He seemed unimpressed and looked back at father and said, “Explain this power source. I detect neither photon nor electron flow.”
Father shook his head and said, “It is not traditional power, it is magnetic force. You still have not disclosed your purpose here. If you attempt any more violence, we shall be forced to defend ourselves.”
The giant laughed. “You cannot harness force, it is impossible.”
Father snarled, “Yet here Valhalla stands.”
The giant started slowly walking along the line of Valkyrie, pausing at Kate and looking her over intensely then stating, “You possess these Verr as well.” Then he glanced at me before continuing on, then he stopped when the Valkyrie line shifted, keeping him at our center. He glared down at father and said, “I am Ymir of Jotumheim. The Asgard, as you call yourselves, are our property. You are an experiment. Our first attempt to create warriors to battle against our enemy, the Titans, failed when the Olympians turned against us. So we created a cage, a pocket universe so we could determine what went wrong. We created you with under-developed aggression centers in your brains so that there would not be a repeat of what happened before.”
He started walking back toward me. “But when we went to check on our creation after a couple billion cycles, we found that you had somehow escaped your cage and contaminated the worlds of the cosmic engine we had created here in this realm. So we went out in search of you and to decontaminate the worlds. We have visited one so far, Ragnarok, and cleaned up your mess. We followed their last vessel here to Folkvangr.”
He smiled cruelly. “By a stroke of luck, they apparently knew where you were, so we can now terminate our experiment and start over, as well as sterilizing this planet and the others.”
He touched something on his wrist and we shielded our eyes as a violent stream of chaotic, pulsating energy shot down from the sky and impacted the Dome Shield. It simply absorbed the attack and got stronger. The continued attack brought it to its absorption capacity and excess energy shot out of the shunts behind the citadel as they were designed to. Lightning lighting up the dimming sky and leveling the jungle for a quarter mile in its wake. We saw a second beam to the north. A similar attack against Heildfine no doubt. Then it was over.
Odin looked enraged. He looked at the Frost Giant and said, “You have made your choice.” Then he said to me as he turned and stalked back toward the main gates, “Daughter, would you be so kind as to deal with this ruffian?”
I nodded once and instantly all Valkyrie took their battle stances as Ymir shouted out to father, “You have one turning of this planet to surrender yourselves to us. Then we will destroy you all even if we have to destroy the planet itself to do so.”
We started circling him as Ragnarok soldiers started streaming from the main gates and the surviving Ragnarok outside the gates stood at our backs.
I was just issuing my battle cry and charging forward when he hit another stud on his wrist and we were all blown backwards as another torrent of energy struck him from above. When it dissipated, he was gone.
There was silence for a long moment then suddenly all the Ragnarok outside the gates issued their battle cries in a deafening roar, joined by the Ragnarok still inside the gates. We Valkyrie and the Einherjer joined in.
I looked at the gates then up to the sky. A twenty four hour reprieve. We will be here Frost Giants... waiting.
Chapter 5 – The Fall of Kenatar
We all retired inside the gates of Valhalla, including the other Ragnarok. They now knew the folly of attempting to take on the Frost Giants without us. A little voice inside my head was reminding me that I didn't fare very well either.
Intark slapped my back roughly as Kate joined us, his eye sparkling as he said, “Well done Demon, I mean Kara... Now we know these beasts are not gods. You have done what our most powerful weapons could not. You damaged that infernal armor of theirs.”
I shook my head and responded, “I fear I was inadequate to the task.”
He growled then said quietly but forcefully, “Take the compliment Valkyrie! Do you not realize what you did here today? We Ragnarok witnessed the futility in fighting these Frost Giants as my ancestors watched helplessly while most of our race was wiped from our planet. None could stand against their might as they dispatched our mightiest warriors to the beyond. To stand against a Jotunn could only end in death. A single strike ended men as if they were naught.”
