Birth of a New Legend: Book 3 of the Death Dealer Saga - Death’s Own Daughter.

by Jessie Wolf

  “Good idea. I remember the last time we didn’t check first.” She tosses back at me as she heads for the com system. After making sure it was in audio mode only she dials mama’s rooms. After a few moments mama picks up.

  “Yes, how can I help you?”

  I can tell by the sound of her voice she has only been up for a short time. “Mama, it’s me, Alice, we just wanted to make sure you were receiving visitors before we came knocking on your door?”

  “Thank you, child, I see that you’re already being a good influence on Maiha. Please come over and join me for breakfast.” After inviting us to breakfast she disconnected.

  After making sure that our swords were secure in their display racks we head over to mama’s rooms. As we walk down the hallway I hear the household staff going about their daily routine. If I didn’t know better I would have sworn that there hadn’t been a major battle fought no more than half a mile from here just yesterday or that there had been a wedding reception held in the Great Hall just fourteen hours earlier.

  When we get to the door to mama’s rooms we find it open. So knocking on the frame we wait for mama to say it’s ok to enter. “Come on in girls. I’ll be out in a second.” Looking at each other I just shrug my shoulders and go on in. once inside we see why she said what she did. Over by the changing room door is Top’s wheelchair. We watch as she helps him out of the changing room and into his wheelchair. When he sees us the smile that crosses his face was from ear to ear.

  “Well look who’s up already and dressed too. Maiha, don’t you know you’re not to let your bride out of the bedroom for the first week?”

  Mama just smacks him in his good arm saying “James, don’t give the girl any ideas. She has enough on her own without you helping her.”

  Me and Alice just giggle at their little play acting. I can tell that he’s going to be good for her. Just as she is going to be good for him. The love I see between the two of them is truly one for the books. We all sit down at her; I mean their table and have breakfast. Over the next half hour we make small talk about everything under the sun. Close to the end my three very hung-over sisters finally show up. Now normally I would give them a hard time, but I know that Top had something up his sleeves.

  I watch as they do their best to eat what was put in front of them. For the next half hour they did their best to look upbeat and ready for whatever the day held. However I could tell they were some hurting puppies. Once breakfast was done and everyone had eaten their fill mama and Top got down to business. Top started off the family meeting. “Ok, girls, we have a lot to get done today.”

  Fuyuko was the first to say anything. “Um… daddy, what all do we have to do?” oh no she just did not go there.

  Yup, Top set her up. I can tell by the gleam in his eyes. I know he had something up his sleeves when they came in and now he is going to play it. “Well, seeing as how you three thought it would be ok to sneak more drinks than we had allowed I figure you can be my runners today. You three are going to join me as I supervise the House troops in repairing the homes that were damaged in the attack.” Now, being the military experienced person that I am I know better than to complain. Unfortunately my dear little sisters have yet to learn this lesson. Too bad for them as they’re about to.

  “But, daddy it’s going to be hotter out there today than in the last four weeks.” Nanase says to him.

  Nanami even goes so far as to try the number ten puppy dog pout and eyes with her plea. “You really don’t want us out there getting in the way do you daddy?”

  Oh boy! This is going to be good. I can just see Top’s mind working in a way that my sisters have never dealt with before. I also don’t think the puppy dog eyes and pout are going to sway him one bit. His return fire takes them all by surprise.

  “But baby girls, what do I tell all those handsome young men from over in the House military barracks. They all said that they would be there if you three were.”

  Oh man! This is getting good. I lean over and whisper in Alice’s ear. “Remind me never to play poker with our new daddy.”

  “You and me both, but I already knew that.” The giggle that almost escapes her tells me that Top has just begun to twist my little sisters round and round. I don’t have to wait long for his next shot and boy is it a daisy.

