Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 9
Chapter 31: The Two Fallen Soldiers
(DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Supernatural because it belongs to Eric Kripke and Warner Bros. So, enjoy the show! Rated M for graphic violence, adult content, and adult language.)
Skald Island, Skalvarg Archipelago, Valinor; many years ago…
The sound of gunfire and arrows flying filled the air as the air raid sirens sounded off without warning. The presence of the Blues alarmed the residents of Skald Island as most of them were already causing widespread panic. The war between the Oranges and the Blues raged heavily as it caused a heavy toll on the residents who lived in the Skalvarg Archipelago, especially Skald Island. In a glimmer of hope, the Clover Brigade came charging as it was led by Aloysia in which she was there to defend her home and others from the Blues. The Draaza woman in question was an athletic one as she had a kelly green comb and purple eyes while dressed in imperial garb that denoted her service to the Emperor and the five families that were connected to him. Right by her side was Te'Katri as she was a Va'Kihri who had grey skin and a teal comb while also dressed in imperial garb as she was there to hold back the Blues before they subjugated the rest of Valinor's population to extremist Christianity. It wasn't long until they saw Bertram Blackthorne with his unit as they emerged from one of the underground bunkers, for he was itching for blood and victory that kept him faithful to what he clung to in this lingering war. From the look of what occurred earlier, Aloysia discovered a scar on his face as she suspected that he got cut while fighting, for he was seething with the wrath that he was bringing here.
"Infidels!" he yelled as he saw the Clover Brigade defending the island.
"You have no right here, Bertram!" yelled Te'Katri as she was armed with her blades. "Valinor will never fall to the likes of religious extremist who don't give a rat's ass about humanoid life, only subjugation."
"I'll show you subjugation, you impudent jezebel!"
"We warned you just like Emperor Todd warned you when he took over after Emperor Esteban's passing!" cried Aloysia. "This place doesn't belong to you, for this is our planet that is meant to live freely, not be enslaved by falsehoods!"
It wasn't long until Te'Katri rushed towards Bertram as she saw him run a break for it. She chased after him as she was ready to pounce until he fought back with his sword. With Te'Katri quicker, she knew where to hit at Bertram's blind spot as she slashed his side the moment he fell onto the ground. He wasn't ready to give up as he refused to admit defeat in which he vowed to enslave the Skalvarg Archipelago to follow extreme Christianity, for this was his dream to have an entire planet converted to the religion of his choice.
"How dare you?!" he yelled as he clutched at his stomach as he was bleeding. "How dare you defy God's will like that?!"
"It's all over, Bertram," said Te'Katri as she aimed her blades on him.
"All over, you say?" Bertram fishes out a detonator as he activated a countdown. "I installed a prox bomb that you can't diffuse in which this island will be purified with Holy Fire! You can't stop it, for you're all doomed!"
Aloysia and Te'Katri ran towards a place near the Inland District as they spotted the bomb that Bertram talked about. They had to protect everyone as they had no other choice but to use their Nephilim abilities to prevent the island from being destroyed, for they couldn't let Bertram and his followers get away with what they did.
"Bertram really screwed the pooch, didn't he?" said Te'Katri as she saw the bomb getting ready to go off. "Even though we had hopes to start a family in the future, I'm afraid that it's a bust."
"And our ovum will never draw breath," said Aloysia sadly as she had tears in her eyes. "Even though we'll never have a family, we also had to suffer from the sickness that kept us from being happy once the war was over."
"I know…, but protecting the people and our unit comes first."
"Forgive me, Alonzo… I can't come home for Christmas in Dunedain…"
"This is it… We can't let this bomb destroy Skald Island, for we have no other choice but to protect what we have."
