Back again like I promised. This fic won't be going anywhere... yet anyway. My new fic, Power Reluctant, isn't exactly breaking records, and it doesn't have a single review as of writing this, but WoF doesn't exactly have as big a fanbase on this site as RWBY. Still, if you like dragons, I suggest you check it out. Resistance and Power Reluctant will probably be on a 'whatever I feel like writing at the time' schedule.
Enough propping up my other fic and onto this one.
Everyone, listen! Halcyon yelled in his Rider's mind. Yang froze staring straight ahead with her mug of coffee halfway to her mouth. She saw her mom in a similar position out of the corner of her eye. Considering no one else at the bar said anything or moved, they had to be as well. Halcyon never sounded that intense unless something big was up and always deadly serious.
What's going on, Aeiou? Yang asked.
We just got a report from the Skirmishers in eastern Europe. They found an ADVENT facility in the abandoned city of Bialystok, Poland. They saw something they described as a 'giant winged lizard' strapped to a rail car. Yang took a deep breath through the nose and almost slammed her mug back on the bar. She heard shifting on the seats next to her but no words.
What color? Nalia asked.
That wasn't in the message, Halcyon said. Just that the dragon was struggling and 'seemed angry.'
Yang grimaced. That really narrows it down to all dragons that we know.
How long ago? Summer asked. Halcyon must have been acting as the bridge between people.
That just came in. The Commander hasn't opened it yet, but he's going to.
Summer marched out from behind the bar. Make sure he knows, and make sure he knows we are going out there. I'll decide the squad. Yang glanced at those still at the bar. Nalia, Aaron, and Dahlia. Nalia and Dahlia were well rested and ready to go. Aaron… he looked like he hadn't slept in a week, though it was only one night. With what he said about his Angel, that had to be expected.
And… Ruby? Aaron thought to the group.
Yang felt her mom's mood fall over the link. She might be in worse combat shape than you right now, Summer said. It was probably better Ruby didn't hear that and was in the bathroom. Both of you are grounded. The rest of you I think I'm feeling, I want you armed and armored up.
Don't need to tell me twice. Yang brought her coffee to her mouth and downed it in one gulp. "Let's go get 'em." She stood up and followed her mom out of the bar. Scraping chairs and footsteps trailed her. She felt Aaron's mind drop away. Hopefully he was smart enough not to tell Ruby about the exact nature of the mission until the Skyranger was away. Otherwise, Ruby would try to get herself onboard. Like Summer said, she was not ready for it.
The Skirmishers say what to expect? Dahlia asked, also through Halcyon.
Yes. I… he growled. I don't know who Summer's going to choose yet. I might ask Central to let me do the briefing. I know what to look for, he doesn't. Just need to get satellite data.
Yang blinked. You've got that?
I'm half AI now. I live faster than you. I need a hobby.
And you chose hacking ADVENT satellites?
Not ADVENT. Mainly pre-war United States, China, Russia, with a few others thrown in. Just working on masking certain signals.
Don't let the humans from here know, Nalia said. If they're anything like those on Remnant, they're terrified of the AI. For good reason too. Look at Julian down in engineering.
I still don't trust that guy. Halcyon paused. Summer made it to the bridge and the Commander's reading the message. We'll set him straight. He pulled his mind back and the faint feeling of Dahlia's mind disappeared as well.
"Any bets on who it is?" Dahlia asked.
"I don't know." Nalia sounded thoughtful. "It might be someone new. Why would they chain one of their own down?"
Yang looked over her shoulder at her two teammates. "Whoever took over one of you decided to try to join the Liberated?"
Dahlia gave a sideways nod. "That'll do it."
They reached the armory and grabbed their own weapons, much to the confusion of some of the ground crew. "Going somewhere?" one of them called.
"One of our own has been located." Nalia grabbed one of the laser rifles. She pointed it straight up, pulled the charging handle, and let it clank back. "We're going to go get 'em back." She let the gun fall to level and caught it.
Yang stared open mouthed at the Bio Viper. "Wow. You really aren't the Nalia I know."
