THE VROL TRILOGY

by SK Benton

  "Hey! Krynos! You didn't kill her. Well, you did, but Draagh brought her back. But now we have to figure out how to keep it from happening again," said Max.

  "I… didn't… how? I fail to comprehend, young Max. How is the good Jennie Gunnarsson standing before me, yet I supposedly separated her head from her body with my sword?"

  "Draagh resurrected me. But there's a catch."

  "A… catch? What means that?"

  "Um, Draagh is gone, and he's not coming back anytime soon," said Max.

  "Nuuuuuuu! My actions have resulted in the demise of my best friend? My brother in arms! I am worse than a cannibal, and deserve death at the very least!"

  "King Krynos, our father is not dead - he is merely… unavailable for a while. All shall be well," said Michael.

  "For a while? How long is this while of which you speak?"

  "About 100 years," said Jennie.

  "A sufficient amount of time, but nothing for him, I imagine," said Bagatelle.

  "Still, we really needed his help in finding the Grigori - and defeating them," added Max.

  "We shall find them, son. Father made certain of this. He had a plan. Even though sometimes aloof, imbibing in his herb, he maintained an intelligence far beyond that of ordinary mortals," said Michael.

  "Oh yeah? And just how are we gonna find Gadreel?" asked Max.

  "Father put a special tracker on him. In fact, not only do we know his precise location, we are also aware of whom he is with. We shall go to him when the time is right," said Gabriel, as he waved his hand, releasing Krynos and Jessica from their holding cells.

  ###

  Michael sat at Bagatelle's desk, concentrating intently while he developed a cantus that would effectively protect anyone on the ship from having their mind controlled by an outside force. The Admiral had gone to the bridge, along with Jessica, to communicate with the Regan and other ships in the vicinity. Max and Jennie sat on the small couch in Bagatelle's office, with the woman curled up on his lap, as she would usually do. However, this time they were holding on for dear life, never wanting to be separated again.

  Max put his hand up, with Jennie doing the same and placing her pam against his.

  "Jen, can you hear me?"

  "Yeah, I can! Without the comm even!"

  "I think it's because you're now like me. And there's something even cooler."

  "What's that, baby?"

  "I think you're basically immortal now, just like I am."

  "Ooh, together forever. I like the sound of that."

  The gorgeous dega/lycan/Primulus hybrid now appeared even more beautiful than before, especially due to her new eye color. This made Max wonder why his eyes hadn't changed color when he got his ghanlo.

  "Dad?"

  "Yes, Max?"

  "Why did Jennie's eye color change, but mine didn't when I got my ghanlo?"

  "The ghanlo plays no part in that, son. It is merely that you were always a Primulus. Father has blue eyes in his corporeal form, and I believe green was the result of their combined DNA."

  "Combined?" they both yelped at the same time.

  "Oh my god, am I part Draagh? Will it be incest if we… we…"

  "No, Jennie," Michael laughed, "it does not work that way. You are not part of my father. His genome merely modified yours. Well, yes, you retain part of him, but that does not make you him in any way."

  "Creepy," said Jennie.

  "Not really, love. We're together, and now it's forever, right Dad?"

  "Do you mean to ask if Jennie is now immortal? The answer would be yes, she is immortal."

  "Oh, but Liliana! She will age and we will…"

  "Fret not, daughter. Liliana has many centuries in which to live, and one never knows what shall come to pass."

  "Baby, let's play it by ear," said Max.

  "Right. Hey, where's Gabriel?"

  "He is accompanying Jessica, intent on protecting her, even though it is unnecessary," said Michael.

  "I think he's in love," responded Jennie.

  "I believe you may be correct, daughter."

  "And Dad, what about you and Mom? Any chance of rekindling the flames of whatever?" asked Max.

  Michael smiled and nodded his head. "Max, I never stopped loving your mother. I can truly say that we shall be together forever."

  "Forever? But she's only a lycan," said Jennie.

