THERE BE DRAGONS!
Chapter 9: Discussing the Future
Standing tensely against the back wall trying to keep away from the scene on the podium at the front of the room, the Commander listened dry-mouthed and shaking inside, to the Mayor's impassioned speech about allowing dragon kind the freedom to be themselves and live openly among Katkind once more.
When the press conference finished, he slipped out of the room into the hall heading to the deputy mayor's office to wait. He had to give her his report on the damages to Enforcer Headquarters before he could get out of here.
His mind was tightly wound up over this business of dragon kind openly revealing themselves. It frightened him! It flew in the face of all the dire warnings his father drummed into him and that his grandfather had reinforced before he'd died, leaving Feral all alone. What was he to do? He had no mentor to give him guidance on how he should act or what action he should take in the face of this new development.
Feeling lost and confused, he moved to look out the window at the city he'd guarded for the past fifteen years. Pride filled him as he mused on how, though only a hatchling, he had managed to learn how to behave like an adult in the Kat world and rise through the ranks of the enforcers to become a leader that managed to keep this city safe despite all the obstacles thrown in his path. It felt good and it provided him with an income that allowed him to live on his own.
'Not many hatchlings could claim that,' he thought smugly and it didn't hurt that the job also kept him too busy to feel the loss of having no family....most of the time.
But the momentary feeling of pleasure faded as he stared out over the city and realized dragons would soon be flying openly through the city canyons and there was nothing he could do about it. The uncertainty of how this would affect his job and him personally had him on edge.
Despite his family's adamant stance against revealing themselves to other dragons, they were gone and he was left with trying to decide if those original reasons even applied now under these new circumstances. He wished he knew.......he wished he had someone to ask what he should do now. Would contacting the dragon community help him or make his situation worse?
A voice spoke up behind him, making him nearly jump out of his fur...so deep was he in his own thoughts.
"Oh, hello Commander! I hadn't realized you were here," Ms. Briggs said briskly as she moved quickly to her desk.
He turned away from the window to face her, shoving his disturbed thoughts to the back of his mind and focused on the job he'd been hired to do which helped steady him a little.
"You wanted my report on the damages to Enforcer Headquarters and since I was supposed to be here for the press conference, I brought it with me," he said handing over a file.
"Thank you. I appreciate your promptness. Was the damage extensive?" Callie asked as she took a seat and began glancing through the report.
"Unfortunately, it is. The control tower lost all its windows, some of the electronics suffered serious damage, and there are new holes in the flight line again. Before Turmoil's forces were finally defeated, I lost my entire alpha flight.... twelve jets demolished, twenty-four officers deceased....putting a huge hole in our defenses," he said, bleakly but added, reluctantly, "however, the storm on top of Turmoil's new style jets could have decimated my entire force, so I guess things could have been much worse instead.
"Oh, Commander, I'm so sorry for your many losses.....that is cause for concern. But you're right, it truly could have been so much worse if it hadn't been for the dragons coming to our rescue. I shudder to think what things would have been like under that female pirate," Callie said grimly.
Feral scowled. "I know! It burns my tail that she manages to acquire such new and deadly technology so easily and I can't even get more modern jets the normal way. I really wish I could find out who designed and built those fast and versatile jets for her. It would give us a fighting chance against those omegas but, so far, neither Turmoil nor any of her officers are talking even after hours of interrogation," he growled, frustrated.
For once, Callie truly felt Feral's pain and frustration. It wasn't fair the Mayor spent the city's budget on frivolous projects while the enforcers were chronically shortchanged. Unfortunately, she couldn't give him what he needed except for this one time.
"I know how badly your forces need an increase in budget, Commander, but you know how tight the that is due to.....ah....a certain persons spending habits. However, because of all the publicity from 'dragon fever', the Mayor's standing in the polls has risen and city funds have received a mild recharge so he is willing to give you a magnanimous infusion of funds......." she began to say then paused at the sour look on Feral's face.
