Terry looked at the assembled group of his friends and family. He nodded toward them.
Most didn’t notice.
Marcie winced and gasped. Colonel Marcie Walton, Terry and Char’s daughter-in-law, married to their adopted son Kaeden, a major in the FDG. Marcie had been gifted nanocytes from her mother, Felicity, one of the enhanced.
Felicity was nearby, holding the hand of her Werewolf husband, torn between watching the ship and comforting her daughter. She chose the latter, moving close and draping a protective arm over Marcie’s shoulder.
Felicity and Marcie were both raving beauties, blonde hair and blue eyes, lithe. Felicity was a socialite, but Marcie had chosen a different path. She had found her niche. She was a warrior’s warrior, the deadliest of the deadly.
Terry and Char’s adopted daughter Kimber put a hand on her brother Kae’s arm. The family had always been close. More than a century had passed, but time didn’t matter.
Family did.
Kae nodded to his sister. More than family, they were friends, too. And brothers-in-arms, having fought side by side against the enemies of mankind. It was what their father had instilled in their souls, without pushing them into it. Having the ability to act, they accepted the responsibility. Terry was proud they’d followed his path, but more than that, they followed him as the leader of the FDG, embracing his moral compass as the right way to live.
Kim’s husband Auburn was enhanced, too, because she couldn’t abide watching her husband grow old, which was the curse of the enhanced. When he turned sixty, he went into the pod doc and even though it wasn’t to the level of the one Bethany Anne used, he still came out a young thirty-five. He was the logistics chief for the FDG. He wouldn’t fight, that wasn’t his thing, but he could make sure everyone had their gear, and he could raise cattle.
His family ran the stockyards outside Chicago. He wondered how many cattle would fit aboard the ship before him. If they were going to space, he wanted steak to take the edge off, as he had explained to the others, but they hadn’t been listening.
Terry and Char’s natural daughter, Cordelia, and her husband Ramses tried to see past the others. They settled for a spot next to Joseph and Petricia. Cory had been special from the moment she was born. It was rare for Werewolf bitches to give birth and virtually unheard of with a human partner. Cory glanced at her parents, feeling how they radiated love. It was how she had grown up. She had never lost her appreciation for it, or taken their love for granted.
Cory had the gift of healing. She could ‘encourage’ her nanocytes to heal others. She’d even healed Akio at one point, but some of his nanocytes had flooded back into her bloodstream. From that point forward, her eyes glowed blue. She wore sunglasses when they took her on night operations, unless they needed to use her like a flashlight.
She wasn’t too keen on that.
Charumati’s pack was there as well. Standing farther away from the ship, away from the Vampires.
Sue, Timmons, Shonna, and Merrit shuffled impatiently. Two mated Werewolf pairs. They fought for their alpha. They fought for their friends.
The Weretigers, Aaron and Yanmei, were relaxed in the company of the Werewolves. The pack had been together for a long time, exactly one hundred years since Yanmei joined.
Ripples across the etheric were hitting the most sensitive of them like waves slapping against a beach.
A lower hatch on the ship opened and a stairway unfolded itself to the ground.
Akio walked out first. Terry exhaled heavily. He hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath. Char released his hand and wiped the sweat on her pants.
She moved in closer and wrapped her arm around Terry’s waist. He turned and kissed the side of her head. When he looked back, he saw that Akio had been joined by six others.
Char recoiled as they approached. Terry had guessed that they were the Elites who had been trapped.
Now he was sure.
Akio stopped and the Elites fanned out behind him. Akio bowed deeply, deeper than ever before. Terry and Char bowed together, to a perfect ninety-degree angle. Terry and Char’s children bowed. They’d spent a great deal of time in Japan with Akio and Yuko when they had received the nanocytes by way of Akio’s Pod Doc.
A long time had passed since then, but they had not forgotten their manners or their respect for Akio. The Vampire stood up straight before approaching and shaking hands with Terry and then Char. Akio waved awkwardly to the people standing around.
