Chapter 137: Albedo’s seventh reward. Resurrection and Mind Control results. +18

You raise a hand before Sarah can respond to Albedo's warning. "This place is a bit short on food, actually. What it has are enchantments. Sustenance replaces food and water requirements entirely. Cleanliness will keep anyone here gradually cleaner - no baths needed. The lights being on are as much convenience as target."

Sarah's expression shifts from determination to uncertainty.

"This is likely the only place in Texas with running power right now," you continue. "The gas tanks for the attached station are filling endlessly. If staying here is your choice, that's fine - but you'll have visitors within the next day or three once those lights are seen. Costcos with endless gasoline should be becoming a popular rumor already."

Her grip tightens on the soup can.

"This will be a popular travel hub within a month," you finish bluntly. "Best of luck surviving the refugee rush once people advertise it's here."

Silence holds for three seconds.

Sarah swallows hard, looking at the floodlit warehouse around her. "I... I didn't think about that."

"Most don't," Maria says quietly.

"What are my other options?" Sarah asks, voice smaller now.

Rika crosses her arms. "Navy vessels have organized crews. Structured environment. You'd be safe but you'd also be taking orders."

"Or we can place you at one of the smaller survivor communities," C.C. adds. "Fewer people. Less infrastructure. More personal autonomy."

Sarah looks down at the soup can again, then sets it carefully on a nearby shelf. "The Navy sounds... safer. Structure sounds good right now."

"USS Portland," you tell her. "Captain Webb runs a pragmatic operation. You'll be teleported directly to the flight deck."

"Teleported?" Her eyes widen slightly.

"Similar to how we arrived," you explain, your Spectral Hand moving to touch her shoulder from her blindspot. "Teleport."

Mana drains as you focus - twenty points sliding away as Sarah vanishes mid-breath, transported two hundred miles west to the destroyer's deck.

Kurumi tilts her head. "Six resurrections: One recovered naturally. One executed. Two mentally broken and dominated. three relocated. Efficient data collection."

"And four hours of ethical debate," Rin mutters.

Albedo's golden eyes gleam faintly. "The governance begins with experimental results. As promised."

"Can't say I'm celebrating yet." You turn back toward the shimmering Gate still open to the USS Anchorage command center. Jennifer and Kimberly wait there, dominated and silent.

"Let's go," you say simply.

Your group steps through - Rin first, then Maria, Rika, C.C., Kurumi, Albedo last. The warehouse falls silent behind you as the Gate closes.

You glance at your phone. 7:12pm. The exhaustion hits like a wave.

"We're just on time for dinner," you say, voice flatter than you intended. "Might as well have this next conversation in the galley with everyone."

Rin nods, already turning toward the corridor. Maria follows. C.C. moves toward Jennifer and Kimberly, both standing motionless near the tactical displays.

"Jennifer, Kimberly," you say clearly, "follow C.C. to the galley. Obey anything that's ordered of you."

Both women turn in unison, expressions blank. "Yes," they say together, voices hollow.

C.C. leads them out without comment. Rika watches them go, jaw tight, then follows with Rin and Maria.

"Albedo, Kurumi," you catch their attention as the others file out, "come with me. I need to close the jet ski portals."

Albedo's golden eyes gleam faintly. "Of course." Her white gown shifts as she moves, gold spiderweb necklace catching the overhead lights.

Kurumi's heterochromatic eyes meet yours. "Hai, Master." She adjusts her French maid skirt, still without panties beneath, moving to your side.

The three of you walk through the ship's corridors toward the starboard launch bay. When you arrive, the space is mercifully empty - jet skis already secured on the platform, water dripping from hulls. No one else around.

You focus on the first Gate, dismissing it cuts the inflow of water. Water drains in a rush out the floor portal before the second portal is dismissed too, leaving wet concrete and the faint smell of salt.

Then you pause outside a nearby side compartment - formerly crew quarters, now just an empty room with a bench against one wall.

"Inside please," you say quietly.

Both women exchange a glance but comply immediately. Albedo's wings fold as she enters. Kurumi's skirt swishes.

"Sit together," you tell them.

They settle on the bench side by side - Albedo's white gown contrasting sharply with Kurumi's black maid uniform. Both watch you with different expressions: Albedo calculating and curious, Kurumi devoted and attentive.

You kneel in front of them, reaching forward to wrap your arms around both. You pull them together gently but firmly, their breasts pressing around your face as you rest your forehead between them. Warmth. Softness. The faint scent of Albedo's addictive natural odor mixing with Kurumi's perfume.

