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Somewhere Out There Act 18 - The Stage By Bartan Tirix

He could barely hear it though the constant fluids surrounding his large body. The cries and screeches of metal, followed by small explosions. Reminding him of that weapon Reza had, but more rapid. Making the connection, adrenaline surged through his bloodstream. Was he underwater once again? When that generator exploded, causing part of that old building to collapse on itself? No... He could make out the faint light with ease. He could somehow breathe with some kind of contraption over his muzzle. Preventing it from opening in the slightest.

His paws were bound, both hind and forearms. Tail restrained tightly like he was locked into some kind of underwater coffin. Though blurry, his golden eyes could make out a few others that were empty. The explosions returned, this time followed by the roars of orders. Cries of pain. A large explosion. Each recognized sound making the drake more and more awake. Allowing his energy to return and those muscles thicken up. Taking several tries, but wearing down each band until he was able to break free. Tearing off the door to his captivity and let the warm waters flood over the floor.

The dragon stumbled at first. Fighting to get that muzzle off and breathe the less clean air. The scent of something odd with it... A type of blood maybe? He wasn't sure. Still, getting his bearings quite quickly as he scouted the room. More coffins, a few of them occupied by dragons he did not know. Alive and breathing. But the questions did surface: Who would put them there? And why were they placed in such strange things? Bound down like prisoners?

A very large explosion shook the entire building violently and the room started to tilt. Debris of Bryce's pod started to fall towards the backside of the room, and soon him along with it. Feeling it start to rotate slowly as he was thrown against the wall, almost floating as everything shook. Alarms went off, the lights started to flicker. The rotation increased more and more, sending the drake slamming into wall after wall. Nearly feeling the building free-fall for almost two minutes before the sudden stop. Throwing him to the other side of the room where one of his horn cracked loudly.

It was a heavy sting, yes. Like being hit by a wrecking ball, stunning the drake and getting him to curse at his own curiosity. Snapping his jaws a few times to check those fangs, and testing his limbs. Tail hurt quite a bit. Lower side too. Shoulder felt a little bruised, but it would be fine after he walked it off a bit. And his horn... It was cracked, but still okay. Barely able to make out much of the damage from a reflective surface.

The building was still moving, though now upside-down. All the lights soon went out in several sparks, and faint red ones turned on in their place. Sounds of running water could be heard, as well as several more cries for help. None of which he understood nor recognized. As much as he wanted to help those dragon trapped in the coffins, Bryce wanted to find out where he was first. Carefully prying opened a door the old fashioned way and stepping out into the dark hall.

Voices traveled through it from afar, as well as over an intercom for a bit until it was scratched out. Hearing another surge of sparks likely passing through it and disabling the device. Shadows staggered down the hallways as the drake carefully approached them, tripping on the odd walk surfacing of the building's ceiling. Barely making out the shape of the creatures through the dim red emergency lights. Thin. Tall. Wearing long coats like that two-legs at the biology lap, the one that was murdered by Reza. Well, technically that girl-but whatever.

The chief shook those thoughts from his head as he followed them into another room, identical to the one he woke up in. Surprising the two other strange looking dragons with his appearance and give Bryce a bit of frightened looks. "It's okay, I'm not here to hurt you." He said, holding up a paw in a gesture of peace. "I just need to know where I am."

Their response was not something he could understand, as they took a few steps back and up against another pod. This one having a rather small dragon inside that took the earth one a few moments to recognize. A few steps forward to get a closer look divided the two frightened ones, as they moved around the brown drake and escaped from the room. "You were...?" Another moment of study from those golden eyes. Purple scales, pale underside. Light green mane. "...Ip-something?"

Of course, the chief didn't get a response from the unconscious noodle dragon. At least these 'beds' seemed to keep them safe from the crash, but being upside-down like this probably wouldn't do them too good. Positioning himself, Bryce ripped the pod opened and let the liquids drain out. Hearing the dragon suddenly wake up almost coughing and looking about before attempting to break the binds. "Hey, relax! I'm getting you out of here." The drake said a bit strictly before biting down at the strange straps. Almost elastically, but they eventually gave into the will of those powerful jaws.

Helping the small one down on the 'floor' and letting him lean on the solid pair of shoulders for a bit, Ipsum looked around. "Where the hell are we?"

"No idea. Some kind of building that fell."

"Fell?" Bryce gestured him to the floor on the celling. "If that... 'Fell', shouldn't it be on the side?" A shrug from those small brown wings. "And these?" The small one looked over the several pods, very few occupied with dragons they didn't know, but somewhat recognized. "I think this one works in my building, just not my floor."

"Yay, another mystery." The brown one grumbled, stepping forward to brace on the bed.

"What are you doing?"

"We can't just leave them here." A bit of a worried look from the small one. "You're feeling alright, yes?"

"Yeah, but if they're in here for a reason then we likely shouldn't disturb them." The noodle studied his own pod for a few moments, alongside from the others. "This... Looks like a form of Stasis."

"Meaning what?"

"Like... Preservation. It's keeping them alive." A study from the small dragon's own yellow eyes. "How did you get out?"

"I broke out." A noise in question as one of those frilled ears perked. "I heard... That weapon Reza used in the summer."

"Oh, that thing. The bear called them... Gunshots, I think?"

"Maybe..." A worried look from the drake, but he continued. "But I heard those, yelling, and some other strange noises coming from that way, I think." A gesture to outside the room and to the direction. "So I broke out, which was a bad time to do so."

"Bad time?" Those large grey claws pointed up.

"At the time, that was down here." He pointed at the ground, letting the purple one tilt his head for a moment, then realize what he was talking about.

"So... It...?" Ipsum started, before looking out at the hallway. "This... Doesn't look like any building I know."

"What else would it be?"

"A ship?"

"So, what. This ship suddenly went over a waterfall?"

"Not all ships travel on water." A noise in question as Bryce raised an eyebrow. "Some travel in the air, some in space-"

"Yeah, in bad sci-fi novels." The smaller one glared at the drake for a few moments, then towards the pods. Letting the brown one just put it together. "...Fish!" He cursed out loud, then half whimpered. "How many have you read?"

"Novels? Not many. But I seen my fair share of TV." Ipsum looked at their surroundings for a few moments. "What else did you hear?"

"Metal. Warping, grinding against itself. Explosions, then we fell."

"For how long?" A noise in question, but it took time for Bryce to think.

