Chapter One - New Dawn Rising
Angel Grove
Year 2020
She awoke the same as she did each morning. Sunlight peered through the cracks of the dirty glass and trickled over her face. She groaned, turning on her side to shield her face from the light. The pound of her headache began to settle in, signaling the first signs of the hangover from last night. Her eyes pinched tightly closed as she tried to ignore the oncoming pain. Like every morning, however, her efforts prove to be in vain.
She returned to laying flat on her back. She stared blankly at the ceiling above her. She was thankful that the space in the bed next to her was empty. At least no one had come home with her the night before. That in itself was a blessing.
Ten minutes passed and she finally forced herself up. She sat at the edge of the bed for a moment, allowing the turning of her stomach to settle. The floor beneath her was hard and cold.
Aria Trainor stumbled her way into the washroom. The room itself consisted of little more than a bathtub, a washbasin and a poor excuse for a toilet. The latter being something that flushed only when it wanted to. The sad piece of glass that rested on the wall above the basin was dirty and cracked. Her reflection was distorted, but she saw what she needed. The deep circles under her bloodshot eyes. She grumbled slightly.
She ran her hand through her hair, pushing it to the left side, exposing the shaved side on her right. Her hair flopped back the second her hand pulled away. She tilted her head back in annoyance as she turned away from the mirror.
Her "apartment" was nothing to write home about. The bed was situated in the middle of the room, her wood stove at the edge of the room. She crossed the room for the empty bin propped near the stove. She picked it up and stepped outside, her eyes squinting at the sun.
Despite the shining sun, the world outside felt as though it were covered in a thick cloud of dust. The haze of the day wore heavy on Aria's skin. She grumbled softly as she crossed the brown and crispy grass of the field to the water pump that stood waiting for her. The pump was old, traces of rust beginning to spread across the iron surface.
She filled her basin, the water slowly pouring from the spout. The breeze was hot as it danced across her face. Her arms began to ache from the pumping. No doubt her hangover tiring her muscles out so quickly.
She crossed the lawn back into the apartment and made her way to her makeshift kitchen. The basin clanged as she placed it atop her stove, striking a match to light the flame. Her mother and father told her of a time before all this, one where you didn't need to boil your own water for a bath. She seemed to have been born just fifteen years too late for that.
Ten minutes went by, heating the water to the perfect bath temperature for her. She scooped a tiny bit of the water out to douse the flame of the stove before removing the basin, carrying it with her to the bathroom and pouring it into the tub. She peeled away her clothes and slid down into the tub, letting the warm water ease her muscles. Aria closed her eyes, allowing herself this minor moment of peace.
The city of Angel Grove was nothing like what her parents had told her of its former glory. Buildings were run down, windows boarded up. The pavement of the streets was broken, patches of grass and weeds growing from beneath. And there was, of course, the constant police presence in the streets.
They wore sleek, black uniforms that were adorned with silver etching. Black helmets covered their heads, a pair of opaque black goggles covering their eyes. In their hands, the police carried heavy looking guns. Military grade weapons bestowed upon them by their benevolent rulers. Aria scoffed.
She stuffed her hands into the pockets of her battered leather jacket. She did her best to avoid any lingering eye contact with any of the police around her. She couldn't help but wonder if any of them had been at the academy with her. Just two years ago, that was her own dream. She learned quickly, however, that it wasn't for her.
Following the death of her mother, Aria Trainor enrolled herself in the academy. An injury had forced her out and opened her eyes. The militant lifestyle they were expected to live in, it made her stomach turn into knots.
As her memory flashed around her, she stopped paying attention to where she was walking. She didn't see the creature before her before it was too late. She collided with his back with a loud grunt. She went tumbling to the ground, landing flat on her bottom.
Goldar.
The golden armor-clad lieutenant of Lord Zedd's army. She stared at him, puzzled for a moment. He rarely made an appearance in the streets. What was he doing here? The ape-like warrior growled, his upper lip curling to reveal his sharp teeth.
"Watch where you're walking, girl," He snarled. He leaned down close to her face, his hot breath hitting her skin.
Aria cringed at the feeling of his breath and turned her head. "Back up, monkey," She mumbled under her breath.
"What did you say?" Goldar roared.
His hands lunged forward and grabbed at the collar of her jacket, instantly yanking Aria from the ground. With all his might, he slammed her against the wall and held her there. He leaned in close again, his upper lip curling in anger.
"Care to say that again, human?" His voice was laced with malice.
Aria grunted as she tried to fight back her emotions. A mix of fear and anger bubbled just under her skin. She could feel the color rushing to her cheeks. "Put me down," The words escaped as a low growl from her throat.
