Valkyrie Chronicles 4 & 5 Bundle

by Erik Schubach

  Esa rushed to the service port and shooed Kat to the seating area with a small smile. I had to grin. Since she was old enough to operate it, Esa had claimed the service port as her own domain. She always came up with inspired choices for our meals. I glanced over at their room, and lamented on how empty it felt since more nights than not, they stayed at Brunie and Talia's quarters in Valhalla or Heildfine. But they were bound to grow up one day.

  Samantha sat next to me and bumped shoulders with me. “It isn't that bad mother. Just think, one day we may gift you with grandchildren, then you can spoil them. Time marches on.” I looked into her smiling eyes. My heart ached and I guarded my thoughts again. She misinterpreted it as empty nest syndrome and just hugged me Human and Vanger style as Kate joined us.

  Esa joined us with a heaping platter of food selections and large mugs of mead. I smiled, she had one of those extra large mugs sent up for me. My daughters know me as well as Kat does. I got them talking about everything new in their lives, I wanted to know it all this one last time. We talked and laughed and I marveled at how much this felt like family, like home to me.

  Kate kept shooting me questioning glances. I kept her placated with smiles and tender touches. I kept glancing at the data feeds scrolling on the main console about the Jotunn energy beam until Esa, balled her hand into a fist and the display went dark. She shook her head with a loving smile, “Always the Valkyrie. You keep transitioning away from us mother.” I smiled back and joined the conversation again.

  After we cleaned up after the meal, Samantha and Esa sat beside Kat and I and looked at the box on the far side of the low table, the box that was delivered to me by tiny Kitty. Kenatar's box. Sam tilted her head like she was trying to see into it, then she tilted her head cutely the other way and looked at me. “So, what's in the box mother?”

  I shrugged and reached over and slid it in front of me as I said, “I'm not sure, I haven't had a chance to look. It was sent down with the crew of the Shatra, they were instructed to give it to me.” I ran my hands along the smooth, finely crafted wood surface. It had Kena's crest burned into it and had a red wax seal with the crest melted into it as well. I was scared of what it may contain... though I already knew. I was already fighting with my own emotions over what I must do.

  Esa prompted, “Are you going to open it?”

  Kat was tilting her head at me, trying to get into my thoughts. I laid the back ow my hand on her cheek and gave her a smile. Kroth do I love this magnificent woman. Then I cheered up and smiled at everyone. “Shall we find out?” The girls were nodding like silly teenagers and Kate looked overly curious. I almost snorted at how comical it was.

  I tugged gently on the lid and the wax seal broke the lid slid out in wooden channels carved inside the box. There was some old fashioned paper laying there on top of a silk cover that obscured the contents. It was a handwritten letter. Had I not lived on Earth for centuries, it would have seemed extremely out of place for such advanced civilizations. But it made it seem that much more personal to me.

  I read it out loud to my family, “Well met Demon. I leave it to you to finish what I have started. If my attack on the Frost Giant vessel fails, I know that there is but one force in this galaxy that can stand against those krothing Jotunn. They won't even see you coming. Kara, the Wild One is a force unto herself.”

  I looked around at the nodding faces around me as I continued reading, “Know this, I, Kenatar, Commander of the Shatra, intend to rain hellfire down upon the Frost Giants, whether or not my attack succeeds. I chose you Demon, as my right hand, so that I may strike at them from beyond the grave. I do this for my daughter. I don't care if the War Gods frown down upon me, but I say for all to hear, that I love my daughter Saelli more than life itself and I show her favor. The Frost Giants will know my resolve in protecting her.”

  This hit a chord deep within me, it echoed my own feelings, my own resolve. I finished reading, “Tell Saelli of my valor. Tell the Outcasts of my strike upon the enemy to avenge our race. Inside this box resides my fire and my heart, you will know what to do with the contents. May the War Gods always be with you my friend, Kenatar, Fist of the Heavens.”