Then he squinted at me. “Yet our most hated enemy, who has now become our ally... Kara, the Wild One, the Demon Valkyrie of Blood... has traded blows with this seemingly unstoppable foe. Has caught his mightiest strike. Has scratched his invulnerable armor. True it is not much... yet. But you have given the Ragnarok the most dangerous weapon in the galaxy... you have given us hope.”
He slapped my back roughly again. Kat grabbed my hand and laced our fingers and said in her seductively raspy voice, “Listen to the man my love. You saw the Ragnarok at the gates. It was in their eyes. They were already defeated, but they were still going to fight on, to the last man, for their honor. But then everything shifted when you caught Ymir's strike. There is a dangerous glow in their eyes now. It is that glow of hope. They see blood now that there is hope of avenging their race, of avenging The Culling.”
Then Intark nodded and added, “And you have given us a weapon now. We know that, for all their superior technology, they do not understand nor can defend well against Asgard tech. It took two strikes by mile long generational ships at fractional-c speeds to even crack the armor on their ship. All of that kinetic energy, plus all the fury of the antimatter bottles failing on impact... it is almost incalculable the amount of power in those strikes. But the leader of the dogs of the underworld, sorry, the Valkyrie, has done the same and yet stands.”
As I stood pondering what he was telling me, Odin, Geiravor, and Inshak joined us. Kat looked at us and then motioned Tyr, Myst, Arina, and Inatra over. Then she said, “We should all retire to Kara and my quarters to discuss what is to come. We need to eat, especially my mate.” She glanced at the chunks of armor that were torn off off me in the short battle as it slowly regenerated itself, and the bruises on my ribs that were healing quickly.
Odin boomed out, “Agreed.” And with murmurings of agreement, we all started moving toward Pegasus.
Kat grabbed father's hand as he passed and pulled him to our side then laid the back of her hand on his cheek and whispered, “Father? You are connected to the city? Do you feel the strikes on it?” He nodded once. I still could not believe he has kept this from all until now. Then Kat whispered, “Such a burden.” Then we moved on. Not mentioning it again.
I looked at father on the short flight to the Central Spire. This was the man that raised me that protected the citadel's people. The voice of Asgard.
I thought of all the eons we had done battle with the Ragnarok at the gates of Valhalla. All of the strikes to the city. And father was connected to that city. Is this why the previous ruler, Rotan of the Whispering Wind, had passed to the ages at such a young age? He should have lived hundreds of thousands of cycles longer. Would father suffer the same fate? Had mother known before now?
I suddenly saw more valor in father than all the Einherjer and Valkyrie combined. If he did not wish to speak of it then I was not going to broach the subject.
I looked around as we flew. Most were the people I loved. I knew that given the choice, I would make the same choice as father. I grinned at the three Ragnarok in the vessel. My sister Inatra, whom I love fiercely. The Ragnarok commander of the Folkvangr fleet which is of the first generation of Ragnarok to live at peace with the Asgard.
Then there was the commander who, against all odds, warned all of the Frost Giant threat and reached Folkvangr. The man who up until a few hours ago, believed Asgard to still be at war with his kind. The man who now had a new gleam of hope in his one good eye as he smiled at the group. It was odd seeing a cheerful Ragnarok, he seemed to be jovial and smiling at all times.<
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Kat's voice came into my head across our nanite link. She always seemed to know what I was thinking, I wonder if she did. Did she get more out of our link than me, or was it just intuition? “Of course he's cheerful. He was coming to Folkvangr to die with the ground beneath his feet. He and his people knew this as fact. Yet they did their duty and warned all of the oncoming storm. He has reached his destination, yet here he still stands.”
Kroth, she was perceptive. Always analyzing. I guess that comes from her background as a police detective on Earth. I nodded once and she rewarded me with a quick peck to the lips when she thought nobody was looking. I actually snorted when father's voice chimed out, “I saw that Kat.” To everyone's chuckles.
Once we landed and disembarked, Arina placed a hand lovingly on Pegasus' hull and whispered, “Go play girl. We'll call if we need you.” Then Pegasus leapt into the air and playfully spiraled away as we entered the Central Spire.
