At the door to the hangar, Aquila pauses to check the status display. "Looks like the emergency shutter's in place," he reports. "Air pressure is on the low side, but not enough to worry about."
"I never expected to go out like this," Shankara admits. "I'd always hoped our mission would be successful, and I could retire on the coast and die of old age."
"At least we'll go down fighting," Aquila assures.
"As father and son," Shankara replies.
Together, the dragons enter the hangar.
Absolution stands in the centre of the hangar behind Lord Brevon, who is flanked by a dozen Shade Troopers. "It appears victory is mine," Brevon greets. "Hand over the Crystals, and I'll make your deaths quick and painless."
The dragons take aim at Brevon. "Leave while you still can," Shankara commands.
"How amusing to think you can defeat me," Brevon replies.
"It's easy to be confident when you outnumber your opponents thirteen to two," Aquila growls.
Brevon signals to his troops to return to Absolution. "As you insist on fighting, I will play along," Brevon states, drawing his venom-enriched knife. To the dragons, it's the size of a sword. "But know that I do not need my troops to defeat a couple of dragons."
The dragons open fire, unleashing a full magazine each, but Brevon shrugs off every bullet. Showing surprising speed for someone so large, Brevon closes the gap between him and the dragons. Shankara and Aquila dive for cover to avoid the charge.
"Hiding will not help you," Brevon hisses. "It will only delay the inevitable."
Discarding his empty firearm, Aquila jumps out of cover and charges a Dragon Boost, followed a second later by his father doing the same. The double-hit knocks Brevon back, cracking his armour. Brevon turns as the dragons follow up their attack, blocking the flurry of punches and kicks with ease, toying with the dragons.
Moments later, the dragons leap back to prepare another Dragon Boost, but Brevon doesn't give them the chance. Spreading his cape like a bat's wings, he flies straight at the dragons, knocking them both flat to the floor. Before they have a chance to recover, Brevon turns and pins them both to the floor, his hands gripping their throats. "Like I said, I do not need my troops to defeat a couple of dragons," he growls as he stands, holding the dragons a few feet above the floor. "Now, where are the Crystals?"
"We'll never tell," Shankara grunts, trying in vain to loosen Brevon's iron grip.
"We'll see about that," Brevon growls. "Syntax, I require your assistance in this matter."
A green and black twin-tentacled robot appears over Brevon's shoulder. ++Which one do you want me to torture?++
"That is a good question," Brevon muses. "Do we torture the captain, or his son? Choices, choices…"