*Sevarith and SilverDragon are both what you could call half-dragons, there dragons but walk on two legs, them and there kind are silver in color and do have wings, though can only fly short distances. When not in use, there wings are wraped around there shoulders to form a sort of cloak.*
As he opened his eyes, all Silver could see was a few people staring at him through the glass, writing things down on clipboards they carry around with them. Across from him he could see another in what was a cylinder, it was suspended in liquid as he was with breathing equipment over its face like his own. The world around him grew darker as he drifted back into unconsciousness.
When he regained consciosness again he was no longer in his tank, but laying on a table. He tried to move his arms and legs but upon inspection he found they were bound to the table, even his tail was secured, he closed his eyes and tryed to remember something, anything, but it was all just bits and piecies. His first memory was of a person with a mask over there face and wearing something over there eye that made a strange whirrring noise. His next memory was of being dumped into that tank with what looked like an important person looking at him smileing and others around him congratulating him and themselfs, and otherwise looking verry smug, shortly after is when the tank across from him became occupied.
His eyes shot open and he cried out, it was more a bestial roar of anger and rage than one of pain, as a seriese of needles were stuck in various parts of his body. This was the third time that he could remember that they had done this to him, injecting him with various substances that left him weak and otherwise ill. In recent months they had to use ever biger and stronger injections and needles, he could only assume that his body was working against whatever it was, and his scales and hide had broken most of the needles they had used, perhaps that was there goal, but the reason eluded him.
Every week for three days at a time they now took both him and the one that looked like him out of there tanks and placed a device over his eyes. It was teaching them it seems, teaching them about pirates attacking civilian craft, how they showed no mercy to those who they attacked and how they were getting out of hand. These pirates were called the BloodDragons, and were nothing more than common criminals to be killed on sight and eradicated from Kusari space.
This proceess of testing and force teaching before being dumped into there tanks continued for years, and he eventually learned that there were a considerable number of those like him, and that he was the first of his kind, he was told his name was SilverDragon and that the one across from him was the second of his kind, his brother Sevarith. He also learned that there were considerable number of these rooms in this facility containing each two dragons like him and that the facility was the only one of its kind under the surface of the planet New Tokyo.
SilverDragon IDAF --Commander of the Imperial Dragon Armed Forces-- Cruser
She had been flying her Chimaera more and more lately. She found it odd that she was given such an armored ship. She did have to travel far for her research but a Chimaera? She had never once been engaged by the Dragons or the GC. Maybe it was because of Jen, her friend from school who had run off to join the GC. They hadn't talked in many, many years but maybe that was the reason for her peaceful excursions. But no matter, this week was an expedition to Hokkaido. She needed to stop thinking so much and just do her job.
Her given name was Merideth Harolds. She was born on Manhattan to two of Liberty's top scientists. There seemed only one path for her to take. She studied at Cambridge and eventually chose to major in Psychobiology; the study of all life forms, not just humans. Merideth found herself to be in high demand, what with all the new life froms being discovered (or created) each day and the even more amazing ability to communicate with them. She was able to relate to these creatures more so than her fellow humans. You see, Merideth was somewhat of a recluse and despised her peers, not only for their substandard mental processes but because she really didn't like people.
Despite her volatile personality, she eventually landed a job working for the Kusari government and quickly rose to the top of their Research and Development department. Her colleagues called her Ember behind her back. They felt as though they had to walk on eggshells, afraid something might spark her rage and life in the laboratory would be hell for days. Eventually, after years of interacting with her, they began to call her Ember to her face and the name stuck.
Lately, Ember found it harder and harder to come into the lab each day. This project was not supposed to be her life's work. It was a temporary project that turned into this fiasco. It went against everything she believed in; the 'nature vs. nurture' theory, reinforcement and rewards. This was not what she had signed on for so many years ago. Study, yes. Manipulation, no.
Ember was tired, physically, emotionally and mentally. She looked to her nav map and realized she had drifted within 4 clicks of Ainu depot. How could she have been so careless? Maybe if she mentioned Jen's name over her comm channel she would be okay. Or she could try to dock, she did need a drink and it would be nice to talk with Jen about this mess.
