"And how can we trust you? You betrayed your own father in the first Rebellion," John said.

"So has my father; he's played the double-agent for a long time. What about that?"

"I trust Nikolas with my life."

Daniel's face fell. He went down on his knees and cried out loud. Nikolas couldn't handle it. He spoke to John in his mind. "He's my son."

"I know that," John responded with his mind.

"Let's give him a chance. I think we can trust him."

"And if the Regnumites don't?"

"We will see to that."

"Alright," John sighed aloud. "You have your chance," he said to Daniel. "Don't blow it."

Daniel stood up slowly. A shy smile appeared on his face, and he bowed his head. "Thank you."

"Come on. We haven't much time," John said. "The reinforcements will be coming soon and they're going to blow this place up."

"Okay, I've started the transfer process. All we do now is wait." Evan said, his fingers typing rapidly on the screen.

"Will we have enough discs?"

"Yeah," Evan said to Ranjit, turning to face the vampire. "What's the size of each hard drive?"

The vampire slouched on the floor, a broken man. "Each holodrive is about four hundred yottabytes."

Evan got up and looked at the mini-computers, which were connected to the main CPU of the monitor. He inspected them closely.

"What are you doing?" Ranjit said.

"Just trying to find a latch...ah!" He unlocked it and slid the cover up. The box contained one hundred mini-drives, each one four hundred yottabytes. Evan counted. There were, two hundred and fifty such boxes totaling ten million yottabytes worth of information!

He inspected the number of discs he had. There were not enough. He shook his head in disappointment. "I don't think so."

"What?" Ranjit said, surprised. "Well, how much will be required?"

"We have two hundred discs. That means we have twenty thousand yottabytes. That's not enough."

"Then," Ranjit sighed, "there's only one thing we can do."

Daniel ran along with the others but collapsed as soon as they got outside. There were hundreds of fighters flying around, shooting at vampire fighters and firing missiles at the base. The base imploded and shook the ground.

"John, wait!" Nikolas shouted after his friends who were about to get into one of the tankers.

John turned around to see Nikolas with Daniel in his arms.

"He needs blood."

"Well, then give it to him inside!" John said.

All around them, fighters shooting lasers scurried about like deadly locusts. Some collided with each other and others crashed into the base. Kurt and his men were like a pack of wolves, ferocious, eager to kill, but wild and savagely undisciplined.

A tanker landed near the base and four soldiers helped John and the rest inside. Daniel hyperventilated. "Will he make it?" John asked, surprised by his own question. Daniel's face was whiter than chalk. His eyes faded to an opaque milky color.

Nikolas took his sword, made a small incision on his wrist, and squeezed his arm to make the blood flow. He put his wrist to Daniel's mouth. "Yes," Nikolas said silently, as the others looked on. "Feed as much as you want and regain your strength, my son. You will need it." Daniel slurped the blood hungrily and veins bulged out on his face. His fangs protracted out of his gums as he greedily bit into the wrist and sucked as much of the life-fluid as he could. His face regained a pinkish hue and his eyes turned a dark, golden color. He pulled away and let out a majestic roar. Nikolas sat down on the ground. Most of his color faded from his face and his lips turned ashen gray and dried. He moaned silently.

Daniel said, "Father, I'll give you some back." He bit into his forearm and squeezed it until twelve drops entered his father's mouth. The humans on the tanker, although fascinated, were forced to look away in disgust. John was used to it and said nothing. He stood up and gestured the other Rebels to come and see him, away from the others.

When they were alone and out of earshot John said, "How can we trust Daniel?"

Liam said, "If we cannot, then we must trust Nikolas. He should be Nikolas's responsibility."

"But if Daniel does anything wrong, people will blame Nick and they may banish him," Dante said.

"They can't do that," John said, his eyes constantly on the Gareng kid. "Nick's the founder of this whole thing." He shook his head. "We will have to experiment and wait it out." He sighed.

"At what cost," Dante said. "We can't afford to use anyone as bait!"

"No one needs to know about it," John said. "Don't worry; I'll deal with it. Besides, with him on our side, we're sure to learn some secrets."

"John," Ranjit's voice came through his earpiece, "We're finished."

"Really? That's great! So you managed to do it without much trouble."

"Well, the trouble is we haven't enough discs, so..."

"So?"

"So, we decided to shift the hard drives to the tankers."

John laughed. "Good Ranjit. You always have a trick or two up your sleeve!"

