A Deal

Fever: Am I correct to assume you are the Crimson Dragon?

Kai: You would be correct. Who are you?

Fever: You may call me Fever.

Kai: Why do you seem like you know me? Do you hate me or something?

Fever: No, no, of course not. I think you have so much potential!

Kai: Oh yeah?

Fever: Yes. You are able to take down Mutants left and right. That's some power, but you just aren't using your power the right way.

Kai: What do you believe is the "right way?"

Fever: You are hurting your own kind… I"m sorry I have forgotten to ask what your name is.

Kai: The Crimson Dragon.

Fever: Still suspicious? I understand. Well dragon, You are hurting your own kind. These Mutants that you beat up left and right don't have a home. They were just thrown into this world without understanding. I know because I am one of them. It took me months to understand this world. I was taken into the slave camps young. You were one of the lucky Mutants that Integer didn't find. They don't deserve to be thrown in prison.

Kai chuckles.

Kai: They know the laws. Every mutant I have fought has always done something wrong. When the cops show up they aren't surprised. They know what they are doing. Your not going to manipulate me.

Fever: Then why are you here?

Kai: You have a friend of mine.

Fever: The reporter girl?

Kai: Yes.

Fever: What are you willing to give?

Kai: I'm not giving anything. You are the one who is going to give me something. I can't even trust that you will let her go.

Fever's skin starts smoking. Almost like he is on fire without the fire. Fever grabs Kai's neck and slams Kai into the ground hard. Kai coughs up blood.

Fever: I said you had potential. Not that you were some powerful man above my level. You are nothing. Don't you ever say I wouldn't let her go. I am a man of honor. So, you want your friend. What are you willing to give?

Kai: What do you want?

Fever: I think you could be a problem. Tomorrow I will give you a place to go. You will go at the exact time I tell you. Then when the cops show up. You'll let them take you. When they take you, and only if they take you, will your friend be released. Deal?

Fever presses down on Kai's neck harder.

Kai: Deal.

Fever: Good. Now get out of my bar.

Fever lets go and Kai leaves. Then Fever's skin stops smoking.

Fever: Fucking asshole.

Kai returns to his basement.

Max: Did you save her? Wow, you got a lot of cuts.

Kai: They're almost healed already.

Max: That's good. What about Remi?

Kai: You care for her a lot don't you?

Max: I was the one that sent her on the mission. I feel like it's my fault she got captured.

Kai: Don't worry. I cut a deal with the people that captured her.

Max: What's the deal?

Kai sighed.

Kai: If I allow myself to be captured by the police then they will let her go.

Max: And you trusted them?

Kai: Him, and yes. He was furious when I said that he wouldn't let her go. He seems to be one of those people who believe that they need to follow a code.

Max: Like you and your no killing rule?

Kai: Yeah, kind of. Tomorrow I have to go wherever they say, but before all that I'm going to wake up early to ask to see Remi.

Max: That's a good idea. Why didn't you do that before?

Kai: Let's just say, I wasn't exactly in the position to ask for anything.

Max: How are you going to get out of prison?

Kai: I'll break out. They can't keep me down in a regular cell.

Max: And Alcatraz?

Kai: I doubt they'll send me there before they put me in prison.

Max: Do they have to transfer you?

Kai: Yeah, they put everyone in a normal prison. Then they transfer a group of people to Alactraz.

Max: Alright, the game plan seems like it should work. How long do you think you will be out for?

Kai: At least a day. I have to give them time to let Remi go before I escape.

Max: Alright. I will try to help you anyway I can.

Kai: I'll be seeing you.

Max: I'll be in your basement.

Kai: You sound like the fucking boogie man.

Max: Well.

Kai walks up the stairs. Kai starts making dinner. Kai texts Raelynn that he is going to be out on some business, and if he doesn't text back he's not ghosting her. As Kai is finishing making dinner Max comes up from his hole.

Max: Is that food you got there?

Kai sighs.

Kai: Want some?

Max: Don't have to ask me twice.

Kai: You're a leach.

Max: I expect it.

They eat and Kai goes to bed. The next day Kai wakes up, and quickly makes breakfast. He eats breakfast and puts on his suit. Kai runs down to the bar. He walks in, and sees Fever cleaning dishes.

Kai: I want to see Remi before I let myself get arrested.

Fever puts down the cup he's cleaning and turns off the sink.

Fever: Follow me.

Kai follows Fever into the back. Fever opens a door, and it is a metal room. Remi is inside with metal-cuffs on.

Fever: I'll give you two a moment.

Fever leaves and closes the door.

Kai: Remi, why do you have handcuffs on?

Remi: They-

Kai: What?

