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Roslyn struck up an easy conversation with Mianth. The water elemental dragon Roslyn learned loved navigating the ships throughout space. The Velopians pilot the ships when they are going short distances. Mianth and other dragon navigators handle all long distance piloting.

"That is why you showed up so suddenly. You teleported the ship to the very spot." Roslyn was thankful Nodrog and Inilth were not eating anyone at the moment. And doing her best to absorb every detail she could. She was having a hard time staying professional, and probably was a bit overly excited.

"Yes. The scout planted a small artifact allowing us to arrive here with no need to navigate the atmosphere." Mianth said.

"And to think we have barely made it to a second world..." Roslyn said.

"Space travel is still in its early stages for most. The grays and Yovar are the only ones who have had wide reaching space travel for a long time. This was the furthest trip any of us have tried using this method of travel." Mianth said.

"Traveling within a galaxy is one thing, but to have jumped to another galaxy... We did not know what to expect." Eryk said softly.

"Do the grays have an actual name?" Roslyn asked.

Mianth paused. "Cittisaroli... or something like that."

"Grays it is then. You mentioned a scout, how did he get here?" Roslyn asked.

"More traditional ways of travel. She came with one of the monster's Hunters." Eryk was even more thankful the dragons were not consuming flesh. Carnivores were frightening creatures.

"By magic or one of the shadows. She must have been very brave to come this far with only a single person accompanying her." Roslyn got the feeling most if not all the Velopians were frightened to be this far from their home worlds.

"Perenth was very surprised someone even volunteered at all. I must admit hearing the feared iron dragon had a female human pilot, was surprising as well." Mianth said. Her cheeks blushing a little, she was also a little excited about meeting the humans from this world and the monster in their care.

Roslyn did not think other dragons feared him. "He saved my life. In fact he disobeyed orders to come half way around this world to save my life. I have seen both sides of him and even lain with him, more than once. I had never felt so safe, as I do in his arms."

"He is a very interesting monster." Perenth said as she and Sherman walked over to them.

Roslyn blushed more from Sherman over hearing her comment then the dragon. "I hope I do not sound rude. But why do you and Mianth fear him, while Inilth seems to get along just fine with him?"

"Because they are both children of the earth." Sherman said. Perenth had rounded up a translator for him.

Mianth smiled. "I am impressed. That is exactly why. They are made of different materials, but they are elementally, brothers."

"I am also impressed. Fear is not the correct word. Distrustful or cautious would be better to describe our feelings. You will find most dragons are mixed on his existence. If he had not been condemned by that atrocity that made him. He would be thought of no differently than any other dragon." Perenth said.

"I have noticed other monsters feel pity for him, or outright hate his creation." Sherman said.

"His classification is another point of contest. Because he technically has three different forms. The one we see now, a second form and then an omega form. Which no one living has seen and no one knows how he sustains it." Perenth said and watched the screens. She would have sworn he looked right at her through the security camera.

"Stories of his madness and power even reached our world. The elves were considerably concerned." Eryk said. He was a little uneasy around the wolf, for the obvious reasons. Roslyn he could tell was trying to remain stoic and professional, but it was easy to see she was excited.

"From what Alice and Jenny have told me, they still are." Roslyn said.

"Oh the girl that made him drink her blood? That Jenny?" Mianth asked with noticeable interest.

"The very same. Nightrunner is the only elf that does not fear or dislike him." Sherman said. Unlike the main Evo facility, this facility did not have housing on site. Which meant only security and night shift people were around.

"How long must we wait for this transmission of yours?" Eryk asked.

Sherman glanced at his watch. "I am not sure. We had planned on sneaking into the facility and doing this while trying not to engage in any fighting."

Roslyn picked up the radio. "Nodrog can you check on the transmitter?"

"Sure." Nodrog and Inilth made their way back to the transmitter. Nodrog knelt down and typed to the tech on screen.

"Now I know why you came with such a small force. You were just going to cloak yourselves in the shadows." Inilth said.

