Chapter 50: Ventori

CAPITAL CITY OF JORLARI

JORLARI CITY MUSEUM BUNKER

Martin knew his Queens well.

Anja had not gone more than six meters into the underground facility before her wolf blood was screaming out for vengeance. In all her years in practicing medicine, even dating back to before the Great Fire on Earth, she had never seen such a horrible scene as what was arrayed before her this day. Anuk and Kesyla had managed to vent most of the air within the bunker and the smell, while vile, was much fainter and at least tolerable. This did nothing to sooth Anja’s famous and now growing anger and by the time Atropos led hers and Aricia’s small, four person team of Durcunusaan fully into the facility and declared it clear, she was ready to explode.

No one really knew where Anja’s fiery temper came from, the vast majority of Hadarians were exceptionally calm individuals even in the midst of major crisis, and Anja Leonidas was well known within the Union as being one of the most compassionate people alive. Helen had surmised once that the virus within Martin’s blood when he changed her had somehow also altered her psyche as well, making her far more passionate about certain things than most of those Hadarians who had been turned. It was said that her father had such a passionate streak about him that he rarely showed and some surmised that this trait came from her father and since she was wolf she allowed it to show more often than he did. Whatever the reason, Aricia and For’mya both knew what was seething through their fellow Queen and lover and while Aricia gripped her arms tightly and held Anja close to her, both of them pulsed her powerfully with their female auras in order to keep her calm. For’mya had remained on their STRIKER in order to respond to any evac order that came from Martin’s team, but since they were all of one mind she had seen what Anja and Aricia were seeing.

Anuk Simpson knew Anja as only the dearest of friends and cherished co-workers could and she quickly saw what was happening within her and stepped close beside Aricia to also help to sooth her. Drenia was speaking in soft whispers with Saydia and Perlyea while Anthylea stood with two other Tasmor who had come down from their ship, both of them doctors and they were talking with Kesyla. All of them turned to watch as Aricia and Anuk pulled Anja close to them. Atropos and the Durcunusaan were not happy about what they had seen and all of them were on very high alert mentally and looking for any danger to their Queens and those with them.

With those that she loved more than her own life and perhaps her closest friend outside of Eurin beside her, they succeeded in keeping Anja calm and controlled. Gripping Aricia’s and Anuk’s hands in her own, her forehead pressed to Aricia’s, Anja nodded her head several times while taking deep breaths.

“Be at peace Melyanna.” Aricia whispered softly a final time, knowing that her use of the name Dysea had given to her all those years ago would do the trick. It was their way of letting Anja know that they loved her completely and were with her. Both Aricia and For’mya knew that the only aura that would calm her entirely now was Martin’s, but there was work to be done and they knew Anja was strong enough to tolerate it until Martin was able to wrap her within his loving aura and embrace.

Perlyea was the only one of the Tasmor in the room to really take notice of this event and her blue eyes watched Anja keenly. The look of peace that had come over Anja’s features made her one of the most astonishingly beautiful women Perlyea had ever seen. It was a unique and touching moment. Unlike the Pralor people it seemed, Anja and her fellow Queens and even all of the Lycavorians they had come in contact with, they accepted the Tasmor without question. There were many differences between them yes, the largest being that they were led by a male King, but Perlyea knew these were issues that could be worked around or even accepted by the Tasmor. It didn’t seem to bother Martin Leonidas in the least that Saydia Daret led the Tasmor people, he almost seemed to sense that they would respond better to his Queens, and that is how he had left it. This attitude alone set him apart from most males that Perlyea had come across in her lifetime, even Tasmor males, and it spoke volumes about what their future could be. It told Perlyea that this male, this Martin Leonidas, he did not feel threatened in the least that Saydia was a female. That nearly all of the senior members of Tasmor society were female. It told her that he was confident in himself to the point that he did not fear their power and position. It also helped quite a bit that Perlyea found Anja Leonidas incredibly beautiful and desirable and very nearly impossible to resist.

Anja squeezed Aricia’s and Anuk’s hands one last time and nodded. “I’m good.” She spoke in a soft whisper. “I’m good now.” She leaned forward and kissed Aricia lovingly on the lips before doing the same to Anuk. “Thank you.”

