Vendel Rising Omnibus

by L A Warren

  “And how is that?” Dove leaned forward. “Because I think this is where your favor comes in.”

  She took in a deep breath and blew it out before continuing. “I plan on loading up all the Earth Fifth Rank s’vlor into ships and head out to meet the S’Lorek. Once there, I plan to neutralize it.”

  “Stomp on one ant, there’s still the rest of the clan coming, Chickadee.” Dove shrugged. “Not the answer if we’re just going to get buried under hundreds more of them.”

  “I realize that. But the S’Lorek is coming now. The Clan will take some time, a few sun cycles or even a year? I don’t know how fast they travel, but it’s similar to the WOR-drive. I have an idea about that, too. Although, it’s not quite the escape to freedom I was thinking about.” She shook her head. “First, I have to deal with the threat in front of us. In order to do that, I need you and your ships.”

  Dove sighed. “Chickadee, my ship isn’t mine anymore and Jeena’s has reverted to the Pilot Conclave. The Conclave Master has grounded her from flying until she settles on a sponsor. We don’t have ships to give you.”

  “But you have the prize money. Gregor didn’t take that from you? Right?”

  “I can’t make a ship appear out of thin air.”

  “I was hoping Jeena’s ship was still available.”

  “Kid, my ship can’t hold that many people. You’d need at least three ships that size, perhaps more.”

  Elise gazed at her feet and twisted her hands. “I need to get off the ship if I’m going to get out there and meet it.”

  “I’m sorry kid.” Jeena cupped both her hands over her mouth, thinking. “I don’t see how we can help.” She looked to Dove. “What do you think, luv?”

  Dove scratched his head. “How did you plan on getting to this thing? None of our ships have WOR-drives. The First Rank may use their power to drag us across the galaxy, but you still need a WOR-drive for them to work with. And do your WOR know how to work a WOR-drive?”

  Dove was thinking of a solution, which meant he wasn’t going to turn her in. “I kind of got that figured out. We’re not going to drag ourselves across the galaxy.”

  “Right kid.” Jeena crossed her arms across her chest and looked down her nose. “What exactly are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to fold space around the ships and step from here to there. No drive, no machines, no WOR-space. Just a simple shift from where I am to where I wish to be.”

  “That’s not possible,” Dove said.

  “Yes, it is.” She stared back at him. A moment passed and then another.

  Finally, Dove’s jaw dropped. “You’re serious?”

  She nodded. “You know what a Fifth Rank WOR is capable of?”

  They nodded.

  “Well imagine ninety of them linked together. The power isn’t additive. It’s exponential. But, even linked they can handle only a fraction of the power I can wield alone.”

  Dove tilted his head back and knocked it against the bulkhead.

  “Chickadee, it still doesn’t solve the problem about ships. We don’t have them to give to you. Even if we did, with just two of us, we’d still be a ship or two short.”

  “What about Lark?” Elise leaned forward.

  “Kid, I don’t think so,” Jeena said. “Even with Larkin, we don’t have the ships. If you can just step from here to there, why do you need us at all? Just take the Gambit.”

  Elise smacked her palm to her forehead. “You’re a genius, Jeena! But, I still need your help.”

  “In what way?” Dove asked.

  “I need a place to gather the Earth WOR. The only place I know is the Confinement Deck. I wouldn’t think twice about it, but the others would have strong reactions to being back in that horrible space.”

  “It’s not like the Emperor isn’t going to miss that many WOR, kid,” Jeena said.

  “I got that. I can shield against Gregor, the vlor’lords and the Tenders. I just need a place to do it.”

  Dove scratched the stubble on his head. “The hangar can be emptied out a few ships. We can arrange space in there. Pretty open.”

  “Can you do that?” she asked.

  “Larkin and his buddies can be convinced to move their ships,” Dove said.

  “As long as it’s done quietly. I can’t afford Gregor finding out.”

  “When are you planning this?” Jeena leaned against Dove.

  “Tonight.”

