Aleia's Dragon

Aleia Jade groaned as she slowly returned to consciousness. Her wounds hurt and she was fairly sure that she would soon lose consciousness again. Struggling to remain awake, she looked at the wreckage around her. She popped the cockpit canopy to her ship and attempted to pull herself out. She gasped in pain and stopped moving for a moment to relieve the pain that was coursing through her. Her leg was caught amongst the twisted metal and trying to free it only added more stress to the wound. She had to think of something; there was a way out she just had to find it.

Everything seemed to spin around her. She had to concentrate. She had to stay awake long enough to get herself out of this mess. Aleia retrieved the emergency kit, hoping she would find something useful. She searched for something she could use to pry her foot free. Near the bottom of the kit she found something she could use to pry her way out. After several attempts and much pain, she managed to get her leg free and slip it out. She grabbed the emergency box just before she tumbled to the ground.

Retrieving the scanner, Aleia scanned her wounds to gage the severity. She sighed in minor irritation. It would take a long time to heal this leg, even with the advanced technology she had available. Aleia used the emergency kits splint to bind her injured leg. Now came the hard part. It took several tries before she was able to stand. She would need to find a physician who could properly set her broken limb.

Aleia wandered around until she couldn't walk anymore. Her leg seemed to throb with a heartbeat of it's own, so severe was the pain. She looked through the box and found some pain relief pills. Having no water, she swallowed them dry and attempted to think about her crash. She didn't remember what happened. She didn't even know where she was. She didn't like not knowing her location and with short term memory loss she was completely in the dark. Frustration overwhelmed her, she stretched out on the ground and closed her eyes. Sleep. She just needed to sleep.

***

Bright sun. Her eyes were closed but she could see the sun. It was very bright. Slowly, Aleia Jade opened her eyes, squinting just a bit as the sun's full intensity found her. Sitting up, Aleia scanned the sparse forest. She didn't know how long she had been sleeping but she was pleased to discover her wounds were healed enough that she could resume her search for civilization.

Hours passed before she found the edge of the forest, though the time lapse was actually due to her walking around in circles rather than in a straight line. It was like a wilderness outside the forest, just a lot of sand-like dirt and rocks. Aleia had no way to keep track of where she had been since the wind was blowing new sand over the tracks that she had made. Likewise, there were, what she identified as tumbleweeds, blowing around everywhere. She didn't have provisions in her emergency kit for long, only like a day or 2 at the most. She needed to find civilization and fast. Goosebumps rose on her neck and arms, she paused to look around. She kept getting the weird feeling that she was being watched.

Five days passed before she found the outskirts of a small town. Small and very strange. The town only had one road way down the center of it with buildings lining the street on both sides. The people walking around were in very strange attire. She had never seen anything like it. The men were dressed in their black pants, button up shirts, and vests. The women in their long fancy dresses with their fancy hairstyles. The people in this town wouldn't make a very good army, Aleia thought as she studied them. Had they ever the need to come up with an army, they would surely be a sight to see! They were skinny and the clothes were impractical to do much of anything. Especially one young man that had red hair and a smaller figure.

If only the federation could get look at this place! They would die of laughter. This town was a perfect target. It was so small that it could easily be overtaken. A sound rang out that Aleia knew well, a gunshot. She quickly darted to the side of one of the nearest buildings and tried to figure out where the attack was coming from. She quickly realized, however, that she was not the target. Right there in the middle of the street were two men intent on killing each other. Aleia looked around at the other people that were around. How odd. They just kept walking like this was an everyday occurrence. She shook her head and decided that she better get some medical attention before it became critical. Then she needed to find a new jumpsuit for herself. The one she was currently wearing was not in very good shape anymore. Walking down the boardwalk, she looked at the signs she passed until she found a doctor's office. She opened the door and walked in.

"I'll help you in a minute." The man called and it looked like he was just finishing up with a young boy who cut himself.

"Alright, thank you." Aleia didn't mind the wait because it would give her extra time to look around to find out more about this town. Everything seemed very primitive here, compared to the Planetary Federation of Combat's base. The Federation was constantly creating new technology and weapons because they needed to stay on top and be able to fight any sort of enemy they might encounter. Here, Aleia had yet to see one piece of technology. She never thought that she would say this, but she couldn't wait to go home. This place was so crazy and strange that she didn't think she would be able to handle the time it would take her to get back. Aleia had only been in town 10 minutes and she was ready to leave. She felt like she had fallen into a time portal that took her into the past. She glanced at the doctor as he walked the child to the door.

