by Eric S Kim
Artyom opened the giant groveling mouth on his belly. “I’ve changed my mind. I’m starting with you.”
Lionel’s last smoke grenade was a convenient item. He pulled the pin and threw it in the open mouth. Artyom screamed has purple smoke exited the belly mouth. It opened and closed repeatedly as if it suffered a severe bout of coughing. Artyom stepped back and had to reach inside his belly mouth to grab the smoke grenade that was stuck between his internal teeth. His entire body shuddered violently because of the unusual infiltration.
“Not fair!”
Oswald had run toward his captain. “Here!”
Artyom coughed out the smoke grenade from his belly. “You’re nothing but a cheater!”
Lionel ran for the sword that still lay on the floor. But Artyom caught up to him. He grabbed Lionel by the leg and hoisted him up. Lionel was hanging upside down above Artyom’s head.
The mutated man declared, “You always were a coward, Mr. Tyler. You don’t deserve to win.”
He opened his belly mouth and lowered Lionel toward it. Lionel now relied on something that remained hidden in Oswald’s backpack. He unzipped it and brought out two blue objects that the younger Blackjack had tried to steal. Pelkitay Mushrooms. His dishonesty was a blessing. Lionel brought out the Pelkitay Mushrooms and threw them in Artyom’s mouth. Artyom must not have spotted them since he continued to push Lionel into the mouth.
Suddenly, Artyom’s eyes widened and stopped lowering Lionel to his demise. He closed his belly mouth and started to shiver.
“I know what that is…Pelkitay!”
He threw Lionel down on the ground and clasped his belly. He stepped back and breathed deeply. He made a gargling noise in his actual mouth.
“This can’t be happening to me!”
Preston witnessed the unthinkable: the first stages of a Pelkitay infection. Several black sticks with blue tips popped out of Artyom’s skin in random locations. Lionel backed away as Artyom flailed his arms and tentacles like a frightened lunatic. The Blackjacks stopped firing as well and gazed at the transformation in horror. More sticks erupted out of his body. The Zatrad stopped attacking. Most of them silently surrounded Artyom as he experienced his transition from reality to the most insufferable trance imaginable. He collapsed and reached out for Lionel, who did nothing.
Just as sticks popped out of his neck, Artyom cried out, “Please don’t make me live like this! Kill me before I change!”
Lionel had the sword in his hand, but still did nothing. “Maybe I should keep you this way.”
Even Artyom’s left eyeball became a victim of the black rods. They burst right out of the iris and the pupil. “Why should you? I was trying to keep things away from Gorvex! You know how important these weapons are!”
“This will be your punishment. Keeping the artillery away from us is a crime.”
Artyom had trouble when he tried to say, “I…know you do not honestly…believe that. You used to…wield them a long time ago. You know how dangerous it would be if Gorvex…took them away from you.”
Over a hundred black rods had stuck themselves out of Artyom’s body. “Please…kill me! I can’t live with this nightmare. Kill me!”
Lionel still didn’t move. “Why?”
“Because that…is the only thing a dragon rider can do. You don’t want me…to suffer. I know it. Show some mercy, dragon rider. Do it now!”
Lionel finally raised his arms as he grabbed the hilt with both hands and swung his sword at Artyom’s neck. The Russian’s head flew off and rolled away from the body. His entire body no longer sprouted the physical consequences brought on by the most dangerous mushrooms in Green Brigalvic National Forest.
Lionel turned around and walked away from the headless corpse. The other Blackjacks had nothing to say as they watched him rejoin the group. Preston had heard the two most crucial words spoken by Artyom Trutnev. “Dragon rider.” And sure enough, everyone else would have heard it as well.
The Zatrad, driven by revenge, ran even faster as their attacks still didn’t cease. They surrounded the Blackjacks and pushed forward. Lionel put the sword back in its scabbard and finally used his assault rifle for the more standard fight. The other troopers now had the black aluminum storage box to worry about. With Artyom dead, the Zatrad would be the only living creatures to confront in the field.
