“Director Trueart.” Frank nodded with a smile. “Thank you for allowing Earth to join the Alliance.”
“We’re stronger together.” Director Trueart waved them over to take seats. “Earth and Jace’s own planet of Raze are welcome additions to the Alliance. I’m sure it will only become stronger as more and more planets join our cause and their Arilion Knights come here to train.”
The short Bracka man beamed with pride. A cheery playfulness raced across his wide face and large features. The only time Emma had interacted with the Bracka before, was when she had first been chosen as Earth’s Arilion Knight. The events of that night had placed her in front of the council, led by Director Trueart. The council also consisted of Slain and the leader of the Alliance militia, Commander Kull.
Emma found herself grateful that the Ree woman was not there. Past her physically intimidating size, the commander was less than polite and seemed to have a vendetta against Emma despite her having no history with the woman.
Inside Slain’s office, General Fox, Slain, and the director had been sitting on the couches. When the Arilion walked in, they all rose. General Fox nodded to Frank and Emma and extended a hand to Jace.
“I’m General Fox,” he said with an up-twitch of his lips. “I’m always glad to meet another Arilion Knight.”
Jace looked at the extended hand for a moment, then accepted it. He didn’t say much besides a low grunt of approval.
If the general took offense, he didn’t show it.
“Well, thank you all for coming.” Director Trueart looked to the entrance of Slain’s office as the door opened and the waterfall outside parted. “Ah, Commander Kull arriving right on time. We can begin.”
Emma must have let out her sigh just a little too loud. Frank looked over at her with a raised eyebrow.
“Do we not like Commander Kull?” Frank whispered.
“I don’t know. Do you like being stubbed in your toe over and over again?” Emma said, fighting back another wave of unease. “You’ll see.”
“Greaaaaaat,” Frank whispered back.
Commander Kull entered the room, all eight feet of her with broad shoulders and a black and gold uniform, marking her as a member of the Alliance forces. Her dark hair was braided and pulled tight behind her head in a Mohawk-type style. Both large and muscular, she had to weigh close to five hundred pounds.
“Commander Kull, welcome.” Director Trueart waved her forward. “You’re just in time. We were about to begin talking about the situation on Earth.”
Commander Kull’s eyes wandered around the room. She nodded to Slain, grimaced at Emma. Her gaze didn’t get to Frank or the general before landing on Jace.
“Director, with all due respect, the Were should not be here.” Commander Kull shook her head as she judged Jace as if he were a pile of dough that needed to cook longer in the oven. “He’s not mentally stable. You know his past history of being a sla—”
Jace let out a low growl. Standing straight, he was still much shorter than the Ree woman, but that didn’t seem to bother him. A purple construct was just beginning to form in his right hand when Slain stepped in.
“Jace is an Arilion Knight,” Slain said, physically stepping between the two. “He’s welcome in my office whenever he would like.”
Commander Kull looked over to Director Trueart for support. The Bracka man ignored her gaze. “Well, it looks like we’re all here. Commander, I don’t think you’ve met General Fox and Major Frank Wolffe as of yet.”
While Commander Kull, Frank, and the general exchanged pleasantries, the commander’s words weren’t lost on Emma. The commander was about to say that Jace had been a slave. Emma eyed the Were up and down.
He had calmed himself enough now to allow the construct he had begun to prepare in his hand to dissipate. He still stared ill will through his yellow eyes at the commander.
“Please, everyone take a seat and we can begin,” Director Trueart said, placing himself once again on the couch in Slain’s office.
Slain and Frank brought over the two chairs that sat in front of his desk. Jace stood behind the group, leaning against an over-stuffed bookcase. Commander Kull for the most part ignored him as she did Emma.
“Now that the council has voted to include both Earth and Raze into the Alliance, we can begin moving forward with details of our new partnership.” Director Trueart touched the holo table that sat in front of his couch like a coffee table. “The first order of business should be the plan to convert a portion of the Academy to a facility to welcome, train, and offer guidance to the New Arilion Knights, appearing all over the universe.”