Nalia shrugged. "I guess I absorbed my Ruby's love of movies."
The Avenger's intercom chirped to life. "Lieutenant Bob Davis and Lieutenant Elena Dragunova report to the armory for deployment," Central announced. Yang nodded to herself. Stealth and computers. Summer, unsurprisingly, knew what she was doing.
Firebrand walked around the front of the Skyranger and paused underneath the transport's left wing. "Central just called for two people. I thought we were going after the Assassin's base."
"We're going after one of us," Dahlia said as she grabbed her saw guns. "No way we were getting left out."
The pilot stared before shrugging. "If it's the Commander's idea, I don't care." She walked up the Skyranger's ramp without another word.
A few minutes later, the two Central called for and Summer entered the armory. Once they were geared up, Summer led the squad into the Skyranger. A few minutes after that they were in the air.
The screen on the bulkhead flashed and Halcyon's golden form appeared on screen. "Hello everyone, this is your friendly shipboard AI speaking." His mouth moved as he spoke, something Yang got used to seeing years ago. "I'll be taking over the briefing for this mission. Listen up because I'm only going to say this once."
Halcyon disappeared and an aerial view of an industrial trainyard appeared. New warehouses and cranes lined the rails while a train garage, or whatever the heck it was called, had all kinds of new ADVENT tech bolted onto it. Several dozen red dots appeared on the map.
"Oh gosh." Lieutenant Davis leaned forward. "Please tell me this is a supply run and those are targets."
"Unfortunately, no. Those are hostiles I've pinpointed via satellite." Halcyon growled through the speakers. "This might be the only mission that we have this advantage, so let's make use of it."
"Where is this place?" Dragunova asked. "What is this place?"
"This is, and pardon my pronunciation, an ADVENT facility in Bialystok, Poland. As far as we know, there are no civilians in the area, so no risk of hurting any there. As for why we're going to such a heavily defended place with just six of us…" Halcyon reappeared on the screen with teeth bared, "the Skirmishers who told us about this place said they saw a dragon being hauled inside while chained to a train car."
"A dragon." Davis raised his eyebrows. "Like your avatar? Or the one we saw in Munich?" Nalia hissed at the mention of her stolen body.
"Maybe," Yang said. "Two of the dragons we know about on the planet are two completely different species. Could be more of them."
"Unfortunately," Halcyon continued, "the Skirmishers on site weren't able to give us much information, and none on the inside. I've just got these satellite images, which admittedly, is more than we've had before in this war."
"Too bad we don't have the stealth satellites my allies cooked up." Dahlia shook her head. "Those would be nice."
Summer leaned forward and brought a hand to her chin. "Firebrand, can you drop us to the south of this place?" Only a few red dots occupied that area.
"Sure as hell not landing you in it." Firebrand called. "I see the map. That's doable."
Summer narrowed her eyes. "The question is do they have something else there or are they really that arrogant." She shook her head. "With ADVENT, you really don't know."
"There's got to be something in this building." Davis pointed at a shed behind the main garage. "They can't be that stupid."
"Unless they reinforced the back wall." Yang shrugged. "That would make sense."
"Yeah…" Summer shook her head. "At least I feel a little better about not having a sniper."
"What?" Yang cocked her head. "Aren't you…"
Summer shook her head. "Haven't been for a few decades. Took a Beringel punch to the side of the head on low Aura when you were in elementary school." Everyone from Remnant winced and Yang sucked in air through her teeth. "Never saw the same since, though it was cool to have four daughters and two husbands for a month."
Dahlia scoffed. "If that's what you want to call a serious concussion."
"My point exactly." Summer paused. "This isn't live, is it?"
"Negative, Menace," the Commander's voice came over the speakers. "You just have a still image of the area. The live feed is only coming here. Despite the improvements to the Skyranger, I'd prefer less information transfer between here and there. Anyway, you won't see it in the field. We'll relay any movements as you advance. Currently, your drop zone is clear."
