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Wintertime in the castle. Aurora helped with the decorations, humming a silly little song as she worked along, stringing up strands of glittery garlands along the hearth. She thought this a bit dangerous, but what was life without danger? Besides she wasn't exactly sure what the hubbub was all about with the upcoming festivities. Something about a war? Founding of the castle? Holidays were lost on her tribe. They, as a people, had no holidays to celebrate for their own. They readily took to everyone else’s celebrations mainly to fit in, but she being a creature of change, couldn't understand fully why to celebrate something when it could be non- existent in a turn of a card.

 

She turned hearing a commotion, then saw Estor trying to drag in a freshly cut, oversized Blue Spruce through the entranceway. "It's not Christmas, you Dork!" she growled, stepping down off the stool and marching over to her beloved.

 

Drac chuckled. "We don't normally celebrate Christmas around here, but if you wish to, you may decorate the halls as you see fit."

 

"Oh Drac! Don't encourage him!"

 

Brimstone wandered up from the basement, taking a break from his research. He paused, watching Aurora playing tug-o-war with Estor over the tree before turning to Drac. "Anyone seen Meli?" he asked.

 

            It had been weeks since she had left for her home world, mainly because of this type of attention. She realizes she would never be first in his life, that his mutant kindred came first and foremost, as his new acquired position dictated. It was only now, after thing had calmed down, did he even realize she was missing. Drac didn't have the heard to tell him outright. "I have no idea, but she will return eventually."

 

            "I dunno. All her stuff has been cleared out."

 

            So maybe Brimstone wasn't a total lummox. "You can always go ask Janis," Drac suggested.

 

            The mutant actually winced at the notion. "I don't think so. I get the distinct impression that Janis would rather boil me in oil than help me."

 

            That may not have been accurate, but Drac couldn't really fault him. He now turned to the dynamic duo as the tree bent back and forth between their grips. He could see that Estor was toying with her, and Aurora probably knew that. It was rare treat to observe. Then his brow furrowed. "Where did you get that tree, Estor?"

 

            “Oh I dunno, some forest that had some big trees.” He gestured in a northerly direction.

 

            Drac thumbed his chin. “The only forest nearby, and that’s nearly twenty miles away, is the Soul’s forest. The spirits that dwell there must really trust you to allow you to cut down one of their trees.

 

            “Or they must think him the dork that he really is.” Aurora even jabbed him in the ribs as she made light of his effort.

 

            He took the comments in stride. “Oh I always get along with most people. I’m a people... er.. spirit type of guy.” He smiled as he spied Emma stepping down the staircase, a gaming joystick in her hand, which was still connected to the console, and the TV; all of which were being dragged down the staircase behind her.

 

            Aurora looked from the girl to Estor. “You’ve been teaching her to play video games?”

 

            He scratched the back of his head. “Yeah. It was great too, until she started beating me all the time. You know it’s really not fair, you little munchkin.” He bent down and hoisted her up in his arms, grinning. She didn’t smile back, but at least she didn’t punch him in the eye like she had during their last physical encounter.

 

            “Oh she’s a Charmer all right. Just like her mother.” Aurora’s ironic tone was not lost.

 

            Estor put her down quickly. Emma gave what could technically be called a smile; a very slight curving at the corners of her mouth, before running back up the stairs, dragging the electronic equipment behind her.

 

            The silvery elf just shrugged and looked back at the decorations. Brimstone’s style and taste flowed throughout the room, but what was the most eye-catching was the glowing and twinkling lights. A very cute trick since they no longer had a consistent source of electrical power. “How’d you manage that?” He asked aloud.

 

            BS stumbled out from under a bannister, seeing what Estor was gawking at. “Bioluminescent lichens,” he replied. “Neat, huh?”

 

            “Yeah,” Aurora echoed sourly. “Neat.” She still insisted the upcoming celebration was more akin to Christopher Columbus day, or Memorial Day, than any religious holiday, but she had been clearly out-voted.

 

 

 

 

            Serenity was looking for Megan and found her sitting next to Zelgadis's bed as the chimera had once again slipped into an almost comatose sleep. She knocked on the doorframe, just in case the mutant was too muddled in worry to have heard her.

 

            This was not the case. "C'mon in," Megan replied. Her gaze never drifted off the slumbering man.

 

            The healer stepped inside. "We have word from Kelinkia. They will be ready to receive us after the celebrations."

 

            "Good," Megan nodded then snorted at some internal joke and shook her head. She finally turned to face Serenity. "I'm having quite the run of bad luck, ain't I? Mind raped. Stabbed through the gut. Festering magical wound. And now metal boulders growing in my uterus. I'm due for some good news for once, ain't I?" Her gaze drifted back to Zelgadis. “He still doesn’t remember me, you know. Tim did one hell of a number on him. I’ve got half the notion that he had a hand in Lucious’s return too. He always did like that psi better.”

 

            “I can tell you for all certainty that Tim had nothing to do with his return. He could not have. Lucious returned after Tim was absorbed by Vanagald. There is no way he could bring a spirit back from within that blade.”

 

            The mutant eased back into the chair. “Wish I could believe that. I just get this feeling he did..... somehow....”

 

            “You should ask your sister.” Serenity answered.

 

            “Dusk? Why would she do something like that? She’s got nothing to gain by it.”

 

            Serenity had to wonder how Megan could be so blissfully ignorant when it came to the gothic mutant sorceress.

 

 

 

 

 

*****************

 

            The main reception hall was packed. Brimstone was parked to the back, sitting on a long bench, a paper cone hat donning his head instead of the Stetson and a party favor dangling from his lips instead of a cigarette. This wardrobe had been at Aurora’s behest, though he now knew she had been yanking his chain as no one else, including Jason, was dressed as such. He now ware the hat out of spite.

 

            Jason sat next to the mutant, making sure not to look in BS’s direction in fear of violent retribution, He kept his eyes forward, watching as the hierarchy, consisting of Dracon, Claw, Melissa, Saarith, Serenity, and Aerich; milled near the throne, going over notes and hammering out a courtside agenda. Guards and even enlisted men milled about with the attendees, keeping everything cool.

 

            It was only when Aurora entered the room did several people, including BS and Jason, did a double take. She was garbed in her robes of state, bearing the grey scaled dragon armor that had once been the hide of her cousin Griselda. WHERE she had gotten it would be debated for months, and Why would grind on Brimstone’s mind for some time. Technically this was a slap in his face, since he had won the leadership title from her months ago, yet here she was decked out in matriarchal gear.. He decided to bite his tongue. He wanted to keep things calm with this many people milling about. Besides, she seemed to be acting contentedly while ensconced in the gear. Having her relaxed in this type of setting was a necessity.

 

 

..........

 

            Dusk had pondered the possibilities, but she believed she had come across a way to mend both the slumbering Zelgadis and the somewhat insubstantial Lucious. It would be dangerous, of course. What she wanted was Megan’s okay. It was the girl’s boyfriends that Dusk was going to meddle with and she dared not try anything unless Megan agreed. So she snuck into Megan’s room and taped a note to the girl’s brow while she slumbered.

 

            An hour later Megan woke to find the note secured to her forehead. It took several attempts to get around Dusk’s working as Megan had never really studied the intricacies of magic, so much of the jargon was lost on her, but she got the general intent. The resulting headache made her head into the bathroom. While she brushed her teeth, she picked up the echoes of a cheering crowd. Only then did she realize she was late for court.

 

            She hurried through the rest of her toiletries, brushing her mangy hair as she ripped through her less-than-perfect wardrobe, bypassing the red leathered suit for something a bit more demur. As she slipped the brown shift over her head and walked out of the closet, she was surprised to see Emma and her brother sitting patiently on her bed.

 

            Emma was dressed in a frilly pink frock, her brother in cute sky-blue tuxedo, toddler sized. She didn’t know who had dressed them, but whoever it was surely didn’t know mutant tastes. No time to correct that as she slipped on her boots and reached to take Emma’s hand. The child hesitated, then stuck out her fist, keeping her fingers curled into her palm.

 

             The trio made their way into the grand room and quickly located BS and company. Megan glanced at her Mother in her reptilian regalia, then leaned into BS. “What’s her deal?”

 

            BS could only shrug.

 

            Drac finally took center stage on the dais. “This ceremony marks a time that has not been celebrated in many years due to a circumstance we all know, the Great War. It is now time to start anew our traditions. There are those I must give recognition to as they have helped this realm by displaying their own honor and courage against those that would oppose us, even though there were not obligated to do so. Whether they realize it or not, each has the soul of Vashtalia within them. Therefore they will always be as one of us. Aurora. Brimstone. Dusk. Megan. Randall. Please come forward.”