5:27 AM
Preston had run out of ammo for his FAMAS, so he had to use his Kel-Tec pistol for the remainder of the fight. Elliott had also emptied all of the magazines for his P90 and had to resort to using his pistol.
Bryce called out, “I’m out of grenades!”
Elliott shouted, “There’s too many of them!”
Lionel never lost control of his deep commanding voice. “Hold your ground! We guard the artillery or die trying!”
Preston had already delivered thirty rounds to the enemy and had to reload his pistol again. He only had a few magazines left, and the thousands of Zatrad just didn’t stop their overwhelming charge. With so many six-legged enemies surrounding them, Preston could no longer deny the reality. He and his teammates would soon run out of bullets before being outmatched by Artyom’s little subordinates. Preston looked up at the sky. It had grown brighter, and the orange portion of the eastern horizon underwent a massive expansion. The sun would rise in an hour or so, and Preston didn’t believe that he would ever see it in time.
But then, he caught a glimpse of something flying in the sky. A winged reptile swooping in for the kill.
The dragon’s dive concluded with outstretched arms. It grabbed several of the Zatrad and carried them off. It happened so quickly that the other Zatrad began to grow disorganized with the sudden arrival. Another dragon repeated the actions of the first as it scooped up several of the six-legged plants and released them when it reached a higher elevation. The Zatrad hit the ground and their bodies burst open with green blood spilling everywhere.
Lionel shouted, “Everybody seize fire!”
The Blackjacks crouched down whenever a dragon flew right past them from above. More of them had arrived with the sole purpose of eliminating those that threatened the law enforcement officers on the field. Each of them used their unique abilities. One opened its mouth and spewed out an icy mist, drenching a few dozen Zatrad in ice and freezing them in seconds. Another dragon used its wings to produce electricity. It shot out a bolt of lightning and electrocuted several of the minions, causing them to explode. The third dragon flapped its wings and produced a powerful gust of wind that hurled many of the Zatrad in the air and made them land on the trees in the distance.
Preston had seen most of the action unfold in the field. The dragons, despite appearing from out of nowhere, had struck at the right moment. The Zatrad had no power over these monumental reptiles. The confrontation had now become an imbalanced conflict. Preston was relieved. It felt like a reverie. A majestic image that he had previously seen in his childhood. But instead of it being fiction on television, truth had replaced it with ease. It happened in Fireside Air Base, and now it happened again.
One of the dragons landed in front of the Blackjacks. The leader of the pack had shown himself. It was officially a reunion. The dragon was known as Korveer, a Hetvalamin Dragon from the San Gabriel Mountains. This wouldn’t be the first time that Preston had encountered him.
Korveer couldn’t speak a human language, so he had to rely on a completely nonverbal sort of communication. He pointed at the Blackjacks and then at his back.
Lionel seemed to have understood. “Come on, guys. We’re leaving.”
As the mayhem continued between the Zatrad and the Hetvalamin Dragons, several of the reptiles stayed put in the center of the field. Lionel explained to his teammates that they would have to leave Green Brigalvic with the help of the dragons.
Elliott wasn’t so sure about that. “Wait! You want us to hitch a ride on their backs?! Isn’t that forbidden?”
Lionel replied, “Not when our lives are at stake. Now come on! We do
n’t have time to obey the laws.”
Despite a few objections, the rest of the Blackjacks decided to accept Korveer’s offer. The younger teammates were the first to mount the dragons. Preston took a seat on a green dragon’s back. It wasn’t too comfortable without a proper saddle, but he tolerated the mild inconveniences, nonetheless.
Lionel hurried his teammates on. Kurt and Cliff had to mount the same dragon as they brought the storage box along and placed it between the two of them. The dragons that took the younger Blackjacks took off. Preston had to hold on the scaly back. The giant wings flapped between him. They created a whirling noise that thankfully didn’t hurt Preston’s ears. He was afraid that he would lose his balance when the dragon moved from left to right in a quick fashion. They ascended together, away from the danger that pursued them. Preston could feel a sharp breeze striking him in the front. He had to take his baseball cap off his head and keep it close on his lap.
