The massive wooden mansion, fit enough for twenty dragons to live in, was set in the center of a giant walled-garden. The borders of the pine castle were covered in strips of carved wood darker than the rest while the walls were made up of tall interlocking vertical planks. The front door had a latch instead of a knob. The marble steps leading up to the front door were the same as before, as was the path leading up to them. Everyone aside from Dan and Kynareth appeared standing before the building. Cedric was not in sight.
Cinon walked ahead, Shadow following at his tail. "Ok, everyone can come in now. Cedric finished what he was doing." The young dragon stepped up to the front door, pushing on the latch and opening it up for the others. Shadow entered first while Cinon waited on the group.
"Thank you." Garzon said to cinon, walking up the staircase and through the door.
Gabby followed Cinon and Shadow into Cedric's home. As she stepped into the familiar entry way, she felt at ease. "Cedric?"
Cedric came around the corner, glaring at Shadow by Gabby's side. "Do not go exploring where you are not meant to be."
Her eyes scanned the the room as Cedric appeared and noticed that something was missing. His beautiful painting of the eggs were missing... as were the rest of them. The look on contempt on the dragon's face as he stared at Shadow was telling enough. He probably didn't want such things seen by Shadow. She couldn't really blame Cedric, given Shadow's past.
"Of course. I will stay where you allow me. I don't want to invade your mind."
"We won't go anywhere we're not meant to be. Don't worry Cedric."
"Cinon, we need to talk. Gabby too."
"What about-"
"No. Just us and Gabby. Shadow can make his way to the living space."
Gabby tilted her head to the side slightly at the Cedric who was still glaring at Shadow. It concerned her that he looked so angry and suddenly wanted to talk. It wasn't like him at all. "Alright," she whispered before walking over to his side.
Shadow bowed his head, walking past passively and heading to the living room.
"Why are you-"
"Shh. Follow me."
Cedric started towards a room to the side of the entrance, clearly a kitchen space. The door to the kitchen shut behind them as they all stepped in, tiles on the floor quickly shifting before them to reveal a long downwards tunnel cut through the White. A wooden floor deep past the bottom of the drop was the only indicator that it ended at all. Cedric went first, rapidly dropping before suddenly slowing himself at the end, walking off to the side. Cinon followed, mumbling something under his breath.
Gabby didn't hesitate before following. She slid down after the dragon, smiling a bit at the fall before landing easily beside the brothers. "What is this place Cedric?"
Before them lay a large hollow dome of smooth grey stone. The floor was made of the same dark wood as the rest of the home's floors, most of it covered in paintings resting on their side, lined up along the round walls. A half-finished painting of Gabby facing off Grekan was on an easel towards the center.
"Painting room. It is protected."
"Cedric, why are you doin' all this?"
"Because I am protecting you from Shadow. He is evil. He is up to something, you need to stay away from him."
Her eyes scanned over the paintings and then settled on Cedric he spoke. "What exactly do you know about Shadow?" She asked evenly, trying to keep the conversation a calm one.
"He was working with Grekan, that is enough."
"True, and I can't say I trust him," Gabby said, "However, you brought him into Kynareth's mind to help save Cinon and he did."
"He could have saved him a lot sooner, he decided to work with Kynareth instead."
"How come that's a problem? Kynareth is nice too."
"Kynareth let you both be put into danger while she was fucking Dan."
"...She was what?"
"She was hanging out with Dan," Gabby said, to the innocent Cinon quickly before turning to Cedric again, "And yes, that's also true, but he is here now. I don't like him much either, but your opinion and mine are not the only ones who matter. This Cinon's mind too. What do you think?"
"I dunno. I like Shadow. He's nice and he makes me feel happy."
"You would really risk everything we've done, everything we've been though, because some dragon twice your age makes you feel happy? He's a murderer."
"You never listen. He said he didn't kill anyone."
"And you believe that?"
"Why not? If he really was dangerous why wouldn't he just do it while we were all asleep the first time? You need to trust people more."
"I will trust people when they earn it."
"And Kynareth and Cinder and Shadow earned it."
"How?"
"By being friends."
Gabby listened to the two brothers. It was obvious Cinon liked Shadow and the strange conversation she'd had with the made her think that perhaps the sentiment was returned. Suddenly, it clicked why Cedric was even angrier than usual. "I agree with you Cedric. Trust is earned and even though Shadow has apologized for trying to kill me ... but I also think that I have to be willing to give him a chance to prove he can be trusted. I'm trying to do that." She didn't mention her promise to the assassin, but she hoped Cedric would know she would protect them both with her own life.
"Fine. One chance." "Good. Maybe he really is nice, y'know." "But what about Kynareth? Can we still trust her?"
"I think so," Gabby replied after considering the question for a moment, "I dont think she ever intended us to be in danger. It was an accident. That being said, I'm not sure I want to go frolicking through her mind again anytime soon."
"You don't think that might be us? Trapped away like pets in her toybox?"
"You worry too much. Just relax, it'll be fine."
"...Fine. Fine. You do what you want Cinon, I am done worrying for the both of us."
Gabby let his words sink for a moment and then looked to Cedric. "You'll always worry and so will I."
Cedric turned away, looking at the half-finished painting.
"Cedric, I-"
"Cinon, just go. I will be fine."
Cinon turned, sulking away back towards the long shaft to the rest of the mansion.
"Cedric...I think I know why you're so upset...well some of it anyways," Gabby said as Cinon disappeared, "Your worries arent without good reason. You love your brother, and you want to protect him more than anything, from everything. But life...real life is joy and pain...the good can't be separated from the bad sometimes. You want Cinon to live life."
"So... What do I do about Shadow? Ignore him? Pretend he isn't a monster like Grekan?"
She came to stand next to Cedric and put a hand on his shoulder. "No. Remember what he was, but give him a chance to be something besides his past. Forgive, but don't forget."
Cedric kept staring at the wall, a slight shake ran through his body as he took a deep breath. "For Cinon."
"And for you too," Gabby added, "You have a life and body all your own. You have the chance to make your own decisions now too."
"Thank you for talking to me Gabby. I think I can face him now."
Gabby have him a smile as she pulled her hand away. "Of course. That's what friends are."
"We should return to the others. Hopefully Kynareth finishes 'playing' with Dan soon."
Gabby cringed a little at the mention of her watered-down explanation to Cinon. The young dragon would understand someday, but it wasn't her place to tell him of such things. Not to mention she was not a dragon. The process was probably similar, but she had no experience in the matter either. "Yes, we should probably go see what Cinder, Shadow, and that native... Garzon... are doing."
Cedric walked past Gabby, stopping in the narrow shaft and looking up, floating to the underside of the tiles as they opened up for him. Shadow scared him, he really did. Not the idea that he could fight them, but the idea that they might not be able to fight back. Still, he had to face him.
For Cinon. For me.
Gabby followed Cedric, this time giving a little jump and floating up behind him to the kitchens. He wasnt happy still, but he did seem like he was better now.
The tiles in the floor sealed shut as Gabby exited the cellar, catching her feet as she descended back onto them. Cedric was standing by the hall, listening to the faint conversation in the living hall. "Come. This way."
Gabby nodded and walked over to stand next to Cedric, listening to the conversation in the living room unfold.
- - -
Cinder headed into the living room and took a seat across from shadow. "So what was the guild like, if you do not mind me asking."
"No, it's fine. I should be ready for questions like this anyway..." Shadow looked to the side, thinking to himself. "It was good for me. I was in the inner circle, not really anything I couldn't do or have. I had my own bodyguards, messengers, a Native slave at one point, just about unlimited power over the lives of hundreds of dragons. It felt good, being so in control. There were three of us, Trilduvir, his mate Daleir, and I, though Grekan made himself a bit of a fourth member rather quickly. Tril's mind was deteriorating again, he didn't stop it."
"You had a slave, but never killed anyone? Strange life you live. Travel the world any? I would love to hear about places outside my route. I heard there is this one place where it always thunderstorms."
Garzon walked with the rest of the group, staying slightly behind. Garzon stayed away from shadow, slightly afraid. As they entered the living room he leaned against the wall, not sitting down. He silently listened until Shadow spoke. "You didn't tell me you kept slaves." Garzon said quietly, upset. "What cruel things did you do to them." He asked Shadow, contempt on his face.
"Well... A slave, yes. I treated him well, though. Some dragons have them lick their toes clean or pick meat chunks out of their teeth while they pretended to bite... He could bathe, he ate well, clothed as you humans prefer... Much better than others. I really only needed him because some other dragons were beginning to say I had sympathies for the Natives, that I threatened their arenas. I only held him for three moons, then I flew him out to a mountain cave and left him there. Alone, but free."
"What was his name? Was he taken in the same raid as me?" Garzon asked, hopeful that one of his friends may have survived.
Shadow thought for a moment. "Your raid... That was a little hunting party from Rech about some Native group he said was gathering, easy prey. You were all so scattered it was hard to find good ones. But no, I don't think he was. Taken from up North near the Fulhai borders I think. His name... His name was... Peyter. That was it."
