all know that it’ll be a cold day in Hell before April or Pandora wants to share you with anyone outside the family.”

            Iain shrugged. “I believe in Dante’s Hell and there is ice there. But I can’t argue with your reasoning about April or Pandora.” He smiled. “I wouldn’t even try, so you don’t have to worry about Lucifer ending up in my bed anytime in the near future.”

            Eve smiled slowly. “I can live with that.”

***

            Iain looked at himself in the reflection from the wall of the elevator and grimaced. “Is this fucking tie crooked?”

            Dominique turned him around and inspected it. “Yes.” Deft fingers straightened it and then flickered over the rest of the number 3A blue dress uniform in a quick check. “I swear it was perfect before we left the house.”

            He smiled slightly. “I guess this uniform hates me as much as I hate it.”

            “Why are you wearing it, anyways? Thanks to Monica, the IG can wear civilian clothing, Iain.”

            “I don’t think McHugh is going to care about that.” He hefted the briefcase he carried. “And this isn’t filled with guns to make him care, either. What did you find out about him?”

            “He’s ambitious and stories suggest he has his eye on becoming president someday.” Dominique held out her arms. “How’s my suit look?”

            Iain glanced over her dark blue pant suit. “Perfect as always.”

            “Good,” the Archmage said in a satisfied tone. “McHugh wasn’t one of Harris’ protégés, but there is no love lost between him and Cherry. I’m not aware of any open feuds between the two of them. Do you think he’ll use your relationship with Cherry to hammer us?”

            “I guess we’ll find out.”

            Once again there was an Iron Maiden sitting at the desk on the Minister’s floor reception area, but this one was new and had a pinkish cast to her skin that suggested a Jigglyslut lineage somewhere in her past. She merely looked up from her typing and nodded to him as he and Dominique headed past her and down the hallway.

            The waiting room was full of BLSF officers from various branches. Each of them had at least one pokegirl with them as a bodyguard or aide and that meant every seat was filled and even then people still stood around waiting. Iain headed for the receptionist’s desk and produced his ID for the Growlie who sat behind it. “I’m Admiral Wolf and I have a nine o’clock appointment with Minister McHugh.”

            The pokegirl checked the ID card against something on her monitor. “Admiral, everyone here was supposed to be here at nine o’clock, so please have a seat and be patient. The minister will get to you as soon as he gets to you.”

            Iain’s face went carefully blank as he put his ID away. You know, I’ve been good up to this point. I know he’s not Monica and his ways are different, but I am not inclined to just sit on my ass all morning to make him happy.

            Dominique glanced around the room. And that’s only if we can find you a place to sit. Still, you agreed with us that meeting with him is necessary and pissing him off first thing is probably not a good idea. Do you want me to go get a chair for you?

            No, we’ll sit on the floor over there.

            She gave him a look. You’re a bloody O7. I can roust some of these staff officers and find you a seat. That brigadier over there will do nicely. He was staring at my ass the whole time you were talking to the secretary.

            No. I can’t fault him for staring at such a nice ass. Iain found a corner of the room and sat down. He glanced up at Dominique as he opened his attaché case and removed a cribbage board and a deck of cards. “Want to play?”

            “Oh, you’re cruel,” she said softly. “Every pokegirl here is going to be so jealous of me. Do I have to let you win?”

            “Have I ever asked you to before? Kick my ass if you can.”

            She grinned and sat down in front of him, reaching for the deck. “I’ll deal first. You know that bridge is an officer’s game, right?”

            “I am a submariner and cribbage is our game of choice.” His eyes glinted eagerly. “Now shut up and play.”

***

            “Admiral Wolf?” Iain looked up from his cards at the Growlie. She gave him an apologetic smile. “The minister will see you now.”

            Dominique took his cards and put them back in the box with the rest of them. “That’s four games for you and six for me,” she said in a voice thick with satisfaction. “And this one doesn’t count.”

            Iain put everything back in his briefcase. “That’s only because I was about to peg out and you know it.”

            She stood and pulled him to his feet. “As they say, close only counts in hyperbeams and earthquakes. Life is filled with these little disappointments.” The room was empty except for them and the Growlie. “I see he kept us cooling our heels long enough.”

            Two hours, forty minutes and fifteen seconds, his twee whispered to him.

            Dominique blinked. I keep forgetting I have this little voice in my head now, but it’s very accurate.

            Mine too. He picked up his peaked cap and tucked it under his arm with his briefcase. “Lead the way.”