 

 

            Now the mutants looked to each other. BS and Megan had been dumbstruck, but Aurora must have guessed this would happen and she kicked the back of their seats, making BS jump to his feet. The hall began to murmur, smattered with some polite applause as the troop made its way to the front. Aurora had taken flank and was quite smug, until she realized that Randall had not accompanied them. Dusk , she had expected wouldn't come forward as the girl was a bit flighty, but Randall? She scowled inwardly. She was going to have to work on that boy. Bad enough she had found him more than once mired in nightmares, but no amount of consoling, lecturing, or threatening seemed to help.

 

            BS tooted on his party favor, entertaining the crowd with his antics. Aurora held her head high. Only Megan looked a bit dour. She took up the flank of the pack, but not before plopping Emma's brother into Jason's lap, making Jason squirm as Emma's hateful glare now focused on him.

 

            Only when the applause and whistles died down did Drac continue. "In Recognition of your honor, bravery, and courage in both your trial and those trials of the realm; I hereby proclaim all of you Citizens of the Realm!" He opened a wooden hinged box and produced several gold minted coins strung with ribbon to be worn on the neck. He stood, holding out the fistful of honors. "You now have a permanent place to call home whenever you wish."

 

            The trio looked to each other, a bit bewildered, then they huddled up in football formation. Drac listening in on the conservation. "Did I hear him right?" Aurora asked.

 

            "He can't be serious," Megan insisted.

 

            BS echoed the sentiment. "He Can't be serious."

 

            Drac rolled his eyes. "It Can't be that bad an honor," he insisted, whispering just as harshly as they were.

 

            The buzzing continued, not only on stage between the initiates, but out in the congregation as well. Finally Aurora turned and sighed at Drac as if forced into the position. "Very well. We accept. We'll try to be the best... citizens.. that we can possibly be."

 

            Megan shuffled a bit closer. "And we apologize beforehand for anything stupid we're probably going to do in the future."

 

 

            Then the semi- robot one stepped up. "Just one stipulation." He nodded towards the children Jason was babysitting. "For Nine's sake. She Did help you in your last little skirmish."

 

            "If you would let me finish!" Drac had to chuckle. He pulled out two more bands of ribbon. Dangling from the were two have of one of the medallions. "I ask young Emma and her brother to come join us." He knew this would prove problematic. They were wild children. Even now they froze up as the audience turned to look at them. Jason tried talking to them in their dialect and almost got his nose backhanded off his face by Emma when he tried to nudge her forward. Only when Aurora spoke to them (more like barked commanding orders at them from across the room) did Emma finally take her brother's hand and nervously made her way up to the dais. Drac kept this eyes averted, not wanting to make the children edgier than what they were. "I hereby give these children the pendant and the status that their mother had rightfully earned." He didn't even attempt to drape the ribbon over their heads. Instead he dangled them, letting Emma snag one from his hand. When her brother reached out for his half, Drac smiled. "And I know bestow the name Justin upon you, Little One."

 

            If Justin understood, he didn't show it. They stepped back behind Megan, whom repeated poked the boy in the chest, repeating his name, hoping it would stick.

 

            Drac continued. "With these pendants, you are linked with us. If you get in over your head, you merely have to focus and we will come to your aide, no matter where you are.”

 

            Brimstone smiled. “Kind of like the Justice League. Cool.” He now placed the pendant around his neck, a movement mimicked by the others.

 

            Again the Vashtalian lord smiled. “This concludes the awards ceremony. Everyone. Please. Enjoy and let the Celebrations begin!”

 

            A great roar rumbled throughout the castle. As the room began to empty out into the foyers, Aurora walked up to Drac and kissed him on the right cheek. “Thanks.”

 

            “You are most welcome,” he replied, making sure Not to hand a “Milady” or “Ma’am” or other relegating title to the reply. The children rushed from the dais back to Jason, showing off their newly acquired treasure, making Jason sulk even further.

 

            Megan hung back a bit as a small but evil looking smile spread across her face. She knew what she was about to do would probably get her killed, but she couldn’t pass up the opportunity. She waved to catch the attention of the crowd. “And if any of you know of any young drakes looking for a mate, see me afterwards. Dusk is very available and I promise her bark is much worse than her bite.”

 

            Not one hand raised to reply.

 

 

 

 

 

            Many activities followed the ceremonies. The high priestess Serenity and the king Dracon were in the ancient temple in the absolute center of the forest of souls. The songs, much like hymns, floated up into the boughs of the trees. Serenity’s vocals, backed by Drac’s flute, were the ultimate in enchantment as the souls swayed in tempo.

 

            BS and company had partied heartily, even to the point that the mutant pack was sleeping off the effects. Only Megan seemed to have enough sensibility to not drink herself under the table. She was currently packing for her little expedition when Goury walked by, then paused at the doorway. “What are you doing, Meg? Going on a trip?”

 

            “I am.” She tried sitting on the last suitcase, using her extra weight for leverage but just couldn’t get the clamps to lock. “Fishing expedition.”

 

            Goury saw that she had no fishing gear in her overstuffed suitcase when she gave it a final squish then cried out in frustration when the hinges gave way, spitting her clothes back out all over the floor. “What are you Really up to?” he asked again as he help pick up the scattered clothing.

 

            “No. Really. It’s a fishing expedition for information.” She tossed her head towards the slumbering Zelgadis. “I’ve got some things I need to work on. The baby... well... it’s complicated.”

 

            “You’re not planning on running off on your own, are you?”

 

            “Oh no! BS is going. So are a gaggle of lizards. I’m well protected. Don’t you fret.”

 

            “What about Dusk’s idea for scanning the baby?”

 

            Megan shuddered. “There’s still a big magical question hanging on that. What we found as an alternative was this library that had some references about a similar case in that kingdom just north fo us. That’s where we’re headed to....” She paused, for her mother had oozed out of her room, one hand gripped over her brow, trying to shelter her eyes from what light that filtered down the hall. The matriarch kept to the cool stones lining the passageway as she painfully made her way to the kitchen. Clearly a monumental hangover, and Megan just couldn’t help herself. “WELL TOP OF THE MORNIN’ TA YA, MOM!”

 

            Aurora dropped as if punched in the gut, her hands twisting up and around her head as if to hold her brains in. She then whimpered and slowly uncoiled, looking very green.

 

            Claw had been walking the halls and had turned the corner just in time to see Aurora’s projectile vomit envelope Megan. Hung over she may have been, but she also had become very skilled due to the practice of emptying her gut at a moment’s notice. “Eeewwww!” Megan snarled, her arms extended as she tried to shake the bile off. Claw just shook his head and went to round up a mop and bucket.

 

            “That’s nasty,” Goury noted, his own lip curled up at the offensive mess.

 

            “It’s smells even worse,” Megan added as she turned and quickly made her way back into her bedroom, peeling off layers of clothing. Draconic bile had a higher acidic ratio, enough to burn skin and ruin clothing. The tunis she had on was already fraying and separating at the seams. She quickly splashed water from the basin in the bath onto her skin, trying to abate the stinging until the bath tub could fill. Two minutes later she was submerged in the club-footed tub, scrubbing away with a bar of soap.

 

            Aurora finally made it to the kitchen, but couldn’t summon any more strength as she reclined in one of the wooden-backed chairs. Randall joined her shortly thereafter, looking much the same as he was donning the darkest glasses he could find. Yep, it had been one heck of a drinking contest. It had quickly degraded into a “what would you drink for a dollar’ type of deal. Aurora won, of course, but she was paying for her competitive way in spades. At least Randall had stayed with the ale, but it had been a potent brew.

 

            “Need any help, Grandma?” Lyra asked as she suddenly appeared next to Aurora’s ear.

 

            The mutant winced, then shuddered, again bringing up her hands to brace her head. “....quietly... please.... Little One,” she begged in a very soft voice.

 

            Lyra chuckled softly then hovered closer. “Feeling Ill?” she whispered every so quietly.

 

            “Very.” That she had to admit. “Need. Tea... warm... with honey.. And aspirin.. About 20 tabs...”

 

            There were fetched with great speed and the cat-like sprite again hovered at her kin’s shoulder. “You should be resting, Grandmother.”

 

            “I will... eventually.” She took the teacup, almost spilling it her hand was shaking so badly, but she managed to get most of the contents down. “Tastes better than turpentine,” she noted out loud before setting the cup back down. “Damn reptiles,” she grumbled. “They cheat. They lie. They make the worse marguerites ever.... ‘oh we drink this All the time.’ Liars! If it weren’t for the fact that I have such a strong constitution, I’d be dead..”

