Dragon
Wars
Episode 2: Crimes of the War
Act One
In the morning, an Arrow Pecker and a Diablo Sharktail play in the air above Ottawa.
Narrator: Around the globe, we made peace with the dragons. We're finally living and working together… and it only took us ten years. The only problem is… we haven't made a utopia, because some prefer the days of the war rather than the idea of peace.
The Alpha Team and the Regges are gathered in the new Dragon Shelters, where Drake is quizzing them on dragons. The teams are split into two: Ethan, Quinton, Bazooka, Crossword and Javelin on one team, then Michael, Dozer, Stryker and the Stillwells on the other.
Narrator: Personal note: I established the Dragon Shelters as a job for me and the Alpha Team. And my downside is when I'd have to go through training.
Drake: Every dragon has its own unique abilities that give it a special habitat to live in. Which dragon can withstand the coldest regions?
Ethan: Oh! Yukisaurus!
Quinton: Because its body heat is so warm-blooded, it's higher than even a horse's.
Drake: Correct! Point to Team One. Score is now 25 to 10.
Bazooka: And you started with 10.
Rocky: Oh, yeah? Well, the game's not over. Wait, how long have we been playing?
Drake: Next question. Every Hydro-Class dragon can swim and have fishlike scales, but what's the shot limit of a Spectacle Ironback?
Ethan: [to Quinton; whispers] I don't think they can count that high.
Dusty: Oh, really? Let's find out. Fin! Flip!
Fin and Flip shoot eight hot, water squirts at the other team, who barely manage to duck in time.
Rocky: Looks like it's about four.
Dozer: And we don't have to count.
Drake: It's eight. You were half-right. Five points. Now, here's another fact. For a dragon, the colour of their teeth means their diets. What class has the same diet, and why?
Stryker: Diamond-Class, because they're all meat-eaters with their teeth being black.
Drake: Correct. That makes… 25 points for your team. It's a tie.
Bazooka: [ticked] HEY! WHAT?! How can you betray us and go for the dumb ones?
Drake: It's not about indicating who is dumb or not. It's all about sharing your intel on dragons, so that we can teach ourselves on how to train the captured ones before we can release them into the city.
Crossword: He's got a point there.
Michael: Yeah? Well, I'm bored and I say we can break this tie… with some fighting.
Michael jumps over his table, balling up some fists, and Bazooka joins in to face him.
Regges: Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!
Voice: Atten-hut!
Right on cue, the teams stand up in salute as Ironfist enters the scene.
Ironfist: So… it looks like you're having a quiz.
Drake: Yes, ma'am. It's the General's orders to, uh… assist the Regges on how to train dragons.
Ironfist: Okay. But what about the exercise that you were supposed to do?
Drake: I already did it.
Ironfist: [beat] Turn around.
Drake turns around, and then Ironfist kicks him in the butt, making him fall down.
Ironfist: No pain, no gain. The only time when you're feeling strong is when you're in agony. Now start again, garbage.
Drake: [baffled; shocked] Uh… garbage? Me?
Ironfist: What are you waiting for? RUN!
In a hurry, Drake makes a run for it with the Captain staring at him.
Tyler is in the infirmary, where he consults with Ethan as Clover stands at the side. He is showing him the blueprints of a new prosthetic hand for him.
Tyler: Glad you can make it here, Ethan. Now that I've completed what I need, I can make myself a new prosthetic. I've got all the mechanics I need, minus the minerals.
Ethan: Yes, sir. But, um…. I'm not sure if Clover could do it. I mean, we were impressed to hear the Captain made her arms out of Waspo lava, but it doesn't mean she could do it herself.
Tyler: That's why I've brought these.
Tyler gestures Ethan to a pile of rocks at the corner, and Clover looks amazed to see this.
Ethan: Aiyah. Where'd you get all these rocks?
Tyler: It's all from a quarrel just two blocks outside of the city. Now, what we're going to do is sample each of the rocks in a different kind, find out which matches the plating on Rose's arms, and make the prosthetic.
Ethan: Seems fair. But, uh… how can we make Clover spit them out?
Tyler: We've got pills that can make dogs barf. Now let's begin. Start with a little sandstone appetizer.
Ethan takes out one rock and gives it to Clover, who eats it. Next, he gives her a pill to swallow whole. After a while of waiting, Clover spits out some lava. Tyler picks it up with tongs and begins to work on it like a blacksmith, but after cooling it off with water, the results show only glass.
Tyler: Glass. I should've known.
Tyler tosses the glass, shattering it, and Ethan takes out a piece of ebony.
Ethan: How about this one? Ebony. Maybe… this could work.
Ethan puts the ebony into Clover's mouth, where she eats it. He and Tyler wait for a while, until they begin to feel intense heat.
Ethan: Phew! It's getting hot in here.
Tyler: Now that you mentioned it….
They soon discover that Clover is turning bright red and sizzling with extreme heat.
Tyler: She's gonna blow! Give her the pills before she blows us to kingdom come!
Ethan gives Clover the pill, almost burning his hand in the process. Just after five minutes, Clover spits out the ebony, and she begins to cool off with the temperature going down.
Ethan: Aiyah.
Tyler: Screw the ebony. Let's try again.
Meanwhile, Drake is still running on the sidewalk, looking exhausted and sweaty, like he is out of breath. He makes a quick stop and drinks from his water bottle, until Ironfist shows up behind his back with a glare.
Ironfist: Hey! I didn't say you can take a break.
Drake: Augh, gimme a break. I can't keep running when I'm-
Ironfist: MARCH!
Again, the frightened and alarmed Drake makes a run for it. But as he runs, he growls in frustration.
Drake: Augh! I oughta make her-
Then, he gets an idea. Drake looks to the side to see Shadow hiding in the bushes. He sneaks his way over and whispers something into his ear, which makes the dragon snicker to understand him. As soon as Drake kicks back and relaxes on the grass, Ironfist shows up and towers over with a glare.
Ironfist: What's this? Napping on the job?
Drake: Well, it's a gorgeous day outside, so I thought-
Ironfist: That's earned you fifty more laps. Now get your ass off!
Shadow shows up from behind. He gets covered in static electricity and it makes Ironfist's hair stand on end, then it electrocutes her prosthetic arms to short-circuit, causing them to hit herself on the torso. So many bystanders witness the scene. They laugh at the Captain as they take pictures of her, and Drake begins walking along with Shadow at his side.
Drake: Now that's more like it, eh bro?
[Shadow chirps]
Drake: I'd say this is going to be a good run back to the Shelters after this.
Later that evening in the General's office, Stanley, looking mad, puts a newspaper down on the desk.
Drake: "Puffy Hair"? Well, some women are always changing their hair these days.
Drake chuckles nervously, but Stanley just glares at him in anger.
Drake: Uh… maybe we could just say-
Stanley: Enough! Rose had to spend three hours getting her arms fixed, and three more to fix her hair. All triggered by your dragon's lightning bolt?
Drake: That sounds a bit too excessive, sir. Dark Sabers ride lightning bolts, and they-
Stanley: That's not the point! Of all the havocs you could pull off, it had to be this one. Rose Tymbark was humiliated in public because of you.
Drake: But sir, she's the one kicking my ass, literally. And whenever I have to train, she pushes me through my limits.
Stanley: Listen, I don't like it either, but basic training is all about pushing over our limits. More than that, I gave you the responsibility of training the dragons, which everyone knows. All eyes are upon you, son. Whatever those creatures do reflects on you, and whatever you do reflects on me.
Drake: Understood, sir.
Stanley: I think starting tomorrow, you should have some time to just follow orders and keep up the pace… without your dragon.
Shadow, who is standing beside Drake, is shocked to hear all that.
Drake: Sorry, Shadow. Orders are orders.
Stanley: But before you go, you're on garbage duty.
Later, Drake walks outside the facility with a garbage can, and he dumps it all in the bigger trash can. Shadow sniffs it, and he snorts in disgust.
