"Nice of you to warn us," I said with irritation. "Did Kathy tell you this was okay?"
"Not really," Madias replied. "I need to talk to her."
"She's gone for a week," Tim observed. "She asked to be left alone."
Madias nodded, and stood there in thought for a moment. He looked around at all of us, and then said, "You won't see much difference. The guards will be out of sight. I have spoken to Tucker, the son of Satu-Ra. He has ordered guards be assigned to you. I'm sure you can understand why."
"I don't understand," I corrected him. "Why?"
"You're an important asset," he replied bluntly. He seemed to catch himself, and then he said, "The truth is, a lot of people have volunteered to make sure you're safe." He eyed me closely, and said, "Most of them owe you their lives. They know who you are, and what you face. I have little choice, but to act on this, or they're going to act on their own."
"How many of them are there?" Tim asked.
"Several thousand," Madias noted in an absent minded voice.
"Thousands!" yelped Koda. "Here? Now?"
"No! Of course not!" Madias said with a frown. "There are about fifty of them spread around outside, and they will be here in shifts from now on."
"Even in bad weather?" Koda asked.
"They can be sheltered, without drawing attention." Madias noted. "You don't need to worry about them."
Seeing this was a losing battle, I simply said, "Do what you need to Madias. Thanks for warning us what you're up to." I abruptly caught myself, and noted, "There's a house up the road to the North. The one Harold and Shooter used to stay at. I'm sure Kathy would tell you to use it for now. She gets back in a week, and you can talk to her then."
Madias nodded, and said, "On behalf of the Guardians, I say thank you."
"Just try not to be too obvious about it," I coaxed. "I don't want to be tripping over guards."
Madias shook his head, and said, "I can assure you, we don't wish to draw attention." Then he simply folded space, and vanished.
In a child's small voice, Heather said, "It still freaks me out when people disappear like that."
Everyone in the room smiled, and Tim grinned widely, saying, "It still freaks me out too."
"Make sure Lisa and Bugs know what's going on," I told Tim. "If you hear from Kathy, tell her what's happening." He nodded to acknowledge the instruction. I glanced over at Koda, and asked, "What do you two have planned for today?"
Without skipping a beat. Heather said, "I'm going horseback riding."
I looked over at Koda, as I almost spit out my coffee, and quickly said, "Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"It's alright," Koda said, smiling warmly. "Lisa said it's a therapy animal, and it's just up the road about two miles. Tim and Lisa are going with us. It's a very controlled situation."
Catching myself, I let the subject drop. I could see this was being dealt with, and didn't require my interference. I stood up from the table, and stepping over to the sink, rinsed out my cup. When I turned to walk away, I heard Heather ask, "Would you go with us?" in her tiny little girl voice.
For some reason, it seemed like a great idea. Without another thought, I said, "Sure! I'll go with you." Heather's face lit up, and I figured we were finally doing the girl some good. We made arrangements to meet in two hours, and drive over to the place.
I decided to check on the Guardians next door before we left. I walked over, opened the back door to the house, and stepped in to find a uniformed Guardian sitting on a stool at the kitchen's small bar. It divided the kitchen, from the dining area. As soon as the man saw me, he stood, and came to attention.
I waved at him casually, and said, "There's no need for that. Stand at ease, Guardian." His posture relaxed, but he still watched my every move as I walked past him, further into the house. "Who's in command here, Guardian?" I asked.
"I answer to Prefect Myers, and then directly to you," the man replied.
I remembered being told that a Prefect was some type of commander among the Guardians. I looked around and asked, "How many of you are here?"
"I'm the first one here," the man stated briskly. "I was told to secure the house, and wait to be relieved."
We talked for a while, and I quickly got a better grasp of what was happening here. The Guardians were not only for our safety, but to ensure that Heather didn't harm anyone else. The warrior had talked with me for about an hour, before he asked, "You don't remember me, do you?"
