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past 30+ years plus a few other characters from other people here and there. I consider myself far more of an artist than a writer but I've been at an impasse with art lately and even if I was at my most prolific image-wise, I probably wouldn't be able to get everything I've put into this chapter onto paper, at least not satisfactorily as I would like in regards to characterization. I have a couple of other chapters written as well and am in the writing stage on chapter four and they may get uploaded here depending on how this one does.", "description_bbcode_parsed": "This is the opening chapter of my hyper-sexual superhero "epic" based on characters I've created in the past 30+ years plus a few other characters from other people here and there.  I consider myself far more of an artist than a writer but I've been at an impasse with art lately and even if I was at my most prolific image-wise, I probably wouldn't be able to get  everything I've put into this chapter onto paper, at least not satisfactorily as I would like in regards to characterization.  I have a couple of other chapters written as well and am in the writing stage on chapter four and they may get uploaded here depending on how this one does.", "writing": "[center][b]Dragon Lady\n\nEmergence[/b][/center]\n\n[b]Temporary lunar observation post, Clavius crater, the moon – full lunar day[/b]\n\n[i]Advance Scout’s initial observation report now recording.\n\nPer standard advance scouting operational rules and T-real’s treatises on successful combat strategies, have established remote observation on Homeworld’s only natural satellite which remains in orbit. Fourth planet remains intact but has been rendered uninhabitable. Fifth planet is no more than rubble strewn about its former orbit. On Homeworld the main continent has broken apart as geo-era mapping projections have predicted and scans suggest some of the old sites still exist but in disuse for some time and many are in severe disrepair or disarray.\n\nWhile some creatures have remained unchanged in the interim (see biodiversity appendix for list), many have vanished entirely with many new, unfamiliar genera and species having taken their place. The most curious of these new creatures are those that farm the land or congregate in large masses of structures called “towns” or “cities”. They’ve created some remarkable feats of engineering but nothing on the order of our civilization, having barely left Homeworld for this satellite only for short durations approximately a half dozen times. Most offworld travel appears to be data-gathering drones. Homeworld is surrounded by a halo of artificial satellites mostly focused on Homeworld for communications, navigational or other monitoring purposes. There appears to be practically no detection capability for anything approaching Homeworld of any significance to established plans. \n\nScans have shown one possible complication that will need further study and likely infiltration to ascertain the extent it will pose a threat to the plans. Individuals of varying levels of power that manifest as different remarkable abilities can be found all over Homeworld, perhaps as a result of contamination levels by the less developed technology of the aforementioned creatures. The greatest concentration appears to be in the “city” identified as Gammorah Bay, located on the starset side of the continental mass now identified as “North America”.\n\nAccording to transmissions focused on previous cycles, several powered individuals banded together like an independent security force, motivated only by their own sense of duty to their fellow creatures. The first was a tall, by these creatures’ standards, female that bears a strong resemblance to some members of our own race taking the identification of ‘Star Power’. By all indications, she lacked actual power but her will, determination and considerable unarmed fighting capability drew others with power to her and her cause, referring to themselves as “The Starfighers”. Chief among these other individuals were ‘Bombshell’, a much shorter female again bearing a strong resemblance to some of our race that could generate energy bursts she usually directed as “power punches”, “Magenta” a woman who could appear as what they call a “dragon” or perhaps the other way around and a flier perhaps more adept than any of our own, “Silver Dragon” a male of Bombshell’s type with a technological knowledge that could match our top engineers and “Zephyr’” a younger female who could move at nearly unimaginable speeds unattainable by any of our species. It should be noted that this “Zephyr” has more recently been elevated to position of queen of the “city” of Gammorah Bay. It should also be noted that many of these individuals have successfully mated and several of their offspring have power as well, many exceeding their predecessors.\n\nThese powered individuals seem to be dormant, possibly hiding their abilities from the majority of their fellow creatures who lack power of their own. Initial study of the creatures’ communications transmissions indicates powered individuals were once active until a devastating event 12 cycles ago drove them to hide – possibly a revolt by those without powers though the real reason remains unclear and requires further study. Discovery of this reason may prove crucial in dealing with threat posed by these powered individuals. \n\nEnd initial report. Next report scheduled for 3 Homeworld axial rotations from now.[/i]\n\nThe observer breathed a sigh of relief. He hated filing observation reports. He understood their importance to Central Command but he hated them all the same. Preferring action, he usually hated observation in general but there was something very different about this assignment and the building creatures he was to report on. Even in the short time he had been here, there was much he had observed that he had omitted from his initial report, such as the nature of most of their transmissions.\n\nLike his own race, most of the creatures reproduced by the rutting of two individuals. Also like his race, mating seemed to go well beyond the boundaries of mere rutting into the realms of pleasure. He was still puzzled by the dichotomy of the creatures’ thoughts on mating – on one claw it was something to be reviled, barely tolerated and kept in secret and on the other, something to be celebrated and reveled in. The observer knew which side he preferred and considered his race all the more enlightened for it. \n\nThat’s not to say he hadn’t learned things from those who did celebrate it. He learned about self-pleasure, “masturbation” they called it. Given the solitary nature of most of his assignments, he was astounded that such an ingenious idea hadn’t occurred to him before. Then there was the utter bliss of “auto fellatio”. In the low gravity of the Homeworld’s satellite and with the flexibility he’d earned through years of combat training mastering unweaponed combat skills, he was able to pleasure himself with his own mouth. He just had to be careful of his very sharp teeth. \n\nThe observer had found watching transmissions that focused on mating, referred to disparagingly or praised as “pornography” by the building creatures, optimized his pleasure. The creatures even had a word for it, “voyeurism”. They had to be the most delightfully perverse race he’d ever had to observe. He was trying to decide between observing male on male or female on female and had almost settled on group mating when one display with a couple of the most powerful individuals on it attracted his attention.\n\nThey were a delightfully horny pair, identified as “The Dharkens” that seemed to be very comfortable with one another yet managed to keep the mating as raw and fresh as if it were their virginal pairing. As yet none of their rutting had produced offspring, but the observer was willing to concede that when they did, that offspring would likely be the most powerful on Homeworld. Sometimes the pair added a third, an older female identified as “mayor Dakota Jackson”. At others, the pair separated to do their own mating activities, presumably ones they didn’t share mutually. The female, “Danielle”, often paired with “Dakota” and the two would embark on mating adventures that would give pause to the most sexually adventurous of his own people. The male “Todd” seemed to be much more reserved, preferring to observe a couple of females he would visually record with an unusual marking instrument on flattened planes of wood pulp collected together by a curled wire through punched holes or mating with a small select group of older females rather often and at other times with particular other males, most often beneath them – a place the observer was very much familiar with himself when among his own people. \n\nHowever, today at starrise, the pair was alone together. “Danielle” had overindulged in intoxicants during the nolight period before the starrise. Her power had mitigated the effects so she had consumed much more than the average creature was able to. The power was actually nearly done purging her body of any ill effects of the intoxicants and her hormonal levels indicated she was primed for an epic mating. Any moment “Todd” would wake her and the fun would begin. The observer’s penis emerged and he grasped it eagerly, ready to enjoy the show he was certain to come.\n\n[b]Dharken residence master bedroom, Cliffside housing development, Gammorah Bay – early morning[/b]\n\n“Wake up sleepyhead!” Danielle Dharken groaned as drapes were pulled back letting sunlight into her comfortable darkness. The light stabbed into her eyes and she knew she’d celebrated just a bit too much last night. \n\n“Oughta be a law ‘gainst morning people.”, she grumbled, chucking a pillow in the direction of a dark blur amongst the damnable light. The pillow hit something but she was sure her target had used his tail to bat it aside.\n\n“Hmph! Is that any way to treat the husband who got up earlier so Gammorah Bay’s newest attorney could have her breakfast in bed?” Danielle sniffed. Todd had indeed fixed her a breakfast and not just cereal and toast. Her stomach rumbled and she cracked open a somewhat bloodshot crimson eye. The eye blazed to life when it focused on the red male rhoanthekan to find he was only dressed in a t-shirt and his underwear.\n\nSuddenly the pearlescent rhoanthekan lady was hungry for something else. Danielle motioned for Todd to set the breakfast tray down and come closer. She launched herself out of the bed and knocked him to the floor. Hastily rearranging herself, she sat back on his snout and wiggled her naked hips and ass, making her intentions clear. Todd flicked his tongue over his wife’s damp slit letting her know her message was received. She ground her hips against his muzzle for a bit before leaning over for her own prize. She peeled back the stretched fabric of his underwear and licked her snout before swallowing his erection. She felt through her thighs rather than heard her husband saying something.\n\n“Honey, that’s what they make microwaves for.”, she answered. She could feel him grin and he gleefully went back to his assigned task as she sucked on him eagerly.\n\n[b]Gammorah Bay mayor’s main office, Central City district, Gammorah Bay – also early morning[/b]\n\n\"As of today it's been 12 years - that's 4,383 days, 105,192 hours, 6,311,520 minutes. To many, that sounds like a long time. To many of those affected by the events of that day, it might as well have happened this morning. We will never forget them. With the help of this museum, future generations won’t either or the sacrifice of those who assured the rest of us would have a future. As mayor, I hereby dedicate the Gammorah Bay Hall of Heroes in the name of our community and welcome a new generation of law enforcement and attorneys to insure that new future is a more safe and secure one.” \n\nMayor Dakota Jackson wiped a tear from her cheek. Setting the scribbled notes down, she stood up and walked to the eastern window of her office to see the early dawn’s light peeking on the horizon. The pronghorn closed her eyes trying to rein her emotions in but it only brought back the memories of that day more strongly. And others she’d just as soon have forgotten. She looked back at her desk and considered the bottle inside the upper right hand drawer. No, she’d get through this without resorting to that. She’d need her wits about her today, not scattered to the various corners of her consciousness.\n\n“Wow.”, her deputy mayor, Eliza Ellsworth, practically whispered. “No wonder you couldn’t’ sleep. Did you spend all night rewriting that speech?” Dakota nodded, still fighting with her emotions. The cockatiel rose gracefully and placed a comforting wing around the pronghorn. “You really should have spent the night with the Dharkens.”\n\n“I have no right to intrude on their happiness-“\n\n“Who’s intruding? Honey, they both love you. I’ll bet they’d come here right now if I called them.”\n\n“Uh, now might not be the best time.” Dakota tried to hide the blush on her cheeks but failed. \n\n“Are they-?” Dakota nodded before Eliza could finish her sentence. “So you just-?” Dakota nodded again. Eliza lit up dispelling the somber mood. “I didn’t feel a thing! Damn girl! And you keep saying you’re slowing down in your old age!”\n\n[b]Dharken residence master bedroom, Cliffside housing development, Gammorah Bay – still early morning[/b]\n\nAs much fun as a good 69 was with Todd, it didn’t take Dani long to crave the old bump and grind. She raised off him to sit on his snout again, savoring the last few licks then pulled away from it with a twinge of reluctance. She turned around, grabbing his shoulders as he pushed himself up. She forced him back down and squatted on top of his erection, driving him deep inside of her.\n\n“Ow! Ease up on the kung fu grip, wonder woman.”, Todd teased. She stuck her tongue out at him but did relax her grip, then squeezed him with her vaginal muscles. He winced. “AHHH! Been exercising the kegels again, dear?”\n\n“Well I haven’t had my Wheaties yet this morning. Guess I’m just in one of those moods.” She grinned wickedly when a breeze washed across her body. “Did you leave a window open?”\n\n“No. Ten bucks says it was Dakota checking up on us.”\n\n“Damn! I wish she would have stopped. This would be twice as fun with a pair of nice jiggly tits to suckle on.” \n\n“Hey, you’re the one in charge up there. How about that ride already? We do have an appointment today. And don’t forget you were going to meet your mom early.”, Todd said in mock annoyance, all the while trying to lick the dragoness’s swaying nipples. \n\n“It’s still before 6 and that’s not until this afternoon.” She grinning, starting to ride her husband’s hard cock. \n\n“Nnngh!! Oh YES! I love your hot wet pussy, hon. And I know! Ooohh! I wanted us to be on time for a change!” Danielle slowed her humping and ground her hips into his, clamping around him with her vagina again. \n\n“AAHHHHH!!! You know me so well, baby! Now gimme that spunk!!” \n\n[b]Elsewhere – that same morning[/b]\n\nShe would make them pay. Today of all days, she would make the whole damnable city pay. The canine looked upon the newspaper article again in utter disgust. How dare they create a damn museum to those that should rightfully be subjects of she and her mother. All so they wouldn’t forget. She would make sure they definitely wouldn’t forget.\n\n“The troops are ready for your inspection, madam.” She heard the click of heels and pictured the perfectly flawless salute being executed behind her as it had been thousands of times before.\n\n“Once again, you don’t have to salute me, Deitrich. You’re older than I am.” She turned to find the elk still posed ramrod straight\n\n“You are my superior, as your mother was before you and your grandmother before that.” The canine bristled at the mention of the last. She’d show that traitorous cunt that betrayed their dream for a soft, comfortable life. The very thought of such a thing nearly made her sick to her stomach. Sensors registered the imbalance and advanced micro-processors sought a way to correct it. Chemicals flooded into her digestive system and it calmed again. She considered turning off the circuits responsible for stabilizing her organic body. She needed her pain, especially today. Still pain would cloud her thinking and she also wanted to be clear headed to savor the inevitable victory that would be hers. The pain of her suffering of the past twelve years and that she carried for her mother would be more than enough.\n\n“Very well, Colonel. I want to leave as soon as we’ve finished the inspection. I want the troops alert for this afternoon. They will need some rest after the journey.” The uniform elk nodded stiffly but she could tell he was eager for the coming operation, possibly just as much as she was.\n\n[b]Dharken residence master bathroom, Cliffside housing development, Gammorah Bay – a bit later that morning[/b]\n\n“Damn, you sure gave it to me.” Danielle wobbled a bit as she made her way to the shower. \n\n“Remember, you asked for it, lover. And you did your fair share too.” Todd grabbed hold of his wife’s waist to help steady her. She had dripped all over the carpet and bathroom floor and some of it had dripped all over his legs.\n\n“Oh yeah, I did.” She reached out to turn the shower on then pulled him in with her once the temperature was right. She held him as the water soaked her long black mane. Todd ran his fingers through it, still surprised it didn’t tangle even when wet. \n\n“I really wish you’d wear your hair down more often.” He nuzzled her, then gave her a kiss. \n\n“I wear it like this around you. That’s not enough?” She kissed him back.\n\n“I want everyone to see just how gorgeous you are the way I get to see you.” Dani chuckled.\n\n“Surely not naked.” \n\n“Why not? That’d be hot!” Todd hugged her wet body to his own.\n\n“Mmmm, speaking of hot, do you think you could get hard again?” She licked her snout. Perhaps it was the hot water and the proximity of her husband in such a confined space but she needed him really badly again. \n\n“What? Again? Already?” She nodded emphatically, her tongue lolling out of her mouth as she leaned against the shower wall and raised her tail. \n\n“I want you in my ass!”, she hissed lustfully. Todd’s erection literally sprang back to life. His grin matched hers and he opened the door of the shower and leaned over to the cabinet above the toilet. He made sure to grab the super thick, super slick waterproof lube and squirted a generous portion on his fingers. He rubbed them around her sphincter then slid the tip of his middle finger easily inside of her. He added another until both were up to the second knuckle, then he eased a third in. Forming a sort of cone shape, he worked his fingers deeper inside her sphincter gently pushing it open. Danielle humped her ass against his invading digits. Satisfied she was spread enough, Todd squirted more lube on his throbbing cock and stroked it to make sure the lube coated it evenly. He gripped his wife’s hips and pressed the head of his dick against her anus and pushed it in slowly. Dani grinned wickedly and slammed her ass against her husband’s thighs. Todd grunted more from the sudden pressure of her ass on his erection than the impact. \n\n“So that’s the way it’s gonna be, huh bitch?” She laughed and he gripped her hips tightly, pulling out and slamming his hips into her until the slapping of their flesh sounded like he was spanking her. She howled in delight and squirted on his balls when the fierce anal rutting had brought her to a rare orgasm. Todd let out a strangled growl and came hard in her rectum. When they had recovered their senses, he eased his deflating penis out of her and hugged her from behind. \n\n“I love you!”, they gasped in unison.\n\n“-suppose we should get cleaned up and have that breakfast now.”, Dani managed, sounding a bit weary and finally sated. Todd grabbed the shower sponge and soap and proceeded to lather up his wife’s back. She whimpered in delight.\n\n[b]Dar-Ferris-Jefferson residence, Headland Heights, Gammorah Bay – later morning[/b]\n\n“Allie? Have you seen my-“ The crimson draconid cut the question short by merely pointing at the top of the dresser. “Oh! Thank you, honey.”, Karyn Ferris kissed her girlfriend’s snout, causing Althea’s unusually shaped ears to bounce excitedly, before retrieving her pantyhose from the dresser. The blue rhoanthekan sat on the bed, sliding the hose on and pulling them up under the rather conservative black dress she’d chosen for today’s occasion. \n\n“Why didn’t you put those on first?”, Althea Dar inquired, still not understanding her girlfriend’s habits even after the decade they’d already spent living together. \n\n“I’m afraid that’s my fault!”, a third voice sounded from the bathroom door. Allie didn’t need to see the gryphon’s beak to know it would be dripping with Karyn’s juices but she looked anyway. Sure enough, Katie Jefferson’s beak was covered and she was trying her best to lick it clean by herself. Allie put her hands under the gryphon gal’s beak, giving her a couple of licks that took care of the rest of the juices then kissed Katie. \n\n“Now you finish getting ready, dear.” Allie turned the gryphon back into the bathroom and gave her naked butt a firm pat and gentle push. The draconid, worried about her other companion, returned to Karyn’s side. The rhoanthekan had moved out onto the patio that overlooked most of Gammorah Bay and New Sodom and their various suburbs from the house’s vantage point on the landward side of the Headland Heights cliffs.