The tankers arrived at the Vatican Library and bulldozers were sent through so that the transportation process would be streamlined. All this while, as the loading and unloading continued, the b.u.t.ton Evan had pressed was still on. The loading crew laughed when they saw the vampires suffering on their behalf. Ranjit felt a little remorse for what he had done and what he was doing. He asked himself if it was all worth it. Were they any better than their enemies? "I'm going outside," he murmured to Evan. He didn't wait for any response, but strolled into the forest, far from anyone or anything. He wanted to be alone, to think things through.

Why did he think like this? What was good? What was evil? Was this an evil that they were doing? What he had seen...his men laughing at the vampires suffering. They were behaving like merciless n.a.z.is. Did that make him one too? A n.a.z.i following another power-hungry Hitler: John Howe! In fact, wasn't it John who had said that he would be remembered as a power-hungry dictator, just like Hitler? Okay, so this time it was different. Instead of fighting their fellow man they were fighting an alien race. But wasn't fighting a race from another planet just another extension of their ethnic prejudice?

Ranjit shook his head and sat on his knees in the moist gra.s.s, the pale outline of the Regnum high above his head. "General?" Evan said softly. "I've shut off the frequency switch. Don't worry; they're too numbed to do anything for the next hour. We'll be gone by then." He was now a foot away from Ranjit. "General Singh? Are you okay?" Ranjit remained silent, praying. Evan continued. "That other vampire who helped us can't attack; we bound his hands in semi-silver chains. He won't dare to move." Again silence. "General?" Evan remained silent for a few more seconds, and said plainly, "Sir, we must board the tankers. Everything is ready." Still, no reply. "Sir! Watch out!" Evan shouted. Ranjit opened his eyes and saw a dark figure emerging from the wild gra.s.s. The vampire moved swiftly and waved his sword around and stabbed Ranjit's chest.

"Oh, G.o.d. You are great! Protect them and see to the righteous!" were his last words before he collapsed. Evan drew his plasma pistol to blow the head off the masked a.s.sa.s.sin, who burned up into a heap of ash.

"Sir!" Evan shouted, shaking him and trying to get a response from him. But there was nothing. Only dead eyes looking at him with compa.s.sion.

The general's face was blank but peaceful. A subtle smile rested on his lips.

The ship descended.

Alex knew things had changed and that they were going to change some more. He wondered about Angel and her parents. He was sure they would be apprehensive after the events that had unfolded. He thought of Grandma. What was going to happen to her? He was still running the events of yesterday and today through his head.

The ma.s.sive tanker hauled itself into the Hangar. Once it was on the ground, hundreds of soldiers ran towards the tanker, searching around for their friends, hoping they had made it through and were safe and unharmed.

Alex was the first to get off. The Rebels followed with Richard and finally the rest of them. When Alex and the Rebels were off, there was no commotion whatsoever. Everyone stared at them as if they were unwanted. Richard, seeing their reaction, said loudly, "Is that anyway to welcome back the Falsifier?"

"Relax," Alex said, already knowing that the people were apprehensive, "I won't bite and neither will they. I trust my life with these men, all of them, man or vampire! And I suggest suggest you do the same." That was the usual Alexander they knew; a dynamic, charismatic leader who would "suggest" rather than dictate. Alex had a way with people and with words. you do the same." That was the usual Alexander they knew; a dynamic, charismatic leader who would "suggest" rather than dictate. Alex had a way with people and with words.

"Let me introduce you to those you don't know," Richard added. He presented each vampire, one by one. Each one of them gave a bow, or a smile, or a wave. As he finished he said, "And of course there is the infamous Nikolas Gareng, Dante Varenkoff, and Liam Tios. But more of them later."

To say it was awkward would have been an understatement. The backup units wanted to celebrate with their friends, and celebrate they would, but they had not expected vampires to be amongst them.

When the Generals came to greet the survivors, they warmly embraced the Rebels like old friends. Seeing this, the new soldiers thawed a bit. After saluting the Generals, they tended to those who were wounded and escorted them to the hospital.

The second tanker with John and the others inside arrived. As it landed, there was a new burst of cheering. Alex watched the newly arrived mega-ship with wonder and curiosity. The whole vibe of celebration had got to him and put his worries to the back of his mind. John came out, then Nikolas, and the other two Rebels followed by the soldiers.

"Uncle John," Alex called out as soon as he saw him. He wanted to unleash his thoughts, but he knew now was not the time. He simply hugged him and said, "I know about Grandma."

"Alex," Nikolas shouted, as he finished chatting with one of the Generals, "You were brilliant out there, I heard!"

"Thanks!" Alex said and embraced Nikolas. They seemed rejuvenated by the buzzing energy.

"What? Who told you about Grandma?" John asked, perplexed.

"No one." Alex smiled. "I knew it; intuition I guess."

