Dragon Corps

Order to Report for Training

The Greater Good,

To Cory Joseph Aldren.

Order No. 9526

GREETING: 998

You are hereby notified that, having been submitted to a local board composed of Overseers for the purpose of determining your eligibility for training and service in the Armed Forces of the United World Order, you have been selected for training and service in the Dragon Corps.

You will report to the Dragon Corps Training Academy at 3:45 p.m. on the 26th day of March, 2145.

The Local Board of Overseers will provide transportation to an induction station of the academy. There, you and your dragon will undergo examination for training and service and be inducted into the appropriate branch of service.

Failure to report to the academy within 72 hours of this notice is a violation of the Selective Training and Service Act of 2045, as amended, and will subject you to imprisonment and termination.

We look forward to your compliance.

Admiral Chu

Chapter One

Cory reread the letter over and over again, each word sinking deeper each time like a fishing lure hitting the water. What was he going to do? He never wanted to join the corps, let alone the academy. Everyone knew the Greater Good had secret police. Every government throughout history had hidden surveillance, but it was very unnerving that they already knew about him finding an egg less than twelve hours after its discovery. How close were they? His friends didn’t even know, let alone his own mother. How could they?

Cory’s thoughts were all over the place, but one thing that was foremost in his mind was his mother. His dad had disappeared before he was born, and even though his mom never said a word against his father, Cory felt in his heart that if his dad had really wanted to be there, he would be. Cory had vowed never to be like his dad, never to abandon his mom, and yet here he was, breaking that vow. It wasn’t fair. Why him? Cory turned his gaze toward his closet, where hidden in a pile of dirty laundry was the egg he had found in the woods behind his house, like a foreboding Easter egg. He knew the egg wasn’t directly to blame as much as he was, but he couldn’t help the resentment rising in his throat like thick black poison.

Cory tried taking deep breaths, but it felt like all he was doing was fanning the flames. Unable to contain himself, he flung open the closet door, ripping through the pile of laundry until he uncovered the egg. As he held it in his hands, examining the smooth, ridge-like texture of the shell, he felt a throbbing warmth from the egg, which only served as a reminder of the creature inside that he held responsible for disrupting his life. Cory couldn’t help the searing hatred he had for it. Why did it have to come to him? He was fine, he was happy. He and his mom had a normal life; sure, they didn’t have much, but it was theirs. Now, because of some prehistoric fantasy reptile, he would never see her again. He had to say goodbye to his friends, break up with his girlfriend. The egg began to throb faster and faster as if it was afraid. It was then that he noticed he had been squeezing the egg.

Snapping out of his rage, Cory sat on his bed with a sigh. He couldn’t do it. Even though it was because of this thing he was being drafted, he couldn’t take it out on the creature. Studying the swirling deep greens and purples in the onyx black shell, he continued to think. His mom always said that losing your head never did anyone a bit of good. As if summoned, he heard the car door signaling that she was home. Sighing, he stood up and grabbed the blanket from his bed, making a makeshift nest on his desk and repositioning his desk lamp so that it was directly over the egg. “I’m hoping that biology experiment in fifth grade actually pays off, even though you’re not a chicken,” Cory sighed and grabbed the letter along with the rest of the mail.

It was his and his mother’s nightly ritual that, at the end of the day when she got home, she would have a cup of tea and they would sit and talk about their day at the kitchen table, sometimes for hours. That table was basically the cornerstone of how his mom helped him navigate through all the potholes of growing up and going through puberty. Now he was going to have to rip that away. As he entered the kitchen, he saw his mom already sitting at the kitchen table, taking off her shoes.

“Hey honey, how was school today?” she asked. Forcing a smile, he put the kettle on the stove and set it on high.

“Good,” he replied. He filled her in on the day he had at school: hanging out with his best friend during lunch, acing his calculus test, and feeling confident about his history test. He let her know that it was a strong possibility he had failed his chemistry test and consequently would more than likely be failing the entire class. As he filled her in on the events, he didn’t turn around to face her, just continued to face the stove, pretending to be engrossed in waiting for the pot to whistle. He could feel her eyes boring into the back of his neck. He didn’t feel that she was angry, but he could tell he wasn’t doing a good job of hiding the fact that he was troubled. Luckily, his mom always told him that she never believed in asking people questions. “Just give them time. When they’re ready, they’ll give their answers.”

