The Vanguard

by Jeffrey Ellis

  They spent the next few minutes going over routine business and operations.

  “Now, Xavier and I have a private meeting and would like the room cleared. Trish, Boudicca, Morgana, please stay,” Bruce told them.

  Bruce opened his comm. “Doc, would join us in the C&C? We would like a medical consultant here.”

  As Alexander started to leave, he looked at Bruce and said, “No secrets, remember?”

  “This is a personal issue, not a Vanguard issue. If it affects the group, we'll bring everyone up to speed. As of now, it does not,” Bruce told him.

  “Wait. Alexander may have valuable input here,” Xavier said.

  “Your call, not mine. Have a seat, Alexander. Rest of you, out. This is a personal issue, not a Vanguard issue,” Bruce told them.

  Xavier opened a comm. “Bahta, would you join us, please? It's time.”

  Bahta walked into the room and a moment later, Dr. Fox joined them.

  “Want to tell me what the hell this is all about? I was in the middle of a nap.” Dr. Fox said rather grumpily.

  “Xavier, you want to tell them?” Bruce asked.

  “Sure,” Xavier said then told them about Bahta's request. He told them everything he knew and then paused.

  “Now, let me be up front. This is entirely the decision of Bahta and me. I want your input and your opinions. Everyone, please feel free to speak up.”

  For a moment no one spoke. The people in the room were quiet, lost in thought.

  “I think you'll make a great father if you decide to go through with it,” Trish said.

  “I'm not an obstetrician, my doctorates are in surgery and family medicine, but I don't handle children. I handle violent grownups who often act like children but that's not the same. Bethany's baby was the first birth I had handled in decades. From a medical point of view, to be frank, I have no idea what to say. Assuming the obvious genetic hurdles could be overcome, and I'm very doubtful they could be even with your spell chucking, I can't predict what carrying and birthing a hybrid species would do to a mother. I don't even know anything about the physiology of dragons. I'll promise you that if, and this is a very doubtful if, it happens, I'll provide the best care I can give like I do for all my patients, but this is completely new territory. It's one for a team of specialists, not a Warden field doctor. I would suggest you bring a team on board for this and not leave it to my care,” the doctor told them.

  “Thank you for your input doctor, now if...” Xavier started but the doctor cut him off.

  “I'm not finished yet. Now, the other issue of your declining birth rate. Once again, I'm not a herpetologist but declining hatch rates are almost always environmental,” the doctor said.

  “We're not reptiles. We're most likely descended from a dinosaur species, most likely some form of pterosaur,” Bahta said.

  “Well, whoop tee doo. So are birds and lizards but the process is basically the same. You fertilize internally, you lay eggs. You keep the eggs at a specific temperature either through nest building or sitting and then they hatch. Your young need some degree of care before they can take care of themselves, but you don't nurse like mammals. Am I correct?” the doctor asked Bahta.

  “Yes,” Bahta replied sheepishly.

  “So then, let the one with multiple degrees in medical and biological sciences continue. Like I said, declining hatch rates are almost always environmental. Get a team of our scientists to where you lay your eggs. Have them check for abnormal radiation, dietary deficiencies, foreign chemicals or any other environmental abnormalities.

  “The other possibility is genetic, so we'll want to get blood samples from all dragons. It might take some time but if the cause is mundane and not mystical, they will find it. I have some friends at the London Institute of Biology that would be all over this. I'll give them a call if your people agree to it,” the doctor told her, sounding rather annoyed.

  “I'm sorry if I offended you,” Bahta said.

  “Don't worry about Doc Fox. He pretends to be grumpy and mean but he really cares about us or he wouldn't still be here. The grumpier he gets the more it means he likes you,” Trish said.

  “Of course, I care. You don't spend the decades I have working for the Wardens if you didn't care. Tell me what you decide and if necessary I'll get the medical bay ready and contact my friends in London. Now, if you'll excuse me I have a nap to finish,” the doctor said and walked out.

  “He's a ray of sunshine,” Boudicca said with a laugh.

  Bahta look a bit stunned.

  “He likes you. If he didn't he would have been nice,” Xavier said.

  “He has an odd way of showing it,” Bahta said.

  “You get that way in the Wardens. He's seen a lot of decades in our family and he's treated a lot of serious injuries and seen a lot of people die on his table. He's still with us despite that. He's turned down jobs with some very lucrative practices and if we do this, there is no one I would rather have taking care of you than him,” Xavier said to Bahta.

  “Boudicca, I wanted you here because of your experience with nature magic. In your experience has anything like this ever occurred in the natural world?” Xavier asked.

  “Not to my knowledge. Unlike the Egyptians, we never tried to break the rules of natural law. The way of life was sacred to us and while couplings between various species were known, sometimes quite commonly, no child ever resulted from it,” Boudicca told them.

  “Never?” Bruce asked.

  “Never,” Boudicca replied. “And there were a lot of pairings. Most fey have the same basic physical design as humans and the same method of reproduction. In ancient times, we were not so hung up on species lines for sexual pleasure and we crossed that line often. Many fey lived in our lands and some of our sabat celebrations were little more than orgies and we would...”