This act surprised Perlyea as she watched until she felt the large man Atropos come up beside her. He seemed to move without any sound and though Perlyea would never know it, Atropos took in everything that was happening in a room where Anja and his sister were. And he had noticed the interest Perlyea had taken in his beloved Queen right away.

“Anuk is the wife and mate to Daniel Simpson. The King’s true brother.” Atropos told her seeing Perlyea’s eyes meet his. “She and Anja have been working together since the very beginning. They are family.”

“Do ... do your people act this way with all family?” Perlyea asked.

Atropos nodded his head. “It is part of our culture, yes.” He answered.

“What do you mean ... since the beginning?” Saydia asked now taking interest in their conversation.

Atropos smiled warmly for a man with such a stern demeanor. “That is a very long story Sovereign Regent Daret.” He answered her warmly and with respect that all of them took notice of. “If you become the friends that the King hopes you are, then you will probably discover it over time.” He told her. “It is a very interesting story.”

“You consider the Tasmor friends?” Saydia asked.

“That remains to be seen fully ... but you are a proud and honorable species in my eyes.” Atropos told her. “It is the hope of Martin that this is so, yes. You would not want to be his enemy, I assure you. He is not kind to his enemies.”

Saydia couldn’t help the small smile that split her lips. “I have gotten that impression.” She stated. “You speak informally of your King. Why is that?”

“He is the husband and mate to my only sister.” Atropos told her. “We are family before soldiers.”

“I want to know what the fuck happen here!” Anja’s voice barked out now as she pulled away from Aricia and Anuk and caused everyone in the bunker to turn and look at her as she got her bearings once more. “Martin will want to know what happened here! From the top Kesyla!”

Kesyla turned back to the computer station she was sitting at. “Kasden left the main power core at eighty percent when he left with Martin’s team. I have been unlocking internal sensors and bringing systems back online slowly. The data banks are heavily encrypted Anja, but Avi is patched in from the ARC ROYAL and working on them. It will take time however.”

“It’s not Pralor encryption Kesyla?” Aricia asked now moving away from Anja and closer to her.

Kesyla shook her head. “It uses some form of Pralor algorithms, but they are entwined with others that I do not recognize. It would be faster here on the surface if Mari was here, she could access the databanks directly, but Avi is having to filter them so they do not possibly corrupt the systems on the ARC ROYAL.”

“What do we know?” Anja asked moving up beside her as well.

“I can tell you that the facility was last opened seven months and nine days ago.” Kesyla responded pointing to the screen in front of her. “The security protocols all seem to be online and working and that is the last time the hatch we used was opened. The computer however, it cannot determine who the Bioscans belong to. They obviously are not in the database. We don’t know who they were.”

Anja looked at her. “How could that be?” She asked.

Kesyla shook her head. “I don’t know.” She answered. “This is standard Pralor research equipment and would have all known bioscans in its database. I do not know why the bioscans don’t register.”

“This is what your people used to monitor the Lycavorians here?” Anja asked.

Kesyla nodded her head once more. “It is a standard First Contact facility. Built to observe their society but not interact. That is why the systems here are tapped into all of the main public and private networks. Civilian and military.”

“Well, I can tell you it’s definitely some sort of research facility.” Duewa spoke now as she came back into the main room from another side office area. All heads turned to her when they heard her voice as she walked right up to Anja. “This equipment is similar to parts of our lab on the ship Anja.”

Anja nodded her head. “Agreed. But research into what?” She spoke. “It’s like a butcher shop here. What could they have been researching? Who could do this to other sentient beings? What is out there in the corridor isn’t research, it is profane!”

Duewa held out the data pad. “Just from what I have been able to look over briefly, it has to be some sort of genetic research facility. I found this Anja.” She stated as Anja took the pad. “It is mutative in nature and very deadly.”

“Carians!” Anja gasped.

“What?” Perlyea demanded moving closer.

Anja looked at her as she held out the data pad for her to view. “This is Mutative Genetic Bonding.” She said slowly.

Perlyea looked aghast at this information and she looked up at Anja. “My people do not have the technology for such a thing. Is this ... is this even possible?” She gasped.

