Before we go any further, I want to extend my appreciation to all my readers, especially to those who have taken the extra time to comment and offer constructive criticism. Also, I would like to thank my followers over on SpaceBattles Forums who have helped out in my 'Test Kitchen', helping me fix things that are sometimes raw, sometimes over done, and occassionally half-baked. There are too many people to name but they've been indispensible in writing this. If there is a flaw in this story, blame me. But for all the good parts, I've had plenty of help. Thanks guys!
That said, the Great Beast is dead! Things can return to normal now, right? I guess it depends on how you define normal...
As always, I do not own Gate or its characters' Please Read Review and Enjoy!
And Here We Go!
The Janus Campaign
Chapter 28: Oh! My Goddess!
After the airstrike, every member of the scouting party made the trip down to the cave to personally see for themselves that the beast was, in fact, dead. This was with the exception of Rory, whom despite having just bested Hardy's Apostle, was still uncomfortable with 'entering into Hardy's domain'. For the others, there was something to be said for seeing this monster lying dead instead of merely hearing it. Lieutenant Jansen and some of the Marines came as well, although somebody still had to stay with the vehicle. Emerging from the passage that Kurow and Itami had used the previous day into what had been the dragon's lair, the group stood in awe at seeing such a massive beast dead before them. The massive head was fairly intact. The dragon had collapsed forward, which meant that aside from the pools of blood, the wounds inflicted by the Hellfires were unseen. The back was thoroughly blasted and it now could be seen where one of the massive wings had been completely severed.
"It truly is dead," Seymy was the first to speak, albeit in a soft voice as if afraid that anything louder might waken the monster that had haunted and hunted them these past months.
One of the Marines, Sergeant Gianetti, nodded and answered her. "It ain't coming back."
"This isn't how I imagined this would be," Yan said. "No desperate battle, no screams of triumph, nothing but something that just… happened."
"That's the idea," Jansen told her. "If we do our job right, the odds are stacked in our favor. We're not here for a fair fight. We're not even here for a 'fight' if we can help it. We're here to get the job done."
Gianetti agreed, looking over at Seymy and the other Elves, "One of the greatest warriors our country ever produced once said that 'No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country'. That's how we roll. We don't give fair fights to people who are trying to harm or kill us or our friends or anything else we're tryin' to protect."
"Well, let's take a closer look," Taylor said after a moment. He gestured to Kurokawa. "I need a spare syringe and the cap." She nodded and took one out of her medical kit. Taylor took it and then went to the beast's mouth. "Aurelia? Can you pull one of these teeth out?"
Aurelia smiled, "Of course, My Lord." Selecting the largest fang, she braced herself and pulled it loose. She was a touch perplexed that instead of taking the fang, which was a massive twenty inches in length, he took the syringe and drew up a sample of the dragon's blood and capped it.
"Itami? I expect your government will want at least one sample."
"Good idea," Itami agreed. "Actually, Kurokawa? We'll need every syringe you have." He looked at Taylor. "We'll split them evenly, though I figure the scientists will swear we didn't get enough."
"Screw 'em then. These are the best samples they're going to get." Taylor then turned to Aurelia. "Quite the souvenir."
Aurelia smiled. Her Lord was a good man but still had much to learn about the ways of this world. "Yes, and once presented to Baron Kalgi, I expect any hesitation he might have about you marrying his daughter will quickly fade, My Lord."
"Good point." Taylor smiled and took hold of an equally large fang and wrenched it loose and set it next to the first. "This one will be for your father."
Aurelia eyed it with delight. "It will be a wonderful gift!"
"Thank you," he said simply with shining eyes. "Best to make the most of this opportunity," he said, selecting a smaller tooth, this one was a mere eight inches. "This one I think will be good to make into a dagger handle."
"It will look good on My Lord," Aurelia agreed.
