Harris Saga Chapter 11
Devon walked up the gangplank of the Tampopo. She was a modest vessel who hid her age under several coats of dark green paint. She looked well used but cared for.
At least that was what the sailor on the next ship down had said when Devon asked him. From everything that he knew about ships all he could personally tell was that it looked old and was still afloat. He could also tell that she didn’t look very big.
Hatsumi followed him. The pokegirls were still rotating through as bodyguards for him. At least Dima and Seraphina weren’t ready for the job, not until Devon and Kathryn had started working out their places in the harem.
Devon surrendered his ticket and turned to watch his father stride away from the wharf, pushing his way through the small crowd. The set of his shoulders fairly shouted that he was still unhappy to anyone who knew him as well as Devon.
He’d given Devon the small package that he was to “only place in the hands of Professor Stroak.” He’d also been mildly aggravated when Devon informed him that it looked like his harem had eaten the blueberry jam. He’d turned from his son with a stormy look on his brow, muttering something about being unsurprised that his son was unable to control his harem.
Devon knew he shouldn’t take pleasure in his father’s anger, but it felt very good.
“Sir, you are in cabin 26. Just go down that passageway and follow the blue line on the wall. Here is your welcome pack.” Devon glanced at the Catgirl and accepted his pack and proceeded along the indicated direction.
His cabin was on deck 2, which meant that it was on the interior of the ship below the primary deck. It was darker and for some reason seemed slightly gloomy. He found the door to cabin 26 and unlocked it with the key in his packet.
“Da, you are some kind of bastard.” The room was just large enough to fit a twin sized bed and tiny dresser. Devon hoped there was a bathroom somewhere on his deck because there wasn’t one in his cabin. He had no doubt that his cabin was a deliberate slight on the part of his father.
His father wouldn’t put luggage in a room like this.
“Hatsumi sees that you got a prime piece of real estate.” Her voice was heavy with sarcasm. “Now that we’ve seen your closet, where are the rest of your quarters?”
Devon had to laugh. “I don’t think we are going to be having any orgies in this room.”
Hatsumi eyed the bed. “Master Devon, Hatsumi doesn’t see where you are going to be able to tame Dima at all here. Even if you can get her to fit, that bed will never hold her weight.”
Devon gave the bed a speculative once over. “I’ll figure something out.” He didn’t sound happy.
***
“Now turn with me and let your sword follow mine.” Tess rotated her sword slowly and Devon followed with the point of his bokken staying in contact with the tip of hers. Hatsumi stood guard nearby.
Tess finished the movement, which put him back in a ready position, and stepped back. “Now go through it slowly without me.” He did so, with Tess correcting him as he went.
For three hours every day Devon practiced the sword with Tess on the fantail of the Tampopo. After that he spent another three hours working on his martial arts.
While not quite a disaster, this trip certainly wasn’t the joyous excursion he’d been hoping for. The cabin was the only place he could Tame and it was way too small.
Devon was beginning to wonder if he wouldn’t be forced to put most of his pokegirls into stasis for the rest of the trip.
Tess signaled the end of this morning’s sword training. Devon wiped the sweat off his face and glanced at the horizon. It would be another three hours until sunup.
The Tampopo was running lightly loaded with passengers, but there were enough of the nosy people to force Devon to schedule his trainings from midnight until dawn.
He sighed and looked down at his bokken. “Tess I could swear I dimly remember buying a sword.” He glanced at her. “I can still faintly remember you taking it back from me. I don’t remember seeing it since. I wonder, could you tell me where it is?”
Tess gave him a slow smile. “Lamya has it along with my sword. You’ll get it back when she’s done.”
“What is she doing?”
“You’ll see.” She looked mysterious and then grinned. “I promise you it is a good thing.”
“Do you remember when I mentioned that I don’t care for surprises that much?”
Tess smiled serenely. “Right after you said that I seem to remember Kathryn stating that change is often good. I do believe she got a hearty round of hear-hears.”
Devon just shook his head. “Remind me again who’s in charge of this little misadventure?”
Taking off her helmet, Tess gave him a gentle kiss. “Why you are, my lord.” She gave him an innocent look. “Do you wish to punish me for being disobedient?” A wry smile appeared. “Assuming you can find someplace for us to go?”
“I’ll remember this little rebellion you wenches are cooking up.” His smile gave lie to his words.
Tess smiled in the shadows of the dim lighting on the fantail. “I need to go take a shower before going back into my pokeball. If I hurry I can get all the hot water before all the other indentured servants on our deck wake up. Farewell, my lord.”
Devon watched her go. “Our deck is more like slave quarters. Indentured servants would have better rooms.” It had only been a couple of days, but still Devon already despised his cabin. He was not looking forward to the rest of this trip.
He draped the towel over a nearby chair and started his katas when he was interrupted.
“Master Devon, may Hatsumi have a moment of your time?”
Devon came out of his horse stance. “Anytime you need it. What is it that you want?”
“Hatsumi is curious and need some questions answered. Master Devon, Hatsumi believes that you are not happy with your accommodations and would be much happier in a better cabin. Is this correct?”
“Yes, Hatsumi, that would be correct.”
“Hatsumi believes that there is a solution. It should actually be an easy one in fact.”
“I’m not going to pick a cabin that I like and let you eat the people already in it.”