 

 

 

            Lord Aerich found Alix in the hall, squinting as her head was riddled with splitting pain. That drinking game seemed to have included half of the castle’s inhabitants at one time. “You don’t need to be here. It IS your day off.”

 

            Alix sighed, giving him a sidelong glare. Apparently much was on her mind. “I’m going home.... I think.”

 

            The Vashtalian Captain of the guard stared at her a moment, then nodded. “Very well. Come by my office in an hour and I’ll have the paperwork ready for you to sign. I know this will either be for your resignation or vacation. Either way, you need a break.”

 

 

 

            Megan continued to scrub, bringing blood to the surface on some parts, but she couldn’t quite rid herself of the stench. That and the soap in her eyes, making her attempt to accomplish the whole task by feel, put her in a state where she failed to notice the creature creeping into the bathroom, sniffing at her tracks. A silver scaley snout poked over the rim of the tub, followed by a set of glowing blue eyes. It snorted loudly when it caught a whiff of the mutant vomit. At the sound, Megan paused, then tried to wipe the stinging shampoo from her eyes yet listen at the same time. “Who’s there?” she finally called out.

 

            “Hrrrrmmmm no...” the beast mused out loud. “Not exactly the right smell. Not the right color either.”

 

            Megan’s arm came down, bristled scrub brush in hand, but she missed her target. Instead she snapped the head of the brush off against the rim of the tub.

 

            Goury had been waiting patiently out in the hallway, closing his eyes for a few moments, thereby missing the stalking creature entirely; but he heard Megan scuffling about inside. “You okay?” he called out.

 

            “Goury! Something is In Here!” She waved her arms wildly, trying to stab at whatever it was. When Goury rushed in, she turned.. And shiskabobbed her would be savior in the leg with the stick end of the broken scrub brush.

 

            The blond swordsman howled in pain, bringing Claw running down the hallway. What he saw was an interesting sight. Goury had hobbled up against the far wall, trying to pull the broken shaft of wood out of his leg. Megan had scrambled from the tub backwards and was now squished up behind Goury’s legs, trying to wipe the soap from her eyes with his pant legs. He now saw for the first time what Megan’s concern was. Unclothed he could see huge swatches of black, blue and purple gracing her expanding stomach. This was even more unsettling a sight when he knew how fast mutant healing factors were, so that would mean that her offspring was constantly churning in her stomach, leaving these swathes of damage at ever turn.

 

            His second concern was for the small drake that stood in the center of the room. At about 4 feet long, the critter hardly seemed to be a threat. It looked like a regular Rydin breed, not one of Megan’s genetically related ilk, but it clearly had business with her. He tossed his cape to Goury, whom draped it over Megan, calming her to some degree; then the Vashtalian mage turned to the drake.

 

            The reptile bowed politely to the dragon mage, then pulled out a photograph from somewhere on it’s person. “Excuse me,” it asked in very polite and pleasant tones. “Do you know where I can find this person? I believe he is my great, great, great,, grandfather, or something like that.”

 

             It was a wedding picture, and he did know the two very well: Estor and Aurora.

 

            Megan had finally wiped the soap from her face and blinked, looking the critter over , then taking the picture and studying it closely. “Oh great. Another one.” She sighed then handed the picture back, then slowly got to her feet, shrugging off Goury when he attempted to help her. “So who the heck are you?”

 

            “Nova!” the drake beamed, puffing out it’s chest proudly. “Nova los Aratar.”

 

            She snorted back. “I’m Megan. I’m guessing that Aurora ain’t your great.... whatever.. Mother, is she?”

 

            “By marriage,” he offered back, sensing he had put this girl in sour spirits. “I’m sorry. You smelled like her. That’s why I followed.”

 

            “Probably because she had just puked all over Megan,” Goury offered as a possible reason.

 

            Megan just rolled her eyes. “Fine then. Let’s go find your Da.”

 

            First they found Aurora and Randall nursing their pains over a pot of coffee and a shared pile of aspirin. Both heads were lying flat on the table as if dead. Megan even ventured to poke at her mother’s shoulder, getting a low groan in response. “There’s the blushing bride from your picture. Apparently SOME body got into a DRINKing game last night.”

 

            Aurora winced with every inflection.

 

            Nova blinked. “Uhm.. Is she okay? She doesn’t look all of that okay...”

 

            “She’ll live. She ALWAYS lives.” Megan continued through the halls and up to her parent’s room. Goury hung back to assist the ‘injured’ in convalescing.

 

            “How long Has she lived for?” Nova asked.

 

            Apparently he didn’t know much about his stepmom. “Too long by most accounts. We think that the third body she’s been through.” She paused in front of the door, then banged one fist heavily on the oaken planks. “Hey! Estor! You’ve got company!”

 

            “Okay!” Nova burped then walked, phased, through the door to gain entry. Megan heard Estor shout out “What the..?” before the crash of furniture started. Maybe she shouldn’t have dragged this dragon to Estor. No telling if he really was friend or foe. With a shout she slammed her shoulder into the door. It gave way, spilling Megan onto the floor. When she looked up, she saw the duo embraced in an energetic hug, swinging back and forth, knocking furniture about. The both turned and blinked at her.

 

            “What?” Estor finally asked.

 

            Megan looked from Estor to Nova. “Never mind” she grumphed, then turned and walked from the room, passing Goury and Claw as they had run up the stairs, hearing the commotion. She let them run by her, then ducked down the next hall. Only then did she allow herself to grimace, sliding down the wall as another fresh scrape mark made it’s way to the surface of her belly.

 

            “You okay, hun?” This from Dusk, whom seemed to appear just at the most opportune times. None of her snappy comebacks, the gothic spell casting mutant truly looked worried as she crouched down next to Megan.

 

            “Can’t we just cut him out now,” Megan whimpered, then slowly relaxed as the pain subsided. “He’s gonna grind me up into hamburger if this keeps up.”

 

            Dusk just puffed out her cheeks. “You know this would be so much easier if you were dragon.”

 

            Megan rolled her eyes, “You know I can’t do that.”

 

            “I know, I know. It was just a thought.” She was thumbing her chin, thinking hard. “If I could just...” and she gestured slowly. The belly seemed to glow, but then the light flickered and snuffed out. Again the sorceress frowned. “I was hoping to encase him in an egg, if just to cull the damages a bit..”

 

            “Like trying to merge Lou and Zel?”

 

            “I never gave you any assurances on that one.” She now stood up and drew Defender from her back. Much like Destroyer did for Megan, Defender just clung to her back without any scabbard or ties, like he was velcroed to her spine. Now he glowed and Dusk held him over Megan. A few words muttered, a flash of white light, and the bruises on Megan’s belly subsided substantially.

 

            Megan hesitantly put a hand on her stomach. “You didn’t hurt him, did you?”

 

            “The kid? Hello?” She tapped the metal blade of Defender with a finger. “Sword of pure goodness and light and fuzziness? No, he’s fine.” And with some effort, Dusk got Megan back on her feet and heading back to bed, where Megan drifted into a much needed restful sleep.

 

 

 

 

Megan had gotten the last of her gear packed and she dragged the overstuffed duffels one by one down the stairs, the task made easier with the extra leverage from her midriff. Aurora leaned against the wall, watching her daughter slaving away. She had already nicknamed this little trip the “Dahmer Expedition” in her head. “Sure you don’t need help?” the mutant matriarch offered.

 

            “Very sure. Just mind the fort.”

 

            Aurora snapped a very fancy salute. “Aye aye, captain!” she smiled.

 

            Goury came up behind the duo then stepped forward, grabbing one of the bags. “Here. Let me help. You already have enough baggage to carry with the kid.” He even was able to stave off Megan trying to wrest the bags back from him. Thwarted, she grabbed the one light over-the-shoulder canvas he left behind and stomped after him to where Dracon, Melissa, and Serenity waited.

 

            BS was also waiting, hauling about as many bags as Megan, grumbling about the lack of storage compartments on his person. Megan added to his pouting by dropping her bags on top of his exposed foot, causing him to bounce on his good leg while couching his squished toes. During this strange dance, Dusk oozed from the dark recesses on the overgrown porch (somebody really had to do something about the lighting, Dusk mused) and took up Megan’s elbow, pulling her aside a bit. “Going somewhere?” she asked.

 

            Megan had grown quite skilled in the eye-rolling gesture, since she had so much practice. “You know damn well that we’re heading off on a fact-finding expedition. Besides, Sister Dear, you have something to work on , don’t you? I just figured to stay well out of the magic-throwing range while you do what you do so well.”

