THE VROL TRILOGY

by SK Benton

  Looking around at everyone in the poorly lit room, he was witnessing his first post-apocalyptic party, and he found it weird, to say the least. Couples lay around, making out on beaten-up couches - mostly neko females with human males, while the lycans gathered towards the bar area. The live rock band was playing a thumping song the reverberated throughout the entire room, and to his astonishment, the band's drummer was the vampire that he had smelled upon entering the club. Focusing his enhanced vision, he noticed that the vampire didn't have a rotting appearance like his brothers in the world of the Rhönen Dominion. He was just very pale.

  "Jessica, this place is… kinda cool," he yelled, attempting to be loud enough so she would hear him.

  "Max, I can hear you. You don't need to shout, silly!" the lycan girl exclaimed in a normal volume. "Come with me. I'll intro you to the owner. His name is Dons."

  He followed Jessica down a narrow corridor, while Cassandra milled around near the dance floor, doing some sort of weird cat-like dance by herself. Reaching the back of the hallway, Jessica knocked on a door using a specific cadence. The door opened and a short, human male wearing a patch over his left eye stood there.

  "Hey Jess. Who's the stray?" asked the short man.

  "Hiya Donsie! This is Max. He's lost. Max, meet Dons, leader of our clan and owner of this club."

  Taking care not to bare his teeth, he reached his hand out and said, "Sir, it is my pleasure."

  Dons gave Max a weird face and then looked at the newcomer's hand with disdain.

  "Um, what's with the hand? No, I don't have any teeth for you, if that's what you want."

  Max pulled his hand back.

  Did he say teeth?

  Jessica saw the awkwardness in their greeting, so she jumped in, cheerful and happy, as that seemed to be her nature.

  "Dons, Max here is kinda passing through, and sorta lost. Anyway, he needs a bath and a cot. Can we set him up?"

  "No teeth, no water, Jess. You know the rules."

  Teeth again?

  "Well, what if he performed some sort of task? Like - in place of payment?" Looking at Max, she asked, "You don't have any teeth, do you?"

  "What the Hell are teeth? I smiled and showed my teeth to kittlylicious out there and she about shit herself. Teeth! What's with teeth?"

  Jessica gave him a blank, unbelieving stare and said, "Demon teeth. We use them to pay for things."

  Max hadn't really given any previous thought to what form of currency was being used in his new post-apocalyptic environment. On Azul he had pesos, dollars and francs, and in the Rhönen Dominion everyone was paid in gold. In this new world they used Vrol teeth as money. It was that simple, and he actually found it to be ingenious. In order for currency to have value there had to be scarcity; it was a major rule of economics. And teeth from the mouth of a deadly alien would be plenty scarce.

  Thinking for a moment, Max came up with a plan. It would be dangerous for all he knew, but with his magical skill he could knock a Vrol flyer out of the air and slaughter it, taking its teeth and paying for whatever was he needed while stuck in Los Angeles. It would work as long as Vrol weren't immune to the effects of magic.

  Dons looked Max over, up and down, and then finally said, "Well, he could clean the kitchen for some teeth. Then he can get a bath and I'll have one of the nekos clean up his clothes. My nose isn't very strong, but I can easily say that he smells like a garbage can."

  "Thank you, sir. I appreciate it a great deal. Show me the kitchen, please."

  "Follow me," said the short normal, who pushed past him and took a quick turn before exiting the corridor.

  Max and Jessica followed Dons to the club's kitchen, which was basically a room with some dirty dishes and countertops. Dons looked around, and then back at Max saying, "Ok, this place needs to be cleaned up. The better you do it, the more teeth you get. Do a really great job and not only do you get a bath and a cot, but you get extra teeth for your pocket. Deal?

  Max looked around, and then smiled. "Deal, but I work alone, ok?"

  Dons looked around and then shrugged his shoulders.

  "Ok, man. Whatever moves you. I'll be back shortly. Jess, you're with me."

  The two exited via the same door through which they had entered, leaving Max all alone in what passed for a kitchen those days.

