Dragon Redemption Read online

  Dragon Redemption

  Mystically Engineered: Book Three

  Craig Martelle

  Valerie Emerson

  Contents

  Follow the Authors

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Author Notes – Valerie Emerson

  Author Notes - Craig Martelle

  Follow the Authors

  Craig Martelle Social

  Website & Newsletter: www.craigmartelle.com

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorCraigMartelle

  Valerie Emerson Social

  Website: www.valerie-emerson.com

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorValerieEmerson

  Twitter: www.twitter.com/lunaromen

  Copyright © 2019 by Valerie Emerson & Craig Martelle

  All rights reserved.

  Cover Illustration by Tom Edwards, tomedwardsdesign.com

  Editing services provided by Joe Martin

  Formatting by Drew A. Avera

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  We couldn’t do what we do without the support of great people around us. We thank our spouses and our families for giving us time alone to think, write, and review. We thank our editor, cover artist, and insider team of beta readers (Micky Cocker, Kelly O’Donnell, Dr. James Caplan, and John Ashmore). It’s not who we are as authors, but who we are surrounded by that makes this all happen. Enjoy the story.

  One

  Nada’s astral body hovered above E.F.S. Verne, her senses tickling and taunting the planet below. She knew its history. Cavey had been surveyed before, and the sphere was legendary for the fear it evoked.

  She wouldn’t step foot on the planet until she’d scanned it. Once, it had hosted a hole in reality, a portal to the Astral Plane, allowing dragons into the physical realm. Only the superhuman efforts of the Mystics had closed the rift. Earth Fleet had yet to approve it for colonization, even though the planet had been quiet for seven years. All because of history.

  Ancient history, Nada thought.

  Motion flickered at the edge of her sight, disappearing to the left. A moment later, a flash of color coursed to her right. She got a decent glance at its source.

  The Cavey dragon flew in a circle around Nada and the planet. At this distance, it looked like it would fit in her palm; at actual size, she was but a mote in its eye. Its scales rippled with light, and its glowing eyes left streaks of blue fire in the Astral atmosphere.

  “Beautiful,” she murmured.

  Thank you.

  She startled. The dragon swooped around the bulk of the planet and drew up in front of her. If it sneezed, the blast would blow her out of orbit. If it so much as blinked, she might get knocked back to the physical plane by a mere stray eyelash—if dragons have eyelashes.

  “You’re, ah, welcome.” She tried to get a grip on the sheer size of the thing. Logically, she understood the dragon’s dimensions, but it wasn’t unlike visualizing the comparative size of the Earth and her sun—the mind struggled to cooperate.

  I was not expecting mortals to return so soon, or I would have tidied up.

  The ancient one’s voice bore a quality like Dante’s in its humor and tone. Nada realized, as if given the awareness to know, Dante had been bonded to this dragon once.

  It must have picked up a few things.

  She delivered a half-bow, balancing respect and playfulness in the same gesture. “I apologize for not calling ahead. We were hoping to do a few scientific studies.”

  What science is this?

  “We wish to study the site of the astral breach.”

  The dragon blinked, curiosity rising in soft but irresistible waves. She knew its questions; its way of speaking addressed her in a place between emotion and instinct.

  “My people are scientists from the planet Geneva. We know of the Breach and want to better understand the relationship between Mystics and the Astral Plane. The best way to do that, we think, is to examine the site where you and Mystic First Class Dante entered the Astral Plane.”

  Nada waited for another question. A silent nudge told her it was waiting on her. She hadn’t told it everything, and it knew that.

  She nodded. “Geneva agreed to work with a team from Pirr, and we’ve got Earth Fleet’s stamp of approval. Our combined technologies and scientific methodologies should be more illustrative. I think it will give us a better shot at peace between our civilizations.”

  The dragon’s head tilted, reminding her of Dante. Amusement spilled from its mind. She laughed; it was the only way to keep from bursting. She wasn’t sure what was so funny, but she doubled over and gasped by the time it let up.

  Science. Yes. Amusement flooded her thoughts again, though not as powerful. Be welcome. Do your science. Make peace. Be well. Serpentine in movement, the dragon reversed course and flew away.

  She smiled, still infected with the urge to laugh. It did a barrel roll in response, and then she laughed, pleased with meeting the ancient. It didn’t surprise her the dragon had granted permission. She was more surprised at its reaction. Its insinuation she do science sounded rather like a suggestion for a child to go outside and play.

  “Thank you,” she called.

  The dragon flicked its tail in response.

  It vanished from her view, so she closed her eyes and returned to the physical plane. The return felt like surfacing and emerging from a still pool. Her body felt heavy and slow, although it seemed as natural as the Astral Plane.

  Mystic First Class Loren awaited her, his heavy arms folded over his chest, eyes half-shut as he leaned against the wall.

