Bloodlord (Soulguard Book 3) (13 page)

Chapter 24

"You are so much like Merlin, it is frightening," Dietrich said, "He would plan and plot, forever trying to guess what would happen next."

"I want to be ready to do the maximum damage to the ones who are brave enough to poke their heads out here," I said, "I don't expect em to come here but, if they do, they're toast."

"I don't doubt that for a second, Colin."

We stood overlooking the battlefield we had left as a molten wasteland not so long ago. Grass had grown back already and it looked deceptively peaceful. It could all change in an instant and we were as prepared as we could be for that very outcome.

              "Did you happen to see where Merlin crossed over into Hub while you were there?"

              "Unfortunately, no," I said, "I was told where the empty spot was but it was over twenty miles in the other direction. I wanted to go but there wasn't time. Perhaps we can go look at it after we win this."

              "Do you truly expect to win this?"

              "We have to," I said, "Too many people are depending on it. Not just this world, fourteen others. Two of those worlds are under the control of my forces, already."

              "He never dreamed there was so much beyond the Demon onslaught," Dietrich said, "Perhaps if he'd known, he would have chosen a different path."

              "Perhaps," I said, "The path he took appeals to me more than it's comfortable to think about. I could walk through that gate and end this war on Earth before it really begins. Do I have the right to do so? I don't think so."

              "Was he weak to choose as he did?"

              "Far from it," I said, "He thought he was dying for his world to be free. He thought he was ending the Demons' ability to come here. Given the knowledge he had at the time, I think it was one of the most selfless acts a man could make."

              "I've thought of the same thing. If I didn't know of the other worlds out there of Humans, if I wasn't personally responsible for nearly sixty million beings on the other side of the gate, I would like to think I am strong enough to do the same."

              "I know he was devastated by the loss of so many when Kent was slain, you may be giving more credit than he deserves. He could have done what you are doing and prepared more for the fight."

              "I read the journal," I said, "He truly thought he could save this world with the sacrifice of himself alone. He tried and, if things had been as they are on several of the colonies, he would've succeeded. There were spots in the journal where, if you read between the lines, he was protecting more than just Earth. There are hints of the 'others' depending on him. His family."

              "I lost much faith in our cause when he chose to walk away," Dietrich said, "But I am regaining my faith as I watch what you have done."

              "I know what it's like to lose faith in someone," I said, "For years I never understood my father's actions. I blamed him for running off and dying in some grand display of revenge. I learned, later, the reason he'd done it. He did it so they'd think I was dead. He did that for me, so I could grow up and learn how to protect myself. Now it's my duty to make his sacrifice worthy. I'll see the Human race free or I'll die trying."

              "That is why my faith in our cause is returning," Dietrich said, "And perhaps my faith in my friend, Merlin, is returning as well. I thank you for that."

              Dietrich stood and walked away.

              I hadn't really been aware how the big man felt about Merlin. I would have shared whatever insight I had gained from the journal long before.

              I stood up as well, it was almost time to meet at Cristof Damaris' residence. He was making dinner for us, a Greek dish called Moussaka. He claimed it was delicious and we were about to put that to the test.

              My ten Mage Captains would be there as well as Lyrica and myself. I just hoped he made plenty, I was starving.

              I reached Cristof's home on base a few minutes after Adaya and Alexei. The rest hadn't made it yet. Lyrica was supposed to be here in a few moments. She'd finished at the hospital and had already been home to clean up.

              "Adaya, Alexei, how goes it?"

              "It would be better if I had my Vodka," Alexei said, "But Cris claims that this silly fruit drink is what is drank with his Greek food."

              "You mean wine?"

              "Yes, a silly fruit drink."

              I laughed.

              "Savage," Adaya said, "When you try to instill culture in the barbarians, this is what you have. No appreciation for a five hundred dollar bottle of wine."

              I took a sip from the glass that Cristof placed in my hand.

              "I'm afraid I have to agree with Alexei on this one," I said.

              "Bloody Americans," came the voice of our resident Brit, Galen Stone, "No understanding of a civilized meal."

