The heated metal cooled and a lot of cracking could be heard. Ceramic tiles were exploding under the stress of the tightening metal. From time to time one could hear the sound of gunshots, like sneezes being thrown into the fire. The sun was shining on the horizon and was reflected through the foliage of the huge artificial swamp. The crew was waking up and all the humans were alive. There were probably 400 people of all nationalities. They had all mixed together, the English language being the norm even for the French, Canadians and Chinese. The AI was able to reboot with the few remaining solar panels that were not stolen. Bello opened the doors of the airlock and they could discover and rediscover a luxuriant original nature. The songs of birds but also of unknown species resounded all around them. About fifty meters away, the ground was firm and Bello, accompanied by his 2 "followers" ran towards the lawn and rolled on the ground. "How good it is to find the earth again... This perfume, this pure and not recycled air..." There were no words to describe their sense of newfound freedom... But Bello remained vigilant. He knew that they were not alone and that enemies or other creatures could be hostile. But the land had undergone many changes, as well as in the flora. There were flowers in the shape of elongated foxgloves with eyes....!! As they approached, they instantly retreated underground like an anemone and fooled around like a swan, causing a chain reaction of flowers to burrow underground. The teens found this amusing, but the captain was intrigued. He looked down at the ground and found a freshly constructed concrete slab that was unusually geometrically perfect. At the end of the swampy "track", Bello walked a little further, seeing a military vehicle at the end. Obviously, someone was waiting for them... "Shhh, not a sound... it looks like a child with two soldiers. They are in full view and not hiding". Monty: "Do you think they are waiting for us?" Bello: "Probably. I'm going to check it out and if I don't come back in a week, I'll sound the alarm. Your mother will know what to do.... She'll be the chancellor..." Bello walked about 50 meters down the concrete path and was in full view of the 3 observers. The vehicle was a kind of MBT, armored personnel carrier of Soviet manufacture. The turret with the light gun was facing down. There was no sign of direct threat but the 2 soldiers looked strange, with a head full of bumps. When he reached 50 meters, Bello stopped and realized that they were not soldiers but killer robot drones. They both had assault rifles slung over their shoulders but were not pointing them at him. That was a good sign in itself. But what was most intriguing was the girl. She looked like a child but she gave the appearance of a very small adult. But what was most amazing was the pair of wings that protruded from her back. A winged human? How could that be? The creature slowly turned and waved his hand in greeting. "Bello, I am Captain Bello...." The creature did not respond, unused to familiarity. She had an earpiece and was listening to instructions. She looked at the captain and gauged him up and down, wondering what taste he might have....but the instructions were clear. Absolutely no harm to humans. Under no circumstances. She judged them to be weak like the elves, and predatory ideas went through her head. Me (Hans): "Waspy, I know you and I recognize your look... don't even think about it... " She swallowed as she remembered the fate of the other fairies...stuffed with gnome juice.... "Waspy...my name is Waspy and our guide and teacher Hans Reinhart welcome you.." Against all odds, Bello got down on one knee and at the little fairy's feet.. "THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU... we owe you our lives.... without you....We would have burned..." Waspy wasn't too aware of this but the spontaneity, the frankness and the recognition of a life debt lit up her face for the first time. Against all odds, she began to smile... She also saw that humans did not have wings like many elves. "Buses??? I think that's what the professor said. Yes, a bus.... Will arrive to take you... To the village... Yes, meals will be served and you will find a beehive... ah no... uh shelters?? with beds and windows I think..." This made Bello smile. There was a welcoming committee Bello: "There are humans here???" Waspy: "Yes... you..." The answer was scathing. "Are you robots?" Waspy: "I am a Fae, but there are dwarves and Kobolds and guardians..."... the others are dangerous... We have to be careful with elves and other fairies... But our mait. our guide and teacher is here to protect us...." Bello thought to himself that anyone who could project himself into space and save humans in distress must be particularly powerful. Bello returned to America accompanied by the fairy, the robots having remained near the tank. This did not escape the captain's trained eye: as small as it was, this creature should not be underestimated. When he reached the level of the ship, Waspy spread his wings and made them hum like a wasp and, spread, Bello could see the wasp-like abdomen of the fairy. There must have been a stinger and some poison... From his hat, two antennae protruded, typical for hymenoptera. This intrigued the humans. While Bello returned to the lowered bridge with his knees soaked, Waspy stayed at his level and approached, curious, the vessel. She went up in altitude and made quickly the turn of it... "It is your house in the sky that fell down? Bello: "You could say that..." Waspy: "It's huge but it's beautiful.... I would like to visit it but I have to make you come... all..." The captain was a little embarrassed that his hand was being forced. There was no question of abandoning the ship. Everything was planned for a colonial base reconstruction. Waspy: "I understand... but we have a welcome party planned and..." She looked over and saw for the first time human children her size.. "Yes and... uh... ah....enemies are coming ...an army.... " People took turns coming out to roll in the grass . And some bowed to the fairy. Others were amazed to see a fairy in the flesh. Some bathed in the water. Waspy: "Be careful, there are monsters and the water is not safe..." "And... Be careful those flowers are poisonous!"" But she couldn't look at everyone. Bello: "Don't blame them. We've been locked up for centuries in ice cubes and they're happy to get out of this nightmare..." Waspy smiles "When you want..." With the chaos over, Waspy became the star of the humans. They