It felt as if the entire earth fell beneath him. This was the opposite of Klimkru’s intentions. Preston didn’t have to worry about being dragged away to his death. Now, he avoided it thanks to Korveer’s group. Lionel was the last Blackjack to take flight. He had joined Korveer while Noveena, the leader’s mate, carried Jerome on her back. The Zatrad could no longer attack as most of them had perished. The survivors still tried to chase their enemies, but it proved to be meaningless. The Blackjacks and the Dragons of San Gabriel flew away without any casualties of their own.
SIXTEEN
5:31 AM
They finally managed to leave Green Brigalvic National Forest for good. Preston spotted the concrete wall that separated the forest and the outside world. The dragons flew past the borders and moved further south. The dawn continued to brighten the sky with a more brilliant shade of blue and orange. The sun would rise a short time later. In the meantime, an endless row of clouds stood in the way. The dragons stayed together as a single group as they flew past the edges of each cloud with no difficulties.
Preston embraced this moment. As the dragon he rode on evaded the cumulus clouds in a casual manner, Preston just wanted to reach out and touch them with eager hands. But he had to hold on in order to keep himself from falling. He had never felt so awestruck by the flight. He had ridden airplanes before, but not actual dragons. The one he rode on remained careful as to evade any accidents that both the dragon and the rider could possibly create.
A clear path between the clouds had been taken. Preston couldn’t help but cling to the positive vibes after their exit from the forest. He knew that being a dragon rider was wrong, and he would never intend to be one until his supreme world leader would perhaps change the international laws. But for now, he welcomed the scenario for at least a little while. He experienced the same sort of transportation that a rider would typically take. And seeing as how this was only done as a desperate attempt to flee from the Zatrad, he had no complaints. He just smiled. He would never want to end this flight. But he did start to wonder how the other Blackjack Troopers felt about their current scenario.
6:15 AM
The sun had shown itself behind the distant mountains of Sierra Nevada. Preston received a clearer view around him. The dragons flew above the Central Valley. From below the clouds, the flat terrain included many acres of greenery required for agricultural reasons. In addition, the 5 Freeway stood right in the middle of these massive vegetations. Preston wasn’t convinced that the drivers on the freeway would even suspect anything that moved above them, but anything could be seen especially when the rising sun illuminated the valley.
The dragons moved further south, presumably sending the Blackjacks back to Orange County. From the left of him, Preston had a clear view of the dragon that carried both Kurt and Cliff on its back. So far, the storage box that they held on to didn’t fall. The two Blackjacks had taken off their caps, and now Kurt’s long black hair seemed to dance in the wind.
Preston turned to see the other dragons to the right of him. Korveer continued on with Lionel riding on his back. Preston would never forget the incident in La Palma, when Lionel had to pursue Seth Singletary with a hypnotized dragon and a mystical grenade launcher. Lionel didn’t fail to bring the enemy down. He rode the dragon as a valiant effort. And now, he repeated this particular stance. Instead of a grenade launcher in his hand, he had a sword in a scabbard attached to his belt. Having that sort of weapon so close to him made him look like a hero after completing his mission. He could have belonged in a generation where medieval magic weapons still had a good meaning. In fact, he already did.
Preston was awed by the little change in Lionel’s overall appearance. In fact, for some strange reason, he wished that Lionel would use that sword again to fend off their adversaries. He now wanted Gorvex to change the laws. He wanted Lionel to be granted permission to use a magical sword when confronting beasts and mythical creatures. The Forizan Rings were still missing, but they could be replicated somehow. Lionel could usurp such authority if he wielded a powerful weapon designed to exterminate those that opposed the good side.
Preston sighed as he snapped out of his dreamworld. He acknowledged the exaggerated possibilities, though he still kept a little bit of hope inside his thoughts for at least a few moments. The Dragons of San Gabriel never stopped for breaks. Their endurance lasted much longer after rescuing the Blackjacks. All Preston could do now was wait until he and his teammates would be able to return home unscathed.