She requested to dock, one hand on the throttle and one hand on the autopilot. Might as well be ready for either answer, she thought. Much to her surprise she was given permission to dock. She let out her breath, sat back, engaged autopilot and thought about how she would broach this subject to someone she hadn't seen in lord knows how many years.
(Note: Psychobiology, also called biopsychology, is the scientific study of mental functioning and behavior in relation to other biological processes, or put another way, of the effects of cognition, emotions, and experience on animal physiology.)
The routine continued as usuall, he was taken from his stasis tank, placed and secured to the table. All he was waiting for now was the drill like needles and injections that would leave him and his brothers weak again. The scientists had refered to Silver and his brothers as clones on many occasions, to them they probably were, they all looked alike, but where humans differed in apearence, Silver and his brothers differed in scale patterns.
Things continued as usuall apart from one thing, there was a new scientist, a human female, now working with the others, they seemed to fear her, for what reasons he did not know but the fact remained they did. They often refered to her as Ember, Silver watched her whenever he was conscious, she was unlike the others, she never jumped at the chance to "work" on one of his kind, to him she seemed reluctant to do so.
The teaching machine continued to do its job in teaching Silver and his brothers that the Blood Dragons were the enemy, if they were the enemy and so merciless in there actions, why would the Kusari govenment have to effectively recreate the draconis race to fight them, to Silver it all seemed a bit overkill to deal with a few pirates.
As time went on the scientist Ember came to the labs more infrequently, she didnt seem as enthusiastic about her work in the labs as she once did. She was different than the others in the lab, not just by the fact she did not jump at the chance to experiment with Silver's brothers, she also looked diferent and smelled diferent. She was undoubtably human, but not Kusarien.
For now all Silver could do was submit to whatever the scientists though up, whatever new tests, procedures.... it was all torture to him, plain and simple. He began to doubt what he was taught and sensed the same in his brothers, but there was nothing they could do, they were always too weak after the injections, and when they were taken from there tanks they were always watched by heavily armed and armored guards. If they were to be used as a force to combat piracy, why did they need such protection from there own creations?, things here were not as they seemed anymore.
All they could do was bide there time.....
*note, Draconis is the word used to describe dragonkind, not Draconian that has come to be used, Draconian means cruel and harsh and has nothing to do with dragons*
SilverDragon IDAF --Commander of the Imperial Dragon Armed Forces-- Cruser
"Now do you understand the gravity of the situation?" Ember asked.
Jen bit the bottom of her lip, a tademark of hers when she was in deep thought. She hadn't changed as much as Ember had expected. Except for the fact that Jen had become very influential among the Golden Chrysanthemums. She still seemed very, how did the saying go?, down to earth. Ember felt much lighter after getting this off her chest.
"I'm not sure what we can do, but something obviously needs to be done," Jen replied after milling it over for what seemed like an eternity.
"The look in his eyes, there's an intelligence there, something very human-like," Ember said, more to herself than Jen. "I can't stand to think about what they've done to him, what they're going to make him do," She trailed off.
"A warning needs to be sent out," Jen motioned to one of her aides.
"Wait," Ember called, "Don't do that yet. Let's see what they do first. I know when we'll be able to get to them."
"You have a point. Tomorrow we will begin planning," Jen said as she waved her hand to dismiss the aide. "Well, it's getting late and you've had quite a bit to drink. I'll show you to your quarters," Jen started to steer the listing Ember down the corridor. "So they call you Ember, huh? Wouldn't have anything to do with that temper of yours, now would it?" Jen teased.
"Don't get me started," Ember snapped back, but with a smile in her eye.
Silver awoke on the operating table, expecting the injections his body tensed up, but to his surprise there were noone around, the scientists had gone and they hadnt bound his tail as they usually did. Takeing advantage of his free limb he used it to slacken the bonds around his arms and hind legs and get free of the table, he rolled to his right and droped to the ground expecting someone to investigate the noise he froze, but again noone came.
Getting to his feet, rather unsteadily, he paded over to where his brother was inside his tank, he thuded the tank with his hand a few times, but his brother didnt move, Silver knew how strong the injections were getting, this one must have had his not long ago to have put him under so deeply, he looked down to the bottom of the tank at the nameplate there, so this brother was named Sevarith.
