Chapter 10

 

Loki sat in his new home atop the Hawaiian volcano, his dark mood causing the mists around him to swirl with agitation.  Two facts contributed to this mood.  First, the human prince had been attacked, his mate killed.  Second, Odin and Baldur were going to punish Loki for that, though he was not behind the attack. 

Baldur’s warning replayed in his mind as he awaited his arrival.  It would not be long, he knew.  And Loki would, of course, attempt to convince Baldur that he was innocent.  He had, in fact, discovered and eliminated several threats to the young prince.  Each time it had galled him to do so, but his fear of Odin’s wrath was greater than his pride.  So he had protected the human.

Loki had been working on expanding his territory on Earth when he received notification of the attack.  His aim was to thwart the human’s plan to expand his holdings on the planet and become Emperor.  Having fully claimed this island and the surrounding Hawaiian islands, Loki had moved westward.  He now owned the entirety of an island nation formerly known as New Zealand, and large swathes of a nearly empty continent known as Australia.  Most of the continent had already been sparsely populated prior to the Assimilation.  During Stabilization the population centers were quickly overrun, as few of the humans possessed any weapons with which to defend themselves.   The larger population centers still held several Strongholds, and even a couple Citadels constructed by human survivors.  But Loki had claimed more than ninety percent of the land mass.  He’d been standing atop a large reddish colored flat plateau and surveying his new property when his comms bracelet alerted him to the attack.

With a thought he activated his private teleport system, returning his body to his base atop the volcano.  His initial thought was to barricade himself inside, and fight Baldur when he came.  But as strong and as skilled as he was, Loki was no match for the combined wrath of Baldur and Odin.  And though he could be on his flagship in an instant, and could flee the system within seconds, he knew there was no place he could go that Odin could not follow. 

So he spent his remaining time attempting to ascertain whether Hel was behind the attack.  If his daughter was the cause of this, he had taken steps to ensure that her demise would precede his own.  The simple push of a button on a device implanted in his chest would vaporize her along with her entire lab complex.  That same device was designed to trigger if his heart ceased beating.  He could, of course, have eliminated her in this way at any time.  But it would be a crude act of vengeance, and that was not his style.  The two of them had spent eons attempting to best each other, to find devious and unexpected ways to murder each other, or steal power from the other. He wanted his final victory over her to be elegant and slow, with her being fully aware of the means of her defeat as she perished.  Not a quick and brutal explosion. 

Getting up from his seat, Loki approached a holo-display and used four of his tentacles to adjust the multiple feeds.  His eyes widened slightly as he noted a communication from one of his trusted agents.  Another quick adjustment, and he was observing Hel in her own communications center.  She appeared to be trying just as urgently to discover the identity of the humans’ attackers. 

“Interesting.” He mumbled to himself. 

“What is so interesting?” Baldur’s voice echoed through the mists from behind Loki, who resisted the urge to spin and face his brother. 

“I know you will not believe me when I say this, Baldur.  But I was not responsible for the attack on your pet human.  I was just attempting to discover if my daughter was the culprit, but my sources, and my own eyes, tell me that she is also investigating.  Which may mean nothing.” Loki sighed, the mists swirling in an elegant and almost mournful pattern around him. 

Baldur took a step toward Loki, the mists transferring the righteous anger radiating from him.  “Surprisingly enough, brother, I believe that you did not order this attack.  Not that it matters.  I warned you that any harm that came to Allistor would mean your end.  Failing to protect him condemns you just as surely as attacking him yourself.”

“I have been protecting him, Baldur.  See for yourself.”  Loki waved toward his holo display, then moved to activate a file.  The entire display filled with a multitude of images and data that flashed so quickly no human mind could have absorbed them.  But Baldur’s eyes glowed as he took it all in, his head nodding once.  The information revealed nearly a score of plots against Allistor and Invictus that Loki had discovered and put an end to.