  Everyone was silent, I could see tears welling up in Esa’s and Samantha's eyes. Kat was stoic, but I could feel her heart breaking. Then I removed the fabric.

  Inside the box lay the finest crafted Ragnarok carbon blade I ever laid my eyes on. It was intricately carved and was smaller than a normal blade, it was about the length of my arm. Then I saw the crests etched into the blade and understood everything. There were four crests, intertwined in the branches of the tree of ages. The crest of Ragnarok, Kena's personal crest, the crest of Valhalla and the crest I designed for my own family when our children were born. This blade was specifically crafted for me, to carry out Kena's vengeance on the Frost Giants.

  I didn't say a word. Esa, took the blade and its black, flexible carbon, scabbard and brought it to my bedroom. I know she was putting it with my armor. When she returned in silence, I looked at the other items.

  There was a bright, but worn scarf. I recognized it as the scarf Hajart the Master Loomer had gifted her on her first visit to Valhalla. It was cut in two, the crest of Kenatar was sewn into one half and my family crest into the other. This time Samantha picked up the half with our crest and took it to place by my armor.

  She returned, then as one, we looked at the rest. There were all ten of Kena's carbon rings sitting inside, and an envelope sealed with wax and Kena's crest. The only thing written on the envelope was “Saelli." I understood, these were to go to her daughter. The envelope contained her love, something extremely difficult for a Ragnarok to show... love and favor.

  I closed the box and stood and set it on a shelf on the wall. Our mood was sufficiently solemn. Esa smiled wistfully and whispered, “Aunt Ina and Brunie aren't the only Ragnarok not afraid to show compassion it seems.”

  I smiled at her and replied, “Truly.”

  We spent the rest of the evening just basking in each others company. Marveling at the feeling of family and belonging. We shared stories of valor, of love found, and love lost. My girls shared their hopes and dreams for the future. I marveled at them, they were of my blood. I looked at Kate, the woman I feel I have always loved, she helped me bring them into this world.

  It was extremely late when our daughters began to doze off. Kate smiled softly at them and we both stood. I picked up Esa and she Samantha, and we carried them into their room and put them in their beds. Even though they are adults, they will always be my babies. I watched as Kat gave them kisses on their cheeks. I marveled at the three women. I would die to keep them all safe.

  Then Kat and I retired to our bed. I took my time as I made love to her that night. I tried to convey all my feelings, all my love, all my admiration for this human that had won my heart all those centuries ago. She was my light.

  When she was too exhausted to take anymore, I watched her sleep until her breathing normalized and I was sure she was asleep. Then I rose and donned my Valkyrie armor, possibly for the last time. I strapped the carbon blade to my back and tied the scarf fragment to my left arm, then looked one last time upon my mate and went out to the great room. I wrote on a holo-pad and placed it beside the service port, instructions for Kate to make sure the box made its way to Saelli. And I let her know that I loved her and our children with all of my heart.

  I took a deep breath and made my way out the door. This was something I had to do, to protect my family, my citadel. To protect the innocents that would be left behind if Valhalla actually made the transition. It is who I was, at the core of my being... I was Valkyrie.

  I made my way out of the Central Spire and was surprised to see Pegasus on one of the landing pads with Inatra leaning up against her, waiting. I walked up to her and her eyes flicked between the scarf on my arm and the hilt of the carbon blade on my back. She hissed lovingly then said, “Let me accompany you to the gates.”

  I looked at her
in shock. She simply shrugged as she led me into Pegasus, who took off the moment we were seated. I asked, “How did you know?”

  She smiled at me and said, “You are the Wild One... the Demon. I knew there was no way you would allow even a single innocent to perish. I know there is not enough time, and you, of all people, would never let anyone be left behind. This is what I would do in your stead if I had your power. This is what defines you sister... Kara... you are Valkyrie.”

  Then she hugged me as a tear rolled down her cheek. We landed at the front gates and before I stepped outside I told Inatra, “I love you sister, tell my family that I love them as well.”

