Srey had finished her last year at the military school, with honors, and been recommended to attend the military academy at Annapolis. There for four years she had majored in military strategy, and geopolitical science, with top honors. At the end, top of her class she was given her choice of orders. That choice had been BUDS training. A training that no women had ever completed, nor had even qualified for.
"Today was a historic day for the United States Navy, as for the first time, a woman would be pinned as a Navy SEAL", the Master Chief thought. He gave the girl credit, as this class had been particularly brutal due to her presence. Only 10 men and she had survived to Hell Week, also giving her another first. The first female Honor Man, in history. They bonded into a team, with her as their officer, as none he had ever seen. Through the subsequent phases, were more than outstanding, with one of the highest scores ever seen. Training cadre, who at first were appalled at a woman reaching so far, had one and all been converted to her supporters, as she proved herself over and over in the difficult courses. Any lingering thought that she was here with any other purpose than to become a warrior were dispelled, when she had officially requested that her name, and likeness not be released to the press, and she had flat turned down the Navy's request to become some kind of poster child for recruiting. Backed by a venerable SEAL Captain, her wishes were granted, and at this ceremony no press, nor photographers were present. Only the families of the graduating, and the Commanding officer of Special Forces, General Downing were in attendance. As the 10 men and Ensign Srey, she had turned down advancement to LTJG, stood in ranks. The General, walked up to each, one by one, and pinned them with their pistol and trident, he congratulated each, finally ending up at the last one. Standing before Ens. Talon, he stood quietly holding her pin, at eye level.
"Ensign, I hold before you a symbol", he said. "A symbol of men, uncompromising men, who have dedicated their lives to this country. Warriors, both envied and reviled. Warriors of dark, and light. Patriots, willing to give their lives without question to protect this nation, the Constitution upon which it was founded, and freedom throughout the world. Before I give you this honor, I wish to have you tell me why, exactly you deserve it"?
Srey stood quietly for a moment. Then met the Generals eyes, her brown agate eyes held no fear, no doubt. "Because sir, I have fucking earned it", she said quietly. "Because no one who has earned this has ever been found wanting, because there are people to protect, and that sir is what I will do". The old warrior met her eyes unflinching, and only four people present recognized the soul gaze initiated.
In the crowd, Jinn and Talon recognized the soul gaze commencing, startled they both moved forward. Ready to try to mitigate the damage, but there was no need.
Srey saw the General, in Vietnam era uniform, M-16 in hand fighting a fight he could not win. With every victory, he was pulled back by some unseen force, and children died. A silver chain about his throat, binding him to his orders, and a nation of people, no three nations, decimated and tortured. The chain dragged him away. The fierce resolve that it would never happen again.
The General, saw Srey, at the valley, the fight against the outsiders, her as a child, in fear, locked in a pink room. Yet never surrendering, her absolute goal to destroy all that would threaten mankind. The soul gaze ended, as if It never happened. The General seemed unfazed by sights that would have horrified most men. Why? Because he had been there.
Gently he reached forward, and gently pinned the pistol and trident to Srey's uniform. Starting to walk away he turned. "Welcome warrior", he said.
I didn't know what happened, and as the command was given to fall out, the families of the new minted SEALS, came forward to congratulate them. Watching Ensign Talon, I saw an older man, with iron colored hair come forward, in a short-sleeved shirt, jeans, and cowboy boots, step forward to embrace her. As he did, he exposed his inner biceps, and an electric shock ran through me. It wasn't possible. Exposed was a tattoo, one I also had, that no other living person should ever have. The SEAL, pistol, and trident eclipsed by a pentagram, 666 underneath. That would mean? Then I saw her, her white blond hair flowing to small of her back, and I had no doubt. Christ, he was dead. Then SHE saw me and I froze.
"Master Chief Stein", she called, and ran towards me. Visions of her with an pulwar butchering insurgents, made me tense, but before I could defend myself she was upon me, throwing herself into a huge hug, and kisses upon my face.
"Oh my God, I was told you were dead", Jinn said.
Despite my fear, I luxuriated in the hug, memories running rampant in my brain. I knew what this woman was capable of, and I also knew that she had saved my life many times. I loved her, I had betrayed her. The shame encompassed me, and then around us both came a pair of strong male arms, as Talon embraced us both. His head, on a level with mine, over his diminutive wife, came to rest, forehead to forehead, to mine. A benediction, I had never felt such love, like the son I had never know. I locked eye to eye with this dangerous man and saw tears of joy in his eyes. My God, he doesn't know, I thought.
In my memories, I was thrown back. Back to a time that was simple. I remember missions were Jinn continually showed up and fought beside us. The time I finally recognized her and gave her a uniform and rifle to match ours, she had embraced me then, and I still held her in my mind.
In that timeless embrace, another voice came through, as Srey approached us, and Talon her father, released us to embrace his daughter. The sight for some reason was awesome. Like Titans embracing. A moment in history never to be forgotten.