\n\n“Before you ask, Katie kind of surprised me. I know I told you I wasn’t in the mood earlier this morning-“\n\n“But she wasn’t there that day. At least not until later.”\n\n“Yes. No….I don’t know…”, Karyn’s voice trailed off. Allie put a supportive arm around her shorter companion and stroked the rhoanthekan’s back soothingly. \n\n“I can’t even begin to guess what this day must mean to you. I know what it does from a factual standpoint but an emotional impact?” Allie shrugged, not sure how to put the rest into words. She sighed and hugged Karyn. “I think I’d rather kick Professor Paranoia’s ass any day of the week than face these things.” \n\n“You still could too.”, Karyn added, stroking her girlfriend’s muscular upper thigh. Allie really had kept herself in good shape, where Karyn never really had to worry about it. It’s as if her body was constantly renewing itself. She relaxed, settling back into her lover’s arms. “Part of me wishes we’d be there today in our old costumes. We should be…”\n\n“You know why we quit. Today’s only a reminder of part of it. It would be fun though.” Allie smirked, then grinned. “We could always put them on in private, before the dedication. You know what a thrill it gives Katie when we do.” She could see Karyn working through the idea and waited for the inevitable logical objection.\n\n“But the dedication-“\n\n“-Isn’t until this afternoon. And we’ll have you there before that so you can keep your other appointment. C’mon, you know the kids aren’t even dressed yet. I’ll bet you still look as dynamite in the outfit as you did 8 months ago.” Karyn smirked but she got up and followed Allie to the closet.\n\n[b]Dharken residence breakfast nook, Cliffside housing development, Gammorah Bay – later morning[/b]\n\n“Oooh!”, Danielle jumped up from the seat then eased herself back down on it more slowly. “Mmm, tender.”\n\n“You seemed to want it rough and you specifically asked for it in the ass.” Her husband set her warmed up breakfast down in front of her. Danielle dug into the eggs and her coffee first.\n\n“I wasn’t complaining, honey. Ooh! Could you-?” Todd’s shoulders and jaw dropped as his eyes flared wide. \n\n“Again?”, he asked incredulously. “What’s with you this morn- Oh, the sugar, right?” Dani nodded carefully but even as she took the sugar from him, he could see something working in her eyes. He sighed and pushed his plate aside but his underwear resembled a small tent as she got up, dropped her panties and bent over the dinettte table, grabbing hard onto the edge. \n\n“Gimme some more of that sugar, stud!” Todd sighed but got up behind her with a broad grin on his snout. \n\n[b]Theodore Reeves residence, Eastlake neighborhood, Gammorah Bay outskirts – later morning[/b]\n\nMrs. Gretchen Reeves sat on the king bed, her legs doubled up and hugged tightly to her chest, a pose that her husband knew meant the german shepherd was deeply conflicted about something. The stallion settled on the bed next to her and wrapped a comforting arm around his wife.\n\n“Huh-how can I face them, eh-especially today?”, she stammered, tears streaking her muzzle and ears folded back tightly against her head. “It was muh-my daughter-“\n\n“Our daughter, honey. And how many times has Bombshe- uh, Karyn blamed you in the past 12 years? How much have any of them?” He hugged his wife tightly with his muscular arms. “You know they’re a remarkable and forgiving people. They never held anything against you, me, my brother and sister & brother-in-law after we turned ourselves in. They all made sure we had light sentences so we could start making lives better for others. Agent Buckminster was even kind enough to get us settled into new lives and routines of our own. You don’t do that for someone you blame for the city’s biggest disaster in recorded history and you remember how many of the runner ups on that list that we were directly responsible for.” Gretchen sighed heavily but she knew her husband was right. He always did like to tackle problems head on, even the ones with their daughter. It was a shame she had inherited both of her parents’ stubborn streak.\n\n“Do you want one of your medications? It might help.”, Theo asked softly. She lifted her head, always a good sign.\n\n“No.” She shook her head for emphasis. “No, I’ll get through today without them. And hopefully tomorrow too.” The horse smiled. There was the woman he’d known when they first met, minus the misanthropic streak she’d carried as an enormous chip on her shoulder. \n\n“It’ll be what the shrinks call ‘closure’ these days. Funny, I think we used to call it ‘begging forgiveness, burying the hatchet and letting bygones be bygones’. C’mon honey, get dressed so we can get going.”\n\n“Why so early?”\n\n“I want to stop at a floral shop. I’m sure she’ll be there. You know what’s in the museum and how she’ll probably take it. And her daughter is going to be sworn in as a new city attorney. I know it won’t be much but Chester says every little bit helps in dealing with grief.” Gretchen got up and hugged her stud.\n\n“You’re so thoughtful, honey. If only Eva and Greta had inherited that from you.” Theodore hugged his wife tightly again.\n\n“I’m sorry, dear, but I’m afraid they might have inherited something else.” He sighed heavily and it was her turn to hug him. Both of them knew that of the Four Horsemen, he’d been War.\n\n[b]Dharken family car, in transit along Kirby Boulevard, Gammorah Bay – late morning[/b]\n\n“I’m sorry about the table again. I thought it was sturdier than that.”\n\n“It was. But it doesn’t matter. You really deserve a nice big breakfast and the place over at Stanley Plaza is just the spot. My treat.” Danielle wanted to press the point about how odd it was the table had broken apart but decided to let the matter go for now. She leafed through the Gammorah Bay Epoch, the city’s newspaper, and skipped over the numerous articles about the significance of the day. Dani focused on a couple of unusual articles from around the country. \n\n“Listen to this, honey, this article is about a boy who claims a big red dinosaur rescued him from an apartment fire in a city further down the coast. And here’s another claim by a girl that a big red dragon held up the bridge she and her family were on so they could get off when the bridge threatened to collapse. Engineers say it looks like parts of the bridge were melted to keep them together until the bridge can be repaired.”\n\n“Hmm, interesting. The things kids think of.” Todd smiled but he did that furtive rapid eye flicking that usually meant he knew more about it than he was letting on. If she asked, he would just say he was trying to keep a careful eye out for traffic, so she let the matter go.\n\n“Oh damn!”, Todd exclaimed suddenly, then tapped his bluetooth set. “Call parents.” He paused waiting for either his dad to answer or the machine to pick up. To his surprise his dad actually answered. “Hey dad, just reminding you that the dedication is in a couple of hours. Dani and I would love if you and mom wo- What? What the hell do you mean you’re not going to-? Well I know Tori’s not going to be there but she’s off to who knows where right now. Toni’ll be there. I know she’s a teacher and it’s like her job to go on field trips and all that. Hey, you’re just sitting on your old butt there at your old broken down tract home. Yeah, I know I live in a tract home too but it’s newer, nicer tract home on the cliff side of the city, not the east plains. Oh hey, you know it was Tori that put that hole in the wa-Oh! THAT hole…okay, yeah I’ll admit to that one but it wasn’t entirely my fault. Mom’s genetics had something to do with it too! Yeah, fine don’t believe me but all of that has nothing to do with today! Wha-hey!” Danielle pulled the earpiece from her husband and tapped it onto her own usually hidden ear.\n\n“Hi Jared! Would you and Amanda be a couple of dears and come to the dedication? Mom will be there and I know she’d dearly love to see you both again. So would Althea. Great! See you then, Dad! My love to Mom!” Danielle grinned triumphantly as she handed the earpiece back to Todd. He barely even noticed.\n\n“Ho-how do you do that?”, he asked incredulously. “Seriously, you have to tell me your secret. I can’t even get my dad to agree that it’s daytime right now much less get him to do something I’d like him to do that he’d probably do anyway under normal circumstances.” Danielle’s grin managed to grow a bit larger.\n\n“Sorry, honey, it’s a talent.”\n\n[b]Adams-Tyler apartment, Bridgeport district, Gammorah Bay – late morning[/b]\n\n“Come on, Jess. It’s part of your hometown history. Don’t you want to be able to say you were there when the museum opened?”, the rattlesnake pressed her companion.\n\n“Hometown history!”, the gryphon snorted. “The only thing I want out of this burg is my money after I’m done blowing or screwing these mediocre to lame fucks.” \n\n“Now, dear, don’t be crude.” Jolene soothed her girlfriend’s feathers. “And not all of them are mediocre. How about that nice dragon that hires us to pose for his sketching?” \n\n“But that’s all he does.” Jess worked her hand between her legs as if it work off some not so secret frustration. “Just once, well more than once, I’d love to jump those dragon bones.” She purred and growled at the same time, a noise that Jolene didn’t know how she made but loved how it came out. \n\n“But he’s married…” The snake waggled her index finger at the gryphon in mock shame.\n\n“Pfft! I’d say half if not more of our clientele is married and that goes for the women too.”, Jesse cackled. The rattlesnake just shook her head and tried to focus her companion back to the topic at hand. \n\n“We’re going to miss things if we don’t get going.” The gryphon waved dismissively. \n\n“Why don’t you just go since you want to go so bad?”\n\n“I want us to go.”, Jolene added calmly. “Your father was a police officer. It think this will help you work through those feelings.” \n\n“Yeah, he was! And this city forgot him and what he did! Forgot this whole damn neighborhood. Probably so they could build that damn museum…” The rattlesnake stroked her girlfriend’s back and neck soothingly. She knew this would calm the gryphon considerably. “Mmm, you are so good at that, damn you. Oookay, I’ll go-“ Jo hugged Jess from behind and gave her cheek a kiss. They didn’t call the snake Charmer for nothing.\n\n[b]Gammorah Bay hero museum and memorial participants’ parking gate, Adams Drive, Gammorah Bay – mid-day[/b]\n\n“When Mrs. Dharken and her husband arrive, bring them to me right away. Whatever I’m doing interrupt it. I have something important I need to tell her before the dedication starts.”, the mayor instructed the guards at the gate to the participants’ parking area. She probably should have done this earlier but there would be no good time to tell Danielle what the pronghorn had to say. She had concluded it would probably be easier to show her and that time would be best just before the dedication. It meant cutting a few things fine time-wise but that was something the pronghorn was quite used to under far more dire circumstances than these.\n\n“Okay, Eliza, how about we go over the schedule one more time?” The cockatiel perked up and had her clipboard at the ready. \n\n“In an hour, we start with the bands so music will be playing as the people attending take their seats. We’re expecting more than we have chairs and bleachers for though so I have a plan for some gym mats to be put down for sitting areas on either side of the seating. Don’t worry boss, the music will be appropriate. I checked it all myself.” Dakota chuckled. If Eliza had checked the music, then it would definitely be appropriate. She was still a legend for finding the most innocuous, soothing muzak ever to play in all of the city offices. Complaints at the Department of Motor Vehicles had fallen off considerable since those offices used playlists she’d suggested.\n\n“An hour after that, we start with your stirring speech dedicating the museum, followed by a longer, far windier one by the editor of the Gammorah Bay Epoch and an even longer, windier filibuster by Senator Whatshisname from D.C. Once everyone is asleep or otherwise bored senseless, then we’ll wake them up with some more stirring music and introduce and swear in the new officers, lawyers with the district attorneys offices and the couple of judges here today. Once all of them have been named, then we officially open the museum first to the honored guests then everyone else who wants to see it. Finally, we lead whoever’s left in the candlelight walk out to Ferris Island and the nondenominational remembrance prayer for those who were lost that day and those left scarred by it.”\n\n“Those left scarred by it…”, Dakota repeated softly. The pronghorn was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t notice Eliza had put an arm around her shoulders until the cockatiel was shaking her. “Wha- What? “\n\n“You were gone for like five minutes there, boss. You sure you’re going to be okay today? Some of your old friends are bound to be in the crowd today. And some of the others.” Eliza looked pointedly at the pronghorn to see if any of her words were sinking in. “Maybe you should consider taking something just to get through.” \n\n“NO!” Dakota pushed forcefully away from the cockatiel. She turned back, putting a comforting hand on her deputy. “No, El, I’ll make it and without any of the bloody pills. I never want to go down that road again. As for the company, I’ll welcome the friends. The others better not dare show their faces!” A hardness in the pronghorn’s eyes and the darkness in her tone of that last sentence sent a shiver up Eliza’s spine. Dakota noticed the change in the cockatiel’s demeanor and thought it might be a good idea if Eliza had some more cheerful company for a while.\n\n“Sorry, El. Why don’t you go see about Senator Whatshisname. Maybe we’ll all get lucky and he won’t show so we can open the museum early and give everyone a good chance to see it all.” Eliza didn’t like seeing Dakota head off by herself so soon after an episode but she understood the pronghorn’s need for personal time and space too. The cockatiel hoped the Dharkens would show soon. As if on cue, a familiar car rolled up.\n\n“I told you we’d be here in plenty of time, honey.” Todd grinned as he pulled into the gate for the lot. He leaned out the window to the guard at the gate. “Danielle Dharken and husband. Where should I park?”\n\n“Well it’s about time. What the hell have you two been doing all day? Probably screwing around.” Dakota cut off the guard’s reply. Both Dharkens were a bit surprised but figured the pronghorn was probably reacting to the multiple stresses of the day and the reasons they were all here. “Sorry.”, she apologized though her voice was still terse. “Please park over there. There’s something I have to tell Danielle before the dedication.” Dani and Todd looked at each other with more than a little concern for their friend and what she might have to say.\n\n“Do you think she overheard us the other night?”, Danielle wondered aloud. \n\n“I don’t think so. It’s something she wants to tell you specifically. Maybe it’s something she wants to do during the ceremony when you’re made an official lawyer.”\n\n“I wonder. Whatever it is, she seems rather nervous about it.”\n\n“If you had as much to plan as she has around a day that most people don’t want to be reminded of, you’d probably be nervous too. And she was practically right there. I think she feels guilty she didn’t do more. And she feels it most around you and Karyn. Don’t worry, she’ll understand when she knows what you have to do.” Dani sat quietly pondering her husband’s words as the car came to a stop. Dakota wasn’t the most patient person when there was something she wanted but it had been quite a while since the rhoanthekan and her mother had been out to see her father together.\n\n“If you’ll follow me.” Dakota gestured around the bay side of the museum. From above it resembled a triangle with rounded corners and convex sides. It was built with one of the curved sides running parallel to Memorial Cove and the entrance side facing north-northwest. All the events and crowds were on the west side of the building leaving the east pretty much empty. Right now that suited Danielle just fine and would probably get her to Karyn and the bridge out to Ferris Island that much sooner. To the young rhoanthekan, it almost felt like she was trying to rush the visit and get it over with but she was a part of the museum’s opening ceremony. There would be time for a longer visit later today.\n\n“I’m sorry Dakota but there’s someone I really need to see first.”, Dani said when they got to the side of the museum. Further north along the walkway, someone was already standing at the bridge. The pronghorn didn’t need to look closely to know who it was.\n\n“I guess there’s still time. If I need to, I’ll hold them off for minutes. You know public events rarely start on time.” Dakota gave the rhoanthekan woman a hug. “Say hi to him for me, honey.” Todd offered his elbow to his wife and Danielle slipped her hand around it. The gesture might have seemed old fashioned to most their age but it’s something Dani loved about her husband. Karyn was facing the island as they walked up to her. Todd offered his other elbow to his mother-in-law until he noticed she’d been crying. He wrapped his arm around the older rhoanthekan’s shoulders and quietly they all walked on the foot path side of the bridge over the waters of Memorial Cove to Ferris Island. It was a long walk but it didn’t seem right to take one of the trams that operated on the road side. No one spoke a word and the breeze coming off the bay obscured the noise behind them so all they heard were some sea birds and cove’s waters. \n\nOnly when they got to the island side of the bridge did Karyn look at her daughter and son-in-law. She wiped her tears and smiled, hugging them both. Dani really looked at her mother for the first time today too. She always appeared ageless, like mother and daughter could be sisters, but today Karyn seemed to look her age, maybe older and Dani realized it was the weight of grief. \n\n“You look so lovely. You both do.”, Karyn spoke up finally breaking the quiet of the island. “I mean you look handsome, Todd. You really ought to wear a suit and tie more often.”, she teased, knowing the red rhoanthekan hated being confined in formal wear especially ties. “Now you both just stand there together like the great couple you are.” Danielle rolled her eyes.\n\n“You’re not going to drag that old manual focus fossil out now, are you? Can you even still find film for it?” Kayrn stuck her tongue out and removed something about the size of a credit card from her small purse. \n\n“For your information, Allie upgraded me for my last birthday. 10.1 megapixels, image stabilization, 10X zoom, panorama pictures, all those things you kids get to do with cameras these days. Smile!” She snapped a few pictures then Todd held out his hand to Karyn for the camera and motioned his mother-in-law to stand next to her daughter. He got a few more of them together and handed the camera back to Karyn. \n\n“Nice camera, mom! Allie has some good taste in electronics.” Another red hand intercepted the camera. \n\n“Thanks Todd.” Althea pushed him to stand behind the other two ladies so she could take all of their pictures. After snapping a few more, she confessed, “Actually it was Katie who really did the research and suggested it in the first place. And she’s holding our place in line too. And she told me I should probably come out here to be here for you.”\n\n“Fifteen years after retiring and she’s still The Director.” Karyn chuckled. Allie wrapped her arm around her girlfriend.\n\n“It’s good to see you chuckle, honey, especially today.” Allie gave Karyn a hug and picked up the flowers Katie had sent her with. “Let’s go say hi to Bernie.” The quartet headed to the gates of the memorial cemetery that was the heart and majority of Ferris Island. They passed rows of markers, sober reminders of the families and friends who lost others as well.\n\nAt the center stood a large granite pylon capped with a bowed dragon. Etched letters on one side read, “In Loving Memory & Eternal Gratitude – Bernard Ferris 1969 – 2001 – Husband – Father – HERO”. Everyone stopped before setting foot on the large square of carefully manicured grass that surrounded the marker. Todd and Allie took a seat on one of the benches at the perimeter. Danielle held back as Karyn went ahead for a couple of minutes by herself.\n\n“Honey-”, she the older began softly. She’d never been comfortable talking like this because she could never be sure she wasn’t talking to herself. Every single time though, she remembered someone saying something about having faith - sometimes it was in her grandmother’s voice, sometimes in Bernard’s and then it was as if he were there. She wasn’t sure if he was a desperate hallucination or if he actually was somehow. These past few times, she didn’t care and was happy just to see him again. “Hi honey. Take a look over there-“ She pointed back in Danielle’s direction. “-That’s our daughter, all ready to become a new attorney for the city. Remember how she really wanted to be a police officer, just like her father? I know I say this every single time but I’m sorry, I just couldn’t let her. I do wish you could see her – see the wonderful couple she and Todd make together. They remind me so much of us. I’m so proud of her. You would be too.” Karyn laid the flowers down by the marker, the only physical thing she had left of her husband besides the daughter they had made together. Like so many victims of that day, there hadn’t been a body left to bury. Not even ash. “I miss you so much!”