“With the equipment I am seeing just in these rooms, yes.” Anja told her. “How many ... how many bodies did we find Anuk?”

Anuk held out another pad to her. “Given the ... the pieces that we have found, nineteen Lycavorians, seven Tasmor and at least eleven Pralor bodies are scattered in the corridor and the adjoining rooms.”

Drenia moved forward now and came up beside Saydia. “Sovereign Regent, if I had to guess, we could check our records and discover that the Tasmor here were probably reported as killed or captured.”

Saydia nodded her head. “Yes, but not here.” She stated turning to Anja and Aricia now. “We never lost any personnel helping the Lycavorians on Ventori.”

“They got here some way.” Anja spoke. “Can you identify them with DNA samples?”

Drenia nodded her head instantly. “Yes. It would just be a matter of taking the samples and...”

“Do it!” Saydia snapped.

Anja nodded in agreement. “Duewa, help the Tasmor doctors that came down. Get the DNA samples taken so they can send them back to their ship and check their records.” She looked at Saydia. “I must ask if your people can hold off until those results come back. I know you have burial rights that Captain Drenia...”

Saydia shook her head instantly. “No.” She spoke firmly. “I too wish to discover what happened here as well.” She stated turning to Anthylea. “Anthylea insure that the bodies are ... insure that they are treated respectfully, but we must discover what took place here.”

“We have people coming down now to make certain this happens with all of the bodies.” Anja said.

Saydia nodded her head. “I would like one of our religious mentors to come down from our ship as well if that is alright?” She said. “To provide Tasmor Last Rites.”

Anja nodded her head without hesitation. “Of course.” She spoke. “Thank you.”

Saydia shook her head now. “This now concerns our people as much as yours Queen Anja Leonidas.” She said confidently. “Working together will only allow us to discover what has happened here that much more quickly.”

“We need to ... whoa!!” Anja staggered slightly, as did Aricia and both of them reached for their heads.

“Anja! Aricia!” Anuk’s voice echoed and they saw her lean heavily to the side in the chair she had returned to. Kesyla was reaching for her without hesitation.

“Anja!” Atropos barked out as he moved forward in a rush. He reached Anja at the same time that Perlyea had instinctively reached out and caught her, Anja’s body pressing up against hers as another Durcunusaan caught Aricia in his arms and steadied her.

“Queen Leonidas!” Perlyea gasped aloud.

“Martin!” Anja stammered.

Aricia looked up with wide azure colored eyes. “Anja ... something has happened with Martin! Daniel too!”

“ ... Happen Wayonn?” Jezima asked softly. “Tell us what happened? How did ... how did my son die?”

They sat in the passenger area of the HELIX-Class Corvette now assigned to the ARC ROYAL. It was by far the fastest ship that they had within the Task Force and Martin had been adamant about Wayonn taking it to Honelze once he discovered that Jezima and Meral lived. Wayonn sat across from Jezima and Meral, both of his hands holding theirs within their grasp.

Wayonn grimaced slightly but looked at them and shook his head. “I cannot answer that.” He said softly. “Sumar arranged for a mission back to Pralor space once the remaining transport we had was repaired. I led it. What we returned to was a warzone. Wasted planets and death. I can only assume it was after most of our outer defenses had fallen. The few reports that we were able to intercept spoke of Scourge within the core systems of our space. After a run in with a Scourge patrol craft I made the decision to leave Pralor space forever. We took damage from that Scourge ship but were able to jump away. Our ship was too damaged to make the entire trip back to Lycavore so we found a suitable planet to land and do repairs. When we discovered what had happened while we were gone we never returned to our homeworld Lycavore.”

“That is why you are here among us now?” Meral asked.

“I would have given anything to return and be beside him.” Wayonn spoke in a haggard voice. “He was ... he was my brother! I...”

Jezima reached up and laid her palm across his cheek as Meral squeezed his hand even tighter. “I ... he loved you as such too Wayonn.” She stated with fresh tears. “I did not mean to...”

