Outside the museum people scatter in all directions, causing instant panic in the district. We keep our heads down and I follow Edan as he picks up speed; making his way through alleyways and market stalls as if he knows the place well. We don’t speak just move. I’m reminded of a dozen different missions that went bad. We joke on the way in but when things go bad, there’s no more jokes or planning for afterwards. Hand motions and eye contact are the only forms of communication allowed.
Almost as if in slow motion a creature swoops down from the air crashing into Edan and dragging him across the ground through the alleyway and out into to the market. I follow, I reach for a sidearm that I don’t have as I hit the street’s. Through the crowd of people rushing and shoving I almost lose track of Edan but I make it in time as he manages to use his legs to push the creature away and regain his footing. It’s a Strux, I recognize them from the museum. The Revrell claim to have elevated their species for the purpose of law enforcement and fending of Draconian invasions. Many who don’t live under Revrell control work as bounty hunters, and I’m guessing Edan has a bounty. Insect like, hard exoskeleton, some even hide wings on their backs. I move in to join the fight but Edan waves me off confidently tossing his jacket to the side.
The bounty hunter swings first, Edan redirects his hand, landing a solid punch on the throat. If it were a person without an exoskeleton that would have dropped them. But it gets no reaction from The Strux. The two aback away feeling each other out. Edan pushes forward with a flurry of punches that all seem to be dodged or deflected. Another pause as a market stand separates them for a moment. The bounty hunter closes in with a flurry of body blows that Edan blocks with his elbows. It’s clear he’s a better hand fighter than I am but I can’t relax. The two trade a series of jabs and light kicks. Never really landing anything solid. The bounty hunter lands a big body blow to the Edan’s gut which causes him to back away for a moment. For just a brief second the bounty hunter shows signs of arrogance nodding his head and admiring his own work instead of closing in for the finish.
Again, I move forward but Edan waves me off. The bounty hunter rushes in to have Edan swing some wide hook shots and haymakers that seem to have no purpose until two manage to land on the side of the bounty hunter’s head. He’s shaken by the blows. That’s when I notice there’s no shell on the side or back of his head. Edan has a chance, he’s surely fought them more than I have. I just have need to trust in him.
Edan doesn’t allow time for pause, he rushes in with a series of shin kicks towards the knee. The bounty hunter attempts to lift his legs to block or avoid them. Edan launches a high spinning kick that backs the bounty hunter into another stall. He retaliates, grabbing a pot of liquid and flinging it at Edan. Edan covers his face to avoid whatever the liquid is only to have the pot thrown at him when peaking out. He manages to dodge the pot but the bounty hunter lands a big knee to Edan’s head sending him toppling backwards. Edan doesn’t move right away, but he’s still breathing. The bounty hunter produces a set of shock cuffs from his belt and walks forward.
He’s not playing fair, and I’m not going to let my little brother get arrested in front of me. I rush into the chaos, pushing through the circle of onlookers. Before he can turn around, I’ve grabbed the bounty hunter’s wings and placed a foot on his back. He shouts a gargled scream as I pull like I’m trying to rip them right off his back. I go toppling back to the ground as the bounty hunter goes limp. Edan is standing over me, offering a hand with the pot in his other. I roll the bounty hunter’s body off me and take his hand. A gunshot goes off and the crowd screams.
“Shit, he’s got friends,” Edan sighs either from annoyance or exhaustion.
“They’ve got guns too.”
“We should just run.”
“Which way,” is all I can ask before he takes off and I follow.
It feels like I’m back at the market when Edan abducted me, only this time, he’s running slightly ahead of me leading the way. Edan leads us down an alley and further down a set of stairs. We duck through a corridor and climb a fence as the chaos continues. I spot three more Strux chasing after us. Back on the market floor Edan starts to tip a stand of fruit, I catch up and help before we continue to run. Something tells me not to look back, but I take a glance. The bounty hunters aren’t stopping but the strange fruit does slow them just a bit.
“Ship is ready,” someone calls in to Edan but I can’t make out who.
“Coming in hot, be ready for a rough launch,” he shouts back.
We almost make it to the docks, before one of the bounty hunters manages to grab me by the arm. I throw a few punches but can’t manage to get away. The bounty hunter screams in pain as smoke pours out of their side. I spot Nastas pulling a short but red hot knife from their side and kicking them away. He tosses me a black holdall as I give him a nod of gratitude. The bag is heavy but I don’t question him right now. He’s running slightly behind me carrying a bag of his own as we move through the tunnel towards the docks. The ship is in sight, we’re in the home stretch now.
A heavy shot rings out and echoes through the docks as we near the ship. A pile of crates detonates before us, finally bringing us to a stop. My body sucks in wind air stinging my chest. Suddenly my legs ache after running, hiding and fighting for what seems like an hour. Edan and Nastas are equally as tired. Edan running with me the entire time, and Nastas clearly on his own chase, brining a new bounty hunter with him. The number has risen to five. There’s three of us, and they’re well-armed.
“We have you outnumbered,” one of The Bounty hunters says.
“Yes, but we have a Velphi,” Edan smiles.
“I hardly think now is the best time to be making jokes,” Nastas takes a deep breath. “We are in a life or death or prison situation. I don’t know about you humans but Meteorians believe prison is just as bad as bowing before another species. Live free or die, that is what my uncle always said.”
“I think now is a great time for jokes,” Edan tries to shrug while breathing heavily. “Besides when is the last time either of us went to jail?”
“What is a Velphi,” one of the bounty hunters asks.
“Are you two stalling for time,” I ask.
“I just think they should know what a Velphi is,” Edan responds.
“I hardly think that is any of their business. A Velphi is a trade secret, no, a company secret that we guard most dearly,” Nastas argues.
“I just feel like we should tell them and get it over with,” I join the fun.
“What is a Velphi,” another guard asks aggressively before Velphi’s massive body appears in the sky casting a shadow from so high above.
“That’s a Velphi,” Edan points up.
Their guns take aim at Velphi, the mythical Alpha Draconian their species was elevated to kill. Based on their reactions, they have never seen one before, a real one. There are plenty of species refered to as Draconians because they’re subjects of the empire, but Velphi is the real deal. The original species that conqured so many others. I understand their shock, I had the same reaction, actually, I think I was less afraid. Velphi is the culmination of centuries worth of nightmares. Not just for the five in front of us, but for their entire species. They raise their guns slowly to fire, too afraid to say anything. Velphi lets out a massive roar, that sends chills down my spine. A sound made of pure killing intent from the gentle soul I know just seems unthinkable. From here he does look like a dragon and commands the same respect as one. Will The Strux rise to be the knights they were trained to be by The Revrell in order to slay the dragon that had only been myth to them before, or will they cower? One of the bounty hunters fires their weapon. From this angle I can’t tell if Velphi was hit, but he doesn’t budge until the next round leaves the gun. With no warning he opens his mouth and begins to blow out flames that warp and shift until a massive fireball is heading towards the bounty hunters with speed.
The three of us rush onto the ship followed by Velphi. He’s embraced with hugs and cheers as the door closes. He saved our asses and should be treated as a hero.
