(CH12) From Soldier's Rifle, To Dragon's Wing's (Book 1)
There are many things we don't know about in the mysterious world of the military, Project Draco is one of them. I was recruted into this project against my own will at the age of 14. My life went from normal to dodging bullets everyday of my life. You could say that I know death personally. But when you have wings, scales, talons, and can breath fire, you already have a target on your head It's just a matter of time. This is the story of my life, as a Project Draco recruet............as a dragon.
We rode in silence for about 15 minuets before the pilot spoke up. "Were low on fuel, and there's no KC in the area so well have to refuel on the ground before going to Leatherneck." I didn't answer, I didn't want to. So far, we lost Tyson, Sam, and Blitz on this one mission, and I couldn't help but think of who might be next.
We landed safely at a Forward Operating base about 29 miles away from Leatherneck. We then joined a convoy of 17 vehicles that were going to Leatherneck and needed an escort team. About 30 minuets later, we reached Leatherneck, where a C-130 was being loaded. There were service men and women loading into the aircraft to go on leave. The sight of this made me want to go home, but I could no longer remember what it was like due to being surrounded by sand for so long.
"I need to check in with Holland, you guys go see Hunter." I said as the truck we were in came to a stop. "OK, but hurry up." Faline said before jumping out of the back of the truck. I sat in the truck for a moment after everyone left, thinking to myself. 'Who's next?' I thought as the human driver of the truck came to the back of the truck. "Ummm, you OK?" he asked. "Yeah, ill be fine." I replied before leaving the truck just in time to see the others disappear into the hospital tent.
I then looked toward Holland's office and started to walk toward it. I entered the door and walked to the half open door to Holland's office. "I told you, I cant send anymore without drawing attention to myself." Holland said into a phone. He had his back toward me and was looking out a window that looked over the runway.
I froze in the doorway, 'what's he talking about?' I thought to myself. "Well, tell your trigger happy men to stop over using them!" he yelled to the person on the phone. "I cant mass produce those kinds of rounds, it takes allot of precision to create bullets like that." he said to the man again. 'wait, is he talking about what I think he is!' I thought to myself again.
"Look ill get a shipment of 400 crates into you by Friday, are we clear." he said as he turned from the window to his desk. I quickly withdrew from the door as he hung up the phone. Seconds later he opened the door and paused in front of me, giving me a suspicious look. "I've come to check in." I said as if I didn't hear anything.
"Ummm, OK. I've already informed on your losses, and will have another dragon here by 2000 hours tonight." he said still suspicious about me. He then closed his door and started to walk away. He then stopped and turned to me. "Almost forgot, Hunter asked me to give this to you." he said as he withdrew a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to me. I looked at it, it was Hunters personnel information.
'That was nice of him.' I thought to myself before looking up at Holland who had already left the building. I then exited the building and started walking toward the hospital, but when Firedrake, and Faline left it I paused. Holland, who had been talking to a helicopter pilot then walked past me. "Holland!" I called out to him. He stopped and turned to me. "Yes?" he replied. "Where's Hunter at?" I asked. Holland then pointed to the C0130 that was now rolling down the runway. "Oh." I said in disappointment.
I then ran up and caught up with Firedrake, and Faline who were coming out of an on base bar. "Where's Hunter?" Faline asked. I pointed to the aircraft that had just taken off. She starred at it in silence for a moment before Firedrake spoke up. "Well, im hungry, what about you guys." I smiled at him for the first time in a while before we made our way to the mess hall.
We got our food and found a dragon friendly area to eat at, all the way I was thinking of what Holland had been talking about. We ate in silence for a moment, trying to ignore the fact that neither Tyson, nor Blitz were here to make good conversation. "Were getting a new member for our team tonight at 8:00.
"Another human?" Firedrake asked. "No dragon." I replied causing them to exchange anxious glances. "I hope it's a female." Faline stated happily. "How so?" I asked. "Well, its boring being around so many males all the time, not being able to talk about things to another girl." she stated shaking her head slightly. "You honestly think you'll find a female you can talk to, honestly your probably more manly than all of us." I stated causing Firedrake to laugh.