I concentrated for a moment and sent out, “Daughters, prepare. We have eight guests with us.”
I almost chuckled at Samantha's response. “Auntie Arina already warned us. We have a buffet table out and are already stocking it.” Very... efficient, of Arina. Kate chuckled, I just know she is in my thoughts and listening to our private joke about our Seconds.
I sent warm feelings of love across the link to my daughters and to Arina. I saw her blush then smile and snuggle into Inatra's arm as we entered the elevator.
Kat waved her hand over the entry plate and the main doors to our quarters opened. We ushered our guests into the main room. I couldn't stop a smile from spreading on my face when I saw our daughters Samantha, and Esa look up from the magnificent assortment of foods they were setting up on a long buffet table for us and our guests.
They were shielding their eyes against our bright auras as we Valkyrie were doing the same when we looked upon their blindingly bright blue auras. The faint streamers of red trailed behind them like Will O' Wisps reminded me so much of Arina's purity.
I still couldn't get over how grown up they looked, even after eighty years of seeing them like this. They weren't yet a thousand cycles old, but when Brunhilde's nanites had aged her to full maturity to unlock her full powers, it caused a cascade effect and my daughter's nanites soon followed suit. The three seem to be interconnected in a way we have not been able to determine yet. The Asgard lovingly call them the Three Embers. We are in a constant battle with the three not to volunteer to become Valkyrie. We shall shoulder the shame of committing violence for them so that they will never have to know it.
They looked to be about twenty Earth years old now, but to me they looked to be about a hundred thousand cycles old or more. But they were still my babies. I understand Geiravor better with her constant mothering. I would do anything to protect my daughters, even if I had to move Heaven and Earth.
Samantha smiled at me and whispered in embarrassment, “Mother, please...” I chuckled inwardly, my daughters seem to have developed Kate's ability to hear my inner thoughts as well. Esa just beamed a smile back at me. Ha! Take that Sam, someone appreciates my doting. I got a backhand to my gut from Kate. I'm starting to understand how father feels when being ganged up on by the women of his family.
I glanced over at a chuckling Brunie at the service port preparing mugs of mead. I said across our link, “You too niece?”
She shot back across the link as she brought the tray to the table, “You know we adore you Aunt Kara.”
I smiled then turned to our guests and made introductions to Brunie and the girls. Intark looked between Brunhilde and Inatra with a confused look on his face and asked Ina, “Mutt?” Inatra and Brunie both hissed violently at him like cats.
Inatra was immediately in his face, glaring into his eye, and said with a challenge in her voice, “She is my daughter with my mate, Arina!”
He growled at her, baring his teeth, then he looked around and his face softened and relaxed as he said, “No offense was intended. It was just an observation. I heard of the concept of cross breeding to re-man vessels, but I have never seen it in practice. She is quite stunning.”
Inatra relaxed a little, but Brunhilde kept a hard look on her face. She hated the slur. Almost every Ragnarok not educated about her invoked it. She is generally the most confident young woman I know, but that hateful word causes her some insecurity. I hate it too, she is my niece, my blood and I hate seeing that shadow of self doubt in her eyes.
Kate placed a hand on my arm, in a silent reminder that Intark was still coming to terms with not being at war with the Asgard, and most likely meant no harm in the statement. I exhaled. I would make a point of discussing it with him to share with his crew. Education in these matters seems to make all the difference.
Everyone grabbed plates of food and mugs of mead and sat in the comfortable chairs and couches around the low table in the seating area. I shared mothering touches with my children and Brunie as I found a seat. Kate followed suit with more human style greetings... quick hugs and kisses on the cheeks for each girl.
When Inshak started to discuss ideas to combat the Jotunn, father stopped him politely and said to everyone, “There will be time enough to discuss these matters after we feast. Right now, my daughter needs to recover and give her nanites fuel to heal her. Let us instead get to know our new guest.”