"Almighty Matriarch and Fa'Uluur, please protect everyone. This is the only chance that we have in order to protect our friends, our family, our unit…, our people!" Aloysia looks at Te'Katri as she holds her hand. "I love you till the bitter end…"
Both Aloysia and Te'Katri used their Nephilim abilities to prevent a disaster as they shielded themselves and the bomb the moment it went off. With such power, a gust of wind appeared out of nowhere as it blew all of the Blues into the waters in which Skald Island was saved from further harm in this battle, but at a high cost. What was discovered in the aftermath was the inner explosion that caused a huge crater as the Clover Brigade rushed to the scene too late. There was nothing viable as the remains of what was left of Aloysia and Te'Katri became a mess of blood and bone as the only thing that was there were their hands joined together. Even though the catastrophe was averted, the sacrifice of the two fallen soldiers were proof that their valor to protect everyone from the wrath of the Blues that day, for it was a day that would never be forgotten…
Present day…
Bruce was standing in front of a tomb as he laid flowers near it. He was also praying towards it as he also paid his respects to whoever defended Skald Island from the enemies in the war between the Oranges and the Blues. He remembered the ones who protected their unit and those who lived on Skald Island as he was mainly showing his respect to the tomb in front of him. Like the ones who gave their lives in the war between the Oranges and the Blues, Bruce also fought in battle as he had his fair share of losing close friends to put a damper on Bertram Blackthorne, for he also had to pay a heavy toll while fighting for his planet.
"Long time, no see…," he said as he continued to pray in front of the tomb. "I bet that you and Te'Katri would be well after you sacrificed yourselves to protect your unit and the rest of this island. You may not had a chance to start a family, but that didn't stop you from using your own Nephilim abilities to protect what you cared about, despite the fact that you two suffered from the effects of Tabata Syndrome. All I know is that you're up in the Grey Havens looking down upon your unit and the people you cared about. Everything is fine, for I will continue to pray for you."
Bruce looked at the tomb as he saw the words, "In memory of Aloysia and Te'Katri Webber," written on the obsidian gravestone. When he finished paying his respects, he looked in the distance as he saw a Draaza coming here to pay his own, for he knew of the fallen personally.
"Alonzo Webber," he said. "It's been years since your sister's passing."
"At least she and Te'Katri did their duties to protect this island from Bertram Blackthorne's forces," he said as he laid flowers near the tomb. "The Matriarch and Fa'Uluur always watches over this island like two cats stuck on a window."
"They were brave, but the effects of Tabata Syndrome took a heavy toll on them while they fought till the bitter end. Still, the war between the Oranges and the Blues became a tragic reminder of the heavy toll that gripped this planet."
"Bruce…, I didn't come here just to pay respects to my sister and her wife. I went towards the underground gene bank of the Fallen in which their ovum turned up missing. Even C.J. noticed it when we went to visit my mother-in-law in the Tsubaki District."
"And I know who has them… You should talk to Sam about this matter in which he carries them in the crafted womb in his body. Their presence is mainly a boon for Reiko in which she even vowed to protect them once they're born."
"I'll go and see to it…"
Alonzo sprinted off as he was on his way towards the castle. He was glad that the missing ovum were thriving as he was also grateful that they didn't wither away. He was also happy that they were safe from harm as they were put there for a reason, for he was ready to show respect to the legacy that was left behind by the ones who gave their lives for their planet…
I was in the bathroom as I was taking a shower in which I was mainly stuck in another assessment. With the morning rush already in motion, I didn't mind it until I heard the toilet flushing. The hot water scalded me after I rinsed off and later turned off the faucet and got out of the shower. I had a gut feeling that Dean would come here to pull a prank on me, but I noticed Reiko in the bathroom as she was feeling a little green in the gills. Like me, she was also experiencing morning sickness as something was a little off when I noticed a pregnancy test on the sink. What also concerned me was that I saw the two lines on it as Reiko was expecting just like I was, for we were in the same boat that kept us incapacitated for a while. I didn't mind it as this wasn't the first time that we would end up bedridden for the day, for we had to double what we were carrying.
"This is a surprise," I said as I saw the pregnancy test.
"I'm so sorry about this, but I felt unwell," said Reiko.
"And I remembered when we did it before I officiated Moro's second wedding… It was a busy one until I got drugged, kidnapped, and had my seed milked to fertilize the foreign ovum I'm carrying."
