THE FATHER DRAKE
A BOOK BY WILLIAM MORRIS
ALL CHARACTERS
COPYRIGHTED © BY ME MYSELF AND I!
This story is
copyrighted. By all available laws so don't go getting any silly ideas
This story will be a...strange one, something brought
on by my DESIRE to be a father
and the
unfortunate fact that males cant do/be more to/for there children
than just
father.
If you start to
read this keep at it you have to follow the path to reach the ridge to see the
lands beyond it
-----
The Journey is
all of it
"But that's not a dragon of human legend"
"no but
she loved the ring... and said to me I was her Cyberhorn
I was her
unicorn. The white stallion that came to show her love and peace,
Pain changed
the unicorn my friend. The rage of seeing my friends and crew engulfed in
flames
then finding
out the light in my life had been killed.” Closing his eyes tightly “A rage an
anger welled up inside
it burned away
the gentleness and purity, leaving the dragon of pain and sorrow" his eyes
showed the cold inside his soul and the droggin now knew why this human would
never truly lose anything
He had already died
Prologue
Two shadowy figures slipped through the
spring grain giggling and laughing softly in the moonlight meant for young lovers
heading for the woods on the edge of the farm The farm one of many the colony
had around the main spaceport and city it was an old farm handed down through
the generations William looked into Amy’s eyes as they defied the traditions of
hand fasting for young adults, which hadn’t made much sense in their case as
they had been best friends for all their lives and he had recently returned
home to marry her after being sent a message by their fathers that they had
decided it was time. For him it had been a welcome message and gladly returned
home
They had been
formerly introduced while elders of both families watched (some with
trepidation) they were hand fasted and then separated she had through a sister
sent him a note of hope and promise that he would meet her in the north field
in two days there he met her and they kissed joyously finally able to openly
show the love they had held for each other. Though sometimes separated for many
years it hadn’t diminished with a silent question she asked him to follow and
he did willingly eager to show her how much he truly loved her they finally
reached the woods and fell laughing into the grasses and glowing night flowers
She looked down at
him the moons light shadowing her face “so my lover father says you have taken
the position at the fleet base. Good pay and medical?”
He nodded holding
her hand looking up into her eyes she smiled
“What?” “Just
looking”
She smiled and giggled,
“looking at what?”
“Into the eyes of a
gorgeous angel who has fallen from heaven into the arms of a dragon“
“No my love you are
a unicorn, my white night, the hero who has come to save me from the boring
dreary life of a farmers wife”
They both laughed
knowing that is exactly what they wanted anyhow
He slowly moved
closer to finally seal the future as she too moved closer to kiss him thus
completely breaking the rules but this was meant for them.
Both yelped in surprise as a pair of bright
lights shone down from hover trucks and Williams father shouted out as did Amy’s’
she sighed and smiled hugging him close
“I don’t mind now
my Cyberhorn you came and were willing I know you love me with all your heart”
=====================================================
As man made his way
into space he made friends and his (her) share of enemies but for once it was
an accident
not mans itchy
trigger finger that brought the earth and her allies into a conflict with the
droggin a semi reptilian race
In 2143 AD, the
earth just finished with a routing of a pirate band in a friends sector of
space, the 22nd light cruiser fleet. Was about to head home for leave when a large group of signals bounced
back and forth across the system the admiral noting immediately that the ten
fighting five re-supply ship fleet in his command was totally surrounded
did the most
prudent thing. He retreated from this unknown threat until he could get some
kind of idea as to what was going on. He immediately called for flank speed away and down through the elliptic
plane of the system signaling to the planet what was going on and that he was
heading through what was the only clear area to open space.
The supply
ships fell behind their gun cover and immediately turned to the nearest
asteroids to gain protection
the destroyer
escorts six in number started getting conflicting signals from directly ahead
two altered course
also heading
for cover.
The admiral was
furious, barking orders at the ships to rejoin the formation they got collision
alarms
he turned and
saw a huge mass bigger than twenty battle ships in tonnage
then he disappeared
into a white hot flare as his ship collided with it.
As did all but
one of the cruisers, who turned enough to just slide Grinding sparks along the
huge hull
her power died
the commander trying desperately to get some idea as to this huge mass and was gone an instant
later.
The destroyers
who had so prudently turned away now were stunned as this huge moon sized ship
moved on into the system, and how it had vaporized the stricken cruiser with
one volley from a side main cannon
but it was limping dying.
The huge amount of
damage the cruisers had inflicted, running into it at flank speed was clearly
fatal already smaller ships were leaving Her; flying out to other ships just now coming into scan range. Fires
were bursting
from her hull
and the massive engines died clearly the impacts had started some kind of
immense chain reaction in her systems.
One destroyer
captain decided this was an excellent time to get gone,
the moment his
ship moved from cover an escort of the dying moon launched what could have been
best described as space based torpedoes.
They closed the gap as he tried every maneuver at full power to shake them.
He died trying
to lead them back to the moon ship.
The last
destroyer captain took this as a hint to power down and wait,
the huge moon
ship drifted and burned, this
new fleet numbered in the thousands but only the one ship was so huge it was
drifting towards the systems star.
His main
tactical showed the supply ships being slaughtered by some kind of fighters he
needed information!
Launching his
four onboard interceptors from the indications they could beat these new
fighters in total speed
and
maneuverability
"lieutenant
run in get all the data you can and run like hell we will be soon as you stir
them up"
"yes sir...good
luck" "you too
lieutenant"
They made a full
power launch and screamed through the fleets formation of ships fired. But
could not track them for the speed at full power.
The new fighters
came up, and came into pursuit the lieutenant nodded to his wing and they all
split off dividing the enemy further. He watched as one by one his wing was
killed, the fighters were doing something new
he looked back
and went wide eyed as one was ON his tail rearing back huge claws readying to
rip through the engine.
"Shit!"
he blew the canopy and it smashed into the creatures face ripping it from the
ship he transmitted his data
"captain!
They look as if they're using some kind of exoskeleton based ship very fast
very advanced
and dam ugly
...oh god " the signal died...
The captain sighed
seeing they were not in any better situation "fire all guns full
spread."
He watched as
the data was loaded into an escape pod, and launched as they took hits from all
around the pod disappeared into a ball of plasma. He snarled and ordered full
volley fire on what looked like a small carrier
the guns all
around fired killing the ships' power and they disappeared in the next instant
...
The conflict
escalated instantly,
earth ships
were being slaughtered. Bases left for rubble and stations twisted hulks of
junk left to be consumed by the raw plasma spewing from the reactors. When Washington base on the
planet of Galgaron got word from the 12th fleet that an enemy landing group was
heading for them
and they were
under heavy fighter attack pulling out for the rendezvous with the 8th and 3rd
fleets they would be unable to
provide orbital cover fire.
The base commander
immediately moved his main weapons. His hover tanks and artillery to huge
mining operations to the north of the base and to hold the high ground. Planet
based orbital fire ion cannons
were retracted
to cover them. The civilians were loaded in shuttles; to be evacuated during
the battle to hopefully buy them time to get clear. All while the equipment was
being moved the city and base were a flurry of activity.
He was in an
armored transport. Following the 20th division he was running late because of the fact no one had
packed the heavy lifting
equipment for
the tanks. He had to ride behind the transporter. Looking at his various
helpers, all-young all scared so was
he.
He heard the
sound before most standing up into the gunners turret he rotated it around
seeing there own fighter
cover and
various air to ground craft go screaming off over head to the north.
"Dam bastards
supposed to fly cover over the column"
his
communicator earpiece clicked
"Sergeant
"
"Sir?"
"They were,
but the commander told them to go to ground we've got indications that their Landers are in final
approach. Get a repair area setup ASAP"
"Yes sir"
"Just hold the
tanks together bill we can do the rest"
"yes sir.
Were not known as the 20th bull heads for nothing."
He was soon
pointing various troops to setting up equipment inside a tunnel. He had evicted
the artillery crews that had taken refuge inside to a side service shaft.
He walked out
and got his glasses straight looking though a long-range scope, looking down
from the north shielding mountains he could see the dust out on the Darval
plains to the southwest of the city and the base watching as another Lander
eased down into the dust.
His comm.
clicked "Sgt. Morris"
"Sergeant
report"
"repair
base is set up just don't go sending me half the division all at once the tunnel
will fit only one across"
"good. You
had a look yet?"
"Small one...
were letting them get the Landers down?"
"67th
tried to stop the Landers incoming to get there air cover slaughtered."
He nodded they'd
lost contact with the 67th after five days of furious fighting that system and
colony fell with no further word from them.
"Umm
sergeant did you do what I told you not to"
"what
would that be sir? Oh the 'don't leave massive amounts of explosives attached
to the repair bays and the engine pits'?
Umm No sir..."
he smiled
"William"
"Sir?"
"Remind me to
bust your chops later"
"Sir!"
He grinned, and
watched as the last of the artillery moved into position guns panning round to
fix the Landers and the equipment.
The tanks were
ready there massive triple main gun turrets and missile launchers at the ready.
All were sitting on there 'feet' which were used to protect the skirts of the hover
tanks
"Ladies
and gents were ready to party."
He looked back
at his crew " I want hull repair last, gun and triple a priority."
They all nodded and ran to get it ready
he changed to
the tank Commanders frequency
"This is the
bubble gum bunch. Were ready for you reckless drunk driving tankers to come in
with bent and flared skirts; we've
got the spit and bailing wire out for this one"
He heard the
laughter and got confirmations from various squad commanders
his lieutenant
was evac’ed from the base hospital still sick with chickenpox not that she made
much difference
couldn't lead
if someone pushed her the right way.
He sighted in on the dust
again seeing his first glimpse of the enemy. He adjusted his range and checked
their height
'some a little
over nine foot tall, dam wish I could... oh jeez'.
Blinking as a tank
came out of the dust his first thought was of the comparison between the German
tiger II and the Sherman from
the out set the Sherman was out gunned, and out classed so were they the only reason the allies won was due to
sheer numbers of Sherman’s to toss at the tigers ‘god I hope we don’t have toss
people into a meat grinder to win this’
He kept looking
as the tanks moved out with infantry along side
then he got to
see one of their infantry in the clear a squad commander of some kind pointing
for various others to move to the left side of a tank.
"Dragons...
They look like medieval dragons bipedal. Some with wings some without but...
dragons none the less"
the order came
and the tanks warmed up their cannons.
The base started
firing it's ion cannons, and took out the landing forces orbital
support the huge ships devoid of power and so close
into the
atmosphere they dropped into the sky exploding into flames like meteors and
came crashing down to the surface.
One volley of
orbital return fire soon robbed the base of that advantage but they had
crippled the landing now they could receive no support from supplies in space.
The artillery
opened up and laid them low, Tanks detonated as lucky hits hit the power sources
and their air cover came screaming in.
He dove for a
tunnel falling short watched as a dragon flew right in strafing his men and
destroying the equipment. The flames engulfing some the screams chilled the air
He ran for the
nearest tank who were firing there anti air guns popping a panel open he took
manual control
of the main
turret on the right side and swallowed hard as it walked out of the flames
looking right at him
"dam you
dragon! Burn in hell!"
firing the gun
at point blank range the tunnel behind exploded as the shot shredded the dragon
the concussive blast from the shot hit him and tossed him out over the roadway
and sent him tumbling down the cliff face.
He awoke to the
smell of space ship air and antiseptics, sitting up a little flinching in pain
relaxing back
feeling the bruises a nurse came up.
"Well sergeant
decided to join the living again did we."
"Guess
so...how bad?"
"Not to much a
piece of dragon armor shrapnel into the shoulder and a long fall right into a
command tent."
He sighed he
knew who's too...he was in for a serious shit fest
"We won if
your wondering sergeant" he blinked as she walked away
"We won? Holy
tank mainframes".
His commander
came by that evening his demeanor was not of a commander who had just won the
first engagement against a foe who had been steadily slaughtering the human
race system by system but one he knew one he'd seen before.
"Hey bill
listen... I was never very good at this..."
"Master
Sergeant William Morris. Of the 15th armored Calvary known as the Rock 'n' a
hard place I do here by present you with the medal of valor for self less-ness in the face of a greater foe also
your fourth purple heart".
Fleet Admiral
Richardson pinned the medals on his chest smoothing out the ribbon, bill
saluted waiting for a reply
the admiral
looked into his eyes and bill saw a tear there. He shook bills hand then
saluted him this was a very public
ceremony.
All for fleet moral
nothing like the Cyberhorn getting a medal, to send to the dragons to give-um
something else to worry about. The newest fighter was giving their white
shadowy interceptor dragons a serious ass kicking too.
The admiral, bill's
one time commander over ten years ago now
it had been his
duty to tell bill all his family, and his wife to be were killed. As the
dragons destroyed their shuttle as it tried to leave orbit.
Bill smiled at him
but his old friend turned and walked away. He sighed and looked for the booze
Bill smiled
slipping a very nice bottle of ale into his arm sling got a huge hand on the
shoulder.
"That little
bottle isn't for medicinal purposes is it sergeant"
"Why yes it is
sir, it's nice and cold and feels so good on a swollen arm" smiling
innocently at his newest lutenant commander and thorn in his side.
"Make sure it
ends up back into the ice or empty in the trash... not saved for later"
walking away
"Yes
Sir-r-r-r-r... shit fer' system resources" sighing deeply he felt him
coming from the air flow from the salutes as he approached
"Sir!"
saluting the admiral.
"Bill enough
of the crap... will you please let me move you to headquarters"
he sighed this
was the twentieth time for this in a year
"sir
I'm"
"And DON'T
CALL ME SIR! DAMNIT YOU HARD HEADED" growling as he snatched a drink from
a passing tray.
"Last of the
20th division, only survivor of the 44th' bill reflexively put his hand on the
shoulder and all the patches that he remembered there. 'Hell the only one of
the 11th to escape titan base before... it..."
"Sir, Jim I
cant I tried that kind of job. I nearly got court-martialed for insubordination
because the captain
couldn't be
flexible with the supplies. I'm more valuable to fleet and you... yes you, near
the front line who found the weaknesses of the great reds the biggest tanks brought against us till they came up
with the black kings."
"You did"
"who
started trade relations with a few raiders and free roaming dragons? Mostly for
dragon technology we've already put to better use than they thought
possible"
"....
You".
"Who enjoys
your wife's fruit cakes so you don't have to eat them." Grinning like a
nut, the admiral broke and guffawed.
"YOU DO you
dam insane tanker"
"And? Once the
tank is in the blood Jim?"
"Tanker you
always be ". Nodding he resigned defeat raising his glass to bill "The best admiral in the fleet and the
ghost"
"Is that
the name they have for me now?" Jim nodded and saw the bottle.
"Put it
back bill"
"Aww come on
Jim" Jim tapped the side of his nose with a conspirators look.
"I know it
helps on those sleepless nights alone bill... you've never forgotten her have
you"
he sighed and a
tear welled up and fell on to the sling
"Please
Jim...don't"
the admiral moved over then he patted his shoulder they went off to get drunk
He awoke to the
rumble of ships drives sitting up he groaned holding the contents of his head
in
"Where am
I?" there was some laughter he looked down from the top of a tank turret
the banner proclaimed the black cats 13th division
" not
another shanghai transfer...damnit Jim"
After a lengthy visit
to the head and showering, he put the arm back into its sling, and headed to
the commanders quarters trying to remember
who the 13th
were attached too. He soon found the door and had his transfer orders from the
admiral in hand which had been stuffed
into his kit
along with all his things and tools and a couple cases of ale
Knocking he waited
"come in "
he blinked
female Voice? Opening the door, she was
sitting behind a desk working on various screens. Slowly looking up at him,
"Ahh sergeant
I was starting to wonder if id have to perform a séance to get you here "
she smiled
politely he smiled and held out his orders
"Getting
cleaned up sir, master sergeant William Morris reporting"
"the
admiral said he'd have to Shanghai you into this one. Nice cozy training group
your of course in charge of the mechanics
I lost my
master sergeant to an unexploded mine. Jim owed me a favor I needed one of the
best to get these kids trained.
Your it"
He sighed nodding he’d expected something
along these lines
"And don't
think I wont put your can into the brig or ditch digging if you go and pull
some of those stunts you've done to get transferred I know all your tricks ghost
I've been studying your files your here for the duration".
"Yes sir"
she smiled and
gave him his identity cards, list of troops and such on disk then shook his
hand.
"It's a
pleasure having you in my command bill Jim told me once you warm up to the
assignment these kids will be the best tankers
and mechanics
under fire"
"I really must
have a talk with him,” grinning an evil smile
she laughed at
his face and dismissed him.
He went back to his
quarters and unpacked looking out the port hole he could see the mares head
nebula.
"Heading
for Taurus I'll bet, we just won that world the kids get to see a fresh
battlefield"
and several
will die due to carelessness, thinking as he hung his best uniform up it had a
note stuck into the pocket
"Aww Jim I
wish you would go get.... What's it say here... bill yada-yada..." he
blinked partly in shock and reread
it all.
'Bill listen I'm
sorry but had to get you out of the 15th. The commander was gearing for your
court-martial
and supposedly had proof of the fact you were a traitor.
I DON'T BELIEVE
ONE FUCKING WORD THAT ASS SAYS BUT I had a talk with him,
this
transfer and his to the second air squad fixes this. I looked at his evidence
it's
solid but I know you, that one free dragon names Fal’gateor I believe
he's kin
to one of their fleet advisors. He made a trip to the home world right after
meeting with you I
know why, the dragon wine you got me for my birthday.
Spy core
thinks he told them about the status of the 15th and why a week later they
hammered a backwater mud ball like Ter-12 and the 15th
so to
get you gone, and him silent your now with the black cats
stay put
fer a wile OKAY! ...Damn heard headed mechanic
listen
to your friend for once go
play wit the kids for a few...Jim
Sighing 'dam people
sometimes can't leave things alone, damn '
He went out the next
morning checking the tanks, which were in sorry shape to say the least.
He found one
old girl from the remains of the 20th, she’d seen so much action he was
surprised to see it still run under its own power
sighing as 6 am
came and still no troops or there squad leaders much less corporals and
sergeants! He tapped his comm.
"Ship
communications connect me to ship fire control systems"
" Yes
sergeant?"
"Id like a full test run of the fire
alarms and flame suppression systems in ohh
bays 2 through
8 and all personnel bunks if you would."
"This is
the! Ghost?" he sighed thinking no discipline any more…
"Master
Sergeant William Morris of the 13th. Thank you, the alarms please or patch me
through to the captain"
"Y-yes
sergeant! Activating in 4 seconds"
Bill slipped his
cap on to cover his thinning front hair line and stood stone still. As the bays
in front of him went wild with lights and bells fire retarding foam filling the
bunk areas pouring out with the troopers yelling and near panic.
"Ship
command, cancel test"
"Yes sir"
The lights and
foam stopped he climbed up onto a tanks skirt tapping his com to public address
in the bay areas the ships crew more than humored but moving away knowing if
they laughed it’d get them a taste of the same
.
"Well good
morning everyone I hope that the dragons enjoyed that easy victory CAUSE I HATE LOSING!"
He let that ring in the ears for a second
"All
sergeants will report to me in ten minutes squad commanders will get this place
cleaned up in thirty all tanks
will be ready for an inspection reactors ONLINE I don't do cold tanks, in one
hour! Now get to it"
He sat alone
quietly thinking in his office this would make the other sergeants either hate
him or support him.
They soon came
in and took seats, as he was looking out the port
he turned and
saw a few their hair still damp from showering.
"I drink
dragon kaval I've found it doesn't aggravate my nerves and tastes pleasantly
like rich hot chocolate if
you'd like coffee it's in the pot please help your selves."
They did
clinking spoons and rustling papers overwhelming the sound of silence.
"Ladies gents
I'm not here to undermine your positions nor interfere with how you run your
troops but I am here to make those kids into fire blooded danger eating tankers
and what I saw this morning was pitiful. Even you have to admit to being flat caught out by the fact that if we
were forced to do an emergency drop all them kids and you were toast."
They all nodded
softly completely guilty of the very fact they too had relaxed totally
"Contrary
to the popular fact that were SUPPOSED TO BE in our controlled sector of the line I have seen single gold wing heavy
cruiser and her escorts rip through
nice easy troop fleets like this with all the glee of cats finding a box of
mice. It's how the 11th armored
support unit was destroyed along with the 220th re-supply fleet because they
were asleep so soundly when the first trouble hit they slept through it. The
hull puncture took them to their final sleep before the rest of the fleet could
even respond to the general distress call and abandon ship"
Sitting down to
look at them now paying attention as that one had clearly been forgotten over
the past years.
"I have
seen more of the replacements that came in die simply because they weren't
awake when the time came to move. While with the 29th I saw an entire squad of recruits die under a fire
blast from a single lone dragon. Who decided to torch the tents I watched them die people because they
didn't know to run like all of hell was on their heals when people start
shouting dragons!".
He took a drink
of the highly fragrant dragon coffee, letting out a long sigh reburying the memories to
the depths
"Basically
we have till we land to get them used to the fact that when shit hits the fan
they better be already wearing their
helmets before it gets to um".
One held his
hand out
"they do
get that started in basic"
"Bill is fine
people, and that's just it. Basic training is just basic! We have to get them up to graduation quick and
alive. First thing I want is the
tanks full rebuilds. I even saw one from the 20th my original unit” checking
his notes for a moment
”She’s junk now
hull plates far to heavy for the frame and her reactor is one of the early
three series which were under powered to begin with,
and only one at
that. How'd you get that thing loaded? Pushing it?"
A few grinned then
looked away
"Ok then she's
spares we'll get another from the field to replace her as for all of them not
one has the reflector system what's
going through those maniacs in fleet? These tanks could have to fight tomorrow and no reflector
shields?"
He made a note to
check for reactor upgrades once on planet side.