After the door was shut, he turned his attention to her. "My! It looks like you have had quite a time of it, come on in." He showed her into the room and had her sit down.

"I crash landed in the forest a few days ago. My leg is dislocated and needs to be rebroken and put back into place." She told him as she looked around this room hoping for a clue as to her location.

"Well that is unfortunate. Let's look at some of these other wounds to make sure they aren't infected before we get to that part." He said, looking over the cuts that were on her arm and then her head, "This is a pretty big gash, it must have been quite a crash."

"Well, I don't plan on doing it again anytime soon." She dryly remarked. "I just want to find some sort of ship or get mine fixed so I can be on my way as soon as possible."

"Well, I wouldn't recommend traveling anywhere for at least week." The doctor remarked as he began cleaning the wounds.

"Where am I exactly anyway? What is this town called?"

"The town is called Fickleberry Sportal." He replied briefly glancing at her. Poor child didn't even know where she was. He shook his head in sympathy.

Aleia laughed, it was such a ridiculous name for a town, she couldn't help but laugh. "And who gave it that name exactly?"

"Well, the first one who settled here. It was named after his two kids, Fickleberry and Sportal." The doc said. Because the names were normal around these parts, he couldn't figure out what she found so humorous.

"Wait, wait! So that's what he named his kids?" she couldn't help laughing again. Yes, this place seemed to get more and more hilarious the longer that she was in it.

"Yes. Is something wrong with that?" He asked as he finished cleaning and binding the injuries.

"Oh nothing, nothing at all." Aleia just shook her head, she knew he would never understand.

"Alright. I'm going to have to re break your leg now." He got something off the counter, "Open your mouth." he said holding out this small piece of wood.

"I don't need that, I'll be fine." she assured him. Nowhere in the universe had she seen that technique employed. Nowhere other than here. Go figure.

"It is going to hurt." he reminded her.

"I already know that and I'm saying I will be fine. There will be no need of that."

The doctor shrugged and shook his head, she was a very strange individual. She sure wasn't from around these parts. He could tell from the first moment she entered. No woman anywhere around here dressed like that. "On the count of three then." he moved and put his hands on her leg where it needed to be rebroken. "One...Two...Three...." in a swift motion he broke it and then put it back where it was supposed to be. To his surprize she never made a sound of pain. She just continued like nothing happened.

The pain that she experienced was nothing compared to things that she had suffered in the past. She saw the surprised look on the doctors face and felt satisfaction that she had put that look there. Aleia had done this countless times before, the pain didn't even phase her anymore.

"I would recommend that you stay off of it as much as you can at least for a week. Do you have somewhere that you can stay at until then?"

"No, I haven't had much time to look around Fickleberry much." She said.

"I can find some place for you to stay. Food will be included in that, of course. You look like you need to just rest for a couple days."

"That's fine as long as it doesn't hold me up long. I want to get out of here."

"I'm sure you will be fine in no time."

The doctor found a room at the Inn where she could stay and helped her to get there safely despite her assurances that she didn't need his help. Once there, she was given something to eat and some new clothes that she could wear.

She hated the clothes however because it was one of those useless dresses that she had seen on the way in through town. "How am I supposed to fight in a dress if the need should arise? You can't, that's how. I don't even have my swords. Hopefully this week will pass quickly because I will not stay here a moment longer then I have to." She told herself. Though she wished the week would pass quickly she knew it would drag since the only amusements she had were sitting and reading. Aleia was going to be insane before she left this place, she just knew it.

***

True to her thoughts, the week passed very slowly. When the doctor finally released her, she was more than happy to be able to walk around again. Now she could begin her search for more practical clothing. Her search proved fruitless and she was getting desperate. Her jumpsuit was in sore straits and she did not want to wear the clothing provided to her. Everywhere she had asked for pants insisted that women didn't wear pants and would refer her to the dress maker. Around and around she went.

After many failed attempts, Aleia resigned herself to being without her favorite jumpsuits for the time being. She went to the dressmaker's shop. She looked through some of the dresses before the woman came out.

"Can I help you?" The woman greeted politely.

"Yes, I am trying to find a practical dress. Something I can work in." She said turning to her, "Do you have any of those?"