"Well, I could hope." Garzon said sadly.
Cinon walked in, his head low, but rising as he saw Shadow and Cinder sitting near in the living hall. "Hey guys. Wanna fire?"
Cinder looked up from his discussion with Shadow. He was still curious and wanting to continue but not wanting to be rude and ignore cinon he replied "What kind of fire?"
"A fire fire." Cinon walked up, sitting on one of the giant feathery pillows next to Shadow. "In the fireplace."
Cinder nodded.
A moment later, a crackling flame sprouted in the stone fireplace on the other side of the room, cozy warmth radiating out to the rest of the room. Cinon nuzzled Shadow's neck, lying his head down on the pillow after.
"So are you two a thing." Garzon asked Cinon and Shadow, smiling.
"A what?" Cinon asked, looking over to Garzon without lifting his head.
"Never mind, ask shadow." Garzon muttered. He was surprised that Cinon had so low knowledge of stuff like this, assuming he would at least know what he meant.
"We're buddies." Shadow said, looking over to the doorway as Cedric stormed in. Cinon's brother shot a deadly look at Garzon before he went to the pillow kiddy-corner from Shadow, lying down in a regal and alert pose.
Gabby winced at Garzon's comment as she entered the room. Cedric was going to be angry with Shadow...possibly indefinitely...but at least he wasn't trying to kill him. Yet. She crossed the room and sat cross legged near Cedric. "Friends are a good thing," Gabby said as she looked to Shadow with a neutral expression, "Especially when they are true friends."
Shadow grinned at Gabby, looking back down to the sleepy Cinon at his side a moment after.
"We are still waiting on Dan. We need him to him to discuss our plan for tomorrow." Cedric said, keeping eyes on Shadow.
"How fast does time pass here?" Garzon asked.
"Time is fixed. It always passes at the same rate."
"Do we have a plan to find Grekan. What powers does he have?"
"There is no need to be so rude, Garzon." He turned to shadow. "I am sure they will be here soon."
Kynareth leaned against his shoulder and watched the sky go red. "Okay." She took his hand and established a link with Cinon. "May we enter?"
"Oh! I hear 'em. Yea, you can come."
"Grekan... He is skilled in the mental arts, and fighting, but has little in the way of real powers. He normally doesn't need them when nothing fighting him can focus enough to see. The Terran machines changed that." Shadow explained.
Kynareth walked in and adjusted her sleeve. "I can also at least slightly protect you. Shadow?"
"That depends... You feel strong, Kynareth, and experienced. You are probably strong enough to take Grekan out alone... But there is a problem. He was already incredibly strong when we drafted him, before he linked to Trilduvir like I did. Now it is just a matter of time before he convinces the Äncient to cut me off from his power and give it to Grekan instead. He will be like an Äncient himself then."
"So, that's how he can create dreams? Get into people's heads?" Gabby asked.
"So he was in my nightmare..." Cinder shivered.
Gabby shivered, silently thankful he had not done something like that to her on the beach. "How can someone defend against somthing like that?"
"Defending against mental attacks is difficult. It is a battle of thoughts and feelings. Fear will make you vulnerable, thinking of the things you love can help as long as the attacker doesn't twist those thoughts into nightmares. The best defence is to try and keep focus on one thing, resist the noise he forces in."
"Cinder, what was the nightmare about?" He walked over and whispered something in her ear. Kynareth looked over at him in confusion. "Now why would....Wait... You said the *whispering*" Cinder nodded. Kynareth whispered something back and he returned to his seat.
Gabby bit her bottom lip, thinking of the idea of feelings and nightmares being forced into her head. Was she strong enough to resist that? How could she? Her mind turned to Shadow's previous comment as well. "You are loosing your powers as he is gaining them? Will you become totally null?"
Kynareth shook her head. "He will have some power and experience, but not nearly as much as previously."
"I don't feel the change yet, I just know enough about both of them to know it is coming. My family was always mentally strong, I am half purebred "demon" dragon."
"Do you know what his next move will be after his attack, Shadow? If we leave the city...will he leave them alone?"
"He doesn't have a plan, not one that makes sense at least. Getting Undur to attack like that was his idea, weaken Sky and get rid of me or you. As far as I know it's a toss up on whether he moves ahead with his power trip or cones after us for revenge of some sort."
Gabby nodded. "So he's a manipulative mad-man...er well...dragon." His words solidified her decision as she looked looked over the room at her friends. Particularly Cinon and Cedric. "Does he have any weaknesses other than his madness?"
"He is unpredictably unpredictable. He follows a pattern but will randomly go off track, let an old enemy live so he can toy with them or risk himself for a personal venture out to mentally punish someone. He is a poor flyer, his wings are too damaged to do much more than the trip out to Undur. That's about it for weaknesses."
She tucked her hair behind her ear, thinking silently to herself for a moment. "We still should head for home...but be prepared to face him. I don't think he knows where we are going."
"He knows to watch for us. I was in charge of intelligence, I know how many spies and informants are tied to our group. He will know where we are going once we leave. Coming back here after Gulver would be a bad idea regardless."
"That's a good point." Dan piped up, walking towards Gabby and the dragons from his spot near Garzon. "We need to make some concrete plans here."
"Well, you said we need to leave by morning...because of Sergeant Edwards...which is just as well. It's safer for the city. We do have a big group now though and you have your job Dan. It would be best to use one of your vehicles maybe?"
"That's what I was thinking. Cinon, Shadow, you, Garzon and I can all fit into the jeep easily, as can Kynareth, but Cinder is too large for it. Sorry, Cinder."
"One of us could fly along with you to keep company, Cinder." Shadow offered.
"It is fine. I have to go somewhere on the way anyway." Cinder turned to shadow and bowed his head slightly. "But thank you for the offer."
"You are leaving us again?" Cinon asked. "Where're ya going?"
"Odd job. Drop off some stuff."
"Will you be gone long?" Gabby asked, curiously.
"No, just a few Terran minutes."
"Good... I just don't like the idea of someone straying too far from the group... particularly you, considering... Grekan," she nodded back.
"Garzon, I know you can shoot a fire shooter, what about you Gabby?"
"Your Terran weapons are different from Kaerelean ones but not too dissimilar. I can adapt and my aim is decent," she replied, as her eyes flicked from the native to Dan.
"We could practice now. Dan's mind is sure to be full of experience of them." Shadow moved his paw as Cinon's head pushed into his shoulder, the dragon snuggling closer to his warmth.
"That would probably be a good idea," Gabby agreed, as the two dragons cuddled, "How do we start?"
"If Cedric would allow me to make changes..."
Cedric sighed, releasing his grip on the world and allowing it to become malleable.
"Then it should be simple. I just need to access Dan's imagination and I can do the rest."
She stood up in her Terran fatigues and looked to Dan. "Ready when you are."
"Now... If you would please clear your mind Dan, I don't want to pry to any of your... fantasies." Shadow closed his eyes, focusing as a bubble of light started to form in front of Dan. Within a few seconds, a pistol formed floating before Dan. Dan's pistol, to be exact. The same gun that sent four rounds into Shadow's chest.
"Is that your standard weapon?" She asked, nodding to the floating gun she recognized from the diner.
"Well... not really. We carry two most of the time, a <<rifle>> and this." Dan ejected the magazine, checking that it was full before clearing the chamber. "Your planet had these too, right? You must know the basic rules of fire shooters?"
"Safety's on till necessary, finger on the trigger only when truly intending to fire, and don't aim at something you don't plan on killing," Gabby replied, "The mechanism is...more advanced than we had, but the principle looks the same. Plus, I had some experience changing what you call the magazine in the World Engine. "
"Th-"
"Do not ask." Cedric interrupted Dan, saving them from a long explanation.
"Ok... Well that sounds like you know the golden rules, where can we shoot this?"
"The White, you may create a target there." Cedric stood, walking out of the living room and along the closer hallway to the rear exit into the garden.
She followed Cedric into the garden which was as beautiful as ever. Maybe she would get the chance to come back and explore more.
Cinder put on large red with gold trim robes and followed the other group into the garden.
Shadow stood, leaving Cinon to sleep alone on the giant pillow as they went outside, Dan at his tail. Cedric jumped the wall at the edge, passing beyond the grass and greenery of the mansion's garden and into the White. "There. Make a target."
Gabby took an easy hop into the air and sailed over the wall. The idea of blank space beyond the mansion was a little disorienting as she landed on the 'ground' next to Cedric on the other side. It must be like before...concentrate and make the object. She thought hard for a moment and a ringed target with a red center appeared a few paces away from them. "Will that do, Dan?"
Dan flailed his arms as he followed, jumping over the wall and stumbling as his feet touched the other side, or at least where he believed the other side was. "For a start, yea. Could do it a bit further though."
Cinder made another target in the shape of a human farther away with red zones for the head and the heart and the rest being black.