 

            “Don’t wanna stick around to see the fruits of my labor?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.

 

            “I’ll see it eventually.”

 

            Aurora had hung back, keeping inside the castle. She had wanted to bug her daughter a little bit more, but a shadow from the corner of her eye caught her attention. Perhaps she was predisposed to dealing with dark shadowy type people, like Tim, so she followed the darkly clad man at a discrete distance. She didn’t have to intervene as the stranger bumped into Claw as he was doing one more pass through the hall before departing on the big trip with Megan and company. “Can I help you?” the dragon mage asked.

 

            “Perhaps. I’m looking for this little red haired girl, about this tall,“ and he held his hand out at an easy 6 ft height. “Her name is Alix.”

 

            “Little?” Aurora hiccupped as she walked up behind the two men, making her presence known. “That’s one of the guards, I think.”

 

            “She is,” Claw agreed, “but I believe she has left on a personal matter not to long ago. Her supervisor Aerich would be able to give you more precise answers.”

 

            “Well, she was supposed to come home, but she has vanished. She is not where she should be. I had expected to see her arrive over a week ago.” He thumbed his chin in deep thought. Aurora swore there was a goodly amount of worry in that rough, dark face. Claw nodded, then continued out to the concourse to join the departing group.

 

 

            Megan now stood back, looking Drac and company over. “We’re not magicking out way there, are we?” she complained.

 

            “Hardly,” and the three dragon kin; Drac, Claw, and Serenity, morphed into their full dragon sizes. Megan just pouted. The largest of her kin was probably 40 ft from nose to tail. Drac easily tripled that, then extended a paw down to assist her with the loading of her gear. Claw did the same for Brimstone whom had ties pairs of bundles so they would hang evenly over the dragon’s neck.

 

            The dark stranger watched the goings on in the concourse for a moment, then looked over his own shoulder, feeling Aurora’s eyes on him. She was leaning against the second set of doors that opened to the inner sanctum of the main hall. “Something I can help you with, miss?” he asked as he pulled back some of his unkempt wild black hair.

 

            “Who? Me? Don’t mind me. I’m just being paranoid.”

 

            He now turned around, towering over her from a height of 6'3". “Paranoid of what?”

 

            No amount of batting eyelashes could ever make Aurora look innocent, but she tried. “Why... everyone. Especially talk dark skulking strangers. Call it a genetic condition.”

 

            “Well your tour group’s getting ready to leave.” He thumbed a beefy hand towards the dragons and their mutant payload.

 

            “Them? Are you kidding? They’d throw me off the boat as soon as they hit cruising altitude. No way. I’m keeping my feet on terra firma.”

 

            “Well keep yer terra firma to yourself.” and he turned to head down the hallway.

 

            “Yes sir!” she snapped a clean salute, then proceeded to follow him almost in his footsteps.

 

            He stopped short halfway down the hallway, rolled his eyes, then turned to face her. “Why don’t you leave this old dragon alone, Okay? I haven’t the patience for a paranoid..” and he paused a moment looking at her with a sad smug of disgust,”...woman” and he turned to continue on his way.

 

            “Woman? Woman?! Lookit here you daft lizard!” and she stepped forward, expanding into her draconic form as well. Soon she had to pull what was left of her dress as it threatened to choke her. It had been a while since she had shifted into her four legged winged version. There were maybe a few more strands of grey in her muzzle, but the furry white dragon still had muscle and teeth and fangs, all of which she kept well in check.

 

            Not that she had any chance to attack. Almost on the instant, Aerich appeared with a band of armed guardsmen, stepping between the two creatures. “Both of you shall back down this instant!” Aerich barked. “By order of the Royal Guard and by the creed of Lord Dracon there shall be no battles within this castle or anywhere within the realm.”

 

            “What?” Aurora coughed, squinting a bit as the dark fellow had turned and continued down the hall. “We were having a civil discussion,” she insisted.

 

            “More like civil war,” the broody stranger growled over his shoulder.

 

            Aerich shook his head at Aurora, blocking her path. “Lady Aurora, you do not look like you were going to have any kind of simple discussion.”

 

            Whether it was the fact the focus of her irked mood was walking away, or that Aerich had called her “lady”, she didn’t know or care as she tried to leap over the goon squad to continue her “discussion” with the dark stranger. Aerich however, had anticipated her move and erected a force field to deflect her attack. She recoiled, her head spinning a bit from the contact with the magical ward, then stumbled to her feet. She was about to tempt fate a second time when she felt something suddenly standing on the hinder end of her back. It was Nova, fluttering his wings aggressively and baring his teeth. A thought crossed her mind. “Hey, Shorty. Get me out of here!”

 

            His wings fluttered faster as an eerie golden light enveloped his body. The spell shot out, but the second it tried to envelope Aurora it threw out a shower of red sparks, then fell quiet. “Sowwy...” he crooned, truly disappointed at his failure.

 

            Aerich had waited to see if she could truly break free of the magical hold. He had likewise detained the stranger as well and interrogated him first. He may not have truly understood why the mutants acted like they did, but deep down, they seemed to have valid reasons. They just had a tendency to blow any slight variation into a full blown critical situation. “First of all, who are you?” he asked.

 

            “Fafnir,” the big man grumbled back, not even bothering to fight the magical containment.

 

            He nodded. “Secondly, I need to know your purpose for being here.”

 

            He puffed out his cheeks a moment. “I came looking for my niece. She was supposed to come visit nearly a fortnight ago at my home by the sea. I think she got lost in them visions again.”

 

            “Well rest assured, if she is still in this realm, we’ll find her within the hour.”

 

            “Good. Let’s just hope she hasn’t let herself become consumed by a god.”

 

            Aurora had fallen quiet, mainly because Aerich still have the force field up and running, secondly she was getting information she needed about this dark brood and somewhat rude stranger. Rude now as Nova puffed himself up. “Hey!” he protested. “I’m from a clan of god type people!”

 

            Fafnir chose to ignore the drake. He instead took out a leather pouch and sprinkled some fine sand onto his hand, then blew on it. “I have to go now,” he intoned before turning and heading back down the hall in a loping jog.

 

            Aurora watched him go, then turned to Aerich. “Lemme out,” she now demanded.

 

            “Change back to your other form,” he answered back in the same tone.

 

            “Gimme my clothes back first,” she barked back.

 

            Aerich rolled his eyes then scooped out the discarded clothing and tossed them at her, the field allowing the material to pass through readily. “I will not tolerate you acting like a child just because you’re pride was damaged slightly.”

 

            “I wasn’t acting like a child. I was just Showin’ the guy that I wasn’t a stinkin’ human.” She turned her back, then contracted back down into her human form, letting Nova provide as sort of changing screen with his wings so she could slip back into the tunic and belt. She nodded her head to the retreating figure in the hall. “You gonna let him run off unescorted like that? If there IS something out there picking off the kinfolk, don’t you think it’s prudent to keep him under surveillance, just in case?”

 

            Aerich smiled only slightly. Seems the mutant matriarch wasn’t as stupid as most made her out to be. She had a sharp mind underneath all that bullheadedness. “I have a guard tailing him as we speak.”

 

            Aurora had a sinking feeling that Fafnir was going to be trouble. Nothing but trouble.

 

 

 

 

            Aurora’s expanse of a belly had done that quite quickly. She now took to keeping her furrier form just to move about. The great white dragon could normally be found out on the southern side of the castle, sunning herself while half of Drac’s staff stared. They couldn’t help but stare. It was like waiting for a bomb to explode, even though she seemed to have her temper well in check, but it would only be a matter of days before she would have to act; either lay some eggs or make a nest or do Something.

 

            Jason was in the kitchen, the window allowing him a decent view of the matriarch as he watched with the same trepidation. He turned slightly when Randall trudged into the room and grunted a greeting at him before fetching himself a cup of coffee. The resident misplaced scientist looked as if he hadn’t slept in weeks, and everyone knew why. “Well, you look like crap,” Jason surmised. He pulled back the drape a bit, catching Aurora rolling over, her stomach rolling a few seconds behind her as if being dragged. He let the curtain drop back into place. “Still thinking about it, ain’t ya.” It wasn’t a question. It was a statement, but Jason didn’t give the man a chance to reply. “Ya know, there was many a time I thought I couldn’t live without Megan. Just don’t let Her know about that.”

 

He snorted at his own situation, then turned again to look Randall over as he didn't look any happier. In fact his head had dropped lower. "I just still feel like I failed her by not being able to save her."

 

            "Dude, if she couldn't save herself, what makes you think You could have done anything more? She had the power of an avatar of Chaos. You can't wield much more than that and Not fry. Really, what could you have done?" He stared intently at Randall, as if hoping he Would come up with an answer.

