Allison woke up tangled in her blankets and trying to figure out where the arm that had her holo-phone that was ringing was on. She tapped it to turn on her AR HUD. She could see herself on the display. It wasn’t pretty. Her hair was a rat’s nest, and her eyes were half closed. She spared a groggy hello to the caller. It was Eyre. She pondered what it would be like to never have to sleep and always look perfect.
“Allison, how are you doing?”
Allison looked at the time, it was ten in the morning.
“Tired. Did uh… err am I in trouble?”
Eyre shook her head. She was looking out over NAFTA dome from the tallest building there, which would be the Aurelius Corp Intergalactic Headquarters. Eyre turned to face her holoprojector’s camera.
“No, I just wanted to check on you. I believe I owe you an apology. I did not realize you were rescuing my sister on Titan. I would have loved to have seen her before you whisked her off to Andromeda, but I believe your decision was smart. It will let her acclimatize to her new reality. She will be staying on Eden Prime for a while. I’ve made arrangements. We’re deploying a couple of new homesteads. She’ll be in one, next door to you. I also took the liberty of dropping an extra prefab, for you.”
“Why me? I live with my parents.”
“Oh, no, you misunderstand, it’s for your starfighter and its accessories. It will be a few days for deployment of course. Call it an early Christmas present. A five-minute walk and you’ll be able to take her out.”
Allison rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She pondered if she’d remember half of this when she woke up again, she was definitely going back to sleep. Eyre swept something to the holoprojector and Allison tapped accept on the data transfer. It was a lot of legalese. Eyre was waiting for Allison to read some of it. It didn’t help. To Allison it was just blah blah blah, legal junk, blah, more legal junk.
“What is this Auntie Eyre?”
Eyre smiled.
“Your insurance agreement for your fighter. We underwrite several insurance companies, one of which is the one you asked about insuring a starfighter with. It is a good idea, so I authorized the payments be drawn from your trust. Six hundred thousand credits per year. Best I could do for you.”
Eyre sat down at her desk.
“I only have a few minutes longer before a meeting, but I see you spent all the money I pulled out for you. Must have been some shopping spree.”
Allison blushed and hit her head on her pillow.
“No, Miles hit buy on something I was looking at but wasn’t going to buy. Now I’m stuck with it because I’d lose like ninety thousand credits, not that I even have the credits to send it back.”
Allison could tell Eyre was suppressing a smile.
“You know what it is, don’t you?”
Eyre nodded.
“Yes, I saw that insurance inquiry as well. You’re what Aurelius calls a black level client. That means your account manager, that would be me, gets everything that you do through Aurelius. We do that to make sure you VIPs get consistently good service. I got you the best rate I could but it’s still going to be a month’s salary for you and that is with the discount for your ship insurance and your account level. You’re sixteen, it is an expensive piece of equipment and well, as my mother would say if she was here, fast enough to do something stupid with.”
Allison smiled at that.
“When I was looking for a used car or bike, that was my first requirement.”
Eyre shook her head.
“That does not surprise me in the least. I need to go to a meeting; This Intergalactic business empire doesn’t run itself. Remember if you need a little bit extra, a monthly stipend, let me know. I think I could swing enough to handle your insurance without hurting your balance too much. Oh, and see what your family’s plans are for the holidays. I’d like to invite you all to our party. Enjoy the gala tonight.”
Eyre disconnected the call after Allison waved. Allison flopped back on her pillow and closed her eyes with her arm hanging off the side of the bed. She felt like she’d barely closed her eyes when her mother called her.
“Allison! Are you still in bed?”
Allison groaned.
“Yeah, it’s not like it’s a school day and I’m on leave.”
“And you are also late for your manicure appointment.”
Allison’s eyes went wide.
“Oh crap.”
She tossed the blanket off and started rushing to get ready.
“I told them you got delayed, you better get there soon, I don’t care if you’re a hero, they are not going to hold your spot forever, especially on the day of a big party.”
Allison just kept saying yes mom over and over again as she was berated. By the time she left the house her ride was there. It was one of the VI taxies, normally she’d take the bus, but she didn’t have time. She slid into the car. It whisked her to the commerce center. She had a manicure and pedicure scheduled, along with a hair appointment. Her last appointment of the day was the one for her make up. Allison had never been what most would consider especially feminine. Even if she was, she would have challenges, her mother had difficulties even helping her with her hair because her mother’s hair was completely different than hers.
Her mother was at the commerce center when she finished. Allison felt wrong. She would have been so much happier just wearing her uniform and putting her hair up. Her mother had pushed her to get done up. Her mother was looking done up as well. She was invited, she was the planetary governor of Eden Prime. They stopped and picked up Aryna on the way home, she had been at the Tribunal. She didn’t need the magic of cosmetics. Allison envied the Qual’sa’s natural beauty. Her hair always seemed perfect. Aryna’s complexion was milky and smooth. It was hard to compete with that as a mostly human teenage girl. If Allison was a more average teenage girl, she would have all kinds of body image issues just being around Aryna.
