“No, boss,” the second man said. “Look!”
Arcadian’s blue and gold scales gleamed even in the low light. He stepped away from the chair and flexed open his wings to their full width. They expanded with a pop and he roared as fear manifested self-defense chemicals, turning his voice into a scrap of angry air rushing over dragon vocal chords.
The first man pulled a gun from his waistband. Before he could shoot, Arcadian rushed him and wrenched the weapon from his hand. He tossed the gun one way and heaved the man against the wall where he landed with a grunt and slumped to the floor.
The second man lunged for the gun, but Arcadian beat him there and lashed out with one of his wing claws. The claw opened the man’s torso from neck to hip bone, dropping him in a bubbling wash of blood.
Instinct repulsed him as the blood spilled, yet he snarled, still feeling threatened. The remaining man turned white and ran for the door, screaming ‘Diablo!’ as he sped off. Following close behind him, Arcadian ripped the door off the hinges, ducked through and strode outside.
A large armored vehicle pulled into the empty parking lot and a man got out, followed by other men with more guns.
Seeing only one way out, Arcadian lifted into the sky.
At his home in the rich suburbs of New York, Dr. Anthony Lazar stirred his coffee by the kitchen window. He gazed at the manicured lawn as a large dragon shifter landed in the front yard. The beast’s blue and gold scales glistened in the sun before it quickly shifted to human.
Shock stunned Lazar for a moment.
This creature is from Draco. What’s he doing on Earth?
Before he could consider the questions, the doorbell rang. He opened the front door to a naked man, confirming his primary suspicion.
Draco Station and Pantheon.
“Help me, Dr. Lazar. Please, don't let them send me back.”
With no time to think, Lazar glanced right and left, then pulled the man in and shut the door.
“I’m Arcadian Savoy and I’m from--”
“I know where you’re from,” Lazar interrupted. This shifter’s arrival sent a wonderful giddy sensation through his belly, brightening his morning. It didn’t take long to surmise some Pantheon shenanigans had gone awry, sending this creature to Earth. He grinned. Catching the multi-level corporation with their pants down made his day.
Pantheon, what have you done?
He pushed his mischievous thoughts aside. “You need clothes, Mr. Savoy, wait here. I’ll get you something to put on.” He stopped at the blinds and peeked through as he drew them closed. Quickly, he collected clothing, grinning with excitement.
“Here, these should fit.” He pointed to a bathroom. “You can dress in there.”
While Savoy dressed, Lazar made a fresh pot of coffee, busying his hands until he heard the story. He glanced up as the shifter walked into the kitchen, willing his thoughts to calm and motioned to the table. “Coffee?” When they had their drinks, he asked, “Just how do you come to be here, Mr. Savoy?”
“I couldn’t stay on station, doctor. I didn’t belong there, I couldn’t find my place there. Once I became a dragon, everything changed--beyond my genetics. Becoming a dragon changed not only what I was, but who I was.” He glanced away, his lips a grim line of determination. “I want more from life than scraping the surface of Draco Prime. Can you make me human again?”
Lazar paused before answering in order to choose his words. “What was changed in your DNA by the editing cocktail can’t be reversed, you will always remain a dragon shifter.” At the shifter’s disappointed expression and slumped shoulders, he rushed on. “But from what you’ve said, you don't want to lose your dragon shifting. Isn’t that the seat of your new identity?”
“Yes,” Savoy said, “But in order to be free of Pantheon, I need to be worthless to them.”
Lazar smiled and patted Savoy on the back. “Oh, I can make you worthless to Pantheon. All I have to do is eliminate your ability to breathe the toxic atmosphere on Draco.” He gazed off, considering the gene editing required. “Yes, I believe that would that solve your problem.”
Savoy sobbed, his handsome face awash with tears. “You can do that? Yes. That would solve my problem.”
The man’s earnest words and expression appealed to Lazar. As the one-time master of Draco Station’s genetic manipulation, he had strong opinions on the topic of genetics, now believing modification should only be done to improve the individual. Savoy’s editing satisfied that criteria and would be a challenge, suitably appealing to his rebellious and intellectual nature. “Just how did you get here?”
In answer, Savoy lifted his hand. “May I touch you?”
Curiosity piqued, and not sensing any threat, Lazar nodded. The shifter touched Lazar’s cheek, then rubbed those fingers on the back of his hand. Within seconds, he morphed into--
Me.
Lazar pulled back. The exactness of the image disturbed him. He leaned forward and peered into the man’s face. “Amazing. You are me, exactly. Is this ability a deliberate modification, or an aberration after the fact?”
“After the fact, I’m sure, though whether either aberration or evolution, I can’t say,” Savoy said with a shrug. “I discovered I could morph into others, figured out how to use it to get off station, and came to you for help.”
“But I saw you land. You flew in. Didn’t you think that would attract attention?”
“Once you change me so I can’t be sent back to Draco, I’m happy to stay here, even if it means being in prison. But I had to fly to escape. Some men captured and held me and were going to sell me for a lot of money.” He frowned. “What manner of behavior is this on Earth? I had to kill a man in self-defense.”
Lazar grimaced. “Uh oh. That’s not good. Did anyone see you fly off?”
“Yes. The
