Bad Seed Ch. 26

"Open a channel to my father, Trigon," she said. "I'm back, father."

"Wren?" came his voice. "We thought that you just left."

"What? I've been gone at least a whole day," Wren said surprised.

"You've only been gone an hour at the most. Did you accomplish all that you had too?" her father asked.

"Yes father, I did, the universe, as I understand it, is safe," Wren said. "Though explaining it might take far longer than I have."

Her father just looked at her for a moment, then nodded in understanding. Wren could only stare at him confusion on her face.

"I'll be landing in a few minutes," she said. "We should be able to take the empire back in less than a few months."

"With the plan we have, plus the dissension within her ranks, I agree. Though I think that the announcement of me being alive might help," her father said.

In the far orbit of Ceti-5, Esmerelda was more furious than she'd ever been. She'd lost contact with her son, plus his ship. She didn't think he was dead though, for a moment she was afraid.

It was an emotion that she hadn't felt in a very long time. Why was everything they had planned falling apart?

It had to be because of that bitch of her husband. She smiled, her ex-husband. That bastard should have been dead long before now. Damn foreign asses could never go along with well-laid plans.

Then there was that bitch of a stepdaughter, huh, monster. She should have been dead by now. Thomas had never failed her before. For the first time in a long time, she was actually worried.

Her fleet, or rather what was left of it, was almost twice as strong as it had been. It was still no match for the defenses of Ceti-5.

She had been thinking for quite some time about it. She'd finally decided that she'd have to use her weapon of last resort. She'd have to make sure she was clear before she used it, but to destroy the Cetians was worth it.

She released a sigh she'd have to do the work without him. Knowing that lay about, she smirked. He was laid up with some alien whore in God knows where.

That was OK, she'd make the punishment fit his crime. She'd make sure of it.

Esmerelda had seen Wren portal back a few hours ago. There still wasn't any activity on the planet.

She ran toward the bridge as a loud alarm went off. Esmerelda was shocked, then angered as she watched several hundred of her fleet leaving.

Then she almost fell as the ship was rocked by a few powerful explosions. "What the hell is going on!" she screamed as the ship rocked even more severely.

Over half of what was left of the fleet has veered away from us and the planet. Part of those are firing upon us. We've lost all engines!" the male said right before Esmerelda removed his head.

"All ships fire upon the deserters!" Esmerelda ordered, then noticed that they had nothing compared to what was firing at them.

"Empress, we need to flee, there are too many of them!" the crew member next to the dead one said.

"Those left avert with me, we will punish those that betrayed us," Esmerelda ordered.

Wren smiled as she watched Esmerelda's ship turn to flee. Now she thought it was the perfect time.

"Alright Trigon, as soon as her ship turns and drops battle shields to flee, I want her!" Wren said.

On board Esmerelda's ship she was cursing doing her best not to kill the entire bridge crew. What was going on: She had a perfect plan.

The screen before her lit up as a male's face, she thought to never see again, appeared.

"Citizens of the Empire, it is I, your Emperor Franklin Andrew Tenagram. I have returned, and I will punish the false ruler that has nearly destroyed the Empire." Soon my people, soon we will be free again.

Esmerelda's eyes grew large, then she screamed, an unholy sound from her throat. So angry she was, that she didn't notice the beam 'til it was too late.

Wren looked at the receiving unit, a dark look on her face. The many injustices she had done, she deserved to die slowly, agonizingly in complete terror. Then she sighed, releasing the anger.

No, Wren thought, that wasn't her or the Empire, to kill one just to get to another. That was being a killer as much as the false Empress was.

She headed to the Decon system to advise her father that the fake was caught. She hoped that this might give him and, hopefully, the many she'd wronged, peace.

Peace, she thought, as the portal opened. For her now? There really was no peace, not with the emptiness in her heart.

As they entered the portal, everything seemed to stop. What's going on, she thought as if I haven't had enough go wrong.

Nothing's wrong my dear, came the same voice she'd heard before. I just needed a moment to talk to and thank you.

Wren's eyes got wide as she wondered what she might have done wrong. She thought she'd done all the voice wanted her to.