wanted to see his wings and the geometrical patterns. Several times, Bello had to intervene so that they would leave the fairy alone. But very quickly, a major problem arose. No more reactor, no more electricity, well very little and all the projects were put to the water. And to top it all off, the water purification unit had been transported on the RUSSIA. The food as well. There was absolutely nothing left to eat on the ship. Waspy: "You see...Come...there is food for everyone and you will get to know our ruler, the Dwarf King...and I am sure you will be able to come back here whenever you want. This was reassuring in itself but also frightening. A kingdom, dwarves... no humans??? except the "guide" or "teacher" ???? Everything here was strange... mysterious but also scary. Humans were getting ready and gathering their belongings and some managed to get out of the hangars all-terrain vehicles, like rovers. They were waterproof and could also be used in the vacuum of space. Weapons were quietly loaded into crates, and this did not escape the watchful eyes of the monstrosity. His military clothes and handguns were also in evidence. Waspy didn't want to take any risks either. But the hardest part was over. The humans gathered and automatic double-decker buses like the good old English buses appeared, but without drivers. The rovers and human vehicles followed the bus convoy but some stayed behind to keep an eye on them and Monty entered a kind of stealth tank and switched on the invisibility screen. After half an hour's drive, the convoy arrived in a paradise valley with streams, lakes and rivers and lots of tropical plants, but also an ultramodern village with all the facilities. The human survivors thought they were arriving at an all-inclusive vacation resort with only their suitcases to drop off... And it was almost the same. Everything was clean and new. On the other hand, the village was surrounded by a fence that must have been about 15 kilometers in circumference. But the gates were open and the drawbridges lowered. Spherical turrets regularly covered the perimeter and the famous "Chinese Wall". No matter, the smell of fresh bread, barbecue and the sight of a buffet immediately put the settlers at ease. The buses stopped at the main square, which was topped by a kind of church, a temple with a stained glass hydra and also a black hydra statue on the main square. People didn't care, but Bello did. From his watch he radioed to Raven. "Anything suspicious?" Monty: "No, sir...the doors are closed and we'll meet you, just follow the road. " "Yes, there are no crossings. it's straight ahead but stay under cover. i'll signal you to come when it's time." Sitting at the edge of the fountain, Kate stood up (in human..) and I did the same.. The chancellor and Bello stepped forward and grabbed our hands and we had a hug. "THANK YOU, THANK YOU PROFESSOR REINHART... We will be eternally grateful..." Kate had to help herself to a cane to stay upright. It had been so long since she had become human again. And she was enjoying it because it was only temporary. "WELCOME TO THE NEW LAND!" "I'm not a speech specialist but I guess you're thirsty and hungry. The buffet is open..." There were familiar fruits but also a quirielle of other strange fruits and a description accompanied the display. The curative effects but also the level of toxicity for some. Quickly everyone had thrown themselves on the food and people backed away when they saw a small being of one meter at the most, red and covered with scales and a tail. A predator? A giant monitor??? No... he was dressed in a suit and carrying a tray with drinks. He was serving drinks. It was a Kobold! A legendary being. Then a second one appeared and then a third one. Seeing the reaction of the humans, they took refuge between us two. "These are our Kobold friends. They live here with us and maintain the church of the Abyss that you see behind me. " Then everyone noticed that the village was centered around the "church". Normal... Then with a wave of the hand: here is the main hall with a parliament and all the amenities. Here, the grain silos and the village farm with all its annexes. You will notice that there are houses. Don't worry... they are all the same with a cellar, a workshop, the conveniences, the electricity and even the internet... well what is left of it... Each house has a garden and a vegetable garden. It was then the rush to occupy the houses... Kate and me, we withdrew discreetly by a hidden door in the temple. And Kate smiled but convulsed. "I'm glad I was able to get my appearance back for a moment..." then the next thing I knew, I had my dragoness against me. I also had my dragon body back and we quietly left. Kate: "What if they see us in our true form?" "It's inevitable...sooner or later they'll know. But now that we've done all we can, we have to think about ourselves." I opened a portal of darkness and we were instantly back in our base. Obviously, Kabal had spotted the meddlers. "As always, they are humans..." Kate: "Did you notice that Waspy was smiling?" "Yes...maybe it's for the best but when they find out the truth..how will they react?" "That's what scares me... Like the elves... but I'm happy to finally have human contact... you can't imagine, Hans... How I missed it..." "Get some rest... You need to recover and recharge your mana... You know the cost is high to have a human body again..." Kate: "I don't know, I don't know anymore" "Don't forget that if you weren't a dragoness, we wouldn't be having this conversation..." And she remembered the spherical monster and its bite.....terrible.... "Hans.... protect me!!!" I caressed her. "I will do everything for you and our children..." And, mechanically, we looked together at the magma behind the glass at the back of the base. The lava had something reassuring for us, but also worrying because of its destructive power. Meanwhile, Cabal was making his calculations and the results were not very encouraging. While reassuring my companion, I looked up at the screen Cabal: "We can't hold out against the elven armies. Ammunition is disappearing faster than we can create it. We're already using up our reserves, and we'll have to explore other old bases again to replenish our supply." I was aware that it was impossible to hold out against an empire, even with sophisticated weapons and nuclear weapons. But I had almost exhausted everything to save the humans. Perhaps it was a mistake? Perhaps I had sacrificed or compromised my future offspring.... And it only hit me in the mind now. "Shit!!!"