FALAHA'S JOURNEY 2: Graveyard of the Gods

Episode #25

"I have a plan", I said. "Where to get the initial blood supply for all the Surani."

"Are you thinking of asking the Triad Baali for help on that one?" Baro asked, suspiciously looking at my face radiating with joy.

"No. At least not yet. But—" I paused, looking at the rest of my crew. "I still have that huge form. It will be more than enough. I probably wouldn't even notice that some of the blood was taken. Of course, it is not the permanent solution to the hunger problem. However, the danger is that my shift will announce our presence to everyone in a very large radius. It could bring trouble on our heads from the rogue Baali that Shaamta still hadn't dealt with. That's why I haven't suggested this path before. Plus, Shaamta himself could come investigate what the trouble is."

"That's not a very good plan, then," Eyuran brushed me off immediately, refusing to hear anything further.

"But we cannot leave them starved. Time is running out for them. Especially for those who are in condition similar to Cold Sleep. That's a hard fact, Eyu."

"I know," he replied, torn.

"But," I said again, "I can dive to a different space region, shift there, and collect the blood. And then return here."

"What if you are followed?" Orewen interfered. "I will go with you then to defend your position, Falaha. We're not letting you go alone anywhere. Eyuran will remain with Gal Runagh and its crew to defend them if anything happens."

"Deal, love," I said with a smile. "You will help me collect the blood. But I will deal with rogues if any show themselves. Unless they are crazy and want to be permanently erased from existence, none would even dare to attack me in that form."

"But what about creating a fold and shift inside of it?" Leru suggested.

I shook my head. "The outburst will be so massive, that it will break the created fold, and all the energy released will spill out into space eventually. Not an option, unfortunately. I never shifted to my full form inside a fold even back in Kan Diona. Was too dangerous."

"I see." The Medan woman's white face fell, becoming even paler. "Well, you did a lot of damage back on Dorgu's Enclave even in your smaller form and the explosion was huge. Most people and... other beings... felt it."

"We should take a large tank for harvested blood, Falaha." Orewen stood up, ready for action. "That's a lot of people to nourish. And not just once. Are you sure about sharing your life-bearing liquid like this?"

"Don't worry, it will replenish within a short amount of time. Though I wouldn't want to become a forever donor."

"We owe you a lot, Falaha." Beren and Alani approached me. "If you need assistance with anything, just tell us." Colonel Yagra and Captain Silvain also stood by their side, feeling better after Orewen and Neve's work on them, nodding at General's proposition.

"I sure will. This is not just a simple favor. It's an investment in future business with all of you." I winked at them and nodded to Orewen. "Come, love. We shall gather our equipment and depart at once. Time is in short supply." Then paused, gently brushing my Third spouse's arm. "Baro, find us a suitable and faraway region for this particular energy amount." I sent him the data.

"I will get to it immediately," he replied, dead serious after seeing the numbers. "Is the data correct? Truly?"

"It's going to be a big bang," I murmured.

"Understood."

And so we were off.

***

Orewen and I, leaving the rest to their matters, gathered our items, packed his gear with every necessity, and soon after we received a dive-point from Baro.

"Good luck," Baro and Eyuran messaged us. "We're on standby."

Tarrenat and Asa withher spouses and Neve stood at the departure gate watching us leave. "Staysafe," Tarrenat said. "Come back soon." They no longer minded my habit of goinginto space without any kind of space suit. As a Baalat, I had no need of one.So a complex shanra pattern on my skin was the only thing I had on me most ofthe time. And to be honest, I came to hate any kind of clothes the more Ishifted into my Baali form.

I waved back at them and climbed into Orewen's Bradoh.

"So, it's you and me," I said to him.

He frowned. "I can't believe I'm giving my own spouse to bloodsuckers like this. But even Eyuran decided not to argue with you about it. So I'll play along. For now. Just this once."

"It's an emergency, love." I accommodated myself on Orewen's lap. "Now, the coordinates, if you please. We're going."

Orewen powered his machine and entered Baro's dive-point into the system.

"It will be a lengthy dive," he said. "Several hours at max Core output and quite the distance."

"Distance is good. I don't want to accidentally kill something," I said. "Or attract someone unnecessary."

"So, you decided to bring Beren in?" he asked, sending his Bradoh into a dive-fold.

"Do you also think of him as a bloodsucker?"

"He is what he is. Though I'm not saying he is a bad person."

"We'll get a better chance to know him, Ore, don't fret."

"At least you could have offered him and others my blood," my Second spouse said, still upset. "The effect would have been the same. It's soma after all."

"You worry too much about unnecessary things, love. Besides, you do not have enough of that particular resource for everyone. Do you want to die and leave me heartbroken, eh?"

"Are we all really enough for you, Falaha?"

"Jealous much." I turned around and climbed on top of Orewen, hugging his hips with my legs. My palms caressed his cheeks. "Troublemaker."

"Tch." Orewen turned away, pretending to be angry. I released his cheeks and pressed my palms into his shoulders, adding more pressure with every moment.

"Wow, what are these power readings," he turned back to me, surprised.

"Do you honestly think I'm a little girl you once knew that is unable to take care of herself? That needs her hand held?" I grinned. "I'm most possibly the most dangerous being you've came across in this Jainaa. I just want all of you in my life because all of you yourself decided so—if anything it was Eyuran who persuaded you to join my Household, and you wholeheartedly agreed; and what a long and lonely and boring life it would be without any of you. So I don't want to hear anything about not being enough. Even Shaamta is not invited. It's just Beren. So let the man try. He can be an excellent asset to our Household. Such is the decision of the Head of the Household. The Master of the House approved. And I'm very picky about my Inner Circle."

"Fine, fine. Anyone is a better choice than Shaamta. This is what we can agree upon." He chuckled; his frown disappeared. "By the Ancestor, you're a beast, Falaha. I love you so much for this. Any other woman would have run away once I showed the ropes."

"Ropes, much appreciated; inadequate jealousy, such a turnoff." I released my hold on his shoulders, loosening up and relaxing my muscles. He hugged me tightly and squeezed me up to his broad chest. "Just remember, all of you are irreplaceable to me. That's all you need to know about being enough."

"Sorry, love. I behaved like a kid," Ore whispered, his voice softened. "But... you know me..."

"I do, and very well to that. So, Orewen Fargann, let's do something indecent in this enclosed space to cheer you up and then focus on the mission."

"Ahem. My thoughts exactly."

I laughed. "I can certainly feel that in my current position."