Interesting in the Chinese sense of the word...

Rei II

Being only human sized AND not needing any sort of magical assistance to rise above for a better positioning, I find myself nearer to the action than some of the others would. The dragons would be hard pressed to fit into the canyons the sky- scrappers present, so are flying a bit above them. The others are using magic carpets and such to get about (but my wings are faster than their carpets by a bit) means I'm nearest to the kidnapping attempt.

Up ahead below me, I see that the van that my sister had been using has stopped due to the tires being blown out AND the fact that the way further on down is blocked by cars the kidnappers used. She's boxed in and trapped and thus her guarding agents were easily eliminated.

Must say that this is one VERY professional group, whoever is making trouble here.

Okay, be calm. Thank God for small favors but they have not as yet noticed me and my group approach yet (you'd be surprised how quiet dragons can be on the wing). Guess they know that air support cannot get here quickly enough for . . . just however they plan on escaping if I do not miss my guess. Flying machines take time to get spun up and all that, even from where I come from. Even the Star Trek type of space/ aircraft take some prep time. Say what you will about high technology, but in some things living beings (magical or otherwise) can outdo them.

Right, so before we get much closer, Rei, what does all your training from your time as Eva pilot and since then tell you? Use the four "E’s" of strategizing.

. . .

Inquirer and the others taught me well.

Hm, anyway. First step: Observe your enemy and their actions. Second step: From this data, outline what your enemy’s aim is and what it is your enemy can and cannot do. Third step: Deduce effective countermeasures, first to the enemy’s actions, and then to the enemy itself. And finally, be able to actually do what it is you plan to do.

Now, imagine my dismay when I see what one of the things these kidnappers happens to pull from their own vehicle after his mates go and ice Rei III's guardians? What in the name of Heaven are they doing with that futuristic energy weapon? It looks like something out of the movies, but nothing from Star Trek. And I cannot believe that things are so different here on this version of my old homeworld that they'd managed to create man portable directed energy weapons! These people have GOT to be from that Half-life reality/world we'd been warned of, damnit.

We had hoped to have at least a bit more time before they'd show. Foolish hope, but still you cannot fault us for hoping, right?

That said, I had DEFINETELY hoped that they'd not look our way before we'd closed further. Definitely hoped that the guy lugging the would react the NORMAL way when Dragon Fear (the hallmark of all Wyrm stage dragons). Would cause them to freeze in their tracks and piss in their pants. That is why only properly trained types (like Dragon slayers) are able to fight the older kinds dragons with any hope of success, they don't freeze. Usual troops, no matter how brave, usually cannot. Or sometimes in bad cases, the panic they feel causes them to fight in a fear fueled frenzy. With Archers it means shooting off as many arrows as possible (usually with minimal aiming . . . .mostly just wild). With swordsmen, it means wild hacking that . . . usually aren't aimed properly to actually DO anything (more often than not they just miss, so wild are the swings).

But with high technology like the toy this guy's carrying? It looks like some kind of bazooka kind of weapon (area effect in the spot of detonation) and he's bringing it up on the lead dragons: my parents!

The fact that the other kidnappers are still distracted with Rei III, who's managed to actually DOWN some of them with some rather well placed karate kicks . . . .she's VERY good. . . .wow. Some of the screaming (high pitched) ones look like they'd worn . . . protection down below (cough cough) for this mission, else the agony they're suffering from would not be upon them. Most unpleasant.

Almost feel sorry for the SOBs, really. Almost, but not really.

But . . .it looks like the fun isn't over quiet yet as I land and cast a sleep spell upon the kidnappers, who look VERY surprised at my presence (wings and all) right before falling asleep on their feet. "I don't think so!" I shout before letting off with a lightning bolt that spears the would be dragon slayer through his chest. Instantly killing him if only seconds before my companions' mage attacks hit his still erect corpse.

Whirp- whirp- whirp -Whirp . . . .

What's that annoying sound? It's coming from . . . behind me?

Oh dear, that cannot be good at ALL. With more than a bit of haste, I bypass the sleepstanding goonsquad who'd I'd bespelled and rush over to my now asleep sister and take her into my arms. This is going to be difficult because while I can carry another . . . I'm not exactly built for flying with this kind of awkward load!

Bracing myself, I prepare to life HER and myself away from that weapon before it blows itself UP!

Oh Creator. . . .it couldn't be . . . , I overhear Elrondir "mentally" whisper, horror etched ALL over his mindspeak. It was only a fanciful rumor about that unmade followup to the original. "Opposing Forces" wasn't ever . . .

"Rei, get away from there!!" Elrondir screams down from the flying rug he's riding. "It's a displacer gun! RUN!!"

As if I wasn't trying to do that, Uncle Elrondir?!

A flash of green light and a sickening feeling of displacement and . . .I find myself falling. Out of control and towards something that . . .

1. "NO!!" I scream.

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