"What will we be doing in here, Doctor?" Bees asked softly.
"You will be changing history, my dear. And I promise you will love it!" You only had to look into Doctor Dimension's face to see that he was inspired, thrilled, excited and totally confident.
Δ
Honeyhair returned, Blondie returned, Mary returned. Only Kwan was missing to complete our happiness. He was still with the AC information folks, and still on Vulcan with occupation forces. He had done a star tracer to Ice telling her he had no idea when he could return.
Δ
Honeyhair and I lay on the floor by the bed, naked, sweaty and exhausted, tangled in a wet sheet, clothing scattered around the room, an airchair overturned. My right eye ached; Honeyhair had whacked me there with either a knee or the ball of a foot, we never quite figured it out.
"Are you all right, dear?" she asked.
"It's all right, I've got another one."
"So does this mean you missed me?"
"Nah. I did miss the sex, though."
"You thought about me every day. Didn't you?"
"I thought about you every moment I was awake, Honey. And at night I dreamed about you." It was only the truth.
"Are you going to tell everybody about how you got your black eye?"
"You betcha."
"Don't you dare! Or evil things will happen to you. Anyway it's not black yet. It looks fine."
I looked into her bewitching green eyes. Good Lord, Deadman, save me from a tsunami of love. I was drowning in love, drunk in love. She was everything to me, she was my raison d'être, she was the reason I was alive, she was my life's objective, to make her happy, that and nothing else. How do they do it? She must be a witch, a sorceress, a great enchantress, to take my soul like that. But I didn't mind. What if I had never met her? What if I had never known love? How many millions of people never know love, real love, love to steal away your heart and flood your soul and cast you into Nirvana with a blessed angel whose love is unconditional?
"What did you do on Vulcan after I left?" I asked her.
"I saved lives and comforted the dying. I cried a lot, kept working, and prayed for genocide. I prayed that the entire Dark and Demon races would be struck down by some cosmic catastrophe. And if that didn’t happen, I prayed that the Legion would do it. At night I had nightmares about dead Legion soldiers. But sometime I dreamed about endless burning fields of dead Darks and Demons, with vultures floating overhead. And that made me happy."
"How about Commune troopers?"
"I didn’t think much about them. They're just slaves. People without free will. Brainwashed slugs. We even treated some of them. Scared young soldiers."
Δ
We celebrated. It was like we were celebrating the present, because the present was so miraculous, in view of the past. While we were gone, Fred had set up a dox shop on the very top of Delta Research, by the emergency medipad. It was quite a view; we could look down into the open-air rec park inside Delta and out to see all of Quaba City. That's where we did our party to celebrate the living and the dead one soft night, on top of Delta Research. It was mild weather for Quaba, a bit cool but the skies were clear and we could see the stars. It was hushed and the view of the city, all lit up in white lights, took my breath away. The starport on the horizon glowed like a nova. Fred had set up some little white lights to add to the atmosphere for our party. They twinkled like stars. Some ancient haunting clan music was thumping away like a great heart, a direct line to our prehistoric ancestors, to activate our extremist genes, a chilling whisper from the past. I was hand in hand with Honeyhair and did not want to ever leave her again.
"Prophet." It was Arie, standing there with Blondie hanging onto one arm.
"Yes, Arie."
"Did you ever really think we'd get back here?"
"No, I didn't, Arie. I thought we'd all be killed."
"Well, you were killed, weren't you?"
"Yeah. And you, too."
"And here we are."
"You can thank that lady over there," I said.
And there was Bees with Scout, by themselves at a table. Ice was off to the side with Christine, sneaking satisfied glances at Bees. Scout seemed very serious, telling Bees something. He was actually poking his index finger to Bees, as if lecturing her sternly. Bees was gazing at him dreamily, almost as if she was hypnotized, totally relaxed, a very very faint smile. I could tell she wasn't listening; she didn’t hear a word he said. She was too busy worshipping him, bathing in the sheer glory of just being there in his presence. Stunned and amazed, thanking God for all He had done to bring about this calm, heavenly scene.
The Prof surveyed his realm from his own table, nodding to everyone like a kindly elder brother. We worshipped him like a god. His daughter, Carol, was a lovely tall honey, a student at the University of the Confederacy who was majoring in genetics and artificial intelligence. The Prof had personally led the task force that rescued her from a gang of subhuman slavers, and I had participated. Now Carol was wandering around accompanied by most every young trooper in Delta's security element. She looked real happy. So did the troopers.
I knew all would be well with Delta Research as long as the Prof continued to lead it. It was a good feeling, having a leader like that.
I spotted Saka and Lan Hwa by the railing, looking into the night. They weren't drinking. Saka didn't drink, and neither did Lan Hwa. Assidics were straight, serious people. It didn't matter if they were ConFree nationals or AC nationals, they acted the same way. Honor your father and mother, honor wife and family. Honor your ancestors. Honor your heritage. And do the right thing. No, they weren't looking into the night, I saw. They were looking into each other's eyes. Embracing. Whispering secrets. Face to face. Touching. Kissing. Kisses to last forever. They were acting like a couple of teenagers, blinded by a first love. But I knew this love would be eternal.