Gabby sent her target farther away and looked to Dan's weapon, copying it in her mind until it formed in front of her like she had done the rifle in Kynareth's mind. When it was fully formed she took it in her hands. "Safety?"
<<Ambidextrous,>>" You can use both hands. Right there. Red means dead, and you can shoot." Dan flicked the switch on his weapon, setting it to live."
She nodded and took the gun in her right hand, keeping her index finger on the trigger guard before pointing down the 'range' at the target. She aimed carefully, getting a feel for the weight and the grip. "Hard kick?"
"Not on this one, really light actually." Dan put his feet shoulder width apart, crouching slightly as he aimed down the three fluorescent points on the pistol. With a quick breath, he took the first few shots, the noise as loud as expected. Both hit the mark on the far target, dents fading shortly after.
Gabby did the same, taking her stance and squaring off before moving her finger to the trigger and sent a 3 rounds down to the target they hit on the outer edge of the center eye
"I'm going to try another round," Gabby warned them.
Cinder dived through the floor and his robes instantly covered him up, turning into a red bunker with a little hole where one could see his eyes. "NOOOISE!! I swear you are all trying to make me deaf! All you humans!" He let his mental ears ring for a few seconds before going back to them and the firing range. "MUST you copy Every aspect of the real thing!?!?"
Cinder fixed his robes so they fit right and glared over at their guns. "You can make them noiseless. Please do." He conjured another target of a human, making the red ring surrounded by orange then yellow then white and making the target slowly move left to right.
"Sorry, Cinder...the noise is part of the training. We have to be used to every aspect." She flicked on the safety and made a holster around her hips before stowing the gun. "I can help though." She created a set of dragon-fitted, noise cancelling ear muffs and walked over to Cinder with them. "Try these."
"These aren't even that loud. Rather quiet for a weapon. Hmm. Shadow, can you make that?"
"I... I suppose."
A few moments after, a long white shape developed before Dan, a long, angular .50 cal bolt rifle appearing in his arms. "Ever shoot something like this?"
"Something similar," she replied, "But I'm not sure if the ammunition is comparable. May I?"
Dan passed Gabby the rifle, pointing out the safety and the bolt. "Cinder, you might want to muffle everything a bit more."
A wall appeared between Cinder and everything else, with a small window he looked out of being a strip of all sides. Cinder nodded from within.
Cinon hopped over the wall, landing next to Cinder's bunker and taking a few steps forwards, stopping by Cedric. "What's all the noise? Are you shooting stuff?"
A wall opened. "Yes. This one is going to be loud."
Gabby created a small booth at placed the rifle on its stand. She checked the bolt as Dan had shown her and then settled into the shoulder brace and squared off her stance as she stared down the range at the target. "Cinon, you may want to go behind the wall with the others for this."
Cinon cheerfully walked into the little bunker, Cedric and Shadow following when they saw Dan putting his hands up to his ears. "Ready?"
Cinder expanded the bunker and the view slot, also making the floor a bit softer on the claws. "Ready in 10." The wall began to close.
Gabby created her own set of gear to block the sound and peered down the scope. Her finger moved to the trigger and she took a deep breath before giving it a squeeze. The weapon fired with a heavy boom and the the massive shell tore through the target. Gabby laughed as she looked up to Dan with a broad grin. "Now, that is a weapon."
Another target appeared, further and thicker.
"That's not even our biggest!" Dan said, just about yelling to hear himself.
Gabby stood and rubbed her shoulder a little, working out the sting from the recoil. "What else do you have?" She asked excitedly.
"Shadow?" The dragon groaned, conjuring up an even larger weapon. "This is from way back, but it is a classic." A floating M2 Browning LMG appeared before them, a mounting post ready to be stuck into the ground.
"Reminds me of what we would use on continent defense systems," she said, giving the hefty barrel an appreciative pat. "Show me?"
Dan grabbed the large machine gun out of the air, experimentally pushing the post into the indiscernible surface their feet were on only for it to extend past it. Still, the machinegun seemed fixed mid-air. "Well, here we go." Dan pulled the trigger, the machinegun roaring to life as it shredded the targets they had put up. Ten seconds later, two hundred hot bullet casings were rolling around at their feet.
Gabby watched in awe of the weapon as it shredded the targets and showered empty casings into the floor-less White. When Dan finished with the targets, she looked to him. "I could give you target from my world if you wanted," she called over the machine gun's whir.
Dan let go of the handles of the gun, letting the smoking barrel point into the sky. "No, you try."
She grinned as he stepped back and let her take the handles as he did. The targets reset and began swinging again like before as she took her aim and squeezed the trigger. Tatatatatatata. She laughed a bit wildly as the guns powerful blasts made her entire body shake. The monstrous bullets tore through the targets with ease. Empty casings and a bit of smoke surrounded her as she finally let go. "These are incredible. On Kaereal we used weapons for defensive purposes in the Wilds, but I've never fired anything quite like this!"
"Hmm." Dan looked at the shredded targets, thinking of what else he could create. "Who created that? Why?? What on Earth could you possibly have that you needed that?" Shadow said, looking a little bewildered at Dan.
"Are you reading my mind?"
"I need to for the link... I will create it, just give me a minute. It is rather complex."
A large glowing blob started to take shape infront of them, elongating out into a flatter shape before the curves and angles of a much more sophisticated device. It was easily much larger than any dragon's body, but still smaller than the largest wingspans. An F22 painted camo-grey was sitting before Gabby, fully armed and ready for takeoff.
Her mouth fell open as her grey eyes took in the craft. It was sleek and beautiful. "Your craft from the picture.." she whispered, reaching up to touch the side near the cockpit. "Sometimes its not about needs, Shadow...it's about wants....Can you show me the cockpit, Dan?"
"I don't know, I've never actually touched one of these things, just seen them. Probably can find the ladder if I... Yea, there it is." Dan tugged on a small release on the bottom of the craft, opening a hatch and freeing a small ladder, disengaging the cockpit lock at the same time. "There it is."
She didn't hesitate to climb up the ladder and climb inside. It was different from the craft she had flown so long ago. There were gauges in strange languages and metered...she was sure that was speed and altitude even if she couldn't compare them to the Kaerelean systems. She climbed inside and settled into the bucket seat, placing her hands on the controls. It felt like home.
Dan climbed up, looking at what had to be at least a hundred buttons and switches, all labeled in tiny Terran text. "Wow... I haven't seen the inside of one of these since I was a kid, but there it is. Now..." Dan looked around the pilots seat, finding a set of switches that read <<Engine 1 / 2>>. A collection of twelve switches, six on either side of a thin white line, lie beneath. "I don't think we are going to be able to fly it, not without taking a full training sessions on how to start the thing."
"That's alright," she said, "It's still beautiful...thank you for showing me." She closed her eyes for a moment and thought of Kaereal. Flying beside the continents...some filled with lights of cities...others rural and covered in waving green grasses. Below her were the Wilds. Some places were dark and dense jungle...then she would pass over a lava flow, the bright orange glow visible even from so high in the sky. The freedom and the possibilities were endless. She missed flying. When her eyes opened she realized that they were watery and she laughed, blinking back the tears.
Cinon jumped up on the wing of the plane, shifting it slightly with his body. "Gabby, your face is leaking."
She chuckled a little and wiped at her eyes. "Humans do that sometimes," she chuckled, "Sometimes when they're sad and sometimes when they are happy."
"An' what're you?"
She looked to the dragon perched on the wing of the craft and gave him a gentle smile. "A little bit of both I think."
"Homesick?" Dan asked, a knowing, empathetic smile on his face.
"Perhaps a little," she admitted, "I miss things like flying...and how beautiful Kaereal is...but I have nothing left there." She looked to Cinon, the wall where the others stood, and then to Dan. "Love for friends and family can make anywhere home. And when I look around at you all, that is what I see."
Dan patted Gabby on the shoulder. "Likewise." A short look of sorrow crossed his face, replaced with a grin almost immediately.
"Anything else you want to see?"
"I haven't had a chance to look through more of your history yet, so I'm not sure. I hope to get the chance on the ride to Gulver, if you'll still allow me to use your information box," Gabby said, as she noted the brief look of sadness cross the Terran's face. He understood what it was like to never return to your homeland. They had found something wonderful and irreplaceable here though.
"Of course... That reminds me. We need to talk about the tags and registering. Abe... Abe was getting ahead of himself, but we do need to make sure everyone has one at some point. I do know how it is with your invisibility, Cinon, and your powers, Shadow, so maybe we could find a compromise somewhere. Gabby, I'm sorry Abe upset you like that, I'm sure he didn't mean to, he just has trouble connecting to people these days. Seen too many go."
"Well, that would be one thing he and I have in common," she replied, "But it's alright. I know he didn't say those things maliciously...its just hard for me sometimes....I didn't mean to cause such a fight between you two."
"It's fine. That... That's been building for a while. Maybe a break is what we need."
Gabby thought of her own sister and the last time she spoke to her before leaving their home for the last time. "Sometimes breaks are a good thing, but don't wait too long," she said, looking into Dan's eyes, "Try to talk to him before we leave."
