Chapter 89

---Valerica's Laboratory---

Closing the portal to the Soul Cairn, once we were all safely out, Valerica tossed her bags onto the floor and began to look around her old lab. Having anticipated her laboratory being in poor shape, as Harkon was incredibly hot tempered, she could not have imagined it would be this bad. Broken furniture aside, her alchemical ingredients and notebooks where in tatters, precious family heirlooms were missing, and worst of all there was a giant fucking hole in the wall that led down to overgrown garden. Unable to contain her anger, it became very apparent that Harkon was not the only hot-tempered parent in the household.

"That rat bastard, I knew he was childish, but I cannot believe he would stoop this low! He stole several priceless family heirlooms that were meant for Serana's dowry!", Valerica howled, fuming with anger, "If they are nowhere to be found in the castle, it could take centuries to reclaim everything our family lost. Damn it all, I am turning his ashes into Cure Disease potions for humans. I can just imagine how cross he will be when I see his ugly mug again in Coldhabour!"

Happy to help her mother, Serana took her down to the Great Hall to show her which pile was Harkon. Returning a few minutes later with a large bowl of vampire dust, Valerica walked over to her alchemy table and began brewing potions with the few ingredients she had available to her.

"Now then, I suppose we should get back down to business again.", Valerica said, splitting her attention between her alchemical work and us, "Serana tells me that you have taken it upon yourself to lead our Volkihar Clan, even though you do not want to become a vampire yourself. What do you hope to gain by intermingling with a group of powerful, ancient vampires?"

Assuming Serana had not disclosed our identities to her mother, I took this opportunity to explain that we were not natives of this world and of the intergalactic war raging out in space. Elaborating on how the Volkihar Clan could assist me by becoming assassins, interrogators, and spies in my service, Valerica agreed that their natural abilities made them perfectly suited for those sorts of roles. Getting to the part where I would use Serana and her expertise in magical research to further my goals, she set her pestle and mortar down and turned to look at me with intrigue.

"You want my daughter and I to work alongside you as magic researchers, that is rather interesting. Tell me, what sort of magic are you wanting to investigate?", she pressed me.

"The Forces of Chaos are mostly comprised of entities that are similar to mortal souls. When these entities enter the Materium, our plane of existence, they take on corporal forms that we can kill. Unfortunately, killing their corporal bodies does not permanently kill them, they simply return to their plane of existence, the Immaterium, to recover and return to the battlefield once again.", I explained, "Right now I know of only two ways to permanently kill them, using artifacts from the Immaterium or with Holy Magic. As those artifacts are few and far between and Holy Magic is a very difficult school of magic to learn, I need a better alternative to begin culling their numbers. That is where I believe Soul Manipulation Magic can come into play."

"I understand now why you want our help; I spent centuries in the Soul Cairn studying that field of magic.", she acknowledged, "Very well, you can count on the two of us and the Volkihar Clan to assist you in your war. That said though, I want to ask for something in return for our services."

"That being?", I questioned.

"Take my daughter with you on your travels. She seems to enjoy your company, I have not seen her smile since she was only waist high to me.", Valerica stated, looking at Serana, "Your father robbed you of the happy childhood you deserved, and both of us made you endure that degrading ceremony as well for our own selfish gains. With your father gone and me in a comfortable place, it is time for you to go become the woman you were always meant to be."

"Consider it done.", I said, as Serana walked over and gave her mother a hug.

Happy to see that their bond was still strong as ever, I was about to suggest we get moving when Jarvis alerted me to an incoming call from the Artemis Space Station. Stepping out of the room to take it, I had him patch me through to whomever was calling.

"Hello, is this you Victor?", a familiar voice asked.

"Yes, it is, I take it the upper management has another request from the Galactic Senate?", I chuckled.

"I wish it were that simple, Victor, but this time the request is coming directly from the Imperium. Roboute Guilliman wants to see you…in person.", the Branch Manager said, in a nervous tone, "Any idea why the acting leader of the Imperium wants to speak with you?"

 "Not exactly, but I have a few ideas why he might want to see me.", I remarked, equally surprised by this news, "Give me one moment, let me see when I am due back in port…"

Pulling up the current status of the former Conqueror's upgrades and repairs, it appeared she would be ready to set sail again in a week's time. Wanting to show off my new, state of the art vessel to them, my hope was Guilliman would see what the Imperium could achieve. As it stood right now, if he did not turn things around quickly, the Imperium would have no hope of ever moving forward. While the rest of cosmos continued to adapt and advance, they would be left behind and be lost to history like so many other nations have.

"I will let them know to expect you in a week's time. Good luck Victor, and all our sakes, please do not upset Roboute!", he pleaded, before ending the call.

Sending over the rendezvous coordinates over to me, I had Luxion prepare escort ships as the coordinates put us right on the Imperium's frontlines. Heading back to the laboratory, everyone turned to me wanting to know about the call. Telling them about the meeting and when it was happening, Lucoa and Roxanne's faces soured at the mention of the Imperium.

"So we are heading to a nation full of xenophobes that hate people like the two of us.", Lucoa said, pointing at Roxanne and her, "Do you really have to accept the meeting with them?"

 "Unlike most people in the Imperium, Roboute Guilliman is a forward thinker who does not outright hate every alien race. He is flexible enough to understand that for humanity to survive, they must make allies wherever they can.", I told them, "In this case, I feel comfortable enough for you to come with me, if you want too."

Agreeing to come immediately, my fiancées felt duty bound to stand by me during a major political meeting. While their answer was clear cut, Lydia and Serana were not certain what to do.

"Lydia, I had a few tasks I wanted you to complete for me here in Skyrim. At the forefront of everything, I need you to contact the Thieves Guild in Riften. There are many items I want them to secure for us, from ancient relics to old magic tomes.", I told her, looking at Valerica, "If you could, give Lydia descriptions of the heirlooms you are missing. We can have them look for those as well."

"Much appreciated.", Valerica thanked me, getting back to her potion brewing, "I will take care of getting our castle restocked, do not worry about that. Also, I would like one of those devices you gave our subordinates that allows them to freely walk in the sunlight."

"Serana, if you are comfortable with it, I would like you to accompany us for this meeting. The Imperium has a group within their ranks that are afflicted with a severe case of vampirism. Your insight may prove invaluable in helping control their feeding urges. Rumors abound that the group is snatching people off the street and draining them completely of their blood.", I stated.

"Space vampires, that sounds quite interesting!", Serana remarked, with a playful smile, "You can count on me."

Happy to hear she was onboard, there was only one pressing matter left to resolve on Nirn, defeating Alduin. Deciding it was high time we made our way to Sovngarde, I had Yamato begin to scan the mountains to the east for Skuldafn. While she worked on locating our portal, we decided to head back to Whiterun for a hearty meal and some delicious mead.