Allison vanished into her room to get dressed. She heard the VI indicate that someone was at the door, but she was in the middle of trying to get her dress on. Aryna came into Allison’s room when Allison called out asking for help with her dresses zipper. She smiled at Allison and pulled it up.
“My friend, you would not look out of place in attendance at the royal court on Qual’sa. Your dress is perfect for you.”
Allison blushed. Aryna nudged her towards her bedroom door.
“I believe your date has just arrived. We should go rescue him before your mother convinces him he needs to marry you.”
Allison giggled softly. The pair walked out. Allison still felt like she was the ugliest girl on the planet next to Aryna. Tyler obviously didn’t when he saw her his jaw dropped and he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. He was wearing a nice tuxedo. Not very expensive and likely fabricated at home. His mother was not very well off. Allison didn’t care. To her he looked amazing. He’d even gotten a haircut. Their eyes met. He looked like he wanted to say something, but it came out a jumble. Oozie came bounding out towards him. Allison snapped at the nargle.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“Oozie, don’t you dare!”
The nargle skidded to a halt on the smooth floor. Allison pointed to the couch.
“Couch, now, I left it on your favorite show, behave. I don’t want white fur all over my date.”
Oozie’s tail drooped, and she hopped on the couch and curled up with her chin on her paws. Allison sighed and held up a finger towards Tyler. She went over to the couch and she petted Oozie’s head.
“I’m sorry, Oozie you have to admit you drop a lot of fur everywhere. I promise snuggles when we get back. I’m sorry. I asked if I could bring you, but they said no.”
Oozie licked her hand and purred. Allison gave her one more rough pet. She went over to Tyler.
“Sorry about her. You look great.”
He adjusted his glasses.
“You look good too. You all do.”
Apiyo looked everyone over.
“All right let’s go.”
The trip to the League Embassy was uneventful. When they arrived a Silwrath honor guard was lined up on either side of the interior entrance. One of the green skinned and haired Yorleer was checking guest invitations. When Allison and Aryna arrived, they were asked to hang back after getting rid of their winter coats. Finally, Aryna was motioned to head into the event. Allison heard her friend announced.
“Her royal highness, Tearyna Quasitori, of the Qual’sa.”
Allison was motioned forward. She was a bit surprised to see twenty Silwrath honor guard lined up along the entrance hallway. She was announced.
“Ensign Allison Wanjala, Savior of the Qual’sa, Destroyer of Worlds, Slayer of the Swarm, of the System’s Alliance.”
As Allison entered the honor guard slammed their closed fists to their chests and as she passed each, they bowed their heads in respect. Allison would have preferred some other titles, ones that made her sound less bloodthirsty. She felt a bit put on the spot as everyone watched her enter. She whispered to herself: Just breathe. Her eyes found Tyler, who was staring at her in awe. She smiled at him. She noticed Isis was in attendance, standing beside her was Helen.
Allison was relieved when the whole pomp and ceremony of her entrance was done. She made her way to Tyler and slipped her arm into his. He looked up at her. Her heels added an extra two inches, leaving her almost a half a foot taller than him.
“Why did you ask me here?”
She glanced down at him.
“Who else would I ask? You’re my friend and you love anything about non-humans. You’re in a room full of them.”
He looked around.
“You could have asked any boy at school, and they would have said yes.”
Allison shook her head.
“I didn’t want to ask anyone else. When I imagined coming here, you’re the only one I could see. I have no idea why.”
Tyler was about to say something else but stopped when he noticed the eight-foot tall Nutina looking down at him.
“You must be a remarkable specimen of male human to have won the Swarmslayer’s affections.”
Tyler adjusted his glasses. He didn’t know how to respond to her. Allison jumped in.
“You’ll have to forgive Tyler, this is his first time seeing so many non-humans in one spot. He’s extremely curious and has a lot of questions, he just doesn’t know where to start.”
Nutina laughed, her wings flicking as she did so.
“I will answer any I can. We are honored to have the mate of the Swarmslayer in attendance.”
Allison was about to dispel any assumptions about what Tyler being here meant but realized she didn’t want to get into a discussion on human sexuality and dating. So, she just went with it. She figured smarter people than her could sort out the misunderstandings. Allison looked at Tyler.
“Well, here is your chance, Tyler. First Trimark Nutina is the equivalent to one of our Generals. She is head of the Silwrath Special Forces. Also, she has a daughter who is a sculptor so she might be able to answer questions on art.”
Tyler took a deep breath and spoke.
“Do you have a religion?”
Nutina grinned showing her teeth.
“Yes, we do. We used to believe the emperor was divine until the Triumvirate arrived to destroy him and his twisted servants. Legend says the sisters, the Destroyer, The Maiden and their mother, whom we refer to as the All-Mother, descended on the emperor’s palace and wiped out every living thing in moments. They say The Destroyer’s claws could rend even starship hulls, that the maiden’s silver blade would cut through anything and that the All-Mother had power over time. Now we worship them. The warriors such as myself pay homage to the Destroyer. The healers and scientists to the Maiden. Our diplomats and politicians to the All-Mother.”
