Episode Seven

New Intel, Same Fight

Weeks passed. Then those weeks became a couple of months. Tyler recovered fully, much to everyone's surprise, and was back to work with Anna in the lab. And they continued to grow closer every day. Bryce continued to look for signs of MJ12 activity, but it was as though they had simply disappeared. Tyler felt there was no way they'd just leave - they'd be unable to. Local Police forces, armed with weapons Tyler provided, kept the Portal locked down. And they wouldn't just leave a loose end like Tyler active. Not after everything he'd done to sabotage their efforts. No, Tyler and Bryce agreed - MJ12 had a base somewhere.

Still, Tyler was content to let Bryce and Maverick and the Police Force handle this - they knew to contact Tyler if they came across anything - while Tyler continued his work with Anna. But it wasn't just the lab they were seen together in, anymore - they actively started dating. But one particular would stand out to Tyler. It started as they were leaving the Production Facility - and heading to a date at a Diner some distance away.

"... You know, my life wasn't always clandestine activity," Tyler told Anna as they conversed while approaching the diner. "I'm good at sneaking around and avoiding detection, but it wasn't always like that."

"I figured that much, hon," Anna responded. "But you never did tell me much about your life before everything went to hell. What did you do after High School?"

"Well, I worked as a dishwasher for a restaurant for a while - till a bad day got me fired," Tyler said. He paused to open the door for Anna. "Then I found menial work taking care of my mother's house and most especially her Horses."

"Taking care of horses? So you cleaned out stalls filled with shit for a while? What a shitty job," Anna remarked.

"No shit - no pun intended," Tyler agreed as he stepped through the door after Anna. Anna just laughed at Tyler's comment. A waitress - a Runner - approached the two.

"Welcome to Ryan's - please follow me," she said. She led Anna and Tyler to an adjacent table, where Tyler pulled out a chair for Anna, and let her be seated before sitting down himself.

"Such a gentleman," Anna chuckled.

"Where I'm from, it was called chivalry," Tyler said.

"And what can we get you for drinks?" the waitress asked.

"Cola for me," Anna responded.

"Make that two," Tyler said. The waitress nodded, jotted that down, and headed for the back. "Picking up my drinking habits?" Tyler asked Anna.

Anna smiled and answered, "Among other things." She paused to chuckle. "I guess it was inevitable that I would pick up a few things from you."

Tyler laughed lightly. "Imagine that. A dragoness picking up the bad habits of a human. What else are you gonna surprise me with, sweetheart?"

"Hm," Anna responded, mocking a thoughtful look. "Maybe using a rifle. Taking headshots. Learn to throw grenades." Tyler just laughed.

"Very funny, dear," he told her. They both shared a loving chuckle, and a tender kiss. It was when their lips parted that a male voice said aloud,

"Check it out. Freaks in love." Tyler and Anna turned their heads to see a runner looking at them from over his shoulder. His wife tried to look away.

"I think they heard you," she said.

"So... what, one of your own kind wasn't good enough?" the male runner scoffed, clearly addressing Anna. "You had to hook up with a Human?"

"For your information, this 'human' is as Dragon as you or I," Anna growled. "And whom I choose to date and love is not your concern, asshat."

"Ooh, struck a nerve, there," the runner taunted. "How do you know your boyfriend - and I use that term very loosely - isn't in with the other humans?"

"Because I trust him," Anna responded. The runner then directed his ire at Tyler.

"You may have her fooled, but you don't fool me," he told Tyler. "One of these days, people are gonna see you for what you are - a Spy."

"Take it from me, pal," came Damion's voice from an adjacent table, "You don't want to provoke him. He can strangle your ass without ever laying a hand on you."

"And he fought to protect my family and I from other humans," Anna added. "You have no right to call him spy or anything else!"

"Oh, don't I?" the runner hissed, rising from his seat. He glowered at Anna. "You developed a cure for Cancer. You gave hope to so many. You could have had any dragon you wanted. And you choose a human? An alien not from this world?"

"FYI, jackass, the human you're insulting was the one who played a pivotal role in making that breakthrough," Anna sneered. "Only reason I didn't directly acknowledge that was because he asked me not to."

"Woman, you need some sense knocked into you!" the runner snapped, reaching for Anna. But Tyler was faster, and in a split second, had a disruptor pressed under the runner's chin. The wife yelped in surprise,

"Daniel! How many times have I told you!"

"You made three mistakes, Daniel," Tyler hissed. "First - you didn't know who the hell you were messing with; second, you picked the wrong place to pick a fight; but the worst mistake you made... was lashing at my girlfriend." He threw Daniel to the floor. "I have survived a centuries-spanning war and a cataclysm - I have faced threats far more terrifying than some conservative punk who thinks he can dictate how others live their lives. I got enough of that shit back home - I don't need it from you!" He pointed the disruptor at Daniel's head. "You screw with either of us again-"

"Tyler," Anna cut him off. There was a pause before Tyler lowered the disruptor and stored it in his transporter buffer.

