The Special Forces members who had engaged a base belonging to the Red Dragon clan returned to their Desert Command. Raiden, Fujin and Cetrion all remained beside them as they investigated the Red Dragon building and now their journey back to their nearest base.
"I appreciate the help," Sonya thanked the three Gods as they remained by their side to assure a safe passage back to their base.
"You're welcome, Sonya Blade," Raiden replied. "It is our duty too after all."
"Speaking of, I need to check on my people," Cetrion said in reference to the group she had begun to assemble since Shinnok's defeat. "Farewell, everybody."
"Goodbye, Cetrion," Raiden replied as the group stepped out of the transportation being driven by Gemini.
"Until next time we meet." Fujin said to Cetrion with her giving a nod of respect before taking to the skies. "Is everything alright now?"
"A lot of the troops just got their asses handed to them by a wall," Jax remarked as he ushered the soldiers out. "Everybody is safe though."
"At least that's one base down for the Red Dragon," Vera looked on the bright side as she helped an injured soldier out. "You'll be alright, friend."
"They have too many resources that it hardly matters," Raiden told her. "That portal they had wasn't even powered… how do you suspect they vanished, Sonya Blade?"
"I'm clueless," Sonya admitted, "but I'll have my best data scientists analyse the technology of that portal."
"Any similarities to your old portal system?" asked the Thunder God.
"I wish we could compare the two but some traitor blew all our portal tech up," Sonya said as she clenched her fists before letting out a sigh. "Maybe we'll be able to recreate portals like this for our own benefit though."
"Come on in," Jax instructed everyone as he entered a code to open the large entrance way into a garage bunker that housed mainly powerful tanks. "We'll talk more inside."
In the training facility part of the base, there was a sparring session occurring in one of the open training rooms. The room was a massive arena with glowing lines that were like tiles that lit the room up with their blue glow. Such energy was used to power holograms that were actually physical solids that appeared in the arena. The holograms existed to recreate any environment designed and input into the control booth that stood at a viewing window. Such training facilities were installed in most buildings belonging to the Special Forces.
Partaking in the training session was Cassandra 'Cassie' Cage, the daughter of Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade who had been together ever since confessing their love to one another during Shinnok's Earthrealm invasion. Stood opposite Cassie was her best friend since they were children and she was named Jacqueline 'Jacqui' Briggs who was the daughter of Jax and Vera Briggs who had gotten married shortly after Jacqui's birth. Both families supported these two on their path to become Special Forces members like their parents, despite nervousness and hesitation from Jax when it came to approving of her precious daughter wanting to do such a dangerous job. It was fortunate to know that Jacqui and Cassie were both formidable fighters and were only lacking actual experience due to their youth.
"Are you ready, Cass?" Jacqui asked as she clenched her fists.
"It should be me asking you that," Cassie quipped as she got into her fighting stance. "But yeah, I'm ready!"
"I won in our last session," Jacqui reminded her with Cassie laughing.
"Oh please! That was a one off!" Cassie joked with Jacqui chuckling now.
"A one off?" Jacqui repeated. "I've won as many of these training fights as you!"
"Definitely luck," Cassie continued to joke.
"Whatever you think," Jacqui replied as the two smiled at each other. "Well what are you waiting for? Let's do this!"
Cassie ran at Jacqui but the stronger woman caught her by the legs and lifted her onto her shoulder before slamming her against a nearby hologram of a fallen tree trunk that was on the ground, the chosen holograms depicting a forest as their environment to fight in. Cassie grunted but quickly used her ability to roll aside when she saw Jacqui about to punch her, causing her to only punch the hologram. Cassie then kicked her arm as she had thrusted it forward in order to make the punch attempt. Jacqui staggered back, clenching her hurt arm but she soon shook it off and charged at Cassie with a tackle.
Jacqui climbed on top of Cassie after throwing her down from the tackle and began throwing mounted punches, with Cassie trying her best to cover her face. Jacqui then began trying to pry Cassie's hands away from her face, only for Cassie to suddenly open up and lean forth with a headbutt that stunned her friend. Cassie took advantage of this by pulling her legs up and wrapping them around Jacqui's arms before pulling down which forced Jacqui onto her back and stopped her from remaining in her mounted position. Cassie then sat up and grabbed Jacqui's left leg before getting it into a heel lock submission.
"Tap out, Jacqui!" Cassie yelled as she twisted Jacqui's heel during the submission.
"Not gonna happen!" Jacqui replied through the pain as she began kicking Cassie in the face which caused her to release the submission and then both women rolled backwards and leapt to their feet. "You've definitely gotten better, Cass."
"So have you," Cassie complimented as both women caught their breath. "Keep at it, Jacqui."
Cassie and Jacqui slowly approached each other once more, this time much slower due to fatigue and in Jacqui's case a hurt leg from Cassie's submission hold. Jacqui knew that her friend was going to target her injured leg and she was right as Cassie immediately tried to takedown Jacqui by dropping down and wrapping her arms around her leg. Jacqui countered though, scooping Cassie up in her arms and hoisting her onto her shoulders before hurling her body into a thick tree branch of the nearest tree hologram.
Cassie was winded as she was slammed against the branch but she had the strength still to cling onto it and pull herself atop of the branch before diving down onto Jacqui with a leaping dropkick. Jacqui stumbled back and fell onto the floor with Cassie approaching only for Jacqui to grab her and pull her into a triangle chokehold. Jacqui pulled Cassie closer and closer to her while she had the submission locked in by yanking her arm forth and then striking Cassie with a punch or an elbow. Cassie eventually escaped the submission though by remaining resilient and using all her might to stand and pick Cassie up while she still had the chokehold locked in. Cassie then swung Jacqui's entire body into the trunk of the nearest hologram tree before slamming her onto the floor back first. Cassie gasped for air as she sat down at the hologram of a log.
