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Kheros landed the chopper skillfully outside a large, sun blasted, rusty old warehouse made of corrugated steel. All sorts of broken and rusty machinery littered the ground around it, making it look like a small wrecking yard. Ryan looked around, puzzled. "This is the council chambers?"

"This is the entrance, yes. The chambers are actually in those mountains to the east," Kheros said, his voice tinny in the headset.

"Then why not fly in?"

"We're not trying to make an entrance. This is one of the old ways in."

Ryan sighed. "Sneaking again?"

"Yes. Would you rather have fanfare and pomp?" Sulvius asked, amused.

"Well, no," Ryan said and shrugged.

Irian laughed. "You will most likely receive more than enough pomp and fanfare all too soon my friend."

"Probably right," Ryan said glumly.

Beth patted him on the knee. He smiled there and glance over at his father. He had sulked the whole flight and did not appear to becoming out of it. Ryan shot his mother a worried look and she shook her head again, patting him on the knee once more. He hoped that she knew what she was doing.

"Alright, everyone out so I can park this bird," Kheros said as they touched down.

They climbed out of the helicopter, ducking low to avoid the blades, and Cladden lead them over to the main warehouse. He walked in a side door and pulled a lever to open the main doors as the chopper blades spun down. Pax climbed out and went inside, then came back driving an odd little truck. He hooked a chain to the front of the helicopter and pulled it inside the warehouse, then shut the door.

The inside of the warehouse was vacant and very large. It as also far more sturdy than it looked from the outside. Cladden shut the door and locked in, while Kheros secured the main doors. "Follow me," Cladden said.

"How are we going to get all the way to those mountains? They looked so very far away," Ryan wondered.

"Rail," Pax said, shifting to his small form and perching on Ryan's shoulder, which seemed to have become his practice. Ryan absently stroked the tiny dragon's head and Pax responded by rubbing against his hand and crooning softly. Cladden lead them to the back of the warehouse and gestured them into the bathroom. Ryan looked inside and wrinkled his nose. "Ugh!"

"You don't want us to go in there!" Beth said in horror.

"It looks far worse than it is and the smell is synthetic," Cladden said. "What better way to keep people out? Now pile in."

They reluctantly piled into the rather small bathroom. Ryan studiously avoided looking at the toilet which, despite Cladden's reassurance, looked extremely nasty. On they were inside Cladden shut the door, opened the back of the toilet and flipped a small switch, then opened a medicine cabinet having on the wall, pulled away some bottles, prized open a secret panel, and hit a button. After moment there was a soft hiring sound and everyone started as the room seemed to sink. A quick blast of fresh air was a welcome relief from the stench.

"The elevator leads to the rail station," Cladden explained, "We should get there in about a minute."

"Seems long," Beth said, looking worried.

"It is fairly deep and we are moving faster than you think."

The elevator/restroom finally touched down the door opened to reveal a very modern looking subway station in a state of disrepair. Ryan looked around curiously and Pax coughed. "Dragons, as usual, take things too far. If someone managed to get this far it is unlikely that any more flammery would put them off."

"Probably right, but it makes someone, somewhere, happy," Cladden said.

They carefully made their ways over the rails (Cladden pointed out that the third rail was actually quite safe) and to the other side of the tracts where he pushed on a tile which opened a secret door that lead to another set of tracks. This set looked well used and there were two dragons of Kheros' breed standing around talking to each other. Both snapped to attention, seeing the group come in. Kheros suddenly gave a happy roar, startling everyone, and ran towards one of the dragons. They crashed together in a huge embrace. "Kheros, you lousy excuse for a dragon! What are you doing here?"

"Escort duty!" Kheros said cheerfully. "How is my favorite cousin?"

The dragon snorted, grinning. "I am well. Father is here."

"I look forward to seeing him!" Kheros said. He turned to the group. "This is my cousin, Lenny."

Lenny growled. "My name is Lenthus, he just thinks it is so very funny to call me Lenny."

"He looks like a Lenney, does he not?" Kheros said, grinning, his ears perked.

Lenny, or Lenthus rather, growled. "You should talk!"

"They call you Chaos, do they not, Kheros?" Ryan asked and Kheros glared at him. Lenthus burst out laughing.