Cinder stood there blankly on top of his bunker behind the plane, looking at its instruments by leaning above it. "But you do have elemental tags? Like ones that can survive my transmutation powers?"
"Transmutation... From what I recall, we haven't had any issues around that. Most dragons have fine control over things like that, not a problem for the most part."
Cinder looked down for a few seconds, embarrassed slightly about his lack of control when it came to his powers. Ember was the power girl, not him... As much as he hated admitting his sister was better at him then anything. "What if I wanted to transmute some silver, would that not damage the tag?"
"The tag is made of too many things to list, but I think the electric part inside would be damaged by that. We can always do an implant and a visual band for all of you if you are concerned."
"Is it able to be concealed?"
"The law is that without special documents, you cannot conceal or disguise the band in any way. It dampens a lot of dragons' abilities to be as effective as before, but it is what we work with. It keeps everyone safer."
Cinder, who was previously only slightly annoyed by recent events, snorted smoke. <<Bullshit.>> He stormed off back to the mansion, bunker fading in his wake. Kynareth, who had previously been leaning against the hedge quietly, stepped forward. "I can't change his mind on this one, you are going to have to try." She stepped up the ladder and looked over at the controls. One wave of her hand later and they were all in Kaerelean.
- - -
Garzon stood watching for the rest of the conversation. When Gabby and Dan were doing target practice he stood to the side, watching. The powerful weapons scared him slightly. He stood up as he saw Cinder getting upset, confused as to what was going on. "What happened?" He asked, following Cinder inside.
"Your saviors, my slavers." Cinder growled, not stopping or turning to face him.
"You?! A slave? Tell me, have you been whipped for not bowing low enough, starved for failing to polish a vase, or used as a sick toy? You are not a slave!" Garzon said, outraged.
"Sick toy?" Cinder said in cold fury, turning over to him and putting a claw on his forehead. "Try this." He projected the nightmare of Grekan to the room around them.
"That is nothing compared to what we went through." Garzon hissed.
"What about whipping?" The room changed to cinder's father shouting at his mother before turning on cinder who talked and slashing at his face before physically throwing him out.
"Cinder, you were never a slave. I don't expect you to understand what it is like." Garzon said, turning away.
"Starvation, Garzon, is a friend of mine." A scene of Cinder and Ember begging for food. "I may not have been a slave, but I know what its like to be kicked," Scene of father doing so. "Downgraded." Some purebreads laughing at Cinder on an old an worn porch, getting drenched in the rain. "Living by the day." Ember ill on a second-hand bed with the family worried standing over her worried. "And with tags?" Cinder sighed.
"Tags bring the title."
"Tags are nothing. Tags can be slipped on in the morning, Cinder. Resh's slaves were all branded. Do you know what the first meal served to me after I was taken? It was the flesh of my mother, killed in the raid. Of course, I didn't know that until later. You have no idea what it is like." Garzon told him.
"Some tags are implanted into your skin, just like a brand."
"You really don't see the difference?" Garzon asked, incredulous at how stupid Cinder was being.
"I do, I just do not see how you can dismiss a hardship just because it does not involve chains. I know what you went through, I know slavery. There is no going around that." Cinder shivered like a dog and moved away, the room returning to its mansion state.
"Why don't you just get a tag that isn't in implant?" Garzon asked, trying to calm himself down. After a minute, he walked away from the dragon, back into the living hall.
Cinder ignored garzon's comment and trotted over to an unoccupied room, sitting down and creating a fireball. He played with it for a bit, lost in thought, before flicking it across the room and into a sudden purple portal.
- - -
"I can try again later, if he doesn't want it I'm not going to force him to put one on. That isn't my job."
"What about me?" Cedric asked, stepping forwards from the faded bunker.
"You... I don't know. I suppose Cinon could carry two, one for each of you. I don't think we have had a case like you before though, not yet."
Gabby looked down at the controls which had become readable. They were in the smooth, flowing script of Kaerelean. Though she could read the meters now, flying the machine would still be difficult without knowing how the rest of it worked. She didnt want to accidentally crash into Cedric's house, even if it was fixable in an instant. "Thanks Kynareth," she said with a smile, "As for the solution to the tag problem...it would be odd for Cinon to have two of them wouldn't it? But one would just fall off of Cedric if he came here...I'm not sure what could help with that. Perhaps he should remain untagged for now?"
"Again, not really my job. I just tell dragons here to send messages to Unity if they want special accommodation. What about you, Gabby? How do you feel about being recorded in our system?"
She hesitated for a moment, thinking on his question. "I'm know it comes with benefits. It would make things better for me," she replied quietly, "But I didn't like Sergeant Edward's idea of simply listing me as a native slave because it was easy. If I am recorded, I would like to do so as my self.."
"Well... That's... I guess we need to go to Unity. The embassy there is staffed to deal with stuff like this. It's on the way past Gulver, and then the road takes us right along the mountains to the city."
"Is there any way I can wait for awhile?" Gabby asked, glancing to Cedric, "I want Cedric and Cinon to see home first."
She smiled and nodded to the soldier. He was so different from his brother. It was hard to believe they were related in some moments, except when she looked them in the eyes. They carried the same sort of glint that betrayed how much they had really seen int he world. "Thanks, Dan."
"Gabby, you should show us your stuff too." Cinon said, slipping as his claws lost grip on the cool metal
"Things from Kaereal?" she said, wincing instinctively at Cinon's slip.
"Yea. You gotta have neat stuff too."
"I can try," she said as she looked to Shadow, "Can you help me?"
The jet faded away, leaving Gabby looking a bit silly floating in an invisible chair. "Of course. Clear your mind, a little better than Dan if you can."
She let herself drift down and landed easily next to Shadow and the others. "Alright..." Closing her eyes, she focused on her breath. Inhale, Exhale, until her mind and her emotions began to calm completely.
Shadow tapped into Gabby's thoughts, focusing on what she was picturing. "Go ahead."
The white began to shift. A field of golden grass with red tips sprouted from the floor. A dirt path arched through the field around them leading to a small, square house in the distance with a paneled roof and many windows. Beyond that the world seemed to end, dropping off into the open air. A blue sky greeted them. It was cloudless and sunny, but not empty. Multi colored gliders, and several engine powered flying machines with long, sleek wings filled the air. "This Aerikta," she said, "One of 90 floating continents on Kaereal and my birth place."
"Ooh..." Cinon looked in amazement at the flyers out beyond the edge of the world. "What are all those?"
"The smaller ones are personal gliders," Gabby grinned, "They are mostly for children and recreation. They arent mean for inter-continental travel, but the bigger ones are." She pointed to a larger craft that looked like a large oblong balloon with an open booth hanging near the bottom. Twin propellers pushed it along at a lazy pace through the air and people lind the deck railings. "That one is a larger civilian craft. A Braylion." Gabby started walking down the dirt path with a smile. "Want to see the Edge?"
Cinon bounded off through the grass, his black head popping up every few leaps through the tall grass. Shadow walked along behind Cedric who was in turn behind Gabby.
A purple portal appeared and a fireball flew through before cinder lept after it and caught it, diving down before unfurling his wings and flying over to them. "I was summoned from my brooding?"
"Gabby made her world."
"Ah. Thank you, Kynareth. I did not want to miss this."
She walked over to gabby. "Would you like me to generate the Wilds?"
Cinder, meanwhile, was sitting atop a glider, steering it with his claws.
Gabby smiled at Kynareth and the returning Cinder. "That's my home, there." She said brightly as he nodded to the square building. "The windows are made from a special sort of glass thay generate energy. Self-sufficient, but heavy. They were trying to make a thinner version of this when I was summoned to the world engine." She stopped in the yard where a mass of bright pink flowers began, surrounding the house, and a mown space to the side that lead straight to the edge. A turquoise glider sat in the space next to another blush colored one. "Those are the Astyr flowers I mentioned," she said to Cinder, "And those are the gliders my sister and I learned to fly in. A present from dad."
Shadow closed his eyes as he felt Gabby's thoughts wash over him. Her sisters, growing old as he hovered next to them, watching helplessly. A sickbed, a grave. Her emotions crawled into his head, but he couldn't stop watching. He drew a ragged breath, opening his eyes back up to Gabby.
Cinder jumped off the one he was on and glided over to gabby."These are nice. So gliding is what you did for fun? Before the pilot thing and all that."
Gabby laughed a little a Cinder landed beside her. "Yes, most children in rural, farming continents had them. I would stay in the sky as long as there was light enough to see." She walked over to the turquoise glider and slipped into the harness seat and took up the simple pinion controller. "I spent a lot of time here. Too much if you ask my sister. We would race and one day she crashed in the field. Not a terrible crash...but enough to break her arm. She chased me around with her cast for a week, bopping me in the back of the head because I made it through the updraft."