"...Maybe a minute? Maybe two?"

"Was it always this cold?" The smaller one asked, looking though the drawers and cabinets with the drakes help. Ones that seemed to be bolted down, but currently very messy. Taking a few things from there, what looked to be a first aid kit and several other items while putting it in a bag.

"I never noticed. But..." A noise in question. "I think it only started recently."

"So, we likely landed in cold waters, perhaps."

"What makes you say that?"

"Listen." They stopped, being able to hear running water from somewhere. Very faint, but it was there. "I don't know how big this ship is, but that's never a good sign."

"So..." The drake glanced over at the pods as the eastern one slid off his back. "What about them?"

"We leave them, hopefully we can come back later. As long as they have air, they'll be alright. If we can find a means of escape, or even perhaps getting this ship back in the air..." A strange look in question. "It can happen, just very very unlikely."

"I'm pretty sure 'Explosions' cripple that idea drastically."

"Perhaps, but we're also dealing with a form of stasis. This isn't technology that we're familiar with." Another uneasy feeling shrouded Bryce as he looked over the other dragons. "Have you met with any of these aliens yet?"

"Aliens?" He double taked, only to hear a strange roar in the far back down the hall. Something completely unheard of that sent a different kind of chill to their bones. "...Okay, they're aliens. Taath, even aliens exist..."

"They've always existed, chief. We just called them Humans."

~~~~~

We arrived, finally. I honestly thought it would feel different, like we were here to fix something that was broken. Perhaps repairing out damaged future. But no, it feels like we're invading the past instead. The counselors would say this would happen, told us that this was part of our mission, but I didn't expect this to happen so soon.

My superiors keep telling me that what we're doing is for the good of our species. That if we can find the source of our black past, then we can fix it. Change everything, but that never made any sense to me. If we're pulling the strings, then they're never going to develop on their own. They'll never learn how to create those machines and tools of war.

Machines... This never made any sense to me. I probably shouldn't be writing this, but I need to speak my own thoughts on the subject. I remember looking into it a long time ago, the wars of the distant past. Records did say that they ended up fighting a few wars, yes, but then there was a long era of peace. Did their desire for bloodlust really just hibernate? Or was it provoked in some way? Even then... How?

~~~~~

"We'll have to give him time to recover, don't forget." The voice seemed to echo through his skull for a few moments as the dark void was replaced by a dim red. Shadows dancing within the room as his eyes attempted to focus. "I know your eager to find your child, but you must be patient."

"Yeah... I know." Another one, as the wyrm groaned for a moment. "Hey." An unfamiliar paw touched his white chest. "You okay?"

"You just woke up from that state several minutes ago. Don't expect him to respond immediately." The first one grumbled, those blue eyes having a hard time to make out his color over the warm lighting. "Give him time."

"I know, I know. Just..." Yellow discs were made out, as well as a pair of wings on the other one. "You look familiar, but I can't remember your name." The green dragon said, looking over at the other wyrm.

"Don't look at me! I can't keep track of everyone in that town. Who's to even say he's from there?"

"Well, I do remember him-"

"And your occupation was what?" A bit of a shy groan from the walker.

"Store clerk and Bartender."

"Which is a job where you meet several dozen people a day. And white seems to be a rather popular color." The wyrm snorted, while Remy started to get up. "Easy! You've been in stasis for a long time... I think."

"Stasis...?" The white one repeated, looking around at the strange upside-down room. "How long?"

"We don't know. All three of us were in these bed things." Zhong stated, gesturing the pods behind them. A few pried opened with rather expected damages. "And we can't get the door opened."

"At least not with our strength. We were hoping you were some kind of body builder or athlete, but you hardly look the part."

"Body...?" A head shake as those senses returned. "Oh, n-no. I'm a... Was a librarian, currently social companion and escort."

"Escort? Like Bartan?" The green one asked, getting a double take from those blue eyes.

"Yes. He's actually my employer. You've...?" Though it was difficult to see, the walker started to blush a bit.

"I'm not even going to ask for details." The other wyrm snorted. "I'm Dr. Taute, the first to wake up here in this strange place."

"We apparently got kidnapped by something." Zhong started. "My guess is-"

"It is _not_aliens!" The red doctor hissed.

"Well, none of us remember how we got here. Last I checked, I put my son to bed, and went to sleep."

"And I'm telling you that I was working at the hospital all night. There was some brilliant white light coming from outside, and a loud noise that gave everyone migraines. Next thing I know, I'm stuck underwater with some kind of snorkeler strapped to my snout." Taute snorted loudly.

"...That actually does sound like-"

"It was not aliens!" He hissed at Remy. "Now, can you help us get this door opened or not?"

"I can try."

~~~~~

They're very distant with us when it comes to the past. Only telling us information that we need to know, which is why I have my suspicions. We have an Oath of Truth for a reason, and a severe punishment for those who Lie. Their stories and tales do not add up to what I've learned in the past on my own research, from our own data. If they already scouted the past to find the source of the Black Death, then why not update the data?

It just doesn't make any sense. And I can feel that something is wrong... We arrived a few days ago, actually. Scouting and observing the nearby cities without detection, not a single one of these machines of war can be seen anywhere. Not even in the old ruins. But our briefing tells us that this is the point in time where it surfaced. I suppose we can only wait and see if it will show up.

~~~~~

The metal doors screeched opened loudly, grinding against the metal walls as the pink runner growled. Taking a few breaths before scouting the halls and motioning it was clear. Letting the small blue one do the same with a slight whimper. "You..." He started, looking at the doors that jammed in place. "You are a lot stronger than you look."

"Funny how everyone seems to think I'm weak." Anna half grumbled, pointing to a direction and taking lead towards it. "Why? Because I'm a scientist? Or because I'm female?"

"I-I didn't mean..." The wyrm whimpered. "I just didn't expect you to do that."

"It wasn't easy, I'll admit that. But with the right structure and stance, it can do wonders." Those blue ears perked, getting the female to smirk slyly at him. "I ended up doing a report about athletes for one of my Biology finals. Studied them for about two weeks, and learned several things about the body of many species. Others may go with the stereotype that all runners and two-legs are just dexterous with no real strength, but you'd be surprised what we're capable of."

"I wish I could say the same for myself." Lorem sighed. "I feel like everything in life or death situations has to do with either general tallness or pure strength. And I have neither of those."