"Bill there
isn't much we can do with them till we land though"
"Wrong, one thing I've
learned over the years is the fact that you do fixing while you have um cold and lined
up, the ship has very nice machine shops and forges for hull repairs. You'll
find a few good greased hands we'll have full use of the shops at night, and we can get some serious
problems fixed ASAP. Possibly some improvements here's a list of the worst
units and the repairs needed.” Holding out a stack of printouts to the first to
his right
“I'm off to see if
I can get one of my Sources to rush over with some of the rarer things, and to grease those hands.
If any of you have special sources please give me a list of what they can
deliver and cost. We may have to do some bargaining and wheel n’ deal'n to all sides, but when these
tanks are unloaded for the move out they'll do it like new ones."
He left them to do
the cleaning and went to work
"ship
communications control "
“Sir?"
"I need a
class two unsecured transmission"
"I'll have
to get the captains approval sir"
"Understandable."
Tapping his
fingers on the desk the channel popped open keying in a code he waited.
An image formed of
a dragon in the shadows of an already dark room a few flickers of light betraying other
holographic monitors active near the face
"name?"
"Cyberhorn the
drake...silver tongued devil you"
A grin formed on
the face "hello bill, need something special? Again"
"Of course,
new unit no parts"
The drake
wrinkled his nose in disgust knowing what was coming
"much
parts and short timing"
"And what were
you saying the last time? Little
human."
"I wont do
this again...yes, but things have changed"
"Really? And
here I thought I was going to have a protracted bargaining session with
you"
"What is on
your list my friend?" saying it with eagerness bill had never seen out of
the dragon
"Umm
alright sending it now"
He reached down and
looked it over tapping with a claw on various places ticking tiny holes in the
plastic
"yes...yes."
“So you got all
that?"
"Yes or I
can in a day, it is my price which you may not like"
Bill leaned back in
his chair and rubbed his chin "so how bad is my bill drake. I've got a
case of ale and six cases of 1999 California Chardonnay"
"No, no my
friend. Ale and wine are not going to be the cost. As much as the wine has many
lovers on droggin
and I could
easily sell them for many credits."
Bill sighed, now he didn't like this
conversation
"Information
is required, I am sorry I am forced to ask for this by others. Nothing else can
I take as payment"
Bill looked at him
over his glasses "you know that isn't a good thing to ask for I can't give
you that"
"This
information you can...information about you...not unit not strengths just,
you.... Bad price I tell her. Not force me to ask for this but they want to know"
Bill knew then
someone had put the clamps on his sister and shed put them on him her being a droggin fleet
commander "what
kind of information about me..."
The drake blinked
being caught off guard "you
will give the information?"
"Maybe, you
have a list of questions id say" leaning on the arm of his chair with an
elbow
"Yes
a...long one" waiting to see if that would turn him away
Bill figured he
knew they wanted to know more about Cyberhorn, his fighting persona the
one he terrorized them with..."Ok ol'friend, I'll answer the questions,
but only because they have you in a tight spot.
If at any time
I see the question is not about me I will refuse to answer it is that agreeable?"
The droggin
smiled "it will have to satisfy them. You know that it's about you
fighting us."
"Thought as
much". Bill changed the pitch and tone of his voice to Cyberhorns. "They believe that if
they know the only true dragon they can defeat him...they are mistaken".
His friend-shivered
scales rising and clicking as he shook "p-please bill, umm "
He smiled and
relaxed back to his normal voice "sorry bout that. Special ops have been flooding your peoples
Comm. channels with it again I gather?"
"Yes ...far as
droggin it's self"
Bill sighed
last thing he had wanted was children terrorized too. However, it was too late
now in his best droggin which
was only the common form, not the formal which was incredibly difficult for him
to master.
"I give my sadness
to you my true friend, my voice is for those who face me on the field of
battle. Not friends or children, and was never intended for more. I wish it had
never become. Wish it was gone soon from my life" bowing his head to the
droggin
The droggin bowed
his head to him "I accept your sadness and understand it. I too do not
enjoy war."
Looking up at
him "I wish you to know I am recording this for those who wish it, do you
answer my questions freely?"
"Yes, I will do
so in droggin as much as possible so my answers are clear and understandable to
those who wish to know me."
Fal’gateor lifted
up a glowing note pad "why
do you fight?"
"Duty to
my world my race, and to win" with a gentle nod to the Droggin’s image
"What drives
you to be so ruthless against droggin?"
"A droggin
destroyer your classification is a Faltara class, at the battle of Galgaron. Destroyed a shuttle filled
with noncombatants trying to leave orbit. All of those with my blood, those of the female to be my
mate and her all dead, all gone they were given no chance...no mercy the dragon who killed my
first unit and nearly me at the battle they had no weapons. But he/she? Killed
them any ways I found a weapon, a tank
turret I fired on the dragon at point blank range. It was how I got my first
Purple Heart."
His voice
slipped into Cyberhorns even colder and hateful than before
"I give
all droggin the chance to run. To turn tail and flee before I have to fight
them, it is the fools who stay and fight. They are dragons that wish to challenge this true drake for life. They
have not won and will find it harder each time to challenge me thus they die and I live.
For that which does not kill you makes you stronger"
His friend
shook off the chill and continued, "If given the chance, would you seek peace?"
Bill looked
down for a moment the pain and grief screamed in his soul.
"Yes, then
I could put the souls umm the haatar of my blood and mate to rest and mine
could finally"
The droggin
blinked now truly understanding.
"Do you
hate droggin? "
"No"
"Can you be
friends? "
"Well yes, you
and I are good friends. It is the warriors that fight me they must run or die."
He smiled at Fal’gateor
"What is
your favorite color? It is a question that some believe indicates your souls
life, umm it's past"
"I
understand, blue green a color of a stone on earth called turquoise. I have a
ring it was a gift from her to me" he turned his hand to the image so that the droggin could see it
"Ah yes I've
seen this stone. It is not clear?"
"No its
not but its not meant to be"
"Thus some
will think a cloudy soul, but colorful." He referred to the pad again "I would say, you would
want a mate one day?"
"Maybe”
after a moment of reflection “perhaps one day."
"If you were
captured would you be willing to help droggin find peace with humans?"
"It is my duty
to escape, cause the enemy as much problems possible. So, as to limit their resources
available to send to the front lines I need to make every effort to escape. But
I would like to learn more about droggin and its people. You've shown me some
very impressive things my friend"
"So
yes?"
"Yes, but
given the first chance id escape. Its my duty"
"Could you
love a droggin?" he looked at the pad as if he'd read it wrong then looked
up at bill.
"Now that's an
odd question, why would anyone want to know that?"
"I wonder the
same my self. But it is a question they ask"
"Knowing
you my friend, I could in time get to be very close to droggin you’re a good
people. I only wish we knew why this war started why droggin went wild on
humans".
"No one
has ever told me my friend, not even my sister will say"
"Then how
can humans seek peace when we don't know what's wrong. What did this to
our races." They sat silent for a moment the silence was like the silence that had
tied that secret mystery to the darkness of space, words had to be spoken to
break the bonds and then the knowledge would come
"What's
next?"
breaking the spell he sat up a little
"Umm ahh
do you like droggin foods?"
"Yes love the
ale, but ooh god what it does to my head." They both smiled
"Why did
you choose to call your self Cyberhorn?"
"A favorite
picture of my loves was one of a cybernetic unicorn. We saw it at an exposition
on robotics it walked around all day. Do to its programming sought out human
virgins. Base scans gave it data on the females there if one was unmated it
went over to her and gave her a gift. A silver ring with a unicorn etched into
the metal. A unicorn has a single horn rising from its head. So a cyber-horn or
cybernetic unicorn a Cyberhorn"
"But
that's not a dragon of human legend." Fal’gateor looked at him perplexed
"No but she loved the ring, and said to me I
was her Cyberhorn
I was her unicorn,
the white stallion who came to show her love and peace. Pain changed the
unicorn my friend, the rage of seeing my friends and crew engulfed in flames. Then finding out the light
in my life had been killed.” Closing his eyes tightly “A rage, an anger welled
up inside me it burned away the
gentleness and purity. Leaving the dragon of pain and sorrow" his eyes showed the cold
inside his soul and the droggin now knew why this human would never truly lose
he had already died.
"I can
feel that cold chill each time you use that voice."
Bill nodded and
sighed "more?"
"Just one more
actually"
"Good this
has dredged up some Pains id rather left alone." Shifting slightly in his
chair
"If you had
children could you care for them alone?"
"I don't know
honestly, I wanted to have children. We'd talked about it, but she's gone I
haven't given it a thought since." Thinking to himself for a moment ‘lying
to your self now too ehh you old dragon you think about it each time the day
comes
The droggin watched
as a few tears slipped down the cheeks he sighed, looking up at the image. The wound the pain all to
clear
“I offer my sadness
to you my true friend for this has hurt you worse than any weapon my people have tried to use
against you, Please forgive me"
"It’s alright
gateor. I was just thinking how much she really wanted to have a lot of kids.
Couldn't wait 'til our wedding night"
The droggin smiled
"I think you will make a fine father one day"
"Maybe, one
day."
Wiping his eye as he turned away for a moment
"I will need a
meeting place to deliver"
"Have it
already, you do have the F-O-F transponder I gave you"
"Yes, umm
could I perhaps get a little help with a, problem? I will bring you a case of
kaval in payment."
"Your just
full of problems for me today 'smiling as he leaned back' what broke?"
"Reflector
generator."
"Your engineer
kickarta trying to play with the settings and it popped the safety again?"
"Yes"
He chuckled softly
"easy fix she needs to keep her fingers out of that case".
He smiled
"she likes you and enjoys your teasing"
Bill laughed
"figures, here's the spot I'll have a long range scout escort you into the
fleet. Keep them guns of yours in or they'll give ya a few holes to patch" sending the location
"I will do
not worry, we have done this before".
"A friend
reminds so he does not regret. So I do"
The droggin smiled
and bowed his head to him "then I accept the reminder as concern from my
true friend"
and he clicked
the channel off.
=====================================
He soon found the
quartermaster was an old friend. Who owed him and they soon had total access to
the supplies needed to fix the tanks.
After a day or so His
watch beeped a special tone and he turned away from the work and disappeared.
The lieutenant was soon looking for him finally finding him in his room out
cold from drinking.
"Damnit bill
this isn't the time, the admiral and commander general are walking around"
Shaking him an oval locket clinked to
the floor. She stopped and looked at it, inside were the pictures of his
parents, and a tall brunet.
She looked at
the date and sighed "eleven years ago today, damn. I still need you on
deck"
standing up
straight she cleared her throat "SERGEANT! ATTENTION ON DECK!"
His eyes popped
open and he fell onto his feet saluting swaying instantly
"SIR!
Master sergeant William Morris SIR!"
She smiled
"I'm sorry to have to do this to you bill but we've got heavy brass on
deck and I need you on the tanks. Get a quick splash of water and hurry out.
I'll stall them in the trainers"
"Y-yes
sir" he made his way out in a
haze, staggering a little he walked up on the crew dismantling the old 20th
unit. He took the clipboard from the corporal checking off items.
Bill heard the
brass approaching the lieutenant trying to slow them down; he smiled as they rounded the side of the tank skirt.
"There you are
sergeant” came from the general he smiled
"Officer on
the deck!" one of the others popped off they all saluted as the general and fleet admiral walked up with numerous
assistants. The lieutenant and
the unit captain smiled both nodded to him.
The general walked
over and saluted bill "well
sergeant you've had your lieutenant trying desperately to slow us down. How are
you bill?"
"Fine
sir"
"You still
terrifying the droggin with Cyberhorn?"
bill smiled
"I'll take
that as a yes." Turning to the others he put his arm around bills shoulder
"This
tanker flew one of our most advanced interceptors without armament or
deflectors through a blockade screen of white shadows, to get me out of titan station as it was about to
fall. I was badly injured and so was he. I owe this trooper my life and each
time I've served with him. We've had some of our greatest victories and
costliest losses in the same battles usually leaving the droggin running for home terrified of Cyberhorn the
true dragon.” Patting his shoulder firmly which gave bill a jarring he didn’t
need
“Lieutenant one
thing about your getting this trooper; you have to give him a free lead or he
fights you, and not the dragons. He's the best support mechanic earth has, trained some of our best
designers.
He can scare
the droggin just by being there, take care of him and he will make ya a
regimental commander before he gets moved again"
That night after dinner
with the brass, the lieutenant called him to her quarters.
Bill knocked
and entered she was looking out a port at the nebula falling behind.
"Reporting
as ordered lieutenant"
She took a breath "bill
was it wise for me to transfer you to this unit?"
"The admiral
had ulterior reasons besides your request. Another lieutenant was preparing a
court-martial for treason."
She turned and
looked stunned and surprised at him
"I have
sources and friends that could be construed as fraternizing with the enemy. In
fact the main source I have is a
droggin I've known for many years. He's the one who's bringing the parts we
need"
"But
treason!" planting her hands on her hips
"He didn't
like the fact I wouldn't help him be a glory hound at the cost of others lives.
So, he made life hard. I in turn did only what was necessary to his unit fixed
but not improved...” sighing as he shifted a little
“He was a terrible
leader and worse tanker...the unit came under heavy bombardment fire from a droggin
support cruiser in orbit around
a mud ball backwater planet. He panicked and called for an en-mass retreat. I
countermanded him as he ran away told the tanks to hold their ground and cover
the ground troops escape to the transports, from a division of big reds. They
simply wiped out the 15th and left not pursuing the transports. He considered
that and my surviving proof that I was giving them information."
She shook her head
clearly thinking
"I have
never given information and have told them if they ask for it I will never call
on them again. I called my
droggin for one thing that time. A single bottle of 100 yr. old dragon flame
wine as a birthday gift for Jim"
She nodded knowing
their closeness
He sighed,
"he and I started in basic together"
"Yes but
he's."
"He was in
command of the unit that finally won an engagement with the droggin. He's won
numerous battles with pirates. Used my skills as a spy and scout to his best
advantage we found the quazarian home base and destroyed the planetary rail gun they were using to execute
our carriers and battle ships. Well before we could even get any chance of
firing”
She nodded and
gestured to the chair as she took hers he smiled and took it thankfully as
dinner had been huge
“Only a year after
enlisting, I gave him the credit for it
in the reports. It was his idea, but he broke his ankle in the drop I had to go
it alone"
"But it's not,
in the records. Ah you were special ops weren't you" now she could see all his
hidden skills and abilities as he gave her a nod
He smiled and sighed gently "was I got tired of
being, tossed into the fire feet first. But I still retain my training"
She nodded now
understanding much more "you also quit to get married, didn't you."
"Yes-yes I
did"
================================================
She sighed and
nodded "bill I'm sorry about…"
"Your
pardon lieutenant. But you did what you thought best for the troops under your
command. Given the same circumstances id done the same thing, but as with calling in orbital
support, sometimes. There is more to pay later" he smiled at her with that
"Do I have
good credits with you bill?"
He smiled again
"ehh yer creds aint ana' good wit me missy, just yer smile is
enough".
She laughed at
his fake accent as he nodded and then walked out to go digest his dinner
It was exactly
14 hours later when he was called up to the bridge by the ships captain.
Bill walked out
to a huge star field ahead and knew it was Taurus they were going to.
"Master
Sergeant Morris reporting as ordered sir"
"Aww cut the
crap bill come here already".
"Umm okay
bob." smiling at the one time balding captain
"I see the
cream worked bob"
"Dam right it
did. Umm ask gator if I could get some more, I'll get him"
Bill held his hand
up "gotcha covered boss no worries okay"
"Bill" he
scowled
"I got ya
covered sir, no worries seriously"
"I'm not owing
you again sergeant"
"Your not,
I need him to dock. Off loading some serious items"
"Hmm, that'll slow
us down to 1/6 Th. flank speed. Alright it'll give my boys some time to do
needed repairs outside"
"Thought you
might." Smiling as the captain turned to fix him with a gaze "bob we
both know what else that cream is good for
don't go
getting all huffy. I'll cover ya on this one he's bringing enough things to do
all my tanks"
"Ok you
conniving son-of-a-dragon. Only thing that fits you"
"Thank you
complements will get ya one back. Patrol have him?"
"Yeah his F-O-F
(friend or foe) transponder is set to the old Yorktown's number two
sloop."
"Which she
lost to launch bay size requirements for the banshee. I know I'm the one who
found her dirt side"
"So you did go
into the reclaim yards that day...dam you bill"
He just smiled and
looked back out at the approaching star field
"Report on the
bird coming in?" bob called out across the bridge
"She’s 2
minutes out and closing sir! "Came from a pretty blonde just below there
seats
"I suppose you
told him to keep it slow?"
"Oh
absolutely, and to keep them guns hid. We don't want your gunners getting any
practice on his ship and my parts" he said with sarcasm
and got a punch
to the shoulder for it
"Keep it up.
I'll have you waxing the main window Eva got me"
"Sure do
baldly bobby" he grinned evilly as the captain leaped to his feet and took
a swing which bill dodged. Snapping out a finger plinking him on the nose
"beep! Getting slower bob?"
Bob calmed
"okay, so I'm out of practice show a little respect for the captain
huh"
"That’s
why your still alive bob, you know me. I can’t resist a quick jab or poke"
"Yeah, I know
he'll be docking to 13 sorry bout that" grinning evilly at him as he took his seat again
"The farthest
from the sensitive parts of the carrier. Closest to the engines and their
armoring to screw up any scanning attempts. No problem bob, would 'a done it my
self too I'll bring your playtime cream. Err hair cream, later" chuckling as he expected to
duck another swing
Bob simply
pointed out off his bridge scowling
Bill laughed and
went out the doors
"A simple
Sergeant. Should been a fleet commander by now..." he laughed to himself and
sighed “I want
all Eva repairs started immediately helm! Slow to 1/6th flank speed,
communications! Advice the escorts and long range scouts to adjust for it
people prepare for ship to ship docking”
=========================================
Bill smiled seeing
the old droggin destroyer come along side and dock with a minimum of time.
The marines
were there instantly in their mechanical assault suits, huge guns, and
detonation grenades ready.
"Between
you 'n' the door guys I'm okay with this, but him. It's not very polite so at
ease and be polite".
A pa speaker popped
on "sir order 34 directive"
"I don't care
if it's 34 sub paragraph 4. I quote standing order 72, which supercedes it; all visiting ships of all
nationalities will be accorded the proper fleet respect. Unless said ship has shown
undue distress or unusual behavior. It's an old class 2-droggin destroyer
converted to merchant marine. Now do I need to call the captain gents?”
They looked to
each other then stood up at attention, Guns at the ready but not aimed at the
airlock. Which a shrill bell called out indicating that a hard seal had been made
and pressure was up to full across the linking collar.
The lock seals
pulled into the door and it opened pulling into the ship, then sliding sideways
along the hull.
Inside on the
droggin side was another assault team also at the ready to defend but at a
relaxed state.
Bill walked
across the fifty or so feet to the droggin side as he got closer the smells of
droggin musk’s and atmospheric systems blended with the carriers.
He smiled
seeing familiar droggin still alive and healthy.
"Permission
to come aboard with a peaceful heart and good wishes for those who I know from
memories I treasure"
One big black male
with highly adorned robes of reds and deep crimsons pushed through gently to
stand towering over him and in
a deep hiss and grin he spoke.
"Ah old
friend welcome you are and always shall be friend to this honored droggin"
Bill bowed his head
with a smile
"you old
drake. Looking like life is treating you well. A few pounds heavier but only
noticeable from my height"
The droggin smiled and nodded
gesturing for bill to follow him He walked with painful slowness so as not to out pace bill, who was
keeping up quite a clip to keep beside him without running.
They walked
into the heart of the ship where gator had huge couches for relaxing. 'Holo'
projectors streaming all kinds of data,
not one inch of
floor was exposed this was his formal greeting place, where visitors were true
guests to the captain of a ship of
the line.
He gestured and
bill hopped up onto the pillows. This immediately perfumed the air with droggin
spices. Reaching out he took bills boots and set them aside, from the shadows
he produced a cup of drinking temp kaval sitting down across the holos' from
bill.
He waited for
bill to try the coffee which as he brought it to his nose he caught the sent of
halmrmor a truly rare sweetener produced
like honey from a native droggin insect only for the feeding of the new born
queens
"Halm? You pay
me more honor than I'm due old friend"
He swished his hand
in dismissal of this and a cup appeared in his fingers. "Nothing I do
honors you any less than you truly deserve
my human
friend. A greater service you could not have done for me than answering those
questions. Freed me and my crew from a troubling fate so I owe you
greatly."
Bill readied
his pallet for a true gift he had halm once, twice in a life was unheard of
much less than the fact he was human and that was even rarer. He took a sip and had a slow
warming of the soul as the rich coffee combined with the halm to produce a
drink that simply
had no way of
being described.
"Ooh Gator
twice in my life I've had halm and it just keeps getting more enjoyable".
"I will see if
I can get you a small supply. Very hard to come by on droggin now"
"Well then my
friend I'll just have to see if I can get you that book you were looking for.
20,000 leagues under the sea I believe"
The droggin eyes
lit up like searchlights "is
it possible."
"Maybe, I'll
have to pull a few old favors id been saving to save my butt. But a leather
bound real paper print book, isn't impossible to get"
He bowed his head
to bill "the value of such a manuscript to some droggin ...is very high
indeed but halm is not so valuable"
Bill smiled and
relaxed back into the pillows and pads knowing he'd be awhile...
=======================================
The marines were
getting sore feet watching as one load of crates and containers after another
were off loaded from the droggin ship
Droggin were
busily loading and checking lists on the far side of the umbilicus
[Sir this is mighty
strange, not firing on a dragon?]
[This is one of the
ghosts' suppliers free traders. hell they bring in shit I don't even know went
in a tank...]
[We supposed to
trust them.]
[Yes, so shut your
trap and keep watch]
Bill walked out
feeling nearly giddy he'd gotten bobs cream and a new reactor for his battle
suit in addition to the parts.
Gator smiled "all worth the cost my
friend. My true friend for you just do not know how badly I needed those
answers"
"I'm beginning
to believe they had you dirt-buried and forgotten"
The droggin thought
about that "yes, yes very much
so"
Bill shook his
head. "You're for--"
The droggin gave
him sad eyes that told him to stop before he dishonored his host.