  Two hours later Dons and Jessica went back to the kitchen to see how Max was doing. To their mutual astonishment, not only had he completely cleaned the filthy room, but was preparing some food. It even appeared as if there were more utensils, hanging neatly on the walls and new cooking pots and pans.

  "Max! Wow! What did you…how did you…huh?" Jessica blurted out in total surprise.

  "Oh, I have a few tricks up my sleeve."

  The reality was that Max used various individual cantuses to clean up the room, and then used compound cantuses to replicate some of the cooking utensils, but he didn't want them to know he was a mage - quite yet.

  "Well mate, it looks quite sharp. I'd say you've earned your keep and quite a few teeth for the old pocket too."

  It was at that moment that Max realized Dons had an odd accent with which he wasn't familiar. He made a mental note to investigate that further at a later time.

  Following Jessica up a stairwell, they got up to the second floor where he was shown a room with a bathtub. Seven Sins was a desired locale for locals as it was the only place in the city that had hot water on demand. Dons earned a lot of teeth there, and put them to good use, having installed solar panels on the roof for electricity. Max ran the water into the tub, and after he had undressed, a meek neko servant entered and took his leathers for cleaning. She paid no notice to the fact that he was stark naked - she just picked up his things and said, "Me be backs shoon, shir."

  Relaxing in the hot water, he started going through his mental checklist. The one thing that was curious was that there was electricity in that new world. Draagh had told him that technology and magic didn't exist in the same place - but he never said that they couldn't coexist. There was definitely something odd about where he was, and he needed to find out as much as possible so he could find a way home. Once he found a mage, if one existed, he would be one step closer to getting back to Jennie and Liliana.

  Right about the time he was preparing to jump out of the tub, the meek little neko servant came back into the bathroom with his leathers. Upon examination they were perfectly clean. Looking at the furry little female, he asked, "These look great. How did you clean them?"

  "Me licksh them, shir. Me licksh them goodies."

  Max shuddered and waved her off, prompting her to exit quickly.

  After he had dressed, he walked down the small stairwell and out into the club's main area. Before he could go one step further past the stairwell Jessica popped up in his face.

  "Heya Max! Boy, you sure smell better! And your clothes are clean too. Don't nekos do a great job?"

  Max looked around at the various neko females who were on couches, making out with human males. He wondered how many of them licked sewage off clothing or other things before sticking their tongues in guys' mouths. He felt a chill go down his spine, but then kindly greeted Jessica, not wanting to be rude.

  "Oh yeah, great job - for sure. Anyway, I'm not quite tired yet. Did I earn enough teeth for a drink or two?"

  Jessica giggled and punched him in the arm, which sadly reminded him of his wife's mannerisms.

  "Oh wow, you have way more than that. Drinks are on me, anyway. I have teeth credits and don't drink alcohol. Watcha like?"

  He thought back on his favorite beverages, and had to say he really wanted some Scotch whisky, but was unsure if they had any."

  "Um, do you guys have any Scotch?"

  "Duh! Of course! C'mon - let's order up."

  Walking up to the bar, Jessica yelled into the human bartender's ear, which caused him to respond with a nod and a smile. To Max's amazement the man presented a bottle of Glennfidich Scotch whisky and set it on the bar with
a glass.

  "Here you go, sir. No one has asked for this stuff for years. Glad someone likes it," the bartender said in a normal voice, despite the loud noise from the band, which had continued to play during his entire time in Seven Sins. It was obvious that he recognized Max as a lycan and knew that he had superior hearing, hence him not yelling, as he immediately did to a human patron.

  Max took a seat on a stool at the bar, remembering the Hard Rock in Lima, Peru, when he first started his adventure away from the world of his birth. Sitting down, he was mildly startled when Jessica popped up and sat on the bar, much like she had on the retaining wall where they first met.

  "So, you like that stuff? I think it's nasty, but whatever," she said with a light grin.

  "It has a particular taste to it, and also has special meaning to me. Maybe I'll tell you all about it tomorrow. But as it is, I'll have a couple of drinks and then take that cot you guys said you had for sleeping. Sound good?"

