Operation: Pacifica, Friend or Foe?
by Warrior Aphrodite Persephone (alexbell@iastate.edu)

[That same day, in the skies above Pacifica]

	 Zaphyre soared high above the Spoungin' city, ignoring Persephone's
  pleas to help the Jihaddi fighting below.

	 *But they need us! They're dying down there!!* the Warrior cried
  after painfully watching the horrifying death of a Doberman Centurion.

	 *He was only a human, Pers.  And you, yourself said that they were
  able to win without me.  So, no.  We are here to rescue the dragon - not to
  fight a human war.*

	 *B-b-but those are our friends, our comrades...*

	 *Correction.  YOUR fiends.  Not mine.  Now be silent - I need to
  concentrate.*

	 Persephone sighed helplessly, wondering when her Companion had
  become so cruel - so inhuman. *This is great... feeling like a prisoner in
  my own body.*

	 *I said QUIET!*

	 Pers subsided meekly, morosely watching the battle unfold below.
  Zaphyre circled above the city, ignoring the cries of pain and chaos below.
  Instead, the dragon looked inward, searching through the magical "noise" for
  a clue to Hamster's location.

	 *Damn.  This isn't working... there's too much interference.*

	 Snarling her frustration, Zaph pulled out of her holding pattern
  and headed for the barren desert land.

	 Meanwhile, the Warrior remained stubbornly silent.  Each intent on
  their own thoughts, neither noticed the worm-like creature slowly rise from
  the city and glide through the air behind them.

...

	 Bezicht'el grinned evilly, rubbing his hands together with glee.
  "So," he thought to himself, as he watched the dragon approach through the
  Saethrian's eyes, "at last, some worthy competition."  Turning his attention
  to his troops, he cautioned. *Patience, acquaintances of mine, your
  competition will arrive shortly.*

	 *The aerial amphibian of the draconis reptilia species has
  traversed into the outermost limitations of my visual orbs, Commander.*

	 *Good... good,* the Lyran sorcerer replied.  *Wait until the dragon
  lands, then you may begin your... debate.*

	 Nearby, a group of Sponge Minions babbled to each other, trying to
  figure out what the tall stranger had just said.  One minion, Bobby,
  suddenly smiled brightly. "I know! I'm gonna go ask him!"

	 Bobby waddled over to the twelve-foot tall nagenta lizard and waved
  exuberantly to get his attention.  The MENSAn peered down through his
  spectacles at the relatively small Minion.

	 "Well, salutations and felicitations, my soft-cerebrum'd simpleton.
  On what avenue might I encourage you to travel in your quest for
  intellectual enlightenment?"

	 "Uh yeah... Hi! I'm Bobby.  Um... Mister... um.. lizard?  What id
  you just say?"

	 The MENSAn smiled gravely before replying.  "In reality, Robert,
  the appelation with which I was christened after my induction to the Most
  High Clan M.E.N.S.A. is Corbel the Extraneous and Monomaniacal.  Now,
  although repetition is generally considered unproductive, unimaginitive, and
  a definite psychological symptom of idiocy, considering the circumstances
  regarding your simplicity I will endeavor to clarify myself.  Previously, I
  inquired as to the method in which I might support your endeavor for a
  vaster intelligence.  Previous to the previous occurance, I was remarking on
  the arrival of the aerial amphibian - the draconis reptilia."  Noticing the
  glazed look in Bobby's eyes, Corbel the... smiled predatorily and took his
  arm.  "Join me in discourse momentarily and I will clarify my meaning."

	 Seeing their friend wander off with the strange lizard, the other
  Minions glanced at each other in concern.  Then, one shrugged.  "I guess
  Bobby found a new friend."  The others smiled and nodded in agreement.

	 Suddenly, a shadow passed overhead.  As one, the group looked up,
  pointed, and squealed. "Lookee! It's a dragon!!"  All the Minions were
  preoccupied with the beast in the sky, and so none noticed the MENSAn (that
  had just left with Bobby) return, blood dripping from his jaws.

	 The dragon landed carefully on a nearby plateau and was immediately
  encircled by a pack of MENSAns.  One of the nagenta lizards, wearing a lime-
  colored medallion signifying him as the "leader" stepped forward.

	 "Greetings, draconis reptilia.  I am designated Xylem the
  Extemporaneous and Disputatious and was elected as the spokesman for this
  engagement due to my superior intelligence.  It is said that representatives
  of your species are infatuated with logic.  Therefore, I challenge you to a
  battle of words.  How do you respond, draconis reptilia?"

