DRAGON PUNKS CHAPTER 08: Friend or Feast

CHAPTER 08: Friend or Feast 

Darkness.

Not the scary kind, but the kind that feels like a weighted blanket for your soul. Alice floated in the void, or at least she thought she was floating. Maybe she was standing. Or lying down, it was impossible to tell. Gravity, direction, sound; none of it worked as she was used to.

"Am I dead?" she asked aloud, though her mouth didn't move. Her thought immediately projected the sound that her ears could clearly hear.

No answer came. Just a peaceful stillness. A soft gentle blueish white glow appeared. It pulsed with a gentle hum, like a lullaby trapped inside a star.

"You are not dead," the little orb finally spoke, its voice smooth like silk and smug like it knew something she didn't. "You are in the black space, the void. The pause between realms, like a breath between heartbeats. Time as you think of it does not exist here."

"Oh great," Alice muttered. "One minute I am being chased by a hideous monster and the next I am trapped in a metaphysical waiting room. I definitely must be dead."

The orb chuckled, the sound rippling through the darkness. "You are not dead. Your physical body as you know it is on the planet of Crystallia now. Far from Earth. Do not fear the ones you are with. Their hearts are pure. Though their appearance may strike you as… a bit shocking."

Alice's chest clenched with a sudden ache of longing. "What? This must be a bad dream. I have a life, a job, friends. What do you mean about their appearance?”

The orb projected a spectral image of Sayonara Rex like a hologram.

"Earth is in danger," the orb continued. "You have been bonded to a great warrior. A draconian physical complex named Sayonara Rex. A species from another world. You share a life thread now… If his body complex fails, yours will as well. If yours fails, so does his."

"Greeeeeat!" she groaned. "I can't even keep a houseplant alive, and now I'm magically soul-glued to a what? a dragon? This must be a dream. Or I've really lost it."

"The entanglement occurred through the resonance field of the healing monolith. Your magnetic frequencies were... compatible.."

“Resonance what? Magnetic huh? I am so confused. How can this be real? What happened to me on the mountain? The last thing I remember before getting here was being attacked by…”

Alice started to remember the horrifying encounter of the Rotwing on the mountain.

“That thing! It was horrible, what happened to it?” 

“The ones you are with now saved you. You are unconscious, but this is not a dream. Your mind  complex and essence is outside of any physical constructs.” the orb said.

Alice wanted to scream, but the calm of the space wouldn't let her. Everything here smothered strong emotions like a cosmic therapist with an endless supply of tranquilizers.

The orb’s gentle voice began to fade as Alice was pulled out of the void.

"You must fight back. Earth depends on it." 

And then… a blink.

Alice opened her eyes.

A warm orange glow wrapped the room in a peaceful vibe. Alice blinked against the dim light, her vision slowly focusing. The walls shimmered with gentle rune like patterns that pulsed in rhythm with her heartbeat, and a faint humming vibrated through the floor beneath her. The ceiling arched high above, formed from interlocking crystal segments that refracted the light into kaleidoscopic patterns of warm colors. This wasn't just a healing room, it was a testament to Crystallian architecture and technology.

She sat up slowly mesmerized by the beauty of the peaceful environment around her. Her head buzzed with a strange clarity, and her chest ached with an emptiness that wasn't entirely her own. Across the room, suspended within a curved transparent chamber, lay a massive creature. Muscle with charred magma like scales and more scars than she could count. Sayonara Rex, the dragon warrior, was healing and getting rest. 

Robotic diodes with lasers powered by crystals and a highly advanced technology zipped around his chamber. They pulsed with a harmonious frequency that resonated through the air, emitting waves of red light that flowed over his wounded body. With each pulse, microscopic particles danced across his wounds, knitting tissue and regenerating cells from the quantum level up. Crystallia had a healing technology that accessed the body's original genetic blueprint and restored damaged tissue to its perfect state through harmonic oscillation, like a surgical 3D printer. 

"Wow..." she whispered, taking in his sheer size. "You're built like a tank… with teeth."

Alice spent several moments taking in the new environment around her.

"You're awake!"

