Jarek awoke in some sort of cavern as he was bound against a pole in a room that featured plentiful high technology that not even Jarek could make out despite the Black Dragon being involved with similar stuff back when he was a part of that clan. Many people walked by which Jarek instantly recognized as members, specifically chemists, of the Red Dragon clan. There appeared to be experiments being conducted through the room beside him but he could not get a proper view due to his limited mobility. One of the members soon spotted that Jarek was awake as he began struggling in his steel restraints. Said members prompted for another who was holding this strange device in their hand to press a button on it which shocked Jarek painfully.
"Sir!" another one of the chemists called to Mavado who was watching an experiment being conducted. "He's awake!"
"Ah," Mavado turned to see Jarek. He was a bloody mess but he was certainly awake at last. "How are you feeling, Jarek?"
"I'm feeling like I should cut your fucking head off!" Jarek replied aggressively which Mavado laughed at the outburst.
"By your attitude I take it you don't want to know where Tasia is." Mavado said with a smile on his face as Jarek only became more angry.
"Tell me!" Jarek demanded.
"Alright alright," Mavado was feeling generous enough to give into such demands, but not before taking the device that the chemist was wielding and used it to shock Jarek multiple times. "That's for your rudeness."
"Fuck you!" Jarek cussed only to be shocked once more.
"An associate to our great clan has made some donations regarding DNA," Mavado began detailing with Jarek being clueless as to where this was going though remained silent to listen to the full story as well as to prevent another shock. "I'm sure by now you're familiar with the Saurians?"
"What does this have to do with anything?" Jarek couldn't help but ask.
"Answer the question." Mavado ordered.
Jarek sighed. "I've heard of them, yes." He confirmed.
"Well let's just say that we are conducting a little experiment involving the DNA of us humans and the DNA of those Saurians," Mavado said sinisterly. "Oh! And a tad bit of genetic material from a Dragon friend of ours…"
"And what exactly does this experiment do?" Jarek cautiously asked, admittedly frightened of the possibilities.
"A powerful breed of hybrid warriors is what!" Mavado sounded confident in the plan, such a mindset making him come across as obsessed with wanting to gain power. "And we'd like for Tasia to be our first test subject."
"That's insane!" Jarek yelled. "Where is she now?!"
"Well I was going to begin experimentations a couple hours ago," Mavado informed him. "However, our Grandmaster wished to personally interrogate her beforehand."
"Daegon?" Jarek recalled the stories of the leader that Kano used to tell him about. "What does he want?"
"Much to my disdain he would wish to appoint both of your services into the Red Dragon," Mavado revealed. "Now that you're awake I shall now bring you to his chamber."
"Don't worry," Jarek said as a couple of members removed Jarek's restraints as they prepared to drag him to Daegon's chamber. "I'll never join you."
"We'll see," Mavado replied. "Let's go see him shall we?"
Mavado led the way as the two guards escorted Jarek, holding their electrified batons close by in case of any defiance presented from their prisoner. They soon met a large set of two doors which Mavado entered the code that only he knew outside of Daegon, causing the doors to open which led directly to Daegon's chamber. What Jarek first saw was more than surprising, Daegon himself talking to a literal red Dragon who was chained up in the room.
"You should rethink your plans," the Dragon advised. His mouth didn't move as he spoke as he was instead translating his thoughts aloud through his great magic rather than communicating in a normal fashion due to the obvious hindrances caused by the fact he was a Dragon. "Making hybrids… a poor idea."
"My apologies, Caro," Daegon said sarcastically. "I was unaware that you were a scientist."
"You know exactly what's wrong with such creations!" Caro bellowed.
"And you know that the so-called problems with my plan mean nothing to us," Daegon stated as his confidence was high in this experiment the clan had been researching for decades now. "If the experiment succeeds then we shall have many powerful warriors in our ranks within no time. That the men and women who proudly serve this clan may become this hybrid isn't a concern for myself and if it is to some members of this clan then they aren't cut out for this… and defiance is punishable by death."
