Epilogue/Blood: ShadowNet

The man sat back, exhausted. He lay back in the comfortable chair, closing his burning eyes, and stilled his breath. He had to take stock of the situation.

He poured a finger of whiskey from a small, treasured bottle he'd kept with him for a long time, and raised the small crystal cup he kept the alcohol within. He stared at the amber liquid for several long moments, and sighed, before taking a drink from the cup.

"casualties?" he asked quietly.

"Three hundred and seventeen Elemental soldiers KIA," answered the burly form of Eric Malachi on the other side of the desk. "And an additional loss of five hundred and twelve human loyalists. And your daughter."

Crell Varines shook his head, taking another sip. He glanced up at the loyal soldier before him and, in a candid moment, he reached forward, offering the man the bottle. Malachi seemed to consider it, before politely shaking his head and declining.

"No thank you, sir," he responded. Crell watched him for a moment, and noted the sour demeanor of the soldier, who seemed to have taken the last battle very badly.

"You did the best you could, Eric," Crell said after a moment. "The bomb did go off, and Balamb Garden was destroyed. That decrepit structure has been on the sea bed outside Balamb Harbor for two weeks. You did your best."

"It was not enough, sir," the soldier responded. "We did not win that battle."

"That was my fault," Crell replied quietly. "Mine and mine alone." he shook his head. "But regardless, we are not out of the game yet. This is merely a set back."

"Yes sir," Malachi responded. Crell stared at him for a second, and poured another finger.

"I am sorry that Illarra died," he continued quietly, and the soldier nodded silently. "She was my daughter, and despite her . . . Eccentricities, she will be sorely missed."

"Yes sir," Malachi replied. Crell caught the tightness in his words, and knew where they came from. His subordinate had discipline and control, but even with all of that, he couldn't deny that he was human, and Crell knew that the man had possessed personal feelings toward Illarra, but had been too controlled to let them be known.

"Have we received reports from the salvage teams?" Crell asked after a moment, and Malachi nodded.

"It took them some time," he explained, "but they were able to get past enemy security and enter the wreckage of Balamb Garden."

"And did they find it?" Crell asked, leaning forward slightly, almost in anticipation. Malachi nodded.

"They found the body," he replied.

"Excellent," Crell whispered, sitting back. "This means that all can progress as we need it to. And what of the ShadowNet?"

"Discrete transceivers have been set up in all major cities and at strategic locations across Trabia, Esthar, Galbadia, Balamb, and Dollet. Current tests indicate that the transmissions are being undetected by standard Garden, Galbadian, Dollet, and Estharian intelligence agency interception systems."

"Then we're able to talk with all of the shards of our glass dagger with impunity," Crell stated, and Malachi nodded. "Excellent. What are the reports from the cells?"

"They've already received the messages," Malachi stated. "Our troops are moving o the hidden supply caches, and our surviving elements from the battle outside Balamb are assembling in various sites across the globe. The army should be ready to move in the next few weeks."

"And then our foes will have to walk through streets of blood," whispered Crell with a sadistic smile. "And Odine?"

"The Doctor and his surviving staff have relocated to the labs set up in the Centra Crater, just south of here," the soldier said with a nod. "they have already begun the next phase of the Elemental project."

"Have we scouted out the potentials?" Crell asked, and Malachi nodded.

"We have close to a thousand people at the moment who will make good candidates for the project," he stated. "That number grows every day."

"We'll soon have an army of unstoppable Elementals," Crell murmured, grinning. He took another sip of his whiskey. "Are you sure you don't want any?"

"No, thank you," Malachi replied.

"And now, for one more question," Crell said, leaning forward. "Have we had any contact with Hyne in the last two weeks?"

"None, sir. Both Hyne and Hades seem to have disappeared."

"She couldn't have been killed," Crell whispered. "But where is she?"

"Hyne has abandoned you," came a voice at the entrance to the office, and both men looked up in surprise. Malachi drew a knife, while Crell reached under his desk for a pistol, but both stopped when the figure raised his hands, indicating peaceful intentions.

"You plan, and Hyne's, do not intersect," he continued. "This moment is where Hyne abandons you for her own goals."

"Who are you?" Crell demanded.

"How about I put it this way," the man answered, stepping forward. "Hyne's objectives ended the moment the Prototype was created, and from then on, she never supported you except out of detached amusement."

"So, we were Hyne's puppets?' Malachi scoffed.

"Indeed."

"So why are you here?" Crell demanded. "and more importantly, who are you?"

"For the first question, I will give you a simple answer. Garden and the other allied nations serve to protect the Prototype your scientists developed. That Prototype must die. You are the people who can most help me toward that end."

"And my second question?" Crell asked, and the man before them chuckled, smoke emanating from his pipe.

"My name is Alucard. Guardian of Existence." he bowed slightly. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, gentlemen."

To be concluded . . . .

-
Yep. Short Epilogue of sorts, foreshadowing the future!

So. That's it for Blood of the Chimera. But, this is far from the ending of the story! After all, the Legacy of the Chimera lives on . . . .

Next "chapter" will be on author's notes and a certain interview one of my reviewers made with me regarding this story.

Until next chapter . . . .