Chapter 58

Downtown Los Angeles, California, United States

A groaning crunch sounded from the tops of the two armored trucks, making them suddenly weigh down significantly. Officer Taylor and the man in the other vehicle scrambled out of them at once, nearly falling onto the pavement. They both backed up, taking in the sight that was all too satisfactory for Jack and Sully to watch.

Their dragons, Voltar and Blaze, had descended from the night sky, their powerful wings beating against the cool air as they landed atop the armored trucks with a resounding thud. The vehicles, designed to withstand bullets and brute force, whimpered under the weight of the dragons. The tires deflated and the sound of metal crunching was like nails on a chalkboard for Officer Taylor. For Jack, it was music to his ears.

"What the hell, man?" Taylor yelled, throwing his hands up in the air.

The other officer didn't appear as angry as much as fearful for his life as Voltar opened his mouth and let out a roar that shook the ground under their feet. The guy shuffled back to the nearest corner, watching the scene from a safer distance..

"Oh, it appears that our dragons don't think you should have stolen those parts from Tesla," Jack said, shaking his head, clicking his tongue with a sly smile.

"Yeah, Blaze has a real soft spot for that guy," Sully added. "Probably because he always has a nice rack of ribs for her when we stop by."

Voltar, her scales crackling with electric energy, dug her claws into the reinforced metal of the truck. Throwing her head back, like an excited dog about to enjoy a treat, she dove forward, tearing at the roof with a ferocity that sent sparks flying. The truck shuddered beneath her massive size. Its still-running engine made a sound of protest, popping and shuddering from the forces brought on by the unwelcome passenger. Undeterred, Voltar continued her assault, her talons ripping through layers of steel and insulation.

On the other truck, Blaze unleashed a torrent of flames, the intense heat causing the metal to warp and bubble. The acrid scent of melting rubber filled the air as the tires began to disintegrate under the onslaught. Blaze's eyes glowed with a fiery determination as she focused her energy on the vehicle's weak points, seeking to reduce it to a smoldering heap. The fire wasn't a normal red and orange, but carried hints of blue and white—it was so insanely hot.

Taylor shielded his face from the onslaught of intense heat, spinning around to Jack who had been joined by Sully, next to him. "You can't do this, man! I've got a place to be! I've got orders."

"Oh, I didn't realize that he had orders," Jack said playfully to Sully. "That changes everything."

"Definitely." Sully nodded, agreeably and looked out to the trucks where one was in the process of being fried and shredded and the other one roasted. "Stop it, gals. These fine officers have some place to be."

When the dragons didn't make a show of listening and definitely weren't stopping, Jack waved his hands with little enthusiasm. "No. Stop. Don't," he said, with zero inflection, drawing out the commands.

He sighed. Shrugged. Turned to face Officer Taylor. "Well, what are we going to do? I tried. They seem to have found new toys and don't want to give them up."

"Man, you guys are going to pay for this," Taylor said, narrowing his eyes at the other men, flexing his hand by his gun.

Sully stepped up, putting his face nose to nose with the other man. "Tell me how. Because if you try and shoot one of us, then our dragons will do to you, and your buddy, what they are doing to your trucks."

"Oh, hell no," Jack said with an amused laugh. "I don't need Voltar to fight my battles. I'll tear you in half on my own, Taylor. And with my bare hands because only cowards fight with guns."

The three men faced off for a long moment, not making a move. The narrow street echoed with the sound of screeching metal and the roar of the dragons' magic. Voltar, her maw sparking with electricity, clamped down on the truck's antenna, sending a surge of energy through the vehicle's systems. The headlights flickered and popped, glass raining down onto the asphalt below.

Blaze, not to be outdone, raked her claws across the truck's hood, leaving deep, glowing gashes in the metal. With a mischievous glint in her eye, she tore off the side mirror and flung it at a nearby streetlight, watching with satisfaction as it shattered in a shower of sparks.

Voltar, her tail lashing with frustration, struggled to pierce the truck's reinforced windshield. Undaunted, she wrapped her jaws around the metal frame, her electric magic pulsing through the structure. The glass cracked and splintered, the spider web of fractures spreading rapidly under the relentless assault.

Blaze, her flames now a completely blinding white, focused her energy on the truck's fuel tank. The intense heat caused the metal to expand and warp, the pressure building until the tank ruptured with a deafening blast. Fire and smoke billowed from the wound, engulfing the rear of the vehicle in a raging inferno. The fire, like an inviting bath of goodness to the dragon, shot up suddenly and then dissipated with a boom.

"Well, that's it!" Taylor said, throwing his hands up to cover his face from the sparks and embers flying through the air. "You wanted to stop us and now you've done it."

Jack shook his head. "No, we wanted to show whoever was threatening and making demands of Tesla that we wouldn't stand for it. He does what we say. He helps us keep crime at bay."

"By stealing," Taylor seethed, backing up, heading in the direction of his buddy. "Are you proud that you've now ruined hundreds of thousands of dollars of equipment that will be no good to us or Tesla?"

Jack and Sully glanced over at the armored trucks, casually watching for a moment. The dragons, their scales glistened under the streetlights, marked in place with soot, redoubled their efforts. Voltar, her claws now embedded deep within the truck's engine block, sent a massive surge of electricity through the vehicle's heart. The engine sputtered and died, the acrid smell of burning electronics filling the air.

Blaze, her tail whipping through the flames, tore at the truck's undercarriage, exposing the delicate machinery within. With a triumphant roar, she unleashed a concentrated stream of fire, melting the axles and suspension components into a molten mess.

Unaffected by the heat of the flames licking off the second truck, Sully nodded. "Yeah, I'm pretty proud."

"Me too," Jack agreed, pointing in Taylor's direction, several yards away. "And I don't know who you're working for or what you're up to, but I hope you've been reminded who runs this city. If you step out of line, if you run crime that can hurt our citizens, then we will come after you."

"Yeah, whatever, man!" Taylor yelled over his back, but he definitely looked intimidated. He caught up with the other cop and together the pair disappeared down a narrow alleyway.

Jack and Sully glanced back at their dragons, who were climbing off the wreckage. As the trucks lay in ruins, their once-intimidating frames now twisted and scorched, Voltar and Blaze surveyed their handiwork with pride. The night air was thick with the scent of burnt rubber and charred metal, a testament to the dragons' unyielding determination and raw power. In the end, no armored truck, no matter how well-fortified, could withstand the might of these two legendary creatures.