"So, survival of the fittest?" A nod from the blue one as they browsed through the dark rooms. "I can't argue against that. But the bear told me something about strength and power-"

"Power is not the same as Strength?"

"Yeah, sounds like something he'd say. Let alone, someone with the short end of the evolutionary stick." She grumbled, thinking back to that playful argument. "I'm not one for words of comfort, squirt, but strength isn't everything. There's bound to be other skills you have that can be put to use."

"Maybe..." Lorem trailed off, being careful with his steps in the strange hallway. Taking a glance inside towards a small room that seemed a bit messy, taking notice to a device that looked like a large computer built into the wall. "Maybe you're right." He said, almost excited as he walked in cautiously.

"Of course I'm right, I'm right about everything." She snorted, then double taked to barely catch sight of that blue tail entering the room. "What are you doing?"

"This looks like a computer of sorts. Perhaps maybe we can find something out about this place."

"Like a map or a location?" A nod from him, as the blue one started to do his best to make out the keys. Hearing Lorem sigh a bit. "I was hoping it would look normal."

"Well, you are looking at it upside-down." A look from those yellow eyes, as the female tossed her snout. Seeing him glance at the keyboard again and start tilting his head to look at it normally. "How else would you explain the design choice of a keyboard being above the screen?"

"We're dealing with anthropomorphic bats." A growl at the wyrm's chuckle. Pressing a few buttons after finding something to stand on and getting some sort of visual response on the screen. "That language doesn't look familiar to me."

"It kinda looks like Protossian." A noise in question from Anna. "Fictional race from a game. They were telepathic beings, able to communicate through thought-"

"I know what telepathy is, squirt." The pink one grumbled. Looking around the room and through some of the bolted down cabinets. Finding several strange necklaces with some type of oval in the middle of the strap. Not making out any of the vocal alerts that the computer was nearly shouting out as she studied the small device. Pressing into the shape and seeing it glow a very faint teal, but that's about it. "Maybe it's a signal or sorts? Or just a flashlight you wear around your neck." She mumbled, getting one of Lorem's ears to perk.

"Did you say something?"

"Just thinking out loud." Anna stated, strapping on the collar and testing it in the darkness. Wondering if it would take time before getting a bit brighter. A few moments later, she could understand the alerts coming from the machine.

"-Deck 142 has been breached. Please stay inside your rooms and lock your doors until repairs are complete. Your air and ventilation will continue to run until further notifications."

"You got it to work? About time." A double take from the small blue one, as she came around to see the screen herself. "See? You're not so useless after all."

"Thanks...?" He almost whimpered, clearly puzzled by her statement.

"What? I can be nice when I want to."

"We clearly have different standards of Kindness."

"Whatever, at least we got air. Hopefully that doesn't get damaged too." The smaller one's head tilted at her. "I wonder what broke in though."

"What... Are you talking about?" The two shared a look, and Lorem shifted his eyes between her, the collar and the screen. "You can understand that?"

"And read it, yes. Whatever you did to change it-"

"I did nothing. It's still gibberish." That time, her ears perked, and a blue claw pointed at the necklace. "Where did you find that?"

"The flashlight? It was in here." The runner retrieved another few and handed him one. Letting the wyrm study it in the same fashion Anna did for a few moments and he put it on. Looking at the screen, until his head started to hurt. Grunting a bit before looking back at it, to find it was in his own language. "So, it's the collar?"

"Apparently..." He motioned to see the free one as he studied it again. "A type of high tech language translator?"

"Or an overpriced flashlight. Why would a..." Those green eyes looked over the room. "Portable prison need such things?"

"Maybe we're not on a prison ship then."

"What else would it be?"

"A rescue service? Maybe even a scout of some sort?"

"But for what?" The two looked at the computer as Lorem started pressing keys. Eventually finding some sort of data log with several dozen entries in it. "We're going to be here for a while, aren't we?"

"Yeah... Close the door." Anna turned around to do so, now being able to read the symbols on the ship and close it normally. Swearing she hit that button on the first door, but it was just likely that it was damaged. "Data Entry #1, Member 14639: We arrived, finally. I honestly thought it would feel differ-"

"I can read, you dolt." A whimper from the wyrm, as they read in silence.

~~~~~

It's very surprising really. Today they let us see for ourselves what the scouts have picked up, and it's far more advanced than we expected. Again, this doesn't fit with our records. At this point in time their technology should be nothing but stones, but what they have... It's unreal. The cities, a few land vehicles, a source of clean power! Reusable energy, and they do not seem to take advantage of it like we used to. Not to mention the variation of species... Could these really be our ancestors?

Though we do have the room for such things, they have decided to narrow everything down to the smallest area possible. Taking the residence of a small town in hopes that we can find traces of the Black Death. Who knows, perhaps we may even discover the creature itself that destroyed our future by spreading this powerful disease.

~~~~~

The shots and screams were getting too close to be sitting idle anymore, forcing the grey wyrm to pry open the large door with a heavy growl. Looking back and forth in hopes he could see anything that could help navigate, but right now the safest area would be away from the noise. Recognizing the sound of gunfire like it echoed in his mid a thousand times before, and making his jaw stiffen at its sharp sound. "This way." He took lead, letting the two smaller ones peek out the door finally. "Watch your step and stay close." The runner and walker nodded, studying each other's frightened looks, but knew they needed to be brave.

"What... Is this place?" The small green one asked, looking so much like his father that it nearly sank Maverick's heart. "It looks..."

"Beyond strange. My first thought was some kind of building, but by the way this is angled..." The adult stated, tapping the slanted 'floor' to the hallway. "If we woke up here, odds are your fathers are around somewhere. Unless you two have some sort of superpowers that we don't know about." The grey one snorted.

"N-no..." The pink runner admitted, looking over the green male who only shook his head. Several more gunshots and a series of screams made them whimper while looking behind them. "...What's happening over there? What are those noises?"

"Weapons. I can only guess that humans did this to us."

"Humans?" Li double taked, almost excited.

"They're not as wonderful as you've been brought up to be."

"I thought you were living with one." A slight whimper from the grey one as Amely's statement. Getting him to blush a little bit, almost picturing Reza lying in bed with very little clothing on.

"N-not with a Human, no."

"But the fuzzy one, right?"

"The bear, yes." A heavy breath from the wyrm. "And he should be here somewhere too."

"As well as everyone else? Have we all been somehow fueling this building with our own consciousness?" The two stopped to look at the green walker for a moment. "...What?"