"Umm you for
got! To tell me if anything was said about the fleets attempts to contact and
make peace."
The droggin
smiled catching his rescue attempt of the situation.
"Nothing
as usual, but words that I speak rarely find ears to hear them" he patted bill gently on the
butt towards the lock.
Bill laughed walked
over to the airlock
A tail curling
around his waist suddenly stopped him.
"Did you
think to leave and not say words to kickarta?"
He laughed as
she picked him up she licked softly with a slow motion around his neck giving
his groin a caress with the tip of her tail.
Not one word
she spoke but much was said just the same, a tear fell onto his cheek, which
was highly unusual, as droggin females didn’t cry.
"Let our
friend go kickarta he has duties to attend to as do you"
She let her nose
slide through his hair inhaling deeply as she whisked away, disappearing into
the ships shadows before anything could have been said
He was left
speechless but smiled at Gator and found his voice again.
"She's
quite a conversationalist Gator"
That got several
snickers from the gathered crew who were also going back into the ships corridors.
"As I said,
she likes you, my friend. Would you honor me again by accepting this as a mark
of our friendship"
pulling an
ornate chain of reddish metal out of his cloaks a glint of a stone caught
bill's eye
"Is that a
light stone?" knowing the incredible value they had with droggin
The droggin smiled
brighter than anyone else did "yes
it is, the test of true friends, would you accept it as a gift from me"
"I'll
accept as your friend Gator, not as a gift."
With that, he
put his hand over the stone and Gator's the stone lit up like a star, flares of
light blasting out into the eyes of those remaining in the area. Bill smiled at
Gator
"I think
that truly confirms what I told you my friend. I can be a friend a true to the
blood and tears of a friend, true friend."
Gently taking
the pendant slipping it over his head "I the true friend of this droggin
wish him all health and happiness in his journeys far from me. I hope I can be
the first he would call when his life needs the help a true friend can give he honors me today as guest,
trader and true friend."
He bowed to
them nodding to Gator who was still somewhat shocked. Nevertheless, bill had
custom to observe,
he had to
remove himself from the ship within moments of receiving the stone it was a
parting gift so they had to part
========================================
The airlock
disengaged and the human fleet moved away at an ever increasing speed the
landing support carrier pulling
into line her escorts moving to fill gaps in the coverage
A last long range
fighter scout skated by at near light speed under full thrust
Gator was still
staring into his palm and the white star formed there.
His heart heavy
now for the dishonor, the price, he was about to pay
Kickarta walked
in and looked into the hand resting on the arm of the captain’s chair
"Did not
expect this part did you Fal’gateor. He is true to you, you betray him to"
"ENOUGH!
Do you not think that I can't see this, the star in the name of friends? He
would give his life for mine"
"You can
help him!"
"I can not, to
do so would mean all our deaths. One human one specific human they wanted for
our lives and freedom" looking at his palm again,
"One of
the most deadly ever born to the world of sol. I gave them his weaknesses, I
gave him to their hunters and I have betrayed the star"
the star turned
black and gator leaned over howling in pain as he betrayed a true friend the
star punished him for betraying just as it would have rewarded for helping.
The comm. channel
came up and his sisters' face filled the bridge "so is it done Fal’gateor?"
"Yes with
all the vengeance Salsara can spit on your scales, it is done."
"Good
Fal’gateor. I told them you could do it, what is wrong brother? You and your
pirate crew are free to do as you please again" smiling sweetly at him "you, care for that
human? Really brother he's just"
"A true
friend! Sister, something I doubt you have ever found and ever will" holding his palm up to her
the star black. Seeping blood now
"I have
betrayed a true friend for my own life I gave him to your hunters. I hope he makes them all dead for you to
sit awake at night and speak to their spirits, murderess"
"You have
no idea what his fate will be brother even I do not know, do not curse me so.
Simply accept your life and run away. You seem to do that quite well"
Her image disappeared he roared
and tossed his cloak aside wings spreading to there full size his horns rose and scales
took on a jagged appearance
"All
stations find the earth fleet! I must repair this. I must undo this dishonor to
my life! I must warn the dragon!"
"Captain
the earth fleet has taken a tangent turn a standard tactical move to prevent
any following sir.
It is
impossible to find or follow them now" several cringed as he hissed and
then went silent.
Fal’gateor let his
head fall wings slowly sagging to the deck
Kickarta sighed
too. She would have liked the chance to see if humans were as rumors said quite the passionate lovers
=======================================
Bill smiled seeing
the white star glowing in his palm it made him feel good that in this huge
universe. He had one true friend someone he could turn too "gettin all wispy there boy better get
them kids ta work" nodding as he slipped the pendant into his shirt.
Within hours,
he had the parts being retrofitted and his electronics specialists fixing the
shield bubble generators to work with human power sources.
One thing the
droggin hadn't figured out was why they stopped working after each fight bill
found the reason and improved them.
He smiled at the
progress, at this rate they'd have a good nights sleep before being dropped and he was right as the last
one was tested and the crews went to bed. He stood there over the now dully
painted and christened black
cats; the fronts of each had an old tactic from World War II from the flying
tigers he’d borrowed the bared teeth and eyes of a golden eyed black wildcat to
intimidate and cause fear in the droggin
Adding in a
little futuristic add-ons like light enhancements to the eyes for an other worldly
glow and ultra polishing to the hulls which, added to the reflective ability of
the bubble
shield, his thoughts were on how well he did at such fear full things for
others laughing to himself he’d always wanted to build a haunted house
The lieutenant
walked up seeing him standing a few tanks away nodding silently. She’d been
having bad feelings about this mission, she watched as he checked the tank
support crew's battle suits; his own quite different from the others. Heavily
armed but smaller tool kits and
such packed securely away he
stepped into it and clicked a few systems on nodding again to himself then
clicking them off
she decided to
not bother him and left him to his pre-drop routine.
Bill smiled as he
relaxed into bed for the first time in days. Dreams came. The ones which always
meant Cyberhorn was awakening when
the dragon awoke, the world he came to needed to be wary for it was time
for death, it
was time for the dragon to rule this new world.
Come the morning he
was silent save for issuing orders, tanks were loaded the support units next. He
closed his mech suits canopy and felt the new reactor and it's tenfold power
increase over his older one come online.
Clicking
switches with his tongue and adjusting a series of them inside a panel on his
arm he got onto the correct comm.
channel. The lieutenant came up on a tiny HUD
"Cyberhorn?
Status"
"Five by
five panthress ready to deploy"
She smiled and
looked down at her chest a big black gold'n'green eyed panther was there teeth
bared claws bloody clearly a gift from
Cyberhorn who's front resembled a blue green dragon it's eyes fixed in a stare
meant for killing
He walked in
slowly and locked the feet of his mech into clamps the tanks eased down and
clamps locked them into place on the floor of the Landers
"All tanks
this is Cyberhorn...when I tell you and only when I tell you lift free of the
locks I will have the ass of the first tanker who pops lock early!" he closed his eyes feeling the cold heat
rising cyber was coming.
"All tanks
this is panthress, this is a live mission. We are dropping on an un-swept
planet there will be droggin! Mines,
booby traps anti tank hunters. You listen and follow Cyberhorns lead he will
bring you home alive. Fail
and I'm gona kick your mother in the ass for producing such a waist of
time"
==========================================
The doors
closed and the world fell away his stomach lurched
he listened in
as the lieutenant got additional last moment orders and the main com channel
filled with static
"Eagle
command? Eagle command!" her voice had a tinge of panic and fear color it
"Were in
the ionosphere panthress. Save your breath if it's this bad now might be hard
to comm. when we really need it dragons been known to stir up the ionosphere
just to interfere with our communications"
She sighed,
knowing he was totally right
"We all
forget it occasionally dear lady. Nothin big to be worrying bout"
"Thanks
cyber."
The Lander pilot came
on [All units primary landing site 2 minutes be prepared to dust soon as we
hit. area is hot repeat area is hot]
"Okay all
tanks hold your reactors to 40 % wait for the order!"
He felt him now
rising up inside he snarled quietly looking at the babies he'd been put with
Have to keep um
alive cyber you know that
Damn why couldn't
they have just dropped um onto a nice colony world. Humph! It came like a bulls
snort
They could
have, but this one is test of fire. They have to be tempered. Or they'll break
in the real frontline
Yeah-yeah babies’
younglings to be coddled. Be quiet now you, I am here now.
His voice
changed deeper colder "all tanks be ready for it"
The drop ship
thumped the dirt hard, the side dropped open he leaped out and away
sliding to a stop crouched down guns ready the lieutenant called it as he
leaped she did also. The tanks roared out and quickly dispersed turrets
turning ready to fire the drop ships launched hard blowing dust all over
obscuring the area heading for space.
All went silent
support units fanned out ready to cover in a tanks blind spot he smiled.
They’d done well
for kids thought the dragon "were clear panthress all units down and
safe"
"Confirmed
Cyberhorn. Move out.116"
"Copy 2
by 2 column form it and move out!" he smiled and leaped up onto the lead
tank and they moved out he watched as they lined up not to tight plenty of room
to scatter if needed.
After several hours he took a moment to look around, long range showed loads of heavy metal
concentrations tanks or ships left behind.
He tuned in directly forward thus getting even longer range.
He spotted a V
formation of metal that only human tanks would use it was just off their planed
route
"Panthress looks
at my scan feed"
"What’s
that?"
"Battle line
formation if I'm right the bottom of the V will be an atlas"
"An atlas?
Left to rot?"
"Not unheard
of this system has changed hands 20 times Taurus is ours for now but it could
be different tomorrow recovery crews haven’t had a chance to get out from the
fire bases”
"You want
to check them out?"
"You better
believe it, nothing like an atlas in the line we don’t have a heavy, I need something fast to go
with me"
"The 93rd
has two wasps"
"I'll
take-um"
"Consider um
yours" she changed the comm. and listened to the 93rd riding in their dust "lieutenant Hodges. We
need those two wasps out in front Cyberhorns going to go check out some tanks
in the distance"
"THE Cyberhorn
needs our help?"
Bill popped up on
her HUD "panthress if Hodges gives ya grief remind him he owes me two
thousand creds id like to get paid before he gets his artillery toting butt
toasted"
" I will
indeed Cyberhorn. Hold on" she
clicked over "Hodges without another word I want the wasps heading up here
and if you don't want formal charges brought up id recommend you pay Cyberhorn
his creds"
He blinked and
saluted turning to someone else in the truck "get wasps one n two going up
to the tankers!" he
saluted "he'll have his money tonight sir"
"Thank you
be prepared to deploy for carpet fire soon as cyber reaches the tanks"
"Yes
sir!" she cut the channel and smiled seeing the wasps speed by
===============================================
Bill watched as the
ultra fast light tanks came speeding up to the front he leaped and locked his
boot magnets onto the hull
"Wasp one
here sir"
"Alright turn
to a 117 and go to full power be ready to stop hard if I call it"
"I copy!"
The two tanks veered
off slightly and pulled away from the column he soon enough had them stop.
Bounding up to the
ridge being wary of mines and traps he sighted smoke
"Panthress,
spotted smoke getting the range now"
Magnifying the
image he could see the tanks
some blown completely to junk but the prized atlas appeared to be intact
"The big
lady seems intact, looks like she took a hit in the main reactor cooling
controller. A lucky hit"
"I'm
holding the line Cyberhorn. Any others usable?"
"Possibly, but
cant tell at this range I'll have to go down and check them out anyways several
are headed for the scrap piles"
"What?"
"Booby traps
panthress, B-R-B" he
leaped jump jets activating he popped a kangaroo jump sliding down the hill
into the valley.
Landing he went into a crouching waiting listening pose nothing came to his audio receivers so
he repeated the roo jump until he was nearly there.
He scanned gently nothing powerful immediately
spotting dozens of tripwires.
He smiled
'clever dragons, just not clever enough' within minutes he was next to the atlas.
"Cyberhorn
report"
"Send that
heavy truck panthress I've got a path cleared through the trip line mesh to the
atlas she's good as ours. Have to
check inside but want some support covering me"
"Support
in four Cyberhorn. Hold on"
He
scowled hav’ ta tell the lutenant not to be charging into dangerous spots.
She's here to listen learn and act on the information, sighing, kids.
Bill watched as
they approached and he guided the tracked truck into tow the atlas clear to be
repaired gesturing for them to stop and hold. He tapped his comm.
"Panthress
keep an eye on those spots in the scan" she looked at him strangely as he
climbed out of his mech he
rolled his hand as if to say continue on
"You got
it cyber. I have them" he nodded smiling
She did back as the
others were still confused looking at each other
he gently
climbed up the skirt of the huge hover tank listening, opening an access panel
not the normal top hatch he sighed and shook his head gently.
They'd booby
trapped her, on voice only he coughed to get her attention "panthress
this'll take me a few if anything happens. Leave me I mean that"
She nodded once
He climbed in through
the maintenance hatch past the main reactor cooling system seeing the main
hatch above rigged and a movement sensor.
'Damn dragons
always comin up wit shit ta piss me off over' he checked the reactor and in the main control
system was a control package
it was attached
to the triggering system the
cooling system was reading total fault 'they have her rigged to blow her own reactors. Nice not original, but
cute nonetheless.
He clipped the
connections and double-checked not finding what would have expected. He checked
less obvious places and found a
couple set in
place anti personnel mines.
He had to smile
as he tossed them and the trigger out she blinked
he spoke in the
open "droggin are to big to fit into our tanks so any booby traps will
have to be easy to place they
use there tail like a third hand"
"But cant see
what there doing!" she said with a smile
He bowed with a flourish and a huge grin
"Exactly, the atlas is ours m'lady"
They all
whooped and hollered they
were soon towing her away
He stood in the
empty place in her old battle line looking out over an open plane and things struck him wrong.
He scanned with
full power, checking the entire area, seeing nothing but geologic interference.
He snarled
something wasn't right about this place...
"Cyberhorn?"
the wasps commander called to him he nodded and leaped onto the wasp watching
behind as they made for the group
=============================================
That night as the
lutenant showed him the route tomorrow and the objective
"This
canyon system into the valley is a trap ready for us to fall in"
"I agree but
fleet says it'll." she stopped as he was looking at her with his eye brows
raised
"Fleet isn't
here and I'm in charge of this battle group" he smiled
"And they
aren't here to kick in the butt if we get caught with our pants down" he nodded smiling again
"O-o-okay
then Mr. dragon"
He smiled and
showed her the various options to get to the firebase they were to support and
reinforce a group of fleet rangers
who'd taken the base a few days before.
Bill smiled as
he went to get some chow sentries
were wide awake as they had seen a lone droggin flyer and it's damaged power
unit trying to evade them, it got away but bill didn't let them really try to chase it as that wasn’t the
mission, and lone flyers like that were sometimes bait for bigger groups.
The eating was
good for once but it didn't sit well tonight the strangeness of that battle
line his mind milling it over and over just wouldn’t stop.
He leaped to his
feet and to his suit; panthress was on the comm. within a few moments of his
leaping out of camp.
"Cyberhorn!
Return to base!" she was greeted by silence then as she was about to suit
up a faint message came through
"Panthress,
will rendezvous with you on the cliff side. Do not follow me
something I
have to check out alone---As the dragon shall do when he hunts so shall they
all weep for Cyberhorn has come for
them"
She shivered as
the cold voice passed through her
"you
better be there Cyberhorn"
"5 by 5
panthress Cyberhorn, out..." a growl closed the channel she shivered yet again
Relaxing back into
the rocks on a far hillside where he had a view of the battle line and the
valley. He made sure all systems were off his aiming scope and passive listening devices all aimed for the line he could hear the metal
still pinging from the afternoon sun as it cooled, somewhere a native insect buzzed and went silent that was the key then.
Nothing had come round for the blood what little there was in such a violent rapid battle it'd been so quick and
decisive that not one droggin tank or flyer had been hit
He shifted his
aim out onto the planes studying the native grasses
huge patches
were burned swathes miles long when Taurus
had been colonized they found the native grasses to be suitable for earth
animals but humans enjoyed their trees so black walnuts and pines had gone wild
in some areas they too had been blasted into charcoal
Aiming for
something
But not knowing where
exactly to fire so, they laid down a carpet of fire. These things his eyes had
seen and mental warnings came...
Cyberhorn knew the
dragons, and how clever they were he knew if he waited patently a reward would come, ohh yes they would come
he re-aimed at
a charred tree near the battle line then back out onto the flat land below the
line where they had been wheeling around as a battle group to face their enemy
who slaughtered then far to quickly…
He snarled softly
as a creaking, the sound of dirt shifting came loudly into his headset
'come out come
out ali-ali oxen free no one here but us rocks to see you dragons’
The lookout
scanned with a short range low power scanner then again at slightly higher
power satisfied there was no one
there to see them it pushed the cover off and tapped its com headset
"Clear...open
doors prepare to pursue" he could just hear a mumbled confirmation
from the headset
She hissed and
smiled as the huge doors eased up into the night air four of them from the flat
lands below the battle line and the deafening drone of droggin heavy tanks the
big reds, lighter tanks, the whine of flyer boosters came next
Oh! He smiled,
clever very clever
but not clever
enough not when Cyberhorn was there to hunt.
He noted the
coordinates and was about to call it into eagle command when he stopped and
listened to their chatter
"Gara! We have
the signal!"
The leader who had
first come out into the night air turned to another running up
"W-WHAT HERE?
Now!"
"Yes confirmed
the target is local!!" they both looked around them troopers responded to
this by crouching down and scanning the area weapons at the ready tank
commanders swung their turrets around in long slow panning to be ready to aim
The technician
turned and scanned the area "the target is stationary. Getting range
now!"
He did not like
this at ALL!
"Commander
Gara!"
"Yes
Massta?"
"We shall
retrieve the target Gara!"
"Alive! The
target must remain alive!"
"As you say
Gara." The flyers commander was clearly disappointed
He stealthily
moved to another location setting up again so to get a better vantage point
over this mess
"The target
has relocated! Gara!"
"New
position quickly!" pointing at the technician who was working with her
equipment franticly
Thinking to
himself 'damn! They must have a scan
lock on my suit, must have left a power connection unshielded or something best
make tracks'
"Cyberhorn"
came over his comm. in pure droggin and he froze they knew…
============================================
He turned slowly
looking down into the valley right at the forming battle group which had gone
silent, totally still all eyes scanning for any movement which might reveal his
position
"We know
you are here, somewhere spying on us, hunting as you have others. We have you
now for the first time give
up now it would be better for you in the end."
He snarled
audibly letting echoes off the ravines add to it hide its location
"Then lady
you do not know Cyberhorn... I decide who lives here, I am the hunter I am the
dragon!"
She giggled!
"You wont scare my hunters Cyberhorn... they know you now they do not fear, just a
man"
He readied his
sniper rifle and aimed at her head it seemed she was smiling right at him
"We have
target lock Gara!" the tech called out Gara smiled even bigger
"As do I main
commander Gara... of the Falstara moon line. The black matarigles I was there
too Gara. You live because you ran"
She hissed and
gestured the flyers held their positions
"I know
you too Cyberhorn. William Morris, human male. Just a single man! Not some evil
un-killable monster JUST A MAN!"
"A man who
thinks your ear is too long"
He popped off a
quick one clipping her ear. Quickly moving as shots came back in response
chunking the rocks where he had been
Looking as they
were doctoring her now holed ear
"Target lock
reestablished Gara" the tech called out again Gara gestured to the flyers to be ready
"That is
enough of that thank you" putting a shot through the equipment she was at, it exploded into sparks it
all went silent again the technician saying the equipment was destroyed but
backups were being brought out
He sat with his
back to the rocks the droggin behind and below
"Cyberhorn!
You will surrender or I'll pursue your, children... those young baby warriors
still learning how to fight"
"Those
children are fine fighters Gara... I think they'd give ya a run"
"Flyers!
Find him" she hissed he heard them get air born then sweep by in the
darkness above he smiled with his dark paint it was near impossible to see him
"Well?"
she called out with a snarl
"His suit is
difficult to pick out of this rock and shadows Gara!"
He laughed loudly
it echoed making it even more frustrating for her and she hissed in anger
"Well Gara
I guess id better say this now. Let you get on with your plans..." his voice changed and
Cyberhorn awakened fully
Standing up he
let the dragons eyes shine out there blue light over the huge battle force
"I AM
CYBERHORN I AM THE DRAGON OF LEGEND, I AM DEATH TO ALL THOSE WHO WISH TO TRY
AND PROVE THEY ARE WORTHY OF LIFE.COME TO MY TABLE, FOR YOU WHO WILL NOT LEAVE
WHO DON'T RUN NOW, YOUR LIVES ARE MINE!"
Shots whizzed
by and pinged off his shield bubble
"THEN SO
BE IT YOU HAVE MADE YOUR CHOICE"
crouching down
he opened up with his main guns and swept the area punching hundreds of holes
through dozens of droggin vehicles tanks smaller equipment exploded. Support
vehicles raced away in all directions trying to get out of his range.
He roared out
over the valley as his 'fire' proved his point he stopped and kangaroo bounded away quickly knowing
his ammo was almost out now. Nevertheless, he'd done what was needed damaged
and crippled they wouldn't be pursuing immediately.
Extending his main
antenna with a flick of his tongue on a switch
he got a mass
of droggin traffic on his comm. activating his main systems all his scans
filled with droggin units converging on his area!
"Holy
frozen piss balls I gota get eagle command this place is still under droggin
control” clicking on his transmitter
"Eagle one
this is dragon one I repeat this is dragon one! Do you copy!"
"This is eagle
nest dragon one confirm" it was bob!
"Hill Billy be
bob by three"
his personal voice identity code
"We have you,
five minutes till orbital position contact dragon one. Can I take your
order?"
"Support
blanket! I've got a cold! And a big one!" that would have all the support
escorts and the carrier blanket the area from orbit
He scanned
again seeing flyers coming from the crippled group
and more from
all sides still converging on his location
"Cyberhorn!" it came hissing with malice
from the group he’d just hit from Gara
"Ahh Gara
still alive huh aww now you gone and done ruined the surprise!"
