The Legend of Spyro: Origins_Chapter 15
#15 of Spyro Origins
Chapter 15.... (or 14.5 of you see that way).
Enjoy.
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The Legend of Spyro: Origins_Chapter 15
----(Expedition Base. After Ramirez and Parker arrived from Warfang)----
"Dragons!?"
"Yes sir!"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes sir!"
"You actually saw... and speak... with dragons!?"
"Yes sir! Indeed sir!"
"Parker! Do tell me Ramirez has actually lost his mind so I can have him thrown out!"
"Sorry Coronel Flanning! Ramirez speaks the truth!"
They had finally arrived with an unconscious Sander back to the base. All of the expedition had to be overly worried when they failed to get back to base on time. Kelly had taken care of Sanders once they got there and Parker and Ramirez stood in front of Espinoza and Flanning, waiting to hear the facts.
"The dragons are real and they have a city west of here!" Parker continued in a formal tone. "There are also moles and cheetahs that we saw in the city!"
"And you actually spoke with them?" Maria asked, wonder in her eyes.
"Yes!"
"What did you speak of?" she inquired.
"Only who they were and what we were! They did not know we were humans and mistook us for apes! I guess these apes are their enemy" Parker guessed.
"If that is true, then we should find these apes" Maria said to Flanning. "Maybe they will be friendlier to us since we look like them"
"Possibly! Although we don't know where they are"
"We will search for them" Maia urged.
"And what of the dragons?" Ramirez asked.
"Since they take us as their enemies, we should avoid contact with them" Flanning said before Maria could answer.
"But..." Maria put in, "you say they treated you kindly at first. Maybe we can speak to them and reason with them!"
"Perhaps... "Parker said thoughtfully, thinking of their little stunt, "but I would wait for some time. We kinda made a little mess when we tried to leave and I guess that they didn't take it kindly!"
"Agreed!" Maria said. "It was good you did not shoot that dragon when you had the chance! If you had done so... I guess I would be more difficult to establish friendly relations"
"Friendly relations? Are you serious?" Flanning asked with a hard tone.
"Calm down Coronel!" Maria told him. "If what they say is true, we can have friends instead of enemies"
"Friends? They wanted to keep my soldier in captivity! What part of friendly is in that? I am the in charge of the safety of this expedition and I will see to it!"
"You are out of line Coronel! You may be in charge of the defense of the expedition, but I am the one who deem who or what is a threat!" Maria said angrier this time.
"YOU!? WHAT IN..."
"THAT'S ENOUGH CORONEL!!!" Maria finally snapped. She then turned back to Parker and Ramirez and said in a calm voice. "Get to the medical area and have them check you. After that, get some rest". Her voice left no room to argue.
Parker and Ramirez saluted and left promptly and only heard a very agitated discussion behind them.
-+-
----(Three days later)----
After the news of the dragons, some scientist wanted to go directly to study them. Of course, Doctor Maria Espinoza prevented that. Instead, she said to find these apes the dragons confused Ramirez and Parker for!
Some teams were sent out to look in the nearby areas. If they found the apes, they should report back and not make contact. She wanted to avoid contact in a full scale. She wanted to take it slowly, both for the expedition security and to not overly alarm the apes.
Unfortunately, the apes found them first. It was almost dawn when the racket suddenly started.
Parker got awake with a start as he heard the sudden howling and cheering.
_'How can someone be this noisy this at time in the morning?'_was Parker's first thought. It sounded like if a mob was cheering at the local stadium over a sports match!
Suddenly, more racket was heard closer, and to prove Parker earlier thought, Ramirez suddenly sat upright in his bed, with his arms straight up and shouted.
"GGOOOOAAAAALLLLL!"
Parker could not help but laugh. Ramirez probably had been dreaming about a soccer match, and all the cheering outside only enhanced the realism of his dream! Of course, Ramirez had woken up as well with his sudden movement. He looked around and he understood that all was a dream. He looked at Parker and his face began to turn red.
"Sorry!" he whispered, and Parker only snickered at his discomfort.
More noise came from the outside, making the two soldiers look in concern and confusion at each other. Suddenly gunfire was heard.
Parker jumped immediately out of his bed and grabbed his M4 carbine that was next to his bed. He took of the safety as more shots were heard. Whatever this thing was... it was not a drunken expedition member.
He got out of the small building, followed closely by Ramirez. They turned and froze when they saw what was happening. There were several apes jumping and hooting as they destroyed everything in their path. They pushed crates aside, scattering all the contents, they threw troches at building and caught ablaze! They even destroyed a small water towed they had managed to build to store water!
Parker was still looking as if he did not understand what was happening when a scientist, a member of the expedition, ran out at full speed from a building that was on fire. However, an ape jumped toward him and made the scientist fall. The ape was towering over him and out of nowhere, he drew a dagger. He lifted it and brought it down.
The person scream made Parker turn back on himself. He lifted his weapon and fired a couple of shots at the ape. It took some steps backward; small holes pouring blood out from his body. The ape then fell dead.