"Copy that. We'll figure out our entry when we get eyes on." Summer smirked at Yang. "If needed, we'll make a door." Yang smirked back. She liked the way her mom thought.
"ETA to AO, five minutes," Firebrand called. "Get ready."
"Basic plan," Summer pointed at the unguarded part of the building, "get in through there, hope the dragon inside's friendly, have them help us kick butt. In this case, a dragon's support will be really appreciated."
"We're great force multipliers." Nalia smirked at the two native to the planet. "Add us to the mix, they won't be able to resist." The two who had never seen a friendly dragon didn't look convinced.
Five minutes later, the lights in the crew compartment turned red and the Skyranger slowed. "Get ready to drop," Firebrand yelled. "We're not getting shot at, but I don't like the look of all those guns down there."
Everyone stood up and readied their weapons. Yang punched down to extend her gauntlets. The transport fully stopped, the lights turned green, and the ramp lowered. Yang grabbed one of the descending cables and rode it to the ground. Once her feet touched the ground, she drew Dawnbreaker and searched the area for targets. She didn't see any movement, though her night vision wasn't the best anymore. While this area was quiet, she sure heard something from the railyard on the other side of the structure.
As the rest of the squad touched down, Yang spread her mind to search the area. If there was a friendly dragon inside, that would be the best way to find them. Before she could get her mind that far, she felt pure rage come from nearby. She winced and turned her head to the source. A small service shed stood apart from the other buildings, the one Davis pointed out earlier. As she narrowed her focus, she felt three points. She knew they were aliens, she didn't know what kind. "Nalia, you feel that?" She nodded at the shed.
"Yeah, they're mad." Nalia pointed her rifle at the shed. "We can't leave them at our backs. They'll never hear this on the other side."
"Hold fire for now." Summer glanced at the Reaper. "I hear you have something."
"I do," Dragunova said from behind her creepy faux night vision mask. She pulled out what looked like a regular claymore mine. "This will make short work of it. Give it some space." She tossed it and it landed at the base of the shed. As everyone stepped back, she aimed her rifle and shot.
An explosion the size of one of Nora's grenades shattered the building. Shrapnel flew in all directions and the thin metal roof fell on the occupants. It would have been an impressive sight, if Yang felt the minds inside disappear instead of getting angrier. Something roared from the rubble and the roof flew away. Two red and white monsters the size of Ursai stood in the rubble. Berserkers. She'd fought a few of them when she was in deep with MOCX.
The thing in front though… The thing was bigger than an Ursa Major. It was a sickly green color with a few black veins. But most importantly, the thing had freaking huge meat tenderizers attached to its arms with green tubes connecting to its back. If Yang had to guess, that thing was the thing that roared.
"Of all the aliens running around out there these days," Central started over comms, "she just had to modify a Berserker, didn't she?"
"Son of a…" Davis breathed next to Yang.
"Berserker Queen! Spread out!" Summer ordered. "Don't let them get close!" As the squad scattered, the Berserker Queen charged Summer faster than a Beowolf. She managed to get off a short burst before it threw one of its fists. She disappeared in a cloud of white rose petals and the fist flew through the air and punched the ground. The shockwave nearly knocked Yang off her feet.
Yang blinked at the sight. She'd seen some strong Semblances in her time, but she'd also been at full strength then. Now, she wasn't sure she could take a hit that could cause a small earthquake. Two other roars caught her attention. The two regular Berserkers charged her. These two, she thought she could take.
"Come on, you." Yang raised Dawnbreaker and waited for her targets to approach. As soon as the first raised its fist to attack, she sprang forward and jabbed her sword into its shoulder. Using her momentum, she spun, tearing her sword out as she turned, and slashed the second through the neck. Her second target dispatched, she turned around and triggered Ember Halcyon. A red and gold flame burst out from the gauntlet and bathed the first one she slashed. She cut the fuel and searched for the big bi-
-Something connected with her back, and she flew through the air until she hit a solid wall. Yang clenched her eyes and grit her teeth until she fell to the ground. Yeah… that one hurt… She opened her eyes and stared at both standing Berserkers. One was bleeding buckets and the other one was cooked well done, but both were still pissed off. But so was she. If that's how they wanted to play, she'd play.
