Chapter 51
Even though the Dragon Riders did not manage to convince the entire town of Scalloway to accept the dragons, a few of the fishermen and some of the local residents still found the massive flying creature far too fascinating to ignore. There were even a few children who wanted to pet the dragons but none of the parents would allow them to go anywhere near the beasts. As the sun set and most people headed to their homes, the dragon riders took off to find some fire wood, and were surprised to find trees were almost non-existent outside of the town. There were however a large number of disused power poles lining what remained of the roads, and the dragons had no trouble either tearing them out of the ground, or just blowing the base of the pole into charred splinters.
Back at the dock, they soon found cutting the wood up was quite unnecessary; for when they brought out a chainsaw to start, Windstorm simply picked up one of the poles and bit it in half. The end result was a substantial fire burning on the concrete wharf, with dragons, riders and sailors sitting around it in a circle and enjoying the warmth.
"Are you sleeping out here tonight?" Calla asked as she laid her head on Blue's shoulder.
"Yeah, I don't really want to leave the dragons alone out here and the Striker really isn't big enough for anything but a Terror" he answered.
"Yay, a sleep out" Abigail cheered.
Blue's sister had made herself quite at home with the Zippleback, and had even named the heads Lucy and Ricky. When asked why, she had given two responses; firstly was the two heads regularly arguing, which reminded her of many couples she had seen in old sitcoms. The second reason was by choosing to name them after Lucy and Ricky Ricardo from the I Love Lucy show, Abigail knew she would never get the heads names mixed up because Lucy was the left head, and Ricky was the right.
"We had almost every movie and TV show available on the Mars Media Streaming Service" she explained.
"How long do you think it'll take us to get back to Sumatra?" Haley wondered as she sat and petted her snoring dragon.
"About a week, give or take a day" Blue responded "We could probably do it half the time if we pushed the dragons to fly all day, but I think that would be a big mistake.
"Hmm yes... and speaking personally, I really don't want to ride halfway around the world without regular rest stops" Abigail insisted.
"So you've decided to come?" Calla noted, even though the question was superfluous.
"You bet; I'm looking forward to seeing Mom again, as well as our new little sister."
"Oh yeah... I heard about that" Haley smiled "What was her name again?"
"Rose Talon Dias" Blue replied.
"Talon's a funny middle name" Haley thought.
"It was the name of a young man Mom knew on Mars" Blue answered "He helped her to investigate a double murder."
"Yeah Talon was killed in an explosion that was meant to kill Mom, Saffron and a few more of the people who were on her side over the whole Mars fiasco."
"Wow... you lot have certainly lived dangerous lives" Haley realised.
"That's an odd thing for a dragon riding girl with one missing leg to say" Captain Debar noted as she walked up the gangway to the dock.
"Hello Captain" Blue greeted "Pull up a dragon and take a load off."
"Err, no thanks" she replied politely "I came to tell you I just finished speaking to Captain Branson back on Berk; needless to say they were all very upset to hear about Professor Adisa."
There was a slight pause in the Captain's report as they all remembered their friend and leader.
"On the other hand though, no great disasters on Berk apart from a half hearted attempt by a couple of Smokebreaths to steal a metal toolbox. The Terrors soon saw them off and it did give Reed the opportunity to re-enforce the rules about not leaving any metal exposed or uncovered. Oh and your Grandfather sends his love."
"Hmm yes" Blue mumbled as he still had mixed feeling about the man in question "I assume you told them to be on the lookout for the Star Runner with its new crew?"
"Yes, and of course I informed them we would be departing for Sumatra in the morning."
"Yeah it's weird to think about how sidetracked we were by Gran and the dragons" Calla noted.
"Indeed" Blue agreed "We could have done without Gran and her outpost, but I am glad we found the dragons; I've even changed my mind about DeGroot's decision to effectively steal the One and All."
"Things may have worked out well, but what he did was still mutiny" Debar disagreed.