Cory smiled widely and waved back.
The Elites remained stoic. They had been freed earlier that day, and were happy to be anywhere other than their underground prison, but they were still getting used to people and regenerating from the massive energy Michael had bestowed upon them, personally shoving energy into their nanocytes, making them come alive and rejuvenating their bodies.
A group left the ship, strolling casually toward TH and Char. The Elites stepped aside, creating a tunnel through which they could pass. A dark-haired beauty walked at the side of a man who wore a long black coat. His eyes took in everything while remaining focused on Terry Henry.
They stopped before passing the last of their Vampire escorts. The woman’s eyes glowed red. She glanced from one face to the next, stopping at Joseph. Her lip pursed a moment of their own accord, pausing as she considered the Forsaken.
TH stepped between them, drawing the attention of the Elites. Their hands seized pistol grips and sword hilts. Terry held his hands up.
The man chuckled silently. The shorter woman smiled crookedly.
“We’ve met before, Empress,” Terry said. He dropped to one knee and bowed his head before continuing. “I’m sorry. Akio asked us to help him prepare this world for your return, and I’ve failed him. I’ve failed you.”
Char stepped forward and put a hand on her husband’s back. Her eyes glistened. It was supposed to be a joyous return, but TH, as he always did, took responsibility for everything, whether in his control or not.
“Cut the Empress bullshit, Terry, I remember you from the Antarctica operation. You were in hypothermia, if I remember correctly, before you were put in the Pod Doc. I’m Bethany Anne to you and I’d like to introduce Michael,” she said, taking in the sights and sounds of San Francisco. “Things look pretty damn good from where I’m standing.” She turned to the purple-eyed woman next to TH and winked. “And you must be Char.”
Bethany Anne held out her hand, no hint of subterfuge. “Trust me, behind every strong man is a strong woman.” There was a snort from behind Bethany Anne, who caught the slight glint of humor in Char’s eyes from Michael’s unsaid comment.
“I am. Pleased to meet you, Empress,” Char replied, taking BA’s warm hand and shaking firmly.
Bethany Anne rolled her eyes. “Oh for fuck’s sake, stand up, TH! You’re making me feel weird.” Terry stood as she eyed him. “And don’t apologize again. It would be pretty embarrassing for me to kick your ass upside-down and sideways in front of your wife and kids. For the record, I trust you. If you trust your people, I trust your people.” BA nodded toward Joseph and Petricia.
“I trust them with my life,” Terry said.
Bethany Anne nodded. “Listen up, people,” she said, projecting her voice to be heard for those without enhanced hearing. “Would you stop looking like a police academy cadet review?” She nodded them forward. “Come here and let’s talk like people who have kicked some ass and now are going to get a little R and R.”
The group hesitated, but Char waved them over. Felicity dragged Ted toward the front of the mob. She looked down and stopped abruptly, grinning.
She pointed. “I just love those boots!” Felicity exclaimed in her southern drawl.
Bethany Anne put up a finger to stop the next comment she just knew Michael was straining to keep in. “I know, right? Finally! A woman with taste.” She turned to him. “See? It’s all about the shoes.”
“San Francisco has some of the best shopping in the world if you can sp
are a few minutes,” Felicity replied.
Bethany Anne looked up at Michael. He struggled mightily, his jaws working as he grimaced, before surrendering and letting his eyes roll.
“And he’ll go, too,” BA said. “I’ve been away from this hunk of mostly hairless hot stuff for way too long.”
Michael pursed his lips and commented, “It’s growing. It’s just taking a while.”
She watched as the group formed a semicircle around her. “I wanted to meet you personally and thank you for everything you’ve done both in my name and on your own to help make the world a better place. Akio said that he could not have chosen better, even if he had a choice.” She paused a moment before continuing, “What we’ve found across the universe is that no matter how hard we try, evil will never be defeated.”
