THE VROL TRILOGY (15 page)

Bagatelle sat for a moment, taking it all in
while watching as Draagh's animated show dissipated into thin air,
ending with the cherubs disturbingly murdering each other with
their bows and arrows.

"I well know Earth's - and Azul's history, but
I never heard anything factual about any sort of energy, or any
extra abilities in mankind's past. This sounds like it all comes
out of an ancient Earth fantasy story. Detail some of these things
if you would," said Bagatelle.

Draagh made a thoughtful expression and put his
finger to his lips, as if he were dredging historical facts out of
the depths of his mind.

"Well, lycans can call on enhanced strength. I
am sure you have experienced this in your life at some time,
perhaps when you are under extreme pressure?"

All three nodded their heads, while Draagh
continued, "In Earth's ancient past, your ancestors could transform
themselves and become even stronger. And they had enhanced senses,
such as vision, hearing and smell. There were certain side effects
to these abilities, but they were minor. Overall, you were our
greatest achievement! The virus in your bodily fluids is a wonder
of genetic engineering. On the proper world, you would be
near-immortal, with its complex energies constantly revitalizing
you systems."

Jennie sat up straight and called attention to
herself by saying, "A virus? So, we're ill?"

"Oh no, my dear. Not ill," said
Draagh, "as the virus works in direct contact with your genetic
code, giving you those extra capabilities, and also enabling your
kind to increase your numbers, which, unfortunately, can also be
done by the ghouls and the cannibals. That being said, the
cannibals must exchange blood
and
saliva with their target, but the ghouls and the
lycans can do so simply with an exchange of blood."

"How is this done? This exchange of blood?"
asked Bagatelle.

"Oh, through a bite in a large enough vein, or
a minor artery," responded the old man.

All three thought back in their lives if they
had ever bitten anyone, and to their collective relief none
had.

Draagh continued on, relating how Bagatelle's
habit of biting his lip was an inherited trait, as that was what a
lycan would do right before he intends to transmit the lycanthrope
virus to someone, effectively changing them into a lycan also. The
virus would enter the bloodstream of the target, and replicate
until it had the sufficient numbers needed to start a gentle
process of genetic enhancement

"So, Draagh, what would happen if I bit Rear
Admiral Bagatelle?" asked Max, only to receive a precautionary
glare from the superior officer.

"Oh, I imagine… well, I imagine it would hurt!"
exclaimed the mage, "but as for any sort of viral transferal - no,
nothing would happen. You both have the same subspecies genetic
code."

Max sat in a state of disbelief, trying to
visualize what Draagh was saying. "So Draagh," he asked, "you said
there were side effects. What were they? What happened to
lycans?"

Draagh continued, "Oh, they would pretty much
turn into giant wolves on a full moon, but some could control this
quite well, yes - quite well. Of course, a mage of adequate skill
could keep this change from happening, or even reverse it with a
sufficient electrical shock."

At that moment all four of them got an
immediate wake-up call, hearing a Draeder scream overhead.
Bagatelle immediately consulted his portable console and saw that
all of his fighters on mission were continuing with their sweep
patterns in search of Lt. Johnson, and that they were nowhere near
Machu Picchu. He surmised that it had to be Lt. Johnson and gave
Draagh and Max an alarmed look. Draagh looked upward, with no one
actually able to see the sky, as they were under the protective
canopy of lush vegetation.

"Oh, yes, the very bad man. Quite tragic what
he did upon leaving your ship. Yes, quite tragic. I had not
foreseen that particular bit of malignant behavior, but no worries!
He cannot see us, nor your craft up in the ruins. I have taken care
of that, so that we may continue our little discussion. Yes, we are
quite invisible. Quite invisible."

Draagh paused momentarily, and then continued,
"Would anyone else like a spot of this fine whisky? I am feeling a
bit parched," to which Max then said, "Um, Draagh, alcohol
dehydrates you - so the scotch won't help."

"Max, please do not ruin the moment. Drink up,
my friends!"

Draagh then leaned over and poured a bit more
scotch in everyone's glasses and continued.

"So, I was saying. Your ancestors would turn
into giant, snarling - but quite impressive - wolves. A lovely
site, it was. Terrifying, but they were necessary! Yes, quite
necessary, as there were other subspecies of humanity that needed
to be controlled. The lycans were the keepers of honor, the
soldiers of destiny, and the protectors of liberty."

"What were these other subspecies you are
talking about? The gloms and the carnivores you mentioned?" asked
Jennie.

"Why, my dear young lady. There
were those who thrived on death, nearly dead themselves, and then
there were the cannibals. Fortunately, the cannibals were unable to
procreate, so they would basically die off on their own if properly
contained. Otherwise, they would spread their infection far and
wide. The peddlers of death, whom I called
ghouls
, however, actively brought
others into their ranks, as they hated the lycans. Oh yes, they
quite hated the lycans with every rotten fiber of their
beings."

"Draagh, this is all a lot to take in at one
time, but are there any others like us?" asked Max.

"Of course, my dear boy! There are quite a few
on your world, but nowhere near in the numbers of
normals."

"Normals?"

"Yes, normals. Humans without any,
how shall I say,
extra
abilities. 98% of Azul's population lacks supernormal
genetics - and a good thing too! Could you imagine trying to run
interference for countless thousands of lycans, keeping them safe
and scrambling doctors anytime one went in for a physical
examination? It would be unmanageable! Unmanageable beyond
imagination!"

Max looked over at Bagatelle and Jennie, and
then asked, "Do either of you recall your doctors looking like they
had self-medicated when performing a physical or drawing
blood?"