  She nodded once and said in very un-Ragnarok fashion, “I love you too Kara.” Then I stepped out into the crisp air by the main gates. I made my way to the line, and was surprised to see a lone Valkyrie at the center of the Einherjer. I smiled sadly as I placed a hand on Mist's shoulder and one on Tyr's. They wordlessly parted and made a hole not looking at me, Mist's eyes were welling with tears. I walked through the secondary shield and heard the slamming of one hundred fists against armor in the salute to heroes. Did everyone know what I was going to attempt?

  Father was on coms as I stepped through the main shield. “Kara you...” I tapped my earbud to silence it. I looked up as a Ragnarok dropship's thrusters fired and it landed a hundred yards from the gates of Valhalla. Washing me with dust, leaves, heat, and debris.

  The bay door dropped and I could see Intark waiting for me in an EVA suit with the helmet clipped to his hip. I strode in and he said firmly, “Well met Valkyrie. Shall we show the Frost Giants your wrath?”

  I smiled up at the man as I grasped his forearm, his one eye held a dangerous fire. I liked that. I responded, “Well met Intark. I believe we should.” The bay door closed. He led me through some pressure doors and down a short hall into the cockpit and he sat in the pilot's chair and offered the copilot's chair to me. We strapped in and without warning the ascent thrusters fired and we were on our way into orbit.

  He looked at me, then the scarf, and the carbon blade. “If I didn't know any better, I'd say you looked like an itsy bitsy Ragnarok warrior going into battle.”

  I knew it was a question and I just rolled my eyes at him for not asking plainly. I said simply, “Kenatar.” He sat up straighter in his seat with a look of pride. He simply nodded and left it at that.

  As we approached the Shamir. I marveled at its size, we were but a flea in comparison. Holo-displays did not convey the enormity of these mile long vessels. Intark chuckled. “You have not visited a Vengeance Class Generational Transport have you? You are in for a treat then... or whatever the extreme opposite of a treat is.”

  I had to laugh out loud at the silly look on his face. Odin's beard, it looked out of place on a Ragnarok.

  He flew us around the ship so I could see the extent of the damage to it. He pointed out where the docking bay should have been. How had they kept the vessel running with all this damage? He brought us around to the relatively undamaged side of the ship and we got a good pressure seal at a makeshift looking docking port.

  We free floated through the ship and into the airlock and then after pressure equalized and the door slid open, we stepped out into standard Ragnarok gravity. I could hear the thrumming of the energy at the grated plates beneath our feet. Gravity plating. The ship looked like a nightmare from some industrial complex run amok. There was no attempt to make the long corridors seem inviting. The air was dank and stale with an acidic, oily smell to it.

  Intark just spread his arms wide with a twinkle of mischief in his eye as he said grandly, “Behold, the Shamir! Welcome aboard Valkyrie.”

  Chapter 9 – The Shamir

  We hadn't been on the Shamir for more than five minutes as we navigated the labyrinth of corridors with exposed conduits and service consoles and access tubes, when a frantic Kate was in my head. “Kara! What are you doing? We need to talk about this!”

  I cut her off, responding across the link, “You know it had to happen to save the innocents, there isn't enough time to evacuate them all before the planet becomes too unstable. You and I are the only ones with the Power of Thor and you know I would never allow you to do this. I love you, tell the children I love them, and am so proud of them.” Then I ignored all of her pleas. I think my Verr were helping by silencing her thoughts to me.

  Ten minutes later we arrived on the bridge, at the very core of the vessel, next to the heavily shielded power plants. Not at all where I would have thought it was, but it made the most sense, being the most protected location on the ship. There were dozens of stations, and hundreds of holographic displays. It looked like it must have taken a small army to run the vessel.

  There were giant screens around the entire octagonal bridge that gave the illusion the of the bridge being stationed on top of the vessel with view ports looking out to space all around. I hesitated as I looked at the central display, with the majesty of Folkvangr stretching below us.