"At least the little ones will have their protectors…"
"Sam's taking a shower right now!"
I heard Sona yelling from outside the bathroom as I got dressed in clean clothes. Even though I was feeling a bit sick, I also had to take it easy as I left the bathroom with Reiko following me into the main hall. When I noticed Bruce arriving, he was showing fealty towards me as he was aware of what I carried inside me. What I also didn't expect was that Alonzo burst in as he was kneeling in front of me, for he was glad that I kept what I had in me instead of doing away with them out of anger a few days ago, for it nearly damaged me that way.
"Almighty Matriarch and Fa'Uluur be praised that you didn't carry out your plan to snuff out my sister's legacy…," he said.
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
"Sam, this is Alonzo Webber," said Bruce. "I told him about how Neville and Abraham forced you to be an Incubator against your wishes in which you carry the ovum of Aloysia and her wife, Te'Katri, who died in battle protecting their unit and the rest of the people on Skald Island. As for his clan, the Webbers are a matriarchal one in which his late mother was a Half-Elf, but a Nephilim who lost her life before the start of the war between the Oranges and the Blues. He and his sister were raised by the Trujillo Clan in which they also took in a Va'Kihri orphan who also had Nephilim abilities. Growing up, both Aloysia and Te'Katri became more than just friends when it came to their abilities and status as Nephilim, but it came at a cost in which they suffered from the effects of Tabata Syndrome. The ovum that remained unscathed were stored in a gene bank of the Fallen until today."
"And Sammy carries them to honor the ones who never had a chance to start a family," said Reiko.
"I know that it's sad, but having my sister's hopes to start one dashed ended up devastating both her and Te'Katri, but that didn't stop them from protecting their unit and the people who lived here. One day, the Blues sent in a prox bomb that couldn't be diffused until Sis and her wife used their abilities to shield the island from it in which they paid the price for protecting everyone they cared about. On that day, their abilities caused an effect known as a divine wind to blow away Bertram Blackthorne's forces from invading the Skalvarg Archipelago in which it is revered today. In the end, their unit found what was left of them in which all they found viable was their hands holding one another. They salted and burned their remains in which they're buried in the tomb that Bruce visits every year. You may not know it, but he once served alongside my sister and Te'Katri and the rest of their unit."
"And in a few days, it'll be Var Day," he said. "What is Var Day? It is a combination of Veteran's Day, Armistice Day, and Remembrance Day all into one, which is celebrated on the eleventh day of November."
The eleventh day of November… It was also the day that I gave birth to Kazuko and Giles as they will have their first birthday soon. When I noticed them running around without their clothes on, I saw Kanna chasing after them as she didn't want them to run everywhere naked, for they just had their bath and sprinting in their usual birthday suits. I also noticed Carly running after them as she had their clothes and pull-ups to put on in which she caught one of them and dressed him up.
"Serves you right for running all over the place without your clothes on!" she yelled.
"Giles isn't the only one who keeps doing this," said Kanna as she dressed up Kazuko.
"But their birthday is in a few days…"
"And we'll celebrate it," I said. "Besides, they were born on Var Day in which it's also a day of remembering those who gave their lives to protect those they cared about. As for what we'll do for their birthday, we'll also give thanks to the ones who valued the lives of others, for their sacrifices would never be in vain."
I saw Carly and Kanna whisk the youngest twins away as I was more than likely to be visiting the tomb of Aloysia and Te'Katri Webber. Clutching at my stomach, I felt the legacy of the fallen soldiers nestling in my body as I ventured outside of the castle. When I walked towards the town square, I saw several people laying flowers and stuffed animals on the graves of the soldiers who fought and died in the war between the Oranges and the Blues as they honored the fallen. When I reached the tomb of the two mothers of the foreign ovum, I prayed at the grave as I also had my reason to keep them safe. Still, I never forgave myself for trying to get rid of the little ones after what happened to me as I continued to pray and pay my respects. At that moment, I vowed not to let my anger get the better of me as I also had to resolve it, but to no avail. All I did was shed tears as I was ashamed of my behavior after I was found on the day after Halloween. I wanted to end it all after what I nearly tried to do it until I turned around to see a vision of the past.
