THE VROL TRILOGY (165 page)

"Wow, cool idea, Tío," said Max.

"Awesome! That really is a great idea.
Gabriel, can you guys do that to my junior high school pictures
from my awkward years too? I looked like a stork."

Max gazed lovingly at his wife, unable to
formulate an image in his mind of her looking like a stork. To him,
she was the pinnacle of perfection, unequaled in the entire known
universe. She was his life's breath.

###

An hour later, after Max had relaxed and
thought over the day's events, he made a call for assistance.

"Can you help in detecting the Grigori? No
one seems to be able to find them," Max asked the Prīmulī's
sentient computer, Socrates.

"Master Max, I will do my utmost to assist,
but I will need certain parameters in which to operate."

Socrates floated in the air in Max and
Jennie's quarters, golden particles wafting as he moved around.
Jennie was passed out on the bed, wearing only her panties, which
didn't bother Socrates in the least - he was a sentient computer,
not a man with sexual desires.

"I think we'll have to talk with Draagh,
then. He can give you the details. Why don't we leave Jennie here
and meet with him in the Hub?"

"Query: why not meet with Lord Draagh, here,
young Max?"

"Duh! Jen's almost naked."

"Oh, I did not notice."

Max thought he noticed a smirk on Socrates'
glowing, particle-formed face.

"Oh wait, he's here in the castle. We can
meet in his quarters," said Max, after he had detected his
grandfather's presence.

"
Pops, can
Socrates and I go to your room? We have some
questions
."

"
Certainly, my
boy. I shall await you."

Max walked to Draagh's room, and was about to
knock, when the door opened on its own. "Come in, please."

"My Lord, you are looking well," said the
sentient assistant.

Draagh smiled and nodded his head, but he
wasn't well. He had been fighting off an infection, caused by a
magical attack nearly a year before. He had used everything in his
arsenal to heal the gash across his chest, which was inflicted by
his brother Marnn, during their fight in the Battle of the Blood.
No one knew of his injuries, as he kept them well-hidden from
sight, and even used a camouflage cantus to conceal the gash when
at the river or beach with his family.

"Many thanks, old friend. Now, how may I be
of assistance?"

"Pops, I was wondering if there was a way we
could have Socrates help us to locate the Grigori."

Draagh paused for a moment, before saying,
"Hmm, you know, there may be some tasks we can assign him."

"Query: what might these tasks be, my
Lord?"

Draagh conjured an infoscreen and
started entering data that went directly to Socrates. As he did,
the
face
started to rotate
clockwise, an obvious indicator that it was receiving
data.

"Socrates, I have entered all parameters for
detecting any Primulus within a parsec. You will be required to go
to all locations I have entered into your system. This should take
you roughly one year."

"One year?" Max cried out. "We have days at
best! Isn't there anything else we can do?"

"Max, my boy, the universe is an extremely
large place, even for one who can traverse the galaxies via the
Hub. I gave Socrates a list of locations where the Grigori have
been known to inhabit."

Max sighed, "Okay. Socrates, you have your
marching orders."

The glowing face appeared to almost smile,
and was about to depart when they heard a knock at the door.
Neither Max nor Draagh could smell any presence, as the door opened
and a figure walked in, the door closing behind it. Draagh thrust
out his arm, and his staff flew to his grip. Max noticed his
grandfather's actions and pulled his katana out of his
sub-dimensional pocket, ready for anything.

"Danger, my Lord. Query: Shall I summon
Michael and Gabriel?"

"Hold fast, Socrates," the ancient Primulus
ordered. Your services may not be needed after all."

"Screw that!" Max screamed, as he started
slashing away at the man in the room, his katana having no effect
and merely slicing through thin air.

"Max, your efforts will avail you no real
results. What we are looking at is an astral projection," said
Draagh. The Primulus relaxed his arm that held his staff and took a
long, sighing breath.

"Hello, Gadreel, what brings you here?"