The world suddenly faded out as Shadow cringed, stabs of pain shooting through his head. Darkness expanded out from the corners of his and Gabby's vision, enveloping them quickly. Cedric grit his teeth pushing himself to hold onto them as Gabby and Shadow slipped away. Within seconds, both had faded out from the world, being catapulted back to the real world.
Cinon walked ahead, Shadow following at his tail. "Ok, everyone can come in now. Cedric finished what he was doing." The young dragon stepped up to the front door, pushing on the latch and opening it up for the others. Shadow entered first while Cinon waited on the group.
"Thank you." Garzon said to cinon, walking up the staircase and through the door.
Gabby followed Cinon and Shadow into Cedric's home. As she stepped into the familiar entry way, she felt at ease. "Cedric?"
Cedric came around the corner, glaring at Shadow by Gabby's side. "Do not go exploring where you are not meant to be."
Her eyes scanned the the room as Cedric appeared and noticed that something was missing. His beautiful painting of the eggs were missing... as were the rest of them. The look on contempt on the dragon's face as he stared at Shadow was telling enough. He probably didn't want such things seen by Shadow. She couldn't really blame Cedric, given Shadow's past.
"Of course. I will stay where you allow me. I don't want to invade your mind."
"We won't go anywhere we're not meant to be. Don't worry Cedric."
"Cinon, we need to talk. Gabby too."
"What about-"
"No. Just us and Gabby. Shadow can make his way to the living space."
Gabby tilted her head to the side slightly at the Cedric who was still glaring at Shadow. It concerned her that he looked so angry and suddenly wanted to talk. It wasn't like him at all. "Alright," she whispered before walking over to his side.
Shadow bowed his head, walking past passively and heading to the living room.
"Why are you-"
"Shh. Follow me."
Cedric started towards a room to the side of the entrance, clearly a kitchen space. The door to the kitchen shut behind them as they all stepped in, tiles on the floor quickly shifting before them to reveal a long downwards tunnel cut through the White. A wooden floor deep past the bottom of the drop was the only indicator that it ended at all. Cedric went first, rapidly dropping before suddenly slowing himself at the end, walking off to the side. Cinon followed, mumbling something under his breath.
Gabby didn't hesitate before following. She slid down after the dragon, smiling a bit at the fall before landing easily beside the brothers. "What is this place Cedric?"
Before them lay a large hollow dome of smooth grey stone. The floor was made of the same dark wood as the rest of the home's floors, most of it covered in paintings resting on their side, lined up along the round walls. A half-finished painting of Gabby facing off Grekan was on an easel towards the center.
"Painting room. It is protected."
"Cedric, why are you doin' all this?"
"Because I am protecting you from Shadow. He is evil. He is up to something, you need to stay away from him."
Her eyes scanned over the paintings and then settled on Cedric he spoke. "What exactly do you know about Shadow?" She asked evenly, trying to keep the conversation a calm one.
"He was working with Grekan, that is enough."
"True, and I can't say I trust him," Gabby said, "However, you brought him into Kynareth's mind to help save Cinon and he did."
"He could have saved him a lot sooner, he decided to work with Kynareth instead."
"How come that's a problem? Kynareth is nice too."
"Kynareth let you both be put into danger while she was fucking Dan."
"...She was what?"
"She was hanging out with Dan," Gabby said, to the innocent Cinon quickly before turning to Cedric again, "And yes, that's also true, but he is here now. I don't like him much either, but your opinion and mine are not the only ones who matter. This Cinon's mind too. What do you think?"
"I dunno. I like Shadow. He's nice and he makes me feel happy."
"You would really risk everything we've done, everything we've been though, because some dragon twice your age makes you feel happy? He's a murderer."
"You never listen. He said he didn't kill anyone."
"And you believe that?"
"Why not? If he really was dangerous why wouldn't he just do it while we were all asleep the first time? You need to trust people more."
"I will trust people when they earn it."
"And Kynareth and Cinder and Shadow earned it."
"How?"
"By being friends."
Gabby listened to the two brothers. It was obvious Cinon liked Shadow and the strange conversation she'd had with the made her think that perhaps the sentiment was returned. Suddenly, it clicked why Cedric was even angrier than usual. "I agree with you Cedric. Trust is earned and even though Shadow has apologized for trying to kill me ... but I also think that I have to be willing to give him a chance to prove he can be trusted. I'm trying to do that." She didn't mention her promise to the assassin, but she hoped Cedric would know she would protect them both with her own life.
"Fine. One chance." "Good. Maybe he really is nice, y'know." "But what about Kynareth? Can we still trust her?"
"I think so," Gabby replied after considering the question for a moment, "I dont think she ever intended us to be in danger. It was an accident. That being said, I'm not sure I want to go frolicking through her mind again anytime soon."
"You don't think that might be us? Trapped away like pets in her toybox?"
"You worry too much. Just relax, it'll be fine."
"...Fine. Fine. You do what you want Cinon, I am done worrying for the both of us."
Gabby let his words sink for a moment and then looked to Cedric. "You'll always worry and so will I."
Cedric turned away, looking at the half-finished painting.
"Cedric, I-"
"Cinon, just go. I will be fine."
Cinon turned, sulking away back towards the long shaft to the rest of the mansion.
"Cedric...I think I know why you're so upset...well some of it anyways," Gabby said as Cinon disappeared, "Your worries arent without good reason. You love your brother, and you want to protect him more than anything, from everything. But life...real life is joy and pain...the good can't be separated from the bad sometimes. You want Cinon to live life."
"So... What do I do about Shadow? Ignore him? Pretend he isn't a monster like Grekan?"
She came to stand next to Cedric and put a hand on his shoulder. "No. Remember what he was, but give him a chance to be something besides his past. Forgive, but don't forget."
Cedric kept staring at the wall, a slight shake ran through his body as he took a deep breath. "For Cinon."
"And for you too," Gabby added, "You have a life and body all your own. You have the chance to make your own decisions now too."
"Thank you for talking to me Gabby. I think I can face him now."
Gabby have him a smile as she pulled her hand away. "Of course. That's what friends are."
"We should return to the others. Hopefully Kynareth finishes 'playing' with Dan soon."
Gabby cringed a little at the mention of her watered-down explanation to Cinon. The young dragon would understand someday, but it wasn't her place to tell him of such things. Not to mention she was not a dragon. The process was probably similar, but she had no experience in the matter either. "Yes, we should probably go see what Cinder, Shadow, and that native... Garzon... are doing."
Cedric walked past Gabby, stopping in the narrow shaft and looking up, floating to the underside of the tiles as they opened up for him. Shadow scared him, he really did. Not the idea that he could fight them, but the idea that they might not be able to fight back. Still, he had to face him.
For Cinon. For me.
Gabby followed Cedric, this time giving a little jump and floating up behind him to the kitchens. He wasnt happy still, but he did seem like he was better now.
The tiles in the floor sealed shut as Gabby exited the cellar, catching her feet as she descended back onto them. Cedric was standing by the hall, listening to the faint conversation in the living hall. "Come. This way."
Gabby nodded and walked over to stand next to Cedric, listening to the conversation in the living room unfold.
- - -
Cinder headed into the living room and took a seat across from shadow. "So what was the guild like, if you do not mind me asking."
"No, it's fine. I should be ready for questions like this anyway..." Shadow looked to the side, thinking to himself. "It was good for me. I was in the inner circle, not really anything I couldn't do or have. I had my own bodyguards, messengers, a Native slave at one point, just about unlimited power over the lives of hundreds of dragons. It felt good, being so in control. There were three of us, Trilduvir, his mate Daleir, and I, though Grekan made himself a bit of a fourth member rather quickly. Tril's mind was deteriorating again, he didn't stop it."
"You had a slave, but never killed anyone? Strange life you live. Travel the world any? I would love to hear about places outside my route. I heard there is this one place where it always thunderstorms."
Garzon walked with the rest of the group, staying slightly behind. Garzon stayed away from shadow, slightly afraid. As they entered the living room he leaned against the wall, not sitting down. He silently listened until Shadow spoke. "You didn't tell me you kept slaves." Garzon said quietly, upset. "What cruel things did you do to them." He asked Shadow, contempt on his face.
"Well... A slave, yes. I treated him well, though. Some dragons have them lick their toes clean or pick meat chunks out of their teeth while they pretended to bite... He could bathe, he ate well, clothed as you humans prefer... Much better than others. I really only needed him because some other dragons were beginning to say I had sympathies for the Natives, that I threatened their arenas. I only held him for three moons, then I flew him out to a mountain cave and left him there. Alone, but free."
"What was his name? Was he taken in the same raid as me?" Garzon asked, hopeful that one of his friends may have survived.
Shadow thought for a moment. "Your raid... That was a little hunting party from Rech about some Native group he said was gathering, easy prey. You were all so scattered it was hard to find good ones. But no, I don't think he was. Taken from up North near the Fulhai borders I think. His name... His name was... Peyter. That was it."
"Well, I could hope." Garzon said sadly.
Cinon walked in, his head low, but rising as he saw Shadow and Cinder sitting near in the living hall. "Hey guys. Wanna fire?"
