Vulcan was starting to think they might as well move to Sendai at this point, this the second time in a month they'd been called here on official duty. Yet he also begged to differ, as another wave of diseased dragons came racing his way, he'd decided Tokyo would be much nicer right now.
"HOW MANY OF THESE ARE THERE!" Raiden screamed over his intercom. His teammates had all learnt he was extremely grossed out by the yellow foam that spewed out of the diseased creatures. Nausea waved over him every time he saw it, but Ara couldn't hold back her laughter at his suffering.
"So he's travel sick and hates bodily fluids?! Give me a break" Mitzi was on the verge of crying, Adonis and Vulcan were both smirking as they flew nearer to each other on their dragons. They narrowly avoided a collision while taking out the diseased dragons that were tailing each other.
"Nice one Vulc, not many more to go now I think" Adonis circled around, Fury safely leveling out for his rider to see his surroundings more clearly.
Sendai had been the target of the next attack from the Crusaders- the whole city swallowed by a hoard of diseased dragons. Casualties had already been reported unfortunately, but Eclipse had got to the scene as soon as possible. It had been an easy fight, all the beasts on their last legs, all given as painless deaths as possible.
On the ground, teams 2 and 4 had come to assist, either by means of evacuation from high risk danger zones or treating the injured in makeshift shelters. Any other available soldiers were riding round the city, dealing with any low flying or grounded dragons.
"Doesn't this remind you of old times Raiden? I remember in our training days when you first saw a diseased dragon, you chucked up so much" Aki laughed nostalgically down his intercom, the man on ground patrol as he heard his dragon riding comrade heave yet again.
"Oh shut up Aki, you hate sick as much as I do!" Raiden huffed as Taranis latched onto another dragon, swinging it through the air and into the jaws of Fury who'd followed behind.
"Why are we having this conversation?! Keep your eyes on the skies people" Adonis tutted with a smile, Fury roaring as he dropped through the sky and disposed of the dragon on the floor.
A cleanup team of DRA workers were quick on the body- the dragon loaded into one of many lorries that were roaming the city. All diseased dragons had to be killed and bodies cremated to stop the spread of the disease. All DRA dragons who'd been in contact with other diseased dragons must have had anti infection jabs prior and 24 hours after contact. It was never a pleasant mission when it involved diseased creatures, but for the safety of everyone else it had to be done no matter how grim.
Aki shot down two more dragons as the truck transporting him came into more central Sendai, streets quiet as people sheltered inside or out of range. Raiden was nearby, Aki tracking them all via his specialized tablet that he kept on his person at all times.
"North and south Sendai have been secured, sir!" one of his soldiers shouted over to him as they halted to a stop. A group of soldiers who were waiting around in front of him gave the deputy captain a thumbs up.
"Tell them central is secured, let Adonis know there's only east and west left now-" as Aki went to speak a deafening roar erupted from above. Himself and his team had seconds to look up to see Vulcan and Adonis on their respective dragons flying past at high speed, pursuing some of the last remaining dragons in the city.
"Never mind, it seems they're already securing the area..." Aki's voice trailed off as another dragon came surging towards them. His soldiers had raised their guns until the familiar faces of Raiden and Taranis got close enough to the ground.
"He's on the ground quicker than I thought" Hasagawa must have seen Raiden ground from afar as his voice echoed over the intercom, Aki chuckled in response. Raiden was indeed on the ground quicker than any of them had thought, and as Aki walked over he knew the reason why. Raiden was spewing his guts into a nearby bin, looking absolutely awful whilst doing it.
"What's up with you? Don't tell me the yellow foam finally got to you" Aki teased as Raiden heaved again, before the man slumped to the floor.
"Woah, what's the matter?!" Aki was straight over, on the floor with him as Raiden composed himself with a huff. Raiden shook his head and tried to push Aki away, but his strength was depleted.
"What with all the fighting I think this is my body's way of saying I'm overdoing it" Raiden wouldn't let his powers take control of him. This had happened before, it would happen again. The cost of being a lightning user, a constant drain on one's energy. Not that anyone needed to know how much it was really draining him, that and his fate as well as his past would stay with him until the end.
"Is that all?" Aki was smart though, he knew something was up whether Raiden would admit it or not.
"The diseased dragon foam and spinning in circles for an hour on Taranis might have added to it" Raiden lied through his teeth, but luckily it seemed that Aki was starting to buy it.
"You're kidding me! I could definitely do a better job, you're getting too weak" Aki smacked the Rider on the arm, who only started laughing in response.
"Like you could do a better job-" Raiden went to respond, but as a shadow loomed over them he decided to shut up and smile. Hasagawa only shook his head at the pair, before he gave them the mission report.
"Adonis has just confirmed the city is secure. Civilians will be allowed to return within the hour so we need you riders to move out" Hasagawa was firm, and by the activity around them he'd already got team 4 and the majority of team 2 moving. Trucks were leaving the city, helicopters scanning the skies overhead. Eclipse would need to leave ASAP, unless they wanted the press crawling all over them again.
Since Kyoto, Adonis had made it clear they were to work away from the public and the press when possible. He had already made a statement regarding their win in Kyoto, as given to them by Aukai. It had gone down well, but the press had been more persistent than ever following it.
With impending war, public and press safety would be number one priority.
"Exactly Aki, us riders" Raiden looked over suddenly to see both Adonis and Vulcan landing with their dragons, both men dismounting and walking over to the small group.
"Say Aki, have you ever thought of being a Dragon rider?" The question off Vulcan came abruptly, so abruptly that it took Aki a minute to think of an answer.
"It's too late for me now, I've got these lot to inherit after Hasagawa here kicks the bucket" Adonis knew where Raiden got his horrible sense of humor from. Aki had a smile like a child on his face as the words left his mouth, Raiden bursting into a fit of laughter alongside him. Hasagawa, Adonis and Vulcan shared unimpressed looks, before smirks appeared on all of their faces.
"I'm afraid that's not happening" Vulcan answered bluntly, silencing the laughter instantly and giving way to a number of blank stares.
"Excuse me?" Aki asked as if he'd misheard, Hasagawa took one step forward towards Aki with a blank expression on his face.
"You won't inherit team 4 Aki" Hasagawa indeed repeated, Aki looked between his captain and Raiden for any kind of answer. Both gave him none, that's until Hasagawa started smiling and looked towards Adonis.
"That's because you'll be with us" Adonis smiled, looking back to Vulcan who gave a confirmative nod. Raiden started smiling to himself, also realizing what Adonis had done.
He was to make Aki one of their own- a member of Eclipse.
"Adonis..." Adonis hadn't seen Aki cry in a long time, but as the tears silently fell he knew how grateful the man was.
"Get signed up by the end of the day and you'll start training next week, all being well obviously" Adonis patted the deputy captain on the back before he walked away, towards Fury who had been waiting patiently for him.
"It doesn't mean you won't be working under me either. Your training will be the intensive 12 months, you'll have that and work here with team 4 to keep you busy" Hasagawa gave him his second pat on the back, Aki in too much shock to comprehend what was happening.
"Thank you so much guys" Aki finally pieced his words together, but by that point all three riders had mounted their dragons. As Vulcan and Raiden shot into the air, Adonis spoke to Aki one last time over the intercom.
"Welcome to the best part of the DRA, Rider."
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chapter 23, end.
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