Parker ran towards the scientist that had suffered the attack. He was having trouble breathing with the knife still in his chest. The other apes nearby saw them and charged them with swords raised. Parker and Ramirez shot them down without a second thought.
"Ramirez!" Parker called for his soldier. "Go and get a medic!"
Ramirez didn't even acknowledge the order. He just stood up and ran. Parker looked at the dead ape. They held armor and weapons. Whatever they were, they certainly knew how to do things... which meant, they were no animals!
The base was still trying to understand what was happening. People ran in every direction. Most still did not know what was happening! Parker tried to organize a few stray soldiers that passed by. He did not care whose company they were in! He grabbed a radio and turned it on, and tried to learn what was happening.
"This is Delta-04, we are being attacked! We are being attacked!" he heard though the radio.
"Delta-04. Where is your location?" Parker answered. He would not let his companions die. Not if he could help it!
"We are on the eastern part of the base! There is a great host coming! They look like apes! We are requesting assistance! SHIT! They just breached the eastern perimeter!"
Parker didn't even hesitate; he ran toward the breach while the soldiers followed. The expedition had put around the base a small wired fence to discourage animals from getting in. But apparently, they would need more than a fence to keep the apes out.
"Roger Delta-04. Help is on the way! You just have to hold out a little longer!" Parker told into his radio.
"Affirmative. We will hold... SHIT! They are heading for the portal! I repeat, they are heading for the portal!"
They portal! The area around the portal was unsuitable for a base and was not easily defendable. Because of that, they had moved somewhat so they built their own a little distance away. The portal was still activated, and they still received some supplies from the other side. Why did the apes were going to the portal?
Suddenly, it hit him and a cold shiver crawled down his spine.
"Can you stop them?" Parker asked trough his radio.
"Negative, negative! We have wounded! We cannot engage!"
"Copy. We will see what we can do". Parker sighted, wondering what to do. He had to decide and fast. They could head to the portal or try and save the men that were being engaged.
_"Please, hurry! They are killing us!"_the other end of the line shouted. Parker made up his mind.
"We are coming! Hold on!" he said as he ran as fast as he could to assist.
After he got the eastern perimeter of the base, he just saw a few marines shooting at what seemed to be a big horde of apes. They were coming into the base and Parker knew he had called it right. If the apes entered the base, it would be destroyed and all inside would be killed! He could not let that happen!
"FIRE!" he shouted to his men.
By now, the base was finally realizing they were under attack!
_"This is Coronel Flanning. I need a report now!"_Parker heard through the radio.
"This is Parker! I am holding the eastern perimeter with some men. A big horde of apes are coming!"
"I'll try to send some more soldiers to assist you Parker! Hold on!"
"I have information that apes are heading toward the portal!"
"WHAT?! Ok! Stay there Lieutenant Parker, and defend that area!"
"Yes sir!"
They got reinforcements as more soldiers came to where the big fight was. As more reinforcements arrived, less and less apes entered the base. Soon, not a single apse could pass the bullet barrage! A few minutes later, and hundreds of bullet shells on the ground, the apes retreated.
"The apes have retreated Coronel!" he said through his radio.
"Parker! Head toward the portal, now!. He apes are doing something there. Stop them!"
"Move!" he told to his men, and they all followed him.
They got out of the base trough a small gate that was being defended by some marines and ran to the portal as fast as their two legs would carry them. They were panting soon enough in their mad rush, but Parker not dared to stop. He wondered what the apes were doing.
Soon, they saw several apes being engaged with Marines in hand to hand combat. Of course, the apses came close to the unsuspecting Marines though the dense foliage. They had ambushed them the apes closed in where the Marines could not use their weapons freely!
"Come on!" he yelled, and rushed closer to get a more clear shot.
Unfortunately, there was none! He could not risk shooting from long range without risk of hurting his fellow soldiers. He had to get close and personal. He put his M4 away and took his pistol out. It would be better suited for close combat.
An ape that had managed to make a Marine fall on his back. Before the chance to lift his dagger and impale the soldier, Parker jumped behind the ape. He put the gun on the ape's hairy back and pulled the trigger. Not a sound escaped from the surprised ape as the muffled shot was heard. Slowly, the ape fell down dead.
"You ok?" Parker asked as he extended a hand to the down soldier.
"Yeah!"
With the help of Parker, the ambushed soldier managed to survive. They followed Parker in their mad dash toward the portal!
As they turned around in the dense foliage of the forest, Parker saw three apes were around the archway that held the portal. They had their hand touching the rock that held the portal in place as they were chanting! The three apes did not even react to their presence of the soldier when they arrived!
"Kill them!" he shouted before lifting his weapon and fired.
More bullets followed the first that one, but not a single ape went down.
"What the...?" one soldier said out loud.
Parker could not believe what he saw. Not a single ape had fallen! Could they have missed? NO! He looked at feet of the closest ape and saw many bullets were lying in the ground.
NO WAY!
They must have some kind of energy shield that prevented them from receiving harm! But perhaps...!
"Fire at the one on the left! Shoot him with everything we have!" Parker shouted before firing his own gun.