  I was startled by Intark's voice beside me. “Yes, inspiring isn't it? My ancestors on this ship dreamed of this sight. It was an emotional moment when I first laid my eye on it.” Then he spoke gruffly, like he was ashamed to admit emotion, “I started charging the photon containment circuits for the tractor beams on the asteroid, at our low power it should be completed within the hour. I need something from my sleeping quarters.”

  I nodded at him and followed when he motioned for me to come. We went down two corridors and way out to the secondary hull of the ship, then past a bulkhead that had some alloy plating welded over an ancient breach in the hull. Then we entered the room about the size of the great room of my quarters.

  There were almost two dozen cots all lashed together in the center of the room with blankets and pillows all over them. This caused the memory of Inatra telling us of the living conditions on these ships. There were hundreds of these communal sleeping quarters throughout the ship. The soldiers would all huddle together to conserve heat as the quarters are not heated well and power is at a premium.

  He went up to a row of lockers to one labeled with his name, and took off the gloves from his EVA spacesuit, then took a carbon knife from the tool pouch on the spacesuit. He stabbed his finger then smeared the blood on the scanner. The door popped open. He reached in and pulled out a small box and opened it.

  Inside was a worn and faded strip of cloth with a crest sewn into it. He tied it around his left wrist then put the empty box back in the locker and closed it. There was a thunk as the lock cycled back into place. Then he tucked the fabric under the cuff of his EVA suit and replaced the gloves, then held his hands toward me. I nodded at him and checked his seals, the tell tale lights were all green.

  He noticed my curious look. I had never asked Inatra or the other Ragnarok I knew like Kena, why they tied the scarfs to their left arm. It seemed way too personal to ask. Intark was less reticent about sharing. “That is my family death veil. It is to be placed over my face after I pass to the beyond. Very few Ragnarok posses one. You can only receive one as a gift from someone who cares about you and is not afraid to show favor. That is rare amongst my kind.” I thought back over the eons, I had dispatched only a small handful of Ragnarok warriors who had scarves tied to their left arms.

  All these years, Inatra has reveled in the scarves Hajart the Master Loomer has gifted her and she always wears one into battle. Now I understand the reason she has always looked at them in awe and treated Hajart as a grandfather, and part of her family. I fought back a tear at this revelation.

  He finished with, “Kenatar must have valued your friendship.” He nodded toward my arm and the scarf she had gifted me with my family crest.

  I challenged him. “She was a great warrior with great valor.” He declined the challenge by inclining his head with a look of pride on his face for my friend who was lost to the ages.

  Then I played it down by saying, “She passed the duty of protecting her daughter to me by naming me her right hand.”


  He replied, “You wear it well Demon.” He led me back out toward the bridge again. I found myself flinching less and less at the Demon name the Ragnarok bestowed upon me. The more exposure I have to their culture, the more I am coming to realize it was not the slight I had always believed, but a sign of respect. I have had thousands of conversations with Ina over the years, and I keep finding little facets of their culture as unexpected surprises.

  We arrived on the bridge and Intark started tying systems together on a single panel. He kept growling like a Terran wolf then slammed a fist on the console. “The War Gods frown upon us!”

  I squinted and asked, “What is it Intark?”

  He hit the console again. “Some of the automated tractor systems are not functioning. Everything on the Shamir has been cobbled back together after her fight and flight from the krothing Frost Giant attack. We need the computer to release at the proper instant to aim the rock on an orbital path that will intersect with their ship's weak spot.”

  I nodded and said, “I can release the rock at the targeted instant. You just feed the telemetry to my console and operate the other systems you need.”

  He shook his head and responded, “Only a computer has the speed required. We need to rethink the plan.” Then he slammed his fist on the console again.

  I took a deep breath and as I prepared to tell him something that only one other Ragnarok, Inatra knew. I whispered to him, “I possess the speed of a computer in my reactions. My nanites have interfaced with me in a way that I fear makes me less Asgard and more a blunt instrument, a machine designed to kill.”