I reached back, trying to remember the man. I couldn't think of who he was. I shook my head no, and he said, "I was dying after the attack at the research station on Zaegar Ten. You stopped, and held my hand. I was healed. Now I’ll stand by you. No matter what else happens, I owe you my life."
I started to correct him, and realized anything I might say would cheapen the value of his life. I finally told him, "You fought hard, and deserved any help I could offer."
The man smiled broadly, and said, "I'm aware of the risk you took helping me. I felt you lift the pain from me, and know you suffered the same torment. You took my pain! I was a stranger to you, and you saved me, while risking your own life. Now. Tell me I owe you nothing. I wish you luck."
This whole conversation was getting out of hand, and it was time to go horseback riding. I shook the man's hand, and told him I had to leave. He held my hand in a strong grip, and before he released me, he said, "You saved almost three hundred of us that day. Guardians, the Chosen, even the Critz. You made a difference. We won't forget that."
I walked out of the house slightly shaken. I'm more of a lone wolf, than a big team player. I can work in a team. I just prefer the freedom to act alone. I hate being responsible for other people. That part of my personality was badly stressed after the loss of Harold and Shooter. I suppose I should note that I was having some real problems with the loss of these men. I believe that my failures have contributed to the loss.
A better team leader would have seen this coming. If I had been faster, or perhaps more alert, one of these men might still be alive. Perhaps both of them. I’m out of practice, and twenty years behind the times. I probably should pull myself out of the lineup, just for the safety of others.
The truth is, I doubt Madias would allow it. I get the feeling that flawed as I am, I'm the best they've got. That's pretty scary in itself.
Arriving at the back of Kathy's house on the trail, I could hear voices, and just walked around the house on the sidewalk. I found Tim, Koda, and Lisa, waiting for me with a very excited Heather. The girl was almost jumping up and down as she saw me, and I had to smile when I saw her face. We loaded into the van, and went a few miles up the road to a riding stables.
The people who run the place, Bob and Marcy, are very nice, and only just recently joined the Chosen. Both Lisa and Karen knew the husband and wife very well. There was no reason to expect anything, but another glorious day in the paradise we call Florida.
Upon our arrival, I realized they had horses saddled for all of us. I like horses, so I don't care, but Tim was against the whole concept, saying, "I am NOT getting on a horse!"
"It will be good practice before we ride the dragons," I quietly goaded him. "What will Lisa think?"
"She'll think I don't like horses!" he snapped at me.
"Fine!" I huffed back at him. "Just sit here, and see if I care!" I grabbed the reins, and pulled myself up into the saddle. Almost instantly, the horse reared on its two back legs for a moment, and then settled back down on all four. I glanced down at Tim from the saddle, and said, "Nothing to it!"
"Have a good time!" Tim said with a sarcastic grin. "I don't care what you say! I'm not getting on a horse."
Lisa and Marcy had made sure Heather was safe in the saddle, and Bob climbed on a horse as well. We finally rode out of camp with Bob in the lead, and the rest of us on his trail. The horse Heather was on was especially gentle, and for the next hour we rode along, going into a local state park, on trails that crossed back and forth through the ar
ea.
We were on the way back to the camp, when Heather suddenly stopped her horse on the trail. I was in front of her, and turned my horse around to see what the problem was. She was just focusing on the back of her horse's head, but appeared dazed. Behind her, Koda asked, "Are you okay?" Heather didn't respond. She simply sat there without moving.
Her eyes suddenly came up, and met mine. "I hurt you!" she blurted out. "I'm sorry I did that!"
"It wasn't your fault," I quickly noted. "You did nothing wrong."
"All those people at the hospital," Heather whispered. "That thing killed them!"
I could tell she was building to an emotional peak, and I tried to hold her back, saying, "Just block it from your mind Heather! It wasn't your fault!"
Her eyes were really locked on me, and she said, "It was my fault. You helped me, and I tried to kill you. I'm sorry!"
"It's alright, Heather!" I repeated again. "You had no control over those events. It's not your fault!"
