All’s Fair in Blood and War (The Kurtherian Endgame Book 4)

by Michael Anderle

  Tabitha couldn’t see what Peter could: being responsible for Alexis and Gabriel had changed her. She’d become comfortable with the idea that having authority didn’t necessarily mean being the authoritarian during her time in the game world.

  Bethany Anne returned what felt like an eternity later with a familiar-looking paper bag in each hand. “You didn’t get to eat your dinner earlier. It’s amazing what you can get in the middle of the night if you're not too fussy.”

  “You are the literal best,” Peter told Bethany Anne sincerely. He took the bag she held with a grateful grin. “And you’ll take that back when you eat one of those fries. They’re wonderful.”

  Bethany Anne tipped a finger at him and sat down to open her own bag. “We’ll see. Eat up, you need your strength.” She waved a fry at him before biting down on it and chewing thoughtfully for a second.

  “It didn’t take you long to run out for this,” Peter mused idly, more interested in his second chance at dinner than how it had been procured.

  Bethany Anne grinned guiltily. “Okay,” she admitted. “They’re good. I called ahead and had our order ready to pick up. I didn't know which one you prefer so I got you one each of the specials.”

  Peter unwrapped the first burger. “You pretty much nailed it.”

  She rummaged in her own bag and came up with a carton of hash brown fries for him and a Coke for each of them.

  Peter bowed to Bethany Anne before taking them from her. “Totally nailed it,” he amended. “Kerry’s fries are the best. I can’t believe nobody thought of making hash browns this way before.”

  They chatted while they ate. Bethany Anne kept the conversation superficial. She talked about the potatoes they were growing that were very close to Earth-equivalent, including the taste, when fried, seeing that was what he needed.

  Peter made short work of the burgers stacked inside his bag.

  After they’d eaten, he went to find a trash can for their empty wrappers, needing to stretch his legs after sitting still for the last couple of hours.

  When he returned, Bethany Anne was talking to the nurse from earlier.

  The nurse spotted Peter. “He’s here. Commander Silvers, if you’d like to come this way.” He broke into a smile. “It’s time to meet your son.”

  Peter’s knees went wobbly for what seemed like the millionth time that long day when he heard a faint snuffly cry and Tabitha’s soft murmur.

  “They’re okay?” he asked.

  The nurse nodded. “They are. Mother and baby are in perfect health. We were just waiting for you to get back to complete baby’s registration paperwork.”

  Peter frowned for a second until he realized what the problem was. “She wouldn’t tell you his name? I wouldn't worry about it. She wouldn't tell any of us.”

  Bethany Anne groaned. “For crying out loud! This has been bugging me for months, Peter!” She pushed him. “Go in there and find out.”

  Peter winked and headed for the door. “That’s the plan. Tabbie has to tell us his name now he's been born.”

  “The surprise was that Alexis knew the whole time and didn’t give it up.”

  They turned at the sound of Michael’s voice.

  Bethany Anne's smile lit the corridor when she saw her husband walking toward them. “You made it!”

  “Glad you did,” Peter agreed. “Tabitha wanted you here.”

  “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” Michael told them both. “Eve has been keeping me updated. As well as a few others, who will be here shortly.”

  Bethany Anne waved Peter toward the nurse. “Go, see Tabitha and meet your son. We’ll hold everyone off when they get here and give you three a minute to get acquainted before we welcome him to the world.”

  “And find out his name,” Michael added, the tiniest of smirks gracing one corner of his lips.

  Bethany Anne pointed at Michael. “Yes, that too.”

  High Tortuga, Space Fleet Base, Medical Unit

  Peter hesitated outside the door to Tabitha's recovery room to listen to her singing to their baby.

  A second later, the lullaby stopped and she snorted. “Are you going to come in and say hi or are you planning on hovering there until you take root?”

  He pushed the door open, careful not to flood the softly-lit room with the harsh light from the corridor. “Hey, beautiful. What’s a fine chick like you doing in a place like this?”

  Tabitha was mostly upright on the bed, leaning on the mass of pillows behind her with the baby in her arms. She narrowed her eyes playfully, her fire undiminished by the ordeal of giving birth. “Some charmer talked me into bed. It’s sad, really. Taken out of the game at the peak of my hotness.”