"You've been watching too much sci-fi."

"It's not that farfetched." Li snorted at the adult. "It could happen."

"Nuh uh."

"Well, we are in-"

"Besides that point, Li." The grey one grumbled. "Let's just see if we can get-" A sharp noise came from within the wall, like something was moving with the vents. "...Move!" He whispered, once again taking lead but speeding to a trot. Though a bit noisy, he tried to keep track of the thing. After a few moments, it didn't seem to be following them, until it pushed open a grate that was further back. Making the children whimper at what almost looked like black ooze in the dim light. Trying to stay quiet and low as he sheltered them with those large wings, they studied the sentient oil as it took note of its surroundings. Nearly starting to slither towards the three, and Maverick tensed his jaw.

But more gunfire got its attention, letting it almost immediately bolt towards it. Moving so quickly to the point where it vanished by the time the third light blinked. Letting the three finally take a deep breath of relief and get back up. "We are not safe here..." The two smaller ones looked at him with worry.

~~~~~

But the abductions took place a little later. During our observation stage, we also discovered a large meteor heading towards the planet. Likely one that dismissed our ancestors of such technologies. Likely leaving these civilizations in ruins with no way to stop it. Yet, we did discover a strange ruin that seemed to be activated from time to time. It looked like a gating device, primitive yes, but still something far outstanding for them to have at this point in time.

Yet, our leaders informed us that we needed to withdraw from our mission while the meteor struck the planet. With them having no way to stop it, it was very possible that its impact could launch enough energy to omit an EMP of sorts. I admit that our systems have some defenses against such things, but they didn't want to risk the entire mission. If it was their destiny to fall to this cataclysm, then there was nothing for us to do but let it happen. It will likely wipe out everything that they have constructed to this point... Our history now makes sense.

~~~~~

"Alive?" The green wyvern asked, curling his neck at his female counterpart. "Last time I checked, I was."

"But I..." A few breaths for Adine to calm down and he took a step forward to help her up. Nearly getting some resistance out of fear, but his paw did feel warm. "I swear I remember seeing you..."

"Dead?" A faint nod from her, and Klay just shrugged. "Sorry to disappoint?" He half asked, finally getting a better look at her. "Oh, I remember you... Adine, right?"

"Y-yes."

"You delivered a few of my dinners before." That made the yellow one smile a bit. "Youuu also took my job." And liked that, he ruined it. Getting a near growl for a reaction.

"Only because you were terrible at your deliveries! You would often eat the meals that were requested, and state that the customer never paid!"

"Keep it down! You never know what's listening." The pink wyrm hissed in a whisper. "That was all in the past, and we're just likely cranky because we're starving. So..." Malic emptied the sack of what he could find: several cans and a few bottles of clear liquids. "This is all I could find... And trust."

"Trust?" The two fliers questioned.

"The kitchen was kinda a mess. Especially after that earthquake."

"I believe you mean moon that slammed into the side of the building and sent it flying to the south pole." The green one snorted, getting a chuckle from the wyrm. Getting the female to study Klay in the dim light, let alone see for herself the soreness of his wing.

"Is that how...?" A gesture towards it, and he looked.

"Yeah, you could say I landed on it wrong." A half grumbled, trying to get opened a clan. "Several times." In the end, he just bit into it and started lapping at the juices that came out. "Peaches, ugh..."

"It's food, don't complain." The pink one grumbled like a parent. Smirking at first, but it soon turn sad. "...I should get one of these to Topanga." One of Adine's ears perked in question, while the other wyvern groaned loudly.

"Really? You want to go back there?" Klay snorted at him. "You heard her yourself, she doesn't want your help-"

"She's still my wife-"

"Last time I checked, she left you. Meaning pretty much the opposite of that." Another snort from the green one. "I'm not sure what you see in that girl, Malic. She's only going to get us killed if you go back to her."

"Killed...?" Adine questioned, looking between the two. "Why?"

"You're honestly telling me that you couldn't hear these two roaring at each other?" A slight head shake from the yellow one. "Usually events like this bring people back together, but somewhere in the world there has to be that 1%." Klay grumbled at the peach taste. "I always hated these damn things."

"She... Always had a hard time letting go." He mumbled a bit sadly. "She could remember every little detail. A first it was cute, but after you make one small mistake, Topanga never let it go. It's like everytime she seen me, that's all she would see: that one bad thing." A deep breath from the pink one, as he got a wing of comfort from Adine. "I guess I haven't done enough since."

"Or, she's crazy and she isn't worth saving." The green one snorted. "Let alone alerting all these green things of our current location. we might as well have a neon sign on our backs saying 'Eat Me' if we go back to her."

"We could always send Adine inside instead." A growl from the other male. "Just for a single can of food. Maybe to get her out-"

"And then you'll want to take her with us, which means an earful of the worst arguments within a situation that calls for near absolute silence! Seriously, can't you see that she's a danger to us?"

"She's my wife."

"I highly doubt she feels the same, Malic." A heavy sigh from him. "If you stick to the plan, then maybe she can trust you again, but-"

"Plan?" The female asked, interrupting the other wyvern. "What plan?" A sad look from the larger one.

"...I need to find Vara. Our daughter." The yellow dragon held her breath. "If I do that, maybe she will trust me."

~~~~~

It was now our updated mission to leave them behind without taking any to study for sure. If a few survived, we would return to ensure they could not start those never ending wars. If it means we had to cull our own species at its roots, erasing us from existence, then so be it. I admit that it is a frightening thought, but it's one I believe is right... Was right.

Once again, I must look down below at our observations. No weapons of mass destruction. No one killing each other for personal goals or valuables. Are we even sure that this is the correct species? A few do look something like us, yes, but the rest are so drastically different that it's hard to believe such a thing. There are no geological similarities, to the point where I must question our mission once again. I feel like this is a mistake, but to speak out against it is to show cowardice. If I release these thoughts out loud to the public, I will likely be executed for betraying our mission.

Regardless, all I must do is wait. For the moment, our plans are to head back into temporary space until this disaster passes. Any debris or magnetic fields should dissipate by the time we return. Yet, I can't help but feel sorrow for those down below. I wonder why we cannot just co-exist beside our ancestors instead. We have the power to do enough damage to that meteor so that it may burn out through the atmosphere...

...We leave within the hour.