"Dragon
one, I can only gather your in need of some help there. From the tone of voice
that droggin has she's not happy with you"
“That eagle one is
an understatement!”
"If your
expecting to help Cyberhorn eagle one then who will save YOU!" the com channel echoed the
voices of orders to fire all guns
Bill looked up
at the sky and could see the converging droggin ships on the transport carrier
and her escorts. Torpedoes exploding on both sides of eagle one rang explosions
through his headset as it went silent
"Eagle
command! Oh shit"
===============================================
There were several
huge flares of light. More explosions throughout the sky as eagle one and her support
units were hit until they either exploded or were so badly damaged they could
no longer fight
He kicked a
rock in pure fury "DAMN!"
"Now then
Cyberhorn... eagle one is still in orbit, though they have no power and are
busy fighting the fires I believe you have leader Gara who wishes to speak to
you".
"Yes I
do... now you see Cyberhorn... no orbital support fire. Your own guns depleted
or very low. I believe, you need to
surrender"
He took a deep
breath looking out over the various directions. Seeing in the dawning light the
dust rising from the tanks and
the black shapes that were closing in as the flyers
"Cyberhorn?
I await your reply" came from Gara with no small amount of arrogance at her already
assumed victory
"C-cy-Cyberhorn
this is panthress e-t-a 3 minutes!"
He stiffened
"panthress! This is too deep! Turn away. I repeat turn away! Will be at
the meeting place, too many droggin!"
"Bull! You’re
going to need help!"
"Listen to
me damnit they've got some kind of lock on me. I've got at least sixteen tanks
divisions and twice that in flyers all
converging on me!"
He turned as tanks
came up from the south; smoke billowing from several, the dust getting heavier
from the other groups converging.
"I speak human
very well panthress, give us Cyberhorn and we will let your division live.
He is all that is wanted" she
switched to speaking droggin "and it's eighteen divisions... you haven't
any chance Cyberhorn"
"Bill just
run for it! Hellfire rain is incoming!"
"Oh SHIT!
She's launched the damn cruse missiles!" he leaped and ran fast as his legs could. Boosting
the power to the suit he passed over a hundred mph as the first missile flashed
by as the hellfire rain
blossomed, tinier incendiary missiles flashed out racing for the various groups
of tanks and vehicles in a huge field of fire.
He cursed and
dove into a canyon system still running as flyers came in after him
"Very clever
panthress, But we have the shield bubbles. You have wasted the only weapon you
had to strike us at range it has only purchased Cyberhorn a slim margin of
time"
"Screw you
droggin!" came from panthress end of the comm.
He could hear the
scream of the supersonic artillery shells coming from long range carpeting the
region a whistle came from behind
and he ducked just in time as a flyer tried to blast him in the back. He leaped and tackled her
from the air.
They crashed to the
ground, as one he slammed her head back and ran as others came round the bend,
running now was his only option and hope to evade the flyers
He had to get
to the meeting place. And hope that the firebase was still there's or there’d
be hell to pay
The canyon
walls were a blur as he raced through leaping and bounding flying along a wall
the rock started
exploding just
to either side of his feet he had
only a few other weapons and a flick of a tongue switch a popper mine fell out
of a hip compartment.
It hit and flash
flared sending hundreds of tinier explosives spraying over the walls of stone a
pair flyers hit it full on and went smoking for the canyon floor
"Your
flyers Gara are a little to eager to catch this ol'dragon. They got their noses
burnt!"
"By all
the curses I've got... your going to push my orders to far and I will kill you
Cyberhorn!" Gara spat in a hiss
"Many have
tried, and failed Gara. You wont be the first who's bitten off more than her
mouth could handle
that is why
Cyberhorn lives to see another day and all others are just to be the dust I leave behind! Why do droggin
want to capture me Gara... I'm far to much for you to handle!" thinking if I'm gona run
for my life might as well know why! This time is so different!
"I have my
commands Cyberhorn, if I have to all humans on this world are to die! Save one,
you. Surrender NOW OR THEY ALL SHALL PAY FOR YOUR FREEDOM!"
"Then so they
shall Gara...as it has from the beginning...and they too shall be avenged with
the dragons who wish to challenge me for the right to live!" he turned as
a shadow covered him
A flyer tackled him
"I have him Gara!"
He flipped her
over into a cleft in the rock slamming his hand onto her thought she gagged
"who has who dear?" the cleft made for a quick hiding place and he
hid as the others raced by.
=========================================================
He hissed into her
ear "how are they tracking
me speak or I will rip your wing off" pulling on the joint she swallowed
"The pendant,
under the stone" she gasped for air as his hand tightened crunching her
armor then he let go
He held her at
bay with a gun and opened his suit she blinked at this a moment of surprise
came across her face
he looked at
the star in his palm then to her as he gently draped the pendant over her nose
showing her the star her eyes softened at the sight.
"A true
friend lady...if we were only at peace, but for now I give you your life use it
wisely" he rushed off and left her racked with sobbing.
He raced out of the
canyons an hour later doing nearly two hundred miles per hour reactor at
redline ready to over heat, flyers hot on his tail. Sliding on the gravel coming
to a stop on the next hilltop, he turned slowly to face them with a smile.
"He
turns!" one shouted to the others
"Cyberhorn
have you finally seen the fact we will pursue you forever?"
“Gara! He has
stopped running we have him now!”
"Oh! No ladies
I stopped wanting to see your faces as the evil luck overwhelms you" folding his arms over his
chest
"Evil luck?
HA!" they swooped in to get him, the
thirteenth flowed over the ridge and started firing!
"Silly
droggin! If you cross a black cats path, it brings evil luck!" he laughed as one took a
hit sending her flailing back towards the canyon
Panthress walked up
seeing the damage to his suit and his exhaustion. The support units and tanks
AAA guns sent the flyers running
"You okay
bill?" she looked from her suit and the concern was all to evident on her
face
He nodded winded "we have to get to the
fire base it's our only chance"
"Then were
already moving"
He smiled, as
she gave the various commands
Bill climbed into
the back of the support unit's truck. Climbing out he slid down the leg until he was on his knees, tears came
he dug at the star with his fingernails until it bled.
One of his
assistants came in; he got up and buried his head in to the suit.
"Sergeant?"
"Get this thing
reloaded and fix the back plate I'm going to get some food"
"Yes
sergeant!"
He ate staring
out the back of the truck as it sped along with the tanks
panthress
hopped in and slid to a stop she dismounted and wiped sweat he glanced at her then turned away
"kinda close
to be playing with droggin isn't it cyber?"
"they had me
bugged...had to wait till I could get one to find out how and what was
bugged"
"and?"
"they must
have forced him to do it"
"gator?"
he nodded and she sighed.
"We've lost
eagle one and any possible evac...they let us think we captured this
planet" punching his fist into his palm
"sounds
like they've been planning to get you for awhile" rubbing her chin
"but how did
they know id be coming here?" holding his hands out in question
"you’re
assigned to the 13th, follow them" he turned to her "that bastard the one who was going to have me
court martialed..."
"Perfect
setup...he gets you assigned to a group which has no experience
no supplies so
forces you to call Fal’gateor who has the tracker, dam this is big"
with a deep sigh "And
they know my only weakness..."
=============================================
"What do you
mean you care?" with a small amount of anger in the tone
"I care
about my teams...thus to get me they get there hands on which I care
about"
she nodded
slowly drinking coffee, eating a packaged meal block as she clearly thought
about this "they've
been playing this like pro's... it's starting to make sense some of the odd
things I 'heard' about you. It was someone trying to get me to be readily open
to abandoning you to them for the others"
he nodded now not
surprised at anything that could be going on to this one end. He sighed and looked behind
them at the dust cloud rising in the distance "there coming hot and fast" looking out to
either side at the dust there too
"the fire
base is only half an hour away" taking a glancing look at his displays in his suit
"we need
to send scouts out to check it no use getting into range of her guns if it's
been taken" he agreed and went to get suited up
"No
cyber"
"bull! It's my
job. Weather or not I'm a target"
she had to concede he was
right and waved him on, turning away and looking out the rear of the
transporter at
the dust clouds.
He was soon flying
along on the wasps hull towards the fire base
he called them
to a halt he used his rifle to check it out there were men standing at various
windows...but not moving
then he spotted
a droggin flyer zip out of the interior area heading out and away.
"Damn!
Damn! DAMN!" flicking his antenna out "panthress this is Cyberhorn
respond!"
"here
Cyberhorn" the static was thick and she was hard to make out clearly
"the fire base
is compromised. Turn away"
"I copy
Cyberhorn" again the interference was heavy
Then it came out clear “Cyberhorn rendezvous at the base”
That wasn't her!
"Panthress we need to go to map reference G-45 we can get secondary
assistance there"
"Understood
Cyberhorn. Proceed to firebase"
he snarled the
tankers cringing "damnit! We have to warn the group they have our
com"
The wasps
screamed across the planet surface heading for the group. Now he could see how
subtle the droggin battle groups were herding them towards the firebase, and
inevitable doom under her guns.
He kept trying
to transmit over the fire base's power but couldn't get through they reached the group as
the first of the fire base's ranging shots came wailing from the sky thudding
and sending tremors through the ground
The group had taken
up a defensive ring the artillery in the center and tanks providing the armored
walls. They flew over one of the
few gaps and slid to a stop
"cyberhorn!"
the lutenant gestured to get his attention
he ran over to her
"it's been taken!"
"We can tell!
What now? We can't go in any direction. The fire base cant get the range but
were stuck here they have us surrounded”
"we hold
panthress... we hold and hope that with no check in report they come looking
for us”
Night fell as they
waited, watching on scanners as the droggin gathered flyers glided by
un-powered shadows in the darkness. Eyes glowing as shadows they slid by in the
sky a few troopers took shots but couldn't hit them or if they did couldn’t
tell they did
He sighed and
took a hot cup of kaval out to his mech-suit clicking on his scanners he watched as the battle line formed around
them from three sides
panthress
walked over looking in at his displays "wow now there's some mech"
without looking
at her he smiled "this is cathren she's been mine since the day her pilot
abandoned her stuck in a snare ring on Jessitus"
"home of
the Droggin’s former allies the spiddusits?"
"yep, I
was part of an expedition to eliminate the assistance they were providing the
droggin through exclusive use of the relativity gate. A path between two black
holes it was the only safe un-mined path into this sector of space"
Looking out at
her for a moment "they had hundreds of planet based ion cannons which were
knocking out any fleet ship that got close to the gate of course the droggin
came and went with ease" he waved with a flourish of his hand back and forth
"of
course...that was your third purple heart wasn't it?"
he looked down into
her eyes and she chilled seeing Cyberhorn for the first time "yes it was...he ran
and got sucked into a man eating plant I got a vine thorn through the thigh,
damn thing even tried to germinate it’s seed inside me. I had to fry it with a
red hot rod of metal in through the thorn hole...this ol'girl saved my life.
It's auto medical system kept me alive and fighting. Six others and me of two
hundred dropped on the planet, met up and caused a chain reaction in the guns.
It ripped that planet to hell...although my main mission was to recover some
data not blow the planet" he smiled at her
"Spec opps
gave ya a call huh?" she said now leaning on the mech’s leg
he laughed. A
strange sound, it seemed not to be a part of him "yeah, you can say
that...seems fleet wanted some special data from a droggin heavy cruiser who'd
crashed on the planet severely damaged.
She’d came clear to
earth with out being spotted. Only because she hit a lowly old fashoned
magnetic mine round moon base 1 orbit did earth command even know she was
there"
panthress was
speech less.
This was news to her
===========================================
He smiled "I
got the data crystals they use for memory storage...they gained nothing for all
the technology they lost in that ship, we gained...you know the banshee...it was a direct result of my finding
the skipping drive" in that ship
he looked away
back at the displays changing one for a different scan of the same area
"you lost me
bill, skipping drive?" though she had heard rumors that the banshee was due to technology found
from a droggin ship never had she any idea how it had come around
Smiling as he
sat down on the mechs' foot looking up at her.
"the banshee
skips in and out of reality, she bounces in and out of hyper space and does it
so well that she doesn't need a lot of armor. The true stealth is she really isn't there. Till she
is and by that time your dead ...but costly to make, most pilots cant take more
than twenty missions and they go bonkers. Something about the skipping in and
out of reality effecting the mind at the conscious level the banshee is one of
the weapons that have gotten the tide to turn and we have the to thank for
it"
He sighed and
looked down "panthress if I'm captured with all that I know"
"you wont be,
I know you you'll survive. But that's not possible this time is it
Cyberhorn?"
he shook his
head slowly "cant let them kill all
these kids... this is one battle that Cyberhorn isn't going to win unless we
get some miracle"
"like a
squadron of banshees to come ripping through the area?"
"that would do
nicely...so would bob calling down saying he's okay and support fire is
incoming...dam I hate losing, but losing like this has got me pissed" thumping his hand hard
against the mechs’ leg “this is just damn strange! Why do they want me! So badly?”
She sighed and
watched as he climbed back in and closed the mech’s hatch she watched him gulp
the kaval and walk away "only
one way to go out now...fighting" she ran for her mech and called it out
bill looked at her
and smiled she found the three spots bill had marked on her displays as weak
points in the battle line
"this one here cyber...good run area"
"I agree
one thing is we need to have the artillery carpet this area over here to lead
them off this spot" "okay can do...but"
"You saw
that spots only problem huh...five black king drakes holding the anchor side of
the line. Not even an atlas's guns could punch through their armor. One good
shot from any of them could put our
little run out of this to a quick halt"
she only now
thought about it for a moment and the risk to them all
"Cyberhorn
this is commander Gara...we know your scans we know your impetuousness has
influenced this female lutenants thinking if you run...they will die ...they will all die! solve this
easily...surrender now and these young ones will go free on my honor as a
warrior of the elite clan...our orders are to do whatever is necessary to
effect your capture your to be treated with honor as a warrior of the highest
rank but you will be captured. Do
you hear me Cyberhorn? Respond" the com went silent not even tank to tank
chatter they all were waiting to see what he was going to do
He looked at
panthress then sighed a visable change came over him, in his best coldest Cyberhorn he snarled
"no Gara
surrender is not an option for me, for these children as you call them are warriors, they have
trained hard and fought well this day
they have come
here to be tested, to be hardened in the flames of battle against the droggin. Who attacked the human race without
warning, without any reason save one that we have learned. We exist and thus we shouldn't for
all attempts at communication have been for naught. So! Commander Gara, if it
is Cyberhorn the Dragon you wish to take. HE IS TEACHING THESE YOUNG WARRIORS
TO BE THE DRAGONS!
WHO WILL FIGHT
YOU TO THE VERY LAST TO TAKE AS MANY OF YOU WITH THEM TO DEATH'S OPEN
DOOR"
==================================================
Panthress gestured
and the artillery opened up sweeping the battle line
the tanks added
there power to the barrage
he climbed up
onto the atlas aiming one of her guns for supporting infantry hiding behind the
distant tanks the shields taking the beating. But he knew once this first salvo
was off and gone there systems would be weakened and the shields would fail they would rush he
gestured to panthress and
the artillery loaded up some of the biggest high explosive rounds and let um go
setting the guns to self destruct the artillery units were too slow for this
kind of run
they piled into
the tanks and faster vehicles as they wheeled about and headed for the kings on the distant droggin line
Gara reacted
instantly to the movement sending flyers to support the weakened end of her
line where they were heading but they fast as they were they would never reach
it in time.
Gara realized
the forces at that end held no fear in these humans' hearts,
something she'd
told many in her reports about humans and how they fight how when put into
situations like this they nearly always chose death to capture.
"Fall'ga
prayers to you Cyberhorn...my life will be void if you die this day...I have no
choice then” turning away from the battle
she tapped her
comm.” Wasta! You and the other taagath hold fire I repeat hold your fire...let
them run."
"What? we
are all ready to fire Gara, the atlas and the wasp tanks are nearly in range!
We can absolutely stop them here and now!”
"I said to
hold!” sighing deeply “Cyberhorn will be taken this day...but not now...we must
let them run a little longer tire them a little more this is to capture a
warrior Wasta...not destroy the 13th" that alone boiled the bile in
her belly and knew wasta was the same.
"by your
word Gara...all taagath hold fire! Let them run" she clearly cursed as the
com cut off.
They reached the
kings range and no huge blasts of plasma came the flyers were hot behind as the
artillery detonated farther
back
"Cyber,
why aren't they firing?" panthress called out to him
"I don't
know panthress, I'm not waiting to find out!" he had the atlas change
course away from the kings as planed and sped through the droggins’ weak point
in their line racing away at top speed their troopers firing on the them from
their cover after the shelling the droggin flyers close behind them
All night they
were harried by the flyers, they picked at the trucks and open hatched tanks
AAA guns were soon depleted of ammo. The support units took over for them to give the remaining collum air
cover
Panthress watched
as bill winged another sending it headlong for the ground only to get up and
stager away its power units ruined droggin could fly without the armor but that
was risky to say the least
she decided to ask why "Cyberhorn go to Com 6"
he clicked over "yes panthress?"
"Why the
wounding shots..."
"the wounded
put a strain on there speed ...they also effect morale"
"why the
wounding shots bill"
he got jostled by
the tank clipping a pile of dirt
"bill?"
"They let us
go...that was a suicide run and they knew it. Why-why! would they want me so bad? As to actually let an entire
battalion of tanks and support go free. I'm ...thanking them in a way ...letting these flyers live I don’t know
panthress”
He looked over
at her mech and could just see her nod. He looked at the maps for the nearest units or firebase that they
should hold
"Panthress.
I recommend turning to the south for the 669th infantry they have support
air and heavy artillery "
"hmmm yes
they're also guarding a support base landing area a possible evac site...I
agree"
=======================================================
The orders issued
they changed course he watched on his scans as the pursuing droggin turned
rapidly trying to close the gap
"Cyberhorn...the
support base is gone. The force that came from your one time right side they
were there, waiting for the infantry and their air cover. Your running and going no where"
"Gara, you
waist your breath, you know that we don't believe you"
"if that is
what you wish to do then...we shall let you have this time to run for the
safety of a memory."
They reached the
base and it was indeed totally destroyed, he sighed and looked at the fighters
shredded in their hangers. Tanks of many kinds blown apart, smoking wrecks. A
support lander still in flames on the landing field, the artillery stomped flat panthress walked over seeing
he was seething with fury
"cyber, we
have to get moving."
Bill turned
seeing the droggin waiting on the far ridge, waiting for them to give up. He
snarled fingering his triggers, wanting to open up on the dragons. But
remembered the stories his father had told him of the Indians' and the old west
on earth. Thinking Custer's last stand this isn't. all they want is me he
thought
"Panthress"
"don't even
think it, these kids are scared but are looking to you. They see you as the way
to salvation. You give up now they'll never try to fight"
he nodded
"now lets go
your on the atlas I'm on the wasp"
"right
panthress"
"were heading
for fire base alpha. I know they haven't taken it there's no way in hell"
"long trip
panthress”
"then we'd
better get going hadn’t we."
The droggin
flyers started their harassment soon as they were in motion,
which went on
for most of the day. He was getting tired and called for a relief, when he spotted a heavy flyer
coming in low to the ground. He aimed and had another flash by above him it's
laser fire blinding him, an explosion right in his chest tossed him off the
atlas, he slammed into the dirt and slid to a stop.
The tanks ground to
a halt he couldn't see, people were yelling, systems started shorting out
spraying sparks and electrical arcing across his torso. He popped the hatch
diving clear as panthress ran up. Cathren the mech. sputtered and popped, he cursed seeing the acid
eating at her she exploded internals flying out with the smoke that heralded
her death.
That was too much
all of this was A support unit hosed him off before the acid could hurt him.
The droggin cried out a cheer far and wide every com channel was filled with
them relaying the news
Infuriated beyond
any anger he’d ever had he tried to lift his rifle the weight was far too much. For a man without assist
"Damn-damn....
damn!" his Comm. clicked on
"now
Cyberhorn, your armored scales have had the shine stripped from them. The
mighty dragons eyes have gone dark, why continue this fight?"
Wild eyed he
roared and heaved the rifle up; panthress went wide-eyed as he leveled it along
the hip. Firing and hitting a pair of
flyers they went down in the distance.
"Because
it wasn't the mech. that made Cyberhorn the dragon! Gara! It is the man who
piloted her! That mech. was a friend! She saved my life! And now she’s gone
destroyed”
"That is
why we are here Cyberhorn...you are next, surrender now before more is done
before others die”
"COME AND
GET ME YOU DAMN FLAPPING SCUM FROM TWO DISHONORABLE MENTAL CRIPPLES WHO MATED
BECAUSE THEY WERE TRYING TO EAT EACH OTHER!"
He could hear
her laughing and finally she went silent.
"Very
colorful Cyberhorn, you might just be right. It wont change the fact you are
the target and you will be captured watch and see."
"This is
Panthress Gara...you just come and try it there's the entire 13th watching over
Cyberhorn were waiting for you to come give it a try"
"And you
female, are a fool for this will be your folly he is not worth your life or
those of your command but if you all must die to take him prisoner then so it
will be" it went dead
sullenly as he
climbed into the turret of the atlas taking control of the smaller nearly
depleted support guns he watched them place a charge on cathren’s hull to
completely destroy it so the droggin couldn’t salvage anything from her…
they sped away the
explosive thump behind them heralded more than a single tear from his eyes
==================================================
Panthress smiled as
they got within comm. range of fire base alpha two days of torment later
"alpha
this is 13 I repeat this is 13 do you copy?"
"this is alpha
13, we've been monitoring your situation. We can give you air cover in 20
minutes, fire support in 10. You
tell Cyberhorn eagle one was evac'd and bob said to say he'd better keep his
head down. They want it far to much"
She smiled and
whooped out in joy
"will do
alpha! This hasn't been a fun trip"
"ain't fun
here either 13 but them droggin know better than to play with a fully
functioning fire base. They give us a wide birth"
gara came on the
com with triumphant pride "you will not reach the fire bases' safety
Panthress look ahead of you"
She checked her
scans and could see a line of droggin appear as if from the very air between
them and the firebase but just outside its guns range.