She looked at him curiously. “Hatsumi had not considered that option. It is good to see that you are trying to find a solution to our problem. Indeed my master is very wise. That would work nicely. But there is an easier way that won’t require you to explain what happened to the previous inhabitants. You must use charm.”
Devon scratched his ear. “Charm? I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
“Hatsumi’s previous master Hiro used charm when we traveled. When one uses charm on a pokegirl they will give you things.” Devon had already noticed that Hatsumi referred to several previous masters on a regular basis, but couldn’t seem to be able to tell the order in which any of them had come. He was beginning to suspect she was playing some kind of game. “Once when we were on a ship like this one, we had to stay in the hold. It was very nasty. Master Hiro used charm on a pokegirl who worked on the ship. In return she gave him a nice cabin where the wealthy passengers usually stayed.”
Hatsumi gave him a very old look. “Hatsumi has seen you using something like charm on the members of the harem. You have even used it on Hatsumi.” She smiled. “Even knowing that you were using charm on Hatsumi, Hatsumi found it impossible to resist your charm.”
“Hatsumi has found a pokegirl who works on this ship and should be susceptible to charm. She is already interested in you. She has been coming out every day to watch you train.” Hatsumi grinned. “Hatsumi questioned her a last night to make sure she wasn’t a threat. Her name is Jennifer and she is a Catgirl and she works in the purser’s office and she is very lonely and she should be along in a couple of minutes.”
Devon had also noticed that if Hatsumi was being clever she tended to start running her words into one long sentence. He thought she was trying to make it sound as if she wasn’t as bright as she was. Then again, maybe she was just screwed up. If so, she certainly had a lot of company, probably starting with himself.
“Fine. At this point I’d be willing to consider eating broken glass to get a room where I can stretch out. Tell me more about this charm.”
As Devon listened he realized that this charm power Hiro used actually meant finding a lonely pokegirl and being friendly to her. However since he’d had little experience with pokegirls outside of the Conservatory where they all knew him, he listened closely. He didn’t think that the incident in Glasgow counted as social interaction. It could have been social intercourse perhaps but not social interaction.
So when the Catgirl showed up, he was ready to give it a try.
It turned out that she’d been coming up to the railing of the deck above the fantail to watch. From there she had an easy view of the entire fantail and anyone on it.
Of course, Devon mused, it could also be entirely likely that she came up to watch the sun come up over the ocean or for some other reason that had nothing to do with him. In any case it couldn’t hurt to give it a try.
So when she turned up on the upper deck, Devon was waiting in the shadows.
She crept up and looked over the railing. Devon was pleased when she made an unhappy noise and started visually searching the fantail. He stepped out of the shadows far enough away not to spook her but close enough to prevent her escape.
She was cute. She was a honey blonde and perky looking with a nice trim figure that was set off well by her little ship’s outfit. It reminded Devon of the cheerleader outfits he’d seen in the wreckball tourneys.
“If you are looking for me, I’m over here.”
The Catgirl jumped and spun to face him. “Iwasn’tspyingonyoureallyplease don’treportmeIwon’tbotheryouagain,” she gasped in one quick sentence.
Devon gave a slow blink as he tried to unravel the words into something he could understand. He smiled. “Actually I came up here because I noticed a cute Catgirl up here and wanted to meet her. You I mean.”
She stared at him with big eyes. “I haven’t seen any cute Catgirls up here and I’ve been up here every night since we left port.” Her eyes got bigger as she realized what she’d said. “I wasn’t spying, honest.”
Devon smiled. “I was trying to say I thought you were cute.” He frowned. “Only I was trying to say it in a cute way.” He got a puzzled look. “Does that even make sense?”
She giggled. Devon marveled. He’d herd giggles that were sexy, alluring or utterly irritating. He didn’t think he’d ever heard a cute giggle before. “You think I’m cute. That’s so sweet. But I’ve seen you around the ship with all those really pretty pokegirls, and I’m not as pretty as them.”
Devon had reached the point Hatsumi had warned him about where her advice would fail and he would have to, as she’d put it, “wing it.” He decided to give it his best shot.
He gave her a gentle smile. “Yes, they are very pretty. I would think that means I’m a good judge of what is pretty or not.” He dropped his voice conspiratorially. She leaned forward to listen. “I think you are pretty.” She blinked. “I was wondering if you wanted to have an early breakfast with me so I could get to know you better.”
“You want to have breakfast with me? Me!” She took a deep breath. Devon idly noted that she was better built than he’d first thought.
She said very formally, “As a member of the Tampopo’s crew I cannot get into romantic entanglements with passengers.” She gave him a wink. “I have to say that. Not that anyone ever pays attention to it. I mean the crew is three men and fourteen pokegirls. And two of the men are old. Over thirty even.”
“They can’t keep up with the Tamings.” She blinked. “Are you going to want to Tame me? I haven’t been with a guy in a while. Just other pokegirls. I know I’m nothing special so I understand if you don’t want to and all and,”
She came to a halt as Devon stepped up and placed a hand over her mouth. Her eyes were wide again. He whispered to her, “I’ve seen Catgirls before but never really had much to do with them. I’d like to get to know you and if that means we end up Taming, then I’d be honored. I can’t say I remember ever Taming a Catgirl before and I think it could fun.” He slowly removed his hand, rubbing a finger over her lips as he did so. “I think it would be especially fun if that Taming was with you.”