Emma caught Frank’s obvious stare at General Fox.
“Our location on Earth, the Den, isn’t equipped to handle thousands of new recruits,” General Fox said, looking at each of the gathered members in turn, including Jace. “We can send out broadcasts informing every galaxy that the Academy is the new headquarters of the Arilion Knights. The Den will act as more of an elite team of Arilion Knights as we take on specific missions to protect the universe.”
“The Academy will be like the proving grounds and the Den will be our strike team.” Frank reiterated the general’s words as if he were mulling over the thought himself. “But there has to be thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of habitable planets in the universe. Will the Academy be able to house that many Arilion?”
“As of today no,” Slain said, leaning forward in his seat next to the general. “But we’ll grow with the demand. The Academy is an orbiting station that will evolve to meet the need.”
This seemed enough for Frank.
“We’ll start broadcasting the signal as soon as possible,” Director Trueart stated. “Now to the more pressing matter at hand. It seems Earth has a problem and that means the Alliance has a problem. We’ll send a team to assist you with the eradication of the Vilmar from your planet.”
“The Vilmar?” Jace said from where he leaned against the bookcase to the rear of the group. “What about the Vilmar? Have they invaded Earth?”
Commander Kull rolled her eyes, about to open her mouth and no doubt say something rude or demeaning to the Were.
“As far as we know, it’s just a single Vilmar that has come and infiltrated one of our main cities,” Emma said before the commander could get a word out. “He’s turned dozens, maybe more of our inhabitants. We need to stop him before he can turn more.”
“I’ll come with you,” Jace said with no hesitancy in his voice. “I’ll go to Earth and fight for your planet.”
What the heck? Is this the same guy that I just met yesterday that didn’t even want to talk? Emma thought to herself. What’s happened to him? Who is this guy?
“Your enthusiasm is appreciated,” General Fox said with a kind but firm tone. “But we have Frank and Emma on the job. With a few units of Marines, we should be able to control the situation ourselves.”
Jace’s wolfish face twisted into a mask of frustration.
“We all know your people have a deep feud with the Vilmar,” Commander Kull added. “But this is not the time to let your emotions get the best of your actions. Besides, you have no training as an Arilion.”
Frank raised his hand like a small child in class waiting for the teacher to call on him. Everyone in the room stared at him as if he had gone crazy.
Emma couldn’t help feel a small smile cross her lips.
“Major Wolffe?” Slain finally asked.
“Oh, yes, thank you,” Frank said clearing his throat. “For the record, I had no idea the werewolves and vampires had a blood feud. Second, if Jace wants to come, I would like to respectfully tell the adults in the room that we could use his help. Especially if he’s familiar with our enemy. I’ll take responsibility for him.”
“Like you took responsibility for the member of your own Marine unit that bombed the Draconian capitol and killed their Prime?” Commander Kull asked.
Emma had no idea what the commander was referring to, but she cou
ld guess as the words hit Frank like a physical punch to his gut. Anger raced across his features like Emma had never seen. The normally good-natured Marine clenched his fists so hard they shook. The purple energy that glowed from his vambraces brightened in intensity.
For a moment, Emma thought he was going to bound from his seat and knife the commander to death. Even though she had to weigh twice his own weight, right now Emma would give the edge to Frank in a fight.
“Frank,” General Fox said in a low tone that carried so much force Emma was confused. How a single word spoken so softly could command that strength was foreign to her.
Frank unclenched his fists. A vein in his neck jumped up and down like a child in one of those inflatable jump houses.
“Commander Kull.” Director Trueart picked up the conversation. “Major Wolffe is one of the most experienced Arilion Knights that exists in this universe as of now. If he sees fit to include Jace in his plans, I feel like we should seriously consider the request. He also brings up an important point. If Jace knows this enemy, he could be a great asset in the fight for Earth.”
