"Taylor, where are you?" The voice was easily heard over the quiet that had fallen over the city of Brockton Bay. While not heard clearly unaided on the Rig where the Wards' quarters were, anyone watching from there could easily see the green dragon as it began flying over the city, calling out for whoever it was looking for. The Wards saw it using the live feed on the monitor in their common area.
Taylor (with her superior draconic hearing) immediately recognized the voice, despite how it was changed due to coming from a draconic throat. The last time she'd heard it, it was laughing as Sophia pushed her into the locker and slapped a second lock on it.
One look at Armsmaster and she saw something unexpected: sympathy and understanding. He gave her a slight nod. "I had best get out there." He looked at Fountain and Bochs, both of whom were trying to hide behind Amy and Vicky, respectively. "We will deal with them when the crisis is over," he stated. "Keep track of them. For now, as you are all slated to be here overnight, I would recommend contacting your families to inform them that you have returned safely."
Dennis nodded. "Will do, sir."
Colin looked at his phone. "There appears to be a general evacuation order for several neighborhoods," he stated. "Most people are headed towards the outlying Endbringer shelters, and the owners of Coil's former underground base have opened it to people as well.
"I would suggest that you all clean up and be ready to be deployed in case you are needed." With that, Colin marched out of the room, carrying his equipment with him.
"Well, you heard the boss," Dennis said.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
It took the group less than twenty minutes to get showers and get into costume. Their belongings were stashed in various rooms (with Vicky and Amy's in Taylor's quarters).
"So now what?" Takara asked.
"Now we do the hardest part," Dean replied. "We wait."
"Yeah, that'll be hard," Vicky added. "Still though, I had fun."
"It was interesting," Chris agreed. "And I learned a lot."
"I learned just how out of shape I was," Dean said. "And how easy we actually have it compared to Sigil and the Ring."
Missy was doing a pretty good imitation of Vicky by sitting while apparently floating off the ground. "It was nice to see everyone again. I wonder why I made everyone nervous?"
Taylor arched an eyebrow. "Really? There are half a dozen people who have had tokens like yours, or better. They all can act with Her authority within the Ring. Basically, you could act with impunity there, and no one would say anything unless She said something first. Many would try to influence you or manipulate you, but that wouldn't last very long, and would end
very badly for those who tried." Taylor looked at all the looks everyone was giving her. "What? I read some books in Maddy's library."
"I'm just glad I'm back here where there aren't any Lolthite drow," Dinah stated. "I don't like people trying to kill me in my sleep."
"Who does? Haven't had anyone try that," Taylor snarked. "And I hope no one does."
"It helps that you've got good separation between your identities," Amy added. "So no one knows where your house is to make the attempt. Yet."
Taylor sighed. "I wish you wouldn't have said that. Now my home address is going to be known by everyone in the city by the end of the week."
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Armsmaster, back in his power armor after a quick shower, walked out into the ready area aboard the rig. "What is the situation?"
"We've got a green dragon currently nesting? Lairing? Up on Captain's Hill," the PRT duty officer explained. "It started calling out for someone and is beginning to move around, apparently looking for that person."
"I see." Armsmaster thought for a second. "Any trooper having to engage the creature should have full NBC gear on," he stated. "The breath weapon of that breed is a toxic gas. There should be a report on an incident upstate that involved a herd of dairy cattle being gassed before being eaten."
"Miss Militia and Andraste already called for that," the officer stated. "The creature started looking around approximately ten minutes ago, calling out for this 'tailor.' Kinda hope it just wants a costume."
Armsmaster had quickly put two and two together from the various pieces of information he had on the matter. If the green dragon was looking for a Taylor, there were some seven hundred and seventy-nine people with that name (personal or family) across both genders covering the full age range from a week to one hundred and two in the greater metropolitan area, and then there were various homophones and professions. However, he was more than aware of one Taylor who was currently down in the Wards area. Who was also a dragon.
"Evacuations for the areas surrounding Captain's Hill have been ordered, and the BBPD and FDBB have been quietly carrying those out," the D.O. continued. "People have been voluntarily moving to the Endbringer shelters on the outskirts of the city. The situation remains tense, but there is very little panicking going on."
"Thank you." Armsmaster thought for a moment. He needed more information about the situation. He was about to ask for some contact information when his helmet notified him of an incoming secure text message… from Samira. He glanced over the information, and sent off a quick response saying "Thank you". He then composed a text message and sent it off to Hlal Quicksilver.
The data archive he got back was sizable. He opened it up and began reading. Knowledge was power, and it would allow him to formulate a suitable plan and contingencies.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Andraste was in the command van near Captain's Hill. She'd been keeping a close eye on the great green dragon, who recently started calling out to a "Taylor." Being more conversant with Naurelin's case than Armsmaster, she had a gut feeling that somehow, Emma Barnes had been transformed into the creature. And, from what intel had been passed along from Draconic sources, that the actual transformation had been a tortuous, painful process that had probably broken the person who'd been transformed.