~~~~~

"They're getting farther away." The small purple dragon stated, watching his step as him and Bryce traveled down the hallway. Howls coming from the off direction, but nearly both sides. Some almost sounding like that metal warping like before, making Ipsum's scales shiver and click loudly at the monstrous sounds.

"You cold?"

"A little yes. I guess this would be a good time to have one of those natural fur coats."

"Or at least have someone who has one." The drake said a bit sadly, worry still painting his golden eyes. "That bear better be here... And not be here at the same time."

"That seems logically impossible." The brown one snorted at the noodle, making him chuckle a bit. "...Can I ask you a question?" The two stopped and looked each other in the eyes, seeing a bit of blush in those frilled ears, but barely. "...How do I put this...?"

"What does it feel like?"

"What does what feel like?"

"His knot?" A sharp whimper from Ipsum, and he shook his head at the chief. "I'm assuming it's something sexual."

"K-kind of... But at the same time..." A motion to go on. "Nevermind, this is hardly the time or place for such conversation-"

"Out with it, noodle."

"Fine-Noodle!?" He curled that long neck in a double take, then nearly silenced himself. Especially after something growled in response to his surprised shout. "...Noodle!?" A whispering hiss this time, and Bryce chuckled.

"That's what the bear called you once. I thought it was funny." A thick stare from Ipsum that was surprisingly intimidating. "You do kinda look like a Noodle-"

"We are not _ Noodles _! We're like... Snakes or something." A sudden interruption from the purple one before Bryce could reply. "Which are _not_noodles either!"

"Then...?" That embarrassment once again. "It's about Bartan, isn't it?"

"Y-yes..." A deep breath. "You're living with him, correct?" A solid nod. "...How?"

"I invited him into my home, it can't be that hard-"

"How do you...?" A struggling breath of near frustration started to make the earth dragon stern. "You're... 'In Love' with him, right?"

"Is this about his gender?" Bryce almost growled, nearly biting his tongue at the idea of discrimination.

"No. But the idea of Love in general." That made the larger one calm down a bit, raising his curiosity. "How do you love another person?"

"...Right, you were never with him, were you?" A look in defeat from the purple dragon, and almost guilt.

"...I said that, but the truth is..." Ipsum glanced away, nearly thankful for the shadows attempting to hide him.

"The bear actually did, didn't he? He got into you-"

"I-in more ways than metaphorical, I'll admit. But the idea of love makes no sense! I can't comprehend how..."

"How you fell for it?" A sigh in defeat as the drake moved and hugged the smaller one. Expecting the awkward groan. "He doesn't belong to anyone, you know."

"It's not about that, officer-"

"Chief. And you can call me Bryce from now on out, understood?" He joked, feeling a slight smirk from that purple muzzle. "Then what is it about?"

"...The idea of spending your life with another person. Feeling close to them, the idea of 'Closeness' itself!" A few taps on that thick arm. "...This. How is this comforting?"

"I could squeeze tighter-"

"In the risk of breaking me, don't." The two chuckled. "I just don't understand it. There is no logical sense to such a thing, yet-"

"You see it almost destroy those who you cared about." The two looked each other in the eyes, no longer holding the embrace. "The furball is teaching me well."

"So you can't actually-"

"No, I can't read minds. But I can guess what happened." A perked ear. "...Mostly between you and the bear." A bit of a whimper. "...As in, in the bedroom-"

"I get it, Bryce."

"How was it, by the way?" An embarrassed whimper. "Did he feed you your own seed?"

"M-my own...!?" A sharper one that time that made Bryce chuckle. "What are you talking-...!?"

"It's something he likes to do a lot." A smirk from that scarred muzzle, then a breath. "...I can't explain it, Ipsum. You just know when you feel for someone. You just want to be with them and hold them close."

"...And-?"

"Bed them, yes." Another whimper. "Hard." Another. "As in, nail them to the bed for the next ten years because they keep being a damn tease by turning you on at work and causing you to ruin their trousers because they're not getting them off fast enough!" A loud grumble as the noodle just stared at him. "...If you seen stitches in his clothing, that's why."

"The idea of clothing is foolish. And why is he using it if he already has a fur coat-?"

"That's what I keep asking! He should just walk around naked all the time like everyone else, but instead he has to be a damn tease." A motion to keep walking. "But you'll find it, Ippy-"

"Please don't call me that."

"Ippy Lippy." A growl from the smaller one that was almost cute. "Has a nice ring to it, really."

"That's another thing, why pet names? It makes no sense to call someone C6H12O6." A blank stare from the drake. "...Which is the molecular formula for Glucose." A few blinks that time. "...Sugar." Ipsum growled.

"Because C4H8O16-" "That is not what I said-" "-Is sweet." "But people are not! We're rather tough when you think about it, and the last thing I want to be associated with is someone's snack!" Another blank stare like the brown one was holding something back. "Do not make a short joke."

"But you're like a bite size." A loud groan from the noodle. "Kinda like a short stack-"

"Which is a pile of pancakes and have nothing to do with my size." Ipsum grumbled, trying to hold back his hiss as the chief chuckled.

"I don't see what the big deal is here, if you don't like pet names, you don't have to use them."

"Then how do you show someone you love them?" A noise in question. "What do you call Bartan?" A moment of thought.

"Bear." A long stare as another howl echoed through the hall, not getting any of their attentions.

"...You call Bartan the Bear... Bear." A slow nod. "...And nothing else?"

"Well, furball from time to time."

"Then that would be a pet name."

"But he is a ball of fur, so it makes sense."

"Is he though?" A solid, almost serious stare from the earth dragon, and the purple one sighed. "Yeah, you're correct. But I still don't..."

"You want to know what I think?" Bryce started, getting a questionable stare out of the smaller one. "You're thinking about this too hard. Love isn't about analysis, numbers, or-"

"Logical sense?"

"Logical sense. Yes." A groan as the drake chuckled at him. "But it's about instinct. Knowing what you're feeling is right. If he or they make you happy..."

"Then you shouldn't question it." Ipsum mumbled, almost defeated. "I've grown up being told to question everything. That's how one grows in intelligence." Another sigh as that scarred muzzle nudged him. "...That was... Surprisingly smart for someone like you."

"Someone like me?" The larger one grumbled, almost using his structure to intimidate the noodle. Getting a faint whimper from the purple one. "Intelligence isn't the same as Education." A blank stare that time.