Goldar chuckled a low, raspy sound. His grip grew tighter as he pushed Aria harder into the wall. The smell of his breath made her stomach churn, reminding her of the hangover she hadn't fully recovered from yet. Aria felt her body begin to shake as she struggled to fight her way from his grasp. Goldar's right hand slipped from her jacket collar and inched towards her throat.
"Goldar!"
His voice cut through the air like a knife. Aria felt Goldar's grip loosening around her as he lowered her back to the ground. She felt the full force of the last of his frustration, Goldar pushing her down to the ground once more. Aria grunted as her palms hit the ground, scraping against the gravel.
She looked up, noticing the crowd that had begun to form around them. The look of terrified faces plastered on them. Standing directly in line with Goldar, one of the uniformed officers with his firearm held down at his side.
"Goldar," The officer spoke once more. "Stand down. This might not be wise for you."
Goldar's eyes narrowed into fiery slits. He growled at the officer before him. "Know your place, human."
"I don't think his excellency would approve of this. So I'll say it once more. Stand. Down."
Goldar snarled, exposing his yellow fangs. He advanced slightly. He then stopped himself, almost as if he noticed the gathering crowd for the first time. He lingered slightly. The switch in him was almost visible. He wasn't happy, but he knew what he had to do.
"Get back to your post," Goldar spat. His head tilted down to Aria still sitting on the ground. He said nothing.
The cracking sound of his wings snapping open echoed through the air. He roared into the air as he pushed off the ground, his massive wings flapping as he took flight. The officer watched as Goldar disappeared into sight. He clicked his tongue before snapping his head to face the crowd.
"Move along!" He shouted. "Nothing to see here."
The murmurs of the crowd trickled away as they began to disperse. He shook his head as he stepped towards Aria. "On your feet," He said to her.
She arched her brow slightly. Her lips pursed as she dusted her hands on her pants. She extended her right arm upward. "Little help here?"
The officer grumbled slightly, reluctantly reaching his own hand out. Aria felt his grip clasp around hers as he pulled her to her feet. "Thanks," She smirked.
"On your way," He commanded.
She gave him a small nod as she walked passed him. Her hand clutched tightly around the folded slip of paper in her hand.
The door creaked slightly as it pushed open. She made herself a mental note to remind him to do something about that. She laughed to herself, remembering a creaky door would be the least of his concerns.
The interior of the bar was nothing special. A thin layer of dust seemed to cover every surface. The cushions of the barstools were cracked and faded from time. The tables were covered in graffiti from long before he had come in to ownership. The sign outside of the building was falling off. Long ago the Angel Grove Youth Center was the local hangout for teens after their school day would come to an end. Now it was nothing more than a local watering hole. At least on the outside.
"Aria?"
His voice came from behind the bar. Nolan Lucero stepped out from the back room, drying his hands with a rag. He smiled at her. His brown eyes seemed to flicker when he saw her. It was something that she always noticed though she would never say anything to him. Better to not embarrass him. He was pretty much her only friend these days.
"Morning," She said as she crossed to the counter, pulling up a seat on the tattered bar stool.
"Morning?" He chuckled. "It's nearly noon."
Aria rolled her eyes. She fished through her jacket pocket, her hand closing around the beaten pack of cigarettes. She frowned slightly when she pulled it out. She had forgotten to grab her matches. She cursed under her breath.
"Here," Nolan said as he placed an ashtray before her. He produced a book of matches from beneath the bar.
"Thanks," She said, pulling a cigarette to her lips. She struck the match against the counter and lit the flame, lighting the tip of her cigarette. She inhaled deeply before puffing out a cloud of smoke.
"I saw your brother on my way here," She told him. "During my little run-in with the golden monkey."
"Goldar was out in the streets?" Nolan asked, his brow furrowed with concern. "He never comes out during the day. Not unless something's going on."
Aria shrugged as she took another pull of her cigarette. The smoke exhaled slowly through her lips and from her nostrils. "Got any whiskey? Or did I drink it all last night?"
Nolan smirked and pulled the glass bottle from beneath the bar. Her own special stash, as he liked to call it. He placed a pair of glasses beside the bottle and poured a drink for each of them. Aria took a final pull from the cigarette and smashed the butt into the ashtray. She took the glass in her hand and toasted him before downing her drink in one gulp. The warm liquid burned slightly as it traveled down her throat.
"Here," She said. She pulled the slip of paper from her jacket pocket and slid it across the bar. "Your brother gave me this. I assume it's for you."
Nolan smiled and took the paper from the bar. He quickly unfolded it, his eyes scanning over the hurried handwriting. His brother, Gage, never seemed to have the neatest of writing. But this was exceptionally bad. His eyes squinted as he read on. "Jesus," He muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes slightly.