For several seconds you just hold them there, breathing slowly.

"Let me rest a minute," you murmur against fabric and skin. "Today's been fuller than I expected or wanted. And it's about to hit another high note."

Albedo's gloved hand rests on your head, fingers threading through your hair. "Take what you need."

Kurumi's bare hand joins hers, stroking gently. "We are here, Master. Always."

Neither moves. Neither speaks further. They simply hold you, letting you draw whatever strength or comfort you need from their presence.

Several minutes pass in quiet warmth, your breathing gradually steadying against their softness. Albedo's gloved fingers continue stroking through your hair. Kurumi hums contentedly.

Finally you lift your head, meeting Kurumi's heterochromatic gaze. You lean in slowly, capturing her lips in a deep, deliberate kiss - tongue sliding past her parted mouth as your hand trails up her thigh beneath the French maid skirt. She gasps into your mouth when your fingers find her bare, already slick.

"Master," she breathes against your lips, hips rolling forward into your touch.

You break the kiss, turning to Albedo. Her golden eyes gleam with anticipation as you pull her into an equally thorough kiss, your free hand reaching up to grasp one of her black horns firmly.

She moans immediately, body arching.

"Remove your dress," you order against her mouth. "You've earned two rewards."

"Two?" Her voice comes out breathy.

"One for stepping through the Gate first when I forgot to scry the Costco." Your fingers tighten slightly on her horn, drawing another sharp intake of breath. "The second for this - letting me rest."

Albedo's hands move to the fastenings of her white gown. The sweetheart neckline parts, off-shoulder swags sliding down her arms as she shrugs the dress away. The peplum falls to pool around her waist, then drops entirely as she stands briefly to step out of it. Long white gloves remain. Gold spiderweb necklace catches the overhead light.

She settles back onto the bench completely nude except for accessories, pale skin flawless, wings folded behind her.

Your fingers continue working Kurumi deliberately - two fingers curling inside her as your thumb finds her clit. She whimpers, thighs spreading wider, her breathing quickening.

You lean down, trailing kisses along Albedo's collarbone, down between her breasts. Your tongue traces slow circles around one nipple before taking it into your mouth, sucking firmly. Her back arches, hands threading through your hair.

"Yes," she gasps.

Your mouth moves lower - kissing down her flat stomach, across her hip. Kurumi's breathing becomes ragged beside you, her hips rocking against your hand as you maintain the steady rhythm.

You settle between Albedo's thighs, her legs parting eagerly. Your tongue traces along her inner thigh, feeling her shiver. Then you move to her center, tongue sliding along her folds in one long, slow stroke.

"Seven," Albedo moans, head falling back against the wall. "This is seven, Master. Seven times you've given me this."

You hum acknowledgment against her, tongue circling her clit before dipping lower to taste her fully. She tastes faintly sweet, her natural addictive scent stronger here. Your free hand grips her hip, holding her steady as you work her with focused attention.

Kurumi's breathing becomes desperate, her inner walls clenching around your fingers. You adjust the angle slightly, curling your fingers to press against that sensitive spot inside her while maintaining pressure on her clit.

"Master, I'm - ah!" Kurumi's thighs tremble, her orgasm hitting suddenly. She bites her lip to muffle the cry, body shuddering.

You don't slow your attention on Albedo, tongue working steadily as her hips begin rolling against your mouth in building rhythm.

Your tongue continues its deliberate work - circling, pressing, alternating rhythm and pressure as Albedo's breathing becomes ragged above you. Her gloved hands tighten in your hair, hips rolling against your mouth as the tension builds.

"Master," she gasps, head falling back. "I'm - ah!"

Her orgasm hits hard, thighs clamping around your head as her back arches sharply off the bench. You don't stop, maintaining steady pressure through her climax until the shudders subside.

Kurumi strokes your hair gently, her own breathing still elevated from earlier. "Beautiful," she murmurs.

You adjust slightly, giving Albedo only seconds to recover before resuming - slower this time, teasing. Her wings flare involuntarily.

"Yes," Albedo moans, but makes no move to stop you. "Too - oh!"

The second builds slower, your tongue working patiently as her sensitivity increases. When it finally crests, she cries out sharply, body trembling violently. You ease off gradually, placing a final soft kiss before lifting your head.

Albedo's golden eyes are unfocused, chest heaving. Kurumi smiles down at you adoringly.