 

            Randall couldn't come up with one and remained sullen as Draco, one of Drac’s sons and bearing much of his father’s image, much to the confusion of most resident mutants; made his way into the kitchen for a cup of coffee. Normally his breakfast would have been ale, but the new beverage the mutants had brought with them had become the drink of choice, much more flavorful than the roasted chicory that was occasionally served. Draco did wonder where BS was getting his supply as he had never seen coffee beans in their open air marketplace.

 

 

 

 

            Aurora was sprawled on the lawn, all four feet in the hair when Saarith approached. One eye opened slowly when he was within range but she didn't show any stress, just a bemused irritation. On closer examination, he noticed that what had appeared to be a blue eye was in fact not. There was no dominant color at all. There seemed to be a flurry of grey, brown, blue, and green that swirled and flowed around the iris. "Yes?" she asked as if mildly disturbed.

 

            "Just wondering," he mused aloud. Actually he and a few of the observing guards had been concerned. They had been watching her stomach roll and curl by it's lonesome as she warmed herself in the sun. Saarith thought it was a sign of pre-labor prep, especially when her side rippled as she stretched.

 

            If she was, there was little other sign. "So, what's the betting pool at?" she snorted.

 

            "Excuse me?" he asked, pulling his gaze from her stomach to her furry face.

 

            "Betting pool. Surely they're anticipating when I'll pop. What's the odds-on-favorite?"

 

            He shrugged. “I honestly have no idea what you are talking about. I’ve not heard of any bets being placed.”

 

            “Really,” and the dragon rolled over to her chest, the bulk of her stomach lagging behind. Saarith was now sure that she was more dog, or horse, than dragon; especially after she stood up and shook herself free of the clinging grass stick to her side. If it weren’t for the wings and the oversized canines, he would have mistaken her for a very large, long, white wolfhound. “I keep forgetting that such things are too ‘vulgar’ for you all.”

 

            That dog impression was impressed on him further. Instead of gesturing with her fore feet, she had used her wings, more like the residual thumbs on the first knuckle of the wing, to draw the quotation marks in the air. In dragon form, she was more quadrapedal, and more calm.

 

            As the great white beast regained her footing, that unexpected enigma Dusk trudged by. She was toting a black leather doctor’s bag, heavily patched on the corners. She held out in from of her on a 4 ft broomstick an old bronze lantern that emitted an eerie green light that made Saarith’s skin crawl. Aurora had the sense to hang back and let Dusk walk on by before heading towards a different door. She heard the murmurs from the kitchen, but thought better and turned to the basement, leaving Saarith at the top of the staircase. He has escorted her along the short way, but felt that he surely didn’t belong in her inner sanctum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            As Draco sipped at the dark bitter brew, in came Nine’s offspring, Emma and Justin. The younger brother clung to Emma’s pink frock while the older sibling paused at the doorway to glare at the Vashtalian reptile before pulling a chair from the table and over to the cupboards. She stood on the chair precariously while pulling down two wooden bowls and matching spoons, then a box of commercial cereal (Brimstone seemed to keep the stores well stocked somehow with off-world food. How he did it was anyone’s guess). She got down from the chair and tugged at the icebox, needing three tries to open the door to retrieve the gallon of milk. The room watches as she wobbled over to the table, spilling the milk in small amounts only, her brother lapping up the mess behind her. Finally she had all the trappings of breakfast assembled, then pulled out a chair for her brother, using several thick cutting boards to boost him high enough for the table before taking a seat herself.

 

            No one attempted to help her. No one dared. Only Randall offered a greeting. “Hi kids.”

 

            Emma didn’t even look up from her bowl. Justin did, giving Randall a cereal coated grin. In fact it seemed the toddler was trying to absorb the breakfast through every possible orifice on his face. His ears, nose, hair, and even eyes were coated in a sugar- milk coating within five minutes. Emma took a napkin and occasionally wiped him down, but it was a futile attempt to keep him clean for any length of time.

 

            As everyone stared at the kids, Lyra paused at the doorway, her gaze on Randall, seeing that the scientist was still way down in the dumps. She walked across the room and draped an arm across his shoulders and gave him a well- needed hug. “How are you doing?” she asked, even as Emma squinted at her.

 

            The scientist sighed. “Just trying to deal with things as best as I can,” he lied badly.

 

            She leaned in further. “There are people that would love to help you,” she smiled then reached out a hand to touch his, causing him to blush under her tender attentions. “I know you are dealing with this horribly.”

 

            “Is it that obvious?” he murmured back softly.

 

            Lyra nodded. “It’s all right, Randall. Everyone has come across that path in their life. It doesn’t mean we give up living.”

 

            “But I could have done more. I know I could have.”

 

 

            Fafnir walked up to the castle slowly, not wanting to encounter that crazy female again. Even though he knew better, he normally enjoyed pushing females to the brink of frustration and watching them fall over the edge. This one, however, seemed to already be over the edge and was quite willing to drag anyone within arm’s reach over with her. No, he didn’t care for those females with an over active mothering instinct; much less men who carry that trait. He sighed, wanting to be back at sea, not trudging his way up to the oversized domicile, but it couldn’t be helped. He paused when he entered the main hall, taking a few sniffs of the air. “Damn female,” he grumbled, then turned away from where Aurora had been, heading to the kitchen and into the conversation inside.

 

            “You didn’t fail if you leaned from it.” Lyra was insisting, giving Randall another hug of his shoulders as she leaned against his chair.

 

            “Besides,” Jason added. “If nine was still alive, she’d be beating your ass for being so down.”

 

            “Nine.” This was echoed by Emma, mimicked pitch-perfect tone. She still hadn’t looked up from her meal. She was just sitting, swinging her feet to some internal rhythm.

 

            Randall had turned, staring at Nine’s offspring, since it was the first non-Del Marian word she had spoke since arriving at the castle. Draco chose to ignore the child, not wanting to scare her from what looked to be progress. “Randall, don’t you think it’s time for you to move on and quit feeling sorry for yourself?”

 

            “Oh let him mope,” Jason replied. “Besides, once the others catch word of this, there will be no peace for him.”

 

            Fafnir was finally able to grab Draco by the shoulder. “Do you have any soothsayers in residence?” he asked. “I kind of need one of those mind people.”

 

            Jason looked up. “We’re a bit short of brain power right now,” he snorted as if this were some sort of inside joke.

 

            But Fafnir wasn’t in a joking mood. “Go fuck yerself,” he snarled.

 

            Jason pulled himself up as if insulted. “Boy, what a nice fellow,” he coughed with indignation as he grabbed himself a cup of coffee. “If you’ll excuse me,” he puffed, inflating his cheeks with the effort before slipping from the kitchen, giving Fafnir an indignant glare. "I have to go see if I can pry Estor from that damn video game."

 

            "Yes," Draco chuckled. "Let the mate get killed. I'm not stepping down into that one."

 

            Randall sighed. "Well I can't help her. About all I can do is monitor her vitals, but aside from that there isn't much more we can do. To be honest, she may want to be alone for this."

 

 

 

            Jason was pounding away on Estor's door, trying to get his attention over the pings and loud noises of the video game. Aerich stumbled onto the scene. "What is all the shouting about?" he asked, a bit irate at the volume not just outside, but coming from inside the room.

 

            "El Presidente is in labor. I'm trying to rouse the trouble that caused it. Somebody's gotta baby-sit her."

            "Hrm?" this from Estor whom had finally answered the door, though he reluctantly turned down the volume so he could hear. "Whose in labor?"

 

            "Your chick. You wanna come down to the basement and check on her? You're probably the only one she won't kill outright. At least I think she won't. I gotta head back to the kitchen and see if Randall's gonna get off his whiney duff and pitch in."

 

 

            Aurora on her fifth turn around the mound of shredded comforter paused when her husband tiptoed into the basement. She sighed, then flopped herself down. She was greatly uncomfortable, and a bit gassy, definitely not the same sensations and when she gave birth the last time. "They told you? How the heck did they know?"

 

            Estor gave one of his patented non-committal shrugs and sat down in one of the few chair still intact and not waterlogged by the high humidity of the room. "Dunno, they're silly like that." He gave a little smile. "So... more on the way, eh?"

 

            "Yeah, but they don't feel right. Maybe I'll clutch after all. I don't feel any arms or legs or wings or teeth poking me."

 

            He knelt down closer to her, slowly dragging his hand over her side. "Eggs? Its been a while since I've seen any of those, but I guess it's a possibility. It would explain this nest-y thing you've gone through."