  “Hello, Loren,” she said. “How can I help you?”

  His eyes sparkled at the first poke in their verbal game. He grinned. “I need no help. I get to stay on this cozy little ship while you go camping with aliens.”

  “Ah. Sorry I woke you then.” She raised an eyebrow and took the hand he offered, letting herself be pulled to her feet. “Have we heard from the Pirr?”

  He shook his head. “Not since they confirmed the rendezvous point. They’re still set to arrive tomorrow.”

  “That’s funny, isn’t it? We come from such different worlds, but we both came up with a grid system to divvy up a globe.”

  “See, that’s why you’re good for this job. You’re looking for things to have in common with them!” He laughed, despite her disapproving head shake.

  She wasn’t severe enough to discourage him and would not try. She knew how he felt. “If we leave things as they are, we’re just staring at each other from across a divide. If no one builds a bridge, we’ll never connect. We’ll never trust.”

  He scoffed. “Look out for trolls under that bridge. Captain Roald said the shuttle will be ready soon. Want me to walk you down?”

  She let out a long-suffering sigh but wasn’t willing to push it. This was their twentieth mini-debate since leaving Geneva, and neither had budged. She was even more certain the Pirr deserved a chance. Loren dug his heels in just as hard. It was a good thing th
ey enjoyed debate or they wouldn’t be friends—they could separate the issues from the person.

  “Seriously though, I’ve got a good set of ears.” He rapped a knuckle against his temple. “If you need anything, holler. Jacen and I are going to watch in shifts for a while. Just in case.”

  “Just in case,” she agreed, but her thoughts were on the dragon. With him nearby, she found it hard to believe much of anything could go wrong.

  At first, Nada had assumed that their early arrival meant she’d have time to herself at the cave, but there was too much to do. First, the Genevan science team put up shelters for everyone including the Pirr. Then they had crates of equipment to open, assemble, and test. By the time they finished, the sun had gone down, and it was too dark to venture into a strange forest on a new planet.

  She opened her eyes after a fitful sleep, recalling a fragmented dream about finding Santa in Dante’s Cave—the site of the rift into the Astral Plane. She was still clearing her drowsy mind when the rich scent of coffee from the autobrew machine greeted her.

  Exhausted, Nada didn’t recognize the silhouette by the fire and figured it was just another restless soul. She walked over, sat, and greeted her fellow insomniac.

  An alien voice stirred her senses even more than the smell of coffee. “It is early,” came the male voice. “Did we wake you?”

  Nada sat straight, her cup still empty. “No. I didn’t sleep well…uh, did you just arrive?”

  She got up, and the Pirr stood as well. Her eyes had sprung awake, and she saw he resembled no one she knew. He was too tall, his ears too prominent. She should have seen that, at least.

  “Yes. I am Haim. I came ahead to announce our presence, but as you are all asleep, I deem I have arrived earlier than you are used to.” A note of disapproval tinged his voice.

  They hadn’t set watch. She’d chosen not to. There weren’t any predators, and everyone needed to rejuvenate. “Well, we had a long day setting up base camp. We’ve got the prefab shelters here, the labs down there.” She pointed at a pair of large shelters almost identical to the smaller ones the team slept in. “The shelters are nice. They don’t look like much, but the synthetics regulate the temperature so it never gets too hot or too cold. I’m Nada, by the way.”

  “We appreciate your efforts.”

  “I’m glad you’re here. We still have a lot to do.” She poured a cup of coffee and took an experimental sip. It was rich, if bitter, and exactly what she needed. Her brain cells were coming online enough to attempt a bit of the Pirran she knew. “May our efforts be fruitful,” she said—or thought she did. She had doubts when Haim made a strange noise—probably amusement.

  He repeated the phrase with a few more rolled r’s and clicks she was certain no human could reproduce. “Thank you, though I do not think you wished for our party to reproduce.” He laughed. “It is pleasing you tried; humans cannot pronounce many of our words. It is easy enough to speak your language, Nada. Do not trouble yourself.”

  “I had to try. Maybe I’ll give it another shot when my coffee’s gone.” She saluted him with her mug.

  Haim bowed his head. “If you wish to try again, my ears are willing to hear. For now, perhaps you will give us a tour? I am eager to see the breach site, as are my colleagues.”

  Nada hesitated, embarrassed by her doubt. She’d been determined to give these people a chance.

  This is that chance.

  “I’m happy to. I believe what we’re going to do here will shape Human and Pirr relations for generations.”

  She had hopes that was a good thing.

  The cave was limestone and would have looked at home on Earth. The ceiling was low at the entrance, then bloomed outward with an impressive collection of rock formations. Stalactites jabbed downward like massive teeth, in some places melding with the stalagmites rising from the cave floor.