"Please tell me you're throwing in the towel," Cassie said as she was basically panting from how challenging the sparring with her friend was.
"I can keep going," Jacqui claimed as she resiliently stood back up and smiled at Cassie. "But let's call it a tie shall we?"
"I'll take it," Cassie agreed as Jacqui sat beside her. "We'll have a proper tiebreaker another day. By the way, well done."
"Thanks, Cass," Jacqui replied as the two checked each other for injuries. "Are you feeling alright?"
"Fuck no," Cassie admitted. "But I'll be fine after some time."
"Same," Jacqui said as the two suddenly fell to the floor as the holograms were disabled. "Huh?!"
"Oops! Sorry!" yelled a voice from within the hologram control room.
"Dammit, dad!" Cassie shouted back as she pulled herself to her feet and then helped Jacqui up.
"My finger slipped, kids!" Johnny apologised as she stepped inside the training room to see the two. "You both beat the hell out of each other!"
"That's the point," Cassie remarked.
"I mean I'm impressed," Johnny assured them both. "Really impressed. Proud of you both too of course."
"Thanks, Mr. Cage," Jacqui expressed her gratitude.
"Maybe just take it easier with the training?" Johnny suggested.
"That defeats the point of it," Cassie told him.
"When I used to practice karate with your Uncle Mokap under the tutelage of Master Boyd we never had to try and break each other in two!" Johnny told his daughter as Jacqui snickered.
"Let me guess: you were both training for some movie stunts," Cassie assumed as she and Jacqui stretched after their workout. "Bit of a difference to being soldiers of the Earthrealm Special Forces don't you think, dad?"
"Hey! Don't underestimate Master Boyd's teachings!" Johnny told her as Cassie burst out laughing. "Seriously though, we learnt the proper stuff to do our stunts for every Ninja Mime, every Dragon Fist, Aquatic Assault, Sudden Violence, you name it and we did it the legitimate way!"
"No wonder they all blow," Cassie quipped jokingly.
"Ninja Mime isn't that bad!" Jacqui defended Johnny's movies.
"Until you remember that there's five of them," Cassie retorted.
"Sounds like a lot of training is happening in here," came the voice of Sonya as she along with Jax, Vera, Gemini, Raiden and Fujin all stepped inside the training room to see Johnny and the young heroes he was watching over.
"Mom!" Cassie said happily as she rushed over to hug her. "You're all back!"
"Don't worry, Cass, nobody got hurt on that mission," Sonya assured her daughter.
"I sure as shit got hurt training with Jacqui," Cassie remarked as Sonya smiled.
"Good!" Sonya praised. "Never go easy on her, Jacqui."
"You have my word, auntie," Jacqui promised.
"Did you kick those Red Dragon asses?" Cassie asked her mother as she let go of Sonya and waved to the others.
"How is she so energetic after training?" Jax questioned as he and Vera hugged their daughter.
"Because I didn't knock her out," Jacqui stated as she knew that no matter what Cassie would always have energy left in her.
"You couldn't," Cassie told her as she turned to Jacqui's parents. "How are you two?"
"We're doing well, Cass," Vera replied in a kind tone. "Thank you for asking."
"Of course!" Cassie said back.
"How are you, Cassie?" Gemini asked as she stood by Vera's side.
"Me and Jacqui just finished training," Cassie told the Special Forces operative. "We're both improving."
"We're basically evenly matched by now," Jacqui added as she approached the two. "I'll get you next time though."
"No way!" Cassie replied, "I still have to tie scores with you!"
"Don't worry about it," Jacqui advised as she gave her a comforting embrace. "You're doing great, Cass!"
"Good!" Cassie said happily. "How about Fujin and Raiden?"
"I'm alright, Cassandra," Fujin answered before turning to his brother and giving him a nudge. "Are you alright, brother?"
"I am fine," Raiden assured them both.
"We haven't gotten to see you two in a while," Jacqui commented as she tried to recall the last time the Gods had visited them.
"We have been busy with protecting Earthrealm," Raiden explained to her.
"Well I assumed so," Jacqui replied, already well aware of how busy the Gods were. "I hope there hasn't been too much to deal with."
"There's certainly been less than in the past," Fujin stated as he had found his role since Shinnok's defeat to be less stressful. "Isn't that right, brother?"
"In some ways," Raiden partially agreed. "However, we are now public figures and Earthrealmers across the realm expect much from us."
"As they should," Fujin believed. "We have much power and it is only right that we should utilise our blessings to do good… something the likes of Shao Kahn never understood."
"Glad I never met that guy," Cassie stated as she had heard tales about his tyranny. "Sounds awful."
"There is very little that surpasses his evil," Raiden replied as realigned his hat with his eyes locked onto Sonya. "Make immediate contact with me after your research is complete, Sonya Blade."
"Will do, Raiden," Sonya promised him with Raiden bowing his head in respect. "I'm guessing you have more business to attend to?"
"Nothing specific," Raiden admitted, "but I feel as though I should be on my way."
"I think we've all earnt a break," Jax gave his input as he put his hand on both Raiden and Fujin's shoulders. "That includes Gods."
"Somewhere there is a crime being committed, Jackson Briggs," Raiden informed him.
"I know," Jax said with a frown, "but maybe you should take a rest?"
"You have seemed rather tense lately, Raiden," Vera added with concern in her tone.
