Ultimate Line Ch. 02

Waliff arched a brow at him.

He shrugged and sat on the sofa stretching his legs.

"Baron you were only in your previous state for ten years. Have you developed any romantic liaisons or friendships with any humans who would notice you've gone missing?" She asked as she continued typing.

"No I have not." He spoke quickly.

She glanced up and over at him. "Please stand and move to the spot next to the desk."

He did as requested.

"Look up at the dot above my head please. Thank you. Now, can you smile?" He smiled, her hand faltered while he waited. "Um, okay. Now do you have any identifying marks that you didn't have before?"

"Yes, I do."

She waited. "Can I see it? And then I'll need to record it."

Nodding, he pulled the tee shirt off and threw it to the chair. Lifting his arm, he pointed to the mark on his side.

"Selma?" He looked at her after a moment. "Selma it's right here." He pointed with his other hand. "Have you recorded it yet?" His face and throat tightened. He hated being the object of stares.

"Um, yes." She smacked her lips and peered closer at the spirals and odd markings. "That's unfamiliar, what is it?"

"It's a Valdine symbol meaning last," Baron answered as he moved away to get his shirt.

"Wait," Selma yelled, stopping him. "I... I need to record you. I mean I need to record your mark." She watched every move he made with an unnatural light in her eyes. Like a hawk savoring its next catch.

Uneasy, he glanced at Waliff who stared at his movements before he caught his eye. The older man nodded.

"Selma are we finished here?" Waliff asked handing him his shirt. "Baron will need to keep his name. I hope that can be arranged."

"Yes, I'm just about done here." Baron turned his back on the woman as he slipped into his shirt. His face blazed with discomfort of her treatment of him. Waliff smiled at his obvious embarrassment.

Standing, Selma walked over to Baron and handed him an envelope. "You've been in the system for just 10 years, so I updated all your data with your new photo and tattoo. You are good to go." She stood close to him, staring at his fingers, with the envelope clasped in her hand. He tugged and she released it with a strangled sound.

Her hand latched onto his forearm. "Baron...Baron, you look really good," she said on a whispery sigh. "I see Ian and a few others from your line. Yours was one of the better lines you know." She inched closer and inhaled.

Pulling his shoulder back, he looked down surprised. He'd known Selma for centuries, and they'd never gone beyond a polite greeting to one another. He'd never been interested and nothing had changed. Now, his mind clicked with memories, which certainly weren't his, of her doing things with his linesman he'd never seen or heard of.

"Th-thanks, Selma" he stuttered, sure his face was stark white. "I've got to get going. There are some things I need to take care of." Peeling her hand from his arm, in a blast of speed, he made it to the door as Waliff unsealed it. Without a backward glance, he escaped.

"Baron," Waliff called out. He stopped on the other side of the door. "Baron, you can't run every time a woman is attracted to you. Get a grip, man." Although he spoke quietly, Baron heard the laughter underlying his tone.

"Very funny, you knew she'd had a-a fling with Ian didn't you?" he countered as they reappeared in Waliff's veranda.

"Yes, but truthfully it happened so long ago, I'd forgotten until she called out his name. By the way, until you discover how Icar and Brevar departed, you might want to mask your scent. You don't want anyone thinking they've come back for retribution."

"They left willingly on a conquest of honor, there was no foul play." Baron answered harshly. His hand flew to his mouth, and his eyes widened first in surprise then apprehension. He gazed at Waliff, concerned. "What the... where did that come from?"

"It came from you." Waliff stared at him pensively for a moment. "You need some time alone with your line to get reacquainted. You are our first hybrid. I trust you will keep notes so in the future we won't be caught off guard. I'm sorry, I cannot tell you more about what to expect. All I know is that this is a promise fulfilled by the Ultimate, and He is aware of what's happening. Neither He nor the good Madre has shared anything with me, my friend."

Nodding, Baron stretched. "You were right. There are some strong personalities in this line, and I must get to know them. Parameters need to be put in place as we discover how to function in this new setting." He waved at his body.