"...Bartan-?" "-Yes, it was the bear's statement."

~~~~~

Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die!

~~~~~

The door screeched open with a hideous noise, following the grunts from the three males as they made sure it was going to stay put before peering outside into the hallway. Studying the door a bit while the two wyrms scouted the dark corridors, the green walker glared at the doctor. "Would you look at that. It opens sideways instead of outwards." A growl from the red one. "Sounds like something someone suggested before."

"I get it, I get it. Enjoy your one time of getting something right, Zhong." Taute grumbled, stepping outside and trying to see anything through the faint red lights.

"What could this structure be?" The white one looked closely at the metal walls. Getting those wavy ears to perk up a bit.

"It's no building I've ever seen. You've been down in the ruins before, haven't you?" The red doctor asked Remy, getting a nod but not distracting him from observations. "Were they anything like this?"

"Not in the slightest, but keep quiet."

"You never know what's actually out here-"

"I think you've heard too many rumors, bartender." Taute snorted.

"I know the scent of blood when I smell it."

"Blood?"

"Shh!" The white one almost hissed, still scanning the darkness with his ears. "I think I hear something."

"What kind of 'something'." The red wyrm snorted, barely asking a question.

"...Whimpering?" A couple noises in question, and the two listened. Starting to hear it, like it was trying to be quiet. "This way." Remy pointed, motioning them to stay close as they traveled carefully down the difficult hallway.

"Seriously, who would design such a passageway?" Taute grumbled, getting another series of silence tells. "Don't you shh me! This literally needs to be stated!" He hissed back in whispers, as the three came up to a lounge of sorts. A few couches nailed to the ceiling and a table bolted in the middle of the room as well, leaving the chairs lose within the shadowed grounds. "See anything?"

"...It's breathing. Heavily, but it's in this room."

"Most definitely." The green walker added. "Hello?" A sudden light omitted in the room, towards the center as another thin two-legs in a lab coat brought her paw back from the device. On her knees, and giving the motion of surrender while speaking something they couldn't understand. Leaving the three almost startled, and studying the creature in a labcoat. "Easy, easy. We're not here to hurt you."

"You really believe it can understand us?" The red one grumbled, getting a glare from Zhong. "Apparently there's a language barrier between our species."

"I suppose that makes sense." Remy added, trying to lower his wings to portray a more peaceful approach.

"Maybe...?" The green one took a step forward and started doing motions with his paws, getting a rather surprised look from the scientist, who started responding in the same way. "Yes. It's a wonder you know it as well." Zhong stated, still doing the motions as he spoke. Getting a response from the other one and speaking for her. "I'm a scientist. A scout on a peaceful mission and my friend is harmed."

"Friend?" The white one questioned, seeing the other walker get up off her knees. Reaching over for a toppled chair and bring it closer to a large air vent where another one was lying down. Bringing up another in a bloody labcoat with a wound on his side. "Oh no..."

"That doesn't look good." The red one stepped around them to get a closer look. "If they're anything like a two-legs, then..." A concerned look at the red one, and he snorted. "I'm a doctor, genius!" He half hissed at her, leaving the female to look over to Zhong for a translation.

"He's a doctor." A faint nod, as he added something else without speaking. Arrogant as all hell, but he might be able to help."Do you have a First Aid Kit?" A point towards the far side of the room, but it was up almost too high. "Remy, could you possibly reach that?"

"Perhaps." The white one started, needing to balance on two chairs to reach enough inside the cabinet. "In the meantime, try to get something out of her."

"What happened to you?" Zhong asked out loud with his motions. "...Something got inside the... Ship? We're out in the ocean?" A few concerned looks from the other dragons. "...Not for water. Ship for... Outside? Outside the world. Something started attacking the crew. They went to hide, but then the ship... Fell." Another look at the room and the hallway, leaving them to finally make sense of the odd area.

"So, we're upside down then. And this one got injured during the falling." Taute pieced things together, still observing the wound and hearing a bit of a yelp from behind, followed by a small thud. Not getting his attention, but grumbling in response. "You better be okay-"

"-I'm okay!" Remy said rather quickly, bringing over a package towards the two. "Let me help, I know some first aid myself."

"Just don't break him. We might need a creature that we can't understand." The male scientist looked back and forth between the two larger dragons and whimpered a bit while looking at his partner. Speaking a statement to the wounded one and sending off a few paw signs, in which the wyrms looked to Zhong for a translation.

"She said to him: I told you that learning ancient tongues would come in handy someday."

"Ancient tongues...?" The librarian asked, looking over at the green walker for a moment. "How do you know this?"

"My ex-wife had a deaf sister. She taught me to use it during the movie theaters and to send hidden messages." He responded a bit sadly. "...We often used it during our fights so that our son wouldn't know. Especially when he was sleeping." A sorrowful look of near understanding from Remy until the doctor motioned for him to pay attention. Looking back and forth between them for a moment, then glancing at the female.

"Try to get as much information from her as possible, and vice versa. The more they know about us, the fewer mistakes we'll make." A breath from the white wyrm. "Especially if something else is really inside the ship." Zhong nodded in response and translated for him.

~~~~~

A red sea... I vaguely remember it, but it was a red sea of rage and pain. Constant screams of anger to the point where a few of us deafened ourselves to be rid of the noise... Thinking that it could possibly create silence. In some ways, they succeeded when they put their barrels to their ears. That is, those who didn't look outside.

If there's anything that this experience has taught me, it's how fragile we still are. When a single glance out a window can cause a once respected soldier no longer mentally function. Many of our navigations unit and lead scientists were also forced to be put into cryosleep until we were in a more stable area... I will never forget the look in their eyes. As if something clawed at their own being, no longer making them whole.

But somehow, though dumb luck or another, we found a way out of that nightmare. A portal was detected from our systems, and we took it the first chance we got. What felt like three years of torment was finally relieved... What's almost surreal is that we're back in the same area. Our mission area.

I'm not sure what to believe anymore. Some part of me still holds a large section of doubt deep within, knowing that the horror hasn't ended. Like it's playing with my instincts, waiting for me to gather hope so it can swallow everything I have whole. I feel like I'm being harvested, trapped inside a confined area just to be fed over and over again. Until the day something can sneak up on me and...

...They're screaming again. I get the feeling that they won't return to who they once were anymore.

~~~~~

"I don't like this." The large grey one grumbled, getting the two smaller ones to roll their eyes at his complaints. "It's too restraining."

