THERE BE DRAGONS!

Chapter 15: Revealing Time

Adair returned to the citadel to find the discussion still raging on. He sighed, deciding to take a nap rather than listen to the debate. It took the rest of the night and well past lunch the next day before everyone felt they had their say and all issues had been discussed.

Sitting in his usual spot, Adair listened as Trimaris called for the vote.

"We will vote on the issue to reveal our Kat personas to the community. All those for..." he called out. His mate tallied the paws then nodded to the elder. "All those opposed..." Again the elder's mate took the count then told him the result.

"The ayes have it. Those willing to do so now, please show your Kat self and tell us what you do for a living," Trimaris announced. "I will go first." The elder dragon changed his form and became a white haired and ordinary looking tom of solid gray coloring. "My name is Leo Jackson and I am a retired historian."

Adair smiled at him warmly then announced, "well most everyone already knows who I am but for those that hadn't seen me..." Adair became Jake. "I am Jake Clawson, ex-enforcer and presently a mechanic working in the Megakat City Salvage Yard." Then he changed to Razor. "I'm sure I don't have to tell who I am now," he said, mildly amused. There were gasps of shocked surprise from those that hadn't been there when he first revealed himself or hadn't believed what they'd been told. "I must ask that my identity as a SWAT Kat never be revealed to Katkind. My usefulness would be lost and my partner's life put in jeopardy by our other enemies."

Emboldened by two of their most powerful and oldest dragons, others began to follow suit. It took more than an hour and a half but finally nearly all attending had revealed who and what they were. For their historical records, a scribe took down everyone's Kat and Dragon names, occupation, and addresses with phone numbers. The very small minority that refused to reveal, were not harassed or bothered about their decision.

Adair sighed in relief. With that taken care of, he presented the last piece of business that had everyone up in arms. Still a bit unsettled by what they had done, the community waited to hear what their oracle dragon had to say, hoping it wasn't more upsetting news.

"I know you're all tired of me now but since you were all too upset earlier, I wasn't able to tell you more about the other lost one who showed up to aid me during the battle with Dark Kat. Here is where knowing who we are as Kats became an issue in the first place. It turns out the lost one was none other than the city's Chief Enforcer, Ulysses Feral," Adair said, dropping the bomb and getting the expected result.

A ripple of exclamations of shock and surprise flew around the room at that revelation. Ignoring the commotion, he pressed on to say, "this lost one is only ninety years old, has lived on his own since his early seventy's, and had managed to not only survive but take his own future into his paws and joined the enforcers. He worked his way up the ranks swiftly to be the leader you see today. I've had the privilege of speaking with him and am very impressed by his firm morals and honesty. He never took the rogue way even though his father and grandfather felt punishment in the form of physical abuse and emotional deprivation were the proper way to raise a hatchling.

Loud cries of outrage and anger drowned out what else Adair wanted to say. He was forced to wait until the angry fervor died down.

His friend Comack spoke over the gradually quieting room, to declare, "I was there when he was revealed and I can tell you he was quite the warrior. He used his enforcer trained skills to help Adair take out Dark Kat but it was obvious the poor thing hadn't seen a gentle touch or kind word most of his life."

"Yes my friend. Ulysses is a very lonely hatchling who desperately wanted someone to care for him. His father nor grandfather promised to mentor him. You can imagine just how furious that made me. I was so amazed by his bravery, intelligence, and strength of will that I decided to be that mentor and gave him my promise. Know now, that I, Adair, give the hatchling and lost one known as Ulysses Feral, my protection," Adair announced formally.

The attending dragons roared their approval and acknowledgment of the promise. When they calmed down once more, Adair continued.

"He's a bit nervous and worried about how he will be received by the community. It seems his family believed being in Kat form and totally abandoning their dragon one, was the best way to protect themselves from hunters. Unfortunately, they were wrong. That was how his family was decimated leaving him the only survivor. So being a dragon is still very new to him and for that reason, I'm allowing him time to be a dragon before formally introducing him to you. Please honor that wish and leave him in peace until I say otherwise," he added.

"Huh! You have your work cut out for you," Sushimi chimed in, snorting in amusement. His injured wing carefully supported by a metal framework and sticking out to the side like the sail on a boat. "I've heard how hidebound, stubborn and hot tempered he is."