What I saw was that a group of Valinorian soldiers that consisted of humans, Elves, Dwarves, and other humanoids rushing towards a crater as they saw the remains of the mothers of the foreign ovum dead while holding hands. I also noticed Bruce in the crowd as he was devastated to see the aftermath of what occurred when the divine wind drove away the Blues. Still, the war back then took a toll on all of Valinor as everyone prayed in solidarity of the sacrifice that the fallen soldiers made, for they saved Skald Island and the others that made up the Skalvarg Archipelago. When I returned to reality, I broke down crying as I couldn't hold back any more tears. I felt guilty for trying to terminate the foreign ovum I carried as I also vowed to help protect them and not devastate Reiko, for she grew fond of what I had along with what we crafted in the long run. When I was ready to leave, I spotted my past self as he was disappointed in my behavior a few days prior, for he didn't want me to fall under the cracks after all that has happened to me.
"So, you found the resting place of the ovum donors," he said to me.
"I saw what happened to them," I said as I continued to shed more tears.
"They had to sacrifice their desire to start a family to protect everyone in their unit and all over the Skalvarg Archipelago back then."
"As for what I bear, I don't know what to say to their mothers after what I nearly tried to do. I even wanted to say that once I got rid of them, everything would go back to normal, but I'm so ashamed to be calling myself a protector right now."
"You can't just keep beating yourself up right now. For the record, you're not the only one who screwed up big time, for I also made those mistakes in the Elder Days. You can't just say that everything will go back to normal if you tried to get rid of what got thrown at you, for I also had a desire to get away from what was put in front of me."
"You never wanted to become a hunter, did you?"
"I was studying in law school until I got back into what was put in front of me. Still, I came to terms with what I had in which I couldn't get away from it. For years, I longed to have a normal life, but in the end of it all, I accepted what was there in which I had to keep going. I even led a group to stop the British Men of Letters from killing other hunters in which I didn't want to sit by and let anyone else be on their hit list. In the end of it all, it's the things that we don't want that make us more resilient than we think."
"We're more alike, but we had things that were hard to accept. You were stuck in dealing with the family business while I spent my years as a servant in a frozen wasteland. Still…" I clutch at my stomach as I feel the foreign ovum nestling in my body. "I hope that I find forgiveness in the future… I hope that what I bear has enough love and care in order to function with the rest of my family. It's the most that I can do just to rectify the mistake I nearly made."
"As long as you protect what you bear, they will have a better chance with a loving family like what you and Reiko have. I know that in your heart that you've always been a kind person. You also have the ways and means to care for and nurture them because their mothers made a brave sacrifice to protect this island and the people in their unit. They were the ones that brought the divine wind to blow away the Blues in which the Skalvarg Archipelago was saved, for it also took a heavy toll after the battle. In your predicament, there's nothing to fear, for it will be necessary to protect you in the end."
I saw my past self vanish without a trace as I continued to pray at the tomb of the fallen soldiers. I also vowed to protect what was put into me as I refused to betray them again. It was my way of honoring the memory of the ones who laid down their lives to save everyone here as their bravery and sacrifice would never be in vain. When I was about to return to the castle, I saw an Elf woman with a Draaza girl coming towards the tomb as they were laying their flowers and stuffed animals near it. They were also praying at the tomb as they also had their reasons to honor the memory of the fallen, for they were thankful that they saved the Skalvarg Archipelago from the further ravages of war. I didn't mind their presence as they had their way of paying their respects to the fallen soldiers who protected everyone in the end, for it was a time to give thanks to what their services meant.