Cinder looked up from his discussion with Shadow. He was still curious and wanting to continue but not wanting to be rude and ignore cinon he replied "What kind of fire?"
"A fire fire." Cinon walked up, sitting on one of the giant feathery pillows next to Shadow. "In the fireplace."
Cinder nodded.
A moment later, a crackling flame sprouted in the stone fireplace on the other side of the room, cozy warmth radiating out to the rest of the room. Cinon nuzzled Shadow's neck, lying his head down on the pillow after.
"So are you two a thing." Garzon asked Cinon and Shadow, smiling.
"A what?" Cinon asked, looking over to Garzon without lifting his head.
"Never mind, ask shadow." Garzon muttered. He was surprised that Cinon had so low knowledge of stuff like this, assuming he would at least know what he meant.
"We're buddies." Shadow said, looking over to the doorway as Cedric stormed in. Cinon's brother shot a deadly look at Garzon before he went to the pillow kiddy-corner from Shadow, lying down in a regal and alert pose.
Gabby winced at Garzon's comment as she entered the room. Cedric was going to be angry with Shadow...possibly indefinitely...but at least he wasn't trying to kill him. Yet. She crossed the room and sat cross legged near Cedric. "Friends are a good thing," Gabby said as she looked to Shadow with a neutral expression, "Especially when they are true friends."
Shadow grinned at Gabby, looking back down to the sleepy Cinon at his side a moment after.
"We are still waiting on Dan. We need him to him to discuss our plan for tomorrow." Cedric said, keeping eyes on Shadow.
"How fast does time pass here?" Garzon asked.
"Time is fixed. It always passes at the same rate."
"Do we have a plan to find Grekan. What powers does he have?"
"There is no need to be so rude, Garzon." He turned to shadow. "I am sure they will be here soon."
Kynareth leaned against his shoulder and watched the sky go red. "Okay." She took his hand and established a link with Cinon. "May we enter?"
"Oh! I hear 'em. Yea, you can come."
"Grekan... He is skilled in the mental arts, and fighting, but has little in the way of real powers. He normally doesn't need them when nothing fighting him can focus enough to see. The Terran machines changed that." Shadow explained.
Kynareth walked in and adjusted her sleeve. "I can also at least slightly protect you. Shadow?"
"That depends... You feel strong, Kynareth, and experienced. You are probably strong enough to take Grekan out alone... But there is a problem. He was already incredibly strong when we drafted him, before he linked to Trilduvir like I did. Now it is just a matter of time before he convinces the Äncient to cut me off from his power and give it to Grekan instead. He will be like an Äncient himself then."
"So, that's how he can create dreams? Get into people's heads?" Gabby asked.
"So he was in my nightmare..." Cinder shivered.
Gabby shivered, silently thankful he had not done something like that to her on the beach. "How can someone defend against somthing like that?"
"Defending against mental attacks is difficult. It is a battle of thoughts and feelings. Fear will make you vulnerable, thinking of the things you love can help as long as the attacker doesn't twist those thoughts into nightmares. The best defence is to try and keep focus on one thing, resist the noise he forces in."
"Cinder, what was the nightmare about?" He walked over and whispered something in her ear. Kynareth looked over at him in confusion. "Now why would....Wait... You said the *whispering*" Cinder nodded. Kynareth whispered something back and he returned to his seat.
Gabby bit her bottom lip, thinking of the idea of feelings and nightmares being forced into her head. Was she strong enough to resist that? How could she? Her mind turned to Shadow's previous comment as well. "You are loosing your powers as he is gaining them? Will you become totally null?"
Kynareth shook her head. "He will have some power and experience, but not nearly as much as previously."
"I don't feel the change yet, I just know enough about both of them to know it is coming. My family was always mentally strong, I am half purebred "demon" dragon."
"Do you know what his next move will be after his attack, Shadow? If we leave the city...will he leave them alone?"
"He doesn't have a plan, not one that makes sense at least. Getting Undur to attack like that was his idea, weaken Sky and get rid of me or you. As far as I know it's a toss up on whether he moves ahead with his power trip or cones after us for revenge of some sort."
Gabby nodded. "So he's a manipulative mad-man...er well...dragon." His words solidified her decision as she looked looked over the room at her friends. Particularly Cinon and Cedric. "Does he have any weaknesses other than his madness?"
"He is unpredictably unpredictable. He follows a pattern but will randomly go off track, let an old enemy live so he can toy with them or risk himself for a personal venture out to mentally punish someone. He is a poor flyer, his wings are too damaged to do much more than the trip out to Undur. That's about it for weaknesses."
She tucked her hair behind her ear, thinking silently to herself for a moment. "We still should head for home...but be prepared to face him. I don't think he knows where we are going."
"He knows to watch for us. I was in charge of intelligence, I know how many spies and informants are tied to our group. He will know where we are going once we leave. Coming back here after Gulver would be a bad idea regardless."
"That's a good point." Dan piped up, walking towards Gabby and the dragons from his spot near Garzon. "We need to make some concrete plans here."
"Well, you said we need to leave by morning...because of Sergeant Edwards...which is just as well. It's safer for the city. We do have a big group now though and you have your job Dan. It would be best to use one of your vehicles maybe?"
"That's what I was thinking. Cinon, Shadow, you, Garzon and I can all fit into the jeep easily, as can Kynareth, but Cinder is too large for it. Sorry, Cinder."
"One of us could fly along with you to keep company, Cinder." Shadow offered.
"It is fine. I have to go somewhere on the way anyway." Cinder turned to shadow and bowed his head slightly. "But thank you for the offer."
"You are leaving us again?" Cinon asked. "Where're ya going?"
"Odd job. Drop off some stuff."
"Will you be gone long?" Gabby asked, curiously.
"No, just a few Terran minutes."
"Good... I just don't like the idea of someone straying too far from the group... particularly you, considering... Grekan," she nodded back.
"Garzon, I know you can shoot a fire shooter, what about you Gabby?"
"Your Terran weapons are different from Kaerelean ones but not too dissimilar. I can adapt and my aim is decent," she replied, as her eyes flicked from the native to Dan.
"We could practice now. Dan's mind is sure to be full of experience of them." Shadow moved his paw as Cinon's head pushed into his shoulder, the dragon snuggling closer to his warmth.
"That would probably be a good idea," Gabby agreed, as the two dragons cuddled, "How do we start?"
"If Cedric would allow me to make changes..."
Cedric sighed, releasing his grip on the world and allowing it to become malleable.
"Then it should be simple. I just need to access Dan's imagination and I can do the rest."
She stood up in her Terran fatigues and looked to Dan. "Ready when you are."
"Now... If you would please clear your mind Dan, I don't want to pry to any of your... fantasies." Shadow closed his eyes, focusing as a bubble of light started to form in front of Dan. Within a few seconds, a pistol formed floating before Dan. Dan's pistol, to be exact. The same gun that sent four rounds into Shadow's chest.
"Is that your standard weapon?" She asked, nodding to the floating gun she recognized from the diner.
"Well... not really. We carry two most of the time, a <<rifle>> and this." Dan ejected the magazine, checking that it was full before clearing the chamber. "Your planet had these too, right? You must know the basic rules of fire shooters?"
"Safety's on till necessary, finger on the trigger only when truly intending to fire, and don't aim at something you don't plan on killing," Gabby replied, "The mechanism is...more advanced than we had, but the principle looks the same. Plus, I had some experience changing what you call the magazine in the World Engine. "
"Th-"
"Do not ask." Cedric interrupted Dan, saving them from a long explanation.
"Ok... Well that sounds like you know the golden rules, where can we shoot this?"
"The White, you may create a target there." Cedric stood, walking out of the living room and along the closer hallway to the rear exit into the garden.
She followed Cedric into the garden which was as beautiful as ever. Maybe she would get the chance to come back and explore more.
Cinder put on large red with gold trim robes and followed the other group into the garden.
Shadow stood, leaving Cinon to sleep alone on the giant pillow as they went outside, Dan at his tail. Cedric jumped the wall at the edge, passing beyond the grass and greenery of the mansion's garden and into the White. "There. Make a target."
Gabby took an easy hop into the air and sailed over the wall. The idea of blank space beyond the mansion was a little disorienting as she landed on the 'ground' next to Cedric on the other side. It must be like before...concentrate and make the object. She thought hard for a moment and a ringed target with a red center appeared a few paces away from them. "Will that do, Dan?"
Dan flailed his arms as he followed, jumping over the wall and stumbling as his feet touched the other side, or at least where he believed the other side was. "For a start, yea. Could do it a bit further though."
Cinder made another target in the shape of a human farther away with red zones for the head and the heart and the rest being black.
Gabby sent her target farther away and looked to Dan's weapon, copying it in her mind until it formed in front of her like she had done the rifle in Kynareth's mind. When it was fully formed she took it in her hands. "Safety?"