"What kind of work, Dear?"

Aleia knew if she said fighting, it would only gain her crazy looks so she had to come up with something else. "Like, you know, for working on a farm. Preferably a dress with pockets."

"Hmm...let me see what I have." The woman scanned over the dresses quickly figuring out which will work best. "Why don't you try this one on and see how it fits? " she suggested as she held out a dress.

Aleia took the dress from the woman and went in the back to change. She nearly growled when she looked in the mirror. She hated seeing herself in a dress. She hated the whole idea of dresses in general, but she since she had no other options this one would do. It did have pockets, which was one thing in its favor. "This will work, thank you. How much?"

"That one is ten dollars."

Aleia just stared at her and then shook her head, 'Everything is old fashioned here.' She thought to herself as she took out some money and put it on the counter, "There. I need to have my ship repaired or find a way home. Where do I need to go for that to happen?"

"You would need to talk to Derrik Deegan about that."

"Great, where do I find him?"

"You'd have to get the sheriff take you there."

"Fantastic. Bye." she said walking out the door. Why was it that this place you had to go through several people just to do what you wanted to do? It was quickly getting on her nerves. She walked into the prison/sheriff's office. "I need to see a Mr. Derrik Deegan. I was told that you could take me there?"

"Yes, Miss. I can but not today."

"Why not? It's not like you're doing anything right now except sitting at your desk."

"He doesn't accept visitors today. Believe me you don't want to make him mad."

"I don't care, I'm not afraid of anything. I want you take me there now. Whatever is there, I can handle it."

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The sheriff frowned at the young lady standing before him. She sure was a strange one. "Miss, I'm afraid you don't understand. Deegan will not accept visitors until tomorrow. It's isn't so much the question of you being afraid or not. It would incur his wrath on me if I were to interrupt him on this day." He scratched his jaw and shook his head. "Sorry, I just can't risk it."

Aleia frowned as she attempted to maintain her polite demeanor with the law official. "Then at least take me half way to him or else tell me how to get there myself. I don't

Have time for this delay."

The sheriff shook his head. Maybe the female was dim- witted. She didn't seem to understand what she was asking. To see Deegan on his dedicated off days could bring death or worse. Deegan was not a "man" to be trifled with. When he said no visitors, he meant no visitors. As lawman and chief advisor to Derrik Deegan, it was his duty to issue at least one more warning. If the lady wouldn't take it, well, what else could he do? "He won't receive you well. In fact, you'll be fortunate if he'll agree to see you at all."

Aleia resisted the impulse to roll her eyes at the fool who called himself the sheriff. "Well, that's a relief." She stated flippantly. "I've never been received well. There's no point in starting now. I'm sure I can handle anything he throws at me."

The sheriff shook his head. Stupid young child. "Go into the eastern mountains. You'll need to climb twenty feet before you'll come to the entrance of his home. It isn't too difficult to get there, just time consuming."

"Then I'd better leave right now. I thank you for your assistance." With a final nod in doubtful gratitude, Aleia headed off in the eastward direction.

She walked out of town. She walked past cabins which probably the homes of the townsfolks. Even the cabins looked strange to her. One level, small and concise. Not at all like the split level apartment homes she was accustomed to.

She could see the mountain in distance, though she didn't realize it would take her three and half hours just to reach the base of the mountain. She sighed as she gazed up at the mountain. Three and a half hours to reach the mountain. How long would it take her to climb twenty feet? Normally such a feat would be beyond simple. But in her weakened, wounded state? She shook her head and felt determination rise in her. She would do this quickly and get on with her mission. Too many delays. Gritting her teeth, she began the climb. To her satisfaction, it only took twenty minutes to climb to his home entrance. Aleia smiled down at the distance she had covered.

" I could climb it in ten minutes on a good day." She assured herself. She turned to face what appeared to be a cave entrance. Except while caves had open mouths allowing you to enter at will, this cave had a solid door. No buttons, or speakers. No door chimes. Aleia sighed in frustration at the simpleness of this irritating town. She'd just have to do this the old fashioned way. She reached out and knocked on the large metal door. As she waited for her knock to be acknowledged, she marveled at the largeness of the door. The only doors she had seen that size had been in docking bays. Those kinds of doors were required so ships could enter and exit. Why did this cave require such a door? And why was the occupant taking so long to answer her knock. She knocked again, louder this time.