"It's been a while since Alonzo and I came to see you again," said the Elf as she laid a plush Krypto near the tomb. "We're well, but it's been getting hectic since those terrorists in strange clothing kept popping up and trying to steal old Draaza tech. I just hope that they get what's coming to them…"
"We'll be on our way to visit Abuela," said the Draaza girl as she laid a plush Bugs Bunny at the tomb. "I never got to see you, but at least you protected all of us, including Bruce. We ran into him today and he told us how an Incubator nearly tried to get rid of what he bore, but Lady Reiko beckoned him to keep what was in him, for they look like you and Aunt Te'Katri. Once they're born, I can't wait to greet them and neither can Papi."
"We'll be going back to the mainland with Abuela once we get your daddy and your brothers. Besides, we'll be returning to our home in Dunedain in which we'll even go for some arroz con pato or perhaps some tiradito for dinner."
I saw the Elf woman and Draaza girl leave as I was the only one staring back at the tomb of the fallen soldiers. Still, I had an obligation to care for what I had in me as I also noticed Reiko standing in front of me. She was worried about me as she also saw the sadness that I had in which she didn't want me to be overwhelmed by the guilt of nearly betraying the parcels that I had in me, for she was also optimistic on the future that was put in front of us.
"I went to the tomb of the fallen ovum's mothers and paid my respects there," I said.
"You should come in the house," said Reiko as she saw fresh snow falling on the ground.
"I feel so bad after what I went through on Halloween night, for I was hell-bent on getting rid of a legacy that the fallen soldiers until I was stopped at the last minute. I got so angry in which I ended up wanting to nearly betray the little ones I have. I feel so ashamed in which I'm not worthy of protecting what I have."
"But you are worthy. You may not know it, but you don't have the heart to get angry with the little ones in the form of their mothers. Don't forget; they will also have their protectors coming to their aid."
"I know…" I feel at Reiko's stomach as I felt the pair of twins nestling in her womb. "We're in the same boat, but we're in for the long haul."
It wasn't long until we made our way back to the castle as we were in for one long ride. Both of us were expecting as we also had to make an effort of our situation in which we were more than likely to be under tough security, for it was a way to keep us grounded from being targeted by our enemies. By the time we made it back, we were greeted by a familiar face as she was here on business, for she had move up the ranks in the Medical Corps.
"It's been a while, Sam," she said as she was glad that I was okay.
"Chiaki…" I said. "Looks like Reuben briefed you on my unmentionable problem as of late."
"That's not the only problem, for I got word that Reiko is also expecting due to the fact that she has a knack for craving weird food while you only crave fruit cocktail."
"That's… really embarrassing." I was blushing as I couldn't hide the truth about what I ate.
"Sammy has a knack for eating fruit cocktail," said Reiko.
"From what I heard, if one eats too much fruit cocktail, they're having a girl. As for your examination, we should see how you're doing."
We followed Chiaki into the castle as we went directly to the infirmary wing. When we were in the examination room, I allowed Reiko to go first as she was laying down on the scanner table. Chiaki took point in examining her as she saw the twins on screen. I noticed the Half-Elven fetuses with jeweled sigils on their foreheads up close as they were meant to be adorable once they emerge into the world. By the time Reiko got up, it was my turn to lay down as I saw the images of what I bore on screen. I saw them as they had the same jeweled sigils on their foreheads in which Reiko also saw them the moment she was overjoyed that they were spared. She cared about them just like our other children as she saw them in a vision, for they were the future that came from the mothers who gave their lives to protect their unit and the rest of the people living in the Skalvarg Archipelago.
"Don't worry, girls; I'll be there to protect you," she said.
"But you don't know the gender yet," said Chiaki.
"I know what they look like because I saw a vision of them in which they will be born as Cetra, but with all the love and care that can be given to them."
"Their mothers gave their lives to protect the Skalvarg Archipelago and I carry what they have," I said. "I paid my respects to their tomb in which I also vowed to protect what I was put into me."
"The babies are doing well in which they're also thriving," said Chiaki. "It's the most we can do for you in which they'll do a lot more better once you get some bedrest."
"I'm not the only one who needs bedrest. Reiko also needs it as well because she's no stranger in carrying twins."