"But how? This change is so sudden." John faced Nikolas and the others.

"We'll talk about it, old friend. We have lots to talk about," Nikolas said with a wide smile. "But for now; let us enjoy this day."

"Wait, I almost forgot," John said, noticing the physical change in Nikolas due to the blood that he had lost. "Where's Daniel?"

"I told him to wait. I don't think the people are ready. Let everything calm down and we will introduce him."

"What? He's here?" Alex said, while the other Rebels and Richard looked at the four in amazement and confusion. He turned to Nikolas for an explanation, but instead Dante spoke: "Alex, he has decided to join us."

Alex's face reddened with anger. "I don't like the look of it. I know that he's your son, but he's an Imperial vampire. He's the president of that Regime for G.o.d's sake!"

"What do you have in mind?" John asked.

Alex furrowed his brow as he thought. Everyone circled around him, waiting for his response. He sighed, "I'm not so sure about him. He just gives me a bad feeling. I know that he betrayed the Regime, but that doesn't really mean anything." He shook his head. "I think we better handle him with care."

"And what would you suggest?" Nick said. He was not angry, but a little worried. "Should we keep him as a prisoner for the time being?"

"Yes." Alex said, "Keep him as a prisoner of war. We'll have to test him."

"So then bind him," John said gruffly. "Richard, take these," he handed him a pair of silver handcuffs, "and put them on him."

Richard did as he was told and went quietly. Nick flinched as he pa.s.sed and remained silent.

As the third tanker flew into the Hangar and slowly landed, John turned to see which one it was. "The Vatican," was all he said and ran to it, hungry for news.

Michio, Chang, and Evan came out, with grief-stricken faces. John knew at once what had occurred. "Well," he said, "Did it work?"

Evan nodded. "We have the holodrives with us."

"And the enemy?"

"Destroyed," Michio said, "All of them, along with the library."

John nodded, "Where's Ranjit," he asked, guessing what had happened by the look on their faces. The reserve soldiers talked among themselves, curious to know where their pals were. Then, the electromagnetically levitating coffin came out of the tanker with the soldiers following it. Ranjit was inside, with his sword on top of him. The men looked on in horror and complete surprise. "What happened?" John asked, controlling his grief.

"He went alone into the forest, to pray I suppose, and a vamp stabbed him in the heart."

"You were supposed to stick together," said John, a little angry. "What about the frequency?"

"I shut it off. The vamps were down, unable to move."

"Well it doesn't seem like it, does it?"

Suddenly, there was an explosion from the entrance of John's tanker. Richard fell towards Dante who was closest to the ship. Blood covered Richard's face.

Daniel flew out with an aura of red and black electricity around him. His hair flew in all directions as if he was a madman, and he rocketed into the air. His face darkened and his eyes turned the bloodiest of red.

"Oh, cousin!" Daniel shrieked at Alex. He stuck out his tongue and taunted him like a demon.

"I can't fight him," Alex said, as Nikolas pushed him forward.

"Neither can I; how do you expect me to kill my own son?"

Reluctantly, Alex materialized his sword. It glistened with blue electric sparks, brighter than ever before. Everyone stared at it with their mouths open in awe. Daniel materialized his own sword. It crackled with black and crimson electricity, more dangerous and daring.

"I want you, Falsifier!" Daniel said, his eyes glistening with blood, his face now more demonic than ever. His eyebrows slanted angrily and his cheekbones heightened. His nose grew much longer than before. The chin and ears were sharply pointed. He seemed to have sp.a.w.ned from h.e.l.l.

The crowd backed away, giving s.p.a.ce to the two challengers.

"Don't do this, Daniel," Alex said calmly, as he walked closer to him. A faint aura surrounded Alex. Daniel's aura was the same color as his sword and was constantly increasing in size and intensity. The closer he tried to walk, the farther away Daniel moved. He was afraid. "You don't need to fight; we don't have to resolve it this way." Just then, he felt as if a hammer had struck him right on top of the head. He fell to the floor in pain.

Daniel laughed, "What's the matter, Falsifier?"

"Uncle John, it's grandma; she's dying!" He groped at his chest and began to shake uncontrollably.

Just then, John got a message on his nanophone. Andrew appeared on the hologram in front of him and said, "Sir, Dr. Wallace is on the line. He says your mother's having an attack."

"I'll be there!" John said and looked back at Alex. He wanted to help his nephew but something told him he would be fine. "Make sure no one gets close to them," he said to Richard and Nikolas. "I will not have any more deaths today!" He left.

Alex closed his eyes. He saw his grandmother. Her eyes were closed but he could feel her heart beating fast. She was suffering.