  Peter grinned as he closed the door with a barely audible click and walked over to the bed. “Your peak started when the year still began with a two, and it’s not showing any signs of ending any time soon.”

  Tabitha grew slightly pink in the cheeks. “You're too smooth for your own good, Pete. I look really messy, but I don't care. Come see the tiny human we made!”

  She looked just perfect to Peter, from her hospital gown and her hair sticking up all over the place to the dark circles under her eyes. He leaned over and kissed her. “I wouldn't change a thing about you. How are you feeling after the cesarean?”

  She patted her bed with her free arm. “I’m feeling good, a bit achy where the nanos are working on deep tissue still. Sit with us.”

  He sat down on the edge of Tabitha's bed and held out his hands for the blanket-wrapped bundle. “You ready to share a moment?”

  Tabitha smiled as she gently placed the baby in Peter's arms and he got his first glimpse of his son. He was mesmerized by his miniature fingers and toes and the dark, downy hair on his head. The way his face was arranged in a perfect copy of his mother’s most petulant pout. “He’s so beautiful.”

  The baby began to squirm, reddening as he drew breath to protest being parted from his mother. Peter ran a finger over his son’s forehead to soothe him. “Hey, little man. No need to cause a ruckus. You and I are going to be best buddies, just wait and see.”

  Tabitha’s eyes shone. She leaned over carefully and whispered to the baby, “Say hello to your Daddy, Todd.”

  Peter felt his heart contract. He met Tabitha’s eyes. “Todd? Really?”

  Tabitha nodded and smiled beatifically at their son. “Yup. Todd Michael Nacht-Silvers. Any objections?”

  Peter looked into Todd’s eyes, which seemed to be tracking him already. “It’s perfect. He’s perfect.” He scooted along the bed so he could wrap his free arm around Tabitha. “And so are you. Well done, Mama. I’m so proud of you.”

  There was a quiet tap, and Bethany Anne slipped through the door. “You’ve got visitors.” She caught sight of Todd and crossed the room in an instant. “But me first. Aunt’s privilege.”

  Peter looked questioningly at Tabitha.

  She waved him off, stifling a yawn. “I’ll be fine as long as it’s a quick visit. But then Todd and I have to get some sleep.”

  “If you say so.” He stood and prepared to transfer his son to his Aunt Bethany Anne for a snuggle.

  Bethany Anne brought baby Todd in close and cooed to him. She grinned at them both. “He’s beautiful.” She whispered to Todd before looking up again. “Congratulations to all three of you. We’ll talk about Todd’s birth gift tomorrow. For now, just tell me when you’ve had enough of visitors, and I’ll clear everyone out.”

  The door opened again, and there was a moment’s chaos when everyone tried to get through at once. They heard the nurse scolding someone. Possibly John, from the rumbling reply.

  Bethany Anne rolled her eyes for Tabitha’s benefit. “Here, you take him back while I teach these grown-ass men and women how to use a door.”

  Tabitha snickered, accepting Todd into her arms. She stared at him as she’d been doing from the second the surgical team had placed him in her arms. She couldn’t get over him. He was a perfect blend o
f Pete and her.

  Bethany Anne had arranged her visitors into manageable groups of two and three. Tabitha nodded and smiled and replied to their praise, her eyelids growing heavier during the gaps between well-wishers.

  Todd fell asleep, so Peter took him from Tabitha and gently laid him in the bassinet attached to the far side of her bed.

  Without the baby to keep her alert, Tabitha’s eyelids fluttered closed in a matter of minutes despite her best efforts to stay awake. Peter tucked her in while Bethany Anne cleared the room like she’d promised she would.

  Peter sighed a huge sigh of relief when the door closed behind John and Jean, who were the last to leave.

  Bethany Anne kept her voice low, not wishing to disturb Tabitha or Todd's sleep. “Interesting day, huh?”

  Peter nodded solemnly as he took the chair beside Tabitha’s bed. Sitting down, he breathed in twice before answering. “I’ve never experienced anything like it.”

  Bethany Anne chuckled softly. “This is only the beginning, Peter. Sleep now. I’m not going anywhere until morning.”

