Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 7

by Vanessa Ravencroft

  The Shiss broke the silence. "His Excellency the Representative of Narth and the First among the Saresii Algear Moansti, each the voice of mighty civilizations belonging to our Union, together they have been nicknamed the Three Wise Men of the Assembly."

  Sif was sure, even those who watched the event via GalNet throughout the Union stopped to breathe as the Narth approached the Shiss and said with a deep cool voice, "Narth have traveled far in this stream of time, observers for many galactic rotations. Perceived as strangers, aliens and enemies. Accused being aloof and removed from events and communities.

  "However Narth no longer travels alone."

  The mysterious Narth pointed at Egill and Algear. "Through the help of one’s friends, all Narth is blessed to understand concepts like pride and friendship.

  "To all of you, Narth says, Narth is proud to share this Union with all of you and Narth is friend to all who are Union."

  The Narth actually bowed before the Shiss and before the vid cams transmitting the images all across the Union.

  Suddenly a tremendous cheer rolled through the spectators and they actually chanted the word "Narth".

  The woman swallowed and then said, "I am only a reporter, an anchor, and like everyone watching and listening we know little about the Narth. What we know are rumors and legends. Most of us were intimidated and some were even afraid of the Narth. Your address, Mr. Narth, was the most moving I was privileged to hear and I thank you very much."

  The usually loud and often sarcastic never-impressed-by-anything newswoman curtsied.

  Sif followed her group across the carpet inside. She noticed that the other Narth had the rank insignia of a Fleet cadet on his sleeves and he spoke to Elena. "You must be Elena Olafson."

  Elena nodded. "Yes, I am."

  "I am Narth."

  "I know you are a Narth, Sir."

  "Yes our lack of individual names is oft confusing. I am Eric’s friend. Through him, I know you well."

  Elena smiled deeply while Sif wondered if Eric had told the Narth about her as well.

  As they passed through the entrance, she forgot the Narth or Elena and just stared, the interior was breathtaking; a symphony of sparkling lights and surfaces, a silvery bowl-shaped hall with intricate swirly columns along the concave walls uniting in a dome-shaped roof that showed a view of the local group with the Milky Way in its center.

  A full orchestra floated on a platform of rainbow-colored energy fields across the other side and played strange and beautiful music. There must have been many millions of candles lined up all along the walls, giving the room a warm glowing light that reflected in the polished diamond surfaces giving it all an almost dream-like character.

  There were round tables to the sides and a central dance floor, with several grav levels, allowing dancers to float underneath the galaxy projection.

  She recognized many guests, to her right not even 10m away, stood Mystery Child, not as the superstar main attraction, but just another guest.

  Seeing that artist reminded her of the dark events she went through only very recently. She would never admit it to anyone, but it felt good to her ego, that she was with a group that was so far more important than Mystery Child and that the artist, like almost everyone, looked to them as they entered.

  A being in a dark blue velvet uniform with silver applications and white gloves guided them to a large round table near the center. She was not sure but believed the being was a white Nogoll.

  A very tall man with short blond hair and sunglasses wearing a perfectly-tailored suit of black silk in the fashionable kimono cut was sitting on a table close by. He got up and started to talk to the Saresii. She was sure she had seen the man before.

  Egill leaned over to her and said, "You do know who that is, right?"

  "I’ve seen his image or something somewhere but I can’t recall where."

  "That, my girl, is Rex Schwartz."

  Sif’s eyes widened. "Are you serious?"

  "Quite so, considered by many including Algear to be the most powerful man in the galaxy and not just because he is richer than the gods. He controls much of the media, GalNet, space trains and a host of other things that make the Union run as it does."

  She whispered back, "Isn’t that also a little dangerous?"

  "Very much so and it is one of the so-called open secrets of the Union. Everyone sort of knows about it but no one really talks about it, but in all the 5000 years his company has existed, SII has always stayed clean. No scandals, nothing that could ever be proven to be illegal practice. SII was called the Good Company during the corporate clone wars, as it did not participate."

  Sif was thinking about the things Egill had said as the Saresii turned to them. "I have invited Rex and his family to our table, I hope that is okay, but it makes our big table a little less empty and frees a table for other guests, as I was told they are short a few."

