Allison felt her leg being pulled which yanked her out of the deep sleep she’d fallen into after leaving the engagement party and providing overwatch for Olga’s meet up with Ed. She looked back and blinked. It was her mother, who had no visible injuries. This woke Allison very quickly. Was it all a dream?
“What mom?”
Her mother was very animated this morning.
“Don’t you what mom me, you are late for the recruitment display. Didn’t you set an alarm?”
Allison rubbed her face. Her mother looked at the floor and lifted up the red dress from the engagement party. She was looking it over then she started shaking the dress.
“You went out in this?”
Allison was extremely confused.
“Mom, how are you here? Why aren’t you recovering?”
Her mother shook the dress in Allison’s direction.
“Don’t you go trying to distract me with nonsense. Did you wear this out?”
Allison groaned.
“Yes. I can’t talk about it. What do you mean nonsense? Yesterday you were in surgery!”
Apiyo kept shaking the dress she’d started shouting in Swahili, common for her when she got upset.
“Surgery? You have strange dreams child, but you will never wear this again! Get dressed and get to the recruitment display. Surgery?!?”
Apiyo walked out of Allison’s room shaking her head and carrying the dress. Allison really didn’t care about the dress being taken away. It was far too low cut for her to be comfortable anyway. There was no use arguing with her mother about it. She basically rolled off the bed and quickly pulled the uniform that had been waiting for her last night. It was what would be considered tropical dress. A self-cooling set of black combat fatigues with sleeves that could be rolled up. Her rank was displayed on her shoulders on epaulets, a thick bar of silver with the R showing her as a reservist, and specific to her, two crossed swords with BL between the hilts, designating her as a Battlelord, something the Silwrath demanded her government ensure was prominently displayed on her uniform. To top it off was a black beret with the special operations/intelligence badge. She added sunglasses to the ensemble because the dome was bright.
She was indeed late. Thus, when she arrived the lieutenant commander who was in charge of the whole event gave her a dirty look. He was over six feet tall and looked down at Allison. He spoke quietly.
“Lieutenant, I don’t know how things are done in Andromeda but in the Sol Sector you show up on time. Just because you’re a hero doesn’t mean you get to set schedules.”
Allison took the dressing down in stride. Of course, her knee jerk reaction would have been to whine about her exhausting schedule but being raised by Apiyo and the fact she was maturing had taught her the value of shutting her mouth before it got her into more trouble. Something that hadn’t been the case even just a year before.
“I apologize sir.”
He motioned to the System’s Alliance Special Operations section of the display.
“You’re just lucky someone from your section showed up and set up your display.”
Allison glanced around him and saw a man who if she’d been shown a random picture of would have said, poster man for the Special Operations branch. He was tall, appeared muscular and strangely he had no discernable cybernetics. He had black hair, dusky skin, green eyes, and the feature that really got Allison’s attention was a handsome thick black beard. His features were reminiscent of Mitena, so he would be one of the indigenous peoples of North America. He was handsome and she was already starting to feel a teenage crush beginning. He was a Master Chief and looked like he had seen a thing or two. Based on his uniform he was also attached to the ground forces. In the twentieth century they both would have been Navy SEALs, though in Allison’s case she was more of a baby SEAL.
“Ma’am. Glad you could make it.”
Allison blushed.
“I am sorry, Master Chief. I had a little too much fun last night and slept in.”
He sniffed the air. Allison quirked her head to the side. When she noticed tattoos on his forearms which pricked a memory. They were tribal and some ritual scarification. Was he a werewolf? Scanners wouldn’t tell her that. There was a scent. Something primal. Something about it put her at ease, like Widow’s scent had. He noticed her pause. He motioned to his tribal markings. Her image scan context software which had been provided by System’s Alliance Intelligence as part of her kit showed his name as Thomas Elk, Master Chief Petty Officer and he had been in the military since before the System’s Alliance was a thing. He was older than he looked. His military record was covered in classified missions. The man was a legend, what was he doing here, recruiting people?
“You recognize these, ma’am?”
Allison shook her head.
“No, they just look like some I saw on someone else. I don’t know how to ask this, uh, but are you a wolf-born?”
He grinned.
“You got me, ma’am. Thomas Elk, He Who Breaks Things.”
Allison was starting to wonder if Special Operations went out of their way to recruit supernatural creatures. It would make sense, they could survive things, and do things that would take a normal human, millions, possibly hundreds of millions of credits, to reproduce.
