by Justin Sloan
“Her name’s Valerie,” Sandra finished, biting her lip and then smiling. “Valerie, meet baby Valerie.”
That was it—the tears couldn’t be stopped now. She wiped her eyes, smiled, and said, “Thank you,” then turned and went out to the waiting area where Felix, Cammie, and a few other close friends were waiting. Robin came running in just then, eyes wide.
“What’d I miss?” Robin asked.
“It’s a girl,” she announced, not even bothering to fight the tears anymore. “A girl…named Valerie.”
The others whooped and started hugging each other, talking excitedly until the doctor came by and ask them to keep it down for the sake of the sleeping babies and moms. She guided them to the hospital’s newest addition—a celebratory bar, sponsored by Sandra and Diego and complete with wine and other drinks.
Not even the rain pounding on the windows could put a damper on the mood here, and when they went into the streets on a recommendation from Cammie, they all spun and danced in the rain until they were soaked, just laughing and enjoying this world they lived in.
It was a glorious occasion, and in the days that followed all of them took turns cooking and helping the new family in any way they could. But finally the time came for Cammie and Royland to return to Prince Edward Island, where they were going to settle down—though the others there had voted on a name change for the island, calling it “Queen Cammie Island,” which she thought was stupid. Royland couldn’t get enough of it.
They met at the docks, where Captain Reems waited to carry them north.
“I’ll miss you,” Valerie said, hugging Cammie and then Royland.
“But you’ll come up to visit?” Cammie asked.
Valerie glanced at them and then at Sandra and Diego, little Val sleeping in Diego’s arms.
“I’d like that, but… Remember how Colonel Walton talked about space, and Michael? I don’t know if it’s just a feeling or what, but I sense the time is coming.”
Sandra scrunched her nose. “You would leave?”
Valerie nodded with a cautious glance at her friends. “You all… I don’t know what I will do without you, but you have your own lives now.”
They nodded—all but Robin.
“I’ve been thinking,” Robin said, eyes moving up to the skies too. “My parents are safe. I needed to be sure of that, and now I am. But I feel the call too. I have this power, and I want to use it to make a difference.”
“You’d come with?” Valerie asked.
“If they’d let me,” Robin replied with a shrug, “yes. I can’t think of any better way to keep this world safe. If the war up there is anything like what we’ve been through, they’ll need the two of us.”
Valerie laughed and shook Robin’s hand as if they were business partners, a playful smile spreading wide. “We’ll bring ‘em hell.”
The rest agreed that any alien enemies out there had better watch their asses, then finished saying farewell to Cammie and Royland.
It happened as the five of them were on their way back to put baby Valerie down in her crib: a shadow fell over the city. At first they thought it was simply another storm, but then a familiar voice called out.
“Valerie, I hope this isn’t a bad time,” Michael said. They turned to see him walking toward them on one of the broad streets of New York. Behind him a silver shuttle hovered, and past that a space ship larger than anything Valerie had ever seen took up most of the sky to the east. It had to be several times as large as the whole city of New York!
“My… Dark Messiah,” she greeted him, bowing her head. “Is it time?”
He smiled and nodded. “Terry-Henry Walton is already aboard and looks forward to seeing you again. He brought a friend, so I will extend the offer to you to do so as well.” His eyes moved past her and he nodded. “Welcome, Robin.”
Valerie had almost forgotten that he could read minds, so she blushed.
“Thank you.”
“Say your farewells and let’s be off. We have a war to win.”
With that he turned and they watched as the shuttle dropped into the center of Capital Square. People had left a wide space and now watched in amazement. He moved forward and a door opened for him, and he stepped up into shuttle. They could just make him out as he sat there waiting. At first Valerie hadn’t been sure it was him since his head wasn’t completely bald like it had been when they had first met. As they approached, though, there was no doubt.
“So this is actually it,” Sandra said, careful with the baby as she gave Valerie a one-armed hug. “Fuck! I mean,” she covered the baby’s ears and blushed, “I’m going to miss you, I really will. I’ll write you, let you know how we’re doing. If there’s a way to get them to you?”
“I’ll ask,” Valerie promised. She hugged Diego too and then turned to the shuttle, her eyes moving to the large ship above with awe. “I have a feeling this is going to blow my mind.”
“You and me both,” Robin replied.
You two have no idea. Michael’s voice said in their minds, and they looked at each other with wide eyes.
“Here we go,” Valerie said.
“Into the great beyond to kick alien ass,” Robin agreed.
“Let’s make it count.”
Together they gave Sandra, Diego, and baby Valerie a final wave, and walked forward to enter the shuttle and begin the next stage of their journey.