"Tyler?" Daniel repeated with a frown. "You're Tyler Horgus?"

"Damn right," Tyler huffed. "What? Surprised to know I'm human?"

"I didn't realize you were - I didn't think you were one of us," Daniel said. "I thought you were one of them."

"If by 'them' you mean Majestic Twelve, then no - I'm not. I've spent centuries fighting them," Tyler growled. "They took everything from me. My home, my family, my friends..."

Daniel rose to his feet. "Then you might be interested - they have a camp out in the woods," he stated. "I've been there."

Tyler looked Daniel in the eye. "Why didn't you report this?" he asked.

"I was told to report it to you," Daniel responded.

"How do you know they don't know you know?" Tyler inquired.

"Trust me," Daniel's wife assured Tyler, "Daniel may be a bit of a conservative jackass, but one thing he was always good at was stealth - it's how he hunts."

"That's how I found it - I was hunting. And I tracked human footprints to a camp - active. I immediately broke off and went to the police. They said that they would look into it, but if I ever ran into you, to tell you," Daniel explained.

"How long ago was this?" Anna queried.

"This morning," Daniel answered. "For the record, again - I didn't know you were Tyler Horgus. Just took you for another human."

"Again, I'm only human in body," Tyler told Daniel. "Thanks to the efforts of medical personnel, I have learned that my blood is as dragon as yours."

"Yeah, we heard," the wife said. "It was very heroic, how you fought to defend Anna. Daniel here needs to learn to think before he runs his mouth. But he's not always an ass."

"Believe me, madame, I've known worse people," Tyler sighed. He looked to Anna. She nodded, and they sat back down. The manager, a flier, then arrived.

"I am sorry for that incident, and I hope you don't think ill of us for it," he said.

"We don't," Anna responded. "And we're not gonna let it ruin our date. We both knew there would be people that didn't support our relationship."

"I'm glad to hear you're not taking this hard," the manager said. He looked to Tyler. "Are you alright, sir?"

"I thought I escaped that kind of prejudice when I left my home world - but that's not the only thing that's on my mind," Tyler murmured. He hitched a thumb at Daniel. "That man had knowledge of enemy locations - and he reported it to the police. Why didn't they contact me?"

"Probably because they wanted to be sure of this before involving you, honey," Anna assured him. "I know you've been fighting MJ12 for centuries. I get that, But let us contribute to the fight."

"I know," Tyler sighed. "Just not used to having allies. Never had them before."

"Let alone a girlfriend, I'd bet," Anna chuckled. The comment elicited an amused, loving chuckle from Tyler.

"Amazing, the distance we've come in the short time we've known one another," he commented.

"Six months may seem short to you, but to me, it feels like a lot longer," Anna said as their drinks were brought to them.

"Well, then - what are we having?" the waitress asked.

"I'll have a nine-ounce sirloin steak," Anna requested.

"And I'll be having the same," Tyler said. "Medium-Rare, if you would, please." Anna made a look of being impressed and amused.

"Man after my own heart," she commented. The waitress laughed softly, jotted down the orders, and left for the kitchen.

"Does it ever bother you that we seem to have nearly everything in common?" Tyler asked.

"Well, we both have different tastes in breakfast meals," Anna responded.

"I said 'nearly' everything, dear; no need to be snarky," Tyler told her. Anna just laughed. "Why do I get the impression you've got yet another snarky comment up your sleeve?" Tyler queried.

"Sleeve? What sleeve?" Anna shot back. Tyler hung his head and shook it in amusement.

"You really did pick up bad habits from me," he chuckled. "What have I done?" Anna laughed again.

"Come on, honey - I'm just messing with you," she told him.

"That's just it - you never mess with anyone like that," Tyler replied. "Honestly, I'm surprised you'd do it to me."

Anna grinned ear to ear. "The unfortunate byproduct of influence from the Dragonborn," she said.

"I told you to stop calling me that," Tyler jokingly growled. "Last time I checked, I didn't have the Thu'um."

"Not yet, you don't," Anna joked.

"Oh, bite me," Tyler grumbled amusedly.

Anna lightly laughed and asked, "You sure you want me to?" They both shared a laugh. "I will admit one thing: I never expected to fall for a guy like you. When we first met in that alley, I thought I was just gonna take you to a homeless shelter and that would be that; but fortunately, luck was on our side."

"In my experience, hon, there is no such thing as luck," Tyler stated. "The Will of the Force is in all things, though it does allow us to forge our own destinies."