<<Ambidextrous,>>" You can use both hands. Right there. Red means dead, and you can shoot." Dan flicked the switch on his weapon, setting it to live."
She nodded and took the gun in her right hand, keeping her index finger on the trigger guard before pointing down the 'range' at the target. She aimed carefully, getting a feel for the weight and the grip. "Hard kick?"
"Not on this one, really light actually." Dan put his feet shoulder width apart, crouching slightly as he aimed down the three fluorescent points on the pistol. With a quick breath, he took the first few shots, the noise as loud as expected. Both hit the mark on the far target, dents fading shortly after.
Gabby did the same, taking her stance and squaring off before moving her finger to the trigger and sent a 3 rounds down to the target they hit on the outer edge of the center eye
"I'm going to try another round," Gabby warned them.
Cinder dived through the floor and his robes instantly covered him up, turning into a red bunker with a little hole where one could see his eyes. "NOOOISE!! I swear you are all trying to make me deaf! All you humans!" He let his mental ears ring for a few seconds before going back to them and the firing range. "MUST you copy Every aspect of the real thing!?!?"
Cinder fixed his robes so they fit right and glared over at their guns. "You can make them noiseless. Please do." He conjured another target of a human, making the red ring surrounded by orange then yellow then white and making the target slowly move left to right.
"Sorry, Cinder...the noise is part of the training. We have to be used to every aspect." She flicked on the safety and made a holster around her hips before stowing the gun. "I can help though." She created a set of dragon-fitted, noise cancelling ear muffs and walked over to Cinder with them. "Try these."
"These aren't even that loud. Rather quiet for a weapon. Hmm. Shadow, can you make that?"
"I... I suppose."
A few moments after, a long white shape developed before Dan, a long, angular .50 cal bolt rifle appearing in his arms. "Ever shoot something like this?"
"Something similar," she replied, "But I'm not sure if the ammunition is comparable. May I?"
Dan passed Gabby the rifle, pointing out the safety and the bolt. "Cinder, you might want to muffle everything a bit more."
A wall appeared between Cinder and everything else, with a small window he looked out of being a strip of all sides. Cinder nodded from within.
Cinon hopped over the wall, landing next to Cinder's bunker and taking a few steps forwards, stopping by Cedric. "What's all the noise? Are you shooting stuff?"
A wall opened. "Yes. This one is going to be loud."
Gabby created a small booth at placed the rifle on its stand. She checked the bolt as Dan had shown her and then settled into the shoulder brace and squared off her stance as she stared down the range at the target. "Cinon, you may want to go behind the wall with the others for this."
Cinon cheerfully walked into the little bunker, Cedric and Shadow following when they saw Dan putting his hands up to his ears. "Ready?"
Cinder expanded the bunker and the view slot, also making the floor a bit softer on the claws. "Ready in 10." The wall began to close.
Gabby created her own set of gear to block the sound and peered down the scope. Her finger moved to the trigger and she took a deep breath before giving it a squeeze. The weapon fired with a heavy boom and the the massive shell tore through the target. Gabby laughed as she looked up to Dan with a broad grin. "Now, that is a weapon."
Another target appeared, further and thicker.
"That's not even our biggest!" Dan said, just about yelling to hear himself.
Gabby stood and rubbed her shoulder a little, working out the sting from the recoil. "What else do you have?" She asked excitedly.
"Shadow?" The dragon groaned, conjuring up an even larger weapon. "This is from way back, but it is a classic." A floating M2 Browning LMG appeared before them, a mounting post ready to be stuck into the ground.
"Reminds me of what we would use on continent defense systems," she said, giving the hefty barrel an appreciative pat. "Show me?"
Dan grabbed the large machine gun out of the air, experimentally pushing the post into the indiscernible surface their feet were on only for it to extend past it. Still, the machinegun seemed fixed mid-air. "Well, here we go." Dan pulled the trigger, the machinegun roaring to life as it shredded the targets they had put up. Ten seconds later, two hundred hot bullet casings were rolling around at their feet.
Gabby watched in awe of the weapon as it shredded the targets and showered empty casings into the floor-less White. When Dan finished with the targets, she looked to him. "I could give you target from my world if you wanted," she called over the machine gun's whir.
Dan let go of the handles of the gun, letting the smoking barrel point into the sky. "No, you try."
She grinned as he stepped back and let her take the handles as he did. The targets reset and began swinging again like before as she took her aim and squeezed the trigger. Tatatatatatata. She laughed a bit wildly as the guns powerful blasts made her entire body shake. The monstrous bullets tore through the targets with ease. Empty casings and a bit of smoke surrounded her as she finally let go. "These are incredible. On Kaereal we used weapons for defensive purposes in the Wilds, but I've never fired anything quite like this!"
"Hmm." Dan looked at the shredded targets, thinking of what else he could create. "Who created that? Why?? What on Earth could you possibly have that you needed that?" Shadow said, looking a little bewildered at Dan.
"Are you reading my mind?"
"I need to for the link... I will create it, just give me a minute. It is rather complex."
A large glowing blob started to take shape infront of them, elongating out into a flatter shape before the curves and angles of a much more sophisticated device. It was easily much larger than any dragon's body, but still smaller than the largest wingspans. An F22 painted camo-grey was sitting before Gabby, fully armed and ready for takeoff.
Her mouth fell open as her grey eyes took in the craft. It was sleek and beautiful. "Your craft from the picture.." she whispered, reaching up to touch the side near the cockpit. "Sometimes its not about needs, Shadow...it's about wants....Can you show me the cockpit, Dan?"
"I don't know, I've never actually touched one of these things, just seen them. Probably can find the ladder if I... Yea, there it is." Dan tugged on a small release on the bottom of the craft, opening a hatch and freeing a small ladder, disengaging the cockpit lock at the same time. "There it is."
She didn't hesitate to climb up the ladder and climb inside. It was different from the craft she had flown so long ago. There were gauges in strange languages and metered...she was sure that was speed and altitude even if she couldn't compare them to the Kaerelean systems. She climbed inside and settled into the bucket seat, placing her hands on the controls. It felt like home.
Dan climbed up, looking at what had to be at least a hundred buttons and switches, all labeled in tiny Terran text. "Wow... I haven't seen the inside of one of these since I was a kid, but there it is. Now..." Dan looked around the pilots seat, finding a set of switches that read <<Engine 1 / 2>>. A collection of twelve switches, six on either side of a thin white line, lie beneath. "I don't think we are going to be able to fly it, not without taking a full training sessions on how to start the thing."
"That's alright," she said, "It's still beautiful...thank you for showing me." She closed her eyes for a moment and thought of Kaereal. Flying beside the continents...some filled with lights of cities...others rural and covered in waving green grasses. Below her were the Wilds. Some places were dark and dense jungle...then she would pass over a lava flow, the bright orange glow visible even from so high in the sky. The freedom and the possibilities were endless. She missed flying. When her eyes opened she realized that they were watery and she laughed, blinking back the tears.
Cinon jumped up on the wing of the plane, shifting it slightly with his body. "Gabby, your face is leaking."
She chuckled a little and wiped at her eyes. "Humans do that sometimes," she chuckled, "Sometimes when they're sad and sometimes when they are happy."
"An' what're you?"
She looked to the dragon perched on the wing of the craft and gave him a gentle smile. "A little bit of both I think."
"Homesick?" Dan asked, a knowing, empathetic smile on his face.
"Perhaps a little," she admitted, "I miss things like flying...and how beautiful Kaereal is...but I have nothing left there." She looked to Cinon, the wall where the others stood, and then to Dan. "Love for friends and family can make anywhere home. And when I look around at you all, that is what I see."
Dan patted Gabby on the shoulder. "Likewise." A short look of sorrow crossed his face, replaced with a grin almost immediately.
"Anything else you want to see?"
"I haven't had a chance to look through more of your history yet, so I'm not sure. I hope to get the chance on the ride to Gulver, if you'll still allow me to use your information box," Gabby said, as she noted the brief look of sadness cross the Terran's face. He understood what it was like to never return to your homeland. They had found something wonderful and irreplaceable here though.
"Of course... That reminds me. We need to talk about the tags and registering. Abe... Abe was getting ahead of himself, but we do need to make sure everyone has one at some point. I do know how it is with your invisibility, Cinon, and your powers, Shadow, so maybe we could find a compromise somewhere. Gabby, I'm sorry Abe upset you like that, I'm sure he didn't mean to, he just has trouble connecting to people these days. Seen too many go."
"Well, that would be one thing he and I have in common," she replied, "But it's alright. I know he didn't say those things maliciously...its just hard for me sometimes....I didn't mean to cause such a fight between you two."
"It's fine. That... That's been building for a while. Maybe a break is what we need."
Gabby thought of her own sister and the last time she spoke to her before leaving their home for the last time. "Sometimes breaks are a good thing, but don't wait too long," she said, looking into Dan's eyes, "Try to talk to him before we leave."
Cinder stood there blankly on top of his bunker behind the plane, looking at its instruments by leaning above it. "But you do have elemental tags? Like ones that can survive my transmutation powers?"