“Master Chief, you… are a legend, why are you here of all places?”
He grinned again and leaned down.
“Ma’am, I had to fight to get this assignment. Do you know how many wolf-born want to meet the living breathing sister to all spirits? They told us of your coming, Destroys the Darkness. To spend a day with you is my greatest honor.”
Allison blinked. She knew things were going to get weird when it came out just who her biological mother was, but this was well past weird. How was she supposed to live up to all of this mess? First the Silwrath with their Battlelord crap, now the wolf-born, what was coming next? She knew what was coming next. She was no vampire but as the council had recognized dhampir as legitimate vampires she was next in line for the position of Empress. She felt panic rising up in her it swiftly evaporated when she was distracted by a group of teenagers she recognized approaching. Edward and his crew. Hope was with them, which threw her for a loop and pulled her out of her self-pity party. She realized she was wearing the same sunglasses she had been with them so she quickly pulled them off and slipped them into the side pocket of her pants.
They were looking over the Fleet and Army displays. Edward was talking to the pilot from the Ark Royal that had brought her Athena fighter. She was in her early twenties and if Allison were given to jealousy, she would have been jealous just based on how attractive the woman was alone, but she was talking to Edward. She clenched her fists but released them. She forced herself to let it go when she realized her first thoughts were that’s my blood source. The fact she thought of his blood first made her realize she needed to readjust her attitude. Thomas glanced down at Allison.
“You know that one, ma’am?”
Allison shook her head.
“No, no I don’t.”
Thomas looked skeptical but dropped it. The twins and Hope came over to their display. Hope smiled at Allison. So did the twins. Hope was obviously smiling at her as a friend, the twins however were checking her out, which didn’t really bother Allison. The twins giggled with each other before talking to Allison.
“You are taller than you look on the holos. Are you really sixteen?”
Allison nodded.
“Yes, ma’am I am.”
The other twin pointed at Bit who was polished to a fine sheen.
“And you fly that?”
Allison nodded.
“Yes, I do.”
The twins seemed to really like that based on the looks they started giving Allison. Allison was starting to blush. She knew she wasn’t attracted to other girls, but the fact remained having someone think you’re attractive always helped the ego. She pondered how the twin’s blood would taste but pushed the thought away. Bad Allison! Hope must have sensed Allison’s discomfort so she asked another question.
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“How did you get signed up? They said you had to be seventeen to join.”
Hope was pointing at the army/fleet display.
“That is true, however since I’m from a colony world on the frontier recruiting age is relaxed. With permission from your parents. Space is a dangerous place. Especially space at the edge of our territory. It is also a lot to ask men and women to be so far from their families. The System’s Alliance recognizes this and wants to recruit as many colonists as they can to defend our borders.”
Hope motioned to Bit.
“Are a lot of pilots as young as you? When did you decide to join Special Forces?”
Allison shook her head. Thomas spoke up.
“The lieutenant here is the youngest soldier to earn her pilot’s wings. As for joining the Special Forces, typically we are recruited from other service branches. I believe that is what happened to the lieutenant.”
Allison nodded. How she wished she was just a pilot. So much less training would be required.
“Yes, I was recruited to the Special Forces because when I did my testing they identified me as a candidate. The training is demanding, depending on your Trade. I am a Military Specialist so I’m expected to be able to shoot, pilot or drive anything the Military has, air, land, sea, or space.”
The twins pointed at a hover tank further down the display.
“So, you can pilot one of those?”
Allison nodded. The other twin pointed at a Goliath power armor.
“And one of those?”
Allison smiled and shook her head.
“I can use one, but I’m still working on qualification for them.”
Thomas glanced down at Allison when she mentioned her trade. The twins seemed sufficiently sated with their curiosity and moved on. Thomas spoke quietly when they were left alone.
“Ma’am, I’ve never heard of a Military Specialist. Is it a new trade?”
Allison nodded.
“Oh yea, I’m the first, and the training sucks. Especially with school. Do you know how many different vehicles, starships, armors and guns the System’s Alliance has in service? It’s ridiculous. Apparently, we’re supposed to be first in, last out, fill any role, solo and in teams. Drop us on a planet with duct tape, and a tube of liquid metal, then destroy the enemy.”
Thomas laughed.
“Well, ma’am, I would happily follow your orders. Even if you haven’t had your official naming ceremony yet.”
