Author's Note: We are quickly approaching end of Book 1, roughly ten chapters left until then. Getting exciting now with things moving forward, the community growing, pissing off the Drow and more hehe. Oh and a comment was made about no xp messages, there is a reason for that.....wait and watch!

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Chapter 49 Revelations

I manage to make it back to Fort Carson and see the six Hum-Vee's parked in front of the Lodge. I let Ki'Diera down who has since recovered and was angry at me for carrying her after she woke up. We enter the Lodge and the lounge is packed with people sitting any place they could find.

Eddie jumps up” Gunny you made it!” he rushes at me giving me a hug.

“Yeah we made it in one piece, barely“ I pull back and smile at him, then I look at the group and see saddened faces.” I thought they would be happier they made it out?”

“We lost two more on the way here, their wounds were too great.” he says to me.

“Damn” I mutter if only I had given them the potions.

Then I look around, “well we can not stay here, we need to get the wounded treated, and we can do that back at my place” I say to him,” alright people lets load up the wounded and head out, it is not safe here, I will take you some place safe”. I order.

At the order people begin to perk up again, my leadership ability kicking in. We load up all the wounded and begin the drive home which should take a little over 5 hours. I wanted to visit the little towns on the way back, but with the wounded we had to take the direct route. I have soldiers manning the 50 cals mounted in the roofs of the Hum-Vees.

The drive actually went uneventful and five hours passed quickly, as I got to hear stories from some of the soldiers with us in the Hum-Vee. We did have to make a few stops and siphon gas from abandoned vehicles on the way for fuel. Anything that approached was shot and quickly killed by the combined 50 cals. The fall of Colorado Springs happened quickly, they arrived and began to kill all the creatures and thought they had it under control. They were gathering and moving the wounded and began the evacuation of people when the next wave hit taking them by surprise. The third wave did the job in the end.

Had the soldiers been on their own, they may have held off, but trying to save the people too, is what did them in. Seeing women and children being chased by the monsters drove the soldiers to make bad choices, not following orders, sacrificing themselves, only to lose the person or people they were trying to save as well.

In the end the remaining soldiers barricaded themselves wit some civilians in a grocery store where food was abundant and killed any creatures that approached them. Then the Drow at night, came on day 8, taking them by surprise. Some soldiers died from the invisible attacks, while others were put to sleep with darts. The rest of the stories were similar in nature, with the same results.

The part I found interesting, was that the Drow had 4 eggs in the caves with them. Large, about 5 feet tall, which they kept under guard at all times. A few people saw them and also confirmed it. No one knew what those eggs were, but they were very important to the Drow.

I told Cindy and Julie when we were about an hour out to prep the Doctors for incoming wounded. I told them I would tell them everything when I arrived, as I was driving and needed to concentrate which hushed them up quickly.

As we neared the School, we spotted a band of 50 or more of the Were-beast. “Open Fire” I yelled as we drove by, all 6 vehicles began firing into the Were-beasts. The 50 cals rang out showering metal death at the beasts. The Elite came rushing outward from the West gate as we approached, their Phaser Rifles shooting beams into the Were-beast as well. From the walls many warriors were shooting enhanced arrows down on them and the Watch Towers were firing as well with their twin 50 cals mounted in them.

The walls stood 10 feet tall now completed. A soft glow emitted from them showing the mana enhancement in them, they had a dark shine to them. We entered thru the west gate and the Elite followed us in, the gate closing right behind us. Several gurneys were already on stand by as were the Doctors.

We transferred our wounded and handed them over to the Doctors for treatment, Julie and Doc Snow already applying healing on two as they were rushed in. The remaining new comers looked at the walls and School in amazement. Then they all began to realize something and saw the tails and ears on many of the people around them

Many turned to look at Ki'Diera and their jaws dropped when they realized they had not noticed before, several trying to touch her tail. It was a futile attempt on her part, trying to avoid it when her tail was grabbed and she let out a yelp. I stepped in and stopped the people “That is enough folks!” I yelled in a roar. It was far louder than I intended and it echoed into the distance.

The entire compound froze in fear. Warriors, workers, civilians and soldiers alike all stared at me in fear.

“Scott what was that?” Cindy said her voice quavering still in fear. Then rushes in to hug me.