            McHugh had decorated his office with memorabilia from his career in the BLSF. Horns and other bits of various pokegirls he’d apparently killed were on display alongside his officer’s sword and pictures of him with various famous people, some of whom even Iain recognized. A Bandame, incongruous in a captain’s uniform, stood guard next to the door while an insect pokegirl that his internal pokedex informed him was a Killerbreast stood against the wall behind McHugh’s desk.

            Iain bobbed his head in a bow. “Minister.”

            McHugh pointed at a pair of chairs. “Take a seat, admiral.” He leaned back in his seat. “I understand that you were a sailor in the United States Navy. Is that correct?”

            Iain motioned for Dominique to sit beside him. “I was. However, I need to clarify that I was a submariner, not a sailor. The Silent Service breeds a different mindset than that found in surface ships. We all have to pull our weight and we don’t have time to coddle the useless that’s always found as a percentage of any surface fleet.” His eyes met McHugh’s. “I still have that mindset. When combined with the fact that I have only small unit command experience, putting me in charge of a ship or squadron is insane.”

            “Then why are you an admiral at all, Wolf?”

            “It’s only because Colin wanted me to be one, minister. I was perfectly happy being a civilian consultant at best, but he insisted.”

            McHugh gave him a puzzled look. “Colin? Who is Colin?”

            Dominique smiled. “That would be President Llewellyn, minister. I’m afraid that Kerrik forgets that not everyone is on a private first name basis with him.”

            McHugh stared at Iain for a moment. “I see,” he said slowly. Then his gaze sharpened. “Be that as it may, admiral, you’ve got a lot of experience that the BLSF could use in improving itself.”

            “I disagree. My experience was in the American military and the BLSF is a product of a distinctly British tradition that served it well for several hundred years. Not to mention the United Kingdom was smart enough to steal what they thought was useful from the US and incorporate it into their traditions. In most cases, they only stole the good stuff, too, so what little I might be able to add is very likely already present in one form or another.”

            McHugh pulled a sheet of paper from underneath his blotter. “What I’ve decided to do is post you as an aide to Admiral Stephens at the Devonport Royal Shipyard. You report to him in three days.” He skimmed the paper across the desk at Iain. “You’ll need to familiarize yourself with the base in any case since that’s where the cruiser will be homeported out of.”

            Iain didn’t pick it up. “You haven’t heard a word I’ve said, have you?”

            “Oh, I heard you perfectly well, admiral. I just don’t care. You are in the league’s service and you will go where I send you and you will do what I tell you to do.”

            Iain opened his briefcase and pulled a sheet of paper from within it. He laid it on the desk. “Here’s my resignation from the BLSF, effective immediately. I’ll leave my ID with front receptionist unless you’d like it now.”

            McHugh smiled thinly. “I refuse to accept your resignation.”

            Iain shrugged. “And I refuse to accept your refusal. You can issue all of the orders you’d like, but you’ll find me unavailable to carry them out. I’m not your servant or your pokegirl and I’m not at your beck or call.”

            “I can have you arrested for breaking your oath to the Blue League.”

            “I never took an oath, McHugh. I’ve seen my service record and so I know there’s nothing in there about me taking any sort of oath to the league. Even if something suddenly appeared in it, I know the truth and I can’t be coerced into anything because of a lie. Now I admit that you can have me arrested, but I promise you I won’t stay arrested for long. What I can’t promise you is that I won’t kill anyone when I leave your custody. Things like that are rather situational, you see.” He watched the Killerbreast come completely alert and knew without having to use his perception, that the Bandame behind him had done the same thing. “I don’t want any violence, McHugh, but I won’t sit idly by and have force used on me, either.”

            “I am the minister and will be addressed as such, admiral.”

            “There’s the problem. I’ve already resigned, so you’re not my minister anymore and I’m not your admiral.” He sighed when Dominique poked him in the side. “Sorry, believe it or not I am trying to be polite about this.”

            McHugh snorted. “This is polite?”

            “Yes, this is me being polite. I seriously considered sending you my resignation in by video or text. I even thought about not responding at all and not being anywhere you could get your hands on me. There are still a few places I could go where not even the Blue League could find me and I know where some of them are.”

            “So why even bother coming in, admiral?”

            Iain chuckled. “You are not going to suck me in by continuing to call me admiral. But to answer your question, I came in because I told Monica that I’d work up her cruiser and she also wanted me to act as a troubleshooter for odd jobs. I am here because I wanted to see if you’d honor her agreement with me or if you wanted to be friends. You didn’t even try to and instead started issuing orders and generally treating me like a flunky. That’s one of the reasons I walked away from Harris, that and the fact that she started playing games with my ebony stone.”