  Egill nodded. "The more the merrier."

  First with interest, and then with growing anger at her decision not to wear a dress, Sif watched the Schwartz family come over. He had three women and a very handsome-looking young man in his party … and a huge black beast-like animal with a spiked collar around his neck that emerged from under the floating table and stuck close to the handsome man.

  His eyes were glued to a gorgeous blonde; she immediately noticed their matching rings. Ms. Schwartz, the wife of the business mogul, was also blonde and looked very nice in a dark red gown.

  Sif actually envied the third woman; she had the most gorgeous shimmering hair in a natural gold tone she had ever seen. Her body was perfectly proportioned and she wore a dream of black chiffon and satin. She chose to hide her face behind a feathered domino mask but that was nothing unusual and made her look mysterious and desirable.

  Sif almost hated that angelic woman for her looks. Egill introduced Elena, Exa and herself.

  Rex did the same with his family. "This is my lovely wife Linda, my daughter Monique Masters and her husband Roy Masters, to my right is my youngest daughter Shea." He smiled and pointed at the huge beast cowering next to Roy Masters. "I almost forgot to introduce Partner, my son-in-law’s pet."

  The girl, Shea, found a seat right next to Sif. Even Shea’s perfume smelled better than hers! But then with a father like hers, she could afford Shaill perfumes for sure!

  Egill interrupted her brooding mood and said, "Look to the entrance."

  A man came in wearing a black Fleet uniform. He looked every inch like a soldier and next to him was a horrible huge spider! Everyone else stared too. Egill said, "That is Admiral Stahl!"

  Sif simultaneously heard the young woman next to her whisper, more to herself than anyone, "Krabbel!"

  Sif shivered involuntarily. "What is that thing next to him? Is that a pet as well?"

  The veiled and masked girl answered. "No, Ma’am. That is Midshipman Krabbel of Archa. He is a wonderful and resourceful person … so I heard!"

  Of course Sif had heard of Admiral Stahl. The man and the frightful spider came over to their table! Only now did she see Rex Schwartz waving at the famous Admiral.

  "Why don’t you have a seat with us, Old Warhorse? We have room for you and your Archa friend."

  Stahl had a voice as deep as Hogun, but there was an unexplainable undertone of authority and resolve in it. For some reason, Sif instantly trusted that man.

  He said, "I have one more person with me, but she is a little late."

  Rex still stood. "There are three empty chairs."

  Admiral Stahl pointed to the spider. "This is Midshipman Krabbel from Archa. He is a remarkable young officer and I am Richard Stahl."

  Again, Egill did his part and told the Admiral who he and the girls were.

  The next entry announced was the Captain of the Devastator and his party. He and a dozen or so Union Fleet officers approached a table to the left.

  Next, a regiment of Klack warriors carrying banners marched in, to a high-pitched humming melody. Everyone rose to their
feet and Egill whispered, "That is the Hymn of the Klack Queen, watch carefully girl, you are going to be one of the few outside Klackt ever to see the Queen in person."

  The entrance grew wider and everyone had a good view. Beyond the ledge hovered a big spherical construct. It extended a glowing energy field bridge and revealed Klack in coppery armor suits, twice as big as normal Klack, with frightening big mandibles, carrying wicked-looking blaster spears formed rows at each side of the bridge all the way to the entrance. She heard the Admiral say, "That is the Queen’s personal guard; there are few more frightening sights as seeing them swarm and attack a perceived threat to the Queen. They devour everything!"

  The Spider spoke nervously. "Admiral Sir, you know about the Klack Archa history, right?"

  "No worries Mr. Krabbel. I was there during the historic meeting of the Klack Queen and the Sac Mother of Archa."

  Rex Schwartz chuckled and explained to the rest, "A few millennia ago an Archa expedition reached a Klack world and ate Klack, not knowing that it was a sentient species. It is an unfortunate coincidence that the Archa look exactly like Huttnn’tkt, the Klack equivalent of Satan. When the Archa became a member species the Klack Queen was very brave and invited the Sac Mother to Klackt to show her subjects that there was nothing to fear of their new Union partners, but the queen passed out three times and the Klack honor guard fled in panic at the first two tries. So this might get interesting tonight."