Alice spun and nearly fell off the bed. A young dragon with golden amber scales and bright, curious eyes stood nearby, her hair was the color of red wine and she had an appearance that felt familiar. She was holding what appeared to be folded clothes. 

"Sorry! Didn't mean to startle you," she said with genuine concern. "I'm Nova... You're... a human? and a very naked one." She smiled.

Alice looked down at herself and scrambled to grab the offered clothes, her cheeks blushed as she pulled them close to her body. Her mind was still processing a talking dragon.

Nova tilted her head, studying Alice with fascination rather than judgment. "Your skin is so soft and smooth… how do you keep it from tearing all the time? Is it stronger than it looks?" 

She reached forward with her hand to touch Alice only to be met with an awkward look and a swat of the hand.

“Oh I am sorry!” Said Nova. “I'm not gunna hurt you. Don't worry little one I'll keep you safe”.

Nova had no understanding of Alice's age or intelligence as this was the first ever human she had encountered. 

Alice dressed herself in a strange but surprisingly very comfortable outfit. Like a black gray jumpsuit that hugged and conformed to her body perfectly. Alice walked over to Rex and examined him through the glass of his high tech medical pod.

"He's kind of... beautiful," she admitted quietly. "In a 'he might bite your head off if your not careful' kind of way."

"That he is," Nova agreed, standing beside her. "He is lucky Xylith brought you here to save him."

“Save him how?” Alice asked.

The door slid open with a soft hiss, and Eon entered. He froze mid-step when he spotted Alice, his golden eyes widening as he pointed a hand at her with an excited expression on his face.

"WHA! It's awake!"

"She!," Nova corrected with a sharp glance at her brother.

Eon jumped with excitement and rushed over to look at Alice more closely. "Whatever it is, it's awake."

"I'm a human, my name’s Alice." she said flatly, pulling herself to her full height, which was still considerably shorter than either dragon.

Alice was momentarily surprised by an observation that they wore clothes similar to what humans on earth wore. 

“You wear clothes?”

"Of coarse we wear clothes, you think humans are the only race out in the universe that wears clothes?" Eon mocked, inching closer as if approaching a bomb that might detonate. "Hmmm… you don't look very strong. I feel like I could easily break you by accident."

"Please don't break me!" Alice snapped nervously. She felt extremely vulnerable.

Nova's expression brightened. "The Ancient Codex from our world speaks of humans. Its like a library about the entire universe… of universes. Your kind, known as Lyrians, visited Crystallia long long ago. The concept of time works differently in each world. So its impossible to determine how long ago it really was. But the texts say humans possess extraordinary adaptive abilities and unpredictable creativity. Some believe your species was instrumental in establishing the first Corridor between realms."

"Though others say Lyrians were more trouble than they were worth," Eon added with a smirk. "They say you're all chaotic and emotional."

"Says the dragon who punched holes in the wall back at home," Nova retorted.

Xylith entered just in time, his ancient eyes taking in the scene with a calm gaze.

"Ah, good. You're finally awake, I hope these two haven't startled you. I am Xylith. I am a master keeper of the sacred knowledge held on Crystallia. That is also the realm you are currently in." he said to Alice. "Try not to get upset. Rex over there is still healing, and any heightened stress you exhibit could affect his vitals."

Alice blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You're soul-linked now," Xylith explained patiently. "Emotions sync between bonded pairs. If you freak out, he freaks out. And... he tends to be… the violent sort."

Right on cue, Rex stirred in the medical pod.

"No need to panic," Xylith said quietly to Alice.

Alice was still struggling to accept the drastic change to her current reality. This all felt like a dream to her.

Rex cracked one eye open, the vertical pupil narrowing as it adjusted to the light. "Ugh... what is that?" He looked straight at Alice, nostrils flaring. "What is… kale? …broccoli?"

Alice blinked in confusion. "Oh!  I'm a vegetarian. I haven't eaten in a while and I’m starving. You must be picking up on that."

Rex growled low in his throat, a sound that made the glass vibrate. "I crave... leaves?!  What have you done to me old one?" his voice was deep and menacing.