"That was our original plan. Still this might work out for the better, for both of us." Nodrog said and waited for a reply from the techs. It took a little while but he finally got an answer.

Nodrog stood up and keyed the radio. "At least another two hours. They still have a strong signal but the amount of information they are pulling is enormous."

"I do not like having the two of them down there, with no other support. Alyvia, suit up your warriors in augmented armor, make sure you have an air supply." Eryk said after turning to address a lovely brown haired Velopian.

"Yes sir." Alyvia said and quickly took off.

"Augmented?" Roslyn asked.

"It is a fully encasing armor. It has multi stage air filters and air supply, it also triples the warrior's strength and speed." Perenth said.

"Basically like our power armor." Sherman said.

"We had not expected the humans and the grays to release chemicals that harmed their own kind." Eryk said.

"That only means there is something going on here they do not want anyone finding out about." Roslyn said grimly. Her mind instantly thinking of the rumors she has heard over the years.

"We should have Nodrog and Inilth spread out and search the lower levels of the facility." Sherman said.

Alyvia returned in her own armor with twenty other warriors. "We are ready."

Sherman thought the power armor was considerably more useful than the other. They were completely encased in titanium and composite plastics. Surprisingly none of them were male, since they all lacked antlers. The suits allowed the slender females to carry heavy weapons and other equipment.

"Good. I want two of you to accompany each dragon while they search the facility. The rest are to guard the human's transmitter. I know it is not a task I normally give you, but this is an alien situation for us all." Eryk said softly, but firmly.

"Understood." Alyvia said and bowed.

Nodrog and Inilth stood as the augmented warriors showed up. "Now I am impressed."

Inilth chuckled. "Alyvia's elite augmented squad. Only females can even attempt to join."

"Always diamonds in the rough..." Nodrog chuckled as they walked over.

"Perenth, Eryk and Sherman have agreed on a course of action. Two of us will accompany each of you. We are to search the facility further. The rest will set up a perimeter around the hub to protect the transmitter." Alyvia said.

"Do we know what we are looking for?" Inilth asked.

"I am sure if we find it, we will know." Nodrog said.

"Ferale and I will accompany Nodrog. Glynna and Sephya will accompany Inilth. The rest of you fan out in pairs covering every point into this area." Alyvia said. Her warriors bowed and did exactly as they were told. The armor making little noise as they moved.

They followed Nodrog to a set of stairs that lead both up and down. They headed down slowly. Nodrog skipped the first three basement floors and elected to have Inilth start on this floor. He would head down one more floor and begin there.

Ferale hooked a few wires to an electronic lock and had it quickly bypassed thanks to the computer in her armor. They quickly searched the floor, finding little in the few labs they came across. A few prototype weapons but nothing of real note.

Inilth had even less luck on the floor they started on. They did come across a few unarmed scientists, who after a little persuading told him they needed to go further down.

When they met back up they elected to just head down to the lowest level. Which due to the heavier security measures, lead them to believe if they were going to find anything it would be here.

Ferale shot out two guns mounted near the ceiling as they walked up to a very heavy looking door. It took considerably longer to over ride the locks on this door. It eventually opened with a hiss.

"This was not what I was expecting." Alyvia said as they walked into a very large hemisphere room. The humans and grays that had been working here had been gassed as well, killing them all.

They walked past tables and lab equipment, in the center of the large room was a dark red dragon; chained to the floor, walls and ceiling. Tubes and wires hung off of the dragon and tied it to dozens of machines. Portions of its body pined open for any number of reasons.

The Velopians stopped, it was a horror they had never seen. Nodrog and Inilth walked closer. The dragon slowly opened its eyes and tried to turn its head.

After a painful breath it spoke to them. "Please... stop them."

"They are all dead. Give us a little so we can free you." Inilth said and set down his weapons.

"No! They must be stopped." The dragon cried out in pain and sadness.

"Inilth, Nodrog you need to see this." Sephya said.

She was standing next to a table with numerous vials, beakers and flasks full of black blood. Nodrog looked over the notes and charts, he did not understand any of it.