Remi: They stuck a syringe in me. As soon as the pain stopped I fell unconscious. When I woke up I was in this cell.

Kai: Don't worry. I'll get you out.

Remi: How?

Kai: Tomorrow you will be out of here. If you go to my house Max will tell you everything.

Remi: Thank you.

Kai hugs Remi.

Kai: Of course. I would never let you stay here.

Fever opens up the door.

Fever: Times up.

Kai leaves and Fever sends him back into the bar. Kai leaves the bar and goes back home. Kai waits at home. Then Kai gets a text. It has an address, and says thirty minutes. Kai leaves the house. He travels to the area in twenty minutes. Kai sees two drug dealers. Kai waits the extra ten minutes on a house watching them. Then Kai jumps down. He walks up to them.

Kai: Mind not doing that out in the open.

The two drug dealers take out cop badges. Then the area is surrounded by cop cars.

Officer: Easy way or the hard way?

Kai gets down on his knees and puts his hands over his head. One of the officers puts meta-cuffs on him.

A group of cops lead Kai into the back of a police van. Owen, Ryan and another cop sit in the back of the van with Kai. Then a cop drives with another in the passenger seat.

Owen: You're a special one, Dragon. Trying to do the cops jobs. You're dangerous. You were going to be put in prison one of these days. Unlucky for you it's not any old prison. You're going straight to Alcatraz.

Kai: Isn't that illegal?

Owen: We caught you in the act. So, no. Any criminal that goes to Alcatraz doesn't need to be there for his or her trial. You will be given a sentence without your attendance. That sentence because your in Alcatraz will most indefinitely be life.

Ryan: That's the end of your crusade.

Kai: Don't I get a phone call.

Ryan looks at Owen.

Owen: One call. Even if that person doesn't pick up it counts.

Owen hands Kai a phone.

Kai calls President Bordon.

President Bordon: Hello.

Kai: It's the Crimson Dragon.

President Bordon: When do you use that name?

Kai: The cops are sending me to Alcatraz. I need your help.

President Bordon: No.

Kai: What do you mean no?

President Bordon: Think about this. Hero breaks out of wrongful imprisonment. He proves that he is a hero and everyone loves him. People have been loving you taking down criminals. That little underdog story about prison will make you a star.

Kai: What if I can't break out?

President Bordon: Then I'll get someone else to be a hero.

Kai: Why pick me if you don't care? Why give me things?

President Bordon: My bank account is endless. I didn't give you anything to even nibble at my net worth. I picked you for three reasons. You had no real background, your someone the people can believe in, and you're expendable. Have a fun time breaking out. Don't worry I will make sure your identity doesn't go public.

President Bordon hangs up the phone. Owen takes the phone back.

Owen: Don't worry. This is a short drive.

Soon they get out at the docks. Kai sees a boat. They get in the boat. Kai is brought inside a metal prison at the bottom of the boat. They put a shock collar on Kai.

Owen: This collar shoots electric volts in you. If you hop into the water it will hurt a lot. I don't suggest it.

The drive away. As they get closer to Alcatraz Island Owen can see a giant wall around the island. On Top of the wall is electric barbed wire. The wall is at least ten feet thick. The only opening to this wall is a small metal door at the docks. The boat stops at the docks. They all get out. The cops show their badge and talk to the person that opens the door for a minute. Then the metal door opens. They lead Kai through the door. Kai sees one giant building in the center, and areas fenced in by electric barbed wire that goes as tall as the walls. There is one path away from the door they came into the giant fortress. There is nowhere else to walk. Kai walks into the fortress. There are a few female workers at their desks. The cops talk to the workers and try flirting with them. Then they lead Kai into the elevator. The elevator lowers until it comes to an abrupt stop. Kai is led down a hallway and into a room. They put a collar on Kai and take off his meta-cuffs.

Owen: That collar does the same as these meta-cuffs, but it is way harder to take off.

Owen points to a pair of orange prisoner clothes.

Owen: Put it on.

Owen turns around. Kai puts the clothes on. Kai puts the clothes on and Owen turns around.

Owen: Come on!

Owen leads Kai back into the elevator. They go down a few more levels. Then they step out of the elevator. Owen leads Kai down a long hall of cells.

Owen: Your prisoner number 5687. That is all you will be referred to for the rest of your time here. Should I say, the rest of your life.

Owen gets a notification on his phone. He pulls out his phone and sees a commercial. Owen shows Kai a commercial that has Kai in it. The commercial is about Kai's glasses.

Owen: Isn't that you? I guess you don't own a company anymore huh?

Owen laughs and shuts the door. The heavy door slams shut.