Democracy
Humming from the helicopter eased General Stryker, Tremor sat opposite him on two seats. Stryker dropped his shotgun slowly, and pulled out his pistol. Tremor stood.
"Do you remember Vietnam well?" The general asked his temporary bodyguard.
"I remember that we had to do it, sir."
"So you still know all of your training?"
Tremor nodded.
"Dispose of the pilot and take control."
"Understood."
As the big man moved, the helicopter tilted slightly, the pilot was none the wiser, as his attention was on doing his job. Tremor grabbed the pilot and tossed him to the back, where Stryker waited eagerly. The chopper began to descend steadily as Tremor walked towards the frightened man. Stryker opened the door, fierce winds blew through the vehicle, yet his towering beast 'disposed' of the pilot with little bother. Stryker smirked whilst he watched Tremor take control as they began to ascend once more.
The Sheepdog, East End, London
Raiden stood patiently at the end of a long dining table, the three men that had searched for him took their seats. He spotted Kano's cuts and bruises, the Australian's face unable to regenerate at an accelerated rate. Quan Chi and Baraka sat themselves down next to the agent.
"Well then," started Raiden, "What have you come here to ask me?"
The three looked around the room, each of them unsure how to begin. Quan Chi eventually began to ask the question.
"Shao Kahn believes that Scorpion is alive. He refuses to believe anything else. What we want to know is...can you help us?"
Raiden pondered what they were asking, "I can help, yes." Kano's face lit up. "However, it is not in the best interests of the government here. I'm still their man, you see."
"What does that matter when we have a psycho out there?" Kano added.
"Look, Stryker is out of our hands, he's still connected to the White House. How will that look if we kill him?"
"It'll look damn sweet once we reveal his intentions," Kano stated.
"And what are his intentions, might I ask?"
Kano didn't know how to answer, as Quan Chi and Baraka kept to themselves.
"Well that helps doesn't it? For all we know, he wants to cure cancer."
"Sub Zero got in touch," Baraka said. "He managed to tell us that Stryker had Scorpion killed."
Raiden was baffled, "You didn't think to mention this?"
"Who're the guv gonna believe? A bunch of super powered freaks or a highly decorated general?" Kano said rhetorically.
"I suppose you're right. We're in the shit if we tell them, we're in the shit if we don't. So far, so world ending."
The four of them waited in silence, their minds clouded over the issue.
"Get Shao Kahn on the phone," Raiden ordered, "I'll have a word with him."
Apartment Number 112, Downtown Los Angeles
Sub Zero stared at the off-white walls, a television sat on a stand in the corner in front of his bed, a small oven and a few cabinets for storage were parallel. He created a small ice spike in his right hand and threw it forward. It disappeared. He created another one and threw it again. He did this for ten minutes. Kevin sighed and flopped back on to his bed, his ruffled black hair spread across his pillow, shaggy and unkempt as he stared at his yellow-stained ceiling.
"This is the real LA," he mumbled to himself before rolling on to his side and grabbing a cigarette from its packet. He got up and walked to his balcony that stared across the busy streets. In the night, it created an admittedly pretty picture across the horizon, despite the pollution heavy air. Lighting his cigarette, he thought it amusing that Scorpion could have helped him spark it if he was alive. Though he didn't like to admit it, even in his head, in an empty room, he missed his old squad leader. Dragging on the tab, he crossed his arms and leant on the balcony wall, embracing the cool air in just his underwear. Sub Zero also thought to his older brother, Bi-Han, and wished he was taking in the sites as well. The familiar feeling of guilt crept upon Kevin. It was inevitable, having an affair with your brother's fiancée would do that to the coldest of hearts. Karen had long since moved on. The last Sub Zero had gathered, she had married a civil servant and had two children with him. It was no longer the Karen he had once known.
Intense ringing came from the wall bound phone, Sub Zero flicked the still lit cigarette butt into the streets below and answered it.
"Hello?"
A familiar voice greeted him, "Evening, Kevin."
