*All dragons are copyrighted to Poseidon Simons

Chapter 13

Capture

That morning, Peter set out with his new group to watch for the train, "Okay, do you remember the plan? We go in, volunteer for gaurd duty, then, once we have at least two of our men there, we split up and rob the city of everything it owns!" There were a few snickers when he finished. Everyone there liked his idea quite a bit, or at least acted like they did. Peter smiled, "Okay. Let's move." Peter kept himself in the middle of their small crowd. He watched a green and and red striped dragon knock on the door.

"Hello?" It was Ace, the singer, who answered.

An electric dragoness spoke, "We all want to volunteer for guard duty."

Ace's eyes widened, "All of you?!" He put his hands to his head and mumbled, "Great...just when we get two permanent guards, over twenty offer to take their place. Guys!" He shouted as he turned around, "We've got a bit of a problem here!" Player walked up and asked what was wrong. Ace pointed outside, "We've got volunteers for guard duty! Look at them all!"

Player laughed, "Hey, Gareth! Come look at this!"

Peter blanched, "Gareth is here?!! Then that means--Hana..." He ducked down as Gareth appeared at the door, smiling to himself, "Hana is here...this is perfect! I just have to get away without him noticing me!" As luck would have it, right then Ace told them all to go away. Everyone in the group made a sad face, acting disappointed that they didn't get the job. To make it up to them, Ace gave them all free tickets! Peter chuckled as he and the rest of them left, "I can get two things done at once! Hana, you're dead this time!" Once they were out of sight, Peter told them his new plan.

Gareth eyed the group as they left, "Did I see that dragon smile when they left? Something's not right here..."

"Gareth, come back in. You're letting all the warm air get away." Ace said.

"Okay okay, I'm coming. Say, Ace, are you sure those people were trustworthy? I think some of them wanted to do dishonest things here."

"Dishonest?" Kia snorted, "You sound like some corny movie, Gareth. Honestly..." Kia went back to reading her magazine.

"I just think that we should keep a closer eye out there. You said yourselves that this place has the highest crime rate on the island."

"Yeah. That and the worst police force in history." Player said while he poured himself another cup of coffee, "I mean honestly. It's like they don't even try to chase the thieves!" He took a drink, "That's why we play here, so that people can have some actual fun once in a while."

"I just don't know..."

Peter watched the sky, "He's here somewhere, I know he is! The scanner picked him up a mile out of the city! C'mon, c'mon...You're up there somewhere." There. Something shined silver in the sky, "He came." Peter turned to the others, "Is the cannon ready?"

"Yes sir. We are waiting for your order to fire."

"Good." He pulled out a pair of binoculars and watched as the Protector slowly came closer to them, "Wait for it, wait for it...fire!"

Babe saw it coming up at him, "Who's crazy enough to shoot at me?" He dodged it easliy as it came closer to him. He did not hear it pop open right above him, but he felt it when it wrapped around him, "A net!" Babe reached out a hand to slice the net open, but his hand was stuck. The more he struggled, the worse it became. He looked down at his hand. There was a gooey, black liquid slowly oozing out of the net, "I can't break free of the stuff! It's jamming my curcuits!!" Babe landed before it got any worse. He was able to walk three steps before the goop stopped him completely. Men started to come out of bushes and trees, each one smiling as if they'd just taken a huge victory. He tried to switch to his cannon, but the gears in his arm were so clogged with the black liquid that nothing happened. Even his tail laser wouldn't respond when he activated it!

The blue water dragon he'd come to warn Gareth about stepped out last, "Nice job guys. It worked! I honestly didn't think it would! Thanks for proving me wrong." He waltzed up to Babe, "We now hold the Protector hostage! This has got to be one of the best days of my life!" He sneered, "And your worst. Am I right?"

Babe tried to shout, but the black liquid had hardened and glued his mouth shut. He was taken away without a fight.

"Hana, you ready?"

"Why are you asking, Gareth? It can't be that hard can it?"

Gareth scratched his head, "It's not that I think it's hard, I just don't think we're dealing with normal fans this time..."

"You mean you think there are thieves among us?"

"Well--yeah."

Hana put down her book, "Then go do something about it. You need to rest your fears."

"But what about--"

"I can handle things on my own. Really. I'm just going to make sure no one sneaks into their room while they perform."

"That's why I don't want to go. If there are thieves hiding here, then what's going to stop them from trying to hurt you? I can't lose you." Gareth took Hana's real hand in his own, "It cost you too much the last time I deserted you. I don't want you to lose even more..."

Hana kisssed his cheek, "That's sweet, Gareth. The concert isn't for another three hours. Why not look around now?"

"Not unless I know you'd be safe here."

"How about this? I walk inside the room, find a hiding place, and stay there in case someone comes to steal something."

"No. If there isn't a guard at the door at all, then you'd be bound to see someone inside two minutes. That is not an option."

