Detached Garage

“One of the reasons supervillains keep returning to the idea of a ship or vehicle base instead of something static are cities like Chicago and New York. It’s not easy living in a city where parking your especially intimidating villain car requires either paying for parking, or parking on the street. “

“Of course, you haven’t lived till you’ve seen a man wearing spiked armor, capable of firing lasers out of their nipples, or whatever, arguing with a meter maid and loosing.”

Phantastique, Secrets of the Super Tailors

"There was a second door in the bird lab, I’m betting that’s the tunnel back to his office." Ryan said, thinking.

“I remember. We at least don’t have to walk all the way back to the living room dome.” Emilia said as they cycled the door they’d exited so recently, stepping back into the blessedly cool air of the lab.

“I am glad for the armor, but it is really hot and humid out there! This is not going to be breathable.” Lisa said.

“I want to say it will surprise you, but no. You’re right.” Carl nodded. “Armor that breathes is a bit of an oxymoron.”

“Still, I suppose it’s good we have it.”

"Yeah, considering I heard something in the brush, and with this kind of eco-system I'm not willing to bet on it being non-venomous That's why we have the boots. Even without the armor, those would be a must." Ryan said.

They moved through the lab and down to the office, and through to the bedroom. "I figure we can get water out of the tap here as easy as the kitchen." Ryan said. He was already annoyed by backtracking, though he acknowledged it was a good idea, rather it played out or not.

“Well, there is plenty of water in Bathtopia.” Carl said.

Entering the bedroom, they started walking towards the bathroom when a strange growl startled them. They all froze, an odd clicky, squeaky sound coming from under the bed.

The bed which had been neatly made save for the creases Carl put in it the day before, was now a mass of tangled sheets and blankets.

"Well crap." Carl said, letting his camera drop on its strap, pulling his shotgun and ratcheting it.

Ryan moved to the side, bringing up his own pistol while Emilia pulled Lisa back behind her, both women stepping well out of the firing line. "Don't shoot until we can see it. For all we know it's harmless."

"Do we care?" Carl asked, incredulous.

"I'd rather not make our karma any worse today. I think I’m already paying for the entirety of my teenaged years, today." Ryan replied. “I’d rather not make it worse by shooting a, I don’t know, sea turtle or something.”

The dark green bed skirt lifted, and a large white clawed foot came out, scraping on the rug, then came another squeaky sound that was almost a whine. “I think it’s stuck?” Lisa said tilting her head

"Um. The bed is literally part of the structure. We can't exactly pick it up." Emilia said.

"I'm thinking it got under there; it can get itself out." Ryan said, though he did reach over and pull the blankets away, hoping to get a better look at it.

A white tail and foot thrashed as the creature struggled to get out of the fitted sheet that had wrapped around it. Lisa knelt, trying to get a peek and saw one golden eye as the creature whined.

“It’s stuck in the sheet not on the bed.” Lisa said. “Let me see if I can help it free. Then we will know what we are dealing with.

"It’s whining. Do monsters whine?" Em asked

"I don't know that I've ever heard of it." Carl said.

“You’ve obviously forgotten about my father.” Ryan griped.

Lisa carefully stepped forward, grabbing the blankets around the critter, and gave a firm tug, stepping back at the same time, trying to free it but maintain space.

It rolled with the sheet out from under the bed. “It’s a crocodile! I mean, I think?” she said stepping back. The white crocodilian whimpered again, trying to get its last leg free, then rolled on it’s back, wagging its short thick tail and giving little pleading yips.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"Um. It's a crocodile asking for tummy rubs." Carl said, back to recording video. "And it's making puppy dog eyes."

"I mean, it's not attacking, that is a plus." Ryan said. "Yeah, I've got nothing here. This is just plain damn weird."

“Well.” Lisa said, moving towards the white animal. “Juicy doesn’t seem like a monster, maybe this one isn’t either? She kept an eye on the cream head as she untangled its legs from the sheet. It made a happy little croak, then wriggled closer to her curling up and licking her hand. She rubbed its stomach, and the small slicer beast wiggled happily. “Oh, aren’t you the cutest little abomination, yes you are!”

“He took the ‘all animals are dogs’ trope just a little bit too far, I think.” Emilia chuckled, “But it’s cute, in an unsettling sort of way."

"It is kind of like he crossed a crocodile with a cocker spaniel." Lisa said.

“Hehe, it’s a Crocker Spaniel.” Carl said with a laugh.

“That is horrible.” Lisa said dryly as the stubby creature wriggled in delight at the attention. “And I am ashamed to admit I kind of like it. You’re not unsettling, not much, you’re just a cute little puppy… lizard.”

"Yeah. Okay. I think it's time to go to this sub pen."