Another voice spoke, and General Downing, accompanied by Captain Tilley, Commander of Special Operations Navy approached.
"Ensign Talon, a word if you please", said Captain Tilly, and then froze.
For a moment time seemed as though time had stopped. Then suddenly as if unnoticed, a woman, stepped forward, accompanied by a rather large man with a beard. Beautiful, beyond belief, a white-haired woman came forward, to embrace Srey. Time has seemed to stop, except for Talon, Jinn, Srey, myself, and for some odd reason, Captain Tilley.
"Mab, you came,", says Srey delightedly.
"Of course, my dear, this is a momentous occasion".
I chanced to look at Captain Tilley, expecting him to be puzzled, when Mab, released Srey, and stepped over to embrace him.
"Hi imp", he says. A smile upon his face.
"Hi, anvil", she says, a smile upon her face.
"You are still beautiful", he says.
"You are still handsome", she says. "Old though".
"I am mortal, of course I'm getting older".
"You didn't need to", Mab says pensively.
"Dear, she needed me more than you," .
"I love her too", Mab says. "But she needed you more than I, she offered to die. But even I could not let her go".
"You are wise my queen", he says. "This girl is yours", he asks seriously?
"She is mine, she is my goddaughter", Mab says quietly.
"No", says Tilley. "She is mine".
Mab trying to draw back, but the man restrains her. Talon seeing this starts to re-act but stops as he knows that Mab cannot be restrained. For a moment he is puzzled, then he realizes that Mab wants to be restrained by this man.
"Dear heart", Tilley says. "She will do as she will, she will be one of us, a warrior. Even her father will not gainsay her", looking towards me.
"Talon", says Mab, questionably?
"My Lady", I said. "My daughter chooses her own path, and I will defend it."
For a moment Mab stands bound in the arms of a mortal who cannot restrain her, and then surprisingly she nods, and embraces the man. To Master Chief Stein's eyes, she seems younger, more vulnerable. She luxuriates in the embrace. The powerful SEAL captain also seems exalted, as one embracing his greatest love.
He knows fear as the being known as Mab breaks the embrace, and her eyes turn to him. She frowns. "You should be dead", she says lightly. "You only breath now because they were not my vassels when you betrayed them".
"I had no choice", I said hardly believing that I could respond.
"You could have died", Mab says flatly.
"Then we all would be dead", I said angerly. "We are not, we survived, I will tell Talon of my part in this, but it was the only way he could have survived".
"Hope that he does" Mab says?
"My life is his to take. I am happy that is so, because otherwise he would be dead, and I would have to face Jinn".
Mab laughs merrily. "Well yes, there is that".
I shudder thinking of Jinn, drenched in blood, butchering the attackers of a girls school. Knowing now what she was, the shear will power of her not feeding on them, turning her into a vampire. Even her vengeance tempered by her love of Talon.
"You know I can hear what you are saying", Talon says quietly. Jinn stands next to him nodding her head.
"How", Mab says? When another figure enters the mix.
A beautiful, buxom Polynesian woman in a floral print dress steps up. Srey squeals in a wholly young girl way and throws herself into the embrace of her Auntie. PELE, goddess of fire and lightning has arrived.
"Auntie, this is such a surprise. I thought you couldn't come"?
"My little sweet. Your sister, my Goddaughter Cheyenne, is watching things", she says.
"My Lady", Talon says. "Is that wise"?
"Baron Talon, your daughter is more then powerful enough. In fact, she takes joy in this power, and I believe right now she is expanding the Big Island. Though the property owners in her path may not approve. Frankly I have been meaning to do this, but your daughter did it in such a way that no one died".
"Now back to this betrayal", Talon says. A note in his voice that sends shivers down my spine.
"Alright, FUCK IT, I blew you up", I said. Ready to be annihilated. I certainly didn't expect laughter.
"Peter, we know", Jinn says. Coming over to embrace me. "You saved our life's".
Captain Tilley joined the conversation. "I learned later about the CIA's interest, but was too late to intervene"
Mab intertwined with the Captain smiles." We knew of Talon then. Pele and I. Your actions only hastened his purpose towards us. In fact, it solidified it".
I couldn't help myself. "You fucking BITCH! You used me to bring him to you"?
"Watch your tongue Mortal", Mab says. Then Jinn steps up into her face and pushes her back.
"No Mab, you don't get to bully this man".
Then again, I remember Jinn, fighting beside us, saving my ass. I blew up her man to get them out of the fight. I may have been wrong. Anyone trying to kill these two had better have a nuke.
"He saved us both", Jinn says, Talon stepping up behind her his arms around her waist.
"My Lady", he says in his deep voice. "I know what he has done".
Fear courses through me. This is absolutely the one man you don't want pissed at you.
"And I forgive him".
The silence after that remark was deafening. In my soul something moved, and for the first time in many years I felt whole. In a way I missed the guilt, in a way I felt cheated, like I deserved a punishment long overdue.