"Smiley told me he was killed," Christine said to me. She was standing there with a happy, dazed Smiley, who was sipping some powerful adult beverage. "It took me a long time before I could fully grasp that. He said it was the Brights that saved him. Brought him back from the dead. He says you know all about the Brights." She was a lovely Outworlder girl, pale flesh, long flowing chestnut brown hair.
"I've met a lot of Brights," I replied, "but I'm no expert."
"I've never met a Bright," Christine said. "But they must be wonderful people. Why did they save him? He wasn't one of them. Why did they do it?"
I thought about that a bit. "The Brights are indeed a wonderful people," I replied. "They are capable of great ferocity, and great love. If they classify you as a friendly, they'll stand by your side forever, and never abandon you. If you die, they’ll bring you back to life, if they can. That's what they did with Smiley. He was by their side, fighting a common enemy, risking his life for them. They did the right thing. Isn’t that right, Smiley?"
"Well, I think it was the right thing. And so does Christine." He gave me a lopsided smile.
"We owe them everything," Christine said gravely. "Everything!"
It certainly was true, I thought. Five of us had been killed on the battlefield and brought back to life by the B's miraculous science: Ice, Saka, me, Arie, and Smiley. And three of us had been very seriously wounded, and stabilized and brought back to health by the B's: Bees, Doggie and Scout. We all now had the DX gene and the Prof also had it, when the B's voluntarily passed it to him. Nine of us, with DX brains and all it entailed. What could we accomplish, once we got it all under control and learned our true capabilities?
"Stand by for the future," Ice said. "It’s so wonderful to see you here, Prophet. You and Nitro." She gently laid her hands on my shoulders, neck, face. Looking into my eyes. "Nitro. Come here," she said. Arie moved closer. She did the same with him, her fingers lingering over his head. I knew Honeyhair and Blondie would not be jealous. Our return was a miracle, and they both knew the bonds between individual Delta members were so close by now it was almost like al
l of Delta Research was one person.
"I am growing stronger," Ice said. "I can feel things that I never felt before. I can hear things too, voices from the past, from the future. I don’t know. But we'll sort that out, won't we? I never told you two about my vision, did I?"
"I asked about it," Arie said. "But you just turned away."
"I saw you both killed – you and Prophet. I saw every detail, it was horrible. I made the Prof promise not to put it into the record. I was in despair. And then, when you took off like that in combat, Prophet, I almost went hysterical because I knew what was coming. And then you charged in there too, Nitro, and I knew it, and it happened just as I had dreamt it – every…last…awful…detail."
"We're back, Ice," I said. "That's all that counts. Bees brought us back to life, and here we are."
"Bees says it was not her," Ice replied. "It was God. And I believe her. I never used to believe in God. But I do now. I've seen too many miracles to not believe in God."
"Is everybody happy?" Bird asked, drink in hand. He was standing by his lovely blonde bride Mary, whom he had first met when she was nursing him back to health after he was wounded on Veda.
"Well, you look happy," I replied.
"I'm not happy," Bird replied. "I'm ecstatic! I survived Vulcan, cheating death every moment of every day and night. I came back here like I was in a dream, like it was Vulcan that was real, and returning to sanity was an impossible, deceptive dream. And then Mary was there, at the starport, throwing herself at me, and we merged, and I could feel her heartbeat and taste her tears. Man! It was only then that I realized it was real. Sorry." He was blinking his eyes rapidly and he turned his face away.
"It was a miracle," Mary confirmed softly, clinging to Bird tightly. "A miracle."
Blackie charged up to us and barked. It looked like he was barking at Arie. He scratched at him with one paw, then turned around, trotted away, looked back, returned and barked again, then turned away again, looking back. Arie and Blondie followed. So did Honeyhair and I. Blackie led us to the Prof's table. Doctor Dimension was there, and Doctor Dorak, and Paula Deep. Dorak and Deep were sitting very close together. Then I saw they were holding hands. Lord, what next? Doggie was seated by the Prof.
"Sit down, folks," Doggie said. "The Prof recently got to review some helmetcam combat footage from Vulcan." Blackie licked Doggie on the face. "Yeah, we love you too, Blackie. I thought you should hear this, Nitro. The footage was taken from Saka's tacmod, when Delta was advancing to reinforce you two fools." He glanced at me. "Saka never noticed the last part before 'cause it was a ways off and wreathed in smoke but it was clear when the Prof later examined it in slo-mo. It showed Blackie taking off after you, Nitro, when you went after Prophet. Saka saw that and reported it. Then Delta attacked. And if you examine the record – which I don't recommend because it's too damn’ painful – it shows Nitro going down in a lightning burst, and Blackie charging past him, then launching himself right at the Dark who was shooting at Nitro. He hit him right in the helmet and knocked him clear off his feet. Then Blackie charged another Dark, a little ways off. The second Dark was so startled he let off a wild burst of lightning that missed Blackie but did enough damage to shock him unconscious. That’s where Delta found Blackie later, scorched and out. Blackie's charge evidently prompted the Darks to retreat. I just wanted to let you two clowns know what Blackie did for you."