"fire base
alpha if you check your south side you will see I have ten squadrons of flyers
ready to attack. In addition, three divisions of, as you call them black
kings ready to advance. We
want only one thing we
want Cyberhorn"
They'd come to a
halt beyond the fire range of the droggin but within sight of the base. He spit and snarled kicking
rocks in pure furry seeing the mass of droggin brought to bear down on this over 200 various tanks not
counting there support. Hundreds
of flyers waiting for the order to attack, and worst of all was the mass of black kings more than he'd ever seen in all his battles since the
beginning added together.45 of the black hulled bastards waiting ahead some
behind, five coming round each side they were totally encircled.
She walked up a cup
of kaval in each hand he
thanked her and nodded "no coffee this time?"
"Bastards hit
the coffee maker, this is really good though"
He laughed
sitting on a tanks skirt she smiled as that laugh came from him it fit the man
not the legend
"were
going to have to make another run for it" looking in the cup at the redish
color gently swirling with creamer, he hated creamer gulping it down
"I know I've
already passed the word to warm up"
"they'll fire
this time, cant let us get into the fire base"
"cant let you
get in. but if I have to drag you in on my own back I will see to it they don't
get what they want"
"well if
you insist" grinning at her his brave bravado clearly strained
"I do infact,
your on a wasp don't talk to them say nothing to gara"
He nodded
getting an infantry rifle standing in the turret the 13th's unit flag
fluttering high above on her antenna the black cats eyes flag with it’s gold 13
over them
the tanks
suddenly all rushed forward in a wide battle line. The wasps paired in the
center the atlas opened up and actually hammered a king with a lucky hit to her
turret it started to smoke.
A blast came from
above flyers diving in from behind a wasp fell to an explosion on her skirt she slid to a stop falling
behind. The atlas took two and shrugged them off as all the other tanks opened
up on the line ahead.
Gara shouted out to
all that they were on the run for the base
Panthress was
shooting flyers; she turned to see one with two escorts coming in at an extreme
angle heading right for Bill "all units cover the wasp! There after
Cyberhorn!"
He turned and
held the trigger, one he brought down her shield bubble failed finally, the
world went dark suddenly, a shape loomed up from behind and huge hands ripped
the rifle from his hands
"your mine
now! Cyberhorn!"
he spun around to
look "Gara!"
She leaped into
the air crushing him to her chest. Panthress aimed and could see Gara using him
as a shield "hold your fire! You'll hit Cyberhorn"
"all
forces! The day is ours! I have Cyberhorn!"
All of the
droggin just stopped turned and pulled away tanks flyers disappearing melting
into the very land again a few firing off a few parting shots.
The 13th had come
to a stop and support coming from the base started calling. Panthress had
watched Gara toss him into a large case in a mid air maneuver only a dragon
could have pulled off. The case held by two others with several more flying as
escort the firebase's fighters
raced by to try and find them.
===============================================
Several days later
she was called into a fleet meeting aboard the fleet carrier San Francisco
admiral Jim Richards flagship the droggin had completely abandoned Taurus. They
had evacuated it totally within hours of Cyberhorns capture.
She could see eagle
command out one of the portholes as she went it was a sorry sight, nearly all
her orbital support guns were totaled and the racks where the landers were held
completely gone fuming plasma fires were still raging in the aft engine areas
but fleet repair crews were already working on her
An aid waved her
in. she nearly wished shed died in battle when seeing Admiral Richards and ten
others of the highest ranks sitting behind a table of inquiry "lutenant have a seat.
I, want a full explanation...."
"Yes sir"
sitting down knowing her carrier in fleet was now a memory she’d lost one of
fleets hero’s and come back alive
hours later Jim
sat there looking at bill's things angry that he'd been played like this...the
commander in question was now being apprehended for being a traitor.
But Jim hearing how
well this had been planed and how determined the droggin had been from the
lutenants report but not just here with bill, but some of the best they had in
all battle fields everywhere.
they were taking
prisoners and wounded. Taking only the men, leaving the women when they
evacuated a planet; bill they had targeted, because he was Cyberhorn the dragon
Looking at the
picture book Bill had filled with unit patches and photos of the units each dead trooper had a tiny
line through them in each Bill had circled himself
Jim closed it
and set it into a box closing it the lid a box was marked captured sobbing as he leaned over,
head in his hands ..........
Bill awoke to
darkness and restraints feeling the star drives of a ship he started pulling with
all his strength on the straps they only creaked and held fast
"damnit"
in the darkness
came a pair of eyes. "Ahh so you've finally awakened have you"
"Gara, so you
got me now what?"
"I turn you
over to a special group, who by the grand counsel ordered your capture at all
cost." She hissed in anger clearly not the thing she wanted to do. She
inhaled deeply and kicked him hard cracking a rib at least "that was for
dishonoring me in front of my warriors human"
he gritted his
teeth to hold the pain in hearing several voices muffled in angry droggin she
struggled with someone and was led off. Another set of eyes came down and
checked his side where shed kicked him
"Just like
her to forget the fact I left her alive" trying to move again pain stabbed
his chest
"you are
restrained for your safety human do not struggle"
he looked at the
eyes "some safety she broke my ribs."
"She has been
escorted to her ship the transfer is nearly done"
"and
then?" feeling angry at the fact he’d been taken so easy
she lifted a tag
that was attached to his arm then looked at him "you will know soon
enough" she gave him something for
the pain and it made the world fade away
===================================================
He woke and stayed
perfectly still hearing droggin talking "he is unstable. He is Cyberhorn a
killer"
one started
speaking in very rich and clearly first taught formal droggin the tone was
neutral, but clearly either in charge or powerful
One of the high
clans? He thought, but why me I'm just a trooper, hell there are more famous
pilots than I will ever be what in the hell are they up to?
"Yes as
you wish lady but" the formal snapped something back he caught I will and
something like be seeing. Thinking again seeing what and why? Damn these
restraints!
It went quiet
and he felt warmth near his face the sliding of cloth over his body, as it was
clear he was now nude from the cool air on his skin.
The formal said something as it touched his
bandaged ribs
"commander
Gara. Called Raltack on him for his, dishonoring her on"
she suddenly moved
turning to the other voices "she did what! You will inform commander Gara
she will be cleaning the streets of the capital when her current assignment is
complete, best for her not to return to droggin ever again"
"as you wish
lady" in a far more respectful tone
he thought who ever
this is she’s high up clan or, counsel why would they be interested in me?
He felt her turn
back to him "he is an honorable warrior lady, and Fal’gateors true
friend"
he felt his hand be
moved to see the star there
"as expected
lady the humans have launched the andromida attack. We have the mass drivers in
place through out the asteroid belt when they bring in the banshees they will
simply cease to exist" a clawed finger slowly, softly caressed his cheek
"no"
A collective
gasp came from quite a few, he nearly did as well thinking they had found away
to stop the banshees?
"but lady? If
they attack andromida we will lose"
"I said no,
pull back the drivers and pre-pair to hold" she sighed and he felt her
nose gently touch his neck her hand slipped onto his
"his tests
aren't quite complete lady. But he is in the top 2 percent of the available
subjects as per the results so far"
"His intelligence
files are available to you of" she laid her head on his chest "course
umm"
she sighed deeply
"how long will he be sedated?"
"He should be
awakening any time lady" she sat back up still holding his hand
he couldn't help
himself he gently slid his finger over hers. She jumped up and he tried to see but it was still dark as pitch
"lady?"
came from one of them she said something in formal and they all went quiet.
"You are
awake William" she said with a small amount of ire in the tone
"with so many
people talking how is any one supposed to sleep?"
"You were
spying on us"
one of the subordinates spoke out
"ladies I'm a
prisoner of war, it's my job so if I do somehow escape I can help my fellow
humans"
"what did you
hear?" it was the lady
"the beating
of your heart lady" he smiled casually
she moved further
away as they whispered for a moment.
"If you will
tell us how much you heard, we will let you free of the straps"
he guffawed
"sorry but I don't believe you and I'm not saying anything sorry."
"Then you will
remain strapped till everything is ready William" the lady turned, he felt
her tail slide along his leg and she walked away. But not everyone went
with her
"I am a doctor
of many fields Cyberhorn, I'm very pleased they were able to finally bring you
down to size."
"Size is
relative doctor many animals which are highly deadly are quite small"
"yes, but your
only human"
cyber came up
"so sure droggin? Even humans can be used as vehicles for something even
more deadly"
she’d moved
back a little but now laughed at him "you will behave your self Cyberhorn
or William will be the one to hurt for you"
He was a little
perturbed by that reaction
"now then we
will be doing some testing on you"
"experiments?"
thinking oh great I'm gona be a lab rat
"Oh no most
certainly not, this is a proven procedure"
"so what are
you going to do to me?"
she clicked on a
light and shone it up at her face it actually gave him a chill her grin was
quite evil.
"Something no
human would ever think to do or think possible..." she looked down at him
and clicked the light off.
==================================================
He awoke after some
time feeling the sedation and real gravity. Rolling his head to see other men on
both sides hunger chewed at his back bone, he could see real light from somewhere beyond a wall casting its glow
across the roof.
The lighting units
and ventilation covers all secured from any attempt to be used as a path out.
He tried to sit up
even a little but straps over his neck chest and legs kept that from happening.
The doctor walked
up into his view "welcome to droggin William"
he smiled
"thank you, so do you think perhaps I could get a tour or something"
she just
smiled "perhaps later"
"you mad at me
personally doctor? Or you just hate humans in general"
she glared silently
"me?
Why?"
"My sisters
and mother, all died at the battle of Tolga moon you were there"
He thought the
casualties were nearly zero on both sides that day the human fleet had caught
the droggin force with its preverbal pants down. His support unit had snuck in,
planted explosives on the main engines of a stationary fleet. Crippled they
surrendered without a fight.
"Tell you
what they will be cutting my access to the net soon, my access code is WBH via
laser communications relay, ask for prisoners of war files. Nothing else and you can see
all the captured droggin, and the deaths. At that battle."
"You killed
all of our fleet"
"I did my job
doctor and did it well, your people
are alive but prisoners." she turned and walked off
"check soon!
Before they cut off my access code!"
He finally fell
asleep after asking for water a dozen times, but getting nothing from the
various droggin walking past checking tags and doing regular checks.
His neighbors both
woke up finally the one on his left was so terrorized he couldn't talk or move
but he did look at bill.
The one on his
right introduced himself as lieutenant Jim Bruner eagle eye pilot for the
carrier San Francisco
"eye in the
sky huh"
"better
believe it so who are you?"
"Sergeant
William Morris of the 13th black cats, better known as Cyberhorn"
the lieutenants
eyes went wide "your the Cyberhorn, oh god how"
"used the
equivalent of an invasion force to bring me down"
he nodded "dam
so any idea where we are?"
"the Droggin
home world"
He paled “oh god”
"were here
because we fit some kind of profile, they want us for this program of
there's"
"experimentation?"
"Not according
to them, it works quite well”.
“but why us?”
“why indeed jim why indeed, that’s the twenty
billion credit question and id be a sure win if I had any idea at all”.
It was dark and
he'd finally fallen back to sleep when a touch on his arm roused him back to
reality it was the doctor by the color of her eyes in the darkness
"Ah
doctor, so more tests?"
"No, no more
tests. You're results place you in the first percentile the lady chose
well"
"the
lady?"
thinking common tell me something!
"She asked to
participate in the program, as she has funded it, and believes in it."
"Oh so, she
chose me?" what program! For crying out loud
"From the data
base available. She wanted more information, it was satisfactory for her to
decide on you"
"for
what?" nearly at his limit of calm
she said nothing
for a moment, then a hand gently stroked his cheek "I should have believed
in the star. It lights the way, you spoke true William Morris. I saw and spoke
to my family they are alive. The system allowed me to communicate to them. Your
people are kind and concerned with their prisoners they have been well cared
for"
Smiling "I'm
glad they're alright doctor. Um could I get some water please"
she sighed,
"I cant do that William, it would interfere with the process. You must be
dehydrated it makes it easier"
"thus why I
have to wait till everything is ready huh?"
"Yes."
he sighed for all
that she’s told me she’s said nothing at all
"do not be sad
William, it is a good thing we do. For droggin, it is the lady she is, unsure
of herself" with that she got up and walked away.
thinking as he heard muffled sounds from elsewhere unsure of her self? What of!
to eat me alive? Put me out on display what! In the hell is going on here?
Aggghh if I could punch the wall I would out of pure frustration.
====================================================
The next day
droggin set up portable cloth like walls between him and his neighbors shortly
there after he could hear the kid on his left have a visitor, a lady droggin
he could hear cloth
being moved and could just see through under the edge of the wall as she
touched his cheek in droggin she spoke to him
"We share
in this, I'm so frightened but I need your help for this"
she did things
to arouse him; his body responded
she smiled and
affectionately licked around his neck and chest. Swinging her leg over, she
shifted a little and eased down shuddering.
rolling her eyes in
pleasure rocking her hips on him he could hear muffled grunts, straining.
Bill could just see
a gag of some kind in his mouth. He squirmed for a moment clearly in pain
she leaned back
wings spreading ripping the wall apart as she panted tongue now hanging out
sweat running in rivulets down her scales bill was wide eyed now as he had a
ring side seat!
She inhaled deeply,
slowly relaxed down onto her arms head dripping sweat over his face she panted
slowly and kissed him licking his tears and her sweat off "I'm sorry it
hurts, please forgive me."
others came in,
helping her up and quickly fixing the wall. The doctor looked at him and tried to
smile while pulling the cloth back into place
"you will tell
him wont you William? When he wakes?" it was the lady droggin who had
tried to talk to the boy, she
looked in his 'room' from a stretcher gurney clearly exhausted from what seemed
to be very little exertion "please tell him what I said...please" in
a very despirate voice
"I will lady I
swear"
The doctor
helped her lay back onto the gurney, looked at him and closed the cloth door.
He waited till the kid woke much later he moaned and finally spoke
"what happened
to me?"
"the lady left
a message for you kid"
"y-you can
understand them?"
"Only common
droggin. Not the formal type, she wanted to let you know she was sorry it hurt
and she was scared as you and needed your help to do it. She hoped you'd
forgive her"
"no
please" his voice trembled in terror as bill heard the cloth move with the
kid
"it's alright
were just moving you to a better room where you can get something to eat and
rest easy"
The doctor looked
in on him "thank you William,
she's resting better because she knows you would tell him. You might want to
try and rest your self" closing the panel
"now I'm
nervous"
He couldn't sleep
and the lieutenant had to be given a sedative because he was shouting and
struggling trying to break free. So bill was effectively alone occasionally he
could hear the sounds of a lady droggin enjoying a human friend.
He just couldn't
believe they'd gone to all this trouble to get him so some lady could have a
good time while he was strapped down it just didn't add up.
It was late when he
heard voices walking up outside all in formal the doctors he recognized as with
the lady's.
'So it is time for
the fun huh well she is going to have to work for it. I'm not aroused so
easily' thinking of all his training to disconnect himself in case of attempts
to convince him to speak if captured when he was with fleet ops
the doctor walked in with something in her hand.
"The gag is
not needed with William" she looked back at the lady, who walked in and
let her outfit slip from her body.
"But my
lady..." the doctor blinked clearly at a loss
she dismissed the
doctor with a gentle wave of her hand
"yes my lady
as you wish" the doctor behind her back gave him a pained look and closed the curtain.
===================================================
She knelt down he
could feel the heat radiate from her body much hotter than any droggin he had
been near. He went to speak but she placed her finger on his lips it was wet
"lick" she said with a husky
sensual voice
He just raised
his eyebrow, she sighed and reached down to his leg gently sliding her claws up
the inside of his thigh
"it will make
this easier if you enjoy it, lick please. I have heard how you have helped not
only the doctor but another lady even as a prisoner ...please lick"
He still didn't
move
"I am not
accustomed to...asking more than once" her face changed pain now coloring
it which also colored her voice
"must I beg
you?" a tear gleamed from her right eye
he gently pushed up
on her finger with
the little his head was allowed to move" let me speak please"
she moved it back a
little
"no lady you
don't have to beg' she smiled brightly 'but I expect you to explain what is
this all about in detail"
"If I swear to
later, will you lick? There is a matter of time" she was sincere so be it
pained and the look in her eyes melted his resistance it was Amy's eyes when
she'd asked him to run off and break tradition in the field that night, go and
enjoy there love in the woods together with the moonlight. They had been caught
before getting the chance, but it did not matter to her he had agreed to it.
He lifted his head
instead of licking, he slipped her finger into his mouth and sucked greedily as
he did so.
Her eyes went wide
and a huge grin came across her face. Her very short claws indicated she never
fought clearly high clan or councel he thought the flavor wasn’t unpleasant at
all
his body got
flushed as she slipped her finger from his lips his heart rate shot sky
high Leaning over she licked around his
neck it made his spine go completely electric, every nerve became overly
sensitive just her breath was giving him chills of pleasure and waves of goose
pimples over the areas as the air moved
She touched him
on the groin and it was as if every single nerve was ten foot wide he leaned
his head back as there was no denying an arousal way to much stimulation. He
felt her breath roll over his belly and then warmth wrapped around his arousal,
he looked as she slid her tongue off gently.
His climax was
building so fast it was like his first time! She licked up his stomach and
around his neck again, her tongue rolling around his ear sliding along the
edge. Her eyes looked deeply into his
"god almighty
what's your name? Great lady" panting with her.
She smiled and
licked his lips and another finger of moistness came he licked and she nibbled
his skin near to fire hot now
"A'tara...the
lady A'tara...lover"
She slipped over
him so gently, he felt her tail as it slid over, then slipping into pure liquid
fire; she leaned back arching her body she settled down onto him. She Started to pant even more he
could feel the droplets of sweat mingling with his but she hadn’t moved an
inch! Then he felt something hard and firm moving out along his arousal from
inside her!
It touched his
pelvis nearly to his belly above his arousal with a sharp jab he went to say
something, but she leaned forward as her wings opened and it rammed through!
he went to yell out
in pain but she came down and pressed her mouth onto his, his body responded
climaxing but flames of pain burning with it. Her body suddenly squeezed him
with a contraction of muscles, the firmness moving with a rolling of
contractions swelled slipping up further inside him and pressure pushed up
inside.
She sat back up
and rolled her pelvis, he was in agony seeing a milky white organ swelling and
shrinking as it moved inside him his belly swelling. He felt his insides
shifting to accommodate, if he’d had anything in his bowels it would have
poured out from the building fluid pressure
She bulged out
in ecstasy, leaning over sweat pouring from her the salt burning around the
wound as she stayed still for a moment then disengaged slowly. The organ which
had invaded his belly slipped out, his arousal slipped free of her.
She melted and
licked his neck unable to stand or move "now you know why she was begging
his forgiveness, this does not hurt male droggin."
she looked into his
eyes as tears came he hurt so much.
She licked them
away "now I can explain before the doctor comes to move me away to rest.
We just mated William; they chose you for you are a warrior, with great honor a
hero. I chose you for your eyes and heart. Inside you our babies will settle
in, the pain will fade your about to become droggin and father of our
children..."The pain took his world away finally.
he awoke to warm
sunlight pouring in a window laying on a pillow. He eased up stomach aching he
looked at the puncture wound which had scabbed over thickly "dam that
hurt"
"she waited a
little to long to mate William, she did not mean to be so rough." the
doctor walked in with a huge container of water and a cup
She knelt down
to her knees wings held up relaxed poured him a full cup holding it out to him
with a smile
he just looked at
her emotions and thoughts running wild inside him and not exactly sure what to
say
"your still in
pain? The fluids haven't fully absorbed into your system then, give it a little
longer she as I said was a little too rough on you"
finaly the pain
made the decision "a little too ROUGH ON ME? She jammed some-kinda thing
into me and-and."
"It is
called the umburta, it fills the male with mating liquid to not only
cleanse but relax and deaden pain, then once he has climaxed puts the
fertilized eggs into him. You and the lady are now a mated pair."
"But-but
that’s”
she gently put the
cup into his hand and moved it to his lips, the water was cold and he found
himself gulping it down. Taking a deep breath as he looked up from the empty
cup into her eyes
"she loves you
William has from the moment she watched video's of you, battle footage spy
photos"
"I-I
I'm."
"Pregnant?
Yes, soon as your a little more relaxed the fluids will help that I'll let her
come see you"
"but HOW IN
THE HELL?”
Smiling as she
relaxed back on her heals "a pirate ship took a human skimmer craft and
the crew had been out for a long time, you see William most of Droggin's males
are sterile that leads females to look elsewhere for pleasure"
the thought came
out as a whisper "kickarta..."
"Hmm?" looking
at him with a smile of curiosity
"A friends
engineer, she's always being very affectionate to me"
"Well if she
had been in her cycle she'd done the same thing to you A'tara did. The female
pirate captain took one of the human males to bed a couple times, and fell into
her cycle she mated with him. That's how we found out some humans can fertilize
droggin. The male human became a droggin due to the babies needs for a father
who can tend to their needs."
"How?"
still stunned as he blinked staring at her
"were still
studying it but apparently they sample the blood, see it does not match droggin
and start a series of genetic alterations reversing the formation of bone from
cartilage. Changing organs and such, all while they grow in his belly by the time
they are near to term the male will be droggin, we have noticed the more
embryos in a male the faster he will change thus the easier it is on him. You
have 7 all very large and incredibly healthy..."
=================================================
He held out the cup
for more that she poured smiling at him
"problems?"
"One or two
but nothing serious just a matter of time. Unlike most females A'tara wants to
share with you in this"
he nodded numbly
"a lot to take
in. but it is all done now all there is now to do is wait. All the males who
were human are incredibly fertile, the babies too. This will save the droggin
race from certain doom"
he nodded again
looking out the window at the largest city he had seen since New York! But so
green, vines and trees growing dozens of stories into the air a big purple
flower fell fluttering down past his window.