 

            "Well I ain't no spring chicken anymore.. even in this body."

 

            "Spring chicken?" Estor hiccupped. "Bah! I'm like thousands of years old and all that. You so totally don't get to play the 'I've seen too many summers' game.."

 

            "But you Live for thousands of years and my kind don't even...." her sentence was cut short as she winced a bit, the muscles rolling on her left side, then relaxing. She looked up at Estor. "That was a twang," she announced as she settled down to a long night.

 

 

 

 

            Megan’s in-flight movie consisted of watching the terrain rolling underneath her as they flew dragon-back to the land of Kelinkia. She did not have the genetic ability to change from dragon to human. For the short time she had to, she had to use a combination of drugs and mechanical devices to hold the reptilian shape. But that had been almost a whole lifetime ago and it had been decades since she had been on the wing. This trip brought back the memory strong, one of the few things she Did enjoy when she had her winged shape was to fly.

 

            Her revival was short lived as the dragons finally landed in the large courtyard of the royal dignitaries. Megan slid off Drac’s back, finding herself a bit saddle sore, especially since she hadn’t used a saddle. She leaned to the side, her belly making the movement a bit more daunting, but was able to pop her back.

 

            She paused when the welcoming crew showed. A small gathering of people in various robes of state filed out from a small alcove to the left of their landing spot. The lead person, a small woman, bowed slightly in front of the crew, even as Dracon and his kin retracted down into their human guises. "Greetings, Visitors form the Ancient Vashtalia, Welcome to Kelinkia. We've been expecting you. I am Labena, one of the leading researchers here."

 

            Drac bowed back to the lady. "And I am Dracon, Fourth King of Vashtalia. I am grateful that your leader has granted us permission to pursue our own quest for knowledge in your land. The gold dragon next to me is Lord Clawrift. Next to him would be Brimstone and the Lady Melissa. The lady in question would be this one." He even dared to grab Megan by the shoulders and pull her forward as she had hung back and was shifting nervously from foot to foot, looking everywhere but at the welcoming committee. "Megan. She is the one in need of your knowledge on Golems and chimeras, especially in their conception and birth."

 

            Megan shrugged, shaking herself free of Drac's loose grip before extending a hand out to Labena in common greeting. "Thanks for lending us a hand." She looked over her shoulder watching as Brimstone gathered up their gear. "Can I assume that Drac more or less 'warned' you about me and my kin? 'Cause if not, I apologize now for anything we may do during our stay that will offend you."

 

            "Yes he has. Now if you all will follow me, we will get transport to our main labs and data archives so we can answer your questions."

 

            BS took up point with Labena, giving her his most charming smile when she looked in his direction, even as he hefted most of the gear. Megan followed, taking not only her bag but two of the one-time cyborg's as well, finding them quite heavy. "Jeez, Tin Head. You movin' in or what?"

 

            Brimstone looked over his shoulder. "Well I figured they wouldn't have the same setup we do. I just brought the basic hardware, power source, and data files. So why don't you just hush and enjoy the scenery for once?"

 

            "Oh you didn't just tell me to shut up, did you?"

 

            "Well Your the one flappin' yer yap.."

 

            If they hadn't been walking there was a good chance they would have thrown down their respective burdens and then thrown down on each other. At least that was what it appeared on the surface. Drac had noticed that there was no tension in their replies, and that they weren't even looking at each other. No this was a ploy, a rather fascinating insight into mutant communications; this being an example of misdirection for as they bickered their eyes darted around the place, noting building placement, guard locations, and defensive measures. This had to be the militant training in action.

 

            The group stopped in front of what would serve as their transportation. It had the boxy look of a horseless carriage, but no wheels. A hover car. Strange green light seemed to glow from the underbelly of the vehicle like uncontained neon, that set of a vibration that made BS's teeth tickle. "Magnetic?" he asked.

 

            "No," Labena corrected. "All of our machinery run on power drawn from mana energy."

 

            Drac hung back as BS examined the vehicle, peeking under the chassis, opening the front hood to examine how the car ran, with Labena pointing out various details. "Serenity. Melissa. If you two will accompany Megan and BS, Clawrift and I will visit the current leader of this realm."

 

            The girls nodded in agreement as Drac and Claw shifted back into their draconic forms and flew off, headed towards the big castle-like building to the south.

 

            For the most part, Megan and Brimstone behaved themselves on the hour long trip inside the hover car, save for a round of "I'm not touching you," which ended with Megan breaking BS's "non-touching" finger. "Why is it all women are so grumpy when they're preggers?" he asked, holding the finger straight, allowing it to green set.

 

            "You try being preggers for a year and a half and see how well Your temper holds out. I think I've been doing pretty good, despite the circumstances."

 

            The tour through the city almost made Megan homesick. There were mostly humans out on the town, but there were also many tails and wings and horns and fur bearing creatures. Where Megan's world was a clash of ideas, this one merged them. Thatched huts had florescent lighting emitting from the inside. Factories had magical wards embossed on their entranceways. Soon their hovercraft touched down in front of what looked to be a modern research and testing facility. People in business suits and lab coats moved freely through the front doors. BS unloaded the trunk and grabbed all the luggage, not so much to be chivalrous, but because Megan was already beginning to look pale. He feared that all the excitement may have worn her out too quickly. Flying dragon back in the upper colder atmosphere, plus her apprehensive nerves and excitement on dealing with a new people probably didn't help her situation much. They walked inside the spansive lobby; large healthy trees growing up through the foyer and spreading out into the third floor offices; then headed for the elevators. It was tight fit, especially uncomfortable with Melissa and her oversized wings, but they made do.

 

            They almost didn't make it. BS noticed Megan turning green by the second floor, and was pushing the button rapidly by the time the lift settled on the third floor. Labena just pointed down the hall and Megan bolted, moving surprisingly fast for somebody carrying an extra 75 lbs, but then again motivation was a good adrenaline rush. She emerged a few minutes later, a bit whiter, and a bit embarrassed, but less nauseous. With nothing further to delay them, Labena escorted them to their rooms.

 

            Megan was instantly comfortable in her room, finding the accommodations lush and modern and new, all things she had sorely missed. Serenity wasn't as comfortable as she continuously paced. She had straightened up the end table for the third time when Megan, nestled in the soft bed and quilted comforter, finally had to say something. "You don't need to do that. Besides shouldn't you be cross referencing research data with Buckethead and company? You ARE the healer."

 

            Serenity completed another lap in the room. "They are not ready yet. The lab techs will wait a bit before relaying the current data, probably after your Brimstone had run his own preliminary tests for compatibility."

 

            "So in the meantime, you're my baby-sitter, ain't ya."

 

            She had to nod. There was no denying it at this point. She watched as Megan's gaze drifted from her to the ceiling. "What if they can't find an answer?" she finally sighed.

 

            "Then we'll just have to look somewhere else."

 

            "Friggin optimist." But Megan did have a slight smile on her face.

 

 

 

 

            Brimstone had more or less claimed a third of the lab for his own, already having plugged in many of his gadgets into the walls, finding that very little was needed to correct the current so that his hard drives wouldn't fry. It took him several tries before he was able to log onto his systems, all performed under the watchful eye of Melissa. He sighed as he dusted off his hands. "You know, I'm surprised youse guys didn't develop along the same lines as these folks."

 

            "I'm not," she answered even as she looked over his shoulder, looking at the mesmerizing waving lights against a black background; something he had called a 'screen saver.' "We never had the need to advance our technology. Besides, the supplies for this kind of thing are hard to come by."

 

            Brimstone had found it surprisingly simple to integrate the systems. In fact it irked him somewhat that something so simple as converting magic to energy had eluded the Del Marian breed, even when they moved their operations off the planet that had cursed them so. He paused, noticing that Melissa had froze, tilting her head slightly as if listening. And she was. Brimstone could recognize the mental chattering buzz, but somehow seemed to be off the wavelength Drac used to communicate with his court. He didn't ask what the Vashtalian lord had said. Instead he stood up and wiped his hands on a rag, even as she turned to head into the hallway, gesturing for the mutant to follow.

 

            The soon arrived at Megan's door, which Melissa rapped her knuckles against. "Come in," Megan shouted. "We're decent. Almost."

 

            BS opened the door wide for Melissa, allowing extra berth for the woman's angelic wings. The Vashtalian guard bowed at the room's inhabitants. "It would seem that Lord Keliken would wish us to join him for dinner tonight. Lord Dracon and Clawrift are already there awaiting our arrival."

 

            "Good, I need a bite to eat." Megan nudged Serenity, whom had finally settled down on her bed, just for a moment to rest, and had drifted off to sleep. "C'mon, Sleeping Beauty," Megan insisted. "Chow time."