“Assuming this information is not fabricated, I commend you for these actions, brother.  But none of this changes the fact that you ultimately failed to protect him.  The blast that killed his mate could easily have taken him as well, and in fact very nearly did so.  You will come with me, now.  Do not resist, brother.  As much as I would enjoy ending your mortal existence here and now, Odin has decreed that we see to some business first.  Will you cooperate?”

Loki took only a fraction of a second to think it over.  If he were to fight Baldur, he would certainly lose.  Whatever business Odin had in mind, remaining alive a while longer might afford him an opportunity to somehow save his own mortal existence.  Or to ensure that Hel took the blame and shared his fate.  His agents would continue to gather and relay any useful information he might use toward those ends. He nodded his head once, all of his tentacles lowering in submission. 

A moment later both Loki and Baldur disappeared, the vacuum left by their sudden absence causing the mists to swirl violently for a moment before settling. 

*****

 

 

 

Allistor awoke on the sofa just as the sun was rising.  Sitting up and yawning while stretching, he enjoyed several seconds of peace before the memory of the previous day’s events hit him.  He leaned back as if hit by a physical blow, closing his eyes and covering his face with his hands. 

“Amanda.  I’m so sorry.” He whispered to himself.  He sat there for several minutes, trying to reconcile his feelings of guilt with Daigath’s insistence that there was nothing he could have done.

Eventually he caught wind of his own body odor, and got to his feet.  Heading through the master bedroom to the bath, more tears fell down his cheeks.  This was her place.  Hers and his, together. 

As he stripped down and stepped into the shower, he told himself what he’d told the others last night.  He needed to accept that Amanda was gone, deal with the grief, then suck it up and move on.  Daigath had been right about his people depending on him.  As much as he wanted to curl up in a ball on the bed and lay there in the dark, he couldn’t. 

Leaning against the wall of the shower, he let himself cry.  He sobbed under the warm spray of the water, pounding his fists against the tile a few times.  Looking up, he let the water wash away the snot leaking from his nose along with the tears.  Clenching his teeth and his fists, he held in the scream of grief and loss he wanted to let loose.  The young ones were still asleep, and he didn’t want to alarm them. 

A minute later he stepped out of the shower and quickly dressed.  As quietly as he could, he left the master suite, then the residence.  Taking the elevator to the roof, he stepped out past his smithy and the lounge area.   Standing at the very edge of the roof, he spread his arms wide, looked up at the first of the rising suns, and took a deep breath.

He screamed as loudly as he could, pushing all of his sorrow and guilt into the sound.  Trying his best to shatter the sun with his pain.  When he ran out of air, he took a deep breath and did it again.  He felt slightly better when he was through.  Looking down at the street far below, he entertained a brief urge to simply fall.  To end all his sorrow, to lift the burden of all his responsibilities. 

But the urge was short-lived.  All it took was imagining the look on William’s face upon learning Allistor had taken the easy way out.  He couldn’t do that to his squire, his son.  Or the girls, Helen, Meg, and the rest of his loved ones. 

Stepping back from the edge, Allistor returned to the sitting area in his quarters and waited for his kids to wake up.

As he sat there, he spoke quietly to the air in front of him.  “Nigel, quiet mode, please.  I would like you to notify all of my advisors to arrange a memorial service.  We’ll hold it at noon today, at the Bastion.   Any citizen who wishes to attend is welcome.”

Nigel’s reply was barely above a whisper, as requested.  “ Of course, sire.  Preparations are already underway, and I shall inform all necessary parties of your instructions .”   There was a pause, as if the AI was uncertain whether to continue.  “ Also, sire, I have received several messages of condolences from various parties and factions.  Would you like to hear them now ?”

Allistor shook his head.  He wasn’t ready for that just yet.  He needed to be strong for the kids this morning, and wanted to focus on that.  “Not now, Nigel.  Unless… do any of them require an immediate response?”

“ I am… uncertain, sire.  None of them state a request for a response.  However I am not fully familiar with the social conventions that apply.  I am sorry .”

