CHAPTER 36

EDEN GROUND COMMAND

NINE HOURS INTO THE ACID STORM

"…don't know what it is Skipper." Julie spoke as Martin settled into the chair next to her.

"I was doing a records search and it just popped up really. It's coded to you."

"Me?" Martin asked. "I never had any records in the core here."

Julie shrugged. "The encryption matches yours. Only you can open it."

Martin shrugged. "I'll check it out." He said. "Why don't you get some sleep? Tina has been watching this storm on the Raptor's passive radar, and she says it looks like it will break up in another hour or so, at least enough for us to leave."

Julie nodded and picked up her HK as she headed out of the center.

Martin worked the computer keyboard and the large monitor came to life with the symbol of the EDEN project. He entered in his encryption code and sat back in the chair lifting the mug of steaming hot instant coffee to his lips, as he scanned the computer screens in front of him.

"Hello Marty." The voice nearly boomed from the monitor, causing Martin's eyes to widen and freeze on the large monitor. The face of Walter Carson was on the screen, though much older than he remembered. Martin hadn't seen Walter in the two years leading up to the comet, and now the white haired man looked even more fragile than he did the last time Martin saw him.

"I bet this is a shock to you my boy." Walter's image continued. "My guess is you never expected to see me alive again. Of course, whether I'm still alive now is up for debate since I have no idea how long it will take Jules to find this file once you arrive. I know you better than anyone Marty, and I knew you would come here first once you discovered what has happened. I will try to explain, but know that I have encoded most of the history since the Great Fire, which is what we now call the passing of the Comet by the way, into four separate computer data files. Jules should be able to find them relatively easy enough once you tell her they exist. What I am about to explain to you is the short version. As I stand here and record this the year is 2546, and by my calculations, the moon will have regained its normal rotational cycle around earth. I'm guessing that it has only been a maximum of thirteen days since those on EDEN have returned to normal time, if that is what you wish to call the time we live in now.

"As you no doubt have already discovered, the comet caused massive destruction and loss of life on a planetary scale. No real numbers were ever recorded, but it is estimated that the planet was depopulated by more than half. There was a total breakdown of communication and every other service we had come to rely so much on. It was our Armageddon Day. I was among several thousand that were evacuated at the last moment by the remaining leaders of the government and dispersed to dozens of underground sites that would be able to survive the fires in our atmosphere. You are probably asking how I managed to survive as long as I have. During the five years that the atmosphere burned I designed and created suspended animation chambers, or SAC's as we called them. It was decided that enough would be built so that the senior scientists could jump forward in time so to speak as things began to improve. We would sleep for ten years and then remain awake for ten years trying to pull the world out of the abyss.

"My attempt at helping the human race turned into a colossal failure. I… I used my skill in genetic engineering and created a whole new race of beings. With the knowledge of what you and the others went through I thought I could create the perfect being. Of course I also threw in my own personal touch, and the results were Elves. Just like in the legends and fairy tales of our time, I created Elves. They were faster and stronger then normal humans, with a varying degree of higher resistance to diseases and the natural elements. My intention was that they would assist the human race in rebuilding our shattered planet. Unfortunately that did not turn out, as I had desired. I made them almost too perfect this time. The female Elves were the epitome of physical perfection in every way. They were all beautiful and extremely desirable. My hope was that the remaining humans would eventually turn to mating with them and produce children. A mix of their genes would insure that humans and Elves would be able to survive long into the future.

"Instead, the powers that be, those that remained of the government took to using the Elves as slaves. The more that I created; the more were bought and sold as slaves. It started among the Black Market and eventually wound up being the norm. They were used for everything from forced labor to common whores in brothels and on street corners. During my third sleep period, things became even worst. When I awoke again I discovered that a new government had formed, and it was their decision to mass produce the Elves as a commodity to be bought and sold world wide. I also discovered they had created horrible monsters from my work. Creatures unlike anything we have ever seen on this planet before. The politicians and scientists that raped my work while I slept reaped the rewards and not the common man. There was little I could do to fight this openly. I decided to become subversive and fight them in ways they could not discover. It wasn't easy at first, but once I discovered that the moon was continuing to spin faster than earth, and slowing down each year I decided I would prepare for what I hoped would be your return.

