AN: This chapter takes place after the epilogue of "Wampire's Tale".
It should be noted that while the next installment (see the AN in the first chapter) will be a proper sequel, it won't cover the war with the bugs (see the epilogue of WT). If you want to know how would that go down, read Starship Troopers from Robert A. Heinlein.
Jasper's entrance interrupts John's frantic pacing.
"Did you get your briefing package?" Jasper asks, straight to the point.
John doesn't need to answer. Nor does he need to elaborate how he feels about the news. His grandmother always seemed indomitable to him. Once, he even joked about her being a death incarnate. With both his grandparents gone, all of that hubris came crashing on his head. The fact that Bella apparently sacrificed herself, something that would normally go against her personality, only increases his emotional turmoil.
"Mum will be upset," he says instead. At the same time, he fears more family members will be lost.
"Don't worry about her, she has enough people to console her. Right now, we need to prepare for war."
Jasper looks into John's eyes, inviting him to see what he has got on his mind for himself. It is faster. At the forefront of Jasper's thoughts is a neatly prepared package accounting for John's lower brain power.
With the destruction of the undead vampire and dissipation of Bella's magic, Alice is able to see the area again. Carlisle and Esme are alive and together, floating in space. Using the stars behind them and the angle from which they are illuminated by the local star, Alice is able to narrow down their location. With them being the only surviving eyewitnesses of the whole incident, it has been decided to risk their only remaining interstellar ship to pick them up.
Another thing Alice can see are the bugs - more clearly than humans. Their society must be very orderly and their actions are almost predetermined, once a decision is made. They are coming to Earth. The destruction of their fleet was a setback but they are rebuilding their force at an alarming speed.
Jasper wants John to take part in the upcoming war.
"Sure, I'll re-enlist," agrees John.
Jasper shakes his head and points to his eyes again. He doesn't wish him to rejoin the military. Between John's son and other descendants, Jasper has more than enough Blacks at his side already. No, Jasper wants something far greater from John.
"They are finally ready," Jasper says out loud. "This is the last straw. This is what unites us. We need to take this one last step in order to survive."
All Earth, Mars, other autonomous entities, and every other human installation in the Solar system. They all need to fight this threat together. John has never been in favor of an idea of a unified human empire and not just because there are sentient beings other than humans on Earth. Jasper's opinion in the matter is even more pronounced - probably because of his anti-federal sentiments from his human life. However, he learned something else from that very same time. A group of independent entities can be joined by expediency even if they vastly differ from each other.
John comes up in Jasper's thoughts at this point. He is the only one who can make this happen. He is still remembered fondly from his tenure as a governor of Mars. He is the only one even remotely contemplated by the world leaders.
"Are you serious?" he speaks out loud, even though Jasper can sense what he feels.
"Bugs are coming. We all know what can stop them."
There is a hint of a smirk on Jasper's face. He is making an allusion to Starship Troopers, a book John read in his childhood. So outrageous. So fantastical. So tempting. In the end, so necessary for their survival.
Determination fills John. They can do it. He wonders how dragons will react. For all he knows, they saw this coming a long time ago.
He gives Jasper a nod.
THE END