Chapter 42
Avery
I assumed I would be waiting impatiently, pacing and sucking on my vape until my mates returned, but I was wrong.
As soon as they left, Val showed up. She set up multiple screens via her Viking Touch and now we’re sitting on the couch, watching the monitors. She vapes too, but her flavor is some kind of fruit I can’t identify. I don’t think we had it on Earth.
“There, the surveillance drones are showing us the ship. Your mates are loading the explosives onto the ship,” Val points out. “They’ll get some resistance from a few peace officers.”
Three men run toward the ship. They’re wearing suits, but they have some sort of body armor on top of them. They barely engage my mates and go down without much of a fight. It almost looks staged… which it is, but my mates didn’t look like they were pulling punches.
“And now the ship is loaded with the explosives. It looks like Erik is doing something inside. Probably setting the autopilot so that it will engage the hyperdrive in orbit,” Val says, taking a hit from her vape.
I watch as the ship lifts. My mates take a few steps back, and then the ship zooms toward the sky. A surveillance drone follows it all the way into orbit, then it lights up for a moment before the hyperdrive engages.
“And over here, you’ll see the Intergalactic Alliance warship hovering above Midgard 21,” Val says, gesturing to another monitor.
“Wait, how do you have surveillance of that?” I ask, taking in the sight of the large ship.
“We sent drones ahead,” she replies casually. “We are monitoring everything. President Haggard’s personal ship should be departing shortly, right after your mates steal the one parked nearby.”
My mates hurry to a ship and climb inside. It’s black with sleek silver on the side, not much different from the president’s transport, but clearly made for traveling the stars instead of zooming around the planet.
After a few seconds, the ship lifts, and a surveillance drone follows it as it rises into the clouds. I can see my mates. Their faces are locked in concentration for a while, then Sigurd says something and the others laugh.
“Wish I could hear them,” I sigh.
“We’ll have audio once we sync everything up over Midgard 21,” she says. “Oh, the Intergalactic Alliance warship is about to blow up. You don’t want to miss this.”
I turn my attention back to the screen and watch, but nothing seems to happen.
I glance at Val with concern, then a flash makes me look at the screen.
A pulse of blue light spreads across the Intergalactic Alliance warship.
Then explosions. Little ones at first that tear pieces off the hull, then huge chunks come apart as larger explosions rock the vessel.
“Holy crap!” I say, as it continues break apart over Midgard 21.
“I’ve seen better explosions in the history archives,” Val says dismissively, then looks to another screen. “Your mates should be arriving… now.”
A ship appears, far from the debris left behind by the Intergalactic Alliance warship. It hovers for a moment, then zooms toward the planet. As it does, several more screens appear and I can see the inside of my mates’ ship.
“They made it!” I cry.
“What was that?” Sigurd questions. “Avery?”
“You can hear me?” I squeal, nearly bursting into tears. “Hey! I’m watching!”
“Damn, they really did go all out,” Erik smirks, sounding impressed. “We’re here, mate. Nothing left of that warship but dust.”
“Yeah, dust and huge metal chunks,” I say. “I got to watch it blow up.”
“Shame we missed that,” Ivar chuckles. “We’re about to land. Our people know we’re coming.”
“Good luck!” I say, waving even though they can’t see me.
I lean back and enjoy a puff of my vape. It feels like the plan is working. They’ve made it to Midgard 21. The warship is gone. They just have to load their people on the ship and get arrested by President Haggard.
“President Haggard’s ships have arrived. They’re descending toward Midgard,” Val says. “And here comes the Intergalactic Alliance, right on schedule. Our drones will follow them to the planet.”
President Haggard and his team disappear out of sight. Three Intergalactic Alliance warships arrive, nearly darkening the planet. Smaller ships fly out of them and zoom toward Midgard. The drones stay right behind them.
I finally see Midgard. The planet my mates were planning to take me to.
It looks like the cities are being reclaimed by nature.
Everything is in ruins until they get closer to the middle of a large city.
There, I see the Viking Royal Palace. The brothers have told me about it, sometimes when we’re cuddling after sex.
It doesn’t look as grandiose as I imagined, but it isn’t completely in ruins like everything else.
“We’ll have visual and audio in a moment,” Val says.
The drones circle and set up a perimeter.
I see the ship my mates came in, and they’re outside of it, with Vikings I don’t recognize.
I assume by the armor, furs, and weapons they must be the other royal families.
President Haggard is outside of his ship with a security detail, all with weapons aimed at the people of Midgard 21.
The Intergalactic Alliance ships land nearby, and the purple aliens with tentacles on their faces get out. The First Lady called them the Fraz’melkians. They approach with laser rifles pointed at everyone else, one stepping forward.
“I am Jul’lak, General Second Class of the Intergalactic Alliance. We have orders to apprehend these criminals,” the purple alien says, his suckers flexing as he speaks.
“I’m afraid they are already apprehended, General Jul’lak,” President Haggard says. “I am President Haggard of Midgard, and these men are wanted criminals on my planet. They stole explosives and one of our ships after we offered them hospitality.”
“These men are wanted for murder amongst other grievous crimes,” Jul’lak says, his tone stiffening. “Under the authority of the Intergalactic Alliance, we will take charge of them.”
“You will not,” President Haggard growls. “Under the terms of the treaty between Midgard and the Intergalactic Alliance, they are our prisoners because we have already apprehended them.”
“They still have their weapons,” Jul’lak argues.