Chapter 33 - Resistance

Side Space, location unknown

Len Johnson had managed to get control over
his visual cortex, and was looking in vain for some way to disturb
the Vrol operation - specifically, to control the Brood Carrier. He
found that he was so intertwined in their hive mind that he nearly
had access to critical functions on the vessel. The one distinct
advantage he had over the Vrol was that he had retained his
individuality, and thus could not be controlled - to a certain
extent. He was still immobile, but his mind reached in, deeper and
deeper into the ship's intelligence.

If I can gain control over
this ship, I may be able to stop the attacks, at least long enough
for a rescue,
he thought, believing himself to still
be considered the leader of Azul System. He had no idea he was
considered a traitor, and would most probably suffer the death
penalty when caught.

Ryder, my boy, I know you are out there
searching for me. I was foolish to strike out on my own. I only
hope you have traced my whereabouts and can come to my aid.

His mind clicked through various systems and
subsystems. The first one he was able to control was the waste
disposal matrix. He caused it to backflush, pushing millions of
tons of putrid insect waste back into the ship's myriad of
corridors. Vrol systems immediately recouped and started to suck
back the disgusting waste Johnson had spilled out into the
ship.

I'll have to be faster than that, but at
least I can do something.

He continued to probe the hive mind, taking
care not to get caught. His goal was the navigational command
center, where he hoped to disable the side space hook the Vrol had
coopted from his tiny ship.

###

"Whaaaat? That's Gadreel? One of the Grigori?
What the hell does he want? To gloat?" bellowed Max.

"Now, now, my boy. Let us give Gadreel a
chance to answer," said Draagh

"Uncle, it has been many millennia since we
last spoke, and I come in this form only as a precaution."

"And for good reason too, ass-hat. Otherwise
I'd slice you to shreds," said Max, while carrying an ominous tone
to his voice.

"And I doubt you not, young Max. Might I say,
I have been watching you with great interest, and I have come to
have a great deal of respect for you, unlike my brother,
Samyaza."

"And how is Samyaza, might I ask?" queried
Draagh.

"Angry - still. He has never forgiven the
elders for our banishment."

"You have none to blame but yourselves,
youngling."

"Youngling? How old is he, exactly," asked
Max.

"Oh, around a billion years old, in Earth
chronology," responded Draagh.

"A spring chicken, huh? Okay, so tell me,
dude, who sent golden boy to my ship? You know, the one I made
explode like a cockroach in a microwave?"

"Samyaza sent him. Max, your actions were
ingenious, I must say. However, you have also incurred the wrath of
my brother and his underlings."

"Oh, I'm so scared right now. See? I'm
shaking like a leaf," said Max, sarcasm weighing heavily n his
voice.

"Max, Draagh, I come in peace. I believe I
have had what one would call a change of heart. What my brother and
his minions attempt is not right, and I wish to assist you in the
salvation of Mankind."

"Why is that, Gadreel? Why now, after you
have done so much damage already?" asked Draagh.

"I was always told that The Hybrid was our
destruction - the Mankind resembled us too closely. They were to
pave the way for the decimation of all Prīmulī, but I no longer
believe that to be true. You were right all along, Uncle."

"Well," said Draagh, "I know that much. But
let me ask you this - how can you prove your worth to us? How are
we to know that you are sincere in your claims, and are not
attempting a ruse?"

The two, plus Socrates, heard a knock at
Draagh's door. The ancient one waved his hand, allowing the door to
open, and as it did, Gadreel's apparition faded and the men were
standing face to face with the real Grigori turncoat.

"I give myself to you, Uncle. Do as you will,
but please know my intentions are sincere. Your power is great, and
you can easily perform a cantus to control my actions, as you are
well aware."

Max looked at the ancient youngling and shook
his head in disbelief.

"Indeed I can, and will, give you a control
collar. But first, you must prove your loyalty."

"And how may I do that, Uncle?"

"Where is Samyaza?"