More bullets flew at the intended target. Parker saw how the apes slowly staggered as the rain of bullets began to take its toll. They must have fired dozens of shots before the ape's barrier finally failed and bullets impacted with flesh and killed him.
Suddenly, the portal started to flicker. The blue cloud started to disappear and reappear! The apes were trying to close the portal!
"The one on the right!" Parker shouted as he reloaded his weapon.
The same process happened. When the second ape fell, the portal started to become more unstable. It certainly looked like something was about to happen!
Now there was only one ape left! But as Parker was about to give the order to fire, the lone ape began to chant a lost faster! Parker feared what was about to happen!
"BRING HIM DOWN!!!" he yelled with a tone of fear.
Every soldier shot at the lone ape, but this one was stronger. He chanted faster, and a sense of dread began to make its presence inside Parker.
"KILL HIM!!!" he urged on.
The ape seemed to falter with the lacking of strength, but he continued on. He suddenly raised his hands as the end of the chant was nearing its end.
"NO!" Parker shouted.
A blinding flash was seen and Parker closed his eyes and tried to regain his vision. When he did managed to see again, he saw the ape had fallen dead where he stood, but that was not important.
What was important was that the portal had disappeared. Where the blue cloud of the portal used to be, now nothings was in its place. The portal had been closed.
They were trapped in this world!
-+-
----(The following day)----
"I'll be damned!" Parker muttered as he lifted the cover. Ramirez had said Parker and Jackson should see this, and he was right.
They had just destroyed an ape encampment the following day after the apes appeared.
Of course, Maria had put down the notion of friendly apes after their attack on the base. They had destroyed a lot of equipment and killed a lot of personnel, including important persona like head of departments and military officers as they were asleep!
Maria gave Flanning the leave to do as he wished with the apes, which put him in a good mood after what happened. It did not take long before he unleashed hell on the surviving apes. Flanning had ordered scouts to be sent around the base in a wide radius to kill and ape they came across.
Parker had been on such parties. For two days, he had been walking in a wide perimeter and looking for apes to kill... much like every soldier in the base.
"I'll be damned" Parker muttered again, still not believing what he saw.
"What? What is it?" Sergeant Jackson tried to look behind Parker shoulders.
"Ramirez, help me uncover it! Sarge, you should call the rest to come here"
"Yes sir!" the black man said, still waning to know what was under the cover of the blanket.
Between Parker and Ramirez, they managed to reveal what was underneath the cloth. Jackson gasped when the thing underneath was revealed.
It was a cage.
And inside the cage was a yellow dragon. He was completely immobilized by chains and ropes that were all over his body! His mouth was kept tight shut too, to prevent him from speaking. There were a lot of cuts that were bleeding freely from his hide. He must have been tortured by the apes!
The dragon was watching them intently, fear plainly written in his eyes. He could not have known what happening outside of the cage. The only thing he knew was that there were a lot of noise coming from the outside and the apes were screaming.
The dragon moved, trying to release himself from the chains that held him down.
"What should we do sir?" Ramirez asked.
"I don't know"
Both of them looked at the dragon as they walked around him, still not sure what to make of him. The dragon could only stare back, moving his eyes and having them on Ramirez. The yellow dragon turned and placed his eyes n Parker's. Parker stared in return.
Parker saw some anger, although he did not know if it was directed at him. He also saw sadness and despair on being in this situation. They had a little duel, each looking at the other's eye, trying to make the other advert their eyes first, and apparently he won, because the dragon advert his eyes after a few moments.
Then, Parker suddenly saw the dragon's eye go wide open as he noticed something. He followed the dragons gaze and saw several dead apes lying nearby. Parker turned to look back at the dragon, who was still staring at the dead apes. He seemed shocked!
Suddenly, a loud noise broke the silence. Parker's hearth jumped from his cheat, the same as the dragon, as he spun around, his weapon ready to fire. He sighted in relief and annoyance at seeing Ramirez had accidently tipped some swords that were nearby, causing them to fall to the ground and making a lot of noise.
"Sorry!" he said in a low voice before continuing his way, exploring.
With a shake of his head, Parker turned back to look at the dragon. The dragon was staring back at him, but something in him had changed. Parker immediately saw it in his eyes. Before once was anger and sadness, now was... hope?
Before Parker could think about it, they heard footsteps behind them.
"WAH! What is THAT? It looks like an overgrown lizard!" Jackson exclaimed. He had finally arrived with the rest of the team.
"Whoa!" a soldier examined in a low voice.
The group stared dumbly at the dragon, who seemed uneasy about many ape-looking creatures. Very soon, the rotors of the helicopter they had asked before could be heard in the distance.
"Sir... what should we do with him" one soldier asked.
Parker thought furiously of what to do. Shoot him? No, Parker had seen dragons were intelligent and sentient creatures. To shoot one or order to be shot would be to his conscience like murder. He had never been a murderer and he was not about to start now. Leave him here? That was a good option! He could wash his hands and stay out of trouble while giving him the chance to be rescued.
Parker made his mind. He turned to leave and decided to leave him to his fate. He only took a single step when he stopped again.