\n\nDanielle walked over slowly and knelt beside her mother. She put one hand on Karyn’s shoulder and the other brushed the letters of her father’s name. Like her mother, she was never quite sure what to say. Sometimes she did and she’d come out here by herself to tell him. This time, this day, she couldn’t bring herself to say anything. She’d only been 11 that last morning that she saw him. It was the last time he called her his little spitfire and he headed out the door while she went to school. Later, school was cancelled and most people came to get their kids. Some of the kids were taken to a room away from the others and old people talked to them about people going to heaven and crying and what all she couldn’t remember now. What she did remember was her dad not coming home that night or any other night since, no matter how much she wanted him to. Tears were already streaming down her cheeks when she looked at Karyn. Mother embraced daughter and they cried together for a while, then stood and returned to their respective mates who had sympathetic hugs waiting for the grieving pair.\n\nThey headed back along the bridge to the museum and the crowds and noise. Danielle and Karyn trailed behind Todd and Althea. \n\n“After all of this time, I’ve been meaning to ask you if you’ve ever resented me for being with someone else besides your father.” \n\n“Hah, that’d be like the pot calling the kettle black, considering the relationship Todd and I have with Dakota. Why? Are you unhappy that we have an open marriage understanding that includes both of us having the same girlfriend?”\n\n“No but then she’s not taking a personal place in your life that was your father’s either.” \n\n“I think you and Allie and Katie are great for each other. They’ve certainly kept you from moping about an empty home day after day. And if dad were still alive, he’d love the idea of you being with that big, voluptuous woman. I may have been young, but I knew the kind of quiet pervert my dad was. Why do you think I married the quiet pervert I did?” That one got a laugh out of Karyn and a puzzled look from Todd who knew they had to be talking about him again.\n\nAt the end of the bridge, mom hugged daughter again and talked about getting back together after the ceremony was over. Allie and Karyn went to find Katie still holding their place in the line waiting for the seating. Todd and Danielle turned back down the bayside of the museum where they could see Dakota uncharacteristically waiting patiently.\n\n[b]Gammorah Bay hero museum and memorial VIP attendees queue, Adams Drive, Gammorah Bay – mid-day[/b]\n\n“I still can’t believe you talked us into wearing them under our clothes.”, Allie muttered, fidgeting with her blouse again much to the delight of several men and a few women in line with she and her two other companions. Karyn was having a slight easier time of it despite having to hide a cape in her dress as well. \n\n“Well excuse me but I was tired of hearing you two go back and forth about what to wear after you put them on again while I was in the shower.”, Katie hissed. “I told you to put on something looser over the top. See? Karyn listened.” The gryphon pointed at the blue rhoanthekan who was trying to focus her attention on something other than her bickering companions. She loved them but didn’t love it when they sniped back and forth at each other. For being the original pair of lovers in this trio, they fought more than she thought ought to be normal for a couple. Until she remembered some of the battles she’d had with Bernard.\n\n“Hey, isn’t that your niece, Katie?”, Karyn interrupted the bickering, pointing to the area with the mats for those not assigned seating. Katie focused in the indicated direction, spotting Jesse with her rattlesnake girlfriend arranging a towel or blanket on a mat. Althea was about to yell when Katie stopped her. \n\n“We have ways of doing these things a bit easier these days.” The gryrphon pulled out her cell phone and hit one of the speed dial numbers. A ring tone sounded in the direction they’d been looking and the other gryphon answered her cell. Some directions were given but ultimately Allie being the tallest and most visible with her red skin had to wave her arms. The line had started moving as Jesse and Jolene caught up to Katie and the two other older women. They reached the man in charge of the list of assigned seats, an older police officer when Katie asked if her niece could join she and her girlfriends.\n\n“Ms. Jesse Adams? You’re already on the list. Before you sit down, I just want to say I knew your dad. He was a good officer and a good man. He stayed right there with his partner, Sergeant Ferris, right to the end and a lot of us on the force still miss him. If you ever need anything, just call the central station and mention your dad was Gary Adams. We’ll be happy to help you out.” Stunned by the outpouring, Jesse fumbled with a thank you and shook the horse officer’s hand.\n\n“Toldja.”, Jolene teased as they found their seats. “Are you happy you came now?” Katie fished a facial tissue out of her purse and handed it to Jesse to wipe the tears on her cheeks. The gryphon looked at her snake girlfriend and nodded, a contrite smile on her beak even as her eyes were tinged with sorrow. “By the way, the name of the street around this place is called Adams Drive. It’s named after your dad. I asked.” Jesse felt genuinely touched so many people thought so much of her father to name a street anywhere after him or to miss him as much as she did. She dried that last of her tears and felt the rest of the afternoon would be much better than she had thought it would.\n\nA few minutes later Jared and Amanda Dharken were standing in front of the horse officer and he pointed in the direction that Allie, Karyn and the others were sitting. Jared nodded and handed the officer a slip of paper. The horse looked at it a bit oddly as if he wasn’t sure what to make of it at first, then gasped, said something, nodding emphatically, and slipped it into his jacket pocket. The unusual pair made their way to their seats, watched by everyone who could see them. Jared would have been dressed appropriately for the occasion had it not been the silver jacket and larger mirrored aviator sunglasses he wore. He might have really stood out except for his presence of his taller wife and her fuchsia skin. Most eyes were drawn to her as if they were all trying to discover what qualities made her more sexy than any women they beheld. If asked Jared put it down to her animal magnetism with a chuckle that made it sound like a private joke between he and his wife. \n\n“Subtle as always Jared. Really subtle. Always the rock star. Did you actually tip the officer?” Althea’s voice dripped sarcasm but the green rhoanthekan let it slide off him. “Lovely to see you again, Amanda. It’s been too long”, she added with utmost sincerity to Mrs. Dharken.\n\n“And you too Allie. We really need to get together again under more casual circumstances.” Katie’s beak dropped open. \n\n“What? I told you she spoke.”, Karyn teased the gryphon. \n\n“It wasn’t a tip, Star- oh excuse me, Althea.” Jared’s voice had an edge to it at first, then it softened. “It was a donation to a scholarship for the children of police officers that are hurt or killed that I had set up in Bernard’s name. They had a couple more deserving candidates this year than they were expecting. Ms. Adams, I really wished you had accepted that first scholarship but I admire your determination to make your own way by your own means.” Jesse’s head feathers fluffed up, the gryphon equivalent of blushing, at being mentioned. “Nice to see your companion too. Ms. Tyler.” Jared nodded at the rattlesnake and Jolene flushed too. “Katie, you’re looking lovely today.” The older gryphon’s feathers fluffed just as her niece’s had done. “You too Allie.”\n\n“Oh Karyn-“ Jared knelt in front of the blue rhoanthekan lady, sliding his sunglasses up so he could look her in the eyes and took her hands in his as Amanda slid in for a moment beside her. He grinned but it was a strained, almost painful expression rather than happy and mirthful. Whatever words he might have prepared fled from him looking at her and he let out a deep sigh. “Bernie was my best friend. I loved him more than my own brothers. Just like the wedding, I’d give almost anything I have to give short of my wife and children to have him here today. He’d be so proud of Dani.” Karyn didn’t make a sound but tears streamed down her cheeks and Jared was futilely blinking his own away. Amanda hugged Karyn gently, giving her a kiss on her muzzle. The pair rose gracefully together and took their seats on the other side of Althea, Amanda sitting diplomatically between she and Jared. \n\nThe afternoon held one more surprise for Karyn and her circle of friends. Jared kept squinting looking in the direction of the horse officer. Finally he pointed.\n\n“Hey, isn’t that-?”\n\n“Well I’ll be. Gretchen and Theo Reeves.”, Althea finished as the pair cautiously approached the seats. The tall stallion carried a large bouquet of what appeared to be an assortment of different colored roses.\n\n“Gretchen. Theo. You’re both looking well.”, Karyn spoke up first, not wanting anyone else to create an incident. \n\n“I-I know we don’t have any right to intrude on you.”, Gretchen began, looking very much like she’d rather be elsewhere not having say these words but somehow knowing she must. “Especially today. We’re just so sorry about-about everything. You and your daughter’s loss-“ The shepherd trailed off unable to say any more. Theo shifted his armload of flowers and put a comforting hand on his wife’s shoulder. Karyn rose gracefully and gave the canine a hug. \n\n“Nothing can make that up especially not these flowers but we would like you to have them.”, Theodore continued for his wife. Karyn soothed the german shepherd until she regained control of herself, then accepted the flowers from the stallion leaning up to give him a kiss on the cheek as she took them. \n\n“Thank you both. That’s very thoughtful of you. I’m sorry for your loss too.” Gretchen looked about ready to cry again but held it back and nodded her thanks to the dragoness. “Would you care to sit with us? I think we can arrange for-“ Althea and Jared looked ready to say something when Theodore spoke up.\n\n“No thank you, ma’am. We have seats over in the ones reserved for the donators to the community. You ought to be real proud of your daughter.” \n\n“I am.” , Karyn smiled. And with that, the shepherd and stallion made their way to their own seats.\n\n“-‘re kidding me! THE Bitch and War from the 4 Horsemen?!”, Jesse exclaimed to Katie as Karyn sat down. “I thought they were still in prison!”\n\n“They were for a while but they served as model prisoners and on SOME of our recommendations,” Karen cast a pointed glare in Allie and Jared’s direction. “-they were released to join society as positively contributing members. She still teaches children how to play the piano. Her star pupil is a headliner in Las Vegas. Another prodigy of hers leads the philharmonic orchestra here in town. Theo oversees several non-profit organizations that he formed to help victims of violence, some around the world, others to keep kids off drugs and out of gangs and more to promote understanding and peace among those who feel they don’t have any other way open to them. It’s quite possible they’ve done more good than we ever did with all our powers or other good fortune.”\n\n“Hey, I think I learned martial arts in one of his centers.”, Jesse exclaimed, excited by the revelation. “I’ve used that to help some of the girls Jolene and I know.” The rattlesnake put on her best innocent face, not wanting the others to find out what she and Jesse really got up to, either job-related or their other activity they did on the streets. \n\n“Um, you mentioned their loss?”, Jolene asked, more curious than she felt she had right to be. “Who did they lose?” \n\n“Their daughter and granddaughter.”, Karyn answered softly. “They led the attack 12 years ago that sank the city under Memorial Cove around the island named after my husband where he, his partner – Jesse’s father, and 7,000 others died and thousands more were hurt.” The youngsters sat quietly trying to absorb the information that had been fact most of their lives but hadn’t seemed to hit so close to home until now. Jolene leaned over and hugged her gryphon\n\n“Definitely not what you expected when we talked about this morning, is it?”, the rattlesnake whispered to her lover. “I’m sorry honey.”\n\n“I’m not, love.”, Jesse smiled, mixed feelings evident in her eyes. “Mom always insisted he died in a shootout during a drug bust gone bad. I know she was trying to protect me but at least I know the truth.” Katie put her hand on her niece’s and gave it a supportive squeeze.\n\n“I could have told you but your mother made me promise not to.” Jesse gave her aunt a look that let her know she wasn’t mad or that she blamed Katie for anything. “I miss my brother so much.” Jesse gave her aunt a hug.\n\n“Geez, this is the biggest downer of a party.” More than a few pairs of eyes glared at Jared, who threw up his hands in defeat. “You ladies really are no fun.” The last earned the most withering glower from his wife. “Okay, I’ll be nice! Bloody cow.”, he uttered under his breath while crossing his arms, and knew he’d pay for that one later back at home.\n\n[b]Rooftop west of the museum grounds, Central City district, Gammorah Bay – after mid-day[/b]\n\n“I’m in position now. Looks like your intel was correct, sir, though I don’t see their entire force. They must be using multiple structures.” The buck crept carefully from window to window trying to assess the full strength of the well-armed troops inside. “ They appear to have come in some hours ago from the sewer system leading out into the cove or bay itself.” \n\n“That indicates they may have several operatives in the city’s sanitation department. Just like I feared.”, a voice responded from the tiny speaker in the buck’s ear. \n\n“There seem to be more than I can handle, sir. I only brought a few weapons with me for the operation since you felt stealth was more necessary.”\n\n“Hah! Son, I know you have enough with you to be the envy of many gun stores. Don’t worry about handling those troops. There are others there today that’ll deal with that. You have a very specific mission.” The heavily armed deer stopped. He flipped his wrist carefully, looking in a small polarized mirror to see behind him. Sure enough, he had picked up a tail. They were still moving as if they were unaware he’d spotted them.\n\n“I’ve been made, sir. Not a random patrol or lookout. They knew I’d be here.”\n\n“Shit! We have a mole.”\n\n“Yes, sir. Orders?”\n\n“Objective one accomplished. Evade capture at all costs. Help the others as best you can. If the opportunity presents itself, then proceed with objective two but not at the expense of yours or any civilian’s safety. And if you see your mother, tell her I said hello. Good luck, Buckshot.”\n\n“Will do, father.” And the buck was gone, first to deal with his “tail” then hopefully to even the odds facing the others at the museum. A couple thousand miles away, the older deer slammed a metallic fist into his desk, heavily cracking it. He’d have to implement the plan he’d come up with to find and deal with the mole before he could proceed with anything else, except perhaps to worry for his son, the boy’s mother and their friends and colleagues in the middle of this mess.\n\n[b]Gammorah Bay heroes museum side entrance, Gammorah Bay – after mid-day[/b]\n\n“I really should have showed you this before today, honey.”, Dakota explained to Danielle as Todd trailed after the two women. \n\n“Wait, Dakota. Are you okay?” Dani put a comforting hand on the pronghorn’s shoulder. Todd moved up to put his hand on Dakota’s other shoulder.\n\n“I appreciate your support but this isn’t about any of that. And no, I’m not okay but I think telling you about this will help that.” \n\n“Uh, maybe we ought to go with ours first.”, Todd suggested looking at Dani with a great deal of concern for what the pronghorn felt she had to say. \n\n“No, let her go first, dear.” Now it was Dakota’s turn to look at the pair and whatever secret they might be waiting to tell her. \n\nThe whole exchange among the trio didn’t go unnoticed. Though they couldn’t hear what was being said, competing photojournalists Gregory “SnapDragon” Pierson and Denise “Shutterbug” Wachs could tell it was something major. The Asiatic dragon snapped off a few photos.\n\n“Stop wasting your shots. Everyone knows the mayor and those two are playpals. It’s not news.”, the honey bee buzzed her wings in annoyance as one of her smaller arms waved the notion away dismissively. \n\n“That’s the beauty of digital and having a ton of SD cards. And that’s what they said about the Lewinkski photo.” \n\n“That was on film, jackass. And it’s not news unless something violent starts happening.” Greg snapped a few more images just to piss off the insect girl. “Okay fine!” Denise snapped her own shot, just as the sidewalk she was taking a photo of erupted in a spray of concrete, dirt and landscaping. Reflexes took over as the debris showered down on the pair and they kept snapping pictures of the crater near where the three people had been standing moments ago. Microchips recorded the devastation – the huge hole in the side of the museum, the body of Mayor Jackson hopefully only stunned by the explosion. Dakota moved a bit to rub the side of her head but was still dazed. \n\nBefore either journalist could move to check on her, a whooshing noise over the water to their east drew their attention. The craft that launched the attack had risen out of the cove and was wobbling unsteadily as if something had hit it. Metal crunched and the canopy wrenched away from the vehicle, appearing to be flung into the water of the cove. The vehicle’s controls erupted in explosions of sparks and debris as the pilot and crew frantically tried to avoid getting hit by both. The craft lurched and pitched into the cove, leaving those manning it to swim for their lives. A wind passed over the journalists and a tremendous thud indicated something big had landed but neither could quite make out what it was. Turning her head to look at the thing indirectly, Denise thought her compound eyes made out the shape of a very big, very long creature. Its tail was still above them and it’s wingspan seemed to be that of a large jet. Other explosions to the west drew her attention. Gregory was already snapping as a couple of warehouses were obliterated in an instant. \n\nThe first explosion had stunned the gathered crowd. The second panicked them. Althea pushed Jared and Amanda in the direction of Theo and Gretchen directing the pair to watch over and protect them. Jesse had already launched herself out of the seats and at the horse officer that had been directing the VIP crowd. She knocked him down just as some projectile whistled through the air where his head had been. In a single fluid motion, she whipped the policeman’s baton out of his belt and swung it at another craft that had appeared from the north. The baton jammed up one of the two rotors keeping the craft aloft and it pitched in the direction of the cove to splash very near the first. Jesse helped the officer up and together they helped Jolene calm and direct the crowd away from the seating area. \n\nAs another craft appeared, Allie shouted to Karyn who pulled her dress off, revealing a costume that hadn’t been seen in public for 12 years. Though she lacked the trademark fingerless gloves, the blue rhoanthekan slammed a fist into her open hand and sent the resulting energy into the craft. It wobbled and Karyn hit it with another blast, knocking the craft down. She felt a smack at her elbow and whirled to find Katie handing her a mask. Karyn took it and tied it on as she bounded over now empty seats to the downed vehicle. Allie watched her go, thinking how Bombshell was back and looking good. A tap on her elbow revealed Katie handing her a pair of goggles.\n\n“I couldn’t fit the helmet without bringing a backpack.” Althea chuckled, donned the goggles and shed her own clothing for the costume underneath. Like Karyn’s, it hadn’t seen use in some years either. She’d feel a bit naked without the helmet but that wasn’t about to stop her from getting a few licks in during this battle. The draconid pushed seats and jumped over more to follow her lover.\n\nCalculating eyes scanned the battle from far above. The opening gambit had been launched. As expected, the deer had taken the diversion at the warehouses and dealt with it explosively. That and the other losses had been factored into the operation’s planning, though the canid hadn’t expected those losses to mount as quickly as they had. The loss of the first craft was particularly troubling. \n\n“Colonel-“ She turned to the uniformed elk. “-phase two!”, she barked and raised a metal fist. The hard unyielding surface gave off a high pitched squeal as powerful miniature servos brought the replacement digits together. “Now is they time they know who they’re really dealing with.” Once again the elk saluted stiffly but his leader could see triumphant delight in his eyes.\n\n“I said, ‘let’s bring them’ and you asked, ‘why would anyone need Harlot and Charmer’ The gryphon caught one of the attackers in the midsection with a kick and another with a boot to the groin. \n\n“Okay, okay, so we’ll know better for next time.”, the rattlesnake replied amiably but her fangs were showing, meaning she was losing patience with the unreasonable nature of the attacker she was dealing with. Finally reaching her limit, the snake struck and the attacker crumpled to the ground with a scream. Jesse checked and the fangs weren’t dripping. Given the ferocity the overly zealous assholes were showing, the gryphon thought it was a shame that Jolene hadn’t injected even a little venom.