No, no, my dear, you have done nothing wrong. I just wanted to let you know that soon all that you are hoping for will appear. I am sorry that you will have to wait. Here she wore she felt a hand on her stomach.

I thought that I was unable to, here she thought as she placed a hand on her stomach. Really? I assume that I can't tell anyone even if they will know soon, right?

Yes, the voice said, it is for the best. You will know what to say, though most of it not.

Wren sighed as she touched her stomach again, thinking of her parents, her sister. Though she thought most of John. He already had two other women that she was sure he loved.

Everything will be as it should be in almost a year. I believe that all will be joyful in the end.

Wren nodded as she felt the voice seem to fade, then everything started to move again. That's when she noticed that they had come out near the Ceti home world.

That's when she noted that she was coming out near the Ceti world. Heading in to land, she thought this was going to be hard.

As usual, when she landed, Master Flugret was waiting for her. She bowed to him as both of them walked in.

"Master Flugret, I am afraid that I will no longer be able to release those in the chrysalis," Wren said. "The reason why will become apparent soon."

"Then I am afraid that all is lost, as you are the only one capable of releasing them," Flugret said.

"No, there is another, though they are far away for now. I am capable of keeping the chrysalis charged until such time as they arrive. I will have to every month. Now, I came here for two reasons, that being the first," Wren said.

"Two reasons? I hope that the second is not as grave news as the first," Flugret said.

"I don't feel that it is, though I need to talk to the headmaster. I am sure that he has been expecting me," Wren said.

"I will advise," Flugret started, when the oldest master appeared. Flugret bowed and left to his duties.

The master bowed, nodded to Wren, then waited 'til Flugret was gone. "I was not sure about taking her on to keep her here for almost a year of your time. I have overseen the energy cell that you designed, and it is more than adequate."

"I was hoping so, you more than any other would know if it would work. I should be able to transfer without any problem," Wren said.

The first master nodded as they advanced to one of the few areas Wren hadn't been in. She nodded as it was well isolated from the others.

She waited while the rest of the first masters made sure the area was as secure as possible. Then all ten of them turned and nodded to Wren.

"Alright Trigon, transfer the second saved pattern directly ten meters in front of me," Wren said into her wrist com.

They all waited two minutes, then there was a hum as a beam appeared in the cell. A moment later Esmerelda appeared within the cell, a pissed-off look on her face.

"What in the hell is this," she started as she walked straight into the force shield. She held there for a few moments, then was repelled across the cell into the back wall.

"Ah, so far it is working better than you projected," the first master said.

"You can't keep me here! I am the Empress of the Earth Empire. I demand that you release me at this instant!" she was nearly screaming.

"Not going to happen fake, oh, and your thing you call a son? I have him too though. I think I'll keep him in stasis for quite a while longer. Bye queenie bitch, I won't miss you!"

That, of course, had Esmerelda screaming even louder as the eleven walked away.

"No! You can't do this to me, or him, we are royalty. Release me, release me," she screamed 'til the door was shut, then quiet.

"We are all in agreement that Flugret is not to be allowed near this room. She could escape if that happens," Wren said, then turned and left.

Things continued on as Wren started to hunt down the last of the evil Empress's people. Although there weren't that many for a couple of months.

Every day, Wren looked at the storage unit that held only one pattern. She would sigh, his mother was one thing, her evil was not her own.

This mass murderer was another thing. He was mostly responsible for the deaths of billions of Earth people. A sin that she wasn't sure that even she could forgive him for.

That was the thing though, if he ever got out, she knew he would leave a trail of bodies behind him. Releasing a huge sigh as she had thought there wasn't really a viable solution for all this.

She shook her head as she left Ceti-5 and headed back to the new Earth as they were calling it. It didn't take her long before she landed at the new star pad that had been built. It was the first that was complete, with ten more on the way in a few weeks.

She'd felt movement just lately, giving her the oddest feeling. She had talked to her mother about it, though her experience was different.

Her mother and sister continued to train with the masters. Both had reached the same threshold that she had though had a better time of it thanks to her.