With her information passed on, Georgette Debar departed for her cabin. As for the others, even though a new journey lay ahead, they all felt a sense of peaceful calm; they were together again at last, and they also had several new fire breathing friends in the group. Blue was glad his sister had joined the Dragon Riders, but he still needed to find someone to partner up with their Gronckle.
'
'
Over on the other side of the world, the long hours of work were finally starting to bear fruit inside the railgun complex. All throughout the main staging area, a considerable number of engineers and technicians milled around the eighteen cylindrical capsules lined up in front of the large open door to the railgun itself. The loading of the first three was complete but re-checks were still being done, considering the importance of each upcoming launch.
"Alright, let's move onto SC-4" Doctor Spencer instructed one of her section heads.
"Are you sure they'll all be prepared before the ship arrives in orbit?" Carson Rake asked accusingly.
"Not quite, but you can assure Sage that each supply capsule will be ready well before its individual launch time. Don't forget we can only send three during each launch window" Sarah replied.
Just then, one of Sages guards hurried into the vast staging room and ran towards Rake.
"Sir, General Sage said to tell you the MTV has just passed inside lunar orbit, and will be settling into Earth orbit in seventy four hours."
"Hear that Doctor? You only have a little over three days" Rake noted with fake concern.
"We'll be ready in two" Sarah replied confidently, considerably annoying Rake.
'
'
Just before dawn the next morning, only one person walked the lonely streets of Scalloway. Blue simply could not wait for first light; as he lay on his back, staring at the stars and wondering whether it was Speedy or Calla who had the loudest snore, the very moment the sky turned from black to a very dark grey was the exact time he arose and started to climb the slight rise of the inappropriately named New Road. Looking up a surprising street sign, he stopped and smiled to himself before turning left into Lovers Lane, wondering what Calla would have thought if had brought her with him. A short walk and a right turn into Berry Road and he soon found what he was looking for.
In amongst the many acres of farmland stretching in out in front of him, was a small plot of land set aside for a very special purpose. Near the centre of this fenced off area was a large piece of metal pipe, a meter tall and half a meter in diameter, with simple words engraved on the top half. The words read thus; Professor Linton Adisa – Arguably the most important man of the 21st Century.
"Well I certainly would not dispute that" Blue smiled with a tear in his eye.
For an unknown amount of time, Blue just sat and tried not to cry as he remembered all the things he and the Professor had been through. Although most of the really interesting things had followed Calla's arrival and the re-opening of the Railgun Base, there were still many memories of growing up and learning how to be an assistant engineer, an electronics technician, a rocket scientist and so many other things; taught by many people, but all coordinated by the leader of the complex, Professor Linton Adisa.
Thinking about it now, Blue suddenly realised that even though the Professor had an important job and a lot of work to do over many years, he had still managed to give a disproportionate amount of time to Blue as he grew up, and for that he would be eternally grateful.
"We did it sir" he started talking again as he sat on the cold ground "We found the dragons on the Faroe Islands, but then we found much more; we discovered the home of the dragons. Well... to be honest we didn't find it, I was kidnapped by a bunch of Night Furys... although one of them was really a Light Fury... which is like a Night... Fury... only..."
Realising he had started to babble, Blue stopped speaking, dropped his head and rubbed his forehead.
"I miss you sir..." he sighed "I've had to do so much by myself lately... but I always knew you were out there... somewhere... and when I found you, I knew I would also find help... and wisdom. I know wisdom comes from age and experience, and I've been getting a hell of a lot of experience lately, so I suppose if I want to be just like you, I have grow up... and be to others what you were to me. Does that sound conceited?"
The metal pipe bearing the Professor's name did not answer, but someone else did.
"Of course not' we need you to grow up to be just like him."
"Oh... Calla..." Blue sprang to his feet and spun around.
Even though the morning air was still and silent, Blue had not heard any sound of the young girls approach, and she gave him quite a start.
"I was er... I was just saying goodbye to Professor Adisa" he sniffed.
Calla did not say anything else at first, she simply stepped forward and placed her arm around the boys waist and held him tight, listening to his heartbeat.