"I am just busy being Earthrealm's Protector," Raiden said in dismissal of the concern. "I have lived as a Protector God for millions of years and I must keep assuring I improve on resolving issues in our world, as I aided in resolving many in the past."
"And you do a fantastic job, Raiden," Gemini complimented as she wanted the Thunder God to know how much his restless protection was appreciated. "But you're a person too. A long time ago I took an extended break to transition into the woman you see now. It just so happened to be right before the Mortal Kombat tournament and all the craziness that happened afterwards… but it was fine. There are always others to help."
"I may be an individual as you say," Raiden partially agreed, "but I am of divine blood, with many gifted powers I have been given to protect constantly along with my lack of need for rest."
"We all need a form of rest, brother," Fujin told him as he referred to the Jinsei Chamber. "Besides, Cetrion and her league of defenders are watching every country in every continent of this planet. We have no specific goal currently, we've earnt a break until our services are specifically requested once more."
"If I needed a break then I'd take one if it served benefits," Raiden assured the group of allies. "However, I need no break. I'm going to visit Cetrion's General."
"Hey, how come we've never met Cetrion's folks?" Cassie questioned the Thunder God.
"Fujin," Raiden addressed his brother while ignoring Cassie's question. "Join me, brother… unless you apparently need what is referred to as a 'break'."
"I'll… I'll catch up with you later, Raiden," Fujin promised his brother who gave him a nod before a lightning bolt emerged from the ceiling and zapped Raiden which teleported him away.
"Do you know what's going on with him, Fujin?" Sonya asked him with Fujin sighing in response. "Fujin?"
"I am not quite sure," Fujin admitted. "Perhaps it is stress from the standards that the public have for our actions."
"That would make sense," Jax assessed. "Our jobs are quite stressful… especially his."
"Yet he was very composed when dealing with the likes of Shao Kahn and Shinnok," Sonya pointed out as they recalled the past incidents that required Raiden's aid the most. "Actually, we shouldn't judge."
"Probably best not to," Vera agreed.
"We should always offer support though to anyone," Gemini advised.
"Of course, Gem," Sonya replied. "It's just Raiden has certainly been… off."
"He probably hasn't had any Jinsei in a while," Cassie assumed. "I get cranky when I don't have a good night's sleep and breakfast too!"
"Are those even comparable to the life force of our entire world?" Jacqui asked her friend.
"Don't ask me!" Cassie told her. "Actually, speaking of questions, is nobody gonna tell me why does Cetrion's group never visit us?"
"You always want to meet new faces, huh?" Jacqui remarked.
"Well not those assholes like Kahn and Shinnok you guys had to deal with in the past," Cassie pointed out exceptions.
"Fortunately, you will never have to," Fujin assured Cassie. "As for your question about Cetrion's faction, they are referred to as the Paragons of Virtue and if you think myself and Raiden are busy then you have no idea about the Paragons."
"You're right," Cassie agreed, "I don't have any idea. They certainly sound posh though."
"I am surprised you know little about them," Fujin admitted. "I had always made the assumption that they had worked with the Special Forces before, being two of the most powerful factions of Earthrealm's protectors."
"We've offered our services and a potential collaboration," Sonya told the Wind God, "but they declined."
"I will check on him later," Fujin repeated. "Allow me to help out here for now though."
"Yay!" Cassie cheered. "We missed you, Fujin!"
"I missed you too, Cassandra," Fujin told her which made her smile even greater. "You also, Jacqueline."
"Got any more stories to share?" Jacqui asked him.
"Oh, I always have tales," Fujin replied as he placed a hand on his chin as he tried to think of a new tale to share to the young heroes in training. "Now… where shall I begin…"
As Fujin thought of a story to share to his interested companions while they waited for an analysis to be conducted on the Red Dragon technology they had taken back to their Desert Command base, Cetrion was flying at the speed of light throughout the country to assure that any crime was promptly stopped. Her eyes were special in the sense that they were able to better spot life from looking down on the many civilisations she flew past in the sky. Her journey was to find members of her group of defenders called the Paragons of Virtue. She knew her most important General was currently located in one of the American cities she was flying past. She soon spotted her allies, their enchanted equipment making them standout as they seemed to surround an alleyway which made Cetrion especially curious.
"What is happening?!" Cetrion asked as she floated down from the ground and landed beside the person she sought. "General Tremor?"
"Cetrion," Tremor greeted. "The Black Dragon is here."
"Show me," Cetrion requested with Tremor nodding and gesturing his back up to move aside so he and the Fallen Elder God could walk down the alleyway.
"Right here," Tremor pointed a gravel coated finger at a manhole. "Our Paragons were scouring this area from the rooftops and found a trade involving illegal firearms occurring here."
"That seems minor," Cetrion reviewed. "How do you know they're Black Dragon?"
"Ask him yourself," Tremor said as the aforementioned arms dealer was dragged over by the Paragons who had apprehended him. "Repeat what you revealed to us, Tread."
"You even got his name," Cetrion noted. "Impressive job, Paragons."
"Even Black Dragon goons are wise enough to know not to hide data from us," Tremor commented as he knelt down to the dealer. "Now… tell her, Tread."
"We were just doing business with our local clients!" Tread explained his actions. "We're building plenty of our stock in our nearby hideout…"
"And where might that be?" Cetrion inquired.
"In the sewers," Tread revealed, "beneath that manhole…"
"I see," Cetrion noted the information shared. "Somebody contact the local authorities so that an official arrest can be made."
"That has already been done," Tremor informed her as sirens began to be heard growing louder as cars approached the scene. "And they're just on time."
