Blitzkrieg: Origins of the Prime: A Superhero Spy Thriller (27 page)

“So, your talk with Ian went well?” Axel asked.

Tom nodded. “Yes. I was nervous about this mysterious man whose name I don’t even know. But my relationship with Ian goes back to the War and he has laid most of my fears to rest.” Tom placed his arms around Rolf and Axel pulling them in close. Axel and Rolf placed their arms around Dawn forming an intimate circle. “However, what is most important is that Team Blitzkrieg will remain together. No matter what, we will always have each other’s backs, right?”

Everyone nodded.

“But I’m still not sure of the name,” Axel said.

“Hush, Axel. That’s an order,” Tom said good-humoredly. “Besides it’s too late to change the name now. I’ve already had t-shirts made.”

“I like the name,” Rolf said with a giant grin. “It’s cool.”

“Well, there you go,” Axel said with a laugh.

“I like Canary,” Dawn smirked at Tom.

“I’ve got to admit it’s growing on me, too,” Tom said.

“I like Psion, too,” Rolf said, not wanting Dawn to feel left out.

Dawn laid her head against his massive arm. “Thanks Rolf,” she said.

They stayed together on the balcony until they finished the bottle of champagne. When they finally went back inside they were met with excited handshakes and hugs from their coworkers. Everyone could feel that the futures of the CSOS and Team Blitzkrieg were only just beginning. A new day was dawning.

Epilogue

Moscow, U.S.S.R.

Alena sat at an outdoor cafe in Moscow, sipping black tea. She adjusted the collar of her coat as a cool breeze blew through the air giving her a chill. She glanced up and saw an attractive woman walking toward her. The woman appeared to be no older than Alena, but Alena knew she was at least twice her own age. Alena set her cup down on the small, round table as the other woman reached her. She smiled up at the woman and motioned for her to sit.

“Thank you,” the woman said with a smile.

“Tea?” Alena asked pleasantly, her eyebrows raised expectantly.

“Not right now, thank you,” the woman replied. Alena could tell she was eager, anxious even.

“Thank you for meeting me,” Alena said pleasantly.

“Of course, my darling,” the woman said with a warm smile. “It has been too long and I always enjoy our visits.”

Alena stared across the table at her for quite some time before continuing. She wanted to ensure that she chose her words carefully. She admired the woman across from her, perhaps even loved her, and she did not want to offend her nor give her the wrong impression. She cleared her throat.

“Everyone at the Centre appreciates what you did during the Great Patriotic War,” Alena began. The other woman leaned back in her chair, crossed her arms over her chest and raised her eyebrows at Alena. That was quite a sugary way to begin a conversation. She waited for Alena to drop the bitter pill on her. “Everyone appreciates what you have done for our cause. I appreciate that you were the last friend my mother ever had on this earth. And I appreciate that you have been like a mother to Alexi and I for all of these many years.”

“What are you getting at Alena?” the woman asked as she leaned forward.

Alena paused and glanced down at the table briefly before once again meeting the other woman’s eyes. “The Centre knows that you tried to assassinate Colonel Arnulf in America.”

The woman looked away, an expression of exasperation flashed across her face briefly, but disappeared before her eyes shot back to Alena. “He is a monster, Alena. He deserves to die. Do you know what he did to your mother? What he did to me?”

Alena held up her hands. “No one is arguing that point. But the Centre had a plan and you nearly upset the whole thing. We cannot have rogue assassins meddling in our plans. Even those as celebrated as the great Valkyrie.” The woman looked down at the table and nodded. “Anyway, you’ll be happy to know that Arnulf
is
dead.”

The woman’s eyes leapt up to meet Alena’s. “Are you certain?” she asked. Alena nodded. “Did you see the body?”

“There is no body, comrade. It was vaporized along with everything else.”

The brightness in the woman’s eyes disappeared and she looked away, out over the crowds of people walking along the street. “Then you are not certain.”

Alena leaned forward and took her hand. “I am as certain as anyone can be.” The woman nodded and forced a smile.