"Also, you will need to take a seat on the council." He waved down Baron's objection. "I know you prefer to sit on the sidelines and stay in your labs. Nevertheless, this transformation has changed everything. After the disaster with Schylar and Skye, trust in the board had been damaged. As the Elder in your line, and the wisdom you carry inside, you must consider a place on the Council. Your people have need of you. When word gets out of this transition, the promise from the Ultimate fulfilled, it will strengthen our position against the opposition."

He paced in front of his desk, something Baron rarely saw him do. The opposition must have gained strength. His thoughts drifted toward Skye, a Valdine breeder who'd recently mated with a hunter. Her life had been threatened by a Councilman and his daughter. The results had been tragic for the Councilman who'd played a role in kidnapping the breeder's child.

"Also, your desires will change with the addition of your linesmen. You may no longer be content to hide in the shadows. You are no longer the same person from before, and your responsibilities have changed." He regarded his friend. "Think on it, Baron."

Baron executed a head bow. "Thank you, Waliff for all your assistance. I will do as you ask and think about everything. First, I must bring order to my house." He bowed deeply from the waist and disappeared.

Waliff sat heavily in his chair. Baron would gain control of his line. The man was disciplined and logical. Even though some in his line were wild, he doubted they could influence Baron to be anyone other than who he was at his core. He wondered what Baron would say if he knew, Garritt Noorda, leader of the rebellion hated and killed Ian, centuries ago.

Garritt's hatred would extend to Baron. As long as Baron was the last of his line, he would survive, but how would that affect his seed? Would his offspring become a new line? Or would Baron always be last? Rubbing his forehead, Waliff needed answers before blood spilled. Not everyone would be pleased with Baron's new status.

Tapping his desk, he shook off the morose thoughts. He made notes from their conversation and his observations for his files. The Ultimate had chosen wisely. Baron was a genius and would have a positive impact on his line and more importantly their race.

Baron had just left when Waliff sensed another presence. He wondered at the novelty of both men seeking his counsel on the same day. He hoped Garritt had not heard of Baron's transformation yet, he needed time to set some things up first.

"Garritt it is good to see you," Waliff stood to accept the bow from his guest. "It has been too long." They both moved inside from the veranda overlooking the mountains and sat down. From behind his desk, Waliff took the opportunity to study his long time associate. The years appeared to be good to Garritt. His color was good, a light tan. Dark brown hair framed a square face, with a hooknose. Overall, an arresting visage coupled with a rangy physique. Light gray eyes shifted around the room, scoping the space while seemingly at ease. Appearances in Garritt's case were deceptive and, Waliff knew, how quickly the man's temperament could change.

"I take it you are not here to return to your position as the leader of our Sentinels."

Garritt snorted and they chuckled at the long-standing joke. Garritt had indeed given up his commission centuries ago, and Waliff had been requesting his return just as long. They'd reached a compromise. Garritt and Orton, another former council employee, trained Valdines for combat. Almost all the graduates were granted positions as Sentinels if they choose.

"I appreciate you seeing me, Elder Waliff. I have questions and would like to discuss them with you," he said, more subdued.

Neither suffered illusions regarding the feelings of the council towards Garritt. As an Elder and leader, Waliff may seem a little more flexible, but in the end, he would defend the council's position.

"Thank you for coming to discuss things with me first, it is appreciated."

Garritt nodded in acceptance of the rebuke for the time he and his comrades went over the council's authority, attempting to make a direct plea to the Ultimate without their knowledge.

"I know you are aware that I am not pleased with this planet. I believe a terrible bargain took place between the ancients. The Ultimate stripped us of our identity, customs and values. These fragile frames in which we're housed can be painful and are easily destroyed. Our people, who had no knowledge of immorality, prior to coming to this planet, are so steeped into the carnality here that we are forced, to police and destroy our own." He stilled his hands from making more gestures.

"In addition, Hunters refuse to recognize that not all Valdines are Vampires," he spat the name given them. "Not all are violating the agreement with the Ultimate. Most of our people just want to live in peace, quietly. But, the hunters have been harassing our community just because of who we are."

Both men reflected on the situation as it stood. No matter how you sliced it, Waliff recognized there was going to be trouble as long as innocents died.

