Scott took a breath and continued, "Each of my people that dies puts my entire planet one step closer to becoming nothing more than a farm for alien night lights. I won't allow that."
"I like you girls. Each of you is tough, and honestly each of you is beautiful enough to make most of the women I've met look like someone slapped makeup on a hog," he said in a sincere tone. "That being said, I can't play favorites. Either we're just going to be friends, or you're sharing me as lovers. Either way, we need to get along."
"Pretty full of yourself, aren't you?" asked Samantha, after a moment.
Scott looked at her, but did not back down or retract his statement. "I'm offering a life of danger, adventure, and incredible wealth making opportunity."
His tail lashed from side to side while he looked into Samantha's eyes. "The only downside is that if you catch feelings for me, you have to share me. I don't have the time, energy, or desire to live through that sort of drama when every single time I leave the house I could die in a gloriously ridiculous manner."
"What if we find another love interest along the way?" asked Saelil.
"I'll wish you both well, and drop you off on one of the worlds we visit," he said. Though he amended it a moment later by saying, "Depending on how things evolve between us, I might be quite hurt by that as I grow attached to people, but being a sobbing he-bitch for a few days is the price I'm forced to pay."
Saelil looked down at the ground for a moment, before sighing softly. It was obvious that she needed time to think about the situation.
"That's it? You'd just let one of us go with someone else?" asked Kitty.
"You'd have to return any equipment granted, and repay EXP I spent toward your growth, but otherwise it's not my place to stand in the way of your happiness," said Scott, "If you legitimately prefer being with someone else, I'd be nothing but a douchey asshole to try and force the situation to be otherwise."
"What you're saying is, that the only guy we can be with is you?" asked Samantha.
Scott nodded to her. "I've never really dealt with it in legitimate life and death situations, but I've seen it happen in other ways."
He took a breath then began to speak once more, "Everything starts out great. You get a few people together, one's leading the raids. After a while though, people start to partner up and couple. The healer starts focusing more on healing her boyfriend than on the rest of the team. People die."
"It's normal to want to protect someone you love at least a little more than someone who is just a friend," said Scott.
"That's being simplistic," said Saelil, after a moment of silence passed.
"Oh?" asked Scott. He looked at her with a serious expression. "You telling me that if you were to find another lover and you fell completely for that man, so completely that you would die for him, that when faced with a decision where you had to choose between saving him and saving me, you'd pick me?"
She flinched slightly then shook her head. "I see your point."
"Eight billion people," said Scott. His eyes narrowed. "There are about eight billion people on the world that I'm from. A few million were brought into this game, and each one of us that is taken out of play for good is a loss that brings those billions of people one step closer to destruction."
"If you girls just want to work together and nothing more? Great. Let's do that," said Scott. He took a breath the continued, "However, as far as relationships go, I'm it for you while we do work together."
His expression hardened and he spoke in a cold, but sincere, manner, "I won't jeopardize the lives of billions of people based on one person's feelings. Whether those feelings are mine, or any of yours. Hell, more people might join us. It's the same situation."
The girls were quiet, so Scott kept talking. In some ways it was like he intended to convince himself as well. "We can be partners. We can be friends. We can be lovers. God knows I could use a little of all three, and I bet you girls can too."
"Either way, the mission is what is important. We'll have fun and danger along the way, but at the end of the day it will be about the people we help and the planet we are trying to protect," he said resolutely.
The world remained locked in silence for a time. Each of the girls needed time to think about the situation. Scott needed time to reflect on what he had said. Did he really feel the entire planet was his personal responsibility? Deep down, did he think he had to keep going just for their sakes?
Kitty walked over to Scott after a moment of reflection then slipped her arms around him. "I would still be in a glass cage getting my soul sucked dry if not for you. I don't even like boys that much, but I like you."
She leaned forward and kissed him softly on the lips. Her tail lashed from side to side and she began to purr.
Not long after, Saelil spoke up, "I too was trapped, and you freed me. Honestly, I don't like the idea of sharing you."
Scott looked to Saelil. What she said next would make or break her position on the team.
"My preference is, of course, to be the wife while the lesser females serve as official mistresses or personal courtesans at best," said Saelil. "Equality of this type is not quite part of my culture..."
Samantha stared at Saelil for a moment. "Lesser females?"
"Oh my? Did I say something inappropriate?" asked Saelil, a mischievous smile upon her lips. "I am already the official bride-to-be after all."