"You cannot force people to become these-" Caro tried arguing still only for Daegon to launch a ball of fire to silence him.
"Must I be so blunt with you?!" Daegon couldn't believe that Caro was still wasting his breath on him. "I do not care if people want to become such hybrids. It is optimal for the evolution of the Red Dragon, no matter what people think!"
"You can still change the path you're currently on," Caro believed. His faith in Daegon had not yet been squandered despite being chained up for thousands of years by the Demi-God himself. "Use the Red Dragon for good! Not to make a legion of evil mutated criminals!"
"Your faith in me is still ever so amusing," Daegon remarked. "After all years you still believe that I'll change for the so-called 'better'."
"Why do you not?" Caro asked.
"How many times, Caro?" Daegon was getting tired of the repetitive questions he had received from his former guardian over their many years interacting in his very chamber. "I am still on the journey towards achieving my goals by completing that damn quest. Your problem seems to be that I am accomplishing it in the best way possible. Would you like to tell me what is wrong with my methods?"
"You've been corrupted," Caro claimed to which Daegon audibly exhaled just from hearing the accusation. "You can't even see the error in your ways anymore… you haven't been able to since you betrayed your parents… and me."
"You were the fool who awoke me from my hibernation too early," Daegon reminded him. "I am just making the most out of your mistake."
"I'm sorry." Caro felt the need to once again apologize to not just Daegon but also the Elder Gods as well as Argus and Delia.
"Then shut your mouth so I can be a good host to our guests," Daegon said as his eyes fell on Jarek who was now being beaten to the floor by Mavado. "How is he, Mavado?"
"He's got some pent-up rage," Mavado informed him as he dragged Jarek by his arms towards Daegon. "I doubt he's willing to be compliant."
"Can't be worse than the girl I've been dealing with," Daegon remarked. "I tried every method and she still won't join us."
"Where is she?" Jarek asked only for Mavado to punch him in the back of the head.
"Silence!" Mavado demanded. "Grandmaster, with all due respect, I do firmly believe that you're wasting your efforts trying to turn them to our clan."
"You are familiar with my patience by now, Mavado," Daegon reminded him. "I have worked towards accomplishing my quest in the best way possible. How long it takes is of no concern to me, so long that I'm still fit by the time I finish it."
"How helpful are these two seriously going to be?" Mavado still protested, though tried to come across as respectful still.
"You are dismissed," Daegon stated as he ignored Mavado's query. "Return to prepping the experiment."
"Yes sir." Mavado reluctantly complied before leaving the room.
"Now," Daegon turned his attention to Jarek. "I have an offer for you, boy."
"I don't care," Jarek said bluntly. "Just bring me Tasia."
"You can either both join the Red Dragon or die." Daegon presented his two options.
"I thought we were wanted as test subjects…" Jarek remarked though it was moreso a distraction to buy him time to think of how to respond to such an offer.
"Yes," Daegon confirmed. "But then we'd still kill you."
"Lovely." Jarek quipped sarcastically.
"Come to a decision?" Daegon asked.
"Let me speak with Tasia," Jarek pleaded. "Please."
"If it means I shall get an answer out of the pair of you then fine." Daegon complied and paced out of his chamber to retrieve Tasia who had been taken to the small holding cell in the clan's base.
Jarek who was now alone in the room with the Dragon known as Caro who Jarek glanced at. He finally realized why the clan was named the Red Dragon and it was because their mascot was a literal red Dragon. Jarek had also noticed that the poor beast was chained up and had many visible wounds from being beaten by Daegon and any other clan members. A portal made by the Dragon himself stood to his side. Where it led to, Jarek had no clue, but he saw it as his ticket out of this place.
"Hey," Jarek began speaking to the Dragon. "Hate to be a bother but that wouldn't happen to be your portal by any chance?"
"I can create portals wherever and whenever I please… or when I'm forced to do so," Caro revealed. "Why do you ask?"