  Peter squirmed to get comfortable enough to fall asleep. He opened one eye as he drifted off. “Thank you, BA,” he mumbled.

  Bethany Anne, who was arranging all the welcome gifts, paused. “It’s what family does,” she replied softly as he began to snore.

  2

  High Tortuga, Space Fleet Base, Barnabas’ Office

  It wasn’t technically his office, but Barnabas had claimed it long ago and stenciled his name on the door regardless. Tabitha had taken the one down the corridor just to annoy him, but she never used it.

  Finders keepers.

  Barnabas enjoyed the solitude in this re-creation of his office on the Meredith Reynolds. He never felt alone on the ship, given Shinigami’s efforts. But here he had this office, and the empty underground part of the base it was situated in was the closest thing to a quiet place he had found.

  He was somewhat out of touch with goings on around the base, having had his hands full with the taming of Shinigami for the last few years.

  However, maybe it was time to reconnect. Barnabas had an idea that Bethany Anne had some plan in mind. He could see no reason she would use resources doubling up on defenses otherwise.

  As if karmic intervention had drawn the object of Barnabas’ thoughts to him, Bethany Anne walked into his office and took a seat in the dark leather wingback chair opposite the desk from him.

  “How’s it going, Uncle Barnabas?” She crossed one leg over the other and leaned into the chair's comfortable padding. “Tabitha told me you stopped by to see her and baby Todd today.”

  Barnabas flushed with delight. “I did indeed. It's always a pleasure to welcome a new member of the family.” His smile morphed into a knowing look. “But that's not why you’re here, is it?”

  Bethany Anne gave him a wry smile. “Straight to the point as always. Your efforts on the vigilante front have not gone unnoticed.” She inclined her head a touch. “You’re doing a great job cleaning the place up so far, and you know how much I appreciate what you’re doing.”

  Barnabas arched an eyebrow, knowing full well what was coming. Bethany Anne hit him with that disarming smile, the million-watt one nobody could say no to because you just knew that smile was based on her faith in you to do whatever task she had in mind. “Whatever service I can give my Queen, I would be glad to provide,” he replied.

  Bethany Anne's smile impossibly grew brighter. “Great! You’ll love this, I know it. How would you like to reduce your coverage area for a while? Like, to this planet?”

  Barnabas steepled his hands in front of him on the desk. That sounded like something he would not mind happening at all. “Because you’re preparing to leave and fight the Ooken.”

  Bethany Anne nodded, drumming her nails on the arm of the chair. “You’ve got it. Almost. The Ooken are preparing to move.”

  Barnabas inclined his head a touch. “But you are ready for them.” It was a statement, not a question.

  Bethany Anne grinned. “Of course I’m ready. The time for licking wounds is over. I have all my pieces lined up on the board, and they’re playing kiddie checkers.”

  Barnabas chuckled. “When do you leave?”

  “Not long now,” she confirmed. “I’m expecting to hear that the fleet is fully operational when I speak to the Admiral late tomorrow. Alexis and Gabriel get out of the Vid-docs today, and not a day too soon. Even though I spent a lot of the time in there with them, the nine years was a long time for us to be apart as a family. As soon as they’ve recovered, we’re good to go.”

  Barnabas flexed his fingers while he considered the information. “So you want me to watch over this planet while you’re gone? What about Devon?”

  Bethany Anne waved unconcernedly. “Phase Three is complete. Devon has begun to settle of its own accord, the defenses there are all in place, and the Guardian is completed and is fully operational. That end of the Interdiction is complete, and all records of High Tortuga’s location are being scrubbed from existence and replaced with Devon’s coordinates instead.”

  Barnabas dropped his hands and leaned back in his chair. “An impressive feat.”

  “Yeah, of ADAM’s,” Bethany Anne clarified. “I’m not going to pretend to understand how or what he did. As long as it works, I’m happy.” The corner of her mouth curled in satisfaction. “By the time he’s done, not even the most insignificant independent captains will escape with their maps intact.” She got to her feet, impatient to leave. “I have to get to the Vid-doc suite, but I can give you until tomorrow to think on this. If you don’t want the duty, I can make other arrangements.”