Adair snorted back and smiled. "You don't know the half of it. Dealing with him as a SWAT Kat, I bore the brunt of most of his ire. He is already finding it difficult to switch mental gears to treat me with respect rather than think of me as a too young and brash Kat. He'll be a pawful alright but I have no doubts he'll be a valuable asset to the community when he reaches adulthood. Right now, though, he's very shy and nervous about this dramatic change in his life. It will take time for him to come around to being who he really is."

"Poor thing. I'm glad he's been found and I can't think of a better person to help him adjust than you Adair," Trimaris said warmly.

Murmurs of agreement came his way from most of the dragons in the room, none objecting to Adair taking on the responsibility of training and acclimating the newest member of the community nor waiting to accept him when he was ready. Pleased that matter had been dealt with so easily, Adair now addressed another, more serious matter.

"There's just one more issue to be addressed then you may all take off." Groans met that announcement but Adair ignored it. "There are many of you still upset by the fact my partner T-Bone was in the area of our home. I swear to you by my blood and family that he never saw the lair's exact location and even if he had, he can be trusted to never betray us. Does anyone have any further objections to him knowing about us and having been close to the citadel?"

There was a brief spat of discussion but after some twenty minutes, heads shook in the negative. Only one or two older dragons seemed still unhappy but made no objection and none requested any action against T-Bone.

Sighing in relief, he smiled at everyone and said, "okay, then that's it and you can finally go about your business, we're done here." Cheers met that announcement and there was a mass evacuation from the chamber though none left the mountain as yet since it was still daylight.

Adair sighed, sinking down to a reclining position near his friends. He had no desire to leave and wanted to just talk and relax, winding down after such a trying twenty-four hours.

"You did it! I'm amazed you really pulled it off," Meris said, admiringly.

The red dragon smiled and shrugged, saying easily, "I'd like to think it was just time to be dealt with and many felt the same."

"It still wouldn't have happened if you hadn't pushed the issue, Adair, so no false modesty now," Sushimi insisted, smiling warmly.

Adair blushed and dipped his head at all the congratulations.

Trimaris dipped his broad head down and nuzzled Adair warmly. "You have done a great service to your kind and we are very grateful. But I'm not so overcome by the success to not be a bit cautious still about our future. There will strife, disagreements, some clashes with Kats, and other misunderstandings waiting for us in the wings but this has been a good start."

"Yeah, I certainly am aware of that and will most likely be at the heart of most of it as a SWAT Kat along side Feral who will find his job more of a trial when he too reveals himself. Only time will tell how it all falls out," Adair murmured then changed the subject a bit. "Hey, I was surprised to learn you are an engineer, Sushimi but not that you were a historian, Trimaris," he said with pleased good humor.

Sushimi smiled, a little self conscious. "Thanks and I was also amazed to learn you are an enforcer Byron."

Byron shrugged his shoulders. "I've always protected the underdog and I found the enforcers the best place to help others, though you could have knocked me over with a feather when I learned my own superior is a dragon and younger than me!" He snorted in amusement.

"Oh, now that's going to cause some problems. Feral does intend to reveal himself when he gets over his nervousness about it and though you are older, you will have to still show him respect for the position he holds. However, in private, I'm sure he wouldn't mind some dragon tips from you as well as providing him an ear that will listen, when I'm not available," Adair suggested warmly.

"I hadn't thought of that, but you're right and I'd be pleased to help him when he needs it. I always felt he was rather lonely...now I know why. He's never had anyone to confide in so that could have contributed to his more abrasive mannerisms," Byron said, thoughtfully.

"Could be," Adair agreed, shrugging. "You being a teacher, now that was a surprise, Comack."

The golden grinned, giving an 'aw shucks' look. "I've always loved the little ones. They are so eager to learn and I enjoy it a lot."

"I think that's so sweet. I have to say, being in the open like this will be great for my business," Meris added, smirking.

"Oh, I just bet it will. Being a lawyer, especially a criminal one, is probably going to come in handy some time soon," Byron snorted.

"Well, what's next on your list of things for the community to be shocked about, Adair," Byron said archly.

Adair rolled his eyes but said, "the only thing left is finding the lost ones...you know that."

"Yeah, but I still don't know how we're going to do that. Unless they come out voluntarily, we're still not going to find them," Byron said, more seriously.

"Yes, I know but all we can do is be available when they do and that means being a dragon among the Kats more frequently."

Everyone around the red shivered nervously. "Yeah, that's all we have to do but we're still too nervous to do it yet!" Meris grimaced.

"Give it time," Trimaris murmured encouragingly.

They could only agree that it would take time but soon the skies over Megakat City would have flights of dragons soaring over it...Adair was certain of it.