Page 58 of Escaping my Dragon

“Here’s the thing. Right now, everyone is looking at you and thinking, damn, he’s a big bastard. What if his plan is to go on a rampage and tear down cities and eat everyone?”

I do not rampage.

“But you are planning to eat people, which means there’s going to be strong opposition. Everyone is going to be looking for a way to kill you.”

They won’t succeed.

“Meaning people will be throwing their lives away in vain. Which is where the interview comes in. We’ll introduce you to the world, and you can clearly state your intentions and also advise them that resistance is futile.”

“Isn’t it morbid to want to broadcast the words of a genocidal monster?” Noah sputtered. “You’d kill everyone’s hope.”

No, I wanted to buy time. The mega dragon might be cocky enough to think he couldn’t be defeated, but this same arrogant beast had been trapped inside a mountain because he took a long nap. However, I couldn’t say any of this out loud. “When else will we get a chance to let the world know what’s going on?”

“You’re promoting an alien monster for a brief spot of fame,” he growled.

Would this win me some kind of prize if we actually survived? Probably. However, I didn’t have recognition in mind, and it offended that Noah jumped to that conclusion. “Nice to see you think so little of me. Hey, since you’re the man with all the morals and answers, what is your plan, exactly?”

“I’m not sure yet, but it won’t include media blitzing the villain.”

“So you’ve condemned Leviathan without even speaking to him.” Blame the debater in me for stepping back from the situation to find the opposing stance. “Thus far, he’s done nothing but wake up.”

“He wants to eat people.”

“Wants to and has eaten are two different things. Thus far, he’s committed no crime.”

“Even if it doesn’t eat people and goes after animals or vegetation, look at the size of it.” Noah waved. “How many tons will it require a day? How long before everything on this planet is wiped to sate its appetite?”

The last time I dragged it out to last seven years.

I startled at the statement and Noah jumped on it.

“And this is why you can’t help it.”

“Then how will you stop him?” I hated putting him so bluntly on the spot. However, the more we spoke, the more I wondered if appeasing Leviathan might not be the better course. After all, he’d already stated he wouldn’t eradicate all life so that it could replenish. Someone who aided the mega dragon might be one of those survivors left behind in a world drastically changed. Could I survive in such a place?

How could I even contemplate it? Aiding the dragon in any way, shape, or form condemned billions. It would take humanity back to the Iron Age, maybe before, as infrastructure, everything we’d achieved, got wiped out. And how could I have forgotten its plan to steal my eggs? A plan that likely wouldn’t leave me alive.

Leviathan decided he wanted his spot back as center of attention.

I’m bored and I don’t like waiting. I shall allow this interview thing. Let the world tremble as they see my might. May they fall prone in veneration and bring me offerings in exchange for their life. I am partial to shiny objects. Be sure to include that in the interview.

“Uh, yeah. Sure. No problem.” Surreal didn’t come close to explaining my mindset in that moment. “So, one problem. I can’t properly record you if you’re talking in my head.”

You know where to find me if you wish to converse aloud.

I blinked. “I guess I could come to you.” Look at that, offering myself up as a proverbial lamb. Smart? Guess we’d find out, if I still lived a week from now.

Excellent. I shall even speak in a decibel that won’t burst your eardrums.

“Thanks.” And oh my god. What had I volunteered to do?

“Fucking suicidal,” Noah muttered, drawing my gaze.

“I’m going to guess you won’t fly me to Erebus so I can do this properly?”

“Like fuck I am.” An uncompromising Noah crossed his arms.

“You might want to listen to him, Velma. While this interview thing sounds exciting and all, logistically, I don’t think we can make it work.” Vernon waved the microphone around as he spoke. “Even if the captain agreed to fly, where would he land? In case you hadn’t noticed, Leviathan is literally soaking in magma. Which brings me to point two: even if we could get close, we’ll barbecue.”