Chapter 15: Restitution

#

“Oh, yes! That felt good…” Tommy said, taking a few breaths after forcing Cailus out of his mind.

Zhal smiled. “Good. It means you’re getting a better grasp of your psychic abilites.” Zhal then scooted behind Tommy, and took the dragon into his arms, kissing him on the cheek. “Now, why don’t we settle down for the night? I don’t think Cailus is going to try anything like that again.”

Tommy laid down with Zhal, cuddling up with the Tiger as he nuzzled back with affection.

# # # #

The Next Day…

Tommy woke up in Zhal’s arms, the tiger spooning his dragon. Sun shined in brightly from the window. The weather was warm and humid today, and even though Zhal and Tommy slept with only the sheets on their bodies, they were warm. A light drizzle of sweat made both of their bodies shine with a sexy sheen.

Tommy yawned, Zhal nuzzling him after they stretched out.

“How are you doing, Tommy?” Zhal asked.

Tommy smiled. “Living another day in paradise.”

Zhal smiled, rubbing Tommy’s forehead gently. “Good to hear. We need to get up, soon we will have to leave to meet the others in town. I might even be able to get us some breakfast at Uniko’s old pub.”

Tommy nuzzled Zhal back this time. “Sounds like fun. Let’s get ready for a good time…”

# #

Later…

Mel’Andrea - Town Square…

Galen, Luso, Uniko, and Silva met up with Tommy and Zhal at the center of town. The markets were busy, local trade going well. Stalls lined with fruit and vegetables were busy with exchanges, the bakers’ shops were hustling and bustling as the scent of fresh baked bread hung in the air. People on pedal-powered bicycles and carts went this way and that, while motorized delivery mopeds darted through the streets with their cargo like hummingbirds.

Galen sat with the group on the outside patio of Uniko’s Delights, observing the traffic and trade flow as they had breakfast.

“It sure is amazing to see how much has changed in the past several years.” Galen said, taking a drink of his coffee. “A lot of new faces, and a lot of new innovations from the sky folk.”

“True, true.” Uniko agreed. He took a bite of his croissant.

Zhal turned to Tommy, seeing the dragon contently watching the activity of the village and it’s people from their table on the pub’s patio.

“It is a busy village at times.” Zhal said, answering Tommy’s unspoken question.

Tommy nodded, taking a sip of his coffee. Then, he froze. He slowly put down his coffee cup on its saucer.

Zhal noticed this change in an instant, as well as Galen and Uniko. Something seemed to set off Luso’s senses as well, as both he and Tommy turned in the same direction: Towards the street below.

“What is it?” Uniko whispered.

Tommy’s eyes narrowed. “Cailus has goons here. They seem to be after us. I can sense one of them nearby. They are asking questions about us.”

Luso quickly focused a discreet clairvoyance spell. “They are about five blocks away. We’d better get going before there’s trouble.”

The group got up from their table, paid for their meal, and began to walk down to the ground floor. They saw Mick waiting with Agent Flond.

“We need to get you back to the castle.” Mick said. “We’ve just found out Cailus’ next move, and he’s already set it in motion.”

They quickly went for the cars: Mick’s Audi and Flond’s DB-32.

“What kind of plan has he cooked up?” Galen whispered as he opened the back door of the Audi.

Then, gunfire began to ring out through the streets as several bullets ricocheted off the Audi’s bodywork!

# # #

The mercenary known as Blondie, a golden-furred vixen fox, took cover with her backup goons as they fired on Mick Daniel’s Audi and Agent Flond’s DB-32 with automatic weapons. She wasn’t expecting the cars to be bullet-proofed!

“Clever boys.” She murmured. Once she and her crew paused to reload, the group piled into the cars and sped off!

“Playing hard-to-get?” Blondie cooed. “Fine. Boys! Get the bikes!”

# # # #

Mick sped through the streets of Mel’Andrea in the Audi SVX-4000 with Flond not far behind in his Aston Martin.

“Looks like Cailus is executing his plan a little early!” Mick said as he noticed the thugs appear in his mirror on motorcycles!

“What was his plan, anyway?!” Tommy asked from the passenger seat.

“Apparently, he’s going to try and snatch one of you up, then hold you for ransom!” Flond answered through the car’s phone interface in the dashboard’s multimedia screen.

Flond and Mick darted through the streets as they picked up some pursuers: Mercenaries on sport motorbikes!

“Oh, terrific!” Mick said sarcastically. He switched the Audi into Escape mode as Flond deployed one of his car’s spy gadgets: explosive caltrops! Once the first few bikes ran over the offending objects, they detonated inside the tire, shredding the wheels into scrap as the riders were thrown off! The rest of the bikers fell back to regroup, but not retreat!

“Nice toy!” Mick complimented over the phone. “You know where I can pick up some?”

“Sorry, Mr. Daniels: Government issue only.” Flond answered.

As they tore through the streets of the city, they were cut off by several Land Rovers in the city square! They blocked the road, but Mick did not slow down. He just engaged the Audi’s ramming reinforcement field and floored the gas, plowing the offending vehicles out of his pathway! They tried to give chase, but Flond deployed a set of laser machine guns from his car’s front bumper, and fired several volleys into the hostiles. One Land Rover lost it’s rear axle, while the other got it’s Hydrogen-2 fuel tank severed, leaving spilled fuel all over the concrete as it’s engine died.

As they got to the gates, Mick sent the signal to the gatekeeper to open them. At that moment, a red dot appeared on Tommy’s forehead through the glass. There was a sniper at the top of one of the gate towers!

Mick’s phone rang. He picked it up, while also tying Flond in.

“Interesting chase you have led me on, ma cher.” A seductive female voice said over the radio. “Your car is impressive with it’s bullet and laser proofing, but I think the glass is not as durable, no? Even if shatterproof?”

“Flond, we’ve got a problem.” Mick said. “Sniper on one of the towers.”

“Not a problem. Time for the birds to fly the coop.” Flond pressed another button on his gadget dashboard, and the top of the roof slid back to reveal micro-missiles!

“Your choice, cherie.” Flond warned casually. “You can either aim that rifle somewhere else, or you can fire. Which, if you do, you’ll be atomized before you can say ‘J’adore perfume,’ oui?”

The girl sighed in a pouty way, and said something into a radio as she held the phone away. The laser disappeared, and the gate opened.

“You win this time, ma cher. But there will be a next time. Au revoir… Monsier Flond!”

Mick and Flond floored their accelerators, and sped out of town.

“Sounds like someone’s got your number, Johnathan…” Mick said.