  “Not leaving us much time, are you?” Dove said with a grumble. He pursed his lips and kissed the top of Jeena’s head. “What do you think, luv? Can we do it?”

  “Let’s say we pull this off,” Jeena said. “Let’s assume you transport the entire ship right in front of the S’Lorek’s nose and either convince it to stop, or make it stop, then what? We all just shrug and beg the Emperor for forgiveness? This isn’t going to end well.”

  “Right, I get that, and I know what I’m asking.” Elise bit her lower lip. “That’s the second part. Gregor is still going to need the Earth WOR. The S’Lorek is one of hundreds. The rest are coming. I plan on finding a way to stop them all. I have an idea, but I don’t know if I’m going to be able to pull that one off. Gregor will have to understand, and I’ll convince him letting us go is the only way to do that.”

  “Such as?” Dove glanced at Jeena.

  Jeena stared at Elise.

  “A vanguard . . . sort of. After the S’Lorek is taken care of, someone is going to have to guard, or shield, or defend, against the arrival of the Clan. That’s going to be a full-time job, a lifetime’s worth. It should be worth a pardon from the Emperor.”

  “Sounds difficult, kid.”

  “Yes, and I’m still working on the details, but for now we must meet the S’Lorek threat.”

  Dove and Jeena exchanged another set of unreadable glances, but in the end, they gave a nod.

  Elise’s heart soared. They would help. “I have to go,” she said. “I have more planning to do. Can you empty the hangar tonight? Without causing suspicion?”

  “Yes, kid, we’ll take care of it. How do we get back in contact with you?” Jeena looked through the viewscreen.

  “You’ll sense me. Just answer, ok?”

  “Like mind-to-mind? Thought only the WOR could do that with one another,” Dove said.

  “I’m not your typical WOR,” Elise responded. “Just answer back. I’ll hear you.”

  “Ok, kid. We’ll do our part. Good luck, and take care.” Jeena blew her a kiss.

  “Can you really do this?” Dove asked.

  “I trained for and won the Gambit fleet jump-jet competition while a prisoner of your emperor. I can do this.”

  “All right. I believe you.” Dove cut the connection.

  Elise sat back and massaged her temples. It was all happening too fast. Could she really break the bonds of the lower ranked WOR? Could she do it by tonight? Would she have ninety WOR or eight-hundred? She glanced at the gel-display and noted the time. Dinner would be in less than an hour, and with it, Gregor would return.

  She lay back on the couch and meditated. Her mind went over Alex’s new theories. The WOR-step—Alex coined the name—was intuitive. Her fellow WOR wouldn’t be able to use it, as it pulled in the imaginary dimensions only she could reach, as well as slipped into the cracks in-between, but a properly linked circle of WOR might be able to. Alice would figure it out.

  Elise checked the construct to make sure there weren’t any limitations on size. After some period of time, she was fairly certain not only could she take the Gambit, but she could take something as small as, say, just herself.

  She dragged her fingertips through the fabric of the universe and marveled at what she’d become. This brought back memories of Gregor explaining the origins of the WOR-skill and the very first woman to use it.

  Was absolute power intoxicating? Or could she find a way to remain anchored to her humanity? The thought of becoming anything resembling the High Tender caused goosebumps to cover her skin. She would
die before turning into that . . . and, she’d given her word to a friend.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Gregor woke Elise with a gentle kiss.

  “How was your day?” she asked for lack of anything better to say. No one had given her a manual on the proper behavior for a bound WOR.

  “Fine, thank you for asking.” He gazed at her with soft, silvery eyes.

  Elise placed a hand on her belly in hopes of silencing the swarm of butterflies dancing within.

  Gregor gestured at the bar. “I’m going to pour some wine, would you like a glass?”

  “Do I have to toast anything, or can I just enjoy it?”

  He chuckled. “No, luv. No toasts.”

  He walked behind the bar and rummaged around. The clinking of glassware and then the distinctive pop of a cork sounded. He poured two glasses of red wine and returned to hand her a glass.

  “Come join me on the couch. I want to take a moment to relax.”

