Ema'as pulled her bloody mouth away from Asandra's neck, and they pressed their lips together. Asandra grabbed hold of Ema'as hair with her free hand and gently tugged on it. Ema'as moaned with erotic delight and Asandra, with a surprising amount of strength for her size, threw her down on the bed.
As the familiar jumped on top and unbuttoned her pants, Ema'as found herself in a state of comfort and pleasure that she had never experienced before. Asandra lifted Ema'as shirt and planted gentle kisses on her belly, and as her head migrated further downward, the Vampress closed her eyes and allowed herself to relax.
Chapter Sixteen
Rubaan X
23rd of Ramlia - 346AG
21:30 - Base 21
"Are you okay, son?" Commander Crinnan looked at Rubaan as the two stood in the elevator. They were heading up to the lookout on the top floor of the Admin Building. From there, they could see the whole valley. Vice Commander Card and Emerald were with them, but they remained silent.
"Dad I am fine," Rubaan calmly answered. In truth, the recent revelation of his parentage had shaken him as well as everything else that was going on in his life. He, however, kept it cool. He wasn’t about to bother anyone with his true feelings, not like he had when he had his outburst earlier, “Really, everything is okay."
"Son, listen to me," Crinnan stepped in front of him and took hold of each of his shoulders, "I am sorry this was kept from you for so long. Your mother and I, we lied to you and your brother, and I regret that. I need to know the truth; do you forgive me?"
"Dad, of course," Rubaan reassured him. He was being honest. In truth, he was angry with his mother, not his father. He knew how she could be, and he couldn’t help but think that she forced him to keep silent all those years, "You raised me, you did a good job. I couldn't have asked for a better father... Crinnan may feel differently when he learns, but he feels differently about everything."
"Crinnan..." The Commander reflected on the name and snickered, "Yeah, he definitely will have different thoughts. But Rubaan, thank you. I guess we will find answers soon enough when we go to find Sajinious." Crinnan raised his eyebrows and pursed his lips. He was not looking forward to that.
"Yeah," Rubaan snorted, "If we make it out of here alive."
"We have every time so far son," Crinnan said encouragingly, "No need to start thinking we won't now." The elevator stopped, and the gate opened. Card stepped out first, and the Jamisos followed.
"Lord Card, I am glad to see you,” Captain Blaze announced as soon as the Vice Commander exited the elevator, “The Govian forces have massed in the valley, there are thousands of them. Either Sarasin somehow informed them of her position, or they tracked her. This fortress hides the NaNe signals. If they tracked her this far then, they only know she is somewhere around here."
"Thank you for adding nothing to the conversation that I already did not know, Captain Blaze," Card snapped as he briskly walked past the Captain. Blaze lowered his head as Commander Crinnan, and Rubaan passed by and sighed as he joined them.
“Their numbers are staggering, Lord,” Blaze continued speaking as Card approached the observation point, “There are thousands of them, I do not know that we can…”
“Please be quiet,” Card calmly ordered as he placidly stood and looked at the force that had amassed in front of his base. Commander Crinnan and Rubaan stepped on each of his sides, and Crinnan whistled.
“That’s not a good thing,” he observed as he gazed upon the Govian force in the valley below them. He had of course seen worse before, but in those circumstances, he generally had an army at his back or a strategy at his disposal.
Rubaan stared down out at the moonlit landscape and felt a wave of panic come over him. On the ground, tents were rising, and trenches were forming. He saw the forms of thousands of soldiers as they worked quickly to construct a FOB. HAPTs and fighters were flying in, and as they landed more troops piled out and joined their comrades. He saw at least a dozen tanks and multiple light assault vehicles lining up in their motor pool. He turned to his father, white-faced, and without words.
“It is an invasion force, son,” he informed Rubaan with a grim expression, “They do not know where we are yet, but they have a really good idea…”
“What do we do?” Rubaan asked as he looked back out at the growing Govian force, “This is… how can we fight this?”