"Transmutation... From what I recall, we haven't had any issues around that. Most dragons have fine control over things like that, not a problem for the most part."
Cinder looked down for a few seconds, embarrassed slightly about his lack of control when it came to his powers. Ember was the power girl, not him... As much as he hated admitting his sister was better at him then anything. "What if I wanted to transmute some silver, would that not damage the tag?"
"The tag is made of too many things to list, but I think the electric part inside would be damaged by that. We can always do an implant and a visual band for all of you if you are concerned."
"Is it able to be concealed?"
"The law is that without special documents, you cannot conceal or disguise the band in any way. It dampens a lot of dragons' abilities to be as effective as before, but it is what we work with. It keeps everyone safer."
Cinder, who was previously only slightly annoyed by recent events, snorted smoke. <<Bullshit.>> He stormed off back to the mansion, bunker fading in his wake. Kynareth, who had previously been leaning against the hedge quietly, stepped forward. "I can't change his mind on this one, you are going to have to try." She stepped up the ladder and looked over at the controls. One wave of her hand later and they were all in Kaerelean.
- - -
Garzon stood watching for the rest of the conversation. When Gabby and Dan were doing target practice he stood to the side, watching. The powerful weapons scared him slightly. He stood up as he saw Cinder getting upset, confused as to what was going on. "What happened?" He asked, following Cinder inside.
"Your saviors, my slavers." Cinder growled, not stopping or turning to face him.
"You?! A slave? Tell me, have you been whipped for not bowing low enough, starved for failing to polish a vase, or used as a sick toy? You are not a slave!" Garzon said, outraged.
"Sick toy?" Cinder said in cold fury, turning over to him and putting a claw on his forehead. "Try this." He projected the nightmare of Grekan to the room around them.
"That is nothing compared to what we went through." Garzon hissed.
"What about whipping?" The room changed to cinder's father shouting at his mother before turning on cinder who talked and slashing at his face before physically throwing him out.
"Cinder, you were never a slave. I don't expect you to understand what it is like." Garzon said, turning away.
"Starvation, Garzon, is a friend of mine." A scene of Cinder and Ember begging for food. "I may not have been a slave, but I know what its like to be kicked," Scene of father doing so. "Downgraded." Some purebreads laughing at Cinder on an old an worn porch, getting drenched in the rain. "Living by the day." Ember ill on a second-hand bed with the family worried standing over her worried. "And with tags?" Cinder sighed.
"Tags bring the title."
"Tags are nothing. Tags can be slipped on in the morning, Cinder. Resh's slaves were all branded. Do you know what the first meal served to me after I was taken? It was the flesh of my mother, killed in the raid. Of course, I didn't know that until later. You have no idea what it is like." Garzon told him.
"Some tags are implanted into your skin, just like a brand."
"You really don't see the difference?" Garzon asked, incredulous at how stupid Cinder was being.
"I do, I just do not see how you can dismiss a hardship just because it does not involve chains. I know what you went through, I know slavery. There is no going around that." Cinder shivered like a dog and moved away, the room returning to its mansion state.
"Why don't you just get a tag that isn't in implant?" Garzon asked, trying to calm himself down. After a minute, he walked away from the dragon, back into the living hall.
Cinder ignored garzon's comment and trotted over to an unoccupied room, sitting down and creating a fireball. He played with it for a bit, lost in thought, before flicking it across the room and into a sudden purple portal.
- - -
"I can try again later, if he doesn't want it I'm not going to force him to put one on. That isn't my job."
"What about me?" Cedric asked, stepping forwards from the faded bunker.
"You... I don't know. I suppose Cinon could carry two, one for each of you. I don't think we have had a case like you before though, not yet."
Gabby looked down at the controls which had become readable. They were in the smooth, flowing script of Kaerelean. Though she could read the meters now, flying the machine would still be difficult without knowing how the rest of it worked. She didnt want to accidentally crash into Cedric's house, even if it was fixable in an instant. "Thanks Kynareth," she said with a smile, "As for the solution to the tag problem...it would be odd for Cinon to have two of them wouldn't it? But one would just fall off of Cedric if he came here...I'm not sure what could help with that. Perhaps he should remain untagged for now?"
"Again, not really my job. I just tell dragons here to send messages to Unity if they want special accommodation. What about you, Gabby? How do you feel about being recorded in our system?"
She hesitated for a moment, thinking on his question. "I'm know it comes with benefits. It would make things better for me," she replied quietly, "But I didn't like Sergeant Edward's idea of simply listing me as a native slave because it was easy. If I am recorded, I would like to do so as my self.."
"Well... That's... I guess we need to go to Unity. The embassy there is staffed to deal with stuff like this. It's on the way past Gulver, and then the road takes us right along the mountains to the city."
"Is there any way I can wait for awhile?" Gabby asked, glancing to Cedric, "I want Cedric and Cinon to see home first."
She smiled and nodded to the soldier. He was so different from his brother. It was hard to believe they were related in some moments, except when she looked them in the eyes. They carried the same sort of glint that betrayed how much they had really seen int he world. "Thanks, Dan."
"Gabby, you should show us your stuff too." Cinon said, slipping as his claws lost grip on the cool metal
"Things from Kaereal?" she said, wincing instinctively at Cinon's slip.
"Yea. You gotta have neat stuff too."
"I can try," she said as she looked to Shadow, "Can you help me?"
The jet faded away, leaving Gabby looking a bit silly floating in an invisible chair. "Of course. Clear your mind, a little better than Dan if you can."
She let herself drift down and landed easily next to Shadow and the others. "Alright..." Closing her eyes, she focused on her breath. Inhale, Exhale, until her mind and her emotions began to calm completely.
Shadow tapped into Gabby's thoughts, focusing on what she was picturing. "Go ahead."
The white began to shift. A field of golden grass with red tips sprouted from the floor. A dirt path arched through the field around them leading to a small, square house in the distance with a paneled roof and many windows. Beyond that the world seemed to end, dropping off into the open air. A blue sky greeted them. It was cloudless and sunny, but not empty. Multi colored gliders, and several engine powered flying machines with long, sleek wings filled the air. "This Aerikta," she said, "One of 90 floating continents on Kaereal and my birth place."
"Ooh..." Cinon looked in amazement at the flyers out beyond the edge of the world. "What are all those?"
"The smaller ones are personal gliders," Gabby grinned, "They are mostly for children and recreation. They arent mean for inter-continental travel, but the bigger ones are." She pointed to a larger craft that looked like a large oblong balloon with an open booth hanging near the bottom. Twin propellers pushed it along at a lazy pace through the air and people lind the deck railings. "That one is a larger civilian craft. A Braylion." Gabby started walking down the dirt path with a smile. "Want to see the Edge?"
Cinon bounded off through the grass, his black head popping up every few leaps through the tall grass. Shadow walked along behind Cedric who was in turn behind Gabby.
A purple portal appeared and a fireball flew through before cinder lept after it and caught it, diving down before unfurling his wings and flying over to them. "I was summoned from my brooding?"
"Gabby made her world."
"Ah. Thank you, Kynareth. I did not want to miss this."
She walked over to gabby. "Would you like me to generate the Wilds?"
Cinder, meanwhile, was sitting atop a glider, steering it with his claws.
Gabby smiled at Kynareth and the returning Cinder. "That's my home, there." She said brightly as he nodded to the square building. "The windows are made from a special sort of glass thay generate energy. Self-sufficient, but heavy. They were trying to make a thinner version of this when I was summoned to the world engine." She stopped in the yard where a mass of bright pink flowers began, surrounding the house, and a mown space to the side that lead straight to the edge. A turquoise glider sat in the space next to another blush colored one. "Those are the Astyr flowers I mentioned," she said to Cinder, "And those are the gliders my sister and I learned to fly in. A present from dad."
Shadow closed his eyes as he felt Gabby's thoughts wash over him. Her sisters, growing old as he hovered next to them, watching helplessly. A sickbed, a grave. Her emotions crawled into his head, but he couldn't stop watching. He drew a ragged breath, opening his eyes back up to Gabby.
Cinder jumped off the one he was on and glided over to gabby."These are nice. So gliding is what you did for fun? Before the pilot thing and all that."
Gabby laughed a little a Cinder landed beside her. "Yes, most children in rural, farming continents had them. I would stay in the sky as long as there was light enough to see." She walked over to the turquoise glider and slipped into the harness seat and took up the simple pinion controller. "I spent a lot of time here. Too much if you ask my sister. We would race and one day she crashed in the field. Not a terrible crash...but enough to break her arm. She chased me around with her cast for a week, bopping me in the back of the head because I made it through the updraft."
The world suddenly faded out as Shadow cringed, stabs of pain shooting through his head. Darkness expanded out from the corners of his and Gabby's vision, enveloping them quickly. Cedric grit his teeth pushing himself to hold onto them as Gabby and Shadow slipped away. Within seconds, both had faded out from the world, being catapulted back to the real world.
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