".....Yes, that's how I feel too but we'll both have to accept that's all he's going to do and make the best of it, " she finished, smiling wanly at him.
Feral snorted. "A more regular increase in our budget would help more than a one time glut of funds but I won't complain. I'll just try to get it to stretch enough to cover our immediate needs for now," he said in resignation.
"Well I hope that extra plus the insurance payment for repairing your building and jets will be enough. I'll push the finance office to cut you a check before day's end. Meanwhile, go ahead and order the repairs to begin and forward the bill as usual."
"Thank you. I'll give them a heads up." She smiled and nodded at him, returning to the pile of work on her desk while he took his leave.
As he stepped into the elevator and punched the button for the lobby, he shook his head at the capriciousness of Manx. With one paw the tom takes money away then miserly hands some back. Well, at least he hadn't had to fight for funds this time. That should have made him happy but his mind drifted back to the fruitless interrogation he'd spent three hours on last night trying to find out where Turmoil had gotten those jets.
His fists clenched in frustrated anger and he grumbled to himself. Those getting on and off the elevator as it headed to the lobby, eyed him nervously and gave him a wide berth.
He ignored them as he thought about how the many budget cuts and lack of modern upgrades continually kept his enforcers always at a disadvantage against those damn omegas. Unbidden came the words of Ann Gora when she mentioned dragon kind might be able to take care of the omegas for the city much easier than the enforcers.
That pricked his pride and inflamed his temper knowing no one seemed to think his enforcers could do anything right when it came to the omegas. No one complained about their abilities to keep gang lords and minor criminals under control but when it came to the omegas.......it was a vote of no confidence. But it wasn't their fault.......he wanted to cry out.
The elevator finally reached the lobby and the doors opened. As he stalked across the lobby, making his way outside and down the broad staircase to his hummer parked in its designated spot, he reminded himself that Ms. Briggs' paws were constantly tied by Mayor Manx.
He'd been surprised to see how much she did sympathized with his plight. That was new! He should be thrilled to be getting this unexpected support and the extra funds, but he couldn't shake the loss of reputation the budget shortages had already caused him. It was soo unfair.......the lack of confidence in his enforcers and the dragon reveal.......both conspired to make him anxious, angry and sick at heart.
Climbing into his hummer, he slowly pulled out into traffic and headed back to his office where a report filled desk similar to Ms. Briggs' waited for him. It would be a long afternoon and, possibly, a long evening as he needed to get the repairs started, hold a meeting with his squadron leaders on how to replace the lost pilots and crews, plus plan on how to best utilize the extra funds they would be getting.
Around midnight..........
In the high mountains above the city, the moon rose in the heavens and cast an eerie light over the landscape. Shadows of huge flying creatures scudded across the moonlit sky heading toward a certain destination among the rocky crags and peaks.
Adair rode the warm evening currents, enjoying the air flowing over his wings as he flew toward the dragon's meeting place. Circling a few times, as was his habit, to ensure no one was observing him, Adair found the surrounding airspace free of anyone so felt safe to head directly for the hidden entrance.
At his approach the door in the mountain side slide silently open and he drifted into the huge entryway, the door closing behind him. Landing inside, he walked easily over the rough surfaced, black flooring of the wide and high ceilinged corridor toward the huge central chamber.
A large ornate door slid open and the sound of dragon voices raised in conversation or play struck his ears. He stepped through the entryway and stopped to look around a moment.
There were three young and one older dragon lounging in the heated fountain. Among the long tiers of rock seating that lined the walls, dragons sat in pairs or small groups, playing games, conversing, or watching hatchlings play. Smiling to himself, Adair headed for a small group of older dragons sitting and laying on the highest tiers in the room where it was the warmest and quietest, relaxing and talking.
"Adair! Welcome! I'd hoped to see you tonight," Trimaris said jovially. The others with him gave the red dragon similar warm welcomes and made room for him near them.