"This is the New York City Riot Brigade!" yelled the voice of the leader of the police force who was none other than Kurtis Stryker.
"It's been dealt with already, Kurtis," Kabal informed his friend as he used his superspeed to zoom into the alleyway to get an immediate view on the situation. "These vigilantes must've been who called."
"We have legal authority, officer," Cetrion clarified to Kabal.
"I'll take your word for it, Goddess," Kabal responded before looking over to Tremor. "It's you!"
"Kabal," Tremor acknowledged the police officer.
"Seems like we have a Black Dragon reunion here," Kabal said as his fellow police officers entered the alleyway with Stryker handcuffing Tread.
"Tread Miller, I am arresting you for arms trafficking and for association with a crime syndicate," Stryker informed the criminal as he began directing him over to the nearest police car. "I will be taking you to the nearest station where further Interrogations will be made."
"Not going to happen!" Tread remarked as he tried to struggle from Stryker's grasp. "You'll have to deal with me yapping down your ear the entire trip!"
"And you'll have to deal with a several year prison sentence very soon," Stryker warned the crook.
"Innocent until proven guilty!" Tread yelled as he was forced into the back of the vehicle.
"We have enough proof as is!" Stryker said back as he shut the car door. "Pedro!"
"Sir?" Pedro approached Stryker after being called over, always ready to act as a dutiful officer of the law. "How can I help?"
"Drive Mr. Miller here down to the station," Stryker requested with Pedro giving a confirming nod. "Thank you, Pedro."
"Just doing my job, boss," Pedro responded as he opened the car door and sat down on the driver's seat. "We're leaving now, Mr. Miller."
"Fuck you!" was the only reply Tread had to give.
"Thanks for the manners," Pedro commented as he began driving with Tread wildly kicking his feet into various parts of the back of the car. "Stop that! It won't achieve anything!"
"If it pisses you off then that's a good enough reason to continue!" Tread yelled back as he began kicking harder.
Pedro decided to simply ignore Tread as he focused on driving the criminal to the nearest police station within New York. He drove to a traffic light junction with the lights in the direction he was driving towards turning red just as the car approached. As there was no need to rush escorting the already detained criminal to the station.
Then bizarrely, he noticed all the other lights of the other sides of the junction turning to green, causing the awaiting drivers to drive forth, not realising that cars from all sides besides Pedro's began driving forth and a large car crash occurred. A van was clipped by one opposite car, causing the car to spin into another while the van was turned to one side and smashed into Pedro's police car.
To make matters even worse, a sudden explosion of steam bursted from the ground in the centre of the junction. Unbeknownst to the victims of this sudden explosion, the underground machine regulating the steam pressure of the pipes had something go awry. The blast flipped Pedro's vehicle upside down as the door flew off, with Tread quickly crawling out despite being more than dazed from what had just occurred. Other vehicles caught in the explosion littered the road which completely blocked the passageway as many witnesses were shocked by the accident… or so they thought it was such a thing.
"Tread!" Pedro yelled as he saw him running away from the scene while Pedro remained dangling upside down with his seatbelt having saved his life.
Pedro reached for his riot gear headpiece that had fallen onto the dashboard before pulling it over his head while unfastening his seatbelt, the helmet protecting him as he landed on his head. Pedro then grabbed his radio attached to the car to contact his allies who were preparing to investigate the alleged sewer hideout. "Code 30! EMERGENCY! Does anybody copy?!"
"Copy that! This is officer Kabal," greeted a voice from the other end of the radio. "What's the emergency?!"
"There's been a large car accident at the start of Linwood Street," Pedro began to explain. "I was caught in the crash and my transportation has been destroyed! The suspect known as Tread Miller is trying to escape too!"
"You're right by the station," Kabal realised by the street name. "I'll call for reinforcements from there!"
"Roger that," Pedro replied as he was already preparing to exit his ruined vehicle.
"I'll join too," Kabal decided, "just give me one moment…"
There was a sudden pause but after a few moments Pedro could hear a loud and fast approaching noise. He turned to his right to see his burnt fleshed colleague using hook swords to pry open the car door to help release Pedro.
"Thanks, Kabal," Pedro expressed his gratitude.
"Not a problem," Kabal replied as he looked around at the destruction that had been left in the street. "Did you see which way Tread went?"
"That way," Pedro replied as he pointed around north which led to the side of the road where an alleyway was between two businesses. "Probably through there knowing the Black Dragon."
"You're probably right," Kabal agreed as he stepped forth and began preparing to sprint. "I'll check there and if I don't run back then make sure to catch up because I'll have probably found him!"
"Got it," Pedro replied with Kabal soon running off with his superspeed after hearing Pedro's response.
As suspected by both Pedro and Kabal, the latter quickly found Tread making a run through the alleyway. With his powers, Kabal made sure to sprint past him and stop at the only other side of the alley which was where Tread had been attempting to run past… but now his path was blocked.
"Going somewhere, Tread?" Kabal asked him with Tread immediately turning around and running back the other way. "You think you can outrun me?!" Kabal said as he quickly sped past Tread, causing him to be knocked over by the speeding force as he stumbled onto the street.
"No," Tread replied as he was crawling back. "I just needed to have your back turned."
"Wha-" before Kabal could even react, he felt a cold and sharp stabbing pain go through his back.
"Fuck him up!" Tread cheered his ally on who stabbed Kabal in the back again before hurling him against the alleyway wall.
"Ah… Jack Morris…" Kabal recognised the wanted criminal who was pinning him against the dirty brick wall.
"That's Rojack to you!" he replied as he began throttling the police officer.
