THE VROL TRILOGY (121 page)
Authors: SK Benton
Tags: #vampire, #magic, #violence, #lycan, #immortality, #alien invaders, #werewolf adult fantasy
The packed hall roared in applause and cheers
as Bagatelle turned around and bowed. Liliana jumped up and ran
over, throwing her arms around her uncle and peppering his face
with kisses, before returning to her seat.
"So now that I have started the process, I
kindly ask that you finish with the rest of the promotions," said
the king.
Bagatelle faced the hall and took a deep
breath. He was always more a man of action than a man of words, but
this time he needed to rouse the troops and inspire those who would
follow him to the defense of another world.
"Greetings to all. I, um, will now award a
promotion in rank to those from my world. But first, I do need to
grant commission to two young ladies who have left everything they
know behind to come with us. Jessica and Pandy, please come over
here."
The two girls got up from their seats and
walked over to the admiral, both wearing beaming grins. They had
not expected anything, but were happy something was coming their
way.
"Girls. I have only known you by your first
names, as I have come to understand that you have no family names.
It is at this time, before I grant commission, that I ask what
surnames you would take, as they are required on my world. It can
be anything you like. It could even be… Bagatelle."
The two girls looked at each other and
giggled a bit, when Jessica winked at Bagatelle and said, "Sir,
thank you so much, but your name is yours and yours alone. If I
must have a second name please make it Moonbeam."
Pandy stepped up and said, "I always thought
Vendetta sounded cool."
"Very well," continued Bagatelle, "then it is
my honor to grant both Jessica Moonbeam and Pandy Vendetta
commission in Azul Military, with the rank of ensign. It is the
beginning rank of a commissioned officer, and I believe quite
befitting of both of you."
The two girls bowed, but Bagatelle leaned
forward and took them each by a shoulder. Lifting them up, he said,
"No, my girls. We salute. Like so."
Snapping his flattened palm up to his
forehead, the girls mimicked his movements, and then brought their
hands back after he had done so.
"Jennie will teach you the intricacies before
we return to Azul, young ladies."
"Thanks, sir!" the girls bellowed out in
unison, and then rambled back to their seats.
"Next I would like to call up my Lieutenant
Jennifer Escalante de Gunnarsson."
Jennie rose up from her seat and went up the
short step to stand by her brother's side.
"Lieutenant, you have operated under my
command for as many years as you have been in Azul military. I feel
I may have been unfair in not granting you increases in rank, but I
only did so as I wished to keep you close by. But, now that
everything has changed, your promotion is not only warranted, but
also necessary. Jennifer Escalante de Gunnarsson, I hereby confer
upon you the rank of full commander of Azul Military, with all of
the rights and privileges that come with it. From here on out you
shall be addressed as Commander Jennifer Gunnarsson."
Expecting the customary applause,
instead, the entire hall erupted into a giant party, with chairs,
mugs and plates flying all over the place. Jennie was incredibly
popular, even though she was married to Max. She grinned and waved
to everyone, and then did the archaic
fingers across the throat
motion to quiet
everyone down.
Figuring he was next, Max was about to get up
out of his seat when Jennie sat down next to him, but both were
surprised when Bagatelle called his next commission.
"Liliana Gunnarsson, please approach the high
table."
The little girl sat still, completely
surprised. She looked at her mother, wondering if she was in
trouble, but Jennie smiled and nudged her to go up. Approaching her
uncle slowly, she looked around and found the hall to be amazingly
quiet.
"Liliana Gunnarsson, the young girl who
only a year ago was an orphan who helped to save this castle and
kingdom, today you stand before me. You have accomplishments well
beyond your years, and although you have yet to garner an education
and to attend the academy, I am bestowing upon you the rank
of
acting
ensign
. It is not full-time, as you still must
attend your classes, but when you are on mission with us it is your
legal and commissioned rank. Congratulations, Ensign
Gunnarsson."
If anyone hadn't expected an even more
rousing celebration than Jennie's they should have. Liliana was one
of their own, born in the very castle in which they all lived. She
was the shining example of what bravery can do, even for those
without any advantage in life, such as an orphan. The little girl
gave her uncle a sharp salute, and after he had reciprocated she
went back to her seat, obviously very pleased. After a few minutes
the crowd calmed down, and Bagatelle went to call on Max.
"Commander Maximilianus Gunnarsson, please
approach the high table."
Max of course got up and walked over to his
brother-in-law. He knew that these ranks were only a formality, and
would not be official until they had captured the government, and
military, back from Johnson, but he was still happy that Bagatelle
was giving him the honor.
"Max Gunnarsson, when I first heard of you I
only knew of you as a scientist. You were not a soldier, nor a
leader. Then, when we met I was under orders to capture you, and to
kill you if you resisted arrest. Instead, I trusted my instincts
and let you flee - not only alone, but also with my only kin, my
little sister. I am so very glad I did, because not only have I
gained a great ally, I also have more family, and hope for our
world. Max Gunnarsson, today it is my great pleasure to promote you
to the rank of captain, as you will be required to maintain that
rank while in command of the ADF Ronald Reagan. Congratulations,
Captain Gunnarsson."