"Don't you find it funny, though?" Anna asked. "You're dating a Dragoness. Does that not seem odd to you?"

"Believe me, darling, stranger things have happened to me. If anything, I find the fact you and I are dating to be a bit... ironic," Tyler chuckled. "The Force works in mysterious ways - but there are times I'm not convinced it doesn't have a sense of humor."

"How so?" Anna inquired.

"I spent years alone, but longing for companionship. I've said it before, Anna - I've been alone most of my life. But the one woman I ended up loving - my one true lover - turned out to be a Dragoness; the one creature I always had a soft spot for," Tyler explained.

Anna smiled. "I'm glad it was me, then," she said. "But really - aren't you worried about all the..."

"... The people that won't like the fact you and I are together? Hell no. I don't give two shits about what they think," Tyler assured her. "My only concern is how you feel. You are all that matters to me."

Anna's smile broadened. Then, a thought came to her. "Tyler... you once told me you dreamed of the two of us getting married. Do you still see that dream?" she queried.

"From time to time - and each time is better than the last. As I see it: The closer you and I become, the more likely it is that said dream will become reality," Tyler stated.

"At this point, I'm starting to think it's a premonition," Anna chuckled.

"Wouldn't be the first time, honey - you know that," Tyler said with a big grin. Anna smiled and chuckled,

"Touche." It was at this moment that their meals were brought.

"Here you are, if there's anything else you need, let us know," the waitress said before heading to another table. Anna and Tyler picked up their drinks.

"To a life together," Tyler toasted.

"I'll drink to that," she agreed. "Together forever." They tapped their glasses against one another, and took a drink before digging into their meals. "So... what do you plan on doing after this thing with MJ12?" she asked after a couple bites.

"Do you really need me to spell it out for you, baby?" Tyler responded. "I fully intend to stay at your side, sweetheart - no way in hell am I gonna leave you."

"So... you wouldn't return home?" Anna queried.

"To what?" Tyler countered. "A world covered in death and decay? Nuclear fallout? Barely scraping by day to day? I stayed on that world because I was fighting Majestic Twelve - and they made the mistake of moving all their forces here. Why? I don't know. Point is, after they're gone, the people back home won't have anything to worry about anymore - they'll be free to rebuild without fearing being kidnapped in the dead of night." Tyler paused to look Anna dead in the eyes. "And you and I both know, I love you too much to leave you behind after MJ12 is gone. We've come too far together. Once MJ12 is defeated, my people's fate will no longer depend on my operations. There won't be any need for me there anymore. And I have you - who took me in when I had nothing, who sheltered me, fed me, and gave me the job I'll be doing long after MJ12 is gone."

Anna smiled and shook her head. "You are just the sweetest guy I've ever met," she said. "You'd willingly stay at my side, even if it means being away from your people. And I love you, too, baby... and I, too, recognize how much we've been through together. We'd be fools to end what we have after MJ12 is dust; and I want to see what else the Force throws our way."

"Funny to see you having faith in the Force," Tyler chuckled.

"Another thing I picked up from you," Anna said with a smile.

"Better be careful what you pick up from me," Tyler said jokingly. Anna laughed. They went back and forth, laughing and joking, as happy as can be. Tyler paid for the meals at the restaurant, and they both headed home - It was at the door to their apartment that they were met by Bryce and Maverick.

"Tyler! Thank god - we've been looking all over for you!" Maverick exclaimed.

"We have a situation," Bryce said. "A local-"

"Found an MJ12 camp, I know," Tyler cut him off. "We bumped into that local at Ryan's; why didn't you call me?"

"For one, we had to confirm the statement - Sebastian reported the camp is, indeed, active - but we also had to report this to the council - they decided you should head the operation there, seeing as you're the one with the guns," Bryce explained.

"Makes sense," Anna commented. "And I already know you're not gonna risk me in a combat action."

"Damn right, I'm not," Tyler growled. "But Bryce is right, I do have the guns. Have you called in support?"

"They'll be here in the morning," Maverick answered. "And yes, they have been made aware of the situation." Tyler nodded solemnly.

"Good... that's damn good. How many?"

"Dozen and a half runners, half dozen fliers, three Earth Dragons," Bryce said.

"Hm... no way we'll be playing this subtle. I'll need to replicate some serious hardware," Tyler said.

"We can discuss that in the morning," Bryce said. "For now, you get some rest." Tyler nodded, then slapped Bryce's shoulder before going into the apartment. Anna had no illusions about this - Tyler may not come back from this. But she had faith in him - and, like he noted at Ryan's, faith in the Force. She trusted he would come back to her. He had to.

Because he now had something to come home to...

(I apologize for taking so long with this; I was a bit at a loss as to how to proceed with this for some time. That and I was dealing with some irl stuff. Sorry. But I will be continuing this show.)