"Tom, evening. How are you?"
"Not too bad thank you, how are you getting along?" Smoke asked.
"I'm doing okay. Got myself a job."
"Oh really?" Smoke answered in delight, "What are you doing?"
"Working at a film studio...stunt coordinator."
Sub Zero could practically hear Smoke grinning down the phone, "Fantastic, fantastic. Anything I should look out for?"
"It's called 'Fists of Death,' stars a guy called, Liu Kang."
"I've heard he's an up and comer, I read it in the paper," replied Smoke.
"Yeah."
"...Yeah."
There was a ten second pause, the two of them unsure what to say, until Sub Zero broke the silence.
"Funny isn't it?"
"What is?"
"We leave the army," started Sub Zero, "and regular life becomes too vanilla."
Smoke failed to see how it was funny.
"You know," continued Sub Zero, "We have nothing to talk about despite wanting nothing more than to come back home."
There was another silence.
"I made a bench the other day," Smoke announced with adulation.
Sub Zero laughed, only to hear his door buzzing.
"Look, Smoke. I'll call you back later, somebody's at the door."
"Okay Kevin, take care."
"You too."
Sub Zero put the phone back on the wall and hung his head and answered the door, before him stood the man he had been talking about, Liu Kang and another gentleman.
"Liu...what are you doing here?"
"A hello would also suffice," Kang joked.
"Yeah...hello. What's up?"
"I got your address from the studio, I hope you don't mind. I was telling my friend here that you're a good guy and would be up for a night out."
Sub Zero scanned the other man, he wore loose fitting jeans, a dark red shirt, a leather jacket and he wore a cap, which he had soon removed.
"This is Kung Lao," introduced Liu Kang.
"Good evening," Kung Lao greeted.
"Hey," Sub Zero replied half heartedly.
Liu Kang turned to Sub Zero with a case of beers, "Fancy some company?" He flashed a winning, movie star smile at him.
Sub Zero looked at the actor, then at his friend, then down to the beers.
"I'm kind of tired."
"C'mon man! A few beers here, then we hit the bars. What's up with that?"
"I try not to mix work and home."
Liu Kang shook his head, "Look, it's not like we're Jarek asking for this, or Bob."
"Goddamn Bob..." Sub Zero muttered.
"So, what d'ya say? There'll be plenty of women."
Sub Zero's eyes flickered at the sound of the last three words. Liu Kang held up the beers again.
"Screw it. Okay then."
The three of them left Sub Zero's chilly apartment an hour later after he had showered, got changed and drank his beer, then they headed downstairs. At the bottom, Sub Zero spotted one of his neighbours. The mouth of said neighbour attached to a young woman's neck, roaming her porcelain skin softly. Caught off guard, the woman buttoned up her shirt as the neighbour squeaked out an awkward 'Hello,' to which Sub Zero grinned at him and nodded his head. The nearest bar was only a street away, it was adorned with beads and Hawaiian leis, despite being run by a biker looking type. The barman acknowledged the trio and they ordered a round of beer, sipping the cold goodness as they warily eyed up various women.
"She's nice," Liu Kang pointed out to Sub Zero, the woman in particular had long dark hair in curls and was wearing a tight blue dress. Sub Zero shook his head.
"I'm more into blondes, really," he lied, knowing that he didn't have a type. He just wasn't attracted to the woman.
Stifling air could practically be seen, the flares and the denim just added to what seemed like a time-line of sleaze throughout this decade. Coked up women and men left the same bathroom, nonplussed by the disapproving looks from older onlookers. The dance floor was flooded with eager patrons and desperate singles, each wanting to show off their individual 'charms'. Sub Zero was reluctant to join in with the now dancing Liu Kang and Kung Lao, each of them talking to three young ladies. Liu Kang whispered something to the girl he was dancing with, and waved over Sub Zero. The young woman in question had deep, blazing red hair in a ponytail, and hazel irises coupled with a figure hugging crimson dress. Sub Zero couldn't believe he hadn't noticed her when he walked in.