"Oh Chaos is it! The big scary dragon with a big scary name Ohhhhh!" He laughed. "Oh, wait until I tell mother!"

Kheros growled. "Drop it."

"Stop calling me Lenny."

"Fine!"

Lenthus looked at Ryan. "Thank you, young sir."

Ryan took a small step towards his other. "You are welcome."

Lenthus grinned and turned to Kheros. "Heading for the council chambers?"

"No, we just want to sit around here in the rail station!" Kheros snapped.

"Well that is quite fine by me!"

Irian laughed. "Alright, you two. Yes, Lenthus, we are heading for the chambers."

"As you wish, Councillor Irian," Lenthus said politely, still smirking at Kheros. He punched in a code and a rail car pulled forward and stopped, the doors opening with a musical chime. "All aboard!"

They climbed in and sat down in comfortable seats, some designed for humans, others for dragons in their bipedal forms. The car smoothly accelerated down the corridor and Pax yawned hugely, then climbed down into Ryan's lap. "I am going to nap; it was a long flight and I was awoken early."

"Ah," Ryan said, startled. "How long to the chambers?"

Pax yawned again. "A little less than forty five minutes."

Ryan looked at Sulvius in confusion as Pax curled up in his lap and promptly went to sleep. Sulvius shook his head and grinned. "Tired little dragon!" Ryan looked down at Pax and tentatively started to pet him. The tiny dragon thrummed, but otherwise did not move.

Ryan was nearly half asleep himself when he car finally stopped at it's destination. Cladden gently shook his shoulder, smiling at him, then looking down at the still sleeping Pax. He carefully pet him, then nudged him awake. Pax sat back on his haunches and yawned hugely, closing his jaws with an audible click at the end, blinking. "We are there?"

"I think so," Ryan said.

The door to the rail car opened and several dragons in their bipedal forms stood before them, looking on nervously. One of them stepped forward, an older dragon that looked to be of Sulvius breed, a dark yellow and rust color. He wore a red and gold colored tabard across his chest and had golden bracelets over each wrist with an elaborate symbol engraved on each. "Cladden, Irian," he said, his voice as rusty as his appearance. "I am glad you are here but worry at the method of your arrival."

"Understandable, Malthus, but needed I assure you," Irian said.

Malthus nodded and looked the rest of the party over with a brief glance. "Very well. You wish to remain anonymous?"

"Please."

He nodded again. "I have rooms prepared for you then. Follow."

They followed the older dragon and what Ryan through to be his body guards, along a hallway and then up several flights of stairs to an elevator. Malthus pushed in a code on the keypad and the doors opened. He ushered them inside then stepped in, pushing a button for a particular floor, then pulled a wand from a holder that sat on the wall and rubbed it along his scent glands at the corners of his mouth. Ryan watched curiously and Malthus smiled. "Everyones scent is different, youngling."

"Oh!" Ryan said and looked to Sulvius who nodded.

The elevator took them to a dingy looking alway with industrial type carpet on the floor. They followed it to another door where Malthus raised a hand. "Wait here a moment," he cautioned. He leaned out into the hallway and looked both ways, then nodded to his guards, who went into the hallway evidently to secure it. After a moment he gestured to them to follow.

Ryan looked at his mother nervously and she nodded, though she looked worried herself. His father still had a stoney expression on his face, not saying anything. Pax crooned softly and rubbed his head along Ryan's cheek and Ryan followed Malthus.

The old dragon lead them to a doorway, opened it, and waved them inside. Unlike the hall they came in, the rooms were large, luxurious, and had a huge window at one end with an incredible view of a deep green valley. Ryan was instantly drawn to it, looking out in amazement.

"I trust you will find this suite suitable," Malthus said. "They are arranged in classic fashion, with the individual rooms facing the central room." He gestured to them. "But I scarcely need to go into that, I am sure," he added with a rusty laugh.

"Oh, do your little spiel; it makes you happy," Irian said with a laugh.

"Our little routines!" Malthus said. "As I was saying, the private rooms face this central room. Down that short hall is another sitting room and the other hall leads to the private gym. Restroom facilites and baths are in the private rooms and there is a central one over there. Each room has a kitchenette with the full kitchen over there," he said pointing to a door. "You will find it fully stocked, of course, should you need anything merely pick up the phone and dial 22 and I will get you whatever you need within reason.