Wayonn shook his head slowly. “I know.” He said softly. “By the time we returned from Pralor space it was already over as I said. I sent my ... we repaired the ship and I sent my two oldest sons and my youngest son Canth and a few hundred volunteers back with the ship once we had established ourselves on this world. I could not leave. There were over twenty thousand of us and we had families and...” Wayonn stopped talking and took a deep breath.

“So many on a transport?” Jezima gasped. “How did you survive in such a way?”

Wayonn looked at her and smiled gently. “We were all Lycavorian by then.” He told her. “Survival is part of our nature.”

“You took a bride as well?” Meral asked.

Wayonn nodded his head. “A beautiful young flower. She was three thousand years younger than me, but so willful and intelligent. She turned me our first night together and I never looked back.”

“You had children then?” Jezima said.

Wayonn nodded once more. “Thirteen.” He replied.

Jezima’s eyes grew wide. “So many!” She gasped with a smile.

Wayonn couldn’t help but grin. “Neria wanted a large family. That is what we had.” He stated. He looked at Jezima. “Canth became to Sumar’s oldest son Resumar as I was to Sumar. He was only able to send one transmission back to Amanuce where we had settled. All he was able to tell me was that Sumar died as a Praetorian. He went down fighting to keep his wife and children safe. Canth told me that he and Sumar’s son Resumar would carry on in our stead. That they would make us proud and that their legacy would continue for millennia.” Wayonn nodded his head slowly. “And they did.”

Jezima couldn’t hold back the fresh tears and she squeezed his hand even tighter. “Martin Leonidas.” She said softly.

Wayonn nodded once more as his eyes grew brighter. “Jezima, he is so much like Sumar. You have seen his image and how much he appears as Sumar, but you have not seen within his heart. You have not seen how much of Sumar’s blood pumps within his veins and the veins of his children. Lycavorian blood! Pralor blood!”

“Wayonn, you speak as if you are one of them.” Meral said.

“I am Meral. I have been since the day my mate turned me.” Wayonn answered her. “I have been Lycavorian for far longer than I was a Pralor and I feel nothing but joy and pride at that knowledge.” He looked at her. “I questioned the souls within the Rift of Time for so many years Jezima. Why did they leave me? Why did I still live when so many of those I loved die? Why did I survive and not Sumar? I received the answers to all of my questions the day that I discovered Martin lived.”

“Your wife?” Meral asked. “Your children?”

Wayonn shook his head slowly. “She died perhaps two decades after we settled on Amanuce.” He answered. “Our children passed through the years from reasons beyond our control. I have only my grandson now. And my granddaughter Helen whom you will meet. They are the last of my family.”

“Is he ... is he like Sumar Wayonn?” Meral asked.

Wayonn smiled and nodded his head. “So much so that it will cause your stomach to tighten and your heart to believe that those same gods have given him back to us.” He told her with a smile. “What they did give us is the next best thing. Sumar’s spirit, his blood, his drive and his essence. All of these things are prominent within Martin, within all of his children. His oldest son Androcles more so than the others I think, but it is there in all of them.”

“He has ... he has six wives.” Meral spoke now. “And so many children.”

Wayonn nodded his head. “And he loves each of them just as intensely as the other.” He told her. “They are what make him who he is. When you see them all together you will see it. Dysea, Aricia, Anja, all of them. They are like one person when they are all together. They speak with one voice.” Wayonn gripped Jezima’s hands in his. “We came out here looking for what we thought were only a few Pralor people and the dragons they had escaped with. We had no idea that we would discover so many Pralors had escaped the slaughter. How many?”

“Only a few million at first.” Jezima replied. “Scattered over hundreds of ships. Delnash was the one who gathered us all together and the decision was made to run. He is a good man who tried to do what he thought was best for our people. He has made mistakes but recently he has reverted back to the man he was in the beginning. We have been watching from Honelze. Many are happy that his true self has returned. He was following the advice of those who have no right to be Elders of our people far too often. I do not know what changed him but...”

Wayonn couldn’t help but grin and shake his head. “I do.” He said.

Meral looked at him. “What do you mean?”

“He butted heads with someone who has a much stronger will and passion.” Wayonn told her. “Someone the others could not control even on their finest day.”

Jezima’s eyes grew larger. “He knows of...”