Following this example, each of the Dark Elves selected a tooth and pried it out as did Lieutenant Jansen and some of the Marines. This hardly seemed to make any noticeable difference as the huge mouth still retained scores of massive teeth even after all had claimed their prizes. Taylor pried a few mid-sized ones for General Hazama and Colonel Lowe. A final one for his mom as meanwhile, after Lelei took one, Itami took two, one to give to Tuka sometime in the future and one for Rory. Locke also claimed one, although Kurokawa declined to participate. Though she did accept when Fen gave her a jewel-encrusted dagger he had retrieved from the cave floor, its previous owner long since ceasing to have any need for it.
Sergeant Gianetti; however, opted to take one of the huge claws. "This thing must be over a foot long!"
"You know some animal rights group will go nuts on us if they hear about this," Corporal Frost commented,
"What are they gonna do? Sue us?" Corporal Schley remarked.
"Probably," Frost answered.
"Then we invoke the 'escape clause', gentlemen," Taylor replied.
"Escape clause, sir?" Frost asked.
"Yeah. We have the right to make sure these people could escape from this thing's claws."
Jansen and the Marines chuckled at that.
In the meantime, some had begun to examine what else remained in the nest.
"Look at all of this stuff!" Komu exclaimed. "There must be a fortune in weapons and stuff here!"
"As the salvaging party, you and your tribe are entitled to it," Itami suggested.
"Does anyone mind if I keep this?" Frost picked up a dullish looking sword with a red stone in the hilt.
"Of course you may, Man in Green," Ban smiled.
Lelei looked at it with a frown. "Not that one," She said selecting a different sword that still brightly reflected even the smallest bit of light. "Here. This one is safe. Some of these weapons were magically enhanced," Lelei noted, examining another sword.
At Lelei's words, Frost quickly discarded the blade in his hand and then checked to make sure all of his hand was still there, which it was to his relief.
"They must have thought that armed with magic weapons, they could kill the dragon as it slept," Lelei observed, glancing around some more.
"It just made sure they were trapped when it woke up," Taylor noted soberly.
Aurelia looked to Ban. "My House would like to claim the right to harvest scales from this creature. Say, ten percent of the total? We also claim the body of the blue hatchling."
Ban considered this not unreasonable."That is more than fair. Of course, I cannot speak for the Elders but I believe they will agree."
Taylor quirked his head at Aurelia, curious.
"Trust me, My Lord."
Nodding his assent, he pulled out his cell phone and turned on the video camera to provide a visual record of what was in the cave. As he recorded all the swords, blasted shields, and shredded armor, he realized just how many had died trying to come in here to kill this creature. Literally, hundreds of swords were scattered about.
"Let's get out of here."
After reporting to base, The scouting group was instructed to wait for a helicopter while Willis, Jansen, and the Marines began the ride back to Alnus on their own. The big CH-53 arriving about three hours later, taking the party on board, the helicopter first set down next to the bodies of the two hatchlings, signaling in two more choppers. The second one landing about twenty minutes later, the loadmaster and his team studying how best to secure one of the massive animals in a sling harness while a third CH-53 arrived for the other one, as back at Alnus, two Hino Refrigerated Trucks were waiting to take the remains for examination.
In the meantime, the first helicopter took off once more, heading for Lordom Valley. Upon arrival, the news that the dragon was at last truly dead was mixed with the news that the very deity they had sworn devotion to had been directly responsible for their plight in the first place.
"No…" Elder Drah shook his head, stunned. "Why?"
"Does it really matter?" Elder Bram asked. "The question is 'Do we continue to give our loyalty and devotion to a Deity who finds us completely expendable?'. If just a week ago, Hardy or her Apostle had commanded us to rise up and kill the outworlders with no mercy, then I would have been the first to draw their blood. Quite probably the first to die in her name also. But we are a people whom our Goddess sees as unworthy even to be used as pawns!" The anger in his voice was manifest. "And for that, we have suffered. We have lost sons and daughters and sons and daughters OF sons and daughters! Cherished friends and companions. And if there had been even a hope that we were not forgotten in our Goddess's heart, I could say to you to endure." Bram looked fiercely at the rest of the council. "But now… Do as you will! I and mine will no longer follow the Goddess of Lies and empty promises, the Goddess of Treachery, the Goddess of Apathy and of Contempt!" Bram's anger lashing out like a fire, searing all it touched.
