Dragon Invasion

by Craig Martelle

  “I don’t have to take them out. I only need to control the bridge,” Julia said. She gestured with the tip of her gun. “Move now, everyone, or you’re going to need a new captain.”

  She sounded dead serious. Coraolis felt a twinge of panic as Tataryn stood his ground. His eyes went from the gun to his people. They were frozen in place. The comm officer sat with his mouth open, cut off mid-sentence.

  “You only have control until Engineering figures out what you’ve done,” Tataryn spat. “They’ll shut you down soon enough.”

  She didn’t flinch. “I guess that depends on how they feel about their captain.”

  For a long moment, Tataryn stared into the barrel of Julia’s gun, then back at her. Julia held his gaze, her eyes chips of ice in a face carved from stone. Dante had once said that he’d never want to try and out-bluff her. Now Coraolis could see why.

  Julia’s hands were steady as she threatened the captain, her face as still as if it were a mask. To anyone else, she would look unaffected by Tataryn’s fear, but Coraolis knew her better than that. She could see the worry in her eyes. She’d be afraid that Tataryn would call her bluff, and she’d be forced to do something terrible. Coraolis discovered he was holding his breath, and let it out, shuddering as he did.

  The color drained from the captain’s face, and his hands began to tremble. He bowed his head, and that was when Coraolis knew this fight was over.

  “Do as she says.” Tataryn’s mouth twisted as if he tasted something bitter. “There’s no need for anyone to get hurt.”

  No one resisted, though there were some choice words for the traitors. Dante collapsed into the captain’s chair while Jack secured the crew. Tataryn filed off the deck last. He appeared angry about Dante sitting in his chair, throwing venomous looks in the Mystic’s direction. Most were bound to their seats where possible. Only a few were forced to sit on the deck.

  “Where is Gehr?” Coraolis asked.

  “Out of your reach,” Tataryn retorted. His lips curled as he continued. “He went over to inspect the Morris. You won’t have him as a hostage.”

  “We don’t need hostages,” Julia said. “We have Doomslayer.”

  “You have to realize this is hopeless!” he snapped. “Once the admiral finds out, he’ll have you all court martialed.”

  “You mean we weren’t on our way to a court martial? Maybe we should have stayed in our cell,” Dante said. “Who’s for going back?”

  No one answered.

  Dante sighed. “All right, time for the next phase. Let’s get their attention.”

  “Secure the door, will you Jack?” Julia said.

  “Already done.”

  Julia limped over to the weapons station and started to manipulate the controls. A tactical display appeared on the viewscreen. Three icons surrounded the dot that represented Doomslayer; a red dragon and two green triangles labeled Forty-Two and Morris. Julia did something with the controls, and the dragon turned blue. The triangles turned red. Targeting circles appeared around both.

  “Julia, what are you doing?” Coraolis asked.

  “Getting their attention,” she said. “Weapons are hot.”

  “Okay, I’m going to have a little talk with them.” Dante fiddled with the panel on the captain’s chair, then cleared his throat. “Hello there. This is Mystic First Class Dante. We have seized control of Doomslayer and we know how to use it.”

  “They might have noticed the target lock,” Julia said helpfully.

  “Yes. You might have noticed the target lock on your ships. No E.F. personnel have been harmed in the takeover of this vessel, and no one needs to be harmed. Repeat, no one needs to get hurt. We just need you to call off the attack on the dragon’s nest and return to Earth.”

  An alarm sounded. Julia hobbled to the weapons station and grimaced. “Both ships have locked on us. They’re charging up their weapons.”

  Coraolis’s body went cold. The little triangles on the tactical map pointed towards Doomslayer, and he was certain they were more apt to fire than Julia. It made him ill. There were a lot of innocent people on this boat.

  “This doesn’t look good,” Jack said.

  “I don’t want to fire on our own people,” Julia noted, her hands hovering over the controls.

  With his breath ragged, Dante explained, “We’re not going to. We’re going to talk to the dragons.”

