11
Blayze
They came for him in the middle of the night. Invisible gas, breathed in as he slept, kept him from knowing the masked men had arrived. Condor and Promesus were in forced slumber as well. Blayze was lifted onto a gurney and taken to yet another surgical suite.
It was hours later before he woke. His mouth was dry, and he was dizzy. He moved to sit up and grabbed his head as it spun. His fingers touched a bandage. Investigating, he discovered it covered his entire head. What was this? He moaned. His fellow prisoners must have heard it, for they called out.
"Blayze, is that you? Are you awake?"
"I am here," he answered, barely speaking loud enough for them to hear. "Something is wrong. My head is bandaged, yet I do not remember an accident. Did I fight with a guard?"
"We are not sure what was done. We seemed to have been drugged during the night. We awoke dizzy and confused. We called out, and you did not answer," Condor replied.
"You were not in your cell. We know because we did see them return you. We saw the bandage. No one would answer our questions. They told us to be silent or we would receive the same treatment as you," Promesus added.
Blayze tugged on the bandage, loosening it to slide a finger beneath. His suspicion was right. There was a new cut directly above the scar and a bare spot where his hair should have been. Had they removed the control device? Why?
Footsteps stopped the conversation. These were heavy and loud, unlike the soft soled shoes worn by the staff who brought them food. A familiar face peered through the small window. It was grinning, though not in a pleasant manner.
"Sleeping beauty has awoken, I see," the CIA director sneered. "I assume you are feeling the effects of your surgery. You might even be intelligent enough to hazard a guess as to what occurred. However, I'll explain anyway. You didn't respond as we had hoped to the little device in your head. You managed to defy our commands despite the pain. That upset us and, to be honest, hurt our feelings. After all, we worked hard and spent a lot of money to make those devices. The creators gave their lives for them. My superior wasn't pleased with me. He likes to know he has complete control. So, we've upped the power. It wasn't really necessary since we don't need you. I did it for my own amusement. The original device was removed. We might have caused some damage in doing so. We had no motive to be careful. Anyway, I digress. I had it replaced by a much larger, deeper-embedded version. It's one of a kind: an experiment. We'll test it later. I want you fully awake and my superior wishes to watch. You won't be able to resist this time. Oh, yes. I almost forgot to mention that your target is Special Agent Belle Simons. We'll find her and her cohorts soon, and it will be you who kills them. That's a little perk I was given for a job well done in China."
Belle
Maxxus was several hours late in arriving. It had taken extra time and negotiation to convince Earth's security to allow the trade ship through the shield protecting the planet. Then, Australia hadn't wanted it to land. It was finally given permission with the promise that the weredragons would remain aboard, opening their cargo hold to the humans. The trade would be made by only human hands, and the ship would depart immediately after the trade was done. That had posed a problem for Maxxus and the two weredragons he had brought with him: Daer the healer and a soldier for protection. The trio had eventually slipped out through the cargo hold during a fist fight among the workers.
Now Maxxus sat beside Belle, listening to the latest report of violence. Daer was in the bunkhouse with Dr. Davis, setting up a surgery center to remove the encapsulated biologic and the microchips from any weredragon brought to the ranch.
"An attack on the Kremlin was thwarted this morning," the news feed began. "A single weredragon got past security and made it to the main entrance. He was met by the leader's own bodyguard, also a weredragon. The pair argued verbally, giving precious time to evacuate the building. They transformed and fought, the intruder eventually resorting to the use of dragon fire on his own species. Both perished from the biologic. Several citizens were infected and are expected to succumb to the weapon's release. All of Russia is disturbed and confused. One weredragon fought to protect the palace, while another sought to destroy their leader. We have no answer for the discrepancy, and the world leaders aren't responding to our confused inquiries. No one has even told us how a weredragon remained free in the home of the Russian leader. We, the people, are left without acknowledgment or explanation."
"A report came to us from England that is almost as vexing," the reporter continued. "A weredragon stumbled onto a small estate, collapsing in the garden. He appeared to be injured. There was a wound on his head, gaping open and seemingly done by his own hand. His throat was also damaged, shredded by claws. He hasn't regained consciousness and surgeons report that some object was torn from both areas. They are uncertain as to the recovery of his mind. Brain tissue was severely damaged."
"The weredragons seem to dominate the news today," a second reporter announced. "In Australia, a trading vessel was allowed to land. It was unloaded by humans, the weredragons having been ordered to remain on board. Yet, cameras caught three figures, dressed unlike the workers running from the scene as an argument took place between two coworkers. It is believed these were indeed weredragons from the alien ship. All trading has now been stopped between the Talonians and Earth. This vessel was forced to leave without receiving its new cargo."
"Well, you were seen, but not recognized as the king or followed. Those are points in our favor," Belle told Maxxus.
"There was simply no other way out," Maxxus replied. "It is upsetting to hear the reports on my people. They are suffering. I am proud of the bodyguard for protecting his charge and very saddened that he had to fight against his own kind, even more so that he lost his life doing it. I assume the man who is hospitalized removed the capsule and the microchip himself. The pain must have been excruciating. I want him taken home to his family, whether his mind heals or not. He should be with those who love him. We must stop this madness before all affected weredragons resort to the same solution."
"I know. The summit is in two days. It will end then, one way or another. If everything goes badly, get as many of your species off this planet as you can. Stay away. Forget about Earth. It won't last long. Hopefully, it won't come to that, but I just had to say it."
"Should the worst occur, I will not leave you or your loyal group behind. Talonia will welcome you."
"It's more than us, Maxxus. Earth is huge, and billions of people live here. You can't take them, and I won't leave them. I'll fight until the end, trying to rectify the issue.'
They were interrupted by Shark. "I've got something to help us tonight. I started thinking about the timing issue with the cameras. One second too long with them blocked, sets off alarms, and one second too soon, and we're seen. I wasn't happy with that arrangement, so I went to some of my buddies for better technology. Don't freak out. I didn't say why I wanted it and they would never ask." He held up four small, square, plastic boxes. They were approximately two inches square. "These contraptions will do all the work for us. As we walk, they'll block the cameras we encounter and allow them to activate once we're past. No perfect timing necessary. The rest of the plan stays the same."
"Bless you, Shark, and your money too," Belle laughed. "I'm so glad it was you I called."
"I know. You couldn't have done it without me," he teased. "Too bad you're in love with Blayze and I'm too old for you. I'd ask for my payment in kisses."
Belle gave him a hug and kissed his cheek. "You're not old, just seasoned. Have you spoken with your daughter? Does she wonder what you're up to?"
"We talked. I didn't tell her what I was doing. She's used to that. Most of my really good deals or acquisitions are secret. I sent her to the lodge I own up in the mountains. It's secluded, and she'll be safe until this is over."
"It's disguise time. Are you ready to become someone else?" Belle asked him.
"Make me younger and more handsome," he replied.
"I will ask once more. Can I go along? I shall remain in the transport if you wish," Maxxus promised.
