Vendel Rising Omnibus

by L A Warren

  “I came to wish you luck.” He swept her a mocking bow.

  “No, doubt. Good luck Malikai, and goodbye,” Elise said.

  “Do you remember what I said?” His head dipped and he leaned forward.

  It took all her courage not to step back from him.

  “About what?” She crossed her arms and was thankful she’d remembered to veil herself today. Some days she forgot. The cool mist gave her an added confidence she needed to face off against Malikai.

  “About the winner’s circle of course. I very much wish to share it with you. Once they pass out the prizes, I hope to bend down and give you a kiss. We can celebrate our good fortune over drinks.”

  “Bend down? You are full of yourself,” she scoffed. “You’re going to have to crane your neck to see me on the first-place block. Bend down indeed.” She jerked her chin in irritation. “Jeena’s right, go away.”

  He chuckled. With a bow to Jeena he strutted off to his jump-jet. He vaulted into the cockpit and sealed himself in.

  “Shake him off, kid,” Jeena said. “That’s what he does. He comes over full of his bravado just to unnerve you. You were probably his last stop. He likely visited Candice first. He knows you’re his real competition. Don’t let him psyche you out of your victory.”

  “Trust me, he’d have to do a lot more than toss around a few verbal taunts,” Elise said.

  “Well, he’s really good at it.”

  Elise rolled her eyes. “I’m not going to let him get to me. Don’t worry. He’s got the worst position. His time trial is first. All I have to do is beat his time. For once, being last is going to work to my advantage. I’ll know exactly how far to push it.”

  “Fine, but don’t take wild chances out there. If you blow the time trials and win the others, you can still lose first place. Be careful.”

  “I will.” She placed a hand on Jeena's shoulder. “I plan to win this thing if it’s the last thing I do.”

  “Shoot, kid,” Jeena laughed. “It’s a race not a death sentence.”

  Elise laughed. “I know.”

  She knew exactly what this was.

  The next morning, Gregor came through with the sixteen WOR from the Fifth Deck, minus a High Tender escort. Carek employed the help of several of his colleagues, and four of the First Rank Conclave WOR, to help with the mass of scarlet-clad women in the purple soup.

  Most did fine with the breathing tubes, but several had obviously never swum before. A look of pure terror marred their faces and made their limbs jerk wildly. The Am-Net Conclave WOR had their hands full pacifying the Fifth Rank women.

  Solid white shapes held thrashing WOR in place until they went limp and gave in. It saddened her to see the struggles of the women end with limp acquiescence and surrender.

  Her future was mirrored in these women. It horrified and exhausted her at the same time. She was ready to be done with all of it.

  Malice snapped at her. You can’t give in. We hate them.

  Elise sighed, unwilling to engage with Malice's temper tantrum.

  She’s tired, Malice, Whimper whispered. Just tired. Elise isn’t done yet.

  But she wants to give up, after everything we’ve endured? After all these monsters have done to us!

  Do not snap at her. It doesn’t help.

  Growls sounded in the dark as Malice stomped off.

  Whimper cast a glance to Elise and followed the argumentative Malice, leaving Elise alone with her thoughts.

  Turning back toward the struggling WOR and their mute surrender, she wasn’t entirely sure how much fight she had left. Fatigue burrowed deep into her bones and settled in the marrow. It would be so much easier to serve the Vendel than continue to fight.

  What she was fighting for had become blurry. Did she fight to free the Earth WOR and leave the Vendel to face the S’lorek alone? Or did she save her oppressors and potentially give up any hope of freedom?

  Or . . . Alex reached out to grasp Elise’s hand, we can do both.

  Elise vented a weary sigh. I don’t even know if that’s possible anymore, Alex. And I’m running out of time. You know what happens when he Binds me.

  Alex laughed. It’s not over until the fat lady sings. Until our last breath, we fight for our freedom. Trust me. Lean on me. I will give you the strength you need.

  Elise gripped Alex’s hand in silent acknowledgment. Her gaze turned back to the flailing women in red immersion suits. You would have thought they’d have chosen women who had some experience in water. We’re going to lose hours just trying to acclimatize them.

