Dragons

The little dragon skidded across the stone floor of the cathedral snapping at the dust motes that floated in the sunlight streaming from the windows high in the domed roof. He liked this game, weaving and jumping between the legs of the larger dragon that was waiting by the fire pit, growling, snapping and puffing smoke at imaginary enemies. He was so engrossed in the fun he failed to notice the approaching strangers until they were standing there, five of them, motionless at the top of the stairs and staring straight at him. His game abruptly ended, he opened his mouth displaying rows of tiny needle sharp teeth, he meant to roar at them but what came out sounded more like a frightened squeak, and then he disappeared behind the protective tail of the larger dragon.

Cathedra Draconis Prime was the destination Arado had given Miral DeCuir, so they knew they were coming to a dragon planet.

“A quiet little planet,” Arado had said, “where the dragons come to nest and hatch.”

“Ah the big crunchies” chuckled Mason, “though I seem to remember they have a strict weapon ban, at least they did last time I went on vacation there.”

“Vacation?” queried Arado with a grin. “Sure you weren’t after dragon skins?”

Mason just chuckled.

But even knowing there would be dragons did not lessen the effect of now seeing one face to face.

“That’s a…a…” stammered Joe, “…that’s a frikkin dragon, a…a… DRAGON,” he finally managed to splutter looking at the massive creature with awe.

Miral however was the first one to move.

“Surely it’s not…” she said walking down the steps towards the dragon, “…Fred?”

The dragon lowered his head to the floor, opened his mouth in what might have been taken as a smile and blinked his eyes at Miral. She heard his voice rumble softly in her head.

“Hello Miral, I am so happy to see you again. Yes I am Fred, although they call me ‘Stea Calator’ here. It means Star Traveller. I try to teach the little ones something about the ways of men, but you know what young ones are like, they mostly just want to play.” He gently swished his tail making the little dragon peeping over it tumble off with a squeak.

“Fred,” said Miral, “is it really you? It’s been so long and you’ve grown so much.”

“Yes it is me,” came the voice again. “I am no longer that little dragon who sat on your shoulder as you piloted the Carolina. I was heart broken when they returned from Valinor without you. Then when I came here and learnt the ways of the dragons I heard whispers of what had happened to you there,” he rolled his head towards her and blinked his eyes again, “and I am pleased to see that the stories are true.”

Miral smiled, “Indeed they are.”

Miral’s crewmates moved cautiously closer to the dragon. Illyan was looking at everything with awed fascination, itching to get out a tricorder to scan the dragon and the eggs arranged near the edge of the fire pit. Joe reached out a hand to touch one and immediately snatched it back when he felt the life pulsating inside. Arado stepped up to Joe’s side and whispered through the side of his mouth. “Don’t mess with the eggs. Not a good idea.”

Mason just stood. He was getting sick of just standing. One reason he was looking forward to finding the Carolina was so he could have his reinforced chair back. His armour and armaments were heavy enough but with the neural upgrades and skeletal reinforcements no chair or bench was safe. And he certainly wasn’t going to risk going near those eggs.

Fred raised his head and spoke in a voice they could all hear, “Miral tells me you are looking for Miki?”

“Greetings ancient one,” said Arado bowing hid head with the ritual of acknowledgment. “We are looking for her sister Mimps, and Miki is the only one who can help us.”

“I am aware she is vital to your mission,” said the dragon, “….your mission to find the Carolina.”

Arado’s mouth popped open in surprise but he quickly closed it and murmured, “That is right.”

The dragon began to sway his head from side to side. “You are getting closer…” he said, “…the sisters are vital….to have both sisters…is to find the Carolina.”

“Seelowe said something about our engineer…will we find him too?” blurted out Arado.

“You will find him…I can not say where or when…but trust that you will find him.” The dragon’s head continued to sway. “I have seen the future of your crew…but I can not tell you much…I would be breaking the Dragon’s Code…even now I have said too much…. You will find everything you need is closer than you think.”

Just then a small leather clad figure seemed to appear from nowhere. She had daggers stuck in the sides of her soft and soundless boots, and a large sword swinging from her side.

“Greetings ancient one,” she said bowing her head towards the dragon, “I see we have visitors.”

“Miki, you are here!” gasped Miral happily as she gave the other woman a quick hug.

Joe couldn’t help himself and let out a long slow wolf whistle.

Miki glared over her shoulder at the man who whistled and tapped her finger meaningfully on the hilt of her sword. Then she turned to the others and grinned. “Greetings old friends, I was told you were coming.”

“You were told?” questioned Arado.