"The poor thing, they have given it black blood." Glynna said as she looked over some of the tubes connected to the dragon.

"I think they have used it's blood to make the illness. How long have you been imprisoned here?" Inilth asked.

The dragon took another painful breath. "They have tortured me for one hundred and one year... to the day."

"That would be earth year 2012... And two years later madness and black blood were reported in humans." Nodrog said.

"I am not sure how different a year is between this world and our home world, but one hundred of our years seems to be when the illness showed up in our blood." Alyvia said softly.

"What do we do?" Glynna asked.

Nodrog looked up at the dragon and sighed. "We stop them. Give us a little while longer and we will stop them and end your suffering."

"I thank you... Iron Dragon." The dragon wheezed.

"Alyvia please take the others back topside and round up the largest explosives you can." Inilth turned to Nodrog. "If you can lend me your aid and magic we can end his suffering quickly."

Nodrog nodded. "Whatever you need."

With no need to guard the transmitter any more, Alyvia's warriors set about the task of placing charges and explosives to bring the facility to utter ruin. When they brought two enormous bombs down to Inilth and Nodrog the two dragons had ended the others life.

"If I ever have to do that again, it will be too soon." Inilth said sadly.

"It was the right thing to do. It does not make it any easier. Come let us leave and end this madness." Nodrog said.

"Why do you stay with humans when they do so much harm?" Alyvia asked as they headed up.

"Not all of them are this vile. Some do a great deal of good." Nodrog said.

They teleported back up to the ship, where Alyvia just removed her helmet to address her commanding officers. "All of the charges are set."

"Start the countdown and take us out of blast range." Eryk ordered.

Sherman and Roslyn were surprised how smoothly the ship climbed altitude. They watched the facility on the largest of screens in the command room. The charges set at the lowest level went off first, starting a chain reaction of explosions collapsing the facility in on itself.

"With that taken care of, I believe you have to hold up your end Nodrog." Perenth said.

"I will do just that. Mianth, can you and the other navigators use me as a beacon?" Nodrog asked.

"Yes, you emit enough magic to be easy to find." Mianth said.

Nodrog turned to Sherman and Roslyn. "Stay here with the Velopians. I will speak with Marko and make sure that the facility will be ready for your arrival. I will call Mianth when everything is set."

"That is acceptable to me, if it is for you Eryk." Perenth said.

The Velopian thought about it. "Yes I believe that will be fine. We will move to a low orbit until that time."

"By your leave." Nodrog said and vanished.

Marko and Tabbatha were quite surprised when Nodrog just appeared in his office. "A little warning next time. Where are Sherman and Roslyn?"

"Sorry about that, but something very interesting happened on our little trip. Sherman and Roslyn are currently on a Velopian spaceship." Nodrog chuckled.

"You have my full attention. Velopians are?" Marko asked.

"They are a mortal race of deer and antelope, much like centaurs. They assaulted the facility just as we reached it. As it turns out a different race of aliens and humans had created black blood." Nodrog said.

Marko rubbed his chin. "That raises very far reaching implications. They have only just begun sifting through the data you sent."

"I hope you do not mind me over stepping some boundaries. But to gain a little more trust from them, I did mention you were testing a treatment to slow down black blood. The Velopians fall to the illness far quicker than humans." Nodrog said.

"If those other aliens have allies on this world, it would be beneficial to have allies of our own. Am I correct in thinking that is why you came alone?" Marko asked.

Nodrog chuckled. "Of course. I figured five alien ships just showing up might not sit well."

"What do we need to do to prepare for their arrival?" Tabbatha asked.

"Aside from letting the security forces here know they are coming. I doubt much of anything. There should be plenty of space out on the old runway system for them to land." Nodrog said and walked over to the window.

Marko hit a button on his phone. "Martha, please have the security officers meet me down in the main lobby, immediately."

"Yes sir." Martha replied and dialed the security desk.

"Give me thirty minutes to make sure everyone understands what is going on. Good impressions and all." Marko said with a chuckle.