"Been ages
since I've seen a flower" smiling a little
she set the
container aside "this is your area William your free to explore the males areas
five floors above and below you, lots of room and things to do. A tone will
ring for meals, please eat I do not like having to force-feed"
he nodded a tiny
smile flickered across his face.
She walked into a
monitor room and found A'tara staring at him a smile glowing on her face
"he took it so well"
"what are you
doing out of bed A'tara?"
"I'm
fine"
"and if you
die because the umburta hasn't relaxed fully pierces the main vessel? You
hemorrhage to death in the greatest pleasure you will ever know."
"I needed to
know he was alright"
"he's fine
shocked, stunned but very normal for this. Now you agreed lady till I say, you
stay in bed" she got up slowly as her assistants helped and the doctor
moved over and knelt down. Moving her clothes to look
she glared up at
her. "Just relaxed enough to bed with you lady, I swear you can visit him
later."
"My thanks for
this Sisara, now the trouble will start and he will be at risk but he is
Cyberhorn the fearless warrior"
Slipping a little she was
helped up "take her to bed she needs more rest, I will be in to check her
shortly" she turned and watched him for a moment realizing just how much
trouble A'tara meant.
"Indeed keep
an eye on William make sure he gets water if the container goes dry and sleeps
later"
her assistant
smiled "he will be quite a male 4 more babies than any other"
"look at who
the mother is it any wonder" sighing as she went out.
He watched the city
and its goings back and forth, drinking water when he needed watching the sun
set on a world he'd always wanted to visit trying to sit very-very still as his
belly twinged pain occasionally, but even that was slowly fading.
Gently feeling his
firm belly his one time overhang from being over weight now gone, the lights
dimmed and finally only a path of dim walkway lights out side his room could be
seen.
The rooms were positioned so
that unless you actually walked in you couldn't see completely inside. He looked out at the
starlight, watching the vehicles as they zipped by he fully expected the
windows to darken so the lights of a metropolis like this wouldn't bother them
and as he thought it they did turn opaque.
Laying down to sleep on the
actually very comfortable pillow, his belly shifted sloshing a little that made
his bladder go mad with pain. Getting up in a hurry he moved out to the wide
hall and its soft pathway lights "bathroom gota pee bad"
Someone must have
heard him as a path of lights under his feet moved over to a wall on the inside
of the walkway
"thank
you". Rushing over he went through a large door, found a human urinal and
some intermediate sizes to a full sized droggin toilet with its tail support.
He stood there
emptying for a good minute finally he felt better, in the warm yellow lights
his skin was pale.
Finding a mirror and
looking closely at himself he had to agree with his first examination he was
sick looking.
He went out to meet
a big male droggin who was huge in the belly
"ah so
you’re my new neighbor huh"
the droggin spoke
in perfect English!
"Umm William
Morris" holding his hand out the droggin smiled and gently shook his hand
"Charlie McClain, scuse me please" slipping past into the toilet Bill
blinked
"in freaking
credible" shaking his head wishing he could have an ale to help this all
go down in his head…
===========================================
Going back to bed
he found sleep, none of the dreams or nightmares he'd suffered from; just
blissful sleep.
He woke to a smell; a musk of
some kind, his groin responded as he sniffed it again it was unlinke anything
else he’d smelled but he had somewhere.
Getting up looking
around the corner of his room the doctor and A'tara! Were walking towards him
with several others following.
The smell brought
up a powerful urge to smile as he felt love well up from deep inside, smiling
at them made a few halt in their tracks, A'tara walked right up to him.
"You are well
lady?"
she smiled at his
flawed formal but still a very good attempt "I am rested and recovering my
mate"
his eyes glimmered
at that
"you are
comfortable I hope?" she asked with a genuine smile
"I'm doing
alright a little shocked still but recovering"
The doctor gestured
to them both to go into his room. She had him lay back and produced a scanner,
checking his belly and groin. The embryos were settled in; already blood
vessels were forming to them. A’Tara smiled and gently squeezed his hand
"one problem
not one I gather doctor?"
She smiled
"indeed occasionally the embryos do not trigger the formation of blood
vessels to them and soon start to die, but yours are doing quite well"
"So lady
care now to talk to me explain some of this to me?"
she moved over
rather stiffly and relaxed looking down at him
"what is you wish
to know my mate?"
"Why is there
a war? Can you explain this to me? Humans have tried repeatedly to try and
talk, to find some way to end this".
She sighed and
looked at the doctor who bowed and moved out
"my mate that
is a lengthy answer you ask of me" but she knew it had to be told, and she
could see it in his eyes he needed to hear it.
He related what he
knew of the seventh fleets demise but not how and why. It had been totally
wiped out, not one ship fighter or data log buoy had been left intact only the
remains of the human ships and a massive burning behemoth that was falling into
the systems star. The firestorm that raged inside its structure was so intense
the surface had gone molten and yet it still burned.
She sighed
"It was called Parrsal"
he quickly
translated to "Peace?"
she smiled
Caressing his cheek, "it was Droggin’s greatest shipbuilding effort, the
greatest most devastating weapon ever created its surface should have withstood
the attack of thousands of smaller vessels. Its firepower dwarfed the potential of some small stars; it was the
flagship of our fleet. My mother and fathers pride and hopes"
His face went
slack, still listening to her as she placed her hand on his chest
"her holds
were filled with treasures from a dozen droggin worlds foods and medicines,
rare and priceless gifts for the whole of the earth every human would have
gotten something. Even the parrsal was to be given to the earth as a gesture of
peace and friendship.” She sighed and tears came
“But your seventh
fleet ran head long into her causing a chain reaction in her systems and
reactors; the fires broke out, I and my sister were tossed into the arms of a
realative, as my father tried to get mother to abandon the ship".
Her head fell to
her chest as tears slipped down her cheeks
"She refused
to let the one chance we had for relations with earth go. The flames ripped
though the flooring I never saw them again. I heard orders go through to fire
the main guns at the surviving earth ships, a single volley was fired; but the
systems were to far gone and that only accelerated the parrsal's end. I watched
as she burned explosions ripping through the once proud ship.” Looking at him
her sorrow all to evident
“The days after
were filled with cries of maakar, blood feud. Whole clans of Droggin went out
and started killing humans some of those died, more cries of blood oaths
came."
"And so an
accident has escalated into a war that will go on till one race finally
wins"
"No my mate,
Droggin will not cease to fight even to the last"
"and humans
would do even worse, if defeat is all that is left, humans will through
themselves onto the guns of there attackers and die taking Droggin with them at
any cost."
She sighed and
sobbed he sat up and though not big as her. He pulled her head to his shoulder
and held her trying to comfort.
"It is a
single chance I have to bring this to a stop. To bring peace to my world I
heard of how a human had become droggin and I started immediate research into
it"
"thus now your
a participant in this program, but humans wont like this. What about these men
they have families children now they are droggin. Two wrongs do not make a
right A'tara"
"I know”
Looking into his eyes "but there is a requirement of an heir to the crown.
I must have a male who is honored by his clan, he must be pregnant with my
children and he must be strong for I may need his support".
He said nothing but
put his hand on hers, it was her scent it had his skin tingling again he could
only think of her and nothing more.
"Only then
with the full passing of the counsel, can I become queen; I can call a halt to
the blood feud! The clans will not question the queen of droggin. Till then I am only the lady
A'tara heir to the crown".
"And having a
large group of allies who because of the fact they now have children due to
your help"
she smiled a little
"yes"
"gives you
some power to act while 'only' an heir"
She gently hugged
him close "I knew you would grasp what is happening quickly but there is
one more complication".
"Your sister,
I would guess"
"yes, she has
been the one fanning the Droggin need for revenge".
He understood quite
well, this made him a big target to keep her from the crown.
"I see you are
already thinking about how this effects you"
"I'm the
easiest target for your sisters wishes to keep you from the crown. If she
happens to get it what will happen?"
"She will call
for tal-maakar total death to the blood, Extermination of the human race."
He sighed “that is
not good”
================================================
He held her closer
and felt her hand gently touch his nearly hidden arousal inside his folded
legs, her eyes showed her reaction and a smile showed her thoughts.
"I could smell
your musk lady never in my life have I reacted like that to a female"
"arousal from
my scent? I must confess I too feel my urge returning. Can you not feel the
warmth my mate, I need you your love once more. I must have waited far too long
my body it calls to you for help"
He lifted her chin
kissing, as he would have Amy, she relaxed and continued to gently fondle him.
Finally pushing him back to the pillow
"you do this
willingly with me? There is risk"
he gestured and she
came closer he whispered "I do and if you don't do it soon, they will stop
you wont they? And it makes you think of me"
she smiled "I
do already, but I understand".
She slipped her leg over him
and eased forward "must be gentle. I might hurt them or you"
he reached up and
slid his hands along her legs up to her groin where she melted. Slipping over
him, she shivered and went to lean over.
Bill stopped her
continuing to caress her groin; his fingers came away with the fluid she'd
insisted he try.
"My scent, my
mate"
"much more
lovely lady a mating stimulant, at least it was for me"
"and other
humans as well"
"I really
don't need it to love you"
he moved gently she
responded, it took a few moments longer than before but was immensely more
enjoyable. The pain was gone far more quickly; she was far more relaxed in
doing it she smiled seeing his belly filled out even more. Relaxing she
covered him, kissing quite passionately her tail swishing happily knocked the
water pitcher over and it went sliding out into the hall. The doctor and others
saw this and looked at each other
"They have
been quite awhile He wouldn’t hurt her?"
"No! Never but
he is Cyberhorn".
They all moved
nearly as one, rushing around to find her with her head laid on his chest him
sleeping. His arms around her neck, her legs holding her body off his, the
umburta clearly still engorged with blood. The doctor sighed and got a very
vexed look, some of A’taras’ friends just grinned and turned away.
The doctor moved over and
scanned his belly which was now very full and rounded her eyes went wide and
she sighed tapping her wrist
"Aalie I need a stretcher for the lady, she and William mated again".
"They did
what!"
The same look
came from those around them
"SHE AND
WILLIAM HAVE MATED A SECOND TIME do I need to raise my voice again?"
"No Ssarta the
stretcher is on the way" she looked at her and him
"cancel the
stretcher, but send a pillow and blankets please"
"on the way
Ssarta".
The others were
clearly confused "he is Cyberhorn is he not, he can and will protect her.
She has captured the one thing no one could but her, she captured his heart
friends, she will rest easier here and perhaps the bastarga will bond them even
closer."
"Do think they
are bastarga?" a young helper spoke up
"look at them
asleep after mating for a second time, his belly full now with 15 babies. If they
are not bastarga then they are both insane"
that brought smiles
from her friends they helped to lay her to one side next to him, her nose
gently placed at his neck and they left them to sleep.
Her eye opened as
did his her hand settled onto his belly "you clever male, how did you
know?"
"The way they
cart off ladies when they've mated, to rest as it will soon render them unable
to move."
She smiled and
shifted closer, he felt the sharp point of the umburta slip along his leg, as
she got comfortable.
"Can we once
I'm not pregnant enjoy just making love?"
"Yes I look
forward to that. It is customary that a mating pair, enjoy loving with each
other first, then they mate. We did not have that option"
"15 jezz I'm
gona pop"
she giggled softly,
her hand gently sliding over his near numb belly
"no but you
will be busy for awhile, you are tamburg, umm pregnant twice over now".
He turned his head to look
into her eyes "in other words when I give birth, I'm already pregnant
again?"
she kissed his
neck, licking the salt away gently. "Yes"
"okay I need
to kick Fal’gateor in the tail, he never mentioned any of this to me in all our
talks".
She sighed and he
smiled, she had a momentary look of concern but seeing his smile she realized
he was playing.
====================================================
Admiral Richards
got a hold of bill's private communications files. Knowing how bill worked, he
found several routing codes scribbled on corners of paper and recipts finally
getting them in sequence. The screen went black and a decidedly droggin voice
came over the line.
He looked at the
translator who shrugged "he's asking for an identity"
A droggin claw
reached to disconnect the line.
Richards reacted
quickly before losing him. "Wait please, Fal’gateor, I'm Bill's oldest
friend, let me speak to you".
A Droggin's face
appeared in the screen. "Speak then. What is Cyberhorns worst pain?"
"The loss of
his betrothed, I was in command that day; I was the one who told him she died.
I know all to well how much it hurt him."
The face softened
"speak then, Admiral Richards. Know this. I am Cyberhorns betrayer. I gave
him to the hunters. I betrayed the star." Fal’gateor Held his bleeding
palm up, the star within blackened and raw.
Richards cleared
his throat
"he accepted
the light stone as a true friend of droggin and I did this to save myself and
crew from death. So speak Richards"
"do you know
why they took him?"
"No but I have
heard that there is great trouble on the home world, many humans have been shipped
there from prisoner camps I do not know why"
"Fal’gateor
they are capturing the very best the human fleet has. Intentionally capturing
any ideas why?"
"No. But the
questions I was forced to ask of him and the gift. I would say that some on
droggin prime took special interest in him, again I do not know why"
Richards took a
deep breath "fal'gator id like to pay you to do something for me"
"I trade for
services admiral what is it you are offering and I will see if I can provide
service"
"bill told me
droggin have a liking to human alcoholic drinks"
"they do
indeed"
"first I tell
you what I want"
"alright"
"I want you to
return to droggin prime"
"no"
"if bill is
there Fal’gateor. He will need help I know bill he will be able to get free of
whatever they have him in and be looking for help out. It’d be away to make
amends for betraying him..."
gators eyes
narrowed "I see he has not let you go uneducated on droggin honor"
"he can be
quite the talker. I catch snippets occasionally... alright? Ready for the
payment?"
the droggin nodded
once
"fifty cases
of two hundred year old Scottish scotch"
the Droggin’s eyes
gleamed for a moment
"the same
scotch I gave bill a bottle of several years ago and I know he shared it with
you. From what he said you were falling down drunk in a matter of minutes"
"I was
indeed"
"then I can
say you know the quality of what I’m offering. will you go home for awhile? Be
an honest trader perhaps looking for cargo, Scanning the planet for a certain
metallic element which I will provide the details on?"
"Cyberhorn has
a tracker?"
"He does, but
not from what you think it was a piece of seed case which is lodged in his hip
bone the metal is an unknown alloy which gives off a reading of one hundred
percent pure gold but its not gold or anything like it he killed the seed but
the hook which imbedded into the bone grew and laced itself into the area
becoming dangerous to remove it has become a part of him he doesn’t know about
it the doctors didn’t think anything of it it's virtually harmless"
Fal’gateor looked
at kickarta and several others who were listening from the shadows of the
bridge
"alright
Richards I will transmit the quardinates to place the payment. it is an old
battle field we will be there long before you, so one ship is to place the.
goods into the airlock of the abandoned earth cruser Thomas hill I will contact
you from droggin when I can"
"deal, you
know of course if you take it and run."
"I have no
fear that the phoenix will sear the flesh from my bones. Yes Richards I know of
you all to well. The burner of ten evacuation ships from droggin held
worlds"
"then it is
good doing business with you Fal’gateor"
the droggin bowed
his head to Richards and it went dead
"And now we wait
to see if bill's good as I know he is. or their security is better"
"prepair the
9th fleet sir?"
"The nine?
Hell boy get the entire fleet and the reserves ready. if this goes down right
we will finally know where droggin prime is and take this fight right to their
door step"
====================================
Bill had been
examined five times in the past seven days and was now being herded into
another one his belly distended and sore the doctor walked in smiling
"ahh
William"
"not one more
step doc. now either you start explaning to me what’s going on or I walk. And
if you think Cyberhorn can’t escape from this place"
she sighed and set
a file card down "William. We have never had a human male do what you did.
there is a great deal changing inside you and at an incredible rate"
he smiled slightly
sarcastically and pulled his gown like shirt up showing a tail "like
this?!"
She smiled brightly
"tiny but growing."
"Tiny she
says. listen I’ve been puking my guts out"
"normal even
for human females at this stage"
he blinked
"and this!" showing his belly to her a series of bluish green scales
coated it his normal hairs were still poking out from under them "how
again are the babies doing this to me!?"
"Simply they
are rewriting your genetic code to one like theirs they produce fetal cells
along with various chemicals to cause corrections thus to replace yours they
want father to be able to support and protect them the same way babies help one
another to be genetically healthy they keep each others codes correct while in
side the father. This is why we can not understand why our males are not
fertile"
He nodded at that,
and submitted to the exam which showed the formation of muscles inside his
belly around them and all over his body they had a decidedly droggin genetic
code and could be detected in scans.
his heart was being
slowly replaced by a huge mass of droggin muscle which had a main artery
running to the forming uterine area and a major vein which would pass through
the forming kidneys one of his own had already stopped and was being dissolved
his liver was
gaining size storing up blood reserves several smaller heart like organs had
formed on the new arteries.
he was told that
each male had gotten so tired at one point because of the changes that his
heart couldn’t keep up with the circulation
requirements. They fell into a hibernation like state finally waking
nearly done changing this was as she said the most critical time if the
secondary hearts were not formed fully or not big enough the male would require
support and that was the risk if his body did not help its self quickly the
male would be stuck on a support machine, of the several hundred who had been
changed only one had this problem but it was a risk
He nearly ran into
his next door neighbor who was walking out of the dining area bill planted his
hands on the distended droggin belly to stop not only himself but the lumbering
mass of droggin
"whoops! Sorry
bout that" patting the huge belly
"its ok
bill" he looked up into Charlie’s eyes they stared for a moment at each
other
“um you just get
done with the doc?" the big droggin smiled
"Yup and I
actually have an appetite for once"
Charlie smiled
"I really didn’t feel like eating. Mind if I sit with you? I might get
hungry"
"sure
common" he got a tray of droggin foods and sat down
Charlie sitting
down on a pad infront of him
bill ate some of
the warm meat and waited for a moment "yeah its gona stay put this
time"
"I had the
heaves for quite awhile"
"so Charlie
how many?"
"Four an
you?"
"Fifteen"
eating another piece
charlies jaw
dropped open as bill ate another bite of fruit
"good god.
your gona burst!"
"not according
to the doc. but I am pregnant twice over, and its speeding my change up to the
point I can feel the changes and see them happening"
He ate and talked
with Charlie finding himself quite at ease with him. Charlie also started to
take more time with him even falling asleep with bill near by he made a point
of asking the doc at the next exam
"Doc, what’s
with charlie? He’s gotten to be like a shadow"
she smiled
knowingly at him standing straight "he and you are becoming falta it is an
ancient term for birthing brothers”
she smiled making a
note in the file ”I had a feeling he would chose you and it is why I put you
both near each other he had not chosen a falta, males who do not have
difficulties becoming very irritable and difficult to help during birth as the
flight fight response is incredibly over sensitive”
bill nodded to
this, even he’d begun to feel some what paranoid at times more so than normal
he thought with a laugh
"he feels at
ease with you near him he knows instinctively he has a protector in you so as
he labors he does not have to fear and can relax do what is needed and rest
.."
nodding again well
that explaned Charlie "And, can I speak to A’tara?"
"She is coming
today to visit you. I told her of the falta and she wants to meet him"
"ah
alright" smiling as he found his heart beat faster at the thought of
a’tara near by and rather enjoyed the thoughts and what they
did to his once cold and empty soul
====================================================
He smiled as he
told Charlie what was going on
charlie grinned
"no wonder I've felt so much better around you. Um that kinda leads me to
ask"
"yes you can
move in here so long as you don't snore me to death"
Charlie laughed and
patted bill on the shoulder
"ouch!"
"Oh I’m sorry
bill." Clearly concerned
bill took his shirt
off and could see bone shifting under the stretched skin
"I've seen
that before bill. Those are wings forming"
"damn! that's
sore to boot" gently touching a thin spot seeing the bone wrapped in a
webbing of blood vessels
Charlie stood and
loomed over bill " a ground pounder gets wings. Now that's funny"
walking out to his room
"ha-ha yeah
funny, bet I could out fly you with both tied behind my back "
charlie laughed
from inside his room as bill stood outside his thumbing his nose at the big battle droggin
His nerves tingled
and a warm breath rolled over his shoulder
"that would be
quite painful my mate"
he turned and
smiled at A’tara who as usual had her escort and friends with her she saw the
scales over his belly and gently slid her finger over them
"such a color.
I like this" smiling quite lovingly her finger stroking slowly and lower
by the moment
"he has a
unique shade of that type lady and as you can see. he will be a flyer"
stopping her caress
she gently turned him to feel the shifting bones and cartlage under the skin of
his back and shoulders.