Ten minutes she stood at that door. And still no answer. Aleia was more than irritated at this point. She was considering breaking and entering. Only problem was, how did one break into a cave?

----

"How long will you make her wait, Master?"

Deegan smiled as he accepted the cup his manservant offered him. "Until she learns patience."

"With all due respect, Master Derrik, I doubt it'll be easy to teach that one anything."

"Perhaps you're right. Do you think twelve minutes and sixteen seconds is long enough?"

"More then enough, sir. In fact, I have a sneaking suspicion you may have your hands full when you finally admit her."

Derrik Deegan turned to study the girl again. "You have to admit though that she has grit. Most people would've left after waiting so long. Instead, every thirty seconds she knocks on the door and hollers my name."

"Yes, Master. She does appear to be a rare breed."

"Dax, bring me my cloak. I believe I will meet with her now."

"Which cloak, Master? The regular one or the... Ahem... Larger one?"

"Hmm..." Deegan pondered as he studied the girl again. "Let's throw her off a bit. Bring the regular one."

"Excellent choice, it's always wise to save your other side for... Umm.. Important occasions."

Deegan grinned. "Just my thoughts, Dax. Just so." Deegan accepted the cloak and turned to exit the viewing room. "Dax, have security on standby just in case. Her injuries appear to make her weak but we don't want to assume anything. That could be an ultimate mistake."

"Of course, Master Deegan. And would you like me to have infinity balls at hand?"

Deegan paused a moment before he answered. "Perhaps one. I doubt we'll need it but... You understand, Dax."

"Of course. It'll be ready."

"Excellent." Deegan pasted a friendly smile on his face as he strode towards the entrance. "Now is the time we shall greet our guest."

He pressed a hidden button and the large door slid open. He stood there staring at the girl. "What did you require?" He asked, his voice coming off a tad gravelly.

"I need to speak with Derrik, if you don't mind."

"You are speaking to him."

It took Aleia a full moment to recover what she was going to say. She well knew that in order to be able to get home she would need to be nice. She prepared herself mentally for the kindness involved in her required task. "I know that you are a busy man, so I won't waste too much of your time. I need your assistance, my ship crashed here just under 2 weeks ago and I need to get home now. It's urgent and I've heard that you're the one that can help me."

"Hmm. You say it's urgent that you get home? And yet you crashed nearly a fortnight ago. Why the delay in contacting me?"

"This is an unfamiliar place to me, it took nearly a week to find civilization and due to the injuries sustained during the crash the doctor insisted that I kept off my leg for another week. Today is the first day travel has been possible for me."

"I see. Well, in that case, you must dine with me and perhaps I shall hear your request tomorrow." Derrik Deegan took her by the arm and pulled her inside. The large door slid shut behind them.

Aleia was beginning to have a problem holding into her cool demeanor. She could not delay this any longer. She needed to get back, otherwise there would be serious repercussions when she returned. If she ever actually got to that point, of course. "You don't understand, it cannot wait until tomorrow."

"And what is the hurry?" Derrik cocked his eyebrow. "Everybody must make time for dinner. Even you." Derrik proceeded to lead her down a long hallway.

"I cannot disclose what the hurry is, " she replied, "However, dinner can wait until I am well on my way home." She could feel herself losing control. 'Just hold on, ' she whispered to her mind. 'This is the only person on the planet that can help you. Don't make him too angry otherwise you'll be stranded here forever.' She nearly groaned at thought.

"Nonsense. Dax!" he called, "You may get another setting. She will be joining us."

"Very good, Sir." Dax responded and then left to prepare another setting.

"Come along now. The dining hall isn't far."

"Then we can talk about my request over dinner. For it is important that I get out of here as soon as possible." She hoped that stressing the urgency of needing to get off the planet would change his mind. She was never good at having conversations with people, especially pleasant conversations. She didn't want him to know exactly where she came from though, so she was going to have to be very careful about not giving too much away. That was the last thing she needed, she didn't figure that these people and the Federation were on very good terms. Though, of course, nobody said one way or the other and she wasn't going to find out by telling her whole life story.

He walked with her down to the dining hall. "I never mix business with dinner. We may discuss it after dinner, perhaps." He held out the chair for her to be seated.

Aleia stared at the infuriating man, for a moment unsure. She glanced down at the chair then back into his eyes. "I would be most grateful, thank you." she said as she sat down. This was definitely something she wasn't used to and she wasn't sure that she liked it either.