Blackie gazed at us silently, panting softly. Arie and I both laid our hands on him and I thought I could sense his soul, calm and hot and full of love. Real love, the kind where you die for the one you love, me offering my life for Delta, Arie offering his life for me, Blackie offering his life for Nitro and then all of Delta, advancing, offering their lives for all three of us. And I guess that's what we were celebrating that evening – love.
"Boys and girls, attention please. Your attention, please." The Prof was on his feet, raising a glass. "I propose a toast. Please charge your glasses and raise them on high. To the memory of a gallant warrior, Martial Breakblade of God's White Knights, late of Task Force Glory, Battle Group Morning Star. Our fearless ally met his death in battle against the forces of Satan. He is now in God's Army, with the archangel Michael, fighting Heaven's wars. Martial Breakblade!"
"MARTIAL BREAKBLADE!" The building echoed with our response.
"One more toast," the Prof said, raising his glass again. "Delta Research."
"DELTA RESEARCH!" Bottoms up to that!
Δ
A couple days later we noticed that the Prof had mounted a little metal plaque on the wall of the main entry hall to Delta Research. It had the Delta research seal, and the words:
"We must be the only outfit in the world with a record like that," I said, admiring the plaque. We were all gathered around it.
"We're a very special bunch," Scout said.
"Very special," Doggie said.
"So what does the future hold, Prophet?" Arie asked.
"Ask Bees or Ice, they're better than I am," I said.
"Well what about it, Ice?" Arie asked.
"It's going to be wonderful," Ice said. "It's going to be spectacular. It’s going to be awesome."
"It will be all that," Bees added, "and more. We're going to see the future, and raise the dead. We're going to speak the truth, and enrage the galaxy. Everyone is going to turn against us. They'll hate us. Because the one unforgivable sin is to speak the truth."
"But isn't that Galactic Information's motto?" I asked. "Know the Truth?"
"Yes," Bees replied. "You can know it, but don't speak it. But what good is the truth if you keep it a secret? We're headed for serious trouble. I can feel it already."
"When is the Prof going to let Doc Dimension start our classes?" Smiley asked.
"Not yet. It's more security crap – a lot of it. We've got to wait until they sort it out," Bees said.
"But Doc D gave you a test run, didn’t he?" Smiley persisted.
"I can't say a word. Except like Ice said – it’s spectacular. We're going to see the future. We're going to be the future. We're going to make the future. All right, I'm shutting down. No more."
"Just one thing, gang," I said. "Just one thing. No matter what happens, no matter how bad it gets, Delta Research is one person. Just one. And that person is all of us, united. Indivisible. One for all, and all for one. Are we agreed?"
"Damned straight," Doggie said. "Damned straight!"
All of us, I thought, marching on together still – against all odds. How many of us have been killed? All of us. I experienced every death personally, not just my own. We're one person, one soldier, arising from death on the battlefield, immortals, shedding shattered armor and marching on, bleeding freely from fatal wounds, firing lightning bolts at Satan. And nobody can stop us. We're too strong, and we're in the hands of God. What is this mad march, this mad crusade? What should we call it? The Blood March, I thought. It's the Blood March.
That night I prayed to God. I thanked him for our great victory. And I prayed for peace. I knew the cross of the Legion was carved right into my heart and I was also a knight of Bright Haven, pledged to defend the faith and protect the innocent and fight the evil. Yes, I'd do all that. But I prayed for peace anyway.
THE END
Glossary
Principal Worlds
Name
Sector
Aligned
Alana
Crista
ConFree
Alphard/Oasis
Inners
UMC
Alshana
Gassies
Gassies C
Andrion 2
Outvac
ConFree
Andrion 3
Outvac
ConFree
Angaroth
Gulf
Pegal Stelcom
Aran
Crista
ConFree
Ardoth
Inners
Ind
Asumara
Gulf
Asumara HC
Augusta
Outvac
ConFree
Auraga
Crista
ConFree
Berichros
Inners
Dark Cloud A
Calgoran 2
Inners
PPDD
Camelora 7
Outvac
ConFree
Capella
Crista
ConFree
Coldmark
Gassies
PherdanFed
Cyrilia
Inners
Ind
Dajusdevon 5
Inners
AC
Dardos
Inners
Ind
Dindabai
Outvac
ConFree
Drusweaven
Gassies
Ind
Eiros 4
Inners
HyadFed
Elidos
Inners
HyadFed
Eugarat
Crista
ConFree
Galgos
Gassies
Gassies C
Galinta
Gulf
Ind
Guarados
Crista
ConFree
Hell
Crista
ConFree
Kalalan
Nulls
N/A
Kratar
MidHaven
Demons
Katag 2
Gassies
HyadFed
Korkush
Crista
ConFree
Prophet and the Blood March (Prophet of ConFree) Page 46