by SK Benton
Jennie got up and set down next to Draagh, whispering into his ear, quickly, as Max would return any second. "Pops, you have to promise me. When I'm gone one day Max needs to live. No matter what."
Draagh gave her a curious glance and then smiled. "Whatever makes you think you shall die, my dear? Please do not fret. All shall be well."
Jennie was about to inquire further regarding Draagh's response, but Max slipped back into the room, noticing Jennie hurriedly getting up and going to where they were both previously seated.
"Well, I had to wash her face and put on her pajamas. Jen, I think you're going to need to dress her when she's passed out from now on," he said.
"Umm, yeah. Sorry Hun. I should have told you," said Jennie.
"Told him what?" asked her brother, Bagatelle.
"She's gonna hit puberty soon," responded Max, while turning to his commanding officer.
"Does that mean she'll turn on the full moon now?" asked Pandy, who had been quietly seated at the far side of the table with Janice and Ohiro.
"Not necessarily, my dear girl, but we will need to keep an extremely close eye on her when the moon reaches its full cycle. That much is certain," said Draagh. "Ah, King Krynos, it is so good to see you, old friend."
Krynos entered the main dining hall just as Draagh called out his name, the Primulus having detected his arrival moments before, just as did the rest of the group. The king wore a great smile as usual, and took a seat with his favorite family in the entire kingdom. Sitting in the main dining hall was a rarity for him, but whenever he did so it was usually in the company of Draagh, Max and the rest of their extended family.
"Good evening, my brothers and sisters. I must say I am famished. None would mind if I were to eat my meal in your presence, am I correct?"
Everyone shook their heads, with the archangels nearly laughing out loud.
"This is your kingdom and castle, Lord Krynos. Please, by all means. We have already satisfied the gnawing in our bellies," stated Draagh.
Krynos was presented with a plate of the evening's fare, and while he plowed into the meal Jennie brought him into the subject of their latest conversation.
"King Krynos? I've noticed lately that it appears Liliana is coming of age. What precautions shall we take on the full moon?"
Krynos looked up with a mixed expression of concern and pleasure. He was, of course, concerned when a child came of age. There was nearly nothing worse than having an undetected youth turn on the full moon and run around the castle. Fortunately, it only happened a handful of times, and Krynos and his sentient companions were able to subdue and incarcerate the youth on each occasion. The pleasure in his face was from a thought in the back of his mind. He felt Liliana would be a powerful lycan, and he had great plans for her - assuming the Gunnarssons stayed in the Rhönen Dominion after they had defeated the Vrol, of course.
"Well, my dear girl," he began, "with females it is usually a bit later than with the males, and only happens after they have had their first bleeding, so it may be a while yet. Unless…"
Max winced at Krynos' mention of bleeding. He was still awkward and uncomfortable with many things female, but understood exactly what the king meant. Jennie, on the other hand, quickly reacted with a smirk on her face.
"No, she hasn't had her period yet, but I'm keeping an eye out. Once she does, though, will she be locked away like everyone else. Like Max."
Jennie laughed, knowing Max had yet to pass the final test in order to be able to run free on the full moon. Jennie had most recently graduated to the ranks of the sentient when in death form - something only very few lycans ever did, with her being the first reactivated one ever to do so.
Max snickered and nudged his wife. "Hey, I'm not far behind. Plus, thanks to me you all have this crazy new phase 2.5 you can call on."
"That may not be necessary, Jennie. Each case is unique, and yes, we have your husband to thank for this new, enhanced form in which can wantonly partake," said Krynos.
"And that is precisely why I believe the Grigori have such a perverted and deadly interest in your world. Remember, they were originally pushed out of Jah's good graces when they opposed our experiment with humanity," said Draagh.
"Experiment?" Jessica inquired.