FINIS
Author Notes - Justin Sloan
Written October 1, 2017
The day a series comes to an end is a sad one, but not in our case. Why? Because it’s not really the end of the series after all. Yes, the Reclaiming Honor series is complete at eight books, but you might have seen Facebook posts about Valerie going into space and figured that out from the end of this book. To be sure there is no doubt: we are continuing Valerie’s story, but it will be in space.
She will continue to fight for justice and she will have a friend or two, and we’ll have a fun little surprise for you all.
Surprises can be good!
But to focus on this book and what it took for me to get it here, let me tell you about the last couple of weeks as I was trying to finish it up. First, my grandmother is very sick with something that puts extra proteins on the brain in a related way to what Parkinson’s does, and is probably going to pass soon. We just found this out about a month ago, and now her situation has deteriorated to the point where she can barely open her eyes sometimes, and can’t ever leave the hospital room. So my wife and I decided I would have to take a couple days away from writing (aside from on the airplane) to go see her before she passed. I was very glad I did!
The time with my grandma reminded me how temporary our lives are, and how we really have to focus on what we love and who we love. Since going fulltime as an author, I have occasionally had moments where I wonder if I have to go back and get a job again. The money has been great, but I live in San Francisco and we’re about to have our third kid. It’s tough!
But after this, I’m more committed than ever to making it work. I love writing, and when I read your reviews and your emails I am incredibly inspired. I feel like I would be doing all of you and myself a great disservice to do anything but write fulltime. Am I right? (Selfish plug time… you know, if you want to go write an awesome review, I’ll certainly read it and cry for joy).
And then there are the moments where I’m tempted to take time away from my family to finish a book on time. We have to make our deadlines, right? Well, that’s the other side of that trip—and the answer is NO! NEVER! We only live one life. That’s the one life I get to spend with my amazing, encouraging wife. Only one life in which I get to have children, and only these days when they’re still young enough to want to sit on my lap and just hug me without letting go. It’s amazing. All of this is for them and so that I can have time with them, so how silly would I be if I gave up time with them so that I could meet a SELF-IMPOSED deadline? I love being reminded of this fact, because thinking about this get
s me inspired and emotional. As much as Marines aren’t supposed to be emotional (LOL!) I can’t help it, and I love the feeling. I love feeling so inspired that my chest warms, my arms tingle, and my eyes start to tear up.
It’s not a heart attack, right? Someone tell me if I’m confusing the two.
So, to get back on track… I went to visit my grandma, thinking that I could make up the writing time. No problem! I’m JUSTIN SLOAN, dammit! Of course I can do it.
SIGH. That was when I got really sick. I woke up the next day barely able to think, and for the next three or four days I was taking Nyquil like crazy and…wait, I’ll spare you the details. The point is that life can get in the way, or death. We have to power on anyway, and you know what’s crazy? Because of amazing editors like Lynne, and I mean AMAZING, we were able to pull it off!
Lots of hard work, motivation, and…still time with my family. This is the sound of me smiling. Get used to it.
And this is what it’s like for me to finish a series. It’s a gush of emotion, and I’m just so happy to be able to say that this isn’t farewell, but a wave as we cross the street, only to meet back up farther up the road as we meet Valerie on her trip to space.
Guess what? It’s not very far away, either!!! I’m excited to see where it takes us, to say the least. I hope you are too.
Thank you again for taking the time to read this series as well as my others, and for being such an amazing group of readers. We couldn’t do it without you.
Justin
PS: One more thing… There’s now a Facebook group for fan fiction in the Kurtherian Universe, if you want to join us there. It’s starting to get off the ground. Maybe you can help us out with that! https://www.facebook.com/groups/TKGFansWrite/
Author Notes - Michael Anderle
October 3, 2017
Thank you, I cannot express my appreciation enough that not only did you pick up the eighth book, but you read it all the way to the end, and NOW, you’re reading this as well. Since this book is part of a series, I am presuming you have blessed me by reading them all and what a fantastic feeling that is for any author!
So, we are at the end. Or, rather it’s the beginning…or the end of the beginning but rather the new beginning after the ending.
You know what? Freaking Valerie is going to space…THAT’S what I’m trying to say, sheesh. I’m a writer, you would think I could get my freaking words on, but NOOOoooOOooo… I have to try and be cute.
Now, the Terry Henry Walton Chronicles (Craig Martelle) are done. Justin Sloan’s Reclaiming Honor series is done and my own Second Dark Ages (The Dark Messiah) will be done by February – closing out the core series between the time of WWDE and The Age of Madness.