Her eyes slid shut as she savored the feeling. She suddenly grabbed his hand and licked his palm slowly with the tip of her tongue. “Oooohhhhhh. You taste of salt and sweat and soooooo gooooooood.” She shivered.
Her eyes opened slowly to look at him curiously as she felt Devon shiver. He gave her a weak smile. “Your tongue is raspy. I’ve never felt anything quite like it before.”
She turned his hand over and started licking the back of it with the tip of her tongue, watching as he trembled. His groin tightened.
Devon pulled his hand away and crowded her against the railing, pressing his body against hers. She moaned at the contact.
Devon slid one hand under her skirt and the other inside her blouse as he kissed her hungrily. She ground herself against his hand. Her panties were already wet. He slid her panties aside and lightly ran his fingers over her slit. She jerked and gasped.
“It’s been so long please don’t tease me,” she breathed against his lips. Her hands went to his pants and pulled at them frantically. Devon pulled his hand from her blouse and freed himself. Her hands grabbed at his cock and pulled as she spread her legs.
Devon batted her hands away and pulled her panties to the side, easing himself against her. Her eyes slid shut as his cock spread the lips of her pussy. She wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled as her tail lashed wildly. Her hands slid up to his neck.
He drove his cock into her hard and fast. She screeched and arched her body to meet his thrusts, her ass slamming into the railing with each stroke.
Suddenly she froze as her body went taut. Her pussy convulsed around his cock and she screamed piercingly. He slowed his pace as she relaxed.
He pulled out of her slowly. “Wha?” He unwrapped her legs from his waist and lifted her off the railing.
“Turn around.” She eagerly did so, bending over to grasp the railing. Devon flipped her skirt up as she grinned back at him, wriggling her ass.
He tore her panties off and sank his cock back into her pussy. She cried out as he drove into her again and again, their bodies slapping together.
She screamed again as she climaxed. Devon exploded inside her. Slowly they came down together as she slumped against the railing.
Devon smiled as she looked back at him lazily. “Hi.” She smiled.
“Hi yourself.” She frowned slightly. “What is your name?’
“Devon. What’s yours?”
“Jennifer.”
“Hi Jennifer.” He ran his hands over her ass. Her eyes closed as she savored the feeling. “I’d still like to have breakfast with you.”
She gave him a surprised look. “Really?”
“Yes. So what do you say?”
She pulled off his cock and whipped around to engulf him in a hug. “That would be wonderful!”
***
Devon wriggled back against the pillows to get comfortable as he watched Hatsumi trying to teach Kathryn to play Go. Jennifer waited until he was settled and then nestled against him as Serephina flumped against his legs. Jennifer wriggled her bare toes in pleasure.
While the sex was good, Devon had been surprised to discover that Jennifer craved the companionship he provided more than anything else. And she’d been willing to do almost anything to get it. When Hatsumi had diffidently suggested to Jennifer that perhaps Devon might be happier in a larger cabin, Jennifer had promptly swiped a key to an unused luxury stateroom and presented it to Devon proudly.
Her biggest problem had been the fact that her self esteem was practically nonexistent. Catgirls were very common and, although popular with the pet set, were never really appreciated in the harem. Most Tamers enjoyed having a Catgirl, but really wanted to evolve her into a more powerful form and tried to do so as quickly as possible.
On the Tampopo it was even worse. Out of the fourteen pokegirls in the crew, nine of them were Catgirls and the three male crew members often treated them as if they were interchangeable.
The girls in the harem liked her and had made her an honorary member. Kathryn even fussed over her. That had pretty much clinched it. Jennifer had never belonged before and now spent all of her free time in the stateroom with Devon and the harem, as if frantically trying to store up all of these wonderful feelings and memories before they left.
Tess was sitting with Dima where they were working on another speaking lesson. Things were progressing quickly. Devon had been delighted to discover that Dima was much smarter than anyone had thought. Everyone, including Devon, was taking turns with the lessons, although Devon had asked Hatsumi to stop helping when he realized that Dima was starting to refer to herself in the third person just like Hatsumi did.
Devon had enough difficulties with one of his pokegirls doing that.
“Where is Lamya?” Jennifer peered at him curiously. “I’ve got those items she wanted from the pharmacy.”
“I think she’s down in twenty-six. She’s still doing that ‘I’ve got a secret’ thing going and is still spending several hours a day down there with Tess’ and my swords.”
“Oh, well I’ll leave the bag with Kathryn then.”
“That would probably be best.”
Devon leaned over Jennifer and grabbed his PDA. He had a vid from Letitia and wanted to watch it. His NurseJoy tended to dictate vids to him every couple of days and Devon was determined to get into the habit of making time to watch them regularly before things became so busy that it would be easy to put them off.
He lifted the display screen and put the earpiece on. A quick glance showed him Jennifer was watching the Go lesson intently, so he pulled up the menu screen and picked the latest vid.
“Hi Devon.” She gestured behind her. “As you can see once again I’m in my room. I’ve learned my lesson about trying to make a vid for you in any of the public areas. Everyone here knows you and someone always wants to make some stupid comment to you.”
“I’m glad to hear that everyone is doing well, especially Dima and Seraphina. I would like to know about this Jennifer you mentioned in your latest vid. I know you mentioned that she’s a member of the crew, but you didn’t tell me much else.” She grinned. “You should know by now I’m a details kind of girl. So give me details.”
