Chapter 2
"People of America, I am Christian Blair, of the Black Dragons. We were wronged by this country, and sentenced to imprisonment for the crime that it committed against us. I seek my enslaved brother who serves the Iron man, and my free sister who aids the knights to help me exact justice. If my sister is not found, people will die. And if the knights interfere they will find only their death." The screen went black, and silence ensued.
Snake Eyes glanced at Scarlett; who was shaking slightly and looked about to pass out. He had never had reason to doubt her courage, the way she spoke of walking with death in the hotel room. He wondered what it was about Christian Blair and what he had said that frightened her so.
A hundred thoughts raced through Scarlett's mind; Blair and the others were out of the institution and most certainly not well. He was making threats she knew he'd make good on. G.I. Joe couldn't bring him down, they lacked the capability, the knowledge, and the nerve to do what she saw now had to be done. It was a Dragon matter and it would have to be Dragon justice.
It seemed safe to say that Blair's group was lacking in their own skills. While Ian's skills were sharp, they weren't what they were in the Black Dragons. She, on the other hand, had been honing her skills to perfection since she was a Dragon. They would come after her first because of that. She couldn't let them come here, it would endanger everyone. Blair would make good on his promise and kill them all. She couldn't allow them to take her, she wouldn't.
She also knew it would be easier to take Blair out from within, but that was an outright act of betrayal to her duty. It went against Dragon law and conditioning; it simply wasn't done. But then neither was an idea to kill another Dragon, but Blair lost his right to be called a Dragon the second he made those accusations. Although she had to agree to justice to the Iron man, the rest was just wrong.
Hawk was speaking still but neither heard anything, wrapped in their own thoughts and worries. Scarlett was already deciding to contact Ian; he'd know what she should do.
As Scarlett was heading back to her room; Snake Eyes took her by the hand.
*What happened in there?*
"What do you mean?"
*I don't think I've even seen you look so frightened before.*
"You think I can't handle this, do you?"
*I never said that. I know that something about that broadcast terrified you. I saw it. I want to help.*
She was silent, contemplating her next move; what sort of half truth should she say. She couldn't flat out lie, not to him. The bad thing was she knew he deserved the truth, and now her heart fought with her mind over that knowledge.
Her heart won out, she had to tell him, even if she feared telling him more than anyone. She may not be able to tell him everything now, but he needed to know about the Black Dragons, if only for his own protection.
"I'll tell you what I can," she said leading him back to her room.
"The Black Dragons were a highly classified, elite unit. Handpicked internationally from the very best that their country's had to offer. The best of the best, we mostly specialized in covert and black operations. There were eight of us all together."
*Us?*
"Us. Ian, myself, Hector, Jean, Alex, Lucius, Antonio, and Christian. We were used as human guinea pigs. They messed with our heads, drugged us with all sorts of enhancing drugs. All so we would be the perfect soldiers, to this day I don't believe any of us truly understand or know the limits on what they did to us."
*That's what he meant by crimes committed against them.*
"Yeah. It failed though; most of us were loyal only to each other. It succeeded in two and the other six are now delusional."
*Which two?*
"Take a guess."
*Ian and you?*
"Are the only two in which it was a complete success. Lethal and loyal, as the brain behind the whole thing puts it, only I'm free to choose who I give my allegiance to."
"I knew it would happen one day. One of us would go rogue, Ian's aware of this by now. And I have to get out of here."
*Why?*
"Blair will come looking for me. He swore he'd kill anyone who gets in his way; I know better than to think he's bluffing."
*He would try to take on a force that out numbers him over twenty to one.*
"Outnumbered, yes. But to be perfectly honest, GI Joe is outclassed in this fight. The abilities of a Black Dragon are almost supernatural, like something out of a science fiction movie. They will move in swiftly and anything in their path will be destroyed."
*There has to be something that can be done.*
"There isn't. This has been started by a Black Dragon, and it has to be finished by one. If I go, I might be able to evade them for a while. I won't let them come here, I can't allow it."
*We can prepare for them, stop them before they get here.*
"No. I won't risk any lives for myself. I lost Danny and I won't lose any more of my friends. And I especially won't risk losing you."
She had put a bag on the bed, and was packing. She had to see Ian so they could decide what to do about Christian Blair.