  The first morning when she escorted the Pirr, Nada felt a chill when she ventured too close to the cave, but that soon passed. She focused on getting to know Haim and his team, then introducing them to her team at base camp.

  The first few days drifted by as the groups walked somewhat on eggshells, neither too open with the other. They had so little to build on. The common thread tying them together was the Astral Plane.

  Once the equipment was in place and the studies began, their shared enthusiasm for the project broke down most of the barriers between the parties.

  On the seventh morning, Nada found Haim and his assistant, Pardha, at the cave. They were assembling a new piece of hardware that looked like a self-assembly special from a bargain outlet. They spoke in their native language, as usual, and when they noticed her they put on their best ‘human smiles.’

  “Friend Nada, it is a pleasure as always. However, this is our scheduled time at the cave, yes? We arranged this with Josef.” Haim bowed his head. “Our new instrument is quite sensitive. If others are operational nearby, it will interfere with the readings.”

  “I hear that. All our equipment is shut down…I was wondering if I could help you though?” She craned her head to see the device. Pardha crouched to work on it, shielding it from her. Haim’s companion never spoke directly to the humans; Haim said it was because Pardha hadn’t mastered the language.

  “It is a delicate instrument,” Haim said, and she knew what she heard was a polite ‘no.’

  That jarred. She’d shared her data with the Pirr—most of it, at least. They’d been doing the same. It felt strange to be shut out now. Nada suppressed the urge to get territorial. Yes, Earth Fleet claimed Cavey, but it didn’t mean it belonged to her.

  “I’ll leave you to it, then.”

  “Appreciated.” Haim bobbed his head, then he joined Pardha in hovering over their device. Their bodies kept it from her view, and she couldn’t help feeling it was intentional.

  She worried the deep-seated mistrust of the Pirr would derail their project at a most inopportune moment. She fought to be more accepting but felt like she was losing the battle. The two species had been close to war not so long ago, after all, and Haim’s government had used some shady tactics to try to make Earth Fleet the aggressor. Trust was hard to build, and it had only been a week since they’d arrived.

  Yet, Nada had been a Mystic for several years, ever since she’d gone through the procedure to become Enhanced. Her instincts were rarely wrong. Troubled, she passed the last of the trees, turned, and headed to her shelter. She needed to work this out, but not while staring at the Pirr as they conducted their secretive experiment—or whatever they were doing.

  More mistrust. Why can’t you be more open? she wondered.

  At camp, she tidied her shelter and recorded a message for back home. Afterward, she found a quiet patch of ground near the river and meditated. It cleared her mind though not her heart. She kept returning to her suspicions but also revisiting her determination to give the Pirr space—partly so they’d do the same for her team. Conflict warred within, and by the time the local star reached its zenith, Nada had come to an answer. No matter how guilty she felt about it, she must learn what humanity’s new friends were up to. If she was wrong, she’d live with it, but she couldn’t just sit there wearing blinders.

  Nada cut an alternate path to Dante’s Cave, walking through a forest of thorn trees and using her thermographic compass for guidance. When the trees thinned out, she crept forward, using the trees for cover.

  She heard the Pirr before she saw them, their flat voices in tones she associated with formality. She hunkered more, peering around each tree before venturing to the next. If she so much as breathed too loud, they might hear her. She was certain they’d hear her pounding heart. She took measured breaths as if meditating, calming both heart and mind. It didn’t do much, but she made it to the edge of the trees without getting detected.

  They had constructed the device, but her eyes wouldn’t make sense of it. She could only think of it as a small artillery gun mounted on a solid shopping cart, but that wasn’t right. Text a
nd diagrams filled the monitor at the back of the device. Pardha knelt in front, adjusting a trio of dials while Haim looked on.

  The tip of the ‘gun’ glowed like a tiny white star. The rest of the Pirr crew arrived and did something with the instruments they’d carried in. Nada pressed her lips together. The machine was sensitive, was it? Unless it only cared about Earth devices, she’d been lied to.

  She had a mind to confront them. This was to be a joint effort. She rose, guessing how upset they’d be at her interruption. Perhaps not as much as knowing she’d spied on them, she knew, but their reaction would depend on how innocent they were.

  Run, Nada.

  The command came from nowhere, yet she could resist it no more than the pull of gravity. Her feet carried her from the clearing, sprinting at top speed away from—what? She tried to stop, but the urgency driving her had no time for questions, pushing her on.

  “What is hap—?”

  The world vaporized in endless white. Then, Nada did as well.

  A cold, vast body coiled around her. Nada rested against a scale as smooth as polished glass and larger than her bed back home on Geneva.

  The Cavey dragon? But how? She shook her head, trying to jar the memories loose, but the last thing she remembered was the Pirr’s device, then the voice telling her to run.

  No, not just any voice. It was the ancient dragon.

  “What’s happening? Ah, my head!” she hissed as something pounded within her skull.