Scott sighed at the dark elf. Her previous supposed reluctance was nothing more than an elaborate way to try to claim a higher status with him. Her cleverness was dangerous. Though, given the slightly annoyed scowl on Samantha's lips, the danger might be more than Saelil expected.
"Nyao," said Kitty. "I don't care who the bride is right now, I just want to be petted a little."
The girls looked to kitty, the shameless hussy that she was, and noticed that she had her face buried in the crook of Scott's neck. The catgirl made happy little mewling noises and commented on his amazing scent.
He lightly stroked her hair and offered her a smile. Saelil's cheeks immediately reddened. "Really... So brazen."
She marched over to where they were and placed her hands on her hips. "Am I not your fiancé? Clearly you should pet me first."
Scott blinked at her then shrugged. "Alright," he said before reaching out and stroking her hair as well.
She smiled slightly and closed her eyes. It was the first truly intimate thing that he'd ever done with her, despite being naked together for a good bit of time.
While petting the two overly affectionate members of the team, he looked over to Samantha. She chose to look away at that moment. She obviously did not feel the need to be petted.
"I guess that means that you two are alright with the situation?" asked Scott to Saelil and Kitty.
"As long as I get petted, and can play with other girls..." said Kitty.
"I would prefer my own harem, but given our circumstances, I can accept the position of first wife in yours," said Saelil.
Kitty snorted loudly upon hearing the first wife bit, but said nothing. She was too busy sniffing at Scott's neck. He smelled so interesting, right now.
After the petting session went on for about a minute, Samantha sighed loudly. "I just work here."
Scott was saddened a little to hear her say that, but it was expected. They were together for business, nothing else.
Samantha turned and looked Scott in the eyes. "You don't have to worry about me looking for a boyfriend, though. That's not why I'm here."
Kitty laughed softly, and said, "You keep telling yourself that..."
Samantha snorted at the catgirl, but said nothing. She was a business woman, not some hormonally challenged cat with a shoe fetish.
Scott smiled at the blond mercenary. "I'm glad you're here, either way."
"Of course," she said, before turning away once more and crossing her arms over her chest. "Someone's got to actually pay attention on a mission."
Scott's smile grew wider. He could not see
her face at the moment, but despite her cool demeanor, he did not doubt for a moment that she was smiling just a little.
The situation properly attended to for now, Scott gathered his companions together, and finished their business. He never doubted for a moment that she situation was not settled between the girls. He did hope that they abided by their decisions, but the future held any number of possibilities.
No matter what the future held for their team dynamics, it was time to hit the road. Adventure awaited, and soon, their first team mission would be underway. There was much to do, but for the first time since the game started Scott finally felt a true sense of hope.
The group was little more than a baby bird not yet able to fly, an easily injured fledgling that might never live up to its potential. Yet, he could not help but be happy. No matter what happened, he was no longer alone. He had a team. Even if it was a tiny little thing, he also had hope once again.
###
Thank you for taking the time to read this book. Galactic Fist of Legend is a passion project. Many of the pop-culture concepts and characters that I love appear in parodied forms, or as a nod to their existence. While not everything lines up perfectly, those things are also not meant to align in such a manner. Galactic Fist is a concept wherein human pop-culture has come to life in some form, but not necessarily in the exact form from which it originated.
If you enjoyed this book, then I ask that you share it with your friends and on social media. Let it be seen throughout the world!
If you hated it, then by all means tell everyone that as well. It is the only way that I'll learn my lesson.
Either way, please review this book at the site of the distributor from whom you purchased it. Reviews are the life's blood of authors and can make or break a series!
Thanks again!
~Scottie Futch
About the Author
Scottie Futch is a goofy sort of fellow who enjoys parodies, anime, pop-culture, zombies, and various lewd images of innocent videogame heroines who are no doubt far better portrayed by their source material than any parody he might create.
He also likes cake.
I'm telling you, this guy really loves his cake. It's almost a mental health disease at this point. If you're religious, pray for him. If not, ask the flying spaghetti monster to pay back the money that he borrowed. The author knows where that fool lives. He can't dodge true justice forever!
May his sauce be forever saucy...
Discover Other Titles by Scottie Futch
1. Origin ARS
2. Galataea Crystallim Core
3. Freelance Saga
4. Galactic Fist of Legend
5. Tactical Phantasia
Contact Me
Follow Me on Twitter: @ScottieFutch
Friend me on Facebook: Freelance Saga
Visit My Wordpress Site for Galataea: Galataea Crystallim
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Galactic Fist of Legend: Volume 2 Page 22