  “You look tired, Gregor. Can I rub your neck?” She sat at the end of the couch and placed her wine on the coffee table.

  He kicked off his boots. “A foot rub would be wonderful, opés.”

  She cringed at the pet name, and sat at his feet to play dutiful slave.

  He leaned back and sipped at his wine. Murmurs of pleasure guided her hands and he slowly relaxed.

  “So, what happens at these Ruling Council meetings? If you don’t mind me asking.”

  “It’s not much different from the governments you’re used to back on Earth. Today we mucked around for hours trying to decide whether to evacuate Malbra or not. Many of the vlor’lords with WOR are nervous.”

  “This is because of the S’Lorek?” She played it cool, demure.

  How much did they know? Had the Vendel picked up on the increased speed of the creature?

  “Yes,” he said and then vented a low murmur of appreciation as she worked on his toes.

  “Can you do that? Evacuate billions of people? How long would that take?”

  “Too long.” Gregor withdrew his foot and offered her the other. “That feels really good, luv.”

  “I’m pretty good at back rubs, too. I can show you, if you’d like.”

  “I would like that very much, but perhaps we should eat before other pleasures occupy our time?” His brows lifted with suggestion.

  “As you wish.”

  She managed to sound appropriately enthusiastic, but had no intention of repeating last night. Not that it wouldn’t be fun, but she had something more important planned.

  “So, what are you going to do?”

  “The High Tenders want to take a look at the linking project. Lord vlor’Vardhal feels it’s the only way to amass enough power to stop the aliens and their ship.”

  “It isn’t a bunch of aliens, Gregor,” she said. “It’s one creature.”

  “You said that before.”

  “And you said all the WOR you have asked said the same thing. Don’t you think that means anything?”

  “Think about it, opés, how can life survive in a vacuum? That doesn’t match anything we know about the origins of life.”

  She knew that argument well. She’d gone around and round with the S’Lorek arguing the exact opposite and all the assumptions that went with it. “It doesn’t mean we’re wrong. Did you ever look into whether other WOR dream about it?”

  “I made a few inquiries. Little kids dream about the S’Lorek, and I’d say quite a few of the adults. Considering the S’Lorek seems to be drawn to WOR, I’d expect WOR to be more affected by it.”

  She finished his foot and moved her massage up to his calf. He stretched out his leg.

  “If you do evacuate the planet, how much time do you need?”

  He responded to her touch like she’d trained him; putty in her hands. “Several sun cycles still,” he said. “Enough time to finish the teaching on this linking project you perfected.”

  “It’s not perfect yet.” She lied, but Gregor’s plan revealed the Vendel had no idea the S’Lorek had picked up speed.

  “Don’t worry, opés. I won’t send any of you up against the S’Lorek until I’m certain we can affect them. Unfortunately, the Ruling Council isn’t ready to risk its Emperor in the confrontation. They suggested I leave Malbran space by the end of the sun cycle. Closest thing to a command they can give me. You’ll be coming with me, of course.”

  “What about the other Earth WOR? Are they supposed to fight this thing alone?”

  “Not alone. They’ll have their Tenders and masters. The WOR on Malbra will fight with them as well.”

  “But, you don’t even know what you’re doing with the link. That’s madness, and likely suicide. After all the trouble you took to get us, how can you just throw us away like that?”

  “Don’t get so excited, opés. Other WOR have escaped the S’Lorek. The aliens don’t seem to be able to pursue into WOR-space. If things aren’t going well here, we’ll have them all jump into WOR-space and rendezvous with us later. I’ve gone to a lot of trouble to cultivate you and your friends. I’m not going to throw any of you away.”

  “Don’t the Vendel have real weapons? Something other than WOR and WOR-skill?”

  “Some, but, in general, we don’t squabble between ourselves. The WOR are our best weapons.”

  “Funny, you describe your empire as pacifists.”

  “That’s a good word to use. The last war the Vendel fought was with swords, shields and foot soldiers back on Earth. Since we ascended to space, we’ve explored other, more productive pastimes. We’re not a war-faring society, despite what you believe.”

