He had gone by many names. To his friends, he was known only as Louie, but to those of the modern day, he was known as Admiral Louis St. Germain, and he was a vampire.
The stereotyped vampire was an evil creature, but St. Germain was far from being evil. Only once in his long life had he been tempted to the evil side. He almost gave himself completely to the forces of darkness, but a short wizard made him see the error of his ways.
Now, as he sat in darkness, he was deep in thought. He was one of the first of the admirals who stood up against Servalan and her oppressive reign. For his actions, he found his supply of replicated blood cut off. Not long after, he was brought to this cell, and when the Imperials took over, he was charged with treason and fed very sparingly on the only food that could keep him alive.
Many times those now in power had tried to convince him to change sides, but he would not. Suddenly, light filled the room, but light that was not harmful to him. In the doorway, he could see a tall man. His shadow moved across the floor until it almost touched St. Germain's feet. He couldn't make out his face at first, until the visitor switched on the light in the cell. Commander Sleer gazed down at the seated vampire.
"Still a creature of darkness, Admiral?" he said. "Some things never change!"
"Get this over with, Sleer. I have many things to consider."
"Your trial is tomorrow. You still have a chance to join us, join the powerbase of the Galactic Federation. You were one of Starfleet's greatest admirals. Only a few know this quadrant better than you. Only a few have traveled to almost every world in it."
St. Germain looked up and stared straight into the eye of Sleer.
"You want me to become Palpatine's lap dog, do you? To do his every bidding? Stem the rebellion on Altor, Louie! Make Betazed come over to our way of thinking, Louie! You must take me for a fool!"
"A vampire, a creature of the night, who doesn't want to give up his principles! If it wasn't so sad, I'd be laughing! Very well, Admiral! That was your last chance. I will see you at your trial!"
Moments later Sleer left, slamming the door behind him. St. Germain looked up and pointed his hand in the direction of the light switch. With but a thought, the light switched off, once again leaving St. Germain alone in the darkness with his thoughts.
Of all the places and buildings on the planet Monstron, the Temple of Orac was considered by many to be the most sacred. It was here they worshipped Dracula as a god, and it was here the parliament of Monstron met with great regularity.
The leader of the Council of Monstron, the High Nosferatu, was on his way to one of the debates when he found himself being chased. He turned around to see a young-looking man, with blond hair tied back in a ponytail and dressed in ambassadorial robes, quickly approaching him. Although he looked young, he was in fact nearly seven hundred years old, and not a native of Monstron, but of Earth.
"Lestat!" the Nosferatu boomed. "What is this? I have a debate to attend!"
"I only want a moment of your time, Your Highness!" Lestat said, finally catching up with him. "I wish to speak with you on an urgent and most personal matter. Have you heard the latest from the civil war?"
"I have, and it does not bother me, Ambassador. The war does not affect us. It is not of our concern!"
"But it does, Your Highness! One of our own is being held prisoner on Earth!"
"You speak of Admiral St. Germain!" the Nosferatu smiled. "The traitor!"
"He may have betrayed the Monstron people all those years ago, but he is still a creature of darkness, a creature of the night! He is one of us, and he needs our help!"
"What would you have me do, Lestat? Send a rescue mission deep into the Imperial territory that is now the Earth? You must think me mad! I will not do it!"
"We can never turn our backs on one of our own kind!"
Lestat turned around and marched off into the distance. Until now, the Monstrons had stayed out of the humans' civil war. Perhaps Lestat would drag them into it.
Early the next morning, Lestat traveled to the Western Province of the Monstron homeworld. This province was normally considered the worst on the planet, where the dregs normally lived, where those who were no longer praised and saluted by the Monstron people would spend the remaining years of their lives, which for Monstrons could be centuries.
Lestat soon found his destination, a run-down looking building on the outskirts of one of the smallest towns. He saw that there were no security restrictions in place. It was easy for him to enter.
The light was very dim. Only a few candles were alight, and they were coming to the ends of their short lives. The room had very few pieces of furniture.
"I've been expecting you, Ambassador!" said a voice from the corner.
"I was looking for the Wolfen leader," Lestat said.
"Then you have found the High Wolfman!" he said, coming into full view. "Although I am hardly considered a leader for my people now! Please, be seated!"
Lestat seated himself at the small table, directly opposite the Wolfman.
"You know why I'm here?" asked Lestat.
"You wish for us to enter the Federation's civil war," the Wolfman replied. "The Monstron Empire is hardly in shape to do that."
"What do you mean?"
"I still have many sources in the Temple of Orac, and you would not know of these things since you have just returned. We cannot enter the civil war as we are, because Monstron itself is on the verge of a civil war!"
"It cannot be! When did this happen?"
"Many think the council were fools to try and establish an alliance with the Galactic Empire! I was one of them. Since that time, the sects have grown farther and farther apart. The Wolfen no longer has any sort of power on the council, and the Franken, who normally follow us, are beginning to side with the otherworldly Malmori."
"And where do the Wose stand on this?"
"The Wose, as always, are neutral. But they cannot remain neutral for long."
"Then you haven't heard? The Malmori have now sided with Palpatine!"
The Wolfman smashed his fist into the table.
"Then we may have no choice but to enter this war!"
"There is a man who could help us, but he is on Earth!"
"You speak of St. Germain, do you not? The one who is being held prisoner? What can he do?"
"If the Franken are siding with the Imperials, the Nosferatu may follow. Perhaps Louie can stop them!"
"You want me to send my Wolfen forces to Earth to rescue the Admiral?"
"Yes. We have no choice. He is one of us! We must rescue him!"
"I do not have many left under my command!"
"But you'll do it?"
"Meet me at the Province Port tomorrow morning. I will get your ship and your men!"
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