  ***

  The Astral Plane was in chaos when Coraolis arrived. Dragons were dive-bombing the Morris, then swerving away at the last second. They appeared to be held at bay by a cloud of ice-cold energy, projected by a half-dozen Mystics. The dragons roared their challenge, by turns circling their nest and attacking the Mystics.

  At first, they seemed evenly matched. The dragons weren’t penetrating the Mystics’ defenses, and the Mystics weren’t getting any closer to the nest. Coraolis reached out mentally to get a better sense of the situation. He became aware of the dragons’ anger and their fear for their young. The augmented humans were shielded from him. The only sensation from them was intense cold, like a cloud of fog that didn’t let any warmth in.

  “Careful.” Dante put a hand on his arm. His astral body was a mere cloud of steam and just as translucent. “We don’t want to antagonize them.”

  “Which? The dragons or the cyborgs?” Jack asked.

  “Nice.” Julia elbowed Jack. “They’re still human, you know. It’s not their fault the procedure went badly.”

  “Sorry, Cyborg Prime,” he said meekly.

  Julia rolled her eyes.

  “I know we’re all nervous, but cut it out with the jokes,” Coraolis said, a little harshly. “We need to get their attention without inviting an attack.”

  “I can take care of that.” Dante held his hands out to Coraolis. “I need a boost, partner.”

  Coraolis grabbed Dante’s hands, willing his own strength into the second Mystic. Dante squeezed back, becoming more substantial as he absorbed Coraolis’s strength.

  A wave of heat passed over Coraolis. If he’d been in his physical body, he would have been soaked in sweat. His energy flowed into Dante at an alarming rate. If it lasted much longer, he’d be forced to drop into his body.

  Cor wondered if this would work—whatever ‘this’ was—when a dragon rose from below, putting its face uncomfortably close. Its eyes burned like blue stars.

  He felt a hand on his shoulder. Julia gripped him tight as she, too, faced the dragon with a carefully blank expression. He would have taken her hand if he could, but Dante had him in a death grip.

  “You know how to talk to us and I you,” Dante told the creature. “We know your nest is threatened, and we want to help.”

  The dragon’s eyes flared, making Coraolis wince. Its voice poured directly into their minds, dripping with emotions. It wasn’t as overwhelming as before, although Cor knew it could get that way quickly.

  You offer help, yet you rejected us. I can smell our power on you.

  “I won’t this time, if that’s what it takes. I’m trying to prevent a tragedy.” Dante squeezed Coraolis’s hands tighter. He tried not to wince.

  We can stop the false ones, but we require human vessels.

  “Human vessels? You want our bodies?” Julia asked. Her grip on Coraolis’s shoulder became painful.

  Yes. We wish to share. Your wills will remain your own.

  “Not like before?” Dante asked.

  No. It will be a partnership. You will help us, and we will give you great power and knowledge.

  Coraolis saw the fear on Dante’s face. He’d read the reports about Cavey. Dante had lost control of his body and, in some respects, his mind. He’d come out the other side a different man. Yet this time, they were given a choice. They could save the dragons and save the humans attacking them. They could create peace, and maybe build something better for the futures of human- and dragon-kind alike.

  If they did nothing, innocent people and creatures would die.

  “Sign me up,” C
oraolis said.

  “Cor?” Julia let go of his shoulder like it was burning hot. “How can you trust them?”

  “I trust they want to save themselves. They’re giving us a choice, and I choose to save lives.” Coraolis pulled away from Dante and took her hand. “If we don’t speak again—”

  We require all of you to join in this pact.

  The air left him. He’d hoped to send both Julia and Jack home safe. They were full grown adults, but they weren’t ready for this. Not even Dante had been ready, and he was the strongest of them all.

  “I don’t understand. Why try and bargain when you’re the one being helped?” Julia spoke up. Her expression had hardened, as if she were back on the bridge with Tataryn.

  If the young ones die, we will mourn, but they will return to us in the heart of a new star. If your people destroy you, you will be dust.

  “They’ve got a point,” Jack said. “But why all of us?”

