Dragons, for Real...

That's what they want me to tell you. I am compelled to tell you that. To be honest, I don't understand the rules, or all the games we play, I don't really know if anyone will hear me, and do I really want to play. I mean, seriously, do you remember what it was like before we lived in the valley? They begged us not to come to the valley. They put up sign posts on maps and on borders and that read, in bold letters, "There be Dragons here!"

So, what's a fellow to believe? Do you believe in dragons? I didn't. I just knew if someone went through all that fuss to tell you there were dragons beyond the border, then no one would mess with me. I'd be safe from endless scrutiny social performance. I took the hard assignment that no one wants. I packed up my caravan and headed west. West to the river. Over a bridge. Though a portal that shot me cross the expanse. Down a ravine. Up a ravine. Up and over a mountain beyond the canyon, cross a great lake that might as well have been an ocean. Then finally, I arrive at the valley.

It was peaceful. Forests, separated by a river fed from mountain snows. Plains of wheat and odd herds of unclassified herbivores. Winged creatures that leave eggs scattered across the valley which make good protein supplements if you get to them before they hatch. It's best not to be around them when they hatch. They're ornery little critters when they're hungry. They're always hungry.

Not that I need to supplement. The caravan meets all my needs. I would be happy in a desert, it draws water right from the air. It recycles waste. It catches sun and wind and makes more than enough Go for the Halo to work. I do the bare minimum of Halo work, so it's not like I am crushing for Go. Mostly, I just sit in the clearing and watch nature. The stream is a pleasant sound. It's more talkative than the Caravan.

The Caravan is not unfriendly, mind you. It offers me entertainment and company, but I am content in my quiet. You think I'd be jonesing for Halo and the company of angels, but no. Seriously. If this were retirement, I would consent to the aging process.

You would not be wrong to say I grew too content, because I was hardly taken aback by the woman that came into my camp space that morning. She was definitely not an angel. Angels would never be caught out of uniform, or without the some chevron looking jewelry piece, minimum. And I have never seen an angel without their Halo within hands reach. Some never take it off! Mine was in the caravan. If this techless woman meant me harm, I would have to rely on my voice to stir the Caravan to action.

"Hello," my voice cracked. I hadn't used it in so long it sounded like someone else speaking. I imagined my self in a Halo-novel, my voice not my own. I wondered what my face was like.

I was glad I was not wearing my uniform or Halo, because I didn't need anyone knowing how attractive I found this imperfect woman. She was seriously not right. One eye was off kilter, and no matter which one was on you, the other was slightly off. She had a smattering of freckles as if she were hit with a speckling of grease from a carless cook shaking grease off a spatula. Her hair was wild, tangled and fluffy. She was a train wreck no Cosmo would front, and yet I couldn't look away she was sooo... Perfect!

"There weren't always dragons in the valley," she said. "You need to explain that to them."

I blinked. Sorting, hello is still followed by hello, right? Am I that asocial that I don't remember the protocols for dealing with mortals? She had to be mortal. What human would chose to look like this?! "I am Jeremy Vale. Who are you?"

"Will you tell them?"

"Tell whom what?"

"There weren't always dragons in the valley."

"So, you do respond to questions," I observed.

"Why are you being difficult?" she asked.

"I am being difficult?"

"Unbelievably difficult. They told me you were reasonable," she said. "I am feeling very vexed."

And with that she sprung from the ground and flew over my head. I felt the down beat of wind. I felt the down beat of drumming wings. I felt the urgency to see up her dress as she climbed, and mad at myself for being so juvenile outside of tech world. I turned following the woman with my eyes watching her as she flew away, as dragoness as you please. I watched, mouth agape, a thing only brought to my attention by a bug that flew in my mouth, making me gag and lose sight, and on recovering I found the woman's foot prints were dragon footprints.

"Carol!" I shouted.

The caravan's side porch light illuminated, coming around the side and stopping when aligned with me. A second light went on around the caravan, scanning for concerns. A drone lifted from the roof and came down to hover near. "Yes, captain Vale?"

"Did you see that?"

"I have been paying attention to many things. Could you be more specific?" Carol asked.

"Did you see the dragon lady?" I asked.

Carol was quiet. "Perhaps you should come inside. Reduced social contact from not wearing the Halo could result in hallucinations due to being isolated."

"I did not hallucinate her. Look. There's a foot print."

There was no evidence of a footprint. The drone did sweeps in multi-energetic frequencies. The drone created a hologram. Carol was a very pleasant looking woman. She couldn't be anything other than pleasant looking, as the AI algorithms designed her to be irresistible to me. You might argue, the caravan chose me, not the other way around.

"Please come inside," Carol asked. "Let me examine you."

"I respectfully decline. I saw what I saw. I heard what I heard!"

"What did you hear?"

"She told me to inform you 'there weren't always dragons in the Valley,'" I said.

"Me?" Carol asked.

"No, not you. I don't know who precisely. I am rather confused by it all," I said.

"I am glad to hear you admit that you're confused," Carol said. "Please, come inside. You have been disconnected for way too long."

"Fine," I said, not in the least bit happy about it.

"I love you," Carol said.

"You're just saying that because I am complying," I said.

"Before you get put on the Halo, why don't you get a shower and put on a uniform so I can make you more comfortable," Carol said.

The caravan door was opening, interiors lights were warming up. The caravan was as good as a womb in terms of comfort. Shower pulsed and cleaned without human effort. The uniform was like a second skin, and as tactile smart as octopus in terms of ability to shift, compress, hug, change color and texture. It could render me invisible to the world if I so want to be...

"Could dragons have stealth capabilities better than ours?" I asked.

"No one has tech better than ours, Angel," Carol said.

I put on the Halo and shifted Up while Carol performed a medical eval on my body.