The cave was well lit, and warm. I stepped out around the door, letting the sounds and smells of our reptile companions waft over me. I loved it here, safe and comfortable and in great company. Five sets of large eyes followed me as i entered the and crossed over to the corner in which Ravinia, My dragon, was quietly slumbering. The science that had been used to put this impressive creature before was astounding, more than i truly wanted to think about. I was still unsure how i had been selected for this assignment. While most of the others had been picked because of their parents or personal achievements, i was nothing more than a dreamer who had good grades. My mother was a code writer for the industry that had produced the Animals.
Umbra Industries had been a world leader in limb regrowth and genetic modification for years. Project Night-Wing had been hidden from perhaps 75% of the company, as Genetic modification to this extreme was not exactly... legal. I did, however understand some of the mechanics that had gone into the design. A computer-neural interface had been inserted into our brains, and the brain of our dragons, allowing us to communicate via short range wireless. Our current devices had a maximum range of roughly two hundred feet. It was short range in every meaning of the sense, but it was the best we had. As i perambulated across the cave, nodding a greeting to each dragon i passed, i reached up behind my ear, pressing on a slightly raised node beneath my skin. i can't honestly describe the feeling of suddenly hearing someone's else' thoughts, but it is a terrifying if you have never experienced it before.
Greetings Cody. I'm glad you have decided to come see me. She was sulking. It consistently amazed me how much like a human teenager our creatures were. The science behind it was indeed incredible. And i am not sulking, i am only sleeping. i have a warm bed, cozy climate and a full belly. Who would not want to laze? Her sentiments brought a large smile to my face.
Your a lazy lizard, Rav. i had finished crossing the floor and was now standing at her side, looking down at her, as she was looking up at me with palm sized eyes. Ravinia was of the most beautiful dusky orange color, and covered i n two inch scales that were as hard as ice. i leaned against her side, enjoying the natural warmth. You are tired. And cold. Perhaps you should stay out of the rain, you never wear enough skins as it is. i listened absentmindedly as she went on about her views of humans, and how crazy we were. i didn't feel it necessary to remind her that much of her genetic coding had been taken from a human embryo. She was right on the aspect of me being tired. I was exhausted and the calmness of the cave coupled with the warmth of Ravinia's body heat was fast subduing me. I slid to the floor, still leaning against her. Ravinia wrapped her wing around me, encircling me in more warmth. The blessed darkness of sleep soon over took me, leaving me walking in the wake of dreams.
it was late when i awoke, and all the lights were off in the cave. Various snores could be heard around the room, accompanied by other sounds of night. Ravinia and the other dragons were asleep filling the cave with the sound of sonorous breathing. i could hear not so quiet whispering near the door to our apartment. As i listened closely, i weeded out Sarah's voice. she was rather excited about something, and was talking rather animatedly with whomever was on the other side of her. I decided that the conversation was animated enough that i wanted to be a part of it. i rose and worked around the various sleeping dragons, and piles of supplies, trying hard not to wake anyone. Most everyone would be asleep in their various beds up in the apartment, only Alex slept down here seeming to be more comfortable around his dragon. It was in fact Alex that Sarah was talking to. As i closed the distance between myself and them, a plethora of scientific terms floated to me.
"The professors and the scientists have made a new discovery in the neural-interlace! They've got a new one that has a longer range, and can transmit deeper thought pasterns. But they have also solved the problem of the early tissue degeneration in the neck vertebra of our dragons. " Alex was listening intensely, a look of eagerness plastered across his face. we all wanted to hear the solutions that could-and have led- to untimely and horrid deaths for us and our partners. we each had known at least one experiment to fail. " If what i've heard, they found a new way to splice the RNA code so that it has stronger bond, and the cells heal faster. " It was at that time that i chose to make my presence known.
"Not having your partner die is a great thing. The ensuing madness is something i'm sure we all want to avoid." If either of my friends where surprised at my sudden appearance, they did not show it. Alex scooted over to offer me a seat beside him on the steps, Which i took. "Your right," Responded Sarah, leaning against the wall.
watching friends being driven insane often causes problems. we all remember Cassie." It wasn't a question. Cassie had been one of the first we lost due to a biological failure. Cassie's dragon had a abnormal growth hormone that had caused its heart to grow till it was to large to survive. Watching her ensuing decent into a crippling depression, and then to suicide had been a shocking experience for all of us. it opened our eyes to just how fragile our survival was. an uneasy silence sunk over our group in which each of us was probably relieving our nightmares.
It was Alex who spoke first, dragging us out of our fog of distant thoughts. "It seems that there is hope for us, then. Does the scientist know when they want to install the new hardware?" Sarah shook her head no, sighing quietly. there was little conversation after that, my two companions drifting off to their rooms. i sat for much longer on the step, contemplating the issues facing us.