  We have one way to save all. It will require great power, channeled into the material plane through willing mortals. Four may not be enough. If we fail, you will burn to no purpose, and take us into the darkness with you.

  The Mystics looked at each other. Even Julia looked uncertain now.

  “I can’t make this decision for any of you,” Coraolis said. “But I hope you’ll make the right one.”

  “I guess I’m in then,” Dante said. “I still have things to make up for. Just don’t screw me, Draco, or you’ll get the same as your friend.”

  We will honor our agreement. We do not lie.

  “You can count me in, too,” Julia said. She squeezed Coraolis’s hand. “I can’t let Cor do this alone.”

  “You’re not leaving me out,” Jack said. His voice trembled slightly despite his false cheer. “Who knows, maybe there’s a book in it.”

  It is good. Prepare your minds, the dragon intoned.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Dante didn’t want to do this. He valued free will above all else. If he gave himself up to a dragon, there was no guarantee they’d keep their word. He could become a puppet again, like the old Dante. It terrified him.

  Was the risk worth it?

  But the dragon had asked, not forced. It could have overwhelmed his defenses and called for more of its kin to get the others. It was enough to give him hope. They had nothing else. Fleet needed to respect the Mystics’ decisions where the Astral Plane was involved.

  Three dragons broke from the attack on the Morris and headed their way. He wondered which one was for him.

  “The important thing is to stay calm.” He said it out loud, though it was advice he needed as much as companions. “Breathe through it. Use the elementary exercises to stay cool. It will feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t last long.”

  “Then what?” Julia asked.

  “Then we find out what a voluntary partnership with a dragon feels like.” Dante ran his hands through his hair. “It’s not too late to back out.”

  Julia shook her head and gave them a crooked but genuine smile. “I already gave my word.”

  “We can’t abandon the baby dragons,” Jack said. “But does anyone else wish they came in pocket size?”

  “I did on Cavey,” Julia said.

  Dante laughed. The dragons came toward them.

  Coraolis held onto Ronasuli’s hand like it was a lifeline, but also like he didn’t want anyone to know he needed one. He worked his jaw, watching the dragons.

  “Coraolis? What’s on your mind?” Dante asked.

  “I’m wondering what this will do to us. Will we be the same?”

  “You’ll still be yourself,” Dante assured him. “I was always myself in my own mind. My actions were out of my control, that was all.”

  A willing merge is far more beneficial than a forced one. The other dragons arrived. Even in the Mystics’ heads the voices sounded like joyful thunder. If you feel you are being coerced, we will not force you to remain.

  “Let’s get it done,” Dante said.

  A dragon with jewel-bright eyes locked gazes with Dante, and he was filled with joy. The unexpected emotion brought down his defenses. Everything would be all right. He knew it. He reached for the dragon, and the dragon surrounded him with…love. Then he was the dragon; and the dragon became Dante.

  Every scrap of fear and weakness faded from his heart; there was no more room for either. He laughed for sheer joy. This was the opposite of what he’d feared. This was freedom, to be without fear, to act only in love.

  He understood everything. The dragons had been trying to save Cavey from Earth’s greed. Humans were spreading across the galaxy, taking over planets and twisting all life to the force of their will. Planets existed now where human presence had wiped out entire species. It started on Earth, and now it was among the stars.

  Humanity would stagnate if it couldn’t grow, but there must be limits. Other species, sentient or not, must be protected. The dragons deeply regretted the endless loss of lives. Their sorrow was so powerful Dante wept, and he wept with them for the terraformed planets and countless species driven to extinction.

  He swore to help the dragons protect other planets. He knew the dragon was pleased, even though that hadn’t been part of the bargain.

  When his mind cleared, he saw the others had made their own pacts. They glowed with an inner light, their faces stamped with signs of the dragons within. There was something else there, as well. Peace had smoothed out their hard edges. Love had taken away their anger and hate.

  He joined them. The four Mystics clasped hands and formed a rough circle. Coraolis lifted his eyebrows. He left the question unspoken, but Dante felt a resonance. It gave him a sense of Coraolis’s feelings, even if the precise thoughts escaped him.

