Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
*** HESHER ***
H esher's body convulsed and his scream startled the helicopter pilot when the soldier poured the disinfectant on the wound in his back. Due to his exhaustion, the pain was almost more than he could handle.
"You did not tell her how bad the wound was. Why did you keep it from her?" Kelan asked over the loud noise of the helicopter's rotor blades.
"She would have argued against my continuing in the war.
We do not have the luxury of time to share our differences or to lay in bed healing.
Besides, the wound will not be as invasive in dragon form.
I would have stayed as one, flying to our destination, but I needed a few minutes of rest. We must clear New York before Lydia arrives.
I cannot fight if I do not have complete trust that she will be safe. "
"My company is impenetrable. I told you that she would be safe. We need not stop there. Our destination is supposed to be Canada. If you are that concerned, let us leave you at my former home. You can be there to protect Lydia yourself while you heal. "
"How many times must I repeat my credo to you and everyone else? I do not ask my men to do anything I will not. All are tired, and most are injured in some manner, yet they continue on. I do not see you taking a break. Why should I?" Hesher asked.
"You have fallen hard for Lydia and concern for her makes you brave, but careless. If Marcus had not called attention to himself, the Xycon leader would have killed you. Rushing to her aid without a plan was foolish."
"Tell me you would not have done the same for Michelle and I will admit to foolish behavior.
Seeing her helpless with all those lasers pointed in her direction made me blind with rage.
She was protecting us, and we came close to failing her.
I will always blame myself for the death of Marcus.
A second or two sooner and I might have saved him," Hesher replied.
"A second or two sooner and it would have been you and possibly Lydia who died. We will never know for sure and beating yourself up forever will not change anything. Let it rest. We are here," Kelan said as the Statue of Liberty came into sight.
The figures on the ground were running through the streets in confusion. Guns, lasers, and knives flashed in the sunlight. Humans and Xycon mixed in the melee. The organization and tight control they had seen in Washington D.C. was absent in New York.
"I think the Xycon lied to Lydia," Hesher announced.
"She asked if he was their leader and he claimed there were hundreds more to take his place.
There may be others who have some authority, but I would hazard to guess that he was not just any leader.
He was the leader. His army is falling apart at the seams. They lack direction.
Another city or two and they will retreat. "
"I hope you are right. I want to go home.
I had thought Earth would feel like a second home since it did once before.
But it was Michelle who made it seem that way.
Without her here, my company and all the notoriety it has are nothing to me.
I made the best choice possible by taking her to Talonia, even though it defied your orders and the king's commands.
I do not wish for you to suffer by leaving Lydia behind.
Convince her, my friend, to make Talonia her home.
She will find happiness there with you. She often refers to it as paradise.
Maxxus will not fight it, and King Acer will be giving him the throne as soon as we go home," Kelan confided.
"There is the possibility that she will refuse, choosing her job over becoming my mate. We have argued over much less."
Kelan began to laugh hysterically.
"Has the stress gotten to you or is my dilemma so very funny?" Hesher inquired angrily.
"It is not either," Kelan answered, trying to control his laughter. "Daer calls the arguing between you and Lydia foreplay. He says you do quite a bit of it. She will definitely choose you."
When the helicopters came close to the ground, the weredragons jumped out, transforming within seconds.
Seeing them overhead, the Xycon disregarded the humans and separated themselves from them.
Some began firing their weapons at the weredragons in a halfhearted rebellion against what was inevitable.
Most ran, in hopes of being spared. The ones who fought were soon removed from existence.
The runners were motivated to drop their weapons and surrender.
Dragons settled on roofs and in street intersections to protect Hesher as he became a man and faced the enemy alone. "Is there a spokesman among you?" he asked the Xycon.
One man brazenly stepped forward. His hair was gray, and his face wrinkled near his eyes. He had assumed the persona of an older man, maybe imagining it personified wisdom. "What do you wish to speak of?" he asked, glaring at Hesher.
"Do you and your fellowmen care to live and return to your own planet or will you continue this useless war to gain control of Earth, which will ultimately result in your deaths? "
"If we choose to continue, your dragons may die too. Are you not concerned for them enough to leave the humans to us?" the Xycon retorted.
"We came here knowing what the possibilities were and that has not concerned us," Hesher stated.
He took a chance at telling the man what he believed to be true.
"Your leader is dead, and your army is confused.
Without him, you have no agenda. There are even those among you who have discovered they have no desire to take the humans' planet.
I foresee a war among your own kind. Perhaps it would be wise to cut your losses and retreat.
Go back to your ships, and we will let you live to enjoy the worlds you have already conquered.
Try to take Earth today or at a later time and lose everything. "
"We will choose a new leader and reorganize our army.
We will never stop taking planets. There is no joy in dealing with ones who are already our slaves.
The fun is in finding weaknesses and exploiting them until a world is ours.
Someday you will leave this planet, and we will return.
You can destroy those of us here now, but do not be misled.
We are just a handful compared to our complete population. Others will take our place."
"I heard the same claims from your leader.
He swore he was not the only one, but he lied.
He made the mistake of admitting that truth has no meaning for your kind.
He told us you would say anything to get the results you want.
So, make all the threats you wish. I no longer believe them.
You would not have run or dropped the weapons if you had no fear.
You would not be speaking with me now unless you hoped for a bargain.
Take your army and leave Earth. Never make the mistake of returning.
We will always be watching. Next time there will be no forgiveness.
We destroyed an entire planet once and will do so again if necessary.
I am not referring to Earth, but your world. What is your answer?" Hesher demanded.
"I can only speak for myself. I will leave to fight again. I am no fool. Each one of the others must decide for themselves. "
"So be it. We will continue our journey from city to city. Send messages that we are coming and that your kind have a choice to make. If they remain, it is death they seek, and we will not disappoint them," Hesher replied.
The man became transparent, turning to his gaseous form.
Others followed suit. The shimmering masses rose up towards the sky, disappearing behind the clouds.
Humans filled the streets to stare at the dragons.
A few began to clap and shout praise and thanks.
Soon the sound was deafening. Embarrassed by the almost worshipful attitudes of the crowd, Hesher bowed and transformed.
He and the weredragons hastily flew to the helicopters, boarding for the next destination.
*** Lydia ***
Lydia took the time while she awaited Kelan's employees to walk through her crew and ask about their injuries and what had transpired on the other rooftops.
She listened to their answers quietly, saying little in return.
Her relief that only Marcus had been lost couldn't remove the worry she had for Hesher.
He had tried valiantly to hide his pain, and she had allowed him to think he had succeeded.
She couldn't fault him for it because she had done the same after her ship had crashed on Talonia.
What a pair they made: stubborn and silently panicked over what the future held for them.