Tom picked up the dragon scale and glared at it.

"Right, I know just what to do with you."

Taking out the duck tape, Tom walked over to the train tracks. Placing the dragon scale on top of the tracks and then taping it done. He ran back to the tree and tried to stay out of view of the train operator. It was a good five minutes before the train ran it over with a very satisfying crunch.

"I don't know what kind of magic was on it, but that should have killed it."

The train was slowing down ar the train yard and Tom picked out a boxcar to jump in. This one looked new and there was no lock on the door. After opening the door and getting in, there was just something that fault off to him. Not being able to see anything with the door closed, he took out his phone and turned on the light. There was a large metal crate in the corner. It all most looked like a coffin, but way to big for that. It didn't have any company logos, shipping labels or even paint on it. Looking at the side, there was a number pad with a small rad light.

"To open it or not to open it, that is the question."

Probing his mind about what to do and not getting anything from his paranoia, he settled on trying to open it. Sweeping up some dirt from inside the boxcar and lightly blowing it on the number pad. He could make out some of the fingerprint on the number pad.

"Looks like the code is going to use 4, 6, 9 and 0."

It's not like Tom didn't have time to sit there and pick at the four numbers all night. The code was six numbers long, using the 0 and 4 two times. With a beep the rad light turned green and some clicking of dead bolts. As the lid opened on its, Tom got to his feet to look inside. Laying inside was an unconscious monster girl on life support.

"Damn it /k/, you did not prepare me for this garbage."

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

Looking her over, he was unsure what she was. Long arms with porcupine like quills that run all the up to and top of her head. Mostly talking to himself again.

"Of course you're naked, they are always naked in the books. You have bird feet to, what are you girl? So, this is the part where I pull you out."

He got to work by removing the tubes and breathing mask, then cutting the restraints. Laying her down on his sleeping bag and placing the bath towel on her. He debated the idea of leaving a smoke grenade inside the medical box or whatever it is, but thought better about and just closed it. Craving for some food he got to work on an MRE. The smell of the food must have woken her up. Just as Tom was about to dig in, she looked over at him and then at the food. His hunter gatherer instincts kicked in when he notice how hungry she looked.

"Are you hungry?"

Holding the towel to herself, she sat up.

"Yes, can I have some?"

Tom passed the MRE tray and pulled out another one.

"Here you go, I can make more."

As he got the second MRE set up and going he asked.

"So, how did you get in the box?"

She seemed to be perplexed by this question.

"What box?"

Tom got a blank expression for a second.

"Ok nevermind, what happened to you?"

Leting out a grunt she replied.

"Tell you after I'm done eating, got anything to drink?"

Handing her the flask and tried to ask her one more question.

"Yeah, here you go. Can you tell me your name?"

She glared at Tom with a mouth full of food. He gave up asking her any more questions as he looked down at his MRE and mumbled.

"Ok, ok eat."