  "Mmhhhmm, sure thing, Max!" Jessica exclaimed excitedly. He was unsure of why she was so peppy, but he was glad to be in good company.

  Max sat at the bar, watching the various people go in and out, noting mostly humans, nekos and a couple of lycans. What surprised him the most was who greeted him when the band took a break. He was tossing down another shot, when he experienced a faint rotting scent, but not as strong as one would smell from a vampire in the Dominion.

  "Oy mate… saw you come in. Didja like the band?"

  Max turned to see a very friendly vampire looking at him, totally expecting an answer to his question. Taking it all in stride, and figuring that he was in a different world he merely responded, "Um… yeah, you guys are really good. You know any Zombie stuff?"

  The vampire got an odd sort of look on his face and said, "Zombie stuff? Sorry, mate, but zombies really don't care much for music. They just like eatin' brains n' such."

  Max immediately figure that, as he was probably in a different timeline than he was born into, there would also be different artists. But then it dawned on him - zombies - cannibals

  Cannibals are called zombies here…

  "Oh, my mistake, sorry. You see, there was an artist by that name where I'm from and his music had a great, pounding beat. Anything that thumps would be ok by me. Um… let me buy you a drink."

  Looking to Jessica, he whispered, "Do they serve blood here?"

  "Huh? Why? Lennie likes beer. I mean, he drinks blood, but only for nourishment."

  Turning to the drummer he asked, "Your name is Lennie, right? Let me but you a beer. What's your brand?"

  "Oh thanks, mate. Barkeep knows my taste," and looking to the bartender he held up a finger.

  Max almost started laughing out loud when the bartender poured a large beer mug two-thirds of the way, and then filled the rest with what looked and smelled like tomato juice. Lennie took the drink, and patted Max on the back while saying, "Thanks mate! Appreciate it. Cheers!"

  Max found it extremely odd that he was sitting in a bar, drinking alcohol with a vampire, but at least once he got home he would have a couple of stories to tell.

  Lennie soon returned to his duties pounding on the drums (a skill in which he was really quite proficient), while Jessica just sat on the bar watching the various denizens enter and exit. Max had already consumed quite a few drinks, but as his lycan metabolism was extremely strong they didn't affect him as much as they would a normal. Also, as he had eaten after cleaning up the kitchen he wasn't really hungry either - but he was getting tired. He needed to hit the rack and wake up refreshed so he could find a way back home.

  After asking Jessica about his sleeping arrangements, she led him back up to the second level, where there was a room with a fairly comfortable cot for him to sleep on. Max examined his quarters and noted it had no windows, but the door had a lock. He would be able to sleep with both eyes closed, which always resulted in a more complete rest period. Before his new friend left, he stopped her with a question.

  "Jessica, this is all new to me, so please forgive my ignorance, but maybe tomorrow can you answer some questions about this world? When I said I wasn't from around here I really meant it, and I need to find a way home.

  "Sure Max, no problem," she said, "anything you wanna know, just ask."

  "Ok, then before you leave, why don't the Vro… why don't the demons come here to this street?

  "Oh, we have a magic man. He makes spells to keep them away."

  "Interesting…" said Max, "I would like to meet him."

  "Sure, no problem. He's in our clan."

  "Ok, thanks, and goodnight, Jessica."

  "Ni-night, Max."

  Chapter 3 - Field Trip

  Jennie woke up early, excited that she was going on another trip, even if it wasn't to go and try to find Max again. Actually, she was glad they weren't doing that, as the crushing blow she received every time they didn't find him just made her a little more depressed. This time she was taking her daughter with her, and she wanted to get Draagh to let her show Liliana around Azul just a bit before they retrieved her former commanding officer from whatever sort of prison he was locked in.

  After getting Liliana dressed, she took the little lycan's hand and led her down to the main dining hall, where they had a delicious breakfast of duck eggs, yams and coffee. They finished their meal and were preparing to go back to their quarters when Draagh appeared, dressed in his usual leathers. He had been recently preferring lighter clothing, like cotton tunics, especially as the threat of Vladros' forces had been completely dismantled nearly a year prior.

