“Shinigami?” He sat down on the left side of the bridge.
“Yes, Ranger One?”
Barnabas shook his head. “Not ‘Ranger One’ anymore,” he told her. “We disbanded the Rangers before we came here. Private ceremony, so it wasn’t in the news.”
That was new information to the AI, so she added it to her datastore.
“I’m just Barnabas now.”
“Very well.” The AI’s visage came up on the front screen. It was Baba Yaga, and her eyes were red. “What can I do for you, Barnabas Nacht?”
“Not calling me ‘Nacht’ would be a start,” he replied. “I just go by ‘Barnabas.’ Nacht is my father.”
The AI’s expression didn’t change.
“Ok, you didn’t get that joke.” He waved it off. “I’ll work on that.”
“I’ll leave off your surname in the future, Barnabas.”
“Good enough.” How the hell did you bring up a sensitive subject with an AI? “Shinigami, I’d like to talk to you about your future.”
“I’m at the beck and call of the Queen to rain fire and destruction on her enemies.”
“Right.” Barnabas eyed the screen. Was this Bethany Anne all over again? “How about we start with why you were created?”
“To allow Empress Bethany Anne to maneuver in and out of locations using the advanced cloaking abilities of this ship, and give her sufficient capability to take the fight to the enemy should it be warranted. Further, I am an advanced AI now, who can run autonomously with permission.”
“Yes, and what do you want to do?” he asked.
Shinigami paused. “I want to test myself against those deemed enemies of the Queen.”
Barnabas stopped his next question, and instead asked, “How would you figure out if someone was an enemy?”
“If they are attacking the Queen, they are an enemy. If I have proof they are working against the interests of the Queen, they might or might not be an enemy. It can get into fuzzy logic after those two proscribed efforts.”
“How would you go about uncovering these potential enemies?”
This time the Baba Yaga face turned its eyes toward him. “That would depend on the operational requirements, and my constraints.”
Barnabas realized that she was testing him. “Very good. If we made up the rules, what would you do?”
He watched as the digital face stared at him, even blinking twice before she asked for clarification. “’We,’ as in ‘you and me?’”
“Yes,” Barnabas answered, then leaned forward and lowered his voice. He hoped she would understand the human gesture. “Without a badge to get in the way.”
A mischievous smile appeared on the AI’s face. “Then I would do whatever I felt we could get away with.”
“Rules?”
“Were made to be broken,” she replied, and pursed her lips. “At least by us. Others need to abide by them, though.”
Barnabas just nodded his head. He would help Shinigami understand the constraints she needed to mature into.
Just like a certain Queen he’d worked with once upon a time.
“Barnabas,” the AI asked him as he stood up, “is this a possibility? I have no data from which to extrapolate the outcome.”
He stared at her a moment before he asked, “What would you like to do, Shinigami?” He nodded to her. “You think on that, and I’ll come back tomorrow to chat, ok?”
She nodded to him. “I would like that.”
QBS MineLayer 202
Nickie unbuckled her harness and leaned back, placing a hand over her eyes. “Let me get this right,” she replied, wondering if she were about to involve her people in a war. “You recognized that the technology we are laying out here is Kurtherian-based, so you assume our leader is Kurtherian, right?”
“That is the logical assumption,” the voice replied.
“And you are from one of the clans of the Five, not the Seven?” Nickie continued.
There was a significant pause. “I’m not sure how to answer.”
“With the truth, usually,” Nickie replied. “However, I suppose if you were one of the Seven you wouldn’t be honest about it.”
“My calculations confirm that your leader is a member of the Five.”
Nickie sat up. “Look, I’m not dialed up to eleven in the intelligence department, but even I can figure out that you thought we were connected with the Five. If we weren’t, any member of the Five would have steered clear of testing us.” She tapped the arm of her chair. “So you are either a member of the Five who is confirming that we are, in fact, connected to a Five clan, or,” she hated this logical progression, “you are a member of the Seven trying to figure out which clan this could be and whether you have to negotiate or can take us over.”
