15
Belle
Plans had definitely changed. Victory was near at hand. The summit would begin in less than an hour. The world leaders were leaving their plush accommodations in the chalets the Swiss government had provided and making their way to the long-awaited meeting. The huge castle where the summit was to be held was under surveillance. Belle, Maxxus, and Shark were allowing the meeting to go on as the president had wanted. Maxxus would be attending as one of the world leaders. He had insisted on bringing a bodyguard: Blayze.
In other parts of the world, there was a new roundup underway. Quietly and without fanfare, those named by the director as part of the conspiracy were being arrested and imprisoned. They fought their captors and argued against the charges, believing the president would exonerate them once his plan of taking control panned out. They foolishly remained loyal to him, not understanding they were expendable.
Reporters were waiting for the summit to be broadcast and missed out on what was occurring in the world's governments. It was the best scenario Belle could have hoped for.
The luxury transport slid softly and silently up to the castle gate. The woman who emerged was elegantly dressed, her slim body encased in a snow-white dress that swished around her knees. Her green shoes and handbag gave the outfit a pop of color. The large hat she wore covered her upswept hair.
A silver-haired man wearing a black suit came out of the opposite side of the transport. His face was wary and his eyes steely. He pushed his jacket aside at the waist, revealing a laser weapon. He took the lovely lady's elbow and guided her forward.
When asked for palm prints to identify them, the pair didn't hesitate. They were identified as Norway's leader and her personal bodyguard, both vetted and approved by the president. Inside the great room, once used for meetings and dining in days of old, they were seated close to the King of Talonia, who greeted the lady with a bow.
Before entering the castle, the president watched in satisfaction as ten weredragons landed on the castle turrets. He saw three yellow, one black, two blue, and four green. "Yes," he thought, "those are my minions." He remembered the eye colors of those he had chosen for today's unfortunate catastrophe.
"In half an hour, let them in. As soon as I leave, seal the doors," he told the guard. "If you and your men want to live, get as far away as you can as quickly as possible."
The president found his place on the stage at the end of the room. As the host, Switzerland's leader stood to greet the crowd. His words were being broadcast all over Earth, despite the difference in time zones. Talonia listened as well. "Welcome. It is a remarkable day in the history of our planet. Never before would we have dared to bring all the world's leaders into one place at the same moment. It was a leap of faith given to the U.S. President and his ability to keep the meeting place a secret and provide protection. I do regret the purpose of this extraordinary occasion. Until recently, the alliance with Talonia has been beneficial to both planets. Recent events have altered that viewpoint in many minds. All of us are saddened by the deaths that have resulted from the biological warfare. Both planets lost friends and family. We are here to decide how to handle the situation. We are willing to listen to arguments from both sides: those who believe the weredragons conspired against Earth and those who believe they were pawns in a terrorist attack. I ask that you remain civil during the discussions. Name calling and fistfights are not proper among such a dignified group." His audience broke out in laughter. "Before we begin, please make certain your translating devises are working properly. We want everyone to hear all the facts, so they may make an informed decision. Two worlds and their citizens are at stake here. We desire to avoid more bloodshed. Now, I will turn over the summit to the man who arranged it: The President of the United States."
Maxxus felt Blayze tense. The weredragon feared hearing the man's voice. He would associate it with pain and imprisonment. The king placed a strong hand around his bicep, and a soft one landed on his shoulder: Belle, disguised as Norway's leader.
"I'm not going to pull any punches today or hold back my opinion," the president began. "As I see it, Talonia wants to take over the governments of Earth. They see the beauty here and find it a desirable substitution for their own ravaged world. King Maxxus professes that his home is healing and paradise will be restored. I don't believe him."
Both Maxxus and Blayze bristled at his accusations. Blayze's heart was trying to get out of his chest.
The president continued, "We must break the alliance, remove all weredragons from our planet, and block them from returning. I suggest that all carrying the biological weapon within them be destroyed. We can't take any more risks. Should another world of aliens ever come calling, they will not be welcomed. The few Xycon who reside here can be overlooked as long as they are seen as inferior and have no rights. Otherwise, they must leave as well. I didn't want the alliance in the first place. I fought against it, if you'll remember. You should have listened. Since you didn't, some of the blame for this mess is on your heads. I was the lone voice of reason. Heed what I say, and all will end as it should. I assume my statements have angered some of you, and that is your right. Well, no matter what your opinions are, the vote will go in my favor. The alliance will end, or this world will be at war once again."
The audience was angered by his accusations. He had some nerve to blame them for the terrorists’ actions. They lost all their dignity and began shouting at him, forgetting or ignoring what Belle and Maxxus had told them only hours ago. It didn't matter; their words didn't register in his brain. He was too lost in his own world, one of dreams of power. He preened like a peacock. If he had listened, he would have realized they knew his secret and were calling for his resignation and much more.
"Argue among yourselves. I don't have time for this," the president commanded. "There's a world out there that needs a strong, relentless hand to rule over it. I will do what you haven't. The weredragons will be eradicated, and you'll all worship me as your savior. I'm leaving."
Maxxus and Belle removed their holds on Blayze. He was enraged. He strode past the crowd, who seemed bent on getting to the president themselves. Bigger and stronger by far, Blayze shoved them aside and reached him at the front door.
He slammed the president against the wall, holding him by his throat and allowing his feet to dangle in midair.
"Blayze, don't kill him. Please," the woman in white asked quietly.
"I cannot release him. His voice is too much to bear."
"I know. You don't have to. Just loosen your hold a little. He has to talk in order to end this."
Blayze moved his thumb from the center of the president's neck. The man took in a deep breath and shouted, "Kill him!"
No one moved. The world leaders surrounded him like a lynching mob.
"Are you all crazy? I said, kill him! He's nothing but an animal. They all are."
Blayze slammed the man's head against the wall. "We are not animals! We are not yours to use."
"Enough," Maxxus told him.
The president began to laugh as the door opened. A force of ten weredragon men entered, forcing the crowd backward, "He's not going to heed anything you say. He's mine to control. Look around. See how many of your dragons have appeared while your attention was on me. I need only speak the code, and you'll all die. They owe their loyalty to me." He turned his attention back to Blayze, "Let me go, you fool. Disobey me, and the pain will start."
"You do not control me."
"Listen to me. You're making my case for me. The world is watching. They see that you've attacked the U.S. President. You're going to die one way or the other, but now you've sealed the fate of your fellowmen. I could save you if I wanted. You appear tougher than the others. I can't even tell you're hurting, though I know you must be. Your violence and uncontrollable anger are proof that my microchip has been implanted. Come with me from this room. I can use you as my pet bodyguard. You'll live. Those left inside will die. I can shut off the microchip in your head while your friends do the dirty work. I almost felt bad about killing all of Earth's leaders. Some counted themselves as my friends, or so I thought. No more, however. They have chosen to ignore the threat to my life, so they are nothing to me and deserve their fate."