_'That feeling again!'_Last time he had it was when he had almost shot the purple dragon. The same instinct that prevented him from shooting at the purple dragon, told him not to leave this one. That was when, just under his mind, under all the layers of consciousness, he had another option to do with the dragon.
Take him with them?
Of course, the scientist would LOVE that! They would be all over him in a matter of seconds after he had landed. But what would Maria say? And Flanning for that matter? Maria might approve, but Flanning? He had obviously displayed his distrust of everything in this world!
But the little voice at the back of his head did not abate.
"Well take him with us!" he said finally to the group. Many gasped at what he said.
"Lieutenant, are you sure?" Jackson asked.
"Yes. I am sure" he said as he looked back at the dragon that was looking specifically intently at him.
-+-
----(A few hours later)----
Maria Espinoza was watching intently at the dragon that was still in its cage. Flanning was next to her, fidgeting and hoping that he could have his own hand on the dragon and choke him to death. Many more base personnel were nearby, looking at the strange mythical creature that had stumbled across them. Those who had doubted about Ramirez and Parker's story could only stare with their mouths open.
Of course, the dragon, still immobilized inside his cage, looked this way and that, fear written on his expression. He did not know who these creatures were and why they were going to do with him.
"Now I can say I believe your story!" Maria said as she looked at the dragon. "What are you going to do with him?" he asked at Parker, who was nearby.
"Don't know!"
"Hmph! Should we... release him?" Maria asked a little unsure of herself at the prospect of having a loosed dragon on the base.
"Your call" Parker passed the responsibility to her. He still needed time to calm his emotions.
"Could we at least speak with him?"
Parker made a motion with his head at the dragon. Ramirez got close to the cage and put the hand trough the bars, undoing the knot that held the dragon's mouth shut.
"Lindo dragón! No me muerdas la mano! _Lindo dragón!"_he said in a low voice.
After he finally undid it, Ramirez pulled back his arms as fast as he could, not wishing to have them bitten by an angry dragon.
"Thanks!" was the only thing the dragon said as he moved his mouth this way and that, as if he was trying to get used to it again after being immobilized for a long time.
Maria, the same as everyone else, gasped when the dragon uttered those words. It was one thing to hear there were talking dragons in this land, another completely different thing to hear and see one!
"Do you have water? I am very thirsty!" the dragon said. This brought Maria back from wherever in her mind was.
"Oh! Yeah, sure!" she said. "Bring him some water!" she told a guy that was nearby. He hesitated somewhat, but a look from Maria made him make up his mind and took off at a run.
There was some silence, no one really knowing what to say. However, Maria Espinoza, with years of experience behind her with dealing situation like this, recovered.
"Don't you men have something to do?" she asked out loud to all of the onlookers. They hesitated somewhat, others did not even heard her. Since the indirect did not work, she took the next step to getting rid of everyone. "Get back to you own work! Everyone!" she ordered, although it was not harsh. The assembly slowly began to scatter. Some remains, but at a prudent distance away. Only Maria, Flanning, and the men how brought the dragon stood near.
"What is your name?" Maria asked at the still bound and caged dragon.
"Shockwave!" the dragon said somewhat proudly. "Uhh? Could you please get me out of this cage? I have been here immobilized for I don't know how long and I want to move"
Maria hesitated somewhat.
"Don't try anything foolish!" she warned.
"Why would I do something like that?"
Maria nodding to some of the men that were nearby. They got to the cage and began to cut the ropes and unlock the chains. The other ones held their weapons tightly, watching for any wrong move the dragon made. If that happened, they would shoot him.
After they had released him, the cage was opened and Shockwave stepped out. His steps were slow and somewhat uncoordinated.
Parker took notice of his features. His stature was the same as his, head to head. He must be a young dragon. He had yellow scales, with a blue underbelly. He had two horns that protruded from the back of his head. The long tail ended in a blue fin.
After he had exited the cage he began to stretch his wings, but a sudden pain made him stop his movements and yell out in pain. All of the nearby soldiers lifted their weapons at his yelp.
"AH! My wing!" Shockwave gasped trough his pain.
"What's wrong?" Maria enquired, still concern for the dragon's well being, and at the same time scared at his sudden outcry.
"The apes tortured me! I... I think it's broken!" he said trough clenched teeth.
Just then, the soldier that had gone for water, returned with a bucket full of it. Shockwave face lit up as he saw it. The soldier that carried the bucket put it on the ground some distance away and retreated, somewhat nervously. Shockwave didn't even notice him retreating as he flung himself at the bucket full of the crystal clear water. He put his head in the bucket and started drinking it as fast as he cold.
All of the base members looked at one another as they hear the dragon's enormous gulps as he drank the water. Soon, his head was inside the bucket, trying to get at the bottom. When he lifted his head, the bucket was also lifted, causing a few trickles to fall to the ground.
That dragon drank all of it!
With a shake of his head, the bucket was sent flying, revealing a very content dragon, if Parker could see by his expression. The dragon opened his mouth and a huge belch emanated from him.
"Ah! Thank you very much! I had gone for days with little water, and that that I had, was awful! That was very refreshing and pure water you gave me!" he said as he licked his lips, trying to get all the water that was in his lips inside him.