  “Why those poor boys will be out there in just their t-shirts and fatigue pants. I’ll just have to find someone to make sure they stay well supplied with water. I was hoping you girls would do that for me. But if you’re too tired or sick, then I guess I can get your maids to do it.” When my sisters hear this they look at each other with these looks of ‘Oh shit, we’re going to miss out’. I watch as my three younger sisters all huddle together for a quick private conference. After a few moments I hear a very quiet “Ok, break.” I almost burst out laughing at this. It was too cute for words.

  Fuyuko from the looks of things has been made the defacto spokesman for the three of them; I guess they did it by age. “Um… daddy can we go change our clothes. We’re going to be running around helping you, and passing out water to everyone out there. Well we really don’t won’t to do it in our good kimonos.” All three of them have somehow found the drive to be out there helping out their new daddy. I wonder what it could be. “We have some of our old clothes still. They’ll make great work clothes.” Yup just as I thought. However mama is one step ahead of them as usual.

  “No, I don’t think so, girls. Those old clothes of your’s were given to charity. However there might be some that you can use in the ones we bought on our last shopping trip. I believe the shorts outfits would be best. Now run along and get changed. You need to be back here in forty-five minutes.”

  My sisters bounce up and almost run out of her rooms to go get changed. I’m surprised that mama doesn’t scold them for the way they’re acting. When they are out of the room she just smiles. “They have been looking for a reason to wear those cute little outfits since we got them. As a matter of fact I think I’ll join them. I believe I have more than one of those outfits around here.” Looking over at Top. “Would you like to see me in something like that, dear?” she purrs in his ear.

  The look on Top’s face was one of pure lust. I think mama just hit one of his buttons big time. I watch as she gets up and heads for their changing room. When Top looks over at me and Alice we just shrug our shoulders. As if to say ‘hey what do we know?’

  “Um… Maiha, kitten, do you know what she means by that?” he asks me.

  Thinking about the outfit she is talking about I decide to give him some advice. “Top, do you still have access to your personal weapons?”

  “Yes. Why are you asking that?”

  “Well, as one of my old friends would say. Get a bat, a gun, and keep an eye on the barracks.”

  “Oh shit!” looking over at Alice. “Pussycat, I need you to do me a favor.”

  When we hear this both Alice and I burst out laughing. If there is one thing I know it’s this. Anybody in their right mind will think twice at making a pass at mama any more. First they have to deal with not one daughter but five who have more firepower hidden on their bodies than most Jump Infantry Platoons. Second there is the fact that mama herself has the same amount of firepower herself. And then there is the really scary factor, she’s Top Bailey’s wife.

  “Ok you two knock it off and pull yourselves together. I need to talk to you about something.” We quickly get ourselves under control. “Thank you, now listen up I need you two girls to go get changed yourselves. The reason for this is I need someone to head over to the far southeastern side of the compound to map out where the new cemetery is going to be laid out. Yes, Maiha I know all about your little project. The Master Engineer called me yesterday afternoon to tell me about it. The man was beside himself with excitement. In all the years I have known him he has never had such a grand project before. I would do it myself, but as you can see I’m not in any shape to go trooping about in that kind of terrain right now.”


  I look over at Alice to see her smile. Yup we’re going for a little walk in the woods. “You know how big it’s going to be, Top? Master Forest didn’t give me the full details of how much more land was going to be included.”

  He got a strange look on his face, and then chuckled. “I take it he got all excited and forgot to give the details on how much more land he wants to enclose by moving the southern wall didn’t he?”

  “Yup, got it in one. I just figured if we moved the southern and eastern walls out to the estate boundary we would pick up maybe twenty to thirty acres at most.”

  When Top and Alice hear this they both roar with laughter. Now I don’t mind being the butt of a joke every now and then, but I want to know what the joke is. Alice seeing my confusion comes to my rescue. “Kitten, if you do that you’ll enclose another full one hundred hectares. Didn’t you know that the Family Nakatoma owns over four hundred hectares?”