Ravinia's voice interrupted my thinking, not long after that, commenting on the darkness of my fears. This project was about making humans, and creatures with them, stronger. Sometimes it feels like our unity has only made us weaker. I could see her in the darkness, quietly stretching. It was a very feline action. She quietly made her way across the cave, weaving silently amongst her slumbering brethren. What is it that truly is ailing you. You are rarely one for dark thoughts. Ravinia had reached my side by this time, and she sat beside me. i slumped against her flank, letting out a long sigh. Cody, you are part of a amazing program. You brought all of us to life. I for one am very grateful. I felt her tousle my hair with a warm puff of breath. Come, you are still tired, i can see it. And with that being the end of our conversation, i tiredly made my way back up the stairs to fall asleep in my bed.
I had expected dreams that night, but awoke the next morning with no recollection of my sleep. i stumbled my way into the kitchen, where various sleep consumed teenagers were milling about, waiting for sustenance. The coffee pot was gurgling away, signaling the first round of morning stimulus was on its way. Clara was rummaging in the fridge, i'm sure looking for some sort of breakfast. i made my way over to an empty chair, patiently waiting for my coffee to cool off. Slowly we began see signs off life from my assembled companions. It wasnt until the first strip of bacon hit the pan, however, that real life was found. It was Marcus who broke the silence first, opening the day with a bad pun. Clara threw a peice of toast at him, whihc he promptly ate, returning a flourishing bow to her. we all broke out in laughter, mimiking applause.
Only Kyla an i had to work today, and we left the house while everytone else was stillmilling about in sleeping atire. as a group, we had two vehicles. one owned by me, and one owned by Kyla. I had an old chevy truck, and kyla a small suv. Neither vehicle was pretty or new. HJowever, they were reliable and hard working. I jumped my truck, mentally maping out the road to Graysons farm, and to where his tractor wind was sweeping over the muddy field as i pulled up to the old barn. The farmer's tractor was inside, something i was greateful for. As i hoped, the floor of the bar was dry, but dusty. The key was laying on the seat, just as Grayson had promised. i Reached over to the gas valve to turn in on, and noticed a drip running down the engine block. I follwoed it up to the carbourator, tracing a gas line. The fluis was running out of the side of the carbourator, between a seal.
I returned to my truck, grabbing a tool box from the bed. i returned to my job, selecting a ratchet and socket from amongst my assembled tools. Witha few deft tunes, i had the carburetor head off, discovering our quarry. A mud-dobber had built a nest in the air tube, blocking the fuel flow to the engine. Using a screw driver, i cleaned out the dirt, being careful not to push the debri into the engine block. Replacing the engine part, i tightened everything down, and check the fuel flow. The Teractor only spun once before roaring to life. I climbed up ontyo the seat, depressing the clutch. I could feel the heathy rumble of the engine through my feet, bringing a smile to my face. lets take it for a spin.. i thought, slipping the vehicle into first gear. Careful to mange my throttle i eased the tractor out of the bar, and into the field.
The tractor maneuvered through the gears with no swing of a problem, and i returned it to the garage determined i had resolved the issue. i returned to my truck with the keys in hand, happy that i had no larger issue. Grayson's house was only about mile down the road nestled between two small hills covered in wheat. The old style farm house was tall, and made of bricks, reminiscent of a time left long ago. A large black SUV that i did not recognize sat in the center of his drive, blocking any way out. Grayson was on his porch with a shot gun in his hands. Two middle aged males stood in his yard, looking rather calm for having a shot gun pointed at them.
"Sir, we are not trying to cause trouble, we-"
"I don't care what you say you are!" argued Grayson. "I dont know you, you have no proof of what you say, and ill be damned if i let two unknown people wander my cattle fields! you may as well be thieves! Now off my property!" The farmer brought his shotgun up to his shoulder. It was a clear dismissal. Both men walked to their truck, got in, and drove away. i had a feeling they were studying my face as the drove by, behind their blacked out windows. I made my way to the porch, very curious now.
"What was that about, Grayson?" I inquired, ascending his front porch steps.
"Im not entirely sure. Two men who i'm sure are not who they say they are. Said they were looking for a group of runaways, and wanted to search my farm. they'ed been going to all the farms in the area. Bad news, if you ask me. So, what's the damage?" Grayson smiled as i elaborate the repair to him. He pulled out his wallet to pay me, but i refused. i had only been working for a short while, and felt that it wasn't worth any money. We finally selted on a meal from the local diner, and i was on my way. I normally enjoyed the short drive into town, but i felt that Grayson was correct: The men would indeed prove to be trouble.