Emma Barnes' sanity had been questionable when she'd been remanded to psychiatric care until such time she'd be deemed competent to stand trial for the charges laid against her. If Tiamat was correct, the former Ms. Barnes was now completely insane and possibly
Mastered. Which meant that she wasn't entirely responsible for her actions if that was to be proven.
Green dragons, she'd been told by experts on the matter, were not to be trusted. Amongst themselves, they were coarse, indelicate creatures, prone to treachery. Amongst other creatures, they adopted a (very thin) veneer of civility, using a demeanor that could best be described and honey-tongued, smooth, and sophisticated.
Emily snorted. That sounded like an educated used car salesman. Or, truth be told, a behavior profile of Emma Barnes during her two years in high school.
They were also reputed to be rather lazy, attempting maximum gains for minimum effort. It was to be noted that their preferred diet consisted of elves and woodland fae. If none of those could be found, then any biped would do.
This creature, who'd been assigned the code name Verdigris, had last eaten a week ago, consuming a hundred head of dairy cattle upstate in the Green Mountains.
Forty tons of meat had disappeared down its mouth, and she dreaded what would happen if it decided to sate its hunger with the local population.
"Ma'am," one of her subordinates called from outside. "Someone from the Navy is here."
"Send him in," she responded.
The soldier that entered the van was dressed in urban camo BDUs, complete with composite body armor. He was easily six feet tall and had a lean build, like most soldiers do. Especially ones who wore the special warfare operator's insignia. The man respectfully inclined his head to her. "Ma'am," he greeted her respectfully. "MCPO John Spartan."
"Special Operations Director Piggot," Emily answered. "What have you got for me, Mr. Spartan?"
"I've been ordered to deliver to you a pair of AN/PEQ-1 designators in case you need to call for naval fire support." The man easily set down the case containing the units. "A number of replacement batteries have been provided."
Emily opened the cases, revealing the somewhat bulky units and their replacement powerpacks. "Very good. I assume they're on loan for the duration of the crisis?"
"Yes ma'am," the SEAL answered. He pulled a set of papers from a pouch at his belt. "I'll need you to sign here for them."
Emily took the papers and signed them, handing them back to the man. "Thank you. I honestly hope we don't have to use them."
MCPO Spartan nodded. "Agreed, but best that you have them and not need them," he said. "Rather than the other way around."
"Indeed."
= = = = = = = = = = = =
"Taylor, where are you?" the green dragon called out into the night.
So many things she could see. Things she didn't recognize, but at the same time were so familiar. As if she'd seen things like them before, or from a different side.
She'd taken flight over the city, the strange machines keeping a wary and respectful distance from her. There was no doubt they could outrun her, as they were flying literal circles around her. She was more focused on the terrain below her, flying in a zig-zag pattern over the neighborhoods to try to find something.
What that something was, she didn't quite understand. There was something nagging at the back of her mind. A fragment of a memory from
before, something that had been important to her. It had a name – Taylor – and a vague, fuzzy image. There was the twinge of an emotional attachment as well, and… pain?
Had this Taylor hurt her? Trying to remember
before hurt. That made her frustrated and wanting to take out that frustration on something. Had she hurt this Taylor? Had Taylor done something to deserve it? Maybe she'd been hunting, and Taylor'd been injured while escaping from her?
The thought of a weak and injured prey creature made her hungry again. She licked her chops while in flight. Yes, she was feeling a might peckish. But what to eat? Something at the back of her mind was telling her eating people was wrong. Why was it wrong? She was strong, they were weak. If they couldn't fight her off, or escape, they deserved to be eaten, right? That was the way the world worked.
Wasn't it?
Something clicked in her head, something was very familiar. The house she just overflew. There was a stronger connection there. It had flickering bits of memory attached to it – laughter, friendship.
Taylor.
The dragon came in for a landing on the street. This neighborhood was strangely quiet. Even at night there were sounds and activity – the occasional car, dogs barking, maybe an argument going on. The entire neighborhood was deathly quiet.
She was soon looking at a door. Fragments of memories pushed to the fore, happy memories. And then pain. Of something reaching in and making those happy memories painful. In her pain, she lashed out, taking a swipe at the front of the pitifully small house. The massive claw had almost reached the door of the house, ready to tear it off, when she was suddenly in a space filled with fog and mist.
"Now why would you want to do such a thing?"
"Who are you?" she demanded. "Show yourself!"
"Be very careful what you wish for, child," a voice chided. "You just may get it."
She looked up at the sound of the voice. Something in the fog and mist was moving.
"I am Tiamat," the voices intoned. "We are going to have words, youngling, and if you are lucky, you will get to live."