\n\nOver at the aircraft Karyn had downed, she and Allie were putting the finishing touches on mopping of the craft’s crew. The shockwave from another fist slam put those that remained on their feet flat on their backs.\n\n“Just like the old days, hon- I mean, Star.” Star Power winked, slamming an elbow into an unfortunate trooper who thought he could sneak up on the heroine. \n\n“Not quite, Bombshell. I’m definitely going to need some quality time with the hot tub tonight before bed.” The draconid’s smile faded quickly as she looked around. Massive hovering troop carriers had appeared, flanked by more flying craft. One larger, rather ominous looking craft dropped low over the area, emblazoned with a familiar sigil that made Star’s mouth go dry with fear. \n\n“My god, Greta?”, a voice gasped behind Star as the attack’s mastermind appeared at the bow of the craft and she turned to see Gretchen with her hands over her snout, staring in horrified amazement as Theo held her, just as horrified.\n\n“Hello Gammorah Bay! Did you miss me? How about my mother? I’ve dreamed of nothing but this for 12 years! Today is the day of the Neo-Bitch and my glorious New Reich!!”, the cyborg golden shepherd called out to those trembling below.\n\n“Oh shit!”, Jared uttered in the silence that followed the pronouncement.\n\n[b]Gammorah Bay hero museum main hall, Gammorah Bay – mid-afternoon[/b]\n\nDanielle roused, wondering if last night’s partying and this morning’s romps had caught up with her or if the caffeine from breakfast had worn off. She shoved what felt like cardboard and tissue paper off of her only to find that it was steel beams and high grade sheetrock. She brushed off bits of glass and looked about for scratches. The lower part of her jacket and shirt underneath was burned or torn off but she was other wise undamaged. Then she remembered the impact and having the wind knocked out of her. Placing her hand against the nearest wall to steady herself, she was surprised to see a familiar emblem on it. Suddenly the explosion, the craft, the emblem on its side – she remembered it all.\n\nThen she noticed she was in the central hall of the museum itself. The emblem was part of the exhibit dedicated to that day 12 years ago, the day her father had died. Then she noticed the statue that dominated the center of the museum. Bernard Ferris, her father, stood above her frozen in the last moment known of his life beyond the devastation that had claimed it, immortalized in a marble statue based on the famous photograph, his uniform tattered but his expression resolute. The people that had taken him from her were back to take the rest. She could hear them outside, some were already boasting they’d won, then she heard the woman’s voice. Rage filled Dani. Her mother had wanted her to be a lawyer so Dani could still contribute to protecting others but not be in harm’s way. Now Dani had the means, the power to do so much more. She could feel it. She turned to the hole that her body had torn in the side of the museum, the same resolute expression on her face as the statue that stood behind her as she walked out to finally face the bastards that had changed her young life forever.\n\nAs Dani stepped out of the museum, she spotted Dakota and leaned down to the mayor. The pronghorn was still dazed from the initial explosion. Dakota blinked up at the rhoanthekan and tried to form words.\n\n“Easy honey. I’ll be back. I just need to take out the trash first.” \n\n“Danielle? Th-the patches- what? Dani, wait-!”\n\n“I can’t. Believe me, Dakota, I have the power now. I can do something about this.” The rhoanthekan picked up a chunk of concrete and crushed it as easily as if it had been paper. Dakota made a grab for her but the rhoanthekan was already standing upright and the black tarp stuck to her back was still there.\n\nDanielle was so focused on her goal, she paid little attention to the pair of photojournalists trying to hide among the debris of the first blast all while trying to photograph what they could of the imminent defeat. Seeing motion out of the corner of his eye, SnapDragon turned and snapped a picture of Dani as she was surveying the scene. \n\n“Ohhhho! This is so getting me the Pulitzer!”, the dragon boasted as he looked at the picture he’d taken. Denise put a couple of arms on his.\n\n“NO! Don’t you dare turn that in!”, she shouted as loud as she felt she could. “But don’t erase it. This is history and everyone will want to see this moment someday, but not now, not for a while.” \n\n“Why are you so damn sensible?” The eastern dragon shook his head. “I love that about you.” All the bee could do was look back at Gregory in shock he’d actually said those words. Before she could think of something to say, Danielle was on the move. \n\nThe enraged rhoanthekan was a maroon, white and black blur as she hit the first troop carrier she targeted. The explosion from its destruction knocked the troopers around it to the ground where Danielle, still at super-speed, made sure none of them would be getting up for a while. Another troop carrier mysteriously flattened as if a huge weight had crushed it. The scurrying troops around it were then scattered by an invisible giant hand. The maroon and black streak shredded another carrier to pieces around the troopers exiting it, depositing them in a heap of unconscious forms. One of the flying craft was bashed into another sending both careening to the ground. The maroon streak smashed through the few tanks that had managed to deploy from the carriers before they were trashed as something picked up the last carrier and shook it like a dog might shake a favorite chew toy. \n\n“NO!!!!”, Neo-Bitch snarled, watching her operation coming undone. She grabbed a rocket launcher from one of the troopers standing with her and fired it at the accursed heroes she could see below. “NO!! Damn you!!” The maroon streak intercepted the projectile and rose to face the antagonistic shepherd. The streak resolved itself into a women but not with enough detail that Neo-Bitch could make out anything distinguishing about her in the smoke and haze of the battle that had raged. The canine could sense rather than see the rage that radiated from the woman, who effortlessly smashed the rocket in her hands and contained the blast with her own body. “DAMN YOU!!!”, Neo-Bitch spat at the woman.\n\n“Oh no, [b]FUCK YOU!![/b]”, the woman snarled back. The uniformed elk grabbed Neo-Bitch from behind and pulled her into the ship with him, just as the woman struck the vessel with a fist travelling so fast it could barely be seen. The punch sent the ship rocketing from the scene in the direction of the sea and in a few moments it was a speck in the distance before vanishing all together. Floating in midair, Danielle turned back to the scene below. Some in the crowd began applauding. Her own mother saluted Dani. She doubted Karyn would be saluting if she could see who had really done all of this. She also noted that the police were rounding up and dealing with the troopers. With her job done, the rhoanthekan dashed off at high-speed.\n\nShe doubled back when she felt she was sufficiently out of sight and came in from the south where it seemed the troopers had ignored and dashed back inside the museum. Finally noticing the tarp, she tugged it off, then tore her clothing a bit more until she was dressed in little more than rags and her underwear. She dusted herself with dust and small bits of debris, then made her grand exit, adding a couple of coughs for good measure. \n\nOutside, medics were examining Dakota who was trying to wave them off. Strong hands took hold of her from behind. She turned to find Todd who was trying to help her down to the ground from the column they were standing on.\n\n“There you are!”, he shouted once they were both down and he gave her a big hug. “I was so afraid that you were…”, he didn’t finish the thought but it made Dani think that under normal circumstances, she very well could have been severely injured or killed. \n\n“I need to talk to you when these ruffians are done.”, Dakota called from the stretcher. More than one medic glared at her for a moment before going back to taking her vitals. Some approached Danielle and she showed them that aside from her shredded clothing, she was fine. One handed her a blanket to cover up with. Just then Eliza dashed up the walk from around the back of the museum. \n\n“Ohmigosh! I just heard everything on the police radio! Dakota, are you okay? Does this mean I’m in charge?” The young cockatiel looked on the verge of hyperventilating, then stopped and composed herself. In an instant, she looked like she could handle anything, then started issuing orders on where the mayor should be taken, what sort of security arrangements she should have, and getting a press conference organized to be held in a couple of hours. \n\n[b]senior Dharken household living room, Gilded Flats housing development, Gammorah Bay outskirts – evening[/b]\n\n“Nnngh! You always were a pain in the ass, Theo.”, Jared grumbled. Despite the rhoanthekan’s protest, the stallion pressed forward. He’d loved fucking the dragon in their more adversarial days. \n\n“C’mon, you love it and you know it.”, Theo teased, knowing full well it was true. Jared pushed back trying to get more of the stud inside of him. He looked over on the sofa to see Gretchen lying spread over his wife’s quadruped dragon form. Amanda’s flesh flushed brightly as her fuchsia tail pressed further into the shepherd’s vagina. Jared grunted loudly as Theo pushed the last of his length into the rhoanthekan. He looked about ready to say something again when Amanda rumbled something.\n\n“Yes dear, I know Star told us to keep an eye on these two but I don’t think this is what she had in mind.” Theo bucked out then in and did so several times, making Jared whimper in delight. Amanda rumbled again. “Yes, dear, this way is more fun.”, the rhoanthekan added before the german shepherd cried out in orgasm.\n\n[b]Dar-Ferris-Jefferson residence living room, Headland Heights, Gammorah Bay – evening[/b]\n\n“I don’t know but I’m pretty sure she was familiar, though not someone from the old days.”, Karyn explained, still very much trying to figure out the mystery of the flying woman at the museum.\n\n“No one I knew for sure, not with that power.”, Allie added. “The only one I can remember that could do anything like that was Bernard. But not nearly that powerful.” \n\n“Gah, I should know!” \n\n“Well you aren’t going to figure it out tonight, ‘Sherlock’. And you ladies might as well stay here for the night.”, the draconid added to Jesse and Jolene. “Even from here you can still see the mess of investigators cars all over midtown. It’d be hours more before you got back home. We have a lovely guest room that barely gets used. You two are welcome to break in that mattress.” Allie winked fluffing Jesse’s feathers up and bringing a nervous grin to the rattlesnake’s face. “Make yourselves at home and stay up as long as you like. I’m gonna take ‘Holmes’ and ‘Watson’ to bed but we’ll try to keep it down.” After the trio retreated to the bedroom, the gryphon looked back at Jolene with a wicked grin. \n\n“How about he try to outdo them?” Though she’d never verbally admit to it, Jolene liked that idea and the pair headed to the guest room to raise a little ruckus of their own.\n\n[b]Gammorah Bay central police station rooftop , City Central district, Gammorah Bay – late evening[/b]\n\n“Buckshot here, sir. The prisoners have been processed and are in interrogation right now. None of them are saying anything about the mole yet.’\n\n“I don’t suspect they will, son. None of those caught probably have the slightest idea where their information comes from. Wrap it up for the night and get some rest. I might have a lead on the trajectory of the main craft by tomorrow.” \n\n“Sir?”\n\n“Yes, Buck?”\n\n“How did you know about what would happen today at the museum? That the powers would intervene?” \n\n“Truth be told, I’m still surprised at what you reported back. No one I knew had that kind of power, not even officer Ferris. Someone new is in the game. For now, let’s be glad they were on our side.” \n\n“Thank you, sir. I didn’t say anything to mother. Too many eyes. Goodnight father.”\n\n“ I thought so. Goodnight Buck. Be in touch soon.”\n\n[b]Gamorrah Bay general hospital, room 101, Central City district, Gammorah Bay – late evening[/b]\n\n“How are you doing, madam Mayor?”, Danielle asked, knowing full well what the answer would be.\n\n“Ugh!”, Dakota replied but indicated she was bored out of her mind. “Why do those damn tests have to take so long to get the results? They’ll only show I’m over everything and am perfectly fit now.” \n\n“True, but they don’t know about your metabolism, so let them find out that you’re fine when they’re able to. Otherwise, there could be a lot of uncomfortable questions.”\n\n“And the last thing any of us want is uncomfortable questions, especially about certain abilities.” Dakota fixed an eye square on Danielle’s. “You’ll have to be careful. You know what your mother will say when she finds out. And what happened to the patches?” As she asked, the curved and pointed black patches appeared around Danielle’s eyes and she lifted the chair in the room with one finger. She set the chair back down and the patches faded away. “Wow, like an on – off switch and an instant disguise. You shouldn’t need a mask then but you’ll need a costume.”\n\n“Whoa, wait, what? What costume?”\n\n“Every hero wears a costume or are you planning go doing the hero thing in whatever you have on at the moment? I can see where some of the bad guys would like it if you showed up in lingerie or an evening dress or maybe you’re just planning on wearing sweat pants and a hoodie. I know I’d be good with you showing up naked.” Dakota leered knowing exactly what every inch of the younger woman looked like out of her clothes and once again mentally cursed being tangled in all the tubes and wires.\n\n“What? Just because I did what I did today, I’m now stuck doing it as some super community servant? \n\n“Honey, everyone in The Starfighters had their own reasons for being a member. Some did it for the prestige, to be in the spotlight. Some to be accepted where they wouldn’t feel so alone. My mother pushed me into it. She coveted my powers but I got them from my father. I’m the last person who will push you to do this. Your mom and Star were the most selfless of us. They did it because they could really make a difference. Remember how you wanted to be a police officer and had to settle for being a lawyer because of the promise to your mother? This is your opportunity to make that difference in a way an ordinary officer can’t.”\n\n“Hmm, okay but I can’t promise anything. I’ll need to think about it first. And a costume too. I don’t remember any of The Starfighters showing up in sweats. Hmm, Todd mi-“\n\n“No! Don’t tell him. Not yet. You’d only be putting him in danger if he did know.” \n\n“So it’s our secret for now. Okay. But I’ll have to tell him something soon. I can’t keep something like this from him for too long.” Dakota put a hand on Dani’s.\n\n“Honey, I’m so sorry about today and about not telling you about the statue until now.” \n\n“That’s okay. He’d have found it a bit grandiose. I probably would have opted for something less representational of one person.”\n\n“That’s usually the nature of a hero, honey. One person making all the difference at the right time. We need you.” \n\n“We?”, the rhoanthekan teased, pulling her top down and flashing a bare breast. Dakota struggled against the tubes and wires covering her.\n\n“Damn tests.”, the pronghorn grumbled. \n\n“Consider it an incentive to get out of her.”, Danielle grinned.\n\n“But I am better.” Dakota pouted, then something occurred to her. “Where’s Todd?”\n\n“He said he had to take care of a few things. I guess he has something big coming up for work in the next few days.”\n\n[b]open country, hundreds of miles from Gammorah Bay – night[/b]\n\nThe night air was cool as it whistled past but it was nothing to the one hunting the large craft that Danielle had knocked out to see this afternoon. Scent information at the museum grounds had confirmed that the maroon streak had been her. Eyes that could scan the expanse of the electromagnetic spectrum had focused in on the craft’s heat signature, starting from the museum and finding the spot where it had recovered, then the trail where it had limped its way back toward its home base. The hunter set his wings and glided patiently following the trail. He would conserve his energy for when he caught up to Neo-Bitch.\n\n[b]Memorial Cove cemetery, Ferris Island, Gammorah Bay – early morning[/b]\n\nDanielle settled slowly to the ground after making sure no one was around. It appeared that anyone who had made it out to Ferris Island today was now gone. She had something she really needed to talk through but according to Dakota no one she could really talk to. That just left one, who would only listen, but if Dani listened carefully enough, then she often heard what he would say as if he were here.\n\n“Hi Daddy.”, she whispered, touching the dragon atop the marker then sat down on the grass. “I’m sorry I didn’t say anything earlier. You know how I like to keep our talks just to us. And now I really do have something big to talk about.” She closed her eyes and when she opened them again, Bernard Ferris was sitting there next to her. \n\n“Hi, Spitfire. Nice moves today. You really gave those New Reich ass-,er, bad guys nothing less than they deserved. Karyn should be proud.” \n\n“Mom doesn’t know. She can’t know. She made me promise to be a lawyer instead of a police officer like I always wanted. Like you. She definitely wouldn’t be happy about this.”\n\n“Honey, your mom is just afraid. She doesn’t want to lose you too. “\n\n“I know. And I don’t want to make her upset or worry her but now I have a chance to do something, really do something to make a difference. What do I do, daddy? I know what mom wants but what about you?””\n\n“Danielle, this will probably surprise you but I had powers. By what tests and standards they had at the time, I could have been the most powerful member of The Starfighters but I was terrified of it. I didn’t live up to my full potential until it was too late. If I hadn’t been afraid, I might have stopped what happened here from ever taking place. You are the best of your mother and I. You’ll be greater and you won’t do it alone. Just like Star Power, like your Aunt Althea, others will follow your example, will join you. Together you’ll keep things like this from happening. Your mother will be proud of you.”\n\n“A-and what about you, daddy?”\n\n“Honey, I’m already proud of you!” Bernard hugged his daughter and Dani returned it, closing her eyes for an instant. When she opened them, he was gone. She stood up and stayed for a while, her mind going over and over what he had said. Her father had powers. How could even her unconscious mind have known this? An overheard conversation? And what about her and others that would follow after her being greater? Had she actually spoken to the spirit of her father? She doubted she’d find answers tonight or any time soon but she did have the one she had come looking for.\n\n“Thank you, daddy.”, she whispered and rose up into the night sky above the bay. \n\n[b]Temporary lunar observation post, Clavius crater, the moon – full lunar day[/b]\n\n[i]Advance Scout’s appended initial observation report now recording.\n\nLike the day 12 cycles ago reported earlier, today appears to have been a momentous one among the building creatures. A number of the previously reported individuals with power located in “Gammorah Bay” reappeared among their fellow non-powered creatures after a clumsy attack by yet another powered individual at the structure they called a “museum.” This confirms earlier unreported observations that these powered building creatures can be every bit as destructive and savage as our own race.\n\nOf perhaps greater interest than the powered creatures is the knowledge that those with powers aren’t entirely united of purpose. Several have opposing views and differing motivations. These individuals are identified as “outlaws”, “bandits”, “thieves”, “criminals” and most often “villains”. Sometimes these “outlaws” are revered for standing against some “unjust” authority but most of the time, they’re feared for their unpredictable behavior and their disregard for their fellow creatures. This often puts them at the most violent odds with the “heroes”. \n\nThat fact plus the existence of the individuals of power makes closer observation and careful contact essential to the intelligence gathering mission. Will continue observing from the natural satellite to craft an appropriate insertion and infiltration plan before landing on Homeworld. \n\nEnd appended report. Will make additional reports as events warrant.[/i]\n\nThe observer rubbed his temples. The day had started so beautifully but had escalated beyond his wildest expectations. Still it would mean an end to his solitude as soon as he had a plan. Perhaps he could even sample some of the local delights such as their foods. And their varied means of mating. The observer queued up the recording he’d made of the Dharkens’ morning romp and went about perfecting his masturbation technique. \n\n", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "
Dragon Lady