“You know each time I talk to you I’ve been trying to find a way to tell you just how much you accepting me into your life has meant, but I’ve given up.” She shrugged. “I just can’t put it into words.
“I’ve also given up trying to tell you how much I miss you.” A salacious smile crept onto her face. “But I’ve figured out that I maybe there is a way I can explain it to you. Here goes.”
The next ten minutes of vid were so pornographic that Devon actually flushed.
Devon turned off the PDA when the vid ended and leaned his head back against the wall to try to cool off. After a moment Jennifer leaned over and whispered into his ear. “What is Serephina doing?”
Devon glanced at her and then down at the Foxx. Serephina had noticed his reaction to Letitia’s vid and had apparently decided to sneak up on it. She was slowly slithering up between Devon’s legs. Her attention was entirely focused on the tent in Devon’s shorts.
“I do believe she’s in the mood for a little frolic.”
Jennifer looked startled. “Here?” She frowned at him. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t think I was planning on doing anything. Looks like she’s going to be doing all the work”
“Well if you won’t do anything about this I will.” Devon blinked. Was this jealousy showing?
Jennifer crawled forward and met Serephina at Devon’s thigh. She glared and yowled softly. Serephina looked at Devon uncertainly. When he shrugged her ears came back up. She experimentally reached one hand forward towards Devon’s crotch and pulled it back quickly when Jennifer batted at her hand. Once again she looked at Devon, who just raised an eyebrow.
Serephina slowly smiled. She reached forward again and, when Jennifer struck at her, pounced. She pulled Jennifer down the bed and pinned her in place by the simple expedient of swinging around to sit on her stomach. Then she proceeded to begin trying to strip Jennifer’s top off, nuzzling the Catgirl the whole time.
Jennifer made an angry noise. “Devon, aren’t you going to help?”
Devon chuckled. “I will. Give me just a minute.” He glanced up to see the others in the room watching. He gave them a broad wink. Slow smiles appeared on many faces.
“Arrrgghh, Devon if you wait your furry molester here will have me naked already. It’ll be easier to help me if you help me now!” Jennifer was trying to fight Serephina off. Serephina responded by pinning Jennifer’s arms above her head with one hand. Her other hand began unbuttoning Jennifer’s ship’s uniform. Jennifer wriggled under her.
Devon sat up and pushed Jennifer’s legs apart. He crawled between them and placed a kiss on the Catgirls panty clad pussy. She jumped in surprise. “Who said I was going to be helping you?” He pushed her panties to the side and covered her pussy with his mouth.
It didn’t take Jennifer long to stop complaining.
***
“Good morning, husband.” Lamya settled down on the bed and gave him a soft kiss. Devon yawned and pushed himself upright on his elbows. A sudden flurry of warm bodies sitting on the bed caused it to groan in protest. Devon did a quick headcount. His entire harem and Jennifer were sitting on the bed around him.
He glanced at the clock. It was eight in the morning. He’d trained until six and then grabbed a bit of breakfast and a shower. He’d had about an hour’s sleep. He gave Jennifer a curious look.
“Aren’t you supposed to be on duty right now?”
She shrugged. “Yeah but this is important. I won’t be gone long and probably won’t be missed. Even if I am I’m sure I can come up with an excuse they’ll accept. Like after six years on this tub I got lost and spent an hour going in circles.” After the couple of weeks of interacting with Devon’s harem she no longer sounded bitter about the way the crew and other passengers treated her. Instead she sounded like she didn’t really care.
“I was just trying to make sure you don’t get into trouble because of us, especially now that the whole room thing has been fixed.” The first time the Tampopo had put into port, Jennifer had altered the computer records to indicate that Devon had gotten off and that a Mr. Harrison had moved into the luxury suite Devon and his harem were actually living in. That removed the threat of someone actually getting this room and discovering the unwelcome occupants.
“Ye dinna have ta worry, husband.” Kathryn tried to sooth him. “Everything has been taken care of.”
“I will bow to your superior expertise.” Devon threw his hands up in surrender. “So why am I surrounded by such a bounty of loveliness?”
Tess smiled. “We have a surprise for you.”
“I’m not sure the bed will survive it.” Everyone laughed.
“It’s not that kind of surprise.” Lamya nuzzled his cheek. Devon looked unconvinced.
“So how about you let me up and once I’m dressed you can have your little surprise?”
Kathryn took charge. “Ye heard our husband. Everyone off the bed and give him some room.” When Serephina proved reluctant, Kathryn took her ear and pulled her off the bed with it.
Devon quickly pulled on some clothes as his harem watched and made comments. Most of them sounded positive.
Once he was dressed Lamya kneeled and presented him with a long silk wrapped bundle. “Husband, I offer you the fruits of my labor.” She grinned as someone made a baby crying noise. “Not that kind of fruit.”
Someone else stage whispered, “Not that kind of labor.” Laughter swept the room.
He was still laughing as he carefully unwrapped the bundle. It was his katana. His laughter died. “You’re done enchanting it?”
“Yes. I hope you like it. Tess was very specific about the enchantment.” She gave him a bright smile. “Later, if you want I can add more enchantments to it.”
“What does it do?”
“Draw the weapon and hold it in the ready position.” Devon followed the instructions. The blade had been carefully polished until it gleamed in the light.
