Chapter 170: C.C.’s report. Dominating Maria and Sinon. Updating Rin and Liza.

Instantly on the flight deck's Teleportation circle, it activates flaring beneath your feet, and in an instant you're standing in the Stallion's cargo bay. You climb the ladder to the cockpit, ducking through the narrow hatch.

Riveria and C.C. sit side by side in the pilot and co-pilot seats, the helicopter's instruments casting green and amber light across their faces. Below, through the bubble canopy, Jacksonville harbor sprawls in darkness - the three surviving cruise ships lit up like floating cities, their decks blazing with emergency lighting. The Icon of the Seas sits dark except for scattered running lights, the assault team's flashlights visible as pinpricks moving through its lower decks.

You lean between them, one hand on each headrest. "Maria says hello."

C.C. glances at you sidelong, green hair catching the instrument glow. "She's glowing. I can practically see it through the Telepathy Web."

"She's very happy. Now - update me on the three ships."

C.C. pulls up an overlay on the Stallion's display - thermal imaging showing passenger concentrations as bright clusters across each vessel. "Symphony of the Seas. Approximately 1,200 survivors. They're broadcasting on Channel 16 requesting evacuation coordination. Mariner of the Seas. Roughly 900 survivors. They've been using spotlight Morse code spelling 'HELP' and 'WHO ARE YOU' sense you started. Grandeur of the Seas. About 700 survivors. Radio silence except for automated distress beacons."

She swipes through thermal data. "Supply situation across all three is worse than Webb reported. Symphony has maybe ten days of food remaining. Mariner, twelve at most. Grandeur is running low on water - they've been rationing since day five."

"Webb told us two to three months," you say, jaw tightening. "Not a week and a half."

"Webb was working with secondhand intelligence, likely from crew who evacuated before things got bad," C.C. replies evenly. "The passenger counts would have dropped faster than anyone projected. Violence between survivors alone will do that before competing for resources. The ships lost roughly forty percent of their original complement in the first week alone."

Riveria speaks up, jade eyes fixed on the harbor below. "The enchantment pulse from the Icon frightened them badly. They believe military forces have retaken it."

"Good. That's potentially useful." You exhale slowly. "I'll have to prioritize tonight's magic testing. If my idea works, it might solve the problem. If it doesn't... I might be up all night solving it directly."

C.C. raises an eyebrow. "What idea?"

"I'll tell you if it works. Thank you for the report, C.C. Let me know if anything big changes. And feel free to respond to their broadcasts - tell them to shut up, we'll address them in the morning."

C.C. smirks, reaching for the radio controls. "'Shut up, we'll address you in the morning.' Truly inspiring diplomacy."

"It's accurate and direct."

"Mm." She keys the microphone, switching to Channel 16. Her voice drops into something clipped and authoritative - a tone you haven't heard her use before. "All vessels broadcasting emergency frequencies in Jacksonville harbor. This is the command element operating aboard Icon of the Seas. Cease all emergency transmissions immediately. You will receive formal communication at dawn. Do not approach the Icon. Acknowledge receipt."

Three responses come back almost instantly - overlapping, desperate, barely coherent. C.C. cuts them off with surgical precision. "Acknowledgments received. Maintain current position. Dawn briefing. Out."

She clicks off the radio and settles back into her seat with a satisfied expression. "There. Peace and quiet."

Riveria's lips twitch. "You sounded like a military officer."

"I've had centuries to observe them." C.C. reaches into a square bag beside her seat and produces a pizza box. "Want some? I had Robin bring it up via the Teleportation Circle."

The smell of pepperoni fills the cockpit.

You accept a slice of pepperoni, taking a bite as you settle between them. The cheese stretches, grease shining in the instrument glow.

"Oh," you say through a mouthful, affecting mock suspicion. "The mysterious C.C. sharing her sacred pizza. This wouldn't be a bribe of some kind, would it?"

C.C. takes her own slice with deliberate elegance, green hair falling across one golden eye. "Bribery implies I want something from you. I'm simply being generous." She takes a bite, chewing thoughtfully. "Though if you happen to remember that I prefer stuffed crust next time, that would be... noted."

"I'll put it into consideration." You swallow, gesturing with the remaining crust. "Speaking of food - the canon Kurumu is quite the baker of sweets. You should ask her to add your pizza addiction to her hobby list."

C.C. pauses mid-chew, considering this with unusual seriousness. "The succubus can cook?"

"Bake. And cook. She was known for using sweets to bribe the younger classmates she wasn't interested in charming. If you're lucky, you might get an extra pizza chef among the crew."

"Hm." C.C.'s lips curve. "That's actually not a terrible suggestion. I'll mention it."

You reach over and squeeze Riveria's shoulder gently. The elf turns her jade eyes to you, a faint smile crossing her features. "I need to head back. Choose somewhere to hover this invisible helicopter and join the others somehow - I have magic to test before the girls finish the zombie extermination."