Reiko held my hand warmly as she was happy that my little ones were thriving just like what she was carrying in her own body. We were both with child as it was also a way and mean to keep us away from the danger that lingered in the form of the terrorists who made their mark. Even though the Executive Division have gone out to pasture, their successors, the Zenith Vectors, have been combing every nook and cranny for old Draaza tech as they will stop at nothing to propel humanity to the status of top dog. By the time I got up, I was more than likely to be going towards the kitchen until I noticed Reuben arriving. He was here to make sure that Reiko and I were safe as he was briefed on what we bore in our bodies, for we were in for the long haul due to the dual pregnancies that we had.
"The examination's over, Reuben," I said.
"That's not what I'm here to talk about," he said. "I've been looking through the x-ray scans in which everything is normal on you." I see him fish out a file as he shows a picture of one of them that would shock me. "Take a look at what's been found there."
I saw two more babies nestling in my crafted womb as they were next to the ones that were viable. I never saw it coming as I was expecting quadruplets instead of twins as I also saw the jeweled sigils on their foreheads due to their status as Cetra. Reiko, on the other hand, was overjoyed that I was finally grounded with the quadruplets as she also vowed to protect them like the ones in her vision, for she was thankful that I would raise the children whose mothers put their lives on the line to protect everyone. The first set of quadruplets in the Order ended up coming from me as I also had no other choice but to stay put, for I ended up making history due to my status as an Incubator.
"Akio's gonna have one hell of a field day," said Reuben.
"It's promising, but he's got the Zenith Vectors to deal with right now," I said.
"That's not the point, Sam. Ever since your furlough, there's been widespread rumors about your absence in which the Stewards of Alecrast have tossed their hats in the ring."
"What do they want?"
"They view what you bear in your body a threat. From what was kept from us, I looked into the history of why Alecrast has no Emperor, for our father was supposed to rule after the death of our grandfather, Henry. The Stewards refused to give Dad power in which they also had total control of our homeworld. And yet, Dad stayed in the Order just to be part of the Hunter Corps and to fight in the First Galvanic Uprising, but he never told us about his lineage to royalty."
"We may be of royal blood, but we could never ascend to the throne. All we are made for is to chart our own path."
"Not entirely," said Reiko. "I may not know more about how the Alecrian royal family fell, but we also can't let our homeworld go without a leader. One of our children will ascend in which the Stewards will vacate. We all have to protect what's dear to us, right?"
Reiko's words had me on my toes as I was also fearing the worst coming from the Stewards who governed Alecrast since our grandfather's ouster. Still, it was yet another chapter that kept us on our toes as we had our reasons to keep moving forward, for we carried out plenty of what was put in front of us…
Akio was at his office in the Order's main headquarters on Valinor as he was looking at some files on his desk. Ever since the guilty verdict that put Neville and Abraham behind bars, he was on edge as he was looking at the Galactic Almanac in which he was reading what could happen next. Looking at some newspapers, he saw the front page as the words, "Alecrian Stewards cracking down on Alecrian royal family?" appeared in bold letters. He had a gut feeling that the Stewards were slipping as they were desperately trying to hold onto power. With letters from Ginryu confirming the suspicion, Akio had to do his best to protect me and the others in my family as the time to restore the Alecrian royal family were growing louder after the terrorist attack in Isildur.
"This is one hell of a shit show…," he said to himself as he looked at the newspaper.
It wasn't long until he heard the door to his office open as he saw a man dressed in noble garb burst in here with such grandeur. He knew of him very well as he saw him to be a member of the Alecrian Stewards who control the planet. The sight of the man in noble garb sent red flags as he was standing firm with black hair and blue eyes while basking in the grandeur that oozed an unwanted power trip. Akio was aware that the nobleman was on business as he was aware of dissent in the air, for he also knew that the signs of Alecrian royalty were still thriving after being under the Order's protective umbrella.
"Iago Arkhelios," he said. "It seems that your sister sent you to intimidate us, but there's no threat since Emperor Henry's ouster from the Alecrian throne."