###

"Mami, wake up," whispered Liliana. "There is
someone strange in Grandfather's quarters speaking with him. Papi
is there too. What should we do?"

Jennie murmured lightly as she opened her
eyes. It was the first, decent amount of sleep she had in days. She
looked at her young daughter and pulled the girl onto the bed,
snuggling up with her.

"Lili, let the men talk. I'm sure it'll be
alright."

"No Mami! Something is wrong. I can smell it.
The man smells similar to Grandfather."

"Sweetie, Draagh has a lot of friends. Maybe
he called on some favors and got us some help."

"Oh, perhaps you are right. Anyway, I am
quite hungry. Would you care to join me for a meal?"

Jennie groaned and sat up as Liliana bounded
off the bed. The beautiful dega reached down and pulled her clothes
off the floor. Sliding into her pants, she went for her camouflage
jacket when she noticed Liliana staring at her chest.

"Mami?"

"Yeah, sweetie, what’s up?"

"Will I have
those
one day?"

"Huh? You mean boobs?"

"Yes," the girl responded sheepishly.

"Well, of course you will - when you get a
little older. Why do you ask? Do you not want them?"

"Oh no, Mami, quite the contrary. I just hope
that when I do have mine they will be nice like yours."

Jennie thought for a moment, and then asked,
"What makes you think mine are so nice, honey?"

Liliana gave her adoptive mother a curious
glance, and then, with a broad smile, said, "Because everyone
stares at them, Mami!"

Jennie nearly started to laugh, but
maintained her composure. She was well aware of her admirers, and
knew she had been truly blessed on her top end. Looking at Liliana,
she realized the little girl was growing up quickly, and would also
attract the attention of many boys.

"Sweetie, you have a while yet before you get
to that stage in life, but how would you like to learn about
makeup?"

"Makeup? Do you mean the way you accentuate
your beautiful eyes with lines and color?"

"Yup. You might as well learn now so you know
how to do it right."

The two lovely lycans then sat at Jennie's
vanity, where the woman showed her young daughter the basics of how
to (and how to not) apply eyeliner, neither remembering the reason
Liliana why went to the room in the first place.

###

Gadreel gave Draagh a steely-eyed look of
confidence and sincerity, as he said, "I could tell you where he
was an hour ago, but we have been going to completely random
locations."

Draagh nodded, having figured that was the
case. "Very well, how involved is Anaita in your brother's
efforts?"

"She is in neck-deep, to use a human term,
Uncle. She shares Samyaza's views on humanity. I just… I just," he
began.

"Just what?" Max demanded.

"Max… may I call you Max? I have been
watching you. You've changed my view of Mankind. I no longer see
them as a threat, but as our salvation. You see, we shall never
change, but you are constantly evolving. I now believe it is true
that when your species reaches biological singularity with us we
shall advance with you. And you, Max, you are the best that Mankind
has to offer."

"Not really. You haven't met my wife."

"Oh, but I have watched her. And therein lies
another reason for my coming here. I believe she is in danger."

"Danger? But how?" yelled Max.

"Samyaza is a manipulator. He looks for
openings and weaknesses. He is a coward who hides behind others.
Why do you think he uses the Vrol to do his dirty work? It is he
who sent Guriel to attack you. He did so not believing the lower
angel would succeed in his mission. That fool was a sacrifice.
Rather, he did so to gauge your reaction. Your emotional response
to the threat against your wife, even though she was spared his
cowardly attack by Gabriel, showed you care for her more than for
yourself. I fear for your wife more than I fear for you, young
Max."

"He touches my wife and he's toast."

"Yes, I do believe you could destroy any of
us, such is your potential, but at the risk of your mate?"

"He does have a point, my boy," said Draagh.
"We must put Jennie under constant protection immediately."

Max got an alarmed look and bolted for the
door. "Be right back!"

Running down the hallway and barging into his
room, he expected to find his wife asleep. Instead, he saw Jennie
and Lilia, both with ridiculous amounts of makeup on their
faces.