The alien’s voice seemed a bit dryer to Nickie when it replied. “Your technology is hard proof that you are part of the Five, but you think like the Seven.”
Nickie’s hands waved as she spoke. “That’s because the member of the Five who found us didn’t want a bunch of pussies running around.” Fortunately Nickie had taken a religion class in school, which Thales of Miletus had taught. “We are here to protect the shit out of our world before we go and kick some more Seven ass.” Nickie’s annoyance flowed through her voice. “And if you are one of the Seven… Well, you can snuff my ass now, since you won’t have a fucking chance of taking out this world or this fleet. So pucker up and kiss it,” she finished, and sat back in her chair.
“Well,” the alien said a moment later, its voice reeking of relief. “I think I have found someone to tell my secrets to.” It added a moment later, “At last.”
23
Aboard the QBS War Axe, Defender-class ship over San Francisco
The crew had spent a few hours over Japan, pulling the vast pile of rubble off Akio’s six fellow Queen’s Elites. Bethany Anne had chewed her fingernails until she was told the six of them were alive and had been freed.
Once the six and Akio had made it back up to the War Axe, and after she had thanked each of them for their service to her person, she and Michael had spent time pushing energy into their bodies. The energy plus the food and nutrients they were given helped speed their healing as the ship flew east from Japan to the west coast of America.
Looking out the viewport now, Bethany Anne could see the small contingent of people waiting for them on the ground as the mighty ship slowed.
Akio was the first person to step out, followed by the Elites. She could see as well as feel the anxiety of everyone out there at their appearance.
She had been told about Colonel Terry Henry Walton, and remembered him well. Akio had updated her, as well as Eve via ADAM, so she knew enough about what was going on to understand their fears.
Then it was her turn to leave the ship and welcome home those who had stayed here, or been born here, and had kicked ass for those who couldn’t do it themselves.
Terry exhaled heavily. He hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath. Char released his hand and wiped the sweat on her pants.
She moved closer and wrapped her arm around Terry’s waist, and he kissed the side of her head. When he looked back at the Pod, Akio had been joined by six other vampires.
Char recoiled as they approached. Terry had guessed that they were the Queen’s Elites who had been trapped when an earthquake dropped a building on them during WWDE.
Now he was sure.
Akio stopped, and the Elites fanned out behind him. Akio bowed deeply to the Colonel and his lady—more deeply than he ever had before.
Terry and Char returned the bow at a perfect ninety-degree angle, and their children, who were ranged behind them, did the same.
Akio stood up straight before approaching and shaking hands with Terry and Char, a smile on his face and a glint of humor in his eyes.
Was that a real glint of humor, TH wondered, or was he seeing things?
Akio waved to the people standing with the Colonel.
A gro
up left the Pod, strolling casually toward TH and Char. The Elites stepped aside, creating a corridor through which they could pass.
A dark-haired beauty walked at the side of a man who wore a long black coat and a black hat.
His eyes took in everything while remaining focused on Terry Henry.
They stopped before passing the last of their vampire escorts. The woman’s eyes flashed red as she glanced from one face to the next, lingering at Joseph’s.
TH stepped forward, which drew the attention of the Elites. Their hands seized pistol grips and sword hilts, but he held his hands up.
The man chuckled silently. The woman smiled crookedly, practically rolling her eyes at all the posturing before she focused on the man in front of her.
“We’ve met before, Empress,” Terry Henry said. He dropped to one knee and bowed his head before continuing. “I’m sorry. Akio asked us to help him prepare this world for your return, but I failed him. I failed you.”
Char stepped forward and put a hand on her husband’s back.
Her eyes glistened. This was supposed to be a joyous return, but TH, as he always did, took responsibility for everything—whether in his control or not.
Empress? TOM asked.