"Would you… help me and my friend out of here?" Jarek asked, almost begging at this point. "We'll help you break free in return… well… we'll try at least."
"Even if such a plan goes awry or you dare try tricking me, Daegon will still not kill me," Caro was considering the offer aloud and came to the conclusion that it was worth the chance considering that Daegon needs him. "Where is it you wish to go?"
"There's this compound in Newington," Jarek began detailing. "Do I need to give specifics?"
"By an abandoned farm?" Caro asked, being able to see the land throughout the realms as he focused his energy on creating the portal.
"Yes that's the one!" Jarek confirmed. "By it is the compound that also used to be an abandoned building."
"It is done." Caro confirmed as the portal reset and reformed. It now led to the compound, or what was left of it at least.
"I appreciate your cooperation," Jarek thanked the Dragon. "Now I just need to find how to break our restraints."
"Our restraints are powered by the electricity within this cave," Caro revealed. "One of the buttons on this control panel can disable said power and break you from your restraints. They are almost unbreakable otherwise."
"What are they even made of?" Jarek asked. "Obsidian?!"
"It appears so," Caro inputted. "Unfortunately, I am unaware of which button operates what."
"Eh, no matter. I'll just press all of them if I must," Jarek said as he examined the control panel, getting closer to see all the functions available. "Daegon must be a real idiot to have left me alone with this."
"He probably believes you're too much of a fool to know how to use it," Caro countered. "Or he is aware that you will not cause any defiance at risk of losing your friend."
"You sure are wise," Jarek complimented. "You wouldn't also happen to be an expert of romance would you?"
Caro felt amusement, something he hadn't felt for so many years that he couldn't keep track of the last time. "There was one Dragon," Caro confessed. "But that was ages ago now… I'm probably not of use in that regard."
"I hope you have a chance to see them again once we're free."
"Thank you," Caro had missed such an interaction like this. "I hope so too."
Before their conversation could continue, Daegon had returned to his chamber with Tasia. The Red Dragon Grandmaster was dragging Tasia by the hair and ended up kicking her to the floor besides Jarek.
"Get away from there," Daegon demanded as he stretched his heavily scarred arm out to point towards the peculiar table of multiple functions. "Now!"
"Are you okay, Tas?" Jarek asked as he complied with Daegon's demand, helping Tasia to her feet as he did so with what little movement was available in his arms due to the restraints they both had.
"Take a guess," Tasia replied as she held her head that was hurting from where Daegon had been tugging at her hair. "This is just fucking fantastic."
"You're both here now," Daegon pointed out. "Now time to decide. Life with the Red Dragon, or death?"
"You want us to disclose what we know about our clan and the Black Dragon," Tasia had realized and was now willing to take advantage of such a fact. "You wouldn't kill us either way."
"Your days are numbered either way." Daegon informed her.
"How so?"
"All Earthrealmers will perish soon." Daegon revealed with Jarek and Tasia giving him strange looks, like he had said something insane.
"What the fuck are you waffling on about, man?!" Tasia finally snapped. "First you're tellin' me about these Dragons and these fucking mutants and now this shit?!"
"Another invasion is upon us," Daegon said ominously. "Led by the ruler of Hell himself."
"Shinnok?" Jarek guessed.
"Correct." Daegon confirmed.
"Who?!" Tasia asked, alarmed by Jarek somehow knowing the apparent ruler. "How do you know about this guy?!"
"I took a trip to the Netherrealm a few years back," Jarek revealed much to Tasia's surprise. "Fucked up a mission and Kano forced me to go there and bring him some Oni teeth."
"Why?!"
"To prove myself to the clan I guess." Jarek assumed.
"No, I meant why didn't you tell me?" Tasia clarified her query.
"Because I knew you'd have called bullshit on it," Jarek believed which Tasia knew was right, though believed it now that he had mentioned this Netherrealm ruler. "There was a short time where Kano had this crystal that he used for travelling between realms. He soon lost it to the SF cause he's an idiot as you know. But yeah, he used it to send me to Hell itself. But I got the teeth and got the hell out of Hell. Got a promotion from that bastard, I think he was expecting me to die… from then on I was pretty high in the Black Dragons ranks… as little as that says."
