Chapter 17 #3
“You’re promoting an alien monster for a brief spot of fame,” he growled.
Would this win me some kind of prize if we actually survived? Probably. However, I didn’t have recognition in mind, and it offended that Noah jumped to that conclusion. “Nice to see you think so little of me. Hey, since you’re the man with all the morals and answers, what is your plan, exactly?”
“I’m not sure yet, but it won’t include media blitzing the villain.”
“So you’ve condemned Leviathan without even speaking to him.” Blame the debater in me for stepping back from the situation to find the opposing stance. “Thus far, he’s done nothing but wake up.”
“He wants to eat people.”
“Wants to and has eaten are two different things. Thus far, he’s committed no crime.”
“Even if it doesn’t eat people and goes after animals or vegetation, look at the size of it.” Noah waved. “How many tons will it require a day? How long before everything on this planet is wiped to sate its appetite?”
The last time I dragged it out to last seven years.
I startled at the statement and Noah jumped on it.
“And this is why you can’t help it.”
“Then how will you stop him?” I hated putting him so bluntly on the spot.
However, the more we spoke, the more I wondered if appeasing Leviathan might not be the better course.
After all, he’d already stated he wouldn’t eradicate all life so that it could replenish.
Someone who aided the mega dragon might be one of those survivors left behind in a world drastically changed. Could I survive in such a place?
How could I even contemplate it? Aiding the dragon in any way, shape, or form condemned billions.
It would take humanity back to the Iron Age, maybe before, as infrastructure, everything we’d achieved, got wiped out.
And how could I have forgotten its plan to steal my eggs?
A plan that likely wouldn’t leave me alive.
Leviathan decided he wanted his spot back as center of attention.
I’m bored and I don’t like waiting. I shall allow this interview thing. Let the world tremble as they see my might. May they fall prone in veneration and bring me offerings in exchange for their life. I am partial to shiny objects. Be sure to include that in the interview.
“Uh, yeah. Sure. No problem.” Surreal didn’t come close to explaining my mindset in that moment. “So, one problem. I can’t properly record you if you’re talking in my head.”
You know where to find me if you wish to converse aloud.
I blinked. “I guess I could come to you.” Look at that, offering myself up as a proverbial lamb. Smart? Guess we’d find out, if I still lived a week from now.
Excellent. I shall even speak in a decibel that won’t burst your eardrums.
“Thanks.” And oh my god. What had I volunteered to do?
“Fucking suicidal,” Noah muttered, drawing my gaze.
“I’m going to guess you won’t fly me to Erebus so I can do this properly?”
“Like fuck I am.” An uncompromising Noah crossed his arms.
“You might want to listen to him, Velma. While this interview thing sounds exciting and all, logistically, I don’t think we can make it work.
” Vernon waved the microphone around as he spoke.
“Even if the captain agreed to fly, where would he land? In case you hadn’t noticed, Leviathan is literally soaking in magma.
Which brings me to point two: even if we could get close, we’ll barbecue. ”
“Or croak from the poison air,” Joslyn added.
“Why can’t we do the interview from here? I mean, he’s already talking in our heads. I assume he’s like these other dragons and can speak aloud. Given his size, we could probably hear him if he shouts.”
Bellow like a common animal? I couldn’t tell if Levithan sounded appalled or amused.
“The visuals wouldn’t be as good, mind you,” Joslyn interjected. “I mean, I can zoom in a bit, but I doubt I can properly capture and relay just how massive Leviathan is.”
“You could get him to pose later beside stuff people can compare.” Vernon began ticking off fingers with his microphone. “Say like posing him beside one of the coast guard clippers or the C17.”
Pose?
Definite annoyance in that word.
“You know that’s not a bad idea.” Joslyn panned her camera to the mountain. “I’m seeing him moving in slow motion from the volcano, coming towards us, his girth blocking out the sun, the ominous penumbra he casts a foreshadowing to come.”
All great ideas if the situation weren’t worthy of hysterical laughter.
I liked your kind better before they could talk, grumbled Leviathan.
“That didn’t sound like a no,” Joslyn purred. “So, big guy, when are you going to come shake your stuff for me? Or did you want to have your chat with Velma first?”
I am going for a swim and a snack.
“Snack on what?” Noah demanded.
Kraken. This area used to have impressive specimens. So delicious. They wiggle for some time before digesting.
Pretty sure I wasn’t alone in gulping.
I’ll be back.
Leviathan didn’t use an Arnie Terminator voice, but that’s how I heard it.
A dark threat.
But also a bit of time…
…to panic.