THE VROL TRILOGY (155 page)

"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
29
^th
nor the
43
^rd
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 23
^rd
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
potential 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."

"I count my son as one of them. Take care in
your manner of addressing our distant cousins."

"Yes, I heard you procreated. Samyaza
believes him to be an abomination. Why should I choose to assist
you in your efforts to find the Grigori?"

"Because if you do not, we fear their plans
have only begun. Jah has left our plane and we can only rely on
each other. Now is the time to make alliances. I ask you to choose
wisely, and come to the side of universal justice, not the side of
immortal fear and loathing."

"I should require more information. Please
allow me to take leave of my subjects. Meet me in the Hub, at my
domicile."

Michael and Gabriel quickly transferred to
the Hub, and were soon standing in the entrance to Anaita's
quarters. A Primulus could make their home appear any way they
liked in the Hub. Draagh's looked like a room in an ancient,
medieval castle. Max's looked like an apartment on Azul. Michael's
resembled a hippy commune from Earth's 1960s. No one knew what
Gabriel's looked like, except for Jessica, of course.

Anaita's home looked like the inside of a
massive Babylonian temple, complete with gardens and fountains of
flowing water.

The immortal female appeared in front of her
brothers, having changed out of the ceremonial garb she wore in
front of her subjects. She now wore a simple white tunic,
reminiscent of the women of Rome at the height of its empire.

"To what do I owe the pleasure, aside from
your demand of an alliance, dear brothers?" she asked.

Gabriel took a step forward and
uncharacteristically bowed to his younger sister (yes, she was
younger than the two), and took her hand, kissing the back of it
before standing back up.

"Sister, you know I have sided more with you
than with our brother when it comes to the humans. So in this
light, I ask that you hear us out. I have recently spent time - a
substantial amount - with them, and I find them worth saving. If
not for them, then for Jah, who we truly believe will return one
day."

Anaita paused for a moment, and then motioned
for the two to follow her to a large room that had numerous statues
(of her) and comfortable couches. Sitting down, she waved her hand,
causing drinks to appear for them, and then asked, "Please tell me
why you believe they are worth sparing."

As time does not exist in the Hub, one could
only imagine whether they spoke for an hour or a year, but Michael
and Gabriel both detailed Mankind's history to her, starting from
when she had left the Milky Way for the last time.

Anaita admitted she had spoken with the
Grigori in the recent past, and discovered that they had
misinformed her regarding the state of humanity. She was told that
not only had men discovered faster-than-light travel, but they were
close to unlocking the secrets of the Hub. Further, they were
tinkering with their own genetic code in an attempt to make
themselves like the Prīmulī.

"So then, it was all a lie," she mused.

The brothers nodded their heads in unison,
affirming her newfound realization.