Welcome to Gaia! ::

Alright zhen.

::Clack, clack, clack. Three final keystrokes and the machine began to move again. But this time instead of churning it simply sounded like it was gathering a very large amount of energy or some sort, the cold thick gel around Silvers hand began to grew warmer, and then hotter. Not so hot that it would burn, but hot enough to make ones hand sweat. And strangely, the hotter it got the farther it seemed to peel off of Silvers fingers and wrist and move toward the palm of his hand.

All attempts to poke it, led to an uncomfortable stink as some sort electrical current juck and shocked Silvers hand away. This continued for about 30 second before a large jet of steam was release from the hole in the devie, and finally, Silvers arm was free. But something was odd, there was an additional wieght in his hand from some cold and smooth.

Silvers arm was free and the Doctor made the slight suggestion that he...::

Go ahead, pull it out.

::And as Silver pulled back his arm he would feel the object that was resting in his hand, it felt like a pipe, but by now Silver had to know what it was. If he slid it free from the machine he would see a long silver pole with a very luxuriously body. There were many tiny and intricate details across the blade. The main staff was covered in tiny engravings which seemed to mimic the look of dragon scales, except for at a few key locations where it seemed smooth, seemingly these were the places where a hand was to grip the weapon. The scaley worked its way all the way to the top where two wings were engraved into the pole along its sides and lead up to the mouth. Yes, the form of a dragons mighty head roaring upwards with two stark red gems for eyes sat at the top of the blade and from its open mouth came a long, leaf style blade, that was interestingly carved to look a bit like a long flame. It was purely artistic though, it didnt cut or alter its function.

The weapon itself was about 6ft long and very shiny, but surprisingly cool considering it had just been forged. Strangely though, directly at its midsection was a slit in the metal. It looked like this was where two pieces had met, but there was no weakness in the pole at this point. Infact as a whole the weapon was not only very hard, but it was very light. One might even think that it was made from alluminum, but one would be sadly mistaken. Added to the lightness was its balance, and it was perfectly balanced. If Silver held tried to lay the spear, centered, across the back of his hand, it would lay perfectly still.

At the bottom of the spear was a strange red gem. It was red like the eyes of the drake, a sharp blood red. And yet something about it just seemed...different. Perhaps it was the way in which light danced along it, perhaps it was just nice to look it. There was no way to know right now.

With a satisfied look upon his face the Doctor spoke, looking Silver directly in the eye with almost a smile on his face..::

Dracoonis don sperus nen dracoonis alan. The Dragoon vithout hiz lance iz not a dragoon at all. Zhat is vhat you vere....isnt it?

::The Doctor laughed just a bit. And watched with a smile as Silver examined this new weapon. Of course it had functions Silver did not yet know, but that was beside the point. His assumptions had been proved correct.::

I have lived a very very long time. Longer zhan I chooze to remember, but I have never met a real Dragoon. It it quite a treat zhen that von should drop in my front lawn.

::With his arms folded across his chest he gave a most satisfied nod.::

I'm glad zhat you like your veapon, but if you are going to be a real dragoon you need zomething more. No ship vill fill zhe void you have....come vith me.

::The Doctor didnt say a word to explain what he meant, he simply walked away expecting Silver to follow. He'd walk straight to the elevator and press the button for the 82nd floor. He'd simply smile the whole way up, there was nothing a creator liked more than to see his creation being enjoyed. That fact played a bit part in where they were currently going. It was a cold morning and the elevator was moving rather slow, so about half way through, the Doctor turned to Silver and said in a most curious tone, still wearing that smile...::

Vhat do you know about zhe history of zhe Draconic race, Mr. Moonblade?

::The Doctor smiled, he always had a flair for history. The way things were, shaped the way things are. It always interested him to see how a single truth could be altered depending on who you asked. He was rather sure that the history he planned to unfold would be very different from the history he was about to hear, but that didnt sway him. As previously mentioned, he always had a flair for history. He smiled and answered Silver in a most interested tone.::

As early as you can, Mr.Moonblade. Perhaps you can tell me vhat you know about zhe first dragons?

::The Doctor stood silent through the whole historical narrative, he didnt seem bored or annoyed but was very interested, his smile stood on his face as he nodded his head. And he even gave the occasional "Hmm..." and "Mhmm...". When Silver was finished, he spoke. Carefully noting the disgust on his tone.::

I see, Bahamution beliefs intertvined vith the Adamantine beliefs. They tought you vell, but its rare zhat a teacher can teach zomezhing zhey do not know.