Silver aproached the door slowly, listening out for movement in the corridor beyond, but again like the lab there was nothing, where were the scientists that would never leave him alone, where were the guards that were always watchfull?. It seemed too good to be true, to have his chance to get out of this place, but thats what also worried him. In the back of his mind he knew this might be a trap, but still... he had to try. Upon reaching the door he stoped and poked his head out, quickly looking left and right. Again nothing, so he proceded out into the corridor and rook the right path slowly moveing along the corridor, pressed against the wall and ready to take cover inside one of the many rooms if he spotted anyone. When he reached the end of the corridor, it opened out into a larger room, Silver stayed in the shadow of the corridor as there were a great many people in the room, scientists, soldiers, official looking people. Something was going on, he started to back up the corridor from where he had come, watching the entrance to the larger room incase anyone should walk past. Sudenly there was a pain in the back of his head and the corridor started turning and everything went blank.
When he awoke he was back in his tank with the official from before looking at him smugly.
"So you tried to escape did you? hahaha, well, were not going to let one of our prized experiments escape. *his expression turned severe* the next time you try that you filth, one of you will die!"
The official turned about and spoke to the guards, no doubt telling them to keep a twenty-four hour watch on him, so much for his escape attempt.....
SilverDragon IDAF --Commander of the Imperial Dragon Armed Forces-- Cruser
The facility that held Silver and Sevarith was vast. It was covered with turrets, cameras, and soldiers. But with most of it underground, they felt safe with only one entrance. And indeed, only one entrance was the way to do it. However, one entrance wasn't enough to get fresh air to all parts of the complex, and so every so often a vent shaft went up to the surface. The entrances were covered with a thick mesh cover, and a large fan drew air into the place. Getting through the cover was hard and would probobly be detected, and even if something got past that there was the fan to stop any intruders. And then there was the maze of ventalation tubes and the normal security in the labs themselfs.
"Remind me again why were doing this?" 5 humans dressed in black crouched around the vent cover.
"Cause, poppet, mis Sinclare said so." The second figure checked his weapon again.
The third figure rolled her eyes from behind the vision sensor strip that hid them. "Because in that lab is a welth of bio-engeneering information. If we had that, we could blow just about any compettittion out of the water."
"You alvays complain about somezing, don't vu?" The fourth sighed.
The first glared at the fourth speaker. "Let's just hope that all our information is correct." He went back to fiddling with the straps on his outfit.
"Let's just get it done. It's go time." The fifth picked up his weapon. "Mary, melt the cover."
"Right." The third one pulled a little spray bottle out from her pack and started spraying the vent cover. The metal bubbled and smoked, and then dissolved compleatly. Out from the center in a circle she sprayed the acid, melting through the cover. Soon there was a hole for them to get through.
The fifth spoke again. "Mark, attatch the grapple points."
"Right 'o." The second pulled a grapple gun from his hand, and taking the offered lines one by one, attached them to the mag-point and fired at the wall. They all went in, rappeling down the shaft.
At the fan, they stopped it with another mag-point and slid past to the ground. The mag-point was removed, and the fan started spinning again.
"No need to stop our air, huh?" The first whispered.
"No need to alert them either. Let's keep quiet as possible." The fifth moved ahead, following the path their inteligence had gathered about the place from his vision sensor strip.
***
It took some time for them to reach their destination, however they got there without incident. The cover was no problem, they just unscrewed it and pulled it out of the way. Inside there was a lot of equipment; test-tubes, liquids, needles, sheets of paper, and large machines who's purpose was unidentifiable at first glance. The intruders paied them no mind at all.
The first went straight to a computer terminal and started tapping at the keys, trying to coax it to cooperate. The fifth looked for cameras and when he found them, put a little chip on them that would die out in an hour. The others spread out and started looking at things that might hold intrest.
The third poked her head out the door, and saw all was dark and quiet. The door across was also open, however, and she could see a scientist looking person standing byond it. Intrigued, she crossed the hall silently and slid into the room. The second followed her.
***
The scientist was looking over the two semi-concious dragons. He couldn't gloat out loud, not with the guards, but he was gloating. You could see it in his face. He was so intently staring at the redouts, his own notes, and the thoughts in his mind of how much this project would benifit his career that he didn't notice the door was left open. Nor did he notice the two black-clad figures that were looking about inside. Neither did the guards, who had been ordered to keep an eye on the dragons. The door could guard itself. Not like anyone would get in here.