  “I feel fine. I mean, I feel more myself than I have in a very long time.” Dante squeezed his neighbors’ hands. Julia and Jack squeezed back, and their connection was filled with warmth.

  “Same here,” Julia said, and the others nodded. “So…what do we do about the Fleet?”

  “Stop them. We have more power now. Can we change their decision…?” Jack asked, then shook his head. Dante’s dragon whispered no in his mind even as Jack retracted his question. “No, we can’t, can we?”

  “We can change how they feel,” Coraolis interjected. “Lack of empathy is at the root of the worst crimes.”

  “Then we change their hearts, and hope their minds follow.” Julia bit her lip. “Do you think it’ll work?”

  “It’s the best we have,” Dante said.

  ***

  They gathered in front of the nest. The other dragons circled around them, offering protection. Power flowed into the Mystics, increasing the circle of energy. It thrummed in Dante’s chest and filled his eyes with all the colors of the Astral Plane.

  The four opened their eyes as one, and the energy became a pillar of light. Power came off it in waves, like heat from a fire. Joy, love for the universe, and peace all combined into an indomitable weapon. The pillar became a lance, and the lance split into three.

  The first penetrated Morris, passing through the augmented humans’ shield as if it wasn’t there. The other two arced toward Forty-Two and Doomslayer. Dante felt the tremor as each of the spears struck, and he shook along with it. The light entered the ships and disappeared within.

  Their energy ring faded, and their connection waned as they released their hands. The dragons watched, hovering around their nest, their sparkling, massive eyes tracking the ships. The attacks had ended. Or just paused. The Mystics weren’t sure.

  “Is that it? Did we win?” Jack asked.

  Dante’s dragon filled his mind with feelings of contentment and peace. Unbidden, his mind supplied images and concepts to match the emotions. He saw ripples on a pond, blue skies, the first buds of spring. He got the message. All was well.

  Coraolis threw his head back and laughed. His relief and triumph resonated through the ether. Jack laughed, too, his joy adding to the mix, and Julia shouted h
er happiness. Her personal reservations had been driven away by her dragon. Coraolis couldn’t feel a single barrier between them. Julia was wholly with them and open in a way he’d never seen before.

  “Let’s see what we did,” he suggested.

  The return to his body had always felt like sinking and rising to the surface, but it also felt like falling asleep. He was leaving a world of greater awareness and power behind. The material world felt less real.

  On this day, it truly felt like a dream. Tears streamed down Tataryn’s face when Dante opened his eyes. Dante knew the captain would have happily executed the Mystics not long before, but that no longer mattered. He was in pain. He’d seen his errors and punished himself.

  Dante hurried to release the captain’s bonds. He was aware of the others doing the same with the rest of the crew. They were all upset, but none carried the burden of their leader. Tataryn rubbed his wrists but didn’t complain.

  He spoke thoughtfully, instead, while looking at the tactical map on the viewscreen. “I was trying to get to Ronasuli’s gun. The admiral knew you were up to something…his orders were to kill you. I…I was going to do that.” He looked at his shaking hands. “How many orders have I followed like that? How many times did I do what my superiors told me without question, no matter the cost? I can’t count the times I justified following the letter of the law, ignoring the spirit when it was inconvenient.”

  “It’s nearly always inconvenient.” Dante squeezed the man’s shoulder. Strange, how he could find love and forgiveness for this man. It would have been beyond him an hour ago. He certainly wouldn’t have tried to let it go.

  “I’m sorry,” Tataryn said.

  “Forgiven.” Dante helped the man stand, then guided him to the captain’s chair where he belonged. “Let’s look ahead rather than behind.”

  “I think I can do that.” Tataryn rubbed his eyes, then did a double-take when he looked at Dante head-on. “Hey, what happened to your face?”

  Dante ran his fingertips along his jaw. He’d been altered, just like the others. It didn’t feel as alien this time, at least. “You might say we evolved.”