"You will meet many new species upon your return to earth Martin. The good ones were creations of mine, the bad ones created by evil men bent only on advancing themselves. By 2104, I estimated that the Elves outnumbered the remaining human population world wide, and that is part of the reason they were and are so persecuted and kept down. The Elves did not know how to fight back at first, and it wasn't until 2106 that I had the chance to change that. I was working on a new batch of Elves and in that batch I instilled the will to fight back. It started with only a few dozen, but soon it grew and grew and became large enough that the government began slaughtering those they did not control. Those that survived escaped into the mountains and the caves and became known by the name given to them in legends, High Elves and Wood Elves. Many more groups have popped up over the years, but the High Elves and the Wood Elves remain the largest of the groups."

Martin watched as Walter took a long drink of water, his own coffee forgotten and cold on the edge of the console. So engrossed in the monitor as he was, Martin's mind did not register Tarifa's scent as she came into the command center and stopped. Her face wore an expression of shock as she recognized the man she knew as the Holy One on the screen.

"The government eventually formed itself into what is now called the Alliance, and they have ruled with an iron fist for the last three hundred and twenty years." Walter continued. "Unbeknownst to the powers that be, I was able to give the Elves the ability to reproduce in their genetic makeup, something that I was unable to do with the first few batches. I knew that you and the others would be returning Marty. And I knew that given your nature, you would not allow what was happening to continue. You will have allies Martin. I did not want to play god Marty, but after seeing what was happening, and what it would lead to, I had no choice. Each genome on EDEN will have an Elf counterpart here on earth. They will be drawn to one another, and they won't be able to explain it. They will know it when they meet the elf meant for them. It will not be automatic Martin. I only instilled in the selected elves an urge if you will, that will make them drawn to each other. If a relationship forms, it will have to proceed as any relationship does. If the selected elf is in love with another, or already married, then a relationship will not form. I made them strong willed Marty, and completely devoted to whomever they choose to share their lives. I could not bring myself to force it upon them. Like you, they are all my children in a fashion. I am telling you because you are their leader, and you are my very first. Of all of them, you will understand the best of why I have done what I have done.

"I have left this for you in the files of what used to be EDEN Ground Command. I was discovered as working against the government about fifteen years ago, and with Tarifa's help I was able to escape. I have been on the run since, shuttling between the High Elves and the Wood Elves for protection and shelter. They think of me as some sort of Holy man, which you and I both know is not true, but I love them all just as much.

"Tarifa is the Queen of the High Elves Martin. It is my hope that you meet her first, as she leads the largest clan of elves in North America and perhaps even what remains of the planet. She is an extremely beautiful young woman Marty, and equally intelligent. She can be the rock you need to begin rebuilding what has been destroyed." Walter paused once more and took another drink of water. "The Queen of the Wood Elves is Dysea. You will not mistake her for someone else when you see her Martin, for she is the one I hope you will begin rebuilding your life with. Tarifa and Dysea are Queens of their respective elfin people, but there is a Blood Feud between them that must be ended. It is a feud, which was started and is being controlled and manipulated by the Alliance, I'm certain of that. I am hoping to convince them that their brothers and sisters are not the enemy, but I have been unsuccessful so far. Only together can the three of you defeat the evil that abounds on earth before it plunges all of us into darkness. I am leaving in a few hours with Tarifa and her soldiers and moving north before the Alliance forces that are hounding us arrive. With luck we will make it. I can only hope I live long enough to see you and the others Martin, for there is so much we need to discuss. Find me Marty; find Tarifa and Dysea. It is the only hope for our planet; the only hope for our future."

Martin watched as the screen went black and the recording stopped. He suddenly became completely aware again, and Tarifa's scent was overpowering. He turned in his chair to see her standing only a few meters away, a look of astonishment on her beautiful face. Martin sighed heavily.

"How much did you hear?" He asked.

