by Eric S Kim
Preston raised his eyebrows. “…Yeah.”
Hamilton asked Jerome, “Did you find out why Gordon and Klimkru wanted to kill you instead of Sepulveda?”
Jerome took off his beret for a brief moment to straighten his hair. “I don’t think we’ll ever find an answer for that.”
Lionel noticed a slight hesitation in Jerome’s voice.
Hamilton grunted. “Well, we’re all fortunate that the two of you are okay. This sort of thing is extremely rare. You won’t find another dragon that can be as stupid as Klimkru.
Jerome nodded. “I guess you’re right.”
“Now, excuse me. I need to hear a few things from the other Hammerheads.”
The Hammerhead had already stopped his interview and went on to do another job on the field. Hamilton left the group to talk to the Hammerheads who investigated Klimkru’s body. Woodrow gave Preston chance to take a rest in the helicopter. As the two of them headed for the chopper, Lionel and Jerome remained in the same spot.
Lionel had used this opportunity to give one last inspection. He observed the corpse in silence. Klimkru had been reduced to being a victim slain by a superior adversary. This might have been an unfitting end for a dragon like him. Lionel slowly exhaled through his nostrils. He would have lamented for this dragon, but he knew that the environment wouldn’t permit him at all.
Jerome must have noticed his father’s silent conduct. “You knew him, didn’t you?”
Lionel stayed calm and avoided any shifty activities in his voice and vernacular. “I did for a time. We had known each other for at least a year. He fled from Gorvex a long time ago, and now he’s back after a long absence. A typical Nevinoth that tried to have one last fight before his imminent death.”
“Is that why he wanted to punish you?”
The worried look on Jerome’s face didn’t require a thorough explanation. “Is that why he wanted to eat me?”
Lionel placed a hand on his son’s shoulder and said, “We can’t discuss it here. There is information that’s too much to handle. Just wait until everything has cooled down.”
“I just need to know what happened all those years ago.”
“What you need right now is some rest. Don’t worry. We’ll be out of here in less than an hour.”
Keeping Jerome’s curiosity away from visible audiences was considered a smart decision, especially since Sorivo had appeared. The gray-skinned dragon towered over the two of them. He looked down and asked, “Are you Jerome’s father?”
Lionel replied, “Yes, I am. I’d like to thank you for saving my son. It’s greatly appreciated.”
Sorivo smiled. “You’re welcome.”
“It must have been a good fight.”
“I wouldn’t believe so. Klimkru was weak. A coward like him should have been ashamed of himself. Jerome, I know you tried your best in defeating him. It’s understandable that he would have a strict advantage, but at least you and your teammate have done everything you could to fight back.”
Jerome nodded. “I could have done a lot better with a bazooka or something.”
Sorivo chuckled. “And you know what? I wouldn’t have stopped you if you had one.”
From above, another helicopter had arrived at the scene. This time, it belonged to the press. Members of a news station had already begun to film the crime scene for a televised special report.
Jerome remarked, “And we’re on the news again. We just can’t get away from them, can we?”
Lionel replied, “Just think of it as a special California tradition.”
SEVEN
6:13 PM
Both young Blackjacks rode in Lionel’s SUV as he drove back to the NESF Station in Anaheim. Halfway through the route, Preston had received a phone call from his father, Richard Hatchett. The Commissioner of the Hammerhead Department. Preston reassured him that he had survived the attack and didn’t receive any injuries. His father couldn’t be more relieved. Preston relaxed even more. Hearing his father’s voice again made him feel grateful for not succumbing to a potential expiration in the hills.
When Preston ended the call, the Blackjack Troopers made it back to the NESF Station. Lionel had to be careful when entering the parking lot. A total of four news vans were temporarily residing on the asphalt. An entire group of men and women either held microphones or video cameras. Only one photographer was present. Brandon Young had stayed away from the group and began to take photographs in the corner of the parking lot.
But the Blackjacks had nothing to say. Lionel, Jerome, and Preston exited the vehicles and stayed silent as they headed for the front entrance. Even as the reporters and cameramen followed them from behind and flooded their ears with numerous questions, the Blackjacks still ignored them. They made it to the front entrance and never turned around. Just as he entered the station, Lionel locked the front doors. Some of the reporters had given up while others stayed and began to knock on the door.
The Blackjacks went upstairs. Lionel had things to do in his office, so Preston and Jerome decided to reunite with the other Blackjacks. They had found their young teammates in the lounge. Bryce, Sabrina and Elliott had been watching the news on TV with two other colleagues. Oswald Tomlinson and Rebecca Norwood were the first to spot Preston and Jerome stepping inside the lounge.
Oswald, who still had his black bandana kerchief on his head, let out a loud howl that echoed across the room. “They’re here!”
Rebecca jumped up from the sofa and, with glee, gave Jerome a friendly hug. “Not a scratch on either of you. Thank goodness!”
It was Preston’s turn to receive a warm hug from Rebecca. The innocent gesture made him smile. “Being a Blackjack is what keeps us healthy. It’s like a superpower.”