Drake: Yeah, I know, it's disgusting in there.
Suddenly, Ironfist shows up and pins him on the side of the trash can. She holds onto his hair, agonizing him as well as Shadow who is feeling it.
Ironfist: Had a good afternoon, Private? Because I didn't, because I had to be in my tent, mending my hair and fixing my arms.
Drake: Yeah, I, uh… could feel how very upsetting it was when-
Ironfist: If you think you're funny, I don't think so because I didn't laugh at all.
Drake: Well, hey. You had what was coming for ya. It's not my fault that you're so difficult to everyone.
Ironfist: [fuming] Do you think the General asked what I wanted when he told me you're a war hero?!
Drake: But I am, so-
Ironfist: Life is not a fantasy. It's some Disney movie where you sing a little song and your insipid dreams magically come true! Because those men who went rogue are still in Gatineau, which had to be bordered, and nobody is sure about what to do. So get that through your thick skull before I'd have to crack it open for you. You got that?
Ironfist tightens her grip to make Drake respond as he recoils in pain again.
Drake: Yeah, yeah. We got it.
Then, Ironfist lets go of him before taking her leave.
Ironfist: You may be a king to your subjects, but without them… who else would you be? I will see you in 0600 hours, where we will be doing a more motivating training course.
As the Captain leaves, Shadow rubs on his snout, and growls as he is about to attack her, but Drake stops him by pulling on his tail.
Drake: Shadow, don't. If we anger her any further, she'll make us work overnight. Let's just… go home and get a goodnight's sleep. It's gonna be a warm evening tonight.
During the night, a mysterious figure (only distinguishable with large claws) cuts down distribution transformers, however leaving footprints in the dirt.
Act Two
The next morning, Drake is asleep in the garage with Shadow, but he looks like he is sweating. He gets up to see his bed is soaking wet.
Drake: What the hell?
He walks over through the house to check on the AC, but the power is off, much to his shock.
Drake: The power's out?! Tyler!
Tyler wakes up in bed, also sweating like crazy.
Tyler: Augh, the heat! It feels like we're back in San Francisco. Who tinkered with the thermostat.
Drake: No one did. The power's out.
Tyler: It's what?
Tyler grabs the remote for the TV, but he presses on the power button and nothing happens to the screen. But he looks outside to find so many transformers knocked down.
Tyler: Drake, get your dragon ready.
Drake and Tyler ride on Shadow in the air, only to find all of downtown Ottawa having the same blackout as their neighbourhood. But they find citizens surrounding Centre Block where Stanley addresses them. Shadow lands on the ground next to the General.
Stanley: Everyone, calm down. We're all going through this blackout as much as you are.
Citizen 1: But a dragon did this, didn't it? Look at the floor.
One of them is pointing at the tracks on the dirt, which Quinton examines.
Quinton: Oh! Those are Ironback tracks. You can tell by the half-moon shaped arches. That's Dragon 101 guys, I don't gotta fill you in on that.
Drake: So, a dragon walked through town. An Ironback, according to my friend, Quinton.
Citizen 2: You're the Dragon King, aren't you? How are we supposed to do any work in this weather without our boots?
Citizen 3: This is outrageous!
Then, Colin (one of Gordon's friends) walks over in the scene, addressing the citizens.
Colins: This is what my friend Gordon was trying to warn everyone before he left us. Those demons are upending our cars! Turn people's houses into piles of rubble! They even destroyed our power, disturbing a man's rest! Can't you see these bags under my eyes?
Tyler: [to Drake] He's right, he's hideous.
Colin: These are wild and unpredictable beasts! You need to inform Gordon's team, which they call Dragon-Eaters, and deal with this matter. If you don't, the dragons will eat us out of house and home and destroy the entire city!
As the angry crowd continues to yell, Drake tries to intervene and calm everyone down.
Drake: They don't mean any harm. They're just animals trying to survive.
Tyler: Listen to yourselves. "The power's out! My feet are cold!" We're Canadians! It's always cold around here, and we survived a few years without electricity! We'll fix the power supply. You'll be back to work in no time.
Stanley: You all heard Jones. You'll be having your power back online.
The citizens suddenly feel at ease to hear that, except for Colin.
Colin: That's it? No consequence for these dragons?
Stanley: This is only a minor situation, Colin. The world isn't coming to an end with just a power outage. And the Dragon-Eaters can't be trusted.
Colin: I don't know about that. Gordon once said he would be willing to cease the hunting, if we negotiate with him. More than that, Dalloway set up the fact about Captain Tymbark being humiliated. There's no telling what else they'll do or what he would do himself.
Drake: Are you saying I told the dragons to do-
Stanley: Enough! And Colin, whatever Dalloway does… I will look into it.
Colin: Suit yourself, General. You're the boss… or are you?
As he watches Colin leave, Drake is about to go after him, until Ironfist steps in front of him.
Ironfist: Hold it right there.
Drake: This is not one of those times, Captain.
Ironfist: Not one of those times? I told you you have training, so let's get going.
Later in the Shelters, Drake drops to the floor for push-ups. Ironfist stands in front of him, putting her foot on her back.
Drake: I should be doing something else than just-
Ironfist: Hey, less talk, more pain!
Drake pushes himself up, while Ironfist pushes him down with her foot.
Ironfist: Come on, kid. You gotta feel the burn to get tougher.
Drake: [growls]
Ironfist: Oh, you're gonna growl at me? Well, this calls for something else.
She removes her foot, and puts two cinderblocks on Drake's back. The heavy weights nearly make him fall down, but he uses all of his strength to push himself up.
Ironfist: Okay. Now for the next phase.
Next, Drake is running across the football field by himself, huffing and puffing as he runs. Then, when he passes through two cages, Ironfist douses him with a bucket of water, which causes him to shiver from feeling icy cold.
Drake: What the hell?! What was that?!
Ironfist: You needed to cool off, didn't you? It's just icy because it's summer.
Drake: [irritated] You're enjoying this far too much! Watching me in pain while you just-
Ironfist: Less talking and more running. Now go!
Ironfist kicks Drake's rear end, forcing him to continue running.
Drake: Goddamn. That demon-witch.
Next, Drake pulls himself up on a metal bar, while Ironfist coaches him.
Ironfist: Come on, keep pulling. Do it for the energy inside of you. If you can't pull yourself up, you'll be dead meat.
Drake: But what's the point of training when the war's over?
Instead of answering that question, Ironfist slaps him on the rear end, and Drake falls down on the floor.
Ironfist: The world is never in peace. There's always people out there who want to beat the crap out of you. So… do it again.
Drake growls in frustration, but he quickly jumps back up and continues pulling himself on the bar.
Act Three
Tyler is in the Shelters infirmary, talking to Gilbert in private about the dragon problem.
Tyler: With a blackout, we may not have any power for a week or two, if we have to repair every transformer in town. But at the same time, we can't just let dragons roam freely like raccoons. Hey, we could put up signs!
Gilbert: Signs? For dragons?
Tyler: No! For the people.
Gilbert: Don't get me wrong. It's a general idea, but we're not big readers, Tyler.
Tyler: Then, uh… we'll build a huge net and stretch it around the downtown area.
Gilbert: Nets? You know some of them breathe fire.
Tyler: [peeved] I know that, Gilbert! Augh! Maybe Colin was right. We can't keep this up.
Drake is walking down the hallway, when he overhears what Tyler said, and he begins to eavesdrop on him.
Tyler: Maybe we should formulate a curfew. Have the domesticated dragons outside, and at 1700 hours indoors or in the backyards, chained or caged. That should work.
Gilbert: Okay, but what about Quinton's theory.
Tyler: What do you mean?
Gilbert: He says the tracks were made by an Ironback. What we can do is identify and isolate all the families who have Spectacle Ironbacks in their custodies. We cannot just keep it to ourselves. We'll have to inform the team.