Emergence


Temporary lunar observation post, Clavius crater, the moon – full lunar day

Advance Scout’s initial observation report now recording.

Per standard advance scouting operational rules and T-real’s treatises on successful combat strategies, have established remote observation on Homeworld’s only natural satellite which remains in orbit.  Fourth planet remains intact but has been rendered uninhabitable.  Fifth planet is no more than rubble strewn about its former orbit. On Homeworld the main continent has broken apart as geo-era mapping projections have predicted and scans suggest some of the old sites still exist but in disuse for some time and many are in severe disrepair or disarray.

While some creatures have remained unchanged in the interim (see biodiversity appendix for list), many have vanished entirely with many new, unfamiliar genera and species having taken their place.  The most curious of these new creatures are those that farm the land or congregate in large masses of structures called “towns” or “cities”.  They’ve created some remarkable feats of engineering but nothing on the order of our civilization, having barely left Homeworld for this satellite only for short durations approximately a half dozen times.  Most offworld travel appears to be data-gathering drones.  Homeworld is surrounded by a halo of artificial satellites mostly focused on Homeworld for communications, navigational or other monitoring purposes.  There appears to be practically no detection capability for anything approaching Homeworld of any significance to established plans.  

Scans have shown one possible complication that will need further study and likely infiltration to ascertain the extent it will pose a threat to the plans.  Individuals of varying levels of power that manifest as different remarkable abilities can be found all over Homeworld, perhaps as a result of contamination levels by the less developed technology of the aforementioned creatures.  The greatest concentration appears to be in the “city” identified as Gammorah Bay, located on the starset side of the continental mass now identified as “North America”.

According to transmissions focused on previous cycles, several powered individuals banded together like an independent security force, motivated only by their own sense of duty to their fellow creatures.  The first was a tall, by these creatures’ standards, female that bears a strong resemblance to some members of our own race taking the identification of ‘Star Power’.  By all indications, she lacked actual power but her will, determination and considerable unarmed fighting capability drew others with power to her and her cause, referring to themselves as “The Starfighers”.  Chief among these other individuals were ‘Bombshell’, a much shorter female again bearing a strong resemblance to some of our race that could generate energy bursts she usually directed as “power punches”, “Magenta” a woman who could appear as what they call a “dragon” or perhaps the other way around and a flier perhaps more adept than any of our own, “Silver Dragon” a male of Bombshell’s type with a technological knowledge that could match our top engineers and “Zephyr’” a younger female who could move at nearly unimaginable speeds unattainable by any of our species.  It should be noted that this “Zephyr” has more recently been elevated to position of queen of the “city” of Gammorah Bay.  It should also be noted that many of these individuals have successfully mated and several of their offspring have power as well, many exceeding their predecessors.

These powered individuals seem to be dormant, possibly hiding their abilities from the majority of their fellow creatures who lack power of their own.  Initial study of the creatures’ communications transmissions indicates powered individuals were once active until a devastating event 12 cycles ago drove them to hide – possibly a revolt by those without powers though the real reason remains unclear and requires further study.  Discovery of this reason may prove crucial in dealing with threat posed by these powered individuals.  

End initial report.  Next report scheduled for 3 Homeworld axial rotations from now.

The observer breathed a sigh of relief.  He hated filing observation reports.  He understood their importance to Central Command but he hated them all the same.  Preferring action, he usually hated observation in general but there was something very different about this assignment and the building creatures he was to report on.  Even in the short time he had been here, there was much he had observed that he had omitted from his initial report, such as the nature of most of their transmissions.

Like his own race, most of the creatures reproduced by the rutting of two individuals.  Also like his race, mating seemed to go well beyond the boundaries of mere rutting into the realms of pleasure.  He was still puzzled by the dichotomy of the creatures’ thoughts on mating – on one claw it was something to be reviled, barely tolerated and kept in secret and on the other, something to be celebrated and reveled in.  The observer knew which side he preferred and considered his race all the more enlightened for it.  

That’s not to say he hadn’t learned things from those who did celebrate it.  He learned about self-pleasure, “masturbation” they called it.  Given the solitary nature of most of his assignments, he was astounded that such an ingenious idea hadn’t occurred to him before.  Then there was the utter bliss of “auto fellatio”.  In the low gravity of the Homeworld’s satellite and with the flexibility he’d  earned through years of combat training mastering unweaponed combat skills, he was able to pleasure himself with his own mouth.  He just had to be careful of his very sharp teeth.  

The observer had found watching transmissions that focused on mating, referred to disparagingly or praised as “pornography” by the building creatures, optimized his pleasure.  The creatures even had a word for it, “voyeurism”.  They had to be the most delightfully perverse race he’d ever had to observe.  He was trying to decide between observing male on male or female on female and had almost settled on group mating when one display with a couple of the most powerful individuals on it attracted his attention.

They were a delightfully horny pair, identified as “The Dharkens” that seemed to be very comfortable with one another yet managed to keep the mating as raw and fresh as if it were their virginal pairing.  As yet none of their rutting had produced offspring, but the observer was willing to concede that when they did, that offspring would likely be the most powerful on Homeworld.  Sometimes the pair added a third, an older female identified as “mayor Dakota Jackson”.  At others, the pair separated to do their own mating activities, presumably ones they didn’t share mutually.  The female, “Danielle”, often paired with “Dakota” and the two would embark on mating adventures that would give pause to the most sexually adventurous of his own people.  The male “Todd” seemed to be much more reserved, preferring to observe a couple of females he would visually record with an unusual marking instrument on flattened planes of wood pulp collected together by a curled wire through punched holes or mating with a small select group of older females rather often and at other times with particular other males, most often beneath them – a place the observer was very much familiar with himself when among his own people.  

However, today at starrise, the pair was alone together.  “Danielle” had overindulged in intoxicants during the nolight period before the starrise.  Her power had mitigated the effects so she had consumed much more than the average creature was able to.  The power was actually nearly done purging her body of any ill effects of the intoxicants and her hormonal levels indicated she was primed for an epic mating.  Any moment “Todd” would wake her and the fun would begin.  The observer’s penis emerged and he grasped it eagerly, ready to enjoy the show he was certain to come.

Dharken residence master bedroom, Cliffside housing development, Gammorah Bay – early morning

“Wake up sleepyhead!”  Danielle Dharken groaned as drapes were pulled back letting sunlight into her comfortable darkness.  The light stabbed into her eyes and she knew she’d celebrated just a bit too much last night.  

“Oughta be a law ‘gainst morning people.”, she grumbled, chucking a pillow in the direction of a dark blur amongst the damnable light.  The pillow hit something but she was sure her target had used his tail to bat it aside.

“Hmph!  Is that any way to treat the husband who got up earlier so Gammorah Bay’s newest attorney could have her breakfast in bed?”  Danielle sniffed.  Todd had indeed fixed her a breakfast and not just cereal and toast.  Her stomach rumbled and she cracked open a somewhat bloodshot crimson eye.  The eye blazed to life when it focused on the red male rhoanthekan to find he was only dressed in a t-shirt and his underwear.

Suddenly the pearlescent rhoanthekan lady was hungry for something else.  Danielle motioned for Todd to set the breakfast tray down and come closer.  She launched herself out of the bed and knocked him to the floor.  Hastily rearranging herself, she sat back on his snout and wiggled her naked hips and ass, making her intentions clear.  Todd flicked his tongue over his wife’s damp slit letting her know her message was received.  She ground her hips against his muzzle for a bit before leaning over for her own prize.  She peeled back the stretched fabric of his underwear and licked her snout before swallowing his erection.  She felt through her thighs rather than heard her husband saying something.

“Honey, that’s what they make microwaves for.”, she answered.  She could feel him grin and he gleefully went back to his assigned task as she sucked on him eagerly.

Gammorah Bay mayor’s main office, Central City district, Gammorah Bay – also early morning

"As of today it's been 12 years - that's 4,383 days, 105,192  hours, 6,311,520 minutes.  To many, that sounds like a long time.  To many of those affected by the events of that day, it might as well have happened this morning.  We will never forget them.  With the help of this museum, future generations won’t either or the sacrifice of those who assured the rest of us would have a future.  As mayor, I hereby dedicate the Gammorah Bay Hall of Heroes in the name of our community and welcome a new generation of law enforcement and attorneys to insure that new future is a more safe and secure one.”

Mayor Dakota Jackson wiped a tear from her cheek.  Setting the scribbled notes down, she stood up and walked to the eastern window of her office to see the early dawn’s light peeking on the horizon.  The pronghorn closed her eyes trying to rein her emotions in but it only brought back the memories of that day more strongly.  And others she’d just as soon have forgotten.  She looked back at her desk and considered the bottle inside the upper right hand drawer.  No, she’d get through this without resorting to that.  She’d need her wits about her today, not scattered to the various corners of her consciousness.

“Wow.”, her deputy mayor, Eliza Ellsworth, practically whispered.  “No wonder you couldn’t’ sleep.  Did you spend all night rewriting that speech?”  Dakota nodded, still fighting with her emotions.  The cockatiel rose gracefully and placed a comforting wing around the pronghorn.  “You really should have spent the night with the Dharkens.”

“I have no right to intrude on their happiness-“

“Who’s intruding?  Honey, they both love you.  I’ll bet they’d come here right now if I called them.”

“Uh, now might not be the best time.”  Dakota tried to hide the blush on her cheeks but failed.  

“Are they-?”  Dakota nodded  before Eliza could finish her sentence.  “So you just-?”  Dakota nodded again.  Eliza lit up dispelling the somber mood.  “I didn’t feel a thing!  Damn girl!  And you keep saying you’re slowing down in your old age!”

Dharken residence master bedroom, Cliffside housing development, Gammorah Bay – still early morning

As much fun as a good 69 was with Todd, it didn’t take Dani long to crave the old bump and grind.  She raised off him to sit on his snout again, savoring the last few licks then pulled away from it with a twinge of reluctance.  She turned around, grabbing his shoulders as he pushed himself up.   She forced him back down and squatted on top of his erection, driving him deep inside of her.

“Ow!  Ease up on the kung fu grip, wonder woman.”,  Todd teased.  She stuck her tongue out at him but did relax her grip, then squeezed him with her vaginal muscles.  He winced.  “AHHH!  Been exercising the kegels again, dear?”

“Well I haven’t had my Wheaties yet this morning.  Guess I’m just in one of those moods.”  She grinned wickedly when a breeze washed across her body.  “Did you leave a window open?”

“No.  Ten bucks says it was Dakota checking up on us.”

“Damn!  I wish she would have stopped.  This would be twice as fun with a pair of nice jiggly tits to suckle on.”  

“Hey, you’re the one in charge up there.  How about that ride already?  We do have an appointment today.  And don’t forget you were going to meet your mom early.”,  Todd said in mock annoyance, all the while trying to lick the dragoness’s swaying nipples.  

“It’s still before 6 and that’s not until this afternoon.”  She grinning, starting to ride her husband’s hard cock.  

“Nnngh!!  Oh YES!  I love your hot wet pussy, hon.  And I know!  Ooohh!  I wanted us to be on time for a change!”   Danielle slowed her humping and ground her hips into his, clamping around him with her vagina again.  

“AAHHHHH!!!  You know me so well, baby!  Now gimme that spunk!!”  

Elsewhere – that same morning

She would make them pay.  Today of all days, she would make the whole damnable city pay.  The canine looked upon the newspaper article again in utter disgust.  How dare they create a damn museum to  those that should rightfully be subjects of she and her mother.  All so they wouldn’t forget.  She would make sure they definitely wouldn’t forget.

“The troops are ready for your inspection, madam.”  She heard the click of heels and pictured the perfectly flawless salute being executed behind her as it had been thousands of times before.

“Once again, you don’t have to salute me, Deitrich.  You’re older than I am.”  She turned to find the elk still posed ramrod straight

“You are my superior, as your mother was before you and your grandmother before that.”  The canine bristled at the mention of the last.  She’d show that traitorous cunt that betrayed their dream for a soft, comfortable life.  The very thought of such a thing nearly made her sick to her stomach.  Sensors registered the imbalance and advanced micro-processors sought a way to correct it.  Chemicals flooded into her digestive system and it calmed again.  She considered turning off the circuits responsible for stabilizing her organic body.  She needed her pain, especially today.  Still pain would cloud her thinking and she also wanted to be clear headed to savor the inevitable victory that would be hers.  The pain of her suffering of the past twelve years and that she carried for her mother would be more than enough.

“Very well, Colonel.  I want to leave as soon as we’ve finished the inspection.  I want the troops alert for this afternoon.  They will need some rest after the journey.”  The uniform elk nodded stiffly but she could tell he was eager for the coming operation, possibly just as much as she was.

Dharken residence master bathroom, Cliffside housing development, Gammorah Bay – a bit later that morning

“Damn, you sure gave it to me.”  Danielle wobbled a bit as she made her way to the shower.

“Remember, you asked for it, lover.  And you did your fair share too.”  Todd grabbed hold of his wife’s waist to help steady her. She had dripped all over the carpet and bathroom floor and some of it had dripped all over his legs.

“Oh yeah, I did.”  She reached out to turn the shower on then pulled him in with her once the temperature was right.  She held him as the water soaked her long black mane.  Todd ran his fingers through it, still surprised it didn’t tangle even when wet.  

“I really wish you’d wear your hair down more often.”  He nuzzled her, then gave her a kiss.  

“I wear it like this around you.  That’s not enough?”  She kissed him back.

“I want everyone to see just how gorgeous you are the way I get to see you.”  Dani chuckled.

“Surely not naked.”  

“Why not?  That’d be hot!”  Todd hugged her wet body to his own.

“Mmmm, speaking of hot, do you think you could get hard again?”  She licked her snout.  Perhaps it was the hot water and the proximity of her husband in such a confined space but she needed him really badly again.  

“What?  Again?  Already?”  She nodded emphatically, her tongue lolling out of her mouth as she leaned against the shower wall and raised her tail.  

“I want you in my ass!”, she hissed lustfully.  Todd’s erection literally sprang back to life.  His grin matched hers and he opened the door of the shower and leaned over to the cabinet above the toilet.  He made sure to grab the super thick, super slick waterproof lube and squirted a generous portion on his fingers.  He rubbed them around her sphincter then slid the tip of his middle finger easily inside of her.  He added another until both were up to the second knuckle, then he eased a third in.  Forming a sort of cone shape, he worked his fingers deeper inside her sphincter gently pushing it open.  Danielle humped her ass against his invading digits.  Satisfied she was spread enough, Todd squirted more lube on his throbbing cock and stroked it to make sure the lube coated it evenly.  He gripped his wife’s hips and pressed the head of his dick against her anus and pushed it in slowly.  Dani grinned wickedly and slammed her ass against her husband’s thighs.  Todd grunted more from the sudden pressure of her ass on his erection than the impact.  

“So that’s the way it’s gonna be, huh bitch?”  She laughed and he gripped her hips tightly, pulling out and slamming his hips into her until the slapping of their flesh sounded like he was spanking her.  She howled in delight and squirted on his balls when the fierce anal rutting had brought her to a rare orgasm.  Todd let out a strangled growl and came hard in her rectum.  When they had recovered their senses, he eased his deflating penis out of her and hugged her from behind.  

“I love you!”, they gasped in unison.

“-suppose we should get cleaned up and have that breakfast now.”, Dani managed, sounding a bit weary and finally sated.  Todd grabbed the shower sponge and soap and proceeded to lather up his wife’s back.  She whimpered in delight.

Dar-Ferris-Jefferson residence, Headland Heights, Gammorah Bay – later morning

“Allie?  Have you seen my-“  The crimson draconid cut the question short by merely pointing at the top of the dresser.  “Oh!  Thank you, honey.”, Karyn Ferris kissed her girlfriend’s snout, causing Althea’s unusually shaped ears to bounce excitedly, before retrieving her pantyhose from the dresser.  The blue rhoanthekan sat on the bed, sliding the hose on and pulling them up under the rather conservative black dress she’d chosen for today’s occasion.  

“Why didn’t you put those on first?”, Althea Dar inquired, still not understanding her girlfriend’s habits even after the decade they’d already spent living together.  

“I’m afraid that’s my fault!”, a third voice sounded from the bathroom door.  Allie didn’t need to see the gryphon’s beak to know it would be dripping with Karyn’s juices but she looked anyway.  Sure enough, Katie Jefferson’s beak was covered and she was trying her best to lick it clean by herself.    Allie put her hands under the gryphon gal’s beak, giving her a couple of licks that took care of the rest of the juices then kissed Katie.  

“Now you finish getting ready, dear.”  Allie turned the gryphon back into the bathroom and gave her naked butt a firm pat and gentle push.  The draconid, worried about her other companion, returned to Karyn’s side.  The rhoanthekan had moved out onto the patio that overlooked most of Gammorah Bay and New Sodom and their various suburbs from the house’s vantage point on the landward side of the Headland Heights cliffs.

“Before you ask, Katie kind of surprised me.  I know I told you I wasn’t in the mood earlier this morning-“

“But she wasn’t there that day.  At least not until later.”

“Yes.  No….I don’t know…”, Karyn’s voice trailed off.  Allie put a supportive arm around her shorter companion and stroked the rhoanthekan’s back soothingly.  

“I can’t even begin to guess what this day must mean to you.  I know what it does from a factual standpoint but an emotional impact?”  Allie shrugged, not sure how to put the rest into words.  She sighed and hugged Karyn.  “I think I’d rather kick Professor Paranoia’s ass any day of the week than face these things.”  