He turned and bowed
to her and in formal he spoke
"my lady I am
very happy to see you again" knowing he'd ruined the again with slurring
he bowed again his
back hurting like hell she lifted his chin with her finger and kissed him
passionately
"you need not
bow to me mate I am yours as you are mine"
he returned the
kiss "alright then A’tara, I have a favor to ask of you"
she sat down there
in front of him on the floor her friends clearly disturbed by this un-princess
like behavior
"ask I will
see if I can provide what you wish"
"access to
computers for all the males so they can start learning. they are or are
becoming droggin. Would be only appropriate they receive instruction on what it
is to be droggin and such"
she turned to the
doctor who smiled
"it was a
security risk my lady. We did not wish to take it, but if the lady belives it
would be an acceptable risk"
"I do, these
males need the education and then they will understand why we do this. allow
them to have vidio also why keep them isolated? They are in large part
Droggin’s future"
"also I need
to have a com line. I have to A’tara Jim is more than likely going nuts and
will be already putting the pieces together figuring out your doing something
strange with fleets best troopers. He’ll find droggin prime and bring the
entire fleet down on this place"
she blinked looking
at the seriousness in his gaze. one of the others said something then another
spoke louder in common droggin
"Jim
William?"
he looked at A’tara
"admiral James Richards, better known as the phoenix"
they all shifted at
that even A’tara he knew that name carried more fear than his ever would
"he and I
trained together we were in special ops. yes ladies you caught Cyberhorn the
spy, assassin a fleet specialist even the phoenix cant match. But his being an
admiral he can do much more damage publicly than I ever could the phoenix will
bring death to droggin if he finds this world as he has to several worlds held
by Droggin’s"
"indeed. And
he is your friend?!" one of her aides asked
smiling at them all
"I saved his life once our first mission out. I gave him credit for it I
didn’t enjoy killing for glory. Jim does, he believes in the saying an eye for
an eye just as the droggin believe in blood feud. I have to call him let him
know not to try any kind of attack"
"will he
listen to you mate?" A’tara asked with concern clearly effecting her
"Yes, yes he
will I'm certain of it”
She gestured to the
others one brought up a case which she opened "you use"
"ah a type
nine very nice ..pardon me maam" taking it from her and setting it on the
floor in front of him
they all watched as
his fingers clicked with furious abandon on the keys adjusting several circuts
via diagnostics
Charlie came up looking
over his shoulder "hey your into the com net"
"yep looking
for jim ..ah ha there he is ..dam I knew jim wouldn’t lose any time he's on the
carrier San Francisco which is his flagship ..ok jim you better be ..ah good
its lunch time he'll be having coffie with a shot of scotch with more than
likely ham on wheat and mayo no mustard"
the ladies were all
looking at this as he clicked and screens flickered and closed a'tara smiled
and kissed his neck he paused for a moment
"thank you
..um this is Charlie by the way Charlie this is princess a'tara"
"princess I’m
honored to meet you" bowing his head to her
she spoke in rough
English "no Charlie you are my mates falta I am honored to meet you"
she reached out
touching his cheek and bowed her head to him
"got it"
the line scrolled code for a moment and a warning screen came up advising he
was hacking into a fleet secure line "yada-yada ok this should do it" taping an enable key with a
huge grin
jim sighed from his
work sipping the coffie fal'gator had picked up the beakon and the scotch as
planed and was heading for droggin prime his com chimed "I said no
calls"
"yeah and
would you like me to tell yer wife who eats those fruitcakes she makes for the
sole purpose of killing you for your life insurance?"
jim spun and went wide eyed "bill you
wouldn’t ..bill?" slapping his hands flat on the desk as he gaped open
mouthed
"hey jim.. you
should know by now fleet has never fixed that dam code bug"
he smiled near to
burst out then stopped going serious "your shit still stinks"
"but at least
my mom didn’t wipe it into dads bowl for breakfast"
jim whooped
spinning in his chair tossing printouts all over
"bill god
almighty I knew they couldn’t hold you!! listen were on the way"
"jim
..no"
"WHAT!?! You
gone nuts?"
"jim, no you will only escalate things,
and cost earth several dozen fine ships and their crews. listen to this old
dragon.. they are taking the best for a good reason.. one they have no choice
in and I can help more from here so cool yer reactors i'll holler if I need the
cavalry okay"
"answer me
this then, why? Why take our finest and only males"
bill looked to
a'tara who like the others had worried looks but clearly they trusted his
judgement in this
"their a race
in trouble jim, i'll explane later suffice to say I'm now closer to gaining
peace for both than we have been since the beginning. I can do more
here..."
"okay why
you?"
"I'm Cyberhorn
jim.. I'm the dragon.. an umm admirer wanted me here next to her, when I call
again jim I will explane more”
he stopped to think
for a second “remember the words you told me the day after the battle ..that id
find love again? she was still out there in the universe"
"yes"
"she found
me.. I will give my knick name as a code word next time I call only you and
four others knew it"
jim clearly thought
for a second then smiled "gotcha.. you be careful, oh and fal'gator will
be there in orbit to look for you in case you needed help"
"and thus is
bringing you unwitingly"
jim smiled innocently
as a cat could with a mouth full of yellow canary feathers could “who me nahh”
"thought so..
good though I can tell him he can help out when the time comes. later
jim"
"you don't go
dying on me drake."
"no choice in
that now.. I have other lives to think about now jim." clicking it off
====================================================
he clicked again
for a moment "I'm bouncing it off several com sats in orbit so it cant be
traced so no need to worry ladies"
typing more he
looked up as the screen came up it was dark
"identity"
"Cyberhorn the
drake you silver tounged devil you"
"william!"
gators face came into view imeadiately "your alive as richards said you
would be!"
"yes gator’ he
looked on with a pause then had to ask’ your star has gone black hasn’t it my
friend"
the droggin lowered
his head
"if you would
have told me we could have thought of something is that not part of the promice
the star holds?"
"yes it
does"
"all is
forgiven my friend I do not blame nor should you let your star heal"
the droggin smiled
and sighed looking at his palm it had turned white again " thank you my
friend.. how can I help you now?"
"you in orbit
yet?"
"no several
days away still"
"good take
your time richards bugged your ship somehow and your leading him to droggin
prime"
"what!?"
"listen to me
gator.. lead him here but slowly I'm in no danger as of yet but I have the
feeling that may change soon.. and why didn’t you tell me males carried the
babies?"
he shrunk a little
"I forgot?"
"HA! you
convenently forgot.. you were afraid to tell me becouse you think in human eyes
male droggin especialy the leader of a ship would become weak in the eyes of a
customer.. becouse he is the one who cares for children" bill folded his
arms not willing to let him dodge this
gator nodded and
sighed
"good you owe
me two cases of whatever richard gave you as payment"
gators eyes went
wide “bu-bu-but”
"I'm teasing
you gator.. but as friends I expect your help when I ask for it"
"you have
it"
"good when you
get into orbit call this line let a'tara know you’ve arrived she'll let me
know"
the droggins eyes
went wide "the a'tara!? of the royal blood?!"
bill grinned as
a'tara moved around behind him and gently kissed his neck and set her chin on
his shoulder
"it is a
pleasure to meet you fal'gator thank you for getting the questions I needed to
decide on william"
after numerous
minutes of gator bowing and begging forgiveness bill finaly got him up to look
at bill who stood up lifting his shirt the droggin was stunned "guess
who's going to be a father gator"
"you?"
bill turned to show
the profile "ohh and heavy too"
a’tara smiled
pridefully "we are bastarga fal'gator.. we have mated twice ..william is
with fifteen"
gator sighed and
shook his head "I knew you wanted children william.. but that..."
bill smiled as
a'tara wrapped her wings around him pulling him into her lap to sit "be
ready gator when your here we may need to hustle out of orbit on a moments
notice"
"my sister
may threaten williams life fal'gator.. if william needs to be evacuated he
trusts you, then so do I"
"then great
lady ..it would be an honor to serve"
"ehh cut out
the royalty stuff gator.. just be ready we may have to run like all the stars
in the region just went nova"
"we will be ready
my friend when I arrive I will bring you a com link.. then if you need me I
will be but a touch away"
"great idea
gator"
he looked up into
her eyes and smiled "so you like what you see so far ?"
she just smiled and
kissed him passionately gator smiled and sat up with pride watching them
kickarta disappeared back into the shadows a silver jewel of a tear sparkled as
it his the floor
they ate dinner
with everyone bill told all the ' human ' droggin of what was going on and told
them the good news about the computer access one shouted over the murmers
"what about my
wife and kids on earth!?"
"when this is
all over guys.. we will still be droggin yes this is not something id wished
for but we do get the chance to help a race that is dieing.. I realize that
many had family back home but for them your gone you are now a droggin. do you
think your wife would still sleep with you?"
silence as they
looked at each other
"and here I'm
sure that if a'tara gets into a postition of power she will stop this war.. in
effect guys you gave your humanity for the earth for peace as you expected to
give out on the battle field. . you carry in your bellies a races future no its
not what we want, but we are fleets best and a chosen few of those ..we can
give life unlike any one else from our home.. think on it guys. they need you
and want, desire your help."
=======================================================
soon as they had
the terminals avalable he started researching customs and ideals , how a male
droggin did things
labor feeding
and such
what bothered him
was the fact they had to wait for the grand councel to see a'tara and listen to
her pettion for them to judge her for the crown then they would give her sister
a chance to speak, to prove any counter claims on the crown but it all had to
be done before the religous holiday coming up
they only crowned
the queen of droggin on that day which came with a conjuntion of droggins moons
the three moons aligned in a stack causing an eclipse which according to droggin
lore if the light shone from one of the preumbra halos on the queen to be.. she
would be one of the greatest in the history of droggin
looking at an old
lithograph of the last one well over a hundred generations ago it was a flare
of light that came from a crator on the closest moon where its shadow over
laped the next in its orbit. it was the time factor.. if they missed this one
coming it'd be fifteen years till the next avalable conjunction.
he knew that
neither race had fifteen years to wait much less five
looking at his
notes as he walked back to his room a sudden pain in his chest made him stop
tears came with
sharp stabbing pain in his left arm and chest
easing down to a knee
deeper pain slid out into his left arm leaving it limp his notes fell from his
paralized hand
charlie came
thundering up his footfalls shaking the floor "bill?!"
bill tried to speak
but only a sqeeak came out and that was a supreme effort in it’s self
"oh god your
heart easy bill easy"
laying him back
gently bill tried to gasp for breath but only looked like a fish out of water
the doctor rushed up with others charlie snarled "leave him alone!"
"easy now
falta"
bill could see
charlies huge claws extend.
charlie had become
one of the massive ground based hell dragons or battle dragons he personally
had seen only two in his life but they were pure nightmares on the battle field
totally fearless and once they got going little stopped them
they did all the
assaults on hard targets there armor scales thick enough to withstand quite a
pounding the claws could rip through concrete
"falta be calm
we are here to help him"
bill knew he had to
calm Charlie or else, putting his hand on charlie's tail which was thrashing
side to side the battle dragon turned and looked at bill
"s-s'ok
c-charlie"
he backed away then
knelt down to hold bill's hand the doctor scanned his chest keeping a wary eye
on charlie
"your droggin
heart has had a growth surge it is now partialy beating your human heart is
compressed against it and your ribs thus your discomfort I need you in a bed
for monitoring"
hours later the
pain had finally faded charlie was sitting by him bill could feel the droggin
heart thump hard in his chest the bone vibrating
charlie smiled
"you know you can see your body change.. must hurt like hell"
"not really
till that hit me" his voice was soft and put him out of breath
"the doc says
the change is happening so fast to you...you'll be droggin before I'm due"
smiling at bill "you rest if you argue with me i'll tell a'tara"
"jezz just go
right to the top of the command chain" that didnt help and left him
feeling faint
"see now stop
it. go back to sleep" he smiled as charlie did and let the world fade
============================================
fal'gator pulled
into a parking orbit he'd recived from a'tara the code clearence for one of her
allies allotment
kickarta came
up in her armor holding out the com to him "sir"
he looked at her
"your mad he is hers now arent you?"
she snarled and
turned stalking off several others smiled "yes she's definately upset
about this"
they went into the
shuttle and went to the location given landing on the roof landing pad
security met them
on the pad and then escorted them into the building. the doctor smiled as they
were led into the room
"ahhh
fal'gator! good william has been worried about you" she gestured and they
followed her into a lift which soon stopped and opened to a medical center
several beds were empty but one had a huge droggin sitting at vigil
she held them back
for a moment "charlie? friends of william's are here" he looked and
his armored neck spines stood up in threat
"fal'ta they
are here to help"
fal'gator looked to
the doctor then to charlie
"I'm honored
fal'ta I am fal'gator. an old friend of williams" charlie sighed and
nodded turning
back to his vigil
gator had expected
to see william's smile as he rounded charlie’s shoulder but he was clearly not
in any condition to do that
his skin was
thin criss crossed with fiberus blood vessels a full belly something popped
softly inside william
"n'other bone
just broke doc"
"we've got the
suspension tank ready charlie.. when ever your ready to carry him to it we can
make him more comfortable"
he looked at gator
"he's changing so fast he's fallen into hybernation before you could get
here gator"
gently slipping his
arms under bill charlie lifted him effortlessly
fal’gator turned to
her "will he be alright healer?"
"yes but the
change is progressing so fast it has us frightened for his life"
they followed as
charlie walked into another room and helped the attendants to secure william to
a soft support webbing and then lowered him into a tank of liquids attendants
hooking up sensors and breathing tubes climbing out as the tank filled slowly
covering him bubbling soon blurred any outline of his body
fal'gator stood
with charlie for a few moments glancing back at kickarta she was pale still
staring at the tank
"fal'ta, I was
bringing william a com so if needed he can reach me at any time. I think it
will be best if I give it to you since he is unable".
Charlie accepted it
looking at kickarta
"you the
engineer who keeps sticking her fingers where they shouldn’t be?"
they both laughed;
she smiled totally caught of guard
"yes fal'ta I
am"
“he said to tell
you that now he can give you a swat to the rump for all the repairs he's had to
do".
she smiled "he
is mate to the lady A’tara, if he wished he could order me put to death for the
inconveniance"
"I think he is
sorry that he missed the chance to enjoy some time with you kickarta and was
saying it to make you smile even though he wouldent be able to say it to you
when you arrived" turning he sat down to watch over his falta.
fal'gator was soon
back on his ship feeling rather ill the smells of so many pregnant male droggin
made his stomach do odd things his scales itched and felt strange.
Sitting down he
called richards as per agreement
"ah hello
fal'gator"
"as agreed
richards I am in orbit I have spoken to william and he has spoken to you
already"
"ahh umm
yes"
gator grinned as
only a droggin could "william speak to you of why he stayed?"
"he made
mention of it"
"he fairs
well, the change has progressed"
richards reaction
instantly revealed he knew nothing of this as gator had suspected
"you know
nothing of this do you richards"
the human sighed
"no I don't gator what is going on?"
"it is indeed a
strange yet wonderous thing, a future for droggin, he will tell you more but
know this richards he has become the favored of A'tara the royal, she will be
highly displeased with you if it comes about that you are responcible for any
harm that may befall him" with that he disconnected the communications
channel.
====================================================
jim leaned back in
his chair thinking for a moment his aids looking on one hands full of reports
and data cards.
He leaned forward
again and tapped keys on his terminal
"dick go tell
the SO lutenant what's his name? I want him in here pronto" "yes
sir!"
he looked at the
file fleet had on a droggin named A'tara it wasn’t much. but the usual files
were notoriously incomplete as anyone could get into them.
he looked up at his
other aide who was holding the reports
"set those
aside for now and take a break"
"yes
sir". walking out the door closed behind him
after just a few
minutes a nondescript young officer walked in carrying a folder
"sir?"
"that
it?" knowing full well how special ops worked they monitored every com
channel they had A’taras file and cybers making connection notes in them before
fal’gator had even reached to disconnect the com
"sir"
"give and
scoot" holding his hand out for the file
he raised an eye
brow at this "it's my call sir"
"if cyber's
gotten in good with this one, he may well be in the prime place for anything we
need"
jim gestured to him
to give it. he set the file down turned and walked out
Jim opened the thick
folder
setting a large
picture of her aside taken at some public ceremony on droggin thinking she was
rather good looking for a droggin.
Thinking shes one
of twin sisters born to the king and queen of droggin she has been staunch
supporter for talks with earth, allies with thirty of droggins' major clans.
recently supporting
a top secret project code named one plus one special ops had tried in vain to
find out more about it but had hit a wall of incredibly tight security.
She’d been seen
several times visiting the sealed high security building in droggins' capital
city of gal'lor other droggin identifyed entering and leaving this building,
high to mid clan leaders of all allied clans many high rank battle vetrans from
those clans also many in the genetic and reprodutive fields of the medical
community.
Special ops belived
there was something going on in the building involving the droggin trying to
breed a super warrior but this was only conjecture.
Jim read over her
movements, did some inquiring on droggin terms and just came to realize as he
looked at the opening paragraphs again
"if this is
right bill is the lover of one of the two princess of droggin? Holy christ on-a
stick!"
he smiled knowing
now exactly what bill could do in that position! Relaxing back for a moment he
thought on it then stopped and looked at the file
"the twin
sister"
looking through the
file he wasn’t surprised to find her's there as well and what he read made him
stand up, his hair and nerves started tingling
"dick!”
his aide burst
in “sir?”
“Get fleet command
on the line and I want the entire fleet put on alert I mean every thing!"
"yes
sir!" rushing out
jim stood up
looking out the port at the stars beyond realizing that this was indeed the
biggest chance and possibly the last one
====================================================
Bill had over time
some odd to strange dreams as he'd lived and fought the droggin at first always
the tunnel the flames and his crew calling to him for help the droggin the
dragon, marching for him eyes flames in a skelital head.
But they had
changed over time the dragon inside had taunted him demanding to set free, even
on other humans!
that was but one of
cyber's sides. his fully evil draconic side the one that took pleasure in pain
to others and glee when another suffered.
even cyber who now
for the first time was confused and looked it.
They both stood in
a white featureless place
Cyberhorn as the
classic massive dragon of old
William just a man.
cyber finally
turned and loomed over him
"now what is
it you have done to us? More drugs? More therapy?" scoffing and grinning
with a lear
"me? You dummy
I'm here with you, you think if id finally found something to be rid of you in
my dreams that id stuck my self in it too? Your more nuts than I am!"
the dragon growled
menacingly
"ohh go stuff
it in yer ear drake. Last thing I remember is being taken prisoner, a lady
droggin"
"she mated
with us"
"yeah that's
it. But why?"
"perhaps my
good looks lured her to us" the dragon grinned lecherously again tounge
wagging
"yeah like any
droggin is that blind, Sure cyber"
he snarled and
roared as william smiled
"oh huff and
puff. Um Cyber, what is that?"
they both looked at
a dark mass sweeping over the light in the featureless sky towards them,
thunder rumbled
"storm"
the dragon proclamed
"nothing like
any I've seen before"
"it
lives"
he looked at the
dragon who turned an eye to him
"it is a
living storm.. inside of us we will not survive this I think"
it rushed at them and
darkness fell a fog flowed in it was cold and chilling to the bone glowing
softly from around their feet
he felt as if he
was suficating in it cyber too was having trouble.
Lower grey storm
clouds swept over flickering flashing above and around them
he felt light
headed different he reached out and touched cyber hoping for soild support,
found his hand held fast being bonded with the dragon being sucked into his
scaley hide but saw cyber too was in a panic held fast by some unseen force his
body compressing shrinking and changing
the last he saw as
his face was pulled into the dragons body, was what looked like, childrens
shadows in the fog watching waiting.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
William awoke and
couldn’t breathe or swallow.
his eyes wouldn’t
open!
he could feel his
arms and legs but they seemed impossibly long and they wouldn’t couldn’t move.
it felt as if he
was trying to swim but was tangled in the grasses held fast tangled and clearly
drowning
the water suddenly fell away and his body
immeadiately hurt tangled tied up
air wouldn’t come
he couldn't breathe panic struck he tried to hold it but nothing was working
right.
hands touched and
he reacted thinking god yes HELP FINALY!
the fluid finally
gurgled out of his ears and voices came quite loud in some strange tounge then
the sound of thudding foot falls came and a voice which caused instant calm
"william! It's
charlie calm down your alright your safe"
he felt the panic
subside and tried to move "no! don't move your all tangled in the support
webbing. the doctor and her helpers are trying to get you out of it so just
relax okay"
he nodded
"good it's
alright just be calm".
he felt a hand
settle on his chest "william relax your left leg please"
that voice, he knew
it, the doctor!
He tried to move
his mouth but it was stuck too
he felt straps
untwist and pain stopped from various parts of his body that seemed to be far
to distant for the relation to where he should be feeling it.
"falta would
you carry him to the bed please"
"sure doc, is
he gona be alright?"
"yes charlie
we gave him something to sleep so we can remove these"
"okay, I'll be
right here bill don't you worry"
bill gave him a
thumbs up and found sleep.
Charlie looked on
as the doctor and assistants slipped tubes and wires from under the
blueish-green scales, which the chest and groin area were a lighter shade.
She looked up at
him as she removed the breathing tube from bill’s throat his chest expanded as
he took a first very deep breath.
"Fal'ta he
will be alright I think he needed more air and when he couldn’t take a deep
breath became startled"
the massive battle
dragon known now as Fal’ta Charlie only sighed and nodded
"I've never
seen his type before doctor, is this some other kind which doesn’t fight
humans?"
She and her
assistants looked at the prone form then each other,
"no Charlie,
but I too have not seen this form. There are several race of droggin who have
been lost to time. This clearly is one of those, the lady must have had an
ancestor from one of these blood lines and the babies thought this was the best
choice for their father"
They brought
Charlie food and left him alone with his falta.
She watched from
the control room as Charlie ate then waited
"are you
running williams' type for match?"
"yes ssarta,
so far there has been none"
"also let
A’tara know he is out of the suspension tank and she can come see her
mate"
smiling she knew
how much the lady would be pleased he was indeed a royal consort big strong and
a flyer. But the fact that he had become one of the rare forms troubled her.
She had seen his
form somewhere but where she thought, walking to her office she realized when
she looked at an antique given to her by the princess her self!
A figurine of a
seductive male droggin William had become one of the Lumar!
The king males!
They had done all they could to destroy the matriarchal clan rule long ago told
now as legends
In the end
massive civil war, which had claimed thousands of lives, the kings left droggin
never to be seen again thousands of cycles ago.
The doctor took a
scan of the princesses genetics and ran the known profile of the Lumar it found
only two tags and those were not related to form but reproduction.
Thinking to herself
this is why the royal have always had several more children at one time than
any other form of droggin
Tapping her stylus
on the desk looking at the holograms she tapped a key on the pad accidentally
which changed her displays
In shock as she
watched them change "oh now." The holograms scrolled up genetic keys
all highlighted and blinking to show it was tagged as related to Lumar genetics
there were dozens of them.
It was only then
she looked at who’s file it had scanned
It was Williams
prior to his change. She looked over the results realizing only a decendant of
a Lumar could have this many keys. all of them in the test were repressed not
active but definitely there.
A thought came to
check his current tests and those same keys were now totally active
thinking of course
the babies will have his genetics and they will want their father to be the
strongest possible to be all he can be. I have brought the Lumar back to
droggin, and placed them at the foot of the very place they wished to see destroyed
for power.
A chill passed over
the doctor as she let this sink in and then becoming more professional thinking
he is William he is Cyberhorn the warrior; is all that from his having Lumar
genetics also?