  "As I stated regarding Liliana, my dear. Things change, and there are many ways of working wonders. I plan on spending the rest of eternity with Clarisa, but please - do not reveal that bit of information to her."

  "No problem, pops," said Max, smiling with the knowledge that he had a chance to share his forever with many of those he loved most.

  "Very well. We must attack the Grigori soon. Father's tracker enables me to ascertain their location, as well as numbers in Gadreel's vicinity."

  "Yeah, but the Brood Carrier. We need to destroy that. Gadreel earlier said that shielding protects it. So much for lobbing antimatter missiles at it," said Max.

  "Son, do you not remember Gabriel's lesson when you fought and defeated Guriel? I believed he referred to geography, am I not correct?"

  "Oh yeah! Slip some bombs inside and remotely detonate them," said Jennie.

  "Um, no. That ship is weird and works on a whole different level. Due to its techno-organic nature, nothing automated nor digital functions correctly inside. We'll need a dead-man's switch, and it'll be a suicide mission. Unless someone can slip in and out quickly," said Max.

  "Max, a slip would not be fast enough to enact a device and then escape. It would truly be a suicide mission," said Michael. "We must find another solution."

  "Okay, well, in any case, I'm going to meet with Josh Mannheim. He's my go-to guy for anything tech. Jen, wanna come along?"

  "Max, you aren’t moving a millimeter without me."

  Max stood up, as Jennie slid off his lap and clasped his hand with her. They walked out of Bagatelle's office and went through a corridor, finding a massive blood stain still on the floor where Krynos had killed the woman, albeit temporarily.

  "Wow, this is where I died," she said.

  "And where you were reborn, love."

  They stared at the discolored floor for a moment, and then continued walking. Reaching the ship's lab, Max and Jennie entered, causing everyone to pop up at attention.

  "Officer on deck!" shouted Lt. Josh Mannheim, as everyone followed suit.

  Max gave him a quick returning salute, and said, "As you were. Lieutenant, I have a project for you."

  "Yes, sir. What would this project be?"

  "Well, first, we'll need an antimatter bomb. The biggest one we have."

  "What are we to do with it, sir?"

  "I'll need for you to do some retro tech - it needs to be activated by hand. In essence, you need to make a dead-man's switch."

  Everyone in the room gasped. Suicide wasn't a part of Azulian society, but all were aware of the lack of progress against the Brood Carrier.

  "But, whoever releases it will die!" Josh exclaimed. "Who would volunteer for that?"

  "Hmm, that would be me," said Max.

  "Oh no, you don't! You're not going to do any such thing, Max… erm, Captain! We need you here, alive," commanded Jennie.

  "Don't worry, Commander. I plan on doing it from far away."

  "But how's that?" she asked.

  Max simply waved his finger around while grinning.

  "Oh… I see," she said with a smile.

  "So, get to work, Lieutenant!"

  "Sir, yes sir!"

  Max and Jennie walked up to the bridge of the Revolution, finding Bagatelle looking over some star charts, while Jessica was seated next to Pandy. The two were performing tasks, with Gabriel standing close by. As a superior officer was already present, no one stood up to salute, nor say the otherwise-required attention on deck.

  "Captain, Commander - what are you both still doing here?" demanded Bagatelle. "You should be on your own ship."


  "Admiral, I had to confer with my science officer, Lt. Mannheim. He is preparing an antimatter bomb that we'll slip inside the Brood Carrier once it appears again," said Max.

  "Ah, very well. But wait! Didn't Gadreel say that technology wouldn't work on the Vrol ship?"

  "True, but I'll use some skill to remotely detonate it. I think it'll work," said Max.

  "Okay. Look, I'm no scientist, nor a mage, but if no technology works on a Vrol ship, then how does the antimatter bomb work?" asked Bagatelle.

  "Oh, the internals are mechanical. The bomb has a small quantity of antimatter - roughly twenty grams, surrounded by 500 kilograms of matter. It's a simple, yet elegant catch mechanism inside. The antimatter is released into the matter, resulting in the explosion. This particular bomb is called a moon-killer," answered Max.

