by Tygati
"Jasper."
Jeremey drew in a slow breath. "Sheriff."
Jack Sullivan looked him over slowly, his eyes giving away nothing. "Heard you talked Colonel Brocius into taking you back with him. Noman not exciting enough for you now?"
"What?" Jeremey blinked twice. "No! Noman's my home."
Jack just watched him, saying nothing.
"It's the Vek," Jeremey said at last when it was obvious that there would be nothing more forthcoming from Jack. "They're just going to keep coming until they get what they want and… I don't want anyone else to get hurt. There's a chance we can stop them for good and I have to try. For everyone's sake."
For a while, it seemed as though there would still be nothing from Jack, then he sighed and shook his head. "You can't save the world, Jasper. There's always going to be something out there that's bigger, meaner, faster than you. You can try and try, and in the end you realize that you've accomplished nothing. Just wasted your time. You can go out there, maybe even win a battle or two, but if you defeat one enemy, it's only a matter of time before a new one finds you. It never ends."
Jeremey could feel his mouth hanging open. His thoughts swirled around, chaotic, the sheer improbability of what he was hearing making it difficult to accept that he'd heard it. That Jack would think that way was baffling.
"You can't give up!" he finally sputtered, aghast. "If you don't keep fighting for what's right, then what's the point?"
"There is no point!" Jack bit out. "That's exactly what I'm telling you! In the end, nothing you ever do makes any difference!"
Jeremey's hands clenched into fists at his sides, an old anger flaring up within him. Just because he was young didn't mean he was wrong, but everyone always assumed that he didn't know what he was talking about. He thought he'd left that all behind in Deadwood Gulch, but here was Sheriff Sullivan, telling him exactly the same thing. Damn it, he wasn't wrong! Especially not about this.
Slowly, deliberately, Jeremey unclenched his hands. Jack wasn't the enemy. He was a coward, but he wasn't the enemy. The enemy was waiting for him, out there in space. The greatest triumph he could gain over Jack would be to succeed, so that was exactly what he was going to do.
"I'm sorry you can't handle the turns your life has taken," Jeremey said quietly, doing his best to emulate the easy confidence he'd always envied in Charlie. "I wasn't sure I could, at first, but I had so much I had to make up for that I knew I had to at least try. That's all that really matters, that you tried. And if you don't get it right the first time? That just means you'll do better next time."
Jack gave a curt shake of his head. "You don't understand."
"I understand more than you think I do," Jeremey replied, walking with measured steps toward the door—and Jack. Jack hesitated, then he stepped out of the way and let Jeremey pass.
Quashing his relief at the action—he wasn't sure what he would have done had Jack refused to move—Jeremey quickly left the barracks and hurried back to where Promise was waiting for him. Whatever happened once they got into space, if they defeated the Vek or if they couldn't, he didn't think he could stay in Fair Valley any longer. Not while Jack Sullivan was still sheriff.
Maybe Charlie could use another rider in Deadwood Gulch, or maybe one of the far settlements would like an extra hand.
Promise trilled at him, bringing Jeremey's attention back to the present. Enough dwelling on things that hadn't happened yet. He'd deal with that when the time came.
"Hey, Promise." He stroked the smooth scales atop Promise's head. "Ran into Jack."
Promise emitted something halfway between a chirp and a growl and cocked his head. Jeremey smiled.
"It's okay. I just… didn't know he felt like that. I don't know how anyone can be friends with a dragon and not find every day wonderful."
Promise crooned and rubbed his head against Jeremey's chest. Jeremey rubbed the soft spot between his horns. He wished they were out of sight so he could actually talk to his best friend, but for now this was good enough.
"C'mon," Jeremey said finally. "Let's get back to Mrs. Colcord's place and we can wait for Charlie and Zorevan. They should be getting back tonight."
Giving a snort, Promise crouched down and Jeremey pulled himself up into the saddle. They wound their way through the streets of Fair Valley to an older house on the edge of town, right next to the protective fence that surrounded the city. It had its own barn, even bigger than the house itself, and nearly as old. From what Jeremey had learned, it dated back to the time when the colony ship Oliver Loving had brought the original settlers to Noman, some eighty-odd years ago.
