Episode 23: When in Rome

Well-informed of the night’s events, young genius James Ian Pryce set about planning the safety measures required to battle against vampires. Colonel Ruby Goddard and resident medic Elle Franklin by his side he returned to the discovered armory. There James lurked about for things he could do in a hurry.

“I’ll reprogram our defense drones. If I have to, I’ll send a thousand of these gravity drones out there to buzz the Fangbanger’s. The spheres can utilize the gravity around them and drop them like flies.” James offered strategic input.

“What if there are too many?” Elle wasn’t convinced!

“It’s something at least.” Ruby defended her ward’s idea, “These ion guns useful?”

“I haven’t tested them yet.” James shrugged! “But, seeing as ions pack electrical charge, I’m not sure if they can even be used. I know this might sound terrible but to be safe have Sophia take a couple outside and test fire them. At least if they explode, she could survive the backlash.”

“Sophia with a gun? Yeesh!” Elle groaned!

“Do you have a better idea?” Ruby raised a brow.

“I’ll take a few out to her.” Elle obtained two rifles from their lockup and left them to head outside.

“Let’s program some of your drones here to create a static net over and under the cows? We can’t risk vampires stealing our ... sorry Greta ... food supply.” Thank goodness she wasn’t here to overhear Ruby. Although, both of them did look around for any sign that the invisible cowgirl might be loitering. Whew!

James puckered once he felt secure. “Over the cattle maybe. Going under their hooves might hurt the cow’s nervous system.”

“Better than nothing. We lost one cow by the way. That Sabbath Black fed on it. Poor girl was mortified by her act so at least she has a conscience.”

“If you say so. Vampires can’t be trusted.”

“Expert on vampires now?” Ruby sighed!

“Actually! Do you recall that book and sword Cam brought back? A Chinese tome. That boat was taking this book to a safe hiding place. No safer than here I guess. Sword is tricky. Its blade absorbs the souls of the guilty. Those evil and murderous.”

“Can the sword kill a vampire?”

“Worked in the Blade movies. Safe bet! Question is, does a vampire have a soul? I’m guessing no. I could be wrong though. Elle said she turned Sabbath and the magician back to human. To do that they must have a bit of light left in them. Strange though that sunlight is taboo.”

“Good point! I’ll never get used to all of this alien, hybrid, vampire, and dinosaur crap. So much has happened in a short amount of time. Anyways, what else can we use?”

James conferred with his hand-held tablet computer. “Referencing vampires. Oh, Elle should solar collect her body. She can fry the vamps. Sophia’s glow might be useful. Malcolm’s runes have powers. Maybe you can touch one and absorb powers to help...”

Grumbling, Ruby clamped her hand over his mouth. “Hush! I told you I don’t want superpowers. James, I like being me.”

“I know.” He nodded until she released him by removing her palm, “Sorry! Ganthorian records of vampires are slim. Let me enter things I read in the book and see what changes.” Recalling what he had already deciphered he typed as Ruby leaned over his shoulder. So close, her breasts caressed his back. James swallowed and ventured to shyly look over his shoulder. “Not helping Mom.”

“Crap! Sorry!”

Realizing her nipple erection was troubling his study time Ruby growled and took a step back. She despised being called mom. Too make matters worse her nipples were entirely too sensitive. Even had he not spoken up she would have moved away. She huffed at her red bangs drifting over her eyes. “My period must be close.” She kept that info to herself!

“I just entered a name I read from the book. Verago! According to the book Veraga was a dark angel like the devil cast from Heaven. An angel that succumbed to a blood disorder that led him to slay other angels to absorb their light. Within the Chinese book he had different names though. Verago was the Mesopotamian translation. Mezo was the first civilization recorded in History. Supposedly it was there, modern Iraq, that the Garden of Eden was located. Nobody knows for positive though. We all know how translations get corrupted after each time it gets retold. Monks doctoring religion how they saw fit.”

“Careful!” Ruby wagged her index finger. “I’m Catholic.”

“No comment!” He cringed, wanting to tell her more but deciding against it. His theories backed up by his hacking days. Religion was so very questionable.