“You still could too.”, Karyn added, stroking her girlfriend’s muscular upper thigh.  Allie really had kept herself in good shape, where Karyn never really had to worry about it.  It’s as if her body was constantly renewing itself.  She relaxed, settling back into her lover’s arms.  “Part of me wishes we’d be there today in our old costumes.  We should be…”

“You know why we quit.  Today’s only a reminder of part of it.  It would be fun though.”  Allie smirked, then grinned.  “We could always put them on in private, before the dedication.  You know what a thrill it gives Katie when we do.”  She could see Karyn working through the idea and waited for the inevitable logical objection.

“But the dedication-“

“-Isn’t until this afternoon.  And we’ll have you there before that so you can keep your other appointment.  C’mon, you know the kids aren’t even dressed yet.  I’ll bet you still look as dynamite in the outfit as you did 8 months ago.”  Karyn smirked but she got up and followed Allie to the closet.

Dharken residence breakfast nook, Cliffside housing development, Gammorah Bay – later morning

“Oooh!”, Danielle jumped up from the seat then eased herself back down on it more slowly.  “Mmm, tender.”

“You seemed to want it rough and you specifically asked for it in the ass.”  Her husband set her warmed up breakfast down in front of her.  Danielle dug into the eggs and her coffee first.

“I wasn’t complaining, honey.  Ooh!  Could you-?”  Todd’s shoulders and jaw dropped as his eyes flared wide.  

“Again?”, he asked incredulously.  “What’s with you this morn- Oh, the sugar, right?”  Dani nodded carefully but even as she took the sugar from him, he could see something working in her eyes.  He sighed and pushed his plate aside but his underwear resembled a small tent as she got up, dropped her panties and bent over the dinettte table, grabbing hard onto the edge.  

“Gimme some more of that sugar, stud!”  Todd sighed but got up behind her with a broad grin on his snout.  

Theodore Reeves residence, Eastlake neighborhood, Gammorah Bay outskirts – later morning

Mrs. Gretchen Reeves sat on the king bed, her legs doubled up and hugged tightly to her chest, a pose that her husband knew meant the german shepherd was deeply conflicted about something.  The stallion settled on the bed next to her and wrapped a comforting arm around his wife.

“Huh-how can I face them, eh-especially today?”, she stammered, tears streaking her muzzle and ears folded back tightly against her head.  “It was muh-my daughter-“

“Our daughter, honey.  And how many times has Bombshe- uh, Karyn blamed you in the past 12 years?  How much have any of them?”  He hugged his wife tightly with his muscular arms.  “You know they’re a remarkable and forgiving people.  They never held anything against you, me, my brother and sister & brother-in-law after we turned ourselves in.  They all made sure we had light sentences so we could start making lives better for others.  Agent Buckminster was even kind enough to get us settled into new lives and routines of our own.  You don’t do that for someone you blame for the city’s biggest disaster in recorded history and you remember how many of the runner ups on that list that we were directly responsible for.”  Gretchen sighed heavily but she knew her husband was right.  He always did like to tackle problems head on, even the ones with their daughter.  It was a shame she had inherited both of her parents’ stubborn streak.

“Do you want one of your medications?  It might help.”, Theo asked softly.  She lifted her head, always a good sign.

“No.”  She shook her head for emphasis.  “No, I’ll get through today without them.  And hopefully tomorrow too.”  The horse smiled.  There was the woman he’d known when they first met, minus the misanthropic streak she’d carried as an enormous chip on her shoulder.  

“It’ll be what the shrinks call ‘closure’ these days.  Funny, I think we used to call it ‘begging forgiveness, burying the hatchet and letting bygones be bygones’.  C’mon honey, get dressed so we can get going.”

“Why so early?”

“I want to stop at a floral shop.  I’m sure she’ll be there.  You know what’s in the museum and how she’ll probably take it.  And her daughter is going to be sworn in as a new city attorney.  I know it won’t be much but Chester says every little bit helps in dealing with grief.”  Gretchen got up and hugged her stud.

“You’re so thoughtful, honey.  If only Eva and Greta had inherited that from you.”  Theodore hugged his wife tightly again.

“I’m sorry, dear, but I’m afraid they might have inherited something else.”  He sighed heavily and it was her turn to hug him.  Both of them knew that of the Four Horsemen, he’d been War.

Dharken family car, in transit along Kirby Boulevard, Gammorah Bay – late morning

“I’m sorry about the table again.  I thought it was sturdier than that.”

“It was.  But it doesn’t matter.  You really deserve a nice big breakfast and the place over at Stanley Plaza is just the spot.  My treat.”  Danielle wanted to press the point about how odd it was the table had broken apart but decided to let the matter go for now.  She leafed through the Gammorah Bay Epoch, the city’s newspaper, and skipped over the numerous articles about the significance of the day.  Dani focused on a couple of unusual articles from around the country.

“Listen to this, honey, this article is about a boy who claims a big red dinosaur rescued him from an apartment fire in a city further down the coast.  And here’s another claim by a girl that a big red dragon held up the bridge she and her family were on so they could get off when the bridge threatened to collapse.  Engineers say it looks like parts of the bridge were melted to keep them together until the bridge can be repaired.”

“Hmm, interesting.  The things kids think of.”  Todd smiled but he did that furtive rapid eye flicking that usually meant he knew more about it than he was letting on.  If she asked, he would just say he was trying to keep a careful eye out for traffic, so she let the matter go.

“Oh damn!”, Todd exclaimed suddenly, then tapped his bluetooth set.  “Call parents.”  He paused waiting for either his dad to answer or the machine to pick up.  To his surprise his dad actually answered.  “Hey dad, just reminding you that the dedication is in a couple of hours.  Dani and I would love if you and mom wo-  What?  What the hell do you mean you’re not going to-?  Well I know Tori’s not going to be there but she’s off to who knows where right now.  Toni’ll be there.  I know she’s a teacher and it’s like her job to go on field trips and all that.  Hey, you’re just sitting on your old butt there at your old broken down tract home.  Yeah, I know I live in a tract home too but it’s newer, nicer tract home on the cliff side of the city,  not the east plains.  Oh hey, you know it was Tori that put that hole in the wa-Oh!  THAT hole…okay, yeah I’ll admit to that one but it wasn’t entirely my fault.  Mom’s genetics had something to do with it too!  Yeah, fine don’t believe me but all of that has nothing to do with today!  Wha-hey!”  Danielle pulled the earpiece from her husband and tapped it onto her own usually hidden ear.

“Hi Jared!  Would you and Amanda be a couple of dears and come to the dedication?  Mom will be there and I know she’d dearly love to see you both again.  So would Althea.  Great!  See you then, Dad!  My love to Mom!”  Danielle grinned triumphantly as she handed the earpiece back to Todd.  He barely even noticed.

“Ho-how do you do that?”, he asked incredulously.  “Seriously, you have to tell me your secret.  I can’t even get my dad to agree that it’s daytime right now much less get him to do something I’d like him to do that he’d probably do anyway under normal circumstances.”  Danielle’s grin managed to grow a bit larger.

“Sorry, honey, it’s a talent.”

Adams-Tyler apartment, Bridgeport district, Gammorah Bay – late morning

“Come on, Jess.  It’s part of your hometown history.  Don’t you want to be able to say you were there when the museum opened?”, the rattlesnake pressed her companion.

“Hometown history!”, the gryphon snorted.  “The only thing I want out of this burg is my money after I’m done blowing or screwing these mediocre to lame fucks.”  

“Now, dear, don’t be crude.”  Jolene soothed her girlfriend’s feathers.  “And not all of them are mediocre.  How about that nice dragon that hires us to pose for his sketching?”  

“But that’s all he does.”  Jess worked her hand between her legs as if it work off some not so secret frustration.  “Just once, well more than once, I’d love to jump those dragon bones.”  She purred and growled at the same time, a noise that Jolene didn’t know how she made but loved how it came out.  

“But he’s married…”  The snake waggled her index finger at the gryphon in mock shame.

“Pfft!  I’d say half if not more of our clientele is married and that goes for the women too.”, Jesse cackled.  The rattlesnake just shook her head and tried to focus her companion back to the topic at hand.

“We’re going to miss things if we don’t get going.”  The gryphon waved dismissively.  

“Why don’t you just go since you want to go so bad?”

“I want us to go.”, Jolene added calmly.  “Your father was a police officer.  It think this will help you work through those feelings.”  

“Yeah, he was!  And this city forgot him and what he did!  Forgot this whole damn neighborhood.  Probably so they could build that damn museum…”  The rattlesnake stroked her girlfriend’s back and neck soothingly.  She knew this would calm the gryphon considerably.  “Mmm, you are so good at that, damn you.  Oookay, I’ll go-“  Jo hugged Jess from behind and gave her cheek a kiss.  They didn’t call the snake Charmer for nothing.

Gammorah Bay hero museum and memorial participants’ parking gate, Adams Drive, Gammorah Bay – mid-day

“When Mrs. Dharken and her husband arrive, bring them to me right away.  Whatever I’m doing interrupt it.  I have something important I need to tell her before the dedication starts.”, the mayor instructed the guards at the gate to the participants’ parking area.  She probably should have done this earlier but there would be no good time to tell Danielle what the pronghorn had to say.  She had concluded it would probably be easier to show her and that time would be best just before the dedication.  It meant cutting a few things fine time-wise but that was something the pronghorn was quite used to under far more dire circumstances than these.

“Okay, Eliza, how about we go over the schedule one more time?”  The cockatiel perked up and had her clipboard at the ready.  

“In an hour, we start with the bands so music will be playing as the people attending take their seats.  We’re expecting more than we have chairs and bleachers for though so I have a plan for some gym mats to be put down for sitting areas on either side of the seating.  Don’t worry boss, the music will be appropriate.  I checked it all myself.”  Dakota chuckled.  If Eliza had checked the music, then it would definitely be appropriate.  She was still a legend for finding the most innocuous, soothing muzak ever to play in all of the city offices.  Complaints at the Department of Motor Vehicles had fallen off considerable since those offices used playlists she’d suggested.

“An hour after that, we start with your stirring speech dedicating the museum, followed by a longer, far windier one by the editor of the Gammorah Bay Epoch and an even longer, windier filibuster by Senator Whatshisname from D.C.  Once everyone is asleep or otherwise bored senseless, then we’ll wake them up with some more stirring music and introduce and swear in the new officers, lawyers with the district attorneys offices and the couple of judges here today.  Once all of them have been named, then we officially open the museum first to the honored guests then everyone else who wants to see it.  Finally, we lead whoever’s left in the candlelight walk out to Ferris Island and the nondenominational remembrance prayer for those who were lost that day and those left scarred by it.”

“Those left scarred by it…”, Dakota repeated softly.  The pronghorn was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t notice Eliza had put an arm around her shoulders until the cockatiel was shaking her.  “Wha-  What? “

“You were gone for like five minutes there, boss.  You sure you’re going to be okay today?  Some of your old friends are bound to be in the crowd today.  And some of the others.”  Eliza looked pointedly at the pronghorn to see if any of her words were sinking in.  “Maybe you should consider taking something just to get through.”  

“NO!”  Dakota pushed forcefully away from the cockatiel.  She turned back, putting a comforting hand on her deputy.  “No, El, I’ll make it and without any of the bloody pills.  I never want to go down that road again.  As for the company, I’ll welcome the friends.  The others better not dare show their faces!”  A hardness in the pronghorn’s eyes and the darkness in her tone of that last sentence sent a shiver up Eliza’s spine.  Dakota noticed the change in the cockatiel’s demeanor and thought it might be a good idea if Eliza had some more cheerful company for a while.

“Sorry, El.  Why don’t you go see about Senator Whatshisname.  Maybe we’ll all get lucky and he won’t show so we can open the museum early and give everyone a good chance to see it all.”  Eliza didn’t like seeing Dakota head off by herself so soon after an episode but she understood the pronghorn’s need for personal time and space too.  The cockatiel hoped the Dharkens would show soon.  As if on cue, a familiar car rolled up.

“I told you we’d be here in plenty of time, honey.”  Todd grinned as he pulled into the gate for the lot.  He leaned out the window to the guard at the gate.  “Danielle Dharken and husband.  Where should I park?”

“Well it’s about time.  What the hell have you two been doing all day?  Probably screwing around.”  Dakota cut off the guard’s reply.  Both Dharkens were a bit surprised but figured the pronghorn was probably reacting to the multiple stresses of the day and the reasons they were all here.  “Sorry.”, she apologized though her voice was still terse.  “Please park over there.  There’s something I have to tell Danielle before the dedication.”  Dani and Todd looked at each other with more than a little concern for their friend and what she might have to say.

“Do you think she overheard us the other night?”, Danielle wondered aloud.  

“I don’t think so.  It’s something she wants to tell you specifically.  Maybe it’s something she wants to do during the ceremony when you’re made an official lawyer.”

“I wonder.  Whatever it is, she seems rather nervous about it.”

“If you had as much to plan as she has around a day that most people don’t want to be reminded of, you’d probably be nervous too.  And she was practically right there.  I think she feels guilty she didn’t do more.  And she feels it most around you and Karyn.  Don’t worry, she’ll understand when she knows what you have to do.”  Dani sat quietly pondering her husband’s words as the car came to a stop.  Dakota wasn’t the most patient person when there was something she wanted but it had been quite a while since the rhoanthekan and her mother had been out to see her father together.

“If you’ll follow me.”  Dakota gestured around the bay side of the museum.  From above it resembled a triangle with rounded corners and convex sides.  It was built with one of the curved sides running parallel to Memorial Cove and the entrance side facing north-northwest.  All the events and crowds were on the west side of the building leaving the east  pretty much empty.  Right now that suited Danielle just fine and would probably get her to Karyn and the bridge out to Ferris Island that much sooner.  To the young rhoanthekan, it almost felt like she was trying to rush the visit and get it over with but she was a part of the museum’s opening ceremony.  There would be time for a longer visit later today.

“I’m sorry Dakota but there’s someone I really need to see first.”, Dani said when they got to the side of the museum.  Further north along the walkway, someone was already standing at the bridge.  The pronghorn didn’t need to look closely to know who it was.

“I guess there’s still time.  If I need to, I’ll hold them off for minutes.  You know public events rarely start on time.”  Dakota gave the rhoanthekan woman a hug.  “Say hi to him for me, honey.”  Todd offered his elbow to his wife and Danielle slipped her hand around it.  The gesture might have seemed old fashioned to most their age but it’s something Dani loved about her husband.  Karyn was facing the island as they walked up to her.  Todd offered his other elbow to his mother-in-law until he noticed she’d been crying.  He wrapped his arm around the older rhoanthekan’s shoulders and quietly they all walked on the foot path side of the bridge over the waters of Memorial Cove to Ferris Island.  It was a long walk but it didn’t seem right to take one of the trams that operated on the road side.  No one spoke a word and the breeze coming off the bay obscured the noise behind them so all they heard were some sea birds and cove’s waters.  

Only when they got to the island side of the bridge did Karyn look at her daughter and son-in-law.  She wiped her tears and smiled, hugging them both.  Dani really looked at her mother for the first time today too.  She always appeared ageless, like mother and daughter could be sisters, but today Karyn seemed to look her age, maybe older and Dani realized it was the weight of grief.  

“You look so lovely.  You both do.”, Karyn spoke up finally breaking the quiet of the island.  “I mean you look handsome, Todd.  You really ought to wear a suit and tie more often.”, she teased, knowing the red rhoanthekan hated being confined in formal wear especially ties.  “Now you both just stand there together like the great couple you are.”  Danielle rolled her eyes.

“You’re not going to drag that old manual focus fossil out now, are you?  Can you even still find film for it?”  Kayrn stuck her tongue out and removed something about the size of a credit card from her small purse.  

“For your information, Allie upgraded me for my last birthday.  10.1 megapixels, image stabilization, 10X zoom, panorama pictures, all those things you kids get to do with cameras these days.  Smile!”  She snapped a few pictures then Todd held out his hand to Karyn for the camera and motioned his mother-in-law to stand next to her daughter.  He got a few more of them together and handed the camera back to Karyn.  

“Nice camera, mom!  Allie has some good taste in electronics.”  Another red hand intercepted the camera.  

“Thanks Todd.”  Althea pushed him to stand behind the other two ladies so she could take all of their pictures.  After snapping a few more, she confessed, “Actually it was Katie who really did the research and suggested it in the first place.  And she’s holding our place in line too.  And she told me I should probably come out here to be here for you.”

“Fifteen years after retiring and she’s still The Director.”  Karyn chuckled.  Allie wrapped her arm around her girlfriend.

“It’s good to see you chuckle, honey, especially today.”  Allie gave Karyn a hug and picked up the flowers Katie had sent her with.  “Let’s go say hi to Bernie.”  The quartet headed to the gates of the memorial cemetery that was the heart  and majority of Ferris Island.  They passed rows of markers, sober reminders of the families and friends who lost others as well.

At the center stood a large granite pylon capped with a  bowed dragon.  Etched letters on one side read, “In Loving Memory & Eternal Gratitude – Bernard Ferris 1969 – 2001 – Husband – Father – HERO”.  Everyone stopped before setting foot on the large square of carefully manicured grass that surrounded the marker.  Todd and Allie took a seat on one of the benches at the perimeter.  Danielle held back as Karyn went ahead for a couple of minutes by herself.

“Honey-”, she the older began softly.  She’d never been comfortable talking like this because she could never be sure she wasn’t talking to herself.  Every single time though, she remembered someone saying something about having faith - sometimes it was in her grandmother’s voice, sometimes in Bernard’s and then it was as if he were there.  She wasn’t sure if he was a desperate hallucination or if he actually was somehow.  These past few times, she didn’t care and was happy just to see him again.  “Hi honey.  Take a look over there-“ She pointed back in Danielle’s direction.  “-That’s our daughter, all ready to become a new attorney for the city.  Remember how she really wanted to be a police officer, just like her father?  I know I say this every single time but I’m sorry, I just couldn’t let her.  I do wish you could see her – see the wonderful couple she and Todd make together.  They remind me so much of us.  I’m so proud of her.  You would be too.”  Karyn laid the flowers down by the marker, the only physical thing she had left of her husband besides the daughter they had made together.  Like so many victims of that day, there hadn’t been a body left to bury.  Not even ash.  “I miss you so much!”