"I know that the remnants of the Alecrian royal family still thrive in which there have been loud protests to oust us Stewards from power," he said with an icy tinge in his voice. "We all know that the Alecrian royal family are linked to the ones from the Elder Days in which they spent their duty in 'saving people, hunting things, and upholding the family business.' Now, the cries to bring back the royal family have gotten louder since that terrorist attack on Isildur, but we will never budge nor will we relinquish power!"
"If you're talking about the Winchesters, they've stayed away from that path while joining the Order of Letters in which they did their best not to step on any blowhard's toes."
"I know where the ones born of royal blood are hiding and I will go there to Skald Island to cause a reckoning!"
"If you do that, then you'll keep adding fuel to the fire in which the protestors who demand a return of the Alecrian royal family will have a much louder voice to drown out your illusions of grandeur."
"We will not listen to those who cling to an empty throne. And what do I hear from the dissenters?! I hear that if the Alecrian Emperor isn't restored to the throne in three years, then Alecrast will suffer a neverending winter. We Stewards kept law and order all over the planet in which the Chieftains and others thrived without the presence of the Alecrian royal family. Therefore, I will go to Skald Island to deliver a warning to the remnants not to return to Alecrast. We even survived the Galvanic Uprisings in which the Executive Division nearly crippled us!"
"Now that the war is over, the Zenith Vectors have been causing a ruckus in which they'll stop at nothing to bring humanity to the top of the food chain. Sooner or later, you won't be able to hold onto power if that happens in which there's no stopping the protests who are demanding the Alecrian royal family to return to power."
Iago drew out his sword as it was a brandished claymore with a gold hilt in which he pointed it at Akio. He was no stranger in dealing with dissent as he later brandished his gun and later pointed it at the nobleman. He didn't want his unwanted guest to stir up trouble as he also didn't want him to go after anyone associated with me, for he knew of what the Alecrian Stewards are capable of just to hold onto power.
"Sorry, but you can't bring a knife to a gunfight," he said.
"I will be going to Skald Island to put the remnants in their place," said Iago as he put away his sword. "The Alecrian royal family whose past selves came from those corny Supernatural books won't see the light of day in which we hold the keys to the kingdom, not them!"
"If you do any further harm to Sam or anyone else in his inner circle, then you'll get what's coming to you and divine karma isn't taken lightly."
Iago left Akio's office as he as alone in his desk. He was beginning to abhor the nobleman who tried to intimidate him as he wasn't about to let him get away with trying to get to us. With the protests to bring back the Alecrian royal family louder than ever, there was no going back as things would go out of hand if not handled properly, for this was the start of future worries ahead…
Reiko and I were in the main hall as we noticed a gathering of veterans who were paying their respects to the ones who protected Skald Island from the wrath of the Blues many years ago. It was a day of remembrance to honor the fallen as we noticed the war veterans, including Bruce, gather in prayer as they paid tribute to the ones who helped to bring in the divine wind that blew all of the Blues away from the Skalvarg Archipelago. The long tribute to the two fallen soldiers was a form of being honored for their duty and sacrifice.
"We of the Clover Brigade honor our fallen comrades," said Bruce. "The lives of Aloysia and Te'Katri Webber were the years of sorrow and sacrifice in which they put the lives of everyone first before their own. Aloysia and Te'Katri were both Nephilim, but the surge of Tabata Syndrome destroyed their chances to start a family, only to have their ovum stored and later fertilized years later. Their honor and sacrifice will never forgotten in which they saved lives while shielding themselves with a prox bomb, only to have died heroes that went above and beyond the call of duty. We're here today to give thanks to the ones who saved the Skalvarg Archipelago from the ravages of Bertram Blackthorne and his forces in which they never invaded it again. Godspeed, for your duty and service will never be forgotten. Faram."
"Faram," said the congregation as they clasped their hands in prayer.