Allistor smiled slightly, despite his mood.  “Maybe with the next upgrade, eh Nigel?”

“ I can only hope, sire .”

“Please relay all those messages to L’olwyn and ask him to see me if there is any urgent action needed.”

“ Very good, sire .”

Allistor zoned out for a while, expecting William and the girls to sleep for a few more hours.  He thought about the upcoming service, and what he might say.  He didn’t think he was capable of finding the words to properly describe Amanda and how he felt about her.  But he’d do his best. 

He was contemplating what he  might do when they figured out who had attacked them, when he was distracted by the sound of the elevator doors opening.  After shaking himself awake, he was surprised to see Sydney and Addy stepping off the elevator, each carrying a tray of food.

“I thought you two were still asleep.”

Addy shook her head.  “We got up early to help Meg and Sam.  We knew there would be a lot of people gathering today, and we’ll need to be ready to feed them all.”

Sydney set a tray on the table in front of Allistor.  “Meg alerted all the kitchen staff everywhere in Invictus to start preparing last night.”

Allistor was touched, and it took him a moment to be able to speak.  “Thank you, girls.” He looked down at the breakfast spread that included large quantities of pancakes, bacon, eggs, cereal, fruit, coffee, and juice.  “This looks amazing.  I’m not sure when William will wake up, so let’s eat.  Just be sure and save some for him.”

He and the girls grabbed plates and served themselves.  They ate quietly for a while, each of them focused on their plate, not meeting each other’s eyes or speaking.  Eventually Allistor cleared his throat and quietly asked, “How are you doing?”

Sydney looked up first, tears in her eyes.  She sniffed loudly, wiping her nose with her sleeve.  “I miss her so much already.  I… it’s hard to believe she’s really gone.”

“Yeah, me too.”  Allistor set down his fork.  “We just need to stick together extra close for a while, help each other accept it.”

Addy got up and moved to sit on the sofa next to him, wrapping him in a tight hug, which he gently returned.  When she let loose, she looked up at him with red, puffy eyes.  “I just don’t understand.  Why would anyone want to hurt Amanda?  She only ever helped people!”

Allistor gathered her against him with one arm, then motioned for Sydney to come sit on his other side, and hugged her close too.  “Listen, guys.  I think whoever did this wasn’t trying to hurt Amanda specifically.  I think they were after me, as the leader of our people, but mostly I think they just wanted to hurt all of us in general.  Amanda just happened to be the one they got.  We should be thankful that she was the only one.  That bomb could have taken William, or anyone else there with us.  And the other bombs could have done the same.”

Addy growled.  “We’re going to kill them, right?  Whoever they are?  They deserve it!”

Allistor squeezed her again.  “You just leave that to me.  For now, I need you both to focus on helping me watch over William.” He lowered his voice to a whisper.  “He’s going to be dealing with some pretty rough feelings.  He’ll blame himself for her death, because she sacrificed herself to save him.  We need to show him all the love and support we can, okay?”

Both girls nodded their heads, wiping their eyes.  Sydney poked him in the ribs.  “Of course we will.  You didn’t even need to ask.”

“Ask what?”  William’s sleepy voice caused them all to turn.  He was standing in the doorway, scratching his head as he yawned.  “I smell pancakes.”

The girls jumped up and mobbed him, burying him in hugs before leading him over to sit next to Allistor on the sofa.  They immediately went to work dishing up a plate for him as Allistor put a hand on his shoulder. 

“How are you feeling, buddy?  All healed up?”

William didn’t look up at him, staring instead at his hands, which were folded in his lap.  “All but my heart.  I think that’s broken forever.” he whispered. 

Allistor bit his lip as both girls froze and looked at William.  Addy sobbed, setting down the plate she’d been dishing up and lunging at the little boy, wrapping her arms around him.  Sydney just stared, fresh tears trailing down her cheeks. 