              "I am Russian and proud to stand with my American brother on this!" Alexei boomed.

              "Alexei, I have a little something I picked up in Tennessee, last month," I said and I pulled quart jar from the box I had carried in with me.

              "I think you might appreciate it more than these civilized pansies."

              "I have heard of this," Alexei said with a smile, "They say it is very hardy."

              "Moonshine is pretty stout," I said, "Give it a shot."

              "That it is."

              "Good God," came Prada's voice from the door, "Don't drink that, Alexei. It's just one step from gasoline. Why would you do that to him, Colin?"

              "Another of the pansies," I said, "Drink up."

              Alexei took a swallow from the jar. After he took a deep breath he smiled.

              "This is what I am talking about," he said. He made a shooing gesture at Prada, "Go drink the fruity pansy drink."

              "No beer?"

              "Madre de Dios!" Reyna said as she walked in, "Beer? You never drink beer with Moussaka. It must be a red wine."

              "I'd rather have tea, if you don't mind," Lyrica said from behind her.

              "Time to kick back and sink some tinnies," Brighton said as he walked in with a twelve pack of beer.

              "I have no idea what you just said but I think we should relax and drink some beers," Trent said as he also walked in.

              Brighton sighed and reached into the box. He pulled a Bud from it and pitched it to Trent. Another went to Prada. Mattie shook her head and pointed at Lyrica.

              "I'm with her," she said, "I think I'd like some tea."

              "I'll make you a cup," Stone said, "Cream and sugar?"

              "Cris, don't you have some in the fridge?"

              "Bloody American Savages. Cold tea?"

              "With ice," Mattie said.

              "A travesty, I say," Stone said, shaking his head.

              It had been a while since I could take a moment and just enjoy watching the interaction of this bunch. They reminded me of the guys in Tennessee, back at my first post. Soldiers are soldiers, wherever they come from. The ones I seem to end up with are just more full of shit than most, I guess. Or maybe not, maybe they're all full of shit.

              The Moussaka was delicious and the company was awesome. What more could you ask for?

              World peace? But then, what would we do for a living? We'd be out of a job.

Chapter 25

              The ringing phone woke me up.

              "Hello."

              "It happened," Warren said, "One of the Reps has demanded reimbursement."

              "The failsafe?"

              "More than likely," he said, "two thousand guns malfunction at the same time."

              "Get all the Reps together," I said, "I'll be there this evening. I'm bringin Marco and Polo, as well. Might as well ease their concerns on the matter."

              "We'll be expecting you."

              "Ok, see ya then."

              I hung up the phone. I knew it would happen. I'd hoped it wouldn't, but who was I kidding. We've been fighting amongst ourselves for thousands of years. Did I really expect it to change?

              It had to change, or we were going to die.

              "What is it?" Lyrica asked.

              "Some idiot triggered the failsafe on the guns. I have to go to Tennessee. Are ya covered up at the hospital?"

              "Unfortunately, I am."

              "I'll try not to blow anything up."

              "Good luck with that," she said as I rolled out of our bed and headed for the bathroom.

              After I talked with Marco and Polo, I was sure I could get by with using one of the planes for the trip to Nashville, since they would want to be there.

              As it turned out, Paige and Gregor came, too, so I got to use the Soulguard jet.

***

              "It has come to my attention, ladies and gentlemen," I said as I looked at the group of people from various nations around the world, "That one of you has an issue with my weapons."

              "Very true," was the answer from the representative who had made the complaint.

              His nation had been at war with its neighbor for as long as I could remember and I had figured there was a strong possibility of this very problem.

              "You claim that two thousand Source weapons malfunctioned, Simultaneously."

              "That is true," he said, "We demand reimbursement for your faulty product!"

              "And yet you'll get nothing," I said with my rage leaking through, "You signed the contract that these weapons would not be used on other Humans. You defaulted on that contract when you tried to use them in that very manor."

              "Lies! You have no proof of this!"

             
Do you honestly think you can lie to a telepath?
I asked inside the heads of every person in the room. All eyes were riveted on me.