Tyler: No, not yet. Because Rose will stick her nose into this and she'll have us all be more focused on the future.
Gilbert: Hmmm. You're probably right.
Drake overhears everything and he walks away, baring everything he heard in mind.
Drake: Yeah. Because she's the Captain, and they're just drill sergeants. Those two can talk about dragons and dilemmas, but what about me? I have to go through a training course with that ogre?!
Then, Drake pauses when he thinks about something, and he widens his eyes.
Drake: Wait…. What if…?
Afterwards he's in the locker room, where the Alpha Team are standing.
Drake: We're going on night patrol.
Rocky: Night patrol! I love it!
Dusty: But… what's it for?
Drake: To keep an eye on the dragons. Make sure they don't get blamed for anything else.
Ethan: Blamed? What do you mean blamed?
Michael: Whatever it is, I'm sure it has something to do with somebody out there.
Drake: I don't know how it works… but I think Captain Ironfist has something to do with it.
Quinton: The Captain? Are you nuts, Drake? She's a soldier, not a troublemaker.
Drake: Like I said, I don't know how it's happened, but it might be. Her team's been slaying dragons since the war broke out, and if anyone would understand their behavior problems… it would be SC Reg.
Rocky: That would make sense. [beat] Would it?
Ethan: Drake, this is absurd. Captain Rose Tymbark is a soldier, a member of the Canadian Army. If she is doing those things to blame the dragons, she would know better than that. But… what we can do is keep track of the dragons in Ottawa, find some sort of backup power to repair all security cameras, and do the night patrol, if we can.
Quinton: Um, have you cleared this with our parents? Because some of us might not be allowed out after a certain hour.
Michael: [smugly] Not allowed? Or afraaaaid?
Quinton: Hey! Things happen after dark.
Drake: Guys! We have to do this. If we don't do something about it, our dragons will be targets to the Dragon-Eaters.
Dusty: Permission to shoot first and ask questions later?
Rocky: Permission to skip the question?
Drake: We're just patrolling! No one is shooting anyone! Not even blowing up.
Rocky: Aw, that's bullshit. How can night patrolling be so fun?
Ethan: It's not supposed to be fun. It's work.
Michael: I can't work all night. It'll give me bands under my eyes, and this face is too pretty for wrinkles at a young age.
Ethan: Quit your bellyaching. Unless you want to have Surfboard in a cage all night, hmmm?
Michael: [beat] Augh, you made your point.
[bell rings]
Drake: We'll talk later. We have a customer.
Drake walks out of the locker room and down the hall to the main lobby, where Ironfist stands there. He stares at her for a few seconds, just before he notices McKenzie sitting on a couch.
McKenzie: Ah, Drake! So good you could come.
Drake: Morning, McKenzie. I never thought you're interested in dragons. So… what can I get you?
McKenzie: I'm not here for a dragon. You know what this is?
McKenzie reaches over and takes out an empty bucket.
Drake: Uh, a bucket?
McKenzie: Ha! Funny, but no, it's me milking bucket. I used this for every cow I've milked for twenty years. But some of me cows won't give any milk. You'll see there's not a single drop, and I had to yank on poor Haley for three hours.
Ironfist: Apparently, he claims that because of your dragon subjects roaming freely, the farm animals are terrified.
Drake: So you're blaming me for it without any proof?
McKenzie: Nay. I've seen this sort of mess before. Back when I was a wee lad living in Scotland, I had a goat with me mother. She was mean, ornery, ate everything in sight. The goat was so scared of her, she couldn't give milk. So I'm thinking the cows are scared of the dragons, and I'm here for you to help me out on this.
Drake: Well… I can't say I can control dragons, but I'll see if I can… help them relax with dragons around.
Then, a beeping is heard. McKenzie reaches into his pocket to take out his phone, seeing a text message.
McKenzie: Good Lord, that's my neighbours. His chickens aren't laying eggs because of the dragons.
Drake: Augh. [sighs] Okay. I'll tell you what, McKenzie. We'll make an appointment with both you and the neighbours with my team. See if we can calm them down around-
Ironfist: No need. My team can assist you. They need to learn how to train dragons anyhow.
Drake: [baffled] I don't know….
Ironfist: You don't know? What do you mean you don't know? Are you in need of a refresher course?
Drake: [flustered] Eh, no, ma'am. I don't. I'm more used to being with my team than anyone else.
Ironfist: Then perhaps… invited Miss Falcon with you. She's your intern, so call her over.
Drake: Okay. [to McKenzie] But how long do I have?
McKenzie: No one's in a rush, lad.
Drake nods his head in agreement, and he walks over to Ethan who waits for him.
Drake: You guys do the night patrol without me. It may take some time for me to catch up, but find out everything you can to see who is wreaking havoc.
Act Four
In the afternoon, a storm is starting to brew near Ottawa. Drake, Vanessa and the Regges are in the dairy farm with three cows, trying to get them used to Shadow, a Pecker and a Sharktail. The chickens are among them as well, attended by McKenzie who watches them.
Drake: Come on, Bethany. You can do it. Come on.
Drake tries to push a cow closer to the dragons.
Drake: You'll really like them if you get to know them.
Vanessa: The dragons look scary but they're just big, scaly reptiles.
Dozer: I don't know if this should work. Should we assist with the cows?
McKenzie: You must. Because if the chickens cannot lay eggs, they'll be killed and eaten for supper. For the cows? If they don't give milk because they're empty or too stubborn, the same thing.
Stryker: Those are the barnyard rules.
Ironfist: Rest assured, Mr. Hackett. My troops will know what to do.
The Sharktail snaps at the Pecker, causing them both to fight, and the cow runs away before Drake raises his arms up to calm them down.
Drake: Okay, um… what we need to do is show the cows that dragons may not be so terrifying once you get to know them.
Vanessa: Right? Like the Beast, in Disney's Beauty and the Beast? He was a scary-looking guy. When I was a little girl, I was so terrified of him, I couldn't watch the rest of the movie until I learned that he died in the end. So after getting to know him better, I realized that he wasn't so scary anymore.
Javelin: She's right. My grandpa was like that when it first came out.
Bazooka: What if we look at this from a cow's perspective?
Bazooka gets down on his hands and knees and walks up to the Sharktail.
Bazooka: Moo! Oh, hello, Mr. Dragon! I'm just a cattle… walking… grazing here. Moo! [to the others] Hey, I think it's working.
The Sharktail roars at him showing a mouth full of teeth. Bazooka runs on all fours under a cartwheel, and everyone laughs at him.
Javelin: You're such a kid, Bazooka.
Drake is herding the cows over to the Sharktail as he addresses the Regges.
Drake: Look, I've learned that once you have a positive experience with something you're afraid of, it isn't so scary anymore. And that's what we'll have to do with these cows. We gotta prove to them that they have nothing to fear-
While Drake is talking, the Sharktail is sniffing at the cows. Then, it blows fire in a form of sneezing over the cows and they run away.
Drake: [concerned] Ooh, at this rate, we'll never get any milk or eggs!
Back in Ottawa, the storm is starting to get worse and the sky around town gets darker. Tyler is still having Ethan to feed Clover some rocks to make Bugsteel for his new hand. But he looks up to see the storm.
Tyler: Just as I feared. We're gonna have a storm heading this way.
Ethan: We can make it, Sergeant. We're just gonna have faith in Drake handling the cattle and chickens.
Tyler: Not to complain here, but I have very little faith in a brainless bird and a big horned beast that sleeps in its own crap.
Ethan: Well, luckily our fate isn't in their hands. It's in your cousin's.
Back in the ranch, everything is running amok as Drake tries to settle down the cows.
Stryker: Anymore bright ideas?
Drake: I've got a few. Yeah. Another way for the animals to overcome their fear is to show them that dragons are afraid of things too. So let's show the cows that dragons are afraid of things too. But… how would I know?
Ironfist: Leave it to me.