“Now you must take a deep breath and focus your ki. Then you must say the magic word.” Lamya watched him intently.
“What is the magic word?”
“The magic word is ‘shazam’.”
Devon stared at her. “What?”
“You heard me. The magic word is ‘shazam’. It might help if you yelled it.”
Devon shook his head. Why not. Feeling extremely silly Devon took up the ready position, cleared his mind, and focused his ki. “SHAZAM!!!”
The room exploded with laughter.
Devon lowered the sword. “Nothing happened.” The laughter redoubled. Tess was doubled over wheezing while Jennifer was laughing so hard that she was crying. Even Kathryn was giving out great peals of laughter.
Devon felt a surge of anger and then suppressed it. He sheathed his sword. While he wasn’t sure what was going on, he intended to find out.
Once everyone had settled down, Devon looked at Lamya. “Now that you’ve had your fun, want to tell me what this sword can do. I think I understand that using ‘shazam” invokes some kind of laughter attack, right?” Chuckles swept the room.
Lamya bend down and touched her forehead to the floor. “Please forgive me husband, but I was bet by everyone here that I could not get you to say ‘shazam’. The sword is magical and later if you like I can put power into it that is accessed by command words.”
“Someday I am going to find a way to appropriately reward you for what you have done to me here today.” His voice sounded grim. Jennifer suddenly looked worried. “It will be horrible, ghastly, and cruel beyond all comprehension.”
“Perhaps I will make Lamya wear bland colors while Kathryn is forbidden raspberries. I can guarantee that each punishment will be something along the lines of those horrible concepts.” He broke out into a grin. Jennifer relaxed. “You are very lucky that I don’t mind being laughed at by my harem. Some men might have responded badly, and considering they would have been holding a very sharp sword their response could have been gruesome indeed.”
“If there had been any concern over that, my lord, I would not have allowed this to proceed.” Tess shook her head. “Tell him Lamya.”
Lamya smiled. “Your sword has a very powerful and very subtle enchantment on it. First, no matter how wet the hilt or your hands become your grip will always be sure. It also means that you cannot be disarmed against your will. The second thing is that your sword has been made indestructible. Your blade will never break and the edge will never grow dull.”
Devon stared at his sword for a moment. “Thank you.”
***
Serephina stretched next to him and nuzzled his neck affectionately. “That was nice, master. With Seamus, I was always needed more Taming than he could provide and that with only three pokegirls. You’re taking care of seven pokegirls including me and I’m content with the universe.” She gave him an amused look. “Not that I’d turn down some extra loving.”
She rolled to look at him. “More importantly, Kathryn assures me that we are not wearing you out with all of our attentions.”
“I didn’t have any problems with Seamus, but I’m happier now that I’m with you.”
Devon just smiled. Serephina snuggled back against him and relaxed. Now that Serephina was going to sleep, Devon could focus on what lay ahead.
They would be putting in to port in four days. Unfortunately there was no quick path from there to the forest where Professor Stroak had his lab.
They’d just have to make the best time they could. He and Kathryn were already drawing up a list of the supplies they’d need for the first leg of the journey. It didn’t look too bad, but since they would be able to draw on Blue League expense money they might as well get everything that they might need.
His train of thought derailed as the cabin phone rang. Serephina jumped. Devon reached across her and picked up the handset. “Yes?”
“Devon it’s Jennifer. There’s a problem up here. It’s Team Rocket. They’re here! They’re telling the captain their demands right now. I think they’re after your package! You’ve got to hide!”
Devon cut her off before she could continue. “How did they get here and where is their transport?”
Hearing Devon’s voice seemed to steady her. “They used some kind of submarine. It’s at the stern of the ship on the port side.”
“How many of them are there?”
“I don’t know. I’ve only seen four or five of them plus the two who are in charge. The submarine isn’t as long as the Tampopo, so I don’t think there could be too many more, could there?”
“Of course not.” It depended on how the sub was outfitted. A regular patrol vessel would have a minimum crew, but one outfitted for short range raiding would be stuffed full of troops. Sadly there were only two ways to find out and Devon suspected that asking them wouldn’t work. “I have to go. Find someplace and hide.”
“Did I do a good thing in calling you?”
“You did wonderfully. I’m very proud of you.”
Her voice was thick with relief. “Thanks.” She hung up.
Devon shoved Serephina. “We’ve got trouble. Go get cleaned up.” She raced into the bathroom while Devon quickly dressed.
Fortunately, as had become the custom while Taming, everyone else was in their pokeballs and close at hand. Devon released everyone quickly as Serephina came back out, wiping herself with a wet rag.
For some reason he was just unwilling to take anyone into battle while they were leaking his semen.
“We’ve got an attack from Team Rocket going on and Jennifer thinks they’re after my courier package.
“I think we should recon the situation and if possible take their transport. They won’t think to look for us there until it is too late. At least in theory that’s how it should work.”
He glanced at Kathryn. “Make a note that we need to be looking for some com equipment that a pokegirl can carry easily. That will make reporting back much easier.” She nodded nervously.
Devon shook his head. “This is what we’ve been training for.” He looked at Serephina and Dima. “Since I haven’t had the opportunity to work with either of you outside of sex training I want you to stick near me and provide me a reserve.”
Tess gave him a look. “Feel free to cover his ass while you’re standing there too.” Serephina gave her a grin. Dima merely nodded.