  "Well good morning, my lovely daughters!" exclaimed the powerful-looking mage, who was also sporting a katana across his back, even though he had no need for it.

  "Morning grandfather!" Liliana blurted out excitedly. "We are to go on a trip today, are we not?"

  "That is correct, my dear. We are going on a trip to see where your mother was born."

  Jennie smiled at her growing young daughter, and then looked up to Draagh.

  "So, I was wondering… can we take a little tour around New Sydney before we get the Admiral? I mean, he's not going anywhere, is he?"

  "Oh my dear, I think that would be perfectly fine. In fact, I shall conjure a light-bending cantus so no one will see us. Then we will be able to ramble about town without the fear of being apprehended."

  "Um… apprehended? Am I in trouble? What happened there?"

  "Oh my dear, Councilman Johnson has created quite a mess. He is doing his utmost to warp the perceptions and sensibilities of your planet's populace."

  "Oh, that sucks. Is there anything we can do about it?"

  "Not to worry, my dear. Once we have located Max we shall take care of that particular bit of nonsense."

  "Yes, it sounds like it sucks quite harshly," mimicked Liliana in her usual fashion anytime she heard something that resembled a curse word.

  Jennie just ruffled the little girl's long, black hair, and then started to pull it back, putting it into a proper ponytail. Once she had finished with that, she looked back up to see Draagh drinking some yerba mate, her favorite hot beverage, which brought a smile to her face.

  "See? I told you it's better with some sweetener," Jennie said with a grin.

  "Yes, quite a bit better. In fact, I have acquired a taste for it, although I do have a tendency to enhance it with my own herb on occasion."

  Jennie watched with a mildly disgusted face as Draagh took a pinch of his beloved cannabis and dropped it into the mate infusion, but then rolled her eyes and snickered.

  Liliana watched her great-grandfather with a mild interest and commented, "Grandfather loves his weed, does he not, Jennie?"

  The beautiful woman instantly grew a face that would put fear into even the most ruthless of vampires, and growled, "Lili - you are to never get near that shit, do you understand me? Never!"

  Calmly, the little girl looked back into her mother's eyes and said, "Fear not, Jennie. I have no desire to touch the shit, as you say."


  Jennie settled down, and would have started laughing, if not for the fact that she needed to impress upon her daughter that smoking the herb was never something a little girl did. She could tolerate Liliana's occasional swearing, but never drug use.

  Once they had all finished their morning meal, Draagh gave them both instructions on what to bring. As they were going to be invisible, they could wear their normal clothing - leathers and boots - but that Jennie would also need to bring along her stinger, comm and personal console. Liliana could bring along her wand, even though it would not function on Azul. She had come to adore her little thunder stick, as she called it, and had become near-deadly in its use. Draagh knew the day would come when she would be required to use magic in battle, and it was his job to make sure she survived while doing so.

  Gathering outside the castle gate while leaving enough room for the massive sphere that always accompanied a 4D time slip, the trio went over their gear checklist just to make sure that no one had left anything behind. Satisfied that they were well prepared, Draagh brought up his infoscreen, which was nearly always followed by the appearance of Socrates. After conferring with his computerized companion for some minutes, where they performed what were called Kamiliak conversions, Draagh motioned the two girls to stand by his side. As soon as he set his staff on the fertile ground it began to shoot lightning bolts upward, causing Liliana to grow a huge smile as she looked up at the impressive display. She wanted to do that one-day… to the feral cats in the castle.

  In moments they had disappeared from the world and had slipped through time and space.

  Draagh, Jennie and Liliana found themselves near a massive and impressive fountain, in the city center of New Sydney, Oz, on the planet Azul, year 2819 CE. Immediately conjuring an invisibility cantus that kept them from being seen, the three scanned their surroundings, with Liliana having a look of utter amazement upon her face, having never seen anything resembling the technological wonders that surrounded her. Flying craft skimmed through the air at low altitudes, deftly avoiding one another, as hundreds of thousands of people walked among massive, shining skyscrapers that obscured the sun. The little girl's mouth was locked in the form of an o as she looked around, wide-eyed, at her new environment.