“First thing,” Crinnan grabbed Rubaan’s shoulders and turned him so that the two faced each other, “We keep our heads calm. Base 21 has never fallen, bear that in mind.”
“Base 21 has never been attacked!” Rubaan shouted, “It has never been found.”
“That’s right.” Crinnan nodded, “Because its leadership is intelligent and careful. If we use our intelligence and care, we win. What we need to do is find your mother and sister,” Crinnan looked to Card, who nodded in approval, “And then sit down with the leadership to formulate a plan. They are building a FOB; they are preparing for the long haul. We mustn’t get ahead of ourselves, hasty decisions in times like these lose battles and cost lives.”
Commander Crinnan paused and looked down at the floor. He took in a breath, held it, and then exhaled. He, of course, felt his level of fear, but he was not about to show it. Not to his son at least. He kept himself calm, for this was not his first siege, and he had no reason to believe that it would not be his last.
Card stroked his chin and turned to Emerald and Blaze. “Captain Blaze, I need a meeting arranged with all officers. Go, organize it now,” He looked at Emerald, “Emerald, how many members of Century squad remain at Base 21?”
“Myself, Marka, Pancho, and Kavin.” She informed him.
“Gather them in Century’s ready room immediately, explain the situation and obtain their thoughts. Contact Captain Bran and explain the situation.” Emerald nodded and hurried off, leaving behind the Jamisos.
“Lord Rubaan, you will not be shadowing Marka today I fear,” Card explained to him, “Nor will you be departing to find your Ancient father. For now, it is best that you remain with Commander Crinnan and me. It may look grim to you; I know this. But as I consider our options, I know we have a vast amount of resources at our disposal. Commander, contact your base in Canrom City. Inform them of the situation. While they cannot provide us with reinforcements, I do expect that they can disrupt Govia’s supply line. I will contact Base 11 and request assistance from Commander Milinka; I will also inform Supreme Commander Kain in Exgrane of our situation. I am certain he will also send aid.”
Card looked down at the Govian force once again, and with a slight, almost inaudible grunt looked to Rubaan.
“For now, Corporal Jamiso, go and fetch your sister and mother. Bring them to the war room for their input will be valuable.” Rubaan nodded and hurried toward the elevator, leaving Vice-Commander Card and his father behind.
The gate closed behind him, and he punched the descend button. The elevator rumbled to life and began to lower. Rubaan was alone with his thoughts, and as he waited, he backed himself against the wall of the elevator.
After seeing the Govian forces, he realized he was afraid. He feared for the lives of his family for nearly everyone that he loved was gathered at Base 21, and one of the most powerful forces his world had ever seen was gathering at its doorstep. He grumbled and spat at the thought; he wished he could go back to the mines, to life before Eon. He already missed the simplicity of it all and cursed himself for ever wanting for more.
The elevator came to a stop, and Rubaan slid the gate open. He ran out and onto the grey tile of the admin building’s foyer. The room was wide and dimly lit with a white marble semi-circular desk in the middle. Rubaan imagined that in Ancient times a secretary or security probably sat at the desk to watch the main entrance which was directly in front of it.
While he did not know what purpose Base 21 served in those times, Rubaan knew that it had been originally owned by one of the companies that were part of the Alliance of Corporations. While he could
not have named any of the companies that made up the AOC, he knew that they were the first force to fight the Church. It was fitting that Black Knight had found and repurposed the old stronghold.
Rubaan burst through the front door of the admin building and quickly scaled the steps to the street. From where he was, he could see his mother, sister, and wife still standing with Card’s entourage in front of the same domicile from earlier. Rubaan ran past the identical structures that lined the streets until he finally reached them.
“How does it look?” Ladia immediately asked as he approached. Rubaan noted that she seemed like she had been distracted by something, but her son’s report took precedence. He shook his head grimly as he stopped and caught his breath.
“Terrifying,” he answered between breaths, “There are thousands of them, more arriving by the minute. They are here to wipe us off the map!”
“I expected as much,” Ladia glared at Sarasin and then looked back to Rubaan. She looked disturbed and concerned, and her skin had paled as if she had seen a ghost. In spite of it, she was able to effectively communicate, “What is the plan?”
