The Ruler's Rift

Warnings

"This may be our last chance," boomed the commander to his team. "We need this advantage over the Sages."

Not only was this the Boofbamians' last chance to turn the tides of a brewing war, it was Casper's last chance to prove how far he'd come. His nerves ignited in his motionless body, packed tightly against his fellow researchers in the ship's cabin. Surrounded by eerie, mechanical lights and the clicking of his peers' joints, he longed for one last drink, one last bottle, but he had left that habit far behind. He internally berated himself for even thinking of it.

The commander barked orders and reports, but Casper tuned it out. His friend, the researcher beside him with the lively eyes, nudged him awake. "Hey, relax! At least we aren't on the Mystearlian research team." He hissed through his teeth. "I mean, did you hear what happened to Garlacko?"

"Yeah, he's still not eating..." Casper muttered.

"But that demon he was studying? That sucker sure wanted to eat."

Casper fell quiet, then spoke up again. "Victor," he started, "you think they'll be proud of us?"

"Eh, maybe of you." Victor laughed under his breath. "Groundbreaking discoveries like this are daily for me."

A tiny smile was all Casper could manage.

The commander silenced the chatter. "We're just about there. Everyone, secure your suits. Grab your equipment. That includes you, camera men!" He said.

Pinkish clouds of stardust loomed beyond the windows. As they entered the nebula, every researcher secured their suit and mask. The small ship rumbled through its landing routine. Researchers clung to poles in the cabin as everything shook.

Finally, the ship secured itself on the rough exterior of an asteroid - the very same asteroid that had been emitting radio waves. Further investigation had revealed signs of a lifeform, one that could resist the harshness of space.

"Okay, men, just as we discussed: It is called the Asqura. Go in, harvest, get out. If it shows signs of intelligence, we attempt communication." The commander hadn't a fear in his eyes as every Boofbamian scrambled for their things. Victor snatched his camera like it were treasure, and Casper shuffled past his fellow researchers to collect his fleshing tools. They looked brutish and put a frown on his face; he'd much rather be a photographer like Victor but beggars couldn't be choosers. Regardless of his role in this mission, success would prove that he'd made something of his life despite its rough patches.

When the first researchers made touchdown on the asteroid, their wood-like legs adjusted goofily to the lesser gravity. Finding the lifeform was simple - they followed the radio waves straight to a cave. The innards of the cavern boasted foreign flora, vines like veins which coated the rocky walls. It was difficult to place if they were alive or simply crystalline growths. Several Boofbamians retrieved samples but, ultimately, they weren't here to garden.

The commander halted and thrusted his arm out, stopping the train of team members. Everyone looked forward to the top of a diamond pile. There, coiled around it, slept the source of the radio waves.

"It's huge," Victor whispered through his teeth.

Huge, and with scales. Casper hurried for the sawtooth scale-remover on his belt. Armed with that feeble apparatus, he and the others crept toward the dragon. White as snow, its armor and mane boasted an iridescent sheen. Body like a serpent, hands like the gloves of a knight, and feet like a velociraptor - whatever this thing was, it put a pit in Casper's stomach. Its magnificence alone warned all trespassers to stay away.