Wayonn nodded. “They discovered us several months ago. Our first meeting did not go well for Delnash and those with him.”

“I don’t understand.” Jezima stated.

“We...” Wayonn began.

“You do not need to regale them of Nauta Melme’s more base tendencies Wayonn.” Dysea’s voice interrupted them and they turned to see her approach the table with a tray in her hands.

Both Jezima and Meral’s eyes grew happier as she settled to the chair beside Wayonn and set the tray on the table. Neither of them had met an elf before, they had heard or read of them in the many Pralor Science archives, but never had they met one. Dysea’s natural intelligence and surreal beauty were stunning to them. She was also a powerful Etheric user, as were the two women who had remained behind on Honelze. Her body was tall, lean and muscular, with what appeared to be many exotic and colorful painted skin designs on her arms and poking just above the collar of the shirt she wore. This Dysea exuded confidence and she radiated peace within the Etheric realm which put them at ease almost immediately.

“I did not know what you would like so I brought a few choices.” Dysea told them with a smile. “Elven tea, Aricia’s coffee, or just plain Berry juice. All of them are excellent, but if you want something strong and rich then I recommend Aricia’s coffee.”

Jezima looked at her surprised. “You do not have ... you are a Queen! Do you not have servants to bring these things to you?”

Dysea looked at Jezima, her own emerald colored eyes showing surprise. “Servants?” She gasped. “No, Martin and we would never allow others to serve us.” She replied. “We do not need men and women to tend to our needs. We are quite capable of taking care of ourselves. Having servants is, it is too much like slavery to many of us and it is not something we would allow given our history.”

“Your history?” Meral asked now.

“The Union that Martin is King of, that Dysea is Queen of, they have a long history of being slaves.” Wayonn answered Meral. “It wasn’t until Martin’s own father, another of your grandsons, died in battle some three plus millennia ago for the right to be free that the rebellion truly began. Slavery to anyone who lived during those dark times is an abomination that is not tolerated in any way. This mentality has passed down to even the youngest generations of every species who call the Union home. It is one of their founding principles.”

“I did not mean to offend you Dysea.” Jezima stated.

Dysea looked at her and that warm, dazzling smile put Jezima at ease immediately. “I did not take offense.” She spoke. “There is still so much that we have yet to discover of one another and I welcome it. Besides, Nauta Melme would never allow someone to cook for him. He is a better cook than most of us and it he who has cooked for our family through the years. Cooking relaxes him.”

“What is it that you call him?” Meral asked. “Nauta ... Nauta Melme? What is that?”

“It is elven for Bounded Love.” Dysea answered with a smile. “It is a quirk of our family really. We all have names that we call each other. It brings us closer together. Though I hope you do not have to hear Martin and Anja having a disagreement. Or Androcles and his sister Eliani. Their language can become quite...”

“Colorful.” Wayonn finished for Dysea and she looked at him with a laugh.

“Colorful.” Dysea agreed.

“You can ... you can shift your form as well?” Meral asked her. “Like Wayonn and his other... ?”

“Meral!” Jezima exclaimed.

“Mother I was only curious!” Meral stated.

Dysea laughed and nodded her head. “Yes. The day Martin turned me is a day I cherish above all others.” She responded. “Aricia is the largest of us in wolf form, then Anja and myself. Though I dare say behind Aricia, Anja is the strongest of us within the Etheric realm.”

“And we will meet this Aricia and Anja when we meet Martin?” Meral asked.

Dysea nodded. “And For’mya.” She told her. “She is an elf like me, but she is also our peace. A soothing balm for all of us if we ever need it.”

“And an exceptionally gifted pilot.” Wayonn said. “You will meet them Jezima, but I wish to know why you and Meral were hiding yourselves on Honelze. Why hide who you are from your own people?”

“There were many who came to disavow the Praetorians after our escape.” Meral spoke in reply. “Even on the Elder Council. And they are led by that fool Lorendo. Why Delnash ever put him on the Elder Council is beyond me.”

Wayonn glanced briefly at Dysea and then back to Meral. “Yes. We are well aware of what Lorendo is.” He stated with a hint of anger in his voice that Jezima heard and felt. She leaned forward.