She shrugged. “It can be stomped into the ground.” Bethany Anne put up her fingers, just an inch apart. “It can be sliced into little fucking pieces, but where one is removed, another takes its place. Fucking cockroaches all! We can relegate them to the dark places, the slime and swamps in which they breed, but they’ll always be there. No matter. You helped make the world safe for humanity once again. You carved a chunk out of life’s cesspool and you handed it over so they could make their own way. Self-determination and all that.”
She sighed. “And now you have some choices. One of which is to take the rest you deserve. God knows you deserve it and you will absolutely receive it if that is what you want.” She smiled a moment. “However.” She winked at Terry Henry. “You knew there was going to be a however, right?”
She received the chuckles she was looking for. “I want to invite you to take the War Axe through the Annex Gate and join my father in securing and expanding the brand new Etheric Federation. There is a little side business called The Bad Company that I think you and your people would be perfect to slide right into. What do you think about exporting justice to the universe, TH?” BA didn’t wait for an answer before continuing.
She pointed up. “The sky beckons the warriors. Come home to me, TH. Earth will survive without you, because you taught it to. You’ve done your duty. Your legacy will live on, but I have a new mission ready for those willing to step up. To take your skills and get-shit-done attitude in a place that will cause your eyes to pop out. Come home to the stars. Come home to the Etheric Federation.” She looked over the group. “All of you.”
Terry squeezed Char’s hand. They turned and smiled at each other. He looked at the rest of the eager faces. It was everything he never knew that he wanted. He opened his mouth to speak…
Before he could answer, a huge German Shepard-looking dog vaulted from the ship and raced in a wide arc around the Elites and slid to a stop near Terry and Char, wagging its tail furiously as it looked at him.
“Who’s a good boy?” Terry said, wearing a ridiculous grin as he took in the dog. Char tried to keep her face calm with her husband who just couldn’t stop himself.
Michael answered. “He knows who the good boy is. This is Dokken, and he’s pretty smart. When and if you get a chip in your head, you’ll be able to communicate with him,” Michael finished before turning to the panting creature. “Yes? Are you sure? Okay. Have it your way,” Michael said aloud, speaking to the dog. He looked back to TH. “He says to tell you that he thinks you’re a good boy, too.”
Terry started to laugh, in a way that a person does when they’re among friends.
CHAPTER TWO
On Board the ArchAngel II
Valerie and Robin emerged from the transport ship, closely following Michael as he led them into the ArchAngel II, the large ship they had seen from the ground when Michael picked them up.
It was still almost unbelievable that she had left her friends behind, all but Robin.
The woman at her side, barely a woman at all if you counted her actual age instead of looking at her through the lens of all she had done.
Now it was the two of them leaving the comfort of their homes behind to go off and join Michael in the fight for humanity’s survival from a different angle—from space.
Only, as Michael had just explained to them, they had signed up for more than anything they could have fathomed before his explanation.
Most impressive, and exciting, among those was that they were about to meet the Bethany Anne, or BA, as some called her. If Cammie could’ve been here, she would’ve pissed her pants in excitement, at least just a little. Valerie, for that matter, was pleasantly surprised it wasn’t happening yet.
Everything she had heard about BA was a confusing smorgasbord of one part awesome with a major portion of confusion thrown in for good measure. She was pretty sure most of the horrible parts were lies.
Valerie’s understanding of Bethany Anne was a picture painted of the legend by Vampires she had been raised with back before she broke off from them to stop her brother’s invasion of America. Then she had met Michael and become his Justice Enforcer, and come to understand that much she thought she knew about the world were fabrications…lies.
That included Bethany Anne.
She wasn’t the devil many had believed her to be, but more like a take-no-shit woman who had risen up to take control of Weres and Vampires in Michael’s absence, and then taken the fight to space. Her focus was on saving humanity.
At this moment, Valerie couldn’t imagine any more respect and admiration could possibly be flowing out of her and toward Bethany Anne. Her hands were almost shaking with nerves and excitement as they approached, and Michael had to even turn and give her a calming glance before they entered the great reception room aboard ArchAngel II.