  Barnabas shrugged. “You can have my answer now. I’m happy to remain behind. I’m enjoying my work here. It’s therapeutic.”

  Bethany Anne raised an eyebrow. “There are ways of relaxing that don’t involve killing, you know. You could play a bit more chess. I’ve heard it’s good for the mind.”

  Bethany Anne winked and stepped into the Etheric, leaving an annoyed Barnabas gasping at his desk.

  High Tortuga, Space Fleet Base, Michael’s Offices, Vid-doc suite

  Michael paced the room to work off his excess energy. The children would exit the Vid-docs soon, but it couldn’t be soon enough for him.

  Eve turned from the console where she was monitoring the Vid-docs to give him a stern look. “Such repetitive motion only causes the perception of time to be altered, so you experience more of it.”

  Michael paused and raised an eyebrow. “You mean that a watched pot never boils?”

  Eve bowed her head. “A rose by any other name.” She snorted softly and turned back to the console.

  Bethany Anne appeared in the transfer area. She strode out of the recess and over to the wallscreen, which showed Addix waiting patiently in the game version of the Vid-doc room. Bethany Anne had to look around, but she spotted Alexis and Gabriel sitting with their backs against the wall, talking quietly. “Am I late?”

  “You’re right on time,” Eve assured her. She instructed Addix, Alexis, and Gabriel to get into their Vid-docs. “It’s not technically necessary, but it will help to prevent you from feeling disjointed when you wake.”

  The Vid-docs on both sides lit up and the screen went dark as all three went into the rejuvenation cycle.

  Bethany Anne and Michael moved as one to stand by the twins’ Vid-docs.

  “One minute,” Eve told them.

  The lights on the Vid-docs went out and the opaque tint drained from the window in the lid, revealing the occupants.

  Michael’s brain tried to trick him. For a fraction of a second, he half expected to see Alexis and Gabriel as the five-year-olds they had been when they entered the Vid-doc.

  Of course, his children now had the bodies to match their minds—and the experience of the years lived in-game to go with their upgraded bodies. Of course, he had spent as much time with them while they were growing these last months as possible, and it had still been
slightly jarring to witness the change each time. If not for his regular visits then it would have been difficult to recognize them.

  Bethany Anne drew a breath when the Vid-docs began their unlocking sequences. “My babies.”

  “You realize our son is taller than you now?” Michael pointed out. “While I’m well aware that you could still quite easily carry either of our children on your hip, I can't see Gabriel wanting to be cosseted. Alexis even less so.”

  Bethany Anne dismissed Michael's good sense with a wave. “I don't care how big they get. They are my babies. That's all there is to it.”

  Michael chuckled at his wife’s soft heart when it came to their children as the Vid-docs’ lids clicked open.

  Alexis was first to wake, followed by Gabriel, and lastly, Addix. Bethany Anne, Michael, and Eve helped them down.

  While Addix had the advantage of being quadrupedal to balance her, Alexis and Gabriel held onto their parents for the moment. Although their muscle tone was fine, their legs were wobbly, which was no wonder after aging nine years and growing several feet in height.

  Bethany Anne examined them closely while Eve took care of Addix. “How are you both feeling? Any pain or dizziness?”

  “No, I’m good,” Gabriel replied. “But I don’t think those are actually my legs.” He poked his thigh and gazed at Eve. “Why do they feel so weird?”

  “The Vid-doc was not intended for this. Consequently, the development of new neural pathways in your brains and the growth in your bodies were two separate processes,” Eve explained.

  “So why are we able to stand?” Alexis asked. “Without the movement to develop our muscular structure, we should be flopping around on the floor like fish.” She looked down at herself. “I feel fine. Weak, perhaps, but fine.”

  Eve waved her hands as she answered. “We used mild electrical impulses to sync your movement within the game with your bodies. The connections are somewhat weak at present, but you two are strong and your bodies semi-active. Plus, your nanocytes are now fully functional. I suspect you will return to peak health in no time.”

  Alexis turned to her parents. “When can we see Aunt Tabbie and the baby?” She paused for a beat. “Whose name I don’t know,” she finished in a dull monotone, her eyes shifting as she spoke.