Sacrifice Part 2

Sacrifice - an original tale by Ryu Darragh, chapter two.

The two dragons tensed at this. 'Are you certain of this, Japeth?' Aihern asked. "Yes, I am quite certain. We have 3 days to devise some way of getting your ark off this earth" said Japeth quietly. "My ship could lift the crystal off this planet and transport it to the last universe I had been to, that's a lush tropical paradise, easily enough. But, that crystal weighs in at several tons. Do you think you could carry it to my ship?" he finished.

Aihhern and Ayissa looked at each other with enough emotion Japeth could sense it directly from their minds. 'My love, our sacrifice was still worth it.' Aiherrns mental voice came. 'It was, my world. I have no regrets.' Came Ayissas voice. They turned to look at Japeth and Aihhern explained 'We are not technically alive anymore. We sacrificed our selves by bonding to the great crystal to ast as its Guardians. We cannot move the crystal as it is the device that is projecting us. We are solid holograms. You should leave and save yourself, Japeth'

Japeth collapsed back on a large rock carved into a bench and felt a tummult of emotions in his heart. He'd only just met these people, these dragons, and he felt a sense of sympathy for their plight. He'd lost his home, his family and friends, but only in the sense of losing his way. They were still fine and were likely missing him, but, they were still alive and had a future.

"We will need to come up with an alternative way to get that crystal into my ship." Japeth finally said. 'Yes. i hope we can, Japeth.. and thank you for the warning.' Ayissa said. For the next two days they discussed and tried several ideas and experiments.

As they worked they spoke of their respective homes. Japeth found himself drawn to the culture Aihhern and Ayissa described. Their world had been one of fierce battles in the distant dawn of their civilization. But, as time had progressed, they had had their cultural epiphany and had matured, as had Japeths earth in the last century.

When they had exhausted all their options, makeshift crawlers, lifters and even attempts to excavate the cave, they had to stop. Japeth was at the limits of his endurance and felt rather worn out. "Nothing has worked." he said, wiping the sweat from his face. "Now what ? Is there *any* option we could try ?"

The two dragons gave each other a look at once filled with aprrehension as with some great reluctance. "Do you think ?" came Ayissa's thought. "No, we can't ask him that.. that's too much." replied Aihern.

"Ask me what ?!?" said Japeth sitting up abruptly. "Ask, ask !!" he finished.

"Well,.." began Aihern, with great relucatance, "there is one thing. But, it requires a life be sacrificed to power the attempt. You can see why we have not mentioned it before.", he finished on a sad note.

Japeth sat forward and put his hands on his head. The two dragons liiked on with concern, thinking he was angry or shocked.. they could read little of his thoughts. They watched for a few moments more,.. until Japeth began to chuckle. Then laugh out loud, tilting his head back to let it out.

"Why are you laughing ?" asked the confused Ayissa. "Well," replied Japeth, "What would it matter to me ? I'm already terminal and have only a short time left. Perhaps a few years. If my life can save a whole *species*, I would gladly sacrifice it, even if I had decades more to live."

The two dragons held each other and were silent a moment. Then, Aihern turned to Japeth and told hom of the process. They would use his life, his very cells, to start a chain reaction in a collection of organic materials that they would gather. They would infuse the material with DNA based on their own recorded patterns. In essence, giving birth to a child without an egg.

"Tell me," asked Japeth, "Would this 'child' be capable of doing the task ?"

"Oh, yes. Most assuredly." replied Ayissa. Are you sure you want to do this, Japeth ?" asked Aiyissa. "Yes." said Japeth. "Let's do it".

Japeth went back to his ship and preprogrammed the flight parameters. A young dragon would have a hard time using human controls and this had to be right the first time.

When he returned, the two dragons placed Japeth in the center of the organic material they had gahthered and stood on either side of him. They began to glow, silver and deepest blue. The Great Crystal also began to glow, brighter and brighter.

At first, all Japeth could feel was a strange tingling.. then it got worse. The tingling grew to a nagging burn, then into a feeling he'd never felt before. He could feel and see his body shredding in an invisible whirlwind of solids and liquids surounding him. Then his vision began to drown in brightness and his thoughts were consumed by the light. He gave in and let it take him with no reservations.

For some interminable time he lay there. Then felt a twinge. Something wasn't right. He asked, and his voice was strange, "It didn't work ? Why'd you stop ?" he asked.

"Open your eyes, Japeth.. my son." said Ayissa.

He sat up and promptly fell over. Opened his eyes and took several moments to register what he was seeing. He was a Dragon ! A brilliant deep sapphire blue.

"What ?" he squeeked.

The two dragons helped him to his feet and said to the young dragon "We could not tell you of this until it was over. But, while we needed *living* matter to make a new dragon, We also needed a living *mind*. A newborn with a blank slate would take years to teach and train. And, had you known you would be reborn, your mind would have reacted differently."

"So, now I'm your son ?" he asked with a smile. "Oh, yes!" said Ayissa, hugging him. "Now and forever!"

"Well," said the young dragon on now steady feet. "Lets save my brothers and sisters!" as he headed for the Great Crystal. The two dragons who had created this wonder followed their new son and smiled at him. Sometimes, sacrifice can return more than the cost of making it.

~end