"Thank you Professor... I'd say you are the main reason I've now got a great boyfriend" she eventually noted.
They both then said their final goodbyes to the man they both loved and respected, before starting the walk back down to the harbour for a quick pre-flight breakfast.
"About time you two got back" Captain Debar stated upon their arrival "If you want anything from the Striker, grab it now because we set sail in ten minutes... and there's food ready in the galley."
"Thanks Captain" Calla nodded as she and Blue hurried on board.
When they returned a few minutes later, they had as much as they could carry in their sacks, and faces stuffed with food. They also found Abigail and Haley working out the best way to stow equipment on the Zippleback without causing the dragon any discomfort, and they were having great success with a tarp covered blanket tied around the beast's girth.
"You two almost ready to fly" Haley asked.
Before they could answer, another voice called from the rear of the wharf.
"Hello my friends; please don't leave yet" Mateo called out.
Walking beside him was a young girl who looked to be under ten years old, and in his arms, Mateo carried something rather large.
"You have done so much for us, saving our lives, taming the dragons, teaching us what to do if we should see any more, we simply couldn't let you leave without giving you a little sign of our appreciation."
"Well thank you Mateo but we were happy to help, and the information you gave us..."
"Yes yes Mister Blue, but my wife insisted on showing her gratitude for bringing me back to her; and my daughter has something that may help you too."
"Again... thankyou but we can't carry too much because..."
"But this will help you" Mateo interrupted again "From my wife I bring a parcel of food for your journey; and from my daughter..."
Mateo put his bundle down on the ground an unwrapped it. Inside the large blanket, he revealed a leather saddle.
"Back in Spain, my little girl loved to ride but unfortunately she has no horse here. When she saw you fly in from our home, she realised her dressage saddle may also work with a dragon."
Blue and Calla looked at each other and smiled.
"Thank you Miss um... what is your name?" Calla asked.
"Mariana" the girl replied softly.
"Thank you Mariana" Calla smiled.
"I think you may be in luck Calla" Blue said as he examined the saddle "Based on this gap in the underside..."
"The channel sir" Mariana corrected him.
"Channel, thank you; and the spread of the..." Blue looked to Mariana for help.
"Saddle tree sir" the girl said proudly.
"Well I'd guess this saddle would best fit the Nadder or the Gronckle; and since Windstorm is the only one with a rider at the moment, it looks like the saddle is yours."
"Are you sure you want to give up such a beautiful piece of craftsmanship?" Calla asked "Maybe one day you'll get to ride again."
"Maybe one day you will come back and teach me to ride like you?" Mariana asked eagerly.
"No need to wait till then" Calla stood tall with her hands on her hips.
It only took them only ten minutes to fit the saddle to the base of Windstorm's neck, and so Mariana and Calla were soon soaring above the Striker as the ship made its way south passed the island of West Burra. The young girl squealed with delight as the graceful Nadder dove down and swept across the bow of huge sea tug as the Captain blew the ships horn in greeting. Mateo watched nervously as the dragon took his daughter up so high, he found it difficult to see the tiny flying speck. But all too soon the experience came to an end and as soon as Windstorm had landed back on the dock, an overly excited Mariana jumped down and ran to her father.
"Papi quiero un dragón para mi cumpleaños" she said, hopping from one foot to the other.
"What did she say" Blue asked.
"She said you have given my wife and I much trouble" Mateo laughed "My daughter now wants a dragon for her next birthday."
'
'
Once again I have to start with, poor Boo Cat.
Sometimes I will go for a short walk to the end of the street to stretch my legs and get some fresh air, and occasionally Boo will follow me. A few days ago I did this just before sunrise and after we'd gone past three houses, several birds decided to make a co-ordinated attack on kitty. Two of this murderous flock were Magpies and they can be vicious.
She took refuge under a neighbour's car for half an hour and then made a break for home when the birds were gone. The odd thing is Boo will often sit out by the front gate to watch the world go by and the birds all leave her alone; so weird.
Back in a few days, Marty.