"You have quite the track record, Ray," Reeves, the U.S. Defense attorney at the embassy said.
Ray said nothing, in the small, bare room. It had a table and two chairs, and a one way mirror, which he didn't doubt people were watching him through.
"So, what part of Russia were you born in?"
Ray still said nothing.
"You don't want to talk about your homeland?"
"Yebat vy," Ray growled.
"I don't have to speak Russian, and I know what that means."
Ray shrugged and looked at the table in front of him. He left his glass of water untouched, also in front of him were the shells of two 9mm rounds.
"They gave us the shells, so we could try and match them up. I'm not even going to ask where that gun is, now," Reeves said.
"And how do you know it was me?" Ray grunted as he shifted in his chair.
"Eyewitness accounts, your description," Reeves thumbed through a large binder. "After you went missing, there was an international campaign to find you and ensure your safe return. If I recall, there was a two hundred and fifty thousand dollar reward."
"Don't bother, my mother would never give up the rest of her inheritance for me."
"Whatever you say, tough guy," Reeves chuckled.
He grabbed a file folder and opened it.
Ray had left the Rim of Heaven with a dragon named Luca, whom he made good friends with. There was nothing in the Mountain Range that Ray could eat, and he was effectively starving himself. After his stock of canned food ran out, he would hunt yak and caribou. However, they migrated, and there was no other wildlife. The roots and mushrooms the brownies would gather made him vomit, so that was definitely out. Out of desperation, he would sometimes eat grass. The dragons were getting worried about Ray, so he and Luca flew off to a nearby village. Ray was caught stealing food and seeds, and was apprehended by the local police. After they found out who he was, he was detained and sent to the U.S. embassy.
"Murder, treason against the Russian government, and running away," Reeves looked up and down a sheet of paper. "Killing two Russian soldiers is not something to be taken lightly, Ray."
"They were going to shoot me, it was self defense," Ray looked up at Reeves. "They thought I was a spy for your government."
"They were your government, too, Ray. It says here your parents fled the country. From Moscow, if I'm not mistaken. Your brother was killed in the pro-communist rally of '97, was he not? Levi was a real fighter, the police said. Broke an arm and busted a riot shield with a baseball bat before he was shot to death. Seventeen years old, it's a terrible age to go at."
"Don't you dare talk about my brother!" Ray was hoarse with rage, standing up out of the chair. He heard commotion, and rubbing up against the door.
Reeves opened the door and spoke to several people clutching tasers, and told them to back off. Reeves went to his laptop and clicked on a red circle, stopping the recording of this interview.
"I'm not done, Ray," Reeves smiled and tapped his shoulder. "A year ago, you checked your voicemail from your cellphone." Ray's eyes widened.
"In the Himalayas?" Reeves raised his eyebrows. "Your cellphone carrier notified the missing persons foundation. Since you are a U.S. citizen, and didn't apply for dual citizenship to Russia, we had to look into it. So, I conducted a mission with two satellite operators, and we took a look at where the signals were exchanged."
Ray's heart stopped. "You better have those men come in, because I'm about to strangle you dead."
"Looks like I hit a nerve. Big, bad Ray has a soft spot, and I've got my finger on it."
He cleared his throat, and Ray sat back down.
"How long have you known?" Ray broke eye contact.
"Eight months," Reeves crossed his arms. "It's amazing, that these creatures exist."
"And what are you planning on doing, an invasion? The Chinese wouldn't like that, would they?" Ray said.
Reeves pointed his finger at Ray. "Ah, someone understands the UN," He laughed. "I've got a deal to make with you Ray. First off, only I and the two satellite operators know. We've kept it a secret until we could figure out what the best thing to do would be."
This relieved Ray, but he wasn't out of the woods yet.
"Now, the Russians and Chinese successfully tested a Thermonuclear EMP a year and a half ago, the likes of which we've never seen before. Two of these bombs could destroy the continental United States in a split second, and disable all electronics of the neighboring countries. We have reason to believe they're planning to use them in an invasion."
"Ze cold vor iss ovor, comrade," Ray said in a Russian accent.
"Maybe so, maybe not. All we know is, it's a ticking time bomb, literally, 'comrade'," Reeves replied sarcastically.
Ray looked around in thought.
"Tell you what Ray, we won't tell the Russians, or the Chinese where your friends are, and destroy all records of finding them. And, we'll forget that this ever happened. We'll take away your runaway status, and drop all criminal charges. But you're going to have to do us a little favor."
"And if I refuse?" Ray said sarcastically.
"We'll turn you over to the Russians. Your country will hate you as a traitor, and you will most likely be executed or imprisoned for the rest of your life. Not to mention, those dragons may find some choppers, maybe not American ones, but choppers all the same, landing in the valley next to that lake and ring of mountains."
Ray was quiet for a few moments. He thought of Firedrake, Sorrel, and then Luca. Could he fly back to the Rim of Heaven by himself? If Luca couldn't find his way back, would everyone think they're dead? Even worse, what if Luca was spotted, or captured? What if what Reeves told Ray wasn't the full story? What if the government knew more than he was telling him? Ray's mind raced. His best chance of seeing them again was to not be in jail for the rest of his life, or executed for that matter. He had to protect them, all the dragons and brownies, even if it meant giving his life.
"What do you want me to do?"
"I'm glad you asked," Reeves stroked his chin. "We need some information at a Russian compound about the EMPs and their abort codes, and we've decided you'd be the best person to get it for us."
"What makes you say that?" Ray asked.
"You're expendable," Reeves laughed.
"How long until I do this?" Ray questioned.
"Since we're short of time, we can brief you and train you in a week. We can have you there in a day, and out in another."
Ray looked around the room in thought. Nine days out of his life, with a possibility of dying. Be executed by his own people, or betray them?
"The President knows about you, Ray. And what you're capable of," Reeves tried to flatter him. "He personally ordered me to come here on his behalf."
"The leader of the free world was going to come talk to me, a Russian runaway thug? How dumb do you think I am?"
"Not as dumb as you look," Reeves pointed his finger at Ray. "I did speak to the president about you, though."
Ray rolled his eyes and paused, taking all this in. "I want something else for doing this."
"Oh, do you now?" Reeves cracked his knuckles.
"I want to be dropped off back at that spot in the Himalayas, along with a rifle, a sidearm, ammunition, food, and seeds for growing. Some survival gear wouldn't hurt, either."
Reeves slapped his knee and laughed like it was the funniest thing he'd ever heard.
"Anyone who I could get to fly you out there would crash into a mountain!"
"You want me to do this, or not?" Ray said.
"Fine, fine. We'll get your gear, and I know a guy who could parachute you in. That is, if you survive. Now come with me, you need to be briefed. Your flight to Moscow leaves tomorrow."
Ray stood up, and followed Reeves out of the room. He had no idea what he was about to get into, but he was off the hook for betraying his country, by doing it again.
"By the way," Reeves said on the walk down the hallway of the detention center. "Happy birthday."