"Of course. I need to go get Jenny so she can translate for you." Nodrog said as they headed out of the office.

"How can she do that?" Marko asked.

"It is a story I will tell you in private. The piece of jewelry she has been wearing constantly has a number of magic abilities." Nodrog said and pointed to his neck.

Marko sighed. "Very well. I expect to be talking to you a great deal in the near future."

"Of course." Nodrog smiled and headed down to the lab.

"Nodrog!" Jenny and Alice exclaimed from his rather sudden appearance.

"What happened you smell like gun powder and bad take out?" Alice asked as he kissed the top of her head.

"Things took a very interesting turn. For the better I might add. I just stopped by to borrow Jenny." Nodrog said.

"Um, why?" Jenny asked.

"I need you to act as a translator for Mr. October. Sherman, Roslyn and I made some new friends." Nodrog said with a reassuring smile.

"Aren't there better people to do that sort of thing?" Jenny asked.

Nodrog crossed his arms. "No, because you understand science. Plus with that collar you can understand languages even I do not know."

"Oh okay. Where are we going?" Jenny got the feeling arguing was not going to get her anywhere. That and her curiosity was screaming to hurry up and go.

"Just outside, you will most likely want a coat." Nodrog said.

"They are already here?" Alice exclaimed as she ran to the window.

Nodrog looked at his watch. "Not yet, but they will be very shortly.

Sherman and Roslyn answered all the questions they were suddenly asked as best they could. Figuring Nodrog had left them behind just for that reason. Some questions were rather serious and others... were just out there.

"It is almost time." Mianth said.

Eryk picked up a microphone and made an armada wide announcement. "All ships and stations prepare for short range jump."

Mianth took Roslyn's hand. "You might find this interesting."

Roslyn smiled and had to lightly jog to keep up with the small dragon. It took a few minutes but they finally made it to the center of the ship. "Is that a crystal tank?"

"Yes, with the purist water of the Velopian home world. I will take my true form in the tank and focus my magic on the pewter pillars inside of it." Mianth said letting go of Roslyn's hand. "Wait here with the Velopians and you will be perfectly fine."

Roslyn nodded and stood off to the side so she would not interfere with anything. Mianth walked up to a small platform on the side of the tank and removed all of her clothing before jumping in.

Roslyn did not see her change but, now swimming in the tank was a much larger blue dragon. In her true from Mianth was slender and swam gracefully. She was also beautiful in her true form. Roslyn actually blushed a little. Mianth swam up to the two tallest formations in the tank and placed a hand on each. Her eyes glowing a pale turquoise.

Mianth spoke and while her mouth did not move, Roslyn could plainly hear her. "The Iron Dragon's signal and location have been confirmed, all ships signal ready status."

The Velopians around the tank gave her status reports and when all ships were ready. Mianth spoke again. "Prepare for short range jump on my mark... Jump!"

The world went black, Roslyn and Sherman were well accustomed to it by now. All five ships appeared at a low altitude above Nodrog who stood out in the open area of the unused runway.

"Mianth, all ships have arrived." One of the Velopians said.

"Very well. Navigation handed over to Velopian pilots." Mianth said and let go of the pillars, the glow gone from her eyes.

Roslyn watched while the Velopian pilots took control of the ship once more and began landing sequences. She could see Nodrog standing in the open, his hands in his pockets looking up at the ships. That playful little tooth baring smirk on his face. She was little startled with how quickly Mianth got dried off and dressed.

"So you have been in bed with him?" Mianth asked. Her elfin cheeks slightly blushed.

Roslyn blushed a little as they looked at the screen. "I have, he is a very good lover."

"A shame iron dragons cannot have children. He would be a strong mate otherwise." Mianth said with a little smile.

"I do not think he would want to father children in this form. He dislikes what they did to him." Roslyn said.

"But if they had not, you might never have met him." Mianth said as the ship settled softly on the ground.

"I know two young ladies who would not want a life without him." Roslyn said.

"Oh, that sounds complicated... Do you love him?" Mianth asked.

