Unlikely Endorsement

Chapter 1

Red Dragon was almost used to her new life and form. She had reviled both of these things since her accident, where her life had completely changed, and she had become a hybrid. However, she had adapted to them, first out of necessity, and then because they no longer seemed strange. It was true that her new life was a lot more regimented and out of her control than it had been. The person who now controlled her life was the Headmaster, and the only time she now had to herself was when she slept. In any other circumstance she might have resented not being able to do what she wanted, but now she was grateful that she didn't have to worry about her needs any longer. She didn't have to wonder about where she would find a safe place to sleep and live, and where her next meal would come from. All of this was provided in the Headmaster's laboratory, and she was well aware that she would have struggled greatly on her own.

Strangely, she felt safe with the Headmaster, a description that others would find very hard to equate with the emotionless, cold man who was now her sole guardian. It was true that he was very strict, almost insanely so, and was quick to punish when she broke his rules, no matter what justification she might try to offer in an attempt to placate him. There had been a number of occasions where her room had become her prison, or she had been sent to bed with a sore bottom after breaking his most serious rules. However, even though he was so strict and cold, he acted in ways which dispelled any fears she might experience about him.

He had not turned against her after the accident, as the people she had known before her accident had done. Indeed, he had almost seemed excited that she had become an entirely new species. He had created a fair deal between the two of them, where each of them received what they wanted and needed from the other party, and Red Dragon was provided with a clearly defined set of rules, so she knew exactly what to avoid doing. She knew that it was down to her own actions whether she was punished or not, and the Headmaster always made sure to inform her of which rule she had broken before any sort of punishment occurred. The last thing which made her so fiercely loyal towards him was that he would comfort her when it was clear that whichever situation she was in could not be resolved any other way. Whether she was unable to cease her crying after a punishment, or she was destroying the area around her in a fit of rage that was too strong for the training room, the sensation of the Headmaster's stiff and awkward embrace was enough to stop her crying or calm her wild raging.

All of these contemplations about the way she felt around the Headmaster flew through Red Dragon's mind in a flash. The reason her thoughts had jumped to that particular subject had to do with what the Headmaster had just finished outlining to her. He had summoned her to his office through a whitecoat, just as she was finishing lunch, which made her apprehensive to begin with because she always assisted him with inputting data in his laboratory after lunch. As she accompanied the whitecoat, Red Dragon had rapidly scanned through the list of rules she had to follow in her head, finally dismissing them when she could not remember having broken any of them lately. When she entered his office, the Headmaster outlined what would happen shortly, the bulk of which caused her to struggle not to gape at him in fear and horror. The Headmaster would shortly be leaving his laboratory for two and a half weeks, to handle a distant aspect of his plans which could not be handled by anyone else. For the first time since her accident, the Headmaster would not be present.

While she had done her best not to let any emotion show on her face, something caught the Headmaster's attention, as he moved closer to her, studying her carefully. Finally, he stated:

"Something in what I have just said has caused a negative effect on you. Inform me what it is."

Red Dragon dropped her eyes at this, not wanting to see the Headmaster's expression when she outlined what was wrong, as he would likely count it as irrelevant and dismiss her concerns. Finally, she dropped her head as well, muttering her fears to the floor reluctantly.

"I won't feel...safe... if you will be gone from the laboratory. What happens if people get in wanting to hurt me and overcome the staff? You wouldn't be there to stop them."

There was silence from the Headmaster at the end of Red Dragon's muffled explanation, so long a silence that she began to feel worried and swallowed nervously. What broke the tense silence wasn't a sound, but an action. Red Dragon felt the Headmaster's large, cold hand rest against her neck, before cupping her chin and firmly tilting her head upwards until she was looking him in the eyes once again. Even though such an action was an indication of his power over her, it was also comforting in a way, as the gesture was so familiar. As if to reassure Red Dragon that he would not dismiss her fears, the Headmaster moved his hand until it was resting solidly on her shoulder, squeezing lightly. Then he at last responded to what Red Dragon had just told him.

"I am pleased that you are taking your own safety seriously at last. It is very doubtful that anyone seeking to harm you would be able to bypass my staff; I increased the security measures greatly after you were shot. However, why do you believe that I would be able to stop them anymore effectively than my security personal?"