“I do not know, it just happened.” I replied not understanding, holding her.

Everyone quickly recovered, and the mood changed back to a relaxed atmosphere. It was just past afternoon when we arrived and lunch was ready in the Cafeteria. We led our newly arrived guests to the Cafeteria where they all grabbed food and dug in with eager appetites.

Rick, Alexander, Bre'Tirgan, Julie and Cindy, Doc Snow, Eddie and Ki'Diera all sat with me at a table as we ate and spoke. Julie on my Right and Cindy on my left, after quick introductions:

“So with this batch of people we now have a full house “ Rick says.

“Yes and we gain trained soldiers” I comment “ and we will make good use of them too”

“Scott what was it you went out to get?” Bre'Tirgan asks curiously

“When we finish here we will gather all in the courtyard outside and I will demonstrate what I brought.”

I tell him and he nods. Both Julie and Cindy have been unusually quiet so far, as I take a peek at each.

“Father I have decided “Ki'Diera speaks up looking at her father with her proud posture.

“And what is that my Daughter” He says his interest piqued.

“Scott and I shall marry tomorrow, I have seen and witnessed enough to know what kind of male he is and he is indeed worthy” She declares, everyone at the table is stunned except Rick who begins to laugh.

“But the seven days are not completed my Daughter,” Bre'Tirgan says slowly then turns to eye me,” you did not mate did you?”

“No no no we did not mate Bre'Tirgan” I answer quickly and nervously.

“No Father, we did not mate although I would not mind that now if we so did!” again she proclaims and now Doc Snow begins to cough swallowing his drink wrong.

I peek a glance at Cindy and Julie again, both are surprised as well, but I keep the mind link off, knowing I will get bombarded with questions.

“Very well if that is your decision Daughter,” he says then looks to me,”Do you oppose Scott?”

“Umm well, I....” I begin.

“Should we not wait the full seven days as originally planned? This is all so sudden”., Julie speaks up.

“Yes I agree, the seven days should be observed,” Cindy adds

“I am not apposed to the wedding, but I believe the seven days should be observed, only it should be Ki'Diera and my wives who spend it together, if at the end of such they do not get along, there can be no wedding” I finally say to all, recovering and remembering my original intent of the seven days.

“Daughter?” Bre'Tirgan turns to Ki'Diera.

“Fine if that is Scott's wish, so be it” She says with defiance, eyeing Julie and Cindy who both let out a sigh of relief.

“Well I have some good news for you,” Doc Snow speaks up,” our Two Doctors have made a profession choice and took healers, much like mine. Tho their's seems to be slightly different, but they can heal as well. And the two nurses have healing as well, but again it is different, it seems no two professions are alike in the healing arts.”

“Maybe it is due to their understanding and wants, by wants I mean what they want to accomplish with their abilities,” Cindy says.

“True I think what you want to accomplish is as important as the understanding, when you compare my healing to theirs it is very different. Mine is more to comfort and protect while theirs is to get to the root and cause of the problems, I am not sure how else to explain it.” Julie says

“So even if two people choose the same thing they will still be different?” I ask.

“It seems so, in most cases if they were both to choose say becoming a soldier for example, their weapons may be different but the abilities may be the same. Or they may have the same weapons but their abilities may differ. It is all about understanding and wants.”

“So belief in the profession, the understanding and comprehension as well as desire or want?” I reply

“On that front some of our people got the profession Builder while working with the workers outside on the walls.” Rick says “so desire must be part of it too, as they were some of the hardest workers out there on the walls.”

"Hmm, lets gather everyone up after we eat and discuss this with all as well, I want us to make some movement in that department, it time for people to start making choices on the professions area.", I say and all nod in agreement.

“Alright since that is settled any news on the front with the Were-beast?” I ask.

“No, they are still building that structure, tho it seems a miniature structure is up and running now and we have an idea of what it is.” Rick speaks up.

“Oh what is it?” I ask quickly

“It seems to be some kind of conversion chamber.” He says and pauses” They took some captured Orcs and placed them inside one by one and out came one of those Were-beast in turn, the whole process took over 30 min per beast.”

“What? So you think what they are building is on a larger scale?” I ask in disbelief.

“Yeah, it seems so, the outline seems to be the same, it would be the perfect world conquering device.” He replies looking grimly at me.