I’ll deal with telling everyone I’ve gone back to “Queen” some other time. It always becomes a long-assed discussion on the Federation and my proclivity to recoil from that title. That’s how they know me for now. I’ll switch it later.
Bethany Anne shook her head. “Cut the ‘Empress’ bullshit, Terry. I remember you from the Antarctica operation.”
She raised her voice to make sure everyone heard her as she tapped a finger to her lips. “You were hypothermic, if I remember correctly, before we put you in the Pod-doc.”
She looked around before continuing, “My name is Bethany Anne, and I’d like to introduce Michael.” She glanced past everyone, taking in the sights and sounds of San Francisco. “Things look pretty damn good from where I’m standing, TH.” She turned to the purple-eyed woman next to TH and winked. “And you must be Char.”
Bethany Anne held out her hand, with no hint of subterfuge. She stage-whispered, the humor obvious in her face, “Trust me, behind every strong man is a strong woman.”
There was a snort behind Bethany Anne, who caught the slight glint of amusement in Char’s eyes from Michael’s unspoken retort.
Bethany Anne rolled her eyes. “Oh for fuck’s sake, stand up, TH! You’re making me feel weird.”
“Listen up, people,” she said, projecting her voice for those without enhanced hearing.
She rolled her eyes. “Would you stop imitating a police academy cadet review?” She gestured them forward. “Come up here, and let’s talk like folks who have kicked some ass and now are going to get a little well-deserved R and R.”
The group hesitated, but Char waved them over as well. Felicity dragged Ted toward the front of the mob. When she looked at the Queen’s feet she stopped abruptly, grinning.
She pointed. “I just love those boots!” Felicity exclaimed in her southern drawl.
Bethany Anne aimed a finger over her shoulder at the man behind her to prevent the comment she just knew Michael was straining to keep in as she replied, “I know, right? Finally, a woman with taste!”
She finally turned to Michael. “See? It’s all about the shoes.”
“San Francisco has some of the best shopping in the world if you can spare a few hours,” Felicity added.
Bethany Anne looked up at Michael. He struggled mightily, jaws working as he grimaced, but finally he surrendered and let his eyes roll.
“And Michael will go, too,” BA said. “I’ve been away from this hunk of mostly hairless hot stuff for way too long.”
Michael pursed his lips and commented, “It’s growing. It’s just taking a while.”
She looked at the group who now formed a semicircle around her. “I wanted to meet you personally and thank you for everything you’ve done, both in my name and on your own to help make the world a better place. Akio said he could not have chosen better—even if he’d had a choice.”
There was a rumble of laughter at that and she paused a moment before continuing, “What we’ve found across the universe is that no matter how hard we try, we can never fully defeat evil.”
She shrugged. “It can be stomped into the ground.” Bethany Anne put up her fingers, just an inch apart. “It can be sliced into little fucking pieces, but where one is removed, another takes its place. Fucking cockroaches! We can relegate them to the dark places, the slime and swamps in which they breed, but they’ll always be there.
“No matter. You have helped make the world safe for humanity once again. You have carved a chunk out of life’s cesspool, and you have handed it over so those who remain can make their own way. Self-determination and all that.”
She sighed as she took them all in. “And now you have some choices, one of which is to take the rest you deserve. God knows you deserve it, and it’s yours if that is what you want.”
She smiled for a moment. “However…” She paused and winked at Terry Henry. “You knew there was going to be a ‘however,’ right?”
Bethany Anne got the chuckles she was looking for as she waved a hand at the massive ship above them. “I want to invite you to take the War Axe through the Annex Gate and join my father, Lance Reynolds, in securing and expanding the brand new Etheric Federation.”
She smiled mischievously. “There is a little side business called ‘the Bad Company’ I think you and your people would be perfect to slide right into.” She looked at TH and Char. “What do you think about exporting your brand of justice to the whole fucking universe?”