Allistor took a deep breath, squeezing William’s shoulder.  “I know it feels like that, William.  We all feel that way, because we all loved her.  And she loved us.  Especially you.” He reached down and put a finger under William’s chin to lift it up.  “You know, she used to tell me sometimes, when we were getting ready to sleep, that she was rooting for you to bonk me on the head with your staff.   She’d say she was going to find a way to distract me so that I didn’t renew my barrier in time, and you’d get to smack me.”

William sniffed, giving Allistor a slight smile.  “That would have been cool.”

“For you, maybe.” Allistor snorted, giving William a wink.  “You wouldn’t be the one getting bonked.”   He turned to look at each of the girls.  “We talked about you two quite a bit as well.  She was looking forward to the first time one of you brought home a boy you like.  Warned me several times not to be too hard on them, or scare them away.” He paused and did his best to smile for both of them.  “I make no promises!”

The girls both rolled their eyes at him, and a moment later they were all buried in a group hug that almost tipped the sofa over backward.  After several seconds William’s muffled voice drifted out of the pile.  “Pancakes?”

*****

 

Breakfast consumed, they each retired to their rooms to dress for the memorial service.  Allistor was dressed and waiting on the kids when L’olwyn entered the apartment.  “Good morning, Allistor.  My most sincere condolences for your loss.  Lady Amanda’s beauty and kind heart will be sorely missed.” He bowed his head and held the pose for several seconds.

“Thank you, L’olwyn.  Are the preparations underway?”

“They are nearly complete.  That is actually why I have been required to come and disturb you this morning.  I have reviewed the various and several incoming messages, and more than a few of them are requests from friends or allies who wish to attend, if you would not consider it an intrusion.”

Allistor considered it.  He wasn’t sure he wanted to share their pain with relative strangers.  “Like who?”

The Or’Dralon, Stardrifter Clan, a few others you’ve met and who were fond of Lady Amanda.  And…”  the elf paused and looked uncomfortable.   When he didn’t speak for several seconds, Allistor glared at him.

“Out with it, L’olwyn.  And… who?”

“Emperor Harmon has relayed a request from High Lord Baldur to attend and offer his condolences, sire.”

Distracted, Allistor didn’t immediately make the connection.  “Baldur?”

The advisor cleared his throat.  “One of the Ancient Ones, Allistor.  Of the race responsible for Earth being inducted into the Collective.”

Allistor was immediately furious!   “You… what!?  How dare they?  What kind of assholes… No!”  He jumped to his feet and stomped back and forth across the room.

L’olwyn waited uncomfortably as Allistor vented his anger.  When he’d calmed enough to retake his seat, the elf sighed and continued.  “Emperor Harmon warned that you’d be unwilling and angry.  He bade me ask that, in the name of your friendship, you allow him to speak to you before denying Baldur’s request.”

Allistor’s eyes flashed with anger as he turned his gaze on L’olwyn.  “Oh he did, did he?”

Straightening his posture, which Allistor wouldn’t have believed could get any stiffer, the elf held up one hand.  “This is no small request, sire… Allistor.  I advise you to take a few breaths and consider what I’ve just told you.  The leader of an entire race, and the non-human who has perhaps shown you the most friendship of any being you’ve encountered, has made an earnest and solemn request that you simply speak with him before making a rash and emotional decision that could have dire consequences for you and your people .”

The elf’s tone, and the emphasis at the end of his statement, were enough to make Allistor pause.  He did as L’olwyn suggested and took several long, deep breaths, trying to calm himself.  When his heartrate had slowed to some extent, he nodded at his advisor, who instantly said, “Nigel, please ask Emperor Harmon to join us.” Looking at Allistor, he added, “He’s waiting down in the lobby.”

Allistor got to his feet again and paced for the minute or so it took for Harmon to arrive.  As soon as he stepped off the elevator, he spoke.  “Thank you for agreeing to discuss this with me, Allistor.”

Feeling peevish and manipulated, Allistor barked back.  “There had better be a damned good reason for you to think I should accept this.”  L’olwyn sighed at his rudeness, but Harmon just shrugged it off.