Michael, Gabriel and Draagh looked at each other with knowing expressions, and then appeared to have unconsciously agreed to a response, with Michael saying, "Over billions of years we seeded many worlds with life forms. Some were a success and some ended in tragedy. Even here on Earth we needed to do it a few times. The closer we got to success, the closer these life forms were to us - the Prīmulī. Our end goal was to make a species that would eventually evolve to our state - after millions of years, of course."
"What do you mean, you needed to do it a few times?" asked Jennie.
"You do not actually believe you are descended from apes, do you? I know I have a tendency, when in a foul mood, to refer to humans as monkeys, but in reality, you are much closer to us than them," said Gabriel.
"If Mankind is not descended from apes, then from whom are we descended?" asked Max.
"No one species, really. While there is some light Neanderthal intermixing within Homo Sapiens and your various sub-species, you are all merely that, and have always been - Homo Sapiens. The Neanderthals were the last failure in our attempts to seed life on Earth," continued Michael.
"And what happened to them? The Neander Pals or whatever they're called," asked Pandy.
"They died out on their own. They were highly intelligent and subject to emotional overloads. Such was their sentiment, they could not bear emotional pain, and thus that contributed to their eventual extinction. In fact, those bloodlines that have remnants of Neanderthal DNA tend to be more compassionate than those who do not," added Draagh.
"But what about the Mitochondrial Eve we had been told about ever since that connection was discovered?" Max asked.
"Oh, she was the first Homo Sapiens we developed. Quite spectacular, really, though not much to look at. However, she was a start," said Draagh.
"So Pops, you made an Adam and an Eve, just like in the Judeo-Christian texts?" asked Jennie.
"Well, we made many, and planted them around this continental grouping. One could not seed an entire planet based on the reproductive acrobatics of two simple souls."
"Then our ancestors - our Amerindian ancestors from South America - they did migrate over the Bering ice or land bridge thousands and thousands of years prior to our birth?" Max asked, semi-rhetorically.
"Yes, my boy, the Americas, as you call them, were populated by the result of a natural migration. This exodus from Asia also explains why there were no pure-blooded Amerindians with enhanced genetics. We only started enhancing your species many years after that land link between Asia and North America had long disappeared. Your lycan genetics are a direct gift from your European ancestors. Now that is not to say that your native American ancestors were in any way inferior - quite the contrary. They did amazing things, in ways quite different from your European ancestors. They may have never had lycan or mage genetics, but also never suffered at the hands of vampires. That is, until the Spanish arrived at their shores."
"The Spanish brought vampires to the New World?" Jennie asked.
"Yes, my dear girl. But remember, the enhanced subspecies had long before been deactivated, so by this time they were merely --"
"Assholes," interrupted Max.
"Hmm, yes. Not my precise choice of words, but I believe my grandson is most accurate."
"But when did you make lycans and mages and stuff?" asked Jessica.
"Oh my dear, girl," responded the ancient Primulus, "that occurred when humanity had acquired a sufficient amount of societal sophistication. We waited until agrarian cultures were thriving in many areas of the world. It was then we began to experiment with enhanced genetics. Our first attempts failed, as the lycans tended to kill all normals and then each other, but we first found success not far from here,
in the French plains to the west."
"Just out of curiosity, where was the first failure?" asked Clarisa.
"Mesopotamia," said Gabriel. "They were… how would you say? Bat-shit crazy? Excellent warriors, though. I rather liked them."
"Well, we don't use that term anymore, but yeah - I get the meaning. This is fascinating. I always believed we were descended from apes," said Max.
"I also believed the same things," added Bagatelle. Alicia rolled her eyes, knowing Bagatelle never studied genealogy and was merely trying to stay relevant in the conversation.
"So, organized religion. That all comes from our heads?" asked Max.
"In essence, yes, but we did have a hand in instigating it all," said Draagh.
"Yes. Max, do you remember my brother and me discussing my hammer, as my ghanlo always caused it to return to my hand?" asked Michael.
"Yea! Hey, I do! Was that some sort of religious thing?"
"We have gone by other names in the distant past. One of my names was Thor Odinson."