"Wow," Tasia was stunned by the story to say the least. "You're really going to tell your fantasies right now?"
"You're seriously going to crack jokes right now?!" Jarek asked back.
"Right," Tasia said as her and Jarek's attention returned to Daegon. "Sorry about the story time."
"Oh feel free to take your time," Daegon replied. "After all, I have a story of my own to share…"
"I don't want to hear it." Tasia firmly stated her opinion.
Daegon ignored her and instead turned away to face his notes regarding a plan and began his monologue, "Lord Shinnok shall soon attack the source of Earth's life force: the Jinsei…"
"Slow down!" Tasia demanded. "The fucks a Jinsei?"
"Let me finish and you'll know!" Daegon snapped before clearing his throat and continuing. "With a single touch from Lord Shinnok as he uses his remaining powers from his former status as an Elder God, he can corrupt the Jinsei. By corrupting Earth's Jinsei all of it's life withers away… that of course includes all human life."
"You're fuckin' crazy!" Tasia insulted. "Do you not realize that your followers are from Earth too?"
"What a foolish question," Daegon remarked to which Tasia growled at. "Of course I have prepared my men and women for the oncoming events. They have each been gifted a drop of my godly Edenian blood. This alone shall prevent the corruption from withering them. Also, the Dragon hybrids if things go to plan would also counter this issue. So I offer the two of you the chance to live… resisting to join the Red Dragon will kill you no matter what."
"Maybe," Jarek considered. "Or maybe we help stop Shinnok."
Daegon couldn't help but laugh. "You seriously think you can stop the ruler of the Netherrealm?!" he asked. "He has been building an army to seize control of the realms for eons!"
"Well I'd rather die than serve you and the Devil." Jarek said as he began quietly shuffling over the control panel and recklessly began pressing the many buttons and switches with his bound together hands to try finding out what could break the restraints that himself, Tasia and mainly Caro bore.
"If you do not stop pressing those buttons then yes you shall," Daegon warned as he drew a pair of blades he always kept by his side in two holsters that lived on the sides of his hips. Though Jarek and Tasia were clueless of this, the swords Daegon wielded were known as the Drakeswords which were forged specifically for the Demi-God Daegon and his brother. "Do you think of me as deaf? Those buttons are quite noisy… and very important."
"If they're so important then why aren't they doing anything?!" Jarek asked as he kept trying different operations.
"Those are for locking down the doors…." Daegon informed him.
"Oh.…" Jarek replied awkwardly.
"Idiot," Daegon insulted as Jarek went to press more buttons. "What a pathetic attempt to break free from my grasp."
"Damn you!" Jarek said as he slammed his fist on the panel in anger.
"Mavado was right," Daegon admitted. "You two are lost causes indeed."
Daegon soon began coming after Jarek who was desperately looking for any signs of what could break the chains of his newly found Dragon friend. Tasia tried distracting Daegon by putting her fists together and clobbering them repeatedly over Daegon's back. The Red Dragon Grandmaster suffered no damage from Tasia's efforts and spun around, his Drakeswords cutting into Tasia who fell back and left Daegon free to punish Jarek however he saw fit… or he was until Caro managed to interfere.
Once Daegon was close enough to be in range of Caro's crimson coloured fire breath and expelled it at his former ally and friend. Daegon was fast to react and rolled back to avoid being burnt by the Dragon. Daegon had not expected for Caro to dare unleash an attack on him, though he had made several efforts ages ago but Daegon had believed the Dragon had given up yet kept delusional hope that Daegon would do the so-called 'right' thing. After some contemplation as to how to avoid the obstacle that was Caro's special red fire, Daegon recalled what to do after the time he fought the deadly Dragon...
"Blood?!" Caro yelled, his voice booming as Daegon left the palace with blood stained on his Drakeswords. "What happened?!"