 

            The priestess sat up in her bed and rubbed her eyes. "Dinner time already?"

 

            "Yes," Melissa nodded, then looked at the trio. "This is relatively formal dinner so you have time to change if you wish."

 

            As Serenity grabbed her case and headed into the bathroom, Megan and BS looked at each other. Apparently that hadn't crossed either of their minds when packing. "Did you bring a tux?" Megan asked.

 

            "No. You bring any formal wear?"

 

            "No."

 

            "Just wear your best clothes then."

 

            Again the duo looked to each other. Apparently when they were wearing Was the best they had. Serenity had emerged wearing her priestly white robes trimmed with gold, making the duo even more self-conscious but unable to do anything about it. So Megan in her plain brown shift and tattered blue cape; and brimstone in his oversized trench coat at abused Stetson hat, started off down the hall behind their escorts. Megan leaned into her uncle. ".. whadaya think?" she whispered.

 

            "...promising enough..." BS murmured back.

 

            They met up with Drac and Claw just outside the main chamber. "Did you all have enough time to settle into you rooms?" he asked.

 

            "Yeah," BS replied, even as Megan was too busy taking in the architecture to pay any attention to the conversation. "We're all plugged in, up, and running. I really should be printing out hard copies for these folks to gander at; not... well.. socializing; though I should have expected this."

 

            The dining room was fairly small and there wee only two people in attendance. Drac handled the introductions. "Lord Keliken, I would like you to meet the ladies Serenity, Melissa, Megan and Lord Brimstone."

 

            Melissa bowed her head first. "I am Lady Melissa Draghkar, Royal Dragoon and Commander of the Vashtalian Royal Army."

 

            Serenity followed suit. "Please to meet you Lord Keliken. "I am Lady Serenity, High Priestess of Vashtalia."

 

            Megan was surprisingly gracious with her bow, though her stomach limited the gesture. "I... erm.. am Ambassador Megan Ray Dannon." She blushed horribly. It had been years since she used the title, and usually it was for intimidation. Not for social circles.

 

            After Megan nudged BS several times, he finally dipped his head. "Brimstone," he stated, then hesitated again. "I guess I'm.. science officer?" He looked to Megan, whom nodded approval. Sure BS could have told the man he was the current ruling Patriarch of the Del Marian mutant clan, but nobody with any brains would willing admit to the title. 'Science officer' was safer.

 

            Their host bowed as well. "Greetings, all of you. I am Lord Keliken, Ducal ruler of this land Kelinkia. The man seated to my right in my chief scientist Dr, Stephen Relinia. Now, please; everyone sit."

 

            BS helped Megan into her chair, then pulled out a seat for Melissa. Megan had to comment. "Whadaya know, the Tin Can has manners."

 

            He smiled back. "Of course I do. I'm just particular as to who I show them to. I want to Try and make a good impression." This whole exchange had been spoken aloud, but neither mutant was going to hide behind formality. It wasn't their style. BS had nodded, then sat down and turned to his host as if the man hadn't heard the entire exchange, and gave him a pleasant disarming smile as if they didn't have a clue. At least they had enough restraint not to plunge into the food, though then roasted meat and stewed vegetables were quite palatable.

 

            BS ventured into the conversation first. "So, youse guys use magic as your Power base. What kind works best? Dark? Light? Ethereal? Or does it all generate the same wattage?"

 

            The scientist Stephen was eager to answer. "All magic comes for the same mana initially, so it doesn't really matter." He now turned to Megan. "Now I'd like to ask you a question. Exactly what is it that we need to do?"

 

            Megan patted the corners of her lip with the linen napkin. She kept her eyes averted, staring down at the plate. "I need to make sure this baby is okay. It's my first viable one, but things are developing askew."

 

            BS interjected. "It seems the whelp has lined the uterine wall with lead. We can't get a solid ultra sound and I don't dare try sticking a needle in there for amniocentesis."

 

            Now Keliken nodded. He was nothing more than human and nothing striking. He was fairly handsome with a chiseled jaw line and soft brown eyes that matched his locks, yet he had a commanding way about him. He kept his gaze on Megan. "So you came here because we have the technology to successfully scan a case like this, correct?"

 

            "Or at least give us a few ideas on how to proceed," Megan amended. "The father's parentage is a bit.. foreign.. to us."

 

            "Way foreign," BS added. "I told you we would have been better off with the cat guy."

 

            Their host wasn't sure what the comment was about, but sure it didn't warrant the vicious glare she gave her science officer. "I'm afraid that we lack the necessary power cells at this time to perform the procedure, unless Lord Dracon brought some mana cells with him."

 

            Drac shook his head. "Unfortunately no. There were several being prepped for you next shipment, but they will not be completed for several days."

 

 

            BS kept to the subject at heart. "You've gone over the stats, right? You Have come across something like this before, right?"

 

            Keliken had to chuckle, seeing what Drac found so amusing about these strange people. "Not ones for idleness, are you? Yes, we've done a preliminary search through our archives and have found a few potential possibilities. I would prefer we scan your lady to ascertain what we are dealing with. We can only use our technology for we lack the spell knowledge to perform many of these incantations we found."

 

            "That's alright. Spells aren't high up on our favorite things to play with list. Maybe we can find a way to shoehorn your procedures into her system."

 

            "I'm not a guinea pig," Megan protested.

 

            "There Is one thing we can rig. Lord Claw. Lord Dracon. Since you two are dragons, this particular procedure will involve one of you. We can use one of you as a replacement power cell."

 

            "This isn't dangerous to him is?" Megan asked. "I mean I don't need the big Kahuna frying himself if things go wrong."

 

            "Which is more likely than not," Brimstone added with a growl. "Drac? Didn't you warn them about magic and us?"

 

            "We have many fail safes built into the system, " Keliken assured them. "We have three mana filters from the chamber into the generator receptor to comb out any spikes. By the time that energy gets anywhere near either of you, it is no longer magical in definition. Surely you noticed that when you plugged in your machinery?"

 

            Brimstone thought a moment. "Ya know, now that I think about it, I didn't even get shocked when the prongs bent in the socket for the monitor."

 

            Keliken continued. "What I propose we do is an astral scan on Megan's child."

 

            That spun both mutants' heads around. "Astral scan?" BS echoed. "Oh no. That's out of our league. That would be the child's father's gig, if he wasn't in La-La land all the time." He looked to Megan and saw the very sour face.

 

            Serenity leaned in to Megan's ear. "Which reminds me, we really should focus on trying to get your man's memory back when we return."

 

            "We're already working on that," Megan whispered back quietly.

 

            "But he's been that way for far too long," Serenity insisted, becoming a bit worked up that Megan didn't seem as upset by the current situation surrounding her mate. "If something isn't done soon, he may well stay that way."

 

            Megan's gaze rolled to the priestess. "Dusk is working on the problem. That's one of the reasons why I agreed to this field trip. I sure as hell didn't want to be anywhere near her while she's winging those spells around. Besides, there are a few other... problems.. that she's trying to incorporate into the whole deal. It's... complicated."

 

            Serenity would have protested further had Drac not placed an hand on her shoulder. He could see that it was not the best of situations for Megan and this was also weighing heavily on the mutant's mind. They would have to handle the problems one at a time. Drac spoke up. "The whole idea is to find out if the baby is healthy. Since we cannot get a physical scan, the astral one should give us an idea. If the astral form is healthy, the baby surely would be to."

 

            Bs didn't seem wholly convinced, but he nodded slowly. "So, do either of you two lizards have enough juice to run this project?"

 

            Claw almost puffed out his chest in pride. "We are full blooded dragons. We are creatures born from the mana flow."

 

            "Yes, I know that," BS countered. "But being a dragon doesn't mean you're bullet proof. And what we have in our blood can bite worse than a bullet."

 

            Drac had to nod at that one. "You're right. If it did, then Vashtalia would never have fallen the first time. Besides, this isn't a big magic spell. It is just a scan."

 

            Again BS nodded his head slowly. "Very well. When you guys wanna jump on this thing?" He looked to Megan, seeing that even if they were ready, she clearly wasn't. "How about fist thing in the morning. We all can use a good night's sleep." With agreeing nods, they broke. BS stood up and pulled out Megan's chair, who was almost distracted with inner thoughts to notice the gesture, then pulled out Melissa's chair so that she could mover her wings and not snag them. BS then offered to help Serenity as well, but paused to press something small into her hand then whispered in her ear. "In her drink tonight. She looks wiped." Serenity didn't look down to see what was handed. She could feel the two small tablets in her palm.