"Put your hands up!" Pedro demanded as he drew his handgun and pointed it at Rojack. "Release him now!"
"Not a chance, pig!" Rojack replied as he only began to strangle Kabal harder.
"I warned you!" Pedro replied as he went to open fire but a sudden burst of flame completely obscured where Rojack was as a flamethrower was unleashed in front of them. "Oh no…"
"Time to cook some bacon," No Face spoke as he and a lady hidden in a black trenchcoat with a face mask and a baseball cap on entered the scene, the former approaching Pedro as the mysterious woman watched with her hands in her pockets. The woman's name, although completely unknown to any police reports, was Libby Hall… and that along with her unique skills was about the limit of knowledge that her fellow Black Dragon members received.
Fortunately for Pedro and Kabal, the additional requested backup had finally arrived. Unfortunately, however, No Face immediately tossed a unique IED that stuck onto the police vehicle that had arrived. No Face turned to his mysterious colleague and gave her a nod and she drew a phone from her pocket and with seemingly the touch of a button the IED exploded violently.
"Oh shit!" Pedro yelled as he pulled a fellow officer away from the explosion. "Are you alright?"
"You saved my life!" the officer replied. "Thank you so mu-"
The police officer was suddenly silenced and collapsed to the floor. Pedro gasped and looked down to see a knife that had been thrown by Rojack and was stuck in the back of the poor officer's head.
"No!" Pedro cried out as he held the officer in his arms. "Officer down! Officer down!"
"More than just one," Rojack remarked with Pedro looking up at him and seeing Rojack pointing over to the remnants from the explosive that had been detonated with No Face approaching and burning any surviving cops.
"Stop!" Pedro begged.
"You're next," Rojack warned as she pulled out a second knife and swung at Pedro.
"I said STOP!" Pedro yelled in Rojack's face as he grabbed tightly around the hand Rojack was carrying his knife in and began twisting it, soon disarming Rojack as the bladed weapon fell to the pavement.
Pedro proceeded to headbutt Rojack, the blow being extra hard due to the riot police helmet he was wearing. Rojack was stunned and staggered back before shaking his head and raising his fists, ready to keep fighting. Pedro drew a taser that was part of his police equipment but Rojack copied Pedro's disarming technique but managed to snatch the taser for himself after doing so. Rojack then shot the taser and it latched onto Pedro's riot gear and began sending shocks… which Pedro was completely immune to thanks to his protective gear.
"Was that supposed to hurt?" Pedro asked as he pulled the taser by its fired electrode darts away from Rojack's grasp.
"This might," Rojack commented as a car that had been sidelined from the previous accident but was still functional, suffendly drove directly into Pedro from behind.
"Agh!" Pedro yelled as he had fallen under the car after the hard collision. "Who did that?"
"Her," Rojack pointed to the lady in the trenchcoat who waved a phone at them.
"And they are?" Pedro asked as he continued to try and pull himself from under the car.
"Anonymous," Rojack told him before dragging Pedro to his feet and slamming him onto the hood of the car. Rojack then jumped onto the hood and picked Pedro up, only to bodyslam him through the windscreen. "That should keep this bastard down."
Rojack hopped down from the windscreen and went to regroup with his fellow Black Dragon, but Kabal whizzed past, knocking a nearby No Face over before ramming Rojack at full speed into the car.
"Fucking speedster," Rojack swore as he pulled himself up and went to swing a punch at Kabal. "Take this!"
Kabal used his supernatural speed abilities to swiftly dodge the punch before throwing a barrage of his own punches which only ended once Rojack managed to grab Kabal and swing him around, smashing him against the car. Kabal paused as he awaited for Rojack to swing a second punch, tricking him into punching through the car window as Kabal used his speed to easily sidestep the blow. Rojack clutched his cut hand as Kabal turned behind him, drew his hook swords, and hooked them into Rojack's shoulders.
"Last chance to hand yourself over, Jack!" Kabal offered as he continued to sink his hooks deeper as Rojack struggled.
"Go fuck yourself," Rojack muttered as he continued to resist arrest.
"I suggest you hand him over instead!" No Face piped up as he launched another IED, the same as the one used previously to demolish a police car and those within its blast range.
"Shit!" Kabal yelled as he released Rojack, kicking him aside before running over to carry Pedro as they retreated before the explosion could occur. "Don't worry, Pedro! I'll get you to safety!"
Kabal knew that the closest police station was nearby and knew that there'd be many force medical examiners at the station to be able to provide medical care for his friend. While Kabal was there he realised he'd probably require more backup, but feared that there'd be more tragedies. Meanwhile, the other Black Dragon criminals regrouped as Kabal had retreated momentarily.
"That coward was probably too afraid of me burning him to ashes this time," No Face joked as he proudly recalled the time he gave Kabal his near fatal injuries.
"You assholes nearly blew me up!" Rojack yelled.
"It was just a bluff to make Kabal release you!" No Face explained himself. "We're not that crazy!"
"Libby isn't," Rojack admitted. "You absolutely are though, No Face."
"Well I control the explosives," Libby reminded him. "So you were going to be fine."
"I should ALWAYS be in charge of blowing shit up!" No Face argued aggressively.
"You're not the one with any skills with technology though," Libby remarked as she waved her phone at No Face.
"Why the Hell not?"
"You don't know how to hack firstly," Tread pointed out to No Face.
"What do you even do again, Tread?!"
"I was just saying!" Tread defended himself. "Besides, I'm one of the most reliable hands we've got!"
"He is," Rojack backed him up. "Whereas you are anything but reliable, No Face."