"My pathetic excuses of a mother and a father have been slain," Daegon coldly revealed with no emotion.
"Delia and Argus have fallen!?" Caro spoke as he processed the shocking news. "What happened?! Judging by the state of your Drakeswords I assume you found their killer… right?"
Daegon laughed evilly. "No," he denied plainly. "I was the killer."
Caro couldn't believe his ears. He only had one question. "Why?!"
"For forcing both myself and Taven on some mad quest… all while favouring him."
"Favouring him?!" Caro repeated. "There were no talks of any favouritism!"
"Then they have deceived you also," Daegon concluded. "Lord Shinnok has shown me the truth."
"You trust the Devil himself," Caro shook his head in both sadness and disappointment as he realized what had happened to Daegon. "He is the one deceiving you! Your parents did no such thing! They never would have!"
"Silence!" Daegon demanded. "Before killing my mother I managed to threaten the exact location of her temple that the inscription of father told me of at that jungle."
"You monster…" Caro muttered.
"Anyway," Daegon said and completely ignored Caro's comment. "I need you to create a portal to the snowy region of Arctika… deep within it until you can detect a person-made structure."
"No." Caro refused plainly.
"Is this what we're doing now?!" Daegon was angered by the refusal. "I gave you an order! You should follow it! It is what your role is!"
"My masters are dead!" Caro reminded him. "Dead to YOUR hands! I have no obligation to aid you further."
"Oh and did I tell you that you woke me for my quest way too early?" Daegon asked. "You sure are excellent at your occupation."
"But Blaze…" Caro began trying to figure out what he did wrong. "I lost connection to him… was that not the signal?"
"Doubt yourself while I visit mother's Temple." Daegon instructed.
"I won't let you continue the quest." Caro again refused.
"Then stand aside!" Daegon continued barking demands to the poor Dragon. "I'll find my own way of reaching Arctika."
"Did my magic fail to convey my words?" Caro quiried. "I said I won't let you continue the quest… you must be stopped before you harm more innocents."
"Innocents?!" Daegon bellowed. "Mother and father casted a spell upon me and encased me in a stalagmite for what could've been eons more than what I already had to sleep through just for some quest that I gave no consent to! They are anything but innocent and deserved what I did to them!"
Caro roared in a fit of rage at Daegon's comments regarding his master's and scooped Daegon up into his both large and terrifyingly dangerous jaw before flying up into the air with the Demi-God who he was originally supposed to guard but now felt the need to destroy him out of an impulsive reaction to the news of what he did to Delia and Argus. Caro felt like a part of the family also with him and Orin being lifelong friends and being accepted with open arms by Edenia's Protector God, his sorceress wife and their two powerful sons. He had the urge to avenge them as well as to stop whatever Daegon could be plotting next.
Daegon tried prying his way out of the Dragons massive mouth. He used all the strength he had but couldn't budge Caro's jaw open with his bare hands. His Drakeswords, however, would do the task just fine. Daegon drew one of the sharp blades from his holster and stabbed it through the ceiling of Caro's mouth which caused him to scream in pain as he opened his mouth wide enough for Daegon to begin climbing out of. The Demi-God had to be careful though, as if he fell off of Caro then he would certainly be unable to survive what was now at least a five thousand feet drop and only getting higher as the ground beneath them was becoming obscured by Edenia's beautiful clouds.
Daegon carefully climbed over a couple of Caro's big and sharp teeth only for the Dragon to chomp down on the Demi-Gods arm leaving him dangling out of his mouth but the frightening situation still didn't bring fear into Daegon who growled from the pain but was able to take it and ignore the intimidating drop below him as he stabbed his other Drakesword into the centre of Caro's nostrils which caused the Dragon to begin flying wildly, no longer heading directly upwards but now it was a bumpy journey to the skies. To Daegon it felt like his arm could be torn off at any second as even the second Drakesword being stabbed into Caro didn't cause him to remove his seemingly unbreakable grip as he only gritted his teeth harder and thus it felt more painful on Daegon's right arm.