You shift upward, capturing Kurumi's lips in a deep kiss before turning to Albedo and doing the same. Then you move lower, trailing kisses along their collarbones, across the curves of their breasts. Albedo's breathing begins to steady. Kurumi hums contentedly as your mouth finds her nipple, sucking gently.

You alternate between them - licking, kissing, occasionally taking a nipple between your teeth carefully. The urgency has passed. This is simply affection now.

"That was perfect," Albedo breathes eventually, reaching down to cup your face. "Thank you, Master."

"Always," you reply quietly.

After another minute, you straighten. "We should head to the galley. The group's waiting for dinner and I need to make an announcement."

Albedo retrieves her white gown, sliding it back on with perfected efficiency. The gold spiderweb necklace settles into place. Kurumi smooths her French maid skirt, still skipping panties beneath.

"An announcement about Jennifer and Kimberly?" Kurumi asks.

"Among other things," you confirm.

The three of you exit the compartment, moving through the USS Anchorage's corridors toward the galley. Voices echo ahead - your group already gathered.

When you enter, conversations pause. Rin looks up from where she's seated at one of the long tables. Maria stands near the food counter with C.C. Rika leans against the far wall, arms crossed. Jennifer and Kimberly sit motionless at a corner table, expressions blank, awaiting orders.

Asia and Kurumu are plating food - roasted chicken, vegetables, rice. The soda dispenser hums in the background.

"Brad," Rin says simply, acknowledging your arrival.

You move to stand near the center of the space where everyone can see you clearly. The room falls completely silent.

Your voice cuts through the galley - spoken aloud and simultaneously transmitted through the Telepathy Web so you don't have to yell and Tuka can understand.

"Since it seems most of you have realized there's an announcement to be made, I'll jump straight into it. After a few days of failing Gate testing, we went out to test other spells. Resurrection."

Several heads turn sharply. Erza straightens from where she was leaning against the counter. Sango's hand tightens on her cup.

"The results varied depending on the individual and cause of death," you continue. "It became a convenient moment to also test mind-influencing magic. Jennifer, Kimberly - come to the center of the room and remove your clothing to your undergarments."

Both women rise, faces blank. They walk to the open space between tables. Jennifer pulls her shirt over her head without hesitation. Kimberly unbuttons her jeans.

"Wait - what the fuck?" Sango snaps, setting her cup down hard.

"Brad, this isn't-" Erza begins.

"Hold on," you interrupt, taking a seat at one of the tables. Jennifer stands in her bra and underwear, arms at her sides. Kimberly steps out of her jeans, leaving her in similar state. Both stare forward at nothing.

"Sango, Erza - since your complaints were clearest, I want you both to stand before them and appraise the situation directly."

Erza's jaw tightens but she moves forward. Sango follows, expression hard.

You speak clearly: "I'm going to cancel the mind control spells on Jennifer and Kimberly, appraise them for yourselves. Dispel."

The change is instant and horrifying. Jennifer's knees buckle and she drops to the floor, curling inward. Her mouth moving as if whispering, arms wrapping around herself. Her whole body begins rocking.

Kimberly's hands fly to her head, clutching her temples. "It broke - skull broke - I felt it break-" Her voice rises to a keening whine. She sinks to her knees, pressing her palms against her head as if trying to hold it together.

"Jesus Christ," Sango breathes.

Erza crouches beside Jennifer, reaching out. "Jennifer? Can you hear me?"

Jennifer doesn't respond. Just keeps rocking.

"Kimberly," Erza tries, moving to the other woman. "Look at me. You're safe now."

Kimberly's eyes are squeezed shut. "Broke broke broke it broke-" The words dissolve into incoherent sobbing.

Sango looks up at you, face pale. "How long have they been like this?"

"Since resurrection," you reply evenly. "Several hours ago. They cannot function. Cannot make choices. Cannot even process that they're alive again."

Erza tries again, gripping Jennifer's shoulders gently. "Jennifer, listen to my voice. You're aboard a ship. You're safe. Can you tell me your name?"

Nothing. Just endless rocking.

"This is what it will take a large amount of time to heal, if they do at all," you continue. "Being under mind control will assist their mental states by giving them observational and sensory stimulation however minor, while they recover. In the meantime, all the enchantments keep them fed, healthy, young and safe."

Rika's voice comes from near the wall. "And the other reason?"

"What should I be charging to bring back the dead?" you ask bluntly. "What are thirty to eighty years of life worth? We'll be arguing that when discussing duration of keeping them controlled. As well as discussions for prisoners and enemies."