Elder Drah looked thunderstruck. He had always looked to the old ways for stability and comfort but that was impossible now. It would be impossible even to remain in their ancient lands, so devastated by the Flame Dragon. Impossible to rely only on themselves and a now shattered faith. "What do we do now?" It was half a whisper and half a plea for guidance from a man who felt truly lost.
Matriarch Kyas smirked. "Perhaps we should look to someone who was actually there?" She said, looking at Rory who blinked.
"I; Kyas, daughter of Embir and Matriarch of the Tribe of the Burning Heart, renounce the name of Kyas Haa Nin. From this day forth, I am Kyas Ro Nin. Praise be to our Goddess Rory!"
Her daughter Indras called out from among the rest of the assembled members of the tribe. "I am Indras Ro Nin! Praise be to Rory!"
And standing only feet from Taylor, Nayu stepped forward. "I am Nayu, no longer Nayu Haa Nin. I am Nayu Ro Nin! Praise be to Rory!" Beside her, Yao, who had been burning in anger and shaken by betrayal, screamed louder than anyone.
"The name of Yao Haa Dushi be cursed! "I am Yao Ro Dushi! Praise be to Rory!"
One by one, the Elves of the Burning Heart renounced Hardy. Each pledging their worship of Rory Mercury. This momentarily left the Demi-goddess just the slightest bit uneasy She had followers and admirers and there were plenty who feared her but she had never sought worshippers. Now she was the Patron goddess, demi-goddess anyway, she thought, of nearly nine hundred Dark Elves. She really needed someone to pray to. Or maybe she needed a drink? Or Maybe just accept her due. After all, while the loss of one tribe would not adversely affect Hardy's reach and power by much, the acquisition of that tribe was another milestone on the path to Rory's ascendency, something which in part thanks to Corus, she no longer feared. Indeed, while not 'worshippers' in the traditional sense, the fans that she had acquired while in the other world had already begun to awaken her to a greater sense of her own potential
And after all, with great power came great opportunity.
She looked over at Itami with a wolfish smile. Being a worshipped Goddess surely entitled her to some indulgences...
Still, whatever else they had learned, the Elves of the Burning Heart rejoiced in the death of the Flame Dragon, an event which demanded celebration. But the celebration would have to wait as they prepared to evacuate from the devastated land that had been their home. Elder Bram and Matriarch Kyas being the first to pack their belongings and accompanied by Yao, Nayu, Komu, and Fen. They and a few others, including Nayu's mother, joined the scouting party for the flight back to Alnus for discussions with General Hazama while the remaining Elders began to organize the rest of the Tribe to be evacuated.
For their part, Itami and Taylor considered their part in this matter resolved. Lelei would still be needed to assist in translating between the Elders and Hazama and Colonel Emerson but they were done strolling into volcanos and facing down fire breathing monsters. Taylor, for one, wanted a hot shower and a good meal and a bed.
He didn't quite get that far.
"My lord," Lady Panache greeted him with a mix of bemusement and concern as both he and Aurelia were heading for the showers, both of them were still covered in ash and Aurelia was worrying that it was starting to harden in her fur. "Is that truly my beloved or is it a golem of stone I see before me?" She teased. "I am relieved to see you both well."
Aurelia gave a slight bow and smiled. For his part, Taylor grinned. "Isn't it every boy's fantasy to go off and slay a terrible dragon in the name of his beautiful knight?"
Panache chuckled. "And hast thou slain the beast?"
"The beast is dead, milady," Aurelia confirmed. "Our Lord has claimed suitable trophy of the victory." Taylor retrieved one of the large fangs taken from the dragon's skull and handed it to Panache.
"Aurelia suggested this might help dispel any reservations your father might have about his beautiful daughter marrying a barbarian."