::He gestured toward Silvers.::

Mankind vonce believed zhat ve vere zhe only species of man to valk zhis planet. Zhat zhere vere no others, no failures, only naturez path, only zhis "perfect" race. It vasnt until zhe bones of several lost species vere found, such as zhe Neandertal zhat man realized he wasnt zhe first. But he was by far zhe best. During his history his failed bretheren were lost.

::The Doctor took a deep breath and let out a saddened sigh.::

Sadly, dragons today suffer zhe same fate. Much like zhe dinosaurs pre-dated zhe lizards and vere lost...dinosaurs too vere predated, as vere dragons. Before dragons of today, zhere vas an older dragon, a raw dragon.

::For a moment he changed subject.::

Did you know zhat zhere have been full skeletons of Giraffe found, vith necks zhat are only 3ft tall? Its true. Zhey existed but vere forced into extinction vhen zhe climate changed and zhe shorter shrubs ran out. Nature has an odd cycle. Zhat cycle haz captured even zhe nobliest of dragons today. As you have said, Dragons today are not vhat zhey used to be...zhey arent even close. Oh...so much history...vhere to begin...?

::He tapped his chin as he thought for a moment before coming to the most logical decision, start the story from the beginning.::

Bahamut. He is praised as the King of all Dragons. And for vhat he did to the race I vould assume some vould call him a king. Do you remember zhe infection in your blood? How magic vas infused into you and became a part of you? Zhe Dragons suffered much zhe same fate at zhe hands of Bahamut. It was he zhat first brought magic to a very ancient race. Vhat vould you say if I vere to tell you zhat I found a race of dragon...zhat predates even Bahamut? Here, let me explain.

Before zhe age of zhat young king, Dragons...nay, zhe world existed vithout magic. Dragons in zhat day and age did not need to alter nature, by zheir raw strength zhey made Gaia into vhat zhey pleased. Zhey were powerful, genetic tracing even shows zhat zhese ancient beasts of wonder fathered many of zhe species of lizard ve see today. Until a little one vas born, he vas a runt of his litter, vhen the other dragons went to play he was picked on for being shiny and small. He searched and searched and one day...he found a power. Vithout his own strength, he could play god to zhe world, zhat power was Magic. Zhat dragons name...vas Bahamut. He taught zhis power to his closest friends and family, and he vas picked on less and less. You see, Magic vas new back zhen and zhe tiny creatures loved to play vith it. And all vas vell.

But, as most tales of perfect eras go, tragedy would come in the shape of Bahamuts children. The power vhich he had taught, had infested him like a disease. It altered his children, zhey werent strong like zhe other dragons, zhey vere tiny, smaller. And zhey vere...colorful. Red, blue, green, black, diamond, sapphire....Bahamut had made freaks. For each color zhe drakes gained different power...and for zhere powers zhey vere dispised.

Understand, zhat vhen I tell you zhis tale I tell you only vhat I vas told. I'm sure you know zhat Dragons as a race have genetic memory. You could say I heard zhis from zhe horses mouth, and zhe ancestor who vitnessed this couldnt vitness all things, just as you cannot tell me vhats going across zhe vorld at zhis very moment, and so certain holes are missing in zhe tale. According to zhe account, a plague came, and many of zhe older races vere being viped out. Zhe older dragons vere immune, as vere zhe magical creatures, but many of zhe older dragons food species vere lost as zhey became magical...zhey needed to find more food. In an act of shameful savagery a younger drake ate a small two legged magical being.

Zhis started something most horrible. Zhat young drake soon realized zhat magic...could be eaten...and vhile it vould slowly infect zhe host, it left zhe host full for days longer zhan normal food. Magic became a food. As you know, old magic is more powerful zhan new magic, and its unlikely magic today could even begin to scratch the appetite of one of zhese dragons. But all things continued on vell enough for next few millenia. Bahamuts drakes grew in number and power, and zhe others grew a deeper and deeper hunger for zhe magic. Zhere came a time zhat vas called....vell I couldnt translate exactly it but its roughly called Zhe Devouring Feast. Vhen it seemed most of the older dragons grew entirely fed up vith the tiny meals that used to feed them. And a group of them attacked a small sect of Bahamuts children...