Ironfist pulls two tarantulas out of a basket, walks by the cows, and over to the dragons. The dragons balk as the cows observe.
Drake: [stunned] Uh, what?
Ironfist: Arachnophobia. Many dragons have them.
But then, she drops a tarantula and it crawls toward the Sharktail, causing the dragon to knock a calf over the fence. However, Shadow catches it before the calf falls on the floor. The calf is stunned to be close to Shadow, but it realizes that he saved it, so it licks his face to thank him.
Vanessa: [adored] Aww, that's so cute!
Drake: It looks like the calf is trusting one.
McKenzie: Aye. Now it's the hens here. These poor wee lassies are to lay some eggs soon.
Hiccup: Well, what did anyone suspect? Chicken are really, well, chicken.
Crossword: What if we showed them how much they have in common with the dragons? They both lay eggs right? A Pecker laid one last week!
Crossword sets down a large dragon egg. Three chickens jump on it and check it out.
McKenzie: Thatta girls. Eggs are eggs, eh?
Ironfist: So far, so good.
[thunder rumbles]
Ironfist: I'm going back to the city. Make sure everything is in order.
Drake: Uh, no. We should stick together so-
Ironfist: Dalloway, you got this. Just show them more. Stryker, you're in charge.
Ironfist takes her leave in a Jeep. As she leaves, Shadow ducks his head down over a cow and sucks on something, which Drake notices.
Drake: Hey, hey, hey, Shadow! Get outta there!
Shadow retracts his head back, but he is licking something on his lips before he belches.
Bazooka: Hey, was he… drinking?
McKenzie walks over and bends down to the utters, where he can see milk droppings falling down from them.
McKenzie: Well, I'll be! Martha's giving milk! Ah-hahahaha! It worked, lads!
Drake: Wow, that was fast.
Vanessa: I guess it takes only the saving of a calf to convince them?
Now with his bucket, McKenzie starts his work on milking the cow.
McKenzie: I owe you for this assistance, Drake. How about I give you some fresh milk? It's on the house.
Drake: Yeah, I could go with that.
Then, the thunder is heard again in the air, alarming everyone.
Stryker: I think we should do it fast.
Vanessa: He's right. We should get back before my father worries about us.
Drake: Got it. Let's go, Shadow. McKenzie, we'll be back for the milk.
The team takes its leave, while McKenzie waves them goodbye before he proceeds with the milking.
Act Five
Back in Ottawa, the Alpha Team patrols the neighbourhood and visits homes one by one. Quinton and Michael wear a sash that says "D.I.R.T". A knock on the door by Quinton, and a woman answers it.
Quinton: Uh, good afternoon, ma'am. My name is Quinton Gunn, and I'm with the Dragon's International Rehabilitation Troops.
Woman: D.I.R.T?
Quinton: Yeah, the acronym sounds too… dull, but it's easy to remember. But anyway, if you have any dragon-related problems, contact us. Our number is the same as for the Dragon Shelters, where we're stationed. Just grab your telephone or cellular phone, and at the top of your lungs yell-
Then, the woman shuts the door on his face before Quinton can finish.
Quinton: [dismayed] Aw, crap.
For Michael elsewhere in the neighbourhood, a bystander comes out of the darkness, and he rushes over to him like a policeman.
Michael: Halt! Who goes there?!
Bystander: What?
Michael: [beat] Uh…. I'm on patrol, that's what. Can't you tell what I am, with my battledress and my face?
Bystander: I know a soldier when I see one, but that attitude doesn't tell me that you are one. Besides, I'm just walking along to visit my parents.
Michael: Don't gimme that. You're obviously up to something.
Bystander: Says the guy in…. [inspects the sash] "D.I.R.T"? Well, that suits you.
Michael: Okay, you're under arrest for insulting one of Canada's greatest-
Suddenly, the bystander throws a vase at Michael's face, knocking him out, before heading off.
Michael: [dazed] …heroes.
Back with Quinton, he is walking down the street. The Stillwells are hiding while they make scary shadows on the ground.
Quinton: This is getting out of hand. I…. [pauses] Wait. Who's there?
Turning back, Quinton sees the shadows. Then he sees a dragon shadow as Helios appears behind the Stilwells, but he isn't scared at all because he recognizes the shadows.
Quinton: Guys, you're not helping.
Then, Helios let out a huff from his snout, startling the twins.
Stilwells: He scared you.
Dusty: No, he scared you!
Rocky: No, it was you!
Dusty: No, you!
Rocky: You wanna bet
Dusty: Bring it!
Rocky: Suck it!
Then, the two of them begin fighting on the ground, wrestling with one another, but Fin and Flip intervene by scooping them up with their jaws. But the twins throw their fists at each other, still hanging from their dragon's mouths.
Quinton: Guys, this is serious. [to himself] How come Ethan's not with us?
In the Shelters' infirmary, Tyler and Ethan are staring at the rock pile with Clover standing by.
Tyler: We've tried every type of rock. Whatever this Bugsteel is, it has to be something that we'd know to be carbon fibre or something.
Ethan: We can't keep it up, Tyler. Clover has two stomachs, but she can't keep it up like this. Maybe we should….
But as Ethan stares at the rocks, he is deep in thought about something, and he gets an idea.
Ethan: Maybe… there is a way.
Tyler: That's what I wanted to hear. I hope for your sake you're backing it up with a plan.
Ethan: Oh, I am. I've seen all the colours on the Captain's arms. It must have been a combination of rocks that made Bugsteel. That's the only explanation.
In an orderly fashion, Ethan picks up a few rocks of a different kind, with Tyler joining in, and they feed them to Clover who gobbles them up. Done, she stands by while the other two wait for something to happen. Before Ethan knows it, he hears a warbling tone coming from within Clover's stomach.
Ethan: Okay. Something's happening.
The warbling tone is getting louder, then a shovel is pulled from Tyler's hand to stick on Clover's side.
Ethan: [shocked] Aiyah!
Tyler: Did you see that? Pulled it right out of my hands!
One by one, several more metal pieces are pulled to be attached to Clover's skin, which is making her worry.
Ethan: I think we created magnetism. [to Clover; calming] Stay calm, girl. Just stay calm. I'm here. It's okay.
Ethan pulls off some of the metal, but more of them are being attracted to Clover's hide, making her more worried than before. A metal bucket strikes her end, and finally Clover runs out the door to get outside, magnetizing more metal in the neighbourhood. Ethan and Tyler both run off to give chase.
Ethan: Clover, come back!
Tyler: Goddamn. For a Waspo, this one knows how to run.
Ethan: Listen to the sound of my voice. I'm here. Come back!
But the scared Clover wouldn't listen as she runs for her life, attracting more metal down on Bank Street. Because it is dark with the power out, Ethan can't see when he runs into a cart full of fish, smothering him in it.
Ethan: [dismayed] Augh. I hate fish.
The rest of the team on night patrol are walking along, until they discover Clover running away.
Rocky: [amazed] No way. She can run.
Ethan makes it to the team, pulling the fish off of him.
Ethan: Guys, help me out! Clover's become a living magnet!
Michael: Clover's a magnet? Cool.
Quinton: No, that's not cool. There's going to be a thunderstorm tonight, and with all that metal, she could attract the lightning to zap her.
Dusty: Still… that would be cool.
Quinton: Guys! Get on our dragons! Hurry!
Quinton whistles, alarming Helios to come, and he mounts up to give chase to the runaway Clover. The Stilwells get on Fin and Flip with Ethan joining in. As for Michael, he is going mount on Surfboard, until he sees a hot girl standing by the nearest lamppost. He rushes over to womanize her, while Surfboard wanders off.
Michael: Wassup, babe? Should I drop you off home before the storm hits?
Girl: Get a life. [snaps fingers]
Running down on Bank Street, Clover is attracting more metal pieces, but Helios blasts his fire breath to keep them away, and Quinton is shooting some arrows at a few with his new bow.