"Apologies… you see Rex, your personalities must be blending slightly, a small side effect of what we had to do to save your life. You could show us some gratitude." Xylith said matter-of-factly, adjusting the frequency modulation on the healing chamber's control panel. "It'll pass. Or maybe it will settle you two into something... more unique."

"So I'll be stuck with this… Lyrian? forever?" Rex snarled, struggling to sit up from the medical pod.

"The Quantum Soul-Binding is ancient Crystallia magic mixed with science," Xylith explained, his voice taking on the cadence of a seasoned lecturer. "The Sacred Heart of Crystallia recognized compatible life signatures and merged them together to preserve both. In the Time Before Records, this was how Crystallians saved their most valued wounded warriors; by anchoring their life force to others with strong vital signatures. At least that's what the ancient texts say. The practice hasn't ever been documented in official records until now. It is especially unique that it worked with a Draconian and a Lyrian."

"Lucky us," Alice muttered.

Rex groaned, pressing a clawed hand against the glass. "Can I just eat her and integrate her soul complex into mine? She will just get in my way."

"You wouldn't dare!" Nova snapped, stepping protectively in front of Alice.

"Oh, I would," Rex rumbled, his lips curling to reveal teeth like daggers. "One quick bite."

"Technically," Xylith interjected, stroking his jaw thoughtfully, "consuming her would likely complete a full integration, yes. But the side effects could be... unpredictable. You might end up more human than dragon. Or she may haunt you for eternity in your dreams. It also presents a peculiar paradox as her death could possibly result in your own. It could very well feel like you are eating your own self. It would make for an extraordinary case study!"

Alice raised her hand tentatively. "How about no one eats the… what did you call me? the Lyrian? Please."

Rex scowled, his eyes never leaving her. "Fine. But I'm starving."

"We'll get you all something to eat non-sentient," Xylith said calmly, tapping a sequence on the crystal panel next to the medical pod.

Alice sat beside Rex's now-empty pod, watching him as he stretched his massive limbs, wincing occasionally when he moved too quickly.

"Why did you save me? How did you know that… monster was after me?" she asked softly.

"Didn't," Rex said gruffly, rolling his shoulders. "I was hunting the Rotwing. You were just... there. I was trying to stop it from corrupting your realm." Rex sighed deeply as he recognized his failure.

Alice bit her lip, trying not to feel hurt. "Right. Just lucky, huh."

"Actually," Xylith corrected from across the room where he was reviewing ancient texts, "when he was near death in the fields, he spoke of the corruption on Terra, you know it as Earth. This allowed me to take action. I found you with the creature's disfigured hand around your neck, had Rex not told me of the corruption, you would surely be dead."

“So you saved me? Xylith was it?” she asked.

“Yes, but because of him. His choice to save your world from corruption provided an opportunity for me to save you, and thus resulted in you successively saving him. Ironic isn't it?”

Alice paled, the implications hitting her with an intensity she couldn't understand.

“And what of the creature? This Rotwing? Is it dead? Did you kill it?”

Rex sighed again. “No. It's still out there. They are getting stronger.”

“They?!” Alice was shocked.

“You mean there are more of those things out there?”

Xylith tried to calm her as he could see she was getting intensely anxious.

Rex had no interest in Alice's comfort.

“I've killed several of them.” He said.

“Somehow they are getting stronger, evolving. This last one was not like the rest. Old one, what do you know of this?” Rex was intent on finding answers. 

Xylith took a deep breath. “We suspect the Rotwingz get stronger with each passing through the Corridor. Unfortunately, now they know their way to Terra. It’s only a matter of time before The Corruption consumes the construct if nothing is done in haste.”

 "Then we have to stop them! We have to go back!" Alice pleaded.

"No! You're not ready!" Xylith said, "Time Disruptors require training and finesse. And currently Rex and myself are the only ones who can navigate the Corridor safely. He can only carry one of you through at a time. "

Rex sat up and grunted, testing the area of his former wound. A thick scar was now in its place. "Great. I'm a taxi now."

He reached for his black leather jacket hanging nearby, his back exposed to the room.

