Giant, metallic dragon heads rose up from the construction yards on Nim. From a rise outside the old, deep quarry in which they were being completed, Scorpina looked over them in awe. They were tremendous things, mechanical monsters that would have the power to destroy a planet, never mind conquer one.

Next to her stood Silvar; he sighed as his eye took in the tremendous sight, “Amazing, aren’t they?” he said.

“Yes,” Scorpina nodded. The basic form of these mechas was produced in the yards beneath the Emperor’s fort, then they were brought out into the open for their final stages of production; “Which one will be the flagship.”

Silvar flapped his wings briefly and took a short walk across the mound before he stopped then nodded toward the most complete of the mechas; “That one,” he said.

Scorpina smiled, “Wow… does she have a name?”

Silvar smirked, “I believe the Emperor will name her Serpentera.”

Scorpina nodded, “A fitting name.”

“They‘ve been nicknamed the ‘Tera’ series - I wouldn’t be surprised if all their names went that way.”

“Yes. It would make sense.”

Silvar shook his head, “It’s the power source that’s the problem… look at them! The tallest building on this planet just about reaches the tops of their big toes!”

“What does his grace have in mind for that?” Scorpina queried.

Silvar made a shrug, “Well, this first one, this ’Serpentera’ shall be fitted with the usual compliances - it’ll take a good while to charge it up and everything, but it’ll do as an experimental model until a proper source is found for the rest of them.”

“And what will this ‘proper source’ be?”

Silvar glanced about himself, his greying black mane fluttering in the breeze, “If you promise to keep it to yourself, my dear,” he said quietly, “The Emperor has his mind set on a crystal… the Zeo Crystal.”

Scorpina gaped, “What?” she gasped.

Silvar closed his eye, nodding, “You feel the same as I on the matter, then…”

“But it’s all a legend isn’t it?”

Silvar shook his head, “No… but I fear for his lordship if he makes this his quest. He claims to have had word on its location, a location hidden from all common knowledge for so many years. I believe that it is Master Vile who has come across the location; after plundering the M51 galaxy for so many years, it is only expected that he would sooner or later discover it through some means or other.”

“So what’s the problem? Vile is a loyal servant…”

Silvar scoffed, “Oh, my poor, naïve child, you know so little,” he said, “Vile is as ambitious as Lord Zedd - perhaps more so - only he does not let on. Long before our Emperor was even a twinkle in his father’s eye, Vile was ransacking galaxies, looking for the Zeo Crystal - it has been his quest since time immemorial.”

“So why is he sharing the location of the Crystal with our lordship if he’s so obsessed with it?”

“Why risk your own life when you can risk someone else’s?” Silvar stated; he sighed, staring up at the darkening sky, “It is well known that the Druids of M51 hid the crystal and that they protected it by casting a spell over it so powerful, it took the sacrifice of a Sorcerer to implement. Now, even if the crystal’s location has become apparent, don’t you think it’s going to be safeguarded more than well enough from those who seek it?”

“I see…” Scorpina assented.

“I’ve lost my son in these wars,” Silvar growled bitterly, “I won’t stand to lose my Emperor as well.”

“So tell his lordship of your concerns,” Scorpina suggested, “He listens to you.”

Silvar shook his head, “Not this time… I fear that I am becoming obsolete. He still trusts me, but more and more, he is now wanting to tread his own path and hear no opinions other than those that support his own.” He turned back to his lost-son’s girlfriend, “You know, he met a sorceress in battle, and he’s fallen slap-bang head-over-heels in love with her. He won’t listen to me. I’ve told him to try and forget her - she’s on the opposite side, for the Dragon’s sake! - but… well, he’s a man now. He can make his own choices.”

“But he’s Aytiphon’s son. Everyone knows what Aytiphon was like.”

“Pigheaded.”

“Exactly,” Scorpina said, “He’s inherited a lot of that…”

“And he’ll have to make his way with that. If he doesn’t book his ideas up, he may well be the last of his line,” Silvar said, “I’m not going to be here forever to keep him in line, so who will?”

“I will,” Scorpina said.

Silvar laughed and rubbed her shoulder affectionately, “Only fools dare venture where even Titanian warriors fear to tread.”

She smiled at him and they both made their way slowly back to the Emperor’s fortress.

* * * *

“Zordon may be gone from this mortal plane," Lexion announced, "but we will still be able to reach him. I’m going to work on that. Until the Dragon is dead, we are not safe...”