Quinton: We can't keep it up! She'll be entering the downtown area! Guys, you gotta get ahead.
Dusty: We got this. Fin! Flip! Spray!
Fin and Flip spray boiling water ahead, and the splashing water blocks Clover's way, but she makes a turn to Glebe Avenue. Before the team can do something, Shadow shows up with Drake and Vanessa on his back.
Ethan: Drake! Thank God you made it!
Drake: What is going on here?
Quinton: Well, Clover's somehow become a magnet and the storm's coming.
Vanessa: [to Drake] She's going down at Glebe. There's a park there, where we can cut her off.
Drake: Alright, we got it.
Ethan: But take this.
Ethan throws a pill container and Drake catches it in the air.
Ethan: Those pills will help her barf all the metal inside.
Clover continues running in fear, attracting even more metal in her wake, and an SUV is pulled towards her. But in the air, Shadow blasts the SUV in bits to stop it from hitting the Waspo, and before Clover would leave the street, the Regges show up to tackle her, pinning her down on the park. Shadow lands on the ground and Drake dismounts him to approach her.
Drake: Clover. Hey, girl. It's okay, it's your pal, Drake. Remember?
[Clover whimpers]
Javelin: Easy there. We're not gonna hurt you.
Drake: Keep her steady.
Drake takes out the container, pulling out one pill for her. Clover tries to free herself from the restraining Regges, but the five of them combined are too strong for her. When he reaches her, Drake puts the pill into Clover's mouth.
Drake: Okay, let her go.
The Regges releases Clover; she is going to leave, until she feels her stomach aching, and she moans in pain, as the Quinton and the Stilwells arrive at the scene with Ethan. Clover moans again, and she barfs out the lava out of her stomach, but it also diminishes the magnetism in her skin when the metal pieces fall off of her. Now that Clover is relaxed, Ethan rushes over to hug her. Tyler arrives, seeing that the chase is over as he sighs in exhaustion from all that running he did.
Ethan: Praise the Lord, you're okay. Don't run from me like that, okay Clover?
[Clover moans]
Ethan: Please, don't. The fault was mine.
Crossword: Maybe next time, put her on a leash, Li. [sniffs] Why do you smell like fish?
Ethan: Don't ask.
Bazooka: Say Jones, how did she…?
Tyler: The fault is mine. I've been trying to make Bugsteel so I can make me a new prosthetic.
Stryker: Well, why didn't you say so? We've got some spare parts of Bugsteel stored in the arena.
Tyler: Do you? Because I really need some.
Tyler takes his leave with the Regges, but he addresses Drake first.
Tyler: You and the others head along home. I'll be closing the Shelters.
[thunder rumbles]
Drake: You heard him, guys. Let's go home. Seeya tomorrow.
The Alpha Team, minus Michael who is absent, mounts on their dragons and take flight to go home as the storm begins to rain.
Meanwhile, someone or something enters the empty Rideau Centre and slashes up walls and tables during the night. This time the claw resembles a different dragon species than the one last night, seemingly another dragon. And then it creates deep holes on the floor.
Act Six
The next morning, Vanessa is asleep with Drake in the garage. She wakes up and yawns as she stretches her arms.
Vanessa: Drake, time to get up.
But Drake is still fast asleep. Vanessa, adored by the way he sleeps, lays still and pokes on his cheek, giggling.
Drake: [sleepy] Nice…. Uh….
Vanessa: Dreaming about something nice, huh? Wouldn't be me, would it?
Then, Tyler opens the door and shouts, finally waking up Drake and Shadow.
Tyler: Drake! [concerned] Oh, Sorry. Did I disturb you?
Drake: Uh, no. Not that I…. [yawns]
Tyler: Listen, we just got a call from the General. It happened again.
Drake: [stunned] What?
In the Rideau Centre, the people, noticing the defacement of the mall's furnishing, complain about a dragon being responsible for this. The Alpha Team and the Regges stare at all the damages made around the food court.
Vanessa: When did all this happen?
Stryker: Must've been during the storm last night while we were sleeping. But I guess that's the obvious point.
Ethan: But would it be the Ironback again?
Quinton: No, it's gotta be a different breed. Look at these claw marks. It was obviously an Arrow Pecker. The spacing of the talons is dead on. And those holes on the floor. Those are the marks of its beak.
Drake: [sarcastic] Once again, thank you, Quinton.
Quinton: Sorry, Drake.
Ethan: But how could this happen? We had every dragon accounted for at all times! Right, guys?
Michael: When you say "at all times", and "every dragon", what exactly do you mean?
Drake: [facepalmed in frustration] Okay, what happened, Michael?
Michael: Well, I was detaining a suspect who wasn't showing sufficient respect to the sash.
He stares at the bystander from last night, who just entered the mall.
Bystander: I think I showed sufficient respect to a sash that says "D.I.R.T".
Drake: [to Ethan] Uh, D.I.R.T?
Ethan: [sighs] We've got to change that name.
Michael: Anyway, as I was questioning the suspect, Surfboard was at my side.
Quinton: That's true, but what about the chase afterwards?
Michael: Well… I was asking a chick for questions. Surfboard may have, and I'm not saying he did, but it is possible he wandered off for a few….
Rocky: Seconds?
Dusty: Minutes?
Michael: …Hours.
Dusty: Oh, that's way longer than minutes.
Soldier: General on deck!
The two teams salute on cue, as Stanley and Ironfist enter the mall to observe the damages.
Ironfist: Troops? Explain, now!
Stryker: Uh… dragons again, Captain. Private Gunn suspects it's a Pecker this time.
Stanley: Again? I thought you had things under control.
Drake: We did, sir. We were… chasing after Li's runaway Waspo last night, and we had to… go home before the storm would hit.
Much to the team's surprise, Colin bursts into the Rideau Centre.
Colin: Oh, no, it's true! The Rideau Centre! So many memories. My three wives, their three anniversaries. Oh, the anniversaries!
Ironfist: This has gone far enough. I hate to say it, General, but you're going to have to-
Stanley: I know what has to be done, Rose.
Drake: [whispers] Please, no.
Stanley: Team, there's going to be a new curfew. I want all the trained dragons put in the Shelters under lock and key.
Colin: [disturbed] What? That's it? Look what they did!
Vanessa: General, please, give Dalloway some-
Stanley: I don't understand this either, but I'm not going to let them do any more damage. All of you, return to the Shelters immediately.
Drake: But sir, this-
Ironfist: Silence in the ranks! You heard the General's orders.
Drake glares at Ironfist suspiciously as the Captain takes her leave.
Stryker: Sorry, kid. There's no arguing with the authorities around here. We're gonna have to go with it.
Afterwards, Drake is in the Shelters, walking down the hall with Tyler.
Drake: This just doesn't make any sense! A dragon wouldn't just come in the mall and destroy the place! I mean, none of the food was even touched!
Tyler: Will you can it, Drake? You know we're trying to rebuild Canada as it was before, but we can't do it with all the civilians causing a riot at our doorstep.
Drake: What about you, huh? You and Gilbert wrote the Dragon Journal. You two study dragons longer than Quinton or Ethan, so you should be playing detective, instead of thinking about a 1700 curfew.
Tyler: What the heck are you talking about?
Drake: You know what I mean. I overheard what you said yesterday.
Tyler: Now, wait a minute. What we said was not what you think it is. It was my idea because some of the dragons on the loose don't believe in wars or in our policies. Because they only believe in killing or being killed. That's the law of the jungle, wherever they go.
Drake: What about Shadow? What do you think he believes in?!
Tyler pauses, deep in thought about what Drake said, and he looks considerate.
Tyler: He can be an exception. He understands us better than the others, I'll give him that. So…. Maybe I can assist you. Not for his sake, but for yours… because you treat Shadow like a brother, and that's what you longed for.
Drake: [pleased] Thanks, Tyler.
Tyler: But first… we need to get my new hand ready.