Garritt sat forward, hands clasped together on his knees. "We, a strong race, depend on others for our sustenance to live. Why is that I ask? The Ultimate could have fashioned this, this thing." He gestured to his body. "In a manner that would have left us with some dignity, something, anything, that did not involve taking food from others in order to survive."

Waliff stacked a group of papers together and moved them to the side of the desk, needing to do something with his hands. This was an old argument between them and nothing had changed.

"This is unacceptable and we will no longer tolerate this treatment. Too many Hunters get a free pass to slaughter innocent Valdines and nothing is done. We cannot go to the human authorities, to do so would be a violation of the canon. When we retaliate, we are hunted, and our people die! We cannot outwardly show our strengths or harm His precious man! That's another violation of the canon! To die with such indignity, as cats being slaughtered by mice, we should have accepted our fate with the explosion of Valdoon," Garritt said, his tone scathing.

His face burned red with anger, not from blood but from his passion. His piercing eyes bled to white with pin-points of gray an indication of his turbulent emotions.

Waliff spoke before the old discussion grew more heated. "I hear your anger and hurt. I glory in the fact that it comes from a place within you of pride and love for our people. Those are admirable traits. However, I believe you have forgotten a few things."

He waved a hand at Garritt, who tried to get up, causing him to sit immediately. "Valdoon, our planet is no more than a pile of rubble in the galaxy. We could have stayed and perished or found another place of habitation, you say. Tell me Garritt; were we wrong to want to survive? To come to a place that promised our continuation?" He gazed intently at his guest. "Remember, no other planet answered our frantic summons. What would you have done at such a time?"

He waited as Garritt pondered his question.

Gritting his teeth, Garritt scoffed, "Asked more questions, and sought more guarantees for the continuation of our way of life. We cease to exist here. We are being murdered; we have no heritage, no legitimacy."

Waliff nodded. "You are right. We ceased to exist in the form we were when we came to this planet. But first, answer me this. What right or bargaining tool did we have to secure any guarantees? Our planet destroyed, and no resources to offer in exchange." He was perplexed at Garritt's line of reasoning. "We threw ourselves at the mercy of the Ultimate. He could have said no or not answered our distress call as the rest did."

Waliff stared at Garritt, refusing to make this easy. Too many lives were at stake. He would make sure Garritt thought through every nuance of the situation. Perhaps they could avoid an uprising. He doubted it, but he'd try reasoning first.

"Why didn't he just let us come here as we were? We could have tunneled the planet core for him, honest work an honest exchange," Garritt asked. "I survive in the mountains in this hostile place. Every century a few more like me move to a new mountain. These dark areas have become a sanctuary for our bruised spirits. I still say we could have bargained for more."

Waliff's canines descended for a moment before he regained control and snarled, "This planet has rules and a system in place that changes for no one. We needed a place to survive and had to agree to the terms, otherwise we'd be dead." His stare matched Garritt's. He sat poised as if he were granting a job interview.

"Do you remember the panic?" He asked Garitt softly. "The shrill noises, screams, and the pain experienced when the asteroid hit our planet? Not everyone left. Some chose to die at home rather than leave. What about the hysterical pleas sent out for assistance to the neighboring planets and the dreadful silence that followed? Do. You. Remember that?"

Garritt nodded slightly.

"Our planet was destroyed. Only pieces floating in the beltway prove it once existed. We barely escaped to earth. Now, centuries later, that act of kindness chafes you? Is that what you are telling me? Please let's be plain. I want to know what alternatives we had when we were dying and no one came to our aid. No one," he yelled. "Except the Ultimate."

Taking a deep breath, Waliff lifted his hand and smoothed it over his hair. Licking his dry lips, he looked thoughtfully at Garritt, who sat quietly in the chair, watching him.

"This planet belongs to mankind. You must understand they are the primaries; it is the way the Ultimate set it up. Nothing and no one can ever change that." His tone was adamant.

He bent toward his visitor and stated simply. "We are guests here, and like good guests, we must obey the rules."

"And if we don't?" Garritt threw out, appearing ruffled by the finality in Waliff's voice.

Waliff looked up from his desk, his eyes seared him with their intensity. "Then our destruction is complete."