“Yes the dragons knew you were coming,” said Miki matter-of-factly.

Fred lowered his head to the floor again, opened his mouth in a grin and winked.

“Miki, it’s a long time since when we last saw you on the Carolina,” said Arado.

“I have been living here with the dragons, we have searched for my sister but we can not yet find her.”

“The ship…Carolina…” Arado hesitated, unsure how to broach the subject of Mimp’s disappearance, “…it sent her somewhere, perhaps even to a different time, that is probably why you can’t find her.”

As the others were talking Illyan’s inquisitive nature finally got the better of her and she held her scanner out towards the great dragon. “With your permission, I wish to learn more of your kind,” she asked respectfully.

The dragon’s voice replied as a gentle rumble in her head, “Go ahead, you are more than welcome to scan me.”

Illyan dipped her head in thanks and began to move around the dragon, watching the rapidly blinking lights on the scanner screen as her instrument drew in data about the giant creature.

“That was a very odd ship,” continued Miki, “I didn’t like it, it tried to talk to me.”

“We are looking for it,” said Arado.

“Sooner it’s found the better,” growled Mason.

“And that captain,” said Miki with a scowl, “where is he? I have a few words for that captain.”

“Help us find Mimps.” said Arado earnestly, “We have to find Mimps and the rest of the crew before we can find the ship. And we have to find the ship to find the captain. Help us and you can have all the words you like.”

Miki slowly turned placed her hands on her hips and faced Arado. “I have a better idea,” she said narrowing her eyes, “YOU…” she stabbed one finger squarely in the centre of Arado’s chest, “…help ME find my sister, then I will decide who I will talk to and if I will help you or not.”

Miral unsuccessfully tried to hide a grin. “Typical Miki,” she thought.

Arado looked down at the woman’s finger pressed against his chest then noticed her other hand on her sword hilt. “That works for me,” he sighed.

“I thought it might,” said Miki stepping back and releasing her hand from the hilt.

One thing still worried Arado. “Miki,” he asked carefully, “can you still sense your sister? Is your link still intact?”

Miki nodded. “Yes we know that she is alive and we have a strong sense of where she is, but when we search we can find nothing.”

“That is probable because she has been sent to a different time. If you can tell me WHERE she should be, I can try and work out the WHEN from there.”

Miki walked towards the dragon and stood before one of his huge eyes. “Stea Calator,” she said, “I have to go with these uncivilised people and look for my sister. Do I have your permission to go? I do not know how long it will be. I can not say when I will return.” She bowed her head and waited for a reply.

The dragon rumbled an answer for them all to hear. “Certainly you may leave for such a noble quest.”

“Uncivilised?” grumbled Mason.

“Uncivilised?” echoed Joe.

Miki turned and glared at the men. “Yes, you are uncivilised. You can not speak to dragons and you do not carry a sword.”

Joe grinned and patted the berretta under his coat. “Don’t need a pig sticker when I got this.”

Mason grunted and nodded in agreement.

Miki stood squarely as she faced them. “That may be true, but it is not the using of the weapon, rather the carrying of it that makes you civilised.”

Arado took a step to move between them. “Our ways are far apart from your ancient and venerable ways,” he said, trying to remember the words of the peace ritual. “We offer our respect and gratitude for being allowed to share your knowledge so that both our quests may benefit.”

“So the sword is a status thing,” said Joe looking towards Arado.

“That is correct Joe,” said Arado keeping an eye on Miki.

“This is the sword of the ancients,” said Miki resting her hand on the hilt. “The honour I have to carry it is from long study and great deeds.”

“You might carry it for status,” said Joe, “but can you use it?”

Miki kept her eyes on Joe but nodded towards Arado. “Ask him,” she said.

“Yes she can, Joe,” said Arado quietly. “You could say it is an honour to be slain by such a weapon, but that is an honour which I will gladly forego. Now let us all remember where we are and bid farewell to the dragon.”

Miral hugged Fred around the leg. “Goodbye Fred…take care.”

Illyan bowed her head. “Thank you, great dragon. Maybe one day I can return to witness the birth of one of you children?”

Mason and Joe turned towards the dragon and bowed in unison.

Miki released her sword and lowered her head. “Farewell my friend, I will return when I have found my sister.”

Fred the dragon, now called Stea Calator, blinked his eyes and spoke. “Farewell friends. No doubt we will meet again.”

Then he rose up on his massive hind legs, stretched his wings to cover nearly the whole span of the great cathedral, opened his mouth towards the roof and roared.

While at the same time Arado tapped his com badge and said, “Six to beam up.”