Drake and Tyler are in the infirmary afterwards, where Tyler begins working on his prosthetic assisted by Drake for his two hands. With the molten Bugsteel, they pour it down into a fashioned plate, and Tyler begins hammering it, before a metalized type of bandage has been wrapped around his wrist. Tyler makes some adjustments in an electronic, skeletal hand, then installs it to his arm, so all he has to do is plate it with Bugsteel.
Later, the operation is completed with Tyler now having a Bugsteel-plated cybernetic hand. He wriggles the fingers, makes a fist, and relaxes it. His prosthetic hand is completely functional.
Tyler: Finally. I got one.
Drake: It looks just like the old one, but… better.
Then, Stryker comes in, seeing that Tyler finished his prosthetic.
Stryker: I knew it would work. You know, you two make a good example of cousin relations.
Drake: Is that what you find curious?
Stryker: A little bit. However… I've heard that you were… one of the first people to encounter a dragon.
Drake looks away, knowing what Stryker means. Tyler looks at his cyborg hand, remembering what happened.
Tyler: He is. In the beginning of the war, he was found in a ravaged construction site on Elgin Street, wrapped around by his father. He's been dead for days. We were making our way to the Army… me, Gilbert, and a few others. Anyway, I took him in. What else would I do?
Stryker: The Captain would say… leave him. Most people would have. Even back in the early days. Everyone, just running for their lives. Anyway, she says Dalloway has no training for him this week. Not until the power's back online.
Drake: [pleased] Well, at least there's an upside to this blackout.
Stryker: But don't take it the wrong way. She can be brutal and hellish, but she does have some kindness in her heart. She only wanted to be sure if you're the answer to… whatever she prays for.
As Stryker walks off, Drake bears everything he said in mind, but he's still determined to find out more about the Captain.
Act Seven
At 5 pm, the Alpha Team is in the arena, putting the dragons to bed in the cages there.
Quinton: Here, Helios. A little something to remind you of home.
Quinton gives him a big piece of ham, but Helios rejects sadly.
Quinton: That usually works. Our whole bedtime routine is upsetting.
Ethan: Same for Clover. She'll have very little space to stretch when she gets up. Thanks to Mr. Ladies-Man, they're now on curfews.
Michael: Watch it, Chinaman! At least my dragon doesn't need a lullaby and a blanky.
Rocky: Actually, it's your fault that all our dragons have to sleep in jail.
Dusty: Yeah. You don't see our dragon going on a rampage and wrecking stuff.
Then, Fin and Flip smash a wooden box, walking away from their cage.
Dusty: Well, not any good stuff.
But before the team can put away their dragons, Drake and Tyler come over to the field.
Tyler: Hold your horses, team. Drake needs to tell you something first.
Drake: Listen up, team. I don't think a dragon wrecked the Rideau Centre or sabotaged the power.
Ethan: None of us saw it coming either, Drake, but you saw the proof.
Drake: What proof? You saw the footprints too. They were supposed to be made by an Ironback, but they were no deeper than mine. Look at these!
He takes out photographs of the footprints from two nights ago.
Drake: See how shallow they are? I could lie down in them!
Quinton: Well, there could be a lot of explanations why a dragon made shallow footprints.
Dusty: Like, hello, he was trying to be sneaky?
Tyler: Don't count on it. Spectacle Ironbacks may be sneaky, but they weigh up to 700 pounds. Almost as heavy as a full-grown Kodiak bear. And those transformers had 1,000 volts of electricity. That's enough to kill a dragon if it wanted to shut off the power, but they never knew that.
Ethan: That's true. But how do you explain the claw marks and holes in the mall?
Drake: Surfboard was in Bank Street, wasn't he? The Rideau Centre is around downtown Ottawa, and….
Quinton: Well, an Arrow Pecker's speed limit in the air is from 60 to 90 miles per hour. So… there.
Michael: But even if it was, Surfboard would never just attack the mall. He's never even been inside of it. It could be someone else's Pecker.
Tyler: We checked, Michael. Ever since the power outage, all the families who also have a Pecker were forced to relocate from Maitland to Orleans. Both far away from here, and you're the only one who has one here currently.
Michael: But, uh… the pecking on the floor? I've never seen him do that before.
Ethan: He's right. An Arrow Pecker is birdlike, almost like a woodpecker, but they only use their peaks for offence. Same with their tails.
Tyler: Listen, Drake thinks it could be someone trying to frame our dragons. So here's the game plan: We're going to patrol the city as far as we can, survey all the streets with our eyes or any other of our working cameras.
Rocky: Oh, I saw this in a movie once! A criminal would always come back to the scene of a crime!
Quinton: So… night patrol again?
Tyler: Yes, but this time, no D.I.R.T. We're going to do something else, and discover if we can identify the culprit. But… this has to be kept to ourselves, got it?
Team: Got it.
The Alpha Team takes their leave, but Tyler stops Drake from leave when he pulls him back.
Tyler: Not you. Stay here with the dragons.
Drake: I'm part of this team too.
Tyler: We don't know who's doing this, but this is a scheme to lure you out, you have to remain here with Shadow.
Drake: But Tyler-
Tyler: That's an order! Stay!
Tyler takes his leave with the others, leaving Drake and Shadow behind on the field with the other dragons. However, his determination grows and he takes out his phone to call someone.
Drake: Vanessa? Come meet me in the Shelters.
Later, Drake tells Vanessa everything about what he thinks.
Vanessa: Captain Ironfist? You're saying she's responsible for the shenanigans?
Drake: I am. This is obviously her attempt to get even with her because of the prank I pulled on her.
Vanessa: You mean the whole "puffy hair" fiasco? [giggles] That was hilarious.
Drake: Yeah, but she looked really pissed off when she came back. But before she left, she said I'm a king to my subjects, and she asked what I would be if I didn't have any. I think she's framing the dragons, in hopes that I would be alone and she could….
Vanessa: Why not think it could be one of SC Reg instead of her?
Drake: It wouldn't be, because they were all in Glebe Avenue when we were going after Clover. It has to be the Captain.
Vanessa: Drake, you can't think that she's doing this. Rose Tymbark is a true patriot. She once fought side by side with my father back in the late 30s. She's one of the very few remaining people from before the Ultimate War that's protecting Canada. And you think she's up to no good.
Drake: I don't think, I know. She knows I'm the Dragon King like everyone else does, but she's the only one who has balls to go against me. But I need to be sure if it is her or not.
Vanessa is going to tell him off, but after seeing all the determination in his eyes, she decides to go with it.
Vanessa: Okay. But…. Where do we begin?
Drake: I just need to know where she lives.
Vanessa: I've been to her house before. I remember the way.
Act Eight
At the Rideau Centre, Tyler is standing on the rooftop with the Stillwells and Quinton. He takes out his walkie-talkie to make contact.
Tyler: Bravo-1 to Bravo-7. Gilbert, do you copy?
Gilbert: [through speakers] Loud and clear. Anything?
Tyler: Nothing. I'm standing here in the mall, and I see nothing. Not even a wild dragon.
Gilbert: Same with here on this side. Maybe we should call off this- BLIMEY!
Tyler: [alarmed] Gilbert?! Gilbert, what was that?!
Gilbert: Augh. Sorry, my fault. That was a stray cat that just ran past me. All and all, everything is downright dull.
Tyler: Copy that. Just find a new spot. Over and out.
Tyler hangs up on his walkie-talkie, before he turns to Stryker who's aiming with a McMillan TAC-50 sniper rifle.
Tyler: Anything yet?
Stryker: So far, so good. Hey, where's your cousin?
Tyler: He's staying at work for the night. He'll be fine.
But Drake and Shadow are both gone with Vanessa, flying over town to land on a house in Frank Street. From up there, they see Ironfist entering a house in front of St. Luke's Park.
Drake: Well, this is satisfying to know that the hardcore Captain lives alone in a creepy old house.
Vanessa: It's not creepy, it's just old.