Garritt sneered. "Some bargain, I thought free will was one of the four conditions."

"It is. You can obey the rules or suffer the consequences for disobedience. No one can make you choose either way. If we could our numbers would still be strong."

"Free will is nothing more than a trick to rob us of who we are."

Waliff glared at him.

Garitt punched his chest with his fist. "I am Valdine. Not this pathetic creature made to inhabit this place. My line has built tunnels in the caverns since the beginning of time, and I refuse to be at the mercy of these sniveling, destructive, immoral beings occupying this place."

With just a touch of smugness, Waliff responded to the rant with a smile. "You say you are Valdine, and yet Valdoon the planet no longer exists. On Valdoon, no one argued, yelled or complained. Nevertheless, here you are ranting and raving. Valdine's burrowed into the ground digesting what they dug and rested, yet I feel your desire to move about this small space. These are not the actions of a Valdine, but the very creatures you claim to hate."

Garritt struggled to move from his chair.

"Be still, Sir Valdine," Waliff mocked. "We have been here for centuries. Some of our kind unfortunately could not adapt. That was understandable. Our old bodies could not survive in this atmosphere. The Ultimate allowed us to remain true to ourselves on the inside, where it matters."

He waved down Garritt's attempt to interrupt in protest. "Because of that, this flesh we inhabit refused to make the fluid necessary to sustain life. We reached a compromise; we could take the little we needed from humans as long as we caused them no harm. To make that a reality, we were also given limited abilities to affect the minds of the donors so no record of the feeding remained."

Beetling his brows at Garritt, he forced the man to meet his gaze. "You and I both know our race broke that rule repeatedly."

Garritt sputtered as his visage purpled. "Unfair. We were new, the concept of legs and arms foreign. There was so much to learn, and thirst an unusual necessity for us. There were no liquids on our planet to draw compromises."

Waliff meant to hit a sore point. Valdine's had no emotions before coming to this accursed place, now they exploded at the most inconvenient times. He knew Garritt well enough to know he hated it when he lost control.

"It's not fair to throw the early days of our existence in our faces. His precious man has committed worse against their own, repeatedly, yet He gave them the knowledge to exterminate us."

"True and He did not." Waliff agreed as he scanned a page on his desk. Pulling his gaze upward, their eyes clashed. "But Garritt, need I remind you that humans were not exposed to our secrets until the past few centuries. I think it's safe to say, it should not have taken us more than a century to become accustomed to our new way of life. The Ultimate has been more than fair in giving us time to get acclimated. Yet, we still harmed His man. Remember, we set up the Sentinels after the proclamation that they were given knowledge, not before. We knew there were those who violated the rules and did nothing about it." His voice had taken on a weighty sadness, filled with shame as he remembered his earlier transgressions.

Garritt's mouth turned up at the corners. "So he punishes everyone by allowing the humans to hunt us and still require that we do them no harm."

Waliff wanted to get to the root of the man's anger. Unlike most of the council, he didn't hate or despise the rebel. He understood the difficulty of change. But, he could not allow one Valdine or a small group of them to destroy their way of life. "Yes, although most humans don't believe we exist and are not after us. As long as we follow the rules we can co-exist, live in peace. Isn't that what you want?"

Garritt looked at the mountainside, inhaled, and glanced at him. "I want to be able to share my heritage with pride. I understand that my world is no more." He raised his hands. "But perhaps there is another similar world we can inhabit that is more like home. This place..." He gestured toward the view outside the veranda. "This place is so noisy, and they have multiplied so quickly, they are everywhere. The men have no integrity, neither are they concerned that they are destroying this planet. In truth, most men do not care for The Ultimate. I find it hard to understand why He cares for them at all. There are enough species here that He can wipe ungrateful man out and start over." Both men sat quietly for a moment. Contemplating their situations, vastly different views, yet bonded from a joint beginning.

"What you want, you cannot have," Waliff said in a lowered voice full of command. "We cannot expose ourselves to mankind." His eyes drilled into Garritt's pale ones as if he could write the dictates into the corners of his mind.

"If you don't like the noise, continue to stay in the mountains where there is quiet. If they are multiplying, it is with His permission. You talk of matters that are not your concern."