"Goldmane's jelly!" Davis called over comms. "Goldmane's gone."
Yang blinked and red hugged the edges of her vision. She stood, clenched her fist, and punched them together. "Too bad. My peanut butter's nowhere close." She sprinted forward again, and the Berserkers did as well. The first threw a punch and Yang returned the favor. Their fists met and caused a small shockwave. After a second, the alien's crumpled. She twirled around, aimed Ember Celica at the thing's head, and pulled the trigger. One of the magnetic shells Ruby came up with splattered the Berserker's head. Unless the brain was somewhere else, there was no getting back up from that one.
The brawler turned around only to receive a fist in the face. Yang plunged face first into the ground. As much as that hurt, she felt powered up. She rolled out of the way just as a punch landed right where her head lay less than a second before. She shifted her sword into shotgun form and aimed it at the Berserker's ugly face. "Goodbye!" She pulled the trigger. A shell slammed into the thing's chest. In combination with its leaking neck, that was enough to kill it. Yang rolled out of the way once more as the body fell to the ground.
She stood up and shook her head. Those things hit like Ursai Major. Back on Remnant, she could still go a few more rounds. Now, she felt how strained her Aura was. She couldn't take another hit like that. But that Berserker Queen was still up. Don't get punched, punch the Queen's head off her shoulders. Simple. She turned around to face the sounds of combat. Four of her squadmates were pouring fire into the Berserker. Dragunova lay against the wall of the main building, trying to aim her rifle with one hand.
"Get me an angle on its head!" Yang yelled. She aimed her shotgun at the Queen as she approached. As she watched, the thing roared at the sky and a glowing purple and black portal appeared.
"It's trying to run!" Central said in Yang's ear. "Get that thing before it escapes!"
That couldn't happen. Yang sprinted forward as the Queen charged the portal. She pounced forward with a fist pulled back, aimed at the thing's head. Just as the thing reached the pulsing portal, she launched the punch. She felt it connect, then the light, and the Berserker Queen, disappeared. She rolled on the ground three times before coming to a stop on her stomach.
"Please tell me I popped that thing's head off." Yang pushed herself off the ground and looked at the squad.
"Unfortunately, no." Nalia turned her head to the two dead Berserkers, then smirked at Yang. "Alagaësians call you a berserker. You proved them right today."
"Are you people from an anime world?" Davis looked around the Remmartians. "Is this some part of Marvel or DC I don't know about? I feel like I'm surrounded by the Avengers or Justice League."
"Nah, we're cooler than them." Dahlia walked to Dragunova's side with her GREMLIN right behind her. The little flying robot hovered over the downed soldier. It let out a blue and green mist, then flew back up behind Dahlia. "She's stable, but I think she's out."
Summer nodded. "Firebrand, can you make it back for a pickup?"
"Only if it's an emergency," the pilot said over comms. "I'm seeing some movement down there."
"ADVENT is active onsite," the Commander said. "Right now, it looks like enhanced patrols, but some are searching the skies. Firebrand entering the AO could jeopardize the Skyranger and the operation."
"Copy that." Summer looked at Yang with an amused smile. "Still have enough of their strength in you to punch a hole in that wall?" She nodded at the building.
"I can make a door." Yang cracked her knuckles. "Get ready to breach and clear."
"Hold on." Dahlia held an arm out in front of Yang. Red Aura flowed from her hand into the brawler. "Oh yeah. You're low. Like 'don't get sneezed on' or 'don't punch a wall made of who knows what to make a door' low. Don't rely on your Aura, and it looks like you can't really rely on your armor either."
"I'll do what I can." Yang blinked and the red faded away. She and grabbed the grenade from her hip. While they looked like normal frag grenades, they sure punched holes in buildings. Nora might get a kick out of them. "One door coming up." Yang pulled the pin and dropped it where the wall looked weakest. She jogged away and hid behind a tree. A few seconds later, the grenade went off. A good portion of the wall blew into the building. Sirens finally blared outside and likely inside the building. Something big growled inside… and it almost sounded familiar.