Elliott handed him his baseball cap back. “You dropped this on the balcony.”
Preston thanked him as he put the cap back on his head. “Good thing I still have a head.”
Bryce muted the TV and said, “We just heard about it a couple of minutes ago. So the dragon that tried to kill you could speak English, huh?”
Jerome nodded. “It’s true. Klimkru was a Nevinoth.”
Sabrina, Rebecca, and Elliott exchanged worried looks. Oswald, being his usual self, gave an exaggerates shocked expression.
“It’s the end of the world, ladies and gentlemen.”
And then, he let out a gargled laugh in his typically psychotic manner.
Elliott asked, “How the hell could this happen? I couldn’t expect something like that to make a reappearance.”
Bryce sighed. “I guess they’re not being complete pussies after all.”
Sabrina remarked, “That just plain sucks. I expected some good stuff for us after all that crap with Kin-Kelin last week. But then, life just goes ‘fuck you’ and gives us this.”
Rebecca had a thought. “Maybe it’s just one dragon. Maybe the other Nevinoth are still afraid to show themselves and are willing to just starve to death. I mean, I’m hoping that what happened between them and Gorvex is true after all.”
Bryce replied, “Well, video surveillance does prove it.”
Preston gave further details. “What the press doesn’t tell you is that Gordon and Klimkru specifically targeted us instead of Sepulveda and Hamilton.”
Bryce rubbed his chin. “It’s like they already forgot about their own mission and just winged it for the day.”
Preston was about to say something, but Jerome quickly interrupted him. “Yeah, that’s right. They weren’t being smart. They just came up with a bad idea.”
Rebecca added, “I still don’t get why they’d take you instead. Do you think they know something that the rest of us don’t?”
Jerome shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t think we’ll ever find out.”
He already noticed Preston’s curious glance and seemed to have acknowledged it in silence. Preston, in turn, understood the insincerity and didn’t mention anything about Jerome’s counterfeit reaction.
Sabrina lightly
punched Preston on the shoulder. “At least you’re both okay.”
Preston chuckled. “Yeah, that’s about the best thing that can happen today.”
He said to his other teammates. “But let’s just forget about what happened this afternoon for a moment. I feel like I need to take a rest. I wish this place had some bedrooms or something.”
Bryce replied, “Well, our shift is already over. You can just go home and go to bed. But then again, we’re hoping that you’d join us for dinner. We’ll be having some Chinese takeout a little later.”
Preston could hear his stomach growling. “Skip the bed. Let’s eat.”
6:21 PM
Lionel could hear a beep on his earpiece, signaling a call from Charlie the dispatcher. He sat at his desk in the office while waiting to hear Charlie’s next announcement. However, Charlie didn’t inform him of any crime that transpired on the streets. Instead, he told the captain that a woman named Maribelle Sepulveda had called and asked for him.
Lionel thanked Charlie and ordered him to put Sepulveda on the line.
He could hear the woman’s voice clearly despite some mile static. “Hello, Mr. Tyler. I’m calling you to see if Jerome and Preston and okay. They didn’t get hurt or anything, did they?”
Lionel leaned back in his chair. “It’s okay. Both have no injuries. They’re a little shaken up, but they’ll manage to move on.”
“And is it true? Gordon Steele is dead?”
“We have confirmed that he is deceased.”
“Well, that’s a shame. I was hoping that he’d stay alive so I could feed him to my coyote.”
“We can’t always get what we want.”
“You’re right, of course. One more thing. Did you see Sorivo up there? Is he as big and majestic as he is on the TV screen?”
Even members of the elite would have been ecstatic to have a dragon celebrity visit their homeland.
Lionel didn’t have to lie. “He certainly is. In fact, he’s a lot better up close.”
“Oh, how I wish I was there to see him. I’ve always wanted to see him in real life ever since he became the General.”
“I’m sure you’ll get your chance.”
Lionel could hear Sepulveda let out a long sigh.
“Let’s see if he’s going to break another Nevinoth’s neck.”
“He might.”
“Anyway, thank you for giving me protection this afternoon. I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome. All three Failures are dead, so there’s no chance of anyone else trying to attack.”
“That’s good to hear.”
She ended the call several seconds later after they said their goodbyes. Lionel took off his earpiece and set it on the table. Someone knocked on the door and Lionel let her in. Victoria entered the office to give a few last details before the entire squad would end their shift. She informed the captain that only a few misdemeanors handled by the Kingsnake Officers had become the only crimes besides the Three Failures that took place in all of Orange County. Furthermore, there was no evidence to prove that even more Failures would try to attack anyone in California.
Lionel received the news with ease. “Everything is quiet again. That is the best way to end the weekend.”
Victoria took a seat at his desk. “Yes, but we’ve encountered a brand new problem. This is the first time that we’ve ever seen a Nevinoth Dragon come out of hiding. Why now? How did the three Failures convince Klimkru to do what they wanted him to do?”
“These questions will only be answered if we find the right clues. And so far, everything leads to the notion that Klimkru had nothing to lose and decided to scare the civilians with a basic hostage situation. That’s the only logical explanation we have. If it’s nowhere near as close as the absolute truth, then we will discover it eventually.”