The scientist was broken out of his musings by two quiet little thumps. When he turned around, the guards were dead and two black people were in the room.
"W- wait! I can..." Two bolts of light zipped across the distance between him and the intruders and slid into his body like a hot knife through butter. He fell with a thump, much like what the two guards did.
***
Mary walked up to the semi-concious dragons. She looked them over. "Bio-engeneered." She whispered to her companion. "They made these."
The third intruder nodded. "I'll get the hacker to get over 'ere once 'e's done with the database over there."
"I'll get him, along with Mathews and Hans."
"All right." The third moved off, silent and swift.
"Now... Guess that leave you 'an me, don't it?" He stared at Silver, drifting slightly in the tank. "I wonder what kind 'o stories you could tell... So, what's your name poppet?"
This is the real true story of rock and roll; it was not about anything more then, how to live your life, as a gangster, in sartorial splendor, and turning the world into a place where normality would never return again...- Malcolm McLaren
It was almost time for Silver to be taken from his tank again, the scientist was looking at him, as smug as he always was, beyond him the two guards were standing still, weapons at the ready with expressionless faces. However two new figures Silver could see on his peripheral vision, the figures were sneaking up behind the guards and neatly slit there throaghts. The scientist was alerted by there bodys hiting the floor and turned. Perhaps he was going to beg for his life, or raise the alarm, whatever it was the figures in black shot him and began to look around the lab. One of them aproached Silver's tank and was looking at him.
Silver motioned the figures to step to the side as he braced his back against the tank and hit the front of it with his hindlegs, nocking the door to the tank off. As he fell out along with the suspension liquid he rolled and came up to a crouch with his wings half spread and looked at the figure a distance from him and spoke up for the first time.
"In answer to your question, my name is Silver, i presume you came here for a purpose"
Without waiting for her to answer he rose to his full height and paded over to the other tank and smashed is door with his tail and caught ahold of Sevarith when he fell through the tank.
"In answer to what i am, i am a Dragon, we are thirty two in number and i want your help to free the other thirty of my kin, in return we will help you escape as you help us escape. The scientist and guards you killed are due to check in as they always do before experimenting with us in seven minuits. When they do not the facility will be locked down and all access points sealed. There are two thousand troops, fifty armored troops and two hundred scientists in this base, it would be in our best intrests to help each other would it not?"
Again without waiting for an answer he strode into the adjoining room and smashed the two tanks in it.
"there are fourteen more rooms along this corridor, each containing two tanks, some have guards, others dont, we will arm ourselfs at the armory across the hall".
Silver paded into the next room where two guards stood watching the tank on the far wall, Silver pounced at the guard on the left nocking him to the ground and useing his tail, snaped the other guard's neck and snaped the first guard's neck with his paws.
SilverDragon IDAF --Commander of the Imperial Dragon Armed Forces-- Cruser
The masked man watched as Silver ripped through the tank, his brother's tank, and and two guards in the other room.
"Bloody 'ell man! You work fast!" He shook his head. "Well, i'm James. Guess that's a good an introduction as any. The pritty lady you saw with me was Mary. We got three others with us, Mathews, Hans, and Patrick. An' yes, we are here for a reason. It was not, i'm afraid to say, to free you people."
At that point, Mary came in followed by the others. Patrick looked from Silver to James. "I didn't know we were working for PETA too."
James shrugged. "Don't look at me, 'e got 'imself out."
Hans sighed. "Zo... Vat now?"
Mathews spoke. "The job. Patrick, get the files. James, Mary, photograph everything. Hans, with me. We're going to..."
"Sah, he want's us to help 'im free his brothers an' sisters."
Mathews stopped. "How many?"
"30 more sah."
Mathews sighed. "We can't..."
"Boss man? There is a check-in signal here. If the guards and the scientist don't check in, bam. Alarms, locked doors, guards, and turrets. We got 6 and a half minutes."
Mathews looked at Silver. "Free your kin. Meet us in the room across the hall from here. Hans, you take pictures with Mary. I'll secure our exit."
"What about me, sah?"
"You get to help our dragon friend free his kin."