“Ok, I’m going to put everyone except Hatsumi back into your pokeballs until we get to the fantail.”
Devon grabbed his sword after returning his pokegirls to their balls. Hatsumi touched his arm. “Master Devon, perhaps you should keep Tess out instead of Hatsumi. Any initial fighting will probably be at close quarters and Tess’ greater strength and speed could be the deciding factor.”
Devon released Tess. She looked around as she drew her sword. “Hatsumi pointed out that you might be better at close quarters combat than her. So you both get to help me make it to the fantail. I thought we could come out on that deck above the fantail, the one where I met Jennifer.”
Tess nodded. “What are your plans when we encounter some of the enemy?”
Devon squirmed slightly. “I’ve never killed anyone other than that Sharptits.” He squared his shoulders. “I don’t like the idea, and I’d like to just incapacitate anyone we meet, but I’ll do what has to be done.”
“Now let’s get moving before they realize that there is no courier registered on any of the manifests.”
Tess slid the door open and carefully peered out as Hatsumi began hovering and Devon slid his sword into his belt. The trio cautiously made their way to the stairs, where Hatsumi slowly flew to where she could see the landing below.
They were now living on deck A3, which meant they were three decks above the main deck. The fantail was the after part of the main deck, so after Hatsumi indicated that the coast was clear, they headed down one deck.
There was a sentry posted almost exactly where Devon had first met Jennifer. One man and his Growlie stood and watched the fantail below.
Hatsumi leaned over and whispered into Tess’ ear. She nodded and looked at Devon and then pointed to herself and Hatsumi then at the Growlie. She then pointed to Devon and at the man. Devon nodded.
They were downwind of the guards, so the first inkling that the Growlie had that they were not alone was when the floating Hatsumi wrapped her hands around the Growlie’s muzzle from behind and dragged her backwards away from the railing. She spun around with the still startled pokegirl to face Tess, who hammered the Growlie in the temple with the pommel of her sword.
At the same time Devon put one hand over the man’s mouth and took his arm in a submission hold to drag him away from the railing. The Rocket grunt fought back, slamming the back of his head into Devon’s face and trying to stamp on Devon’s instep.
Devon twisted the arm frantically, unmindful of his own strength. The arm snapped and suddenly Devon was trying to hold a flailing, twisting victim who was trying to scream past Devon’s hand.
Devon wasn’t sure what he was going to do next when Tess smashed her fist into the grunt’s forehead. He went limp.
There was a yell from below and a flash of light as a thunderbolt danced along the railing. Devon muttered, “Not too worried about hitting friends, are they?”
They rushed to the railing. Another grunt and a Peekabu were below. Behind them Devon could see the small sub.
“Hatsumi can take care of the sub.” She looked at an astonished Devon. “Hatsumi may have to kill though so Hatsumi needs the master’s permission.”
Devon grimaced. “Do what you have to do. Tess and I will take the Peekabu.”
They ducked as another thunderbolt smashed into the railing. Devon was knocked off his feet by the blast. For a second, fire danced through his body.
Lesson learned. No planning where the bad guys can see us. He opened his eyes to see Tess and Hatsumi leaning over him with worried expressions. Why aren’t they attacking? He had a sudden moment of epiphany. It worked for them so hopefully it will work for us.
Tess pulled Devon to his feet. He glared at both of his pokegirls. “Hit the Team Rocket bastard with feather shuriken. Ignore the Peekabu. Hatsumi go!”
Hatsumi flew over the railing and dove to the fantail. As she passed above the surprised Peekabu she let loose with a hypnotic gaze. The Peekabu froze.
Tess summoned her wings and let loose a feather shuriken attack. The ki bolts slashed the Team Rocket grunt, blasting him sideways in a welter of blood. He screeched. She hit him again and the screaming stopped.
Hatsumi flew up the side of the conning tower and down into the interior. Devon faintly heard yelling and then sudden silence. Hatsumi shot back out of the conning tower and gave then a thumb’s up. Then she slid back into the submarine.
Devon grabbed the pokeball off of the Rocket grunt’s belt and returned the Growlie. He glanced at Tess. “Get me down to the fantail before the Peekabu comes out of hypnosis.” He released Kathryn and Lamya. “Lamya watch the doorways on this deck. Kathryn, I want you to give us cover while Tess carries me down to the fantail. Then both of you join us.” Lamya nodded while her armor swam up out of her skin.
Tess took Devon in her arms and lifted off. He gave her an amused look. “Please be gentle.” She laughed and dropped down to the fantail, her wings curving to bite the air.
“It’s not the right time to be making me laugh.” She swung him back onto his feet.
“I don’t think there is a bad time for that.” He pounded over to the dead man and after grabbing his pokeball, returned the Peekabu to it.
There was a hissing noise above them as Lamya took off and followed Kathryn down to them.
Tess watched the doors onto the fantail as they came in. Almost absently she commented, “I’m going to make you some armor if you will wear it.”
Devon snorted. “If you’d asked me yesterday I’d have given you an argument about it.”
“What are your feelings today?”
“I wish I had it on.” They shared a brief grin.
“So do I, my lord.”
A Rocket member appeared in a doorway. This one was a pokegirl in a Team Rocket outfit. A Domina or something like that. Lamya slammed a power bolt past her head and she ducked back inside.
