TOCTOCTOC

"MMMHH, Get up."

An Officer with many medals is standing in front of the cage with Douglas. He seems to be his superior. It's better to be in his good graces.

I sit on my back and look into his eyes, making a military salute.

"Huh!" Kent answers by making the same salute. I keep myself tense like a soldier, standing straight. First impressions must always be the best.

"Relax," he says, and I release the tension.

Then Douglass jumps inside the cage, to the horror of Kent: "Douglas!! Be careful!"

Douglass replies confidently, "No problem, she is a friend, and she is sentient and aware."

Kent is amazed, "Wonderful, all injuries have disappeared. How have you done this? Ah, you need to write."

Kent: "Write?"

"Commander, look." And Douglass takes a felt pen and gives it to me:

HELLO COMMANDER KENT, NICE TO MEET YOU.THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY LIFE.MY NAME IS DAATRHH, AT YOUR SERVICE.

Kent stammers, "You, you understand us? You can write? Have you killed humans? Are you the monster they describe?"

I respond firmly, "Lies, I was born human, and I don't eat humans. I saved the children who fell in the ravine. Ask Father John. I am his apprentice. I pray to God. In Saudi, I defended your men against Sarge, a mercenary. He killed the two pilots and injured McGyvor. I escaped by flying with the eight people tied to my talons. We hid in caves, rested, and ate, then escaped to the meeting point. Sarge was with a gunship copter and found me. Your men reached the hiding point with local mounts I found for them. But Sarge was rushing to the copter to pick up your men, and I attacked the copter. He launched tear gas into my eyes, and I was blind. Then he locked me with a laser, and a cruise missile exploded near me. I had the reflex to pull the helicopter between me and the missile, which I sensed with sound, and the missile hit the copter. I got shards everywhere, and all my limbs were broken. The blast left me out of breath on the ground. Fortunately, there were trees and bushes that cushioned my fall, and then I was KO. When I woke up, I had lost a lot of blood and was near death. I saw men in black coming to capture me, but they turned out to be your men, and I know the US are always the good guys. So, I placed my fate in your hands. I don't know if Sarge is still alive, but I guess yes. These guys are resilient."

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Kent nods, "GOOD, GOOD. You know, you are a hero here. I already know all about you, and you are a good-hearted dragon. You tell me you were human before? How is that possible? But seeing you speak with me makes me trust you. You are Christian, work with exorcists, saved US marines, fought a coup in Saudi, committed no crimes except some BBQ food, laugh… Well, well, well, I was going to send you to a zoo to preserve you. What will I do with you? Officially, you are a wild animal who needs to go to a wildlife preservation society. But before that, there are some people who want to meet you. YES, you can come."

Heater, McGyvor, and the six marines enter the hangar and rush to me for hugs.

I am happy to be patted, and I start to purr like a cat. Kisses and licks are exchanged.

Kent observes, "I see you are loving and loved; this is a good point. My opinion of you has improved. But we have to decide what to do with you."

I ask, "Can I ask you to join as a member of the US Air Force and be under your protection? I would like to repay you for saving my life."

Kent chuckles, "You need to be an officer for that. Are you able to follow this?"

I reply confidently, "I was a physicist, and I am a scientist. I think I can still do analytic mathematics, so theory is not a problem. The issue is more of an ethical and physical nature. I am sure I can pass the physical tests."

Kent laughs heartily, "HAHAHAHA, a dragon as a pilot in the US Air Force. I'll have to discuss this with the President."