“Card wants you and Sayraa to meet him in the war room. All the Base 21 officers are heading that way now to plan our strategy. Card is contacting Commander Milinka and Supreme Commander Kain to request reinforcements. Emerald is contacting Captain Bran.”
Ladia turned to Card’s entourage and spoke, “Can you escort us to the war room, we need to get there quickly.”
“Of course, my lady,” One of them replied, “This way,” He beckoned the Jamisos to follow as he and the others started jogging back toward the admin building. As they ran, Sarasin stopped and turned toward Amaria.
“Please, can you take care of Eliss?” She asked, “As long as I am gone?”
“Of course,” Amaria nodded, “I will give him all the love I would Roc.”
“Thank you…” Sarasin leaned in and gave Eliss a small kiss on his forehead. She momentarily hesitated to give him one more look before she turned and joined the others. Rubaan too turned to run, but Amaria stopped him.
“Rubaan,” She grabbed his arm, and he turned around to face her, “Will we make it out of here alive?”
“I… I don’t know,” he lowered his head and bit his lip, “I have never seen so many Govians before; it is going to be a Hells of a fight.”
“I can…” She cringed and closed her eyes as her voice turned into a whisper, “I can get the children out of here. Ours I mean. I can do it undetected; I can get them to… a safe place.”
“What do you mean?” Rubaan asked, giving her a queer look, “How?”
“My powers, they are returning,” She admitted, “My strength, my speed, I can move past the Govian army undetected. I can take the babies to a location where they will never be discovered, where they will be safe.”
“Where?” Rubaan asked, “How long will it take?”
“With my people,” Amaria nervously locked eyes with him, and he sighed, “They will be hidden below the Canruusi Wastes surrounded by High Vampre they will be with their great-grandparents.”
“What?” Rubaan snapped, “With who?”
“With your grandparents… your aunts and uncles from your… from Commander Crinnan’s side.”
“How do you even know them?” Rubaan asked, “I have never even heard of them. I thought my grandparents were dead. Father never spoke of them…”
“I do not have much time to explain. Bring me with you, let me talk to your parents and sister I know your father’s family well; I met them nearly forty years ago.”
“Amaria,” Rubaan shook his head and thought for a moment. He knew he trusted her, especially with Roc. She had lived longer and was much wiser than he probably ever would be. If she knew of a safe place, then he had to let her talk to the rest of his family. Finally, he nodded his head, and she smiled.
“Good,” She sounded relieved, “I did not want to have to force you.” She smiled and gave her husband a mischievous look.
“Come on, love,” He smirked as he beckoned her forward, “We have to get to the war room.”
Rubaan and Amaria hurried down the street to catch up with the others. They had already reached the steps to the admin building when the husband and wife finally reached them. Together they all ran inside and hurried to the left. They ran past the marble desk, and up a flight of stairs.
“This way,” a member of Card’s entourage shouted back, “Only a few flights.”
“How are you doing?” Rubaan asked Sarasin as he ran up behind her, “Can you do all this running?”
“I am fine Rubii,” She smiled and looked back at him, “One of them healed me with their NaNe abilities, plus my own NaNe worked on my behalf. While my belly is a bit crumpled and my tits hurt like Hells, I will be fine.”
“Oh,” Rubaan wrinkled up his face and saw that Amaria was laughing. He realized that the two had a lot in common and could potentially end up getting along really well. He liked the sound of that.
“Hold up,” Amaria reached out and grabbed Ladia’s arm, “You too Sayraa.” Ladia and Sarasin stopped and turned toward Rubaan and Amaria. Both of them wore confused looks on their faces as they waited for Amaria to speak.
“Listen, I will be quick, but I want to get the babies out of here,” Amaria whispered, “I have a plan.”
“A plan?” Ladia asked, looking back and forth between everybody, “What do you mean? What are you talking about Amaria?”