Sighing in pleasure at being in a safe place with his own kind, Adair settled himself in a slouched position, wings folded, body relaxed as he soaked up the heat and ambiance. "I take it you've all heard the news?"
Lethgorin, an old chestnut colored dragon, snorted in amusement. "How could we miss it with all the TV stations carrying the Mayor's speech on all channels and every news rag having full spreads on the subject."
"Yeah, it did cause a lot of excitement among the Kats but how do you all feel about it?" Adair asked, more seriously.
"Well it seems, on the surface, that you may have been right about how Kats might react to us but I feel its still too early to truly know if we'll be accepted completely or not. So I'd rather wait and watch for awhile longer," Trimaris said cautiously.
"Yes I know this is but a quick hurrah that could be forgotten quickly by Kat kind that is why its so vitally important we are seen flying around out in the open. Frequency is the key to getting the Kats used to us and accepting that we are not going away anytime soon. If we don't, the whole 'revealing' will be for naught," Adair objected, a bit forcefully, reverting to the old English style of speech in his distress.
"I understand this but dragon kind had a very good reason for hiding in the first place as you very well know. Just because we have finally found a city that might be more amendable to us doesn't mean we should throw caution to the winds. The past has taught us that lesson only too well and following it is what has kept us alive all these centuries," Trimaris reminded him, gently but firmly.
"I'm not advocating throwing out caution, I'm only suggesting that we take this opportunity to live like normal people once again but stay alert. Hiding is unhealthy, clearly proven by our much reduced numbers," Adair reminded him. "If we must return to hiding, we have to try and use this time of temporary openess to gather all those who have broken all contact with dragon kind and return them to the community."
Trimaris winced. Adair had a valid point but it was hard to set aside centuries of caution and fear. "You are right, of course. That is an important goal to attain while the time is right, but, Adair.....trying to change a mind set of many centuries simply won't happen overnight. The older the dragon, the more they will cling to the old ways. Change is frightening."
"I know, truly I do. That's why it will be the younger ones and some of us more adventurous older souls that will lead the way to our ultimate freedom," Adair said in ringing tones. "I'm not fool enough to think all dragon kind nor Katkind even, will embrace this new way of life. There will always be the fearful, the bigoted, and ones that will hate us no matter what we do or say, but we can't let that stop us from at least making the attempt."
Adair shifted his body into a more comfortable position before continuing. "Our biggest problem right now is obstruction from some of those nay sayers among us against those that wish to make this effort. I need you to help enforce the laws of our kind that state, 'everyone has a right to seek their own path and no one may impede them in that right'. Also, I'm very concerned on how the lost ones will be treated if we manage to convince them to return to the fold. Many of them will be hostile, confused, and afraid. We need some kind of plan for how we are going to ease them back into the community without causing too much stress on both sides."
Trimaris eyed the red dragon thoughtfully. Adair was the most brilliant thinker of his generation. His intelligent mind and mild psychic abilities, were what helped this community remain healthy and strong. His words carried a lot of weight and were never discounted so no one should be stonewalling his efforts except for the few he knew about. Were there more problems than he'd been aware of?
The elder dragon hoped not because the success or failure here in Megakat City would decide if dragons would go back to hiding, slowly fading away into extinction because breeding would be severely restricted or finally living free to increase their numbers. Despite being able to take Kat form, they could not breed that way which was why finding the lost ones was soo very important to their continued survival.
"Has there been negative talk about saving the lost ones that make you say that?" He asked in concern after many long minutes had passed.
"There's been some among the middle aged and a small number of the younger hot heads," Sushimi, a green colored dragon, admitted, slowly.
"But that's so stupid!" The blue dragon, Marin exclaimed. "Everyone is aware that without the lost ones, we can't increase our breeding numbers and we'll gradually cease to exist. What is so hard to understand?"
