"Shadow!" Nina yelped running to my side. She threw her wings around me with tear filled eyes.
"Your alright! When we lost Taro, we tried raising you on the coms. When we couldn't get you, we......we thought they killed you." She said, her tone was one of joy and fear. Her words struck deep in my heart, causing the weight of a thousand suns to fall on my shoulders.
"How did you find me?" I asked as i nuzzled her.
"Taros Mask. He has a GPS tracker in it. We had your location in a matter of hours." Tyro said as he pulled a piece off the top of the mask. He pulled the mask back so that he could see my face.
"Where is he?" Nina asked. I looked away from them, the weight in my chest getting heavier by the minute.
"So, he was right huh?" Tyro sighed before checking the red dragon.
"What? What do you mean he was right?" I asked.
"This was all part of your fathers plan." Tyro replied with a light laugh.
"Plan?" I asked again.
"Your father was hunting for someone. He had been on the hunt since his faked death years ago. After some searching, he found out that the one was on this ship. I don't know who they were, but he told me it wad important to him, so i didn't question his choice. His plan started with finding you and Nina in Boston. Then would lead you both to a link he was hunting in New York. He knew there was a large group of Project Draco units in the area, so he planned on getting captured. He didn't expect you to be injured, and caught along with him. He knew he would be taken to the one he was hunting and killed. The GPS chip in his mask was what we were supposed to follow to the one he was hunting, where we would free them from captivity. He planned from the beginning to give his life......for you." Tyro replied rolling the red dragons unmoving body onto its back.
"W.....what? He......he planned to die......for me?!" I asked, my voice trailing off lightly.
"Yeah. He said you would understand once you found Prisoner 01." Nina replied nuzzling my neck. I rolled to my side and stood, shaking the dust off my wings as i did so.
"I promised him i wouldnt shed any more tears, and that i would carry on his legend, his will. Lets find this target of his." I growled as i walked out of the command tower and back onto the deck. The rain had stopped, and 4 V22's could be seen sitting, props still spinning on deck. Around 20 armed men, and 10 resistance dragons were clearing the rest of the ship. The pair of dragons who had been chasing me were tied up and laying beside one of the aircraft. Tyro approached them and grabbed one by the scruff of his neck.
"Were looking for a prisoner, named 01, where can we find the cell?" He asked.
"Floor C, holding lock B." He growled as Tyro dropped him.
"Lets go get em." Tyro said as we walked down the dock, looking at each door until we came across Lock B. We entered the door, which immediately led to a large set of stairs that took us down deep into the bowls of the ship. In no time we reached floor C which had a large, thick door which was part way opened. I squeezed inside and pushed it the rest of the way open So Nina and Tyro could follow. The door led to a large corridor, lined on either side with caged rooms. Jail cells if you would say so. All seemed to be empty. Tyro walked to the one nearest to the door on the left side.
"Prisoner 56, prisoner 54, prisoner 52, they seem to go in alternating numbers." He said looking at me.
"Prisoner 01 should be in the back right then." I replied as i began a fast trot toward the cell. Every cell i passed was empty. Apparently, they did more killing of there prisoners then they did saving. That means Prisoner 01 might me dead. I trotted quickly, counting down the odd numbers as i did so.
"11, 9, 7, 5, 3, 1.....here." I said coming to a stop in front of the large metal bars. Inside the cell was a blue and white dragon. It seemed to be a Female. She looked weak and malnourished, her ribs could be seen through her scaled hide. She was laying on her side with her head away from the door.
"Shes alive, but weak. We need to get her out." Tyro said pulling a small, thin metal piece from his vest. He slid it between the door frame, causing the door to open and swing out toward us. I stepped inside as a sudden scent hit my nose. I knew this scent well, as it was one of the few scents a dragon learns when young and never forgets. My limbs began shaking and my heart began beating faster and faster.
"M.....mom?" I mumbled quickly going to her muzzle, lifting it so she and i were face to face. She slowly opened her eyes and looked at me. She had a confused expression on her muzzle at first, but my scent soon registered in her mind and she remembered who i was.
"Shadow......is that you?" She asked as she tried to stand. I smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, its me mom." I replied. Those few words seemed to bring new life into her as she stood and wrapped me in her wings. Pulling me tight against her, she threw her muzzle into my neck and took a deep breath.
"It is you.....my son.......Shadow." She mumbled, her tone full of mixed emotions. I could say the same about myself, i was so full of mixed emotions that i couldn't display any i was feeling.
"Mom.......mom.....your alive." I mumbled as we held each other close. Suddenly, her legs gave underneath her. I wrapped my arms around her, catching her before she fell.
"Mom, your weak. Let me carry you." I said slowly taking her to the ground.
"Wheres your father? I want to see him." She panted as she lay her head against my chest. I sighed and held her close, not wanting to tell her. After a moment of silence, she laughed lightly and looked up at me.
"I see. Knowing him, it was something reckless. Serves him right for taking those risky missions." She smiled as she shook her head.
"My foolish, brave boys." She smiled before licking my muzzle.
"Mom, he died to save you.........so that i could have you back." I replied returning her lick with a nuzzle.
"My words still stand." She said as she tried to stand, only to fail.
"Let me carry you mom." I stated, managing to slide her onto my back. She wiggled herself into a more comfortable position, with her head beside mine, her stomach lining my back, and her tail twined around mine. Her forepaws held onto my shoulders, and her rear legs draped across my rear legs.
"You've gotten strong. Im proud of you son." She cooed into my ear as she nuzzled the side of my head. I smiled and returned the nuzzle before walking out of the cell and back to the deck. I lay my mother down inside one of the V22's, leaving her with a pair of Medics, who quickly began pumping her with the nutrients she so desperately needed.
"They found your fathers body Shadow. What do you want to do with it?" Tyro asked as i left my mothers side to speak with him. I closed my eyes and thought for a moment.
"He always loved the water you know.......so........leave his bod and sink the ship. Give him a burial at sea. I think thats what he would have wanted." I replied glancing toward the command deck. Tyro nodded and smiled.
"What?" I asked.
"So, it seems he wanted to pass his legend, the legend of Razgriz onto you, wouldn't you say?" He said tapping on the mask that still sat on top of my head. It was up at the moment, so that others could see my face. I smiled and nodded.
"And i happily accept it." I replied closing my eyes.
"And now, Razgriz has one last target to take." I replied.
"Yeah?" Tyro replied sitting on his haunches.
"Lung Wei. He's the one behind all of this. He's in cahoots with the American government. His plan all along was to draw rouge dragons to one place and kill them all." I replied as i started walking toward the V22 my mom was on.
"So, you found out as well? If thats the case, then theres no need to fill you in. I managed to find out and get Adelind and my family out. I also managed to get Taro out as well, so don't fret him. I don't know who else was able to get out in time, so expect a blood bath." Tyro replied as we climbed into the back of the V22. Nina and my mother were sitting side by side, speaking with one another.
"Don't worry, i don't plan on dying tonight. Not before i can free every dragon completely from all of this." I replied.
"Now, lets get to the temple, so we can end this once and for all." I growled pulling the mask down over my muzzle. Tyro smiled.
"Like father, like son." He laughed before motioning for everyone to move out. With that, the props spun up and we took off, headed toward Lung Wei and his temple.