Allison blinked.
“Official naming ceremony, what now?”
Thomas grinned.
“Yes, ma’am. The spirits know your name, but you have not been given it yet. The elders aren’t sure how to approach you. They feel like ordering you around is like ordering a greater spirit around. Bad news. Sokay, Widow is an Elder and we’ll take care of it when we’re heading to Ratoa.”
“Wait, you’re one of the wolf-born they’re sending?”
He grinned.
“Yes, ma’am. You’d have had every single remaining pack there with you had the elders not been told to pick three of us. Your mother gave birth to all spirits. To us, you are as respected as the mightiest of them, the Winter Wolf. He watches over the other sleeping spirits on Earth. He is the greatest among them. He declared your name the day you were born. He told us you would come with cleansing fire from the other realm. Crush the corruption that festered in a far-off place. That in your wake worlds would be shattered. Darkness would tremble.”
Allison held up her hands.
“Sounds like you got the wrong, girl, Master Chief.”
He grinned once again.
“Many a cub who the spirits declared a hero has said the same thing since the dawn of the wolf-born, ma’am, but as you say.”
The pair were distracted by more newcomers. Most of them wanted to talk to Allison. Many of them were little girls who wanted autographs. The System’s Alliance had provided Allison with a stack of press photo cards that had been taken of Allison shortly after the story of her exploits had been leaked. They also had a few hundred holo-posters of Allison and Bit in a different holo-recording. She made sure all the little girls who wanted a holo-poster got one. A few boys wanted them as well. The girls asked about her uniform, the boys about Bit. For the older people it was a little more just accepting their hearty thanks for her service.
About lunch time Edward came back to the display without his friends and walked right up to Allison. She smiled at him. It was hard not to lean over and kiss him just out of a habit she’d developed in the last few days. He was rubbing the back of his neck and looking rather sheepish as he approached.
“Uh, hi, there, I was umm…”
Allison waited for him to finish.
“Do… have we met before?”
Allison shook her head and then lied through her teeth.
“No, sorry. Are you… hitting on me? While I appreciate the compliment, I am on duty, and it is inappropriate.”
He blushed. Allison felt evil. Putting him on the spot like that. This spy stuff was starting to get just a little bit soul crushing. Lying had never been her go to response to anything, but she needed to destroy any suspicion he had that Allison and Allie were the same person.
“I… I am so sorry. I didn’t mean it like that, I’ll just go.”
She watched him hurry off. She closed her eyes and sighed with relief. She still felt like a vile human being. Thomas watched him go as well and spoke.
“That was a bit harsh, ma’am. He seemed genuine, if you don’t mind me saying.”
Allison nodded.
“I’m sorry.”
He glanced at her but dropped the matter. By evening she’d done her display flight with the Fleet pilot and given a ride to Mr. Bell and his daughter. Diving Bit under water and giving them a show. Bit was none-to-pleased with the saltwater on her skin. Allison was forced to apologize profusely. She helped pack up the display and sent Bit on her way home, as in back to Eden Prime. The lieutenant commander who had been in charge of everything invited them all to dinner. Allison went because she did not want to be rude. Or perhaps she was just trying to avoid whatever the hell was going on with her mother and her mother’s memories of the day before.
She delayed as long as she could but eventually had to return to the suite. She was still pretty exhausted. She hadn’t had blood, and her infiltration of the ship hadn’t been cheap. She’d also skipped her supplements. Her mother was in bed. Aryna was not. Allison popped her supplements in her mouth and used blood from their room’s fridge to wash them down. The blood wasn’t Synth-O. It was from someone. Not as good as from the vein but it was far better than Synth-O, she drank several more. Aryna watched her curiously.
“Is the synthetic blood from here somehow better?”
Allison shook her head.
“No, it’s not synthetic…”
Allison pulled another bottle out and sat down beside Aryna on the couch. She took this one slower. Aryna spoke quietly.
“Something is amiss. Your mother and Vaedrick’s memories of yesterday are very different from mine or Oozie’s.”
Allison looked around.
“Where is Oozie?”
Aryna motioned to Apiyo’s room.
“She’s been by your mother’s side since we returned. She remembers a medical emergency on the ship. Some sort of malicious cyber-attack on several men and a woman. It forced our ship to be diverted. Vaedrick has identical memories. Which is… strange because non-Qual’sa memories never remember the same thing, the same way.”