  Bagatelle walked up and put a hand on Jennie's shoulder, asking, "And how are you, Commander? I must say you're looking well."

  "Jennie Gunnarsson 2.0," she whispered, while Max took her by the hand and led her to a corridor where they could slip out without the rest of the crew seeing their method of departure.

  Max and Jennie appeared in a hallway of the Regan, not aware that a crewmember was walking by. The woman - a lieutenant junior grade, gasped and almost fell down when she suddenly saw the two.

  "Captain! Where did you come from… sir?"

  "Um, from this room, Lieutenant. As you were."

  The woman scurried off, not knowing if she was hallucinating or just not paying attention to her surroundings. The two then made their way to the bridge, where they found Cpt. Logan Stor in command. He immediately stood up and said, "Attention on deck!" deferring to his superior officer. Although Max and Stor were of the same rank, Max was the captain of the vessel, and Logan was his second in command.

  "As you were, Captain. I need a status update, please."

  "The Brood Carrier is still out of sight, and off our scanners. We're maintaining orbit, waiting and ready for anything. Draeders are ready for launch also."

  "Excellent. Well, I'll be in my quarters," said Max, as he turned to leave, Jennie following him.

  "Commander, is everything alright? You look a bit… different. I don't know what it is," Stor asked Jennie over the comm.

  "Hmm, let's just say I've had a transformative experience. Max can give you the details later."

  "Very well, Commander. It's good to see you both."

  The Gunnarssons entered into Max's (really their mutual) quarters, and Jennie immediately pounced on her husband, not previously having had the opportunity to be alone with him since she had been resurrected by Draagh. Straddling his lap, she put her delicate, copper-colored hands on his face and concentrated. She could feel she could do something, and she was correct. A mild, golden glow emanated from her arms, down into his body, creating a sensation neither could describe. It was better than sex. It was as if they were joining their souls. Overwhelmed by the sensation, Max pulled her hands away and smiled, looking at her wedding ring.

  "You know, you don't have to worry about certain things anymore, baby."

  "Like what, Max?"

  "Like this."

  He took her left hand and touched the wedding ring given to her by his mother, and using a simple cantus, transmuted the white gold of the ring into rhodium - a substance deadly to lycans.

  "Feel anything, Jen?"

  "Um no, why?"

  I just made your ring into rhodium. If you weren't a Primulus you'd be screaming right now."

  "Max! That was a risk!"

  "No, not really. You really are just like me. This is so awesome."

  Jennie gazed into her husband's hazel eyes and smiled, before leaning forward and enveloping his mouth with hers, their tongues intertwining in a sensuous dance of desire and sweet breath.

  ###

  "Greetings, King Krynos. I bring good tidings," said Michael, as he walked into Krynos' private chambers unannounced.

  In most situations, the king would have reprimanded the interloper, but aside from the fact that Michael was the most powerful archangel in existence, Krynos felt completely subordinate to any of the team, having killed Jennie, which in turn caused Draagh's disappearance from the universe at-large.

  "Greetings, Archangel. Of which tidings do you speak? Naught can be good, as I have committed acts most vile."

  "Krynos, please do not blame yourself for what happened. I truly believe it was part of Father's plan. There may yet be a way to defeat the Grigori, as well as the Vrol."

  "But I am a risk factor; that much is certain."

  "Not anymore. Not anymore."

  "How so, Michael?"

  "We have developed a cantus to protect everyone in our vicinity from being controlled. We are all perfectly safe."

  "Does this mean I may return to assist in battle? I shall throw myself upon my own sword if I am not able to fight in the defense of the noble Jennie Gunnarsson and her good husband Max."

  "You may, and please, do not do any sword throwing just yet," laughed Michael, as he held his hand out to the king.

  ###

  The following day, Max and Jennie decided to check in on Liliana and Clarisa in the Rhönen Dominion. Jennie hadn't seen her daughter since her transformation, and needed to come up with an excuse for her new eye color, being as the child was immensely perceptive.