"What's it say?" Aria asked. She reached for the bottle of whiskey and poured herself another drink, this one a bit more than Nolan had poured for her before.
He said nothing. Instead, Nolan folded the sheet of paper up once more and smiled. Aria held her glass at her lips for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly. Her gaze softened as a grin came across Nolan's face. "What?"
"We're on for tonight," Nolan said. "Gage said things are all good. So I hope you're ready."
Aria snorted out a chuckle. "Nolan," She said as she drew another cigarette from her pack. "You know I'm always ready."
She flicked the match once more and lit her cigarette in one swift motion. The match dropped lazily into the ashtray and she inhaled once more. She cracked the knuckles of her free hand. She groped for the glass she had just poured for herself. The slamming sound echoing through the building froze her mid grab.
The sound of the door slamming made Nolan's hair stand on end. Their eyes met for a moment and Aria gave him a slight nod. His hand crept downward beneath the bar. His fingers grazed against the cold metal. His hand curled around the handle of his pistol and he took a quick breath through his nose.
"Anyone here?"
Aria relaxed at the sound of the voice. A tiny smile curled over her face. Nolan breathed a sigh of relief as he came around the corner.
"Jesus Christ, dad," Aria shook her head. "You gave us both a heart attack."
"Me? Well, if not me, those things certainly will," He nodded at the lit cigarette in her hand.
Daniel Trainor smiled warmly at his daugher. He was a portly man with a kind face. Her father's weight gain had been steady in the years since her mother's passing. Aria fought the urge to frown when she got a good look at her father. His face was tired. Deep dark circles were forming under his eyes. Smudges of ash and dirt were swiped across his face from his work in the mines. His gray colored uniform was wrinkled and covered in caked on dirt.
Aria stamped her cigarette out in the ashtray and pushed herself up from the chair. She threw her arms around her father's neck, wrapping him in a big hug. "What are you doing here?"
Daniel chuckled. "Well, I stopped by your place and you weren't home. So I figured I'd swing by here next."
"Well," Nolan said. "You're lucky that we were still up here. This here says we're good to go for tonight."
With a smile, he motioned to the note from Gage sitting on the counter. Daniel's brow furrowed slightly. He inhaled slowly through his nose as what Nolan was saying registered in his brain. He eyed Aria cautiously.
"Are you going into the ring tonight?"
Aria offered up a half smile. "Dad," She said after a brief pause. "I have to. I could use the extra cash. Plus, my name came up at the end of the last match. It's only fair."
"You know I don't like this," Daniel's voice was laced with unease. "But I guess I don't have much of a choice in the matter."
He sighed heavily. "Listen, I've got something that I want to show you. But I need to go home and clean myself up first. I'll meet you back here before your match, I guess."
He leaned forward and kiss her lightly on her forehead. "Love you."
"Love you too, dad," Aria smiled warmly.
She watched him leave the bar. Her shoulders dropped slightly as the sound of the door closing came down the hallway. All at once, she could feel a knot tie in her stomach. Her eyes pinched shut as she lost herself in her thoughts. For a few moments, she couldn't even hear Nolan calling her name.
"What?" She finally said, snapping herself back into reality.
"I said, 'are you ready?'" Nolan smirked at her. "Did I interrupt something?"
She scoffed and rolled her eyes. Aria turned on her heels and made her way back to the bar. She grabbed her glass of whiskey and tilted back her head, gulping the liquid down in one sip. She slammed the glass down on the counter and wiped her lips with her sleeve.
"Lead the way."
Daniel Trainor slammed the door to his home behind him. He pressed his back against the door, his fingers fumbling to grab for the lock. As the lock clicked into place, he forced himself to catch his breath.
His walk home from the bar had grown quicker as he drew closer and closer. He was never one to be paranoid, but today proved to be something different for him. He couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. He pinched his eyes shut as he took in one last deep breath through his nose. He held it there for a few moments before exhaling from his mouth.
He was quick to move as he drew back the shades in his tiny makeshift kitchen. He fumbled through his pockets, saying a silent prayer that they were still there. Today's findings in the mine. Today's findings he was forced to hide. The reminder of what he had done brought an instant flood of anxiety and fear rushing back to him.
His hand closed around his prize. He held it there for a moment, feeling the weight. He exhaled a tiny sigh of relief. He pulled his hand from his pocket and dropped the contents against his counter. The clang of them hitting against the surface startled him. He quickly looked around, assuring himself that no one was in the house with him.
The five golden coins sat face-up on his counter. Each coin, inscribed with a different dinosaur.
Daniel had done it. He had found them. And now he had to make sure he kept them safe.