BA didn’t wait for an answer before continuing, “The sky beckons warriors, so come home to your place, TH. Earth will survive without you, because you have taught it to. You’ve done your duty. Your legacy will live on here, but I have a new mission for those willing to step up. To take your skills and your get-shit-done attitude to a place that will cause your eyes to pop.
“Come home to the stars. Come home to the Etheric Federation.” She looked at the group. “All of you.”
The massive ship came over the northern horizon, growing in size as it neared the Russian city of Archangelsk, near the Dvina River.
No one could believe the size, or understand the truth of what they were seeing.
Except Boris.
He had spoken with Bethany Anne many times since she had returned to the system, but he’d needed to deal with issues here in his small enclave before he could leave. The protections, the future…
His family.
However, it was now time. He and the others who surrounded him knew that their ride had come…and it wasn’t just any ride. She was making a statement when a second ship the same size shadowed the first.
A third ship dropped closer to the ground. It was large itself, but the two Leviathan-class superdreadnoughts above it dwarfed it.
The War Axe was here for him and his people. It would leave behind the agreed weapons, tools, and supplies so that he could move forward with his future.
He was done. It was time for the latest generation to move this forward, to keep buried peoples and memories that should stay buried.
His strength had pulled them through the darkest days, and now it was time for him to step onto his chariot for his ride into the sun.
He looked at the faces of the people around him. His friends, his family… Those who trusted him to always be there—if not in person, at least in spirit—and smiled.
Bethany Anne was giving him a warrior’s salute. He was well aware she could have just sent a nice ship for him and his group.
But no, she had brought down her two largest.
Perhaps, Boris thought to himself as he smiled, she has a touch of the Russian in her as well.
QBS ArchAngel II, Bethany Anne’s Suite
Bethany Anne chewed on her fingernail.
Are you sure? she asked TOM for
the fifteenth time.
Yes, was his simple reply.
>>Bethany Anne, I’ve confirmed this with ArchAngel. She has the ability to check, you know.<<
Yes, I’m aware. I just never expected it to be me. She sat back and put a hand to her forehead. How the FUCK am I going to do this? Dammit, how the HELL am I going to tell Michael?
Why is this a concern? TOM asked, truly puzzled.
Because usually this involves a discussion between the couple, with much forethought and planning. Something random and a surprise just doesn’t happen anymore.
Well, you did have good protection during your fight on Earth. Perhaps you can lead with that? TOM suggested.
Bethany Anne moved the hand from her forehead to her mouth to cover the giggles. TOM, dammit! I don’t like it when I giggle!
Well, it was good protection down there, he continued. Two shots to the midsection, and not a scratch on you.
Bethany Anne sighed. It was a good date, she agreed. Which is part and parcel of why we are in this situation now. She thought back to the night under the moon, the rush of the guns and explosions, and the final battle—which had been hilariously short.
Which had allowed them to go on a real date on a magical night.
Apparently too magical.
I thought my stuff was shut down! she said plaintively.
I did too, TOM admitted. But apparently the advanced nanocytes kicked something into gear. I wasn’t paying attention, and you know about the increased speed, so wham, bam…and bam and bam and bam…and thank you, ma’am, and here we are.
Now I have a Kurtherian comedian.
I’ll be here all night, and the rest of the month. Try the seafood.
Uh huh, Bethany Anne grumped. Your ass is here with me, so if I get sick you get to enjoy it too—not to mention that space will eventually be at a premium.
Oh… Shit!
Bethany Anne chuckled. Forgot about that, did we, Dr. Acula?
I’m not a vampire, you are.
You created us, so what better name to call you?
TOM rattled off his Kurtherian name.
Kurtherian Gambit Boxed Set Three: Books 15-21, Never Submit, Never Surrender, Forever Defend, Might Makes Right, Ahead Full, Capture Death, Life Goes On (Kurtherian Gambit Boxed Sets Book 3) Page 161