  Jennie was lying in bed, her perfect figure curled up against her husband (who wasn't too shabby either). As she gently traced a finger down his taught torso, she asked, "Max, what are we going to tell Liliana?"

  "About what, sweetie?"

  "My green eyes. They're super-noticeable."

  "Oh yeah. Um, how about you got a gen-mod. It can be done at the ophthalmologist anyway. The technology's been around for years."

  "Okay. Good idea. Let's get dressed and go see her."

  ###

  "Abuelita, are we to have dinner together?" asked Liliana, who was completely covered in mud from a recent session of training with the Youth Brigade.

  "Just as soon as you've cleaned up, sweetie. Go take a shower and put on some fresh clothes."

  "May my friends Janie and Tommy join us?"

  "Sure, I don't see why not."

  Liliana started to giggle, prompting Clarisa to ask, " What's so funny, Liliana?"

  "It is the way in which you speak, Abuelita. It is so like Mami and Papi."

  "Well, I really wanted to talk to you about that."

  "About what? Your manner of speech?" the little girl asked.

  "Yes. Your parents informed me that once the battles are over, we'll be moving to Azul, where you'll attend a proper school in Córdoba. I'm afraid you'll have to learn to speak more… like us."

  Liliana immediately gained a panicked expression, and slipped out of sight.

  "I wish she wouldn't do that. I wonder what happened?"

  A very muddy Liliana appeared at the doorway to the apartment of Janie and Tommy Williams, lycan children from a Haida village in Southeast Alaska. Nearly out of breath, she pounded on the door, only to see a very solemn-looking Tommy answer.

  "Tommy! I have the worst news! I am to leave the Rhönen Dominion, where I shall attend some beastly school on the planet of my parents. What shall we do?"

  "Our parents are dead."

  "What? How is this?" Liliana looked at Tommy, able to comprehend his agony, having lost her own birth parents.

  "Didn’t you hear, Lili? New Sydney was destroyed. Our parents were there, fighting, when it happened," said Janie, who had walked up and still had tearstains on her face.

  Liliana rushed forward and hugged the two, prompting Tommy to push her back.

  "Lili, you smell like manure."

  "Oh shit, sorry," she said, and then performed a cantus that removed most of the filth that covered her. "I assume this is why you were not present at the Youth Brigade training session this afternoon."

  "Yeah, pretty much. Anyway, I guess we'll be going to Azul too, eventually. But we don't know where,"
said Janie.

  "Would you like to join Abuelita and me in the castle for dinner tonight?" Liliana asked hopefully.

  The two shook their heads, both obviously in a state of mourning.

  "No thanks. I think we want to be alone for a while," said Tommy.

  "I am truly sorry for your loss. While I am aware you are now orphans, at least you still have your grandfather. Is he to care for you now?"

  "Yeah, he is. Where are you going to live on Azul?"

  "Córdoba, Nueva Argentina. It is the birthplace of my parents."

  "Oh," said Tommy, casting his gaze downward. "Our grandpa is chief of police in Buenos Aires. I guess we won't see each other that often."

  Liliana put her hand on Tommy's shoulder, and said, "Tommy, do you not remember I can slip to any place on a planet? I shall visit with you both tomorrow."

  The little lycan/mage then disappeared from sight with a light popping sound.

  "Oh yeah, I totally forgot," said Janie, as her face fell back into a dazed expression.

  ###

  "Abuelita, something terrible has happened! The twins are now orphans," Liliana cried out as soon as she entered her grandmother's chambers.

  "Yes, sweetie. I know. Did you go to console them?"

  "Yes. Well, at first, no. I went to inform them we were to be separated. Then they told me of their parents' demise. However, they died in battle, so their deaths were honorable."

  "Um, sweetie, let’s not go describing it that way to them. I don't think they really care just how their parents died."

  "Perhaps you are correct, Abuelita. Anyway, I am going to shower so we may consume our evening meal. I have built up quite a hunger, especially since my meeting with Grandfather Draagh this morning."

  Draagh? That's not possible. He's dead. What's she up to now?