by Eric S Kim
“You left him behind?”
“I had to. Gorvex would catch on pretty quickly. We would never see each other again after that day.”
“That sounds…really sad.”
“I remember everything. I had to break the news to him in the forest. He…he didn’t take it well. He wouldn’t understand why I’d give it all up. I forced him to say goodbye to me when he was still a wolf. That’s what he is when he’s not a dragon. He can shapeshift into a wolf.”
Jerome nodded. “So you couldn’t work it out or anything?”
“It was a difficult decision, but I managed to accept it in the end. Tannitari didn’t. He just stayed put even as I left him behind. I remember when I turned around and he still wouldn’t look away from me. He just…he just stood there waiting for me to change my mind. I never did. That was the last time I saw him. I don’t know where he is now. Maybe he’s dead, or still alive. I can’t bring myself to think about where he is now. I have other things to worry about.”
“It sounds like you really cared about him.”
“Every dragon rider always takes good care of his dragon. It’s a bond that no one would dare to break. Tannitari and I became good friends. That’s what’s required from us. We were supposed to cooperate when we did our jobs.”
Jerome could only imagine Tannitari’s appearance. “What did he look like?”
Lionel smiled. “I can tell you that he’s big. His scales are both black and blue. He’s got a big wingspan. Overall, a beautiful creature that always fought hard.”
“I would have liked to see him at least once in my life.”
“You really should have. He was extraordinary.”
Jerome could sense the nostalgia that his father had reclaimed for at least a little while. Lionel’s tone of voice conveyed the sort of passion that made the things in the past worth noting.
Jerome slowly shifted in his seat. “That’s one of the things I’ve been pondering the most. You know, being a dragon rider and all that.”
“Try not to. Gorvex won’t allow it in his world. It’s best to obey his laws.”
“Do you really believe that letting go of Tannitari was the right thing to do?”
“I never said I did, but it’s something that I had to do.”
“You miss him, don’t you?”
Lionel’s voice grew more solemn than before. “I did for a time. And then, I forgot about him.”
Jerome had already caught-on. “And you did it all for me.”
“It paid off. I would always choose you over everything else. Don’t ever forget that.”
Jerome tried to smile, but he just couldn’t. “I guess you’re right. I mean, I bet Mom would’ve done the same thing.”
“She would have chosen you without even thinking about it.”
Jerome closed his eyes for a moment. “Man, it still kills me that I never got to remember her.”
Lionel had no shame in saying, “The two of you would have gotten along very well when you were still a little kid.”
Jerome cherished the thought. “Yeah, it would have been amazing.”
He began to return to the original subject. “Tell me more about being a dragon rider.”
But Lionel refused. “I’m afraid that’s all for today. I can’t tell you too much.”
“But the curiosity will eat me up. You know what happens when things are kept secret for too long. It drives you crazy.”
“Nice try, but it’s time for you to go home.”
“Just promise me that you’ll tell me more about this.”
Lionel remained unmoved. “It wouldn’t be fair.”
“Come on, Dad. It’ll just be between you and me. It doesn’t even have to leave this house.”
Lionel smiled again. “I remember when you used to be as jolly as you are now. It’s like you’re being a kid again.”
“The only difference is that I don’t believe in fairy tales anymore.”
After much consideration, Lionel finally said, “Well…It’s a promise.”
Jerome wanted to hug his father, but he didn’t want to demonstrate his vulnerability. Instead, he grabbed his trench coat and said, “Maybe I’ll come back tomorrow and you can tell me about all those monsters that you and your teammates used to fight against.”
“It’s not a guarantee, but we can try.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Jerome exited Lionel’s house and drove home. And on his way back to his apartment, he could only think of the kind of stories that Lionel would be willing to tell. Perhaps it would have something to do with giants or ferocious sea creatures. Or spirits that lived in the clouds. Or even the magical weapon that Lionel used to possess. Jerome stayed silent as his current imagination made him wallow in his enthusiasm.
7:56 PM
Edward Connelly had been added as another Mystic Lightning employee who had been informed of the Varivorian Artillery being retrieved by the Blackjack Troopers. He had promised to keep it a secret when one of his co-workers told him everything. He would keep his promise, as he had no intention of spreading gossip or even false rumors. Although he appreciated the effort from Squad A-X-9, he still had other things to tend to. He had visited the Mystic Lightning Headquarters and stayed in the Shadow Service Department for approximately one hour. With no one else in the Archives, he would be working alone as he originally would have wanted. It was a room with over a dozen shelves housing computer equipment. The records had become entirely digital, with only a handful of official documents printed on paper. He took a seat at one of the computer desks in the corner and activated the computer in front of him. He searched for the appropriate material in regard to his own personal objective.
The Witches of San Antonio had only been sighted by several eyewitnesses in Orange County. Most of the information collected would be incredibly unreliable, since memories would never be completely correct. And for the past week or so, no one could ever properly recognize a woman with the right features. But Edward had the photographs already laid out for him. He opened one of the folders on the computer and searched through the images of various women suspected of being a witch.