"No, I do not love him. I will however lay with him just for pleasure." Roslyn said.

"Hmm, I forget some races mate just for the enjoyment of another's company." Mianth said as she lead Roslyn back to the main loading bay where they would disembark.

"Water dragons do not feel the need outside of having children?" Roslyn asked.

"We tend to be more solitary then others. I am rather timid even for my own kind, I think that is why I get along with the Velopians so well." Mianth said.

Sherman came out of their aircraft and handed Roslyn her coat. "Looks like they have gotten more snow since we left."

"Thanks." Roslyn said.

"The translators will not work once you leave the ship. They are not very difficult to make so if you want, feel free to keep them." Perenth said as they and a number of Velopians walked over to the bay doors.

"I am assuming your home world has cold weather. It is winter here." Sherman said. They only had coats on their upper halves.

"It does get rather cold back home, our fur must keep us warmer than yours." Alyvia said with a light laugh. She was in her augmented armor, because she still was not fully trusting of the iron dragon.

"It is part of the problem not being fully animal like you, humans do not handle extreme weather very well." Sherman said.

Marko, Dr. Phillips and Jade were standing next to Nodrog after the ships had landed. Jenny was standing by Nodrog nervously. Not because of what she had to do, but because they were meeting the first honest to god aliens. Not monsters or fairy tale creatures, but a sentient mortal race.

Nodrog walked closer to the ship as the doors opened. This was actually one of the things dragons did on a regular basis. Well most dragons, he was more of an after negotiations failed kind of dragon. He was a bit nervous since this entire meeting was his doing alone.

"Why is Jenny with him?" Roslyn asked as she and Sherman walked over with the Velopians and dragons.

"Her collar is also a translator, except it works all the time." Sherman said.

"Collar?" Roslyn asked.

"Jenny is Nodrog's blood slave." Perenth thought Jenny was a foolish little girl. As both groups stopped a respectful distance from the other.

"Mr. October, allow me to introduce you to Admiral Eryk Tylien." Nodrog said and gestured to Eryk.

Chapter.

Marko bowed slightly as did Eryk. Nodrog introduced everyone in turn, placing those of higher rank before the lower. While Dr. Phillips and Jade were a little nervous, Marko having spent several hours now talking with Nodrog and Nightrunner was very calm. This was not the first time he needed a translator at a first meeting either.

Marko was good at reading people, even alien people and suggested they carry on, inside their ship. Much to the Velopians' relief. Sherman gave up his translator and excused himself. Still not used to using his power he was near exhausted and wanted a hot shower.

With Roslyn staying with them, she could help fill in the things Sherman would have. Actually she found herself liking them more and more. They did learn that while the translators worked incredibly well for Velopian, Elf and English... They did not work for translating Draconic.

Jenny was pleased with the little bit of Elfin she had managed to learn in the short time she had to practice it. She could greet people, and convey simple phrases. Jenny also quickly realized, she was the only one who understood the dragons. The collar instantly letting her know she was not to say anything about that point.

"Perenth, we need to talk." Inilth said in draconic.

"Do you think it wise to leave them?" Perenth asked.

"Alyvia is present." Nodrog added.

Mianth placed her hand on Perenth's shoulder. "It will be alright, you may not trust them. But I trust the female pilot and his slave."

Perenth reluctantly agreed. She explained the situation to the Velopians and the humans. The four present dragons bowed slightly before leaving. Nodrog followed them to another part of the ship where Inilth called the other dragons.

They met out in the snowy field behind the ships. Counting Nodrog, a total of twelve dragons in all. Nodrog making it an even six males and six females.

Inilth held out a small vial of the black dragon blood. He handed it to Perenth so they all could feel the taint in it. "Our kind has not only suffered a loss, but a horrible blow by those grays and some humans. The Black Blood the Velopians and humans suffer was made from one of our kin's blood."

Nodrog and Inilth waited for the murmuring to die down. They all spoke draconic so no one outside this circle could understand them. A raven haired and scaled female stepped forward. Her elfin complexion was lighter than the others, her horns the purist and blackest of onyx.