Riveria nods, understanding in her expression. "I'll take over monitoring once C.C. rests. The enchantment pulse should keep any curious parties at bay until dawn."

"Hopefully."

You step back to the cargo bay, pizza slice finished, and activate the Teleportation Circle. The familiar moment of displacement, and you're standing on the Anchorage's flight deck. The night air is warm, salt-tinged, the distant glow of the skyline painting the horizon orange.

You reach out through the Telepathy Web - a targeted query. "I need two volunteers for a magic test. One with a master-servant contract, one without. It involves Dominate Person - I need to confirm something about how it interacts with existing magical protections. Should take five minutes, completely safe, and you can say no."

Three responses come almost immediately.

Rika's voice, crisp and professional: "I'm in the command center. No contract. I'll volunteer - someone should verify this works the way you think it does."

Maria's reply is warmer, slightly breathless: "I have the contract. And I'm already dressed again, if that matters. Where do you want us?"

A third voice cuts in - Sinon, from the galley: "I don't have a contract either. I'm closer than Rika if you want to save her the walk."

You consider for a moment. Sinon's voluntary allegiance without a contract makes her an ideal test subject. Paired with Maria's active master-servant contract, you'd have exactly the comparison you need.

"Sinon and Maria. Meet me in the observation deck."

Both confirm. You head there yourself.

The observation deck is empty except for lighting casting soft across the curved windows. Outside, the ocean glitters across the distance.

You, Maria and Sinon arrive within a minute of each other. Maria's violet eyes are bright, her black dress untouched from her earlier activities. Sinon's mint green hair is in its usual two-locks practical style, her tactical bearing evident even in the casual clothes she's changed into.

"Okay," you say, turning to face them both. "Short explanation. I'm hoping to have the Icon of the Seas auto-dominate any new arrivals. If the spell bypasses the Mind Blank on your Anchoring Bands, then it's a failed idea. If I'm right and my test is blocked, then I should also be able to auto-resurrect all the zombies - soon to be corpses - on the Icon before sunrise."

You pause. "Also I need to close the jet ski portals before dinner and have another group meeting."

Maria chuckles - a warm, genuine sound. "I'll remind you later." She folds her arms, violet eyes meeting yours steadily. "Full permission to do anything you want. I trust you completely."

Sinon shifts her weight, turquoise eyes flickering between you and the floor. Her fingers fidget with the hem of her shirt. "I..." She swallows. "You could do this without asking. You could have done it to me weeks ago. The fact that you're asking means..." She takes a breath. "Okay. I accept. But I want you to know I'm not stupid about this."

"I know you're not."

You raise your hand and cast Dominate Person directly - the familiar pulse of mana, the thread of will extending from your mind into theirs. It slides through without resistance, you think. No barrier. No reaction. The Anchoring Bands remain inert because you are their source.

Both women go still for a moment. Maria's expression doesn't change - she was already willing. Sinon's jaw tightens almost imperceptibly.

You realize after a beat that you need something to order them to do, to confirm the spell worked. "I need something to... this is harder than I thought. Maria already would do anything I ask voluntarily."

"Announce something embarrassing," you decide. "Both of you."

Maria's lips curve immediately. "I've been imagining you aggressively taming my naughty big-titty cousin." She says it without a trace of hesitation, violet eyes gleaming with amusement. "Mio would absolutely lose her mind. And I'd pay to watch."

Sinon's cheeks flush crimson. Her body moves before her resistance can catch up - she steps forward, grabs your shirt, and pulls you into a long, deep kiss. Her mouth is warm and insistent, her tongue brushing yours before she breaks away, breathing hard.

"I want the master-servant contract," she says, voice rough. "Before we consider taking my virginity. I want it official."

The admission hangs in the air. You nod slowly, releasing the Dominate spell from both of them. Sinon blinks, then realizes what happened - that the kiss, the confession, came from her own will amplified rather than overridden. Her flush deepens.

You pull her into a gentle kiss. "That was real," you murmur against her lips. "The spell just... removed hesitation."

She nods against your chest, fingers still gripping your shirt.

"Second test," you warn them both. "I'm setting the Anchorage to cast Dominate Person on you as passengers."

You access the Interface using your phone in one hand, configure the spell parameters, and trigger it. Nothing happens, again. Neither woman's expression changes. No thread of will extends.

"Expose a childhood embarrassment," you order.

Maria grins, sticking her tongue out. "Nope."

Sinon crosses her arms, chin lifting defiantly. "Absolutely not."

The Mind Blank holds perfectly. The Anchorage's casting cannot bypass protections you created.

You kiss them both - Maria first, then Sinon, lingering on the sniper's soft lips. "Thank you. Both of you. This confirms everything."

You turn to Sinon, keeping your arm around her waist. "I'll accept your contract whenever you want. You just need to have the three of us together - you, me, and Maria."