Eon burst out laughing, pointing at Rex's back. "Your wings! Why? They're... so tiny!"

Rex froze, a dangerous stillness settling over him. "Say it again."

Eon grinned, either oblivious to the danger or deliberately ignoring it. "They're adorable. Like baby butterflies. Do they work? Let me see you fly!"

Rex looked over his shoulder at his tiny wings and flapped them rapidly to draw Eon's focus.

WHAM.

Rex's fist slammed into Eon's gut with the force of a battering ram. Eon doubled over, wheezing and clutching his midsection.

"So worth it," he gasped between labored breaths, a pained smile still on his face.

Nova rolled her eyes. "Boys."

Xylith stepped forward, his expression grave. "We must protect both Crystallia and Terra from the Rotwing threat. I will search the Corridor myself for signs of their movement."

Without further explanation, he vanished in a blink of greenish blue light that left the air crackling with a static energy.

An uncomfortable silence fell over the room. Nova busied herself admiring Alice while Eon recovered his breath near the wall. Alice stood awkwardly, feeling out of place and overwhelmed.

"So..." she ventured, "does anyone want to tell me what these Rotwingz actually are? Why are they doing this? Because that little blue orb in the black floaty space I dreamed up wasn't big on details."

Rex's head snapped toward her. "What orb? What black space?"

"While I was unconscious," Alice explained. "I was floating in this darkness, and this glowing orb thing was talking to me about being bonded to you and frequencies and..."

Eon and Nova exchanged a look.

"That place sounds familiar," Nova said quietly.

"You were in The Void Lyrian!" Rex snapped. "I can’t believe I'm craving vegetables."

Deep in Appalachia, in a shadowed cave untouched by human exploration, black tar bubbled and hissed. Something with many teeth stirred beneath the surface, sending ripples across the viscous pool. A pair of glowing crimson red eyes opened, and an ancient and terrible hunger awakened.

Back in Crystallia, Xylith returned with another crack of displaced air. His expression was carefully neutral, but tension radiated from him like a heatwave.

"The Terra Construct appears safe... for now. I've stationed a Keeper to monitor it for any disruptions in the dimensional time space fabric of the Corridor."

"Can I just go home now?" Alice asked, her voice small but determined. "I have a job. A cat. Plants that are definitely dead by now."

Rex cracked his neck, the sound echoing through the room. "Sure. Right after I finish marinating you."

Nova rolled her eyes. "You're ridiculous. She's not food, she's your lifeline."

Eon, recovered from Rex's punch, turned to Xylith with newfound seriousness. "How do we use a Time Disruptor properly? Can I go home too? To Paradise Valley?"

"No," Xylith said flatly.

Eon narrowed his eyes, studying the ancient dragon's face. "You're lying."

Xylith didn't reply. He simply turned and walked away, his silence a weight heavier than words.

The group stood in awkward silence, the tension palpable.

"So..." Rex finally broke the quiet, looking between them. "Dinner? I vote we eat the annoying one." He jerked a thumb toward Eon.

"You couldn't digest all this excellence!," Eon retorted, gesturing to himself.

Alice watched them bicker, a strange sense of familiarity washing over her. Despite everything; being in another world, soul bonded to a terrifying dragon, and Earth in danger, she found herself fighting back a smile. They were ridiculous. Dangerous and powerful, yes, but also... comforting.

"I could eat," she admitted, suddenly aware of a gnawing hunger that might not entirely be her own. "Just nothing Lyrian please."

Rex looked at her, his expression unreadable for a moment before he sighed dramatically. "Fine. Leaves it is." He paused, blinking in confusion at his own words. "Wait, why did I say that?"

Nova laughed, the sound bright and genuine. "I think I'm going to like having another female around."

As they filed out of the healing chamber, Alice fell into step beside Rex, acutely aware of the strange connection humming between them like an invisible thread. He glanced down at her, towering over her by nearly two feet.

"Just so we're clear," he rumbled, "if you die doing something stupid, I'll find a way to bring you back just so I can kill you myself."

Alice nodded solemnly at his sarcasm. "That seems fair.”

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