  “I think we get the point,” Bruce said.

  “Morgana, you've been quiet. Do have any input?” Xavier asked.

  “I'm still shocked the dragons may be dying. As to the idea of a child, I don't think it's my decision. I think the logic is sound. From what Qaa has told me, he thinks there are some genetic remnants dormant in many humans from the line of Baldric and Malka and you might have those remnants. If so, that and some magic might be enough. I think it's possible, but I really am not qualified to say if it's a good idea or not.”

  “I would suggest that you wait for the decision of the council. If they agree to your stipulations, then make your own decision. The hardest point to get Absillion to agree to will be allowing human scientists and doctors to try to help them. Whether Bahta will admit it or not, dragons are a very proud species and it will be nearly impossible for them to swallow that pride and admit they need help and from how it sounds, they truly do.”

  “Bahta, we have been friends for a long time. Please, if Absillion refuses, try to coerce him. Our scientists have amazing skill and may be able to help you. There is no reason to let pride be your downfall. I would also suggest taking a magical look at your process from an outsider's perspective. I know your magic is strong but sometimes you can't see what's right before you.”

  “Only you two can decide on whether or not to do this. We can advise, we can discuss, we can support you and we can do many things, but we cannot make this decision. If you decide to go through with it, you have my support and I will do anything and everything within my ability to help. If you decide not to, I will understand and support you both either way,” Morgana told them.

  Trish walked over to Xavier and hugged him.

  “Xavier, you and I have been friends longer than anyone here. I have known you from the days at the academy over a decade ago. In that time, I have been your friend, occasional lover and worst critic. I will never, never stop being your friend and will absolutely support you in anything you do whether it's father the child of a dragon or not. Nothing will change my perception of you. I know you, the real you. I've seen you at your best and worst and even at your worst, you're be
tter than most men at their best. No matter what, I'm there for you,” Trish told him.

  “I have little to offer here. To be honest, even though I know most of the dragon council personally, I don't think we consider each other friends. To them, I represent our warlike nature due to my past and they don't like that. However, MM has extensive facilities and top-notch scientists. I will promise you my support in either helping with your decline or handling a child or both as needed,” Alexander told them.

  “Thank you, Alexander. Some of us understand that humans can change more readily than we can and that you are not the conqueror you once were. I appreciate your support,” Bahta told him.

  “I've been given the opportunity of a lifetime, of a thousand lifetimes. A year ago, I was sitting in a tavern in Caerleon talking to a kid about Camelot, now I'm a soldier, a general they tell me, in a war against the forces of darkness seeking to rule the world or destroy it or something. As I've recently been reminded, life goes on. No matter the state of the world, the cycle of life continues. Bahta, if your council agrees then so do I,” Xavier told the dragon.

  “Then it's decided. I'll speak with Absillion once he tells me they have reached a decision. Until then, is it okay if I remain here and continue our cultural exchange?” Bahta asked.

  “Of course,” Bruce said.

  #

  “Absolutely not,” said Trall.

  “But it could mean our salvation,” Qaa replied.

  “But allowing them access to our home, to this ancient place, this sacred place, it is unheard of. It is desecration,” Ona told them.

  “Is our continued survival, even a chance at it, not worth that? You all know we are dying. It will be a few thousand years but one day, one day we will all see are immortals, there will be no new hatches. Eventually, even the immortals die. One day, one day in a distant future, dragons will fade from this world. If these fey have a chance, even the most remote chance, of staving off that extinction, then we owe it to ourselves to allow them that chance. They have technology and knowledge that even I, with my knowledge of their sciences, do not have. Even the slightest chance is worth it. I agree,” Qaa said desperately.

  “That is me, Bahta and Qaa for their terms. Ona, Trall, and Sark against. I have spoken with Doga and he will return for this vote since it impacts him as well. He should be here momentarily. His vote will decide our fate,” Absillion told them.

  Almost on cue, Doga entered the chamber.

  “Doga, allow me to relay the discussion,” Absillion told him.

  “No need, I overhead enough as I was coming through the hallway. I have thought on this. I was the one who was asked to sacrifice his flesh. His blood. His honor. I was forced to bow myself to these creatures. I was humiliated in fight after fight to test their archmages. I have been forced to keep myself hidden for thousands of years as they spread across this world. I have much distrust and hatred for the humans and many other fey,” Doga said.

  “Then it is decided,” said Trall. “We refuse their offer.”

  “Did I say that I was finished and cast my vote? Do not interrupt, it angers me. I also admire them. Since my recent departure, I have thought much of the humans. The two that now recover would have beaten me. Not within the restrictions of the tests but in my full power. These humans, they are something we did not expect from what we thought were a lesser species. We face what we never faced before. We face extinction. Not from an enemy. Not from a war. We face an extinction of nature we are powerless to stop. If they can help us, then I will beat down my own pride and accept that help with humility.”

  “The betrayers of Atlantis are at the heart of this. Asala and I were the ones who selected the Vanguard. I have seen the best and worst of the fey. The humans are among the best and the dreb among the worst. Very few dreb were ever selected for the Vanguard and in retrospect, it should have been none. Too long we have sat idle. We are not their teachers. We are not their parents. We are dragons. We take flight against the dreb.”