"So, what is your story?" Flanning asked rapidly.
"I was... ow!" Shockwave complained as he tried again to move his wing. "I was trying to get to the city of Warfang when I was ambushed by the apes when I was resting"
"Why did you want to get there?"
"I decided to join in and fight against the Darkmaster, of course!" he said as if stating the obvious.
"Why now? Why not earlier?" Parker asked.
"My clan has been nomads for generations! We travel the land, staying in one place before moving. We are a very reserved people, and usually we keep things to ourselves, not caring for other's troubles!"
"And why you decided to fight?"
"I heard rumors of a purple dragon joining the fight against the Darkmaster! I had to see it for myself!" he said somewhat excitedly. But then, he seemed somewhat dismayed. "My clan said the rumors were only false hope, that I was a stupid for believing in them. They said purple dragons did not exist, that they were legends. But I know it is true! I know it is!" he finished with determination.
Parker shot a glance at Ramirez, who looked tentatively back. With that look, Parker told him to keep his mouth shut and say nothing about the fact that they had seen him. Ramirez seemed to want to say it outbound, but kept silent once he saw Parker's stare.
"What is so special about this purple dragon?" Maria interrupted.
"Legend says that purple dragons are born every thousands of years!" Shockwave said somewhat proudly at his knowledge of the matter. "They are the most powerful of all dragons, capable of controlling all elements!"
"Controlling elements?" Maria asked confused.
"Yes! The purple dragon can control all of the elements opposed to a single element the rest of the dragon can!"
"And what element you control?" Flanning seemed to be snickering. Parker guessed he did not believing a word of it
"I am an electric dragon! I can show you! Look!" he said excitedly as he aimed and unleashed a lightning bolt at a single rock in the ground. The small rock was made smaller by the electric attack impact.
All of the soldiers raised their weapons in fear at what the dragon had done. The dragon seemed not to notice this as he looked back at a very astonished Doctor Espinoza.
"See? I´m an electric dragon! And a powerful one at that, or so everyone says!" he said proudly as he puffed his chest outward before the pain in his wing caused to crouch again.
"Do you need help with that?" Maria asked, trying to dismiss the shock she received earlier.
"I..." Shockwave grunted against as another pain spam crossed him. "I don't know!" he sounded fearful.
"Ramirez!" Maria called for his attention. "Get this dragon to the medical section. See to it that he is treated"
"What?" Flanning asked. "Are you going to put my daughter to heal him?"
"As a matter of fact, yes, I do!" she said sharply, putting down and form of retort Coronel Flanning might have done. "This might be chance we were hoping for to have a peaceful contact with the dragons!"
"But..."
"No buts! We have a lot to win if we can have peaceful contact! We can learn a lot form them!" she snapped at him. "And, of course, it's her decision if she want to tend to him or not!"
As always, Espinoza managed to have very good arguments, and having the best of interest for the expedition and humanity in general. That was why she was chosen as leader. Unfortunately, she and Coronel Flanning did not see things the same way. But she always managed to have him controlled.
Ramirez only smiled with a beer in his hand. It was the beer Sergeant Jackson had given him, since he found the best objet of interest in their little competition.
-+-
----(Some days later)----
Parker was having a patrol around the base with a group of five. Flanning was still wary of any more sneak incursions of the apes. After all, just two days ago, they found a small group trying to sneak past! Of course, they did not did damage, compared to the first one that had caused utter chaos!
Ramirez had gone on another patrol in other direction with other soldiers and Jackson was left at the base!
Shockwave was still in the simple hospital they had managed to do in the base! He was plagued by scientists and biologist, wishing to study him. But Kelly was the queen in her domain, and her word was the law in the hospital! She kept the horde away for her 'patient', although she allowed one or two at a time to see the dragon. Parker could only chuckle at that.
Shockwave was somewhat surprised, and annoyed, at having all the men asking questions and doing measures in his body... but he tried to indulge his 'saviors'.
Parker sighted. He was board! They had been walking for hours without any single interesting thing happening! Walking in a forest was sometimes fun and relaxing, but not now. How he wished to have the eccentric Ramirez here to have an awkward conversation.
"Lieutenant Parker! Come in Lieutenant Parker!" he heard Ramirez say trough his radio in a low voice. Speaking of the Devil!
"What is it?" he asked.
"Sir! You are NOT going to believe who we found!"
"Santa Claus?" he asked, trying to make himself laugh a little bit and lighten the mood somewhat.
"It's not Christmas!"
"My mother!"
"Jackson is in the base!" he said. Parker could hear him snicker trough the radio.
"Shrek?"
"Getting warmer!" he teased further.
"A tip?"
"Our purple friend!" Parker said. Parker thought he heard other soldier telling Ramirez to hurry up and stop playing.
Purple friend... purple friend. Who was their purple friend that they both knew?
"Barney!" Parker said with finality.
"Oi... close, but not quite right! Just add some wings!"
Wings? What did Barney had to do with...
Parker froze, all the men behind him stopping. Wings?! Could it be? No! But if it was?