Everyone nodded in agreement. Esa seemed quite taken with the rugged looking Intark. This made me uncomfortable, I still saw her as my baby, not as a woman easily ten times his age.
Even with the shadow of our shared enemy hanging in the room like a specter of doom, we had a good time. Laughing and conversing and just sharing of ourselves. The camaraderie reminded me of the mess hall in the barracks.
Father just had to share some embarrassing moments of my childhood with all the people assembled. This got some good laughs to my embarrassment. I tried to get into the conversations but kept getting distracted by the pounding of the drums in my mind. I could feel something ominous approaching, but I knew not what. Is it this Uniting that Loki spoke of? Or am I just losing my... A warm hand on my arm knocked me out of my thoughts.
I smiled and looked into my mate's twinkling eyes. Kroth do I love her! I often wonder if she realizes just what I would do to keep her and the children safe. With one last loving smile to her, I rejoined the conversation.
When the meal was done, father made a beckoning motion to the ceiling with his hand and the main holo-display bloomed over the table. He started pulling up visual records of the Stand of Ragnarok, The Culling, and my confrontation with Ymir. I quickly glanced at the girls with concern on my face. Samantha was staring intently at my battle. They did not need to see me committing violence. I felt shame.
Kate caught my concerned look, cleared her throat, and said, “Girls, perhaps you should retire for the night, or go to Brunie and Talia's for a bit? God knows you spend enough krothing time there anyway. I think you moved out and just forgot to tell us.”
This caused the Three Embers to chuckle in unison, then Brunie giggled. “The Tree of Ages knows I have offered them the spare room in both citadels enough.”
They got the hint and said their goodnights. My eye twitched when Esa blushed at Intark before the girls left. I sent a “Thank you” to Kate through our link.
Then comically, Samantha responded instead. I just know that my family can read my thoughts now! In a soft voice in my head she said, “You have nothing to be ashamed of mother. We are so very proud of you. The violence you commit protects the innocent, what higher calling is there? Your valor is beyond compare. You are Valkyrie.”
I sat taller with pride and left it at that, as we began our strategy session. Like before, we found that the best solution would be overwhelming the Frost Giant's power supply. The problem was that so many had to die to accomplish that act and the Frost Giants would retreat to their vessels before they allowed that. There had to be a better solution.
I caught myself thinking it would be different if we we
re on Earth, the human's powered battle suits would stress the Frost Giant's power supply. Even if they'd each be good for only a strike or two before the Jotunn dispatched them to the ages, since the suits were no match for them. Even the projectile weapons would have better results than energy weapons as the Jotunn's armor would have to convert and reflect the kinetic strikes of the rounds, putting a load on the power source.
I looked at the thermal overlays of my battle and noticed something disheartening. It seemed that my physical attacks barely stressed his power supply because my lattice's limited kinetic absorption capability meant less energy bleed-through for his systems to attempt to reflect. And the damage to his armor from my attacks with Thor's Power and Odin's Spear were not handled by his systems at all.
So basically, even though I was the only one to do physical damage to the Frost Giant, I did not contribute to overwhelming his systems at all.
Even when Ymir attempted to strike father, and his armor was damaged by Valhalla's energy protecting Odin, there was no heat spike. Arina nodded at that and brought up the fact that Ymir seemed confused by our energy source. For all their seemingly superior technology, they didn't seem to comprehend the simple harvesting and use of magnetic force.
Father nodded at her observation and said, “I understand, it was an accident when we discovered that gravitational force could be harnessed... not as energy, but as a force that we could use and shape more efficiently than particle based energy sources. This lead to the utilization of the even more abundant magnetic force that we could harvest. If it were not for that chance discovery, I would be inclined to agree with Ymir that it seems impossible.”
Inshak growled out in typical Ragnarok aggression and frustration, “Yes, but how do we use this to our advantage? Would it not be better to allow us Ragnarok to attack until his power source overloads?”
Valkyrie Chronicles 4 & 5 Bundle Page 5