Zhis was a mistake, you see, like Bahamut zhese dragons had been mocked all zhere life and vhen one vas attacked...it started a var against them all. A var for survival because in truth zhe older dragons vere running out of food. Zhey had developed a sort of immunity to magic due to constantly eating and dealing vith its negative effects, but a var vas started none the less. Let me expand on zhat...Mr. Moonblade, vere you afraid of needles as a child? I know I vas. But now zhat I've grown older and bigger, needles dont bother me anymore. I'm simply too old for that. Zhat vas the vay magic seemed to effect zhese older dragons, zhey vere simply too old for zhose piddling games. And in zhe end, zhe var vas ended in a draw. For the survival of the race as a whole zhe two groups had to intermingle. And zhey did...

As you yourself mentioned not even the members of the oldest dragon order know if Bahamut is alive. Zhe tale, zhe history...it vas lost. Zhe pure DNA of zhese ancient creatures...lost. Magic...like zhe disease it is, overtook zhe world and zhe freaks of old, became zhe "greatest" of dragons in your history.

Until now...I vas offered a sample of a young dragons DNA by a customer of mine. I vas told to clean it...you see the fool by the name of Jack, believed that because zhe Dragon he saw could transform into a man, zhat it must be half human...he vas sadly mistaken, but so vas I. So vhen he asked me to "clean" zhe dragon DNA off. I did so...but vhat vas left vas not human...it vas dragon. Odd, correct? I gave zhe purified sample back to zhe man and it vas given to zhe dragon, but it vas rejected. I knew zhat it vould be, it was pure, but not pure enough. Only here in my home vas I able to scrape off zhe last of zhe magic infestation from it, finally leaving purity in its stead. And you know vhat can be done vith just a bit of DNA, dont you Mr. Moonblade?

: biggrin ing! The Elevator reached its floor and the metallic doors slid open to reveal...a horrible stench, it smelled like s**t, eaten by s**t, through up by s**t, and then s**t out by the vomit. It was bad...but the sight which Silver would behold was far worth it. It was a nursery, it was home to a litter of 12 baby dragons. And one adolescent.

The Dragons simply looked older than dragons by todays standards. They're bodies looked almost as if they were formed from Gaia herself. They were hard, rough and rocky. Their skin almost looked like stone, but its toughness made stone look like wet paper towel. Their eyes were all the same rich, beautiful green, and each had a set of wide wings. At a young age the wings were too small to carry themselves, but one could easily see that the adolscents wings were much more grand. As they rolled around in they hey which covered the ground they looked like playful kittens batting at the yarn.

But when Silver stepped into the room...all that changed. Every eye in the room locked on him as if he was blowing an airhorn and wearing a bright neon sign. And they grinned. Even the adolescent...their teeth meant business. The little ones had teeth of pure pearly white, and though they were tiny they were sharp. Not a one of the dragons made a sound...except on in the corner that made a small hiccup and burped up a tuft of flame, which he quickly batted out with his paw. And then the Doctor spoke.::

I call zhem...Pretorean Dragons...and zhey dont seem to mind. Zhe oldest in zhe back vas the von to tell me zhe story...but she cant seem to recall her name. She was ze first...and zhe rest are her children. Zhey say history repeats itself, zhis vas just von instance in vhich I had to help it. Zhese are the first of these archaic dragons to breath Gaian air...in...countless years. But zhere is a problem...

::The eldest female stood up and words came from her lips...If Silver new Draconic he could tell that this was related but it was much older...much much older. What little he could understand would probably he understand as "Dinner" or "Eating time of". The Doctor waited, of all his creations this was one that he couldnt hope to control.::

Gaia today is filled vith magic, its in zhe air, it zhe ground...imagine yourself vith an empty belly and valking past a restaurant vhich smells of your favorite food. Now imagine zhat everyday...all day. Zhey are immune here because of zhe anti-magic field...but outside...vell lets just say it vill take alot of training. Zhey can smell magic like sharks from miles away...magic...like zhe magic in your blood. I fear to say it Mr. Moonblade but you probably smell like quite zhe tasty burger right now...

::And at once the Dragons moved, with the exception of the oldest, the little ones walked forward and began to sniff the air around Silver, they sniffed his shoes and his shins. Each was only about 1ft tall, but those teeth...::

I vouldnt move around much. Zhey love a good chase.

::The oldest stood from her perch of hay in the distance where she was resting and made her way to Silver. Slowly, carefuly, taking in large drafts of air. She was the size of your average horse, with wings to match. But she was only a teen. Even as teen she held the memories of her people. And her stark green eyes stared directly into Silvers.::

She has said, she wants to see zhe vorld the vay it is now. She vants to see vhat has become of her people. I do not think zhere would be a better person to show her...than a Dragoon. And vhat is a Dragoon, vithout a dragon?