  About this time mama comes walking out of the changing groom and I think Top’s head damn near came off his neck when it wiped around to get a better look. “It is four hundred and seventy-three hectares, Allison. And as for your dear wife knowing this, please understand she hasn’t really had a chance to walk the family holdings yet. She has had her hands full dealing with a war after all.”

  Mama’s outfit is perfect for escorting Top around the grounds for the day. Hell I think I might get two of the same for me and Alice to wear as we do the survey of the area for the cemetery. “Well, seeing as how we have a lot to do today, Alice and I will go get changed and then head out.” I get up and go over to Top. I bend down and give him a kiss and then do the same with mama. Alice follows my example.

  As we leave I hear mama calls out to us. “Be careful you two. There are still a few rebels out there.”

  I call back to her. “We will, mama. I plan on taking at least one squad of our Jump Infantry with us.” Our maids met us at the door to our rooms. I wave for them to go on in. once inside Alice and I head straight for the changing rooms. “Gin, we need to make a quick change into something we can wear for hiking around in the woods, please.”

  Gin, Kina, and Nia all look at each other for a moment. It is Nia who comes up with the perfect solution. “Why, don’t you use your B.D.U.s, my Lady?” I give her a look as if I was just hit in the face with a fish. It’s perfect, I mean both Alice and me have a full set of House military uniforms after all. Why not use them for what they were intended for. Until now they have just been hanging in my closet collecting dust.

  “Thank you Nia, that will do just fine, but do I have a pair that’ll fit Allison?”

  When my maids began to giggle I realize something’s up. My suspicions are confirmed when we enter the changing room. Alice is the first to speak up. “Hay, how did all of my clothes get over here? I haven’t had a chance to go get them yet.”

  “Lady Allison, it would be improper for the wife of the Head of House to have a room in the barracks. So while you were getting married yesterday we went over and cleaned out your room in the barracks for you.” Gin is telling her. “You’ll find; all of your lingerie is in the drawers next to Lady Maiha’s. Also we have had all your uniforms cleaned and pressed. Now let’s get you Ladies, changed for your little scouting trip, shall we?”

  With that Gin and Kina step over to give us a hand in changing out of our kimonos and into our B.D.U.s. looking over at Nia “Nia can you please contact the House charge of quarters and let them know I need a squad of Jump Infantry for escort duty, please?”

  “I get right on it, my Lady. Do they know what you’re doing this morning?” Nia asks me.

  “Um… I don’t think so. Tell them they need to pack a lunch and survey equipment.” After a few minutes both of us were down to our undies and putting on our B.D.U.s. While we were getting changed I heard Nia talking to the barracks C.Q., but I couldn’t quite make out what she was saying. Oh well, just so long as she gets it done I don’t care. We were just lacing up our combat boots when there was a knock on the main room door. I heard Nia answer it and then a few seconds later she was stepping into the doorway to the changing room.

  “My Ladies, Colonel Fujiyama, Major Howard, and Captain Ravenswood are here to speak with you about something. Should I show them in? They also have what looks like all the commanders for the mercenary companies with them.” the look on her face let me know that I really should take this meeting.

  “Yes please, Nia. But only let them into the receiving room.”

  “It’ll be done as you ask, my Lady.” I watch as she hurries to take care of my unexpected guests. Looking over at Alice I see she is almost ready. Both she and I need to put our hair up so it is out of the way. I step over and began to braid hers. Once that is done I turn around and let her do mine.

  In a few minutes we were both ready for a long day in the field. So grabbing our hats we head out to great our guests and find out what they want. When we enter my receiving room I am surprised to see not only the three senior commanders of my House military but what looks like the entire mercenary force commanders. As I enter the room they turn and bow to me and Alice. We quickly return their bows and wave for them to take a seat.

  “Ladies and gentleman, to what do I owe this very unexpected visit this morning? I hope it is not due to any trouble.” I say as I take a seat besides Alice at our table.