"I get things done in my own way!" No Face yelled.
"That so?"
"Yes!"
"Everybody shut the fuck up!" Libby raised her voice to gather attention. "No Face, I don't even think you know how to use a phone or any non explosive technology for that matter!"
"Well-"
"Well we still have a job to do, assholes," Libby reminded the group. "Stop bickering and get down that hole I made by the steam burst!"
"How the fuck do you hack a steam pipe?!" No Face wondered.
"You tamper with the machinery, dumbass," Libby explained to him as she controlled the machinery to reduce the steam so that she and her allies could climb down. "We'll be able to branch off into the sewers from here. Where we'll ambush those annoying pricks who seem to follow us everywhere."
"Do you think it'll work?" Tread asked her.
"Fuck no," Libby replied. "But Rotwang's orders think otherwise."
"Kano would've had a better plan!" No Face chimed in.
"No fucking chance," Libby disagreed.
"Have some goddamn faith in Rotwang," Rojack requested as the group surrounded the whole made in the road from the explosion of steam. "Let's get this done…"
As the Black Dragon group went to prepare their ambush to allow them clear passage away from their countless pursuers, the police officers alongside the Paragons of Virtue were preparing to investigate the sewers. Stryker has removed the manhole and shone a flashlight down to see.
"Are we ready?" Stryker asked the group before continuing.
"My Paragons always are," Cetrion informed him.
"Then follow me," Stryker instructed. "I'll go first."
"No," a voice said in denial, "I will."
"Raiden?!" Stryker turned around and saw the Thunder God who had suddenly fallen down from the sky before them.
"What are you doing here?" Cetrion asked him.
"I have been looking for your followers, Cetrion," Raiden explained to her. "I wish to aid in stopping crime."
"I see," Cetrion replied. "I appreciate that, Raiden, but I believe we have this specific scenario under control."
"When I flew over I saw destruction all over a nearby road," Raiden detailed to her, "I saw several corpses of police officers."
"Wait… wh-what?!" Stryker stuttered as he grew concerned for his colleagues. "What the Hell happened, Raiden?!"
"I didn't see anything before the aftermath…" Raiden admitted. "I wasted my time with the Special Forces," he blamed himself, "as had I been there moments earlier… I could've prevented it."
"Do not blame yourself, Raiden," Cetrion instructed as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "If anything it is our mistake. We were busy planning on how to investigate an underground base in the sewers here."
"A Black Dragon told us," Stryker elaborated. "He's being taken to the station now…"
"I believe that he was likely involved in that incident I just mentioned," Raiden presumed. "In addition to that, he was probably lying and that this is a trap."
"It's possible," Tremor agreed. "Hmm…"
"I will check," Raiden insisted and suddenly leapt down the manhole as he was a perfect fit before he could hear anybody could protest against his decision.
Raiden surveillanced the sewers, soon being drawn to lights down a sewer pipe. Raiden blasted through the pipe and soon stood before an underground steam pipe control plant. Raiden soon spotted armed people at the site which he immediately identified as Black Dragon members who had seized control of the facility as no actual worker would be equipped with such a large firearm.
The blast Raiden had sent to give himself a clear passage had left an explosion that drew the attention of the criminals and Raiden's allies above the underground, who soon began climbing down the manhole to check on the Thunder God.
"Shit!" Stryker swore. "Tread weren't kidding!"
"Fire!" yelled a Black Dragon member as Tremor quickly shielded his allies with stone walls as Raiden approached the criminals, soaking up countless bullets as he did so.
"Cease your fire to avoid greater punishment!" Raiden demanded as he pushed forward and began firing direct lightning blasts in retaliation to a lack of compliance. The crooks guarding the plant were immediately shocked by the powerful blasts of electricity and all fell unconscious from Raiden's attack.
Hearing the gunfire cease, Tremor removed the rock shield that protected himself and the others and they soon regrouped with Raiden who was prepared to burst into the doorway of the underground plant. Cetrion joined his side and signalled for her followers to halt as they prepared to push forth.
"Lock 'em up," Stryker instructed his fellow officers as he pointed to the bodies of the people left unconscious by Raiden's lightning. "Now… let's have a look in here…"
As soon as Stryker kicked down the door and shone a flashlight inside, the scaffold structure at the entranceway that was used to hold the structure up over the filthy sewer water below suddenly gave way from a loud explosion. Stryker quickly rolled inside the room with the interior side of the underground steam plant still being maintained whereas the other side had been blown to pieces as Stryker's coworkers and the Paragons of Virtue all collapsed. Cetrion and Raiden remained afloat with Cetrion dropping down to check on their fallen allies. Raiden meanwhile, flew through a wall, smashing through it with ease, as he came to Stryker's side.
"Woah!" Stryker reacted with surprise. "You never fail to shock me, Raiden."
"There is no time for puns, Kurtis Stryker," Raiden told him.
"Puns?" Stryker was confused but soon realised what he did. "Oh… sorry, it wasn't intended."
Stryker shone his flashlight around the room, trying to find any more Black Dragon members. He and Raiden did find several crates storing several lethal weapons though, a clear sign of what this small hideout was being used for. Raiden walked around the area too, using lightning created in his very own hands to lighten the room up. Suddenly, a steam pipe from inside exploded right next to Raiden as high pressure steam began blowing into Raiden's face. It hardly harmed the Thunder God, but it certainly distracted him. Following this explosion, a very large crate opened up, and No Face, Rojack, Tread and Libby all spilled out to attack the vulnerable God.