Hatsumi rose out of the conning tower and floated down to land easily next to Devon. “Hatsumi is reporting five humans were in the submarine. They are all dead and their pokegirls have been returned to their pokeballs. One pokegirl, an Arbust, did not appear to have a pokeball and Hatsumi was forced to slay her as well.”
“How did you take them all down so quickly.”
“Hatsumi cast night on them and put everyone to sleep.”
“Remind me to ask you about every attack and spell you can perform.” He gave her a look. “Remind me within the next three days, while I am awake and present. You cannot whisper either.”
She gave him a slow smile. “Hai.” She seemed amused and happy.
Devon returned his attention to the situation. “Ok girls, give me a battle line. Form up in teams one and two.” His pokegirls moved in front of Devon, spreading out as they did so. Tess teamed up with Hatsumi while Lamya and Kathryn formed team two.
“Here’s the plan. If any pokegirls come out we’re going to take them out fast and dirty. Any men come out and we’ll give them a moment to speak before lowering the boom on them. If they have any distance weapons then we treat them as pokegirls.”
“Team one you’ve got the decks above us and backup for team two. Team two you’re covering this deck and anything from the water as well as backing up team one.”
“Let’s all remember that I’m the most easily squished person out here and this is essentially a Grand Melee, so if you see something, I think I’d rather hear about it while you are zapping it, not before. Let’s all keep the Tamer that you care for so much healthy and in one piece.” Gentle laughter sounded from all of the girls.
Tess glanced back at Devon. “What about Serephina and Dima?”
“I’m going with the KISS1 philosophy. We haven’t trained with them and I don’t need anyone getting in anyone else’s way right now. If the situation becomes desperate enough, I’ll get them out. But since I can’t get this image of Dima charging some schmuck just as Tess hits him with a thunderbolt out of my head, I’m going to hold off for as long as possible.”
A voice came from the depths of the bridge. “All we want is the package. Let us have it and no one needs to get hurt.”
Devon laughed. “Too late for that!” He yelled. “Here’s a counteroffer. You surrender and I won’t kill any more of you.”
“We have hostages and we’re not afraid to kill them.” A man’s face appeared in the doorway to the bridge. “You give us the package and we’ll spare them.”
“I’m afraid you’re negotiating for the wrong item with the wrong person. I have no idea what this package is that you are looking for and I don’t care. What you should be trying to get me to do is to let you escape, and so far I am not inclined to do that either.”
“I didn’t bring my family along and my harem is right here. So you kill whoever makes you the happiest because I’ve got some gripes about the crew. For example, the service in the dining room sucks. If you’ve got any of the stewards up there I’d be pleased as punch if you started with them.”
“On the other hand, if I let you kill the crew, I’ll have to explain it to the authorities when we get to port and that takes so long.” He sighed and continued yelling. “So here’s the deal. If you kill any of the crew or passengers, I’m going to have to kill two of you for each one that dies. By the way that little rule goes into effect now. So you don’t get any freebies for anyone that I’ve already killed.”
“Since you haven’t admitted to killing any of them so far I’m going to have to assume that they are all still alive so for each of them that I find dead, two of you are doomed.”
The man’s face gave a silent snarl. “You don’t care about the hostages? We’re serious about killing them.”
Devon sighed and asked in a low voice, “Hatsumi would you drag that body over and do something gruesome to it please?”
Devon continued as she grabbed the dead grunt by the leg and pulled him over to her. “You are not talking to a policeman or to someone from any of the Leagues. You are talking to me and I don’t give a flying shit what you do with any hostages.”
Without taking her eyes of the upper decks, Hatsumi squatted and slid the fingers of one hand deep into one of the cuts in the body’s torso. She pulled her hand out and began to slowly lick the blood from her fingers.
Devon continued. “You guys are the Tamer in the proverbial tale of the stolen pokeball. You opened this operation expecting to find a nice sweet Cunnydew and instead found a pissed off Dilodorina. I’ve already got you bent over and all I have to do is ram it in.”
Hatsumi went back for more blood.
“So you have two options: surrender or die. If you kill any hostages you have chosen to die.” He ostensibly looked at his watch. “I’ll give you two minutes to decide before I cut my pokegirls loose.”
Hatsumi continued to go back for more blood. Now she was sucking each finger clean with obvious relish.
At ninety seconds to go the man appeared in the doorway. “How do we know you won’t kill us if we surrender?”
Gotcha. Devon grinned. “You surrender to the crew. If I take you away from them after that then I’m guilty of murder.” The man disappeared again.
At forty five seconds the captain of the Tampopo walked out of the bridge and waved. “We’ve got them in custody. You can stand down now.”
Hatsumi sighed and moved away from the body.
Devon yelled back. “They’re all in custody?”
“Yeah. Every last one of the bastards.”
Devon turned and threw up.
***
The compress felt wonderful against his forehead. Lamya sat at his side, her eyes intent. “Better?”
“Yeah.” Devon swung his gaze around the room. All of his pokegirls and Jennifer were nearby, carefully not watching him. He gave a weak smile. “It’s going to be fine, ladies. I…” He broke off and took a deep breath. “I’ve never been around dead people like that before. The only other person I was involved in killing was that Sharptits and she didn’t look human, so it wasn’t as bad.”
He glared at the ceiling for a long minute. “Tess, do you remember when I told you not to lie to me?”
“Of course, my lord.”
