Operation: Pacifica, Like a bird in the sky...
by Warrior Aphrodite Persephone (alexbell@iastate.edu)

[Cockpit of F-15 Tomcat, aboard the DTT Freedom.]
[About ninety minutes later]

 	Pers sat in the cramped cockpit of her F-15 Tomcat, slowly watching
  Hell break loose in the skies above her.

	 *Only if we're needed, huh?* Zaphyre taunted as the Warrior
  nervously checked her harness.

	 *Oh Zaph...* Persephone sighed, wishing she could make the dragon
  understand.

	 Just then the radio crackled to life.  "Damn it to hell!" J-Rock
  snapped. "Ranger Flight get over here now! Launch the Ready-5 aircraft!"

	 At his command, Persephone quickly rechecked her harness and braced
  herself, before yelling, "Pull!"  She grinned, remembering Charcharadon's
  earlier launch as her fighter catapulted into the sky.  Quickly banking to
  the right the Warrior locked on to a nearby Luv Fighter.  She loosed a
  couple of missiles, waving goodbye to the doomed Minion, before wheeling
  around to find a new target.

...

	 The next couple of hours were filled with one of the biggest,
  meanest dogfights that the Warrior had ever seen.  Her mind was filled with
  the chaos of the air, as she evaded and attacked in the immense,
  technological dance of Death.  *You know, Pers, this could be a lot worse...
  But I must say, a dragon fight is much... well, cleaner, then this type of
  fighting.  Much neater too.*

	 The Warrior only snorted, noticing a pesky Luv Fighter sneaking up
  on a nearby Eagle's tail. She quickly shouted, "J-R! Check Six!"

	 Her concern vanished as she watched with admiration as the TRES
  Admiral neatly disposed of the Minion with some graceful aerobatics.  *Not
  as graceful as a dragon.* Zaph peevishly pointed out.

	 *Hush! What's that down there?*  The dragon peered into the night,
  trying to identify the huge ship approaching the DE fleet.

	 Just then, J-R radioed back.  "Thanks, Perseph -- What's going on
  down there?"

	 *Isn't that what I just said, Zaph?* she grinned, then responded
  cheekily. "You tell me, sir.  I only work here."

	 No sooner had the words left her mouth, then the huge ship
  transformed, replaced by a large, evil-looking monster - a monster heading
  right into the middle of the Dobe fleet.  Sensing the danger, Zaphyre
  quickly took control of the Warrior's eyes, as J-Rock easily identified the
  ship's origin.

	 "Aw sneck... Lyrans."

	 Persephone felt Zaphyre's nod of agreement and then gasped.  With
  the help of the dragon's vision, the ship had become an even bigger monster.
  She shuddered in horror at the cruel combination of technology and
  Life/Death that was revealed.  The entire ship pulsated with Evil and Hate,
  creating chaos with it's very existence.

	 *They're gathering power...*

	 As Zaph muttered the warning, a large beam of destruction burst
  from the Lyran ship into the closest Doberman vessel.  Persephone watched in
  a daze as the magical barrage continued.

	 *Oh Grimace... that was the Des Moines...*  Still in total shock
  from the draconic viewing of Lyran magic, she gasped aloud, "My God, Samhain
  was on that ship!"

	 "Get a grip, girl."  J-Rock immediately responded, breaking through
  the spell of terror.  "You can't help him now.  Besides, it's nighttime.  If
  Death had to take him again, it'd have to do it during the day because
  there's no way it could at night."

	 *Hmmm.... Well, maybe I can't help him - but we may be able to help
  the fleet, Zaph.  What d'ya think?*  She mentally indicated the Lyran's
  shield, which easily stopped the barrage of weapons from the other Jihaddi
  ships.

