The Invincible Hero 22 Captain Kal And The Dragon Squad

"Indeed, I would like to make a deal with you," said The Dragon Emperor.

"What kind of deal?" asked Kal.

"Kal, my dear boy, you've faithfully served my Dragon Empire for many years. You've even married General Long's daughter. To me, you're family." The Dragon Emperor began.

Kal looked at the Dragon Emperor unsure of what to make of all of this.

The Dragon Emperor was an aloof and austere man. He was also a capable and benevolent monarch. This was a rare combination.

If Kal had to judge who he liked better as a ruler between the Zimwarn Emperor and the Dragon Emperor; he had to admit he preferred the Dragon Emperor.

It wasn't only because the Zimwarn Emperor enslaved his soul. On a certain level, the Emperor was also benevolent. Instead of death for Kal's past misdeeds, he was offered the opportunity to work off his crimes. The problem was everyone sensed the soul sealing the Emperor did on subordinates who mis stepped was as much a benevolent action as it was a selfish one. The Zimwarn Emperor was paranoid.

This was one reason Kal had no intention of going back to the Zimwarn Empire any time soon. In fact, he had more or less decided to remain in the Dragon Empire as a loyal citizen. A bad boy made nice type of situation. He was already content with his new wife and in-laws.

Now, the Dragon Emperor was treating him as a long-time a.s.sociate or fellow conspirator than as a citizen of his Empire. Perhaps it was because the Emperor knew Kal was stronger than him. It could also be because the Emperor desperately needed his help.

"Your Majesty, please tell me what you need. If you consider me a loyal citizen of the Empire won't you just tell me what you want of me? There's no need to make deals. Just treat me like you would General Long. I am at your service." Kal said. He meant it too, he had spent his life making deals and all deal-making did was distance himself from those around him. They knew he was only looking for an angle for himself.

The Emperor was surprised. He understood Kal was a good tool in General Long's a.r.s.enal, but he always understood that this good tool always wanted something in exchange. 'Now he doesn't want a reward? What's the catch?' The Emperor quietly wondered to himself.

"If you truly want me to treat you like General Long why don't I make you a General?" The Emperor suggested.

"General?!" Kal was startled by the offer."There's no need to go that far, your majesty. I don't want to be too respectable. Just make me a Captain. Only, make me a Captain who doesn't have to take orders from everyone," Kal said.

'So, this guy just wants to do whatever but have people call him Captain.' The Emperor's eye twitched a little. How did Long handle this guy? Maybe he should get some pointers for the next time he talked with Kal.

"Very well, you'll have a ranking of Captain, but I'll make a special note that no one, other than me, is allowed to give you orders. How's that?" asked The Emperor.

"Not bad, not bad," Kal said with an appreciative smile as he ma.s.saged his chin with one hand as if appreciating a new car.

"Captain Kal, the thing is, my Dragon Empire is facing extinction." The Emperor began.

"Yes, Master said we're being invaded by Fiend Empire agents," Kal said.

"Indeed. The truth is we are currently able to push them back a little right now. However, this can't last long, they're growing too fast. Even with our efforts to stall their advance, we won't last long.

Your Master River promised to provide more warriors to help in this war. You are one who he offered to help. We should also expect three more warriors. The twin Dragons will soon join us, and the young Five-Claw dragon Wudi Long," said The Dragon Emperor.

"Ooh, young master Wudi will be joining us? That should be interesting," Kal said.

The Dragon Emperor was encouraged to hear Kal's comment. Five-Clawed Dragons are powerful, but could even a Five-Clawed Dragon stand strong against this new enemy? Maybe in a few years but Wudi was so young.

As if sensing the Emperor's concerns, Kal spoke up."Don't worry about Wudi, he's being trained by the strongest expert I've ever met. He's a Five-Clawed Dragon and he'll be training in a time disfased universe. He should be very strong when he comes to fight," said Kal.

Kal didn't bother to tell the Emperor Lorne also had the powers of the Wu Di Clan and was a Zimwarn warrior with all their powers. These powers worked well together increasing his physique exponentially. And after what Master River did to Lorne's body and soul, whoa, this kid would be really powerful.

"Good, but until he comes out of his training we need to stall. That's where you come in. I've heard of your exploits in the new universe. You're gifted at taking a hopeless situation and grasping victory. I already know you're good at stalling and I want you to lead your own squad to delay and annihilate our enemies while we wait for Wudi," The Emperor said.

Kal thought briefly about his before saying, "Okay, but I get to pick the members."

"You'll have the full cooperation of the military," said The Emperor.

"I also need all your intel on the Fiends and to build some special weapons," Kal said.

"I can get you all the weapons and intel you need." The Emperor said.

"No, no, I need to build some weapons, including a new s.h.i.+p. I just need you to provide me with the materials." Said Kal.

"Do you need engineers or anything?" asked The Emperor.

"No, I know some guys," Kal said.

"Very well, give me a list and I'll get everything requisitioned to you," The Emperor said.

Kal nodded with a smile.

After arranging everything, Kal used his new access to look for suitable soldiers to put his squad together. It's called a squad, but he would also need Engineers, pilots and support personnel for his mission. He had a lot to put together.

The Emperor quickly organized everything for Kal and sent him all the materials he needed. Kal traveled to the new Universe and spoke with Lorne, or should he say BS42.

Kal worked out a deal for BS42 to supply him with the people he needed to build his s.h.i.+p, and Benton's help designing and creating the weapons for the new squad.

Kal didn't want any special Zimwarn trap doors, seals or anything in his new s.h.i.+p.

Although he didn't say it, Kal knew such technology would give part of his s.h.i.+p's control to them. In exchange for the design changes, Kal was forced to make an oath not to knowingly reveal anything about the Zimwarn Empire to the Emperor.