	 *I say that I accept of course, foolish dino.  Now, call me by my
  name - Zaphyre - and we shall begin.*

	 As the MENSAns distracted Zaphyre with their games of logic,
  Bezicht'el readied the next stage of his trap.  *Teams B and C move into
  position.*

	 *Team B is ready, sir.*

	 *Good job.  Hold your position until Team C is ready.*  The Lyran
  glared, obviously irritated, toward the mass of Sponge Minions milling
  around near the base of the plateau.  *TEAM C!!! WHAT IS THE HOLD UP!?!*
  They all turned towards the sorcerer babbling and waving their hands wildly
  in the air.  *Nevermind.  Just get to your places... NOW!*  The Lyran
  frowned and turned away in disgust, his deep purple robes billowing about
  him.

	 The flicker of the bright color disrupted Zaphyre's concentration,
  causing her to glance around in irritation.  Noticing the mass of Sponge
  Minions gathered around the base of the plateau, the dragon suddenly
  recognized the trap.

	 Zaphyre reared back, her eyes reflecting her rage.  *FOOLS! You
  knew of my love of logic and planned to use it against me - prepare to
  witness another trait of my species - the passion for destruction!!!*  Flame
  erupted from her muzzle, neatly frying the heads of the MENSAns nearby.  The
  remaining allosaurs dropped to the ground, trying vainly to protect their
  brains.

	 *Noooo!!!* Bezicht'el howled.  *ATTACK!!! Team B, to me!*

	 Hearing his mental order, the dragon turned her head, focusing her
  rage on the Lyran.  *When I finish with these sheep, Lyran, I  shall come
  for you.*

	 The Sponge Minions, eager to follow orders, charged up the sides of
  the plateau.  As they reached the top, they were surprised to see the dragon
  sitting quietly, sharpening her talons.  *Ah... my friends, so good of you
  to join me.  Have a seat and I'll tell you a story...*

	 The Minions smiled and sat down, eagerly telling each other how
  they loved stories.  After they were all seated, Zaphyre leaned forward
  baring her teeth.

	 *Once upon a time there was a lion and some sheep.  Now this lion
  was very smart and very hungry.  So he invited the sheep over for dinner.
  Being sheep, they weren't very quick and accepted immediately.  The lion led
  the sheep into his cave and had them sit down.  One of the sheep, not seeing
  any grass - that's what sheep eat - asked what was for dinner.  The lion
  grinned and replied, "You are."*

	 The dragon suddenly grinned, much like a lion, and picked up the
  closest Minion by his leg.  The captured Minion squirmed and cried out
  helplessly.  Spouting a short burst of flame, the dragon quickly ended his
  miserable existence and turned toward her audience which was looking at her
  in horror.  *Mmmmm... roasted Minion.  My favorite.*  Zaphyre ripped off the
  cooked Minion's leg and grinned, as her audience jumped up and ran away
  screaming.

	 She threw the charred body away in disgust.  *Now, where did that
  pesky Lyran go?*

	 *Behind you, dragon! Prepare to meet your maker!  Team B, attack!!*

	 Zaphyre suddenly doubled over... laughing.  *My maker!?  hee hee...
  now that's a good one. hee hee hee...*  Her fit of giggles was rudely
  interrupted, as a sharp pain shot through her leg.  She whipped her head
  around, glaring at the pesky arrow that had lodged in her thick hide.
  Howling in rage, she took to the skies - searching for her assailants.  As
  she climbed, more arrows skimmed the area she had just been.  The dragon
  looked about madly, finally spotting a strange, worm-like beast with
  wings... and a Great Bow.  Zaph grinned insanely as the beast's name formed
  in her mind, *Saethrians.*

	 *Um... excuse me, Mr. All-Mighty Mage?  I think you've forgotten
  something about your companions...* the dragon taunted.  Zaphyre steadily
  approached the "wormy" Saethrian, snarling as an arrow hit its mark.

	 *And what is that, BEAST?*

	 Suddenly, the sky was filled with the dragon's mighty roar, as
  flames exploded from her mouth, drenching the Saethrian in a bath of fire.
  Seeing the fiery death of their comrade, the remaining creatures dropped
  their weapons and quickly flew away.

	 *Their instinctive fear of fire, maybe?  And now, mage, I do
  believe 'tis the shepard's turn - as your flock seems to have deserted you -
  that is...  my maker, indeed.*

	 *I think not.*  Bezicht'el responded.  He waved his hands,
  conjuring a carpet while sending needles of ice flying towards the dragon.
  Laughing wildly, he hopped onto the magical carpet, flew into the air, and
  soon disappeared over the Western horizon.

To Be Continued....
in "Where's the dragon?"

Copyright 1997 AlexBell