Nalia slithered into the new gap and opened fire. Yang followed right behind. She pumped a shell into something in typical ADVENT armor and almost froze in the new doorway.
A big, red dragon was chained six ways to Sunday to a train car. She could see the strain in his wings, legs, tail, and neck, but his restraints made sure only the car he was strapped to moved. The dragon didn't even look too dirty. His scales gleamed in the faint light and his white horns shone like pearls. If his eyes were open, he'd be able to see his rescuers, but they were clenched shut with the strain. The problems were the alien headpiece he wore and all the wires and tubes coming out of it. Some kind of orange fluid flowed inside. Thorn… Thorn was here… but he looked at least five years older than he should have been.
"Move, you!" Dahlia shoved Yang out of the way, snapping the brawler out of her stupor. Yang ran further into the building and blasted two more ADVENT soldiers. She looked around for more but saw no one but her squad moving, and a few weaponless scientists cowering in a corner. The dragon still struggled.
Yang shifted Dawnbreaker back to sword form. "Thorn!" Thorn instantly fell still, and he opened at least the eye facing XCOM. It took only a second for his gaze to rest fully on Yang.
Another mind touched Yang's. She resisted the touch for only a second before she let the dragon in. Yang. You're here.
"In the flesh. Good to see you, big guy." Yang smiled as she approached him but that thing on his head made her worry.
Thorn's eye narrowed and he growled again. You're not Yang. She would never change her hair color.
"I didn't. It was Halcyon." Yang wasn't sure if he meant the silver streak or if her hair was supposed to be Halcyon gold. She placed a hand by Thorn's eye and stared into it. "But are you you?" She poured more of her mind into Thorn's to reassure him and to feel if it was really Thorn in there and not something else.
The dragon snorted. What are you talking about, blonde joke?
That was enough for Yang. "Cut him out of these things, but leave that helmet on." She pointed at the wired headpiece. "I'd imagine we need that thing intact." She hacked Dawnbreaker at the chain around Thorn's snout. The bond broke with a few sparks. The dragon shook his head as Yang cut the one around his neck. Nalia and Davis did the same elsewhere on his body.
Thorn raised his head and neck. Nalia freed one of his legs and the full dragon faced her. Thorn snarled at the Viper and Nalia hissed right back. The dragon silenced and jerked his head up. Nalia?
Yes, Nalia said mentally. That's why we want that thing on your head intact. There's something out there in my body. She growled. We need that to put me back.
"The situation's changed, Menace," the Commander said over comms. "All ADVENT forces on site are converging on your location. Worse, three Sectopods have just left a rail car. Get out of there before you're overrun."
"Sorry, Commander," Summer's voice echoed in the room and Yang's earpiece. "We've got one of our own tied up in here and something that can get Nalia and Orchid back in their own bodies. We need time." She smirked up at Thorn. "And I believe we have a way to take down those Sectopods."
Thorn stared back at her. You're… not Ruby.
Summer gave Yang a look. "Seriously? Another world where I'm not around?"
"Don't ask me." Yang looked up at the ceiling. "I'm spent, Thorn. Think you can break out of there yourself?" She set to taking off the dragon's faceplate
Thorn growled. It's what I should have done at that other place. I won't make the same mistake again.
"Glad to hear it." Summer swapped magazines in Sun's Light and walked toward the front of the building where a few doors and windows were. "Everyone else, be ready to draw fire from Thorn and/or get the heck out of a collapsing building. Outrider, are you good to quickly move and shoot?"
"I'll survive." The Reaper limped toward a window, but her arms and gun were steady. Yang pressed up against a different window and peaked outside. She'd say… plenty of hostiles stood outside, of varying species and roles. The three Sectopods the Commander mentioned walked out from behind a line of train cars. Yang smirked. She'd seen footage of the things. It didn't look like they could shoot up that well.