Tarifa looked at him. "I… I knew much of the history of our people." She spoke softly meeting Martin's eyes. "I did not know he knew you would come. Or that he… he manipulated my people in the manner he has admitted."

Martin stood up and stepped over to her, Tarifa's eyes watching him closely. "Look… this is…"

Tarifa's hand closed around the K12 pistol in the holster and her eyes narrowed. "I will not submit to you!" She spoke firmly.

Martin looked surprised. "Submit to me?" He asked. "What the hell do you mean?"

"You… you are not human… and I will fight you with every fiber of my being!" Tarifa snapped. "I will not let you harm my people, I don't care what our laws dictate!"

Martin moved faster than Tarifa could counter, and one of his hands grasped her hand that was palming the K12, while the other grabbed her jaw. Her eyes flew open in surprise when she realized she couldn't move her head. Martin leaned close to her, his own eyes flashing in anger.

"I have no intention of taking you against your will!" Martin snapped loudly, his anger real. Tarifa's eyes went wide when she saw his eyes blink and change right in front of her from the deep dark brown color to menacing orbs of intense yellow/gold outlined in black. She watched wide eyed as three quarter inch long fangs burst from his gums and lengthened into existence. "I don't… I don't even like you! I think you are a pompous spoiled bitch with a serious ego problem." Martin's hand left her jaw in a blink, pulling his own K12 from its holster and extending it out to the side. Tarifa followed the movement with her eyes, and they grew wide when she saw Endith frozen in the motion of swinging the metal bar because the barrel of the K12 was pressed to her forehead.

Martin looked at Endith, his yellow orbs wide and full of anger now, "Sloppy, very sloppy!"

"Release… you will release my Queen!" Endith barked.

Martin ignored her and turned back to Tarifa. "You are right Tarifa. I'm not human… I'm something Walter created more than five centuries ago. I am not your enemy, no matter how much you think otherwise. You have another choice to make Tarifa. You can return with us as you planned, or you can stay here and rot. I don't care either way." Martin released her and returned his K12 to its holster, his eyes and teeth returning to normal once more in a single blink. "Make up your mind quick, because when this storm breaks we are leaving." Dysea walked quickly past the two guards that stood watch by the rarely used entrance to underground caves. She had changed into a uniform similar to the one her soldiers now wore. It was a dull black jumpsuit of a design almost identical to the one Walter had made for the High Elves. Like Tarifa, Dysea had altered her uniform to more suit her personal style. The skin tight black pants were tied on with stitching that extended up her shapely legs. The top had only a small portion of flesh showing, but it was centered over the cleavage of her breasts, while all of her arms and shoulders were bare. The long black cloak she wore was draped around her shoulders and would protect her from the sun and the elements.

Walter watched her strode out confidently and walk directly up to him. She looked at him with her stunning emerald eyes before leaning up on her tip toes and kissing his cheek softly.

"Thank you Holy One." She said softly.

Walter was somewhat surprised and his face registered that fact. "I… I did not expect this reaction from you Dysea." He said in reply. "I was expecting anger… hatred."

"How could I hate you Holy One? You are truly the father of us all, regardless of how it came to be." She spoke calmly. "I understand your intentions, but I also understand the reasoning behind those intentions. Your actions have never been for personal gain or with malice in mind. I may… I may see you in a different light now that I know what I know, but as far as I am concerned, you are still our creator and our Holy One."

"You don't know how much that eases my heart Dysea." Walter told her, squeezing her hands.

Dysea smiled brilliantly and kissed his hands. "We must go now. Before the Council of Elders discovers what the true purpose of this trip is for."

Walter nodded. "Will you try to be objective and see things for how they may not appear?"

Dysea looked at him. "I would not be doing this if I was unprepared to accept what you are telling me."

"Then we must hurry." Walter spoke, moving for his horse. He stopped and turned back to her taking another data pad from within his robes. "Perhaps you are ready as well to see this."

Dysea looked at him as she took the data pad. "More surprises Holy One?"

"No. Just some information you might find helpful in the days ahead."