Chapter 2 It was dark. So, so very dark when he awoke. He remembered little but the copper scent of blood drying on the walls, the floor, himself. The air stank of it's rancid smell, and he knew it was there, even if he could not see it. In the darkness there were more inky black shapes moving silently against the wall, more than just shadows. His foot wiggled itself out of the bed covers(?) and started to twitch. He turned his head, ready to squeeze his eyes shut and will all the bad things away, but instead his gaze caught hold of something else. Something horrible, monsterous, deadly. There, beside him, was glimmering obsidian, shining with a metallic bronze. He broke, he couldn't help it, and screamed. Somebody somewhere flicked a switch and the bright, flourescent white lights flicked on, flooding John's poor senses. His chest heaved as his eyes raked wildly over the room. He was in one of the smaller infirmaries on Zeus, one which was relatively empty except for the doctor (Smith, John thought, but he wasn't sure.), O'Connell, leaning against the open doorway with a smug look on his face, and beside him, with deapthless oynx eyes and faded bronze-black hair, Tabanthpsy, grinning like a chesire cat. *Nice to know I still frighten you* John moaned pitifully and threw his arms over his face. The doctor, Smith, moved over to his side and peeled his arms away. Not three seconds later a bright flashlight was shone directly into his eyes. "Gah!" John moved to cover his eyes but Smith quickly knocked them away, frowning down at the young man before he continued to check him over. All of John's thoughts were quickly enveloped by the sound of Tabanthpsy's mental laughter ringing through thier heads. "Oh piss off." Smith took a step back, clearly appalled. John sighed, as Tabanthpsy's laughter rang louder. He was going to have a headache before the day was over, he was sure of it. ....:::.... Those wonderful food smells were in the air again, making it thick and sweet, and Tabanthpsy's tummy hungry. The group of them, Tabanthpsy, John, and O'Connell, had moved back into the cafeteria and sat themselves down for a quick lunch and a conversation that John really didn't want to have. The man was panicking, Tabanthpsy knew as much. He also knew that Johnathan didn't want anything more to do with the Hephaestus. Never-the-less he would get him to go on the assignment, but first it was time for food. John watched, foot tapping rapidly against the linoleum floors, as Tabanthpsy sunk his teeth into a burger. Thick, red ketchup dripped out from between the buns and plopped onto the table like blood John grimaced at the sight of the patty, it was a bit too pink like flesh to be healthy. He shook his head and sighed. When would people learn to respect the cafeteria ladie's enough so that they'd start making edible food? John stared down at his own burger with distaste. "Now, Black, are you going to listen to me,"O'Connell smirked,"Or are you going to faint again?" John shot him one of Tabanthpsy's trademark 'looks' and picked up his burger,"No, I'm fine." *Just PMSing, that's all* Tabanthpsy snickered. John shot Tabanthpsy a sharp look, but otherwise ignored the comment. He didn't need to give O'Connell any more reason to make a jab at him. "Good," O'Connell settled back in his chair and drew his burder to his lips, taking a large bite before continuing." "One question sir, why do I have to go?" O'Connell snorted,"You were there when it happened, obviously,"he eyes him suspisously,"But you claim to not remember anything. And he,"he pointed to Tabanthpsy,"apparently came off that ship with you, but he can't talk, so it'd be useless to try and get information from him. He's illiterate too, isn't he?" John nodded. O'Connell leaned forward and set his burger down, clapsing his hands infront of him on the table,"I want you to do something for me before you leave, though. Another assignment of sorts." John raised one eyebrow slowly,"O-oh?" The gruff-looking man averted his gaze to Tabanthpsy,"It's for him too." Tabanthpsy's head shot up so fast that a peice of bacon he had been chewing on slipping from between his lips and attatched it's self to his cheek. He hurridly licked it off, and stared over at O'Connell, eyes narrowed *I don't work, Johnathan. Tell him I don't work* "Uhm,"John looked down at the table, hesitant, and said,"Tabanthpsy says he dosen't work, so whatever you have for us he wo-" "It's not work,"O'Connell growled,"so you and him don't have to worry about spraining a muscle or anthing."He rolled his eyes. John frowned,"Not work?" "I want you to sign up as a candidate for a dragon." John fell silent, scrunched his eyebrows together, licked his lips, and burst out laughing. He could hear Tabanthpsy's shuddering laughs joining his own through thier minds. O'Connell's mouth drew int oa thin line, he set a hard, agry, gaze on John. One hand curled into a fist, raised slowly, and slammed down on the table with a loud *bang* that sent the little cutlery clashing to the floor. John jumped at the nosie and silenced immiediatly, staring wild eyed at the captain. He knew when to quit, at least. O'Connell's lip curled,"I'm not trying to be funny here." Laughter was bubbling up in the cavity of his chest, and it was hard to keep a smile from tweaking his face. He managed decent enough, though, he had to if he valued his life,"But...dragons, sir?" O'Connell sighed and nodded his head,"Yes, dragons...they do exist. Not in our universe, of course, but that's why I want you to bond them. It would be great help for the ETD, even if they aren't extra-terrestrials, per-say. This...bonding place in on a starport of sorts, like Zeus, but...bigger. We got computor records from it last night, which is how we know about it, obviosuly. The neighbouring planet to this port just had a...uhm, frenzy flight, I think it's called, a large mating of several different dragons. They're looking for candidates...we chose you two." John blinked, brow furrowed. He still did not believe O'Connell,"A-alright, but why us?" O'Connell smirked, and spreak his hands,"Because you're the best of the best, of course,"he glanced almost shamefully to the side,"Plus everyone else has a family,.therefore no real spare time on thier vacations to go to some distance universe and take care of a critter like that." John sighed and slumped downward in his chair,"Of course." He glanced at Tabanthpsy, who had been picking ick out from under his nails,"Tabanthpsy, you up for bonding a 'dragon'?" *Yup* "Tabanthpsy agrees," he sighed reluctantly and propped his cheek up with one hand,"As do I." "Good,"O'Connell clapped his hands together (done deal), then picked up his burger,"Let's finnish lunch than, shall we?" "Hmm," John eyed his burger suspisously. For a second there he had thought he'd seen it move. Continue

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