Dallarth was a shadow dragon, and second only in power to Nodrog. "You all know my stance on our 'little' involvement in mortal's wars; but this atrocity, you agree we cannot allow to pass without doing something."

"From Perenth's reports and those of our troops, Inilth and Nodrog dealt them a devastating loss." Bothrog said. A second earth elemental, his skin appearing bark like even in his false form. With sand colored hair and scales.

"Part of that is true. The gas they released killed all of the humans and grays that were working in that part of the building." Inilth said.

"Unfortunately as much as I agree with Dallarth, we cannot do anything without addressing the council itself first." Perenth said.

Mianth raised her hand like a little school girl. She was by far the youngest here and waited quietly for one of the older dragons to notice her. This only being her third century, while the others were closer to one thousand. Dallarth and Nodrog were the oldest, by several centuries.

"You make speak freely Mianth." Perenth said with a smile. Most of them thought of Mianth as their little sister. The only thing holding Mianth back, was Mianth herself.

"I can handle all the ship duties if you and Inilth wish to speak to the council." Mianth said softly.

"I would offer to go with you, but as you all know. The council and I do not see eye to eye on many things." Nodrog said.

"That may be... except your status as a typhoon affords you more freedom then the rest of us. Perhaps if you were to accompany them along with Dallarth..." A lightly colored and fur covered air elemental anthro said softly.

"I am sure I can find out the names of those overseeing the project. And we can deal with them at a later date." Nodrog said and crossed his arms.

"That might be the best course of action. For now." Bothrog said.

"Agreed. Inilth, would you perform the honor?" Dallarth asked.

Inilth pulled out a second vile, the least tainted he could find. The other dragons all knelt in a semi circle around him and bowed their heads. Inilth said a chant as he placed a thumb sized drop of the fallen dragon's blood on their foreheads. Once they were all blooded, they joined in as the chorus to the chant.

Perenth and the other fire elemental lit a large fire in the center of them. As Inilth said a dragon prayer of rebirth the others were silent. He cast the vile of blood into the flame, a symbolic gesture more out of respect than anything.

They only moved after the fire had died completely out. "Will the humans be willing to give you such information?" Dallarth asked.

"Yes. Alyvia will have told them what we found. Marko is not one for retribution, but he knows we have different views and laws." Nodrog said as they walked back to the ships.

"That is good enough for me. I am grateful for your assistance, especially in evacuating the Velopians. Until we meet again Nodrog." Dallarth said and headed to the ship she was stationed on.

Nodrog followed Perenth back to the main ship while Mianth, Inilth and two others discussed the young dragon handling things if they were to go see the council.

"I must admit, you are not what I was expecting. The stories made out to be more self centered and arrogant. It is a pleasant surprise." Perenth said as they boarded the ship once more.

Nodrog chuckled. "It has not been easy, but I am trying not to be the monster they made me."

"It shows. From what I had heard, you would have just left us to die." Perenth said as they walked nearly the length of the ship to the room the Velopians and humans were meeting in.

"There was a time when I would have." Nodrog said.

Perenth stopped before they got to the room. "Your omega form... What is it like?"

Nodrog paused and looked back at her. "You don't want to know."

With that he opened the door and held it for her. His expression telling all she wanted to know. There was pleasant laughter and talking coming from the meeting. It seemed as Perenth stepped into the room, both sides were getting along quite well.

Marko and Eryk both looked at Nodrog. Marko spoke first. "I would like your side of the story involving what you found in the lowest level."

Nodrog glanced to Alyvia who blushed slightly. "The only thing different I could tell you then Alyvia, pertains to the ceremony Inilth and I preformed to end that dragon's suffering."

Marko was the only one not surprised Nodrog affirmed everything the young warrior said was true. He expected that answer, what he wanted was the reactions the Velopians and the other dragon had to it. Their slight surprise told him Alyvia had told the truth. Marko had not thought she lied, but he wanted to know she had not exaggerated any of the details.