Kal made the oath with a twinkle in his eye. BS42 should have made him take this oath before he got married. He had already told his wife the whole truth about himself.

The oath he took applied to him but not to her. She was smart and would know when and how to use the information. Of course, Kal was released from the oath if BS42 ever spied on him or sold him out. The deal worked well for both of them.

Kal left the new universe to start gathering his squad. The first person he called was his brother Master Ba Rel.

Master Ba Rel, was also a student of Master River and was as strong as Kal. However, Kal didn't want muscle. What he needed was the man who walked the Dao of the hunter.

He would be the most effective way to find the Fiends and destroy them. Kal was good at escaping, playing tricks, and taking advantage of people.

The expert on finding people was Master Ba Rel. Kal left for the Syndicate to find his brother who was promoted to a much higher position. He must be getting bored, Kal thought. Kal was led to the offices of Master Ba Rel who indeed looked very bored.

"Brother Ba!" Kal said affectionately.

"Brother Kal!" said Master Rel as he stood up and warmly embraced his brother.

"You look bored, ready to get out of here and do something fun?" Kal asked.

"Yes." Said Master Rel.

"I've got the perfect excuse for you. There's an opportunity to increase your Dao and get the Syndicate into the good graces of Master River," Kal said.

'

"Really? I'm listening brother, fill me in." Master Rel was extremely excited.' Increase his Dao? Master Rel had been stuck since he last crossed horns with Kal. It was frustrating. He had explosive growth and then nothing. Following the Dao of the Hunt meant he had to hunt!

"I have some game that I need you to hunt." Kal began with a smile. Soon, Kal explained the entire mission to Master Ba Rel. They needed to find and capture the Fiends.

Kal's plan was to take some of the captured Fiends and give them to BS42 for interrogation. He didn't tell that part of the plan to Master Rel, but that was his intention. BS42 could get a lot more out of them than anyone else.

Master Rel was excited about the plan and made suggestions on additional equipment they would need. Kal added this onto the things for BS42's people to create. Kal and Master Rel left the New Universe to recruit their squad.

Master Rel brought along his a.s.sistant who was a skilled interrogator and logistics manager. The trio very quickly gathered the squad together. There were a total of eight men and women in the squad. Kal, Master Rel, and the Dragon twins made twelve.

It had only been a little over a day in the Dragon Empire and the s.h.i.+p, weapons, and armor for the Dragon Squad was ready. This was due to the time disfasia between the Dragon Empire and the new universe.

When Kal went in to pick everything up he was shocked by how much the Wu Di Clan's population had exploded. New elites were ready to make their way into the Dragon Empire to accomplish Master River's promise.

After leaving the new Universe, Kal met up with the Dragon Squad and Master Rel. The Wu Di elites were dispatched according to General Long's arrangements. Kal brought the squad and support personnel aboard the new s.h.i.+p. The new s.h.i.+p was a fast attack frigate measuring three hundred meters in length. It was the most advanced wars.h.i.+p in the entire Dragon Empire. There was room for docking twenty fighters and a couple of other s.h.i.+ps. There were escape pods throughout the s.h.i.+p.

The weapons were extremely powerful. They could kill anyone below Ascended Immortals. Even an Ascended Immortal may not fare so well if multiple attacks landed on them. After familiarizing the squad with the s.h.i.+p, Kal began preparations for beginning the mission. Master Ba Rel led everyone to the armory and introduced the weapons and armor a.s.signed to the squad members.

Kal eventually went down to the armory to check some things. He suddenly heard a 'thunk' sound. When he turned around he saw his beautiful new wife standing there with a displeased look on her face. She dropped her duffle bag on the ground as a way to make an entrance.

"Zhihui!" said Kal with a big smile when he saw his wife.

"You're leaving without me," she said.

"Leaving without you, of course not, honey. I'm so excited to have you along," said Kal with an awkward smile.

"Hmph, you're leaving without me, you still haven't made me into the Smuggler Queen, and you never take me on your adventures like you promised," Zhihui said while pouting. A little anger was leaking from her otherwise disciplined presence.

"Honey, I would never leave without you," Kal said.

"Oh really, I see you standing next to twelve sets of armor, yours is right behind you. If you aren't leaving me behind then where's my armor?!" Zhihui said angrily.

"Right here," as Kal said this he hit a b.u.t.ton next to his armor and the panel next to it spun around. The name tag on the locker said "Zhihui N'Dar," Zhihui was shocked, he really wasn't leaving her behind. He even made a beautiful armored dress for her!

Zhihui sheepishly looked at her husband. "Sorry Kal, I leapt to the wrong conclusion."

Kal smiled at her, and was about to console her when she suddenly said, "You liar."

"What, honey, I didn't lie to you," said Kal with a big grin.

"Of course, you did. You lied by telling the truth. You set up a situation that induced me to draw a false conclusion, you were leaving me. When I confronted you with my conclusion you honestly answered saying you wouldn't leave me. Since I was already committed to the belief that you were leaving me and now you were trying to get out of trouble, psychologically I was forced to double down on the belief that you were leaving me. So, you lied by telling the truth," she said.

"I didn't lie, you let your insecurities lead you to make a false conclusion. You lied to yourself. I'm completely innocent, yet I knew you would do that. You can't say I lied to you, only that I leveraged what I knew about you and humans in general to get the reaction I wanted," said Kal.

"What reaction was that?" asked Zhihui.

"Touched, repented, and slightly aggravated," said Kal with a laugh. Zhihui also laughed.

After a little chit-chat between husband and wife, Kal was ready for business.

Ok, now, to catch a Fiend.