"Fear! That's what's keeping them from listening," the copper colored dragon, Comack interjected solemnly.
"So how do we ease their fears?" Marin demanded.
"By continuing to show them that Katkind is ready to accept us," Adair told them. "For that to work, we must be more visible. As for the lost ones......I'm hoping as they watch us flying freely in the open and how the Kats treat us, they may reach out to us. We must be ready for that. We also must have some method set up to counsel and aid them in adjusting to being in a community which some of them have never been a part of before."
"Oh come on! It can't be that simple Adair!" Byron, a gold dragon, snorted derisively.
"Of course not! But if we solve the problem with the omegas.....getting rid of them more permanently.....Kat kind will be grateful to us and it will show the lost ones that its safe to come out again. Don't forget! This city has been under siege for years so finally being free of that threat so they can live in peace once more will make them grateful to us which will allow them to accept our presence more easily."
"I agree with Adair. We can't go on as we have been for centuries. We're revealed now and it would be difficult to hide again at least for some of us who have already enjoyed the free air once more. We need to coax others to reveal themselves more and perhaps some of them could join us in removing the omega threat. The rest of the plan should fall into place much easier after that," Sushimi urged them.
"Yeah! I agree! I loved flying in that wicked storm and helping to take out that pirate she-kat and her forces felt great. It made me feel useful!" Marin enthused.
Comack grinned wolfishly. "Yeah, I have to admit that was exciting and the most fun I've had in a century."
"Sounds like we all had a good time taking out the bad guys and partaking in such a grand battle. I believe Adair has the right idea.....free the Kats from these constant threats and they should be grateful to us. If you're looking for volunteers, Adair, count me in for the next omega hunt," Byron interjected, grinning evilly and showing plenty of fang.
Adair could only grin in amusement at his companion's obvious enthusiasm. He'd been surprised and pleased they had come to his aid when he fought Turmoil. He hoped they'd continue to show such enthusiasm when the worst of the omegas made an appearance.
Trimaris eyed the group of dragons showing support for Adair. "Well, since you're all set to do this, I will do what I can to continue convincing our fellow dragons that this is the best for all of us. Some are very hardheaded and may never see things our way but for everyone of those, there will be many others that will see this is the way of the future for dragons. I just hope your plan to help the Kats against their enemies will make them grateful enough to be our friends."
"Well there will be holdouts on both sides that will remain obstinately opposed to us being friendly to one another but there is nothing we can say or do to change those mind sets, I'm afraid. But if we can sway the majority of the population in both camps we can consider the plan a success," Adair said quietly.
"Then I'll do my best to try and head off any trouble from the ones upset by this change. If all of you will keep me informed of any serious dissension before it becomes a dangerous problem, I'll let it be known that harassing the volunteers is detrimental to the well being of all dragon kind. I know it sounds trite but there's nothing else I could say to them that will make any difference to those that will not see."
Adair smiled, giving the oldest a warm hug. "That will be just fine. At least you will be alert to trouble and we'll continue to make this plan work. I truly feel we are on the right track and the future of dragon kind will be decided by the end of it."
"I hope so, Adair. I truly hope so," Tremaris sighed then asked, "You didn't, by any chance, have a precognition about this?"
The red dragon looked a bit uncomfortable when his friends stared at him in hope and concern at what he might say.
"Uh.....well not a precog really.....more like a strong feeling we are on the right path," he said uneasily.
"That's good enough for me!" Marin said feelingly.
The others nodded their heads in agreement. All feeling better about their decisions since Adair's psychic-laced feelings had always been very accurate.
Adair could only blush in embarrassment at everyone's confidence in him. It scared him a little to have everyone hold him that accountable for what their future would hold. Trimaris gave him a reassuring pat on his back.
"You'll do fine! Don't doubt yourself now," he murmured for Adair's ears only.
"I'll try not to. I want this to work for all our sakes, both Kats and dragons," Adair said softly, praying that all his efforts would pay off.