Shadow lowers himself down to an alleyway, and Drake dismounts him with Vanessa.
Drake: Stay here, Shadow.
The two of them tiptoe their way over the first window of the house. As they peer through, they can see Ironfist taking off her battledress to wear a black wife beater next. She checks on both of her cybernetic arms, but she looks at them sadly as she lets out a depressing sigh. Then, she flops down on an armchair, resting there.
Vanessa: [whispering] I still don't know, Drake. She doesn't look like a bad guy.
Drake: [whispering] They never do.
Vanessa: Look, by the fireplace.
Vanessa discovers what is hanging on the wall. Two pictures of Ironfist as another, and another with a little boy at her side.
Drake: Wait. She… was a nun?
[phone rings]
Hearing that ringtone, Ironfist reaches into her pocket to take out her phone and answers it.
Ironfist: Hello?
Stanley: [through speakers] Rose, it's me.
Ironfist: General, sir. I just returned home right….
Stanley: Listen, I have good news to share. We've finally got our Prime Minister.
Ironfist: Really? We have a Prime Minister? Well, that's good news to hear. So who is it?
Stanley: Someone you know from your past. Jonathan Bailey.
Ironfist: [disturbed] Wait. Please tell me you didn't say it's our cardinal.
Stanley: Former cardinal, and he's leaving the Vatican right now.
Drake: [to Vanessa; whispers] Wait, a cardinal as Prime Minister?
Ironfist: I'm against this proposal. Jonathan is not a corrupt man of the cloth, but he'll just get in my way.
Stanley: Don't think that way, Rose. You know he worries you. Most of all, he's overheard the fact about you finding this guardian angel you've been-
Ironfist: Sir, again, I protest. We don't need a holy Prime Minister. We need a politician who remembers the laws back in the old times.
Stanley: So do I, but those people are dead and those days are long gone. And besides, this would've been for Private Dalloway's interest. If he needs to understand more about being with an angel, it'll have to be someone from the Church. Because he thinks you're giving him too much.
Ironfist pauses, recalling everything when she was told by the General.
Ironfist: I understand, sir. But Dalloway is a real find. He hasn't given up on the training course I put him through. He's doing it because he's not willing to give up on the dragons, and if he's really bonded with that angel-powered dragon, he can go through any difficult obstacles. I do have faith in him too, sir. Very soon, he'll become what I consider a man.
Drake and Vanessa are hearing all that, and they look amazed to hear those words from the Captain.
Drake: She… has faith in me?
Vanessa: See, I told you she's not bad.
However, Shadow hears some suspicious knocking in the armory barracks in the park. With Drake and Vanessa distracted, he walks over to investigate the source of what he just heard. A boy who is a few houses nearby watches him as he enters. Shadow walks inside the barrack, sniffing the ground like a bloodhound, but he can't find anyone inside. Then, he sees a fire spreading to a cylinder containing explosive fluids, and he jumps outside just before an explosion starts, resulting in the destruction of the armory as well as all the weapons within it. Drake and Vanessa hear that explosion and look at what just happened.
Vanessa: Fire! The armory's on fire!
Ironfist, who heard the explosion, bursts outside to see the destroyed armory, and she grabs a hose to douse out the flame. So many of the neighbours come along and help her put out the fire.
Ironfist: Hurry! Fill up the buckets! Contact the fire department, quickly!
Then, she discovers Drake and Vanessa standing by.
Ironfist: Dalloway? What are you doing here?
Boy: It was him! He set the armory on fire!
Vanessa: Wait, Drake? That's wacko!
Boy: Not him, his dragon!
The boy is pointing at Shadow, standing by a tree.
Drake: Shadow?
Act Nine
After the fire is put out, everyone laments the loss of armory.
Stanley: Our best weapons… gone.
Tyler bends down to a mangled shotgun, looking sad at it.
Tyler: Pearl! My poor darling, I'm so sorry. You should've used you for hunting season last summer.
Colin: She didn't have to die, Tyler. Your cousin's dragon left us utterly defenseless.
Tyler: Sandy. Looks like your head-shooting days are over. [realizing] Wait. Was Drake out here?!
Tyler looks back at Drake, who stands with Vanessa at his side.
Drake: [sighs] Yeah. I was here.
Tyler: I told you to stay in Lansdowne. Now look at what he's done.
Drake: But Tyler, you know Shadow wouldn't do this.
Woman: General, do something! That boy is a menace!
Man: He's too dangerous with all of those dragons around.
Various other shouts of agreement come from the crowd standing around them.
Ironfist: All of you, stand down. His dragon is only an animal. He just doesn't know anything we know.
Colin: You say that now, but one of these days, we'll be so overrun, what's gonna happen now? But more importantly, why was Dalloway here when he was told to stay?
Everyone is looking at Drake, who looks ashamed because he knows he was told by Tyler to stay in Lansdowne.
Drake: Uh…. Because I…. I, uh….
Vanessa: Because he suspected Captain Ironfist was responsible for all the shenanigans.
Everyone is shocked to hear that. Ironfist walks over to Drake with a glare.
Ironfist: Is that true? You think I did those things?
Drake: [pauses] It's true.
Colin: You hear that? He's taking matters into his own hands, and looking where it's got us. He was supposed to protect us, but he allowed his own dragon to ruin the armory? We cannot allow this while we're trying to go back to our old lives.
The crowd mutters in agreement with Colin's decision, and Stanley cannot bear this anymore.
Stanley: These dragons have done too much damage. It's not longer safe to have them here. I want them gone.
Drake: WHAT?!
Colin: [whispers] Come on…. Say it….
Ironfist: Wait a minute. We just-
Stanley: I'm in command here, and it's decided. Now stand down.
As Ironfist stands back, Stanley turns to his people, announcing something that shocks the Alpha Team.
Stanley: Listen, everyone. By the end of the day tomorrow, there will be no more dragons in Ottawa! The Alpha Team will round them up, and take them all to Montreal.
Everyone in the team gasps, shocked and aghast. Colin is pleased at first, but he looks disturbed to realize that.
Colin: Montreal?! No, not there! Maybe somewhere-
Ironfist: [suspicious] Why would you care?
Colin notices the Captain looking at him suspiciously, and he clears his throat before saying something.
Colin: Nothing. Montreal is a ruined city, so… nobody cares and neither do I.
Tyler: Drake, put Shadow in a cage and get ready to ship him out. That's not a request.
Still ashamed that he disobeyed Tyler to let this happen, Drake grabs Shadow by the saddle and pulls him like a dog to join up with the others.
Drake: This is wrong….
Ethan: I know, it's horrible. I'm afraid we can't argue with the General.
Drake: No, Ethan. Something here doesn't add up.
Quinton: All I know is I'm losing my dragon.
Drake: For now, yeah. Okay, but I just need time to fix this.
Michael: What are you talking about? It's over.
Rocky: Forget it, man. It's over.
Dusty: Yeah, forget it.
The next morning, each of the Alpha Team says goodbye to their dragons.
[Clover moans]
Ethan: You were a pride and joy to our family, Clover. I'm gonna miss you….
Quinton: It's okay, Helios. There's plenty of space in Montreal. Just… don't get angry when you're there, okay?
Quinton leaves tearfully. Helios cradles over, looking crushed. Rocky and Dusty both hug Fin and Flip's heads, before they close the cage. Michael and Surfboard, looking forlorn, say goodbye to each other.
Michael: Be strong, buddy. You'll… be okay out there.
[Surfboard chirps]
But Michael looks away before he slams the cage shut, and he sniffles before he wipes a tear off his face.
Michael: Great. Now I'm crying.
But for Drake, he kneels before Shadow who is in his cage.
Drake: It's not your fault. It's mine. I got too carried away, and now that's cost me a lot. But… the war's over, so there's no reason we can't-
He is removing Shadow's saddle while he is talking, but he stops when he notices Shadow grabbing it with his mouth.
Drake: Shadow…. I'm sorry, buddy.