There was a long pause in the conversation before the woman spoke again. “Is that the only reason you asked me to meet you today?” the woman asked almost timidly, clearly hoping for some other news.

Alena shook her head. “No,” she replied before reaching into the briefcase leaning against her chair legs and pulling out a large manila envelope. She slid the envelope across the table. “I can confirm that your sons are alive,” Alena said.

The woman’s eyes were wide with excitement. She fumbled nervously with the metal fastener which held the envelope closed. She finally opened the envelope, pulled out a black and white photograph and stared at it, her hand covering her mouth. “This is them?” she asked softly. Alena nodded. “You are positive?”

“Yes, Brygida, I am positive. They still call themselves Axel and Rolf, as when I knew them in Germany.” Tears filled Brygida’s eyes and she quickly wiped them away with her fingers. “They are working for the Americans. We have tried to capture them twice, but…” she let her words trail off.

“Oh, my sweet boys,” Brygida whispered softly before bringing the photograph to her lips and kissing it gently. She wiped more tears away, cleared her throat, and slid the photograph back inside of the envelope. Her eyes met Alena’s. She leaned across the table and lowered her voice. “Well perhaps instead of capturing them you must convince them to join you.”

Alena nodded. “I have tried, believe me. Rolf’s mind is…well he is like Alexi.” Brygida nodded her understanding. “And Axel,” she smiled at Brygida. “Axel is quite stubborn. They have clearly been brainwashed by the fascists into believing that the Soviet Union is evil. That we are the enemy, instead of the corporate fascists.”

Brygida smiled and patted Alena’s hand. “No my dear, you misunderstand. I said you must convince them to join
you
. I did not say the Soviet Union.” Brygida looked both ways to ensure no one was within earshot before continuing. “All of your life you have served a totalitarian military government that meant to exploit you. The Nazis and now the Soviets. My darling it is time you began to serve yourself.” Alena sat back and stared at her old mentor as her eyes narrowed.

Brygida smiled. “It has been too long since we have had a proper visit, Alena. I think I will have some tea,” she said, “and we can talk for a while.”

Afterward

I hope you enjoyed
Blitzkrieg: Origins of the Prime
. As the title suggests, this story simply showed the origins of an entirely new super hero universe which I intend to expand in several new titles. I am very excited about this new and ambitious project and wanted to take a moment to explain how it will work.

The next book in this universe is scheduled to come out sometime in Fall 2015 and will be titled
Eclipse: Rise of the Prime
.
Eclipse
will leave the 1960s behind and take us to present day where, unknown to most people, genetically enhanced super humans live among us. These super humans, known by their creators as “prime humans,” or more simply as “the prime,” are forced out of the shadows and a new super team is formed to battle those among them that seek to rule humanity instead of help it.

The third book in this universe I hope to publish sometime in early 2016, but as of yet is untitled. The premise is known, however, and it will explore the lives of those people who were experimented on to create the prime. Escaping from a genetics lab they must flee for their lives, but they discover they are gifted with amazing super powers.

I know, at this point you’ve probably thrown your and hands in the air, shouting, “But Chris, what happens to team Blitzkrieg? What about the Valkyrie?” I do intend to continue the story in a sequel aptly titled,
Blitzkrieg: Flight of the Valkyrie,
which will hopefully be released by Summer 2016.

So the most obvious question is, will these stories overlap? You bet they will. Like I said, this is a superhero UNIVERSE and just like any other superhero universe the characters will meet. There will be culminations of events that bring them all together and sometimes tear them apart.

As I said, this is an ambitious project, but it’s something I’ve wanted to do my entire life. These stories and characters have been stirring around in my head for as long as I can remember. Sure they have changed and evolved over the years, but the basics of a superhero universe has always been there. Now I’m finally going to create that universe for everyone to see.

Of course with a project this ambitious, I have to ignore other projects. I have other stories unrelated to this universe I’d like to write. Some more main stream novels that might have a larger success rate if I wrote them instead. Therefore, if you would like me to continue and expand this series, I need your help. I need you to write reviews for Amazon and other locations. I need you to tell your friends and family about the books. I need you to Tweet about them, Facebook about them, Instagram the covers—whatever you can think of.

