Kurt’s squadron responded and in an instant shot down the vampire and his entire group. The fighters suddenly unfroze and were mobile once again. Bill’s fighter, which was going up in flames, went into a whirlwind of destruction. Bill, who had his oxygen helmet ready, ejected just before everything exploded. Kurt’s ship blazed through the inferno. He put on his mask and opened the cockpit, as Bill swam through the vacuum of space into his father’s fighter. He grabbed the seatbelt of the extra seat behind Kurt and buckled himself in. The fighters regrouped themselves and headed back to the Regnum, savoring their first taste of victory.

Tea was served. It felt good being in the warm room, sipping on some fragrant and bone-thawing jasmine tea. Outside the rain had picked up speed and pounded on the glass. The wind howled as the sea waves crashed onto the outer rims of the Command Center. John sighed as he sipped the last of his tea, “So, Daniel. How do we start this negotiation?”

Daniel yawned. “You tell me, General Howe.”

“You know what I want,” John said, as he handed his cup to the waiter. Alex remained still with his eyes closed in silent contemplation.

“Yes, but you think you know what I want, or should I say, what we all want?”

“What’s that?”

Daniel’s face darkened and contorted with disgust and anger. His nose crinkled up as if he had smelled something awful. He bared his three-inch fangs.

Daniel’s sudden transformation made John jump.

“It’s the death of you and your whole bloody race,” sneered Daniel. “You’re lucky Anaxagoras shows so much mercy. If I had my way, I’d bake you all and eat you for dinner!”

“You know,” said John calmly, “that has already happened once before in our history; at least the first part. I suspect the second part too.”

“Don’t joke with me, human scum.” Daniel’s voice rolled like thunder and screeched like a thousand nails on a chalkboard.

John was shocked by the sight of Daniel’s face. He breathed a sigh of relief when it went back to normal. “Uh, well...Alex. What have they told you?”

“Nothing at all,” Alex said.

“And the Rebels?”

Alex shook his head. “Nothing. They would come to my room and that was all.”

“Hmmm.” John rubbed his chin.

From outside, the sound of energy blasts and thudding penetrated the doors. Then they heard the clash of metal. It sounded like a sword-fight. “What the hell?” John asked.

The door suddenly burst open in a flash of blue light, and a figure appeared as the smoke faded away. “Let him go!” the figure said.

When the smoke settled they saw that the figure was the exact double of Alex. He held a massive sword, about four feet in length and six inches in width. The blade radiated a fiery blue light with electric sparks. The ashes of dead soldiers spread and scattered all around. “Uncle John!” yelled Alex’s double, “Get away from them. That’s not the real me! That’s Erik.”

“Here,” he said, grabbing a sword from the floor. He threw it above the false Alex’s and Daniel’s heads. John caught it and jumped on the table, catching Daniel off-guard. Alex used an energy beam to destroy the remaining three swords, so Daniel and the double had no weapons.

“Lead us to the Rebels,” John said. “Show us where they are.” He pushed the tip of his sword into Daniel’s Adam’s apple and the flesh around it sizzled.

Daniel backed away and turned Erik who was still disguised as Alex. “Alright,” Daniel hissed. “As you wish.” He led them to the elevator.

The first phase of the battle was complete. Kurt was relieved for now.

“Well,” said Bill, “What do we do now?” He brushed his dark golden mop of hair aside with his fingers. His light blue eyes shone like two aquamarines.

“We wait,” sighed Kurt, clutching his cup of coffee. They were in the lounge area of the tanker, where the soldiers took a load off by relaxing and chatting with their friends. Bill’s father had died in the war and ever since, Kurt took care of him like the son he never had. Bill had even started to call him, “Dad.”

“Any news from General Howe?” Bill asked.

Kurt took a deep breath and said, “Nope, not yet.”

“Is that trouble?”

“I wouldn’t know what to make of it, but I have a feeling things are under control so far.” Just then, distorted and barely intelligible words came from Kurt’s earpiece. He could make out John’s voice. “Do you copy? Kurt...” another distortion, “Do you copy?”

“Yes! John, yes, I can hear you. Is everything alright?”

Bill straightened himself at the mention of John’s name and the other soldiers went silent.

“Tell the others to get ready. Tell General Hopkinson he’ll be needed soon.”

“What? Why? I mean can’t you get through to him?”

“You’ll see once you come into the atmosphere. I don’t know what’s wrong but this is the only frequency that I can get through to. Don’t worry; I’ve got Alex with me and we’re on our way to the next phase. Tell Richard he’ll be needed. He’s still inside the ship. I just hope nothing’s wrong with him. Now is the time to strike! Over and out!” The irritating buzzing noises stopped.

“Alright boys! Get ready. We’re going down there!” They all stood up and walked quickly to their designated posts and ships. Kurt and Bill went to the other generals, who were having a meeting of their own, to inform them of the news.

Vampiric guards infiltrated John’s escort ship. Richard and two other soldiers dashed into attack formations. Everywhere, the vampires burned, reducing to piles of hot ash. Richard swung his sword wildly, so any approaching enemy wouldn’t have a chance of survival. The other soldiers that protected Richard ventured out to keep the enemy at bay. To their astonishment and fear, they saw hundreds of them coming towards them. “Sir,” said one guard, “There are too many of them.”

“I don’t give a damn!” Richard said, “Just make your way through! We have to find John and Alex fast!”

With that, the guards redoubled their efforts and began pushing back the enemy. Richard pushed himself out and nearly slipped in the water. The pilots, seeing that everyone was out, moved the ship and broke through the glass bubble. Richard thought they were cowards and were trying only to escape. Then he realized the pilots were actually helping them out as they flew into the air and swerved around, using laser blasters to blow apart the oncoming vampires.

The enemy’s numbers greatly diminished and Richard and the two guards were given safe passage to the opened doors. There they faced another wave of vampires. Hundreds of them. Richard used his fear to fuel his wrath. “Keep going!” he commanded. His guards followed him and attacked, wreaking death and destruction as they advanced. Piles of ash built up around them as the vampires stupidly ran to their deaths. It shocked them and the fighters in space. For the first time ever, these vampires were absolutely ready to give up their own lives for their people.

Sparks flew as the humans’ swords stabbed at weak areas of the vampires’ armor. They slashed at necks and sliced off heads. Due to the rain and heat, there was a stifling humidity that made the humans feel sick and suffocated. They managed to bare it long enough to get to the elevator.

Inside the elevator, they had time to catch their breaths. Their faces were blackened by the ash that stuck to their sweat. “Richard! Richard!” His communicator screamed in his ear; it was Kurt. “General Bacon!” Kurt shouted, his voice completely clear and annoyingly loud. “General Howe has asked you for your help. They say that they’re on their way to the fifth level.”

Richard pressed the button for the fifth level. “Tell him we’re on our way. I can’t seem to get through to him.”

“He can’t get through to you either.”

“Never mind,” Richard said as the doors of the elevator opened. John appeared, holding Daniel hostage with a sword to his neck. Alex was beside him and seemed to be holding his doppelganger hostage. “I’ve found them.”