“Well, that’s unfortunate, especially since you’ve been studying so hard for that test. Maybe we need to get you a tutor?” Her tone of voice let him know she didn’t believe that his grade was troubling him. He could tell she was using it to feel around for what he was thinking. The kettle began to whistle and boil over. Taking out a mug, he put in the leaves and poured the hot water, knowing that his time for stalling had run out. Yet, as he set down the tea in front of her and sat down, he still couldn’t talk around the boulder lodged in his throat. His mother looked at his pocket, clearing her throat.

“Have you checked the mail today?”

Balls. He handed her the pile of mail and watched as she carefully scanned through each envelope until she came across the open parchment envelope with its metallic red lettering. She didn’t even pull out the letter before Cory saw her eyes begin to mist and tear. She grabbed his hand while still staring at the envelope, then wiped the tears that were still being held in her eyes.

Sniffing, she said, “Oh, look at me; crying has never done anybody any good. I was hoping I’d never have to see one of these letters ever again.”

“You’ve seen this letter before?” he asked, confused. His mother never spoke of anyone she knew getting drafted into the Corps. She didn’t answer but took out his letter and scanned through each word carefully. It felt like an eternity had passed. She had to have reread the letter twenty times by now. Finally, she sighed and put down the letter, pinching the bridge of her nose. He knew that she was thinking. He waited to hear a plan or some words of hope, but he knew that wasn’t his mom’s style. She knew as well as he did that there was no getting out of this, and his mom was never one to give anyone false hopes or delusions.

“Okay, so how are you doing?”

Cory was taken aback because, despite her own grief, his mother asked about his well-being first.

“What do you mean, how am I doing? Mom, I’m being drafted. I’ve never even wanted to join the Dragon Corps, let alone think I’d actually ever qualify for it.” He got up and stormed to his room, his mom calling after him, but he wasn’t leaving. He just had to show her. He grabbed the egg from its makeshift nest and gently placed it in front of her. She stared at the egg and sighed.

“Cory, I know you’re scared, and it’s okay. But you have to stop looking at this like it’s the end of the world.”

“How can it not be? You know as well as I do anyone who goes into the Corps is never heard from again.”

“Baby, you need to breathe and relax. Focus on the facts and differentiate what you do and do not have control over.”

“Mama, I know the facts, and I feel like there is nothing I can do. I need your advice. Should I dodge this and you and I run? I can ask Jake and Roberta if they want to come an—”

“Cory Joseph Aldren, now why would you go and do a fool thing like that for? Now hush up and listen to me. Yes, you are being drafted for whatever reason you were chosen. Now, no use getting all in a tizzy over it. It’s over, it’s done, but you still have a choice about what you will and will not do along this path. I have always told you if there is a will, there is a way. If you will that you and I will see each other again, then so it shall be. It may not be right after you report or while you’re in the academy, but it will happen. Just because you don’t have control over where your path is, you can control the direction you go in and the twists and turns you take and how you walk it. If you go on this journey with a clear and open mind and always look at the facts and trust your instincts, you could be in store for a wonderful destiny. But only if you can maintain your cool, calm, and collected mind. Otherwise, you are going to get yourself into a world of trouble that you may not be able to dig yourself out of.” His mother’s words, though stern and grave, seemed like a soothing balm on his nerves. The tightness in his chest began to ease as his emotions became easier and easier to reign in.

“Keep in mind, honey, just because we are not together doesn’t mean our bond will snap. Someone once told me that love exceeds every boundary. So this is no excuse why you cannot still have a normal life, grow into an amazing man, meet a good woman, and have a family. And no reason why we will not see each other again.” She gestured towards the egg, her face softening as if looking at a baby.

“And sweetheart, I implore you, do not harbor any hatred for this creature. Hate gives birth to hate, and you are now going to be in charge of one of the most beautiful, powerful, and dangerous creatures unknown to man. Whether this was part of your plan or not is irrelevant. You two are going to be a unit, and in order for you to be in harmony, you need to be disciplined in not just your body but your mind as well. You will have to have a clear mind—a perfect balance of logic and instinct.”