Derrik smiled and sat as well. "How are you enjoying our fair city?"

Aleia smiled, "It is very nice, different from what I am used to."

Derrik arched an eyebrow, "Oh?"

"There is a lot of technology where I come from." That was all she was going to say about that.

"And what are things like where you come from?"

Aleia shrugged, "Like most any place I would imagine." she was going to have to be careful from now on. "Now, is it always like this around here? I mean with the men and women dressing and acting like that?"

"I don't understand. They act and dress as what they are, men and women. Do people not wear clothing where you are from?"

She almost laughed, "Well they do wear clothing. The clothing where I'm from however isn't so...." she didn't know what to say, if she said impractical then he would immediately guess where she was from no doubt, "Fancy." she finished, "I mean, women in dresses and the men in button down shirts? It looks like they're in their Sunday clothes."

Derrik smiled in tolerance at his guest. "On the contrary, their clothing is very.. " He grinned, "Shall we say practical?" He leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers as he prepared to enlighten her on women's fashions. "Their dresses or skirts, if they prefer, are usually equipped with functionality. Pockets, food storage. The skirt can also tear away into a very nice jumpsuit. Didn't you notice that when you purchased a dress? Or did you buy one of the more expensive 'fancy' ones?"

Aleia just stared at him in surprise, how had he known what she was thinking? Obviously her host was not quite as he seemed. She would need to be even more careful to guard her mind as well as her mouth. Though it did make her wonder just how long he had been listening to her mind... "I didn't realize that they had such a feature but I am glad that you have told me these things. I suppose it's a good thing my dress only cost ten dollars then."

"Ten dollars! That's insane! What person pays ten whole dollars for a measly dress? Lady, ten dollars is the most expensive dress this town sells! You must've boughten some useless frilly dress!"

Aleia put her hand to her forehead and sighed, "Of course. This isn't home, I should have known better. Leave it to me to buy some worthless dress." She shook her head, "Just to make the situation even worse, this had to happen."

Derrik attempted to comfort her. "Now, don't fret. Dax has a dress you can use from the last time he went undercover as a female spy." His face remained straight as he gave her this priceless information.

She laughed slightly, "That poor man." she said, "That's quite alright I think I can suffer this one until I can get a more suitable one tomorrow."

"Are you quite sure? You and Dax appear to be the same size." He said as he eyed the parts of her body that he could see above the table. "Well." He amended, " you may have a bit more up top then dear Dax does."

"Believe me sir, I am positive." she said and shook her head looking down at the table, she wasn't positive but this man must be crazy. Was he teasing?

Derrik grinned mischievously. "Of course, if you preferred my trousers, I sure I have a spare pair." His eyebrows wagged up and down in the most humorous way.

Aleia she laughed so hard that she couldn't even answer him. He was really something else, that much was for sure!

He smiled in the sweet pleasure of success. He made the odd lady laugh. And laugh hard. "Perhaps, you'd like to take your tea in the parlor?" He suggested as he pushed back from the table and moved to her side.

She pushed back her chair and stood up grabbing her cup of tea. "That sounds very nice, thank you. You will need to lead the way because I don't know where I am going, so after you." she gestured him forward.

"We'll go together." Derrik took Aleia's arm and led her down a long, very long winding hallway. "We'll use the parlor in the mistress' suite since you will be staying the night here as well. Meanwhile, we may be able to discuss your travel plans. Would you like first or third class reservations?"

Aleia wasn't so comfortable with her arm through his so she slipped her arm free and continued to walk beside him."I really can't stay."

"Nonsense, I won't let you leave until you've had a proper nights rest. Especially with your recent injuries. It is truly only wise of you to accept my invitation. And have no fear, I shall not sleepwalk into your room during the night. You will be safe."

She didn't know what to say, she was speechless. Sleepwalk? Now she knew for sure that he was crazy. "I think it would be better if I left after our discussion." She was not accustomed to this sort of joking around. This whole planet felt so foreign to her.

Aleia didn't want to think about sleeping. The last few nights she had not been able to sleep well due to nightmares and her own sleep walking. She didn't like being in a place she wasn't familiar with. Deep down, however, she knew that he was right. With her injuries still recovering, it would be impossible to see the footholds and be able to get down safely. She sighed, "I will stay if that is still alright." she said. She would do no good to her people dead.