"Ok I'm on my way! I'm warning you Ramirez, don't do anything! You will wait for me! You better mean what I think you are saying!"
"Roger!"
Parker turned to his men and ushered his orders in a low voice.
"Walk fast and low! Quietly!"
They obeyed as they followed him. Hardly a twig snapped under the boots of the fast moving marines as Parker chose his path. They continued thus, for a while, making their way toward Ramirez position.
When they were near, Parker slowed his peace to make himself less noticeable, but he continued his way.
"Ramirez, where are you?" Parker whispered trough his radio.
"We are still following our friend! I think I see you! We are just in front of you!" he replied back in the same hushed tone.
Parker walked slowly and quietly until he saw Ramirez's team. They were somewhat scattered and taking cover, their weapons pointed at something Parker could not see.
"Lieutenant!" he heard Ramirez call.
Parker turned and saw him waving him over, so he went to him.
"Where?" was the simple question Parker asked.
"There!" whispered Ramirez at the same time he pointed with his finger.
Parker followed his gaze and found what he meant. It was not difficult to find what he was looking for.
The purple dragon that they had seen earlier at the city of Warfang, was having a drink in a small stream nearby. It had to be the same one, because if Shockwave said was true, then, only one purple dragon lived.
"What are we to do?" Ramirez asked.
"Shit!" Parker muttered. "Are there any other dragons nearby?"
"Not that I have seen, sir" another soldier put in.
"All right! We are going to capture him and bring him to base!"
"Sir?" one marine asked.
"I want to know what he is doing here all by himself!"
"How are we supposed to capture a dragon and bring him to base?" the soldier asked, unsure of this plan. "We can't exactly go to him and ask him to come with us!"
"We will subdue him!"
"How? We didn't bring any tranquilizer darts! And I'm pretty sure it is a bad idea to wrestle with a dragon!"
"We will stun him with a flash-bang grenade. One he is stunned, we will all jump and pin him down while another secure its muzzle with a belt"
"Oh goodie! I like this kind of plans!" Ramirez put in. "Crazy ones!"
After a few corrections in the original plan, and designated jobs, they prepared the ambush. All of the men scattered in twos and surrounded the dragon, who was still having a drink.
Parker held a flash-bang grenade on his hand, ready to be used. Parker got in position and waited for the rest to get into theirs. The dragon seemed somewhat dismayed and sad from where Parker was. The dragon was completely ignorant of what was about to happen, drawn in his own mind. Unfortunately, a careless marine stepped on a branch, causing it to loudly snap.
"Who's there?" the dragon asked as he scanned the surroundings, his eyes half closed in suspicion.
Parker had to put the plan into action now. The dragon seemed ready to bolt out and run! He threw the grenade when the dragon had his back on him. The 'clinks' and clanks' of the grenade caught the dragon's attention as he turned to look at the small cylinder that was slowly rolling toward him.
"Not again!" Parker heard him say before the grenade went off.
Sudden movement erupted around the dragon as all the men exited from their positions and rushed at the dragon while it was stunned. Seven bodies threw themselves at the lone dragon, causing him to fall under the weight.
"DO IT!" Parker yelled at the other three men. One of them had a belt in a loop, placing it on the dragon's muzzle. He tighten it, eliminating any possibility for the dragon to bite, speak or use his elemental attacks as Parker had seen Shockwave do.
Once the muzzle was attaché, another soldier came in, putting a bag on his head, to prevent his from seeing anything.
_'Damn, this dragon is strong!'_Parker thought as he tried to keep the struggling dragon pinned.
"Hit him in the head!" Parker ordered to the third men. He had a rifle, just in case! But now, he lifted it and brought it down in the dragon's head with the butt of the weapon, causing the reptile to lose consciousness.
-+-
----(A few hours later)----
"What are we going to do with him?" Parker asked Maria, as both of them stared at the bounded purple dragon. They had put him inside the same cage they had brought Shockwave in. Coronel Flanning was there too, watching everything as he was reclining from a wall. He would hear everything that would be said.
The dragon had regained consciousness already, but the bag still was on his head, preventing him from seeing anything. He seemed nervous, judging by the sudden movements and twitches he made when some soldiers around the dragon did a noise.
"We should talk to him!" Maria put in. "If he is as Shockwave is, then I think we will be fine!"
"We didn't exactly treat him nicely!" Parker warned her.
"We'll apologize!" she said. "We also need to keep Shockwave out of this! We should keep both of them in ignorance of the others existence"
"Yeah! We do not need Shockwave fretting about the purple dragon" Parker put in with a smile.
"Are you sure this is the same dragon you saw earlier?" Maria asked.
"Positive!"
"Well... what a coincidence!"
They got closer to the still bounded dragon. Parker got closer and took of the hood from the dragon's head, allowing him to see.
The dragon had a few moments to adjust to the light, and when he saw Parker, his eyes went wide open. He tried to say something, but the belt that had been put around him was still in place.
"We will remove the belt if you promise to behave!" Maria told the dragon. "Nod your head if you accept!"
The dragon slowly moved his head up and down. Parker once again, put his arms into the cage and removed the belt.
"Who are you?" Maria asked sternly. "Why are you here?"