[Shadow whimpers]
Drake yanks the saddle out of his dragon's mouth. Behaving like a sad puppy, Shadow whines and places his paw on Drake's knee, begging him to not let him go. Vanessa comes over and pets Shadow's head to comfort him.
Vanessa: You gotta go.
Drake: I'll come looking for you. I promise.
Before he can close the cage, Ironfist and the Regges arrive at the scene.
Ironfist: Not yet. He needs to be sedated first.
Drake: What?
Ironfist: Dark Sabers have very keen senses of smell, and they can pick up a familiar scent miles away. If we drug him to sleep, he won't be able to return here.
Stryker: Better listen to the Captain, kid. She knows about Dark Sabers better than you do.
Drake is deep in thought, looking back at Shadow to know that she might be right about it.
Drake: Alright. But go easy on him.
Ironfist: You heard him, men. Restrain him but don't injure him.
Regges: Yes, ma'am.
Shadow snarls at the Regges, forcing them to back away from him. Then Ironfist grabs his snout and shoves him down, allowing her men to put ropes around its neck and hands. With Shadow restrained, Ironfist holds a needle with a liquid inside.
Ironfist: This'll knock him out for a while.
She injects the liquid, Drake looks away, and Shadow falls unconscious. Now that he's been sedated, the Regges shove him into the cage and Ironfist closes it.
Ironfist: That's that. Get 'em outta here.
Crossword: [to walkie-talkie] All the animals are in. Bring 'em out.
A dozen helicopters come hovering over Lansdowne, and lower their cables over to the caged dragons. Once the grappling hooks are attached, they take off into the air and fly away, on their way to Montreal. As Drake stands by with Vanessa, he looks at Shadow's cage with sadness in his eyes, but Ironfist walks over to him.
Ironfist: Kid, don't be a rube. It's not the end of the world.
Drake: Why should you care? No pain, no gain. Isn't that what you said to me?
Ironfist: I did… but not like this. And hey, he's just an animal.
Drake: Not to me. Shadow is a brother to me. That's far more than you'd ever know.
Drake takes his leave, until Ironfist blocks his way with her cybernetic arm.
Ironfist: Listen to me carefully, Private. When you get no pain, you will gain nothing inside of you. If you think I don't know what pain feels like, you'd be the one who lost two important parts of your body, rather than just a heart. Half of my life, I had to live with these machines. I feel nothing. Not the wind in between my fingers, not water…. [glares] Not even the warmth of anyone's flesh or my own. And this is only the tip of the iceberg. I lived through more pain than you ever had, even when you lost your old man. But you adapted, you moved on and you never made a complaint.
Ironfist removes her arm, but she secretly puts a piece of paper into Drake's pants pocket, and walks off with the Regges following her. Now alone, Drake wipes a tear off his face, and Vanessa hugs him to give him comfort. Then, Drake notices the paper in his pocket. He takes it out to see it written "661 Island Park Drive", but he puts it away and hugs Vanessa back. On the bleachers, Stanley and Tyler looks at them.
Stanley: I had to do this, Jones. I had no choice.
Tyler: I know. But to Drake, when we punish them, we're punishing him. He still thinks the dragons can do no wrong.
Stanley: I just hope he understands that while a father does what's best for his son, a General must do what's best for his country.
Act Ten
At around midday, Shadow wakes up from his sedation. He pushes his way through the unlocked cage and walks out, finding out that he is currently in downtown Montreal, but everything is in ruins. He looks around to realize that Drake isn't around.
[Shadow barking]
He waits for a response, but nothing happens. But with an idea, Shadow spreads his wings and flies up over the skyscrapers to land on one.
[Shadow barking]
Shadow's bark echoes everywhere in the old city. But still, there is no answer from Drake or anyone else. He quickly realizes that he is alone and not in Ottawa anymore, so he lies down and whimpers like a lost puppy.
In the locker room, Drake sits down on a bench, feeling Shadow's sadness inside of his heart. Then, Belle and Jasmine come over with a container full of milk.
Jasmine: There you are, Drake. Old farmer McKenzie swung by and gave dropped these off at your doorstep. Belle and I thought… we could give them to you.
Drake: Thanks.
Drake is given the container; he pours some milk into a mug and drinks it, which the two girls seem to enjoy watching.
Drake: I could go for a drink
Belle: We heard everything. It's very shameful your dragon had to leave.
Jasmine: We all think so.
Drake: He would never attack the armory. But that Colin just… gets everyone on his side.
Belle: Well, that's the life of being a city folk. They treat their blocks like it's downtown New York City. Dog eat dog; got to be a killer. In fact, this one man I know named Colin who lives in Island Park, and he hates the city.
Drake is about to drink some more milk, but after hearing what Belle told him makes him stop and realizes something.
Drake: Wait a minute. Colin lives in Island Park?
Belle: Uh, yeah. Why do you ask?
Drake: There's something about Colin that doesn't seem right. He's been telling everyone to count on the Dragon-Eaters, because he's friends with Gordon who leads them. You said he lives on the other side of town. What was he doing downtown, where all those shenanigans happen?
Jasmine: He was just gone for shopping. Everyone does. I know we do.
Drake: All that time, I kept thinking it was Captain Ironfist's doing. But now, I think it was Colin. And I think he did it so we would get rid of all the dragons, so that Gordon would hunt them down and eat them.
Jasmine: That's gross.
Belle: That's a pretty serious accusation. How are you gonna prove it?
In truth, Drake doesn't know how he can prove it. But he reaches into his pocket again to find out the paper has an address for maybe Colin's home.
Later, Drake is in Island Park in front of the house with the number 661, Colin's house. He slips into the backyard to look around, hoping to find clues to convict him of this crime. He finds the door, and tries to open it, but to no avail.
Drake: Crap. How will I…? [noticing] Wait.
He finds some footprints leading to a cabin, which he follows. Opening the cabin, Drake succeeds by finding a pair of dragon feet, able to be worn as boots, and a dragon claw at the end of a stick, as well as an iron pick at the other end.
Drake: I was right. It was him.
Before he takes the evidence, Colin walks into the backyard and takes out the claw and boots, unknowing Drake hanging by a tree above him.
Colin: So much for the whole bright idea he came up with. I might as well tell him.
As Colin walks away, a bead of sweat drips from Drake onto the floor. Drake hoists himself over the fence before Colin suspiciously looks around, seeing no one and nothing around.
Colin: Mice.
Colin heads out with the evidence into a red pickup truck, and he ignites the engines before driving off. But as he goes further away, Drake is on his motocross bike and he follows him down Island Park Drive all the way across the Champlain Bridge. Colin makes a turn to Bd de Lucerne, which Drake tails far in the back end, another right turn down to Rue Begin, and he makes a stop at Brebeuf Park, where he parks by a tree.
Drake makes a stop at the far end of the park, hiding behind another tree. He views Colin quietly, and he sees Gordon walking to Colin with a few of his Dragon-Eaters.
Drake: [whispers] Gordon.
Gordon: So what happened?
Colin: The plan backfired… three times already. I managed to frame the dragons, and the military sent them away, but only to Montreal.
Gordon: [dismayed] Dammit that Falcon.
Colin: But we shouldn't worry. I managed to get some intel. The city is still in ruins, and there's nobody out there.
Gordon: That's not my issue. My kids are craving for more dragon meat, and I've been thinking about serving us a rare meal: Dark Saber burgers.
Drake: [gasps in shock]
Gordon: Montreal is going to be a long ride, and all the roads are blocked. But we managed to find a bulldozer, so… it would take us a full day to get there.
Colin: You guys go on ahead. I'll make for the rendezvous point as soon as you return with dragon meat. But first….
Colin takes out his dragon-like recreations from the truck, and he puts them into a bonfire to dispose of them. As for Drake, he now knows the dragons were framed, but Shadow is now in danger with the Dragon-Eaters going to find him in Montreal very soon.
To Be Continued