 

            The all filed out the door, BS once again being the gentleman and holding the door open for all the ladies. He fell into step with Melissa. "You going to be on guard tonight?"

 

            "Of course."

 

            "Then do me a favor. If she's restless, come get me. Trust me, I ain't getting any shut eye tonight."

 

            Melissa nodded. She also had noticed the haggard look on their subject.

 

            Megan had paused to shake Keliken's hand as they stood in the hallway. "Thanks. We'll take any help in this, provided you don't fry Drac's brain trying to kick start your scanners. I'll never hear the end of it otherwise."

 

            She did manage a wry smile which the ruler found almost charming.

 

 

            Megan seemed more at home in their temporary quarters than Serenity did. She cleaned up and washed down well enough, languishing in the shower, with hot water and electric lights to see by. This was plush compared to the hot wired mess BS had engineered in Drac's castle. "Style and taste, " she mused as she looked over the porcelain sink at what looked to be stainless steel faucets. But she couldn't keep her mind occupied for long and the worry began to seep back into her face, especially once she got into one of the twin beds. Serenity had taken up the second cot, clearly Megan's chaperone for the duration, but had drifted off to sleep once between the sheets and the fluffy comforter.

 

            The mutant never knew she had slipped off to sleep, thanks to the mickey Serenity had slipped into the glass of water on the nightstand. She was probably the only one that slept soundly. BS was pacing the halls bright and early and had already helped himself to some grub in one of the cafeterias. He had half his stuff up and running before the rest of the crew showed up to prep. "Well, we ready to electrocute her this morning?" he joked.

 

            Megan gave a wry smile again, wrapping her tattered cape. "I wish it was just an electrocution. I could deal with that. It's all this ethereal heebee jeebie stuff." She wiggled her fingers as if casting a spell of her own before falling in line behind Drac and BS as they moved down along the hallway, Melissa and Serenity taking up flank. Despite the robes found in the bathroom and the fresh offering of clothes, Megan preferred her own garments, not matter how ratty they appeared. She felt more comfortable, and calmer, in her own threads.

 

            Until BS made a bad joke. "You know, I can always try my hand at spell casting."

 

            "Don't you Dare!" Megan spat back. "You shouldn't even Joke about that!"

 

            "Easy.. easy.. I won't try nuthin' . Promise."

 

            But the mood had changed. Megan was clearly missed at whatever BS had hinted at. (Drac believed it might have been about that strange curse that BS had placed upon him. A curse that Drac wasn't exactly sure how it could work, since it was magical in nature. If he thought about it long enough, it gave him headaches) She didn't even respond when BS tried poking at her ribs to get her to lighten up.

 

            Finally they reached the main room where the machine laid in wait. At first look, it seemed to be a giant CAT scan unit, except the top swiveled away, allowing the patient to lay down inside. Keliken was already there, a lab coat over his robes of state as he helped get the machine up and running. Apparently his first love had been the sciences. BS dropped his duffle, then picked up the shoulders of Megan's cloak, allowing her to step out from under it. "Okay, let's strap her in."

 

            Megan climbed up the steps and wiggled her way onto the form fitting table inside the machine. The assisting doctor Stephen leaned over her, strapping her arms and legs into the holds, trying not to pinch her skin with the leather straps. Megan just closed her eyes, even as the scientist stepped away and the upper half of the metal plating rolled in over the top of her.

 

            BS heard the machine gear up, and could feel Megan tense. "Megan, breathe, dammit."

            "I Am breathing," she barked back.

            "Well breathe more or something. Relax a little." These were the times he hated being an empath as he found himself grinding his teeth and popped a stick of gum in his mouth to cushion the pressure on his molars. He looked to see Stephen talking with Drac over a video com. Drac had expanded into his red dragon form. Many electrodes and sensors were taped all over his body while a domed helmet was strapped to his skull. "That's one hell of a Playstation there. Is he grounded in there?"

 

            "He's fine," Stephen insisted. "All stuff is nothing more than a massive mana channeling unit were using in place of a power cell since we don't currently have one."

 

            "Well, lets convert away then." But BS took several steps back, much like a force of habit, to the table he had prepped. Not only were his gismos up and running, but he also had his fail safes, including a shotgun which he caressed fondly.

 

            The whole thing went off without a hitch. Not one burp in the system. Not one hiccup of a stray spark. The only think that ticked was a muscular twitch in Brimstone's face. The image on the scan was strange. Megan's astral presence was almost hollowed, her essence incased in a faint doubled shell. As for the tyke growing inside her, his aura glowed bright, painfully bright, causing onlookers to have to shield their eyes even from the image on the screen. He glowed like a sun, or a phoenix. Bs immediately questioned it all. No; Junior was Not sucking Megan's soul, though surely the hollowing of her field had to have some connection, but Junior's aura was completely his own, even resonating in a different wavelength from his mother's. "No wonder she's got a lead coating in her gut," Brimstone breathed quietly awed by the vision. "She's developed internal shielding to keep him from scorching us."

 

            Claw didn't bother to mention that the aura they were looking at would not physically harm them, but he couldn't deny the power she contained within. Junior was in a category all his own as he, nor anyone in that room, had ever seen such a thing. "I guess the kid's not evil. The machine would tell us that, right?"

 

            "So?" Megan yelled from the confines of the scanner as she couldn't see from her position. "Is everything okay?"

 

            "Yes, everything is fine," Claw assured her. "You can get out of there now."

 

            It took a few minutes to uncouple the power links, free Drac from his generating chamber, then unstrap Megan from the machine. Brimstone packed away his weaponry but rolled his eye over the machine. "You know, with the right equipment and a little fine tuning.... you all mind if I tinker with this for a little? Maybe we can get the scanner to give us a more definitive picture if we can narrow down the bandwidth."

 

            "Be my guest," Keliken offered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Jason paced at the head of the staircase, craning his neck, trying to peer down into the dank basement. Two things stopped him. One was the guard Aerich had stationed at the top of the staircase to keep not only Jason but everyone else out of the basement. The second was the creature in the basement. Aurora had chosen Brimstone's quarters to nest in. Jason knew all too well just how moody a Del Marian mutant can get, and this was the Queen mutant. But still he was curious, and a bit worried.

 

            Fafnir strolled past the guarded doorway. He'd been slightly curious that the crazy female could cause this much hubub without doing much, and he snorted, seeing Jason fret. "Lose yer puppy?" he scoffed.

 

            Jason only looked up briefly at the tall gruff man. "No, nothing so drastic. Her Royal Pain-in-the-Butt is in labor."

 

            "Ah, the Queen of the Damned. I can put her out of her misery, if you so desire."

 

            The human holdout did pause, but only for a moment. "Naw. Let me enjoy her pain for a while longer. I get so few opportunities nowadays. Besides, you might get Drac all pissy, and that's no fun when your living under his roof."

 

            Fafnir smirked. "Well I don't live here, so it's no problem." He turned to look the guards over. "Remember when most of there were nothing more than pups."

 

            "Funny," Jason noted. "They don't look like dogs."

 

            Jason kept behind Fafnir as the big man sauntered up to the first guard; whom in this case was Aerich. Perhaps the Vashtalian Lord knew that trouble was brewing and preferred to meet it head on. "Regardless as to whether you knew us back then or not, Milord; you may not enter this area without permission of those within. Violation of this can and will result in your destruction."

 

            Fafnir merely snarled. "Careful who you offer death to. They just might take you up on it."

 

            The big man's shadow didn't bother to point out that the destruction probably would have come from Aurora, not from those that guarded her lair, but he kept his mouth shut. As it was, it appeared that Fafnir was not truly interested in causing a confrontation. "I found Alix," Fafnir muttered, changing the subject abruptly. "She got better, but now she's in a coma. I figure she'll get over it. I just need some medicine anyhow."

 

            The man lumbered off, leaving Jason behind. "Yeesh," he complained. And I though BS had the corner market on broody.

 

            "Such blatant disrespect," Aerich complained.

 

            Jason only smiled. "Well, you know kids these days, listening to that damn music, wearing those penny loafers..." He clearly was just rattling away even as he craned his neck trying to get a peek down into the dark basement. there had been several growls and guttural barks as they were chatting.

 

            Aerich wasn't fooled. "If you take one more step into that stairwell, you will no longer have a foot.

 

            The one time millionaire looked up at Aerich. "I would think you would rather have me go down there to meet my doom and all. I AM the current bad guy nowadays, don'tcha know."

 

            "You're... tolerable. Besides, you're one of us now, just like the rest of them. I would hate to have to harm you because you did something stupid."

 

            "Really? You should remind Megan of that every now and then."