“Geez, Ma, you make it sound like the damn thing is either my baby or my girlfriend. I’m not quite sure. And I know you’re not Roberta’s biggest fan, but she sure isn’t a scaly, fire-breathing lizard.”

“I know… That’d be an insult to dragons everywhere.” She snickered into her tea. Cory couldn’t help but smile. He may not have felt a hundred percent better, but at least he didn’t feel like he was drowning in a lake.

“I’m not saying it’s going to be easy or that everything is going to be happily ever after or exactly how it is now, but I will say that I feel, based on the facts and the evidence I have before me, that everything is going to be alright. Just make sure to always look at the facts and look at logic.”

“I know, Ma. It’s just that I am worried that they are going to try to turn me into something that I’m not. I mean, can you blame me? No one knows anything about what goes on at the academy, and let’s face it, The Greater Good can say they are bringing peace to the world, but isn’t that what all of history’s oppressing governments and dictators have said? I mean, for peace, there sure are a lot of countries and people being ‘persuaded’ at the exact moment they are looking at an army of indestructible, fire-breathing monsters that, up until two hundred years ago, didn’t even exist and surpass all science, which is now the new magic and—”

“Cory, Cory, you’re rambling again. While I do agree with your train of thought, the question is, what are you going to do about it? You can either ramble about it or look at what’s going on to develop a deeper understanding and then use it to change everything for the better. You both can. Now, you go put this little baby somewhere warm and go on off to bed. You still have school tomorrow.”

“Still? I’m leaving, Ma. Does it really matter?”

“Yes, it still matters. Now go on.”

“All right, Mama. See you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow, baby.”

Chapter Two

Despite the weight of what was to come hanging over his head, Cory still managed to fall into a deep, albeit troubled, sleep. His dreams prevented him from finding complete peace. He remembered being in a dark place, feeling a multitude of different sensations. The ground felt soft and moist, like it was covered in moss, yet the air was still and hot. His throat burned from the sulfur and smoke in the air. Everything had the makings of a nightmare, yet there was no fear. Despite the danger, he felt a sense of calm, as if he knew that whatever lurked in the shadows meant him no harm.

There was indeed something lurking, for he heard a voice beckoning, “Come find me.” The disembodied voice commanded him faintly three times, yet Cory could not force himself to move. He didn’t feel physically restrained, but it was as if his mind and his muscles were not speaking to each other. Vaguely, a new sensation crept up on him. He felt something slithering around his legs, winding itself up his body. It was too dark to see what it was. He felt it level with his face, yet still could not make out its features as it rubbed against him like a cat. Then, in a swift turn, he felt a stabbing pain in his neck. Whatever had cozied up to him was now feasting on him. The dream switched off in an instant, replaced by the blinding light of the sun streaming through the blinds and the blaring sound of his alarm clock. His mother burst into his room.

“Cory, you’re running late! Get dressed, and I’ll drop you off at school.”

He groaned as he leapt out of bed. Well, that was one way to dodge the draft. He couldn’t be labeled a coward if he died in a car collision caused by a woman who drove like she stole it. Sure enough, when he got in the car, Cory made peace with whatever god might listen as his mom weaved through traffic, narrowly missing other vehicles' bumpers and blind spots. She was so close to their bumpers that he could tell what they had for breakfast as she blurted out obscenities about how other drivers might have acquired their driving certifications from inside a Cracker Jack box.

“Mom, you can’t yell at other drivers for going the speed limit,” he gritted out, holding onto the seat for dear life.

“Oh come on, the speed limit is a suggestion! It’s not going to kill them to go a little faster.”

“Studies would disagree with you,” he mumbled.

Finally, they reached the school with fifteen minutes to spare and, amazingly enough, in one piece.

“Have a great day, honey. I’ll see you after school, and good luck—it’s going to be okay.”

“Thanks, Mom.” He smiled and grabbed his backpack.

Almost immediately after leaving his mom’s car, Roberta swung onto his side.

“Hey baby! Gawd, when are you going to get your own car? It’s embarrassing that your mom drops you off everywhere. And I’m sorry, but there's no way I'm going to be seen showing up to prom being dropped off by your mom—can you say ‘Loser’?”