Daegon made another attempt of stabbing Caro, but this time he targeted one of the Dragons' pupiless eyes. Daegon tore the Drakesword that he had most recently stabbed into Caro and reached out to try and impale it into Caro's eye. Seeing the oncoming blade directly in his vision, Caro released his grip of Daegon in an attempt to drop him to his demise.
As he began falling, Daegon managed to once again stab his Drakesword into Caro's face. This kept him clung onto Caro by the factor of him holding onto the Drakesword as it slid down Caro's flesh, cutting him deeply and painfully. Caro opened his mouth again to cry out in agony, allowing Daegon to quickly reach his wounded right arm into the mouth of the beast to retrieve his other Drakesword which was still dangling from Caro's palate and began pulling it out, cutting his mouth with some quick slices before Caro could catch Daegon's arm again. It was a risky attempt but it worked as Daegon now had both his Drakeswords. He began using the swords as if they were a pair of adze being stabbed into a mountainside as a hiker would climb their way up to the top of the mountain. In this case the mountain was Caro and his scaly body.
Daegon had soon stabbed his way up to Caro's back and was now clinging atop the flying Dragon who's back was patterned with spiky lumps which Daegon had to cautiously sit between before trying to steer the Dragon down by holstering his weapons and using his bare and bloody hands to tug violently at the horns on the back of Caro's head. To motivate the steering of the Dragon he even charged his hands with his powerful fire ability which he had inherited from his mother and began burning Caro as he began forcing the Dragon downwards at a suddenly rapid pace.
Daegon and Caro soon began seeing the land below them as it grew larger and larger with each passing second as Daegon steered the Dragon back down to the nature bursting lands of Edenia. To prevent a fatal crash landing, Daegon had to steer Caro to start flying straight which ended up causing him to soar straight into some of the living trees in Edenia's Jolly Forest. The trees who usually conveyed eternal happiness were suddenly shocked and frightened at the scenes of their kind being cut through by the beaten up Dragon and his mauled rider. Caro ate a faceful of grass, dirt, sticks and tree bark as he skidded across the earth. Daegon stood up and hopped off the Dragon before walking around while clutching his arm to look at Caro in his face.
"Had enough?" Daegon asked as Caro was still stunned from the landing he had suffered. "Ready to transport me to Arctika yet?"
In a final effort to fight back against Daegon, Caro used all his might to charge a flaming roar that he intended to burn his former friend to a crisp. Seeing the fire building up from within the Dragons mouth, Daegon quickly surrounded himself in his own fire which protected him from Caro's special and frankly deadlier red fire. Though Daegon was able to absorb and use normal fire, he was at risk to those with the fire power when amplified under magical properties which called for Daegon to shield himself. Fighting fire with fire, Daegon survived the fire breath without suffering any further wounds.
The strategy would repeat itself.
Daegon, after quickly recalling his previous battle with Caro, managed to create an orb of fire that surrounded him like a shield to block Caro's signature red fire. Like before, the tactic worked and Daegon began pushing forward without suffering a scratch. He kept pushing past the Dragons' fire to make it to Jarek and put a stop to his attempts to escape the custody of the Red Dragon clan.
Caro's fire was strong though, and it was becoming a struggle for Daegon to keep pushing forward as the red flames tried their best to muscle him away. Daegon realized that if he burst his shield then his flames would travel over to Jarek who was already sweating and on the verge of passing out from the heat of both Daegon and mainly Caro's fire. Daegon took the chances of being burnt by Caro's fire and exploded the flame shield. The embers spat across the room with many catching the back of Jarek who was no longer in his brick armour which seared his back. Some of the fire bounced upwards and caught Caro, the burning sensation making him halt his own attack which greatly benefitted Daegon. The Red Dragon Grandmaster charged forth with a flame amplified shoulder bash which burnt Jarek's back more as well as sending him smashing face first into the control panel, his head colliding with a large red button which sounded an alarm that sounded throughout the entire base.