Everyone in the hall stood up and did
something extremely uncharacteristic of lycans - they saluted Max,
and held their flattened palms, faced down, to their brows until he
returned the salute. Looking over, even his daughter and wife were
saluting him.
The party continued, ramping up to the point
of slam dancing (within a protective bubble) and nearly all of the
furniture inside being smashed to pieces. Pandy and Liliana
especially had a good time using cantuses to cause certain
attractive lycan soldiers' boots to heat up rather quickly. Liliana
accidentally lit Kyle's hair on fire, but Draagh fortunately
extinguished the flames before the lad took notice. The boy was
seated with some of his fellow students, who were preparing for
their first full moon. Liliana still wanted to capture his
attention - however, it appeared that his eyes were on an older
lycan teenager, much to Liliana's chagrin. Jennie watched Liliana
and Pandy, not knowing if the young woman was too mature an
influence on her young daughter, but Jessica assured the commander
that her best friend indeed had innocent intentions - but would
also help to keep an eye out just in case.
Keeping an ever-present eye on the happenings
in the celebration, Draagh was enjoying some whisky with Krynos,
while Gabriel and Jessica were snickering at the chaos in the
middle of the great hall. At the table on the new second-level
platform, Max and Jennie sat back, keeping an eye out on Liliana,
with the woman leaning back into her husband's arms.
"We throw really good parties, don't we?" she
asked.
"Yeah, pretty epic. Hey - wanna tango? I can
clear the floor and change the music."
"Naw, not here. But I have a dance for you…
I'll show it to you later tonight," she giggled as she nuzzled
Max's ear with her nose.
"Sounds good, love. Hey - give me a minute.
I'm going to chat with Michael real quick."
Jennie groaned comically, not wanting to
relinquish her comfortable position in her husband's arms, but
moved a bit to let him stand up. Going over to where his biological
father was sitting, Max gave him a grin, and extended his hand
while saying, "Hey, thanks for helping to get me back home."
"It was my pleasure, son. I also look forward
to helping save the world of your birth."
"Now that's my
dad
talking."
Epilogue
Samyaza and Gadreel, both Grigori - long ago
fallen from the graces of the universe - stood on a sub-dimensional
precipice, looking out over the entire Milky Way Galaxy. It was a
magnificent sight, unimaginable to any mortal: hundreds of billions
of stars in a constantly swirling maelstrom of hot gasses, planets,
and their satellites.
"Now that they have recovered Mija-El it
could complicate matters," Gadreel informed his brother.
"He should have remained stranded on the
world of lazy, drug-abusing monkeys."
"He was, but Gabriel was convinced to
retrieve him, assisted by their father."
"Yes, the First One is becoming quite a
nuisance."
"But the offspring - did you not see his
hybrid form? Amazing," said Gadreel, his tone showing more than a
bit of respect.
"Amazing, yes - convenient, no. He needs to
be eliminated. They have already used his blood to enhance more of
the dogs."
"Brother, all this just to slight Jah?"
"As far as we know, Jah is no longer. It is
now up to us. Mankind must not be allowed to evolve."
"Yes, they already present a danger. It is a
shame. I have so enjoyed watching as they nearly destroy
themselves."
"I agree. It is tragic they did not succeed
in that particular task. We must finish the job for them. The
insects were a marvelous creation, however; they cleanse quite
well."
"If humans advance further they shall reach
biological singularity; that was Jah's accursed intent. I still
cannot understand why He, in all His glory, would allow a mere
creation to supersede us - His true children. Was He mocking us
when He created them in our image? They are mere shells - sloppy
paintings in comparison. But if allowed to continue, they shall
reach the level of the others, who are now untouchable."
"It will still be eons before they evolve to
such a point, Brother. But the further they advance, the more
difficult it will be to eliminate them. We act now out of
necessity."
"I agree. Do you continue protecting the
ghoul?"
"He is camouflaged and shall soon rendezvous
with the insects. The offspring's base harnessing of
sub-dimensional travel was unexpected, but helps to push our
timeline forward."
###
Chairman Len Johnson sat at the
controls of his personal
space
yacht
, as he called it, executing commands that had
been pre-programmed into its navigational computer. Of course he
had no idea how to actually take his ship to the appropriate
location in space, but as a political creature of habit he always
acted like he was in command.
"Sir, we rendezvous with the Artusian fleet
in seventy-four hours. Would you like to relax during our
voyage?"
Len Johnson looked at his ship's captain and
nodded his head. He needed to rest up before confronting
X'than'dor, and demanding more time before the Vrol arrive at the
borders of Azul System. Getting up, Johnson went to his personal
cabin, and looking in the mirror, admired himself as he smirked,
fully believing he could affect the velocity of the Vrol fleet.
He couldn't have been more mistaken.
Book Three
LIVES OF THE PROVECTUS
Table of Contents for LIVES OF THE
PROVECTUS
LIVES OF FUTURE-PAST
(Book One)
LIVES OF LOST ANGELS
(Book Two)
Chapter 3 - Welcome to the Castle
Chapter 22 - Welcome, Mr. President
Chapter 24 - Castle Sweet Castle
Chapter 26 - Good Galactic Hunting