"Actually I must commend Alyvia, and her officers. They handled themselves very well given the situation Inilth and I put them in." Nodrog added.

"I am a bit curious now that our dragons are back. Did he over step his place by offering us your help?" Eryk asked. He like Marko was grateful for any and all help, but was cautious.

Marko chuckled. "No, he did not, in fact I am glad he had the forethought to bring us together. It is a shared problem and both sides could very well benefit from a fresh set of eyes looking at the problem. I have dozens of computer specialists working on digging out all the information on black blood. If we know how they made it, it should help us stop it."

"We have medical staff onboard, but they are not equipped to handle that level of illness. As you said earlier it might be better to let this be an unofficial meeting and hold a official meeting at a later date when we can have everything in order." Eryk said.

"With the files they have given me, I can start work on adjusting the treatment for their physiology." Dr. Phillips said.

"I suppose I have a lot of translating and copying I need to do." Jenny sighed as she stood up with the rest of them.

"Don't worry, I will get you some help." Nodrog said.

Eryk extended his hand to Marko. "It was a pleasure to meet you. I look forward to coming back."

"Indeed, thankfully the dragons can communicate over vast distances with little trouble." Marko said.

"I will let you know what Inilth and I decide about the other thing." Perenth said catching his arm before he left.

Nodrog smiled. "I will be available for anything. Even if they say 'no'."

Perenth smiled. "I figured you would be."

Jenny hoped he would explain things better once they were alone. They all said good bye and they watched the ships take to the air. After a few hundred feet, they vanished.

Marko turned to Roslyn. "I would like you to come by tomorrow morning so I can talk to you and Sherman."

"Sure thing." Roslyn said.

"As for you." Marko had turned to look at Nodrog.

"Let me shower, and I will come up and talk to you. Your office or your home?" Nodrog asked.

Marko glance at his watch. "Home will be fine. It is dinner time."

Jenny wanted to hug Nodrog, but the dried alien blood smelled horrible. As soon as they were in the apartment she made him strip so she could toss his clothes in the wash. "I swear the two of them get filthy just to make me do more work." Jenny grumbled as she soaked the blood in stain remover.

"I heard that." Nodrog said loudly from his bathroom.

Jenny was going to mutter something else, but realized he could always hear her if he wanted to. "Cheater..."

Nodrog laughed as he turned on the hot water. He had expected to have to talk with Marko after his little stunt, hopefully it was worth it. Having ate his fill a few times over, Nodrog did not take a bar to eat as he headed up to talk to Marko.

He found Marko preparing his own dinner. "I would offer something, but I heard you had plenty on your trip."

"I did. I thought they might have left that part out. It is part of what I am." Nodrog said.

"It might seem like, I am being hard on the three of you. In truth it was rather difficult to curb my excitement to be meeting them. I would like nothing more than to roll out the red carpet and make a grand event of the next meeting." Marko said and paused to taste his dinner.

"But you do have a number of things to consider. I understood it would not be easy when I said what I did." Nodrog said and leaned against a counter.

"So you did weight all your options." Marko said and dished up his supper.

"I did my best. If the Velopians' enemies have allies on this world, I thought they should as well. If for no other reason than to keep the Velopians from attacking the human race as a whole." Nodrog said and followed Marko to the living room. He kept his amusement to himself as the CEO ate dinner with his feet on the coffee table.

"That would not have anything to do with Perenth and the other dragons, now would it?" Marko asked.

"It might. They would have no choice but to get involved, if I stood against the Velopians." Nodrog paused. "They would ask that I not get involved in any fighting between the Velopians and the humans."

"Does that mean you would remain neutral if a conflict arose?" Marko asked.

Nodrog shrugged. "I don't know. I'm not sure what you are looking for, but if you want to know. Even I can be bought, for the right price."

"Fair enough. Do they have the freedom to act as you do?" Marko wanted to have all the bases covered. With the way things had gone, he was optimistic about further dealing with the Velopians.