Allison glanced at Helen. She had a thought that these legends weren’t so much legends such as time traveling werewolves and vampires. Eyre had told her that her mother could literally stop time, literally she could pause time for everyone in the universe but her. She had to ask.
“What form do the legends say the Destroyer took?”
Nutina pulled a pendent from under her dress armor. Allison nodded. A wolf. Tyler said what Allison was thinking.
“That is a wolf. They are extinct now.”
Nutina looked at him.
“Truly this is an animal from your world?”
Allison nodded.
“Uh, look… its just a coincidence probably.”
Nutina narrowed her eyes.
“You are not being honest with me, Swarmslayer, what do you know?”
Allison sighed.
“What do they say the All-Mother looked like?”
Nutina tapped her claw on her chin.
“Her head was covered in flames. Her eyes glowed green and she could obliterate people with a glance. She wielded a lance of pure light.”
Allison bit her lower lip.
“Uh, that sounds like the Dark Mother and her daughters. One was a werewolf, and the other was like me… a blood drinker. I have held that sword you’re talking about.”
Nutina was looking at Allison, her wings were moving in a way that indicated she was somewhat confused. Allison tapped her wrist and turned off her AR HUD and shifted her holo-phone to holographic projection mode. She tapped the video of Dimi cutting through the armored tube with the sword. Nutina’s eyes went wide. Allison tapped through her images until she found one from the temple that showed Hazel, Helen and the Dark Mother’s assault on the emperor’s palace. Not that she had realized it at the time. Nutina touched the hologram.
“Where did you find these carvings?”
Tyler looked between the two. Allison canceled holoprojection mode when she noticed Isis watching her.
“A place called the Temple of the Universe. Its walls hold the Prophecies of the Dark Mother. They had my destruction of the Sal’nash on the walls. Me rescuing Aryna. Their attack on the emperor and the destruction of the demons. The Dark Mother’s ascension to divinity. There are millions of them.”
“Do they still live? The triumvirate? The Destroyer?”
Allison shook her head, she refused to out Helen.
“No, her name was Hazel. She vanished with the Dark Mother, no one has seen her in almost twenty-three years. I am sorry. Another one of the werewolves told me her true name was Raptor’s Sorrow.”
“There are more of these werewolves? Are they all so dangerous?”
Allison shrugged.
“I don’t know, I’ve never seen one wolf out. I know how dangerous I am when I vamp out. I tore open an armored wall on the Sal’nash super hive.”
Nutina’s wings drooped.
“I am truly glad we have found peace with your people. For we would have no chance in a war.”
Allison touched Nutina’s upper arm.
“I am glad too, First Trimark. I would rather make friends then enemies.”
Nutina smiled.
“Good! Now, come, I have something for you to try!”
Allison and Tyler followed Nutina to a bar. Nutina asked for three glasses of something called Runque. Nutina held up her glass. The glasses were larger than human glasses. Likely because Silwrath were on average a foot and a half taller than humans.
“To new allies!”
Allison held up her glass and drank it down in one go. She found that was the best way to deal with new alcohol in case the taste didn’t agree with her. Tyler mimicked her. He suffered instant regret as he started coughing. Nutina pounded him on the back. Allison was less affected, but she knew her nanites were not happy with her because she was starting to get hungry. Nutina laughed loudly.
“Yes! Most Silwrath will not drink so much in one sitting! You are truly a warrior.”
Allison looked at Tyler still coughing, she felt bad for him. If she’d known they were about to drink liquid fire she’d have dissuaded him. She should have known. The Silwrath often took part in feats of strength and fortitude to prove their worthiness as warriors. Several of the Silwrath soldiers in attendance were cheering and chanting the Silwrath word for more. Allison sighed and put the glass down and looked to the Yorleer tending the bar she spoke the Silwrath word for More and tapped the glass. This elicited a cheer from the gathered Silwrath. She looked at Tyler who had to sit down by now. Nutina looked at the raised dais for the coming speeches and awards ceremony, then looked at her own empty glass wearily. Allison held up the glass she called out.
“Who will drink with me?”
Many glasses of the potent drink were poured out. She held up her glass.
“To my brother and sister warriors of the League.”
The group raised their glasses. Allison downed the glass and slammed it on the bar. There were more cheers. She was pretty sure she was going to regret the second full glass. Her nanites were nearly overwhelmed. Two glasses of the Silwrath version of hundred proof rum had almost accomplished what had taken hours of human alcohol. She was going to need energy in the form of high sugar foods. She leaned over the bar and asked the bartender.
“Do you have anything non-alcoholic that has a lot of sugar?”
The Yorleer poured a glass of glowing blue liquid. Allison took it and drank it down. She almost instantly felt less hungry. It tasted like she was drinking liquid sugar. She looked at the gathered Silwrath and slammed her fist to her chest in a Silwrath salute. They returned it. She rescued Tyler and took him to get some water.