Sinon's beautiful turquoise eyes shine in the amber light. "Tomorrow," she says quietly. "After the cruise ships. I want to be yours properly."

"After the cruise ships are dealt with in the morning, I'll call you both," you say, squeezing Sinon's hand.

Sinon nods, turquoise eyes still bright with the weight of her confession. Maria blows you a kiss as you turn away.

You head down through the ship's corridors, the familiar hum of enchantments beneath your feet. The well deck is sealed - door closed, the interior lit up nicely. Two Gates shimmer in the enclosed space: one on the port wall, one on the floor, both open to the ocean outside. The three jet skis sit secured in their cradles, tie-down straps taut, hulls dry despite the proximity to open water.

You check each strap, tug the bindings. Solid. The jet skis aren't going anywhere.

You turn to the wall-Gate first. "Cancel." The shimmering oval collapses inward, reality sealing shut with a soft pop. Ocean water that had been rushing in ends. You wait, watching the water level drop out the second portal. Thirty seconds. A minute. The deck drains clear.

Then the floor-Gate. "Cancel." The second portal vanishes. Done. You head topside.

The flight deck stretches under starlight, the ocean breeze warm against your face. You spot them immediately - Rin standing near the Teleportation Circle painted on the deck, her white blouse catching the wind. Beside her, Liza sits cross-legged on a cargo net, her scaled forearms resting on her knees, reptilian tail curled loosely around her body.

Rin notices you first. Her black hair whips across her face and she pushes it back with an irritated gesture that softens when she sees it's you.

"Something happen?" she asks.

"A successful magic test. Checking on the assault team."

"Good." She folds her arms, but there's relief underneath the territorial sharpness. "I felt something through the Web earlier. Maria's... enthusiasm."

"That was the quickie."

"I didn't need details." But her lips twitch.

Liza's tail wags once - a single, involuntary sweep across the deck plating. Her stoic face doesn't change, but the tail betrays her. "The assault team is on deck six now. Hinata says approximately forty remaining."

You check through the Telepathy Web yourself. Hinata's Byakugan-sight showing the lower decks nearly clear - clusters of zombies in the engine spaces and crew quarters, nothing organized. Erza's team is methodical, sweeping compartment by compartment.

"They'll finish within the hour," you say.

Rin nods. "I've been studying the Gate while standing guard. The connection is stable - no energy bleed, no mana fluctuation. Whatever you do to make these, it's perfect."

"That's good to hear." You lean against the railing, looking through the portal the distant glow of Jacksonville's skyline. "Because I'm about to configure the network to do something considerably more ambitious."

Rin raises an eyebrow. Liza's tail wags twice.

"Resurrection," you say simply. "Every corpse on the ship. Automated every ten seconds. Should be done before sunrise."

Rin's expression shifts - analytical interest warring with something more complicated. "That's... the mana cost alone-"

"The network has the income and capacity. And I just confirmed the Mind Blank protection works through Interface-mediated casting. We are are safe. Meaning I can set the Icon to Dominate anyone who gets on it, when they're resurrected or come from the other cruise ships I won't have to be there individually for each of them."

Liza speaks quietly. "How many people will wake up?"

"Somewhere around eight hundred and fifty. Give or take."

The silence that follows is heavy with implications neither woman voices.

You hum softly, stepping forward and wrapping your arms around Rin from behind. She stiffens for half a second - instinct - then melts back against your chest, her black hair tickling your chin.

"More," you continue, chin resting on her shoulder. "If the survivors made any attempt to preserve the corpses on their ships, I'll need to tell the survivors to bring those with them during tomorrow's announcement. Until then I've got roughly an hour before the assault team finishes and comes back. I shouldn't start the resurrection until they're done."

Rin tilts her head back against you. "The cruise ship captains should have some idea whether bodies were kept or dumped overboard."

"They should know exactly that, but getting them to agree to the terms will be a different issue. Please let the extermination team know we're having a meeting before our late dinner."

"Consider it done." Her hand reaches back, fingers finding your jaw. She turns in your arms, and you kiss her slowly - her lips parting, the taste of mint and something warmer beneath. Rin's fingers curl into your shirt at the collar, holding you there for a long moment before releasing.

You turn to Liza. The reptilian girl watches with those steady, unblinking eyes. Her tail has already begun its telltale sweep - once, twice. You open your arms.

Liza hesitates. Her scaled forearms flex. Then she steps forward, her body fitting against yours with a strange, cool precision. You cup her jaw gently and press your lips to hers. She's stiff at first - unfamiliar - but her tail wags furiously behind her, betraying everything her face won't show. When you pull back, her cheeks have darkened slightly.

"Thank you for guarding with Rin," you say.

Liza nods once. "It is... functional. She explains things I don't understand."

Rin snorts. "You mean I explain everything."

You leave them on the flight deck, the ocean breeze through the portal pulling the faint salt-and-death smell.