With a meticulous observation, Edward searched through the photographs from the folder. Most of the women were pedestrians, their faces captured by the surveillance drones. There were three that Edward specifically searched for. When halfway through the files, he finally found the women he had been looking for. He opened up the portfolio in his hands to study the photographs taken from his own private record. The three women in the portfolio matched the ones in the computer folder.
Loretta, Daisy, and Meredith appeared to be ordinary women. But Edward already discovered the truth. These three had travelled all the way from San Antonio, Texas, to initiate a secret project of their own. They stayed in Southern California for a reason, and nobody in Mystic Lightning could understand their motives. The Hammerheads and the Shadow Service Agents didn’t have a valid reason to believe the same things that Edward did. They only had rumors and eyewitnesses to rely on. But Edward and Maribelle Sepulveda had already crept closer to the absolute truth.
Edward closed the portfolio and turned the computer off. He left the Archives with a new confidence brewing from within. Loretta, Daisy, and Meredith were almost successful in their attempts to avoid the authorities. But Edward felt amused that they weren’t entirely successful. He left the building and couldn’t stop thinking of the witches that remained hidden somewhere in Orange County.
NINETEEN
APRIL 21, 10:47 AM
Preston Hatchett had nothing else to do on a Wednesday morning. He had his first day off yesterday, and he would return to work on Friday. He was free to do whatever he wanted for the next two days. With nothing planned in the morning, he decided to visit the electronics store, located just several blocks away from where he lived. He had put away his work clothes and chose something that was slightly more casual: a white t-shirt and a pair of denim shorts. The tattoos on the back
of his hands couldn’t be removed, but he had already grown accustomed to their presence. The designs had been straightforward, yet more iconic than expected. It spoke of a reputation that deserved respect from the community. Preston would always receive curious glances from random civilians during his off-duty days. Today would be no exception.
From inside the electronics store, Preston spent his time searching through the new laptop computers that lay on a table. He minded his own business like an ordinary customer. But as he looked around for an employee, he could already recognize a few people that started to take pictures of him on their smartphones. Three women (two young and one middle-aged) were in awe when the Blackjack Trooper stood just twenty feet away from them. They whispered to each other as they continued to take photographs.
Preston could only assume that they would upload the photos on their social media pages. As a Mystic Lightning employee, he could not interfere with a civilian’s harmless act, so he kept his mouth closed. Even when he asked a store employee a question regarding one of the laptop computers, two more civilians spotted him and pulled out their smartphones to take even more pictures.
Attention caused by the mainstream media had become more of a normalcy as time went on. With more and more people growing aware of what Squad A-X-9 was capable of, especially after everything that happened since Preston’s first day at work, people recognizing him at a first glance would be inevitable. Preston could only smile when the civilians in the store acted like tourists seeing a celebrity for the first time. He didn’t mind the fame and fortune. He had already embraced his status in the company. Some of his teammates would never tolerate the intrusion of the masses, and he understood their concerns. But he had no complaints. He loved his job and the positive reception that came with it.
Preston thanked the employee after having his questions answered. He decided to buy the laptop computer. He found one of the boxes that included the correct product. He was about to make his way toward the cashiers, but several civilians had gathered in front of a flat screen TV. Preston joined them as they witnessed a breaking news bulletin.
The news reporter had informed the public that a pack of Nevinoth Dragons had been sighted in Montana in the early morning. They were last seen in the mountains, and Mystic Lightning confirmed that they moved further westward. They disappeared in the forests of Oregon one hour ago. The dragons might have changed to their animal form, so there would be no knowing where they would be as of now. The reporter concluded that everyone living on the west coast should stay careful and report to the authorities if they suspect any suspicious activity from stray animals on the street. The news report also included several photographs taken by distant surveillance drones in Montana. The images were rather blurry, but clear enough for the flying Nevinoth Dragons to be seen by all.
The civilians expressed their new concerns through their verbal communication, but Preston remained silent. He had already seen enough of the news for today. He made his purchase and left the store.
10:54 AM
Only a few dozen cars had been parked in front of the store. It was a clear representation of a calm and peaceful Wednesday morning. Presto placed the box in the trunk of his sedan. His smartphone started to vibrate in his pocket. He checked the text message written by Elliott Hashimoto.
It read, “Did you see the news?”
Preston had already expected it. He was about to write his own text message, until something in the distance made him stop. He stood still as he began to hear a faint roar from behind him. It gradually grew louder, with a constant clanking noise following it. That particular roar could only come from a dragon.
The sound of a woman screaming was an important clue to what could be transpiring behind him. He finally turned around and didn’t have time to get a clear view of the confrontation. Two dragons flew toward him. He had to quickly crouch down. The two dragons narrowly missed him and his car. The loud movements from above made Preston cover his ears with his hands for a moment. The strong breeze from the fast-moving reptiles struck him and almost made him lose his balance.