  “Such as murdering an entire planet?”

  Gregor pulled his legs away and stood. “I don’t want to go over that argument with you again.”

  She remembered her role. Time to be the demure, timid, compliant, and Bound s’vlor. “I’m sorry, Gregor. I said too much. I didn’t mean to make you angry. Can I make it up to you?”

  “Let’s start with food and then finish with that back rub you promised.” Steel glinted off the surface of his eyes.

  “We can try some of the snarking sims we didn’t have a chance to get to last night.” She projected an eagerness she didn’t feel.

  “You have more?”

  “Oh, yes Gregor, several.”

  Gregor lifted her to her feet and kept her busy under an onslaught of kisses, which she shamelessly returned. He pulled away with some difficulty, and placed an order for their meal. Within a few minutes, several steaming trays emitting mouthwatering smells appeared on the counter of the bar via beaming technology.

  Elise helped him set the low coffee table. They sat opposite each other on the floor and enjoyed the appetizing spread in a very casual manner. Gregor shared more of his favorite Malbran dishes, explaining the preparations with enthusiasm.

  They spoke easily and she watched in stages as he let down his guard. It took over an hour before the true impact hit her full on as to what exactly was happening. Gregor bantered with her. He wasn’t treating her as a slave, or his property, but as an equal.

  Not that the undercurrent wasn’t there—what she was hadn’t been forgotten by either of them—however, Gregor pushed it below the surface and made every effort to be polite.

  The realization he enjoyed her company came in stages. A low laugh followed a twitch of his brows. A smile accompanied the relaxing of the features of his face. Subtle changes in his body language changed the man before her into something unexpected.

  She liked him; at least when he allowed himself to be vulnerable and relax. She marveled at the transformation as he ate, laughed, shared the details of his day, and, for the very first time, touched the back of her hand with fondness.

  For a minute, she felt guilty for what she would soon unleash. Malice, however, chuckled in the darkness, and reminded her to harden her resolve, which she did. She and Gregor wanted the same thing, but they were not on the same side.

  Before Gregor could melt her heart,
she rose from the table. The glint in his eye spoke to an unasked question. Her lips twitched into a suggestive smile and she motioned for him to follow. The timepiece on the wall caught her attention, and she calculated the time required to get all the pieces in place for the battle to come. She needed to work quickly to sedate Gregor.

  It took longer than she’d planned to appease Gregor’s needs. He still played alpha male, and demanded her attention. It took time to coax him into lying still for a simple back rub. He had different desires, and she found herself giving in.

  It would likely be the last time she would enjoy the pure maleness of the man. Her captor, enemy, torturer, trainer, master, and now lover, was a man with many faces. She would not soon forget Emperor Gregor Ulysses vlor’Malita, and he would always have a piece of her heart.

  But eventually, she forced Gregor to lie down and massaged his back. She sat on top of him and, as her fingers worked the firm muscles, she trickled a thread of power into his body. Within minutes, the man slept soundly. With a quick push, she lifted off and headed to the shower. Tonight would be long and, working with the smell of him on her skin, would provide too much of a distraction.

  She called on her friends. Alice reported all was ready; collars had been deactivated and the WOR-guards were oblivious to the s’vlor milling about in the common area waiting for the go-ahead.

  Dove told her the hangar had been cleared. She made him clarify. Something about the odd tone in his voice caught her attention. He confirmed the entire hangar deck, tens of ships, not just a few, had all been moved. He mentioned something about Carek, toxic spills, and an evacuation of the entire deck.

  She towel-dried, dressed in her freshly cleaned red flightsuit, and slipped out of Gregor’s suite of rooms. Her deceptively simple use of the WOR-skill would keep Gregor slumbering for hours, plenty of time to get everyone organized and ready to fight.

  Chapter Twenty

  Elise entered the hangar deck. The first thing striking her as odd was the overwhelming quiet. A generalized buzz had always hung over the hangar, the result of engine noise, cargo loading and unloading bots, and the raucous voices of the pilots and mechanics filling the cavernous space. The entire hangar sat eerily silent.