  “The idea of a hybrid by choice is offensive but perhaps my sense of offense is out of date as I have been recently reminded. The world changes constantly and we do not. It is time we learned from the fey and we learn to change. My vote is to agree. My vote may hinge this decision but had it not, I would have still joined their war despite the decision of this council. We cannot let the betrayers win. The dragons go to war,” Doga said.

  The council was silent for a few minutes, broken by Absillion.

  “Doga, we have never fought together but I look forward to taking wing with you. My daughter often spoke of your prowess in combat and I am honored to be able to see it personally,” Absillion told Doga.

  “And see it you will. Dragons have been idle for too long. It is time we show the betrayers what it means to anger a drake,” Doga told them.

  “I will contact Bahta and tell her of our decision,” Absillion told them.

  #

  “Approaching drop point,” came the submarine Captain's voice over the speakers.

  “Vanguard, let's get ready,” Bruce ordered over the comm.

  Bruce checked the ready indicators on his heads up and once all were green, he gave the Captain the go-ahead to drop. A red light started flashing and the room started filling with water. When it was done, three iris doors along a wall opened and the Vanguard swam out, using their suit's turbines to propel them to shore.

  The group hit shore on a small beach where the tree line went all the way to the rocky shore. It had numerous large rocks that would allow for cover until they hit the trees to help them stay secluded. They worked their way slowly to the tree line and stopped.

  They followed their planned route around the side of the small hill towards what they thought was the best option for an entrance. Their route kept them from any possible choke points that would make for an easy ambush. It slowed their approach somewhat. They moved slowly, scanning for anything unusual as they went.

  “We're almost there. Be ready,” Bruce ordered.

  “Getting some low-level radiation readings indicative of a reactor but it would have to be deep for them to be this weak. Readings are normal, no radiation danger. Also seeing electromagnetic traces in some of the trees. Best guess is either weapons or sensors or both. Looking through the scopes, I can see glints from some trees. There is definitely something artificial in them,” Michael told them.

  “Acknowledged. Options?” Bruce asked the group.

  “We could easily take out the ones we can see but they'll know it. The other option is finding a way around them but if they're diligent they probably cover the area. I wouldn't count on finding a hole in their perimeter,” Michael continued.

  “We have the element of surprise. We do as many sweeps as we can, get an idea of the perimeter and any defenses then eliminate as many as we can before their own people start fighting back,” Boudicca offered.

  “We could also just recon and call in GloCom to hit them. We know something is here, we could just have them take it out in force and sift through the pieces,” Xavier said.

  “We don't call GloCom, Michael. You're a Vanguard now. I shouldn't have to remind you we have our own reinforcements at Camelot should they be needed,” Bruce told their newest member.

  “Right, sir. I mean Bruce,” Michael said correcting himself.

  “Boudicca, could you cause a lightning strike or something that would short them all out at once? I doubt we're going to be able to get through without triggering them, so we need to confuse them as long as we can, keep them from knowing where we are exactly. If we can hit them all at once then they'll know there is a perimeter breach but not from which direction,” Bruce said.

  “I could but Xavier will do it,” Boudicca replied.

  “I will?” Xavier asked her.

  “Yes, you will. You have a natural affinity for electricity and you have learned much under my tutelage. You have the skill and the knowledge, and I have faith in you. You can do it,” Boudicca replied.


  “Let me think a moment,” Xavier said.

  They continued to scan the area but otherwise were silent.

  “I have an idea, but you won't like it,” Xavier said.

  “Is it worse than the plasma bombs?” Michael asked.

  “Definitely. Alexander, how shielded against lightning are these new suits you gave us?” Xavier asked.

  “Defensively, they can handle a bit more energy than your old ones, but I would not recommend getting hit by lightning,” Alexander said.

  “I can shield everyone against the coming storm,” Boudicca told them.

  “Coming storm?” asked Trish.

  “You're going to unleash the heavens, aren't you?” Boudicca asked Xavier.

  “Sort of. There are no clouds for traditional lightning,” Xavier said.

  “Alexander, I might need your help. I haven't had to shield a large number in a long time. Your strength would be useful. Everyone focus what energy you can,” she said.

  Alexander and Boudicca held hands and a shield formed around the group. The rest of them put their hands out and their own magic flowed into the shield.

  Xavier walked outside the shield and held his hands out. He closed his eyes and focused.

  Small jolts of electricity like tiny lightning bolts started hitting Xavier. His hair stood on end and his hands started sparking. The sparks traveled over his body and intensified. They started arcing off him and hitting the ground and plants around him. The ones that hit the shield sparked and faded. As the intensity of the electrical arcs grew, he started hovering slightly. The energy began to radiate outward and eventually coalesced into a barrier around him. The barrier grew brighter and larger until, after a couple of minutes, it expanded rapidly going out several hundred yards in every direction. When it finished, he dropped to his knees.

  The shield around the others dissipated. Trish and Boudicca rushed over to him. He was breathing hard and the occasional arc still passed over him, one shocking Trish a bit. Xavier didn't respond.