Allison took another drink of blood.
“I have no idea. I think vampires can rewrite people’s memories. Why would they though? It is strange Major Ghai hasn’t yelled at me about not waiting for orders to board the ship.”
Aryna nodded.
“Yes, it is very strange. Your mother remembers you being there and coordinating a search for Oozie, and helping keep everyone contained until they were cleared of any infection. Vaedrick and I were allowed to leave immediately… as your mother remembers it, because we had none.”
Allison rubbed her face.
“I’m getting really tired of all this spy stuff. I don’t think I’m cut out for this job. I should see if I can request to go back to just being a pilot. Mom was near death, then today she’s walking around like nothing happened? Did you see anyone?”
Aryna nodded.
“I did. A woman in a cloak. She was out of place on the ship. She was in sick bay… Then boarded the tube to the bridge. After she left your mother came out of surgery and it looked like she hadn’t been hurt at all, this was just after you left. I can always read surface thoughts, except for certain beings I’ve run into here. The president, Isis, Eyre, Mitena, Violet…”
Allison sighed.
“All vampires. So, it was a vampire. We probably remember because they haven’t gotten to us yet, or in your case, maybe you’re immune.”
Aryna tapped her chin.
“I believe you are immune too. What are we going to do about it?”
Allison finished the bottle of blood off and stared at the wall for a few minutes.
“Nothing, absolutely nothing. Mom would have been traumatized, but she’s healed up, thinks she had a great vacation… I’m good with that. Yep. It avoids a whole mess. I wish I could forget.”
Aryna shifted and looked at Allison.
“It is a deception of the highest order. Completely unconscionable. To modify someone’s memories is to make them someone else. It is an abuse of power. It is the worst kind of violation. How can you be alright with this? If you had such gifts would use them in this way?”
Allison sighed.
“No, but it is done. Why traumatize my mom again?”
Aryna balled her fists up and turned fully towards Allison, she pressed them into the couch’s soft cushion.
“It is against the law. I reviewed the laws today. Vampires are not allowed to use their powers in this manner.”
Allison nodded.
“Yeah, but you missed the important part, unless authorized by the Vampire Council, or the System’s Alliance Board of Directors. That whole section has that qualifier. I looked it up when I realized I was learning new vampire powers. So, either there is a vampire strong enough that she is going to go against the council, or they were told to do it. Either way, what can we do about it? It’s their problem not ours. Let’s just keep quiet and let it go away.”
Aryna crossed her arms.
“That is all very convenient for you isn’t it. You get to avoid taking responsibility for being the one to put your mother in that position in the first place. You are probably justifying it all to yourself now, that it was orders.”
Allison lost her temper at this point.
“I will never forget what I did. There is no excuse that makes it alright. I just need to accept there are some things I can’t change or fight against. Like an intergalactic power and a group of vampires so old one of them remembers the dawn of human civilization. Vampires don’t go against the Empress and the council. They tend to die. There was a trial like twenty years ago for a seer that went after a bunch. She pled guilty. She said she acted alone. I don’t believe it. She’s out now by the way. So I’m going to just shut my mouth and move on with my life.”
Aryna put her hands on Allison’s thigh.
“My sister, you are the crown princess to the Vampires. You can change things.”
Allison sighed and her anger evaporated with Aryna’s touch.
“I’m a sixteen-year-old girl who they are using for good press. Look at this nice well-adjusted young dhampir, working as a reservist, a dutiful student, and a cheerleader, loved by her peers. They are literally demi-gods. So no, I cannot change things. My job is to smile and wave to the crowds, do meet and greets with little girls and keep parents assured their children are not going to school with blood-sucking monsters.”
Aryna frowned.
“Surely you have influence with the League and our laws are very clear on this sort of thing. Perhaps make a statement to the League’s press and force the council to put pressure on the System’s Alliance.”
Allison took Aryna’s hands and squeezed them tightly.
“Please, let it go. I know you have a strong sense of justice, right and wrong, but we’re kids. Let’s be kids. Let the adults handle their own crap. I do not have the energy or will to fight this fight.”
Aryna sighed heavily and wrapped her arms around Allison, hugging her tightly.
“I am sorry, my sister, I did not see how tired you were. I will speak of this no more. Rest your weary head and sleep. Tomorrow is a new day.”
Allison felt safe bundled up in Aryna’s arms and drifted off into a much needed sleep.