"Hi!"
"Hey there," Sub Zero greeted, scanning her body subtly.
"Liu wanted me to meet you, I'm Skarlet...with a 'k', not with a 'c'." She shook his hand.
Sub Zero could barely hear himself think as the Bee Gee's bellowed over the top of them, "I'm Kevin, also with a 'k'," he joked.
"Nice to meet you, you want a beer?"
"I'll go and get them," Sub Zero offered, turning his back and going to the bar. Kung Lao started kissing one of Skarlet's friends as Liu Kang chatted with another. Skarlet caught up with the well built man, intrigued by him.
"So, how do you know Liu Kang?" he asked her.
"We went to acting classes together, Liu's a really sweet guy."
"You go out with him anywhere? Has he ever taken you on a date?
"Nah, he's like a brother, he's protective. Besides, he's seeing someone." Sub Zero glanced towards the young actor conversing with Skarlet's friend.
"Is that who he's seeing?"
"Huh? No, not her. That's Tanya, she went to the same class. Kung Lao's conquest over there is my friend Ash."
"I see."
She glanced at Sub Zero's rippling arms in his long sleeved light blue shirt and asked, "What do you do?"
"For business or...for fun?" he smiled.
Skarlet smiled back, her eyes seemed to pierce him, past his cool persona, "Business first, then we'll get to the fun."
"I work as a stuntman slash coordinator. That's how I met Liu. I'm working on Fists of Fury."
She seemed impressed, "Wow! That's cool. You think you could get me a part?"
Sub Zero wasn't sure if she was joking, "I suppose I could have a word with the main man." He grabbed the beers and handed one to Skarlet. As they headed back to their friends, four large men had surrounded Kung Lao.
"What do you think you're doin'?" One of the men asked Kung Lao, he seemed to be the most vocal.
"Erm...minding my own business?"
"Don't get smart with me, boy. Leave her alone."
The woman he was with interrupted, "Excuse me, I can choose who I dance with, thank you."
"It ain't just dancing," the man continued, "You've been kissing this slanty eyed fuck all night!"
Kung Lao stepped up to the man, "I've done nothing wrong."
"You've been kissing our women, you yellow bastard." He jabbed a stubby finger into Lao's chest.
Sub Zero waded through the men and tapped the leader on the shoulder, "We have a problem here?"
"Oh look a fellow American, you come to help beat this Jap up?"
"No, he's my friend."
"Well then, you're asking for it too."
Sub Zero looked the leader dead in the eye, before Liu Kang's foot slammed into the large man's head. "We're from Hong Kong, asshole."
The man stood and rallied around his group, the three brutes charging at them only to meet another kick from Liu Kang, an arm hold leading to an arm break from Kung Lao and a right hook from Sub Zero. The ringleader watched as his men went down, "I didn't go to 'Nam for this shit!"
Sub Zero grabbed him by his collar, "Neither did I," proceeding to throw him back. The men soon scattered to the exit. Skarlet and her friends ran over. Skarlet thanked Sub Zero with a kiss on the cheek and the bartender raised his thumb to say thanks as well.
'I guess America has changed,' thought Sub Zero as he danced with Skarlet.
The group continued to order drinks, talk, laugh and dance hours into the night. As Skarlet became intoxicated, Sub Zero felt it was time to take her back home, she refused to be a burden and suggested he let her sleep in his apartment. Although reluctant, he agreed that she could have his bed whilst he slept in the chair. Though not her (drunken) intention, she walked back with him and they waved goodbye to Kung Lao and one of her friends and the, now lonesome, Liu Kang. Sub Zero had explained the situation to him and Liu Kang, although wary, believed he could trust the stuntman not to do anything questionable. As he carried the young woman upstairs, he lay her down on his bed and sat down at the edge. She mumbled something, which he ignored at first, yet when the bed started moving, he took notice. Looking at her, she had taken her red dress off and was on her knees in her lingerie.