The two dragons made their ascent, giving Preston the opportunity to understand why they fought each other. One of the dragons was organic, while the other was mechanical. They punched and kicked at each other, further fueling their hostility. Even as they moved away from the parking lot, Preston could recognize the robotic reptile even at a far distance. Sorivo, the General of the Silver Skin Dragons, had returned to California for yet another conflict with an enemy. At least that was what Preston could assume. It happened in Laguna Beach, and now it happened in Anaheim.
Sorivo and the other dragon continued their battle in the sky. Preston and the other civilians moved away from their parked vehicles and had gathered on the sidewalk. Some of those who had already realized what happened between Sorivo and his adversary used their smartphones to film the remainder of their conflict. Sorivo and the other dragon spun in the air as they made a brief descent before turning in a different direction and lifting themselves higher once more.
The organic dragon did all it could to fight back, but Sorivo had many practical ways to defend himself. Preston couldn’t be too certain, but Sorivo must have formed a giant ball of blue light in his hand before he hurled it at the other dragon. The attack was effective as the orb of blue light struck the organic dragon’s chest and made it spin away. Its roar was distant and faint, but Preston could sense the agony that the dragon had to endure. Sorivo threw two more orbs of blue light at the other dragon and made another direct hit. The organic dragon’s body suffered major damage from one of Sorivo’s weapons. Sorivo charged at it and bit down at its neck. Both dragons made their descent back into the earth.
The people from below became a frantic mob that attempted to evade the dragons’ sudden impact. While everyone ran in different directions, Preston took several steps backward. He kept his eyes on the two dragons that plummeted toward the street in front of him. Amidst the screams, Sorivo pushed his enemy onto the asphalt while still sinking his metal teeth into its neck. The organic dragon landed on its back as it hit the pavement, causing the ground to shake for a brief second. Massive cracks had formed on the street. A pile of dust arose from the impact. And the cars on the street were fortunate enough to avert any unintended casualties. Some had to swerve dangerously to the side when the two dragons had dropped in front of them.
Preston and the civilians waited for the official outcome. Sorivo still sunk his teeth into the other dragon’s neck. Its eyes bulged from the pressure. Its entire body twitched before it finally didn’t move at all. It closed its eyes as Sorivo let go of its neck and let its head drop to the floor. Sorivo stood tall and let out his triumphant roar, something that Preston had already heard a few days ago.
Sorivo examined the crowd that formed around him. “There is no need for concern. This was a Nevinoth Dragon. He could have done an evil deed if I wasn’t here to protect all of you.”
The civilians whispered their concerns to each other. Some appeared shocked by Sorivo’s statement. Others clapped their hands to show appreciation for his way of exterminating this outlawed reptile. Preston could hear a middle-aged man bemoaning about the damage on the street to his friends. Sorivo left the dead body alone on the street as he flew away. Two other Silver Skin Dragons had entered the premises and lifted the dead reptile up off the street and carried it away in Sorivo’s direction. The civilians had to stay on the sidewalk as the mechanical dragons followed Sorivo’s commands.
From the crowd, Preston could hear a familiar voice.
Sabrina Sinclair had emerged and observed the damage. “Man, that must have been one hell of a fight.”
Preston waved at her and she immediately caught sight of him.
She edged closer and said, “You better tell me everything that happened here.”
“Well, I’ll try.”
Before he could start, several automobiles belonging to Mystic Lightning had parked near the cracks
on the street.
11:12 AM
The press and the Mystic Lightning employees had gathered on the street. Most of the civilians who witnessed the Nevinoth Dragon’s demise decided to stay just a little longer on the sidewalk and observe the procedures. Preston and Sabrina were a part of the group that lingered. The Hammerhead Investigators and Blackjack Troopers (a different squad that had been on-duty for today) surrounded the impact that Sorivo and the Nevinoth Dragon had made on the asphalt.
Sabrina sighed. “If only that stupid traffic light turned green a little sooner, then I could have seen him beat the living shit out of it.”
Preston replied, “There’s gonna be a whole lot of videos uploaded online. You can watch them later.”
“Yeah, but it’s not the same. Too many people shaking their phones and shit like that.”
Another off-duty Blackjack Trooper had joined the crowd. Woodrow Lockhart seemed a little different without his black cowboy hat. His blue shirt and brown pants had completed his unusually ordinary exterior. His speech, however, didn’t experience a radical change in tone at all.
“An execution from above. Very fitting for a stranger that could bring nothing but poison in our veins.”
Preston nodded. “This is the second time that’s happened. I think Klimkru just started a new trend.”
Woodrow stood beside him. “You’re not wrong. There are new reports coming in from Mystic Lightning. We’ve got Nevinoth Dragons entering California in rapid numbers. It’s an infestation if their assignments bring us a backward motion.”
“Where were these dragons hiding, anyway? I don’t think they’d be dumb enough to come back and try to fight back after all this time.”
“It’s a natural tendency that puzzles the new generation. Don’t try to sacrifice your time with this riddle. It’s a simple answer that nobody wants to admit.”
“And that is?”