Her mother had actually managed to reach level eleven. Her sister was rapidly approaching the ninth level. As yet, Wren felt that they were a lot safer.

Her father had also gone back, but soon duties had him missing more than he attended. The thing was though that he advanced as quickly as she had.

He'd made level ten in no time and was just to eleven when he started to miss lessons and exercises. The last she had heard was he was stuck at level twelve.

As far as she knew, she had reached level fifty, only the first and second masters were higher. She unfortunately couldn't train for a few more months. Plus, she had to be cleared after that.

It had been almost eight months since she had visited John. She missed him desperately; she still had a feeling that she wasn't going to see him again.

That had nearly driven her to give up a few times though her mother and sister kept her up. She was sitting alone as she did a lot these days. Her power was well known, though none other seemed to have.

This consequently made quite a few people tend to stay away from her. She had tried to see John in some way, though after the first try, the voice had told her to stop as it might hurt her.

There wasn't that much that anyone really wanted her for, true she was a hero, but people were still hurting. Huh, some hero she thought with as many that were afraid of her.

It was almost a month later that Wren was walking near her family's palace-type home. She'd gotten rater big and was about ready to be done with it. She'd just returned from trying to charge the chrysalis.

She had noticed that each time it appeared that the chrysalis was getting weaker. She was fearful that it would fail before John returned.

Just getting to the front of her family's home, she almost collapsed when the pain hit her. There was a massive amount of yelling as a vehicle was brought to take her to a medical center.

When they got there, they were afraid that she wasn't going to give birth as nothing they did worked. They were talking that cutting her wasn't possible when several alarms went off.

Her father had ordered a huge contingent of ships to bring the ship's occupants that landed to Wren. He, his wife and daughter made their way to her room.

Stepping outside, they waited for the aliens to arrive. A few hours later Wren was better but still wasn't having the baby.

"Sir. We need you to help us, you appear to be the only one that can. Please, help to save our Wren," Wren's father said to the man he'd only met once.

The man, John, was beside him immediately. "What has happened? John asked, shocking her father that John didn't know.

Her father quietly led John to the room with a very pregnant Wren.

"I'm so glad you made it. Remember when I handed you the pad you called it? The shock was you giving me this, thank you, Daddy," Wren whispered as she grabbed John's hand.

A moment later a light appeared, then settled on Wren's chest, solidifying into a male baby. "A son, our son," Wren said with a huge smile.

A moment later, her father, mother and sister appeared, as did several older alien males.

"I found that this was the only way I could have a child. You are the only one I could with, as we share the same energy. Any names come to mind?" Wren asked John.

John could only shake his head. Then Wren heard that same voice say that they had time, shocking her.

Everyone was staring at John as if he were talking to a voice in his head. Then he took a step back and passed out unconscious.

Not long, Wren and the other two, Rommie and Mary Wren remembered, were beside John.

"Please John, don't do that again," the one called Rommie said.

"That was scary as hell," Mary said.

"Really," Wren said with a smirk. "I just had a baby, not at full power, don't do it!"

John looked as if he were going to argue when Rommie and Mary doubled over in pain. "Oh shit!" they said. Wren had just realized that they were pregnant also.

A lot of people tried to enter the room. John got mad and just flung his arm as they flew out of the room into the hall, "Stay back," Wren was shouting.

Mother, Father and the masters appeared at the door and that was it. Wren's eyes were glowing as she tried to keep all out.

"Let go wren, I've got it", Wren heard, then John floated from the bed to her.

Wren suddenly relaxed, almost passing out. "I trust you more than almost all, John," Wren said with a smile.

Wren watched as John looked at the master's that were at the door. The first master nodded, then looked shocked as he was suddenly beside Wren.

"I'm not sure if you remember the male I told you of my master. This is him and next to him, I have no power even if he increased my own, compared to him," Wren said.

The master's mouth dropped open a moment, then he nodded. John had put both Rommie and Mary in the other beds. For now, they were breathing better, and the pain seemed almost gone.

He then turned to watch the first master, then he turned towards John. "May I scan you? Wren has said your power is far different from any she has ever seen," he said.

