"Osprey november-two-two-niner-golf to bridge you are clear to land on the Alpha flight deck," the bridge called over the radio to Paragors pilots, "Repeat back, over."
"Bridge to Osprey november-two-two-niner-golf, clear to land on Alpha flight deck. E-T-A in ten minutes, over."
"Osprey november-two-two-niner-golf to Bridge, E-T-A confirmed. See you when you get here, over."
"Copy, Osprey november-two-two-niner-golf out."
The pilot cut the transmission and opened the line to the cabin intercom, "E-T-A In ten minutes sir."
Paragor never looked down from his rest, "Thank you Captain."
He steadied his breathing. He almost made it the whole flight without his gut churning anxiously anticipating being struck out of the sky. Even being so close to their destination and inhuman, his skin crawled at the possibility.
Over the intercom, the pilot passed a message that only made his gut churn worse, "Sir we're being waved off."
Paragors eyes shot open and he climbed from his seat, making his way to the cockpit and threw the door open.
"Why are we being waved off!? What's the meaning of this..." He stared out the window and froze.
"OSPREY NOVEMBER-TWO-TWO-NINER-GOLF TO BRIDGE, WE ARE UNDER ATTACK! YOU'RE ORDERED TO ALTER COURSE TO SODOM IMMEDIATELY!"
"Bridge to Osprey november-two-two-niner-golf, altering course to Sodom. Over."
Paragor watched in horror as fires erupted over the fifty thousand ton warship. On the flight decks, all of Paragors foot soldiers and human volunteers fought against dark silhouettes with flames of purple burning from their eyes and folds in their clothing and armor.
The pilot veered the controls right, altering their course to Sodom. Before the Continental was out of view though, all jaws hit the deck as they watched a silhouette explode from the bridge. At first it was just a bolt of black, but as it rose it took shape. A head with a long snout, long sharp canines, bladed edged horns over its eyes, a long snake-like body with limbs, and three pairs of wings spanning four times the length of its body. Just as the silhouettes on the ship, its eyes and spaces between its scales burned with ferocious purple flames.
Feeling the rumble of it taking in air, the monster opened its mouth and roared. Sending it's purple flames into the night sky with such power, Paragor couldn't help but smile in awe. He heard stories, myths of such a being, passed from elders to pupils, but had never seen it for himself until tonight.
"Master what was..." His Acolyte rubbed the sleep from her eye, but suddenly found herself tireless at the sight of the monster tearing across the Continental, "WHAT IS THAT?!
Paragor was left speechless as the monster tore through his soldiers, awe replaced with terror. When the monster finally stopped fighting and extinguished into the darkness, he loosed his breath.
"Hightail this machine to Sodom immediately, I must report to the Master at once. Mortem lives."
---
"... And Cashel walks up, bless his soul, and tells the fairy, 'Sorry miss, but he's mine.'"
The small crowd that had gathered round laughed hysterically.
"I had never seen a fairy turn and flutter away so fast as she did," I laughed and took a gulp of my drink.
"Hey hey hey be careful, remember I'm the one who's gonna feel this in the morning Shadow," Clyde reminded me."
YOU ARE READING
The Devils Gambit
ActionWhat began as a chance for the twenty-one year old quarblood Alban "Clyde" Callaghan to retake his mantle as heir to his fathers corporate military empire, turns now into a mission to avenge his slain friend. Embarking on the task of the century acr...