"No. Which brings up something I would like, a favor of sorts." Nodrog said.

Marko set his empty bowl down, he shouldn't eat so fast... "A favor... What can I do for you?"

Nodrog leaned forward. "I want the names of everyone overseeing the black blood program. They tortured a dragon for a hundred years... I know those that started it are dead, but those who currently kept it going."

"Killing them will not bring that dragon back." Marko said.

Nodrog smiled. "We know that. And we don't care. Even if the council says 'no' even if Perenth and the others' hands are tied... Mine are not. Somehow the grays or humans found a way to keep that dragon from using it's magic to escape. I will not allow anyone to possess such knowledge. Including you."

Marko leaned forward. "I understand what it would mean if that did get out. I get the feeling we and the Velopians have stumbled upon something very significant. I need more information. On a number of things. You know a great deal more then I, but we do not know enough."

"You are right, we do not have enough pieces to the puzzle. I hope what we took from the facility will fill us in on some. I am sure if I ask, they will tell me more." Nodrog said.

"We have a little time, if you think Nightrunner could help, I am more than willing to talk to him. What you stopped has far reaching implications for more than just us mortals." Marko said. It was hard to keep focused, from the excitement of it all. He had never thought humans would ever meet aliens... and honest to god dragons. His responsibility to those working for him the main thing keeping him focused on weighting everything carefully as he was.

"I am sure he would. I am waiting for word from Perenth or Inilth about meeting the council. If they want me to go with them or not." Nodrog said.

"That is the second time you have mentioned it. So what is this council?" Marko asked with a chuckle.

"They are a council of monsters. Elves, vampires, dragons and all manner of creatures you mortals once feared, or still fear. They make the laws we monsters must follow, to protect us and the mortal races from harm. And so we don't rip our own throats out." Nodrog said.

"And they make exceptions for monsters like you." Marko said.

"There are less than ten of us typhoons." Nodrog said.

"So there are no mortals on the council then?" Marko asked and leaned back.

"Not a one, and there never will be any. Since some things have taken longer than your life span to decide." Nodrog paused. "I assume you want to talk to Sherman and Roslyn alone?"

Marko sighed. "I do, again it is not that I distrust you. But I want to hear what they have to say about the Velopians and the other dragons..."

"Without my presence affecting their answers." Nodrog said.

"Exactly. They did spend more time interacting with the Velopians then you." Marko hoped Nodrog understood his concern for their own safety.

"You raise a valid point because they did spend nearly an hour with them, that I was not around with them. Roslyn even more so. I doubt she would say anything just to appease even my opinion on anything." Nodrog said and smiled.

Marko laughed rather loudly. "Roslyn does not say anything people want to hear. In fact I think she enjoys telling people what they don't want to hear."

Marko sipped at his drink and gave it a thoughtful look. "There is one other thing."

Nodrog sighed. "Jenny unknowingly bound herself to me when she willingly offered me her own blood to drink. Essentially in letting me drink her blood at any time I wish, she is granted immunity from any other taking her blood. But it goes much farther than that. By monster law, she gave up her freedom and is solely mine, a slave for all intents and purposes."

Marko scratched his chin. "Am I correct in thinking she gets other things in return for giving you her blood?"

"A great many things. She wears a pewter collar with an emerald gem, which is magically bound to me as well. Like a collar it tells other monsters who she belongs too. The collar also protects her from a number of things and translates every language it encounters. From the most minor pain to serious injury, I will instantly know about it." Nodrog said and leaned back.

"It also has one other note worthy point." Nodrog added after a little bit.

"And what would that be?" Marko asked.

"Any direct or indirect attack against her, is considered directed at me." Nodrog smiled. "Because of my interesting status... no laws apply to me and I can retaliate however she or I wish."

"Let me talk to Roslyn and Sherman, then we will plan on when would be a good time to talk with Nightrunner. If you need to leave to take care of something, just let me know. I don't need details, but at least let me know you will be gone." Marko said.

"I will. Have a good evening." Nodrog said and headed back to their apartment.