John nodded, watching as the first master started the scan and John seemed to enjoy it.

It was a few minutes later that the first master's eyes flew wide. "You sir," he started. "Have more power than almost any I have ever seen. It is far different from any I have felt, and we are over ten centuries old."

"This is not my universe. The energy here that I have seen is normal to me. What I have, I have had all my life. I am here for Wren and nothing else. I therefore hope that none, have designs on me, Wren or my others. Believe me when I say it won't end well."

The master nodded, then John set him back outside the doorway. He talked to Wren's father and mother, then, Wren stared at the door. A moment later Wren's family were inside next to Wren.

Wren's father looked Wren over, then walked slowly to John. "May I?" he asked.

John nodded as her father sat, as John was looking over both Rommie and Mary. "We do have a great medical team here if they are in need," her father said.

I just turned to look at him, "possibly advisable, though not practical. You might notice that I, and they are not from this universe. I myself am far beyond what all of you are. She," I pointed to Rommie, "is a created being that has the mind and knowledge of a high-functioning super A. I."

Wren's father's eyes went wide for a moment, then he nodded, "And the other female?"

"She is a young female who was being used by the government that I used to live in. She and the others are free now. The problem is taken care of for now. As I said, I am here for Wren and nothing else though. I think she wants me to help," John said.

Again, her father nodded.

Wren was almost finished with the masters and releasing them from the saving measures that they had enacted. There were four hundred, though she had only released three hundred of them. Then there is the fake queen. Wren hadn't the power and this needed to be completed.

Everyone stared as John hit the bed again out cold. At least he was up quicker.

"I'll be back as soon as I can, Wren, don't let them touch Rommie and Mary," John said. He then touched both of them. They both nodded. He had all the aliens hold hands as they vanished.

Wren rested there not trying to move when she felt John was confused by the ex-Empress. She sent the info, then laid back.

It had been a few hours and Wren was definitely feeling almost normal. I thought you were resting came John's thoughts.

I was though, I obviously recovered faster than we thought. Wren's thoughts returned she felt John relax in relief, making Wren smile.

John returned looking at his other pregnant females. Wren could see that he was tense.

"I am sorry that they are reacting the way they are, John. After the Earth was destroyed, and I saved them, they barely trust each other, let alone strangers," Wren said.

John sat thinking for an hour or so until Mary doubled over in pain. Then Rommie almost fell to the floor with her pain.

We all discussed options, then John let a team in. For a bit, the doctors said they couldn't help 'til John touched their heads. That was a damn good trick to impart knowledge like that, Wren thought.

Wren smiled as she decided she needed to go check on my ex-mother-law's body. Ah! I saw that she and Flugret had reunited, though she was still scared.

"May I help you? I don't even know your name," Wren asked softly.

"I know you, I feel I do. To answer your question, I am Marleen. I am so confused after that strange powerful male took something bad out of my head. I was so scared, but I feel more like myself now. If you can help I would thank you," Marleen said.

Wren was about to start when she heard John, where are you?

Ah, came her reply: I am attempting to finish what you started. All that you did has made it far easier to help the ex-empress to adjust. I should be back soon. She's responding well. Came Wren's thoughts

It was then Wren smiled as she felt John shake his head as he thought she was a lot like him.

Alright Wren, John thought to her. Just remember, even as strong as you are? You aren't nearly up to your full power yet.

She nodded her head, then was cut off by the cry of a baby.

A few moments later Wren felt John's anger, then a push as he grabbed a man, slamming him to the wall. She then heard him snarl, If any here so much as touch my children, I will destroy them. You need to get your toy soldiers to stop now before most of the military is gone.

Wren appeared, a fierce look of anger on her face. "I happen to agree with him, and I will be there helping him!"

This time, her father was on a communication device, talking calmly, then shouting loudly, then louder.

John nodded to him, then Wren. He seemed to hear a voice, then relaxed.

It took the emperor almost a week and a few executions to get the situation calmed.

No one wanted to bother the powerful alien or his wives. All four of them disappearing from time to time. Her parents watched the children and loved it.