He ground his teeth briefly. “I owe all of you an apology for not being truthful.” He glanced at the collection of puzzled expressions and went back to looking at the ceiling. “Honestly, the death didn’t bother me that much. The idiots had it coming.”
“What bothered me was when I broke that guy’s arm. There was the noise and the arm suddenly didn’t feel right. My training didn’t prepare me for that.”
“It also didn’t prepare me for the fact that I enjoyed it. I wanted to break his other arm. To feel him writhe some more and try to scream through my hand.” He shivered.
“I didn’t expect to feel joy at another’s pain.”
“When Hatsumi started drinking that guy’s blood I expected to feel sick. Instead I caught myself salivating. I wanted to taste it too.”
“Taste it, I wanted to wallow in it. I wanted to plaster my mouth to the body and to drink it directly. I could smell it, and it was wonderful.”
A look crossed Hatsumi’s face. “Hatsumi thinks Hatsumi understands.” When Devon looked at her she continued. “Master Devon’s bonds with his harem are deepening. Hatsumi has seen this with Tamers with high empathy. Master Devon has not reached the level of a delta bond but he has gone past the alpha level bond with his harem.”
Devon shook his head and slowly sat up. “That can’t be it. My empathy score is so low that ‘sucks’ doesn’t even begin to describe it.”
“I guess it doesn’t matter. I am a creature with free will. Maybe I also have a few odd compulsions, but everyone does and as long as I don’t act on them I’ll be fine.”
He completely missed the look that passed between Tess, Kathryn, and Hatsumi.
***
Devon supposed it was one of those good news bad news sorts of things. The good news was that everyone now knew who he was. The quality of the food had gone up slightly and the service had improved a great deal. Everyone wanted to talk to him and spend time in his company.
The bad news was that everyone now knew who he was. He had no privacy. People always wanted to talk to him and spend time in his company. Some even showed up to his nightly training sessions. Devon began to feel that he was not cut out for celebrity.
Several pokegirls and two human women had suddenly become very friendly. Devon had a harem and definitely didn’t need any more pokegirls in his life right now. It got so bad that at one point a Catgirl from the crew had shown up at his stateroom and informed him that she’d beaten Jennifer in a fight for his attentions. Devon had enjoyed throwing her out on her ass.
He also had to face a fact that he’d been able to avoid his entire life. Human women scared him. He didn’t know what to do with them. He had no idea how they thought. They didn’t make sense, not like pokegirls did and he really didn’t want anything to do with them. Some of them played this boyfriend off against that one and others would try to get as much as possible out of a man and then drop him for someone else. Devon knew that not all of them were like that, and he also realized that if he ever took the time to try to understand their way of thought that he’d succeed and they would become less frightening. But there was one thing that he couldn’t get past, one little fact that just made him grind his teeth.
They thought that because they didn’t threshold they were superior to over three-fourths of the population of the world.
Listening to them prattle on about how he’d like a real woman much better than a mere pokegirl. About how he should feel honored just because they allowed him to bask in their noble presence.
The truth was the last time he checked, human women and pokegirls had almost identical plumbing. They really weren’t that different. But they kept trying to convince him of the correctness of their position.
He finally started spending most of his time in his stateroom.
***
Devon watched the gangplank hit the pier and wanted to shout for joy. Kathryn smiled as she noticed. “I take it ye are happy to be on dry land?’
“I am thrilled to be off the Tampopo and away from all my fans.”
She chuckled. “Ye are still going to have to spend some time talking with the local authorities. Does that put a damper on yer happiness?”
“Not today.” Devon’s smile was serene. “I am sorry that Jennifer has to stay on the Tampopo for the next couple of days. I wanted to say goodbye to her.”
His comment elected a slap on the arm from Kathryn. “I think she asked ye to tell her goodbye enough to her last night.”
“Yeah, I know, but she’s been a good friend. Outside of the harem I just don’t have many of those.”
Kathryn turned to watch the tug moving the Team Rocket submarine into an adjoining berth. “Are ye upset that the police commandeered yer sub?”
Devon snorted. “It was never mine. Team Rocket surrendered to the captain of the Tampopo, not to me. Even if I’d had some kind of claim to it I’m sure the Tampopo’s skipper would have hit me with some pretty steep towing charges. On top of that I have no idea how to drive a submarine.”
“And how do ye feel about not being able to claim any of the pokegirls?”
“That I don’t want to discuss.” He watched the Growltit with the police jacket come up the gangplank and suppressed an impulse to hug her.
***
Two hours later his normal opinion of the police had reasserted itself. But at last he was free.
A couple of reporters wearing FOXX news badges caught him as he came out the front door. “Excuse me?” It wasn’t over. Devon braced for the worst.
“Yes?” Kathryn stayed very near, ready in an instant to run interference if necessary.
“We’re with FOXX news and we would like to know if Devon Harris is still being interviewed. Did you see anything?”
Devon smiled broadly. “No, but I did hear that he should be wrapping up soon. Are you going to interview him?”
“We want to get his story of what happened on the Tampopo.”
“Good luck.” With that Devon made his way down the street.
“That was nae very nice.”
Devon gave her a pleasant smile. “Who asked you?”
***
1. KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid. The philosophy of avoiding unnecessarily complicated plans or actions. The idea is that the more complex you make something the more likely it is for the wheels to come off. Usually this waits to take place at the worst possible time.