"Okay," she agreed in that tiny child's voice of hers. My blood came to a boil. The girl's memory was returning, and the pain that came with it. Hurting small children tends to piss me off faster than most anything else. At that moment, I wanted to hunt the thing down, no matter what it cost me, and rip its heart out with my bare hands.
We rode the rest of the way in without a word. Heather had been so happy when we arrived. Now she was badly depressed, and I just couldn't stand it.
I did a bad thing! I was standing behind Heather as she was helped off the horse. Without permission, I took the memory from her. I had never done such a thing before. I wasn't even sure it had worked, till I saw her relax, and start talking softly to the horse.
Koda was still on her horse behind me, and I heard her quietly say, "Thank you!"
Lisa on the other hand, was not pleased. "I want to talk to you!" she huffed at me.
"When we get home," I responded. She wasn't happy with my response, but she let it go for now.
On the ride home, Heather talked excitedly about the horses, and there was no more mention made of the hospital. We went into the house, and Koda led Heather toward the back, where their rooms were. As soon as they were gone, Lisa turned to me, and asked, "Did you just alter that young girl's mind?"
"The memory is still there," I corrected her. "It's blocked! She can't see it any more, even if she looks into your mind."
"That's scary as hell, Mike!" Lisa said in a very stressed tone. "Promise me you won't do that again, without talking to me first." I felt bad, but at the same time, I should note that I’d do it again, before I watch that girl suffer anymore. I just nodded to acknowledge Lisa's comment, but my outlook was unaltered.
Tim was listening, and quietly said, "I didn't think we had the power to do that."
"You and I don't," Lisa observed. "Mike is working under a different set of rules."
"It needed to be done," I stated simply.
"It's her mind, Mike!" Lisa ripped into me. "I'm going to be really pissed off if you do anything like that again! Do I make myself clear?"
She was almost red-faced with anger, and I took her more seriously. "I'm sorry," I observed. "I had no intention of harming her."
Lisa paused for a moment, and visibly calmed down. In a more civil tone, she said, "You're messing with a person's mind, Mike. It's a precious gift, and you just get one per person. If it's damaged, that person is diminished, and may never live up to their full potential. It happens all the time in medicine. A simple lack of oxygen, or drug reaction, and you're fighting for the patient’s life. I can't allow you to take that chance."
I understood her point of view, and decided that I had acted without thinking the repercussions through. My best intentions aside, I had probably done the wrong thing, for the right reasons. "It won't happen again," I agreed. Lisa seemed to relax at once. Tim on the other hand, seemed to just stand there, reflecting on what was being said.
Several seconds passed, and then Tim calmly said, "Not much scares me. The concept that somebody might blank my mind... That's scary as Hell!" I just nodded agreement, and let it drop.
"I'm going to go check on Koda and Heather," Lisa said. She walked away, and Tim followed in her wake. For a minute, I just stood there thinking about what Lisa and Tim had said. For the first time, it really sank in, that I was turning into some kind of monster. I’d need to be very careful, or I would kill somebody with my good intentions.
I walked into the kitchen, and fixed a cup of coffee. I was sitting there, mentally going over current events, when Madias returned. He stepped in without a sound, but I could sense him at once. I've changed so much in the last few months, it's sometime difficult to take it all in.
Madias must have been scanning me. Because his first question was, "Do you regret joining us?"
I hesitated, and then truthfully said, "I'm fine, till I stop and think about what's happening. Then I start to freak out."
"Fate has placed you in a position to right a great wrong." Madias quietly said. "I have observed you closely, ever since we met. You are the man needed for this task. I have great faith in you." He seemed to consider his words, and then added, "I would say, you are one of the very few people I have faith in, at all."
I considered his comment, and then asked, "Not much trust in humanity?"
"Most life forms fail, and give up." Madias stated simply. "You don't fail, and I don't believe you would ever give up. It's not in your nature. You are not like most life forms. You are different, and I'm beginning to see why you stand out so strongly in the timeline."