Commander Kull didn’t respond. She held Frank’s death stare with a stone face of her own.
“Well.” Emma felt obligated to fill the silence. “This is going great. So we’ll head back to Earth to take on the Vilmar. Three Arilion and Marines to have our back. Great plan. Let’s do it.”
“I agree wholeheartedly with what is being said.” Slain’s orange eyes twinkled as he looked over to Emma. “Perhaps in the spirit of the Alliance, we can include a few members of the Academy to join the unit. Maybe a Bracka and a Ree could be found to accompany the strike team.”
Emma immediately picked up on what Slain was hinting at. How the man could be so thoughtful even at a stressful time like this was beyond her. Emma didn’t have an uncle, but if she did, she imagined he’d be something like this.
“Jeba and Layga both have training on Earth fighting alien forces,” Emma volunteered. “They’d be a great addition to the team.”
“Oh, you can’t be serious,” Commander Kull huffed. “Sending two first-year recruits to fight the Vilmar is insanity. A contingent of my own warriors should be part of this fight before any first-year recruits.”
“No need; we’ll have the Arilion Knights there,” Frank said with a wild grin. “I’d take an Arilion Knight over one or two of your own warriors any day of the week.”
“Oh no,” Director Trueart said from his spot next to the commander.
“Well, why don’t you put your body where your mouth is?” A wild gleam came over Commander Kull’s large dark eyes. “That can be arranged. Why don’t we settle this with action instead of words?”
“I thought you’d never ask,” Frank said, rising from his seat. “We can use the training room right here, right now.”
“Now let’s all calm down here,” General Fox said, rising from his seat. “We’re all on the same side.”
“There’s nothing wrong with friendly sparring to make one another better,” Commander Kull said with no sign of friendship on her face. She turned to Frank. “Me and my best against you and yours.”
“Yippee ki yay,” Frank said, turning to Emma. “I’ll take Jackson to be my second.”
“Wow, hey.” Emma rose from her seat since it seemed like everyone was doing so now. “As much as I’m all about beating one another to a pulp, Earth has a very serious problem.”
“This won’t take long,” Frank said, grinning at Commander Kull. “Let’s do this.”
18
Events were moving so quickly, Emma was having a hard time keeping track. One minute they were in a meeting, the next the party had been moved over to the danger room inside the Academy.
Emma, Frank, and surprisingly Jace were on the far side of the room while General Fox, Dean Extile, and Director Trueart conversed in the center. Commander Kull had gone to get her second.
“Why didn’t you choose me?” Jace snarled. “I would have ripped them apart.”
“Well, I think you just answered your own question,” Frank said, rolling his neck around his shoulders. He stretched out his quads by lifting his leg behind him and grabbing his foot. Next he left his legs straight on the ground and reached down to touch his toes, stretching his hamstrings. “We’re trying to prove a point here, not kill them.”
“And what point would that be?” General Fox asked as he joined the Arilion Knights. “Frank, we just formed an alliance with these people. What are you thinking?”
“You know me, I don’t really care what people think about me or that whole respect business,” Frank said, jumping up and down on his toes. “But I think if we can prove to them what we can do, we’ll solidify our bonds of trust.”
“And that had nothing to do with the mention of your friend?” Emma lifted an eyebrow. “The one Commander Kull prodded you with?”
“Naw, nothing at all,” Frank lied with a grin. “Aren’t you going to stretch and warm up? We have a tag-team match coming up soon.”
Truth be told, Emma wasn’t afraid to fight, but neither was she looking forward to facing down the Ree and whatever other champion she decided to be her second. Earth needed them. The Vilmar could be spreading with Desmond Delshire at the helm. Who knew how many more he had already turned.
“You ease up if you’re winning.” General Fox stared lasers into Frank’s eyes. “Yes, you beat them, but nothing more. This isn’t a stage for you to work through your issues.”