"That's because your neck is too big for it." Lie snorted. "You wanted another light source, these are what I found."

"It's hardly a light source. It doesn't help unless something's four feet in front of me."

"Adults complain about everything." Amely whispered to the green one, getting Maverick to hear it and grumble a bit loudly. Still leading the way through the dark hallway, one that seemed to go on endlessly. "Shouldn't we be checking these doors for the others?"

"Odds are they would hear him through these doors-" Another grumble that was a near warning, but it made the walker curious. Looking through the near window of one doorway, but not seeing anything. "All I see is black-"

"Help!" A sharp call from inside the door spooked the two younger ones and nearly made the wyrm go into an attack stance. "Help me! It's in here!"

"Stand back!" Maverick ordered the smaller ones as he gripped the door. "You too, the one inside!" A long, straining growl, and the handle to the barrier started to warp. Getting the grey one to stop and look at it a bit cautiously.

"Hurry! You need to hurry! It's inside!"

"If I keep pulling it, it's going to break off!" The large one grumbled, looking over the children. "It's not like the other doors."

"But the door is upside down, isn't it?" A noise in question at the pink one.

"Try turning the handle the other way." Maverick stared at the door for a moment, tilting his head until the person inside started to bang on it. Snapping him out of the dumbfounded trance and gripping the strange handle the best he could. This time rotating it, getting the mental bar to bend a bit, but something inside the door break. Allowing the strange looking walker inside to push himself out and almost curl up against the hallway wall as the wyrm took a defensive stance, facing inside the room.

"...There's nothing in here."

"The Black is in there...!" The strange one said. "Ultra... Heavy Black...!" He said, shaking. "You have light...! Stay in the light! You're safe from it in the light!"

"What are you talking about?" The adult growled, knowing this creature was starting to frighten the children. "There's nothing in the darkness."

"The Black lives in the darkness! In a veil of darkness and eyes! Eyes, eyes, eyes, eyes..." He trailed off, getting the other three to share glances.

"There's... Eyes in the darkness?" Amely whimpered, getting the attention of the strange one.

"You see it too...!"

"Nothing is watching us. Stop scaring them." The grey one grumbled. "Now we freed you, and we need some answers. Are you willing to cooperate?" No logical response from the walker. "Where are we?" That time he got a stare from shaken eyes.

"Temporary... Space isn't Temporary, isn't Temporary, isn't Temporary..." He kept repeating to himself, rocking his body back and forth and almost constantly scouting both directions of the hall. "We assume nothing lives in the Black, but it does live in the Black."

"What does?"

"Li..." Mav grumbled, getting a near frightened look from the young green one.

"You wanted answers..." A less than satisfied noise from the grey one, and he motioned for Li Long to carry on. "What do you mean about Space? Is something living in Space-?"

"Of course it does! Can't you hear it!?"

"Calm down." The officer growled.

"The constant roars! It shakes you, it shakes you, it shakes you...!" The walker whimpered. "They... They tried to make it stop... But you can't make it stop! You can't hide from it once it finds you...!" The strange one started to almost sob. "And the eyes...! They're all over the Black...! They never stop watching you...!" The group shared a few glances at each other.

"...I don't think we're going to get any answers from him." The small runner said sadly. Getting nods of agreement from the males.

"We're wasting time. Time we're not sure we even have yet. Let's find someone else." Maverick turned about and started heading down the hall again. Though it made the younger ones uncomfortable leaving this strange one behind, they also didn't want to take him with them. Getting their scales to click in a shiver as they passed.

"Sorry..." Li apologized as they started to move down the hall.

"...They're what...?" The larger walker whispered under his sobs. A few moments later, the wyrm heard the strange one scamper up and tackle the green one to the ground with a frightened yelp. Both paws around Li's neck and attempting to strangle him before Maverick threw the strange one down the hall. Growling while protecting the younger ones. "It's Inside Them! The Black Is Inside-!"

"Shut Up!" The wyrm roared, finally intimidating the strange one, and getting him to start crawling the other way. Taking a breath before overlooking the young green walker. He was fine at least, and the small light necklace seemed to be okay, but shaken. "...Why do I have the feeling I'm going to regret leaving him alive." It was barely a question, making the two younger ones whimper as he took lead once again.

~~~~~

Despite the setbacks, our orders were placed and forced us to advance on the location we've been sent to observe. The devices and scans couldn't pick up any traces of the Black Death still, to the point where they wonder if it was somehow an error on the machine's part. Claiming it could detect it before we were sent back here, but it hasn't seen anything sense.

...It worries me. Let alone the orders to capture and contain the village, imprison them in a cryosleep and attempt tests to ensure that the machines were malfunctioning. Hopefully the tests will come out negative so we can just send them back down without even realizing that they were missing. But to bring such dangerous creatures on board... Considering what they were capable of in the past, is it really worth risking the entire operation? I suppose the only other alternative is to wipe out the village entirely... And that leaves a bad taste in my maw.

The strange thing is, a few of them seem to be immune to our Cryostasis. They've been awake since the teleportation, and no method of sedation seemed to be effective. In the end, the only thing we could do was place them in a containment cell and hope that they will be cooperative when we need a sample to study. We'll likely have to use our Collars to communicate with them, due to them not responding to our commands. It's been stated that our observation devices attempt to translate automatically inbetween the feedback, at least we were prepared for this setback.

~~~~~

"Setback..." The small blue wyrm muttered sadly, sharing a look with Anna for a moment before looking at the closed door. "That was the last entry."

"So, meaning that there was some event that happened inbetween." Anna cursed under her breath. "This entire time we were being watched. All because we were some threat to their future?"

"They called us Ancestors, so maybe it was a threat towards their future." The smaller one sighed, almost defeatedly. "After everything we went through already, the bear was right? We end up starting wars with each other to the point of near extinction?"

"Just like humans, or so he states." The runner snorted. "...They could always be wrong, y'know."

"They're from the future, Anna."

"That doesn't mean it's our future. And we're not... 'Infected' by anything. I would've picked it out ages ago, every scientist would've."

"Then what changed between now and...?" Anna glanced at the console once again.

"...Do you have any idea what she was talking about when it comes to-"

"S-she?" The wyrm whimpered at her glare. "I-I just pictured it as a male..." Those green eyes didn't lift, and the blue one's head lowered a bit. "I guess it could've been a female." Still no relief, making Lorem whimper again. "Continue."

