128 Chapter 11: Badge Ceremony

There was something ominous in the air that night.

The Bunker members had filed out. Having received their passes to the outside world of Dreulara, many quickly took their chance and left to explore.

Takabi was in his room while many of the others were gone. It was quiet, quieter than it had been during the space trip. His eyes scanned over himself in the mirror.

The recruitment ceremony was tonight. Put together on short notice at Garuga's request, he rushed to find clean clothes. He picked out a black silk shirt and slacks. Brown loafers were on his feet, hair combed neatly and white tie hanging loosely from his neck. His eyes held a light of uncomfortability. Suits weren't his choice of clothing, but he wanted to make the best impression possible.

"Ready," Nana's voice asked him. He looked at her in the doorway. Her hair was brushed behind her left ear, glistening diamond earrings in her lobes on full display. Her glistening sparkle yellow dress had a slit on the right side to expose her stockings around her leg, and her black heels.

He watched her closely, marvaling once more at her pure beauty. Not just her beauty, but her elegance alone. She carried herself with a stern air tonight. The air was to ward off any person bold enough to speak to her. She was still angry, and they've yet to have their talk, but her eyes were soft towards him. She was forgiving him slowly. Very slowly.

"You're beautiful," He said, rolling up his sleeves.

"You're handsome," She replied. "We're waiting for you."

"Yeah… Yeah." He paused a moment, taking in a deep breath. Takabi was nervous to be acknowledged as an officer. He never dreamed of becoming a cop, not even after encountering a long since passed acquaintance. She died with WaterSlum, but he never forgot her name or face.

Angelita Ruben, the officer he traumatized until her untimely death.

"Will I do okay?"

"Of course," Nana answered quickly. She crossed her arms. "Why doubt yourself?"

"I just.. I don't think I'm right for it. I said yes before I gave it any real thought."

"The things that happened on Earth won't affect you here. It was an experience, and you've grown from that."

His face gave away how he felt. He was still unsure of himself, even more than he had been previously. Maybe it was the fact that Garuga spoke so highly of him to Jade. Maybe because he knew if he screwed up, he'd disappoint everyone and possibly ruin Garuga's image among the people. The image of the Dragon's scowls burned deep into his brain, and his knees shook under the imaginary glare.

Nana, who had kept a stern face, sighed, walking deeper into the room and shutting the door. "You need to relax." Her brown eyes glanced at the clock. They had an hour and a half before they needed to be on stage.

"Relaxing isn't exactly a thing I can do at the moment."

"Not alone," She muttered.

When Takabi looked at her, Nana removed the straps of her dress from her shoulders, glaring at him with a misty gaze. "We don't have time."

"Don't care." She replied. "We're both pent up and at each other's throats. We either do this, or we spar for an hour straight."

He touched his chin, rolling the two ideas around in his head. "Either or would actually work for me."

Scowling at him, she shut off the lights and said, "Just shut up and take the chance."

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"Where are those two," Kairas questioned, watching his watch. He was pacing back and forth, brown suit neatly pressed on his body.

The stage was littered with the usual stage equipment, Dragon Officers crowded in small groups around Jewel and him. Garuga and Jade were in the audience. Gavin stood at the podium inside the Garnet Station auditorium, neatly stacking index cards for his speech so he could form his words easier. When the Dragon glanced at Kairas, the boy shrugged.

Sighing, Gavin tapped the microphone and spoke, voice echoing. "If we're ready, I shall begin."

It fell silent slowly. Jewel moved into the audience, taking a seat next to Aqua. Both girls wore similar black dresses that stopped just above their knees. Shine was by the front doors, glancing between them and Gavin. She was growing increasingly irritated, wondering what was taking Takabi and Nana so long.

Realizing they were both late, she slapped her forehead. "Of course."

Gavin, having cleared his throat, spoke calmly to all he could see. "Today, we are gathered to honor our kin who have returned from their travels. Those that we sent so many years ago, into the stars as a means of appeasing those above us, below us. Powers higher than us as a species. To bring knowledge to us of their travels and experiences." He smiled, placing his palms together. "A moment of silence, in praise of their hardships."

Lowering his head, all Dragons in the building, and outside as the ceremony was broadcast through a magic screen, followed his example. Kairas glanced at Jewel and the girls off stage, nodding for them to join in the sign of respect.

The hell are you doing, Takabi?

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"WE'RE SO DAMN LATE!!"

The pair were blazing through the forest, flipping and dashing from tree branch to tree branch. Nana's hair was a mess, but she managed to put it together in a bun that most would think is intentional. Both had bite marks on their necks and collarbones, and despite rushing, held a completely relaxed air about them.

It was something both needed, very intensely.

"Feel better," Nana asked him.

Takabi looked at her, using the next branch to hop next to her, slipping his arm around her waist. "Much. Thank you."

"Don't. I needed it just as bad."

He smiled at her, before turning his attention at the clouds above that began together. It was quick, the dark green sky now blocked out by a simmering grey. They could feel Mana flowing into the clouds, building, storing itself.

It left a bad taste on both their tongues. "What's going on?"

Takabi didn't say anything at first. His eyes were scanning over the environment.

"We should speed up, Takabi."

"Yeah," He replied seriously. The next branch they touched, they fueled their muscles with mana and shot off faster than the naked eye could see.

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Gavin raised his head. The Dragons followed, murmuring amongst themselves. Something was disturbing them, not just in the Garnet Station, but in all of Scarlivia. The people have taken notice of the unusual growth in the clouds, but cannot piece what it may be. Many theorized it was the Lightning and Thunder kingdoms, waging an attack.

Upon the descent of the man in the dark robes, they realized how wrong they were.

He was floating in the sky, face hidden under the hood of his garb and a cloth tied around his mouth. Raising a palm, he shut his eyes, darkness flowing from his pores. When he spoke, his voice was distorted, unhinged emotionally as creatures began to fall through the air.

They landed on the streets, roaring loudly with grotesque, jagged and saliva covered teeth. Their bodies were thin, skin practically hugging their ribs that reflected something like leather.

What they lacked in eyes, they made up for with large, bloody holes in the front of their skull, and large pointed ears. They leapt on their first victim, a Dragon child, digging their teeth into the child's head as they cried out in pure horror, the sound of wet tearing. The mother screamed in horror, her cries ceased only when the demons began to rip into her as well.

The people screamed. Non combat oriented Dragons racing away in fear for their lives. The demons gave chase, magic explosions beginning to ring out down the roads, fire and light illuminating the dark sky. Above he watched the chaos and carnage, smiling under his cloth, just as he spotted his target rushing towards the city.

"Yamishito. Takabi. Spotted."