“I understand, sir.” Frank gave the general the thumbs-up sign. “You know me.”
“I do know you and that’s why I’m worried.” The general turned on his heel. He returned back to his place with Dean Extile and Director Trueart.
“Why does everybody always say that?” Frank wondered out loud.
Without warning, the door to the training room swung open and in walked Commander Kull followed by the largest Ree Emma had ever seen. He was a mountain of a warrior, a true testament to his race. Emma had seen Ree before. She had become accustomed to their size. This one was unlike anything she had ever witnessed. He had to be nearly ten feet tall. His black and gold uniform fit like a glove, showing off his massive arms and legs. Dark hair held back by a ponytail and a thick beard hid most of his features, but there was no denying the intensity in his ebony eyes.
Whatever Commander Kull had told him was going on must have sparked something close to his heart. He held a double-bladed axe in his right hand whose sharp edges looked like they could be the width of the door leading to her house.
Commander Kull also carried a weapon. A curved blade rested on her right shoulder. She had donned a black helmet that reminded Emma of something a boxer would use when sparring, except hers was metal.
Emma felt an empty sensation touch the pit of her stomach. She wasn’t going to back down, but neither was she eager to run into either Ree.
I thought having other Arilion Knights on my team was supposed to be a good thing. Emma began preparing herself mentally for the fight about to take place. I didn’t realize I was going to be picking fights with giants.
“I’ll take the big one—the bigger one,” Frank said with a rueful grin. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help when the fighting starts. Use your speed and range weapons. I don’t think they’ll be able to move as fast or as long as we will. This is going to be fun.”
How the Marine could smile at a time like this was beyond Emma. She shook her arms, stretching the joints and ligaments that ran from her shoulders to her fingers.
“You and I have different definitions of fun,” Emma said, stepping forward with Frank to meet the pair of Ree in the center of the room. “And you don’t be afraid to ask for help either.”
“There she is.” Frank nodded with her words. “You know what they say, the bigger they are.”
“We’ll keep Alliance rules.” Director Trueart joined the combatants in the center of the ring. “The fight will be over when both members from each side submit or are no
longer able to continue. I don’t need to remind you that we are now allies. Killing blows will not be tolerated. If anyone tries to inflict permanent damage on the other team, they will forfeit the match for their side. Questions?”
Frank was locked in a staring contest with the giant Ree Commander Kull had brought with her. Frank craned his neck almost completely up to look into the giant’s eyes.
Commander Kull wore a sadistic smirk across her large lips. She stared down at Emma as if she were nothing short of an ant to be stepped on. There was something about the way the commander looked at Emma that stoked the fire already burning inside her.
The look reminded Emma of the way so many bullies, mean girls, and even some teachers had treated her in the past. It was a glare of loathing.
“You can still give up now, little knight.” Commander Kull eyed Emma up and down. “I will show you no mercy.”
“I’m going to break you.” Emma stared back at the Ree. There was no hesitation or stuttering in her words. The truth was she was half surprised she had found the words to begin with. But there was no denying she was changing day by day. She wasn’t the victim she had been just a few months before.
Commander Kull clearly wasn’t ready for that type of response. She opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again.
“Back to your ends of the sparring room, then come out ready to engage,” Director Trueart said as he retreated back to the edge of the room. “May the best warriors win.”
“Nice comeback; was that from a Rocky movie?” Frank asked as he and Emma retreated to their end of the room. “I was staring down the Jolly Green Giant, but that sounded like it was from a Rocky movie.”
“Rocky IV,” Emma said as they reached their end of the arena where Jace stood waiting. “My dad loves those movies.”
“Slaughter their fighting spirit and you will win even before their bodies give in,” Jace said to them as he extended his right hand in a closed fist. “As one.”
“Well look who’s coming around,” Frank said, extending his own right arm and placing his vambrace on top of Jace’s. “You’re going to be all right, fur ball.”
Burn the Night Page 11