"What if I told you...that I want you...?" she announced to him. Sub Zero was tempted, she was slim with a beautiful light complexion, her ample bust and well curved hips seemed to invite him but he snapped out of his testosterone fuelled desires.
"You're drunk, I promised Liu Kang I would look after you," he stated bluntly.
"You would be looking after me..." she ran her right index finger across his left arm. "You're...freezing..."
"And you're tired. Go to bed, Skarlet. It will make sense in the morning." With that, the redhead fell backwards on to a pillow. Sub Zero covered her with his thin sheets and went to the balcony to have a cigarette.
Facility Ruins, Nevada
Sand was upturning seemingly without the winds help, rippling waves that would have seemed like heat to witnesses appeared out of nowhere as Scorpion managed to teleport through into the training ground. The stars above him provided a beautiful backdrop for his entrance back to the US. He wore simple, East German clothing, plain brown trousers, a black t-shirt and a khaki jacket. He was without his mask, but his balaclava covered everything but his eyes. Before him lay the remains of two of his friends.
"Reptile..." He walked over to the bodies, "Kabal...not you too. Jesus." His eyes wandered over Kabal's charred body, the prototype gas mask was untouched, his head had been sealed within. Scorpion looked over the device and popped it off with relative ease, steam seemed to seep from it and inside was the untouched face of the head scientist. His eyes were rolled into the back of his head, his mouth agape and the creeping of stubble had now stopped.
"Bastards..."
Scorpion turned to witness Reptile's body, it was peculiar to the leader, as there was none of the lizard man's dark green blood, yet there were intestines hanging from the body.
"S-sc..." came a voice from the body.
Scorpion's dark eyes widened, "Reptile? Tell me you're alive!"
"H-help..."
Scorpion didn't know what to do, he searched frantically on himself for his hip flask, just to give his squad member a drink. Unbeknownst to them, his body began to regenerate at a rapid rate, his intestines curling up, his bones, his muscles, his skin all crept back into being, until he was left with a new lower body and tail. Scorpion could only watch as the miraculous process continued. With his last clawed toe, Reptile breathed anew, gasping for air. Scorpion helped him sit up.
"It's a good job you've got reptilian DNA in there somewhere," Scorpion pointed out, almost smiling.
"Y-yeah...I'm st-still weak though..."
"You know what else?" Scorpion began.
"W-wh-what?"
"You don't have a dick," Scorpion dead panned.
Reptile began to laugh, Scorpion joining in, "I've g-got one! Believe me!"
The two shook hands and embraced, both happy to know the other was alive. Reptile felt fit enough to stand, soon resting his hands on his new knees. The lizard man turned to his old commander and said, "Let's find Stryker."
Author's Note: I immediately began this after Christmas but felt it lacking somewhat, but now that I got around to finishing it, hopefully introducing Skarlet, Ashrah and Tanya feels intertwined rather than forced. Skarlet was originally going to be the woman Sub Zero's neighbour was kissing but I think it would feel out of character for a 1920's born Sub Zero - who had been brought up within a very respectful Japanese-American home – to start chatting up a woman he hadn't been properly introduced to despite his womanising ways. Anyway, thanks as always to any further reviews, favs and follows!
Mr. Havik: Please continue with your theories, I really enjoy how much attention you pay the storyline and the characters, I promise not to say whether you are right though! Thank you as always, I try to make my action fast paced and interesting, so as not to draw it out and as for Quan Chi, Kano and Baraka, it means a lot that you think they are human enough for this world. I want them to provoke reactions and have personality, even if I feel I can expand more on them. Those chapters will come though. Also...I hope Reptile is back to number one on your list!
Obelisk of Light: Thank you for taking the time to read this, I hope it will live up to your expectations. Though not my intention for Stryker at the beginning, he has become similar to William Stryker in a lot of respects, hopefully I can differentiate whilst keeping the formula. Raiden is...complex, and that is all I shall say. As for Fujin, he might make an appearance. Thanks again.