It had belonged to the Colcord family ever since, and although Charlie lived in Deadwood Gulch now, his mother lived here still.
"We're back, Mrs. Colcord," Jeremey called in through the front door before making his way with Promise to the barn. He wished he could just bring Promise inside with him but, as Charlie had ruefully explained, his mother was not aware of the dual nature of dragons as Zorevan didn't think it would be a good idea to tell her.
It didn't make any sense to Jeremey. Finding out that Promise could talk and think and feel just like anyone else was the second-best thing that had ever happened to him, Promise choosing him being the first. Why did the dragons seem to think that something terrible would happen if the rest of Noman's people were allowed to know the truth?
Had something terrible happened to them before?
As though sensing the dark turn Jeremey's thoughts had taken, Promise gave him a nudge that was hard enough to knock him over, then stole his hat just to add insult to injury. Jeremey scrambled to his feet and lunged for the hat dangling from the dragon's mouth, only to have Promise jerk his head away at the last minute and leave Jeremey in the dust again.
"What is with you and my hat anyway?" Jeremey groused good-naturedly, bracing himself for a leap. "I like my hat. It's a good hat. Charlie gave me that hat. But you, you have to go and keep putting toothmarks in it!"
Promise snorted, tossing his head dramatically and not paying close enough attention as Jeremey was able to dart forward and snatch his hat from Promise's mouth.
"Ew, toothmarks and slobber," he amended, wrinkling his nose at the slimy spots on his hat. "Dragon breath is foul."
"It is the poison bite," Promise said, startling Jeremey as he hadn't noticed Promise shifting forms. "The toxin causes the odor. It is unavoidable."
"Oh." Jeremey blinked. "So, dragon drool is poisonous? Doc Holliday said it's from some sort of bacteria…?"
"Of a sort, yes," Promise agreed, curling up on the straw with Jeremey's pack. "However, it is manufactured by us, not an outside entity."
"Huh." Jeremey dropped down next to Promise and leaned against him as he often did. It took a little more arranging, as Promise was so much smaller than usual, but eventually he found a comfortable position. "Why?" he asked curiously.
Promise shrugged. "I do not know all the details. Our females are the keepers of knowledge among my people and I have never had reason to ask. What is commonly known is that it was developed long ago as a defense weapon to protect us from our enemies."
"The Vek?"
"Perhaps. It is known that we share an ancient ancestor, but the details of that time are known only to those with permission to access the Archive."
Jeremey frowned. "Like Bejalii? Why keep it secret? Why doesn't everyone get to know?"
"What good would it do?" Promise pointed out. "My people are content with their lives as they are now. We made the choice to abandon that part of our society long ago. We must have had good reason to do so."
That was a good point, Jeremey had to admit. "I guess we did the same thing when we came to Noman."
"Indeed," Promise agreed, smiling. "Your people also chose a different way of life."
Jeremey grinned. "I guess we're not so different after all. Aside from, you know," he waved a hand at Promise, "the wings and the scales and stuff."
Promise laughed and res
ted his head against Jeremey's. "Aside from all that, yes."
Jeremey closed his eyes, all the fears and worries that had plagued him recently melting away in the heat of his best friend's presence. Soon he would be face to face with a whole universe he knew nothing about, yet he knew he would be able to face it as long as Promise was with him.
*~*~*
The next time Jeremey opened his eyes, dawn was creeping through the barn windows. He sat up quickly, drawing a sleepy protest from Promise, still in his human shape. He couldn't believe he'd fallen asleep; what if someone had come in and found Promise as he was? It was incredibly irresponsible of him.
Yet even as the thought bombarded his mind, his eyes caught a glimpse of shine in the fading darkness as a large dragon head lifted from where it had been resting on the floor. Zorevan blinked at him slowly before snorting and laying his head back down. If Zorevan wasn't concerned, that meant Jeremey shouldn't worry either. Anything that Zorevan couldn't handle, Jeremey didn't have a fleep's chance in a lycodo pack of handling.