She smiled before going back to her food. "It'll be a male." Firedrake said. "And how do you know?" Faline asked. "Because, males are what we need on this team, not some weak female." Firedrake said. "Your such a sexist." Faline said to him. "Im one of the strongest members of this team, and im female." Faline stated in anger. "Ok you two, calm down." I said as I finished my food.
"There's something I have to tell you guys." I said quietly to them. "As long as its not about a female teammate, then lets hear it." Firedrake said causing Faline to roll her eyes. "When I went to check in with Holland, his door was open, and he was on the phone. So I decided to eavesdrop on him." I said quietly to them, I could tell that thy were interested.
"He was talking to some person about what I think was Dragon killing round shipments." I said causing Firedrake to tilt his head sideways. "How do you know?" Faline asked. "Well, he said something about mass-producing needle tipped bullets, and getting a shipment of 400 crates into them by Friday." I said to them. Faline shook her head. "If he really is selling DK rounds, then were screwed, because he knows all of our missions. All he has to do is point those people in the right direction, and were dead." Faline said.
"Lets not talk about that right now." I said to them. "Well, im beat. Ill see you guys at 8:00 on the runway to meet our new teammate." I said as I stood. "See you later Taro." Faline said before I turned and left. I walked to the barracks that I shared with Sam, Carson, Aaron, and Firedrake. I entered and noticed that Carson was the only one in his bunk asleep. Aaron was probably at the bar getting hammered. I curled up in my bed beside Sam's old bed. I lay for a moment before raising my head and looking at Sam's empty bed.
I then sighed and lay back down as sleep quickly took me over. "SAM!" I yelled as Sam lay helpless 10 yards away from me. "Taro, stay down!" Firedrake yelled at me. Then Sam disappeared, next was Blitz. They were fading away from me. Carson, Aaron, Chad, Scott, Firedrake, then Faline. They all faded away one by one away as if the wind had blown them away. Then a figure carrying a Revolver rounded the corner of the Mosque and stood over me with the Revolver pointed at my head. I couldn't see who it was, but I was scared, then a gunshot rang out and I jolted awake.
I felt over myself before closing my eyes. "It was a dream." I said to no one in particular, but it felt so real. I was shaking with fear before glancing at the clock which read 7:49. I then rose and walked to the Runway. Moments later the rest of both my human and dragon team joined me. "Taro, you look as if you've seen a ghost." Faline said. "Bad dream." I replied as the hum of a V-22 could be heard in the distance.
Holland joined us as the aircraft landed in front of us. "Talon," Holland began. "I want you to meet Cira." he said as a black bodied female with gold under belly scales exited the aircraft. 'Cira, I know that name.' I thought to myself as she approached us. "Cira, this is Firedrake, Faline, Taro, Scott, Chad, Aaron, and Carson." Holland introduced us. "Now get to your barracks there's allot to do tomorrow." Holland said before getting into a Humvee and driving off.
"Cira, you'll be bunking with me, Chad, and Scott." Faline said. "Thanks." Cira said. "Raider Squad, that's how I know you." I said to her. "But how did you get transferred?" I asked. "Well," she began. "We were escorting a convoy and were hit hard, I'm the only surviving member of Raider Squad." she said. I decided to leave it at that, because we all knew how it felt to lose a teammate.
"Ummm, Hey. Im Firedrake.' Firedrake said. I glanced at him and could tell almost immediately tell that he liked her. "She's going to be here for a while firedrake, calm down." Faline said bumping him slightly. He looked at her then shook his head when Faline mentioned the lunch time argument.
After that, Faline began to show her around the base and Firedrake, Aaron, Carson and I went to our barracks. We got settled and began to talk, mostly at how much Firedrake sucked at hiding his feelings for women. He would blush every time we mentioned Cira. Everyone soon fell asleep, but I was afraid. Afraid that I might have that dream once again. I began to shake at the thought of having it and couldn't find a hold on sleep.
Then the door to our barracks opened. Faline casually walked inside and locked her gaze with mine. "You didn't look very good back there, what's wrong Taro?" she asked in a loving tone. "I don't want to talk about it." I replied to her. "It was about them wasn't it?" Faline said as she lay down close beside me. "Them and the others.' I stated quietly. Faline stayed quiet and lay her head down beside me. I then lay my wing over her body, and my head over hers. I almost immediately forgot about the terrifying dream and went into a well needed sleep.