Cory listened as Roberta droned on and on; after a year together, he had learned that all she expected from him was his presence. She didn’t need him to carry on a conversation—heck, he’d been able to put down the phone to play his game or finish his homework for hours without her even taking a breath. But today needed to be different.

“Look, Roberta, I need to talk to you about something.”

“Umm, hello? I was talking. Rude much?”

He spun her around so that she was facing him and looked her straight in the eye so she could see the grave look on his face. “Look, Babe, any other day I’d gladly listen to you prattle on about God knows what, but right now I really need you to listen to me.”

“Okay, scale back on the drama and tell me what’s got your panties in a bunch.” She rolled her eyes but at least she was quiet.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, he told her everything. “Roberta, I got drafted. I’m leaving the day after tomorrow.”

“What? Okay, not funny, Cory.”

“Berta, I’m serious.”

“Come on, babe, no offense but why would the Corps want you? Don’t take this the wrong way but you’re not exactly… built for the military, let alone the most elite military branch our government has.”

“Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“Hey, don’t take it out on me—you’re not as tall as other guys and kind of skinny. I mean take Jake for example—he’s captain of the football team, he’s tall and built. When you think of Dragon Corps he is the epitome of a strong protector. You? I’m sorry but you wouldn’t make it out of the Academy let alone the Corps.”

“Well regardless of whether you think I'm ‘built’ for the job or not, I've been drafted. Here, take a look.” He pulled out the letter from his back pocket.

Rolling her eyes, she snatched the letter from him and began to read it; as she got further down her eyes began to widen.

“No no no no this can’t be happening; you can’t do this to me! You cannot flake on me a month before prom! I already picked out the dress and matching corsage and flower for your tux! Do you know how hard it was to find a color scheme that would complement both our skin tones and not wash you out in photos?”

“Okay please don’t take this as me being insensitive to your hard work in making sure we match for prom, but how are you the victim here?”

“Excuse me?”

“What I mean is, I’m the one getting shipped off from all I know and love, and you’re here worried about prom and color schemes.”

“Well, excuse me for the world not revolving around you for five seconds.”

“Revolving around me? It’s never about me. I mean, hell, we’ve had four-hour phone conversations where you’re talking and you can’t even pause enough to breathe, let alone notice that I’m not even on the phone. So please, tell me what it is you’d like me to do to make YOU feel better?”

Even though he was being facetious, she actually stopped and thought. Then she came up with something that he was sure she thought was pure gold and smiled a smile that he used to think was so sweet. She began to twirl her hair as she said, “Well, you could dodge it.”

“Come again? You wanna run that by me one more time?”

“Oh come on, this is the perfect way for you to make it up to me. I’m not saying dodge it forever, just until after prom. Then you can go in. I’m sure as long as you show up and explain the situation, they’ll understand.”

“Make it up to you? I have nothing I have to make up, and no, they are not going to understand that I disobeyed a summons because my girlfriend has an unhealthy obsession with a high school dance that ten years from now will more than likely pale in comparison to other possible life events you could have by then.”

“Gawd, you are so selfish,” she yelled back at him. By this time, people had gathered around them to watch the spectacle. Teenagers—parasites that feed off of drama.

“I’m selfish?” he asked in disbelief. “You’re asking me to commit treason punishable by death if I’m caught. My mother will be arrested and ‘interrogated’ for my whereabouts whether she knows them or not until I am found. You know what, forget it. I’m done.” He pushed through the crowd that had gathered around them and ran inside to class. He had never been so happy to hear the bell before, but today it was like the beckoning of a church bell and he was Quasimodo shouting for sanctuary.

Cory couldn’t explain the feeling. The only explanation that came close was like looking through a window that made everything look beautiful. Roberta was his dream girl. He had had a crush on her since he was in fifth grade. She was beautiful, with long black hair perfectly straightened, her makeup always done just perfectly, long legs, and a perfectly… “proportioned” body. He pined for her to the point of obsession, and even though everyone saw her as a cold, shallow, and self-absorbed airhead, he always came to her defense, saying that that was just the persona she showed everyone. Deep down, she was as beautiful inside as on the outside, but it just took time to see it. When she finally noticed him a year ago, he thought it was a dream come true. Now that window was shattered, and he finally saw that everyone was right. Even though she was beautiful on the outside, it was as fake as her perfectly made-up face and only hid how truly shallow she was inside.