“What is it?” She asked.

Wayonn shook his head. “Our issues with Lorendo are not important right now, but rest assured they will be addressed.” He answered. “What is important is that you will meet Martin soon.”

“Is there more you can tell us of him?” Jezima asked excitedly.

Dysea smiled. “What do you wish to know?” She asked. “I will tell you anything, as long as you are aware that my opinion will be biased of course.”

Jezima laughed softly and reached for her hands, taking them within her own. “Child, those are the best kind of opinions!”

The internal COM unit broke in then and Dysea reached for the wall panel and lifted her head as she touched the controls. “Yes?”

“My Queen, could you and Valistar Wayonn come to the cockpit?” The voice of the female elven pilot spoke.

The Pralor Corvettes, including those that were assigned to SPARTA’S WRATH, were piloted exclusively by elves because of their natural flying abilities and their talent to adapt to almost any given situation. This pair of female elves had been training on this very ship for months now, ever since it was assigned to the King’s Task Force by Androcles. Both of them had finished in the top two percent of elven pilots within the Union fleet and both had seen combat in the Evolli War as a flight pair. The pilot had recently become mated to a Lycavorian officer within the Durcunusaan detachment assigned to the ARC ROYAL, while the co-pilot’s husband was an Elven pilot assigned to the ARIZONA’s Air Wing. The two men had become fast friends because of the relationship their wives shared.

Jezima saw Dysea’s beautiful expression alter slightly and her body tensed in an almost imperceptible way. “What is wrong Ma’Lara?”

“You should probably see it for yourself my Queen.” The woman answered. “Balah has detected something on our long range sensor array.”

Dysea looked at Wayonn who was already rising to his feet. “We are on our way.” She spoke.

Jezima stood as well. “May we come with you?” she asked.

Dysea smiled. “Of course.” She answered.

The cockpit of the Corvette was very spacious, as was usually the case with Pralor built ships, and all four of them were able to fit easily behind the two pilots. The stars were passing by them outside at five times the speed of light, causing beautiful light streaks in the cockpit view windows.

Dysea watched as the pilot turned her head when they entered. “What do you have Ma’Lara?” She asked.

“Balah ... bring it up on the overhead.” Ma’Lara said.

Dysea moved right up behind the pilot’s seat for she knew both of these young females. With the advent of new technology after CS41 had come to Earth, Admiral Ben O’Connor had instituted new Flight School requirements. Any pilot who showed increased aptitude and ability were given the option to enter into a different sort of training. Essentially it was a new school to learn and master most of the Pralor based flight technology that they had discovered and then implemented within the fleet. It was a very rare pilot that was offered such an advancement, and both Ma’Lara and Balah had come out of their respective Flight Classes in the top half percent. When approached, both had volunteered without hesitation. This also meant that these pilots would undergo extensive ground training handled by the Hippis Selda Detachment of the Durcunusaan because all of them would be assigned to fly the Royal family around at some point in their careers. Martin and his Queens, as well as Androcles and Arrarn had gone out of their way to get to know all of the pilots in this program on a personal level.

“Transferring to overhead.” She spoke as her left hand adjusted some controls and the large screen dropped from the ceiling above between their seats and became filled with stars as the small chart appeared.

“Here.” Balah spoke as she pointed to a spot on the chart screen.

“You will have to forgive those of us who are relatively challenged when it comes to reading a star chart Balah.” Wayonn spoke with a smile. “What are we looking at?”

“Our long range sensors are calibrated for everything out to a hundred light years, but every five seconds we also send out a multispectral passive sensor burst within that same radius of our long range grid.” Balah explained. “It is primarily to warn us of any type of space debris that our main sensor grid has not detected.”

“You have multispectral passive sensor arrays?” Meral asked surprised.

The dark haired female elf pilot nodded her head, looking somewhat taken aback at the question. “We finished installing them just before Prince Androcles sent us out here. Why?”

“We stopped using them millennia ago. The power of our sensors grew too great.” Meral answered.

“Multispectral Arrays should never be retired.” Balah spoke. “They can pick up things that normal sensors do not no matter their power.”