"Your defiant attempts end here!" Daegon said as he began punching and kicking at the already beaten Jarek. Daegin didn't want to kill him as he was certainly entertained by Mavado's idea of using Jarek and Tasia as the first test subjects for their new project. "But fear not! Your ruined body shall become something great soon! Once you feel true power, you shall want more which you shall receive in aiding our clan! You will-"
Daegon's insane monologue and assault on Jarek soon ended as Tasia smashed the heavy binds she wore over the back of Daegon's bald skull. Daegon was left momentarily stunned and Tasia and Jarek worked together to hit a double leg sweep to temporarily floor the Demi-God. Jarek went to return to trying to free Caro until the Dragon spoke..
"Just leave," Caro instructed. "Do not worry about me! More of Daegon's allies will soon arrive! You have to leave now!"
"I-" Jarek went to protest but he knew that his scaly friend was correct. "Thank you, Caro."
"C'mon, Jarek!" Tasia demanded as she had already ran next to Caro's portal. "We've gotta go!"
"Farewell." Caro said to the pair of criminals as they took their leave through the red portal with Caro closing it immediately after to prevent any persuiers.
Tasia and Jarek soon found themselves in the centre of their clans compound hideout… or what was left of it at least. They saw some of their friends and comrades wounded and being treated by actual medics which was much to Jarek and Tasia's surprise.
"Where'd they come from?!" Tasia asked. "I'm glad they're getting help but… what the hell is going on?"
"No clue," Jarek said as he struggled keeping up with Tasia's pace purely because of how much pain his body was suffering from since the Red Dragon attacked. "Hey, Tas?"
"Need me to walk you?" Tasia snickered after asking the question while offering Jarek her hand.
"Well… yeah," Jarek admitted and accepted Tasia's hand. "But can I tell you something?"
"Sure." Tasia permitted.
"I think… I think I'm in lo-" Jarek was interrupted by a loud and familiar voice.
"They're back!" Cheered the gravelly voice of Tremor who Jarek and Tasia turned to see their friend but also soldiers with the Special Forces with namely Sonya Blade and Hsu Hao in particular.
"Nice to see you, mate." Tasia said as she went to embrace her friend only to be reminded of her restraints.
"What's the moral of the lads and lasses?" Jarek asked. "And are you okay yourself?"
"We're fine," Tremor assured the two. "The survivors are at least…"
"Fuck," Jarek cussed. "How many lost?"
"Haven't had the chance to check," Tremor answered. "It is indeed unfortunate."
"Yeah," Tasia agreed. "So… why are the fuckin' feds here?!"
"We'll explain," Tremor promised. "But first I need you to put your hands out."
"What?" Tasia asked as she complied with Jarek doing the same quietly.
"Watch." Tremor said as he suddenly shot a pair of thin yet tall and sharp rocks from the ground which cut through the chains in between the two restraints that tried to pull their hands together. Tremor then used his superhuman strength to pry the restraints off their wrists before throwing them to the ground that was a mix of grass, dirt, soot and blood.
"Thanks." Jarek said as he felt his now free arms.
"Yeah cheers," Tasia shared her own thanks. "Now tell us what's going on."
"General Blade?" Tremor called for. "Care to confirm our arrangement?"
"Arrangement?!" Tasia repeated.
"Calm down, Tasia," Jarek requested. "Let's wait to hear an explanation."
"Fine." Tasia muttered.
"You finished?" Hsu Hao asked much to Tasia's annoyance.
"I am!" Tasia said rudely.
"Great," Hsu commented. "Proceed, General."
"We've made a deal with your White Dragon clan," Sonya revealed. "This is to ensure that what's left of the Black Dragon and this apparent Red Dragon clan are stopped effectively."
"That's not all we have to worry about," Jarek warned as he recalled what Daegon had revealed to him and Tasia. "The Red Dragon is involved with the ruler of the Netherrealm."
"You ever heard of that place?" Tasia asked the soldiers.
"We have," Sonya confirmed. "The real incarnation of Hell… we've done a bit of research and learnt a lot from Raiden. What is their ruler planning?"