"My name is Spyro and I came here to find you humans!"
Maria was suspired by this revelation, and so was Parker.
"Why did you want to find us?"
"To ask for your help!" he said in a very serious tone.
"Help!" Parker exclaimed, taking the reins of the interrogation. "Last time we were with you, you wanted to question us... to hold us captive!"
"We were afraid that you were some kind of ape... spying on us! We were afraid that you would do something to harm us!"
"And because of that, one of my men nearly died! We barely got him in time to receive help!"
"So he survived? That's good! I'm glad that he didn't die! I really am Parker!" Spyro said. Parker tired to see if he was lying, but he did not see any indication whatsoever.
"Why should we help you?" Parker asked bluntly, changing the topic.
"You don't have to!" Spyro replied a little sad, looking away from Parker.
"If we do not have to help you, then why are you here?"
At that question, Spyro lowered his head. He seemed to be thinking really hard on something. Was he thinking what to say? Or was he struggling within himself?
"Because..." Spyro began a little tentatively, "because I have hope!"
"Hope? Hope of what?" Parker asked, wishing to know what this little dragon was trying to say.
"You!" Spyro relied as he lifted his head to look directly at Parker. Parker was completely confused by his rely.
"What?" Parker asked confused.
"When you were in the room in the city of Warfang, just before you took me hostage, we had a conversation"
"What about it?" Parker inquired.
"You said... you said that you though we dragons were different. You told me... the way we treated you after the crash gave you hope; that you felt that you could trust us! Then... that incident happened. You told me that we dragons had shown ourselves no better that other races you have encountered"
Parker nodded at this. He remembered that conversation. Spyro continued on.
"But when you told me that I have broken what hopes you had... I felt that I had failed you somehow! I felt awful after you said those words! I could not keep them out of my head! I wanted to redeem myself, and now... I want to gain that trust and hope you had!"
"And how 'us' helping 'you' will give the trust I had on your kind?"
"I don't know! That's why I have hope! I hope... that you turn out to be better than what everyone else think! That you are different from what we believe, that you will help us!" Spyro said. He, then said in a lower voice, almost as if what he was saying was sacred. "Parker... I have hope... for your race... and for mine. I have hope! Please, don't break it like I did yours!"
That was left Parker stunned. He could not reply to that! He could only turn and leave Spyro alone. He stomped through the base, shocked at what the little dragon had said. The words he said stung him!
He walked for hours until it was night fall, immersed in his own thoughts.
"Lieutenant Parker! Wait" he heard someone calling him from behind.
He stopped and looked behind him. Maria was walking toward him, so waited for her to catch up with him.
"Are you all right?" she asked once she was next to him.
"I guess so" he responded as he continued his walk. "What are you going to do with him?"
"We have already released him! Some people knocked him unconscious with some drugs and took him back where you found him!"
"And what about what he said?"
"Nothing is decided yet! I want to hear opinion of what should we do, since I respect you!"
"What do you think?"
After a few moments of silence, Maria answered Parker's question. "I think have better chances of surviving if we help them. After all, we fight the same enemy!"
"What?"
"While you were gone, Spyro told us what they were fighting against! These grublins, are the bugs that invaded Earth! 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend!'"
"So you are actually considered helping them?"
"Me? Yes! We cut off from our own world, Parker! Although we still have supplies, those will eventually run out! We should find alternates sources for food, water, anything we can get!" she explained.
Parker considered that for some moments. He had not thought that far ahead! That was why Maria had been chosen as leader of the expedition! She always though ahead!
"But how helping them will help with our supply problem?" Parker asked.
"They could help us with supplies if we help them! And we should consider surrounding ourselves with friend instead of making enemies at every turn! We have enough troubles as we stand without having the dragons as enemies!"
That was Maria, all right!
"What happened back there, Parker?" she asked in a worried tone. She held Parker in high regard. His exploits and his loyalty made him some kind of a close acquaintance.
"Nothing!" he hurried to say.
"Don't give me the 'nothing' bullshit. That dragon touched a sensitive nerve with those words, didn't he?"
Parker gave a heavy sigh. Maria understood his lack of silence and said in a kinder voice.
"What happened?" she asked.
"I don't know! I really don't know! Last time I had him, I could have killed him! I had my finger ready to pull the trigger but... I didn't!"
"Why?"
"Something inside me told me not to! When we were in their city, they treated us kindly in the first place, before the incident where they mistook us for apes. I guess that I wished that they were more than mere animals!" Parker said in a low voice, as if afraid to speak his own mind.
"And you believe so?"
Parker took a few moments to answer in a low and somberly voice "I guess that I want to believe so!"
*******************************+++++++++++++++++++++++************************
----(Present day)----
There was silence for some moments before Flanning spoke.
"Well, we have told you our story. Now I would like to hear about you. I would like to know why you are at war with the same enemy we are fighting"
So, it began the explanation of Malefor and his potential, his being expelled and his rise to power with the help of the apes. They also had to day about the purple dragons because they could understand Malefor strength. Malefor's capture in the conexitivity. The raid at the temple and Spyro's egg. How he saved the guardians at a very young age and his fight with Cynder.