Rojack ran in and stabbed Raiden as he tackled the Thunder God to the ground. Raiden immediately began trying to climb to his feet so Tread boldly approached and began kicking him violently while he was down, only for Raiden to shock him with his bare hands before throwing him into Rojack. As Raiden attempted to stand up straight again, No Face slapped an IED on his back which Libby immediately detonated as No Face rolled out of harm's way. The explosion blasted Raiden across the room with him eventually crashing into a shelf full of supplies.
"Raiden!" Stryker cried out. "No!"
"You're outnumbered, Stryker," No Face told him as the Black Dragon group surrounded him. "For once we have the advantage."
"I'm impressed you can count," Stryker remarked with No Face letting out a sigh of frustration from the quip.
"Kill him!" No Face demanded as he grabbed and fired his flamethrower.
Stryker rolled back, only to be grabbed by Rojack and Tread who threw him back down before No Face. The group chuckled to themselves, it seemed as if there was no escape for the legendary police officer… but another ran in to help him.
"Kabal!" Stryker called for as he noticed the purple energy left behind by Kabal's superspeed.
"You should've hurried up on grilling my partner, No Face!" Kabal yelled quickly as he whizzed past the other Black Dragon members which caused them to spin around rapidly before collapsing momentarily.
"Lucky bastard," No Face remarked as he barged Stryker aside to confront Kabal. "You're one too, Kabal!"
"Is that so?" Kabal replied as he drew his hook swords and pulled the hooks together.
"You should be dead from me," No Face remarked as he faced the opposite of Kabal. "I'm not even satisfied with how I cooked you… should've been well done, not medium rare."
"I remember the only time you self appointed yourself as the camp cook at that old site we hid at," Kabal recalled on his time amongst the Black Dragon. "All the meat was black from you burning it all!"
"That'll be you in a minute!" No Face threatened.
"I'm going to offer you my help one last time," Kabal said as he suddenly dropped his hook swords and offered him his hand, a gesture that previously got Kabal the burns he received from No Face. "I suggest you take it this time."
"I'll take…" No Face spoke up as he approached Kabal. "I'll take your life!"
No Face suddenly pulled out a Molotov cocktail he had stored behind his back, but Kabal was ready this time. The speedster used his supernatural reflexes to grab hold of the molotov before No Face could smash it over his skull. The two struggled as they traded blows, eventually being interrupted by Raiden who flew through the air and tackled No Face. The Molotov was knocked out of both men's hands and soon the room was set aflame.
"Kurtis!" Kabal called out for through the flames that were quickly beginning to engulf the room. "Where are you, Kurtis?!"
"I'm here!" Stryker yelled as he was jumping up and down from a grate to gather Kabal's attention. "I can't see a way out!"
"There's another passageway where these four came from," Kabal turned to see the criminals and soon spotted them using the passage he had just mentioned… all but No Face. "Wait a second, Kurtis, Where's Raiden?!"
"Over there!" Stryker pointed to a corner where Raiden was wailing down strikes upon No Face. "I'm sure they'll be fine together!"
"I'll get you out then!" Kabal decided as he used his superspeed to blitz through the flames faster than they could badly harm him, picked up Stryker in his arms, and left through the passageway in the back of the room.
Meanwhile, No Face tried fighting back against Raiden by headbutting him with the welding mask he wore aiding in the effectiveness of the blow. Raiden momentarily staggered back and No Face tried to escape but Raiden quickly grabbed him by the neck and tore his mask off, exposing his lack of facial features. Raiden chokeslammed No Face into the flames before dragging him back out and hurling him through the wall where he fell down into the sewers, where the Paragons of Virtue and more police officers awaited as Cetrion had stayed to heal them all.
"Is everybody alright?" Raiden asked with Cetrion nodding reassuringly.
"Thanks to Cetrion," Tremor remarked as he looked up at the burning building. "Permission to crush it?"
"Denied," Cetrion told him. "But thanks for the kind words, Tremor."
"You're welcome," Tremor responded.
"Tremor sucking up to the Gods," No Face snarled as he tried to stand only for Tremor to stomp on him. "Ugh! never thought I'd see the day…"
"Anyway," Cetrion continued speaking, "what do we do about him?"
"You let me off with a warning?" No Face suggested.
"I shall teleport him to the Special Forces Maximum Security Facility," Raiden offered as he approached No Face, his mangled back from the IED now being showcased to his allies.
"Perhaps you should go heal at the Jinsei…" Cetrion suggested with audible concern regarding Raiden's wounds.
"I will after I deal with him," Raiden promised her.
"There's some people I would like to meet with at the Special Forces Maximum Security Facility," Tremor revealed as he picked up No Face in his arms. "I'll deal with him."
"Fine," Raiden permitted.
"If you're certain," Cetrion said. "I have been contacted by the Elder God's Champion. I shall visit him. Tremor, please help with escorting everybody out of here."
"Understood," Tremor obeyed the command. "Follow me, everybody!"
As his final duty of the day to Cetrion and the Paragons of Virtue, Tremor had finally carried a helpless No Face, thanks to the help of a fellow Paragon who drove a car to the Special Forces Maximum Security Facility. Despite being unable to break free of Tremor's solid grip, No Face never stopped whining about his circumstance. Tremor walked through the main entrance of the facility and tossed No Face to the floor, Tremor having already disarmed him and bound him after being allowed to borrow a pair of handcuffs from a police officer that he helped escape the sewers.
"I bring you Damien Phoenix, guards," Tremor announced as the nearest guards quickly took No Face and began taking him away.
"Damn you all!" No Face screamed. "You'll all burn a fiery death for this!"