Danielle walked over slowly and knelt beside her mother.  She put one hand on Karyn’s shoulder and the other brushed the letters of her father’s name.  Like her mother, she was never quite sure what to say.  Sometimes she did and she’d come out here by herself to tell him.  This time, this day, she couldn’t bring herself to say anything.  She’d only been 11 that last morning that she saw him.  It was the last time he called her his little spitfire and he headed out the door while she went to school.  Later, school was cancelled and most people came to get their kids.  Some of the kids were taken to a room away from the others and old people talked to them about people going to heaven and crying and what all she couldn’t remember now.  What she did remember was her dad not coming home that night or any other night since, no matter how much she wanted him to.  Tears were already streaming down her cheeks when she looked at Karyn.  Mother embraced daughter and they cried together for a while, then stood and returned to their respective mates who had sympathetic hugs waiting for the grieving pair.

They headed back along the bridge to the museum and the crowds and noise.  Danielle and Karyn trailed behind Todd and Althea.  

“After all of this time, I’ve been meaning to ask you if you’ve ever resented me for being with someone else besides your father.”  

“Hah, that’d be like the pot calling the kettle black, considering the relationship Todd and I have with Dakota.  Why?  Are you unhappy that we have an open marriage understanding that includes both of us having the same girlfriend?”

“No but then she’s not taking a personal place in your life that was your father’s either.”  

“I think you and Allie and Katie are great for each other.  They’ve certainly kept you from moping about an empty home day after day.  And if dad were still alive, he’d love the idea of you being with that big, voluptuous woman.  I may have been young, but I knew the kind of quiet pervert my dad was.  Why do you think I married the quiet pervert I did?”  That one got a laugh out of Karyn and a puzzled look from Todd who knew they had to be talking about him again.

At the end of the bridge, mom hugged daughter again and talked about getting back together after the ceremony was over.  Allie and Karyn went to find Katie still holding their place in the line waiting for the seating.  Todd and Danielle turned back down the bayside of the museum where they could see Dakota uncharacteristically waiting patiently.

Gammorah Bay hero museum and memorial VIP attendees queue, Adams Drive, Gammorah Bay – mid-day

“I still can’t believe you talked us into wearing them under our clothes.”, Allie muttered, fidgeting with her blouse again much to the delight of several men and a few women in line with she and her two other companions.  Karyn was having a slight easier time of it despite having to hide a cape in her dress as well.  

“Well excuse me but I was tired of hearing you two go back and forth about what to wear after you put them on again while I was in the shower.”, Katie hissed.  “I told you to put on something looser over the top.  See?  Karyn listened.”  The gryphon pointed at the blue rhoanthekan who was trying to focus her attention on something other than her bickering companions.  She loved them but didn’t love it when they sniped back and forth at each other.  For being the original pair of lovers in this trio, they fought more than she thought ought to be normal for a couple.  Until she remembered some of the battles she’d had with Bernard.

“Hey, isn’t that your niece, Katie?”, Karyn interrupted the bickering, pointing to the area with the mats for those not assigned seating.  Katie focused in the indicated direction, spotting Jesse with her rattlesnake girlfriend arranging a towel or blanket on a mat.  Althea was about to yell when Katie stopped her.  

“We have ways of doing these things a bit easier these days.”  The gryrphon pulled out her cell phone and hit one of the speed dial numbers.  A ring tone sounded in the direction they’d been looking and the other gryphon answered her cell.  Some directions were given but ultimately Allie being the tallest and most visible with her red skin had to wave her arms.  The line had started moving as Jesse and Jolene caught up to Katie and the two other older women.  They reached the man in charge of the list of assigned seats, an older police officer when Katie asked if her niece could join she and her girlfriends.

“Ms. Jesse Adams?  You’re already on the list.  Before you sit down, I just want to say I knew your dad.  He was a good officer and a good man.  He stayed right there with his partner, Sergeant Ferris, right to the end and a lot of us on the force still miss him.  If you ever need anything, just call the central station and mention your dad was Gary Adams.  We’ll be happy to help you out.”  Stunned by the outpouring, Jesse fumbled with a thank you and shook the horse officer’s hand.

“Toldja.”, Jolene teased as they found their seats.  “Are you happy you came now?”  Katie fished a facial tissue out of her purse and handed it to Jesse to wipe the tears on her cheeks.  The gryphon looked at her snake girlfriend and nodded, a contrite smile on her beak even as her eyes were tinged with sorrow.  “By the way, the name of the street around this place is called Adams Drive.  It’s named after your dad.  I asked.”  Jesse felt genuinely touched so many people thought so much of her father to name a street anywhere after him or to miss him as much as she did.  She dried that last of her tears and felt the rest of the afternoon would be much better than she had thought it would.

A few minutes later Jared and Amanda Dharken were standing in front of the horse officer and he pointed in the direction that Allie, Karyn and the others were sitting.  Jared nodded and handed the officer a slip of paper.  The horse looked at it a bit oddly as if he wasn’t sure what to make of it at first, then gasped, said something, nodding emphatically, and slipped it into his jacket pocket.  The unusual pair made their way to their seats, watched by everyone who could see them.  Jared would have been dressed appropriately for the occasion had it not been the silver jacket and larger mirrored aviator sunglasses he wore.  He might have really stood out except for his presence of his taller wife and her fuchsia skin.  Most eyes were drawn to her as if they were all trying to discover what qualities made her more sexy than any women they beheld.  If asked Jared put it down to her animal magnetism with a chuckle that made it sound like a private joke between he and his wife.  

“Subtle as always Jared.  Really subtle.  Always the rock star.  Did you actually tip the officer?”  Althea’s voice dripped sarcasm but the green rhoanthekan let it slide off him.  “Lovely to see you again, Amanda.  It’s been too long”, she added with utmost sincerity to Mrs. Dharken.

“And you too Allie.  We really need to get together again under more casual circumstances.”  Katie’s beak dropped open.  

“What?  I told you she spoke.”, Karyn teased the gryphon.  

“It wasn’t a tip, Star- oh excuse me, Althea.”  Jared’s voice had an edge to it at first, then it softened.  “It was a donation to a scholarship for the children of police officers that are hurt or killed that I had set up in Bernard’s name.  They had a couple more deserving candidates this year than they were expecting.  Ms. Adams, I really wished you had accepted that first scholarship but I admire your determination to make your own way by your own means.”  Jesse’s head feathers fluffed up, the gryphon equivalent of blushing, at being mentioned.  “Nice to see your companion too.  Ms. Tyler.”  Jared nodded at the rattlesnake and Jolene flushed too.   “Katie, you’re looking lovely today.”  The older gryphon’s feathers fluffed just as her niece’s had done.  “You too Allie.”

“Oh Karyn-“  Jared knelt in front of the blue rhoanthekan lady, sliding his sunglasses up so he could look her in the eyes and took her hands in his as Amanda slid in for a moment beside her.  He grinned but it was a strained, almost painful expression rather than happy and mirthful.  Whatever words he might have prepared fled from him looking at her and he let out a deep sigh.  “Bernie was my best friend.  I loved him more than my own brothers.  Just like the wedding, I’d give almost anything I have to give short of my wife and children to have him here today.  He’d be so proud of Dani.”  Karyn didn’t make a sound but tears streamed down her cheeks and Jared was futilely blinking his own away.  Amanda hugged Karyn gently, giving her a kiss on her muzzle.  The pair rose gracefully together and took their seats on the other side of Althea, Amanda sitting diplomatically between she and Jared.  

The afternoon held one more surprise for Karyn and her circle of friends.  Jared kept squinting looking in the direction of the horse officer.  Finally he pointed.

“Hey, isn’t that-?”

“Well I’ll be.  Gretchen and Theo Reeves.”, Althea finished as the pair cautiously approached the seats.  The tall stallion carried a large bouquet of what appeared to be an assortment of different colored roses.

“Gretchen.  Theo.  You’re both looking well.”, Karyn spoke up first, not wanting anyone else to create an incident.  

“I-I know we don’t have any right to intrude on you.”, Gretchen began, looking very much like she’d rather be elsewhere not having say these words but somehow knowing she must.  “Especially today.  We’re just so sorry about-about everything.  You and your daughter’s loss-“  The shepherd trailed off unable to say any more.  Theo shifted his armload of flowers and put a comforting hand on his wife’s shoulder.  Karyn rose gracefully and gave the canine a hug.  

“Nothing can make that up especially not these flowers but we would like you to have them.”, Theodore continued for his wife.  Karyn soothed the german shepherd until she regained control of herself, then accepted the flowers from the stallion leaning up to give him a kiss on the cheek as she took them.  

“Thank you both.  That’s very thoughtful of you.  I’m sorry for your loss too.”  Gretchen looked about ready to cry again but held it back and nodded her thanks to the dragoness.  “Would you care to sit with us?  I think we can arrange for-“  Althea and Jared looked ready to say something when Theodore spoke up.

“No thank you, ma’am.  We have seats over in the ones reserved for the donators to the community.  You ought to be real proud of your daughter.”  

“I am.” , Karyn smiled.  And with that, the shepherd and stallion made their way to their own seats.

“-‘re kidding me!  THE Bitch and War from the 4 Horsemen?!”, Jesse exclaimed to Katie as Karyn sat down.  “I thought they were still in prison!”

“They were for a while but they served as model prisoners and on SOME of our recommendations,” Karen cast a pointed glare in Allie and Jared’s direction.  “-they were released to join society as positively contributing members.  She still teaches children how to play the piano.  Her star pupil is a headliner in Las Vegas.  Another prodigy of hers leads the philharmonic orchestra here in town.  Theo oversees several non-profit organizations that he formed to help victims of violence, some around the world, others to keep kids off drugs and out of gangs and more to promote understanding and peace among those who feel they don’t have any other way open to them.  It’s quite possible they’ve done more good than we ever did with all our powers or other good fortune.”

“Hey, I think I learned martial arts in one of his centers.”, Jesse exclaimed, excited by the revelation.  “I’ve used that to help some of the girls Jolene and I know.”  The rattlesnake put on her best innocent face, not wanting the others to find out what she and Jesse really got up to, either job-related or their other activity they did on the streets.  

“Um, you mentioned their loss?”, Jolene asked, more curious than she felt she had  right to be.  “Who did they lose?”  

“Their daughter and granddaughter.”, Karyn answered softly.  “They led the attack 12 years ago that sank the city under Memorial Cove around the island named after my husband where he, his partner – Jesse’s father, and 7,000 others died and thousands more were hurt.”  The youngsters sat quietly trying to absorb the information that had been fact most of their lives but hadn’t seemed to hit so close to home until now.  Jolene leaned over and hugged her gryphon

“Definitely not what you expected when we talked about this morning, is it?”, the rattlesnake whispered to her lover.  “I’m sorry honey.”

“I’m not, love.”, Jesse smiled, mixed feelings evident in her eyes.  “Mom always insisted he died in a shootout during a drug bust gone bad.  I know she was trying to protect me but at least I know the truth.”  Katie put her hand on her niece’s and gave it a supportive squeeze.

“I could have told you but your mother made me promise not to.”  Jesse gave her aunt a look that let her know she wasn’t mad or that she blamed Katie for anything.  “I miss my brother so much.”  Jesse gave her aunt a hug.

“Geez, this is the biggest downer of a party.”  More than a few pairs of eyes glared at Jared, who threw up his hands in defeat.  “You ladies really are no fun.”  The last earned the most withering glower from his wife.  “Okay, I’ll be nice!  Bloody cow.”, he uttered under his breath while crossing his arms, and knew he’d pay for that one later back at home.

Rooftop west of the museum grounds, Central City district, Gammorah Bay – after mid-day

“I’m in position now.  Looks like your intel was correct, sir, though I don’t see their entire force.  They must be using multiple structures.”  The buck crept carefully from window to window trying to assess the full strength of the well-armed troops inside.  “  They appear to have come in some hours ago from the sewer system leading out into the cove or bay itself.”

“That indicates they may have several operatives in the city’s sanitation department.  Just like I feared.”, a voice responded from the tiny speaker in the buck’s ear.  

“There seem to be more than I can handle, sir.  I only brought a few weapons with me for the operation since you felt stealth was more necessary.”

“Hah!  Son, I know you have enough with you to be the envy of many gun stores.  Don’t worry about handling those troops.  There are others there today that’ll deal with that.  You have a very specific mission.”  The heavily armed deer stopped.  He flipped his wrist carefully, looking in a small polarized mirror to see behind him.  Sure enough, he had picked up a tail.  They were still moving as if they were unaware he’d spotted them.

“I’ve been made, sir.  Not a random patrol or lookout.  They knew I’d be here.”

“Shit!  We have a mole.”

“Yes, sir.  Orders?”

“Objective one accomplished.  Evade capture at all costs.  Help the others as best you can.  If the opportunity presents itself, then proceed with objective two but not at the expense of yours or any civilian’s safety.  And if you see your mother, tell her I said hello.  Good luck, Buckshot.”

“Will do, father.”  And the buck was gone, first to deal with his “tail” then hopefully to even the odds facing the others at the museum.  A couple thousand miles away, the older deer slammed a metallic fist into his desk, heavily cracking it.  He’d have to implement the plan he’d come up with to find and deal with the mole before he could proceed with anything else, except perhaps to worry for his son, the boy’s mother and their friends and colleagues in the middle of this mess.

Gammorah Bay heroes museum side entrance, Gammorah Bay – after mid-day

“I really should have showed you this before today, honey.”,  Dakota explained to Danielle as Todd trailed after the two women.  

“Wait, Dakota.  Are you okay?”  Dani put a comforting hand on the pronghorn’s shoulder.  Todd moved up to put his hand on Dakota’s other shoulder.

“I appreciate your support but this isn’t about any of that.  And no, I’m not okay but I think telling you about this will help that.”

“Uh, maybe we ought to go with ours first.”, Todd suggested looking at Dani with a great deal of concern for what the pronghorn felt she had to say.  

“No, let her go first, dear.”  Now it was Dakota’s turn to look at the pair and whatever secret they might be waiting to tell her.  

The whole exchange among the trio didn’t go unnoticed.  Though they couldn’t hear what was being said, competing photojournalists Gregory “SnapDragon” Pierson and Denise “Shutterbug” Wachs could tell it was something major.  The Asiatic dragon snapped off a few photos.

“Stop wasting your shots.  Everyone knows the mayor and those two are playpals.  It’s not news.”, the honey bee buzzed her wings in annoyance as one of her smaller arms waved the notion away dismissively.  

“That’s the beauty of digital and having a ton of SD cards.  And that’s what they said about the Lewinkski photo.”  

“That was on film, jackass.  And it’s not news unless something violent starts happening.”  Greg snapped a few more images just to piss off the insect girl.  “Okay fine!”  Denise snapped her own shot, just as the sidewalk she was taking a photo of erupted in a spray of concrete, dirt and landscaping.  Reflexes took over as the debris showered down on the pair and they kept snapping pictures of the crater near where the three people had been standing moments ago.  Microchips recorded the devastation – the huge hole in the side of the museum, the body of Mayor Jackson hopefully only stunned by the explosion.  Dakota moved a bit to rub the side of her head but was still dazed.  

Before either journalist could move to check on her, a whooshing noise over the water to their east drew their attention.  The craft that launched the attack had risen out of the cove and was wobbling unsteadily as if something had hit it.  Metal crunched and the canopy wrenched away from the vehicle, appearing to be flung into the water of the cove.  The vehicle’s controls erupted in explosions of sparks and debris as the pilot and crew frantically tried to avoid getting hit by both.  The craft lurched and pitched into the cove, leaving those manning it to swim for their lives.  A wind passed over the journalists and a tremendous thud indicated something big had landed but neither could quite make out what it was.  Turning her head to look at the thing indirectly, Denise thought her compound eyes made out the shape of a very big, very long creature.  Its tail was still above them and it’s wingspan seemed to be that of a large jet.  Other explosions to the west drew her attention.  Gregory was already snapping as a couple of warehouses were obliterated in an instant.  

The first explosion had stunned the gathered crowd.  The second panicked them.  Althea pushed Jared and Amanda in the direction of Theo and Gretchen directing the pair to watch over and protect them.  Jesse had already launched herself out of the seats and at the horse officer that had been directing the VIP crowd.  She knocked him down just as some projectile whistled through the air where his head had been.  In a single fluid motion, she whipped the policeman’s baton out of his belt and swung it at another craft that had appeared from the north.  The baton jammed up one of the two rotors keeping the craft aloft and it pitched in the direction of the cove to splash very near the first.  Jesse helped the officer up and together they helped Jolene calm and direct the crowd away from the seating area.  

As another craft appeared, Allie shouted to Karyn who pulled her dress off, revealing a costume that hadn’t been seen in public for 12 years.  Though she lacked the trademark fingerless gloves, the blue rhoanthekan slammed a fist into her open hand and sent the resulting energy into the craft.  It wobbled and Karyn hit it with another blast, knocking the craft down.  She felt a smack at her elbow and whirled to find Katie handing her a mask.  Karyn took it and tied it on as she bounded over now empty seats to the downed vehicle.  Allie watched her go, thinking how Bombshell was back and looking good.  A tap on her elbow revealed Katie handing her a pair of goggles.

“I couldn’t fit the helmet without bringing a backpack.”  Althea chuckled, donned the goggles and shed her own clothing for the costume underneath.  Like Karyn’s, it hadn’t seen use in some years either.  She’d feel a bit naked without the helmet but that wasn’t about to stop her from getting a few licks in during this battle.  The draconid pushed seats and jumped over more to follow her lover.

Calculating eyes scanned the battle from far above.  The opening gambit had been launched.  As expected, the deer had taken the diversion at the warehouses and dealt with it explosively.  That and the other losses had been factored into the operation’s planning, though the canid hadn’t expected those losses to mount as quickly as they had.  The loss of the first craft was particularly troubling.  

“Colonel-“  She turned to the uniformed elk.  “-phase two!”, she barked and raised a metal fist.  The hard unyielding surface gave off a high pitched squeal as powerful miniature servos brought the replacement digits together.  “Now is they time they know who they’re really dealing with.”  Once again the elk saluted stiffly but his leader could see triumphant delight in his eyes.

“I said, ‘let’s bring them’ and you asked, ‘why would anyone need Harlot and Charmer’  The gryphon caught one of the attackers in the midsection with a kick and another with a boot to the groin.  