Panache inspected the massive fang with wonder and satisfaction. "I agree, not even Baron Kalgi could deny. There would be no other suitor in all the Empire that could bestow such a prize as this!"
"That's good to hear," Taylor replied. "Now, if My Ladies will excuse me? I need to make myself more presentable so I may join you for dinner."
"Excuse me," Taylor and Aurelia recognized the now familiar voice of Nayu behind them. As they turned, the Dark Elf dropped to one knee, a pleased smile on her face, and bowing her head.
"My Lord, Our tribe owes you and Lord Itami a Life Debt for your work to save our people. From this day forward, I pledge myself to you. For as many days as you will live, I am yours."
Taylor could only think one thought. Oh crap...
After their meeting with General Hazama and his deputies, Elder Bram threw a quizzical look at Kyas.
"Are you sure about this?"
"Oh, definitely. We're too few in number to survive without a greater connection to the outside world and some true allies. To whom shall we turn? I suppose we could all simply migrate to the Great Northern Forests. But their leaders make Drah look radical in his thinking! They would absorb us and then? Then they would wait and shut their eyes to everything beyond the trees. I think we've learned this is a foolish path," Kyas considered. "We know that allying with the Empire or one of its client states would see us consumed as they have other races. Our warriors expended for the glory of the Empire."
"How do we know these new humans will be any different?" Bram questioned.
"We don't. What we do know is that they are incredibly powerful and they know little of our world. We will offer to guide them. Show them we can be good friends. And Nayu and Yao will hopefully be able to learn from them and help forge strong ties that will be needed for our survival."
"Why did you choose Yao and Nayu?"
Kyas smiled gently. "Sometimes, things need a bit of a push," she paused and sighed. "Yao has had a difficult path. She has had such sorrow that even some of our own people have come to see her life as cursed. Even Yao herself believes this I think. Certainly, no man among our tribe dares to ask for her hand even though she is possibly the best warrior and a very beautiful young lady. Yet, this Itami seems to have a knack for turning misfortune into triumph. Even just a few decades with such a man might help Yao see herself in a new light."
"And Nayu?"
"Nayu is of my blood and like her mother and like myself before them, she yearns to go places none of us have seen before. I think there may be some truth to the rumors my grandmother was a Sea Elf. Also, I think that Nayu's human blood may be calling to her. And then there was the way she was looking at Taylor. The last time I saw a look like that was when her mother brought home Nayu's father. She knows what she wants, I've merely given her cause to pursue him."
"And if they bear children from these unions? We need to be increasing our numbers, it won't help our tribe if those children are brought up ignorant of our ways."
Kyas laughed. "Like Nayu, they will still be Elves. It takes a minimum of one-hundred and forty years for one of our kind to reach responsible age and that is pushing it a bit. As beloved as their human parent might be, they will be long departed before then, leaving them with Elven mothers who will raise them. Perhaps it will be with some new ways learned but still in the spirit of our people. .And their mothers will have help to fall back upon. Indras would not only be delighted to help Nayu rear a child but I think she still desires to be a mother again herself! And even if these old hips aren't quite suited for birthing a child, I intend to be around a few centuries more. I will be there to care for, guide, and teach the children that arise from this." Kyas had a mischievous look.
"Besides, shall we not invite the heroes of this day to become part of us? In that, we shall also increase our number and scope. Let us see what we can teach the children of this new world in addition to what we can learn. As my daughter would remind you, some non-elves have found our ways to be very attractive after all..."
Author's Note
About name changes:
The entire tribe has abandoned the middle name Haa, which was in honor of Hardy, for Ro, in honor of Rory Mercury. But with Nayu's family, it goes further. The former family name was Haa Nin. Haanin is a name on Earth which means 'Gift of God'. Apparently, Kyas, Indras, and Nayu have rejected the 'gift' of their goddess Hardy to become the family of Ro Nin. But it seems one Ronin has moved to claim her master.
Also, Next Chapter we return to the 407th.
To Be Continued...