Thorn raised himself to his considerable full height. His wings spread to fill almost the whole building. Cover your heads. He crouched, then leaped off the floor and through the ceiling. The dragon roared, announcing his return to freedom. The sound shook the remainder of the building as the ceiling rained down on those inside. Everyone on the ground stopped their advance and looked up. Yang felt the best kind of chill run down her back.
Summer elbowed through her window. "Light 'em up!" She ordered. A three round burst from Sun's Light plunged into the nearest Sectoid. Yang leaned out and pumped a shell into the Officer standing next to it. Both went down instantly. The rest of their squad added their own fire to the mix. Two Troopers fell instantly while a Muton took a little more encouragement to die.
A red streak from the sky aimed down at the Sectopods. Thorn crashed into the side of one of them and crushed it to the ground. He jumped away right before it exploded. The other two stepped to turn toward him and guns popped out the top of them. Thorn flew in and slashed a leg off one of them. It fell to the ground and exploded at the other's feet. The final Sectopod fired its gun up at the dragon, but it couldn't track or shoot as high as Thorn flew. After swinging around once more, Thorn picked up the last mech and flung it into a line of ADVENT soldiers.
"Holy shit…" Davis whispered next to Yang. "Are we sure that thing's on our side?"
"As sure as I can be." Yang reloaded her shotgun and aimed at where she saw a Viper duck behind a second before. "Shoot him, that will change." She fired at her target. The shot eviscerated the metal panel, but she didn't hear the death scream she associated with the alien. She fired again and got the sound she wanted.
Thorn landed in the rail yard and took in a deep breath. "Down! Down! Down!" Summer yelled. Yang was down before she heard the first. The area lit up and the air grew hot. Some dragon flames flew through the window above her. Yang couldn't help but take pleasure in the fire while ignoring the screams. It was soooo good to have a dragon on their side again.
After a few seconds, the area grew quiet. It is done, Thorn said. Sorry about the heat.
"Who said that?" Davis asked.
"Thorn," Dahlia said like it was the most obvious thing. She elbowed Davis. "You'll get used to it."
"Status confirmed," Central said over comms. "All hostiles are eliminated, and the area is secure."
Yang stood and smirked at the dragon. "Nice job, big guy," She stuck a thumb up at Thorn. "Glad to have you back."
Thorn snarled at Yang, his own version of 'thank you.' I believe I am owed an explanation.
"That will come, Thorn." Summer stepped away from her cover and toward where Thorn was held. "Send in the extraction team, Central. We've got some machinery to move."
"Negative, Menace," the Commander said. "ADVENT is responding to this attack by deploying one of their medium patrol ships to your location. You have fifteen minutes to leave before you and the Avenger will be caught."
"Of course…" Summer shook her head. "Medibear, Zuck, your GREMLINs are now best friends. Hack all the computers here and get the information back to the Avenger." She locked eyes with Yang. "Goldmane, get the new guy back home. We'll probably beat you back but not even Big Green's faster than the Skyranger."
Nalia hissed. "I could with my jets."
"I'll get him home." Yang vaulted through the broken window and jogged toward the dragon. "That is, if it's okay with you?"
Thorn glared at the rest of the squad. You're blonde hair, Angel's grandmother, Nalia's a snake... He focused his gaze back on Yang. What's going on?
"I'll explain everything in the air." Yang pulled herself up onto Thorn's back. It was a little awkward without the saddle, but she'd ridden Halcyon bareback plenty of times. "Hey Firebrand, could you point us in the right direction?"
The Skyranger flew overhead and pointed toward the back of the building. "Back that way. Don't scuff up my landing pad."
"No promises." Yang leaned forward and patted Thorn's neck. "Okay, big guy. Let's go." Thorn jumped up and out of the facility, flying in the direction Firebrand indicated.
Yang finally took the time to look over Thorn's body. Some of his scales. His wings had chain marks. A clean indent surrounded his muzzle where the chain held him. A few scales in front of her face were missing, others were just rubbed down. Yang touched one of the spots and Thorn's neck twitched away. Don't. It's sensitive.
How long did they have you?