            “I understood that you agreed to work up the cruiser for your rank and pay, admiral.”

            “Whoever told you that was mistaken. I agreed to do it because Monica is my friend. Colin is the one who insisted on making me an Admiral of the Blue.” He shrugged. “I looked it up. It’s the equivalent of a vice admiral in other navies. At least he made me the smallest admiral he could. But I never wanted it and now I’m giving it back. I don’t want any retirement pay, I don’t want any benefits and I don’t want any of the other perks that come with the position. I just want left alone and that means you don’t really have a stick with which to try and convince me to cooperate.” He raised a hand when McHugh opened his mouth angrily. “And before you say what you’re thinking, please understand that I am aware that my records indicate I have a delta bond with one of my harem, Eve is not here and my harem is currently on a two second standby to come in and deal with anything trying to impede my leaving. I admit that it’s just one harem and you’ve got lots of combat people here, but considering what my file says about my string of accomplishments in that other place, you might want to reconsider any threats you are thinking about uttering.”

            McHugh suddenly looked like he was trying to swallow glass as he glared daggers at Iain. Finally he spoke, his words a growl. “How can I contact you if I have some of that contract work you agreed to do for Minister Chambers?”

            “You can send me a message to my tradesman account. I’ll answer as soon as I get it. I’ll even be waiting for Monica’s message trying to guilt me into doing what you want. In spite of getting raped by the Blue League, she’s a Blue through and through and will whore herself out for you if you ask her to.”

            “Would it work?”

            “I like Monica. She’d probably want to meet and she can be rather charming when she puts her mind to it. At that point, you never know. I am still a sucker for a damsel in distress.”

            McHugh blinked. “Are you talking about Monica Chambers, the former Minister of Defense? I’ve never heard anyone refer to her as charming.”

            “Well, she can be. Probably she’s never been that way at work because women are still discriminated against in the military and definitely in the ministries. She can’t relax around coworkers because they’d rat her out or spread rumors that could sink her career. I think I’m the only person outside of her harem that she feels comfortable relaxing around. The league ran off her only other best friend when it booted Jamie Wolf from the BLSF and then went after him and his family.” He shook his head. “Things would have been very different if he’d gone on to become a reserve officer like I’d planned for him to. It’s likely that the Orange League’s operations here would have been found out a lot earlier and stopped before they did all of the damage you’re going to uncover.” He blinked. “Sorry, I’m woolgathering. Are we done here?”

            McHugh sighed and rubbed his forehead. “I don’t see where there’s anything left to discuss. Our business is done, admiral.”

            “At least it is until I get far enough away that you won’t be collateral damage when the Blackguard’s team you send tries to take me down, right?”

            The Minister of Defense’s mouth dropped. “Get out of my office. I’ll let the front desk know to relieve you of your ID.”

            Without a word, Iain and Dominique rose and left. He didn’t speak until they were in the hallway. “Considering the circumstances, I don’t think the elevator is a good idea.” He grimaced. “And I’d just gotten used to using them again. Oh, well. Think they’ll try for us in the stairwell?”

            The Archmage shook her head. “The Blackguards are good, but they’d have to be already on standby to get into position that fast and McHugh wasn’t expecting you to resign and doesn’t know I turned in my resignation from the BLSF this morning. And the BLSF stopped keeping reaction teams at the ministry a decade ago. I am curious, though, what’s the plan for dealing with the ones he is likely to send?”

            “I’m tired of this place and its games. We’re almost finished packing. If we push, we can be done and gone in a day.”

            Ninhursag’s mind touched his. We’ll be done or we’ll leave stuff behind. We’re already leaving the furniture so it’ll be available for when we make visits back. We all know we will be returning to this world from time to time. If nothing else we still have to get Lucifer and her people when they’re ready to go. But we can be ready to go tonight. Late tonight, but definitely tonight.

            “Then it’s settled,” Iain said quietly. “We leave on the morrow.”

***

THE END

***

Iain Grey - Tradesman

Living Harem

Ninhursag - Elfqueen (maharani)

Eve - Megami-sama

Dominique - Blessed Archmage

April - Duelist

Zareen - Nightmare

Pandora - Fiendish Fallen Angel

Canaan - G-Splice (Amachamp Hunter/Alaka-Wham)

Sofia - Peekabu

Raquel – Fiendish Rapitaur

 

Dead Harem

Eirian - Silver Dragoness

Skye - Blue Dragoness

Emerald - Green Dragoness

Aurum - Gold Dragoness

Beryl - Red Dragoness

Julia - human

Ling - Cheetit

Matilda - White Tigress

21x Twau