“My High-Vampre powers are returning to me,” Amaria explained with as delicate a tone as she could muster, “I can communicate with my old master… my son Daanel. I can summon him to help. As High Vampre, we can travel great distances in very short amounts of time. My old hive is buried deep beneath the Canruusi Wastes. It is in a place so far away from here and so out of the way that the babies would be safe from discovery.”
“So you are saying that you can take the babies away from Base 21?” Ladia looked to Sarasin, and then the two looked at Amaria. Amaria nodded, and Ladia let out a groan and turned away.
“I do not know that I am completely comfortable with that Amaria,” Ladia said sharply, “Alma has never been away from me, Eliss was just born…”
“They will be safe,” Amaria interjected, and she shifted her weight nervously, “It is where Crinnan, your husband is from. His parents live there. His siblings and their families too. I… I was there when Crinnan escaped so long ago. I have known his family for nearly forty years; they are good honest people.”
“And you never once thought to mention that?” Ladia shouted as she spun to face her daughter in law. Amaria closed her eyes and held up a hand. Ladia huffed with frustration and rubbed her face with a free hand.
“What is with all this crazy shit going on right now,” she angrily spat, “Sayraa coming back, giving birth, bringing a ghost version of her child self… Rubaan splitting into two, Crinnan coming back to life, this whole Eon business, Base 21 is under attack, and now you suddenly know Crinnan’s family who he has barely spoken of in all the years that I have been married to him?”
“Yeah, that’s about the gist of things…” Amaria shrugged, and Ladia scoffed.
“I swear by the Brothers if I had known all this would happen back when I met Crinnan…” She closed her eyes and sighed, “Yes, get the babies out of here. I trust you Amaria.”
“Thank you; I will keep them safe.” Amaria sighed with relief and smiled as she squeezed Eliss closer to her. She looked up at Sarasin who gave her a thin, yet saddened smile as well.
“Please take good care of him,” Sarasin stepped up and planted a kiss on her son’s forehead. Her bound hands made it difficult for her to move too much, but she leaned forward and placed her head against Amaria’s, “Thank you. I am glad Rubaan found you.”
“Of course,” Amaria felt a rush of adrenaline come over her as her job became clear. She stepped away from Sarasin and Ladia and shooed them away. After they both glanced back for one last loo
k at Eliss, they hurried to catch up.
“So what now?” Rubaan asked as he turned to his wife.
“Now I contact Daanel,” Ladia winced, “My… son.”
“Your son the High Vampre...” Rubaan had been caught off guard and surprised by her revelation. Before then she had never shared any more details with him other than the fact that she had a grown son. The idea that he was a High Vampre just like she added to the already complicated and fearful feelings he was experiencing. He hoped that allowing her son back into her life would not cause Rubaan any more trouble.
“He was the one who turned me so many years ago,” Amaria hesitantly explained, “He is thus my master, and I can communicate with him at any time. That does not make me any less his mother though. He loves me and will do as I ask.”
“As long as you are certain,” Rubaan sighed as he resigned himself to Amaria’s plan, “Take care of them. Little Alma my sister, my son and my nephew.” He leaned in, kissed his wife and after he gave her a warm and loving smile, he turned to run to the war room.
“Oh,” he shouted as he spun around and came to a halt. He cocked his head and gave his wife a dashing grin, “And be good.” Amaria smiled and gave him a wave, Rubaan winked and hurried up the stairs.
***
“The simple fact of the matter,” Card placed his hands palms down on the desk before him and leaned in to face the other officers, “Is that their numbers are growing. They are flying in from Brother’s know where and are immediately going to work constructing this FOB. Fortunately, we have with us former Bishop General Sarasin to advise us on their tactics.”
Sarasin looked around the room to find that many of the officers were sneering or glaring at her, including her mother. She felt a wave of anxiety come over her, being surrounded by so many that she knew wanted her dead. She tried to shake it off, tried to be stronger than she knew she was. She thought back to an interview she had a few months prior where she had broken down into a stuttering mess, and her anxiety became worse. Finally, she cleared her throat and stood.
The Black Knight Box Set Page 74