She quickly ran the
scan over a random selection of the males at the facility. they all had Lumar
keys in varying amounts, William's being the highest of them all
noting all the
others who made exceptional males with high numbers of babies were also the
ones with the most Lumar keys in their genetics; they too were the exceptional
warriors or leaders, collected from various earth fleet forces.
This was her proof
then the Lumar had traveled to other worlds and there they found the same fact
that some humans were able to reproduce with droggin
Thinking about it
further legends stated that the Lumar had many females who refused to stay with
out them but there were far more males. She did not have a single human female
available but she did have some of the genetic profiles
Taking one of the
fertile droggin born males keys she placed them together the computers gave her
a time to do the calculations and percentile odds of a fertile union.
She sat back
watching the computer work, her com chimed. "yes?"
"we have a
problem forming at the main entrance Ssarta" thinking that was her head of
security
" and that
is?"
"the lady's
sister Mu'tara is here demanding entrance as one of the royal she has an escort
that is fully armed with her"
Ssarta sighed and
shut off her displays "tell the lady I will be there in a moment I am
attending to a-a-patient yes I'm with a patient"
"as you say
Ssarta. If needed do I defend the building?"
she stopped at the door looking back at her desk
with its system, knowing the data there
"yes but only if there is no other way, she is
of the royal though she would rather see us all die needlessly in her
madness"
Ssarta walked over
to Williams' prone form
falta Charlie had
fallen asleep next to him. She looked at his new droggin form and could see
much of the Lumar in his face and form now.
built for battle
and yet fine and smooth of body it was indeed an atractive droggin that lied
asleep there.
"charlie"
he roused looking
at her “doctor?”
"there may be
trouble, I need you to be ready to carry william to safety if needed"
willaim stirred and
yawned opening a mouth lined with teeth and a forked tounge he reached up in a
huge stretch tail swishing then coiling wings opening fully in the stretch he
groaned, clearly it felt very good
then he looked at
her for the first time with his droggin eyes, deep blue green eyes and smiled
silently, sitting up slowly his nostrils flared and he blinked softly
"Ah william
how do you feel?"
he looked at
charlie who smiled "you look incredible there cyber"
he turned back to the
doctor and in a deep cool voice he spoke "I'm doing quite well doctor,
your quite nervous for someone who is in charge" sniffing again softly
"the lady
Mu'tara, A’tara's sister is at the entrance. She’s demanding entrance to the
facility"
"then you'd better
let her in immeadiately, the quicker the better, the longer she waits the more
she will question what your doing here if she doesn’t already know"
the doctor nodded
this was true. She taped her com and told her security chief to escort the lady
to the medical area.
then looked at
William who stretched again his muscle structure rippled under his scales
she shook her head
and sniffed the smell was clearly coming from William it was as attracting as
it was disarming.
"something
wrong doctor?" he asked innocently
she had a feeling
he knew exactly what he was doing
Charlie looked at
William "what’s going on cyber?"
"Falta Charlie
I belive william has found a new ability and even now is calculating excatly
how useful it is"
the blue-green
Cyberhorn narrowed his eyes and grinned quite evilly
"it has the
results I expected doctor, it works for me".
"how did you
realize you could effect a female with scent?" she shifted her stance to
move her attention from his seductive form and its effects on her
"don’t know
really, but since smell is a form communication for droggin I surmised it would
work"
She nodded to this
"well Mu'tara is coming, you’re the fighter and the lady A'taras mate
William what do you need of me?"
He eased off the
bed, and stood up slowly. charlie reaching out to help which he used the
offered hand for steadying support.
standing up
straight he loomed up taller than the doctor and slightly more so than Charlie.
his wings mantled,
the edge scales gleamed colors, his face was built along a large scale, not
thin and narrow as most flyers but larger,
his wings were
quite immence for the added weight load of his mass she noted for her notes in
his file.
he walked a few
steps around the bed and folded his arms looking down just a bit at the doctor
who was exuding smells of sexual attraction, fear, and anticipation by the
gallon.
The doors opened to
a calphony of voices in formal and normal droggin but one above them all was
very clear it was not happy
"Doctor
Ssarta! I demand to know what it is your - do-ing here" Mu’tara came to a
slow halt looking right at William her jaw open just a bit several of her
escort went from anger scents to sexual in a flash
William smiled very
politely and bowed his head to the twin to A'tara.
The fuming Mu'tara
came to a slow rolling boil, a couple of her escort started immeadiately whispering to each other about
him.
Bill's tail nudged
the doctors ankle gently
she blinked and
quickly gathered her thoughts "Lady! Mu'tara!" she moved over to the
lady and shifted one of the friends out of the way with a gentle nudge she
guided Mu’tara closer to William
"I with your
sisters help, have been trying to find the reasons for our males being sterile,
but in the process, have found perhaps a better use for human males than the
labor camps and ore mining operations" gesturing to William and Charlie
with a gentle flourish of her hand
Mu'tara snapped
around to look at the doctor "these, are humans?"
"they were, my
lady - - were, they are now fully droggin and both are quite fertal as this one
here is quite tamburg. This is his first time standing after the change has
been completed"
Mu'taras eyes
narrowed and she moved closer for a good look but clearly wary of him.
"William is a good
one my lady he has accepted his options, and has been very calm. He wont hurt
you"
she then smiled and
reached out feeling his side. now William gently and seductively slid the tip
of his tail along the side of hers this garnered her moving around to look into
his eyes rather quickly.
"hmm, such
color Ssarta"
"he was born
with blue eyes my lady the color is carried to the droggin and…enhanced to the
enjoyment of many a lady".
"who was the
fortunate female who got to mate with him!" turning quickly to the doctor
Mu’tara smiled quite clearly eager to know
bill winked to the
doctor who caught the blink and sighed dramaticly
"she was a
warrior my lady, she, she died in battle recently we match female to male via
their genetic compatability. Your sister was keeping the project a secret for
many reasons”
“one of course is
that if the average droggin were to find out their would be a major outcry for
human males but its not feasable with every human male. It is only a select
genetic group and it is a time consuming process”.
“I do belive also
that, well my lady she submited both her blood sample and yours so both of you
could possibly find, mates"
Mu'tara smiled
finally showing her true nature "that was honorable of my dear sister, but
we both know Ssarta that she has already mated with one of these males, what I
now want to know is, which one?"
Ssarta didn’t
hesitate in her reply "she did my lady, but he did not suvive the changing
process I have not been able to gather the courage to tell her of this"
the doctor clearly could act and took on a very sad expression
She looked rather
surprised at Ssarta who continued "I feared the loss of her support for
the project my lady, so I have been avoiding telling her the male which had
been hand chosen for her, died"
Mu'tara then
grinned.
William cleared his
throught all turned to look at him in a fake accent from earth english he spoke
"I understand some droggin ladies. your talking bout doug arn’t you? Doc ?
he died didn’t he? I mean that there princess. Who um well looks a lot like
ya'll ma’am. The one who's been in here wanting to see him n all?"
Mu'tara turned and stood quite proudly
glaring at him speaking in quite good English "yes human he has died, that
is my sister the Lady! A'tara you speak of do so respectably!"
she swept her hand back and smacked him
firmly across the head he cringed as Charlie stood looming up his spines stood
out and he growled
Ssarta moved
between them "Falta Charlie! don’t just remain calm! William keep silent
as I told you do not speak unless spoken too!"
He nodded and
gently pulled Charlie back a little.
Mu'tara just
grinned and enjoyed the spectical as the doctor turned back to her
"the big one
has spirit Ssarta but not exactly the most handsome is he. Well I wish to see
more of this and perhaps see about adding my own funding to the facility. For
priority selection of a suitable male of course"
Ssarta smiled
eagerly, fully knowing william had guided this entire event to this conclusion
"of course My
lady! Please come to the examination area and I can get a fresh sample for
testing and show you some of the babies. The males may not be all incredibley
handsome but the babies of course are
completely wonderful"
They all moved out
Ssarta leading the lady out arm in arm the ladies escort following along some
taking notes.
He smiled evilly,
slowly turning to Charlie who then grinned "your very, very cold there
cyber"
"if you cant
impress them with looks, ya dazel um with bullshit, now we have to be very
careful as Mu'tara will be coming here regularly now wanting progress on her
male we may even have to find her one"
"Yuck who'd
want to even step in her guts. She’s the reason so many have died"
Bill nodded and
stretched again unfolding his wings moving them in and out then a joint popped
"ah that was the ache"
It was later that
the doctor came back to the medical area, clearly relived things had gone as
she’d hoped, she came in to find William exersizing working his joints and
muscles.
Charlie was just watching
in interest from the bed as William performed several hand to hand combat
maneuvers very slow at first then faster and faster
Then as if born to
the body the tail and wing claws came into play.
It was entrancing
watching him work his body, the flexibility was astounding for his size much
less the fact he was pregnant. And she found her body responding to all of the
movements he made.
She decided she
needed to advise him about over working when he noted her presence and roared
out a battle cry! He charged at her full speed. She screamed and dropped to the
floor to avoid the impact when nothing came but the feeling of great warmth.
Opening an eye, his
nose was right next to her face his claws were at her throat and his wings were
the cage that would trap her in his deadly embrace.
He smiled slowly
"so Ssarta”
He blinked slowly
exhaling softly at her neck ”things went well with the dear princess?"
standing up he pulled her to her feet.
She swallowed hard
and cleared her throat "yes y-yes they did"
"sorry about
that doctor, but I couldn’t resist showing you how humans see droggin"
only now did
Charlie chuckle softly
"shoud'a seen
yer face doc, you turned white as an interceptor dragon"
he walked over and patted her shoulder gently
"cyber could’a killed you as a human couple dozen times, he likes
you"
walking out the
door his voice came back to them "I'm starved Cyber been waiting fer ya to
get up lets go get some food huh"
he bowed politely
to her and ever so gently nuzzled her nose with his
"coming
Charlie I'm starved myself feel like I'm feeding 16" tromping out behind
the bigger battle dragon tail sweeping around wildly
she could hear them
both laughing as Charlie slapped his faltas shoulder. Her first thought was
what have I done to droggin. Then wondered how much William did like her, she
laughed and went to call A'tara.
====================================================
Jim Richards, never
in his many years in fleet had he seen the entire fleet available. the reserves
including every single ship that could be commandeered for any singe assault.
the fleet numbered into the hundred thousands and filled the local light year
with electrical signals at least.
if any droggin
scout were nearby they would see the huge fleet and run like all hell's beasts
were on its tail to report back to droggin prime and they would never be able
to catch it they would be at a disadvantage from the beginning.
Total blackout of
the com and more scouts than you could shake a stick at were needed to keep
this a secret
He turned from the
view and his thoughts to his commanders “current status?”
"all banshees
are out admiral even the raw trained pilots every single fighter an destroyer
are on escort patrol to catch any droggin scouts that might approach the fleet
cordon"
He nodded they all
knew his thoughts in this they were sitting waiting for Cyberhorn.
Waiting for a man
who could either stop the war or this would be the final major battle of it.
They were ready to destroy droggin prime and all indications were that
Droggin’s entire fleet was heading for the planet, pulling away from all battle
lines only a few were guarding key planets and colonies.
He looked at the
tactical statistics as a destroyer eased by the main view scanning for any
intruders inside the fleet cordon and possibly magneticly locked to a ships
hull. The destroyers huge search lights scanning the hull as it glided along in
its sweep
"Sir, I
realize Cyberhorn is one of the best fighters fleet has had for a long time
but"
He spun on the
commander who'd spoke "commander if your up for questioning my motives and
faith in bill you best hope to god I don’t take it as cowardice or mutany"
realizing that was a bit harsh he calmed for a moment
pointing out the
view screen "Cyberhorn is alive and is currently at the right hand of a
princess of droggin. from what I've found out if she can become queen of
Droggin they’re may be a disagreement between factions one supporting
Cyberhorns’ A'tara and those loyal to her sister Mu'tara. If she can survive to
become queen, she can call this entire war to a dead halt! As no droggin would
question the word of their queen".
He turned back to
the view of space "we have to be ready to back her forces at just the
right moment to totally crush those who support Mu'tara, hell bill is more than
likely discussing tactics with A'tara right now"
He wondered,
knowing bill as he did, he was more than sure bill was quite busy with A'tara.
Bill smiled as she
did kissing, they had finally got a moment to enjoy being together from the
moment she'd walked into the building after hearing that Mu'tara had been there
and seen him. She'd been in a state of near pure fury if Mu'tara had harmed
him.
He had just smiled
and looked invitingly at her as he welcomed her with a passionate kiss her
escort clearly stunned by his appearance. Her closest friends whispering and
giggling they talked for a few moments then she asked if they could have some
time alone which they used it well.
He could feel her
breathe and the subitle textures of each scale along her side along a hip out
along her leg softly then back up where her tail coiled around his wrist
holding his hand still she turned her head to him eyes alight with pure joy
"I knew the
moment I saw your image, you could be so much more to me" she kissed him
rolling over into his arms "I think you should go to fal'gators ship and
be ready to leave my mate"
"No" he
said with conviction that it brought her up short the tone was firm yet caring
"You need me
here and if your sister were to come here and wonder where I had gotten to now
that she thinks I have a dead mate. It would not be good for anyone." He
tilted her head up to look directly into her eyes
"How long is
it till the conjunction and your notifying the councel my mate?"
"About ten
days my mate I have already filed my claim to them apparently it's one of the
reasons why my sister was here this morning., to find my mate and eliminate
him"
He nodded to this
"so will the clans be attending the conjunction?"
"Yes it’s the
grand conjunction. If all goes well all droggin will be inatendance here and
watching on all our colonies in the hopes a queen will be crowned"
She sighed softly
looking deep in his eyes Ssarta had told her about his being somehow of Lumar
blood and when she saw him in person the resemblance was uncanny to many of the
anchent statueary that were known as fertility idols to the point they were
nearly everywhere.
If her people went
on looks alone they would see his likeness everywhere then and see him as
incredible omen of good fourtune for every droggin alive they would eagerly
stop the war at her request it would never come to an order of the queen.
She got up gently
pulling from his embrace as he reclined on a large sleeping pad as he smiled love
and sexual encouragement flooded her nostrils, which in turn warmed her
thoughts. But she wanted to look at him like this
His tail layed
relaxed over his leg his chest and neck were lighter colored nearly a different
shade of blue-green his eyes narrowed as he smiled seductively holding a hand
out to her in clear invitation to come back to his embrace. Reluctantly she
turned and walked over to her clothes.
"I must go, if
Mu'tara finds you my mate all we hope for will be lost"
He was far to
silent she turned and he was gone! "William?" she turned around
looking over the entire room for him
Strong arms wrapped
around her from behind, his very scent disarmed her surprise and she melted
into his embrace. Now she understood why he was known as the ghost and been
un-killable by Droggins’ best
"I will be
fine my lady. It is you I fear for as you have to remain public and open to
attack I can dissapear and reappear as the banshees do"
she looked at him
ready to tell him about the generateors that could rob a banshee of the
advantage it had when he put his cheek on hers.
"I know you
have found away to rob them of the skipping drive my lady, that will not help
droggin if they attack each of the banshee pilots are deadly without the
skipping drive. All it does is keeps your torpedoes from hitting them as they
set up for an attack run"
He stood up now
tall as she was but he held more mass "I must contact Jim. So he can know
the timetable"
"Why this
conjunction is for Droggins alone" slipping her top on he helped to fasten
the clips along the back for her "yes it will bring an end to the war if I
become queen"
"In this one
time A'tara you are very wrong. If you are made queen then the Earth and
Droggin will be at peace. If Mu'tara by some reason is made queen or neither of
you is made queen then it would be the final battle as humans now know where
droggin is, they will come here to end the war one way or another."
She had to agree to
his logic.
Continuing as he
helped her with her hair she found the attention quite enjoyable
"If I tell Jim
when it all happends; he can either be here as a show of support for you and a
peace treaty in hand or possibly catch Mu'taras forces asleep at the helm and
force peace"
Looping the tidied locks
into a rolled bun atop her head he pulled a few bangs out and smiled "At
worst deal her a deadly blow and then retreat to cover Earth and Sol's solar
system prepairing for her to come and try to exterminate the human race."
She looked at him
and in a very human way she nodded "yes contact admiral Richards tell him
if all goes well he will be the first outsider to witness a Droggin being
crowned queen"
With that they
walked out to her friends and advisors William got the vid-phone and started
his typing again
Charlie came up and
smiled at A'tara "you two were really made for each other you know that
don't you?"
she smiled and affectionately kissed him on
the neck "Falta Charlie you are indeed a true friend"
William gestured
for them to be quiet as the connection was made and the bridge of the carrier
San Francisco came up filled with fleet brass.
===================================
"Comm. signal
coming in admiral it has Cyberhorns' identity code on it!"
"Put it
through main viewer"
"Sir!"
The main screen
filled with the interior of a building, several Droggin were standing in view,
admiral Richards bowed his head to the princess A'tara who was at the front of
the group
"Lady A'tara
it is a pleasure to be able to speak to one of Droggin's leaders once
again"
She said nothing
but did nod in acknowledgement of his effort in normal Droggin
A blue green flyer
unlike any droggin he or anyone had seen stepped forward to be centered in the
image with a crisp salute it imitated a human fleet officer it then spoke
"Master
sergeant William Morris also known as Cyberhorn the dragon reporting admiral
Richards"
Jim smirked and
then nearly laughed holding it in so not to offend A’tara "funny one bill
now come on out where I can see ya"
The flyer grinned
and sat down on the floor cross legged "I thought as much with you Jim,
your wife’s name is Sara your sons are twins born what is it now ten years
ago?"
Jim held his hand
up to stop him "what’s is the point of this? Your not William Morris"
The flyer sighed
"on the quazarian home world you broke your ankle running from the enemy
fell down a service access cover where I found you in pain about ready to shoot
anything that moved near you I left you there to finish the mission alone which
I then gave you full credit for"
Jim was stunned for
a second then got incredibly angry "you broke him didn’t you!"
Bill sighed
"we had a code name for each other on the mission. The other two
operatives who died and us were the only ones to know the nick names we
had"
He moved closer to
the screen his image filled the viewer "you were the gods Kazoo and mine
was one that I had carried for many years through the ops classes and training
missions I was the animal"
Jim blinked as bill
continued "I got the kick name from how we played football I roared at the
opposing players when I smashed them to the turf. You should know you used to
shout"
"Kill them
animal--- fetch the--- ball,” he said softly as the flyer smiled in response
"You had a
pony when we were kids" the admiral said quickly
"Mugzey gray
brown and white spots loved my orange soda drank it right from the
container"
He leaned forward
on the console "how? How did this? This? My god bill how!"
He smiled "you
said love was waiting till I was ready for it to try again, and she would be
there waiting. The droggin race is in trouble Jim they have millions of
females, but only a few fertile males each generation that number has gone down
till now they have virtually none"
Jim nodded at this
point "and they experimented on you?"
"No A'tara and
I mated, we made love"
Jim had to laugh
and shook his head "okay I know that there is a huge amount I'm not
getting yet but lets say this okay, human male droggin female why does the male
become droggin?"
"Because my
old friend the female droggin doesn’t carry the babies, the male does"
with that he stood up and turned slightly to show his belly in profile and the
rounded mass distending the surface out.
Jim stood there for
a moment dead silent looking like he’d just had a wet fish slap him across the
face "your?"
"A proud papa
to be Jim" as he smiled proudly A'tara moved up beside him and held him
close
"Admiral
Richards, William and I mated willingly it was as your people say destined to
happen. I saw his image, heard his voice, read repeated accounts of his courage
and skill. When it was found out that a female droggin had in her time of most
fertility, impregnated a human male and they were his children. Research was
started by my people, but it has been recently been found my mother and father
had already discovered this fact and it is why they were trying to contact the
human race many years ago"
"It’s a very
stupid mistake Jim it cost the lives of the king and queen of droggin and
tossed the human race into a fight that has now come to a final conflict for
everything"
"Speaking of
which cyber, were ready to literally drop into orbit to end this now" Jim
stood up straight
A'tara was the one
who looked concerned bill smiled and hugged her close with his arm and tail
around her legs "I figured you would be after getting Gateor to carry a
tracker here unknowingly. Under the premise of rescuing me or me needing an
escape route"
Jim smiled and held
his hands out with a look of would I do that?
"Yes you would
and did Jim, hold off Jim"
"I cant not
now"
"Hold off ten
days Jim, in ten days the conjunction comes and they can crown a new Queen your
invited for the event as the first outsider to see this."
"Yes and the
entire droggin fleet will be in orbit at that time"
"Who then
would have the advantage, the earth fleet as it would be free of Droggin’s
gravity influences for faster maneuvering. Jim you can wait ten days I know you
have every ship in fleet you can get with you maybe even a few you shouldn’t
have. Wait please till A'tara can be crowned, she has sworn to end this war Jim
I cant give you any further assurances to that effect I'm afraid"
A'tara stepped
forward "no my mate but I can give Admiral Richards something that we have
held highly secret, you think your banshee fighter-bombers are invincible due
to the skipping drive. They are not, we have found a way to force them into
reality where they can be destroyed they are no longer the weapon they once
were"
Several of her escort
and friends gasped then murmured to this exposure of a military advantage
Jim blinked and
looked quickly to his aides they all shrugged to this revelation "can you
explain this way of getting the banshee out of skip?"
"It uses high
energy magnetic waves to cause the drive to cease functioning due to the fact
the drive is sensitive to powerful magnetic fluxuations"
She smiled "I
have told you one of Droggin’s greatest secrets which as of yet has not been
used against earth ships by my choice. I wanted the chance to stop this war and
bring peace instead of killing more"
Jim nodded and
clearly came to a decision "alright Cyber A’tara you have ten days no more
no less."
"Thanks
Jim." He smiled and took her back into his arm
She bowed her head
politely to Jim "Admiral try to be here before the conjunction I wish you
to see the event as our guest"
"Princess I
wouldn’t miss getting the chance to see Cyberhorn pregnant. Much less your
coronation take care both of you, Richards out."
=======================================================
A couple days later Fal'gateor came dow