“There are several, in fact.   Please, let us sit, and I will explain.”

Allistor took a seat, and Harmon claimed a nearby armchair, completely filling it with his orcanin bulk.  “I have told you before that I have been in contact with the Ancient Ones over the years, and more importantly, since Earth was inducted ahead of schedule.  I have also told you that Odin and Baldur suspected that Loki was the one behind that tragedy.”

“I remember.” Allistor growled.

“I have just learned several things that you should know.  First, they have informed me that they have solid suspicion of Loki’s guilt in the Induction.  Also, they suspect he is behind several of the unfortunate events that have befallen you and your friends since then.  Either Loki, or his daughter, Hel.  Baldur confronted Loki after the harvester incident and the close call with the hatchlings.  At that time he not only forbid Loki from attempting to interfere with or harm you again, but tasked him with making sure no further harm befell you .”  He paused for a moment to let that information sink in.

When he saw Allistor was considering the implications of what he’d shared, Harmon continued.

“Odin himself has assured me that he believes neither Loki nor Hel were responsible for the attacks that took Lady Amanda from us.  However, Loki did fail in his task of protecting you.  For that failure, in addition to a long list of other misdeeds, his life is forfeit.   Baldur has, upon Odin’s command, requested that he be allowed to bring Loki here.  Not only to apologize, but to offer you the chance to claim Loki’s life.”

Allistor froze.

This was what he’d been pushing for.  Pushing not just himself, but all his people.  Trying to make them strong enough to not only survive in their new world, but to take the fight to the ones responsible for all of this.  The ones who nearly eliminated the human race and left the survivors fighting for every breath, every morsel of food. 

It was too good to be true.

“What’s the catch?” Allistor watched Harmon’s face closely.  He hadn’t known the orcanin long, but he thought he had a pretty good handle on his friend’s expressions.

“The catch?” Harmon appeared confused for a moment.  “Ah, I see.  What you would call the catch is that Baldur will ask that you hear him out, listen to what he has to say.  About Earth’s induction, all of it.  And my guess is that he will offer you the chance to show mercy.”

“Why would I do that?  If what you’re telling me is true, Loki is responsible for billions of deaths just on this planet.  The deaths of my family, and so many friends who have become family.  And regardless of whether or not Amanda’s death was the direct result of his orders, Loki put us in this situation in the first place.  She’d be alive if it weren’t for him!” Allistor was breathing hard, his fists clenched.  He could feel tears forming in his eyes again, but they were tears of anger and frustration this time.

Harmon held up both hands in a calming gesture.  “I am not advocating for mercy, Allistor.  You should know by now, that’s not my style.” He flashed a wicked grin at his human friend.  “I’m saying that from what I know of Baldur, his inclination is toward mercy.  He is slow to anger, and always tries to see both sides of an issue.  His demeanor, his beliefs, are the basis for the concepts of justice on many worlds that he and his people have fostered over the eons.  Including, I suspect, this one.”  Harmon looked to L’olwyn, who nodded his agreement. 

“As to mercy for Loki, I suspect that Baldur will offer you a significant reward for not taking Loki’s life when it is offered.  Amanda’s death has… altered the timeline Odin and Baldur were working from.  Loki is quite skilled at what he does, gathering information, using it to further his own purposes without drawing attention.  It was expected he would be more successful in protecting you.  Honor demands that Loki’s failure be met with the punishment Baldur had already proscribed.  And the public, widely viewed nature of her death has its own consequences.  Still, Baldur would likely prefer to keep Loki around for some time yet, for investigative purposes and… let’s call it intelligence gathering, before carrying out his ultimate punishment.”

L’olwyn cleared his throat, obviously wishing to add something.  Allistor nodded for him to speak.  “I feel it only prudent to point out as your advisor, Allistor, that taking the life of an ancient being such as Loki would grant you a nearly unfathomable amount of experience.  Thus making you many times more powerful than you already are.”