  Colonel Fujiyama speaks up first. “My Lady Maiha, as you know our House troops took a real beating yesterday.” I nod my head for him to continue. “Well, last night after the celebrations were done, Captain Ravenswood came to me with a very unusual idea on how to replenish our ranks. Since it is your idea, Captain, I think it would be best if you explained it for our Ladyship.”

  After the Colonel turned it over to him Captain Ravenswood hands me a thick print out of his plan. Before I start to read it he begins. “In your hand, Lady Maiha is what I’m calling operation Rebirth. In short it is this. After getting the numbers for dead and wounded plus equipment losses I found that the only way to be able to replenish our House military ranks was to recruit for the mercenary units. They had unusually high losses as well. What we had not taken into account was how effective the rebel air support would be.”

  “Trust me Captain, when I say that we were not the only ones to underestimate them. What I’m about to tell you all doesn’t leave this room.” When I received assurances that it would not I continued. “Our brothers over in the Death Dealers had their main M.C.U. hit by a self-guided missile that was fired by one of the rebel Raiders. It damn near killed their entire command staff.” I can see the shock in their faces at this news. To have lost something like that is a blow that most units cannot recover from in the heat of battle. The fact that the Death Dealers had, just went on to show why they are some of the most feared units in the Galaxy. “If you would continue Captain?”

  “Of course, my Lady. As I was saying with our heavy losses all around the only way that I could figure out how to replenish our ranks is to recruit from the mercenaries. When I approached them last night I found that a lot of them would be more than willing to join our House Military. The next thing I know their commanders are asking if they can join as whole units. Well, I didn’t know what to do so I went to Major Howard for advice. He in turn didn’t know either so he kicked it up to Colonel Fujiyama. Now at this point I have all of the mercenary commanders wanting to disband their units only to have them join our House military. When Colonel Fujiyama pointed out that for this to happen we needed your permission to consolidate all these different units under House Nakatoma I asked for permission to come see you this morning. So there you have it, my Lady.” When he finished he sat down like the rest.

  As I sat there thinking over what he had told me I realized this would not only bring the House Military back up to full strength, but increase it by almost a full third. I would wind up with a House Military the size of a full Heavy Cavalry Regiment. Sure the House has the means to support a unit of that size, but it would also be the lar
gest on all of Hades. The only military force that would be able to match it would be the Planetary Defense Force. Even then the P.D.F. would be woefully ill prepared to face off against us.

  Looking over at the mercenary commanders. “Ladies and gentlemen, before I grant permission to carry out this action I want to know why you’re willing to give up your freedom to tell an employer ‘We quit’.”

  Captain Eileen Brennan stood up and addressed my question. “Lady Maiha, the answer to that question is simple. As you know most of our units were one or two companies strong. The largest of us was Hogan Hero’s at a full battalion. With our losses none of us can field more than half to one and half company. Of us all Hogan’s Hero’s suffered the most casualties. Even if we all band together and form a new unit no one will be willing to hire an untried mercenary unit. This way we gain permanent employment and a place to call home. Also we know that no matter what happens here we will always be remembered.”

  Her last few words grab my full attention. “May I ask why you would say that?”

  She looks at me for a minute then giggles like a school girl, while the men all chuckle. “Lady Maiha, everyone in the entire compound has heard of your plans for a memorial cemetery for the Death Dealers. We don’t think you will leave your own people out of there or those who fought beside you yesterday. Why even the size of it suggests that you plan for it to be more than just the Death Dealers. Are we wrong in assuming this?”

  There are times when trying to keep a secret can be a real pain in the ass. “Would you mind telling me how you came by this information?”

  “I merely asked your Master Engineer yesterday after you left what you had been discussing.” At my look of W.T.F. she explains why she was there. “I had just entered as you were leaving out the other door. I had wanted to see if my troops could help out in anyway. Well, he said that he didn’t have anything right then, but in a few days he would need it with the cemetery. That’s when I asked him if that was what you two had been discussing and he said yes.”