James sighed. "Aye sah."
"6 minutes people! Move fast!" Mathews ran off to the room they came in.
James handed one of the guards rifles to Silver. "Come on then. Let's be quick about it."
This is the real true story of rock and roll; it was not about anything more then, how to live your life, as a gangster, in sartorial splendor, and turning the world into a place where normality would never return again...- Malcolm McLaren
Silver took the rifle and smiled at James, showing rows of razor sharp golden fangs that matched his golden claws and horns. Silver paded to the next door and stoped, he crouched down and motioned James to crouch down at the door also. Inside the room there were two guards and a scientist and each tank contained one of his sisters, the one faceing him noticed Silver and her tail twitched slightly, Silver make a gesture with his hand to her and she nodded, from the other tank there was a thud and all three turned to look at its occupant. The first dragoness braced herself against the tank and kicked the door off as Silver had done earlier and nocked the scientist to the ground, before any had a chance to move she had already snaped the neck on one of the guards and by that time the other dragoness had also broken loose and deftly dispatched the other guard. During the skirmish the scientist had pulled himself free of the tank's door and was heading to the console, acting fast Silver darted into the lab and ramed the butt of the rifle through the back of the scientist's head and his face exploaded all over the console, he used the scientist's coat to clean the rifle and turned to his sisters.
Both dragoness were now armed with the rifles of the soldiers and turned to Silver and saluted him by raising there left wing.
"its time for us go gain our freedom, lets free the rest of our kin and get out of this place"
Both dragoness noded and paded off into the hall, muffled shots could be heard as both of his sisters fired shots from there rifles that thankfully had suppressors atached to them. within three minuits the lab wing had been cleared of troops and all of his kin had been acounted for, fifteen dragons and fifteen dragoness', they were now armed and doned in the armor that was designed for them and were now assembled in the large room that the intruders had used to breach the compound.
Silver turned to the intruders.
"i hope you have what you came for, were almost out of time".
He gestured to the air vent and his kin started to climb into it.
"Dont worry, we know the way out, for one thing, we can smell the fresh air".
He smiled to the intruders and paded over to a console and started taping the keys, after a few moments the console bleeped a few times then shut down then Silver turned to look at the intruders.
"If im right, i just arranged transportation off this rock for my kin, as im sure you did not bring a ship that could carry thirty dragons".
***
The message.
Alpha priority transmition...
Secured link enabled...
Bounceing signal on satelite array...
...
Ember, i need you to return to the lab immediatly, come in a transport, preferibly with backup, all will be explained when you arrive... co-ordinates will follow...
~ A silver friend.
... message end
Sending co-ordinates...
...co-ordinates sent
...
...deleting log entry
...shuting down terminal...
***
SilverDragon IDAF --Commander of the Imperial Dragon Armed Forces-- Cruser
Ember walked into the hanger bay toward her chimaera to check on some minor repair work when she realized a transmission had been sent over secure channels:
Ember, i need you to return to the lab immediatly, come in a transport, preferibly with backup, all will be explained when you arrive... co-ordinates will follow...
~ A silver friend.
With backup? To the Lab? A silver friend.....She took off running.
Ember found Jen and relayed the information. "So much for waiting. We've got to get on this quickly," Ember said. "Where the hell will I find a transport out here?"
"Did someone say they needed a transport? Would a large train do?" Asked a man sitting at the bar.
Jen put a hand on Embers arm to hold her back, "Ember, I'd like for you to meet Romer. He is one of our most trusted, uh how shall I say this, smugglers. If he is offering his help, I'd take it."
"Good to meet ya, Ember. If we're going that far we're going to have to get on the road, so to speak. You can come with me if you'd like. I can dock pretty much anywhere in Kusari space, so that won't be a problem for us," Romer said in such a calm and cool manner that it was hard for Ember not to relax.
"Fine. I appreciate the help," Ember said as she turned to Jen. "Can we count on the Blood Dragons for air support?"
"They've already launched and so have the GC. They'll meet you en route," Jen replied.
"Okay, good. Romer, you ready to go?"
Romer nodded as he finished the last of his drink, "Yes ma'am."
Ten minutes later Ember and Romer launched into space.
![[Image: sigiv3.png]](http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/1817/sigiv3.png)