  Stahl’s voice had an edge as he said, "Don’t hold your breath, Rex. I know what I am doing."

  "I never doubted that, old friend."

  But even to Sif it was clear, the Klack with the banners, seeing the spider, were shaking and doing everything to hold their parade stands. Now a group of Queen Guards escorted what looked like a richly ornamented, transparent bathtub with room for 10 and carried by even more brown and gold uniformed Klack.

  Inside the elongated tank, on a bed of hundreds of pillows, lounged a Klack; she was larger than even the guard Klack, but she was otherwise normally proportioned. A voice boomed, "Her Most High Majesty Nt’gtar thk the 745th. Sovereign Supreme of the Klack Hegemony."

  The masked girl, Shea, explained in a whispering tone to the man named Roy, "The tank is a traditional homage to the times when Klack queens had huge abdomens and could not walk or move. That tank is at least five million years old and one of the most antique treasures in the galaxy. There are too many Klack on too many planets for her to spawn them all, and they use special stem cell farms with the Queen’s necessary imprints..."

  The explanation of the beautiful woman was drowned out by a collective awe, as a black spider being, twice the size of the one on their table, was carried out on a platform by more brown and gold-dressed Klack.

  "Her excellency Wuslla, the First Sac Mother of Archa."

  Stahl’s voice now had an amused undertone. "I guess that even surprised you, Mr. CEO. This common entry had been planned for years."

  To Krabbel, he said, "Happy Union week Mr. Krabbel from the bottom of my heart, The Huttnn’tkt demon’s heritage has ended forever."

  The procession of the Klack Queen and the Archa Sac Mother ended on a specially shaped table not far from theirs. Many present bowed or knelt.

  Nt’gtar thk the Queen raised her upper arm pair. "Egg-felt greetings to all present and tele-present, Klackt and I, who am Queen, wish you all a merry Union Week. A time to remember that we are not insectoids or humanoids, not arachnoids or whatever else, but first and foremost Union citizens! I am the Queen, with many titles and great power, but I am a citizen first. In this, I am no different to you or the Sac Mother and today we do not celebrate our differences, but that which unites us. Happy Union Week to all!"

  The response was a wide cheer and applause. The Queen actually jumped out of that tub before one of her servants could open it and place a ramp. The insect came straight to their table, and without much protocol hugged the Admiral.

  "So good to put my feelers on you Admiral, you have not been to Klackt in five years!"

  The Admiral looked a little embarrassed, not by the Queen’s attention but by the stares of everyone. "I wish I could come more often."

  The Queen wiggled her antennae to Rex Schwartz and then greeted the others before she returned to her own table. Krabbel had also left and was over with the Sac Mother, judging by the waving of legs, it was a lively conversation. Other important guests arrived, like the Pan Saran Emperor, and a delegation of Ult. Elena was in a deep and quiet conversation with one of the Narth and Exa, sitting between the Saresii and Admiral Stahl, and kept looking at the old Admiral.

  The Immortal noticed, and his face became softer as a faint smile reached the corners of his eyes. "I sure hope I have not forgotten to wash my ears – is there something else that needs my attention?"

  Exa first looked a little embarrassed. "Uh, no Sir, I just never sat next to an Immortal, even though Uncle Egill qualifies almost as one, him being 469 years old and all that. I also met Elkhart, the Ancient, and he was as old as you Sir, but he died so he isn’t really immortal and when I was drifting I heard so many stories about you…"

  Exa could hardly stop talking now that she had started.

  Elena said, "Slow down a little, young lady."

  Stahl had big hands and he padded the small porcelain hand of Exa. "It is perfectly all right, Ms. Skallagrímsson. I am just as excited to meet you, Ms. Exa."

  Exa swallowed. "You are?"

  "Of course I am. Do you see that silver-haired guy over there?"

  "Yes Sir, that is Captain Harris, they said that as he came in, is he not?"

  "That wrinkly guy is the one usually sitting next to me, now I am sitting next to perhaps the prettiest girl in the room, lucky me."

  Exa blushed in a lovely way and demurely lowered her lashes in a girlish response as old as time, but then her lively personality took over and she smiled at the old man from ear to ear. "That was awful nice to say, but Elena isn’t Skallagrímsson. We are Olafson!"