"No way. Really? Thor, the son of Odin. The god of thunder?"
"Sweetie, I'm pretty sure the surname Odinson means son of Odin," Jennie said sarcastically.
"We have existed before the dawn of time as Mankind sees it. What would at once start as a rumor through accidental detection - say for instance, a villager seeing one of us disappearing or bringing up an infoscreen, would evolve into a base form of worship. So, in order to assist man in his quest to unknowingly evolve, we would take on the guise of what you called gods," said Draagh
"So you were the Norse gods. But what about the Greek gods?" inquired Max.
"Guilty," said Gabriel, raising his hand.
"The Roman gods?"
"True," said Michael.
"But then in Judaism and Christianity, who was God?" asked Jennie.
Draagh smiled and leaned back, apparently liking Jennie's question. "That, my dear girl, was one of the only times Jah communicated with humanity. And trust me, not all were too happy about it."
"Huh? Why not?"
"Jah is so detached, he tends to just come and go. He did, however, have a great interest in a particular group of people. He spoke with a couple of men, sending them on missions, and then stopped all direct contact with Mankind," said Michael.
"Um, who were these guys?" asked Max.
"Avraham and Moshe. I am sure you are familiar with their names," Gabriel responded.
"Um, nope," said Max.
"Abraham and Moses in standard English text," said Michael.
"Right! Yeah, I heard of them. So, anyone after them?" asked Jennie.
Michael smirked and shook his head. "Nope, nada."
"So the popes, the prophets and the televangelists - none of them spoke to Jah?"
"We can't even get a word in with him, and you think some self-styled religious leader human is going to get his number?" Gabriel joked, colloquially referring to a phone number, something that no longer existed in neither the 29th nor the 43rd centuries.
"Okay - the Ten Commandments?" asked Max.
"Jah - definitely Jah," said Gabriel.
"If you get punched in the face, close your eyes and take it again?" asked Jennie.
"I believe what you mean is to turn the other cheek, my dear," mused Draagh.
"So should we turn the other cheek?" asked Janice, which caused the three pure Prīmulī to burst out laughing yet again.
"If anyone ever got close enough to punch me in the face I would run my blade through their skull without hesitation. Turn the other cheek, hmmffff," Gabriel grumbled.
"Why do you look like an old man? Are you trapped in that form, or can you change?" asked Jennie.
"Do you mean like this?" queried Draagh, as he instantly morphed into a likeness of his self, simply decades younger per a normal's biological clock. He was handsome, to say the least, and actually resembled Max in a way. Jennie, Janice, Clarisa, Pandy and Jessica all ooh'd and aah'd at the same time, while Draagh wiggled his browed and then morphed back to his usual appearance.
"Even though we can regenerate our bodies, I enjoy my current look, my dear. As I am the oldest of this group of amazing individuals, I find it enables me to maintain a bit of respect while amongst the company of humans - normals, as well as mages and lycans."
"But… hey, tracking back, I was thinking about something when it comes to enhanced subspecies. What about the Haidas? How are they lycans, when you never experimented with enhanced genetics in the Americas?" asked Max.
"My boy, they were separated from this world and their timeline in the 23rd century. They had long before intermingled with those of European descent. Through subconscious natural breeding, they gravitated towards those of like potential. This resulted in a clan of nearly 100% lycan abilities," said Draagh.
"Um, near 100%? So they're not all lycan?"
"Oh no. They also have two mages within their ranks," Draagh finished with a smile.
Chapter 26 - Good Galactic Hunting
"Max, what we attempt may go awry. I need for you to promise me that you will not leave your family's side if Gabriel and I end up missing. Trust me - we will eventually return."
Michael was being completely serious with his son. He knew what he was about to attempt was dangerous, to say the least. After existing for millennia he knew the perils of his mission, and he wanted his son to stay on track and defeat the Vrol, no matter what.