"...What she was talking about when it comes to... Temporary Space?"

"You mean traveling to a different space outside of ours?" The runner half shrugged.

"I don't watch a lot of Sci-Fi, too unrealistic for me." Those yellow eyes looked at her in question, then gazed over at their surroundings. Making the pink one toss her muzzle. "_ Was _unrealistic! Happy?"

"A little." He chuckled. "But the way I understand it is, they would create almost a bubble that would take them... 'Outside' of the universe, maybe?"

"How?" A shrug from those blue wings.

"If I'm understanding Bartan's lore correctly, then odds are they went into the area of the Terrasque."

"The what?"

"That... Creature that acts like a battery. It gives off fuel to basically keep the lights on. Or, in this case, the sun." A grumble from Anna as she placed a paw over her eyes trying to picture this explanation. "I suppose it would also cause Time to continue running, as well as many many different other things. Something doesn't come from Nothing, after all."

"Yes, yes. But what does that mean? That the place they teleported to-" A loud roar from afar got both of them to crouch and almost hide in the dark room.

"...They picked up the Black Death...?" Lorem whispered, his wings drooping against the floor. "This entire time, it wasn't us that caused their terrible future... It was them..." Some silence as she took a breath. Getting up and checking the door for a moment. "What are you doing?"

"I'm finding a way off of this metal coffin." Those green eyes stared at him in anger, yet it was somehow inspiring. "I'm not dying here, kid-"

"L-Lorem."

"Right, whatever. I'm not just going to lay down and give up." She extended a paw towards the small blue one. "I'm leaving. Finding a way out. Are you coming with?" A sad look from those yellow discs, but he gave solid nod after a breath.

"Yes."

"Vara?" The yellow wyvern asked, almost in silence. Studying the pink wyrm as if once again seeing a ghost, getting her scales to click once again as the air grew somehow colder. "She's your...?"

"I swear I'm surrounded by deaf people." The green one groaned, tossing the empty can of peaches aside as if holding a grudge against the fruit. "And I'm assuming-" "You know my daughter?" "That, yes."

"I-I know her, yes. She was often around Remy, the librarian."

"The clutz?" A bit of a worried look from Malic, making those green eyes of his run through scenario after scenario at the statement. "Sounds like Topanga got another-"

"N-no! It's not like that." Adine interrupted the other wyvern, seeing where the wyrm's thoughts were leading to. "It's not like that Malic."

"Then how does he know Vara?"

"She was at the orphanage-" The yellow one tried to stop herself, now realizing what would come next: that hurtful look that was almost in denial.

"So... She lost her? Topanga couldn't...?" A whimper from the female, as she leaned forward towards him.

"...Topanga died. The police found her in a cave outside of town. Vara was trying to tend to her, but..." The pink one was stunned, unable to move and hardly able to breathe. "The only reason why she was found was because someone followed her at night. From there, Vara was sent to the orphanage."

"...Why not to me?"

"...Because you died a few days earlier." The yellow one attempted to hold back her tears. "Murdered because you were in the way of someone's plans."

"I don't..." The wyrm held the side of his face, looking at his own body and feeling nothing out of the ordinary. "That doesn't make any sense."

"No offense Adine, but are you sure you're not thinking all this up? You accused me of dying before this."

"I'm positive." She took a breath, recalling correctly all the events that took place afterword. "It's... Real. It has to be."

"Well, there are two factors sitting in front of you that state otherwise." Klay snorted.

"You were cut." She almost growled. "I heard your voice over the phone, made your meal, and opened your door after you didn't answer. You were lying on the floor in a pool of your own..." A shocking realization echoed through the male wyvern's gaze, as he slowly held his throat. "...I didn't tell you where you were cut."

"But it was...?" Almost all at once, he felt the stings across his body, over his wings. Making him cover invisible wounds as he exhaled near vanilla lace.

"You remember then...?" Malic whispered, getting the green one to whimper.

"...A walker. It looked like a small, think two-legs. Came in from the shadows and attacked me...!" A touch on his green muzzle. "I remember... Biting it! It didn't taste like blood I knew..."

"It wasn't a dragon..." Adine trailed off, getting questionable, yet frightened looks from the males, then her ears perked. Hearing several heavy footsteps come down the halls. "Hide!" The three quietly got up and moved behind some large tables, ones that had broken legs from the crash. Holding their weapons carefully, and aiming at the door as the steps got closer.

"I swear I heard something down here." One of them whispered from the hall. "Almost shouting." Getting Adine's ears to perk up and listen closely.

"Is it possible that these things can mimic vocals?"

"I don't think so. Everytime I've heard them, they've always been growls and roars."

"Mimic vocals...?" The female wyvern whispered, getting a puzzled look from the two males.

"Mimic what-now?" Klay almost snorted.

"I can't make sense out of what they say." A look at the pink one that was shared with Adine. Getting him to almost growl. "No."

"I'm going to try it-"

"Don't do anything stupid!" The green one hissed, trying to pull her down as she got up.

"Over here!" Both males pulled her down below cover with a loud thud, hearing them curse under their breath soon after for not getting her in time.

"Who's there!?" A soldier shouted, getting the three in hiding to share very angry stares with the female, but getting them in return as they clamped her muzzle shut.

"Damage is already done, Klay." The wyrm grumbled.

"That doesn't mean that I can't enjoy the silence for a while longer before we die... Y'know, again." A heated breath and they let go of the yellow one.

"Come about!"

"My name is Adine! I'm a wyvern that survived because of a soldier named Usite!"

"Usite? He's alive?" She started to speak, but trailed off as several more steps came close to the door. "Are you armed?"

"Only with his rifle that he taught me how to fire. I have two others with me that are sharing another. But we're only just trying to defend ourselves."

"What are they saying?" The green wyvern grumbled in a whisper, getting a glare from those red eyes.

"Adine was it?"

"Yes."

"We have someone here that says they know you." Her heart fluttered a bit. "An officer."

"Bryce?"

"Uh... No."

"Maverick?"

"Erm... No?"

"I..."

"We're sending him in, don't fire." A deep breath as she placed a paw on Malic's barrel.

"One moment." She turned towards the two males behind the table. "They're sending in someone who knows me. Don't fire." A near grumble from the pink one, but he let go of his weapon. "Okay, our weapons are down."

"Alright. Sebastian, you're up."