Reiko and I also prayed in solidarity with the congregation as we had high hopes that the little ones I carried would soon be welcomed with open arms. The future that I harbored was a godsend as I also made a vow to protect what the fallen soldiers wanted. Even Reiko was honoring the wishes of the fallen as she felt at my stomach in which I was carrying four instead of two, for she was also displaying our own twin she had as well.
"Our little ones have protectors now," she said.
"And Bruce made his entrance to honor the fallen soldiers," I said.
"Aloysia and Te'Katri will rest easy now. Their duty above everything was what made them give their lives to save everyone, for they were true heroes after all."
"I see that you've come to honor the fallen," said Bruce. "This castle also served as the last bastion of defense against Bertram Blackthorne and his soldiers. That is why we come here to pay our respects to the ones who saved the Skalvarg Archipelago from the wrath of the Blues back in the day."
It wasn't long until we followed Bruce and his congregation outside where the tomb of the fallen soldiers was. We saw everyone laying flowers and stuffed toys in front of the obsidian gravestone as they also showed solidarity to their fallen comrades. The Clover Brigade was a unit that staved off the Blues as they remained humble towards the ones who saved everyone, for their duty and sacrifice were the bravest of all. It wasn't long until a glimmer of light shined on the gravestone as it was the gods' way of honoring those who protected everyone until the end. We also saw the spirits of the fallen soldiers up there in the Grey Havens as they were smiling from above. Their lives may have been full of sorrow, but their future children will be able to thrive, for it is what was put in front of us so far…
Reiko was up in the middle of the night as she was looking for further details about the fallen soldiers. With everyone in bed, she was in the sitting room combing over the bookshelves to look for proof about the two soldiers in which she found a projector with a disc next to it. Picking it up, she set it on the coffee table as she inserted the disc into it and turned it on. What she saw were home movies about Aloysia and Te'Katri as they were enjoying their wedding in the castle many years ago. They were happy together until Reiko saw them in the infirmary wing saddened with the devastating news that stunned for them, for they never saw it coming until now.
"I'm so sick of this!" cried Aloysia as she had tears in her eyes. "This isn't fair to either one of us that we suffer from Tabata Syndrome."
"I know, Aloysia," said Te'Katri as she was consoling her. "The gods have destroyed what we wanted, but the viable ovums that we have are in cryogenic storage for further use. They are the future, for we will soon welcome them once this war ends."
"If only it were true, Te'Katri… If only we didn't suffer from the effects of Tabata Syndrome that continues to plague us."
"Life is never fair to us, but we also have our unit to protect along with the ovum that is stored until the time is right. Bertram Blackthorne and his followers won't see the light of day if he continues to encroach all over Valinor. Once this war is over, we'll start a family as promised."
Reiko had tears in her eyes as she felt sorry for the two fallen soldiers who gave their lives to protect what they cared about. When she felt at her stomach, she made sure that the twins she carried would protect the ones I had in me, for they were the last legacy of the ones who protected the Skalvarg Archipelago from the ravages of Bertram Blackthorne and his followers in the war between the Oranges and the Blues. Turning off the projector, she left the sitting room as she went towards our room in which she saw me calm and not stressed out. When I saw her crawl into bed, she was touching at my stomach as she felt the four parcels that I had, for they were there in order to honor the fallen. I returned the favor as I touched at her stomach in which I felt the twins nestling in her body, for they were the protectors who would keep the little ones safe. After all that has happened, we were bogged down as we also had no other choice but to stay off our feet, for this was a sign of our divine favor that was put on display.
"I saw them, Sammy," said Reiko.
"Are you talking about the fallen soldiers?" I asked.
"They suffered so much, only to see their future taken away from them…"
"We have them now, for they will rest easily. The foreign ovum will be with the rest of our children in which the newest set of twins you carry will protect them just like their mothers saved the Skalvarg Archipelago from the ravages of Bertram Blackthorne's forces. We have a future, for it's also a step to the golden age as promised."
Reiko and I held our hands together as we had our work cut out for us. As for the future that was put in front of us, we had our reasons to preserve the ones that were given to us, for it was something that would soon be a boon for us so far…
To be continued...