"Dad, I totally get your meaning, but we need you both in order to win this fight. We have no idea how tough they'll be, and from seeing the videos from Earth they look pretty brutal. Just promise me you'll stay safe and come back quickly."
Michael gave his son a loving gaze, and putting a hand on his should, drew him close for a fatherly hug. "I so promise. Please do not worry. After all, I am with my brother, the most formidable warrior in the galaxy - after me, of course."
Gabriel snorted in feigned disgust, as he pulled his brother away from his nephew. "Oh please, Mija-El. I could kick your ass any given day of the week and you know it."
"No fighting you two! Got it?" demanded Jennie, who had unceremoniously entered the testosterone-laden atmosphere. All three men looked at the gorgeous female and nodded their heads. She may have only been a near-immortal lycan female, but she was a force to be reckoned with and deserved all respect given to her.
"You two really think I'm gonna leave this smokin' hot babe? No way!" exclaimed Max, causing his wife to blush slightly, her copper-hued skin taking on a slightly reddish tone around her cheeks. "You two just be safe, and stay in touch via the comm. We're here for you in any case. And Dad, remember to use what I gave you if you find the Primulus you're looking for."
Neither of the brothers uttered another word. Michael reached into his pocket and extracted a relic of the past - a Gurkha khukuri knife, meant for hand-to-hand combat. It realistically should not have been able to fit in his pocket, being over 40 centimeters in length, but Michael frequently utilized a sub-dimensional pocket space for storing things, especially the object that housed his ghanlo. Pointing it to the ground, the two brothers disappeared from sight.
"Um, that was a pretty wild looking knife. What was it?" asked Jennie.
"No idea, baby. But it looks like it can do some damage."
###
Michael and Gabriel stood on a precipice overlooking the Milky Way Galaxy. It would have been impossible to describe their current vista to any mere mortal, so impressive was the scenery. They could see not only the current galaxy and home to Mankind, but also numerous related sub-galactic systems. Their first target wasn't the one Draagh had earlier mentioned - one of the Magellanic clouds, but a smaller, innocuous-looking cluster of stars called the Draco Dwarf Galaxy. It would be easier to start from there, as it was an older system with only small amounts of interstellar matter. Clarity would be akin to rapidity of their search.
The two quickly slipped from system to star system, using the Hub as a relay, so as to not alert their potentia
l target via detection of a massive 4d slip sphere of influence, required for non-Hub direct travel. After hours of exhaustive searching, they moved on to the Carina Dwarf, and then to the Fornax Dwarf. It wasn't until they had visited seven sub-galactic systems that Michael detected a power signature on a small planet with a breathable atmosphere in the Sextans Dwarf.
"I believe this is the place, Brother," said Gabriel, receiving a knowing nod from his ancient battle companion.
"Let us arrive without detection, then," Michael ordered.
Planet Tharm, Sextans Dwarf Galaxy
The two archangels went through the Hub, and then targeted directly to the location of the power source, maintaining invisibility as they did so. There was a large group of humanoids, roughly analogous to humans, but with bright red skin, four fingers on each hand and tall, slender bodies. Their heads were also oblong shaped, and they all had small, black eyes. Analogous to humans - yes - but not attractive by human standards. All were surrounding a throne made of natural materials and vegetation, the environment being similar to an Earth rainforest. Seated on the throne was a female Primulus.
"Greetings, Anaita. We maintain invisibility so as to not startle your worshipers. May we have a conference?"
Anaita, who was well known to the adherents of Zoroastrianism, could see her brothers, but did not react physically. However, she did respond mentally to Michael, who had greeted her in a kind fashion.
"Hello, Brother. It has been centuries. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"We seek Samyaza and Gadreel. We believe they are attempting to change the fate of Jah's favored children."
The female Primulus nearly grew a contorted expression, but quickly recouped and grew a cruel crease on her thin smile.
"You know I remained neutral in that fight, Brother. Why should I care of the fate of those monkeys? I only concern myself with my own faithful."