“What does this Verago have to do with us?”

“Well! This mother you guys keep mentioning I would presume to be Lilith. The first-born female. God placed her with Adam until she revealed herself. Verago like Satan was cast to Earth. According to the book of the Living. Dead was used. Verago seduced Lilith and made her his bride. God intervening and casting both out into the world. Safe bet Adam was glad to see her go.”

“Wow! This is all speculation, right?”

“Sure, you want to know?”

“Dammit! Tell me.”

“Vatican archives! Books so evil and dark they keep them hidden in an impenetrable library. Sadly, Priests get silly and use the Internet. I read a bunch of books. Even hacked their cameras to read over their shoulders.”

“You are something else.”

“So, my parents say. I hope they’re okay out there.” He sighed trying to keep focus.

“I’m sure they miss you, James.”

“Ditto.”

“So! Verago is the true first vampire. Is this mother really, Lilith?”

“God might have cast her here. Who are we to question a deity?”

“Right! So where is this Verago?”

“Only a guess.” James clenched his teeth, “Remember that amulet Cameron had?”

“Oh, hell! Is he like trapped inside it?”

“It has mystical safeguards in place to mask it from vampires finding it. Otherwise, they would have released him by now. It’s buried. Leave it.”

“This shit is getting deep.”

“It doesn’t look as if there is any other Ganthorian knowledge of Verago. We’re on our own.” He grimaced! “Nothing more on Lilith either. I guess even alien geneticists don’t know much about God. Or Heaven.”

“Alright! Start programming these drones. Army up!” She squeezed his shoulder then stepped from the armory. Outside in the hallway she spotted their resident pup Xander eying the wall where the intangible rabbits had phased through. Walking over just as Xander darted his gaze between she and the wall she patted his head.

“On bunny patrol?” She knelt down beside Xander petting the German Shepard. Fidgeting, Ruby reached out and touched the wall. Nothing! Solid and sturdy. Sighing she rose to her boots. “You keep guard. Play nice though.” Walking away she ran into their pilot Cameron Scott on his way toward the armory.

“Who had the bright idea to give Sophia a gun?”

Ruby shook her head at his aggravation. “Would you rather risk getting blown apart?”

“Yeah, she can handle a gun. As long as she doesn’t eat it. Oh, hey! I saw you crouching there. I didn’t have time earlier to tell you, but I had one of your rabbit’s visit my bedroom. Craziest thing. It popped out of that Top Hat I grabbed from the carriage.” He suddenly turned pale, “Oh, crap. What if my having the hat inside the craft gives him free entry? I invited the hat and some of Sabbath’s dresses. Should we take those outside?”

“Let’s!” She tensed up at the possibility. “We have to be smarter than this.”

“Do you think maybe that rabbit was trying to warn me? Us! I mean it had blood red eyes and growled at me. Harmless though. Vanished back into the hat. Oh, and I don’t know how, but it lit up my lava lamp. Without power! It’s still lit up but not even hot. Magic, I think.”

“Did someone say Lava Lamp?” James stepped through the armory door. Good ears!

“Yeah!” Cam nodded! “Freaky how it works with no batteries or an outlet.” With an evil grin James had a plan.

Outside, Sophia and Elle set up a junkyard target range. Using small boulders and the junk metal around the craft, they moved out far enough away to safeguard the remaining cattle. In the distance Greta was digging a grave for her decaying cow. Sophia had carried the 1500-pound Hereford out of the pen for the cowgirl from Kansas but left her on her own once Elle called out to her.

“I feel sorry for Greta. Losing her cow must be hard.” Sophia eyed the Kansas City phenom. Well, Wichita, that is! “They can easily become like pets. I’m fond of Betsy.”

Elle lifted an ion rifle inspecting it. Not certain what to look for she prayed in her own head for guidance. She hoped her diamond hide and healing properties kept her safe. Ion was like solar so absorbing it might be an alternative. “I’m just glad you didn’t eat it in front of her.”

“I respect Greta. She’s nice. I wouldn’t do that. My boys are happy with waste. By the way, I’ve never shot a gun before.”