As Red Dragon was wearing her dark glasses, the Headmaster was not aware that she was staring at him dubiously; it was only by the tone of her voice that he was able to detect her amazement at his reply, and her scorn for not recognising what was simple to her.

"Because you can hypnotise them! Once they catch a glimpse of your eyes they're done for, you don't even have to be in the room either. That's why you can stop them better."

The Headmaster was well aware, even though his charge had not said so, that she thought him an idiot for not realising what she had meant. He did not like what she was implying at all. His hand tightened slightly on her shoulder, as he hissed warningly:

"Just because I do not follow the same thought processes as you, does not mean that I am in any way the fool that you are implying me to be. I am willing to put up with things from you that I will not allow others to get away with, but you, my girl, are pushing it by insulting my intelligence. I advise you to stop doing so immediately, unless you want to feel the flat of my hand on your backside. Am I understood?"

In a voice that was slightly strangled with alarm and fear, Red Dragon managed to squeak out "Yes, Sir", while wishing that she had masked her scorn at the Headmaster's failure to know what she had meant. She vowed silently never to insult his intelligence again, unless he specifically ordered her to do so to maintain her deceptions against SPLAT. For the Headmaster to threaten to spank her if she did so again implied that he was taking this issue very seriously, as he only spanked her for her most severe infractions. Since he knew that Red Dragon would heed his warning, the only one he would give her, the Headmaster decided he no longer needed to be so severe. Consequently, the grip on her shoulder lightened somewhat, and the Headmaster decided to address the issue she had just raised.

"Even just the increased security is enough to keep anyone out, and all of my staff is programmed to protect you at the slightest threat, even those who are not Security personal. Does that satisfy you?"

Red Dragon was slightly taken aback by what the Headmaster had just revealed, as she had not known that all of the whitecoats would protect her. She had guessed Security would do so, as that was their function, but she had not imagined that the rest would do so too. All of this was for her benefit, the Headmaster had not needed to add these extra orders, but he had done so. Red Dragon was very touched that he would put so much effort into keeping her safe, even if he was not around. She gave a relived smile, instead of a verbal confirmation, as she did not want the Headmaster to hear the emotion still in her voice after what had just occurred. Luckily, the Headmaster was not as strict with her about verbal answers as he was with others, and appeared to let the entire matter drop. Glancing quickly at his watch, he ordered:

"Come! There is a great deal of work to do this afternoon."

Placing an arm about her shoulders, the Headmaster steered her bodily from his office, as Red Dragon appeared slightly stunned at the abrupt change in focus.

Only three days later, the Headmaster was preparing to depart from his laboratory, and was giving last minute orders to Red Dragon. He had to admit that he too was having reservations about leaving Red Dragon behind, away from his supervision. For reasons he had not yet fathomed, she was always much calmer if she knew that he was close by, and he was concerned that something unexpected might happen which his staff were unable to deal with. The Headmaster was soon to learn that his concern had not been unfounded, but not in the way he had expected. He was standing by the main doors, his car and driver waiting for him outside. Red Dragon was patiently listening to the Headmaster's orders, still wishing he was not leaving, even though she had not said such a thing aloud.

"You are aware of the work that you are assigned, and I have left detailed instructions on what needs to be done before my return. I am trusting you to finish your work without my supervision, if I find you have not done so for any other reason than illness or injury, I shall be very angry. I am still expecting you to follow the rules, and again I am trusting you to do so without my direct supervision."

At this point the Headmaster leaned forward, placing his hands on her shoulders so that she would focus completely on him, and what he would say next.

"Should you deliberately break the rules while I am away, then you will receive double the usual punishment on my return. Once more, I shall be very angry with you if I return and discover that you will only behave yourself when I am in the building. I want to know that I can leave you to your own devices, and that you will still behave when I am gone. I will not be repeating myself, as I must leave now, but I hope you understand the implications of what I have told you. I shall see you soon."

With these parting words, the Headmaster squeezed her shoulders slightly, in what might have been a gesture of farewell, and then released her, moving out of the main doors and into his car without a backward glance. Red Dragon stood staring worriedly out of the main doors until a whitecoat tugged on her arm. She turned, and followed the whitecoat towards the main laboratory.