"Why not? Everyone is in there right now. I wouldn't be alone."

"I can't do it. I--I'm too scared..."

"Oh, Gareth..." She slowly stood up, "We can have Player stand guard outside with me, okay? Two guards outside, with people inside. I can't watch you worry like this. Go around the city and check for any signs of criminals. Who knows? Maybe you'll be a big help!"

Ten minutes later, Gareth was walking through the streets. He had changed himself to look like a small kid, hoping that it would attract someone who wasn't out to help him. He had kept his color black, and changed the white to red. Besides that, he had given himself spikes down his back and tail instead of the headplate. He walked in and out of a few stores as he passed them, looking at things, pretending to want a candy or toy. After a while, he found what he was looking for.

"Hey there kid, what are you doing here by yourself?" a griffin with blue feathers and silver-white hair asked him.

"Hi." Gareth made himself act as childish as he could, "I'm looking at some toys!" He beamed up at the griffin, "If I try hard enough, mom says I'll have enough money to get that one!" He pointed to a basketball.

"You like sports?"

"Yeah!!!"

The griffin rubbed his chin a bit, "Tell ya what, kid. I have a bunch of balls you can play with at my place. Wanna come?"

"I don't know...my mom says I'm not supposed to talk to strangers..."

The griffin smiled, "Well, I'm Sylo. There, I'm not a stranger to you anymore, right?"

Gareth faked a happy smile, "Nope! Where's your house? Mom says I should walk. She says my wings aren't developed enough yet."

"It's actually right through that alley." The griffin pointed to one across the street, "C'mon."

Gareth giggled a bit and walked behind the griffin. When they went into the alley, Gareth stopped. He could see the griffin waiting just a few feet out of sight, holding something in his hands that Gareth was supposed to think was a ball. Gareth walked into the darkness and changed. He let his original colors appear, then grabbed the griffin, "I thought there was something wrong with this place." Gareth heard the knife hit the ground after it fell from the griffins hand, "You thought I was just a little kid, thought I was helpless. Well, I'm not. Where is the rest of your gang?!"

The griffin shakily pointed behind him, "H--help!"

Gareth felt four men jump on him, "You think that's going to stop me?! Ha!" Gareth thought of a dragon form that would scare each of the men away, "You want to fight?!" Gareth made his voice deeper as he grew, "We'll fight!" There were suddenly no others around him. The only other creature closeby was the old griffin, "Your men have deserted you. Where is the rest of the group?!!!" The griffin bit his lip, "Tell me before I get angry!!!!"

"Okay!! Okay!!! I'll talk I'll talk!" The griffin was cringing and had scrunched against the wall to get away from him. Gareth shrank back down to his black dragon size as the griffin spoke, "We--they planned to rob the entire city while the concert happened! Don't hurt me!"

Gareth walked out of the alleyway and flew back to his friends. What he found there was his worst nightmare come true. Player was on the ground unconscious, the door was open behind him, and there was no one inside. Gareth stepped over Player and looked inside to find it ransacked. the only thing left was note nailed to the wall.

Sylo shook himself free of the dirt his clothes had picked up in the scuffle. He pulled his new cell phone from his pocket, "Sylo here. I found Gareth."

There was a woman shouting on the other end. Someone quieted her, then Peter spoke, "You told him?"

"He should be there by now."

"Good. I--"

"I swear, Peter, when I get free I'll--"

"Shut up, Hana!" Peter shouted, "The more you struggle the worse I'll make it! Now sit still!" There was a loud slap on Peter's end of the line, followed by a short silence. Peter cleared his throat and spoke, "So he's going to read the note?"

"Yes. How are your prisoners?"

"Fighting to be free. Meet me back at the ruined house. I'm not done yet."

Gareth. We meet again. If you want to find us, ask Player where we went. We left him behind just so we could watch you humiliate yourself! I have them all. Peter

Gareth ripped the paper from the wall and shredded it in his hands, "You are going to pay dearly for this, Peter." He shook Player until he saw Player open his eyes, "What--happened?!"

"Gareth? Gareth we have to hurry! They took--"

Gareth slapped a hand over Player's mouth, "They took everyone. I know. Where?!!!"

Player sat up, "He said something about the train station...a ship dock...I'm not sure. He knocked me out! No one's been able to do that for most of my life!"

"Get up, Player. The concert is cancled until we can find the rest."

"CANCLED?!!" Player shook, "But--but this was--Tammy!"

"Tammy's gone too, Player. They took everyone. C'mon. Sitting there won't help."

"They took Tammy?!!" Player held his head, "They kidnapped Tammy?!!!!!!" He got up, "Gareth, why? Why did they take her?.."

"I don't know, Player. Let's find them and figure out why."

Player transformed and started flying toward the train station, "I won't let them get away with this. They kidnapped Tammy!!!"