“Drop your weapons,” President Haggard says and his security team steps forward, aiming at my mates and their friends. They immediately lower their weapons to the ground. “See, we already have the situation under control.”
Jul’lak turns and walks back to his ship.
I can’t hear what he’s saying, but I can see his suckers flexing in a way that looks like he’s shouting.
President Haggard has his security team put shackles on my mates and the others from Midgard 21.
They’re marching them to the ship when Jul’lak emerges from his transport.
“Not so fast!” Jul’lak says. “You can take the three criminals, but the rest of these men are not criminals. They will stay where they are.”
“They are accomplices,” President Haggard says. “They will be arrested like the others and tried for their crimes.”
“You don’t even punish criminals on your world,” Jul’lak challenges. “You really want to bring a bunch of murderers and thieves to your world? We’ll handle this. As you said, they’re accomplices. The Intergalactic Alliance will treat them as such.”
“I’m not turning them over to you,” President Haggard says, gesturing to his ship. “Load the prisoners and prepare for takeoff.”
Jul’lak raises his hand. The Fraz’melkians all step forward and raise their rifles. President Haggard lets out a growl and takes a step forward, his wolf definitely ready to be unleashed if the situation calls for it.
“We’ve had peace for a very long time, General Jul’lak,” President Haggard snaps.
“If your men open fire, they will all die. And after they’re dead, the Intergalactic Alliance will retaliate.
” President Haggard points toward the sky.
“We are no match for those warships. We both know that. But how do you think Midgard will react when the Intergalactic Alliance kills their president and his security team? My drones are all around you right now, recording this exchange.”
Jul’lak’s hand relaxes. He looks up, staring into one of the cameras I’m watching. It makes me shudder a little.
“Are you going to risk a war that could last decades over a bunch of criminals?” President Haggard asks. “Or will you respect the treaty? Because I will not kill you, just your men. I’ll leave you to answer to the Intergalactic Alliance after they’re already at war.”
Jul’lak lets out a long sigh, his suckers twitching. “Stand down.”
“It worked,” I breathe out.
“I believe it did,” Val says proudly, taking a puff of her vape. “Good thing, because I’m the one who came up with it.”
“Wait, you came up with this?” I glance over at her. “I thought President Haggard came up with this plan?”
“No, I’m your concierge. I handle everything. He told me what needed to be done, and I handed him a proposal,” Val says.
“Then thank you,” I say, watching as President Haggard’s ships ascend toward the sky, the drones keeping them in sight.
“Don’t mention it,” she shrugs. “Now, how would you like to go watch these filthy criminals face justice on the tarmac? President Haggard should hold their trial immediately.”
“Really? Just… hold it in public?” I ask, already standing up.
“The president has the authority, although he rarely exercises it. The senate has to agree with the verdict and sentencing, of course, but I don’t think they’ll have any input on this,” Val laughs. “Go. I’ll watch the babies.”
“No, I think they should be there. They need to meet all the other royal families,” I say. “Will you help me with them? Three is a challenge.”
“As long as I get to hold Tove. She’s my favorite. She’s giggled the entire time I held her,” Val says.
“When did you get to hold the babies?” I ask, a twinge of confusion in my voice.
“I stopped by to check on them while you were meeting with the senate. I wouldn’t be a very good concierge if I didn’t, now would I?” she says, following me to the nursery.
“I suppose not.”
I hand Tove to Val and my daughter starts giggling immediately. I’m not sure why, but I don’t question it. I gather Vivar and Revna in my arms. Val picks up my travel bag and we’re off.
When we get to the tarmac, my mates and the other members of the royal families are already standing outside the ship in a line, and President Haggard is in front of them. We get off the ship just in time to hear President Haggard tell everyone their fate.
“Since you have all pled guilty, you will be sentenced immediately,” President Haggard rumbles. “As first-time offenders, you will be shown clemency. Given a second chance. I trust none of you will waste the court’s mercy.”
“No, Mr. President,” Ivar says.
“In that case, you are now guests. Ivar, Erik, and Sigurd. You may return to your mansion. My team will assist everyone else.”
“Avery!” Sigurd exclaims, then he holds up his shackles. “Can someone get these off me? I’m a guest now.”
President Haggard’s men remove the shackles from everyone.
I rush to my mates, Val right behind me.
I get the first happy reunion. The babies get the second.
By the time we finish hugging, kissing, and exchanging newborns, the other members of the royal families are gathered around us, all of them looking on in awe.
“Let’s introduce them to their future king,” Ivar says, taking Vivar from me. “Not that he’ll ever rule, but it’s still symbolic to us.”
“Never know,” Erik chuckles. “He could become a politician. Or hey, maybe Tove or Revna will. They could be the president of Midgard one day!”
“Mm, sure,” Sigurd growls. “But I’m still training all of them to be warriors, even if we are on a peaceful planet.”
“Maybe you could teach me to take a few punches,” I tease, nudging Sigurd.
“You take what you need to take,” he murmurs, leaning down to kiss my ear, speaking so softly I’m the only one who hears the rumble. “My cock.”
“Not in front of the babies!” I scold playfully, then we turn to the royal families.
We’ve given them a future. Somewhere they can call home, where they’ll know peace instead of war. They won’t have true mates, unless they seek them out themselves, but there are women here. Women they can fall in love with and build a future with.
I already have mine.
Three mates. Three babies. And at least one more on the way.
I wonder if we’ll have a feast when I tell them.
The End