Oh and check out my other books, too. They are not superhero stories
per se
, but are still fantasy and if you liked
Blitzkrieg,
chances are you’ll like them too.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my novel and this afterward. I always appreciate feedback and hearing from readers who enjoyed my work. So please drop me a line on Twitter @AuthorChrisVale or by email at
[email protected]
. To get email updates on book launches as well as sales and specials, please sign-up for my
subscriber list
. I hate spam as much as you and promise not to flood your inbox.

Be sure to flip the page to see summaries of my other books and where you can find them!

Thank you,

Chris

THE FORGOTTEN KNIGHT:

A CHINESE WARRIOR IN KING ARTHUR’S COURT

"This is a beautiful and touching story of loyalty, love, friendship and trust. The author is a magnificent story teller and his descriptions of the battle scenes, the overall environment and all the characters he brings to life is superb. You will love and cheer for our new hero...," Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos.
Arthurian legend gets a reboot in this magical thrill-ride of romance and adventure!
Deeply shaken by a premonition of the fall of Camelot, Merlin the Great travels to the distant empire of China where he finds a land on the verge of civil war. There Merlin meets Sheng, the only child of a minor lord, struggling to win his father's approval and the heart of the woman he loves, until an invading army tears his world apart. Forced to leave everything he has ever known, Sheng flees China with Merlin, an outlander magician who must convince him that he is the prophesied savior of the faraway kingdom of Camelot.
In Camelot, King Arthur's enemies unite against him as the Knights of the Round Table are consumed by treachery and betrayal. With the help of Merlin, Lancelot, and Galahad, Sheng must overcome the ghosts of his past as he faces fire-breathing dragons, deceptive fairies, dark sorcery and treacherous knights to rescue Queen Guinevere and save Camelot from the forces of evil.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE.

RISE OF THE WIZARD

DRACENGARD BOOKS 1 & 2

Rise of the Wizard is a compilation of Books One and Two of Christopher Vale’s epic six part fantasy series Dracengard.
Praise for Dracengard:
"...a brilliantly written fictional story of an unknown world." OnlineBookClub.org
"What a great book...this author brings us a completely different new world, full of adventures, monsters, betrayals, plots and counter-plots, sacrifices, all the good ingredients to make this book an instant success. With characters well developed, it is a very pleasant reading that will keep you entertained for hours." Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos
It has been over a thousand years since the last Realm War, when the angelic seraph and their dragon allies banished the demonic shedom back to the Realm of Darkness. Now a new evil threatens the Middle Realm as a self-proclaimed wizard and a mysterious black knight lead an army of savage reptiles against the kingdoms of man.
To save her home, Princess Terrwyn will join her twin brother Erec and little sister Taite on a desperate quest to find Dracengard, a mythical place that few believe even exists.
Princess Ashleen must lead an elite military order of Paladin to Dracengard to destroy the Wizard and prove that she is worthy of becoming the first woman to ever rule the White Fortress.
The eight Kingdoms and their ruling families are torn apart as sides are chosen for the coming Realm War. Our heroes must overcome lies and betrayal, man-eating monsters, demonic knights, and opportunistic pirates as they flee the Wizard's clutches with magical stones that legend claims hold the power to destroy the forces of darkness.

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ANGELS AND DRAGONS

DRACENGARD BOOKS 3 & 4

Angels and Dragons is a compilation of Books Three and Four of Christopher Vale’s epic six part fantasy series Dracengard.

A dark shadow has spread across the Middle Realm, as the Wizard and his army of drakmere continue their subjugation of the eight kingdoms. As the Wizard consolidates his power, Terrwyn and her companions find new allies in their fight against him.
Our heroes finally reach Dracengard, but soon discover that the darkness that is engulfing the realm is even more sinister than they originally believed. Surprises abound as the Great Darkfall draws ever closer, and we learn more about the true nature of the seraph, shedom, and the men and women caught in the middle of this war between darkness and light.