Ryan looked around in utter amazement at the decor, the leather couches and recliners, the thick carpet, stainless steel counters, and everything else for that matter. It was better than he could have imagined even a five star hotel being!

"You have your own security system and library off the sitting room, digital TV, private communications, and so on. A security station is off the main door, if you should need it manned."

Irian nodded. "If you could."

Malthus closed his eyes and lowered his head briefly. "May I ask why?"

Irian hesitated. "Later. Let us get a feel for the situation here first."

The old dragon nodded again. "Very good. I will leave you to get settled. Do you wish for me to return?"

"Yes. Give us a few hours, if you would."

"As you wish, Counselor."

After Malthus left, Irian gesture to the various rooms. "Pick one."

They selected their rooms and put their luggage, meager though it was, inside. Ryan stared around the rooms in amazement as well. They were larger than their old apartment! Even larger than their rooms at the safe house!

They returned to the common room and found Irian relaxing in one of the recliners with a bottle of Guinness in his hand. "There are sodas, beer, and probably any other drink you can think of in the fridge. Help yourself."

Ryan picked a bottle of ginger ale and picked two bottles of RC for his parents. They took it with a smile, his father's perfunctory, but at least he smiled, Ryan thought. After they all settled in, Irian gave a sigh.

"Well, welcome to the council chambers. This is one of the many private suites in the complex. This one is...secure. I told Malthus that we needed a private set of chambers and that we did not wish anyone to know we were here."

"Is Malthus on our side?" Beth asked.

Cladden shook his head. "Malthus is on one one's side; he is completely neutral while on these grounds. He is pretty much the same as I am at the safe house, running it, but because this is the council he stays out of all politics. He has his own opinions of course but they will in no way interfere with his duties."

"You're sure of that?"

"Absolutely. Privately, he would support us, but he will make no move at all save for running this place and maintaining security. He is totally incorruptible."

"Nobodies incourruptable," Allen said.

Cladden shrugged. "You may think as you wish, but you would find him to be so. He has been trained this way from the egg onwards and dragons are capable of separating themselves from their emotions more easily than humans."

Allen grunted and Irian continued. "I am going to go out and see who is here, who my allies are, and see what I can find out without nosing around to much or raising any suspicion. It will become clear that I am here in fairly short order, but the rest of us should be unknowns. If nothing else it may confuse the evil ones as to where the rest of us are." He turned to Ryan. "Ryan, I need you to do something for me."

Ryan's ears perked. "Yes, Irian?"

"I need you to order Kheros to investigate things for you."

Ryan drew back, blinking, rustling his wings in startlement. "Why can you not do it?"

"He is not mine," Irian said, smiling.

Ryan looked over at Kheros in confusion who grinned. "You accepted me as guardian, remember? He cannot order or ask me to do anything while here. I am yours and yours alone to command and will follow your orders absolutely above all others. Irian will not even ask me what I am doing for you and I will only give information to you unless you directly order me otherwise."

"Ah," Ryan said, looking utterly lost and everyone laughed.

"My prince, I am so very sorry to have sprung this on you," Irian said with a soft laugh.

"That is so very fine," Ryan said, shaking his head. "What do you wish for me to order to him to do?"

"Look around, find out more about the situation, and report back. Investigate security and determine its strength and weaknesses."

Ryan repeated the order dutifully and Kheros smiled. "As you wish, my prince," he said and walked out.

Ryan watched Kheros leave and shook his head, then looked over at Irian, wrings rustling. "Why can you no do this?"

"I am a counselor. Kheros is a nobody, at least as far as this place is concerned. At best he is a pilot and a security expert. They will not expect him to be ferreting out information and may be lax around him."

"You could not have hired people for this?"

"I could, but it is distasteful to do and Kheros would be better. Besides, this is more your fight, so to speak, than mine, not that I would do any less to help you. Dragons seeing you make your own moves will take it as a positive sign."

"Lovely," Ryan said with a groan.

"Think of it as sort of a chess game, Ryan," Sulvius said. "Moves, counter moves, and lots of strategy. Just be happy that you have some of the best players in the world to guide you."