  Sif could swear she saw surprise in the Admiral's eternal eyes. "Did you say, Olafson? You are not from Nilfeheim by any chance?"

  Egill nodded. "Yes Sir, I am the representative of Nilfeheim. I thought you knew."

  "No I did not know, I faintly remember meeting a man named Ragnar… many years ago, who was the rep of that world."

  "That was Erik Gustav Ragnarsson; he was killed a few years ago."

  Stahl looked very lively and interested. "There are many families on Nilfeheim with the name Olafson?"

  "Many families, yes, Sir!" Elena answered, "but only one clan, my brother Eric is already a Midshipman in your Navy, Sir. We think he is even on that big ship and Uncle Egill thinks he might be here tonight."

  Egill sighed. "Well, I heard about the Devastator being here and I know about the Captain bringing along the best Midshipmen and I sort of expected my nephew to be among them, but he isn’t. The Captain is here and I can’t see him."

  Egill’s voice was a little hoarse. "Thinking of it now, it was actually foolish to expect him to be here. Odin only knows how many Midshipmen are aboard that giant ship and to expect him to be among the best was the wishful thinking of an old man."

  The Immortal Admiral acted strangely and a wide grin came over his usually stern face. "Well I am sure Odin knows, but I happen to know that…"

  Stahl was interrupted by the announcer. "Citizens and guests, may I present, Mothermachine."

  Six chrome-skinned X101 walked in with a seventh, clearly female-shaped X101.

  The female artificial being spoke. "Due to my size, I cannot physically move or travel. Yet it was always my fondest wish to be able to interact and visit others in a physical way. This avatar body allows me to do just that. It is directly linked and my ego essence is now able to leave and travel. So this Union Week, where unity and liberty are the focus of festivities, is the first such week where I celebrate my new found liberty, with this I wish you all well and from Factory, our home world and from all X
101’s, Happy Union Week."

  "This Diamond Ball turns out to be quite a historic occasion," Egill’s Saresii friend said.

  Stahl looked at a tiny PDD on his wrist and said, "That is not all."

  The entrance widened once again and a dangerous-looking spacecraft, the size of a Barracuda destroyer, but deep red and heavily armed, swooped down with glowing pulse beam thrusters. Moments later, 12 Dai-Than emerged, fierce and proud-looking, in red leather armor and swords across their backs. They were escorting a regal and tough-looking Dai and an exotic beauty with hip-long black hair wearing something like a leather leotard and thigh-high boots, she too was armed with swords and knives. Her bright red skin and almost glowing yellow eyes made her look as dangerous as the male Dai. She also wore a veil of sorts, made of fine chains, which hung before much of her face.

  There were guests who felt a little uneasy as the announcer introduced the Dai. "Tar Kar-Hi, the High Tribe Lord of the Tar-Kar Dai-Than and his wife Alii-Hi, represent the 1500 tribes that are now Union members."

  The Dai came over and exchanged a few words with Stahl. Through the still wide-open entrance something huge, not a vehicle or craft, but something alive with wings, swooped from the cloudless turquoise sky.

  The last rays of the sun that had already disappeared behind the horizon caught the beast. It was beautiful and incredibly dangerous-looking at the same time. Someone on her table whispered, "They brought in a real Ammutherathi, the legendary winged messenger of Ammun the Devourer."

  The vicious and prehistoric-looking monster was accompanied by huge birds, on which men in golden armor suits rode. They landed in a display of incredible military precision, to each side of the carpet. The birds were clearly birds of prey; their razor-sharp talons and beaks clear evidence of that. The men forming ranks were also armed with swords and bird head-shaped blasters.

  With a wild shriek that curled the blood of many, the big winged monster in the center came down and landed. It had a face with more teeth than anything else and a long, snakelike, spiked tail. Behind the beast’s head and on its long neck head stood a man with a billowing black cape, holding the reins of the beast. Saran’s servant carried golden steps and from a golden, basket-like contraption on the monster’s back, a truly regal and breathtaking beauty emerged. On lissome legs she appeared, floating down the steps with swaying hips and whirls of golden veils.