  She had today, perhaps tomorrow, to make this work. Tomorrow her deadline with Gregor was up, unless he demanded she submit tonight. She pressed her hands to her head, breathed in deep, and pushed her fingers against her temples. It hurt so much.

  “Elise? Are you okay?” Alice noticed her distress.

  “Just give me a moment.” She pressed her hands to her head and pinched her eyes shut.

  Alice took over without a word. Within minutes, her friend had the new arrivals settled and separated into two groups. Alice had a flair for organization.

  Alice came back to Elise. “What do you think?” Her eyes were alight with anticipation as she gestured to the women floating in two rough circles.

  Elise gazed at Alice through pain filled eyes. Her teeth buzzed and the nerves on her skin seemed extraordinarily sensitive. “I think I want to cut off my head.”

  “What’s up these headaches?”

  “Lack of sleep and stress.”

  Whimper could only shield her from so much.

  “You’re not superwoman. Even you need to sleep." Alice wrapped an arm around Elise's shoulder. "You push yourself too hard.”

  “What choice do I have?” She held up a hand to forestall any more conversation headed down that path. Too dangerous. She asked a question, hoping it would focus her thoughts. “Who do you have in your circles?”

  “I put Aomi as keystone in the first. She still struggles with that position. I’ll be the conduit. For the other, I was going to have Paula as keystone and Chandra for the conduit. Paula is stronger than any of us initially thought. She has a unique grasp of the core principles.”

  “I agree, but put Paula as conduit. Chandra needs more practice handling all the forces and vectoring solutions.”

  “Okay." Alice made the adjustments. "We’re ready when you are. How do you want to do this?”

  “Watch and see where the problems are. Try to figure out who shows the most promise to train for the key positions. Honestly, I’m not sure.”

  Elise tapped out in their secret code on Alice's arm. As you form your circles, I want to try a little something of my own. I don’t want Carek to know. To cover the secret conversation, she continued to explain. Although Alice knew what came next. “All of them need to try the keystone and conduit positions. Go through the exercises with them.”

  “Okay, I’ll get them started.”

  “Gregor demands that I determine if the four of you can train the others. He knows the Binding will take me out of this and wants to make sure the project can continue without me.”

  Alice placed a hand on Elise’s shoulder and gave a sorrowful look. Thankfully, she didn’t say anything. Elise didn’t think she’d be able to handle any words of comfort Alice might give.

  A deep breath in and out. She pressed forward, always forward.

  Just don’t think about it.

  Talking seemed to help keep her mind off the inevitable. “I’m not worried about you. Aomi and Chandra will be fine. Paula is more than capable, but High Tender Marcus has touched her. He has a way of leaving a mark on a person. I don’t know if Paula is mentally stable.”

  “She seems fine to me.” Alice spun around to gaze at Paula.

  “True, but the way she works the WOR-skill is fanatical. It’s not right.”

  “She’s afraid of what will happen to you and her afterward. Don't worry about Paula, her head is screwed on straight enough.”r />
  Elise didn't think so. She pressed her fingers to her forehead. The incessant buzzing had returned. The dull ache at the base of her skull settled into a persistent throb.

  “I’ll be fine. We’ll be fine,” Elise said, practically chanting the words.

  “We’re scared. We're all scared. Paula will do whatever is required. Don’t worry about us.”

  Elise glanced at her friend and wanted to laugh. The we she’d been talking about had been her silent sisters, the brigade in her mind, not her fellow Fifth Rank WOR. She placed a hand on Alice’s shoulder. “Good. Just watch her, especially if I’m not here.”

  “I’m more worried about you.”

  “Ugh, don’t be.” She waved a dismissive hand, no need to go down that road again. “I told Gregor I wanted to try linking two full circles. I hope I get the chance to try.”

  “Do you think it’s possible?”

  “I do.”

  “Okay, let’s start.” Alice floated away, leaving Elise with her pain.