"Fool," Tremor remarked as he watched No Face be taken away. "Excuse me, guards, but I had heard that two prisoners are scheduled to be released today."
"Allow me to check our system," the guard sat at the desk said as they did a quick search using their computer. "There are actually!"
"Jarek and Tasia?" Tremor asked to clarify.
"Those are the two," the guard confirmed.
"Thank you for informing me," Tremor said gratefully. "I shall wait for them…"
Tremor did as he said and a couple hours later, he saw two familiar faces walking out the main gates to the Placeholder. Jarek and Tasia were finally free after a nearly two decade long sentence after pleading guilty of several crimes during their time as members of the Black Dragon.
"It's been a while since we were out of those walls," Jarek commented as he held their bags. "Right, Tasia?"
"No shit," Tasia replied before kissing Jarek on the cheek, the two having at last confessed their love for each other before they went to prison. "Hey… is that Tremor?"
"Old friends," Tremor greeted as he stood tall at the open gate, "it is good to see you both again."
"What do you want, Trem?" Jarek asked with a less than warm greeting which surprised Tremor.
"Just to see you…" Tremor explained.
"You could've visited," Tasia said bitterly.
"I've been busy!" Tremor boomed.
"Busy still doing crime?" Jarek guessed.
"No!" Tremor denied the accusation. "What is the meaning of this hostility?!"
"You fucking dodged your sentence, asshole!" Tasia yelled at him.
"I had a duty," Tremor informed her.
"And what's that?!"
"Fighting crime!" Tremor raised his voice. "I just took No Face in today!"
"Huh?" Jarek was confused by the news.
"When you both last saw me… I left because of the demand of Cetrion," Tremor reminded them.
"The Goddess?" Tasia recalled.
"How could I refuse her?" Tremor asked them.
"So… you got to dodge your punishment because you have rock magic?"
"If you want to put it that way then… yes," Tremor confirmed. "She revealed to me where my powers come from… and how to enhance them. She reformed me, like how prison has helped reform you."
"You do… seem different," Jarek agreed. "Sorry, Trem, we've just been thinking about a lot of stuff in there."
"I understand," Tremor replied.
"I suppose we overreacted," Tasia admitted with Tasia admitting to being wrong being a new thing to Tremor. "So… you work for Cetrion?"
"Yes," Tremor plainly confirmed. "I am a key member of the Paragons of Virtue…"
"That posh group?!" Tasia's eyes widened.
"You've heard of them?" Tremor asked.
"Dude, like half of this place is full of people the 'Paragons' have detained," Tasia told him with Jarek nodding as she spoke.
"This pleases me to hear," Tremor stated.
"Oh God," Tasia spoke in a joking tone, "they've turned you posh too!"
"Sorry?" Tremor once more became confused.
"Tremor apologising," Jarek said, "never thought I'd see the day."
"Like I said, I changed," Tremor repeated. "I changed for the better."
"So have we," Tasia related. "I think?"
"We have," Jarek reassured her. "Still not sure what to do now though…"
"My faction has already purchased a home for the pair of you in New York," Tremor revealed the good news to the couple. "I will take you to it now… if you want."
"Hell yeah we want that!" Tasia enthusiastically confirmed.
"Thank you," Jarek expressed his gratitude.
"No problem," Tremor replied. "Now come with me, I am sure we have many more stories to share on the journey to New York."
"We sure do!" Tasia replied. "Jarek, tell him about that time you kicked Kano's ass in there!"
"Which time?" Jarek asked as the group laughed as they departed from the Special Forces Maximum Security Facility.
Meanwhile, Cetrion had made a portal that transported her to the Nexus, to meet with the Champion of the Elder Gods who was a frequent guardian of the Nexus. She had been requested to meet with the Champion due to an important transmission from an Elder God.
"Champion," Cetrion greeted the Nexus' protector. "You have a message for me?"
"Indeed I do," the Champion confirmed as his ribcage opened up and a magical hologram began to take shape before Cetrion's very eyes.
"Ametus!" Cetrion cried out as the hologram took the familiar form of Cetrion's closest companion.
"Greetings, Cetrion!" Ametus began to speak, "I have missed you dearly since you left us to help protect Earthrealm from the forces of evil. It has been a while since I recorded a transmission for you and I was just wondering if you can visit… I understand if not… I hope to see you soon but if not then I'll make sure to continue to send these messages to you! Goodbye, Cetrion."
"Anything for you, Ametus," Cetrion muttered to herself as she thought about Ametus' request. "Tell her that I'll be there soon, Champion."
"Understood," the Champion noted. "She also instructed me to give you this."
The Elder Gods' Champion dug into his chest cavity before carefully pulling out a beautiful bouquet of roses of an assortment of colours. Along with the roses were many flowers that glowed a bright light as they were handpicked from the delicate clouds in the Heavens.
"Oh my goodness!" Cetrion felt her heart melt from the gift that was being handed to her. "These are beautiful! Send her my thanks, Champion."
"I shall," he promised while he dug into his body again, this time to retrieve a map of the Heavens. "She will be at her private palace… Here is the map in case you have forgotten the layout of the area."
"Thanks but I remember my homerealm clearly, Champion," Cetrion said with the Champion making note of this and returning the map into his chest. "Word of advice, Champion, maybe if you didn't do stuff like that with your body then my Paragons wouldn't be calling you 'Monster'."
"It is the most secure method of storage, Cetrion," the Champion claimed. "This is all I have for you and you may depart."
"Farewell, Champion," Cetrion spoke as she headed through the Earthrealm portal that was in the Nexus as she headed off to meet with an important Paragon of Virtue… her brother.