Carl nodded and Ryan moved over to the door, opening it, and stepping into the airlock slash porch, then the door to the tunnel leading to the sub. "Well, this one's still cool."

“That is good news,” Lisa said as she stood. She followed the others into the tunnel, the Crocker Spaniel following, his tail wagging, “Okay, so I don’t think he looks like a Betty, what do you think of Davy?” Lisa asked

"Well, that's the locker we found him in." Emily commented wryly. Carl snapped his finger and nodded at that one.

"Davy's a bit more respectable than Juicy." Ryan admitted. “But I’m not changing it.”

“Davy it is.” Lisa said happily as the odd happy little animal trotted next to her. It was about three and a half feet long, with a short stumpy tail, and was a pure almost pearly white, it had big golden eyes and big wide webbed feet with stubby claws. Davy let out a happy chirp. “Well now we know why the critter went after the meat and seafood.” she said

"Yeah, well, at least he's straight forward to feed. His mouth is smaller than I'd have expected for something like a Crocodile." Emilia frowned. “And we know he ate macaroni. Does that mean he’s not just a meat eater?”

The others all shrugged. “Can eat and should eat are two different things, and Macaroni salad has mayo in it, so it’s kind of eggy in a weird way.

"There’s no chance that he’d fool anyone into thinking he's a log, either, not that bright a white." Carl was curious and flipped the screen to the thermal display for a few moments. "He's also warm blooded. His temp is about 89, which is way warmer than the environment in here."

“Well, we will need to find a vet to give him a go over, Juicy probably should too.” The tube became thicker as it reached the skin of the outer dome, where a pair of doors had to be passed before passing through three, not two, layers of glass, continuing on in the depths of the lake. “Did anyone else’s ears pop?” Emilia asked

“Mine did.” Lisa nodded.

"Yeah, mine to.” Ryan said. “I can still see the outer dome. It's not bright, but it's damn glorious. I think I get why he was shutting off the lights at night, no one can find it by the light then, on the surface I mean. And look, the interior domes are all tinted."

Emilia tilted her head in consideration, then nodded. "That does explain a lot. You'd have to think someone would have noticed by now if he hadn’t."

“The water here is also pretty clear. Bass prefer muddier waters.” Lisa said as they came to another heavy door. When the others looked at her curiously, she shrugged. “My boss’s husband is a serious fisher guy. His boat cost more than my car. Anyway, while I know the area has supposedly good fishing, the kind of breakwater formed by the island keeps the water still above us, and apparently sport fish hate clear water.”

“I suppose that makes sense, easier to hide. Oh, here we go! And of course, this one has a lock. “Ryan growled. “Lisa, can you work your magic?”

Lisa nodded as she pulled her picks out. "I can try." She winced as she felt the grit in the lock. “This is a rusty boy. Do you have any WD40 in your tool bag.” She asked Carl. He nodded, pulling off the pack and handing her a small blue and yellow can.

She worked for a few minutes, carefully getting her tools into the lock, moving them slowly not wanting to break anything. “Okay, I got the first two pins.” she worked on wiggling the next one free. “That's three. I hate old locks.”

There was a loud click. “That should do it.” she said a few moments later, pulling on the door. which moved about 3 inches before the rust in the gears bogged it down.

"Well, that's not great. Thanks for getting the lock though." Ryan said. He gripped the edge of the door and pulled, with Emilia going to the opposite side of the tunnel and pushing on it. Slowly they managed to get it to move an inch, two, then it broke loose and slid open properly. Emilia even staggered into Ryan as it did.

“Well hello there.” Ryan purred.

“Hello yourself.” Emilia said with a smile, and slight blush.

“Not now, you two.” Carl teased. Lisa hit him on the arm.

The inside of this dome was full of water plants frogs, and small birds. The floor extended out in a three-quarter circle, with the last quarter being a pool, a part of Lake Superior itself. there was a dock with what looked like a small motorboat in a boat lift hanging from it.

"That is a sub?" Lisa said confused.

Carl frowned, zooming in and stepping closer, still filming. "Yeah, I think it is. There are sealing hatches instead of simple doors, and the mast is a periscope. I think it’s also a smokestack, or a snorkel.”

Davy began squeaking, and Lisa's eyes went wide as she followed the Crocker Spaniel’s eyes out to the water. "Carl! get back!” She shouted. Pointing at an enormous white shape moving just under the water heading for the dock.

A huge eye broke the surface, opening to reveal a mix of bronze, gold, and green, with a saurian slit, opened and gazed into the dome. The eye was easily the size of a dinner plate as the crocodilian form behind it became visible in the gloom.

“It’s the Dragon.” Ryan gasped.