  Elise took a position between the two groups of women, and watched as Aomi and Chandra began their constructions of WOR-skill force diagrams.

  When the sub-dimensions opened up, she stared at the two identical structures. The twirling Tenderstat and the Wheel of WOR-skill color came to mind. Super dimensions and sub dimensions were all fine, but what about imaginary dimensions? After all, mathematics thrived on the use of imaginary numbers to solve some of the most complex problems.

  The solution flirted with her mind. All she had to do was follow it through to the end. Alex traced the math with her.

  Side by side, they unraveled a solution.

  Elise drew an imaginary line, laughing at the simplicity of what she was attempting—technically it wasn’t simple, but the elegance of what they created was stunning. Two links aligned with one another and, just like that, they connected through an imaginary tunnel, bridging all the dimensions. Her Earth professors would have been so proud.

  Tension lined the faces of Paula and Alice as the strain of handling the combined power of ten mighty women took its toll. All that power flowed through their conduit position.

  Elise nudged her project and the structure unfolded and bloomed into a beautiful new construct.

  Got it! Alex clapped with delight.

  Elise smiled, feeling hope for the first time that day.

  They broke for lunch and returned to work through the afternoon. Alice divided the women into four groups with her, Paula, Chandra, and Aomi at the head. The four of them taught the new arrivals the key positions.

  The beauty and power of these women unfolded before Elise. How did the vlor’ and lor’ lords contain such raw power? How can I take it back?

  At the end of the day, Chandra floated over. Carek bobbed at her elbow, looking amused with a smirk and lifting of his brows.

  “Hey, Elise!” Chandra waved. “I got all of them to form a stable link by the third try. They did so much better than us.”

  “Well, I’d like to think we worked out the kinks for them.”

  Chandra blushed. Carek bumped into the blonde and set her spinning. Chandra pushed Carek playfully away. “Well, it was wonderful. I’m so proud of them. Did you see what we did at the end?”

  “No, I moved on to Paula’s circle, why?”

  “I’ve got to show you. It was Martya’s idea. We passed the conduit position around. You know how exhausting that is?”

  It felt like an elephant kicked her in the head. The keystone felt like being a juggler, always with one too many balls floating in the air, but the conduit position physically hurt. She hadn’t thought to rotate the position between each link in the circle.

  “Show me.”

  Chandra motioned to her little group. They floated over and formed the circle. As they worked, passing the conduit position between them, Elise was amazed at the speed with which they transferred the position.

  She hovered beside Carek. He couldn’t feel the WOR-skill like the Tenders and lords, but he understood the mathematical basis of the constructs. If the Tenders and lords could see what they did they would all be in trouble.

  Carek’s eyes glazed over and Elise recognized the telltale sign of am-net communication occurring. He frowned and opened his eyes.

  “The High Tenders are calling the s’vlor back to their quarters.” The look in his eyes sent a shiver down her spine. “Emperor vlor’Malita has requested your presence in his quarters.”

  Her heart sank. “We’re not finished.”

  “I’m sorry, El,” he said.

  Elise glanced around to see if any of his assistants noticed his slip. “Mr. Tusel, formal names please. I don’t want any more time with High Tender Marcus.”

  “Very well, Lady Malita.” He signaled to his assistants. They rounded up the s’vlor and the red fluttering forms disappear into the am-net purple sea.

  Carek remained behind. “El, is this it then?” His face was a mask of pain.

  “Does he watch what we do in here?”

  “Not unless he’s physically present. If you’re not tied into our specific group through the immersion suits we can’t be heard. Why?”

  "A few times today, it just felt like he was watching.”

  When she’d formed the super-link and accessed the imaginary dimension, the feeling of being watched had seemed real. The headache had been real enough. When she’d closed down the alter-dimension, it faded. Both the headache and the presence had dissipated, almost as if Gregor had been there. She didn’t know what to think about it.

  If Gregor wanted her to meet him in his quarters, that could only mean one thing. He had changed his mind about the Binding and her freedom had come to a sudden and profound end.