We talked for almost an hour, before I heard footsteps coming down the hall, and Koda stepped in. She seemed exhausted, and smiled at me with a weary grin that told me she was worn out from the stress. I glanced over at Madias, and asked, "When do we return to Drevins Spraug?"
"Soon." Madias said absent mindedly. "It is best to bond with the dragons every month or two."
"I may not be able to go." Koda said. "I need to stay with Heather as much as possible."
"I've been thinking about that." Madias observed. "I believe Heather should go with us. The dragons may have some insight into how all this has affected her. I suggest we take her when we go."
Koda seemed to be greatly relieved, and I decided things were going to work out just fine. What could go wrong? We would simply go talk to the dragons.
Chapter 11
Riding Dragons
Three days went past. When I woke up on the fourth day, I went into the kitchen, to find Kathy talking to Tim. They were sitting at the table, drinking coffee, and both just smiled up at me as I walked in. I nodded at them, and said, "Looks like a good day for dragon riding."
"I'll be watching from the ground," Tim commented dryly.
"Killjoy!" Kathy joked with him. "Where's the fun in that?"
Totally unamused, Tim said, "I'll have that put on your tombstone."
I could hear Koda's voice as she came down the hallway toward us. She was speaking quietly, but I heard her say, "You're going to love it." Then she stepped into the room with Heather.
Heather looked at us, and a sheepish look crossed her face. She quietly said, "Good morning." I was still standing, and Heather immediately walked over, and stood right next to me. I got the distinct feeling she was looking for comfort, or a feeling of security. Unsure how to react, I simply smiled at her.
Her face lit up in return, and when she smiled back, I realized she was a really beautiful young girl. The effects of the long term coma were diminishing. She reminded me of Koda facially, but her frame was much more delicate.
Heather had been exposed to the enzyme while she was still in her coma. Her telepathic abilities were still pretty muted, but I suspect her self-healing abilities were fully in effect. I had warned Koda to leave her alone. She was doing so well, I was afraid we might mess her up if we interfered any more in her recovery.
We all talked for another minute or two, and then Madias appeared. After a minute of greetin
gs, we all folded space, and went to Drevins Spraug.
Madias had brought along Kathy and Tim as we teleported, and I transported Koda and Heather. When we arrived, I released Koda and Heather, but Heather had no intention of releasing me. She took one look around at the place, and her grip on me tightened to the point that it was painful. I regretted bringing her here, instantly.
We were standing on the same ledge that we arrive at each time we visit. Far off in the distance, I could see a small shape flying along. I knew at once that it was one of the dragons. It could have been a bird I suppose, but the way it moved, told me it was a dragon.
It banked around, and started toward us. In just seconds, it went from a tiny dot in the distance, to a rapidly approaching object. Only at the last second, did the beast flap it wings gracefully, and land just behind us on the level area outside the cave. Its huge head came around, and in a deep male voice, said, "Greetings, Madias! It's good to see you again."
"Greetings, Masana," responded Madias. "I brought the Earthers back as per the Queen's request."
The Dragon simply said, "She will be pleased." Then he started to lead us into the cave. When Masana first spoke, Heather seemed to finally relax. She released her grip on my arm, and walked along with us. Koda was pretty focused on her, so I started to relax slightly.
As Masana led us deeper into the cave, I began to notice a lot of details I hadn't noticed before. For one thing, there were new tunnels branching off the main entrance. They told me this place was still growing. The newer tunnels weren't as polished as the older ones were. You could tell the difference.
We were moving slowly because of Heather. She was obviously mesmerized by the dragons, and hadn't spoken a word since she arrived, but I could tell she was overwhelmed. There was just too much for her to take in.
The dragon leading us into the warren, was not as large as many of the adult dragons I had seen before. I would guess the creature was about ninety feet long, and was mostly steel blue in color. Black accent marks covered its feet, legs, and face. There was a graceful look to the animal as it moved. We soon found ourselves deep in the nest, and I suddenly realized where we were."
The Koda Files Boxed Set - Books 1 & 2 Page 27