He settled back against Promise, enjoying his warmth and presence under Zorevan's watchful eye. Others probably would have found that steady gaze unsettling, but for Jeremey it meant safety. Charlie was a man to be respected and admired, for sure, but he was still only human. Humans, no matter how strong or brave they were, could still die.
Jeremey couldn't even imagine what it would take to kill Zorevan. Zorevan was without doubt the most dangerous creature on the whole planet and here he was, once more guarding Jeremey's sleep.
"Zorevan?" Jeremey said softly, a slight lifting of Zorevan's head showing him the dragon had heard. "Sorry for, you know, all the stupid things I did as a kid."
That large head lifted higher, then between one breath and the next Zorevan was in his more humanoid form. Frowning.
"Never apologize for being true to yourself," Zorevan admonished him. "If others do not like who you are, that is their problem. Do not think that you must change in order to please them."
Jeremey blinked several times, his mouth opening and closing as he tried and failed to figure out what he was supposed to say to that. Charlie—and by extension Zorevan—were the ones he'd caused the most grief to as a child. They should have the most reason to dislike him, and yet…
"No one was ever harmed by your antics," Zorevan continued, breaking into the maelstrom that was Jeremey's thoughts, "only inconvenienced." He snorted. "And most of them deserved to be inconvenienced. They have gotten insufferable since you were no longer around to knock some humility into them."
Jeremey breathed out a quiet "Oh."
Zorevan snorted again and resumed his dragon shape, lying back down upon the floor with half-lidded eyes. Jeremey watched him watch Jeremey, trying to sort through the concept that Zorevan not only didn't hold his pranks against him but seemed to actually approve of them.
It ran contrary to everything he'd ever been told, and yet it meant far more to have Zorevan's approval than a whole settlement's worth of scorn.
Be true to himself. He'd never looked at it that way before, but he would now. Now he had Promise, who also seemed to encourage him to do just that. Promise, who was warm, and comfortable, and Jeremey let his eyes drift closed as he allowed himself to simply enjoy the rare moment of peace.
Jeremey dozed off and on until the suns were well and truly up and he heard Zorevan moving about. He reluctantly pulled away from Promise's warmth, getting to his feet and dusting the straw off his clothes. Hopefully there would be time for him to get a bath today before they were to board the ship.
Zorevan's head turned to stare intently at the door. Promise came up behind Jeremey, one hand touching the small of Jeremey's back. "It is Sheriff Colcord," he said softly.
Sure enough, a few moments later the latch lifted and Charlie Colcord came through the door.
"Mornin', Zorevan. Jasper. Highness."
Charlie went to Zorevan's side, affectionately rubbing the big dragon's head. Zorevan leaned into it almost blissfully.
"Yeah, I missed you too, cranky lizard," Charlie said, smiling.
Jeremey looked over his shoulder at Promise. "Highness?"
Promise rubbed the side of his neck. "It is nothing."
"You've gotta tell him some time," Charlie called out, not bothering to lift his eyes from Zorevan.
Jeremey frowned. "Is that why the other dragons wait for you to go first all the time?"
Promise shot a look at Charlie and Zorevan. Zorevan snorted and made a clicking sound.
Promise sighed. "Yes. My father, Sangkhara, leads the males. But I am only second son; my brother Drosin is next-leader."
"Ah, but Drosin isn't Bejalii's favorite egg," Charlie said, earning himself another irritated look from Promise.
Jeremey looked between the two of them, feeling incredibly confused and, if he was honest with himself, a little bit envious. It made sense, of course, that Charlie would know all of this already. Charlie was older than Jeremey and had known about the dragons' secret for a lot longer. Still, Promise was Jeremey's dragon, and it didn't sit right that someone else would know more about his best friend than he did.
"Bejalii was the white dragon we met, right?" Jeremey asked, breaking the stare down between Promise and Charlie.
"Yes," Promise confirmed. "She… Our society is not like yours. Males and females each have autonomous authority and do not regularly interact with one another. When one of the females decides to produce an egg, she comes out among the males to choose the one she likes best. It is often a different male each time. My brother Drosin and I share Sangkhara as our sire, but we do not share mothers. His mother is Asamana. Mine is Bejalii.
