One week later.
Jax sat at his desk.
Things weren't looking very good. Millions were missing. Thousands were homeless due to two weeks of rioting. Cops were too busy staying in their out of state homes to be bother to come back. Only Stryker, Kenshi, the newly returned Sonya Blade and Merkel were patrolling the street.
Crime was running rampant.
There was no sugar coating it.
Anarky left his mark on the city. The live showing of Kabal killing Anarky was going viral. But his death didn't stop anything. It only seemed to further his plans. This city was destroying itself. It would take years before this city was fixed.
There was something interesting found at the scene of Anarky's body. Kabal's mask. Was this signaling his retirement? Jax severally doubted it. Stryker offered the mask to Jax, who took it without hesitation. It would go into the evidence locker. Maybe they could get a DNA reading from it. Doubtful, but there was a chance.
When they tested Anarky's blood, readings came up as Mark Phillips. A one-time mixed martial arts fighter… and the opposite of Anarky. Philips could've been the same height and was the same shape. There was only the matter of his personality.
He was not a nice man, by any stretch of the imagination, but he did not have the resources or the IQ to pull this stunt off. He was paid off by Anarky to perform the actions in the ring that day.
In essence, Kabal killed an innocent man.
Now they had to track him down harder than before.
A tap on the window drew his attention. A piece of paper read, "MEET ME ON THE ROOF."
Jax stepped out on the roof. It was cold today. He was wrapped tightly in his jacket. It was also very dark out, the only light coming from the stairs he just exited. A flame soon made its presence known from the side. The flame was brought up to a cigarette.
"Kept you waiting, huh?" Kabal asked. He took out his smoke and turned to see Jax pointing a gun at him. "So, you figured out that wasn't Anarky, huh?"
"You killed an innocent man," Jax stated.
"It was self-defense," Kabal simply stated, breathing in a lung full of nicotine. "You saw the television. He was trying to kill me."
Jax stared at the shadowed shape for a second before letting his arms fall. He was too tired to deal with this guy right now. He sat on an AC unit as Kabal walked over to join him. After several long seconds of silence, Kabal handed Jax a cigarette and his lighter, which the police captain gladly took.
"I was telling the truth, you know," Kabal mention, almost offhandedly.
"What truth?" Jax asked, taking in his smoke.
"That when I was finished I'd end myself." He flicked the butt of his cigarette away. "I know I can't stop crime. That's a fool's errand. But I've spent how long doing this? I can't remember. But I know I can't stopping anytime soon. But maybe, when people can walk outside a night safely again?"
He nodded slightly. "Maybe then my mission will be complete."
A few more seconds of silence passed.
Kabal stood. "I just wanted you to know that. And I wanted to… I don't know… thank you, I guess." He stepped towards the edge of the rooftop. "You can keep the mask, by the way. I've got spares."
"You do realize there was blood on it, right?"
"You already know my name," Kabal mentioned. "I'm not all that concerned."
"Wait."
The vigilante stopped. He turned to face Jax. The captain said, "The next time I see you… I'm taking you down."
Even from here, in the dark, Jax could tell Kabal was smirking. Without a word, he jumped from the edge of the rooftop onto the one below, leaving Jax to finish off the smoke he gave him alone.