	 *An interesting idea.  It'd need to be done at the precise time and
  we'd need to find the correct location to aim at... hmmmm... not to mention
  the energy that such an undertaking would consume.... *

	 Persephone carefully circled above the Lyran flagship, as Zaphyre
  considered the possibilities.  Quickly getting bored, she glanced back
  toward the waters, shuddering in  revulsion at the sight of the Lyran ship.
  Then she frowned, noticing a large glow gathered around the vessel. *What's
  going on?* she wondered as the glow spread to cover the entire Doberman
  fleet like a many-tentacled octopus.  Then, as quickly as it had come, it
  vanished.

	 *Hey, Zaph? I would say that a very large, very nasty spell was
  just cast.  I think we need to get busy and quickly - before they have time
  for something else.*

	 *MmmHmmm whatever. Now, be quiet - I almost have it.*

	 The Warrior sighed and grumbling about certain people not paying
  attention, continued to circle in the air and glance apprehensively towards
  the Lyrans below.  *Zaph, wait!! The ship... it's falling apart!*

	 *What?!*  Glancing at the wreckage below, Zaphyre chuckled. *I
  wonder how that happened.... I'd have to guess that maybe some of our Maened
  friends had something to do with it though...*

	 The Warrior grinned. *You're probably right about that one - well,
  it looks like we're done here for now... let's head for home...*

...

[DTT Freedom. The next day, shortly after the fleet has reached the cove of the mystery island]

	 Persephone eyed the sandy beaches of the cove, to all appearances
  deep in thought.  *Damnit, Zaphyre! We are NOT going to that island alone.
  End of story.*

	 *And WHY NOT?! Do you really think these measly humans can rescue a
  dragon?!?*

	 The Warrior's eyes were glowing, reflecting her inner turmoil.
  *And you - oh mighty one - you think you can save him by yourself?  We don't
  even know where he is!*

	 *Of course, I can.  It's why we're here - remember?*

	 *All too well... But we're going ashore with our unit in two hours
  - NOT before, and definitely NOT by ourselves.*

	 *That's where you're wrong.  But this, this is a dragon - and we
  dragons protect our own.*

	 *Zaphyre...*

	 "Persephone!"

	 Pers whirled around, her mouth relaxing into a smile as she saw
  Brackard approaching from across the deck. "Brackard! I didn't know you were
  here!"

	 He grinned broadly. "Yep. After hearing that you had left, a group
  of us from the Minnesota base decided to follow.  We've even been assigned
  to your team!"

	 She smiled back, happily. "That's gre - ACK!"  Persephone gasped as
  her body suddenly shifted uncontrollably. *Zaph?! What're you doing?*

	 *We, my dear, are going to the island and are going to find and
  save Hamster.  Whether you agree or NOT.*

	 The Warrior doubled over, gasping each time her body contorted,
  fighting her "friend" with every breath.  Slowly, she managed to regain
  enough control to temporarily halt the process.

...

	 Brackard gasped with concern as his friend and commander doubled
  over in pain.  "Persephone...?"  His concern quickly turned to horror as her
  limbs began to flicker and slowly grow, her skin turned leathery, and long,
  green claws sprouted from her fingertips.  He shuddered and took a step
  back, as the monster that once was his friend turned towards him. Shaking,
  he paused in terror as the grotesque creature, part-dragon/part-human, held
  up what used to be a hand and bared its fangs in a twisted copy of a human's
  smile.

	 In a gravelly voice, it began to speak. "Brackard - wait.  It's
  still me, Persephone.  Zaph has taken over, and I can't stop her.  Take
  command of our unit - I'll catch up to you when I can."

...

	 Seeing his hesitant nod, Persephone sighed in relief before
  releasing her hold on the body's form.  She howled in pain, as her body was
  abruptly forced into the dragon's form.

	 Zaphyre trumpeted her victory to the skies.  Then turning to the
  still-shaken Brackard, she smiled toothily and easily launched herself from
  the deck.

To Be Continued...
(in "Friend or Foe?")

Copyright 1997. AlexBell