"Bejalii has led the females since Sangkhara was just an egg. She is… very well respected, by both males and females. Mine was the first egg she has produced in a very long time."
"Why?" Jeremey asked curiously.
Promise laughed softly. "Sangkhara. He snuck into the females' valley to prove his bravery and she threw him out. When he was through licking his wounds, he went back. They say she chased him out more than twelve times before deciding she liked having him around. They have been heart-partners ever since."
That made Jeremey smile. It sounded like something he would do.
"What are heart-partners?" he wondered.
Promise frowned. "It is… difficult to explain. You do not seem to have an equivalent." He looked helplessly at Charlie.
"Hmmm." Charlie rubbed at the base of Zorevan's horns as he thought. "Best friends, lovers, confidants… the person you trust above all others."
"Oh." Like Promise, Jeremey thought, only without the lovers aspect. He trusted Promise more than anyone else on all of Noman. Even more than Charlie.
After a few more rubs, Charlie reluctantly pulled away from Zorevan. "We should probably get going. Ma's making breakfast and after that we should go find your colonel."
"Why is he my colonel?" Jeremey asked, though he took a moment to run a hand through his curls before carefully resettling his hat.
Charlie grinned. "Been meaning to ask, that the same hat I think it is?" he asked, holding the door for Jeremey.
Jeremey flushed. "Uh."
Charlie thumped him on the back and threw a massive arm over his shoulder as they headed into the house. "Suits you, Jasper. Something to remind you where you came from, but with a little extra room to grow into yourself."
Startled, Jeremey looked up at Charlie. He'd never thought about it that way, but it still rang true. Nothing like when his cousin Billy had accused him of needing a security blanket. It was home in a way that Fair Valley could never be.
"Do you think, after all this is over, that maybe I could come back to Deadwood Gulch?" Jeremey asked, haltingly, as they entered the kitchen where Mrs. Colcord was messing with something on the stove.
Charlie stopped, his arm sliding from Jeremey's shoulder as he turned so that they were face to face. "That what you want?" he asked.
Jeremey
nodded. "I don't belong here, not really. Deadwood Gulch is my home. I'd… like to go home, if I could."
Charlie blinked, as though Jeremey had surprised him, then he smiled broadly and Jeremey found himself swept up in Charlie's powerful arms.
"Long as I'm sheriff, you've always got a home in Deadwood Gulch," Charlie promised, voice a little thicker than usual. "I'll even take up your cause with Mayor Burke, though you might have to make a few apologies on that front."
Jeremey made his eyes go as wide as they could as Charlie released him. "You mean that old bat's still around after all these years? Ow!" He rubbed at his head where Mrs. Colcord had swatted him with her spatula.
"Language, young man," Mrs. Colcord warned, shaking the spatula at him before sliding two plates onto the counter. "Now eat up. You've got a long journey ahead of you."
Charlie and Jeremey both grinned. "Yes, ma'am!"
Breakfast was polished off rapidly, consistent with the appetites of a teenager and a man the size of a small rachya. Charlie retrieved his pack and kissed his mother goodbye before the two of them returned to the barn and their dragons.
"You two ready?" Charlie asked, earning himself a trill from Promise—now back in dragon shape—and a snort from Zorevan.
"What?" Charlie grinned. "Had to ask."
Zorevan smacked him—lightly—with the underside of his tail, then dropped his saddle in the dust at Charlie's feet. Charlie picked it up cheerfully and saddled the waiting dragon.
Jeremey looked at Promise, whose saddle was waiting on the ground at the dragon's feet. He picked it up and settled it on Promise's back, double-checking the straps before climbing on.
"Lead the way," Charlie ordered, waving them out.
They made their way to the inn where they met up with Colonel Brocius and helped the Galactic Federation people move the things they'd salvaged from their ship out past the city fence to the field where the Lucifaria was to land. It took several trips, even after a few more riders and their dragons pitched in to help, but eventually it was all neatly piled and ready for pickup.