“Like, how many levels are we talking?” Allistor thought back to when Helen accidentally promoted him by granting him parklands, and the significant jump in levels he received. 

The elf looked to Harmon, who shook his head and shrugged.  Tapping his chin, L’olwyn thought it over for a moment.  “I’m afraid that’s unknown.  I doubt someone at your current level has ever defeated a being on par with an Ancient One.  I’m sure the System would put some kind of limit on your growth.  But it would likely mean hundreds of levels of growth for you.”

Harmon leaned forward in his chair.  “Loki is one of the most ancient and powerful beings still living within the Collective.  Even Baldur would probably not be able to end his life without Odin’s help. Or direct action by the System.  Most of the Ancient Ones have long ago abandoned their mortal forms and ascended to another form of existence.  Taking his life, even with the help of Odin and Baldur, would advance you to a higher level than myself or anyone you’ve met, with the possible exception of Master Daigath.”

Allistor’s head began to spin with ideas, imagining what he might be able to accomplish with that kind of power.  His eyes unfocused as he pictured himself becoming Emperor of Earth, then expanding the human influence across the galaxy.  He’d no longer need to be afraid of factions like the Or’Dralon.  He could track down whomever was responsible for the attack on the space station and make them suffer for Amanda’s death…

Allistor phrased his next words carefully.  “Please inform Baldur that he is welcome to attend the service, Harmon.  And if you’ll excuse me, I need to call my people together and make sure everything’s ready.”

The massive orcanin nodded once, lifting his great bulk from the chair with ease, and made his way to the elevator.  Just before he stepped through the open doors, Allistor called out, “Harmon, one question.”  When his friend turned and raised an eyebrow, he asked, “How does one go about killing someone like Loki?  I mean, do I need a special magical weapon?  Or do we lock him in a room and gas him, or what?”

Harmon shook his head, a definite look of sadness on his face.  “I imagine that by the time he arrives, his physical stats and health will have been greatly reduced.  In which case, like most living beings, a sword through the heart, or removal of his head, would finish the job.”  He turned his back on Allistor and entered the elevator, the doors closing behind him.

“Nigel, I need all of my ministers, advisors, inner circle, raid leaders, and stronghold leaders to meet me at the Bastion as fast as they can get there.  Also, I want all of our raid teams called back from wherever they are around the world or on Orion.  Right now, please.”   Allistor looked at L’olwyn.  “If I’m going to kill the being responsible for destroying our world, and maybe many others, all of our people should be there to witness it.”

L’olwyn stared at him for a brief moment, his face completely neutral, as usual.  Then he rose gracefully from his chair.  “I shall help ensure that your instructions are carried out.”  He looked Allistor directly in the eyes.  “I would advise, Allistor, that you not be hasty in your decision.  At least wait until Baldur has spoken his piece before making up your mind.  I know revenge is something you desire quite… emphatically.  But I beg of you to think of what is best for our people.”

Surprised, Allistor simply nodded his head.   When the elf was gone, Allistor sat for several minutes with his eyes closed.  Thoughts of Amanda mixed with visions of removing Loki’s head in front of a crowd of Invictus citizens.  His mind replayed the explosion on the station, the look of terror in her eyes as she and William were ejected into space.  His heartbeat raced, his desire for revenge flaring bright and as hot as a sun.  He wallowed in his anger, then focused it all toward Loki and those of his race. 

Then he took a few deep breaths and forced himself to replay Harmon’s words, and L’olwyn’s, in his head.  Revenge would feel great, and would be a huge morale boost for his people, but he knew the feeling wouldn’t last.  What benefit for his people might he secure from Baldur in return for foregoing his revenge?  Then again, how much easier would it be for him to become Emperor of Earth if he could tell each human leader he met with around the world that he was the one who killed the being responsible for wiping out most of the human race?

After a while, he cleared his mind and asked in a voice just barely a whisper.

“What would you tell me to do, my love?”