Both Bagatelle and Jennie gave astonished looks
at each other, and slowly nodded their heads.

"So, without your help we would have been
detected?" Max asked Draagh, turning again to him.

"Yes, my son. Myself, and some like
me. We are few in numbers, and have lost a few of our kind to dark
temptations, but we try to protect our charges.  We are also
helped by a lower caste with much more plentiful numbers. As I
said, those of my kind are few, but the lower caste is numerous.
You used to call them
angels
in your ancient religions, and they also possess
abilities similar to mine."

Religion existed on Azul, as everyone was free
to believe what he or she desired, but most scientists did not give
credence to the supernatural, making it all the more difficult for
Max, as well as Bagatelle and Jennie, to accept.

Jennie then asked their host, "So
Draagh, are lycans the only surviving subspecies on Azul, or did
any of the others also emigrate? And further, why do we not know
about this? Is there anyone who
does
know? I mean, I find it
impossible to believe that
no one
would have learned this, if it were
true."

"My dear Jennie," Draagh continued,
"There are those who suspect, but none who are completely certain.
You both suspected that you were different, but simply chalked it
up to each being a unique individual - which you are - but much
more so than any other
normal
. This is all-important for
you to learn and understand, because yes, those who crave death,
the ghouls, also made it to Azul, but in lesser numbers than your
kind. Still, they exist. In fact, that traitorous imbecile flying
around looking for something is of that subspecies."

"Lieutenant Johnson is a… ghoul?" asked
Jennie.

Draagh took another sip of scotch and said,
"Yes, I am afraid to say. That is why he could commit such a
horrendous act aboard your ship. His father, I am afraid, is even
worse."

Jennie felt sick to her stomach. Not only had
she been used and betrayed by Ryder Johnson, but he was also
somehow a genetic deviant whose ancestors reveled in death and
mayhem. Bagatelle also found reason in what Draagh was saying, and
crinkled his nose in a look of disgust

"Councilman Johnson. He's been a thorn in the
side of the military for years. I never trusted him, and now it
looks like it wasn't without reason."

Draagh felt he was getting through to Bagatelle
and Jennie. He also knew that he had to get going, but he needed to
convince them that what he was doing was absolutely necessary.
Determining that his new friends were ready for a bit more
information, Draagh waved his hand down and in the direction of
Bagatelle's portable console.

"Luigi my friend, please check your device. It
has detailed logs and vids of the Vrol invasion of Earth, as well
as Max's analysis of the amoeba that was used to decimate the
population."

Bagatelle went through his console, reading
data and watching videos for the next fifteen minutes, with Jennie
looking over his shoulder, when Draagh spoke again.

"You will need to return to Azul and prepare
forces to engage the Vrol. I will take Max and Jennie with me
to-"

"What? I'm not going anywhere with you - or…
that!" yelled Jennie, interrupting the old man and pointing at
Max.

At the very moment, Draagh casually waved his
hand out toward the two officers from The Revolution, causing them
to stop in mid-sentence, as they grew glassy-eyed expressions. Max
looked at them, astounded, and then turned to Draagh.

"Um, Draagh, what did you just do?"

"I needed to stop them for a moment. Jennie was
about ready to go ballistic, as they say, and Luigi was not far
behind, my son."

"So… you are controlling them?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes."

"Oh… cool."

Draagh made another little waving gesture with
his hand, and although they maintained their dumfounded
expressions, he began to give them instructions.

"My friends, although it pains me to do this, I
must guide you into making the correct decision. Luigi, you are
going to leave this place and return to your ship, where you will
make every effort possible to apprehend Lt. Johnson. Max is no
longer a consideration for you."

Bagatelle continued staring and nodded his head
in agreement. Then Draagh spoke to Jennie, giving her different,
but equally important instructions.

"Jennie, you are going to accompany us, as you
will need to keep an eye on Max. Also, you are due for shore-leave
and this is a perfect opportunity for you to get out and do
something different."

Just as Bagatelle had done so did Jennie,
slowly nodding her head.

"Hey! It's like they're mind-wiped or
something. Is she going to stay that way?"

"No, my son - I shall release them soon, but
they will believe that everything that is to transpire is
normal."

"Oh, bummer. Um… I have an idea. Can you make
her… nice? I mean… she kinda wants to kill me."

"No Max, no, no, no. I shall not do that. She
needs to keep her wits about her. It is a precarious thing I do,
and if I delve further into their minds I could do irreparable
harm."

"Seriously? You can't make her a
little less of a bitch? I mean, she's super-hot and all, but man -
she comes with some serious baggage, although her surname is
cool.
Es Caliente.
Haw!"

Max laughed at his own little joke, making a
play on words from the girl's last name.

Draagh continued to survey his two subjects as
they sat staring into space, their eyes lacking focus.

"Jennie was to come with us in the first place.
I believe we have accomplished a great deal by visiting with them,
but they needed a bit of prodding at the end. Luigi would never
have allowed the girl to go with us, for more reasons than are
apparent."

"You mean, I have to travel with her? Oh God,
for how long? This going to suck - I can see it now. She'll be
making me do pushups and wash the dishes. The chick's a
tyrant!"

Draagh turned to Max and smiled, putting a hand
on his shoulder as he said, "My boy, she will be with us - with
you, for quite a long time. She will warm to us both, but it must
happen without my tinkering or mental manipulations to make it
truly…"

"Truly what?"



Max stopped and his face brightened up, as if
he had a great idea. "No! It's ok. You see, I'm her superior
officer, so she can't tell me to do anything. Ha! This is gonna be
great."