"Wait!" Parker interrupted. "You mean 'THE Cynder' that is injured on the hospital?"
So they had to explain how Cynder's egg was stolen and corrupted. How Spyro released her from his influence. The night of eternal darkness. The fight with Gaul and Dark Spyro. How they were trapped in a crystal for three years as Malefor ran free. Their subsequent release and the siege of Warfang. The destroyer. Ignitus sacrifice. At this, Spyro began to feel tears fall of his face. He just could not let it go. It still stung him heavily!
The fight of Malefor and the subsequent cataclysm. How Spyro had saved the world and the subsequent miraculous escape. And the return to Warfang.
"*Whistle* Now that's quite a story!" Ramirez was the first to put in.
"Indeed!" Maria agreed. "I still have trouble believing it!"
"I still don't understand something!" Parker said.
"What is that?" Terrador asked. "I am sure I explained everything!"
"It's not that! The thing that worries me is Malefor. He released Spyro and Cynder from their crystal prison... didn't he? I mean... why would he do that? Surely he knew that Spyro at least would fight him directly! I don't see the point in releasing them at all!"
"Well..." Ramirez said nonchalantly, "if Malefor was as confident and evil as they said he was; then he released them to gloat in their faces! He released them only to see them fall under his foot!"
"I don't think so Ramirez! Not even the most evil of dragons would be THAT stupid! He should have all of the world in his grip. Then, he should have released them, not when they still had a chance to fight!"
That exchange made Spyro think about his release. Why had Malefor released them in the first place? He knew that Spyro could defeat him, didn't he? Or was it all some part of a plan? And did that plan succeeded without his notice... or failed?
"Whatever it was" Terrador said in a firm voice, "Malefor is gone now! So we need not worry about why he did it!"
"I hope you are right!" Spyro whispered under his breath.
"Well, Spyro; It seems that once again you managed to do what we could not!" Terrador said with a smile. "But why did you decided to trust the humans blindly in such a way!"
"Uh... well... I guess that I just felt that I could!"
"There has to be more than that!" Cyril put in.
"Yes, there is!" Spyro said as he made appear in front of him the transparent crystal that he had managed to get in the strange temple he and Cynder found after Malefor defeat.
"I remember that crystal!" Terrador said. "But what have anything to do with you trusting the humans?"
"I have been having dreams!"
"Dreams? About what?" The Earth guardian asked.
"I am in a place surrounded by darkness and nothing could be seen! But then, a sudden light appears in the distance. When I get closer, I see six huge crystals very much like this one, but they are of different color. Yellow, red, blue, green, white and black. All are floating in the air! But there is a seventh crystal... a transparent one, like mine, that is above the others! And when I get closer and took out my own crystal, both, my crystal and the big floating one, started to glow with intensity. After that outburst of light, the light receded to a lower intensity, but still shone strong! After that, the darkness that surrounded the crystals swallowed me! I woke up after that! That was my first dream of the two I had! It was some days ago!"
"And the second?" Terrador urged him on.
"It begins very much the same as the first one! I got closer to the light and I found the transparent crystal emitting light, much like it did before I woke up. But then I notice that the yellow crystal is emitting a low intensity glow! Once again, I took my crystal and walked up to the transparent that was floating. Nothing happened, so decided to walk up to the yellow one. Again, the crystal started to shone brightly to blind me momentarily, but after that... I saw..." Spyro trailed of as he looked at the humans.
"What did you see?" Terrador asked.
"He saw me!" Parker put in unexpectedly, much to the surprise of everyone in the room.
"What are you talking about?" Flanning asked, was voice giving a hint that he thought that everyone has lost his mind.
"How could you know what he sees?" Maria asked, her voice a little more calm, but still surprised and disbelieving.
Parker said nothing as he took out something form one of his many pockets. Spyro gasped when he saw what was in his hand. It was a yellow crystal! And not just a yellow crystal... it was THE yellow crystal of his dreams, although much smaller. It was exactly in forma, shape and size as the transparent one he had!
"Where did you get it?" Shockwave asked, a tone of anger in his voice.
"I found it!" Parker answered back, nor realizing the threat hidden in shockwave voice. "After I killed this huge ape in the camp we found you, I saw it fall from one of its many satchels. I picked it up... as a souvenir!"
"Give it to me!" Shockwave put in a hurry. "I was carrying that crystal before the apes captured me! It a family heirloom that has been passed for generations to the eldest son!"
"Where did your family found it?" Spyro asked in a hurried tone. This information might be very important.
"I don't know! The elder of my clan might know!"
"Still, the question remains!" Volteer interrupted before things went out of control. "Did Spyro see Lieutenant Parker in his dream?" he asked, as all eyes fell on him.
"Yes! I think it was him!" he said in a low voice.
"And how does Lieutenant Parker knows what Spyro saw?" Volteer asked, and all eyes fell on Parker.
"Because... when the light receded from the crystals in my own dream... I saw him!" Parker said as he pointed at Spyro.
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There it was.....!
I'm proud of what I wrote here... but I sure would like to hear your opinions!