“Remember,” he told them, “she is your empress now, but she is also a warrior, just like you. A woman given power beyond belief, who fights for justice. You aren’t so different, at the end of the day. I can assure you, she still puts her pants on one leg at a time.”
Valerie felt the heat rush to her cheeks. “I-I’m not usually like this…”
He raised an eyebrow. “What, like a gushing school girl from when we had boarding schools?” Michael asked. If he was trying to hide the smile pulling at the edge of his lips, he wasn’t doing a clever job of it. “I know. However, trust me, you needn’t be nervous.” He glanced over. “Nor you, Robin.”
It was only then that Valerie noticed how pale Robin was.
For her friend, Valerie pulled herself together. She stood a bit taller, chest out, jaw clenched, and nodded. At her side, Robin worked to do the same.
He looked them both over and nodded slightly. “Very good.” Michael motioned for them to follow, and then led the way through the last set of sliding metal doors.
As they entered, a team of men and women turned to assess them. Each was intimidating in their own way, but all even more so because of the scent Valerie was catching—there was certainly something of Vampire and Were here, though it was different. Like nothing she had ever engaged.
They slowly parted and Valerie was able to see her. She seemed taller, but Valerie noticed her boots…had heels?
Bethany Anne was speaking to a man who she had to look up at even in heels. He was shaking his head, and Valerie could hear their conversation.
“Look, John.” Bethany Anne was talking. “If we have one fucking chance of locating a cache, imagine the stories we could tell for centuries.” Her hands were animated, moving apart.
“BA, I’m with William. I can’t believe--regardless of the stories we both heard when we were here on Earth before--that there are any Twinkies still edible on this whole planet.”
Bethany Anne sighed, her shoulders slumping just a bit. “Well, that fucking sucks.” The movement around her broke their conversation and Bethany Anne’s head turned to her left, a small smile playing on her lips as the two women came closer.
At the sight of her watching them, both Valerie and Robin bent to one knee instinctively.
“Empress, we are honored to serve,” Valerie stated, still not looking up.
Without
even the sound of footsteps, she was aware that Bethany Anne was standing directly in front of her. A finger met her chin, pulling her up to look upon the Empress, then a nod to tell her to stand.
“Welcome to the ArchAngel and welcome to standing among those who fight for Earth. Whether from out in space--” She pointed up. “--or here on the planet. You have my appreciation and respect for all you have done. Both before you met Michael, and since.” She looked at him. “Although showing up like he did in a lightning storm with Forsaken all around and your brother trying to kill you was a bit much.”
“The timing was impressive,” Michael agreed.
All Valerie and Robin could do was look at each other in confusion, which made Bethany Anne and Michael both start chuckling and a few others seemed to be enjoying the camraderie in a way she couldn’t yet understand.
It was like these two had just walked into some old members only club and had a lot to learn.
“Don’t worry,” Bethany Anne told them with a wave of her hand. “You’ll learn to fit right in. As for now…” She glanced around at the others there. “We’ll need a few minutes alone.”
The others nodded and departed with welcoming nods to Valerie and Robin.
When it was just Bethany Anne, Michael, Valerie, and Robin, Bethany Anne stepped closer and took each of the women in an embrace. She pulled back, eyeing them, and smiled, a bit of her earlier humor in her eyes lost and concern replacing it. “You two have no idea what you’re getting into, do you?”
Valerie glanced around at the ship, wondering where it had been and what it had seen, and turned back to Bethany Anne, “None.”
Robin shook her head.
“Fair enough.” Bethany Anne nodded and started pacing as she spoke. “The future is going to be treacherous, but beautiful. Mind-blowingly full of activity, and yet, you’ll have moments where you wonder what you’re doing with your life and how you got here.” She sighed. “Unfortunately, your heart will ache as you miss your friends here on Earth. I can promise you that as I still ache a couple of times a year as I think of friends who died almost two centuries ago.”
Gateway To The Universe: In Bad Company Page 2