“I’ve never shot a gun of this caliber. Here! Let me show you the stance and get your sights up.” Elle moved behind Sophia then paused, “Your friends are not going to eat my clothes, are they? I’m running low on thread count. It won’t be long and I’ll be streaking like you and Maddy.”

“No! My boys are behaving. Curious even over this gun. They want to see what it does.”

“Okay! Here, butt against your shoulder, left hand on the stock. Energy chamber at least is slender and not obstructing your sight. Trigger is here. Do not squeeze until I’m out of range. I’m tough but even I might not survive an ion detonation. You should.”

“I got this. Point, aim, squeeze, boom.”

“Right!” Elle looked nervous. “I’ll be way back there.” She moved away another fifty feet.

Seeking refuge Elle winced painfully, hoping this wasn’t a mistake. Sophia waited for Elle to give her the go ahead. Once she heard the order to squeeze from Elle, Sophia fired. A thin green beam of energy arched outward from the barrel, plunging a hole through the boulder without splitting the granite.

“Whoa! Put this on my Christmas list.” Sophia jumped up and down, titties dancing over her excitement. Within her cells the symbiotes surviving on her in micro increments and gave back to ever prevent her demise loved the party. Her shared mind with the microscopic hitch hikers she could hear their laughter and jubilation. They almost sounded like Minions from Despicable Me. Party! Party! Party!

Elle cautiously returned to inspect the damage. “One works, now try the other gun. Once we know these are good, we can arm Ruby and Cam who don’t have powers.” Giggling, Sophia stood the gun stock on its butt and straddled the barrel just for laughes. Throwing her hands in the air as if mocking Elle.

Before Elle could turn to physically see her stupidity the gun was back in her hands. Sophia abruptly pointed and fired. The gun repeating its sibling’s performance melted a larger tunnel through the rock. Stunned, Elle groaned over the girl’s negligence. “Couldn’t wait for me to get to safety?”

Piper Sophia grinned with clenched teeth. “Sorry, Elle! My boys took over. I think they want one for Thanksgiving.” That barrel up her cunt was tempting their taste buds. But alas, a promise was a promise. No harm done!

Snatching the gun Elle pointed a finger at Sophia’s chest. “Don’t think I didn’t see what you did. Peripheral for a gal with diamond eyes, remember. Bad parasites! Behave!” Symbiotes/ Parasites, all bottom feeders in the end. At least these alien creatures had feelings.

“They’re laughing at you.” Sophia snickered! “So am I.”

Growling with rolling eyes of diamond reflection, Elle Franklin headed back inside with both weapons. No more target practice. Sophia pouted over the loss of her toys. “You suck.”

Noting Greta trying to nudge her cow into the grave Sophia chose to give her another hand. Skipping along like a giddy child until reaching the Kansas cowgirl the offer was made. “Here, let me help.”

“Thank ya, Sophia. You’ve been a big help.” Greta watched Sophia lift the 1500-pound beast as if it were weightless and hurl it into the pit of loose dirt. Once within, the winded Greta Winston began shoveling dirt over the corpse.

“She wasn’t Betsy’s mom, was she?” Sophia looked sad.

“No. Luckily not! Her momma is Claudette. The big red Hereford. I sure hope James can keep my herd safe. A shame we couldn’t eat Beatrice here. James said after a vampire bite, she was probably tainted. I’m sure we could all use beef after so much fish and vegetables.”

“No one wants to take your cows from you, Greta. Even if we get too hungry. That will be a last resort Jack told us. We respect you a lot.” Sophia smiled watching Greta turn invisible as she was shoveling. It made her snicker seeing clothing without a body.

“What are you laughing about?” Greta stopped to lean her elbow on the shovel handle.

“Nothing. Now you see me, now you don’t.” Sophia pivoted then hopped away. Her suspicion true, Greta rolled up a sleeve. Sure enough! Groaning, Greta glared at Sophia’s hasty retreat.

“Well, Hardy har har!”

Many miles out in the desert Jack Ramse, Malcolm Brand, and Madigan Ridge returned to the freighter. Armed with explosives Jack had made from scratch materials aboard the Ganthorian craft they prepared a strategy.