They had me unconscious for a while. Thorn growled. Gas, I'm guessing. That's an oversight Angel and I need to correct. Still, if I had to guess, less than twenty-four hours.
Less than… Yang blinked at the back of Thorn's head. Aaron heard Angel call for help with her necklace. Yang had a nightmare about something attacking her niece, but she thought that was because she hear Aaron having a mental breakdown. Is Angel here? On this planet?
I believe so. Thorn growled. But I don't know. Everything feels… different. You feel different.
That's the reason I'm not healing you as we fly. Something's suppressing our magic and Aura.
That explains some things. Thorn looked back at his temporary rider. Others…
Yang started explaining everything she could, starting with her own kidnapping. Thorn's expression when Yang explained her time inside MOCX said he wanted to rip her a new one, but he stayed silent. Going over the different worlds, timelines, whatever they were was the weirdest part. She still had trouble wrapping her mind around things. Worse, she added someone else to the list of people who didn't know a Yang was married to Brom… At least it was better than everyone thinking she was dead. Some time in the explanation, the Skyranger flew past. They probably wouldn't have much time to get the dragon settled… however they'd be able to do that.
After Yang was done, Thorn snorted. Sounds like Darvel's multiverse.
Yeah, but everything's happening at once. Yang shook her head. It's insane.
The dragon glanced back at Yang. I can't help but feel like you're not telling me something.
Yang winced. How long had he been holding onto that? It's not mine to say, but it won't take you long to figure out. Just know it's no one's fault on the Avenger. She nodded forward. Speaking of which…
Thorn faced forward again and his wings hitched. The four turbined black behemoth came into view at the bottom of a small valley. Oh. It's smaller than I expected.
Yeah, it's no Hammer, but it works. As Thorn approached, the engines on the Avenger spun up. A few people stood on the deck staring up at the newcomer. One of them stood at the edge of the ship closest to the dragon, probably a little too close with no railing. Seeing a red dragon fly in and it not being Cerise had to be a bit painful for Ruby.
Thorn spread his wings to slow down and landed on the ship. The metal creaked but it didn't give way. "Good to have you here, Thorn," Aaron yelled over the engines. "It's nice to have something in the air on our side for a change."
It's good to be here… Thorn stared at the purple Viper on the deck. Orchid?
Yep, now hold still. Orchid slithered around the dragon looking him over. Nothing looks too bad. I'll help you out when we land again. You might want to duck and hold on.
To what? Thorn glared at the metal beneath him. It's all smooth.
"Just punch holes in the roof." Yang slid off Thorn's back. "We'll figure something out. "I think the Commander will make adjustments to have close air support ready and willing.
If you- Thorn whipped his head around and glared past Yang. He bared his teeth but stopped before growling. Ruby? Yang looked over her shoulder. Her little sister stood by Thorn's back right leg with a hand resting on that leg. She had a sad smile on her face.
"Hey, Thorn." The turbines made it hard to hear her. "It's good to see you again."
Why can't I feel you? Ruby just stared at Thorn.
"He wants to know why he can't feel you," Yang translated.
Ruby blinked. "You didn't tell him?"
Yang shook her head. "With the dragons, it needs to come with you."
What are you two talking about? Thorn glared between the sisters. Tell me what? His confusion didn't need translation.
"They put something in me." Ruby shivered. "It works like a suppression collar, the bad kind."
Thorn's pupils shrank to slits, and he roared in rage. He whipped around, knocking Yang and almost everyone else on the deck over, and pounced on Ruby. Yang bounced back up, fists raised, but let them fall just as quick. An arm and a leg poked out from under Thorn's belly, but the arm tried to wrap around the dragon. All of Thorn's claws dug into the deck and his tail twitched from side to side. He glared out at the sky they just flew through. That was a defensive dragon if Yang had ever seen one. Good. Maybe having a dragon around would help out.
And if the GREMLINs were able to get the information they needed out of the facility, there might be more dragon assistance to come.
Ay! Finally a full dragon in this series with a heavy dragon influence! It's started!