Victoria asked, “Do you think Klimkru knows something about Jerome and Preston?”
“I can’t say that it’s possible. Seeing as how he didn’t go after Sepulveda, then he just went with a secret instinct and chose two random victims.”
“Hearing about Jerome and Preston being taken by that Nevinoth frightened me.”
“I felt the same way. We were lucky that Sorivo was there to rescue the two of them.”
“This still gives me an uneasy feeling. Ever since Roderick Hawkins’s death, some Failures have been inclined to keep moving forward. I sense a repeat of last week’s incidents.”
“Don’t be too certain of that. Reports have come in, and it’s been confirmed that Fail Factions have already left California and are fleeing to the East, presumably back to the Dead Zone.”
“Yes, but there are a few who have stayed behind. And who knows what they’re up to?”
Lionel finally took off his black cap and set it on the desk. “Maybe you’re right. And maybe they’re here because they’re suicidal. We’ll just have to see what their true motives are.”
6:37 PM
Preston had some more time to spare before the Chinese food would be delivered to the station. A sense of boredom had overwhelmed him. The silence in the building made him feel slightly perturbed. He yawned as he entered the Game Room, a place where the Blackjacks could pass the time with various activities. It included a foosball table, a billiards table, a poker table, three video game consoles, and several virtual reality headsets. Preston found nobody else in the Game Room. He was alone and uninterested with the sudden lack of action in the night. He could have used his smartphone to play a game app he had previously downloaded. But instead, he took a seat at the poker table and examined the only piece of paraphernalia on the surface.
A single deck of cards had been left alone. If he had been experienced enough, he would have taken the deck and shuffled it. But he wasn’t. Instead, he took the deck and just flipped through it.
Another man had stepped inside the room and witnessed the boredom take effect at the poker table.
“So much to do in this simple little room and you decide to take an unusual approach to bring your adrenaline out of its slumber.”
Woodrow had taken a seat beside Preston at the poker table.
Preston asked, “You play poker a lot?”
Woodrow replied, “Absolutely. And some of us have already lived up to the department’s name. Playing blackjack has become a tradition around here.”
“I’d like to see you and the others play at the casinos. It sounds to me like you could win a few hundred bucks.”
“We already have. In fact, a lot more than a few hundred.”
Preston was intrigued by the details. He smiled and said, “Maybe I could join you when I’m ready.”
Woodrow didn’t seem to have any objections. “If the circumstances bring us closer together, then you will indeed be enlightened with a special bonus in your credentials.”
Preston put down the deck of cards on the table. “That’s gonna be another thing that I’ll be eager about.”
Woodrow took the deck of cards. “Have you played any blackjack in your life?”
“Yes, I have.”
“What about poker?”
“That one…not at all.”
“Well, let’s see if I can teach you the basics.”
“I’m eager for it.”
But before he could shuffle the deck, Woodrow took off his cowboy hat and set it aside. As he started shuffling the cards, Preston had to say something about what he had been thinking about all afternoon.
“Woodrow, let me ask you something. Have you ever seen a dragon rider before?”
Woodrow didn’t miss a step as he finished shuffling his cards. “I can’t wallow in dishonest ways, so I have to say yes. I’ve seen them before a long time ago.”
Preston leaned in. “What were they like?”
“They were the usual things that you’d expect. They rode their dragons and they did their job. A simple yet dangerous occupation that lasted for over a thousand years.”
“…And it just stopped?”
&nbs
p; “It had to happen when Gorvex had changed the world.”
Preston shifted in his seat. “I’ve always read about them, and I’ve seen old footage in documentaries. I’ve even seen the film adaptations. But I’ve never seen the real thing. I guess this whole thing with Gordon and Klimkru brought it all back to me again. I’ve always wondered what life was like with dragon riders roaming around the world.”
Woodrow still had the deck of cards in his hand, and yet he did nothing else. “A complex affair emerged in the past. It’s basically a spectrum of curiosities and calamities. What you’ve been seeing in the media may be a slight exaggeration, but the purpose still remains. Dragon riders had been known to be quite convenient for a time.”
“Did people really believe that they were the ones that fought against the big baddies?”
“Everyone had a reason to either love or hate the fighters in the sky. And then, the birth of Gorvex caused the pendulum to choose a side and keep it unchanged for the past eighteen years.”
Preston was no longer interested in learning how to play poker. “Do you think Gorvex did the right thing?”
Woodrow’s current expression demonstrated a complete neutral side to the situation. “If the dragon riders’ reputation is meant to be below our standards, then I will say that it’s deserved. There’s no other way to pull the most prevalent judgements away from our generation. Dragon riders no longer exist, and they will always form as an afterthought to the masses.”
Preston already understood. But then, he asked, “Did you ever know anybody who used to be a dragon rider?”
Woodrow slowly shook his head. “I wouldn’t remember, anyway.”
“I just wish I could meet someone who has. I don’t mean that I’m on the bad side. I just want to learn more about them.”