"To invade not just Earthrealm but all the others too." Jarek said which immediately struck concern and fear in those who heard the revelation.
"Like Shao Kahn?" Sonya asked with worry clearly in her tone of voice and facial expression.
"Somehow different," Jarek responded as he remembered the talks about the Jinsei. "Apparently there's this life essence called the Jinsei… and they want to corrupt it which I was told would kill all life on Earth!"
"Where'd you get this information from?" Hsu questioned. "Is this another case of you criminal scum spreading lies?!"
"The Red Dragon Grandmaster," Jarek answered. "Why would I make up such a tale if it was just for a joke?!"
"I said a lie, not a joke." Hsu clarified.
"Shut up," Tasia demanded. "I was there. He speaks the truth."
"Another criminal's word means very little." Hsu pointed out.
"You don't know shit about me." Tasia was beginning to get even angrier than she normally was.
"Is that so, Tasia Webb?" Hsu asked with a smug grin.
"Stop it!" Sonya commanded. "How many times, Hsu? We're here to make peace not cause violence!"
"Well with all due respect, what do we even do with this information?!" Hsu asked.
"Talk to the Thunder God maybe?!" Tasia suggested as if it were obvious.
"She's right," Sonya agreed. "We must speak with Raiden. Surely he knows more about this whole thing than us."
"Sounds like a plan." Jarek was up for the plan.
"Then get in one of the cars everyone," Sonya instructed. "We need to-"
"Hold on," Tasia interrupted. "This isn't a trick is it?"
"They will not survive if it is." Tremor warned.
"That's… reassuring." Tasia remarked.
"We need your help," Sonya claimed. "You have far more information about the Dragon clans than the Special Forces it would seem, as well as these plans in the Netherrealm."
"We must be quick if we want to avoid another war!" Hsu shouted as he was already opening the passenger seats to the vehicle he had taken to get to the compound.
"You three will have to ride with him," Sonya said with all three of the criminals collectively groaning. "I'm sorry but the other cars are full."
"Excuse me, General," spoke one of the medics. "I don't mean to interrupt anything…"
"You're fine, Vera," Sonya assured. "Things going alright?"
"We've done all that we can to help the survivors," Vera informed the group. "Are you leaving?"
"We need to speak to Raiden," Sonya explained. "You've heard of him right?"
"I've spoken with him," Vera clarified. "I was really thankful for his help in healing the wounded."
"You guys work so hard," Sonya praised. "I'm sorry that we had to call you in… I know you were in the middle of a date."
"Oh it's alright," Vera said with a short laugh. "I love this job anyway. But enough about me, you're clearly busier."
"Right," Sonya got back on track. "Let's get going."
"Cya later." Vera said as the soldiers began preparing to leave.
"I'll call for reinforcements in case those Red Dragons return here," Sonya promised. "Take care, Vera."
"You too." Vera said as the two friends smiled at one another before Sonya had to turn away and walk off.
"I really appreciate it," Tasia gave her own thanks to Vera. "You've saved a lot of my pals."
"Good people I hope." Vera remarked.
"Ah I wish." Tasia said jokingly.
"Do you two need checking up on?" Vera couldn't help but ask, judging by the pair's wounds.
"I would love that," Tasia stated. "But we have some urgent business unfortunately."
"I understand," Vera said though she still reached into her first aid kit and offered them some bandages and wipes from the box. "It's not much but it looks like you could do with them."
"Thank you." Jarek and Tasia both said as they accepted the offer.
"It's no trouble," Vera said as she closed her kit again. "Stay safe out there."
"No promises." Tasia joked.
"Hurry up!" Hsu demanded from within his car while also honking the horn of the armoured vehicle to further gather their attention.
"Shit," Tasia cussed. "I can't catch a break in this world…"
"When this is over we can have the chance to start anew," Jarek pointed out. "Together."
"Hmm," Tasia considered it. "I like the sound of that."
"Then let's get going."