  Chapter Seven

  Gambit, Day 280

  It's not fair! Where's the theme music?

  You want music? Malice sneered. We're walking to our doom and you want music?

  It seems appropriate, Shriek chimed in. We're headed to our doom, doom, doom.

  Yes, I want music!

  Elise wanted something, like a dirge with rising notes and crashing melodies. A valiant heroine taking her final steps deserved something profound. Surely her ending shouldn’t be as mundane as a simple walk down the corridor, a pod ride around the perimeter of the Gambit, and a final lift tube to the emperor’s quarters?

  Malice teased her with overly melodramatic theme music blaring in her ears. But wasn't that what she'd asked for?

  You did! Malice cackled.

  The doors to Gregor’s quarters spiraled opened and she walked in, chin high, fists clenched—they had to be clenched—and eyes bright as she faced her final hours. This was her fate.

  She walked with a purposeful stride and into . . . not exactly what she’d been expecting.

  Gregor sat on a couch with a beautiful lady practically draped all over him, at least her feet were in his lap. She reclined on the couch. Gregor sat stiffly at the other end. On the woman's lap, barely visible in the folds of the gauzy, yellow fabric of her gown, a snarking pad rested.

  Gregor's chiseled features seemed relaxed, his breathing soft and unhurried. He looked vulnerable, handsome even, desirable perhaps? The woman, however, appeared overly tense. Her hands caressed the snarking pad with a frantic urgency, and her facial features looked strained.

  Elise grinned, because she had several snarking simulations which would light Gregor’s senses on fire. Except, she wasn’t supposed to know about snarking pads. The grin slipped.

  This is no time for those thoughts! Malice paced like a caged beast, hissing, spitting, and growling the closer Elise approached Gregor.

  The headache had returned and she pinched the bridge of her nose. Her teeth hurt as the blood in her veins hummed.

  Gregor caught her staring at him. His lips curled into a predatory smile. White teeth flashed in the light.

  While her fingernails bit a little too deep into the flesh of her palms, and maybe her heart beat just a little faster tha
n normal, her gaze remained steady and level, returning his gaze with what strength remained. She waited for him to finish . . . whatever it was they were doing.

  Gregor peeled the lead to the snarking pad off his palm and tapped the woman’s foot.

  She stiffened, and removed her hands from the snarking pad. “Ulysses dear,” the woman said, “you stopped the sim. I hadn’t even really begun.” The pout of her mouth seemed inappropriate on such a sculpted face.

  “Analindah, we have company.” He gestured, and the red-haired woman twisted around and followed the sweep of his arm with her brittle gaze.

  “Who, Ulysses?”

  She didn’t seem the least bit ruffled by the intrusion. Instead, Analindah casually wrapped the leads around the snarking pad and placed it on the floor. She lifted her feet off Gregor’s lap and swung them around to place them primly on the floor. Cold brown eyes settled on Elise.

  Elise ignored the woman and inclined her head to Gregor. “Gregor, you requested my presence.”

  “Who is this little girl, Ulysses?" Analindah’s forehead wrinkled at Elise’s use of Gregor’s given name. "Is this your little piece of Earth’s treasure? She’s a tiny thing, and so thin.”

  Gregor looked at the red-haired woman, his gaze hardening with a flicker of irritation across his face. “Analindah del’Candlah, may I introduce Lady Malita s’Lissa s’vlor.”

  Analindah rose gracefully and took a step toward Elise. The redhead clapped her hands in front of her chest. “Dear Ulysses, she wears a back-tie corset. You’ve tamed her.”

  Gregor’s eyes darkened and Elise caught the nuance in the writhing of his Imperial tattoo. Didn’t this woman know she was walking on thin ice? Wasn’t it obvious he didn’t like her speaking about his property in that manner. Dull silver reflected off his eyes.

  When had she learned to read him so easily?

  “It is nice to meet you . . . um . . .” Elise looked to Gregor for help. She had no idea of the proper form of address for this woman.

  “You may address Analindah as Miss del’Candlah. Analindah has just placed a bid on me.”