7:18 AM
The scenery began with the forest and ended with the suburbs. The Blackjack Troopers had returned to Southern California with success. Preston embraced the transition. He felt so pleased to handle such good luck. The adventure had been worth it. Even with the hazards that could have ended him and his friends, he had no regrets. The first mission was done, but he anticipated another in the future.
After giving the Blackjacks a good view of the Los Angeles skyline from a distance, the dragons finally brought them to Orange County. They reached Skywood Airport in the city of La Habra. Fortunately, there were no light aircraft either taking off or making a landing at this time. The dragons circled around the airport and took turns on the airstrip. Each of them landed on the asphalt and waited for the Blackjack to dismount. It was a slow but steady process. Preston’s dragon landed on the airstrip after the one that dropped off Kurt and Cliff. Preston put his black cap back on. He gave the dragon a thumbs-up, to which the latter gave him a little nod of its head. It lifted itself up in the air to give the other dragons their turn.
Preston joined the other Blackjacks. They waited for the departures to be complete. Lionel was the last to dismount a dragon. It flew up and joined the group as they continued to fly in a circle above the airport. Two dragons stayed behind, however. Korveer and Noveena would be the last to leave the airstrip. The younger Blackjacks had joined them. Bryce and Rebecca, in particular, expressed their gratitude for the assistance. Korveer and Noveena only focused on them and nobody else.
Bryce smiled. “It’s always good to see you again. I hope Zeremak is doing well.”
Rebecca added, “We were planning on visiting you. Maybe on Tuesday. But doing it earlier isn’t a bad thing.”
Korveer must have understood their words. He reached out with an open hand and set it right in front of Bryce and Rebecca. The two Blackjacks lovingly patted the scaly fingers. Rebecca caressed one of the claws. Korveer’s silence must have meant that he at least appreciated the interaction.
Preston whispered to Jerome, “They’re not breaking the law or anything, are they?”
Jerome appeared amused. “Friendship is never a bad thing, you know.”
Bryce and Rebecca said their goodbyes. Korveer and Noveena opened their wings and lifted themselves up off of the airstrip. They joined the other dragons as Korveer led all of them away from the airport. The Blackjacks watched them make their departure. They would soon return to the San Gabriel Mountains.
Lionel checked on his teammates to make sure that none of them sustai
ned any injuries during their fight in the open field. Only a few had received minor injuries that didn’t require any medical attention whatsoever.
A line of automobiles had entered the runway. They were parked nearby in the corner with the drivers and passengers exiting them just now. They turned out to be three members from Shadow Service. But the driver of the first sedan was completely different from the rest of them. In fact, he would clearly be the one that led the group with Virgil Hamilton’s permission.
Salvador Quintana led the Shadow Service Agents with his usual charismatic persona. He wore a necktie and a double-breasted coat. Preston had met Quintana for the first time almost two weeks ago, and he had felt amazed by the suave charm that this man had perfected. He was the richest and most powerful human being not only in the state, but even in the entire country. He was a force that automatically demanded respect from anyone who lived in the Seventeen States of America.
Lionel already had a question prepared. “You sent these dragons to come get us?”
Quintana’s composure was untouched by Lionel’s realization. “I sent them to Sierra Nevada in case of a sudden emergency. They waited for you to press that button. I am certain that your teammates are grateful for their support, but please correct me on that if it is false.”
“I don’t have to. We all appreciate their help.”
Preston, flabbergasted by the truth, had to step in. “Wait, you sent them to help us?”
Quintana smiled. “I have built a steady friendship with these dragons. They help me as much as I help them.”
Lionel nodded. “That’s good to know.”
“I do hope that the mission was completely successful.”
Lionel opened up the storage box. “It’s all in here. The Varivorian Artillery has been retaken.”
Quintana became silent as he examined the weapons in the box. Several seconds later, he asked, “What happened to Otis Cooper?”