"Yeah," Ryan said glumly. He looked at Pax who was perched on the back of the chair next to him. "You are serving me to?"

Pax glanced over at Cladden. "We have discussed it."

Cladden sighed. "He is yours, Ryan."

Ryan looked startled and Cladden smiled. "It is quite alright. I will miss him, but I cannot think of a better place for him to be. He is very wise. Listen to his advice and use him well."

"But I do not wish to use anyone!" Ryan protested.

"Not like that, my prince," Pax said. "You are utilizing our skills, doing things that either you cannot or that you not so very good at, or do not have time for. It is something you will adjust to and something we all expect."

"Yes, my prince," Sulvius said. "Please, allow us to take some of your burdens onto ourselves."

Ryan froze, trembling slightly, and all the dragons stood up, looking at him nervously. Pax crooned and rubbed his head along his cheek and Beth stood and went to her son, kneeling down in front of him, looking into his eyes. He broke the freeze and looked at his mother, trembling, then looked around at everyone. "I do not...I mean I cannot..."

"You are our prince, Ryan," Irian said. "That makes you honorable and valuable to us."

"More than that, you have captured our hearts my friend," Sulvius said with a soft smile. "You're a good dragon, Ryan, even if you are not so very used to it or skilled at it yet."

"Thank you," Ryan whispered, tears rolling down his muzzle. Beth gently wiped them away and Pax let off the chair, shifting to his bipedal form between the leap and the landing.

"If you are all quite finished abusing the prince's dignity, I think we all have jobs to do?" Pax said firmly.

"Yes, oh mighty Pax, we hear and obey the tiny one!" Cladden said, saluting him and then walked out the door. Irian laughed and followed him and Pax harumped, and fluttered out the door after them. Sulvius grinned and sat down not he couch and pulled out a remote. A huge TV screen descended from the ceiling and he flipped through the channels.

"How can you just sit down at watch TV at a time like this?" Beth demanded.

"Would you rather me run around in a panic?"

"Well, no."

"Then lets watch the news shall we? Perhaps my socks are up."

Ryan paced in the common room, tail swishing behind him as he stalked back and forth, his wings rustling irritably, ears flicking back. His mother watched him with growing concern. While he could be hyper he was usually well behaved as far as it went in terms of sitting quietly and so on. To have him visibly agitated was a little disconcerting.

"Ryan, why don't you come sit here with me and Sulvius," she said invitingly.

He shook his head. "I am to worried."

"About?"

He stopped and looked at her, confused. His ears flipped back. "About? How can you ask that? The council, Tanner, how father is acting, dragons out there doing things for me that could get them hurt," he stopped. "Mother, I did no ask for any of this! I did not wish for any of this!"

"I know that, son, but sometimes life doesn't ask you what you want," she said. "Please, Ryan, it's going to work out just fine. You'll see."

Sulvius turned to look him. "Come along, Ryan. Sit with your mother and relax. I know you're agitated, but pacing about like a caged animal is not going to help matters any."

Ryan winced at the term, and then sighed and sat down next to his mother. She hesitantly pet him, running her hand over his head and down his back, being careful of his wings, just as Sulvius had taught her. He thrummed for her, but his tail was still atwitch. She looked over at Sulvius and he nodded slightly to her.

Ryan looked at the door of the room his father was lying down in, "resting" and shuddering. Beth pet him. "He's fine, Ryan."

"Then why won't he look at me?" Ryan said, using a contraction in his agitation.

"What do you mean? He has looked at you!"

Ryan shook his head. "No, mother, he has not. Not since he grabbed me and I hissed and yelled at him. He will not look at me at all, mother, he keeps his eyes away."

"I'm sure you're just seeing things, Ryan."

Ryan's ears went flat. "No, mother. I notice these things, you have said so yourself that I am so very sensitive to them."

Beth realized that he was probably right. He was far more perceptive than most people, especially regarding his father. He learned long ago to walk carefully around him so as not to upset him and get into trouble, over things draconic. She pet him, not certain of what to tell him. Allen was angry, very angry, over what had happened.

Not only that, he was scared of what Ryan had done and how he was suddenly acting. He had expressed his fears to her, that Ryan was growing up and that he would possibly turn on him. He knew he hadn't always treated the boy well and all the times he had blown up recently made him realize that problem was more pronounced than he was aware. Of.