However, all of these characters live on. Two are going into the Age of Expansion and Michael and group will be going up into another area of space.
The Final Frontier, where no sane Vampire ever went chasing Kurtherians…Like…ever.
We have a LOT for you to enjoy and the series will EXPLODE here in November / December. Get your reading hats on and let’s enjoy the fall.
The perfect weather to stay inside, light a fire, and read more books.
Thank you ALL for staying with Valerie through these books and as Buzz Lightyear would say…
“To INFINITY and BEYOND!”
Ad Aeternitatem,
Michael Anderle
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Books by Justin Sloan
The Hidden Magic Chronicles
Shades of Light
Shades of Dark
Shades of Glory (2017)
FALLS OF REDEMPTION (Epic Fantasy Series)
Land of Gods
Retribution Calls
Tears of Devotion
Tribulations Past (2017)
RECLAIMING HONOR
(A Kurtherian Gambit Series - vampires and werewolves)
Justice is Calling
Claimed by Honor
Judgment has Fallen
Angel of Reckoning
Born into Flames
Saved by Valor
Defending the Lost (2017)
MODERN NECROMANCY (Urban Fantasy Trilogy)
Death Marked
Death Bound
Death Crowned
ALLIE STROM (Urban Fantasy Trilogy)
Allie Strom and the Ring of Solomon
Allie Strom and the Sword of the Spirit
Allie Strom and the Tenth Worthy
Michael Anderle
Kurtherian Gambit Series Titles Include:
First Arc
Death Becomes Her (01) - Queen Bitch (02) - Love Lost (03) - Bite This (04)
Never Forsaken (05) - Under My Heel (06) - Kneel Or Die (07)
Second Arc
We Will Build (08) - It’s Hell To Choose (09) - Release The Dogs of War (10)
Sued For Peace (11) - We Have Contact (12) - My Ride is a Bitch (13)
Don’t Cross This Line (14)
Third Arc (2017)
Never Submit (15) - Never Surrender (16) - Forever Defend (17)
Might Makes Right (18) - Ahead Full (19) - Capture Death (20)
Life Goes On (21)
**New Series**
The Second Dark Ages
The Dark Messiah (01)
The Darkest Night (02)
The Boris Chronicles
* With Paul C. Middleton *
Evacuation
Retaliation
Revelation
Restitution 2017
Reclaiming Honor
* With JUSTIN SLOAN *
Justice Is Calling (01)
Claimed By Honor (02)
Judgement Has Fallen (03)
Angel of Reckoning (04)
Born Into Flames (05)
Defending The Lost (06)
Saved By Valor (07)
Return of Victory (08)
The Etheric Academy
* With TS PAUL *
ALPHA CLASS (01)
ALPHA CLASS - Engineering (02)
ALPHA CLASS (03) Coming soon
Terry Henry “TH” Walton Chronicles
* With CRAIG MARTELLE *
Nomad Found (01)
Nomad Redeemed (02)
Nomad Unleashed (03)
Nomad Supreme (04)
Nomad’s Fury (05)
Nomad’s Justice (06)
Nomad Avenged (07)
Nomad Mortis (08)
Nomad’s Force (09)
Nomad’s Galaxy (10)
Trials and Tribulations
* With Natalie Grey *
Risk Be Damned (01)
Damned to Hell (02)
Hell’s Worst Nightmare (03) coming soon
The Age of Magic
The Rise of Magic
* With CM Raymond / LE Barbant *
Restriction (01)
Reawakening (02)
Rebellion (03)
Revolution (04)
Unlawful Passage (05)
Darkness Rises (06)
The Hidden Magic Chronicles
* With Justin Sloan *
Shades of Light (01)
Shades of Dark (02)
Shades of Glory (03)
Storms of Magic
*With PT Hylton*
Storm Raiders (01)
Storm Callers (02)
Storm Breakers (03)
Tales of the Feisty Druid
*With Candy Crum*
The Arcadian Druid (01)
The Undying Illusi
onist (02)
The Frozen Wasteland (03)
Path of Heroes
*With Brandon Barr*
Rogue Mage (01)
A New Dawn
*With Amy Hopkins*
Dawn of Destiny (01)
Dawn of Darkness (02)
The Age of Expansion
The Ascension Myth
* With Ell Leigh Clarke *
Awakened (01)
Activated (02)
Called (03)
Sanctioned (04)
Rebirth (05)
Retribution (06)
Cloaked (07)
The Uprise Saga
* With Amy Duboff & Craig Martelle*
Covert Talents (01)
Other Books