“Okay, okay, so we’ll know better for next time.”, the rattlesnake replied amiably but her fangs were showing, meaning she was losing patience with the unreasonable nature of the attacker she was dealing with.  Finally reaching her limit, the snake struck and the attacker crumpled to the ground with a scream.  Jesse checked and the fangs weren’t dripping.  Given the ferocity the overly zealous assholes were showing, the gryphon thought it was a shame that Jolene hadn’t injected even a little venom.

Over at the aircraft Karyn had downed, she and Allie were putting the finishing touches on mopping of the craft’s crew.  The shockwave from another fist slam put those that remained on their feet flat on their backs.

“Just like the old days, hon- I mean, Star.”  Star Power winked, slamming an elbow into an unfortunate trooper who thought he could sneak up on the heroine.  

“Not quite, Bombshell.  I’m definitely going to need some quality time with the hot tub tonight before bed.”  The draconid’s smile faded quickly as she looked around.  Massive hovering troop carriers had appeared, flanked by more flying craft.  One larger, rather ominous looking craft dropped low over the area, emblazoned with a familiar sigil that made Star’s mouth go dry with fear.  

“My god, Greta?”, a voice gasped behind Star as the attack’s mastermind appeared at the bow of the craft and she turned to see Gretchen with her hands over her snout, staring in horrified amazement as Theo held her, just as horrified.

“Hello Gammorah Bay!  Did you miss me?  How about my mother?  I’ve dreamed of nothing but this for 12 years!  Today is the day of the Neo-Bitch and my glorious New Reich!!”, the cyborg golden shepherd called out to those trembling below.

“Oh shit!”, Jared uttered in the silence that followed the pronouncement.

Gammorah Bay hero museum main hall, Gammorah Bay – mid-afternoon

Danielle roused, wondering if last night’s partying and this morning’s romps had caught up with her or if the caffeine from breakfast had worn off.  She shoved what felt like cardboard and tissue paper off of her only to find that it was steel beams and high grade sheetrock.  She brushed off bits of glass and looked about for scratches.  The lower part of her jacket and shirt underneath was burned or torn off but she was other wise undamaged.  Then she remembered the impact and having the wind knocked out of her.  Placing her hand against the nearest wall to steady herself, she was surprised to see a familiar emblem on it.  Suddenly the explosion, the craft, the emblem on its side – she remembered it all.

Then she noticed she was in the central hall of the museum itself.  The emblem was part of the exhibit dedicated  to that day 12 years ago, the day her father had died.  Then she noticed the statue that dominated the center of the museum.  Bernard Ferris, her father, stood above her frozen in the last moment known of his life beyond the devastation that had claimed it, immortalized in a marble statue based on the famous photograph, his uniform tattered but his expression resolute.  The people that had taken him from her were back to take the rest.  She could hear them outside, some were already boasting they’d won, then she heard the woman’s voice.  Rage filled Dani.  Her mother had wanted her to be a lawyer so Dani could still contribute to protecting others but not be in harm’s way.  Now Dani had the means, the power to do so much more.  She could feel it.  She turned to the hole that her body had torn in the side of the museum, the same resolute expression on her face as the statue that stood behind her as she walked out to finally face the bastards that had changed her young life forever.

As Dani stepped out of the museum, she spotted Dakota and leaned down to the mayor.  The pronghorn was still dazed from the initial explosion.  Dakota blinked up at the rhoanthekan and tried to form words.

“Easy honey.  I’ll be back.  I just need to take out the trash first.”  

“Danielle?  Th-the patches- what?  Dani, wait-!”

“I can’t.  Believe me, Dakota, I have the power now.  I can do something about this.”  The rhoanthekan picked up a chunk of concrete and crushed it as easily as if it had been paper.  Dakota made a grab for her but the rhoanthekan was already standing upright and the black tarp stuck to her back was still there.

Danielle was so focused on her goal, she paid little attention to the pair of photojournalists trying to hide among the debris of the first blast all while trying to photograph what they could of the imminent defeat.  Seeing motion out of the corner of his eye, SnapDragon turned and snapped a picture of Dani as she was surveying the scene.  

“Ohhhho!  This is so getting me the Pulitzer!”, the dragon boasted as he looked at the picture he’d taken.  Denise put a couple of arms on his.

“NO!  Don’t you dare turn that in!”, she shouted as loud as she felt she could.  “But don’t erase it.  This is history and everyone will want to see this moment someday, but not now, not for a while.”  

“Why are you so damn sensible?”  The eastern dragon shook his head.  “I love that about you.”  All the bee could do was look back at Gregory in shock he’d actually said those words.  Before she could think of something to say, Danielle was on the move.  

The enraged rhoanthekan was a maroon, white and black blur as she hit the first troop carrier she targeted.  The explosion from its destruction knocked the troopers around it to the ground where Danielle, still at super-speed, made sure none of them would be getting up for a while.  Another troop carrier mysteriously flattened as if a huge weight had crushed it.  The scurrying troops around it were then scattered by an invisible giant hand.  The maroon and black streak shredded another carrier to pieces around the troopers exiting it, depositing them in a heap of unconscious forms.  One of the flying craft was bashed into another sending both careening to the ground.  The maroon streak smashed through the few tanks that had managed to deploy from the carriers before they were trashed as something picked up the last carrier and shook it like a dog might shake a favorite chew toy.  

“NO!!!!”, Neo-Bitch snarled, watching her operation coming undone.  She grabbed a rocket launcher from one of the troopers standing with her and fired it at the accursed heroes she could see below.  “NO!!  Damn you!!”  The maroon streak intercepted the projectile and rose to face the antagonistic shepherd.  The streak resolved itself into a women but not with enough detail that Neo-Bitch could make out anything distinguishing about her in the smoke and haze of the battle that had raged.  The canine could sense rather than see the rage that radiated from the woman, who effortlessly smashed the rocket in her hands and contained the blast with her own body.  “DAMN YOU!!!”, Neo-Bitch spat at the woman.

“Oh no, FUCK YOU!!”, the woman snarled back.  The uniformed elk grabbed Neo-Bitch from behind and pulled her into the ship with him, just as the woman struck the vessel with a fist travelling so fast it could barely be seen.  The punch sent the ship rocketing from the scene  in the direction of the sea and in a few moments it was a speck in the distance before vanishing all together.  Floating in midair, Danielle turned back to the scene below.  Some in the crowd began applauding.  Her own mother saluted Dani.  She doubted Karyn would be saluting if she could see who had really done all of this.  She also noted that the police were rounding up and dealing with the troopers.  With her job done, the rhoanthekan dashed off at high-speed.

She doubled back when she felt she was sufficiently out of sight and came in from the south where it seemed the troopers had ignored and dashed back inside the museum.  Finally noticing the tarp, she tugged it off, then tore her clothing a bit more until she was dressed in little more than rags and her underwear.  She dusted herself with dust and small bits of debris, then made her grand exit, adding a couple of coughs for good measure.  

Outside, medics were examining Dakota who was trying to wave them off.  Strong hands took hold of her from behind.  She turned to find Todd who was trying to help her down to the ground from the column they were standing on.

“There you are!”, he shouted once they were both down and he gave her a big hug.  “I was so afraid that you were…”, he didn’t finish the thought but it made Dani think that under normal circumstances, she very well could have been severely injured or killed.  

“I need to talk to you when these ruffians are done.”, Dakota called from the stretcher.  More than one medic glared at her for a moment before going back to taking her vitals.  Some approached Danielle and she showed them that aside from her shredded clothing, she was fine.  One handed her a blanket to cover up with.  Just then Eliza dashed up the walk from around the back of the museum.  

“Ohmigosh!  I just heard everything on the police radio!  Dakota, are you okay?  Does this mean I’m in charge?”  The young cockatiel looked on the verge of hyperventilating, then stopped and composed herself.  In an instant, she looked like she could handle anything, then started issuing orders on where the mayor should be taken, what sort of security arrangements she should have,  and getting a press conference organized to be held in a couple of hours.  

senior Dharken household living room, Gilded Flats housing development, Gammorah Bay outskirts – evening

“Nnngh!  You always were a pain in the ass, Theo.”, Jared grumbled.  Despite the rhoanthekan’s protest, the stallion pressed forward.  He’d loved fucking the dragon in their more adversarial days.  

“C’mon, you love it and you know it.”, Theo teased, knowing full well it was true.  Jared pushed back trying to get more of the stud inside of him.  He looked over on the sofa to see Gretchen lying spread over his wife’s quadruped dragon form.  Amanda’s flesh flushed brightly as her fuchsia tail pressed further into the shepherd’s vagina.  Jared grunted loudly as Theo pushed the last of his length into the rhoanthekan.  He looked about ready to say something again when Amanda rumbled something.

“Yes dear, I know Star told us to keep an eye on these two but I don’t think this is what she had in mind.”  Theo bucked out then in and did so several times, making Jared whimper in delight.  Amanda rumbled again.  “Yes, dear, this way is more fun.”, the rhoanthekan added before the german shepherd cried out in orgasm.

Dar-Ferris-Jefferson residence living room, Headland Heights, Gammorah Bay – evening

“I don’t know but I’m pretty sure she was familiar, though not someone from the old days.”, Karyn explained, still very much trying to figure out the mystery of the flying woman at the museum.

“No one I knew for sure, not with that power.”, Allie added.  “The only one I can remember that could do anything like that was Bernard.  But not nearly that powerful.”  

“Gah, I should know!”  

“Well you aren’t going to figure it out tonight, ‘Sherlock’.  And you ladies might as well stay here for the night.”, the draconid added to Jesse and Jolene.  “Even from here you can still see the mess of investigators cars all over midtown.  It’d be hours more before you got back home.  We have a lovely guest room that barely gets used.  You two are welcome to break in that mattress.”  Allie winked fluffing Jesse’s feathers up and bringing a nervous grin to the rattlesnake’s face.   “Make yourselves at home and stay up as long as you like.  I’m gonna take ‘Holmes’ and ‘Watson’ to bed but we’ll try to keep it down.”  After the trio retreated to the bedroom, the gryphon looked back at Jolene with a wicked grin.  

“How about he try to outdo them?”  Though she’d never verbally admit to it, Jolene liked that idea and the pair headed to the guest room to raise a little ruckus of their own.

Gammorah Bay central police station rooftop , City Central district, Gammorah Bay – late evening

“Buckshot here, sir.  The prisoners have been processed and are in interrogation right now.  None of them are saying anything about the mole yet.’

“I don’t suspect they will, son.  None of those caught probably have the slightest idea where their information comes from.  Wrap it up for the night and get some rest.  I might have a lead on the trajectory of the main craft by tomorrow.”  

“Sir?”

“Yes, Buck?”

“How did you know about what would happen today at the museum?  That the powers would intervene?”  

“Truth be told, I’m still surprised at what you reported back.  No one I knew had that kind of power, not even officer Ferris.  Someone new is in the game.  For now, let’s be glad they were on our side.”  

“Thank you, sir.  I didn’t say anything to mother.  Too many eyes.  Goodnight father.”

“ I thought so.  Goodnight Buck.  Be in touch soon.”

Gamorrah Bay general hospital, room 101, Central City district, Gammorah Bay – late evening

“How are you doing, madam Mayor?”, Danielle asked, knowing full well what the answer would be.

“Ugh!”, Dakota replied but indicated she was bored out of her mind.  “Why do those damn tests have to take so long to get the results?  They’ll only show I’m over everything and am perfectly fit now.”  

“True, but they don’t know about your metabolism, so let them find out that you’re fine when they’re able to.  Otherwise, there could be a lot of uncomfortable questions.”

“And the last thing any of us want is uncomfortable questions, especially about certain abilities.”  Dakota fixed an eye square on Danielle’s.  “You’ll have to be careful.  You know what your mother will say when she finds out.  And what happened to the patches?”  As she asked, the curved and pointed black patches appeared around Danielle’s eyes and she lifted the chair in the room with one finger.  She set the chair back down and the patches faded away.  “Wow, like an on – off switch and an instant disguise.  You shouldn’t need a mask then but you’ll need a costume.”

“Whoa, wait, what?  What costume?”

“Every hero wears a costume or are you planning go doing the hero thing in whatever you have on at the moment?  I can see where some of the bad guys would like it if you showed up in lingerie or an evening dress or maybe you’re just planning on wearing sweat pants and a hoodie.  I know I’d be good with you showing up naked.”  Dakota leered knowing exactly what every inch of the younger woman looked like out of her clothes and once again mentally cursed being tangled in all the tubes and wires.

“What?  Just because I did what I did today, I’m now stuck doing it as some super community servant?  

“Honey, everyone in The Starfighters had their own reasons for being a member. Some did it for the prestige, to be in the spotlight.  Some to be accepted where they wouldn’t feel so alone.  My mother pushed me into it.  She coveted my powers but I got them from my father. I’m the last person who will push you to do this.  Your mom and Star were the most selfless of us.  They did it because they could really make a difference.  Remember how you wanted to be a police officer and had to settle for being a lawyer because of the promise to your mother?  This is your opportunity to make that difference in a way an ordinary officer can’t.”

“Hmm, okay but I can’t promise anything.  I’ll need to think about it first.  And a costume too.  I don’t remember any of The Starfighters showing up in sweats.  Hmm, Todd mi-“

“No!  Don’t tell him.  Not yet.  You’d only be putting him in danger if he did know.”  

“So it’s our secret for now.  Okay.  But I’ll have to tell him something soon.  I can’t keep something like this from him for too long.”   Dakota put a hand on Dani’s.

“Honey, I’m so sorry about today and about not telling you about the statue until now.”  

“That’s okay.  He’d have found it a bit grandiose.  I probably would have opted for something less representational of one person.”

“That’s usually the nature of a hero, honey.  One person making all the difference at the right time.  We need you.”  

“We?”, the rhoanthekan teased, pulling her top down and flashing a bare breast.  Dakota struggled against the tubes and wires covering her.

“Damn tests.”, the pronghorn grumbled.  

“Consider it an incentive to get out of her.”, Danielle grinned.

“But I am better.”  Dakota pouted, then something occurred to her.  “Where’s Todd?”

“He said he had to take care of a few things.  I guess he has something big coming up for work in the next few days.”

open country, hundreds of miles from Gammorah Bay – night

The night air was cool as it whistled past but it was nothing to the one hunting the large craft that Danielle had knocked out to see this afternoon.  Scent information at the museum grounds had confirmed that the maroon streak had been her.  Eyes that could scan the expanse of the electromagnetic spectrum had focused in on the craft’s heat signature, starting from the museum and finding the spot where it had recovered, then the trail where it  had limped its way back toward its home base.  The hunter set his wings and glided patiently following the trail.  He would conserve his energy for when he caught up to Neo-Bitch.

Memorial Cove cemetery, Ferris Island, Gammorah Bay – early morning

Danielle settled slowly to the ground after making sure no one was around.  It appeared that anyone who had made it out to Ferris Island today was now gone.  She had something she really needed to talk through but according to Dakota no one she could really talk to.  That just left one, who would only listen, but if Dani listened carefully enough, then she often heard what he would say as if he were here.

“Hi Daddy.”, she whispered, touching the dragon atop the marker then sat down on the grass.  “I’m sorry I didn’t say anything earlier.  You know how I like to keep our talks just to us.  And now I really do have something big to talk about.”  She closed her eyes and when she opened them again, Bernard Ferris was sitting there next to her.  

“Hi, Spitfire.  Nice moves today.  You really gave those New Reich ass-,er, bad guys nothing less than they deserved.  Karyn should be proud.”  

“Mom doesn’t know.  She can’t know.  She made me promise to be a lawyer instead of a police officer like I always wanted.  Like you.  She definitely wouldn’t be happy about this.”

“Honey, your mom is just afraid.  She doesn’t want to lose you too. “

“I know.  And I don’t want to make her upset or worry her but now I have a chance to do something, really do something to make a difference.  What do I do, daddy?  I know what mom wants but what about you?””

“Danielle, this will probably surprise you but I had powers.  By what tests and standards they had at the time, I could have been the most powerful member of The Starfighters but I was terrified of it.  I didn’t live up to my full potential until it was too late.  If I hadn’t been afraid, I might have stopped what happened here from ever taking place.  You are the best of your mother and I.  You’ll be greater and you won’t do it alone.  Just like Star Power, like your Aunt Althea, others will follow your example, will join you.  Together you’ll keep things like this from happening.  Your mother will be proud of you.”

“A-and what about you, daddy?”

“Honey, I’m already proud of you!”  Bernard hugged his daughter and Dani returned it, closing her eyes for an instant.  When she opened them, he was gone.  She stood up and stayed for a  while, her mind going over and over what he had said.  Her father had powers.  How could even her unconscious mind have known this?  An overheard conversation?  And what about her and others that would follow after her being greater?  Had she actually spoken to the spirit of her father?  She doubted she’d find answers tonight or any time soon but she did have the one she had come looking for.

“Thank you, daddy.”, she whispered and rose up into the night sky above the bay.  

Temporary lunar observation post, Clavius crater, the moon – full lunar day

Advance Scout’s appended initial observation report now recording.

Like the day 12 cycles ago reported earlier, today appears to have been a momentous one among the building creatures.  A number of the previously reported individuals with power located in “Gammorah Bay” reappeared among their fellow non-powered creatures after a clumsy attack by yet another powered individual at the structure they called a “museum.”  This confirms earlier unreported observations that these powered building creatures can be every bit as destructive and savage as our own race.

Of perhaps greater interest than the powered creatures is the knowledge that those with powers aren’t entirely united of purpose.  Several have opposing views and differing motivations.  These individuals are identified as “outlaws”, “bandits”, “thieves”, “criminals” and most often “villains”.  Sometimes these “outlaws” are revered for standing against some “unjust” authority but most of the time, they’re feared for their unpredictable behavior and their disregard for their fellow creatures.  This often puts them at the most violent odds with the “heroes”.

That fact plus the existence of the individuals of power makes closer observation and careful contact essential to the intelligence gathering mission.  Will continue observing from the natural satellite to craft an appropriate insertion and infiltration plan before landing on Homeworld.

End appended report.  Will make additional reports as events warrant.

The observer rubbed his temples.  The day had started so beautifully but had escalated beyond his wildest expectations.  Still it would mean an end to his solitude as soon as he had a plan.  Perhaps he could even sample some of the local delights such as their foods.  And their varied means of mating.  The observer queued up the recording he’d made of the Dharkens’ morning romp and went about perfecting his masturbation technique.

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