She had warned him several times, but he didn't want to admit that she could be right, wanting to believe he was doing the right thing for Ryan, to protect him, and that his son's love for him was unshakable.

She also knew that he had more trouble with the fact that Ryan was a dragon than she ever had. Even before he had changed to dragon form that first time, Allen would watch Ryan play with al look of puzzlement, quite nearly fear sometimes. Ryan would toddle over to him and there were times when he just couldn't pick him up, couldn't look into his eyes, the idea that he was actually a dragon just too overwhelming.

Oh, he loved the boy, loved him dearly, there could be no doubt about that, but there was still a struggle there. It had taken a lot of time and patience on her part to get him fully involved in Ryan's life and accepting him as their son no matter what species he was. Even then, the whole dragon aspect of things would rear it's head and make him wonder if Ryan would ever really be his, or worse yet, be taken from them.

Now, it was seemingly time to pay the piper, as it were.

"Ryan," she trailed off. "Ryan, your father has to adjust to this just like the rest of us."

"You always say that."

"And it's true."

Ryan snorted and gave a light toss of his head. "Then why does he not do so?"

"Oh Ryan, life isn't that easy and you well know it! If it ere so easy to just adjust, as you say, then why didn't you adjust to the kids at school and get along with them? Why didn't you just learn to deal with it?"

"That was not so very easy!" Ryan protested. "And besides, I am a dragon, he is human. I have instincts where he does not."

Sulvius looked over his shoulder at him, dipping one wing. "That is true, Ryan, but you see other dragons who work with humans just fine. Myself, Cladden, Irian, all of us interact with humans. There are some dragons who have trouble than others, but it can usually be mitigated."

Ryan stared at him for a moment. "But he is an adult!"

"And that matters how? Ryan," Beth sighed and looked own, hoping she was not making a mistake, "your father has always had some trouble with you being a dragon. I'm not saying that he doesn't love you, not at all but." She trailed off, Ryan watching her with wide eyes. "It's not so very easy, son, you know that. Have you always been able to understand us? Some of the human things we do?"

"No, mother," he said quietly.

"Even as a toddler you displayed draconic instincts, you know. Freezing, even hissing, keeping close to us, wanting to be pet, all of them were there. If someone didn't know any better they would just think you to be an odd human baby, but we did know, Ryan. We knew what you were and why you did those things and your father feared that you would be more dragon than human, so to speak, and turn on us, become unmanageable and feral." She looks down. "Not love us."

"No! I will always love you, you are my parents!" Ryan protested.

"And we know that now, Ryan, but then? There was some fear of it , son. I'm ashamed to admit it, but there was some fear."

"I am so very sorry, mother!"

"It is not your fault, nor theres, Ryan," Sulvius said, standing behind the pair, starling them. "In most cases where humans and dragons interact on such a close basis, each side knows about the differences, and how to adjust to some of them. There are even classes taught on such things. Your parents were on their own, so to speak, so how would they have known what to do?"

"They would not," Ryan said, "but I would never have hurt them!"

"We know that now, Ryan," Beth assured him, running her hand over his head. "Ryan, I love you, your father loves you. I truly hope that will be enough to get us past all this."

"It will be," Sulvius assured them both. He held out his arms for Ryan and the young dragon allowed himself to be picked up and held close to Sulvius, who nuzzled him reassuringly. He sat down next to Beth and put a hand on her back, his talons sheathed. "Trust me, it will work out just fine."

"I hope so," Beth said nervously.

"What should I do about father?" Ryan asked.

"Give him some time. If he doesn't come out to talk to you this evening, Ryan, then seek him out. Be slow and careful, Ryan, give him some space."'

"Yes, Sulvius."

"Excellent! Now, what say we bake some cookies?"

Beth burst out laughing. "Cookies? What's this? And effort to get us all together and do some bonding?"

Sulvius snorted. "No, it's because I love cookies." He paused. "And a bit of what you said."

They all laughed and Ryan squirmed to get down. "Alright, lets do some family bonding! I wish to make chocolate chip!"

They laughed, following Ryan, as shifted to his small form and scurried into the kitchen.