              They had taken my guns and went straight to their neighboring country and tried to attack. I could see the memory of the reports. The reports of failed weapons. Of guns melting from the heat that erupted from the inside of the stock.

              "Not only can you not lie to me," I said, "I can show everyone here the memories of said lies."

              "This is what you will receive," I said, "I will send you the same amount of weapons you bought before after you have paid the price quoted for those weapons again. You will sign the same contract as you signed before. If you try to use the weapons on Humans again, they will also fail."

              "Ridiculous!"

              "Then you will receive nothing," I said, "Read your contracts. All of you. If the attempt to use these weapons on Humans is made, You will lose said weapons. Did you think I wouldn't enforce the contracts? These weapons are for the protection of our world from the Kresh."

              "Furthermore," I said, "If a second attempt is made, you will not only lose the weapon, but there will be no support from the Soulguard in the future. You are on your own."

              I had discussed this portion of the meeting with Paige and Gregor. Gregor had been the one to actually suggest it. Paige agreed, but the whole subject was worrisome. The Soulguard protects Humanity. It would be a hard choice if we truly had to make it.

              I could see shock on some faces. Some still held their facial expressions in check. But I could see the turmoil in their auras. This was a hell of a big hammer to keep them in line. Everyone had seen how tough the Kresh were. They needed our support.

              "Now the subject is closed," I said, "If you want the support we have to offer, you will buy the guns and use them as they are intended. Or don't buy the guns at all and the status quo stays the same. We will help wherever and whenever we can. There are limited numbers and we are spread across the globe. The Source weapons were created to help level the playing field for the Human Race. Use them as such and we'll get along fine."

              "If you insist on shooting one another, it won't be with my weapons. That's all I have to say."

              I walked out of the room. There would be arguments and harsh words, I was sure. But they would toe the line or be left behind. We didn't have time to be warring amongst ourselves any more.

              At least, the worst they could do to each other with my guns was to use them as clubs on each other.

***

              "You could have told us," Marco said, "It might not have made us worry so much and would've, definitely, made it easier for us to make our bosses feel better about it."

              "In all honesty," I said, "I needed that scenario to play out so I could have this very example to use."

              "But our boys wouldn't..."

              "They did."

              "What?!"

              "There were five different countries that tried to use the Source weapons on other Humans. Only one was ballsy enough to want a refund."

              There was a look of disgust on Polo's face.

              "Our country tried," he said, "That bothers me more than I would like to think. I know we have enemies in our world that would see us destroyed. I expected it from them. I never expected to be the ones who fell short."

              "I expected several to do it," I said, "But, honestly, I am a little disappointed with the ones who did. You make sure the bosses know my threat is real. It would break my heart to walk out of America. I was born here and I love this country. But I have this world and fourteen others depending on us to do our jobs. I will do it."

              "If it's any consolation, after they tried, they left it be," I said, "Some of the others went through thousands of the weapons before they gave up. They tried to pull the guns apart with the same result. They melted down. They tried to hack the signal and the guns melted down. The failsafe is there for a reason and it took as long to develop as the rest of the technology."

              "You know someone will figure it out one of these days," Polo said, "They'll keep trying."

              "True," I said, "But I hope we're done with this before they do. If our world is safe from the Kresh, blow yourselves up if you want to. My job will be done by then."

              "Let's hope they don't get it figured out by then," Marco said.

              "Amen to that," Polo agreed.

              "I wanted to put a Source weapon in the hands of every human on the planet," I said, "It would have been glorious. It's not really feasible, though."

              "In a perfect world," Polo said, "it
would
have been glorious to see."

              "If they come into China, they'll see as close to that as they could come. There are over a billion people in China and their army has grown on an even bigger scale than America's," I said, "Gregor told me they have over a million people under arms and Warren tells me they have ordered enough weapons to arm it."

              "Damn, that's a lot people," Polo said, "Our forces have grown like crazy but that's insane."

              "They may not be the best trained troops but there are a lot of em. And the numbers are still growing. I think they've taken this war to heart."

              "Here's to the hope that the Kresh meet several hundred thousand Source weapons at their first step on the planet," Marco said.

              "Amen to that," Polo agreed.